Disclaimer: I do NOT own Zoids.
Disclaimer 2: Angel, Sarah, Lenne and Ion belong to me! Please do not use them without my permission!
Disclaimer 3: The characters Caleb and Jayden belong to both ShadowRebirth37 and me! Please do not use them without our permission!
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Again sorry for the late updates on everything! D: Not only has my new game held my attention, but I've also been trying to work on an entry for a contest, and work has been rather…stressful lately… Anyways, last chapter Van came to Raven with a favor, and Raven excepted it.
We thank those of you that Reviewed!
† Quality Time †
Raven gathered the toddler up in his arms once he they reached the house, jumping down out of the Geno Breaker. He walked inside and shut the door behind him, setting down on the couch. "Wake up Angel... we're home..."
"...mmm..." the toddler groaned slightly before yawning, his tiny fangs showing. He opened his eyes and looked up at Raven. "We home aweady...?"
Raven nodded, not at all bothered by seeing his fangs. "We're home... you wanna play now?"
Angel blinked a couple of times to wake himself up. "Okay Daddy! I'll go get my Zoids!" the toddler said happily before racing off to his room.
Raven nodded, before turning to Shadow. "...you ready to play, Death Saurer?" he joked, and Shadow weakly smacked him with her tail for it. She yawned before getting to her feet, shaking herself and blinking tiredly.
Angel raced back into the living room carrying a couple of his Zoids models, but not all that he was going to bring out. He looked up to Shadow when he saw her standing up. "Yous no gotta pway Shadow. Yous can nap on da couch!" he said brightly, setting the models down and hugging her. Shadow leaned down and nuzzled his back, telling him she'd play. After all it'd be difficult to play 'Death Saurer' without the namesake Zoid!
The toddler looked up to her again. "But I no wants yous to get hurted worser!" Shadow shook her head and growled reassuringly. It'd take more than playtime to hurt her!
"...Okays Shadow... ...Jus' no over do it, 'kay?" he asked. Shadow nodded and licked the top of his head, saying she understood. She waited until he bounded off to get the rest of the Zoids before she sat down, resting on the ground until he was ready. Raven sat down cross-legged beside her, waiting for his son as well.
Angel returned after a couple minutes, bringing the rest of his Zoids with him. "Which one do yous wanna be Daddy?" The toddler asked.
"Which one do you want me to be, Angel?" Raven asked, not wanting to take the Zoid he wanted to use on accident, again.
The five year old looked at all of his Zoids before picking up the Ultrasaurus, using both hands to pick it up since it was so big. "Yous can be dis one and Uncl' Kawl's Zaber Daddy!"
Raven nodded and took the two Zoids from his son. "Alright then, I'll be the Ultrasaurus and Karl's Zaber..."
Angel smiled slightly before going to pick his two Zoids. Though, as Raven predicted he picked out the Geno Breaker and Thomas' DiBison. "Yous can awso be Auntie Weese's Chyco Geno Sawer Daddy!" he said, handing Raven the blue Geno. Raven nodded, setting the Psycho Geno Saurer next to his other Zoids. He kept quiet about the fact that the Saurer had been killed before the Death Saurer incident, not wanting to spoil his fun.
"...Hey Daddy...? Hows come Auntie Weese has a Helkat now, 'stead of a Geno Sawer?" the toddler asked as he sat down.
Raven sighed loudly. He had hoped his son wouldn't get so curious. "Well... back when the Death Stinger was still at large, her Geno Saurer was destroyed in battle with it..."
Angel blinked. "Da Death Stinger?" he asked, not remembering the Zoid.
Raven nodded. "Yeah... the one that was piloted by that Zoidian, Hiltz..." he replied, "...its... the one that killed Shadow..."
The toddler blinked again. "...he...he killed Shadow...?" he asked quietly, not having heard this before.
Raven nodded. "Yeah... but Zoid Eve brought her back to life..." he replied, patting his Organoid's muzzle, who gave an affectionate purr.
"I'm gwad Daddy. No woulda wiked it if Shadow was gone..."
"... me either Angel..." Raven answered, scratching Shadow's crest. "...oh wait, I almost forgot! I got you something in Rheeve village..."
Angel blinked, "Yous did Daddy? Wha' is it!"
Raven chuckled upon seeing that, "Yeah, stay here and I'll bring them out..."
Again the toddler blinked. "Dem?" he questioned, now even more curious as to what his Daddy had gotten to him.
Raven vanished into his bedroom, opening the closet. He pulled out a bag, from which he removed two boxes, one a red Zaber Fang model and the other a Geno Saurer. He walked back out to the main room, holding the boxes behind his back. "Guess which hand..."
