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palace_marton.
Unbuttoning the collar of his formal suit, Christian cracked open the door and peered around it into the soft lighting of the room. He pulled his head back and whispered to Johnny. "It's okay. Dad's asleep in the rocking chair and Harry's in there with the baby. We can sneak a peek."
Johnny's smile got even bigger, if that was possible, and he slipped in next to Christian. A tired but happy-looking Marton was slumped in a wooden rocker in a corner next to the frilly bassinet. Harry was standing to one side, cradling a tiny bundle in his arms. Johnny could just hear him singing softly.
Christian tiptoed across the room, but more so he didn't wake Marton than any worry about waking the baby. He stopped behind Harry, Johnny beside him, and tapped Harry's shoulder, peering over it. "We just got home." he whispered. "Saw Dwayne clocking out downstairs and he told us. Oh, isn't she beautiful." he breathed, stepping aside to make room for Johnny to see.
Harry smiled, shifting to turn her more towards them. "She really is, isn't she? She's got Marton's hair, Orlando's eyelashes, and so far as I can figure out, Anna's lungs... for volume anyway.
"She's so teeny!" Johnny whispered, beaming down at the baby. "Tiny little eyelashes and fingernails, and a cute little nose!"
Christian eyed the tiny curls pasted to her forehead. "Yeah, that's dad's hair alright. Orlando's was the same when he was tiny." He looked at Harry's expression and grinned. "What's her name?" he wanted to know.
"Ariene," Harry murmured, hoping the dim light in the room would hide his blush if they asked for the rest of it.
"Awww, that's pretty!" Johnny reached over and stroked a feather-light finger across a tiny, silken cheek.
"Not just Ariene, surely." Christian's smile grew to encompass his clucky lover. "There's got to be a whole list. If there's not, I'm registering a protest." He glanced over his shoulder at Marton.
Knew it. "No, there's more. Ariene Angelina, um, Sinclair Csokas," Harry said, unable to keep from grinning even as his cheeks flamed.
"They named her after you? That's great!" Johnny leaned over and gave Harry a hug, then winked and added, "You'll have to teach her to swear when she's bigger, like you did Caeline."
"Oh, that's nice." Christian gave his dad another glance and a fond smile. "Someone looks worn out. Long day, I guess. When did she come along?"
"Yeah, well... I already told Marton I'd handle the Caleran ones, and Anna can take the Dnaran... s'pose we'll have Caeline to bring on the good Eradorian ones- I made her promise to listen hard and bring back some new stuff. And she was born late afternoon... can't remember the exact time. Don't know what he's worn out for though," Harry gave a fond grin and a small snort at Marton."
"Harry. You're confusing me. Wasn't dad . . ." He shook his head trying to clear it, wishing he'd not had that second glass of wine at the dinner he and Johnny had attended that evening and that it wasn't quite so late at night and he wasn't quite so tired. "How 'bout you give Johnny a cuddle of the baby and you can tell us all about it, eh?"
Harry nodded, grinning at Johnny. "C'mon then, shift your arm up... support the head like that and... there. Just like falling off a bike," He said, shifting the baby into Johnny's arms.
Johnny beamed down at the sleeping baby. The warm weight cuddled up against him was so solid and so slight at the same time. He rocked her gently, shifting his weight back and forth.
Christian walked Harry a few steps away from both Johnny and Ariene and the spot where Marton was sleeping, listening intently while Harry recounted the day's events. When Harry finished, Christian's head was shaking in wry disbelief. "Does nothing ever go to plan around here?"
"Think you're asking the wrong guy that question," Harry said wryly. "I'm seriously starting to believe it's me... and all's I can say is that next time there's someone pregnant around, I'm not coming within a mile of them without a trained doctor standing about 3 paces away. Amazing, once in a lifetime experience, Christian- but I do mean once."
"It's a good thing you went after her." Johnny gave Harry a solemn look. "I'd hate to think what would've happened if she'd been alone with just the cab guy."
"Yeah, I can imagine." He looked at Johnny and his sister. "Well no, I can't." he admitted. "Was dad okay with all this? Everyone involved is still breathing I take it."
"He's floating ten kilometers above Palace, Christian... Ariene's safe and healthy, right now, I think that's all he cares about," Harry said, grinning towards Marton again.
Christian nodded, satisfied for the moment. He clapped Harry on the shoulder. "C'mon Uncle Harry, let's go back to the important stuff. It's my turn to hold her."
"Awww." Johnny ducked down and brushed his cheek against Ariene's, marveling at how soft and smooth her skin was, then handed her over to her oldest brother.
