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Beth stood at in front of her shop, peering in to the warm glow of the bakery, smelling the warm loaves of bread from where she stood. Her husband was inside, baking bread early in the morning. Her son was still sleeping upstairs and everything was warm and peaceful in the world

But that was about to change. In four hours time, her peaceful, quiet shop would be terrorized by dozens of children.

"Why does Asher have to have the most unfortunate child? I'm going to bake some pies."

Beth huffed and walked inside, just as the sun peaked over the horizon.

***

(Open RP! Free for all! come run amok in the bakery run by Beth, Asher's friend! You can make PIES)

Beth smiled down at the little boy, and handed him a cookie.

"On the house, Love." She winked at the man standing with the child and wiped her hands on her apron.

"Do you happen to be one of Asher and Irelia's lot? Irelia invited all the children over to my bakery today to make gingerbread houses and sent invitations... Mayhap she forgot to send them, but no matter! You are here and the building supplies are just cooling... would you like to take part, little man?"

Beth smiled down at the little blue boy.

***

Irelia was hopping mad. An expression not unlike that of a Demon was on her face and she was struggling madly. Asher was walking behind her, a very quiet and controlled expression on his face.

"Stop struggling Irelia. I can't trust you so you have to wear it."

Irelia snarled and tried once more to free the bright orange leash that criss crossed across her chest.

"LET ME OUT LET ME OUT."

Irelia was spinning around and managed to get one arm half out of the strap. Unfortunately, to get her arm out she had to wiggle it through the strap that crossed her waist and she was now stuck fast. One are was still free and she used it to grab the part of the leash that Asher was holding and tried to gnaw on the leash but unfortunately, she did not have the fangs that her friend Taki had.

"NO NO NO NO NONOOOOOOOO!" Irelia screamed in frustration and sat on the ground in a huff. Her face was bright red and she was close to tears.

Asher sighed and walked towards her, keeping well away from her feet. She was prone to start flailing in a full blown tantrum, her legs and arms flying in all directions. Unfortunately, she also happened to have very good aim.

"Irelia," Asher started quietly, but Irelia scooted around, away from Asher's face, "Honey, you wanted to go to the bakery today, to make gingerbread houses-"

Asher paused as Irelia talked right over him.

"What was that?"

"Mansions. We're making gingerbread MANSIONS. Houses are for babies."

Asher groaned. Irelia had taken to the idea that she was a big girl now, and needed to get over her childlike fancies. But all it really meant was that she wanted bigger and better toys and Asher fell for it a couple of times before he grew wise of her.

"Fine. Mansions. But they're going to start without you if we're late."

"We have loads of time. You made us leave early." Irelia muttered.

"That was 20 minutes ago. Now we're late."

Irelia turned around quickly, horrified.

"WHAT? We need to go! Hurry up, Daddy!"

Irelia leapt to her feet and ran the rest of the way to Beth's Bakery, dragging the reluctant Asher behind her.

She reached the door to the bakery and stopped, barely winded while Asher was having trouble breathing.

"Quiet, Daddy. We need to make a good preshin!"

Irelia demurely stepped in to the bakery.

Irelia saw the boy in blue and her eyes widened. This was a new kid. New new new new new! Irelia chanted in her own mind and smiled sweetly.

"Hi! You think you are a prince! Thats cool! I want to be a Queen... but my Daddy says that'll have to wait till I am old enough."

Irelia noticed Beth and ran through the little side door and grabbed on to Beth's apron, burying herself in the soft, dough covered cloth.

"Hiya Beth." Irelia sounded quite muffled and Beth laughed. She noticed the leash and looked to Asher sternly.

"I always have said, tis unnatural to place a child in a harness and walk them like a dog!"

Irelia looked over to Asher too and stuck out her tongue. Asher rolled his eyes.

"She darts in to traffic and doesn't listen to me. Until she holds my hand the harness stays. I'd rather have an angry kid than a dead kid, thank you."

Asher heard the man introduce himself, and smiled blandly.

"Hello. I've heard that there were quite a few single fathers with these children... Well met, Shade. Antony. I am Asher, and this is Irelia. Don't let her little act fool you, she's an unnatural hellion."

