Archive of Our Own

Pearl carefully made her way to the bedroom as a soft light guided her.

She usually didn’t wake up early, but this time she had a certain reason as to why.

In her arms she carried a tray which held four bowls, four glasses of orange juice, and a small bottle of water. In three of the bowls was a yogurt parfait covered with oats and fruit, and the fourth bowl contained a pile of fruit cubes. Much to some of her dismay, only half the orange juice contained pulp while the other had none.

As she neared the door, there was a reason why she was trying her hardest to not dare make a sound, and it lied across from her in the back of the room.

Lying in bed, under the thickets of blankets, and surrounded by a pile of soft pillows were her beautiful wife that wrapped around the small children in her arms.

Curled up next to Marina were their oldest child, Kelp, who gripped his small tentacle-digits into the eel plushie that had been a gift a while back from Fyre. Pearl could tell the small digits would be hardening into stronger claws since he seemed to have a similar type to Marina’s claws, while feet mimicked Pearl’s. His green white-dotted body differed from his mother’s teal ink shade but still had a teal shade to it. While his eyes were closed, Pearl knew if he opened his eyes, she would see the golden irises that matched her own star-shaped ones. A spunky fellow like Pearl, but had the brains and disdain for pulp-filled oj just like Marina.

Under Marina’s arm was their middle child, Tide, whose body’s shade was a mixture of the two of them. He had large teal splotches that covered his small pink body. He had surprised them when he first opened his eyes to show them both that not only did he have one eye that matched Pearl’s, but another that matched Marina’s. One was a sea foam green and pink color that had a star-shaped iris. The other was a bright yellow with a peanut shaped iris that matched Marina’s.

Then there was the youngest, Reef, wrapped around by Marina’s longest tentacle. Having recently turned a month, his fuchsia shade blob of a body would wiggle every time he moved. He’d still have a way to go for growing up, but Pearl could see that he already little specks of brown that matched Marina’s tentacles. Pearl knew there’d be no picking him since Marina was still on high alert with him being so young.

She learned how bad hormones could get when she had gotten pregnant with Tide, but they learned fast that octolings were far more protective. A few bites and scratches made her learn that fast movements around Kelp when he was still an egg was not a bright idea. Still, the both of them had worked things out to where they had a system in place to take care of the other when they were carrying and after the egg was laid.

For Pearl, things were a lot simpler in preparing for Tide. They at least had information, advice from Pearl’s gamgam and father, and books they had bought earlier when Marina was carrying Kelp. When Pearl was getting a bit too protective over the egg, Marina could distract her with a laser pointer or shiny item. Marina also giving her one of her blankets also helped keep Pearl calmer when Marina was out of the house. She wasn’t too much of a worrywart naturally, but even her tough brain couldn’t help but thinking her mate was missing when her hormones were messing with her. The only other problem they had was realizing Tide was far bigger than Kelp, and Pearl and Marina agreed that Marina would carry any future children they decided to have, which led to Reef being the last one they decided to have.

For Marina, they had somewhat of a rocky start when preparing for Kelp. It was their first time, and the pregnancy itself was a surprise. They had thought it was sickness until Pearl’s doctor showed them the results. It practically astounded them both since neither had ever heard of hybrids being possible between octolings and squids. Then it was hard to find information about octoling pregnancies since Marina had never been taught, and there weren’t any books they could find in the library. A small part of her felt angered that so much about octoling cultures were wiped after the Great Turf War, but her and Marina made do with what they could.

It turned out that nesting habits between the two species were far different from what they had expected. A comforting fact was the similarities between both such as having multiple eggs to a clutch. One to three were fertilized but 3/4th would always be duds. Newly hatched would eat the duds as it provided an early protein for them and didn’t let the nutrients be wasted.

For squids (and surprisingly not cuttlefishes), they were known to gather objects that would create a barrier and soft surface for the upcoming eggs. It was common for a partner/partners to have items given to the carrier in order for confusion to be avoided. It wasn’t uncommon for squid parents to be hostile to those that their mind considered unrecognizable. After the eggs were laid, the parents switch position as one would hunt while the other watched over the nest. Although for her, it meant her and Marina would watch the nest, but Pearl spent the most time around it.

On the other hand, octolings actually built nests made of small pools surrounded by stones they favored. The parents would find small ponds and choose to have the eggs there or have a pond built of their own. It was common for those building their own to find stones that appealed to them. Then the parents would build a nest of soft items around and share duties of keeping the pond temperature regulated and clean. Similar to squids, familiar items would have to be given to avoid confusion and possible harm as both species were known to be protective over their young. Although, only through words passed down and elders that still lived to the present day could tell about how octolings once cared for their young before the Great Turf War.

