Gen 3

[SpirituallyYours]

May 12rd

Kiara arrived to Graduation in her uncles Todd’s van along with the rest of her family. She gave them all quick hugs and kisses before making her way down to the designated seating area. Todd watched her go, adjusting Deklan on his hip as he made a pout. “I can’t believe she’s graduating. It seems like just last year we were all graduating…” He said with a frown, glancing back at Atticus who shrugged. Todd narrowed his eyes. “Except you, ya old man.” He said, blowing a raspberry at his husband. “Come on let’s go find good seats before they’re all taken.” Richard put an arm around Jade while Shelton took the led to the bleachers.

Ynez pulled into the parking space next to Owen’s car. She got out and stepped over to him to brush off his robe. “You enchanted it to avoid dirt Mom…”

“It can still be wrinkled.” Ynez said as Candis climbed out of the backseat seat. Owen let her finish fusing over the robe and took his hat from her. “Ok, you’re… good to go.” She smiled at him and Owen nodded, heading for the grass. Candis looked at her Mom before taking her arm and heading towards their seats.

Kiara smiled as she noticed Owen sitting down a couple seats across from her in the row in front of her. “Hey!” He said, leaning in his direction when suddenly a figure appeared in front of her with a subtle plume of dark energy. She let out an exclamation of surprise, jumping back in her seat so quickly that it almost knocked her off balance.

Pazuzu looked around the sea of students with a confused frown. “Uh… You all look the same. Where is Owen... Kirkwall?” He said, glancing around the sea of faces.

“Over here… but that is the wrong last name.” Owen had turned to Kiara’s voice when Pazuzu appeared. “Also, only graduates and teacher staff are suppose to be on the grass… why are you here?”

Pazuzu’s brows shot up in relief when he was able to place the boys face. “Ah, yes. I am here to offer congratulations on your academic accomplishments. A learned man has many opportunities and I understand this to be a milestone in a man’s life journey so… “ He paused leaning forward to gingerly pat the boy’s shoulder. “Well done.” He let out a soft ‘ah’ and pulled out a device. “Here you are, it was… electrical at some point but I’ve re-spelled it so it uses the same piercing sound protecting as the orb. You can mount it on your bed post if you’d like.” He same and handed the thing to him.

Owen hesitated for a moment before taking the alarm system. “Thanks.” He said, not exactly sure how it worked. He could ask him later when he was packing to move he figured. He shifted to put it in his pocket. He paused and nodded to Kiara. “You know, if you uh… wanna stay on my Mom’s good side and… stuff, you might want to apologize to the kids you made sick. They are children of her friends and one is my girlfriend.”

Pazuzu frowned and glanced back at the girl who had scooted to the far side of her seat away from him. He turned back to Owen and after a moment of silent debate, nodded. No one was injured so he didn’t see the need for an apology but he would not turn away from anything that would help improve the relations he was forming. “Excuse me, Miss… Tiara… Kilala? Anyway, I would like to offer my deepest apologies for-” He paused as if trying to pick his words. “Making you ill and giving you the demeanor of a tuberculosis patient. It was never my intent to make you so frail and sickly and I am glad that you are at better health now. It suits you much better, I think. I was… desperate for… a friend and sought it in the wrong way. Uh-Farewell.” He said and then was gone, blinking out as he reappeared by Ynez.

Kiara turned to Owen with a look of silent disbelief. Ynez glanced at Pazuzu while a few people around her jumped in surprise. She reached over and patted his knee in appreciation for him coming. He glanced at her with a bright, joyful smile in response to the contact.

Owen shrugged slightly with a small smile. “I told you, he’s like… probably not the same person. Maybe. I don’t know, I think my Mom might be slowly drugging him to be nice.”

Kiara laughed slightly. “Yeah no, I mean that was sound logic. I always… infect people I’m trying to become friends with. Make sure their hardy.” She said and raised her brows as she made a loose fist and swung it across her torso with her arm bent to exaggerate her statement.

Owen faced her more with an amused smile. “Man, nothing of his is logical. Like, Candis showed him an ultrasound picture apparently and it… blew is ******** mind.”

She laughed and mimed holding up a picture with a surprised look. “Witchcraft! Wait- No that would make more sense. Burn the scientist.”

Owen pointed at her with a slight laugh. “He asked if it was magic at first. But now, he randomly shows up and is like,” He paused, impersonating his accent. “ ‘Look at it! Look at the wee thing’ like it’s news to us that ultra sounds even exist. He’s so… out of touch with our world, Mom keeps introducing him to different foods and snacks and its like… watching a toddler discover the world. A… very tall and Scottish toddler.”

Kiara laughed, covering her face as she shook her head. She stopped though and pointed at him with narrowed eyes. “Stop it. I’m not supposed to be amused by him. I’m still angry-... Mostly.”

Owen grinned at her. “He’s just a batty Scottish baby.” He shrugged and turned to sink back in his seat as Skyler came to make sure everyone was in their assigned seats. When she was gone, he whipped around, holding an invisible piece of paper. “Look at it! Look at the wee thing.”

Kiara snickered and shook her head. “Stop that. Focus on graduating. Big important thing apparently. Ichy gowns, itchy grass but hey, Atticus and Todd are throwing a party after this that you are invited too.”

“Yea--wait, my Dad might be coming… I was going to… hang out with him a bit.” He let his arm fall with a slight frown. “Think it’d be cool if he came with me?”

Kiara drew her lips to the side in thought before shrugging. “I don’t see why not. Hell we’re going to be living together in a couple weeks so our families might as well actually meet.”

“Nova.” He grinned at her before turning back around to face the stage.

Nysa parked the car and turned to look at Aminta, Lemuel Lorelei. Aminta was filled with mixed emotions. She was excited for her but also sad that she would be leaving soon. "Well, lets go." Nysa said, reaching out to pat Lorelei’s knee. "Gotta see you rock that gown and get that diploma!" She turned now to Asim to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before getting out of the car. Aminta was behind her, waiting for Lo to get out to hold her arm as they walked.

Lo snaked her arms in Aminta’s, looking forward towards the grass where the chairs were set up. “Wow, it’s weird to think that this is it… Life is shifting after today… It’s a little scary, but good.” She said with a nod before hugging Aminta’s arm. “I’m going to miss you and Lemuel so much.”

“We’ll miss you too.” She looked at her brother then to Lorelei. “But you’ll be with Nevin, and I think he’ll take care of you.”

Lorelei nodded in agreement “He already does.” She said with a smile before giggling under her breath. “I mean-” She paused with a faint blush. “He is very nice. The best, actually…”

Aminta pressed her lips together in a smile, but her mother cleared her throat behind her. She glanced back and Nysa had a raised brow at them. The younger wolf looked to Lorelei. “I’m going to wait by the fense for Giles and we’ll see you after.” She let her arm go to hug her. “Congradulations Lo.” Her mother echoed this as she went towards the bleachers. Lorelei hugged her back before making her way to the green to await the ceremony.

When Giles arrived, he hopped out of the driver seat, getting his gown from the trunk and pulling in on. “Graduation gown my a**. This looks like one of Aunt Beatrice’s house mumus.” He muttered, pulling his dread out from the back of the gown before he turned to his dad with arms spread out. “Well, what do you think? Do I rock it?”

Bishop closed the door and nodded. “Yeah. Education looks good on a lot of people.” He grinned at his son and clasped his shoulder for a moment. “Go ahead and get your a** to the grass and I’ll see you after. We can go for some waffles and chicken.”

Giles laughed and patted his dad’s back. “Actually Dad… this is a special occasion. I think I’m feeling some Pancakes… Some bacon and eggs.”

Bishop put a hand over his heart. “s**t, really? I’d have gone for the steak dinner but yeah, pancakes will do.” He shrugged.

Gile frowned. “Hey- Man I didn’t even know that was on the table. Aw nah, now we gotta. Dad come on they got that bread they bring to the table….”

“I can’t hear you over the pancakes and eggs.” He turned to put a hand to his ear. “What?”

“He wants the fancy… bread?” Aminta offered, having been waiting by the parking lot for them.

“Yes. Bread and some grilled asparagus…” Giles said, clicking his tongue behind his teeth. “Come one now.” He added, pausing to kiss Aminta on the side of the head as he draped his arm over her shoulders. “Hey lil mama. Thank you for coming.”

She smiled at him while Bishop sighed. “Fine… We can do that then…” He pretended to be defeated, even though his wife had demanded that to be the meal in the first place. Aminta leaned into Giles while she could, hugging him with one arm so he could keep heading towards the other graduates.

“Cha-ching!” Giles said, pumping his arm in the air as he headed to the green. He paused at the gateway and gave Aminta a hug. “I’ll catch you guys after this is all done yeah?” He smiled before winking at them and heading towards the chairs. Aminta waved after him before going to find her family to sit with.

Travis followed his son towards the parking area. He watched him hunt for a safe parking spot before simply whipping into another spot near by. “Yay…” He said with fake enthusiasm, “Graduation… such a fantastic event… lets sit on the cold bleachers for a crazy long time!” He turned to his wife and eldest daughter with sarcastic smile.

Sage lifted a finger and twirled it in the air with a soft “Whoo.” Fiona clapped excitedly and motioned her daughter out so she could get out of the vehicle herself. Sage rolled her eyes as she got out and adjusted her dress. “Yay, You kept a C average and didn’t become a junkie dropout…” She said under her breath with sarcastic enthusiasm.

Nevin closed his car and fumbled with the hem of the graduation gown so he could put his keys in his pocket. “This is exciting.” He said, bouncing on his toes for a moment. Under the gown, his tail flicked and twisted in nervous energy. Travis nodded, pressing a smile at him.

Fiona bounced on her toes and pulled her son into a tight hug. “Oh, I am so happy for you! My little starshine is about to be an adult out in the world. You are going to have so many adventures, oh my goodness.” She said as she kissed both of his cheeks.

Nevin ginned slightly and awkwardly. “Thanks mom.” He said softly. “Ok, Going to go find Kiara. Habberish. Harris. My seat is gonna be near her.” He waved at them and started towards the grass.

Fiona nodded and let him go, leaning over to pat Sage’s shoulder. “Soon, you will graduate and you can leave too!” She said, kissing the top of her daughters head.

Sage turned to her mother with a look of disbelief before glancing at her father. “Great…”

“More storage space?” Travis mouthed at her with a sarcastic shrug.
Sage sighed and rolled her eyes as her family moved to join Kiara’s family on the bleachers.

Kiara glanced up when she saw Nevin approaching and grinned at him. “Hey!” She said, reaching over to fist bump him. “We made it, no more high school, about to move to a big city. Nailed it.”

“Yeah…” He bumped fists with her as he slid into the seat next to her. “Excited and nervous… Like… Dad helped me set up an interview but… I don’t want to lose my glamour while in that town and like, I don’t know… lot of sudden fears… paranoia...” He nodded slightly and looked at her with small smile.

“You’ll be fine. We both will be. I’ve been talking to this bar that’s just a few blocks out from where our place is. I know- not the fanciest thing but it pays well and I told them I have a lot of experience with mixing drinks- Lattes, cocktails, can’t be that different.”

Nevin furrowed his brows. “Might… be a little different.” He laughed nervously. “A little bit.”

“Yeah… probably a lot-tle bit.” She muttered with a frown. “But… I’ll figure it out. You will too. We got this.” She said, patting his shoulder. “When you go into your interview just make sure you… focus on something that keeps you calm and happy.” Nevin nodded silently. He smiled slightly in thought and leaned against the back of his seat.

Isaac parked his car and stepped out of the car. He glanced around as he headed to Tabitha’s side of the door. He opened it. “Here you hon.” He said softly.

“Thank you.” She smiled and stepped out, kissing his cheek. “You look fantastic by the way.” She said and brushed a stray piece of hair back into its place. “Let’s go watch our grand-baby graduate.” Isaac nodded and offered his arm to escort her to the bleachers.

Valerie arrived next with Caelan and Tanya in tow. She smiled at Caelan, glad that he reminded her that graduation was tonight. Owen was still her nephew and she was happy to support him. She was also happy to see Caelan doing so well. Caealn shot Owen a text to let him know that they were here as he and his mom moved towards the bleachers. He ran into Parker as he was entering the bleachers area and the two smiled at each other as they made their way to sit by Ynez.

Candis stood up when she saw Parker with a smile and a wave. “We’re over here.” She said. Ynez shifted to put her arm through Pazuzu’s since her daughter had abandoned her for comfort and warmth. He wrapped an arm around her with a nervous smile, a smile that fell for a moment as Lucas passed by them and waved with a warm smile to Ynez. Pazuzu defensively pulled her closer as the graduation ceremony started. Ynez patted his hand reassuringly and waved to Lucas.

Skyler stepped up to the microphone and smiled at everyone. “Good evening everyone. Before we get started, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for coming out for see these graduates. They have put a lot of work into getting here and we are all here to celebrate this. But there are a lot of students who need to be celebrated. I know it would be nearly impossible and possibly very rude to ask you to hold your applause until the end, so I only request you keep it short after the students names are called. This will help us get through graduation faster, so celebrations can start sooner.” She smiled at them and turned her eyes down to the paper to continue the ceremony.

[SpirituallyYours]

May 12rd

Barry arrived halfway through the ceremony only to find that his son was already sitting back down with his diploma in hand, along with most of his friends. He sighed and crossed his arms as he leaned against the fence. Out of curiosity, he turned to the crowd to look for Ynez only to find her sitting on the bleachers with another man. Barry shifted his jaw in agitation before turning his attention back to the green.


As the last of the graduates received their temp diplomas for the ceremony, Skyler addressed the crowd. “As the last of our seniors--your sons and daughters, kin of all kinds… and we are all here to celebrate that. So lets give them a hand,” she lifted her hands, some of the parents and family starting to clap and others joining in. “As we congratulate the class of--”

Her words were drowned out as parents cheered now and Aminta had to plug her ears from the volume but rose with the crowd in celebration. Ynez stood, teary eyed and clapping excitedly for her son and indirectly his friends. Skyler held her hands up to try and motion for them to be silent as she tried to talk again. She shook her head and stepped aside for someone with a stronger voice to take the microphone. “Let the graduates clear their seating area before stepping onto the field. Graduates, those papers in your hand are your trade in for the actual diploma. Go over to the concession stand where we have staff waiting to give you the actual one.”

Skyler frowned at him. “That ruins the magic of the ceremony…” but she only received a shrug in return for her comment. It didn’t seem that they cared too much about keeping the vibe of the event once the script ran out. Aminta jumped up, leaving her family behind as she quickly and nimbly made her way down to the ground to wait by the fence to see everyone. Ynez turned to Pazuzu. “Alright, now we go wait for Owen.” She looked at Candis who had her hand on her stomach, smiling slightly at the baby kicking.

Pazuzu smiled, feeling the energy shift in the girls stomach. "Aw the wee one is starting to form his own energy." He grinned, squeezing Ynez’s hand in his delight.

Barry glanced over and debated on saying hello to his daughter and soon to be exwife but hesitated, unsure if it wad welcome or not. He sighed in grumpy agitation and shoved his hands in his pockets while he waited for Owen.

“Yes.” She reached over and put a hand gently on Candis’ stomach. “Soon, it’ll be easier to tell the baby from Candis… maybe in like a month or less..” She turned to look at the crowd that was forcing their way down the steps. “Oh I am not waiting to go down there.” She said, turning to take Candis’ hand and Parker’s. She looked over her shoulder at Pazuzu. “We’ll be on ground in just a moment.” She said, before porting herself and the two teens to ground level.

Candis went to thank her mom when she recognized her father’s shoulders. She hurried to him and threw her arms around him in a hug, excitement buzzing through her. Ynez looked at where her daughter went before turning her attention to the field. Only a few students were left to clear the chairs. Barry hugged her back, patting her head. "Hey kid... how is... everything going?"

Kiara kissed Owen’s cheek as she noticed the parents heading down. "I'm going to go tell Uncle Todd that you and your dad are coming ok? Be right back."

Owen furrowed his brows in confusion. “Wait, he made it?” He looked around until he spotted is head. He grinned and headed towards him excitedly.

Candis stepped back from him to dig into her purse. “Good--well better cause I can give these to you now.” She pulled the few copies of pictures out and held them out to him. “It’s the baby--copies of the ultrasound pictures. I would have sent them but Mom said she didn’t know how the compound would react to you getting mail there and to wait for today… and I’m sorry.” She added as an after thought.

Barry looked at the ultrasound, a mix of emotions stirring in his chest. He nodded, blank faced as he carefully put the photo into his pocket. "You need to make sure your going to the doctor regularly and that your mom has a healing potion ready. Childbirth has a high mortality rate at your age... Now what exactly are you apologizing for?" He said, glancing up to wave at Owen as he approached.

Candis glanced at her brother, then sideways to her mother. “That I’m so excited about the baby when it drove you and Mom to… get divorced…” She muttered.

Owen got to the fence and picked up the pace. “Dad!” He said as he got closer. “You made it! I tried to keep an eye out for you, but they wouldn’t let us turn around.”

"Kid there were a lot more reasons than that suspect." He said, narrowing his eyes at the man beside wife. As Owen reached them, Barry clapped his shoulder. "Come on, you really think I would miss this? No way. My flight got delayed, sorry I couldn't see you before hand."

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re here.” Owen grinned at him before remembering why Kiara left originally. “Oh uh… Kiara’s family is having an… after party thing and we were invited.”

“Can I come?” Candis asked excitedly.

“Uh… well, I… didn’t ask…” Owen admitted, rubbing his neck.

Candis’ shoulders dropped and she shook her head. “Oh. That’s fine. I can… go hang out with Parker. That’s fine.”

Barry frowned, nodding to himself "That's fine I suppose." He said glancing back at Candis. He rubbed the back his neck before pulling her into a hug. "I'll see you again soon. I'm in town for the next week. Text me if you need anything ok?"

Candis hugged him back. “Ok. Love you Dad.” She stayed there for a moment before stepping away to go back to her mother. “Owen is going with Dad to Kiara’s for an after party.” Ynez nodded in understanding.

Owen looked at his Mom then to his Dad. “Uh… so… we… you can go find Kiara and uh… I’ll say bye to Mom and… stuff?” Barry looked around before he spotted the Habberish family. He nodded and started heading in their direction to introduce himself.

Owen turned to head to his Mom, who hugged him. “Congrats Owen!” She said, squeezing him tightly. “I’m so proud of you. I know this is going to get chaotic to see everyone before you all leave so I won’t keep you here.” She held him out at arms length for a moment before pulling her hands back. “I’m so proud of you even with… everything that happened to you and your friends.” Owen nodded in thanks before his sister hugged him. She stepped away to let him leave.

“I want to hang out with Dad too… can I later this week?”

“Of course you can.” Ynez frowned at her. “I won’t stop you from seeing him, honey, I just… don’t know how to handle contact with him being at the compound. If he gets a… P.O. Box or something for male, but there is always texting--if he can text at the time.” She turned to Pazuzu, taking his arm. “Did you want to ride with us and try a drive through restaurant or did you want to just meet us back home later?”

Pazuzu opened his mouth and closed it with a frown. He held up a finger, point it at her as he narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Right. So what is a drive through?" He said trying to imagine driving through an eatery to get food.

