Welcome to Gaia! ::

Shiri glanced once more at the hugging pair or children then slowly slid his hand down his face. Yup. Tanz was going to try to bring this one home. Looking once more at the women in front of him Shiri smiled.

“Would you mind if I gave you my number and where I work?” Shiri wrestled around in his bag for a piece of paper. “Incase your son wants to come hang out with Tanz again?” Shiri scowled as the only note pad he could find was already full of Tanz’s scribbles and furry animal adventures.

Tanz had never felt this happy. His feet wanted to twitch, he wanted to get up and dance. But he knew that if he did that he would have to get go of Tak and that was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

“Mm not sad.” Tanz hiccupped. “You just mad me so happy.” Sitting up Tanz wiped his nose but immediately grabbed onto Tak’s hand. Now that they were friends Tanz would always hold onto him.

Looking back at his dad he smiled so hard his cheeks hurt. Maybe now would be a good time to ask if Takan could come with them, but Shiri told him it was rude to ask that…

Shiri smiled awkwardly and took the slip of paper. “Here, let me give you the address of the café I work at so you could drop Takan off after you finish work? I work the late shift tonight so they will have to entertain themselves until we close up.” Shiri rambled as he tore off a piece of the paper and wrote the café name and address.

Tanz just sat quietly humming to himself as he watched the grown ups talk. He didn’t realize what a ‘sleep over’ was until his father started talking about his work schedule for the night. His eyes widened as he wiped away the last of his sniffles and turned to Takan, his new friend, sitting right next to him.

“Do you wanna come play at my house?” Tanz hoped it would be alright, he really wanted to stay around Tak for a little longer before having to say goodbye. “We can watch movies and dad might let us build some sugar castles at the restaurant and I promise it will be a lot of fun!”

Tanz was almost bouncing he was so excited. He just wanted Takan to be happy too.

Shiri smiled and looked back at his kid. He needed to get back to the restaurant, but he could stay here a little longer. For his sons sake.

Tanz smiled widely at his friends small smile. “Yeah! Dad said it was okay-“ Tanz paused for a moment and smiled sheeply. “You won’t get to see my house firstest, since we won’t go there until late. But you will get to see the café and my table!” Tanz was almost vibrating with excitement. He had the strangest urge to go home and clean, but he had no idea why. Shiri always kept it nice so there shouldn’t be a reason for him to want it to look nicer.

Shiri glanced down at the paper work and tried not to feel too lost. “Do I need to sign anywhere?” He tried to communicate that he was completely inept at paper work through the embarrassed smile wore.

“You think that would be more fun?” Tanz asked confused and excited. “I spend most of my time downstairs in the restaurant so I know it top to bottom.” Nodding Tanz wiggled his fingers as well, giggling at the weird feeling. “We can stay up as late as we want, but Dad usually goes to bed as soon as we go upstairs. And we will probably have to wake him up in the morning. Since Neil is staying with Otto tonight.” Tanz said trying to figure out what they could do at his house.

“Do you like watching movies?” Tanz asked scratching his nose. It always itched when he was nervous.

Shiri nodded and signed where he was directed. He looked up again and smiled as he gathered up the papers that looked like they belonged to him. “I guess we better get going then. Just stop by anytime and we’ll walk him here tomorrow before lunch.” Nodding again Shiri stood up and turned to go grab Tanz.

“I got lots of movies. Good ones, bad ones, scary ones and funny ones. I usually watch them before I go to bed.” Tanz ranted as his father finished signing the necessary papers. When his father got up and started walking towards him he latched onto Takan even tighter.

Tanz looked scared. He didn’t want to leave his new friend so soon. “But dad-“ He tried to argue.

“We need to go and take the Lunch shift Tanz. You will be able to see him later.” Shiri tried to reason with his son, he held out his hand hoping he could use Tanz’s urge to touch to get him out without having to force him. “Come on Tanz.” Shiri held his hand out like to a wounded animal.

Tanz felt new tears coming on. But Takan was right. It was only for a little while. Then he could show Takan all the cool things at his house and in the café. He nodded and tackled Takan one more time before he looked Tak in the eyes and made him promise.

“You promise you’ll come play later right?” Tanz scrunched up his eyes. “Not just tonight, but a long time after that.”

Shiri smiled at his child’s innocent declaration. “We’ll bring him home when he wants to.” Shiri didn’t even turn to face the women as Tanz ran into his arms. He hoisted his kid up with a grunt and nodded to Miss Greysmith and then smiled at Takan.

“See you soon.” Tanz waved and smiled as he and his father walked out of the office.