Irreplaceable

Part 10: Autumn Trip

September came and all of the leaves had turned to different shades of brown, orange, red and yellow. The colourful splendor was amplified by the suns lower projection. The days were getting shorter and it was rare to even see the sun because nearly everyday there was a thick layer of clouds just ready to rain down at any moment. But now it had been dry all week so they had decided to do yard chores. Mihawk had trimmed the bushes and cut down the dead stems of summer flowers. There were still some autumn flowers full at bloom. Even if everything in the yard was withering away, it was still beautiful to be at. Perona was in awe of Mihawks green thumb and eye for beauty she suggested that if he hadn't become a lawyer, he would have made an amazing landscape designer. But Mihawk had a look on his face, that being a lawyer wasn't really a choice. She did not dare to pry any further, Mihawk was very sensitive about his past.

Zoro was growing extremely fast. He was excellent at running now and his vocabulary had grown with quite a few words. He was exited by the rare sunny day and by the leaves that Mihawk was now raking. He picked one and pointed it towards his grandfather.

- "Pwed!" he grinned. The leaf was in fact yellow.
- "No, yellow." Mihawk shook his head.

Zoro puckered his lips, looked at the leaf in his hand and pointed it towards Perona who was picking up the cut branches.

- "Pwed."
- "Yellow."

Not getting the answer he wanted he picked a different color leaf and pointed it towards Perona.

- "Pwed?"
- "Yes. That is red."

Zoro looked triumphant and turned to Mihawk.

- "Pwed!"

Mihawk looked pleased and took some leaves into his hands and made them rain down on Zoro. Zoro giggled and ran to Perona, who wiped the dirt off of him. By now Mihawk had finished a pile of leaves. Zoro looked at it with gleaming eyes and darted. He clumsily fell on the pile and started throwing the leaves up in the air though he couldn't get them as high as he wanted. He pouted and looked at Perona.

- "Mama."

Perona left her work to join Zoro in his game. Mihawk sighed. He knew he was going to fix the pile over and over again.

- "Don't act all grumpy. We all know you're secretly enjoying this." Perona gave Mihawk an all knowing smile. He sighed again and went back to raking, though he had a light smirk on his lips now.

----

Zoro trembled when they came back inside. They had been outside a little longer than sensible for him, but they were all having so much fun to realize the cold.

- "Not good," Perona muttered while changing him into his warm bear pajamas. "Why didn't you say something?" She pouted and gave Mihawk a cold look.
- "The cold never bothered me anyway."

Perona chuckled at the reference. She hadn't thought Mihawk actually paid attention to the movies she and Zoro were watching. He always looked so bored or was reading something.

- "I have an idea. Sit down."

Mihawk sat on his armchair without a second thought. Perona placed Zoro on his lap and then placed a blanket over the two. Engulfed in warmth Zoro yawned drowsily and started to droop. Mihawk gently leaned him against his chest.

- "I am trapped. Did you even think of who would make dinner?"
- "Me." Perona pointed at herself. Under Mihawks tutoring her cooking skills had gotten better. "And if it's not edible we can always order pizza. You just lay back and relax. Don't you old people need to nap anyway." Perona snickered.
- "I'm not that old."
- "Want me to bring your book?"
- "If you won't mind. It's on my desk."