Once again, Andrea knew that Helena was right. She always was when it came to him, which was why she had been the only he had known that he could trust during a time like this. As worried as he was for his mother's life, he knew for certain that she would be relieved to know that he had made it out alive. He might have found it quite difficult to accept, but he had become too weak to fight. He was not level-headed either. He needed to rest, and take the time to heal before he could come up with a plan to take back his kingdom. Until then, he had been left with no other choice. He had to listen to Helena. "You're right, Helena. I could not have stayed back, or fought my uncle's army when they had managed to surround the castle. I consider myself lucky to have made it out of there. But I cannot help it. The shame I feel... for turning my back on those who mean the most to me. My mother. My people. I should have seen this coming. My mother was the one who banished my uncle after coming to know of his treason, and rightfully so. But he must have held his grudges over the years, plotting his revenge, and waiting for the right time to attack. My mother is getting older, and she was ready to step down. She was planning on announcing her abdication in my favour. The news must have reached his ears before she could do so, and he..." He could not finish that sentence, and he choked back his tears. "He wants me dead, because I have no heir. With me gone, he could claim the throne. Even if my mother still abdicated, he has no claim... as long as I'm alive. I know that he wouldn't hurt my mother, because he knows I'll always come back for her. If I do go back, I have to do it right, Helena. I can rest, recuperate, allow my powers to be fully restored. But I have no army. I may be the most powerful sorcerer in all the land, but I am no match for the army he's gathered."

As powerless as he felt at that moment, he could not help the smile that found its place upon his lips upon hearing their words. "No, you mustn't feel bad. My ancestors cared more about preserving their own power than anything else, and I pay the price for it. Perhaps they realize now, from wherever they are, how wrong they had been for doing what they had done. This is the kind of power makes one's own blood turn against them." After all, the monarchy had been established all those centuries ago in order for the Demarco family magic to be passed down for generations to come. As the Crown Prince, Andrea now held all of that magic, but what difference had it made? His family was in shambles. "I may have considered it... once. Returning the ancestral magic that was bestowed upon me when I was made Crown Prince, and walking away from all of this. Just be a humble warlock, and not a sorcerer who would one day rule this realm. I know I would have done it, for the right reasons, if it meant that I could have been with someone who did not care for my power." It was when he had fallen in love with a commoner who was misunderstood by everyone else in this kingdom, someone whom his mother had deemed unfit to be the future queen, just because she performed the kind of magic that was socially prohibited. She may not have the ancestral magic that he did, but it had not mattered to him. He would have walked away from this life, if it meant that he could have kept her safe from being villified wherever she went. But instead, he had consoled his heart somehow, knowing that they were safe, and hidden away.

"I mean it. My words come from the heart. I know they look at you differently, because you're a witch, and not a sorceress. I've never cared for the difference. You were born a witch, and you never sought to have more power. You remained true to yourself. I was born a warlock, but I had to train, and perform rituals in order to wield the power of my ancestors, instead of practicing the kind of magic that is socially prohibited. I did not do it by choice, given my status, but that does not mean that us sorcerers have earned the respect that we are being given. If they only knew... that your heart was so much bigger than the rest of us. While we're fighting our own families for power, you're... saving my life, even if it may have made you weak. You should not have been scrutinized by this world." He admitted, his weak smile still remaining on his lips. It he could get out of this hurdle, and eventually become king, he would certainly do what was needed to end this discrimination. "Well, if you began working on them now... you might be able to master your healing spells by the next time I find myself at your doorstep after being struck by arrows." Andrea made a poor attempt at a joke before he chuckled softly, wincing at the pain in his torso before he shook his head. "A bed is a bed, Helena. There are no such things as princely standards, believe me. I may be a prince, but I have no castle, no kingdom. I'm just an injured man who is struggling to perform magic. But if you insist... if I were to sleep on your bed, then where will you sleep? I have already asked too much of you, Helena. This isn't fair."

“do you honestly believe that your mother would have wanted you to risk your life for her like that? she’d be relieved to discover that you made it out alive, not disappointed that you wouldn’t stand and fight. you’re not at full strength and you’re clearly not nearly level-headed enough to make a proper decision right now. if you take the time to recuperate and think things through, you can find a way to get her back safely. don’t be reckless, andrea.” she can understand the urge to rush back in to try to save his family, but it doesn’t take a fortune teller to see that it wouldn’t end well for any of them. despite his good intentions, he would only get himself killed and then his mother and his people wouldn’t have anyone left to fight for them. “i know… i almost feel bad for all you royals.” almost. today’s events have certainly earned her sympathy, but compared to everyone else, it would be foolish to think they were hard done by. “since it's not what you expected... if you could leave that life behind, would you? set aside your crown and slum it with the rest of us?” it would mean saying goodbye to his typical power and influence, but there must be a certain comfort that comes with that; in not holding any true responsibilities and only needing to worry about protecting yourself rather than an entire population. “you don’t have to pile on the compliments, you know... i’ve already offered you my help, there’s nothing left for you to gain.” but it did bring a small smile to their face; one that they try their very best to hide. he’s one of the very few people in helena’s life that has never once viewed them as some kind of monster or been afraid of the things they can do. that’s exactly why she’d never been able to stay in one spot for too long — there was always someone with a preconceived notion of witches who eventually stumbled across her and all but chased her out of town based on ignorant fear. it’s a miracle their current home has been able to remain intact without being burned to the ground and a large part of that is due to andrea helping to keep their secret. “i'm sorry. if i had known what would happen today, maybe i would’ve worked harder on my healing spells.” they’re feeling somewhat lightheaded themselves from the mere act of attempting to close the wound, but it’s nothing they can’t ignore. besides, he’s suffered far worse and their palm lifts to his face to feel for a temperature. “you can lay down if you want. i’m sure my bed won’t meet your princely standards, but it’ll still do the job. you need to rest for a while if you want to regain your strength and i'm not letting you leave like this.”

"I think it's the sad reality of trying to date anyone these days, and not just the men. Most people seem to enter a relationship when they don't even feel secure with themselves. They think that they could only feel good about themselves by being with someone else, and that's always a recipe for disaster." Hayes noted, breathing out a sigh of disappointment at the mere thought of how relationships seemed to work these days. It really was unfortunate that the bar was so low. But truth was that it always had been, at least according his own experience. Being the son of Nora Hayes had been more than enough for him to understand that, considering that Christopher Adams could not even do the bare minimum of being faithful in a relationship. Perhaps that was why Hayes had always strived to be better. To be better than his father. To treat everyone better than his mother had been treated. It really was unfortunate that his attitude towards how to treat people in a relationship was considered a rarity when it shouldn't be. "Well, you can always trust me, Riley... with anything. I know you've probably been wondering why someone like me would ever want to spend an entire evening hearing you complain, considering how busy I am... and I know, I just told you that I have a lot on my plate. But I would rather spend my time being there for someone who deserves to have my time than deal with the bureaucratic bullshit that I'm being forced to put up with on a daily basis, and getting to know one of my hardworking employees is better than literally anything else I could be doing." And he meant it. "Of course, I would... I mean, if you need me to help you study, I'll be more than happy to do it. I know you won't have any issues with the subject matter, but the oral components of the boards can be brutal if you don't know how to talk to the panel of doctors who will conduct that part of the exam. Most of the time, they're older... and much experienced. They're like vultures. They'll try to intimidate you just to see if you'll crack under the pressure. You need to know how to present yourself in front of them, and I can definitely help you with that. As I said, my office is always open." He offered them a rather reassuring smile, hoping that they understood that it really was no bother.

