While this wasn’t an everyday thing, it happened enough that Rick just sort of lazily opened one eye and tilted his head to look at her in amusement. He had woken up a few minutes ago but hadn’t felt the need to move just yet. “I’m awake, Darlin’.” He gave in a low, sleepy sounding drawl, as he knew she liked it. With how she was straddling his legs it wasn’t impossible to get up but it would still be better to wait until she got off so he didn’t accidentally hurt her.
Holi shivered and narrowed her eyes at him, “You’re cheating.” she huffed playfully and got off of the bed to go procure one of Rick’s shirts, especially since he was using “the voice” if she wasn't careful they would not get to breakfast and then it would be cold and she wouldn't be able to play her prank. Holi did note that her hair was about to reach her ankles at this point but didn't want to cut it. She rather liked having the hair a corrupted senshi would have without all the cracks and such. Grabbing a black tee that reached mid thigh, she gave his cheeks one last patting before making her way back into the kitchen. “You know if you're too slow it’ll be colllldddd~”
Rick couldn’t help but give a smirk at her comment, knowing full well that he was in fact cheating. He continued to lay there until she got off him and the bed, then he rolled and got off himself. One stretch of his arms over his head to stretch both arm and back muscles, he was moving towards his dresser to grab some clothes himself. He had bent a bt to grab some pants when Holi gave her last pat and it got a low chuckle out of him but he focused on putting the pants on and grabbing a shirt rather than following it up with anything else. When he grabbed a shirt, he padded his way on bare feet out into the kitchen, putting on the shirt as he did so. “Smells good.”
She was proud of herself, she managed to make waffles, eggs, bacon and some southern sweet tea. Holi placed everything on the dining room table already, sitting at her seat with a very proud look on her face. Nothing was burnt, she managed to pay attention enough to make sure everything came out perfectly. So excited she was that her feet were moving back and forth while she sat waiting for him at the table. “I hope you like it! I actually managed to pay attention this time and nothing came out bad~” Her mouth was watering a bit and her stomach growled, but she waited for him to sit down before she dug into her plate, mmmming at the taste of the waffles.
Rick cast a look at the food laid out then walked over to the table, bent enough to give her a good morning kiss, then sat down on a chair next to her. “Good job, Darlin. It looks fantastic.” It was honest words, but he did tease her a bit by still keeping the drawl. Soon he was following suit and digging into the food himself. She really had outdone herself this time as Rick didn’t have any complaints or criticisms for the food. She even got the tea right and not what northerners called sweet tea.
Holi practically beamed, humming a happy tune while she swayed a bit in her chair. Once she decided she'd eaten enough, Holi decided to put her prank into play. “So…I've been thinking…” Usually Bellamy would tell her that's bad for her (which if she was being honest, it probably was and she wasn't even blonde), She took a casual sip of her tea before continuing, “Like a lot and I'm not getting any younger so…Ireallywantababy.” Holi had to keep from ruining the prank by laughing, her straight face game was something she totally learned from observing Rick herself. If this got him to do anything other than be unaffected then the goal was accomplished.
When Holi had mentioned she had been thinking, Rick held back a sassy comment about not hurting herself, not wanting to derail whatever she had to say. At her next words though, part of him thought it would have been better to derail it. He had froze, glass in hand halfway up to take a sip of his tea, and stared at her blankly for a moment. “Holi, you are plenty young. In fact, too young for a baby right now.” He said a moment later.
Well that wasn't the response she was hoping for.
Holi frowned, “If I remember correctly, my parents had me when my mom was eighteen so I mean twenty-two isn't all that young when you think about it.” If she was being honest, Holi didn't want kids till she was at least twenty-six minimum and had planned to tell Rick that. But she was kind of curious to see where this would go. She hoped she wouldn't upset him or anything. She crossed her arms and huffed, “Besides it's not like I can't provide for the baby or you for that matter, we both bring in a lot for income.” Her being too young really shouldn't factor in here so she was going to see what Rick would say in return.
There was a comment he could have said about her parents but he swallowed it down as he didn’t want to upset her. “It’s not just about providing. You would then have this small life that relies entirely on you for food, comfort, attention, sanitation, and more. There are sleepless nights as you worry over this tiny baby’s health. There is a pause on everything you used to do until you can figure out if it fits in with your new lifestyle that revolves around the baby or if you have to discard it. Yes, there would be two sharing that responsibility but it’s still a lot.” He looked her in the eyes with a raise eyebrow. “And does this sound to you like something you really want to do at 22?”
