Where the wild things run - four hundred years ago

Fluffy/wholesome

Spring had finally arrived in Aiken's territory, and the little family were making the most of the weather. The three were sat in a small clearing in the dense forest, the sunlight was warm and the gentle breeze was fresh and delightful. A huge contrast to how the last few months have been.

The lovely couple have situated themselves in the cool shade of the spruce trees. Aiken sat crossed legged with his beloved Infront of him as he braided her hair, secretly plucking the white and purple spring buds to intertwine in to the strawberry blonde's locks. Esther, smiles at the small little tugs of Aiken carefully racking up strands with his claws as she watched their three year old daughter, tumbling through the wild grass and pouncing up at butterflies with her tiny hands. Her little giggles and laughs echoing through the clearing.

Esther sighs with a smile on her face, her eyes watching the little girl dart around.

" she's very lively today." Esther speaks, in a soft quite voice to her Husband.

" she is indeed, she's been climbing up the wall to have a run around." Aiken says with a smile on his face, his eyes concentrating on the ginger locks in front of him.

"Agreed, although I do wish she hadn't of done that." Esther interjects, receiving a hum of agreement form Aiken.

" Every wall have those tiny little claw marks in them. You think kittens have ransacked the place." Aiken huffs, making Esther laugh a little, grabbing the attention of their tiny daughter.

" what funny?" Áine asked innocently, a butterfly wig peaked out of the child's fingers as she held her hands tightly shut. The three year old making her way to her two parents.

"nothing sweetheart, just you and you little claws." Aiken laughs a little as he remembers back to how not even a few weeks ago he managed to fix the claw marks engraved into the wall next to Aiken and Esther's nest only to find that Áine's had claw marks all over the place and all the way up to the ceiling.

Áine simply looks at him.

"okie." she states, not really knowing what her father meant and looks over to her mother with a smile on her face.

"mama look buberfiy!" Aine squeals happily as her shows Esther her clasped hands, the butterfly wing slightly twitching.

Esther simply looks at the twitching wig, putting on a smile before bringing her hands to cup her daughter's chubby face and pulling the small child in for a forehead kiss.

"good job baby, that must have been very hard to catch!" Esther cheers, Áine giggling as she keeps looking at her tiny hands, shaking her head side to side as she giggled.

"no! I ca'ches it easy! Look Dada! I ca'ches it!" she squeals as she then goes over to her father who was still braiding Esther's hair. Currently placing a small purple flower between the locks. He looks over at her hands with a smile on his face, nuzzling his forehead into hers.

"well done sweetheart! Look at you go, you'll be catching small birds in no time!" he smiles as the little girl giggles.

However, during her little celebration she unclasps her hands letting the butterfly escape. The realisation presented on her face as she looks in her hands and up to the butterfly fluttering away.

"No! buberfiy!" she whines, her eyes start to well up as she watches the butterfly flutter away.

"No! come back!" she cries as she goes to follow it. But before she could Aiken is able to snatch it in his hand quickly. Holding his hand tight, not enough to crush the thing, feeling the fluttering wigs against his skin.

"here you go baby, try not to let go next time okay." Aiken sooths, carefully handing the small creature over to the small child, rubbing her back once it was back in her grasp. A sad look was still on her face.

" aww baby no, it's okay, you caught them still. It's okay." Aiken coos as he reaches out to her to give her a cuddle with one arm. Áine rests her head into his shoulder, her mood now shifting back to normal before climbing into his lap, her head resting on his crossed legs as her little feet just barely making it to the other side. To busy looking at her clasped hands.

Aiken shakes his head with a smile before going back to braiding his wife's hair. Now finishing up with a white flower before tying the end to keep the braid in.

"not too tight love?" He asks finally letting go of Esther's hair.

"not at all lovely, feels nice a secure." she answers, pulling the braid over her shoulder as she accidently pulls out a small purple flower from the braid. A smile appears on her face as she turns back to look at her love. A toothy grin on his face explains all she needs to know. Shaking her head slightly.

"what? I can't help it, you always look pretty with flowers in your hair." he laughs before giving Esther a quick kiss on the lips. The two now giggling at each other, Aiken leaning in for another kiss, only this time planting it on her cheek.

