Welcome to Gaia! ::

Raquel swallowed slightly, looking at the ground a moment to shaker her emotions. She managed to put on a bright smile letting go of Damian's hand to trail after Lorey. "It really is just beautiful Lorey! I cant wait to see the inside!" She called and ran up to join her, chattering away excitedly with her friend.

Richard meanwhile sighed, furrowing his brow as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Hey...look I'm sorry, I had no clue about any of this. " He offered, taking a step towards the house but stopped to look back at Damian. "Nat's just a good guy I met and he's been helping me out a lot. He had told me about his ex but I swear I had no idea it was Raquel." He apologized, not sure what to think of this whole situation.

Richard seemed to nod a bit taking it all in, though turned when Lorey called his name. He smiled, shaking his head as he ran up to her. "Do you like it love? Really and truly?" He kissed her sweetly, smiling down at her. He was quite proud of his own handiwork yes, but Nat had a big hand in cleaning.

Raquel looked around in awe, smiling as wide as Lorey. "This....is absolutely beautiful! Lorey! My gosh this is amazing!" She thought it reflected both their tastes very well and seemed so perfect for them. Their own home...
Raquel hoped they'd be able to find a place as nice as this for themselves to live in once she and Damian were married.


Nat barely heard her calls, hiding out behind the shed. His hands were shaking terribly as he tried to light up, but found his physically hard to do. His eyes were watering though he didn't cry. It was just the shock that got to him. He looked a wreck though. A pitiful emotional wreck.

Nat let it be taken away from him as he used his now free hands to rub his face furiously. "s**t...." Was all he uttered quietly to himself as he tried to stop shaking a bit. Though was able to compose himself well enough to look up. He couldn't look at her now. No not in this state. But he could talk to her.

"....Its not your fault." He said softly to the sky. "Its mine for sticking around too long...I should've left awhile ago..." He furrowed ghis brow, closing his eyes as he tried to get a hold of himself. For more than one reason he told himself.


Richard laughed as he hugged her back and twirled her around a bit. "I'm glad you love it dear. I've been making sure it was exactly to your liking. From every baseboard to every bit of crown molding." He smiled, kissing her again. This was his home, and this was his soon to be wife.

Raquel smiled to the couple, glad to see them so happy. But even in her distracted state, she did notice Damian's struggle. She came over to him swiftly, taking his other arm to help support him if he needed it. "Love you look like your in pain... You shouldn't be on your leg so much..." She cooed, helping him over to a kitchen chair. She then too his face, giving him a long, lingering kiss that seemed to have a taste of seeking comfort, Making sure he was ok, and yet at the same time, letting him know she was alright herself.

Nat finally managed to look at her, an unsure look on his face. "Are yous sure? ...I wouldn't want to put you out. I was thinking about just...well...I dont know." He was thinking about not staying with Richard and Lorey anyhow. They needed their privacy, but he had no money for a room in a hotel. He could just leave but he had promised Richard he would stay for the wedding.
Nat looked down considering this. "...I...also dont want it to be too awkward for you... I mean, heh, I dont think I could be anymore awkward myself so anything's fine..." he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked to her. She was so beautiful. But he had to make sure he didn't stare, making things worse.


"Exactly! It's all going perfectly." Richard nodded as he left her only momentarily to get to the fridge. "Are any of you hungry or thristy? We have minimal refreshments, unless you'd prefer to head back to your hotel to freshen up?" He offered looking back to the other two.

Raquel nodded, touching Damian's leg gently as she pushed back his bangs to kiss his forehead. But when Richard addressed them, she turned, smiled, and shrugged. "Um...if its ok I think I would like ot head back to take a nap or just rest a bit. So you don't have to put on some full fledged meal or anything. Plus I know you two will want some time alone together in your own home." This surprisingly, was not hinted at suggestively. But rather honestly. Raquel knew she'd want to have time to settle in if it were hers.

Nat just looked at her, smiling slightly. "...Thank you..." he said after a moment, leaning forward subconsciously tocatch her lips in a kiss, though stopped himself. There would be none of that. "I...really appreciate this..." He said after a moment with a nod, reaching to take back his stash.


Raquel furrowed her brow slightly. He had run off in a bit of a tizzy and that Teagan girl seemed rather uneasy herself.

"I think they're around back..." Richard shrugged as he tried to get a good view of the back without any luck. "I'll call to them as we head out alright? We can leave immediately, though...maybe you should give Raquel a tour Lorey." He offered, noting how pained Damian looked. It'd be a trip for him to get up so soon. Might as well give him a moment to catch his breath.

Nat smiled tiredly, shaking his head. "I Wouldn't dream of it. Promise." He bent down so he could look up at her with his big greenish brown eyes, smiling sweetly as he reached for it again. "I'll be good."


Raquel smiled, laughing slightly as she followed Lorey up the stairs to get a look at her friends new home. It was so lovely, and she wanted to see more of it despite being a little tired.

"Hey, I'm not saying I would smoke if soemthing bothered me, but I'm refraining from it around you because I know you'll kick me arse." He gave her a charming wink, taking the crook of her arm with his hand and pulling it closer so gently it was surprising. "But you really dont want to hang onto that dirty ol thing would you?" He asked,getting a bit closer to her, perhaps too close.


Raquel was jsut as excited as Lorey to see the finished product and she nodded nad exclaimed how amazing it was a every corner, so happy for ehr friend.

Though downstairs, Richard was bringing Damian a bottle of water, since their fridge was a little bare. "No, I hadn't heard. She is? Thats great news... Though I've never seen her ...art? i guess is the word. Is she good?" He asked, though of course she had to have some talent for Damian to send her off to some school to enhance her skills... unless he was just spoiling her like a daughter, which was believable.

Nat smirked lightly, her eyes captivating him. "Well thats ok then... Your smile is enough of a drug to keep me going....for awhile..." He winked at her, before trying to stand. It was amazing how devastated he had felt moments ago, but with a short exchange with Teagan, that had all been erased it seemed.


Richard sensed that little change in his tone as he took a seat near him. "...and you're not wild about that idead huh?" He smirked only a little as he raised an eyebrow, taking a sip.