When Rikive came back downstairs with the whimpering Estelle in arms, Parry was already busy taking apart the mulberry bushes. Lily and all the other children were gorging themselves on the berries and making a mess of their faces while the pups continued snoozing in their puppy pile.

"There's the [i]-HICCUP!-[/i] little terror." Parry thumped his chest, trying to shake whatever was ailing him.

Estelle pouted in Rikive's arms, kicking the air and throwing a tantrum to be let down to play. Parry was inclined to let her scream it out and throw a tantrum back in her face. Unfortunately, the girl beat him to it and promptly passed out from her antics.

Parry paused in place, adjusting his shirt a little to survey the damage. The garden was a mess. The kids all had faces sticky with jelly, and they had one escapee who had been returned. All in all, not a bad morning.

"Alright," Parry mumbled, "I think it's [i]-HICCUP!-[/i] nap time for everyone. Can you keep an eye down here? I'm going to go see what Estelle touched upstairs..."