Ruth was going to make them something to eat but James refused point blank to let her go, she had to be a dinosaur and that was that.
"You've no hope," said Harry, "I was a T Rex for at least three hours last night."
She laughed.
"He's very stubborn, I warn you now."
"I wonder where he gets that from?"
"Surely you're not looking at me, Ruth," he said and wondered into the kitchen to put some food on.
"Aaaarrrrghhhhh!" shouted James and flew at Ruth. He was clearly a much nastier dinosaur.
Harry prepared a pasta bake and listened to the strangled cries coming from next door. He realised that he'd been smiling the entire time and he wondered at the direction his life seemed to have turned without him having any control of it.
He eventually went back into the living room to find Ruth buried under the combined collection of cushions from every piece of furniture he had.
"Dinosaur's gone," said James.
"She has indeed."
"Daddy, can't find her, can he?"
"Mmm," said Harry and ignoring the mountain of upholstery he started to look behind the curtains and the chairs in search of Ruth, "you're right James, daddy can't find her. What have you done with her?"
James beamed proudly and walked to the cushion stack, he whipped away the top one with aplomb, "Der, der", he announced.
Ruth smiled patiently, her hair in some state of disarray, she looked rather warm.
Harry laughed, "Oh there she is."
"I didn't know dinosaurs hibernated," she said.
"Well, Ruth, you learn something new every day," he laughed pulling her from the cushions.
"Arrrrrghhhh!" shouted James and leapt on Harry.
"Ok, my little velociraptor, it's time for your bed."
"No. Please."
"Yes, please."
"But…"
"No buts. Bed."
James pouted. Ruth laughed, "Wonder where he gets that from?"
Harry pouted back. "Come on," he said and held out his hand to James.
James double pouted, "Don't want you, want Ruth to put me to bed."
"James!" Harry warned.
"No, Harry, it's okay, I'd like to."
"You sure?"
"Sure. Come on then, you."
"Night, night, James," said Harry.
James ignored him and went to Ruth and took her hand, they walked to the bottom of the stairs and then he turned around and ran to Harry. "Night, night Daddy" he said and reached his face up for a kiss. Harry obliged wishing he wasn't the only one to do that.