Introductions (locked to Psyche)

[mistersmith_tm]

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Well, if you considered that the neighborhood consisted of a temple and it's vast grounds. The sky was cloudless and a vivid storybook blue, bright sunlight dazzling the water of the garden's pond.

Mister Smith sat on a blanket beneath his wife's favorite tree, his back againt the sun-warmed trunk. On the blanket beside him, his 8 month old son lay quietly on his side, his chubby fists worrying a colorful set of plastic rings while trying to cram them into his mouth. (Fortunately, they were entirely too big for him to manage that feat, so there was no fear of his accidentally swallowing them.) Angus' youngest sister (younger by a minute or two, in fact) was entertaining herself in an entirely different way. She was trying to crawl under the hem of her father's tunic, as if expecting he might be hiding something incredibly entertaining under there. Mister Smith was afraid she might be under the misconception that he was hiding lunch.

"You'll have to see your mother about that," he said with a smile, picking her up from the blanket and kissing her nose. She giggled and wriggled, her little wings flapping.

It was an idyllic setting, one he wished he could share with his wife and eldest daughter, but Aille would be away for most of the day and Rose had classes until dinner time.

"Looks like it's just us," he said. Brigid tried to grab his nose while Angus simply continued to gum his teething rings.

Or maybe . . .

"How would you like to meet someone special?" he asked. "Because I know she'd like to meet you." He blew a raspberry on Brigid's tummy that made her squeel with baby glee. "Is that a yes? It's a yes, isn't it?" he laughed.

And, closing his eyes for just a moment, he thought very hard of Psyche.

Comments

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

She sat on the swing in her garden lost completely in her own thoughts. Would he call for her soon? Would she see him, feel his arms around her? She missed him more and more everyday, her love. How often did she sit and daydream now? Something she knew she shouldn't do, but couldn't help it.

She played with the rose between her fingers, slowly lifting it up and sliding it into her hair. And it was there that she heard a voice she usually did not hear and butterflies moved through her chest. Taking a breath she got to her feet, every part of her seemed to shake, but she wanted this, she wanted to see them so much.

Taking a breath she transported to the temple gardens and she hid shaking hands behind her back. 'Hello?'

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

Something in the air moved, a bit like static electricity building up, and he turned toward it. When he saw Psyche appear a short distance away, he offered her a welcoming smile.

"Hello," he replied, cradling a squirming Brigid in his arms. "I probably should have given you some warning before I called. I hope I didn't interrupt anything important."

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

'Daydreaming mostly,' she said softly as she watched the child in his arms. 'Coming up to that mortal time where you are supposed to spend time with your loved one, just wondering where he was going to be.'

She hadn't moved closer, she was almost scared to. 'So no, you didn't stop me from doing anything important.'

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Oh, good. I didn't really think about it until, you know, after I'd already called," he said sheepishly. "So I'm glad I wasn't interrupting." Brigid, unconcerned that they had company, was now trying to get a fistful of his hair in her chubby little fist. "Would you like to join us?" he asked gently. "There's plenty of room on the blanket."

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

She didn't seem to want to move at first, but slowly she smiled and nodded, 'I would like that very much.' Carefully she sat herself down on the edge of the blanket, her eyes never leaving the children as they seemed to play in their own little world.

'The-they look more beautiful in the flesh,' there were tears welling up in her eyes, but she was not sad, no very much the opposite.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"This is Brigid," he said, carefully turning his daughter in his arms so that she could look at her grandmother. "And this," he continued, nodding to the babe on the blanket, still happily gumming the teething rings, "is Angus." To the twins, he said, "I'd like you to meet your grandmother Psyche."

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

Seeing the girls face Psyche smiled softly, 'Hey there little one,' she reached out a hand to touch her grandaughter then stopped, pulling it back, 'And you...you look like your daddy don't you,' she smiled down at Angus, 'although I think Daddy has more teeth and not as much drool.'

[angus-smith.livejournal.com]

He looked up at the voice and saw bright colors. With a burble of baby joy, he dropped the teething rings and instead tried to grab a fistful of the shiny new cloth.

