It had been a normal day, and that terrified her more than anything.

Daisy Flint set solemnly on the patchwork sofa of her small homes living room, Four arms resting on her thighs as she gazed down at her hands clasped together loosely between her knees. Her eyes were unfocused as she thought about her day. Thought about all the differences it had opposed to yesterday. And the day before it. And the day before even that. And so on and so forth. It had, for all intents and purposes, been a positively normal day. From waking up and making breakfast for her husband and son to making a trip to the grocery store just because she could. Just for something to do. It had been, an absolutely normal day. Which meant, in the Flint household, something was up.

It was too quiet.

not that the Home held a lot of drama or adventure; It was just that, well, being married to an ex-thief Who while charming tended to display all the maturity of a five year old - sometimes even less than their actual five-year-old - she had come to expect certain things. Things like Tom pickpocketing her just because he was bored. Tom, once again because he was bored, coming home with something he might’ve filched from a neighbor or two. Something that she would often times have to figure out how to sneak back without their neighbors noticing because Tom was a big child and he refused to return it himself. She sometimes thinks she could be just as good a thief as Tom what with how many times she’s had to sneak a random object back into one of their houses. Sometimes even during the day while the family was home. She can’t tell you how many times she’s almost been caught. But hey, she knew what she was signing up for when she married the guy and for the most part he wasn’t actually serious with his crimes. Serious, malicious, whatever. Not like either of the circumstances had happened today. Which was weird. Because it was a Saturday and despite Tom being spontaneous with his thieving he did actually have a routine.

OK, so sue her, she was being generous with referring to her husband as an ex thief. At least he didn’t rob banks anymore. Or steel priceless art. Or break into heavily guarded facilities just to see if he could do it. Or…

She was getting off track.

none of that had had happen today. She hadn’t been mildly confused when something she had just been holding had suddenly disappeared once she had said it down. She hadn’t had to scold Tom for stealing something from her or someone else. She hadn’t had to tell him off for taunting The neighbors when he pretended to help them look for for the exact same item he had already stolen from them. She hadn’t had to ignore him as he giggled like the gremlin he was as he recounted his day to her over a can of soda. Watching her with a playful smile as he fiddled with an Old piece of rope. She hadn’t had to bemoan the fate of her pristine white walls as he once again defiled them with his favorite crayons. She hadn’t had to…

Daisy softly laughed as she gracelessly slumped back onto the couch. All her musings had been about Tom and the mischief he got up to on a daily basis. What did it say that when it came to mischief happening in their home it wasn’t the kindergartener she thought of first but the fully grown man. In contrast, it would appear, their Johnny was an angel. He was, but she was biased. She knew that. Daisy also knew that Johnny absolutely idolized Tom and would often times be thrilled to be pulled into one of his plans.

Because Tom always had plans.

Plans upon plans upon plans.

From pretend sword fights two fixing cars. Johnny absolutely adored spending time with his father and vice versa. Because for all tom’s flexible morality, He was a good father for the most part Who wanted to give his son the childhood that Tom himself never had. So he made plans. Plans that he hoped would forge an unbreakable bond. And so far it had. So go ahead, she thought privately, and call her a bad mother but yes, some of those plans she knew would eventually involve stealing. Stealing, that for the most part, she was able to curb due to the fact that for the most part, she was always with her two troublemakers when they left the house.

“ that sneaky fuck!” Daisy yelped as she shot up from her slumped position on the couch, eyes going wide as she got to her feet and ran towards the back door. Gaze immediately searching the backyard she already knew would be empty of the father and son duo that not a half hour ago she had seen playing catch as she grabbed the handle of the sliding glass door and hurriedly opened it. Stepping out, her blue eyes immediately zeroed in on the hastily constructed structure that served as a makeshift step ladder over The yards 6 foot tall, wooden perimeter fence.

“ Son of a bitch,” she breathed out through her teeth, Hands absently perching themselves on her hips in the instinctual posture all disappointed mothers seem to develop ones having their first child. “ Son of a bitch. He was biding his time.”

A shiver of dread made its way down Daisy’s spine as she thought of all the possibilities. Did she have enough money to bail Tom out of jail? Did she want to? Couldfive-year-old‘s be arrested? Would Johnny enjoy it? Of course he would! Could she handle it? Having two thieves in the family?

Daisy crossed her fingers, please be something small.”