Welcome to chapter three! My symbol rules, as always, apply here. We are moving one month forward in time. Let's get to the story.

CHAPTER 3 – First Steps

(P staying with Marlene) "Aw, look how cute the children are," I said to Skipper. It was just us and the children in the HQ at the moment. The guys were out running a snack mission. "They're absolutely adorable Marlene," Skipper agreed with me.

The children were currently sleeping in their cribs, snuggled in under their blankets. They were growing big. Soon they would move from the cribs to their bunks. They just needed to start walking first. They were talking evermore, always trying to understand new words.

"I'm glad I've been done feeding Annabelle for a few weeks now," I said to Skipper happily, while also blushing a deep red. Skipper laughed. "As I am glad to be done feeding Samuel as well," Skipper said.

"It felt so weird to do that, though. I can't even describe what it felt like to do that. Annabelle just, well, you know, fed from me," I said, deeply blushing again. "You did that very well Marlene. She's growing at a perfect rate. She's just as beautiful as you are," Skipper said to me. I gave him a kiss, so much in love.

"Mommy and Daddy kissy," Annabelle's voice suddenly said. We looked back at the children and both of them were up. "I guess our kiss woke them up," Skipper said, making us laugh and the children giggle.

"Yes, Annabelle, that's because Mommy and Daddy love each other," I said happily to her, before Skipper and I shared another kiss. We picked up the children and sat them down next to us on the floor.

"Skipper, do you want to try to teach them to walk?" I asked him. "Of course Marlene," he said happily. He took both Samuel and Annabelle from me and went to a very short distance away, at least for us.

Both of the children eagerly tried to squirm their way out of Skipper's arms to get back to me, wanting to try to walk. We shared a laugh at the sight of our children being eager to learn something new.

"Walking?" Samuel asked us both, after he and Annabelle realized they weren't going anywhere for the moment. "Yes, Samuel, we're going try to teach you how to walk again," Skipper said happily to him. "Yay!" the children exclaimed happily.

Skipper sat them both down gently on the floor, so they could move again. Both of them immediately started to crawl their way back over to me. But suddenly, they both tried to rise. But their legs wobbled as they tried to stand and then fell back down. But thanks to Skipper and I's fast reflexes, they didn't touch the ground.

"Walking hard," Annabelle said to Skipper and I sadly. "It is sweetie. But I know you'll be walking soon," I said happily to her, trying to cheer her up. She smiled at me with her beautiful little face and Samuel did the same. We all shared a glorious family hug.

"Now children, let's try again," I said to them. Skipper took them both a few feet away, so they could try again. But we moved closer to the cribs, wondering if Samuel and Annabelle would consider using them as leverage.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Both of them continued to try and rise up to two feet, but almost fell onto the floor a few times. We kept giving them encouragement, knowing they would do it.

Both of them began to rub their eyes, getting tired again. "Do you want to go to sleep children?" I asked them. "One more," Samuel said to us. Annabelle nodded, while also yawning.

"Ok, you two. One last try and we'll put you back into your cribs," Skipper said to them. He took them a few feet away again, just like for the other times we tried. The children began to crawl back towards me.

I was hoping they would get it down. Skipper and I both knew they could do it. They were our children. If they could exist in the first place, they could do anything that they put their minds to.

Both of them were halfway when Annabelle suddenly started to push up with her front paws. She was quivering, looking like she was about to collapse. But suddenly, she rose. She wobbled for a moment, getting used to walking on two paws instead of four.

Suddenly, Samuel did the same! He used his front flippers in order to get himself up as well. He quivered and nearly fell, but caught himself. He tried again and rose! He also wobbled, getting used to waddling.

And then both of them started slowly walking and waddling over to me. Both Skipper and I's faces were filled with absolute joy and excitement. Our children were taking their first steps!

And then, after a few tense moments, they made it over to me! They fell straight into the hug I had waiting for them. Skipper then silently walked over as well and we all shared a hug.

"Walking good?" Annabelle asked us. "Yes, Annabelle, you walked perfectly," I answered her. "Me too?" Samuel asked us. "You were perfect Samuel," Skipper answered him. They cheered in celebration of finally being able to walk.

And then, both of them fell asleep in our arms. They tried to keep their eyes open and be awake, but they kept opening and shutting. Finally, they closed their eyes and began to softly breathe in slumber.

Skipper and I carefully picked them up and placed them into their cribs. We covered them, except for their heads, with their blankets, so they would stay warm through the night.

"Oh, Skipper, they finally did it!" I exclaimed softly, trying not to wake up the children. "Yes Marlene. Yes they did," Skipper said happily. We had a hug. "I love you Skipper," I said to him. "I love you too Marlene," he said to me. We then shared a kiss, so proud of the children and in our love.

That's a wrap on this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review. I have no notes today.