Another day at work [Rayna]

[Miles Major Valentine]

Your on air in two minutes! the producer shouted from the news room into his microphone. Miles was on the other end of that microphone, holding the earpiece in place so that he could hear everything properly. His intern Niko hadn't shown up so the cameras were having to work twice as hard to sort their set out. All cameras were finally pointed at him and the woman next to him. She had grey hair tied up in a bun but she wasn't your typical sewing grandma. She wore a bright white blazer and held her stance like she owned the street. The producer counted down and Miles finally went live. "Hello to the studio, I'm live right now with Miss Potter whose case is pending at the local court. If the court finds solid reason, she may face jail and a fine." at this point, Miles turned to the woman for the interview.

The interview was being conducted on a random upper-class street so that the woman's address was untraceable. She'd happily agreed to conduct the interview, which made Miles feel more at ease than the interviews that they had to do for the good of the public. "Miss Potter, how did you react when you found out that you were being accused of animal cruelty?" he asked, practically able to feel the whole news station feeding the live shot holding their breath. Live news reports were the worst, anything could happen to embarrass or humiliate their interview methods. I was gobsmacked. When I received the letter, I thought it was a joke. I've always looked after my cats, it must've been a joke. Miles kept a straight face, as he always had to do in these situations. The trick was to remain as neutral as the news was presented.

"So what do you have to say to the evidence brought against you? The photos for example that started the accusations that the premises were unsuitable and the claims that the cats were malnourished." the old woman shook her head, Lies. All of it. Absolute lies. she snarled. Miles brought the microphone back to him. "So you deny the evidence?" he asked, to which she immediately responded before he could even bring the microphone to her mouth level absolutely. it's just garbage. Miles nodded and brought the microphone back to him. "Well thank you very much Miss Potter." and the screen moved so that only Miles was in the shot. "Details of Miss Potter's case are on the website that's www.channel8news.com. If you have any opinions you'd like to share on this case you can text us at the number at the bottom of the screen. For now, it's back to the studio." Miles smiled and winked at the camera, his face only altering after his cameraman confirmed that they were out.

Miles took a deep breath, turned and shook Miss Potter's hand before returned to the News van with all the cameraman and supervisors. Some gave him 'well done' for his news report but after so long in the business most expected him to do a good job, so they didn't really praise him for it. Miles loved his job, even if he had to interview women that he deep down suspected were guilty as a kid's hand trapped in a cookie jar. That was what being a legal correspondent was all about. Andrea stayed with the neighbors until Miles got home, the neighbors had children too and Andrea loved to play with them. Especially since they had laptops. Andrea desperately wanted a laptop but Miles always refused. He didn't want his daughter obsessed with the internet and computer games, they were a menace to a child's attention and ability to listen to their parents.

Miles arrived back at the news station, talked to a few people about the news report then headed home. He'd have to be back for an evening news report but that was seven hours away and he needed to get home to start dinner. He got into his car and parked it outside his home. Once out of the car he wandered over to the neighbors to collect Andrea. He knocked on the door and the kind mother asked Miles if he wanted a cup of tea before he took Andrea home. Miles was very conscious about starting dinner but didn't want to be rude, so he accepted. He chatted with the woman for a while, mostly about children and their habits. Every now and then Andrea and her friends would run past the room, chasing each other. Andrea ran in at one point and hid under the table, almost knocking Miles's tea in the process for the sake of 'hide and seek'.

Once Miles finished his tea he thanked the kind woman for her tea and told Andrea it was time to go. Well, as expected, she sulked. She begged him to let her come back over later but Miles had already paid the babysitter to look after her later while he was at work. So Andrea grudgingly came out of the house, not even thanking the woman for looking after her while Miles was at work! Miles was furious at her for that, it was only polite to thank someone for looking after you. Andrea didn't talk to him as they walked home and ran upstairs to her bedroom when they got in. Miles sighed, not particularly wanting to spend the rest of the day with her mad at him. If only he could think of a way to cheer her up or make it up to her somehow. He thought about this while he was in the kitchen preparing food.

