Chapter 6: A Family's Nest

"I'm going out!" Nepgear, in his new jacket that Compa made for him, ran towards the elevator. Histoire turned towards the hallway as Nepgear passed by.

"Take care!" Nepgear slowed to a halt and back up to the room Histoire was in, waving at her before running towards the elevator once more. Hitting the button to call the elevator, Nepgear fiddled with his fingers while waiting. Reaching for his phone, Nepgear began to scroll through his phone, oblivious to Neptune creeping up on him. Hopping into the air, Neptune wrapped her arms around her brother, nuzzling her head into the back of his head.

"Hiya, Nep Jr.!" Nepgear smiled as he carried his sister in a piggyback.

"Oh hey, sis! What's up?" Neptune's mouth curled up, imitating a cat's mouth.

"Are ya gonna fly to Blanc's place?" The boy nodded.

"Yes, Uni and the twins are going on a picnic." Neptune's grin grew larger.

"Take me to Lowee! I don't wanna work!" Nepgear chuckled as the elevator door opened.

"I don't think Histoire would be too happy about that…" When the boy tried to put his sister down, Neptune tightened her grip on her brother. "Too bad, Nep Jr.! You got yourself a partner for this mission!" Nepgear scratched his cheek as he carried Neptune into the elevator.

"It's not really a mission…" Nepgear put down his sister as the elevator went down to his lab.

Sitting down in the pilot seat, Nepgear started the Gear-Wing with his sister swinging her legs around.

"Hey, Nepgear. You can go HDD now, so why don't you fly by yourself?" Nepgear shook his head.

"Yes, I could." Suddenly, the boy's eyes lit up with excitement as his plane rose into the air. "But I won't ever get to experience the awesome feeling of flying a plane, or any form of vehicle, like a robot!" Neptune sweatdropped.

"But what about stuff like fuel and the environment?" Nepgear put his hands at his sides and held his head high.

"Oh, Neptune… The Gear-Wing is solar-powered and doesn't release any exhaust!" Neptune tilted her head.

"But what about the little tail thing that your plane leaves behind?" Nepgear smiled.

"That's just the power source! I made it so that the engine leaves behind a trail of light in order to make it look cooler, so it's purely decorative." Neptune smiled as her brother babbled on about his plane while piloting. "Ah, we're here!" Neptune blinked her eyes as the Gear-Wing landed in front of Lowee's Basilicom.

"Wait, that fast?!" Nepgear grinned.

"I've optimized the Gear-Wing's engine, so now I can fly around as fast as Vert in HDD! Well… maybe a little slower than that, but I'd like to think that it's just as fast." Nepgear pushed a button and opened the cockpit.

"Coolio! That sounds totally rad, Nep Jr.!" Nepgear gave Neptune a peace sign. "Alright, thanks for the ride!" Neptune hopped out of the Gear-Wing, waving at her brother as she landed on the ground.

"Nepgear!" Neptune turned around to see Uni, Rom and Ram running towards the plane. As Uni passed by Neptune, the girl stared at the black-haired Candidate, who had become her brother's girlfriend. Nepgear reached out and pulled Rom and Ram into plane while Uni climbed onto wing of the plane. Neptune watched as Uni grabbed onto Nepgear's hand, staring into each other's eyes. After a minute, the lovers blushed and Nepgear continued to pull Uni into the plane. Frowning, Neptune shook her head. Reminding herself of Nepgear's relationship to Uni, Neptune closed her eyes as the Gear-Wing's cockpit closed.

"Oi." The Gear-Wing rose into the air and flew away as Neptune turned around, confronting Blanc, closed book in her hand. "I had a feeling you'd be here." Neptune scratched the back of her head.

"Hehe… I was bored, so I had Nepgear take me here." Nodding her head, Blanc turned around, walking into the Basilicom.

Blanc led Neptune to the living quarters, where Vert and Peashy, Blanc and Vert's daughter, were playing Super P-ko Bros.!

"Ah! It's Neptuna!" Peashy left her momma and over to Neptune, who steps back as Peashy raises her fist, covered in her giant paw glove.

"P-P-ko…" Peashy threw herself at Neptune.

"P-Punch!" Uppercutting Neptune, Peashy sent the CPU flying away out sheer strength. Neptune landed on her back, eyes blank. "Yeah, I did it!" Peashy hopped onto Neptune's stomach, waking her up. "Neptuna's so weak~!" Peashy giggled and bounced on Neptune until Blanc picked her up.

"Peashy… I told you not punch everyone you meet." The child and held her mommy tightly. Vert walked over to Neptune and helped the girl up.

"I apologize about that…" Neptune smiled and stood up, poking Peashy on the nose.

"Just you wait, P-ko. I'll sidestep your attack next time!" Blanc handed Peashy to Vert.

"I need to talk to Neptune for a bit." Nodding, Vert kissed Blanc on the cheek and raised Peashy over her shoulder.

"Come, Peashy. Mommy Blanc has some work to do." Peashy pouted as Vert tickled her with her nose.

"Kay… Momma Bert?" Vert melted as her daughter called out her.

"What is it~?" Peashy raised her arms into the air.

"I wanna make a Snow Mommy!" Vert giggled, leaving the room.

