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"DO NOT WANT!" The little boy screamed, squirming in his father's arms as he fought to get down to the ground. He didn't want to go meet this new person, he didn't he didn't! Milo growled, sinking his tiny baby fangs into his father's arms, trying to force the adult to drop him. When that didn't work, he tried scream at the top of his lungs and kicking.

Matthias was about ready to throttle the boy. He had several bleeding bite marks on his arms, and his ears were ringing. Still, he managed not to give the boy a reaction, choosing instead to attempt to ignore the little one. Hopefully, the boy would tire himself out. Soon.

Loki was quieter, and less reluctant. Actually, he was watching his brother fight Matth, with a mildly amused expression. Though, when he realized his father was hurt, his eyes went black. Well, they had always been black. But not like this. Now they were completely black. No whites to them at all. "Don't hurt Daddy!" He shouted, glaring up at his twin. He'd scented the blood. Daddy was bleeding! Where was Mommy to give him a bandaid?

Only Loki could hurt Daddy. That was his only rule. No one else could. Milo could have hurt anyone else. Even Mommy. But not Daddy. Daddy was special.

"Shaddup, 'tupid ed!" Milo pretty much screamed at his brother before going back to ignoring his existence. "Put. Me. DOWN!" This was followed by more kicks and wordless screams, and a couple failed attempts at biting.

Matthias sighed. "You needn't wory, Loki, I am fine." he said, his tone calm.

Loki glared, before using a tactic known by all toddlers. "DADDY! He call me stuffidhead!" He paused in his tantrum at his father's reassurance and nodded. "We go now?" He asked, a plea that wasn't very subtly hidden. He wanted to go! He wanted to meet this new person and see if they were any fun, or worth his time.

"We hurry, Daddy? Fasser we get there--fasser Milo be quiet and stop biting Daddy." He tried to compromise. He just wanted to get there. He didn't care if Milo was quiet.

Matthias nodded, resuming his pace. "We should be there shortly." he said, nodding. Sure enough, he turned down the street and a familiar house came into view. "There it is." he said, pointing it out to Loki.

Milo growled, biting Matthias again. No! No! He did NOT want to go there! "NOOOOOOO!" he screamed, thrashing about in his father's iron grip.

Loki nodded, toddling up ahead of his father. "Auntie! Auntie!" he chanted as he went. They were nearing the house now, Loki was already on the front steps. He knocked the only way a toddler knew how to. Long and loudly. "Open up!" He cried, before glancing back at his father. A smug grin replaced his look of curiousity.

Yes, he was rather proud of himself. He was faster than Daddy! Maybe he could tell Auntie about that later. Maybe she'd be proud of him too.

The door opened. Stasia blinked, a questioning look on her face as she looked up to Matthias. She stared a moment, snickered, then started laughing. "I NEVER want to hear you lecture me again." she said between laughs, punching the fae in the arm before ushering them in, still laughing.

"It is not that funny." Matthias said, sighing. Ugh, children.

Milo blinked, shutting up for a moment. Did this lady just hit Daddy? A small smile crept across his face; maybe Auntie wasn't so bad after all.

Loki frowned slightly, Auntie hit Daddy? This wasn't the auntie he'd been expecting at all! Auntie was supposed to be nice and friendly and... Well. Aunties weren't supposed to hit Daddy. "Don't hurt Daddy!" He cried, glaring up at her. "That mean. Bad. No hurt Daddy. I hurt you if you hurt Daddy." He threatened, narrowing his eyes.

Devin crept out from behind Stasia, looking up at Matth. "Mommy?" He asked, with a tilt of his head. Yes, Devin was at the age where everyone who looked especially female was dubbed 'Mommy'. And Matthias fit this build. (It was the hair).

Stasia blinked as she yelled at. "Alright, alright, I won't hurt your....daddy." The last part was said with a snicker. She knelt down, ruffling Loki's hair. "Sorry, kidlet." she apologized, offering a smile. "It's nice to meetcha.

Milo looked at his auntie a moment before declaring his thoughts on her. "MINE!" he yelled, reaching for her. He was NOT letting Loki steal away his auntie! No!

