Chapter Text
From the beginning, it wasn't easy. While Kanaya and Rose were very good at what they did and had assured them that it was possible, it had never been attempted before. There was no guaruntee Human and Troll DNA was even compatible. Still they obtained the samples (that was fun night), handed them over, and hoped for the best.
There was a lot of anxiety in the early stages. The samples didn't take as readily as they usually would. They had braced themselves for heartbreak but just when it seemed like it would never happen, the DNA successfully integrated and the incubation process began. Karkat would never admit it but he was nearly in tears with relief that day. Not that Dave could say he was the picture of composure.
They weren't out of woods yet, however. The incubation was going well and the egg was developing normally but it was much more fragile than the typical troll egg. Rose compared its shell to more that of a chicken egg than the tough covering typical for grubs. Unless it thickened up it risked cracking in incubation or worse breaking apart entirely.
There were many close calls, many sleepless nights, a lot of crying and hoping and praying.
But against all odds the little egg pulled through. It didn't thicken up much but it miraculously managed to make it through the incubation process without cracking. The last part would be up to it. The egg was placed in a customary nest to wait out the remaining weeks of growth.
Dave could only persuade Karkat out of moving into the facility by promising they'd visit every day. The troll saw to it that they kept that promise too. Dave would talk to the little egg sometimes. He'd run a finger gently over the smooth polished surface of the shell and whisper about how excited they were to meet them, how much he hoped it liked it's new life with them, how much Karkat was fussing over its room and how adorable that was to him.
It was the middle of the night when they got the call that it was finally time. They rushed over as quickly as they could to watch their little grub hatch.
They watched the cracks form like spider webs across the shell. Soon enough they could see movement, tiny horns easily pushing apart the fragile egg.
And there she was. Big, bouncy and red as could be.
Ketora.
She was a lot bigger than most grubs were when they emerged, so big that the egg could hardly contain her. Where normally a grub could crawl around on your palm, she had to be cradled in their arms. She had the same soft, wriggly body, the same stubby chitinous legs, the same candy corn horns and sharp fangs. But no grey skin, no yellow bug like eyes, blonde hair instead of black.
Troll or human? They weren't sure if she was either. But she was theirs. And they were so happy she was finally here.
Dave's eyes were misty as he showed Karkat how to hold their little grub. The troll had a wide grin on his face, red tears pouring down his cheeks. "She's here, Dave." He choked out, nuzzling the chirping, cooing little bundle in his arms.
"Yeah. Here she is." Dave responded wetly, wiping at his eyes. "God she's fucking perfect."
"She's so big! " Karkat crooned, toying with the fluffy blonde hair nestled at the base of her crescent horns. She giggled, her red eyes sparkling with laughter.
"For a grub, yeah. For a human baby she's just right." Dave murmured dreamily, poking playfully at her cute, plump, grubby belly. "Hey there, sweetheart. We're your daddies! We've been so excited to meet you."
"Took you long enough." Karkat joked, using his shoulder to rub the tears from his cheek, not wanting to take his hands off this perfect little creature. They were all too eager to bring her home.