randomplaces | Breaker 'verse 11

Ettiene was sleeping peacefully in a hammock hung between two posts at the corner of the porch, Star a contented snuggle against his chest. Alvin looked at them wryly, then plunked himself down on the nearest bench and opened his laptop, though his mind wasn't on anything that the computor could offer at the moment. He was aware of Dove hopping up to perch on the rail, then thought that she'd jumped down to have a closer look at the gleeful tussle in the yard until Vangie gave a shout.

"Sha, watch where you' goin'!"

What? He looked up, then gaped and rushed to the rail himself as he caught the flap of leathery wings. "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!"

Dove circled low over the cabin, her hands clenched in glee and terror as her ears flicked frantically. As he watched she lifted a little and went into a short glide.

Father, protect her. Keep her from runnin' into anythin', please. He put a hand over his chest and forced himself to breath as she skimmed the water in front of the island.

"Sweet!" breathed Jubilee from beside him. "That is soo cool!"

"Pull up, Dove!" Alvin swallowed and winced as she missed a cypress knee by what seemed like a hair.

"She saw it," said Jubilee.

"No she didn'." The dark haired man pressed his fists together.

Blue eyes cut toward him in a frown. "What'd'ya mean?"

"Sweetheart's blind. She can't see anythin' clearly unless it's about a foot from her face." Alvin winced again and considered closing his eyes as Dove swooped around a water tupelo so closely that the tree's leaves rustled. "Lord..."

The little white girl rose up again, the sun shining through her wings as she spread her arms joyfully. Then she came in for a landing. There was a sudden confused flash of colour as she went into a tumble, then a shocked silence as she came to a stop at the end of a furrow in the swampgrass.

Alvin tensed to jump over the railing, but then froze as Dove's clear laughter rose up on the humid air. As he watched she sat up and tossed her hair out of her eyes, then stretched her wings out before setting them down to either side of her.

"You okay?" asked Jubilee.

"Yeah," he said, leaning against the rail as his knees sagged. "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat..." Thank You, Father. "You wanna give me a hand so I can go out there?"

"Sure." She grabbed his hand and put it onto her shoulder. "Come on."

Alvin leaned against her gratefully as he hobbled down the steps and over to where Henri and Collette were watching from a polite distance as Vangie fussed over Dove.

"I flew!" The little Wüste Fee was saying excitedly. "I flew, Aunty Vangie! You saw me, I heard you talk. I flew!"

"She okay?" asked Collette softly as Alvin went past her.

"Not a mark on 'er." Vangie gave the child a hug and sat back thoughtfully.

"Vader!" Dove scrambled to her feet and threw her arms and wings around Alvin's waist. "I did it! I'm big!"

"You sure are," he said softly, dropping to one knee to hug her back, then looking up as Jubilee knelt beside them and put a hand on the little girl's shoulder.

She shivered with joy, then let go of him to glomp onto the black haired woman. "Moeder, did you see?"

Alvin sucked in his breath and his gum, but was too shocked to notice. Jubilee met his eyes for a moment, her mouth turned up in a mischievous little smirk, then lowered her face to Dove's hair.

"Yeah." She smiled. "You were great. Look, you made Daddy cry 'cause he's so proud of you."

"Don't cry, Vader." Dove nuzzled close and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm okay."

"Yeah." He wiped his arm across his eyes, realizing that he was grinning fit to split his face. "That was real good, Sweetheart. You did real good."

"Al, can dat chil' see?" Vangie's voice made him blink and turn his head.

"Huh? Yeah, no... a little bit." He took a deep breath, then winced at her glare. "It's not like I can just take her to the eye doctor!" He turned away from her to listen as his daughter gave Jubilee a running play by play on her flight.

"Tru, dat," she said, frowning. "Dove look even more diff'rent den I do, 'n der be enough trouble findin' a doctor t' be trusted wit' my stuff."

"She 'n Buddy ain't human. They look the same as everybody else where they come from," said the dark haired man quietly.

"What? De enfants... from anudder planet?" Vangie blinked.

"What Dove's told me about sure don't sound like Earth," said Alvin soberly, remembering the little girl's reference to dragons.

"Moi... anudder race," she breathed, then frowned again. "Y' even sure yer feedin' dem right?"

"No." He bit off frustration.

Vangie patted him on the back. "Dey smell pretty human t' me. Jus' a little bit 'a difference."

"Smell...?" Alvin frowned at her.

She nodded, her eyes going to Dove as the little girl turned and spoke to Henri and Collete. "I got de cat nose eben when I not de cat."

