Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 53: No Work and All Play

Amelia closed her eyes as the gentle summer breeze blew against her skin. Her lips curled into a small smile as Onyx ran his fingers through her hair, slowly, trying to think of something to break the silence. It was a peaceful evening at the park, and aside from the distant sound of birds chirping, everything was quiet.

Onyx finally spoke. "I remember when we were kids, and we came here all the time to play together. I'm really glad Caleb told us about that sunlight reversal drink. I've never been a fan of the sun, but I missed out on so many beautiful days like this one..."

"Yeah, I'm glad too." She agreed with a slight nod. "Unlike you, I was a fan of sunny days like this. We should go out more often now, don't you think?"

Onyx smiled down at her. "We should. But remind me to wear some sunscreen or something next time... even after drinking that, the sunlight still kind of burns--"

The loud sound of small feet running across the ground interrupted their conversation. "Onyx! Amelia!"

Onyx looked up as Tiffany came to a stop in front of him, grinning from ear to ear. 

"Is your sun protection working?" Tiffany asked curiously. 

"Yeah, it works. But it will probably wear off in an hour or so," Onyx replied. 

"That's great that it works! I'll need it!" Tiffany's grin widened. "I've decided I want to be a vampire!"

"Hold your horses!" Amelia laughed softly. "You won't need that just yet. You can't become a vampire until you're older."

Tiffany frowned. "Aww, but why not? I want to live forever with you!"

Onyx and Amelia both smiled and exchanged relieved glances. 

"We want you to live forever, too. I'll turn you into a vampire someday, okay? Just be patient a little longer," Onyx said. "You don't need fangs yet."

Tiffany sighed. "Okay... then before your sun protection wears off, will you come play with me?" 

Before Onyx could answer, Amelia did. "Of course! Let's go to the playground!"

Onyx shook his head, watching Amelia and Tiffany race off toward the monkey bars with a slight chuckle. He admired their endless energy, even if it could wind up being exhausting for him.

His expression contorted in worry as he followed them and saw Tiffany climbing to swing from the bars. "Be careful!"

Tiffany rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be fine! At least I'm not doing something stupid like Amelia!"

Onyx frowned. 'Stupid like Amelia? What does she--' His thoughts were interrupted by a call from above.

"Hey, Onyx! Watch this!"

He looked up only to see Amelia slowly walking across the top of the monkey bars, grinning maniacally, and in that moment, he was entirely certain she had completely lost her mind.

Tiffany let go of the monkey bars and grinned up at her. "Wow, great job!"

Onyx nearly fainted at the sight. "D-Don't encourage her! Amelia, get down from there!"

Amelia defiantly took another step. "I'm fine!"

Tiffany only laughed at them and ran over to the jungle gym, leaving Onyx in a panic. He decisively grabbed onto the ladder and climbed to the top of the bars. "I'm getting you down from here whether you like it or not!"

Amelia giggled. "Okay, dad," she teased.

He shook his head and steadily crawled across the bars. "Excuse me for not wanting you to fall and die!"

She raised an eyebrow. "Um, Onyx-"

He crawled closer. "Don't argue with me on this one! If I have to crawl all the way over there, I'll--"

She grinned and finally sat down, halfway across the monkey bars, and moved to the edge. "You'll what?"

Onyx relaxed once she was sitting and finally reached her, scooting to the edge to sit down too. "...Good question." He sighed, clearly exasperated. "What am I going to do with you, Amelia?"

Amelia rested her head on his shoulder and leaned against him, smiling. "Thank me for the great view of the park?"

Onyx chuckled and wrapped an arm around her. "I guess so... but really, what were you thinking? That was dangerous! What if--"

She smiled wider, barely holding back a laugh. "Onyx, you're forgetting something."

He raised an eyebrow. "What am I forgetting?"

"It wasn't even dangerous. I can fly if I fall. Bat form, remember?"

"...Oh. Right."

The two of them laughed and looked down at the jungle gym below, watching Tiffany as she pretended to be a pirate.

"Come on, let's go join her," Amelia said, and turned into a bat as she jumped off of the monkey bars. "It'll be fun!"

Onyx smiled and did the same, flying after her as she approached the pirate ship. She landed in the turret and transformed back to normal, watching as Onyx landed and transformed on the deck below.

"Ahoy, mateys!" Tiffany exclaimed as she grabbed the bars on the cannon. "Are ye ready to set sail?"

"Aye, captain!" Amelia replied with a grin.

"Yes. I mean... aye!" Onyx laughed and walked to the ladder, climbing up toward the turret. 

"Avast ye!" Tiffany turned to him and put her hands on her hips. "You can't do that!"

Onyx frowned. "Do what?"

"You're a boy! My crew is girls only!" Tiffany narrowed her eyes. "That means you'll have to walk the plank!"

His eyes widened. "Wait, walk the plank!?"

