Miette
The Braddocks's doorbell rang and Rowena walked over to greet the first of the guests to Duke's thirteenth birthday party.
"You'd better have some clothes on," Rowena called.
"Who me?" Duke joked.
"Yes you," Miette said dryly. "Don't worry Mum, he does."
"Good."
Duke grinned broadly.
Sophie
"Heeeeey, Duke," Sophie said as she entered.
She ruffled up his hair.
"And how's life treating you? More people to put on your demonbait list?"
Robyn bounced in after her sister.
"Happy birthday, Duke!"
Miette
"Thanks!" Duke grinned. "Nope, no one to add... yet."
He bounced.
"I'm 13 today! Yay me!"
"And we never would have guessed either," Miette commented.
Sophie
"Well, you're only 13 once," Sophie said.
"Here," Robyn said and thrust a present at Duke.
"Hey, kid," Sean said as he entered after his daughters.
"Where's your mum? Hey, Ro."
Braddocks
"Hi Sean," Rowena smiled.
"Oooh..." said Duke. "Thanks!"
He started to rip the paper off.
Sophie
"How's life treating you, Ro?" Sean asked.
"How's the baby? Have you heard from Oli?"
"Fliiiiiiirrtttt," Sophie said.
She ducked her father's halfhearted cuff to her head. Robyn giggled.
Miette
"I spoke to Oliver just last night, actually," Rowena smiled. "He's been rather busy lately, what with school and being his uncle's apprentice. He's got a new girlfriend now."
Rowena looked a little wistful. Miette caught Sophie's eye and grinned.
Duke opened up the present.
"The Hobbit!" he exclaimed, pulling out the book. "Oooh... and a cool gothic cross necklace!"
Sophie
"Useful and decorative," Sophie said dryly.
"Wear it in good health."
"You're no fun, Sophs!" Robyn said.
"Who else is coming, Duke?"
Miette
"Umm, Dave, Reece, Caitlyn, Brett and Joanne," Duke replied.
"Oh goody. Seven kids to deal with," Miette grinned.
Sophie
"We can deal," Sophie said.
"Use the elder sister glare of death."
"Cool!" RObyn said and bounced.
Miette
Miette chuckled and went to answer the door, as the bell had rung again.
"The elder sister glare of death?" Duke asked.
Robyn
"That glare of death," Robyn said, pointing at her sister.
Who glared.
"See, like that."
Duke
"Oh, I see," said Duke. "Yes, that's is very fearsome."
He nodded solomnly as his friends came in.
"Hey guys!"
Sophie
"It gets worse," Robyn assured him.
"Hey peoples."
"Right, feeling very unappreciated and most put upon," Sophie sniffed.
"See if I teach you any more kick ass moves, bratling."
Duke
"We're not being unappreciative," Duke said. "The exact opposite in fact. We're appreciating your great skill."
"Happy birthday Duke!" said Dave.
"Thanks."
Sophie
"Uh huh, backpedal quickly now," Sophie said.
"See if that saves you later."
Miette
Duke grinned, and his friends starting giving him their gifts. He unwrapped them all with much gusto and thanked them.
Miette sat down on a nearby chair and just watched.
Sophie
Robyn bounced around, chatting aniamtedly with the older children.
Sean smiled at Rowena as she gave him a cup of coffee.
"Ta, Ro."
Sophie sat down near Miette and watched their parents.
"So, how long do you give until they actually go on a date?"
Miette
Miette considered the question.
"Hmm... not sure," she said. "Sometime next year?"
Sophie
"Possibly," Sophie said.
"No offense, but your dad was an arsewipe. Your mum's pretty sweet though."
Sean said something to Rowena and she laughed.
Miette
"It's okay," Miette replied. "He was all right, except when it came down to aliens."
Miette smiled.
"They do seem to be pretty sweet on each other, huh?"
Sophie
"And Slayers, and demons, even though I saved his freaking life," Sophie said.
"They do. Which is odd, cos Dad hasn'r even dated once since Mum died."
Miette
"Once I accidently blinded Dad," Miette said. "He blatantly refused to let anyone heal him. Of course it was all futile because he was healed anyway, but that's not the point."
She shook her head.
"Well, I hope that they can make something of this. They do make a cute couple."
Sophie
"Yeah," Sophie said wistfully.
"Anyway, been doing anything interesting lately? I used my Watcher to go trolling for vamps again. Can I help it if he makes such good bait? I can get ten vamps in an hour. And that's pretty good, even for London."
Miette
Miette chuckled.
"Well, that's good," she said. "For you. Does he go home often with soiled pants?"
Sophie
"Often, I think," Sophie said.
"What can I say? I have no respect for authority. I only respect the ones who earn it. Very Aussie. And struth, but he's a quivering nancy."
"Soph! Soph! Soph!" Robyn cheered and jumped on her sister.
"Yeah, brat, what?"
"NOTHING!"
Miette
Miette stifled a laugh.
"Struth? Quivering nancy?" she repeated. "Careful Robyn, she might use you as bait if you keep that up."
Sophie
"Can't I be ocker anymore?" Sophie said.
"Think I'm bad, swear Heath's worse. But his family moved to LA, dammit. Why couldn't they have moved to England as well?"
