Maybe it’ll really be a Wonderland?

Kayson honestly just wanted to bring the three kids to see the ponies, gently bouncing Jackson as Jason and Jasmine clung to Roman, hanging off his partner. Kayson tried not to laugh, smiling and shaking his head as he gave Jackson a soft kiss to the forehead, humming a soft lullaby to try to lull the two-year-old to sleep. He glanced over, smiling more as Jasmine started to climb Roman to point out the horses. 

 

"Why are they all out there! They have bells on them, Mama. What do the bells mean?" Jasmine cried out, her eyes shimmering with delight and excitement. Kayson glanced over before giving a slightly confused face. He had no idea what the bells meant. He leaned a bit closer to Roman, shaking his head a bit with a confused expression. Roman snorted quietly, leaning his head down to Kayson's gently, trying to gently explain where Jasmine couldn't hear so that Kayson could tell her.

 

"They're claiming them, that's how they claim the horses," Roman explained. "The bells have to stay in their mane when they come back in, that way you can bring them home." He hummed out, then stood, smiling a bit at the expression Kayson gave, his eyes widening a bit as he stared at the ponies before he smiled. "Maybe we can try to claim one. I brought a couple of ribbons. You, kids, tell Mama which one you like the most, and I'll go put the ribbon on." 

 

Kayson beamed a bit as he gently handed Jackson over to Roman, smiling wider. 

"I can go and see if any will come up, we'll see if someone likes you kids?" Kayson gently offered, smiling, as Jackson immediately released a few small giggles as he rushed to snuggle tight into Roman. Kayson was so happy that his kids had fallen head over heels in love with Roman. Jason was staring at the ponies with bright eyes. Kayson smiled. "Can I take a ribbon, just in case they decide to come up for me? You look a little scary." Kayson teased gently, smiling as Roman shot him a side-eye. Roman released a sigh, but nodded, bouncing Jackson a bit as he moved to hand Kayson the little white ribbon. 

 

"Are you ready, Jazz? Jace?" Kayson planned to bring both twins, but the reluctant expressions that spread across their faces said they'd rather not. He nodded before going to the fence and making a few small clicking noises. Jasmine reached to hold tight to Roman, frowning a bit after a moment. 

 

"Mama's not going to get hurt?" Jasmine basically begged, sounding a bit worried as she snuggled tighter into Roman. Roman hummed gently.

 

"I'm right here. How would your Mama get hurt?" He offered cheerily. His tone was softer and brighter when speaking to the children. He moved to crouch down, ruffling her hair as Jason rushed to hug his stepfather. "We're just going to wait to see if any of the ponies come up to mama, then we'll go over and say hello," Roman promised gently, his voice still holding the rare, soft tone. 

 

Kayson beamed as he stood at the fenceline, the cobbled fencing held his weight easily as he leaned into it, never having been able to have this kind of experience while he lived with Erik, he arched his head to the side, beaming as he noticed a red mare start trotting over, she didn't seem entirely targetted at Kayson, but overall curious. She snorted loudly as she approached, standing around ten feet away before she stopped, standing still. Then Jackson made a loud giggle, and the mare almost ran to the fenceline. 

 

"Did you hear my baby?" Kayson asked, almost releasing a laugh as Wonderland Romance stood at the fence, shoving her head over and lowering her neck to release a few louder nickers. Kayson tried not to laugh more, covering his mouth for a moment before reaching, quickly slipping his fingers into her mane, full of the plan to tie the ribbon whilst he had the chance. Any horse that showed interest was something he thought he might be able to train to be a child's pony. If he couldn't, Rudolph's girlfriend could. He beamed towards Roman. "Bring them on over!" He buzzed out softly, happily. 

 

"Are you two ready to meet the pony? She looks like she wants to meet you." Roman gently expressed, softly nudging Jasmine forward first; she had been more curious than Jason, after all. Jasmine clung tight to Roman, Jackson still giggling at the soft nickers that the mare was providing. Jason swallowed before bravely stepping forward, walking over to the pony, and reaching his hands up.

 

Wonderland Romance raised her head slightly, ears perking before she released a low nicker, shoving her nose softly into the child's hands, understanding that the little mage was...little. She gently snuggled her nose into his hands before Jason beamed, reaching to pet her head as well.

 

"Mama! She's letting me pet her; she's so nice. Does this mean we can keep her? Can we keep her?" Jason started to ramble out excitedly, Jasmine running over, Wonderland Romance barely reacting, standing still and turning to lean her head over into Jasmine's expecting hands. Roman snorted quietly as he followed over, gently bouncing Jackson so that the kiddo continued to giggle and get a positive association when he was near the horse. 

 

Wonderland Romance raised her head, beaming towards the child as she moved to shove her nose gently into his stomach. Kayson tried not to laugh, reaching his hand and gently scratching at her neck.

 

"She's really nice, but that doesn't mean she's going to be ours. We have to wait until she comes back in. If that little bell I put in her hair stays in, we can take her home." Kayson gently explained, pointing to the jingling bell, and Wonderland Romance accidentally emphasized the point as she shook her head, releasing a snort at the baby as it gently grabbed her face. Roman did move to stop Jackson from grabbing at her face, despite her calm demeanor. 

 

"So we might not be allowed to take her home?" Jason asked out, a few tears brimming in his eyes. Kayson laughed gently, moving to pick him up and gently snuggling the baby into his body. Jason immediately snuggled, reaching to continue petting the mare while Jasmine happily scratched at her long, woolly fur.

 

"We might be allowed to take her home, but no matter what, she's going to have the best home, that's all we can hope for. Do you want a pony if we don't bring this lady home?" Kayson asked gently, bouncing Jason, and then turned towards Roman for a moment, his eyes turning almost puppy-dog, wanting to convince him to let them get a pony if they didn't manage to win Wonderland Romance.

 

"I don't need you to give me that look," Roman gently offered, reaching to scratch at Wonderland Romance's head as well, smiling as the mare immediately raised her head into the scratches. "We can absolutely bring home more ponies; it's not like Rudolph doesn't do it enough on his own." Roman gently explained, sighing quietly, glancing towards Kayson, who immediately beams. 

 

Jasmine giggled happily. She reached up to Kayson, and her mother gave a small sigh before scooping Jasmine up as well, snuggling her tight into his chest as he bounced her and Jason. "I love ponies, I really like this pony." She breathed out happily, smiling more as she snuggled tight into her Mama.

 

"I think we all like this pony, so maybe she'll be nice enough to leave that ribbon in, hmm?" Kayson gently offered up, smiling more at the loud giggle they got out of Jackson when the mare once again shoved her nose against the kiddo. 

 

"We're definitely going to be getting a pony, I don't think I have a choice at this point, do I?" Roman asked, looking over towards Kayson, the boy just grinning as his kiddos all three snuggled into their parents. Wonderland Romance gently pulled on Jackson again before her ears perked, noticing that her herd was starting to leave. Kayson laughed quietly as the mare started back towards her herd, pausing to stare at the children for a few minutes before finally galloping off.

 

"I don't think you have a choice at all." Kayson agreed cheerily. "Even Jackson liked her, so I think if you don't bring home a pony, all of the kids are going to be very mad at you," Kayson explained, smiling more at the soft cooing Jackson gave. They hoped Wonderland Romance would choose them; it was all they could do.