Pearl was just glad that Shiver’s family offered to help her and Marina when they learned about the pregnancy. Her favorite activity had been preparing the nest since she and Marina had spent time on Mt. Nantai finding the right stones. The actual nest turned out to be a small green space that was originally made for Marina’s garden but renovated to accommodate her for staying there among the plants and pond. They both had brought over pillows, a mattress, and blankets to set it up to where Marina felt comfortable. Then they brought some of Pearl’s clothes so that Marina would be familiar with her scent.

Once the eggs were laid, Marina had left them in the pond and would join them in the water or curled up next to the edge. They found out next that Marina would be staying next to the eggs since her mind would only focus on them. Even Pearl got nipped and scratched when Marina hadn’t recognized her immediately, but she made sure to tell Marina that she was okay. It amazed Pearl that Marina knew how to read the water temperature through her tentacles and would adjust the eggs, so they would be in a comfortable position.

As time went on, Marina’s hormones calmed, and she returned to her usual self albeit protective towards the eggs. The two of them were downright sobbing with happiness as they watched Kelp climb out from his egg. His round shaped head and thick tentacle ends were just too cute. From the day on, they promised to each other that they would be amazing parents.

A year later, Tide hatched, and they were just as excited even though Tide had also been unexpected. Callie was excited to hear the news since she and her two wives had their own recent newborn hatch a month earlier. There were a lot of future play dates planned, but Pearl and Marina didn’t mind. Callie and Marie were practically aunts to Kelp and Tide.

Now, here they were five years later with their brand newborn, Reef, enjoying the cold winter that was cast upon Inkopolis. Pearl could hardly believe that she was already thirty-three and Marina was thirty.

Carefully setting the tray down on the farthest end of the bed, Pearl climbed over to the three. She propped herself next to Kelp and brushed her hand gently against his small tentacles. He gave a small growl as a warning, but another pet made him lean into the pet. Just like her, he was a grumpy butt when being woken up.

She gave him a small kiss on the forehead and knew that did the trick as he opened his starry yellow eyes towards her. The way his eyes widen as his little six-year-old mind gears turned once they realized it was Pearl made her want to chuckle.

Kelp gasped. “Mama! You’re awake”

“I’m awake,” Pearl whispered. 

She pointed over to the end of the bed where the breakfast tray lied. 

“And If you’re careful, you can go grab your bowl of yogurt over there.” 

“No pulp?” Kelp asked with a tilt of his head.

Pearl shook her head, “No pulp.”

The small inktoling smiled and made his way over to the breakfast tray.

Then, it was Tide’s turn to wake up as he squeaked when Pearl plucked him from under Marina’s arm. The little five-year-old was already getting so big, and she knew it wouldn’t be long until he matched her height. Unlike his brothers, he had her own triangular head shape that squids normally had. She wouldn’t be surprised if he got Marina’s height and Pearl’s looks.

Pearl couldn’t help but press gently against his little chubby cheeks. That earned her an angry squeak and a glare as he opened his mismatched eyes towards her. She made a small motion with her hand and pointed to the food across from them.

While they weren’t fully sure on it yet, Pearl and Marina suspected that Tide had some partial hearing loss. The last doctor visit confirmed they’d need to take him to a specialist, but it’d be a while before the first appointment with all the holidays around. That’s why Marina came up with the idea of making their own hand signs to communicate with Tide when he had troubles hearing them.

The little inktoling yawned and crawled towards his brother. He took his bowl and swatted away his brother’s tentacle that tried to steal one of his strawberries. Pearl chuckled at the adorable sight of the two.

Finally, it was time to wake Marina up, but Pearl felt a little unsure.

They way Marina breathed softly with the sun gently illuminating her face made her look downright beautiful in Pearl’s eyes. She looked so peaceful with Reef next to her, but Pearl knew she’d have to wake her up now before the other two took all the fruit from her bowl.

She reached over to Marina’s cheek and softly rubbed it, snickering to herself as Marina sleepily leaned into the touch. It was funny how similar their kids were to the both of them. Even Reef was stirred awake by the motion of Marina’s tentacles starting to move. The tiny inktoling giving a small chirp as the tentacles wrapped around him picked him up and rose following Marina’s movement.

Marina opened her mouth and gave a quiet yawn, her ears flickering to the sound of the two siblings fighting over their fruit. One ear went towards Pearl’s direction as it heard her shift around the bed. 

She blinked away the sleep that tried to creep back over her, and Pearl saw those beautiful sea foam green and pink eyes. The way the sun hit them made her think about galaxies they’d seen at the planetarium. Swirling colors dancing around with stars in them.

“Morning, Pearlie.” Marina hummed with a trill in her voice. Giving the softest of smiles towards the pink squid.

Pearl felt her hearts surge with love. She couldn’t help but give a smile in return to match Marina’s own.

She was happy to have a new beginning.

First, it was meeting Marina.

Then, it was saving Agent 8.

And now? 

Now, it was a new beginning with the family she had formed with the person who made her heart a blazing love-filled meteor.

“Happy New Year, Reena.”