Hey, everyone(
Well, I actually managed to get this one out on time, even with the upcoming Tampa trip. Next week's will be a little dodgier, but I will see what I can do.
Thanks to Brat, Crystal and Alane for beta'ing for me. You guys totally rock!
Enjoy, and I hope to have chapter three out next Tuesday!
*Cheery Vibes*,
Nimue
Title: The Werewolf, The Witches and the Foreman (Chapter Two of Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Dawn and Brian discuss the status of their relationship. Willow, Tara and Oz share a quiet evening at home. Xander has a talk with Emma about her parents, their past, present and their future.
The Werewolf, the Witches and the Foreman
"Okay, so tell me you're not the *best* boyfriend in the world," Dawn cooed, her eyes closing, her head lolling back against the pillows. A small moan escaped her lips and her eyes rolled back at the pleasure of it all. "I bet Spike never did this for Buffy."
Brian chuckled, keeping up the tempo. "Dawn, I doubt there is anything fangy hasn't done for your sister."
"Ahhhh," she sighed, her back arching against the comforter. "She's a lucky girl."
"What about you?" Brian asked, kissing her softly.
"I'm like. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Dawn answered, shoving her foot further into his hands as he rubbed them, soft and strong, turning her into a puddle of goo. "I had *no* idea that they were so tired."
"Design school will do that to you," Brian answered, continuing the deep, rhythmic, rub.
"What does law school do to you?" She asked, situating herself against the pillows.
"Melts your brain. Turns it into legalese oatmeal," he smiled, kissing her big toe.
A sly grin broke across her face. "Well, I'll have to figure out how to separate your mind from your body and distract you later. I mean, if you want."
"I always want," Brian purred, letting his finger roam to her calves.
They were both silent for a long moment, him gently rubbing her legs and her purring at the contact. Both of them could feel words building, but neither could set them out for the other to hear.
Finally, Brian broke the silence. "Dawnie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever. I mean. we've been living together for over a year now."
"Yeah?"
"Do you. I mean. Where are we?" He finally asked, his fingers upping the tempo to counter the shake in his hands.
"In bed," Dawn snarked, stretching her arms above her like a cat. "And loving it."
He sighed, knowing she knew what he meant, but she was avoiding it, as always. "Hummingbird, you know what."
"We're us," Dawn interrupted. "I mean, I'm happy. I think you're happy. Why change?"
"Because I.."
"You what?" She asked, sitting up a bit to meet him. "What, Brian?"
"You know I love you, right?"
"I know, baby," Dawn answered, cupping his handsome cheek in her hand. "What's on your mind?"
For a moment, he was silent, chewing his lip and staring at her as if she were his goddess and he merely a peon. "Hummingbird, do you ever.. I mean. what comes next?"
She slumped against the pillows, sighing. "You know how I feel," she answered, curtly.
"Not all relationships are bad, Dawn," Brian countered, pushing himself up next to her. "Not all marriages end in divorce. Not all people end up hating each other."
"Like seventy five percent do," Dawn argued, turning her head to face away. It wasn't the percent that mattered. Only her parents. Brian was from a happier place where both of his parents were still living, and both called him every week. From the same house. Still in love. Dawn had met them over last Christmas and wasn't even sure what to do with that kind of situation.
"You act like you've never seen a serious relationship work," Brian interjected, brushing strands of dark, shiny hair away from Dawn's face. "But look at your sister and Spike. They're basically married and."
"They're handfasted," Dawn snapped. "It's different. No legal brouhaha."
"But to California, they're Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, right?" He almost felt bad arguing this, but Dawn needed to work it out. Needed to know where he stood.
She sighed. "Yes."
"And they love each other. Do you *really* think he'll ever leave her? Cheat on her? Or her him?"
Dawn had to giggle. "Uh, no! I mean, that's like. that's like. I wouldn't even want to *imagine* the smackdown that occurred if that happened."
"But it's not fear that keeps them together, is it?"
"No," Dawn answered, rolling towards her boyfriend. "It's love."
"Sometimes," Brian whispered, moving his face closer to hers. "Love *is* enough."
"Sometimes it isn't," Dawn whispered dejectedly, thoughts of her mum and dad fighting rushing through her head like a river.
