Aegis 3.0

[Wyosch]

Hunter just frowned sadly, not wanting to bother her husband with any more of those questions, and instead focused on her youngest son - who seemed to be shivering.
"Are you cold, honey?"
"Y-y-y-yes-s-s-"
Hunter wrapped her arms around him to hopefully help him warm up a bit, looking down at her daughter who was nodding excitedly at her father.
"Dad, I might not be as smart as you or Misha or Noah, but I am smart enough to know that a pet takes lots of time!"

Jim smirked softly as he saw his daughter walk down the stairs, loving how she was proudly wearing her baseball shirt and cap.
"I'll help you in a minute, okay sweetie? I'll first call the Pizzahut for the pizzas.", he called to her, happily giving Rachel a kiss on her cheek.
"Will you help Angel and Jack with getting changed, or should I do that so you can get some rest? What about you take a hot bath? Alright, I'll do the kids, you'll take a bath.", he winked, stretching his arms for a moment before grabbing his phone and calling the Pizzahut to place the order.

Cole chuckled silently, blowing some hair out of Bailey's face just before he kissed her soft lips.
"Your fiancé. Still feels like a dream, doesn't it?", he asked, gently picking Bailey up and walking over to the living room where he sat down on the couch, she on his lap.
"Geez, imagine everyone's reactions when they'll see you walk down that aisle! I'll probably blackout!"

Mike was softly shaking his head, his left hand still softly stroking over Ava's back to comfort her.
"No, you won't be alone, okay? I'm here. I won't leave you. You're not alone. Don't think this is your fault. It's not.", he mumbled, taking some deep breaths again to try and help Ava calm down a bit.
"You won't scare me away. Believe me when I say I'll be there for you. I know I've done some bad shit and you probably won't trust me, but I promise. You're not alone."

 

[Scripted Away]

Mac smirked softly as he looked up at his daughter while he curled up around Hunter and Misha, so his fluffy fur would hopefully warm him up.
"I didn't say you're not smart enough, but many people just don't consider it", he chuckled. "I'm sure you are a very smart girl, princess."

A loving grin crossed Rachel's face as she listened to Jim's monologue about who would take care of the kids and call the pizza hut, lastly just smirking as she gently kissed his cheek.
"A hot bath sounds wonderful", she sighed happily. "Thank you honey." Her eyes were sparkling softly as gave his hand a little squeeze before she headed upstairs and into the bathroom.
She sighed calmly as the bubbling of the cooking water massaged her skin, the bathroom slowly filling with thick, white steam while she listened to rose talking downstairs in the living room.
"Okay daddy. Oh, will you order the Texan pizza again? Can I try a piece of yours then?"

Bailey smirked softly, ruffling Cole's hair as she turned around on his lap, so she was face to face with him. "Wait for it baby, I'll blow you away. Where should we have our honeymoon then?"
After daydreaming for a moment, Bailey's eyes locked to Cole's, and she started to grin widely.
"Hey, what about we go out for dinner somewhere? Celebrate our engagement."

Ava just sighed silently, cuddling against mike tightly as her fingers dug into his sides, just careful enough to not hurt...badly.
Another tear running down her cheek, she looked up at him.
"Th-thank you...", She whispered softly as she quickly wiped her tears away. "I've done worse things than you...", She mumbled and just stared at the ground in shame. "I...I founded hack..."

 

[Wyosch]

While Misha was still shaking, Heather just grinned widely, nodding at what her father said.
"I'm very smart! I know all of the animals by heart! Okay maybe not all of them yet... but many!", she winked at her dad, her grin widening.
"In fact I know you are an ursus maritimus. That's the real name of a polar bear."

"I actually wanted to try an Hawaiian pizza because your mom keeps telling me I should, but now you mention it... Texan it is.", Jim replied to Rose, winking while he quickly placed the order.
"I'll come pick 'em up in half an hour then.", he mumbled before he hung up and put his phone away. Quickly changing into some jeans and a casual white t-shirt, he lastly sat down at the table next to Rose, a soft smile on his face.
"Okay, now what can I help you with?"

