Kazu dipped one foot in the water, unsure of weather the water was too cold or not. Slowly, she put the other foot in, it was perfect. But then, the sudden rush of a strong wave crashing onto the shore knocked her off her feet and sent her backwords butt-first onto the wet sand. Kazumi laughed and got back up. "Now I'm going to have to go into the ocean if I want to wash off!" She cried.
Kazumi swam out a little ways, held her breath, and dove under the water. Luckily, the water was perfectly clear today, so she could see everything. Kazumi then headed for the surface and hopped up on a nearby rock. A gentle breeze blew agenst her pale wet skin and made her shiver. Kazu wondered how all her friends were doing.

How where Chase and Mia and the baby? What about Kitty and Wess? And she hadn't seen Bren or Red in a while, either. And how was Dylan and Ari? She heard they were together now, that made Kazu smile. She was glad they had found eachother. Of course, Kazu was still waiting to fall in love herself, but she could wait.
After Kazu had become freezing from the constant wind, she dove back into the water, slowly turned onto her back, and let herself stay suspended inside the giant pool. Kazu watched the surface from under water. She watched the sun dance across the surface and the waves swishing back and forth as if trying to keep up with eachother. Then Kazumi closed her eyes, and let the current pull her to wherever.

"Just a little sand, buddy," Chase murmured, holding the tiny breathing bundle in his arms. He was in a bathing suit, but he had no plans of getting in the water. Instead, he was sitting on the wooden balcony overlooking the sand, with a stroller right next to him. It was baby's first outing, and Mia, the scared chicken, had only relented to let him take Clara, the couple's first child, to the beach for a while if the little girl was covered head-to-toe in sunscreen and protective clothing.

Everything faded after the baby was born. He was a dad now. All of this family stuff had happened so quickly, it made him dizzy. But he loved it. And, as he understood, his friends' lives hadn't been exactly quiet lately, either.

He squinted out at the water and noticed a shape, most likely human, drifting in the water. Whatever creature it was, its head was submerged, and immediately Chase was concerned. Taking Clara in his arms but leaving the stroller behind, he walked to the shore, standing as close to the water as he could without risking getting splashed, and called out, "Hey!"

Kazu opend her eyes only to notice she had drifted to the surface a little, but only the top of her head. Her ears were still submerged in water, so all she could hear was the water sploshing about her. Kazu's gaze slowly moved to the sky. There were light, whispy clouds out today. Kazu was still a ways from the shore, but she hadn't noticed yet.

Chase frowned. "Hey!" he called again, this time a little louder. The baby stirred in his arms and whimpered. He looked from her, back to the figure in the sea, back to the baby. "Hold on," he said, both to Clara and the...object in the water. Walking briskly back to the pier, he took the stroller and removed the baby's seat. He strapped her in and carried her back to the spot in the water. Taking a look around - a good look - he splashed in the water, resolving to be quick.

But he was nervous already.

It didn't take long for him to reach the shadow. It was definitely human, and it took him about three seconds to figure out exactly who it was. "Kazumi!" He reached into the water and yanked her up without a second thought. "What are you doing?!"

Kazumi was startled to be suddenly yanked out of the water. She looked up to find and upset Chase frowning upon her. "What are you doing!?" he demanded. Kazu only smiled, still not realizing the worry she had caused him. "Heyyyyyy big brother!" Kazu laughed.
"I was just hanging out. Y'know it's a really pretty day. I decided to go for a swim. What are you doing here?" Kazu peared over Chase's shlouder and took in a sharp breath of air. "AHHHH! Did you bring the baby? Can I see Can I see pleeaasseeee!!"
Then, Kazumi stopped talking for a moment to let Chase's expression sink in. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked.

Chase exhaled, relieved, and shook his head. "I think you have a death wish," he said, sighing. "Either that, or you want me to die of a heart attack." He chuckled. "You okay?"

He glanced over his shoulder back at the shore. Clara was still in her baby seat, sucking her thumb. "Yes, that's the baby," he said, smiling proudly. "And yes, of course you can see her." He led the way out of the water, splashing out of the waves and grabbing a towel. He dried every bead of water that his eye could see on his body, and then scooped his daughter out of her hooded seat. "Hi, Clara," he crooned, bouncing her in his arms a little. She laughed. "Someone wants to see you." He looked up at Kazumi expectantly.

Kazu's face flushed with red when she say the tiny pink ball of skin. She was perfect. Kazu could pick out traces of both Mia and Chase in the baby. Kazumi was simply at a loss for words. Kazumi suddenly felt herself become nervous.
She hesitantly kneeled down until she was at Clara's eye level. Kazu reached out to touch her, but drew back. The girl was so tiny, Kazu was afraid if she touched her she's shatter. Kazumi looked up at Chase with a flusterd expression, wanting guidence on what to do next.

Chase laughed. "She's just a baby. She doesn't bite. And even if she did, she doesn't have any teeth. It'd be like being bitten by your grandmother before she puts in her dentures." He winced. "Gross analogy. Sorry." Smiling, he walked over to a nearby bench and stood over it. "Sit down," he suggested. "It's kind of easier to hold a baby for the first time if you're sitting. Makes you less nervous about dropping 'em." He grinned and sat down, himself.

