Team: Alpha (Knights of Ares)

by Honor James

  "We'll get Anton on it, see what he can dig up on her, and see if we can't figure out who might be pulling her strings," Gareth murmured reaching out to wipe a blob of sunscreen off Honey's nose. "You're supposed to rub it in darling. Not leave great big goobers of it all over your skin."

  “That’s why I gots you. Mommy usually makes sure that it’s all rubbed in but since she’s not here, that’s your job.” The girl said and gave her father a big grin. “And my Aunt Penny found you ‘cause she’s the best. She knows a lot of people you know.” She said with a nod. “And they like her, not as much as I love her, but they like her and they helped her to find you for me.” Honey said with a shrug.

  "Really?" Mikhail asked and sighed, "Well then we'll have to thank those people and Penny at some point," he said quietly. Pushing off the stairs he looked into her bag, "Better put on jeans and a long sleeved shirt Honey, we'll be out in the brush for part of the day and not all of it wants to get cleared out."

  Honey giggled as she said, “You could get mom to come and tend them. They would all die. She says she has a black thumb, and can kill anything that has to be planted in soil. Said that’s why she did so good with me, ‘cause I was planted in her belly.”

  "And one day your daddy Gareth is going to discuss just how that came to be," Mikhail said with an evil grin on his face.

  "I actually think daddy Mik should have that discussion," Gareth said with a smug look.

  "Uh-uh," he shook his head and handed the clothing to Honey, "Go and change poppet," he pointed to the downstairs bathroom. "while daddy G and I clear up a few things out here."

  “Okay but you are supposed to fight with your words, not your fists. That’s what mom told me. Aunt Penny too, but they also wanted me to be able to take care of myself if I ever needed it. Aunt Pen taught mom and I some neato tricks that we can do. I might show you one day. She said that its something called Jew-Get-Sun or something like that.” Honey shrugged and walked off with her clothes, humming as she all but skipped along.

  Both men stared after her in confusion for a time before looking at one another. "Why am I getting stuck talk about sex with Honey?" Gareth asked on a growl.

  "Because you are very clearly her biological father, and that task should always fall onto the father; unless of course Daisy has the chat with her and gets you out of it. But you will still need to have the talk with her about what dirty, filthy minded beings boys are and what the one and only thing they want is," Mik said with a grin clearly enjoying himself.

  "That is seriously not fair," Gareth muttered running a hand through his hair.

  "Welcome to fatherhood…guy that couldn't keep his little swimmers under control," Mik muttered to him.

  “I heard that.” Honey called to them from the hall with laughter. “And my mom’s already had the sex talk with me.” She giggled once more. “Boys. So silly.” She said to the large man that came down the hall towards her. “Uncle Victor!” Honey shouted at the large man and raced towards him. Sliding her hand into his she grinned up at him. “I’m going out with the dads today. They are going to show me around. Do you wanna come too?”

  "I'll be out there. I just came in to get some more water munchkin," he said grabbing her hands and swinging her around. "Want to help me fill up a cooler so we can all stay hydrated?"

  Smacking Mik in the shoulder Gareth sent him a glare, "Watch the mouth around the little sponge."

  Snorting, Mikhail followed Victor towards the kitchen, "I'd worry more about what she's going to hear while we’re out working; and what she'll be reporting back to her mother about all we did here and all she heard."

  Honey looked up at Victor adoringly and smiled happily. “I will help you fill the cooler, but do you have any lemonade too? I really like lemonade. I prefer Juice Huggies, but I don’t think that a bunch of boys would have anything like that here.”

  "Well we always have lemonade in the house, so we will fill up a couple bottles just for you," he said with a grin at her. Swinging her up into his arms he shot a look over his shoulder, "You keeping those two in line?" he asked not so quietly.

  Honey’s laughter filled the farmhouse and she nodded, “Oh yeah. I love my daddies already. I couldn’t ask for a better pair of daddies but even more than that I have a whole bunch of uncles too. I’m the luckiest girl in the world and I know that, my momma knows it, and my daddies know it too.”

