Chapter Text
Sam considered himself a rather sensible man, all things considered.
He was the king of the Greater Esempi, father of three, and he was also the advisor for Kinoko Kingdom's current, temporary ruler, Eret.
He was known as a good, kind, logical man, if not a bit brutal and harsh to those he saw as enemies.
A lot of people had only ever known him as King Sam of the Greater Esempi, though, and not as the right hand man of Captain Puffy, previous number one most wanted pirate. Most didn't remember the day Puffy and he had slain the dictator that had been ruling the Esempi, and then the following split that had occured, resulting in the Greater Esempi, ruled by Sam, and the Antarctic Empire, ruled by Emperor Philza, a man who had come out of seemingly nowhere and had sweet talked Sam into giving him the Southern half of the Esempi so long as he never dared to wage war on the Esempi.
Those who do remember that, remember the rather public falling out of King Sam and his Royal Guard's captain, Puffy. If they remembered then they'd remember how quickly Philza reacted, scooping Puffy up for himself and making sure that she'd have anything she'd need.
Sam had learnt a lot from that and after that, hence why he is certain that he is, at least, sensible.
Which is why, after many times reviewing his own past, he was shocked to get a message from Puffy.
She hadn't talked to him since the day that they had screamed at one another in the square, about one thing or another, it hardly mattered now, and Sam knew, looking back, that Puffy wasn't simply mad at him, no she was absolutely pissed. Sam knew of Puffy's talent when it came to holding grudges.
He hadn't ever expected to hear from her again, and yet here he is now, staring down at the communicator in his hands, a new message from Puffy simply saying, " Can we talk?"
Sam barely hesitated to type out a quick affirmative before asking if she wanted to meet up at the border.
It took a long moment for her to say yes, and tell him exactly where, but the second he had that he was racing out of the throne room, darting in and out of room's in search of either Hannah or Quackity.
Boomer was definitely a no-go, he was off with Purpled, last Sam knew, and while Quackity wasn't the best fit for long term ruling, considering the fact that he's a new parent himself, Sam was confident in his eldests skills since he wasn't planning on being gone long.
Hannah was who he was hoping he'd find first, because, while she hadn't exactly been the one who had been trained since her adoption to become the future ruler, she had followed the Crown Prince, Quackity, around dutifully and she had learnt almost as much as Quackity had. Plus, she had proven more than confident often enough, and Sam had heard through the grape vines that she was planning on becoming the Captain of the Royal Guard, so being the temporary ruler would definitely earn her some more loyalty points, in terms of leadership, from the Royal Guard.
Of course, it was always a gamble as to whether or not Hannah was even going to be in the capital, let alone the castle, so Sam wasn't too optimistic that he wouldn't have to drag Quackity away from Slimecicle.
Sam darted from room to room, before finally peeking in Quackity's room.
He was met by the, frankly adorable, sight of Quackity letting Slime mess with his fingers and arms, clearly interested in them.
Slime was an enigma to Sam. Quackity had officially adopted him only a couple days prior and, honestly, Sam had no clue how to feel about the seven year old. He was curious, and sweet, but sometimes he'd say or do something that just didn't seem completely…human. Which was fine, most everyone was a hybrid anyways, it was just…confusing, because he didn’t seem any different than regular humans.
Sam hadn’t even worked up the courage to ask Quackity where, or even when, he'd found the boy, yet. Although, he wasn’t sure he really wanted to know, because he saw the way Quackity would sometimes seem to zone out and then latch onto Slime like he was going to be taken from him at any time. Sam saw the burns that covered nearly all of Slime's back and by the gods did he see how the boy would cry and flinch whenever near anything even remotely hot.
Anyway, a couple of moments after the door opened, Quackity finally looked up, giving Sam a small smile.
"Hey, Sam. What's up?"
Slime briefly looked up when Quackity spoke, waving brightly at Sam, and then he was back to observing Quackity's hand.
