*Chapter 26*

Everyone quickly piled out of the elevator and moseyed their way to Game Central station. Everyone subconsciously circled Calhoun as they crossed Game Central Station, as if it was a silent, mandatory code to protect her. Felix stayed close to her, both of them locked hands. Vanellope whirled around and beamed at the two.

"This is so cool!" She squealed as she did a little dance.

"I'm wondering if he or she will be a fixer or not," Ralph chuckled.

"Well, we are indeed brothers," Felix chuckled, "There's a very small chance he or she could turn out to be a wrecker."

"Or a gunman," Calhoun chuckled as she ruffled Felix's hat and hair.

"Or a racer!" Vanellope beamed innocently; everyone shot her a confused, beaming look.

"Vanellope," Taffyta hissed as she grabbed her sister's arm and pulled her closer, "I don't think you're fully grasping this coding process, here."

"Well then I guess that enlightened train ride won't be in vain," Vanellope sneered as she rolled her eyes, she tried nudged Taffyta away from her.

"If you and Ralph coded a baby, then maybe you would get a racer," Taffyta smiled wide.

"Wh-what?" Vanellope's face immediately turned red. Ralph looked away, pretending not to hear their conversation.

"Or a wrecker," Taffyta pondered, "Maybe a wrecking racer."

"I don't think you could possibly find ways to embarrass me more, Taffyta," Vanellope spat as the five stepped into Hero's Duty's outlet.

"I could, actually," Taffyta beamed with pride, "But I'll save it for later."

"I'm sure you will," Vanellope growled as the five boarded Hero's Duty's train.

The five entered Hero's Duty with purpose. They headed to Calhoun's hidden bunker. The doors creaked and whirred in a mechanical way before two orange lights gleamed three times. The doors quickly opened as everyone stepped in. Vanellope looked around, feeling out of her element. Everything was mostly metal, a bleak grey with splashes of orange lights. Contrary to the hard walls and metal interior, the warehouse like home had a homey touch, complete with a comfortable looking couch, fireplace, kitchen and dining room table. Vanellope, Ralph and Taffyta stuck close together.

"This is where you live?" Vanellope asked gently.

"Yep," Calhoun smiled as she crossed the large, warehouse like room, "It gets the job done."

"It's cozy," Ralph said in an unsure voice as the three looked around.

"You get used to it after a while," Calhoun laughed as she stepped up to another door in between the kitchen and living room area. She punched in a few codes before the doors whirred open, large gears cranked and moaned.

"Why do we have to be in Hero's Duty's code room to see the due date of the baby?" Vanellope asked gently. She eyed Taffyta, figuring she'd speak up first.

"The baby is always born in the female's game," Taffyta said gently before eyeing Vanellope back, "If you coded a baby with someone, the baby would be born in Sugar Rush."

"Will you lay off? I'm not coding a baby with anyone!" Vanellope barked with a small laugh. Ralph's face grew red as Taffyta glanced up at him.

"Yet," Taffyta chuckled to herself as she rolled her eyes. Everyone stepped through the doors that Calhoun opened.

"This is Hero's Duty's code room," Calhoun said gently.

It looked very similar to Sugar Rush's code room. Calhoun and Felix tied ropes to their waists, which were tethered to the wall outside the code room. Both Calhoun and Felix quickly dipped into the mass of black nothingness as they floated towards Hero's Duty's code boxes far in the distance. Vanellope, Ralph and Taffyta eagerly peered into the darkness, which surrounded big, orange glowing boxes.

"Vanellope, you're making me nervous," Ralph chuckled nervously as he very carefully put the palm of his hand over her middle stomach, pulling her away from the swallowing edge.

"Sorry," Vanellope said impatiently as she glanced up at him. She gently held her hands over Ralph's, "I just really want to know what's going on."

"We should give them their privacy," Taffyta chuckled.

"Right," Vanellope agreed as she impatiently tapped her fingers on Ralph's hand, which remained over her stomach a little, keeping her safe from the edge.

Felix tugged on the rope he was tethered to, telling the three at the entrance that they wanted to come back. Ralph quickly, yet gently, began to pull the two back from the black hole they were emerged in. The two quickly got to the edge, their facial expressions excited and knowing. Taffyta fidgeted in excitement as Vanellope tugged Felix's arm gently.

"So?" Vanellope beamed, "What's the news?"

"The code should be fully completed by late next week," Felix smiled wide, everyone congratulated the couple in an excited way.

"Just in time for Spring Break!" Vanellope beamed.

"You guys going to EZ Living this year for Spring Break?" Taffyta asked with a smile, "I'm sure the baby would love the water, sun and sand."

"Sounds like a splendid idea," Felix chimed with a smile as he looked longingly at his bride, "Sound good to you?"

"A beach?" Calhoun wrinkled her nose, "I've been so used to these dark quarters, I'm not so sure I'd fit in."

"Neither do I, but somehow, every year, Felix always forces me to go," Ralph looked down.

