Pickle 8, Watermelon 17, Blue Raspberry 2
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Pickle 8 (baby on board - My Treat: Colin adopts Maggie), Watermelon 17 (what are you waiting for?) & Blue Raspberry 2 (cooling off)
Toppings & Extras: Caramel
Word Count: 1,385
Rating: PG
Summary: Colin isn’t sure how to go about official adoption.
Notes: This takes place immediately following Taken (Ted and Marie’s story). Dean’s 15, to add a bit of context.
The only thing that kept Colin from joining Ry, Jakium and Jay and heading immediately back to Oakbridge was the fact he knew Sorin would never allow him with the nasty gash he had across his cheek, even as neatly stitched as it was.
Even so, he was up at dawn the next morning, not surprised to find Sorin already in the kitchen. “Anxious to get the paperwork going?” his friend asked after the requisite good mornings.
Colin shook his head. “I won’t believe she’s mine until I have it, but I want her to be, you know?”
“I know very well. Unfortunately, there’s no one still around who spent any real time with me while Diana was pregnant for Dean, but they could have told you I was a nervous wreck for nine months - and I didn’t get much better afterwards until I was sure Edward’s legacy wasn’t going to leap out of me and get to Dean.”
Colin offered a crooked smile, favoring his injured cheek. “You don’t mind that I’m leaving so soon? I know you like to play mother hen after these sorts of incidents.”
Not surprisingly, the older man ignored the second part. “I only ask you stay long enough for breakfast and take Paul with you when you go.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“It’ll make me feel better, okay?”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
Even with Sorin’s imposed delay, Colin found himself trotting into the courtyard at Oakbridge Castle by just after midday, Paul and his horse on his heels. He swung off and then paused, not really sure how one went about officially adopting a child.
Paul shook his head, passing both horses to the hostlers. “You could always ask the king,” he pointed out as he headed past Colin for the KIN offices.
He watched the younger man go and then decided his sister might be a better bet, so he headed for the rooms she and Beau shared. He didn’t bother to knock, letting himself into the chaos he could hear even through the heavy wooden door. No one noticed his arrival - all three of Jez’s children were very much present. Corwin, the oldest at seven, was screaming at his four-year-old sister. Cameron, meanwhile, her sole remaining toddler, bawled, throwing all the toys within reach across the floor. Beau was conspicuously absent and Colin wondered what ‘emergency’ had taken him from the current family meltdown. When he spotted his sister, he suspected maybe it was a real emergency or at least necessary duty, because she was slumped on the couch, hiding her face in her hands.
For a moment, he wondered why he wanted one of these, before laughing at himself. He stepped over and neatly plucked the latest toy from Cameron’s hand, scooping the little boy up. “Stop that,” he ordered sternly, “or no more horseback rides for you.”
A bit surprisingly, Cam’s mouth snapped shut and he brightened, wrapping small arms around Colin’s neck. “Colin!”
He barely managed not to wince as the boy’s grip tugged on multiple bruises and cuts. “Hey, squirt. You two, cut it out,” he added, much louder, to get the attention of his other nephew and niece. “You’re siblings. Act like it.”
His appearance, unnoticed up to that point, startled the older two to stop as well. Jez’s head came up at either his voice or the sudden silence. “Coli-what in the name of the gods happened?” she sputtered, shooting to her feet.
Cameron chose that moment to poke his gash. “You hurted your face.”
Only through force of will did Colin manage not to burst out with a spew of swearwords as pain shot through his skull. He firmly removed the toddler’s hand. “Yes and it still hurts, so no more poking it, understand?”
The boy nodded, grinning happily at his favorite uncle. Colin set him down and then shrugged. “Hadn’t you noticed I’d gone missing?” he asked lightly.
Jez snorted. “Of course we had. Paul kept us as up-to-date as possible and Ry, Jaks and Jay got back last night.” She stepped over now and hugged him tightly. “They didn’t mention the fact you’d gotten surgery done to your face.” She touched his chin, pushing it to the side to examine the cut more thoroughly. “This doesn’t look like Sorin’s work.” It probably said a lot that she could identify it that quickly, he thought.
“Morgan’s mother, while we were still down in Nerius.”
“Nerius?” she repeated.
“Long story,” he told her, “and not appropriate for our audience. Didn’t the others tell you?”
“They all collapsed into bed and, as far as I know, have not emerged since. Stella probably knows but we haven’t had time to drag it out of them.”
“We can hear it, honest!” Corey said hopefully, Lessa nodding at his side.
“Even if it was appropriate, you wouldn’t deserve it after that little scene,” Colin told him and then returned his attention to his sister. “I have a really random question for you.”
She raised both eyebrows in an invitation to go on.
“Who do I see to get paperwork on adopting?”
If he hadn’t had the full attention of the room before, he did now, even Cameron looking up at him again after noticing the others’ attention.
“Adopting?” Jez repeated. “Who’s adopting?”
“Me?”
“Seriously?”
