Sorry there hasn't been much from me as of late - a whole range of family stuff and odds and ends are currently working very effectively together in keeping me occupied. However, while geeking out again with Bitter Knitter relatively recently (the friend who helped me come up with with the whole Future-Pines AU) I was at least able to come up with one more little piece to add to this odd mishmash of a crossover (this AU for my AU, if you will).

I hope you enjoy this latest little drabble as I try and steer things back full circle!

- SGA

"...So you're sure you're going to be okay?"

It was proving more difficult than anyone anticipated for the young man to simply leave the house and enjoy his first night out with his wife in ages. After asking the question for what must have been at least the fifth time in the last several minutes, he leaned over to check again on the squirming, smiling little boy lying in the arms of one of the two babysitters. The baby broke out into a toothless smile at the familiar face hovering over him.

"Yeah-huh! We'll be juuuuust fine!" Assured one of the teenagers.

"Things are gonna be one million percent okay here tonight, at least." Said the other with a big grin.

After making sure that his tiny son was just as happy and healthy and totally fine as he had been just a minute ago, Marco planted a quick kissed on the little olive-skinned boy's forehead.

"Alright. Just remember, Orion's schedule is on the fridge and the dining room table. He'll need his bottle in about half an hour, and after that he should be put down for bed. If you need us, I put the phone numbers-"

"Numbers for the restaurant and your guys' phones are also on the fridge, by the TV, and on the kitchen table. And also taped to every wall, glued to our backs, written on the living room ceiling, meow meow meow meow meow….." One of the teens flapped her hands as she exaggerated for comic effect. Marco rolled his eyes.

"Hey-"

"Oh, c'mon!" A giggling Star gave him a hearty slap on the back. "That was prime comedy and you know it."

"Yeah, ease up!" The teen wiped some purple-and-blue highlighted hair from her face and beamed. "We've told you, we've got this!"

"You're dealing with the dream team right here!" Her brother claimed, and the two siblings confidently fist-bumped one another.

"Yeah we are!" Star raised her hands with a jingle of brightly colored and bejeweled bracelets and received a high-five from each of the twins.

"I just want to make sure." Marco said defensively.

"C'mon Marco, it'll be juuuuuust fine." His spouse gave him a peck, then proceeded to bombard their son's yellow star-marked cheeks with a flurry of kisses. "Isn't that right? You're going to have sooooooo much fun tonight, aren't you cutie pie?"

Finn nodded reassuringly to Marco. "Don't worry, it'll be more fine here than you'll be able to possibly imagine. Just like at us!,If Aunt Star was able to deal with me AND my sis at the same time when we were all tiny and crazy, then the both of us can handle the lil' gentleman here-"

A phone alarm went off with a loud chime. Gladys perked up immediately.

"Okay, maca-broni! Ten minutes are UP! My turn!"

It was with a hefty amount of none-too-subtle reluctance that Finn handed Orion over into his sibling's waiting hold. She nuzzled his chubby cheeks, then smirked at the look on her twin's face face.

"Oh, don't be such a Pouty-Pete." She said as she set her phone. "You'll get him back for your next turn in just a few minutes-"

"Not just a few minutes; TEN minutes. Ten." He specially reminded. Finn pointed to her phone and the fact that she had clearly just set it to twenty minutes, despite her attempts to keep the screen out of sight. Gladys turned a little scarlet, and as she tried to put on a less-than-believable look of surprise.

"Uh, whoops! Looks like my finger slipped back there. Good eye-"

"That wasn't a slip."

"Yes it was! My finger's all slippery from….from….uhhh….look how drooly Orion is right now! I got-"

"Nuh-uh. You tried to cheat. You only get five minutes this turn."

"Five? No way!"

"Yes way!"

"Nuh-uh, ten minutes each. That was YOUR rule, mister."

"Well I'm making a new rule that says…."

Still giggling nonstop, Star elbowed Marco. "Sooooo, you ready to leave noooow? Or does Mister Safety still have to stick around for a while?"

After Marco watched their babysitters continue to debate over who got to adoringly cuddle their child for a few moments, he managed a small smile.

"Yeah, I think I've finally good." But before he could finish turning towards the door, he paused and glance back at the arguing siblings. "But maybe-"

"Nope, you said it, it's official, we're outta here!" Star's eyes glowed briefly with a whitish-blue shine, and a small burst of magical energy forced her husband out the door.

"Okay, okay, we're going!" He yelped. "I just thought that-"

"They're just nuts for our cutie-pie, that's all. They're twins, they're awesome at figuring out to share. We've got nooooottthing to worry about. I mean, it's definitely not going to be a repeat of the first time I got my hands of them when they were tiny little hyper-sweeties. Rememberrrrrr?"

"Good point." Marco conceded as he recalled that fateful first visit, and shook his head. "No lie, I seriously thought I was going to need a crowbar to pry them out of your arms..."