I know it's been a year since I last wrote something for this AU, but let me assure you that I haven't forgotten about it. It's just been a rough year and I'm still only now just slowly getting back into my writing.

Since BixCo Week 2017 kicked off on my birthday, I figured I'd post this next update on the same date since I didn't have the time to host it this year. Maybe I'll get around to hosting it next year, though. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this instalment, and thank you all for being so patient with me after all this time!

Parenthood (Part 1)

It was around the time that Andra was fifteen months old that Lucy announced she and Gajeel were having another child, something that had unsurprisingly ended with Bickslow and Lucy jumping around in a circle together yet again. That time, Lucy had managed to tell Gajeel first, but she'd told Bickslow months earlier that they were planning on having another baby again so Bickslow had really just been waiting for the day.

But, it was around the time that Lucy and Gajeel shared the news, and Bickslow got just a little too excited and kept talking about how Andra was going to be a big sister and that he'd get to cuddle another adorable baby, that Erik seriously began to consider having his own family with his husband.

It wasn't something he'd ever really thought about before, because he'd never had a reason to since he'd made it quite clear to Bickslow long before they'd gotten married that he just did not want children. Even when they'd been arguing about it for years, since Bickslow had always wanted to have kids, Erik just hadn't actually thought about it, because while they were divided on it, nothing was going to happen anyway. Bickslow had accepted that they weren't going to raise kids together before they'd even gotten married. Still though, as little as Erik had wanted kids, he'd always felt bad for it, because he'd always known that it was the one thing he would never be able to give his husband, and that was the one thing that would make him happier than anything else in the world.

There were very few people that Erik would go to any length to make happy, and Bickslow was one of them. Granted, five years earlier, he'd never thought he'd get married and enjoy a disgustingly domestic life with someone, but that was beside the point. Bickslow was one of the few people on the planet that he didn't want to poison, murder, or maim every five seconds (only every ten seconds, on a good day), and Erik had always hated knowing that he was getting in the way of his husband being truly happy.

He'd never told Bickslow that he'd always been scared of him leaving one day, that Bickslow would realise he wanted a family more than he wanted him. Erik had no intentions of telling him that. But every now and then, that annoying voice at the back of his head would grow louder, and he'd begin to worry about it even more. It was usually after they argued about it, which had been slowly getting worse over time and Erik would leave for longer and longer each time it happened, or after they'd been watching Andromeda for an hour or a day here and there. It had happened just after Lucy had shared she was pregnant the first time, and it was happening again now that she was having another baby and Bickslow was getting excited again.

And, if Erik was honest, he didn't hate kids. At least not anymore. He'd grown to tolerate the little demons, and he had a definite soft spot for any Redfox-Heartfilia spawn. There was nothing saying he had to like anyone else's kids if he had his own, because they weren't his problem. Still, as little as Erik liked to admit it out loud to anyone, he loved seeing Bickslow so happy and excited. He always said he found it annoying, which he kind of did because Bickslow could be the most irritating person on the planet sometimes. But damn it, the guy was his irritating person, and Erik couldn't really deny that he loved it. Some-fucking-how, Bickslow was a loveable moron, and for reasons still unknown to Erik, that dork loved him back.

But it was because Bickslow was a loveable moron that Erik was seriously considering having a kid with him. Well, not really, because that was just impossible. But… adopting one, or using a surrogate or something. He wanted Bickslow to always be that excited that he was almost bouncing off the walls, because as far as Erik saw it, he was the only one stopping his husband from being that happy all the time, and he'd had enough of being the bad guy in his own relationships.

Sometimes… Sometimes compromises needed to be made, and adopting a kid or something was one compromise Erik was willing to make. He didn't think parenthood could be that bad. And even if it was, Bickslow would make it worth it. He kind of made everything worth it.

When Erik got back into Magnolia that morning, he merely grunted a goodbye to Macbeth as they went their separate ways, with Erik heading back to his stupidly quiet street and Macbeth no doubt heading for the couch in Sorano and Meredy's apartment, or wherever it was he was sleeping those days. It was still early enough that not even Bickslow would be up yet, and Erik was feeling like a nice husband for a change so he decided to stop in at one of the bakeries and pick up some breakfast for Bickslow on his way.

