People Like Us Part III [MxFxM]

11

Varian felt better knowing that Charlie was actually getting some rest and interaction. She and everyone else seemed to enjoy dinner, Reed even venturing so much as to nibble on the bits of ham he was given. Varian cut his own dinner up into small pieces, and only got through about half before he was handing his plate off to Corin and offering to take Reed from Charlie so she could spend some time listening to Adrian rant and play with Lyla.

His grandson didn't protest at the switching of hands, instead he cooed and gripped Varian's shirt as he walked with him out from the kitchen to the living room to sit. The action reminded him very much of what he used to do with River, and he found himself smiling down fondly at the baby in his arms now.

Reed clicked his teeth up at Varian and he smiled wider, bending to nuzzle the top of his head like he'd witnessed River do many times. It had Reed giggling, and, encouraged, Varian kissed the top of the baby's head as he eased himself backwards to the couch, putting his leg on it first before he seated himself while the baby cooed happily.

He'd been making significantly more sounds and noises since he and his sister had been brought into the house, which Varian was grateful for. It was a little unnerving that Charlie had been willing to sacrifice her baby for her mate, or at least then. Part of him hoped she wouldn't in the end, but he hadn't been willing to wait, and was fully prepared to take action if he had to. It proved unnecessary, thankfully, but he wasn't so sure he could think of her quite the same way.

"Couch."

Blinking, Varian looked down at Reed, the baby turned to face him and looking up determinately at him. Like he was stating exactly what he knew and was almost daring Varian to correct him. It made him smile again.

"Yes, couch. Very good. Can you say other things? How about chair?"

Reed clicked his teeth as he worked his mouth, visibly thinking about how to form the word he was asked to say. It was amazing how intelligent these babies were, and with Reed still speaking like he was, Varian wondered briefly what their children would be like and if it really was a Nether thing. River had developed quickly, but nowhere near where Lyla and Reed were.

"Co."

"Chair." Varian repeated. "Chuh. Chuh-air. Chair."

Reed clicked at himself again, looking around the room for one of the objects they were attempting to talk about. Unfortunately, there weren't any chairs in the living room here, just the single couch and the one loveseat at a "L" angle to each other.

"Chi. Chair. Chair?"

"Yes, yes, exactly." Varian chuckled, picking up the baby to nuzzle him like he seemed to enjoy, going by the high pitched giggling squeal Reed gave in response. "Good job. Chair."

Varian was almost too busy praising his grandson for the new word to notice movement outside through the nearest window, and he turned his head to examine what he'd caught out of the corner of his eye. When he did, he froze, because outside in the yard stood the gray wolf, not even thirty feet away from the window. Reed seemed to know something was wrong too, because he turned his head to look, clicking questioningly until he saw the wolf too.

Choosing to hold still, Varian just fixed his eyes on the wolf through the glass in the darkness, blue-tinted snow rising up to his hocks and coating his legs, muzzle, and face. It was windy out, flakes and frost whipping against the gray and red streaked fur, but the wolf didn't seem to notice or didn't care. Instead his eyes were fixed on Varian, and his hackles rose like before as glistening white fangs snarled and snapped.

Reed gripped Varian's shirt tighter and pressed himself against him, sniffling loudly at the sight, which only provoked the wolf to start towards the house, and Varian was already up from the couch, clutching his grandson protectively in one arm as he crossed to the door and locked it before proceeding to do the same to the windows, pulling the curtains closed as he did, thankful for the thick-paned glass.