>>5514459“I really doubt that it'll come to that hun. Komand'r is still afraid of us.” you tell your wife with a chuckle, patting her on the back. “But if it does, if this devolves to a trial by combat, I won't stand in your way. She can be all yours.”
“Good.” she replies, nodding to you once. “Now that that's over, how about we go check on Chilli and Megumin?”
“Sure thing.” you reply happily, you and your wife going back inside. You go back into the medbay, where you find Megumin humming to herself as her daughter feeds, Chilli still sitting there beside the bed with his arm around her back, unable to take his eyes off his daughter's face. “Hey you two. Get any sleep last night?”
“Morning Mom, Dad.” Chilli replies, Megumin almost reflexively going to cover herself but then relaxes as your wife no doubt tells her something. “Yeah, we got a few hours. I hadn't thought she would be so....Loud.”
“Just like her old man.” Megumin says with a giggle, her words striking Chilli and causing him to freeze in place for a moment. You chuckle at this, watching your son mutter “old man” a couple times to himself before he laughs as well. Meloka and Megumin start talking about the differences between a 'natural' birth and using the pods early, to which the young mother says she'd certainly be more open to it next time.
“I'm glad I brought our daughter into the world, but there's no way I'd go through THAT again.” she says, your wife laughing at this declaration and patting her on the knee.
“I agree. Besides, if you're using the pods you can have more children faster.” your wife tells her, the young mother's eyes widening at the declaration. She and Chilli share a look, your son laughing at this.
“Maybe one day. But right now, one kid is more than enough for us.” he tells his mother, your wife not pushing the matter and simply smiling at them before turning her focus back to the granddaughter. Who finishes eating, letting go of her mother and looking around at all the noise. She sees you, eyes widening as she looks up at you.
“Hey kiddo. You see me, huh?” you ask, reaching down towards the infant. Who reaches up to your hand, grabbing your finger with both of her tiny hands. As she touches you you can feel the warmth of this new, precious life and can't help but smile. Which causes the young Meloka Wolbach to smile back, making happy, intelligible noises. You then reach out with your other hand, laying it on Chilli's shoulder. “You'll make a great dad, Chilli. You can do this.”
He turns to you as you say this, the shock clear on his face. You smile at him and pat him a few times on the back, nodding once before turning back to the granddaughter. Who smiles up at you all, eyes wide and filled with wonder. Redoubling your commitment to strength, to be strong enough to protect your family. All of your growing family.
-Saiyan Conqueror Quest 188 paused-