"The arcade is closed for a whole week," Felix scolded Ralph playfully, "It's always good to have a vacation."

"Why is the arcade closed for the whole week again? Did that happen last year?" Calhoun asked.

"Mr. Litwak goes away on vacation," Felix stated as he put a finger up in the air, "Rendering all of us arcaders useless beach bums."

"I love EZ Living," Vanellope beamed, Ralph chuffed.

"What's EZ Living?" Calhoun asked, feeling out of the loop.

"It's a pointless beach game where everyone goes to relax and swim," Ralph explained in a dull voice, "The game cabinet is in the arcade worker's break room. No one plays it, but they've kept it plugged in for reasons beyond me."

"It's fun!" Vanellope beamed, "It gives you a small taste of what the sun actually feels like."

"Sounds interesting," Calhoun pondered before smiling, "Alright, I'm game."

"I can't wait," Vanellope beamed before yawning a slow, lulling yawn, "I think I need a reset."

"Learning about where babies come from too mentally draining for you?" Taffyta teased.

"I know where your delete button is," Vanellope playfully threatened as she pointed a finger at her sister, "And, stop singling me out. You and I are the only ones in all of Sugar Rush that know the secrets of life, apparently."

"Alright guys," Ralph chuckled, "We should head out. You guys coming?" Ralph said to Calhoun and Felix.

"I'll catch up with you later, Ralph," Felix smiled with a small wave as him and Calhoun stepped into her kitchen.

"See you guys tomorrow!" Vanellope waved as she gave them an excited, knowing look. Everyone said their goodbyes as Ralph, Taffyta and Vanellope left Hero's Duty. They slowly moseyed out of Hero's Duty's outlet and casually looked around.

"Well," Ralph sighed, "Today was exciting to say the least."

"I knew Felix and Calhoun were wanting a baby," Vanellope chuckled, "Felix told me on Valentine's Day."

"It'll be interesting having a baby around," Taffyta smiled, "Too bad they grow fast."

"They do?" Vanellope asked curiously.

"Yeah," Taffyta smiled, "Within a year, they're pretty much a fully grown gamer."

"Only a year?" Vanellope wrinkled her nose, "Humans aren't fully grown until they're like, thirty years old, right?"

"It's kind of a different story when you add electricity and binary," Taffyta laughed.

"Will I see you guys tomorrow?" Ralph asked with a smile.

"Of course," Taffyta beamed.

"You want to visit Sugar Rush?" Vanellope smiled up at Ralph, stepping closer to him.

"Sure," Ralph said softly with a loving smile, his eyes fixed on Vanellope's.

"Alright love birds," Taffyta chuckled as she stepped away, "I'll be waiting at the train station, Vanellope. I'll see you tomorrow, Ralph." Taffyta said happily as she waved to Ralph.

"See you," Ralph smiled and waved back before fixing his eyes on Vanellope, finally happy to have a second of alone time with her.

"Why don't you like EZ Living?" Vanellope asked softly with a small giggle.

"It's just not my thing," Ralph frowned as he looked around nervously, "I don't technically have the body for a swim suit."

"I don't think anyone in this arcade does, Ralph," Vanellope chuckled as she looked around sheepishly, "It'll still be fun, though, don't you think?"

"As long as we're all together," Ralph smiled down at her.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Vanellope smiled up at him, giving him a very subtle, knowing look.

Ralph gazed down at her with loving uncertainty; she gazed at him through girly, smoldering hazel eyes and remained quiet. He wasn't certain what she wanted, but he ventured a guess as she gently put her hand on the back of his and stood on tip toes, her head coming level with his chin. She cocked her eyebrow a little and tilted her head with a smile, her eyes parted gently, her smile loving. Ralph swallowed hard and slowly leaned into her, suddenly feeling as if the whole station was on fire. He instantly felt as if every single eye in the arcade was on them, but he continued to lean down into her. Their lips softly met for a brief moment before Vanellope pulled away, giving Ralph a thankful and cheerful smile.

"See you tomorrow," Vanellope said lovingly as she rubbed the back of Ralph's hand. She then gently turned away and skipped to catch up to Taffyta, who was half way down the station.

"Is that why you've been missing our weekly bad anon. group?" A familiar voice barked with an amused chuckle. Ralph jolted out of his skin as he looked over, seeing none other than Clyde lingering with Bowser. They looked highly amused.

"Yes, as a matter of fact," Ralph beamed with pride. He stood tall before slowly trekking back to his game outlet.

"Taffyta, all of that couldn't have been more awkward if you tried," Vanellope complained as she caught up with Taffyta. Her shoulders were scrunched as if she were slowly sinking into an imaginary hole she was digging herself. Her face looked more than flushed.

"I was hoping you felt that way, baby coding makes everything awkward," Taffyta threw her head back a little and laughed.

"I'm pretty sure Ralph is put off by my lack of education on the subject matter," Vanellope frowned as both girls strolled to the train station.

"Vanellope," Taffyta heaved a long sigh, "I don't think Ralph could be put off by you even if you didn't know what a baby was."

