Chapter 4 - we will be a family, even if it kills us
As the rays of the morning sun glare into the room, you slowly open your eyes. You're instantly met with Layla's watchful eye.
"Good morning sleepyhead and remind me to cover you up from now on. Your rings could have woken up the dead last night thanks to the full moon,'' Layla teases you. At least she appears like her cheerful self again after off loading her past.
"How long have you been up?'' you ask her as you yawn.
"A few hours probably, just absorbing your glow and contemplating the conversation we had last night. I never told anyone before, and I just want you to know I appreciate how far you were willing to go...'' She then gently strokes your scabbed forehead with her paw. "But no more banging your head on doors, even if I am hiding, okay?''
"No promises. Either the door gives or my head does. I will not abandon you when you need me,'' you respond with a calm but stern voice.
"Why wouldn't you just tackle the door down if you wanted to break it?'' Layla asks, confused.
"Tackle? Would it have had the same effect?'' You ask just as confused.
"Hmm...'' Layla thinks for a moment. "I guess not. Your pain was actually why I told you. Not the door. If you broke it, I think I would've just been pissed.''
"So, I guess I did something right. But this headache... I hope I don't have a concussion.'' You rub your forehead. Layla just slaps your nose with her ear as she gets up. "Again! No head-butting. Now let's eat something, I am starving. I'll even eat that old chili if it's still in the fridge. After that, we will brainstorm some names for these looming dooms,'' she says as her tail whisks around the eggs.
After the hardy chili you both return to the eggs. Layla is listening and inspecting the eggs. Then she turns to you. "Okay, so I guess we need to come up with some names. Or we could just name them Regret, Afterthought, Mistake and Oops.'' She finishes with a sarcastic smile.
"Yeah, right. I don't think those names will make them feel loved, even though I know you are afraid to give them comfort because of your past.'' You sigh, reminded that she doesn't want you to be soft with them.
"Look, we're naming them, not teaching survival skills. Death by Regret can be just as efficient as death by Miss Buttercup the Third or whatever the hell you want to name them.'' She slams the door shut. "But we need to decide the names now - there are only a few weeks left until they hatch.'' Like lightning, you're struck by sudden shock as her words sink in.
"A few weeks? I thought it would be months...'' you frantically spur out the words before giggle escapes from Layla.
"Hah... wow... you truly know nothing about Pokémon do you? Usually Eevee eggs take about two months to hatch but it can be as early as six weeks. And stop panicking. This is happening. Or do I need to shackle you to that radiator just in case, like I first contemplated?'' she asks, her tone a mix of concern and amusement.
"Okay, point taken, no shackles,'' you respond immediately, unsure whether she actually has shackles waiting somewhere and not eager to find out. "So we need four names for male and female? Just to have all our bases covered right?''
"Probably four male and two female is enough, the Eevee are ? more likely be male than female. If your Glowbutt manages to beat those odds you will likely be on top of Team Rocket capture list,'' Layla says jokingly, but her composure tells it is actually partly true.
"Team Rocket can suck it! But yeah, okay... So I was thinking of the name Hope. It technically works for both male and female. I thought of it because of my water purification project and possibly making the world a better place. Becoming a family also creates hope, that you will be able to become whole again, and hopefully have a happy life with me and...'' Your ramble is cut as her paw lands on your muzzle, silencing you.
"Shhh... you already sold it. No need to write a book about it. Hope is good. I like Hope. For a boy I have always thought of Elem. Despite my refusal to evolve, I always liked Elem as elements, as Eeveelutions represent many elements.''
"Elem... Elem... " You try the name as you never would have thought of it. "Elem is interesting. So you would allow our kits to choose to evolve if they wanted?'' you ask with sudden curiosity.
"Are you that stupid?'' She takes sudden offense to your question. "Of course I'd let them evolve. The fact that I don't want to evolve myself has nothing to do with my view on Pokémon evolving at will - as long as it is their choice...'' she pauses for second before continuing, "...except Umbreon will have to wait until they are twenty-five plus; I won't have a copy of you running around until they truly know what they want.''
