“Ollie, Ana, I’m home,” Crimson shouted as she shut the front door, dropping her backpack in the corner. She paused as she untied her sneakers, looking around at the unusually quiet living room. “Guys?” “Hey babe,” Oliver called from the top of the staircase, hurrying down toward her. His hair stood up in some spots, as if he had just woken up. “How was therapy?” Crimson shrugged as she walked over to him, stretching up on her toes to kiss him. “I’ll tell you about it later,” she replied as she tried to smooth his hair down. “You’ve got bedhead; did you take a nap with Ana? Is she still sleeping?” “No, no, she’s not sleeping,” Oliver answered slowly, his hand running through his hair nervously, messing it up again. She raised an eyebrow in confusion, “Then where is she? She usually comes running when I come home.” “Now, don’t panic,” he began, holding up both hands. “This sounds good,” Crimson muttered dryly. “I may have misplaced Ana,” he continued in a rush, his words running together. Crimson’s face went blank at his words. Slowly, she pressed her palm against her ear, patting it several times. “I’m sorry I thought you said you lost our three year old daughter. I’ll have Jane check it next time I go to the mansion.” Oliver winced slightly at her words. “I didn’t lose her,” he replied defensively. “She’s definitely still in the house. I mean all the doors and windows are still locked so I don’t think she got out.” “Oh. My. God,” Crimson groaned, covering her face with her hands. Forcing herself to take several deep breaths and not strangle her hellren, she dropped her hands, looking up at him. “What happened?” Oliver leaned against the back of the couch, sighing softly. “We were playing hide and seek; you know she loves hide and seek. So we were playing for a while and it was my turn to count while she hid and I just...haven’t found her yet?” he trailed off sheepishly. “And how long ago was this?” “About fifteen minutes? Maybe a little less,” he answered uncertainly. Crimson couldn’t help laughing loudly at his words, “Our young has outsmarted you for the past fifteen minutes while playing hide and seek? Seriously?” “She’s really good!” Oliver retorted, crossing his arms. “Crazy ninja good. She gets it from you and the Brothers.” Rolling her eyes slightly, she shook her head. “Obviously you just suck at this game. Where have you check?” As Oliver rattled off the list of Ana’s usual hiding spots, she frowned more and more. Shit, where else could their young be hiding? “Where else do we look?” Oliver asked when he finished the list of locations, his voice tinged with worry. Crimson thought for a moment before sighing. “Everywhere. We search everywhere again,” she replied softly, biting her lip. “She has to be in one of those spots. Or maybe she’s moving hiding spots as we search. She doesn’t come out when you call for her?” Oliver shook his head as he stood. “She probably thinks we’re still playing and doesn’t want to lose,” he replied. “Wonder where she gets that stubborn streak from,” Crimson mumbled as she headed toward the stairs. “You obviously,” Oliver retorted as he went to search the first floor. After ten minutes of searching, Crimson was forced to admit her male was right; Ana was a very good hider. They had gone through all of her usual hiding spots: the kitchen cupboards, the linen closet, under the laundry basket, between the bedsheets, but still hadn’t found the mischievous young. She would have felt stupid for doing it, but Crimson was really close to calling her mom to help look for her daughter. “Are we sure she didn’t get out of the house?” Crimson asked fearfully, terrified at the thought of their young on the streets alone. “She can’t have gotten out; everything is locked,” Oliver replied, running his hand through his hair for the hundredth time. He was quiet for a moment, lost in thought before his head snapped up suddenly. “What’s that game she plays in the pool with Rhage? With his eyes closed?” he asked quickly. “Marco polo?” Crimson replied in confusion. “What’s that-“ Oliver cupped his hands around his mouth, “Marco!” he shouted out, his voice reaching every room in the house. There was a beat of silence before they heard it, the small, muffled voice calling back “Polo”. “The closet!” Crimson exclaimed as they rushed upstairs, their feet pounding against the steps. “We checked there like three times,” he mumbled as they yanked open the door, his eyes scanning the piles of sheets on the lower shelves but finding nothing. Crimson’s brow wrinkled in confusion as she reached a hand into the shelves, patting to make sure the young wasn’t there. “But I was sure...Marco!” “Polo!” Ana’s voice called from above them, followed by a giggle. Their heads snapped up at the sound, spotting a red curl dangling off the top shelf. “Ana, we found you,” Oliver said, his voice choked with relief. The little girl pushed her head over the edge of the shelf, grinning down at her parents. One of her pigtails had come undone, the hair on the left side of her hair loose while the hair on the right side was tied with a purple hair tie. “You did, Daddy,” she replied as she brushed the hair from her face. “Mommy helped you; I️ heared it. Not fair.” Crimson thought her legs would give out with shock as she spotted her little girl, reaching up for her. “Come here, baby; let Mahmen lift you down,” she called her. Ana extended her arms toward Crimson, leaning into her grip as she lifted her down. “Hi Mahmen,” she greeted her, resting her head on Crimson’s shoulder. “Hi baby,” she murmured, kissing the young’s head as she held her tightly. “Ana, how did you get up there?” Oliver asked, rubbing the young’s back as he wrapped his other arm around Crimson’s shoulder. “I climb,” she answered simply. Oliver’s eyes widened in surprise. “All the way up there?” Ana nodded, her curls flopping around. “LW a good climb-climber and mommy the best one!” she answered excitedly. “I wanna be like mommy.” “Oh my god,” Oliver said, starting to laugh. “Two Crimsons will actually be the death of me.” “Daddy, fix my hair?” Ana asked, her hand playing with her untied hair. “It got lost.” Crimson nodded, shutting the closet door. “Yes baby. Daddy will fix your hair and then we’re all going to take a long nap.” Ana nodded in agreement, leaning against Crimson again. “I like naps.”
