Mermaids of Alcatraz

[Lily Drage]

Lily Drage packed the diaper bag full with everything they would need for the day and set it by the fireplace. She was taking the girls to the park in Brightstone to play and the twins for some air. They were growing like weeds, all four of her babies, and she had promised a day to run around and have some fun. Rosie and Rora were getting sick of going to the shop with her. The twins were easy to tote along but the older two only stayed entertained with toys for so long. She was secretly glad for the break from work and was looking forward to running around and playing instead of working on paperwork. Moving to the kitchen, she grabbed the small basket with the expansion charm on it that she got for an anniversary present a few years ago from Julie and Tristan, her brother and sister in law/parents in law. She loved the older Drages as if they were parents to the younger couple. For a while, they thought it was the case. Valcan, her true father in law, had told her mother in law, Sarah, that he was Tristan when they had a one night drunken fling that had resulted in the birth of Sumner. Now that the truth was out that they were really siblings instead of father/son, the couples had a hard time giving up the original dynamic.

"Mama, we taking fick nick too?" asked Rora, the most adorable 3 year old ever. "We bring pickles?"

"Yes, baby girl. We are bringing along a PICnic," Lily corrected gently. "And of course we will bring you lots and lots of pickles." She smiled as she spoke to the little curly haired girl, tickling her little belly and making her break out in a fit of giggles as she ran away from her mother. The blonde finished packing the food and drinks and placed the basket by the diaper bag. "Girls! Time to get going!" she called, followed by the quick patter of steps to the living room. The twins were asleep this whole time, in the special quadruple stroller they had purchased upon finding out they were having twins. It was the best way to keep all the kids in check when they were out and about.

"Will there be swings Mommy?" Rosie asked as she climbed into her seat in the front left of the stroller. "I want to swing! And play mermaid!"

"Mermaid!!" cried Rora with a smile.

Lily groaned as she lifted Rora into her seat. She regretted every single moment that she had shown the girls an old animated movie that she had loved as a child. The red headed singing mermaid had thrilled her two girls, who both now begged for their blonde locks to be transformed into red flowing hair. They ran around the house trying to steal the forks from the drawer to comb their hair. Any time they could, they would play mermaid and wanted their mom to be the big bad sea witch.....but would never allow her to 'steal' their voices. "Yes, I think their will be swings. And we will see about mermaids once we get there. Now lets get going!"

The family took the floo to the nearest location and then walked to the park. It was a beautiful day and Lily was just enjoying the walk around town. Soon they were at the park and the girls were able to run free while she sat with the twins watching. The only thing that would have made this excursion better would be if Sumner was there with them. He had practice today. Lily had promised lots of pictures to share over dinner tonight.

 

[Riley Sparkles]

It was quite a nice day, so Riley decided it would be nice to take Asher out to the park. Jerrod was out so it was just the two of them. Riley packed a small brunch and all the extras that having a baby required. Asher had been the best part of the last nine months for Riley, but being able to share it with Jerrod was even better. It was an amazing thing to see a part of yourself and someone you loved grow, and develop a personality of their own.
The young mom hadn't had a chance to perform with her band for a while, but had slowly started getting back into the habit of writing songs. Riley hoped she was going to be able to get a chance to write a little bit while she was out in the fresh air with Asher. Hopefully the little munchkin would fall asleep for awhile while they were out, but by the sounds of his gurgling, she wasn't sure that would happen. He was holding himself up on the table, watching his mom pack for a picnic. He was getting excited to the point that he let go of the table. Riley gasped as he wobbled on his feet for a second, but he fell backwards onto his bottom not a second later. Asher looked up at Riley with a smile, Riley grinned back, thankful he didn't start crying. She walked over to him and picked him up. "Come on little man, we're going to a park today!" Asher gooed back, and Riley took it as excitement. Putting him in his stroller, Riley picked up the basket and walked the pram into the fireplace, floo-ing them to a place near Takarokaro Park.
Riley enjoyed the sounds of Asher's talking on the way to the park. He continued to talk to himself until they got to the park. She walked over to a bench where she saw another mom with a few children enjoying the sunshine too. Smiling at the lady, Riley set up a little mat for Asher to crawl around on, close to her so she could keep an eye on him and catch him in case anything went wrong. Gently laying the boy on the mat, Riley sat on the bench, grateful for the chance to rest her legs. Not wanting to start writing just yet, Riley fixed her eyes on the lady next to her. "Lovely day to get them out, right?" Riley asked, smiling at the lady next to her while stretching her tan legs into the sun.

 

[Lily Drage]

Lily slowly pushed the stroller with the twins back and forth while she relaxed on the bench watching the older two girls run around. They were playing tag not far in front of her. Every so often she heard the word dinglehopper and she groaned. Mermaid wasn't going to be put off for too long. She couldn't help but hope she could stall the game til they could play with their father. The site of Sumner flopping around on the floor of the living room pretending to swim always made the girls laugh -- and her as well. For as rough and tumble of a guy as he was, their children held his heart in a special way. He would do anything for them, including hair bows and sparkle nail polish. His team mates still call him Sparkle from time to time from the last incident when he forgot to remove the polish before he left for practice.

Soon, another mom joined her on the bench, setting out a younger boy to play in the sun. The day really was perfect and the weather was exactly right for the kids to be out enjoying it. "It really is a nice day," Lily replied when the younger woman addressed her. "I had been promising the kids a day at the park. It would have been much more difficult to keep that promise if it was not this beautiful outside." She smiled, then adjusted the blanket on Riel. "How old is your little guy?"

 

[Riley Sparkles]

Riley smiled as the lady next to her asked how old Asher was. She loved talking about her little boy, and as she hadn't been working much, she hadn't met many people to talk to about him. "This is Asher. He's just gone nine months. Stood up by himself for a few seconds today!" Riley gushed, never thinking she would have been a clucky mother. Her mom definitely was, but whether it ran in their genes, or Asher was just too cute, Riley didn't care. She loved her little boy and wanted to show him off to the world.
Riley looked at the cuties that the lady had brought along with her. "And these are all yours?" Riley asked curiously. She imagined you'd have to be one hell of a mother to have four kids. Riley assumed that there was another parent in the picture too, but you could never be sure. But four kids, single parent or not, was bound to be a handful. Riley wanted another child, but only two children. Otherwise, she was sure to be gray but forty, but this lady seemed as young and beautiful as ever.