House Rules
Chapter 6
Calm Before the Beach
"I don't see why you would tell her that." Wakka shook his head as he took a couple boxes of pasta out of the paper bags they bought from the grocery. "I mean now she's gonna be bouncing off da walls."
"I had to tell her something." Lulu said while looking through other bags,
"I thought we were saving that for when she was freakin' out or something?"
"Oh but Wakka you should have seen her,"
"Ah you getting' soft Lu?" Wakka teased as he folded one of the large paper bags. Lulu said nothing. "Ay don't look hurt." Wakka chuckled.
Lulu smiled a little and started taking out things for the kids snacks as Wakka put the rest of the grocery away. "What's for snack?"
"Fruit."
"Mmm." Wakka rubbed his stomach. He walked over to Lulu and grinned. "And what do I get?"
Lulu smirked "Fruit."
"Yeah?" Wakka continued to grin until Lulu turned around and gave him a whole apple/.
"Yes." Lulu smirked to herself and Wakka shook his head and took a large bite out of the apple. She went back to getting the children's snack together when Wakka said something that clicked. "It is too quiet, would you check on them?"
Wakka nodded and headed into the living room where Vidina had fallen asleep on the couch. His little cheek was pouted slightly and his arm fell off of the side. Wakka only smiled and picked him up and headed upstairs into he and Nadias room. Nadia was already fast asleep. They had been running around all day. Wakka smiled when he thought about what Lulu said that morning while they were both still in bed, running around all day would sure to slow them down and knock them out.
"Knocked out ya?" Wakka said as he got downstairs "Just like you said."
"I told you."
"I neva doubted you Ya?" Wakka grabbed the bowl of apples that Lulu had placed in front of him, they would only turn brown since the kids wouldn't be awake to eat them. After about five minutes in silence. "We gotta pick up medicine for Nadia ya?"
"Yes we do." Lulu said while cleaning up a bit.
"…I kinda glad we found out now ya?" Lulu gave him a look. "Na Lu what if y'know what if she was somewhere where she couldn't get help and stuff…"
"I understand." Lulu didn't like thinking of her poor child suffocating somewhere, she wished Wakka would just get that and stop talking about it. "Anyway we need to Vidina going to bed earlier."
"Why is dat?"
"His classes start back in a little while. I don't want him to be tired and impossible to get up like some people."
Wakka chuckled. "Yeah guess so huh… So when is Rikku comin'?"
"She is coming back with Yuna and Tidus next week… I was thinking that the kids could help u cook the meal."
"Yea, dats a good idea. Dey like cooking wit you."
Lulu walked over to him. "What are we going to make?"
Wakka shrugged and looked up at Lulu who was standing near his chair. He wrenched his arm around her waist from where he sat. Lulu looked down at him questioningly. Wakka only shrugged as way of response. Lulu shook her head a little and let him hold her like that.
"What do you want to do for tomorrow…I don't gotta work or nothin' We could take da kids somewhere."
"Let us see how tonight plays out." She thought on it. "We could take them to the beach."
Wakka nodded. "dats a good idea." He stood and suddenly yawned. Lulu gave him a little look that he read as "aw you're sleepy."
"Tired?" She asked. They did have a day full chasing little kids around.
"Might take a little nap." Lulu nodded. "You gonna join me?" He asked.
"I am going to do a little straightening up."
"M, Ok." He began to walk away with another little yawn.
"Wakka?"
"Yea?" He turned around. "Ah." He chuckled as he walked back to the table and picked up the cut apples. "I'll finish em'."
Lulu nodded and went back to cleaning up around the house. She finished the kitchen in no time, it was her domain, she knew where everything went and the kids seldom messed with anything in there. Once she moved into the living room she was stepping on dangerous terrain.
She found a deflated Blitzball, some fruit gummies, a sock (one Wakka's and one Nadia's, A toy fiend and 12 marbles. Lulu shook her head. She didn't even remember getting them half of this stuff. It had to be Wakka. She finished cleaning the downstairs and started on laundry. She never really saw herself as a housewife, well not the typical one at least. She loved her children and husband that she just felt like doing these things for them, to make their life easier.
