Checking up

[Stan Bowen]

There was a knock at Christie and Tommy's door. Unexpected, but not insistent.

It was obviously dad.

[Christine Bowen]

"Hey, Dad, come on in." Christie said "How's it going?'

[Stan Bowen]

"Pretty good, pretty good.. Just seeing how you two are settling in." He replied, smiling and stepping in.

[Christine Bowen]

"Ok, I think." Christie said "Going down the stairs every time I need to shower kinda sucks, but it is what it is."

[Stan Bowen]

"Just like my first apartment." Stan said, smiling.

"Speaking of that, I brought two pairs of flip flops for you and Tommy for the trip downstairs to the showers. Safety's sake."

[Christine Bowen]

"Ok, ok. No ooky germs on bare feet." Christie said, trying to hide the fact that she secretly enjoyed his meddling.

[Stan Bowen]

Stan put down the paper bag containing the footwear by the door, which also contained a few other small items of fatherly doting.

"Are you ok with sharing a room with your little brother? The students aren't giving you a hard time, are they?" He asked, hesitantly.

[Christine Bowen]

"Nah, some of the guys gave me shit about being on the boy's floor, but they weren't mean about it. And they know I can kick their asses."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan's eyes went wide at that, but he grinned after a moment.

"Try not to hurt them too much, I'll need to teach them, eventually."

[Christine Bowen]

"Ok, ok, no permanent damage." Christie said, holding out her hand "Unbreakable pinky promise."

[Stan Bowen]

chuckling, he held up his own pinky in response. An ionic spark flashed as they they gripped their pinkys together.

"You two are growing up so fast.." He added, quietly.

[Christine Bowen]

"Yeah, Tommy seems too young to be in high school."

[Stan Bowen]

"he'd fit in better, if he'd just stop wearing the hat so much.. I think the actual magicians are starting to take offense..."

[Christine Bowen]

"You mean Raven?" Christie asked, rolling her eyes a bit.

[Stan Bowen]

"Raven? I'm not familiar with Raven. I'm thinking more of Dr. weaver, the Braddock estate, miss valentine.. People like that... I get uneasy about it sometimes."

[Christine Bowen]

"She's the other person who runs around in a pointy hat." Christie said "It isn't like the hat is hurting anyone. And he can turn lead into gold. Or he will, pretty soon."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded, and smiled.

"He's scared he'll destroy the economy of the world. Keep looking out for him, Christy. Lets all look out for each other."

[Christine Bowen]

"I always look out for Tommy." Christie said "And you look out for me. I just wish...." she sighed.

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded, sadly.

He got up and hugged his daughter, a tear moistening his eye.

[Christine Bowen]

Christie hugged him tight "You need someone to look out for you."