"Just remember," he whispered, lips pressing softly to hers, "Sometimes it is." ~~~~~
Tara strolled out of the baby's room, her hair falling over her shoulders and a tired, but happy, look on her face. It'd been a good day. She'd got the job she'd wanted. Teaching alternate theology at the university, and she'd realized that the class schedule would be flexible enough to accommodate Oz and Willow and allow at least one of them to be with the babies all the time. It wouldn't be the same as taking care of her own, but it was safe. It was love.
The living room was quiet, a fire glowing in the fireplace. Early in the season, but with the air conditioning still on, it wasn't very warm. Willow stretched out on the rug, a glass of what looked to be absinthe in one hand, a book lying open by her side.
Tara smiled.
It was a good day.
"Did.. did it go well today, Willow?" She asked, shyly, walking into the closed off room and standing next to her lover.
"Great," Willow answered smiling, turning her head towards Tara. "The office said they'd work out the hours with me and so one of us can always be home. And. and. I mean. it's cool that I'm working out of a place that treats both humans and demons. That's just. well, it's freaky, but in Sunnydale, it's pretty cool."
Tara knelt down beside her, her long skirts folding under like butterfly wings. "It is," she smiled, brushing hair out of Willow's face. "I mean, I'll miss being with the babies."
"And Oz works mostly nights," Willow commented. "The band and all. And he's away."
"But between us, they'll always know we're here," Tara interrupted. It made Willow smile.
"Yeah," she answered softly. "I just hope there will be time for us."
"There will be," the quiet witch answered, moving her legs out from under her and stretching out next to her love. "We'll just have to make it."
Willow was silent for a long while. A sigh came before the words. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
"Going back to work?" Tara asked, spooning against Willow's back.
Another moment of silence. "Yeah. I mean, they're still."
"We have to, Will," Tara answered softly. "I mean, it's not fair to make Oz take care of us all the time."
"We don't make him."
"You don't make me," a voice said, followed by the sound of a closing door. "I want to. I want our. I mean, your, babies to grow up with their family near them."
"Our," Tara corrected, smiling softly and holding out her hand. Oz walked toward them and into the living room, twining his fingers through Tara's. "They're ours."
"Pretty ours, too. Who'd a thunk it?" Willow contributed.
"I would," Oz commented, sitting down by the girl's feet. "What better genes could they ask for?"
"Um, non-witchy, werewolfy, height genes," Willow joked, playfully kicking Oz's knee.
"The power of height," he sighed, taking that foot and stroking it between his hands. "It's over rated."
"I completely agree," Tara responded, smiling. "They can be not so tall and happy."
"I keep waiting for one of them to do some poofy magicy thing," Oz chuckled, taking Tara's foot in the other hand.
Both women sighed. "I caught a floating rattle the other day, but I wasn't sure who the culprit was," Tara responded, giggling. "But they're bound to be hell on wheels once they figure it out."
"We'll teach them," Willow comforted, stroking Tara's arm. "It'll be fun. Like all Harry Potter."
Oz had to laugh. "Well, at least the full moons have gone well for them."
"For now," both women answered, simultaneously giggling. "No fur."
"Not that there's anything wrong with it," Tara amended, thinking of the room they'd set up with bars that came across for Oz's 'Time of the Month'.
"No," Willow added. "Fur equals fun."
Oz tried to laugh at them, but part of him was bothered. He didn't want his babies to have to deal with the trials he had. So far, so good. But it was still always a question. Well, nothing he could do about it now. "Well, ladies, think I'm off to the man cave."
Willow frowned. "Stay a while and cuddle."
Oz raised an eyebrow, looking between the two women, studying one face, then the other. It was very confusing, sometimes, to be the only man in a house with two women. "Looks like a . girl's night?"
Tara smiled. "Nothing we can't fit another into," she commented, scooting back from Willow and gesturing Oz between them. Oz stared at them for a moment, then stretched out, settling between the two women.
Strange as it was, it felt like home. His arm over Will in front of him. His hand on Tara's leg behind him. All of them quiet and peaceful, lying in front of the hearth, just existing. In his mind, Oz lamented the day that this would be over and the girls wouldn't need him anymore.
But now, it was bliss.