"Do you know where Hannah is?"
Quackity furrowed his eyebrows before slowly shaking his head, "No, I haven't seen her since I first got back." Then he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Sam,"Why? Is everything okay?"
Sam sighed, "I hope so. Captain Puffy of the Antarctic Royal Guard has requested that I meet her at the border."
Quackity's eyebrows slowly rose, "Wasn't she someone you used to be close with a really long time ago?"
It was then that Slime piped up, still holding onto Quackity's hand as he smiled at Sam, "You were both from the sea, brother and sister in the ways that matter more than blood, like how Quackity from the Desert is family to me in ways more important than blood, Sam from the Sea."
Quackity barely blinked at the seven year old, looking even more expectantly at Sam, "Oh, brother and sister?"
"Why are you taking a seven year old's words as fact?"
Quackity shrugged, "I trust Slime, and if that's what he says is true, that's what's true."
Sam sighed, "Then, yeah, okay. Once upon a time, maybe, we cared about each other as family. Now though…"
Quackity hummed, "Yeah, I figured. So, is this a 'hey, lets reconcile' or a 'the Antarctic Empire has sent me as proxy to tell you that we're declaring war' type of message."
Sam rolled his eyes, "Neither, I don’t think. Closer to the first, though. It doesn't seem like business, so I'm not too worried."
Quackity hummed, "I can look after the Kingdom while you go, Sam."
"Are you sure? I can send out for Hannah-"
Quackity rolled his eyes, "Go, Dad . I've got the kingdom, and, plus, eventually, after you and I both die, the kingdom's going to Slime anyways, might as well start teaching him things now."
Sam bit his lower lip, "I don't know…"
Quackity huffed, glaring at him. "Go. Now. We've got this. Right, Slime?"
The boy hummed, "Yes, now I quite agree that you should go see Puffy from the sea, Sam from the sea. Maybe you guys can eventually become family in the ways that matter again."
Sam sighed but nodded. At this point, he knew better than to argue against Quackity for too long, and he had a feeling that Slime would end up being just as stubborn as his adoptive father.
He turned around and exited the room, making his way out of the castle and then, from there, to the border where Puffy wanted to meet.
***
Puffy was a good mother and she was damn well aware of that fact.
Dream was her first son, quiet and kind, until he learnt how to use a sword, and then he started getting violent. Puffy had managed to reign him in, though, keep him sane and by her side. She had managed to help Dream turn that violence into determination to keep his family safe. She hadn't wanted him to learn how to truly fight so young, though, so she gave him another task, in case of an emergency, he was to take his brother and run. So, Dream started training, learning how to run longer and faster than everyone around him, and he discovered just how much he adored the sport.
Foolish was her second, and he was the kindest, sweetest person that Puffy knew. He was a builder, through and through, which Puffy knew was thanks to him being the son of the god of building and creation. Foolish would build and build and build, never stopping or taking breaks. It was just something that she knew he needed , just as she needed water to live.
And her most recent son, Tubbo, was…well he was still a baby but, call it a mother's intuition, she knew that he was going to be some weird mix of both Foolish and Dream. Chaotic and well meaning, but maybe a little violent.
She had no clue as to what he was going to end up enjoying doing, what Tubbo's version of Dream’s constant running and Foolish’s building was going to be, but she knew that she'd support whatever shenanigans he got up to. (And she suspected that there'd be many.)
And now, looking down at the newest Prince, she almost felt as if he should've been hers, to be raised alongside Tubbo, as his brother and best friend, because, surely, that's what they'd end up being. (Puffy could feel it. She knew.)
She was sitting on the floor of Theseus' room, moonlight bleeding in through the windows, Theseus curled up in her arms, sleeping peacefully. She had told Niki to go and get some rest, ushering the two other Princes out alongside Niki, with the same command.
