#rociovp

Alejandro's internal monologue: Is she asleep, please be asleep. Should I check? No. Okay, just a peek...*Glances at Rocio*

Rocio: *Staring straight at her Papa, wide awake*

Lane did not like the new kid on base. He didn't. She was loud and annoying. Gary was already an annoyance, but atleast he didn't talk much. Rocio kept talking to him, and his dad did nothing to stop her. Even when he made puppy dog eyes which usually made his dad lean down and pick him up, he laughed and told him he needed to talk to more people and that it was good for him.

Rocio was coming up again. Lane wanted her to leave. She was coming up and already talking, fast enough that Lane's very rudimentary Spanish couldn't keep up. If she came any close, he was going to bite her. And when he bit her, he was going to do what his dad called a alligator rolls so his teeth really got in there and she wouldn't come near him again.

She kept approaching, and as soon as she came in range, Lane lunged. His teeth sunk into the soft flesh of her arm. As Lane went to throw himself to the side, her fist impacted the side of his skull. Out of surprise, Lane let go, a faint whine coming from him.

Rocio kept attacking him, hitting him again and again. He raised his arms, clawing at her in response, trying to grapple in response. Lane could fight, he could fight very well. But it was different when your opponent was the same size rather than three times it.

"Lane! Rocio!" Phillip and Alejandro's voice broke through the sound of fighting, as the two froze. Lane broke out in tears, not only from pain but from frustration of being caught.

Lane was quickly pulled away, one hand supporting him, the other like a bar across his chest, making sure he wouldn't try and squirm out. Lane knew that was becouse of Gary, his brother didn't leave fights. Lane, ever the daddy's boy, immediately tried to look innocent, turning his tear stained face into Graves and snuggled close. "She hit me," he cried.

Rocio stuck out her tongue, talking quickly with Alejandro , who also had pulled her close after separating the two. Lane responded with a glare, and Rocio started trying to get out of Alejandro's hold to fight again.

"What are we going to do with you," Graves sighed, turning Lane around so he couldn't see the other kid. Lane was fidgeting with the back plate of his dad's vest as the adults talked. He wasn't paying attention, more messing the the various straps and the like. Just as he went to pull one, his dad grabbed his wrist stopping him.

"Ay, it may foster some teamwork," Alejandro agreed to whatever Phillip had said. Lane was suspicious of what they were talking about, but it was probably work stuff. Just like when Dad talked to the bald evil man.

Lane was very mistaken, as next thing he knew he was being put in an oversized shirt. That was also not an issue, until he most hated enemy was put beside him. Both arms were through one sleeve, and his back was against her back.

"Alight, you two. Play nice. If you can go thirty minutes without fighting, I will give you both a bowl of strawberries," Phillip said seriously, bent down to look them both in the eyes.

Lane made his puppy eyes. "Daddy," he whined. He loved strawberries but now he was stuck next to Rocio. Alejandro settled down on a chair as Phillip left. Probably to go have fun with the shadows, which Lane was upset that he didn't get to go with.

"Stupid," He muttered after a few minutes.

"I'm not stupid," Rocio responded, knocking her head against his. Lane shot a glance over at Rudy, making sure he didn't see or hear. Rudy had, but he gave no indication.

"Yahuh! I know it cause you look it," Lane hissed back, with all the venom a 5 year old could muster.

"I'll hit you again," Rocio threatened. That had hurt. Lane was pretty sure he was bleeding.

"I'll tell my dad and he'll get you in trouble," Lane said haughtily. His dad was important. He didn't know why, but he knew he was.

"Then we don't get strawberries, and you're the stupid one," Rocio pouted. She had a good point. A very good point.

"..." Lane was silent at that. He loved strawberries. Grandpa always had some, but most of the time, Lane only got them when he was very good. Mostly cause he ate them sloppily and Dad didn't like cleaning it up.

"I know where they keep the strawberries," Rocio said eventually. Lane quickly changed his stance. He was very flexible with stuff like that. Now they could be friends.

"I'm listening," he said. Dad said that when someone told him good news. And this was very good news.

"What are you two talking about?" Alejandro asked, noting the lack of violence. He knew exactly what they were planning, but honestly, he was willing to let them get away with it. His own daughter was of course his princess, and Lane would be a good friend for her to have if they worked with Shadow company more.

"Nothing!" Twin voices said, pretending like they were the epitome of innocence.

Alejandro chuckled and went back to his report, keeping his ears primed.

Lane started to started, wobbling slightly. "It's in the kitchen, up on the shelf," Rocio said helpfully. The two started to slowly creep their way into the small kitchenette, trying to be sneaky.

Alejandro watched them, making sure that they were staying safe. The two were so engrossed in their play of being sneaky they didn't notice how Alejandro moved the knives further away, or put some of the cut up strawberries into a plastic tupperware.

Lane looked up, the cabinet too tall for him to grab the strawberries. He tried to reach up, getting all the way up on his tip toes and get the container. He huffed. "Can't get it," He said.

"Let me try!" Rocio insisted, and they turned around. She also gave up after a few attempts, even trying to jump up which ended with with Lane's head in an arm hole somehow.

Alejandro stood up, ready to intercede as Lane started to grow more panicked at the thought of being stuck. Rocio piped up. "Nonono, don't cry. Then they're know what we were trying to do!" she said.

"I'm stuck! And I can't breath and I'm stuck!" Lane said, small voice close to crying already. Alejandro sighed, and came over.

"Okay, calm down chico," he said kindly. Alejandro carefully extracted Lane from the shirt, followed quickly by Rocio. "Alright, it may have not been a full thirty minutes, but how about some strawberries?" He asked, grabbing the bowl and bringing it down for the little ones.

Rocio started munching on them, humming slightly. Lane was second, but ate them with reckless abandon, almost shoving his face into the bowl.

Alejandro: *Talking to Rocio* Who's bonita? Si, you're bonita! Ay, so cute - I just want to squish your wittle cheecks!

VS

Rudy: I'm thinking we should try to negotiate.

Rocio: *Babbles*

Rudy: *Nods* You're right. We should loop around and ambush them instead.

Rocio: *Smiles and gurgles*