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Anna smiled, "i've always wanted a big family, themore the merrier i say!" she laughed as they were led to their table. "us? oh, nothing terribly new. Tarte's mother is heading a pastry competition that she wants us to participate in. we can't decide if we would work together or as competitors, though."

Tarte grinned, "if we worked together we'd win without a question. so, do we make it more fair and a bit more fun if we apply separately is our current topic of discussion. what do you ladies think?"

Daren hadn't known about the competition. they were in the middle of deciding such an important thing and here he was making them take care of him like a child. he sat at the end of the table, Taiga and Tetsu sat next to him with Hanna next to them. Anna and Tarte sat on the other side of the table, Yuki and Ame next to them and Tim's moms across sitting on Hanna's other side. they'd sat leaving the only spot for Tim directly across from Daren and he had a feeling it was on purpose.

Anna nodded, "We were leaning more towards doing it seperatly. adds more flavor to the mix." she lifted an eyebrow at Rachel, "you know, i would need a couple assistants. you would be more than welcome to be one, if you want."

Tarte grinned, "then does that mean i get Amanda?"

Daren smiled a little, "i guess so," he looked at Amanda and Rachel before looking back down. he was glad to be on the children's side if it meant he didn't have to face them any more than necessary. "I usually get their pea pod beef, though i really like their sweet and sour as well."

Anna laughed, "it's a deal! don't worry, we both sleep with the enemy, but our hearts shall be on the battle field."

Tarte smirked, "feel free to come and get as many free lessons as you like. you too, Rachel. come to our kitchen whenever we are closed and we'll give you as much instruction as you like."

Anna nodded, "please do!"

Daren nodded, "That sounds like a good idea. then you can have leftovers as well, unless you can eat all of that." he lifted an eyebrow, "think you can? i think you might be able to out eat me anymore."

Taiga looked up at Tim, "i bet i can eat more than both of you!"

Tetsu shook his head, "me."

Anna nodded, "Then it is set! we will sign up and email you both the information." she clapped her hands, excited, "this is going to be fun! we'll have to figure out what the winner gets when there aren't young earss around." her eyes sparkled and Tarte groaned.

"We have to win now, Amanda. last time i lost to her i-" he glanced at the kids, "i was the S to her M." he gave her a pointed look, but showed that he actually had enjoyed that with a tiny smile.

Taiga frowned and thought hard, he didn't have twenty dollars...but if he ate just enough to bet Tim then he wouldn't have to worry about it! "Deal!"

Daren lifted an eyebrow, "if you make yourselves sick, both your mothers won't be too happy with you." the waitress came to take their orders and he got his usual.

Anna ordered enough food to feed her army and then some, always wanting to make sure there was more than enough for everyone, including the four adults that weren't her children.

They spent the rest of the meal teasingly hinting at what they would do if they won in ways that the children wouldn't understand. Anna talked more than she ate and Tarte ate too much, so everything was the same as always. Anna pulled out her wallet to pay, humming happily at the pile of left overs she was going to force Daren and Tim to take home.

Daren watched the two, grinning to himself. Taiga stuffed himself silly, but he stopped when he was full, which was good. all the same, the boy ate two and a half plates of food. "that or you will get fat. good thing you run around so much." he shook his head and pulled out his wallet to pay. he'd eaten about half his food, which was more than he'd been eating lately so Anna couldn't complain.

"All right!" Taiga accepted the twenty dollars with a grin, "now i can buy Yuki a present too!"

Shook her head, "you really helped us decide what we were going to do, so we owed you. dinner is more than equivalent to not having to spend another week deciding."

Daren's head perked up at Amanda's words, "you paid?" he asked Anna and she just smiled at him. "I could-" but he knew she would just turn down any offer to pay her back, "fine, but i get to babysit during the competition."

Tarte lifted an eyebrow, "wasn't sure if you heard that or not. we were planning on inviting you and Tim to take the kids and watch."

Daren smiled, "not much misses me, i maybe be temporarily retired, but that doesn't mean i can't listen to what's going on around me. i'd be happy to, but it's up to Tim if he wants to or not."

Taiga was bust putting his money in his pocket, "i want to go!"

Tetsu shook his head, "you don't even know what they are talking about."

Taiga glared at his brother, "i still want to go! if Tim and Daren and mom and dad and grandmas are going, i want to go too!"

Anna nodded, "well, then it is decided. we'll get the tickets so you all can witness the battle royal!" she got up and put the left overs in two different bags before pushing one into both Daren and Tim's hands, "no refusing! this is payment for baysitting." she winked before stretching, "alrighty kids, time to go home! we've menus to plan!"

Taiga grinned, "ha! i get to go, so there!" he got off the chair and hugged first Tim than Daren, Tetsu following after to hug as well. "See you soon!" they followed after their parents, holding hands, as happy as they could be.

Daren shook his head a little, "can't win against her. i'll appreciate the help, Tim. they are excited now, but come the second or third round of the competition they'll be bored as hell."