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Kids... they look a lot easier to handle on the brochure. Samantha has been a Godsend. Raptor Jesus knows we would've been dead from stress long before our thirties were it not for the doting Aaron family matriarch, and her endless talent as a grandmother.
Despite my not wanting to be a burden, Samantha seems more than happy to be looking after her darling little flapling. Life has been just a little bit more bright ever since Amber was brought into it. I still remember that day in the delivery room. Those piercing, innocent eyes opening up for their first time. So much of her mother within them.
"Jeez Anon... we are in public!" My dear wife said with a blush growing upon her beak. "What? Can't discuss my beautiful daughter, and my smoking hot wife in a park?" I reply with as much not quite faux reverence as I can force out.
"Ughhh... fricking dweeb, I swear." she lightly punches my shoulder as I shoot her my best shit eating grin. "Wooooow, the spokeswoman for public decency dropping F-bombs huh? For shame" a snort devolves into a cute giggling fit as the vulgar ptero reaches her limit for my patented human sarcasm.
We carry on our way, fingers locked with a peaceful smile upon her face, and a mild pep in her step. It still makes my heart skip seeing her. You'd think seeing someone daily would desensitize you, but no. Theres no need for drugs with a woman like her.
The walk to our destination is a quick one, the early June breeze wafting away any worries of being roasted alive in my open jacket. I scan the view as we arrive.
The grass of the park glowing as the sun drops. Children scrambling around with each other in a continuous giggle fit. A familiar yellow raptor next to her hotdog stand. Chatting up a couple of patrons, and the centerpiece.
Rosa always loved to gush about the flowers of her garden, it wasn't often I heard her bring up a tree of all things. Yet to say I'm disappointed in her favorite would be a lie. To think it's considered a trash plant in some areas.
Shut in I used to be, I'm still not the most well versed in the art of "touching grass". Despite this, even I can't deny the beauty of the mimosas. Feelings clearly shared as Lucy's eyes glow in the golden hour. Eyes that are clearly boring a hole into my dome as I speak.
"Something on my face dweeb?" She said while raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk.
"Yeah, don't worry I'll get it" before she had the opportunity to process what I said, I leaned in and placed a quick peck on her cheek. Then another, and another. Until the cackling ptero starts trying to bat me off.
Taking advantage of her being stunned I turn to jog up the hill with delicious smelling cargo in tow while the frazzled bird of prey behind me scrambles after her victim.
After having a bit more fun than I'd like to admit forcing her to ring around the Rosie after me with the trunk of the tree between us, I finally relented and allowed her to tackle me to the ground, shrouding me in the silky down of her wings.
I'll never get used to how this woman makes my heart throb.... God I love her "mumbling, you adorable retard." she says before our lips meet.
A short time later, everything is set up. A blanket set up and the meal of champions before us. Takeout pizza and a side of breadsticks. Leave it to Moe to be able to take a five star experience, and make it to go.
As we eat the completely normal picnic fare, small talk ensues between the molten cheese.
"So Reed finally got his business legalized huh?" The pink raptor held to the carfehead pipe dream, imagine the surprise we all had when it came true. "Yeah, licensed and all. Paperwork was supposedly a bitch though." she said before snapping a slice out of the air.
Trish must be happy to not have to pull most of the weight now. It really was a matter of time before they tied the knot. In the years following graduation, Trish and Reed became rather close to each other.
"Wonder if they'll finally get to work on giving Amber a friend or two." a spurt of rocka cola jetting from her snout was worth the following punch to the shoulder. A bit harder than normal this time, oww.
"I'll be sure to let them know your concerns perv." she snorted
"Until then, you could always work on making Amber some friends yourself." I almost sucked mozzarella down my windpipe after that. I rip grass up from behind me and throw it at her face, making her sputter as dirt finds it's way into her teeth.
Roughhousing aside, after eating our fill of the cheesy goodness, we are on our way back to the Aaron household to pry our daughter away from the iron grip of her grandmother.
A daunting task sure to result in the casualties of hundreds. I shudder at the thought.
A comforting silence looms over us as we go along the sidewalk. The park was laughably close to the neighborhood I now call home. A long way off from the run down slum of skin row.
I'll remain forever grateful to Ripley for helping find a new place for us to call home. Though I never will be entirely comfortable with him fronting the entire down payment. Police commissioner aside, I do have SOME pride as a man.
I made sure to make it up by taking care of the rest of the payments, a task made manageable by the cushy gig I landed as a sound engineer for a local studio.
