Meanwhile back at Whipstaff Manor Stretch and Ghastly took turns as they watched Azriel. Currently it was Stretch's turn to keep an eye on the kid. Now at first this really wasn't a problem at all. Azriel recognized Stretch as his Uncle and acknowledged that he meant serious business. Especially when he yelled at his Uncle Fatso or Cousin Casper. Quietly Azriel waddled his way towards the door with his toy in arms. As he stared at the door he looked rather Sad. Stretch not wanting his butt reamed when his brother and Melle came back followed close behind the tyke. "Mama...? Papa...?" Azriel paused and pointed at the door as he looked towards his Uncle.
"No, Dey ain't comin' back t'day kiddo." Stretch frowned and picked him up as he noticed some tears that formed in the kids eyes. "D'aww..Now dun start da tears. N-not dat I'm sad for ya's er anythin'!! It's jus' dat... I dun want ya's givin' me a headache or nothin'!" A smirk formed on Strech's face as he eyed Azriel a little. Azriel then started pouting the tears having started down his cheeks. "No no no! S-stop dat, Dun even...!" but before he finished Azriel had hugged tightly onto him around his neck. "Nnngh!" As his eye Twitched Stretch felt his non-existing heart pound harder as he squeezed the boy back tightly. "MYAAWWWW...!!"
"Wan Mama, P-papa..!" Azriel cried out as he burried his tiny face into Stretch's shoulder.
Stretch just stared down at the child in his arms and hugged him tightly. His eyes darted around the main hall as to see if anyone had decided to come spy on him. When he realized he was in the clear her gently stroked his nephews head. "Shhh, Shh...It's alright. Uncle Stretchie is here. I ain't gonna leave ya's. Yer Mama and Papa will be back soon. I bet dey miss ya already.." Softly he talked to the boy as he floated towards the library with him. "'Ere kid how 'bouts I read ya's a story? Stinkie said dis one was y'fav right...?" As he paused he looked down at the tyke in his arms. Azriel slowly nodded his head and stared up at his Uncle with big eyes. "Alright den...lesee.." His eyes gazed at the book as he opened it and began to read. It didn't take too long for Azriel to get bored with just having a book read to him. Not to mention that Stretch had also managed to fall asleep while reading the book.
Azriel blinked a few times up at his Uncle and softly tugged his arm. When his Uncle didn't wake up and giggled and got off his lap to go do his own thing. What was his own thing? Hide and Seek! This was one game that he wouldn't ever grow out of. Slowly Stretch's eyes opened up as he looked around the library. "HNG! I fell asleep!" Stretch quickly looked to his lap then around. As he eeped loudly he dropped the book in the chair and panickedly flew around the library. He checked under and around everything in there. That kid just had to be SOMEWHERE! He couldn't have gotten THAT far could 'e?! Oh man he could already hear Abigail, Stinkie and Melle as they yelled at him. Something he NEVER wanted to put himself in the position in. After all him being the leader, he needed more responsibility than this. "AZRIEL!? AZRIEL!?!?!" Shouting Stretch floated out of the library in a flash. As he reached the main hall he paused and looked at the ground and then to both sets of stairs. It appeared that the kid hadn't gone upstairs. THAT at least allowed him to sigh with relief. Still that left him with SO many other places that needed to be checked.
"Where da 'eck could dat kid have gotten off ta?! It ain' like dat kid can walk all dat well!" With a hand placed upon his head Stretch scratched it lightly, and floated off through the lower floor hallways. He checked in all the tiny spots that he could find along the way, though to his unfortunate bad luck the kid just couldn't be located. "Where da 'eck did dat kid go!?" The tall ghost had begun to sweat as his eyes shifted around. Finally they landed on something up at the top of the stairs. A smaller sized figure! As he squinted his eyes he realised that it WAS Azriel. "DAA!! KID WHAT DA 'ECK 'RE Y'DOIN UP DERE?!" In seconds Stretch raced towards the kid. As Azriel watched his Uncle come for him he waddled off out of sight. When Stretch reached the top of the stairs the kid had disappeared! "W-hat da...?!!" With disbelief the baffled specter gazed around. That kid couldn't have been THAT fast with those two feet. Could he of...?
"KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDD!!!!" He forced his voice to echo out. He knew of course that this would gain the attention of Ghastly. Worried now Stretch zipped from one room to the next. FINALLY Stretch found Azriel about three rooms down under the pool table. "..How in da 'eck did YOU get in 'ere...?" Narrowing his eyes Stretch picked up Azriel and almost glared. Though all Azriel did was squeal and clap his hands loudly to his Uncle finding him. To the kid this was all a BIG game.
"Hidey go See...see?" Azriel stared up at him and then blinked.
Stretch stared a moment then rolled his eyes. "Yea...Hidey go SEE SEE... Now it's time fa Azriel t'go SLEEP SLEEP. Got it kiddo!? I ain't got da times t'be foolin' aroun' like dis all day t'know. I's gots important things t'do too." Smirking Stretch gazed out of the corner of his eyes at the kid who just whimpered. "...Or Not..." As he hung his head he grumbled and floated towards the library again and then towards a separate room that was off of it. When they arrived he and the kid plopped onto the couch. "Now, how 'bout we watch some 'o dem mind numbin' an' brain meltin' cartoons...ey?" With that he clicked on the TV and flipped through the channels until he came across some cartoons. "Dere y'go! Quality TV fa tykes.." A grin formed on Stretch's face as he looked to Ghastly who decided to join them. "Eh...'Ey dere Abi! Is da food almos' done...?"
"Actually... I don't understand how to make it..! This formula is weird..!" Ghastly whined and looked up at Stretch feeling a little stupid at this point.
"You wha? Doh, Lemme have it..!" Floating up off the couch he grabbed the stuff and looked it over. "I guess I gotta do everythin'. C'mon kiddo..." Stretch then picked up Azriel and started into the kitchen.
"Oh? And just what do you know about babies and food??" Ghastly demanded as her arms folded over her chest.
"Lots! I figured you'd of known how t'do it since ya helped out wit Casper when he was a fleshie baby! Hrn, But fer yer information! I had t'take care o Casper when he morphed into a baby once. Not only..dat..but..udder things too." His eyes narrowed lightly as he bit his lip. Like he'd really tell her that he wanted to be a father and studied up on it when he was alive. "Now...!!" When they reached the kitchen he placed the high-chair into spot and placed Azriel into it. "You be a good boy an' Uncle Stretchie will getcha some num nums!" With that the tall specter started brewing up the kids drink. "Oy, Y'know da kid likes soft normal foods too right?"
"Do you know how many years it's been since then Sloane McFadden!?" With her eyes narrowed Ghastly poked Stretch into his chest. Then his words floated through her mind as a big grin and a gasp came from her, "YOU! You wanted to be a father... DIDN'T YOU?" Quickly she accused the now wide-eyed ghost.
"W-WHA?! W-why would I... uh... W-who said...dat..I..." His eyes shifted nervously now as he mixed the drink and checked it.
"Don't tell me that you don't remember all those times you'd put puzzles together with Casper when no one was around." Ghastly formed a pair of feet and tapped on on the ground.
"Deheheh, N-no, dat was cause I felt sorry for da kid...y-yeah!" Stretch quickly shifted his position and started feeding Azriel his food.
"Mmhn, and What was that book about fatherhood I found under your bed when you were still alive...? HRMN?" A grin formed as she closed in on Stretch.
Stretch stared ahead at Ghastly as he watched her get closer and closer. With the words she had dripped from her mouth about him as a human his whole body suddenly went invisible. All that was left of him there were his Purple eyes and teeth, the poor guy was just that embarrassed. "W-WHEN didja FIND DAT?!!"
As she laughed she wrapped her arms around Stretch's neck and kissed him lovingly on his lips, "You're so cute when you're nervous! I found it that one day when you took me for that picnic. Hrmn, I never said anything 'cause I wanted you to tell me first."
