Part 11

Cold, windy and wet, Valentine's Day dawned far too quickly for young Daniel. After Cam's late night tête à tête he'd slept poorly and knuckling the sleep from his eyes, he gave serious consideration to flipping back onto his belly and sleeping the cold winter's day away. Smacking his lips together in anticipation of further napping, the sleepy little boy winced when Jack's dulcet tones reverberated up the stairs, into his room and booming close to his left earhole.

It left nothing to chance.

"Daniel, the waffles are ready in five…move your little toushie or it'll be oatmeal for you."

"Coming, Daddy!"

Instantly awake expertly discarding pajamas and slipping on sweaters and jeans, he barreled down the stairs his mouth salivating at the unexpected treat, all thoughts of Valentine's Day madness temporarily forgotten. Skidding into his chair slightly out of breath, he grinned cheekily at Jack. They both knew this his was exactly how he liked to start his day…with food.

"Kiddo, it's so nice of you to join us this not so fine morning." Jack said, sliding several waffles onto the shiny, white plate.

"Wow, waffles! Neat!" Danny's killer watt smile dipped when he saw the odd expression flitting across on Cam's face. He knew the look and it didn't bode well for either of them.

"Morning, Cam." He mumbled around an overstuffed mouthful.

"Good morning, brother, sleep well?" Cam enquired sweetly.

"Taking his fork and stabbing at a ridiculously large hunk of waffle, Daniel's small face was alight with indignation. "Nope, I had a bad dream that some maniac came into my room."

"Oh? Why didn't you call out?" Jack asked. He bent over, his hands on his knees, his worried expression showing the concern he felt. "Danny, just call me, okay?"

"Sure, Daddy," Daniel replied, "Next time, I'll definitely call you!"

Jack smiled. "You know I'm only ever just a step away."

"Yeah, me too, Danny, I'm just a step away too." Cam's solicitous tone fooled no one.

"Oh, I can call daddy, it's quite alright, Cam."

"Ah, but is that wise?" Came the quick retort.

Jack frowned, turned and studied the two kids carefully. With a shrug, he downed his coffee before shrugging and saying, "Boys, I have a lot to do today, and we need to get to the market before the weather sets in. "

"T'riffic."

"Excuse me?"

Jack's eyebrow rose and he pointed to the sink saying brusquely, "Cam, you tidy up in here. Daniel, as you sound a little peevish, I better hear more about this nightmare."

"Peevish? Me?"

"Him?" Cam gulped. When Jack's back was briefly turned, he made a swishing movement across his throat while fixing the evil, brotherly stink eye. Daniel wasn't impressed and rolled his eyes towards the heavens.

"I don't remember much about the bad dream now, "Danny said, fixing a flat stare at Cammie. "I'll just stay here and help Cam tidy up the kitchen, okay?"

With a bemused look, Jack agreed. "I'll be about thirty minutes, so get a move on."

"Yes, Daddy "came the chorused reply.

OoO

With Jack safely out of the room, Cam jumped from his chair and grabbed the syrupy spoon. "Eww, it's all sticky!" Running a finger along the spoon and then shoving it into his mouth, he mumbled around the sweet maple syrup, "So, how are we going to get the flowers and candy to Sarah?"

"Well, I have had one or two thoughts, but remember that I haven't had much time to plan this."

A small smile crept across Cam's face. "Yeah, but your plans are always so darn good." He didn't need to add- unlike my disasters! That was a given.

Flattered by unexpected praise, Daniel grinned back. Suddenly keen to be seen as the cleverer of the two. "Okay, so, what do we have and what do we need?"

"We have nothing and need everything." Cammie replied cheerfully, a smile splitting his freckled face.

Daniel sighed. "Sometimes it's very hard being in this family."

OoO

The V-Day plan was discussed while rinsing plates and loading the dishwasher. Today was market day, and that meant there would be plenty of flowers in brightly colored plastic buckets everywhere. It was just a matter of price. Between them they had a grand total of seventy five cents, and the boys felt very rich indeed. Confident Sarah would be drowning in flowers, candy and cards, the boys bounced on the balls of their feet, anxious to get started. They just needed to have some of the finer points clear in their minds.

"Okay, looks like we are good to go, Dan."

Daniel wasn't so sure.

"Yep, but Cammie, can't help thinking we're missing something here."

Hovering around the constantly opened door of the fridge, Cam sighed when seeing the soda had been placed far above his sticky fingers. Jack could be so suspicious. Slamming the door shut, he turned to Daniel and said, "What's the matter?"

"Miss Bumstead said you're supposed to give your sweetheart *cough* long stemmed roses, Wonder how many we'll get for seventy five cents?"

"Oh, I 's'pect we'll get at least one hundred!"

"Really? Because I thought roses cost a lot." Daniel's brow wrinkled in concentration as old memories spun around his brain a million miles an hour. Just when he thought he'd remembered something from long ago- it was gone again.

"Nah, "Cammie said confidently, "if they costed a lot, why do they grow in people's gardens? Nope, I reckon we'll get about fifty, and then we have twenty five cents left to buy candy."

"Think we can get one of those big pink heart candy boxes?" Danny asked hopefully.

"Hell yeah," Cam shot back, "we can probably buy two for twenty five cents!"

TBC…