" yeah, yeah you tell me every time dear." Esther giggles as she stands up, brushing off the green dress from any dirt and grass that may of gotten on it. Aiken can't help but stare at his lovely wife, every angle of her is so beautiful and divine. Esther looks back and laughs as she sees Aiken's face, by the look of his face he hasn't even noticed that she had turned to face him, his head tilted to the side with a cute little smile on his face, (Ethan)

She laughs once he snaps out of it, Áine having stood up and the top of her head smacking into his chin. Áine rubbing her head while looking completely unfazed by the ordeal, looking up to her father with her hand still on her head.

" yous Otay dada?" Áine askes as she starts to gently pat his head, Aiken holding his chin while stifling a laugh, the attempt failing as he starts to quietly wheeze, Esther full on falling to the ground in fits, cackling away as she tried to breath.

"Yes baby I'm okay, I'm more worried about you head. Does it hurt?" Aiken calms from his little laughing fit as he carefully places a clawed on his daughters head. She nods her head with a smile on her head as she lifts up her tiny fist.

" I still habs buberfiy." she cheers, Aiken simply smiles at her.

"okay honey, why don't you let that one be and try and catch another one?" Aiken asks as he ruffles Áine's hair. She looks at her clasped hand before opening it. Letting the tiny creature flutter away, watching it as it flew back in to the clearing before running off into the clearing Infront of her parents.

Aiken watches his daughter before looking over at Esther who's now laid on the ground trying to calm herself, he body shaking as she giggled.

"think that's funny?" Aiken playfully growls with a smile on his face, Esther failing to hold back her laughter as she nods her while giggling. Aiken smiles before pouncing on her, clawed hands gently tickle her sides making her howl in a laughing fit, she squirms as she tries to escape his grasp. Aiken having none of it.

" oh no you don't!" he exclaims picking her up and trapping her in his lap as he continued to tickle her.

"okay! Okay I'm sorry, please stop I can't breathe!" Esther laughs taking in deep breaths as Aiken stop his tickling frenzy and simply held her in her lap.

The two simply sit in silence as they watch their daughter chase around birds. Giggling and squealing.

" You what we haven't done in a while?" Esther asks, shifting slightly to get comfortable in Aiken's lap. Her husband now intrigued and looking down at her, humming in question. Esther looks up at him with a smile on her face before continuing.

" We haven't gone on a date in a while, last time we went on one was a few weeks before we found out we were having Áine." Esther continues, resting her head on his chest. Aiken thinks for a moment. It was true, they haven't really had any one on one time since Áine was born, having been caught up in looking after Áine or in Esther's case, making sure nobody discovers her and continuing her job at the bakery. He would love to be able to take her on a date, as much as he loves taking care of Áine and having family time with his wife and daughter he does sometimes miss the times when it was just him and Esther. However, a problem does arise. Due to the circumstances of their family they don't really have anyone to leave Áine with... unless they want to deal with people trying to hunt her down, the thought almost brought a growl to his throat, catching it intime before it made its appearance. Looking down at his wife with a soft smile he sigh.

" As much as I would love to go on a date with you my love... we simply can't right now." he states the two look up at Áine, Esther sighs before the two look back at each other.

"maybe we can have one at the hollow? Just a nice dinner at home. We can keep Áine busy somehow." Esther suggests, her arms wrapping around Aiken's waist, her head now resting where his heart was. Listening to the rhythm as she waited for his response.

Aiken mulled it over in his head. It wasn't a bad idea, Áine was easy to keep busy but she always likes getting stuck in with whatever they were doing. On days where he is doing chores around the hollow Áine always wants to join in, always wanting to get stuck in with cooking, taking interest when her father was tuning up him bow and sharpening tools. If she could she would probably want to go on hunts with him, luckily his wife comes over on those days and bakes with her.

He could get her to do something. Maybe even be involved somehow. With that thought in mind he smiles and looks down at his with a bright grin.

" I think that's a lovely idea, and I got the perfect idea to keep our little one busy."