He felt himself grin. “A little girl named Maggie.” The grin slipped a little. “Her mother died just after her birth. I ended up being the only one available to help her. I just…fell in love with her and her grandparents can’t take care of her.”
“We’re getting a cousin?” Corey asked, lighting up.
“You act as if you don’t have enough,” Colin said dryly, considering his brothers had not been shy about having children, plus Ani and Ren’s two and all their informal cousins - the children of their old friends - all of whom ran wild around the castle.
“Cousins are awesome,” Corey informed him with all the wisdom of a seven-year-old.
Jez abruptly hugged him again. “That’s wonderful, Colin, despite the situation. I’m so glad. We get to meet her soon, right?”
“As soon as the paperwork goes through and I’ve found a wet nurse. Well, and after I take her to Hilltop. Sorin made me promise. I think he’s a little put out everyone else has already met her.”
“Colin, honey,” Jez said, in her sickly sweet tone that drove him up a wall - he had Brighton and Jay to thank for that one - “you’re the head of KIN and great friends with the king, do you honestly think your paperwork won’t go through? Get the papers, find a wet nurse and go get Maggie. The paperwork will be official when you get back.”
He blinked at her and then laughed, running a hand through his hair. “Okay, you’ve got a point. Who do I see?”
“The castle’s magistrate should have them, I would think,” she said. “Go get them and get your offices all straightened and I’ll see you at dinner, okay? I want the entire story and you’ll tell it better than any of the other scatterbrains.”
He grinned and then turned to the three children. “You three settle down, got it? Give your mom a bit of a break.”
It continued to amuse the hell out of him that Jez’s youngest was the shrewdest bargainer. It probably came naturally as the youngest - until now and Maggie - of the pack of kids. As the older two nodded their assent, Cameron gave him a sidelong look. “Piggyback ride?” he asked.
Colin wasn’t really in the mood - or more, his body wasn’t, considering how beat up he was - but he made a point of sighing loudly. “Fine, you get a piggyback ride and your mom gets quiet time. Deal?”
The almost three-year-old beamed. “Deal!” he said.
“You don’t have to, Colin,” Jez said, having no doubt accurately read his face.
“It’s not a problem, honest. I’ll take him down to the magistrate’s office and back. Get it out of his system.” He bent down and let his nephew jump on. “C’mon, squirt. I’ll see you at dinner, Jez.” He straightened and headed towards the offices on the lower levels, whistling cheerfully. Despite the dull pain from Cam’s grip, he couldn’t help being cheerful, considering his errand.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Pickle 8 (baby on board - My Treat: Colin adopts Maggie), Watermelon 17 (what are you waiting for?) & Blue Raspberry 2 (cooling off)
Toppings & Extras: Caramel
Word Count: 1,385
Rating: PG
Summary: Colin isn’t sure how to go about official adoption.
Notes: This takes place immediately following Taken (Ted and Marie’s story). Dean’s 15, to add a bit of context.
The only thing that kept Colin from joining Ry, Jakium and Jay and heading immediately back to Oakbridge was the fact he knew Sorin would never allow him with the nasty gash he had across his cheek, even as neatly stitched as it was.
Even so, he was up at dawn the next morning, not surprised to find Sorin already in the kitchen. “Anxious to get the paperwork going?” his friend asked after the requisite good mornings.
Colin shook his head. “I won’t believe she’s mine until I have it, but I want her to be, you know?”
“I know very well. Unfortunately, there’s no one still around who spent any real time with me while Diana was pregnant for Dean, but they could have told you I was a nervous wreck for nine months - and I didn’t get much better afterwards until I was sure Edward’s legacy wasn’t going to leap out of me and get to Dean.”
Colin offered a crooked smile, favoring his injured cheek. “You don’t mind that I’m leaving so soon? I know you like to play mother hen after these sorts of incidents.”
Not surprisingly, the older man ignored the second part. “I only ask you stay long enough for breakfast and take Paul with you when you go.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“It’ll make me feel better, okay?”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
Even with Sorin’s imposed delay, Colin found himself trotting into the courtyard at Oakbridge Castle by just after midday, Paul and his horse on his heels. He swung off and then paused, not really sure how one went about officially adopting a child.
Paul shook his head, passing both horses to the hostlers. “You could always ask the king,” he pointed out as he headed past Colin for the KIN offices.
He watched the younger man go and then decided his sister might be a better bet, so he headed for the rooms she and Beau shared. He didn’t bother to knock, letting himself into the chaos he could hear even through the heavy wooden door. No one noticed his arrival - all three of Jez’s children were very much present. Corwin, the oldest at seven, was screaming at his four-year-old sister. Cameron, meanwhile, her sole remaining toddler, bawled, throwing all the toys within reach across the floor. Beau was conspicuously absent and Colin wondered what ‘emergency’ had taken him from the current family meltdown. When he spotted his sister, he suspected maybe it was a real emergency or at least necessary duty, because she was slumped on the couch, hiding her face in her hands.
