Morning round up

[Lovely]

March 14, Year 2
morning


This morning was the same as any other, what had at first been strange to the family had over the past months grown to be routine. Elizabeth was in the kitchen cooking breakfast and humming softly, her skirt swishing and swaying as she moved, stiring eggs and flipping bacon. The family was large enough that a big meal was never wasteful and everyone seemed to appreciate that they were getting such meals regularly. Elizabeth smiled to Charly as the young girl gathered the plates to set the long table for the family to eat at.

Charly was pouting as usual, grumping whenever she had to help, even with mild chores.. today was no different. She sighed dramatically, bending over as if the plates weighed much more than they actually did. She bemoaned being forced into such terribly awful and hard chores.

Lily with her rounded tummy on her small frame, wandered in with a yawn and tugged on one of Charly's braids, hearing the other girl's whining. She laughed as Charly stuck her tongue out. Lily gathered up the silverware and moved around the table, helping Charly set the places, her swollen belly making it difficult for her to lean over and reach, but she managed. She worked her way over to Elizabeth, rubbing her tummy to soothe the child within, who was very active this morning.

Every morning, when Lily was feeling well enough to come down, Elizabeth greeted her with a smile and softly spoken words to the babe she carried. This morning her hand rested to the small girl's large tummy. Liza laughed as she felt the tumble of child under her palm. "My goodness.. little one is full of it today!"

Lily nodded with a sigh. "It's all Patrick's fault." She plucked a piece of bacon from the platter and started nibbling on it. "Baby knows when he's about.. I think it's doing tricks in there for him."

Elizabeth chuckled and shook her head. "Poor dear.. 'tis a good sign though. Baby should bond with daddy on the outside as well."

Charly laughed as Pat came into the room. "hehe Lily said it was all your fault!"

"So, I heard... lyin bi... mm... yes dear."

Lily kicks him in the shin. "Love you honey."

cringes then smiles. ".. thank you... coffee?"

"Sam says I can't.. remember all that stuff about milk and fruit." gives him a mild glare and then a tiny smile.

"Yes, I'll have that too, if you don't mind."

Shoves a piece of bacon in his mouth and walks away, slowly as it is not easy to move around with the swollen belly on her slight frame. "Milk is all for us." She teases him. "None for you."

"We'll see," he said, glancing over her swollen chest. She'd...he'd.. have plenty soon enough. He crackled the bacon to bits with as few manners as he normally used, letting his hands busy at pouring his own coffee. "Lilian, are you certain you should be up and about?"

[Lovely]

Her hands shifted to rest at the small of her back, already starting to bother her and she'd not been on her feet for that long. She was such a small girl and young, the babe pulled at her as it grew, her tummy and chest swelling outward and making her front heavy. "No." She replied in a slight snapped tone. "But I am certain that I'll tear you apart if I have to spend today up in bed alone."

He chuckled into the steaming mug, taking a sip of it... black of course since the milk was for the priveleged it seemed. "And if I insisted, regardless of that outcome, would you rest? Please?"

The milk poured from the carafe into a cup for her and she moved slowly back to stand in front of him, her lips in an unhappy little pout. "What if I bribe you with milk.. to let me stay up?" She held the carafe in her hand, offering it to him, her arm outstretched and pulling at the dress around her breasts. Once again she was going to need to have the dress let out in the front, sometimes she swore her chest was double the size it had been. She had to set her cup down to put her hand to support her lower back again, Pat knew how much it bothered her even though most of the time she tried to hide it. She'd come to discover she could not hide much if anything from Pat for long.

"I was rather thinking to let you bribe Doyle so you wouldn't be alone. You're due any day if not past. I don't believe it's a fair idea for you to have the child in front of the stove."

She glanced at the stove and then back to him with a slight grin. "At least it would be warm." The hand with the carafe shook slightly. "You want some of this before I try to bribe Doyle with it?"