By the time he got back, Bickslow was just dragging himself out of bed and stumbling into the kitchen. "I didn't think you'd be home until later," he murmured, smiling as he saw Erik drop his bag onto the table.

"Finished the job early and caught the first train this morning," Erik replied. He set the bag from the cafe down on the corner of the bench before meeting his husband behind the middle of the counter and embracing for a short moment, just long enough for Bickslow to give him the welcome home kiss he always got. He hadn't showered for two days and he definitely hadn't brushed his teeth in that long, so that's all Erik could tolerate affection-wise for the time being. "I bought you breakfast. Eat while I go take a shower and make myself feel somewhat human again."

"Erik, you were never human to begin with," Bickslow snickered, swapping places with Erik so he could dive into the bag from Sally's Cafe. Something smelled amazing in it, and Bickslow wanted it.

"Not the point," he muttered, grabbing his bag again so he could set in the wash for later. "But, uh… I want to, um… I want to talk to you about something afterwards though."

"…Dude, if you're gonna say you want a divorce, please just get it over and done with."

"What the fuck? Why would you—no, that's not what I was going to say." How Bickslow had even come to that conclusion, he had no idea.

"Well, should I be worried? Because I feel like I should be worried. You don't exactly like talking." But Bickslow had never really minded it though. Still, with Erik saying he wanted to talk to him about something, Bickslow really couldn't help but worry what it was going to be about. He knew it couldn't be good.

"I know that," Erik snapped. He wasn't exactly thrilled about having the conversation with Bickslow as it was, but it kind of had to be done. He didn't have a whiteboard or anything to write it down on. "But… No, you shouldn't be worried. Well, I don't think you should be…"

"That totally doesn't help," Bickslow mumbled.

"Well, fine. But seriously, it's nothing bad."

"Uh-huh… Sure…"

Of course, despite Erik telling him otherwise, Bickslow worried. And he worried so much that he barely even touched the bacon and egg roll or blueberry pancakes that Erik had bought for him. Erik didn't talk. Bickslow had never really cared about it much, but right then, he definitely cared. The man had even bought him breakfast, something he hadn't done since they'd just started dating and Erik had been trying to be a good person and he thought that buying people food was what normal, nice people did.

Bickslow was kind of wishing he was able to just run next door to get Lucy to calm him down while Erik was still in the shower. But he couldn't do that. Because she'd decided to take a weekend trip to Hargeon with Gajeel, Andra, and Lily. And the only other person he knew in the street was Ethel, and she was just a grumpy old lady who was still convinced that he was actually Andra's father.

And still, as long as Erik's showers were, by the time he was out, Erik still had no idea how to bring the damn topic up. He couldn't very well just sit down in front of him and suggest they have a kid. Well, he could, but he didn't want to. And, when he did eventually get out of the shower and return to his living room to find Bickslow waiting for him, Erik was almost tempted to just keep walking straight and out the front door.

It was all just stupid and Erik was almost convinced he was going to make a fool of himself somehow.

"So… Are we just going to have a telepathic conversation now or something?" Bickslow mumbled as his husband continued to stare at one of Lucy's stupid magazines on the coffee table. "Because you know I'm not actually capable of doing that, right?"

"No."

Bickslow nodded. He supposed that was a good sign, but the fact that Erik was clearly having trouble coming out with whatever he was saying was still worrying. "Well, uh… You said you wanted to talk, and… I mean, I'm fine to do most of the talking myself, you know that, but… I kinda need you to tell me what it is I need to ramble about."

"I know. I just… I don't know how to say it, alright?" Erik admitted, sinking into the armchair slightly and looking away.

Bickslow really wasn't sure what could be so bad that it made Erik unsure of how to bring it up. He usually wasn't one for watching his tongue when he did talk. "Well… You said it's not because you want to break up, and I believe you… Did you, uh… I don't know, did you sleep with someone else then?" he asked. "Because, I mean, I wouldn't actually be that surprised if you—"

"Fuck, no. What the fuck, Bix? Seriously?"

"I don't know, Cobe… You're not exactly making it easy right now."

"No, but you seriously wouldn't be surprised if I fucked someone else? Seriously?"

Bickslow shrugged. It wasn't like his husband had been the most affectionate person when they'd started dating, and it certainly wasn't like he'd actually dated beforehand anyway. He was kind of Erik's first and only stable relationship, as far as Bickslow knew, so he'd always had it in the back of his head that it wouldn't really last.

