Building Blocks

St. Delacroix was throwing a 'Valentine's Fair', which essentially was a huge open day with stalls and events that the students and the local townspeople could enjoy on a chill day in February that had something to do with love, romance and something about a St. Valentine.

The day itself was supposed to be very romantic for those who had partners, and pretty much a drag for the people that were feeling especially lonely.

"Do werewolves even celebrate Valentine's Day?"

"No Dad, we spontaneously combust if we ever dare to do anything remotely religious."

"But Valentine's Day isn't really religious..."

Vincent couldn't help but roll his eyes as he walked at his father's side. He'd caught the man lurking like some sort of weird creep outside the school gates. Vincent had a faint suspicion of the reason why he was here (and it didn't seem likely it was to spend 'quality time' with his son) and to stop anyone from calling the police on the crazy-ass dentist skulking at the school's entrance, Vincent had dragged him inside to mill about through the stalls until they found the main reason Alex was even here.

"I've not had a real Valentine's Day in years," Vincent said, speaking partly to his father and partly to himself. "I was ten when...the thing happened...And by the time I was old enough to start bothering with the whole cards, flowers and chocolates I had more important things to deal with."

But now...Now things were different.

With his mind drifting through various thoughts, Vincent didn't notice the little girl coming up through the few people gathered around, her big brown eyes focused on the father and son pair. She gave out a cry of delight when she came within a few feet of them and stretched out her arms towards Alex.

"Bend down and pick her up before she runs into your legs," Vincent said, nudging his father in the arm, encouraging the man to move.

Doing as instructed, Alex knelt down and scooped up the little girl the moment she came close to him, swinging her up, around and then letting her sit on her hip. One main noticable thing about Poppy was that despite her age she was still pretty small. Then again, her mother wasn't very tall. Speaking of the woman there seemed to be no one trailing the little girl.

"Alex, Alex, Alex," the girl sing-songed, grinning up at the man holding her.

Alex looked like he was somewhere between terrified and delighted as he held the girl against him.

"She's not a bomb, Dad," he said, moving towards the pair and affectionately wiggling his fingers at Poppy who made biting motions towards them. "Who's keeping an eye on you, Pops?"

"Daddy," she said with a huge grin. "But I saw you an' Alex and wanted to come over."

"Does your Daddy know you're here with us?" Alex asked. "I don't want him to worry."

"I'm always safe with Alex!" Poppy informed them as if it was the most obvious thing in the entire world. "And besides, I can look after yourself."

"Your Daddy will still be worried," replied Alex, shifting the girl in his arms and putting her on the ground. Vincent watched and expected him to let her just walk with them, but instead his father held out his hand to her and she took it eagerly, sliding her little hand inside Alex's larger one. "Come on, lets go find him."

Smiling to himself, Vincent followed them. It had been so long since Alex had been an actual father to someone Vincent supposed that the man thought that he was incapable of doing anything remotely father-like. Things like that aren't easilly forgotten though. Alex probably didn't even realize he was doing it. Yumiko and her daughter were doing wonders for his father. If it wasn't for them Alex would most likely be in his apartment or in a bar getting drunk and despairing; or off with some random woman.

God forbid he ever do something like he did to Vincent's mother to Yumi....

But Poppy was different than he was. It had only been a few months since meeting him in a capacity that was more than him being her dentist but Poppy had already latched onto him like a second?...third?...father. Vincent doubted that she would be as broken as he had been should Alex ever mess things up. Then again, Yumi wouldn't throw her own daughter out because she'd turned into a 'monster'.

Hopefully though his father wasn't going to be repeating his past mistakes.

Loosing his focus in his thoughts again, Vincent was surprised when a pair of hands shot around his eyes from behind. "Guess who?" whispered a voice into his ear.

Smiling, Vincent breathed in deep through his nose, letting the familiar scent wash over him and sink deep into his veins. Alex and Poppy had stopped to look back when Vincent wasn't following anymore, but upon seeing the scene returned to their task of looking for Dion in the crowds.

"The Pope?" Another deep breath and he lifted his hands to link his fingers with the ones covering his eyes and pull them away, tugging the figure behind him against his back and leaning against him. They were evenly matched in height (although Vincent had a slight suspicion that Marshall was slightly taller than he was), and he leaned his head back on the other's shoulder, smiling lazilly at him. "If I hadn't been thinking I would have known you were there," he said. "You smell good today."

What Vincent meant was; 'You've eaten today.'

Marshall frowned, crinkling his nose at Vincent. "I had to..."

"It keeps you alive and therefore keeps you with me," Vincent explained, unlinking one hand to reach up behind Marshall's head and thread his fingers through the soft blond hair. "I thought you were helping on one of the booths today?"

"I'm on a break," he replied, obviously glad for the change in topic. "What about you?"

"Babysitting my Dad."

"He's getting away - and has stolen a small child too."

Vincent chuckled, turning around to face Marshall and steal a kiss from his lips. Public displays of affection be damned. "I think she kidnapped him rather than the other way around. Why don't you skip the rest of the day with me?"

Blushing, Marshall looped his arms around Vincent's waist, looking into his eyes. "Because if I'm not there Felix will escape, goof off or start playing the guitar of his. I also think that if it wasn't for the fact I think he's seeing someone I'm pretty sure he'd change it from a ball game stall to a kissing booth."

"If you're there when he does that, you're not allowed to take part," he replied before leaning in again and kissing him once more, this time with a little more force and tongue. "Only I can kiss you."

Before Vincent had chance to kiss him anymore, Marshall playfully batted him away and untangled himself. "Come on, lets go find your Dad."

Vincent pouted. "You're no fun," but allowed Marshall to link their hands and lead him along the rows of stalls and people before finding his father once more, Poppy's hand still clutched in his own. They hadn't found Dion, but they were stood around a stall that had many delicious and sweet smells coming from it. Getting closer, the stall was selling baked cakes and treats. Seated behind the table was Rei.

Dancing around in front of the table was someone in a gorilla suit.

"That gorilla is awfully short," Marshall commented with a chuckle.

"Shhh...I want to see what my Dad makes of this?"

"Why?"

"Because I know who's in the costume."

They both looked over to where Alex was, his attention on Poppy for a few brief moments before the little girl spotted the person in the gorilla costume and tugged on his hand, pointing towards them. Poppy waved and the gorilla waved back, bending down on one knee before the little girl who instantly released Alex's hand and went to hug them instead. Vincent couldn't help but feel proud when he saw the worried expression on his father's face. He really did still have some of those fatherly instincts in him somewhere. Poppy however, appeared to know who was dressed up.

Alex's expression went from worried to shocked when the person in the gorilla suit pulled off the head. Shaking loose the long, curled brown hair, Yumiko grinned up at Alex. "I didn't think you'd come," she told him.

"He didn't, I had to drag him here," Vincent said, moving closer to the stall, hand still holding Marshall's. "He was lurking outside like some kind of stalker."

No matter what things were said Vincent was certain Yumi would never be without her cheerful and sunbeam smile. She looked from son to father in that sunny way. Carefully rising to her feet, she walked up to him and hopped onto her toes to press and quick kiss to his lips. "Happy Valentine's Day, Alex."