TRIBULATION

Destiny Emerson was a runner. She wasn't the first there had been in Wolf Lake since the night Sofia was born. Which was also the night Sofia's mother died. So she handled being woken up from her nap and shuttled over to Sherman's house with very little fuss. But being woken up a second time by someone who wasn't her daddy or Sherman didn't go over well. How could it? She was rudely shaken awake; instead being kissed and cuddled.

Sofia took one look at Luke and let out a shrill cry that brought both adults in the house running to where they were. However, as fast as a wolven parent could run when they thought their child was in danger. It wasn't fast enough. By the time they reached the back room Sherman had left Sofia in she had stopped crying and started to smile. Sofia may not have recognized Luke but it only took her a second or two to recognize the sweet he was moving back and forth in front of her eyes.

Luke wanted Sofia to like him desperately and if he had to sacrifice a tootsie pop to get his way. He'd do it. And it worked. After weeks of pleading with his parents, all it took was a quick bribe of a sucker for two-year-old Sofia to giggle out the one word that sealed her fate as Luke's future everything…"UP".

Twenty minutes latter Luke had proved he could be true to his word. He may have the tendency to bully other children but he was trying to take off the right shoe. He was even sharing his toys. Something he never did nor was ever encouraged to do by his parents. After all The Wolven Parenting Guide, How to Raise an Alfa pointed out that: Playing well with others isn't a behavioral trait good parents should ever enforce. Think about it! How can one be the biggest and the baddest if their mommy's and daddy's make them share?

So both Sherman and Vivian Cates (even though neither could stop looking over their shoulder praying Sofia's father didn't catch them) breathed a sigh of relief. The play date was going well.

That was, until Sofia decided that she was not as impressed with Luke or his games as he was with her. She wanted to them to brush her very pink my little pony's hair. Something Luke had no interest in doing. He wanted to race cars, or have his dinos eat each, or one of the other numerous fun games he had patiently suggested. But she refused to play or say anything but…"No, pony pretty".

There was only so far one could go in the pursuit of love and playing my little pink pony was a bit further then Luke was willing to go. He still wanted to play but obviously they had reached a stand still. That was until; Sofia decided that the quickest way to end the augment was to toss his favorite car/dinosaur transformer across the room. Any other child would have been crying and sporting bruises within seconds. But Luke did attack, just said a very dirty word under his breath and walked across the room to get his toy.

After giving his disbelieving mother his toy and telling her…"You need to put it in your purse. So Sopia can't break it"…Luke went back into the fray. As was stated earlier in the story Luke was smart, very smart and he had already learned from example how to deal with this situation. His mom rarely fought with his dad. Why would she? Daddies were always right. So on the rare occasion she did argue with his dad about something, he always let her have her way. His dad had told him why last week after he had got in a fight with his mom over nap time. He said…"She may ask us to do stupid stuff, like take a nap but we have to do it. It's our job as men to make the women in our lives happy"… So after some thought he decided to let her win. He still refused to play with a my little pony. However, he guessed (as much as he didn't want to) he could brush one of his Dinos. At least it wasn't pink.

Any doubt Luke had that he made the right decision was quickly silenced by Sofia laughing. He loved listening to her laugh (more then he loved his favorite movie, Bambi) and he was the cause of it. His daddy was right. He may have thought this was the stupidest game on the face of the earth but she was enjoying herself and it made him happy. And after he helped untangle her purple brush from her my little pony's mane. He was rewarded for his help by a very sticky pair of lips pressing against his cheek.

Now everyone knows that most little boys think you can get cuddies from playing Kissy Face and try to avoid the game. They have other favorites to play with pretty little girls. Such as the Try To Push Her Over So She'll Chase You game. Or who can forget the timeless act of those desperately in love, Hair Pulling. But Kissy Face was a game Luke defiantly wanted to play with Sofia. Before either Sherman or Vivian could Ohh and Ahh over how cute they were Luke had rolled Sofia on to the floor and kissed her on the lips.

Matthew Donner walked in just in time to see the Alfa's Demon Seed push his little girl to the ground and kiss her. What happen next was to be debated by the fathers of both children for the next decade. The only fact that is known for sure is that Lucas Cates caused one of the few scares Matthew Donner has. Because as Luke warned before he attacked… "Stop yelling! You mean man, your making Sopia cry".

Later that night after dinner Luke joined his father in his study for ice cream and a man to man talk. He confided in his father about the trials and tribulation he had endured during his and Sofia's first play date. And Willard listened to his son talk about his day with a serious expression on his face. Luke liked being treated like an adult and Willard liked to indulge him.

When Luke couldn't remember anything else that he wanted to tell him about, Willard said…"Well, you have certainly had a ruff day son"…Luke was shaking his head in agreement when he continued…"you have a decision to make. No one would blame you if decided to wait a few more years before deciding who to marry. After all, Sofia did through your favorite toy".

Luke thought for a minute before saying…"No, it's not her fault. She's little and doesn't know not to through things. I just learned that and I'm a lot older than her. And I did kiss her and that was good."

Willard was proud of himself. He had been able to keep a straight face through Luke's entire speech. Even with the adorable self-satisfied little smirk talking about kissing Sofia brought to his face. However, when Luke added…"Amanda told me you have to be patient with your mate, even when it's hard"…then signed with reluctant acceptance. He had to raise his napkin to his lips and cough to cover his laughter.