"What about the Bahamas? Or somewhere in Switzerland? Or Austria?", Cole suggested, smiling apologeticall as she suggested going somewhere to eat.
"I'm actually quite tired... but if you want I'll cook us something nice, and we'll go out tomorrow?", he asked, looking at her with big puppy eyes to apologize.

Mike had only bitten his lip as Ava had dug her fingernails into his sides, but soon ignored the pain as Ava said she had founded HACK.
"Listen Ava... what you did is horrible, but you're not the only one who did bad things. I tried to... I tried to sell my little sister for crack. That's not something acceptable either."
He gently put his finger under Ava's chin, lifting her face up so she'd look up into his eyes.
"No matter what you did, it's in the past. And you won't scare me away. See? Still here."

 

[Scripted Away]

"That's right!", Mac said with a proud grin, but then frowned as he saw that Misha apparently was still freezing.
"Time to go home, warm up a bit, change and then go to the pet shop", he decided, teleporting everyone home.
To make sure Misha wouldn't feel bad about being the only one of the family who couldn't stand the cold, he tried to come up with a way to warm him up without making a thing of it.
"So, I think I'll make some nice, hot tomato soup now. who else wants some?"
Noah, who had caught up with his father's idea immediately, quickly lifted his hand. "Me!"

"We could share our pizzas fifty-fifty", Rose suggested smiling, before she groaned and headdesked on the paper in front of her.
"So, we would have had biology with Miss Peregrine today, but she has been attacked by a robbers yesterday, who broke her arm! so...we had physics with Mr.Winter. And because we will have him for a couple of weeks now, until Miss Peregrine gets better, he gave us homework. engines. ugh. I believe he said something about explosions or so? but to be honest I was distracted and didn't really pay attention, because we have that new boy in class and-"
she blushed slightly. "I mean, I just wanted to ask him where he comes from. he looks like from far away, and I was curious. nothing else."

Bailey smiled softly, shaking her head. "In that case, honey, you just get a bit rest and I'll make us dinner. I'm not tired at all. also, you already were so nice to make that hot chocolate for me. now it's my turn."
she quickly kissed him once more, before she got up.
"What would you like?"

Ava stared up at Mike with wide eyes for quite a moment, before she just lunged forward and hugged him tightly, her fingers gently running through the hair on the back of his head.
"Thank you Mike...", she whispered to his ear, softly leaning her forehead against the side of his head.
"I honestly don't know what I would've done without you with those news..I completely forgot how good some human warmth feels."

 

[Wyosch]

Hunter knew what Macon was up to, and immediately nodded as well.
"I want too!", Heather called, grinning happily.
"M-me t-too.", Misha mumbled, still shaking because he was cold.
"C'mon, let's sit down and put a blanket over us. I'm cold.", Hunter said to her youngest child, a soft smile on her face as he nodded and started making his way to the living room.
"Will you manage the soup without me?"
"Noah and me will help daddy!"

Jim's gaze immediately went up from the paper to Rose, his expression screaming 'hell no'.
"You need to focus on your classes.", he mumbled. "And not on boys- hey, no boyfriends until you're 18.", he looked down at Rose's homework again, sighing silently.
"So you don't know what your homework is?"

Cole shook his head, smirking softly.
"You wouldn't accept me saying no, so I'll let you cook then. Though you'll have to decide what you want to eat. I honestly don't care, as long as it's eatable.", he winked, blowing a kiss to Bailey before leaning back in the couch a little more.
"I'll cook next time then!"

"No need to thank me.", Mike replied, stroking over Ava's back again.
"I would be more comfortable to lean onto would I be wearing a shirt or pullover. Sorry for that, by the way. Completely forgotten you'd crash at mine.", he mumbled, smiling softly.
"C'mon, you need some distraction. Want to watch a movie? Cook food? Play a game?"

 

[Scripted Away]

"actually I still wanted to finish my fort", Noah pointed out, already on his way upstairs.
"Well, I guess then it's you and me", Mac said smirking while he shifted back and took off his vest and tie and unbuttoned the first three buttons of his light blue shirt.
"Okay, let's get everything we need ready at first. Tomatoes, an onion, basil, cream, milk, salt, pepper, and a little bit of vinegar."
he smirked softly, raising one eyebrow at Heather. "Can you find the tomatoes and onion? I'll get the cream and milk in the meantime."