The toddler took a long minute to decide before picking Raven's left hand, "I pick dat one Daddy." Raven held out the box, which contained the Geno Saurer toy. It wasn't a snap-together model like the others, but would still be fun for playtime like this.
Angel blinked in surprise. "Daddy gotted me a Geno Sawer!" He said excitedly. "Tank yous Daddy!" he said, hugging Raven highly around the middle.
Raven chuckled, "But that's not all, Angel..." he said, setting the Geno Saurer box down so he could pat his son's head gently.
The five year old looked back up to Raven, "Wha' yous mean Daddy?"
"I've got one more thing for you..." Raven replied, smirking slightly.
"Yous do Daddy?" he asked curiously. His Daddy hadn't given him two gifts in one day before. He usually saved the other one for his birthday or Christmas...
Raven nodded. He showed him the Zaber Fang box. "These are hard to find, so I figured I'd get it for you, seeing how much you like Zaber Fangs..."
The toddler was speechless for all but five seconds before he spoke up again. "Tank yous Daddy! I wuv it!"
Raven smiled slightly. "I'm glad you like it Angel..." he replied, handing him the small box before ruffling up the toddler's hair.
Angel smiled. "Tank yous so much Daddy! I take good cares of dem! Pwomise!"
Raven nodded, "Good to hear..." he said, patting his back as he sat down near the Zoids he had been 'assigned' too. "Ready to start, Angel?"
Angel nodded. "Okays Daddy. Wet's pway Death Sawer with Shadow!"
Raven chuckled and set up his Zoids. "Alright, I'm ready..." he said as Shadow stood and stretched, taking her position and growling quietly to say she was ready. The toddler put his two new models on the coffee table so then they wouldn't get damaged. He quickly set up his Zoids, as well as a few extras before saying that he was ready too. Shadow roared quietly, taking into account Angel's now-sensitive hearing, stomping around in her best representation of the Death Saurer. She reached down and snatched up the Lightning Saix, holding it gently in her claws.
"Dad-! Oops... I's mean: Uncl' Kawl! Da Death Sawer has Irbine!" The toddler said, taking control of the Geno Breaker. When they played like this together, Angel liked to pretend that he was piloting the Breaker and taking part in the battle. It wasn't like Raven minded in the slightest. He just usually used Reese's Psycho Geno Sauer instead.
"Well we better help!" Raven answered, lining up the Zaber Fang model before firing off the tiny toy missiles, which bounced harmlessly off Shadow's chest plates. She snorted in annoyance, but set the Lightning Saix down, regardless.
Angel moved the Lightning Saix off to the side so then it wouldn't get 'hurt' any more. He then took up the DiBison and lined it up. "Beek use Megawomax!" the toy fired off a barrage of plastic missiles that made little 'dink!' sounds as the bounced off of Shadow. Shadow growled in 'pain' and staggered backwards from the 'force' of the attack. She nimbly avoided stepping on the Blade Liger model, although she would have liked to.
"Auntie Weese! Charge up yours Charged Pawticle Beam! We's fire togeder!" the toddler 'ordered', putting the Geno Breaker through the motions that it took when charging its beam. Shadow tried to 'move out of the way' of the 'Charged Particle Beam', not wanting to get 'blasted'. She growled 'threatening', but didn't do anything else immediately.
"Yous don't scare me Death Sawer!" the toddler said, 'charging' the CPC. Shadow snorted, getting ready to duck out of the way. She was very determined once she got in-character like this.
The five year old just 'hmphed!' before 'firing' the 'Charged Particle Beam', "Take dis Death Sawer!" Shadow ducked to the side, smirking and flicking her tail playfully. She wasn't about to let herself be bested by a toy!
"Ahh! Noes! I missed!" the toddler cried. He had forgotten that his Daddy was also charging his own 'Charged Particle Beam' and now had a clear shot at the 'Death Saurer'.
Raven chuckled slightly. "Fire!" he said, his toy firing off a Charged Particle Beam as well. The little missile bounced off Shadow's chest, basically the same place he had damaged the real Death Saurer.
"Yay! A diwect hit!" Angel cheered.
Shadow growled in annoyance, reaching down and snatching the Geno Saurer Raven was using. "Uh oh, I think she's mad..." he said jokingly.
"Oh noes! Daddy! We's gotta save it!" the toddler said, handing Raven another Zoid. Coincidently it was the Blade Liger... Raven sighed loudly, looking at the Blade Liger idly. He shook it off and aimed up its tiny guns, firing at Shadow, hitting her claws. She dropped the Geno Saurer, but caught it with her tail before it fell and broke. The toddler took the Psycho Geno Sauer from Shadow, thanking her for catching it, before starting up their game again. They played until it was time for lunch.
