John Baptiste. [powered_otaku]

[sweetsalome]

        It's one of those perfect summer days, one that isn't too hot, too humid. Right after a hard, cold rain, that cools everything down and leaves just enough moisture in the reserves for when the sun shines high over head. Salome's Grandparent's house sits on three acres of land, enough for a great back and front yard, but not enough to be considered country. Far back away from the road, it rests on top of a slight incline, that is just right for sledding when the snow falls in the winter. Two stories tall, it's painted white with blue shutters, that get repainted every two years, a task that her grandfather complains about, but always does proudly. There is a front porch and a back porch, maybe some years ago they were connected, but it seems someone had gotten rid of it years before.

On the back porch there is a swing, it's chain rusted and when it rocks back and forth it squeaks. Not an annoying squeak, but steady and simple, it's sound changing with the back and forth movements. It's one of the things on grandpa's to do list, but never seems to get done. There are four old apple trees a few feet away from the back porch, in the spring their leaves turn dark and about mid-summer the married couple talk at great length over what is the perfect time to pick the fruit. In the end, their largest issue is what to do with the apples they don't eat, turn into preserves, or bake into pies. The setting is idyllic, and for the most part, so is life in the Snyder house.

But like most things the exterior does not match the interior.  The Snyder's have an almost rabid hatred for anything to do with Liam Collins, and who can blame them?  The man took away their daughter, and through lengthy court custody battles, have left them with very little money to survive.  Despite the fact that they can't get a third year law student to look at their case, they still hold out hope that they will one day have their daughter back.  It's painfully obvious, and a weakness that is easily exploited.

       This morning, Salome and Jonba sit on the back porch with finger paints and large sheets of paper.  An old book with pictures of paintings sits propped up on the railing.  Salome is trying to convince the boy to make a painting like the vase of flowers in the book.  The boy needless to say is having none of it.  He is much happier smacking his multi-colored hands down on the paper, or just rubbing his chubby fingers around in circles in globs of paint.  Painting is just not a talent that the Collins possess, clearly.  It doesn't seem to matter, the boy is laughing and having a great time of it.

Comments

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I was not! I was completely innocent and you blew this wayyyy out of proportion." Laughing she takes the towel and dries her hair off quickly before squeezing out her shirt. She barely had time to drape the towel over her shoulder when Jonba darted out of house in just a diaper. Scooping him up, she blew a raspberry on his belly.

"Would you like some dry clothes, Mr. Hiro?" Gretchen asks, following after the escaping boy.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro smiles, watching Salome and Jonba. It is so obvious she loves her little boy that he can't help but be happy around them.

He bows a bit to Gretchen. "I do not want to be any trouble. I am fine."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

The little boy shrieks and kicks his feet before settling in Salome's arms. He sucks on his fingers and watches Hiro, even as Sal sits down on the porch swing.

Poor woman doesn't know how to react, so she bows in return. "It's no trouble, I was doing laundry anyway. The pants might be a little big, but they will work. I don't want you to get a cold."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"You are very kind," he says. "Thank you. Should I change in the bathroom?"

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Of course," she hands him a pair of jeans and blue plaid shirt before motioning to the house. "It's up the stairs and to the right."

Salome looked up, "I'll go with you, I need to change too." Setting Jonba down, she stood up.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

He bows to Gretchen as he takes the clothes. "Thank you again."

He follows Salome upstairs since she knows exactly where the bathroom is.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"In here," she pushed at the bathroom door and smiled. "If you need anything I'll be in my room," she pointed to the door next to the bathroom. Kissing his cheek, she grinned as she stepped into her bed room, already pulling off her top.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro pulls off his clothes rather haphazardly. Beyond keeping them clean and somewhat neat, Hiro has never been much of a clothes horse. He wraps everything in the towel, then pulls on the dry clothes. They definitely require him to roll up the sleeves and the pants legs. He dries his feet, but his sneakers are definitely soaked. He squeezes them out as much as possible, but they definitely will take some time to dry. He leaves them off as he pads over to Salome's room and knocks on the door. "Have you changed?"