Time skip ( two days later)

Hot steam rose from the bubbling pot as the lid is carefully taken off, The smell of aromatic herbs filling the hollow's main room, revealing tender, slightly shredded pork, carefully diced mushrooms, sliced leak and wild onions, as well as springs of herbs neatly tied with twine sitting on top, the ingredients slowly bubbling away in a bone broth made from the pork bones that Aiken had made early this morning. Grabbing two forks Aiken carefully pulls the tender pork apart, secretly taking a piece out for himself. The stewed meat melted on his tongue, the pungent of pork and sage flooded his mouth, the taste making him reach out to add more diced garlic and thyme. He carefully mixes the pork and mushrooms, intertwining the new flavours before looking down at his handy work. Giving himself a nod he carefully takes out the old herb bundle and replacing it with a new one, good thing he didn't add more sage leaves to the new one, before placing the lid back on.

" That should be done in half an hour." he mutters to himself before going to the next task.

A saucepan that was quietly bubbling away next to the large pot was now Aiken's main focus. Carefully, he moves the saucepan near him as he picked up the fork from before. Poking at the soft potatoes before grabbing the handle and taking it outside along with a make shift colander to empty the potatoes into, quickly he rids of the water into a bucket that sat outside before going back into the hollow, sliding the door close behind him as he makes his way back to the fire place.

He carefully places himself back down on his knees and readying for the next task at hand. placing the colander down Infront of him, he opens the chest that sat next to the fire place, reaching in to grab a large wooden bowl and the new item that Esther got him when she found out he had been mashing potatoes with the large wooden spoon he made. She told him it was called a potato masher, or at least that's what the people in her settlement called them. Looking at the item he places it in the bowl before pulling the chest closed, creaking as it closed until shutting with a loud thud.

The chest being quickly opened and shut again when Aiken forgot to grab a spoon.

With a sigh he gets to work, taking the masher out the bowl before he uses the spoon to carefully empty the colander's contents into the bowl. Placing the colander to the side as he reached out to grabs the now soft butter and diced parsley that he made mixed together previously in a small wooden bowl, using the same spoon as before, taking scoops of the butter mixture and added it to the cooked potato, gently hitting the side of the dark wooden bowl to get it all off and into the bowl. With one last scoop of parsley and butter he places the spoon into the small bowl before reaching for the new tool, mashing everything together until thick and smooth.

He places the masher, small bowl and spoon into the colander before taking the dirty dishes outside again, he empties the starchy water from the previously before taking it to the large wooden barrel that held their water supply. Saving him constant trips to the river. With one hand he throws the bucket into the barrel, submerging it under the water's surface before pulling the bucket back up, excess water pouring out the sides before coming to a halt. Lifting the bucket a little as he starts to take the bucket out the barrel and back over to the door, cleaning up the dirty dishes with some soap and a designated cloth quickly. Scrubbing away at the kitchen ware until it was nice and foamy, a few bubbles floating up, before washing everything off in the bucket, placing the soap and cloth into the outdoor storage unit.

With one arm he holds the wet dishes as he tipped over the bucket into a bush, the water absorbing into the ground and soap suds sitting on the soaked earth before placing the bucket back by the door and going back into the hollow. Closing the door once more. Aiken makes his way back to the fire place and begins the task of drying everything with a cloth before placing everything but the large bowl and spoon back into the chest.

"Áine, would you like to help me?" Aiken calls out placing himself in front of the fire before looking over to where the small nest was located, He smiles when he hears rustling and blankets being quickly thrown somewhere before hearing soft, little footsteps from his three year old.

"yes! I helps! I helps dada." Áine squeals, coming to a halt by Aikens side, slightly waving her tiny hands as she bounced a little. He smiles before laughing a little at her excitement before leaning over, his forehead on Áine's as her tiny hands wrapped around his face, her little claws slightly grazing his face before climbing into his lap. Waving her hands in excitement when she sees Aiken reach and grab the ingredients for the dessert he had chosen to make.

Áine letting out a loud squeal as her father places the bowl in front of the two and handing her the wooden spoon, said spoon looked hilariously large in her hands, she holds the spoon tight in her hand before leaning forward and placing it in the large bowl and pretending to stir.

"whats making?" she asks as she takes the spoon out of the bowl and sits back in Aiken's lap, her baby blues looking up at him as he grabs the last thing.

"we are making mama her favourite cake." he smiles down, giving his little girl a kiss on the forehead.

"nemon cake!!" she cheers quietly, her tiny arms going in the air, the gesture making Aiken chuckle before wrapping his arm around her and giving her a little squeeze.