Ynez tried not to laugh, but managed only to make it an amused smile. “Ride with us and you’ll see. Come on.” She gently led him towards the parking area.

Candis turned from them to find Parker. “Owen is going with Kiara. You want to see him before he leaves, you have to go now. But, if you want to, you can come get me later and we can hang out?” She asked hopefully.

Parker nodded. "Yeah I drove. Here if you want to wait in the air conditioning.” He said and held the keys out for her, watching as Caelan headed towards Owen. Candis took the keys and went to inform her mother that she was going with her boyfriend. Parker followed suit and both boys reached him at about the same time. Parker reached out to fist bump him but Caelan drew him into a hug first.

"Congrats! Oh and as your graduation gift, I've been reading up a lot on home magic so I can help you guys make adjustments to your house if need be. Free of charge." He added with a grin..

Owen patted his cousin’s back as he accepted the fist bump. He grinned at his cousin as he stepped back from him. “No s**t? Yeah, that’d be awesome. Uh… I will have to talk with Kiara and figure out what she’d want to change about the place but yeah. That’d be great.” He grinned stupidly at them. Valerie made her way over, quietly raising a hand. He let her hug him and thanked her when she congratulated him. “Thanks, Aunt Valerie. I’m going to… get back to Kiara.” He paused as the excitement of his own house hit him. “I have to remember to tell my Dad about the house… ok, bye!” He waved at them before picking his way back towards Kiara.

Kiara was being hugged in a vice grip by the Korean man she called Uncle as he told her repeated how wonderful and brave and smart she was. When she noticed Owen, she smiled, glancing between him and his dad before extending a hand to her boyfriend. Atticus clapped. "Ok gang is all here except... is Lancelot coming? I can't remember... Yell him he's welcome if he wants. In the meantime let's get back and fire that grill up."

Kiara paused and dug her phone out to text Nevin. 'Uncle Atticus said your welcome to swing by for the party he's throwing for graduation.' She looked up at Owen and Barry. "Did you guys want to follow us there and which vehicles are we taking?"

"Well, Owen, you could ride with me if you wanted. Save you the gas." Barry offered, placing his hands in his pockets.

“Uh… Nah… I don’t want to leave my car here. You can follow me to drop it off at the house and we can ride from there together?” He shrugged his shoulders slightly to see if that was alright with his father.

Nevin’s response came after another moment. ‘I was going to hang out with Lo. Nysa said something about the pack having a party for her too.’

"Ok cool. I want pics.' Kiara sent before looking up at Owen to see what the plan was.

Barry paused for a moment in thought. "Yeah that's fine. That way you can change if you need to."

"Oh my god-Yes. We have a pool in the backyard now!" Todd said excitedly. "So get your swim trunks if you want to swim!"”

Owen shook his head. “I uh… I don’t really like to swim much anymore. More so if it’s gonna be getting--” He paused, patting his pockets. “Wait, no, yeah I can swim.” He unzipped his robe so he could dig into his pocket and pulled out the orb. “Yeah… I forgot about this for a moment. I can swim.” He grinned excitedly for the first time in a long while to be swimming. Kiara grinned in excitement for him.

Barry frowned in response to the device but decided he would as Owen about it later. "Alright kid, lets get going." He said and glanced at Kiara. "Text Owen the address." He said before tuning to the parking lot

Owen kissed Kiara’s cheek before heading towards his car. He shoved the orb back in his pocket and felt the other gift from Pazuzu--the most recent one. “Oh need to make sure to put that in the glove box for now…” He muttered and nodded to himself.

The rest of the graduates filed out; Caelan and Valerie were invited to join the pack for celebrations by Lucas and Aminta--the latter more excitedly. Tanya nodded in agreement at the invitation extension, having not been intending to attend previously. Aminta would have invited Giles as well, but his father insisted on having graduation dinner before he could go with them.

[SpirituallyYours]

May 12rd

Barry followed behind and when they arrived at the house he parked the car to wait for Owen to get ready and meet him out in the driveway. The sight of the house brought a heavy sigh of bitter agitation. Owen hurried to his room, balling up his gown and throwing it on the bed. He pulled the latest gift out of his pocket and tossed it on the bed. He grabbed his swimming trunks and stumbled back down the stairs to get outside to keep his father from waiting too long. He made sure to lock the door behind him. He slid into the passenger seat with a grin.

Barry nodded and started the vehicle back up,pulling out quickly to get back to the road. "So how have things been? You and your sister holding up ok?"

Owen shifted to rub his neck. “Uh… yeah I guess so… I mean, it’s weird and still feels like, you know… s**t just randomly happened.” He shrugged and let his hand fall back into his lap. “Uh… Candis hasn’t been looking for trouble and Kiara and I are going to be moving into our house soon.” He grinned in excitement, hoping his father wouldn’t ask him about his statement about Candis.

The distraction worked as Barry turned to his son with brows furrowed in confusion. “You are Kiara are getting a house together?” He said, his voice a mixture of surprise and concern.

“We have a house. Well, I have a house and I’m having her move in with me. So… basically a house together.” He grinned at him.

Barry nodded to himself, gripping the steering wheel in thought. His first question was how the hell his son could afford a house but he set that question aside for the moment since he was sure it had something to do with Ynez. “Going over to her family’s for graduation… Getting a house together… You serious about her?”

“Yeah, serious enough to want her to stay by me…” He smiled to himself.

“Well… just be careful. I don’t want what happened with me and your mom to ruin you on relationships or whatever but… just make sure there is more than physical attraction if you looking for someone to keep around for a while. Make sure they’re someone who agrees on your goals in life and what you want and believe in…” He sighed and paused at a stop sign when he realized he didn’t know where he was going. “Whats the address?”

“It’s Todd and Atticus’ place. We’ve been there before.” Owen pulled his phone out to read the address to him. After a moment, he looked at his Dad. “Is that what happened to you and Mom? Just… all physical, no mental? Compatibility that is.”

“Uh…” He let out a puff of air, glancing over at his son. “I don’t know if I should be talking about this with you but yeah, that’s what happened. My family has always been very set in the way things are done and I always planned on following suit- I had specific expectations for the future but so did your mom and they didn’t always… line up. That creates a lot of tension over the years and… I rushed our relationship because I was attracted to her, I really thought I loved her but at some point I realized that I was sleeping next to a stranger… I didn’t know enough about her. I don’t even know her favorite color and I’m just so damn busy all the time... The issue with Candis was just the tipping point…”

Owen was quiet, folding the fabric of the swimming trunks in his lap. “Then I guess it’s a good thing you’re getting divorced. I can’t think why you would have waited so long for it to end with a fight instead of talking about it.”

“I don’t know… Pride maybe. I didn’t want to admit I had made a mistake and hurt you guys in the process but I guess no one really dodged the bullet there…” He said and glanced over at Owen again as they paused to turn onto the road. “I’m sorry bud. I still love you and your sister, that ain't going to change…”

“Yeah. I know. It just looks worse when you storm out and get kicked out cause someone’s pregnant and scared.” He looked at his Dad before shaking his head.

“You might be right, but I was trying to think about what would be best for Candis. The mental and physical stress that childbirth would bring greatly outweighs any benefit to either of them. The mortality rate is twice as high and she much more likely to have complications during birth because of her age. She’s sixteen, she knows nothing about taking care of herself or making it out in the world, I stand by that fully. By all accounts it made more sense to just, call this one an accident and later down the road, after shes grown and moved out she decides she wants one then fine, go for it. I wasn’t trying to scare her. I was trying to protect her.” He said, resting his arm on the window as he rubbed his temple. “This would be one of those situations though when I say make sure whoever your with shares your goals and major views, and its much to heavy of a topic for a day that supposed to be a celebration for you.”

“I don’t care what side really is right,” Owen said, “you don’t have to defend yourself to me. I think it boils down to her choice anyway.” He paused to think about what he had learned about Tanya and Caelans’ break up a while back. “Both of the potential parents. For other people to decide that for them without giving them a voice, it’s like someone robbing something from you. Like, whoever was going to be my older brother or sister was robbed from you and Mom. I can see both sides, I just don’t see how fighting about it in front of your children was an option.” He wiped his hands. “That’s all I have to say on that. We can focus on food now.”

Barry narrowed his eyes in annoyance. “It wasn’t supposed to be a fight in the first place. Yeah we should probably have taken it somewhere else but even adults don’t make the right calls all the time.” He said and ran his hand over his mouth as they arrived at the house where everyone was gathered in the yard by a grill. Kiara waved at him from where she sat in a lawn chair, now changed into a pair of shorts and bikini top with a loose knitted sweater to cover up. Barry turned the car off and ran his hands over his jeans. “Well, I guess its a good thing I came… I mean if your serious about her and you two are moving in I feel like I should at least meet her family… Come on, let’s go get some grub.”

“Yeah.” Owen said, shifting to climb out of the car. He went straight for Kiara, pulling the device out to show her how it worked. She beamed to match his enthusiasm as he went over the functions of it. It was cool but mostly she was just interested in the fact that he could swim comfortably again.

Barry stood there for a moment before making his way to Atticus. “Hey, are you Kiara’s father?” He said, holding his hand out to shake.

Atticus furrowed his brows. “Uh… no. That would be that handsome devil over there with the root beer. I’m Atticus, you know, the guys that’s worked with your wife for the past fifteen years….”

“Oh… right. Sorry.” Barry said and scratched the back of his head before turning to Richard.”Kiara’s Dad?”

Richard looked up. “Yeah, Owen’s Dad?” He echoed before taking a sip from the drink in his hand.

“Yeah.” Barry said and extended his hand again to shake the other man’s before sitting down. “So… I hear they’re getting a house together.” Todd who was sitting on the other side of the man, muttered under his breath in Korean before standing to get himself another drink. Barry furrowed his brows before turning back to Richard. “How do you guys feel about that?”

“Well… mixed emotions.” Richard rubbed the back of his neck. “One hand has her with more comfort--the woods still make her uncomfortable and from what I understand, Owen still has problems with the dark… they help each other recover so… it’s a good idea on that part. As a father,” he shook his head. “No one will be good enough for Kiara but so far he’s pretty damn close.” He took a drink from his root beer as his mother shuffled past, humming to herself with the smell of pot following her. “I just hope they can continue to afford it.”


“Well, working for me is an option for Owen, if he’d be up to it. Pays well at least.” He said, glancing up as Jade came back from within the house with a plate for fruit. She smiled at Richard and plopped down into his lap, holding out a grape for him.

Todd grabbed a drink from the cooler by Atticus and started back when Atticus took his shirt and pulled him back for a quick kiss. He glanced down at the drink and then towards Barry. “Why don’t you grab one for our guest?” Todd frowned, his lip in a small pout as he muttered angrily under his breath in korean again. Atticus raised his brows and pointed the spatula at him. “Be nice, for Owen and Kiki.” Todd continued to pout for a brief moment before nodding in agreement and grabbing a soda for Barry as well as he returned to his seat.

“Hey this food has a got a little while if you guys want to go ahead and take a dip in the pool.” Atticus said to everyone as he flipped the kebobs to check on them.

“Come on,” Kiara said and took Owen’s arm.

Owen stood up. “Yeah, let me change into these then.” He said, stepping into the house.

Richard took the grape from his wife with a soft thank you. “I guess that’s up for him to decide though. If not that, there are a lot of jobs over there. He shouldn’t have too bad of a problem lining up one. Smart kid, hard worker…” Richard shrugged slightly before looking at the plate of fruit to hunt out another grape. Jade grabbed one from underneath the water melon and held it out to her husband before leaning over to kiss his cheek. Barry watched them for a moment before turning his attention to his drink. Owen was returning, leaving his other clothes inside and with the orb in his pocket. He paused at the edge of the pool, looking at the water nervously.

Kiara was wading down the steps on the shallow end. She paused at the end of them though and elected to simply sit down on the middle step, holding onto the bars as she swung her legs in the clear blue water. She looked up at Owen and smiled when she noticed him at the edge of the pool. “Did you want to throw your thing over the pool itself or on the patio?”

“Uh… here...” He pulled the orb out of his pocket and activated it. As he threw it up and the light filled the area, he felt a level of stress leave. He took a deep breath. “Ok… yeah, that’s better.” He stretched his arm for a moment before gritting his teeth and forcing himself to jump into the deeper end of the pool. Kiara watched him carefully, ready to call for help if he showed any sign of distress. She stood, wading slightly further into the shallow end to get closer in case she could give him a hand without going too deep. Todd made his way around back though with Deklan in tow, the toddler now wearing a life vest and arm floaties as Todd carefully took him into the shallow end.

Owen popped back up from the water. He looked at Kiara before smiling slightly to himself. He swam over to her and the moment the pool was shallow enough for him to stand, he did and shook his hair out. “Ok, I was suppose to be teaching you to swim like… ages ago.” He said and pushed his hair back with one hand. “Still want to learn, yeah?”

“Uh…” Kiara swallowed nervously, looking at the deep end. when her eyes returned to Owen though she felt at least a small level of comfort and confidence. She reached for his hand and nodded. “Yeah… I trust you not to let me sink.” She said with a nervous laugh.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be learning on this side. Won’t drag you into deeper waters until you’re ready, hon.” He smiled at her, shifting to hold both of her hands. “First, I’m going to teach you how to float.” Kiara nodded, clasping his hands tightly.

By the end of the cookout, she was able to move around the semi-shallow end on her own with comfort, much to her mother’s surprise. After everyone ate and chatted, Atticus packed everyone a to-go plate to take home with them before they began to file out and make their way home. Kiara and Owen thanked them before they left and though Kiara had intended on packing when she got home, she ended up falling asleep instead, wore out from swimming.

[SpirituallyYours]

May 15th

Ynez left the court house in the late morning, purse in hand and no longer married. The divorce was finalized and she felt a little upset that this had to happen on the same day Owen was suppose to be moving. She checked her phone and discovered that she had a text from Owen. ‘Tell Dad to wait up; packing Kiara’s things first’. Ynez frowned at her phone and responded to him.

‘Are you trying to make me talk to your father?’

There was a long pause. ‘Yes’

Ynez rolled her eyes and turned to look around. She pulled her phone up to text Barry. ‘Owen said they are starting at Kiara’s. If you want to spend time at the house with Candis and wait for him, let me know and I can check the office instead.’ She nodded to herself and headed towards her car.

Barry was still sitting in the car, looking down at his copy of the divorce files when he got Ynez’ text. He glanced up and around the parking lot to see her heading to her car. A long sigh escaped his lips as he nodded, texting her back. ‘That’s fine, I need to talk to both of them about their trust funds anyway.’ He paused before adding ‘Drive safe.’ then set the phone aside as he started the car up to head to his old home. Ynez nodded when she read the message and set her phone back in her purse. She started towards the shop, ready to text Todd that the divorce was final.

Candis sat on the couch at home, lightly swinging her feet. She wasn’t allowed to help move anything but debated on if she should cook something for everyone. She was hungry--again--but couldn’t figure out what she wanted to eat. She sighed and picked up her phone to text Parker that she was bored and wanted suggestions on what to eat.

‘Uh… Steamed veggies?’ Parker sent back fairly quickly.

Barry parked the car in front of the house and got out, pocketing his keys as he moved up towards the porch. He paused to knock before opening the door, feeling like a stranger in what was once his home. “Candis?”

Candis was trying to touch her toes, wondering what veggies she would make when her father came inside. “Dad! Hi.” She said, pushing herself up to go see him.

“Hey kid, how’s it going?” He said as he hugged her gently, not wanting to squeeze her belly too tight now that she was showing.

“Boring. I was about to go make a snack.” She said and pointed at the kitchen. “Did you want some veggies? I’m just going to make one of the steamer bags…” Candis debated on asking her father about what Owen told her, but bit her tongue.

“Uh, sure?” Barry said as he followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table. “There any coffee on?” He said glancing towards the empty pot with a frown. “Ah nevermind, So… How is things going with the… pregnancy.”

Candis pulled the bag from the freezer and went to put it in the microwave. “Fine… I mean, I guess it’s fine. No one has told me other wise. Getting tired of being hungry all the time and having to actually do things manually.” She started the microwave and turned to make coffee. She paused again and turned to face him. “Are you going to visit more after the baby is born? I know… I know Mom took down the portal but she said it would be awkward for Valerie and Caelan for it to be there… maybe they can put a new one up for you or something and like… visit a lot?”

“I’ll see what I can do. I travel a lot more now so it shouldn’t be too hard to swing by now and then. Hey kid…. Listen, when you were born, I set up a trust fund in your name at the First Bank here in town. Yours only has like fifteen thousand in it at the moment but I thought you should know in case anything comes up with the kid an all…”

Candis looked at her dad and nodded. “Thank you… I hope it doesn’t get too bad…” She moved to sit at the table with him and smiled slightly at him.

He nodded in agreement with her, listening to the coffee drip for a moment before narrowing his eyes. “You got something on your mind?

“Owen told me… what you told him that the…” She paused, “about the divorce. From the way he… paraphrased you it sounded like it was inevitable… did you and Mom… love each other at all?” She turned her attention to the table where she was picking at her nails.

“Uh…” Barry let out a heavy sigh. “I think I did at some point, or at least I thought I did… You Aunt and I didn’t have a very conventional upbringing and weren’t really given examples of what a loving relationship was supposed to be… It’s complicated- Oh look, the coffee is done.” He said before getting up to fix a cup.

Candis raised a brow at him. “You can dodge attacks, but you can dodge questions Dad.” She stood up though to get the veggies from the microwave. “So… you aren’t… going to like, hate me for having the baby then?”

Barry frowned. “I don’t hate you Candis, I just didn’t think it was what was best for you. I still feel that way but s**t… Maybe its because I’m to used to looking at things from a tactical standpoint.”

“I just don’t want to think that a kid--no matter what stage--is a mistake.” She muttered as she plated the veggies. She set a plate by him and picked hers up with a fork to go sit down. “I think I’ll be ok… Mom said that Grandma won’t let anything happen to me or the baby.”

“I’m sure she won’t.” Barry said as he sat back down to sip his coffee. He reached out and patted her hand. “Did you want to watch a movie or something while we wait for Owen?”

Candis smiled at him. “Yeah. Kiara’s parents sent a movie over for me to watch. Owen was suppose to watch it with me but… I guess he’s too excited for the house.” She picked up her food to take to the living room to set the movie up. Barry took his coffee and moved with her into the living room.

They were at the end of the movie when Barry heard the moving truck pull into the driveway. Kiara hoped out of the passenger side and she and Owen headed into the house to start loading things up. “Hey there bud. Need a hand?”

Owen glanced at his Dad before nodding. “Sure, if you want to help me get the dresser and stuff, Kiara can get the boxes.” He said, motioning upstairs. “Mom helped me move the boxes downstairs last night.” Candis looked up from the couch. “You can’t help. Rules.” He said and the girl plopped back down, having eaten her and her father’s servings of veggies already. “Watch that movie--”

“Just finished it.” She muttered, flopping sideways on the couch.

“Ok, if any of those boxes are too heavy just let us know.” Barry said as he started upstairs after his son.

“Psh, I got it.” Kiara said, flexing her arms with a laugh before starting to load up the boxes onto the left side of the truck. “Hey Candis, they should be showing that hungover movie about now if you’re looking for something else to watch.” Candis grumpily took the remote to turn the TV on.

