#I will be switching back and forth between young and teenage celine liberally for various pieces

[prismatica-the-strange]

how about athos and celine are left to finish baking something that amélia had started but she had to leave abruptly which left them them alone and somehow it and it ends in a terrible disaster and boisterous laughter? (i realise this is very specific lol)

I changed it a bit, I hope you don't mind

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

Amélia pauses as she kneads the dough, glancing around, "Where's the rosemary?"

"Did we need rosemary?" Celine asks.

"Yes, love," She smiles hopelessly at her daughter, fingers brushing her cheek.

She wipes her hands and takes off her apron before hanging it by the door, "I'll run and get some, can you finish this on your own?"

"Mhm," Celine moves to take over what she'd been doing but freezes when what she said sinks in, "Wait, what?"

She runs after her, "B-but you can't- Let me go, I'll be quicker!"

"I have a few things to pick up."

"But Mama, I've never baked anything on my own before!" She argues, "Can't it wait?"

"You'll do fine," She sighs, "You know what to do."

"What if I need help?" She holds Amélia's arm.

"Ask your father," She bites back a laugh, "I'm sure between the two of you, you'll figure it out."

She pulls her shawl over her shoulders and pulls Celine close to kiss the top of her head, "Constance and I will be back soon."

"You're taking Constance?!"

"Amélia, I-" Athos freezes two steps into the kitchen when he sees his daughter practically coated in flour frustratedly trying to knead overly sticky dough, "Where is your mother?"

She looks over at him pathetically, "She abandoned me!"

He lets out a breathy chuckle and steps closer, brushing away a white smudge from her forehead, "Did she now?"

"And she took Constance with her! Leaving me here to fend for myself!" She makes a face when she tries to shake the dough from her hands, bits sticking to her fingers, "I don't understand baking."

He smiles to himself as she picks at the goop stuck to her fingers, so much like him.

"You're a mess."

Her eyes narrow with a glare, "I'm aware."

He tries to brush away the flour in her hair with his fingers, but it doesn't help, "Go wash, I'll clean here."

"But I can't," She groans, "I have to wait for the rest of the bread to finish baking!"

"Dutiful, as ever," He cups her messy cheek, "Go. I'll take care of it."

"Are you sure? I can-"

"Celine."

Her face breaks into a wide grin and she jumps up to hug him, slipping as she does, but he catches her, hugging her close when her arms wrap around his neck, "Thank you, Papa!"

Her feet dangle above the floor for a moment before she starts giggling, "You can put me down."

"Must I?"

"Papa!"

He squeezes her tight then finally lets her go with a heavy sigh, "When did you get so big?"

She snorts and he looks down to find himself now covered in flour too. He nods, trying not to laugh, "Ah..."

She quickly devolves into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand, "I-I'm sorry!"

He sweeps as much off him as possible, but most of it simply streaks across his leather coat. Her laughter only grows.

"I suppose it can't be helped... Now go," He urges playfully, "Before I drop you in a bath myself."

He grabs at her and she squeals before taking off, barely sidestepping her mother at the door as she goes.

"What in the world happened here?" Amélia asks, taking in the state of the kitchen and her husband, "Why are you- And Celine... I leave for an hour and you two destroy the garrison's kitchens."

"Don't look at me," He holds his hands up in surrender, "You're the one who failed to teach her baking."

Her eyes go wide at his words, "Oh really?"

She crosses the messy kitchen in front of him, takes a handful of four from the counter, and shoves it against his chest, making an even bigger mess of his clothes.

Neither of them hides their smile at the interaction and she leans up to kiss his cheek, "Enjoy cleaning this on your own."