"that's right baby! We're making mama lemon cake." Aiken chuckles as he reaches over to grab the bowl and place it in Áine's lap. He places everything they'll need within his reach for easy access.

"now, what do we need to do first sweetheart?" he asks as he starts preparing the first two items for the cake for Áine's answer. Áine has made this cake with her mother on multiple occasions since the two of them adore Esther's recipe.

Aiken just hopes he doesn't burn this one this time round.

"we gots to put da sugar and butter in da bowl." Áine states, the spoon in her hand ready to start mixing when the opportunity arises. Aiken congratulates her at the answer.

" that's right! We add the butter...then the sugar and what do we need to do now?" Aiken smiles, pausing when he adds the butter and sugar into the wooden bowl, awaiting Áine's response. He almost laughs at the concentration on her face, it was an adorable sight.

"add da nemon skin!" she says looking up at him to see if she remembered correctly. Aiken nods, the gesture causing Áine to smile and flap her hands a little as she watches her father grate the lemon zest in to the bowl. Tapping off and excess before placing the grater down, his claws sink into the flesh of the lemon before pulling it apart. lemon juice spilling into the bowl below and coating his hands, putting one half next to him, before squeezing half of the lemon's juice into the bowl.

"right, that should do it. We'll add the other half with the icing." Aiken looks down at his daughter who nods in agreement before mixing the contents in the bowl. Aiken holding the bowl steady as she mixes everything together. Aiken continues the process of asking Áine what was next, giving bright smiles and congratulations as well as letting her mix and pour in a few ingredients. Before long Aiken had Áine were scooping the last of the cake batter into the iron baking dish, Aiken letting letting her lick the spoon and bowl as he placed the metal lid on top. With gloved and careful hands Aiken places the baking dish into the fire place and sliding it almost into the fire , covering the top with a few burning pieces of wood before leaning back and taking the gloves off.

"That should be done in twenty minutes, we'll start making the icing before its done." Aiken sighs, brushing his knees off before picking up his daughter. Holding her secure in his arms, her little head resting on his broad shoulder as he makes his way over to his nest.

"whens mama coming?" she asks as she leans back to look at Aiken, who was currently lowering himself to sit cross-legged on the makeshift bed before carefully letting Áine slide down into his lap.

"she'll be her in two hours. We have plenty of time to finish the cake and get you ready." he states, receiving a quite "o'tay" as Áine started messing with one of the few plush toys that Aiken kept in his nest, watching her play with the small teddy made his melted his heart melt a little.

Aiken had planned out Esther and his little night in. He made Esther her favourites, pulled pork with mushrooms and mashed potatoes served with creamy peppery sauce made from the leftover bone broth made from green peppercorn and parsley on top and a simple dessert of Esther's favourite lemon cake, topped with lemon flavoured icing and some lemon zest.

Aiken also found a way to keep Áine busy during that time too, he thought it would be cute if Áine pretended to be a little waitress. Something that would make Esther giggle for sure. He already explained the role to Áine, all she had to do was bring the premade plates over to where they were sat, and of course to have fun while doing so. Aiken had already set out a nice outfit for his daughter to wear later and of course one for himself. All he needed to do now was add the finishing touches to everything, have a little clean up and of course get Áine and himself ready for Esther's arrival.

He just hopes that the evening will go smoothly... or as smoothly it can be with a three year old.

As the afternoon progressed into the evening, Aiken was finally able to finish that evenings meal and all preparations related to the date. Plating everything up nicely and adding garnishes where needed and of course letting Áine help him finish up the lemon cake, adding a last minute drizzle of honey on top of the lemon icing before adding the lemon zest, of course Aiken had spent most of that afternoon cleaning as he waited for everything to cook, sounds of bubbling and crackling wood from the fire filled the main room as Aiken cleaned, sweeping and dusting as he gave Áine small tasks such as putting her toys away or lifting her up to let her have a turn at dusting the small table.

Everything was set.

Three hot meals are placed by the fire, Aiken having moved the table to reduce any accidents from Áine carrying each plate,

The fire place warmed the hollow and Aiken thought lighting a few candles would add a nice touch. Or at least that's what Esther's romance book says, which also reminds his he should give the book back to her. It's a really good in his opinion.

