Lazy day.

[shimmerandsing]

Alison decided to take advantage of the milder day and was out walking around the koi pond. She'd fed them up and leaned lightly on the bridge rail to watch them. It was chilly enough for a coat, but not so icy that she shivered. A good day, she decided.

Sadie lay at her feet and peered over the side of the bridge to watch the fish. Alison had the feeling that the dog would love to grab one of the shiny fish. But, then she probably wouldn't know what to do with it once she had it. It was a good thing Sadie wasn't a cat.

Plum blossoms fell from the trees and onto the water's surface. The fish would swim up to nibble and look sad when they discovered it was not food. Alison kind of felt bad for giggling.

Comments

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"It's more a problem with me than with him. Like you said, he bounces back. I don't bounce as well." She smiled wryly and shrugged.

"I plan to spend most of the winter indoors. I didn't really appreciate the snow last winter. Although, I'm told my body temperature my raise dramatically in the next couple of months. So, I may have to go out to cool off..."

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"You do bounce back. Just not as quickly. Or are you still holding him to you to save him from the next sniper?" By this point in time, it seemed like the attack on Longshot had been just a speed bump. Nothing that held the two of them back.

"Sensible plan. I may steal it for my own use. Except the escaping outside. I will leave that to those who are younger than me."

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes, I'd like to. I'd like to protect him and keep him safe. But, I don't want to treat him like a child."

She was acutely aware of how little he would appreciate that. And it wouldn't feel right, anyway. Longshot was more than capable of taking care of himself. The instinct was hard to squash, though.

"Longshot loves the snow. He'll play in it with Sadie and the kids enough for the both of us."

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"Liking to and having the mental strength not to give into instincts are separate things." The jonin leaned back in her chair. "Most everyone would like to protect the ones they love. But doing it too much stifles them."

She looked around the castle yard. "There are probably no spaces more free than these grounds."

Which made it a magnet to freedom-seeking rebels. Well, and the addition of his wife being there.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"There aren't many things I could protect him from that he couldn't just as easily defeat. He's a much better, stronger fighter than I am. But, I still have the urge."

Alison followed the jonin's gaze. The castle grounds were beautiful. They'd put a lot of work into it. Of course, the koi pond was her favorite part.

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"I think," the jonin began slowly, "you are a better fighter than you give yourself credit for. I seem to recall a time when you were blinded and doing well."

Not that Japanese fanwoman number one had been watching what happened in Dallas. And then became heartbroken for days when the X-Men were declared dead.

"So, do we have an idea of what I will be calling my grandchildren?" She asked it casually enough.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"I'm not bad," Alison admitted with a blush. "But, Longshot is better trained. He's worked at it much harder than I have. Most of what I can do is instinct and what he taught me."

And the X-Men. Although, she never stayed with them long enough to really make it count.

A smile broke out on Alison's face at the question. Talking about her little ones almost always made her smile.

"We came up with a list of names we like. We're working on narrowing it down. I have some favorites I'm hoping for."

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"If you would inform me of what they are when you have decided, I would be pleased. It will be easier to get charms from the temple with the correct names on them." Not that the jonin was trying to get the inside track on the names. Actually, it also helped that baby talk made Alison happy. That was actually more important.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"You'll be the first to know. I'm going to want to start telling people the minute we decide." She squirmed a little excitedly. Baby stuff! Yay!

Oooh. Those charms sounded interesting.

"What are the charms like? Good luck things? Can we hang them on the wall over the crib?"

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"Arigato." The jonin bowed slightly. First! Ha! She will have to hold that over her information-gathering daughter sometime. Because what was life without a little familial competition.

"They are called O-mamori. They are protective charms." She paused to convert measurements into American standard for her daughter-in-law. "They are flat rectangular bags measuring around 1 3/4 x 3 inches, with a decorative knot at the top to keep it closed. So you could hang them on the wall over the crib. The temple I will be going to will have their names put on the outside of the bag. There is usually something inside the bag, but one does not open it. The protection goes away if the bag is opened."