He remembered the beach, that nice woman. What was her name? Rayna. He double-checked in his phone, yes, she was listed under 'Rayna'. She had a little girl that Andrea would probably be happy to see again. After all, it wasn't as if Andrea couldn't have company, he just couldn't expect the babysitter to give him his money back when he'd upfrontly paid her to look after Andrea. With his decision arranged, he clicked the call button on his phone to call Rayna. He tried to form what he was going to say quickly before the phone picked up - or more specifically, her answering machine. "Hi, this is Miles Valentine - from the beach. I was wondering if you and Leslie wanted to come over for dinner tonight, I'm making plenty so your welcome to join us. It'll be ready at about 6:30 so if your not here by then I guess I'll assume you didn't get the message in time or were busy or something. No pressure, but your welcome to join us soo.. maybe I'll see you later." just before he hung up he recited their address so that she could find them then bid her goodbye and hung up.

He presumed since Rayna never said anything on their first meeting that she didn't watch Channel 8 news and so probably didn't know who he was. Which was a shame, he had to admit. He'd never had somebody that he could go to after a broadcast and talk about it with. Everyone at the news station was busy and Andrea wasn't interested in the news at age nine. He had the occasional person come up to him and say 'your from channel 8!' but not many. Channel 8 wasn't the most popular place for news, Miles had a theory that people only watched it when the main News Channels went to commercial. Niko had only been working with them for three months and already as an intern reporter he was attracting more viewers. The whole station attributed it to his appeal to the younger female audience but if it helped the station, he couldn't complain.

Miles shouted up the stairs for Andrea to tell him what she wanted for dinner. Andrea ignored him the first few times which only made Miles feel less reasonable. Eventually she answered him stubbornly. Anything! I don't care! she screamed, Miles could hear at the end of her words were the early stages of crying. Miles shook his head, he knew he was entering pre-teens with her now. Crying because she couldn't go to her friends later, how was he meant to deal with that? He wasn't a woman, as hard as he tried to be a mother to Andrea as well as a father he didn't have that natural maternal sensitivity that mothers had. He had the grounded, disciplinary approach and so far Andrea was rejecting and fighting it. Miles moved over to the living room and dropped down onto the sofa, burying his head in his hands.

[Rayna Grace Rivers]

-----------------------------------
TELL ME, DID THE WIND SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET
did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

[/size][/i]AND HEAD BACK TOWARD THE MILKY WAY
----------------------------------[/size]
[/center][/font]

It was a fairly nice and sunny day. Not a cloud in the clear blue sky though it wasn't unbearabley hot either. Seeing as it was such a nice day, Rayna decided to take Leslie for a walk to Crysal River Park, which was just a few blocks away from her apartment building, rather the only apartment building in New Castle, but still. She loved taking Leslie out for walks, and being around all the elements also helped calm Rayna down when she got paranoid that her old pack was still looking for her. Normally, Rayna dind't use her power unless she was at Darcy or where no human could see her. Growing up with Adaleen and some of the other council member's children, she learned not to ever let a human see what she was. She wasn't stupid enough to try and risk being exposed, especially not when she was already being hunted and she couldn't risk Leslie like that.

Normally, Rayna didn't talk to people she didn't know, and lately, she hasn't talked to people she knew before either. One exception though, that father at the beach. Rayna had kicked herself for one, probably looking like she was putting herself out there for him and two because she could have possibly put Leslie in danger seeing as he was a werewolf and one she didn't know at that. Something about him though, made Rayna want to trust him, but her fierce protectiveness also made her wary of him making her feel torn and confused. She didn't know him but something about him and his daughter, just made Rayna's cold facade melt. Of course, it was more so the daughter than Miles at first, though his smile had been a nice one. She just couldn't trust adults the way she did children. Sure there were corrupt children, but they had always been Rayna's downfall.

Thinking of the little girl and her father did bring a small smile to Rayna's face as she pushed Leslie in the stroller. 'Well, even if you don't trust them, who says you can't find out more about them. Do a little digging or get to know them.'