He gasped as he ran into something and nearly fell off the ladder, turning his attention to in front of him. Amelia grinned mischievously as she blocked his way to the top with her foot. "You heard her! You're walking the plank, Onyx!"

Onyx gasped dramatically. "You'd let me become shark food? I thought you loved me!"

Amelia frowned. "I have no choice. Sorry. Have a nice trip to Davy Jones' locker..."

Tiffany looked up at them, pondering for a moment. "Wait! Maybe I can make one exception. But only because you're a cool boy."

"Yeah, I agree!" Amelia grinned. "He's a cool boy. Those are hard to find, huh?"

"Yeah!" Tiffany nodded. "Now go swab the poop deck!"

Onyx hopped off of the ladder. "Excuse me, swab the what?"

Amelia followed him and leaned in close, laughing loudly. "She said the poop deck!"

Onyx laughed too and walked toward the front of the pirate ship, taking Amelia's hand to bring her with him. "Here, I have a better idea than swabbing the poop deck..."

"And that is?" She inquired, noticing a playful smirk form on his lips.

He pushed her in front of him. "Close your eyes and step up."

"Are you trying to throw me overboard?" Amelia's eyebrows raised, but she cooperated and stepped onto the edge of the ship.

"Of course not." She could feel his body press against her back, and his face was close to her ear. "Now," he spoke quietly, "give me your hand..."

She obliged, and Onyx laced their fingers together as he guided her arms up from her sides. "Open your eyes."

She opened her eyes and giggled at the realization of what he was doing. "Okay... really?"

He grinned. "You got your lines all wrong. You're supposed to say that you're flying!"

"Alright, fine," Amelia laughed. "I'm flying, Onyx!" 

"I thought you were going to be lookouts or something!" Tiffany yelled, making a telescope with her hands. "Now I have to do all the work while you... what are you doing?" She didn't get an answer as the two erupted into laughter.

Amelia lost her balance and fell back, landing on top of Onyx with a yelp. But there was only a second of silence before they started laughing again, and she crawled off of him to lie down on the deck.

Amelia smiled as she reached for his hand. "I haven't had this much fun since we played together like this when we were kids..."

Onyx smiled and stared up at the clouds. "Yeah... those were difficult times, but every now and then I miss them."

She squeezed his hand. "Me too..."

They hadn't even bothered to keep track of where Tiffany went, but they figured it out when she climbed up the ladder beside of them. "We should go home! It's getting late and I'm starving..."

"Aww, already?" Amelia pouted.

Onyx laughed and stood up. "She's right. Let's go home..."

"Fine, but only on one condition!" Amelia begrudgingly sat up from her comfortable position.

Onyx sighed. "And that is?"

"Slide down the slide with me."

"The slide? Amelia--"

"We're not getting off of this pirate ship unless we slide off."

"...Fine."

Amelia grinned triumphantly and sat down at the top of the slide, glacing expectantly over her shoulder. 

He shook his head and followed, wrapping his arms around her with a sigh. "I suppose you want me to push you?"

"That would be great," she replied with a grin. "Now do that thing pirates say. Heave-ho, right?"

He chuckled in response. "Right."

---

"I guess that trip to the park got her exhausted, huh? She barely stayed awake through dinner," Amelia said quietly.

"Yeah," Onyx whispered, carrying Tiffany through the doorway of her room. "We might as well let her sleep. It's earlier than we usually go to bed, but... we could use the extra rest for once."

Amelia yawned. "Yeah, I'm tired anyway... so let's tuck her in and go to bed."

Onyx nodded in agreement and quietly walked over to the bed, lying Tiffany down.

"Goodnight, Tiffany," he whispered as he leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Sweet dreams."

Amelia leaned against the door frame, smiling to herself as she watched Onyx tuck Tiffany into bed. 'He really would be an amazing father...' Her smile widened at the thought. 'Maybe I should talk to him about it...'

-----

Amelia smiled at Onyx as she got into bed beside of him, wearing a fresh pair of pajamas and ready to get some sleep. "Hey, honey?"

Onyx hadn't even noticed he was dozing off until the sudden shifting startled him. "Yeah?"

"I... I was wondering something," she began, trying to find the right way to bring up the subject.

He smiled. "What is it?"

She took a deep breath.  "I've started to realize... when we're with Tiffany, it just feels so... right, you know? She's been great for both of us, I think. And... she's growing up so fast. So I was wondering... would you... be open to having kids of our own? Not now, of course, but when she gets older..."

As her voice trailed off, Onyx lit up. "I would love for us to have kids someday."

Amelia smiled. "Really? That's great, because I was really hoping you would."

Onyx was beaming. "The thought of us having a family together makes me so happy, Amelia..."

"It makes me happy, too." Her smile widened and she snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest. They both fell asleep with their smiles still intact as they imagined the possibility of a family of their own... someday.