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ashnadir · 5 years

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[Cassie and Addie meet Iann at the ice skating tree during Winter Fest and more of Cassie’s family secrets are revealed.]

@cassiegermaine

Seeing an ice rink in a tree house was not one of the weirdest things Iann had ever seen, but it was definitely extraordinarily cool. The fact that he could see the sky directly above made it almost trippy, but not in a bad way. That might change once he actually hit the ice, though. Regardless, as Iann tied on his skates, he hummed mindlessly to the golden oldie Christmas tune playing, making the entire rink feel nostalgic and family friendly. He was meeting Cassie here, and was already imagining her showing up in some sort of fancy skating outfit, able to effortlessly pull off triple axles and backwards figure eights.

Convincing Addie to climb up the long ladder into the skating tree took some work, but Cassie was right behind her. She didn’t see how she could safely carry Addie as they ascended the ladder anyways, and just held onto the laces of the pairs of ice skates. Luckily, it wasn’t too long of a trek into the treehouse. It was actually a lot more expansive than it looked on the outside and in the distance. It was still easy to spot Iann though, meandering on the sidelines. “Tio, tio!” Addie called out, tripping over her scarf a moment before hurrying over to Iann. “It’s cold.” The toddler pointed out the obvious, even though Cassie had taken extra care in bundling her up.

"Addie!" Iann slowly skated towards Cassie and Addie, as he watched the little girl approach. Cassie and Addie were still on the wood and Iann held out his hands before she tried to waddle onto the ice. "Whoa whoa, slow down there cowgirl. You gotta let mama get your skates on before you can come on the ice. This is gonna be fun. I'm still finding my ice legs," he said to Cassie, grinning as he leaned against the railing. "Hey you. Long time no see...." Iann looked behind Cassie, then back at her. "No Joebird?"

“Come here, come here.” Cassie cooed with a bit of a laugh behind her words. The last thing she needed was a collide of Iann and Addie on the ice. “I’ll teach you.” She promised added, bending at her knees to help tie the skates onto the little red head’s feet extra tight. “I’ll teach both of you okay? Just hang on…” Cassie turned looking for a bench where she could lace up her own skates. Luckily there was one not far away that opened up. She glanced up at Iann’s question then, taking a cursory glance around the skating rink. “Nah. He’s working right now. Anyways, I figured some mother daughter time would be good.” Cassie gracefully stood in her iceskates, quickly moving to the inside edge of the rink. Her hand was outstretched towards Addie, “Ladies first.”

"Mother daughter godfather," Iann added shamelessly, hanging over the railing and watching them. He pushed away after a while, getting restless as he spun in a lazy if slightly wobbly circle on the ice. "Have you ever been roller skating Addie? It's like that. You're gonna fall but it's okay. We're here." He grinned at Cassie. "If anything, I'll fall with you."

Addie took her mother’s hand quickly, but once her skates hit the ice and she felt them slide her expression changed. “No! No! No!” Cassie frowned swooping behind her to hold her other arm up slightly, “It’s fine. I promise.” She furrowed a brow over at Iann, sort of wishing he didn’t mention falling. “We can go really fast, and it’s really fun.” Cassie pursed her lips, readjusting the toddler’s position, but still staying closer to the barrier. “Why don’t you show her Iann.” She teased.

"You want her to go really fast?" Iann repeated, then slid in front of Addie so that Cassie was behind the baby and Iann was facing her "There Adelita, you're in a sandwich, protected from all sides." Iann said, crouching slightly to take her extended hand. Lightly - although he was kind of holding onto Addie for his own balance as her mother held her from behind. Iann skated backwards, but he made the mistake of looking behind him. "Oh - whoa - shit - !" he lost his balance, and fell on his ass in front of Addie.

Cassie shrugged lightly, “Only if she wants to. I always loved going super fast. Wind in my hair.” She smiled at the mention of a sandwich, still watching Addie more intently as they ventured out into the middle of the rink. But even in her peripheral vision she saw Iann start to wobble until he hit the ice with a hard thud. Cassie cringed slightly, looking at him apologetic while Addie’s giggles started quiet and bubbled louder. “Silly Tio.”

Iann made a sour face. "How come there's no such thing as training skates?" he asked, sprawling clumsily as he tried to get up. He held his hand out for Cassie to help him. "Trying to stand up on skates makes me look like a penguin doing a jig. Si, silly tío!" Iann exclaimed at Addie, if only to make her giggle more. He looked up at Cassie. "She's so fearless about some things and scared of others."

