Ned Malone sat back with a sigh. Things couldn't be more perfect. It was
sunny, but not to bright or hot. They spot they'd chosen for their picnic.
He was in a nice grassy spot, a fresh journal in his lap but was to busy
watching his best friend and wife-he never got tired of thinking that
phrase-play with Will who had just discovered the wonderful act of walking
which caused numerous heart attacks for his mother whenever he got within
10 feet of the railing or bridge which connected the second tree house to
the first. Veronica, or Aunt Ronnie to Will, were playing a game of keep
away with a ball from Roxton who was having fun "almost" catching them.
Best of all was the small bundle who was fast asleep beside him. Em was the
picture of perfection, bright blue eyes and golden curles. She took more
after her mother in looks, but father in personality, happily cooing away
her days in relitive quiet.
Up stream was Marguerite and Challenger, doing a quick survey of the rock bed before they took the rest of the day off. Ned was amazed at the changes in the woman. Not that she'd changed THAT much, she was still prone to recklessly endangering her live and that of her husband and everyone else's on occasion for a pretty rock, deeming it "a necessary investment for Will's future" but it wasn't a constant. He wouldn't call it "maternal," Marugierte would never be that. Just-happier. Content for what might very well be the first time in her life, not feeling the pressing need to constantly get more and more of what she had.
His attention was drawn back as the ball that Will, Roxton and Veronica were playing with accidently splashed into the water. "I'll get it." Roxton immedately volenteered and quickly headed down the path by the water to catch up with the rapidly departing ball. Finially he caught up with it and waded into the water to get it.and promptly dropped it again when he turned around and saw a woman standing at the edge of the water. Her face was so scarred he didn't recognized for one, blissful moment.
"Danielle?!" he asked, in complete surprise. "I..We thought you were dead."
"You left me for dead you mean." she snapped. Plesantries worked the first time on the hansome hunter, but not now. She might as well get to the point. "I want you to meet someone."
".Who?" he asked, getting a bad feeling deep in the pit of his stomach.
Danielle smiled almost evily and pulled the blanket away from the bundle in her arms. "Your daughter."
Up stream was Marguerite and Challenger, doing a quick survey of the rock bed before they took the rest of the day off. Ned was amazed at the changes in the woman. Not that she'd changed THAT much, she was still prone to recklessly endangering her live and that of her husband and everyone else's on occasion for a pretty rock, deeming it "a necessary investment for Will's future" but it wasn't a constant. He wouldn't call it "maternal," Marugierte would never be that. Just-happier. Content for what might very well be the first time in her life, not feeling the pressing need to constantly get more and more of what she had.
His attention was drawn back as the ball that Will, Roxton and Veronica were playing with accidently splashed into the water. "I'll get it." Roxton immedately volenteered and quickly headed down the path by the water to catch up with the rapidly departing ball. Finially he caught up with it and waded into the water to get it.and promptly dropped it again when he turned around and saw a woman standing at the edge of the water. Her face was so scarred he didn't recognized for one, blissful moment.
"Danielle?!" he asked, in complete surprise. "I..We thought you were dead."
"You left me for dead you mean." she snapped. Plesantries worked the first time on the hansome hunter, but not now. She might as well get to the point. "I want you to meet someone."
".Who?" he asked, getting a bad feeling deep in the pit of his stomach.
Danielle smiled almost evily and pulled the blanket away from the bundle in her arms. "Your daughter."