Rose just frowned, pulling back her head with a disgusted expression. "Ew. I said I only wanted to know where he comes from, and I meant it, dad!"
Raising one eyebrow at him, she smirked in amusement. "But you don't really expect us to not fall in love until we're 18, do you? you know that's nonsense, dad."
turning back to her homework, she sighed annoyedly. "I do know what the homework is, we have to fill in the names of the parts of that engine pictures there, but I just. don't. get it. what in all heaven's name is a piston, for example?! that sounds like the German name for skiing tracks- Piste. But- I'm pretty sure that's not what that is supposed to mean."
she grumbled a soundless curse to herself, before sighing. "I hate physics..."

"Hmm, how hungry are you?", Bailey asked, while she was already thinking about what typical Spanish dinner to make. she had a few ideas, but...
"And how do you think about pulpo? eh- octopus. ever tried?"

Ava gently ran her fingers over Mike's chest for a moment, slowly tracing his collarbones and breast bone, apparently deep in thought for a moment.
"I don't mind it...", she mumbled after a while, looking up at Mike with a slight blush on her face. "I mean, it's not like you couldn't afford going topless."
her own words made her blush just more, and she quickly just stared forwards against his chest again.
"P.S. I love you...", she mumbled after a moment, just blushing ANOTHER bit harder. "eh, That's my bad-mood-movie..."

 

[Wyosch]

"Tomatoes and onions...", Heather mumbled to herself, climbing all over the shelves while she tried to find what she needed.
"Why do we need onions for tomato soup?", she asked after a while, half sticking her head into drawers to find the ingredients.
"Don't we just need tomatoes for that?"

"Falling in love before 18 is nonsense.", Jim replied back. "When you 'fall in love' with someone at an age that young, it's not really love. It's just liking somebody more than some others, just like you'd have with a best friend, for example. You learn what love is when you're older, and if you 'fall in love' before you grow up, you'll only make mistakes and get hurt in the end.
Aaaaand boys under 18 are no good. Trust me."
He smiled softly at her homework, putting a hand on her shoulder and pointing at the picture of the engine.
"It's not that hard. Look, that there is the piston. A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from expanding gas in the cylinder to the crankshaft via a piston rod and/or connecting rod. In a pump, the function is reversed and force is transferred from the crankshaft to the piston for the purpose of compressing or ejecting the fluid in the cylinder. In some engines, the piston also acts as a valve by covering and uncovering ports in the cylinder wall. Ok?"

Cole disgustedly sticked out his tongue, shaking his head.
"Veggie. No meat, aka no fish for me. Sorry hun.", he explained, smiling akwardly.
"You can make it for yourself though?"

Mike chuckled silently at what Ava said, grabbing her hand to steady her and walking her over to the couch.
"I had already thought you'd meant the movie.", he said, winking, turning on the TV and searching for 'P.S. I Love You' on his Netflix account.
"I believe Emily, my sister likes that movie too. Or was it Jasmine? I've never seen it. What's it about?"

 

[Scripted Away]

"nah, it would taste super boring with tomatoes only", Mac explained, sticking out his tongue for a second.
"Trust your good old father, I learned cooking from Grandma Elenor. And you know how good she can cook!"

"Your dad is afraid that you might be hurt", Rachel explained, coming downstairs in a simple, airy white dress, and gently rested a hand on Jim's and Rose's shoulders.
Smiling down at her husband, she moved her hand off his shoulder and gently stroked over his cheek for a moment.
"Falling in love isn't about age", she explained to both of them.
"But with age comes experience. even if it hurts sometimes; We learn to acknowledge our own mistakes, and work on them, to make sure they won't damage the next relationship. We just have to make our mistakes responsibly and think about the effects of our actions."
She smiled softly at Jim, stroking through his hair once.
"Getting hurt us a part of life, just like making mistakes. My mom always told me 'In the end, everything makes sense'. I didn't understand her. You won't understand it just now as well. But trust me when I say you will. Both of you."
Rose looked up at her mother with sparkling eyes, before she turned to get Dad again and raised one eyebrow. "You just confused me more!!"
Rachel chuckled softly, pointing at the Piston in the picture.
"It works like a hammer. Imagine you take a toy torpedo and hit on it with a hammer. It explodes. The same happens with the gaso when the Piston comes down and compresses it. It's like...as if the car is powered by a firework, and every exploding firecracker gives the car more energy. You understand?"
"So it's like... The energy from the explosion makes the engine move the wheels?"
"Basically, yeah."
"Thanks Mom."
"No problem, honey. Anyone know if Kai is coming clear with his homework?"

