Virgil sighed contently after such a satisfying meal. He noticed his wife smiling at him and gave her a ridiculous toothy grin.
"Stop making that face, you look like a photogenic sloth," she scrunched her nose, trying not to laugh.
"This smile is how I get the ladies," he wiggled his eyebrow, "At least one fell for it."
Jess turned aside, trying not to laugh at his antics and failing.
"See," Virgil turned his attention to Miguel, "If you can make a woman laugh you've broken down her walls. And with enough of that you can be a mistake she can't take back."
"Shut up!" Jess pushed him, getting up from the table to take his plate as she laughed, "I can't stand you."
"See, I'm her favorite mistake," he joked with Miguel.
Mig smiled. It was really nice to see a normal family dynamic. Laughing and joking instead of yelling and arguing, She seemed so happy around him.
"I'll do them," Mig hurried to the sink.
"There aren't too many to do, it can wait until later."
"What's later, ma'am? Tomorrow?" Her husband scoffed.
"Dinner time, so they can all be done at once. I don't know what's with you wanting them washed after every meal," she rolled her eyes.
"I don't do it after every meal, but I don't want them in the sink overnight. Why is that weird to you?" He looked to their guest, "Do you let dishes sit overnight?"
"Not really, it feels better when you sleep knowing they're done," the giant shrugged, scrubbing the plate.
"See, he gets it. I approve of this adoption," he smirked.
"Whatever, to both of you," she shook her head, "Please call you dad."
"I'm good, he's mad at you, and by extension me."
"What did I do?"
Virgil shrugged, "Well obviously it's because you won't let him know what the baby is."
"That's you who wanted it to be a surprise," she shrugged, walking off to her room.
"Yea, but I'm blaming it on you so that I don't get yelled at," Virgil smirked and leaned on the counter, "I'll call him in a minute."
Mig smiled some, setting the clean dishes aside to dry. Her husband reminded him of someone very close.
"So how are you doing today? Has Jess been torturing you?"
"Yes she has! She's been very cruel," he grumbled.
"She's good at that," he nodded.
"Alternatively, you're just Mr Grumpy"
"No one asked you. Go back to wherever you were hiding."
Virgil watched the sprite hover near Miguel. That was something he didn't see everyday. Oh well.
"I'm going to go do a few things, anyone wet before I step away?" He asked, rubbing the back of Miguel's pants.
That action had 2099 on the counter in shock. His wide eyes met Virgil's confused ones.
"I didn't take you for being shy."
"What happened?" Jess heard the thump into her cabinet and the rattling of dishes, "Why are you on the counter!? Get down before I get a spray bottle!"
Lyla was choking on laughter.
"I just checked if he was wet and he about jumped out of his skin," hubby shrugged.
"He's still getting used to it. Apparently this isn't commonplace in his dimension," she shook her head, pulling him down by the leg.
"Aww," Virgil seemed genuinely sorry for Miguel, "No wonder you said he's always so moody. He needs a stabilizer."
Mig gave Jess an unamused glare.
"He does, that's why we're adopting him," she cupped his chin playfully in response to the glare, "He's gonna be mama's little blushy baby and daddy's co-pilot."
"You're not funny," Miguel muttered, looking at the wall.
X
"Why am I getting silent treatment?" Jess watched Miguel play his game on the floor, "Come on, use your words," she nudged him with her foot.
After a few moments, Miguel finally spoke, "You said you wouldn't embarrass me."
"I didn't tell him to do that," she pointed out, "Matter of fact I was in the other room when it happened. Not that I blame him though."
He glared at her for a moment before going back to his game.
"Miguel?" she sang, "Are you wet?" silence, "So if I get up now to check you myself, you'll be dry." more silence, "And that's why it was a good idea for him to do that."
"No it wasn't," he growled.
"I just asked you and you didn't answer. No yes or no. I can't read your mind," she sat up, turning to him, "Now stand up and come here, I'm going to manually check you."
"I'm not," he sighed.
"Then use your words and say it. And you NEED to go. You haven't gone since this morning. You keep holding it like that and you will need diapers soon," she warned.
He paused his game to look at her, "And if I go…you'll still be…doing it, right?"
"Changing you?" she smirked, amused by his petulant expression, "Me or Virgil."
"I don't want him doing it, I don't know him! I barely want you doing it!"
"He's an ally. Someone who has no one to tell about you, and someone who's kind of my husband. As in, partner in crime at home," she smiled, "And we had a deal on three days. I didn't count yesterday because you didn't want to risk springing a leak."
"She-"
"Càllete!" he snapped at the sprite, not allowing her to finish her thought.
"Super grumpy!"
Jess smiled at him again, "Do you want to be a big boy and go get him or should I?"
Miguel just shook his head at her in disbelief, "Your cruelty truly knows no bounds."
"Babe! Miguelito is ready for you!"