A Birth day

"I'd have to be careful with my shoulder or Robert would have my head," Angus told Ruby," but I cold maybe plan one round before Robert got surly about it." He followed her outside, and the kids immediately wanted them to play. 

"I've got an idea," Sam said. he went inside and took Diamond from Aria. 

"Come on, Marcus," Anise called. You and Aria need to play a round with Mom and Dad."

"Us?" Marcus asked. 

"Why? Are you too old?" Anise baited him.

"No, but your dad might be," Marcus teased.

"I'll have you know I am the Twister champ of my group of mates," Angus said.

"Well, good for you, then," Marcus laughed.

"Come on," Ginger told him. "Give it a go."

"I will if Aria will," Marcus said.

"They're just chicken," Victor laughed. 

"You gonna let them call you and Marcus yellow?" Sam asked Aria.

Ruby chuckled and watched as Victor took Dimond from Aria then lead her outside where Angus and Marcus were . Aria heard Angus and chuckled at his words then at Marcus " oh no way, its on" she said and moved to the plastic mat and stood waiting " bring it" she said as Ruby walked to face her with a chuckle " its a four player , coming Marcus?" she asked as she chuckled " whose spinning the pointer?" she asked " Sam?" she asked

Ruby chuckled and smiled as she looked at the mat then to Sam sat by the pointer that spun to tell them what to put where. " I'm okay with one game if you are Angus" Ruby said holding out her hand to Angus so he could take it and join her on the mat with her shoes off.

Angus joined Ruby near the mat and kicked his shoes off.  He chose to stand on the red side of the mat, so Marcus chose the green side. Sam gave a flick to the arrow on the spinner.

"Left hand red," Sam called. Angus and Marcus put their hands down on a red dot. 

"Be careful with that shoulder, Angus," Robert called. "Lose gracefully, won't you?"


"I'm not intending on losing," Angus replied.

"Right foot red," Sam said.

"Really? You gonna tangle us up on two moves?" Marcus socwled.

Ruby chuckled as she and Aria stood on green and yellow dots when the colours were called they chuckled as they waited for their colors to be called so they could move " well if you do Aria and I will untangle you" she said with a chuckle as Sam called out the color , both leaned down and placed their hands on a dot.

Ruby moved her right foot to a dot leaving her hand in place , Aria placed her foot next to her hand and balanced herself watching the others as they moved and she chuckled.

"Left foot green," Sam called. 

Marcus pivoted his left foot behind his right to reach a green dot with one of his long legs. Angus, on the other hand, spun himself around so that his feet were headed in the right direction and all he had to worry about was his left hand crossing over to reach the red dot. 

"Right hand blue," Sam called.

"Absolutely not," Marcus laughed, not sure how he was actually going to manage that. He studied his own position and then managed a blue dot. Angus was actually glad he had a blue dot. He could steady himself with that for the moment. 

"Left foot yellow," Sam called.

"Well, shit," Marcus said.

"You should have turned around. Now you're screwed," Angus said, finding a yellow dot pretty easily still.

"I'll outlast you," Marcus said.

"No you won't," Angus laughed. "Loser buys the pints."

"Done," Marcus agreed.

Aria and Ruby found themselves crossing under each other at the boys instructions Aria balancing lightly on hr toes as she moved her foot to a yellow dot close to the blue one Ruby how ever stretched out her hand and lay it flat on the dot glancing at Angus as he moved and laughed at the banter.

" oh if the boys go down they have to buy us a drink" Ruby said looking at Angus smiling to him as Aria glanced at Marcus " oh perfect, last person standing gets to ask one thing, with in reason, of the losers." she said and chuckled smiling as she moved her left foot to a yellow dot.

"Left foot green," Sam said. Marcus was trying to find a way to fit himself around Aria and Ruby to get to the last remaining green dot, and his foot slipped on the plastic board, and he fell, taking Angus with him. Angus fell accidently on top of Marcus, and, ever on duty, Marcus shifted himself quickly up on his side so that Angus's bad shoulder wouldn't slam into the ground but be elevated a couple inches off the ground instead.

"You okay?" Marcus asked him.

"Yeah, but you're buying the pints, Mate," Angus grinned.

"Gladly," Marcus laughed. "I think I want to head inside and grab another slice of your orange cake. Shall I open everyone a beer?"

"Definitely," Angus said as he managed to right himself and get up. He reached his hand down to Ruby, as Marcus reached his hand to Aria. "You two coming? Beer or cake or both?"

Aria and Ruby laughed as Angus and Marcus went down , ruby tried to reach but she fell forward to her face and laughed as Aria stood up once she took Marcus hand as Ruby took Angus " defiantly and both " they said together and laughed as they stood up " that was fun" Ruby said " but I think I'll leave it to the younger generation" she said and chuckled as Aria nodded.

"it was fun " she said as she walked still holding Marcus hand over to some chairs " lets sit and enjoy the day before it tips down and storms" she said sitting down and waiting for Ruby and Angus as she had seen them head inside.

Ruby walked with Angus " shoulder okay?" she asked angus casually to get the cake and beers for every one.

"Yeah," Angus told Ruby as they went inside. "It's fine." 

"Beer and cake for us too?" Sam asked.

"Beer and cake all around, I think," Angus said. "I'll get it."  He went inside and started to open the beers first.

Ginger put the twister game away, and Anise and the boys came inside, while Finn went over to lay with Robert and Edward and Michael. 

"Somebody smells bad," Sam wrinkled his nose.

"Well, we haven't showered yet," Victor said.

"No, that's not it. God. Diamond reeks," Sam said. "I bet you she had another blowout."

"Its not my turn to hose her off, but Jack still has the garden hose out by the barn. You could take her out there and spray her off, I suppose," Victor said.

"Me? I'm not doing it."

"She's your sister,"

"Yours too, you git," Sam scowled.

Ruby listened and smelt Dimond but looked to Angus as she spoke " that's good2 she said then laughed at the boys " oh its not..good god whats she been eating2 she said covering her nose " I'll take her for a bath..again" she said and chuckled as Aria covered her nose as Ruby picked up Dimond and while keeping her at arms length carried her up stairs to the bathroom.

"Aria took out some air freshener and sprayed the air a gentel fresh linen scent over the play pen " now that's much better " she said chuckling " I do not envy Ruby cleaning her off.

Ruby cleaned up Dimond and popped in to check Caprice finding her curled up and sleeping soundly , this made her smile as she carried Dimond to the bath and let her splash in the water before washing her down and placing the clothing into the basket for washing.