Marathon!

[mitochondriaaya]

Aya had trained faithfully, just like she promised (and despite her period starting a few months after that promise. Really? She didn't need that!). The weights had been added by about the second month of training and she was really, really proud of her stamina!

And the marathon they'd chosen as their first was coming up this weekend, with fund raising as done by Elcy...and yeah. "Don't tell me you have to cancel!" she said into the phone, pulling one foot up to stretch out her thighs. "Don't! I can't go and do this alone!"

Comments

[mitochondriaaya]

At least everyone knew the girl well enough to understand how young she was! They were happy to smile, chuckle, and move on!

Aya was...going to squeak when Dilan picked her up! Yep! Squeak and flail a little in panic as the ground went away! Oh. Wait. Dilan shoulder. Okay. "M'go home now?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yeah, monkey. We're going home now." Braig said, heading out to get the car open. Dilan briefly considered just cuddling Aya all the way home, but eventually tucked her into the back and buckled her up.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Good. M'tired and my legs hurt." She was waking up a little with the night air and the being tucked into the seat, hence coherency! Slow bliiiink..."Do you think mom planned this tonight so we'd have a reason to cut out early?!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"I dunno, maybe." Dilan said, also folding into a seat.

Braig pulled out and headed home, "I wouldn't be surprised. It's not really our kind of thing, and an excuse to get home early let you show up and be feted without having to stay out too late."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Elcy," she noted, firm and utterly factually, "is smart. And sneaky." She was so glad they hadn't skimped out on any of the formal touches! "No wonder you lean towards evil genius Braig!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Well, yeah. Mom's awesome." Braig said, "She says that Aunt Lenna was the evil one, though."

"It's true. Momma was wicked at her best."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Lenna was her stalking horse." Said with the utter clarity of the over-tired discovering the foundations of the universe!

[sliceitwithwind]

"Nah, you just don't remember momma." Dilan said with a sad sort of love. It didn't HURT to think about his mother anymore, but he missed her and sometimes it was hard to remember the good things.

"Yeah, monkey. She wasn't doing well by the time we got you."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Sorry," she apologized immediately. "And...sorry. Hard to get a license for monkeys in a personal home?" Eh? Trying to lighten the mood? A little?

"I remember she reamed the school! Dilan got that from her."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yeah." Dilan reached back to grab her hand, "It's okay! I like telling you about momma, when she was healthy. It's sharing."

"I bet the videos will show Aunt Lenna, too." Braig said.

[mitochondriaaya]

Aya leaned forward between the seats to touch the boys, smiling. "Yeah, I bet! And Aunt Lenna having to chase a baby Dilan around! My mom once said that there was a lot of unexpected running involved in having children." In a note in her cookbook; Aya didn't remember many things spoken by her mom!

[sliceitwithwind]

"Especially after Dilan." Braig said wryly, "I lost count of how many lizards I had to rescue...or failed to rescue!"

"Lizard is an important part of a baby Katzu's diet." Dilan said.

[mitochondriaaya]

"And an important part of learning hand-eye coordination!" Aya laughed. "But still. Lizard breath!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"It was adorable." Braig said, getting a half-swat from Dilan. It would have been a full swat, but Braig was driving.

[mitochondriaaya]

"I bet!" Aya grinned and reached forward to pet Dilan's shoulder. "I hope it's on tape! I want to see it!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Probably." Dilan said, huffing.

Braig laughed as he pulled into the house, "Want to be carried in, Aya?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"Hey! Adorable is a good thing! And I like seeing you guys being kids!" Aya unbuckled then thought about that one. She could probably walk but...stairs to their rooms. Ack. Staaaairs. "Yes?"

[sliceitwithwind]

It was Braig's turn to carry her. Sure, he wasn't quite as big as Dilan (by a long shot) but he could still manage one skinny thirteen year old.

Dilan got the doors, sighing with relief. "So tired."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Gotta take off the jewelry and box up the kimonos properly...then bed?" Aya offered, arms wrapped over Braig's shoulders. "And I feel kinda like an idiot for agreeing to marathon but I'd do it again." It just sucked after.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yeah." Braig tucked her head against his shoulder, "I'll get the jewellery and stuff, you just get into PJ's and I'll take care of the rest."

"It was fun, though." Dilan said, "Or, at least, I hope you liked it."

[mitochondriaaya]

"I had fun!" she agreed. "I really did! And it was fun to beat some people instead of being last..." which she thought she might have ended up as but...

Whimper?

"'Kay. Don't let me forget to brush my teeth?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"I won't." Braig promised. He set her down in the bedroom and knelt to get her geta off for her.

Dilan started stripping with a lot of stretching, his geta were left by the door.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Thanks." She wiggled her feet when her shoes came off then started working her obi and over robes free. "And my vitamins! I take vitamins when I wake up and when I go to bed now!"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Okay, do you want a glass of water or a glass of juice with them?" Braig asked as Dilan staggered into the bathroom to brush his own teeth.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Water," because it was mean to have juice around Dilan this late at night! "And..." and she was taking his chopsticks out and unbraiding his bun so his still damp hair could dry! "...there you go!"