Who: Kate Danvers and Avery Barkley What: Chatting Where: Pack House When: Evening Warnings: Nah Status: Complete Gdoc
One of the benefits of the nicer weather was that the kids could run around and play in the yard to burn off some of their never ending energy. Even though Cadence wasn’t a werewolf, she had no trouble keeping up with Rocco and they definitely wore out Kate on occasion. She had told Nick years ago that she didn’t even want to consider having kids until she was twenty-one. Now that she was twenty-one, she still wasn’t ready to consider it. Especially since they had Stiles now too and that made the idea of having kids more complicated.
She was sitting at one of the picnic tables in the backyard keeping an eye on the kids when Avery got home from work and came outside, presumably looking for his daughter. Kate waved at him. “They’re deep in the middle of… some game that I don’t understand.” It probably didn’t make sense, given that they were both four, but they were having fun so she wasn’t going to interfere.
***
He looked out into the yard, at the two rambunctious children. Sometimes he wondered if Cadence had acquired the werewolf metabolism just from exposure to them. She had lived with werewolves most of her life, and considered Clay to be her second father. He knew it wasn’t possible, but it sure seemed to be the case anyway.
After a moment he sat down with a sigh of contented relief. “I’m guessing we don’t want to understand. As long as they keep their clothes on and don’t try to play doctor, I think we’ll be okay.” Not that he’d freak out if that was the case, but he really didn’t want to have that conversation with Cadence just yet.
“She’s been good for you?” He knew the answer. Cadence was a typical four year old who threw fits for no reason and tried to sneak an extra brownie now and then (Avery couldn’t blame her for that, Mercy’s brownies were the absolute best), but she was a good kid. She listened well, when she wasn’t being ornery. Ane he was pretty sure she behaved better for everyone else when he wasn’t around.
***
“It’s a constant struggle making sure Nick stays clothed in common areas so the kids don’t get any ideas,” Kate joked. Werewolves were fairly clothing adverse and immodest. Living with humans and children meant that they had to be a bit more circumspect though it still wasn’t completely unusual to see someone in an undressed state.
She nodded at his question though. “Yeah, they’ve been entertaining each other for the most part.” That was one of the benefits of having two of them around. It meant far less playing for her and the other adults. “Anything interesting happen at work?”
***
“That’s good.” Cadence and Rocco spent a lot of time together. It would be bad if they didn’t get along. But they were thick as thieves. Avery hoped that would remain true as they got older. Cadence might not be a werewolf, but she was pack.
Avery grinned he obviously had a story to tell. “Some guy brought in a guitar with a broken neck, said it was our fault, tried to get his money back.” Avery rolled his eyes. “It was obviously smashed. He was probably drunk or something. Manager told him that was not going to fly, he tried to change tactics and just exchange it for a new one. He was not happy when he left.”
He rolled his shoulders. “Anything exciting happen here?” With the pack, you never knew. Most days were quiet, sure, but sometimes craziness ensued. It was inevitable with so many people living in one place.
***
Kate shook her head at his story. People never ceased to amaze her with what they tried to get away with. “How would it even be our fault?” she asked. “Unless he literally just bought it, what could we have possibly done to break the neck of his guitar?”
People like that didn’t use logic. It was the most frustrating part of her job.
“Nah, it’s been pretty chill here,” she said. Things had been pretty chill for a while, which was actually a little unnerving. Aside from Anna’s trip home and Isaac’s first moon, there hadn’t really been much of anything going on and that just wasn’t normal at all.
***
“That’s good.” Avery said. He looked out at the kids again. Cadence was rolling around on the ground with her arms tucked in. She looked ridiculous, but she was obviously having fun. She hadn’t even noticed that he was home. Or if she did, she was having too much fun with Rocco to care at the moment.
“Chill is definitely preferred.” Especially since weird things happened in town. He didn’t want to jinx them all by saying he hoped the lull wasn’t leading up to a big event. It was only a matter of time before something happened anyway.
He leaned back in his chair. “So you and Nick and Stiles, still good?” He was glad Kate seemed to be happy.
