AN: As you all may notice, I pay tribute in this chapter to the one who inspired this story. See if you can figure out where!
THE DEMON CHRONICLES: CHILDREN AT PLAYChapter 6
Sara slowed as they neared the expansive grounds of their estate. Michelle's arms tightened a little around her waist as she drove up the slight incline of the driveway leading up to the house. They stopped just inside the large garage, and she allowed one of the personnel to carefully take the bike to its parking space. There were only a select few she trusted with this duty, and Ian knew it. He always made sure that one of them was working at all times. She smiled as she thought of her loving husband, taking her daughter's hand and going inside. They headed to the kitchen, requesting that Cook provide them with some milk and cookies. After thanking Cook, they sat down at the long bar together with a plate of double chocolate chip cookies—they'd been kept warm in the bread drawer of one of the three ovens—and two tall glasses of milk. They had scarcely gotten through their first cookies when the rest of her brood burst into the kitchen. Christian thrust out a hand for his own sweet treat, the four-year-old sitting down with three-year-old Elizabeth at the small table against the wall. Little Danny, two, clambered up onto his big sister's lap just as the intercom began to emit a toddler's cries. Sara left the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with one-year-old Emma in her arms.
"Hey, guys," Sara said. All of the children looked up at her. "How 'bout, since its Friday, we have a big sleepover? We can ask Uncle Danny and Aunt Lee if Eli can come over, and we'll see if Uncle Jake, Aunt Jessie, Uncle Gabe, and Aunt Vicky would be okay with their kids coming over."
"Yeah!" came the reply as her children's faces brightened.
And so Sara found herself dialling the McCartey's number ten minutes later as she bounced Emma on her left hip. After two rings, a woman's voice answered.
"Hey, Jess."
"Oh, hey, Sara!" Jessica and Jake had met soon after she had moved to New York from California. Sara figured if they weren't a perfect match, no one was.
"Well, the kids and I were wondering if we might steal Madison and Brandon for a night or two. We're gonna invite Eli and the Bowmans, too." Madison, the elder of the McCartey kids, was Christian and Eli's age, and Brandon was two, like Danny.
"That's fine. Should I bring them over, or—"
"No, that's all right. I'll have them picked up, say, in an hour?"
"Great! I'll go get their bags packed—have fun tonight, Pez!"
"I'm sure I'll have a blast. Thanks Jess. Oh—and we'll return your 'property' in the same condition it arrives in," she joked.
She could imagine Jessica rolling her eyes on the other end of the line, and laughed.
"Bye, Jess."
"Bye, Sara."
She dialed the next number. "Hey, partner!"
"Hey, Pez. What're you up to?"
"Just planning a big party for the kids. D'you think Eli would like to come? I'll have him picked up."
"Sure. I'll have Lee pack his bag."
"What's the matter, too lazy to do it yourself?" she teased.
"As I recall, you got Ian to do it for you last time," he returned, chuckling.
"Touché. Of course, I had an excuse."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. I was nine months pregnant with Emma. Ride'll be there in an hour."
"All right. Bye, Pez."
"Bye, Partner."
She punched in the last number. "Hey, Vick."
"Pez, good to hear from you. Haven't seen you since Monday. What's up?"
"Hopefully, my energy level. Sleepover tonight, and possibly tomorrow night, with all the kids. You and Gabe willing to get rid of the Twin Terrors?" By 'Twin Terrors,' she meant five-year-old Ella and three-year-old Rose. Despite their sweet-sounding names and delicate ages, computers and toys alike had to be hidden from the pair. Both were taking after their parents, having inherited Gabe's love for computers and Vicky's "medical examiner" attitude. They could hack into any computer, courtesy of their father, and both had snuck into the medical laboratory of the 11th Precinct more times than could be counted, and watched their mother working on corpses. The ugly sights didn't even phase them, nor did firewalls on home computers. Dolls and teddy bears had to be watched carefully, for the two would often take their own and slice them open to see their 'insides'. Of course, they were respectful of other children's toys—it was computers that were, to them, free game. And, of course, they were quickly teaching the Nottingham, Woo, and McCartey children how those wondrous machines could be exploited.
Vicky laughed. "Any time."
"Good. Pack 'em some overnight bags, their ride'll be there in an hour."
"All right. Bye, Pez."
"Bye, Vicky."
Ian?
Yes, love?
Where are you?
I'm on my way home from a meeting, why?
No reason. Just hurry, please.
A little over an hour and fifteen minutes later, the children arrived. First came the brown-haired, brown-eyed Terrible Twosome, Ella and Rose, then little Andrew, whose hair and eyes matched his sisters'. Following them were blue-eyed towheads Madison and Brandon. Last of all was little Eli, his black hair neatly combed and his brown eyes big with excitement. Ella thrust a piece of paper into Sara's hand, then ran off with the other kids to the giant playroom down the hall. As they played under her watchful eye, Sara unfolded the note and began to read.
Sara~
Right after you called, I got a phone call from my doc…I'm pregnant! I haven't told Gabe yet, so keep this under wraps, will you? By the way, you've had a particular glow about you the past few weeks. Are you…? Let me know!
Love Ya,
~Vick
Sara chuckled and shook her head. If only she knew.
She was startled as two hands touched her back, sliding around to her middle and squeezing gently in a loving embrace. Hi, honey.
"Hello, my love. Why were you so anxious for me to get home? You couldn't resist my charm and wit and intelligence and wisdom and my killer six-pack?"
She shoved him playfully with her shoulder, unwilling to leave his embrace just yet. "Why, you—" He cut her off as he brought his mouth down to meet hers for a quick-but-passionate kiss.
"Seriously—what was the hurry?"
"This." She took the hand he'd lain on her right arm, bringing it down to rest briefly on the Witchblade. It glowed brightly in response, and grew warm beneath their hands. Then, the echoing of a baby's first cry resounded throughout their minds. He pulled his hand free, and turned to her.
Looking into her eyes, he asked, "Are you…?"
"Yes." She stood on her toes and planted a kiss on his lips, her arms around his neck. "I'm pregnant. Again." With a whoop, he lifted her from the ground and spun her around. A moment later, as her feet touched the floor again, he bent his head and kissed her, fire burning in both their souls, lightning lancing between them. Their bodies fused together, so that no light could pierce where they were pressed against one another, as they continued this celebratory embrace.
It was interrupted abruptly, however, when two small hands tugged them apart forcefully. Michelle tipped her sweet face up to her father. "Guess what, Daddy?"
"What?"
She pulled him down to her level, whispering in his ear, "I'm gonna be a big sister again!"
Current ages of all of the children (so far!):
10~Una Woo
7~Joshua Woo
5~Michelle Pezzini-Nottingham & Ella Po-Bowman
4~Christian Pezzini-Nottingham & Madison McCartey & Eli Woo
3~Elizabeth Pezzini-Nottingham & Rose Po-Bowman
2~Danny Pezzini-Nottingham & Brandon McCartey
1~Emma Pezzini-Nottingham & Andrew Po-Bowman
ALSO: I need a name for the new Po-Bowman baby—suggest something, and I might use it!
I can't guarantee that the next chapter will come any time soon, as I've not finished it yet, so I am treating you to a short wait between the last chapter and this one (I only made you wait one day!) so I better get some good feedback, or I might not be tempted to continue! *grins*