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Daren tried, he really did, but Tim crying surrounded by people was too much for him. "Excuse me." he walked down the stairs and wove through the crowd until he was standing next to Tim. "it'll be ok," he whispered softly, taking Tim's plate and guiding him to the table. he got a good sized helping of everything, knowing there was plenty, needing two plates for it all. he took Tim to a table and put the plates down in front of him, "You have to stop crying or the food will get salty and be ruined." he grinned and patted Tim's shoulder, straightening as he looked around, "want me to stay with you or should i make room so your friends can sit by your side?"

Mori grinned when Daren finally came out of his hiding place. he made sure he was out of sight when Daren looked over the crowd, not wanting to be seen just yet.

Iroh didn't accept the punch, but he was soon forgotten with the appearance of seafood. he smiled and shook his head as he watched Daren come to the rescue. he just couldn't help himself, could he? IRoh shook his head and waited for the rush to pass before getting some food himself. he spoke with Anna and Tarte before going to Amanda, "Hello, madam. You might not remember me. Iroh, Daren's boss. I just wanted to say this is a lovely party. thank you." he inclined his head, the perfect gentleman.

Daren looked around, "Oh, good. he made it. still in uniform, but i bet he wouldn't be comfortable out of them. too many people." he chuckled and took the offered seat next to Tim. "if you are that concerned about me not eating, we could share?" he would only eat a bite or two, but it would appease Tim. the table around them was already filling and Daren smiled, but stopped talking, letting Tim have time with his friends.

Mori frowned, an officer was talking with the little one he'd been planning on speaking with. but another woman caught his eye. she'd been with Daren on the stairs, so maybe he could get some information from her. he got a plate of food and slowly made his way over to the taller woman. "hello. don't think we've met. I'm Mori, I met Timothy during some business meetings a while ago." it was a lie he'd formed after speaking with the people here, all of them buying it. "he really is a hard worker, isn't he?"

Iroh smiled, "oh, thank you." he took off his jacket, hanging it with the rest of the jackets and followed her to the food. "I could say the same of you being Tim's mother." he got a plate of food and stepped to the side, "i wanted to ask, if you don't mind, do you think Tim in good hands? As his mother, i am sure you have concerns and I wish to help ease them as much as i can, you see." he trusted Daren, but he wanted to make sure Tim's family was ok with the situation

Daren looked over at the boy and smiled a little, not exactly sure how to respond. "thank you, they say the camera adds ten pounds, but i guess that's not true in my case. Daren, nice to meet you-?" he waited for a name.

Mori smiled a little. 'lives to serve'? what a little catch Daren had made. "What of the man with him? i've seen those from the office before, but he's a new face. isn't he that policeman from the news? how do they know each other?"

Iroh frowned, "Daren had an episode?" he hadn't done that in a long, long time, but being around two mothers it may have made sense. "in his defence, Daren is as stable as he may ever be. he's one of my best officers, to a fault. if one of them do snap, it will be Daren that is hurt, i can promise you that, though it might not be much comfort." he took a bite and thought for a bit, "would you rather i remove Tim and find him another guard?"

Daren kept his smile in place, but he had a feeling that any name similiar to Andrew owuld be occompanied with someone who got on her nerves from now on. "They are naturally broad, though i do work out a bit so some of it is muscle and not natural bone structure. how do you know Tim?"

Mori held his hands up in surrender, laughing, "i'll be sure not to say a thing." he put his hands down and looked back at the pair, "living together, huh? that's unfortunate. thanks for talking to me, Miss. i'll let you get back to what you were doing." he inclined his head and moved back into the crowd, watching from a distance, his eyes narrowed. living together was truly unfortunate. that meant the kid was now part of his plans as well. a cruel smiled crossed Mori's lips but was quickly wiped away. it was only a matter of time now. Daren had been left alone for are too long, he was too confident. he needed to be reminded of just what he was.

Iroh nodded, "I agree. i was going to talk to Daren about coming back to work, and Tim is starting back at his job in a few days too. they will spend less time together and Tim will start to become more independent. i hope it all turns out for the best, they both deserve to be happy. i think you'll will agree with me on that."

Daren smiled and looked down at his hands, "Tim is always helping others. he's kind in that way. I am glad that the two of you met, the world needs more scarcastic buggers, if you do pardon my saying." he winked at Andy, finding he liked him a bit more after hearing his story. "are you enjoying the party?"

Iroh smiled, "yes. that is all. Tim will find someone who will take care of him the way they should, and they will part ways. i think they will always be friends, though." but then he would have daren to himself once more, the way it should be.

Daren and Iroh were helping Anna and Tarte clean up, but Daren stopped long enough to nod to Tim. "told you it was a good idea." he winked and got back to work, though there really wasn't much. Rachel just liked to complain about men at times. "i'm glad they all came though, it seemed like everything turned out nicely. We'll have to send thank you cards for all of the gifts." the back of his car was nearly overflowing with everything Tim had been given.

Iroh stood up and rolled his shoulders, "good thing there wasn't alcohol or you'd really see just how messy men can be, Miss Rachel." he grinned and went back to carrying things out to Anna and Tarte's car.

Tarte grinned a little, "yes, well, maybe you didn't have any." he himself had a nice rosy tint to his cheeks that had nothing to do with to cool night air as he carried things out.

Anna rolled her eyes, "you just had one too many of the bourbon cakes, my dear. I swear, that man even smells the stuff and he's tipsy."

Daren shook his head, "they shouldn't have. tried to correct the story, but they wouldn't listen." he'd been shocked by the gifts at first, then embarrassed. "have to get the addresses from you so i can write notes too." he was mumbling as he worked, now. after he'd come out to help Tim with the food, he hadn't been able to get away again and had spent the rest of the night getting questioned, despite Rachel's threats. as a result, he was exhausted.

Tarte pouted a little, "i let you win. what kind of man would i be if i beat the snot out of a little girl like you at anything, even a cake eating contest?"

Anna laughed, "now, now, no need to ruffle feathers, dear. you are the one that took the bet." she shook her head as he husband put the last of their things away. "are you going to be ok, Amanda?"