parker. not peter.

Chris: … I mind. *taking a deep breath, Christie looks up, and holds both of his hands to squeeze them* She misses you, Parks.

Chris: Filling it with what? The truth? *grinning, she watches the pair, and once she’s satisfied that Ellie’ll be alright with him, Christie hands her daughter over, with one more little kiss to the back of her head* I knew she’d like you.

Eli: Hey, they say the same about music, but … where’s the fun in it being easy? You’re gonna be okay, Shannon. Danny’s told me that enough times. 

Sophie: It’s true! Uncle Danny tells everybody.

Cass: *cooing, as though to confirm this, she extends a hand to Ryan again, but settles in her auntie’s arms all the same, smacking her lips*

Meg: … so, Cassidy looks like you, but she’s taking after Christie?

Parker: Oi, shut it you. [nuzzles his nose against Ellie’s now she’s close] Don’t you listen to your mummy, Ellie. She loves me really. [his chin lifts to smile at the little girl’s mother before his attention quickly goes back to her]...I hoped she would. How could I be fun uncle Parker if she didn’t like me?

Shannon: [overwhelmed with all this praise, she blushes a little, looking down and brushing her hair behind her ear]...Oh..um...thank you..

Ryan: Essentially, yes. She’s less of a smart ass though.

Chris: *at that, Christie laughs, and lifts her head to look at him* Parkerina?

Chris: *dropping her chin to his shoulder, Christie can only nod, and squeeze him, holding on tight*

Chris: … right, baby? We’re drawing the line with him there. *pecking her daughter’s temple, Christie grins at her big brother* We had some good times, P. Really. *makes a show of pretending to turn on her heel, more in a bid to entertain her little girl than anything else, before she completes the circle and returns to Parker, stepping closer, and lifting Ellie to bring her face level with Parker’s, and her own* Big kiss for Uncle Parker, Ellie Dot? 

Danny: Oi! Danny’s always happy to help! 

Eli: That’s not what I’m hearing, mate. *as Danny disgruntled huff, Eli grins, and lifts his arm as Sophie comes racing over, burrowing into her big brother’s side* What do you think, Soph? Shan’s gonna be a movie star one day.

Sophie: I know! Auntie Shannon has the best voices. Except Daddy’s bedtime story ones … sorry, Auntie Shanny. 

Meg: *watches them the entire time, as Cassie catches Ryan’s thumb - and yanks, trying to bring him closer, or herself to him, sniffling, quietening to listen only after the second kiss - and Meg nods, her thumb moving in a gentle line, back and forth, against her niece’s back (something she’d seen Christie doing with Sophie, back when she’d been Cassidy’s size)* … ta, Ryan. I … take it you’ve had some experience with the clingy?

Parker: Oi, no filling my niece’s head with that. [he grins and watches as Ellie squirms forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek, to which he holds her cheeks and kisses all over her face, making her squeal with laughter as he blows a raspberry into her cheek] 

Shan: Sh, Danny. Talking to Eli. [winks at him before turning her attention back to her..her nephew? and her niece too, of course] Oh you two are really sweet...but I’ll be lucky to get into anything big enough to make me even a bit famous. It’s a cruel profession.

Ryan: With Cassidy, yeah. [chuckles quietly]...she’s uh..kind of attached to me.

Chris: *hesitates, not because she doesn’t want to, but because … because she’s come this far on her own, she’s held it together on her own, and she frightened, terrified, but .. but it’s Parker, and because it’s Parker, Chris shuffles forward to close the space between herself and her big brother, arms around him, tucking herself into his*

Chris: Fun uncle my ar– *at the look she gets from her money grabbing daughter, Chris huffs, and pokes her tongue out at the amused nine-year-old before correcting herself* bottom. *with that, and Sophie’s attention back on her grandparent’s, Christie nuzzles her nose to Ellie’s temple, and steps closer to Parker, taking one of her baby’s hands into hers, waving it to her brother-in-law* We like Parker, don’t we, Ellie Dot? He’s been helping to look after you from day one … and, but you didn’t hear this from me, *drops her mouth to her baby’s ear, whispering* even Daddy likes him.

Eli: YouTube thing? No way! That’s awesome! Series? Short film? 

Cass: *with a disgruntled little huff to support this, she squirms, but does still as the hand moves, and she settles, Meg mouthing a “thank you” to Ryan. However, before Meg can have the chance to follow the rest of Ryan’s advice, Cassie burrows her face against her auntie’s shoulder, hiding herself away*

Meg: *brow knitted, worried she’s done something wrong - was she holding too tight? Was she not holding tight enough? Had she smiled wrong? Spoken too loud? - she looks at Ryan, hands where they’re meant to be, where he’d put them, and though she wants to try and assure the baby, her niece … she doesn’t know how, or where to begin, and her panic does nothing for little Cassie, who wriggles, head lifting for her gaze to fix on Ryan, bottom lip going* I think maybe she– I think she’d like you.

