lost at sea

Alright. Um... If you wanna talk about this more later, just... text me, I guess, [Aiden offered before fully leaving the room.]

Yeah... okay. [Luke agreed. He called Sebastian to ask him to come home and then went back to stirring for the time being.]

Why don't you call him? I should, uh... I should go check on Keeg. I'm imagining he just got distracted or something, but... still. Maybe I can somehow figure out a temperature check.

O-okay. [Luke agreed quietly.]

Well, you have to do something. You can't just let her have your children in secret and then run off into the ether again!

I know. [Luke agreed quietly, his palms coming up to rub at his eyes.] I want Bastian.

[Aiden let out a breath.] I... don't even wanna think about that possibility, [He surprisingly admitted.]

So you see my dilemma.

[Aiden glanced at the ceiling himself, then chuckled.]

Good for you, American.

Of course she hasn't yet. She's only officially pregnant as of an hour ago, [Aiden pointed out.]

Cursed! Nár chuire Dia ar do leas thú!

She's gonna use that excuse the entire pregnancy, [Aiden warned.] I don't know Quinn, of course, but... I know my husband. And I especially know who my husband was before he worked through the worst of his familial trauma which... sounds like where she still is.

She hasn't actually used that excuse. [Luke admitted.] It's just my anxiety cause I want our babies so badly. [He brought his hands up to his cheeks and rubbed at them to try and get out some of the 'flail' that was still happening inside of him.]

I'm sorry, but... if she's anything like Keeg is when he's afraid of something, she may never think she's ready, [Aiden said, not mincing words.]

You don't think I know that? Let's not forget who had to captain this ship out to sea after he puked in my bathroom. [Luke reminded Aiden, wiggling his finger in the general vicinity between them.] But also she's pregnant with our children so I'm not super eager to overly stress her out.

Well... That's sweet of her, [Aiden had to admit.]

She asked me to wait until she was ready. That's why I'm so flaily! And I keep trying to encourage her, but she's afraid Keeg's gonna be upset with her for running away and leaving him with their parents.

That's... probably for the best. I think Keeg said they were freshmen or sophomores when it happened...

She was happy surprised... that Keeg made it through the religious trauma enough to find a husband. And she said you both looked gorgeous and... asked how tall you were. Cause... [Luke gestured at Aiden's general being.]

That's--... When Quinn got pregnant while they were still in high school, Keeg's parents made Quinn give her baby up for adoption. She refused and ran away and that's why no one's heard from her since.

Right. Well, she still did, but I'm pretty sure she still has contact. We didn't discuss that in great detail and it was before we realized who she was, so... it's foggy.

[Aiden blinked. If he wasn't already positive that Luke would never create this elaborate of a joke about this sensitive of subject matter, he'd ask again if he was serious.]

[Luke nodded again.] She told us... she gave a baby up for adoption when she younger. And that she wanted to help more families grow.

Wha--? I--... How?! [Aiden hissed.]

[Luke's hands flew out in front of him.] I wish I knew the answer to that!

[Aiden took one step back so Luke didn't accidentally smack him.]

Sorry. [Luke offered, trying to hold his hands against his chest.] I'm very flaily about this!

[Aiden blinked. Then quickly glanced in the direction Keegan left in before taking a step further towards Luke.]

[Luke brought his hands together and held them in front of his mouth, as if in both protection and prayer. He nodded slowly.]

Wha--? I--... How?! [Aiden hissed.]

[Luke's hands flew out in front of him.] I wish I knew the answer to that!

[Aiden blinked. Then quickly glanced in the direction Keegan left in before taking a step further towards Luke.]

[Luke brought his hands together and held them in front of his mouth, as if in both protection and prayer. He nodded slowly.]

[Aiden chuckled.] Okay, I know I was laying it on a bit thick a second ago, but you didn't have to go that dramatic with it. You could've just told me to back off.

[Luke's face just scrunched up as he awkwardly met Aiden's gaze again.]