"Of course~! We'll make the best Snow Blanc the world has ever seen!"

"Even better than Auntie Roam?!" Vert giggled again.
"Peashy, it's not Auntie Roam, it's Auntie Rom and Auntie Ram."

"Oooooh!" The door closed behind them, leaving Blanc and Neptune by themselves. Walking over to the sofa, Blanc picked up a tangerine from the basket in front of her, putting her book at the far end of the coffee table.

"So, did you really come here because you're bored?" Neptune tilted her head.

"Whatcha blabbering about. Blanc?" After she finished peeling the fruit, Blanc placed the fruit on the table, turning to look at Neptune dead in the eye.

"Or did you want to size up your brother's girlfriend?" Neptune flinched, a drop of sweat rolling down her face.

"What?! What are you talking about?" Blanc crossed her arms, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Don't give me that bullcrap, Neptune!" Pointing a finger at Neptune, Blanc frowned at the girl. "You're overprotective, Neptune. And you have Empty Nest Syndrome!" Neptune stepped backwards, raising a hand to defend her from Blanc's accusation.

"Empty Nest Syndrome?!" Blanc nodded.

"Yes. Since, Nepgear has grown up is able to fend himself now. You're feeling the emptiness of Nepgear leaving your nest." Neptune waved her hands and shook her head.

"You're not talking right, Blanc! I'm just here so Noire can feel jealous about being a Lonel-" Blanc slammed her fist against the table, smashing the peeled tangerine.

"Cut the crap! Noire can't be your excuse!" Silent, Neptune glared at the ground, mouth quivering. "You selfish prick! Think about others with your idiot of a brain, damn you!" The CPU of Planeptune gripped the ends of her jacket. "I've noticed how you look at Uni, and I don't want you to ruin Nepgear's life by ripping apart his relationship with that girl and straining yours." Neptune lowered her head even further, her hair covering her eyes. Letting out a sigh, Blanc wiped her hand with a tissue and picked up her book, having finished saying what she wanted.

"..." Blanc flipped through her book, ignoring Neptune as the girl shook side to side. "Bl-Bl-" Blanc closed her book, putting aside and turned to Neptune. The girl finally raised her head, tears flowing from her eyes. "Blanc!" Neptune ran over to the CPU of Lowee, burying her face into the girl's lap. Sighing, Blanc stroked Neptune's head.

"That's it…"

"Wh-When I learned that Nepgear could die at any moment… I was afraid." Blanc nodded. "And then he gets kidnapped… What was I supposed to do?" Neptune continued to cry into Blanc's lap, who quietly waited for the girl to finish. Once Neptune was done, the girl raised her head and Blanc handed her a tissue. Blowing her nose, Neptune wiped her tears dry with another tissue.

"Neptune, even if Nepgear grows up, he'll always be your baby brother. No matter what." Blanc patted Neptune on the back. "Nepgear will never leave your side, since he loves spoiling you with tea and attention. Even though he has a girlfriend, Nepgear still loves to spend time with you." Neptune's eyes widened, realizing that Nepgear barely argued or complained about her going with him to Lowee to pick up Uni and the twins. Smiling, Neptune turned to Blanc, pulling her into a hug.

"Thanks, Blanc." Blanc smirked.

"Unless… Nepgear decides to get married, move out and have kids." Neptune gasped at the thought and stood up.

'What?! But Nep Jr. wouldn't… Does he even want kids?!" As Neptune freaked out, Peashy ran into the room.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Peashy hopped into her mommy's lap, causing Blanc to grunt against her daughter's uncontrolled strength.

"What is it, Peashy?" The girl pointed at the door.

"Look at the Snow Mommy me and Momma Bert made!" A small smile on her face, Blanc put the girl down.

"Alright, let's go." As Peashy cheered, Blanc turned to Neptune. "Hey, Neptune. If you want, you can have lunch with us." Peashy pulled Blanc towards the door.

"Come on, Mommy!" Neptune watched Peashy drag Blanc out the door, the duo slowly turning into Neptune and Nepgear, wearing the clothes he wore when he was born, doing the exact same thing. Shaking her head and slapping her face, Neptune cupped her hands over her mouth.

"You're super awesome, Blanc! Could you also tell Histy that I'm here?" As she heard the fading growl from one of her closest friends, Neptune's phone began to ring. Pulling out her phone, Neptune found Nepgear's name on the Caller ID.

"Hello, Neptune?"

"Heya, Nep Jr.! Wassup?" Neptune smiled as she heard her brother's voice. In the background, the CPU could hear Uni crying out in the background while Ram laughed.

"Nothing really, I just wanted to make sure that you weren't being made to play Super P-ko Bros. with Peashy." Suddenly, Blanc's voice came from outside.

"Hey, Neptune! Hurry the hell up!"

"Blanc, not in front of Peashy!"

"Hurry~!" Neptune smiled.

"Don't worry, my adorable little brother. Your big ol' sis is as Nep as ever!" Grinning from ear to ear, Neptune pulled the phone away from her ear. "I gotta fly, Nep Jr.! Lunch is calling!"

"Wait, I'm the one who flys a pl-" Putting her phone, Neptune patted her stomach and ran out of the room. There a large Neptune-esque smile on her face. "Alright girls! Where's my food?"

Family - Fin