savage_storm (savage_storm) wrote in snark_n_bark, @ 2008-07-14 03:59:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, cymbeline, etienne, gaia, lysander, remus, serafino, tybalt |
A Brief Time Out
Characters: Tybalt, Remus, Cymbeline, Lysander, Gaia, Etienne, Serafino
Summary: Family playtime leads to a worrisome discovery
Five children, one criffler, a kitten, a werewolf, and an Auror all rolled about on the floor of Monkshood Cottage.
Despite the shrieks no one was being tortured. Well, not exactly tortured, Tybalt thought as he disengaged Winslow's teeth from his hair, wincing at the pull. It was a small price to be paid for such amusement, though, and he dove back into the game, the children and their cohorts all trying to force the two adults off a small rug in the middle of the floor. Cymbeline played dirty, too - she knew her dad was ticklish, and didn't hesitate to dive right in, small fingers working at Remus' sides as he laughed and tried to fend her off. Gaia had climbed up onto Tybalt's back and was kicking at his sides with her feet as though he were a horse, while Lysander and Etienne had combined forces to try to push Remus over onto his side. Serafino was swatting at Tybalt's rump with his little hands, while Winslow and Cyanide darted around the group, adding to the mayhem in any way they could.
"We may win the game, but I may go deaf in the process," Remus said, raising his voice to be heard over the din. "Either that, or the place is going to tumble down on our heads."
"Hope you have insurance," Tybalt replied, reaching back to pluck Gaia up by the back of her overalls, pulling her down so that he could pretend to bite her tummy. Lysander, ever protective of "his baby" glanced over, giving Tybalt a stern look, but then returned his attention to trying to dislodge Remus when he saw that his sister was laughing and squealing happily.
"Good luck trying to find anyone willing to insure the Snape Mob!" Remus laughed. "I suspect that Minerva is probably having to worry about Hogwarts even at this early date. She'll have enough on her hands when Cymbeline arrives, and Lysander won't be any trouble, but then she'll get the other three all at once, and we know it's geometric rather than arithmetic with this lot. I have expect her to have us sign in blood that we'll fix the place up if they tear it down."
"Survived millennia of students and several wars, but can't survive our brood, eh?" Tybalt chuckled and shook his head. "I suspect that might be right, though. They're hard enough at this age, can you imagine what they'll be like in ten years? I can feel my hair turning grey already!"
"Hey, I resemble that remark," Remus protested, then suddenly toppled over as Cymbeline threw in her efforts with her brother and cousin to bring the werewolf down.
"Ha, I can see that, old man, if these little bits could bring you down." Tybalt cradled Gaia as he rose to his feet, giving a rather impressive roar and beating his chest with his free hand. "See, I win! No one can defeat me! Bwahaha... OOF!"
With a thud Tybalt collapsed dramatically, born down to the ground by the concerted efforts of the other four children and Remus. He held Gaia up, however, so that she wasn't hurt in the fall, and she squealed and clapped her hands, being held up high over everyone in Tybalt's hands as the others all set about a combined tickle attack.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," Remus commented, poking at Tybalt's sides along with the children. "Silly Auror, I would have thought you would have realized there's strength in numbers!"
"EEE!" Tybalt could only laugh, placing Gaia down before curling into a ball to protect himself. "Unfair, unfair! You're supposed to be on my side, Lupin!"
"Sorry." Remus grinned with no hint of apology as he continued to dig his fingers into Tybalt's ribs. "Do you surrender, oh mighty giant?"
"I surrender, I surrender!" Tybalt was gasping by now, but as he gave up the attack stopped, and he collapsed down face first on the rug, the rest of them piling onto him in a giggling, breathless heap.
"We win, we win!" Cymbeline crowed, catching up Cyanide and then proceeding to bounce on Tybalt's stomach.
"Whoa, Princess, don't damage Uncle Tybalt!" Remus said, scooping her up, kitten and all, much to Tybalt's relief. "Uncle Serenus loaned him to us, but it's polite to give him back unbroken."
"All right," Cymbeline said agreeably, then tilted her head to one side, looking at Tybalt with curiosity. "You not having a baby, are you, Uncle Tybalt?"
"Absolutely not!" Tybalt said at once, giving a firm shake of his head as he sat up and yanked playfully at one of Cymbeline's pigtails. "I'll leave all the baby having to your Uncle Serenus. He likes it too much and I wouldn't want to be selfish and take that away from him."
"I want to name the next one!" she said haughtily, and Tybalt looked at Cyanide before meeting Remus' eyes, and they both burst into laughter.
