Usual Routine

[Madeline Speare]

Even asleep it seems Maddie got no peace of mind. She had been tossing and turning for a while now, and that was because of a nightmare. Her nightmares had always been bad, usually ending up with her waking up screaming in the middle of the night. This one hadn't caused screaming, but it had been enough to keep her from going to sleep. Logan was in Azkaban.
She had managed to get the truth out of Ian late last night when she had mention Finley. Mention Logan or Fin was never a good move, but Maddie felt it was fair. Shell and Vi were a sensitive subject for her, and it was Logan and Fin that Maddie could never talk to Ian about. It just wasn't right to bring news about the other family into the house. It had finally happened though, Logan had gotten life. It was what he deserved.
Finley didn't deserve the orphanage they were threatening him with. Even Ian had agreed with that. Maddie had written to Logan's sister last night, hoping that she would take Fin.
Maddie loved Fin, he was her son after all, but she couldn't..-wouldn't take him in. He came with too much baggage.

Groaning softly, she glances briefly at the clock. It was only seven. Tugging at the covers, she rolls onto her stomach burying her head into her pillow as an attempt to go back to sleep.
The sound of laughter, and feet pattering down the hall makes that task impossible.
"Ma!"
Opening one eye, Maddie glances at her youngest daughter, before moving into a sitting position, hauling Abby into her lap. "How do you keep getting out of your crib?" She murmurs softly.
"Wow, your up this early?" Alex's tone is disbelieving, even if it's somewhat sleepy.
"Your one to talk," Maddie grins, brushing Abby's hair back off her forehead and making room for Alex on the bed. "It's because of you demons that I never get any sleep," She accuses, teasingly.

Alex laughs, laying down on his side next to his mother and propping himself up on his elbow. "Yeah, well next time don't have kids," He grins, pushing his own hair out of his eyes.
"When did you get a mouth?" Maddie asks, raising an eyebrow and flicking her son in the forehead. It seemed everyday now he looked more like Ian, she could even see some of his personality in him, to both father and son's dismay. He shrugs, rolling onto his back.

"Where's Bill?" Maddie grins, glancing down the hall to see if Poppy would join them. She was use to being dog-piled in the early morning. Lord knows Poppy and Alex loved doing it when they were younger.
"Sleeping," Alex replies as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Yeah, that was definitely like Ian. Maddie rolls her eyes, hoisting Abby higher in her arms, before getting up. "Where's your Da?"
"Who cares?"
"It's too early to be bitter Alex."
He shrugs, his lips already working their way into a frown, brushing his hair out of his eyes again.
"Can't stay mad forever baby."
"Can try."
Maddie sighed, so much for trying to break the routine. She wasn't fond of the tension that hung in the room when father and son were there.
"Food!" That was routine too. "Okay Abby, okay. We'll go get food." Maddie grins, it seems Abby always knew how to break silences.

[Ian Hunt]

I don't know at what point in my life I stopped needing sleep every night. Some time in the past few years, I believe, about three years ago I believe.
Those few months before I left when I sat down here in the living room about three nights a week because sleep was impossible, I suppose it was about then. And then there was the two years that I was actually away and sleep was hardly possible about half the time.
I'm suffering an extreme case of deja vu here.

So instead of being generally irritating and not sleeping upstairs, I am being less irritating and not sleeping downstairs.
Downstairs I can watch the window, as well, which is not exactly thrilling but at least I have an idea of the time, and also I saw Poppy come back into the house at 3 this morning. I didn't ask and she didn't explain, just waved and went upstairs.
I don't think I even want to know, but I have a suspicion that she was out with Jenny. If I find out my daughter's off smoking or something though, then Jenny will be in serious trouble. But I think a little freedom is good, and at least she's out and doing something that hopefully doesn't involve talking to herself or people who don't exist.

Smoothing out the crumpled bit of paper in my hand for the fourth or fifth time in the past ten minutes, I glance down at it without really seeing it.
Adalia thought that she might tell me in person, and that was good of her, I suppose. Good of her at least until she got worked up and told me I should be in there too.
I suppose she's right there. I probably should, starting a lifetime's rot of my own in the cell next door. I would be there too if I'd have stayed with him.
As soon as I knew, needless to say, I salvaged a copy of the Daily Prophet and yes, he's there. The last time Logan's name will ever be in the papers, I'm sure of it. And now I'm going to be keep compulsively smoothing it out and it's going to end up fading away into nothing and then Logan simply will not exist anymore and that's going to be good, I should imagine.

I feel, I don't know, a little strange about it. That's my, well I wouldn't say friend but ally at the very least, who's rotting in Azkaban and I feel like I should probably be there too. I deserve to be there, that goes without saying.
I threw away everything because I was terrified of that place. I wonder how long it is before I end up there too, years maybe, months, weeks. It'll probably happen though. Probably.

I smooth out the article again, idly tearing the corners, and wishing that I had the guts to go and see him so I can figure this out properly. I want to know how, why, when, where. That's a big risk though, a very big risk, and there's no way I could ever go there willingly.
So I'll just have to content with turning insomniac.

Glancing up and at the window again, I decide it's probably about time that everyone else will be getting up, because small children are so considerate when it comes to getting up at a decent hour in the morning.
I hardly have much incentive to go upstairs though, Abby rarely talks and Alex is a repellent. I hate to have to give up on my own son, but what choice do I have? I don't think this is repairable.
I clench my fist slightly without meaning to, crumpling up the article and mutter an incoherent profanity, shoving it into my pocket and leaning my head frustratedly back against the couch.

