Just Another Day In Paradise (Rachel)

[Rachel Kells]

Rachel grinned at Jesse She was glad to be called sweet, and she knew that Jesse was sweet too. If he had Gambit then he was automatically sweet. No matter what anyone else tried to convince her of. "You're welcome!" She was sure that someone at least was looking out for the older boy. If there wasn't anyone, well then she herself would do it!

"Who said I was getting myself into trouble? I came to play on the swings, I even asked the neighbor!" Frowning at her father she shook her head. "Its not my fault you aren't ever home!" Hopefully he would get the memo. "Besides! Jesse is nice! He let me pet his dog!" why couldn't her father ever be friendly? He was always pouting and didn't socialize. Mom always said that much at least.

"If you aren't a bully, stop acting like one!" Rachel shook her head and puffed out her cheeks at her father. Anyone else might have thought she resembled a squirrel, and instead she turned around and crossed her arms, going into full on tantrum mode. "You never give people a chance to be nice!"

He couldn't fault that much of her words at least.

Rachel gave a grin and looked towards her new found friend. "Oh psh you didn't cause any trouble. Daddy was the one who caused all the trouble." Whose fault do you think it was that she was here in the first place. Turning back around to face her father Rachel shook her head. "Stop being a poo." Yes everyone. Rachel just called her dad a poo.

Her stern face wavered when the dog went up to her father. Soon she was bursting out in giggles as the dog sniffed, and investigated her dad. Dogs were funny and Gambit was adorable. Plus the look on her dad's face was funny. When Jesse said he had to go though... Rachel got a bit sad. "Really? Do you really have to go?" She looked down at the ground, shuffling her feet. "Sorry... I didn't mean to cause you any harm."

Now Nick has to deal with a temper tantrum and a sad little girl. I wish you luck.

[Nicholas Kells]

Although at this point Nick could have probably used Jesse’s help in keeping his daughter in line, he would have defiantly not only taken it the wrong way, but he would have taken offense in Jesse’s assumption that he needed helping with is own daughter.

After this was over, Nick was going to be having a nice long talk with Rachel’s mother. His daughter had reached an age where tantrums like these were completely uncalled for. Of course, he placed none of the blame on his sweet princess. It had to be the fault of his ex. He was sure she was a lovely mother, but she had never been known for her skill when it came to discipline. Hopefully Rachel would start to learn the respect and manners that someone of her age should have once she had spent some more time with her father.

Looking down at the young man’s dog, Nick frowned for a moment. Just what he needed on top of everything else, some dog slobbering all over his pants. Not that Nick had anything against dogs usually, but he wasn’t really in that great of a mood at the moment. Still, Jesse’s short command with the dog and the fact that the young man was still addressing him as “sir” couldn’t help. And as for the smoke smell, Nick was a bit preoccupied with his daughter to notice it at the moment, but it would probably come to him that night that he had smelled it.

“Yes,” he said, agreeing with Jesse. “We wouldn’t want to keep you from your school work.” He knew a lame excuse when he heard one, but since he needed a reason to get him and his daughter back home where he could talk to her one-on-one and then figure out just what to think of this Jesse character.

Filing the ‘poo’ comment away for later discussion, Nick once again reached for his daughter’s hand. “I think Jesse is right sweetheart. We should let him get going. Perhaps he can come over to visit again sometime.”

Sure it was a bribe, but if Jesse could show his daughter a bit of good manners, while under his watchful eye of course, then perhaps it really would be a good thing.

((wrap?))