Chapter Text
On the quiet toy-filled streets of the planet Granbell, the robots of that small village no longer an amusement park. Shiki and Rebecca, their adventures over, had settled into a cozy little house, surrounded by ancient, imposing trees and crystalline skies that shone brighter every day. Maybe because it was a very welcoming planet, maybe because of the novelty of it all. The house was neither large nor ultramodern, but it was cozy, with mechanical tools scattered here and there for the boy's constant work and corners full of small relics that the young bcuber had collected during their travels.
In the center of their living room, wrapped in a warm, golden light, was a small crib where their newborn daughter slept peacefully, waiting for her room to be properly arranged. She was only a few weeks old, yet her presence had already transformed their lives in ways they could barely understand, either because of that completely new experience, or because of their very young age.
Rebecca gently stroked her fine, dark hair, a light brown that almost contrasted with her mother’s color and her father’s black. The little girl stirred slightly, her tiny hand tightening around her mother’s finger with surprising strength.
“She’s strong already,” Shiki whispered, watching them with a wide smile. He knelt down beside them, his eyes sparkling with that familiar wonder and awe. “I bet she’ll be lifting rocks in no time.”
The girl laughed softly, nudging him lightly. “Let’s hope she learns to crawl first.”
The boy inched closer and closer to the crib, looking at Maya’s small face, trying to imagine what she’d look like when she grew up. He felt a surge of excitement just thinking about all the things he could show her. Granbell was full of secrets he had yet to explore himself, and now he had a new person to share them with.
A new “Friend.”
"I almost feel bad leaving her with those two tomorrow," the boy said, referring to the plans he and his girlfriend had for the next day. A night just for them like they hadn't had in a long time.
"We need to let Witch and Sister get some rest." Rebecca sat down, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as she thought. "And Weisz and Hermit love her, you know."
Shiki wasn't discouraged. "It's just that I'd like to take her with us all the time," he declared. "Can't we even have five minutes??."
"We have her all day, Shiki, let's leave her with her uncles now that they've given us the option to spend an evening alone." his girlfriend discouraged him, giggling.
After the boy shook his head, they planned the trip for the next day, and when evening came, Shiki got to work in full force, preparing a baby bag with all the things the little girl needed, to give to the two of them the next day. Rebecca watched him, admiring his dedication and the care he put into even the smallest of projects. She knew that he, as much as she, was still getting used to the responsibility of being a parent, and sometimes she could see the weight of this new life on his shoulders. But they were both doing very well and in their own ways, even though he was 16 and the other was 17, they were giving it their all for what was such an unexpected surprise.
The next day they got up early and set off, with the little girl curled up in her new stroller driven by her dad. Her big eyes looked at the world with innocent curiosity, observing the sparkling crystals and listening to the soft rustling of the leaves as the two parents walked around Granbell, where all the robot relatives and friends of Shiki, greeted them and stopped to look at the little creature.
Witch and Sister, who also lived in Granbell, also showed up early in the morning to have breakfast with them before their beloved aunt and uncle went to pick up their niece to take her to Norma with them for the day.
Giving the little girl a kiss before Weisz and Hermit left with her, Rebecca and Shiki walked in silence, admiring the beauty of Granbell, and every now and then pointing out lively animals or plants of the place. When they reached the hidden springs of the planet, the view took even the blonde's breath away. The water was clear, the bottom covered with iridescent stones that caught the sunlight, casting rainbows everywhere. The quiet beauty of the place was more magical than they could describe.
Shiki crouched down near the water's edge, holding out his hand, fingers moving as if to catch the shimmering light reflecting off the surface.
Rebecca joined in, kneeling beside him, and whispered softly to her companion, "We're really trying hard, honey."
Shiki looked at her, his voice barely
above a whisper. "And we can do even better," she replied.
Both their hearts swelled. This was everything she had ever dreamed of: a life filled with love, friends, adventures, and now, a family of her own.
For a long moment, they stood there together in silence, lulled by the soft sound of the water and the gentle breeze. The wonders of Granbell spread out before them, and in that moment everything seemed perfect, like it had never been before.
Finally, they could truly be everything they needed.
