Chapter 4: Renovations
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"What do you think?"
The blond wizard ran a hand through his hair, trying to dislodge the cobwebs and sawdust that resided in the dyed locks. He looked over to Sophie, who was standing by the doorway, deep in thought. She tilted her head slightly to the left, then again to the right, inspecting every corner.
"Well, I'm sure it will suffice. I've seen architecture more stable then this, but I guess since there's no money in it for you, you didn't really have the motivation to put your best efforts into it. It's only the safety of our children after all."
"I slave away all day and this is what I get? Let me make it known now, I will never to work around the house again if this is how you thank me." he said, scowling.
"It's fine. And this is not the time to try and wheedle more compliments out of me." She added at her husband's expression. She knew Howl's magical grin from a mile off.
"I knew there was a reason why I wouldn't stay with a woman for too long. After a while they start to learn all my tricks!" He shoulders slumped in resignation.
"Couldn't stay with one for too long, you mean," she leaned in closer and wrinkled her nose, "After a while you knew they would discover your true self. No woman in their right mind would want to live with the real Horrible Howl."
"Coming from a woman who's lived with me for what, five years now?"
"Six." she smiled back, "You know how much I love a challenge."
Their faces were inches apart by then. As Howl leaned in to close the distance they were cut short by a small noise somewhere close to the ground.
"Eww! Daddy!" Their 3-year-old son sat with a thump on the new wood floor, took a truck out of his pocket and began to push it along Howl's boot. "You and Mummy were kissing again."
"I noticed." Howl grinned slyly. "So, my son, what do you think of your new room?"
"All this room is mine?" the boy asked incredulously.
" If you want it to be. There are a couple more rooms along if you'd rather have one of those, but we thought they could be for the rest of the family." The wizard said, sneaking a hand around Sophie's waist as he spoke.
"But Daddy, I only have one sister and she sleeps down stairs with you and Mummy." He explained in a voice one might use to tell someone the sky is up.
"Who knows what the future may bring?" Howl said, quirking an eyebrow.
Sophie glanced at her husband meaningfully then stooped down to join her son on the floor, her long skirts billowing around her.
"Don't mind your daddy, Morgan, he's teasing. Now why don't you go downstairs and Eric will make you some toast?"
Morgan nodded in agreement and scampered down the stairs, truck held tightly in his chubby little fist.
"All that apprentice really is good as is making toast." Howl grumbled after the boy had left. "Little creeps terrified of any kind of magic."
"Be nice," Sophie scolded back. "He's only fourteen, this is very frightening to him."
"Michael was thirteen when he started here!" Howl stared into his usual tirade about useless apprentices, but was silenced by a meaningful glance from Sophie.
"Do you really like it?" Howl asked.
"I do. Besides, how many women do you know whose husbands can add a whole new storey to their house in one afternoon?" Sophie added smartly.
"None."
"Maybe my sisters."
"Well then, apart from Michael and Ben I am the best storey-building husband a woman could ask for. Maybe just the best husband." He bent down to make eye contact with his shorter spouse.
"If your ego swells any larger, you'll have to add another floor to keep it in!" She retorted.
"Maybe we should go down and make sure Calcifer isn't burning our only son into glowing ash."
"Fine, slither out of the conversation as you always do."
"Notice how you're not in the least bit concerned for the welfare of our child,"
"Are you saying I don't care about Morgan? I'll have you know--"
The pair strolled, hand in hand, down the newly extended flight of stairs, their argument echoing through the empty floor.
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A/N: Well, there it is. This will probably be the last chapter for a while, as I still have to write and beta the next ones. Hope you enjoyed. Cookies to everyone who can figure out the names of their children and what order they go in. Ta!