Riley's words cause the smile on his lips to grow wider, and Hayes found himself wondering how she had been able to make such an assumption about his mother. "Well, you're not wrong about that. I guess she didn't have that many expectations for me, especially when it came to what kind of doctor I would be. She always told me that being a good doctor means that I should be a good person first. I've tried my best to be that, but these days... I spend so much time being surrounded by people who care about saving money than saving lives, I feel like I might turn into one of them. It's hard, being around people like that, and still staying true to yourself. But I'm doing the best I can." He admitted, his smile not fading from his lips as he spoke before a soft chuckle bubbled out of him upon hearing what she had to say about his father. "It's fine if you do judge him harshly just based on what you do know about him. You clearly seem to know more than enough to make that call. Besides, you're not that far off. My father may have been a brilliant surgeon, but he was not the nicest person... at least, according to most people who knew him. I only knew him during his last days, so his attitude had somewhat changed when he realized that he was dying. But I was told that he was quite an arrogant man. He did not treat his staff with respect, and often prioritized his prestige over patient care. He took on high profile surgeries to make himself look good, and when making budget cuts, it's the pro bono budget that he often tried to cut down on. Even I wouldn't have been able to work for a man like him, so I'm not all that surprised by you saying that." Perhaps he should thank his lucky stars that his father was dead, because he was certain that he could not have met Riley if the man was still here. "In that case, how about I bring you lunch instead?" He suggested, a teasing smile plastered across his lips.

"You know, if you had told me this sooner, I would have just brought us there instead of here... you know, if that would've made you more comfortable." Needless to say, Hayes had always been keen on supporting small, family-owned businesses. Knowing that Riley had been raised by such hardworking parents had only caused for him to have more respect towards them, not to mention the fact that the kind of upbringing that she must have had perfectly explained why she had such an incredible work ethic. She worked just as hard. "Resorting to violence, are we? Not a good look on you, Dr. Ellis." He could not help but let out a rather hearty laugh, and he shook his head. "So, what you're telling me is that your parents still gave you a relatively normal childhood despite everything else that was going on? It's good to know that your mother let you be a child, and encouraged you to have that as a hobby... which seems to be helping you out with your stress in the long run. Most parents are not like that. But I have to be honest. I can't even imagine it... little Riley in a kitchen, clothes all covered in flour." The thought of it alone had been enough to make him smile wider, and he leaned back in his seat. "What was it like? Growing up with your parents?" Truth be told, a part of Hayes had been quite curious to learn more about their childhood, and family life, considering that they seemed much more relaxed when speaking of their parents' cafe than anything else that they had talked about that evening. He wanted to let Riley relax after the day that she has had. But he also not deny the part where he had also been curious to know how it felt... being raised in a family that seemed much more stable than the one he did not have growing up. Not that he did now. But he could not complain either. "Oh... I know she can be quite convincing. Being the youngest in the family, she is quite spoiled. She never takes no for an answer." Regardlessly, Hayes adored his little sister with his whole heart, being the closest thing she had to their father.

"Well, I appreciate it either way." Hayes remarked with a nod of his head. Of course, he understood that people had physical needs, and he was certainly not an exception to that. But given how busy he had been since taking over the hospital, his own needs had become the least of his worries. Besides, it was not like he had been able to find someone who was right for him in the past. He was better off avoiding the drama that came with being in a relationship. "Yeah, I did... I think you're very cool." Hayes laughed along with them, a rather amused expression finding itself upon his features. "I'm serious, Riley. You're very cool. Based on my standards, you are." He explained with a shrug. "I know a lot of people attribute you as intelligent, which is certainly true... but that's not all you are. You are kind, and compassionate. You have a drive to be successful that I haven't seen in most people your age, and you don't let anyone get in the way of that. I guess... what I'm trying to say that there's more to you than what meets the eye. That's what makes you cool."

"No, no... it's not... it's fine. I'm not uncomfortable, just... a little taken aback, that's all." Hayes knew that it was best not to dwell on the subject, and knowing Riley, he could already tell that his reaction might have sent her into a panic. It had not been his intention, but then again, he never could have possibly predicted where this coversation had headed until it had reached this point. "Riley... that's not... what does this have anything to do with you being delusional?" He could not help but ask her, partially curious as he raised his brow. "Do you..." He had always believed that now was not the right time to do this, but what if he had been wrong? "Are you..." What if he were to take Riley's own advice, and ask them out? What was the worst thing that could happen? No, he could not do that. He could not risk jeopardizing her career, or do anything that might come off as an abuse of power. But he could at least be honest with her, right? What was the worst that could come out of that? "Well, if I shouldn't be worried, then... I guess I should be honest with you, and say that I am willing to wait, however long it takes." Why couldn't he just say it?

"Hey, it's all true. Besides, you look very cute when you blush. It's adorable." He admitted, and he had to mentally slap himself for having no trouble saying that to their face when he could not even confess that he liked them. "Now who's flattering who again?" Hayes laughed softly before he shook his head. "Daunting? Well, I can understand that. It's a lot to think about. But it's only one day a week, and you won't be doing it alone either. You'll have nursing staff, and we can hire some volunteers to help out with the administrative side of things. I can even ask if any of our doctors are willing to volunteer their time. I know that Jenny will be happy to help out, and so would I. I know I might come off as a hypocrite for saying it, but... running the clinic doesn't mean that you'll be doing everything on your own. You'll have people working under you, and honestly, I don't think I need to tell you how much fun it is to be someone's boss."

with a slight grimace at the state of the current dating pool, she can only shrug. “yeah, the bar is quite literally on the floor, but what can i say? that’s the sad reality of trying to date a lot of men these days. they don’t want you to be smarter than them, to make more money, to have your own needs. i don’t know why they even bother getting into a relationship when they know they’re never going to be satisfied… so yes, i do agree with your sister. you shouldn’t be a rarity, but you are. it’s a relief, honestly. you don’t have to sit there and listen to me whine about my feelings over an ex, yet you do. there are plenty of people out there who work for someone they can’t stand, someone who would roll their eyes at any type of complaint, and knowing that i can trust you is… i don’t know, it’s nice.” they never would’ve thought they’d be having a personal conversation with their boss — assumed that since there are so many staff, they would always be kept at a distance — but it’s already made them feel more relaxed. he may be in charge, but he clearly hasn’t let that power go to his head. “well, it certainly did that at least. i think i know better now.” she’d rather chew glass than find herself in a relationship that’s anything like her last. maybe that’s why she’s been so hesitant to enter another one these last few years; her self-esteem, while still nowhere close to where it should be, is considerably higher than it was back then. she’s no longer foolish enough to be with anybody who views her as inferior and she isn’t going to go begging for somebody to finally treat her well. “wait, you’re offering to help me study for the boards?” there’s a hint of surprise in riley’s voice that can’t be hidden. he’s already shared with her how devastatingly busy he is on a daily basis and adding another task that’s so inconsequential to his life on top of that has no real benefits for him. why on earth would he want to do that to himself?

“oh, i don’t think she would ever hate you. you’ve taken something monumental that you didn’t ask for, something that was thrust upon you, and you’re still doing all you can to turn it into something special. you’re making sure she’s not forgotten and that everything you do is done with her in your heart. how could she not be proud of you for that?” if she were in his shoes, she’s not sure she would’ve been able to handle the same type of pressure. discovering you have siblings is one thing — they aren’t their father and his actions should not reflect badly on them — but an absent parent suddenly showing up in your life to guilt you into continuing his legacy? she’s never been one for meanness or cruelty, but the urge to tell the man to go fuck himself would’ve been strong. “not exactly. in fairness, i didn’t know him, so maybe i shouldn’t be allowed to judge him so harshly, but from everything i’ve heard, both from you and a few others… let’s just say that he doesn’t seem like someone i would’ve gotten along with. i don’t know if i could’ve worked for a man like him. i probably would’ve left a long time ago.” there are a number of other hospitals out there that would be happy to take on a prospect such as riley and she would’ve taken full advantage of that fact. “i know. don’t worry, i’m not going to start dumping all of my problems onto your shoulders just because you were nice to me once — and i definitely don’t expect any more dinners, for the record.” they hadn’t even expected this one and they aren’t entirely over the shock of the invitation just yet. their day has been full of surprises around every corner, not all of them good, and they haven’t had more than a second to try and process it all.

