spamalot } { of potential siblings and ice cream sundaes

[wildkingdom]

Malia: [makes her way in, plopping down on the couch next to him with a smile] Hi, Daddy.

Peter: [puts his book down, smiling] Hello sweetheart. I haven't seen you much lately with the bar exam and all. How did it go? [he knew better than to do anything more than text the week after. He was not a stupid man]

Malia: [where do you think she got it from?] I think it went well. I won't hear for a few months but I have a good feeling about it.

Peter: That's good. And how's Isaac?

Malia: He's good. Work is going really well.

Peter: That's good. [he pats her knee, and then gets up] So, I think I went a bit overboard on ice cream toppings, so we may need to just have this for dinner.

Malia: ... I do not have a problem with that.

Peter: Good, neither do I. [holds his hand down to her to help her up]

Malia: [takes it with a smile before getting to her feet and following to the kitchen]

Peter: [and there are a few bags on the counter that he starts to unpack. Oreo pieces, syrups, sprinkles, gummy bears... basically everything he knew his daughter loved since she was a child. Because yes, he was maybe sucking up just a bit as a part of this, but she had asked for sundaes.] The ice cream is in the freezer.

Malia: [her face lights up a bit as she makes her way to the freezer to grab the ice cream] Did you forget my birthday? [Because seriously. Not complaining, just curious.]

Peter: No, I haven't forgotten. I'm pretty sure you would never let me forget.

Malia: So what's with the sundae extravaganza?

Peter: I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about.

Malia: [considers before giving a bit of a shrug] What's up?

Peter: [goes to scoop some ice cream into a bowl for himself.] Well, have you heard about Derek and Fiona yet?

Malia: [she nods a bit] Cora told me. It really sucks.

Peter: It does. Derek was really looking forward to having a large family like Laura has. And it made me remember some of my old dreams I used to have for myself, long before you came into my life.

Malia: I guess it runs in the family. [because Malia definitely wants one too]

Peter: [chuckles] it does. And you don't know how happy I am that you've found your mate and have that opportunity.

Malia: [she smiles a bit at that] I got pretty lucky.

Peter: [nods] You did. But I've always wondered if you had ever wanted siblings growing up, I never thought to ask you that then.

Malia: [she considers it for a moment before giving a bit of a shrug] Maybe. But I had Derek and Laura and Cora. It was like I already did.

Peter: [he nods, because it was true. She was more sibling than cousin to Talia's children] True. I just wish I could have given you some of your own then.

Malia: Dad ... it's not your fault that didn't work out.

Peter: I know, but sometimes I just wish I could have found Nadia much sooner in my life. It would make a lot of things easier.

Malia: I'm sure it would have.

Peter: [he finishes making his sundae and sits at the table near her] It would also make it easier to ask this of you.

Malia: [there's a long pause before she gives him a dubious look] You didn't sell my firstborn for something, did you? [she's kidding. maybe.]

Peter: [laughs] No, I did not sell my first grandchild. I'm pretty sure I'd sell Isaac before I'd sell him or her. [he takes a deep breath] I actually was wondering about how you would feel about becoming a sister at this point of your life.

Malia: [and at that her eyes go a little wide and she's ... sorta speechless]

Peter: [he nods, looking at his bowl a moment] One of the few things I wish I could have given you was a large family, Malia. When you came into this world, I was only nineteen. And you were my world, but at nineteen, you aren't thinking that you may never find your mate. I sure didn't believe I would be nearly forty before I found her. And you know how it is when you have your mate now. How certain feelings become stronger.

Malia: [she looks down at her bowl again and she nods] No, I know. [she pauses for a moment] I just feel like that girl who's dad has a midlife crisis, gets a wife that's her age and then knocks her up. [she pauses] I'm not thinking that Nadia is anything like that but that's what I have to work with here.

Peter: I let you watch too much TV growing up... [chuckles] Nadia is not knocked up, for the record. But we've talked and after Derek's news... I realized that my desires for a large family, as much as I've pushed them away over the years, are still there.

Malia: [she sighs softly as she turns to face him] So why ask me?

Peter: Because this is your time to start a family, Malia. I don't want to take that from you. And I don't know, maybe it's just I miss having you little and here with me, or maybe it's instinct wanting to have a child with my mate. But it's something I want. But if it interferes with your life, or makes you uncomfortable, I don't need it. [and as always, Peter Hale is putting his daughter's happiness above his own]

Malia: Yes, you do. [he wouldn't be asking if he didn't. she knows him well enough for that]

Peter: But not enough to make you uncomfortable about it, Malia. You know I can't do something that will upset you. My instinct to protect you is higher than anything else, and probably will always be. You're my baby. My beautiful, grown, amazing child and I just can't if it risks your unhappiness.

Malia: Dad. [and there's a look at that because this is what he does. This is what he always does. And when she was a kid she didn't get it but now that she's older she knows. And it needs to stop.]

Peter: [that is the thing about when your kids grew up. They became adults and saw these flaws and habits in their parents, and had to learn how to handle them. Peter's problem was he always put Malia first in front of everything, and it was a 20+ year old habit that was not going to break in a day. But he looks up at her, listening]

Malia: [she sighs as she reaches over and takes his hand] If this is what you and Nadia really want, I'm okay with it. It's ... weird, but not the bad kind.

Peter: [he takes her hand, squeezing it] She told me we could have one. That's it, but I wanted to make sure you would be okay with it before we tried.

Malia: [nods a bit in agreement] Yeah, I'm okay with it.

Peter: [and he smiles a bit, nodding] Thank you.

Malia: [she gives his hand another squeeze]

Peter: So.... do you want a brother or a sister? [small smirk to lighten the mood]

Malia: [she snorts a bit at that] Give me some time to get used to it first. [she glances down at her sundae for a moment before looking back at him] Maybe we could watch a movie or something though?

Peter: Take the time you need. [he nods] As for movies, of course we can. I think my Netflix account may expire from not being used anymore.

Malia: We could always just watch one we have.

Peter: We could, but that involves more choices.

Malia: Close your eyes and pick one.

Peter: Alright. Let's move these sundaes into the living room then.

Malia: [and off they go for some daddy/daugher movie time.]