Present Day Break

     "Oh, look! Isn’t that a precious one?" Andrew Wiggan tugged on the arm of his oldest friend, delightedly bouncing on his little feet. The much, much taller man peered down at Andrew, then adjusted his gold spectacles to look at the black-haired little boy running around the studio’s waiting room. He was absolutely adorable, with a stubborn chin and vibrant eyes, laughing with the free-spirited sound only a child could make. The hampster pooka childling he was playing with, Bertram’s favorite little girl, was peeking out at him from under the sturdy play table set out for the children, Mandy’s round dark eyes sparkling as she reached out to tag the little boy wearing a spotless sailor suit.

     "Aye, ‘e’s a cute one, ‘e is." The troll had to laugh as the children leapfrogged over the panther sleeping in a patch of sunlight. Bagheera lifted her head, yawning with an expansive growl, then yowled in annoyance when her owner’s hand tugged the leash, drawing the large cat out of the childrens’ way. Kearna Tierney glanced at the two older men and dimpled for them, shaking her flame red hair from her eyes.

     "That time of year once more, is it Bertram?" Her voice was not quite as sultry as usual…ah, the curse of allergies, but her smile was just as smug as she shifted, moving herself into the sunlight her pet had previously occupied.

     Bertram chuckled, nodding as he reached out to catch a five year old nocker before the boy knocked a heavy houseplant over. "Aye, tha wee ones’re needin’ there pictures taken a’fore we let ’em get any bigger. Ye comin’ ‘ere fer yer usual three ‘ours?"

     Emerald green eyes flickered, watching the children run about, tackle each other and in general ruin in five minutes what had taken their parents two hours to create. "Of course. I can’t allow my photographs to become outdated."

     The troll had to laugh at her preening as the cat began fluffing her flame-red hair, and then he moved just as the neatly pressed and dressed man in the Navy blue did, both men heading directly for the two children sitting on the floor and crying. The paternal pride visible in the man’s eyes made Bertram smile as he leaned down and retrieved Mandy. Murmuring soothingly to her, he watched the sailor carry his son back to the lovely black-haired woman holding her arms out for the child. Mandy was easily distracted by the red rubber ball Andrew offered her, and the pooka childling settled into Bertram’s lap, playing quietly with the toy. Kearna, who had regarded the whole scene with a marked distaste, curled her lip at the sight of Bertram letting the little girl rumple his shirt.

     "I do not understand how you can let those…animals crawl all over you," she snorted, pointedly smoothing her short, linen skirt.

     "Only cause ye ne’er ‘ad one o’ yer own," Bertam said calmly, handing Mandy to Andrew as the other children crowded about his knees, all eagerly showing him the backgrounds they wanted for their photographs. He laughed, nodding to each choice no matter how outrageous it was, and smiled as the family herded their inquisitive son past the counter into the studio. "Iffen ye ‘ad yer own, ye’d love bein’ ’round ’em much as I do."

     "An argument you will always lose, Bertram," Kearna said with a sigh, scratching her panther’s head. "But I do admire your persistence and your confidence that you’ll win one day."

     Bertram smiled as the redhead rose to her feet langorously and strolled towards the counter. "Iffen I was a younger man, I’d be tryin’ ta win ye a dif’rent way," he called roguishly.

     She didn’t turn or acknowledge the comment…save that her hips swung in a lithe manner and her laugh trickled back to him as she walked into the studio. The children swarming about the waiting room drew the troll’s attention back to them…even as he wiped a thin sheen of cold sweat from his forehead.