The Next Day

Melfina opened her eyes. Outside the window she could see the world brightening. "Guess it's time to get up. Good Morning, Pepper."

(("Good Morning, Melfina. Shall I start the coffee?"))

Melfina smiled. "Thank you, Pepper that would be wonderful. Which dish should we try making today?"

(("We'll likely have to bribe Harley out of bed with something sweet again. Luckily I asked and Tink has already gone out for doughnuts so I recommend trying some eggs. Dave loves some simple and easy egg dishes. Does that sound like a good idea to you, Melfina?"))

Melfina smiled. "That sounds wonderful, Pepper! Let's do that." She goes to sit up but finds she has to extract herself from Dave's clutches first. "He's surprisingly quite the cuddler. Uff! There we go."

(("He is. Tink already freed you from both of them before she left but as you can see that didn't last long."))

Dave mumbled in his sleep. "... luv... 'ou..." making Melfina smile. She kissed his cheek. "I love you too, Master." She smiled seeing his other arm was draped over Harley and she was holding onto him too. One of her arms was stretched across him and had likely been holding onto her as well before Tink freed her. She kissed Harley's cheek as well before heading for the shower.

"Time to start the day!"

Tink sighed returning with the doughnuts. "So they're still in bed?"

(("I'm afraid so, Tink. It's going to be another hard start this morning. I'm actually quite looking forward to Dorothy's arrival in that regard."))

Tink nodded. "I am too. I don't know if it'll be effective on Harley but it'll likely be quite effective on Dave... which is one reason why he specifically got her. " she giggled.

(("He does seem to have a thing for girls who can be "troublesome" in a variety of different ways. No offense intended of course."))

Tink grinned. "You're not wrong and none taken. But he also appreciates each one a little differently and he likes helpful ladies like Mel and Twilight. Dorothy and I happen to fall into both categories. Harls too. She's damn good at work! Helpful with a healthy dash of troublesome." She looks thoughtful. "I wonder how the others will fit in? Oh speaking of!"

Tink flits over to find Hilda speaking with Captain Miller who salutes and walks away giving Tink a friendly wink. Nothing to report apparently.

"Good morning, Tink," Hilda greets her.

"Good morning, Hilda," she returns. "I see you're already up. Are you an early riser?"

Hilda nodded. "A princess needs her beauty rest of course but she usually has many offical duties to attend to. I sleep as I need but rarely overslept. I slept quite well last night so I awoke a bit early and not knowing what to do with myself I decided to make the rounds and greet the gaurdsmen and women- Tink, is there something wrong?"

Tink wiped away a tear. "No. I'm just happy, Hilda. Thanks for not being a slug abed."

Hilda giggled. "I see... I will admit I don't dislike a "lazy morning" but there's usually so many things to do that I rarely feel them worthwhile. I take it we have some who struggle with mornings?"

Tink nodded. "Harls is NOT a morning person at all and needs a lot of coaxing to get going. And Dave has developed bad habits I'm afraid."

Hilda covers her mouth. "Oh, dear! Is that so?"

Tink nodded. "We always had to get up early growing up. There's always something to do on a ranch and his father was one of those people who's always raring to go and naturally full of energy. His mother is too for that matter. Sleeping 5 hours was sleeping in for them. Dave used to not care for it but he was an early riser by choice. But once we moved away he got into the habit of indulging in sleeping in with Harley. He's not as bad as her but... well..."

Hilda giggled. "But not much better, then?" Seeing Tink nod she smiled. "Maybe it's a bit strange but It's nice to know he's not perfect. Comforting."

Tink smiled. "Everyone has "flaws" or things they're not good at or suited for. That's natural. I'm a bit mischievous and a meddler myself. My curiosity can be a bit much sometimes. " She sighed. "And I hate to admit it but I have a jealous streak I struggle with."

Hilda blinked in surprise. "Is that so? That is surprising."

Tink nodded. "It is. I don't like being that way though. I don't want that part to control me. It's not good way to be. I actively choose to try to be different. I try hard to be different... but sometimes it gets the better of me."

Hilda smiled. "I see. Thank you for sharing with me. I... I am not "perfect" either. I'm a bit troublesome as you know. I have a tendency to be a bit too pro-active with the things I care about. I can be a bit of a plotter and a schemer and... **** in my actions. I'm... not as "good" as Zelda."