[/i] She thought to herself. She did want to get to know little Andy, though Rayna did fear that if Miles was married or seeing someone that she might get an angry woman after her, she tried to push it to the back of her mind. 'Obviously if he was married he would have had a ring, and if he had a girlfriend she probably would have been there... Wait I shoudn't care so much if he has a girlfriend. I simply want to be his friend and get to know him and his daughter.'[/i] She didn't have feelings for him, so to say, she didn't know him well enough, but that smile and how he handeled a daughter was enough to make Rayna admire him. 'If he is a single father, that just gives him more respect.'[/i] She thought and sighed gently. "What am I doing baby girl? I don't know who to trust and who not too." She said quietly to the giggling girl. Once at the park, Rayna sat down on the bench and picked Leslie out of the stroller. As fate would have it, Leslie started crying as soon as Rayna's phone rang, and as it was, Rayna wasn't going to answer her phone when Leslie was screaming.

Gently, Rayna rested Leslie to lay on her chest as she rubbed the screaming babies back. When that didn't work, Rayna started to quietly sing Once Upon a December, one of her favorite songs from the movie Anastasia. "Dancing bears, painted wings. Things I almost remember, and a song someone sings, once upon a December. Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm. Figures dancing gracefully, across my memory. Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm. Figures dancing gracefully, across my memory. far away, long ago. Growing dim as an ember. Things my heart used to know, things it yerns to remember and a song someone sings, once upon a December."

Finally, Leslie seemed to be calmed down enough for Rayna to check her phone, though it being an unknown number, Rayan became slightly panicked and her heart raced. Putting the phone to her ear, Rayna relaxed as Miles smooth voice played. Memorizing the address, Rayna knew the area and figured which manor it could be. Smiling down at Leslie, she tickled the babies belly. "We got invited to dinner. I'm sure Andy can't wait to see you." She said and held Leslie there for a few minutes before getting up. "Let's go get cleaned up shall we? Then we'll go early and offer to help cook." She told the baby while putting her back in the stroller.

Once they were back at the apartment, Rayna quickly bathed Leslie before putting her down for a nap and getting a shower herself. Once out of the shower, Rayna dried her hair and put it up in a twist so it was off her neck and Leslie couldn't pull it. Walking over to her closet, Rayna picked out a purple top and a simple pair of dark jeans. Already having her diamond studs in, Rayna wore her silver heart locket and silver wolf bangle bracelet. Slipping on a pair of black moccasins, Rayna decided she better call Miles and let him know she was coming. Saving the number as "Miles", Rayna hit call and got his answering machine. "Hey Miles, this is Rayna. It's about four o'clock now. Just calling to let you know we'll be over shortly. Thought we could help make dinner or something, I'm going to bring something for Andy, I hope that's okay. Alright, well see you soon." Picking up a CD of some kids songs she figured Andy listened to, including Fly to your Heart, Rayna smiled as she heard Leslie start to wake up. Setting the CD down by Leslie's baby bag, Rayna ran over to the nursery and quickly put Leslie's onesie and shoes on before grabbing a little pink coat for later and a few pairs of longer onesies for when Leslie fell asleep.

Finally around four-thirty, Rayna and Leslie made their way to Leslie's car and drove to where Miles said his house was, making it there at five o'clock after Rayna had to stop for gas. Walking up to the door, Rayna knocked as she held Leslie close to her. Not even a minute later, Rayna heard little feet pounding on the floor and the door came wide open.

“Rayna! Leslie!” Little Andy had answered the door and smiled up at Rayna and the baby.

“Hello Andy, it’s nice to see you again.” Rayna said with a smile and didn’t know whether or not to hug the child so she instead gave the child an affectionate pat on the arm. “May we come in?”

Nodding her head, Andy grabbed Rayna’s hand and led her inside. “Daddy, Rayna and Leslie are here!”

