(no subject)
The pie maker was no stranger to children; he'd been one himself, of course (though he'd grown up at an awfully young age), saw them every day (usually leaving sticky handprints on table tops) and had begun to consider that perhaps one day he might have a little pie maker of his own.
That was in the very far future, however, and the infant currently staring up at him with bright blue eyes was something of a surprise.
Having no pressing matters to attend to or anywhere else to be, Ned and Digby stuck around after breakfast, helping clean up before settling in the corner of the kitchen with a baking magazine (Ned) and a chew toy (Digby). While he generally disliked being around many people, the kitchen was something of a second home to Ned, no matter if it was in a boys boarding school, a pie restaurant or a tropical island in an unknown nexus of universes.
Of course, this meant having more conversations than usual, and Ned hadn't quite been able to work up his dislike for small talk recently. It was easier with people he knew, such as Ellie's husband, who seemed to move about with his daughter in one arm like he'd been doing it all his life.
Small talk was one thing; Ned was entirely unprepared for when the doctor took a long, thoughtful pause, then turned to Ned and held the baby out to him, saying he needed to visit the rest room for a minute and would be 'right back, bro.'
It wasn't as though the pie maker could say no.
That was in the very far future, however, and the infant currently staring up at him with bright blue eyes was something of a surprise.
Having no pressing matters to attend to or anywhere else to be, Ned and Digby stuck around after breakfast, helping clean up before settling in the corner of the kitchen with a baking magazine (Ned) and a chew toy (Digby). While he generally disliked being around many people, the kitchen was something of a second home to Ned, no matter if it was in a boys boarding school, a pie restaurant or a tropical island in an unknown nexus of universes.
Of course, this meant having more conversations than usual, and Ned hadn't quite been able to work up his dislike for small talk recently. It was easier with people he knew, such as Ellie's husband, who seemed to move about with his daughter in one arm like he'd been doing it all his life.
Small talk was one thing; Ned was entirely unprepared for when the doctor took a long, thoughtful pause, then turned to Ned and held the baby out to him, saying he needed to visit the rest room for a minute and would be 'right back, bro.'
It wasn't as though the pie maker could say no.