#bergen_county

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"Mom? Dad? I'm home."

CJ's crying diminishes her own announcement. Yup, they're home too.

"Connor, one sec..."

He waits patiently on the porch. Well, ish, his feet are a tippy-tapping.

Dagmar lets Connor into the kitchen as she heads in in search of Tove and CJ.

Tove comes down "Shhh shh... here's your pacificer, I'm not allowed to put a sedative on it. I checked"

"Hey Tove...." A glance back, and she gestures for Connor to come closer.

"Hello, my daughter and.. oh, Connor" She says

She makes it back in time, Connor was eyeing the cabinet above the Fridge. What secrets could that out of reach space hold... but now they're back!

"O Connor, my Connor?" He asks, and gives a bow to Tove. "Missus Queen."

And then moves to stand by Dagmar's side, tugging at his t-shirt to lay straight. Well, ish.

Tove beams down at the boy "Mmm, are you hungry Connor?"

Dagmar rubs the back of her neck.

"Um. Dad's at work, right?"

"Yes, he jumped right back in" she says "is there a problem? I bet we could get him to take a lunch break for an hour"

"Not a problem! Just... news?"

"I.. ah.. Chief, she..."

Tove looks at her daughter, "Dagmar, you seem distressed. Is the Chief okay? Are her wounds acting up?" Concern brow

Connor shakes his head, and reaches out to pat Dagmar reassuringly on the arm.

"No! Not distressed! It's good news. Just... I mean.. I wouldn't ever want to put extra trouble on you so... so..."

"So Chief put the extra trouble on Dagmar instead."

"Extra trouble?" Tove says "mm here's what wer'e going to do.. I'm going to make hot coco for you and I, Use Strawberry instead of coco for Connor, and we'll sit down and talk ok?" It's not quite a question as she moves with CJ in one hand to make it happen

"I can hold the cocoa?" He offers his arms out for CJ.

"You aren't trouble, Connor."

Tove motions for Connor to sit and then puts CJ in his lap "Dagmar can show you how to hold him."

"Um." Brow furrow. "Um. So. So I've taken Connor as my squire."

An impish grin at Tove. "Connor Lowell, ESQUIRE. It's on my buddyness cards."

It's a good thing she put CJ in someone else's hands "Well that..wait, what???"

"The Chief asked, so.. I mean. Connor's devoted, and loyal, but could use some help in training, so... I mean..."

"Chief thought I could help him. And I mean, I think maybe I could, too?"

"And I know the grocery store and the wal-mart are both hiring, I can get a job there if I need to..."

Connor lightly rocks the baby, giving him a smile. "Will CJ will inherit me some day too?"

"He's going to be a Knight, I know."

"Well, being a squire, that means you can get to be a knight, too."

Tove gapes for a moment then "When did this happen? it's been less than... "

He laughs. "That's just silly. Kings get to be knights, and Elves." A grin to Dagmar, and over to Tove. "She's going to teach me what's what, and I'm going to help her with the little things. It's important. Knights do Big Work, so they need help with the small stuff."

"I think I need that hot coco" Tove decides

CJ looks at Connor, his eyes more focused than before, as if to say Oh you and I are going to have years of fun together

"There are pooka knights at Tijuana."

"That sounds like a SILLY place. Good snacks, though."

He coos at the baby - Pooka just seem to have a way with small ones, and it doesn't hurt that Connor has those intriguing fuzzy ears.

"Be careful, he's got a troll grip."

"And, um. Yeah, it just happened this morning. At the stable."

Oh yes, CJ is gaping at the ears. He wants to touch em

"SOme squires never make knighthood, a few, have refused it" Tove says from the kitchen using the preperation of coco as a way to center herself "But most now a days try for knighthood. In a society hwere some jump staight to knighthood it's not unusual. I admit I didn't expect this. but it sounds like neither of you did either"

"Not really. But.. I mean.. I wasn't even thinking about taking a squire. But..."

"I guess she thought you would be a better match than Vali and Connor"

Connor looks thoughtful, wiggling his ears for CJ's amusement. "I forgot Vali had a Sir. He doesn't wave it around. Neither does Dagmar, but she's here more."

"Well, I'm gonna do my best. And Gerd was saying... and then I thought... if the support money cuts off, because of this, like... I'm working on a plan, so I can take care of everything."