Okay so I have this big dang crossover joke fic idea that has been haunting me for months and I decided that I should write it before father's day.

I did not end up writing that idea before father's day. Instead, this came into being.

I'm also posting this now instead of Sunday because I'll be dealing with relatives all weekend and who knows if I will find the time. orz

So here's an early father's day present to Batu, the daddest dad of the dad trio. Enjoy :D

Stick to the Script and Other Stories

By Bilbo-sama

Milestones

Batu knew babies can grow pretty fast if you weren't paying attention. The western village's chief's twins had figured out how to sit up under their own power when he had last seen them at the Chief Meet last spring. Now they were giving their assigned caretakers conniptions by climbing on huts and trees.

Meanwhile Tani, like the storms she was showing signs of affinity to, could not stay still for long. She would dart to and fro among the chaos that comes from a village of sky pirates and visitors who came with their leaders for this spring's Chief Meet with surprising ease, giggling all the way.

Batu wasn't worried. Everyone who wasn't assigned to the twins keeps an eye on all children in the village.

And most fortunately, Tani doesn't have the ability to climb things yet. He doesn't have to worry about her getting into trees, cliffs, or the skimmers without his help.

(Even though it was too soon to think about it, the idea that one day she'll be old enough to fly and getting into trouble by herself made his heart ache. Tani can't stay a tiny babbling toddler forever but until the day comes, he will endure all of her delighted shrieks in his ears as they soar in the skies together.)

"Boss! Boss!"

"Boss! She's...!"

So Batu didn't pay attention to the excited shouting at first. Part of being a chief is knowing that sometimes you have to let whatever was happening resolve itself. He'll deal with it if someone decides it requires his full attention away from hosting duty.

"As fer Fabricas," began Batu, "I haven't - "

And then suddenly the noise became silent. Batu and the three other chiefs looked around in concern.

Everyone was watching them cautiously. Batu frowned. What...?

And then he heard a giggle near him. He looked down and found the source.

"Well now," he smiled as he picked up Tani, "what are ye up to, Girlie?"

"Bah!" said Tani.

"Hmm?" Batu pretended to be confused, "What was that?"

"Bah!" Tani tried again before scrunching up her face in frustration. "Baaaaaah-"

"Bah?" repeated Batu before the realization hit him like a pile of logs. Is this...?

"Bah," reluctantly agreed Tani as her lower lip quibbled.

"It's alright, Girlie, take yer time," her father encouraged.

That just made the little girl more determined.

"Baaaaaah," she tried again. "Bahhhhh!"

She took a deep breath. Noting this, Batu indicated to the other chiefs to stand back.

"BOOOOSSSSSSSSS!"

Batu wasn't sure what everyone around him was saying, what with his ears ringing over everything, but he knew from how jubilant the villagers looked, he hadn't missed it.

He lifted Tani in the air and there was a muffled roar from the village.

"Tonight we feast in her honor!" Batu declared with pride.

The roar became cheering and the delighted shriek from Tani who soaked up the attention as her father set her down on the ground. She ran into the crowd repeating her first word as she dashed about.

"They grow up so fast, don't they?" commented the northern chief.

"Aye," agreed Batu as a swirl of emotions bloomed in his chest.

"I wouldn't worry," said the western chief as her twins ran up to her, "at least yours hasn't figured out swears yet."

The twins then decide to prove her point.

Loudly.

Just as Tani came running back to Batu.

She held up a rock and opened her mouth.

"Boss!"

Batu internally sighed in relief.