"...And I'll have the ice cream sundae, thank you," Arthur smiles politely, handing the menu back to the waiter.
He adjusts the napkin on his lap as the decadent dessert is placed in front of him, but before he can lift his spoon Gwen is digging out a sizable bite for herself and lifting it to her lips.
"Guinevere!" he laughs, outraged.
"Can I have some of Daddy's ice cream too?" Scout fidgets in her booster seat between them.
"No, sweetheart, Mummy is checking if it's poisoned."
Arthur snorts, dipping his spoon for a taste, but Gwen fights him off with her own. He gapes in disbelief and she frowns at him reprovingly.
"How come Daddy checks my food and you check Daddy's food?"
"Well," Gwen considers, taking another large scoop and making sure to get enough hot fudge and caramel on it. "Mummies and Daddies have superpowers, and we have to use them to take care of each other."
"Oh," Scout replies, as if it makes any sense.
"You know what, baby?" his wife asks him, sliding the dish over to her side of the table and shaking her head. "I don't think this is safe for you."
He raises a brow but keeps his expression guarded under the watchful eyes of his daughter.
Gwen's gaze is leveled at him with a challenging smirk as she lifts another spoonful to her mouth, pink tongue swiping over her lips.
"Really? What are the chances..." He says incredulously, but becomes distracted as he watches her tongue.
"I know," Gwen agrees sympathetically, dragging her spoon through the extra caramel that's drizzled on the plate. "It really is a shame."
"Daddy, you can't eat it if it's poison," a small voice chimes in.
"No," he sighs in defeat, then takes a hearty gulp of his ice water. "I guess not."