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The first time Etho holds Bdubs' kid, they're still in an egg.
It still feels surreal, for the first time Bdubs was happy to have a kid. Their smile was so bright, so vibrant as they paraded around the awkwardly shaped thing.
But no one, not even Cleo or Beef, was allowed to even touch the egg. Bdubs wanted Etho and Etho alone to have that special moment.
When they finally got to it, egg wrapped tightly in heated blankets, it couldn't help but smile.
“Here, have it.” They say proudly.
“Are you sure? I'm not the warmest–”
“Oh shut up and just hold her, would ya?” Bdubs complains.
Etho sighs, the swaddled egg quickly being placed into its arms.
It's different from holding a baby, at least Etho thinks it is. There's barely a movement under the surface of the tan shell, limbs likely tucked against her–
“Did you say her?” Etho asks softly.
Bdubs looks away, their cheeks dusted in pink as they do. “I wasn't supposed to say that! It was supposed to be for the shower!”
It only chuckles softly, adjusting its hold on the egg.
“I won't tell anyone, promise.”
“From the bottom of your heart?” They ask quietly.
“From the bottom of my heart.” Etho nods.
— ❁ – ❁ – ❁ —
The next time it holds them, they've already hatched. Or she's already hatched, apparently.
When Etho gets to Bdubs’ world, it can't help but notice how exhausted everyone looks.
Impulse, Zedaph, and Tango are all passed out in the living room, the last of which didn't even have the energy to put on a shirt.
Nearby is the older of the two babies, Leo? It thinks he's named Leo at least. Beside the point, the baby in the bassinet isn't what its looking for.
The enderian trails down the hall where it can hear faint crying and a hushed, desperate voice.
Before it has even at the door, the wailing tapers off before finally stopping. There's a loud, audible groan of relief on the other side of the door before it knocks.
“Come in!”
The room Etho walks into is as amazing as expected, beautiful in every way Bdubs makes their art.
The walls, ones it knows took months to finish and dry, aren't solid. Instead they're a large scene of day to night, fading at the corners.
On the night side, just over the rocking chair Bdubs sits in, hangs a large moon-shaped light that dimly illuminates the room.
Just across from their closest friend sits a loveseat, just big enough for two people but small enough to fit into the nursery without taking up too much space.
Other than that are the necessities for a newborn, the crib looks painstakingly carved from wood. Ren? Keralis? One of them had given them it, though Etho's sure Tango would've taken a while to accept such a sentimental gift like this from either.
Finally, of course, is Bdubs themself as they rock in their chair that sounds creaky and old. Etho can only guess that it was either hastily made or thrifted.
They hold what looks like several blankets tenderly, a bottle in hand as they smile softly.
Bdubs looks happy.
“Oh, my savior.” Bdubs says with a sigh. “I thought you'd never come!”
“Got busy.” Etho says bluntly. “Plus the train was down for a week.”
Bdubs roll their tired eyes as they shake their head. “You know you don't have to use transport, you have my server ID memorized.”
“It's more interesting.” Etho murmurs as it sits on the couch.
They only sigh in response before shifting their hold on Laika, though the little baby in their arms seems to grow annoyed by this as she spits and hisses.
“Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry.” Bdubs murmurs. “Please calm down, I finally got you relaxed enough to eat…”
“Are you sure she’s hungry?”
“She was ‘nyu’ing at me for thirty minutes, Etho.” Bdubs whisper-screams, annoyance so clear on their face as they glare. “I tried to get her to eat but–”
“Maybe I could try?”
Bdubs stares at it before smiling softly, adjusting Laika as they pull the bottle away from the now crying baby. “Are you sure? It’s not the same as a kitten.”
“I know, but I also know you look stressed and tired.” Etho shrugs its shoulders.
“Etho, you’re a godsend sometimes.” They laugh.
The transition is easier that it seems, Bdubs handing over their swaddled daughter with her many blankets. They’re warm against Etho’s chest despite its thick jacket, something it can only guess are blazeweave blankets for Laika’s netherborn heritage.