Raven sighed and stretched his arms out. "You hungry, Squirt? I think Shadow's done for the day..." he said, pointing to the Organoid curled up sleeping in the middle of the toys.
Angel giggled, "I'm hungwy Daddy... I'll pick up my toys okay?"
"Alright then..." the dark-haired pilot replied, getting to his feet, "Is there anything in particular that you want?"
"I want! I, I want! Can we! Can we has macaroni and cheese! Pwease Daddy?"
Raven chuckled. "Alright then, macaroni and cheese it is..." he said, heading off into the kitchen.
"Yay!" the toddler cheered before going to pick up his toys. He was quiet when he got closer to Shadow, not wanting to wake her up. Raven began making the toddler's lunch, knowing he was hungry and would eat more than normal due to his now vampiric status. He wasn't bothered by it in the slightest, however.
Angel finished picking his toys up and putting them on the selves that they were supposed to go on. He had to find some room for his two new models, but he could do that later. He walked back out to the main room and was starting to head into the kitchen when he stopped suddenly. He could feel his...vampire senses picking up again for some reason and he didn't like it. Angel started to go into the kitchen again when he stopped again and, for some reason, hid behind the door frame and peeked in to see his Daddy cooking. He wasn't sure just what he was doing, but his vampire side said to do this.
Raven wasn't aware of what his son was doing; too busy getting the macaroni ready. He put the pasta in the water, waiting for it to come to a boil as he pulled out the cheese. Angel tried to stop himself, but he seemed to have lost control...again... He quietly started into the kitchen, stopping when his father stopped and moving slowly when he moved. Raven still didn't notice, not even with his 'hunter' instincts. He never 'hunted' children, so he couldn't sense vampiric children well. He was also distracted with making lunch to notice the vampire creeping up behind him.
Angel stopped when he was just two feel away from Raven. He was struggling with himself, trying to regain control. He was afraid of what his vampire side would do, not wanting to hurt his Daddy or accidently set his 'hunter' instincts off... Raven was still unaware of the tiny vampire 'stalking' him, too preoccupied with lunch. Even if he had noticed, he wouldn't have cared all that much. Eventually Angel's vampire side won over and he ended up 'tackling' his Daddy, growling slightly. It wasn't threatening sounding but it wasn't the content sounding purr either.
Raven yelped in surprised, not having been expecting to be tackled. He was knocked over he was so startled, landing heavily on the tile floor. Luckily he hadn't been holding a knife at the time, knowing he could have either hurt himself or swung at his 'attacker'. The young vampire didn't release Raven, his human side unable to regain control over his actions. He wasn't sure just what his Daddy would do, but from the fact that he hadn't been hurt or anything, that had to be a good sign.
Raven was more than a little surprised to see that Angel was the one that had 'attacked' him. He groaned loudly when he realized just what he had done. He should have been expecting it! "... Angel... you can let go now..." The young vampire didn't let go though, but he didn't tighten his grip either. His fangs weren't bared so that was good. It was just a matter of snapping the youngster out of his state.
Raven sighed. He reached down and lightly shook the youngster's shoulder. "Angel, snap out of it..." he said gently. Angel jerked out of Raven's touch, more startled than fearful of what would happen. It was hard to concentrate on things when he was warring with himself...
Raven blinked, slightly surprised by that. He hesitated before trying again. "... Angel...?" the toddler only tensed slightly this time, but didn't pull back like he had. He blinked a few times to clear his mind before focusing on Raven.
Raven was starting to get concerned. "... Angel...? You okay...?" he asked, gently once again, not wanting to startle him.
"...I's...okay Daddy... ...I's didn't hurt yous...did I?" He asked quietly, finally releasing his grip.
Raven shook his head. "Not a scratch..." he reassured softly, not wanting him to get upset.
"...I's sowwy Daddy... ...twied to get contwol back...but I's couldn't..."
Raven patted the toddler's head. "Don't worry about it, Angel... it wasn't your fault..."
Angel nodded and let his father back up. "...when are da others comin' over?"
Raven got to his feet and brushed off his uniform. "Tomorrow morning about seven..." he answered, going back to cooking so the noodles wouldn't boil out and burn, again.
"...oh...okays... ...Do I's gotta be up at sefen?"
Raven shook his head. "No, you don't have to be..."
Angel nodded. "Okay Daddy. Wunch is done soon?" he asked hopefully.
