Three days later, Red Son lay curled on a futon on the floor of the nursery, near Mei's bed. It was early, the dawn sending warm gold through the window, and he'd been awake for ten minutes. Their home was quiet, and he had been taking the time to savor it, and to continue letting the days' previous events digest and settle.

His father had been thrilled to hear about the baby - he didn't start cheering or shouting like the Noodle Boy's family did when they called Mei's phone hours later, but Red Son could tell. It showed in his eyes, the way he carried himself when he was finally allowed to enter the nursery after Red Son, Mei, and the baby had been able to sleep a bit. The bull king had barely kept himself from melting when Mei passed him the infant.

"She's fearless," he'd chuckled instead, as Chenguang looked up at him and held his finger. "Just like her parents are."

Jingyi had stayed long enough to determine that all was well, and had left quietly around noon that day. Red Son's parents would remain with them through the next four weeks.

Red himself had been true to his word; he hadn't gone anywhere. Instead, he'd pulled out a collapsible futon from the closet and had spread it out by the bed.

He hadn't actually used it until hours later, as instead he'd ended up falling asleep sitting up next to Mei on the bed itself, both of them curled around the baby.

In the present, he found himself watching Mei. She was still in the delivery bed, but had since changed into fresh pajamas and was on clean sheets. Iron Fan was adamant that Mei stay where she was for at least a few days, until she was sure she had fully recovered. And even after that, she advised her to limit her movement while she 'did the month.' Mei had agreed, at least for the moment.

…she looked beautiful, Red Son noted. The sunlight shining through the window gave her body a warm golden halo, and her mouth was lightly curved into a smile as she dreamed. Her hair was still completely down, fanned over the pillow and brushing over her shoulders.

She always looked beautiful to him, but there was just something about her now.

(He'd first noticed when he first stirred awake and was unable to look away from her as she slept, still holding the baby. DBK had huffed quietly, touching his shoulder. "I know what you're feeling," he confided. "I was the same way.")

After a moment, the quiet stillness was broken as Chenguang began whimpering in her cradle by Mei's bedside. The whimpers quickly grew more urgent, threatening to become cries. Mei stirred, eyes opening as she grunted.

"I'll get her," Red Son offered, pushing himself up. He moved around the bed to pick up Chenguang - their daughter , he thought with another jolt of pride - and placed her in Mei's expectant arms. "I think she's hungry."

"I think you're right. She wanted the exact same thing this exact same time yesterday, too," Mei agreed, unbuttoning her pajama top and re-adjusting Chenguang against her breast. The baby's whimpers quieted as she found what she was looking for and started feeding. Mei smiled wryly, brushing her fingers against the back of Chenguang's head. "I swear, she's already got herself a schedule," she chuckled. "She definitely takes after you."

"It's never too early to form a solid routine," Red Son scoffed lightly. Then his voice softened even more: "How are you feeling?"

"This part? Still feels weird," Mei responded, watching the baby nurse. "I don't think I'm used to it, yet."

"And everything else?"

"Tired. Still a little sore. But I'm fine," Mei assured with a smile. "Your mom said I can get out of bed at the end of the week. I mean, I probably could now but–"

"My parents just want to be certain you're alright." Red Son paused, frowning as he considered something. "And I'm fairly sure you're not supposed to get out of bed for a month anyway."

"I don't have to go that far," Mei almost laughed. "This is the modern world, rules can be bent a little. We'd already broken the rules by having you with me in the first place."

Red Son's face flushed as his spine straightened. "Well–! I mean, I was–"

"Oh, calm down, Red Boy, I'm teasing you."


Mei was able to get out of bed by the end of the week, but nobody allowed her to do very much. She found that, at least for the month, she'd be limited to sitting on the couch, curling up in an armchair, or going back to bed. The good news was she was at least allowed to watch TV, something she knew was often touted as being off-limits.

There were a few rules that she was able to break, or at least bend so she followed the spirit of the rule if not the letter. One was bathing; Iron Fan insisted she not take a shower, but she was still able to wash her hair and clean herself in the tub.

"I'll let you in on a secret, Dragon," Iron Fan said one evening, dressing Chenguang in one of her cow onesies as Mei stood toweling off her hair. "I broke this rule as well."

Mei couldn't help laughing.

Unfortunately, the one rule everyone was adamant on not breaking was what she should eat. Mei understood to an extent; she was still delicate, she had to consider what certain foods could do to her milk, but still…

"Red Boy, come on," she pleaded. "A little spice won't kill me." She held her bowl out imploringly, pointing her spoon at the creamy rice and chicken stew. It was thick, and warm, and had lots of nutrients, and Red told her she could eat as much as she wanted… but it was bland. "Just a little chili powder. Paprika. Something."

"Not this time, Dragon Girl," Red snipped back from his place at the stove. "Not until the month is over."

"C'moooon–"

Chenguang chose that moment to gurgle from her place in DBK's hands, as if she wanted to draw attention to herself. There was a pause as everyone's gaze went to the baby for a moment, then Mei sighed in annoyance and pulled her food back to herself.

"You're buying me so many bowls of Pigsy's Noodles after this," Mei grumbled.

"Mind your temper," Iron Fan chided automatically.


"Father, please–"

"I'm not finished holding her yet."

"Father, it's her bedtime."

"She can fall asleep here. I can see her, she's already dozing off."

"Father, she needs structure, she has to be in her cradle–"

Mei and Iron Fan watched from their place on the couch as Red Son started threatening to climb up there if I must. Mei lifted her cup of tea and took a long, slow sip. "So… was Bull Daddy this bad with Red Boy?"

"Hmmm… worse."

(Chenguang was eventually, safely, retrieved.)


Chenguang was two weeks old, and Mei found herself thinking back to something Jingyi had said, back when they were interviewing her.

"You did throw fire around from the first minute…"

"Red Boy?" she asked, sitting up as he handed their child to her for her breakfast. "Did you really start showing your fire powers in the first few minutes?"

Red Son actually frowned, considering it. "Well…" he began slowly. "It's hard to say. I don't exactly remember infancy… Why?"

"It's… it's just Chenguang," Mei nodded her head towards the baby, feeding quietly. "If you showed something in the first few minutes, shouldn't she?"

"I mean - it could have been an exaggeration."

"The Monkey King had laser eyes three seconds after he was born."

"Yes, and he popped out a rock as a fully-formed adult. Were you lifting a sword when you were two weeks old?"

"Well, no, but– I just wonder–"

Chenguang picked that moment to pull away, her tiny face scrunching up slightly. Mei and Red Son looked down; Mei was frowning but Red Son looked even more concerned. "Sundrop?" he ventured, reaching for her. "Chenguang, you're supposed to feed for a minimum of twenty minutes at once, and it's barely been three. Are you not hungry?"

Chenguang whimpered, pouting.

"I think she just has a little hiccup to get out," Mei said. She gently, carefully, began to rub Chenguang's back. "Alright, little spark, let's get it out and–"

"Hic!"

When Chenguang opened her mouth, a small but still very bright blue ember spat out, and quickly fizzled back out. Red Son and Mei stared at the empty air in shock for a moment as Chenguang sighed contentedly, and the agitation left her face.

"Excuse me for a moment."

That was Mei's only warning before Red Son took Chenguang and teleported away in a whirl of fire. Mei stared, blinking dumbfoundedly as she heard the sound of a door down the hall being kicked open.

"Parents! Behold! My daughter, Chenguang, heir of the Bull Clan, has produced her first flame! No doubt the first of many powerful–"

"Red Boy, wait, she wasn't done eating!" Mei cried, holding her top and scrambling out of bed.