Chapter 8: Mother's Side, Same Story

Ah… I'm so tired… Having to do voice acting is exhausting when you have a lot of lines, especially for a video game.

Driving back home from work, the moon already high in the sky with the stars twinkling along with it. Waaaaah… it's so pretty. I wonder if Neptune and the others are seeing this too…

Alright, just a couple more turns and there's my home right there: a modest two story house. Ah, it's getting cold, even I wore a jacket. Winter's coming afterall. I should have brought a sweater…

"Noirey Noire!" Huh, that voice sounds li- EEK! Warm arms covered in a woolen sweater wrapped around my shoulders as I was tackle hugged by a peach haired woman, with a long haired brunette following her.

"C-Compa?" My husband's high school and lifetime friend pressed her cheek against mine .

"How are you?" I patted the woman as she held me close to her.

"I'm fine. You?" Compa made a happy smile as IF ran up behind her.

"C-C-Compa, wait up!" IF reached us and began to catch her breath. Wow, she's really tired… or I guess Compa still has a lot of energy than ever.

"Sorry, Iffy." Compa let go of me and stepped back.

"IF, Compa. What are you two doing here?" IF winked and held out her phone.

"Gear messaged us, saying that she was at your place making dinner." Nepgear's here? "Didn't you know?"

"No…" Why didn't Neptune tell me that Nepgear was coming? Wai- Compa!?

"Well, why are we waiting? Let's get some food in our tummies!" Compa placed her hands on my shoulders and pushed me towards the door.

"C-Compaa!" The two of us turned to IF, and I finally saw why IF was exhausted: The woman was holding two big plastic bags filled with vegetables and meats. Hold on…

"Why do you have that?" Compa took a bag from the grateful IF as the brown haired woman sighed in relief.

"Nep called us, saying that the ingredients that Gear and Uni got weren't enough." Oh, I guess with all the people at the house now that'd make sense. I just hope that Neptune explained what was going on. "He never explained why we need all this food though." ..Neptune. "I mean, if he was inviting his parents, our parents and your parents then it'd make sense." I rubbed my shoulder and tried to laugh it off.

"That's funny…. I wonder what my husband is thinking?" The sound of a car engine hummed as it approached usl.

"It's Ber-Ber!" Compa waved I turned around. Vert's car moved up to mine, parking behind it. Vert wore a different sweater but this time her hair wasn't tied up and it was neater; she probably used a comb.

"Hello, Noire. Iffy. Compa. Am I late?" Vert had a smile on her face.

"Nah, we just got here." IF lifted up the bag that was still in her hand. The three women turned to me. "So, let's see what Nep's got in store for us." I nodded my head.

"Sure." The four of us left the cars and headed for the door, hearing laughter and other joyful sounds as we reached the front door.

"Wait, Noire." I turned to see IF furrowing her eyebrows. "I thought you and Nep only had one kid? And I know Blanc, Gear and Uni don't make that much noise." I glanced at Vert, who shrugged.

"It's kinda complicated." I felt a drop of sweat run down my cheek as Compa smiled blissfully. Reaching into my bag, I took out my key and unlocked the door. I allowed Compa and IF into the house first, while Vert stopped in front of me.

"Do you think it's a good idea to not explain to them your situation?" Closing and locking the door, I sighed. I honestly can't find a way to explain right now… and I'm kind of tired.

"What in the-?!"

"Oh my gosh, It's a little Nep-Nep and Ge-Ge!"

"Who callin litt- *gasp* It's Other-Compa and Other-Iffy!" I hope Neptune can explain this for me…

"So that's what it was…" Thankfully, IF and Compa accepted the goddesses immediately. It kinda helped that Compa swooped Goddess Neptune into her arms and cuddled her to what IF called Fluffy Land.

"It was surprising at first," Neptune bounced Plutia on his lap while Compa let go of Goddess Neptune and began cuddling Goddess Nepgear. The younger goddess was embarrassed by the contact and Goddess Neptune began to tease my counterpart. Goddess Blanc was reading a book while her twin sisters tried to get her to play a game with her, two-on-one, and Goddess Vert attempted to take her place instead. Goddess Uni was fawning over IF's gun, which she keeps on her for safety reasons. Meanwhile, Blanc, Vert, Nepgear and Uni were making dinner because Neptune already made lunch for the them and Vert wanted to talk to her sister. "I come home and I think they're Noire's co-workers who love to cosplay."

"Hey…" Neptune looked at me and shrugged his shoulders, letting Plutia play with his shirt sleeves.

"I'm not lying." It's true, but it doesn't sound right to hear that. Not all of my co-workers cosplay, it's just a lot of them love to dress up as their characters. Nothing strange at all.

"Nep-Nep," Compa looked up from Goddess Nepgear's Fluffy Land to look at her friend. "How long are they gonna stay here?" Neptune scratched the back of his head.

