Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Jan 30, 2007 17:30:17 GMT -5
After a hard day’s work, most people wished they could just go home and relax in peace and quiet. Sit down with a good book and not be disturbed for a couple of hours before they would sit down with their partner for a fabulously prepared, classy meal. Being a lawyer and working hard all day, most of the time that was all Brooklynn Pratt yearned for when she returned home. A stoke of luck had hit Brooke when she’d finished a case and was able to come home actually on time.
She however couldn’t plan for an evening like this and instead looked forward to some time with her kids alone. Being with them and Frank was great, but sometimes she liked them to herself. Dylan would talk to her more or perhaps even play outside with her. Dylan had recently developed a love of Quidditch thanks to his father and some of his school friends and that was fine….until the point that he wanted Brooke to take him up on a broom.
And just as expected, after picking the kids up from her mother’s, Brooke was in the garden with Dylan kicking a football around while she put Ana on the grass with Ange sat next to her as she proceeded to stroke down the small dog’s back. Poor Ange was flinching, but he remained still as Brooke turned to Dylan and rested her hands on her hips. “Show me what you’ve got then, son.” She said to him, as he kicked the ball towards her. Thankfully she’d changed into some trousers and a t-shirt that she was perfectly happy to get filthy. Her loose hair however was blocking her vision as the wind blew through it.
Brooke was unable to get a chance to kick the ball back to Dylan due to the large dog bounding out through the backdoor and straight towards the poor woman. Hearing a delighted screech from Ana and a loud onslaught of laughter from Dylan, Brooke was soon on the muddy ground with the dog lying on top of her licking her face with his large slobbery tongue. Groaning and feeling the horrible dog’s saliva on her skin, Brooke was concentrating and soon in the form of a cat as she pulled herself out from under the huge brute.
With the dog now watching the small ginger cat, Brooke headed towards the shed at the other end of the garden. Duke was then standing up and running after her as she scurried into it. Once the dog was in the shed, Brooke was running under his legs and out of the shed, quickly changing into her normal form and shutting the shed door. Dylan let out a loud groan from the other end of the garden and said something about being mean to the ‘doggy’ and Brooke simply shook her head and smiled. “He likes it in there, hon’.”
Dylan didn’t seem too bothered after a moment or two and was soon asking Brooke about taking him for a ride on a broom as she made her way back over to him. “Ask your father when he gets home. He might hover with you.” Yes, she didn’t want Frank taking their son too high, not with a high risk of him falling.
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Post by Natasha on Jan 30, 2007 17:53:53 GMT -5
Stretching behind his desk, Frank found himself looking to the pictures of his family as he tried to work. Seems weren’t sticking at all and he could tell he was overworked today. And the fact he was staring longer and longer at the picture of his beautiful wife made him realize he needed to get home. Maybe make some dinner before she got back…
Getting up, he sent the unfinished paperwork into a drawer that locked and a hex was put on it. The finished paperwork went into a nearby box he would have sent to Gabrielle for Monday. It being the weekend, Frank was looking forward to enjoying the time off with his wife and children. Maybe even a little vacation to the beach.
Smiling at that thought, he slipped into his light jacket and zipped it up halfway. Loosening up his tie and undoing the top button, he was ready to go home. Picking up his briefcase, some left over paperwork that he needed to get done before Monday packed in there, he left the office and locked it behind him, leaving his spells on it before heading out. Apparating home, Frank quickly rounded up the few toys still out front and sent them through the open door before stepping in behind them.
Closing the door softly, he set the briefcase aside, yawning and putting his wand in his pocket. Slipping his tie off, and hanging it up in the closet, he was about to take off his jacket when he heard laughter coming from outside. Frowning, he started walking that way, through the kitchen and to the back door. Staring in slight shock at Brooke playing football with Dylan, he shook his head. She was home?
Glancing at the clock, he was surprised to see it was early. Grinning wide, he walked outside and tried to tell Dylan to be quiet. However, before he got up behind Brooke to scare her, Ana saw him and let out a set of giggles accompanied with “daddy.” Frowning slightly, he sighed and gave Brooke a little pat on her bottom, smiling before kissing her cheek. “Hey gorgeous, you’re home early.”
Ana was pushing herself off the grass and Frank turned to accept her charge at his legs. Picking her up and tossing her in the air, he laughed with her before catching her, giving her a kiss. “And how’s my little demon doing?” Next thing he knew was Dylan giving him a hug before going into a tyrant of questions. Frowning and shaking his head, he put a hand on top of his son’s messy hair and laughed. “Slow down there, tiger.”
“Mom said to ask you if you will hover with me… on the broom, I want to fly, and she put Duke in the shed and said I had to wait for you to get here to ask you and then you were here.”
Staring down at his son, he wondered if he got the speed of talking from his mother… He did catch ‘Duke’ and ‘shed’ and looked up sharply at Brooke. She put him in there? Kissing Ana’s head, he set her back down before pushing past Dylan. “Yea, go get the brooms…” Off to the shed he went. Opening up the door, Duke bounded out and circled him before jumping up. Frank held him up and smirked before letting Duke push back down. Ana ran over after Frank, and Duke waited for her before running around some more. He was good with the children…
Picking up Ana, he walked back over to Brooke, the big dog following Frank obediently. “Brooklynn… Haven’t we discussed your… attitude towards Duke? I don’t put Ange in the shed, though he deserves it often enough.” Frowning, he handed his daughter over to his wife, glad that she started tugging at her hair. “What did he do that was so terrible?” Dylan brought over the broom from the shed, holding it up and waiting impatiently. Finally pulling his gaze from Brooke, he looked at Dylan.
“Well, hop on!” As Dylan straddled the broom, Frank got on behind him, one arm around his son, the other holding the broom. Frank knew of Brooke’s fears, but didn’t feel like listening to her at the moment. She was going to treat Duke like that? Lifting his son and him off the ground, Frank gave his wife one last glance before telling Dylan to hold on tight and guide them around the top of the house.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
Posts: 206
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Jan 31, 2007 2:32:53 GMT -5
Dylan’s mind sadly didn’t sway from flying and when Brooke heard Ana behind her giggle and say ‘Daddy’, Brooke span around to see Frank advancing on her. She smiled warmly at her husband. The smile however faltered when she had just remembered the damn dog was still in the shed. She’d planned on taking him out when he’d calmed down so Frank wouldn’t have been any the wiser.
“Hey gorgeous, you’re home early.”
“Bravo Holmes.” She said before giving him a kiss. “It’s more actually on time, though.” Grinning, she glanced down to see Ana stumbling towards Frank and him picking her up. She was a little hyper this evening and would definitely need to calm down to go to bed. Had she been having a lot of sugar at her Gran’s again?
“Mom said to ask you if you will hover with me… on the broom, I want to fly, and she put Duke in the shed and said I had to wait for you to get here to ask you and then you were here.”
It was at this moment that Brooke asked herself why she had kids. It was always the younger ones that wouldn’t know when to keep something quiet so they’d go and tell everyone. Brooke only wished Frank hadn’t caught that bit of what Dylan had said as their son was talking at a very quick speed. Brooke didn’t tend to struggle to understand him. But she did, after all, speak even faster than him and with a different accent. The look Frank gave Brooke however confirmed he had heard and she was about to face the consequences. “I wasn’t…” but Frank was telling Dylan to go and get the brooms, putting Ana down and heading towards the shed.
The dog was soon being let out of the shed and Brooke groaned, shifting her weight to her right leg and folding her arms. Thankfully however, when he started bounding around, he stayed well away from Brooke. Obviously not fancying another visit. She smirked briefly at that thought before Frank was once again advancing on her, a displeased look on his face.
“Brooklynn… Haven’t we discussed your… attitude towards Duke? I don’t put Ange in the shed, though he deserves it often enough.”
Brooke looked up, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “No, you torment him instead.” She said bluntly, not ready to have a stupid argument about what she’d done to simply calm the dog down. Well that’s what Frank needed to know anyway. She’d not meant to leave Duke in there for long. Brooke didn’t get a chance to say anything in her defence before Frank handed her Ana and she lifted her up, resting her on her left side, her arm underneath her. Then the child began to play with her hair, as ever.
“What did he do that was so terrible?”
Biting her lip, Brooke did a 360° turn to face Frank once more. Her back was covered in mud thanks to the fall and she felt it spoke for itself. But why not help the evidence along a bit? “He has too much energy. He’s been in there no longer than one minute and it was to calm him down. If he can knock me to the floor, what is he going to do to the children?” she said forcefully, pulling her wand from her pocket. “scourgify” she muttered the charm, pointing it at her back and the mud was gone. No point in leaving it there.