“yeah, they’ve had it for years now. the place was refurbished just after i finished med school, so it's gotten a little fancier too.” she has many childhood memories of sitting at the counter with a milkshake for sustenance as she finished her homework for the evening. it’s a shame she doesn’t get to visit as often these days, but she does her best to drop by every now and then when she isn’t quite as busy. “oh, ouch,” they say as theatrically as possible. the teasing is deserved, but that doesn’t mean they’ll let him get away with it so easily. “i see how it is… you are so lucky there’s nothing i can throw at you right now.” although the napkins sitting atop the table are suddenly looking real tempting. “i’ve been doing it since i was small, i suppose. i’d see my mum baking all the time and like every curious child, i’d insist on trying to help so she’d let me do the easy bits at first until i was old enough to properly learn how everything worked. i wouldn’t say that makes me a professional or anything, but… i think i’m pretty good. i mostly just do it now when i’m stressed out or need a distraction.” there’s also the odd occasion where they’ll bake something for a loved one and if tonight goes well, hayes might be on the receiving end of a thank you batch of cookies soon enough. “oh, i can definitely believe that. i try my best to be a good influence on her, i swear, but she can be very convincing when she wants to be. i’m almost jealous of her liveliness.” if riley could get through the day without feeling drained right down to the bone and still have enough energy left to go out for a drink, they absolutely would, but it’s never been a part of their nature. maybe that’s why she and jenny are such good friends; they help balance each other out. 

“uh… technically, i was very vague in what i was trying to say so it was entirely open to interpretation, but… whatever you’re thinking is probably right. i’m not calling you out or anything, i’d be a bit of a hypocrite if i tried to do that. i just think that there are some pretty huge differences between having family around and having a partner that can provide you with other things.” not that he would have any trouble with finding physical affection somewhere if that’s what he chose to do, but she’s beginning to realise that maybe this isn’t the smoothest topic of conversation to be having with the man who owns her place of employment. he did say they were friends and this is something that would fit with that dynamic, but the last thing she wants is to make him feel judged in any way, so it might be time to rein it in. “i’m sorry, did you say that i’m cool?” a bemused laugh slips out next and their head shakes in disbelief. “because if so, we’ve definitely gotten our wires crossed here. that is not a word that should be used to describe me at all.” intelligent would be one thing, compassionate another, but cool? never in a million years would she think that would be an apt choice. 

for someone who always appears to be so composed and in control of the situation, watching as hayes begins to fumble is such a shock that they can only stare for a moment, brain freezing into a brief panic and replaying everything they’d just said back on a loop. they can’t immediately identify which specific part it was that made him flush and the uncertainty has her shifting in her seat, restlessness re-entering her body as if trying not to curl in on herself in embarrassment. this is exactly why she’d asked him not to hold her words against her. “i’m… i’m sorry, i shouldn't have said any of that. i didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. we’ve already established that i talk too much, so you really don't have to listen to me... like ever.” at least whatever nonsense she spouted gave him enough confidence to actually consider asking out his crush for real. if one good thing had to come from this, she’s glad it was that. “i was just kidding about my mouth, by the way. i’m not delusional, i don’t actually think that you want to…” their voice trails off and they gesture vaguely towards their mouth before cringing at their own actions and quickly dropping their hands into their lap instead. yeah, definitely not cool. “good… good, i’m glad. i think you deserve it, that’s all. you shouldn’t be worried about whether or not they’ll be into you or how it might be received by them. you’ll be fine, trust me.” they try to smile, but there’s an underlying sense of nervousness to it and for a split second, she wonders if she’s just royally messed up this newfound friendship before it’s had a real chance to begin. that would be a typical riley move.

“you really need to stop flattering me, sir. i don’t want to blush again.” why he believes in them so fiercely, they’re not sure they’ll ever understand, but they aren’t going to turn it away. they know that they’re smart, but he seems to see more of them than just their intelligence, which is a lot more than they can say for most. she’d grown used to being known merely as ‘the one with the good memory’ a long time ago. it's strange to finally be experiencing something different for once. “i probably wouldn’t be able to succeed in my career at all if the hospital i worked in wasn’t run by someone who cared so much, so… thanks for that.” now their smile is more genuine and they wonder how they could’ve gone from being at one of their lowest points to joking over dinner. “i’ll admit, it makes the idea of potentially running a whole clinic a little less daunting.”

"I'm not sure what it is, Dahlia. I'm not sure what it is that I did to deserve even an ounce of your loyalty. I certainly don't feel worthy of it, but I won't question it either. I do appreciate you being here, Dahlia... after all this time." Vladimir admitted, blinking away the remainder of his tears when they bring up how he would have done the same for them if the roles had been reversed. It was true. He had always taken care of her, even from the moment he had turned her in order to save her life, and he always will. It was the reason why he had come all this way in the first place. But leave it to Dahlia for being the only one in his coven who would ever dare to defy him. "Perhaps I've become so used to taking care of everyone else. It feels strange... having someone who wants to take care of me instead." With all of the power, and the influence that Vlad had managed to gain throughout the centuries, being vulnerable had been something he had avoided at all costs. After all, he had a reputation to maintain amongst the supernatural syndicate. But Dahlia had always been able to see through his tough exterior. It was not all that difficult to be vulnerable with her. "Thank you." A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he brushed his thumb against their cheek, the weight that had just been lifted from him finally causing his shoulders to relax. The kiss on his cheek only adds to his ease, and he nodded. "I'm not going to lie, and say that I haven't been worried for the past few centuries... that I might be the one thing that scares you away. Vanya used to tell me how irrational I was whenever I distanced myself from you... usually after one of my most violent rampages. But I guess I have always been wrong." Taking her hand in his, Vlad led her towards the sofa. "Are you sure this is what you want, Dahlia? A place by my side for the rest of eternity? A target on your back?"

“hey, it’s okay. you don’t have to apologise for anything, i understand… you lost your best friend and i would never expect you to be okay after something like that. i just want you to remember that you’re not alone. you still have someone in your corner who would do anything for you.” who would they be if they left him to mourn and sit in the sorrow all by himself? that had never been an option, not for dahlia. even if vlad hadn’t wanted her here and asked her to leave the second she’d arrived, she would’ve waited around for as long as it took for him to realise he didn’t want to go through this without her. this isn’t one of the things they would normally roll their eyes at and chastise him for. there won’t be any judgement this time, no complaints. “i’m just returning the favour. if our roles were reversed, you would do anything to make sure i was okay. you take care of me, vlad... i want to do the same for you.” they don’t have half as much power or influence as he does, but that won’t stop them from trying. whatever they can do to ease the pain or help him work through it will be done without hesitation. all he has to do is ask. “you won’t have to. you had me then and you have me now.” gaze softening, they lean in to leave a kiss against his cheek, equal parts fond and possessive. she loves him — of course she does. him and his overwhelming compassion for his coven, the way he touches her so carefully, his ferocity combined with what has to be the biggest heart of any man she’s ever met in her last few centuries of life. he’s already given them so much, more than they ever could have imagined. “it’s me and you. i don’t know what that will always entail, but i know that nothing will scare me away.”

"Fine... But I doubt that I'm ever wrong about you." Conrad shot her a wink, a rather amused smile plastered across his lips upon hearing her words. "Oh... Is that so? You might have no problem saying that you've been desensitized, but that that blush on your cheeks says a whole other story, my dear. I have all the evidence I need to prove that you're not all immune to my charms." He remarked, his lips curling into a smirk as he motioned towards their reflection. "Are you kidding me? Of course, I understand. Knowing my sister as well as I do, it's hard not to be aware of these things." His hands trailed down her neck, and then her shoulders, slowly making their way down her back before resting at her waist. "Good, because I refuse to be parted from you for even a second." He chuckled, stepping away from her for a moment. Whether it was real, or if it was part of the act, it was safe to say that Conrad was somewhat fond of how territorial Lilianna seemed to be when it came to him. He would be lying if he were to say that he didn't find it even the slightest bit attractive. But that was a story for another time. Conrad stepped towards the closet, and glanced behind her for a moment. "So, does this brunch have a dress code?"

"JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE GOOD at reading people, that doesn't mean that you're always right. You can still be wrong, attorney," Lilianna riposted teasingly. She couldn't deny that Conrad was attractive and charismatic. It was no wonder that he could make anyone swoon. "I've been desensitized, all immune to your charms," they added, a half-lie and half-truth. They weren't exactly spared from his charisma. There were many moments when they found him enticing, but that was normal, right? Just like now as he smiled at her flirtatiously. He was objectively a good-looking man, after all. She turned around, feeling him stand close behind her, blush creeping her cheeks at their closeness. "They are but I had to say both, in case you didn't understand," she quipped. Her hand touched the emerald pendant of the necklace, smiling gratefully through the mirror when he finished putting it on her. "Oh no, I wouldn't feed you to the wolves. What kind of wife would I be leaving my husband unattended?" She chuckled. "Me? Jealous and possessive? I'm just doing what I gotta do." Her tendency to be territorial was all just part of the act. That was how wives were supposed to be, regardless of whether they were pretending or not. She believed so, at least.

