darker_london | Daddy! (Aly, Edward, Jacinta, Isabella)

Isabella and Jacinta were driving Aly mad. They were setting up Jacinta and Edward's house for David's party that night, but Jacinta and Isabella could always be counted on to provide madness when together. Isabella was commenting that they'd have to wrap up the party eventually because of Kat and Alessa's hen's nights, and Jacinta was demanding that Aly help straighten tables and chairs and assist with baking and Isabella chattered on and finally Aly disappeared into her father's study to seek out refuge in the form of a very British man. "Daddy. Save me?" She asked, her eyes cute and pleading.

"You didn't lead them in here, did you?!" Edward asked, his voice slightly frantic.

"No." Aly winked and she walked over to sit beside him. "Mama is measuring chairs. As if they changed height since the last time she measured them..."

"My Jacinta likes everything to be just right. How's that man of yours. Not cukoo yet?" Edward leaned over so he could put his arm around his daughter's shoulders. He did adore his Alyona, and this was a better way for him to show it than to say he loved her.

Aly chuckled and she shook her head. "Peter is wonderful. Getting more sleep now that Lauren doesn't make up as much during the night. He's taking the kids to the park today. All of them. I hope he let Deirdre go with him. He's a wonderful father, but Caleb alone has more energy than most people possess. Little Thomas is getting closer to talking every day. He says wonderful things. And Lydia is almost 13, which has Peter completely terrified. It's cute." She stayed away from the topic of William, as Edward didn't need to know her dead first husband was visiting and she was sleeping with him too...

"Ah, I remember the terror." Edward winked. "Teenage daughters. There's nothing quite like them to make your hair stand on end in fear."

"Somehow, I think Lydia is far more logical than I was. Or...am." Aly glanced towards the door of the study when she heard a crash. "How long has Mama been planning this party?"

"Probably since last year." Edward shook her head. "David's the eldest child now." Edward's voice was slightly quiet there, as his eldest son Brian had been killed in jail. And Brian had been a complete tosspot, but he was still Edward's son. "She feels like that means she has to make eve more effort."

"Well...David will love it." Aly reached out to give her father's hand a squeeze. "Jess is coming tonight. It's so wonderful to have her back here again. It's good for David too. He's happier with her around. More like his old self than he has been in a long time. Peter is wonderful for him, but Jess has been there for s long..."

Edward nodded. "I'm glad she's back too."

And then Jacinta stuck her head into the study. "What are you doing in here?!" She demanded in Spanish. "Come out here and help me you lazy good-for-nothings! I can't believe you'd just let me try to do it all myself!" She walked away muttering and then Isabella stuck her head into the study.

"Sorry...she asked where you were..."

"Isabella!" Aly protested, but her cousin had run away, giggling. "I suppose we better get back too it."

"You gave me away, Kid!" Edward said with a laugh. "I'll never forgive you for this."

"Well you could stay here, Dad, but Mama will have your head and you know it." Aly raised her eyebrows and then she stood and offered him a hand.

"I'd never deny Jacinta anything she wanted. I'd be too afraid to." And he let Aly help him up even as she laughed.