Quote:
Originally Posted by
DaniDeVotion 
The last thing she'd wanted to do on a day off--repeat, last thing--was go to an ice-cream party with a bunch of kids in winter. Honestly, she didn't know what part of that sounded the worst.
All of it, maybe.
Lex lead Emmerson into the shop, arm linked with Fox's. He was the saving grace of the day. Don't get her wrong, spending the day with her daughter was on most days very pleasant. She enjoyed her little spitfire, tantrums, silly ballerina phases and all. It was spending the time with other people's children that left her reluctant.
The decor of the place...only added to that. Sure, she already knew what she was getting into, but this whole get up just confirmed it and the Department Head groaned as she leaned into her husband. "We're dropping her off at her grandfather's later." Lex was gonna need to unwind after all this and a hyped up, sugar charged 9 year old wasn't at all how one did that. It was nearly the exact opposite.
She'd HEARD that, the whole going to grandpa's after but at the moment, the little girl had ZERO complaints. Ice-cream and a day with mama and Fox THEN grandpa's--and let's be real, he'd probably let her have MOAR ice-cream--what more could a kid ask for?
...A pony.
But that was a conversation for another day.
"Look at all the snow!!! Fox! Fox! Throw me in it!!" Was she getting too old for this? Probably not. Never. She stuck her hands up, but he could use magic if he wanted, so long as she ended up in the fluffy snow.
Fox was distracted thinking about how discreetly he could bite Lex's ear without a gaggle of children noticing. His wife's rep as head official buttkicker of all the official buttkickers probably could stand up to the sort of tarnishing he generally had in mind, but he still reined it in. No complaints about dropping Emmerson off after either. Also no complaints at her demands. Equably he let go of Alexa and scooped Em up.
"Mercy, Mercy Me." He sang dramatically, using his nickname for his stepdaughter. And then without giving her any particular warning, chucked her in the snow.
And what was this about getting adult ice cream? He overheard the question and the answer. He looked at the host dude.
"Do we get face paint too?" His face was a perfect canvas, wasn't it? Besides he was pretty sure Emmerson would enjoy picking out something for him and being bossy about it, as well as one for herself.