“Well, hop on!”
Brooke frowned as Dylan brought the broom and both he and his father climbed onto it. She somehow could see it ending in tears and could only really say, “Be careful”, due to the fact Frank was obviously not happy with her and not prepared to listen. Then they were off and Frank was taking him higher and higher and Brooke, no matter how much she tried to relax, was getting more and more worried. She wanted to look away and go into the house, but she couldn’t draw her eyes from the two on the broom. She’d always hated flying and she really didn’t fancy watching her son fall. Then again, Frank wouldn’t let their son fall.
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Post by Natasha on Jan 31, 2007 3:09:47 GMT -5
“Bravo Holmes… It’s more actually on time, though.”
Smiling, he shook his head. “So unlike you, I figured it was early.” Teasing her about her work hours was fun. Kissing her back before picking his daughter up, he wondered what was put in her juice. Then again, it could have been that everyone was home and together. She enjoyed spending time with both of her parents, and it was hard to say which one she seemed to prefer. Not important, of course… though his son chose who he preferred depending on the activity.
Speaking to Ana, gently rocking her in his arm, he smiled softly, “And what did Gran feed you, Ana? Spoonfuls of sugar to help the medicine go down?” What an odd thing to think… Frowning, he shook his head. Glancing at Brooke, he raised an eyebrow as if to ask ‘what is she on?’ Of course, then Dylan got in on his quick talking…
“I wasn’t…”
Frank was not up for hearing her excuse. To put him in the shed… she could have put him in the house, closed the door, left him tied up… Anything, but put him in the shed. Brooke knew he hated Duke to be left in there. He had a lot of energy, and needed to get it out somehow. Even as he thought of calming himself down, Frank wondered why it had to be the night they both got home ‘early.’
“No, you torment him instead.”
His eyes narrowed and he held up a hand. Instead of raising his voice, he kept it as calm and pleasant as possible, trying not to let the children notice the tension. “I torment Ange? You do the same thing to Duke. I don’t see how that justifies it.” It at least made him give her a satisfied smirk when Ana pulled on her hair. When she turned around, of course, Frank could see the mud that splattered her back. However, he didn’t get long to say anything before she was facing him once again.
“He has too much energy. He’s been in there no longer than one minute and it was to calm him down. If he can knock me to the floor, what is he going to do to the children?”
Gritting his teeth a moment, his hands clenched, he kept a smile on his lips so Dylan wouldn’t run back over and get upset over the argument. Or whatever disagreement was happening… “He knows the difference between a full grown adult and a child, Brooklynn. He knows to play gentle around them. You encourage him to be rough with you. And locking him up in the shed isn’t going to make him less energized. If anything, it’ll be worse.”
No longer than one minute? Calm him down… that made no sense. “Ange is more likely to take a hand off than Duke. Piss that dog off and you’re liable to have him permanently attached to your leg.” Then Dylan was back and he turned away from his wife. He was irritated, angry, and mad at himself for keeping the argument going. He heard Brooke tell them to be careful, but didn’t heed it much warning. He knew to be careful, and he’d show her if he had to.
The higher they went, the more Dylan laughed and turned and jumped and tightened his grip. Frank smiled softly as the breeze hit their face. It wasn’t too chilly, and it helped he still had on his light jacket. Dylan had his arms outstretched for a moment before a ‘wow’ escaped him and he gripped the broom handle once again. Laughing, Frank slowly started to descend slightly.
“Grip the broom, just like… there ya go.” Having moved one hand to help his son, Frank was glad that Dylan was getting the hang of it. “Now, we can’t be up here too long with mom knowing. So you take us down nice and gentle, and I’ll be here to help.” Dylan was so excited that he could hardly contain himself, talking fast and laughing and bouncing on the stick. Frank kept a firm arm around his waist, smiling softly at his son’s energy. Another thing Dylan got from his mom, it seemed.
Dylan took them down too quickly, and Frank nearly lost his grip on the broom. Grunting as Dylan let out a gasp, he pulled up on the broom and shook his head. “Dylan, try it once again, slowly this time. You have to descend… you have to go slow. If you go too fast you’ll throw us both off.” Dylan tried it again, and with a steady helping hand, they landed safely and slowly. Helping his son off the broom, Frank stood up and swung his leg off. Handing the broom back to Dylan, he patted his son on his shoulder and told him to put it up and clean up the toys in the yard.
Turning back to where Brooke was, Frank stood there a moment longer before advancing back towards the house. Walking past her, he went into the kitchen and opened the fridge, looking at what they could make for dinner. He didn’t want to talk to her quite yet, didn’t know what to say. Duke stayed close to him, nearly tripping him when Frank went to pull open the cabinets.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
Posts: 206
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Jan 31, 2007 11:50:57 GMT -5
“I torment Ange? You do the same thing to Duke. I don’t see how that justifies it.”
Frowning, Brooke just shook her head. She didn’t want another argument and thought it was best to just leave him to rave, then finish. Perhaps then he wouldn’t get so angry because he’ be getting no uproar from her. That wasn’t the way it normally went, but the kids were there and she didn’t want anything to happen in front of them. Ana was pulling on Brooke’s hair and Brooke simply lifted her hand up, grabbing Ana’s lightly and lowering it. “No, don’t do that to mummy, darling. That’s attached to my head and it hurts.” She said, ignoring her husband with the rising temper.
“He knows the difference between a full grown adult and a child, Brooklynn. He knows to play gentle around them. You encourage him to be rough with you. And locking him up in the shed isn’t going to make him less energized. If anything, it’ll be worse.”
There was his exaggerated use of her full name again. He always did that when he wasn’t happy. It was like he was telling off a small child. “I encourage him to…oh my god.” Brooke couldn’t quite manage to believe she was being accused of that. She didn’t do anything to encourage Duke. When he was in that sort of mood, she just wound him up. But could she honestly be blamed for that? “Cut the ‘holier than thou’ act dearest, it’s wearing thin.” Her voice as well was calm and showing no tension between the two. The last thing she wanted was Dylan coming over and being upset if they started a real argument.
“Ange is more likely to take a hand off than Duke. Piss that dog off and you’re liable to have him permanently attached to your leg.”
Rolling her eyes, Brooke smiled at Ana, showing that nothing was wrong. “The only person that dog attacks is you.” Ana was getting a little heavy on her arm and so Brooke lifted her up a bit, trying to get comfortable. “You antagonise him. In fact, you do all in your power to make him uncomfortable.” That was true and Brooke knew perfectly well what Frank did to the poor dog.
Brooke was cringing as the pair on the broom flew up higher and higher. Ana muttered something about a ‘drinkie’ and Brooke only smiled weakly and replied with an “In a minute”. She wanted to see them land safely and just as she turned her head away from Ana, the broom began to fall rather violently, leaving Brooke to let out a gasp and her face to loose colour. Quickly however Frank had stopped it and the broom instead began to lower slowly with a very windswept and happy looking Dylan climbing off when it landed.
Frank told him to clear up and walked straight past Brooke. She frowned and looked to her side at Ana, biting her lip. She could wait for Frank to come out and apologise for getting so irritated with her. Grabbing Ana with both hands on the sides of her waist, Brooke tossed her in the air, catching her and dropping her down to hang upside-down as the small child began to giggle and wave her arms around. Brooke then lifted her up, her arms stretching high and began to blow raspberries on Ana’s bare tummy. Ana was giggling even more now and Brooke then lowered her down, letting the young child calm down.
“Shall we go and see Daddy then?” she asked, letting Ana nod and with that, Brooke was holding Ana tightly once more and walking into the house, leaving Dylan to start playing with his football once more rather than clearing the garden as he’d been told. In the kitchen, Brooke avoided the large dog as she put her finger on her lips to tell their small daughter to be quiet. She sneaked up behind Frank and leant over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered in his ear before moving away and standing an arm length’s away from him, hoping he’d not go on about their previous ‘discussion’. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
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Post by Natasha on Feb 2, 2007 16:39:30 GMT -5
“No, don’t do that to mummy, darling. That’s attached to my head and it hurts.”
Frowning at Brooke as she ignored him, he figured that was her way of accepting what he was saying as correct. Watching Ana a moment, he was surprised Brooke was ignoring him. Normally she would have said something in response. But she was actually being a human being and keeping her temper in check. It was magnificent, and if he wasn’t so angry he might have congratulated her.
“I encourage him to…oh my god… Cut the ‘holier than thou’ act dearest, it’s wearing thin.”
There it was. He should have timed it. How long until Brooke got irritated and went off… “Amazing how short that took you, babe.” And then she tried to act as if she didn’t encourage Duke? That was laughable, but he wasn’t feeling in the mood to ‘laugh it up.’ Though if he did she might have gotten angrier.