It wasn’t too long later that Ynez returned, a bundle of dresses in a bag to take inside. She peeked inside before heading to drop her stuff off in the room. “Still need help?” She called once her arms were free of fabric.

“Nah they’ve pretty much got it.” Kiara said as she grabbed on of the last boxes. “Owen’s dad was helping us out.”

“I saw his car outside.” Ynez said, moving to the kitchen. She gathered a few bottles of lemonade carried it back out. “Here, for you all working so hard.”

Owen was stepping out of his room, the mattress in his hand and his father on the other side. “Ok, I have to step down now--” He turned to look down the stairs. “Hey Mom.”

“Lemonade here.” She raised a bottle at him. Candis peeked over the couch and her mother brought the bottle over to her.

Kiara stepped forward to grab Owen’s bottle. “I’ll hand it to him when they get the mattress loaded. Thank you.” She said with a smile, turning to follow Owen and Barry out when suddenly Pazuzu appeared in front of her. She let out a short scream and placed a hand to her forehead as she stepped out of the way. “Jesus…”

“Not usually referred to that way…” He muttered, adjusting his hold on the large bouquet of flowers in his arms. “Ynez, I uh… brought these for you. I figured the day would be most trying, what with the separation from the hunter being legalized and your eldest heir leaving home to start a family of his own.”

Ynez smiled slightly at the flowers. She paused though, taking his arm to pull him to the kitchen--away from the others. “Thank you, Paz.” She said, taking the flowers. She reached into a cabinet to get a vase, putting some water in it. “Where did you get these? They are very pretty.” She said simply as she began to prepare them to be displayed.

“Uh, botanical garden in Franklin, then somewhere in Italy, a pasture in Washington and then a garden in France…” Pazuzu said, looking at the flowers. “I am sorry they are not more… presentable. I’m afraid I’ve no delicate touch for these sort of things.”

Ynez stared at him for a moment before smiling. “It’s alright…” She looked back at the flowers. “I like them for the petals, not their arrangement.” She finished with the flowers and turned to get food down. “Here, you must be tired from all that travel. Do you want a sandwich?”

“Aye, yeah I’m starving from all that travel.” He admitted with a sheepish grin and sat down in eager await of her ‘sandwich’.

-----


Owen had nearly dropped the mattress when Kiara screamed. A quick look had told him it was simply Pazuzu appearing. He let out a shaky breath as he forced his shoulders to relax. “You good Kiara?” He asked, glancing at her before continuing down the steps.

“Yeah I’m… good.” Kiara said and shook her head. “Sorry, it just startled me. Why can’t he use the front door like ever?”

“Uh… no doors in the void?” He suggested, shrugging slightly.

“The void?” Barry echoed disapprovingly but said nothing else on the subject. When he lifted the mattress again to carry it to the truck, it was with renewed vigor, fueled by his agitation of the other man’s presence.

Owen glanced at his father, before trying to get them out of the house quickly. “Yeah…” Owen muttered, answering the question though he didn’t think he needed to. “You… ok dad?”

“Yeah I’m fine I just… didn’t expect to see another guy hanging around before the ink’s even dried…” Barry admitted with a frown before shaking his head as they carried the mattress to the truck and loaded it up. “You know what? It’s fine. You’re mother is more than capable of making her own decisions and I don’t want to s**t on your big day. You guys need a hand unloading any of this stuff?”

“Yeah if you want to.” Owen rubbed his shoulder, though it had made a decent recovery from the initial injury. “If it helps, she didn’t like… go out to meet someone. He kind of just showed up?” He dug his keys out of his pocket. “Uh… did you want to follow us or just ride with us and come back when we have to return the truck?”

“I’ll follow in case work calls.” Barry said, moving inside to get his keys and say goodbye to Candis.

Kiara came out and handed Owen his lemonade. “That everything?” she said looking a the closed truck with an excited smile.

Owen was still frowning slightly as he took the drink. “Yeah. Should be…” He took a long drink from the lemonade that broke his frown. “Ready to go then. Going to say bye then we can roll out.” He gave her the keys so she could sit in the AC if she wanted before going to tell his sister and mother that he was leaving. Kiara kissed his cheek and moved to get the truck started up. Barry came out as Owen was going in and gestured to his car to let Owen know he’d be waiting.

A couple hours later, after a quick stop for lunch paid for by Owen’s dad, they arrived and began to get everything unloaded. When all the boxes were roughly in the room that they would soon go in, Barry hugged his son and left to give him space to settle into his house. Once he had left, Kiara turned to one of the boxes with her things in it, popping the tape off the top and taking out a box wrapped in old Christmas paper. She turned in search of Owen, holding it out to him. “Babe?” She said to get his attention with a grin. “Uh, Happy… ******** day?”

Owen furrowed his brow before grinning at her. “Festive.” He said in regards to the paper. He took the box with a slight frown. “I uh… didn’t get you anything though. I feel kind of bad now.” He said, pushing the paper away. He grinned more at the device. “Wait, to make lemonade yeah?” He turned the box over, scanning over the text.

She beamed and nodded. “Yeah, you love it so much and it wasn’t that expensive. I figure it’s summer… We can buy our own lemons and make lemonade.” She said, drawing her shoulders up before leaning forward to kiss his cheek. “And don’t worry about not getting me anything. You got us a house.” She said with a laugh. “That’s good enough trust me.”

He smiled at the kiss and set the box aside. He turned to her before scooping her up into a hug and kissing her. She kissed him back, smiling as much as her lips would allow and still maintain the kiss. She pulled away slightly and pressed her forehead to his. “I love you.” She said, a slight laugh in her voice from the residual giddy excitement.

“Love you too…” He said, wondering about things his father had said. He set her down and put his hands on his hips. “Ready to get unpacking?”

“Hell yeah.” She said and raised a hand to give him a high five. “If we can get it knocked out tonight then we have tomorrow to go necessity shopping and then relax.” She said with a grin and after the high five was reciprocated, she turned to get started on the nearest set of boxes.

[SpirituallyYours]

June 21st

Giles was sitting on his couch when he phone rang. He answered in and sank back into the couch as the woman told him that the house he had been approved for was finally done with it’s matianece and was move in ready whenever he wanted to come and get the key. Giles thanked the woman and hung up. When the call was disconnected he jumped up and shoved a fist in the air. “Aw, yeah.. Guess who got a house.” He said, bringing his hand down in front of his pelvis while he danced, swinging his hips in a circle. “******** yeah, UH! I gotta call Nevin, we gotta get this ball rolling.” He said before letting out a long breath to calm himself before he called Nevin.

Nevin was listening intently to a track on his computer when his phone started to vibrate on his desk. He looked at the caller ID and debated on simply skipping the call. He reluctantly paused the music to answer his phone. “What’s up?” He asked.

“House is clean. Ready to move in. We. Are. Golden.” He said with a laugh. “Get all your stuff ready, I’mma go get a truck rental going. Spread the word to ya girl too.”

“Wait, really? s**t, ok yeah.” He turned to look around his room. “... s**t yeah, ok I’ll give her a call.” He hung up to call Lorelei. He stood up and slid down the ladder to his room. “Mom! Do we have any boxes?”

“What kind of boxes?” Fiona called for clarification, wiping dough from her cheek.

“Large enough to move with. We got the house and Giles has to G. T. F. O.” Nevin said, starting downstairs.

“Uh, there is some down in the basement from when your father and I moved in. Oh and I have some pans to give you!” She smiled excitedly.

“Hello?” Came Lorelei’s breathless voice from his phone. “Nev?”

“Giles just called and said we got the house. He’s getting a moving van.” He headed down to the basement, digging around for the boxes.

“Oh, s**t yeah?” Lorelei said a laugh escaping. “Great. I’ll get my things up and say goodbye and I’ll be ready in… about an hour?”

“Take your time. I haven’t… started packing.” He said, deciding to portal the boxes up to his room. He let out a tired sigh. “Yeah, save me for last. I still have to pack and my mom has pans to give me apparently…”

“Oh ok cool. I’ll see you later then. Love you, Bye~” She said before hanging up and turning to her things. It didn’t take longer than twenty minutes to get everything together and she texted Giles to let him know she was ready whenever he was. Then, she set out from the caravan to say goodbye to her adoptive family. Aminta followed her with a pout, trying to hide it as she tried to spend time with her. Nevin pocked his phone and headed to his room. He dumped his clothes into boxes and used it as padding to pack his computer up.

Giles pulled the van up at the house and grinned to himself as he parked. “Here we are, home sweet home. It’s only a two bedroom but hey, the location is pretty decent.” He said as he turned the moving tuck off and hoped out to unlock the door with the key he had collected from the landlady. The house smelled like new carpet and he smiled more, looking around with a nod. “Yep, we got this…” He said before kicking the door open. “Alright guys, bring it on in.”

Nevin climbed out of his car as he spotted his Dad’s truck. “Hey… Dad? Why did you follow us here?”

“To help unload and give you some curtains.” He said, closing his truck door with the small box in his hand. “And to look at the place… do paranoid father things.” He glanced around before looking at Lo. “Hey, Ariel.”

She waved with a smile before turning to grab her two bags from inside the truck along with her laptop bag from the front before heading into the house. “Uh which room is ours?” She said, pausing as she looked at the interior.

“Uh well they’re the same size so it doesn’t really matter but one has a private bath so… We’ll shoot for it.” Giles said and held up his hand to a very confused Lorelei. He paused for a moment before turning to Nevin.

“Ro sham bo.” Nevin muttered, “Rock paper scissors.” He held his hand out. Travis rolled his eyes and began to look around the house. He paused in the kitchen, squatting down as he opened one of the cabinets and slid under the sink. He pulled out a small strip of paper and some tape.

Giles counted them down and then shot, only for them to choose the same weapon. He shook his hand out and counted down again. They tied a second time and he furrowed his brow, suddenly feeling tension from the close call. As they landed the third one though, Nevin won and he let out a groan of defeat with a laugh. “Alright you got it man. Y’all’s is the room on the left then.” He said and started to carry his things towards the right.

Lorelei nodded with a smile and dropped her bags off inside the door. “I’m glad you won.” She whispered to Nevin. “I was looking forward to soaking in the tub.”

Nevin raised a brow at her before grinning. “Yeah… glad to hear it--Dad what are you doing?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He called from under the sink, tearing off a new strip of tape. “Go back to the moving thing. Do something productive.” Travis put another layer of tape, not wanting water to damage the sigils.

Giles narrowed his eyes at Travis as he came back out of the room to get his next load of stuff. He smiled and patted his chest with his fist. "Thanks. Respect." He said before heading back out to the truck. He paused looking at the mattresses and frames. It dawned on him then how small Nevin’s bed was in comparison. "Uh... Hey Nevin? Tell me this ain't the bed for both of you..."

Nevin looked at Giles then to the truck. “Ok, I won’t.” He said, smiling slightly at his own humorous response. He started to pull the twin sized mattress down since it was closer to the front than Giles’.

Giles paused for a moment in heavy debate before shaking his head. "Nah, man. Look my mom would kill me if she knew I let you sleep on that. You guys take my bed. I'll take the twin size."

Nevin furrowed his brow before looking at Giles, passing one end towards him. “Yeah? What about when Aminta stays the night? You two going to be ok on this then--Lo and I are fine on this if you want to keep your bed.” He didn’t want to mention that the aspect of having a bigger bed was more than tempting be it he shared it or not.

"Nah. Aminta just sleeps--" He shook his head. "I'll be fine on this till I buy a new one." He said and clapped Nevins shoulder as he took over dragging the twin size out of the truck and into the house.

Nevin paused to watch him as his father came out of the house. “Making him move your stuff? Cold Nevin.” He said, stepping up into the truck. “What am I helping you move?” Nevin glanced at his father and grabbed the larger mattress.

“We traded beds. He’s not moving my stuff for me.” Nevin muttered grumpily. Travis shrugged. “Why curtains?”

“Enchanted so while they are hanging over the window, you don’t have to maintain your glamour for the neighbors.” Travis muttered softly as he started to back into the house. “Since you’re use to not needing it at the house, don’t want you getting busted.”

“Oh… well, thanks for that--and what did you do to our sink?”

“Uh… very special alarms so I--your mother doesn’t have to worry. Can’t have her calling you at all hours to make sure your ok.” Travis cleared his throat. “Helping you with the beds then I’m out. Rest is on you.”

"That's fine. We don't really have a lot else to unpack anyway." Lorelei said as she came to grab the last box from the truck. "Thank you for the help though Mr. Harris." She smiled, looking from the bed to Nevin. "Wow that's huge…”

Travis shook his head as he struggled to resist making a comment. Nevin frowned at his father. “Yeah, Giles traded beds with us so we’re going to be sleeping on this.” He explained as his father was able to step into the house.

"Oh my jeeves! Seriously? That's awesome. We owe him one." She said biting her lip in excitement about having so much room. When her mind started to drift her cheeks colored and she turned quickly to the house to put her clothes up in the closet.

Travis glanced at Nevin, who met his gaze only for a moment. He shook his head. “I guess I’m going to make one more adjustment to the rooms before I leave.”

“Hm? What?”

“Silencing sigils--strong ones.” When Nevin’s cheeks colored, Travis laughed.

[SpirituallyYours]

June 29th

Alric adjusted his tie in front of the mirror and slicked his hair back. He glanced back at his father and held out his arms as if to say ‘well?’ with a nervous breath.

Isaac had his arms crossed, leaning against the wall and watching Alric. “You know how to put on a suit.” He pushed away from the wall and brushed his shoulders off. “Are you sure about this?”

“Fairly sure, yes. I’m generally not that sure about anything but I believe Sabrina to be one of the things I am sure about. She’s the only person to ever catch… and hold my interest.” Alric admitted with a frown. “Why? Do you not approve?”

“Oh, she’s fine. I’m just…” He paused for a moment, “I just want to make sure that you are… aware of how things will be down the road--mortality wise.” He put his hands in his pockets with a slight shrug. “But I do approve of her for you.”

Alric nodded. “I’ve thought it through yes…” He said with a sigh as his stomach knotted. He turned and downed a swig from the metallic pouch that sat on the dresser. “I suppose we should go wait at the aisle now…”

Isaac nodded but hesitated to leave. “I’m happy for you Alric. I really am. I just worry unnecessarily.” He turned to leave then. Alric nodded in understanding and left his room to find his mother waiting in the hall outside of the room where Sabrina was getting ready.

Alric hesitated, listening to the sounds of talking within and his mother narrowed her eyes at him. She pressed a hand to his shoulder and pushed him forward. “Ah-Ah, Keep walking slick. You’ll see her when she’s ready.” She said with a smile. Isaac glanced back at his son but kept going.

Sabrina stood in the room as her mother helped fluff the skirt of her dress. She twisted one of the stems of the flowers form the bouquet. Maeve looked up at her and paused in what she was doing to take the flowers from her. “Sorry.” Sabrina muttered, reaching up to run her fingers through one of the curls in her hair. Maeve stopped her again and held her hands. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to say sorry to me. Are you nervous?” Maeve asked, picking up something from the room to let Sabrina fidget with so she could work.

“Very… What if this is too soon? What if he changes his mind? What--” Maeve pulled lip gloss out of a make up bag and held it out to her. Sabrina sighed and let her mother put it on her.

“Did you have these thoughts before now?” Sabrina started to answer but Maeve raised a brow at her. Sabrina muttered a no and Maeve continued. “Then you’re probably just nervous and don’t know how to let it out.” Her mother smiled and put the lip gloss away. “You’re beautiful, he treats you well, and you seem happy with him. You’re fine.” She fixed her hair and took her hands. “I’m going to get your father now so he can see you before he walks you down the aisle.” She paused before leaving. “Oh, and if he’s grumpy, it’s just cause he doesn’t want to give you away yet. You’re his princess.” Sabrina smiled at her as she left before plopping down in a chair with a sigh of nervousness.

Tabitha smiled at Maeve as she emerged from the room. She peered in before the door shut and let out a soft excited squeal. “Oh she looks so beautiful…” She said, covering her cheeks with her hands. “Is the big bad wolf ready to walk her?”

“Yeah I’m here…” Rex said, tossing back the last of the beer he had taken from the fridge and set it aside with a wince, adjusting his tux. It fit a bit tighter than he remembered it fitting. He sighed and tugged at the cuffs while he waited for Sabrina.

Maeve stepped over to him to fix his jacket. “Couldn’t wait for the reception?” She asked softly, kissing his cheek before motioning to the room. “You go ahead inside.” She turned to Tabitha. “Want to help get everyone into their seats with me? Might be a bit of work for the pack to calm down.”

Rex nodded and brushed his jacket off before knocking on the door where his daughter was. He frowned, feeling his stomach twist with anxiety as he opened the door. The sight of Sabrina in her wedding dress made him pause. He gave her a small smile, eyes crinkling as they watered. “Hey baby girl, how you feeling? You feeling… sure about all this?

Sabrina looked up at her Dad and smiled weakly. “No--Yes… I’m really nervous.” She laughed slightly. She stood up and picked up her flowers. “Are-are we going now? Wait, no they haven’t even started the music yet…” She let the flowers sag slightly. “Are you nervous?”

“Sweetheart, I’ve never been more terrified. Even when Isaac had a silver loaded gun pointed at me.” He said with a chuckle before stepping forward and pulling her into a hug. “If this is what you want though then who am I to say differently? I love you.” He said, glancing back as he heard the music start to play outside. “That’s our cue.” He sighed and let go to step back and offer his arm.

Sabrina nodded and took his arm. “I love you too Daddy.” She said, leaning on his arm slightly.

Isaac stood by his son with a furrowed brow of concern. “Shouldn’t… I don’t know, one of your friends be here instead?” He shifted slightly from the best man position and glanced over at his granddaughter in the maid of honor spot. The young werewolf bounced excitedly on her toes, hair pulled into a pony tail of curls.

“I don't have friends, none that were important enough to fill the role better than you and Celia at least.” He said and glanced over at his big sister with a smile. Celia smiled back, standing with the groom’s men but wearing a black dress with a flower pinned where the pocket would normally hold it to her chest.

Isaac glanced at her then to Alric. He then turned his attention to the rest of Sabrina’s bride’s maids, which were all humans she went to school with. “You need to get friendship building lessons from Sabrina then.” He paused when the bride-to-be appeared at the end of the aisle.

Alric looked up and at Sabrina. A smile spread across his face and he clasped his hands in front of himself as the violinist played her softly down the aisle. When they reached the end he reached for her hand. Rex stared at him for a moment before giving him a single nod and stepping back to sit with his wife in the front row.

Sabrina looked at her father and mother for a moment, the latter of the two with misty eyes as she watched them. She looked at Alric as the man began to go through the ceremony. She felt her face flushed with excitement. “Are you nervous?” She asked under her breath, knowing Alric could hear her. “Just… squeeze my hand twice if you are.”

He grinned at her and hesitated before giving her hand two small grips. When the priest turned to him he followed along with the vows. “I, Alric Glass, take you, Sabrina Anderson as my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health… Until the end of our days.”

