--

"I'm bored."

I glanced over the rim of my book at the little blond. He stared back, chin jutting out as if defying me to not do anything about it.

"Well go play with the other kids or read a book," I said turning back to my own.

"I want to play a game."

"Have with that."

Insistent hands tugged at my book.

"I want to play chess. I haven't had a good match in 75 years at least."

I raised an eyebrow.

"If you're expecting a good match out of me, I'm afraid you have a very high opinion of my very poor playing skills."

Knives gave me a look that was half sour, half pleading.

"Need I remind you," he said, crossing his arms and shifting his jaw into a slight pout," that I can't leave the house and play with the munchkins?"

I looked at him tiredly.

"Do we really want people asking where I've gone, once I'm back to my normal form?"

He had a smug expression, knowing his argument was completely sound. I groaned and put my book down.

"You are unfairly mixing immaturity and logic here.'

Knives smirked and tugged me out of my seat.

"Twelve, remember?"

"Oh you're twelve when it's convenient, are you?"

He shrugged, the infuriating smirk still on his face.

"Well, you've got the 'I know everything' attitude down pat," I grumbled, following him to the coffee table. "I hate to think of what you're going to be like in your teens."

Knives flopped down on the floor, his expression almost cheerful. I sat down on the couch and studied to board warily.

"You get to be white," said Knives leaning his chin on his hands.

"Why, thank you," I said, choosing a pawn and sliding it two spaces forward.

"Welcome," he replied, moving a pawn of his own without a moments consideration.

The game continued like that, me pondering my moves carefully, Knives capturing my pieces with apparently little thought. It was somewhat annoying, especially since he'd smirk a little everytime he captured a piece, but I knew he was enjoying himself. Twenty minutes later, I was saved the inevitable cry of 'Check Mate" when there was a knock on the door.

"Wonder who'll that be," I said, frowning. "You stay here," I added as I stood up.

Knives simply leaned back on his hands and gave me a defiant look. Skirting the table, I frowned at him and went to open the door.

"Janey Darling! I just had to come and see you! How are you?"

Gasping for breath as I was enfolded in large, plump arms, I caught a quick glimpse of Mrs. Watson's face and over her shoulder, a weedy-looking young man. Jerry. Not good, not good! All I could do was pray that they had forgotten about Knives and that he would have the sense to hide when he heard them.

"You never come to see us anymore!"

'Gee, I wonder why…'

"So we just had to come and see how you are doing! And how's you're little son? I never did catch his name!"

I groaned to myself. Mrs. Watson had finally let go of me and was smiling expectantly. Jerry had a cool 'holier than thou' expression as he studied me head to toe.

"Uh yes.. so glad to see you too.. uh…"

They stared at me expectantly, obviously waiting for me to pull Knives out of thin air. There was nothing for it, I had to let them in or else they'd never go away. They'd stay there until they caught sight of Knives or Mrs. Watson got some tidbit of gossip to spread.

"Won't you come in?" I asked weakly, stepping to the side and opening the door a little wider. They brushed past me, Mrs. Watson chattering loudly and Jerry dumping his coat on me. They made a bee-line for the family room as I hung up the coats. I followed as quickly as possible, praying Knives had been able to slip away.

"…And these beautiful blue eyes! You'd swear he was a little angel!"

Mrs. Watson was apparently infatuated with 'darling' Knives. I quickly stuck my head in through the door. With a quiet sigh of relief, I saw that Knives had indeed gone and the chessmen were lined up in their proper places on the board.

"Coffee?" I asked, smiling weakly.

After they told me exactly how they wanted their cups, I dove quickly to the kitchen. Knives was there, leaning on the counter and watching the toaster, waiting for his bread to finish.

"There you are, thank goodness," I said, grabbing some mugs out of the cupboard. "Did they see you?"

"Nuh-uh," said Knives, lazily grabbing the toast as it was shot into the air. He dropped them onto a plate and started making some sort of sausage sandwich. "I heard that woman and decided I was hungry. Slipped in here while she was attempting to break your ribs."

"Are you sure Jerry didn't see you?"

Knives gave me a look.

"What, with her filling the doorway?"

"Point taken. Don't eat that sandwich now, you'll ruin your appetite."

"I'm hungry, Mom," he replied, generously spreading mustard on one slice of bread. "Growing boys need plenty of food."

I glared and lightly whacked the back of his head.

"Snotty little rip. Now listen to me, this is important."

Knives caught my serious tone, and looked up, head slightly cocked.

"Those two aren't going to leave until they see you. So try to look like you're seven or something."

Knives snorted.

"Okay, maybe not seven, but try to look small! Maybe we can say you're ten and had a growth spurt or something."

I hastily put the cups of coffee on a tray.

"Come in, say hello to be polite, and get out as soon as you can."

Knives saluted as he finished the construction of his sandwich. I eyed it distastefully.

"And you are eating your vegetables first tonight."

"Yes, Mother."

"Hup two three four, follow me," I said picking up the tray carefully. Knives shrugged, picked up his sandwich and a glass of milk, and followed me.

I pasted a smile on my face and entered the family room, Knives right behind me.

"Hello sweetheart!," crooned Mrs. Watson as soon as she caught sight of Knives. "Do you remember me?"

"Hullo," replied Knives, with a bored expression.

"My my! Aren't you the strapping young man! What have you been feeding this boy, Janey? I swear he's grown a foot since I last saw him!"

I smiled weakly, handing Jerry his coffee.

"Oh nothing out of the ordinary. Uh…"

My mind searched furiously for a name.

"Tucker here," I continued triumphantly, ignoring the disgusted look Knives gave me. "Tucker was always on the short side. But he's finally got his growth spurt, and I swear I can practically hear his clothes screaming in protest!"

I sat down on the armchair, quite pleased with myself. Knives sat down on the arm next to me, munching on his sandwich.

"Oh! Tucker, is that his name?"

I nodded, feeling Knives' glare. Apparently he didn't like the name I had chosen for him.

"So, Tucker," said Jerry, taking a sip from his coffee and setting it down on the table. "I hear you've been adopted by Janey. How do you like it here?"

Knives put his sandwich down and fixed Jerry with his cool look.

"I like it a lot. She's been really good to me."

"Good, good," nodded Jerry. "Just what I'd expect. Spend time with you, does she?"

"Yes. Mom always has time to play a game, or read, or just to me."

Apparently feeling that he had done his duty, Knives went back to his sandwich,

"Games huh? Is that why the chess set is out?"

"Yuph," said Knives, his response slightly muffled by a piece of pastrami. He swallowed and tried again. "Yeah. Mom and I were playing earlier."

I glared slightly at him, feeling that he was having a little too much fun calling me "mom." He ignored me. Jerry's eye gleamed.

"I play it myself you know."

"Won a trophy, didn't you dear?" interjected Mrs. Watson fondly.

Knives cocked his head slightly.

"A trophy? Would you mind playing a game with me then?"

I looked at him with a panic. He was supposed to be gone already, not challenging Jerry to a chess match!

"Play a game with you?" laughed Jerry. "Sure kid. Maybe I can give you a few pointers."

"I'd like that," said Knives handing me his plate and sitting down in front of the coffee table.

"I'll go easy on you," smirked Jerry, shifting to sit in front of the board.

"Why thank you," said Knives, smiling like a shark that's seen a bare behind. "I was about to say the same."

--

Buahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha D

I don't own Trigun. Nightow does.