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]

"That's amazing, I've never been in something that old before. I mean, not like a house or anything." Sitting up, she watches him with bright, excited eyes. "I would love to see it, I bet you can just feel the history in it's walls!" For a moment she's silent, "You're family is very old, isn't it?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"How old is this house?" Though his power, vague as it can be, tells him its not as old as that house. "At home, there is a long history. My family records go back over 600 years. We came from the southern end of Japan; a lot of my family is in Osaka."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I don't know, maybe seventy years old, if that." She looks around, and then sighs, her head goes back to his chest, her other hand sliding up and down his sides. "Six hundred years old, that is amazing."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"We have been a rather insular country. It is part of the reason why people say we are telepathic. We have been brought up with similar backgrounds, similar methods. Parents teach their children who pass it to their children and so on. A lot of people accuse us of spoiling our children, but we do not use physical means to bring children in line."

He swings gently back and forth, holding her close. "Part of me wonders how Jonba would react to Japanese parenting. I assume you have never done anything more than paddled his bottom a little if he was being particularly bad."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Actually, I've never spanked him." Lifting her head, she looks at him and frowned a little bit. "I am too scared to hit him, that I'll go to far, or that he'll turn evil. No, we talk."

Her frown turns thoughtful as she put her face back into his shirt, shaking her head she wonders if that is the right thing to do.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

He nods. "That is what I would do. In that way he does not associate you with bad things. He understands why you are upset with him without anger. It is the best way to raise a child. I could never think of striking a child."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I am glad to hear that, I don't think you could ever hurt a child. Still, some people who look very good and kind sometimes do bad things." Reaching up she played with the dark hair that fell over his forehead. "I just worry that I'll get angry and hit him, that's why I talk about it."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"If you think before you do anything, you will not hit him. Hitting a child is a thoughtless gesture. And a child will not learn anything other than aggression from such an act." He smiles when she smoothes his hair back.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I know, Hiro-kun. I know." Her voice was soft, this wasn't something she wants to talk about. It's not something that makes her happy, and it's not worth being unhappy about. Instead, she leans up and kisses his mouth lightly.

"Do you love me?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"More than anything, sun goddess. You are the other half of my soul." He kisses her back. "Some time we should go to your private beach when the moon is full. You would look lovely in moonlight."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Lovely in the moonlight and in the sunlight," she teases. "Nuzzling his cheek she kisses up to his ear. "I would love to go to a beach with you, we can go down to the Nassau house. Warm weather, private beach, no one would be able to find us."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"You are just lovely - in the rain, the snow, the sun, the moon. Just say the word and we will go to Nassau. I love the beach." He squeezes her gently. "We could fish in the surf."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"You haven't seen me in the rain or snow, I could turn into a horrible beast." Grinning, she nods and kisses him once more. "After my birthday, before my dad gets out."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Oh you would be a beautiful snow bunny. I bet you would be the hit of the lobby." He kisses her back. "Ok, Nassau on the 9th."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Bunny, bunny," she shakes her butt and grins as she speaks. "I am seriously horrible at skiing, just to warn you. But Nassau on the 9th sounds perfect, there is no better way of getting over a hangover and the fact that I am going to be another year older."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"I am not very good at skiing myself. I usually like to go to the onsens."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"And what is a onsens my fuzzy little, usagi?"

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

An onsen is a hot spring. A lot of ski resorts at home have them. Of course, there are a lot of them at home.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"I would be more then happy to soak in an onsen instead of fling myself down a hill." She paused for a moment and then nodded. "But I want to be naked, and with you."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"Most onsens you do not wear clothes, or you wear very little. And we can always get a private on for us."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

A sly grin spread over her lips and she leans forward to lightly kiss his throat. Just two small kisses before she stops herself. Last thing she wants is to work herself up. "That sounds very nice, Hiro-kun."

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"I love onsens. It is like the beach, but with no sand. And there are the ones in caves."

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Sand just gets in various evil places." Giggling, she laid out against his chest and found his left hand. Kissing his ring finger she closes her eyes and sighs.

[powered-otaku.livejournal.com]

"That is quite true, especially when it gets caught in your suit for any length of time." He kisses the back of her hand gallantly.

[sweetsalome.livejournal.com]

"Well then just don't wear a suit!" Turning her head, she watches him and then beams at him. "I love you more then all the sand in all the beaches, in all the world."