Raven nodded. "Yeah, why don't you set the table...?" The toddler nodded and went to set the table; He pulled his little step stool over to the cabinets before climbing onto it to reach the plates, cups and silverware. Raven finished cooking dinner about ten minutes later. He put macaroni on each of the plates Angel had set up, setting the pot in the middle of the table.
"Tanks Daddy! I'm sure it's yummy!" the toddler said, remembering the last time his father had tried to cook pasta...
"Thanks Angel..." Raven said, beginning to eat as well. He didn't mention anything about what the toddler had done or nearly done, not wanting to upset him. The toddler ate quietly, humming happily while he ate. He was just so hungry that he couldn't help himself when he asked his Daddy for seconds...and thirds... Raven only ate one serving, letting Angel eat the rest. He cleaned up everything as Angel finished, letting him take his time.
The toddler finished a couple of minute later and took his plate over to his Daddy to wash up. "...Daddy...I'm still hungwy..."
Raven blinked, "You are?" he asked, a little surprised. Sure, he knew vampires ate a lot but this much?
Angel nodded. "I's still weally, weally hungwy Daddy..."
Raven sighed loudly, "Hungry for what, Angel?"
"...I dunno... I just wanna eat somting..." the toddler replied.
Raven sighed loudly, "... I don't know if I have anything I can whip up quick..."
"...Can I has some chips and dip pwease Daddy?"
Raven checked the cabinets. "Yeah sure, if you can get the dip out of the fridge..." he answered, pulling out the unopened bag of chips for his son.
"Yay!" the five year old exclaimed, before bounding off to the fridge to get the French onion dip.
Raven chuckled slightly before opening the bag of chips and pouring half into a bowl for the toddler. "Here's the chips, Angel..." he replied, setting it within easy reach of him.
"Tanks yous Daddy!" Angel said as he wrestled open the chip dip. Once he got it opened did he set it on the table and start to snack on the chips that his Daddy had set out.
Raven ruffed up his hair slightly. "I'm going to change out of my battle suit Squirt, don't make a mess..." he teased, walking back to his bedroom to change into the loose tan outfit he usually wore around the house.
"Okay Daddy!" The toddler said, happily munching on the potato chips. He knew that his Daddy would be right back, so he wasn't worried about being taken again.
Raven walked into the bedroom and shut his door. He took Sarah's necklace out of his pocket and put it on the nightstand, beside a vase of blue bachelor buttons and amethyst lilies he had picked a few days prior. He dressed into his loose tan outfit, since it was the most comfortable thing he had besides his night clothes. He left his room and walked back to the kitchen. "Okay Squirt I'm back..."
"Hiya Daddy!" The toddler replied, already having finished half the bowl of chips.
Raven blinked. "Jeez... you ate that much already? You must've really been hungry..." he joked.
"I am Daddy! I'm weally hungry!"
Raven chuckled slightly. "Well, if you stay this hungry you just might eat everything in the kitchen!" he joked lightly.
Angel looked up to him slightly horrified. "B-But! I dun wanna eats everyting in da kitchen!"
Raven sighed. "I was just kidding with you Angel..." he reassured, patting his back.
"...O-Okay... I no wanna eats everyting..." He said quietly.
Raven sighed quietly, gathering the toddler up. "Don't worry about it... I'm sure you'll be fine..." Angel cuddled into his father when he was picked up, feeling safe and content now. He was sure that his Daddy was right, but it would just take some time to get use to... Raven carried the toddler back into the main room, sitting down on the couch. He ran his hand through the boy's hair, trying to keep him calmed down. He didn't need him any more stressed out. The youngster calmed down more quickly than he had the previous two days. He purred quietly before drifting off to sleep.
Raven decided to try and give the toddler a chance to nap. He got up carefully and fetched Miru from his room, before putting them both in his son's room so Angel could sleep. He closed the door quietly behind him, before slipping into his own room to take a quick rest as well. The toddler napped for a good three hours. He didn't even stir when Raven got up to check on him. The Dark Pilot wasn't sure if he should be worried about that or not...
Raven spent the next hour tidying up the house for tomorrow's visitors. He cleaned up Shadow's bloodstains and put everything away, so that they wouldn't get into anything dangerous or related to his second 'job'. He checked on Angel a third time, and was surprised when he didn't even twitch. Normally he was a light sleeper... Angel only rolled over in his sleep when Raven checked in on him. He sighed quietly, before drifting back to sleep, one of his tiny fangs showing through.
Raven walked into his room, slightly worried. He reached out and lightly shook his shoulder. "... Angel...? You alright?" he asked quietly. The toddler growled slightly, not knowing what he was doing. He was just trying to sleep and someone was trying to wake him up!
