Chapter 17
((LOL ~dodges bricks and books~ hehehehe Yeah baby!!! ~dance~))
"Rook..." I whispered, kneeling and yanking the dagger out with quick fingers. The figure beneath my fingers screamed. I winced and put my fingers on the wound. I sent my magic streaming into him, sealing the wound. I looked up into his eyes. "You got to be the biggest idiot I know.."
"Yeah...Damnit..." He coughed, strong features twisting in discomfort. "I didn't think he would pull a sword on you though." I shook my head fingering his taunt stomach. Bad thoughts.. Evil Thoughts. I forced myself to my feet, moving over to Usagi. I lifted her into my arms. Holding her close, more for my comfort then hers.
"Well, I can take care of myself." I retorted at him, scowling into Usagi's fine white hair. "Besides, Teddy was here..."
"Yeah, like a little boy will stop a grown man with no weapons." Rook sat up slowly, then got to his feet. "You really need bodyguards..."
"I got them... They just were spending some personal time..." I motioned, stepping away from him. This was just to ... werid ... "Where have you been?" Kelsi scrambled over the scattered furiture, wrapping her arms around my leg. "After three months, countless fights, you finally show?"
"I've been.. Busy..." His hand clasped around his sword hilt and slid it home into it's sleath. "It's not like you have needed me before."
"Bullshit." I looked away from him. Usagi squirmed in my arms.
"You have kids..." He stated the fact, training off into nothing. "I didn't know they had gotten physical..."
"Didn't you?" I turned to face him, I was angry. He left me for months, alone, with children. Fighting for a people who had hated me for most of my life. Hated him, and yet I had been alone fighting for them, while he was God knows where. Doing God knows what. I knew I was going to start crying any mintue now. "Damnit." I whirled, and would of started walking away, but for Kelsi attached to one leg. HIs hand reached out and tuoched my elbow. I wouldn't face him.
"I didn't know..." His fingers sent shivers up and down my spine. "Please trust me, I didn't know." His voice, never once taking on a pleading tone, he was to proud. It ran in the family.
"Usagi..." I whispered in her small ear. "This is your father..." I turned to face him, tears sliding down my face. His arms were around me before I could even squeak. Kelsi did it for me, being dislodged from my leg. Usagi cooed and tugged on His hair. Teddy stood to one side, then ran out, Annabelle followed her brother. I turned, watching them go. "I best go after them..."
"Here.. Let me.." His hands gently lifted Usagi out of my arms. "I'll watch these two... I'll wait here for you..."
I smiled brightly at him, it was good having him back. Something screamed in the back of my head that this was to perfect, but I never listened to that voice. "I'll be right back." I turned and ran after Anna and Teddy, Kelsi sitting at Rook's feet.
Chapter 18
"Who the Fuck are you?" Heidi had come down to the pool to help Iris put the kids to bed. Only to find some strange guy holding Usagi and Kelsi. "Well?" She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"I'm uh..." The guy just blinked at her.
"ROBERT" Heidi Screamed for back up. He came, with Mike and Mandies on his heels. Heidi pointed to the stranger sitting there. "Who the hell is that? Friend or 'I get to kick his ass'?" Robert smiled and rested a hand on Heidi's shoulder.
"Hello James." He patted Heidi's shoulder. "Don't mind Heidi, she's just a bit protective..." Robert leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"Just a bit?" Rook smiled and shook his head, looking at Mike and Mandies. "Hey Mike.. Whos the lady?" Rook smiled his best crest kid smile at Mandies.
"My Lady." Mike smiled ferally, he didn't like the idea of player James taken his woman. "Mandies."
Rook smiled brighter. "hey Mandies, Fishie sissy."
"JAMES!" Mandies cried, jumpping into his lap and hugging him to peices. James, or Rook, started turning blue under her affection. Mike helped pry her off. "When did you get here?"
"Just now, Luke went awall..." Rook sat back and while soothing poor Usagi, explained what happened.
I trailed my fingers along the wall, trying to hold back the skips that threatened to bounce into my step. I opened my office door. Sure enough, Teddy and Annabelle were curled up on the couch. Annabelle was crying softly in her brothers lap. I lost the happiness I felt. My children... "Anna..." I whispered, moving in and sliding the door closed behind me.
The smell of roses and leather drifted down through the room. I moved over to my two eldest. Sliding down into the couch I gathered them up into my arms. "Shush... It's alright Anna.." I smoothed her bangs out of her eyes. "What made you leave?" My amber eyes rested on Teddy, who was studing his shoes. One was untied, the other half off his foot.
"I don't like him Mommy." Teddy buried his head in my midriff, shifting his sister more into my shoulder. "When he came you forgot all about us..." I blinked.