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Grandma should get the first baby bulletin. Just don't tell John I said so." Alison laughed.

With all the grandparents and extended family these children were going to have, they were going to end up horribly spoiled. And Alison couldn't bring herself to be sorry about that.

She nodded as the jonin explained. Protection for her babies sounded good to her. "We definitely won't open them, then."

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

The jonin nodded politely. now was not the time to point out there were two grandmothers on Longshot's side of the family. From what she had been told, bragging about it to the other grandmother would not be wise. "I am the soul of discretion."

She glanced at the pond as a koi jumped out of the water and splashed down. "There are also many temples in Japan. With charms for many specific purposes. I could find one if you had a charm you wanted to give your husband..."

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"I know. Someone told me that ninjas know how to keep secrets." She smiled.

Hmmm. A charm for Longshot? Alison looked out over the pond as she thought about it. What sort of charm? Not luck, surely. He had that already. Strength wasn't in any short supply.

"Is there one for safe returns home?"

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"Either your husband or Miyuki," the jonin ventured to guess. Asuka tended to be more silent about things. Thus, why she probably scared Robbie more than once just by coming around a corner.

"Most definitely. Though an inland temple will be better. I do not think Longshot needs a fisherman's charm."

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"My hubby has mentioned it a time or two. When he sneaks up on me." She laughed.

In Alison's opinion, Robbie was going to develop a nervous tic if he didn't start relaxing around Asuka.

"Yes, definitely. I want him seeking home. Not the ocean."

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

The jonin raised an eyebrow. She would have to have a talk with her son about sneaking up on world-famous music stars who are giving the head of the clan grandchildren. A very careful talk. She wanted more grandchildren.

"I will find you one." Most likely because Alison probably wanted it soon and she was slowly getting less mobile.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. I'd appreciate it." Very much. The more reasons Longshot had to find his way home, the better.

Meanwhile, the jonin's future grandbabies were having a fine time kicking mommy. Alison squirmed a little in her seat and tried to get more comfortable. Her little monkeys were getting bigger and learning stronger kicks. She lifted the hem of her shirt a bit and looked down at the little bump made by a foot pushing against the side of her belly.

She looked up at her mother-in-law with a wry expression. "Can you tell them that it's too early yet and that's not the way out, anyway?"

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

The jonin nodded with all due seriousness. She bent over to talk to the children in her daughter-in-law's belly.

"Hello." She wasn't sure how to start. She had never talked to a baby inside another woman before. "This is your grandmother. Despite what your father may say, the belly button is not a point of exit. There is a better path, but you will have to wait. Also, it is too early. It is too chilly outside for you."

She nodded in satisfaction and sat back up.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

Alison started giggling from 'hello' and didn't stop until the end. Whichever baby had been stretching pulled its foot back and the kicking stopped. Alison could almost swear they were listening to the new voice. The jonin lived with them but, was so quiet that they probably didn't hear her very often.

"Thank you." She smiled and shook her head, rubbing her belly in light circles. "Why am I not surprised that they listen to their grandmother quicker than mommy?"

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"You are welcome." It was a job well done then. The jonin would mark this down in her success column.

"Possibly because I will sneak them cookies when you aren't looking." Though probably cookies baked by Alison or Momoko since the jonin was not a cook by most stretches of the imagination. She only tended to use the stove to help make medicine.

[light-in-sound.livejournal.com]

"Ahhh, I see. That's a pretty clever plan." Alison giggled again. It felt good to relax. She wasn't the slightest bit worried about the jonin stuffing her babies full of cookies. She was sure to know more about taking care of babies properly than Longshot and Alison would at first.

"Do they get bedtime stories when grandma watches them?"

[sonofarize.livejournal.com]

"I have many, but that was the only one I could speak about," she deadpanned again. She really should stop watching those late night Japanese comedy shows. Except Alison and Longshot had a television in their home. It was like crack.

"Certainly. Though I hope the ones in Japanese are suitable. I am not a good storyteller in any other language." There was that Japanese modesty thing again.