Erik supposed that it wasn't entirely uncalled for, once he heard Bickslow's soul, but still, it kind of hurt, especially when they'd been together for five years and married for just about three. But, Erik decided that was something to sort out later, mostly because he just didn't want to think about it right then, and also because he had no idea what Bickslow would guess next.

"Jesus, no, I don't want a fucking divorce, and no, I'm not fucking anyone else." He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. Maybe he really was just having to straight up say that they should have a kid. Maybe he was just going to have to get it out and be done with it. "I'm saying that we should have a kid."

"Excuse me?"

Erik gave a small shrug. "We should have a kid," he repeated. "Well, I mean, if you want to, that is. Although I don't know why you wouldn't want to since—"

"Where the fuck is this coming from?" Bickslow asked. "Because, last I checked, you hated kids."

"I don't hate them. Well, I hate most of them. Andra's tolerable, though… And… Well, I'm sure I wouldn't hate my own kid."

"But… You don't want kids." Bickslow had been well aware of that fact for the last five years. So for his husband to be suggesting they have a kid right then, it was really fucking strange. "I know that."

"Maybe… Maybe I changed," Erik mumbled. It wasn't entirely a lie. "I mean, it's still not exactly at the top of the list of things I want, but… I know how much you've always wanted a family, and… And if you want, we could do that. We could… We could have a kid, if you wanted."

Bickslow was almost convinced he was dreaming, because that was the kind of conversation that had only ever happened in his literal dreams. "Erik, I know that you like to get back at me sometimes for all my stupid pranks, but this is not the way to do it. You can't joke about this."

"I know that, and I'm not. I'm serious."

"Are you… Are you actually?"

"Bickslow, I swear to fucking god, I am completely serious right now."

Bickslow didn't really know what to say. He didn't really know what to do, either. He'd always just accepted that he'd never really have his own kids with Erik, because the guy didn't want them and Bickslow had known that it would never change. But for whatever reason, Erik was sitting right in front of him right then and talking about them actually having a family, and Bickslow just didn't know how he was supposed to react. He didn't think Erik was stupid enough to say something like that if he didn't mean it, which only meant he really was serious about it.

He was serious about having a kid.

Bickslow found it in himself to move, quickly shooting up from the lounge and stepping around the coffee table to wrap his arms around his husband still curled up on the chair. "God, are you actually serious? Please tell me you are."

Erik couldn't help but roll his eye at the man. "Yes, I'm serious. I just said that, dumbass."

He really hadn't thought that would ever happen. It was a dream come true, literally. Bickslow didn't even care to find out just why Erik had been so opposed to it in the first place, or why he'd changed his mind either. He could learn all of that later. He pulled back just enough so he could kiss his husband, grabbing his face and just about climbing onto his lap in the process. "So you… You really want to have a kid?" he asked just a little too excitedly.

Erik supposed that was what he'd been looking forward to the most, just seeing how happy it made Bickslow. He nodded, lips curling to return the smile to his grinning husband. "I know how much it means to you, and… I'm sure raising a kid won't be that bad… So, yeah." Of course though, Erik didn't think he'd reach the day where he was the one suggesting having a family, but change wasn't necessarily bad.

"God, I love you so much right now, you have no idea."

There'd been just a few times in his life where Bickslow wondered just how he'd ended up with Erik, and how he deserved someone like Erik (because really, he was far nicer than he looked, and Bickslow had always taken great delight in knowing that). And it was one of those moments where he was wondering that exact thing, because for the life of him, Bickslow didn't know what completely selfless thing he'd done at some point in his life to have Erik be his not-so-grumpy husband.

With Gajeel returning from Bickslow and Erik's bedroom after putting Andromeda to sleep (with the babies and Lily keeping an eye on her, of course), Bickslow turned to his husband beside him and was just about jumping up and down on the lounge cushion. "Can I tell them now?"

Erik sighed and gave a small shrug. "If you want…" he mumbled. He didn't really see why it was a big deal, but the only reason they had Lucy and Gajeel over for dinner that night was because Bickslow had wanted to share his own news for a change. And really, considering Bickslow had been in a constant good mood for the last few months just because of it, Erik wasn't even going to think of denying the man anything.

