Pairing: Claire/Gabriel

Theme: Slug Bug

Dimension: Alternate

Word Count: 778

Slug Bug

"Blue one."

*SMACK*

"OUCH!"

*SMACK!*

"MOMMA! PETER HIT ME!"

*THWACK*

"I DID NOT!"

Noah groaned and turned up the sound on his ipod, trying desperately to ignore his younger siblings. He was sitting in the front seat of the van, his feet propped up on the dashboard and his music turned up loud. Normally his father would have reprimanded him for both, but right now he had much more pressing matters at hand.

Over the past six hours Sandra and Peter had grown more and more agitated after being cooped up in the car for so long. They were getting louder and louder, making Gabriel rather upset himself, so Claire had suggested they try to play a game.

The first game was to find all the license plates for the fifty states. After about thirty plates later, including five fouls, two ties and one hissy fit courtesy of Sandra, Gabriel "suggested" that they choose another game. Then came the finding the letters of the alphabet in billboards and highway signs, which would have worked out fine if the twins hadn't decided to scream each letter as they saw it.

"Red one!"

"Don't hit, Peter!"

"You hit me first!"

"Did not."

"ENOUGH!" Gabriel's bellow stopped everyone in their tracks, even going so far as to wake Claire, who'd decided to sit in the back with Nathan in order to keep him calm.

"What's wrong now, Sy?"

"Your children have been playing the car slapping game for the past hour." Claire giggled and rolled her eyes.

"Lighten up, babe. It's either this or are we there yet. Take your pick."

"White one!"

"OW!"

"One more complaint and I'm tying all of you to the roof of this car and no one is getting dinner!" Noah tried not to laugh, he really did. But his father's threat was about as bogus as a threat could get. Luckily for Gabriel, Sandra and Peter didn't know that. They sat silently, almost afraid to breathe as their father took deep breaths and attempted to calm himself. Noah chuckled as Gabriel shot him a glance.

"Got a problem, son?"

"Not a one, dad. I just don't know if tying them to the roof of the car would be such a bad thing… they'd probably like it."

"Shut up." Noah got a flick to the arm for his words, making him smirk wider.

"Didn't you ever do stuff like this when you went on trips?" The question was innocent enough, but Gabriel felt sweat begin to bead on his neck as all eyes were turned on him.

He and Claire hadn't really ever talked about the Gray side of the family, simply skipping over the questions and redirecting to something easier to explain. It was a touchy subject, and Gabriel wasn't sure if he was ready to answer.

"Dad?" Noah could sense that he was opening up a large can of worms, but in all reality he didn't know a whole lot about his father's past.

"When… I was a kid… I didn't really go on vacation, Noah."

"Why not, daddy?" Sandra was leaning forward as far as her seatbelt would allow.

"Because your grandmother didn't like to drive. I mainly just toured New York when I had time." This was partially true, but Virginia Gray hadn't really liked for him to leave her sight for very long.

"What did you do, daddy?" It seemed that even Peter was interested. Claire leaned back and smiled as her husband began to tell stories of a child living in the wilds of New York, loving the sound of her precious children's laughter mixed with the smooth baritone of Gabriel's voice.

It was a surprise that a man once feared as a terrible serial killer could have such a gift for storytelling. The way he spoke seemed to bring the listeners into his story, making them apart of it. It wasn't long before the lull of the words calmed the children's restless spirits, allowing sleep to claim them. Claire even found herself slipping into a comfortable rest, secure in Gabriel's hands.

Noah smiled sleepily at his dad and yawned.

"You might not have had a lot of vacation adventures dad, but we'll make some to make up for it, okay?" Gabriel nodded stiffly, blushing and trying to fight back something that felt suspiciously like tears.

"Oh, and dad?"

"Yeah, Noah?"

"RED ONE!"

*SMACK*

Just a little ditty for Friday. Enjoy everyone!