A/N: This chapter takes place during chapters 434 and 435 of Possibilities and Certainties. Glinda, Elphie and Lyel's visit to Colwen Grounds.

X

Being a Handful is Hereditary.

"Bug, stop kicking. Nanny said you need to wear these because it is chilly outside. And we are going for a walk." Shell said with amused exasperation.

"How am I supposed to get these stupid things on you if you keep kicking your legs." He said as he held up a small pair of soft wool tights. Lyel babbled happily and tried to sit up.

"Do you want some help Shell?" Bri laughed as Shell attempted to gently tickle Lyel into submission.

"Nah. But a little cooperation from her would be nice." Shell said as he tried to capture Lyel's legs. She thought that Shell was playing with her and she kicked and squirmed, squealed and laughed, making Shell laugh too.

"We've got diapers down pat. Why is the rest of it so complicated?"

"Why don't you distract her and I'll slip the tights on her." Bri laughed.

"Double teaming. Good idea." Shell said as leaned over and blew a raspberry on the baby's stomach making her laugh and squirm all the more.

"I didn't mean distract her like that." Bri chuckled.

"And I'm guessing that is why this is so complicated. You playing with her."

"Are we ready to …" Nanny said as she came into the nursery.

"Why is that baby not dressed yet?" She said as she went over to the changing table.

"Ask her. I've been trying to get these tight things on her for the past twenty minutes." Shell said innocently.

"She kicks like she's on my roundball team."

"And you encouraging her had nothing to do with that I'm guessing." Nanny smiled.

"She's too cute not to play with." Shell chuckled and shrugged.

"Give me those tights please." Nanny said and Shell handed her the little pink garment.

"Good luck." Shell grinned.

"Lyel Thropp Upland you need to settle down so that we can get you properly dressed to go outside." Nanny said calmly but firmly as she put her hand on the baby's chest. Lyel stopped squirming looked at her, and babbled happily.

"That's right." Nanny agreed with a smile and Lyel continued to talk but stopped squirming. Bri and Shell watched in awe as, over the next few minutes, she expertly dressed the baby while holding a conversation with her. It even appeared to them that Lyel was assisting.

"Cool." Shell laughed as Nanny

"There now, you are ready to play outside." Nanny said to Lyel who babbled her excitement and squirmed to get down.

"Okay, next time Bug dressing time is not playtime. Got it?" Shell laughed as he picked up the baby who laughed and babbled.

"I think the question is, do you…got it?" Nanny smiled.

"Yeah, yeah." Shell said then smiled.

"At least until I can figure out how to do both." He chuckled as he put Lyel on his shoulder and trotted out the door.

"You are sure that you want to marry him?" Nanny asked with a chuckle as she and Bri watched him go.

"He has always been a bit of a handful and it appears that is not going to change any time soon." She added.

"I'm sure." Bri said.

"It appears my life is better with a handful." She laughed and Nanny looked at her with amusement then gave her a quick but warm and motherly hug.

"At least it won't be dull." Nanny said.

"That's what I'm counting on." Bri smiled and Nanny chuckled as she accepted Bri's arm and they made their way down to meet the others.

X

"Nanny had a good idea to talk a walk down to the cemetery this afternoon." Braclin said to Frex as they watched Shell put Lyel on Nessa's lap.

"Nessa hasn't been down there in a while and hasn't had a chance to use the new path since it was completed." He said as Shell started to push Nessa and Lyel a bit erratically in order to make Lyel laugh.

"Shell, be careful." Frex called out.

"I am Papa." Shell called back then pushed down on the handles of Nessa's chair so that it tilted back, something he did frequently.

"No he is not." Nessa said and Shell just chuckled and rolled them out the door.

"Who is not what?" Nanny said as they approached the door.

"Shell. Being careful." Devi smiled as she put a blanket and diaper bag into Lyel's small pram.

"Ah." Nanny chuckled as Devi headed out the door pushing the baby carriage. Bi and Braclin followed her and Frex and Nanny brought up the rear.