"She wouldn't do that," Robyn said blithely, then frowned, looking at Sophie.
"Would you?"
"Maybe if you...steal my makeup again!"
Sophie tickled Robyn and she squealed, then ran away.
Miette
Miette chuckled.
"That's some conicidence, you and your friend moving to different countries at about the same time."
"Hey Robyn! Wanna play PlayStation? Bet I can kick your butt!" Duke challenged.
Sophie
"Yeah, almost Hellmouth-y," Sophie agreed.
"LA, LA, LA...what's in LA?"
"Bet you can't!" Robyn retorted.
"What are we playing?"
Miette
"Umm..." Miette said. "Americans?"
She grinned.
Duke held up his new game and laughed evilly.
Sophie
"Yeah, annoying Americans," Sophie said.
"I won a comp, for Hanson tickets and went up there, with Heath. Poor boy. He likes country & western and I drag him across the globe for a pop concert performed by a band he despises. But it was very cool. We got to meet them after the show."
Robyn stuck her tongue out at him and grabbed it out of his hands before scampering to the tv where the playstation was set up.
"Don't think I'll go easy on you cos it's your birthday."
Miette
"Oh really?" Miette said. "That would have been cool. I like Hanson too."
One in particular.
"Yeah? Well, don't think I'll go easy on you because you're a girl," Duke retorted, grabbing a console.
Sophie
"Zac was pretty cool, but Taylor talked the most," Sophie said.
"The way he does on all the vids. Pffft, shut up, Taylor. Let Ike and Zac talk for once. They've probably got something more interesting to say anyway."
"Oooh, you're *so* going down, mate," Robyn said.
She grabbed a console, putting the game in and turning the machine on.
Miette
Miette grinned.
"Yeah, Taylor's like that," she said. "And Ike and Zac do have more interesting stuff to say. Although.. you probably don't want to listen to Zac... he's has a tendancy to say stuf fyou don't want to know."
"No, you're going down 'mate'," Duke replied.
He moved through the menus, setting up the game.
Sophie
"As I found out when I chatted with Zac online," Sophie said dryly.
"Not that I knew it was him at first. Meh. I so didn't want to know about some of the stuff he was talking about. I think Ike must be the only near sane and normal one."
"Psssh," Robyn said.
"Die, Pom, die."
She moved her character to shoot at Duke's before running off to get more ammo.
Miette
Miette's eyebrows went up.
"You've spoken to Zac online?" she asked. "Huh, cool."
She paused, wondering if she should tell Sophie she was friends with them.
Duke sent his character after Robyns, picking up a couple of first aid kits on the way. He shot at her.
Sophie
"Yeah," Sophie said.
"Nice guy. Nicer last time I spoke to him."
Robyn maneuvered her character behind some crates, then shot back. She picked up some body armour, and grinned.
Miette
"Yeah... I uhh... I actually used to date Ike," Miette blushed. "We met on the net a few years ago, but at the time I had no idea who he was."
"Uh oh," Duke said. "Run away! Run away!"
Visions of Monty Python went through his head as his character, well, ran away.
Sophie
"Lucky, Ike's cute. And sweet," Sophie said.
She stretched lazily.
"And the only one not engaged now."
Robyn giggled, and made her charcter run after Duke's, shooting all the while. She detoured to pick up more ammo.
Miette
"Yeah, he is," Miette smiled. "He's also got a girlfriend at the moment."
She shook her head.
"I can't believe Zac is engaged. Taylor I can believe. But Zac?"
Duke took advantage of Robyn's detour to fill up on health and ammo himself, then his eyes glittered as he beheld a new gun, and he took it, then turned to go back on the hunt.
Sophie
"I know!" Sophie said.
"I'm thinking hmm, let's see how long this lasts. Not long, I think. Zac's just...too much a player."
"Eep!"
Robyn made her character run away, looking for more weapons.
"Oh yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about!"
She picked up a rocket launcher and turned to face Duke.
Miette
"Yeah, he is, huh?" Miette said. "And plus, all those kids he's been producing... his fiancé must be hell patient."
Duke gulped and shot at Robyn as much as possible before racing out of the nearby doorway.
"Oooh! Armour!" He smiled.
He picked it up, and then continued running to restock on ammo.
Sophie
"Patient or insane," Sophie said.
"I don't care who a guy is, if he did that to me, I'd slap him very hard and refuse to see him. Ever again."
"Come back, Duke," Robyn said.
She chased after him, pausing to let off a shot which connected, picking up more health and ammo on the way.
Miette
"Yeah, cheating is not nice," Miette agreed. "Well, good luck to him anyway. He's going to need it."
"Eep!" Duke only missed the rocket by a lucky turn into a doorway. "I want a rocket launcher!"
"Hey, what's that over there?" asked of othe guys watching.
"Ummm..." Duke said, picking up some health and ammo. "Oooh laser gun!"
He picked it up and started looking for Robyn.
Sophie
"Definetly," Sophie said.
"Either not getting caught when he does, or avoiding temptation to do it. Which looking at his track record, isn't one of his strong points."
"Oh dear."
Robyn ran away, scittering around to find more first aid packs and body armour.
Miette
"No, it's not," Miette agreed.