"I'd never forget about my youngest protecter." I brushed my free fingers through his wild mane of hair. "Your my son. No one will ever take that from you." Anna shifted on my arm, looking up at me with her wide innocent eyes. "And you are my precious Annabelle." I pulled her closer to me. "You two, Kelsi and Usagi are my children. Not even Rook can ever come between us." I nuzzled my chin on Teddy's head. "Understand?"
"Yes Mama.." Annabelle through her hands over her head. "But we left the baby and Kelsea out wif da man! He might hurt da Babies!" I blinked at Anna. Sometimes I forgot how young she really was.
"Your right Beautiful... Should we go get your sisters and put you four to bed?"
"Can we have a stowy?" Annabelle slid slowly from my lap and onto the floor. "One about a pwincess n a king?"
"And a Knight, Mama!" Teddy was following his sister onto the floor. "And a Castle!" He grabbed my hand and tried to make me move faster. "Come on Mama! Lets go get the Babies!"
I smiled, getting to my feet, and following him out of my office. "Alright..." Annabelle cheered and raced down the hall. Teddy hot on her heels. I shook my head and picked up my own pace. It wouldn't do to well to have two young children racing through the halls.
Jewls watched Iris, Teddy and Annabelle race by her in the halls. She shook her haed, combing back her dark locks with an absent hand. "Those three..." She smiled. turning back to her compaion. Scott was in one of his hawaian shirts. She chuckled. "Well? Where to now?"
"Didn't you tell Damon we promised him a story?" Scott waved a hand toward the hallway. "After those three get done, we will have to tell him four. Just to get him to close his eyes." He smiled and leaned over, brushing his lips againest Jewls' cheek in a chaste sign of affection.
Jewls snagged his shirt collar as he started back and kissed him. "There." She smiled and danced back a pace. "Four eh? You get to tell three."
Scott snorted, a grin ghosting past his lips. "Yeah? Race ya. Last one gets to.. HEY!" He started after his wayward girlfriend. Who was already half way down the first hall. "I DIDN"T SAY GO YET!" Her laughter mocked him the rest of the way.
Mandies watched Robert drag Heidi away to help with his latest project. She chuckled and looked up at Mike. "Uh oh.." She chuckled raising her hands in defeat. "Alright... Alright.." He smiled, kissed her, and dragged her down to his apartments to have her help with his music.
"How did you get me into this?" She chuckled, sitting down onto a stool. Mike was already squeezing in behind his Piano.
"That's easy..." Mike played a light tune. "I just told you I could sing like your heros..."
"The boys aren't my heros.." Mandies smiled impishly at him. "They are my friends. And I doubt you can sing like them."
"Yeah? but can they play like this?" Mike started in on a faster tune.
"Like this?" Heidi shifted on her perch. Robert all but kicked Danny to hold the microphone straight. Danny muttered under his breath and shifted his footting. "Robert..." Heidi giggled, waving.
"Yeah. Perfect." Robert turned on the lights. "Just stay right there.."
"Alright.." Heidi reangled her feet around the railing. "Right here.." She chuckled as Robert started flicking various switches in hopes of getting his equipment to run with limited power.
"So, you did get mike to say we would play Capitalism later... .Right?" Danny looked at Robert.
"Yep. Cards at Ten..."
"Robert..." Heidi spoke up from her seat on the railing.
"Yeah?" Robert looked up over his videocamara.
"It's 11:00..." Heidi blinked as Danny got a look of pure fustration. She started laughing he picked up a pillow and threw it over the equipment, and pegged Robert in the head.
I rocked Usagi back and forth gently in the rocking chair. She fussed softly againest me. "Come on Bunny..." I shifted her slightly, humming to no avail. I looked over at Rook. He was in the fullsized bed the three older children shared. Stuck inbetween Teddy and Annabelle. Kelsi curled on his lap, reading them their fifth bedtime story about knights and Damsals in distress.
I leaned over and nudged Ken. He was in the other rocking chair, holding his daughter. I motioned to an unoccupied bed. He leaned over and kissed my cheek, nodding. I stepped carefully out of the rocking chair. Pacing the room slowly with Usagi. I listened as Rook made his way out of the bedroom, tucking the children in.
I hummed, listening to Ken's whispers of goodnight. Scott stepped in, laying Damon down in his bed, Jewls not a step behind. It was nice to have one peaceful ending to a hectic night. I smiled softly down to Usagi. Her soft blue eyes closing slowly.
"That's it bunny.. it's time for sleep.." I brushed my fingers in small circles around her back. The smell of babypowder wafting on the evening breeze. The caves were nice and cool, not cold, but cool. I shifted, setting her down carefully into her crib.
Rooks arms wrapped slowly around my waist. I leaned back againest him. It was very nice having him back. I leaned up on my tiptoes, kissing his jawline softly. He blinked, a slow, lazy smile gracing his features. I nodded my head to the door. He smiled and we moved to it, shuting off the mage lights as we left.
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