"Hey I know veggies who don't count fish as meat!", Bailey pointed out with a soft smirk, tapping her finger against her lips as she thought about alternatives.
"Veggie lasagna?"

Ava stared at Mike with disbelief in her eyes, grabbing his hand to pull him closer.
"You gonna learn now, listen to the master, handsome guy", she said with a frown on her face.
"The film is about Holly, whose husband died from cancer. she withdraws into herself more and more, especially since she feels horrible about all the arguments she and her husband had in the past, that were so unnecessary.
but on her birthday, she gets a letter, from her dead husband, that ends with 'P.S. I love you'. From that day on, she regularly gets new letters, all from her dead husband, who gives her tasks, to help her back into a normal life.
she falls in love with William, however when he tells her that he is her husband's best childhood friend, she runs away, and withdraws again, and again when she finds out that her two friends are getting married and are awaiting a child.
she's grieving, but her husband's letters help her up again and again, and lastly, she finds back into her life. all because her husband, although he loved her so much, knew that she had to move on when his time would come. he let her go even though he loved her so much, because her happiness was much more important to him..."
she sighed softly. "If you ask me, that's the biggest proofs of love someone could ever make...how hard it must have been for him to write those letters. to accept his own coming death for his Love's sake."
leaning on Mike's shoulder, she stared at her hands for a moment. "But either it's just me or the guys who care are extinct", she scoffed. "or married. or chased away by my past and I should really shut up and stop complaining here."

 

[Wyosch]

"Can you teach me how to cook one day?", Heather asked, climbing out of one drawer and handing her father a couple of tomatoes and onions.
"And daddy? I have a question."

Jim slightly lifted his shoulders at what Rachel said about age and making mistakes, his thoughts starting to go dark again.
"It's not just that I'm afraid she'll get hurt. I just know how boys of that age think, and I don't want her to throw away her life like that because of some ass with whom she'd only have a 'relationship' with of a month at max."
As Rachel explained Rose's homework to her, and she seemed to understand it better, he got up from the table so Rachel could sit there and help their daughter then.
"I'll check up on Kai if he needs help. Maybe I can explain maths better than physics.", he gently kissed Rachel's and then Rose's temples before he made his way upstairs again - Angel running past him towards her mother.
"Mommyyyyy!"

"You do remember that I don't eat meat because they once were living animals who were slaughtered brutally? Just like with fish?", Cole asked, raising an eyebrow at Bailey. To him, meat shouldn't even be on the menu. Not only for the well-being of the animals, but also for the environment and lastly the earth. There however was never someone who agreed with him - they all loved their meat too much.
"Veggie lasagna sounds great! For a meatery-flavor for you you could use tofu?"

Mike honestly didn't like sob-romantic-movies like that, but he'd watch it with Ava if that made her feel better.
"Well, not all guys that care are extinct.", he replied, thinking for a moment.
"You know what my lil' sister once told Jasmine - my eldest sister, who was complaining that all of her friends had boyfriends and had had their first kiss and she hadn't ? Well, Emily said, I quote:
Imagine an apple tree. If you want the best apples, where do you go? All to the top. However, that way is difficult, and not everybody does that, and thus satisfies himself with the bad apples. It's just like that in life.
The best people are on top of the tree, and you'll have to wait for that one person who isn't afraid to take the difficult path, that one person who climbs all the way to the top to get to you..
And I believe it's just that with you. You're on top of a huge tree, and there just hasn't been any guy yet brave enough to grab a ladder and climb up."