  "Good for you munchkin," he said settling her on a stool. "Did you want a snack while we're packing up liquid for everyone?" he asked curiously. "Doesn't even have to be healthy. If your mother asks you, tell her that your fathers said that not Uncle Vic alright?" he grinned at the two men standing behind the little girl.

  Honey grinned and nodded, red curls flopping around her face as she did so. “Oh, can we have some of those cheese crackers or Cheez-It’s ®? I think that’s what they are called? The Pepper jack ones? Those and the Garlic ones are so good.”

  "I think we can manage that," Victor said turning to search the cupboards. "Aha, we have the goods," he turned back around and handed the box over. "These work for you miss Honey?" he asked with a grin.

  “Oh those are perfect.” She told him with a smile. “I really do like those a great deal. Thank you for finding them for me Uncle Victor.” She said and hugged him tightly as she did so. “Oh and can we get some Cuties ®? The Clementines? I love those. They are my favorite.”

  "The what?" he asked looking at her in confusion.

  "Yeah Uncle Vic, where are the Cuties ® and Clementines?" Gareth asked with a huge grin. "Come on man; keep up with the kids’ demands for sustenance here."

  "I would if she wasn't talking Greek to me," he muttered. "Actually, if she was talking Greek I'd be able to understand it but this," Victor waved a hand, "I'm way out of my league on this."

  Honey shook her head, “They are like oranges, but made for kids’ hands. They are small.” She made a small round shape, “Easy to peel, really sweet, and seedless. I hate seeds in oranges. So yes, that's what I want. If we don’t have any can we go to the store sometime soon?”

  "We have Clementines," Mikhail said moving to pull the box down off the fridge. Opening it he held it out to her, "Pull out however many you want and we'll add it to the bag of goodies we're taking out for the others as well."

  “Yay!” Honey clapped her hands and then hugged Mikhail’s leg tightly. “Thank you Daddy Mik. You know just what I need don’t you?” She asked happily as she pulled several of the small Clementines from the box and put them with the other goodies that they were taking with them. “Oh and we need to make sure that we have things for the others too. We can’t have a picnic of goodies without them, right?”

  "No we definitely can't," he smiled at her slowly. "We have a bunch of sandwiches already made up plus some other fruit for those that don't like oranges of any shape or size," he told her. "Stay put sladkaya while we pack up the cooler and Uncle Victor gets you a couple of bottles of lemonade. I want you drinking water too out there as well. It's going to be hot, and you don't need to be dehydrated out here."

  Honey giggled and looked up to Victor, “That means my sweet. Isn’t my daddy Mik just the best?” She asked happily and then pulled away. “Okay, what do you want me to do?” Hands on her hips, she looked just like her mother in that moment asking the men how she could help.

  "Just sit there and look adorable," Gareth told her as he came in with a large cooler and a smaller one. "Which you are already doing very well I must say," he grinned at her as he put the two coolers up on the counter. Moving to the fridge, he pulled open the freezer and dug out the ice packs.

  “So what are we doing today? Do I get to use a chainsaw?” Honey asked hopefully and swung her legs as she watched her fathers and Victor putting food and drinks into the coolers. “And why are you pulling back all the trees? Don’t you like the protection and privacy that they give? What are you going to turn the ranch into? Are you going to have horses? If you do, can I have one?”


  "She doesn't even breathe when she throws out questions does she?" Sphinx asked from the doorway before moving into the room.

  "She doesn't appear to even need to," Mikhail said with a chuckle. "She'd make a great interrogator. Just by the sheer number of questions alone, the suspect would cave and confess to anything and everything."

  "It's scary how much she reminds me of Gareth," Sphinx murmured leaning over her chair back and grinned, "How you doing darling? You keeping everyone in line in here?"

