*Chapter 3: Making Room*
Crunch is with Coco with the tools to make a new room for the baby. The house only has three rooms, so they must make a fourth for a newcomer. Crystal is sitting on the couch in the living room as Crunch and Coco work on making the space of the new room of the house, reading a book about pregnancy and motherhood. Crash was taking a nap on the floor, snoring softly with his tongue hanging out. Crystal smiled at the sight of him sleeping. Crash sure loves taking naps a lot. Though he had to learn about being responsible since he is going to be an uncle to Crystal's baby. When the day has come, he will be ready to be a responsible, protective uncle. Crystal touches her stomach, smiling a bit.
"Little one, your aunt and uncle are working on your new room." She said, rubbing her stomach. "I never thought I could become a mother. But, let me tell you this. Since you are a part of me, I wanted you to know that I love you very much. Your uncles, aunt, and grandpa will protect you and take good care of you. I'll always be with you." Crash opened one of his eyes while listening to Crystal, bringing his tongue back in his mouth. "Cortex and his minions won't take you away from us. Your grandfather will protect us. And when you come into this world, you will love here in Wumpa Island." Crystal said. Crash smiled as he listens. He sat up and kneeled in front of her, bringing his hand over her stomach. Crystal smiled at him.
Two bandicoots turn their attention to Coco who walks in, wiping the sweat off her forehead.
"Whew. So much work. The room will be done in a month or two. Enough time before the baby arrives." Coco said.
"Thank you so much for doing this, Coco. My child will love it." Crystal said.
"Hey, the baby is our family." Coco said with a smile. "So, listen, I have to ask. Have you thought any names?"
"Well, not yet. We don't know if we're having a boy or a girl." Crystal replied. "I'll think of a good name. It depends what gender the baby is gonna be." Crash stood up and gibbered a bit. He is using his body language to Crystal and Coco as if he is trying to tell them what he hopes for. Coco giggled at her brother.
"Crash, you're hoping that Crystal is gonna have a boy?" She asked. Crystal laughed too. Crash chuckled, scratches his head. "What if it's a girl?" Coco asked her big brother. Crash only shrugged, grinning away. Crystal shook her head at him, still keeping her smile. Boy or girl, it doesn't matter. She will love her child either way.
"So, the bandicoot is pregnant now, eh?" Pinstripe asked. "When is this little brat gonna be born?"
"Possibly by the end of fall." Cortex replied, typing on his computer. "Ohhh! I can't wait to snatch that bandicoot baby out of Crystal's hands once it's born! A little nervous about being a grandfather, but I need a bandicoot to become a general!" Then, Uka Uka appeared in the lab.
"The bandicoot child will be ours, and my feeble brother won't be able to protect it. The bandicoot will be a fighting machine." He growled.
"Oh, it will be, my dear Uka Uka." Cortex snickered. "What's the worse it could happen?"
*2 months later...*
Crash and Coco are finishing decorating the new room for the baby. Big enough for one child. A crib by the window, a dresser, some toys, and a rocking chair. Crystal walks inside the new room and smiled at the sight of it. The room looks so perfect. The bandicoots work very hard on making the new room. Crystal walked over to the crib that is filled with blankets and pillows.
"What do you think?" Coco asked.
"I love it. This is perfect." Crystal replied. "Thank you all so much." Crash walked over towards the window to see the view of the yard. He imagines the child will be running around the house, laughing with joy with the family. He smiled at the image. Crystal faces Coco and Crash. "Aku Aku spoke to me about this man who could help me out by looking at the ultrasound. Brio?" She asked. Crash and Coco face each other in silent, and Crash only shrugs at his sister. Coco looks at Crystal.
"I hope so. He helps us out saving the world before, and I'm sure he can help you out with your pregnancy." She said. "I mean, we gotta find out what gender this baby is going to be."
"And...what is this Brio like?" Crystal asked, placing one of her hands on her hip.
A tall bandicoot with sky blue hair in two buns, wearing a lab coat is tinkering with laser guns. Her left ear twitches when she hears a sound coming from the warp room. She turned to see figures appearing on the platform as the portal disappears. Her violet eyes are wide when she recognizes the guests.
