Aaliyah Dillon

Anna laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ve been her sister for longer, and I still don’t know what to buy her either.”

“Is gift buying supposed to be this hard? Was it this hard when you were with whatshisface?”

“It’s okay, I completely forgot too.” Lilianna laughed. “Are you in the mood for yogurt? I really want Froyo.” 

“Ooh, always. I don’t think my coach will like the extra sugary fat of it but also...who cares.” Liyah laughed. “I don’t know any good froyo places, though...yo”

“If I wanted your wife to do it, I’d have asked her.” He said simply, rolling his eyes. He pulled on the laces hard as he fit his feet in, eyeing her sidelong. “I’ve never done this before, cut me some slack.”

“It’s as easy as putting shoes on. Are you telling me you don’t know how to tie your shoes, too?” Liyah teased. Once she was all laced up, she stood on the skates. “Hurry up, I wanna teach you how to skate.”

Sighing heavily, he turned on his heel, going back the way he came and getting her a glass of water. Anyone else he’d tell to go scratch, but Aaliyah always seemed to get what she wanted from him. “Your wish is my command.” He smirked, bowing as she took the drink.

“Thank you.” She said with a cheesy smile. “I am honestly so pooped, practice has been kicking me in the ass and ugh. I forgot how rough training was. I’ve been so good about eating healthy but this cake it just...sang to me. Like a little bird.”

“If not, I’ll take it,” Anna joked, small smile on her face. “Though I’m sure she’ll love it. Claire is pretty easy to buy for.”

“Really? You do?” Liyah looked at the bird again. It was cute. “Merlin, we’ve been married for how long and I still don’t know how to shop for her.”

“Okay, cool, because the other day Niko asked me if we would mind babysitting Stella and I told him I’d have to talk to you before just bringing a toddler home.”

Aaliyah laughed. “I thought this was hypothetical!” She shook her head slightly. “I’m fine with a real child, too. Not just hypothetical ones.”

“You have an apartment. And I don’t take requests.” He teased, making a face at her as he took a cupcake and made his way back through to his living room. “Are you staying? Do I need to offer you like, a drink? Or have you been here enough to help yourself?”

“You do for me, your absolutiest bestest friend. I’ll fight whoever else wants this place.” She smiled back at Jackson. “I’m gonna eat this cake, so maybe a little bit of water? I would be ever so grateful.”

“Awesome.” He breathed, offering her his arm before taking off toward the little counter where they were renting ice skates. “If I get an ice rash on my ass, you’re healing it for me. Just saying.” He laughed, winking at the girl who handed him a pair of skates before sitting to try and wrangle them onto his feet.

Liyah took Jackson’s arm happily and held up two fingers. “Size eight for me.” She said, trying to ignore Jackson’s comment. “I’ll make Claire do it, she’s the mediwitch.” She said. Liyah followed him to the bench, sitting next to him as she easily slid on her skates. “It’s not that hard, Jackson. You make it look like rocket science.”

“Well, in this totally hypothetical scenario, just for a day.”

Aaliyah pulled a face, pretending to be in deep thought. After a moment, she smiled. “Yeah, hypothetically, that would be fine. Kids are alright in small doses.”

“At least there’s that winter festival you could go to. Over in Pinewood. I went last year, it was great.” Temperance was planning on going, if only to waste time between practices.

“I was planning on going. It sounds fun, and I’ve got friends who are going to be there.” Liyah said. “Are you planning on being there?”

“Well, I’ve been down the skeleton path, and I can assure you it doesn’t warrant going down again.” He frowned slightly. “So I guess this one it is.” He nodded toward the other she hadn’t been down yet, hoping between the two of them they’d be able to find their way out rather quickly. “I’m Adam, by the way.”

“That’s good news.” Liyah nodded. “That’s what it looks like.” Aaliyah looked at Adam with a smile. “I’m Aaliyah. It’s nice to meet you, fellow wanderer.”