Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Private Responsibility [Judah Dashiell]

Balun snorted softly, a quiet laugh slipping through his nose as he tried not to wake Kellan. "Sorry, but you wanted to know—and I'm still trying to come to terms with it myself. It's not like I planned for this to happen," he murmured, a wary smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

The weight of responsibility hadn't fully settled in yet, but it was pressing on him heavier with each passing hour. He had spent the night wrestling with his thoughts, coming to grips with the sheer magnitude of what had happened. He was barely twenty-two, still figuring out his own path, and yet here he was—holding his son against his chest, no longer just responsible for himself, but for another life entirely.

His gaze drifted momentarily, thoughts flickering back to Naboo. He had only returned yesterday after meeting Master Zhea Nox Zhea Nox , a powerful Force User and a potential mentor who could complete his Jedi training. Just a day ago, his greatest concern had been honing his skills, forging his own path in the Force.

But that was yesterday.

Today, everything had changed.

Balun still craved growth, still needed guidance and mastery over the Force—but now? Now, he couldn't afford to let his personal ambitions come at the expense of his son. Kellan came first. Nouqai had already walked away, leaving their child in the arms of Judah Dashiell Judah Dashiell before vanishing without so much as a conversation. If Balun failed, if he made reckless choices and got himself killed, Kellan would be orphaned.

That thought had haunted him in the quiet hours of the night, as he sat awake watching his son sleep, struggling to map out a future that wouldn't leave Kellan alone in the galaxy. Judah had been right—the boy would go where Balun went, and that meant staying out of unnecessary danger. It wasn't just his life at risk anymore.

Balun exhaled slowly as Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell spoke, voicing his own frustrations about Nouqai Veil's decision. Balun gave a small nod, rubbing a hand gently along Kellan's back. "There's been no contact since we broke up. Nothing. Then, out of nowhere, she shows up, drops him in Dad's lap, and disappears."

He paused, glancing down at Kellan, as if the boy himself were the unspoken end to his sentence. "I didn't even know she was pregnant." His voice was quieter now, edged with a tinge of disbelief.

Makai wasn't wrong about the child's aquatic nature—it was plain to see. Kellan bore a crown of small, tentacle-like tendrils, weaving through the thick dark hair that was so common in Dashiell men. His skin gleamed, soft to the touch but patterned in an almost scale-like shimmer, catching the light in a way that made him look almost bioluminescent. And last night, in the dim glow of Balun's home, he had finally noticed something else—gills, nestled just behind the boy's elongated ears.

Kellan could breathe underwater.

Balun let out a breath, his fingers absently tracing circles on the boy's back. "Honestly, I don't know a thing about his physiology," he admitted. "Nouqai was a science experiment—crafted by the Sith. She doesn't belong to a classified species. The closest thing to a name for it is Sithspawn."

There was no manual for raising a child like Kellan. No holobooks to explain how to care for something part-Human, part-Aquatic, and part… something else.

"People like her were made through Sith Alchemy and the Force." He met Makai's gaze, his expression unreadable. "So with this one? There's no way to know. Not without trial and error."
 
"You sure she wasn't pregnant before our family dinner? I mean...maybe it explained why you guys got in a fight or argument or whatever. Ellie and I didn't fight but things were definitely a little more sensitive at times cause of all the hormonal influxes. Maybe she just couldn't find a way to talk to you."

Makai was trying to be generous for his brothers sake. He couldn't imagine waking up and not only finding out he was a father but also knowing his love had just disappeared. Seeing his brother's fate cemented the fact of how carefully he had considered all factors in getting back together with Ellie were incredibly important. They were on the same page about many things, including family and professional matters, and if they hadn't been he would have been much more hesitant. Scars from childhood and all that.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Just don't let him dunk his head underwater yet if he has gills. Its really disorientating to experience at first, I remember freaking out as a kid. At least not til he can communicate better - but I suppose thats a big what-if, given the hybrid status you just described. Only words I understood were aquatic and human."

He grinned a little, trying to ease some of the tension. Hand rested on Phoebe's back as the two spoke, the first meeting of cousins so to speak. Makai hadn't grown up seeing his cousins often so he suspected it was going to be quite the experience for Phoebe, Kellan, and any other children to be in one another's orbit.

"You going to get a nanny? If so, I got a secret....our nanny is actually a droid. A custom nanny biot made by Matsu Ike Matsu Ike and company. You know how Dad feels about droids but its the most logical choice for us. We've even integrated a lot of features to feed into our personal assistant droids. No waking up constantly to see if she's breathing."

Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell
 
"No, I don't think so. At least, I would have sensed another lifeform if she were... I'm sure." Balun's voice trailed off, more thoughtful than certain, as if he were mulling over the possibility for the first time.

Technically, he and Nouqai had spent the night together during their weekend getaway on Naboo, so it wasn't impossible. But surely, if she had been pregnant again, he would have noticed the signs? When things had been good between them, she would have told him, wouldn't she?

His mind churned through the uncertainty, but before he could dwell too long, Makai's insight on Kellan's aquatic nature caught his attention.

Balun hadn't even considered that breathing underwater might be a skill that needed to be learned, even for a species naturally capable of it. Hearing it spoken aloud, it seemed obvious, yet the thought had never even crossed his mind.

"Chit, I'm glad you said that. I hadn't even considered it," Balun admitted, relief evident in his voice. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally put his son in harm's way. "I gave him a bath last night, and it seemed to calm him down after a bit of a crying fit, but I didn't put him under because—" he exhaled, shaking his head with a small, wry chuckle. "I mean, it just seems like a horrible thing to do. But then, I'm not Aquatic, so what do I know?"

His honesty carried a self-aware humor, but beneath it was the weight of inexperience—Balun was learning as he went, constantly questioning if he was making the right choices.

And then, Makai dropped a game-changing idea.

A nursing droid.

It made perfect sense—droids didn't need to sleep, didn't get frazzled when babies cried at full volume, and most importantly, they were programmed to handle these situations correctly. A sharp contrast to Balun, who had spent the entire previous night second-guessing himself.

His grin spread wide as he turned to his brother, relief and excitement lighting up his expression. "Bro, that's brilliant! I haven't even looked into droids like that... never needed to, until now."

His eyes gleamed with renewed confidence, the first sign of an actual solution to his overwhelming new reality.

"I know Dad doesn't trust droids, but I've never had an issue with them. Chip's been nothing but amazing while I'm out piloting the fighter, so you can bet your ass I'm tracking one down on the Holonet ASAP."

For the first time since this whirlwind had started, Balun felt like he was finally getting a handle on things.

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
"Yeah, don't...don't dunk him. He'll figure that out on his own when he can move around."

Makai chuckled at the idea of 'testing out' an infants gills. He suspected his parents didn't, although now he was tempted to ask one of his parents about it. Best he could remember was pool time and learning how all the aquatic stuff worked, but he could actually walk at that point. He was confident there was probably bathtub aquatic shenanigans but also, much too young to remember.

"Okay, yes the droid. However...under no circumstances can you tell Dad. I'm not being hyperbolic. If you get a regular droid instead of a biot, you might want to store it away when he comes over. Uh, just dont risk it, you know. I don't mind droids either but he had a bad experience so..."

Shoulders shrugged, Phoebe in her little pouch rising with him, as if she was shrugging as well.

"...thats why Ells and I went with the the biot. Not sure what we're going to do when the biot doesn't age, maybe change out some features and say its a new nanny. All Dad knows is that Lia is a Hapan girl who went into nanny work...we made sure she was programmed to be more natural. Just something to think about."

Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell
 
"What actually happened between Dad and… whatever kind of droid it was?" Balun asked, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.

Judah had alluded to a bad experience with a droid in the past, but he'd never gone into detail. Balun, for his part, had steered clear of the subject, not wanting to invite scrutiny toward Chip. His BB-model astromech was loyal, efficient, and even a little protective—qualities Balun had come to rely on. Nothing about Chip warranted their father's distrust of droids, but still, Balun had been careful to avoid stirring up the old man's suspicions.

"He never actually explained it to me," Balun added, glancing at Makai with a raised brow, hoping his brother had more insight.

The conversation turned to Lia, and Balun found himself reflecting on his own lack of awareness when he'd first met her. In hindsight, it was obvious—had he not been so preoccupied with the shocking revelation that he had a son, he would have picked up on the fact that she didn't register any life signs in the Force. A detail that should have stood out.

His lips quirked into a wry smile as he scratched the side of his neck, feeling a touch of awkward amusement at his own oversight. "Honestly, if it means avoiding the third degree, then a Biot sounds good to me. It's bad enough that he just had his youngest son's kid dropped on his doorstep out of the blue."