Then she started giggling.
"Ike once told me that he had threatened... okay there's this girl in Australia who has a power called sex change, and yeah... been threatening to turn Zac into a girl and get him pregnant."
Duke laughed evilly and shot at Robyn every time he caught even a glimpse of her until he ran out and scampered off to find more ammo.
Sophie
"Good for her," Sophie said.
"Let him feel what it's like."
"Mfft."
Robyn shot at Duke with her rocket launcher again, then switched to an AK47.
Miette
"Yes, exactly," Miette chuckled.
"Must. Get. Ammo," Duke said.
Then the rocket hit him.
"And first aid kit."
Sophie
"Guys have no idea," Sophie said.
"Really."
"Mwhahahaha!" Robyn laughed evilly.
She shot at him with the machine gun.
Miette
"No, no they don't," Miette agreed. "And I don't think they will ever get an idea. You know what I heard? Some scientist did some sort of study and came to the conclusion that morning sickness is all in your head. Can you believe the nerve?"
"Ahhh!" said Duke.
He ran into a nearby room and stocked up on ammo and health.
"Score!" he exclaimed. "Flame thrower!"
He picked it up and turned to face Robyn.
Sophie
"Idiot," Sophie said.
"Why are most guys such dicks?"
"Eep!"
Robyn ducked behind a crate then shot at Duke again.
Miette
"I don't know," Miette replied. "Maybe because that's all the equipment they have? No brain at all."
Duke laughed maniacally as he held down the ignition. Then the flame stopped.
"Ahh, I think I ran outta gas... Uh oh..."
He ran.
Sophie
"Men are idiots," Sophie agreed.
"Hi Dad."
Sean shook his head, smiling slightly.
"Mwhahahahahaha!"
Robyn chased after him, firing her AK47 continously.
Miette
Miette giggled.
"Yes, women have been trying their best for years to raise a non-idiotic man... but to no avail. Must be genetic."
"Ahhh!" Duke said.
He ran through the virtual complex, trying to find a room they hadn't explored yet to find some health and ammo.
Sophie
Sean sighed and looked put upon.
"Aww, you know I love you, Dad," Sophie said, reaching up to give him a quick hug.
"And that's a comfort, to be sure," Sean drawled.
"Seeing as how you think I'm some kind of idjit."
"Not *all* the time."
"Die!" Robyn cheered.
She kept scoring and Duke's health kept dropping.
Miette
"No, just most of it," Miette teased.
"Mi," Rowena said.
Miette grinned.
"Eep! Yay!" Duke said, almost diving into a room with health and ammo galore. "Now you die! Flame thrower goodness!"
Sophie
"Minx," Sean told his daughter.
"But you LOVE me!" Sophie said.
"Not if I kill you first," Robyn retorted, switching back to the rocket thrower.
Miette
Miette chuckled.
"And she's just so loveable..."
Duke threw flames at Robyn, then hid behind some crates and shot lasers at her.
Sophie
"I know!" Sophie said.
"I just rock, all around."
"And so modest with it," Sean said.
"Hey, when you're as cool as I am, you don't have to be."
Robyn shot two rockets quickly at where Duke was hiding. The first one blew up the crates, and the second scored a direct hit. She picked up a first aid kit then hit the button to switch over to the AK47.
Miette
"You know what they say," Miette teased. "Pride comes before a fall."
"Noooo!" Duke said.
His health was dangerously low, but he continued to shoot at Robyn.
Sophie
"Maybe, maybe," Sophie said.
She got up to get something to eat.
"And once more, the Aussies beat the Brits!" Robyn exclaimed, shooting away at Duke.
"Just like we do in cricket, and rugby and ner, we beat you in soccer too!"
Miette
Miette continued to grin.
"We beat you in the World Cup," Duke pointed out. "Ha! So there."
Sophie
Sophie picked up some party food then sat back down.
"So what have you been doing since you came home?"
"But we beat you at everything else," Robyn said argumentatively.
"And we won the time before. We'll win next time too, I bet."
She shot away at Duke, wearing his health points down.
Miette
"Well, I've been working at my new job, of course," Miette replied. "Right now I'm mostly answering phones and stuff, but they're showing me the ropes around the finance section, which'll be where I'll end up going."
"Yeah, well, well, we have Monthy Python and Red Dwarf!" Duke declared.
He shot at Robyn with renewed vigor, wearing her health points down just as much.
Sophie
"That's cool," Sophie said.
"I'm just doing the school thing..."
"Meh, they're alright," Robyn said.
"Tripod is better."
Miette
"Ahh," Miette nodded. "Having fun?"
"Alright? Alright?" Duke repeated.
Whatever he was going say say next was forgottten as one of Robyn's bullets hit a nearby barrel. It broke and revealed a heart. Duke snatched it up quickly... and was restored to full health.
"Awesome!" he exclaimed.
Sophie
"Yeah, I s'pose." Sophie said.
"As much fun as school can be."
"Eeeeeeeeep!"
Robyn turned tail and fled.
Miette
"Yeah, I was glad to leave. And then of course, I get sucked into Uni," Miette said.
Duke cackled evilly and ran after her, shooting away gleefully.
