"I. Said. Sorry."

Sioni laughed. “Now there’s gracious.” From time to time, Kaleb would say something about his children. Usually after they’d had a pint or two, after practice. Usually after Sioni had asked after his family. And Kaleb would say how great they were, and how smart Grace was, and how beautiful Charley was. And Sioni would think, you don’t even bloody well know them, do you?

Of course, he didn’t know them either, but if he had the chance, he would. If he had half a chance, he’d be a Dad to Grace and love his Siarli with all his life.

"You may have a bun so long as you leave it on the plate."

 Sioni was surprised at that. He’d expected a fight from Espa, blaming him for leading her children astray, and undermining her discipline.

"Please don't make a mess."

“You heard your mami. Eat tidy, like.” He sipped his chocolate and watched as Siarli gnawed at her biscuit. There was something so strange about watching her: her little nose, her eyes that looked like his, her mouth, turning into Mamgu’s mouth, and back into the mouth of a year old child. It was like time and space travel, all in one moment; more magic than he could make in a year of spells.

"Since you've…"

Sioni glanced up, one eye-brow raised.

"Since you've fed my children all this sugar, I feel that its only fair when we've finished you put them down for a nap."

Of all the things she might have said, it was what he wanted most, and what he had expected least. But Sioni wasn’t going to let the chance slip by. He’d missed too many chances with Espa, from when she went back to Spain, to the night before her wedding. He should have gone to Spain and fetched her back. He should have stolen her from her father’s house.

He should bloody well just take her now.

“Guilty as charged.” He said softly. “And I will accept my punishment in the spirit in which it is given. Is Grace alright with along-side apparition? I’d invite you back to the Mews House, but I know kiddies sleep best in their own beds, like. I’ll do anything you like, after we’re done here, see? Best part of my line of work. When you are off the pitch, you time’s your own.”

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Not Getting Any Younger