When the chorus she started, she began to slide around. Her feet gracefully mimicking her routine. Figure skating was no joke, it was brutal, cut throat and all that other fun stuff, but she was tough and didn't let it get to her. It was good to practice on and off the ice until she could do it in her sleep.
"Nixie, do you have to play that at full volume?"
"How do you understand that anyways?"
Came the voices of her twin brothers. They were sitting on the couch watching one of their shows. Their long legs were stretched out but their arms were positioned differently, Tyler had them crossed over his chest while Logan's were stretched out over the top of the couch. Both were identical to their core. Deep brown eyes, large, muscular bodies from their father and their respective sports. They had their mother's brown hair, only it was a few shades darker. Almost a chestnut color, but when the light hit it just right you could barely make out the copper undertones. When it was wet, it almost looked like a deep red, from their father's genetics of course.
The one true difference is in their personalities, Logan is their father through and through. Loud and cocky, and a smug smile that makes all the girls at school melt, but he has a secret soft side. Nixie sees it everyday when he's helping her with homework or encouraging her from the side lines. Since he plays hockey their practice time overlaps. Meanwhile Tyler is their mother. Gentle and kind, surprisingly a good baker. He loves reading, but also has that smug, cocky thing going on, he just doesn't show it unless he's on the baseball field.
Nixie, however was the complete opposite, she was the only one who possessed any indicator of their father's red hair. Though there were times she looked more brunette. Nobody really knew what to call this shade. It didn't have copper undertones like the twins, but it wasn't straight up brown like their mother. It was perfectly in the middle. There was no denying her eyes were blue and the dusting of freckles on her face along with her short build.
Placing hands on her hips, she tilted her head to the side, staring down her brothers. "I need to practice. You two should understand that better than anybody," she pointed out. "Well, at least Logan."
"Hey! I'm the only one actually tryin' out there," Tyler protested.
"Yeah cause runnin' round in circles and standing and fightin' for a base is hard work," Logan said with a smug smile.
"Oh yeah, I forgot your brain cells no longer function after gettin' smashed into the boards."
"I pick up more chicks Mr. I've been in love since the first grade."
Nixie just sighed and shook her head. Given that their father is Albert Dasilva, a man who practically came out of the womb with a bat, it was obvious where the boys got their love of sports, stubbornness, and maybe a little of a weird streak. When the boys were old enough they were signed up for t-ball like every other child, and it stuck until middle school when they started to get more rowdy during the colder months. Finally meeting her wits end their mother had said enough and it was time to find something where they can burn all their energy out. Hockey was the solution to that. Time went by and it became more obvious while they loved both sports, Tyler had the spark for baseball while Logan was one with the ice. Thus began the Dasilva twin reign.
All the while she was put on a t-ball team but quickly showed her distaste for getting dirty, so then it was dance class, gymnastics until one day she had to go to with the rink with Logan. Everyone else was busy and she couldn't be trusted home alone due to her young age. She didn't mind that much, she liked watching her brothers practices. Before that began Nixie remembered seeing a bunch of high school girls spinning and twirling about and was so intrigued there was no questions when she found herself at the local rink with ten other girls learning the basics of figure skating, and now, here they are years later. Just one happy, loud, stubborn sporty family.
"Jealous much?"
"Jealous not!"
"Mom!" Nixie called out. "Are you sure we're related. You didn't find them in a dumpster, right."
"Hey! Paprika's from the dumpster," Albert pointed out.
"Yeah and she's crazy," Nixie argued. "And ancient." nobody knew the real age of the spicy child but she could still move around. As if on cue, the orange cat poked her head out from under the couch, slid across the floor and climbed up Logan's leg like she's the queen of the penthouse. She flopped down and started doing whatever it is that orange cats do. In the midst of all the cuteness she hissed at Tyler who she despises. If it was up to her he'd be thrown out the window. Luckily cats can't talk.
With a low chuckle Logan started to rub Paprika's belly, which she couldn't get enough of from him. Her other favorite human is Brooklyn, but that's a given since the orange cat has been around the longest. There were two others roaming about, Sugar Plum, a black cat with green eyes, and Snickerdoodle, a tan cat that looks like she had cinnamon sugar poured on her fur. Both also have big personalities. There's no denying Snickerdoodle's favorite human is Tyler. Nixie is a close second, while Sugar Plum hates everyone but Brooklyn.
"So is Race but we keep him around."
"Sadly I can't argue with that," Brooklyn sighed. "And you two, leave her alone, it's a good song. It's dreamy and romantic and-"
"And things that are bleh," Logan cut off.
"The day you find a nice girl is the day you'll realize there's nothing bleh about romance," Brooklyn said. As she walked by she ruffled Logan's hair and patted Tyler on the shoulder before she sat down on the couch. She looked at them with a rather proud smile. They were both handsome if she does say so herself. But frick they were a handful. From the moment they were signed up for pee-wee baseball she never felt more mortified over their antics. Actually scratch that, when they started preschool, she was never more embarrassed in her life. And that's saying a lot. But it was the day they had to start wearing cups for baseball…to say the least they tested out the equipment. Yeah, that was the day she was sure they were Albert's boys.
Despite all that she was rather proud of them. They found their passion. But Brooklyn knows that if they both dropped their sport for something else she'd support them and so would Albert. Secretly, she knows Albert is happy at least one of his offspring is following in his footsteps. He often jokes about her naming the twins after her hockey boys didn't work in her favor. Ultimately she's glad one of them wasn't a girl, because then he'd be bitter about not giving them a Star Wars name. He was given the grace of naming Nixie, though she still questions how he came up with that. Some things are better left a mystery.