"Hmm? Tell us what?" Lucy asked.

"We're gonna have a kid!" Bickslow announced, hands clasps together in front of his mouth and hiding his grin. He'd been waiting to tell Lucy for ages, but it had taken them until then to actually sort out whether they would go ahead with it or not, because as much as he loved that Erik had been the one to suggest it, Bickslow hadn't wanted to go ahead and have a family with the man if it wasn't what Erik had truly wanted, too.

"Wait, seriously?" Lucy looked to Erik across the coffee table. "I thought you didn't want to have children, though?"

"Strangely enough, I am a human, thus capable of change," he answered.

Gajeel snorted. "You, human." Apparently Bickslow's sense of humour really had worn off on Erik.

"Well, I think that's great news," Lucy continued. "And, I'd totally get up and hug you both right now, but, I mean…" She gestured down to her protruding stomach. At eight months pregnant, and already the mother of a tiny tornado, moving required effort and energy, and as much as she wanted to squeeze her dork brother in her arms, a ghost hug would have to do. She'd just owe him one proper hug in the future, which was fine.

"Don't worry, ghost hug received," Bickslow chuckled. "And thanks, Cosplayer."

"When is this happening?"

Bickslow shrugged. "We, uh… We haven't really decided on that. But, um… Soon, I guess?" He looked to Erik beside him for assurance, and he gave his own small shrug. As far as Erik was concerned, it was up to Bickslow as to when they actually had a kid.

"Well, are you going to adopt? Or will you use a surrogate?" Lucy asked. "Oh! I could totally be an incubator for you if you want. Well, you know, once I evict Haven and all…"

"Oh, fuck, that'd be so cool!"

"Uh, how about fuck no?" Gajeel interrupted, looking at his wife like she was actually insane - which she most definitely was if she'd just said she'd be a damn surrogate for them.

"Yeah, I'm agreeing with him on this one…" Erik added warily.

Bickslow pouted, sticking out his bottom limp and frowning at his husband. "What? Come on, it's a great idea!" he argued. Bickslow didn't know why Erik and Gajeel were opposed to it. Lucy had already had one perfectly healthy child, and she was about to have another so she was a great candidate. "We'd have a baby that was actually ours if we used a surrogate. Well, one of us would be a biological parent, at least. And we're great friends with Lucy anyway, so it's even better!"

"…That's exactly why it's super fucking weird," Erik said. Gajeel nodded, shivering slightly. "You've like, adopted each other as your siblings. Don't you see what's wrong with that?"

"We're not actually related though, so it's fine," Lucy said.

Gajeel shook his head then. "Bunny, it's really fucking weird. You're way too close, and I really, really don't want you carrying one of their damn spawn. That's creepy."

"Well, I don't see what the problem is, because I'm the one who would be doing it, not you."

"If you want to do it that way, fine. Just not with Blondie," Erik insisted. It was creepy and weird. The thought of his child being related to the Redfox-Heartfilia demons just made his skin crawl. It wouldn't even be much better if they used an egg donor as well and still used Lucy as a surrogate. Besides, Erik really didn't need to give those two nerds he was stuck with another reason to be weirdly close for all eternity. They were bad enough as it was. Lucy being a surrogate for them was just not going to happen.

"But—" Bickslow began.

"No," their husbands said in unison.

Bickslow sighed and crossed his arms, pouting some more. "Fine," he muttered. "Thank you for offering, Cosplayer, but I guess the bosses say no."

"I tried," Lucy sighed wistfully.

"I think adopting is the better idea anyway, to be honest." If Bickslow thought about it, he didn't really want a baby, anyway - well, not a newborn at least. It'd be cool if Lucy had been able to be a surrogate, because then they'd be able to be there throughout the pregnancy, but… There were already so many children who needed homes. Why bring another child into the world when there were others who more desperately needed families and rooves over their heads? "Maybe an older kid. I don't know."

"Whatever you think will be best," Lucy said with a kind smile. "Either way, I'm sure the two of you will be great parents."

"I hope so."

Once they'd decided that adoption was the way to go for them, everything had started getting way too exciting, and the more forms Bickslow filled out, and the more meetings he went to with adoption agencies, the more real it all became. Even Erik had to admit that he felt the same, and he never thought he'd see the day where he was excited about adopting a kid.

