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It's funny how time flies, isn't it.

It seems like only yesterday that Hope and Eli were newborns, tiny little things you could fit in the crook of your arm. And yet, this weekend they turned seven months old. Seven months! Has it really been that long?

Well, they're certainly a lot bigger than they used to be. And more mobile. Which is why their parents just spent the better part of the day going over their living quarters to double-check that everything is babyproofed. It is, as far as they can tell, but the experience left Alyx with a burning desire to get the hell out of the house for a little while.

Thus, we find her sitting cross-legged on the floor near the fireplace, surrounded by a variety of stuffed animals and the two small children they belong to. Please don't trip over any of them.

[tinytag: Autor]

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"Hi, Hope," says Ellen as Dogmeat turns to sniff at the newcomer. "This is Dogmeat. Dogmeat, say hi."

Not that he understands a word other than his own name, but.

"Da!" says Hope. "Da da da da da!"

Ellen can't help but laugh at that. "Hasn't quite gotten the hang of words yet, huh?" she says.

"Da da da da da da da," says Hope seriously.

"Yeahhhh, not yet," says Alyx with a chuckle of her own. "But she's still pretty chatty regardless."

"She'll figure it out soon enough," says Ellen, and then informs Hope, "Doggie. Can you say 'doggie'?"

Obviously not, but why not try?

Here, have a blank stare.

Dogmeat cocks his head and makes a quizzical baroo?-type noise. Is he missing something, here?

"Doggie," Alyx repeats helpfully. "Dog-gie."

"Dah?"

"Doggie."

"Dah gh..."

"That's pretty close," says Ellen encouragingly. "Doggie."

Dogmeat heaves a sigh and starts looking for someone to lick.

Oh noes, doggie is sad! Clearly Eli needs to PET HARDER.

Ah. Okay. That's who needs licking.

Ellen scrambles to grab the dog's head away again but, well, the slobber's been done.

:O! goes Eli.

:D! goes Hope.

"Dogmeat, I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish like that," says Ellen. "They're not going to feed you, you know."

"Eli doesn't seem to mind, at least..."

"True, but that can't be-"

Dogmeat's giving up on the first small human and turning to sniff the other one curiously now.

WHOA that's a lot of dog up close all of a sudden. Hope is less amused than alarmed now.

Fortunately, Ellen's good at recognizing distress faces. She does, after all, see them a lot. "Okay, Dogmeat," she says firmly, and starts pulling him away. "That's enough."

To late. Hope screws up her face and starts bawling.

"Oh, gosh, I'm sorry-" Ellen looks helplessly at Alyx. "I'll just, um, take him outside, okay? And then come help with the baby? I'm so sorry..."

"No, no, it's not your fault," says Alyx, even as she gathers Hope into her arms. "Shhhhh, it's okay, baby, the scary dog's going away now..."

Ellen's not going to argue that point. Dogmeat is kinda scary.

Fortunately he's just as happy to run around outside without her as he is to investigate babies, so she can come back and look apologetic as possible upon approach.

By the time Ellen gets back, Hope has calmed down and is dozing in her mother's arms while her brother fiddles with the cloth book. Alyx smiles and mouths the word 'hi' at Ellen.

Oh, that's a much more reassuring sight. Ellen smiles back at Alyx and sits down cross-legged in front of Eli.

Hey, you never know. Those cloth books can be pretty interesting.

No kidding. It's not every day you see embroidered circuit diagrams.

Edited 2012-12-19 04:55 (UTC)

"Did you make that yourself?" Ellen inquires in a low murmur, glancing Alyx's way. "It's very fine work."