Severus awoke several mornings later with two lumps in his bed. He tried to move but they were tightly wound. "Tirza wake up," Severus said, gently shaking her. "Huh?" she asked softly. "You and AJ need to move," he said.
Tirza poked AJ who sat up, looking confused. "Oh yeah, I followed you!" the girls giggled. "Girls," Chris said poking her head in. "Shouldn't you get dressed?" "Daddy can we go swimming?" Tirza asked. "Sure," Severus agreed. "Yippy!" they shouted and raced to Tirza's room. Chris laughed "Good morning Severus," she said, and then left.
Severus walked out twenty minutes later and said, "What's that wonderful aroma?" "Omelets," Chris said. "I don't remember if Tirza likes eggs or not, but AJ won't eat them and I figured the little girls could have cereal." "Alright," Severus replied, grabbing some OJ. "What had you planned for the day?" "No idea, though I think the girls had plan to become raisins," she served him omelets. "I doubt they'll last to long," Severus commented, chewing on the omelets. "The weather is supposed to turn bad early afternoon."
"I don't know after that. Maybe just let them play in that great playhouse you made." Chris sat down with her own, Mike still in bed. "You really adore Tirza don't you?" "I love Tirza a lot," Severus admitted. "And I really didn't mean to come down so hard on the girls in the car but I have told Tirza the same thing about never unbuckling her belt when riding in the car." "Tirza has done that?" Chris asks, shocked. "She never did for us."
"She did it once right after she came to the manor last summer," Severus replied. "She was testing her limits with me and found out quickly that I wouldn't allow it." Chris nodded. "Did you deal with her like you threatened? And was she okay with that after…everything?" "Yes I actually pulled the car over and spanked her right then and there," Severus replied. "She was really upset and swore she'd never do it again."
Chris looked rather concerned, but tried to quickly hide it, not sure if she should say anything. "Is there something wrong?" Severus asked catching a brief glance of Chris's worried look. Chris paused for a moment, not sure what to say. "Did she flip out on you?" she asked, measuring her words carefully. "Not for that but the first time I ever spanked her," Severus commented. "She went ballistic." Chris looked upset, but turned her attention to the omelet.
"There's something you're not telling me," Severus stated. "What is it?" Chris sighed. "I don't think I'm supposed to tell you. Let's just say that things between Ariel and Tirza were much worse then they should have been and it doesn't surprise me that Tirza when ballistic on you." "Why aren't you supposed to tell me this?" Severus demanded. "She's my daughter and I have the right to know!" Chris took a deep breath. "I think Tirza would have told you if she wanted you to know. But let's just say that Tirza is, uh, no stranger to being...disciplined...strongly."
Severus looked about ready to punch someone. "Why is it that I'm just NOW being told about this?" "I thought she would have told you," Chris admitted. "I guess she was too embarrassed." Severus took a few calming breaths. "I guess your right but I'm still upset that I'm the last to know." "I'm sorry Severus," Chris said. "Mike made her stop, but I was sure Tirza would tell you, after all her letters of how wonderful you were." "She chooses what information she tells me," Severus admitted. "And I really hate to push her."
"She's always been that way. She was so embarrassed when Mike and I would find things out. Like this and the lunch money and the grocery shopping. We tried to find you, we really did," Chris said earnestly. "I know," Severus replied. "But Ariel was bound and determined to keep me from Tirza." Chris sighed. "It was a very difficult situation." "I would imagine," Severus stated. "So, just be really careful with her ok?" Chris wiped her eyes on the napkin. "I will," Severus vowed.
"She's going to be angry that I told you," Chris admitted. "Well she can get over it," Severus replied. "I just wished I had known earlier." "There's no making Tirza tell you things sometimes. It often has to be when she's ready. She learned to keep things to herself, because Ariel didn't want to hear anymore," she stated. "That's what makes me so mad at times," Severus stated. "She'll avoid telling me anything unless I pull teeth to get it out of her."
"She doesn't try to be frustrating, that's just a side effect from Ariel. If we had been able to contact you or take her away from Ariel, we would have," Chris told him. "Mike and I, we blame ourselves for a lot of things." "It's as much my fault as anyone's," Severus replied quietly. "If I hadn't pushed her away most of this wouldn't have happened." "One wrong word and Ariel hated people for life. That's who she was the whole time we knew her. I doubt she was any different before," Chris told him. Severus shook his head. "She was definitely like that in school, but with me she wasn't so bad."
"There were times when she was a royal... well... bitch," Chris said quietly. "I think with my brains and her looks we made a formidable team and she liked me for my intellect," Severus admitted. "Or at least at times I thought." Chris sighed. The girls ran in, dripping all over. "Hi!" they squealed. "Girls!" Severus exclaimed as they ran toward him. "Please dry off first and outside." "We're hungry!" "Dry off first," Severus stated again. "Then food."
Tirza used her wand to dry them off, both of them, completely forgetting about the now pink pool outside. While they were drying off, Severus went to the sink and happened to look out into the yard. "WHAT happened to the pool?" he exclaimed. The girls giggle and grab milk and cereal. "AJ please explain," Chris said using a different tactic. "The pool got pink," AJ says, giggling.