Sophie
"Oh, the next stage," Sophie said.
"You spend thirteen, twelve years in school, then you turn around again and sign up for a few more."
"Oh no!"
Robyn ran through a doorway and kicked a crate apart. She ran through the first aid kit then grabbed a rocket for her rocket launcher.
"Yay!"
She turned around and shot at him.
Miette
"Exactly. And for what? Nothing obviously, since I ended up dropping out."
Miette paused.
"Although... I wasn't exactly in the right frame of mind at the time, but whatever."
"Eep!" Duke yelped. "I'm gonna get you for that."
He shot a barrel in the hope for some more heath but instead got...
"A bazooka!"
Sophie
"Mmm, yeah," Sophie said.
"But school sucks."
"Crap."
Robyn ran away again.
Miette
"Yes, yes it does," Miette agreed. "So, other than killing vampires, what you planning on doing when you're done?"
Duke snickered and ran after her.
"Lemme see. Bazooka verses Rocket Launcher. What will win?"
Sophie
"Killing other types of demons?" Sophie said.
"I don't know. Maybe I should just start my own supernatural agency."
"That depends," Robyn retorted and dropped a landmine behind her.
"On what other weapons you have."
She picked up some ammo and a first aid kit before putting another landmine in the doorway of the room she went into.
Miette
Miette grinned.
"Sounds like fun. I could help you out with that if you decide to go ahead with it, and take care of the business side."
Duke shot at the landmines to set them off and continued to run after her, but when he entered the room he saw it went in different directions.
"Drat."
He went down one hallway, picking up what he could. Including some new armour.
Sophie
"See, that would be cool," Sophie said.
"Not like there aren't a heap of demons in London as it is. And hey, I should get paid for doing what I do. Just need to hire someone to take care of the spell side of things."
"Dedede..."
Robyn picked up more ammo and cheered when she saw one of those hearts.
"Hoorah!"
She picked it up, came around a corner and saw Duke. She fired a rocket at him, then ran back around the corner.
Miette
Miette nodded.
"So, we're just looking our for a witch then? Let's not say witch. That has a negative connotation. A magic user. We're looking for a magic user," Miette grinned.
"Hey where'd that come from?" Duke asked. "Come out, come out wherever you are!"
Sophie
"Yep."
Sophie nodded.
"Someone to do things like exorcisms."
"Nah nah nah nah!"
Robyn zipped around picking mroe rockets up, then went back to fire them at Duke.
"Take that!"
Miette
"Exactly. Not much fun when people are posessed," Miette nodded.
"Eep!" said Duke.
He turned and fired.
"No, you take that!"
Sophie
"With the ectoplasm and yeah, it's not pretty," Sophie said.
"So, I'll kill things, and you can look after the money side of things."
Robyn watched his healthpoints go down dramatically as she hit him with another rocket.
"Pssh. Your weapons have little effect on me, compared to my weapons on you."
Miette
Miette nodded.
"Sounds good to me," she said. "Ha! We have a plan."
"But, but I have a bazooka!" Duke whined as he shot and hit her.
Sophie
"Plan, whoa," Sophie said.
"Pretty good for someone who doesn't expect to live past 21."
"But, rocketlauncher!" Robyn said.
"Take it like a man, Duke."
Miette
Miette chuckled.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll live longer than that. You thirsty? I want a drink."
"She's putting you to shame, Duke," teased one of his friends.
"Is not," Duke objected.
He ran from the room look for ammo, health and hopefully something to best her rocket launcher.
Sophie
"Yeah, that would be good," Sophie agreed.
"And I'm not really expecting to."
She glanced around for her dad, but he was on the other side of the room, talking to Rowena. Good. Because she didn't want him to worry.
"Are too, and you know it," Robyn said, chasing after him.
Miette
Miette stood up and walked over to the table. She poured herself and Sophie some punch, then walked back over and handed her the cup.
"Mum makes great punch," she said. "How come you're not expecting to? All the slaying?"
"Are not!"
Duke ducked into a room and shot up a couple of barrels. Health. Ammo. Oho! Forcefield shield!
Sophie
"Slayer equals short life expentancy," Sophie said simply.
"One day there'll be a demon that's just that bit quicker and that'll be it."
"Bah!"
Robyn went to hide and find more stuff.
Miette
"Ahh, I see," Miette nodded.
She sipped at the punch.
"Hmm..." said Duke, noting a scale come on the screen. "So, my force field requires energy... That would mean I can' have it all the time. Well that sucks. I wonder what drains it?"
As he spoke he continued to look around for more things, and for Robyn.
Sophie
"So you do," Sophie said.
"Anyway, this is depressing. I don't want to think about how I'm most likely going to die a virgin. How's Uni going?"
"Getting shot at, probably," Robyn said.
Miette
Miette shook her head.
"Dropped out, remember? The job for YIRAAS is going pretty well, so I might not bother reapplying."
"Probably," Duke agreed.
He shot a barrel and his eyes glittered in delight when he realised what it was. He picked it up quickly and moved on.
Sophie
"Yeah, that's the thing that you not quite humans belong to," Sophie said.
Robyn frowned slightly. What had he picked up?
Miette
Miette nodded.