"Shell!" The group heard Nessa exclaim as Shell pushed them rather fast around one of the bends in the pathway. Nessa was holding on to Lyel with one hand and the arm of her chair with the other.

"Wheeeeeeeeee" Shell laughed.

"Stop this." Nessa said sternly but with a smile that Shell could not see. He had been pushing her like this since he was big enough to do it.

"Putting my life in danger is one thing. But if anything happens to Lyel, Glinda and Elphaba will kill us both." She said and Shell stopped.

"Spoil sport." He grinned.

"What ever happened to faster Shelly faster?"

"It ended when I was ten and you hit a rock and dumped me into that puddle." Nessa said.

"Oh yeah." Shell said.

"That was fun." He grinned.

"For you maybe." Nessa said as the others joined them

"Braclin will you take over as my driver please." She asked.

"Certainly dear." Brac smiled.

"Fine. See if I include you in the fun again." Shell said as he took Lyel from her.

"Finally. Thank you." Nessa said with a smile and Shell laughed and waved her off.

"Give me my grandchild." Frex said with a smile and Shell handed Lyel to him. The first thing she did was grab his beard.

Bri, Shell, Braclin and Nessa ranged ahead on the winding path that led from the private patio of the family residence to the family cemetery. It was a very circuitous but was designed to give Nessa a way to enjoy being outside on the grounds out of the way of the paths that the general staff had access to. It meandered through groves of trees and had spaced out offshoot points that had a bench surrounded by a flowerbed and every so often a small gazebo with table and chairs.

They had been walking, chatting and enjoying the mild fall day for about ten minutes when Lyel started to fuss in Frex's arms. It was determined that she needed to be changed so they stopped at one of the gazebos then when Lyel was changed and ready to go she toddled around with Shell, exploring the path under the watchful eyes of Braclin, Nessa and Bri while the older people followed behind. They heard the children laughing and talking and saw Shell chasing after Lyel as Lyel tried to chase a squirrel. Bri's amused admonishments to not tell the little girl to get that squirrel seemed to fall on deaf ears. When they reached the mausoleum where Shell and Nessa's mother was buried they all paid their respects then Nanny herded them all to the tomb of their great grandfather so they could pay their respects there.

"I think I will go back and join Frex." Nanny said after a bit.

"I'll escort you Nanny." Shell said.

"Thank you child but it is not far. I can manage." Nanny smiled.

"You all go on and explore. Enjoy the day." She said.

"All right Nanny. If you are sure." Shell said and Nanny nodded and headed back.

"They are a cute couple." Braclin smiled as he and Nessa watched Shell and Bri playing with Lyel. They had walked and chatted for a bit until they reached a little clearing then Lyel toddled after a bunny and Shell and Bri went after her. Now Shell was tossing a little ball in Lyel's direction. She chased after it, but more often than not she ended up being diverted by a pretty fall flower or a scurrying small animal. Brac and Nessa were sitting on nearby benches.

"Shell says the same thing about us." Nessa laughed lightly.

"And I cannot, in all good conscience, disagree with that." Brac smiled warmly.

"I fear that you may not be entirely objective on the issue." Nessa smiled.

"That's very astute, Your Emmyness." Braclin smiled and Nessa scowled at him. Brac responded by kissing her scowl.

"Braclin." Nessa admonished in surprise then smiled. Neither she nor Braclin were given to public displays of affection but they did have their moments.

"I make no apologies." Braclin smiled.

"Shall we join the festivities over there?" He smiled, pointing to Shell who was now trying to dance with Bri and Lyel.

"Tempting, but I'm thinking we should probably head back to join Nanny and Papa."

"Probably. But one dance won't hurt." Brac smiled.

"Braclin, what has gotten into you today." Nessa chuckled as she transferred herself back to her chair with Brac's help.

"Cool crisp fall air brings out the romantic in me I suppose." Brac said.

"So noted." Nessa grinned.

"Why your Eminence, was that the hint of a brazen comment I just heard?" Braclin chuckled.

"I have no idea to what you are referring." Nessa said as she rolled herself towards where Bri was attempting to stop Shell from twirling her and Lyel.