Boys Night Out (locked to Bliss)

[mistersmith_tm]

Mister Smith couldn't have asked for anything more out of life. In fact, he was amazed at his good fortune and still, even now, half expected to awaken from this incredible dream. A dream that took him out of his post-apocalyptic world of the Big Death and gave him a home, friends, and a loving family. A loving, beautiful wife and three equally beautiful children. His days were full and rewarding, spent with his family, his hobby of photography, and his duties as high priest to the god of Happiness and Joy. So busy, in fact, that it took him some time to begin to realize that there was something missing in his perfect life.

His best friend.

The realization struck hit him with startling clarity late afternoon while he was watching a group of children having a water balloon fight on the greensward outside of the temple's main doors. Their laughter and squeals, accompanied by the frequent "SPLOOSH!" of impacting water balloons, made him think of a time not so long ago when he and Bliss had enjoyed a similar pasttime. And that made him realize that it had been a very long time indeed since he and his best friend had spent any real time together, just the two of them. Just enjoying each other's company.

He missed Bliss. Even though they saw each other every day, it wasn't the same. They were both so very busy, what with their individual duties and the new addition to their respective families.

Mister Smith wondered if Bliss felt the same way. He suspected he did, even if the young god didn't quite understand what that feeling was. Like Smith, it probably hadn't yet occurred to him what that peculiar little nagging emptiness was.

So Mister Smith went off in search of Bliss. Not as his high priest, but as his friend. To tell him how much he missed the time they'd once spent together. And to propose that they do something about it . . .

Comments

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"It startled the crap out of me," he confessed, then laughed. "I wasn't expecting it. Not just then. Really, not for a while. I thought maybe 6 months or so. Boy, was I wrong." He proceeded to explain how Brigid had begun to hover, bumping around inside her crib, while he was beyond arm's reach trying to diaper her brother. A two handed job most of the time . . . and now he suddenly needed a third hand . . .

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Well, I knew Pheobe started early, so I expected the same from ours... I just wish... well, that we could watch them grow up longer before they do." even if he wanted her to do it now at the very same time. "Has Angus even noticed that she's flying and he isn't? Aille once told me she didn't start flying until she was much older."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Has he noticed? You know, I'm not sure. He seems to be watching her. But he doesn't cry or fuss or try to grab her wings. Well, not when she's out of arm's reach. To be honest, I don't think he's really noticed his own wings. But Aille said it might be 2 or 3 years before they're strong enough for him to use them."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Hmmm... he might get a bit upset then, when he gets older and starts to realize things beter. Right now it's probably more like, cool... that's neat." Grinning and moving a bit to strech his own wings out behind him, the feathers a bit rumpled from where Serenity had been gripping on over his shoulder earlier. "Do they try and take handfuls of Aille's wings yet? Or no?"

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"He might become envious of his sister, once he's old enough to understand what she's doing. But I think it will help him to know that Aille's been through it herself." He stretched a bit, reaching over as he spoke to adjust one of Bliss' errant feathers. "Brigid has tried to grab Aille's wings a few times. When we were sitting in the garden with both of the babies, she actually tried to fly high enough to get to them."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"She's probably going to have a very tight grip, but it won't be too bad. She won't want to hurt her mommy." Bliss smiled as Smith fixed the feathers, they were starting to itch, "How's pruning Brigid going? I'm having a heck of a time doing Serenity, I don't want to hurt her."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"I know what you mean," he said, working on another feather. "Her feathers are so small. And yeah, I worry about hurting her, too. I don't know who it frightened more the first few times. Me or Brigid. Probably me. I'm actually more worried about Angus. His wings are so delicate. What happens when he's a toddler running around the garden? Getting into things, the way little boys do? Skinned knees and elbows I can deal with, but what happenes if he tears his wings?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Then he heals, the same as I'm sure Aille did. I mean her wings healed fairly quickly from the tears when she fell and I'm sure she was fairly rambuncous when she was a kid... think of what I was like... I bet she was much the same." Laughing softly, "And we're all going to have to watch out for all three of them... I bet we're going to see a lot of crash landings for a few months once they start really flying."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"It's going to drive me crazy. Worry about them. Trying to keep them from being hurt. More than just trying out their wings. Just . . . I couldn't protect Rose. Not for the first years of her life. I don't want to let the twins down. Or Rose. I want to be there to protect them. To be a daddy."