His smirk softened, though his eyes still carried the weight of the situation. It was a lot for Judah to process, and Balun knew it. The last thing he needed was to stir up even more complications with his father's deep-seated distrust of droids.

"I don't suppose you could link me to the company you purchased Lia from?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of genuine interest. If he was going to do this right, he needed all the help he could get.

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
"Oh, I never asked. It happened before he got together with Mom, during their time with the Galactic Republic...uh...I'd ask her but unfortunately she only remembers so much after the accident and its not really something that's weighed on me enough to press the issue with either one of them. Funny enough...or perhaps not so funny...Mom had this astromech named Sparky. I loved the little guy, a built in playmate for an only child, but I remember plucky Sparky just freaking Dad out by coming around the corner or something normal."

Makai smirked a little, thinking back at that time. He slowly shook his head as a sense of melancholy washed over him, missing a droid he hadn't thought about in at least fifteen years. In way, perhaps it was why he got along so well with Thirty-Seven, his assistant filling in some of the gaps from his childhood. It was odd, being older now and thinking he had gotten over certain events. With the recent birth of Phoebe, difficult feelings had definitely bubbled to the surface, rearing their head.

"I miss that little droid."

It was almost as if was speaking to himself before realizing Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell was still in the room.

"Hmm? Yes, its Sansori. A woman named Matsu Ike Matsu Ike runs the company. Nice woman, been in business forever. Did business with Dad and Danger I think. She'll certainly be able to help you. Bit of a lead time on the droid but not horrible. Especially since everything is custom."
 
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"Ike?" Balun echoed, his brow furrowing slightly as he sifted through his memories. "Thanks to the Jedi Archives on Coruscant, I'm familiar with their family by name only. That said, I haven't met any of them in person."

House Ike—Atrisian Nobility. Influential. Highly intelligent. Prominent Force users. Their reputation was well-documented, particularly due to their strong Jedi affiliations. Balun had come across their history plenty of times during his time at the New Jedi Order Temple, mostly when he had been dodging classes he didn't care for by hiding in the Archives. Sansori, though—that was a name hard to forget. A powerhouse of innovation, long-standing and highly successful.

His gaze drifted toward Makai when his brother mentioned his mother and the droid named Sparky. Balun paused, studying Makai's expression with quiet contemplation. His brother didn't speak about his mother often. Balun had always avoided bringing it up, not wanting to step into territory that might be painful or cross a line he had no right to tread. Some subjects were best left untouched, especially when it came to family.

But Makai wasn't the uptight type, and if he was willing to share, Balun wasn't about to stop him.

Instead, he nodded. "I'll make a point to reach out to Matsu Ike Matsu Ike " The name rolled off his tongue with a sense of finality. "Sansori is reliable beyond most, from what I've seen on the Galactic Market. They've more than stood the test of time." He allowed himself a small, relieved smile. A Nanny Biot. That was exactly what he needed—someone who could help bridge the gap in his inexperience, someone who could ensure Kellan had the best care possible.

So far, Balun had been changing diapers by trial and error, relying on nothing more than sheer determination and a willingness to clean up the occasional unnecessary mess. And there had been plenty of those.

His smile faltered slightly as another realization dawned. "What about formulas and stuff?" he asked, glancing back at Makai. "His mother isn't around, so… what's he best to be having?"

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
"Formula?"

Makai couldn't help but for the word to come out as a question. He wasn't sure what else a young infant that had at least some humanoid genetics would eat at this stage? Even aquatic mammals nursed depending on the species. He wasn't going to be harsh on his brother, Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell hadn't spent the last nine months researching things like he did. Even went through four different running strollers to eventually take his daughter out in the mornings.

"When he's older I can show him the finer aquatic things in life - kelp juice, whitebait fritters. I haven't had any problems growing up. Just different tastes perhaps. If you're worried about nutrient deficiencies or anything of the sort he's going to be just fine. Now the other part of him - the Force creature whats-it, no idea on that front. You're on your own there. Seems like a normal boy though so far."

He reached out and gently touched Kellan's hair.

"I'm sure you'll do fine and look at the bright side, when you're watching Pheebs for my date nights she'll have a little buddy to play with."


Couldn't resist teasing his brother just a little.

"You think she's coming back here - Fal? Do I need to beef up our security?"
 
Balun wanted to share in Makai's humor—the remark about Pheobie having company while he played babysitter was genuinely comical. Under normal circumstances, he might have laughed. But the question that followed…

It made him pause.