"What did I do?'' you ask confused, but you don't get the chance to continue as your question is met with her slit-eyed glare and a quick whack on the nose from her ear.
"What haven't you done? First, you innocently ask what Pokémon I'd want you to be. Then you surprise me by showing up as that Pokémon, and now we have these four to name and take care of. So don't you get all cute with me.'' Layla finishes, her tone half-serious, half-playful.
"I don't remember you complaining that night...'' you start by putting some of the blame at her, but she again interrupts you, this time with a faint growl.
"Oh, the night was great... the aftermath...''her growl gets louder ''...time will tell.'' She appears somewhat resentful.
"Okay, I'm sorry...'' you start to apologize, but she unexpectedly approaches you, interrupting you in mid sentences by tapping your nose with her ear, nipping your ear gently and pressing her forehead on yours.
"In case you forgot, that means listen! You're mine! We're in this together!.'' She turns around, her tail curling protectively around the eggs. "Don't you ever - and I mean never, ever - apologize for making us a family.''
"I'm confused. At first you acted like it was an accident. Now you act as if you knew this was going to happen. And when you first saw the eggs, you were in shock.'' You're not entirely sure what's going on, but you don't feel like you're in trouble either.
"Wow... just... wow... you're unbelievable. Of course I knew that there was a chance, a pretty high one in fact, that this would be the result. Maybe I wasn't expecting four eggs, two at the most, but that's not the point. And I was in shock because I know how soft you are, and we never spoke about offspring... heck, we barely spoke after the transformation, before...'' she pauses for a moment, then dismisses the thought and continues "...anyways, I wasn't in shock because we're going to be family, you dumb Umbreon.''
"I am still confused. You're happy we will have kits, but you're also angry? Layla please explain.'' You look at her with questioning eyes.
"I am happy for the addition. I am scared of the change. And I am frustrated with you for putting your paw down about how you want to raise them. But I did promise you I would give you a chance... but I swear, if even a hair...'' She starts to growl, but then eases her posture and stops, "... but if you manage to keep them alive. Then maybe, and just maybe, I do believe in your parental approach.'' Then she pounces in front of you in one swift leap, her claws tracing the scars left on your right shoulder on the day she promised to remind you of your vow. " Remember... I will always... hold you to your word,'' she says as she finishes tracing the scars.
Your fur bristles as Layla traces the scars, your mind flashing back to the promise you made - to never accept softness and compassion for weakness, and to rather die than withhold affection from your young. "What the...'' you start as your mind catches up with reality.
"Good Umbreon, there is hope for you yet'' Layla laughs as she confirms you're able to recall memories as she intended. "Anyways, let's get back to this naming thing, or do I have to carve a reminder of what we were doing into you as well.'' She says as she playfully extends her claws.
"Oh right... yeah... I mean no... no reminders needed,'' you ramble and then go quiet.
After a moment, Layla grows impatient with your sudden silence. "Well... on with it! We need names.'' Her growl is not angry, but you can tell she is losing her patience.
"Oh...umm... Miracle?'' You spit out the first thing that comes to your mind.
"Miracle? Really?'' She giggles a little. "Fine, we'll put that on the third female spot, just in case we have three. Because that would be a miracle. And since you can't come with names that aren't loaded with meaning, I'll handle the rest. The remaining male names are Rainer and Tamao, and the second female is Rea. Okay, we're done here'' Layla rushes through the names.
"But you didn't ask...'' you start, but she immediately interrupts you again.
"What? I didn't ask you? Do you want me to veto the name Hope for the first born and change it to Regret? No? Good.'' Then she opens the door and walks out without giving you a chance to answer, which sends you running straight after her.
"Layla, wait! Are you mad at me?'' you ask with a concerned voice.
She chuckles as she turns around. "Why would I be mad at you? Should I be?''
"Well, I don't know. You didn't let me say anything about the rest of the names. You said we're doing this together,'' you explain.
"Oh fine. You're probably the most sensitive Umbreon in the universe, but that is what makes you adorable. Do you have a problem with the names?'' she asks with a gentle smile.
"Well no, names are fine, but...'' you begin, but are once again interrupted.
