Felix tilted his head, tails flicking with curiosity. "But... how did you fight with your cousin?" he asked honestly, clearly unable to imagine Rocky hurting even a mosquito, let alone getting into a real fight.
Rocky blinked, then lifted his chin a little, as if recalling a very dramatic war.
"I... I..." he started, searching for the right words, then nodded to himself like a brave storyteller. "I called her a thief," he said seriously. "And then I complained to her mom."
The class leaned in.
Rocky continued, growing more animated. "She got sooo angry. Like..." he waved his hands in the air, trying to demonstrate the intensity, "...super angry."
He hesitated, then admitted softly, "She found when I was alone... and she started hitting my arms."
Alina’s expression softened instantly, but before she could react...
"I didn’t hit her back," Rocky added quickly, as if proud of that. "I didn’t want to hurt her. So I cried."
His voice brightened suddenly.
"And then everyone ca!" he said, eyes sparkling now. "Her mom scolded her. My mom hugged . My uncle gave juice. And my cousin got in trouble."
Then, with absolute sincerity, he concluded, "It was a really intense fight."
The room went silent for half a second.
Then...
Boo stared at him with a baffled, stunned expression. "...That was not a fight," he whispered.
Drake nodded solemnly. "He used emotional damage."
Kelpie covered his mouth laughing.
Luna crossed her arms. "He won without punching. Respect."
Felix blinked slowly. "So... your ultimate weapon is... crying?"
Rocky flushed lightly but nodded with pride. "It works."
Lucien sighed under his breath. "Strategic retreat."
Alina finally burst into laughter, holding her chest. "Rocky," she said warmly, "that was the gentlest battle report I’ve ever heard."
Rocky smiled shyly, clearly pleased with himself.
Boo leaned toward him and whispered dramatically, "Next ti teach your secret technique, Warrior of Pebbles."
Rocky nodded very seriously.
"Who’s next?" Alina asked gently, still smiling from Rocky’s dramatic battle story.
For a mont, no one spoke.
Then she noticed a small hand rising.
Sable.
He had been unusually quiet all morning, sitting neatly in his seat, listening to everyone with wide, attentive eyes. Seeing his hand up made Alina’s heart soften instantly, and a big, uncontrollable smile blood on her face.
"Yes, Sable?" she said warmly, her voice softer than before, full of affection.
Sable stood up slowly, his little hands folded in front of him. He looked at his classmates shyly, then back at Alina, cheeks slightly pink.
"I had fun with Mom," he said in a small, gentle voice.
The classroom froze.
Every baby stared at him.
Except Alina... and Lucien.
Drake’s jaw practically dropped. "Oh my dragon fire, when did you get your mom?" he blurted out, eyes wide in shock.
Boo floated forward, tail flicking excitedly. "Yes, yes! Tell too! If you found your mom, maybe I can find mine!" he said eagerly, eyes glowing with hope.
Alina’s heart began to throb painfully, emotions rising so fast she had to steady her breath. Her fingers curled lightly at the edge of her chair as she watched Sable.
Luna leaned forward, ears twitching. "Who is your mom?" she asked seriously, as if this were the most important mystery in the world.
Sable’s blush deepened. He lowered his gaze for a second, then looked back up at Alina with soft, shining eyes.
"My mom... is teacher," he said shyly.
Silence.
Then...
"Whatttttt?!" Boo shouted, flicking his tail so hard it swished through the air. He spun toward Alina in disbelief. "Teacher?! You’re his MOM?!"
Drake gasped dramatically. "Teacher had a baby?! That’s legendary!"
Kelpie blinked. "So Sable is Teacher’s baby?"
Rocky looked at Sable with wide, admiring eyes. "That ans... Teacher is your family."
Felix covered his face with one hand. "We’ve been calling his mom ’Teacher’ this whole ti..."
Luna narrowed her eyes at Sable, then nodded once. "Good choice. Teacher is strong."
Vlad Jr. tilted his head elegantly. "How... touching," he murmured.
Lucien remained calm, but there was the faintest hint of pride in his expression as he glanced at Sable.
And Alina...
Her eyes shimred. She pressed a hand lightly to her chest, moved beyond words. Sable looked at her again, nervous now that everyone was staring.
"I stayed with Mom," he continued softly. "We went shopping. We ate ice cream. Mom reads stories to . She hugs when I feel scared. And... and Mom makes feel safe."
His voice wobbled a little at the end, but he smiled bravely.
"I like staying with Mom," he finished. "And she even took on a train trip... we had so much fun."
And Boo slowly floated closer to Alina, his expression unusually serious for once, his tail swaying in a slow, thoughtful arc.
"Teacher..." he said softly, eyes wide and shimring. "Can you be my mom too?"
The words landed like a tiny emotional bomb.
Drake shot his hand up instantly. "Second mom application!" he announced loudly, as if this were an official registration process.
A few of the other babies giggled, but Alina froze.
She looked at Boo, genuinely startled, her heart flipping in her chest. For a mont, she did not know what to say.
"...Boo," she started gently, trying to find the right words.
But before she could finish...
Boo suddenly straightened.
His watery, emotional expression vanished like it had never existed.
He leaned closer to Drake and whispered loudly enough for half the class to hear, eyes glittering with mischief.
"Wait... isn’t Sable calling the Principal ’Dad’?"
Drake’s eyes widened to an impossible size.
"If Teacher is his Mom," Boo continued in a dramatic whisper, tail flicking with excitent, "that ans my gossip is TRUE."
He gasped theatrically.
"That sothing is DEFINITELY going on between Teacher and Principal."
Drake slapped a hand over his mouth. "SCANDAL."
Kelpie blinked. "Gossip confird?"
Felix buried his face in his hands. "Oh no. Not this again."
Luna narrowed her eyes. "So Teacher and Principal are... mates?"
Vlad Jr. smiled faintly, clearly entertained. "How intriguing."
Lucien closed his eyes for a brief second, looking like he was reconsidering every life choice that had led him here.
And Alina...
Her face flushed bright red.
"Boo!" she exclaid, half embarrassed, half exasperated. "That is NOT sothing to gossip about!"
Boo grinned, utterly unapologetic. "But Teacher, my gossip is almost always accurate. My reputation depends on it."
Drake nodded gravely. "He is a professional."
Alina covered her face for a mont, laughing despite herself, her heart still fluttering from Sable’s earlier words.
Sable, anwhile, looked at Boo with a small pout. "You’re not supposed to spread Mom’s secrets," he muttered protectively.
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