"Big smiles!" Katie cheered, lightly bouncing Iris. Iris squealed and giggled, flapping her arms as she bounced. "You have such big, happy smiles!" Katie laughed and nuzzled her daughter. Iris squeaked and fisted Katie's hair.

Hikaru whined, trying to roll over to get closer to his mother. Shiro chuckled as he came in and scooped Hikaru up off the couch. "There you are, Hikaru." Hikaru pouted and reached out to Katie.

Katie raised up Iris and looked up at Shiro. "Trade?"

"Hikaru would like that."

~

"Hey, mama?"

Katie hummed and set her laptop aside. "Yes, Hikaru?"

The five-year-old crawled into his mother's lap and nuzzled her. "When is Alfie coming to visit?"

"Well," Katie mused, raking her fingers through Hikaru's lengthy hair.  "You're going to have to ask Auntie Allura. Do you want to call her and ask?"

Hikaru's dark eyes lit up and he eagerly nodded. Katie handed the little boy her phone and hummed as lips pressed gently to her head.

"Morning, Shiro." She murmured as Hikaru scampered off with her phone. Shiro smiled and moved around the arm of the couch to sit next to her. "Oh, did he wake up?"

Shiro nodded. "Yeah. I think Kuro accidentally woke him when she tried sleeping with him." Katie rolled her eyes and took her youngest. Hunter was just three months old, now, and was already smarter than his brother and sister. Hunter cooed and reached up to his mother.

"Hi, sweetie." Katie whispered, petting his pale chestnut hair.

Iris bounced over, twisting the skirt of her dress in her hands. Shiro raised a brow as she cutely sat beside him, fixing her dark hair and brushing off her dress. Katie snickered and nudged Shiro. "Your turn." Shiro groaned softly, then smiled as Iris looked up at him with big, hazel eyes.

"Hey, daddy?" She sang softly, batting her eyes at him. Shiro hummed in question as she shuffled closer. "I love, love, love you." Iris grinned and took his hand.

"And I love, love you." Shiro leaned over and kissed her forehead. "What is it, this time, sweetie?"

Iris giggled and kicked her feet as they dangled over the side of the couch. "Can I have a kitty?"

Shiro chuckled and gestured to Kuro as the black cat leapt onto the coffee table. "We already have Kuro. I also don't know if Rover, being the old man he is, would like another kitty."

Katie rolled her eyes. "He's not that old Shiro. Maybe ten years. He's still got four-to-five long years on him."

Iris pouted, her eyes going round and her bottom lip trembling. "Please, daddy? Mommy already said no, so you have to say yes so I can have one because you are in charge of the house! What you say is the law!"

Katie snorted, then burst out laughing, keeping Hunter held tightly against her chest. Shiro sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Kuro wants another kitty to play with!"

Shiro slowly nodded. "She probably does." Katie stopped laughing and stared blankly up at Shiro. Hunter seemed to give him the same stare. Shiro slumped. "Sorry, Iris. You can't have a kitty."

Iris sobbed, dramatic, fat tears wetting her pink cheeks.

"Oh, Iris," Shiro murmured, drawing her close to him. "Iris, sweetie, mom already told you no."

The little girl whined and wiggled out of her father's arms. "You're so bad to me!" She cried and stumbled away. Shiro groaned, rubbing his face with both his hands.

Katie shrugged and leaned on him. "This is way I only wanted boys. They pout and whine for a second, then they find something to keep them busy for hours."

Shiro raised a brow. "You say that like it's my fault we got a beautiful, dramatic little girl."

"It is." Katie shifted Hunter to lay on her chest. "I have nothing to do with gender, I just provide everything else. The man chooses gender and if the egg is fertilized." Shiro chuckled and shook his head.

"SHE SAID YES!"

Shiro and Katie both jumped, startled by the joyous screech. Hikaru ran into the room, waving Katie's phone. "Auntie Allura said yes!"

~

Hikaru screamed as the doorbell rang and bolted to the door. "Auntie Allura!"

Katie shook her head, but grinned as she opened the door. "Allura! Matt!"

Allura and Matt both greeted them, Matt clearly beyond exhausted. Katie giggled. "Lilyanne keep you up all night, again?" Matt nodded and grumbled as he dragged himself in, Lilyanne squirming and looking around curiously in his arms.

Alfor, named after his late grandfather, squealed as he ran in to tackle Hikaru. Katie maneuvered to the side so she wouldn't get caught in the mix. "He's as lively as ever."

"Yeah." Allura chuckled and set the diaper bag aside after closing the door behind her. "He's very excited about turning five just like his favorite cousins in a week."