"Aww man." Christian cradled his baby sister. "I'd forgotten. Hey sweetheart." He lifted her closer and kissed her cheek. "You're a heartbreaker and no mistake."
"So, Anna, me and Caeline have the cursing covered, Orlando's going to take care of teaching her about shopping and hair care... what's that leave for you then, eh?"
"I'll teach her to ride, of course," said Johnny. "Get her a pony in a couple of years, put her up and take her around on a lead rein. We'll have her taking jumps before she's five."
"Dressage." Marton yawned and stretched his arms above his head. "Suitable kitted out, of course."
"Well, of course," Johnny agreed with a nod. "Want to teach her right. When you've got a good seat and proper control of your mount you can do anything else you might want to."
"Oh lord... off they go again. We'll have to swipe her and just take her on a regular ol' trail ride, Christian... see if we can scrape all that fancy crap out of her brain."
"Oh good grief." Christian rolled his eyes. "You poor, poor thing. Never let anyone think being born into this family is an easy, dare I say it, ride." He addressed his soft scorn to the sleeping infant. "You do whatever you want to, sweet-cheeks. Don't let this lot turn you into one of those horse mad, whiny girls."
"We'll turn her into a competent, confident horsewoman who can ride rings around all her brothers. How's that?" Johnny asked with a teasing grin.
"And Orlando'll teach her how to burn holes in a payment card," Harry laughed. "He's already planning shopping trips... or I think he was. I fell asleep."
"How 'bout I tell Anna your intentions and watch you all run." Christian offered, Ariene beginning to stir in his arms. He looked down. "Is it food time?" he asked Marton, who nodded, getting slowly out of his chair and heading over to the bench to prepare the formula.
Johnny beamed at Christian cuddling the baby, imagining him not too far in the future with a baby of his own, then stepped over next to Marton to watch how he prepared the bottle.
Ariene began to fuss, her tiny mouth opening in a perfect circle. Christian braced himself, knowing full well what came next and he was not disappointed. "Oh lawd." he said, propping the fussing infant up on his shoulder. "Here sis, look at all the funny folk."
"Told you... lungs like Anna," Harry pointed out, staying back a few paces.
Marton warmed the mixture from the fridge, tested it on his wrist and handed it to Johnny. "Bathroom." he told him. "Christian knows how." He turned on his heel and vanished into the ensuite.
"She's, umm, really loud," Johnny commented while walking across to Christian with the bottle. He handed it over and winced. The sound echoed off the floor and walls, multiplying to an eardrum-splitting volume. "Maybe some rugs? And... something on the walls? I think Orlando's first shopping trip should be for something sound-deadening!"
"Haven't found anything that completely soundproofs these walls," Harry murmured under his breath.
Christian yawned, the long day beginning to catch up with him, despite the excitement of a new sibling. He expertly handed both baby and bottle over to Harry. "Know what to do?" he asked, guiding Harry unceremoniously to the rocking chair.
Harry narrowed his eyes briefly. "You're ditching me, aren't you? Your time will come," he threatened, settling into the rocker and cooing at Ariene, trying to get her to take the bottle.
"I'm too young for the parent trap." Christian soothed, showing Harry how to get the nipple into her mouth as she twisted and turned, urgently searching for it. He put one finger on her cheek and she turned toward it, Christian deftly offering the nipple while she was still and releasing the bottle to Harry's careful grip. "You, on the other hand, are the perfect age. Here. Now keep the nipple full of milk, okay? So she doesn't swallow too much air. Won't hurt her if she does, but you'd live to regret it. Dad'll be back in a minute." He straightened up and held out a hand for Johnny. "I'm beat." he murmured.
Johnny cast a last, longing look at the baby, but went over and took Christian's hand. "Let's get you home and put you to bed. Don't you have an early appointment in the morning?"
"Oh please," Harry snorted. "If we're talking maturity, I think Orlando and I are a perfect example that age means nothing. Go on then if you're going... we'll manage just fine without you, won't we Ariene," Harry said haughtily, sticking his tongue out at Christian.
"Yeah, and a lot more to come, methinks. Tearing dad away to do any work is gonna be impossible." he joked. He already knew he was right though. Marton had delegated a lot of responsibility to him for the next few months and maybe even longer. Even Craig was picking up some slack and Will had been scheduled in as well. He'd need all the sleep he could get. He ignored Harry's pretended ire, knowing full well he was happy where he was. "Night Ari." he whispered. "Night, Uncle Harry."
