Posts by marvisq123

Daniel pulled her close, careful not to hurt Elizabeth.

"So do you still want to move in together?" Daniel asked.

"It would…only my apartment only has one bedroom and incredibly small," he said.

Daniel nodded, "Yeah, I guess that could work." He said with a smile, planting a soft kiss on her lips.

"I'm perfectly happy with it," he said, smiling.

"We'll need a crib. And food. And a carrier, and clothes, and diapers," Daniel said, checking things off his list.

Tobias slept a long time. By the time he woke up, it was nearly five.
"Can we get pizza for dinner?" were the first groggy words out of Tobias's mouth as he sleepily rubbed his eyes with a yawn.
Daniel had been craving a warm, cheesy slice of pizza, so he agreed. Half an hour later, after a valiant search for Tobias's left shoe, Tobias was fully awake and skipping along the sidewalk next to Daniel, happily humming the Spongebob Squarepants theme song.
They could smell the pizza place before they got there. The cheesy, warm, seasoned scent made Daniel realize just how hungry he was.
They were shown to a small table near the restrooms- the smell not nearly as good over there- and given menus.
"Can I get your drinks?" the waitress asked.
"Can I have a Mountain Dew, please?" Tobias asked.
"Is all that caffeine okay with your dad?" the waitress asked, looking at Daniel.
"Oh- I'm not his…this is my brother, and no, he can't have Mountain Dew, he'll have sprite," Daniel corrected, his face turning red. How old did he look?
"I'm so sorry, how old is he?" the waitress asked with a small giggle.
"I'm 7, but my birthday's in two weeks,"Tobias said proudly, "And Daniel's twenty. He can drive!"
The waitress laughed, "And what can I get you to drink, Daniel?"
"Just a water," Daniel said.
"Alright, I'll be right back," the waitress smiled and left.

Daniel nodded in agreement.

(Sure)

The morning air was cold, carrying the scent of wet Earth from the night's rain. Daniel stepped out of the taxi in front of the airport, his bag in hand. The sky was still dark, with just a tinge of pink blossoming on the horizon. He'd been up since four and now, at 5:30, he was at the airport prepared for a plane that left at 7:15. But he was too excited for the trip. He had spent the morning packing, repacking, rearranging, and double checking his bag.
Daniel walked into the airport through large sliding doors that made a funny squeaking sound whenever they slid open. The air in the airport was warm and inviting, the lights soothing and the smell of a nearby coffee cart alluring. He stopped to buy a large coffee and a bagel, knowing he'd need it in the next few hours of waiting to come before sitting down at a small table to eat the bagel. Boring music floated through the airport, which, despite the early hour, was bustling with people jabbering in all sorts of languages.

"How about now?" Daniel suggested with a shrug.

Dylan stumbled over the log, catching herself before she could tumble into a mud puddle, laughing as she ran.

The bagel gone and the coffee nearly empty, Daniel made his way through security. It was a painstakingly slow process. But he made it through in time to buy another coffee. He was tired and the first coffee had been a decaf- a mixup by the coffee cart vendor. The second coffee, however, seemed to have the intended affect, and Daniel no longer felt quite so drowsy.
He made his way to the gate of the plane to Germany where he sat by a window overlooking the runway. He watched idly as planes took off and landed, a twisting feeling tugging at his gut. While he was immensely excited for the trip, he hated planes. They were like giant metal death traps. He had always had a fear of heights, but when his uncle, who had been a pilot had died in a plane crash, his fear evolved to include planes.
Not long after Daniel sat down, Students started filtering through the airport, joining him at the gate.
Most of them looked tired, and were still not yet awake. They sat spread out on the chairs, their eyes closed, their heads resting on their bags. Some of them, like Daniel, had bought coffees, and were awake.

Daniel, however, felt no need to talk to her. In fact, he felt an aversion to it. Nausea crawled up his throat, leaving him with a slightly greenish tinge. He sat in his seat, quietly drinking his coffee, although it did nothing to appease him. With all the students on the plane and the clock reading 7:30, the plane's engine started and it rolled down the runway before beginning it's ascent.
Daniel pulled the shade on the window down, digging his nails into his palms, his fists clenched, trying to stay calm. The plane curved to the side as it turned, shaking the slightest bit. Daniel's seatbelt was pulled tight around him.
The plane eventually straightened out, no longer shaking. Daniel cautiously opened the shade to see that they were floating through a pink sky, above fluffy white clouds that covered the expanse of the sky. The New York skyline was visible through small patches of clouds, along with the occasional sight of the glittering water of the Hudson feeding off to the Atlantic ocean.
This was it. The feeling of fear dissipated and was replaced with excitement bubbling up in the pit of his stomach. Daniel could feel a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. They were going to Germany. He was going home.

Daniel smiled, "Alright, let's go."

Daniel walked out with the two and got in the car.

Daniel pulled up at the store, "They sell baby stuff here, right?" he asked, looking at Babies R Us."I mean, other than bibs and chew toys?"

"So first we need a carrier," Daniel said, consulting the mental list he'd made.

Daniel nodded, looking at the signs hanging from the ceiling, directing them to different parts of the store.

"How's this one?" Daniel asked, stopping at a collapsable crib.

"I don't have much close family in Germany," Daniel said. His mother was there, but after what happened to his sister, he and his father had cut all ties to his mother, leaving her behind while they moved to America without knowing much English.
Of all the things Jodie had babbled on about, she had gotten only one thing right; Daniel was incredibly glad to be returning home. He missed the familiar German landscape and visiting his cousins in Bavaria over Christmas, going skiing down the alps with his cousin Erich, who was now the manager of a small restaurant chain in Virginia.
Daniel settled into his seat, mentally preparing for a long plane ride- 8 hours- seated next to one of the most talkative people Daniel had ever met.
A flight attendant passed through the aisles, offering coffee to the passengers. Daniel took one, the warmth from the drink comforting on the cool air conditioned plane. The coffee was bitter and tasteless, giving him the impression of tasting hot, liquidated cardboard. The coffee left a foul taste in his mouth long after it was gone.