Sabrina smiled and looked at him as he spoke. She missed the priest prompting her to repeat the vows. “Sorry.” She muttered, before forcing her gaze from his smile so she could focus on his words and not the warmth rushing through her at his expression. “I, Sabrina Anderson…” She paused to clear her throat to speak up a bit louder, “take you, Alric Glass, as my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health until the end of our days.”

“By the power vested in by the state and by the powers that be, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”


Alric gave her a sly smile before pulling her in closely, one hand pressed in the curve of her lower back while the other cupped her cheek to pull her into a passionate kiss. Sabrina melted against him, holding to the suit jacket as she returned the kiss. Tanya let out a squeal of joy as the witnesses clapped in celebration for the new couple. Maeve smiled and covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes misty still and a few tears having messed up her make up. Rex looked over at his wife and placed an arm around her to pull her into him.

Alric broke the kiss and gave her one more peck before scooping her up into his arms. “Let’s go get changed.” He said softly in her ear with a grin. “We have to entertain them for a while before we can head back home.” He added as he carried her back towards the house while the servants set to work, changing the ceremony area outside for the reception.

Sabrina laughed slightly as she put an arm around his neck, trying to keep the flowers away from his sensitive nose. “Ok. Love you.” She kissed his cheek.

Tanya jumped up and down and ran to her grandmother. “Did you get pictures?” She asked excitedly. Tabitha nodded and pulled out her phone so they could swing through all the pictures with a grin.

“I love you too.” Alric said as he carried her into the house and set her down in the hall outside of the bedroom door. “You know, It’s a shame that dress is too cumbersome to dance in… It suits you.” He said leaning in close, his hands still on her waist.

Sabrina smiled and turned to face him more. “It isn’t too bad… if I really wanted to, I could manage with enough refreshments.” She shifted to stick her leg out of the slit in the side of her dress. “This helps to give me an option to stay cool but if we’re going to be outside, I don’t want to risk staining it…”

He glanced down, his hand moving from her waist down her hip to grip the exposed thigh. He smiled and titled his head back in thought. “How about… You change now, and then put this back on later.”

Sabrina’s cheeks burned and she nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.” She stepped back from him, holding one hand in hers before turning to get the reception dress to change into.

He smiled and leaned after her, pausing in the doorway. “I’ll go get you a drink while you change.” He said, drawing his lips in as his eyes wandered over her before turning to the kitchen.

Sabrina nodded, giggling to herself as she slipped out of the white dress and into the shorter dress better for the summer heat. She carefully laid the dress on the bed and took out some of the pins in her hair so she’d feel more at ease. She turned and headed towards the door to wait for Alric. She spotted him in the hallway and she smiled at him. “This is much easier to dance in.” She said, spinning slightly on her toes to show the dress off.

He nodded and looked the shorter dress over. He preferred the longer one but he wouldn’t tell her that. Instead he offered her the glass of champagne and then his arm. “It looks like they have everything set up out there. Shall we?”

She took the glass and his arm. “Yes--if you are ready to go out there.” She said, taking a sip of the bubbly liquid, trying to keep her gloss from getting on the cup.

He smiled at her and took her arm in his as he headed out into the backyard where the guests were now gathered underneath a large white tent, adored with enchanted lights. He lead her into the reception area where their guest turned and clapped. He nodded and raised his own glass to everyone as they went to take a seat at the head table next to his mother. She smiled and took a bottle from the center of the table to pour them each a shot of vodka. “For tradition.” She said, glancing at Isaac and then to Tatushka who was in one of the guest tables. She nodded to the old woman and handed the shots to Sabrina and Alric.

Isaac gave them a thumbs up, as he went to sit with Tatushka and keep the older woman company. Sabrina furrowed her brows but took the shot anyway. She glanced around, figuring that those who were there wouldn’t be a problem since she wasn’t twenty one yet. She turned to her husband--the word mentally causing butterflies to rise in her stomach. Alric clicked his glass with hers and knocked the shot back then set the glass aside. Tabitha would wait until Sabrina did the same before taking both glasses, wrapping them in a napkin and setting them on the floor, motioning for them to stand. “Break the glass for good luck.”

“I didn’t know you were so superstitious mother.” Alric teased with a smile.

“it’s not superstition, its tradition.” She corrected with a frown.

“To… break glass?” Sabrina asked, looking at Alric then at her shoes. “I don’t know if these will break glass…” She said under her breath.

Alric shook his head and squeezed her hand as he brought his foot down on the glass, trying to catch hers too. It worked as he felt both crunch under his feet. He motioned for her to take her shot at it with a smile. Sabrina glanced at him then stomped on the glass. She was expecting the shot glass and felt her foot keep going the extra inch. She was thrown off and stumbled slightly with a slight gasp. He shot out with supernatural reflexes to grasp her upper arm, stabilizing her in the process with a slight laugh.

Tabitha moved the napkin to look at the small broken pieces and then turned to nod and wink at Tatushka. The old woman nodded back to her niece but scoffed under her breath as she glanced at Isaac. “He cheated.”

“Cheated or helped his wife out? She’s in heels--probably hard to put much force into breaking something when your balance is already wonky in them.” He shrugged slightly. “I wouldn’t know. Never wore heels before.”

“Tabita broke glass in heels on your wedding, even before she was bloodsucker.” Tatushka said, raising her brows at him. “Also, do not lie to me. I don’t care what things you like do in private.”

“Well, Tabitha also could also handle herself. Sabrina is… a bit more... “ He paused, “average than she was at the time. She sells clothes for a living, not hunt things.”

“Can she butcher pig?” Tatushka said, looking the girl over carefully.

Isaac was quiet in thought before tilting his head. “I have no idea. Probably not? But then again, maybe so with the family she grew up with.”

Tatushka quirked her head to the side in thought. “I teach her how to butcher pig…” She said as a matter of fact as she took a sip from her drink.

Isaac grinned. “Sounds like a fantastic bonding experience. Though, she doesn’t need to butcher a pig if she’s the only one eating actual food in the house hold. Maybe… a chicken or a rabbit instead.”

“Rabbit is good too. Good for winter.” She nodded in agreement. “Speaking of where is food?” She said glancing around at the servants who were slowly serving all the guest.

He nodded to the people serving the food. “On it’s way, ma’am.” He said, “Did you want me to have them bring you anything special?”

She shook her head. “Certainly not. I’ll have whatever everyone else is having. I won’t insult my grandson.” She took a napkin and folding it in her lap while she waited for the food to come around, glancing at Alric who was eating and whispering happily with Sabrina.

Isaac looked at him too then at the woman. “I don’t think he’ll be offended.” He said simply and turned to look around for his wife. “Though, if Tabitha doesn’t come and sit down soon, I might be.” He smiled slightly to show he was joking.

“Oh hush.” Tabitha said, appearing next to them, only for the older woman to smack her with the cloth napkin.

“Don’t scare an old woman. You want me to have heart attack?” Tatushka scolded.

Tabitha wrinkled her nose and rubbed her abdomen where she had been smacked as she sat down next to Isaac. “Izvinite Tatushka….” She muttered as she scooted her chair up and waited to be served. Isaac chuckled to himself.

Maeve, from beside Rex, glanced at their daughter then to her husband. “You know you get to dance with her right? Like, tradition to dance between father and bride.”

Rex nodded, glancing around. He would eat quickly so as to make sure he was ready when the band started playing. It took longer than he would have likes but eventually people finished eating and the tables were moved aside to make way for the dance floor. He stood from his seat quickly and moved toward Sabrina, holding out a hand to her.

She turned to him when he approached and smiled at him. She took his hand. “You don’t have to dance if you don’t want to daddy.” Though, she was actually happy to share this tradition with her father.

Rex shook his head. “Come on kiddo.” He said and took her hand to pull her out on the dance floor. His mind drifted back to when she was young and they would pretend to ball dance around the living room. “I’m happy for you baby girl but I’m sure going to miss having you around the house.”

Sabrina smiled. “I’m going to miss you too. I’ll visit a lot if it makes you feel better. Got to help you and Mom out.”

Rex shook his head. “Don’t you worry about us. You’re welcome to visit whenever but you don’t have to take care of us. We got Lucas for that.” He teased, spinning her around as the music reached a crescendo and then began to drop off again. When the song ended he pulled her into a tight hug.

Sabrina threw her arms around her father, hugging him tightly. “I love you Daddy. Thank you for being so supportive of me all these years.”

“I love you too Sabrina.” He said, looking up as he smelled Alric approach. Alric held his hand out to her and Rex sighed. “Now it’s someone else’s turn. You let me know if he steps on your toes ok?” Rex said and pounded his fist into his palm with a wink.

Sabrina laughed slightly. “I will. But normally I end up stepping on his toes… not as good of a dancer as he is.” She turned to Alric, taking his hand with a bright smile.

“Well, if he complains about it, then I got you.” He nodded before turning to Alric. He paused before shaking the man’s hand and returning to his seat so the two could dance and enjoy their reception as man and wife.

As the reception came to a close, Sabrina tried to help clean up only for her mother in law to shoo her off. She frowned slightly, but gathered up her dress for her and Alric to head home--which from her understanding, some of the pack had moved her things over there for them as their wedding present. “Was there anything we needed to bring back today from your room?” She asked her husband as she tried to find a way to gently fold the fabric.

Alric shook his head and scooped her up into his arms. “Nothing that needs to be gotten tonight. Would you like to take the car or the fast way?” He said, looking towards the trees in thought.

She blushed when she was picked up and leaned against him. “Either is fine. Might be cleaner to take the car--for the dress anyway unless you think you can get over there without it getting dirty.”

He sighed with small nod. “Car would be the easier option…” He admitted before carrying her towards his vehicle and gently setting her in the passenger seat. He kissed her forehead and then moved quickly around the driver seat to start towards the house.

When they arrived he was out of the vehicle and opening the door for her in the blink of an eye. He smiled and gestured with his arm towards the door. Sabrina laughed slightly as she got out and headed towards the door. “Thank you.” She clutched her dress and looked at the house anxiously.

He moved ahead of her to open the door. “Our bedroom is the end of the hall on the left, I’ll meet you in there shortly.” He said with a smile and brushed a curl away from her face.

She smiled and held the dress up. “And I’m putting this back on, right? That’s what you wanted to do?” When she got confirmation, she headed back to the room.

Alric grinned to himself as he headed into the kitchen grabbed a blood pouch from the crisper draw in the fridge. He downed it as quick as possible before grabbing the vial of herbs that would activate the spell he had performed by the local necromancer. He nodded to himself and knocked the herbs back. It took a few minutes but the spell activated and he felt his stomach turn. He winced and shook his head as if to shake the pain off before heading towards the bedroom.

Sabrina was back in her wedding dress, sitting on the bed and trying to fluff the skirt where she had accidentally squished it in the car. She looked at up at him and smiled. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He said and walked towards her, rising up onto his knees on the bed. “So…” He said reaching out to run his hands over her shoulders. “As my gift to you. I visited the necromancer… He did a spell to bring my organs back to life temporarily so that, if you want. We could attempt, naturally, to have a child…”

Her jaw went slack in thought and she gently shook her head. “I… I don’t think I’m ready--I mean, we can try cause I’m not--” She paused, waving her hands slightly in embarrassment though she wasn’t sure why, “ovulating…”

“Well… That’s fine. I just thought I would surprise you with the option.” He admitted cupping her cheeks in his hands. The pain in his stomach was steadily growing but he wasn’t paying much attention to it as he gently pushed her back onto the bed with a smile.

She smiled back at him. “Maybe in a few weeks we can--or after my birthday.” She put her hands over his. “That… sound ok?”

He nodded and bent to consume her lips in eager kisses. His hands drifted her shoulders down to her collar and then towards her torso. A sharp pang stopped him and he hissed under his breath, eyes a deep shade of crimson as he pulled away and placed a hand over his abdomen. He snarled and fell back from the bed, his breathing quickened in the growing pain. He dug the cell phone from his pocket and dialed Benji as he moved out of the room. “Sorry, one moment.” He said to Sabrina as he left, waiting for the necromancer to answer.

Benji answered just before it went to voicemail. “Yeeellow?” He said around a cigarette.

“Something is wrong with your spell. I’m in pain-”

“Did you drink and eat the recommended amounts? There was directions on the piece of paper I gave you with the bottle.”

“I thought that was a receipt!” Alric hissed.

“Haha, dumbass. Go get you some plasma and pasta or something.” Benji said and then disconnected. Alric looked at his phone and tossed it aside in irritation as he headed to the kitchen in search of blood pouches and food to make the pain stop.

Sabrina was sitting up, staring at the door where Alric went. She glanced around before sliding off the bed to go check on him. “Alric? Are… are you ok?” She mentally wondered if this was just going to be the curse for something to go wrong when they tried to do something special between the two of them.

“The spell required more blood and food that normal. Triple the normal amount in fact apparently.” He said looking at the paper with narrowed eyes as he quickly sucked down a blood pouch. He paused to eat two slices of bread before moving onto the next of pouch. “Just give me a few moments and we can… resume…”

Sabrina glanced at him from the doorway before nodding. She thought for a moment before returning to the room. She glanced around and searched the nightstands even though neither of them had lived in the house yet. She found a box with a bright green sticky note on it. ‘Need them or not, here you go’ and then her mother’s name was signed at the bottom. She pulled the note off to look at what the box was and laughed. “At least I won’t have to go to the store for tonight.” She said to herself, sitting on the bed to open the box.

About ten minutes later Alric returned, the color returned to his face and his eyes back to their dark blue. “Now…” He said with a sly smile. The pain was gone as he moved to where she sat on the bed, picking her up and scooting her back to pressed her to the mattress with renewed vigor.

[SpirituallyYours]

July 12th

Lorelei was sitting in the living room, updating the tea shop’s website from her laptop when her cell started to ring. She glanced at the caller id but no name came up. She answered with a frown of confusion. “Hello?” She said, cradling the phone in between her head and her shoulder as she continued to type.

“Lorelei Smith?”

“Uh, it’s Athanasios now but yeah?” Lorelei said, pushing the laptop back to give the call her full attention.

“This is Mr. Norrison. I was your representative in your court case against your father?”

Lorelei felt her stomach drop. She swallowed hard and furrowed her brows. “Yeah, I uh… recognize your voice now. What’s going on?”

There was a sigh on the other end of the line and the man cleared his throat. “Ms. Athanasios, I wanted to give you a heads up as a courtesy that… It seems your father is being released early with the conditions of weekly parole and continued treatment in alcoholics recovery program. Now I’ve tried to fight against this but, I have nothing that wasn’t presented in the original case and… Well, I wanted you to know. If you want to come into my office next week we can at least work on a restraining order. In the meantime, stay safe and try not to let this get to you too much…” The man said. Lorelei let out a small sound of acknowledgement before hanging up.

The room seemed to shift, the walls suddenly suffocating as her head spun. She in took several sharp breaths and didn’t realize until that moment that she had stopped breathing before hand. Her hands shook as she clenched her fists, trying to regain control of herself. It didn’t help though as her breaths became hyperventilated gasps. Her scales pushed through the skin on her arms and legs in her surge of emotions.

Nevin came in from the small add on room that acted as the laundry room. He closed the door behind him and ruffled his hair as he headed towards the living room. “Giles back with… food… yet…” He asked slowly, looking at her. His tail flicked and coiled against him in concern as he hurried over to her. “Are you ok? Lo?” He looked at her skin before picking her up. “Hang on, I--I can get you to the tub.” He started to head towards the master bath.

She grabbed onto him, clutching onto him as if her life depended on it. When she felt herself being lowered into the ceramic tub she shook her head. “N-no.” She said between her shallow breaths. “Don’t leave. P-... Please don’t leave me.” She said her face crumpling as heavy tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I’m right here. I’m not going to leave--what is going on? What do I need to do?” Nevin asked, shifting to kneel down next to the tub.

At the front door, Giles came in with a big bag of takeout. “Who is ready for some waffles, because I’m ready for some waffles!” He said as he hung his keys up and locked the door back behind him. He glanced around with a frown. “Nev? Lo?” He said, glancing towards the room where the sound of strained breath and what he soon realized was sobbing. His frown deepened and he set the bag down, running towards the room. He paused to knock loudly on the door. “Hey, everything ok?”

Lorelei looked up from where she had been burying her face in Nevin’s shoulder. When she heard Giles voice. She closed her eyes and struggled to calm her breathing enough to speak again. “M-m-m… My Dad… Is get-getting released… fr-from prison!” She said, her voice louder than she meant it to be as she forced the words out. “He-He’s going to kill me. He’s gonna…” She repeated and shook her head as her nails extended and her fingers tried to web.

Nevin glanced around and looked at the door. “Come in here, I don’t know what to do.” He said, turning back to Lorelei. “He won’t kill you. He won’t get here. You’re safe here, Lo.” He tried, running a hand through her hair.

Giles shifted his jaw as he came in. He bent down next to the tub and turned the water on, throwing the stopper. “Lo listen to me.” He said, turning to her with glowing green eyes. “Look at me.” He said and reached out to lift her chin so their eyes could meet. “I’m going to lock all the doors and windows. He doesn’t know where you are right now. You’re going to relax in the tub and sleep for a little bit while I call my Dad ok? He’ll get this sorted out.” He said and ran a hand gently along the side of his best friends face. The pupils in her eyes slowly shrank back to normal sizes, the color of them echoing his green for a moment as her breathing slowed. Her eyes closed and he gently laid her back into the water before standing to pull out his phone.

Nevin looked from Lorelei then to Giles. He mouthed to himself, ‘what the ******** is going on...’ and turned the water off when the tub was somewhat full--he didn’t want her to not fully shift and perhaps be in danger. He stood up and grabbed Giles, pulling him from the room so he could close the door. “What? Why? How?” He asked, pointing between Lo and him.

Giles shook his head. “Lo said her Dad is getting out of Jail, I don’t know why or how. All I know is I got her calmed down for the moment and now I need to call my dad to figure out what exactly is going on.” He said, stepped back as he scrolled through the picture folders on his phone. When he found the right one he put in the passcode to unlock it and pulled up the pictures that he had taken when he and Aminta had found Lorelei at her dad’s house. “Because anyone who could do this- Should not be getting out.” He said, his face furious as he turned the phone to Nevin.

Nevin furrowed his brows and looked at the picture. His stomach turned and he felt bile rise in his throat. He turned away. “Oh ********…” He muttered, “Owen told me s**t went down but I… I didn’t know…” He covered his mouth and leaned his head back to try and keep from puking. “Nope.” He said, dipping back into the bathroom when he couldn’t keep it down.

“Yeah.” Giles said nodding with raised brows in agreement. “And he did that because she told him she had been transforming in front of Owen from what she’s told us so… I don’t know what all he’s capable of.” He admitted before exiting the photo and pulling up his dad’s number, dialing it quickly and holding the phone to his ear as he glanced at the, now transformed, and sleeping Lorelei. Nevin sat up and wiped his face.

Bishop was in his office, focused on the paperwork in front of him when a phone started to ring. He absentmindedly picked up the desk phone. “Officer Bishop here.” When there was no voice, he hung the phone back up and looked around. He patted his pockets until he pulled his cellphone out and answered it. “Giles, what’s up?”

“I just came home to a very distressed Lorelei who says her Dad is getting released early. Please tell me that’s not true…” Giles said, pressing a palm to his forehead in his exhaustion from using his magic.

