𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘, 𝖺 𝗀𝗅𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝖻𝗎𝗆

what's with all the yelling?

[SETTING.🧭] Right after Nico's dramatic outburst in the common room. Everyone's mid-chaos. Then... her soft voice.

The door creaked open.

Everyone froze.

Bea stood there, one hand resting gently on her swollen belly, Nico's cloak still draped around her shoulders. Her brown ringlet curls were a little tousled, her eyes heavy with sleep. She blinked slowly.

"...What's with all the yelling?"

Nico snapped to attention.

Gone was the fire-breathing ex-pirate. He turned around so fast his boots squeaked.

"Sweetheart." His voice dropped two octaves and softened like warm honey. "You should be resting. You want some tea? I'll get you some tea—"

"I was resting," she mumbled. "Then I heard yelling about— something seducing me?"

The girls all turned to Nico with matching expressions.

"Go ahead, explain it," Teresa muttered. "Captain Rage-Storm."

Nico looked like a cornered animal. "I— I wasn't yelling about you, darling. Just... yelling near you."

Bea's eyes narrowed, but sleepily. "Did you threaten the girls again?"

"No! Just... passionately addressed their negligence." He stood straighter. "Also—minor details—Sonya forgot your mimic checklist and nearly let you get stolen by sea demons."

Sonya: "I WILL FIGHT YOU."

Harriet: "Please fight him. I want to see her cheer for you."

Bea squinted. "...Sonya didn't forget. I did."

Nico turned slowly. "Oh."

"Oh," Sonya echoed. "Oh interesting."

Bea yawned, looking around. "Also, I wasn't going to follow the siren. Its eyes were yellow."

The girls nodded sagely.

Bea shrugged. "Your eyes are stormy blue. That thing looked like a mango."

Harriet laughed. Vicky wiped a tear. Nico looked absolutely scandalized.

"A mango?!"

"You're the only one I'd ever swim for," she added, half-asleep.

That did it.

Nico strode over, scooped her carefully into his arms despite the bump, and kissed her temple like she was spun from gold. "Back to bed. You're too precious for this cursed base."

As he walked out with her in his arms, Bea mumbled over his shoulder, "...tell Matt he's not allowed to yell while I nap either..."

From behind them, Matt shouted, "I DIDN'T EVEN YELL— okay I did. Sorry, Bea."

Sonya, now sitting with her arms crossed, muttered, "Unbelievable. He was going to throw me to the kraken five minutes ago and now he's whispering lullabies."

Teresa snorted. "Welcome to being on Nico Marrow's Not My Wife list."

Thèrèse sipped her tea. "We all signed up for this. We just didn't read the fine print."