Boo!

[Madeline Speare]

A wet cloth covered my eyes as the sound of footsteps pattered across the floor. Four kids were racing around the house, and all of them weren't even mine.
Rory's seven year old Johnny was leader of the pack, Keria's five year old twins Emma and Tyler bickered non-stop about everything and Kaleb's little two year old Allie simply followed them around for the hell of it.
I had been put on baby-sitting duty for the day, well more like forced really. They all kind of shoved their kids at me and murmured something or other about errands. I really hadn't been listening.
I lean my head back so the cloth wouldn't fall off. I'd finally passed the morning sickness phase, which was a lot longer when you had twins.
Twins. I was extremely terrified at the thought of having two kids but at the same time I was happy. I was carrying on Speare tradition of having twins.
"Aunt Maddie...? Are you dead?" Johnny whispers.
"Oh no! She is!"Emma squeals.
"She is not Emma!...Is she Johnny?"
I can't stop the slight grin tugging at the corner of my lips as I try to stay absolutely still.

[Arden Patricks]

I let out a deep breath as I approach the door slightly nervously. This is the right place, right?
Yes, 'course it is... you double-checked about twenty times, so I'd hope so. It's just... a little weird, that's all. When's the last time that you went to someone else's home?
Hell, when's the last time that you went to your own?
I knock very loudly on the door, praying that I'm not disturbing anyone.
You are supposed to be here today, right? I wonder nervously.

[Madeline Speare]

Emma and Tyler scramble off into different directions as Johnn bellows,"It's the cloak come to steal our souls!"
Allie, drops to the ground, crying.
I sit up, invoking more screaming. "Aunt Maddie's a zombie!"
"Jesus," I mutter, leaning down, picking Allie up and heading over to the door,"I am not a zombie!" I call over my shoulder as I pull open the door.

[Arden Patricks]

I hear a slight ruckus inside just after I knock, and wince apologetically. Probably disturbed someone then.
But I raise my eyebrows skeptically as Maddie answers the door, holding some kid and yelling over her shoulder about zombies. "Um... hi. Ah... I'm looking for Jack Tucker?" I say, unable to keep the uncertainty out of my voice. I smile vaguely at the little girl in her arms.

[Madeline Speare]

"Zombie!"
I sigh, blowing my bangs from my face, muttering "Kids," under my breath and hoisting Allie higher into my arms.
"Hey Arden," I smile tirdely at her,"Uh Jack? Not here at the moment, sorry. Anything I can help you with?"

[Arden Patricks]

"Ah... no," I say, shaking my head, flooded with more uncertainties that I try to squash. "You seem to have your hands full anyway. Do you have any idea where he is?"

[Madeline Speare]

"Wish I knew where he was too," I mumble,"He's usually passed out on the lawn." I turn back inside for a moment, making sure no one was hurt,"Wanna come in and wait for him? Bet he's on his way back,"

[Arden Patricks]

Damn... oh, well. I glance over her shoulder at the small people running around, then shrug. "Sure, if I can be of any help. More cousins of yours?"

[Madeline Speare]

I shake my head, setting Aliie back on the ground, with a bit of trouble due to my stomach before standing straight again,"Neices and nephews. Those cousins of mine deicided to reproudce." I laugh slightly.

[Arden Patricks]

"Ah. How silly of them," I laugh, once again not thinking about the comment before I say it. "Um... so all of you are?" I ask, nervously directing my question at the small ones and half-hoping they'll decide to ignore me.

[Madeline Speare]

"Oh trust me," I mutter, putting a hand over my stomach,"Mine wasn't planned and no. Only the normal ones have kids." I laugh, opening the door to let her in fully.

[Arden Patricks]

"I see," I nod, biting back another witty comment and moving inside. "So are you all by yourself here with the munchkins?" I ask, nodding to the kids.

[Madeline Speare]

"Sadly yeah." I nod,"Their mums and dads decided to dodge responsablitly today."

[Arden Patricks]

"Can't blame them I suppose," I say, watching the kids warily. "I haven't seen kids this small since I was that small."

[Madeline Speare]

"Yeah, no kidding." I mutter, looking over at them,"One I could maybe handle, but four? And by myself? Not likely."

[Arden Patricks]

I shrug. "Well... none of them seem to be dead yet," I say, glancing around again.

[Madeline Speare]

"Yet being the key word there," I mutter, glancing back over at them.

[Arden Patricks]

"Hm..." I say, half-amusedly. "Well... hey, I'm here now. Between the incompetence of both of us we ought to be able to keep them alive until their parents reappear, right?" I ask, grinning, not sure why I'm being so cheery. Happy pills kick in or something?

[Madeline Speare]

"Someone's happy," I note, heading back inside and plopping down on the couch,"Fours kids is a lot to handle, and these kids are demons. Sure your up to it?"

[Arden Patricks]

"Not remotely," I shrug. "But... apparently somebody slipped happy pills into my pumpkin juice this morning, so why not?" I frown briefly, then grin again. "You're not really demons, are you?" I ask the kids, looking around at them suspiciously.

[Madeline Speare]

"Ah, got to watch out for those happy pills," I laugh weakly."Yeah, they are. Don't let those smiles fool you." I mutter, brushing my hair from my face,"Age order, Johnny, Emma and Tyler and Allie's the youngest." I say, waving a vague hand in their direction.

[Arden Patricks]

"Not that I'll remember that," I nod, smiling slightly. "But it's very nice to meet you. Them. Either one, depending on who I'm talking to." I shrug.

[Madeline Speare]

They all wave, grinning slightly."Uh oh." I mutter,"Watch yourself, they're planning something, I know that look."

[Arden Patricks]

"Ah," I nod, glancing down at them warily. "And what do these plans of theirs usually involve?"

[Madeline Speare]

"Paint." I reply,"That or slime. Can never tell with the twins."

[Arden Patricks]

"I'll definitely watch out for that then," I say, trying to smother a grin. "So have you been slimed often?" I ask, looking at her.

[Madeline Speare]

I laugh slightly,"No. Not yet." I give the twins a wary eye,"But I have been painted on."

[Arden Patricks]

I giggle slightly, also glancing at the twins. "Must have been very stealthy of them."

[Madeline Speare]

"Yeah, Row says they could be ninja's when they get older."

[Arden Patricks]

"Not that there's much call for professional ninjas anymore...." I say, slightly amused. "Row?" I ask curiously.