"No buts! Look..." She flicks her ear at your nose ever so lightly. ''We can talk about names all day, and tomorrow and the next day. The perfect name will not come until they are here. It's good that we plan, but it's not good to set things in stone.'' She walks up to you and nips your ear gently before pressing her body against yours. "I think by now you know when I am really angry at you. If I'm angry, you usually end up with my jaw around your neck,'' she jokes about her past outbursts.
"Layla, when you say together, do you really mean it? As partners, as mates, or is it just that we're in this together?'' you ask with complete sincerity.
She immediately pounces on you, pinning you down. You're expecting the jaws, but instead she nudges the underside of your chin and lies on top of you.
"You sure are thick headed Umbreon, Kuro. You really think I'd do everything I've done with you if I thought of you as less than a mate? You can stop worrying about it.'' She nudges your chin again.
"But sometimes you don't seem to trust my judgement,'' you respond as you lean into her.
"Seriously?! This is coming from the guy who turned into Umbreon for me.'' She taps your head firmly with her ear a couple of times, as if hammering in a point. "Yeah, not sure about the judgement part. Seems like your judgement is dialed on at random. But that makes it fun to be around you. You never know what pops out of the mystery box of yours. But I do appreciate you, I hope that makes you feel better.'' And then true to her character she bites your ear hard enough to cause a little bleeding. "And still mine!''
You yelp in pain. "Ouch! Can you please just say it, or maybe do it more gently? Ears are very sensitive...''
"That one, I have to say - no chance. Learn to endure it, because as long as we're together, that won't change. And if it does, you'd better be worried.'' She pushes herself off of you. "Anyway, the naming is done and I'm feeling better. Don't you have a world water crisis to save or something before the eggs hatch?''
"Oh yeah, I guess I said I was taking personal time because of how you were feeling... I'll go as long as you promise not to be locked in the room when I get back,'' you demand assurance with slight concern in your voice.
"I will be here, but not locked away, I promise. Now, go save the world, Glowbutt,'' she responds with a faint laughter.
Over the next few weeks, you work double time and spend very little time at home. Layla keeps telling you it's fine, but you just want to push the project to the point where the team can run with it, with little to no involvement from you. You do feel bad not spending any time with Layla though, and the feeling of becoming a parent is starting to sink in as well. For some reason you keep thinking you should make the relationship more official, but you also know things like marriage aren't really Layla's speed. You're pretty sure legal rights from marriage wouldn't apply to a Pokémon anyway. But the more you think about it, the more you want to do something for her. You also know she can sense when you are lying to her, so you have to be very cautious and work fast. In just two days - days you barely spend any time at home - you manage to get the special gift for her and finalize your plan.
On your way to home, you stop by to pick up a pink rose and ask the shopkeeper to trim the thorns off before taking it gently in your mouth. Your heart pounds as you approach the apartment, part excitement, part fear of how things will go. You know Layla will sense something the moment you step inside. But there's no way you back down now. This is happening. You put your paw on the scanner and enter the apartment. Layla steps out of the office, probably after spending some time around the eggs as she usually does. Her ears shoot up the instant she spots the rose.
"What is that? A pink rose? You never got me a flower before...'' She pauses as she picks the beat of your heart. "Okay... what's going on, your heart sounds like it's about to explode. What is your dumb Umbreon brain up to this time?'' She smiles at you, but seems a bit hesitant. You don't respond either at first, just walk to her and place the rose in front of her.
"Can't I just bring a flower to my lovely mate without any reciprocity?'' you ask with a grin.
"You do know you are a horrible liar, right. Okay, out with it, Glowbutt! What did you do?'' Layla is visibly getting uncomfortable with your secrecy.
"Fine, I want to do something special for you, but it is hard without giving away surprise...'' You crouch down, pull a small box from the bag, and nudge it toward her with your nose. "This is for you, Layla. Open it.''
She begins to open it with a confused look on her face. You lay down completely with your ears relaxed. As she finally manages to lift the lid, but before she has a chance to react, you start your vows.
