There have been some questions as to who has what job. In case it is not clear enough, here is the list;
Larry- Business Owner
Teddy- Park Ranger
Sac- Police Detective
Lance- Police Detective
Tilly- Forensics
Jed- Investigative Agent
Octavius- Investigative Agent
Melody- FBI Agent
Athena- Surgeon/Medic
Hope that clears things up.
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Teddy put his red Chevy into park as he pulled into his driveway. He shut off the engine and stepped out. A brown blur shot from the doorstep and barked as it bolted to its master. Teddy laughed, and knelt down to pet the dog.
"Good evening to you, Moose." He said, fondling the dog's ears.
"I still think 'Moose' is a weird name for a dog." A boy's voice said from the doorway.
Teddy looked up and smiled as he caught sight of his oldest son, Theodore, who was already in his pajamas. Behind him, a smaller child peered from the doorway, wearing a frilly pink nightgown.
"Daddy!" The child said, pushing past her brother.
Teddy threw out his arms and hugged his daughter, laughing as he did so.
"Daddy," The child whinned, her large brown eyes pouting. "Theodore says I have to go to bed. I don't wanna go to bed."
"Natia," Teddy said, wagging his finger at her. "Now you know your brother is right. Bedtime is upon us, for all the little girls of the world. Well," Teddy paused, shaking his head. "On this side of the world."
"But Daddy!" Natia whinned, crossing her arms. "I want to stay up and see Cynthia!"
Teddy froze, his eyes gazing down at his daughter as he registered the name. "Cynthia….she's here?"
"Not yet." Theodore said, walking over to where his father knelt. "Mom said she'll be here in half an hour."
Teddy's smile widened, and he rose to his feet, lifting Natia in his arms and grabbing Theodore's hand. Moose barked at his feet, racing in circles as he tried to walk forwards. He could barely contain his excitement as he thought about seeing his oldest child for the first time in several months. It was not an often occurrence to have her visit, especially with school. But with the holidays coming up, she had promised a three week visit before the start of her next semester to see her family. And, Teddy thought with a smirk, her childhood and current sweetheart.
"Well well, it is about time you came home." Sac said, smiling widely as she embraced her husband.
Teddy beamed back at her, kissing her forehead gently before bending down towards the bulge of her stomach.
"Hello there, little one." Teddy said, speaking as close to his unborn son as he could get.
"He was kicking earlier." Sac said, rubbing her stomach gently. "He feels like a strong one."
"Strong is good." Teddy said, nodding. "Strong is very good."
Sac smiled, and led her family into the kitchen. The oven beeped from across the room, and she strolled over to it, opening the furnace. The rooms was filled with an exquisite taste, and Teddy felt his mouth water as he smelled the scent of his favorite dessert.
"Rutabaga pie?" He asked, looking over at Sac.
She nodded, and carefully pulled it out of the oven. She set it on the counter as Natia climbed up onto a stool, holding her pink pig stuffed animal in one hand as she went to poke the pie.
"Ahahah," Sac said, moving her wrist gently. "Not yet. Not until your sister gets here."
"Awww." Natia groaned, reluctantly stepping down from the stool. "She'll never get here."
"Yes she will." Teddy said reassuringly, sweeping Natia off her feet and into his arms. "And when she comes, she will give you the biggest hug you will have ever gotten before."
"And she'll give Theodore a kiss!" Natia giggled.
"Blahk!" Theodore gagged, his expression one of disgust. "I had it when she does that. It makes my cheek all wet!"
"Oh come now." Sac said, crossing to the dining room where the phone was ringing. "It just means she loves you."
"Children," Teddy said, setting Natia down. "Why don't you go up to your rooms? Make your beds so they can be ready later."
"Okay!" Natia said, racing upstairs.
Theodore rolled his eyes and gave a sigh as he trudged behind his sister. Teddy smiled, and sat down at the table as he listened to Sac's conversation.
"Hello?" She said, answering the phone. Her face split into a smile as she recognized the voice. "Athena! Yes, this is Sac. It has been a few weeks since I have heard from you. Yes, we are all doing fine. Yes, Teddy is home. The kids are doing well. The baby? Very well. Yes, any time now." She paused, giving a small laugh. "Of course I am watching for the signs. You know that. You taught me well, after all. How is Quintus?...Good, good. Did he get that story of his published?...Oh, what a shame. I know he tried hard on it. Anyways, what can I do for you this evening?...Oh, really? How kind of you!...The twenty-second?...I suppose so. Cynthia is coming tonight….really? Well then, yes, we would love to come. Yes, I will tell Teddy about it. Oh, you and Octavius are most thoughtful. Do you need us to bring anything?...Just a few party platters?...Alright. Thank you so much. Have good night, goodbye."
She hung up the phone, and walked back into the kitchen. Teddy raised and eyebrow expectantly, waiting for her to elaborate.
"Well," She said, carefully slicing the pie into even pieces. "Athena and Octavius have invited us to their home Sunday night for a Christmas party."