She’s crying and she’s crying loudly, her little lungs seeming just as strong as her apparent will not to eat.
“Sorry, I know she’s–”
“She’s your kid, Bubs.” It says with a laugh, bottle being pressed into its hand.
“I know…” Bdubs’ sigh almost sounds affectionate, that soft smile seeming glued to them as they sit next to Etho.
Despite Bdubs’s warnings and complaints, it doesn’t actually take that long for Laika to finally latch. Her ears soon start flicking as she eats, claws digging into Etho’s finger as she holds it tightly.
“She’s a lot smaller than I expected.” Etho says quietly.
“Yeah, well, she’s a netherborn so–” Whatever Bdubs was going to retort with is cut off by a loud yawn then followed by a soft groan. “Sorry, she’s been keepin’ me n’ everyone up all week since she hatched.”
“I don’t blame her, everything must be so cold and bright for her.”
“I know.” Bdubs leans against Etho’s side. “She’s usually only calm when she’s being nursed by Tango, apparently she likes chest feeding but…”
“Tango doesn’t, does he.”
Bdubs shakes their head. “No, no he doesn’t. He gets so dysphoric ‘n’ low every time he resorts to it, I can’t– I hate seeing him that upset, it hurts.”
“Was that why he didn’t have a shirt on?”
“Yeah… we switched over two hours ago, but he had to pump right after to restock. Thank the gods Impulse and Zed are here to distract him when needed.”
So that’s why the trio had been passed out in the living room.
Nearly a third of the bottle is gone, but still Laika’s little ears flick as she continues.
“Does she usually eat this much?”
“She’s a week old, Etho. She needs three ounces.” Bdubs laughs. “I swear she usually takes more than that though, the bottles we have are about eight ounces so my hands don’t cramp.”
“Oh, your hands?”
“They’re doing better than a few months ago.” Bdubs says shyly as they move to hide the fresh scars on the backs of them. “But I still gotta deal with crampin’.”
Bdubs yawns again, their eyes steadily falling shut as they lean against Etho’s shoulder.
“Bubs, how much have you slept?”
“Not much.” Bdubs laughs dryly. “‘s not easy with two. Skizz hasn’t been feelin’ well and the babies don't listen to Pung at all.”
“Pungence’s here?”
“Was, but he’s off server getting some formula for Leo.” Bdubs yawns again, head falling more. “‘s’okay if I sleep here?”
Etho hums, its tail loosely wrapping around Bdubs’s side as it does. “Maybe after Laika’s done nursing? I don’t feel like being trapped by two babies.”
“Shuddup you…”
Luckily she doesn’t take much long, soon wriggling to get away from the bottle as she whines softly.
“Lemme get a towel before you burp her, she gets messy when she's done feeding.”
A small towel is placed onto Etho’s shoulder, holding Laika against itself as it pats her back softly. Unlike everything else, Bdubs was right about this one, a little bit of spit up as they sleepily giggle beside it.
“See? Wasn’t lyin’.” Bdubs says quietly as they take Laika back.
The other player sings softly, a small lullaby as they rock from side to side. Within seconds, Laika seems to fall asleep and Bdubs relaxes as they put her back into her crib.
“Wish it was always this easy, usually takes longer for her to sleep.” Bdubs says as they slump against the couch again.
It doesn’t take long before Bdubs is curled with their head in its lap, yawning as they start to sleep.
“Thank you for looking after her…” Bdubs said softly.
“Just looking after a friend.” Etho reminds them.
“Mhm?” They hum. “You love ‘er, don’t ya?”
“Eh… You know I don’t like babies…” It murmurs lightly. “Don’t make a habit out of this, alright?”
“Mmmm… you like kittens right? If she was a felid–”
“Still a player.” Etho states bluntly.
“Damnit.”
Etho holds its hands over Bdubs eyes, its best friend humming as it does. “Just sleep, alright?”
“Yeah… that’d sound nice…”