Chapter 3: Kids Say the Darndest Things
A/N: Sorry this update has taken so long. I'm currently involved in the longest game of hide-and-seek with my muse and man is she good at hiding.

"Are you sure you don't mind watching her Az?" DG asked. She juggled her grasp as Dani literally threw herself toward her aunt. Thankfully Azkadellia was right there to catch her, swooping the child up and spinning her in the air earning a giggle from her favorite niece.

"It's not a problem at all Deeg," Az assured her. "My time with Dani is by far the best time of the day. It beats lessons with Tutor and wedding planning hands down."

DG laughed, feeling her sister's pain. Tutor had his hands full these days helping to reacquaint DG with the OZ through lessons in history, geography, magic, and etiquette. On top of that he was also assisting Azkadellia in reclaiming and rebuilding her magic. On top of that, Azkadellia had been busy

"Come on, you know you love hearing the phrase 'let the light flow through you' on a constant loop. I find it very refreshing."

Az laughed at her sister's odd sense of humor. She tended to chalk up most of her peculiar references to Otherside culture and leave it at that. "Don't worry about a thing. We'll be just fine, won't we?" she asked the smiling child in her arms. Dani smiled in response, burying her head in Azkadellia's shoulder.

"Alright well if you need me I will be with mother. We're supposedly mediating negotiations between the Eastern Guild and the Gilikins. I say we let the Gilikins just roast the crazy painted Turkeys but I doubt mother would approve."

"No I don't think she would," Az agreed.

"All right, well there are extra diapers in my chambers. Her bottles are in the kitchen, just ask Marinna to make one up for you. And her—"

"Deeg," Az cut her sister off, "we'll be fine. It's not as though I've never watched her and you'll just be at the other end of the palace. Now go." She began leading her toward the door. Before DG could utter another phrase she was pushed out into the hallway, Azkadellia's door closed behind her.

Inside her chambers Az laughed, "She's such an overprotective mother. But I guess with an angel like you she has every right to be." She brought the girl into the sitting room and sat her down on the carpet before taking a seat across from her. "All right sweetie, let's see if we can't find you something to play with." Concentrating on the space between them, Az pictured a few of the toys she knew were in DG and Cain's chambers. Her fingers began to tingle as the magic raced through her veins, heating her entire body, coalescing in the empty space. When she opened her eyes the same pile of toys that had appeared in her mind were sitting on the floor.

"Not bad," she said picking up a small stuffed animal. "Not bad at all."

Dani was overly excited, clapping her hands together and squealing with excitement. Az wasn't sure if it was from the magic or the toys, but decided it didn't really matter. She was happy and that's all that matters.

"Dada," Dani sang picking up a toy horse that Cain must have given her. "Dadadada."

Az smiled. She loved hearing her talk. Sure it was only a few words, but it seemed like everyday there was another one added to the list. She'd caught Jeb trying to bribe her into saying his name with chocolate. It hadn't worked out yet. That's why Az used fruit instead. Dani was crazy about Papay fruit, and Az used that knowledge to her advantage.

"What new words have you learned this week?" Az asked. She rooted through the toys and chose a small doll for her trick. Holding the doll in her palm Az concentrated, watching the doll rise effortlessly as it began to spin.

Dani laughed and waved her hands at the doll. "Mama! Mama!"

"That's right, Mommy does that trick for you doesn't she?"

"Mama!" Dani answered, tiny hands grasping for the dancing doll.

Az moved the doll toward her wiggling fingers but kept it dancing just past her grasp. Dani whined and reached further but the doll still eluded her grasp.

"Mine!" the child yelled.

"Well I see we learned that word already," Az sighed. She remembered her childhood of forced 'playdates' with snobbish nobility. The children were insufferable, always demanding their every desire and slightest whim be met without hesitation. There were so many times she had wanted to tell them that they were acting like spoiled brats, but Az knew the royal lecture she would have gotten afterwards about propriety. She was praying that Dani would dart right past the demanding phase and remain cute and loveable. Apparently that wasn't happening.

"Mine!" Dani yelled again, her arms outstretched toward the toy. Her fingers clenched and unclenched in a vain attempt to grasp the spinning doll. "Gimme!"

"That is a nasty habit," Az replied letting the doll drop from the air back into the pile of toys. "We're definitely going to break you of that."

