Strength In Our Bonds (The Strength in Generations Accompanying Book)

A Friendly Wager

As Nora was on her way back home after a morning of studies one day, she noticed Linna and Vidina standing near the Academy's entrance. She hadn't seen either for a while, so she decided to give them a friendly hello. It couldn't hurt, at the very least.

"Hey, guys-" she stopped, noticing a small makeshift target hanging from the bottom of one of the Academy's balconies. "There's a story behind that, isn't there."

"Gale and Berrik have a competition going on," replied Vidina. "They're both gonna try and hit the target from here."

"Yep!" agreed Gale, as he and Berrik approached. "We have these two here as witnesses, but it's always nice to have some more. Nora, sorry in advance for making your boyfriend cry."

"Hey! You won't be talking so tough when I hit that thing," Berrik said.

"Okay, you guys," Linna cut them off. "It's time. Place your bets."

"Gotcha." Berrik nodded confidently. "If I win, I get to be the captain of the team for the next three games."

"With your flimsy defense?!" asked Gale, appalled.

"You said to go big or go home, didn't you?"

Gale smirked. "That's the way you wanna play it? Fine. If I win, you and Nora have to babysit Lexi while Levi and I go on a date night."

"Hey, hey, since when am I a part of this?" Nora spoke up.

"You've got yourself a bet," Berrik said at the same time, the boys completely ignoring Nora.

"Hey!" Nora complained.

"Nora, isn't it better that you help Berrik babysit?" asked Linna. "I mean, do you really trust the guy alone with a baby?"

Nora's expression sobered. "You're right."

Besides, at least Gale's daughter wasn't a helpless newborn anymore. She was old enough to have some cognitive and mobile ability, so at least that was in play here.

"What happens if they both hit it?" asked Nora.

"They just keep goin' until one misses," replied Vidina.

"Oh." Nora nodded. "We may be here a while, won't we?"

~ * ~

"Thank you guys so much for this," Leviesse said, giving Nora and Berrik both hugs. "It's been so long since Gale and I have been able to sit and enjoy each other's company. This will be good for our marriage- not that it's been bad, but still. You're the best! Thanks again."

"You're welcome, Levi." Berrik smiled at her halfheartedly.

"I've left a list of things you need to know upstairs- you can't miss it." Leviesse daintily tapped her chin with her index finger as she thought. "Alexine is allergic to tomatoes, all right? Absolutely no tomatoes." She wagged a finger. "She loves pineapples and strawberries and grapes and bananas. She's trying more and more recently to stand, so keep an eye out for what she's trying to lift herself up on. No staying up past ten for her, got that?"

"Noted." Nora nodded. "Can she eat, like, food food, or is it too early for that?"

"Oh, no, yeah, feel free to feed her whatever you and Berrik eat for the evening, as long as it's easy to chew. I tried to pump out enough milk for overnight, but I don't know if that's enough..." Leviesse frowned. "Maybe give her water or juice in between, so she can have her milk last longer. If you give her a bottle of milk right before she's due to go to bed, it puts her right out."

Nora nodded again.

"And if you have any problems, please, don't hesitate to call Gale and I."

"Someone called?" Gale held Leviesse's jacket for her to put her arms into.