Picnic (Steffenee & O P E N )

Her hair is dripping wet and our daughter is asleep so I probably picked a bad time to come by.
"I can come back later if I picked a bad time..." She's stepping away so i can enter.
The basket in my hand is giving it away but I still smile and explain. "I brought us a picnic if you're up for it. I thought that would be fun for Charlotte."

The moment alone with Charlotte was a little awkward. The way she studied me with her tired, little eyes.
I offer her a smile and say. "Nick, remember me?"
The girl gives me a nod but doesn't move from her position on the edge of the sofa.
"You look pretty." I try to compliment her but she only looks at her dress, then my simply clothes and asks. "Where are your nice clothes?"
That catches me by surprise, so I answer truthfully. "I don't have any, I'm sorry."

Thank goodness iris saves me from the questions and we head out the door.
With the girls in tow I step on the dirt road in front of their house and look back at them.
"I know a place up on the hill. From there you can see a pond with ducks. Do you want to go there?"

I can tell something's on the girls mind because she's staring holes into me and when she finally asks her question my jaw almost drops. my eyes find Iris' but she's at a lack of words as well so I give it a try.
"Hm, I'm not sure. Do you want me to be?"
The first thing that came to my mind was actually to say 'I'm your old daddy.' but she'll hate me soon enough when she finds out what I've done. Maybe I should talk to her mom and ask her not tell tell Charlotte.
"Why do you need a dad, you've got your mom. She's pretty good, isn't she?"

Now I'm clearly uncomfortable even though I'm trying not to let it show. My little girl is surely trying to put me on the spot.
"Why don't we take it a little slower and see if your mom likes me?"
I ask her with a smile. "I figured I'd get to know you first, have a picnic, play, talk, spend some time and then we'll see what happens."
For a moment I take her hand while we walk. "That's all I can offer you. Do you think that would work?"
She looks at me with those round, brown eyes and then nods. "Okay."

I turn to Iris and let out a sigh. "Am I ever glad. Does she corner everybody like this"
Together we walk along the country road, past a few meadows and trees. On top of a hill we're finally so far away that the houses of the small town look tiny.
There's a bench up there and a pond on the bottom. Near the pond a few ducks are hiding in the tall, brown grass.

A smile plays on my lips as I answer. "Yeah, I didn't expect anything else." I gently nudge her and then hand her the picnic basket. "Hold this."
From it I grab an old sheet that will serve as a blanket to sit on and table cloth.
"Hey, young lady. Take those ends and spread them out, okay?" I motion for Charlotte to make herself useful."
When the blanket is on the ground we place the food and glasses and some milk on it.
Together we sit down and I gently put my arm around Iris.

Around us is a beautiful meadow and even though it's early spring the first green is coming out and even a few tiny white flowers. The wind is not as cold any more and there's a fresh scent in the air.
I offer Charlotte some apple. "Want some? It's nice and sweet."
My eyes wander from the girl, that I just can't get enough of, to her mother who looks pleased.
"You look happy."

"Yeah, me too." I smile back at her. It's a strange sensation, that I hardly ever feel-happiness. Mostly because I live such a disrupted life that I never feel at home anywhere and never let anybody get close to me. So this is different and as much as I like it I'm worried I'll ruin it anyway.

Taking a bite of an apple I savour the taste in my mouth. It's very refreshing and fruity, simply wonderful. Not like that artificial , make belief crap they feed you in the higher districts. This is the real deal.

(OOC: Yeah, I'm running really low on muse...I don't know how to drive this forward- you?)