Smiling at Miles, Rayna gave a shy wave. “Hello. Thank you for having us. Is there anywhere I can put this so it won’t be in the way?” Rayna asked while patting the baby bag. Setting it down where Miles told her too, Rayna laid Leslie’s blanket, pillows, and two stuffed animals on the floor before looking at Andy. “Can you watch her to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself?” She asked Andy.

Andy smiled and nodded, seeming proud that Rayna trusted her to watch over the infant. Of course, Rayna would be able to hear if anything happened, but she did feel better if someone was watching Leslie for the few moments.

Remembering the CD, Rayna grabbed it and handed it to Andy. “This is a CD for you, it has some songs on there that I thought you might like, since I knew you liked the song I sang at the beach.” She told her with a smile before getting off the floor and walking towards Miles. “Can I help with anything?” She asked him, still looking a bit shy. Rayna could hear Andy talking to Leslie in the next room, which made her relax slightly. As everything was new to her, she was slightly on edge, though hearing the voice of the young girl and the gurgles of Leslie helped put Rayna at ease.


TAGGED: Miles <3
OUTFIT: right here.
WORDS: 1148
NOTES: hehehehe
LYRICS: drops of jupiter by train.
CREDIT: mrs. robert downey jr of cv2 ,abbi, or mrs.sherlock holmes @ atf!
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[Miles Major Valentine]

Miles checked his watch that revealed it was five o' clock. He was starting to get concerned that she wasn't going to make it, since dinner was already cooking away and was going to be served in just over an hour. Worse, he'd told Andrea he'd invited Rayna and Leslie. So Andrea was sitting on the couch bored with her arms folded waiting for them. As soon as Andrea heard the knock, she bolted for the door. She was so excited that she pulled on the door handle, expecting it to open. As if she'd suddenly forgot how to open the door. Once she pulled the handle down the door was open and Miles heard Rayna's voice to indicate they'd arrived. He rolled his eyes as Andrea grabbed Rayna's hand and led her inside, as if the woman was incapable of walking. He hoped that Andrea's manners would still be functioning through dinner.

When Miles looked into the future, he saw a little girl around Leslie's age joining his family. Eventually, Miles persuaded himself, he would find a person to settle down with and give Andrea a baby sister. He knew she'd like a baby sister, because Miles sussed that the reason she sat up in her room alone is because she didn't have enough company in her life. Miles could see Andrea making a great big sister, whether Miles and his future partner had a boy or a girl. Though he was certain that Andrea would prefer a sister, since she was in the stage where boys were gross one minute and the next she was facing pressure from her peers to call every boy that said hello her boyfriend. Miles tried to talk her out of these ideas, tried to explain that love only happened to people who were older. But you never could stop a child from trying to grow up too fast.

Miles lifted his hand to acknowledge Rayna's wave and smiled back at her. In response to her question, he pointed to a small red table where a lot of clean clothes were folded on. He indicated for her to sit the baby bag right next to the clothes, which Miles would be putting away later. After dinner, probably. When he might possibly have access to Andrea's room again. For now he stood in the kitchen stirring the soup that was meant to be the appetizer. He didn't usually serve three courses but he wasn't usually home this early. So it was a rare treat for everyone, including Andrea. He'd bought a chocolate souffle to be served for dessert. It wasn't exactly creme brulee but it was a time-honored classic. He turned his head to find Rayna entering the kitchen. He was surprised to find her without Leslie but upon hearing Andrea talking to Leslie in the other room, it made sense.

He looked around the kitchen for something for Rayna to do. The soup was nearly ready and only needed a few herbs to complete it. Dinner was about an hour away from being finished and there was no need to bring the dessert out yet. So he kept things simple. He picked up a tiny bowl that he'd kept near a pan of oil. They were deep fried cashew nuts for the table, in case anyone wanted a snack while the food was being cooked. "Here, you can put these in the middle of the table if you like." he passed her the bowl of nuts and returned to stirring. He wasn't a fantastic cook but he did his best and it wasn't very often they had company. Which made his night extra special.

