Let's Play!

/..... i do though. I love you. /

He protested gently, already falling asleep though.

/I know. Hush now. Sleep./

Ansel didn't need more prodding, losing to sleep at this point. He would rise in a few more hours though, heading to wash up and slowly sneak in to snuggle into Willow.

"Hi. "

Willow didn't object but also didn't really enjoy being handled at the moment. She was somewhat unsettled in her own skin.

"Did you get enough sleep?"

"Yeah.... are you alright? "

He didn't know what was up, but he could read that something didn't feel like normal when he held her. He didn't release right away, instead just waiting as he tried to understand.

Willow nodded.

"Of course. I've just been sitting here."

Staying still seemed to be done only by a cultivated habit. Her mind was maintaining a slight disconnection from her body, allowing her to ignore the way it gnawed at her, shrieking about understimulation and boredom.

"..... do you want to go do something? Rosie will be up soon? "

"Oh, I wouldn't want to interrupt that, then."

She shifted off of his lap and folded her legs underneath herself as she settled back down in front of the window like she'd done a million times. She folded her arms on the sill and placed her chin on them so she could look out.

"I didn't realize you two had plans. Have a good time."

"Willow..... I'm not doing anything particular at this second....."

He didn't understand, watching her.

".... is it the house? We can move? I'll have whatever you want built? Is it Nora? Me?"

Why was she so .... withdrawn? He was watching her with eyes just short of puppy eyes, not getting what was going on.

Willow's eyes flitted around the room at his words, and she didn't seem to be upset at all. There were only a few minor sparks of emotions in response to his questions - embarrassment, envy, disappointment, loneliness - but they were there and gone again in an instant. She actually seemed pretty stable right now.

"I must be doing something wrong for you to say all that. What is it?"

"Not wrong.... just.... I don't want you caged, love..... if you really want to just sit here..... I can stay and keep you company? "

He only had concern and focus for her at this point, trying to grasp the idea of just wanting the window.

"Don't be silly. I interact with you while you're here. I only just sit when I'm not... in use?"

She couldn't think of a better way to describe it. Regardless, Willow shrugged, going back to looking out the dark window.

"It's not really a cage. I know I'm allowed to go to other rooms now. It's just that this is what works best."

Ansel wilted.

"You aren't limited. You can go and do whatever you like..... anything that's best for you, my love. "

He shifted and kissed her forehead.

"I love you so. "

Willow sighed.

"I must not have used the right words because i dont think you understand what im saying."

She paused to think about it before trying again.

"I know I have the option of trying to do some other things, but sitting here patiently on my best behavior is the thing that preserves the peace. It doesnt upset or disgrace you. It's not risky. I dont accidentally trespass on other peoples space. No one has to deal with me if they don't want to."

Her face dimmed a little more with each possible mistake that she named.

"It's not a limitation," she told him quietly.

"It's a choice to do what's best for everyone."

Ansel shifted, turning her gently from the window to look at him.

"Is this what's best for you? "

He asked tenderly, cupping her cheeks in his hands.

"Whats best for me is what's best for everyone. I will never let myself destroy your family again."

Willows eyes slid away, voice dropping to a whisper.

"Just because I wanted everything to be different doesn't mean that it is."

"Things are different, Willow..... I'm not purposing instant or huge changes. .... but ..... how about the playroom with the kiddos? We could hang out with them after breakfast? "

He suggested, worry over her.

Willow didn't answer right away.

"I snuck in and watched them yesterday," she confessed eventually

A tiny smile inched in, his eyes lighting up some.

"Good. We could just do that today, if you wanted? "

Willow tilted her face further into one of his hands, closing her eyes.

"Maybe. I suddenly don't feel entirely good."

Ansel nodded a tiny bit.

"Alright. Have you eaten recently? "

He'd noticed her body didn't like lacking nuggets.

Willow shook her head.

"It's almost breakfast time. "

"I'll get you breakfast. "

He kissed her tenderly now.

"Anything else I can do to help you? "

"I don't know," she told him honestly.

Ansel nodded, nuzzling her a minute before going to grab her breakfast. He returned with extra servings of breakfast and their youngest two daughters bright and awake.

He snuggled little Aisling as he put the tray down and placed Rosie in her mom's arms. Sliding down to sit next to her, he started to gently tame Aisling's hair while she had at her fruit bowl before her.