"I don't really know, their Histoire said they're gonna stay until they learn to become a family." Compa and IF turned to me and I nodded, confirming Neptune's claim.

"Hope everyone's hungry." Uni came in, carrying a pot. The smell of chicken and miso floating out of it. Hold is that…

"Chicken noodle miso soup?" My little sister smiled at me as Vert and Nepgear arrived with bowls and spoons.

"There's a lot of people, so we decided this would make things easier." Oh… Uni, thank you. Uni winked at me as she brought the food to the table, the other girls following her. "That, and I owe Neptune for lunch." Neptune stood up, while our daughter began to teethe on his sleeve.

"Well, let's eat shall we?" Plutia raised her arms into the air, grasping her father's hair. Nodding, I began walking with Neptune towards the dining room.

"Yes~!" Neptune froze and locked eyes with me. Who… was that? None of our friends and family sound like that, and none of the goddesses sound like that. Goddess Rom, Ram and Neptune couldn't make that high-pitched, painfully adorably sound- "Yes~!" There it was again.

"Noire…" Huh? Neptune gestured to Plutia, who was wagging her legs back in forth in excitement.

No way.

It can't be…

Can she really…?

I looked at my daughter. Upon crouching to her level, my baby girl widened her eyes and reached out for my hair. I stared at Neptune, who swallowed and nodded. Returning the gesture, I put one of my fingers into Plutia's soft, tiny hands.

"Plutia, do you wanna eat with us?" Ow, her grip is strong. I'm afraid of how she's going to act when she's ol-

"Yes~!" ...She did.

Plutia spoke.

My daughter said "Yes."

Her first words!

"Yes… yes… YES!" I placed my hands over my daughter's chubby cheeks and kissed her on the nose repeatedly, causing Plutia to giggle.

"That's my baby girl!" Neptune pulled into an embrace and stroked her head.

I removed myself from Plutia's face when I felt my stomach growl. Ugh…

"...Let's eat." My husband nodded.

"No way, Baby Plutie can speak!?" Everyone was seated at the table, Goddess Nepgear, Neptune, Noire, and Vert were on one side. Goddess Blanc, Rom, Ram, and Uni were on another. Since there wasn't enough chairs, IF and Compa shared a seat and a bowl. Blanc and Vert brought chairs from Neptune and Blanc's offices and ate next to the goddess twins. Nepgear and Uni also shared a seat...and a bowl.

Is this a trend? If it is, I'd be too embarrassed to do that with Neptune.

...Well in public.

"Yeah!" Neptune brought a spoon close to Plutia's mouth, while making noise. My daughter happily chomped onto the spoon, her eyes glistening in excitement and joy. I wiped Plutia's mouth and then took the spoon from Neptune.

"Here, let me feed her for a bit." My husband thanked me and continued to talk about Plutia's new ability… even though she just talked minutes ago.

"Come here, Plutia." Dipping the spoon into her food, I brought it closer to my daughter's mouth. "Here comes the pudding train…" Hmm… I wonder the others are doing.

Goddess Neptune was slurping up her noodles in a single attempt. The droplets of chicken soup flying around and hitting my counterpart, causing her to scold the smaller goddess. Goddess Rom and Ram were chatting and eating, while Goddess Vert was trying to get a reaction out of the smaller Blanc. Goddess Uni and Goddess Nepgear were watching their human counterparts acting all lovey-dovey an- Do they have any shame!? They're feeding each other with the same spoon while they're flirting! Geez… At least Compa and IF are using different spoons. But… that's my sister's love life. I guess that's what makes her happy.

Okay, Plutia… aaahhhhh. My daughter mimicked me opening my mouth and I slid the spoon into her mouth. Aw, she's so precious…

Pulling the plastic purple spoon out away from Plutia as she chewed her food, I turned to see Neptune finishing his bowl of soup and then continuing to talk to Vert and Blanc.

This is scene…

Watching people gather around the table, eating and having a good time.

"Neptune, get off me!"

...Well, mostly.

It's a lively kind of thing, and to think this all started because of a girl version of my husband just fell into the ground… literally.

Oh, you've finished. You're such a good girl, Plutia!

I grabbed Plutia's bib and wiped her mouth clean. Plutia gave that big smile that she always had and beat her hands against the table.

"Mama~!" ….

….

….

….

Eh?

Plutia raised her arms towards me.

"Mama~ Mamaaaaa~!" Did Plutia just call me "Mama"? I looked to the left and the right, everyone had stopped in place, staring at my daughter with the same expression.

It was my husband who broke the train of surprised faces. Neptune's face slowly grew into a large grin as he moved towards Plutia and picked her up.

"Not only does she speak her first, but her second words too!" Plutia grabbed onto Neptune's jacket and snuggled into his chest. I broke out of my paralysis and placed a hand on Neptune's shoulder.

It seems that our family is starting to become lively as well.