"Oh." He blinked. "Okay."

"She gettin' lots 'a calcium, de way she put de milk away. 'N der be iron in de baby formula she drink. She should be okay..."

"Where's Uncle Ettiene?" Dove looked around, her ears going back.

"Sleepin', sha," said Collete. "Up dere on d' véranda wit' de bébé."

"Ach! He don't see me fly!" Dove's eyebrows went up in dismay.

"He'll see you next time," offered Jubilee quickly.

"Oui, but he'll be mad that he didn't see the first time," said Dove.

"Sweetheart, he won't be mad. Disappointed, prolly so, but mad? I don't think so." Alvin gave her hair a gentle ruffle as she came to him for another hug.

"Disappointed?" She flicked her ears, one tapping him on the face. "Dang, that's a big vord!"

Jubilee snorted. "Crap, there went my gum."

Shooting her a look that said 'Been there, done that', the brown haired man explained. "Well, disappoint means since he didn't get to see, he'll be sort of sad but not because of anything you did. I know. We can go out back and you can practice a bit more to show him when he wakes up."

Dove cocked her head. "You be okay with that? I hear you making scared sounds this time."

"Hey, Jubes, I brought my tool kit home, didn' I?" asked Vangie thoughtfully, getting to her feet.

"Yeah, 'n left little bits of electronic junk all over my bed," snorted her friend, taking out a package of sour apple gum and offering it to Alvin. "Why?"

"I gonna go home 'n see 'bout makin' somet'in' t' help dat chil' see where she goin' when she in d' air." Vangie trotted off toward the dock, where three boats bobbed gently. "See y'all later!"

Alvin absently popped a piece of gum in his mouth as he looked after the auburn haired woman. I wonder... He turned his attention to his daughter and thought a minute. "How about we stay in the yard, practicing take offs and landing. We can do the longer range stuff when I have a chance for a doctor to check out your eyes." Or whatever Vangie has up her sleeve. I think I know...

"Okay!" She twitched her ears, then reached a hand hesitantly toward the gum package. "Gum?"

"Yup." Jubilee took it back and popped out a piece, then touched it to the seeking fingers. "There ya go, kiddo. Now let's see how good you tear up the yard when you hit."

CLUNK. Swish, swish. CLUNK. The sounds of dishes rattling in the dishpan and on the counter were quiet for the most part. An occasional grunt was heard as plates were passed from hand to hand.

"If ya hurt so bad, why are ya dryin'?" A gum pop punctuated the sentence.

"Cuz I want to help." Alvin groaned as Jubilee handed him a cast iron skillet to put away.

"Big baby."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!" He bit back a moan as his ribs protested.

"Are too, now sit. Dove?" Jubilee called to the girl who was watching the exchange with great interest.

"Yeah, Aunty Jubes?" Long ears flicked toward her voice, then down toward Star as he gave a delighted crow at nothing in particular.

"Come help me finish so your dad can sit down, 'kay?"

"I ain't dead," grumbled Alvin as Dove got up from the easy chair and set the baby on Ettiene's chest before walking into the kitchen.

"Yeah? You will be if ya don't quit'cher whinin'. Now, move it, bub." She hip-bumped him out of the way, causing him to grab the counter for support.

"Jubilee..." Caramel eyes narrowed at her warningly as Dove innocently stepped between them and peered into the dishpan.

"Bubbles. I like bubbles. Can I make more?" There was a hopeful tone in the girl's voice.

"Sure thing, as soon as Daddy goes 'n sits down and we finish the dishes. Then, we'll make a nice big panful of 'em."

"Vader, sit." Wide blue eyes turned up toward him.

Alvin growled, but then faltered and flushed as Jubilee looked up and met his eyes. "Okay. I'm goin'. Don't teach my daughter bad habits." He turned to limp toward the easy chair, then stopped and sighed as a wet sponge hit him square in the back. "I know where you live..." he said, shaking his head as he continued on his way.

He paused to look out the window at Henri and Collete, marveling that the two of them fit into the hammock and hadn't tipped it getting in. Wonder how he's feelin'? Sweetheart took him out that second time. Trust a LaFitte not ta get outta the way. Then he quirked a rueful eyebrow. So what was my excuse?

Wincing, he turned and flopped into the chair, leaning his head back to blow a bubble at the rafters. I did what all fathers do... try to catch my kid as they fall... I guess I forgot her density is more than mine. He popped the bubble and started a new one. She's gettin' on pretty well. Tough little girl, for fifty-two. Cutting a glance at the sink, he grinned. Jubilee was showing Dove how to hold her fingers in a circle and catch the soap in them to blow bubbles. Father, is this what it's all about? The little things?