His smile dimmed, his features tensing as his gaze drifted toward the window beside him. The light outside had begun to fade, casting elongated shadows against the treeline beyond. A silent storm of unease settled over him, tightening in his chest.

"It's crossed my mind." His voice was quieter now, edged with skepticism as he finally spoke. "Falentra is unpredictable. More so now than I was. She could drop the kid off one day, then a week later have regrets and try to take him back."

It was a thought that had been plaguing him since the moment he first held Kellan. Naturally, discovering he had a son also meant coming to terms with the reality of who his mother was.

Balun exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You may not know much about the Force, but I'm sure you know what they say about the Sith." His eyes flicked back to Makai, hardening. "They take what they want."

His brother's suggestion about tightening security was met with an apprehensive nod. It was necessary. It had to be.

"I suppose, in some way, I should be thankful," he admitted after a beat, though the words felt foreign on his tongue. His eyes lowered, his fingers absently brushing against the fabric of Kellan's blanket as he sank into thought.

"At least she left him with me." His voice was measured, but beneath it lay an unspoken weight. "At least she didn't force him into that kind of life."

And yet, the relief was hollow.

Falentra had surprised him beyond recognition. The woman he had grown up with, the girl he had known better than anyone— was she truly gone?

"We've known each other our whole lives," he murmured, more to himself now. His throat tightened. "But she's not the same person anymore."

His grip instinctively tightened around his son.

"The girl I knew… she wouldn't have turned her back on her own child."

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
Makai nodded. He could easily understand the emotions Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell was going through. At the very least, his nephew would have stable home and a large family to grow up around. There were worse things in life ; some children weren't so lucky and despite the hardships Kellan would go through, he would be poised to do so in the best of circumstances.

"So more security, easily done."
A deep breath, the other portion, not to easily done. "Those we grow up with. Losing a childhood friend is always difficult. Its a different type of soul-crushing feeling...who knows, maybe she'll turn around and get right. Or think straight again. Maybe she's going through something..."

He paused.

"Take some time to mourn that. You're free to use Lia while waiting on your droid. We haven't used her much except to get a little longer stretches of sleep in and monitor Phoebe's vitals - but for the most part its been all me and Ellie. You might need her more than we do."
 
Balun nodded, though the motion carried the weight of unease.

More security around the Family Estate was a necessary precaution, yet it did little to ease the gnawing guilt creeping into his thoughts. Had he brought a threat to their doorstep? His father, his brother—his family. All of them had welcomed Nouqai into their home once before, sharing laughter, conversation, and drinks over a home-cooked meal. She had sat among them, spoken with them, seen them as more than just faces in passing.

And now, Balun had to consider the very real possibility that she might return—but with far darker intentions.

His jaw tightened as his gaze flickered toward the small form cradled against his chest.

If she came back, she would come for them. For Kellan.

But his son would never be far from his side. Not until he was old enough to choose his own path, to carve out a life beyond the shadow of his father's choices. Until then, Balun would stand between him and whatever danger lurked beyond the walls of their home.

Even if that danger came in the form of Nouqai herself.

If the day ever came where he had to raise a blade against her to protect their son—he would do it.

Exhaling softly, Balun finally shifted his focus back to Makai.

"If you don't mind, I'd be grateful until I can purchase a Biot of my own for him," he admitted, accepting his brother's offer with a quiet nod. The thought of having an extra layer of protection around Kellan, even temporarily, brought a small sense of relief.

"What security features did Lia come with?" he asked, curiosity sparking in his tone. "You mentioned Ms. Ike could make custom alterations… I wonder if she could design it so I'm notified whenever someone unfamiliar gets too close to him."

That kind of safeguard could be invaluable.

Because the next time someone unexpected came for Kellan—Balun intended to be ready.

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
"Security is important for us too - never know what crazy wants to kidnap Danger's grandkid, you know? Thinking they would get a fortune? Either way, pretty heavy defenses. A shockwave system, shields, a combat processor... Lia is a modified Xantha-class nanny biot with technology from Arceneau Trade built in - Lia can communicate with Thirty-Seven and El-Three seamlessly. This is mainly just for our benefit given how heavily El-Three and Thirty-Seven are involved in our businesses and lives."

The one droid split into two system worked well for them. It had saved them heartache on more than one occasion and while at times Makai found the droids to be a little too involved, the benefits far outweighed the annoyance on his end. Yet customization would have to be up to Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell to figure out. Makai was never truly sure of his younger brothers day-to-day. Jedi one day. Businessman the next. Now father. That was a journey to figure out on his own.

