Born of Ice

Epilogue

   He lifted his lids slowly, peering around the bedroom of his home that he now shared with Tisha and their growing son, Emanuel Dolan Cross. He heard giggling coming down the hall and peered at the time. The vixen had shut his alarm off as he slept, he realized as he noticed it was 9:15 AM. The door swung open and a small body catapulted itself onto the bed, rapidly crawling up to look at him.
"Good morning Emanuel. I see your mother has been fiddling with my alarm clock again."
"Mommy said we could make you pancakes to eat in bed. It was my idea though."
   He smiled at the frown he gave his mom as she walked in holding a tray of food. She smiled at the youngling as she waited for him to sit up before setting the tray down in his lap. She climbed softly into bed with them, hugging him to her as he peered down at the lopsided pancakes on his plate. There was a pile of bacon and eggs sitting next to the pancakes. He smiled down at his son as he looked at him expectantly.
"Did you do all this cooking yourself or did mommy help you?"
"Mommy helped me so that I wouldn't get hurt even though I told her I was a big boy and could do it myself. Do you like it?"
"I believe I do. I don't think I can even eat it all. What do you say about being a big boy and helping me and mommy eat all this?"
"Sure!"
   Tisha shook her head and laughed as they took turns taking a bite of food. He smiled at his little family. It seemed like eons ago that he had found Tisha and had fought to keep her safe. His son was now 5 years old and an energetic young thing. They had not had much time to do much else other than keep up with him. He had even built a large play area in his back yard for his youngling to play on to burn energy, only seeming to help with it slightly. He wouldn't want to change it for the world itself. He felt young again as he chased his son around in the yard. His son peered up at him as he was lost in thought, a solemn look overtaking his face, reminding him of the look he used to get before meeting Tisha. He stifled a laugh as he raised his brow in question.
"Mommy said I had to ask you for a little brother. Can I have one daddy?"
   He nearly choked on the slice of bacon he had popped into his mouth as he peered sharply at Tisha stifling laughter next to him. She smiled at him with tears in her eyes as she snickered. Of course she would find it hilarious that their son just blurted that kind of thing out.
"What did Mommy tell you about it?"
"That she wouldn't mind but it was up to you. So can you get me a little brother?"
"Um... Buddy I can't just go buy you a little brother."
"Why not?"
"Well..um.. Babies are made not bought buddy and with how much energy you have to burn to fall asleep, it leaves mommy and me to tired to think about anything else."
"You and mommy have to make me a little brother?"
"Um yea bud that is how it happens."
"So if I go to bed early then you and mommy can make me a brother?"
   More choking occured as Tisha choked on the pancake she had put in her mouth at his reasoning. He smirked slyly at her as he nodded his head at his son. He got a thoughtful look on his face as he pondered something in his young brain.
"Can I go stay with grandpa Dolan?"
"I don't know bud, we would have to call and ask him."
"Ok! Hang on I will go get the phone!"
"Wait! Nevermind you are already gone."
"He is a persistent youngling isn't he? Just like his mother, that one."
"I beg your pardon?"
   They both startled at the high pitched squeak of delight as their son bounded back into the room with the phone to his ear. He started spouting about packing as he handed the phone to Tisha and tore back out of the room.
"Hello?"
"Hello Tisha. Emanuel is a very convincing young man already I see. Knows how to lay the charm on and I can't imagine where on earth he would have gotten that trait from. He called and asked sweet as pie if he could come visit so mommy and daddy could make him a brother and your step mom just wouldn't let me say no. Apparently he is not the only one wanting another sibling, who knew?"
"I am sorry dad if you can't take him then we can break the news to him."
"Don't even think about it or she will have my hide tanning in the yard. What's that dear? Oh yes, she said she will keep him as long as it takes to 'make' him a sibling. Wait hey don't I get a say in this? Ouch! Ok! I will be over in 20 minutes to get the tike."
"Ok dad thank you."
   They hung up as she peered at him with a twinkle in her eye. So what his son was a smart little pain in the behind? He certainly knew how to get his dad lucky and he was sure he would thank him when he was old enough to understand what was taking place. She left briefly to help him pack. He tore in to hug him before dashing right back out again as a knock sounded at the door. He smiled up at the ceiling as he heard soft words before the click of the front door. When he peered at the door his jaw nearly hit the floor in shock. Tisha stood before him with nothing but a smirk before winking at him to turn and run. He growled his appreciation as he launched himself after her soft laughter. They played cat and mouse, his reward was the heat of her body as they continued their antics into the night. Truly, he didn't need anything else but his family in his life to feel complete. With Tisha at his side, anything was possible.