"Hey Hil!" Tyson yawned, "Do you ever get the feeling that Tyra isn't as comfortable around other peeps as us?"
"Hmm…" Hilary wondered, holding the dish under the tap as water began to wash it off, "I have noticed it for a while. Just the other day, she was getting antsy all around my pals. I think I know what it spells…"
"What?"
"She's experiencing stranger anxiety!" The brunette answered, polishing the plate with a sponge.
"Huh?" Tyson gave Hilary a confused look. "What's that?"
"I read about it in a book when I was pregnant with Tyra, knowing someday will be walking on this," Hilary replied with a serious note, as she set the plate on the stand, and wiped her hands on the apron. She twirled around, leaning on the counter, as she explained, "It's something that shows up when a baby is in the fifth month, and that's gonna bode us very well."
"What do you mean?" Tyson expressed in a confused look.
"You can't pull out by pitting stranger and anxiety together?" Hilary sighed.
"Not helpful, Hil." Tyson puffed a cheek.
"Look, she's uncomfortable around faces she doesn't fully know yet." The matriarch simplified, "If a stranger comes near her too suddenly, she can get petrified, burst out or cling tighter to us."
"Doesn't make sense," Tyson shook his head, unacceptably. "Tyra didn't have that problem before. You, me, Gramps, your dad and mom…"
"I know about that," Hilary shrugged, "But that didn't last very long. And it's not like they visit every day. Since then all she's ever seen is us, and her toys. So it is creating a new atmosphere for her now." She bit her lip, "but this can't go for long. I wouldn't want my baby to feel anxious. Stress can't be good for such a tiny thing."
"Yeah, me neither…"
"Maybe we can try getting her to socialize," Hilary tapped her head. Groaning, she slumped her shoulders and muttered, "But what it that worsens her anxiety?"
"Don't sweat over it too much Hil," Tyson chuckled, "We'll figure it out. And this is just a phase. It'll pass…"
"Yes, but every baby is different."
"We'll be just fine," Tyson assured. "I feel it with this one. Tyra is a good baby, and I don't think she's gonna' change too much anytime soon."
Tyson had been right, so far. Tyra was just as happy as she'd always been, save for the first 24 hours of her life when she'd been exceptionally cranky. He had heard horror stories of how, around the age of 5 months old, many babies began to reject their fathers for a period of time, and much preferred to be with their mothers. They would scream and cry just at the sight of their Dad, and it discouraged many fathers. Tyson knew if that happened to him, his heart would break. He just loved his baby too much to stay away from her. The girl was now 5 months old, and since Hilary was so big on reading about the baby's development week by week, she had learned of what Tyra's next advancement would be, and it made her nervous.
Tyra was just fine in Tyson's presence. In fact, she seemed perfectly happy. Tyson knew that could change in a heartbeat; babies were very fickle. But for now, Tyra was a cheerful little girl when she was with him, so Tyson wasn't going to question it.
The family was currently taking a vacation in Bahamas. Hilary, who had been a bit more irritable than usual since she was only five months removed from giving birth, had finally had enough of the chilling weather of Tokyo, and demanded to go somewhere warm where she could go swimming outdoors and wear shorts all day. It was Tyra's first big vacation, so Tyson was busy showing her around the island while Hilary went swimming back at the hotel.
"You're cute," Tyson informed the baby, tickling her stomach. The infant squeaked and cooed, wiggling her legs in the air. Her bright auburn eyes were wide open, pink lips forming an undeniable smile as she giggled happily.
Tyson's stomach suddenly growled, loudly enough to catch Tyra's attention. The infant squeaked and looked around curiously, wondering where in the world that sound could've come from.
"Oh, sorry," Tyson laughed sheepishly. "I guess I'm a little hungry! I think there's a little restaurant up there. I could get some lunch! I bet you're hungry too. Aren't you, baby girl?"
Tyra babbled and reached up with one hand. Smiling, Tyson offered his index finger to the baby, who shrieked and happily took the finger into her grasp. He raised her closer to his face and kissed her on the forehead, leading the baby to let out some happy, throaty noises.
Tyson stepped into the small diner, walking over to the counter and waiting for the hostess to notice him. She seemed to be doing something, and Tyson didn't want to interrupt her. Eventually, the girl turned around and caught sight of Tyson, gasping as she did so.
"Oh my gosh," she breathed, "You're the World Champion!"
"Yeah," Tyson chuckled calmly. "Do you have a table available?"
"Yes…of course," the hostess still seemed star struck. "Is it…just you?"
"Yep!" Tyson nodded. "Well, unless you count my little pumpkin right here." He motioned his head towards his baby daughter, who was still busy staring up at him.
"Oh my gosh, that's your baby!" The hostess squealed. "She's so completely adorable! Hi there, cutie!"
She waved at the baby, Tyra watching curiously. The baby seemed transfixed by the woman, not frightened like Tyson was afraid she might be.
"Oh, she's so precious," the hostess sighed. "Do you need a high chair for this little angel?"
"Yeah, that'd be great!" Tyson grinned.
The young woman led Tyson to a small booth, setting the high chair down at the end of the table. Tyson thanked her as she skirted away, clearly stunned over the fact that she had just seated the world's iconic Beyblader. Chuckling, Tyson held Tyra under her arms, up in the air: the infant's cerulean dress with flutter sleeves, ruffled hem, and floral embroidery coming into full view.
"Aw, who's my baby?" Tyson cooed.
Tyra reached down and babbled, smiling the entire time. Returning the action, Tyson lowered the baby and gave her a small kiss on the lips before sitting her down in the high chair. Tyra whimpered for a few seconds, reaching up for her father as she was put down. Tyson leaned his head down and kissed the baby's ear, which seemed to relax her. With Tyra settled, Tyson slid into the booth.
