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A/N: Please Read, Important!
I might do a few changes to the storyline slightly. Originally I planned for Shidge to happen closer to the end of the story and make it a slow burn. But the story is nowhere near completion just yet and I know I've failed in adding casual Shidge slow burn moments.
So, I'm going to get Katie's secret learnt by Shiro after this stage of the book.
Hopefully grow Shidge into the story and have their relationship hidden during the war and let them face the life and aftermath once the war is over.
I can't get Shiro to learn over Katie being a women until after this section of the book, it'd make sense once this section is over on the reason why.
I also wish to say thank you to all you wonderful and lovely readers.
I apologize for keep disappearing for so long during this book and making it drag out with little updates at a time. I really do mean to get my butt into gear and write this book until it's finished but we all know how easily distracted/forgetful I am.
So, thank you for all being so patient and understanding as you're left waiting most of the time for updates to this book.
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HOPE YOU ENJOY
PLEASE VOTE
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All men were left marching once more with Ciudad Rodrigo left behind them and the taken fortress left to be protected by only a few men now it was theirs to keep until the war was over.
Alfor riding on his horse at the front of the march with Xi and Sven riding directly behind his horse. Lord Gyrgan was riding behind the three and rarely joining in on conversation as he stayed view watching while riding along. The three up front was mostly chatting among themselves while every other soldier kept to their platoons as they marched towards their next location. The band was currently left to play "The Girl I Left Behind Me" with their instruments and a random few soldiers sang the words to themselves to the tune to help distract themselves as they walked on.
A few soldiers would fall out of line, wrapping their feet with cloth as they've long since lost socks or held any that were useable anymore. Re-wrapping the thin cloths around their feet to act as socks before returning their boots on and hurrying to fall back into line.
The women and children apart of the baggage train was kept in the middle of the march with a handful in the carts and the rest walking. All taking turns to ride in the carts given to them. A few extra camp followers placed with them.
"He's clearly got himself a baby" Kolivan announced with tiny smile of happiness as he stared towards where Adam was riding on his horse at the front of the chosen men. The man clearly recently becoming a father, even to a nephew instead of one of his own born, by the man's merry mood.
"He did tell us so" Rolo reminded the older man, happily smoking his pipe as he walks along beside Kolivan. All the chosen men were delighted over their Spanish's friend good news he's shared with them all before they got marching.
"But he now plays the part of having one. He stands proud over gaining a baby. Look as he rides, he's filled with cheer as we all filled with joy for him" Keith commented as he nods towards Adam and being reminded over his own early days as a father when Kat first came along. Past the whole shock, scared and panicked moments over being a new father of course.
"He'll make a fine father. He's done well putting up with us after all" Lance confessed with an grin, nodding to himself as he knew Adam would be one of the best father's known.
"I'd claim that we were all acting as if the baby were our own by how jolly we've grown to be. Not a single complain over the marching has been spoke so far" Hunk mumbled with an amused smile as he glanced around to all the chosen men who were all rather chipper since hearing the goods news.
"I say at least two of us has claim to holding such cheer over parenthood. They were asked to step up IF ever needed, were they not?" Rolo replied with an knowing smile as he glanced towards Keith to see if he was correct over the rumours.
"I say only truth when I say that they were asked to be the godparents by Adam. They will grow to be parents for the boy if god forbid Adam lives not a day longer" Keith admitted as he looked over his shoulder, checking up on all the chosen men but showing the tiny but true smile on his lips over the truth being passed on.
"I can tell they've been asked such honours by the cheer they share with the father" Lance confessed as he nodded back towards the pair in question.
All chosen men staring straight towards both Shiro and Pidge who walked along beside Adam's horse. The two haven't stopped smiling since they got marching and decided to ask Adam over Richard. Adam happily answering as many questions of theirs as possible and passing on cute or funny stories over his nephew.
All chosen men chuckling or smiling to themselves over how excited and joyful their captain and youngest chosen man seemed to be over gaining the title of godparents. Both have accepted the role with great glee and been trying to wiggle into Richard's life already even after only learning about him a few hours earlier that day.
"And what of his middle name?" Pidge questioned next, a skip in her step as she wanted to learn more over the chosen's men newest family member. Even if Richard would most likely never actual meet the chosen men, he'd stand as apart of their family from now onwards like Adam do.
"My nephew has been named as Richard Alfredo Wright. My sister's husband had taken her last name as he held no attachment to his own. I will pass over sketches of my nephew during our meeting at Badajoz" Adam answered with an sweet smile, still feeling rather warmed over how thrilled the chosen men were for him over taking his nephew in as his own son. How all of them have accepted his nephew into their chosen men family without a second thought and been smiling as much as he has since the news were told.
