The hallways of the fifth floor, Sunday, late afternoon

[nadiathesaint]

Sometime in the late afternoon, a sound went ringing through the fifth floor hallway from the girls bathroom that had not been heard before, and probably would not be heard again any time soon.

It was the sound of an irate mother of a young child.

"BAILEY SOFIA SANTOS-DORNEZ, YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!"

God help us, Nadia was attempting to give Bailey a bath.

Comments

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

Bailey crossed her arms in a perfect imitation of Nadia's pose. "I don't need a bath. And if I'm a brat it's 'cause you raised me that way,"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"I'm fast enough to catch the little brat," Walter said, suddenly standing next to Bailey at the end of the hall. "And we'll argue about who's at fault for your being a brat another time."

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

Bailey looked up at Walter.

"Uh oh."

And then she was running down the hallway again, heading for the stairs. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. . . ."

Well, you get the idea.

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi zoomed in with her video camera.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia stepped sideways into Bailey's path and grabbed her in a big bear hug, lifting her off the floor.

"Gotcha!"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Walter grinned and applauded. "You have what it takes."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia gripped the squirming girl. "Not if she tries to escape again. . . . Really, I've never seen anyone who was this adverse to being washed."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"She says it makes her pretty."

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

Bailey twisted her head to look up at Nadia. "Like the stuff that you used sometimes!"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia would have facepalmed if she hadn't had her hands full. "Mud masks have to be washed off sometimes, Bailey. If you don't, they stop working."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Walter shrugged and laughed. "I tried telling her she was already beautiful, but she told me I always tell her that."

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

"I bet you do," Nadia said. Then she lugged Bailey back into the bathroom.

Muffled wailing could be heard from within, along with curses and childish bad words in a multitude of languages and, yes, a lobster noise.

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Walter? Doomed to be wrapped around that girl's little finger.

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

When Bailey reemerged, she looked like a whole different girl. "Can I have a party now, Daddy?"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

Look at that. She really did look like her mother. How was Walter supposed to tell her no?

"What sort of party do you want, little rabbit?"

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm not a rabbit, Daddy, I'm a girl!"

[nadiathesaint]

"I can actually confirm that now, too," Nadia muttered. She was quite thoroughly damp. "I never got a party just for taking a bath. . . ."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"Looks as though you've had one now, too. Would you like a party for the two prettiest girls on the island?"

Walter wondered if someone had spiked his tea.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia laughed. "You realize we've completely lost our minds, right?"

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

Bailey, in the meantime, had gone to explore a little.

She came back with Furrball tucked under one arm. And dirt all over her face. "Let's have a kitty party!"

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"We had them to lose to begin with?" Walter asked, then groaned at Bailey.

"Do you think she does this to us all the time?"

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia was also looking at Bailey. "I think it's very possible. You get to bathe her, next time."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"But..." Walter looked at... their daughter. "She's a girl. I don't think that's right."

[nadiathesaint]

"But you're her father. Sort of."

[walter-n-wires.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but only sort of and she's a girl and..."

And Walter was going to end up shoving Bailey into the shower bay with all of the shower heads going and closing his eyes.

[daddysmessygirl.livejournal.com]

"I don't need another bath!" Bailey declared. "When are we having the party?"