Unbuttoning the collar of his formal suit, Christian cracked open the door and peered around it into the soft lighting of the room. He pulled his head back and whispered to Johnny. "It's okay. Dad's asleep in the rocking chair and Harry's in there with the baby. We can sneak a peek."
Johnny's smile got even bigger, if that was possible, and he slipped in next to Christian. A tired but happy-looking Marton was slumped in a wooden rocker in a corner next to the frilly bassinet. Harry was standing to one side, cradling a tiny bundle in his arms. Johnny could just hear him singing softly.
Christian tiptoed across the room, but more so he didn't wake Marton than any worry about waking the baby. He stopped behind Harry, Johnny beside him, and tapped Harry's shoulder, peering over it. "We just got home." he whispered. "Saw Dwayne clocking out downstairs and he told us. Oh, isn't she beautiful." he breathed, stepping aside to make room for Johnny to see.
Harry smiled, shifting to turn her more towards them. "She really is, isn't she? She's got Marton's hair, Orlando's eyelashes, and so far as I can figure out, Anna's lungs... for volume anyway.
"She's so teeny!" Johnny whispered, beaming down at the baby. "Tiny little eyelashes and fingernails, and a cute little nose!"
Christian eyed the tiny curls pasted to her forehead. "Yeah, that's dad's hair alright. Orlando's was the same when he was tiny." He looked at Harry's expression and grinned. "What's her name?" he wanted to know.
"Ariene," Harry murmured, hoping the dim light in the room would hide his blush if they asked for the rest of it.
"Awww, that's pretty!" Johnny reached over and stroked a feather-light finger across a tiny, silken cheek.
"Not just Ariene, surely." Christian's smile grew to encompass his clucky lover. "There's got to be a whole list. If there's not, I'm registering a protest." He glanced over his shoulder at Marton.
Knew it. "No, there's more. Ariene Angelina, um, Sinclair Csokas," Harry said, unable to keep from grinning even as his cheeks flamed.
"They named her after you? That's great!" Johnny leaned over and gave Harry a hug, then winked and added, "You'll have to teach her to swear when she's bigger, like you did Caeline."
"Oh, that's nice." Christian gave his dad another glance and a fond smile. "Someone looks worn out. Long day, I guess. When did she come along?"
"Yeah, well... I already told Marton I'd handle the Caleran ones, and Anna can take the Dnaran... s'pose we'll have Caeline to bring on the good Eradorian ones- I made her promise to listen hard and bring back some new stuff. And she was born late afternoon... can't remember the exact time. Don't know what he's worn out for though," Harry gave a fond grin and a small snort at Marton."
"Harry. You're confusing me. Wasn't dad . . ." He shook his head trying to clear it, wishing he'd not had that second glass of wine at the dinner he and Johnny had attended that evening and that it wasn't quite so late at night and he wasn't quite so tired. "How 'bout you give Johnny a cuddle of the baby and you can tell us all about it, eh?"
Harry nodded, grinning at Johnny. "C'mon then, shift your arm up... support the head like that and... there. Just like falling off a bike," He said, shifting the baby into Johnny's arms.
Johnny beamed down at the sleeping baby. The warm weight cuddled up against him was so solid and so slight at the same time. He rocked her gently, shifting his weight back and forth.
Christian walked Harry a few steps away from both Johnny and Ariene and the spot where Marton was sleeping, listening intently while Harry recounted the day's events. When Harry finished, Christian's head was shaking in wry disbelief. "Does nothing ever go to plan around here?"
"Think you're asking the wrong guy that question," Harry said wryly. "I'm seriously starting to believe it's me... and all's I can say is that next time there's someone pregnant around, I'm not coming within a mile of them without a trained doctor standing about 3 paces away. Amazing, once in a lifetime experience, Christian- but I do mean once."
"It's a good thing you went after her." Johnny gave Harry a solemn look. "I'd hate to think what would've happened if she'd been alone with just the cab guy."
"Yeah, I can imagine." He looked at Johnny and his sister. "Well no, I can't." he admitted. "Was dad okay with all this? Everyone involved is still breathing I take it."
"He's floating ten kilometers above Palace, Christian... Ariene's safe and healthy, right now, I think that's all he cares about," Harry said, grinning towards Marton again.
Christian nodded, satisfied for the moment. He clapped Harry on the shoulder. "C'mon Uncle Harry, let's go back to the important stuff. It's my turn to hold her."
"Awww." Johnny ducked down and brushed his cheek against Ariene's, marveling at how soft and smooth her skin was, then handed her over to her oldest brother.