 

[Scripted Away]

"thanks honey."
Mac took the onions and tomatoes with a gentle smile, before he got a chair for Heather to stand on, so she could help him better.
"Well, if you want I can show you how make tomato soup just now", he suggested, before raising one eyebrow.
"What question, honey?"

"Hun, wait", Rachel said, catching up to Jim just far enough away from rose, so she wouldn't hear them.
"Listen, it-..."
She sighed soundlessly.
"You probably think of yourself, Eddie and Marcus, don't you?", She mumbled, softly taking his hand.
"Eddie was a jerk. Yeah, that's right, and you have been quite a... Troublemaker in your past, too. And don't get me started on Marcus..."
She sighed silently, her right hand holding her arm right where her scar was; the one she had gained from scratching herself there whenever the thought of Marcus almost drove her insane again.
"But not all boys are like that, honey. Ash isn't. Cole isn't. And as much as you will hate it, Cody wasn't. What I'm trying to say is...don't try to forbid your kids to fall in love. You can't. Feelings are nothing you can forbid, honey, you know that. Our kids might stumble, and fall, and spend days crying into a pillow, but trying to protect them from it by scaring them of relationships and love is not the right way. Look at us, for example. I was only fourteen when we fell in love. Sure, we had our hard times...but I know I don't regret a thing about falling for you."
Standing up on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. "What I would much more worry about is how Raven looks at her criminal-on-rehabilitation-police-partner. Tyler? I believe it was Tyler. I don't know, maybe I'm paranoid...but I invited them over. Hopefully I can find out more about that guy that way..."

"Our definitions of brutality differ widely", Bailey pointed out with an awkward smile, slowly taking a seat beside Cole again and petting his knee as she tried to find the right words.
"We just... Grew up in two very different worlds, I guess. It's a part of farm life that animals die. You don't want to know what dad did when we had rats in the barn... Guess it's just...I see a chicken and I see food, Feathers for a pillow, and insides for the dogs. You see a chicken and you see someone. I've just grown blind to that, I guess, because I've grown up with animals being objectified. I just don't want you think badly of me because of that...I couldn't survive without meat. Literally. I rarely ever shift, but I'm a white tiger. I need meat. Just don't think bad of me, okay?"
She softly kissed his forehead before she got up and made her way into the kitchen to prepare everything.

"Or in my case-hardened dig down all the way to hell", Ava said with the smallest of smiles crossing her face.
She raised one eyebrow upon noticing how unimpressed Mike looked about her choice of movie, just gently took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders while she scooted some closer, holding out the remote.
"What about a horror movie instead?"

 

[Wyosch]

Heather nodded, grinning.
"Yes, I'd love to learn that!", she replied, running her hand through her hair as her father asked her what her question was.
"Misha told me I'm different. I said that Somewhere over the rainbow, you know the song mommy sings... I said it sounded red, and he said that wasn't possible. Am I sick?"

Jim's expression immediately changed to hostile as Rachel mentioned Cody.
"He was someone like that, only one thing on his mind - and-", he just growled silently, frustratedly running his hand through his hair.
"Yeah, fine. I get it. I'm overreacting again like always and I should just shut up before we fight again and before you think about breaking up with me again-", he sighed, looking away. "Yeah, I know you were thinking about ending it with me. But fine, I'll just shut up before I make things worse than i always do..."
He smiled sadly at Rachel, lifting his shoulders as she mentioned some guy with Raven.
"Mh."
He turned around, heading towards Kai's room.
"I'll go help Kai now. You should help Rose and then I'll go grab the pizzas, 'kay honey?"

"I didn't say I hate you for that. I know there are people who can't do without meat.", Cole replied, smiling softly.
"I love you!", he called, peacefully closing his eyes as he dreamed about their wedding.
"Beautiful..."

"Oh I don't mind. You can watch your movie if you want. Really.", Mike replied, smiling softly, blushing as she scooted against him while putting his arm around her shoulders.
"So eh- you wanna watch it?"

