A/N: Thank you so much for the review Joanna! As much as I like to write to de-stress, I sometimes wonder if it's wise to post my ideas here or if I should just keep it to myself. It really helps when I get feedback, so thank you for taking the time to review :-). Here is a shorter chapter to keep things going. Thanks for reading and take care everyone!
Flashback
Sara
"Come on already Sara! Seriously, how long does it take to make popcorn...you stick it in the microwave and hit start; It's not rocket science!" The small voice from beyond bellows.
I quickly toss the burnt bag into the garbage and kick the door shut, wafting my arms wildly in the air so as the burnt smell won't reach the living room.
They will never let me live it down if they find out I made charcoal out of the last one.
Okay, cooking isn't my thing...so shoot me!
"Yeah, yeah I'm coming, I'm coming! Start the movie already babe, I've seen Star Wars so many times I think I've memorized the first few minutes anyways!" I yell to Catherine hoping that by starting the movie, it will distract little miss smarty pants enough that she won't smell my little mishap.
I sigh with relief as I hear the classic Star Wars theme bounce off our walls as I open the microwave to reveal a half popped bag of popcorn.
"Seriously? First I burn it, then I under cook it! Is this bloody rocket science?" I mutter quietly to myself as I stick it back in for another minute.
"Do you need some help in there?" Catherine's voice rises over the movie. I can hear the subtle chuckle in her voice enough to tell me that she agrees with the little monster's assessment of my popcorn making skills.
Damn Willows clan are going to be the death of me! I swear if I wasn't so madly in love with both of them, they would drive me crazy!
"Just another minute, I'm getting the good bowl and the flavour stuff you like!" I yell my blatant lie back in reply. I've had this crappy bowl and sneeze inducing powder crap ready from before I almost set the kitchen on fire...but they don't need to know that.
When the microwave beeps I put my hand on the door and give it a warning glare before I move to open it.
"Be nice to me microwave and I'll be nice to you. If you don't ruin my popcorn again, I won't blow you up with tin foil later when we are home alone." I threaten the appliance in a low voice.
I don't care how crazy I look right now; there have to be forces unknown aiding Catherine and Lindsay...they manage to one up me more than should be statistically possible.
Pulling out the popcorn and seeing that it looks edible, I quickly pour it in the bowl and head over to my girls cuddled on the sofa. Even as they stare intently at the TV screen and barely acknowledge my approach, I smile to myself at their beauty. I love them both beyond words! They have given my life so much joy and meaning.
I squeeze my way between them and lean slightly on Catherine as Lindsay wiggles her body to lean slightly against me. I couldn't be happier.
Save for the occasional crunch of popcorn, we silently watch the movie until I think I hear something beeping in the distance. It's hard to tell at first since the movie drowns it out, but I think it's the smoke detector's battery.
I try to ignore it and enjoy Star Wars until I think about my popcorn mishap and the importance of having all of the alarms in working order. I would never want to put my two favourite girls in harm's way.
Sighing, I lean closer to Cath, who either doesn't hear it or is too engrossed in the movie to care and whisper into her ear.
"Babe, you think that's the smoke detector battery going off? You remember the last time we changed them?"
Eyes still glued to the TV, she gives me an annoyed swat and frown.
"Shh, I don't know Sar...you're missing the good part."
Smirking at her annoyed tone, I evilly decide to take advantage of this opportunity to irritate my love.
"Yeah, I guess it doesn't matter...oh wait, it does! Unless of course you want to die in your sleep from carbon monoxide and end up naked on one of Doc Robbin's tables."
Still not even glancing in my direction, she frowns and elbows me in the ribs. I know I'm getting on her nerves and that makes this all the more fun.
That's what happens when you pick a movie I've already seen a thousand times and poke fun at my snack making abilities.
Ignoring the fact she is still lightly trying to push me away, I lean closer to her ear and whisper in my low seductive voice.
"Live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse right? I think you could even make being a rotting corpse look sexy! Your just that Damn hot!" I say before nibbling softly on her ear.
"Sara! You are disgusting! That is so morbid!" She half yells, half giggles while hitting me playfully on the chest.
