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Once there was a couple who became two, but once they became one again, and then this one became a family.

DraconicFeline

Hijil sat next to the children's bed, watching them both - Korin playing and Ishida sleeping with exhausted adoration. They were both so beautiful, so full of bright joy. They were like little stars come down from the sky for her and Bhima. Maybe that was what Aisha did - turn stars into babies. But if so... She felt herself nodding off and tossed her head, waking up. It was still her turn to watch the littles, and she had to do that until Bhima returned because they managed to get into everything somehow and someone had to tell them where not to go.

"Korin..." she whispered to the boy with her face, who was making a lot of noises in his play. "Korin, shhh, shh." She couldn't force him to nap, but she could try to keep Ishida asleep.

Bhima returned then, a bag slung over her shoulder. Having children was definitely going to be a whole new lifestyle, but she wouldn't change it for anything. She still lost her breath when she caught sight of either of their babies.

Mama Chike had just left. There had been tears. Bhima had followed her mother home for some 'things' and then come back with this bag. She smiled when she saw that Ishida was sleeping.

"She gave us some toys, and some fruit, and some coins," Bhima said softly.

DraconicFeline

Hijil beamed at his response, pleased that Korin had quieted down for his sister. Her experience with children had been limited, but she knew that they were willful. Even she had been, long ago, in her own way.

Hijil held her hands out to inspect the offerings. Obviously, they would be good quality and much needed - she could only make so many toys herself. She didn't know why the coins would be in there, but Bhima's mama knew best. Hijil trusted her.

Hijil turned to smile down at her daughter. It was like looking at a reflection in water. Blurred, and rippled, but she could see much of herself there. And much of Bhima. "Hello, little one." she said softly.

Bhima smiled broadly and reached down to touch Korin's head affectionately. He had Hijil's hair, and her nose. A couple of years ago she wouldn't even have imagined that she would have Hijil in her life again. Now there was this. Aisha really did have a funny way of working.

She handed the bag over to Hijil. "You look exhausted," she said, and then waggled her fingers and crouched beside Ishida's bed. "Hello, sleepy-head."

DraconicFeline

Well, now she couldn't shush Korin again, could she? There wasn't much of a point.

Hijil smiled, a little self-deprecatingly. Yes. She was exhausted - Bhima, as always, was perceptive. In fact, she was a little jealous that Ishida could be so awake already - who knew that children could have so much energy? Where did they get it? But she was happy for it.

"Hello!" she said again, taking a moment to figure out what Ishida wanted. Up? Did she want to be picked up? She did so, picking up the little girl and putting her in her lap. "Here you go." She peered inside, letting Ishida look too.

As promised, they were toys. Decent toys. A variety of toys. Hijil was curious - would it be out of line to play with them herself? To make the radaku figurines stalk through imagined forests, to feed little dolls fake and real food? So much of her life was practical - it was interesting to contemplate imagination.

The coins were too small - she kept an eye on Ishida's hands. Hijil still had trouble comprehending the idea of little round metal things used in trade, but they worked, and that was good enough for her.

The fruit... Was good.

"Look!" Hijil said, holding up a broad-winged kinfa toy with her free hand and making it 'fly' in the air in front of Ishida, "Look at the bird!" She immediately felt ridiculous.

"Now, now," Bhima said, tapping Korin's little shoulder. They were still so small, so vulnerable. It was her job to help protect them. "We share, remember?"

She reached out to touch Ishida's cheek and boop her nose.

"See, those are from Gramma Chike. Some are for you and your brother, and some are for all of us." She was positively not embarrassed by Hijil taking up the toy and amusing their children. Why should she be?

DraconicFeline

A brief flutter of panic - who did she give the kinfa to? "Lets let the kinfa decide!" she said, making it fly around a little more, buying some time. Korin had his toys, and Ishida had just woken up. Did that mean...?

"Oop!" she 'roosted' it in Ishida's hair. "I guess it wanted to nap!" she cuddled the girl as she squeaked in delighted indignation.

"How is she?" she asked Bhima.