This one actually requires a bit of explanation, but I'm too lazy to do it right now, so...eh.  You'll figure it out. ;o)

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Milantha cradled the child gently and knocked on Shockwave's door. No answer. He must be with Cutter, then...I hate to cut in on his training, but maybe Cutter won't mind...She moved down the hall and knocked. Shockwave cheerily called from within and she opened it and went through. He spun his chair around to face her and his face lit up with his smile. "Lanny!" She smiled back.

"Hi Sparky, how's you're day been?"

He grinned with a look that made her think he and Cutter'd been up to something a little more than they're usual tricks, but the baby stirred and cooed, catching his attention. "Who's this?" he asked as she came up. He peeked into the blanket. "Hey there," he murmurred with a smile, letting the baby wrap a tiny hand around his finger. "I didn't think we had any as small as you around here! Who do you belong too, hmmm?" Milantha braced herself unconsciously.

"Me, for the moment at least." Shockwave's eyes widened slightly.

"Huh?"

Milantha quickly explained. "I-I couldn't just leave him there," she finished uncomfortably. "So I'm taking care of him until I can find out what happened to his mom." Shockwave just stared at her for the moment, then he got a little smile on his face. "What?" she demanded a little defensively, blushing. Shockwave grinned.

"Nothing. Can I hold him?"

Milantha found herself suddenly a little reluctant to give him up, but she shoved the feeling away and let Shockwave take the baby. "Actually, I was hoping you could watch him for a while," she confessed. "I have some things to take care of, and it'd be easier for me if I could find someone to keep him for me. I can ask Estelle if you're busy--"

"No, no, that's okay," Shockwave said quickly, grinning down at the little baby. "I'll take care of him." Milantha smiled and set the baby's bag down. She knelt beside Shockwave's chair and tickled the baby gently.

"Hear that? Now you be good while Lanny's gone, kay?"

"Hey," Shockwave grinned, "I thought I was the only one that got to call you that."

The door swung open, and they both looked up as Cutter strode in. He paused and looked at them, his gaze flicking first to Milantha, then to the baby, then to Shockwave, then back to the baby again. "Uh, is there something you need to tell me, kid?"

Milantha flushed and glared, and Shockwave gave his mentor a Look. "I'm babysitting," he said shortly. Cutter nodded slowly.

"Okay then..." He frowned. "You're babysitting *here*?" Milantha looked guilty; she shouldn't have put Shockwave in this position. Shockwave said nothing, and after a moment of Cutter just shrugged and went to his console. "Just make sure it doesn't get into anything."

"*It* is a *he*," Milantha corrected coldly. "His name is Donald."

Cutter made a face. "Who's idea was that?" Milantha rolled her eyes and sighed. Shockwave gave Cutter a wicked grin.

"You should talk," he said with a glint in his eye that was almost evil. Cutter shot him a venomous look. Miantha looked curiously between them, but realized she needed to get going.

"Thanks for watching him, Sparky," she smiled, standing up. She leaned on the arms of his chair and pressed a kiss on his beak. "Ouch," she broke off suddenly. "Hey!" Her hair had fallen across the baby, and he now had a handful of it. She could plainly see Cutter trying not to laugh from across the room, and she shot the man a sideways glare as she untangled her hair from Donald's hand. "Yeah, you just better not try that with Sparky or you'll be sorry," she told the child affectionately, kissing the tiny hand before she let it go. "I'll be back in a couple hours."

"Kay," Shockwave gave her a cheerful smile. Milantha returned the smile and left. "Not--" Shockwave held up a hand as Cutter opened his beak. "--One. Word." Cutter pulled off an innocent expression that might *possibly* have fooled someone who'd never had their holo-v hacked by him.