 

[Scripted Away]

Macon's eyes widened for a second, before he smirked softly and lowered his face to Heather's height, his eyes sparkling as he held up his finger.
"Wait!"
Just a few seconds later, Raven appeared with a completely confused expression.
"Uncle Mac? Why are you telepathing me? I was just doing the paperwork for the last criminal we brought behind prison bars."
"My voice. What color has my voice, Raven?"
Raven raised her eyebrow. "What? Light green. Why?"
"And why do you love listening to violin music?"
"Because the music looks very soft. Like watercolor. Mac, what's going on?"
But he just smirked at Heather, pointing at Raven, who looked utterly confused.

Rachel stared at him with eyes like saucers as he walked off, and she ran after him, grabbing him by his wrist.
"Stop", she said, sounding more serious than she had actually intended to.
Staring up into his eyes, hers full of sorrow and confusion, she just hugged herself.
"What are you talking about, Jim? W-where did that just come from? I've never-"
She slightly shook her head, her eyes just widening even more.
"Never in our relationship I have ever planned to break up or divorce, Jim. Yeah, times have been hard sometimes, but I never gave you up. What could possibly make you think I did?"
She slightly shook her head. "And have I ever told you to shut up about your worries or fears? No. I've told you you could always come to me when something's wrong. I've always told you I'd always be there for you. And here I am."

After quite a while of preparing, Bailey came back with a soft smile on her face.
"Okay, lasagna is in the oven. Just about 30 minutes and it should be ready. Join the mean time-"
Smirking, she held up two glasses with something yellow in them.
"Smoothie?"

"I don't care, I can't really focus right now anyway", Ava chuckled with a slight blush on her face.
"Hey, Mike- thanks again. You're a far better person than you think you are."

 

[Wyosch]

Heather's eyes widened widened with big eyes as she heard her cousin talk.
"And mommy's voice is red because it's soft, beautiful and warm, right?", she asked silently, still akwardly looking down at the floor.
"Do you- do you have that too?"

"Yes, you did. Macon told me. Remember our fight in Germany because I-", Jim frustratedly looked away to the wall, his hands turning into fists as his thoughts only started darkening more and more.
"And I know that you're annoyed when I start acting up again and you can't understand why because you haven't been through any of that and you keep saying it's alright if I talk about stuff but it mostly just upsets you or makes you worry even more and-"
He sadly looked down at the floor, grabbing his left arm with his right hand, slightly squeezing it - making him look like a vulnerable little child.
"I mean you never seem to understand when I get jealous or when I get upset when you talk about your-", he growled silently again, a tiny tear escaping his eyes, to which he immediately put on his poker-face - the one in which he stood on every picture in his old home when he was rewarded for something - straightening his back and looking back at Rachel.
"I'm sorry. I should just shut up about stuff like that and focus on other thing, I know... I hope I didn't ruin your evening again, like I do all the time-"

Cole woke up from his quick nap with a huge smile, nodding as she offered him a smoothie.
"You know I don't say no to a smoothie.", he replied, winking, motioning for her to come sit onto his lap again.
"Thanks for doing so much, babe. You're a gift."

Mike smiled shyly as she complimented him, running his hand through his hair with an akward smirk.
"Eh well- if you want we could also play a game? Maybe you can focus better on that?"

 

[Scripted Away]

"synesthesia", Raven explain nodding, smiling widely as she gentled lifted Heather's chin up, her strikingly blue eyes sparkling. "It's really cool sometimes, actually. For example it helps me being a better copy, because I can see where a criminal ran, because of the trace of color he left behind him. I can see it longer than I can hear his noises. My partner Tyler calls me Psycasso sometimes. Yknow- psycho-picasso. That dummy." She chuckled softly, thinking of her partner. "Oh dear, I bet he wonders where I went-"