"Don't worry, I will." Carter reassured them with a firm nod. "I'll take care of myself, and get as much sleep as I can while you're at work. But if I can't make it in time for lunch... How about I pick you up from work instead? We can pick up some take-out on the way, have an early dinner, and maybe put on some cheesy romance movie... Have ourselves a quiet night in?" He suggested, knowing that Ella wouldn't mind what they did as long as they were able to spend time together. But Carter still felt the need to ask them. "Hey, I didn't say that I wasn't stubborn. I'm as stubborn as I can be, but it was still your stubbornness that beat mine out." He pointed out, laughing softly before he shook his head. "But you're right. Everyone could see that I needed a break, and now I see it too. I need a break." Admitting that seemed to have lifted a weight off of his shoulders, considering how much pressure that Carter had managed to put on himself since being promoted as Captain. He hadn't taken any time off, giving his all to his team of firefighters since they were the only family he'd had before Ella had come along. But almost losing one of them had made him realize that he needed to cherish the time that he had been given. After all, in other world, it could have been him instead of Lola. "Thank you, my love." Relief spread through him as he offered her a genuine smile, feeling utterly grateful that Ella had always been so understanding. "You know... I'm always going to be yours, right?" He could not help but ask them, his smile remaining on his lips at the thought. Carter had known for a while that Ella was the one for him, even if they hadn't made things official. But when the time was right, he was certain that they will. "You're not going to lose me, Ella. No matter how many times I run into a fire, just know that I'll always find a way to come back to you. Always." Before Ella had come into his life, Carter had not cared about the dangers that had come with being a firefighter. He had always put the lives of others over his own. But after Ella, he still put the lives of others before his. The only difference was that he had started to value his life more than he used to. "Yeah, I know... I love her too. I've dealt with social workers for pretty much my entire life, but she's definitely one of the good ones... you know, aside from you." He remarked, chuckling softly before he exhaled a sigh. "I guess that's the only thing that brings me comfort... at least for now." As someone who had always been strict about following protocols, Carter hadn't gotten himself attached to that baby by any means. But he was human, after all. An empath. He had his feelings. Up until Ella had mentioned fostering, he never would have considered it. It had taken him by surprise. Being well aware of how Ella had felt about it, he would never push them on the subject. "Would you consider it though... fostering, I mean? I know we're in no place to do it right now, given how much we both work. We won't fit the criteria. But do you think that we could do it... sometime in the future? I've always wanted to help as many kids as I can... make sure they don't go through what we went through. I know that I still want it, and I want it... with you. Do you think that's something you'd want?" Maybe it was the shock of almost losing one of his firefighters. But Carter had spent the whole night thinking about all the things that he hadn't done in his life. The thought that life was way too short had hit him like a freight train, and he could not shake it. He wanted everything that life had to offer him, and he wanted it all with the love of his life. "What makes you think I would have said otherwise? I thought I'd made it obvious." He pointed out, his arms still wrapped around her as he watched her cook the eggs. "I love you with everything I've got, Ella."

“i hope so. you should sleep for however long you need to, it’s okay if you can’t make it in time for lunch. i’d rather you took care of yourself first and if that means staying in bed for half the day, that’s perfectly fine with me.” they usually use the last hour or so at the office to transfer their notes from that day onto their computer, to track patient progress and figure out the best path forward for each individual, but really, that’s something that can be done at any time. knowing that carter is at home, they would happily leave a little early if it meant they could spend a few more hours with him unimpeded. “you know, i think that just proves that your stubbornness almost rivals mine, doesn't it? everyone can see that you deserve a break except for yourself.” only he would run himself into the ground and still insist on pushing through, going against the advice of his own chief for the sake of everybody else. “that’s okay, love. whenever you can find the time for me, i’ll take it. i know things were rough for everyone today and i wouldn’t expect you to leave when other people need you. but when they’re finally willing to let you go for a little while… i’ll be here.” it would feel awfully selfish for ella to demand so much from him when his team has just gone through something so traumatising and taxing on the psyche. she needs him in her life, possibly more than she’s ever needed anyone before, but so do they. as much as she misses him, she would never guilt him into leaving now. “i won’t lie and pretend that it’s always easy to let you go because it’s definitely not, but… like i said, as long as you’re mine, i’ll wait for you however long i have to. i don’t want to lose you either, carter. you’re too important to me. i couldn’t imagine my life without you in it.” if they could find a way to protect him from all the threats he has to face out there, they would never let him leave their home without being enveloped in bubble wrap first. it’s beyond terrifying to remember just how easily he could be taken from them. “oh, i don’t think she’ll mind... despite what she might say, you know she loves you really. it’s very difficult not to.” of course she’s slightly biased in this situation, but she sticks by what she said regardless. it’s a wonder how nobody else had the same determination to work their way into his life the way she had, refusing to take no for an answer because they knew he was worth all the effort in the world. “i know it’s difficult for you both, but i think all we can do now is make sure to support ishara and be there if she ever needs help with this whole thing. as awful as it is, the baby is at least in the care of professionals we can trust right now. that's a small comfort. then after that… i don’t know. sadly, there still isn’t very much any of us could do in our positions. i mean, it’s not like we can… foster the child ourselves.” maybe if ella had chosen an easier career path — one that didn’t require so much of her time and dedication — she would’ve considered the possibility of fostering at some point in the future. though she’d been one of the lucky ones and had only been in the system for a few years before making it out, she knows how difficult it can be for so many and if she could protect even one child from that experience, she absolutely would. it just… doesn’t seem very feasible. cooking this late at night with carter’s arms wrapped around their waist may be unconventional, but they wouldn’t have it any other way, savouring the closeness even if it does make their task a little trickier. “yeah? i better be,” she teases as she watches the eggs begin to fluff up in the pan. “you might’ve broken my heart if you said otherwise and i don't think you want tears in your dinner.”

Having caught Caitlyn just as she was about to walk out the door, Conrad came to a stop before the reception desk, his eyebrow raised slightly as he met her gaze. "Thursday before lunch... Alright, that sounds good. Thank you." He nodded, reaching over to scratch the back of his neck for a moment as he watched them reach under her desk, his eyes remaining on them as they gave him a quick glance. Their lack of eye contact was more than enough to convince him that he had gone too far, but he could not get himself to apologize. While Conrad may have the ability to recognize his wrongdoings, he was not equally skilled when it came to owning up to those mistakes. "Oh... That's great." He smiled, relief spreading through his features. Cornelia would have had his head if he had showed up to the party empty-handed, and he was grateful that Caitlyn had managed to come through at the last minute. Perhaps he had been wrong to assume that they were incompetent. That certainly didn't seem to be the case. "If it's not too far, I wouldn't mind picking it up on my way to the party. I'm all done for the evening anyways." After the hard time he had given her, this was the least he could do.

she’s able to relax a little once he finally leaves the room and gets straight to work. anybody who truly wants conrad’s help doesn't have the luxury of complaining and will accept whatever time slot they’re given, so rescheduling the appointment doesn’t take very long and then she jumps right into the real task at hand. knowing what type of stuff his sister is into helps to a degree, but caitlyn has never been one to hold knowledge about high fashion, which means a little research is also required. they spend the next fifteen minutes on google trying to decipher what this year’s trends are and gawking at the price of handbags that they would never buy for themselves if they wanted to also afford groceries that month. still, even through the shock at how the other half live, she at least finds what she’s looking for — a new release from a designer she’s unsurprisingly never even heard of before — and knows exactly where to pick it up. thank god. they’re quick to stand from their chair and pull on their coat, so desperate for this day to come to an end that the sound of a door opening nearby causes their shoulders to instantly tense. so close. “uh, yeah, i moved them to thursday before lunch. they were fine with it.” tucking her hair behind her ear, caitlyn snatches her bag from beneath her desk and spares him only a brief glance. “i found your sister’s gift, i just need to go grab it... i won't be long.”