Matthias shook his head. "I am sorry, little one, but I am not your mother...." he said, his tone polite and gentle. Why was he the one always getting mistaken for a woman?

Loki smiled slightly, and nodded. He accepted that, if she wouldn't hurt his daddy, she was a good person, and so easy to hurt. That was great! She really was nice, and the nicer people were, the easier they were to.. well you get the picture. "I faster than Daddy." He boasted, before frowning at Milo. "No no no." He shook his head. "Daddy say share." It was obvious who Loki listened to.

Devin frowned slightly, Mommy was denying being Mommy? That wasn't right! "Mommy," he said, looking to Stasia and nodding wisely. "Who thith?" He pointed to Matth. If Mommy wasn't Mommy, who was she? Or in Matthias' case, he. "You pretty though."

Stasia chuckled, amused. "Congrats, kiddo! You must be pretty fast then, huh?" She stood back up, wincing slightly before looking to Milo. "No yelling now, kay? We aren't deaf, you know." she said cooly before introducing Matth. "This is your Uncle Matth." She said, looking down to Devin.

Milo frowned, glaring at his brother. Stupid Loki. "Dun care. Daddy tupid. Like you." he said, crossing his arms and muttering under his breath. He glared at Auntie; how dare she admonish him like that? He simply would NOT stand for such treatment!

Matthias chuckled. "Thank you." he said, amused. He nodded at Stasia's words. "I am your "Uncle" Matthias." he said, bowing a bit.

Loki frowned slightly, before making the natural response. "DADDY! He called me stuffid!" He cried, pointing accusingly over at his brother. Stupid was one of the worst names you could call a toddler, apparently. And then he realized something. Milo had called Daddy stupid too! "DADDY NOT STUFFID!" He shouted, reaching over and pinching his brother's arm. No one got away with calling Daddy stupid. Not even Milo. Not even Mommy.

Devin gave Matth a shy smile. "Unca Matthiath?" He tried, blinking at the difficulty that was Matth's name. "Unca Matth!" He liked that much better. It was easier to say. "Pretty Unca Matth."

Milo screeched, slapping at his brother. "No pinch me!" he bellowed, glaring. He lunged for his brother, the only thing holding him back being Matthias' firm grip on him.

Stasia quickly got between the two. "That is quite enough, you two." she said, her tone calm. "Save that for the trip home, okay?" She offered a smile to the two of them, ruffling their hair.

Matthias nodded. Aww, what a sweet little boy. He couldn't possibly be Stasia's....but the child did resemble the half-breed's fiance....

Instead of obeying Stasia like he would have Matth, Loki wanted to have the final word. He blew a raspberry at Milo before hugging Stasia around the knees. He had to prove that he was the nice one, the good one. Then he could get closer and hurt her. It was all part of the plan. "I luv you Auntie Stasia." He said, convincingly.

Devin smiled up at Matth, blinking at Milo with obvious confusion. Why was Milo being so mean? Wasn't being mean bad? "My Mommy." He told Loki, having glanced at the boy who was hugging his mother. "Mine. I luv her. My Mommy."

Stasia smiled, patting Loki. "Love you too, buddy." she said, smiling. The smile melted from her face as she wince, holding her stomach. She then forced a smile; see? Everything was fine. Yeah right. She look to Devin, smiling. "That's right, Devin. But I'm also their Auntie." she said, her voice a bit strained.

Matthias gave Stasia a concerned look. Something was wrong; he wasn't blind.

Milo looked at Devin a moment before sticking his tongue out at him. "Tupid murf." he taunted before kicking Stasia in the leg, not noticing that she was already hurting.

Devin pulled out his plastic sword from the belt loop Zee had recently taught him how to use as a sheath, frowning at the apparent challenge Milo had just made him. "I not a thmurf!" He cried, whacking the toddler with it. He obviously didn't know how to use the sword yet, but he had good intentions.

Loki paused in his plotting to look up at Stasia. "Auntie hurting?" He asked, reaching up to touch her stomach. His eyes widened, and a smile crossed his face. He looked to his father. "Auntie has baby inside." He informed him, almost smugly.

Milo growled. How DARE the smurf hit him? He bared his tiny baby fangs, lowering into a semi-crouching position before launching himself at Devin, much like a kitten might. "Tupid murf!"

