Taking a break.

[light_in_sound]

It is a difficult thing for a mother to leave her newborn children. Alison doesn't think of it as "leaving", really. It's more that she's handed them over to two people who would have snatched them away sooner or later, anyway. Somehow, she got even less argument than she thought she would when she asked the twins' live-in grandparents to watch

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[sonofarize]

"It be good vittles," he rumbled as his batter-dipped shrimp went for a small splashdown. Then it was munched! Oh, the humanity!

"Mm mm mrs?" He didn't open his mouth to ask, so it was up to Alison to guess the question. Or else suffer the perils of see-food!

[light_in_sound]

Alison laughed and shook her head. Well, that explained a lot. Given the context and inquisitive inflection, she guessed what he was asking.

"Mine's tasty, too. Although, it seems like yours are leading more adventurous lives." Short, but adventurous.

[sonofarize]

"Arr," he managed around a mouthful of food without showing it off. The rest of his meal was polished off rather quickly. He leaned back and patted his belly. It sounded full for the moment.

"Think they be havin' tempura-fried ice cream?" He could always make room.

[light_in_sound]

"Mmmm, I dunno." Alison finished off the last few bites of her meal. "We should ask when the waiter comes back. That sounds interesting."

She sipped her wine and stretched her foot out under the table to rest her ankle against his. Good food and the best company possible. Definitely a date to remember. She gave him a smile. "Feel better, cutie?"

[sonofarize]

Well, that was confusing. He wasn't aware he had been feeling not well. "Er, yeah?"

He inspected his wife to see if she had grown spots or something. Since general health was now the discussion. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

[light_in_sound]

"I mean, now that you've eaten. Your tummy was making threatening noises earlier" She smiled and shook her head. Poor guy. She confused him often. She didn't mean to. It just kind of happened.

It didn't stop her from rubbing her ankle against his. It was sort of like holding hands. Only with feet.

[sonofarize]

"Ohhhh." Well, that was clearer. "Not going to implode from an empty belly. I'm fine."

He grinned. He sort of felt the ankle rubbing through his boot. He would rub back except his knees were a little pinned under the table.

"If you're full, we come back some other time for the ice cream. Or if'n you want to get to the ice skating."

[light_in_sound]

"Me? Turn down ice cream?" She did her best to look astonished. But, mostly she just grinned. "I think I can find room."

"We have plenty of time for ice skating. If we go home now, we won't be allowed to have our babies back yet anyway. John's explaining the rules of soccer to Aiden and your mommy's teaching Hana Japanese."

[sonofarize]

He almost sighed in relief. He thought he had destroyed her love for ice cream forever. Longshot looked for the waiter and motioned him over. He ordered some tempura-fried ice cream for the both of them.

"Well, if we're not going to get our babies back for awhile, we should spend the time out." He nodded.

[light_in_sound]

Alison had been steadily losing her baby weight over the last couple of weeks. And it had been such a long time since she'd allowed herself to have any. So, ice cream was working its way back onto her menu. Although, the tempura-fried kind would be a new experience.

"I think John would cry if we came home early and took Aiden away." She chuckled. "Your mommy wouldn't cry, but she'd probably pout when we weren't looking. Besides, I want to fall on my butt on the ice so you have to pick me up." She waggled her eyebrows at him, playfully.

[sonofarize]

"Hey!" That did not sound like a good idea to him. "No bruising that beautiful butt! I can't squeeze it if it hurts you."

Not that he was paying attention to exactly what he was saying in the middle of a restaurant. The general unbruisedness of Alison's butt was more important.

"I'll have to catch you before you fall on your butt."

[light_in_sound]

Alison laughed and blushed just a little. But, she was in too good a mood to get upset over him talking about her butt in public. It wasn't a terrible thing to say, anyway. Life would be worse if he didn't find her various parts attractive.

"Well, you'd better be quick on your feet and quick with your hands, then."

[sonofarize]

"I'm speedy," he assured. He had never done ice skating. So he hoped it wouldn't slow him down. He flexed his fingers a little. "I think my hands are good."

No pinkies meant less drag on movement.

[light_in_sound]

"I like your hands," Alison assured him with a perfectly straight face. It was true. She did love his hands. All their wonderful uses.

She sat back a bit to give the waiter room to set their desserts down. Hmmm. Well, that looked interesting. Fried ice cream had never quite made sense to her, but since he was going to eat it she would try it, too.

[sonofarize]

Longshot picked up his special dessert chopsticks and...

ATTACKED!

The poor little bit of ice cream had no chance. it was lucky it wasn't a bowl of noodles. It would have been slurped right up. Yep. Instead it was devoured.

And then frozen Longshot's brain.

[light_in_sound]

She watched Longshot's method of attack for a minute and then started on her own. At first, she hadn't been sure how she would like ice cream fried with tempura batter, but it was actually pretty tasty. Not tasty enough to make her want to eat it as quickly as her husband did. But, pretty good none the less.

Poor guy. Ice cream often bit him back.

"I take it that your ice cream was tasty?" She smiled sympathetically at him. Ice cream headaches were the worst.