“The only person that dog attacks is you… You antagonise him. In fact, you do all in your power to make him uncomfortable.”
“If he can attack one person, he can attack another.” Perhaps Frank was a bit harsh on the dog, but Ange had started it. The little runt… Crossing his arms, trying his best to keep a frown from his features, he watched as Brooke moved Ana around to get comfortable. “And you don’t do that to Duke? Kind of like calling the kettle black, isn’t it Brooke?” Yes, he did try to make Ange angry.
And now that he was back down and in the house, Frank was trying to think of how to piss off the little dog in a way that would irritate Brooke and leave him with all his fingers… He could hear the giggles coming from Ana, but kept his frown on his face as he opened another cabinet, staring at the pasta. Right… spaghetti would make a nice, easy meal. Pulling out the pasta and sauce, he set them aside while pulling his wand out. Leaning against the counter a moment, he thought about what he would need.
“I’m sorry.”
It was then he felt the kiss on the cheek. Turning around to face his wife, his expression was full of shock. He tried to hide it behind a poker face, but wasn’t handling it very well. She was apologizing? Brooke hardly ever did that without an arm being twisted behind her back… Perhaps he should be suspicious.
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
Now it was trying to figure out what she ‘shouldn’t have done.’ Perhaps she meant putting Duke in the shed? Frank could only hope. Letting out a slow breath, he waved the wand at the fridge, waiting as some ground meat came out. Sending it to a pot waiting on the stove, he set it to cooking while setting the wand on the kitchen counter, finally able to think of what to say. “No… Duke…” He couldn’t say Duke had it coming to him without condoning the shed. “I’m sorry I got upset. It’s good to see you home before the sun sets.”
Moving to her, Frank wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her lips. Blinking slightly as he pulled away, he reached up with his other hand and stopped the beating palm that had decided his stubble on his cheeks looked like something to slap. Something was always fascinating their little girl, and Frank much preferred when it was something that was on Brooke.
Holding on to Ana’s little hand, he pulled her slightly to him and kissed her as well, little kisses all over her face before pulling back. “Spaghetti sound okay for dinner, Brooke?” Turning his eyes back to his wife, he hadn’t yet noticed Dylan was still playing around outside instead of cleaning.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 3, 2007 16:29:12 GMT -5
Frank’s shocked face made Ana giggle and Brooke struggle to hold a smirk back. She didn’t blame him for being surprised. It normally took a lot for Brooke to apologise for anything, and even though she wasn’t really sorry about what she’d done, it was easier to say she was rather than continue with a petty argument about the large annoying mutt.
Brooke wanted to say something however when Frank ignored her and went about getting the food together. Was she invisible or something? She’d just apologised, he should have been applauding his wife or kissing her, not acting as if she’d not said a thing. Even after her second comment he said nothing and Brooke looked at their daughter, an eyebrow raised. “You can see me, right?” she asked her, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. Ana giggled and Brooke smiled warmly at her before lifting her up a bit.
“No… Duke… I’m sorry I got upset. It’s good to see you home before the sun sets.”
So Frank did actually have a voice and could see her? Brooke smiled and shook her head. “Yes well, sticking the dog in the shed wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. But I married you and I love you, not that dog.” She smirked and bit her lip. “I certainly don’t remember him being in the marriage contract.”
Frank then wrapped his arm around Brooke and she kissed him back, smirking against his lips as Ana started to beat her tiny palm against his face. He pulled back and she bit her lip, finally the little devil was focusing on something of her father’s for once. Frank kissed her and Brooke smiled as Ana giggled and fidgeted in her arms so Brooke had to hold her daughter closer.
“Spaghetti sound okay for dinner, Brooke?”
Shrugging, Brooke looked away from Ana and nodded. “Sure.” She muttered in response before heading towards the open back door to see Dylan kicking his ball and knocking over a plant pot. “Dylan,” she shouted out at him. “put that away and everything else you’ve had out. And if that pot is broken, you’ll be in trouble. I suggest you sort it out.” The young boy let out a succession of groans about how unfair it was to be him before he went about doing as he was told under the watchful eye of his mother that still stood in the doorway.
“Do you need a hand hun’?” Brooke asked, finally pulling away from the door and putting Ana in her highchair by the kitchen table and moving to the fridge. She poured a cup of juice for her before screwing the top on and giving her daughter the small plastic cup. Ana accepted eagerly before she went about pouring it into her mouth and making a mess. “How’s your day been?”
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Post by Natasha on Feb 7, 2007 2:18:35 GMT -5
“You can see me, right?”
Frowning slightly, Frank rolled his eyes. So he was having a hard time coming up with something to say to Brooke… did she expect him to jump for joy with her apology? He was still upset, and she apologized… So unlike her, he had to almost pinch himself to see if it was real. At least she kept Ana happy and giggly.
“Yes well, sticking the dog in the shed wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. But I married you and I love you, not that dog… I certainly don’t remember him being in the marriage contract.”
Raising an eyebrow at that, Frank titled his head as he glanced at Ana as if to confer with her. “Well, same goes for your pup.” He certainly spared no feelings for Ange… At least they were at least apologizing in a timely manner. Smiling softly as she kissed him back, he figured she enjoyed Ana giving him some painful love… “Yes, Ana, I feel you.” Shaking his head, he kissed her once more before glancing at Brooke. “You teaching her to attack me?”
“Sure.”
Nodding, Frank supposed she was preoccupied and couldn’t get super excited about his amazing spaghetti sauce he made. Life would go on… Moving over to the meat, he glanced in at it, stirring it slightly to see how pink it all still was. “I mean, unless you wanted to make something for dinner…” Grinning down at the meat, he thought over letting Brooke cook. Then he remembered where he was and rolled his eyes.
“Dylan… put that away and everything else you’ve had out. And if that pot is broken, you’ll be in trouble. I suggest you sort it out.”
Glancing out the window as he saw their son trudging around the yard, making a big show of how much fun it wasn’t, Frank merely shook his head and chuckled. “His attitude is kind of like yours, Brooke.” Picking up the wand, he sent water to start boiling on the stove top.
“Do you need a hand hun?”
His eyes went a little wide at her question. Frank almost said ‘no help from you is the best help in the kitchen,’ but thought that was too much. “No, Brooke… I’m sure you’ve got your hands full with the children.” That was a lot nicer way of saying ‘stay away from my dinner.’ French bread was sent to the oven to begin cooking while Brooke put Ana in her highchair.
“How’s your day been?”
Shrugging slightly, checking over the meat once more, he finally turned to watch as Ana decided that banging the cup on the top of the highchair seemed like more fun than drinking it. “Ah… It’s been very long. And I’ve missed you.” Resting against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, Frank watched Brooke a moment before glancing back at the meat once more.
“I couldn’t wait to get home… You still have all weekend off, right?” Turning an eager glance her way, Frank didn’t want to hear of any ‘sudden changes.’ He needed these two days. Just a little something, a little ‘get away’ before work again… Even with the children it would be better than staying near the school. “I mean, we are going to the beach, right?” His mother was planning on coming out to visit, and maybe even his sister and niece, if it was a sure thing.
Turning back to the meat, he sent it to rinse off before bringing it back to the stove. Dumping the tomato sauce in with the meat, Frank began adding his spices, a little pepper, a lot of garlic, and some oregano. Stirring it slowly, he watched it as it began to bubble slightly, waiting for some indication from his wife of what was up. “Ah, but how was your day, dear?” Dumping the noodles in the boiling water, it began to cook while he set the sauce to simmer.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
Posts: 206
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 7, 2007 12:24:02 GMT -5
“You teaching her to attack me?”
Laughing, Brooke shook her head. She didn’t need to do that, Ana had already set her mind on her target. A twinkle in her eye, Brooke thought about how she could see her daughter growing up to be like her. “You’re the teacher. So you’re the one that must have been teaching her. Must learn not to let your students turn on you however.” She winked and watched Ana as the small girl was still at least trying to go for her dad’s face again. “But maybe she’s trying to tell you something.” She added, running a spare hand over Frank’s now somewhat rough cheeks.
“I mean, unless you wanted to make something for dinner…”
Rolling her eyes, Brooke found that quite amusing. “Even if I wanted to you wouldn’t let me. But let’s rephrase that ‘sure’ with a…” at this Brooke put on a large fake smile and jumped up as she said “yes” with fake enthusiasm, “I would love spaghetti and I would also love a big kiss off my newly enthused husband.” Letting herself drop back down, Brooke heard Ana giggling from behind her. “You’ll be as mad as me when you grow up. Or worse, you could be like your father.” She said to the small girl as if Ana could understand just what she meant.