Bishop was quiet for a moment and shuffled through the papers on his desk. “I… hang on.” He stood up and closed his office door. He put his phone on speaker and set the phone down next to the papers. He pulled out a print out and scanned over it. “Yeah, I got a memo about it from the lawyer I got for Nysa… It was under all… this s**t.” He picked up the desk phone and started to dial for the alpha. “Does Nysa know yet? Is Lorelei alright?”

“No she’s not but… She is for the moment. I put her to sleep.” Giles said and crossed his arms. “I don’t know if Nysa know’s or not.” He said glancing towards Nevin. He moved the phone away from his face to let the other boy know. “It’s true apparently… this is bullshit.”

Nevin nodded in agreement. “Can he do anything?”

“I’m going to call Nysa then… see what she wants to do. Just… keep her calm, Giles and I’ll call you back when we know what we’re going to do--Nysa?” He said, reaching over to hang up on his cellphone.

Giles glanced at the phone as it disconnected and sighed, pushing the dreads back from his face. “Dad is calling Nysa. If the lawyers already know and Dad’s got the papers for it… I don’t know if there’s anything we can do besides make sure he stays far the hell away from Lo.”

Nevin shifted his jaw and stepped over to the nightstand. He pulled a bottle cap out, chewing on it in thought. He pulled it out of his mouth as he jerked his phone from his pajama pocket. “My dad… I can ask my Dad…” He muttered, putting the phone to his ear.

Travis was at the junkyard, looking over applications from teens trying to get a summer job. He answered his phone, not bothering with the radio playing music loudly. “How is your pillow furniture doing? Still holding together?” He grabbed a cookie from the box from his wife.

“Dad, I need to ask you a favor. Can you make like… a warding thing to a specific person? Like, an alarm or something? If it can repel a person it would be even better.”

Travis paused with the cookie between his teeth but didn’t take a bite. “Why?” He asked around the baked good before slowly crunching it between his teeth.

“Lo’s Dad--oh hang on, Giles knows the full story.” He held his phone out to the other boy.

Giles looked at Nevin for a moment in thought before taking the phone. “You squeamish?”

Travis frowned as he shifted to put his feet up on his desk. “Nope.” He said and shoved the rest of the cookie in his mouth.

Giles looked down at the number on the phone and used his own cell phone to forward the picture he had showed Nevin. “I’m sending you a picture of why he’s in jail and why we need to keep him the hell away from here.”

Travis shifted to put his phone on speaker so he could look at the picture when it came through. He zoomed in on the picture, picking up another cookie. “Looks like a nasty case of--nevermind.” He said and bit into another cookie. “Yeah, that must have sucked for her.” He closed the picture and returned his phone to normal against his ear. “Doesn’t change that I can’t do anything without actually having met him or knowing exactly where he is. Can’t ward against the unknown.” He coughed slightly as he sat up. “s**t, where’s my coffee?” He muttered under his breath.

“Well he still at the state prison right now as far as I know. His name is Chris Smith.” Giles said with a frown and held the phone back out to Nevin while he texted his Dad to see if there were any updates.

Nevin took the phone. “Still there Dad?”

“Yeah.” He brushed his hands free. “Tell Lo that she doesn’t have to worry. I’m going to set something up for her so she doesn’t have to worry about him getting anywhere close to her.”

“Thanks Dad. When will you bring it over?”

“As soon as I am done.” He hung up his phone and stood up. He looked at the last of the dozen cookies. He looked around his office before taking the box and shoving it into a grocery bag. He brushed his hands off and headed out to his truck. “I’ll be back in a bit.” He called to his workers before he was gone.

Nevin stared at his phone before rolling his eyes to look at Giles. “Anything?” Bishop was able to text him back in a timely manner, informing him that Nysa was going to get the restraining order started for Lorelei.

“Yeah Nysa is starting on the restraining order…” Giles said, glancing to the tub as Lorelei stirred. “s**t… I think the spell is wearing off. Listen don’t worry about going to work. I’ll sit with her until you get off your shift.”

“Well it’s the graveyard shift so… I have some time… think it’ll help if we just… hang out with her and I don’t know--watch a movie or something?” Nevin began to chew on the cap again.

“Yeah, keep her distracted, make sure she feels safe.” Giles said softly, bending to help Lorelei up out of the water slowly, checking her neck for gills. She winced as he brought her head up just to the edge of the water, waiting for them to close before setting her up the rest of the way as she opened her eyes and looked around, dazed for a moment.

Nevin stepped away to get a dry set of clothes for her and returned. “Hey,” He said softly, setting the clothes aside and grabbing a towel.

She pushed her wet hair back away from her face and turned towards Nevin. “Hey.” She said her voice hoarse from the crying and from transforming. She took the towel and drained the tub as her legs shifted back.

“I’m going to go get the food taken care of while she changes. Lo, your going to be ok. Momma Nysa and Nevin’s Dad are both doing what they can to ensure it. I’m promising you right now that if he ever steps a food on our property he’s a deadman.”

Lo nodded weakly and smiled at him. “Thank you.” She said as he stepped out so she could pull the wet night gown off and dry herself. Her arms shook as she took the clothes from Nevin to get changes. When she was dry and in clean clothes she stood and sank into his chest, hugging him. “Thank you… I’m sorry to… freak out on you like that…” She said suddenly embarrassed by her breakdown.

Nevin held her for a moment before picking her up to carry her out to the living room where Giles’ TV sat on the floor and piles of pillows were stacked as furniture. “It’s… ok. I understand now why.” He said and carefully set her down what was acting as their couch. He reached over to close the laptop. “I think Rashi will forgive you for a sick day. Do you want to watch a movie?” She nodded, curling up in his lap and resting her head on his shoulder as Giles sat down next to them, holding out the takeout out to them as he clicked the tv on to something light hearted.

---

Travis parked his truck down the street from the jail and looked towards the building. He slowly ate another cookie before reaching into his glove box. He pulled the knife holster out and turned the blade over in his hand in thought. He still kept it sharp even though he rarely needed it aside from simply opening a package here and there. He exited the truck and headed out towards the jail. He paused to look at it, and stepped inside. He used his magic to hide his knife as he stepped through the metal detector and up to the counter. “Yes, I was hoping I could visit an inmate?” He gave the man’s name but the woman turned him down. He nodded and looked her over. “It’ll only be a moment.” He said, forcing his magic into her so she’d give him the information he needed.

He prodded her mind for a map--simply to find the location of the cell he was staying in. He turned to look at the camera in the corner then to her. “I was never here.” He said, wiping her memory in the process before stepping through a portal. He arrived in the man’s cell where Chris was standing up from his bed in horror. Travis lifted his foot to kick him into a portal before stepping in behind him.

He let the spider limbs grow from his back and pinned the man face down against the ground. “I hope you enjoyed your time in prison. Really, it’s a life experience that fits you and people like you.” He knelt down on his back, taking the blade and placing it against his neck. “Though, I think your time here will be just as pleasant.” He shifted his knee to push the man’s head forward, the spider limbs piercing through his limbs. When they pulled back, the material of the void became chains, connecting and pinning him to the ground.

Travis pulled his blade free and stepped away from the man as he started to bleed out. He took a long breath, pulling the soul into his mouth. He gagged at the taste but swallowed it anyway. The darkness around him stirred. He stepped forward, using his knife to cut the name off of the uniform. He stepped away from him and he left the man’s body to be devoured by the creatures within the void.

He exited at his truck and wiped the knife on his jeans. He put the knife away in the sheath and started his truck back up. He looked at his hands and wiped them off on his jeans as well before starting to eat more cookies to replenish his energy.

The movie was going off and Giles was getting up to put something else on when he heard the sound of a truck in the driveway. He frowned and looked out the window. “Hey, Nevin? that your Dad?” He said, trying to peer past the windshield against the fading day.

Nevin looked at Lorelei to make sure she’d be alright before turning to look at Giles. “Yeah, his truck is loud and he says the metal hitting metal is a ‘sound of character’ or something.” He shifted to pull Lorelei a bit closer. Travis climbed out of his truck, shoving the last cookie in his mouth and heading to the door.

Giles moved to meet him at the door as Lorelei and wrapped her arms around Nevin’s torso. Giles unlocked and opened the door. “Hey-- That blood?” Giles said as he froze, looking the man over in concern.

Travis looked down at his jeans. “Yeah. Don’t worry. I’m fine.” He stepped inside, “Nevin, I know your Mom sent you cookies and s**t. Where are they?”

“In… the cabinets.” He glanced at Lorelei and shifted to look at him in silent question. Travis nodded and gave him the scrap of fabric before turning to head to the kitchen to search for the food.

Lorelei sat up to face their guest. She furrowed her brows in confusion as she noticed the blood as he walked into the light of the kitchen. She turned to Nevin to look at what he had been handed, a scrap of fabric with her father name on it. She took the fabric, feeling her body tense. She stood and moved to the kitchen, staring down at the scrap. “Mr. Harris… What is this? Did you… do something?” She said, not wanting to flat out say what she wanted to ask.

“I may have.” He said, pulling the box down to look at what was inside. “Might have.” He muttered and grabbed one of the cookies to eat. “I was asked if there was anything I can do and I did what I could.” He glanced at her. “He won’t be bothering you.” He said simply before continuing to eat more cookies.

She looked at the strip of fabric before tossing it into the trash can and moving to hug the older man tightly with watered eyes. “Thank you…”

Travis shoved the rest of the cookie in his mouth and hugged her back tightly. He swallowed the cookie so he could talk. “You know, with how people react to me handling shitty fathers, you’d think I’d have a worse habit about this.” He let her go to get more cookies.

She laughed slightly in confusion. “You’ve… done this before?” She said as she stepped back, drawing the house robe that Giles had lent her tighter around herself as she watched him. Giles narrowed his eyes and leaned his head back with a slack jaw, glancing from Nevin to Travis as his brain because to sent off a million panic signals.

Nevin looked at Giles and jumped up to join them in the kitchen. Travis nodded. “My best friend’s father was a dirt bag. Though, I guess I technically didn’t kill him. Simply made him want to throw himself off a railing… weird.” He said, eating another cookie.

Lorelei raised her brows and nodded. “Yeah…” She said, glancing at Giles who was still staring at Travis as if in thought.

When he finally spoke, he cleared his throat. “Hey, I’m really glad that Lo doesn’t have to worry about him anymore but… please tell me you did not like… leave a trail to my house. Because I got stuff going on in life, I do not want to be an accomplice to murder…”

Travis looked at him. “Oh yeah. I took a giant highlighter and drew an arrow pointing at the door.” He mimed this before frowning at him. “I can’t get caught--not by normal police anyway. Maybe hunters but… I think the hunter I would have to be worried about is kind of on my side on this one.”

“Ok, that’s reassuring but like… Not trying to be rude or anything but… How? Is it magic or whats up? Just for my peace of mind because my Dad is the sheriff and I’m not sure how to handle this…”

Travis frowned at him and looked at Nevin. “He’s more paranoid than you are.” He said and ate another cookie. “Camera’s can’t see me unless I want to be seen--people can’t remember me unless I let them. I can literally be a walking nightmare if I want to be.”

“He can be.” Nevin muttered, thinking about the spider limbs.

Giles let out a heavy breath. “Ok… and I’m assuming we are not telling my Dad about any of this.”

“Well no,” Lorelei said and shook her head. “I don’t want them trying to send Mr. Harris to jail for helping me.”

Travis scoffed. “Like they could even find evidence to pin it to me… tell your dad if you want, but not telling him is easier. If he asks, have him call me.” He ate another cookie before brushing his hands off. “Alright, I’m going back to work.” He said, glancing at them. “Any more questions or problem parents I need to know about? If I’m breaking my no kill run, I’m getting it all out in one day.”

“No I think that’s… everyone. Wait actually-- If your serious… Logan? He’s was in the same jail with my dad after stabbing Giles and assaulting Aminta…” Lorelei said, glancing over at Nevin and feeling her face color with shame for asking for someone to be killed.

Nevin looked between Lorelei and his father as the older man thought about it. “Just give me his name and more food and I can get it done.” He paused and rolled his head to look at Giles. “I mean, unless this is gonna make you act like a p***y. Size of a house.”

“Look, Logan absolutely deserves it but maybe we should just let the judicial system handle this?” Giles said narrowing his eyes in thought.

“Oh yeah, cause you know,” Travis paused to point at Lo. “Cause they handle cases really well--no offense to your dad I guess.”

Giles opened his mouth to say something but lost his traction, drawing his shoulders up in confused defeat. “I guess you have a point but… Nevin, you can’t be chill about this right?”

Nevin glanced at Giles and shrugged slightly. “I… don’t have a choice I guess. I wouldn’t be here if my Dad wasn’t so… him.”

“Truth.” Travis pointed at his son.

“I can’t say I’m chill about it, but I’m not against it.”

Lorelei frowned and shook her head. "I'm sorry. I was... out of place to mention it. I mean, he totally deserves it but... I can't ask you to do that. Not when you've already..." She trailed off and gestured to the name tag in the trash can.

“Technically you already did.” Travis muttered and Nevin frowned at him.

“I don’t fully understand because I wasn’t… there for either of the events but…” He paused, looking at his father. “I… suppose it isn’t even my call to make in the end. I’m not the one who…” He frowned to himself, “I’m not the one actually killing the person.” He glanced at Lorelei and Giles before looking back at his father.

“Don’t ask me what I’d do. I get something out of a person’s death either way.” Travis held his hand up and reached down to his jeans. He ran his hand along the fabric and pulled the blood from the fabric. He washed it off of his hand, and wiped the sink down after. “Well, if you’re changing your mind, then I am going to take it as hesitation and you can’t hesitate to want someone dead. Either they get a hit, or they get away.” He dried his hands off on the back of his jeans and started towards the door. “Either way, there you go. Don’t have to worry about him and I can start my no kill run over again. Twenty year record probably won’t be broken but I can try.” Nevin frowned slightly.

Lorelei looked at him, a sense of heavy guilt turning her stomach. She turned her attention to the ground. "Thank you and... I'm sorry." She said before drawing the robe to her chest and turning to head to her and Nevin’s bedroom with fresh tears in her eyes.

Giles watched her leave with and frown before turning to Travis. "Well... thank you for ensuring her safety either way. Respect." He added softly and opened the door for Travis to leave.

Travis nodded and glanced at the room before shaking his head. “Do me a favor? Tell her it wasn’t her damn choice in what happened to him and to shut up with the ******** ‘sorry’ s**t. She ain’t sorry, she’s just embarrassed that side of her came to the surface. Everyone has that side, it just takes something to drive them to the edge.” He rolled his eyes as he turned to his truck. “I should know.”

“Seriously Dad…” Nevin mumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he went to check on Lorelei.

Lorelei was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands clasped in front of her mouth with her elbows resting on her knees. When Nevin came in she glanced at him before returning her gaze to the carpet. “He’s right… I’m not sorry about what happened to him. Not after everything he did. I don’t feel an ounce of regret or… sadness for his death. What…” She paused taking a slow breath. “What I do regret is that… I’m not just… not sorry, I’m happy. I… regret that your father broke his recovery streak and I… feel bad that there was almost no hesitation that I asked him to do it again. I don’t know what kind of person that makes me.” She admitted, finally looking back up at her boyfriend again. “Between all of this and what happened with Owen… I feel like there is this… horrible, dark part of me that I don’t know if I can come to terms with and I’m ashamed that you saw it…”

Nevin frowned and leaned against the wall by the door frame. “Don’t… be ashamed of it. My Dad says that everyone has a…” He paused with a frown. “Darkness in them. It can’t be stopped and it grows over time as we… get older.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Some people’s speak louder than others… and some people learn to accept it and deal with is in… healthier ways.” He shrugged slightly. “And I’d rather see all sides of you instead of just the ones you aren’t ashamed of. I mean, I think you’re great and no one’s perfect.” He tail flicked and coiled slightly. “And not everyone is proud of who they are.”

She rose from where she sat on the bed and moved towards him. “I just… didn’t want you to look at me differently. The only times in my life I can ever remember coming close to feeling… proud or happy with who I was is when I was with you and I was scared that I.. had jeopardized that.”

Nevin was quiet for a moment before putting his hands and feet on the wall. He scurried along the wall to look at her upside down with a smile. “Even when I look at you different, I still feel the same about you.”

Lorelei watched him, a smile spreading across her face as he did so. She laughed at his joke, reaching up to wipe the tears away from her face. She stepped closer and reached up as high as she could to brush his face with her fingers. “Thank you, Nevin… You have no idea how much everything you do means to me…”

Nevin smiled at her. “I’m just glad to see you smile again.” He held the wall as he swung around to his feet again. “Come on, lets go watch another movie and… unwind again. Maybe eat some popcorn or something.” He thought about chewing on the kernels to help lose the tooth that was being pushed loose.

She nodded and reached out to take his arm. “That sounds… like a plan to me. Maybe eating will help you with that tooth that’s been trying to come out.” She added, eager to move on with their evening and try to move past everything that had happened.

[SpirituallyYours]

August 23rd

Ynez helped Candis down the stairs early in the morning. “Come on, Ivy wants to keep you to a school schedule.”

“I should just stay the night there and hang out at Parker’s after school.” Candis muttered, “These stairs are exhausting.” She put a hand on her stomach as the baby kicked her, causing her to wince. “I just want him out now. He’s starting to hurt.”

“Well, soon he will come out. Don’t rush it.” They reached the bottom of the stairs. Ynez paused to look around the house. “Ok, I’ll just… leave a note if Pazuzu comes for breakfast.” She stepped to her room as Candis waddled to the car. She scribbled a note down and set it in the kitchen. She returned to her daughter quickly, locking the door behind her before driving her to the portal. “Don’t give her a hard time. It’s only for… maybe a month.”

“I know. I don’t want to have to deal with teachers telling me I can’t go pee when I have to.” Candis leaned back in her chair, glad to be sitting again instead of walking. Ynez smiled slightly at her daughter before focusing on her driving.

----


Pazuzu appeared in the kitchen and looked around in confusion at the lack of people and food. He frowned to himself, picking up Ynez’s note, turning it over in his hands. He carefully folded the paper and stuck it in the pocket of his pants before turning towards the living room to wait for her to return. As he sat down on the couch though, he noticed the dvd for the 3d ultrasound was still sitting on the coffee table. He walked towards it looking at the disk as he retrieved it. After having watched Candis and Ynez work the technology in the living room he found he could navigate putting the dvd in and turning on the tv with little hassel. The video began to play and he smiled, marveling at the magic of modern technology as he sank back onto the couch. It would not take long though for his mind to begin to slip and the smile faded from his face as his brain flashed memories of the previous centuries.

Ynez returned a few minutes later. She unlocked the door and peeked inside at the shifting lights from the TV. The DVD was near the beginning and she figured Pazuzu must have just started it or it had looped back though the autoplay who knows how many times. She closed the door quietly and set her purse aside. She quietly walked towards the living room, ready to ask Pazuzu what he wanted for breakfast when he seemed disconnected from his surroundings. He didn’t seem animated or aware that he was even in the house. “Pazzy?” She asked, not wanting to startle him too bad.

