Silence [Maddie]

[Ian Hunt]

It's still so very weird to be in the same room as Alex. I don't really like it. It's dead silent and it's starting to grate on me.
What's worse is that I don't even have anything that I can be pretending I'm doing, all I can really do is just sit here awkwardly and not look at my son, instead casting my gaze around so I've taken in practically everything else about the room, what's out the window, the ceiling...I'm pretty well acquainted with it all now.
It was easier when Poppy was in here, stretched out on the sofa with her feet on my lap like she usually does, singing under her breath and occasionally out loud to try and get Alex and Abby to join in. But then she announced we were boring her and that she was going to break rules, snort heroin and get arrested and that I should expect a call to bail her out, and left.
So now she's gone and things have reverted to this very awkward state of affairs.

Alex and Abby are playing some really weird game by the looks of it, that involves stacking some of the useless junk he's collected from around the house into piles and towers so she can knock them over again and laugh and try and stack them back up.
I don't really understand why that's so interesting or how it's held their attention for so long, but it has.
"What are you doing?" I have to break the silence somehow, and it's the best I can do.
"Hush!" Abby sticks her hand up in my direction, carelessly picking up and dropping a wooden spoon so it clatters on the floor.
"Sorry Abby," I reply, hiding a quick grin.
Alex glances up, but looks away again very quickly, "When's Mum coming home?"
I shrug slightly. I don't know when Maddie's coming home, I don't really know where she is. Work, possibly, I don't know, but I wish she'd hurry back and break this stupid awkward silence.
"Da-..." Alex glances up again, catching himself before he can finish the word, "When's Mum coming home?"
Apparently, he didn't see me shrug the first time, so I do it again, "Soon, I should think."
"Hush!" Abby repeats earnestly, swiping her hand through Alex's pile of kitchen utensils.
"Sorry Abby," He grins and drops his head again to begin gathering up all the scattered objects together again.

I tear my gaze away from them again and let my head fall back against the back of the couch, staring up at the ceiling once more.
I'd prefer to be swamped with some of the other kids, at least that way I'd have something to do and I could keep busy and distracted instead.
I hate this silence and I hate this awkward feeling hanging in the air, and I really wish Maddie would come home soon so it can be over.

[Madeline Speare]

I've never enjoyed doing anything the muggle way and I really don't know why I'm carrying my groceries in the first place.
Blowing my bangs from my face, I hoist the bags higher in my arms, continuing my way up the path to the front door. I'm regretting having stairs leading up to the door now. Of course I could just put the bags down and grab my keys, but no that would be too simple.

I could just as easily apparate in, I mean I didn't pass my apparation test for nothing. Again, too much of a hassle.
It's just know that I realize that I don't have my keys. They're inside...on the kitchen table.
"Perfect," I murmur, trying not to drop my bags and knock on the door at the same time. No luck.
One of the bags that I was holding, gave way and split open spilling everything onto the porch.
"Bloody perfect," I mutter, blowing my bangs out of my face, and kicking the door slightly."Ian?! Little help?!"

[Ian Hunt]

I'm on my feet immediately, thankful for coincidences and that sort of timing when things work out the way I'm hoping for once, heading into the hall.
"Mum's home!" Alex is also on his feet immediately, skidding past me and towards the front door.
"Go and watch your sister."
"You go and watch my sister."
There was a time when I could just remind him he wasn't tall enough to reach the door handle, unfortunately it's long since passed and I wish he'd taken after Maddie in terms of height and would stop being so bloody tall. I also wish he didn't talk back.
So I just pick him up and turn him round, heading towards the door myself, "Go watch your sister."
"Asshole."
"I heard that."
"You were supposed to."
This is the first conversation I've had with my son in a while, and I'm not sure if it's an argument or not. He's finding it amusing, whatever it is, apparently, as he's grinning slightly but trying to scowl at the same time.
"Work on the facial expression," I tell him, pulling open the front door, "Gives you away."

He darts past me again and out onto the step, "Why are you doing it the muggle way?"
"Alex, that's not watching your sister, is it?" I murmur under my breath, crouching down to start picking up the things Maddie's managed to drop.
To be honest, I've no idea why she's doing it the muggle way either.

[Madeline Speare]

"Cos mum's stupid and forgets that she's magic," I laugh softly, leaning forward careful not to drop the remainder of what I was holding, brushing my lips lightly over Alex's forehead,"You behave?"
I already know the answer, it's a big no. He's always giving Ian attitude when I'm not around. Or so I've heard.
"I hate muggle places," I murmur, blowing my bangs from my face,"They're too crowded."

[Ian Hunt]

"How can you forget that!?" Alex has trouble forgetting it for five seconds now that he's all hyper and wound up about going to Hogwarts.
But then he nods seriously, "Of course I behaved."
I snort derisively at that but don't say anything, straightening up and taking one of the bags off Maddie, "Don't go to muggle places then."

[Madeline Speare]

"I'm old, remember?" I remind him, trying not to laugh,"I can barely remember your ugly little face," I tease, knowing all too well how much Alex was looking forward to Hogwarts.
Giving him a skeptical look I glance over at Ian, "Mhm, course you did."
I'm trying not to think of what else he may have broken.
"It wasn't my idea!" I argue, letting him take a bag,"Lizzie dragged me there!"

