July 12
A year. Or nearly so. Pslyder had moments where he looked back on life before Serena ... a life when a shrieking toddler didn't wake him at all hours of the night, when time was his own ... and he just shook his head. Time marches on, and when he looked at the face of his daughter ... his daughter ... it was worth it. Moments like this, when the little monster was napping, he could look over at his lovely wife and smile.
The smile was returned from the woman ensconced in her favorite overstuffed reading chair. A portable playpen (affectionately known as ?the cage?) had been settled into the office so Jaycy could enjoy the monster?s quiet time with a book and a cozy seat rather than being surrounded by toys and powder smells. Bare feet remained hidden, tucked under her legs, and a slim volume rested open on her lap.
?Heyas, handsome, come here often?? The quip was quiet and smile quirking toward a subtle grin at her husband?s appearance in her vision. Her voice remained soft enough to allow the respite from Serena?s baby-rampages to continue while still holding enough volume to carry to Psly?s keen ears.
"Every chance I get." Holding two mugs of the tea, he used every sneak-thief trick at his disposal to make a quiet trip across the study, setting the mug down with a faint click. "How else would I see my two favorite ladies?"
Psly had a chair nearby, and walked over to sit in it as he chuckled. "What are you reading?"
The smile softened as she canted her head in thanks for the kind gesture of the tea. She waited until he sat to answer his question, mutely grasping both edges of the book and lifting the spine of the leather-bound volume for him to see. ?Do you know how much she loves Peter Pan?? The lightly amused upturn of her lips made its reappearance as she settled it once more in her lap. ?Though to be fair, I love it almost as much. Pirates? Never having to grow up? Sometimes that sounds lovely.?
A small hand extended to grasp the mug?s handle and draw it closer, blowing lightly before taking a small sip. ?Mmm, thank you. What have you been up to, love?? Green-gold eyes turned up toward him, head canting lightly in curious-pose, as mug lowered rest lightly on her thigh, held loosely in a dual-handed grip to prevent it from tipping on her or the precious book.
"I didn't, actually. Though, if we're going to be brutally honest ... you've been a pirate, and growing up is entirely optional." Their chairs were within easy reach, and so he did. Stretching his arm across the gap, he gently brushed the back of a finger along her jaw.
"Haven't been up to much. Checking in on the business, ordering deliveries for the house, making sure the three of us aren't starving." Psly winked, relaxing into the cup of the chair. "Thinking about how mystifying fatherhood is. All this time, I thought I'd be like my father ... but it doesn't feel the same."
The derisive scoff was subdued, tempered by the light caress, and she leaned into it, turning her face at the end of his touch to press a featherlight kiss to his finger. A digit of her own came up a moment later, to lightly sweep across his before curling around it, movement easing into seeking to twine fingers around for a brief moment before returning to the tea. ?Sh, don?t say I?m a pirate in front of her. Then she might get all these crazy ideas about doing it herself someday, when you and I both know she?s going to be locked in a tower as soon as she can walk and talk on her own.? Eyes twinkled at the teasing retort, aiming to make him smile lest he get too seriously reflective on his life as a parent.
She did address it, however. ?Love, you?ll never be like your father? it?s impossible. There is such a different set of life circumstances that it would never happen. You are and have always been your own man. Besides. She has you wrapped quite securely around her tiny finger. She?s lucky you let her sleep in another room. And I bet you?d say it felt ? perfect.? Her nose wrinkled and she tossed him a playful wink.
"Don't tempt me ... she starts worrying about monsters under her bed, I'll sleep there." Taking a sip, he grinned again. "Okay. I won't mention piracy, if you don't mention corporate sneak-thief, and we'll both keep quiet on the idea of pit-fighting in the Duels. Deal?"
Then he nodded. "You're right. I'm utterly clueless on how to be a father, still muddling around on how to be a husband ... and I've never been happier in my life."
?You think about sleeping in there with her and I?m going to throw her overboard one day when you?re not looking,? she hmphed. ?I just got you back to myself at night - speaking of muddling around on how to be a husband - and I?m going to selfishly keep you as long as I can.? Another hmph followed, but there lacked any true bite to her bark. The child, their daughter, had Jaycy as firmly smitten as she did Psly. ?Part of the fun of parenting - and life - is figuring it out, sometimes.? And that made up for all the nights where Serena - Bella, they called her - was inconsolable.
She mirrored his motion with another sip of her own, brows knitting lightly as she grew ponderous. ?Do you miss the duels, Psly? Or more specifically, the people, and the atmosphere?? A pause and she set the mug on the table before closing the book and sliding it down the arm of her chair into the space between it and the seat?s cushion. ?Not the fighting itself, I mean.? A subtle shift so she could face him more directly, she reached forward a hand to seek his more securely. ?Have you gone back since Bella came??