[Rayna Grace Rivers]

-----------------------------------
TELL ME, DID THE WIND SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET
did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

[/size][/i]AND HEAD BACK TOWARD THE MILKY WAY
----------------------------------[/size]
[/center][/font]

Rayna smiled and took the deep fried cashew nuts and set them in the middle of the table before taking one and popping it in her mouth. Walking back over towards Leslie and Andy, Rayna smiled at her little girl trying to look around the room, though when her eyes caught Andy's hair, Rayna put a hand on Andy's shoulder. "Might want to move your hair honey, Leslie likes to pull on hair. She's grabbed mine once or twice and let me tell you, she pulls hard for such a small baby." Sitting down beside them, Rayna rummaged through the side pocket of Leslie's baby bag for a moment before finding a hair tie and a comb. "Would you like me to braid your hair for you?" She asked the young girl with a small smile. Rayna had loved when her mother had braided her hair as a child, and had been thrilled when her mother offered to teach her how to braid. Maybe one day she could teach Leslie and maybe even her own child if she ever got over her trust issues and found a man to settle down with.

Andrea gave little happy shreak. "Yes please!" She said before sitting down in front of Rayna and letting her hair fall back behind her shoulder.

Laughing, Rayna gently combed the girls hair until it was nice and smooth before she set to work on braiding it. Making sure to get all the hair into the braid as she could, Rayna took a few minutes before tying the bottom of the braid with the hair tie. "There you go, all done." She said while smoothing the braid down gently.

Practically bouncing off the floor and towards the closest mirror, Andy smiled brightly and ran back to Rayna and gave her a hug. "Thank you so much Rayna! It's beautiful!"

Smiling, Rayna could feel more of her icy heart melt at the look the little werewolf was giving her. "Why don't you go show your daddy how pretty your hair is?" She suggested quietly. Rayna didn't feel uncomfortable with the little girl, in fact, she felt almost attached to the little one already, but she didn't want to get too attached and then the father find that he didn't want Rayna around her. It would hurt her to lose the little girl if she did get too attatched.

Andy nodded happily before running into the kitchen to show her father her braid. "Daddy! Look what Rayna did for me! Isn't it pretty? Can you braid hair daddy?" She spoke quickly, obviously happy that she got attention from Rayna and Leslie. "Do you think she'd teach me how to braid daddy?"

Rayna got off her seat on the floor and picked her daughter up from her spot next to her and walked into the kitchen. Setteling Leslie on her hip, Rayna placed a hand on Andy's shoulder and smiled at the girl. "I'm glad you like the braid. It's nothing special, but I always loved getting my hair braided when I was your age, especially because I was always surrounded by babies who loved to pull hair. I'd be happy to teach you if you want to learn how." She told her before leaning against a counter and moving Leslie to be held in front of her with the baby facing Miles and Andy. "Smells good. I love to cook, I just don't get to too often anymore. Leslie keeps me busy and I've been going to the school and getting my office and classroom ready for when school starts." She told him with a smile before kissing Leslie's soft little head.

TAGGED: Miles <3
OUTFIT: right here.
WORDS: 611
NOTES: hehehehe
LYRICS: drops of jupiter by train.
CREDIT: mrs. robert downey jr of cv2 ,abbi, or mrs.sherlock holmes @ atf!

[/color][/justify]

[Miles Major Valentine]

Ok, so Rayna had been there no longer than twenty minutes and she had Andrea bouncing around and squealing. That was not good. It would take forever to be able to calm her down. He couldn't blame Rayna though, after all she had a toddlor. She had yet to realize how nine year olds were to be disciplined. Plus he was sure that the gender thing had something to do with it too, it was most likely that men and women had different parenting styles. Miles grumbled agitatedly. He couldn't tell her to calm down and spoil her fun, but he really wished Rayna hadn't got her so excited. He'd have to do the proper thing and break up the party. He sighed several more times whilst making the food, shaking his head disapprovingly. The house felt more like a playgroup at the moment, Miles wasn't sure he liked it.

