Shidge
Ten years into the future
"Look, Takashi." Katie whispered as she leaned on him. "He looks just like you."
Shiro smiled, arms wrapped securely around his small wife and under the baby cradled in her arms. "I suppose he does." He tilted his head and kissed her cheek. Katie smiled. "Katie, I'm so proud of you. I love you so much."
She giggled. "I love you, too... Hear that, Hika? Daddy's proud of mama."
Shiro chuckled. "'Hika?'" He repeated.
Katie nodded. "Hikaru Samuel Shirogane... I like it, Takashi. Is it okay?"
"I love it, Katie. Hikaru. Hello, Hikaru. Welcome to the universe."
~
"Careful, Hika!" Katie giggled, scooping up the nine-month-old. He gasped and wiggled. "Hey, you're going to all wound up in stuff that's really gonna hurt, sweetie. Let's go find daddy."
Hikaru grinned and bounced. "Daddy! Daddy!" He squealed.
Katie laughed and nuzzled his cheek as she walked out of her lab. "You silly boy."
~
"Damnit!"
"What the fuck, Lance!"
"It's not my fault!"
"You were specifically assigned to keep an eye on Hikaru!" Keith snapped, peeking behind doors and around corners.
Lance whined pitifully. "I fell asleep! I didn't mean to, but I did! I woke up and he was gone!"
Keith cursed under his breath. "You're so fucking lucky that kid is short and can't reach any of the damn control panels."
The blue paladin pouted. "Do you think he went to their bedroom?"
The red paladin sighed, carding his fingers through his hair. "Yeah. He might have. Let's go check."
They ran down the halls until they reached Shiro and Katie's shared room. The doors slid open and Keith relaxed at seeing one-year-old Hikaru trying lift himself onto the bed.
Keith snuck over and boosted the little boy up. Hikaru squeaked giddily, then crawled over his mother. Katie groaned, then sighed and wrapped her arm around her son as he nestled in between them. Keith slunk out, then let out a heavy breath.
He looked up, then raised a brow at Lance's smirk. "What?"
"Oh, nothing." Lance leaned closer until their breaths mingled. "Just, you were so cute helping Hikaru up. I couldn't help but just want to kiss you." Lance mused, then placed a kiss to Keith's lips.
Keith smiled as they pulled apart. "Asskisser."
Lance laughed. "You know it, babe."
~
Hikaru mumbled as he played with his toys, crashing cars together and making little dinosaurs fight to their strange, untimely deaths.
Shiro amusedly watched his three-year-old son while his wife was nestled into his side, under his arm, face buried in a book. "Buddy, careful not to break Rory." He mused as Hikaru made the T-Rex toy bite the anklyosaurus toy.
"I won't." Hikaru assured, but separated the fighting toys. "You stay there, Rory." He patted the anklyosaurus affectionately as he stood, then trotted over to his parents.
The black paladin smiled as he helped the boy into his lap. "There you go, buddy."
Hikaru grinned, then leaned over to his mother to give her a kiss on the cheek. Katie giggled and looked up from her book to return the gesture. "I love you, sweetie." She hummed.
"I love you, too, mommy!" He piped up and kissed her nose. Katie kissed his in return, then went back to her book as Hikaru looked up at Shiro. "Daddy, when will we see Grams and Gramps and uncles Matt?"
"'Uncles Matt?'" Shiro repeated and Hikaru nodded. "Well, I don't know. Soon, I'd imagine. Things have been pretty peaceful this past week."
Hikaru's hazel eyes sparkled. "So we can visit them!?"
Shiro chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Well, we just have to wait and see."
~
"Mommy?"
Katie hummed as she rolled over. "Hika? What's the matter?" She reached out and he took her hand with both of his. The five-year-old had tears streaking his pink cheeks.
"I-I had a bad dream..." He sniffled. "You a-and daddy didn't come back from a fight."
The green paladin sat on the edge of the bed, pushing off the sheets to take her son into her arms. Hikaru nuzzled into her, placing a hand on her swelling belly. Katie smiled and rubbed his back. "Well, sweetheart... That might happen someday. When that day comes - or if it even comes - I need you to be my strong, brave boy. Can you do that for me?" Hikaru nodded. "Promise you'll protect your brother or sister for me if something happens to either your father or I."
"I promise, mommy." Hikaru rubbed his runny nose into her night shirt.
Katie rubbed his back and kissed his head. "I know you're sad, sweetie... But smile for me. Mommy and daddy love it when you smile. It makes everything feel better."
Hikaru giggled as his mother poked his cheek. He looked up at her and grinned. Katie giggled and kissed a cute little dimple. "There's my favorite smile in the whole wide universe." Katie whispered. They both heard a groan and snickered. "Oopsie, looks like we woke up daddy."
"Daddy's not too happy." Shiro grumbled, rubbing his face. "What's going on?" He sighed, squinting to see them in the dim light.
Katie placed Hikaru beside Shiro and scooted back onto the bed. "Hika had a bad dream about us not returning."
Shiro hummed and drew the boy into his arms. Katie pulled the blankets back over herself and lay her head on a pillow. "What did mommy tell you?"
"That it could happen." Hikaru whispered, nuzzling into his father's chest. "And that if if does, to be strong and protect my baby brother or sister and to smile because it's your favorite."
The black paladin smiled and hummed. "That's right. Now, try and fall back asleep, okay? We won't go away, Hika. Not for a long time."
Hikaru nodded. "Okay. Night, mommy. Night, daddy. Night, baby."
"Goodnight, sweetie." Katie whispered, kissing the back of his head.
Shiro chuckled. "Night, buddy."
-----
997 words