The man didn’t seem to hear her voice though. He was leaned forward, chin resting on his clasped hands as he stared blankly at the screen. His eyes were glassy as he muttered under his breath. “Never had an heir… Never had a chance to. I was going to get the land.” His lips pressed together and the muscles in his body tensed as visions of a burning village and his slaughtered kinsmen pushed its way to the forefront of his mind. “Innes… I’m so sorry I left you alone. I didn’t know…”

Ynez furrowed her brows in concern as she moved around to look at his face. She slowly sat on the edge of the coffee table. She looked at him for a moment before gently reaching out to rub his shoulder. “Pazzy?” She said softly, not exactly wanting to be heard. She paused before she touched his shoulder and moved her hand to his cheek, her personal craving to know what he was thinking driving for the skin contact. She took a sharp breath at the visions that passed through her mind. A calm and quiet village that switched to a wrecked and burned land. It jumped between the two, as if unsure which imagery to focus on.

The sensation of Ynez’s hand on his face put the two sceneries aside for the moment as memory flooded of Pazuzu attempting to scale a wooden wall, a ragged bouquet of flowers in his hand. He breached the top and held them out to the dark haired girl sitting on the bench below him. She gasped and turned to him, narrowing her eyes and glancing around before standing on the bench to reach out to him. Her hand cupped his cheek and she took the flowers with a sly smile before chiding him in Gaelic about what would happen her father caught him. Pazuzu laughed and raised his brows at her, responding with the face that, that might be true, but he’d have to catch him first.

Ynez pulled her hand back, breaking the visions and held her hand. The language he spoke in the vision was beyond her basic understanding that was used for spell work when needed. She let out a shaky sigh, feeling as if she invaded on a private meeting, but finding she simply had questions to ask him now. She looked to him again, before turning to stop the DVD from playing. She didn’t have the heart to pull him from a pleasant memory if he was still having it.

When the DVD stopped, Pazuzu’s attention snapped back to the present. He looked around for a moment before he realized Ynez was in front of him and smiled, slapping his knees as he stood. “Ah, you’re back! Good, right then- What is… for breakfast?”

She looked at him as she turned the TV off. “I haven’t made anything so I am not sure yet…” She started before lightly biting her lip in thought. “Was Innes your lover?” She asked suddenly as she started towards the kitchen.

“Who?” Pazuzu said with confusion as followed her towards the kitchen. “The oats you made the other morning were fantastic…”

She frowned and pulled the oatmeal down to make for him. “Innes. You said her name…” She narrowed her eyes at him. She paused in her prep work for breakfast to quote him, “That’s what you said. Who was Innes?”

He furrowed his brows at her. “When? I don’t remember an Innes. I was watching the video of Candis’ wee thing. Must not have heard you get back until you were in the room. Fascinating that technology…”

Ynez stared at him in debate. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth, but what point was there to lie to her about it? She slowly resumed making oatmeal. “I…” She started before sighing. “Never mind… Next time I’ll get a recording and maybe it will help you remember then.” She pressed her lips together in thought and turned to face him. “Did you want an… ‘heir’?”

He tapped on the table in thought as he looked at her. “Like a child? Well, yes. I believe that most men worth their mettle would want to pass on their line, their trade…” He admitted with a frown. “When you first summoned me I propositioned a child from you but… I was not in my right mind at that time. I thought that creating a vessel for my… forced friend would ease the… silence of the void but… Mali was terrible company if I’m being honest and, in hindsight, the idea of creating a life to hold a demon rather than let it have a life of its own that can learn and perhaps… love… was a terrible plan.”

"It was a terrible plan. But I was asking if you wanted a child." She paused in thought, looking at him. "You could find a surrogate mother and egg donor." She paused when she realized he may not know what she meant. "That is to say a woman who will give you one of her eggs and carry the child--it may be the same woman or a different one. It depends on what you would like to do." She paused again as she stirred the oatmeal on the stove and moved to cut fruit to put into the pot. "I would do it for you but I am... infertile now so I could only carry the eggs for you."

"You would do that for me?" Pazuzu asked softly in astonished disbelief. "You would bear my child?" He stared at her for a moment before realization of what she said kicked in. His face scrunched. "But you've born two children. How can you be infertile?" He asked in confusion.

Ynez stirred the oatmeal. "When I was trapped in the void years ago, it... well this is my best guess cause my doctor was even confused by it. But the energy there must have rendered me infertile since I had... fae energy within my eggs so over time when I tried to expel the void magic from my system... it was taking some of the health from my eggs each time. That plus my age and..." She took the oatmeal off the stove with a frown. "I guess that just leaves me infertile. I don't really know for sure if that is how just that the egg samples they took were all dead."

Pazuzu stood in eager anticipation of the oatmeal, ready to get a bowl. He shook his head. "Ah, no. The void magic tends to make things wither but they're not truly dead. If the void is what did it, then void magic can bring them back... to a degree. You would need seed of the same kind..." He stopped, staring at her for at moment before turning to the cupboard to retrieve a bowl. "The oats smell wonderful."

Ynez watched him get the bowl. She turned her attention to the oats. "Then if you can revive them then I can give you a child--if you are alright with the genetics that child may receive from me. There are a lot of egg donors out there." She poured the oatmeal into the bowl for him and set what remained aside.

He stared at her, clutching the bowl. "I think you have wonderful genetics..." he said earnestly before glancing to the table in flustered manner as he went to sit. "I can… revive them... of course I can." He said nonchalantly as he took a big bite of oats, only to pause from the heat that burned his tongue.

“How?” She asked and followed him. She sat across from him, watching him carefully. “A spell? Potion? What exactly?”

He stirred the contents in the bowl. "A spell, yes.... ritual perhaps. Think of it this way. A necromancer can bring mortal things back to like because he manipulated the mortal realms energy and spirits. I can do the same thing with the void so... it'd be a similar ritual but tapping into different sources..."

Ynez nodded slightly in thought. “Well, when you are ready to do that, then we can… work on getting you a child.” She hadn’t originally planned to be the egg donor, but she would not deny the joy that she felt at the idea of having another kid. She smiled slightly.

He stared at her, a smile spreading across his face. He turned his attention back to the food, turning the idea over in his mind. After a moment he set the bowl aside. "I have preparations to make, excuse me." He said and then disappeared with a grin. A portal opened a moment later and his hand stuck through to take the bowl of oatmeal with him. "Thank you!" His voice came from the void as the portal closed.

Ynez looked at the portal and sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. “You’re welcome.” She said to herself before getting up to get ready for work. She wondered if she dived into that too fast, but decided it was too late to debate on doing it now. She didn’t want to take that excited look from Pazuzu. She smiled slightly to herself thinking of how excited he seemed.

---

Aminta sat through her first two classes, pouting to herself as she listened to the teacher. Other students seemed excited to see their friends and she felt very much alone. When the lunch bell rang for her class, she was the last one out of the room. She looked around, trying to find Tanya. She stopped herself though, sure the girl was spending time with her fiance and probably wouldn’t even notice the girl was there. Her eyes shifted in her loneliness and she glanced around for a place to sit as she got her food. She spotted an area that seemed mostly empty and headed to that spot. She looked at the chicken and fries on her plate and pushed them around. She wasn’t hungry but she knew she needed to try and eat.

Sage was walking by with her tray in search of somewhere to sit when she noticed Aminta moping by herself. The young red headed girl frowned and sat down next to her. “Hey. Whats up?” She said, glancing around with a frown before turning her attention to Aminta. “You bummed because Lorelei and my weirdo brother moved?”

Aminta nodded. “And my boyfriend Giles…” She muttered, pushing the nugget. “It’s… quieter now and lonely at school.” She glanced at the younger girl. She had only met her briefly for Lorelei’s birthday and only knew about her what Nevin told them. “Do you miss your brother too?”

Sage was quiet for a moment as she stabbed at the lettuce in her salad. “Yeah.” she said finally. “I do… The house isn’t as fun without his… stupid scaly butt.” She said and finally took a bite of salad. “Plus my… girlfriend is supposed to be at school this year but I can’t seem to find her anywhere and my phone got left at home.”

Lemuel got into the cafeteria and headed into line to get his food. He bounced on his toes nervously, looking around the room. When he spotted his sister, he grabbed one of the sandwich trays and headed eagerly towards her.

Aminta looked at the red head and smiled slightly. “I’m sure he misses you too. He says you do dance, yeah?” She spotted her brother and waved at him. “That’s my brother Lemuel.”

Lemuel set his tray down on the table and then turned to his sister, jumping on her back in a hug before sliding down into the seat next to her. Sage raised her brows and waved. “Yeah… I do… Hey your a freshmen right?” Lemuel looked up from where he was shoving the entire sandwich into his mouth. He nodded and blinked at her. “Have you seen a blonde girl named Morrigan?”

He didn’t need to respond as Morrigan hurried over to her and threw her arms around her in a hug. “My darling! My heart ached as I awaited the moment to find you.” She said, releasing her to sit down in the chair beside her.

Sage closed her eyes and held out a hand with a pressed lip smile. “I’m happy to see you too but let’s take it down a notch in public remember?” She said with a laugh and glanced apologetically at Aminta. Her stomach tensed though as she reached out to take Morrigan’s hand in hers, feeling her heart skip in the process.

Aminta giggled slightly as Morrigan took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Hi, I’m Aminta. You’re Morrigan right? This is my brother Lemuel.” The werewolf said and offered a hand. Morrigan shook her hand with a nod.

Sage squeezed the blonde girls hand protectively before returning her attention to the salad before her. “See your not alone. You have all of us here now.” She said with a shrug to Aminta, smiling slightly to herself.

Aminta smiled more. “Yeah. Thank you Sage.” She looked at her brother and finally returned the hug he gave her. He growled playfully, showing his teeth as he hugged her back tightly and rocked her.

[SpirituallyYours]

September 6th

Candis woke in discomfort as the baby kicked her stomach. She sat up, feeling the sheets squished under her. “Oh no, please don’t be pee…” She muttered and slid out of bed. She gathered up the sheets and started to pull them from her bed. She was trying to tug the fitted sheet off the bed when her stomach clinched in pain. She cried out and doubled over onto her bed. When the contraction passed, she gasped and slid onto the floor. She took some slow breaths until her stomach clinched in pain again. She curled up on the ground, gritting her teeth in pain as her eyes watered. Again, the pain passed and she fumbled for her phone on her nightstand. She started to call Parker and her stomach seized up again. “********!” She gasped, knuckles going white on her phone as it rang.

Parker was asleep when his phone started to go off. He kept it at max volume and by his pillow for the past week just in case Candis called. He jumped, startled by the loud ring tone and snatched it up. As soon as he saw her name on the screen he answered. “Hello?” He said, glancing at the clock. “Is it time? Oh god are you ok?”

“I-I think so. I can’t--” She stopped as pain forced her to curl up more around her stomach. “I can’t stay on my feet.” She said with a high pitched voice from the pain.

“Oh jeez, get your mom. I’m on my way over.” Parker said and hung up as he grabbed his coat, wallet and shoes. He then dashed towards the door, shouting “Dad! It’s time. I’m heading to Candis’s-and-then-probably-the-hospital!” He said, his words running together in his hurry to get out the house.

Jared sat up in the bed slightly. “What?” He mumbled and rubbed his eye. “Hospital?” He was quiet for a moment before he sat up to wake Maddie up to tell her that Candis was going into labor.

Candis crawled towards her door, holding her stomach in one hand so she wouldn’t fall with the next contraction. She gasped and gave up on trying to get to her mother. She called her on the phone. Ynez jumped when her phone started to go off and reached out to hang up. When she realized it was Candis calling, she pushed Pazuzu’s arm and blankets off of her to hurry upstairs. “Candis?” She called as she got to the top of the stairs.

“Mom--” She started and started to cry, unable to keep it in anymore. “It hurts so bad.” She put her face on the ground as her stomach tightened again. Ynez hurried to her and helped her to stand up.

“Ok lets get you downstairs and on the couch and I’m going to get your things ok? We’ll get you changed into a dress and out of these wet clothes. Did you call Parker?” Candis nodded with a wince. “Ok when he gets here he can take you to the hospital and I’ll be right behind you, ok?” She helped her down the stairs, supporting her as she doubled over in pain.

Parker pulled into the driveway faster than he probably should have and his car bounced in response. He raised his brows and threw it into park as he got out and dashed towards the house, not even bother to knock before throwing the door open. “Candis? I’m here.”

“She’s in here.” Ynez called, using her magic to pull the change of clothes and help her daughter change. “Go ahead to the hospital with her and I’ll be along shortly with her things.” Ynez explained, catching Candis as she tried to stand only for a contraction to nearly knock her down. “And watch her, her contractions are really bad.” She walked her to meet Parker.

“I’ll carry her if I have to.” Parker said moving to Candis and holding onto her arms as best he could so he could walk her to the car. The sounds of pain that she was making made his stomach twist in anxiety, knowing that he couldn’t help. Once he got her situated in the car he ran to the driver side and started towards the hospital. “Don’t worry baby, you’re going to be fine and soon the baby will be out.”

Ynez turned to Candis’ room, grabbing the hospital bag and taking it downstairs. She set it by the door and returned to her bedroom. She flipped the light on and stepped over to Pazuzu to shake his shoulder. “Candis is having the baby.” She said and stepped to her closet for a change of clothes. She could maybe take a quick shower, but she wouldn’t leave her daughter at the hospital over night.

Upon being shaken, Pazuzu jolted up, fingers curled around sparks of energy as he looked around. When he remembered where he was, the energy dissipated and he looked at Ynez in confusion. “What?”

“Candis is going into labor.” Ynez said, deciding against the shower and simply changing her clothes. “She’s heading to the hospital now with Parker and I’m going to be bringing her a few things shortly. Did you want to go with me?”

“Yes.” He said as he straightened out his clothes and moved around with Ynez, shadowing her in his uncertainty in what to do.

When Ynez was dressed and her hair and teeth brushed, she led Pazuzu out to the car. She motioned for him to get in the passenger seat as she put the bag in the back. She would then head to the hospital to meet her daughter there.

Parker was already sitting up in the room with Candis, holding her hand and pressing a wet cloth to her forehead, his face pale with anxiety. When Ynez arrived he looked up in relief. “Is this normal? Is it supposed to hurt her this much?”

Ynez set the bag down by a couch and walked over to her. “Well, she is young… so perhaps?” She ran a hand along her hair line to push the hair away. “Have they given her any pain medication yet?”

“They’re working on it… And I texted my Dad and mom because I was freaking out. I hope that’s ok.” Parker said and pressed the cloth to her face again. Pazuzu stepped into the room and looked at the two before turning his attention to Candis. He bent down her her stomach and pressed a hand to it before speaking to the baby in Gaelic. Parker looked from the man to Ynez with furrowed brows. “Is this a spell? What’s going on?”

Ynez looked at him then to Parker. “I am not sure. I don’t know that spell if it is.” She ran a hand along Candis’ head for a moment. “Candis, honey, who all do you want me to text?”

“There is a saved message to send…” She muttered, “On my phone.” Ynez nodded and went to her daughter’s phone to send out the message.

Pazuzu stood and shook his head. “I was just telling him to stop giving his mother so much trouble…” He said before making his way around the room to draw protection sigils on the walls in energy that disappeared as soon as they were placed.

Ynez finished sending the messages and looked to Pazuzu. “Thank you.” She paused and turned to Parker. “We don’t know how long it would be before the baby is actually born. You might want to get comfortable.” She glanced around and pushed a recliner closer to the bed. “Here, take a seat. Pazzy and I will take the couch.”

“That’s a stupid nickname Mom…” Candis muttered from the bed, too tired and in too much pain to put emotions behind it.

“It’s all I’m clever enough to come up with.” Ynez said as she sat next to Pazuzu as a nurse came in to give her the pain medication through her IV. Pazuzu looked at Ynez in thought for a bit before turning his attention back to the young couple.

---

The sun was peeking out when Candis went into active labor, shooing those who were in the room away. Ynez took a moment to send out a text to the people on her list to inform them the baby would be there really soon before looking to Pazuzu then to Candis. “Do you mind if Pazuzu stays?”

“It’s--” She breathed and leaned back against the bed. “Ok…” Pazuzu stood and clasped his hands behind his back as he surveyed what was going on. Parker gripped her hands, feeling his stomach turn as the reality that their child was about to be born into the world actually hit him.

Ynez stepped over to take Candis’ other hand, holding it in her own as the doctor walked her through pushing the baby out. With each push, the girl grew tired, drained, to the point where Ynez was gently shaking her hand to keep her awake. It took almost two hour for the baby to be fully born. The doctor looked to Parker, asking him if he wanted to cut the umbilical cord.

Parker stared at his son in awe. “I can hear him… Sort of.” He whispered, swallowing the lump in his throat as he took the surgical scissors and cut where he was told. “He’s scared right now… Can we hold him?”

“Yeah, as soon as we get him cleaned up honey.” The nurse said from the station to the left as the washed and dried off the baby.

The other nurse finished with Candis and gathered up the soiled sheets and left the room. Candis leaned back on the bed, exhaustion claiming her into a heavy sleep. Ynez quickly put a hand to her daughter’s forehead. “Doctor?” She asked, looking at her daughter in worry. The doctor stepped over and checked her vitals. It was a moment later before the doctor explained that she may have to stay at the hospital for a few days to recover. He told them formula would be provided until she was strong enough to breastfeed. Ynez frowned as she kept her eyes glued on her daughter. “She’ll recover faster than you think.” She muttered to herself, worried and mentally counting out the herbs she had to make recovery potions with.

Pazuzu glanced at Ynez and disappeared to check the mage’s garden for herbs to help the young witch. The nurse jumped as she was handing over Parker’s son at the man vanishing. Parker took the baby before the nurse could accidentally loose her grip, rocking him slightly as he had seen his mother do for his brother. His heart warmed looking down at the small boy who was already trying to open his eyes. The doctor and nurses cleaned the room up before leaving the group to meet the new addition to their family. Parker’s eyes watered slightly as he sat back down beside Candis and and cradled his son’s head. Pazuzu returned with an arm full of herbs and mortal and pestle which he held out to Ynez.

Ynez looked at him and smiled gratefully. “Thank you Pazzy…” She took them and sat down on the couch to start grinding the herbs.

The door opened as the guests started to come in to see the baby, including Barry who had just arrived. While the other headed for Parker and the infant, Barry headed towards his daughter, frowning in concern at the fact that she was unresponsive.

Ynez looked up at the people who came in then to Barry. She stood up and moved over to him. “Doctor said she will have to be here for a few days to recover… I’m making a potion to help her recover faster.” She paused in her grinding of the herbs to feel her forehead. “Her energy is returning slowly but that’s a good sign.” Barry nodded with a frown, checking her vitals for himself rather than relying on the machine. He would wait their with her until she woke up to let her know that he was there.

Ynez stepped away and picked up the bottle of water she had gotten from the vending machine a while ago. She put the herbs in the bottle and swirled it slightly. She sat down on the couch, cupping her hands under the bottle and closing her eyes to focus on the potion, using her magic to accelerate it’s fermenting process. She stayed like this, boosting it’s potency as she waited for her daughter to wake up.

