“Hello there!”
“Hello Xander. Thank you for having me visit. I’ll be a good girl.” Her solemn, tiny face peered up at the grinning young man. Xander couldn’t help but chuckle at the seriousness of little Sophie.
“Thank you, dear. Now why don’t you go find Xavy? He’s in his room.”
“Okay, bye.”
As the little girl scurried into the hallway, Xander turned to look at her parents. “I think they’ll get along great.”
“Oh, I am sure. Now, we need to get going.” Amy touched her set blonde hair briefly, looking at her husband with an urgency.
“Yeah, the reservations are for 7:30.”
As he ushered them to the door, Xander handed Amy a paper with his plans for the evening on it. “Angelus and I are going to a hotel tonight. . .” The grin on his face was enough.
“And the sitter you found is a good one?”
“A great one. We’ve used him several times before. Name’s Ethan Rayne.”
*****
Xavier was lost in his little universe. His Mulder action figure ran around, ready to go on adventures in the forest, kissing his lovely boyfriend He-Man goodbye.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. I just need to go find the Necronomicon.”
“Have fun, Mulder!”
Xavy giggled to himself as his voice changed for each figure, galloping Mulder on his invisible horse into the invisible woods.
“Hi Xavy.”
Xavy looked up quickly, the horse stopping mid-gallop. At the sight of the little girl, pigtails pulled neatly from her face, his cheeks flushed deep red. “Um, hiya Sophie.”
She walked across the room importantly, pushing the toys out of the way. Her sneaker clad foot kicked He-Man into the corner as she cleared a place to sit down. Xavy stared in horror as she plunked down right in front of him.
“I’m staying here tonight, so Mommy and Daddy can have a moment alone together. That’s what Mommy said.” She smiled at Xavy, widely, generously, letting him know just what kind of privilege it was to share her presence.
Xavy cowered some, wondering if one of his daddies was gonna come and rescue him from. . . ack. The *girl*.
But no daddy came. So he resigned himself to Sophie’s commands of what they were going to play.
*****
“Hey Ethan. Glad you could make it.”
“Anything for my favorite little chap. And the little girl. . . Sophie. . . is here, too?”
“Yes. Now we are going to be at our usual hotel tonight. You do have the number?” Angelus touched his hair, knowing by the feel of the locks that they were of a level of intense highlighted perfection.
“Of course. You two have a good night.”
As Angelus escorted Xander out the door, he grinned. “We always do.”
Ethan smiled and closed the door. Placing his coat and hat on the table, he headed over to Xavy’s room. “Xavier?”
A large bump was heard from the hallway, a very female growl following just after.
“Eeeeeeethan!!” The small shape of a boy flew out of the bedroom, and into Ethan’s arms. The Brit chuckled, hugging his favorite kid fiercely.
“Well hello there!”
“Hi Ethan! Hi hi! I’ve been waiting for you!” A big smile surfaced on Xavy’s face as he kissed Ethan on the cheek.
“Where’s your little friend, my boy?” Ethan set Xavy on the carpet, peering into the hallway.
“Oh. . . her.” Gesturing at Ethan, Xavy whispered in his ear. “Be careful. She’s scaaaaary.”
“Hello.”
Ethan looked up, seeing the little girl come into the light. She was a saucy one, that was for sure. Her pudgy hands rested on corduroy covered hips, her face attempting for an adult look.
“Hello there. You must be Sophie.”
*****
The kitchen table was covered with papers, pens, and a big adding machine. Xavy’s eyes stared intently at the figures before him, Ethan leaning over to explain.
“See, Xavy, if you work carefully with your outside income, then cheating on your taxes is a snap.”
Xavy stared raptly, taking it all in. These sessions with Ethan were fun for him, because he was like one of the big kids. He was learning important things, grownup things.
“You know, that is not good. That is. . . wrong!”
Turning, Xavy stuck his tongue out at Sophie. “It is NOT!”
“Is so!”
“Is not! Ethan is a good person, not evilscarybad!”
As they bantered, neither noticed the smirk on Ethan’s face. “Okay kids, simmer down. We’ll stop the lesson for a while. Let’s watch some telly, okay?”
Xavy quieted, glaring at the fuming Sophie. They stood, heading into the living room. Xavy sprawled on the floor, making himself comfortable in his favorite spot. He practically felt Sophie’s look of contempt, and ignored it. This was his house, after all, and he could kick her out if he wanted to.
But then she might turn into the Wicked Witch. . .Xavy shuddered.
“Let’s see what on, shall we?” Ethan began to flip through the channels, seeing nothing interesting, but enjoying the soothing effect the flashing lights was having on the children. Sophie sat next to him on the couch, arms folded, lower lip pushed out.
A knock at the door startled them all, Xavy flying up to answer it.
“You’re not s’posed to talk to strangers!!” Sophie cried, chasing after him. Ethan pulled himself up wearily, following the two kids.
Xavy pulled the door open, a happy look spreading across his face. “DruBear!”
“Buddy Boy!” The red head swept Xavy up into her arms, giving him a big smooch on the cheek. Xavy hugged her tightly, always enjoying the sweet smell of her perfume.
“Whatcha here for?”
“Just stopped by to leave a note for your daddies from Aunt Cordelia.” Kissing him again, she smiled. “But there is always time to give my favorite BabyBear a kiss.”
Ethan cleared his throat.
“Oh, hello. I’m Dru, a. . . friend of the family’s.”
“I’m Ethan, the babysitter.”
They stood, looking at each other, eyes locked.
“Well, here, just leave this note on the fridge. I’ve really got to run.” Dru passed him a slip of paper, then turned back to Xavy.
“Come again soon, DruBear!”
“Of course, cutie. Love you.”
“Love you.”
Dru put Xavy down, and turned to leave. As she walked away, she called over her shoulder, “And by the way, Ethan. . . they are dark red silk bikinis, since you were wondering.”
Ethan’s mouth fell open.
*****
He pulled the blanket up to their chins, careful not to wake them. Their faces, angelic in sleep, no signs of the bickering and growling that had eventually tired them out, were sweet next to each other. Ethan smiled to himself, kissing them each on the cheek.
As he softly closed the door, he thought again about the strange woman who had known his thoughts. . . and about the bikini panties she had been wearing.