The poor unsuspecting ghost nearly melted on the spot. He decided he'd just stay invisible a little longer until he was sure his ghostly skin was no longer red. "Y-yeah, w-well.. Y'know. I mean...I figured..dat I might as well 'cause...I thought you'd want one, But I was too stupid an..." He rubbed the back of his neck while poor Azriel drifted to sleep as they continued their talk.
The next day Stretch and Ghastly would spend some much needed time by themselves. Fatso looked into some opera's that he always wanted to see, while Dr. Harvey decided to also spend some quiet time by himself for once. This left Azriel in the care of Casper and Kat for the day. The first thing in the morning Kat could be found feeding Azriel his food. Now it was Casper's turn to admire Kat as he watched her take care of the baby. Kat always had this motherly thing about her that he enjoyed so much. It always impressed him how well she knew how to take care of certain situations. This one of all things was just so beautiful. His blue eyes followed her every move from when she wiped the babies mouth clean, to when she fed him more of his food. It was a breath taking moment to him. He always wished that he had a camera to take a photo of her with. As the golden rays of the sun shined in through the window and tickled Kat's flawless cheeks and mingled with her brown locks the specter found himself melted into a puddle on the ground.
It was this sort of thing that warmed his cold soul up so much. He knew in his heart that this is what he was here for, no, who he was here for the reason why he hadn't vanished yet. Kat was his every reason for being here at this moment. His thoughts crossed over and over again in his mind as he desperately wanted to be human. Still, he enjoyed being here for her just as he was. When Kat had finished feeding Azriel and rocked him gently in her arms he decided to make himself noticed. "H-hey..!" He called out to her as he floated over to her, his non-existing heart raced in his chest as he inched closer and closer.
"Oh! Hey... Heh...M-morning.." Kat laughed and blushed as she placed her hair behind her ear and gently continued to rock Azriel.
Casper stopped when he reached her shoulder, he could see her brown eyes as they gazed back at him from time to time. This morning it was early and the two of them had some alone time. Casper's blue eyes darted from Kat's face to the door of the room as he pondered his actions. Would he do this...? Or wouldn't he... After a few thoughts he gathered his courage and wrapped his arms around her neck, his head rested against the side of hers. Kat paused a moment as blush filled her cheeks she had expected him to do that for some reason. Although her first thoughts were to pull away due to it being cold, she didn't, instead she stayed there and enjoyed his feelings that he boldly showed. Slowly her eyes closed as she nuzzled him gently. Casper's face widened with a smile as he returned the happy gesture and whispered, "Y'know, You'd make a great mother... You're so gentle and caring.."
"T-thanks Casper..." Her brown eyes drifted to his as she gazed sadly at him. How she wanted him to be her husband. It bothered her for the longest time the thought that outside of what they had now they'd never get the chance to start a family like this. Every night she knew, she wished it to be so. She wanted Casper to suddenly become a human again and they could live together and have a family together. Still she carried on being given courage from how well Melle and Stinkie have turned out with their relationship. It proved that this could work, and Kat forced it to. "Casper..." she whispered to him.
"I know Kat... I know..." He knew what she wanted to say. "But...meanwhile.. What would you like for breakfast...?" He offered her the best that he could. When breakfast had finished the three of them decided to go out for a little. They enjoyed a walk through the park together and even shopped together that day at a few stores in town. As Noon approached the two trailed on back home. It was there that Kat proceeded in reading Azriel a bedtime story so he could take an afternoon nap. Her voice was honey sweet as she spoke every word. The soothingness of her voice easily placed Azriel into his afternoon sleep. Casper who had also listened in on the story had also fallen asleep during it. As he slept Kat noticed and laughed softly. The poor guy had been worked too hard again as she noticed the duster in his hand. Like Azriel she also covered Casper up with a blanket and kissed his cheek. Carefully her hand pulled the duster from his as she decided it was time for her to help him out a little now. After all, he deserved this rest just as much as anyone. It was the least that she could do for her loved one to show just how much more she cared about him. It had always filled her with joy to help him out when she could, and so as she cleaned she smiled and hummed happily.