From sclark@best.com Tue Jul 28 11:40:26 1998 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 19:12:21 -0700 From: clark To: fkfanfic@merlin.darkmage.net Subject: Shiny Perky People (01/01) Warning. This story is unapologetically sappy. Permission given to archive at fkfanfic website as well as FTP site. No other permission is granted to repost/reprint/reuse. If you're interested, drop me a line. Love it/hate it/whatever, feedback is always welcomed and always appreciated. And, as long as you're still reading, I figure I'll take the opportunity to mention a worthwhile FK related charity that's running concurrent to the posting of this story to the fkfic-l list. Todays event is one last reminder of the NA's planned cookbook, "Recipes from the Jeweled Peach." If purchasing a cookbook sounds interesting and you'd like more info feel free to drop me a line. If you don't like the story please don't hold it against the NA's. While I asked permission to mention their charity they knew nothing about what story it'd be tacked onto. This story is based on characters and situations that aren't mine. Thanks to TPTB for their use. Shiny Perky People (01/01) by S. Clark Natalie Lambert was snuggled into Nick's arms, sleeping, a peculiar grin on her face. He didn't want to get up from the couch, didn't want to wake her. But he did wonder what she was thinking about. Inside Natalie's peaceful slumber... Nat was dreaming of a sunny afternoon. She was sitting in the yard at the back of the house. The kids. Multiple children, all blonde with tousled hair, ran through the yard. Then he came out from the garage, hair shining gold in the sun. She never tired of seeing him in the sunlight. They never tired of being in the sunlight as a family. The kids sometimes thought it was strange. Other families got to stay inside and watch television. But not the de Brabant family. They had to be outside playing. Nick brought out the bag of charcoal and dumped it into the backyard grill. He always insisted on doing the barbecuing, saying it was the man's job. Every time he burned the meat. And every time, Nat told him it was perfect. The kids were slowly catching on to the fact that dad couldn't cook. Mom usually managed to help out with the hot dogs, so at least those stayed away from total black. Nick started the fire and came over to sit beside his wife. He placed a hand on her knee as he leaned over to kiss her. He removed the hand and she noticed the large smudge he'd left on her leg. "Nick," she laughed, brushing away the mess. He wiped his hand on her nose leaving a smudge on the tip. "But you're cute when you're dirty." She leaned over and whispered in your ear. "You're the dirty one, old man." She nibbled on his earlobe. The moment was broken when little Donny, four, started crying. Natalie went over to pick him up from the dirt. She brushed off his shirt and sat down, placing him in her lap. "What's wrong, hon?" she asked the tyke. "Fleur pushed me," he sobbed. Natalie looked over at the girl, a tall child at only five. "Did you push your brother?" The girl frowned. "It was an accident. I didn't mean it." Natalie looked at the boy. "She said it was an accident. I think she's even sorry." Then she looked to Fleur. "Are you sorry." The little girl was at the point of tears, also. "Uhh huh," she said. Then she ran to her daddy. Natalie sighed but there was little she could do. She was a daddy's girl, and her father doted on her. Natalie smiled at the little one in her arms. She knew he was just tired from a day of play. After lunch she'd probably even be able to get him to take a nap. "Are you ok now?" she asked. He nodded, face still damp with tears. Natalie frowned back at him. "No smile for mommy?" He kept frowning and shook his head no. Natalie turned her frown to a smile. "Please? Like this?" It was an over exaggerated smile showing lots of teeth. Little Donny chuckled and then smiled. "And a kiss?" she asked. He kissed her on the cheek. His little face got serious. "Eskimo kisses," he ordered. "Yes sir," she responded and rubbed her nose against his. She wondered how much more dirt she picked up in this little exchange. She set him down again and pointed him at the swingset. He was off. The moment of discord was gone, replaced by the usual energy of play. She walked back and sat down. Nick was back at the barbecue, this time assisted by Fleur. The two of them were covered in charcoal. Natalie rolled her eyes. "Nick, your turn to do laundry," she said, returning to her reading. He smiled at her. "Ok." She thought about it a little more. The last time he'd done laundry the utility room was filled with bubbles and all of their clothes turned pink. Maybe that wasn't a suitable task after all. Then again, they could afford new clothes. And he could afford to learn how to do laundry. She kept glancing through the magazine, skimming the articles. Now that she wasn't practicing medicine of any sort she'd had some time to catch up on her reading. It was a fact which she found more than a little ironic. It wasn't long before she was disturbed again, this time by the sound of thunder. Dark clouds were gathering overhead and moving in quickly. She called to the kids that it was time to go inside. They ran for the door, all fighting over who got to call the first show on TV. "Nick," she called to her husband. "Are you coming?" "I just got the fire going," he said. "Nick, it's starting to rain. We'll cook inside." He smiled at her. It was a grin she couldn't resist. "Bring me an umbrella?" She walked over and grabbed his hand, pulling him away from the grill. "That's silly. I didn't bring you back across to have you electrocuted by cooking out in a rainstorm." He walked with her back into the house. They made a quick check on the kids, then he pushed her into the kitchen. "Maybe we should order out," he said, planting a kiss on her lips. "And maybe we should get a babysitter," she added, returning his ardor. "I'll call Jenny Schanke," he said. "She can take them out for pizza." At this point the two of them were close to financing Jenny's college education. It was no wonder they had five kids. He started to kiss her again, "in a moment," he managed to say between breaths. Nat broke the embrace and walked over to look at the kids playing peacefully in the living room. Nick came and stood behind her, slipping an arm around her waist. "It's so wonderful," she said, quietly. "Just what I've wanted." He planted a kiss in her hair then whispered in her ear, "Nat, wake up." "Hmmm?" she asked. He jostled her. "Nat, wake up." Natalie stirred. She looked up at him. And, for a moment, was tempted to plant a kiss on his lips. But then she remembered her reality and she frowned. "What is it?" he asked, lightly stroking her cheek. "Why the sad face? Bad dreams?" She forced a smile. "No reason." It'd be foolish to try to explain. To get either of their hopes up. "I'm sorry to wake you, you looked so peaceful. But you said you'd wanted to run some tests." She nodded. She couldn't be angry with him. She'd made him promise he wouldn't let her oversleep. After all, dreaming wouldn't bring him back across. Natalie packed up her things and grabbed the videos. He helped her bundle up in a scarf and mittens and she headed for the cold outdoors. Nick watched her as far as was safe, her heading off into the unknown, into the daylight. Then he went up to his bed and dreamed of Nat, as his wife, and their five children. And the two of them working on the sixth.