"It's very pretty." Miles said unconvincingly as Andrea bounced into the kitchen. "Now please go wash up for dinner. Wash your face, wash your hands. Go, go." he insisted with a flippant firmness. Andrea's face dropped then turned to angry at her father's disregard for her pretty hair. She stormed upstairs, shouting a scratchy 'URGH' when she got into the bathroom. Miles could hear it all the way from the kitchen. When Rayna walked into the kitchen, Miles knew he had to say something to Rayna. She was nine years old, Miles was trying to teach her to be controlled. She would be eleven in two years, and he didn't want her childishly giggling at braids at that time. She had to learn. Miles just didn't know how to explain it to Rayna, who had obviously just been trying to bond with Andrea. He didn't want to stop that.

"When she can be sensible about it, she can have her hair braided. There was no need for her to squeal the house down and make me deaf." Miles told Rayna after Andrea was firmly out of earshot. He left it at that, he was sure that Rayna would get the message. The soup smelled ready to Miles, and the texture was perfect. So he started serving it up, "Don't worry about it, I'll bring in the soup. You and Leslie please take a seat." he told her with a small smile that hadn't fully recovered from it's episode. When the bowls of soup were all prepared, he placed them all on the table with spoons. He hoped Rayna liked minestrone, but he was sure she'd have said something if she didn't. Whilst everyone else was seated, Miles went upstairs to get Andrea. He tried the bathroom door but it was firmly locked.

He could hear his daughter's whimpering inside. "Andrea, come on. Food is on the table. I have to be at work later, please don't do this to me." Miles pleaded. Andrea cried out "I'm NOT HUNGRY!" between sobs. "Suit yourself. Your soup will just have to get cold then." Miles asserted before going back downstairs. He wasn't much of a believer in letting a child get away with sulking. She had to learn that she wasn't going to get her own way by locking herself in the bathroom. Miles shook his head in disbelief, and while they had company over too. With a diminished face, Miles returned to the dining room. "Andrea won't be joining us." he said as he sat down at the table. "She's upset because I didn't jump around about her hair." he sighed, tucking into his soup.

[Rayna Grace Rivers]

-----------------------------------
TELL ME, DID THE WIND SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET
did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

[/size][/i]AND HEAD BACK TOWARD THE MILKY WAY
----------------------------------[/size]
[/center][/font]

Rayna felt bad for getting Andrea all wound up, but she also believed that Miles had blown it out of proportion. She wasn't exactly an experienced parent but she knew enough about kids at that age, especially a child who is an only child, just wanted all of their parents attention on them. Even minimal things like new hair-dos, new dresses, new toys, and new people they like could make a child suddenly start squealing. Rayna knew plenty of girls at both Andrea's age and girls who were teens who squealed at braids, dresses, and toys. Looking up towards where the sound was made, Rayna gave a small sigh and then looked to Miles. "She is just excited, Miles." Rayna said before taking her baby and moving to the table.

Leslie grabbed a hold of Rayna's finger, making Rayna give her own baby a small smile. She really did feel bad for getting Andrea in trouble, but it also made her angry that Miles acted that way with her. It was obvious that Miles worked quite a bit and he wasn't the softest of people. 'Maybe he just isn't used to being a single parent yet.' She thought to herself with a soft sigh. 'How long has he been a single parent though?' Was her next thought.

Finally, Rayna looked up from her soup to Miles. "Andrea is nine, Miles, not twenty-nine. She is going to want you to jump up and down every time she gets her hair braided, when she gets a new dress she thinks is very pretty, or whenever she gets excited. She's young and little, she wants you to be excited. She's only got you so it's probably hard for you both with you being a single parent. I know I only have a baby and I haven't experienced what you're going through yet but I know I will someday. I see it enough from teaching, when a child is an only child and even more when raised by a single parent they want attention. Every child wants attention up until... well honestly everyone wants attention from someone or another no matter the age." She explained to him quietly. "I know it's not my place to tell you how to parent your child, I'm just saying you can't be so harsh with her. She's a nine year old girl. You can't spoil her but you can't just brush everything off she gets excited about either."

