Parenthood

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Oh, no..."

"It's your turn."

"I know, I know. I'll get up in a minute."

"That's what you said last time, right before you fell asleep again."

"Yes, alright."

"You had better hurry up, before--"

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"--Nariko joins in."

"Oh great. Can't you help? I can't comfort both of them at once."

"Oh, no, you're on your own this time Dragon Lord," Rachel planted a kiss on his nose, but it didn't do much to improve his mood. "I'm sure you'll manage."

Spyro grumbled as he sat up. It wasn't that he didn't love his kids, he just found it a little difficult to cope with the late night disturbances. He was a man that needed his sleep and a set of three-month old twins didn't help.

Although, everything had gone quiet now.

"Huh, looks like they settled down by themselves," said Spyro, looking to settle down himself.

"Go and check on them. Please. Babies don't go quiet for no reason."

Spyro held back the disgruntled noise in his throat. As tired as he was, he knew better than to argue; especially with a woman. "Fine," he said.

He climbed out of bed and headed across the landing towards the kids' room. As he got closer, he realised there was someone in the room. A horrible feeling rose in his stomach as he resisted the urge not to to barge in there. But as he got to the door, he relaxed when he saw there was nothing to worry about. Although it was still just as surprising.

"What are you doing in here?"

Malsvir looked up sharply, like a kid who'd been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Oh, hey boss," he said, recovering quickly, "They were crying, so I thought I'd come and sort them out so you and Rachel could sleep." He had Nariko in one arm and Jennu was happily chewing the fingers of his other one as he lay in his cot.

"You didn't have to."

"I know, but I know how long it takes you to get out of bed. Besides, I was up anyway."

"At three in the morning? What were you of all people doing up at three in the morning?"

"Reading."

"Reading? Why?"

"Why not?"

Fair point. "I didn't think you were any good with kids? You complain every time I ask you to babysit."

"Doesn't mean I'm not good with kids."

"So what was the deal? Changing? Feeding?"

"Neither, actually. Looks like it was just a bad dream, they settled down once they knew someone was here."

"Really?" Spyro was almost ashamed to admit that it would have taken him a while to work that out.

"Can't you tell?"

"No. It all just sounds like the same noise to me. Rachel knows, though. Heck, she even knows when they're going to start crying."

"Well, she would, she's their mother."

"So how come you know so much about this?"

There was a noticeable pause before Malsvir answered. "I dunno," he said, "I might have picked it up from somewhere."

"Huh. Well, people pick up all sorts of skills from all sorts of places."

"Mm, true. Here, take Nariko off me while I get my fingers back."

The kids had fallen asleep again. Spyro moved and took Nariko from Malsvir while he recovered his arm from Jennu.

"I don't know how you did it, I never would have gotten them settled down that quickly. You're a better father than I am."

"Don't worry, you'll pick it up eventually. It's not like you can learn to be a dad overnight."

"You said it," said Spyro, even after three months he still hadn't got it right. "Well, thanks for that, you just saved me a night."

"No problem," said Malsvir, as the two of them left the room.

"Goodnight Malsvir."

"'Night boss."

Spyro climbed back into bed, happy that he wouldn't be missing a night of sleep but still a little confused. He couldn't think of a place where Malsvir would pick up the ability to look after kids like that. Not unless...

"Everything ok?" asked Rachel.

"Yeah..."

"You don't sound sure."

"I don't think I am."

"What's the matter?"

"Well, I'll tell you, but I don't think you'll believe me."