~~~~~
River and William were curled on a blanket on the floor like kittens, his arm protectively over her shoulder, his body spooned as close to hers as he could get. At first glance, it made Xander smile. He adored that girl. But then he thought about the boy's parentage. Particularly, his fatherage, and that made him shudder.
Spike. As an in law.
Eww.
Takina had nodded off next to him, her head lolled on his shoulder, the end of the movie playing almost silently on the TV screen. Emma was cuddled between them, her head on Xander's thigh, her legs draped over Takina's lap. Emma had always been the one for contact. And Xander was her uncle in all but blood. Someone she trusted. Loved. Respected.
Xander absently stroked the little girl's hair with one hand, his wife's hand with the other. The last moments of "Lady and the Tramp" played out on screen. Funny how movies that had enraptured them as kids, things he could think of watching with Willow, were still as captivating now. The kids had been enthralled until sleep had gotten the better of them. The Magic of Disney.
"Uncle Xander?" A sleepy voice asked. He started, assuming Emma had been as conked as the rest of them.
"What's up, kiddo? Thought you were out?"
Emma stirred, turning on her back so that she could see his face. "C'I ask you somethin'?"
He smiled, looking at that perfect, beautiful face. She looked so much like Buffy, except with huge blue eyes. The child was nearly flawless. "Of course," he answered. "Only nothing that'll get your dad all fangy at me."
Emma laughed. "Daddy doesn't get fangy much anymore."
"But he can," Xander mused, brushing her hair out behind her. "He can."
The little girl was thoughtful for a moment, staring up at her uncle's quiet brown eyes. "Do you think mummy's unhappy?"
Xander's face contorted in confusion. He hadn't really noticed anything. I mean, she still looked at the Vampire as if the sun rose and set in his eyes. Or his pants. Or something. And she loved the kids like they were her entire world. But Emma was right. There was something.
"I don't think she's unhappy, Em," Xander answered. "Dunno. Did you ask her?"
Emma was quiet again. "No. She's . she seems quieter."
Buffy? Quiet? Xander thought. Now that's something new. "How do you mean?"
The little girl thought for a moment. "She plays with Kali and Loki and she seems far away." There was silence as Emma collected her thoughts. "Like she misses."
"You," Xander answered. "And Will. I know this one. You miss when they're really little. Babies, I mean. And all they need is you. But Emma, that doesn't make her love you any less. She just.. She just thinks about when you were little sometimes."
"I know she loves me," Emma answered, smiling. "She and Daddy love us the best. Me and Will."
Her confidence made Xander smile. Kids did get it sometimes. "Yeah. She and your dad love you more than anything."
"But she wants another baby?" Emma asked, trying to sort it in her head.
Xander snuck a look at his sleeping, beautiful, wife. "Sometimes, we all do."
"Why doesn't she have one?" The little girl asked. "I can help take care of it."
Again, Xander smiled at her sincerity. "I don't think it works like that for them, Em. I mean, they're all super-powery and have a mission-y. Don't think they get to choose what happens next. I used to be jealous of all that power. But now. I dunno."
"Power is hard," Emma sighed. "Makes you different."
Something about the quiet, resigned tone in her voice got to Xander. "But different is good," he commented. "How do you think your mom and me and Willow got together? We were different."
Emma smiled. "I'm okay," she answered. "I just wish mum could have her wish is all."
Xander chuckled. "I'd watch it with the wishing in these parts," he snarked. "Aunt Anya might hear you."
She smiled up at him, her face aglow with radiance and power. "I know. I just want mummy to be happy."
"She is," Xander answered, cuddling the girl closer. "Now, what say we sneak upstairs and make us some popcorn and let them miss out?"
Emma lit up at the secrecy of it all. "I agree," she said quite seriously. "And Uncle Xander?"
"What, little girt?" He answered, easing off the couch and pulling her up with him.
"Thanks for not talking to me like a baby," Emma said, looking up at him with ageless eyes. "Only mum and dad talk to me like a grown up."
That was odd, Xander thought. Maybe she's aware now. Maybe she knows just how old she is. "No problem, kiddo. Let's make that popcorn."
Emma grabbed his hand, letting him tug her off the couch, and followed him out of the family room.
