A Half-Baked Life 7 (Tamberlane Webcomic, Human!SI)

"She's growing a lot."

Belfry's distracted thought grabbed my attention as I was finishing dusting at some of the lanes around the library. The bat was sitting by one of the available tables, a journal about Tamberlane open as she was taking note of things that were quite unique about our daughter.

Her favorite food, her preferences in terms of favorite colors or activities, but also her weight and size.

Admittedly it felt a bit sudden how much she 'grew' out of being a toddler, and now was a little girl that could walk around and be a menace when needed. I wouldn't say she was the rowdiest of the bunch, but she was a kid and she loved the colorful world of Treehollow.

Still, Tambry had grown a few inches, could speak properly, write too, same in being a picky eater as she had a rather limited list of acceptable food she would like to eat. Poor Oakewood tried to give her raw venison meat, but it was tiny enough to be an acceptable meal... but Tambry was more of a veggie-lover despite my effort to 'corrupt' her.

"She's growing just fine," I assured as I sat by Belfry and looked at her recently-added lines. "What's to worry about?"

"How long will she get?" Belfry inquired, sounding quite serious about it and I gave her a swift response.

"At most, a few inches over me. Most certainly she will stop at around my shoulders," I hummed, knowing that the bat was nervous for other reasons. "Don't tell me Oakewood's rambling to to you too."

"I am just worried," Belfry huffed quietly, eyes narrowing as she fixed her... glasses. How long did she have those? "I mean, your species is not known to medical books. Same for biology ones. It's only fair to be prepared for... you know."

"You mean what I am already doing with Miss Nora? We have a few contingencies to work with, Bel," I reached out by putting an arm around her tense back. "It's going to be alright."

The bat offered a tense nod. "I suppose but... maybe I am also worried about what will happen at the Festival."

The Sovereign Festival was an annual event which saw all denizens of Silver Sage create community-wide festivals meant to celebrate the foundation of the Sovereign Movement. When all cultures came to be in a single unitary government championed by the current Parliament and the various Village Councils.

Everyone was invited to have booths to promote their talents and businesses, and while Librarians didn't have to worry about this sort of stuff - same for teachers - Briar had visited just mere hours ago to ask Belfry if she could tag along with the rest of the family to help there.

Albeit things were smoother than it had been months ago between Belfry and her mother, there were tense moments that would end coming up from time to time. I was actually in a friendly situation with both Tess and Walter, same for Briar, but it was always so weird being in a spot so... familiar. And yet not.

I guess I could relate to... Belfry's spot? I couldn't fully correlate to what memories this mattered, I only know that I did have a few times of 'butting heads' with my mother at some points through the amnesia, but nothing that could truly be seen as a definitive answer.

Alas, it wasn't important as my new life in this world was somewhat far simpler and far easier for me to digest. And the current status quo had nothing I could complain about.

"You will do fine. Just... don't push too much on Tambry's new outfit."

The bat perked. "But mom could like it."

"Would she?"

The girl deflated. "M-Maybe not. I mean, is it wrong to try and make her look closer to my mother?"

"I am not saying it is a bad idea. I just think Tambry would love it more if the clothes had been more similar to... you."

Belfry frowned. "Me? Why me?"

"Why wouldn't she want to look like her mom for once?"

Her mouth opened at my counter-question, but she froze over that reasonable point I raised. Like, when Belfry mentioned this thing about 'creature-themed onesie' I thought that a pink bat one would have been among the first five, but it never seemed to occur to Belfry that this was an actual option.

"I... I never thought of that."

"A missed opportunity, but I am sure Avery will not mind for that sort of commission next time we have to add another cute outfit to our little girl."

Patting her back after saying this seemed to cheer Belfry up as she closed her journal and gave me an intense look.

I actually frowned at this, thinking I had done something wrong, but as I waited for an answer, she offered me a grin.

"You think I am cute, don't you."

My jaw dropped and, admittedly so, I got caught with a bit of a flushed face at the idea. "Y-Yeah?"

"...Do you really think I am cute?"

"I do... why?"

Her lips twitched, the bat putting a hand on her cheek to pat it.

"N-No reason."

I looked away at the adorable look she was giving me, and I heard her giggle.

"Say, John," Belfry spoke up mirthfully. "What do you think we think of a... hang out? Just the two of us."

"Are you... asking me out on a date?" I inquired back, making her suddenly hesitant.

"I am- I mean, I don't know how your kind do this so maybe I am doing all of this wrong but-"

She froze mid-apologetic tone as she felt my hand squeezing at hers. She looked at it, then saw a smile on my face as, admittedly so, I may not have much of an opposition to do something about it.

"You did nothing wrong, Bel. So... when's the date?"

Cue Belfry panicking as she hadn't thought that deeply of that improvised idea. I guess that was going to be quite an interesting situation... but there was still a festival to deal with. With new and old faces plus a few more problems along the way.

AN

My Bat pseudo-wife can't get any cuter!