"Jewel get back here!!!" Marguerite screamed after her little girl who ran around the tree-house stark naked, alluding her clever mother at every corner and refusing to put her clothes on.
This was the norm on the plateau for the past 3 and a half months since Jewel had learned to walk. It seemed as if running was her favorite though. Every morning when the words "Okay Jewel let's get dressed" escaped Marguerite's lips, Jewels face seemed to pale, knowing exactly what that meant and for the next 20 minutes, John and Marguerite were off on a wild goose chase for their girl.
"John around that corner! Catch her!!" Marguerite yelled to her partner in this morning ritual. The unnecessary exercise did not exactly please Marguerite but hearing her daughter giggle madly just made her smile and laugh in elation. Jewel swilved under Grandpa Summerlee's legs in the family room, climbed over uncle George's lap, waved through Aunt Ronnie and Uncle Ned in the kitchen and threw poor cousin Finn in circles before she was off again. Marguerite just was baffled, thinking "Where the hell she got that stamina from?" Jewel crawled her way under the legs of chairs and tables and her chubby little legs almost got her to the stairs but she was trapped in and caught by her daddy. She let out roars of giggles as John threw her up and into his arms. Her laughter tickled the sensitive hunter so much that he could hardly contain himself. His princess stole more and more of his heart each day.
"My, my you are an allusive little one my princess." He said covering her with her little pink robe made by her Aunt Ronnie and sitting her down in her high-chair again.
" It's clear to see where you got that endearing trait from." John jested as his beautiful emeralds shined in Marguerite's direction.
"O come now my dear Lord Roxton," Marguerite began as she slowly sauntered over to her love, never losing eye contact for a minute, allowing his emeralds to swim in her misty grey seas.
"I prefer a challenge, don't you?" Marguerite finished letting her last few words roll off her tongue and float to ears.
"I'm always up for a challenge." John replied as his words growled into her ear as he brought her closer into his embrace.
"Good." was all Marguerite replied before closing the gap between them with her succulent lips upon his. However this brief moment of passion was cut short by the claps and giggles of their little girl who seemed to enjoy her parents show.
"We have an audience Mommy." John smiled over to Marguerite which just caused Marguerite to laugh and go pick up her baby.
"Alright Jewel come on sweetie. That's enough running for one day. Let's go get pretty. Would you like that sweetheart? Don't you want to get all dolled up with Ma-Ma?? Don't you want to get pretty for Da-Da? You and Da-Da have a big day ahead of you." Jewel just laughed and clapped her hands, seeming to applaud yet another of her mother's failed attempts to get her to produce a word rather than her common "Goo-goo-gaa-gaa" jargon. Roxton joined his daughter and shared a hearty laugh at Marguerite's attempt.
"Oh Marguerite love, I'm afraid Jewelie's just not ready to give up her own baby language yet. Your just a stubborn little buggar aren't you princess!" Roxton laughed out as he kissed his daughter on his forehead and Marguerite's cheek then strolled back over to the table to finish his breakfast.
"Yes well I know where she gets that trait from!" Marguerite spat back at John. John feigned innocence, with his hand on his heart and a matching hurt look to go along with it.
"Why my dear Marguerite, whatever do you mean?" He said as he let one his Cheshire cat grins fall through and tear away at his performance. Marguerite laughed and snorted, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, right!" Marguerite snorted.
"Throw in the towel and stick to hunting John!" She laughed, throwing Jewel's bib at Roxton and descending down the stairs to the nursery with the sounds of John's hearty laughter echoing in her ears.