"Yeah, it was formed a few years after the crash. They've got HQ's all over the world now."
Duke found another door - that lead outside. He grinned and then put down his new item, set it up then ran outside.
It was a bomb.
Sophie
"See, that's cool," Sophie said.
"There should be something like that for Slayers. Well, there was. The Watcher's Council, but they got blown up and yeah, taking them a while to get back on their feet. And they're all these really stuffy British guys in tweed."
"Crap!"
Robyn tried desperately to find a way outside.
Miette
Miette nodded.
"Well, there's no reason why you can't start something," Miette said. "Even if it's just a chatroom on the net where you swap slaying tips or something."
Duke laughed evilly.
"Oooh, quads!" He exclaimed.
He jumped on one of the vehicles and started driving down the countryside.
Sophie
"Yeah," Sophie said.
"I wonder how many of us there are out there anyway..."
"Oh damn!"
Robyn got caught in the bomb blast and the building fell down on top of her.
"Well."
Miette
"Well, there are at least three that I know of. You, Zac's fiancé, I think is one. And the girl in Australia," Miette said.
"Yay!" said Duke. "I win! Ha ha! You got trapped and died!"
Sophie
"Apparently there's a whole heap of them in New York," Sophie said. v "And psssh Faith. I don't like her very much."
"Oh well, I'll beat you next time," Robyn said.
She handed over her controller to someone else.
Miette
Miette chuckled.
"I don't really know Faith all that well," she said. "Met her a couple of times, but more in passing. Hey, maybe one of them knows of a magic user we can hire."
Duke grinned.
"And England beats Australia!"
Sophie
"Good point," Sophie said.
She yawned slightly.
"Sorry, I had a very long patrol last night."
"Yet England still sucks!" Robyn shot back.
Miette
Miette smiled.
"It's okay," she assured her.
"Yet you're still living here," Duke retorted.
Robyn
"That's my dad's fault," Robyn said.
"Oz is much nicer. And has weather, instead of just rain."
Duke
"Excuses, excuses," Duke replied. "You like it and you know it. Besides, the only reason why you're wet is not from rain. It's from swimming in denial."
Robyn
Robyn poked her tongue out at him and got up to get some food.
"Pain. Boys are pains."
Duke
Duke chuckled.
"Aww, you know you love us anyway," he declared.
Sophie
"No! I don't like boys a'tall, a'tall," Rpbyn said.
"'Cept my Dad!"
She jumped on Sean and he chuckled.
"And watch how quickly that will change in a few years," Sophie said dryly.
Braddocks
"Yeah you do, you love us Roby-Robyn," Duke said.
"Okay, who would like birthday cake?" asked Rowena.
Sophie
"Well, I don't love you," Robyn said snippily.
"Can't you tell we're related?" Sophie said quietly to Miette.
"We're such bitches."
"Cake, yay!" Robyn said.
Braddocks
Miette chuckled, but didn't say anything.
Rowena smiled and walked into the kitchen to bring out the cake.
"Yay for cake!" Duke grinned.
Robyn
"Cake is of the good!" Robyn said.
"S'pose we have to sing now, huh?"
Braddocks
"Yes," said Duke as Rowena brought the cake out and placed it on the table. "You have to sing. And you'd better do a good jo or I'll make you sing it again."
Miette snickered.
Robyn
Robyn stuck her tongue out at him again.
"Pssh, bossy boots. Anyway, s'pose we should. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."
The rest of the people in the room started to sing as well.
Duke
"Happy birthday dear Du-uke! Happy birthday to you!"
Duke grinned broadly and blew out the candles.
Robyn
"Whoo, yeah!" Robyn cheered.
"Cake now?"
"Impatient," Sophie said, kicking her lightly.
"Ow!"
Braddocks
Rowena smiled and Duke picked up the knife. He put the knife into the middle of the cake.
"If it comes out dirty you have to kiss the nearest girl," Miette teased.
Sophie
"Oh, I'm moving away then," Robyn said.
She went and stood on the other side of Sophie.
The Slayer wondered in amusement if Duke realised she was now the closest girl.
Duke
Duke poked his tongue out at Miette, then pulled the knife out.
"I think it's dirty," one of his friends teased.
"No kidding," Duke said looking around. "Sophie! Yes!"
He grinned broadly and gave her a kiss.
Sophie
Sophie smiled slightly, then ruffled his hair.
"You're a brat. I think you did that on purpose."
Braddocks
Rowena started cutting up the cake into pieces.
"Yeah, but you know you love me," Duke grinned.
Sophie
"Maybe somewhere deep down..." Sophie said.
"But...naaaaaaah."
Duke
"It's okay," Duke said. "I know that you're in denial."
Then picked up a plate of cake.
Sophie
"You're so full of it," Sophie said.
"Takw me, I'm yours. Pssh."
She shook her head as Robyn handed her a plate of cake, then took one for herself.
Miette
Duke chuckled and then stuffed some cake into his mouth. Miette stood and got some cake as well.
"Dude you got to kiss Sophie!" said one of the boys. "Lucky."
Sophie
"The one and only time, so I hope you enjoyed it," Sophie told Duke.
Robyn giggled and ate some of the cake.
Miette
"You say that now, baby," Duke replied, jokingly lowering his voice.