Eventually, a few months after they'd agreed to go down the path of becoming parents, they started to visit all the adoption agencies and orphanages around Magnolia. Erik had joked that it felt like shopping for new clothes, something he hated doing, and Bickslow had almost slapped him before he'd guiltily laughed.

Bickslow had said at the beginning that he wasn't sure he wanted to adopt a baby, rather an older child who'd been stuck in foster care for months, if not years. Erik didn't really care much, and he knew damn well that that was a bad sign. But they'd come too far at that point, and Erik wasn't going to go back on his word. He still wanted it all in his own weird way, it was just that he was scared as all hell. It didn't matter to Erik if they adopted a two-month-old or a ten-year-old. Either way, he'd be responsible for someone else other than himself, and that was a terrifying thought.

In the spring, they went to Clover to visit yet another orphanage - the seventh one, if Erik's memory served him correctly. The others had all been nice (well, most of them, at least; there'd been a few completely deterred by the fact that they were mages, and also gay), but none of them had really had what they were looking for. At least, that was what Bickslow had said for the sixth time when they'd left the last agency a month earlier. Lucy had gotten into his head about having some instant connection with the child that was meant for them. So that was where they were at: looking for the perfect child to join their weird little family.

Although, the only reason their family was weird was because of Lucy and Gajeel. Everything else was normal. Well, normal-ish. Erik couldn't really claim otherwise.

"So have you considered fostering at all?"

Erik looked up at the adoption worker's kind smile. Bickslow usually did the talking whenever they were out. Most of the time, Erik tuned out and tried to drown out the constant screaming of dozens of children around him. If it wasn't the actual screaming and shouting, then it was that from all their souls combined. That was probably the worst thing about it all.

"We find that most couples who are unsure really enjoy fostering for us," the woman continued.

Bickslow chuckled nervously, reaching down to squeeze his husband's hand reassuringly. He'd lost count of how many times he'd been asked that question, but his answer still remained the same. "I don't think fostering is for us," he answered. "I think I'd just get far too attached to the little guy and then I wouldn't want to give them up to some other family." That was the truth, too.

Fostering had been one of the first things he and Erik had talked about. Bickslow had even brought it up before they'd been married. He would've loved to open his home up to the kids who needed it, but Bickslow wouldn't be able to do it on a long-term basis. No way. He'd wanted to be a parent for so long that he just wouldn't be capable of doing it for a few months or even a few years. It was all or nothing to Bickslow, and after having accepted nothing for the longest time, Bickslow just wanted it all.

"That's understandable," she said. She glanced back down to the file open on her desk, briefly skimming the first page in the stack. It was filled to the brim with interview transcripts, assessments, and approval letters. It was one of the better files she'd seen, and she'd been delighted to welcome them with open arms. Now all she had to do was help them find their perfect little ray of sunshine to brighten their lives. "Now, shall we go and meet some of the children? Most will be outside enjoying the sunshine right about now."

Bickslow's face lit up as he looked to his husband. Erik couldn't help but sigh quietly to himself. It was almost if he was a child asking to go play on the playground. Erik knew that same look of sheer excitement all too well, too. "What are you looking at me for? I'm following you," he mumbled.

After that, Bickslow was quick to follow the social worker out of the small office and down the hall. It wasn't the biggest building, nor was it the neatest, but it was a far stretch from the worst orphanage they'd been to. There'd been one place in Hargeon running out of the back of a café. Safe to say that the second they'd seen the sign for it, they'd quickly walked in the opposite direction.

Every wall in the building seemed to be covered by some kind of frame. Some were full of garish drawings and paintings, others had the smiling faces of the newly completed families. Bickslow hoped he'd be up there some day.

After spending almost the entire day at the orphanage, getting to know some of the children and meeting the sassiest fourteen-year-old girl on the planet (Erik had absolutely adored her, not that he'd admit it out loud), Bickslow felt the disappointment creep up on him once again as they got ready to head home.

He wasn't sure why he expected anything else. Bickslow had known that it would take a while, and he'd gone into that entire thing knowing full well that it could still be years before he had a family of his own. But somewhere at the back of his head, Bickslow had let himself believe that it wouldn't be this impossible journey that it was turning out to be. And damn it, Lucy really had gotten into his head, and part of him hated that. But still, he couldn't help but look at Lucy and Gajeel and see their perfect family and just think to himself, I want that.