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

She had put on a clean pair of shorts and a tank top when she heard the door. Picking up her wet clothes she gently drapes them over the window sill. Opening the door to him, she smiles and then giggles at the sight of him in her grandfather's clothes. "Very adorable, Hiro-kun."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Your grandfather must be a taller man than me." He holds out his arms, showing her where he's had to roll up the sleeves and pants. "My sneakers are soaked. I hope your grandmother does not mind bare feet."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Mmmhmm, he is very tall, and I don't think she'll mind bare feet. Just don't put them on the coffee table." Walking over to him, she wraps her arms around him and hugs him tightly, pressing her face to his shirt.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

He hugs her close. "Thank you for inviting me. And I will be good and not put my feet on the table." He grins. "We should get back to Jonba."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Thank you for coming, not many people meet my family." Pulling back, she kisses his cheek and then takes his hand to lead him down stairs. "Would you like to take him on a picnic, or have lunch here?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"We should have a picnic. I think being outside will be the best." He follows her down the stairs. It feels pretty strange to wander around in bare feet. He's done it at the house, but not in his apartment.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"He-woo!" Jonba charges from the kitchen holding Elmo in one hand and a book in the other. He flings himself at the older man and giggles happily. "Wead wif Elmo!"

"I'll take care of lunch, if you want to read with Jonba."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro picks him up, making sure that he has him and Elmo and the book. "Ok, I will read with Elmo. What are we reading?" He takes Jonba to the living room and sits on the couch.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

Jonba gives the book over to Hiro, it is the always classic If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. Snuggling back into Hiro's chest and arms, he holds Elmo and sucks on his fingers, waiting rather patiently for the story to start.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro opens the book.

"If you give a mouse a cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk. When you give him the glass of milk, he'll probably ask you for a straw..." Hiro begins. He continues to read to both of them, making sure that they can both see the pictures.

OOC: I've never seen this book before, but it looks so incredibly sweet!

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

It is one of Jonba's favorite books, it has been read to him about a half a million times and he never, ever tires of it. Leaning forward he points to the mouse, and the cookie naming each item. Not that he knows what they are, just that he's memorized them.

ooc: Oh it's adorable, I loved it growing up. There is also the great book, If you give a Moose a Muffin. Just as good.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"The mouse is very cute. How can you not give him a cookie?" He picks up where he left off, letting Jonba name things as they go and nodding when he names them correctly.

Of course, they didn't exist when I was a kid. Y'know, when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"He-woo like cookie?" Jonba liked cookies, at least, oh yeah, he liked cookies. In fact he chewed a bit more on his fingers at the thought of a cookie. "Jonba like cookie."

Well T-rexes weren't really big on the printing press.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I like cookies very much. My favorite is chocolate chip. What is your favorite?"

Naw, their arms were too short to work the presses very well.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Ne-nut utter." Or Peanut butter, to the trained ear. Putting his head on Hiro's shoulder, he smiled and patted the book. "Again!"

Salome pokes her head out from the kitchen, she had been listening to them silently for a few minutes. What she heard warms her heart and she knows that Hiro will make an excellent father for Jonba. At that moment, she loves him more.

"Almost ready for lunch, boys?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

Hiro goes back to the book. He has never read this story before, but it is very cute. Fortunately for him, the words aren't hard. Although his spoken English is a lot better, more complex things in writing sometimes throw him.

"I am starved! How about you?" He looks at Jonba.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Foood!" Jonba confirms that he too is hungry, it's the cookies, who wouldn't be hungry after watching that mouse eat cookies? He wiggles down off of Hiro's lap and takes a few stumbling steps before falling over. Grunting, he picks himself up and trots forward, not phased.

Salome offers Hiro a hand, grinning. "Did you enjoy Jonba's book?"