  Honey grinned, “I’m trying but they are boys.” She rolled her eyes, “And sometimes they don’t listen too well, except for Uncle Victor. He’s really quiet but he listens to everything. I bet that he could tell you anything that’s happening all over the place.” She said with a happy nod. “Oh, I need to call my Aunt Penny later. I promised her that I would be her Saturday night date every week; and since I’m not home I will call her. Okay Daddys?”

  Gareth nodded slowly, "I think that would be fine. If you wanted to call now you can use the house phone. We'll be out most of the day so we may forget later," he told her softly. "Maybe Uncle Marius will give you a hand with it since it's up a little too high for you to reach."

  “Nope, I will wait and call her tonight. I call her at night cause she’s lonely you know.” Honey said honestly. “She doesn’t think that I see it but I do. Mommy's lonely too but she already is in love with you two, so she’s lonely just ‘cause you haven’t come back yet but now that you are she should get over that soon. Aunt Penny though.” Honey shrugged. “She doesn’t have anyone. She doesn’t even have family and that’s just plain sad.”

  "Alright, we'll save the call for tonight. We have work to do poppet," Mikhail told her shutting the cooler lids. "We have to clear out all the old dead brush and trees, and hopefully finish the fire break around the house in case the worst happens and a fire occurs. That's why we're pushing the tree line back the way we are. Then we bring in new baby trees, plant them and let them grow to give us the wind break and protection from people staring at us when we're out sunning with zinc on our noses."

  “We would have other stuff on too daddy Mikhail.” Honey said with a roll of her eyes and looked to Marius, “So Uncle Marius, are you dating anyone? Same with you Uncle Victor. Aunt Penny really needs to have someone in her life. Someone that’s big and strong and will keep people from hurting her like the bad man that broke her arm, and the other man that keeps looking around her house when she's gone. Would either of you like to call Aunt Penny with me?”

  "Wait," Gareth looked at her, "Someone is looking around her house when she's not there?" he asked her softly. "Do you know this person Honey?" he murmured. "Is it the same person every time she's not there?"

  "Told you she got it from Gareth," Mikhail rolled his eyes and hefted the big cooler off the counter with Victor's help. "We'll meet you in the truck and no," he looked at Honey, "you will be riding in the cab where there are seatbelts."

  Looking to Gareth Honey nodded, “Yep someone’s looking when she’s not there and no, I don’t know them, but yes its the same person every single time.” Looking to Mikhail she put on a pout, “But why Daddy Mik? The others get to ride in the back without seatbelts so why can’t I?”

  "Because they are all over the height and weight requirement, you need to grow some more poppet; and then, if your mother isn't around, I might be talked into it. Maybe on the way back I'll drive slow and you can have a ride back there with all the guys to keep you corralled; but that's only a maybe," he said looking at her. "No pouting. That will terminate all negotiations for the ride in the back."

  "Wow," Marius grinned, "Daddy Mik is mean and strict. I can see who the fun daddy is going to be in this group," he looked over at Gareth.

  "What can I say?" Gareth chuckled, "We Welsh are so much more laid back."

  Coming to Mikhail's defense immediately Honey said, “He just loves me and he wants to make sure that I’m safe. I know that daddy Gareth does too, but daddy Mikhail isn’t afraid to tell me no.” Going to Mikhail she slipped her hand into his and grinned up at him happily. “Isn’t that right daddy Mikhail?”

  Blinking down at her, he nodded, "Right," he said and frowned slightly as he looked to Gareth.

  Chuckling the man shrugged, "She's got us figured out and she's only been here an hour. This could get seriously freaky once she gets the others’ numbers and has them dancing to her little piper’s tune."

  Shaking his head Mikhail squeezed her hand slightly, "Why don't you lead the way out to the truck?" he suggested softly. "And grab your sunscreen; we'll need to apply more later on."

  “Okay.” She looked to Victor and grinned, “When I get to ride back in the back of the truck will you sit beside me? I know that you will keep me safe even if I’m standing up, right?” She asked hopefully. She wanted to ride in the back and stand up.