But Bickslow wasn't sure he'd ever get that at times. He just felt impatient. And he felt like he was being too damn picky, and that was probably what he hated most. He knew that it'd be different if it was with a surrogate, or even if he was straight and it was actually his child; he wouldn't be able to pick and choose what he wanted like he felt like he was doing then.

"Sometimes this process can just take a little longer for some couples," the adoption agent said softly. She'd seen that face of disappointment too many times to count. She understood it, though - that need to find the perfect fit. Her priority was with the children and making sure they found their forever homes, but she'd never grow tired of being able to close yet another file and know that she'd helped yet another couple have the family they'd always wanted. "Don't get your hopes up. I'm sure we'll find a fit for you at some point."

"I know…" Bickslow sighed. He had to believe that it'd happen at some point. It wasn't like it had been very long anyway. As long as he stayed positive, everything would be fine. Everything will work out. It will.

Fate seemed to have Bickslow looking up at the right time, though. As they were led through the narrow hallways, Bickslow went to admire the hanging paintings once more, just to wonder what their picture with their child would look like one day. But instead of the portraits, he looked up to see a large, glass window separating the hallway from the small room. Bickslow didn't think much of it as they continued walking, not really paying much attention to the woman tell them about their success stories and all the various programs they supposedly had in place for the children in their care. He assumed it was some kind of office with the plain white walls, until he noticed the crib in the back corner and the rest of the spare furnishings, and then the small girl sitting in the centre of the room and playing with the brightly coloured blocks.

Something didn't feel right about that picture.

"What's the deal with her?" Bickslow asked. "Is she sick or something?" They had to just be keeping her all the way back there just so she didn't get the other children sick. Nothing else made much sense, although even that Bickslow wouldn't quite understand.

"Oh, uh…" The woman turned around when she noticed her party had stopped following, and she grimaced when she realised just who Bickslow was asking about. She supposed that was what she got for leading them through the back hallways. "No, no… She's fine. We just, uh… We keep her room here for the sake of the other children. Now come, come, I'll show you out."

"Wait, no, hold on. What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Even Erik had to admit he was curious. It had been such an odd thing to hear, but he hadn't needed to focus much to know that it was something she shouldn't have said in the first place. The regret had been loud and clear, but Erik hadn't needed to hear her soul to know that. How quickly she'd tried to change the subject gave that away.

Oh, I've said too much… She'd be in big trouble if anyone else found out what she'd said. But, she could tell from the pointed glares aimed at her that she wasn't going to be able to get them to leave without telling them the truth. And she'd already said too much as it was, so it wasn't like telling the truth would make things much worse.

Stepping back in so she could lower her voice, she glanced through the window to the girl on the floor and let out a quiet sigh. "All the information we've been able to gather on her birth parents is that they were both practising in"—she quickly glanced around herself before leaning in further to harshly whisper—"black magic."

Bickslow didn't quite know whether to slap her or roll his eyes.

She quickly realised from the raised eyebrow the tall one was giving her that her shocking truth wasn't quite so, well, shocking, and stepped back to clear her throat awkwardly. "And, uh, well… Well, we thought it would be safer for the other children here if we kept her… separated."

"She's a baby. Just how much damage do you expect her to do?" Bickslow said. "She wouldn't even be showing any signs of magic yet anyway!"

"We… We know, but—"

"Am I allowed in there? Or will that be too dangerous?"

"I… I would advise against it, but… But if you—" She didn't get a chance to even finish her sentence before Bickslow had pushed past her and let himself into the small room. She made a mental note to update the couple's file once they were finally gone; there'd been no mention of just how bossy and demanding they could be.

Well, one of them, at least.

So she only sighed and resigned to watching the blue-haired man through the glass as he slowly crouched down in front of the girl. She figured that giving in would be the fastest way of getting rid of them at that point. Bickslow was demanding, sure, but he was still harmless. Well, she hoped.

"You know Seith mages use black magic, too, right?" Erik decided to point out from beside her. The look of absolute shock and embarrassment on her face made it totally worth it. "Guess that wasn't in your notes, huh?"