Taking a bite of her soup while keeping her eyes on Leslie. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude but Miles she is nine and she can't understand why her daddy doesn't love her braid as much as she does." Rayna finally said before setting her spoon down and picking up her baby. "If it's alright, I'm going to go talk to Andrea and see if I can get her down here so she can eat with you before you have to leave her with a sitter and go to work." She said finally before finding her way up the stairs towards the sounds of the little sobbing girl.

Knocking on the door, Rayna sighed before balancing Leslie on her hip. "Andy, can I please come in honey? I just want to talk. I'm not gonna make you go downstairs if you don't want to." She explained quietly while waiting at the door.

TAGGED: Miles <3
OUTFIT: right here.
WORDS: 566
NOTES: FIRST POST IN A LOOOONG TIME! I'M PRETTY DANG PROUD!
LYRICS: drops of jupiter by train.
CREDIT: mrs. robert downey jr of cv2 ,abbi, or mrs.sherlock holmes @ atf!

[/color][/justify]

[Miles Major Valentine]

Miles didn't think he'd been harsh at all. The girl was nine years old, she had to grow up sometime and stop acting so childish. Besides, Andrea was only like that around Rayna. So clearly the woman brought it out in her. And any woman that made Andrea squeal like a seagull over braided hair was bad news. "There is no need for it, Rayna. A little excitement is one thing, screaming like she's won the lottery is another. There is a way to be a child whilst still being sensible. And that wasn't it. Your portrayal of typical nine year olds is completely unrealistic." Miles argued back, unable to believe exactly what he was hearing here. And now she was talking about giving Andrea exactly what she's trying to get - attention. Miles method of teaching her that storming off upstairs won't always get you what you want was a much more efficient way to raise her.

"Rayna please don't go up there." he asked politely with desperation. But she went anyway. Miles used that time to check on the dinner pot. It was boiling fine, so he served up the dinner and collected the empty soup dishes. Whether Andrea ate it or not was her choice but she'd pay for it when she was hungry later. Miles couldn't see how giving a child attention every time they were bad was a good thing. When disciplining a puppy, it is said that you never cuddle it if it's misbehaving, so it learns that is not acceptable behaviour. it was a similiar process with children. If you gave them attention when they were acting out, they know that's how to get attention. Apparently Rayna didn't agree. All Miles could hear from upstairs was Andrea shouting that she didn't want to see anyone. So Rayna had failed at her task anyway.

Miles checked his watch. He really didn't see the point in waiting for Andrea, so he took a seat and had his dinner. Over and over again Miles heard Rayna's attempts to penetrate Andrea's room but she was having none of it. She was apparently too upset to talk to anyone. Miles sighed, one day she would learn.

[Rayna Grace Rivers]

-----------------------------------
TELL ME, DID THE WIND SWEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET
did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day

[/size][/i]AND HEAD BACK TOWARD THE MILKY WAY
----------------------------------[/size]
[/center][/font]

Rcould tell the little girl was stubborn, that much was for sure. Andy refused to come out of her room all because Miles' hadn't jumped up and down when she showed him her hair and then dismissed it and told her to go wash up. Rayna would have reacted the same way had her father done that. Though, she never had to. Her father had always been one to stop, look at what his daughter was showing him, and then promptly told her he loved it. Of course, as Rayna and her siblings got older he still told them their new hair was nice or that their new dresses for formals were pretty, but once they were teens and could understand the ways of adults better, he then told them if he didn't like their hair or he thought that their dress was too short or too slinky for his taste. The thought of her father saddened Rayna, but she knew she couldn't mourn forever and she also couldn't expect every father to be like hers. 'How do I always get myself into these types of situations?'

[/i] Rayna thought to herself while holding Leslie. She was conflicted. She didn't want Miles angry with her for acting like she knew how to raise his kid and she didn't want to push Andy and make the little girl hate her. Rayna had no problem with people hating her, in fact that was how she preferred it lately as to protect her daughter but something kept her from doing that with Miles and Andy. Whether it was her slight attraction to Miles, that she continuously reminded herself she would not pursue, or that she just couldn't stand the thought of the sweet little girl who accidentally splashed her and Leslie at the ocean of not knowing her. She had learned to care for Andy so quickly and only had talked to her twice, but the bond was there. Staring at the door, Rayna tried once more to get the little girl out of her room.