"There, all set!" Tyson beamed. He kept his eyes on Tyra, watching as the baby reached up with her tiny hands to grab at the straw hat that she was wearing on her head. Hilary had warned Tyson before taking the baby out that he'd better put the hat on her head. Babies, as she constantly reminded him, had very sensitive skin that needed to be protected from the sun. "Oops, sorry, pumpkin! Let Daddy take that off of you."
He removed the hat, Tyra seeming a bit more cheerful once it was removed. Gathering his backpack, Tyson stuffed the hat into the side pocket, figuring he wouldn't need it again until they left the restaurant. Hearing the eager cries of his baby, Tyson smirked and unzipped the back of the backpack, reaching in to fetch something else.
"Aw, you're a hungry little baby?" Tyson asked. "Don't worry, Daddy has some tasty food for you right here!"
He put down a jar of baby food in front of her; mashed bananas, and a little spoon with a purple rubber end. Reaching back into his backpack, Tyson fetched the last thing he needed to feed the baby: her pink and white bib.
"Mommy would kill me if you got that pretty little dress all dirty, wouldn't she?" Tyson chuckled as he put the bib on the girl.
Tyra babbled and clapped her hands together. She was happy, Tyson knew. He didn't know what for, but was that such a bad thing? It was fun to have a baby would just find joy out of absolutely nothing. Much better than having one who would constantly scream for no good reason, Tyson believed.
He easily removed the top from the jar of food and spooned some out, holding it in front of the girl's mouth. Tyra opened up without any further prodding and ate the food, experimentally gumming it before swallowing the mush.
"Wow, good girl!" Tyson cooed, spooning out some more to feed to the baby.
Unbeknownst to the Beyblading Champion, a group of young women were sitting nearby and watching him feed the infant, quietly cooing at every move he made. It was, of course, a very attractive quality in a man; loving and caring for children, especially infants.
As Tyson continued to spoon feed his daughter, a waitress came by to take Tyson's order. The Beyblading Champion blushed and nearly stammered; he had been too busy with Tyra to even open the menu. And when a variety of food was presented to Tyson, it was harder to choose than then a test of geometry in his opinion.
Tyson twisted his lips, perusing through the menu. His eyes greedily gander the images of food, while his mind began to weigh in the options.
"Man…Burger, Ribs, Snapper, Conch Balls, Steak…so many options…"
Tyra had started to audibly shriek, causing Tyson to whip around. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the little girl banging the spoon against the table, splattering her pureed peas across the surface.
"Oh, no no, baby!" Tyson very softly chastised, taking the spoon out of his baby's grasp. "We can't make a mess here." Tyra squeaked and stared up at her father in awe. Smiling, Tyson took a napkin and cleaned the table, informing his daughter, "Sorry, that was my fault. I know I shouldn't take my eyes off of you, pumpkin!"
With the table cleaned, Tyson took the spoon back into his grip and began to feed the baby once again. He was so focused, in fact, on giving the child her sustenance that Tyson didn't take notice of the women who had been observing him moving closer to the table.
After swallowing more of her food, Tyra squealed and beamed up at her father, who was more than happy to return the action, cooing, "Yeah, isn't it tasty?"
"Oh, it's just so precious!"
Tyson blinked and looked up at the women who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He was confused, while Tyra hadn't taken notice at all, still smiling and cooing quietly at her Daddy.
"Uh…hi?" Tyson was a little flustered.
The woman who had first spoken, a pretty blonde with gray eyes, knelt down and smiled at the baby girl, who had finally taken notice of the unknown woman. "Is this your baby?"
"Yes…" Tyson raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, she's adorable!" The blonde rubbed Tyra's head, running her fingers through the infant's soft brown hair. Tyson froze in fear when he saw an unsure look cross his daughter's face. He was afraid that Tyra was about to scream and cry, throw some kind of fit, just plain freak out. The look on her face wasn't a promising one.
"Thanks," Tyson murmured, lifting Tyra out of the high chair and holding her on his lap. The baby stared up at the women, studying each one very carefully. There were only three, but Tyra had never seen any of them before, so it was interesting for her.
There was the blonde one, who had just touched her head and seemed to be the leader. To the left was a woman with purple hair and blue eyes, and to the right a woman with auburn hair and hazel eyes. Tyra scrutinized each and every one, deciding in her little head that none of them were as pretty as her Mommy. Her Mommy had such a nice face to look at.
"Oh my gosh, Shiela!" The purple haired woman nudged the auburn tressed one. "That's the World Beyblading Champion!"
Shiela, as she seemed to be named, observed the blunette before gasping, "you're right, Clarrise! So that means the little girl is his baby daughter, Tyra!"
The blonde woman leaned over and picked Tyra up, right out of Tyson's lap. He was stunned, so much so that he couldn't even think to argue. Giggling, the blonde held Tyra in front of her face and cooed, "Hello there, little darling! My name is Jessica; it's so lovely to meet you!"
Tyra smiled and giggled, reaching out to grab a fistful of the woman's locks. Shiela and Clarisse squealed in delight, watching the baby girl play with their friend so innocently. Eventually, Shiela reached over and gently poked Tyra's cheek, leading the baby to shriek in joy. Clarisse, meanwhile, busied herself with talking to the infant in a baby voice while stroking her feathery walnut locks.
Tyson watched the whole scene with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"I don't know why I was worried..." Tyson muttered, smacking his palm against his face. "Tyra is a bigger celebrity than I am…"