(Untitled)

[goingtodorking]

Time and time again, Karen has one thing made clear to her: grown-ups are strange. Last night, they were all loud and noisy and drunk and then they started kissing each other and even Rollie kissed Karen on the forehead and what Karen thinks is that it doesn't really matter if you care if it's a New Year or an Old Year. It's going to happen

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[palmthemoon]

Shadow was up early because Karen was up early, and there was no sleep to be had when a seven-year-old is awake and antsy. But he was bringing in the new year less hungover than he had in years past; it felt kind of shitty to be imbibing all the alcohols in the world when neither Ainsley nor Rollie were drinking.

Bending over, he lifted the flap up so he could peer inside. He lifted an eyebrow at her.

[goingtodorking]

Sometimes, Karen and Shadow can go for a really long time without talking. Ainsley talks a lot and Rollie talks a lot too but, sometimes, all it tooks with the two of them is a look.

Shadow looks at Karen, one eyebrow raised.
Karen looks right back at him, both eyebrows raised in return.

[palmthemoon]

Shadow took a step back so she had room to come out of her den then straightened up to take a good look at her new creation.

It was pretty impressive as far as dens went, but he hoped Karen was planning on it lasting for the long term. Someone was going to need those chairs.

"Karen's Den, huh?"

[goingtodorking]

"Karen's den," says Karen, and sets her little hands on her little hips. "And the sign says "no grown ups allowed", Shadow, so don't you go in there, okay?"

[palmthemoon]

Shadow's face remained serious but there was a flash of something like a grin in his eyes. There was no way he'd have fit in there, even if he wanted to.

"I won't go in," he agreed with a nod. "It looks cozy. Why did you decide to build yourself a den in the rec room?"

[goingtodorking]

"Because I was bored," says Karen, putting her hands on her hips. "And my house is supposed to be mine, but you and Rollie wander in and out all the time like it doesn't matter!"

[palmthemoon]

He refrained from pointing out that they were usually coming in to pick up her laundry or tuck her into bed and various other parental necessities. But you could only debate with a seven-year-old so many times in a day before it wears on you, so Shadow just nodded.

"I promise we won't go wandering into your den. But you've got to get it down by your shower tonight, okay? People are going to need those chairs and table eventually.:

[goingtodorking]

Karen thinks about it for a moment, and then she nods.

"Okay," she says. "By my shower. But now we need to go and get some snacks."

[palmthemoon]

Shadow smiled and nodded as they headed toward the kitchen. "We'll see what sort of snacks survived the party." Then, after a moment, added. "Maybe, since you did so well with that den, you could help me with when we renovate our place for the baby. You can help us figure out what we'll need."