  Mikhail let out a growl at that and eyed Victor, "Your answer better be acceptable to me Magnum," he said his voice holding clear warning.

  Snorting, Victor looked down at Honey, "Of course I'll hang onto you so you can stand up. I'll sit in the bed and you can lean up against me so that you're properly braced and no harm comes to you," he told her. "Tell your dad to take that and smoke it."

  Honey grinned up at her father and said, “What he said.” Then with laughter in her eyes raced for Mikhail and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “I love you daddy Mik. I didn’t think that I would like you very much, but I do. I love you.” She said confidently, “And I love Uncle Victor too. He would never let me get hurt, would he?"

  "Not if he values his hide he won't," Mik told her as they walked outside. Dropping the back gate on the pickup he and Victor hefted the cooler into the back. "Come on poppet, time to climb in so we can go and see if the others are working or sunning themselves."

  Honey grinned, “Oh if they are sunning themselves can I look? I’ve seen Johnny Bilbrey sunning himself, but he was all icky and stuff. He was white and pasty and that’s just not a good look.” She added, “And he was wearing panties.” She whispered to her father with a serious nod.

  "Panties?" he asked helping her in the driver’s side door. Sliding in next to her he shot her a confused look, "What do you mean panties?" he asked starting up the engine. Shooting a look over his shoulder he held up a thumb. Giving a nod he pulled out of the yard, "And no, you can't look if they are sunning themselves, you're too young to be looking."

  “Panties. You know the girly kind like I wear. They had Barbie on them and left his big butt cheeks hanging out. It was really funny.” Honey snickered. “He was so proud of those panties too. He didn’t care who knew that he wore them, but I didn’t tell anyone.” She added quickly. “Cause that’s not what good girls do; spread gossip. I told you though.” Her eyes went wide, “Does that make me a bad girl now?”

  Chuckling he shook his head, "No Honey it doesn't make you a bad girl," he said quietly. Patting her knee lightly he smiled, "But you shouldn't spread rumors around because that would be bad. Telling one person isn't as bad. Things like that are amusing so you can’t help sharing with at least one person but you need to resist more than that and always choose wisely who you tell. It could hurt the person you're talking about and that would be bad."

  “Oh no. I would never tell anyone the secrets that I have. And I have a lot. Like did you know that Aunt Penny is terrified of spiders? I mean like super duper scared; but I know why.” The child nodded solemnly. “But I won’t tell. Not even you daddy Mikhail.”

  "Aunt Penny, she's your neighbor in Sweetwater right?" he asked looking over for her nod. "I vaguely remember seeing her when we got to the house with your mom that first morning." Tapping a finger to the wheel he turned slowly up onto a hill, "Hang on poppet, this tends to be a little bumpy."

  “And yes, Aunt Penny lives beside us and has for a few years now. She watches me when mom has to take the night shift at work.” She explained. “She’s a good egg. I love my Aunt Penny and she love
s me. The only bad thing, her name is really Penelope. Isn’t that a weird name?”

  "Not really but it is an old name," he told her as they jostled over the hill and down the other side to the track. "In Greek mythology Odysseus had a wife named Penelope who was a weaver," he explained with a grin. "Odysseus was the one who came up with the Trojan horse; which was how the Greeks tricked those of Troy into allowing Greeks into the city, which led to the fall of the great and mighty Trojans."

  Honey could only laugh, “Aunt Penny can’t even put a button back on. She tried and the thread got all twisted.” The girls’ giggles grew, “It was so funny, the way that the thread bunched up and dangled. I love my Aunt Penny but she can’t do a lot of things that a girl should be able to do. Or at least what a girl should be able to do according to my teacher, Mrs. Lampkin.”

  "And what exactly does your teacher Mrs. Lampkin say girls should be doing with their lives?" he asked quietly. He didn't like anyone telling another person what their lot in life was. He had nearly been pigeonholed once, but he'd broken free of it and made something more of himself.