𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

the great belly rebellion

Nico may be a former pirate and hardened rebel—but nothing in his life prepared him for violent belly earthquakes at 2AM.

[I. L BASE] 🕰️ Same Night, 2:12 AM.

It was peaceful.

Bea had finally dozed off against Nico's chest, chocolate cake crumbs forgotten on the nightstand, her soft breathing syncing with the rain outside.

Nico was wide awake.

Not because of worry this time, but because he was doing what he always did when she fell asleep: tracing slow, reverent circles over her belly with his fingers, murmuring nonsense to the little girl growing inside.

"You better come out loving cake," he whispered. "Your mom cried for it at 1AM. I ran to the kitchen in my socks. That's love, okay?"

Bea stirred slightly with a sleepy hum. "Socks were wet," she mumbled.

"I almost died."

But then... something moved.

Hard.

Nico blinked.

Then again — a strong kick, right beneath his palm.

"WH— WHAT WAS THAT?"

Bea didn't even open her eyes. "Kick."

"THAT WASN'T A KICK, BEA," Nico whispered harshly. "THAT WAS A WHOLE JAB. SHE'S STARTING HER ESCAPE ARC—"

Another, sharper movement. A little foot, or maybe a weapon, pressed hard into Bea's side.

"BABE— BABE— SHE'S TRYING TO BURST OUT."

Bea groaned sleepily. "She's literally just stretching."

Nico sat up slightly, wide-eyed. "That was a threat. She's practicing kung fu in there. I'm not ready."

"She's not due for another four months."

"Four months?!" he gasped. "She's already got form. What if she comes out ready to throw hands? What if she tries to fight me?"

Bea cracked one eye open, totally deadpan. "Then maybe you shouldn't have eaten the last brownie yesterday."

Nico blinked. "...You knew?"

She smirked.

Another solid kick landed beneath his hand.

He yelped. "BEATRICE. CONTROL YOUR DAUGHTER."

Bea patted his cheek weakly. "You control her. You were the one who read her pirate tales at midnight."

"That's different. I wanted to inspire her, not incite rebellion."

A final kick.

Bea bit back a laugh, turning to lie fully on her back now, both hands cradling her belly.

"Say goodnight to Daddy, sweetheart," she cooed, mock-sweet.

The belly wriggled again.

Nico stared at it like it was a ticking bomb. "She just said 'square up' with her feet, didn't she?"

Bea yawned. "She's your daughter."

"...That's the problem."

But even as he said it, Nico leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Bea's belly with both hands gently cradling the roundness of it.

"I love you," he whispered to their daughter. "But I swear to every god in the sea, if you somersault out of your mom like you're diving for treasure—"

"—Nico."

He smiled. "Okay. Goodnight. I surrender."

And for a while... all was still again.

Until Bea whispered: "Also. I want cake. Again."