The mention of training skates reminded Cassie of something else. Her eyes lit up for a moment, “Hang on. There’s walkers. Ice walkers? Well, they’re for children.” Cassie steadied herself as she helped haul Iann back to his feet, watching as little bits of ice kicked up from the rink as he slipped and slid. “Let’s get Addie one, maybe you can squeeze into one yourself.” She winked at him before carefully guiding the pair back to hang around the padded edges. “She’s two, they tend to be like that. Think you two can stand here while I go inquire?”

"We'll be good. What do you mean walkers?" Iann called out as Cassie headed off. Iann looked down at Addie, holding her hand. "Are we old people?" Addie scratched at her ear muff then slowly hit Iann's leg and said, "You old purple..." Iann couldn't even argue. But when Cassie came back with the metal things, Iann made an 'ahhh' noise. "Oh that'll be perfect for her! And I'll hold it from behind. You know - so she doesn't fall."

“Sure, sure, sure.” Cassie nodded, pouting at Iann as he decided the best course of action for Addie and by extension him. It took a few moments for Addie to understand the new gear, but when she did she also quickly picked up on what she was capable of, and quickly rushed back out to the middle of the rink, laughing breathlessly. “Tio is old purple!” She announced loudly, and a few other people gave a quick glance over their shoulder at the trio. Cassie shook her head, glad to see Addie was at least more comfortable on the ice. “It’s ok Iann.” She consoled him, “You can just watch me. I have figure-eights down pat.” Cassie strode out a few feet and showed him.

After a while Addie didn't need Iann behind her holding onto the walker, so he eventually let it go. "Look at her going now! No fear anymore," Iann said, slowly following along behind Addie. He watched Cassie skate away from them, making a beautiful figure eight. Addie tried to follow her mother, but Iann reached out to hold the walker so Addie wouldn't accidentally trip any of the other skaters. "Literally skating circles around your own daughter," Iann chuckled. "Mama's so talented,, isn't she, Adelita? Can you do that spinny thing, Pegs? Like ahhhh like a pirouette."

Cassie glanced behind herself, seeing that excited glint and Addie’s eye and knowing the toddler wanted to do the same as her. She’d teach her at some point, when he body wasn’t so…noodle like. It was too much concentration for a two year old anyways, they just came out here to have fun – not lessons. “Spinning thing?” She chuckled, thinking over what Iann was requesting and making sure there was enough room so no one was hurt. “I hope you’re not talking about axels.” Cassie raised her brow. “I’m not a professional. But I can spin-“ She easily kicked off on the ice, pulling her body tighter so the skate twirled her easily a few times. “Yay! Yay!” Addie cheered, clanking her walker harder on the ice.

It wasn't often that Cassie got to show off - at least not in front of Iann as far as he'd known her - so he applauded along with Addie's excited clacking. "Oh man, I really should've been videotaping this..." Iann pulled out his phone, but by then Cassie was already slowing down. "Okay, now do it as a werewolf!"

“Very funny Iann.” Cassie responded dryly. She stuck out her tongue as she skated passed him and his phone that was finally propped outwards. “Again Mama!” Addie squealed, to which Cassie obeyed completing another effortless twirl. It left a deeper cut into the ice. “Now me!” Addie pushed off from the ice walker managing to stay up right as she slid, but as soon as she tried to make a proper turn she landed just like Iann had, on her bum. She blinked looking shocked between Cassie and Iann before huffing, “Owie…”

Iann knew that look on Addie's face when she fell - it was the look where she wasn't actually hurt, but just gauging how much she should act hurt to get things she wanted. He knew there was a small window of time where he could distract her so she didn't start to wail, and he also knew that Cassie knew this as well. If they both tried to distract her it could make her confused, and Addie would go with her original plan and start crying. The timing had to be perfect. So Iann slipped and fell on his butt as well, sliding on the ice on his ass and bumping against Addie. "Owie," he said too, drawing the word out to make it comical.

Like Iann Cassie waited patiently to see what Addie would do about her fall on the ice. Her instinct was to jump forward, but she thought better of it quickly, keeping a placid expression instead. It would save a tantrum, which Cassie would be even more thankful of. “Iann.” She rolled her eyes as he fell over again, “you are going to be covered in bruises.” She pointed to Addie then hoisting her back up, patting down some of the ice that clang to her “You’re fine. So strong and brave hmm?” She adjusted the scarf wrapped around Addies neck again.