Tink smiles. "Which is why Dave likes you."

"W-What? I... that can't be right!" Hilda says shocked.

Tink nods. "It is though. Zelda's nice and all but to be honest she's kinda boring that way. A paragon of Wisdom that's been blessed upon her. It may seem perfect but it really means she has no room for growth in that area. You? You're someone who learns from their past actions and failures. Given sufficient time you have the potential to be much greater than Zelda. It's how Dave and his father are and like to do things. They start at zero and build upwards with unlimited potential. Part of Dave's issue is how far beyond him his oldman is but he spent so many more lifetimes doing it then Dave has. It's not a fair comparison to make. And no one is making the comparison except for strangers and Dave himself. Not us, his family or anyone who cares about him... but he developed a bit of a complex about it." She smiled at Hilda. "Your hero isn't perfect either... but someday he might be even greater just like you."

Hilda smiled. "Thank you, Tink. You're a good friend... and I promise to take your wisdom to heart and add it to my own!"

Tink grinned. "That's what people like about you Hilda and it was my pleasure! Come on. You can help me lure the two lazy butts out of bed!"

Hilda giggled and nodded. "Very well, lets!"

"Get up."

Dave grunted as someone... Tink maybe? Pulled his blanket away. "No... dun wanna...zunday..."

He heard Tink sigh. "You got things to do remember? You try... I'll work on the other one she's much, much worse..."

Dave didn't want to get up. He deserved one day off... but he knew she was right. He really needed to go into work and start those changes... but surely that could wait until later, right?

"Won't you please arise, Hero?"

"...'ero?" he mumbled. What was Tink trying to pull? He wasn't a "hero" like in some - "silly game...trying tah pull?" He rolled over and cracked his eyes open to see purple hair and red eyes.

"Oh!" Hilda said surprised then amused. "You've drawn the "master sword", I see! Is that what troubles you?"

Dave blinks. "Mashter wha?" He feels her poke his erection. He startles awake now. "Hi-Hilda!? Wha? I-" he sits up blinking and blushing. "What're ya doin' 'ere?"

Hilda smiles and combs his hair with her fingers. "I have come to ask you to arise and begin your day. Tink enlisted my aid."

Dave glares at Tink who, back to her normal size, stuck her tongue out at him as she prepared the old "Wake-up Harley with doughnuts plan, revised" to lure Harley with a doughnut on a string pole. Nobody wanted to risk getting bit again and Tink had no desire to play Captain Hook to Harley's Crocodile. He also glared at his erection. *Coulda sworn you'd be in a coma after last night,* but it was ringing a bell in his head while telling him *"Mornin' Captain! Pretty girls spotted! One lovely looker off th' starboard an' another listing lazily to port! Cannon at the ready!"*

Dave tried to cover up and ignore his libido. He blinked. Hilda really did look good. She also smelled really good and her touching his hair was- "Thaz nice... sorry... ah'm up now, thanks."

"Don't believe that!" Tink warned her as she tied her knots. "He's not actually up until he's on his own two feet! Even then he has a tendency to sleep walk for a bit until he hits the shower, splashes water on his face or gets his coffee."

Dave grumbles under his breath as Tink reveals his secrets. "Traitors. Why I aughta-"

Hilda took his hands smiling. "Won't you come to me? Please?"

Dave gulps as she uses a strategy that super effective. He nods and slowly rises from the bed following her shuffling along. She smiles at him and leads him towards the bathroom.

Dave blushed. "I'm awake now, Hilda. Promise. I'm sorry you had to trouble yourself."

Hilda smiled at him. "It was no trouble." She also blushed. "Do... do you require a hand with that?"

He swallowed and blinked at the clock before kissing her cheek. "I really want to say "yes" but no. There's no time right now."

Hilda smiled and nodded. "Very well. I understand. I will leave you to it... perhaps you should consider waking earlier sometimes?" She said walking away.

Dave nodded and then splashed water on his face. "Maybe I should?" He sighed and started brushing his teeth.

[David Stark Pepper Tinker Bell Harley Quinn Melfina VSD02C and Princess Hilda

Will Return In

TBD

Coming Soon]