Story: Double Trouble

 

It's probably not a big surprise to find out that future Akane was so annoyed she couldn't sleep. Here she was, sitting on her bed, rubbing her heavily pregnant belly. She'd not been pregnant earlier on, but now? Oof! This little guy just kicked, and boy did they take after their parents.

To think that her younger self would be so stupid. She's not ready for kids! Then again, she hardly felt ready herself, though it was strange, she kinda sorta knew stuff already? Like how to make bottled milk, how to breastfeed properly, and she was already engaging in breathing exercises - 

"I would kill a man for a banana slathered top to bottom in peanut butter..." she grumbled to herself.

There was a knock at the door. Akane sighed wearily.

"If it's me, go away and think about how much you're ruining your life!" she called out, using a sweet tone that hid barbs underneath.

"It's me!" came the reply. Ranma. Her Ranma. In girl form, too. She entered the room, blushing like mad, then sat down behind Akane and started rubbing her shoulders. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, hungry, pissed off," Akane grumbled. It did feel nice getting a shoulder rub though. "Where's Himiko?"

"Playing with our past selves," Ranma said. "They're taking a real shine to her."

She bopped Ranma on the head for that one. "Dummy," she scoffed at her. "We don't want them wanting kids yet. They need to have all those zany misadventures which, over time, makes them get closer and closer, helping them mature and grow and accept their feelings!"

"Pretty sure it's too late for that one," Ranma sighed. "They've already seen us getting on, and - Frankly, it's a miracle you were able to keep your hands off me for so long. Being such a handsome stud, with a well proportioned face. Charming, strong, cute, rugged... I really am the total package."

You love this boy/girl, you love this boy/girl, you love this boy/girl... Despite their arrogance, despite their cockiness, she's just teasing you, she's teasing you, she's - Kissing the nape of your neck. Akane froze on the spot. Then turned her head, and let it lean against Ranma's, forehead to forehead. The first time they'd done this they'd headbutted each other, but by now they were so in synch that they were able to rest like this, staring into each other's eyes.

"They'll be okay, right?" Akane asked. Then she patted at her belly. "We'll be okay too, right?"

"... We'll have to move out," Ranma said. "Kasumi's already overworked as it is feeding who she is. Can't imagine what the budget's looking like. Even if I started teaching to work our keep, it'll be six extra mouths to feed. More, if they hook up this early... And make little Himiko about the same time we apparently did."

"Where are we gonna move to?" Akane asked. She expected Ranma didn't have an answer to that. It was rare for that boy/girl to think ahead about anything that didn't involve martial arts - but instead, she was smiling. That cocky smile she had right before she put down a tricky enemy. Sometimes it annoyed her. Other times it made her feel... really good.

"Banana," Akane suddenly said. "Slathered in peanut butter. Now. Pronto. Get to it. Go."

"Yes, dear~"  Ranma teased. It annoyed her, honestly, how much better at this that girl was at being a wife than she was at being a husband. The thought left her flopping carefully onto her bed, staring at the ceiling as she wondered...

"Is this a lesbian marriage, or what?"

=====

So, Nabiki Tendo. Kind of a bitch! That's actually an understatement, really. She's manipulative, she's conniving, she's the sort of girl that excels in finding a person's weak point and then pressing on it hard. She's cold. Ice cold. Often known as the Ice Queen of Furinkan.

She'd been amused by the antics of her little sister and apparent brother in law. She'd been greatly amused to see that the two of them get on so well, if with some thorns in the side. Ah, it was adorable! He was such a lunkhead, and she wore her emotions on her sleeve. She barely had to do anything at all to get top of the line entertainment free of charge!

As such, she almost regretted that she'd committed to meeting up with friends. Oh, she should have invited them to her place instead - but then again, they would have gotten nothing else done but eat snacks and watch the show. But now, she was returning home. Now, she was going to get the privilege of catching up with whatever she'd - 

"Auntie 'Biki!"

A little bundle ran right into her legs. Nabiki looked down. Big bright eyes looked up at her. A smile that was familiar, eyes that were familiar, a little nose that was familiar, a chin that was familiar, the hair was familiar too, but she'd never seen them in this combination before.

She tilted her head, while the little girl looked up at her with eyes gleaming. A big bright smile. Nabiki tilted her head another way, and came to a conclusion.

"If anyone hurts a hair on you head, they'll be destitute within a month," she solemnly swore to herself, much to her own surprise. "Must... protect... little bundle of adorableness!"

"Himiko!" Akane blurted out, rushing towards them and picking up the little girl. "Don't run off like that, okay? You don't want to trip and fall do you?"

"No, other mommy~!" Himiko chirped.

"Other mommy?" Nabiki asked. She tried to not look at the little eldritch cuteness that had overwhelmed her soul for a moment there. "You and Ranma, I presume?"

"THe other me and Ranma," Akane sniffed. "We, uh, may have changed the past and now they have a kid."

"Ah," Nabiki said, doing some maths. "So how was he?"

"Nabiki!" Akane blurted out, her aura bursting out. For a moment, Nabiki thought Himiko might cry, but instead - 

"Auntie Biki!" she yelled, and her battle aura rose up to the size of the property. Buh? The little girl pouted, and Nabiki sank to her knees, breathing heavily as Akane carried her back inside the house.

"Must... protect..." Nabiki grunted, though at some level, she was already fully aware that this two year old could probably whoop the ass of most of the adults she knew. When they were little, their father had all taught them a little martial arts, including how to harness a battle aura. All three of them could do it, though Akane's was more efficient than the others. It meant, among other things, that 

That battle aura... If that really was Ranma and Akane's kid, then she was as scary as she was adorable!

====

Back in the kitchen, Ranma was scrubbing fruit off his favourite shirt in the sink when his future self - in girl form - strolled into the room.

"We got any bananas?" she asked. "Peanut butter?"

"Uh, not sure?" Ranma said. "Still not got the lay of the land -"

"Never mind, found them!" his future self said. Then in strolled Akane, carrying Himiko. Ranma watched with interest as his own future self walked up to their daughter - by which Ranma meant both of their daughter, technically, time travel is confusing - and tousled her hair, made a face at her... And then slathered peanut butter all over that banana.

"What are you -"

"Pregnancy cravings," the other Ranma shrugged. "Oh, hey Nabiki. You guys have fun filling her in on what's going on! Akane and I need to chat about our circumstances!"

"No, no, I already think I have the brunt of it!" Nabiki said. Future Ranma shrugged and strolled upstairs. "So? When's the wedding."

She'd meant it as teasing. It was still effective, the two of them blushed like mad... but even so, they reached out a hand and held it.

"Um, whenever it can be arranged," Ranma said. Akane blushed even harder. If the two of them looked at each other right now, they'd probably explode.

"Auntie Biki, stop teasing mom and pops!" Himiko stuck out her tongue. "Poppa, show me how to fight. Wanna fight!"

This was what it took to get the two of them looking at each other once again. Ranma bit his lip. He wanted to make Himiko. The present day Himiko. Right now. And he knew from the look in Akane's eyes she wanted it too.

"Hey!" Nabiki snapped her fingers. "Far be it for me to split up a pair of lovebirds, but - Isn't this kinda sudden? The two of you hook up and suddenly oops here's your adorable toddler daughter out of nowhere? Did she come back in time with the other two all of a sudden? Doesn't this say a lot about -"

"Poppa! Spar with me!" Himiko pouted. She wriggled free of Akane's grip and hopped off towards the dojo with surprising speed.

Ranma felt exhausted already. That little bundle of energy, huh?