Days With Zion Dawsey

14. Playing and Whining

Once River was fast asleep and Zion secured him in his stroller again, he halfway shut the door and went back to the party. He had no idea how much time had passed but he was sure it was at least half an hour.

"Didn't just empty your bladder, I assume?" Maddox joked when Zion came back to the tent. Zion pushed Maddox, who laughed even louder at that. By now it was starting to get dark and the kids were somewhere in the backyard playing hide and seek. Only some of the adults were seated by the table, chatting and laughing.

Zion felt a sudden feeling of comfort, which was a first in a situation like that. But it was a nice little get together with only his closest relatives and- well Michael and Bonnie. Speaking of the two, he didn't see them in the tent and frowned.

"Where's Michael?" He asked his mother, who looked around.
"I think he and Bonnie went to play hide and seek with the little ones." She answered him, making Zion nod before sitting down.

"So-" Ariana was about to start when Oliver suddenly ran inside giggling.
"Help me hide!" He ran under table, still giggling. The adults chuckled, knowing he was probably the loudest and easy to seek.

"They're never gonna know I'm under here." Oliver giggled even louder.
"Alright, but you gotta be quiet honey." Ariana told her son.
"Okay mommy." He whispered.

"As I was saying- how old is Michael?" She asked Zion, who needed a second to remember.
"Twenty-five, why?" He answered and watched Ariana and his mother give each other a look.

"Well, when it comes to age they're good." Ariana told Sheryl, completely ignoring Zion's question.
"What do you mean?" Zion asked again, making Ariana shrug.

"We're thinking about setting the two up."
"Who?" He asked.
"Bonnie and Michael, duh." She answered. Zion's jaw clenched.

"They have been talking the whole night and they both seem like really nice people." Ariana elaborated.
"Hm." Zion didn't really know what to answer.

"You don't think it's a good idea?" Ariana looked at him as if he'd just killed her puppy.
"I don't know. They don't really match." He acted as nochalant as he could.
"What do you mean?" Ethan jumped in.

"Well, they're just different." Zion shrugged.
"Opposites attract." Maddox chimed in.
"If you say so." Was all Zion said.

"Well, if you don't think Michael would suit her. What about me?" Jason joked, making Zion narrow his eyes at him. Zion shrugged.

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm not good enough?" Jason acted hurt.
"Probably not." Zion smirked, making Jason laugh. Ariana and Sheryl shared another look that the male guests didn't notice.

"Has anybody in here seen a little boy? Blonde, brown eyes and a little giggly?" Bonnie's voice reached him and he couldn't help but look at her. He watched her walk next to Michael as the two were seeking Oliver. Something in him turned when he saw the pair smiling and looking all happy.

"No." Ariana answered, making Oliver giggle under the table.
"No?" Michael asked and Ariana shook her head.
"Oh well. I guess we'll have to look somewhere else then." Bonnie said, once again making Oliver audibly giggle.

The pair stomped their feet, acting like they were going to leave the tent.
"Are they gone?" Oliver asked as he dared to put his head out and looked around. He squealed when he saw the two standing right in front of him, looking down.

"Gotcha." Bonnie crouched down and helped him out from under the table.
"Am I the last one?" He asked, full of hope.
"We still have to find Aidan." Michael said, making Oliver drop his head with a big pout.

"It's alright. You still don't have to count next round." Michael tried but the boy was too bummed to be cheered up in that moment. Zion was surprised when Oliver walked over to him with a hanging head and lifted his arms.

"He wants you to hold him." Ariana told Zion, who was seated across from her.
"Oh." Zion said before lifting the four year old and letting him settle down on his lap. He burried his face into his uncle's neck and started sobbing.

"It's alright." Zion felt like he's said that phrase for the nth time that evening.
"You get another chance next round." He patted the boy's back gently, aware of all the surprised stares he got.

It was not only new to him to have a kid come up to him and let him hold it, but his relatives too. Especially since the other two kids would never even get near him when they were younger.

"Are you coming?" He heard and looked to his right, where Bonnie and Michael were still standing. Before he knew it, he and Bonnie held eye contact. But when Michael repeated his question, she looked away and went to look for the other kids.

Zion knew everybody in the tent noticed their little stare off. But he was hoping no one, not even his godfather would comment on it. Oliver seemed to have calmed down as he stopped sobbing. Now he was just hanging onto his uncle's neck.

"Sweety, are you okay?" Ariana came to Zion's side and stroked her boy's hair. Oliver nodded but didn't move to leave.
"We're gonna go home in a few minutes, are you sure you don't want to play anymore?" She asked and Oliver only nodded once more.

"You're tired, huh?" She kissed her son's forehead.
"No." Came his whiney answer.
"Alright." Ariana shook her head at Oliver, before patting Zion's shoulder and leaving his side.

"So, where were we?" Ariana started another conversation.