[Ian Hunt]

He grins at that, probably storing it away as a confession for the next time he tries to call her old.
"I did behave," He catches the skepitcal glance and folds his arms across his chest, "Really."
I shrug slightly at Maddie, because for the most part he has behaved. Apart from calling me an asshole, but I'm pretty sure he picked that word up from me anyway, so I won't mention it. And the possible breaking of some of the things him and Abby have been playing with. I don't know, I haven't checked.
"Well...don't listen to Liz then," I laugh slightly.
That's probably not even possible, I'm fairly indifferent to Liz, but even I've noticed that it's nearly impossible to ignore her.

[Madeline Speare]

"Mhm, course you did Tiger Cub," I nod, placing my free hand on his shoulder, steering him back inside,"And I'm a redhead." I tease.
I'm hoping nothing else in the house is broken, though I doubt we have anything of real value anyways.
"Not listen to Liz?" I grin, raising an eyebrow at him,"That's impossible, besides I was dragged against my will."

[Ian Hunt]

"Ooooooold," He sings under his breath at her, as it seems to be his only comeback for her, "So old you don't even know what colour your hair is."
It's incredible, as he has many an insult and sarcastic remark for me, but he tends to act his age around Maddie.
"Dragged against your will? You have to have a companion to pick up groceries?" I raise an eyebrow with a small grin, shutting the front door behind her.

[Madeline Speare]

"Ian, where's the duck tape?" I grin innocently, flicking Alex in the forehead, before heading towards the kitchen. My arms are getting tired."Go look after your sister," I grin down at Alex.
I'm going to miss him a lot when he leaves for Hogwarts next year, it's not going to be the same without him around the house.
"I was dragged against my will," I nod seriously,"I mean honestly, she's like two feet taller then me,"
It's true, Lizzie was always taller then me growing up, but then again a lot of people were, hell Alex is going to pass me pretty soon, but that's just because he got the tall gene from Ian.

[Ian Hunt]

"Abby has it," Alex grins before I can answer, then his face falls again, "But I've been doing that for ages."
Although, now Maddie's told him to do it, he's able to obey the command because I'm not the one who said it, or at least I think that's how it works anyway, because he sticks his tongue out at Maddie and then trudges back into the living room.
"Everyone's taller than you," I raise an eyebrow, following her into the kitchen and setting down the bag on the counter, "Alex will be taller than you soon. Matthew already is taller than you."
Matthew is unnaturally tall for a nine year old though, Claire's pretty tall as is everyone else in the whole Turner gene pool, so he's already surpassed Maddie by a fair few inches.

[Madeline Speare]

"Then go take it from her and put a piece over your mouth," I grin, ruffling his hair,"Go on then," I laugh watching him sulk down the hall.
He loves Abby, and I know he doesn't mind watching her. Hell, the first year of her life he would constantly follow me around when I carried, making sure she would stay safe.
Putting my own bag down on the table, I turn back around to face him trying not to grin,"Yeah well..shut up your all tall freaks anyways,"

[Ian Hunt]

"No thanks," He turns round and pulls a face at her before disappearing into the living room again.
I've no idea why he makes it sound like it's a chore to watch her when it isn't, and he loves to do it anyway. For the first few months I was back, he was so protective of her, he didn't even like me to be near her when he was in the room.
I laugh, wrapping my arms loosely round her waist, "Well, you're a short freak."

[Madeline Speare]

I shake my head, pulling a face at the back of his head as he heads back into the living room.
It always hard to tell who he takes after more. There are days when I see a lot of Ian in him, even if both of them deny it, but then there are days when he reminds me of myself.
I laugh softly, moving my arms up around his neck."Yes, well you love this short freak."

[Ian Hunt]

I grin slightly, "Mhm, even if I get neck ache from kissing you."

[Madeline Speare]

I grin, standing on my toes and kissing him softly.
"You love kissing me though."

[Ian Hunt]

I haul her up slightly, setting her on the counter and grinning slightly against her lips, "That's better."

[Madeline Speare]

I laugh softly, pushing the bags back a little so I had more room, kissign him again."Mhm, thought so."

[Ian Hunt]

I laugh slightly, kissing her softly back.

[Madeline Speare]

"So, how was baby-sitting?" I tease against his lips.

[Ian Hunt]

"About as awkward as it usually is," I say wryly against her lips.

[Madeline Speare]

Can't say that I'm surprised to hear that. Ever since he's been back it hasn't been the same with him and Alex. Alex was crushed when he left, I thought he'd be over joyed that Ian was back home. Shows how much I know about ten year old boys.
"No change then?" I ask, glancing down the hall.

[Ian Hunt]

I shake my head, "He spoke to ask me when you were coming home, and that's pretty much it."

[Madeline Speare]

"Well, that's better then usual," I mumble softly, pushing his hair back off his forehead.

[Ian Hunt]

"Mhm, not by much," I murmur.

[Madeline Speare]

"Get glared at a lot?" I ask softly, knowing how impression Alex's glare was.

[Ian Hunt]

"Mhm," I nod.

[Madeline Speare]

"He'll get over it, you'll see."

[Ian Hunt]

I raise an eyebrow slightly at that, doubtfully, but just shrug, "I guess."

[Madeline Speare]

I sigh softly, kissing him lightly,"So how was Abby then?"