Dani stared at her for a second before discovering a more interesting toy in the stash. She plucked it out and began to play, oblivious to her aunt's presence in the room. Taking the small lapse in her responsibilities to turn her attention to another matter: wedding plans. It was the most aggravating problem in her life at the moment. Sure she was thrilled to be marrying Glitch after so many years of separation, but the hassle of a royal wedding was just not worth it. Had it been up to her, they would have a small ceremony in the gazebo here at Finaqua with only family in attendance. She had actually suggested such a plan but was quickly shot down by the Queen.

"It would be insulting to deny foreign dignitaries the opportunity to witness such a joyous occasion," Lavender said.

"Yes mother. It was just an idea." Azkadellia had relented quickly, knowing that it was a pointless battle anyhow. She would just have to suffer through it. It was a small price to pay to finally be with the one she loved.

"Wyatt!" Dani yelled pulling Azkadellia from her reverie. "Wyatt!"

Az laughed. "Well I see you learned Daddy's real name. I'm sure he will be thrilled to have you call him that."

"Wyatt!" the child yelled again. She pulled a doll from the pile and tossed it toward her aunt.

Azkadellia picked the doll up and retook her seat across from the Danika. "What else have you learned to say that I don't know about?"

"Wyatt," she stated simply. "Yes!" The statement seemed innocent enough; two completely separate words, both with simple meanings. Of course that was when spoken separately. But as Dani continued to sing the words in a quick succession, realization dawned on Azkadellia and a deep crimson blush rose to her cheeks.

"Well," Az laughed as she scooped Dani up off the floor and held her against her hip. "Where did you learn that?"

"Yes!" Dani yelled with glee clapping her chubby hands together. "Wyatt yes!"

Again Az couldn't help but laugh. "I guess Mommy doesn't know about this little development, does she?" The child merely stared at her with quizzical eyes. "Looks like Deeg has a problem censoring herself. Well this should be amusing to say the least."

"Wyatt yes!"

OZOZOZ

The suns were beginning to set when DG finally returned to Azkadellia's chamber. She flung the door open without knocking and charged into her sister's room.

"Ugh! I can not wait until Thanksgiving rolls around and we can bake those little Turkeys!"

Az smiled, guessing that she was referring to the party sent by the Eastern Guild for negotiations. She knew it was going to be a long day between the guilds that absolutely refused to agree on anything. "Was it really that bad?"

DG shot her a look of pure exhaustion and annoyance. With a deep sigh, she effectively ended the conversation without a word. "So how was she today?"

"Absolute Angel," Azkadellia replied with a smile. "She's sleep-"A sudden wail from the adjoining bedroom interrupted the quiet conversation.

"You were saying?" DG laughed, disappearing into the room and reemerging moments later with a bleary eyed Danika in her arms. The girl rested her head against her mother's shoulder while sucking on her thumb.

"Good morning Sweetheart," Az cooed. She ran her hand softly down her niece's back stopping to tickle her ribs. Dani giggled and buried her face deeper into her mother's hair.

"Tell Aunt Azzie goodnight," DG said as she made her way to the door.

Danika waved her arm wildly. "Bye bye!"

"Night sweetie," Az waved back. "Hey Deeg, she learned a new word today. Well actually two."

DG's eyes lit up. "Really? What did you learn?" she asked the child in her arms. Dani said nothing, but stared between the two older women. "Come on Dani. Don't you want to tell me what you learned from Aunt Az?"

"Oh she didn't learn it from me," Az corrected. She walked with DG to the door and lingered in the frame.

"Where did she get it from then?"

"Trust me; you will know when you hear it."

DG eyed her sister warily before smiling and turning to leave. She was only a few feet down the hallway when Dani broke her silence.

"Wyatt yes!"

Az began laughing hysterically as DG's mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide. "Wha…how?" she sputtered which only caused Az to laugh harder.

Spurred on by her aunt's reaction, Danika began chanting her new phrase drawing the attention of the guards and maids littering the hallways. DG tried unsuccessfully to silence her daughter which only made the scene that much more amusing.

"Have a good night Deeg!" Az called before disappearing back into her chambers.

So I wrote and rewrote this chapter at least 4 times before I got it right. Let me know what you guys think of it!!