Let The Kids Play

[Zander Ellison]

Zander was in his early thirties, and for once, since the death of his parts over a decade before, he was feeling a little more at ease with everything. Sure, he hadn't seen Robin, Ciel and Kyle in a long while, but the letters he got from them, every so often were enough to keep him happy, Kailey had passed away almost five years ago, and he was almost glad of this. It was terrible, and at the time, he'd just felt so much at a loss, but he realised now, that she was probably happier now than she had been in the time after their parent's death. The other elder siblings he saw less often. They were all away having a good time, getting good jobs and at long last were not expecting money from Zander constantly. It meant Zander was left with the three youngest, Jamie who was getting a lot older was in her final year of education, Tyler who was fourteen and in love with Hogwarts Scotland, and finally little Abby, who wasn't technically a sibling but his niece, although his reality it didn't matter, she was his daughter for all intents and purposes. They had moved to New Zealand at the beginning of the year, so that Zander could get a better job, and he had been more than glad to leave his old world behind. It had been that final step that made it feel like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and made him feel like he was finally ready to move on. He sent Abby to muggle school, like he'd done with the rest of his siblings, and like his parents had done for him. It was the end of the school day, and Zander had decided that he would treat his child to a day at the park. Abby was coming up to her seventh birthday, and really, Zander couldn't believe how fast she was growing. She had the same green eyes as most others in their family did, but she didn't really look like Zander as side from that. She had long brown hair, and thin small frame. Where at that age, Zander had been slightly rounded and had had a mop of messy blonde hair. Of course it was obvious they were related, but, Zander was glad he could just always tell people that she took after her mother and not him.

With her hand in his, he took her down the familiar road towards the children's play park in Brightstone Village. While Abby was still young she had a heart of gold. She was more kind than anyone else, and was more selfless, she was happier and more excitable than any of the other Valentines left. Zander was so pleased at how happy she was turning out. He knew that sometimes she had some issues at school, she struggled sometimes with some of the learning side of things, but Zander was always there to help her out. The man could not believe how lucky he was to have a girl like her. He had decided that he kind of wanted one of his own. A little baby that was actually his child, but Peyton was not so open to the idea. Their lives were finally settling, why mess them up with another kid. But that was what he wanted. He respected her, and would wait until she was ready but it didn't stop his desires. He smiled down at Abby and let go of her hand slightly so she could run on ahead and into the park. He was smiling warmly as he followed her inside. Barely having enough time to sit before the young girl thrust her belongs into his lap and went off to play with the stuff in the park, and the other kids. Smiling warmly, he kept his eyes on her. Following her as she rushed around laughing and playing happily. All the sleepless nights, and long days were worth it now he could just watch her play. He liked the way she was just so happy. He enjoyed watching her smile. Zander knew that things for them could still be better off, but he was glad with how things were. They were finally all falling into place. He didn't feel so lost, or so out of place. Truly for the first time in a long time, the man felt utterly content with every part of his life.
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[Cameron Moriarty]

Cameron didn't think he would be back in New Zealand so soon after having left. It felt like it had been only days since he had left, though he knew that wasn't the case at all. Mei-Ling for all her whining, had finally settled in Australia only for him to yank her back to New Zealand when his mother had finally died. He just couldn't stay there. The pain of losing her was far too much to handle and he wasn't willing to put Mei-Ling through that. She was only seven, she was a child, a child who still suffering the effects of seeing her parents murdered in front of her, though she barely remembered it. She often woke up in the night, crawling into his bed and cuddling close to him. When he was still living with Austiin it had been problematic, as Austiin did not want children in their bed, but living on his own had made him realise how much he wanted that contact with Mei-Ling. She was his child, his daughter, even if it was not by blood. It wasn't obvious. People who did not know, would not be able to tell if he told them that she simply looked like her Vietnamese mother. That was the truth after all, he just wasn't her biological father. Though he had been raising her for five years. Still, Cameron knew that the girl missed her family, her other father and her siblings. It pained Cameron that she couldn't see them, but Cameron just didn't trust that man anymore. He taken Mei-Ling away from a life of war and torment, he never would have expected to find out that he had only placed her a greater risk. Still, she was unharmed and she no longer complained. Cameron could only hope that meant she had warmed up to the idea, though he doubted it. He could never be too sure however. Mei-Ling was an expert at covering up her emotions. She always had been.

