Lulu Bell: Where's your brother?
Tyki: Other room. How come? What did he do?
Lulu Bell: Nothing. I would just like to have a word with him in private...
Tyki: Hm?
Lulu Bell: I'll search for him on my own. Thank you for your help. *struts to the other room*
Tyki: Huh... I wonder what she wants to talk to him about.
Lulu Bell: *walkis into the other room* Sheril...
Sheril: Oh why hello... is it that time?
Lulu Bell: I need to speak with you in private. No one must see this...
Sheril: *wryly smiles* Of course. I understand completely... Let's get started then...
Lulu Bell: *nods in agreement*
Later in a private room
Lulu Bell: *sobbing* How can I forgive myself for such a failure?! I was this close to making the Earl happy! This close!!!
Sheril: *patting her back* There there- you've done so much for him! I'm sure he'll forgive you...
Lulu Bell: I'm not worried about that- I'm worried about his well being!
Sheril: *hugs her* I know, I know. We all wants best for him...
Mercym: *checking in* Tyki told me you two went to go talk in private. Is everything alright?
Sheril: I think we need some time alone right now. Do you mind?
Mercym: No- of course. Take your time. Want me to bring you guys some tea?
Sheril: *to Lulu Bell* Would you like some tea?
Lulu Bell: *sniff* Milk tea might be nice.
Mercym: Milk tea it is. I'll be right back.
Sheril: You'll feel better after a little tea. Anything else you need?
Lulu Bell: No... this is good. Thank you...
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Redemption Chapter 59 Lock-In
“So what can I expect? Ages of the youth? How many ? That kind of thing.”
“Nervous love?” He inquires.
“Ah. A bit. I haven’t been to a lock-in in 5 years and then I wasn’t in charge.”
“It will be okay. These are good kids. We will have around 25, ages 13 to 18.”
“Okay, anything to look out for?”
“Biggest thing will be making out. Also sneaking off to smoke, drink. But like I said, these are good kids. I don’t anticipate any big problems.”
“As for making out, are we breaking up kisses?”
“Yes, I know it sounds hypocritical, but, we are adults in better control of our hormones. These guys aren't. So, nothing beyond holding hands and hugs.”
“Understand. Is there any planned activities or our we flying by the seat of our pants?”
“A bit of both. The younger kids, 13 and 14, are making Christmas cards for our shut-ins. The older are making up fruit baskets for the same. We have a movie planned for midnight. A karaoke contest at three. We will have music going all night. Board games and card games will also be set out.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Oh it is. A time for fun, easy socialising. It also makes the kids, who have something they need to discuss, more open. There is something about the night that makes them more open.”
“So, our second most important job is to listen.”
“Exactly. You will be fine Gabby.”
They pack up sleeping bags, pillows, the fudge and cookies that Gabriella made, and head out. They walk upstairs. It is strange to Gabriella, being in church at night in the quiet. She and Eli are the first ones there. They have to come early to set up.
Gabriella set out the cookies and fudge on one of the many tables. Eli starts the music videos on the TV. They then set up craft supplies on a couple of the tables with games on the others.
“Who is bringing the fruit basket stuff?”
“”Kevin, he is our youngest deacon. He is thirty and right outside our age group. Still young enough to have the energy to do this.
“Oh Good. Another adult.” He laughs
“You thought we were the only ones here with 25 children?”
“Well.” She is blushing.
“It is us. Kevin. Adam from Sunday School and MJ.”
“Another woman. Thank goodness.”
“Yep. Can't be all guys. We need some ladies for the young ladies.”
“When are they arriving?”
“In a half hour giving me time to do this.” He pulls her into his arms for a sizzling kiss.
“Oh wow! What was that for?”
“Well, we can't kiss in front of the kids. Have to be a good example. So, that ought to hold us over.”
“I would say do.”