Miette snickered.
Sophie
Sophie just shook her head, smiling in amusement.
"You're lucky she thinks you're cute and harmless," Robyn said to Duke.
"There was this creep at her old school and she-"
"Shh, Robyn. We don't want Duke to have nightmares," Sophie said.
"Should I be concerned?" Sean asked.
"No, Dad. He got what was coming to him, believe me."
Miette
"That's cause he is cute and harmless," Miette grinned.
"Hey!" Duke objected.
Then he paused.
"Yeah, okay, I am. I can admit that," he said with a grin.
Sophie
"Like a puppy," Sophie said.
"Fluffy puppy."
Duke
"Yes," Duke said. "A cute and fluffy puppy am I. Does this mean I can sit on your lap?"
He gave her a pathetic, yet hopeful look.
Sophie
"Ummmmm..."
Sophie pretended to think about it, then gave him a crushing look.
"No."
Duke
Duke shrugged.
"Oh well," he said. "Didn't hurt to ask."
Sophie
"S'pose not," Sophie said.
"Even if you knew the answer was going to be no."
Duke
"Exactly. See, if I don't ask it's a definite no. but if I do there is a small ray of hope that you might say yes. Seeing as it is my birthday after all."
Duke grinned broadly.
Sophie
"You're so pushing it, mate," Sophie said.
"Did you know your brother was such a perve, Mi?"
Miette
"I wasn't even aware he even had hormones," Miette teased. "They must have kicked in the moment he turned thirteen."
Duke poked his tongue out at her.
Sophie
"Hanging out with my lil sister too much," Sophie noted.
"They both do that thing when they know they have no comeback, so they poke their tongue out at you."
Miette
Miette chuckled.
"Yes, yes they do. Now there's a frightening thought. What if our parents gets together... and so do Duke and Robyn?"
Sophie
"Oooh, scary," Sophie said.
"EW!" Robyn proclaimed loudly.
"You two are SO odd!"
Miette
Miette giggled.
"Very odd. Odd, odd, odd," Duke agreed. "Never gonna happen Miette!"
Sophie
"Yeah, cos EW!" Robyn said.
"You'll hurt Duke's feelings, Robyn," Sophie teased.
Miette
"She's allowed to call me eww," Duke said. "Cause like, she should know what's eww cause she's eww."
He nodded solomnly.
"That's not very nice," Miette said.
Sophie
Robyn licked her hand and slid it down Duke's face, then ran away giggling.
"Yeah, go Robyn!" Sophie said.
Duke
"Eww! I'm gonna get you for that!" Duke declared.
He chased after her.
Sophie
"Kids," Sophie said and shook her head.
Sean looked amused.
"Seeing as you're so grown up and mature now, Soph?"
"Well, yeah," Sophie said in a 'duh' voice.
"No you're not!" Robyn said.
She ran out into the back yard and scaled the fence between their two houses rapidly.
"Ouch!"
She sucked on her now bleeding finger but kept running.
Duke
Duke climbed over the fence as well.
"Ha ha!" he said at her yelp of pain.
He ran after her.
Robyn
"You're mean!" Robyn accused.
She scrabbled under the house, gliding along on her stomach.
Duke
"No, I'm cute and harmless remember," he teased.
Duke peered under the house, wondering if he could fit under there.
Robyn
"That's what Sophie said, not me!" Robyn said.
She wriggled in farther and turned around, watching him.
"You can't fit, you're too big, so ner!"
Duke
"Ner yourself," he replied.
Duke stood up, look around then got an idea. He walked to the tap, picked up the hose, peered under the house again, aimed and turned the tap on, soaking Robyn.
Robyn
"HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, THAT"S COLD!"
Robyn shivered, clutching her arms around herself.
Duke
Duke grinned and turned the tap off.
"Ha ha!" he chortled.
Then he ran back to the house.
Robyn
"Oooh, I hate him," Robyn said to herself.
She crawled out from under the house, mudstreaked and soaking.
Braddocks
Duke reentered the house.
"Oh there you are," said Rowena. "Where's Robyn?"
"Umm, coming?" Duke smiled innocently.
Rowena gave him a distrusting look, but Duke turned hi back and went back into the party.
Sophie
Sophie frowned slightly and slipped out the back. Robyn was unlocked the back door to slip inside.
"Robyn! What happened?"
"Crawled under the house to get away from Duke, and he turned the hose on me," Robyn said through chattering teeth.
Miette
"Well, that wasn't very nice," Miette frowned. "Here... let's dry you off."
Well, her being able to generate heat had to be good for something, right?
Sophie
"Th-thanks," Robyn said.
"Ta, Mi," Sophie said.
Miette
"No problem," Miette replied. "Now, how about we come up with some revenge on that pesky brother of mine?"
Sophie
"Sounds good ta me," Sophie drawled.
Robyn nodded vehemently.
"Yeah!"
Miette
However, a quick discussion revealed that none of them had any ideas. So they decided to return to the party, and try and think of something in the meantime. If they didn't get back at him today, they would another, and it would be twice as bad! Mwahahahahaha!
Ahem.
Sophie
Robyn scrubbed her face clean, just generally getting rid of most of the signs of her sojourn under her house.