"Layla, please don't interrupt. Would you, Layla, accept me as your forever loving mate, and share the good and the bad in this world with me. I know you don't desire to evolve and you do not have to. Because the way your eyes sparkled in the mist of the waterfall, the way you light up my heart like the hottest furnace, the way you were able to shatter the icy horrors of the past by sharing them with me. How your fur sparks when you get angry... " She flinches slightly at your words. "... and how our love keeps growing, even in the darkest places. You need no ribbons, no psychic abilities - your presence...'' Your rings start to glow blue even if it is not night time. "...illuminates me like moonlight. In our love, as an Eevee, you already possess all the qualities of the evolutions - and I will never wish for you to change.'' You finish your vow and wait for the answer. The whole time she has been just staring at what she sees in the box. Her eyes are sparkling from tears forming, but she is not saying anything.
Finally after what feels like an eternity, she replies. "A proposal?! Really? You idiot!'' You can tell none of those words carry any heat. And her posture isn't upset but rather somewhat fragile. "This bracelet... it's magnificent. And your vow... it describes it perfectly...'' She runs her claw across the surface of the bracelet with fragments of thunder, fire, ice, water and leaf stone, a white gold crescent moon and a ruby sun symbol all surrounded by Sylveon like ribbons and in the middle, a big piece of everstone. Then she sets it down with a loud sigh. "Unfortunately there is one problem and I have to say no...'' Your heart immediately sinks, which brings a grin on her face as she pounces on you nuzzling against you almost furiously. "You asked me to accept you and I already accepted you. No silly human antics will change that. No bracelet, no snowfall, not your Glowbutt.'' She nips your ear gently. She looks you in the eyes and with half open eyes, looks at her ear above your muzzle to invite you to do the same. You bite down very gently on her ear. "Harder...'' she says. You bite down a bit harder, almost hard enough to break a skin.. "Harder, it's okay, I?ll endure it,'' she says with a smile. You bite down even harder, breaking the skin and making her ear bleed a bit.
''Good Umbreon. I'm yours, and you are mine.'' As soon as she finishes saying that, her other ear shoots up. "Did you hear that faint crack? I think the kits are hatching!'' She giggles a little. "Even as they hatch, they know how to ruin a moment.'' She starts to head towards the eggs, but stops and slides the bracelet on her left paw and rubs against you. "Thank you for the bracelet, it's a perfect reminder you don't expect me to evolve.'' She rushes to the office with you right behind her.
In the office you're met by four shaky eggs with two already having a few cracks. You're feeling both excited and scared as you have no idea what Eevee kits even look like. All you know is that you cannot wait to meet them. Then all the sudden all the eggs stop moving for a moment. You approach the egg on the left and place your ear next to listen. As soon as you do it, the tiniest little muzzle breaks through the crack and immediately chumps on your ear latching on to it.
"Ouch! What the heck!'' you cry in pain, feeling the little canines piercing your earlobe. You pull away, only to find your firstborn staring at you while dangling from your ear like a Christmas ornament. Layla covers her mouth with her paw trying to hold her laugh.
"There is your Hope, and looks like she is already claiming you hers. Attagirl!'' She approaches you and gently lifts Hope by the scruff. "Okay, let's give daddy's ear a rest, Hope, at least until the rest of you are here'', she says with a soft chuckle. She sets her down on a heated pillow ever so gently and starts to clean her up. You, on the other hand see another egg break open and a slightly darker brown furred Eevee pops out. It immediately goes after a paper clip that had fallen on the floor.
"Bring him over here before he eats that thing, Kuro,'' Layla tells you with a faint but frustrated growl. You try to grab him from a scruff, but every time you pick him up he falls off. Layla just rolls her eyes at you. "Just use more force, their scruff barely feels anything.'' You grab hold of him a bit tighter and manage to barely make it to the pillow before he squirms off your grip.
"Good effort, but you still need a lot of practice. Anyway, meet your son, Elem. Something tells me he will be a trouble maker,'' Layla chuckles as she starts cleaning him.
"How do you know their sex instantly?'' You look at her confused.
