**When It Pains, It Roars** (finished)

[WritingWithLove]

Briar's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. She waited for him to say that he was joking, and to kick her out into the rain, but it never happened.
"L-live here?" she said nervously. She paused and thought for a moment. "I'd... I'd be honored to! I'll do anything!"  

[Fenrir Shade]

Fenrir chose this time to take control of her shadow and make it wave at her as a joke. He also decided to get started on the Sundaes, considering he had no part in the current conversation. No need to stand around like an idiot, might as well do something productive. He enters the freezer and for the first time really acknowledge the sheer amount of ice cream in the castle... And she wanted a scoop of every flavor... Fun. He sighs to himself and begins going carton to carton, scooping a ball out of each.  

[WritingWithLove]

Briar's eyes welled with tears. She thought about everything that had gotten her here, and if she wasn't so proud, she would have fainted. As her shadow waved, she pinched herself as hard as she could, thinking, Please don't let this be a dream!
She looked for Fenrir to hear his response, but it seemed as though he had left without her noticing.  

[The Jolly Victini]

"What do you know about baby sitting?" S.M. asked.  

[WritingWithLove]

"Um, well, I've looked after a few kids while their parents were... away." she said with a slight grin. "I've always had a soft spot for kids. They generally like me, but there's always the odd complaint. But hey, you can't please everyone."  

[Fenrir Shade]

Fenrir had already filled up one bowl, put all of the typical Sundae toppings on it including a cherry, and hands it to her, "Sorry to interrupt, but here's bowl number one."  

[WritingWithLove]

Her smile widened as she held the bowl in her hands. "I'm dreaming," she said with amazement and disbelief, "I'm dreaming, I've gotta be. Things this good don't happen to people like me." She took a large spoonful of her ice cream and savored it. "That or I'm dead, in which case my dad's gotta be somewhere around here." she said, mostly to herself. She looked around a second before returning to her ice cream.  

[Fenrir Shade]

Fenrir lightly pinches her, "Unless I'm dreaming as well, you're wide awake. Or dead is a possibility... Then again, I don't think they have ice cream in Hell..."  

[WritingWithLove]

She laughed at his joke. "Unless you really hate ice cream. That'd be one trippy brain-freeze." She ate another bite of ice cream. "Plus you'd probably be an angel, so you being in Hell wouldn't make sense at all."  

[The Jolly Victini]

"Well, you're not dreaming. I just love to make sure everyone in my kingdom is happy. Erm... well, as happy as I can get them on my own." S.M. giggled. "Well, my wife is going to be giving birth to our new child soon, and there are plenty of people that can look after them, but... I've got a daughter and her very close friend who are gonna need looking after when we can't get to them because of our new child. What do you say?"  

[WritingWithLove]

This was all happening so fast! If this really wasn't a dream... If she really wasn't dead...
"It would be an honor, sir!" she said with a smile. She paused for a moment and added jestingly, "Provided you tell me where you keep the fudgesicles." She quietly laughed at her own joke, feeling on top of the world.  

[The Jolly Victini]

S.M. giggled. "You know what? I like you. I'll tell you where they are," S.M. leaned in, "but don't tell anyone. The only people who know are me and Fenrir because he cheats and uses shadows. They're in the box with the liverwurst. They're at the bottom of the box." S.M. stood back up straight. "Well, get a good night's rest. My wife's gonna wanna meet you in the morning."  

[WritingWithLove]

"Your secret's safe with me!" Briar said with a salute, being careful to balance the bowl of ice cream in her other hand. "And goodnight to you too, Your Highness."
She worried about what it would be like to meet the queen. What would she do when she found a strange girl in her home? Briar tried to think optimistically, but her critical judgement forced her to think the worst.  

[Fenrir Shade]

((Even though I'm late... ))

Fenrir laughs at her this time, "Sure, angel. And I was born on Uranus too. You on the other hand, would be a telltale sign that the Fourth Horseman hasn't come to reap my soul quite yet and send me to the pits of Tartarus." he then remembers that he was making Sundaes, and grabs another bowl.  

[WritingWithLove]

She nudged Fenrir and winked. "You probably say that to all of the girls who you find in the middle of a storm." she teased, trying in vain to hide her blush.