Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my own characters.
Allie lay on the towel under the umbrella for a lazy snooze the next day. One eye cracked open to check that Mia was still riding the waves on her boogie board with Nick, she placed a hand on the warm, heavy weight that was Tali on her chest and dozed off.
The shrill tone of a mobile interrupted her relaxation and she blearily reached out and fished around for her husband's mobile.
Answering, she recognised Dispatch. "Detective Buchanan to West Horlick."
Allie snorted. "Not unless you've got a plane on standby."
"I'm sorry?" came the confused reply.
"Detective Buchanan is on leave," she explained patiently as Tali woke up and shifted off her mother. "We're in Queensland."
"Oh." There was silence for a moment. "I see it in the system now. I apologise."
"Good bye."
Hanging up, she discovered her youngest daughter reaching out to stuff a handful of sand into her mouth. "Uh uh sweetie," she chastised.
Swinging her up into her arms, she headed for the water to join the rest of the family.
Later that afternoon, she finished rubbing sunscreen on Nick's back before laying down as her husband began to spread it over her back. Soothed by his talented fingers, she felt herself dozing off once again. Blissfully unaware in the shade, the welcome warmth of the sunny day creeping into her bones, she was considerably lethargic.
She was awake the instant a splash of cold water fell upon her, sending a chill to her bones, all the worse because it was unexpected.
She was on her feet in seconds and identified the culprit instantly. With Mia happily digging a hole nearby, Tali banging a bucket and shovel next to her, Allie dove for her husband. "Buchanan," she said in a warning tone.
"Kingston," taunted Nick, keeping himself just out of reach.
She stalked closer toward him and it ended with a mad dash toward the water, whereby Allie promptly pushed Nick backwards. He'd barely righted himself before she put her hands on his head and pushed him under.
She vaguely heard Mia's cheers in the background.
Seconds later Nick had Allie in his arms and was ready to drop her into the water.
It was Tali's distressed cries that interrupted their fun and games. Both turned to its source and saw that Mia held Tali awkwardly in her arms. (Her cries could also have been for the fact she was getting wet, seeing as her seven and a half year old sister had carried her right into the water.)
But nevertheless, Allie and Nick allowed themselves to be distracted with a promise of later, and returned to dry land. Allie took the soaked Tali and moments later Nick reached out with a towel and took her into her arms.
Transfer complete, Allie froze at the feeling of ice at her back. Turning, she saw Mia with a huge grin on her face, an empty bucket in hand.
A contented Nick remained standing, his ten month old wrapped up as he watched mother chase daughter along the sand, and seeing both had considerable talent and speed, it was a fast race indeed.