"I imagine programming could easily be handled for unfamiliar people. I had Lia programmed to protect Phoebe and Persephone at all costs, even if Myra and I were facing the same dangers. Just in case we're ambushed as a family I want to know the girls are safe - El-Three can handle Myra. Perhaps you get a programming exception where certain people are deemed 'safe' and everything else is coded as 'threat'?"
 
With Judah Dashiell Judah Dashiell standing as a corporate powerhouse, Myra Arceneau Dashiell Myra Arceneau Dashiell carrying the legacy of Danger Arceneau Danger Arceneau , she and Makai raising a child together, it was only natural that security was an unquestioned necessity. Their lives demanded it—wealth, status, and family made for a dangerous combination.

Yet Balun had never truly considered it before.

Perhaps it was because, up until now, his carefree lifestyle had never demanded such precautions. He had always relied on his own instincts, his own strength—trusting his blade, his training, his will. When it came to protecting himself, he never hesitated. When it came to protecting his family, he would always stand his ground.

But when had he ever stopped to question who handled the security of their home?

Who ensured the walls around them were strong enough to keep threats at bay?

Thinking about it now, it felt reckless not to have given it more thought. Foolish, even.

His expression tightened as his mind circled back to the idea of a Biot. A custom-built guardian, a caretaker for Kellan—it was a strange concept, one that Balun wasn't sure how to navigate. His experience with droids leaned toward combat models—machines built for war, not nurturing.

Turning to Makai, he exhaled a quiet chuckle, shaking his head as if baffled by the situation.

"So… did you just buy the Biot off the Holonet, or did you go directly to this Matsu Ike?" He asked, his tone laced with curiosity and a hint of apprehension. "Because, gods, I don't know the first thing about Nanny droids or Biots. Combat droids? Absolutely."

Another dry chuckle escaped him before he ran a hand through his hair, sighing.

"But this?" He gestured vaguely, as if to encompass the enormity of fatherhood itself. "This is completely new territory."

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
Makai settled back against his chair, one hand against Phoebe’s back, listening to Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell ’s revelation on security. The fact such things were just dawning on him was a little hilarious to watch. Perhaps it was the entire Jedi upbringing. Although Makai would have thought Jedi would always be thinking about security considering the situations they were often found in.

Fascinating to think about - did none of them take it into account? Or was it just his own brother? Bale had left when he was a teenager, perhaps that was why.

“No, I went in person. Wanted to see what they were like. Talked to Miss Ike myself and she gave me a tour, assured me they could work with Arceneau systems. Then I picked out features and programming bits on the Sansori end. Wanted her to be more natural because of Dad and they even gave her a Hapan accent and language patterns. After that, Sansori did the hard work before I had her shipped off to PharmaTech to complete what was needed on our end. You see how Lia is, I've never encountered one, so I just wanted to be cautious."

Makai snorted with laughter when Bale mentioned fatherhood was new territory. As if he had been a father for years at this point.

“Yeah, kind of new to it too in case you didn’t notice.”
 
“Yeah, kind of new to it too in case you didn’t notice.”

"You say that like it should be obvious, but from where I'm standing, you and Myra seem to have everything ironed out perfectly," Balun replied without hesitation, his words carrying an ease that came from speaking the truth as he saw it.

From the outside looking in, Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell had his life together. He was someone Balun respected deeply, despite the near-constant brotherly banter that fueled their conversations. Makai carried himself with a quiet sort of competence, a steady presence that made it seem as if he always knew exactly what he was doing.

Balun, on the other hand, felt like he was still fumbling through the dark.

Makai had Myra, a stable relationship, a family that seemed solid and secure. If Makai had struggled, Balun had never seen it. Maybe that was because he had been too wrapped up in his own problems—his complicated history with Nouqai, his relentless pursuit to master the Force, his struggle to find where he belonged in the galaxy.

A quiet thought crept into his mind, one that he hadn't considered before.

Had he been a good enough brother?

Makai had always been there—offering support, advice, a steady foundation whenever Balun needed it. But had Balun done the same for him? Had he ever stopped long enough to ask what Makai was dealing with?

The realization left an uncomfortable weight in his chest.

"I guess I haven't really seen you and Myra with Pheobie all that much," he admitted after a pause, his voice thoughtful. "Beyond the occasional visit or the family dinner we had, I never really asked how it all went for you."