Stasia winced as her leg was kicked; damn brat. She nodded. "Yeah....been having some tummy problems." she said. She blinked, watching the toddler. She then chuckled. "I don't have a baby inside me, silly." she said. "My tummy's not big enough for that." She pulled her shirt flat against her relatively flat belly; there was a bit of pudge there, but she attributed it to one too many donuts at work.

Matthias simply made a "hm" sound in his throat. Odd things were afoot.

Devin was shocked at having been pounced on, and so instead of making a return attack, started to cry. "Mommy!" He sniffled. "He call me thurf!" He said, rubbing at his eyes. "I not thupid!"

Loki shook his head at Stasia. "Daddy's baby inside you." He informed her. He hugged her around the knees before frowning at Milo. "No no no." He said. "Don't hurt cousin Devin."

Stasia snickered. That was impossible. Her and Matth hadn't done anything in years. She then looked to Milo, frowning. She reached down, lifting the boy up and away from her baby boy. "That is enough." she said, setting him down before going to hug Devin.

Milo frowned at Loki, sticking his tongue out. "Shuddup, tupid." he said, crossing his arms. "He no cousin. He murf."

Devin hugged his mother tightly. "He meanie." He sniffled, pointing at the pale, dark haired boy. "Meanie meanie meanie!" He clung onto Stasia's neck, before turning to look at Milo. The silver haired toddler still had his sword held tightly in his left fist.

"Hate you," he said clearly. He'd never used the term before--and honestly, had never even thought of hating someone. But Milo was too mean to like. "I not a thmurf. I Devi."

Loki looked to his father, before smirking. "Daddy?" He asked, acting for all the world like an innocent toddler--hopefully Matth knew better than to fall for it. "I play with cousin now."


Stasia patted the little boy. "I know, I know...." she said, turning her head to shoot a glare at the boy. She then shook her head. "Devin, that's not nice to say to your cousin." she said, her tone gentle.

Milo smirked. "Hate you too, tupid murf momma's boy." he said, sticking his tongue out at his cousin. Stupid blue kid needed to be put in his place.

Matthias nodded. "No rough-housing or hurting one another." he said, his tone calm. He did not want any altercations, well...anymore, that is.

Devin shot a glare in Milo's direction. "I not tupid!" He cried, lifting his sword and poking at the other boy. "I not thmurf. I elf. Daddy thay I elf!" He said this as if he had no doubt in his father's word. Daddy's word was law.

"Kay," Loki said with an innocent smile. "Luv you Daddy. Best Daddy in all the entire world!" Okay, that was a bit much. His innocent act had gone too far. "Devi, want to play?" He asked, looking up at his cousin.

Milo narrowed his eyes. "Tupid. Murf." he said, biting each word off into it's own sentense. "Your daddy tupid then. You murf, not elf" Now he was just purposely pushing the other boy's buttons. He was interesting. He looked at his brother, frowning. "We play." he said, frowning. "Mine." Devin was HIS to toy with, not Loki's!

Matthias narrowed his eyes, watching Loki closely. He wasn't gullible; he knew something was up.

Devin frowned, and instead of clinging to Stasia again, turned to face the other boy. "I not thupid," he said, raising his sword. "I not a Thmurf. My Daddy thmart." With every word, though calmly spoken, he hit Milo in the head with his sword. He was pretty good at it, for someone who didn't know how to use one. "You thtupid."

Loki frowned at his brother, before shaking his head. But then he got an idea. They could both tease him. "You old." He said, pointing to Devin's hair. "Gray mean old." He didn't have the color sense to know that it was silver.

Stasia, instead of reprimanding Devin, started laughing. Served the little blighter right for making fun of her baby!

Milo was silent a moment, shocked that the boy DARED to hit him. He then sniffled...that really hurt! Little pale hands came up to hold his head, brown eyes narrowing at Devin.
Matthias sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He should have figured they wouldn't get along. Typical children.

Devin paused in his attack as he heard Milo sniffle. Quite unlike the unseelie he was dealing with, the dark elf did not enjoy hurting people. Still... Milo deserved it, didn't he? He'd made fun of him, and that was mean. Mean people deserved to be punished, right? They needed to get time outs. So he did the only logical thing. He looked up at Matthias. "Unca Matth? Bad boyth need time out," he said pointing to both Loki and Milo. Yes, they were bad.