Parker: [laughing as he too notices Sophie’s look, he nudges his elder niece with a grin] That’s right Soph. You put yourself through college, don’t give them an inch. [his gaze softens as Ellie lifts her head once again, babbling quietly as though responding to Christie, and he offers a reassuring smile, waving back] I’m nice. I promise. They don’t believe me, but I am in fact, the best one in this family.

Shannon: I think a short film? Something about being lovelorn...I haven’t actually gotten a chance to read my script yet. Which I’m sure Dan is very relieved about because I force him to run lines with me.

Ryan: [immediately steps into Cassie’s reach, taking her hand and kissing the back of it, murmuring] Hey, hey it’s all good, baby girl. I’m right here. She’s-[he looks to Meg a sec before back to his daughter]...Aunt Meg? She’s really nice. You’ll like her. [after one more kiss to Cassidy’s hand, he looks back to Meg] Naw. She’s just a little...clingy. But once she gets that you’re a friend, she’s good.

Chris: *cursing her new, confusing hormones as the floodgates open, she only squeezes his hand tighter, whispering* Love you too, P.

Chris: Oh, no. You dug this hole, Parker. You can lie in. *shifting Ellie to one arm, perching her baby on her hip, she reaches out with the other to return Parker’s hug, and pecks his cheek, before she turns, bringing Ellie closer to her brother-in-law* Ellie Dot, fancy saying “hello” to Uncle Parker? I think he needs one of your magic cuddles …

Eli: We have a few gigs in a couple weeks! Maybe we can grab a bite to eat, if you guys have time? And you can tell me more about the audition. What’s it for this time? 

Meg: … well, just don’t get too caught up on the toaster when you do. And you’ll never finish it off either. *stops short as the baby’s held out to her, and it takes her a moment, to register and process, before she reaches out, Cassie’s gaze fixed on her dad, not sure what she did so wrong to be given away like this, but she does as she’s meant to, settling in to Meg’s arms, and even blinking up at her auntie at the gentle kiss to her forehead* Hi, Cassidy. It’s nice to see you again … 

Parker: Oi, I’m the fun uncle. You can do all the parenting, ta. [he grins and watches as Ellie turns and buries her face in her mum’s hair, unsure about this new person] Aw, I’m sorry. Don’t be scared.

Shan: Ooh, that’d be most lovely.. it’s just for a one off role. It’s going to be a Youtube thing, I’m pretty sure?

Ryan: [watches her with his daughter and steps forward, carefully moving Meg’s hand to support her butt, murmuring] She likes it if you smile at her and kiss her nose. She’s pretty anxious when she’s not with me or her mom.

Sophie: Oh! Like when Eli’s in the shower, and I have to wait?  *blinks, before he straightens, and Sophie nods, bouncing off into Danny’s waiting arms, burrowing into her youngest uncle’s embrace* 

Eli: *extends an arm to Shannon when he sees her approaching, and grins as he curls it around her* Hey! It’s good, how’s the acting going? Dan said you got a gig! 

Meg: *as Cassie gurgles, and flaps her hand in another clumsy wave, Meg looks over, offering Ryan a grateful, if not nervous, smile* Ta, Ryan. We, er, finally got to the last of it. It took a lot longer than we thought … but you’d know all about that too, I suppose?

Parker:...Mm, not quite, sweetheart. Ask your Mum later, she’ll explain. [he goes over to Christie, smiling and extending an arm to hug her from the side] 

Shan: I did! I’m auditioning for one that starts right after it next week too. Things are going pretty good right now. When are you coming to New York to visit us? Dan was meant to invite you.

Ryan: Yeah. We only just finished unpacking. Still got decorating to do...but that’s gotta wait till we’ve got the cash. [kisses the side of Cassie’s head] Go say hi to Aunt Meg. [holds her out to Meg] It’s okay. She won’t bite.

Chris: *at that, her lip wobbles all on its own accord, and Christie reaches up, squeezing his hand*

Sophie: *beaming at the open arms, Sophie leaps forward into them, throwing hers around Parker’s shoulders, squeezing, before she plants a kiss on his cheek, and chirps* What’s constipated? 

Eli: *choking on his laugh, Eli tries to clear his throat and play it off, but the horrified exasperation on Christie’s face sets him off again, and it’s only with Michael’s greeting that he looks up again, taking the baby bag from Chris to place on the first available surface* Hey! Danny and Shannon too? It’s good to see you!

Cass: *blinks, and deciding that she has about as much interest in all of these grown ups as her mum does, she twists, and burrows in to her dad’s side, cheek smooshed against it, fingers wiggling in the little wave she thinks he wants her to give, before her hands wriggle, and those very same fingers latch around his, squeezing with all of her little Cassie might*

Parker: It’s when you need to go to the toilet but you can’t. [kisses her temple before releasing her so she can go say hi to the rest of the family, straightening up] 

Shannon: Hey, Eli. [releases Danny and goes over to give him a hug] How’s the music going?

Ryan: [rolls his eyes with a smile and offers a mouthed apology to Cassie’s grandparents before bouncing her gently, murmuring] Be nice, baby. Hey Julie. Michael. Good to see you. Parker and Meg, the house is looking good.