Right now however, he was a bit busy getting his little one and himself ready. Áine being a bit of a hassle to get into clothing sometimes. As of this moment he had been able to put Áine's dark brown trousers and was currently putting on sage green dress that was embroidered with little sunflowers and leaves on the edges on the short sleeves and hem of the dress, a fine piece that Esther made, Tugging the dress so that it sat right on the little child.

"I wears my boots?" Áine asks as she toddles over and picks them up, holding the tiny boots close to her little body. Aiken shakes his head.

"not tonight sweetheart, it's too hot in here for boots." Aiken responds, grabbing a black pair of slip on shoes with little gems on the back of the shoes that Esther had recently bought for Áine ,in a different settlement to hers, holding the pair up in front of the little girl.

Áine looks at the shoes before shaking her head.

"boots! I wear these." Áine demands as she sits down on the floor, proceeding to put on the boots herself.

Aiken sighs.

"no Áine, your feet will get hot." Aiken says he sits on his knees in front of the child while watching her struggle to put shoes on, placing the slip Ons next to him.

"these ones will not make your feet hot, mama bought them for you to wear inside." Aiken coaxed only for it to be ignored as Áine pulled at the boots before holding it to her father.

"boots dada! Wear boots." she demanded, an irritated look on her face as she holds the boot in front of her. Only to be met with her father shaking his head.

"No Áine. Indoor shoes." Aiken responds to her in a stern voice, pointing to his own shoes that he wears inside.

"we either wear no shoes or shoes that you can wear inside okay?" he follow, watching the adorable scowl on his three year olds face.

"no! boots! I wears my boots!" she yells, slamming the boots towards him, her face pouted and tiny first clenching onto her boot tightly.

Rubbing his face with one hand as he sighs Aiken goes to speak until he hears a loud thud and both boots now on the floor with Áine's face still scowling but with a look he knows all too well, Áine's breathe starts hitching and little tears now fall down her cheeks before just letting herself fall down to the floor, her legs splayed in front of her as she reaches out for her boots and hugs them to her body.

"boots! I wants boots." she cries out as she continues crying.

Aiken simply watches Áine crying for a moment before scooping her up off the floor as he stands up, the tiny boots still in her hands as she cries. He simply stands there with the toddler in his arms letting her cry it out as he ran a hand up and down her back.

"hey it's okay. It's okay sweetheart." he coos as he lets tiny claws grip onto him, the tiny boots falling to the floor as he lets his claws run through her hair. He continues trying to calm her, holding her close to him as he continued to run claws through her hair and rub her back as her tiny cries turned into little hiccups. Her face buried in between his shoulder and neck, sniffling and hiccupping before bringing her head up and looking at her father. Pointing down to the boots she had dropped previously.

"boots?" Áine sniffs.

Aiken brings up a thumb to wipe away the tears on her face.

He knows this isn't going to be a winning battle.

"how about we just don't wear shoes and wear comfy socks instead? I'm sure mama won't mind." Aiken slightly smiles as he continue to wipe away tears. Áine nods before wiggling to escape her father's grasp to get some socks. Aiken places her down and watches her toddle off to find some socks, before bending down and putting the boots and slip Ons away.

Eventually the two of them are ready, Áine in her pretty outfit and fuzzy socks. Aiken also dressed presentably and having taken off his shoes too. Everything was finally set and all that was left was to wait for Esther to arrive.

The moment of truth arrived when the two of them finally heard the quite knock on the door, Aiken quickly gets up from his spot off the floor, his wooden block tower falling down as he gets up as well as Áine who runs down her mini block kingdom in one blow as she runs up to the wooden door squealing, the two of them smiling as they go to the door, Aiken slides the door opens the door to reveal Esther, wearing a silky red dress and black slip on shoes, her hair tied in a bun with a few strands falling past her face.

" hi lovely." Aiken smiles leaning over to plants a kiss on her lips, Áine reaching up to her mother with a toothy grin that was similar to her fathers. Esther smiles as she bends down to picks her up, giving Áine a kiss on her chubby face. Áine starts to wiggle and Esther puts her back down watching her Daughter run off inside the hollow again.

" you look beautiful." Aiken grins as he moves over to allow his wife to enter the warmly lit hollow.