Sophie watched Duke thoughtfully as Robyn re-entered the room. Hmm. She really had to get back at him, somehow.
Braddocks
"Okay, so who wants to play against me now?" Duke asked, gesturing to the Playstation.
"Actually, it's time for Reece to go home," Rowena said.
"Aww, rats," said Reece. "Hey see yas later."
"Bye Reece!"
Sophie
"See ya," Robyn said.
She munched on some party food.
"How's school been lately, Duke?" Sophie asked.
Duke
"Long and boring," Duke replied. "But yay for Christmas holidays! I have a Christmas play coming up too. And I'm gonna be in a skit at our Church on Christmas day too."
Sophie
"That's pretty cool," Sophie said.
"What roles do you have?"
Duke
"Well, on Christmas, I'm a shepherd. And in the other play I'm a used car salesman," Duke replied.
A couple more of his friends left and he took a moment to say goodbye.
Sophie
"Used car salesman, huh?" Sophie said.
"Well, I guess we'll have to come and watch."
Duke
"Yay!" Duke grinned. "You'll like it. It's funny. It's a comedy. Well, okay comedies generally are funny, but that's not the point."
Sophie
Sophie chuckled.
"You're such a dag."
Duke
Duke grinned.
"Coming from you, that's a compliment," he joked.
Sophie
"Psssh, dag," Sophie said.
"I bet you never grow up."
Duke
"Good. I don't wanna grow up. I wanna be like Peter Pan and live in Never Never Land and fly around and fight pirates."
Duke smiled and nodded.
Sophie
"Uh huh," Sophie said.
"And get your arse kicked. Often."
Duke
"Peter Pan never loses," Duke replied.
Soon Sean, Sophie and Robyn were the last guests left.
Sophie
"Hate to break it to you, Duke, but you're not Peter Pan," Sophie said.
"Anyway, I think it's time we got going," Sean said.
Duke
"I will be one day. I'm an actor remember?" Duke grinned. "Aww, do you have to go? I don't want yas to!"
Sophie
"Oh, you're all nice now," Robyn scoffed.
"Brat," Sophie said.
Duke
"I am a man of many qualities. So many that there's a constant argument ver which of these qualities should come through at any given moment," Duke replied.
Sophie
"Sometimes, you're just asking to be slapped," Sophie said.
"Do you get that feeling often, Mi?"
Miette
"I would have to say... yes," Miette replied.
"Traitor," Duke joked.
Sophie
"Sisterhood, unite," Sophie said.
"Yeah!" Robyn giggled.
Miette
"You girls suck," Duke declared.
"Well, there have been a lot of lollies at this party," Miette pointed out.
Sophie
Sophie laughed, looking younger for a moment.
"And boys are annoying. And they smell."
"Ew, boy germs!" Robyn said.
Duke
"Of course we smell. Otherwise there'd be no use for our noses!" Duke replied. "And boy germs are better than girl germs."
Sophie
"Girls don't have germs," Robyn said snottily.
"Cos we're much better then boys."
"I've trained her well," Sophie said with satisfaction.
Miette
"If boys have germs then so do girls," Duke replied. "Otherwise you're just being sexist. Sexist little girls. Ha! And you accuse men of being chav, chaverinsitic."
Miette raised an eyebrow.
Sophie
"I think the word you're looking for is chauvinistic, and the answer is, why not? We've had to put up with it for so long," Sophie said.
"Bout time you got some of your own medicine."
Duke
"That medicine was being dished out by people long before I was even born. Not fair that you should take out the injustices of the past out on the people of the future," Duke replied.
Then he clamped his hands over his ears.
"I can't hear you any more. Lalalalala."
Sophie
Sophie looked at Robyn.
"This calls for drastic measures."
"Yes it does," the younger girl agreed.
"I'll hold him down, and you tickle him," Sophie said.
"Sounds like a plan," Robyn said.
They pounced.
Duke
"Noooooooo!"
Duke wriggled around giggling from the tickling and trying to get out of their grip.
"Don't tickle me!"
Sophie
"Mwhahahaha!" Sophie said.
"Who's better now, hmmm?"
Robyn tickled Duke while Sophie made sure he couldn't get away.
Duke
"Boys are! Boys are!" Duke cried out, laughing madly. "Stop tickling me!"
Sophie
"No!" The two sisters chorused.
"Girls are bestest! Say it, saaaaay it!" Robyn said.
Duke
"Never!"
He wriggled around, trying to get out of Sophie's grip.
Sophie
"Oh, you will," Sophie said.
"Say it now or we'll make you wet your pants. Don't think we can't do it."
Duke
"I think that aliens are the best!" Duke replied defiantly.
Sophie
"Humans, and girls!" Sophie said.
She started tickling him as well as Robyn.
Duke
"Aliens! And Mutants rock! And humans too, because I'm human. Stop tickling!"
Sophie
"And girls rule!" Sophie said.
"We're much better then boys," Robyn said.
"Say it!"
Duke
"It!" Duke replied.
He continued to wriggle around. His stomach muscles were aching from the tickling.
Sophie
"Say girls are best!" Sophie ordered.
"Mi, you feel like helping us out here?"