The childrens clothes was done within an hour. But then she sighed at the task of Wakka's and her clothing. She crept up the stairs and into she and Wakka's room. She stopped dead in her tracks and could not help but stifle a quite "aaww." Their on the bed was Wakka lying on his back. Nadia and Vidina were curled up at his side. She chuckled lightly. They probably thought he was warmer than the warmest blanket, well, at least that was what she thought. And the way they were curled up told her they thought so as well. Lulu slowly came into the room and sat on the other side of the bed stroking Vidina's little jaw as she rubbed Nadias side affectionately. Lulu stayed there for a while, looking at her family. Wakka had the softest of expressions on his face. His messy red hair fell onto his bronze forehead and some landed in his face. Lulu used a gentle hand to brush it aside. Who knew such a serious love could be found in the biggest goofball in Spira?
An hour later when she was down in the living room reading Wakka crept down the stairs in nothing but shorts and socks on. "Ay Lu." He whispered as he sat down beside her.
"How was your sleep?"
Wakka nodded, "Good…you not gonna believe diss." He smiled at her sleepily. "I had diss dream dat da kids were all grown and stuff, Nadie just got married…married Lu."
She nodded with a smile. "Are you ok?"
Wakka nodded. "I was pretty sad y'know…but so I wake up and dere dey are, both of em' just sleepin' in the bed with me."
Lulu smiled at how happy he seemed. "I saw them while I was cleaning. I didn't want to wake you all.
"Yeah…you didn't rest at all?"
"I am resting now." She explained as she looked back to her book.
Wakka nodded getting the point. He leaned over and kissed her cheek before getting up and going into the kitchen. He returned later with a sandwich in hand
"You know…We're pretty boring." Wakka chuckled.
Lulu stopped reading. "You are pretty boring." She looked over at him and they both laughed a little. Lulu reached over to take a small bite of his sandwich. Wakka let her have it and sighed a little.
"Do you…wanna have another one?" Wakka finally asked.
"No thank you that was enough for me." Lulu shook her head only having taken a few bites.
"Two?"
"Yes of course. I couldn't have anymore."
"Really?"
"Yes really." She gave him a look. "You can have all you want Wakka." It was his sandwich after all.
Wakka just looked at her, confusion written all over his face. He chuckled nervously. "Well I kind of need you…"
"Wakka if you couldn't eat all of it then why did you make it?"
"What? Oh Lu…" Wakka blushed and laughed a little. "Lu I meant…I meant Kids…"
Lulu stopped looking at her book and turned to him. "What?"
"Well I dunno, I just…maybe it was my dream or somethin'…."
"Wakka what in Yevons name are you talking about?"
"I asked if you wanted to try for another kid ya?"
It took Lulu a while to fully think it over. Sure she loved being a mother. And why not have another…but where was this coming from?
"Never mind." Wakka shook his head,
"Oh Wakka. Wait." She placed her hand on his forearm. "You gave me no time to think about this. Do…have you been thinking about having another child?"
"Not really…but I dunno it was just…well I mean eventually."
"Eventually…I would yes. But I do not think I can handle that right now." Lulu was the voice of reason in the relationship Wakka smiled softly. He loved when she was honest with him , it eliminated the guess work.
He put an arm around her shoulders and nodded. " Ok.. I didn't mean nothin'by it ya but…yeah ok…."
Lulu chuckled softy. "Are you ok?" She asked again touching his head lightly.
Wakka blushed lightly and shook his head. "Maybe I'm still a little sleepy?" He leaned forward and pecked her lips before getting up and finishing bringing his plate into the kitchen. Lulu shook her head lightly. "So I'm gonna go play some blitz wut da guys." Wakka said as he strolled back into the living room.
"When will you be back?" Lulu asked knowing his answer would be completely arbitrary anyway.
Wakka shifted his weight a little back and forth jingling his keys in the process as he thought. "Four…five-ish."
"Ok."
"You gonna be ok wit da kids?"
"Of course."
"Alright." He leaned over the back of the sofa and kissed her, I'll see you latta." He smiled then dashed for the door, slipped on his sandals and grabbed the blitzball in the hall closet. "Bye Lu."
"Bye."
Around six Wakka enters the house sweaty and tired.
"Daddy's home!" Vidina hollered he ran into the living room in his yellow and blue briefs.
"Whoa buddy!" Wakka smiled dropping his gear and picking up Vidina.
"Hi Daddy." He said pulling some of Wakka's damp hair.
He smiled. "How come you in ya undies?" He asked as he walked into the kitchen to get himself water.
"It's bat time." Vidina explained as if Wakka should have known.