“His attitude is kind of like yours, Brooke.”
Of course Frank would say that. Brooke however happened to disagree. “The correct term is ‘like father like son’. I don’t come into the equation when it comes to moodiness. Have you ever seen me act even the slightest bit moody?” she paused and bit her lip. “Don’t answer that one.”
“No, Brooke… I’m sure you’ve got your hands full with the children.”
This was probably Frank’s caring way of saying ‘I don’t want to be poisoned’ or ‘I want the kitchen to remain free of fire’. Brooke couldn’t blame him and it made her smile. “Don’t want another fire. I can see that.” She muttered, turning to see Ana get somewhat bored of what was in the cup and more interested in what noises the cup made when slammed against something.
“Ah… It’s been very long. And I’ve missed you. I couldn’t wait to get home… You still have all weekend off, right? I mean, we are going to the beach, right?”
“Who wouldn’t miss me?” Brooke asked jokingly as she dropped herself into a chair near Ana’s high chair. “Hmm…well I’d have to be dragged into work kicking and screaming come the weekend.” She paused and made a face, having that image running through her mind. “I’m not going in. I refuse. So yes, the beach is on. Dylan will probably insist on a broom ride over the sea as well.” Yes, Brooke knew her son a bit too well at times. Him and his damn new interest. Well it was more an obsession for the energetic six year old boy.
“Ah, but how was your day, dear?”
Brooke smiled to herself before looking up from the table at her husband. “I got myself into a bit of trouble in court. Over doing it a bit. I really shouldn’t antagonise the witness quite so much.” Brooke couldn’t get rid of her smirk however. “But I won pretty easily. It was a quick case with an obvious verdict.”
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Post by Natasha on Feb 8, 2007 13:36:07 GMT -5
“You’re the teacher. So you’re the one that must have been teaching her. Must learn not to let your students turn on you however.”
Raising an eyebrow, Frank merely smiled. “Yes, she seems to grasp the teachings when she only has you to pull on. I’ll keep that in mind…” Something about Brooke’s hair and earrings made the perfect target for Ana’s curious hands. He couldn’t blame her, he loved running his fingers through Brooke’s hair.
“But maybe she’s trying to tell you something.”
Opening his mouth slightly as Brooke ran a hand over his stubble, he let out a breath. “You don’t like it?” Smiling, he shook his head. “Here I thought you would go for the scruffy guys.” Rubbing his own hand over some of it, he shrugged. He couldn’t help that it grew in before his day was over. He had let a beard grow out once, to the dislike of his wife, only to show himself that he could do it.
“Even if I wanted to you wouldn’t let me. But let’s rephrase that ‘sure’ with a… I would love spaghetti and I would also love a big kiss off my newly enthused husband.”
Laughing softly, Frank moved over and kissed Brooke’s cheek. Listening to the giggles coming from Ana, he glanced at his little princess in the highchair. “I think she’ll love the spaghetti as well…” Making a face at his daughter, he turned back to Brooke. Ana would be covered in sauce and noodles, there was no doubt. “A big kiss?” Moving to kiss her, he didn’t have a chance to make due before Brooke was talking again.
“You’ll be as mad as me when you grow up. Or worse, you could be like your father.”
Stopping from moving the space between them to finish the kiss, Frank made a noise. “Yes, then you’ll be stuck.” Pushing himself up and moving back to the dinner, he figured Brooke could search for the kiss if she wanted to. “It is worse being like me, Ana. You have to realize you’re the only sane adult and somehow live with that.” Grinning, he blew a kiss at his wife.
“The correct term is ‘like father like son’. I don’t come into the equation when it comes to moodiness. Have you ever seen me act even the slightest bit moody? … Don’t answer that one.”
Letting out a quick breath, he shook his head. “You come in the equation if we are talking Freud.” Smirking, he wasn’t going to go into any more. If he responded that she was just as moody as the next person, if not more so, he might be enjoying the comforts of the couch. Best to just nod and smile…
“Don’t want another fire. I can see that.”
Keeping his lips shut was the best medicine. Stirring the sauce slightly, he set it aside and went to check on the noodles. Glancing in the oven, he saw the French bread was cooking just fine. Leaning against the counter, he watched Brooke and Ana.
“Who wouldn’t miss me? Hmm…well I’d have to be dragged into work kicking and screaming come the weekend… I’m not going in. I refuse. So yes, the beach is on. Dylan will probably insist on a broom ride over the sea as well.”
As Brooke said she refused to go into work, Frank grinned. Sure, it wasn’t a sure thing… if something came up and she deemed it more important, she would probably go in. But it was something. Moving over to where she had so gracefully sat down, Frank wrapped his arms around her upper chest and leaned over her back, kissing her cheek. “Mm… Broom ride over the sea? There might be muggles.”
Kissing to her ear, he thought it over. “If we accidentally forget the broom, he can’t really say anything.” Dylan was becoming quite obsessed. He was possessive of anything that had to do with Quidditch and the broom, and dare anyone touch his things… There had been a night just a couple days before that Frank had set him down and talked to his son about the importance of sharing.
Frank would not accept Dylan blowing up at Ana because she tried to play with one of his Quidditch action figures. He had put those figures up for a day before giving them back after Dylan apologized and promised he wouldn’t do it again. Kissing Brooke’s cheek once more, he let go and moved back to the dinner.
“I got myself into a bit of trouble in court. Over doing it a bit. I really shouldn’t antagnoise the witness quite so much… But I won pretty easily. It was a quick case with an obvious verdict.”
Chuckling, Frank didn’t doubt Brooke got herself in to trouble. She was good at doing that… Nodding, he crossed his arms and rested against the counter, tilting his head while watching her. “You, over doing it a bit? No…” Grinning, he nodded as she stated her win. “Good, though. I wouldn’t doubt you won. You are amazing at your job, Brooke.” Duke came back over and jumped slightly at Frank, nearly making him stumble against the oven. Petting the top of his dog’s head, he turned back to see the noodles were done.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 8, 2007 16:43:48 GMT -5
“You don’t like it? Here I thought you would go for the scruffy guys.”
Biting her lip, Brooke slowly pulled her hand away from his cheek after a moment. “That’s not scruffy. A few birds could nest in that.” She said jokingly. Brooke still remembered Frank’s growing of the beard not so long ago. He had done it to prove a point, and Brooke had been on his back until he’d gotten rid of it after making him know she thought he looked like a caveman. “Anyway, I much prefer the scruffy guys that are younger than me.” She winked and gave Frank a quick kiss. She loved to just joke with him.
“A big kiss?”
Brooke had of course started to talk just as Frank had been about to kiss her. Playing with him was fun so she just grinned and began to play with her hair, twisting it around the fingers of her right hand.
“It is worse being like me, Ana. You have to realize you’re the only sane adult and somehow live with that.”
This made Brooke let out a small laugh before turning to her daughter, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. “See darling, Daddy already thinks he’s sane. But I’m not letting them take him away in a straight jacket just yet.” Frank deserved that comment and so she turned her head to face him and smiled sickeningly sweetly before winking.
“Mm… Broom ride over the sea? There might be muggles.”
Frank wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek while Brooke leaned back into his body and smiled up at him, moving her head so she could see his face just about. “Try explaining that to him.” Dylan didn’t understand what a muggle was. Well not properly. As far as he was concerned, everyone was like his parents and they used brooms and wands.
“If we accidentally forget the broom, he can’t really say anything.”
“He’ll watch you out of the house with it. Or carry it himself. There’s not chance we can accidentally forget it.” Brooke replied quickly. It was obvious what Dylan would do. His next stage would probably be demanding his own broom and that he can learn to fly himself. Brooke dreaded that as she hated Frank taking him up. It would be even worse Dylan being in control. “You’ll just have to tell him.”
“Good, though. I wouldn’t doubt you won. You are amazing at your job, Brooke.”
This caused Brooke to grin and shake her head. “I wouldn’t say that. I’m hated by a lot of people because of how ‘amazing’” she emphasised this word by using speech marks with her fingers, “I am at my job.” She paused and stood up. “You’re good at your job and I expect people actually like you. What was it one person called me? A heartless bitch that lets murderers onto the streets? One woman today said I was an unfit mother with what I do.” Those things said only normally made Brooke laugh in the faces of who said them, but they did happen to dig a little deep. “Fabulous at my job, aren’t I?”
She moved over to the cupboard and opened it, pulling down a couple of glasses. Moving to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of water, Brooke filled one of the glasses before looking up at Frank. “What do you want to drink?” she asked before taking a sip of the water. She’d been doing a lot of thinking about things and was soon going to be explaining the water and her thoughts. But for now, she hoped he wouldn’t really notice.
