Not-So-Inner Child

[Frank "Sunny" Laffont]

"Omigod, I think I'm stuck!" Frank a.k.a. Sunny Cox said as she waved her hands. She'd actually gotten "stuck" at the top of the slide in the middle of the park's playground. There were a few children about, playing and doing their thing and all, but Sunny appeared to be more or less focused on one in particular, grinning at him and reaching out for him to help "pull" her free. Sunny of course wiggled and wobbled her way back up to the top, flopping down.

"Whoo, that was a close one, Nicky," she said, reaching out to tickle the little three year old until he started giggling. Sunny twisted then moving to scoop him up and pick him up for a bit, the kid squealing all the while. "Wave to your mom, Nicky!" Sunny yelled, waving the kid slightly from side to side. Nicholas Harlow giggled and waved toward Layla Harlow, who had, thus far, stayed away from the playground. Because while Sunny Cox might fit right in with children, Layla, more or less the same age, would probably stand out a bit more.

Sunny adjusted Nicky's position, pulling him up to her shoulders. The normally too bubbly blonde actually paused to make sure that Nicky was all in place before bounding forward, coming up to Layla and leaning over. "I told him he so needs to make sure to give his mommmy a kiss," Sunny said, nodding her head sagaciously, "since she's sooo purdy and all."

[Layla Harlow]

Play dates had thus far consisted of a socially awkward pair of mother and son running errands, grabbing lunch and occasionally crashing uncle Jack's or Patch's house. Layla took Nicky every once and a while to the park where she'd run around with him, swing and roam the playground because he wasn't so great at socializing with kids his own age. Other times they would hang out at the mall and shop around, looking at all of the superhero things they could find. It may not have consisted of playing, but it was time to bond and that was all she looked for with him. Especially with such a busy schedule to keep up with.

So when Layla was able to find someone who was so playful, so enthusiastic and had as much energy as her little man, she couldn't turn down the idea of a play date, as if it was an audition for Sunny to be a part of Nicholas' life. Layla was vaguely familiar of the girl from around BA and she was absolutely nice, but their personalities were so very different that she found herself avoiding much interaction. However when Nicholas had first met Sunny, he had been hooked immediately.

She enjoyed seeing her baby so carefree and so happy while he was with Sunny. With so much stress on her shoulders, Layla knew she couldn't keep up as easily with him. With all of the excitement exuding between her toddler and his new best friend, Layla couldn't help laughing with them. He looked so happy, and he reminded her so much of her little brother at that age. When the little boy waved, Layla mustered up all her enthusiasm and waved back, blowing him a kiss.

Sunny took off towards her, after graciously making sure Nicky was safe (which Layla couldn't have been happier with) and Nicky squealed with excitement. "Why thank you, Sunny. That's very sweet of you. Are you two having fun, baby?" She gave her son a big kiss and he giggled, warming her heart.

"Sunny stuck! See Mommy?" Nicholas spoke and Layla smiled even wider. He was so nervous when he spoke usually, but with such a great mood he was in, he seemed ever so comfortable around the blonde. It was beautiful. And it gave her so much hope that her parents were wrong with everything they had said to her.

[Frank "Sunny" Laffont]

Sunny saw the big kiss and hug, giggling and giving the child on her shoulders another little bounce too. Hearing Nicky sounding so excited only made Sunny feel all the better, even if she did have that internal voice reminding her not to go overboard and to try and still do the whole responsible adult thing (there had been some bad experiences when Sunny was a teenager, but she'd adjusted and grown and now could totally handle the responsibility).

"Sooo stuck," Sunny agreed, nodding. "Thankfully Nicky here's great at helping people out, isn't that right Nicky?" Sunny shifted slightly to tickle at Nicky's chest for a moment before looking at Layla. "We were totally thinking that we should take some time to play pretend and all. Nicky so wants to save his mommy from the big bad ogre," Sunny then paused to point at herself, "that's me, bee tee dubs," Sunny then let out a giggle, "aren't you ready to be a big strong hero and save your mommy too?"

Sunny was already smiling and swiveling from side to side, all while making sure to keep a good hold on the kid above her.

[Layla Harlow]

Nicholas was laughing so much, Layla had a hard time stressing about their situation. It was fixable, despite how hard she'd have to work. As long as he was happy, she figured she was doing her job as a parent. Wasn't that the main focus anyway? Layla nodded in agreement with Frank. "That's my boy, such a little helper. I'm so proud of you! You're gonna grow up to be just like Batman, aren't ya little man?" Okay, hopefully not actually like Batman, but he wouldn't have understood any other way. Her son simply loved Batman and aspired to grow up and be just like him. As long as she didn't die and push him into being cold and vigilant.