"Shit." Wakka cursed under his breath, glancing at Vidina to make sure he didn't hear. He only stood there. "You thirsty?" He was giving him the Lulu look again. He was late…really late, they had probably already had dinner and everything.
"Yeah!" He wasn't really he just liked being around his father.
"Where's mommy and Nadie? Upstairs?" Vidina nodded his head up and down as he used both hands to sip water out of a purple kiddie cup. Wakka bit his lip. "C'mon mommy probably wondering where you ran off to." He led Vidina upstairs. "Lu?"
"
"In here." She called from the kids room. She had just pulled the shirt over a sleepy Nadia. She looked up at Wakka, giving him the "we will talk later" look. Wakka nodded and began helping her get the kids to bed.
"Daddy need shower." Nadia poked at him. He was still in his sweaty blitz clothing.
Lulu stood and put a hand on his shoulder. "Yes he does." She grabbed Vidina and kissed his forehead. "Say goodnight to daddy."
Night daddy." He ran to hug Wakka's leg.
Wakka leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Sleep tight." He went over to Nadia who was standing on her bed waiting for her kisses. "Nadie babe good night ya?"
Naida giggled. "Niiiight."
Lulu tucked them in formally and whispered sweet words to them while Wakka stood in the door frame and watched with a tender smile. Lulu was such a good mother. As soon as the door closed Lulu crossed her arms.
"I lost track a time."
"You always do this Wakka." They were far away enough from the kids room.
"Eh Lu c'mon."
"Wakka you missed dinner."
"I'm not hungry." She gave him a look . "Ok ok I know I'm sorry….I'm sorry." He repeated.
"It is as if I have to treat you like a child Wakka, I don't want to have to do that." She continued walking into the kitchen. Wakka followed.
"You don't Lu..things just got…well we were tied really and y'know we put up a hell of a fight really…Keepa was actually doin—"
"I do not want a play by play of what you were doing while you could have been having dinner with your family." She said simply as she took the tea she had prepared before upstairs. Wakka sighed. He sure knew how to mess things up.
Lulu was already in bed when he got out of the shower. Wakka quietly got under the covers and turned about until he found a comfortable spot. Sometime during the night though he turned over and cuddled closer to Lulu mumbling sweet apologies. Lulu let him off the hook, but only because she was cold and missed his arms. They woke early the next morning Wakka brought Lulu tea in bed she only shook her head, she wondered how long he would go on trying to apologize this time.
"What are we doing today?" He asked as he took a seat on the bed beside her. "The beach?"
"Yes..I am glad they are still asleep. It gives us time to get ready"
"What do you want me to do?"
Lulu leaned towards him and placed a hand on his cheek. She looked to be in deep thought. "Shave.."
"What?" Wakka asked then chuckled pushing her hand away. "Nah Lu I told ya I'm gonna try growin' a beard…"He stroked his chin playfully. Lulu gave him an odd look and Wakka laughed. "Alright alright." And with that he got up and left to the bathroom.
Lulu soon got out of bed and sighed, the morning had just began and there was just so much to be done. She went into the hall and peaked into the kids room to see them both fast asleep. She passed her room and entered the kitchen. The smell of the morning coming threw the window over the kitchen sink. She loved mornings on Besaid.
There was just a certain calm in the air that made her feel human. Lulu stood arms crossed looking out the kitchen window for some time. She lost track thinking about so much, her kids, her husband, her life here now, what she gave up to be the person she was today. What she would have missed if she actually went to that school in Djsoe.
Wakka slowly made his way down the stairs, a cleanly shaven face. He stopped when he saw Lulu looking out the window in deep thought. It reminded him of when they first met. Well when he first saw her, they met weeks later but he would never forget the beautiful young woman standing near the boat railing looking out onto the sea in the stance that she was standing in the kitchen with now. Her eyes glazed over slightly. He always wondered what she was thinking, she would never say. Wakka made his way further into the kitchen and was about to say something when the kitchen phone rang breaking Lulu out of her thoughts. She looked at him a little surprised that he was just standing there, she turned to the phone. "Hello?....Yuna." A soft smile on her face.
After hanging up with Yuna Lulu went into the frige and started to gather things for the kids breakfast.
"What's Yuna sayin?" Wakka asked as he sat at the table with some tea.