"I still say you should grab you're nephew and leave that cursed place. The fortress will be turned into a blood bath soon enough" Shiro advised with an troubled expression, knowing that the fortress wasn't safe for neither Adam or his family.
"My nephew is a sickly baby. He can't be foolishly moved around while so young. My uncle is getting Richard treatment as we speak. I hold faith in the chosen men gaining victory in Badajoz and the fortress will be safe once more for my nephew while he grows healthier. Once he's as healthy as can be, I'll be taking him in full time" Adam sighs as he sends a small frown towards the captain, knowing he means well but they've already had this argument. Heck, all the chosen men were ready to storm the fortress today to grab Richard and take him somewhere safe.
"I hate to agree with our mother figure friend over there but he sounds to be in the right. If the child is unwell and need medicine currently. Moving him out from Badajoz might do the child as much harm as it would be for him staying there. For now, we know Richard is safe with Adam's uncle. That Richard has the medical treatment needed and is growing healthier by the day thanks to it. We'll gain victory at Badajoz and we'll make sure Richard is safe from the French. Afterwards, Adam would bring Richard home and care for him" Pidge spoke up with a small apologetic smile as she looked towards Shiro. Knowing he was only concerned over Richards health but knowing moving Richard without an actual plan won't help with the baby's health.
"But harm may come to Richard before we breach the fortress walls" Shiro lightly argued back, concern clear in his eyes and voice as he looked to Pidge like a distressed kicked puppy.
"And harm would surely come to Richard if we sneak him out of the fortress. Our doctors won't waste much time of a camp follower. Adam will return to Badajoz and live with his uncle. We know Adam would protect Richard until his final breath. All we must do is focus on is taking Badajoz once the fortress is breached" Pidge hurried to reassure as she patted the captain's arm in comfort.
"Shouldn't I be the one comforting you?" Shiro questioned back with an weak smile, feeling like he was always relying on her instead of being the reliable one like he should be.
"I've told you before, sometimes it does the men some good to see their officers as humans they stand to be themselves" Pidge replied with an soft smile as she met with his gaze.
"I have chosen perfectly for you both to stand as the guardians to my nephew if this cursed war takes my life someday. You will both raise him well and teach him to be human. You'll do me great honour in raising him as your own" Adam announced with a face splitting smile, giving a self pleased nod to himself over choosing the pair to step in as guardians to his nephew if he ever lost his life to the war. As well as hoping that maybe the pair playing parents would help their own bond deepen and their relationship to grow into something past comrades.
"I do believe we'd make rather grand parents, don't you think so, Takashi?" Pidge smugly said with a huge grin, lightly elbowing her captain playfully.
"I couldn't think over a better partner to have as we step up as parents to Richard togehter" Shiro confessed with an gentle smile, his eyes warm as he looked to her in return.
And Pidge just beams at Shiro over his reply and purposely tries to ignore the fluttering filling her stomach over his honest he was when speaking such words. Her eyes growing distance as she looks ahead once more, picturing an comforting house with the sounder of young laughter filling the air and an emotionally heavy band of metal placed on her finger that matches with the only other adult under the roof of their home. Thinking over a peaceful and happy future, the faceless husband growing to have a face of our captain after these passing few years of fighting side by side. Her stuffy and gloomy home in marriage turning smaller and filling with more colour and happiness as she accepts a dreamed future with the man beside her after slowly accepting how happy he'd make her if he did ever give her a chance to stand as his wife someday.
Shaking such thoughts away as footsteps filled from behind and she glanced over her shoulder to find a goofily grinning Lance. Taking notice over their captain having turned to place his attention on the other solider appearing from behind them.
"Ticket to fall out, sir?" Lance asked with an overly sweet smile as he fluttered his eyelashes towards his captain.
Both Katie and Shiro raised a suspicious eyebrow towards the man by his overly innocent and sweet alone. Neither trusting that smile alone and knowing he might try something stupid. For once, Lance wasn't even planning anything silly or idiotic but just hoping that everyone's good mood will help to keep lady luck on his side for the next ten minutes.
"Will it gain me extra paperwork, Lance? I do hold plans for tonight as it is with my gentlemen lessons with Pidge, I'd prefer to not skip on a lesson for anything silly you may do that earns me extra paperwork" Shiro replied with an tried dad tone and already rubbing at his temple as he thought over the amount of paperwork his men gave him sometimes. He could trust Pidge to never once leave him paperwork due to her never getting caught.
But for the most part, Shiro truly was looking forward towards his lesson with Pidge tonight. He wasn't sure how much lessons on how to act as a gentlemen could be left but he also knew both he and Pidge slacked off a bit. They'd start their lessons and than just grow distracted with one another in a peaceful way. Leaving Shiro lessons to always be on the short side and leaving him to learn something new little at a time. He didn't mind. He enjoyed his evening chats with Pidge or laughing with her over a few camp and soldier gossips she's gathered.
