Look around, leaves are brown...

[connor-hawke.livejournal.com]

Connor is washing dishes at the Arrow house. Mia's at school and Dad's at the Youth center. His shift at the Watchtower isn't for a few hours, and patrol's after that. The dishwasher, Connor swears, is still under some kind of curse Stanley Dover left.

He's REALLY got to stop procrastinating and pick up the phone to Tara. The last thing he wants to be is intrusive - or, worse, that JLA member that saunters into the business of other teams when he's not needed or wanted.

Simon and Garfunkel's harmony comes through on the old radio station. Connor sings along in his off-key tenor.


Look around,
Leaves are brown,
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter.

Hear the Salvation Army band.
Down by the riverside's
Bound to be a better ride
Than what you've got planned.

Carry your cup in your hand...



He's not noticing the sphere that's made its appearance in the kitchen. Not yet.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"Red face and squishy baby feet?"

[abluntobject.livejournal.com]

He nods without missing a beat. "And yet the cutest thing in the room. She's going to be a handful, I'm sure of it."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"She's already been a handful." The grin takes away any sting in her words. "Would you like to hold her?"

[abluntobject.livejournal.com]

He nods, reaching out to take the child carefully, as if he might break her accidentally. "I'd love to, thank you. And I'm sure she'll be keeping you plenty busy for years to come."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"You, too, I hope." She stretches out an incipient cramp in her arm, shifting against the pillows. A more serious look comes over her face. "I was hoping you'd agree to be one of her godparents."

[abluntobject.livejournal.com]

A pause, a raised eyebrow, then a nod. "You don't even need to ask. I'd be honored. And she'll need more good influences in her life." he adds, the first bit dead serious, of course, the last back to gently teasing.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"Not to mention someone who'll be around and able to take care of her if anything happens to me'n Ollie." She nods seriously at the small bundle squirming against her chest. "Just promise me one thing."

[abluntobject.livejournal.com]

Back to being serious. His face straightens, though he continues to be almost overcareful with the baby. "Name it."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

Face and voice are solemn as she says, "Don't make her be a Young Republican."

[abluntobject.livejournal.com]

He smirks. "I'm a conservative, not a Republican... these days there's a big difference. But I'm not going to make her be anything. I'll just trust that she'll end up with more sense than her father and better taste in men than her mother." he replies, trying to keep a straight face.

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Ahem.

Ollie steps up behind Carter.

Maybe you'd better stick to goofy faces, if that's the kind of humour you're going to expose my daughter to.

He turns to Dinah.

Sorry about that. Roy called, and now he thinks he's the expert. Took this long to...

The 'snappy patter dies as his eyes lock on the squirming bundle in Dinah's arms.

There she is.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"Hey, there, Daddy." Dinah's wink is just as arch, and her smile is just as fond. "What do you think? Can we keep her?"

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

There is a photo in Ollie's pocket, much creased and folded, of a moment just like this. After it was taken, he didn't see the bald bundle of joy for fifteen years.

There are tears in his eyes.

Damn right we can.

He peers in at his little girl.

Hey, there, baby bird...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"Baby Bird? I like it."

The dark-haired bundle squirms and one tiny fist reaches out to lightly strike her father's beard.

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

He grins at his daughter.

Ladies love the beard.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"I wanna hear you say that when she learns how to yank it," she murmurs back, chucking Olivia under her chin. "How's Roy doing, by the way? He say when he can visit and meet his little sister?"

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

League business. He's getting away as soon as he can. Apparently Lian showed up, and is twisting his arm to go see her new auntie.

Ollie shakes his head.

Boy gets bullied by his women worse'n I do.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_black_canary_/]

"Yeah, but you both love it," ripostes Dinah. "Just how tightly are you wrapped around this finger, hmmm?" She grasps Olivia's small fist and waves it gently. "Tight as a bowstring? About like that?"

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Ollie just nods, tears in his eyes. He looks over at Connor as he touches Olivia's hand with a finger.

Can I say I'm sorry again?

[connor-hawke.livejournal.com]

He's been quiet, letting everyone have their moment.

But he can see Dad fiddling with the paper scrap in his pocket.

"Things work out as they're meant to."