"Party at Honkers!"
Ben shook his head as he followed Clara and Homura to Honkers, Hiroto beside him.
"Excited little girls." Hiroto chuckled.
"Very, Clara gets a break from shepherding and Homura gets to spend time with her friend."
"Yep… and a break for you and me from our respective duties."
"It's a nice feeling… How are things out there?" Ben rolled over to table with Hiroto as the girls went off to socialize with other pups. "Heard from Goose it's getting pretty bad."
"It tends to change a lot." Hiroto's gaze narrowed. "Some days we're attacked by these strange girls… Others it's all quiet… though we may be on our way to war soon…"
Ben frowned. "I see…"
"But enough of that… right now… all is well. We both have our daughters with us, it's a time of peace and happiness."
Ben nodded. "Right."
"So, handling raising Clara well?"
"As best as I can. Need help from Dean and Sam a lot since… well no hands or lifts… so… Yeah. It's a team effort. But I'm doing my best. I just want her happy." He looked over to Clara, smiling as he saw her play tag with Homura and some other machine pups and huminids. "Just glad she likes me being her Papa Plane as she calls me."
"You're a good plane, Ben, you're perfect for her." He smirked a little. "Though I have to ask… were you ever hoping of having pups of your own?"
Ben's engine stuttered a little. "Well… Um…" He glanced to the side. "I did… still do… just… um… I'm not that great with girls…"
"Oh come on, I'm sure you'd be a natural when you meet the right one. If that's what you want of course."
"I do actually… just… shephard… cropduster… not exactly what girls gun for."
"I wouldn't say that."
"Huh?"
Hiroto chuckled.
"Not all girls want warplanes dear Ben. Some like those that are kind and not toting guns. I'm sure there's a girl who'd like a cropduster like yourself."
"I wish." Ben rolled his eyes.
"Well… what do you like then?"
"Getting a little personal here Hiroto."
"Civil question."
"Not answering."
"Alright, I won't prod, just curious…. Though speaking of courting." Hiroto looked over to another part of the room. "Looks like Jericho is doing rather well for himself."
Ben followed his gaze, surprised when he saw Jericho dancing about with Rebecca, both having the time of their lives.
"Huh… I knew people were teasing him about it but… Didn't expect to see that."
"Even leaders have their soft sides." Hiroto chuckled. "She's got him wrapped around her prop… and I don't think he minds."
"Heh… that's cute… For Jericho."
"Indeed…"
Ben sighed, looking around.
I envy him though… would be nice to have a girl of my own…
Hiroto smirked, nudging him. "Get out on the dance floor, socialize, that's how you meet people."
Ben shook his head. "Alright, alright…"
Ben rolled over to where the dance floor was, looking around… feeling a bit awkward being by himself.
"Need a dance partner?"
Ben jumped a bit, looking behind him to seeing an air tractor behind him. Bit smaller than the usual model, but was one none the less, with a nice white orange and red paint job to boot.
"U-Um…" Ben's engine stuttered. "I…"
The air tractor shook her head. "Don't tell me you don't dance?"
"I-I do actually just…" Ben felt embarrassed for himself.
A head of brown hair popped up from under Ben's wing… Clara had ran over curious and couldn't help herself when she saw her adoptive father. She wanted to help if she could. "He can dance if he wants to! He's awesome at it actually… Hi I'm Clara. You?" She asked with a grin.
"Name's Jane." she smiled. "Ah, I know who you two are." She looked to Ben. "The humble shepherd of Propwash Junction… father of Little Pup."
Ben gave a shy look. "That's me…"
"And me!" Clara chirped. She looked to her father. "She's nice. You should dance with her…. And she's pretty."
Ben's propeller spun a little. "C-Clara!"
"Whaaat? You're single!" She pouted. "Not like I have a mama to remind you to dance with…" She mumbled.
Ben just wanted to hide his head under his wings, but he wasn't capable of doing it so he just closed his eyes, feeling embarrassed.
Oh she's SO gonna like me now… Yeah right…
Jane chuckled, nuzzling Clara.
"Aww… a daughter looking out for her father… how sweet."
Clara giggled nuzzling back. "He's my Papa Plane… He looks out for me so I gotta look out for him too… I love him more then anything!"
Jane smiled. "Good to hear." She looked to Ben. "Benjamin Crophopper?"
He opened his eyes, swallowing hard. "Y-Yes?"
"Would you care to dance with me?"
"I-I'd be honored."
She giggled. "Come on then." She led him, having his wing link with hers.
Clara grinned to herself watching before scurrying back to Homura. "Homura, Homura look! My papa's found a girl!"
"A girl?!" Homura gasped, looking to where Ben was… smiling.
"... About time. Who wouldn't like a plane like him?"
"I know right?" Clara smiled warmly at the sight. "He's such a good plane… He deserves to be happy… And who knows? Even if she's not… The One… At least he can get some socializing in… Right?"
"Definetly. That's what my father said he did before he married my mother."
Clara nodded. "Sides… If he does marry someone…. I'll have a mama again…"
"And little pups to call your siblings."
She squealed at the idea. The mental image of little cropduster pups sending her into what she could only call "cute daze". "They'd be super adorable! Especially if they took after Ben!"
Homura giggled. "Indeed. Little cropdusters, with little wings and props."
"Super little! I could carry them, and hug them and give them nice paint jobs myself and keep them forever!"
"Ben wouldn't need to worry about losing them. You'd keep a good eye on them."
Clara nodded quickly. "Ahuh… I'd be the best big sister those pups would ever have!"
"Darn right you would."
"But for now…" Clara looked to where Jane and Ben were. "Just wanna see him happy."
"You and me both."
Clara nodded.
Long as he's having fun I'll be happy… And I'll happily give him a little push now and then.