all my friends are turning green
It had taken months for Mal to get back to his regular self after he had come back. Some days he still went quiet and refused to talk to anyone but Cooper was always able to bring him back. When Cooper and Mal finally got married, it was the happiest day of Mal’s life. It was a small ceremony but everyone he loved and cared about was there. It was only a few months after that that Cooper started suggesting they have a kid. At first Mal brushed it off, much like he had the wedding proposals, but again Cooper was able to convince him.
Malarie Zoe Cain was born in the spring a year after the war. Cooper had suggested the name and when Mal finally got the reason out of him, he laughed. They had their own Mal Jr, even if she was girl. She grew up too quickly for Mal. She was talking and walking before he was ready for it. The best part though, was that she had the same red hair his momma and sisters had. The only thing that made him feel more like himself than Cooper was Malarie. It seemed she had the same sense of adventure and playfulness that Mal used to have himself. He spent a lot of time chasing after her when she started walking but he didn’t mind at all.
After the trauma the Capitol, the tournament and the war caused Molly was finally able to finish her teaching degree and had decided to move to District Six. They had both wanted a change. District Nine held a lot of bad memories for The Cain Family and even though they grew up there, when everyone you loved from home had died, home lost its appeal. Mal wanted to be closer to her so he and Cooper packed up and decided to move as well. District Six didn't really hold any occupations that he or Cooper would be helpful in so Cooper and Mal decided that they would move to District Seven instead. The choice made sense, it was one District away from Molly and they had friends who lived there and everyone had kids that Malarie could play with.
It had taken a little longer than they thought it would. They had to secure a home and jobs, pack their things and transport them to Seven and get settled in. Malarie was two and a half by the time they moved and she was talking more and more every day. She loved District Seven and so did Mal and Cooper.
Jameson and Clary were kind enough to throw them a welcome party with everyone invited. It was good to catch up with all their friends and just be relaxed. Clary introduced them to their newborn, Melody and Alabaster introduced them to his baby girl as well. Even though Mal still disappeared inside his thoughts every now and then, he was able to keep himself together that day. All the kids and happy, safe families made Mal feel safe and he knew they had made the right decision when they picked District Seven.
Most of his attention was kept on the two little children. Lucas has spent the first hour ignoring Malarie’s presence. He heard phrases like, ‘she’s a baby’ and ‘ew, she’s a girl,’ but after the first hour was up they slowly got closer and closer before running off together. Cooper was worried but Mal wasn’t, Lucas knew where he was going and they had the two dogs with them. It wasn’t until two hours had passed that Mal finally decided to start to worry. He excused himself and went searching for the two little ones. The small noises of the dogs brought him to the cubby house. He wasn’t surprised when he found them both in there.
Mal watched Malarie and Lucas with a smile. All their energy had been used up and they’d fallen asleep half on top of each other. Jameson was soon by his side and clapped Mal on the shoulder. “These kids are gonna be trouble. I can see it already.” Mal said with a shake of his head. With Mal’s adventurous streak and Jameson’s attraction to trouble, there was little else their kids could be. He offered to stay and watch over the kids for a little while longer, not wanting to wake them just yet.
Cooper found him not half an hour later and Mal was in the same spot, standing over and keeping guard of the kids. He carefully wrapped his arm around Cooper’s waist and kissed the top of his head. They stayed silent for a long while before Mal finally spoke. “I think the next one should be yours.”
“Should be my what?” Cooper asked, looking up at him.
“The next kid. I want a child with your red hair and pretty smile.” He answered. He placed his fingers under Cooper’s chin and tilted it up so their lips could meet. They stayed that way until two small voices broke them out of it.
“What is it with daddy’s and kissing?” Lucas could be heard complaining. Mal turned his attention to the little ones who were looking both confused and disgusted.
“Who know but it’s gross.” Malarie replied. She took Lucas’s hand and on unstable feet, they walked away leaving Cooper and Mal to their laughter.