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Post by Natasha on Feb 9, 2007 2:22:17 GMT -5
“That’s not scruffy. A few birds could nest in that.”
Opening his mouth, Frank made a face as if to say ‘yea right.’ Frank had had enough facial hair where that joke could have had more impact. It was just that he hadn’t shaved that morning, and had had a five o’clock shadow to begin with. “A few… no.” It did remind him of the beard he had tried to grow, though, and he smiled at Brooke. He could do it again just to see her reaction again.
“Anyway, I much prefer the scruffy guys that are younger than me.”
Kissing her back, he rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Why younger? You get more experience the older you get… Perhaps it is because you just can’t handle me.” Smirking, he nodded and kissed her again. Stretching, he patted his stomach, nodding. “Yep… I’m just too good, so you look to those who would be less amazing, I understand.” They could talk like this in front of Ana because she wouldn’t remember.
“See darling, Daddy already thinks he’s sane. But I’m not letting them take him away in a straight jacket just yet.”
Shaking his head, leaning on the counter, he found the constant joking fun, keeping a light hearted attitude in the house most of the time. They both had stressful jobs, and it helped to not have a stressful home life. Or at least, more stressful than it had to be. Nodding at Ana, he ran his fingertips through his hair. “Exactly. I wouldn’t fit in your Mum’s, anyway. It’s fit to her petite size.”
“Try explaining that to him.”
Grunting, he shook his head while looking down at her. “I have… it didn’t work.” It was as if he couldn’t accept the fact that others didn’t know that flying on a broom was normal. He had attempted to use his mother and those around her to explain it, but it went in one ear and out the other. “Sometimes I think he has your attention span.” Smirking, Frank kissed Brooke softly before pulling back.
“He’ll watch you out of the house with it. Or carry it himself. There’s not chance we can accidentally forget it…You’ll just have to tell him.”
Shaking his head, he couldn’t believe she would dump this on him. “And let him be mad at me all weekend? Why? You tell him no to the broom all the time, what would another weekend be?” Frank didn’t want to deal with his moody and temperamental son. Dylan would throw a fit once he was told, and then carry on pouting for the rest of the weekend as if he couldn’t understand it was a no go situation. Besides, Frank didn’t want to tell him.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’m hated by a lot of people because of how ‘amazing’ I am at my job… You’re good at your job, and I expect people actually like you. What was it one person called me? A heartless bitch that lets murderers onto the streets? One woman today said I was an unfit mother with what I do… Fabulous at my job, aren’t I?”
Frowning slightly as she stood up, Frank watched her as she talked about the job as if she couldn’t stand it. The noodles were done… Sending them to empty into the cauldron, Frank walked up behind Brooke and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her. Resting his head on the top of hers, he kissed it gently and rocked with her in his arms. “First of all, you aren’t heartless.” Smiling, he squeezed her before continuing.
“You are the best mother I could think of to raise our children, and you work your ass off to make sure the law’s are held up to protect everyone… You’ve always explained it to me like that, and though some of those you help might not deserve it, they sure think you do an amazing job.” Letting he go so she could pull down a couple glasses, he moved back over to the noodles, putting them back in the pot to keep warm.
“What do you want to drink?”
Glancing back and opening his mouth, he frowned at the water Brooke was having. “Ah… I don’t care. Whatever…” Setting out the plates, he fixed Ana’s plate first, cutting up her noodles tiny and putting a big helping of tomato sauce on top of them. Because she enjoyed fruit, Frank sent a banana to cut itself. Even though it wasn’t something he would put together, she enjoyed it, and as long as they watched her to make sure she didn’t choke, she ate all her dinner.
“Do you want to fix your plate, Brooke?” He started on Dylan’s plate after setting Ana’s in front of her, letting her dig into the messy sauce before setting her plastic fork beside her. Cutting up Dylan’s noodles, he put extra sauce on his plate as well, along with a piece of the French bread. The salad he brought out from the refrigerator and gave his son a good serving of it, even though he complained about eating the ‘leaves’ sometimes.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 9, 2007 16:59:39 GMT -5
“Why younger? You get more experience the older you get… Perhaps it is because you just can’t handle me…Yep… I’m just too good, so you look to those who would be less amazing, I understand.”
Not quite believing what was being said; Brooke folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, looking at her husband as if he had lost it…if he’s ever had it. “So are you saying that I’m less amazing because I’m younger than you? I think that’s quite the opposite. The younger you are, the more energy you have and the more willing you are to try things.” Now she was considering tormenting Frank about his age. She was only a few years younger, but it made a difference to her.
“Exactly. I wouldn’t fit in your Mum’s, anyway. It’s fit to her petite size.”
Letting her lips form a grin, Brooke shook her head. “Don’t worry. We can get one specially made troll size.” She winked and glanced at Ana. The young child wasn’t even listening and Brooke wasn’t surprised that she took more interest in the cup. It was fun to talk like this however and Brooke knew he wouldn’t take what she said to heart. And besides, if he did, making up was even more fun.
“Sometimes I think he has your attention span.”
Before Brooke had been about to respond to that, Frank had kissed her and she smirked as he pulled back. “So all of his bad personality traits come from me, do they?” It was true that everything bad Dylan did got blamed on Brooke. ‘Oh look, his moods come from you’, ‘Aw, he gets his shortness from his mum’ and many other things had been said about Dylan. “There’s no chance he could’ve gotten them from you?”
“And let him be mad at me all weekend? Why? You tell him no to the broom all the time, what would another weekend be?”
A little startled, Brooke pulled away from Frank and stared up at him as if he’d grown an extra nose. “You big wimp.” She stated before fighting a small smile that was trying to creep onto her lips. “Yes, I always say no, but would it kill you for a little back up this time? I’m not being the evil parent while you get away unscathed, Mr Pratt.” She replied harshly. She was perfectly serious about this, though she couldn’t believe he actually seemed to think he’d get away with not letting Dylan down.
Soon Frank was moving up behind Brooke and he wrapped his arms around her. Brooke’s hands dropped down to rest on his arms and she rocked with him, enjoying the closeness. Yes, he did always tend to pick the perfect moment to move in on her.
“First of all, you aren’t heartless. You are the best mother I could think of to raise our children, and you work your ass off to make sure the law’s are held up to protect everyone… You’ve always explained it to me like that, and though some of those you help might not deserve it, they sure think you do an amazing job.”
This made Brooke feel a little better and she rested her head back on Frank’s shoulder. “Of course they do. I save them from a life behind bars or being sent away to Azkaban. They’d call anyone that saved them, amazing.” Then she turned around in Frank’s arms so she was facing him and pressing her body against his. “And if I’m such a great mother, perhaps you could break it to our son that he can’t fly around muggles. I’d hate for my image to be ruined” she winked and kissed Frank softly and slowly on the lips before pulling away from him and towards the cupboards.
“Ah… I don’t care. Whatever…”
“Wine it is then.” She replied quickly, heading to the wine holder on the other side of the kitchen. “Red? White? A mixture of both?” Before Frank could reply, Brooke pulled out a bottle of red and was moving back to the glass she’d left on the counter. Pulling out her wand, she muttered something and the cork flew out from the top and she caught it before flicking her wand and sending it to the bin. Another flick and the wine was poured only to allow Brooke to take another sip of water and frown.
“Do you want to fix your plate, Brooke?”
Brooke watched as Frank gave the food to Ana and she cringed, knowing just what a mess she’d make of it. “Can you do it? You’re just so good at it.” She winked and moved over to the back door. “I’ll get our own little Victor Krum inside.” She smiled before opening the door and spotting the young boy that was now sat at the end of the garden happily watching as the two dogs began to scrap in front of him. “Oi Monster! Food’s on the table and your sister will have it up the wall if you don’t get in here now.”
Dylan quickly got up and ran across the garden shouting something about being starving and his sister being in big trouble. Brooke smiled and shook her head before glancing at the dogs as they started to growl at each other. Ange could defend himself. Smiling, Brooke shut the door and turned to Frank. “There’s something missing.” She said, picking up the water. He’d see what she meant soon enough.
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Post by Natasha on Feb 10, 2007 4:23:44 GMT -5
“So are you saying that I’m less amazing because I’m younger than you? I think that’s quite the opposite. The younger you are, the more energy you have and the more willing you are to try things.”
Smirking, he shook his head, leaning against the island. “Women are better the younger they are, men are better the older they are.” Glancing at his hands, he sighed. “I thought you knew that.” Turning his attention back to her, though, he winked. “You telling me you are willing to try things? Like… say… tonight?” He could ask, but he couldn’t necessarily talk her into anything.
