Original post https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/22573/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/22968/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/23126/ https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/23269/
https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf5/saracen/notes/24842/
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“Yummier than gum…” Jarred said as he eyed the plate. He hadn’t tried the dish himself but it was the least likely of dishes he suspected of her liking. “Really little one? It’s just… really?”

Elizabeth doubted Kalani yet she had to eat something and anything looked better than that steak and her daddy’s stinky soup. Picking up her fork she stabbed a piece of the rice log. Elizabeth thought about just licking it but her tummy was rumbling. She was getting hungrier and hungrier but she couldn’t say that because her Daddy would remind her they were currently having dinner. Opening her mouth she put the piece in. Elizabeth chewed it once slowly as if she was scared it would hurt her. My the second chomp, her worried expression was turning happy. As soon as she swallowed it, Elizabeth speared a second piece. The rest of the Spam Musubi was gone from her plate in a matter of seconds. Elizabeth was shoveling it in faster than a cadet on a lunch break at the academy. “Can I hab moh pease,” elizabeth asked Jarred while chewing her last piece. Kalani was right. There was something special in the middle. It was an egg. Elizabeth loved eggs and waffles. Having an egg on your rice was just plain cool and yummy to boot.

Kalani Kane

“More… I mean… yeah you can baby.” Jarred said in shock, he looked over at his parents than to Kalani. “I guess… you have a winner here. What is it again love?” he asked as he looked at her with a cautious look.

Alindor, CE

“Everything a growing kid needs: Spam rice soy sauce seaweed, eggs” Kalani rattled off the ingredients. “It is the top food back home in Hawaii.” She eyed Jarred waiting from him to eat his bite. Not that she would point it out but Jarred seemed to be moving this bite of the Hawaiian dish around as Elizabeth had moved around the Salisbury steak.

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Two hours later......

Two hours later after a game of Candyland and three rounds of Uno the adults had coffee and dessert as Elizabeth sat in a corner playing with Ralph. The evening was going far better than Kalani thought it would not that she had any reason to expect differently. Jarred had always stated he and his father were oil and water. Tonight however they acted as if they had been best friends forever. Kalani didn’t care why. She was just happy to spend some time with her boyfriends family.

“So Jarred said you were downsizing. Did you find a place yet,” Kalani led with typical boring adult conversation yet over in the corner the conversation was anything but.

“Ralph, stop squirming,” Elizabeth said in a soft tone as she again pulled Ralph towards her and the doll blanket that was spread on the floor.

Ralph for his part stretched out his front feet and let his claws leave long lines in the carpet as she was pulled back. Jarred. Jarred help me. I thought we were pals and she is trying to put me in pink he thought as Elizabeth rolled him over onto his back and began to swaddle him in a baby blanket. How can you smell so much like Jarred but be so different? Jarred smells like pizza and beer. You smell like pizza and that spam thing my mom likes. You could be perfect if you did not want, he let out a small grunt as Elizabeth tucked in a back paw that had slid out of the blanket swaddle. To do lame things like this Ralph said as he realized suddenly he could not move a muscle with the baby blanket tucked up around him like a straight jacket. Okay Elizabeth now what do we do Ralph looked at the littlest Alindor for some guidance as she picked him up and started to rock him gently as if he was a real baby. She was never really into dolls but this was like a live doll and that was very interesting to Elizabeth at this moment.

“Yes,” Samantha said but shook her head no at the same time getting a laugh out of Kalani.

“So you have found a perfect spot but can’t commit,” Kalani said.

“No,” Samantha said but nodded yes. As the conversation continued it was the same old spiel about finding a perfect place but not sure it was the right decision even though it ticked every box Samantha had as to what she wanted for a newer, smaller residence.

Okay…so are weee Ralph let out a yawn fighting to keep his eyes open as Elizabeth prattled on about something in a soft tone as she rocked him. We gonna play, Ralph yawned again, ball or what? He was so warm and with his belly full from Salisbury steak it was so hard to stay awake.

Aww iz dah babty sweepy Maxine said drifting down to Elizabeth’s shoulder as she stared at her brother tied up in the blanket.

Shut up Max, Ralph said in a grumpy tone.

“Daddy,” Elizabeth called out turning her upper body a little bit so that Jarred could see Maxine on her shoulder. She could see her Daddy talking with her grandparents but she had to show him who finally had come out. She had wanted to see the bat all night and Jarred promised it would happen. Now it was happening and her Daddy was talking away and not listening to her.

“Daddy,” she called out a bit more impatiently this time.

Guess I get to go hang with Dad Maxine said stretching her wings out some acting as if it was going to be a chore. It had been several weeks since she and Ralph decided instead of calling him Jarred they would refer to Alindor as Dad. He spent enough time with their mom to be a dad and both Maxine and Ralph loved Jarred.

No, Ralph grunted trying to get free to no avail. I cuddle up with him at bedtime. He’s mine, Ralph lowered his ears and slicked them to his head flat showing Maxine how unhappy he was with her saying she was going to get his time with their dad.

“Daddy,” Elizabeth snapped loudly feeling her frustration starting to build. “Look at me,” she demanded and then abruptly realized she did not want to finish her sentence. Jarred had told her several times that Maxine only came out when it was time for bed. The last thing wanted was for her Daddy to realize what time it actually was which was hours after her bedtime.

You sah nuuuu, Maxine started but immediately felt a hand grab her and then stuff her in a box from the shelf she was playing next to. If her daddy never saw Maxine, Elizabeth would not have to go to bed. Wait! What are you doing, Maxine flapped her wings clearly anger about being caged in some cardboard box.

Elizabeth had to react. It was ten o’clock and two hours after her bedtime. After making such a fuss about wanting him to look at her Elizabeth needed to do something to distract him. Oh were you going to say you snooze you lah hooozz Ralph tried to give his sister a snarky comeback but in mid-sentence Elizabeth had jerked him off the ground and was carrying him like a baby to Jarred.

“Shhh,” Elizabeth said walking up to Jarred and pretending the blanket bound fox was a baby instead of a wild animal. “He’s sleepy but don’t let him go,” Elizabeth said sternly to Jarred as she almost tossed Ralph into Jarred’s arms so that she could curl up on the couch next to him. Once on the couch, Elizabeth moved back so that she sunk into the soft cushions but leaned up against her daddy. Her legs were so short that they stuck out straight on the cushions instead of bending at the edge of the couch. Tapping her feet together in a move reminiscent from the Wizard of Oz, Elizabeth held out her arms and promptly told Jarred to give her back her baby.

Elizabeth Alindor