"How do you think, can't you see the things dangle...'' She can't even finish with a straight face as she sees your bashful expression. "Wow, you would have totally believed that! No, I can smell their difference. As soon as they are out of the egg, their scent is strong enough for me to tell, but before that I have no idea,'' Layla explains. You walk over to the remaining two eggs. Neither moves, though both are now webbed with fine cracks. Without a warning, a tiny paw punches through a crack, sending shells flying almost a meter away. Quite the entrance for such a small thing that just hatched. You help it out trying to figure out if it is a male or female. You think it smells more like Hope, but you're not sure. As you're sniffing, the little rascal latches both paws onto your nose, pulling itself out. It doesn't hurt much and feels like the perfect first bonding moment with your third kit. You press the little furball gently into the ground until its grip loosens, then catch it by the scruff, much smoother than your first attempt, and carry it to Layla, who looks genuinely startled by the whole scene.
"Another girl? Wow these are surprising results already. So I guess that's Rea.'' Layla is astounded by having a second female kit added to the family. By now, you feel like you know the scents she's talking about.
"I think the last one I can try to call out the sex of if you let me,'' you ask with curiosity.
"Go ahead, good practice for your instincts,'' she approves. As you get to the final egg you can see a tiny, very faint piece of shell break free. You sniff without seeing any fur yet.
"Oh I think it is another girl, I am almost sure of it. I think it's Miracle!'' you shout, excitement bubbling in your voice. Layla giggles, but when she sniffs, her face gets serious. She rises and walks over.
"Hold on... this can't be... you're correct, it's a female...'' As she steps closer, the tiny head pokes out, its fur almost white as snow. Layla stares at the last kit in horror.
"Oh no...'' She looks like she has seen a ghost.
"What is it, Layla? You look worried and scared. What is wrong?'' you ask with a concerned voice.
"That is a shiny female Eevee. That will be hard to keep safe. If Team Rocket ever finds out...'' Layla freezes, clearly unsure what to do. You try to ground her, snapping your ear against her nose as hard as you can.
"Listen, Layla! First we get the kits out. Then we name them and finally we enjoy the rest of the evening as a happy family and we worry about Team Rocket later. Okay?'' you say with a stern but comforting voice. Layla looks startled by your words, but after a moment of hesitation, she nods in agreement.
"So we have Hope, Elem, Rea and Miracle?'' You ask for confirmation from Layla. But to your surprise Layla shakes her head.
"Hope, Elem, Rea and Lumi. I'm sorry, but I always thought if I ever had a shiny kit, I'd name it Lumi as luminous,'' she says, gently correcting you.
"You said that if we had three girls, the third would be Miracle and I think Miracle is very fitting with the odds,'' you reason, but she cuts you off.
"Okay fine... Hope, Elem, Miracle and Lumi? Does that sound acceptable to you?'' she offers, trying to compromise.
You pause for a moment. "Yeah that sounds good, as long as you're happy with it.'' You smile as you walk to the other three furry newborns on the pillow. "Now, bring her here so they can meet their youngest sister.'' Layla gently sets the white-furred ball of fluff beside her siblings. They immediately curl up together. You feel profound pride in the situation and when you glance at Layla, though she'll never admit it, her whole being radiates the quiet, instinctive motherly love nature intended. Before long, all the little ones drift into sleep. You and Layla haven't spoken a word since the naming dispute. Both of you are too busy just admiring your offspring. Then, without warning, Layla's tail curls around yours.
"Thank you, Kuro,'' Layla whispers with a smile as tears start rolling down her fluffy cheeks. "You sacrificed everything so we could be a family. I've always dreamed of this... so many quiet, lonely nights I cried myself to sleep. And I don't know how you do it. Even when things fall apart, you shine hope into the darkness. Don't you ever change.'' She leans in, resting her head on your shoulder as her tears soak into your fur.
"I...'' you begin, but she strokes her ear softly across your nose.
"Shhh… no explanation needed. Let's just enjoy this moment quietly,'' Layla murmurs, her voice calmer and more caring than you've ever heard it.
You don't say a word, just rest your head against hers, listening to her steady breathing and the soft sounds the kits make in their sleep. In that moment, time loses meaning, just the six of you, beginning the journey as a new family, unaware of what the future holds.