Seeing that I got her full attention, I steal a quick kiss and sit back now that my mission to distract her from the movie is complete.
I can feel her eyes boring into the side of my head as I stare at the TV pretending to be fully engrossed in the film now myself.
She hesitates for a moment before pulling me towards her and giving me a rougher, more passionate kiss.
"Gross! Guys...seriously? Star Wars!" Lindsay complains while gesturing between us and the TV.
Still with my focus solely on Catherine, I can feel little feet nudging me before several pieces of popcorn start flying by my head.
I ignore the assault and wink at Catherine before quickly turning and lunging myself at an unsuspecting Lindsay. Caught off guard, I easily over power her and begin my tickling counter assault as she giggles and kicks wildly in vain to free herself.
Satisfied with my success, I lean away and feel Catherine gently kiss the back of my neck.
When Lindsay finally catches her breath and our giggling dies down, she reaches for the remote and pauses the movie, frowning slightly.
"Hey, I think you need to change the batteries on one of the detectors. You don't want us to all die in our sleep do you?" Lindsay says while looking up at me expectantly.
I turn toward Catherine and when my back is to Lindsay, I wag my eyebrows up and down at her before she launches a pillow at my head. Taking my cue to quit while I'm ahead, I get up to try to figure out which of the Damn things has up and died.
Walking slowing toward the kitchen, the floor softly creeks beneath my feet as I listen intently to see if that is the right one. A soft beeping to my left tells me it isn't.
Unfazed, I turn down the hall and tip toe slowly with my head tilted to the side before freezing in my tracks when I hear the beeping getting fainter. I didn't realize how many of these things we actually had...why can't there be flashing lights on them when the battery dies? This is harder to find than I thought!
Starting to get frustrated at how long this is taking, I turn back towards the living room and see both Catherine and Lindsay turned around on the sofa so that their arms are dangling off the back of it; watching me intently. I freeze in my tracks once more when I hear the beep getting louder and try to determine which direction it came from.
"Behold the Sidle in her natural habitat as she searches for the wily and elusive smoke detector." Lindsay says in a cheesy fake French accent and Cath bursts out laughing.
I quickly look up at her and gesture frustrated with my arms.
"I'm sorry Sar, but that is funny!" She says while unsuccessfully suppressing another giggle. "You do kind of look like a cat hunting prey...and it's funny."
"Yeah, a crazy cat! Oh, you could be like the crazy cat lady on the Simpson's!" Lindsay announces and they both burst out laughing again.
I throw my arms up in the air in response and give them both a death glare.
"Or...you both could actually get up and help instead of making fun of me!" I half yell over their roaring laughter.
Sighing as they seemingly pay me no heed, I continue my search and head toward the stairway. It seems too loud to be one of the ones upstairs...maybe it's the one on the landing...
I can still hear them talking lowly and giggling and despite myself I feel my anger fade. I can't stay annoyed at them long...they are both too damn cute for their own good.
But they don't need to know that either.
Silently, I throw my arms up in a mini victory dance as I approach the offending item.
"No thanks to you two lazy evil beings, I found it thank you very much!" I yell over my shoulder while opening the battery cover.
Although I can't make out what they are saying, another round of laughter makes me begin to contemplate if they still are too cute to stay mad at.
With my mission finally accomplished, I make my way back to the sofa and settle between my two monsters. They apparently both decide to have the good grace not to bring up any other cat references, so we resume watching the movie in silence.
As the harsh whooshing sounds of Darth Vader's mechanical breathing fills the room, I think I hear something coming from the kitchen.
Taking the remote from Lindsay, I pause the movie and lean over the back of the sofa. Even though I know what I'm about to hear, I hold my breath and listen in annoyed anticipation.
The battery in the kitchen's detector announces its displeasure and I throw my hands up in defeat.
Arms still outstretched, frozen with anger; Lindsay quickly snatches the remote from my hands and hits play as whooshing, beeping and laughter fills the air.
"You have got to be kidding me?"...
A/N the second: I thought a little happy flashback would be a nice break from all the depressing stuff. Only a few more chapters and this will finally be complete. Thanks again, and take care!