The Onsen, Monday Afternoon

[arboreal_priestess]

The kids were too old for the picnic in the playground Verity and Liam had originally planned for the weekend, but that was okay. They were adaptable. Caught somewhat flat-footed but adaptable.

After a quick outing to get swimsuits for everyone, they'd trooped to the onsen for some relaxing time in the hot water springs. It was almost 70 today, warm enough that even getting out of the springs to snack was still comfortable.

Verity floated on her back watching the kids. Hayley was doing handstands under the water. Tyrus and William were horsing around and splashing, though they'd cut that out if anyone else showed up. Still, it made Verity smile. Her oldest (and also youngest, thanks Kimera shenanigans) son was often rather solemn; seeing him relax and act his apparent age was nice. She was glad to see him smile.

Whatever happened between now and then, whatever big things occurred that the kids refused to talk about, she and Liam had at least gotten this right.

[for the family but open]

Comments

[foundgeneration]

Hopefully she'd still feel that way after getting caught by a giant splash aimed at Tyrus. "Sorry, Mom!" William called. "Ty's got a really big head, so I had to use an extra-big splash to get all of it!"

[nextoftheirkind]

"Oh, you'll apologize to Mom, but not to me?" Hayley sputtered. "Rude!"

[foundgeneration]

"Sorry, Hayls," William said, giving her a grin. "Missed that you got caught in it, too."

[nextoftheirkind]

"That's better--" Hayley started, but was interrupted by Tyrus laughing.

"That was a short joke," he told his sister. "It just...flew over your head."

The boys reached out and tapped knuckles.

[nextoftheirkind]

While Hayley screeched and tried to tackle William, dragging him down under the water.

[firstofitskind]

"This is nice," Liam grinned at her. "Why don't we do this more often?"

... Because that would require you taking your shirt off around people that weren't Verity or Dominic, Liam, and you were still a little self-conscious about that.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I'd definitely like to try it some time when we're not surrounded by screeching children," Verity said as Tyrus roared, "Dammit, Hayley, you are going down for--ahh!"

Verity deliberately turned away, letting her children sort it out amongst themselves. "Yes, definitely that."

[firstofitskind]

Liam laughed. “And here I thought you liked having them visit,” he teased.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I do," Verity said, with a small, wistful smile when she turned to look at them. Now both Hayley and William were trying to pull Tyrus down. She had no idea when the swap in loyalties had occurred or why, but it made her smile. It was so easy to imagine the boys as a unit and Hayley left to her own devices the way she and Alex had been with Antimony, but that didn't seem to be what was happening. "I can just also imagine how nice this would be without the need to keep it PG."

[firstofitskind]

“Mmm, you may have a point,” Liam had to concede, watching the kids’ antics with a similar fondness. “.... This is normal, right?” he checked, regarding the playful squabbling.

[arboreal_priestess]

"They're not even using weapons," Verity said airily. "They're fine."

...Okay, but then she was looking, just to make sure.

"Hayley, let your brother come up for air!"

[foundgeneration]

"Awww!" Hayley complained as William called, "Just fifteen more seconds, Mom, promise!"

[firstofitskind]

"Now," Liam said, firmly. "Unless he's got gills and no one told me?"

He doubted very much that was the case.

[nextoftheirkind]

The kids let go and Tyrus broached the surface with a gasp - and a giant splash towards his siblings. "Aww, c'mon," he called to his dad. "Now they're never gonna let me live it down!"

[nextoftheirkind]

"It's okay, Ty," Hayley said, patting him gently on the arm. "Little kids need their parents to help them. We understand."

"See?!"

[firstofitskind]

"Sorry," Liam said, sounding not at all sorry. "But it's either that or explain to one of the very nice nurses at the clinic how you managed to swallow all that water."

[nextoftheirkind]

"Ugh," Tyrus groaned. "And for the record, I'm younger, not smaller. If anyone's a little kid around here it's you, shortstack," he informed Hayley, emphasizing his words with a splash.

[arboreal_priestess]

"You all can splash around as much as you want, but if any of the snacks get wet, you're all going home with notes that say you're grounded for the next year," Verity warned.

Though she couldn't help but smile as she said it.

[nextoftheirkind]

"That wouldn't even work, 'cause older-you doesn't believe in grounding," Hayley tried.

Only partially true. Traditional grounding would never work in the Kincaid-Price household, but there were definitely privileges that can- and would- be taken away as the situation warranted.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity gave her daughter an amused glance. "You could be grounded from your guns," she pointed out. "And from going to the carnival this summer."

[nextoftheirkind]

"Mom!" Hayley gasped. "You wouldn't."

[arboreal_priestess]

"Watch where you're splashing," was all Verity had to say about that.

[firstofitskind]

"Remember two years when you were convinced you couldn't do this?" Liam asked, bumping her shoulder gently with his own.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Well, I've always been pretty good at threats," Verity said, bumping him back. "Though I'm glad we've got some time before we have to start worrying about who is kissing who."

And being on the run from the Covenant, apparently. Along with whatever else was 'beginning.'

[firstofitskind]

"A little while, at least," Liam agreed. "Just... they're so happy."

Despite, yeah. That.