Welcome to A Night's Tale, 2.3: Where We Belong!

It's been...three months? I think? Since I last updated, which I apologise for. I'm easily distracted/a busy person/just plain lazy, take your pick. I don't plan to take this long again.

Anyway. Last time, we saw a new band, Soul Bandits, lead by Tricou spawn Sam Fuchs, who attracted all kinds of attention with their music. One person was attracted to Sam himself because of his music – Bim Lawson, Spiral Night's fiancé. Bim got a tad obsessed with Sam while Spiral tried to carry on with his task as heir – he went speed dating. Finding no one he liked there, Spiral decided to visit Bim one last time before heading home. She snapped out of whatever obsession Sam had caused, and left with Spiral. Sam Fuchs, however, vowed they would play so that Spiral could hear them – so that his life would never be the same...

And here we are! (Also, if you're wondering why the title page is so crappy, it's because my photo-editing programme and I were arguing. It won, and crashed. This is the best I can do at the minute).

“Okay, Dad, tell me this is a joke. Why are we at this old place? I thought you and Mum had that house built specially.” Spiral laughed, glancing at his cramped childhood home.

“Um, yeah...well, we lost a ton of money and had to scrap that particular project.”

“Lost your money? How?”

“Well, I fell for one of those new 'internet scam' things, you see. They promised me protection and insurance for alien abductions, and um...they took my money and left.”

“Dad...you didn't know there's no such thing as abduction insurance?”

“Haha, I do sound kind of on the dumber side for not realising, but...long story short, the builders got mad because we couldn't pay them and demolished the new house.”

“You mean I have to raise my family in the cramped hut I grew up in?”

“It's not that bad, Spiral! I raised four kids here, and they only went missing once!”

“Very reassuring.” Spiral replied, sarcastically.

Jack grinned, “I thought so.”

“I'm sure it could be worse,” Spiral smiled, “but as of this moment, I'm banning you from the internet.”

“Damn,” Jack replied, “I really wanted to insure our family against tiger attacks-”

“Not necessary, Dad. I'll take care of it.”

“I'm proud of you, son. Now go and find a dresser. That outfit of yours is...well. Interesting, shall we say?”

Back inside, Jack wandered up to his wife, “I told Spiral about the internet scam thing.”

“How did he take it?” Meadow asked, biting her lip.

“He banned me from the internet,” Jack shrugged, “I expected him to break something, but I was wrong.”

“At least we have that in our favour. Seriously, Jack, no more insurance policies, okay?”

“Okay. But the dinosaur policy was an absolute steal-”

“Jack. No more!”

Some time later, it was time for Bim to take a walk down the aisle.

“Doesn't this remind you of our wedding day? Except ours was held in the kitchen, with no guests, and a collection of kids.” Jack smiled.

“It was true love,” Meadow grinned, “of course, this is nice too-”

“Would have been better if it had been held in the kitchen.”

“Well. I can't argue with that.”

The wedding was a small affair, held in the blank field next to the Night family home. The only guests were family and their spouses – as well as Shelby, as Spiral was trying to maintain a friendship with her.

Within minutes, Bim Lawson became Bim Night and the ceremony was over. Less money would have been spent had the couple opted for a kitchen-ceremony, but on the whole, this was a nicer option.

“You know, I can cut a cake, Spiral. You don't have to do that for me.” Bim smiled.

“I want to. It's traditional. It's our wedding day.”

“Cake for my queen.” Spiral smiled, delicately feeding Bim cake off a fork.

I expected him to be a cake shover. I am disappointed.

“This is the best way to keep the sun out of my eyes!”

Jack lost his slice of cake. I can't imagine how he managed it, flipping his plate over like that...

“Was that how you pictured your wedding day, Bim?” Spiral asked, when the pair were done with their wedding guests.

“Not exactly,” Bim replied, “but I wouldn't have traded it for all the weddings in the world.”

And Bim meant it.

Fun Fact: Spiral and Bim's room is the old girl's room redecorated – the room Stella and Cara shared. The family is too poor for more rooms at the minute.

That night, the Nights settled in for some peaceful time together. But of course, it was the Night family, and no night they share is peaceful.

“What is that sound?”

“I suddenly wish that alien abduction insurance wasn't a scam.”

Ladies and gentlemen, Jack Night just got abducted for the fourth time.

And of course, no one noticed until Jack came back.

“Spiral, what's going on?” Bim asked, smiling a little.

“Aliens!” He replied, “I hope they don't recognise me!”

“What? Why?”

Jack also returns with the same amount of grace as his three previous visits to the aliens.

“You think this would get easier by the fourth time.” Jack groaned.

“Oh no,” Jack murmured, standing up, “if I'm pregnant again...my child will be so much younger than the others...”

“Yes! My husband is back!”

