(Untitled)

[strandedseaman]

Horatio sat with Edward in the shallows of the pool. The waterfall churned steadily down, but here the water was calm, the coolest place they could be on a hot day outside of the Compound

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[the_cop]

Ray settled himself down at the edge of the pool. He was wearing shorts and slowly let his legs dip into the water 'til it came up to his knees.

"I gotta say, I had my doubts with that floaty thing, but you really got it working," he said in greeting, smiling from Edward to Horatio.

[strandedseaman]

"I did say," said Horatio. One could not spend the better part of a year with a Mountie and not pick up a trick or two. "So long as the water resistant treatment to the fabric holds, I think I may declare success."

He smiled at Ray. "Then you may take him swimming also."

[the_cop]

Ray let out a long breath. "You know I suck at swimming. I'd probably drown and Edward would laugh at me," he said, his smile going kinda sheepish. He plashed Edward's hands, making the baby laugh and clap his hands against the floating device.

[strandedseaman]

Horatio made a dismissive sound, one half-drowned by water when Edward splashed again. "You've made much improvement since I first met you," he told Ray. "Go and get your trunks."

[dr_girlscout]

Cameron had spent so much of her past couple of days stalking around in a rage that was, if not black, pretty damn dark. It wasn't like her, and she'd been purposely avoiding anyone who knew her.

She'd been running, and she pulled up to a stop by the waterfall, kicking off her shoes and stepping in until she was up to her thighs.

At the sound of a voice, she glanced over, and the tight twist of her mouth relaxed. "He looks like he likes it," she said.

[strandedseaman]

"It may very well be the noise," said Horatio, though privately he was clinging to the idea that Edward liked the water.

He looked over at her, trying to be subtle but it was too late. Edward had noted her as well, and was now happily pounding water in her direction. "Oh," said Horatio, catching at his hands. "Forgive us, he's too young yet for manners."

[dr_girlscout]

"I don't think so," Cameron said, managing a smile. As the water splashed at her, she laughed, a sound she'd almost forgotten in herself, what with wallowing in misery. "Besides, maybe he can just tell I'd like to be cheered up."

She gravitated a little closer.

[strandedseaman]

"Ah, he's very good at that," said Horatio, turning the floaty so that Edward needn't twist round to face her.

"My husband and I argue forty percent less since his arrival." That was true. He'd calculated it.

[vvdanicavv]

High heels were a bitch in the undergrowth. Danica had checked to make sure no-one was watching before she'd slipped off her shoes and continued along with them dangling from her fingertips. Now she was grimacing daintily, head bent as she avoided anything that looked even remotely dirty or sharp on the ground. Which was pretty much everything. Knees downward, she felt like a barefoot tramp and only the sound of water was enough to raise her gaze. Which turned her grimace into something far more unsightly.

A grown man and a fucking baby. She'd left the Compound to get away from shit like that and yet here it was again like she couldn't escape it. Disgusting.

She stood listlessly at the edge of the pool, bare feet momentarily forgotten. "You should take it out of its fucking float and see if it sinks," she advised the man, tiny scrunch marks around her nose as she studied the child. Baby, witch, same difference. "If it doesn't, you have yourself an evil little devil-child and should think about drowning it right away."

[strandedseaman]

"Were I to drown anyone it would be for reasons far less medieval," said Horatio. A year ago, the words would never have passed his lips, let alone entered his mind, but a man could not see his own son dangled over a frozen waterfall and not emerged changed on the other side. If the woman wanted to torment him and his child she would have to find a better reason than their mere existence.

"Perhaps a venture to the bookshelf will provide you with a more thorough education, madam."

[vvdanicavv]

Their mere existence was the only thing Danica held against the man; had there been no child she would've had absolutely no inclination to pass on her wisdom at all.

"Oh please. I don't need a book to tell me drowning isn't the only option." She ran the tip of her forefinger along her lower lip, remembering the satisfying sugar-sweet taste of a young child's blood. Despite her years, she didn't even need an entire hand to count the number of walking meatsacks under fifteen years old she'd fed from. Adult males had always been her favorite, especially if they indulged in a little pre-dinner entertainment to get the adrenaline pumping. "But why make the job harder for yourself when we're already surrounded by water?"

[strandedseaman]

Horatio was but a few centuries removed from medieval himself, but he knew enough to recognise a disturbed person when he encountered one. Protocol dictated that he be kind, but said protocol was easy to forget when one's son was indirectly threatened.

"Madam, there is no job," he said shortly. "There is only a child at play, and if you cannot be civil then I will thank you to go elsewhere."

[island_anne]

"My, he looks so at home," said Anne, watching the small child laugh delightedly at the spray of water. Matthew, she had to admit, wasn't nearly so fond of it, not even at bathtime. "As so you."

[strandedseaman]

"Doesn't he?" said Horatio, relief lending a certain brightness to his smile. "I only wish I thought of it sooner. I'll make a sailor of him yet."

Likely as soon as the boy could walk on his own.

[island_anne]

Matthew squirmed until Anne let him down, but even when he was on the ground and free to investigate, he stayed at least a couple of feet away from the edge of the waterfall pool at all times.

"I'd imagine he'l have to be a little taller before you do that," said Anne. "And of course he'll need a hat."

[strandedseaman]

"Already in the making, now that I've puzzled out how to sew more than sails," said Horatio. His smile dimmed somewhat to see poor Matthew edge away from the water.

"Does he not care to swim at all?"

[endlessdel]

"HoW is HE DoiNG tHAT? FLoating? ARe yOU NOT SCARed and tERRifiED THAT He is goinG TO DEE-Argh-OH-doUBLE yoU-En?" Delirium asked wondering if she could have a Del sized one or maybe get one for Barnabas. Delirium put her feet into the water and sat down carefully. The only thing that made her vaguely comfortable at the moment was swimming or being in or near water. Everything else was too warm and uncomfortable and messy. Everything at the compound was so messy and she just wanted to... clean it. Organise the chaos until everything was peachy keen again.

[strandedseaman]

Horatio blinked, his expression very like one who's just had his hair blown back by a sudden tempest.

"Well, no," he said slowly, trying not to eye her truly enormous belly, even if from this angle, the sight must be scaled to reach her face at all. "I've filled his float with kapok. It's highly buoyant, I assure you, he's quite safe."

[endlessdel]

"i'D bE TerriFieD, i'M SCared NOW anD THe TwiNS HAVen'T eVEN coME Out of my stoMACH yet. LikE i'M SCARed thEY'LL Run with sciSSORS or thEY'Re auNT wiLL Eat thEM oR thEY'LL be stoLEn from ME. sCARed, scARED, scaREd but THat's WHat beinG a pARent is suPPOsed to be Like," Delirium said smiling brightly at the small human squirming baby. Delirium covered her face with her hands before parting them to make faces at Edward. Delirium laughed happily. "yOU FiLLed it wiTH a tREE? thAT's rEALLY PeacHy KEen."

[strandedseaman]

"It can be daunting, yes," said Horatio, able to parse that much. "I worry after Edward even in my sleep, but you will find you are better equipped than you think."

He watched his son laugh at Delirium's faces and was unable to prevent his own smile. "I take it these twins shall be your first?"