"Chicha!" Chasca exclaimed, grasping ahold of the the toddlers chubby arm, "Why are you tearing through this house like a beast? Proper ladies walk," she rubbed her temple, looking exasperated, "You would think I had the son I wanted, the way you behave," she muttered.
Chicha large brown eyes stared up into her mother's similar ones, looking generally displeased. She didn't want to be a proper lady. She wanted to run. She walked slowly until she was out of her mother's sight before running to the garden outside.

"Papi!" she squealed, running through the rows of plants, tackling her father's knees, "Papi, I help?" Atoc chuckled, patting his daughters dark hair.
"Of course, Mi Reina. You can help Papi with the llamas, si?"
She nodded, stumbling behind him as she tried to keep up with his long strides.
"Papi!" she cried, tripping and falling on her hands and knees. Atoc stopped, going back to pick her up. He gently dusted her off, smiling.
"Mi Reina's legs are still too little to keep up with Papi, eh?" he teased, kissing her forehead. She nodded, a familiar pout on her full little lips. He smirked to himself, she looked like her mother when she did that. He scooped her up, hoisting her onto his shoulder.
"Papi, why we have llamas?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his head.
"We have llamas because we need their wool. We make the wool into thread and cloth and then we make clothes and other things," he explained patiently.
"Like what?" she asked, her voice spilling with curiosity.
"Sometimes cloth is used to make sails for ships," he replied, "Or they make Hammocks, like mine."
"Or dresses!" she squealed, grinning.
"Yes, or dresses," he said nodding.
"Papi, why I not 'llowed to run?" she asked, peeking at the side of his face. Atoc's mind froze for a moment, trying to think of how he could possibly answer that.
"Well, your mother doesn't like it," he said, his voice laced with confusion.
"But Papi," Chicha whined, "Why?"
"I don't really know," he said after a few moments of silence, "Sometimes it's a good idea not to ask why."

"Papi, why Mama want me to be a boy?" she fired again, resting her cheek on the crown of his hair.
"She doesn't want you to be a boy," he replied, lifting her off his shoulder.
"Yes Papi!" she argued, "Mama want me to be a boy."

Atoc stopped again, looking down at his daughter. It wasn't right for Chasca to make offhanded remarks about wanting a son to him...but it was a very very big problem if she was saying such things to little Chicha.
"You're just right the way you are," he said firmly, "Don't ever think otherwise." She snuggled against his chest, smiling.
"Yes, Papi," she sighed. Atoc patted the tiny girl's back, smiling to himself.

She was his little friend, his little slice of heaven. He glanced down to see she was fast asleep, her little mouth drooped open and her hair stuck to her forehead. He kissed her brow, turning and walking back up the hill towards their home. The moment he walked in, however, there was a loud sound from another room.
"Atoc!" Chasca yelled, stomping towards the door. Atoc waved his free hand frantically, motioning the sleeping Chicha on his shoulder. Chasca rolled her eyes, still looking angry, and pointed to the girl's bedroom. Atoc laid her down in her bed, kissing her forehead once more before returning to the battle field that was their front room.

"Where is the money?" she demanded, throwing an empty leather pouch on the floor at his feet. He shrugged, his face placid. "Don't give me that," she spat, her eyes narrowing, "I need that money."
"For what?" he asked, his voice showing his disbelief, "For another visit by yourself to Cusco? No, Chasca. You need to stay here. You need to care for Chicha."
"Do not tell me what I need to do!" she hissed, "I know what I need to do. I care for my daughter just as well as any other mother."
"Why does she think you wish she was a boy?" he demanded.
"I don't know! What does it matter? I wish she were a boy, at least we don't need to lie."
"I love her the way she is," Atoc said, his deep voice gentle and soft, "I love my daughter."
"As do I," Chasca replied, "But we had hoped, prayed for a son. Don't you sometimes wish it had gone differently? Don't you wish you had a son to carry on your name?" Atoc rubbed his face, looking defeated.
"Chasca..." he began, his voice and demeanor screaming of his weariness with his wife.
"At least I can admit the truth to myself," she said, turning and leaving the room.

Atoc slouched in his chair, his body and mind all but exhausted by the argument. He ran his fingers through his hair, wondering once again to himself if this was all worth it.

"Papi...?"

He looked over to see Chicha, looking scared and pale, from the doorway of her room. They'd scared her. She knew they were talking about her. "Come here, Reina," he said, patting his lap. She ran over, scrambling onto his lap and burying her face in his shirt."I love you, Papi," she whispered.

It was worth it.