#jazz weiss

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty Seven: Weiss

Welcome to a big, bustling family, Ever Weiss!

Was it wise for Helen and Woody to have another baby? Was it wise to rely on a backlog of dollars from various odd jobs and inheritances to get by? Well, logic had no chance of winning against affairs of the heart, and this was a mother and father who loved their children. Woody's unique faerie constitution meant he could be up at all hours, day and night, to tend to the needs of little ones who knew no circadian rhythm yet. This meant Helen could get adequate pre-, mid-, and post-partum rest. So, adding a fourth team member to the team of Weiss girls was no problem, in theory and practise.

As for a fifth, or beyond... it was decided, in discussions with Helen's doctor, that there would be a pause on maternity matters for now. She and Woody had four fantastic children, and the twins were close to starting school. Time to allow a bit of a breather, conserving energy for raising baby Ever too.

[lasudio]

VeronaHils, Round Twenty Eight: Weiss

Woody's breath caught in his chest. The girls had dad's kind eyes.

Adele, Jazz, Snow, and Ever would never get to sit on their granddad's knee and tug on his handknit sweaters and ask for storytime. Woody did his best to introduce them by showing photos and answering every curious question - was he nice? Would he play with us? What did he smell like? Yes, yes, and a box of English Breakfast teabags in the pantry. Then, the girls would ask about aunt Penny too, and Helen would press her hand to Woody's shoulder and step in at this point so he could go out to the garden and stare at the sky.

Why - why weren't they still here?

Life went on. Woody's phone would buzz in his pocket and he'd talk to his son Teddy for an hour about the latest Land Grant University goings-on, and he'd pass the phone so the girls could talk to their big brother.

If only dad and Penny were a phone call away too, life would be perfect.

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Round Twenty Six: Weiss

It was kind of Sunny to take the Roseland dogs in when the twins came.

Woody worried about affording baby food on top of dog food, which the Roseland litter consumed in great mounds for such small creatures. Luckily, his nephew Sunny was in need of dogs at the farm across the road, where Cyd Roseland had settled in his final years. It was nice to think the family were being reunited, in a way, though it hurt Woody's heart to pack up all the well-loved bedding and chewed toys. Penny had loved the puppies as much as she'd loved Cyd, her partner in loving canines of all kinds; hopefully she would understand the need for Woody and Helen to make room for more kids. And yes, as the twins had their birthday party, Helen took Woody aside to let him know: they weren't done yet!

Aunt Daisy and big brother Teddy were guests of honour whose only demands were cuddles with the girls. The former was visiting in between rehearsals at the Printer Press and the latter had come all the way from Land Grant University to get to know his little sisters better. Woody wondered, what does he really think of all this - me having a family after all this time? But if Teddy had any reservations about his dad doing all this when he hadn't done the same for his mum, these were not revealed in front of little Adele or Jazz or Snow.

Hopefully the new baby Weiss on the way was ready for a big family to greet them...

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Interlude: Weiss

Woody is grateful for his girls, but he misses his sister Penny and her easygoing approach to winning at life. Helen's free-spirited bohemia can only go so far when food has to be put on the table - and lots of it!

[lasudio]

VeronaHills, Interlude: Weiss

There was a time Woody was sure he wasn't going to become a father. Five kids later, he can't imagine his life any other way. Now he's hearing the earth's song; time is short, but it will be sweet spent with his family.