Puffy wasn't even sure why she was still sitting in the room with the boy. She could've left and simply assigned guards to make sure he slept and was safe. But something just felt…wrong with that idea. Like she was the one who needed to make sure that Theseus was asleep, happy and healthy the whole while.
She remembered feeling this way with her own children and with one other boy, Quackity, who ended up taking more of a liking to Sam then to her, which had stung, but she was certain he was happy where he was, as Sam's heir to the throne.
Puffy sighed heavily as she sleepily stared at the boy. She felt like she was waiting, although for what, she couldn't be sure.
At least, until the door creaked open and Puffy was met by a woman she had never seen before.
Puffy glared at her and the woman smiled softly, eyes swirling with a galaxy situated in them.
They, oddly enough, reminded her of Theseus' eyes.
Warm and cold all at the same time.
"My name is Clara, and I am the goddess that your Empress worshipped."
Puffy took a moment to trace her memories before blinking at the woman, she looked like her, if her memories were correct, and Puffy knew for a fact that she was the only one who knew that Kristin had worshipped any gods at all.
"How can I trust that?"
She could never be too safe.
The supposed goddess smiled, "You're brother, Schlatt, was the one you and Sam killed, oh so long ago."
Puffy briefly froze, she knew that there was no way that anyone could have found out that Schlatt had been her brother, she looked like the goddess, and, honestly, Puffy was heavily inclined to simply believe her, which she suspected might have to do with the goddess' magic.
"See? Now, I've come here to ask something rather important of you."
"And that is?"
"Take Theseus and leave. Raise him as your own."
Puffy felt her breathing stutter to a stop, eyes widening.
"Your Empress had requested that somebody raise him with love, away from Phil. She left the decision as to who up to me."
Puffy forced her lungs to start working again, blinking rapidly before speaking, "And you chose me?"
The goddess hummed, "You and one other, the maid Niki. You will be good for each other. You'll become family, in your own right."
Puffy licked her lips, "Niki and I?"
Clara nodded, "Yes. I've already talked to her, and she's agreed." She let out a breezy, light laugh, "Spitfire, that one. Said that she'd take Theseus and leave even if you said no."
Puffy smiled a bit, "Alright. Is she on her way up?"
"Yes. But Puffy?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you swear to raise Theseus as your own?"
Puffy furrowed her eyebrows, "I suppose so, yes."
The goddess nodded, "You'll have to rename him."
Puffy startled and opened her mouth to reply but suddenly the goddess wasn't there and the door was swinging open.
Niki stared right at her, pursing her lips and folding her arms across her chest. "So? What'll it be, Puffy?"
Puffy blinked, "I'm going to leave with you guys, obviously."
Niki suddenly deflated, looking ever so grateful. "Oh thank the gods, I probably would've gotten us killed within the first night."
Puffy laughed, "Yeah. Uh, did she tell you we had to rename Theseus?:
Niki blinked before lighting up, "Oh, yes! I think she might have told me more than you, if you're confused."
Puffy hummed, "Mind explaining then?"
Niki hummed, "Alright, so basically she said that next week you'll have to put it into your files that you have Tubbo, right? " Puffy hummed, and Niki continued, "Well, she said to put Theseus in that file as well, under a different name, obviously, and claim that you had twins, basically. Then after that you can resign and I can be the one to officially kidnap Theseus." Niki furrowed her eyebrows, "Goddess Clara said we'd have to find refuge in another kingdom, one that would protect us, and that you'd know what kingdom that'd be."
Puffy took a deep breath, closed her eyes and counted to ten before slowly breathing out.
"Yeah, yeah I know the kingdom that she was probably talking about. First, though, what are we going to name him?"
Niki bit her lower lip and shrugged, "Well, I was the Empress’ handmaiden for only about a week before she, uh, ya know. But, anyways, she had mentioned that if she had a boy she'd want to name him either Theseus or Thomas, and if it was a girl, then Atalanta or Aspen."