Matthias sighed. "Perhaps we should go...." he said, not wanting his kids to get into too much trouble on their first encounter with their cousin.

"NO!" Milo yelled, if simply to be contrary. No, he didn't want to leave and no, no timeouts! "I not bad!" he said, throwing a rock at Devin. "You bad! Bad murf, bad!" He stuck his tongue out at the boy, waggling his fingers at the side of his head.

Stasia was amused, and was about to say something when a wince interrupted her. She leaned against the support beam on the porch, slowly counting in her head. Man, something she ate must not have been agreeing with her.

Luckily Devin dodged the rock, and promptly went to hide behind Matth. "Unca Matth!" He whined, "Milo being mean!" He tugged on Matth's pant leg. "He throw rock at me! Make him be good!"

Loki shook his head at his father, before going to hug Stasia around the knees. "I luv you Auntie. You hurting? I help. Smile?" He tilted his head slightly, doing his convincing innocent toddler trick. "No be sad, Auntie.

Matthias frowned. "Milo..." he said, his tone low as his voice held a hint of warning. He patted Devin on the head before scooping the dark-haired toddler up.

Stasia forced a small smile. "I'm fine, Loki, see?" she said, standing tall. "I'll be alright, don't worry. Must have been something I ate." She ruffled the boy's hair. "And convincing act. You're a real natural at it, aren't ya?"

Devin smiled slightly, glad that his Unca Matth was being a good uncle now. Uncle Matth would take care of him! He'd make sure no mean people threw rocks at him! He smiled up at the fae. "Tank you Unca Matth."

Loki frowned upon realizing that his act didn't work on Auntie Stasia. "I is," he whispered proudly after recovering. "I best ever. Fool Daddy, and Mommy, and ev'rybody! But dun tell. Kay? I Daddy 'good kid'. Milo not keep bad a secret. But I do."

Matthias smiled, patting Devin on the head. "You are quite welcome. I apologize for Milo's behavior....regrettably, he seems to act his age." A glower was sent in the direction of the flailing boy.

Martin: Stasia smiled. "I won't tell. Promise." she said, then giggled. "And not the best. But you're pretty high up in the list....almost as good of an actor as I was at your age." She looked around to make sure no one was listening. "If your mom or dad starts catching on, let me know. I'll teach you some of my tricks, kay?"

Devin gave a sweet smile in Matth's direction. "It kay, Unca Matth. Daddy thay I need act my age. He thay I too much like him. Dunno why." Then he leaned forward, all the while putting his sword into his belt loop ever so carefully. "Unca Matth? Daddy gonna marry Mommy thoon!" He whispered with a smile. "Mommy bery pretty," he stated, rather proudly. "Though, not ath pretty ath..." he paused, and flashed Matthias a charming smile. "Daddy thay I can't thay. He thay that bad."

Loki's eyes widened, and then a genuine smile appeared on his face. "Really?" He asked, sounding eager. "Kay! Teach me now!" He looked at her expectantly, apparently waiting for her to pull out her talent from a drawer or something.

Matthias smiled lightly. "I know they are going to marry." he said, chuckling at some unvoiced thought. He patted the boy on the head, nodding to show that he was listening.

Stasia chuckled; this little guy reminded her of herself when she was that age. "I'll teach later, 'kay, kiddo? You seem to have things under control as it is. You don't need my knowledge yet." she said, ruffling his hair.

Devin smiled brightly at the fae, before looking to Stasia. "Mommy hurt?" He asked, frowning slightly. Ah yes, this was one of those times where you could see Zee's personality come out in the toddler. His eyes clouded with concern. He left Matthias' side and toddled up to her as fast as his short legs would carry him.

"Mommy!" He said, hugging her around the knees. He all but ignored Loki's presence.

Loki didn't like this at all, being ignored. But instead of acting violently, he tugged on Stasia's pant leg. "Up, auntie?" He asked.