To be contd.
Well, I actually managed to get this one out on time, even with the upcoming Tampa trip. Next week's will be a little dodgier, but I will see what I can do.
Thanks to Brat, Crystal and Alane for beta'ing for me. You guys totally rock!
Enjoy, and I hope to have chapter three out next Tuesday!
*Cheery Vibes*,
Nimue
Title: The Werewolf, The Witches and the Foreman (Chapter Two of Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Dawn and Brian discuss the status of their relationship. Willow, Tara and Oz share a quiet evening at home. Xander has a talk with Emma about her parents, their past, present and their future.
The Werewolf, the Witches and the Foreman
"Okay, so tell me you're not the *best* boyfriend in the world," Dawn cooed, her eyes closing, her head lolling back against the pillows. A small moan escaped her lips and her eyes rolled back at the pleasure of it all. "I bet Spike never did this for Buffy."
Brian chuckled, keeping up the tempo. "Dawn, I doubt there is anything fangy hasn't done for your sister."
"Ahhhh," she sighed, her back arching against the comforter. "She's a lucky girl."
"What about you?" Brian asked, kissing her softly.
"I'm like. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," Dawn answered, shoving her foot further into his hands as he rubbed them, soft and strong, turning her into a puddle of goo. "I had *no* idea that they were so tired."
"Design school will do that to you," Brian answered, continuing the deep, rhythmic, rub.
"What does law school do to you?" She asked, situating herself against the pillows.
"Melts your brain. Turns it into legalese oatmeal," he smiled, kissing her big toe.
A sly grin broke across her face. "Well, I'll have to figure out how to separate your mind from your body and distract you later. I mean, if you want."
"I always want," Brian purred, letting his finger roam to her calves.
They were both silent for a long moment, him gently rubbing her legs and her purring at the contact. Both of them could feel words building, but neither could set them out for the other to hear.
Finally, Brian broke the silence. "Dawnie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever. I mean. we've been living together for over a year now."
"Yeah?"
"Do you. I mean. Where are we?" He finally asked, his fingers upping the tempo to counter the shake in his hands.
"In bed," Dawn snarked, stretching her arms above her like a cat. "And loving it."
He sighed, knowing she knew what he meant, but she was avoiding it, as always. "Hummingbird, you know what."
"We're us," Dawn interrupted. "I mean, I'm happy. I think you're happy. Why change?"
"Because I.."
"You what?" She asked, sitting up a bit to meet him. "What, Brian?"
"You know I love you, right?"
"I know, baby," Dawn answered, cupping his handsome cheek in her hand. "What's on your mind?"
For a moment, he was silent, chewing his lip and staring at her as if she were his goddess and he merely a peon. "Hummingbird, do you ever.. I mean. what comes next?"
She slumped against the pillows, sighing. "You know how I feel," she answered, curtly.
"Not all relationships are bad, Dawn," Brian countered, pushing himself up next to her. "Not all marriages end in divorce. Not all people end up hating each other."
"Like seventy five percent do," Dawn argued, turning her head to face away. It wasn't the percent that mattered. Only her parents. Brian was from a happier place where both of his parents were still living, and both called him every week. From the same house. Still in love. Dawn had met them over last Christmas and wasn't even sure what to do with that kind of situation.
"You act like you've never seen a serious relationship work," Brian interjected, brushing strands of dark, shiny hair away from Dawn's face. "But look at your sister and Spike. They're basically married and."
"They're handfasted," Dawn snapped. "It's different. No legal brouhaha."
"But to California, they're Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, right?" He almost felt bad arguing this, but Dawn needed to work it out. Needed to know where he stood.
She sighed. "Yes."
"And they love each other. Do you *really* think he'll ever leave her? Cheat on her? Or her him?"
Dawn had to giggle. "Uh, no! I mean, that's like. that's like. I wouldn't even want to *imagine* the smackdown that occurred if that happened."
"But it's not fear that keeps them together, is it?"
"No," Dawn answered, rolling towards her boyfriend. "It's love."
"Sometimes," Brian whispered, moving his face closer to hers. "Love *is* enough."
"Sometimes it isn't," Dawn whispered dejectedly, thoughts of her mum and dad fighting rushing through her head like a river.
