#sorrell rowan

[dandylion240]

"Starla said Daddy was going away" Sorrell sobbed leaning into Aric seeking comfort. "Papa don't let the bad people come. I don't want Daddy to have to go away."

Raven knelt beside her young daughter. "Were you listening to Mommy and me talking earlier?"

Nodding Starla took a deep breath. "Mommy was real sad thinking about how Uncle Robin wasn't going to be with us for much longer. I don't want him to leave. I want him to stay here with us."

Silently Raven caught Aric's eyes. Nodding he gathered Sorrell into his arms and carried her into the room where Robin and Rhiannon were.

Taking her daughter's hand Raven said "let's go home."

"What the bad people and Uncle Robin" Starla asked.

"It's going to be okay" she assured her "Mommy and I need to talk to you."

[dandylion240]

"Rhiannon" Robin cried worried by the way his daughter burst through the door in tears. Following her into her room he sat beside her on the bed.

"What happened to your sister" Aric demanded when Sorrell and Starla followed a moment later.

"She got scared" Sorrell explained.

"Did something scare her" Aric asked "is someone out there?" He rushed towards the door determined to make a sweep of the property.

"It's the bad people" Starla said turning to her mom's for protection.

"I don't want Daddy to leave" Sorrell clutched at Aric's hand "make the bad people go away."

"What makes you think Daddy's leaving" he asked dropping to his knees in front of his daughter all other thoughts gone.

[dandylion240]

The girls jibber jabbered through breakfast excited with the change their day started off with. Reluctantly the girls waved goodbye as they got on the bus. "I should do this more often" Aric said turning to Robin.

"They do understand why you can't" Robin assured him moving to wash the stack of breakfast dishes.

Putting a hand on Robin's arm "you can do those later."

Cheeks turning a rosy red Robin turned easily into Aric's arms. "Are you feeling up to it" he asked a familiar glimmer in his eyes.

"Oh yeah" he grinned pressing in close letting Robin feel how much he wanted this.

"Good" Robin grinned pressing a hand to the back of Aric's head bringing his head down to his lips.

[dandylion240]

"Is Daddy alright" Sorrell asked peeking her head out from beneath the covers.

"Of course he's alright" Aric assured her "why wouldn't he be?"

"Because you never wake us up" Rhiannon said squeezing him tighter as if she wanted to make sure he was really there.

"Today you get the added pleasure of having both of us see you off to school" he patted her head. He nearly fell over when Sorrell rushed over and threw her arms around him as well.

Aric had to blink back tears as they fought for space to squeeze him. It was such a simple thing. His little girls loved him. Wanted him there when they got up in the mornings.

"We love you so much Papa" Sorrell announced smiling up at him. Her smile radiated with happiness between the tangles of her chestnut-brown hair falling in strings around her face.

"I love you too" he hugged them both kissing the tops of their heads. If only he could keep everything just like this forever. His heart ached knowing the pain the future held for them when Robin was gone. Blinking hard he took a shaky breath. "Better hurry before your pancakes get cold" his voice was gruff as he fought to control his emotions.

[dandylion240]

"Auntie Sky" Sorrell cried jumping to her feet. "Papa fell over and won't wake up."

"And Daddy is acting funny" Rhiannon added.

Taking a couple of seconds to comfort the scared little girls Sky knelt down in front of them. It took every ounce of control for her not to just burst into the house. Pulling the girls into her arms she smiled at them "there's nothing to be scared about. Your daddies are going to be alright." She could see her words were having little affect on the them. Their eyes were still full of fear from whatever they had observed. "Auntie Raven has cake at the house. Why don't you run over there and get some?"

"Really" Rhiannon sniffed.

"Would I joke about the best chocolate cake in the world" she asked.

Sorrell sidled up beside her "will our daddies be ok if we go over there?"

"Of course they will" she assured her. "Besides I'm here now. I'll take care of them."

"You promise" Sorrell asked before moving to join her sister who was anxious to get away.

"I promise" Sky said speaking solemnly.

"Ok" Sorrell moved away reluctantly "you'll let us know."

[dandylion240]

"Thought I might find you out here" Aric said walking onto the porch. The twins were nearby playing with a dollhouse Sky found for them at a rummage sale.

Glancing up Robin patted the empty spot beside him on the bench. "You know me too well."

Moving to take the empty spot beside Robin he didn't miss the melancholy tone in Robin's voice. "Is something wrong?" he asked throwing at arm around the man.

Shaking his head Robin leaned into him "just thinking. The girls will be a year old tomorrow. It's hard to believe that this is my life now."

"Dada" Sorrel looked up holding out her favorite doll inviting him to play with them.

Rhiannon scooted over making room. "Pway" her high pitched squeal pleaded.

[dandylion240]

Momentarily he felt her little arms wrap tight around his neck and her soft lips on his cheek. "Ok Daddy" she said reluctantly.

"Thank you baby girl" he smiled for both of them hoping it was enough to reassure them. Once he heard the door leading to the porch click shut he patted the floor beside him for his phone. "Sky?"

"I'm still here" she said as if her patience was wearing thin.

"Will you please come" he asked.

"What aren't you telling me" she demanded.

"I'd rather not say" he said looking in the direction of the door. "I don't want the girls to hear." Sighing continued "please Sky I wouldn't ask if I didn't need you. I'm sorry to interrupt your family time..."

"Robin..." she paused "I'm on my way."

[dandylion240]

"Daddy's tired" Aric tried to distract them by attempting to tell them a story.

"Pwease daddy" she begged using her best puppy dog look on him.

"Alright" Robin grinned at her "one at a time though."

"Me first" Rhiannon cried climbing onto Robin's back.

"Daddy horsie" Sorrell pointed towards Aric. "Pwease" she added holding her hands up as it pleading.

"Fine" he sighed rolling his eyes a little before getting on his hands and knees to let the girl climb on his back. He yelped as Sorrell's hands pulled his hair as she mimicked riding a horse.