There had been a time, a few years ago, where Cameron had thought that Mei-Ling was a muggle, after all, she had been found in a little muggle village by the river, it was the most appropriate assumption, her parents had to be muggles as well. However, after she had turned three, Cameron had began to realise that strange things happened around the young girl. he would take things away as punishment and then later she would have them again. He would brush her hair and his brush would break. Her toys all miraculously picked up when he told her she couldn't go somewhere without cleaning her room. It had taken Cameron longer then it should have to realise that she was magical. However, he had figured it out now, so there were no longer any problems thankfully. Admittedly though, he felt sorry for muggle parents with magical kids, must be hard knowing their child is different, and not knowing why until they turned eleven. Cameron thought for sure that he would have cried if that happened. Still, he was going to try and enjoy today. The weather was pleasant and Mei-Ling was all dressed up on her boots and plaits to spend a day running around in a park. He decided that Takarokaro Park was the best place to come, because he used to bring Clara and Ruben here as well. Maybe the familiarity of the place would calm his daughter abit. Walking up the path, Cameron grabbed Mei's bag and allowed her to run off in the direction of the swings whilst he took a seat on a bench next to another man, he assumed a father, and leaned back as Mei-Ling found herself a little group of friends that she had played with before when he'd brought her here. It was nice to see that not everything had changed. Mei-Ling reached for something on the ground and Cameron jumped up, "No! Mei-Ling, don't eat that!" He immediately spelled it out of her hand and glared at her. Mei-Ling only shrugged and moved back over to the swings with her little friends. Cameron shook his head and fell back into the seat. "I swear that girl never listens to a word I say anymore." Was this that rebellious phase he had heard about? He bloody well hoped not.​

 

[Zander Ellison]

Zander was always pretty happy to be in the park watching Abby play around. It was an easy thing for him to do. It usually gave him time to think about the day. Abby was well enough behaved at this point that she knew what to do and what not to do. Zander was feeling that soon she wouldn't need him at all. And all he could think of was that cute little thing that she'd been. So small that Zander had honestly been afraid that he'd accidentally break her. Now, Zander had a lot of experience with children, he'd been just 16 when he'd lost his parents, and had dropped out of school to become primary care giver for all his siblings. All of them, they'd ranged in age, from a year younger than him, to being just 1 year old. He could believe how tall Tyler was getting, He couldn't believe how old and mature Jamie was getting. It was funny, after all the difficulties in the years that had followed his parent's death, and then Abby, he was facing the prospect, of his family no longer needing him like they had once. He had never felt useless really, not until now. He was happy with his little daughter, with his little girl, but she too would soon be off to magical school, leaving him with no one that he had to look after. It was a sad state of affairs, but one, he was sure that most parents faced, especially those magical parents that sent the kids off to boarding school. He was smiling as he watched her, completely content with it. He loved his daughter that much was clear, it was written so clearly on his face. He eyes followed his daughter as she had fun, laughing and playing with the other kids.

Zander didn't even realise that someone had sat next to him on the bench, until the man stood suddenly to tell his daughter to not do something. He smiled slightly, looking at the child who glanced over and then went back to playing, as if they'd done nothing wrong. Zander glanced at Abby was who swinging high on the swing. Zander and Abby shared a number of features. They had the same slim build that most the family shared, the same round face and the same large smile. Abby unlike Zander was lightly tanned, and had dark brown hair and eyes, where Zander was pale, freckled and had dark green eyes, and much lighter brown hair. He glanced at other man as he sat back down, and spoke. He laughed a little at it. Nodding along, didn't he know it. "Kids are just curious" he said with a shrug and a small laugh, "My daughter is at the stage where she's touching everything, asking four hundred questions." he rolled his eyes slightly. "She's a sweet thing, but by question three hundred and twenty-one, I sort of want to have a mute button" He looked back at Abby who seemed to have found the girl that belonged to this man. "Mine's the one, currently talking to yours" He motioned to Abby and then gave her a wave. "How old is your daughter?" he asked, thinking that she was probably pretty close to Abby's age. maybe a little younger. he noticed that the little girl didn't really look like the man currently sitting with him, but with Zander's family as screwed as it was, who was he judge. For many people this was really Zander's third child. The second he had raised from birth essentially. One had been three. His family was as complicated as they came.
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Other posts will be better, I'm so rusty with this guy.