"How did it get that way?" Severus questioned. "I made it that way," AJ said. Tirza groaned. "Exactly how did you?" Chris asked bemused at her daughter's expression of self-congratulation. "With the wand," AJ said proudly. Tirza groaned again. "You're grounded from the pool for the rest of our stay," Chris snapped. "You know better than to do that." "Tirza the same goes for you but the grounding extends till end of vacation," Severus stated. "You have been told countless times NEVER to allow anyone to use your wand."
"NO FAIR!" both girls yell. "Well you shouldn't have allowed her to use the wand," Severus shot back. "You know better than to do something like that." Chris told AJ "daddy, come on!" Tirza pouts. AJ scowls at Chris. "I'm not backing down," Severus said. "And if you don't watch it you won't be allowed to play in the playhouse either." Tirza and AJ stomp out of the room, taking the cereal up to the playhouse.
"You handled that well," Chris commented taking an apple from the tray. "I would have just made them clean it up." 'You can't clean up magic," Snape told her. "Really?" Chris asked amazed. "And how are you going to make sure the girls don't sneak off and swim?" "I'll put a magical alarm on the pool. They step in it and my wand will glow and then something else will glow," he mumbles. "What's that mean?" Chris questioned.
Severus was saved from answering by Serena's cries. "I better go check on her," Chris said heading for the stairs. "I'll clean up down here and you go," Severus called out to her. "Thanks" Chris replied and she ran off. Tirza came down and crawled onto his lap. "Are you done playing already?" Severus asked. "No, I wanted to say sorry." she pulled out her wand. "And give you this."
"Why are you giving me this?" Severus asked. "And I accept your apology and I know it won't happen again." "So I don't let her use it again," Tirza said. Severus sighed and took it from her. "If you're sure," Severus said. "But only until they leave." "I just wanted to make her happy," Tirza admitted. "Tirza you shouldn't have to always make her happy," Severus said quietly. "She should be your friend no matter what." She giggled. "I know that! But she wants to be a witch too and is sad she's not."
"Well you have to be born a witch or wizard," Severus said. "And unless powers appear later in life she will never be one and there's not much you can do to help her except to help her understand that it just has to be that way." "I know, but I wanted to share what I know, cuz we share everything." "Tirza there are something's you really shouldn't share," Severus stated. "And I would imagine there might be a few things that AJ hasn't shared with you."
Tirza thought hard. "Um... nope. We're sisters," she announces firmly. "Okay, not everything," Tirza admitted. "Why is it you then tell her everything but I have to pull teeth just to get the truth out of you at times?" Severus asked. Tirza looked down. "What do you mean?" she asks softly. "Anytime I ask you something about your past, what happened in class or anything else that you don't feel is a safe topic you dance around it or you get all defensive with me," Severus told her.
"Because," she says softly, not looking at him. "Why do you feel you can't trust me enough with the truth?" Severus asked quietly. She sighed. "I trust you daddy, with all my heart. But it's hard," she whispered. "Why is it hard to tell me when you can tell everyone else things?" Severus said quietly trying not to look as hurt as he felt. "I don't tell everyone else everything," she says honestly. "Don't be sad" "Well it sure seems like the Logan's know a whole lot more than I do" Severus admitted.
"I didn't want to tell them some things." a little frown comes over her face. "Why? What did they tell you?" Tirza asks. "They told me that your mom punished you harshly," Severus admitted. "Not really," she said. "Uncle Mike got all flipped out because he saw a bruise on my arm and thought maybe it was mom, cuz she had a bad temper. I told you about him and his mom, so he was extra worried. But it was a bully at school that had been pushing me around until I told the teacher and he got suspended. That was before I started karate class, which was way cool," Tirza explained.
"Are you sure? It seems like you're not really sure," Severus pointed out. She giggled. "Yes daddy, don't worry so much!" she kisses his cheek and cuddles close. "Alright, but you really should open up more with me," Severus stated. "I'm tired of being surprised at times." "I'm sorry," she said. "Don't be mad, ok?" "If you promise not to shut me out again I promise not to be angry anymore," Severus commented.
She nods and hugs him. "I love you daddy. I'm sorry about the pool." "I just hope you've learned your lesson because I really hate to ground you from the pool," Severus replied. "But it wouldn't have been fair for just AJ to be grounded from it." She nods. "I know. I love you," She kisses his cheek. "AJ's waiting, we're playing house." Severus kisses her back then sends her on her way.
"Chris, can we play with Serena; I promise we'll be careful?" Tirza asked, spotting Chris on the way back up. "No," Chris replied. "I'm sorry but after what has happened this week already I cannot fully trust the two of you alone with her." Tirza looks disappointed. "I'm sorry," Tirza says softly. "I know you are but the decision stands," Chris said. "Maybe later I can come up there and watch you with her but right now I've got to get some things done."
