I've always thought Jade would make an interesting father.


Father
By Neko-chan the Mewse
2/4/09


Jade was a single father of five. It was a rather impressive feat, seeing as he was only in his thirties. Like any father, he tried to guide his children and help them through their trials. His children, like any other group of children, squabbled endlessly and he usually took it upon himself to break up their fights.

Speaking of fights… "Now, now, children," he snagged the back of Anise's uniform and gave Natalia a pointed look. "If you keep fighting I might actually have to step in."

"You just did," Guy pointed out. Jade glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. "…erm, you know what? Never mind."

Natalia crossed her arms sullenly and glared at Anise who was now hiding behind and clinging to Jade. "She started it."

"I did not! You did!" Anise pouted. Jade absentmindedly patted her on the head. She was the youngest and therefore he babied her the most. She was also the only one he came close to legally adopting. He didn't need to fill out the papers; they were all as good as his. The papers just made it official.

"Would you two stop fighting and act a little more mature?" Tear demanded.

"Shut up and stay out of it!" The other two girls snapped at the same time.

"What's going on?" Luke finally noticed the commotion and came back towards them.

"Luke," Anise whined. "Natalia's being mean to me!" She scurried over to hug Luke.

"Get off of him!" Natalia fumed.

"So popular with the girls," Jade laughed at Luke's panicked face. He gave Anise a moment longer before setting up his distraction. "Come now, if we don't get moving we might as well set up camp right here."

He watched in satisfaction as they began to reluctantly move on, although Anise was still clinging to Luke. Anise didn't really mean any harm by it. A blind person could tell that Luke wasn't interested. Jade's eyes wandered to Natalia. The princess was fuming but Jade's experienced eye caught a hint of a smile in her eyes.

Anise was the baby of the family. Guy was the 'cool' older brother. He certainly did enough worrying for the role. Natalia was the older sister. Luke…was harder to place. Jade frowned as Luke refused to be slotted into a role. Tear seemed to be difficult as well. Hm…they could be fraternal twins. He watched as the mentioned two shyly chatted to each other as they walked down the road and quickly changed his mind. That would be considered incest.

That left poor Jade as the single father to such a large family. It was still a large step up from his last family.

"Um, Jade, are you okay?"

"Hm? I'm perfectly alright, Guy. What would make you think otherwise?"

"…you were cackling to yourself…"

"You must be hearing things. Shall I get Anise to check on you?"

"Ack! T-that's okay!"

Perhaps he should just accept his family as they were: dysfunctional.