Ezra could recognize the interest in Erin's eyes as he spoke, which he had only found as an encouragement for him to continue. Most of the time, the women he met were not entirely keen on getting to know him in such a manner, his career in finance being the only reason why they had even given him their time of day. But Erin seemed different. "I did my best." He admitted, his smile remaining on his lips as he sipped his drink. "Ooh, I do like Bali. I went there for one of my cousins' bachelor party, and had a blast. I did hear that there were some islands out there that were up for sale. Maybe I should start looking." He shrugged, his eyebrow raised slightly as he became rather curious about her. "You seem to know quite a bit about islands in Asia. What do you do for a living?"

WITH HOW HIS PARENTS PERCEIVED him brought up, Erin regarded Ezra with interest. The information was enough for her to surmise what kind of person he was. She could already imagine a family of achievers. Being surrounded by a bunch of them must have made him feel like he had a lot to prove. That explained the supercilious attitude, which, like he said, he had every right to. She may be a grifter but she had respect for the people who went through all the grind. Though that didn't mean she'd stop this little operation. "Good to know that you've proved them wrong." She took a sip of her cocktail. "You're right. There's a first time for everything," she echoed. He should've known better but that would be a lesson he'd learn later. "Well, they have a lot of islands in Asia. You've got Bali, Palawan, Phuket, or Penang. Those are great ones."

"Hm... Well, if that's the case, then I can definitely arrange to have your desk moved a little closer to my office. I doubt that anyone would get suspicious, considering how closely we've been working together since we launched that housing project. They'll think that we're working hard, but in reality... We're going to be playing just as hard." The last statement came out more as a whisper, his teasing smile still remaining upon his lips despite the fact that he was well aware of how serious Imogen had been. He knew that they missed him, because he had missed her just as much when he was out of the office, away on charity events, or even visiting the community. He had always kept himself busy, especially after becoming elected. But it had all changed once Imogen had joined his office. Nowadays, even though he still kept himself busy, being away from them hadn't been as easy as it used to be. Being in the office hadn't been any better either, considering how close she was to him, almost within his reach yet still so far away. It really was torture. "Then we can do this more often, don't you think?" Of course, there was always the risk of being caught. But they had been so careful when they were at the office. They had to be. The risk was certainly worth it. Edward appreciated the way she had lent him a hand, her desperation as she pulled her skirt up higher not entirely lost on him. "Oh yes, I should be very focused..." He murmured, his hands working fast to fully unbutton her blouse before he returned her kiss, rather passionately. "Mhm... I can take the day off. But first... I should probably finish that task that I've been putting because of last night's event." With that, he slid one hand between their thighs while the other gripped tightly onto their hip to keep them in place. "Tell me, baby... How much did you miss me last night? Did you get all hot and bothered while I was gone? Did you touch yourself? Pretend that your fingers were mine just to ease that ache of yours?" He whispered, his fingers inching closer towards his destination. "Don't worry... You can have my fingers, if that's what you prefer. All you have to do is ask."

“what, is missing you a crime now? you know i don’t like being separated from you, no matter how important your work is. even being at my desk out there while you’re tucked away in this office feels like torture sometimes.” in fact, it’s almost worse when he’s so close yet so unattainable. at least when he’s far away, working his magic at some fancy event, there’s no temptation to throw caution to the wind and pay him a visit on a whim; she can yearn from the comfort of her own home and know that they’ll see each other soon. but when he’s right there, separated by only a few walls, it’s much harder to keep still and not give in to their desires. if imogen didn’t care so much about getting the work finished and ensuring that everything is done perfectly to give him the best possible chance in the polls, maybe they would be more inclined to find excuses throughout the day to talk to him, to pull themselves away from their computer screen and force them both to take a break each time the notion hits. everyone else on the team should know better than to burst into edward’s office unannounced — even imogen herself wouldn’t be so bold — yet her heart still begins to race at his eagerness, deciding then and there that the risk is more than worth it. she even lends a hand in helping him get past the few obstructing layers between them and pulls the bottom of her skirt up a little higher, the head rush as she kisses him again as strong and immediate as it had been the first time. “i should probably be the one encouraging you to stay on track and keep focused, but you worked hard last night... i think you deserve a day off, don’t you?”

"Hm... So, you really do have a way with your words. Who would have thought?" Diana could not help but tease him once again, feeling rather amused by where this conversation seemed to be headed. Even though their relationship had started out as strictly professional, and then moved on to being somewhat platonic, she could not deny that it had evolved into something more in the last few months. Nixon was a great guy. He was smart, funny, and unbelievably handsome. Diana would have been a fool not to notice that, or do something about the attraction she had felt towards him. "In that case, I do insist that you do treat me a home-cooked meal once I finish grading these papers for you." She stated with a playful smile, feeling her cheeks growing warmer when he winked at her. "Fair... Most of us would have been out of a job if you had considered a legal career." Not to mention the fact that they would not have met if that had been the case. Thankfully, relief spread through her features when Nixon agreed to be her date to the fundraiser. "Oh... Great, I'm sure my sisters would be thrilled to share all of my embarrassing stories with you. Remind me to make sure that they stay as far away from you as possible." She laughed softly before shaking her head.

"PERHAPS, BOTH," NIXON QUIPPED, AND mirrored her playfulness, smiling lopsidedly. It was always amusing to have these conversations with Diana. There was a flirtatious undertone and an electricity between them. "Yes, you would have gotten a home-cooked meal from me. But you know, you'll have plenty more opportunities to get it from me." He winked at her cheekily. "Would? So I've been told. But you know, it's not really wasted when I'm teaching and guiding students to become the future of this country. That also counts for something." With the comment coming from Diana, he knew that she meant it. He did know that he could aim higher, but he was content with where he was. His brow quirked in interest when she brought up a fundraiser for her family's hospital. That was unexpected, but not in an unpleasant way. They had been tiptoeing around each other for months now. He would have used dinner and drinks as an opportunity for an a real date, but he also wouldn't mind being her date to a family event. He noticed her gaze shift as she waited for his answer. "Okay then. I'll be your date," he confirmed with a nod. "Who could say 'no' to a fundraiser? Plus, I'd love to meet your family. Maybe a sibling of yours can share an embarrassing story about you. I would love to hear it." He snickered.

Hearing the sarcasm in Lee's voice caused Tiery to let out a soft chuckle in response, and he winced immediately from the pain on his shoulder. "Hm... I was starting to wonder why you had more wrinkles than I remembered." He could not help but tease his best friend, a rather tired smile still remaining plastered across his lips. Leave it to Lee for keeping up with their banter even when he was lying in a hospital bed. But that had always been their thing. "Don't tell me that you've been sitting here all this time..." Tiery's lips curled into a frown at the thought. Knowing Lee as well as he did, he could tell that she would have felt guilty about what had happened. Not that he blamed her for it though. He knew that it had been his own stupidity that had led to his injuries. "Ah... I guess that's what happens when you've been accident prone your whole life, or maybe it's because of the bajillion doctors in my family. You're bound to learn something. No wonder my parents insisted that I should go to medical school like all of my cousins. Too bad I didn't." After all, the restaurant industry really had been his true calling. There was no doubt about it.

TIERY'S SNIPPY ATTITUDE PUT HER at ease. She had to stop herself from playfully hitting him in response to his remark. She noticed the faint smile on his lips. "You'll get over." Their banter was cut short when the ambulance finally arrived. Thankfully, there weren't any major injuries. He had a dislocated shoulder and mild concussion. He'd most likely recover in a week or two, though they still had to observe him. Lee spent the whole time by his side, nursing him and waiting for him to wake up. A day and a half later, he finally gained consciousness. She perked up, rising from the sofa she had moved beside his bed. "Thanks. Good morning to you too," she answered sarcastically, biting back a grin. Leave it up to him to say something snark the first thing after a short coma. "How long were you out? It's been ten years," she answered dramatically, followed by a gasp. "It's only been a day and half." She pressed a button to call for a nurse to check in on him. "If it makes you feel any better, you were right about your injuries. Your self-diagnosis is very accurate. Your aunt would be very proud."