"An ogre, huh? Sounds pretty scary! You gonna save me, Nicky?" She smiled up at the girl in front of her and nodded, agreeing to partake in the fun of pretend. Layla didn't quite care anymore if she looked foolish with her acting. She only cared about how much her son was enjoying his time with the two girls. It brought her back to when she was younger and the toddler she was trying to make laugh was her brother. A happy thought as she saw such a resemblance between the two boys now. Luca would have loved Nicholas and he would have loved being an uncle.

Nicky clapped and giggled again, "Hero, Mommy! I save!" Her thoughts returned to her hazel-eyed cutie and she pinched his cheek while he laughed and laughed.

"Okay, baby. But you gotta be careful, don't let the ogre get you, too!" Layla exclaimed with as much excitement as she was able.

[Frank "Sunny" Laffont]

Sunny grinned and nodded. "Yup, like Batman but without all the sad not having parents stuff," because of course Sunny would be the one to vocalize precisely the bits that Layla likely didn't want to have mentioned. "So more like Superman, really," and who didn't want to be like Superman? But right now, Hero Nicky Was going to beat the ogre and save his wonderful mommy from things. The boy was already giggling and getting ready to save.

"Yep!" Sunny said, giving the child another little bounce before reaching up. She gently lifted him, getting him to his feet and making sure he was set before backing up. Then she lurched at Layla, wrapping the other girl in a hug. "Ha! I got your mommy!" Sunny said. She added another chortle that was more comic than evil. "I'm just a big mean ogre who doesn't have anybody to love me, so I'm gonna steal your mommy for my own!"

Sunny let out another laugh and then let her fingers dance a little around Layla's waist, the intent to tickle quite evident. The whole point was having fun, after all, and nothing signaled fun quite like laughter.

[Layla Harlow]

"Thanks, Sunny," Layla shook her head and was happy that Nicholas once again was oblivious to anything and everything. Except for Frank's comment about being like Superman in which he scrunched his nose, at the exact time that Layla did.

"Eeeeewww. No Supa-man. No Supa. Bah-man!" Nicky exclaimed with a giggle that could have been considered maniacal if it weren't for the fact that it came from a three year old. Layla laughed and shook her head, pleased that he too shared an opposition to Superman. He'd been taught well by her, next thing she knew he was going to be asking people with Superman shirts if they bled. It would happen to her and then she'd have to try and explain why her kid asked people things like that.

Frank lunged for Layla after setting down Nicholas and Layla laughed as the other girl wrapped her arms around her. But then she remembered this was playing pretend and she had to act scared, so she feigned whimpering, "Help me Nicky!" Still she laughed and squirmed as she was tickled. "Get her, Nicky!" The toddler puffed up his chest and made his best 'gr face,' preparing for battle with the big bad ogre.

"Leggo, leggo," He ran at the two girls and his hands went to Sunny's sides to tickle fight her back. Nicholas laughed and continued frantically trying to free Layla from the Frank Monster.

[Frank "Sunny" Laffont]

Sunny of course had to scrunch her nose back up in response. It was a knee-jerk reaction, one that she couldn't stop even if she'd stopped and thought about it and actually tried (and she probably wouldn't because it was kinda fun to do and how often did you get a chance to wrinkle your nose like that? Not often enough). She just stuck her tongue out at Nicky as he went on about superheros, mostly because she was quickly becoming an ogre and going for Layla and squirming and stuff.

"oh nos, brave hero Nicky's looking all ready to rumble!" Sunny said as she saw Nicky puffing up. She let out a gasp and tried to squirm out of the way. Sunny probably could've outrun the boy if she'd actually been trying (this would be one of their favorite games at some point), but that would require letting go of Layla and stopping the tickling. Instead Sunny soon found herself at the mercy of the three year old.

"Oh, oh, ahaaha!" Sunny started giggling, falling down almost immediately. To say she was ticklish was a bit of an understatement, but she was making sure not to do her normal flailing. A flail at the wrong moment could, like, lay Nicky flat and ruin the whole game. "Oh ,noooooos, I'm, I'm, bwhahaah!" she couldn't even get through her dialogue, so fierce was the tickling (and so easy was it to make Sunny laugh, really).