...1x1 #19...

Markus
"She takes after me, she has my flawlessness" I smiled at the two of them. Emily made her way and placed herself inbetween the two. "Daddy does have his flaws, many of them" Emmie grinned at Clark, "Oh great, you two will just form a 'Insult Daddy Markus' group, won't you?"

Callahaway
"Hold up, you're not my 'daddy', that's a whole 'nother field of weird." I tried to hide my laughter with a faint cough. "But 'Insult Markus' club sounds splendid. Meetings every Thursday at eight. Actually, no, Thursdays I dance, Fridays maybe. Okay, Emily, every time one of dad's flaws pops up, you come to me and complain." Did she have a mother figure in her life?

Markus
"That was for Emmie's sake. Can't have her calling me Markus." But Emily nodded enthusiastically at what Clark had said. "You dance too?" She asked, "Daddy dances; I do ballerina" Bless her and her grammar, "You do ballet, Emmie"

Callahaway
"Yeah, don't do ballerinas yet", I said, for Markus' sake. I know there was nothing more satisfying than innuendos in front of children. "Oh, you know, dancing something that keeps my mind off of stuff." You mean a hobby which slowly took over my life and soul?

Markus
I snorted into my hand, trying to pass it off as a cough but the funny look from Emily shows it didn't work. "Daddy says dancing is like magic. It sinks into your veins, flows with your blood. The music is the pounding of your heart, a rhythm that keeps you going. I don't understand it but daddy sounds crazy when he says it"

Callahaway
"Oh, I must say your dad's correct on this one. Even if it sounds crazy. Most us dancers are crazy. But it's good crazy." I probably scared the kid off. "You got only one correct, don't let the fame get to you."

Markus
"One is better than none" I noticed, smirking playfully smugly at the two of them. "So you crazy like daddy? Does that make you my mummy?" I snorted again, not even trying to disguise it. I do believe moments like this are why having Emily around is so great.

Callahaway
"Now now." Literally what am I supposed to say to that? "Of course not." Better not mention the birds and the bees. "If I were your mother, where would you get that colour of your hair?" Yeah, nice save, Clark.

Markus
That stumped Emily. She sat considering that before skiling brightly, "The fairy from swan lake. She is magic she can do everything! Maybe she is my mum" I nodded lightly, Emmie rarely asked about her mum, shr believes she lives far away. She probably does for all I know. But I couldn't care less about the person who abandoned such a beautiful child. I don't know how someone could morally.

Callahaway
I threw Markus a look which meant 'you'll tell me all about that later'. Or, at least, I hoped it looked like that. "Oh, it's most definitely magic. I mean, I know I'm not magic, that's why I have hair like this", I shook my head a bit.

Markus
I smiled at Clark a bit, while Emily reached up and felt her hair. "Yours is yellow, mine red. Daddy's is... Is brown?" She seemed unsure, that is probably my beard's fault.

Callahaway
"See, I told you. Magic." I have yet to meet a lad with brown hair which didn't look like it was black. It's just testosterone, I guess. "So tell me, Emily, do you go to school already?"

Markus
"Yes, I am in Year 1" Emily replied, proudly. "That doesn't include her dances classes" I added quickly, rubbing Emmie's head. Emmie made a noise of protest pushing my hand away.

Callahaway
"That's great! Now your real life begins, now that you're in school." Nope that's it. There go my conversation topics.

Markus
"Yep!" Emily's enthusiasm hadn't faded at all throughout the evening. This meant making her sleep would be a challenge and a half, so better start now.
"Right, Little Rascal, bedtime" "Why?" "Because I say so" "But it isn't late" "It's late enough" Emily pouted, but I ignored it and grabbed her under the arms. "Bedtime" I said, holding her bridal style, much easier than the half dead guy I must say. She started wriggling, so I dropped her. Obviously, I caught her, but her delighted squeal filled the room, making me chuckle lightly. I dropped her onto her bed. "Sleep" I said, tucking her in, kissing her head. I walked out the room and shut the door behind me; knowing she will settle herself down. "Heh, kids" I said to Clark returning to my seat on the sofa.

Callahaway
"Oh, are you talking about her or yourself?" I joked. When Emily wasn't in the room, I felt a bit more brave to ask the questions I wanted the answers to. "So. Talk. If you answer my question I'll answer your question. Is that alright?"

Markus
"Both" I replied, grinning. I settled onto the sofa, my arm leaning around the back of it. "Alright; shoot" I let her ask the first question. There is so much I wanted to know about her, I had to try and get them into an orderly queue.

Callahaway
"Emily's mum." Subject that botheted me. "I'm not trying to flirt with you or anything, I just want to meet the person who has hair like that and bow to them." His hand near my back distracted me, I kept glancing at it. But it's better than wheezing, right?

Markus
"Ha. Good luck searching for her. I have no idea who or where she is" I replied, shrugging. I did wonder if she'd ask. I don't want Emily to know she's adopted, she'll think she's different from everyone else.

Callahaway
I gulped some air and made my cheeks all hamster-like, slowly letting the air out. Blame Josie, it was her I picked it up from and started doing it whensver I was unsatisfied. Okay, at least I know what my question will be about. "Alright then. Your turn."

Markus
"Is Clark your first or last name? It sounds more like a surname" I asked, looking at her. Plus, Clark is more likely to be a male's name if it was a first name.

Callahaway
"Oh, its neither. My first, I mean my name before was Anastasia Callahaway, now I'm Callahaway Clark." You do not get a quicker explanation than that. "I know, it's complicated, that's why I told you to calk me Clark."

Markus
"Makes sense. Overly complicated name, do all your siblings have awesome names?" I asked, I liked her name, it was unique.

Callahaway
"You be the judge of that. Wesley, Josephine and Patricio Callahaway." At least I only have a ridiculous name, they have both ridiculous name and a ridiculous surname. "I wonder why nobody changed theirs, also."

Markus
"I like them. Maybe they like the ridiculousness of them." I replied, smiling lightly. Emily is a bit of a plain name, but that was what she was given, I really didn't have much choice in it. In her basket on the night I found her she had a little necklace that had said 'Emily' so that the name she was Christened.