Holi sighed and looked down like a very lectured child. Ugh of course he wouldn't do something comical. Instead Rick just hits her with that thing called reality. The sad part was, now that she was truly thinking about it, Holi didn't think she would mind the sleepless nights or worrying over something that she created with the man she loved. But alas she was only twenty-two and as kicked puppy as she looked, she knew deep down Rick was right. Poking at her food dejectedly she looked down before answering with a sigh, “No, no it doesn't.” She didn't even bother telling him it was a joke, she just finished her food quietly while she thought about it some more. Would the baby have her hair? Rick’s eyes? A combination of both? Boy? Girl? There was a lot going through her head at once and it showed.
Rick gave a bit of a wince when he was clear she was feeling a bit dejected. He truly didn’t think they were ready for a baby, especially since they only just said ‘I love you’ last night. That didn’t mean he didn’t feel bad about making her sad over the logic and it clearly didn’t stop her from thinking. He stayed silent for the moment, finishing up then cleaning up all the dishes once they were both done with them. Maybe it didn’t have to be a human baby? While animals could be taxing, it would be a better alternative for the time being right?
Holi finished her plate and gave it to Rick so he could wash the dishes, giving him a hug and reaching up on her tip toes to kiss his chin. “It was supposed to be a prank honey. “ Clearly it didn't give her the results she was looking for but it was going to make for an interesting story on tiktok for sure. She pulled away, still feeling just a bit sad but yeah there was no way she was ready for a kid right now so shut up bio-clock, she was nowhere NEAR thirty.
Rick relaxed when she admitted it was a prank but still, his previous thoughts have merit in his opinion. Which is why only days later her invited her over again but this time had a carefully hidden surprise.
Holi thought that the surprise Rick had for her was something to make up for the prank gone wrong, which he didn't need to do like at all. She walked up to his door, using her key to let herself in, quickly closing the door just in case her baby girl was out and about. “Rick?” She took off her coat and set her purse down on the floor. “I am here?”
When he heard her voice he got a small smile on his face before he dropped it to not give anything away. “Over here.” He called out, keeping his voice from getting too loud but still easily heard. He was sitting on the couch with a blanket spread over his legs. There was a suspiciously Lexus shaped lump on his lap under said blanket to help hide the gift he had for her.
Holi frowned and tilted her head curiously, making her way towards the couch. The suspicious lump on his lap just made her think the baby girl was sleeping with a blanket today. “Awwwe, is the baby girl cold? Did you want me to come over for surprise cuddles?” She giggled softly, waiting for Lex to come to her from underneath the blanket. She would have called Sophie but the jackalope was probably a bit much at the moment for a tired ferret.
Rick didn’t give anything away on his face and instead waited until Holi sat down before carefully lifting the blanket. His eyes were on her face to see her reaction but he did make sure to keep the surprise in his peripheral vision. Sure enough there was indeed a Lexus curled under the blanket, but the surprise was that there was an additional, smol lump of fur that Lexus was cuddling. A tiny ferret baby.
Holi sat and stared for a good couple of seconds before she let out the quietest squee that she could manage, “Oooooh my gooood!” she looked to Rick with eager eyes, “C-Can I? Is the baby mine?” She wanted to hold the tiny ball of fur so badly but didn't want to startle her baby girl or cause a defense mechanism. “Boy or girl? Can I name them?”
Finally Rick let the smile that he had been hiding show through as Holi reacted. “Yes, he’s yours. You can name him whatever you want.” He said and carefully ran a hand down Lexus’ back. He didn’t make any sudden moves while doing so and let Lexus know ‘her’ new baby was safe and not in any danger.
Holi gasped and gave Rick the biggest smile she could imagine. “Oh thank you thank you thank you!” She mimicked what Rick did for Lex, cooing to her, “Awwwe are you being a good momma baby girl? Can I hold your baby?” she carefully and slowly coaxed the baby ferret from her cuddles, holding him in her two hands while she brought her nose to his, “Your name will be…Jing Yuan~” She couldn't help herself and figured it was only right since Jing Yuan is Rick's most requested costume to wear during her Star Rail streams. Still keeping The General close, she rested her head on Rick's arm, placing her new baby right back with his sister/mother. She would make sure she would be the best ferret mommy she could be.
Rick watched her with a soft look as she cooed over the new addition and placed a kiss on top of her head when she rested it against him. “Well then, guess there is a new general in the house.” He said, amused with the name. Lexus just curled right back around the newly named Jing Yuan, placing her head over the baby with the finality that she was not moving again for a while. Something Rick could completely agree with.
Natsuko-neko