"No, I quite like how it looks on you, instead," he grinned wolfishly, coming up beside her and holding his cup out for only a drop to lighten it. "If you're not alone...," he grinned wider...

She tipped the milk to let a tiny bit drip into his mug, then set the carafe to the counter. "Do you think Doyle.. will let you stay with me?" Her gaze was part frightened, thinking that she -could- have the baby anytime really, part hopeful, that Pat would be with her, that she would not be left alone, and part playful as they teased. Lily leaned towards him a bit, her head tilting to his shoulder, as of late she'd been less of her witchy viscious self and more subdued, vunerable and needy. In the late stages of her pregnancy stretched, swollen, and sore.. scared and much more appreciative of her husband's closeness and efforts.

"I'd be highly surprised if he didn't insist on it himself, Lily. The bribe isn't necessary and I have half a mind not to even mention it to him and just stay. He's forgetful, but not foolish. He'll understand, but you should be off your feet." As horrible as he was, he still had a strange protective air to him some days.

She blew out a loud sigh and nodded, looking away from Pat, not wanting to admit how right he was or that she agreed about being off her feet. Her fingers ran through her soft blonde locks and she picked her cup back up to finish her milk. "I have to work up to walking back to bed though."

"Unless you have someone take you? Lilian, please let me help you."

"You know how much I detest having to ask for help." She said softly, not denying the help, but not asking for it outright.

[Lovely]

"Lilian... ah, you're so delightfully difficult, aren't you?" He smiled and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. "Gather what you want together. Charly...," he said, getting the small girl's attention. "Will bring it up for you. You're coming with me. "

Charly gave him a look that said she wasn't doing anything of the sort. "I'm not your servant.." She folded her arms and reached up to play with a long braid that hung over her shoulder.

"Charlotte, you are my darlingest sister, and you get a game to play if you help," he said with his usual dark flair never too far from the surface. The game was bound to be a fun one she'd like in return for the little favor while he'd carry Lily up the stairs.

"I do my best.." She offered him a kiss with her upturned face as her arms wrapped around his shoulders, she glanced at Charly, wondering if the girl would give in to him this time.

"Never mind her. If she won't, I will, and I get to keep the toys to myself," he teased, kissing Lily's nose and turning to hoist her gently into his arms. "Only uncomfortable for a few moments, lovely. Upstairs in no time."

"I.." She stomped, aggrivated at her brother for being so.. so him! "Fine.. I'll bring up the milk.. and a plate of breakfast.. fine.. " She spun and slammed the tray from the cupboard to the counter top.

"Charly, lass... no way to beat up the countertop like that. What'd be doin' to you, hm?" Alex' distinct and clear voice resonnated over the clattering as he came in.

"Sober, Alex? Will wonders never... ," Patrick shook his head and started off with Lily to get her back to the warm bed. "Tell that sootbrained brother of ours, I'll not be in today. Not til the baby comes. "

"And then what, Patrick. Leave her your nasty work, job well done, is that it? Hope you have more pride than that, brother."

"And who's being nasty this morning? Have I said a word.... any? I was being polite, though I know you scarcely recognize it. Get used to it, Alexander. You're not the only two sided coin in the house."

"Morning Alexander." She rested her head on Pat's shoulder, listening him 'bicker' with Alex, her eyes closing as she waited for the boys to finish. It was that or she'd be set down so they could swap blows, living in a house with so many brothers had taken awhile to get used to.

Charly already being cross gave Alex a nasty look and then smiled sweetly. "At least he married his girl Alex.. I'll be married before you get around to it."

Elizabeth tugged sharply on Charly's braid and looked very cross for a moment. "Charlotte!"

He called over his shoulder as he moved away with girl and babe, "And having the women do your fighting for you, Alex. Tsk, what a sot you've become. Almost liked you better half pickled and tipped to the wind."