“Don’t worry. We can get one specially made troll size.”
Putting a hand to his chest, he made a shocked expression. “You don’t think that’s too small, do you dear?” Troll size… wasn’t she hilarious. And saying it all for his entertainment, it looked like. Ana wasn’t paying them any attention. Rolling his eyes, he smirked. “Only if you promise we’ll get it specially made…”
“So all of his bad personality traits come from me, do they? There’s no chance he could’ve gotten them from you?”
Laughing, he nodded at the first statement. “Of course they do, Brooke! Didn’t you know all the bad traits come from the mother’s genes?” His eyes sparkled as he thought over her next statement. “There might be a slight chance he got a little something from me, and that only made it worse… I mean, your mood mixed with whatever mood I might have… and you’d get a pretty moody child.” It was fun to joke about who got which bad traits from which parent.
“You big wimp… Yes, I always say no, but would it kill you for a little back up this time? I’m not being the evil parent while you get away unscathed, Mr Pratt.”
“It would kill me to be the evil parent… You play it so well.” Smiling in delight, he rubbed his hands together and glanced up and down his wife’s body. “And I always give you back up… I’ll stand behind and reinforce you saying ‘no.’ I promise…” He figured now that he had made such a deal about it, though, he would be forced to be the mean guy this weekend. He let out a soft sigh as he let it sink in.
While he was holding Brooke, and she rocked with him, it gave him time to think about things to do for the evening. After dinner would be time to get the children ready for bed, and then it was getting ready for the beach in the morning. Packing a bag or two as well as getting together all the swimming suits… As Brooke rested back against him, he closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet pleasure of holding her.
“Of course they do. I save them from a life behind bars or being sent away to Azkaban. They’d call anyone that saved them, amazing… And if I’m such a great mother, perhaps you could break it to your son that he can’t fly around muggles. I’d hate for my image to be ruined.”
As she turned around in his arms, Frank smiled and looked down at her. With her body pressing up against him, Frank licked his lips and pressed her gently against the counter. Then her statement about breaking the news to Dylan came up, and he groaned, shaking his head. Why did she think she could pull that on him? It wasn’t like she wasn’t used to telling Dylan no… It was more that Frank didn’t want to deal with his son’s attitude at the moment than wanting to make Brooke do it.
“Your image won’t be-” She silenced him with a kiss, and what could Frank do? He had to kiss her back. Moving one hand down her back to her waist, he parted her lips softly and just started getting into it when she pulled away. Damn her, she knew how to push his buttons. A deep breath later and he was trying to push away his thoughts and concentrate on dinner…
“Wine it is then… Red? White? A mixture of both?”
Laughing as she asked him what kind, he shrugged and glanced at her over his shoulder. However, Brooke seemed to have decided for him. “Can I say white now?” Smirking as the red wine was poured, he went back to fixing plates, humming softly under his breath to himself.
“Can you do it? You’re just so good at it… I’ll get our own little Victor Krum inside.”
Chuckling, he nodded. “Yes, I can… and don’t make his head much bigger than he’s all ready managed to get it…” Listening as Brooke called Dylan in, Frank pulled down two plates, putting noodles on both before covering them with the cause. Glancing at his wife’s backside for a moment, he frowned. “One piece of bread or two?”
Not waiting for an answer, he put one on each and then added salad to each plate. His desire for a cigarette started to heighten… something about eating always made him want a little smoke. Putting the rest of the bread into a little basket and sending it to the table with a flick of the wand, dinner was ready.
“There’s something missing.”
Both eyebrows rose as Frank reached the table. “Oh?” Setting his plate down next to Ana, since it was his turn to deal with her flying food, he tried to figure out what could be missing. “And what’s that?” Setting Brooke’s plate down next to him, he turned around and saw Dylan come in.
“Wash your hands first, boy…” Winking at his son, listening to him groan before stomping to the kitchen sink, Frank was ready for dinner… Pulling out the chair for his wife, he motioned for her to come over. “Dinner is served, mademoiselle.” He could be a gentleman when he wanted to be.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 10, 2007 16:35:31 GMT -5
“Women are better the younger they are, men are better the older they are. I thought you knew that. You telling me you are willing to try things? Like… say… tonight?”
This caused Brooke to laugh before moving closer to Frank and leaning on the worktop next to him. “I might be. But one thing…If women are better younger, you’re not suddenly going to go off me, when I’m older, and onto some tart half the age of you and with legs up to here?” she motioned to her chest. “Not going to leave this gorgeous woman for a cheap tacky model that cares only about your nonexistent fortune you told her about when you met her in the bar of Moonshine Mikes?”
Now Brooke’s mind began to wonder. “I mean, if you did, she’d have to be sexy…with a bit of class. Not too much, you’d have to be missing how amazing I am.” She paused and smirked, moving closer to her husband. “She wouldn’t be clever. She’d couldn’t be to be with you.” Winking, Brooke stopped, having realised just how much she had actually trailed off. Frank would be wondering what in the world she’d been going on about.
“There might be a slight chance he got a little something from me, and that only made it worse… I mean, your mood mixed with whatever mood I might have… and you’d get a pretty moody child.”
Rolling her eyes, Brooke wasn’t really surprised at what Frank said. Of course he’d say those things, he was just like that. Brooke however knew when to stop, or she liked to think that. So due to that fact, she had one simple thing to reply with, “Of course, darling.”
“It would kill me to be the evil parent… You play it so well. And I always give you back up… I’ll stand behind and reinforce you saying ‘no.’ I promise…”
“That’s fine,” Brooke quickly replied, moving over to Frank and kissing him softly on the lips before pulling away and looking him in the eyes and small smirk on her lips. “if you want to be sleeping alone for a week.” She winked and pulled back. He deserved that one. If he thought for one second that she’d let him get away with that, he was living on cloud cookoo land.
“Can I say white now?”
Raising and eyebrow, Brooke turned on the spot and pointed her wand at the wine rack. “You’d like me to add it to the red?” she asked, flicking her wand and a bottle of white came soaring towards her. “A bit…different, but if you’re sure.” She grinned but would however wait for a moment before opening the wine and wasting it. He’d pipe up pretty quickly.
“And what’s that?”
This was what Brooke had expected, and smiling, she folded her arms and watched Frank as he put the plates on the table. “You’ll find out soon enough.” She said bluntly before moving towards the table, letting Dylan push past her to only be told to wash his hands. Perhaps one day the boy would realise it was easiest to wash his hands to start with. “Hurry up, you want hot splodge, not cold gunk!” she called after him as he stomped off. Brooke always made comments about Frank’s cooking. It served him right for his comments.
“Dinner is served, mademoiselle.”
Moving over to the table, Brooke gave Frank a quick kiss before lowering herself in the chair. “Merci beacoup monsieur.” She replied, a small smile playing on her lips. “You of all people however should know I’m not a Mademoiselle, however.” Yes, she was married to him, she’d lost that title the day they’d married.
Dylan was soon trampling back into the kitchen and he sat himself down before quickly digging into the food. “Hold up a moment, son,” Brooke stopped him, leaning over. “I have a question for you.” She smirked and glanced quickly at Frank before her eyes flew back to the boy that now had a face covered in tomato sauce. “You don’t like daddy smoking, do you?” she asked calmly. Dylan glanced at his dad before looking down nervously, not saying anything. “Thought not.”
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Post by Natasha on Feb 11, 2007 1:20:30 GMT -5
“I might be. But one thing…If women are better younger, you’re not suddenly going to go off me, when I’m older, and onto some tart half the age of you and with legs up to here?”
What? Oh… god… Brooke was going that route? Opening his mouth to start in on her, Frank didn’t get a chance before she was continuing. Frowning, shaking his head slowly, he couldn’t believe she would take it that way. Or perhaps he should have expected it…
“-Not going to leave this gorgeous woman for a cheap tacky model that cares only about your nonexistent fortune you told her about when you met her in the bar of Moonshine Mikes?”
Staring at Brooke as if she had lost it, Frank blinked and tried to keep up with the ridiculous tale. Moonshine Mikes? He didn’t know of many models that would come from there. Then again, perhaps that was what was meant by the ‘cheap’ and ‘tacky’ part… Why would he ever want to leave her? But, yet again, she kept on trucking…
“-I mean, if you did, she’d have to be sexy…with a bit of class. Not too much, you’d have to be missing how amazing I am… She wouldn’t be clever. She’d couldn’t be to be with you.”
With her so near him, he couldn’t believe she kept up her little story. Rolling his eyes at her, he leaned on the counter as she moved closer to him. “No, Brooke… No one could compare to the beauty you have… And even if she had legs up to there, I wouldn’t be interested.” She always threw him curveballs.