"I said STOP!", Rachel yelled, her eyes gleaming by now. In good three years, she hadn't shouted a single time, but now it just burst out, like an explosion that left a scary silence in the entire house.
"As I told you before, Jim- Macon misunderstood his vision. I wasn't about to leave you, I was packing my bags to go to my friend Jeanette, who is a psychologist, to ask her to help you."
She looked away with tears in her eyes, clearly hurt by Jim's words. At least until she looked up at him with a slightly sarcastic expression.
"The facade. Are you serious now? You think you can fool me with that facade?"
She sighed softly, shaking her head.
"Jim, I fell in love with you with all your troubles and fears and problems. You are an incredibly complicated person, and so am I. That's why we keep ending up fighting. It's not easy to get two gearwheels to work together when they both have such a weird shape, but with enough patience, it is possible. And even when they don't always work together perfectly- look how beautifully weird they are together. Look at the Sparks they keep lighting."
She smiled softly, kissing his cheek.
"I know it's hard for you to understand, honey. And it might be hard for me to understand how you feel when you get all jealous again. We don't have to understand eachother in every little detail. And we won't. Ever."
She chuckled softly.
"But that's not important. What's much more important is that you keep one thing in mind, my devil: just like two gearwheels, one can't work without the other. And just as you need me, I need you. And I won't ever get tired of telling you, and being here for you." She raised one eyebrow, smiling softly.
"And now would you please give me a hug and stop pretending you are Kristen Steward with her mono-expression for every situation? I know you, you idjit. Come here. Let it out. It's okay." She just spread her arms, looking at Jim with her shining Amber eyes, deepest love in her gaze while a soft, understanding, sad smile played around her lips.

Bailey smiled softly at her fiance, ruffling his hair with a happy smirk as she went to take a seat on his lap again.
"You're welcome, baby", she chuckled happily. "I love to see you so happy, y'know? Your smile can light up my entire day."

Ava slightly bit her lip as she looked up at Mike.
He looked like he wasn't really comfortable with her closeness.
What kind of idiot had she even been to think he'd enjoy it just like her? Everyone would feel uncomfortable when their friggin boss would be cuddling against them.
Making some space between her and Mike again, she smiled awkwardly, before hugging her legs and tracing the pattern of the wooden floor with her eyes.
"Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable", she said with an apologetic smile at him. "If you don't mind...I'd actually prefer to just...sit here and do nothing for a moment. It's a lot to process right now-"

 

[Wyosch]

Heather's eyes only widened at what Raven told her, looking up at her father with a happy grin.
"And five is loud and eleven is quiet.", she explained, nodding excitedly - raising an eyebrow as her cousin talked about some guy called Tyler.
"Is he your husband? Why weren't we on the wedding?"

Jim had jumped back, shaking, his eyes fearfully wide open, as Rachel had shouted at him.
Dark grey.
Just like James.
He just stared at Rachel with big eyes while she was talking.
Was she mad at him?
She was definitely mad.
He had done it again. He had made her angry at him. What if she'd finally leave him because if that?
Why couldn't he just ever shut up?
As Rachel kissed his cheek, his body slowly stopped shaking, and his heartbeat steadied itself.
He was scared. What if one day, he'd say something again and it wouldn't end like this? He couldn't lose her. But what if she would leave him?
All in all, he had only been a replacement for her oh-so-dear Cody. She had been fourteen when she apparently had fallen in love with Jim. She was 16 when Cody 'died'. That meant that she had still stayed with him, completely forgotten about Jim - and she had also technically cheated on him with his own fucking brother. How could he trust her?
>>No no no, shut up. That's not true. Please just shut up.<<
"He won't shut up-", he mumbled silently, walking into Rachel's arms and pushing his face into her shoulder.
"I don't want to fight. It always ends up badly and one day you'll leave me forever-", he tightly wrapped his arms around Rachel, pulling her as close as possible while a shiver rolled down his back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you nor make you angry at me again and I- don't leave me please-"

Cole smiled happily at Bailey, his eyes sparkling lovingly while his entire expression screamed 'I love you'.
"You're always the one who makes me smile, and you make my day. No matter what.", he explained, gently running his hand over her back while he took a sip of his smoothie.
"Ahhhh you're so beautiful.", he mumbled dreamily, pulling Bailey a tad closer and kissing her passionately.
"Damn, I love you."

Mike just smiled softly at Ava, scooting over to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulders again.
"I wasn't uncomfortable. Just surprised.", he explained, his face slowly turning red.
"If you want you can just cuddle or sleep, I'll watch some TV on silent so you can sleep, okay?"