The nurse returned a moment later with a small formula bottle and politely asked the visitors who weren’t direct family or the father to please leave. “She needs rest.” She turned to Parker, walking him through how to feed the new born. When the child was eating, the nurse left, leaving the adults to help him should he need it.

Parker fed his son and Barry got up to go get breakfast from the cafeteria since Candis still showed no signs of waking. After everyone had filed out Pazuzu stepped up and cleared his throat quietly. “Could I… Perhaps hold the child?” He said, looking down at the baby in thought

Parker looked to Ynez as if to verify that it was alright. When she nodded he passed the baby to Pazuzu. He took the baby very carefully, as if it were made of thin glass and smiled at him. “Oh he’s got strong magic indeed…” He said with a laugh before humming at the child and singing softly in different tongue. Ynez let her focus break once more to look at Pazuzu. She smiled to herself slightly before focusing again on the potion.

---

It was roughly two hours later, and the nurse was returning with a second bottle for the child. When the girl awoke, she tried to swallow but her throat was too dry. “I’m thirsty…” She said, rolling her head to look around. “Dad!” She said hoarsely and held her arms out for him to hug her.

Barry hugged Candis. “Hey kiddo. You feeling ok? Your mom’s got a potion for you…”

“I’m tired and weak… and very thirsty.” She said, barely able to get her arms around him in her fatigue. “Is the baby ok? I don’t… I don’t remember what happened…” She muttered as her mother stood up and brought the water bottle with a straw to her.

“Barrett is fine.” Parker said with a smile as he brought her son towards her to see. “His eyes are open.”

Candis was drinking from the straw but stopped to hold her hands out to hold the baby. When she saw the shaking in her hands, she lowered them with a mixture of joy and sorrow. “They are open? He’s so cute.” She sniffled slightly and leaned her head to the side on the pillow. “Is his head suppose to look like that?”

“Yes, that’s normal.” Ynez said, shifting her weight. “Parker, why don’t you help her hold him?”

Parker nodded and sat down next to her to help support the baby while he sat him in her lap. Barry stood and moved back to give the two some space. He turned to Ynez, pausing to narrow his eyes at the other man before pulling his ex-wife aside. “She’s going to be ok right?”

Ynez nodded. “Yeah, I won’t let it be anything other than that. Barrett was a large baby--I don’t blame her for being exhausted…” She glanced at their daughter before looking back at Barry. “The potion will make sure she recovers fully and quickly. Don’t worry about that.” She put a hand on his arm. “She’ll be fine.”

Barry nodded. “I can’t stay. I left in the middle of a mission to come here…” He said with a frown, turning his attention back to Candis. He moved back to sit down with her a little while longer before he had to leave. Ynez stood there for a moment before taking the drink to Candis again. The girl laid back, letting Parker take the baby so she could drink the potion. She fell asleep again after the bottle was drained.

[SpirituallyYours]

October 7th

Ynez came home from work, carrying a few bundles of clothes under her arms. She closed the door and heard Owen’s voice from upstairs. She smiled to herself and dumped the clothes on the couch with her purse to head upstairs. “Owen?” She asked as she peeked into the room. Her son was sitting in the chair with Barrett in his arms. Candis was leaning on the wall near by.

He smiled at her. “Hey Mom.” He stood up and passed the baby to his sister, who shoo’d them out of the room so she could feed the child. “How was work?”

“Good, how is the house? You haven’t had any problems, have you?” Ynez asked, reaching the bottom of the stairs to narrow her eyes at him.

“No, everything is fine. We had Caelan come over to change the bathroom around a bit, but it’s fine.” He moved to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He frowned that there wasn’t any lemonade and opted for a soda. “Things still alright between you and Pazuzu? Kiara is uh… eh about him.” He shrugged slightly with the description.

“We’re fine.” Ynez said, moving to sit down at the table. “What brought you over here? Just wanted to see us?”

“Candis called and said you wanted to talk to us when I was free.” He popped the top to his soda and his mother frowned. “Is it something that’s suppose to wait for? Do I need to come back another time before Candis comes down here?” He paused when he noticed a light flash at his mother’s stomach. “Uh… what is that?” He pointed at her stomach.

The woman furrowed her brows and leaned back to see the miniature fireworks going off around her stomach. She blinked and put a hand over the area and looked at Owen. “Well… I suppose this is related to what I wanted to talk to you two about…” She muttered. Owen frowned and moved to sit with his mother as the fireworks stopped. “Though, I need to speak to Pazzy--just for a moment and I’ll be back.” She stood up and turned to leave the room.

“Mom?”

“Yes?” She asked, glancing back at him. He rubbed his neck in thought before shaking his head to drop the question. She turned away slowly and went to the bedroom. She closed the door behind him and thought about her desire for Pazuzu to be in the room with her.
Pazuzu appeared in the room and turned towards her in confusion. When he noticed the small bursts of energy going off he grinned. “See? Told you I’d be successful.” He said with a happy laugh before snapping his fingers to stop the energetic light show. “Did you like my alarm?”

“I now have a very confused son in the kitchen and a daughter coming downstairs soon to find out that we are having a baby and… are eventually getting married.” She crossed her arms. “Did you want to be there for this talk or not?”

He furrowed his brows and nodded at her. “Of course. I should let them know that I have every intention of doing right by this…”

Ynez let out a relieves sigh and nodded. She turned to leave the room and back to her son. He was at the fridge again, gathering up a few ingredients for a sandwich. “I see you still feel at home here.”

“Well yeah--unless you were saving these, I skipped lunch to see my nephew.” He closed the fridge. “Hey Pazuzu.” He turned to the counter as his sister came back downstairs with a sleepy Barrett, who being rocked back to sleep.

“Ok, I waited as long as I could for this.” She said, stopping by the door to rock the baby. Pazuzu waved at Owen before gingerly holding his arms out in a silent question to hold Barrett. Candis looked at him before passing the child over. “If he falls asleep, you have to put him in his crib.” She said, putting her hands behind her back once they were free of the child.

Owen quickly made his sandwich while Ynez sat at the table, turned to face her kids. She twisted her fingers slightly in thought before putting her hands on her knees. “Alright well… I… am pregnant.” Ynez said. Candis frowned deeply and glared at her mother while Owen’s brows shot up in surprise.

“I thought you couldn’t be? Like, that was why you were gone that week…” He trailed off before shaking his head. Candis crossed her arms in anger.

“Well she could, it just took a bit of magical intervention…” Pazuzu said, clearing his throat as he rocked the baby the way he had seen Ynez and Candis do. “And a similarly affected- Well, never mind that bit. The child, is mine.” He said finally, turning his attention to Owen. “I want you to know that things have been well in your stead, and I have every intention of providing for your mother and the baby to the full extent of my abilities. I’ve also asked-”

“Agreed to stay here with us. As in, a resident in the house instead of a visitor or a guest.” Ynez said quickly. She glanced at Pazuzu, hoping he wouldn’t try to mention the proposal.

“No.” Candis said suddenly. “No! You don’t need another kid!” She snapped at her mother. Barrett started to whine at the raised voice.

“Candis, don’t--” Owen started.

“No! Not with him!” She pointed at Pazuzu accusingly. “He isn’t--” She paused to look at him now. “You aren’t my dad and I don’t want you to be apart of my family! I want my real Dad back!” Barrett was crying now and Owen stood where he was, sandwich in hand.

“Candis, it’s… not uncommon for people to seek companionship or remarry.” Pazuzu said with a frown, surprised by her outburst but mostly confused. He glanced down at the crying baby and held it back out to Candis, no longer feeling welcomed to hold him.

“Remarry?” She echoed, her voice pitching as she grew angrier. “You’re going to remarry?” Candis turned her accusing look to Ynez, who was getting to her feet. Owen glanced between them but moved to Pazuzu to take the child and return him upstairs. “This isn’t fair! You-you can’t remarry anyone unless it’s Dad!” She felt hot tears in her eyes and she balled her hands into fists. “I don’t want you to marry anyone else! I-I don’t want him here anymore if-if it means you aren’t going to-to be with Dad ever again.”

“You’re yelling scared Barrett,” Ynez said, stepping over to her daughter. The girl moved away from her. “Candis, I need you to calm down and sit down.”

Candis started sobbing. “I don’t want this…” Ynez stepped towards her daughter again, but she ducked around her and ran out of the room to the living room. Ynez sighed and put a hand to her forehead in exhaustion.

Pazuzu frowned. “Should I try to talk to her or something of that nature?” He said, looking at Ynez. “I feel like I upset her somehow…”

Ynez shook her head. “No, talking to her when she’s angry doesn’t ever help… we just… have to wait until she calms down I suppose...” Owen returned to the kitchen, glancing between them. Ynez looked up at her son, her eyes tearing up slightly. “Are you upset as well about this?”

Owen shook his head. “No, I know you and Dad are… done. I talked to him about it. I just want you to be happy.” He stepped over to his mother and hugged her. “And, I get another sibling so that’s awesome.” Ynez turned to hug her son back tightly.

Pazuzu stared at Owen before stepping forward to clap his shoulder. “Thank you for that. I tell you what? I’ll get you a couple lambs for your homestead, how’s that?”

Owen furrowed his brows and Ynez laughed weakly. “I… don’t need lamb. Thanks, but just uh… keep taking care of my Mom I guess.” Ynez let him go and turned to get a paper towel to dry her eyes. “And uh… don’t let Candis get to you. She’s just…. bias.”

“Ok then. I wish you luck in maintaining your lands and furthering your lineage.” Pazuzu said. “If you change your mind about the goats, let me know. Excellent butter and meat, that…”

Owen frowned. “I don’t have room for a lamb. I’ve got like… uh, two inches of a yard.” He looked at his mother who was laughing slightly to herself. “How about we go pick up something to eat? Have you tried Mexican food yet?” He asked Pazuzu.

“Uh… No?” He said, eyes narrowed in question as he looked to Ynez for confirmation.

“He hasn’t.” Ynez said, balling up the paper towel to throw it away. “I’ll have to touch up my make up before we leave.”

“Nah, I can bring you a menu and I can go inside to pick the food up. We can bring it back here and… let her cool down a bit.” Owen said and looked at Pazuzu. “Uh… I guess you can hang out here if you want, my car’s back seat is full of stuff from work...”

“Alright.” He said with a nod and went to sit down on the couch, staring at the blank tv screen in thought. Owen looked to his mother and nodded to the door. She followed her son outside.

Candis was sitting in another chair in the living room, arms crossed and fuming in her seat. She looked at Pazuzu and shifted in her seat to face away from him. She was quiet for a moment before huffing and sitting up. She turned to face him, forcing herself to uncross her arms and look at him. “I’m… sorry for what I said.” She muttered softly.

“That’s ok lass. Your fiery temperament is… if nothing else, a testament to your passions. It’s good.” He said with a nod as he continued to look at the tv. “Let any man who would quiver in it’s wake fall by the wayside.” He chucked.

She furrowed her brows at him at his wording. “Why my mom though? Like, you ******** up my cousin’s energy slightly, and the portal thingie… you seemed like a… a d**k really, so why would you suddenly want to… not be a d**k?”

Pazuzu glanced over at her with a frown. “Can you imagine… living for centuries, disconnected from the world and the… warmth of another? I had only demons to keep me company and to base my moral compass… I made mistakes and used poor judgement in that regard but… Your mother is the first human that… Her presence resonates with me in a way that I had… long thought to be gone for the likes of me… She gives me second breath…”

Candis furrowed her brows. “You mean a second chance?”

“I mean… She makes me feel… alive again. Like a person… I haven’t felt like that in a long time.” He said with a frown. “That is why your mother, and I’m sorry that it upsets you but please understand… I will do whatever it takes to make your mother happy because this feeling… it’s not something I’m willing to lose.”

Candis frowned in thought as she flopped back in her chair, slouching in her mixed emotions. After a long pause she huffed. “Fine… but you need a better nickname than ‘pazzy’ cause it sounds stupid. Is that even your real name?”

“I… don’t think so…” He said with a frown. “I remember having a name before that one but not what it was…”

“Well maybe you should remember? You wouldn’t want to be married under a fake name, would you?” Candis kicked her feet slightly, listening for any noise upstairs. It seemed that Barrett had fallen asleep already.

“Uh… I suppose you have a point but I’m not sure where I would find it… Perhaps I wrote it down somewhere…” He muttered, thinking about his office in his home.

Candis shrugged. “Yeah. Until then, I’m going to call you Spud.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I don’t like that name.”

“Well, you’re going to have to get use to it until you find your real name.” Candis stood up. “If my Mom is going to be having a kid--which will be my sibling as well, I don’t want to be telling people that their father is a false god.”

He leaned his head back to look at her in thought. “Very well. I will, figure it out…” He said as he stood. “But I’ll have you know… I’ve earned that title…”

Candis huffed. “No one is a god--no matter how strong they are.” She turned to head upstairs to the bathroom. Pazuzu frowned before standing to move to the bedroom where he would open a portal to his office to start rummaging through the grimoires and journals he had in his possession.

[SpirituallyYours]

October 7th

It was roughly an hour when Owen and Ynez returned with the mexican food. “Candis!” Ynez called when she didn’t see her daughter in the living room. The girl took a moment to peek out of her room. “Food?” She asked, holding up the container. The girl hesitated but nodded and started to head downstairs. Ynez dropped the food off in the kitchen and looked around. “Where is Pazuzu?”

“Don’t know. We talked, and I went upstairs.” The girl said as she reached the last step. Ynez raised her brows in surprise. “And if you want to marry him, fine… but you don’t even know his real name. You can’t marry him until you know it.” Candis said. Ynez opened her mouth to tell her it wasn’t her choice to make, but decided to let it go. It was better than having her be angry. She turned to look for Pazuzu in the bedroom.

She spotted the portal and glanced at the kitchen before closing her bedroom door behind her. “Pazzy?” She called, stepping through the portal and into his office. She glanced around, never having seen any other room than the bedroom. He was sitting down among a pile of old papers, one of them clutched in his hand as he stared vacantly at the wall, muttering to himself in old Gaelic with random bits of English mixed in.

Ynez glanced at him and walked over. She glanced over his shoulder at the paper then to him. She waved her hand in front of him before looking at what was on his desk. She didn’t understand anything written on the pages. She looked at his hand in debate before reaching out, wondering if she could delve into his memories.

What came to her was visions of Pazuzu working in a field, tilling the ground as the sun was just starting to rise over the horizon. Sheep bleeted from across the field and he looked up to see another man pushing back the barn gate, yelling his name with cupped hands as he told him to come tend to the cattle once he was done with the field. “Aye!” He called back before wiping the sweat from his brow and driving the hoe down into the soil again.

The vision shifted to him looking out at a boat, a sack over his shoulder. Someone called his name and he turned to see the same dark haired woman from before running towards him with a look of anger. She stopped a few feet from him and started to berate him. He reached out to take her hand, promising that he would return and with enough wealth to provide a home and land. She frowned and shook her head but stepped forward to hug him quickly before pulling away and leaving as quickly as she had came.

Ynez pulled her hand back quickly at the vision of the woman, feeling as she had intruded once more even though she knew no matter what the memory was, she was intruding. “Seamus?” She muttered, turning to look at the pages. She recognized the way the pages were written as a letter and she checked who they were addressed to. She turned the pages over, just to make sure it wasn’t a different name or mail to someone else. She set the page back down, wondering what the other words were as she noted who the sender was. She turned back to Pazuzu, reaching out to shake his shoulder to try and bring him back to reality and from his memories.

As soon as he was shaken, his eyes snapped back, reaching out to grip her arms. When he realized it was Ynez, his expression softened and his grip loosened. “Oh… Hello.” He smiled at her, rubbing her arms lightly.

“Seamus?” She asked, nodding at the papers.

“What?” He said in confusion, trying to look at what she held.

“Your name…” She shifted to sit on the desk. “The letters are addressed to ‘Seamus’... is that you--your real name?”

He looked at her with a frown and furrowed his brows, letting out a puff of air. “I don’t know… is it?” He said as he stood, spilling the papers from his lap in the process. “Did you acquire food?”

“I did… and I think it is. I--” She paused, turning her eyes to the ground. “I was looking into your memories when you were disconnected and they were calling you and you responded to the name.”

“Memories?” He said with a deeper frown, feeling slightly agitated that she had access to things within his own mind that he did not. “I… Have no proof that says other wise… Say it again, let me see how it sounds…”

“Seamus.” She repeated, furrowing her brows in thought. “And the woman named Innes addressed you as Seamus MacGilleain.” She looked at him now. “Does it… resonate with you?”

He stared at her, his mind catching the phantom image of the woman who approached him on the shore. His throat clenched for reasons he did not understand at this ghost of a memory. He nodded with a frown. “Yeah, it… triggered something so… It must be correct…” He said drawing his lips in as he straightened his grimoires. “It still feels strange after going by Pazuzu for so long but, it’s not totally foreign on your lips….”

“Which name would you prefer then? If you want to go by… your real name, then we can, but a nickname is just as real to some people as their name from birth.” She thought about Barry’s preference in name as well as her parents.

“No if… I am to have a child then I should use my given name. I want them to know me as a person, not what I became.” He said simply before stepping out of the portal in search of food.

Ynez watched him, frowning slightly to herself as she stood up and followed him out of the portal. She glanced back at the room and bit the knuckle of her index finger in regret. She sighed and finally headed towards the kitchen. Owen and Candis had already dished out the food onto plates and set the table. Candis sat with her arms crossed and Owen smiled at them when they came in. “Uh you took a bit so we set the table for us all to eat together.”

“We were getting my name, I’ll have you know.” Pazuzu said and raised his brows at he sat down at the table in front of the nearest plate. “This looks great…”

“What’s your name then, Spud?” Candis asked, uncrossing her arms in curiosity. Ynez frowned at her and the girl turned her attention to her plate. Ynez slowly sat down as well, still frowning slightly in thought.

“It isn’t spud.” Ynez said, “So don’t call him that. Please.”

“No, its Seamus…” He said as he worked on moving the rice on the plate around. “Seamus… MacGilleain.” He glanced up as he ran his fork over the red colored sauce as he tried to gauge the others reactions.

Candis flopped back. “Well, at least it isn’t something boring like Bob.” She poked her food around for a moment before sitting up to eat some of the rice.

Owen nodded. “Seamus huh? That will take some time to get use to saying it. What is the meaning behind that one?”

“It means ‘he who supplants’.” Candis answered and Owen looked at her. “I researched names before I brought Barrett to the table.” She frowned at him. “Shamus was one of the names that showed up in the random name generator.”

“You used a name generator for your son?”

“For inspiration on a name.” She kicked him under the table. Owen winced and jumped slightly, kneeing the table. Candis laughed slightly while Owen rubbed his knee. Ynez shook her head slightly, partially glad her family was acting the same despite the recent information. She could tell her daughter was agitated, but she was doing well to hide it.

“Well then… The point is that you are both free to address me as Seamus instead now.” The purple eyed man said as he took an eager bite of food, only to pause when his mouth and tongue warmed. He turned the food over and looked to Ynez in question.

“Oh, yeah, we put some of the spicier food on your plate for you to try.” Owen explained after seeing his expression.

Candis was quiet for a moment before trying to mimic Pazuzu’s accent. “Seamus.” Ynez looked at Candis, the younger girl starting to titter.