Stasia looked to Devin, smiling. "I'm just fine, Devi." she said, ruffling his hair. She then scooped both of the little boys up, as if to prove this. See? She was okay. "Better?" she asked, looking at Loki.

Devin hugged her, unconvinced. "Mommy have owie." He informed her, pointing to her stomach. Then he looked to Matthias, and gave the fae a sunny smile. He held up his sword for Matth to see, before tilting his head. "Unca Matth teach me?" He asked. He was oblivious to the fact that his father wanted to teach him, oblivious to the fact that fae were dangerous teachers.

Loki smiled, and petted Stasia's hair. "Auntie Stasia make good pet," he decided.

Stasia smiled. "I'm okay, Devi, really." she said. She then blinked, looking at Loki. "Kiddo, I'm not a pet." she said, chuckling. Aww, wasn't that cute? Atleast, that's what she told herself to keep her temper in check. He was just a little one, after all.

Matthias thought about it. "I suppose I could." he said after a moment of envisioning Stasia trying to teach the lad. He could not allow that, now could he?

Milo pouted, crossing his arms. He wanted to go home now.

Devin ignored his mother, and smiled brightly at Matth. "Tank you!" he said happily. See, he'd always known Matthias would make the greatest uncle ever!

Loki frowned slightly at Stasia's denial. "You good pet, Auntie Stasia," he said in a tone that wasn't to be agrued with. Well, it would have been if he hadn't been a toddler. "Luv you pet," and so saying he petted Stasia's curly hair.

A blonde head poked out from behind Stasia. Howl was curious about this new person, meaning Matth of course. "Hi pretty!" he said, glancing up at the tall fae. "We go on date now?" Of course, if Howl new the person he was speaking to was male, he wouldn't have asked. But the fact remained that Matthias was pretty, and he did look like a female. (It was the hair!)

Stasia chuckled. "Love you too. Good boy." she said, patting his head. Two could play at this game! Yes, it was childish, but then again, you had to remember: This was Stasia we were talking about.

Matthias blinked, looking at the boy. "I don't think so." he said, his voice definitely male. He gave the child an odd look; with how weird his dress and behavior was, he had to be one of Stasia's.

Risa amused...and unamused. Our favorite romantic couple had decided to take the twins to the local toystore. About five minutes into it, Risa had figured that it'd been a mistake. She of course, was responsible for Loki. And the brown haired whirl-wind of trouble was living up to his name. Something had caught his eye.

"I want it! I want it!" Loki cried, pointing vaguely. Even if Risa had known what he wanted, she would have said no. She looked at Matth for assistance.

"We're just looking today, Loki," she explained patiently. Or she would have explained patiently, if he hadn't just stomped on her toes. Ouch.

Milo was straining against the leash he'd been attached too, shrieking like a banshee. "Lemme go! I wan play! Leggo!" he screeched, glaring at his father who held the leash. He then looked up to Risa with big, chocolate brown eyes. "Mommy, take off?" he asked, sniffling a little. Mommy was usually easier to fool.

"No, Milo." Matthias said, tugging on the leash gently. He then looked to Loki. "That is quite enough. Patience is a virture. If you are good, then perhaps we can get you the toy for the holidays." he said, his tone calm and controlled.

Risa looked for a moment like she was about to give into Milo, before shaking the thought out of her head. "Tell you what, Milo," she knelt down to his level with a smile. "If you're good, you won't have to wear the leash anymore." She hoped he'd be good for once; he always seemed better behaved when she was around.

"I want it!" Loki protested, glaring up at his father. "I want it now!" His eyes had gone dark--well, with his eyes naturally being black, they were always dark--but now. They were completely black. Someone had inherited his father's temper. "I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!" He commanded, pointing in the vague direction he'd been gesturing in.

Milo offered the sweetest smile he could manage, rubbing away his crocodile tears. "Okay, Mommy." he said, hugging his mother. Fake it for a day? Psh, he could do that. "Love you." he stated, smiling brightly. Okay, maybe he was overdoing it.

Matthias frowned. "Quiet down, young one. Yelling will not get you what you want." he said, his tone firm. "I said no. If you cannot behave, I will take you back home and allow Milo to pick out a toy he wants."