"Just remember," he whispered, lips pressing softly to hers, "Sometimes it is." ~~~~~
Tara strolled out of the baby's room, her hair falling over her shoulders and a tired, but happy, look on her face. It'd been a good day. She'd got the job she'd wanted. Teaching alternate theology at the university, and she'd realized that the class schedule would be flexible enough to accommodate Oz and Willow and allow at least one of them to be with the babies all the time. It wouldn't be the same as taking care of her own, but it was safe. It was love.
The living room was quiet, a fire glowing in the fireplace. Early in the season, but with the air conditioning still on, it wasn't very warm. Willow stretched out on the rug, a glass of what looked to be absinthe in one hand, a book lying open by her side.
Tara smiled.
It was a good day.
"Did.. did it go well today, Willow?" She asked, shyly, walking into the closed off room and standing next to her lover.
"Great," Willow answered smiling, turning her head towards Tara. "The office said they'd work out the hours with me and so one of us can always be home. And. and. I mean. it's cool that I'm working out of a place that treats both humans and demons. That's just. well, it's freaky, but in Sunnydale, it's pretty cool."
Tara knelt down beside her, her long skirts folding under like butterfly wings. "It is," she smiled, brushing hair out of Willow's face. "I mean, I'll miss being with the babies."
"And Oz works mostly nights," Willow commented. "The band and all. And he's away."
"But between us, they'll always know we're here," Tara interrupted. It made Willow smile.
"Yeah," she answered softly. "I just hope there will be time for us."
"There will be," the quiet witch answered, moving her legs out from under her and stretching out next to her love. "We'll just have to make it."
Willow was silent for a long while. A sigh came before the words. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
"Going back to work?" Tara asked, spooning against Willow's back.
Another moment of silence. "Yeah. I mean, they're still."
"We have to, Will," Tara answered softly. "I mean, it's not fair to make Oz take care of us all the time."
"We don't make him."
"You don't make me," a voice said, followed by the sound of a closing door. "I want to. I want our. I mean, your, babies to grow up with their family near them."
"Our," Tara corrected, smiling softly and holding out her hand. Oz walked toward them and into the living room, twining his fingers through Tara's. "They're ours."
"Pretty ours, too. Who'd a thunk it?" Willow contributed.
"I would," Oz commented, sitting down by the girl's feet. "What better genes could they ask for?"
"Um, non-witchy, werewolfy, height genes," Willow joked, playfully kicking Oz's knee.
"The power of height," he sighed, taking that foot and stroking it between his hands. "It's over rated."
"I completely agree," Tara responded, smiling. "They can be not so tall and happy."
"I keep waiting for one of them to do some poofy magicy thing," Oz chuckled, taking Tara's foot in the other hand.
Both women sighed. "I caught a floating rattle the other day, but I wasn't sure who the culprit was," Tara responded, giggling. "But they're bound to be hell on wheels once they figure it out."
"We'll teach them," Willow comforted, stroking Tara's arm. "It'll be fun. Like all Harry Potter."
Oz had to laugh. "Well, at least the full moons have gone well for them."
"For now," both women answered, simultaneously giggling. "No fur."
"Not that there's anything wrong with it," Tara amended, thinking of the room they'd set up with bars that came across for Oz's 'Time of the Month'.
"No," Willow added. "Fur equals fun."
Oz tried to laugh at them, but part of him was bothered. He didn't want his babies to have to deal with the trials he had. So far, so good. But it was still always a question. Well, nothing he could do about it now. "Well, ladies, think I'm off to the man cave."
Willow frowned. "Stay a while and cuddle."
Oz raised an eyebrow, looking between the two women, studying one face, then the other. It was very confusing, sometimes, to be the only man in a house with two women. "Looks like a . girl's night?"
Tara smiled. "Nothing we can't fit another into," she commented, scooting back from Willow and gesturing Oz between them. Oz stared at them for a moment, then stretched out, settling between the two women.
Strange as it was, it felt like home. His arm over Will in front of him. His hand on Tara's leg behind him. All of them quiet and peaceful, lying in front of the hearth, just existing. In his mind, Oz lamented the day that this would be over and the girls wouldn't need him anymore.
But now, it was bliss.
