As soon as Shane rang the doorbell, he heard the pattering of feet and the muffled shouting of Alisa announcing his arrival as she ran to open the door. She could barely haul the huge door open, but insisted every time that she had to be the one to let Shane in.
"Uncle Shane is here!" She yelled grinning up at him and reaching to be picked up.
"I see that," Ilya was right behind her smiling softly as Shane scooped her into his arms.
Ilya waited until Alisa was safely tucked against Shane before stepping forward and pressing a gentle kiss to Shane's lips.
"Hi," Ilya smiled back. "Good game tonight."
"It was," Shane's smile widened. "For me at least. Isn't that right?" Shane looked down at Alisa who nodded, grinning at Ilya.
"So you are the-" Ilya stopped with quick glance at Alisa. "Jerk." He finished.
Shane laughed. Ilya had been trying (unsuccessfully) to swear less around his Niece.
"No, it's still you," Shane chuckled, following as Ilya led them to the living room. "Have you eaten yet?" Shane asked Alisa as he sat, and she nodded.
"Uncle Ilya made nuggets!" Alisa snuggled into Shane's chest and he melted a little. "Do you want?" Her little accent reminded Shane so much of Ilya.
"I'm good sunshine," Shane promised. "I'll eat later."
"Uncle Ilya makes good nuggets," Alisa's point was interrupted by a yawn.
"Sounds like you're getting sleepy, solnyshko," Ilya smiled, reaching out to run a hand over his Nieces hair.
"No!" She tucked her face against Shane's neck to hide, mumbling in Russian.
Shane looked to Ilya for translation but he shrugged. Either Alisa was speaking toddler or Ilya simply couldn't hear her.
"What if I read to you?" Shane asked, resting his cheek against Alisa's head.
"Da! Cin-er-ella," She mumbled. It was her current favorite. Shane had a copy at his apartment so he could read to her over the phone while Ilya turned the pages.
"Of course Cinderella, how did I not guess?" Shane gently tickled Alisa's sides, making her giggle.
"It's on her bed," Ilya said, watching them with a soft expression that made Shane's stomach flip.
"Should we let Uncle Ilya join us?" Shane knew the answer even before the precocious little girl in his arms said yes.
The three headed to Alisa's room and settled on her bed together. It was a tight fit, but with the toddler between them, Shane and Ilya made it work. Shane picked up the book and began reading (with the funny voices Alisa loved). It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, slumped against Shane's shoulder, her little hands curled in his shirt. Ilya and Shane carefully slipped from the bed, laying Alisa down and tucking her in.
The two made it to the door before a tiny sleepy voice called, "Uncle Shane?" followed by a quiet question in Russian. Shane glanced at Ilya, not quite understanding.
"She wants you to sing," Ilya translated, and Shane ducked his head.
"Right," He said, walking back to the bed and sitting on the edge.
Ilya watched from the door as Shane began quietly singing in Japanese, running his fingers through Alisa's wild curls. He had sung to her the first night they met, when Ilya was tired and overwelmed and Alisa wouldn't sleep, crying softly any time she was left alone. He later told Ilya it was a song his mother had sung to him when he was little. Alisa loved it so much Ilya had a recording on his phone to play for her but if there was one thing Uncle and Neice agreed on it was that having Shane in person was better than anything else.
Link to pt 1 and 2 cause i cant do that simple link to save my life, at this point I give up: https://www.tumblr.com/writerjayne/809191774938595328/pt-2-so-hayden-dragged-out-the-word-and?source=share
pt 4 here: https://www.tumblr.com/writerjayne/809850732418383872/pt-4-uncle-shane-so-how-long-can-you-stay-ilya?source=share