He hesitated for only a moment before speaking more clearly, this time making sure it came out as a genuine question rather than a passing remark.

"How have you and Myra been handling things with Pheobie? Have you guys struggled with anything in particular?"

It was more than just curiosity.

He wanted to know. He wanted to understand. Because maybe, just maybe, Makai's experience could help him prepare for the path ahead.
 
"You say that like it should be obvious, but from where I'm standing, you and Myra seem to have everything ironed out perfectly,"

"Not quite perfectly." Makai chuckled at his brothers assessment of the situation as he saw it. "However, we had months to prepare and we talked about children while dating, so a bit different than suddenly coming home to one."

Shoulders shrugged slightly, afraid his brother was busy comparing juna berries to blumfruits. The situation between the two of them couldn't be any different. Their upbringing was completely different. Their trajectories in life were on quite separate paths. They hadn't gotten into any real philosophical debates but he expected their outlook on life was quite opposite. They both shared a father and now, were beginning a journey of fatherhood at roughly the same time. Makai imagined they had even more differences when it came to raising children.

It didn't matter to him but perhaps Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell wasn't seeing they were quite different people.

"How have you and Myra been handling things with Pheobie? Have you guys struggled with anything in particular?"

"We haven't really struggled since she has been born. The worst of it was when Myra was pregnant, that was incredibly rough. I'm happy Phoebe is here so one, Myra isn't sick anymore, and two I can actually help out. The focus is just to let Myra recover - it's going to take longer considering what the last six or seven months were like."

He paused, looking at his daughter.

"Naturally its taxing in a multitude of ways. This is what I've always wanted, Phoebe and Myra...every day I wake up its unreal." Makai paused, stopping as if remembering what they were talking about. "We're very lucky to have involved family too. Plus the fact Danger and Dad are young enough to still want to run the companies and we don't have to balance it all."
 
"Dad and you both mentioned Myra being unwell," Balun said quietly, his tone thoughtful. "I didn't want to pry."

Back then, he had only just been introduced to the family, still finding his footing among the Dashiells. It had been, what—a month, maybe two since he met Myra Arceneau Dashiell Myra Arceneau Dashiell , and by then, he'd already heard plenty about her from both his father and Makai. The curiosity had been there, naturally—he'd wanted to know what was wrong—but it had felt too personal, too soon, and so he'd held his tongue.

All he'd known at the time was that Myra was pregnant, and also unwell—a combination that carried a quiet weight of concern he hadn't dared voice.

Even so, he imagined what it must've been like for Makai—to watch someone you love go through something so difficult, and yet still get to dream together, to plan a future with your child, to wonder who they'd become.

The thought brought a small smile to his lips, just as Kellan stirred against his chest. The baby let out a faint whimper, his tiny fingers curling tightly into the fabric of Balun's shirt like he was clinging to the heartbeat beneath it.

Balun adjusted slightly, instinctively patting his son's back, then looked back to Makai with a softened expression.

"It's cool that you and Myra are in it together, though, brother," he said sincerely. "You've got each other. You're a good team. I'm sure you're already doing great as parents—not that I'm the leading expert or anything."

He refrained from laughing, not wanting to disturb Kellan, but the smile remained—genuine, grateful.

"And hey," he added, glancing down at the baby in his arms, "looks like you've got a babysitter now—and Pheebs has a future playmate."

Kellan let out a little sigh, settling again, and Balun gently rocked him with a quiet breath.

"I've been tossing names around for a while now," he continued, his voice lowering to something softer, more certain. "And I think I've settled on one."

His eyes didn't leave the child as he said it.

"Kellan.

I can't seem to think of a better one.
"

Makai Dashiell Makai Dashiell
 
"I said I needed you to babysit for date nights. Looks like the universe thought you needed some experience to do that. I'm positive these two will be the best of friends."

Makai watched his half-brother. He didn't know all the circumstances leading up to this point. Extremely curious, there was also the realization that asking questions now wasn't wise. Not with Balun Dashiell Balun Dashiell 's world turned upside down. The time to do that would be in the near future, hopefully over a few beers when the dust had settled. Not with their father either, just some raw talk about what led up tot his point.

Perhaps on a night his wife was gone on business or out for a break in the local village.

"Kellan." Named turned around in his head. It seemed fitting for the small boy. "Welcome to the family."
 

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