A year. Or nearly so. Pslyder had moments where he looked back on life before Serena ... a life when a shrieking toddler didn't wake him at all hours of the night, when time was his own ... and he just shook his head. Time marches on, and when he looked at the face of his daughter ... his daughter ... it was worth it. Moments like this, when the little monster was napping, he could look over at his lovely wife and smile.
The smile was returned from the woman ensconced in her favorite overstuffed reading chair. A portable playpen (affectionately known as ?the cage?) had been settled into the office so Jaycy could enjoy the monster?s quiet time with a book and a cozy seat rather than being surrounded by toys and powder smells. Bare feet remained hidden, tucked under her legs, and a slim volume rested open on her lap.
?Heyas, handsome, come here often?? The quip was quiet and smile quirking toward a subtle grin at her husband?s appearance in her vision. Her voice remained soft enough to allow the respite from Serena?s baby-rampages to continue while still holding enough volume to carry to Psly?s keen ears.
"Every chance I get." Holding two mugs of the tea, he used every sneak-thief trick at his disposal to make a quiet trip across the study, setting the mug down with a faint click. "How else would I see my two favorite ladies?"
Psly had a chair nearby, and walked over to sit in it as he chuckled. "What are you reading?"
The smile softened as she canted her head in thanks for the kind gesture of the tea. She waited until he sat to answer his question, mutely grasping both edges of the book and lifting the spine of the leather-bound volume for him to see. ?Do you know how much she loves Peter Pan?? The lightly amused upturn of her lips made its reappearance as she settled it once more in her lap. ?Though to be fair, I love it almost as much. Pirates? Never having to grow up? Sometimes that sounds lovely.?
A small hand extended to grasp the mug?s handle and draw it closer, blowing lightly before taking a small sip. ?Mmm, thank you. What have you been up to, love?? Green-gold eyes turned up toward him, head canting lightly in curious-pose, as mug lowered rest lightly on her thigh, held loosely in a dual-handed grip to prevent it from tipping on her or the precious book.
"I didn't, actually. Though, if we're going to be brutally honest ... you've been a pirate, and growing up is entirely optional." Their chairs were within easy reach, and so he did. Stretching his arm across the gap, he gently brushed the back of a finger along her jaw.
"Haven't been up to much. Checking in on the business, ordering deliveries for the house, making sure the three of us aren't starving." Psly winked, relaxing into the cup of the chair. "Thinking about how mystifying fatherhood is. All this time, I thought I'd be like my father ... but it doesn't feel the same."
The derisive scoff was subdued, tempered by the light caress, and she leaned into it, turning her face at the end of his touch to press a featherlight kiss to his finger. A digit of her own came up a moment later, to lightly sweep across his before curling around it, movement easing into seeking to twine fingers around for a brief moment before returning to the tea. ?Sh, don?t say I?m a pirate in front of her. Then she might get all these crazy ideas about doing it herself someday, when you and I both know she?s going to be locked in a tower as soon as she can walk and talk on her own.? Eyes twinkled at the teasing retort, aiming to make him smile lest he get too seriously reflective on his life as a parent.
She did address it, however. ?Love, you?ll never be like your father? it?s impossible. There is such a different set of life circumstances that it would never happen. You are and have always been your own man. Besides. She has you wrapped quite securely around her tiny finger. She?s lucky you let her sleep in another room. And I bet you?d say it felt ? perfect.? Her nose wrinkled and she tossed him a playful wink.
"Don't tempt me ... she starts worrying about monsters under her bed, I'll sleep there." Taking a sip, he grinned again. "Okay. I won't mention piracy, if you don't mention corporate sneak-thief, and we'll both keep quiet on the idea of pit-fighting in the Duels. Deal?"
Then he nodded. "You're right. I'm utterly clueless on how to be a father, still muddling around on how to be a husband ... and I've never been happier in my life."
?You think about sleeping in there with her and I?m going to throw her overboard one day when you?re not looking,? she hmphed. ?I just got you back to myself at night - speaking of muddling around on how to be a husband - and I?m going to selfishly keep you as long as I can.? Another hmph followed, but there lacked any true bite to her bark. The child, their daughter, had Jaycy as firmly smitten as she did Psly. ?Part of the fun of parenting - and life - is figuring it out, sometimes.? And that made up for all the nights where Serena - Bella, they called her - was inconsolable.
She mirrored his motion with another sip of her own, brows knitting lightly as she grew ponderous. ?Do you miss the duels, Psly? Or more specifically, the people, and the atmosphere?? A pause and she set the mug on the table before closing the book and sliding it down the arm of her chair into the space between it and the seat?s cushion. ?Not the fighting itself, I mean.? A subtle shift so she could face him more directly, she reached forward a hand to seek his more securely. ?Have you gone back since Bella came??