"Aww man." Christian cradled his baby sister. "I'd forgotten. Hey sweetheart." He lifted her closer and kissed her cheek. "You're a heartbreaker and no mistake."
"So, Anna, me and Caeline have the cursing covered, Orlando's going to take care of teaching her about shopping and hair care... what's that leave for you then, eh?"
"I'll teach her to ride, of course," said Johnny. "Get her a pony in a couple of years, put her up and take her around on a lead rein. We'll have her taking jumps before she's five."
"Dressage." Marton yawned and stretched his arms above his head. "Suitable kitted out, of course."
"Well, of course," Johnny agreed with a nod. "Want to teach her right. When you've got a good seat and proper control of your mount you can do anything else you might want to."
"Oh lord... off they go again. We'll have to swipe her and just take her on a regular ol' trail ride, Christian... see if we can scrape all that fancy crap out of her brain."
"Oh good grief." Christian rolled his eyes. "You poor, poor thing. Never let anyone think being born into this family is an easy, dare I say it, ride." He addressed his soft scorn to the sleeping infant. "You do whatever you want to, sweet-cheeks. Don't let this lot turn you into one of those horse mad, whiny girls."
"We'll turn her into a competent, confident horsewoman who can ride rings around all her brothers. How's that?" Johnny asked with a teasing grin.
"And Orlando'll teach her how to burn holes in a payment card," Harry laughed. "He's already planning shopping trips... or I think he was. I fell asleep."
"How 'bout I tell Anna your intentions and watch you all run." Christian offered, Ariene beginning to stir in his arms. He looked down. "Is it food time?" he asked Marton, who nodded, getting slowly out of his chair and heading over to the bench to prepare the formula.
Johnny beamed at Christian cuddling the baby, imagining him not too far in the future with a baby of his own, then stepped over next to Marton to watch how he prepared the bottle.
Ariene began to fuss, her tiny mouth opening in a perfect circle. Christian braced himself, knowing full well what came next and he was not disappointed. "Oh lawd." he said, propping the fussing infant up on his shoulder. "Here sis, look at all the funny folk."
"Told you... lungs like Anna," Harry pointed out, staying back a few paces.
Marton warmed the mixture from the fridge, tested it on his wrist and handed it to Johnny. "Bathroom." he told him. "Christian knows how." He turned on his heel and vanished into the ensuite.
"She's, umm, really loud," Johnny commented while walking across to Christian with the bottle. He handed it over and winced. The sound echoed off the floor and walls, multiplying to an eardrum-splitting volume. "Maybe some rugs? And... something on the walls? I think Orlando's first shopping trip should be for something sound-deadening!"
"Haven't found anything that completely soundproofs these walls," Harry murmured under his breath.
Christian yawned, the long day beginning to catch up with him, despite the excitement of a new sibling. He expertly handed both baby and bottle over to Harry. "Know what to do?" he asked, guiding Harry unceremoniously to the rocking chair.
Harry narrowed his eyes briefly. "You're ditching me, aren't you? Your time will come," he threatened, settling into the rocker and cooing at Ariene, trying to get her to take the bottle.
"I'm too young for the parent trap." Christian soothed, showing Harry how to get the nipple into her mouth as she twisted and turned, urgently searching for it. He put one finger on her cheek and she turned toward it, Christian deftly offering the nipple while she was still and releasing the bottle to Harry's careful grip. "You, on the other hand, are the perfect age. Here. Now keep the nipple full of milk, okay? So she doesn't swallow too much air. Won't hurt her if she does, but you'd live to regret it. Dad'll be back in a minute." He straightened up and held out a hand for Johnny. "I'm beat." he murmured.
Johnny cast a last, longing look at the baby, but went over and took Christian's hand. "Let's get you home and put you to bed. Don't you have an early appointment in the morning?"
"Oh please," Harry snorted. "If we're talking maturity, I think Orlando and I are a perfect example that age means nothing. Go on then if you're going... we'll manage just fine without you, won't we Ariene," Harry said haughtily, sticking his tongue out at Christian.
"Yeah, and a lot more to come, methinks. Tearing dad away to do any work is gonna be impossible." he joked. He already knew he was right though. Marton had delegated a lot of responsibility to him for the next few months and maybe even longer. Even Craig was picking up some slack and Will had been scheduled in as well. He'd need all the sleep he could get. He ignored Harry's pretended ire, knowing full well he was happy where he was. "Night Ari." he whispered. "Night, Uncle Harry."
