(Untitled)

[awesome_captain]

Between thinking about the baby, the clinics, looking at the possibility of a chicken pox outbreak and the last week of preparation and practice, Devon was glad when game day finally arrived. It brought with it some pretty gusty winds, but it only made things more challenging, and that was what Devon believed everyone should look for when playing a

Comments

[turnthebadinme]

Serena had been more than happy to help set up the party. Chuck, Ellie and Devon had always been so kind to her, such good friends, that she leaped at the chance to help out. The wind made it a little more difficult, but this, at least, was a challenge she knew how to face.

With the games over -- she'd screamed herself all but hoarse cheering on all four times -- Serena made her way through the crowd, smiling and waving and waiting for a chance to tell Chuck happy birthday.

[spd_green]

So, they'd lost, but Bridge couldn't really care. Well, he cared, but he wasn't upset by the loss even though he would have been overjoyed with a win. What mattered was the game, and Bridge had thrown some strikes and gotten some good hits in.

He hung around afterward, because it seemed an awful shame that Bridge didn't know Ellie's brother Chuck very well, even though they'd spent a fair amount of time together thanks to the wedding and virtue of knowing his family. And, besides, there didn't seem like a better way to get over a loss than to celebrate.

[waltsnothereman]

"Well, that sucked," said Wanda as she sidled up to Bridge, but she was grinning as she did so. Something about the complete lack of stakes around the island seemed to make her a far better loser than she ever was before. Or maybe she was just getting soft in her old age. "Nothing like a birthday party for a guy you don't even know to take away the bitter sting of defeat, huh?"

[spd_green]

Ric, who had spent most of both games keeping refreshing beverages cold for all the players, barked cheerfully when Wanda came over and pressed up against her leg. "That didn't suck," Bridge said with a faint pout that could have been sadness or thoughtfulness. "It did scratch a little, with the wind and the dust, and it dried, but it didn't suck. And I know Chuck," he rambled on. "But a party is the best way to celebrate a loss, you're right."

[waltsnothereman]

"You have to admit, we have had better games. And the woman's always right, kid," Wanda said with a chuckle as she bent down to pat Ric on the head, grabbing herself an iced tea while she was at it. "You'd do best to remember that, you'll go far."

[stayastranger]

Sarah made a point of attending these baseball games anyway, mostly to support Devon, partly because there was little better to do. That it was Chuck's birthday, though, meant there wasn't anywhere else she would rather have been.

Hanging around near the edge of the crowd, Sarah reached up to brush her hair out of her eyes yet again, a fairly useless gesture in this wind. She had a plate of food in one hand, but eating it was proving difficult, even with her hair tied back.

[the_intersect]

"You know, I really hope somebody got me a kite for my birthday. With this wind, it'd probably be pretty cool," Chuck said, catching sight of Sarah and her wind problem. Even with how windy it was, it could definitely be worse. There could be a tornado or something.

God, he really hoped he wasn't jinxing it.

"Need some help?"

[stayastranger]

"Can you stop the wind?" Sarah asked, laughing a little. "I'm fine, really, except for the part where I forgot to get you a kite for your birthday." Resting her free hand on his arm, ignoring the hair in her face, she leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I'm going to have to think of something else."

[the_intersect]

"No...no, wait a second. I think I can..." Chuck held up his index finger, signaling her to wait, and then brought both hands together and clapped once.

The wind persisted, of course.

"You have to admit, that would have been pretty awesome if it had stopped right then. But--but seriously don't worry about it. Just you being here's enough for me."

[giftless]

It felt good to get out and get his mind thoroughly off of things for a little while. Edmund's mind had been particularly abuzz the last few days, but the exercise helped, and so did the food spread out. He didn't even mind the loss because a baseball game was about as far from his other thoughts as possible.

[little_moons]

After the games are over, even with all the wind, people hang around for the food and the company and, most of all, to gloat. It wasn't hard to get the girls all wound up about their daddies' win, even though I doubt they're really sure what they're cheering about, since they seem to be giving the same congratulatory dance to just about everybody they see, including perfect strangers.

"Hey kid," I say to Edmund, pulling Mack into my arms when she stops in front of me, shouting, "UP!" at the top of her lungs, her sister nearby with Mike and Tom.

[giftless]

The little girls really were adorable, and Edmund grinned as Neil succumbed to one's demands. "You don't look much older than I, you know," Ed pointed out, but amiably. Not only that, but Ed had a few more years on him than he looked.

[little_moons]

"Yeah, well, I feel older than I look," I say with a shrug, rolling my eyes when Mack gives him a coy, aren't I cute sorta look and rests her cheek on my shoulder. Two years old and they're a couple of flirts.

"Did you have fun gettin' your ass kicked?"

[drownondryland]

It's a fortunate thing that Meredith really doesn't care about whether they win or lose. She's not even particular about how they play the game. She only started playing because she was asked by someone who isn't even around anymore anyway. It makes for good exercise, though, inasmuch as being out in left field actually means anything, and a reason to be out around people. Better yet, there's food, cake and Ellie now that it's all done with.

As days have gone lately, it's actually one of the better ones.