He turned his attention to her and furrowed his brows in confusion, taking another bite of the spicy food. “I don’t sound like that…” He muttered, shaking his head dismissively as he devoured everything on his plate.

Candis twisted her mouth slightly in thought before trying again. “I don’t sound like that.” She quoted. “Seamus.” Owen coughed as he tried to choke back a laugh.

“Candis.” Ynez said softly in warning but the girl burst into giggles.

Seamus looked up at the girl with a frown before turning to Owen. “Thank you.” He said and then was gone in the blink of an eye, have transported himself back to his home within the void to return to his papers.

Ynez let her hand fall to the table and frowned at Candis. “Candis. Really.”

“What?” Candis asked, frowning back at her.

“Why would you do that?”

“Because the baby is going to do the same thing and you know it.” Candis angrily stabbed her enchilada. “If he can’t handle me just mimicking him--”

“It was the laughter as well.” She crossed her arms and looked at Owen.

“If he comes back I’ll apologize.” Owen offered, “but did you look at Candis’ face as she tried?”

“I did not--”

“Seamus.” Candis repeated, scrunching her mouth to the side to try and get the accent. This caused her mother to sigh and put her face in her hands. Owen returned to his food, looking down at his plate to keep from watching his sister scrunch her face and repeat the name to try and get the same accent.

Ynez stood up from the table and stepped away. “Sorry Mom.” Candis muttered but the older woman returned to her room. She closed the door in thought and glanced at where the portal was before. She gritted her teeth in debate before straightening her shoulders. She focused on the area that the portal was, holding her hands in front of her to help give her a focal point. She pulled them apart, a vertical tear opening where the portal was before. She could peek into the office within the void and she stepped inside, the tear mending itself behind her. “Pa--” she started, but corrected herself. “Seamus?”

He looked up at her from where he was reorganizing his spell books. “Yes?” He said, turning his attention back to the tomes in his embarrassment.

She stepped up behind him and hugged him, holding him gently. “I love your accent.” She said softly.

“I know…” He said, placing a hand over her arms. “This is just… that and now my name are the only things I have to remind me of who I was… Before all this.” He said and gestured to the books around them.

Ynez held him for a moment and let go to step beside him. She took his hand, trying to replay the memories for him like she had done for Lucas in the past. When her magic fizzled out, she frowned. She held his hand a bit tighter, trying again but she felt pain shoot through her head. “I… am going to show you.” She closed her eyes, trying again until the pain caused ringing in her ears. “I want to show you…” Her eyes watered from the pain before she had to stop trying. She leaned her head against his arm, shoulders sagging in defeat.

He turned and took her tightly into his arms, shaking his head. “I’ve tried… potions for remembrance but then they’re gone again. My mind can only hold so much it seems and it prioritizes the present.” He admitted softly, pressing his cheek to the top of her head.

Ynez hugged him back, her head hurting severely but unwilling to leave to lay down. “I’m going to help you remember. I’ll find a way. I promise--” She pulled away. “Ivy!” She said suddenly. “Ivy can do it!” She winced at her sudden outburst. She put a hand to her forehead, taking his arm to pull him away from the books. “Come on, she’ll still be up right now and--” She winced again, “and she can help you--or at least tap into the memories and tell you what she sees…”

“Stop.” He said and held her to him for a moment, placing his hands on her head. His eyes glowed violet for a moment as he pulled the pain from her nerve receptors and took it into himself. When he let go he paused to kiss her forehead before stepping back. “Better?”

“Yes. Thank you.” She smiled at him for a moment before pulling on his arm again. “Lets get to Ivy’s. Right now.”

He nodded but then froze, face full of uncertainty. “I’m… unnerved by knowing.” He admitted before following her again. “What if I don’t like what I find or the person I was.”

“Well, you’re not that person anymore, are you?” Ynez asked, raising a brow at him. “You are the you in this time, changed over the years to be someone different--someone new.”

“Do you think she can mend me?” He asked with a frown.

“I don’t know about mend you… but she can point us in the right direction.” She said, pulling on his arm and stopping. “Can you open the way out of here?”

He waved his hand and a portal ripped back open to her bedroom just as it had before. “I’ll leave it to your best judgement then…”

Ynez smiled and stepped out. She quickly returned to the living room. "Mom?" Owen called.

"We will be back. Running to Ivy's house." She said as she turned to the car. She led him to the car and then to her family's house. "The door is over here." She said she jumped out of the car and went to the doorway outside.

Seamus moved to the doorway and paused to observe the magic that fuelled it before he passed through. When he came out the other side by a house near the water he looked around in quiet thought. He wasn't sure who Ivy was but if Ynez thought she could help then he trusted her.

Ynez hurried to the house, fueled by her need to help him remember. If for nothing else then to allow Innes and her love to live on in him. She reached the door and opened it. "Ivy!" She called.

The slightly older woman came down the stairs with raised brows in question. "Ynez? Hello! What a surprise." The two hugged and Ivy pulled away with a surprised look. "Engaged and with child? Your heart will now allow loneliness will it?" She hugged the girl again and looked at Seamus. "This is the father, Seamus then?" She stepped away from Ynez.

"I was hoping you could help us but I am sure you already figured that out." Ynez looked at Seamus with a small and slightly nervous smile. "This is Ivy. She is part of the line of teachers for my family and a few other family's trees of mages."

"And when I am not baby sitting, I bake and make wine."

Seamus bowed his head to her in respect. “You sound like a very busy woman.” He said as he raised his head back up to meet her eyes. Seamus looked from Ynez to the older woman in thought. “Ynez wants me to remember my mortal self… If you can do that then I would very much like to know the spell...”

"A spell? Hm..." Ivy looked to Ynez who pleaded for help with her eyes. "Come to the library with me." She said and headed back upstairs. Ynez took Seamus' hand and followed her. "I believe i have a few spells that tap into memories but one for actively remembering something a brain as chosen to forget? That may be a bit harder to find... but not impossible." She held up a hand. "Like I have always told your brother when he would visit--nothing is impossible for magic. Difficult but never impossible."

Ynez frowned slightly, recalling the summers she spent with hr brother here and time during holidays. "I am upset you have not visited for the last two equinox parties Ynez." Ivy continued and snapped the woman out of her memories. "But I understand that divorce can be draining."

"You are very talkative this visit." Ynez smiled and Ivy paused in front of the library doors.

"I am excited. Memory spells and the mind are my favorite." She opened the doors to the large library and motioned them in. She moved to push some of the chairs closer together. "Sit please." She told the two as she grabbed a small table and some papers near by to push towards the circle of chairs she had made.

Seamus was browsing the shelves of times when the woman spoke. He hesitated for a moment before pulling himself away from the books to sit where directed.. Ynez sat down as well and looked at Seamus. "You can look around whenever you want as long as you give Ivy some warning you are here."

Ivy nodded in agreement as she sat in the last chair. "Now, I do need to find out a few things before we begin. How far back are we going to be sifting through and are you wanting to fully restore the memories or simply move them for viewing at your leisure?"

Seamus was quiet for for a moment before nodding "Moved. That seems the easiest. I had... not thought of that..."

Ynez looked from Seamus to Ivy. "We may be going quite a ways back..."

Ivy nodded and stood up to a metal bookshelf, the only in the room. She took a leather bound book down and returned to set it on the floor between them. She turned to the table next to her and pulled the ink bottle from a drawer. She set it on top of the book and held her hands out to him. "I will pull your memories to the surface and we can move them to the book. It won't be all of your memories but the ones that resonate the most within your mind." She looked to Ynez. "I am going to need you to wait outside of the room. I do not want your thoughts and your own memories to influence this." Ynez hesitated but stood to leave.

Seamus shifted his jaw in thought as he watched Ynez leave. He turned his attention to the older woman in front of him "Your soul is far too old to just be her grandmother." He said softly looking down at the book.

Ivy smiled. "I am far too old in general. Now please... I have to hold your hands to be able to pull the memories from you."

He nodded and leaned forward to place his hand in hers. "What does that make me then?" He said with a chuckle..

"Ancient." She said, focusing on his past. She delved deeper into his mind, avoiding the memories tainted with void energy. Her breathing slowed as she reached a meditative state. She drew the memories into her own mind, sharing flashes of imagery with him before the book opened. The ink container spilled but its contents went to the first page. A quick sketch of the most prominent image filled the page before she shifted to the next. She worked her way backwards, the next memory coming easier and sketching faster until the pages were turning at a steady pace and the illustrations faded onto the page.

Outside the door, Ynez waited patiently, picking at the hem of her blouse in silence.

Seamus would wait until the woman was done and the book filled before he let go of her hand with a heavy breath. Old pains caused fresh wounds in his chest and he found his eyes water. Seamus cleared his throat. "Well... Can't exactly say that was pleasant." He joked with a frown, looking around for Ynez.

Ivy nodded tiredly and reached down for the book. She closed it and ran her hand along the cover. Gaelic writing etched into the cover, dating and naming what the book was. She held it out to him before standing. "Do you need a moment? That was... a lot to see in a short amount of time."

Seamus frowned. "I... I'm not sure what I need but that's a good start. Perhaps a good scotch after that..." He said with a weak smile.


Ivy laughed slightly. "I will see what I have." She stepped outside and spotted Ynez sitting on the ground, scrolling through her phone. She got to her feet as Ivy headed downstairs. The younger mage stepped into the room. She paused a bit away from him, waiting to see if her company was wanted.

Seamus looked up and smiled at her, running a hand over his face. He placed a hand on the book with a nis. "Well that's another one for the shelves... you'll have to tell... Ivy that I am indebted to her and will offer my magic in return when she needs it."

Ynez nodded and sat down in the chair next to him. "Careful or she may put you to work baking and using time manipulation to speed up her wine production."

Seamus shook his head with a small chuckle. “That’d be fine as long as I got to taste it afterwards.” He said, drumming his fingers on the table for a moment before reaching out to take her hand.

Ynez held his hand in her own. “Do you… feel any better?” She asked as Ivy returned with a small glass bottle of fruit wine. She set it down next to Seamus along with a glass before dismissing herself. Ynez looked between the two before her gaze settled on Seamus.

Seamus looked at the bottle better reaching over to pop the top. “I feel… more like a person I suppose.” He said with a frown and took a sip of the drink. His brows shot up and he looked at the bottle in surprise at the strong taste. “Well that was unexpected…”

“Ivy’s cellar is enchanted for the wines to age faster. She probably gave you one of the ones from the fae storage which age even faster than the rest and are much stronger.” She explained and watched him. “Do you regret letting me bring you here?”

“Regret would be a strong word…” He said, taking another long sip. “Not so much it’s just… uncomfortable to remember. It’s good to remember though… your roots your heritage…” He added squeezing her hand before looking at the book. “You are… welcome to, take it home with you and look things over it will help ease your curiosity.”

She glanced at the book then to him. “I can look at it tomorrow.” She shifted to stand up though, she picked the book up and set it aside before sliding into his lap and leaning against him. “Concerned about you right now.”

“I’ll be fine.” He shook his head and leaned into her, pressing his forehead to her shoulder. “It was just easier to deal with regrets when you couldn’t remember them.” He attempted to joke but fell quiet again, setting the bottle aside and wrapping his arms tightly around her. After a moment of silence he spoke again softly, “I’m never going to let anything happen to you… I swear on my life and… any amount of honor I might still have.”

Ynez furrowed her brows, questions springing to her mind. She held him gently and ran her fingers through his hair. “Thank you.” She said instead, kissing the top of his head. “Do you want to stay here a while longer or do you want to go home and get some sleep?”

“Home…” Seamus echoed. “Home sounds nice, I still feel guarded here.” He admitted as he hugged her again before slowly rising to his feet so as not to knock her off. He polished off the drink he had been given and hesitantly grabbed the book.

Ynez nodded and gathered the empty bottle and the unused glass. She headed downstairs and to the kitchen. The familiar objects floated around the kitchen, baking the cakes and cookies she sold as her normal job. “Leaving?” She asked, glancing at them as she checked her ingredients.

“Yes. Thank you. Seamus said if you need any help as repayment--” She set the glasses down while Ivy laughed slightly.

“I am quite capable and I have plenty of students who come here to help me as training now. There is no payment needed for family.” Ivy hugged Ynez before returning to work. “Please take care not to try and force your magic to work dear. Just come and ask for help and I’ll help you.”

Ynez frowned slightly but nodded. “Bye Ivy.” She said as she turned to leave.

“Bye Ynez, nice meeting you Seamus and rest assured that this go around will go better.” She called the last as she held her hands up for some of the herbs that floated from the ceiling.

He glanced back at her and nodded. “Thank you.” He said, looking down at the book again before following Ynez out of the house and back through the portal that would take them to Caelan’s house. The young mage was out on the porch drinking tea. He waved to them as they passed by.

Ynez smiled at him and waved back at him. She climbed into the car and waited for Seamus to be in before leaving. She hesitated after parking back home to note that her son had left while they were gone. She climbed out and headed to the door. Candis must have called it an early night, as the doors were locked and most of the lights were out. She let them in and headed back to her room. She stepped into the room to change into her pajamas and noticed a bright pink piece of paper on the nightstand on Barry’s old side of the bed.

Seamus entered the room and set the book aside on the dresser. He noticed the paper and turned to Ynez with furrowed brows. He picked up the note and turned it over before he noticed Candi’s handwriting on it. His eyes scanned the words before reading them out loud. “Seamus.
Sorry I was mimicking you. I was taking out frustrations incorrectly. Please like don’t leave.
Candis…” He said, looking back at Ynez before carefully folding the paper back and tucking it into the book for safe keeping. He then removed his day clothes and put on the cotton pants that Ynez had given him for sleeping. “That was nice of her.”

“I think having Barrett may have made her a bit sweeter.” Ynez said, pulling the nightdress on and heading to the bathroom to wash her face free of make up from the day. She returned shortly after and climbed into the bed. She sat up for a moment so she could braid her hair.

He watched her with a small smile, waiting patiently until she was finished before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her down to him, holding her tightly. He kissed the side of her head and closed his eyes, trying to push the memories back to the corners of his mind, at least for the time being so he could focus more on the moment he was in.

Ynez gasped softly at being pulled down. She cuddled into him. “Good night. I love you.”

He smiled and squeezed her tighter. “I love you as well.” He said quietly, nestling in against her. “and I’m going to protect you. You and the baby.”

[NightshadeDolly]

October 10th

It was late afternoon when Caelan arrived at Tanya’s house to pick them up for their anniversary. He smiled to himself as he cut the car off and grabbed the flowers from the passenger seat. He dashed to the door and rang the doorbell. “I got it!” Tanya called from her room. She recognized the sound of Caelan’s car and she hurried to the door. She opened it with a large smile. “Hi!” She said excitedly and reached out to hug him happily.

He hugged her back, beaming in response to her excitement. “Hey- I uh, got you some flowers Milady.” He said with a slight laugh and held the bouquet out to her.

Tanya let him go to take the flowers. “They are so pretty.” She said and leaned forward to kiss him. “Thank you! Let me put these in my room. Come in.” She stepped back inside to go replace the flowers in her room.

He stepped in and glanced around, pausing to wave at Derek who was sitting on the couch in his boxers eating cereal and watching cartoons. “Hey… Mr. Anderson.”

“Hey, Dead-meat.” Derek said around a mouth of fruit puffs. “You guys going on a date?” Caelan nodded and Derek nodded back. “Be a gentlemen and don’t get her pregnant.”

“Uh, I didn’t intend to.”

“You better not have.”

“Right. Great talk, as always.” He said as he noticed Tanya coming back out. “You ready? We have a little ways to go this time…”

Tanya nodded. “Yup!” She took his arm and kissed his cheek. “Bye Daddy.” Tanya turned to wave at her father. He waved back at her before turning his attention back to the tv. Caelan shook his head and lead Tanya out to the car so they could head towards the larger city.

After driving for a bit, Caelan slowed outside of a small hometown restaurant. “So I’m told that the milkshakes and steak here are the best around. No place can top them.” He said as he turned the car off and looked at the hand painted sign.

Tanya looked at the restaurant then to her fiance with a smile. “That sounds nice.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek before getting out of the car.

He locked the car and stepped inside, holding the door open for her. The waitress smiled and greeted them warmly. Caelan waved and sat down in one of the booths as the woman came over and handed them both a menu. After deciding what he wanted he set the menu aside and turned his attention to her. “So, I have to admit… there is more than one reason why I brought you out here.”

Tanya tilted her head slightly. “Oh? What is it?” She asked.

“Mhm.” He nodded, stirring the ice in the cup of water the waitress had brought while they looked over the menu. “How would you feel… about living here? In this town, I mean. It’s really quiet and almost right in between our hometown and Franklin so we’ll be able to visit people easily…”

Tanya raised her brows in surprise. "Out here? That sounds nice." She smiled at him in excitement. "We could grow a garden for picnics and--" She paused. "What about the shop though? Is someone else going to take over?" She glanced at the menu before preferring to keep her attention on Caelan.

Caelan shook his head. “No, I’ll still work at the shop. I’ll just have to set up a portal from our new home to there. I’d prefer to keep work separate from home anyway.” He admitted with a sad smile. It faded after a moment and he leaned back to dig a rolled up real estate magazine from his pocket which he placed on the table. “Now the question is… What kind of house you would like.” He said, placing the magazine in front of her.

Tanya smiled brightly and looked at the magazine before frowning slightly. "These are so expensive..." She said softly and looked up at Caelan in question. "How can we afford any of them?"

"I have a lot of money set aside from my dad when he died... plus magic makes things a bit more cost effective." He whispered with a small smile. "Just pick one. Don't worry about the price."

Tanya turned her attention back to the houses. Her face lit up at one of the houses and she pointed to it. "What do you think about this one?" She asked, "I think it looks cozy."

He looked at the page she was pointing too and smiled. “Yeah that would looks nice plus there’s lots of extra rooms for an office or… ya know, for kids.” He added, before his cheeks colored. The nurse came back with the food they had ordered. He thanked her and paid for their meal in advance.

Tanya looked to him before nodding. “Not… not any time soon though… My Dad would lose it.” She smiled brightly though at the idea of a family with Caelan. “But yes, plenty of room!” She scrunched her shoulders with a soft giggle.

He nodded, pushing the mashed potatoes around on his plate to form a silencing sigil. “I’ll start building it on the weekends, so hopefully by senior years end it will be done.” He said as he started on the steak. “I’ll need to stay pretty… charged though so I may need to take you with me a couple times.”

Tanya nodded excitedly. “I’d love to help.” She said, beaming at him. “This is so exciting!” She squeaked slightly at the end, holding her hands up to either side of her face.

He looked up and smiled at her before holding out a piece of his food for her to try. “Yeah it is… I’m, really glad that your in my life. I love you.”

Tanya smiled at him. “I love you too Caelan. With all my heart.” She leaned forward to take the bite, the smile refusing to leave her face. “Mmm~ This place is really good!” She held a hand up in front of her mouth as she spoke before noticing that her food was also there. She blushed slightly in embarrassment to just noticing and picked up her silverware.

He laughed and shook his head. “Happy anniversary, sweetheart.” He said before turning his attention back to his own food.

“Happy anniversary, my red string.” She said and started to eat her food.