Tirza nods. "I'm sorry," she hugs Chris and kisses Serena. "But I understand," she says. Chris hugs her back. "I wish AJ understood as much as you do." Tirza shrugged. "She's little, she doesn't know grown up things," she whispered, and then took off upstairs. The little girls came downstairs three hours later in 1920's saloon girl dresses and big feather hats. "Daddy!" Tirza called. "What in the world is this?" Severus asked eyeing their get up.
They giggled. "Dad, we need food," Tirza says. "And juice!" AJ adds. "And we wanna invite ya'all!" they say in unison. "Not until you explain this," Severus said, waving at what was their attire. "Its play clothes," Tirza said, giggling. Chris smiled. "Okay then I guess we can eat," Severus sighed. "Okay, get food and juice and come up!" Tirza shouts and they run up to the playhouse.
Severus and Chris gathered the foodstuff and headed up for the playhouse. When they got to the head of the stairs they found the door open, with Tirza's special tea set set up on the table. "Where's daddy?" AJ asks. "Headache," Chris says. "He's sleeping." "Where's Serena?" Tirza asked. Serena pops up from a pile of play clothes, having snuck in with the adults. The girls giggled. "Can we dress her?" Tirza asked Chris. "For the party?" "As long as she doesn't mind then I don't see why not," Chris agreed.
They held up several outfits for Serena to pick from. "Which you like Rena?" Tirza asks. Serena babbled for a few moments and then pointed to a pink frilly one with matching bows. Tirza carefully dressed her while AJ did her hair. "I like this one," Severus commented, then quietly accioed a camera. The girls heard the camera flash, looked over, and taking Serena, jumped on Severus and start tickling him.
"Stop it," Severus demanded. "I wanted one for the scrapbook and you can't blame me how cute you look!" They giggled and kept tickling him, covering his face with kisses. Chris just laughed and moved Serena from the pile. "Girls stop now," Severus stated firmly. "I thought we came to eat?" They gave him one last kiss each, then let him up and started pouring juice and giving food. "What good food," Chris commented.
The girls looked please. "Thank you," AJ says. Serena wonders towards the stove. "Rena, come back!" (remember: it heats anything placed on it) Tirza shouted. "Accio Serena," Severus said quickly before Serena could touch the hot surface. "Turn that off please." "Dad, it doesn't turn off, duh," Tirza said. Serena giggles as she floats over. "Well we need to make sure she never gets near it again," Severus said.
"You got the wands dude," AJ pointed out. Severus waved his wand and a baby proof fence popped up between the oven and the rest of the room. Serena slobbed a kiss on his cheek. Severus kissed her head then sat her down in the high chair they had. "Can she play our baby?" AJ asked. "I guess," Chris said. "But only for as long as the adults are here." "That's no fun!" AJ says as Tirza says, "Ok." "Well those are the rules," Severus stated firmly.
"You suck!" AJ said. "HE DOES NOT!" Tirza screamed; he was her dad and the best dad. "YOU SHUT YOUR FACE!" she ordered. "Bite me!" AJ shot back. "Girls," Chris snapped, trying to stop the fight. "Stop that right now." Tirza threw some of the food at AJ, who broke a plate of the precious china. "MY DAD IS THE BEST!" Tirza yelled "AT LEAST MY MOM ISNT DEAD!" AJ said, both girls in a fit of rage. Tirza's face went white. "AJ" Chris snapped grabbing her daughter by the arm "Apologize this instant!"
Severus went to hug Tirza who was now shaking with anger mingled with sadness. AJ saw the hurt on Tirza's face, but didn't want to give in. "NO!" she said. "Get out of my play house," Tirza said, tears starting to roll down her face "AJ apologize NOW" Chris said AJ shook her head no, not nearly done with her tantrum "AT LEAST MY MOMMY LOVES ME!" she screamed. Tirza took off out of the room "I'm sorry but I think it would be best if you left" Severus said quietly "AJ's words hurt Tirza and myself and I cannot allow her and Tirza to play again for a while"
Chris looked sad and angry at the same time. "What is wrong with you?" she demanded. "Tirza is your best friend, how could you do that?" AJ just shrugged "Mike get up" Chris said as she entered their room Mike rolled over "What's going on?" Meanwhile, Tirza was sobbing in her room "Your daughter is out of control" Chris replied, "We've been asked to leave because of her inconsiderate words." "WHAT?" mike asked, instantly awake. He glared at AJ. "What did you say to Severus young lady?" AJ didn't say anything, it all finally sinking in
"You tell your father" Chris demanded "you got yourself into this mess and I need to pack" "I said bad things to Tirza," she whispered "I made her cry" "Exactly what did you say?" Mike asked fixing her with a stern look "That my mommy isn't dead and my mommy loves me," she whispered "HOW could you" Mike exclaimed in total disbelief "What brought this on?" "I told the girls they could only play with Serena if I was there and Severus enforced that rule and AJ told him he sucked and they started fighting, but Tirza did not say ANYTHING like this," Chris said fuming "And now Severus has asked us to leave!"