post season 4 finale ficlet
Title: Father
Author: fredsmith518
Beta: none, errors all mine as ever
Rating: tame
Disclaimer: Nothing owned, no monetary profit made.
Summary: Kirsten, at Ryan’s place, Taylor is having a girly evening with Summer…
Sentimental does not come close! Huge warning. At least, it’s short.
This is for Bicky, my 100th friend:D
A passing comment of Beachtree’s inspired part of this too.
Father
Kirsten was entranced watching Ryan. He sat, ensconced in the corner of the large sofa. Molly Marie was cradled in his right arm, her tiny body completely enclosed, her sweet, milky breath softly huffing as she exhaled, her eyes closed, she was the picture of contentment. Connor sat at his father’s left side, a picture book balanced on his knees. The little boy had one hand placed on Ryan’s leg and his father’s arm was draped carefully around his body pulling him into Ryan’s side. Dressed in ‘Bob the builder’ pyjamas, rosy from his bath, Connor looked adorable. Ryan was reading and Connor was turning the pages with deep concentration, the tip of his small tongue poking through his teeth. His expression was so like his father’s that Kirsten’s heart caught.
Aurélie was sitting on the floor a few feet away humming and talking to her dolls, lost in her own moment, telling each of her babies in a speedy stream how special they were.
The story finished. Connor yawned.
“Time for bed, kiddo.”
Connor huffed a sigh, snuggled in tighter, but nodded his agreement. In a clearly practised movement, the little boy stood and wrapped his hands about his father’s neck and his legs around his waist. Ryan began the tricky procedure of standing without dislodging either child, or disturbing the sleeping baby.
Aurélie chose that moment to ask, “Daddy can you braid my hair?”
She came to stand in front of Ryan, hairbrush in hand, head tilted to one side.
Ryan smiled. “Of course, sweetheart, but can you wait while I put your brother and sister down? Or, you know,” he dropped his voice to a conspiring tone, “ I have heard, from Sophie, that Grandma Kirsten does the best braids ever.”
Aurélie beamed. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely.”
Aurélie presented herself to Kirsten and miraculously a book materialized, to be read as her hair was duly brushed and braided. By the time that Ryan returned, the little Sophie clone was ready to be borne off to her bed. However, she pulled a final burst of energy from somewhere, and threw her arms around Kirsten. “Love you, Gran’ma!” she announced exuberantly before lifting her arms up to her father.
Kirsten could hear Ryan talking to her as he took her to bed.
“You are such a help to daddy. Gosh, your hair looks pretty. Grandma did a good job, huh? You need another story, baby?…”
Kirsten got up and tidied the last few items away, taking special care to place Aurélie’s ‘babies’ safely in their crib, then went into the kitchen to make some tea. Ryan was something of a convert to the beverage, at least, late at night.
“All done?” she asked as he came to find her. She passed him a mug.
“Yeah. Thanks for this and for coming this evening.”
“It’s been a pleasure, although I don’t think you needed me at all. You are so good at this, being a father, I mean.”
A faint blush warmed his cheeks. Even now, after all these years, he found frank and open praise embarrassing. Well, she was his mother. That was her station in life, but, even so, it tugged at her that he should still have such issues with being praised after so many years.
“You are good at it, giving each of them love and time and space and you have got so much patience.”
He smiled. “So, Sandy and Sophie had to go help Seth with Jacob?” he asked innocently. “You got the short straw and got me and the three kids, not one baby?”
She laughed at his deflection, but, all the same, enjoyed the satisfying flash of sibling ribbing, the subtle reminder that he accepted his place in her family.
“Seth just needs practice,” she announced, then added, “lots and lots of practice!”
They both laughed softly.
“I have my moments,” Ryan admitted. “If they are all crying at the same time, it can get pretty hairy around here.”
“Even so, you cope.”
“I do,” he agreed simply.
“So,” she asked, “DVD or game?”
“What did you bring?”
She could hear the anticipation in his voice: the years rolled back. “Chocolate covered oreos and Meerkat Manor, The Next Generation.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
They rearranged the furniture, and sat with their feet up on the coffee table and munched and chatted and watched.
Kirsten had the best time.
