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Camila's confirmation was overwhelming. Nikolaj had considered becoming a father one day, but that had always been a distant future disconnected from the violence of his current life. He stared wordlessly at the two red lines on the pregnancy test, trying to understand how his life had gotten to that point.[break][break]

But besides that, would he even be a good father? Would he be able to raise a child properly? Or would that child simply suffer the same fate: impoverished, uneducated, in constant danger?[break][break]

Camila's tremulous voice cut through his thoughts, pulling Nikolaj back into the present moment. Her question and uncertainty pained him, but not more than the sight of her so afraid.[break][break]

In an instant, he made up his mind. Setting the pregnancy test down on the bedside table, he gathered her up in his arms and tucked her head under his chin. "No, no, I'm not upset. I don't hate it," he reassured her, his voice thick with a mix of unexpected emotions.[break][break]

Foremost of them, however, was love. A deep and entrenching love.[break][break]

Nikolaj and Camila had not been officially dating for very long. Yet they'd known each other for two years; she'd tended to him in his most vulnerable moments, when he'd lost his eye. Whenever anything happened to him, good or ill, he thought about how it might affect her. He wanted nothing more than to see her smile, hear her laugh, and feel her warmth against him.[break][break]

Subconsciously, Nikolaj began rubbing Camila's back in an effort to massage the worry out of her body. "Do you want to keep it?" he asked. "Because I do, but only if you do, too."

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Nikolaj's first indication that something other than food poisoning was the culprit was when he heard Camila sniffling in the bathroom. Though the door was closed, the walls of their tiny apartment were paper thin. She may have tried to suppress the sounds of her crying, but the gasp of air through a clogged nose betrayed her truth.[break][break]

So, when Camila crawled into bed, Nikolaj immediately wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. She trembled against him, desperate, scared. "It's okay, baby girl, I'm here," he murmured, kissing her cheeks, tasting the salt of her tears on his lips. "I'm here. It'll be okay."[break][break]

But when she pressed a small object in his hands, Nikolaj pulled back, confused. In the dark, it was hard to tell what exactly it was — a thermometer, perhaps? But she hadn't felt feverish, only clammy. Disentangling himself from his girlfriend, he leaned over to turn on the bedside lamp so he could peer closely at what he held.[break][break]

Of course, Nikolaj knew what a pregnancy test was. He knew how they were supposed to work. The two solid lines on the screen meant only one thing.[break][break]

He stared at Camila in disbelief, jaw slack, eye wide. "Camila…" He found himself at a loss for words, reaching for them like a fish struggling to breathe above water. "Is this real? Are you… are we…?"

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At the mention of recent terrifying events, Nikolaj made a soft noise of agreement, his mood growing solemn as the memory of the meteoroid, so close to impact, filled his mind as it had filled the sky.[break][break]

He did find his smile again, however, when Camila looked up at him and asked if he'd had fun that night. "I did, but I always have fun with you," he said, meaning it. Then, leaning in, he stole a kiss from his wife, his lips pressing against hers with a gentle intimacy.[break][break]

Their carriage climbed higher into the night, the funfair a sea of color and light spread out beneath them.

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PAPA BEAR

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As soon as Saskia removed her backpack, Nikolaj grabbed it out of her hands and hefted it onto his own shoulder. Heavy as it was, it was nothing he couldn't handle. And the rest of her belongings across Kirin's back — he'd have to grab those later. But first thing's first: making sure his daughter was comfortable.[break][break]

"Oh, I see." Nikolaj's voice was full of cautious skepticism as he held open the front door for Saskia.[break][break]

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his cigar still smoldering in the ash tray. Damn, what a waste. At least he'd finished most of it already.[break][break]

"And exactly how many years have you had Grim now?"[break][break]

They shuffled indoors, Nikolaj's heavy boots stomping all over the hardwood floor. The house was tidy but worn from two decades of use — or, as he liked to say, well loved. Yet everything was still in working condition, especially the appliances and gadgetry. But the furniture had not changed much since Saskia was a child.[break][break]

"Yeah, we've been okay here. The dome was hell but it didn't bother us out here as much as the cities. The price of ammo was insane, though. The meteoroid — well, it's fine. It's over."[break][break]

The less he spoke of that topic, the better.[break][break]

"Your mom's doing fine, though she'll be better now that you're home."