Smirking, he moved up to her, pressing her gently against the island. Sliding his feet in between hers, he tried to push her legs apart, pushing himself in between them as he leaned against her. “You’ll always be younger than me, and I’ll always be older than you… So I wouldn’t go looking for another woman who I would have to teach all over again.”
Then he made a face and pulled back from Brooke a moment. “And she wouldn’t be clever to be with me? Now… isn’t that saying something about you?” Shaking his head, he laughed and tried to look mad. “Nonexistent fortune, as well? Man… I should let you do all the talking for me when I decide which tacky cheap model I want to pick up, dear.”
“That’s fine… If you want to be sleeping alone for a week.”
Kissing her back, Frank thought he had talked Brooke into it. His smile faltered slightly with her second statement. “You couldn’t last a week without me…” He wanted to add a question mark at the end of that statement, but left it as open and plain as possible. Damn, he would have to talk to Dylan after dinner, then… “Fine, but you get to clean up the garbage disposal over there-” nodding to the toddler in the highchair, he smiled.
“You’d like me to add it to the red? A bit…different, but if you’re sure.”
Shock registered on his face as the wand went past his face. Shaking his head quickly, he gripped his wand and forced the bottle back to his hands. “No… You’re funny, Brooke…” Putting the white wine bottle back in the rack, he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe she thought about opening the bottle. It was a good year, too… She had made the joke in the first place!
“You’ll find out soon enough… Hurry up, you want hot splodge, not cold gunk!”
And now Brooke was going to be secretive? Frowning at her when she called his food ‘splodge,’ Frank shook his head. “What will I find out? Can I have a hint?” When she moved to the table, he accepted the quick kiss from her as he helped push in her chair. Hot splodge… it was spaghetti, for crying out loud!
“Merci beacoup monsieur… You of all people however should know I’m not a Mademoiselle, however.”
Leaning down as she smiled, he kissed her ear softly and smiled against it. “I know a few things about you, Madame Pratt… Besides-” Standing back up, moving to the chair nearest his all ready orange faced daughter, Frank set himself. “I thought you liked being reminded how young and radiant you look… Madame just seems so… old. Your mom is called Madame.” Taking a sip of the red wine, he tried to keep his eyes focused on the drink.
“Hold up a moment, son… I have a question for you.”
Frowning a moment, Frank had all ready started twirling some of the spaghetti onto a fork. What was Brooke getting at? Waiting patiently for her to continue, taking the hint from the glance she gave him, he wondered what was so important to stop Dylan from eating the healthy dinner…
“You don’t like daddy smoking, do you?”
Groaning, Frank rolled his eyes. Taking the bite off the fork, he enjoyed it as Dylan looked at him. Shrugging, he all ready knew the answer. When Brooke said she didn’t think so, Frank shook his head and wiped his lips off with the napkin. “And was that necessary to bring up during dinner, Brooke?” Taking a sip of the wine, he moved back to the spaghetti, twirling more up onto the fork.
Eating that bite, he was in mid chew before he felt a cold piece of noodle slap his cheek. Glancing at his daughter, he saw her giggling and slamming her hands into the spaghetti. Reaching up with the napkin, he wiped the noodle and spaghetti from his face before trying to talk her into using a fork. That ended up on the floor… Gritting his teeth, he wanted a cigarette even more now.
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Brooklynn Pratt
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Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
Posts: 206
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 11, 2007 9:38:00 GMT -5
“No, Brooke… No one could compare to the beauty you have… And even if she had legs up to there, I wouldn’t be interested.”
Pouting, Brooke looked up and Frank. “Even if they were highly desirable legs? With a tan and everything.” she asked. She couldn’t be blamed for asking. She had confidence that Frank wouldn’t ever do anything like that, but it was interesting seeing his response to her mentions of it. Frank moving closer to her and pressing her against the counter caused Brooke to wrap her arms around Frank’s neck and smile up at him as he pushed his legs between hers.
“You’ll always be younger than me, and I’ll always be older than you… So I wouldn’t go looking for another woman who I would have to teach all over again.”
This caused Brooke to smirk as he pressed against her. “Well I’ve been well taught.” She muttered, and after a quick glance at Ana to ensure the child wasn’t paying attention, Brooke moved up and kissed Frank parting his lips before finally pulling back after a moment. "Every lesson counts."
“Nonexistent fortune, as well? Man… I should let you do all the talking for me when I decide which tacky cheap model I want to pick up, dear.”
Grinning widely, Brooke nodded. “You’d have them chasing you,” she paused and the innocent smile turned into more of a menacing smirk. “Pitchforks and wands raised, ready to kill.” Well she’d sort out just deserts if he ever decided that was a good idea.
“You couldn’t last a week without me… Fine, but you get to clean up the garbage disposal over there-”
With Frank’s first comment, Brooke raised an eyebrow and looked at him as if he was mad. “Is it nice in that world of yours?” she asked, smirking. Then he motioned to Ana and mentioned cleaning her up. “That’s a done deal.” She said, taking Frank’s hand and shaking it. A bit of food was better than being hated for the next hour until their son forgot about it and moved onto his next fad.
“What will I find out? Can I have a hint?”
Brooke paused for a moment as if she was thinking. She then dropped into the chair and looked up at Frank. “No.” she replied bluntly. She did however pull out her wand and summon both the glass of wine and the glass of water over to the table. Now there was a clue right in front of his face. He’d probably not even notice however.
“I know a few things about you, Madame Pratt… Besides- I thought you liked being reminded how young and radiant you look… Madame just seems so… old. Your mom is called Madame.”
This made Brooke smile and she let out a small laugh. “My mother is also called a vieille chienne folle.” Yes, Brooke remembered a lot of people during her childhood calling her mother a ‘mad old bitch’. Hopefully that would never be Brooke. “And I know how young and radiant I am. It’s not like I’m as old as you for Christ’s sake.” She bit her lip and looked down at her plate. The food did look appetising, but before she dug in, she knew what she had to do. She’d had it planned all day.
“And was that necessary to bring up during dinner, Brooke?”
“As a matter of fact, it ties in very nicely to what I mentioned being missing.” She said plainly, frowning at Frank. “So now I have a question for you.” She proceeded to spin some spaghetti around on her fork before looking up at her husband after a pause. “Could you…or rather would you, be prepared to last a week without smoking?” and with that she put the spaghetti in her mouth.
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Post by Natasha on Feb 14, 2007 17:24:45 GMT -5
“Even if they were highly desirable legs? With a tan and everything.”
Why was she continuing? Laughing, Frank nodded. “Even if.” Really, the longer the legs the more that got in the way. Brooke was perfect for him, anyway… “Why would I want tanned, long legs to deal with? It would just remind me how much I should get a little more sun.” Smirking, he shook his head. Sometimes, Brooke came up with the strangest ideas…
“Well I’ve been well taught… Every lesson counts.”
Moaning softly against her lips, he gripped her and pulled her body closer to him. It had been a very long and stressful day, and the thing that helped was coming home to his wife who was sweet, most of the time, and played with him. Smiling when she pulled away, he nodded. “Every lesson… You know, I think you should teach this one…” Kissing her lips, he smiled against them, slowly working his tongue over her soft lips. Perhaps she would take the reins.
“You’d have them chasing you… Pitchforks and wands raised, ready to kill.”
Smirking, he shook his head. “Of course.” His wife was so supportive… Her smile made him sigh. “You’re very sweet to think of me like that.” Kissing her lips slowly, Frank let his hands slowly slide down her back, gripping her thighs before pulling her to him. Even when she was threatening him with his life, she was beautiful.
“Is it nice in that world of yours?... That’s a done deal.”
Smirking, he nodded at her question. He much enjoyed his world, thank you… Then she shook his hand and he laughed. She must have forgotten the last time they had spaghetti and what a mess that had been… “Ok.” Besides, Frank had this idea that he knew he wouldn’t tell Brooke about. If he told Dylan that his mother said he had to talk to him, then it wouldn’t really be Frank’s fault… right?
“No.”
“Aw… but Brooke…” Smiling sweetly, he thought maybe he could tempt her into it. As the drinks came over, however, Frank merely sighed and supposed he could wait for whatever surprise she had cooking. Hopefully it was a lot more friendly than her normal cooking. No, what she did in the kitchen couldn’t be called ‘cooking,’ in Frank’s mind.
“My mother is also called a vieille chienne folle… and I know how young and radiant I am. It’s not like I’m as old as you for Christ’s sake.”