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

She laughed softly and turned a little more towards her grandson, 'you are a happy little thing aren't you.' Lifting her arm up and over him, the coloured ribbons that dangled from the sleve of her dress tickled his face softly, she watched him carefully, completely transfixed with him.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

Mister Smith smiled as Angus dutifully tried to grab the pretty colors tickling his face. He actually managed to grab one and promptly stuffed it into his mouth, sucking happily.

"I'm afraid that just about where everything goes once he's grabbed it," he said. "He seems very fond of lady bugs."

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

She watched him, careful he didn't pull on it too much, 'He eats them?' She looked up a little shocked, but then most children were partial to eating strange things.

After a moment she reached down and ran her fingers softly over Angus' cheek, 'He is so handsome.'

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Well, not if we can get to them first," he admitted. "But I think there have been a few that . . . well. It hasn't hurt him. I can't say the same for the lady bugs."

Angus continued to gum the bright ribbon, but that didn't stop him from trying to catch the one of the fingers stroking his cheek. From her Daddy's arms, Brigid seemed to be watching them both, as if waiting to see what would happen before making up her mind one way or the other.

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

Watching him try and gran her finger Psyche poked his nose softly then moved her hand into catching distance.

'A few bugs wont hurt him, I am sure there will be worse things before he's older.'

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that's kind of what I'm afraid of," he admitted.

Angus managed to grab the finger in both hands and promptly tried to taste it.

Brigid began to squirm a bit in his arms, apparently finally deciding that she was missing out on something interesting.

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

'Don't be, children are usually a lot stronger than people think.' Look at Bliss, her leaving him like that could have caused so many deep problems, he seemed to get through it all without too much damage.

She let her fingers move towards his mouth but tapped their pads against his small lips, 'He has a strong grip.'

Glancing up she saw Brigid wiggling, 'You going to come play too?'

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

While Angus continued to try and tug at the finger clutched tight in his small fists, Brigid decided that yes, indeed, she did want to play! Her little downy wings began to beat with that desire, fanning her father's face and buffeting his hair in a gentle breeze.

"Alright, sweetheart," he said, and carefully let her raise herself above his arms. (Although he was very careful to keep his hands cupped beneath her just in case.) "Say hello."

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

Psyche couldn't help but laugh as she felt Angus tug harder on her finger, he was a determined little tyke. Her free fingers slipped down and under his chin, tickling him softly.


She smiled brightly at Brigid as she saw her little wings beating. Scooting forward a little, as not to move from Angus, but shorten the distance Brigid needed to fly she watched the tony girl.

[brigid-smith.livejournal.com]

Dipping slightly but managing to keep aloft, she steered herself over to the lady with the colorful ribbons.

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

She moved her hand from Angus, but made sure the ribbons were still in his reach, and held out her hands to help steady Brigid as she flew close. She was inches away from having finally touched two out of her three grandchildren, and damn it if she couldn't feel a lump rising in her throat.

[brigid-smith.livejournal.com]

She knew what hands were for. They were for catching and hugging and being warm and soft. Little wings flapping busily, she guided herself into them, little fingers reaching.

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

Feeling her settle in her hands she couldn't stop the tear that fell down her cheek. Shifting a little she set Brigid in her lap, holding her with one hand, the other stroking her cheek softly.

She looked up at Mister Smith and frowned, 'Do you think I will frighten her if I hug her?'

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

He shook his head, his smile gentle. "I think she might be offended if you don't hug her."

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

With a smile she lifts her up carefully and lays the small child carefully against her chest and shoulder, arms softly wrapping around her.

Closing her eyes she nuzzled her cheek against her granddaughters, 'I know you don't know me sweet-pea, but I hope you will, and that...that you will learn to love me as nuch as I love you and your brother, and your little cousin too.'

[brigid-smith.livejournal.com]

Brigid burbled happily in reply. She seemed perfectly content to be where she was. Especially since there was some lovely soft strands of hair here for her to play with.

[psyche-soul.livejournal.com]

She kissed her temple softly, opening her eyes to smile at Mister Smith. She mouthed thank you to him before leting one hand slid down so she could paysome attention to Angus also.

'I bet Eros is the proud grandfather around them.'