2029-A Dramatic Plot twist occurs! (Fixed Future)

"S'Good." Zeph nodded. "Thanks."

Darien laughed, and continued his tickling.

Zeph watched the pair and glanced at Diana. "What's he doing?"

Diana was watching Darius and Darien as well. "I think they're playing tickle monster." She said with amusement. "Do you want to join them?"

"Dadddddyyyy!" Darius said laughing hysterically. "Dadddddyyy!!!"

Zeph shook his head. "Nah." It looked quite scary, from where he was standing.

Darien laughed, scooping his son up into his arms. "Does the little monsta give up?"

"Rawr," Darius laughed. "Yes Daddy." He yawned again. "I give up." Darius snuggled into his Daddy's arms.

Diana gave the boy a slightly pitying glance. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but why are you so serious all the time Zephir?"

Darien smiled and kissed his son's forehead. "Night Darius." He placed his little son on his bed, and pulled the covers over him.

He glanced back at Zeph and Diana.

Zeph blinked. Serious? ...He thought for a while. He...wasn't sure. He just didn't really see the point in being happy when there was nothing to be happy about. No one really made him laugh, so he didn't laugh. No one played games with him, so he wasn't playful. He just wasn't.

"...I..." He frowned slightly. "I...don't know...But usually I can't find anything funny. So I don't laugh." He felt confused.

Diana nodded in understanding. That made perfect sense but, he wasn't supposed to figure that out until another 10 year or so...

"Well you should go to bed too," Diana told him. She unfolded his covers for him and waited for him to curl up inside.

Zeph slipped into the bed, thought for a moment that it was surprisingly comfy, and was half-asleep in moments.

Darien smiled at both boys. "Goodnight boys." He ruffled Darius' hair, then paused and patted Zephir's as well.

Zeph blinked, looking at Darien with confusion.

Darien smiled. "'Night." He retreated towards the doorway.

"I wuv you Daddy." Darius sighed already drifting. "Mummy...."

Diana pulled the covers around Zephir and kissed him on the forehead. "Sweet dreams."

She did the same to Darius, "I love you too, Darius." Then she followed Darien by the doorway.

Zephir sighed, beginning to slide into dreams...

Confused and turbulant as they were...

Darien smiled, and began to pull the door shut, as quietly as possible.

Then Darius suddenly muttered, little eyes already half-closed, "Light!" Referring to the little night-light so that his room wouldn't be completely dark.

Diana silently crept back into the room to turn the little blue light on, gave Darius another kiss and then crept back out.

Darien smiled and closed the door behind Diana.

Zeph felt oddly comforted by the dim blue light, and drifted off to sleep.

Diana took a breath and looked at Darien. "Are you hungry?"

Darien shrugged. "Kinda. Are you?"

"A little bit..." Diana said. "I'll go make us a sandwich." She headed for the stairs. "Coming?"

"Sure." Darien followed Diana down the stairs.

"Do you want ham or...?" Diana asked headed to the kitchen.

"Ham's fine...Thanks." Darien felt oddly awkward.

Diana was going to leave him...If Zeph was his...He wouldn't see Darius again. His heart stung at the thought.

Diana took a moment to make two ham sandwiches and reappeared offering one to Darien. "Here you go, Love."

"...Thanks." Darien fiddled with the sandwich absent-mindedly.

Diana took a small bite. She sighed. So apparently she wasn't very hungry. She put the sandwich down. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

Darien nodded. "Right." He presumed he was sleeping on the couch tonight.

Diana nodded awkwardly, unsure why Darien was being so distant. Having nothing else to say, she turned and headed to their bedroom.

"'Night." Darien called after her, still fiddling with the sandwich in front of him.

Sighing Diana entered their bedroom, changed into her nightgown and crawled into the cold bed.

She was not surprised that she wasn't able to fall asleep.

Darien abandoned the sandwich and waved his wand, making up the couch, all ready for him to get some rest.

In theory...

But not in practice.