Healing Hands of Time

She sat next to him, worried. "...Please don't be angry," she asked of him. "Please don't."

Alex nodded. "I understand." he said, softly. "And I'm not angry."

Door blinked. "Yes, you are... Or you were..." Resting her slim hand on his, she gazed at him, eyes hopeful. "Things will be better, though... won't they?"

"That's not entirely up to me...but if I have my way, then yes."

She tried a smile, squeezing his hand. "...Good... And... I sorry about earlier," she said apologetically, reaching up to touch his cheek where she'd slapped him. "I really am..."

Alex nodded. "Like I said. It's not your fault."

"...But still. I'm sorry." She stared at him, then sighed, glancing around. "It just seemed so... unreal..."

"It was you, or her. And I wasn't going to let it be you." he said, "He would have killed you with batting an eye and I just...I snapped."

She bit her lip, wincing. "I... I've never seen you like that before... You really had me worried," she said softly.

"Desperate times..." he muttered.

"...Desperate measures," she assented, going silent.

Alex nodded,not sure what else he should say.

"...Let's go see how the food's coming." he offered.

"...Alright," she said at last, looking towards the kitchen door. She glanced at him, hesitant, then leaned over and touched her lips to his cheek.
"I still love you," she said quietly. "I always have, even when I thought I didn't. And I always will. No matter what."

Alex didn't respond, but he did reach up to grab her hand, nodding silently.

She smiled tentatively, eyes shining. "Come on."

He stood, stretching, and followed her to the kitchen.

Where madness was ensuing.

"I told you to use the peeler!"
"And I told you that the knife is quicker!"
"And more dangeous, obviously."

The twins were scowling at one another, one nursing a bleeding cut and the other finding a rag.

Thatch was in his spot, staying out of the conflict while he boiled water. "She did say that, you know."

"What happened?" Door asked, gaping.

"Genius over here decided she was a speedy thing and knifed the potato."

"Because it's easier!"

"Apparently not!"

Funny thing about the twins was that at times like these, it was hard to tell which was which. What, with the matching angry tones and scowls and bickering...

"I couldn't find the peeler."

"Well, maybe if you'd put it up where it belonged..."

"Uhm, excuse me? You put the dishes away last time; I washed them!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Okay!" Thatch called above the Din. "this is going nowhere. If you're going to argue, get weapons and go outside."

"Thatch!"

He grinned at his sister. "Well, it would work..."

Another funny thing about the pair: they didn't fight often, but when they did, they put on a good show.

"Not my fault she has a sketchy memory!"

"Sketchy memory my foot! I washed; you put away. And barely, at that! I had to follow behind you and right everything."

"Except the peeler, of course."

"I'd like to peel you, Miss Thing!"

As they argued, Alex very subtly nudged them towards the door.

Door glanced gratefully at Alex.

Adding the peeled potatoes to the water, Thatch shook his head. "Phew. Like firecrackers that won't go out."

Their argument roved over a span of topics, but none of it was clearly audible from their new position in the living room.

Alex returned, rolling his eyes. "I swear, they're worse than children."

Occasionally, their voices would flair up, and a word or two could be made out, but then the spat would once again fade to muffled murmurs.

"Sounds like old times," Door sighed wistfully.

Thatch laughed. "The good old days, when I was still allowed to throw people in the pond."

Alex grinned. "Lucky me those days are past."

"Lucky you we aren't still living at home," Thatch corrected. "Or it might've been."