Babysitting - Panther's Lair

Grace had gotten the toy chest ready, the dollhouse set up in the corner, an entire set of Disney films, and an entire bookshelf of kids books.

Now she waited, gleefully, for Jamie to drop the kid off for a few hours of alone time.  This was going to be fun.

The doorbell rang, right on time. Then it rang again. And again.

Clearly, Jamie was letting Rhiana ring the doorbell by herself.

Grace chuckled and opened the door, arms already out to catch the little mischievous munchkin.

"We seem t' be excited t' be spendin' time wi' Granny."

She giggled and jumped into Grace's arms, already turning around to wave to Jamie. Clearly, she was ready to be babysat.

"Aye. She's talked about nothing but for th' last day or two."

Grace chuckled and stepped forward to kiss Jamie's cheek.

"Well, I've been excited as well. Ye have fun, an' I'll do me best to work her through the sugar rush."

He tilted his head and looked at Rhiana.

"All right, lass. Give Da' a kiss." He leaned over to kiss the child on the top of the head, then kiss Grace on the cheek.

"I should nay be gone too long. An' nay givin' her too many sweets, aye?"

He grinned, then waved at them both as he headed toward his car. He paused mid-step.

"Will ye be needin' a car seat?"

Grace laughed.

"Boyo, ye ken tha' I have yet t' sit in th' driver's seat o' those infernal machines. We'll be staying here."

He laughed and nodded.

"Aye. Verra well. Have fun without me. But nay too much fun, aye?"

He winked and slid into the driver's seat, as the little girl's pudgy arms went around Grace's neck.

"Daddy's silly." She whispered conspiratorially to Grace ... which was more like she spoke in a normal tone of voice. But she tried.

Grace waved to Jamie and closed the door, chuckling.

"Aye, lassie. Ye're father be a silly man. Now, how 'bout we have some cookies, then I can show ye all th' new toys I got ye."

She giggled again and hugged Grace.

"Okay! But ... you know ... you don't have to buy me stuff. Daddy does it all the time, too."

Grace chuckled again as she carted the child into the kitchen, where a bag of chocolate chip cookies waited.

"Rhiana love, if ye are goin' t' be stayin' at me house more often, ye need toys. An' tis a Granny's job t' make sure ye have 'em. Tis also a pleasure t' see ye happy."

She laughed, but for a moment, her face had grown very serious.

"I know. I also know it makes Daddy happy if I'm four. And you." Her face was a bit eerie, her voice had grown deep with age beyond her years as she spoke. Her eyes, too, but she seemed to smile pleasantly enough.

"You don't have to do all this."

Grace nodded as she set the girl down on a tall chair placed at the kitchen island, near the bag of cookies.

"I ken tha', Rhiana. Ye are older than ye look, an' have seen much. If ye wish t' nay be treated as a four year old when we be alone, then so be it. But allow a Granny t' dote upon her grandson an' create th' illusion more completely for him?"

The child laughed, nodding slowly.

"Of course. I don't mind, you know. Growing up now, in this age, is better than when I was born. And he gets to play Daddy, and I get to grow up and know what it's like to have a Daddy. You just don't have to go out and buy me things. That's all."

Grace chuckled, leaning against the island.

"Aye, but it gives Medwyn such pleasure t' be me co-conspirator in buying everythin'. An' for wha' it be worth, I d' enjoy givin' ye th' childhood tha' was ripped from ye."

Grace chuckled again.

"Besides, wha' else am I goin' t' spend money on? Ye're father barely allows me t' spend me own money."

She laughed and reached for the cookies.

"I understand. It's fun to be four."

Grace laughed.

"Aye, tha' tis. An' I think ye'll have fun in a year or so, when I begin ye're warrior's training."

She laughed again.

"Daddy says I have to go to schoooool."

And she was back to four. Completely.

Grace chuckled and opened the bag of cookies.

"School will be good for ye. Ye'll make friends. Just try t' remember tha' ye're smarter than all o' 'em."

She giggled.

"Daddy says ... he says ... Kara has to be my teacher. That I can't go to real schoooool."

She pouted. Quite cute, actually.

Grace leaned her elbows on the table and held out a cookie to the girl.

"Aye, tha' be disappointin'. Ye wan' me t' talk t' him? Ye should have friends ye're own age."

She took the cookie with pudgy fingers ...

"Thank you, Granny."

Then she wrinkled her nose.

"Nah. Daddy says it's for the best. For everybody."

She chuckled and nodded.

"Aye. Ye've had a strange life up 'til now, and children will pick up on tha' better than adults will."

She giggled.

"Might be fun. Kara's nice."

She giggled too.

"Aye. An ye're warrior training will be well able t' fit in with wha'ever schedule she plans for ye."