Irelia reacted.

"YEAH! I AM A MONSTER!!!" She yelled, and pretended she was a ghost by ducking under Beth's apron.

Beth unhooked Irelia from her apron and the child was still growling.

"Come on in to the back. I have a couple of pieces of gingerbread all ready to go. You can all start."

Beth walked in to the back and motioned everyone along.

Irelia flailed her hands. "If I had a fence, I'd jump it! But I'm not allowed on the balcony of our apartment cuz Daddy thinks that I have a 'Death Wish' He's so silly! I'm like Taki, I will land on my feets!"

Irelia looked serious for a moment and her eyes glazed over. She blinked twice and looked up at Antony. She had been wrong before, when she 'read' his secrets.

"I'm sorry! I never met a real prince before! That's so cool! I guess that's what Daddy meant, if I wait till i grow up we can get married and i will be a queen, yay!"

Asher groaned and looked over to Shade.

"NOT what I meant, but once they get an idea in their heads..."

"Daddy, I am not In-corr-igi-ble. And I like secrets too much..."

Irelia hollered at Asher from behind the counter.

"Just a warning... If you have any secrets at all that you don't want anyone to know try to put up some mental barriers. She has no idea what privacy is when it comes to secrets."

Asher followed Irelia in to the back.

"I know what Prive see is but I choose not to use it."

Irelia muttered to Asher and Asher helped her on to one of the high stools in the back of the bakery.

Little bowls of multi coloured candies, icings and tools were laid out nicely in the middle of the table. Beth placed a pan in front of each child, where pieces of pre cut gingerbread were laying.

"Have at it, sweeties."

Shiori'd seen someone she recognized from the Cabbage Patch shop go in the bakery once before and thought perhaps she'd at least find someone to talk to there. Besides, she'd received the invitation. She wasn't positive Kisala was big enough to make any houses, but she figured a little socialization wouldn't hurt.

The little one toddled in beside her, watching the place with eyes wide and excited. She had spent most of the past week or so at the house. Shiori was determined to teach Kisala as much as she possibly could as quickly as possible given small children's propensity for learning.

She looked about, noticing the others though she was not certain they were from the Cabbage Patch shop like herself. Quietly, she led Kisala to the front and began looking around at the stuff there and trying to decide how she ought to proceed.

"He's ah..." Shade thought for a long moment, his music too loud for the little girl to hear the thoughts, "quiet when he feels like it," he finally said.

"It's Elvis," Antony informed her as he took the offered snack, figuring the music idea worked. His father had some good ideas once in a while. "He's a king."

"The king of rock an' roll," Shade agreed as he started eating the building supplies.

"You're supposed to build the house first, Daddy," Antony said in a childish rebuke as he started doing what he figured he was supposed to do.

Kai loved to cook. He was really the only one in the family with the talent for it, though Victor and Liam's meals were decent enough. So when he had seen an invitation to a bakery he had been delighted. Though when he realized it was more for Riley then for him he had to admit he was worried-Riley was hardly one to be considered "careful" and baking wasn't exactly a violent, high motion activity. But it had been easy enough to convince her to go. All he had had to do was mention "food" as she was in. Boy did that little girl know how to put it away.

Once they got out of the car Riley bounced over the curb and ran across the sidewalk. Upon reaching the window she plastered her hangs on the gass, peering inside eagerly without any regard to fingerprints or residue from her breath. Once she was assured that it was indeed a bakery full of lots of yummy things to eat she cried at her elder brother impatiently, "Kai! Come on! It's here! It's here!" She then tugged the door open with a swing of her arm and dashed inside, feathered "ears" twitching with anticipation.

Kai hurried after her, looking a little exasperated. He didn't know how Victor kept up with her! She always seemed to have so much energy. "Slow down!" He pleaded, though it was unlikely his little sister would comply.

"Demon king?" Antony repeated before looking at his father a bit too thoughtfully. Well it WAS a king, after all. "He probably would eat it, too," he agreed, seeing the resemblance. Shade snorted and bit off the head of the gingerbread man he had just cut out. "But I'm making a castle," he added a bit arrogantly only to give her a smile and glance up at the newcomers and gave them a smile as well.