Maybe thanks aren't too in order. Seeing as he took some particular choices that made it convienently close to the Aaron household. Something tells me that somewhere in that stern hard ass, may be a grandfather itching to steal away my little girl from her dad.
'Knock knock' not like I'll make it easy for him though. The door opens as the towering patriarch looms a foot overhead. Long gone are the days of his signature death glare, replaced now by a faint yet telling grin.
"You two are back earlier than expected. Any issues along the way?" Voice and grin being lowered slightly by the last sentence. "No sir, someone just couldn't bare the pollen anymore and had to leave before her eyes puffed out of their socket"
Lucy's eyes widened in minor shock then narrowed at the instant betrayal. As pissed as she may be for being thrown under the bus, in my defense ptero sneezes are much more violent and.... ballistic then human sneezes. Damn near lost an eye last time she caught bird flu.
A light chuckle brings my attention to the man before me"yeah that'll do it, and for the last time son, call me 'Rip'."
"Yes s- I mean ok Rip." I save. "So where is she dad?" Lucy said. The winged mountain looked over his shoulder before calling her over. And there she was.
Only a mere six years old. Standing in a cute yellow sundress reminiscent of Lucy's church clothes. A small bow adorning her crest.
"Hi sweetie, did you have fun with grandpa and grandma?"
"Grandma taught me moonlight crostata!" She exclaims with the type of energy that's only held by those of youth.... Christ I'm already feeling old.
"No no, sonata... but if you want I can teach you how to make a crostata too honey." The tittering mother in law offers, to the oblivious cheer of the excitable ptero.
"Hmmm... maybe that's a lesson I'll give next time we are over." Samantha hums out with faux innocence.
"Mom... you know she's not allowed in the flour, not since last time." Lucy's semi serious reminder is met by a cackle from her sadist of a mother... that was a looong day.
"First you hype her up on sugar to send home, and now you threaten us with that? Your a mean woman miss Aaron." She lightly slaps my shoulder before putting her hands on her hips indignantly.
"Not my fault. Besides you, she's the only one who likes my banana pudding. And how many times I gotta tell you to call me 'mom' dear?"
"Ok, ok fine hehe.. wait you had banana pudding without me? Jeez you really are evil."
"Oh stop being so dramatic dear.. don't go thinking I forgot to make enough to take home." She produces a tin foiled bowl and presents it to me. Which I graciously accept. You'd think she put something more than sugar in this stuff.
"Thanks mom." She lights up at me calling her that. A brief hug with her daughter, me, and scooping Amber up go pepper with kisses, she sees us out.
Amber forces her way between me and Lucy, taking one of our hands each looking up, head darting between us.
"Daddy?"
"Yes honey?"
"What's a crostata?"
The walk home was blissful. To think at such a young age my little angel is taking after her mother. Lucy started around the same age. With church songs and such. But never something as complex as Beethoven. My career has given me insight into just how complex he could get with his materials.
Even if it's just a few lines, doing this at her age is surely the mark of a maestro in the making.... we are so going to tease her about this when she makes it big.
After a lot of fussy protest from Lucy's mini-me, we finally manage to tuck the little flapper into bed. Wrapped into a fluffy cocoon with her beak poking out for air. Just how she likes it.
A kiss from us on each side of her beak and it's time to retire for the evening.
"Good night sweetie." Lucy coos.
"Mmmmnooo." Amber groans pitifully.
"Baby, we are going to church in the morning, you can't stay up all night." Lucy gently reminds. To which my daughter looks to me expectant. Sorry little Missy, you don't have to sleep in the same bed as her, you wouldn't understand.
"Not even a story?" She says sweet as molasses. That damn look, it's what Lucy does when she wants me to take over cleaning dishes.... ughhhh why do I have to say no to that face? Mmmmmmmmph
"Ok but just one." Lucy gives me her patented eyebrow. Before breaking into a good humored scoff.
"Don't keep too long daddy~" she says after a peck on my cheek, intentionally dragging her feathers across my shoulder as she leaves.... maybe another kid isn't a bad idea? Nope, nope. Reject the monke. I have a story to tell.
The mattress under me sinks in as I lower onto it.
"Let's see... stories..." I remember a few stories my parents used to tell me. Besides the one involving the mouse and the strawberry, the tales they told me aren't exactly good for the mind of a developing hybrid child.
Ahh.. I might know one. heh.
"How about this? I'll tell you the story of the lonely human and his friend, the angry gator."