“Woo! The aliens didn't recognise me!”

“I feel left out! I shall cheer anyway!”

“Jack, are you okay? I wish those aliens wouldn't keep taking you.” Meadow pulled a face.

“It's fine as long as they don't take my kids again,” Jack glanced at Meadow, “but I think I might be pregnant again.”

“That's fine, Jack.”

“I'm too old to be a Dad again.”

“No, you're not. You'll be fine.”

Elsewhere, a conversation was happening.

“Their dominant male interrupted our studies again, didn't he?”

“I don't think he is the dominant male anymore – the half-breed that caused the trouble up here seems to be in charge again.”

“Bring them back. They escaped, and our studies are not over.”

“Besides, intelligence believe that the younger half-breed has impregnated an Earth woman.”

“Quarter breeds? That is very interesting...”

“I thought so, too. I don't know how much of our DNA will be left in the child-”

“We must study them, too.”

“You mean kidnapping their children once again?” Drone questioned.

“I do indeed. I feel it is necessary for our research,” the woman sighed, “I do not plan to leave the ship, if that is what you are implying.”

“No...but the family, won't they realise that it was us? It will occur exactly the same as last time...”

“Then think of a new plan. I want those quarter-breeds for study, as we've never had quarter-breeds before.”

“I'm sure I can work something out.”

Drone was worried – if the half-breeds had caused a lot of problems on the ship, how would quarter-breeds fare?

The thought of it all made his head spin.

...

Back at the Night's house, things were running smoothly.

“She's doing my job, yet I'm still being paid,” Kaylynn grinned in disbelief, “I love this family!”

Eventually, Bim's pregnancy started to show.

“Hello, baby, I'm your daddy!”

“Hahaha, Bim look at this!”

“Spiral...that's your mother dancing.”

“I know! It's so funny!”

Of course, Bim's pregnancy showing meant another pregnancy was about to start showing.

“Um? I think I might be pregnant again.”

“Looks like we'll be parents again,” Meadow smiled, warmly. Jack returned the smile.

“I'm glad I married you, Meadow. Any other woman would have left me and my telescope to it, by now.”

“Stay away from the telescope now?”

“I'm too old to get pregnant after this little one makes their appearance.”

“That's good to hear.”

Days continued to pass as the pregnancies progressed.

“You're going to be so much younger than your siblings, baby,” Jack rubbed his stomach, thoughtfully, “but you'll have your niece or nephew to play with.”

“So what's birth like, Jack?” Bim dared to ask.

“Have you ever tried to eat jellybeans through a straw, Bim?” Jack paused, and Bim shook her head, “it's difficult, it takes time and effort, but afterwards, you feel great because it's done.”

“Right...”

“So having a baby is like eating jellybeans through a straw?”

“I guess so,” Jack laughed, “though it hurts more than trying to eat jellybeans through a straw.”

Moments later, Bim went into labour.

“Jack! This is nothing like eating jellybeans through a straw!”

“I guess the only thing we can do is stand here, right?” Spiral asked, smiling.

“Absolutely.” Jack replied.

“You two are so unhelpful.” Meadow grinned.

Bim shortly brought the first of the main line into the family, Penelope Night.

I can already tell Penelope has got Spiral's no-nose.

It wasn't long before an alien pregnancy came to an end.

“Aaaah! Never again!”

“Oh, why didn't we decorate this room!”

“Meadow! Not helping!”

Jack gave birth to a little girl – the last of generation two – Jupiter Night.

It also looks like Jupiter is going to have a nose!

“I'm a brother again!”

“Aww, she's so adorable!” Bim cooed, “Congratulations, Jack!”

Shortly afterwards, a quadruple birthday came up.

“Aw, no more babies for me?” Jack asked, grinning.

“Not even adoption, Jack,” Meadow smiled, “you have five kids!”

Penelope took after Spiral completely with facial structure and features. So much for rolling the CAS dice – she even has elf ears under those curls.

She is an Aries, with a personality of 9/10/6/7/1 – neat, outgoing, active, playful and mean.

Jupiter Night is an interesting mix of Jack and Pollination Technician. I can't remember if she has the elf ears or the alien ears, but I *think* she has the elf ears.

She is also an Aries, but with a personality of 6/10/9/0/0 – neat, outgoing, active, serious and mean.

I have a feeling Penelope and Jupiter are going to get on really well.

Jack and Meadow look good as elders. I'm kind of sad to let them grow old – I'd rather keep them young, having as many pretty babies as they like. But their time as adults is up.

It's a sign the legacy is moving on, afterall.

And here is where I will leave you! With a sort-of family picture. I know it was only a short chapter, but I wanted a short one as it's been a while since I updated.

Next time, more babies, Sam Fuchs is back, Shelby makes an appearance and there are some difficult decisions to make...

Thanks for reading!