Adventures In An Alternate Dimension Book 2

Chapter 52 - Our Chaotic Lab: From Bubblegum to Shimmering Strands

Ashlynn's POV

The afternoon sun slanted through the window of my lab, casting long shadows across the cluttered workbench. Empty beakers and graduated cylinders sat haphazardly beside a bubbling Erlenmeyer flask, its contents a swirling concoction of vibrant purple. Today's experiment? The elusive, ever-lasting hair dye.

"Mommy, why's the juice purple?" Grace, my four-year-old whirlwind of energy, bounced on the balls of her feet beside me, bright green eyes wide with curiosity. Her unruly auburn curls, a constant source of amusement (and frustration) for me, were pulled back in a messy ponytail.

"This isn't juice, sweetie," I chuckled, carefully adjusting the Bunsen burner's flame beneath the flask. "It's a special potion that might make hair a pretty purple color, like a mermaid!"

Grace's eyes widened further. Mermaids were her current obsession, ever since Skylar, one of my husbands, had taken her on a trip to the aquarium last week. The idea of having mermaid hair was clearly very appealing.

"Can I try it, Mommy?" she asked, her voice laced with excitement.

I hesitated. While the dye itself wasn't dangerous, some of the early concoctions had resulted in... unforeseen side effects. Like the time Skylar's beard had sprouted sparkly pink glitter for a week. Or the unfortunate incident where Emmett's hair, usually a luxurious dark brown, had turned a shocking neon green for a good month. Thankfully, those batches were just temporary mishaps, easily remedied with a rinse and a sigh of relief.

"Maybe not just yet, honey," I said gently. "This is still an experiment. We don't want your hair to turn... well, let's just say unexpected colors."

Grace's bottom lip trembled slightly. Just then, the lab door creaked open, and Skylar himself sauntered in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He was followed by the boisterous triplets – Haven, Leila, and Bennett – all six months old and currently strapped into their carriers.

"What's all this brewing, beautiful?" Skylar asked, wrapping an arm around my waist and planting a kiss on my cheek. The scent of pine and mountain air clung to him, a constant reminder of his outdoorsy nature.

"Just a little science project," I replied, gesturing towards the purple potion. "Though, it might need some... tweaking."

Skylar raised an eyebrow. "Sounds familiar. Did someone say 'glitter beard' again?"

I swatted him playfully. "Hey, that was a learning experience! Besides, it eventually washed out."

The lab door swung open once more, revealing Thor, another one of my husbands, with a flour-dusted apron tied around his waist. He was followed by the ever-giggling Jade and Ava, my one-and-a-half-year-old twins, both with mischievous chocolate smudges adorning their faces.

"Looks like someone's been baking," I said, a smile tugging at my lips. The delectable aroma of cinnamon and sugar filled the air.

"Just a little pre-dinner treat," Thor boomed, his voice warm and rumbling. "The twins were insistent on helping."

Indeed, the kitchen island usually resembled a warzone after baking sessions with the twins. But the joy on their faces, covered in flour and batter, always made the cleanup worth it.

Suddenly, a loud bang erupted from the corner. Emmett, my final husband, stumbled in, soot smudged on his cheek and a sheepish grin plastered on his face.

"Sorry I'm late, everyone," he said, his voice slightly singed. "The lawnmower decided to, uh, take a vacation."

We all exchanged exasperated but fond looks. Emmett, bless his heart, had a knack for finding trouble, even with the most mundane tasks.