"Yes, yes." Joy giggled.
"Okay, but should we be betting? I mean isn't it a bad habit?" Natasha chuckled, her mothering senses were tingling and Joy was present. It would be a different thing if she was not here, but she was, and she was observing how they spoke, what they spoke about and all that.
"I don't think it is, it's not like we're actually betting, we didn't bet any money, we're just doing it for fun, there's a difference between betting and gambling." Lulu chuckled.
"I guess you're right." Natasha said, she just could never be too safe. She didn't want Joy to start betting on things because she had seen her aunt and her mom doing the same.
"What's gambling?" Joy asked confused.
"Gambling is betting on something and you wager something valuable on it, either money, or food basically anything you bet in place of something you bet on." Natasha tried her best to explain.
"Oh, so gambling is bad?" Joy asked.
"Well yes, it's bad, because it can be very addictive, and people who gamble a lot can't control themselves, they find is so thrilling they would even bet their own souls." Natasha said.
"Oooh, that's really bad." Joy said.
"Very bad." Lulu nodded eating popcorn.
"So, when we were talking and betting about how long daddy is going to be on the phone, and I bet Mr Stuffy as a prize for who won, I would be gambling?" Joy asked as Natasha nodded.
"Yes my darling, that would be gambling." She replied.
"Okay, so I won't gamble. It's just a fun little game right?" Joy asked.
"Yes." Natasha smiled.
"Yayyyyy." Joy said as she started eating the popcorn again.
Natasha smiled, her baby was so smart. She reminded herself that she had to learn to explain things more to her instead of overlooking her. She was getting older and she was always listening to their conversations.
Who else was better than her to answer all her child's questions.
Joy continued stuffing her mouth with popcorn which made Natasha worried, she could have a sore tummy later or early tomorrow, and she won't be home to take care of her.
"I think that's enough popcorn for tonight my darling." said Natasha.
"But why?" Joy asked.
"You'll get a sore tummy, and if you do, I won't be home to take care of you tomorrow, so don't eat too much popcorn, that's more than enough." Natasha said.
"Okay mommy." Joy said as she climbed down from the couch and walked to where Natasha was sitting, she sat down beside her.
"Aren't you going to sleep my darling?" Natasha asked as she ran her fingers through Joy's hair.
"No, I'm going to wait for daddy to come back." Joy replied.
"Are you sure? I think he's going to spend a long time away." Natasha replied.
"No, I don't think so, we barely spent time together today, so I want him to come back before I go to sleep." Joy said seriously.
"Oh well, alright my darling, you can stay up and wait for him." Natasha said as Joy smiled. She found it really cute that Joy was upset she had not spent time with Dom today, it showed how close they were.
"So, while we wait, Natasha, do you want to watch a movie? I've been waiting to watch this one, and I'm free right now." Lulu said.
"What kind of movie?" Natasha asked.
"It's a romance." Lulu winked.
"A nice romance or a... you know kind of romance?" Natasha asked.
"It's a nice lighthearted romance, and it's a comedy as well, come on, let's watch it, it will be fun." Lulu smiled.
"Oh well, alright then." Natasha said.
"Yayyyyy." Lulu replied rushing to get the remote as she put the movie on.
"Should you be watching romances at your age?" Natasha laughed looking down at Joy.
"You don't have to worry about me mommy, I watch romance all the time." Joy replied.
"Really now? When?" Natasha asked surprised.
"In cartoons, there is always romance, my favourite character has a girlfriend." Joy said seriously as Lulu burst out in laughter.
"Wow, what are in children's cartoons nowadays?" Lulu laughed.
"I also wonder." Natasha laughed.
"But okay, since you say so, you can watch with us." Natasha said as the movie started.
"Yayyyy." Joy giggled.
...
Dom sighed as he rubbed his eyes, he looked at the time, it was nine thirty now and grandfather was still talking.
"Grandfather, I hear you, you know what it's getting late, how is Alfred?" Dom asked interrupting Ernest's rant.
"Oh, that man, he's refused to take his medication, which reminds me, I have to go check on him." Ernest remembered.
"Oh really now?" Dom asked in relief.
"Yes, you and I will finish speaking later Dominic, goodnight." Ernest said and with that he ended the call.
"Oh sweet heavens thanks you." Dom said to himself, he jumped up for Joy and walked out of his office. Knowing grandfather, he was sure he would have continued scolding him all night if not for his good luck that Alfred as there.
Dom walked into the living room with a relieved smile on his way only to see the girls watching some sort of mushy movie.
"I'm back." he said as Lulu paused the movie.
"Aww... I was wrong." she said.
"What?" Dom asked confused.
"Hehe, I was right, I was right, I was right." Joy jumped up and danced around.
"Right about what?" Dom asked.
"Well me, mommy and aunt Lulu bet on how long it would take you to come back. Aunt Lulu said one hour, mommy said two, and I said one, and it's been one hour, so I'm right." Joy explained.
"Ahh, I see, and why are you guys betting?" Dom asked.
"Because it's fun." Lulu replied as Natasha just laughed.
"And what are you still doing awake?" Dom asked as he carried Joy.
"Well I was waiting for you, and me, mommy and aunt Lulu are watching a movie." Joy said.
"What sort of movie?" Dom asked as he sat down.
"A romance." she said.
"Aren't you too young to be watching romances?" Dom asked.
"That's what I asked, but she said there's romance all the time in the cartoons she watches." Natasha replied.
"What sort of cartoons are those?" Dom laughed.
"That's the same question I asked." Lulu said as she and Natasha laughed.
"Daddy, watch the movie with us, it's so funny and romancy." Joy said.
"I don't think romancy is a word, besides, how long is this movie? It's already nine thirty and you should be in bed." Dom saw.
"Aww, no, not yet, it's about to finish." she said.
"Yes, she's right, it's left with thirty minutes, let her finish it." Lulu said.
"Well, I don't see why not, after all, you're the one that's going to have to take care of her tomorrow." Dom said as Lulu started the movie.
"No worries, I got this." Lulu smiled.
"So daddy, that man and this woman have been friends since they were little, but then one day, they stop being friends because they fought over something stupid, but now they are older and they want to be friends again because they love each other." Joy quickly explained.
"You know, I can never get used to you talking about love like that princess." Dom laughed as he tickled her and she giggled.
"Me neither." Natasha had to admit, she was starting to worry a little bit. Her baby knew too much than her age was supposed to. Or maybe children her age nowadays were much more knowledgeable in such areas.
However, she could remember when she was her age, she knew not as much as Joy knew.
"You are growing up way too fast." Dom said poking her nose as she giggled.
"But it's good that I know these things at an early age so I won't get a broke heart anytime soon." Joy said stunning them all.
"What do you know about a broken heart princess?" Dom asked shocked.
"Well Clarita told me that you get a broken heart when someone you love breaks up with you." Joy explained seriously.
"I think that children nowadays know way too much." Lulu laughed.
"I tell you, I didn't know what a broken heart was till I was twelve." Natasha said laughing.
"You know what my princess, don't ever date anyone, then you don't have to worry about a broken heart." Dom said seriously.
"Okay daddy, don't worry." Joy giggled.
"Don't get a boyfriend till you're thirty." Dom said seriously.
"Are you being serious right now?" Natasha asked shaking her head, at this point they had all stopped paying attention to the movie.
"Dead serious." he replied.
"Don't mind your daddy Joy, you'll be allowed to date as soon as you're old enough." Natasha said.
"Yes, that's what I said." Dom said.
"No you said no dating till she's thirty." Lulu said.
"Exactly, and that's when she'll be old enough." Dom said as Natasha scoffed.