Hello there!
Similar to the Inktober challenge going on currently I'll do the 31 days of Halloween. It is about posting one story each day. I chose to do 31 little non-connected one-shots. They will vary in length and quality depending on how much time I'll have each day. They will also vary in rating.
The rating will be told before each one individually. If there is romance the pairing will be given too (I guess I'll do Romanogers, Claura, Clintasha, Pepperony, WinterWitch). Some will be related to Halloween, others will just be fall-themed.
Feel free to read some and skip some! I hope I'll manage to do the challenge!
October 1st: Let's call him Lucky
(rated K, Claura)
The laughter of one-and-a-half-year-old Nathaniel Pietro Barton filled the air around the farmhouse. The child was sitting in a pile of dried leaves his father had raked that morning, making a mess with it again. He stopped playing with the noisy little parts of the trees when a car pulled into the drive. Laura, who had been watching her baby boy play, now rose from the wooden bench facing the garden and walked over to the trees when her husband stopped the car. Clint closed the door to the driver's seat with a thud and stopped close to Laura and Nate. Laura smiled and put her hands on her hips: „Did you remember to pick up the necklace I took in last week?" Clint nodded and pulled a small box out of his pocket. He handed it over to his wife before crouching down to face Nate: „Hey buddy, are you down for a trip?"
Nate clapped his hands and dropped the rest of the autumn leaves he had still been holding: „Yes, yes!" Laura looked down at the two of them quizzically: „Where are you going?"
Clint picked up his son and grinned: „Of course you are coming with us!" Laura fastened the collar of her coat: „O…okay, but where are we going? Do we need anything?"
Clint took her hand and dragged her along to the car: „No, you need nothing at all!" Laura sighed and gave in. She took Nate from her husband and fixed him to his booster seat gently. When Clint was up to something he wouldn't be stopped by her objections. Afterwards, she dropped down in the passenger's seat: „Do I need to bring a snack for Nate or is this a short trip?"
Clint started the engine after scrutinizing in the direction of his son: „It won't take long, don't worry." He pulled off in the direction he had just come from since he had taken Cooper and Lila to school.
It took them about 30 minutes to arrive at a small town near the city where their absent family members attended school. Clint parked on a small parking lot next to a supermarket. Laura looked around and grinned: „What? Are you taking us grocery shopping?"
Clint let out a small laugh while removing the key: „Nice try, but no." They exited the car and Laura removed Nate who was already spreading his arms wide from his seat. Clint led the two of them past the mini market and three houses before stopping in front of a building with a colorful sign saying 'Dog Shelter' with a print of a paw next to the writing on the front wall above the door. Looking from the sign back to her husband with wide eyes Laura sighed: „We have three kids and you want to take care of a dog in addition?"
Clint's eyes were full of excitement when he was pulling her in the direction of the door: „We don't have to take one home with us. I just want you to look at how amazing these animals are and Nate to have a nice day playing with dogs."
Laura was still hesitant: „Aren't some of those dogs dangerous?" Clint stopped and looked at her: „Honey… I wouldn't have brought our kid here if I wasn't sure it's safe and also I have been here twice before."
Looking at her child for a moment Laura nodded lightly and they walked through the door. Inside a petite woman with blonde hair in a lazy bun and a friendly smile approached them: „Oh, hello Clint. It must be your wife." She stretched out one hand in Laura's direction: „Hi, I'm Monique." Laura smiled and accepted the hand: „Laura."
Monique nodded and started walking towards the backyard: „I'll show you the dogs."
When the terrace door flung open the Bartons were greeted by many different kinds of excited barking creatures. Some of the dogs were still young, puppies even – others were a little bit older and not that active anymore.
Nathaniel started fidgeting in Laura's arms: „Mommy, down…" Laura looked at the dogs once more, but then carefully put the young boy on the ground: „But hold my hand, dear, okay?" Nate nodded and grabbed her hand before walking over to one of the puppies which was running in his direction, tail swinging from side to side. His steps weren't at all steady yet, but Laura was supporting the boy while he was running his fingers through the dog's fur.
For a while, they played with some of the dogs when Clint noticed one dog which was probably struggling with a wound since it still had problems walking. It was a Labrador-crossbreed and appeared to be still young. Hesitantly Clint turned to Monique: „Who's that little guy over there? I haven't seen him here before."
Monique turned to see where he was pointing at and nodded: „Of course not… it is only the second day he is allowed in the garden. I kept him inside ever since we found him four weeks ago. He must have had an accident, probably got hit by a car. His leg is getting better but was terribly broken and wounded when they brought him in. He must be about a year old, the poor baby."
Clint nodded while mumbling: „I see… what's his name?" Monique shrugged: „I call him Toto, but he doesn't react to that name, yet."
Clint walked over to the dog which seemed to be a little surprised and anxious since it pulled back when Clint's hand touched its head. After that moment of uncertainty, however, it adjusted to the touch and buried its nose in Clint's sleeve to memorize his smell. Laura carefully walked over to them, still holding onto her son's hand. Nathaniel curiously touched dog's back and it instantly turned around to inspect the child. Nate hesitated for a moment, but then stretched out one hand in order to touch the young dog again. Slowly the dog sniffed the child's hand for a few seconds before bowing its head to allow the boy to stroke the fur. Nate smiled and ran his hand over the dog's head as gently as an 18-month-year-old could possibly do.
Clint and Laura watched them in silence for a moment before he spoke up: „I guess, it likes Nate." Laura nodded and smiled at her son: „Do you like the dog too?" Nate looked up at his mom when she addressed him: „Doggy is so soft… Can doggy come home with us?"
Laura frowned: „Do you want that? It is a lot of work…"
Nate looked at her a little sad: „Please, mommy…" Laura looked over at Clint who just shrugged: „I mean… we would have plenty of space…" Laura nodded and looked back to the dog and the boy: „Well… okay then Nathaniel. But you will have to spend all your time with your new pet!" Nate threw his hands in the air in excitement: „Yes, yes, yes! Pinky swear!"
He hugged the dog which gladly accepted the loving gesture. Clint grinned: „What will be his name then? Nate looked up at his father: „I… ahm…"
Clint crouched down to look at their new family member and smiled: „I'd say… he looks like a Lucky." Nate nodded while being all smiles. Laura rolled her eyes and couldn't help but smile too: „Let's call him Lucky then."