"Or... you've always been able to see me for who I am when no one else could." Harold suggested, his rather wide smile remaining plastered across his lips. "Clearly, you're the only one who has always deserved my time." And from now on, he was certain that Diana would be the only one who got any of his time, and he could not deny how perfect that was. There was no one else in this world whom he wanted to spend every second of every day with. How convenient. "Yeah, it feels very different to think about it as a real date... but it also feels right, doesn't it? It feels like this... this was how it was always meant to be." Harry admitted, unable to hide the smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips. "Well, if you're going to get dressed for me... I will appreciate the effort. But all that effort would have gone to waste... because the moment we get home, I'm going to get you out of your clothes, and into my bed." He winked, a soft chuckle bubbling out of him before he shook his head. "Yeah, but... that kind of sums them up, doesn't it? When have our mothers ever acted a way that didn't end up complicating things for everyone involved? It just sucks that it took us this long to realize that... but we eventually got there, no thanks to them." Better late than never. "If we're getting married... when we're getting married, I want our wedding to be about us, about you. Let's be real. If our mothers were involved, they would make it all about themselves... and not us. That would only bring unnecessary drama, so why bother?" Besides, Harry had always been a minimalist. Perhaps some might find that hard to believe, considering that he was the CEO of Grant Global. But the truth was that he had never cared for the pomp, and pageantry. At least, not as much as most people. If their wedding was just him in a business suit, and Diana in a simple dress while they exchanged their vows at City Hall, he would certainly not complain. "No, I'm not saying that... But I'm also not not saying it either." Harry shot her a wink, letting out another laugh before he leans over to return their kiss. "Hm... is that supposed to be a challenge? Because... as someone who knows that your heart's not as cold as you've made everyone believe, I've been waiting for the day I'll get to peel all those layers off, and show the world who you really are." Harold left a trail of kisses along her jaw, making his way down her neck, and then down to her collarbone. "Tell me, Di... Tell me what you want." He growled, his eyes filled with a lustful hunger as he let his fingers trail along their inner thighs, teasing them with his tender touches.

“well, it isn’t difficult to see how wonderful you are, so that's their own fault, isn't it? you’re a clever man, harry, and if nobody else wants to listen to what you have to say, they’re obviously morons and don’t deserve your time.” and all that time he would’ve been using to deal with those people can easily be redirected to focus on diana instead. what a happy coincidence. “of course i would let you. i know we’ve gone to plenty of dinners together before, but it feels different when it’s a real date, doesn't it? knowing that both of you actually enjoy each other’s company and that you’ll have fun no matter how it goes. plus, i’d get to dress up for you for a change and not some random man who won’t so much as appreciate the effort.” an extra bonus is that she’ll know from the get-go that she can kiss him whenever she wants without fear of being rejected and that regardless of the restaurant or atmosphere, she’ll still be going home with him at the end of the night. with a quiet laugh of their own, diana nods. “yeah, it’s safe to say that they jumped the gun a bit… just imagine it; we could’ve been doing this the whole time instead of suffering through pointless dates and sitting in jealousy. sort of ironic that the people who were so desperate for us both to find somebody are the same ones who prevented it from happening, huh?” if they hadn’t tried so hard to pull their children’s strings and force them into horribly mismatched relationships, everybody would’ve been satisfied a whole lot sooner. “us in the best way possible,” they clarify with a reassuring smile before he brings up the possibility of eloping and their interest is immediately piqued. “actually, i don’t think i would be opposed to that… don’t get me wrong, i love both of our families but like we said, you know they can be… well, a lot sometimes. i can’t help but assume that having a real wedding would turn into a huge fuss somehow and i’d end up getting more annoyed than anything else.” she can picture it now — her mother (with love, yet no less frustratingly) trying to lend a hand in the planning process, giving her unwanted opinion on what dress she should wear or what combination of flowers to hold. diana has plenty of confidence and having everyone in the room focus their attention on her doesn’t make her anxious by any means, but the thought of it being a more intimate affair with only herself and harry to worry about sounds a lot more appealing. after so long of holding themselves back from each other, she would argue that they get to make whatever decision on the matter they damn well please. they have a lot of lost time to make up for. “are you trying to say that you’ve been going to the gym religiously for years now in the hopes that i would see you naked one day?” they ask through a laugh, fingers brazenly trailing down the broad plane of his chest and lower. there are some nerves, yes, but she knows harry; maybe even better than she knows herself. she trusts him. there’s nobody else she’d rather be with and though her cheeks are lightly dusted with a flush of red, she presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “this is getting dangerous... i swear i don’t usually blush this much. if you're not careful, you’re going to ruin my cold-hearted reputation.”

"I think that really depends on whether they think that this pissed off princess could pose any threat to my life. If you can prove to them that you won't be a threat to my life, and manage to annoy them in the process... I actually think you might be able to pull it off." Simon felt the need to point that out, considering that royal protocols have always stated that no one was to be trusted. While he found that to be utter nonsense, he certainly knew that Zelda would be the last person in this country to ever bring him harm. His guards would disagree. "I'm not an idiot, Zelda. I can tell that you're lying through your teeth." He could not help but roll his eyes in a rather playful manner, laughing softly before he shook his head. "It's called moving away for university, and using daddy's money to do everything you were never allowed to do. I may have given in to a little peer pressure back then, and I'm definitely not the most proud of my fashion choices. I shouldn't have even showed you that one photo to begin with, let alone any more of them. But yes, there's a few of them... though I'm not sure if I should show them to you, not when you find my fashion mistakes to be so entertaining." He could not help but tease them despite his smile remaining plastered across his lips. "Oh, of course, there's a whole royal decree that's been put out about what constitutes a catch. Haven't you heard?" He joked, rolling his eyes once again before he shrugged. "Yeah, you're right... I do love you, even though you're as annoying as you are. You're lucky I love you, Zelda... and let's be real here, I'm actually the catch." He offered her a wink, letting out another laugh before he sipped his drink. But hearing Zelda's words, Simon could not deny the genuinity that she exuded when she spoke. It was true. They had been the closest of friends since they were children, and there was no way he could ever trust anyone more than he trusted them. "When did you become so noble?" He could not help but ask her. "And no, I don't mean your status... if that was unclear." It felt strange, hearing Zelda make such an offer to him. Having known her for so long, Simon had always been protective of her. But to know that they would do the same for him felt quite surreal. "Fine, we have a deal." He nodded, raising his glass. When they leaned in closer, he quickly closed the gap between them. With an arm wrapped around her waist, he glanced around at his guards to make sure that they had been watching them... which they were. He had to stay committed to the act. "Just... get me out of here." Simon whispered in their ear, and pressed a quick kiss on their cheek."

“i guarantee i could take them. they may know how to stop a potential threat against your life, but they have no defences against a pissed off princess. i have the advantage here.” she’s not entirely dissimilar to a jukebox in a way; once you get her started, you just have to let the whole song play out, and despite what they might think, a yapping zelda with only one goal in mind is no real match for a team of muscled men with weapons. if simon truly wanted them to give it a shot, she would march straight over to his bodyguards right now and turn her ability to annoy all the way up. “i’m not judging, i swear!” well, just a little. the sheer shock of the image sort of took precedence over every other thought that had been swirling around zelda’s brain tonight and they were left with mouth agape and a number of teasing comments that they bravely held back. “uh, no… no, i can’t say i have. i had no idea a royal would own a single piece of leather clothing, never mind an entire outfit. please tell me you have more photos from your past hidden away somewhere that are equally as entertaining.” oh, she’d give anything to see them, but for once in her life, she’s trying not to be too pushy — trying being the key word here. truth be told, she isn’t opposed to begging if it comes to it. “oh, so it’s not official until the precious prince declares it?” with a roll of the eyes, they meet his gaze with a highly unimpressed one of their own. “silly me. we both know you’re thinking it, simon, you might as well be honest with yourself. you love me.” she smiles as she takes another sip of her drink, the grin taking a turn towards prideful. though he doesn't hold the romantic type of affection for her that she’s trying to imply, that won’t stop her from leaning into it with a surprising amount of confidence. she knows he cares for her, that he's one of the few people in her life whose intentions she never has to doubt, and that's more than enough. “of course i do. i might drive you nuts sometimes — intentionally too — but you’re my oldest friend, you know. the fact that you’ve stuck around this long is more than anyone else has done, so i’ll always have your best interests at heart. if all the scrutiny we get bothers you even half as much as it bothers me, i want to help with that in whatever way i can.” it’s purely a coincidence that helping in this instance also means messing with the media and all the people out there who derive joy from picking apart their lives and commenting on every little move they make. “believe me, i’m used to attention by now, but maybe it won’t be so bad if we’re dealing with it together. so… i guess we have a deal then? to fucking with the establishment.” raising her glass with a smile, zelda taps it against his own in a makeshift toast and leans in closer. “we can figure out all the ground rules for our little arrangement later, i’m sure, but for now… whenever you need me to gaze adoringly at you and get you some alone time, just let me know. as your fake girlfriend, i aim to please.”