His mouth opened to reply, but seeing Elizabeth's expression at Charly's petty fury, he kept his to himself. That and he had no braid to tug, no telling what she'd do to him. "Elizabeth the Cross and Miss Charlotte the Displeased... a pleasant morning to you, just the same," he grinned, whistling a lighthearted tune as he skirted them both for a mug of coffee himself.

Elizabeth chuckled and shook her head, watching him brush off the insults. "Morning Alex.. Are you hungry?"

[Lovely]

Charly held her braid as if it had been injured and pouted even more dramatically. "Just cause Pa made you promise to take care of me, if I came to stay with you, Ev, and the boys.. doesn't me you have to.. take care of me." She reached around Elizabeth to hit Alex in the arm, just because.

His hand raised to the wound as if it were a tragic injury stunning his arm into uselessness. "Ah, now y've done it, lass. M'fishin' arm, too. Y'll have to bait your own hooks from now on."

Charly laughed and hit him again. "You're too darn happy for the morning. What are you so happy for?"

"That y'didn't punch m'ticklin' arm by mistake," he said, getting within range to scoop her up suddenly and demonstrate.

"Aaaah!" She squealed and squirmed, batting at Alex wildly as he tickled her. "Stop!..Stop.. ahh.. Alex!"

He stopped and kissed her cheek, letting her go. "And why shouldn't I be happy this morning, Charlotte?"

She giggled, wiping her cheek and then 'smeared' the kiss back on his mouth with her fingers. "Didn't say you couldn't be happy.. but you're too happy!.. darn it.. you're ruining my miserable mood!"

"Lass is crazy about me," he said, mocking a 'swoon' over his adoring sister, making a show for Elizabeth. "And why should you be in a miserable mood?" He seemed shocked that she was trying to be mad. "I've got a song in my heart, don't you?"

Liza shook her head, patting Alex on the arm. "Her mean awful sister in law made her set the table this morning and it's her turn to do the breakfast dishes."

The tongue that was stuck out at Liza's back as she went to make her plate, was proof enough that Charly was upset about her chores this morning.

"Poor little girl, not a care in the world...whatever shall she do?..." he started to sing, helping himself to some bacon.

"Hate you this early in the morning." She scampered to grab a piece of bacon off his plate, the tray for Lily and Pat was finished and she'd leave in a moment to bring it up for them.

He chuckled and moved to sit down at the mostly-set table with his mug, resuming the whistling as the path was clear for Charly to take the tray. "Surely my singing isn't that bad?... Elizabeth?"

Charly smiled and gave a little curtsey as she stepped into the hall, her tongue shot out again at Alex and she flipped her braids back with a slight toss of her head.

"No of course not Alex.. the singing is lovely." Elizabeth chuckled at their antics and sat down with her own plate. She'd be bringing a plate up to Ev later, he'd been in town until early this morning, and she wanted him to get as much rest as he could.

"You're rosey this morning, yourself," he noted, watching her adoring glow on her cheeks. "Don't know why you waste your time on this lot. Could be turning a shiny dime even at the hotel with your talents, luv."

Her smile shifted amused to loving and she leaned over the table at him, as if to share a secret. "That may be true.. though I think you're just a charmer.. but I am madly in love with your brother.. there's no other place I want to be." She gave him a wink. "And I've become very fond of this lot as well."

[Lovely]

"Ju...Just a charmer?!" His hand rose to his heart as if she'd shot him clean through and he swayed. "I'm slain, Elizabeth. A charmer I may be, but I'll tell y'true, miss. You're a fine cook.. and he doesn't deserve you."

"Thank you.. I see you all enjoy my cooking." She motioned to the food that the others had already dug into. "Now you have me curious.. why don't you think Ev deserves me?"

"Being his brother all these years, I've come to know him, just a tad. Keep a tight rein on him, miss. He's not the sort to stray, no, but don't let him get lazy... make sure he treats you well."

She shook her head. "Careful Alex.. one day your brother might have words for your gal.." She warned good natured and half teasing. "Speaking of.. I think I should go make sure he's resting and not gotten himself up with the intent to get back into town anytime soon."

