I Didn't Think It Would Happen Like This

[Tree]

"Mwah, hahaha! I won! "

He declared in triumph as he snuggled her among the carnage of what was once a pillow.

[Sushi]

Willow blew a fluff out of her face.

"Won what?"

[Tree]

"I got you laughing! It's the best. "

[Sushi]

Willow stuck her tongue out at him, shaking her head in disbelief

"but you murdered a poor, innocent pillow to do it."

She picked up a tuft and tossed it at him.

[Tree]

Ansel nodded with no shame.

"Absolutely recommend. Will do again. "

[Sushi]

Willow cupped two handfuls to show him.

"All this for a silly laugh?" She asked with a smile.

"Seems kinda expensive."

[Tree]

"Worth every puff."

She was informed as Ansel leaned over and blew the tufts everywhere.

[Sushi]

Willow smiled a little and looked around at the mess.

"Did it look like this after your real pillow fights? Do the feathers or fuzz or whatever come out like on TV?"

[Tree]

"Worse. Much, much worse with vampire kids, anyways? "

He offered with a hearty laugh.

"I think it's less so with humans? I can't imagine them doing what we did without hurting one another. "

[Sushi]

Willow smiled more.

"I know we don't do it, but I can't stop imagining pink and gold and white feathers raining everywhere like a cupcake explosion."

She picked up another bit of fluff, examining it.

[Tree]

Ansel snickered.

"That should change. We should totally give it a go. "

[Sushi]

"you want me to save their feathers to stuff pillows?"

Willow tilted her head to the side.

"You thought it was weird when I told you I used to sell mine for that."

[Tree]

"But then they could -pillow fight- with them!!"

He pointed out with excitement.

[Sushi]

"I think Aisling would love to add her minty ones in by bashing the crap out of her siblings... But what about Gus?"

[Tree]

Ansel chuckled, thinking.

"I think we could work something out where he could play, too. Maybe make them loose seams so they burst on impact instead of transfer impact to him? "

He suggested, chuckling.

" we'd need to make extra pillows for that, though. "

[Sushi]

Willow smiled and chuckled.

"I dunno. Seems like it would be same as you hitting me with one. I could still see you braining me with a zipper or something."

[Tree]

"No zippers! Gotta be sure it's all safe for my little guy. "

He protested with the cutest little wilt in his voice.

[Sushi]

"as long as you've got it all under control... I think you'll have to settle for white feathers, though. They don't she'd fast enough for that.'

[Tree]

Ansel grinned slowly.

"What if we dyed the pillows first? "

[Sushi]

Willow nodded as she started to gather up some fuzz.

"That would work. Then they could have whatever colors they wanted too."

[Tree]

"Would you help us? "

[Sushi]

"help you do what? Dye the pillows?"

[Tree]

"Well yeah.... and the pillow fight? "

He asked, hopeful.

[Sushi]

"I don't know how to dye anything."

Willow was unsure about the rest. That didn't feel like somewhere she belonged.

"Brooke knocked me out with a concussion the last time her strength got away from her. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your guys letting loose."

[Tree]

"But they'll be designed to be safe for even Gus, so it should be alright. "

He answered with a moment's pause to think it through before offering a grin to her.

"So we all can play!"

[Sushi]

Willow looked down at her hands. It was hard to even think of. She loved them and her heart squeezed with longing at the idea of playing with them again. But a ceiling of fear and grief crashed down onto her head a mere moment later. It kept breaking. She could play a tiny little game with playdough or watch them at an arcade or whatever else and it was like starting the timer on a stick of dynamite. Everything would be blown apart. The only question was how long the fuse should last. She didn't want to do it again.

"I'll try," she told him in a tone that betrayed nothing of her inner world.

[Tree]

Ansel inched over and kissed her.

"We are gonna be alright. I love you. "

[Sushi]

"of course you will."

Willow dumped the pile of fluff she had collected into his lap purely to distract him.

"But you'll have to deal with that mess. I can't fix it."

[Tree]

Ansel chuckled.

"Yeah. I'll field this. Totally worth that much. "

He'd slay all the pillows of the world for her.

[Sushi]

Willow nodded, but then the corner of her mouth quirked with sudden amusement.

"It's like a real-life censor cloud."

[Tree]

Ansel laughed now. Unable to stop it as he accidentally inhaled a tuft and started cough-choke-cry-laughing.

"Oh gosh. I don't think I've ever had life sensor me. "

[Sushi]

Willow smiled in earnest now, liking his glee.

"It must be trying to keep you out of bed for more than fifteen minutes."

[Tree]

"How rude.. it's just unaware how amazing sex with my wife is. "

He protested with feigned insult.

[Sushi]

"that's okay. I didn't want to have sex with the whole world."

[Tree]

Ansel couldn't help the belly laugh as he rocked back and forth.

"That's a tall task for anyone to consider! "

Absolutely not. He'd draw the line well before the entire world happened.

[Sushi]

Willow ran a hand through her hair and fiddled with the scraggly ends.

"No thank you?"she answered cutely

[Tree]

Ansel nodded with a wink as he swept a tear from his cheek.

"Oh goodness. Agreed. I can't imagine how droll such an enjoyable thing could become if it were ever to become a true task such as that."

[Sushi]

Willow's tummy flipped. Despite the current subject or any preceding talk, it was the wink that made her blush. She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked away with a tiny, pleased smile.

"Good point. Glad we're on the same page "

[Tree]

"Ah, but thankfully you do wish my participation of such a divine interaction? "

He proposed, easily pushing away the tufts about him, crawling towards her and intending to take a kiss.

[Sushi]

Willow offered the smile to him next.

"Much more doable."