Jacob could not help the chuckle that escaped his lips upon hearing her words, his nose scrunched as he smiled at her. "Ah... right. Emotions... also known as the things that have kept both of my parents in business for all this time. I do have to give credit where credit is due. The only reason why I've never been afraid to express my emotions is because my parents always encouraged me to feel my feelings, and let it all out... even when I was a little boy." Perhaps it was the fact that he had been raised by two mental health professionals, but Jake had never held himself back from sharing his emotions. If that was one of the many things that Juno liked about him, then he could not complain. "Before coming here... ? Well, just two, actually. One for Julia Roberts, and one for Meg Ryan. But they've been getting one every year, and they still haven't given me a response... unlike you. I guess it's your lucky day, babe." He could not help but tease her, taking her hand in his before he brought it up to his lips, and pressed a feather-soft kiss against her knuckles. "Or... you can let me take you out tonight on our very first proper date, and I'll tell you all about it over dinner." @utterxdesires

It felt so good to hear him say that, it sounded oh so more real when he said it out loud. It made her smile widen and there it was again, the funny feeling in her stomach that would wake up when he was around her and the feelings overwhelmed her. "I know what got into you. Emotions. And you, unlike others, aren't afraid to vocalize it. That's one of the many things I like about you."Juno murmured with a small smirk. From her experience, it was always hard for men to say what they actually felt, there was always problem in communicating your thoughts, which is why eventually things would fall apart. But Jacob was different, and he was famous, it seemed only logical that he'd be open towards her in order for this between them to work. "Always, huh? How many bouquets have you already delivered, then, before coming here?"Juno teased him and approached him as soon as the flowers were in the water. "I'm kidding. I appreciate the sweet gesture."Juno murmured as she stopped in front of him. "Are you hungry, maybe? I could order something, because my fridge is empty. I have a couple of beers, a bottle of wine and some water, too."she suggested something for him to refresh himself. "And I want to hear all about what have you been up to and how it all went!"Juno murmured with a chuckle. @hcrdknocklife

"Thank you." Hearing Wade's words had only caused Lily's blush to turn a deeper shade of red, and her wide smile remained plastered across her lips. She was well aware of the power dynamics between them, because they had made her suppress her true feelings towards him for this long. But the truth was that she had always felt safe when she was in his presence, and that certainly hadn't changed since taking this trip with him. Even when they were sharing adjoining rooms, she had felt safe. She knew that she could trust him. A soft chuckle bubbled out of her, and she shook her head. "Hey, I'm only telling the truth. You don't have to thank me for that." She could not help but tease him, and offered him a sly wink. "Oh... Well, you make it seem as though I've spent every single minute of my work day with you. I'm not going to lie. I would have gotten bored of you if that was the case. But most of the time, you're flying around the world... and you keep me so busy whenever you're at the office that I don't even have the time to miss you." She admitted, laughing softly before she reached into her purse, and retrieved her phone. "There you go..." Lily pulled up his speech that she'd had saved on her notes app, and handed Wade her phone. "Hm... Looks like I have my work cut out for me this evening. It's nothing I can't handle. Don't worry, I'll just... nudge you when you get carried away. But if you need me to pretend that you have an urgent call from the New York office to get you out of a conversation, I can do that too." Knowing the kind of people she had witnessed him interact with, Lily was well aware that there would be plenty of those conversations that she might need to steer him away from. Luckily, she was always prepared for something like this. But it was safe to say that she hadn't been prepared for the sparks that she had felt when Wade tucked her hair behind her ear. She felt her heart pounding against her chest, and her breath hitched in her throat for a moment. She wanted it so badly, to kiss him right this second. However, she was terrified to make that first move. Things had been going so well since they had arrived in London, and she did not want to ruin this trip by getting ahead of herself. Lily hadn't been brave enough to risk it all, at least not yet. "Um... yeah." She nodded, looking away from him for a moment before she stepped over to the closet, grabbing her pair of heels, and slipping them on. "Okay... I think I'm good to go." @utterxdesires

"I absolutely love it. You made a great choice with the dress."Wade confirmed once again. It wasn't that often that he could see Lily blush, but there was also power in knowing it was because of him. The tension between them was coming out more, and frequent, since this trip, and Wade constantly reminded himself of their position, her job, and kept himself in control. But tonight, seeing her so dolled up, having her hands on him fixing his tie, he struggled enormously. "Thank you. It sounds very nice coming from your mouth, if I'd say something like that i'd probably sound like a pretentious asshole."he mused with a light chuckle. "You don't? How do you then spend so much time around me? Do you ever get bored of me?"Wade asked. Nodding along as she spoke about the speech, he was pleased it wasn't too long. "Perfect, I like that it's short. We can have a look during the ride, just to make sure."he mused with a soft sigh. "That's something I try to tell myself all the time, but I find it difficult. Although, such occasions like tonight are different. If I start getting too tense or talk about work too much, just nudge me to stop."he mused to her with a small smirk. The moment he tucked her hair behind the ear, something in the air shifted for them again and he wanted desperately to lean down and kiss her, just from the way she was looking at him it was doing things to him. But before he could react, or even say anything, Lily reminded him that they should get going. "Right."he murmured "Right, of course."Wade cleared his throat and let his hand run down her arm with a small, soft smile. "Grab your things and lets get going. Would be a bad thing to be late to the own company's party."he chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. @hcrdknocklife

Hearing their apology caused Daniel to shake his head in response. "Oh no, Lottie... No, you have nothing to be sorry for. This is good. This is really good." He assured her, his genuine smile still remaining plastered across his lips as he held them close, planting a feather-soft kiss on the top of their head. "It's okay, Lottie. I know... it's okay. I know you were scared. I always knew that. I was just waiting for you to decide that you didn't want to be scared anymore, and I'm so glad I did." Danny admitted, letting out a sigh of relief as he wiped away his tears. "You never lost me, Lottie. I never left. I could never get myself to leave you. But if getting me to stay away from you was the only way to get you to realize that you're not as weak as you thought you were, and that you were strong enough to ask for help, I would do it all over again." It was true. Daniel could never imagine a life without Lottie, but if him keeping his distance had been the reason why they had found the courage to finally get some help, and begin working towards healing their wounds, then he would have stayed away for as long as they needed him to it. He couldn't stay away, but he would have at least tried if it meant that Lottie would be happier.

"You deserve the world, Lottie... and I would have given you the world if you wanted me to. All you had to do was ask." He whispered, giving her a rather gentle squeeze. "You weren't stupid. You were hurting. You've been hurting for over two decades, Lottie... and that's not something that anyone could just forget with a snap of a finger, and move on. It takes time. It takes work. It takes so much more than what I could have offered you... so, I don't blame you for pushing me away. Even if you had hurt us both, I'm glad that you came out in the end... knowing that you needed to get help. That's all that matters to me." Truth be told, Danny himself had found himself in therapy since they had broken up. At first, it had been due to his issues regarding his own self-esteen. He had not felt as though he was good enough for anyone, let alone for Lottie. Even though he had been hurting, he knew that he had to heal his own wounds first before he could ever judge them for not doing the same. He had done just that. He had gotten the help he needed following their break up, and now... he had to admit that they were both better for it. "Fine... I won't apologize." He gave in, letting out another sigh of relief as he pulled back from the embrace. He let his thumbs brush away their tears as he met their gaze, his smile not fading from his lips as he glanced at them with the same kind of love that he had held for her since they had first gotten together. Nothing had changed, at least in his eyes. If anything, Danny had only managed to love Lottie a whole lot more than he already did during the time that they had spent apart. "Then... let's get better together. I won't leave your side. I'll stay through it all... hold your hand, and walk alongside you until the end of time. What you did... it doesn't matter. What matters to me is what you're going to do... what we're both going to do, moving forward. I love you, Lottie. I've wanted to spend my whole life with you since the day I met you. I mean that in every where." There was a part of Danny that seemed to wonder if now would be an appropriate time to let her know what he'd meant by that. If he could just get down on one knee in this parking lot, and hand her the ring that he had carried in pocket for so long, he would have done it in a second. But he knew better than that. He did not want to put her on the spot, or pressure her into doing something that she was not ready for... considering how things had turned out. Instead, he wanted to make sure that Lottie was okay. He wanted her to have healed her wounds before they could take that next step together, and he was certain that they will. "You don't have to thank me for anything, Lottie. But you're welcome." With that, he leaned in to close the gap between the two of them, and pressed him lips against hers, giving her a quick kiss.