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Nikolaj could not help but grace Mars with a thin smile at his persistent skiing comments. Perhaps they were innocuous, but Nikolaj had survived this long by regarding other people's curiosity with suspicion.[break][break]

There was a reason he lived out in the countryside, away from most of society.[break][break]

"Neither is snowboarding," the older man replied, turning the inquisitiveness back on the young stranger. "Where did you learn?"[break][break]

A Klink floated toward them, its body caught in a ceaseless cycle of turning gears. Nikolaj's Steelix made quick work of the fragile Pokémon with THUNDER FANG, allowing her trainer to capture it.

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In contrast, the stranger's name rang no bells for Nikolaj. Even though POG Bank had a branch in Oldale, there was no reason for him to know the name or face of its CEO. And there was no (in)famous del Mar family from the past he had left behind.[break][break]

On the other hand, the Marzán name was one he knew well. Fortunately, that name would not come up again — perhaps not ever. And certainly not during this conversation with the young Martín.[break][break]

Nikolaj gave the proffered hand a firm shake. In it, Mars would find the confident, unspoken strength of a man familiar with decades of hard labor. No idle pleasantries accompanied the gesture, however; Sinnohians, especially those with whom Nikolaj had often associated, were a stoic lot.[break][break]

Instead, he nodded at Mars' comment about the adjustment. "It has been, yes. Thankfully, we have plenty of hardy vegetables in our fields. I've heard from my farmer friends that only the most delicate of the winter crops have withered."[break][break]

As for the skiing, Nikolaj glanced down at his skis before replying, "No, not a lot. Snowshoes are easier to use and more practical for the snowfall we've had in the past."[break][break]

He had moved to Hoenn hoping to avoid more snow in his life, but that's not what the universe had planned, it seemed. "Skiing is a hobby of mine, though, like snowboarding for you."

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Nikolaj was not about to deny his daughter a second hug. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his whole being flooded with relief and happiness.[break][break]

"We did! We're so fucking proud of you, Sasky. Your mom and I agreed we'll take you out to your old favorite restaurant once you're back, to celebrate," he said as he steered her toward the house, fully intending to get her warmed up and unburden her of the heavy backpack she still carried.[break][break]

The man glanced back over his shoulder at the Wyrdeer munching on the grass. "She's looking mighty healthy. You've been raising her well. What about your other one?" The wild one.

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Nikolaj raised an eyebrow. "I hear there's snowfall all over the archipelago now," he said anyway, "and there are steeper slopes than these."[break][break]

He immediately thought of Mt. Pyre and Mt. Chimney — or even the range up by Fallarbor.[break][break]

But he had to concede to the stranger's second point. There had been appearances of unfamiliar and rare Pokémon in the area ever since the Silent Icelands had formed. Nikolaj hadn't encountered any himself, but who knew? His luck could be better today.[break][break]

At the question, the older man nodded. "I am. I'm Kolya." Rarely did he give his full name, as it tended to be a mouthful for most Hoennians. "And you are…?"[break][break]

As famous as the Piazza Oro Grande CEO might be, Nikolaj was the sort of man who did not pay attention to most of society. He was content in his little corner of the region and minded his own business.

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The sudden change in Camila's behavior confused Nikolaj, but perhaps she was just embarrassed at having been found sick. He looked over her critically. She looked like an absolute mess, but at least she seemed marginally better after having washed up.[break][break]

Still, he found himself conflicted about what to do. Shouldn't he help her get to bed? But she was proud of her resilience. She may not want him to baby her over a bit of food poisoning.[break][break]

"All right, if you insist," Nikolaj eventually relented, stepping out of the bathroom. "But let me know if you need anything, okay?"[break][break]

He partially closed the door behind him, leaving it ajar so he could hear Camila if she called out. Then he padded back to their bed and climbed under the covers, which had grown cold in their absence. But he found he couldn't fall back asleep. How could he, knowing his girlfriend was sick?

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