(Untitled)

[gil_whimple]

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[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy is outside, small curly-haired baby in his arms.

He waves at Gil.

[gil_whimple]

Gil waves back and trots across. "Gimme," he says, hlding out his hands for the baby.

He has long got over his terror of dropping them. He just handles them as though they were a souffle.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy does so, with a grin. Anita is ten weeks or so old now, so she can hold her head a bit.

"I forget, have you two met?"

[gil_whimple]

"No, but she's cuddly." Gil says, taking her as though she is the most precious and delicate thing in the world. He looks at her approvingly. "Lovely! Yours?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"I wish. Sister, ten weeks old, Anita, I call her Ani."

Anita smiles up at Gil.

[gil_whimple]

"Ani - oh what a lovely girl you are. And so like your big brother 'specially round the eyes." Gil wrinkles his nose at her in a pleased smile. "Does she like it here?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"She has my hair." Guppy says proudly. "And yes, I think so. Home seems a bit chaotic at the moment for her."

Anita reaches up at Gil's wrinkling nose.

[gil_whimple]

Gil obligingly lets her grab it, then squeaks. Baby fingernails are very sharp.

"She dot by dose," he says unnecessarily. "You'be neber done dat."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Nope." Guppy reaches over and strokes the back of the baby's hand, releasing the reflex.

"There you go. She didn't hurt you too much did she? It means she finds you interesting."

[gil_whimple]

Gil squints at his nose and grins at the baby. "Naaah, s'okay, She's got a heck of a grip though. Haven't you, Ani? There'll be no nicking her teddy in a month or two."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I got her an octopus." Guppy gets it out of his pocket and passes it over to her. "How are you doing Gil?"

[gil_whimple]

"Oh you lucky girl. You've very own Mr Julia Fruitnugget," Gil says. "I'm okay. rushed off my hooves most days. Hannibal leaving really put me in the hot seat. Luckily I can cope. And you? What's happening in Guppyland?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Well there's a tab recall, have you thought of advertising for more?"

Guppy smiles. "My uncle is talking to me, my mother is not, and I'm changing departments in just over two weeks."

[gil_whimple]

"Oh lord," Gil says - more or less to all of it. "Is changing departments good?"

Family upsets - not really Gil's business though he sympathises, of course.

[guppy_sandhu]

"I hope so. I was told it would probably be the only way to stop myself having panic attacks. Or at least reduce it. I'm going to work with elderly people who've had operations or strokes."

[gil_whimple]

"Oh," Gil tilts his head, considering. "Well it should be possible to pace yourself more evenly there, than in emergency situations. I hope you do really well there."

He looks at Ani again and drops his head to raspberry her belly, keeping his horns well out of her way.