if he still didn’t believe that they were truly getting help for their problems, they’d be upset, yes, but there wouldn’t be much they could do. given everything danny knows about them, he has no real reason to think she would finally say that enough is enough and take that dreaded step. so when a smile begins to break through on his face and his hands reach for them, they can feel the panic drain from their system with one gentle touch. nobody has ever given them a pat on the back and told them they were doing well before. “i’m sorry it took me this long. it shouldn’t have taken me losing you for me to finally ask someone for help. i was just… scared. it's not a good enough excuse, but i was always scared.” she already felt weak enough as it was and she didn’t want anyone else to view her that way. she’d always thought of her struggles as a burden — just another aspect of her life that would inconvenience whoever she chose to rely on — and even with professionals who specifically study to help people like lottie, the prospect of reaching out frightened her. she hadn’t wanted to admit that the little control she still held over her life was slipping through her fingers, that she was incapable of healing from all the damage done during the last two decades and that it left permanent scars in its wake that won’t wash away. that doesn’t mean that things are suddenly easy now, not in the slightest. cutting their mother out had been the hardest part; they still flinch if anybody around them raises their voice and their heart begins to race when they make the slightest mistake as if she’s going to suddenly appear from nowhere to tell them how much of a disappointment they are. hell, the first time she accidentally broke a glass after she and danny parted ways, she cried on the kitchen floor for twenty minutes. but they’ve started being able to get through a day without unfairly criticising themselves, to take a shower and change their clothes even when they want nothing more than to stay in bed and wallow until the feeling fades. as minor as that might seem to anyone else, it’s real progress for her. it's working.

“you were more than enough. more than i ever thought i could have.” letting people get close is something she usually tried to avoid at all costs. the fear of anybody knowing her intimately enough to see every little crack in the foundation meant she would have to trust them not to harm her and given the circumstances, that was never something she was able to do, always one to assume the worst and try to protect herself. it wasn’t until daniel came along that she started to second guess her own methods. he was so kind right from the beginning. he never forced her to take steps she wasn’t ready for, never made her feel as if she was inferior to him or that she owed him anything. he was the first person they felt fully comfortable around, like they didn’t have to put on some kind of act just to please him, and until they forced themselves to get the help they needed, he was the only one they’d ever told about their past. “i thought i was doing the right thing for you, but all it did was hurt us both... i was so stupid and i love you so much. i’ve regretted it every day since.” she had to constantly remind herself that he would be better off in the end and while that evidently wasn’t true, she’d convinced herself that it had to be. if it wasn't, what the hell was it all for? their tears have begun to leave their mark against his clothes and the ache in their head gets stronger with each drop, but it’s too difficult to make it stop when he’s finally within their grasp again. “don't... you have nothing to be sorry for. nothing.” it was all lottie; every problem they had, every time one of them cried. he’s never been anything less than supportive and she still threw it all away out of fear and self loathing. she can’t make that mistake again. “i don’t want to lose you again… i want to keep getting better and i want you by my side through it all. i know it won’t make up for what i did, but i can try.” each minute of the day, she’ll try. that’s the type of effort she failed to put in the first time — the type they both deserved. “thank you for coming here, danny. thank you for forgiving me.”

Conrad could not help the rather hearty laugh that had escaped his lips upon hearing the other's words, shaking his head as he offered them a rather playful eyeroll. "Do you really expect me to believe that, darling? You should know by now that I also have a knack for being able to tell when someone's lying to me. You married one of the best lawyers in the city, sweetheart. Don't even think about lying to me now." He could not help but tease her once again, his flirtatious smile still plastered across his lips as he took the necklace from his wife. He stepped closer to her, one hand moving her hair over her shoulder. "Tea, and gossip... is that not the same thing? At least, that's what my sister told me." He remarked, cheekily, holding the necklace against her chest as he stood behind her, and he brought the hook behind her neck. "Oh, of course, I could never say no to some swooning on the side." He let out another hearty laugh, shaking his head as he hooked the necklace, moving her hair out of the way once again as he glanced over at their reflection on the mirror. "I don't mind what we have, as long as you promise not to leave me alone with your friends. I can't handle all of the swooning on my own, you know? I'm afraid I've kind of gotten used to having my very jealous, very possessive wife being there to protect me from all of the ogling eyes."

"ME? JEALOUS? I'M NOT JEALOUS. I'm just worried about the trail of broken hearts you'll leave, Don Juan," Lilianna quipped, teasing Conrad in return. A sheepish chuckle slipping past her lips at his question. "You wish." Yes, it was the answer, but she wouldn't out right admit it. Even though this was part of their ploy, getting used to his flirting, they weren't immune to his charms. There were a lot of moments that made their heart flutter. She thought of it as normal. A harmless ribbing. A mix of genuine reaction made their act more convincing, after all. "I'll have to give it to you. You've outdone yourself playing the role." They grabbed the emerald necklace from the box and turned to him, holding it up. "Help me put this on, please?" she asked. "We're going to have some tea, with some gossip as a main course. But if you do join us, there will be some swooning on the side," she jested. "We're going to have European cuisines. A mix of Italian and French dishes. But if you're not up for any of it, we can always get something else."

"Hey, I've always been a fan of yours... and especially since we started working together." Jacob admitted, laughing softly before he shook his head. "Watching you over the years as you grew into the kind of actor that you are today has been an absolute privilege." And he had meant that. After all, he had started out when he was a teenager, and had been fairly established as an actor when he had been cast for this show. Meanwhile, Ashlyn had been avoiding being typecasted into sitcoms, and had something to prove when she had started out. Even now, she had been able to hold her own against the rest of the cast, some of whom were much more experienced than the two of them. He could not deny that a part of him had always been proud to see that. "Not exactly your kissing skills, but definitely your acting skills. After all, I have watched your kiss other people on screen, and I can tell when you're good." There was another teasing smile that found its place upon Jake's lips, and he shook his head, giving the other's hand a rather gentle squeeze. "Or we could stop stressing about it, and leave that to the director of this episode. I find that it's much easier to just do whatever someone else tells me to do rather than try to figure it out all on my own, as much as I like to be involved with how my character's are portrayed from time to time." There was nothing wrong with that either. "But since I have your permission... I guess I'll just go with the flow, see how it feels in the moment when we're at rehearsals? I don't think it'll be the same as me kissing a girl I like, considering that we're going to be surrounded by cast, and crew, and have to focus on our marks, and staying within the frame, and the lighting is often blinding, so it's hard to look like you're actually enjoying the kiss. The whole 'natural' thing only comes to me at a much more intimate setting."

“wow... i’m flattered, truly. i knew you were sweet, but i had no idea you were such a huge fan of mine.” while she smiles and gives his shoulder a teasing nudge, she actually can’t think of a time when jacob hadn’t been supportive of anything she’s done. she knows he would never call himself a real sitcom fan and it would be easy for someone with that mindset to dismiss ashlyn’s previous work, yet he still goes out of his way to insist on her talent. she would happily do the same in return. “you have that much confidence in my kissing skills, do you?” their gaze briefly drops to where his hand settles on top of their own before lifting again to meet his. “mhm, apparently. i haven’t decided what to do yet though… we can’t go too wildly off script, but i don’t want it to look awkward and stiff like a lot of first kisses either. so... i guess you have my permission to do whatever feels natural. how would you normally kiss a girl you liked?”