Baby 96 - Part 1 of 2: Get your hands off of me!

The kids all age up beautifully and my two girls, Kyla and Evangeline, are already out of the house.

Aiden is quite the sweetheart and grow a sweet tuft of his father's hair and has a more adorable version of his father's round nose.

As the kids age and develop, I finally manage to earn my black belt.  Now Adam has to refer to me as, "Master Smith" and I quite like it.

"Master Cohen, are you up for a little competition?"  I challenge him and we get ready to spar.

Miraculously, I've built up the muscle and gained the flexibility to jump and spin and kick in the air.

Of course, Adam is pretty good himself but still, I feel so proud of myself.

It's amazing and I feel exhilarating.  For the first time, I win the sparring match.  Although it was very close.  We were tied until the very end when my last kick almost sent Adam to the floor, earning me my first win.

"And you weren't even trying to let me win, were you?  Ha!"  I boast.

"Of course I was letting you win.  We'd be on the run to the ER had I not gone easy on you."

But I know I've got him because afterward, when he thinks I'm not looking, I catch him massaging his arm.

I get home to find the triplets hanging out in the office for once.  Usually they're hanging outside or in the toyroom.  But not tonight.  Tonight they're excercising their brains.  Quentin is even playing a successful game of solitaire.

"Mom, I think I might win!"

"Really?  That's awesome!"  I say, trying to boost his spirits just in case it turns out that he didn't win.

The other day he couldn't win the game and was getting pretty frustrated.  To my relief, I notice the cards crashing to the bottom of the screen and the little notice that says, "You won!"

"Good job, Quentin!  I knew you could do it," I praise him.

"Gosh, I could use some luck over here, mom," Yasmyna grumbles over her next chess move.  "Oh, nevermind."  To Genevieve she grins, "Check... mate," as her bishop finally corners Genevieve's king.

"Darn it," Genevieve says.  "Let's play again!"

I find the teens playing with Aiden.  Well, Seth is playing with Aiden.  I don't know what to make of what Parker is doing.

Earlier that day I had picked up the sperm from the next challenge father, Zachary Zen.  I hope the baby gets hit awesome skin color!

It's the next day.  I drive over to Adam's house and he immediately greets me at the door.

"Calista!  God, you're beautiful!"  He compliments.

I've noticed that every time he sees me he says something along the lines of "you're beautiful" or "you're gorgeous."  Is that like something special that he only says to me?  Does he really mean it?

"Thanks, Adam.  I quite like this outfit.  I've always had this dress in my closet and...," I stop talking because I know guys don't like hearing that kind of thing from girls.

"And...?"

Surprised, I say, "What?"

"You were saying something and then you just stopped.  I just wanted to know what else you were going to say."

"Well, aren't you sweet.  I was just going to say I never found a chance to wear it.  Anyway, I thought men didn't like hearing 'girl stuff,'" I quote.

"I don't actually mind it."

I throw him a look.

"Calista, don't be immature.  I'm not gay.  Otherwise I wouldn't have invited you over for a date.  I'd have probably brought you over for tea and cookies or introduced you to one of my straight friends if I was gay," Adam laughs and I can't help but join in.  "I want to take you to this tree," he finally says as the laughter dies down.

To his surprise I grab his hand and he flinches slightly and doesn't move an inch.

"C'mon, Adam.  What are you standing there for?" I tease.

He smiles and squeezes my hand.  Just by the way he steps is an indication that taking his hand was a good move.  He stands by the base of the tree and tells me to sit down.

"You sure?  I'm in a pretty short dress.  I don't want to risk you seeing anything, if you know what I mean."

Adam laughs and I eventually comply.  A few minutes later I find myself in a meditative state.

I half expect Adam to start doing something dirty while my eyes are closed but he doesn't.  In fact, we make no physical contact whatsoever.

After what seems like thirty minutes I can't take it anymore.  "Adam-"

"Shhhh," he says.

Then we're in the air and I feel a warm glow surround me.  I'm speechless and then I feel Adam take my hand and my body is pulled in every direction.  It's painless and quick.  I stumble and my vision is distorted once we finally hit what seems to be earth.  Before my eyes can register what happens, hands cover my eyes up.

"What the hell is happening?!?!"  I try to struggle and pry this person's hands off but Adam's voice tells me not to.

I give myself a mental slap.  How could I have been so stupid.  Who else's hands would those have been?  I calm down and let him lead me.  I'm glad he's covering up my face because that means he's not looking at it and can't see me blushing.  I soon realize that he may be able to feel it but there's nothing I can really do.

He walks me over across a stone path.  I can feel the rough unevenness of the surface and guess that it's made of stones.  Then we stop and I hear him fiddling with what must be a latch to a gate.  It takes a while so I form the generalization that he probably hasn't been to whatever place he's taking me.  Or at least, he wasn't the one to open the latch.

After a short struggle, it finally opens but then we come across another latch and when that's opened, we stop.  After a few moments he uncovers my eyes.

"Surprise!"  He says.  "Second date location has been revealed.  I hope you liked the trip.  Please remember to take your belongings with you."

Then, I open my eyes.

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NOTE

Thank you to Kurtis for making the challenge father, Zachary Zen.  He is currently using one of Calista's sons (Harrison, baby 81) in his legacy as the spouse for Generation Six so you should check it out!

Oh, and I'm sorry about the fact that the kids' pictures make up about half of the pictures in the entire post.  I'm thinking of combining the pictures of them so that they don't take up so much room, but I have yet to figure out a decent looking way of doing so.

To those of your who are starting school, I hope I made your Monday just a bit cheerier!  :)