Mia looked at Nelson, holding her belly. "Should we tell them?"
"Today?!"
Mia shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, now than never."
Nelson pouted. "Noooooo. Not todaaaaaay!"
"Then when?! We're gonna have to tell 'em, y'know."
"How about... that day your parents come to life again for that one hour?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Sure!"
Mia thought over it.
"... I don't see a problem with that."
Nelson cheered. "And the Purple Ninja wins again!!"
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"... You're probably wondering why I gathered you here today." Mia started, looking at her revived parents, Jay, Kai and Nya.
Jay exchanged a look with his mom. "... Yeah, actually."
Nelson nodded to Mia, who disappeared into a shed for a moment.
When she came out, she was holding something bundled in pink.
A baby.
A baby with freckles and brown hair and brown eyes.
One that stroke a resemblance to Nelson and Mia.
An alarming resemblance.
Mia let out an awkward laugh. "Mom, Dad, Jay, Nya, Kai... meet our time- travel kid. Akari Sato."
The silence was deafening.
Not even the wind dared blow.
James blinked. Rose's hand flew to her mouth. Jay's jaw fell open. Nya let out a soft, confused "Huh?" while Kai just stared at the baby like it had personally betrayed him.
The baby, Akari, blinked back at all of them with innocent brown eyes and then gave a tiny sneeze.
Nelson shuffled behind Mia like a guilty puppy. "She's... uh... really well-behaved. Not a crier at all."
"That's not the issue," Jay muttered, slowly standing up. "The issue is that you just walked out of a shed holding a baby that looks exactly like both of you, and you said time-travel kid like that's something we hear every day."
"I mean," Mia said, cradling the baby, "you guys do live in a monastery that's been hit by time rifts, elemental chaos, ghosts, serpentine, and literal dragons. This shouldn't even be in the top ten."
"She has a point," Nya mumbled.
James finally found his voice. "Time-travel kid?"
Rose stepped forward, eyes wide with wonder. "Is... is she our grandchild?"
Mia's ears turned red. "Technically? Yes."
"Technically?!" Kai shouted.
"I—Okay, look!" Mia blurted, "We don't remember having her. But future us apparently do! Or did! Or... will?! I don't know! Time is a noodle! She showed up in a flash of purple and said she needed help, and then passed out holding a photo of me and Nelson looking older and married, and there was a note—"
"—signed by you," Nelson added, sheepishly. "It said, and I quote, 'She has your nose and your mom's attitude. Good luck.'"
Jay's brain had officially stopped working.
James slowly reached out, a little hesitant. "May I... hold her?"
Mia nodded and carefully handed Akari over.
The baby looked up at James, blinked, and then gave a tiny hiccup before gently tugging at his collar.
"She's... perfect," James whispered.
Rose looked at her granddaughter like she was made of gold. "And she's safe with you two?"
"We've been taking care of her for a week," Mia said softly. "We didn't want to say anything 'til you were back. Even just for today. I... I wanted you to meet her."
Kai rubbed his face. "I feel like my brain just went through a blender."
Jay gave him a pat on the back. "Join the club."
Akari made a soft, delighted squeal and reached toward Mia.
James smiled, tears in his eyes. "You named her Akari?"
"It means 'light,'" Mia said. "She's... been a light in a really weird week."
Nelson nodded. "Also, she kicks like her mom. Pray for me."
Akari giggled and kicked her legs in James's arms.
Jay stood frozen for a while longer, then slowly walked over and looked down at the baby. He blinked. "...She does look like you."
"She's got your sass," Mia grinned.
"She's got my trauma," Nelson sighed.
Rose leaned her head on James's shoulder. "Even if we're only here for an hour... I'm so glad we got to see her."
Akari yawned and nestled closer to her grandfather's chest.
Jay finally smiled—exhausted, stunned, and somehow proud all at once.
"So," he said. "Should we be expecting another one next week?"
"Don't you start," Nelson groaned.
Mia laughed as Akari's tiny hand reached out, brushing her fingers against Rose's. The pink bundle of time and love had fallen asleep, completely unaware she'd just turned her entire family upside-down.