"You know what I noticed?" Vanellope chimed as she looked at Taffyta curiously, "Ralph got a little uncomfortable when I was saying that a baby would fit into the palm of his hand."

"He did?" Taffyta questioned as she wrinkled her nose, Vanellope nodded, "That's odd."

"I thought so too," Vanellope pondered as the two girls unlinked arms to board the train, "What do you think that means?"

"Well, I'm not too sure, it can mean many things," Taffyta explained as the two girls picked seats next to each other, "Maybe he's nervous to hold a tiny, helpless creature in his massive hands, designed to ruin things."

"I guess that makes sense," Vanellope pondered as she got comfortable.

"His whole life has been devoted to using his strength and power to wreck stuff," Taffyta calmly explained, "He's probably nervous that he'll really have to put his gentleness to the test."

"That's probably what it is," Vanellope smiled.

"Or," Taffyta held up a finger, "He could potentially be feeling tension between you and him."

"Tension? Between us?" Vanellope wrinkled her nose.

"Vanellope, what step comes after a relationship," Taffyta gave her a knowing look.

"Marriage?" Vanellope uttered with uncertainty.

"And what comes after marriage?" Taffyta continued as she eyed her sister. Vanellope was silent for a few moments.

"Cake?"

"Sure… But usually, it's a baby," Taffyta barked with a small laugh, "Boy, you have got a lot to learn, glitch."

"You don't seriously think Ralph wants to marry me, do you?" Vanellope laughed in an unbelieving tone.

"Do you see the way he looks at you?" Taffyta chuckled, Vanellope looked at her nervously.

"We've only been dating for a week now," Vanellope worried.

"I'm not saying he wants to marry you anytime soon," Taffyta chuckled, "But usually, if two gamers get together, a wedding is what some end up with."

"Do gamers not usually get together?" Vanellope pondered.

"No, some do, but gamers from older games think it's weird 'kids these days' kind of thing," Taffyta explained with a chuckle, "Especially if two gamers from two different games get together."

"We're not even coded for this kind of thing," Vanellope laughed, "I guess it's just growing on me as I go?"

"Probably, it did for me," Taffyta beamed.

"I could potentially be Ralph's future wife," Vanellope said, in a soft, shocked expression, after a few moments of silence between the girls. Her cheeks grew red as she let a small smile play across her face.

"And then would you code a baby with him?" Taffyta urged in annoyance as she nudged Vanellope's arm.

"Taffyta," Vanellope complained as her face grew hot red; she beamed and looked away.

"I'm serious!" Taffyta chuckled as she gestured with her arms.

"Maybe," Vanellope said gently as she looked down at her hands. She then frowned a little, "I just feel as if today has shoved way too much information into my code all at once."

"We can make this train ride awkward if you'd like," Taffyta chuckled; Vanellope shifted in her seat to face Taffyta better.

"So you have to… Well, you know," Vanellope's face flushed, "Do th that certain thing."

"Have sex," Taffyta said plainly before perking up, "Why is this so hard for you?"

"I'm not programed for this!" Vanellope urged with a pleading frown, "I feel like I need another upgrade."

"And, yes, you have to do that 'certain thing' in order to code a whole other being," Taffyta explained.

"Would it be more difficult for… let's just SAY, Ralph and I… Because we're from different games? Different decades?" Vanellope asked gently.

"Yep," Taffyta assured, though she eyed her sister knowingly.

"E-even, with my uncontrollable glitch?" Vanellope wrinkled her nose and squinted in a shy manner as Taffyta shot her a look.

"Ok, this is getting too awkward, even for me," Taffyta laughed before pondering Vanellope's question anyway, "That could make it easier, though."

"Interesting," Vanellope breathed as she gazed into space, her face flushed.

"Oh, User… Have you thought about how big Ralph's hands and feet are?" Taffyta chuckled as she glanced at Vanellope.

"So?" Vanellope looked at her innocently.

"You seriously haven't put two and two together, yet?" Taffyta laughed as she gave Vanellope a shocked look.

"… O-oh," Vanellope breathed after a few silent moments, her eyes wide with shock, "N-No, I definitely didn't put two and two together. Thanks for that," she said almost in an annoyed tone, her whole face beet red.

"What would you do without me," Taffyta laughed as she leaned into the train's chair, her hands behind her head.

"I'd be horribly naive," Vanellope sighed, her eyes still wide. She inhaled sharply and tilted her head a little, still staring into space, "H how do you suppose we'd accomplish…that 'certain thing'?"

"He's as much man as a skyscraper is tall," Taffyta laughed as she wrinkled her nose, "But trust me, where there's a will, there is a way."

"Trust you?" Vanellope eyed her, "I'm starting to worry at how much knowledge you have on the subject matter."

"Do you want my help or not?" Taffyta chuckled, Vanellope lulled her head and rolled her eyes.

Vanellope inhaled a shaky breath and slid her eyes away from her sister, "I think I'm okay for now."