***
The kids were both going to be covered in grass and dirt. Kate was glad it wasn’t her responsibility to clean them up later.
She grinned. “Yeah, all is well there,” she said. “Nick took Anna out the other night.” It didn’t bother her at all when her boyfriend decided to go on dates with other people. It was just how Nick was. She knew that he wouldn’t do anything that crossed a line.
“How about you? You dating at all these days?” Kate didn’t think he was, but it was possible she missed something.
***
“It’s good you have such an open relationship.” Since Nick was obviously someone who was going to look around. Avery didn’t think ‘stray’ was quite the right word. Nick’s devotion to Kate had been obvious from the first day Avery met him.
He shook his head. It was a sore subject with him, now. He’d been burned too many times. “Between Juliette, Thea, Beth,” he sighed. He didn’t have a good track record with relationships, even before the dome sent people home. His love life in Nashville was one for the record books, under the what-not-to-do heading.
“And Cady’s getting older now, she’s more aware. It’s not fair to bring someone into her life who’s just going to leave. Even if it isn’t her fault. The pain doesn’t care who’s at fault, or if no one is.” When in doubt, use the kid. She was a valid excuse. She was and would always be his first priority. She’d taken Beth’s disappearance hard, and judging from the fact she’d refused to sing with him at the festival earlier in the month, he felt like maybe she wasn’t entirely over it and didn’t have the words to express it.
***
“Yeah, Cady’s the one you want to avoid hurting,” Kate said, her tone and expression indicating that she knew full well it was at least partially an excuse. Not that she necessarily blamed him given his shit luck with the dome, but she also knew that his daughter wasn’t the only reason.
She wished that he could find someone though. He was a good guy and deserved to be happy. “I wonder when Darcy’s doing another round of speed dating.”
***
Avery sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know that I’m up for that, Kate.” He knew she meant well. She always meant well. She was a good friend to him, and a great auntie for Cadence. He never really questioned her motives, she knew she had his best interests in mind.
He just wasn’t sure trying to date again, ever, was in his or Cadence’s best interests. Not with his track record and the whims of the dome leading to heart break and disappointment multiple times. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
***
Kate shrugged off his concerns. He should know by now that Kate didn’t give up once she got an idea in her head. Besides, there was no telling when there would even be another speed dating event. “Well, we’ll figure that out when it happens,” she said. “But you really do need more of a social life than hanging out with a four year old all the time.”
It wasn’t like he lacked for people willing to keep Cady so he could go and do things. “Even if it’s just going out for a beer once in a while or jamming with Oz or something.” He didn’t seem to go anywhere besides the Pack house and work.
***
“Hey, she’s a pretty awesome four year old,” Avery pointed out. Cadence really was an amazing kid. She was at times way older than her four years, and other times acted like an infant. But he supposed all kids were that way. Some adults, too.
“It’s true, I haven’t jammed with Oz for a while. Maybe I’ll hit him up sometime,” he suggested. He’d enjoy that. And it would get him out of the house for something other than work. Maybe Kate would ease up on the speed dating idea, if he went out once in a while.
***
If he knew Kate at all, he should know that she wasn’t going to give up on anything, but at least making an effort to go out and socialize would help. “She is a very awesome four year old,” she agreed. “But you are not four and you need to talk to other adults sometimes.”
She paused.
“Other adults besides us.” Because she didn’t want him trying to pull a technicality.
***
“Yeah yeah,” Avery sighed. He knew Kate could be relentless. It was one of her charms. Some days. Other days it was just really annoying. But he adored her, so he over looked the annoying parts.
“I’ll send Oz a message sometime. See if he’s available.” It was a start.
***
“Good,” Kate said with a satisfied smile. She was used to getting her way. “Smells like dinner is just about ready. We should probably make an attempt to clean them up before we eat.”
It was a challenge, but one she felt they could handle.
***
“I’ll grab the little blonde one, you get her partner in crime?” He suggested as he got to his feet and went out to the yard to wrangle Cadence in for clean up before dinner. It was definitely a challenge to try and get her inside, she wasn’t as driven by food as the werewolves might be.