While Albert loved all his kids equally, Brooklyn knew he had a soft spot for sweet little Nixie. As did the twins, but Logan wasn't as vocal about it as Tyler was. The poor girl would never get a boyfriend with those three and a band of uncles ready to throw their sons in for a legal beat down to the poor boy who gets involved with her. They had it all figured out, as long as the second generation is under the age of eighteen all would be good. Brooklyn sighed to herself at the mere thought.
"Ok you two, leave your sister alone. I wanna see what you've got planned for the charity game."
Nixie smiled as she ran over to where her phone was hooked up to the wireless speaker. "Dad, get in here!" she yelled as she got into place. As this happened Albert was on the couch in a flash just as Nixie began the routine in those cherry socks she loves so much. Pink with red trim of course. At least it wasn't the ugly ones. Astronaut Poptart cats and spaceships. Well, everyone says they're ugly but she loves those.
Since this was for the sake of school spirit and such it was a more relaxed thing. A friendly game between two rival schools while the top figure skaters would perform between periods. Logan was hyped of course. A bruiser on the ice, ready to fight for his teammates no matter the penalty. Though Brooklyn is constantly worried he'll get a concussion. Then again Tyler isn't much better considering he has balls flying at his head a mile a minute. At least Nixie is safe…as long as Brooklyn ignores when she goes flying in the air and may land wrong and end up in the ER with broken bones.
"Stop worryin'," Albert whispered in her ear. "They know what they're doin'." A smirk turned up on his lips. "They're my kids, they got the talent." He wrapped his arm around her. "As well as your beauty and passion for what they love. Tyler was ramblin' about I dunno what the other day and all I saw was you." He kissed her temple and continued to watch his daughter gracefully dance around the living room. Aside from her eyes and freckles, Nixie also inherited Brooklyn's weird love of Korean music. Specifically Brooklyn's favorite girl groups. They looked so much alike, it was like he was transported back to the Lodge days where Brooklyn would practice in her room, or the times when the unofficial dance team would take the field.
The song came to an end and a small round of applause was given.
"Are you plannin' to do your silver routine?"
"Dad," Nixie groaned.
"What? My daughter is a medalist, sorry for wantin' the world to know."
Nixie crossed her arms over her chest while her head tilted to the side. "You make it sound like it was the Olympics when it wasn't."
"Ah, but you'll be there someday."
"So what, you won some fancy medal, big deal. Now the world juniors, that's where the true talent is," Logan said proudly.
"Yeah no, state champion out ranks both of you," Tyler cut in.
"Sorry boys, my silver medal out ranks you both."
"And my retired jersey and name is forever in the hall of fame, check and mate children," Albert said.
This caused the three Dasilva siblings to protest and start listing off their accomplishments. Which in Brooklyn's book were all equal. Since athletic talk bored her she tuned out this particular conversation. So she simply petted Snickerdoodle who made herself comfortable on her lap.
"Oh my gosh, turn off your phone helmet head I'm trying to make a point!" Nixie snapped at Logan. "Who's texting you anyways?"
"It's probably spam," was Logan's reply.
"Tinsley," Tyler said at the same time in a sing-song voice.
Albert sighed deeply and rubbed his temple. "Son, do all of us a favor and admit your feelings for the poor girl. I already went through this once with your aunt and uncle and I do not have the patients to go through it a second time."
"Oh my gosh I don't like Tinsley. She's practically a sister and, for all your information, we have a science project due."
"Yeah, in chemistry," Tyler teased.
"Logan and Tinsley sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g," Nixie began to sing.
"Shut up Nix," Logan said as he stood up.
"You really wanna go there?"
"So, remind me again where those watermelon gummies are. I'm suddenly craving some." with an innocent look Logan began to head to the kitchen,
"Don't you dare!" Nixie yelled as she ran up and jumped on his back. Her legs locked around his waist while her tiny fists started to smack his chest. Of course it was no use. If it wasn't for the fact he was nearly six feet, then playing defense made her attempts futile against her brother.
"Al," Brooklyn said with an exasperated sigh.
"Hold on, I wanna see what happens," Albert replied.
Meanwhile Tyler made the mistake of making eye contact with Paprika. The orange cat's face turned sour as she did some sort of meow mixed with a scream then proceeded to smack him. Repeatedly. "Do that again and I'll take you to get declawed," Tyler hissed. Which caused Paprika to hiss as she jumped up on the ledge of the couch and smack his face. But Tyler managed to dodge the attack before any damage was done. "You little batshit crazy brat. I am the dominant one here, not you."
"Then why are you on the floor," Albert asked in a plain tone.
Instead of answering Tyler got up, grabbed a blanket and proceeded to trap the psycho creature so he could safely move her to his mother's lap. When this was done, Snickerdoole, being the lady that she is, smacked Paprika's head. After taking her sweet time stretching she made her way to his lap. She curled against his stomach and glared at Paprika, who didn't look too pleased. "At least you like me Snicker."
Author's note
This is the last time jump I swear. I've had this plot hiding in my back pocket for sometime, just ask Pineapplesandpapes and Nutcracker653, they've been dealing with my mini bursts of ideas for months on end. This family is chaos, and what I have planned is also chaos. Even though this was an introduction to the next generation, you got to see a little peak of it here. And before anyone asks, Logan and Tyler are eighteen in their senior year of high school and Nixie is fifteen in her sophomore. Not to worry of course, you'll get to see the other newsies kids as well. One was mentioned, Miss Tinsely, let's see who can guess whose child she is (and no, it's not Meister, for very obvious reasons). As always, I hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading. See you all soon.