[Madeline Speare]

"Food!" Abby laughs, sitting at the top of the stairs, waiting for someone to help her get down them. Alex bounces past his sister, sliding down the banister. "Come on baby Abby, do like I do," He grins.
"Not a chance," I laugh softly, coming down the hall after checking on Poppy. She was asleep, just asleep in the same clothes she was in yesterday. I smile to myself, she still needed work on the sneaking back in technique.
Hoisting Abby into my arms, I make my way downstairs, stopping halfway towards the kitchen.
"You okay Tiger?" I ask softly.

[Ian Hunt]

Yeah, I thought it was about time they were getting up.
Looking up, I grin weakly, "Yeah, I'm alright."
I stand, making my way over to her and kissing her lightly, "Good morning."

[Madeline Speare]

I grin, kissing him softly back, settling Abby onto my hip, letting her wrap her fist around my shirt. "Morning, what are you doing up this early anyways?" I ask, raising an eyebrow, glancing at Alex as he pulls at face at the two of us.

[Ian Hunt]

"Couldn't sleep," I reply, "I'm assuming they got you up?"

[Madeline Speare]

"This little one keeps getting out of her crib," I grin, hoisting Abby higher in my arms."Hungry?" I ask,"I need to feed the monsters before the revolt,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Figures," I grin slightly, brushing Abby's hair lightly behind her ear, "No, not particularly. But good luck with preventing the revolt."

[Madeline Speare]

I grin, watcing Abby reach for his hand. "Yes, that's your Da." I laugh softly."The revolt is pretty calm today seeing as the Captain is upstaris sleeping,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Hey," I grin weakly, letting her take hold of my hand, then snorting softly, "Because the Captain got in at 3am this morning."

[Madeline Speare]

Abby laughs, trying to jam his fingers in her mouth.
I laugh, pushing her hair back off her forehead,"Mhm, I know, she's still in her clothes from yesterday,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Not for eating baby," I laugh softly, taking my hand away from my mouth.
"Yeah, that wasn't a good move on her part," I grin wryly, "Needs to work on that."

[Madeline Speare]

"Here, she's wants you, or at least wants to try to eat you," I grin, handing Abby to him, tucking a loose strand of her hair back behind her ear."She's getting big,"
I laugh, blowing my bangs from my face,"I say we let her think she got away with it, then get her when she's not expecting it,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Mhm, she is. Which is strange if she's apparently underfed enough to want to eat me," I laugh slightly, taking Abby from her and hauling her up slightly.
"She knows that I know, because she waved at me when she came in," I laugh.

[Madeline Speare]

"Can you say Daddy, Abby? Hmm?" I grin, kissing her softly on the cheek, before glancing behind my shoulder up the stairs,"Well then, I'll have to speak to her later then. Here come the rebellious teenage years, be afraid,"

[Ian Hunt]

"You're just witholding it, aren't you Abby?" I laugh softly, "We know you can."
"Hmm," I shake my head, "She doesn't know any boys, so she can do whatever else she likes. I don't think she knows any boys anyway."

[Madeline Speare]

"She'll say Charlie's name," I laugh softly,"And Jack's and Nathan's, won't say Da or Ma though," I say, watching Abby bury her head into Ian's shoulder.
"You don't know that, she could know some boys and she's just not telling us."

[Ian Hunt]

"Go figure," I laugh softly.
"She doesn't know any boys," I shake my head, "No. I think. I'll ask Jenny or Kim or Mia or something."

[Madeline Speare]

"I think we're unloved Ian," I say keeping a straight face as I glance over ay Abbu.
"Again, you don't know that," I nod, then laugh disbelievingly."Pfft, like they'll tell you. It's girl code, don't tell the father."

[Ian Hunt]

"Well, that definitely hurts," I agree as seriously as I can, "Do you not love us Abby?"
"What? You think she talks to boys?" I gesture vaguely at the ceiling in the direction of Poppy's room with my free hand, "She talks to herself. And Jenny owes me one anyway. I'll find out for sure."

[Madeline Speare]

"Hmm baby? Do you not love Ma and Da?" I ask, watching as she grins, before burying her head deeper into Ian's shoulder.
"She knows boys, I bet she does."

[Ian Hunt]

"That's not very reassuring," I laugh softly, stroking her hair back lightly off her forehead, "You love us really, Abby. You know you do."
"Bet she doesn't," I shake my head.

[Madeline Speare]

"Prove to Ma and Da that you love us baby," I tease, gently pressing my lips to Abby's forehead.
I grin wryly,"She must know some boys other then you and Alex,"

[Ian Hunt]

"That's cruel," I laugh softly, "How's she going to prove it?"
"Yes, she knows Matthew and Daniel, both of whom are related to her so that's okay as well as knowing me and Alex," I nod slightly.

[Madeline Speare]

"She could tell us that she loves us," I tease, taking Abby back from him.
"Well she might know other boys that aren't related to her,"

[Ian Hunt]

"Can she even say that?" I grin, letting her take Abby back.
Then I snort slightly, "Well, I'll soon fix that then."

[Madeline Speare]

"She might," I grin, hoisting her into the air briefly, before setting her down on the ground.
She laughs, grabbing hold of my leg before glancing up at the two of us."Not going to say anything then?" I ask her, raising an eyebrow.
Glancing back over my shoulder, I laugh,"Good luck."

[Ian Hunt]

"Come on Abby," I grin down at her, "Say it."
Then I laugh slightly, "I don't need luck. Just a list of names, that's all."

[Madeline Speare]

Abby just laughs, before ducking behind my leg."Come on chickie," I tease, gently putting my hand on her head."Say you love Ma and Da."
Scoffing I blow my bangs from my face,"Yeah right,"

[Ian Hunt]

"That's cruel, Abby," I laugh, "Feeling unloved."
I grin slightly, "You don't believe me?"