Katie giggled. "Hikaru would say, 'five-and-three-quarters Auntie.'"

Allura laughed and cooed as she reached out for Hunter. "I know he's only one month younger than Lily, but I just love how little he is!" Katie hummed, allowing Allura to take little Hunter.

Hunter pouted and whined, but nuzzled Allura.

Shiro climbed downstairs and smiled at Allura. "Hey! I didn't think you'd be here so soon?"

Allura shrugged. "We had nothing else to do today." She bounced lightly on her feet and patted Hunter's back.

"Iris still mad?" Katie mused, grabbing Shiro's hand. Shiro frowned and groaned.

Allura laughed. "Uh-oh! She try to get something else today?" Shiro nodded. "What was it this time?"

"Another cat."

Matt burst out laughing. "Sounds like that went well!"

"Oh, hush, Matt!"

~

Hikaru climbed onto the couch and curled up next to his mother. Katie jumped at the unexpected action. "Hikaru?"

The seven-year-old embraced his mother. "It's okay, mom. Don't be so sad. Rover wouldn't want you to be sad."

Katie smiled slightly and wrapped her arms around him. "I know, sweetie. I'm just going to miss him, lots."

~

Iris pouted, crossing her arms and her legs. "I don't see the problem."

"Of course you don't." Shiro sighed, rubbing his face. "Ris-"

"I hate that name."

"I'm your father, I'll call you what I want, Ris." Shiro sat up straight. "Iris, I don't want you hanging out with your 'friends' anymore."

Hikaru whistled and Hunter giggled. Both got a quick smack over their heads from their mother.

Iris whined. "But, dad-!"

"No." Shiro leaned closer. "No buts. You should know that from all the lectures you get from your mother." Iris huffed and slumped. "Iris, you're only fifteen. You shouldn't be involved with drugs or drinking or boys."

"Mom said you two had sex before you were married." Iris shot back.

Shiro raised a brow and crossed his arms.

Katie groaned. "Told you, Shiro. All boys would've been better." She came up behind the couch and placed her hands on Shiro's shoulders. "Iris, sweetie, we may have had sexual intercourse before we married, but we were in a committed relationship and we were responsible adults. At least, your father was." Shiro sighed and dropped his head. Katie knead her fingers into Shiro's shoulders.

"That doesn't help," he muttered as Hikaru and Hunter tried hiding their snickers and giggles. "What your mother is trying to say is that you're too young and you're not in a committed relationship. Ris, the people you're hanging out with are just bringing you down. Just hanging out with these people can ruin your future. Baby girl, I want the best for you and you can't get it by doing drugs or having sex in high school. Your grades are plummeting, you're getting in trouble... Your mother and I don't know what to do with you anymore, so we've decided..." Shiro trailed, then glanced over his shoulder at Katie.

Katie sighed. "We... We're going to home school you."

Silence fell over the room.

"Well..." Hikaru muttered and scratched the back of his head. He adjusted his glasses and smirked. "As old man Coran says, quiznak."

Hunter burst into shrieks and giggles.

~

Hunter kept his head low, shoulders shaking as he tried not to laugh.

Iris failed at hiding her laughter.

Hikaru buried his face in his hands, entirely embarrassed.

Katie and Shiro were having way to much fun with Hikaru's baby pictures and Hikaru's pretty girlfriend.

"Mom, dad, please..."

"No, she still has five pages to see." Katie responded, swatting Hikaru's hand away. "Look at this one, Sarah! He would not let me go this day."

Sarah laughed and cooed. "He was so cute! He's still cute!" She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Got his good looks from his handsome father."

Shiro chuckled and Katie laughed. "Careful, he's married." Katie teased.

Hunter snorted, then slapped a hand over his mouth. "I hope you guys aren't like this when I get a girlfriend."

"You mean 'if' you dork." Iris reached over and flicked Hunter's forehead. Hunter pouted.

Katie chuckled and closed the photo album. "Well, hurry up and shovel it down. Lance and Keith are coming over soon."

Hunter cheered while Iris and Hikaru groaned.

"Mom, why? Uncle Lance is always grabbing uncle Keith and it's gross." Iris scrunched up her nose.

Shiro stood and Katie raised a brow as she stood as well. "What? You mean like this?" She slapped Shiro's butt and stood on her toes to kiss him, surprising him stock still.

Hunter clutched his stomach and fell out of his chair laughing while Iris and Hikaru made gurgled, disgusted noise and covered their eyes. Sarah laughed and leaned over to Hikaru. "I love your parents! I would trade you any day!"

Katie laughed and took Shiro's plate. "I'll get that. Love you."

Shiro sighed and shook his head, but leaned down to kiss her. "I love you, too."