Risa smiled, and hugged Milo back. "I love you too," she said, before looking to Loki with a slight frown. "Well, I know he didn't get thatfrom my side of the family." She commented, standing up.

Loki gave a howl of rage, black eyes glaring up at his father. He didn't seem to be in control anymore. His finger nails extended, now they were more like kitten claws than anything else. And then, he fell silent. A smirk replaced the angry expression he'd been wearing. Uh-oh.

"Now I know he didn't get that from my side," Risa repeated, shaking her head.

Matthias, calm and cool as ever, scooped the boy up. "I warned you." he said simply, before looking to Risa. "Mind taking Milo? I think Loki is in need of a "time out" out in the car." he said, holding the leash out to Risa.

Milo snickered. "Loki in trouble, Loki in trouble~" he taunted, grinning. To him, it was harmless teasing. Who knew how his twin would take it?

"Sure," Risa said with a shrug and a faint smile. She took Milo's leash. "Don't tease him, Milo," she scolded gently. "You said you'd be good."

When Matthias picked Loki up, the toddler started making familar clicking from deep in his throat. Another thing he'd inherited from his father's genes. He squirmed and kicked at his father, trying to escape the grip he had on him. Soft, though obviously angry mutters came from his lips. In fae.

Milo looked down, acting as if he were sorry. "I sorries..." he said, pouting out his lip. He hugged his mother's leg, acting as cute as possible. She couldn't get mad if he acted cute, right?

Matthias handed over the leash, heading for the front door. "That is quite enough, child." he said, his tone dropping an octave. "If you keep this up, I will not hesitate to give you a good thrashing." After all, back in his day, it was common for a child to be beat with a whip or lash for misbehaving. Of course, he wasn't quite that cruel....

Risa fell for it, and bent down to hug Milo. "It's alright, you don't have to be sorry," she said with a smile, before standing up. "Let's go look at stuff, alright? Maybe you can show me what you want for Christmas."

Loki turned to look at his father. "Just try it." He challenged with a glare, before muttering in a mixture of broken elvish and fae. Someone had been listening to their mother. "You no hit Milo, why you want hit me?" He asked; he seemed to be gaining control again. That was a good sign. It was true, Milo was usually the least behaved, while Loki always tried to stay on his father's good side.

Milo smiled. Mommy was so easy to manipulate. "This way." he said, leading her to educational section. Someone had seen Sea Monkeys; he wanted to grow aquatic monkeys!

Matthias was calm, despite his rising annoyance. "Because he is atleast pretending to behave, and not screaming in a public place." he said, his tone calm. "And trust me. I usually want to thrash him, but I doubt that would do any good." To be honest, he was a bit disappointed in how slow Milo was.....completely underestimating the lad's intelligence.

Risa smiled brightly. Unlike Matth, Risa was well aware of her sons', yes both of them, intelligence. "Sea monkeys, huh?" She asked, looking down at her son. "I think I can handle that. I'll get you them for Christmas, alright?" Or maybe she'd get them for him as a surprise present.

Loki shot his father a glare. "Stuffid Daddy," he growled. "Stuffid stuffid, stuffid Daddy!" He was getting louder with every 'stuffid', and he was still going. "Stuffid Daddy!"

Milo grinned, clapping his hands together. Awesome! He was getting sea monkies! Acting cute really worked! "Love oo, Mommy." he said, hugging her leg as he thickened his lisp a bit for effect.

Matthias frowned, approaching the car. "That is quite enough." He said, opening the back door and fastening the toddler in his carseat. "You will sit there until you can learn to behave." he said calmly.

Risa smiled, and patted Milo on the head. "Come on, show me what else you'd like," she said with a grin. "Or maybe we can guess at what Loki likes... I wonder what's gotten into him." Usually both boys were good for her; maybe Loki had finally gotten into his terrible twos stage.

Loki glared at his father for a moment. "I know how to behave," he told the older fae bluntly. "I just no feel like it." It sounded more like something a teenager would say than a toddler. This was followed by several muttered swear words. "Lemme go!" Loki protested finally.

Milo smiled, taking his mother's hand. "Kay." he said, leading her off down the aisle. "That too." he said, pointing to a small plastic teranium. "For worms." he explained, grinning. "One for Loki too." He didn't know what his brother could use it for, but it was a good excuse for him to get one too.