~~~~~
River and William were curled on a blanket on the floor like kittens, his arm protectively over her shoulder, his body spooned as close to hers as he could get. At first glance, it made Xander smile. He adored that girl. But then he thought about the boy's parentage. Particularly, his fatherage, and that made him shudder.
Spike. As an in law.
Eww.
Takina had nodded off next to him, her head lolled on his shoulder, the end of the movie playing almost silently on the TV screen. Emma was cuddled between them, her head on Xander's thigh, her legs draped over Takina's lap. Emma had always been the one for contact. And Xander was her uncle in all but blood. Someone she trusted. Loved. Respected.
Xander absently stroked the little girl's hair with one hand, his wife's hand with the other. The last moments of "Lady and the Tramp" played out on screen. Funny how movies that had enraptured them as kids, things he could think of watching with Willow, were still as captivating now. The kids had been enthralled until sleep had gotten the better of them. The Magic of Disney.
"Uncle Xander?" A sleepy voice asked. He started, assuming Emma had been as conked as the rest of them.
"What's up, kiddo? Thought you were out?"
Emma stirred, turning on her back so that she could see his face. "C'I ask you somethin'?"
He smiled, looking at that perfect, beautiful face. She looked so much like Buffy, except with huge blue eyes. The child was nearly flawless. "Of course," he answered. "Only nothing that'll get your dad all fangy at me."
Emma laughed. "Daddy doesn't get fangy much anymore."
"But he can," Xander mused, brushing her hair out behind her. "He can."
The little girl was thoughtful for a moment, staring up at her uncle's quiet brown eyes. "Do you think mummy's unhappy?"
Xander's face contorted in confusion. He hadn't really noticed anything. I mean, she still looked at the Vampire as if the sun rose and set in his eyes. Or his pants. Or something. And she loved the kids like they were her entire world. But Emma was right. There was something.
"I don't think she's unhappy, Em," Xander answered. "Dunno. Did you ask her?"
Emma was quiet again. "No. She's . she seems quieter."
Buffy? Quiet? Xander thought. Now that's something new. "How do you mean?"
The little girl thought for a moment. "She plays with Kali and Loki and she seems far away." There was silence as Emma collected her thoughts. "Like she misses."
"You," Xander answered. "And Will. I know this one. You miss when they're really little. Babies, I mean. And all they need is you. But Emma, that doesn't make her love you any less. She just.. She just thinks about when you were little sometimes."
"I know she loves me," Emma answered, smiling. "She and Daddy love us the best. Me and Will."
Her confidence made Xander smile. Kids did get it sometimes. "Yeah. She and your dad love you more than anything."
"But she wants another baby?" Emma asked, trying to sort it in her head.
Xander snuck a look at his sleeping, beautiful, wife. "Sometimes, we all do."
"Why doesn't she have one?" The little girl asked. "I can help take care of it."
Again, Xander smiled at her sincerity. "I don't think it works like that for them, Em. I mean, they're all super-powery and have a mission-y. Don't think they get to choose what happens next. I used to be jealous of all that power. But now. I dunno."
"Power is hard," Emma sighed. "Makes you different."
Something about the quiet, resigned tone in her voice got to Xander. "But different is good," he commented. "How do you think your mom and me and Willow got together? We were different."
Emma smiled. "I'm okay," she answered. "I just wish mum could have her wish is all."
Xander chuckled. "I'd watch it with the wishing in these parts," he snarked. "Aunt Anya might hear you."
She smiled up at him, her face aglow with radiance and power. "I know. I just want mummy to be happy."
"She is," Xander answered, cuddling the girl closer. "Now, what say we sneak upstairs and make us some popcorn and let them miss out?"
Emma lit up at the secrecy of it all. "I agree," she said quite seriously. "And Uncle Xander?"
"What, little girt?" He answered, easing off the couch and pulling her up with him.
"Thanks for not talking to me like a baby," Emma said, looking up at him with ageless eyes. "Only mum and dad talk to me like a grown up."
That was odd, Xander thought. Maybe she's aware now. Maybe she knows just how old she is. "No problem, kiddo. Let's make that popcorn."
Emma grabbed his hand, letting him tug her off the couch, and followed him out of the family room.
To be contd.