Day 7: Letting Go

The next day, Kuki awoke to Tyson's wailing in his chair. She sighed and got out of bed, picking him up.
"Hey mister. What's up?" She asked him. Glancing over at her clock. 6:55am. "Wow, you've let me sleep in a little. I guess your hungry."

Tyson gargled in agreement and Kuki took him into the kitchen, serving him his food. She then took him into the main area and switched the television on. Relaxing as she and Tyson watched the early morning cartoons.
An hour went by before she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Wally stood in the doorway, he scratched his head sleepily and gave a her a shy smile.

"Hi." He said.

Kuki beamed back at him. "Morning."

Wally walked over and looked over the couch to see Tyson staring up at him curiously.
"Hey buddy." Wally smiled, ruffling his hair.

Tyson made an attempt to hit him in protest but Wally moved to quickly. Wally chuckled as he walked into the kitchen.

Kuki watched him as he prepared himself some toast and jam. He then came and sat next to her in the couch as he took a bite of his breakfast.
Kuki gave a mischievous smile as she leant over and took a slice of his toast.

"Hey!" Wally protested, his mouth half full.

Kuki giggled. "I haven't had anything yet, I've been watching Tyson."

Wally rolled his eyes playfully and subtly moved a little closer to her. She began to eat the toast and glanced back at him.
Wally swallowed his last mouthful and grabbed the remote. "I hate this show."
He flicked the channel. Tyson began to cry, glaring at Wally.

"What? It's crud!" Wally argued with the child.

Tyson replied by wailing louder.

"Fine!" Wally groaned, flipping the channel back again and throwing the remote aside in defeat.

Kuki giggled as Tyson happily watched the pictures on screen and swayed with the music.
Wally looked at her and discreetly placed his elbow closest to her on the back of the couch.
"How're you feelin'?" He asked her, slowly spreading his arm out.

"Good thanks." Kuki smiled back, not noticing how his hand was now moving closer to her shoulder.

Wally smiled. "Good, you get much sleep?"

Kuki nodded again. "He slept through all night so I did too."

She jumped as she felt Wally's arm drape over her shoulder. She gave a small grin and rested her head on him. Kuki then placed her arm around his waist and snuggled up to him. She then gave a giggle as she pinched his arm and made him jump.

"What are you doing?" Wally moaned, leaning his head back.

Kuki sat up and looked down at him. "Trying to make you laugh, or at least smile...you're so grumpy. Come on! Laugh!"

She jabbed at him playfully with her finger. He chuckled and began to tickle her back. "Not going to work."

Kuki giggled and fell back as Wally continuously tickled her. Wally stopped and Kuki's giggling began to decrease. She looked up at him and he stared back down at her. They slowly moved to brush lips but were interrupted.

"Dadda!" Tyson shouted.

The two looked up at him.
"Tyson? You spoke!" Kuki exclaimed. She and Wally sat up and Kuki picked him up.

"Dadda!" Tyson repeated, holding his arms out towards Wally."

Kuki chuckled. "He wants dadda."

Wally shook his head. "I'm...I'm not..."

Kuki placed Tyson onto Wally's lap. Tyson chuckled and pulled Wally's hair.
"Ow! Hey quit it tyke!" Wally tried to scold but couldn't help but smile.

"You're such a great dad." Kuki giggled, coming behind the couch and wrapping her arms around him. She then pecked him on the cheek.

Wally sighed. "I'm not a dad."

"What do you mean?" Kuki asked.

Wally placed Tyson aside and looked up at her. "We're twelve years old. We're hardly old enough to be parents. I hate to admit it but Numbuh 1 was right. We can hardly look after ourselves."

Kuki sighed and tightened her grip around him. "Either way, you're great with Tyson."

There was a knock on the door. Kuki stood up and answered it.
"Oh, hey Mr Sanders." Kuki smiled.

"Hello Kuki." Mr Sanders beamed at her. "I just came to say I was back and thanks for looking after my cats and sorting my mail. Oh and changing those flowers, you didn't have to do that...here, this...is for you."