Stepping in Esther can already smell the warm food and a sweet smell of cake. A gentle smile appears on her face as she looks over at the set up. A warm feeling arising in her chest, just taking in the simple yet sweet set up. Only moving her eyes away when she hears the wooden door close behind her and her husband's hand wrap around her waist, looking up at Aiken with a smile as she pulls her in close. Esther simply take all of Aiken in, noticing how he's dressed nicely. The musk of pine and honey lingering all over him.

A small tough on her dress makes her look down. Seeing her tiny daughter smile at her.

"dis way p'ease" the little girl beckons, toddling over to the table, the table already set and Áine pulls her parents seats out for them to sit at before toddling off. Esther walks up to her seat, Aiken holding onto the chair pushing her chair in as she sat before sitting himself at the table.

" I won't lie to you lovely I didn't have this in mind when I said about having a dinner in." she smiles looking around the hollow and taking in the small candles littering the place. Giving the place a soft and cozy feel. The simple touch meant a lot.

Aiken smiles at her, arms now leaning on the table as he looked at her bright eyes.

"well... you did say a date night in love, so I made it special just for you." he smiles at her, reaching a hand over to brush the hair out her face and behind her ear before cupping Esther's cheek in his hand, Esther melting at the soft touch.

The sweet gesture was however interrupted by small footsteps stopping at the third chair before climbing up said chair with two pieces of paper in hand. Handing them over to Aiken and Esther.

"here you go, I brings two...." she stops and looks at her father for the word.

"menus." he answers

"yes, I brings you two m'nus." Aine says before climbing of the chair and standing next to the table, waiting for the two to respond.

Esther prrsses her lips together to keep her giggles at bay when she looks at the homemade menu. She hadn't expected this either. She looks over the piece of paper that simply had two items. The fact that they were her favourites didn't go unnoticed. It was cute, Esther hide her smile behind the piece of paper, she didn't expect Aiken to keep their little one busy by involving her.

She looks over at Áine who stood there waiting. A small chuckle escapes her.

"Is yous ready to order?" the toddler asks, looking at her mother expectingly. Esther, trying not to laugh, looks over at Aiken.

" are you ready to order darling?" Esther enquires with a smile on her face, her husband smiling before placing the paper menu on the chair.

"yes I think we are, could we -"

" Shush....ladies f'rst. Don'ts yous 'ave any manners mister?" Aine pipes up, looking at her father with a judgy look on her face as she looked him up and down before slowly turning to her mother, every once in a while glancing back at her father with a joking glare.

With that Esther broke down in fits, she turns a way as she laughs at her daughter's antics, the look on Aiken's face only making it worse and he held an exaggerated expression his face, mouth gapes open and a hand on his chest as her looked down at her.

Áine unfazed asks again " whats you like to order?" she asks. Esther finally taking a few deep breaths. Placing a hand over her mouth to calm herself before speaking.

"could I have the pulled pork please?" Esther responses, a smile on her face as she watches her daughter. Nodding with a smile she then turns to Aiken.

" see dats didn't takes long did it? Now...whats you like to order?" Áine sighs as she looked at Aiken. The both of them now in fits over their daughters acting. Aiken barely able to squeeze out that he would be having the same. Both Esther and Aiken's heads were on the table, bodies racked with laughter as the two giggles, finally lifting their head when Áine came back with Esther's plate in hand.

"heres go!" Aine smiles as she hands over the plate to Esther before walking off to get her father's plate. The two of them still giggling when Áine came back to give Aiken his.

"all done." smiles the tiny child, clapping her hands together as she goes back to get her tiny own plate, Aiken ready to help her climb the chair and place the plate down, Áine passes the small plate of food to her father before pulling herself up onto the chair, lying flat on her tummy before situating herself on the big seat. Aiken pushing the chair in so that his daughter was near her own plate, watching her quietly pick up a fork and start munching away at her dinner.

Looking away from his child his eyes land on his wife who was also watching their daughter, the two glance up at each other. The child is eating peacefully. With that they too began to eat. Aiken listened intently to his wife's cute ramble about her day, how she had to make a four batches of honey cakes for one of the townsfolk's birthday celebration. As well as the few new books she had spotted in one of the markets, Aiken perks up at the mention of books.

