The Five Times Pyro Babysat
Chapter Five: 'ohnny
John frowned and blearily opened his eyes as the sound of the main door buzzer cut into his light sleep. His frown deepened as the buzzer sounded again, the rest of the apartment plunged in silence.
"Shit..." the fire mutant rolled off the sofa and quickly made his way to the door, pushing the button to open the main door. Sighing heavily, he opened the front door to Bobby's apartment, pulling a smile onto his face as the lift arrived on their floor.
"Oh..." Marie looked startled as she stepped out of the lift, pushing a sleeping Abi in her buggy, the little girls ridiculously huge weekend bag slung over her shoulder. Marie regained her composure, forcing a smile back at the fire mutant. "Where's Bobby?"
"He's been held up," John shrugged absently, reaching out to take the heavy looking bag. Marie however took a slight step back, tightening her grip on the strap. John's forced smile quickly disappeared into a scowl as he crossed his arms defensively. "I'm not going to hurt her you know."
"I know..." Marie replied quickly, but still she held back. John just arched an eyebrow expectantly, waiting for Marie to either relent or admit that she was not willing to leave Abi alone with him. Neither noticed Abi stir in her buggy.
" 'ohnny!"
John looked down startled to find Abi grinning up at him, waving her arms towards him.
" 'ohnny..." Abi pulled to get out of her buggy but she was well strapped down. She pouted briefly before grinning back up at John again. "Hi'a!"
"Hiya..." John laughed, kneeling down in front of her. "When did you start speaking?"
"Just before her birthday," Marie frowned slightly as Abi continued to reach out to the fire mutant. "Just a few words...mummy, daddy, hiya, bye...Johnny..."
John just smiled and leant forward to tickle Abi's stomach, earning yet more delighted giggles. Grudgingly Marie leant over and unbuckled her daughter, allowing her to scramble towards John. The fire mutant picked her up and stood up, taking the bag from Marie.
"Just leave the buggy there," he pointed to a space in the hallway, turning so Abi could see her mother. "Now say bye bye to your mum."
"Ba ba!" Abi waved one hand frantically, the other clasping some of John's hair. Marie gave Abi a kiss and stroked her cheek softly.
"Bye bye sweetie," she smiled before turning to John. "Can you ask Bobby to call me as soon as he gets back?"
"I'll tell him," John nodded, a short silence falling as Marie hesitated. Finally she gave a small nod, giving Abi one last wave as she left the apartment.
" 'Ada?" Abi looked around as John carried her through to the lounge.
"No, he's not here," John told her softly. "He'll be back soon."
Abi pouted slightly. John couldn't help but smile as he flopped down on the sofa, the little girl still in his arms.
"God you're getting heavy," he grumbled, shifting to get more comfortable. Abi just laughed. "You're a big girl now..." John smiled, wiping some of the loose blond hair from her face. "Was it your birthday last week?" Abi looked thoughtful. "Did you have a party? With cake? And lots of presents?"
Something added up in Abi's head as suddenly she nodded, smiling widely as she remembered her first birthday party at the mansion. Her smile faded slightly as she looked up at John.
" 'ohnny?"
The fire mutant couldn't help but feel guilty as he looked into Abi's little icy blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, I was working," he lied before adding truthfully. "I did want to come."
Abi looked up at him thoughtfully before deciding she was satisfied with the answer she didn't quite understand.
" 'ohnny," she grinned, trying to push herself to her feet. John laughed and held her waist tightly as she stumbled on his legs.
"Hey missy," he shook her playfully. "Your daddy's not allowed to call me Johnny, what makes you think you're allowed?"
Abi paused and just stared back at John before grinning and continuing to jump about his lap.
" 'ohnny! 'ohnny, 'ohnny, 'ohnny..."
John gasped sharply as Abi suddenly stomped into his groin. He quickly hoisted the boisterous little girl up, biting his lip to stop himself from swearing.
"Oh see you!" he mumbled, clambering onto the floor to allow Abi more room to stand up, fall down and crawl about. The little girl just laughed and crawled around in a circle before sitting down and looking at John expectantly. "Excuse me?" John laughed. "You do that to me and then expect me to play?"
" 'ohnny!"
John rolled his eyes and leant back, reaching down the side of the sofa and pulling out a lilac gift wrapped package topped with a pink bow. Despite the somewhat haphazard wrapping and the fact the bow was squint, Abi clapped happily and accepted the gift John handed her. Pulling off the bow, she leant over and stuck it to John's hand.
"Why thank you," John laughed as Abi proceeded to tear at the paper, ripping off little strips at a time. She gasped as she caught sight of something purple.
" 'ohnny!" she cried, smiling broadly as she waved the purple stuffed dragon at him. " 'ohnny!" she pointed to the yellow and red felt flames coming from its mouth. John smiled and nodded as Abi ran her hands into the ridiculously soft purple fur. "Ooooo!"
"Is it soft?" John laughed. Abi just wrapped her arms around the toy, squeezing it close to her chest. Still holding it tightly, she crawled forwards towards John, holding her free arm out towards him. The fire mutant smiled and scooped Abi and her new favourite toy into his arms. Abi grinned and snuggled into John's chest, pulling her little dragon close.
" 'ove 'ohnny..." she said quietly. John looked down startled. A smile quickly spread onto his lips as he opened his mouth to reply but he was prevented by the sound of the door. "Ada!"
John let Abi clamber off his lap and crawl across the floor in the direction of the front door, only getting halfway across the floor of the lounge when her dad entered the room.
"Hello you!" Bobby smiled, kneeling down to scoop Abi up into his arms.
"Hi'a!" Abi grinned, still holding her dragon tightly by the tail. Bobby smiled and tilted his head to look at the toy.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, lifting it up to get a better look.
" 'ohnny."
Bobby glanced at the fire mutant still sitting on the floor, the pink bow still stuck to his hand.
"Johnny gave you it?" Bobby arched an eyebrow. John waved a hand dismissively.
"I missed her birthday," he shrugged. Bobby just smiled and sat down next to the fire mutant.
"She seems to really like it," he said softly, leaning close. Finally John let a smile creep onto his face.
"Well I knew she likes purple..."
Bobby laughed quietly as Abi reached out for John's arm, pulling it across her and her father.
" 'ove 'ada!" she said, hugging her dragon close as she snuggled up to her father who in turn snuggled into the fire mutant next to him. " 'ove 'ohnny!"