"We'll have to see about that, Princess," Remus gasped, then put her down and pointed in the direction of the other children. "Why don't you all go on and play for a bit? Uncle Tybalt and I need to get our breath back."
Cymbeline gave the two adults a suspicious look, then huffed and turned, heading off toward the others. She could tell when she was being dismissed, but really, she didn't mind. The other four seemed willing enough to follow her orders. Well, not Etienne so much, but she was still bigger than he was. Maybe they could play "throw the troll off the bridge". With Gaia being the troll.
Remus watched his daughter stalk off, a miniature version of Severus, and he chuckled in amusement. "I had never imagined I would ever have children, and now I can't imagine life without them," he said, giving Tybalt a sideways glance. "You, on the other hand... you always wanted a herd, didn't you?"
"Oh yes." Tybalt leaned back on his elbows and crossed his ankles as he watched Cymbeline ordering the younger children about like a small general. "Being an only child who yearned for siblings had me decided that I wanted a big brood of my own. I love kids, and we'll have as many as Serenus cares to - and he doesn't seem ready to stop yet."
"Funny how that works." Remus shook his head. "So, were you planning to marry a woman, or did you think you'd adopt? That's one thing about why I never thought I'd have any of my own. I was hung up on Severus, and never had any interest in women - and the chances of the Ministry letting a werewolf adopt? Hell, I knew I'd have better luck being elected Minister of Magic!"
Tybalt shrugged. "I don't know... I like women well enough, of course, even though I had a preference for male lovers. I suppose I was just waiting for the right partner first, and then taking it from there." He grinned. "I hit the jackpot when I fell in love with Serenus, though, and it turned out you and Severus had that bizarre little pot. Now I have the absolute best of everything - a husband I adore and children of our own. It just doesn't get any better than this." He paused, giving Remus a slow, wicked smile before lowering his voice so only Remus could hear. "And not to forget the added benefit of a set of in-laws who are willing to share. Even if a certain werewolf hasn't show any interest in me!"
Remus lifted a brow, turning to face Tybalt directly. "I'd say that a certain Auror hasn't shown any interest in me. Of course I can't blame you... with Severus and Serenus in the room I think the market on sexiness is cornered, don't you?"
"Well, there is that!" Tybalt laughed. "But don't sell yourself short."
With a snort Remus shook his head. "Speaking of our unique familial bond... I mentioned to Severus that we ought to take another trip, perhaps with the children this time. The little ones are old enough to enjoy some travel now, so maybe we could take to the beach, or perhaps camping."
"That sounds like a great idea!" Tybalt said enthusiastically. "I have some leave coming to me, so just say when you think you want to go and I'll get the Old Man to rearrange my schedule."
"Good," Remus smiled, then turned as Cymbeline called to him. She was coming toward him, lugging a black suitcase and looking excited.
"Daddy! Look what we found in the kitchen! Can we open it?" she asked, no doubt imagining some kind of treasure inside it.
Tybalt sat up straighter. "That's Gaius' - he took it with him when he left Azoth house to come stay here. You say you found it in the kitchen, Princess?"
"Yes... by the door," she said, putting the case down with a huff, interest fading after learning it just belonged to her Uncle Kitty. "Here, we don't want it, it's probably just clothes." From her tone of voice, that was as bad as discovering a treasure chest full of broccoli.
Remus bit his lip for a moment, forehead creasing in concern. "Maybe he forgot it?" he asked slowly. "He certainly wasn't thinking clearly from what Severus said."
"But wouldn't he have noticed he didn't have any clothes?" Tybalt shook his head. "Although I suppose he might have still had some back in Germany, at wherever it was he was headed. Or maybe he just decided to buy new ones?"
"I suppose." Remus wasn't convinced, but any other explanation was almost too horrible to be considered. "We're going to have to tell Severus and Serenus, you know." The twins were at their shop, going over inventory and deciding on products for the rapidly approaching holiday season, but he knew they were both concerned by Gaius' extended absence and their inability to get in touch with him. "They aren't going to like this."
"No, they aren't - I don't like it much, either." Tybalt rose to his feet, then held out a hand and helped pull Remus to his feet. "Look, why don't you Floo call them? I think it's time he was located. Grieving or not, I don't think leaving his clothing behind and not checking in with his brothers is normal."
"I agree - keep the kids occupied, all right? I'd rather they didn't get alarmed." Remus nodded grimly, then set off toward the Floo in the upstairs bedroom so that he could contact Severus and Serenus in private. He knew his mate well enough to think that his reaction to hearing about the suitcase wasn't going to be fit for little ears.