"That's nice of them." Teddy said, smiling. "It will be nice to see them again. How are they?"
"They are doing well." Sac said. "She has been working late the past few weeks, but decided to come home early this night. I overhead Octavius talking to Jed the other day while at work, about having a date night with her."
"They could use that." Teddy acknowledged, knowing just how taxing the pair's jobs were. "Do they have someone to watch Quintus for them?"
Sac nodded, leaning over the table to catch her breath. The added weight to her was exhausting at times, and the brief rest was nice. "He's staying over at Melody's for the night."
"Melody…" Teddy repeated the name, scratching his chin. "Who's she again?"
Sac rolled her eyes and punched Teddy's shoulder playfully. "Jacob's mom, Jed's wife, Athena's sister…"
"Oh yes, now I remember." Teddy said, snapping his fingers. He chuckled. "I always found it so funny how Jed and Octavius went from metaphorical brothers to brother in laws."
"At least they both found someone." Sac said, walking to the counter to retrieve the pie. "It took a while. I feared they would be bachelors forever. It is still a miracle that Jed found a girl."
"He was hopeless there for a while." Teddy agreed. "But they are both great men, and their wives are somewhat capable of putting up with them."
Sac laughed allowed, setting the pie on the table. "You speak of them as if you had doubts."
"Not for Octavius, no." Teddy said, leaning back in his chair as he crossed a leg over his knee. "For Jed, mainly. I never could see what Octavius saw in Jed. Back in high school it was the strangest thing to see them near each other. I always assumed Jed just wanted to copy his homework."
"But he turned out to be more than that, better than that." Sac reminded him curtly. She frowned. "Do you still bear grievance towards Jed?"
"No, no, of course not." Teddy said quickly, giving his wife a sharp glance. "How could you think that? He just...I guess he just seems rough sometimes."
Sac sighed softly, and slumped down in her chair behind the pie. "You would be too if you were going through the things he and Melody must fight every day."
Teddy sighed. She was right. It was wrong of him to judge Jed so heavily. He looked over at the stairs, listening to his children play and argue. The sound of their feet running overhead as they chased each other through the halls. Jed would never get to hear that, although he had a child. Teddy took a moment to offer a prayer of thanks that he and Sac had been blessed with healthy children, and he added a word in for Jed's boy, that he may one day recover.
"Has Melody said anything on it?" Teddy asked, his frown deepening.
Sac shook her head. "No. Just the usual."
Before the dreariness in the room could overtake them, Sac stood abruptly and strolled over to the cupboard. She took out a set of small dessert plates, and then some forks, setting them down in a circle around the table.
"Cynthia should be here any minute now." She said, walking towards the front door. "Get the children down here, please."
Teddy nodded, and stood, his chair scooting back as he did. He made his way upstairs, sneaking the last bit as he listened for the footsteps. He heard his children pause when he stepped on a creaky step. He waited a second, before leaping out at them with a playful growl.
"Ah!" Natia half screamed, half giggled. "Theodore! It's a bear!"
"Grrr!" Teddy growled, crawling on his hands and knees. It was a hard feat while in his rather tight Rangers uniform, but he managed.
"That's not a bear." Theodore said matter of factly, crossing his hands behind his back. "That, my dear little sister, is a Father."
"Eeek!" Natia squealed, hiding behind the lamp table in the sitting room. "It's a Father Bear!"
"Grrr!" Teddy said again, stalking towards her. "I'm a great big Father Bear! I'm here to tickle you!"
"No!" Natia yelled, bolting playfully to avoid her father as he reached out.
Teddy wrapped his arms around her and tickled her all over, Natia laughing and kicking. Theodore watched from the hallway, rolling his eyes at this display of uneducated behavior. Teddy stopped his tickle assault, and gestured for his son to come over.
"No way." Theodore said, shaking his head. "A twelve year old does not participate in such ridiculous behavior."
Teddy took off his glasses and made a pouting face at his son. Theodore looked away, crossing his arms. After a while Teddy gave up, and stood, holding Natia in one arm. He glanced over the banister and saw the front door open. And heard the voice of his oldest daughter drift up to him. He smiled widely, and hurried downstairs.
"Hey! Wait up!" Theodore yelled, following.
"Oh, my sweet, sweet baby." Sac said as she embraced her child in the doorway.
Cynthia smiled. "Hey, Mom. It's good to see you." Her eyes looked up the stairs at her father, and her smile widened. "Dad." She said, pulling away from her mother to embrace Teddy.
Teddy hugged her tightly, relieved to have his little girl back in his arms after so long. "It has been a long time, my dearest one." He said.
Cynthia's brown eyes sparkled as she saw her younger siblings rush over to her. "Natia! Theo!"
"Hello, Cynthia." Theodore said, trying to seem grown up. "How was your flight?"
Cynthia frowned, and looked at her parents, who shrugged helplessly. She turned back to Theodore. "Don't tell me you're growing up already, Theodore."
