Work Text:
"Robert honey can you bring princess Sharan back to the car please?"
Robert bent down to scoop his niece in law up into his arms a chorus of giggles erupting from her like ringing bells or bursting bubbles.
"Come Princess your chariot awaits!"
The chariot in question was of course the Firebird but hey in its own way it's a noble stead, white elegant and never let them down.
"Kaka Chad, you have to take pictures of the sandcastle! Mom and Dad need to see what we made with Uncle Robert."
"Of course, sweetheart."
He dutifully takes out his phone and makes a big show of taking photos for her as his husband walks away carrying his niece. Chad waits until they are out of sight before he gets to work on his plan.
Back in the car Robert is trying to console the suddenly tearful little girl it was his mistake a simple answer to a statement.
"I can't wait to show them our sand castle when we come back." "Show who honey?" "Mom and Dad." "Sandcastles don't last that long sweetie I'm sorry."
She'd been so eager he didn't want her to be disappointed later but all he'd done was disappoint her now.
He let her sit in the driver's seat and pretend to drive to cheer her up the keys securely in his pocket the entire time even promised that they'd stop for ice cream, he'd been talked up from just plain ice cream to ice cream with a flake, and sprinkles and syrup.
Only 6 years old and already such a shrewd negotiator she'd give Sonar a run for his money.
It seemed to take Chad a long time to come back to the car and when he did he stopped by the boot presumably tossing in the towels and now empty picnic basket but the sound seemed heavier than it should have he didn't question it.
"Excuse me miss I think that's my seat.
Sharan was picked up and put in the back seat buckled into her car seat.
"Uncle Robert promised me ice cream!"
"Did he now?"
Chad gave him a questioning look normally he was the stricter one out of them he had to with his work so often making him say no. He looked at Chad sheepishly whispering under his breath.
"Sorry she was sad about her castle going away. "
He got an understanding nod in response, thankfully the ice cream place was on the way, so it wasn’t a long detour, and all three of them had cones of sweet vanilla soft serve with varying syrups. Sharan of course had chocolate because what little kid wouldn’t have chocolate syrup and chocolate sprinkles and a chocolate flake.
He already knew he was going to be in trouble with Lailah for ruining her appetite so close to dinner time but the smile on her face was worth it so was cleaning chocolate from her hands and face with wet wipes while they were parked up. He’d have to wipe her car seat down later back home.
“Love can you bring Shar in? I need to get something out of the boot.”
Robert quirked a brow at him they’d used their own towels and the spare clothes lived at theirs for any unexpected trips or sleep overs nothing should need to be brought in, but he didn’t say anything about it remembering that noise from earlier.
“Sure Chad, come on Shar.”
He reached down to grab her hand having to bend at his side to close the gap. The door was opened before he could even knock.
“Hey Rob, was she good?”
“WE GOT ICE CREAM!!!”
“Yeeeah we got ice cream because she was so good.”
The look on Lailah’s face showed she wasn’t buying it.
“Come on in Johnny is in the kitchen you want coffee? Fresh pot just boiled.”
“Sure thanks, Chad will be in soon he had to get something.”
Robert sat at the table with his in-laws sipping from the cup explaining what happened while Sharan ignored them and played with her toys.
“So, we made this sandcastle and Sharan was so proud of it, but she got really upset when I told her it’d be gone before you could both see it in person.”
Chad entered the room holding the picnic basket supporting the base of it a still sandy towel draped over it. The basket was placed on the table and now Robert could make out a vague shape under the towel.
“What this sandcastle?!”
Chad whipped the towel off with a flourish; grains of sand flying in the air before he could get admonished by anyone about having to sweep, he lifted out a stunning glass sculpture from the basket. Sharan instantly dropped her toys to run over and squeal with excitement while hugging him.
“KAKA HOW?!”
“Well remember how Kaka has superpowers?”
Robert watched as her little head nodded furiously, how could she forget her uncles were superheroes?
“Fire and sand make glass. I know it’s not a sandcastle anymore but this way you can keep it.”
If possible, Robert fell in love with Chad all over again at that gesture he looked at the now glass formerly sandcastle on the table with a smile.
It really was beautiful glittering like gold in the light of the kitchen every little tower and turret captured eternally in sparkling solid glass, the initials that had been written in with index fingers now sunken as indents into it. The windows formed small hollows the line for the drawbridge was clearly there.
It must have been heavy given how solid it looked; those photos were a before compared to the now. Lai and Johnny were marvelling over it though if they were playing it up for Sharan’s sake or truly in awe at this creation Chad had managed to make, he couldn’t tell.
Chad carried the sandcastle upstairs to Sharan’s room as she followed behind him giddy with excitement about it already talking about how she was going to tell all her friends about how her and her uncles made a magic castle.
Back in the car Robert was beaming to himself.
“Have you any idea how much I love you?”
“Hmm fair idea but tell me again.”
“So much, can’t believe you did that.”
“I don’t like to see her cry.”
“Me either, beach trip, pretending to drive, ice cream and a forever sandcastle. I think we might be the world's best uncles.”
“Well, I definitely am but you’re a close second babe.”
Robert leant over the car to kiss Chad before they drove off to pick up their own significantly furrier four-legged child from Chase. Absolutely a ten out of ten day.