Clarity

Morning in Robin and Morgan's household started early, even on the weekend. Cordelia woke up to an empty space, the sound of sizzling fat, and the smell of melted butter. And of course, Morgan's giggles. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she rose, and felt her spine popping back into position as she lightly stretched and twisted her whole body. Slowly, the layout of the room crept into her sight. She recognized Robin's back, hunching over the stove at the far end, and the top of Morgan's head bobbing up and down beyond the countertop separating the living room and the kitchen. She gave Morgan a smile when the girl waved at her as she went to wash her face.

Morgan's arms were raised, waiting for her when Cordelia came out a few minutes later. Smiling, she went in for Morgan's special tight hug, questioning herself about the girl's strength, especially in the early morning. With her arms connected behind Cordelia's back, Morgan continued to rock both of them together.

"What are we playing now?" she asked, when Morgan let her go. The girl had her arms reached forward, and then up, and then down, stretching herself following her hums. Cordelia found herself instinctively following Morgan's movements, and was surprised when she was able to follow her without missing a single beat. Then she chuckled to herself when she remembered the exact exercise from an old program on the television from her own childhood. Robin must've thought her.

"Chicken nugget dance!"

"I'm… sorry?" Cordelia looked at the girl in confusion as Morgan stopped what she was doing and frowned back at her, silence lingered between them. Then, with a sudden 'ding' the oven stopped, and Morgan's frown turned back into a smile.

"Daddy."

"Just a sec."

Cordelia then turned her frown towards Robin, which he answered with an amused grin. "Coffee?"

She sighed, not even realizing she was holding her breath. "Yes please," she said, as she took the plate and fork from him. Not wanting Morgan to grab on her while she took out the hot chicken nuggets from the oven, Cordelia pointed for the girl to go to the table before she transferred them into the plate. When she turned around, Morgan was about to reached for the piping hot coffee Robin placed at the other side from her. Swiftly, Cordelia covered the rim of the mug with one hand while she placed the plate of chicken nuggets in front of Morgan. "I think this is mine. Here you go. They're still hot, so be careful, okay?"

Morgan pouted as she looked at her, and nodded after a few seconds. She took the fork in her hand and jabbed it into a piece of nugget as Cordelia took a seat in front of her. Sipping her coffee, Cordelia smiled as she watched Morgan blew on the piece of processed meat, then huffed a few times. Robin came and placed a plate with some pancakes and and scrambled eggs beside the nugget plate. He looked at Morgan for a few seconds before turning his gaze to Cordelia. "So, sweet, or savory?"

Cordelia held his gaze for a moment, and gulped the liquid in her mouth. "Sweet, please." Robin raised an eyebrow at her answer, making her raised her mug towards him. "I have my savory right here."

"And here."

They turned their eyes towards Morgan. The girl had her fork with a half-eaten nugget still attached to the tip pointed towards Cordelia. "And here." Cordelia smiled, and bit the chicken nugget into her mouth. Morgan giggled as she huffed just like the girl did a few minutes ago.

Robin rolled his eyes and turned back towards the stove. "Is honey okay? I don't think we have maple."

"That's fine. And could you melt some butter as well? Burn it a little."

Without looking back, he gave her and okay signal with his hand, as another sizzle, followed by the smell of melted butter wafted through the kitchen.

"Here you go, miss. A set of burnt pancakes drowning in honey to start the day," Robin said a he placed a plate of pancakes and a jar of honey in front of her. Cordelia smiled, and frowned when she realized the stove was already turned off.

"You're not eating?"

Robin looked at her for a moment, then reached for a chicken nugget from Morgan's plate. "Hey, that's mine." Robin smiled at the pouting girl, as he chewed and swallowed. Still pouting, Morgan cut a piece of her pancake, and gestured it towards him. Robin bit on the pancake from the fork, and chewed again.

"Unfortunately, I have to get in early today. Got some new stocks coming in. Need to open the door for them." He paused. "Do you mind watching Mo today? Come to the shop whenever."

"Sure."

"Th…" He smiled. "I'll get some of her clothes out. She can bathe herself, just… try to get her out of the water at some point. Which is easier said than done, actually."

"I'll manage."

"Oh, a challenger. I like the spirit. Let's see how that works for you." Cordelia could only roll her eyes. "I need to get ready. Enjoy your breakfast." She smiled, before realizing Morgan had her fork with a piece of pancake and scrambled egg gestured towards her. Cordelia immediately realized the bartering look the girl was sending her, and cut a piece of her own pancake for the trade.