"Andy, can I come in? You don't have to come out. I just want to talk. I'm sorry for getting you in trouble, I didn't think your father would react so... differently to how you reacted to the braid. I guess I'm just too used to how my father acted when I got my first braid done." She apologized at the door. She did feel bad for the little girl in the room who was ignoring everyone and felt even worse because she felt it was her own fault for getting the girl in trouble in the first place. When she didn't hear any noise, Rayna sighed quietly and shook her head. She was stubborn, but she wasn't going to make the little girl hate her. "Come down stairs when your ready too then, honey. Hopefully your dad is still here when you are."

Walking back down the stairs, Rayna gave Miles a small smile. "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to get her in trouble. Like I told Andy, I am just used to how my dad acted with this stuff. It just didn't occur to me that other dads act different. I'm not trying to tell you how to parent your child. We obviously differ on this but then again, we are different people and were raised by different people so it's only natural that we would have different views on parenting. Again, I'm sorry. I'll try thinking next time." She explained apologetically. "I'm still so new to this and doing it on my own without any help is taking a toll on me and making me too soft I guess." She said with a chuckle and put Leslie in her little chair before sitting down again herself. "So, um, tell me about yourself. Have you always lived in Garvonia or is it new to you?" Rayna asked him, trying to get a new topic in so they could leave the old one behind, but realized too late that her asking him questions about himself he would more than likely in turn ask about her and that wasn't something she wanted to give out just yet. She didn’t know him and had yet had a chance to see if he had any ties with her old alpha.

TAGGED: Miles <3
OUTFIT: right here.
WORDS: 724
NOTES:
LYRICS: drops of jupiter by train.
CREDIT: mrs. robert downey jr of cv2 ,abbi, or mrs.sherlock holmes @ atf!
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[Miles Major Valentine]

"Yes, we do differ on this. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't make me look like the villain of this piece." he responded stiffly. It wasn't that he was annoyed with her or anything, but now she was putting ideas in Andrea's head that it was okay to act like a ditz. Today, he was complimenting her braid, tomorrow she'd be wearing tight tank tops to get attention from boys. He didn't want to imagine that. He was only trying to protect Andrea from needing validation from others to make her happy about her appearance. And to stop focusing on appearances. She needed to grow up, he wanted a mature and sensible daughter. That kind of behaviour needed to start early. Although if he thought back to everything Rayna said Andrea is nine, Miles, not twenty-nine. She is going to want you to jump up and down every time she gets her hair braided, when she gets a new dress she thinks is very pretty, or whenever she gets excited. She's young and little, she wants you to be excited. She's only got you so it's probably hard for you both with you being a single parent. I know I only have a baby and I haven't experienced what you're going through yet but I know I will someday. I see it enough from teaching, when a child is an only child and even more when raised by a single parent they want attention. Every child wants attention up until... well honestly everyone wants attention from someone or another no matter the age.. he would start getting angry. Because everything said was her opinion, he didn't appreciate being lectured like a child or told in a roundabout way that how he was parenting was wrong.

They'd finished their dinner, so it was probably time for Rayna and Leslie to leave. And next time he had a sneaky feeling he wouldn't bother calling her in the first place. All they'd intended to do was have dinner and Rayna had to get involved with the hair-braiding and start a bigger drama than needed to happen. Miles shook his head. Yes, this was definitely the last time she would be invited over. They'd still be polite and treat her as friends but he had a suspicion that Rayna would be no good as an influence for Andrea. It was a threat to their way of life and he didn't like it.

She obviously wanted to find out more about him, but checking his watch Miles was conscious of the time. "I'm sorry I've got to be at work" as he said that the doorbell rang. "That'll be the babysitter" he informed her.