"We'll get some hot chocolate after this to warm you up," Iann suggested, because plying Addie with goodies somehow magically always seemed to work with her. Fancy that. He held his hand out for Cassie again, so she could haul him back up. "Ahhh I got lotsa padding," Iann said, giving his jeaned ass a smack. Addie enthusiastically smacked his thigh then burst into giggles like only a toddler could. Hitting, it seemed, was hilarious. Iann chuckled too. "As long as she keeps beating me up and not her little brother, huh."

Cassie pulled Iann up on his feet again as his hand outstretched for her. She clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. “I’m doing all the heavy lifting around here.” Her lip curled, because it’s not like it was any real strain on her. “Hot chocolate for everyone. With marshmallows. If little girls keeps there hands to theirselves.” She gave a pointed look to Addie who quickly abandoned smacking Iann’s legs and cackling. “Poor Albie.” Cassie laughed lightly, setting her sights on the hit chocolate kiosk not far off.

"You're the strongest one here," Iann pointed out, and Addie grabbed for her walker again with her mother's help, following along in the most adorable way to the edge of the rink. "You really should be filming this, it's freaking cute and stuff, man," Iann said from behind, slowly bringing up the rear.

“I know.” Cassie sighed heavily, she actually agreed with everything Iann was mentioning but she especially wished she caught Addie on the ice on film. “I just need about 2 extra sets of arms and hands.” She lifted Addie up with a fun swoop back onto the wood of the treehouse where they could all walk normally. “I don’t actually want extra limbs by any magical means.” She pointed out quickly.

"How'd you know what I was thinking?" Iann asked, as his skates hit the rubber floor and he sat down to unlace them. "Because I'm just saying, Pegs. You, sporting four - no - six arms? It'd be fantastic. Don't you think Addie? Mama with six arms, waving about? As if she wasn't already a freak," Iann teased Cassie smirking at her.

“Because I know you.” Cassie responded, scrunching her nose at Iann. At the further discussion of her arms Cassie crossed them, and wouldn’t uncross them until her hot chocolate came along. But now Addie was staring at her with those investigating blue eyes. “No!” She snapped decidedly. “You six arm Tio!” She hung on his sleeve swaying back and forth for a moment, repeating, “Feak, feak.” Cassie took in a steady breath, “Oh real nice.”

"Feak, feak!" Iann joined in on the song, setting his skates aside to slip on his normal shoes. He and Cassie did the same for Addie as well, and once they were all in shoes they headed to the little hot chocolate kiosk. Iann ordered for all of them - it wasn't fancy hot chocolate, but it was well-made, came with marshmallows and whipped cream, and had a magical warming spell added for flavour. Iann paid for them and sipped his. "I'm kidding Pegs!" He whapped at her tightly folded arms. "C'mon, as long as grandma doesn't think so, I think you're gonna be fine."

Cassie retained her slightly scolding expression, only freeing her hands to take the hot chocolate. She got a few hesitant sips in before what Iann said puzzled her. “Grandma? What are you talking about? My mother?”

Iann stilled with the hot chocolate at his mouth, blinking at Cassie. "I - uh - yeah. Your mom, Victoria. Adelita's grandma, of course. Duh...hey let's go sit down and watch all the pretty fairy skaters, huh Addie?"

Cassie’s eyes narrowed, because Iann’s pause and stumbling was anything but convincing. She slowly walked with Iann and Addie to an open bench to watch the other skaters. “Yeah seriously, your a bad liar.” She mentioned off handedly before elbowing him in the side, “What’s going on? Have you been conspiring with my mother?”

Iann knew he was a bad liar - or well he was bad when it came to certain things. With the people he loved, he was absolute crap at lying, unless it was something life-or-death (by his opinion of course). But personal things? Family things? He couldn't lie to save his life. "I...we were...planning. A surprise birthday party? For Addie?" Iann attempted lamely. But the moment he glanced at Cassie, her glare was his undoing. "Shit."

“Yeah....” Cassie’s fingers tightened around her hot cocoa cup. She wasn’t buying any of it, and really it was more annoying to her that Iann was still trying. “Addies birthday isn’t for another five months so I highly doubt that.” Suddenly the little girl piped up, wiggling in her seat, “Yum yum chocolate!” Cassie blinked at Iann expectantly, “So...?”