The way he wished his Daddy might have been, if he could only remember.

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Well, there will be the normal scrapes and bruses that they'll come running to us to kiss better. But those are normal hurts that every child goes though. We can only protect them so much..." And boy did he know his father tried to protect him during his long youth, but there were times when Bliss still got hurt.

"You won't let them down. You're a great dad and you're going to continue being a great dad. Those two love you very much."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"I'm trying." He loved the twins with all of his heart, but he wasn't at all certain that they were aware of him as more than just a warm body that sometimes fed and changed and held them.

"Have you and Joan decided on a day to formally introduce Serenity to the world?" he asked, fiddling with another feather.

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"You know, we really haven't talked about it all that much. I think we're just going to let things move along at the pace they choose. She's not really lacking from not meeting everyone outsie... and well... I get to keep her safe for a while longer..." Giving Smith a half smile, knowing the other man knew exactly what he ment.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I know what you mean," he nodded. "If we could keep the twins and Rose sheltered forever . . . but we know we can't. Still. We can enjoy having the twins to ourselves as long as it lasts. Knowing that here, they're safe." He smiled. "Maybe we should call the temple Safe Haven instead of Happiness and Joy."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Nah... it's happiness and joy... because everyone finds something here to make them happy... or at least most do anyway." Giving a grin.

"So... fun house... where do you think we should put it? I really don't want to distroy the view from the back garden... maybe towards the back, closer to the woods?"

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

Thinking about that a moment, he nodded. "I think so. It would give the children more of a feeling that it's theirs and apart. But not too close to the woods. Someplace where all sides can be in plain sight."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Sitting up properly, "Maybe we should go out and pick a spot today... I don't think we'll get any building done, because we need to get supplies and stuff, but we can at least get the process started."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"That's an even better idea," he agreed. It had been a long time since he and Bliss had simply walked somewhere. And it was a beautiful day. He pushed himself to his feet then reached a hand down to Bliss. He smiled to himself, wondering if some of the waterballons he'd planted around the grounds had survived . . .

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Accepting the hand up, Bliss grinned happilly, "We should probably get some water though, it's hot out there..." One of the reasons he'd been hidding inside.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Water. Roger that. And maybe an apple. Or a sandwich?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Maybe both if we're going to be out there for a bit." Getting a bit of a glint in his eyes, "I'm going to have to set up some sort of glammer if we don't want the kids to know before it's done."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"I hadn't thought of that. Will you make it look as if there's nothing there? Even while we're working?" He looked thoughtful. "Maybe let them think they're seeing the edge of the forest?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"I don't know really, maybe just make it so that they don't want to look over there... though I think what you're saying would be easier." scratching at his stubbly face because Serenity was fussy this morning and he didn't bother to shave.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Maybe a little of both," he said as they walked out into the garden and headed toward the kitchen. "Something that make it look ordinary, maybe boring enough. And something that makes them want to look somewhere else, at something more interesting. That would work, wouldn't it?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"I think that will work perfectly," Bliss opened the door to the kitchen and sighed at the woosh of cold air that came pouring out twoards the two of them, "Maybe just make it look like it does now, they don't tend to really play in that area of the grounds because it is a bit out of the way and not on the direct route to the stables."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

Mister Smith smiled at the servant who was busily chopping vegetables for salad and went directly to the refrigerator. "I know something that will work better," he said over his shoulder as he pulled out two chilled plastic bottles of water. "Make it look like liver and onions."