Raven pulled his hand back, not having expected that. "... Angel?" This time all Raven received as a tired sounding groan before the toddler pulled his comforter tighter and closer to him. Raven was surprised. Angel had never ignored him when he tried to wake him, being an extremely light sleeper. He decided to just let him sleep, so he left and went back to his own room.
The toddler slept well past dinner time. This further worried Raven. It was either one of two things. The first being his son was getting sick or...it had to with what he was now... Raven got up again and went to check on Angel. He opened the door and peered inside. "... Angel...? You awake yet?" Angel groaned tiredly again before finally opening his eyes slightly. Raven could tell because of the bright lavender glow coming from the direction of his son's bed.
Raven blinked. "You alright there, Squirt?" he asked, walking into the room.
"...mmhmm..." the toddler replied, stretching out slightly. "...why? ...Is someting da madder Daddy?" He asked sleepily.
Raven sat down beside him on the side of the bed. "You haven't woken up in a long time..." he answered, rubbing his back lightly to help him wake up.
Angel blinked owlishly. "...I hasn't...?" he questioned.
Raven nodded. "You've been sleeping all day..."
"...All day...? But it only felt like a couple minutes..." the toddler yawned.
Raven sighed quietly. "Yeah... you should get up..."
"...okays Daddy..." Angel said, sitting up slightly and rubbing at his eyes to get the sleep out of his eyes.
"...you hungry? I finished making lemon chicken for dinner about ten minutes ago..." Raven said.
The five year old blinked. "Yous made dinner...? ...Okays...I's hungwry 'gain..."
"Figured..." Raven said jokingly, picking up the toddler, "Let's have dinner, shall we?"
Angel nodded, still trying to wake up. He just felt so tired. It was probably the fact that all the stress and worry that he had the past few days was finally leaving him and he could actually get some carried him out to the kitchen and set him in his chair. He'd already cut up some of the lemon chicken for the young vampire and himself. He sat down in his chair and started to eat quietly.
"Tank yous Daddy!" the young vampire chirped before starting on his own dinner.
"No problem Angel..." Raven said, continuing to eat his lemon chicken. The toddler happily ate his dinner, again asking for seconds when he finished. Well...at least Raven would never have to worry about him eating right...
Raven let Angel eat the rest, having only eaten one serving. "...you full now...?"
The toddler shook his head 'no'. "...no...I's not full Daddy..." He said quietly.
Raven blinked. "Still?" he sighed, "... what else are you hungry for...?"
"...can I has some cookies Daddy?" he asked shyly.
Raven nodded. "Sure you can have cookies..." he said, pulling out some sugar cookies from the cabinet.
Angel smiled, "Tanks Daddy!" he said happily as Raven gave him three of the cookies. Two was usually his limit after dinner, but Raven figured that three wouldn't hurt, considering his son's metabolism now.
Raven smiled slightly before putting the box away. "After that, I want you to brush your teeth and get into your pajamas, okay?" Angel nodded, not being able to speak since he was eating the sugar cookies. He was ready to go back to bed and get some more rest.
"You gonna sleep in your room by yourself tonight?" Raven asked curiously.
"...do I's has too...?" he asked back timidly.
"Of course not... if you don't want too..."
"...I no wants too..." Angel said quietly.
Raven sighed and gathered him up. "Then you don't need to Squirt..." Angel nodded and once again cuddled into his father to feel safe. He was clinging to him with one arm while his free arm was at his side.
Raven carried Angel back to his bedroom and laid him on the bed. "Remember I have to get up early tomorrow..." he said, "... but you can sleep in if you want too..."
The black-haired toddler nodded slightly. "...okays Daddy..." he replied, even though he would probably be getting up at the same time.
Raven turned off the light and lied down on his side of the bed, covering up in the blanket after making sure Angel had his blanket and Miru. "... night Angel..."
"...nigh' Daddy... ...wuv yous..." He said sleepily.
"Love you too Angel... night..." Raven replied before closing his eyes to try and get a good night's rest. The recently 'turned' toddler fell asleep pretty quickly. He was out like a light within five minutes, hardly tossing or turning. Raven dozed off about ten minutes later, and slept through the whole night. He didn't so much as twitch, not even when seven in the morning came around.
Author's Note: I know you all were looking forward to seeing Raven babysit this chapter, but this cute little filler chapter had to come first. It didn't fit in the last chapter, and I didn't think that it'd fit with Raven having to babysit. So, I decided to just turn it into a cute little filler chapter that let us peek in at the little family. I hope that you all enjoyed reading it! Please Review! They make my day! :)