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The baby's first few months were filled with beautiful chaos. Shiki and Rebecca soon found a rhythm they had never known before. Nights were spent rocking that baby back and forth, trying to soothe her to sleep with whispered lullabies or gentle rocking. More than once, the boy would wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of the baby crying, only to find that the good girl was already up, pacing the room with their daughter in her arms, singing softly. Rebecca’s voice, usually bright and full of energy, would soften into the sweetest sound Shiki had ever heard as she hummed their daughter to sleep, but just as tired as he was, she was also quite tired.
During the day, the boy would take his daughter out whenever he could. He wanted to show her the world, little by little, starting with the simple wonders of their garden. One warm afternoon, he set up a shaded area for them on a patch of grass just outside the house. Holding his daughter in his arms, he showed her the dotted light coming through the leaves, letting his little hands feel the gentle breeze as he gently bounced her.
Rebecca sat next to them, watching as Shiki explained everything he saw: the way the leaves danced in the wind, the hills in the distance painted purple by wildflowers, the curious crystalline creatures that approached the edge of the forest, watching the family from afar.
Although, despite being a big, strong dad, he was still afraid of insects and jumped when he saw one.
“She doesn’t understand you yet, you know,” Rebecca teased, nudging him lightly as he explained the different shades of the sky to the little girl, and the little girl watched with all the wonder of a little girl seeing the world for the first time that she was.
“Of course she does!” Shiki insisted, giving his little girl a playful smile. “She can’t talk yet, but I bet she’s learning everything I say. She’ll become an explorer just like us. Maybe she’ll make friends in the Cosmos like us!”
The blonde smiled, her gaze softening as she watched him. There was something so precious about the way her Shiki interacted with the little girl, always finding something new to show her and explaining everything to her as if he could truly understand every word. The way he looked at their daughter, full of wonder, as if she were the greatest treasure in the universe, filled the girl’s heart with pure, candied love.
But being a young parent wasn’t always easy. There were days when the tiredness was even more noticeable than usual, when they both felt exhausted and uncertain. One of those days, after a particularly difficult night when their little girl had been agitated and inconsolable, Rebecca sat on the front steps, holding the little girl close, feeling the weight of it all.
Shiki came out and sat next to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders without saying a word. They sat there in silence for a while, both tired and worn, watching the sunrise cast its gentle light over Granbell.
“We’re doing our best, aren’t we?” the blonde whispered, stroking their little girl’s soft hair.
“Yes,” the dark-haired one replied, squeezing her shoulder. “And you know what? I think… I think she can feel it. I think she knows we love her.”
The girl looked at him, a small smile lighting up her tired face. “I hope so.”
The boy smiled back, tracing a small heart shape on the little girl’s tiny hand. “We’re going to give her the best life in the world, Rebecca. Even if it’s hard sometimes… it’ll be worth it.”
As time went by, they adapted more and more to their new life, and the little creature grew rapidly. Soon, she started making little noises, smiling at her father’s funny faces, and touching everything that was shiny or soft. Shiki even made her a small bracelet with a crystal he found on one of his hikes. He said it would protect her, like a piece of Granbell magic, and the little girl seemed mesmerized by its faint glow, even though she often tried to eat it.
One evening, with the stars shining above and a light breeze in the air, Shiki and Rebecca took the little girl to a place they hadn't been in years,
a hill overlooking the vast fields and glittering forests of the planet. The three lay down on a soft blanket, staring up at the sky.
As the stars twinkled above them, the blonde began to tell their little girl about their adventures, the friends they'd met along the way, and the wonders of their world. The boy filled in the funniest parts, laughing as he told his favorite stories.
Their daughter made a small noise, her eyes wide and focused on her parents. Rebecca looked up at Shiki, her heart full. This was their world now, quiet, simple, full of love and shared memories.
"Promise me," the blonde whispered, taking his hand, "that we'll keep this place safe for her. That we'll show her everything we've been through, protecting her at all costs."
The dark-haired man's face softened as he squeezed her hand. "I promise," he replied, his voice warm. "Over everything I hold dear, Rebecca."
Lying there under the stars, with the little one between them, their dreams stretched across the sky—dreams of adventure, of love, of a future that shone as bright as the stars above them.