Author: fredsmith518
Beta: none, errors all mine as ever
Rating: tame
Disclaimer: Nothing owned, no monetary profit made.
Summary: Kirsten, at Ryan’s place, Taylor is having a girly evening with Summer…
Sentimental does not come close! Huge warning. At least, it’s short.
This is for Bicky, my 100th friend:D
A passing comment of Beachtree’s inspired part of this too.
Father
Kirsten was entranced watching Ryan. He sat, ensconced in the corner of the large sofa. Molly Marie was cradled in his right arm, her tiny body completely enclosed, her sweet, milky breath softly huffing as she exhaled, her eyes closed, she was the picture of contentment. Connor sat at his father’s left side, a picture book balanced on his knees. The little boy had one hand placed on Ryan’s leg and his father’s arm was draped carefully around his body pulling him into Ryan’s side. Dressed in ‘Bob the builder’ pyjamas, rosy from his bath, Connor looked adorable. Ryan was reading and Connor was turning the pages with deep concentration, the tip of his small tongue poking through his teeth. His expression was so like his father’s that Kirsten’s heart caught.
Aurélie was sitting on the floor a few feet away humming and talking to her dolls, lost in her own moment, telling each of her babies in a speedy stream how special they were.
The story finished. Connor yawned.
“Time for bed, kiddo.”
Connor huffed a sigh, snuggled in tighter, but nodded his agreement. In a clearly practised movement, the little boy stood and wrapped his hands about his father’s neck and his legs around his waist. Ryan began the tricky procedure of standing without dislodging either child, or disturbing the sleeping baby.
Aurélie chose that moment to ask, “Daddy can you braid my hair?”
She came to stand in front of Ryan, hairbrush in hand, head tilted to one side.
Ryan smiled. “Of course, sweetheart, but can you wait while I put your brother and sister down? Or, you know,” he dropped his voice to a conspiring tone, “ I have heard, from Sophie, that Grandma Kirsten does the best braids ever.”
Aurélie beamed. “Yeah?”
“Absolutely.”
Aurélie presented herself to Kirsten and miraculously a book materialized, to be read as her hair was duly brushed and braided. By the time that Ryan returned, the little Sophie clone was ready to be borne off to her bed. However, she pulled a final burst of energy from somewhere, and threw her arms around Kirsten. “Love you, Gran’ma!” she announced exuberantly before lifting her arms up to her father.
Kirsten could hear Ryan talking to her as he took her to bed.
“You are such a help to daddy. Gosh, your hair looks pretty. Grandma did a good job, huh? You need another story, baby?…”
Kirsten got up and tidied the last few items away, taking special care to place Aurélie’s ‘babies’ safely in their crib, then went into the kitchen to make some tea. Ryan was something of a convert to the beverage, at least, late at night.
“All done?” she asked as he came to find her. She passed him a mug.
“Yeah. Thanks for this and for coming this evening.”
“It’s been a pleasure, although I don’t think you needed me at all. You are so good at this, being a father, I mean.”
A faint blush warmed his cheeks. Even now, after all these years, he found frank and open praise embarrassing. Well, she was his mother. That was her station in life, but, even so, it tugged at her that he should still have such issues with being praised after so many years.
“You are good at it, giving each of them love and time and space and you have got so much patience.”
He smiled. “So, Sandy and Sophie had to go help Seth with Jacob?” he asked innocently. “You got the short straw and got me and the three kids, not one baby?”
She laughed at his deflection, but, all the same, enjoyed the satisfying flash of sibling ribbing, the subtle reminder that he accepted his place in her family.
“Seth just needs practice,” she announced, then added, “lots and lots of practice!”
They both laughed softly.
“I have my moments,” Ryan admitted. “If they are all crying at the same time, it can get pretty hairy around here.”
“Even so, you cope.”
“I do,” he agreed simply.
“So,” she asked, “DVD or game?”
“What did you bring?”
She could hear the anticipation in his voice: the years rolled back. “Chocolate covered oreos and Meerkat Manor, The Next Generation.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
They rearranged the furniture, and sat with their feet up on the coffee table and munched and chatted and watched.
Kirsten had the best time.