For a moment, he wondered why he wanted one of these, before laughing at himself. He stepped over and neatly plucked the latest toy from Cameron’s hand, scooping the little boy up. “Stop that,” he ordered sternly, “or no more horseback rides for you.”
A bit surprisingly, Cam’s mouth snapped shut and he brightened, wrapping small arms around Colin’s neck. “Colin!”
He barely managed not to wince as the boy’s grip tugged on multiple bruises and cuts. “Hey, squirt. You two, cut it out,” he added, much louder, to get the attention of his other nephew and niece. “You’re siblings. Act like it.”
His appearance, unnoticed up to that point, startled the older two to stop as well. Jez’s head came up at either his voice or the sudden silence. “Coli-what in the name of the gods happened?” she sputtered, shooting to her feet.
Cameron chose that moment to poke his gash. “You hurted your face.”
Only through force of will did Colin manage not to burst out with a spew of swearwords as pain shot through his skull. He firmly removed the toddler’s hand. “Yes and it still hurts, so no more poking it, understand?”
The boy nodded, grinning happily at his favorite uncle. Colin set him down and then shrugged. “Hadn’t you noticed I’d gone missing?” he asked lightly.
Jez snorted. “Of course we had. Paul kept us as up-to-date as possible and Ry, Jaks and Jay got back last night.” She stepped over now and hugged him tightly. “They didn’t mention the fact you’d gotten surgery done to your face.” She touched his chin, pushing it to the side to examine the cut more thoroughly. “This doesn’t look like Sorin’s work.” It probably said a lot that she could identify it that quickly, he thought.
“Morgan’s mother, while we were still down in Nerius.”
“Nerius?” she repeated.
“Long story,” he told her, “and not appropriate for our audience. Didn’t the others tell you?”
“They all collapsed into bed and, as far as I know, have not emerged since. Stella probably knows but we haven’t had time to drag it out of them.”
“We can hear it, honest!” Corey said hopefully, Lessa nodding at his side.
“Even if it was appropriate, you wouldn’t deserve it after that little scene,” Colin told him and then returned his attention to his sister. “I have a really random question for you.”
She raised both eyebrows in an invitation to go on.
“Who do I see to get paperwork on adopting?”
If he hadn’t had the full attention of the room before, he did now, even Cameron looking up at him again after noticing the others’ attention.
“Adopting?” Jez repeated. “Who’s adopting?”
“Me?”
“Seriously?”
He felt himself grin. “A little girl named Maggie.” The grin slipped a little. “Her mother died just after her birth. I ended up being the only one available to help her. I just…fell in love with her and her grandparents can’t take care of her.”
“We’re getting a cousin?” Corey asked, lighting up.
“You act as if you don’t have enough,” Colin said dryly, considering his brothers had not been shy about having children, plus Ani and Ren’s two and all their informal cousins - the children of their old friends - all of whom ran wild around the castle.
“Cousins are awesome,” Corey informed him with all the wisdom of a seven-year-old.
Jez abruptly hugged him again. “That’s wonderful, Colin, despite the situation. I’m so glad. We get to meet her soon, right?”
“As soon as the paperwork goes through and I’ve found a wet nurse. Well, and after I take her to Hilltop. Sorin made me promise. I think he’s a little put out everyone else has already met her.”
“Colin, honey,” Jez said, in her sickly sweet tone that drove him up a wall - he had Brighton and Jay to thank for that one - “you’re the head of KIN and great friends with the king, do you honestly think your paperwork won’t go through? Get the papers, find a wet nurse and go get Maggie. The paperwork will be official when you get back.”
He blinked at her and then laughed, running a hand through his hair. “Okay, you’ve got a point. Who do I see?”
“The castle’s magistrate should have them, I would think,” she said. “Go get them and get your offices all straightened and I’ll see you at dinner, okay? I want the entire story and you’ll tell it better than any of the other scatterbrains.”
He grinned and then turned to the three children. “You three settle down, got it? Give your mom a bit of a break.”
It continued to amuse the hell out of him that Jez’s youngest was the shrewdest bargainer. It probably came naturally as the youngest - until now and Maggie - of the pack of kids. As the older two nodded their assent, Cameron gave him a sidelong look. “Piggyback ride?” he asked.
Colin wasn’t really in the mood - or more, his body wasn’t, considering how beat up he was - but he made a point of sighing loudly. “Fine, you get a piggyback ride and your mom gets quiet time. Deal?”
The almost three-year-old beamed. “Deal!” he said.
“You don’t have to, Colin,” Jez said, having no doubt accurately read his face.
“It’s not a problem, honest. I’ll take him down to the magistrate’s office and back. Get it out of his system.” He bent down and let his nephew jump on. “C’mon, squirt. I’ll see you at dinner, Jez.” He straightened and headed towards the offices on the lower levels, whistling cheerfully. Despite the dull pain from Cam’s grip, he couldn’t help being cheerful, considering his errand.