Theo bent down like he was getting ready to leap at me but then he just grabbed me around the waist, giving me a gentle hug. He looked over his shoulder at his parents. “Gotcha!” He looked back at me. “They should have known I was kidding. I know better than to launch myself at fragile human females!”
I squeezed him a bit tighter with my new strength and he let out an oomph. “Fragile, huh?”
“You are a menace,” Dax said as he laughed.
I pretended to look offended, then gave Theo a wink. “Someone has to be around here. Got to keep you cyborgs on your toes. Now, who wants waffles?”
Theo’s eyes lit up. “Are they better than pancakes?”
I shrugged. “With whipped cream they are.”
Theo let go of me to race over to his parents. “Dax’s female say waffles with whipped cream are better than pancakes! Please, can I have some?”
Reaper crossed his arms over his chest. “After that little stunt you pulled, do you think you deserve waffles?”
Theo’s shoulders fell.
“Theo is my best friend and it’smyparty, Reaper. Let him have some have waffles.”
Reaper’s gray eyebrows raised, making Dax add a hasty “please.”
Aria laughed and tugged Reaper by the arm. “Come on, big guy, let’s get our kid some waffles. You’re probably going to want some, too. Remember when you tried pancakes?”
Reaper’s eyes blue eyes lit up. “Pancakes are glorious!” Reaper no longer needed Aria to tug him along, his frame moving all on its own as the three of them went in search of waffles.
I gave Dax my ‘I need waffles’ look. He sighed then smiled. “What? You know you want some, too.”
“Your analysis is correct. Waffles would be a welcome addition to my party. To use a human phrase-they would be like the sweet, creamy, white confection you apply to the top of a cake.” He flashed me a brilliant grin.
Only my Dax would give that response instead of just saying icing, and I adored it. “Let’s get the guest of honor his waffles and whipped cream.”
Waffles and whipped in hand, we headed back to our table, sitting down and digging in. I was halfway through my plate when I looked up and noticed groups of cyborgs carrying stacks of waffles and whipped cream back to their own tables. It appeared we started something. I hoped I would now be known as the girl who introduced waffles and whipped cream to the cyborg rebellion instead the girl who kidnapped their Science Model. Yep. I would happily live the rest of my life as the waffle and whipped cream girl.
“Dax, we have something for you.” A voice floated above me and I looked up from my plate to see Iris and Dash standing, Iris’s hands tucked behind her back. “Hold out your hands.”
Dax put down his fork and did what Iris asked, holding out his hands without hesitation. Iris dropped a stuffed green frog into his waiting hands.
Iris smiled. “I figured it was time for you to have your own.”
Dax ran his hands over the frog, checking the tag that was attached to one ear. “Legs,” he declared proudly. “That’s his name. Thank you, Iris. I had begun to suspect I wasn’t going to receive one of your infamous Beanie Babies.”
“A Beanie Baby?” I pointed to the frog in his hand. “That’s what that thing is?”
Dax nodded. “Iris is known to gift cyborgs with a nickname and a Beanie Baby, usually in the cyborgs color.”
“That is what the holdup was with yours, Dax. I didn’t have any in my first box that were green. Good thing I convinced Viper to bring back the boxes I had stashed at my place.”
Dax’s eyes widened. “How did you convince Reaper to allow that?”
She lowered her head to get closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I simply didn’t ask him.” She straightened back up, her blue eyes twinkling. “No judging. You needed your Beanie Baby and I needed some more of my things. It was a win -win.”
I looked at Dash. “And you didn’t mind, either?”
Dash pulled Iris into his frame, an arm wrapping around her waist. He dropped a tender kiss to the top of her head. “If it makes Iris happy, then I am happy.”
“Well, thank you both. I will treasure him.” Taking the frog, Dax tucked him into the front pocket of his lab coat, leaving his head and front legs sticking out, as if Legs needed to keep an eye on his surroundings.
“You’re welcome, Kiwi. I know you will take good care of him.” The pair walked off, Iris still tucked under Dash’s arm.