"The Bandicoot Warriors! They're here!" She cried out, rushing over to the heroes. She made a bow to them. "Welcome, friends. What a surprise to see you."
"Greetings, Megumi. Is Nitrus Brio here? We need to speak with him." Aku Aku told the bandicoot. The blue haired bandicoot nodded and went off to fetch Brio somewhere in the lair.
After a while, Brio walked in to greet the bandicoots, and notices Crystal. Aku Aku introduced them, and then told the doctor about Crystal holding a child for a while now. Brio nodded, understanding.
"I see. T-t-t-that Dr. Cortex was desperate for a bandicoot g-g-g-general, and he got Crystal pregnant by using DNA." He said. "All of you, follow me t-t-t-to the room. I'll warm up the ultrasound for your f-f-friend."
"Thank you, Brio." Coco said with a smile. "We owe you big time."
"Oh, n-no problem at all." As Brio is leading the heroes out of the warp room, Crystal leans over to Coco, whispering to her.
"Why does he stutter? Is he scared?" She asked.
"Oh, don't worry. That's how he is since we met years ago." Coco replied. "Kind of a long story."
"I'm still not sure about him." Crunch spoke. "He worked for Cortex once before, right?"
"Yes, but there was betrayal." Aku Aku said. "Brio never had credit in the past, and he quits on Cortex. And I assure you, my children, he will help Crystal. Same goes with the bandicoot females." As they were walking down the hallway, Crash halted by the door as he noticed a familiar figure looking through books. He formed a grin, and ran towards a female bandicoot with blonde hair, wearing a blue and white jumpsuit. He wraps his arms around her body, catching the tall bandicoot by surprise. She looked down and see Crash grinning up at her, chuckling.
"Crash!" Isabella cried with a smile, embracing him back. "I've missed you! You and the others never visit anymore. Where have you been?" Crash scratch the back of his head, feeling ashamed. "Is Dr. Cortex up to something?" Isabella asked. Crash took the bandicoot's hand to lead her where his family follows Brio.
Crystal was lying on the berth as Brio is looking at the ultrasound and found a fetus inside her. The other two female bandicoots are in the room with them to see the ultrasound. One has green hair, and the other has black hair. Crash squinted his eyes when he sees the image of a fetus on the ultrasound. He turned to Aku Aku, pointing at the screen, questioning it.
"The baby will grow inside Crystal, Crash." Aku Aku told him. "It will be born by the end of fall. Sure, it looks odd looking, but it will grow as long as Crystal is alive and eat well to feed it." Crash is confused by all that, but wish that the baby will be born sooner than later. "Brio, is the child healthy since it's been two months?" Aku Aku asked.
"100%, my friend." Brio said. "But, you should know about this... The ch-ch-child is a hybrid."
"What?!" Crunch asked, standing up from the seat. "Hybrid?"
"What kind of DNA did Cortex use?" Liz asked.
"Half bandicoot. That's something new." Coco said. Brio turned to the others as Crystal remains on the berth but shocked that her child is a hybrid.
"He uses a Red Fox DNA." Brio told everyone. "I don't r-r-recall a fox mutant that Dr. C-C-C-Cortex created. Perhaps he saves the blood samples from the past..."
"So...a bandifox?" Coco wondered, shrugging. "The only hybrids we've seen are Dingodile and Rilla Roo, so this baby will be the third hybrid in our lives." Crystal turned to Brio.
"Hybrid or not, the child is still mine. We will protect it no matter what. Cortex won't get his filthy hands on my kid." She said.
"And when you're in labor, you come straight here." Ami said, coming over to Crystal's side. "Since you're the member of the Bandicoot Family, we welcome you and your child." Crystal smiled in thanks at the kind green haired bandicoot. Brio turned to Crystal.
"Come back here in a month. So we will find out what the g-g-gender is." He told her and hand her the list of what foods she will eat for the next few months. Aku Aku turned to the bandicoots.
"Do you all know what to do around Crystal?" He asked. "Assist her whenever she needs one, be careful around her, and protect her."
"Of course." Crunch said with a nod. Crash and Coco agreed. Crystal walked over to the Bandicoots and the mask, ready to go back home to rest. Aku Aku thanked Brio for everything and will return soon for the baby's gender. The Bandicoot Family walked in the warp room to return home.