He flicked through his wallet and handed Kuki $12.

"Wow, thanks Mr Sanders." Kuki beamed. "Um, I need to tell you something."

Mr Sanders looked up at her with a smile. "What?"

"...I ate some of your cereal when I was there, sorry." Kuki sighed.

Mr Sanders chuckled. "Kuki, you know I don't mind about that. Thanks anyway, I'll see you later."

Kuki closed the door and turned around.
"Didn't you tell him about Tyson?" Wally asked.

Kuki sighed and sat next to him. "...I can't he's...he's one of us now."

"You should have told him Kuki." Wally shook his head.

"Told who what?" Nigel asked as he walked in.

"Mr Sanders just got back." Kuki sighed. "I didn't tell him about Tyson."

"Oh." Nigel said quietly as he sat down on the couch. Abby and Hoagie walked through the door to find out the contents of the conversation.

"...well, Tyson's like a member of the KND now...he's proved himself worthy." Nigel shrugged.

Wally shook his head. "Kuki, he's not your kid. He's Mr Sanders'. He needs to know."
Wally placed Tyson back into Kuki's lap.

"Dadda!" Tyson moaned reaching for Wally again.

Kuki sighed and stared around the room. Her best friends watched her.
She sighed and nodded. Standing up as she held Tyson close.

"I'll take him home." She said quietly.

She walked out of the tree house, leaving it silent as the kids exchanged anxious glances.

"Kuki!" Kuki spun around to see her friends. She smiled as they approached her.

"You forgot his stuff." Wally stated. Kuki scanned the items in her friends hands. Abby held the baby food. Hoagie had the baby seat. Nigel had the diapers. Wally held the toy monkey.
Kuki smiled up at them and spun around, continuing to walk alongside her friends.

They finally reached Mr Sanders' house. Kuki walked down to the door and knocked loudly.
Mr Sanders opened the door and smiled. "Hey Kuki."

"Mr Sanders, this is Tyson...he's your son." Kuki bit her lip as she held Tyson up. Tyson stared at him and hid his face on Kuki's collarbone when Mr Sanders stared at him.

"He came with this note." Kuki said, rummaging through her pocket to find the note that Tyson came with. "It was just him and this note on your doorstep."

"Wow..." Mr Sanders scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "...you guys have been looking after him?"

"For seven days." Wally nodded, stepping forward.

Mr Sanders reached out and Kuki placed Tyson into his arms. Tyson wriggled in confusion.
"Dadda!" Tyson muttered, holding his arms out to Wally.

"This is your dadda now kid." Wally sighed, ruffling his hair.

Kuki bit her lip. "Well, we'd better...go...now...bye...be good Tyson."

The team handed Mr Sanders the baby objects and turned around, walking down the pathway.
"Oh." Wally stopped, running back to Mr Sanders' doorway and pulling out a case from his hoodie. "Put this on if he gets restless. He loves this."

"Toy story 3." Mr Sanders read it and smiled.

Wally gave a grin. "Ever watched it?"

Sanders shook his head. "I've seen the first one."

Wally chuckled. "You've missed out, it's great. Watch it with him."

Mr Sanders nodded. "Thanks kid."

Wally nodded and walked back to join his friends.

"Kuki!" Mr Sanders shouted. The kids all turned to look at him.
"I might need a babysitter or five every now and then!"

Kuki beamed and nodded, exchanging glances with the team. "That'd be great. We'd love to."

They then got back to the tree house and sat on the couch.
"At least it's not a total goodbye." Abby smiled.

Nigel nodded. "Like I said, I think he'll make a worthy KND member."

"Yeah but I'll miss not having him around." Hoagie sighed.

"Are you kidding!" Wally joked. "We all get a decent nights sleep."

Kuki stayed silent. Wally glanced at her and placed an arm behind her.
"hey, I'm kidding. We'll miss him...but he'll be happy. Anyway, you'll be a great mum someday."

Kuki smiled and leaned in kissing him lightly on the lips.
"Whatever you say dadda."

The End