Miette
Miette grinned and knelt down to restrain her brother.
"Traitor!" Duke objected. "My own sister turned against me."
Sophie
"Mwhahahaha! The bonds of sisterhood are strong!" Sophie said.
Robyn gave her sister a look.
"Sometimes, Soph, you can be very creepy."
"Say that girls are better then boys, Duke."
Miette
"No."
"Say it Duke," Miette grinned.
"No!"
Sophie
"Duke, you will say it or suffer embarrassment," Sophie said.
"I've done this before, mmhmm."
Duke
"No," Duke objected.
Then the inevitable happened. Lots of party food followed by great bouts of tickling can only mean one thing: Duke threw up.
Sophie
Robyn and Sophie got away quickly, then nearly killed themselves laughing.
Braddocks
"What's going on?" Rowena asked as Duke dissolved into tears.
"We were tickling him," Miette said, trying to hide a smile. "And uhh, yeah..."
"Ahh..." Rowena nodded. "Come on Duke. We'll get you cleaned up. Can you do something about the mess Mi?"
Miette nodded.
Sophie
"I'll give you a hand," Sophie said.
"Where's your cleaning stuff?"
Robyn bit her lip slightly.
"Sorry, Duke."
Braddocks
Duke sniffed and refused to look at her as Rowena led him into the bathroom.
"Laundry," Miette replied. "Down the hall, last door. Thanks."
She then headed into the kitchen to get some paper towel and a plastic bag.
Sophie
"Right."
Sophie headed off to get it. Robyn looked upset then ran to her father.
"We didn't mean it!"
"I know, he'll get over it," Sean said comfortingly.
"Eventually."
Braddocks
Miette pulled a face as she started scooping the spew into the bag.
"Ick, ick, ick."
"Now, you know they didn't mean to hurt you," Rowena was saying.
"They'be big fat ugly bullies and I hate them," Duke pouted.
Sophie
"Pretty gross, yeah," Sophie agreed.
She wrinkled her nose as she got down on her hands and knees, spraying disinfectant and wiping up where Miette had cleaned.
Robyn rubbed her hand over her face.
"We *really* didn't mean to!"
Braddocks
Miette wrinkled her nose as she put the last of it into the bag.
"Yuck."
"Okay," Rowena said. "Here, let me take your shirt. It should get a soak. And why don't you help yourself to some more punch? It'll settle your stomach and get rid of that yucky taste in your mouth."
"'Kay," Duke nodded meeking, and sniffed a little.
Sophie
Sophie scrubbed over the floor, then gave it one last spray. She wiped it over again to make it dryer.
"Careful not to step on it, people," she warned as she made her way down to put the filthy cloths in the laundry.
Robyn looked near to crying.
Braddocks
Miette tied up the bag and headed outside to put it in the bin. Duke walked out of the bathroom and headed to the table to pour himself some punch, refeusing to look at anyone. Rowena headed down to the laundry to soak the shirt in a bucket.
Sophie
"Where should I put these?" Sophie asked Rowena.
Robyn bit her lip again, really hard.
"Duke...I'm really, really sorry. Are you alright?"
Braddocks
"You can just put those in here," Rowena replied, gesturing to the bucket. "Thanks, Sophie."
"Go away," Duke replied.
He gulped down his punch and then poured some more.
Sophie
"Ok then," Sophie said, and gladly dumped them where Rowena had indicated.
She went to the bathroom to wash her hands.
"Duke..."
Robyn darted a look at her father, then looked back at Duke.
"I'm *really* sorry."
Braddocks
Rowena put the water and some detergent in the bucket, then followed Sophie to the bathroom to wash her own hands.
Duke didn't reply.
"Duke," Miette said, stepping back in. "She said she was sorry."
"I don't want to talk to any of you! I hate you!"
Sophie
Sophie washed her hands throughly, then dried them on the towel in the bathroom. She came back into the living room in time to see Robyn burst into tears, then run into Sean's arm.
"Whoa, sensing much hostility," she said slowly.
Braddocks
"Duke!" Miette scolded.
"Shut up! Bully!" Duke yelled.
He drank his second cup and then ran from the door, nearly colliding with Rowena on the way.
"Duke?"
"This is the worst birthday ever!"
And he ran off to his room. Rowena sighed.
Sophie
Sophie ran a hand through her hair and sighed.
"I think it would be best if we left."
Robyn was nearly hysterical and Sean picked her up. She curled into his arms, wrapping her hands around his neck and crying hard.
"I think it's been a long day," Sean said diplomatically.
"See you later, Ro, Miette."
"Bye, Ro, Mi," Sophie said.
"If Duke ever emerges from his room, tell him I'm sorry."
Miette
"I will," Rowena promised. "Sorry it all ended so badly."
"Bye guys," Miette said.
Sophie
"See ya," Sophie said and the other family left and went home.
"I said sorry!" Robyn kept repeating.
"We didn't mean for it to happen!"
"I know, love," Sean soothed.
Miette
"Well," said Rowena. "That wasn't much fun. I think I'll go upstairs and cheer him up. Maybe going to the cinema will do the trick."
"Maybe," Miette smiled.
And she headed to the bathroom while Rowena headed upstairs to talk to Duke.