There was a soft groan from the couch, and Ettiene put a hand on the wriggling Star. "Eh? What I doin' in here?" Then he sighed and closed his eyes again, dropping back to sleep.

Star kicked and squawked, wanting attention, and Alvin got up to get him, cuddling his tiny son as he returned to the chair. He feels so warm 'n soft. He grinned at the big eyes looking up at him over the purple soother. "What're you lookin' at, little goober?"

"Star's a goober?" Dove glanced up from her bubble blowing.

"Nah, Al's just doin' the gruff guy version of tellin' somebody he loves 'em," said Jubilee absently.

He blew a raspberry in her general direction before hugging the boy close. "Don't listen ta her. I can tell ya I love ya just fine." The wee babe gave a faint grin behind his soother and his father's heart melted. "And I do, Buddy. You 'n yer sister're the best thing that ever happened ta me."

Star sighed and cooed, then spit out his soother with a pop and started giving a heartfelt and wordless talk about his feelings on the subject.

"Is that so? Well, lemme tell ya what I think they should do..." Alvin's voice lowered so only the baby could hear and for a few minutes all that existed was father and son, lost in their own little world of bonding.

"Aunty Jubes, do you wanna do somet'in else?" asked Dove, swishing her hand through the dishwater and scratching at the bottom of the dishpan.

"Huh?" The black-haired woman blinked and looked down at her, then snuck another peek at Alvin and Star. "Sure, let's go play with my makeup."

"No makeup. Not for another couple of years." The brown haired man didn't look up from the baby.

"How many years, Vader?" asked Dove, pausing with the dishpan in her hands and perking her ears toward him.

He glanced up, squinting as he did the math. "Twelve."

"Like, isn't that a little extreme?" Jubilee stared. "I mean, she'll probably be off on her own by then."

"She'll be sixty-four and old enough for makeup then. If you want to teach her, she can do your face. Learn how to do on others then she'll know how to do herself..." He buried his grin in his beard, remembering the same argument from his sisters and their daughters.

"Sixty four?" Jubilee frowned. "Um... I'm confused."

"I'll be adult when I'm sixty-four," said Dove helpfully.

Jubilee looked at her blankly, then turned back to Alvin. "Uh?"

"Desert Fairies age differently than we do. We grow and mature faster. But they live longer. Buddy'll only be..." he trailed off, again doing the math in his head and not liking the outcome.

"Al?" Jubilee stepped toward him around the end of the counter L.

He shook himself out of the thought and pulled the wee boy close. "Buddy will be fine. We'll make sure of that, won't we, son?" A small fist banged against his collarbone, showing the baby's appreciation of being held and loved.

Jubilee frowned for a moment, but then went wide-eyed. "Oh, crap, we're gonna haveta get him a human brother or sister to watch out for him. Um..." She blushed and took the dishpan from Dove, who'd been watching the conversation with innocent interest. "Yeah, well. 'Scuse me."

Caramel colored eyes followed her lithe figure to the door before turning back to Dove. "Bring me your scribbler and we'll go over it for tomorrow."

"You did that, Vader. Remember?" She bent and picked up an ant from the floor, then chewed it thoughtfully without taking her eyes or ears from him.

"Oh. Right." He gently tickled the baby's tummy, listening to him coo. "I guess we need to figure out where everyone is gonna sleep then."

"On the bunk." She picked another ant and came to crouch next to him and put her head on his knee. "Uncle Ettiene's on d' sofa."

"An' Henri and Collette're outside. What about Aunty Jubilee? And you, me and Buddy?"

"Aunty Jubes 'n you 'n me 'n Buddy'll sleep on the bunk," she said, sounding confused.

Alvin tried not to swallow his gum. He choked anyway. "Oookay." He came up with nothing to answer that logic. It sounds good ta me, but... I shouldn't be thinkin' like this... Oh man. He shook his head, trying to clear it. I must be really tired.

"Vader?" Dove lifted her head and looked up at him. "Are you gonna ask Aunty Jubes' Vader for her?"

For the second time in two minutes, he had to work to save his gum. "Wha..." His voice cracked and he had to work to swallow. "What makes you ask that, Sweetheart?"

"Well," she cocked her head. "You lieben her, und she lieben you."

Oh, Father, the eyes of a child. He beckoned her to come close and smoothed back her hair. With a gentle tone, he tried to explain. "You have sharp ears, little girl. But it's not that easy."