It wasn't as if Addie hadn't seen Cassie and Iann get into a row before, so Iann jiggled his leg and gulped at the hot chocolate. It was suddenly too sweet, too warm. He stood up and leaned against the railing to face Cassie so they weren't sitting together. "Well, y'know. Your mom wanted to, ah, get some advice. No! No she just wanted to chat. She - her - her mother? She was, ah, talking about her mom coming to visit Soapberry."

Cassie had already figured out that Iann and her mother had been having some sort of private conversations. It was a bit weird but she rather that then Victoria despising him. What Iann brought up as their topic of discussion though, caught her even more off guard. "What...? You're joking." Cassie even laughed a little, but when Iann's expression didn't move, she sank into the bench. "They abandoned her. I've never even met them." Cassie scoffed, "What could they want?" She shook her head, shocked her mom was even considering it.

Iann stayed still and quiet, having learned by now not to make any sudden moves or loud outbursts once he dropped some truths. Instead he just watched Cassie's reaction keenly, as Addie babbled to her hot chocolate, fishing out the little marshmallows to eat separately. When she explained about Victoria's family abandoning her, Iann's mouth dropped open, In genuine surprise, but also more than happy to focus on the whole family drama part of it. "You never met any of them? All your life? Jesus..."

"No." Cassie replied with another shake of her head. "They've been in France, all this time. I've seen some pictures. She mentioned them every now and then but that's all." Her face clouded with suspicion. If she had been a kid, maybe she would have been excited at the idea of meeting more family. But now? After everything her paternal side of the family had shown her? She had her doubts. "I can't believe she mentioned this to you." Cassie ran a hand through her hair, "Jesus, why now?"

"Holy shit they're like legit French, huh?" Iann said, determined to be amazed by everything. It wasn't hard, because he genuinely was curious. When Victoria talked with him about it, she wasn't as forthcoming. If anything, when she spoke to Iann, it only made him realize she didn't really have a lot of friends in Soapberry. He liked to think he was her last resort. "Oh, I can't believe she did either," Iann said, throwing up a hand to commiserate wholly on Cassie's side now. He rubbed his face and was silent for a long time, then eventually he slowly said, "Well - ah - well y'know. Apparently...apparently the family wants...to ah...meet the kids. Addie."

"Legit French." Cassie repeated for Iann with another nod, though the irritation in her expression remained. She was slightly soothed when Iann agreed with her and then let them sit in silence for a little bit. It helped her process this news. Not that it was anything set in stone, but if her mother's side of the family was anything like Cassie or Victoria...they'd be coming. "Addie." Her scowl was refreshed. "She's not something people should point and ponder over."

"I dunno, I like to point and ponder over her," Iann said, pointing at Addie. But before Cassie grew sour that he wasn't taking this seriously, he added quickly, "But then I'm different, I get to ponder her to my heart's content. Estranged family on the other hand...anyway I'm sure Victoria will - ah - well. What I mean is - who knows? Maybe they won't even show up."

"I know you do." Cassie rolled her eyes. "But you've been here." It was something completely different when you put the ideas side by side. "They're showing up out of the blue. After all these years. Trust me. If they want to come, they will. It's not like we can lock them out of Soapberry." Her brow rose a moment as she actually thought on the idea. "I can't believe my mother didn't tell me. No. I can. She knows it's outrageous, and she's embarrassed or something."

Nodding to everything Cassie was saying, Iann had no intention of brooking any argument or counter-point. "Mm. Mm-hm. She must be." Iann agreed immediately, rubbing at his chin in thought. But then not two seconds later, he was breaking his own attempt to keep the peace by adding, "She might just be...y'know. Concerned, ah. Maybe...protective?"

"Right." Cassie laughed, "So she'd rather they appear on my doorstep without warning then. People I've never met in person." Cassie didn't see how that was better, but then maybe she was thinking too many steps ahead. She sighed heavily, taking another long sip from her hot chocolate. "The last thing I need is new family secrets." She looked a bit pointedly over at Iann, who she knew would understand. "Can you imagine?"

Addie was starting to get restless, making little noises as she threw her empty cup away and headed to the railing, watching the ice skaters. "Let's go back on the ice, hm?" Iann suggested, unhooking his skates from his shoulder. He tied on Addie's after asking the baby if she wanted to get back to trying skating. She was on a sugar high and needed to burn off the energy. "Victoria was gonna tell you!" Iann insisted from where he knelt in front of Addie to lace her skates. "She was just...y'know. Trying to figure out how to tell you, ahhh."