Raising an eyebrow at her laugh, Frank smirked and nodded. “Oh, thank god you’re not as old as me. Then I’d have to go looking for a woman with legs up to here.” Motioning with his hand around the top of Brooke’s head, he simple grinned. Rolling his eyes, he rolled some noodles onto his fork and took a bite. It was delicious, and he wondered why Brooke wasn’t eating. Chewing thoughtfully on his bite, Frank turned a questioning glance her way.
“As a matter of fact, it ties in very nicely to what I mentioned being missing… So now I have a question for you.”
Slowing his chewing down, Frank finally swallowed his bite and stared at Brooke. Oh? Wonderful… his smoking habits would be the topic of what was missing… Setting his fork down a moment, he wiped his lips off as she said she had a question for him. “Mmhm?” Now he was slightly worried about what she would be asking, but figured he could wait for it.
“Could you…or rather would you, be prepared to last a week without smoking?”
Staring at his wife as she took a bite, Frank wondered why this was being brought up. “Why would I want to do that?” Now he was worried about what she was getting at. Tapping his fork against the plate, he bit his lip. “Is there a particular reason, Brooke?” His son was watching intently while putting food into his mouth. Even Ana could tell there was some tension.
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Brooklynn Pratt
Global Moderator
Muggle Studies Teacher, Cat Animagus, Global Mod
Posts: 206
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Post by Brooklynn Pratt on Feb 16, 2007 4:29:00 GMT -5
“Every lesson… You know, I think you should teach this one…”
Brooke smirked and glanced to her side. “But we’ve got a detainee sitting in on the lesson.” She said quietly, tilting her head towards Ana. “Pity she couldn’t truant today.” She winked and smirked. “I’m sure you can be patient.” Brooke added before kissing Frank’s lips softly and pulling away. She didn’t feel comfortable doing anything in front of the children. Kissing was fine, but Brooke was unsure occasionally. Dylan certainly didn’t approve of it and would always make a big deal out of how ‘icky’ it was.
“Oh, thank god you’re not as old as me. Then I’d have to go looking for a woman with legs up to here.”
Rolling her eyes, Brooke smirked. She admitted that she’d started it, but it didn’t mean Frank should carry on. “Oh I’m so glad that is all that keeps me in your life. It wouldn’t be the kids and your love would it?” she replied sarcastically to her husband. “Heaven forbid it should be that.”
“Why would I want to do that? Is there a particular reason, Brooke?”
Why would Frank not simply answer her question so she could move on? Taking in a long breath, Brooke put her fork down and leaned back in the chair, surveying her husband as some spaghetti flew his way. “I’ll take that as a ‘I’ll do anything for you, dear’” With that, Brooke glanced at her son and frowned. He was staring intently at Frank and even Ana had ceased her muttering and murmurs to herself as some spaghetti dropped from the high chair to the floor.
“I’d do anything for you as well.” She finally said, looking back at her husband. “But anything comes with a few agreements.” Pausing, Brooke leaned forward once more and began to twirl some spaghetti around her fork. “For a great thing, you have to lose a few things.” She turned her body so it looked as if she was confiding in Frank. “Call them your…heroic sacrifices.” There, beef the idea up a little by telling him how he’d be looked upon as a hero. Brooke probably still made very little sense, but she could carry on a little longer.
“For example, I sacrificed everything for Dylan and Ana,” she smiled at Dylan as he shoved some spaghetti in his mouth. “What did you sacrifice? A couple of months with your fabulous wife for a moody, snappy version? I went through hell those times and what was your biggest worry? Making sure you put iceberg lettuce on my sandwich instead of that heart shaped stuff? I mean, shall I go into detail about every little thing that made things hell, or do you think you have a big enough picture?” Did Brooklynn even know what she was getting at? “I mean, I’ve never been the same since my pregnancies.”
Sighing and after taking a bite of the spaghetti and chewing it, Brooke finally carried on slowly this time as she looked down at her plate. “And now I feel so guilty about asking you to sacrifice something you don’t need for a week, just to see if you can. It’s more of a test of will power though isn’t it, really? I guess you’re too weak to have it...” she shrugged and put some more spaghetti in her mouth. Perhaps if she did make him feel somewhat inferior, he’d overcome his stupid habit and at least try it. Didn’t he realise there was something he wanted in it for him?
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Post by Natasha on Feb 16, 2007 5:18:13 GMT -5
“But we’ve got a detainee sitting in on the lesson… Pity she couldn’t truant today… I’m sure you can be patient.”
Raising an eyebrow and smirking as he glanced towards Ana. “She won’t remember.” Turning his attention back to his wife, he gently pressed up against her again, kissing her back before trying harder to get her to consent. “I will turn her highchair around, if that helps…” Grinning wide, he knew what she meant by patient, and didn’t want to wait. “Besides… it’s much like the time she was in the bassinet in the bedroom.” Arguably, she had also been an infant at the time…
“Oh I’m so glad that is all that keeps me in your life. It wouldn’t be the kids and your love would it? Heaven forbid it should be that.”
Shaking his head at her question, he tried to appear innocent, his eyes twinkling. “Of course not. It’s the age, dear, and the fact you are so beautiful.” Rolling his own eyes, he took in a slow breath and let it out quickly. “Heaven forbid.” Kissing her gently, he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe she’d say that. “Of course it’s because I love you and the children. I don’t think Dylan would make it to middle school if I wasn’t here; you’d have murdered him long before he made it.”
“I’ll take that as a ‘I’ll do anything for you, dear”
Suddenly Frank wasn’t so sure about dinner as a family. Nodding slowly, his appetite was slowly weaning away. “You can take it as you want, Brooke…” What was she getting at, and why did she have to get at it right then? Scratching his cheek, Frank leaned against the table while watching her. When another piece of spaghetti hit his cheek, he glanced at Ana and gave her a stern look. All she did was laugh…
“I’ll do anything for you as well… But anything comes with a few agreements… For a great thing, you have to lose a few things… Call them your…heroic sacrifices.”
Watching his wife once again, frowning as she twirled some spaghetti, he wasn’t sure if she was getting at something specific… Or just stating things to use against him later. “Right…” For a great thing? What would be considered great? And why was Brooke skirting the issue? Picking up his own fork, he tried to find some appetite while spinning the tips of the fork in the spaghetti. And what did she think she was getting at with mentioning ‘heroic’ sacrifices?
“For example, I sacrificed everything for Dylan and Ana… What did you sacrifice? A couple of months with your fabulous wife for a moody, snappy version? I went through hell those times and what was your biggest worry? Making sure you put iceberg lettuce on my sandwich instead of that heart shaped stuff? I mean, shall I go into detail about every little thing that made things hell, or do you think you have a big enough picture?”
Leaning back in his chair, Frank blinked while listening to Brooke go on. Sharing a look with his son, Frank wondered if excusing himself and Brooke from the table would cause her to leave the children to eat. However, he much preferred being next to Ana while she ate, just in case something didn’t go down right. Of course, she had to mention the lettuce escapade…
That was the biggest load of bullsh*t he had to deal with during her pregnancy. He still was afraid to buy the heart shaped kind in case she blew up at him and threw it around the kitchen like she did when he had ‘accidentally’ purchased the wrong kind. “Okay, Brooke… but what is your point of bringing up your lists of hell? And over dinner?” Gently tapping his fork against the spaghetti noodles, he finally started to twist them up, taking a bite.
“I mean, I’ve never been the same since my pregnancies.”
Nearly choking on his bite, Frank picked up his wine and took a sip to help the wiry noodles go down. Patting his chest, he frowned and turned a sharp glare to his wife. “Okay?” Why in the hell was she bringing these things up? He could tell Dylan was losing interest in the conversation and his dinner. At least their son was nearly done with his plate.
“And now I feel so guilty about asking you to sacrifice something you don’t need for a week, just to see if you can. It’s more of a test of will power though isn’t it, really? I guess you’re too weak to have it…”
This was just a fancy way of saying what she had said in the first place… Ana was playing in her food, and Dylan was intent on the discussion as soon as he heard ‘you’re too weak.’ Rubbing his left hand over his mouth, trying to decide how to best respond, he finally turned his attention to Dylan. “Son… go run upstairs and get my wallet, will you?” The protesting was about to begin before he gave him a sharp look. “Now.”
While Dylan stomped up the stairs, Frank finally turned back to Brooke, leaning forward. “What are you getting at, dear? You want me to not smoke for a week? I can do that. But you need to tell me why I’d bother, babe.” Did she need to bring it up during dinner? Rolling some more noodles around his fork, Frank put the bite in his mouth before chewing on it. Dylan came scrambling down the stairs complaining he couldn’t find his dad’s wallet.
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