Chapter Three
Laguna, Ward and Kiros helped Edea wash the kids up and fix dinner; safe to say cooking was the easy part.
Everyone went into the stone kitchen and the children sat with booster seats at the large table. The other kids took the spots around Edea so Squall sat next to Laguna, though the child next to him scooted with a scowl.
The group ate in relative silence, every once in a while the children asked the Matron something. Once they finished eating, the children ran off to watch cartoons, especially Nida who was next to Squall.
Speaking of little Squall, he helped Edea clean the table and then sat down at the living room table to color.
"You guys can go." Edea said to the three. "I have this covered."
With shrugs they went into the living room and Laguna sat across from Squall at the table, while Ward and Kiros sat on either side of their friend.
"Hey Squall." Laguna said and the boy looked up at them. "So...what are you coloring?"
Squall showed them his picture of a cat he was doing; considering only being 4 he was doing a remarkable job.
"That's really good." Kiros said with a smile and Squall just stared at them.
"How old are you Squall?" asked Laguna and this time Squall squinted at them suspiciously.
"Why do you care?" Squall's big blue eyes darted to all three of them.
"Just wondering." Laguna shrugged. "i guess I'm just nosey.''
Squall thought for a moment, his tiny face scrunched up. "How old are you? The fat guy and the other...strange man?" He asked and ward growled while Laguna and Kiros chuckled.
"Calm down Ward, he didn't mean anything." Kiros said. "I'm 26."
"Oh, I'm 30" Laguna said.
"...I'm 28." Ward sulked.
"I'm 4." Squall said looking at them.
"You shouldn't call people fat," Ward warned. "I can stomp you."
"I'll just blow off your leg." Squall said getting up to put his coloring book away and Laguna laughed.
"Kids." Ward said shaking his head.
"Why do you guys keep staring at me?" Asked Squall and they looked at each other. "Am I that gwoss?"
"No! You're not gross at all." Kiros said.
"It's nothing really." said Laguna. "You just remind us of someone."
"Who?" Squall frowned.
"It's a long story that's too hard for me to talk about." Laguna said and Squall watched them as he carriede is coloring book to his room.
"Your wife?" asked Squall and their mouths just about hit the floor.
"Uh...well...yeah." Laguna stuttered.
"A lot of our mommies didn't want us, but some just died." said Squall, then he went into his room.
"He is one CREEPY kid." Ward said.
"Yes, but he is right." Kiros said. "At least he knows about death, but at his young age it shouldn't sound so natural."
"Well anyways, I think he's still weird." Ward said and Edea walked in.
"I was wondering if you three called your families or anything?" She asked.
"Uh...no." Laguna said. "We didn't think you would want us to use your phone. It being long distance and all."
"Oh I don't mind, just as long as the people you know, know where you are." She said.
"Well thank you ma'am, we will pay you back." Kiros said and with a shoo motion from Edea they went to the kitchen for the phone.
After calling the Presidential Palace in Esther and their families they went back to the living room.
"Is is all right if we were to stay until we get picked up?" asked Laguna. "It'll be 3-7 days for them to come get us."
"Oh of course." Edea said. "What do you mean by 'them'."
"Co-workers and such." Ward said and Kiros agreed.
"Well that's nice of them." She said and noticed the time. "Whoa, the children should have been in bed 30 minutes ago."
"Need any help?" Laguna asked.
"No, most of them are already zonked out." She said and she went off to round up the awake kids.
"Well I suppose we should be getting ready for bed as well." Kiros said with a yawn.
"Yeah." Ward said and they called good night to Edea before going to their room.
They laid in bed after the usual buisness and Laguna started dozing off.
"Laguna if you're really curious of Squall's parentage, you can always get a DNA test." Kiros suggested.
"Maybe...maybe." Laguna mumbled as he drifted off to sleep.
TBC