A Shidge Tale (ShiroxPidge)

Chapter 9

For the next couple of days Pidge rested in the infirmary. She got to see a glimpse of her 2 children and smiled at how much they looked like Shiro, but she wasn't able to hold them yet. She was still too weak and the twins needed to be kept on vigil for a another day or so.

As Pidge slept, Coran did one last scan to double check that everything was healing nicely. The cut on her abdomen stopped bleeding and all thats left is to let it close on its own. Her heart rate wasn't as low as it used to be and her complexion looked healthier too.

"Everything checks out. I rather her just get a few more days of rest so the wound can heal, but other than that she's as healthy as a spritely clovenheifer." Coran said softly to Shiro.

"Thanks again Coran. And the twins?"

"I checked them earlier. So far their vitals haven't changed. I'm afraid it's going to take longer than I expected for them to get out of the pods. Many of their bodily systems are under developed and they are extremely fragile at the moment." He twilled his mustache as he spoke. "However, thanks to Hunk's help. We engineered the pods to keep them in a cryogenic sleep state so they can grow on their own. It will be like they're still in the womb."

"How long will they be in their for?"

"By my calculations, a week should be long enough."

A week? That long?

He hasn't been able to hold either of his children once, neither had Pidge. She only got to see them once before falling out cold again. And just when they were so close to finally getting to see their kids, time begins to tease them more.

———

Pidge fluttered her eyes open. She was more aware and felt a little sore, but didn't feel as bad as she did 3 days ago.

When she looked around she saw Hunk sitting by her with a tray of food goo and a water packet, not the man that's been by her side for the past few days.

"Where's Shiro?" She asked groggily.

"He's sleeping. He never left your side even while you slept. We finally got him to go shower up and get some rest. He looked exhausted."

Pidge nodded in understanding. Last thing they needed were 2 Paladins out of commission. Though she can't lie to herself, she liked it when Shiro staid. It brought her comfort.

"Do you think you can eat? I made your favorite; food goo."

Pidge quietly laughed at the attempted joke. All they basically had in space was food goo. If it wasn't for Hunk and his culinary expertise they would have had that every night, but the goo would be easy on her stomach and easy to swallow considering she was still in recovery.

"Yeah, thanks."

———

After some well needed rest, Shiro decided it was time to go back and visit Pidge again.

They moved her to her room so she can rest more comfortably. It took some convincing since she didn't want to leave her new borns in the infirmary alone, but the others assured her that they won't be. Coran and Allura started taking turns in eyeing them and checking their progress on their growth.

Shiro found the young paladin's door open. When he walked inside, he found her typing on her computer. A quiet chuckle left his mouth, nothing ever changes. Pidge will always be Pidge; the girl who staid up at late hours to upgrade many of the castle's software and her own, the girl who would walk around the castle late at night saying she was 'sleep walking', and the girl that would do anything she could to protect those she loved most.

"Pidge?"

"Oh, hey Shiro." Pidge closed her laptop and put it aside. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Yeah, I guess I was more tired than I thought." He said as he sat himself at the edge of her bed.

"You know, you didn't have to stay with me the whole time. You have to take care of yourself too."

"Hunk told you huh?"

"Yeah... Thank you, though. It was comforting to know you staid, but your health is just as important." She said smiling softly at him.

Shiro smiles back and kissed her softly. A content silence filled the room for a minute or two, until Pidge broke it with another question.

"How are the babies?"

"Coran says that they're doing great. Everything is normal and that their getting healthier everyday."

"That's good to hear. I was worried..." Pidge looked down at her hands as she quickly began going into deep thought. Shiro tilted his head slightly to catch her eyes before they ran away into the abyss that her mind is.

"But something else is on your mind. What is it?"

"I was just.. I was just thinking about mom. How she's alone back on Earth, how she doesn't know that she's a grandma now, how she doesn't know the truth about what happened with Matt and Dad and-"

A tear slid down her cheek as the reality of being in space and her mother being galaxies away hit her like a tidal wave. Shiro brought Pidge in a hug and let her cry into his shoulder.

"Hey, hey. It's going to be okay. We all have someone or something we miss down on Earth. You're not alone."

Pidge sniffed, "I know. But it still hurts."

She cried herself to sleep that night, with Shiro holding her close -afraid that if he let go she'll wake up.

A shadow appeared from the light in the hallway that was gleaming into the dark room. Keith was standing at the entrance with a soft smile but then frowned when he saw the way they were.

"Sorry, I could come back-" He whispered.

"No no its okay. What is it?"

"Coran needs you in the infirmary. It's the babies."

By the way Keith was smiling, Shiro knew it must have been good news. As eager as he was, he controlled his being to gently lay Pidge down onto the pillow -careful not to wake her. Once free of her hold he darted out the door with Keith walking behind him.

This was it, he was finally going to hold his children.