He winked. He'd been only teasing, but the man did get lax once in a while on his priorities. He wanted to make certain Liza wasn't one of those. "He's likely still sleeping if he hasn't been down here yet. He'd be down here aiming at the pot boiling too hard and keeping him up otherwise. Never seen such a light sleeper or one with keener hearin' as him."

She knew that about Ev, she'd whimpered one time in her sleep and he shot up beside her, waking her up in his sudden move to make sure she was alright.

He added, moving to refill his cup. "Imagine he'd be a fine father someday, never let a peep go unheard, hm?"

"I'm most certain.. " She gave him an odd look and blushed, she was hoping, but didn't know for sure yet if... She glanced down at the empty plate, realizing how much she'd eaten already.

Alexander came back beside her to wrap a brotherly single-armed hug around her shoulders and run a finger through the line of syrup on the edge of her plate. He licked it from his fingertip before kissing her cheek. "You're a handsome woman, Elizabeth and deserving of beautiful children... both of you, even if he is m'brother. I wish you all the luck in the world," he said with all sincerity.

She leaned into the hug and kiss, looking at her plate again and shaking her head. "Only if you promise me a few charming cousins to keep our wild lot balanced." She rubbed his arm and then stood to clear away her plate and set some food aside for Ev.

He stood away to give her room to the basin, his hands held out. "How could they not be charmin', lass?" He chuckled, pinking in the cheek a little, but it faded quickly. He never said 'no', but he was only half the bargain. Ciara hadn't exactly said and he hadn't exactly asked, having not gotten quite that far yet.

"This is true.. naturally charming like their father." Liza squidged his cheeks a little in playful affection. "When the time comes for you Alex.. you are going to make a great father.. and pretty soon we're going to have a little one around here to practice on." Her eyes sparkled with delight at the thought. "Now shh don't tell my secret.. I adore children." She gave him another wink and wiped her hands down her apron.

That time he hoped might come soon now that the Palmers didn't seem intent on turning his insides outside. "Once her father's blessin' is won, then we'll see, lass. Not quite secure there, yet y'see."

Her smile and her gaze faltered and she nodded her head. "I'm sure it won't be too much longer for that.. anyone who knows you and knows her, can see how much you care for her." Her own father had refused his blessing for her and Ev.. insisting he'd only give it for her to marry Kingswell. It broke her heart some days, but then Ev would smile at her or slip his arms around her from behind and she knew she was where she should be.

His voice was the softest whisper and apologetic seeing her smile falter. "I meant nothin' by it, miss. The situation isn't quite like that at all. Old Ephraim, he's a fine man with fine, hot headed sons he's right to be proud of. And every one of them with a temper I've been on the wrong side of at one time or another. Usually all at once," he added, almost proud of that fact. "I don't have the advantage of age, Elizabeth. I have the disadvantage of a true reputation to overcome. Your father, I'm certain, is just as fine a man and m'brother has only rumors to overcome. If ever they met, I'm certain, his blessin' you'd have."

She almost laughed, turning with a sad smile and reaching to caress his cheek softly. "I know you didn't mean anything by what you said.. You're not a nasty man who would say something spiteful to me.." She sighed and pulled her hand away her eyes lifting in the direction of her and Everitt's room. "You don't know my father.. He's a very stubborn and proud man. He does not like to be wrong about anything, including people."

Alex winked, grasping her hand as she pulled away, offering reassurance and any strength she'd ever need. "What's t'know, lass? He's Irish. He'll come around after y'knock him down a few pegs. Just takes time. And about time, I need to be heedin' and settin' foot out the door or those irons will be melted together for sure."

She gave his fingers a light squeeze, her eyes thanking him silently. She let go of his fingers and nodded her head. "You go on.. get going.." She shooed him off with a wave of her hands, deciding she suddenly felt tired and would go back up to join Ev for awhile.