Cassie discarded her cup and stepped back into her skates when Iann and Addie started to lace up as well. She tied her hair up again, cleaning any lose strands that were previously framing her face. "You beat her to the punch." Cassie pointed out, before helping Addie balance on her skates and make it back to the rink. She glanced over her shoulder at Iann, "Should I mention that when it comes up or...?" Her lips pulled into a smile, because the idea they had to keep secrets from her mother was absurd. "Act surprised?"

"I said to just tell you straight up," Iann reported, puffing out his chest like some brave hero. "But I think she just wanted to get things straight in her head first..." And the fact that Victoria had come to Iann rather than her own daughter was rather telling, but Iann wasn't going to think too hard about that. He just didn't want to be in hot water with Cassie. He took Addie's other hand, the toddler between Iann and Cassie as they took to the ice again. Nice and slow around the rink. "I guess you should let her know that I accidentally spilled the beans..." Iann said magnanimously. "She'll just blame me. I can take it."

Cassie hummed to herself when Iann almost too easily offered himself up to be told on. Victoria came to him with this information because she trusted him. If Cassie was 20 years younger? Yeah, she probably would have tattled, but now she more believed in what poeple didn't exactly know didn't hurt them. "We'll see how I'm feeling." She said in response, before Addie swayed between the two of them as they circled the rink, "Go fast!" Cassie's attention was diverted, "Oh no, do you think you're ready?"

"Hokay," Iann grinned, perking up now and gliding close against Cassie, giving her an affectionate nudge. He let go of Addie's hand, watching as Addie looked up to her mother, determined to impress Cassie like any child wanted to please their mother. "Do you think you parent her different?" Iann asked, as Addie wobbled forward on her own, legs straight and arms out. "Different from how your mama raised you."

Cassie was comforted to see that Addie found some balance of her own, but kept close behind just in case. She turned her head at Ianns question, frowning slightly in silent debate with herself. “In a sense. She gets to be here where she doesn’t have to hide who she is and she has Albie...” Cassie leaned her head toward him, “And uncles. I’m trying not to be as um...protective. That’s hit and miss.”

Cassie spoke more about the circumstances around Cassie's childhood rather than her mother's approach, but Iann could see what she meant. It was an implicit understanding that Cassie's situation, dictated how Victoria raised her. How Addie's situation allowed Cassie be be different. It was very diplomatic of Cassie, which Iann found interesting. "She's absolutely fearless, which doesn't help," he joked.

“She is fearless isn’t she?” That was something Cassie could easily agree upon. “It comforts me a little. I wasn’t like that as a kid. I’m not terrified she’s fragile or anything.” Cassie snorted, “The attitude and witch powers combined probably help with that.” Her hand went to brush at her hair again, “Albie...I know he’s still a baby but he’s more like I was.”

"And the non-stop adoration and affirmation that she's always right. Which...I'm guilty of contributing too, I know," Iann said. The words sounded contrite, but his tone sounded indulgent and fond. "My house was full of rules too, you know. My ma was probably as strict as yours. But where you tried to obey her, I kept trying to work around her...." Iann looked down at Cassie, and reaching out to hold her gloved hand, giving it a squeeze. "Albie more like you huh? Sugar and spice and everything nice?" But he couldn't help teasing Cassie, "Well, I believe that of Albie....I might hear a different story from my good friend Victoria about baby-Pegs."

“That I can believe” Cassie chuckled. Easily imagining Iann as a little rebel, he still was wasn’t he? Always trying to twist and bend rules. It was part of him, and Cassie sort of loved him for it. “Hey.” She narrowed her eyes at his tease. “I swear. Go ahead and ask her! I only got daring when I met you.” She nudged him again with a slightly wicked smile, “You bring out the devil in people.”

"I will ask her!" Iann exclaimed jovially, nudging Cassie back. They slowly followed behind Addie, who seemed to gain confidence with every round of the rink. It was incredible how quickly kids picked up on things, when they were in the mood to do so. Iann watched her, and decided in the summer he'd take her swimming. "You bring out the angel," Iann said, half-teasing, half-meaning it. Cassie did give him opportunities to behave - not because he had to, but because around her and her kids, he wanted to.

#cassiegermaine

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