A month into their expedition, and just after finishing a long day of hunting monster rexes… A celebration was held for Ardee's birthday. It was a rather limited party given the resources they had on hand, but everyone had fun regardless of that, including Ardee.
Off to the side, looking out over a cliff, with the luminescent crystals lighting where they stood, Ardee and Shurry danced. They went through all manner of different dances together, and once they were done, Ardee laid her hands on Shurry's chest, then her head, listening to his heart beat. Shurry embraced her in this position and kissed her forehead.
"Shurry, remember when I did that thing for you, and you said you'd do anything for me?"
"I do."
"Do you remember when you gave me this necklace, and cute little earrings?"
"I do."
"I love- no, I'm in love with you."
"I feel the same, Ardee, I've loved you since we first met. The way you smile, the way we played together, the way you loved training, I noticed all of it. I will continue to love you."
Ardee blushed, looking up into Shurry's eyes, and kissed him. "I know all about you as well, how you loved eating, and hunting. How you'd eat monsters, harvest their stones, and use the money to eat some more. How you fight to help others, and even give people a second chance to make things right despite the difficulty, and torment it puts you through. I've noticed it all." She paused. "And so, I know what I'm about to ask will also be difficult for you. I want a baby."
Shurry paused, he knew what that would mean, and so many different emotions swelled in his mind, his heart began to race, and a pale rainbow light shined from his eyes for a moment.
"I-"
"You don't have to answer me now, but I'd like an answer before we go back to the surface."
"No, I can answer now. Having a baby, it's a lot of work, but I know you'll make a great mother capable of handling a rambunctious half werewolf, and all the puppy antics." He smiled.
Both of them were blushing as they kissed. Seemingly warming up to the idea a bit more.
"There's two more things to consider." Shurry said, in a soft, but slightly anxious tone. "First, I'd like to conceive somewhere that holds a lot of meaning for both of us."
"Then there's only one place to go. The Under Garden. As for the second thing you're worried about, we can start warming you up to it tonight. I won't run away from you. I'll help you work through that trauma. Gentle touch, by gentle touch." Ardee smiled, giving him another kiss. "I'll help you work through it. So we can have a little pup, a wonderful bundle of joy, together, a child of our very own."
That night, Ardee and Shurry's tent had a few more sounds coming from it than usual. And the watch had been reworked to allow the two to get closer.
Shakti was not happy, but also not angry. Instead she had too many questions that went unanswered, none of them made any sense to anyone except for her. However, Hashana was more than able to see the difference after having been made, her baby-daddy play-thing.
"Captain, I've been around you in more scenarios now, than anyone else save for probably Ilta. You seem off right now, want to let me know what's going on?"
"I'm…" She started but didn't continue.
"Are you happy for your sister? Or sad for a perceived loss?"
"Both… And then, there's something else, but that'll have to wait for a while. I need to talk with Lord Ganesha."
"I see, you really don't want her to leave the familia. You know, there's a solution that benefits everyone, but… You'd have to ask one of the gods to swallow their pride. If what you're feeling now is strong enough, I know you can do it. And remember, if what you want is more baby making… Ganesha's already said we're together. And that's about as good as it gets."
"Yeah, I'm definitely going to learn that new position. And practice on you all night long. Prepare yourself. I'm going to single handedly cause your Vitality Status to go up 20 points." Shakti smirked, with a wild look in her eyes.
…
Days passed, and the expedition team had continued their assaults on the 67th floor during the day, and at night, Ardee & Shurry would continue his rehabilitation for love making. Every night they could get further and further, until one night about a month after Ardee's birthday, Shakti interrupted them.
"Shurry, just get over your past already, and get on with it. You shouldn't be fearing the woman you love, right?"
Ardee was shocked that her sister of all people would take such an approach. Oh, that's right, she's like a dominitrix.
"I know that. I don't fear Ardee, I love her."
"Then thrust her already…" And then she left the tent, grabbed Hashana, and then made it so the two of them could be heard over everyone and everything else.
"My sister, I think she was more pent up than we thought."
"Ardee, I'm ready."
"Huh? Really!? You don't have to force yourself."
The two of them switched positions, now with her on the bottom.
…
The expedition lasted three months, and they made their return. Making sure to stop at the 28th floor for very specific reasons, they didn't leave until Ardee was confident about leaving… She wasn't going to miss out on the perfect chance for a meaningful conception.
Hathor familia's members that came along, hightailed it for their home. Tsubaki, and her smiths high tailed it back to Hephaestus. Astraea familia, they too split off.
"We're going home now Shurry, make sure you stay in touch."
"Alise, Lady Astraea is at the guild right now, you should go and safely escort her home too."
"Oh? Thanks Shurry! You're an amazing best friend. I can't wait to see my niece or nephew. Oh perhaps both!"
"Congratulations Ardee, you beat me… But let me know if you need help."
"Thanks Neze, you were a worthy rival."
"Heh, no I wasn't. You had him in the bag ten years ago."
"Pfft, don't sell yourself short, Neze, you're a beautiful woman too."
"Ardee, are you really pregnant? The pregnant women I've always seen have big bellies. Yours is small, like it hasn't changed."
"Oh, she definitely is, there's no mistaking that scent." Neze said, then walked away, with Ryuu following after.
"Let's return to Lord Ganesha. I want to see how he'll react." Ardee giggled, holding onto Shurry's arm, as they walked a few steps, before Ardee was put in a bridal carry. "Shurry."
"While I'm here, I'll carry both of you." He smiled.
"I'm sure our bundle will love this."
…