Shiro hoped that Lance wasn't about to ruin his already made plans for tonight.
"I've just clapped eyes on my supper" Lance explained with an hopeful smile as he nodded towards a rabbit in the grassy field beside them.
"Caught without a ticket to leave the column is hanged, maybe. There you go" Shiro muttered back as he pulled out his ticket book and wrote a ticket for permissioned leave for Lance to carry while he hunts the rabbit.
"Thanks, Captain" Lance cheered back, taking the ticket and sprinting off without looking back.
Pidge shook her head in amusement while Shiro walked with a stupid grin on his face. Adam fondly chuckling from where he was watching on his horse.
"All men should have daughters. It puts honey on their tongues" Adam commented his thoughts out loud as he looked towards Shiro before glancing towards the still joyful chosen men.
"Last I heard, Richard is a son and not yet mine. I pray he never grows to be mine either" Shiro pointed out with an confused eyebrow raised towards his friend. Not really sure what Adam was hinting towards.
"That is true, Richard stands as no daughter but a son. Yet, mere news over a friend gaining fatherhood has set you and your men in better moods. Picture the world of peace we may live within if all men had daughters" Adam replied with an smirk as he lazily waved a free hand over his shoulder to show he meant every chosen man no matter their rank.
Shiro glanced towards Pidge who was nodding in agreement after giving a slight hinting nod towards the rest of their men behind them. Everyone was in a good mood and thrilled by the new member of the family joining. They were all smitten for Richard without even meeting the baby and acting as if they've all just became parents instead of just Adam.
"We at least know you'd be the more smitten parent between the two of us. I'd clearly have to be the strict parent otherwise our child would be spoiled rotten" Pidge perked up with an teasing tone as she grinned towards her captain. Using the recent moment with Lance as an hint over Shiro being the softer parent who'd easily spoil the child.
"I would be stern when it must eb called upon. But I will always chose to be sweet first. Our child will be raised with love first and expectations second. I will punish their wrong doings when needed but I will stand supporting their good for all good they do" Shiro muttered back softly in his own defence. Knowing he'd try his best to be a good Dad for his children without holding back over anything linked with parenthood.
And Pidge was left staring at Shiro in aww over his words and thoughts over the child they'd raise together. A child neither of them would share blood over but would care and love as their own anyway.
A peek into the play of family with the man gives Pidge the knowledge over how how good of a husband and father Shiro would someday stand to be. The type of rare man he stands to be in such times and how she knew any women lucky enough to gain his loyal heart would never truly be worthy of his love.
"Close your mouth, strawberry, you're drooling with baby fever hormones leaking from your eyes" Keith whispered to his friend as he popped up beside her once she had slowed down and was no longer walking alongside their captain.
"Wha- I'm not? Am I?" Pidge started to complain before panicking a little as she hurried to wipe at her mouth with the back of her hand.
"You were" Keith admitted with an serious nod, knowing better to lie to his friend over this.
"Don't read into it" Pidge sighs as she sends her friend a light glare, knowing he's been trying to encourage a certain spark to happen between her and their captain.
"Already read plenty into it long ago. Can't stop me from reading deeper into it now. Plus, once we win this war, you've got a promise to keep. Time to make ourselves in laws by helping me gain a chance with your brother. And afterwards, I'll get Kat to drag Shiro around during my wedding to your brother and let him see you as you enter the garden in a stunning dress that captures his heart" Keith happily rambled back without any shame for being a fanboy for his ship. Already planning out on how he could help the two to finally confess once the war was over. As well as also gaining his chance at becoming a brother in law to Pidge by marrying her brother. He just hoped Matthew wouldn't ever laugh at him over falling for the older holt by gaining a crush on him first by stories alone.
"I don't want a single second of beauty to catch his heart.." Pidge quietly muttered back with an deep frown, never having wanted to be married due to her last name or by a single moment of beauty that caught a random man's attention. She wasn't Cinderella, she didn't want a single magical night with her husband.
"And it won't. Because as I've mentioned before, he already cares deeply for you. You'd both be wedded already if you both just accepted such feelings growing within both your hearts instead of hiding from them" Keith promised as he lightly nudged her. Knowing Shiro wouldn't ever break his friend's heart if she just gave their captain a chance. He knew their captain would be one of the few men in the world who'd truly love and care for her, to treat her as she deserves.
"I'm currently acting as an man, as you've seemed to have forgotten" Pidge whispered out with an pointed look.
"He loves Pidge. No title, no name, no gender just you. He won't care over the secrets you carry because he's already chosen you as you chose to stand as" Keith simply stated the obvious as he rolled his eyes over his friend's stupidity sometimes.