100 Original Fics: 028: Early Start (1/1)

[smokingmirror]

Title: Early Start
Series: 100 Original Fics
Character: Fox Maharassa
Author: Avarice
Prompt: 028 - Children
Rating: G
Pairing: Fox/Collin
Spoilers: post-FH
Summary: It's never too early to begin the passing on of wisdom.
Word Count: 645
Date First Posted: 07-10-2005
Date Revised: 01-06-2011
Beta: -
Awards: -
Notes: These are what I nicknamed 'fewchur' (future) fics. They were what was planned for Fox and Collin at the time of their writing... by the time FH ended, things weren't so rosy as for this to have been the path for their future anymore. To me, it's always going to be this. That's why I don't want to call them AU and have given them their own tag. At the end of FH, Sandra pretty much left their situation ambiguous at the end, and I don't read OPB, so this is always going to be canon in my heart :)
Feedback: always welcome, as is constructive criticism.
Also Archived At: LJ

"He's so cute!"

"Oh my, look at the little hat!"

"He's adorable."

The gaggle of young women cooed over the sleeping bundle in Fox's arms. Fox shifted him gently so as not to disturb Rafi's slumber.

"How old is he?"

"Twelve months," Fox answered proudly, pulling the collar of Rafi's shirt away from his face. The baby stirred, but eyes stayed closed.

It was the hat that invariably drew people's attention first. Nefertari had found the pattern and showed it to her son, not expecting him to take it seriously.

But then again, Fox's sense of humour had always been on the strange side. He loved it and had begged Nefertari to knit it for her grandson. She grudgingly agreed.

It was, in point of fact, a knitted hat that looked like a roast chicken with its legs pointing up. In the crisper Fall air, it kept Rafi's head warm.

And attracted attention.

Fox adored it, enjoying the attention he and Rafi got. Women seemed to really appreciate the fatherhood angle. More than once he had contemplated whether borrowing a child in his youth might have had the same effect.

Rafi stirred in Fox's arms. Fox bent down to kiss his smooth, forehead. "Want to wake up, little man?"

The baby replied by fluttering dark lashes and opening his eyes. The feminine gasp was audible.

"He has blue eyes!"

"Oh my, he looks just like you!"

"He's adorable."

Fox grinned even more as Rafi expertly batted his baby blues at his admirers. He then blew a raspberry on Rafi's cheek, who then giggled and squealed with joy.

"Is it hard being a dad?"

"Naw. Not with this little one. He's good-tempered, cute and easy to please," Fox smiled charmingly, showing his eyeteeth. "And there are so few of us." The women tittered.

"Fox!"

Fox and his entourage turned at the sound of his name.

"Speaking of good-tempered..." Fox breathed.

Collin walked up the pavement towards the group, leading two little girls with bouncing ringlets with each hand. He reached Fox and Rafi, one blond eyebrow raised slightly above the other. The attention of the women momentarily shifted.

"Who is this?"

"Oh my."

"He's adorable."

Collin's other eyebrow joined the first, still higher on his forehead. He turned to Fox. "We're late."

Fox stared blankly. "Oh. Right." He turned to their audience and waved Rafi's chubby baby arm at them. "Gotta go, ladies."

They waved in disappointment, touching Rafi's grasping fingers before they left.

Fox looked at Collin curiously. "Late?"

"For your daily ass-kicking."

Fox grinned cheekily. He hoisted Rafi up onto his shoulder, who caught sight of Collin and smiled. Collin couldn't help but smile back at the little boy with the knitted roast chicken hat.

"It's not my fault, boss. It's Rafi. He never fails to pull the chicks."

Collin took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the corners of Vixen's mouth, sticky from her lollipop. "And you just happen to let him."

"It's Maharassa-magnetism. Tell you what, he's going to be a prime lady-killer when he gets older."

"I do hate to break it to you two, but I think it just might be the hat."

Rafi blew a raspberry at Collin and giggled, and Fox kissed his round, dark cheek. "That's my boy."

Collin rolled his eyes but seemed amused all the same. "We really are late, you know." He took Rafi from Fox, and gave Fox an affectionate nudge with his arm. Fox took the hands of his girls.

"What for?"

Collin grinned. "For cookies and lemonade."

"Yaaay!" both girls cheered. Fox chuckled and leant in to give Rafi another kiss. Afterwards, he briefly rubbed his slightly rough chin against Collin's cheek. Collin pushed him away with a smile.

"Just one thing?"

"Yeah, boss?"

"Don't take our son trawling for girls before he's at least sixteen."

"Spoilsport."


~finis