"I am grown up." He said, crossing his arms. "I am the oldest boy in the house, and a big brother."
"You mean a big bother." Natia said with a roll of her eyes. Theodore frowned at her, but she ignored him as she hugged Cynthia. "I missed you, sissy."
"I missed you too." Cynthia said softly, kissing her forehead. "And you, my little bother."
"Now now, children." Teddy said with a smile. "Cynthia has just come back home. Let us not fight now."
"Cynthia! Cynthia!" Natia squealed excitedly, jumping up and down and pulling her arm. "Mama made pie!"
"Pie?" Cynthia asked, pausing to sniff the air. Sure enough, there was the sweet scent of rutabaga pie in the house. She licked her lips. "Mmmm...rutabaga."
"Fresh out of the over." Sac said, smiling. "Just for my special adult girl."
"Well, let's not just stand here." Teddy said, rubbing his stomach. "Let's eat before it gets cold."
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"Brrrrp!"
"Ewww!" Natia said, swatting at the air around her nose. "Theodore!"
"Sorry." Theodore replied with a shrug. "I couldn't help it."
"You might pretend to be grown up," Cynthia chuckled, chewing her last mouthful of the sweet pie. "But you will always be a little boy in your manners."
Sac stood, gathering the dishes. "Children, it's time for you to go to bed now." She said gently. "Your father and I want to speak to your sister alone."
"Awww." Both children chorused.
Cynthia gave a small frown, and narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute you two. I feel like I'm forgetting something…"
Natia and Theodore exchanged a glance while their older sister dug through one of her bags. She pulled out two wrapped gifts, one wrapped in red, and one in blue, and handed them to each child.
"What is it?" Natia asked, eyeing her box with wide, curious eyes.
"You'll have to open it." Cynthia replied, smiling widely.
Natia frenziedly tore away the wrapping paper. Her face lit up and she squealed happily as she held up her new doll. "It's so cute!" She said, swinging it around.
Cynthia laughed. "Nothing short of what a six year old girl wants." She said. She then turned to her brother. "Well then, open yours."
Theodore opened his more slowly, carefully removing the paper before opening the box. A smile creeped its way on his face, and he held up a book.
"The Encyclopedia of American Bugs." He read aloud, flipping the book over. "The complete works of Edward Greenroot."
"Wow." Teddy said, looking over his son's shoulder at the book. "That's a nice copy, my boy."
"And by Edward Greenroot." Sac said, shaking her head. "You spoil them, Cynthia."
Cynthia shrugged, and watched her siblings run upstairs with their gifts. She knew they would be scarce for a while, and reached into her bag again.
"I have gifts for you guys, too." She said, pulling out two packages. She pulled out a third, and handed it to her mother. "And for the baby."
"Aw," Sac said, opening the gift. It was a bib with a deer on it, which said Big Strong Buck. She then chuckled. "We were actually thinking about naming him Buck."
Teddy opened his next, and a smile lit up his face as he held up a thermos mug with a forest Ranger riding a bear. He chuckled. "I can't say I haven't tried this." Sac raised an eyebrow, causing Teddy to speak quickly. "I never did, though."
"And for you, Mom." Cynthia handed over the last package.
Sac took it into her hands, and held it for a moment. It was a small box, and felt very light. She gently tore away the gold wrapping paper, and her eyes found a white box beneath it. She opened carefully, and put a hand to her mouth.
"What is it, my dear?" Teddy asked, looking at her expectantly.
Sac passed him the box, and Teddy looked at the contents before bursting out into laughter. "Well then! I think your daughter knows you quite well!"
It was a pair of dreamcatcher earrings, just like the ones Sac had wanted to get a few years back. They were specially designed, and even with a well paying job, expensive.
"How did you afford these?" She asked, carefully switching them out with the wolf pawprint ones she was currently wearing.
"Nicky bought them for me to give to you." She said. "He insisted."
At the mention of Nicky, Sac fell silent. Cynthia picked up on these, and quickly spoke.
"I spoke with him last night." She said, her eyes saddened. "He called me in tears. I heard Ahkmenrah."
Sac sighed, and let her head bow. She knew Nicky was pained by the loss, but was glad that her daughter was there for him. The two had been dating for about four and a half years now, and there had been talk of engagement. However, Sac feared that would be cancelled after Ahkmenrah's disappearance. Cynthia had been just as devastated, and Sac could tell that she was torn between her devastation of postponing their engagement, and her sorrow to see her boyfriend so broken. Sac knew it was unfair to Nicky, but being a mother, she had sided with her daughter on the matter.
"We are looking for him." She said soothingly, hugging Cynthia. "You remember agents Jed and Octavius, right?"
Cynthia nodded.
"They are on the case." Sac continued.
At this, Cynthia cracked a smile. "I feel sorry for whoever took Ahk."
The three laughed, and then Teddy rose to his feet. "Well, it's getting late." He said, stretching. "I believe it is time we head to bed."