There was a collection of orange slices, strawberries, pineapple, and halved grapes. A huge tower of chocolate chip mini muffins, a surplus of sausage links, and a trio of cups (two sippy topped) completed the tray filled with food for the girls.

"I hope the company is OK? "

Cause Rosie always wanted mama in the mornings. And if Ansel was honest with himself, he was trying really hard to build up his relationship with his youngest. He would have included Brooke but she was still snoring.

Willow nodded, eating a muffin. Rosie did too, though she seemed sad about it.

"These aren't the blue ones," the child sulked.

Aisling was not a fan of her father's master plan and swapped between eating and pushing at his hands.

"Dada, no! Nummies!"

She didn't want her hair done. She wanted to eat.

Ansel glanced to the muffin.

"Blue? The muffin?"

He wrinkled his brow, trying to place together pieces about his daughter before he poked the tower lightly.

"Muffins? "

He pouted at Aisling.

"But daddy wants to do your hair. You can have all the yummies while I do? "

Rosie nodded.

"The blue ones are the best."

Willow pet the child's head.

"Blueberry muffins are your favorite?"

"Yeah, not these ones."


Aisling looked at him flatly.

"Yes nummies. No dada."

Ansel looked so sad. He accepted the hair rejection though and snuck little snuggles while she ate.

"Daddy will ask for the blueberry ones tomorrow? "

He offered to Rosie in hopeful compromise.

Her entire face lit up.

"Really?!"



Willow smiled.

"Your Daddy is powerful. He can get whatever he wants," she stage whispered to the child.

Rosie stared at Ansel with stars in her eyes.

"Wow!"

Ansel melted inside.

/ I would light the world on fire for her, you know..../

Look at this sweet little cherub!

"My sweet princess, if not for my beautiful family I'd have nothing. Daddy would be delighted to do that for you."

Every day at every meal if she wanted.

/i think that would be more likely to upset her than charm her, / willow pointed out playfully.


"I think families are gooder with Blue muffins," she reasoned.

Ansel grinned.

"I think our family is bestest. It has a Rosie."

He answered with warm affection, booping Aisling when she grabbed his hand.

"Better with an Aisling, Brooke, and Gus, too."

"And mommy and daddy!" Rosie added.


Aisling pulled his hand and put it on top of her head.

Ansel smiled, slowly moving to work on her hair.

"Agreed. Mommy makes any family better. Isn't she wonderful? "

He encouraged with warmth.

Aisling was pleased by this. Post-breakfast toddler was much more agreeable. She did keep stealing the bow, though.

"Mine."



The older girl turned and threw her arms around willows neck, her little wings popping out with her excitement.

"Yeah! I love her. I love her face and her hairs and her hands and her boobies and her tummy and her feet. I love all of her!"

Ansel glanced to Willow, eyes sparkling as he shot a brief, flirty look. It only existed half a second, but the spark inside him lit from a steady light to engulfing flames flooding his system.

"I love every bit of her, too."

He agreed, heat radiating from his words as he chuckled at Aisling.

"You're so wonderful. Alright. It's your bow. But you should see yourself on it first. You're so pretty. "

So to the bathroom mirror. Maybe he'd be permitted to have the bow stay if she could see how stunning she was.

Willow's body responded to his like gasoline to a match, but it was as equally short lived. After the initial flash, it faded back into that generalized physical frustration that had made her skin crawl all morning.

"I think Rosaline is even better," she told the child as she picked up the brush Ansel had abandoned.

"My turn?" Rosie asked hopefully and willow just nodded.



"Ooo!"

Aisling was delighted, clapping her hands and wiggling. However, in the end she would not keep it on her head. She wanted it clipped to the front of her shirt instead.

"On!" She demanded as she slapped it against herself with frustration.

Ansel smiled, deciding this was alright. At least she would be wearing it this way? He could aim for the hair another day. Besides, she had permitted him to brush and style it after all.

He clipped it on and scooped her right up for cuddle kisses.

"Alright, time to go play while daddy cleans up breakfast. "

/ Then daddy is gonna devour mommy./

He shared with passion, barely keeping the lust for his wife under the surface.

Aisling ran off the second he put her down, screaming something unintelligible.



Willow quailed at his declaration, though she held her tongue. There clearly was no lack of desire, but she still seemed to be taking an unusually long time doing Rosie's hair. The child was getting some fancier braids today, and she couldn't have been happier about it.

"I'm gonna be a princess!" She told her father gleefully.