Puffy nodded slowly, "So you're thinking Thomas, right? It's a common name, too, so it wouldn’t be hard to pass off."
Niki gave a small smile, "And Tommy for short."
Puffy nodded, "I think Theseus being born on the bigger side, and Tubbo on the smaller, might make it completely plausible to pass them off as twins when I put in weights, too."
Niki nodded, "Yeah, I think this could work, don't you?"
Puffy nodded slowly, "Yeah. Yeah, I think so." She looked down at Theseus, "Tommy and Tubbo, Tubbo and Tommy, twin boys." She nodded slowly, looking up at Niki, "Tubbo's dad had blue eyes, and so doesn't he. Everyone knows that I dyed my own natural blonde hair, too, so no one should question me having a biologically blonde son."
She looked up at Niki, her smile growing bigger, "I really think this will work, Niki."
Niki smiled back. "Yeah? Well, why don't I take Theseus, Tommy , so that you can go get us guaranteed refuge, okay?"
Puffy nodded slowly, passing Theseus- Tommy- over to Niki and then she grabbed her communicator, scrolling to the bottom of her messages to find Sam, and then she typed out a message.
It took a little bit of figuring out, but Niki agreed to watch Theseus while Puffy snuck over to the border in order to talk to Sam.
So, that’s where she was now, staring at her once upon a time brother’s face, his green-red eyes glowing in the dark.
"Sam."
"Puffy. What'd you call me here for?"
Puffy searched his eyes, sighing after a moment.
"Empress Kristin died giving birth to Prince Theseus, who Emperor Philza is now ignoring. The goddess Clara visited me and Theseus' nanny earlier, asking if we would take Theseus and run. She said to go to you and ask for refuge." Puffy paused, "To reconcile, too."
Sam looked mildly shocked, but he still responded just the same, "How are you planning on doing that?"
"I have my own biological son that hasn't been introduced to anyone yet. Next week I have to put him in my file. Clara suggested that I pass him off as Tubbo's twin, and then resign. Niki will then leave with me, but we both suspect that she will be blamed for Theseus' kidnapping."
Sam hummed, "Have you already come up with a name?"
"Tommy."
Sam nodded slowly. "Alright. Yeah, I can make that work. Do you just have Tubbo and Tommy?"
Puffy shook her head, "Dream will definitely be coming with me, he's my eldest, and Foolish may or may not come too."
Sam nodded, "Alright. I'll just have my own maids set up a wing for your guys' use. There'll be plenty of room for all of you, no worries, and when Phil inevitably comes looking for…Niki?" Puffy nodded, "Niki, then I'll vouch for her, I'll tell him I personally watched you, your sons, and Niki all cross the border and that I was the one to check you all, as you'll be staying in my own castle. I'll tell him that there was nothing out of the ordinary."
Puffy blinked at Sam before huffing out a breath. "You've really changed, Sam."
Sam smiled, "You have too, Puffy. Motherhood is a good look on you."
Puffy raised an eyebrow, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Sam laughed, "Nothing bad, don't worry."
Puffy rolled her eyes, "And what about you? You always said that you'd love to be a dad one day."
Sma smiled softly, a look she never remembered seeing on her friend's face.
"I adopted Quackity, officially, and I have Hannah and Boomer now, too."
"Congrats!"
Sam smiled, "Yeah." He paused before lighting up, smiling at her brightly, "By the way, Quackity adopted his own son, too! His name is Slimecicle, and he's a bit weird, but we all love him."
Puffy melted just a bit, "So, you're a Grandpa before I'm a Grandma, huh?"
She raised an eyebrow and he blinked before groaning, "I forgot about that!"
"50 diamonds, hand 'em over, Sam!"
He rolled his eyes but handed them over with a smile that she returned.
Puffy sighed a moment later, "Well, I have to get going, Sam, but thank you so much."
Sam smiled, "Of course, Puffy."