He watches her as she interacts with the youth. She glides among them, stopping at the table where the younger children work. She takes a seat and exams their work, offering them advice, praising their work.
He watches az she drifts over to where the older children work. She helps tham make up a few baskets before joining a few youth working on neither, but dancing to ‘Move' by MeryMe. She dances with them, laughing and spinning around.
“So, are you planning a wedding yet?” Kevin asks Eli as he watches him watch her.
“Huh?” he jerks around and stares at his deacon.
“Vome on Eli. You surely aren't going to let her get away.”
“No. I'm not.”
“Good man. So when? I will need to make sure my schedule is clear.”
“I am asking her Christmas morning.”
“Good.”
“You don't think it is to soon?”
“No. You love her. She loves you. You are both old and mature enough.”
“True.”
“What are you two talking about?” Gabriella joins them.
“Can't say.” Eli pulls her into his arms and leads her back into the makeshift dance floor. He spins her around. The youth all stop what they are doing to watch their minister dance with his lady. They whistle and shout. Gabriella laughs and throws her head back, her unbound hair flying behind her as Eli spins her faster and faster.
“I must rember this moment,” Eli thinks,” How she looks, the sound of her laugh, the faces of the youth. This is a holy moment.”
“Oh! That was fun!” Gabriella says when he gets her sat down, 10 minutes later.
“For me too.”
“But, it didn’t make me forget that you and Kevin were having an intense conversation..”
“Oh. One I can't tell you about.”
“More secrets?”
“Actually part of the same one.”
“Christmas surprise.”
“Yes.”
“I will try to continue to be patient.”
“It will be worth it.”
“Later, Gabriella finds a spot on the floor between two of the young ladies. They stretch out on sleeping bags to watch, ‘God's Not Dead.’ The youth and their chaperones spread out all over the room, seating on the floor and chairs. Eli takes a seat where he can see Gabby and the screen. He is quite impressed with her. The way she interacted with the youth. She had became one of them. It is an important characteristic of a youth minister's wife.
“If she is going to be my wife, she must be able to connect with them. She can do that. She is doing that.” He thinks as he watches her between Willow and Shelby.
Later, during the Karaoke contest, in which they determine who is the silliest singer, not the best, she shows more of the same qualities. She sings with a group of girls and MJ. They all wear funny hats and exaggerate the notes, to the side splitting laughter of the others.
When Eli joined the guys, they preform a silly skit. They put on wigs and big floppy hats. They try to sing like the girls. He catches Gabby's eye. She is laughing so hard she is doubled over by the force of it.
“Oh Lord,” he prays even as he continues to preform,” what an incredible gift you have giving me in Gabriella, a perfect youth minister's wife.
“I had a lot of fun.” She tells him around five that morning. Most of the youth are still fully awake but a few had settled down, into the more quiet activities of the board and card games. The music still plays but no one is dancing. Those not at the tables either lay on the sleeping bags on the floor, dozing or quietly talking. They only had to break up one couple and no one had tried to sneak out.. All in all, a very good night.
“I am glad. You sure looked like you were having fun..” They sit on the floor beside each other. She leans against his shoulder and smoothers a yawn.
“It was a blast. It was nice to act my age.” He smiles and rest his head on hers. He knows what she means. She needed to let loose. To just be 20 for a night.
“We will wake those that are asleep in a half hour, clean up and head home.”
“Sounds good. Jade is keeping Evie until this afternoon.”
“Good.”
They get the kids up and the youth suite clean. Everyone is at home and in bed by seven.
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half-squint (streetlight stars)
by candy_floss_consumer
Seriously? How hasn’t anybody else noticed?
inspo: @merymeou on tiktok
updates: random
Words: 1227, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English
Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Categories: Gen
Characters: You, Bruce Wayne, Original Characters
Additional Tags: I do not know enough lore, do not at me, Intern, Bruce Wayne is Batman, Wayne Enterprises
source https://archiveofourown.org/works/38025517
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