Robin came out just as they were finishing their meal. "Alright. I gotta go now. You'll listen to Cordy today?" Morgan was having a drink of her orange juice, and nodded. Robin smiled, and kissed the top of her head before moving for the door.

"Daddy, wait! What about Cordy?"

Halted in his step, Robin turned back to look at Cordelia at first. She shrugged. He then shifted his eyes towards Morgan. "What about Cordy?"

Morgan frowned. "You don't want to kiss Cordy goodbye?"

Cordelia laughed. "Yeah, you don't want to kiss Cordy goodbye?"

Robin pushed his eyebrows together as he looked at her in confusion, and shook it off after a few seconds. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"A little bit," she said, as she touched and gestured her right cheek towards him. It was a light peck right below her cheekbone that managed to warm her face more than the coffee, and left her wanting. She smiled when she felt Robin's reassuring tug on her thumb. Cordelia hooked her thumb deeper into his hand as she savored the lingering heat from his fingers over her skin. Robin smiled back when he realized her gaze on him, right before breaking their fragile bond. "There. Happy?"

Morgan smiled, and nodded. "Now do me next."

"We already did you."

"Here, like Cordy," Morgan said as she pointed towards her cheek.

Robin sighed, and obliged. "There. Can I go now?"

Morgan giggled. "Do Cordy again."

Cordelia raised her eyebrows and shared a look with Robin. He sighed, louder, and kissed Morgan on both cheeks and the top of her head. The girl puffed up her cheeks, and blew the air within when Robin poked them with a finger. "That's not what I said."

"And I don't want to go to work today."

Cordelia smiled. "Come on. Let's go walk him out," she said, as she extended a hand to Morgan. Gripping two of her fingers, the girl dragged her feet behind her until they reached the door. Robin gave Morgan a hug and smiled at Cordelia before making his way. He walked for three steps, paused for a moment, reached into his pocket, and came back towards them.

"Here. I almost forgot about this."

Cordelia eyed and fingered the shiny piece of metal on her palm, still warm from Robin's heat. "It's a spare. You can keep it… if you want." Robin's words lingered in her ears, warming them. Cordelia could tell, her ears were getting hotter, then the heat crept towards her cheeks, and the corners of her mouth gradually tugged upwards, again. There was no other response she could conjure up, saved for closing her fist to make sure the key didn't slide out of her hand, and pinching herself with the other hand. She waved with a balled fist as Robin finally went away. They waited until he was out of sight before getting back inside.

After finishing their drinks, Cordelia took the time to clean herself and get dressed while Morgan watched her morning cartoon, and did the dishes while Morgan bathed herself. She was about done when she heard the girl called for her from the bedroom. Rushing towards her, Cordelia chuckled when she found Morgan stuck inside her shirt. "My head can't get out," Morgan said with a muffled voice.

"Hold on." She smiled, as she opened the neck button to get Morgan out. She let Morgan finished dressing herself as she went to the sweaters Robin had hung on the wall. Cordelia looked at Morgan's pink parka and the green cardigan, took both of them off, and turned towards the girl. "It's kinda chilly today. Which one do you want?"

Morgan contemplated on the two jackets, alternating her eyes on them, one after the other. She stood in silence for a while, before turning around to the dresser and took out an adult-sized jacket in dark purple. She gestured that to her instead.

"Are you sure you can fit in that?" Morgan nodded. "Can you wear it by yourself?" Morgan nodded again, and put one arm through a sleeve. Cordelia smiled as she looked at Morgan struggling with the zipper, took a picture of the girl with her phone, and sent it to Robin. "Here, let me help you with that."

They had finished and were about to go out when Cordelia's phone chimed. She looked at the message from Robin and rolled her eyes. "Tie the sleeves around her like a straitjacket." She was putting on her shoes when she felt a pair of soft whips on her back. She turned around, only to meet a smiling Morgan, hiding both hands behind her. Smiling back, Cordelia grabbed both ends of the sleeves, brought them to the front and all the way back behind the girl, so that Morgan would be hugging herself, and neatly tied them together. She put the girl in her shoes, planted a kiss on the top of her head, and brought her outside. Morgan giggled as she rocked her body side to side, trying to get free. Cordelia went back to lock the door, and turned back to find Morgan was already free, flailing both sleeves in front of her.

"How did you–" shaking the frown off of her face, Cordelia sighed, and smiled. "Ready to go?" she said, as she extended a hand towards Morgan.

Just in time for the new year. Thank you for reading and leaving reviews. Those really made my day.

On a side note, I need to give a heads up. If everything goes as planned, there will be 2 more chapters until the end. Hopefully we'll be able to finish this one some time next year.

Until next time.