Bickslow remained silent for a few moments as he watched the girl. He wagered she wasn't much older than Haven who'd just turned one a few weeks prior. She had dark hair in two messy little pigtails, and big blue eyes that Bickslow instantly adored.

"Can I sit here?" he asked the child.

She didn't even look up, only continuing to stack the blocks in front of her.

"I'm Bix. Do you know your name?" He figured that was a long shot; it had taken Andra until she was nearly two to be able to actually answer that, and Bickslow didn't think the girl in front of him was there yet.

"Uh-huh."

"Her name is, uh, Fey," the woman from the orphanage said, clearing her throat from within the doorway. "She's seventeen months old, too, in case you were wondering…"

"Fey. What a pretty name," Bickslow murmured. A fitting name for a tiny fairy. He glanced around the bland room some more before settling back on the colourful blocks again. Fey was still just trying to stack them up, admiring each block for a second before trying to add it to the small stack. Knocking them all over again, Bickslow gestured to one of the bright toys on the ground. "Hey, can you pass me one of those?"

Fey looked at him for a moment before clumsily picking herself up the ground, picking up one of the small blocks, and then taking the few steps forward so she could hand the block to Bickslow.

"Why, thank you! Now, wanna see something cool?" Fey only stared at him intently. Bickslow couldn't help but grin as he closed his hands around the wooden block, a feint glow radiating from between his fingers that Fey seemed to watch in awe. A second later, Bickslow opened his palms back up to let the block go free, now with one of the his prized souls infused within it.

Fey's eyes widened as she watched the block twirl above her head and around her. "Fly! Fly!" it cheered.

Fey giggled as she began to chase the flying block around, arms outstretched and trying to grab for it. Bickslow was quick to get the rest of the toys out of the way and off the ground with the rest of the babies' souls, and they soon flew to the air as well for Fey's amusement.

Erik couldn't help but watch on with a small smirk in place. He knew Bickslow always had the babies with him, even if they weren't in their usual bodies. He couldn't go anywhere without them. Erik had learnt to tune them out over the years. Andra and Haven both loved playing with the babies like that though, so he wasn't that surprised that Fey was any different. She may not be able to say much, but she didn't really need to for Erik to know just much she was enjoying it.

He had an awful feeling that she spent a lot of time cooped up in that room by herself, and that was just cruel.

"Erik, come here for a sec," Bickslow said.

"W-Wait!" the woman interrupted quickly, stepping back out of the room to try and block Erik's path. "I really must implore you to move along. It's… It's nearly time for Fey's afternoon nap and—"

Erik only rolled his eye at her as he continued into the small room. If she'd wanted to seriously do anything about them, she would've done so by that point. She was all talk and no game, and Erik didn't really have time for those kinds of people.

"Hey, Fey, this is Erik. You wanna say hi?"

Neither were particularly surprised when Fey ignored Bickslow to keep playing with the babies. She seemed to be off in her own little world.

With a groan, Erik joined his husband on the floor and crossed his legs under him. Bickslow nudged his side with his elbow and looked to him with a kind smile while nodding towards Fey. "What do you think?" Bickslow asked quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"Fey. Isn't she great?" he whispered.

Erik shrugged. It was hard to call a toddler great. They were all kind of the same to him. Sure, he had definite soft spots for Andra and Haven, but they were different.

"She's it, Erik. I just know it." And that feeling was the last thing Bickslow had expected for that day, but the second he'd seen Fey, he'd just known that she was the perfect child for them.

He couldn't stand to know that that very room was where they kept her locked up, just because of the an unknown magic she may or may not have inherited. Bickslow knew all too well how to felt to be treated so horribly just because of something that was out of his control, and he wouldn't wish that treatment on his worst enemy, let alone an innocent child.

But Fey? She was perfect for their little family, and that much he was certain of.

Erik hadn't really thought they'd find the perfect child for them, and he'd told Bickslow that dozens of times. But he trusted his husband more than he trusted himself half the time, and the way he looked at Fey was the exact same way he looked at Andra and Haven. Erik loved that look.

And… If he was honest, which was rarely, Erik did have to admit that there was something about Fey that did draw him in some, and that wasn't something Erik had ever experienced - not unless he counted Andra and Haven, but really, that was different.

So when Bickslow said that Fey was it, Erik couldn't really help but agree.