A/N I know i haven't finished Camp Negotiations but i really wanted to get this story up to see how you like it. It is not the next story in my series, but you can kind of think about it as what might be in the future of my series ( if tat makes sense) other than that it's just a one-shot. Hope you like it.
Disclaimer: Standoff and anything affiliated with it belong to Fox. I own Taj, Alice, Kian and Sally...
"I know it's not fair what she did to you Taj but I think you really need to think this through okay. Is taking Sally really the best way to get what you want" asked Matt.
"Yes, Alice hurt me and now she needs to pay for it"
"I see" answered Matt, slightly scared the boy's strong words.
"But don't you think it would be easier to just let Sally go. None of this is her fault. She wasn't the one who hurt you, Alice was"
"I know" replied Taj quickly. "But if I hurt Alice I'll get in even more trouble than I am now"
"Yes" agreed Matt "You probably will, but your still going to get in trouble for taking Sally if you don't let us have her"
"Why should I give her back then if I'm going to get in trouble either way?" asked Taj.
"Why?" repeated Matt "Because if you hand her over now you won't get in as much trouble. Isn't that best. All you have to do is step towards me and hand Sally to me then we'll be able to figure this out so that you get in the least amount of trouble"
Matt looked him in the eyes. He could see the uncertainty on Taj's face. A few more seconds and he would have him convinced. "Now, just step towards me and give me Sally and this will all be over" he said calmly. Taj took a step towards him still holding Sally tight to his chest.
"That's it, just a few more steps and you won't be in as much trouble" continued Matt. Suddenly Taj jerked back.
"But I don't want to get in any trouble daddy" complained the five year old.
"Arghh" said Matt, falling back onto the lounge. "I give up" he muttered.
"Taj just give your sister back her doll" he pleaded.
"But dad" complained Taj, again "She hit me first"
"Is that true Alice?" asked Matt turning towards the 3 and a half year old at his side. Alice looked up at her father, then her brother, then back up to her father. When she couldn't think of a good enough comeback she stuck out her bottom lip and hung her head slightly.
"But Daddy" sniffle "Taj stole my dolly" she stuttered in-between tears.
She climbed up onto Matt's lap and threw her arms around his neck. "I didn't mean to hurt Taj"
"Yes you did" cried the boy in question.
"Nah" Alice yelled back, tears long since forgotten.
"That's it you two" said Matt "Now listen to me. You have to stop…"
His sentence was interrupted by the door swinging open "Mummy" yelled Alice running up to fling her arms around Emily.
"What's going on?" she asked, noticing Matt's pained expression.
"Taj stole my dolly" informed Alice.
"Did he now. Well I think he should give back Sally if he want's to be allowed down stairs when everyone's over tonight"
"Okay" agreed Taj quickly. "I'm sorry that I stole Sally from you Alice" he said handing his little sister back her doll.
"That's okay" she said before running off.
"Hey, wait up" called Matt. "What do you say"
"Oh, I'm sorry I hit you Taj"
"That's okay" yelled Taj before running out the door to play.
Emily looked at the space where the two children had been moments ago. She fell down onto the lounge next to Matt. "So what happened here?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing" he replied sarcastically. "I just spent ten minutes trying to negotiate between those two and you stop them fighting in like three seconds"
"You want to know how?" asked Emily, smiling at her partner. "Don't negotiate, Blackmail. Trust me it works a charm"
"Well I'll remember that for next time" said Matt.
"Come on, we have to get ready. Everyone will be here soon and we haven't even started cleaning up the house"
"Do we have to clean" complained Matt.
Emily turned around on the stairs to glare at him.
"Right, I'm sorry, that was a stupid question" he conceded, sticking up his hand's in defence. Emily just smiled at him. It was hard eough to stay mad at him when she was really angry, let alone when she was in a good mood.
"Come on Cowboy" she said pulling him up the stairs, "time to get the kids ready"
"Cowboy? Who the hell is Cowboy" he asked.
"Never mind" laughed Emily, shaking her head.
"I'll show you cowboy" muttered Matt, picking Emily up and kissing her hard.
"Matt" she whispered inbetween kisses. "Everyone will be here soon"
"No they won't" he replied.
"Ah, yes they will" she said pushing him away gently.
"Fine" he huffed. He walked into the kids room where Taj, Alice and their youngest child Kian where watching The Wiggles.
"Okay monsters" he called "Bath time"
"No" yelled Alice and Taj, scrambling from where they were sitting to run away. Matt stretched out his arms and caught them both, before picking them up and carrying them into the bath room.
"But Daddy, The Wiggles is on" said Alice.
"Sorry, but The Wiggles will just have to wait" answered Matt.
"You can watch the rest after you've had a bath, okay" said Emily following them into the bathroom and carrying Kian on her hip.
"Now, Bath" instructed Matt, pointing between the two kids and teh object in question. Suddenly Taj had a bright idea. He turned towards Matt grinning.
"Can we negotiate about bath time?" he asked sweetly. Emily started laughing at the pained look on Matt's face, causing him to look up at her pleadingly. When she offered no help he slumped down against teh bath tub and let out a groan. It was going to be a long night...