Kazumi watched and mimicked Chase's movements. "A-are you sure if i hold her, she won't break?" Kauz asked honestly. "Mia wouldn't be very happy if I broke her baby. I've beena round children before, but this one's diffrent. Not only is she yours and Mia's, but i feel like i'm looking at both of you at the same time. I don't know...i really can't describe it. It's like....she looks at you and it's like she alreayd knows you or something....I can't descibe it..."

Chase smiled. "She won't break." Thank goodness, because he wasn't the most graceful, either. It had taken him so long to get used to the way that a baby - living, breathing, but so tiny - felt, and for the first few weeks, he had been terrified of hurting her. He was getting better at the whole parenting business, though.

He stood up, walked over to Kazu, and placed Clara in her arms, gently. "Angle your arm a little bit," he said, "and support her head." He helped her adjust, and then sat back down on the bench. "If you think she's already bonded with me, you should see Mia," he chuckled. "She's the only one that can get Clara to stop crying."

Kazu giggled at Chase's last remark. "I'd imagine Mia would be crazy about this baby." Kazu looked down at the small child and smiled. "Just you wait, little one. As soon as you can walk, you're going to learn to go roof hopping! Then you can teach me~" Kazu gave Chase a teasing look. "Then she'll go into her teen years and boys will be lining up at the door!"

Chase shuddered, just at the mention of either roof-jumping or the "b" word. "Ha, I'm not sure if Mia will ever let her out of the house, let alone on top of it." Something had clicked in her after Clara was born, and now she fussed around like if she didn't pay attention, even for a millisecond, something would happen and the world would come crashing down.

"This beach outing may be our last," he said, looking up the road. "I'm half-expecting Mia to come charging up, with an alarm ringing in her hand, and saying that half-an-hour of sun is more than enough for a baby. And she'd probably be right."

Looking at Kazumi, he added, "And about the boys...I'll beat 'em away with a bat. She's not dating until she's married."

Kazumi cracked up at Chase's last comment, and the image of Mia coming charging over the hill with a clock in her hands. "Clara will grow up tp be a beautiful young lady, and by then, you'll be old. You might not have enough strength to fend off all those young suitors." Kazu gave a playful wink, and looking back at the baby, started to hum a soft song

"Hey," Chase protested. "I'm not old yet. I can still fend off villains and fight for my family."

Family. It still hit close to home.


"You know," he said, looking at how Clara leaned against Kazu without a care in the world, "you should come over sometime. Our house is a mess and neither me nor Mia have slept in weeks, but I think I speak for the both of us when I say that we'd like to have you around."

The the Kazu looked at Chase, you'd think he had just offered her a million bucks. "Seriously!??!' She asked happily. 'I can Really I mean, I'd love to I'd love to help you guys out! I don't mind in the least i really don't wow this is exciting are you sure it's alright I'm so excited thankkk yoouuuu!" After kazu was done, she had to take in a deep breath of air and was then trying to cath her breath after that. Kazu's face turned red from embaressment. "Erm, sorry. I got a little carried away....that is....I'd really like to help you guys out in anyway I can." Kazu re-ajusted Clara on her lap so she was laying more comfortably. "I like doing house work and if you guys ever need a day to yourselfs I can watch the baby for you. You probably haven't noticed, but I really love children!" Kazu gave one of her wide grins.

Chase laughed, a bit taken aback. "Well, I was actually just suggesting that you come and visit sometime," he explained. "I wasn't trying to rope you into a nanny job. Or a housekeeper. Or whatever. But sure, if you want to come over and take care of Clara sometimes, I'd be okay with it. It's Mia you have to convince. She won't let the baby out of her sight for more than a little while." He sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I understand her completely. I'm wary letting Clara out of my sight, too. But we both need a break." He chuckled. "I'd like to take Mia out one night, but it's hard to do with a baby attached to our hips 24-7. Tell you what, if I can talk her into it, me and Mia will go out sometime soon and you can babysit. Until then, feel free to come over and help out as much as your little heart pleases." He ran a finger over his daughter's head. "And you can play with Clara anytime."

"Thanks!" Kazumi said bubbling over. "I really don't mind helping you guys out. You could definitaly use a break." Kauz paused for a moment. I'll talk to Mia, i'm sure we'll come to some sort of agreement. And when i'll else fails, I can always resort to useing puppy dog eyes." Kazu laughed, although Mia was her friend, she doubt that would work anyway. Still, couldn't hurt to try.

"I think the only one who could make her melt with the Bambi eyes is Clara," Chase laughed. "But it's not hard to convince her, really. Give her chocolate or a fifteen-minute nap and she'll be wrapped around your finger." At least, that had worked for him. "I'm sure she'd like to see you," he told Kazumi. "We've had so many relatives pouring in over the last few weeks, it's crazy. I'm sure she'd like to have a friend around. She's pretty stressed. We both are. But she's holding it together pretty well."