Matthias betrayed no emotion. "And that is why you are in time out." he said calmly. And then, he shut the car door, leaving the little boy in the car. He leaned against the back end of the car, sighing. Ugh, kids these day.

Risa forced a smile and a nod. "Sure, for worms." Why did her son have to like worms? "I think Loki'll use one for frogs, or something." She smiled at Milo; he was so thoughtful, picking out presents for his brother!

The moment Matthias shut the door, Loki began to scream. Passersby stopped to stare. "I sorry! I sorry! I be good!" Loki cried. "Lemme out!" One of his fears was being alone; but he wouldn't tell anyone that. Not even Daddy.

Thoughtful? Ha, that was laughable. He was just using his brother as an excuse to get it. Nothing more. But, hey, who was he to tell Mommy different? He smiled, nodding. "Worms like it. I sure." he said, nodding.

Matthias blinked as the boy started screaming and people around started to look. He opened the car door, looking rather confused. The boy was still screaming, but it had a different tone to it now. Not angry, but scared.

Risa smiled, and ruffled Milo's hair. "I'm sure they will," she said. "But no bringing them inside, alright? We don't want them getting eaten." Or having them inside the house at all. Ugh. "Milo, why do you like worms so much?" She asked, curious. She knew why Loki liked animals--they followed him everywhere.

Loki stopped crying the moment Matth opened the door. He rubbed at his eyes, and a scowl replaced the frightened look he'd been wearing only a moment before. "Time-out over now?" He asked, clearly attempting to sound angry, but not quite managing it. Something had frightened him.

Milo smiled up at his mom. "They talk. Tell funny stories, too." he said, nodding. "Wan keep them in my room, though. Have someone talk to while colo'ring." Hey, it made sense to him.

Matthias offered a small smile in an attempt to comfort the boy. "Yes, the time-out is over." he said, nodding once. He gave the child a loose hug. "Are you alright?" he asked, a bit concerned.

Risa stared. "They...Talk?" She echoed, frowning slightly. Okay. She could accept that her son liked worms, most little boys liked collecting bugs and watching them. But talking to them? Maybe Milo had a vivid imagination, like Thali had. "Why don't you talk to your siblings?" She asked sensibly.

"I not scared!" Loki said quickly, giving himself away. Another way he was giving himself away was by the way he clung to his father. "No more time-outs," he said, trying to sound stern. "I be good, promise."

Milo nodded, his smile fading a bit. Why was Mommy looking at him like that? "Yeah, they talk." he confirmed, nodding. He then shrugged. "They don't tell int'resting stories. Worms do. Dey see ever-thing." he explained.

Matthias patted the boy on the back. "Alright. No more time-outs." he said calmly. "Let's head back into the store, shall we?"

Risa forced a smile, though she was confused. It must be his ability, she decided. "You know, worms don't talk to just anybody," she told him with another smile. "They must talk to you because you're special. They don't talk to me." Poor kid. At least he wouldn't be lonely, but Risa could hardly imagine worms had very interesting things to say.

"Okay!" Loki brightened at that, no sign that he'd been having a temper tantrum just a few minutes before.

Milo smiled. He was special? Knew it! He was awesome and special and...and stuff! "Yay, I special!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. If only he knew how bad that sounded....

Matthias nodded, walking through the parking lot back to the store. He was glad the boy seemed to have calmed down, though he still wondered what had spooked the lad to begin with.

Risa smiled, and ruffled Milo's hair again. "That's right," she said, glancing around the hall to make sure no one was around to pick on her son. She wasn't completely oblivious to the other kind of special.

Loki looked up at his father, frowning slightly. "I not afraid," he told him, attempting to undo the mistake he'd made. "I not afraid of being 'lone." Uh-oh. He just made it worse. "I not afraid at all!"

Milo grinned, feeling proud. He was special, which obviously meant he was better. "I go look, Mommy?" he asked, sounding just as innocent as he possibly could. He was tired of playing good.....he had to get away from Mommy so he could act normal again.

Matthias just nodded. "It is alright to be afraid. You are young; fears are not uncommon. There is no need to feel ashamed." he said, picking his words carefully.