Her ears went back in confusion. "Vhat do you mean?"

"I think Auntie Jubes is really special but... I need to get you and Buddy settled before I make any more adjustments. I don't want you to feel left out." He prayed that made sense to her, especially since it didn't to him. I know it would be easier... but what is right for these kids? Father, I just don't know...

"But she vants to be our moeder."

The woefulness in her voice pulled at his heart. "And... I think I'd like that too. But... I'm so new at being your father, how would I be at being a husband too?" The last part was directed at his own feelings of doubt.

"You a good Vader, and you'd be a good husband, too." Dove nodded decisively and patted him gently on the knee.

"Thanks, kiddo." He leaned down to kiss her forehead and caught sight of a pair of red-sneakered feet standing in the doorway. "Ah, um... you been there long?"

"No." Jubilee looked over her shoulder with a scowl. "Was tryin' t' listen in on what the lovebirds on the porch were sayin' but they caught me." She turned to look at him and quirked an eyebrow. "But just for the record, I agree with the kiddo."

"You do?" He blinked, not sure what she was agreeing to. "Which part?"

"You're a great dad, 'n I think you'd make an awesome hub." She gave him a cheesy grin and came in, closing the door behind her.

For the third time in as many minutes, he choked. Yah tryin' ta tell me something, Father? Should I quit chewing gum? He blushed again as his eyes followed the woman across the room.

"Buddy need a butt fix?" She smiled down at him, her bright eyes soft.

Wordlessly he held the infant out, forgetting to breathe when her hand touched his. A little shake of his leg and he drew into himself, closing off suddenly. "I gotta go outside."

"Watch out for Collete, she's, like, in a mood." She cuddled Star against her chest and smiled at Dove. "You gonna sleep tonight?"

"Yeah. I'm tired." The little girl rustled her wings and looked at Alvin. "Need a hand?"

He shook his head absently and pushed himself up out of the chair, then hobbled out the door, his mind awhirl with too many thoughts.

"Vader's sad? No, not sad. Vader's verward." Dove put her ears back, her eyes turned toward the door as she tried to pull her T-shirt off and got it tangled in her wings.

Jubilee nodded, then winced and helped her out of it and into her nightgown, an old ARMY T-shirt with slits cut for her wings. "Yeah, he's proly pretty confused right now."

"You not confused. You heart just goin' fast." Dove stretched her wings with a preoccupied expression in her eyes, then skinned out of her pants and began to fold them with military precision.

"You're right, I'm not confused. But I'm not a new dad either." Jubilee took the neatly stacked clothes and laid them on top of the suitcase, then went to the bottom bunk and pulled back the light sheet. "Let's get you in bed now."

"No blanket, or you get heatstroke." Dove put her ears back worriedly, then returned to the subject close to her heart as she obediently climbed up and sat on the narrow bed. "You have a vader?"

"Yup." Jubilee sat on the edge of the bunk, smoothing the silky white hair back from the wide blue eyes.

"Then Vader can ask him for you. Or you can ask him to give you." Dove looked up at her seriously, wings sneaking around the dark haired woman's waist.

Jubilee looked back just as seriously. "Do you think he really wants me?"

"He lieben you," said Dove softly. "Und me too." Her ears jumped at a happy squawk from Star. "Buddy does aussi."

"I know ya do, kiddo. An' I love you, too." She placed a kiss on her forehead and then one on Star's. "Your daddy's blessed with you two."

Dove twitched her ears happily. "So you ask you vader 'n be our moeder?"

"Let's let yer daddy decide what he wants to do and then we'll see, 'kay? Now, time fer you ta sleep." Jubilee gently shoved her wings away and pointed to the pillow, then remembered and patted it.

"Which side d' ya want?" Dove paused and looked at her quizzically.

"Which side... oh. I'm not goin' ta sleep right now, kiddo. I'll pick later."

Those wide blue eyes went even wider in confusion. "Not goin' t' sleep now? Should I sleep vith Uncle Ettiene?"

Seeing that there was no easy way to resolve the situation, Jubilee sighed. "Alright, I'll sleep on this side." She pointed to the outside of the mattress. "When your daddy comes in, I'll move."

"Yeah, Vader likes the outside. But he likes to sleep beside you, too." Dove lay down and snuggled against the wall, her eyes blinking contentedly. "Jesus, thanks for today. Thanks for Vader 'n Aunty Jubes, 'n all my family. Good night." With a sigh she was asleep.

Jubilee lay down beside her, then stared at the bottom of the upper bunk for a long time.

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