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For as long as Bdubs can remember wanting a family, they'd always wanted a large one.
A big family that'd come together every once and a while to celebrate or talk. A big family with many children, many more grandchildren, and maybe even great grandchildren.
But with each failed relationship, each heartbreak, they'd see everything crumble before their eyes.
So they gave up on that hope, those familial faces lost in their mind.
At least until Tango asked, or did he offer? Either way that was three years ago now.
Three long years to settle into place, to get comfortable.
Speaking of comfortable, Tango looked awfully cozy holding Laika. He's sat with their child's head on his shoulder and arms wrapped around xyr, a raspy purr echoing up from his chest.
He looks peaceful, only moving to yawn and rest his head gently against Laika's.
Bdubs shuffles closer to them, movie long forgotten as they move to rest their head on Tango's other shoulder.
A scaly, pointed ear flicks as Tango hums, but he doesn’t say anything otherwise.
They want more of this. This tenderness, this warmth in their chest, this love.
Scarred over, tan lips press against lightly freckled skin. Light lips quirk up to reveal sharp teeth. A blond head leans into dark hair.
Bdubs could live in this moment for the rest of reality. Could breath in every moment of it. No matter what.
"Something's on your mind." Tango whispers. "What is it?"
They swallow thickly, here goes nothing.
"I, uh… I was just wandering that maybe— maybe we could— I dunno, maybe we could have another kid?" Bdubs before sitting up. "I just— It's just a thought! I'm happy with Laika, of course I am, but I thought 'maybe I'd be happier if I had another?'"
Tango doesn't get a word in before Bdubs sits up. "Bdubs."
"Unless you— you don't want another, in which case you are wrong and sad, but I— I'd be fine with that!" Bdubs explains as they scratch at their palm. "We have Laika and technically Dove and they're— they are amazing and all—"
"Bdubs." Tango tries to edge in again.
"But I feel like I'd be happier— we'd be happier if we had more than one kid—"
"Bdubs!" Tango's voice is raised slightly as he calls for their attention. "I get it, you want another one."
The dryad quiets, shuffling in their spot on the couch. "Do you…"
"I— I don't know." He replies with a shake of his head. "I haven't thought about it since it'd involve me, you know, getting knocked up again?
"Last time went so poorly. I can't really imagine how it'd go on a second time around." Tango then sighs, leaning his head back to look up at the ceiling.
"Oh… I— I didn't think about that…" Bdubs murmurs.
"Of course you didn't." Tango groans.
"I'm just thinking about myself again, ain't I…" They say in a small way.
"It's alright, Bdubs." Tango reassures.
"I— but— would you want to have another one?" They ask before clarifying. "Another kid. A baby, maybe. Just— just one more."
Tango blinks softly, looking down at Laika before moving xyr bangs out of the way.
"I don't know…" He finally answers.
"You can't just answer 'I don't know'!" Bdubs exclaims.
It's then that their no longer a toddler stirs, blinking up at the two with sad eyes. Tango shoots them a glare, mirrored by the quickly growing grumpy Laika before the older of the two netherborns sighs.
"I'm gonna go put xyr down for a nap." Tango says as he stands up. "Maybe we can finish this conversation later."
"Yeah, later…" Bdubs sighs.
— ❁ - ❁ - ❁ —
Tango can't get it off his mind. The conversation, the sad look in Bdubs' eyes. The what felt like begging from his partner. All of it.
It is late into the night, Tango unable to sleep, when he finds himself wandering into Skizz's place.
Dove, Skizz's daughter and only child is tucked away in her bed. Sleeping away the night. Impulse is nowhere to be seen, not sharing a base with Skizz this season.
He eventually finds Skizz. It's out of a balcony that overlooks the canyon that the house is inset into and overlooks the rest of the server.
The angel's wings shuffle, but it doesn't turn to face him.
Tango walks up, joining it just a foot away as they look out of the plains.
Skizz leans over the banister, its elbows resting against the wood as it looks out over the server.
"So, uh…" It coughs fakely. "Dippledop and I were actually talking about something last night."
"Yeah?" Tango let's curiosity filter into his voice as he turns to Skizz.
"Yeah…" Skizz nods. "He, uh… he— he wants to have another kid, actually. Even wants to be the one having it this time."
"Shit, really?" He asks quickly.
"Really." Skizz nods.
"Fun story about that actually…" Tango says as he turns back to the horizon. "Bdubs was talking about something similar earlier today."
"Whoa, really?" Skizz asks.
"Really!" Tango exclaims. "Do you think Martyn getting pregnant gave them baby fever again?"
"C'mon, don't be such a grouch over this, Top." Skizz laughs as it elbows him.
"Do you think we can just hook Impulse and Bdubs up and they'll leave us out of it?" Tango jokes lightly. "Keep us both out of it?"
"And lose out on this?" Skizz asks in reply. "No, I don't think I will."
"So, you're gonna have another kid with Impy…"
"Yeah… I guess…" Skizz sighs. "What about you? Have you considered having another?"
Tango bites his lip before nodding. "Yeah, actually… before I had Laika, I imagined I'd have two or three kids with Bdubs…"
"What happened?" Skizz asks gently.
"I got pregnant? A lot happened while I was. A lot of drama, a lot of harm." Tango explains easily. "It did a lot of hurt to me."
"But it was worth it, wasn't it?" Skizz goes on. "You got Laika out of it, I got my little Dove. We got our happy little families growing.
"I feel like we should both go ahead and have another kid." It says with a bright smile. "No harm in not trying."
"You're always so hopeful…" Tango murmurs. "And annoyingly persuasive."
Skizz's smile is cocky and knowing, turned up at the corners as it looks down towards him. "What can I say? I always love Speech and Debate."
All Tango does is sigh and shake his head before looking out onto the horizon. The sun is coming up not far away, meaning most players would be rousing soon enough.
"I gotta prepare breakfast for Lovebug, care to join me?" Skizz says as it steps back.
"Nah, I got someone to talk to." Tango replies before speaking his elytra...
— ❁ - ❁ - ❁ —
To say Bdubs is worried sick is an understatement. They have wound themself into a tight coil of worry over if Tango hates them or not right now.
Tango disappears for the whole night, returning late into the morning after Bdubs had prepared pancakes for breakfast and burned most of them.
Their partner doesn't joke like he usually does, instead shuffling Laika along into their room with some bacon.
"So… about the having another kid thing." Tango starts as he settles into the dinning room chair.
"It's okay, we're— I'm okay with just Laika." Bdubs says quickly. "You don't have to let me down gently."
"I was actually going to say the opposite…" Tango replies with a dry laugh. "I think, maybe, just maybe, we should try for another one."
"Who are you and what have you done with my Tango." Bdubs jokes.
"I'm being honest!" Tango exclaims in his defense. "I- I think we should at least try."
"And you're being honest?" Bdubs asks quickly.
"Yes, I'm being honest." Tango nods.
Bdubs takes Tango's hand in their own, squeezing it lightly.
"Promise you won't turn back?" Bdubs says softly.
"I promise…"