"They will be back in two days, she still feels bad about Nadia." Lulu shook her head as she tried to decide between pancakes or waffles. Vidina loved banana waffles but Naida liked Wakka's chocolate chip pancakes, it was sweet, and easier for her to chew. She decided on both wanting to make the day special for them. "When you are done can you start cutting fruit hun?" Lulu asked busying herself with breakfast. The more they got done while the kids were asleep the better, because once they got up and found out they were going to the beach, it was nearly impossible to control them.
"Ya." Wakka nodded forgetting about his tea for the time being. "Yuna worries too much." He chuckled as he looked into the fridge "Pineapple, honeydew….and?"
"No pineapple, Vidi's gums have been hurting him lately, he brushes them too hard."
Wakka nodded. "Good call." The pineapple would only burn.
"Honeydew and cantaloupe." Lulu settled on as she began making the kids teas. "I am glad she coming home though."
"Yeah, it'll be good to have everyone around now dat the year is startin' up again…I wonder how long Rikku is stayin' for."
"She has been working a lot lately last I heard…what do you want to eat?' Lulu asked putting the waffle and pancake batters aside for when the kids wake up.
Wakka shrugged as he continued to cut the fruit into little pieces and put them into two small containers. "I'll have pancakes wit Nadie."
Lulu nodded and exited the kitchen only to return with two coolers, she filled them with ice then put them aside. Wakka finished the fruit and went upstairs to start packing the beach essentials. Vidinas trunks, Nadia's bathing suit, sunscreen, nose plugs, kiddie goggles, and towels. He was about to bring all of it downstairs when he felt something cold touch his leg.
"Daddy…Daddy."
Wakka turned around to see Vadina looking up at him with ruffled bed hair.
"Morning buddy….man you gettin' sneaky, I didn't even hear you behind me."
Vidina giggled lightly and reached his arms out for Wakka. Lulu thinks that he was getting a little too old to being picked up but Wakka didn't care, he was going to be picking them up until they didn't want him to anymore. Wakka smiled and put down the beach towels and picked up his son. Besides no matter how much Lulu detested she had a weak spot for her son.
"Daddy where's Mommy?" Vidina asked quietly as Wakka carried him downstairs.
"Downstairs Vid, why?"
"I… I wanna tewll her dat I didn't wake up Nadie." He explained. The two were inseparable partners in crime so they would usually wake each other up when one woke up. Lulu tried to explain to them that they each needed sleep.
"Ay good job ya?" Wakka smiled as they made it into the kitchen. "Ay Lu diss belong to you?" Wakka asked as he brought Vidina over to her.
Lulu smiled and kissed her son good morning. "And how did we sleep?" She asked while trying to tame his hair with one hand.
"Good Mommy….thinked about da duckies." Lulu smiled at how adorable he was. Vidina was still too young to know exactly what "dreaming" was so he called it thinking. Vidina really liked those ducks.
"That's great Vidi." She looked to Wakka who was wearing a goofy smile. He would always marvel at how amazing Lulu was with the kids. "Where is Nadia?"
"Still sleepin'."
"I wet her!" Vidina said proudly.
Lulu smiled. "What do you want to drink honey?"
"Tea's fine Lu." Wakka answered.
"Not you…Dina?" She passed Wakka an amused look then looked to Vidina, who was currently looking at his fingers. Wakka put him down and he made his way toward the table where he climbed up into his seat.
"Jew.." He mumbled preoccupied with his little fingers. Lulu nodded and went to fix Wakka more tea and get Vidina some juice.
At the table Vidina pushed his little hand in Wakka's face, or at least he tried. "Daddy why my hand gots knees?"
"Knees?" Wakka asked looking at his hands. "What you me buddy?"
"Knees…" He tugged at his pant leg to show Wakka his pale knee and then his hand.
Wakka chuckled. "Dem are joints Vidi."
Lulu walked back over to the table with two cups and smiled admirably. Both Wakka and Vadina were looking at their knees. She shook her head and took a seat at the table. "Wakka did you pack their suits?" Lulu asked after telling Vidina that he would be having his favorite breakfast today.
Wakka nodded. "Yeah..I just gotta bring em' down."
"Suits!?" Vidina asked with wide ruby eyes. "We goin' in da water ya? Mommy!?" He looked as if he were going to fall out of his seat.
AN: Hey! Isn't Vidina cute? Anyway hope you enjoyed this chapter, sorry it took so long.
KathleenDee