"Oh, um...speaking of books you left this here on your last visit." Aiken spins and reaches over to a shelf that he had carefully placed Esther's book on. Esther's eyes widen as he hands it over. Esther looking at the cover before flipping the brown leather book to the back.

"I see why you read it a lot too...it's a really good book." Aiken continues, Esther's lifts her eyes from the book. Somewhat surprised about her husband had actually read the book, but the surprise turns in to joy at the thought of her husband reading one of her favourite books and enjoying it also.

"I was wondering where this could of gone! It's one of my few favourites." she grins up at Aiken, placing the book next to her before continuing.

"it has one of my favourite scenes, I've been meaning to reread this." she gleamed, before she began to talk endlessly about the book as the three ate. Aiken listening to ever word, nodding and asking her questions and his own thoughts about the book as well as the two of them discussing their favourite chapters and characters. Aiken every once in a while looking over to Áine to make sure she was eating. Stifling a chuckle as he would see his daughter happily munching away at pulled meat and mash potato in her hands, having decided to abandon her cutlery. No point in getting her to eat with cutlery at this point, and besides her mother hasn't noticed the mess.

The night continued on as such, the three finishing the meal, Esther giving Aiken many compliments on his cooking, blush and a toothy grin plastered his face as he took the plates away, quickly grabbing a face cloth on the way back to clean Áine's face. The little family simply sat at the table talking about random topics as the night went on.

"right...cake anyone?" Aiken asked. his wife and daughter both nodding before he got up to grab the baking dish, Áine having also gotten down from her chair and was carrying three small wooden bowls. Placing one in each seat before climbing back up on the chair as Aiken set down the baking dish, taking off the lid to reveal the soft cake inside, taking out generous scoops out for his wife and daughter before settling down in his seat as he takes out his own portion.

Aiken watched as his beloved and child talked about the cake, Áine talking about how she was able to help him make the cake and how he let her pour the icing on top of the cake and smooth it out. In return receiving many congratulations and kisses from her mother. Esther continued eating the cake, telling her husband and daughter how well they did, taking scoops of delicious, moist, lemony goodness from her small bowl. Enjoying each and every bite.

Áine simple piled as much cake onto her spoon before cramming it into her mouth, which resulted in a lot of cake and icing around her mouth that Aiken had to clean up off her face.

Eventually, the evening had come to an end, Aiken taking the last of the dirty dished and placing them into a small wooden basket that he used to place dirty dishes from the evening, Esther was changing Áine into her night clothes on Aiken's nest before taking her little girl into her own pile of soft baby blankets and fabric, the nest hidden away in a sperate 'room' that Aiken had dug out for their baby. Wrapping her up in the surrounding blankets, Esther places a kiss on to Áine's head, the tiny toddler yawned before burying herself under blankets as she fell asleep. Esther quietly leaves the room pulls the curtains that concealed Áine's room, peaking in to make sure the child was okay, before turning around and making her way to her husband who had gotten himself ready for bed. Pulling out the bun from her hair she notices the night dress that Esther left at the hollow was placed on her side of the nest, she starts to remove the dress she currently had on before slipping into the more comfortable one. She sighs as she flops down on to the comfy 'bed' muscular arms immediately snake around her waist from behind and pull her close, Aiken's face resting between her neck and shoulder. Only moving away to give Esther a kiss on the cheek.

"thank you lovely." Esther yawns as she got more comfortable, pulling up a few blankets to cover both herself and Aiken. She received a hum of acknowledgment before Aiken moved his face up again.

"it's okay love, I didn't think you would like sleeping in th-"

"no, no...not that darling. What you did tonight was really sweet." Esther interrupts as she turns her body to face Aiken. She looks over her darling's face. His eyes half shut and somewhat struggling to keep open. He gives her a gentle smile before giving her a kiss.

"No need to thank me love, like you said it's been a while since we have been on a date." he responds, pressing his forehead against hers before giving her another quick kiss. The two now settling down for the night.

"I'll take you somewhere nice when Áine is older, unless you think her waiting skills are amazingly good then I'll plan something in the next few weeks." he mumbles as he rests his head above hers, again pulling Esther closer to his body as he drifts off.Esther tiredly giggles as her eyes flutter shut.

"I think I would like that a lot."