 

[Scripted Away]

Raven instantly blushed to a deep red, while Macon raised one eyebrow at her with a knowing expression. creepy how that guy could just look into someone's eyes and see exactly how they feel...
"Tyler is just my coworker!", She explained, maybe a bit too eagerly. "He's my partner. We protect eachother and help eachother."
Okay that did sound like they were together.
"I mean, he's just my partner to fight criminals. It's not like he means something to me or so", she mumbled, playing around with her hair.

Rachel just gently stroked over his back, holding him tightly to comfort him.
"There's something i should show you...", she whispered sadly. "Wait a second."
she teleported into their bedroom, more precisely into a hollow wall beside their bedroom, that probably once had been a place to hide people or important things. it still was.
she teleported back into jim's arms with a silent sigh, holding an envelope in her hands. she took the letter out and silently started to read out to jim, tears glittering in her eyes.
"Cody...
I honestly don't know how to tell you this is a less hurtful way, so i will just be true to you.
my time here in america, infiltrating the army, changed me a lot. but moreso, my heart.
When you will read this letter, I will already be on my way back into the states, to join the arms once more.
You are everything a girl could ever wish for, my dear, but what can i say... I'm not that girl.
I'm endlessly sorry to hurt you like that, and that I don't tell you this in person.
TBH, i'm just a coward right now. but I know i have found the one, and where he goes, I shall go.
Goodbye, Cody.
~Rachel"
"But when I arrived at the last army camp, you were already gone...", Rachel sighed. "Just two days later, Cody's plane crashed, right after he had sent me a message writing 'I know when it's time to let go. Goodbye, Rey'. i thought it was my fault. that he has crashed his plane because of me. so i drowned in my guilt for years and hurt the one who's the most important to me. just- maybe now you'll understand that you have never been a replacement for anyone, honey. And that Cody is in the past."
She gently stroked over his cheek, a sad smile on her face. "Why would I try to find you all over the globe just to leave you again? you won't get rid of me, baby."

Bailey just stared up into Cole's eyes with a happy sparkling in hers, leaning her forehead against his.
"i just love how our 'story' is just as funny as we are- i mean; Two aliens walk into a donut shop. One of them throws a donut at a half-genie. and the other alien and the half genie fall in love at first sight. no, it's not some kind of supernatural prologue as to how a new kind of creature was created- it's just our humble story. yknow what i mean?" she chuckled softly, cuddling against him. "well at least you being half alien explains why you are so unearthly awesome at times", she chuckled winking. "I love you too, baby."

"It's okay, you can leave the volume up, i'm used to sleeping in a plane- in a storm. over the ocean. this..."
Ava cuddled against Mike a bit tighter, smiling softly as she ran her nosetip over his collarbone for a moment. "...is far more comfortable. and you smell, like, way better than the other refugees in the hidden room on the plane. huge improvement, if you're asking me."

 

[Wyosch]

Heather smirked - just like her mother always did - and wiggled her eyebrows at Raven.
"Yeah, your 'partner in crime.", she replied, giggling.
"So what's he like? What does he look like? Is he funny? When will we meet him? Have you told your parents yet about your boyfriend?"

Jim stared down at the floor, an empty expression in his eyes.
"It's not just that...", he mumbled silently. "It's the thought that you ever said to someone else that you love them, and that you'd never leave them and that they're the most important person in your life. And the worst thing is that you said it often and..."
Tears were gathering in his eyes by now, but he just leaned against Rachel again.
"It's the thought that you wanted to spend your life with someone else. Hadn't I been..."
He took a deep breath to try and calm down, but it wouldn't work.
"I'm just one of those guys that you said you loved and wanted to spend your entire life with and that you'd just forget. I'm nothing special because every special thing you've had with someone else too excepting your first time but hey you would've had that with your stupid ex-boyfriend whom you care about so much hadn't he been nervous and do you know how much these thoughts torture me?! I am nothing special to you!"
His eyes had turned black while he had talked, yet immediately went back to blue as he looked back at Rachel.
"...what did I do?", he asked silently, his eyes big and fearful.
"Did I hurt you? Anyone else? Are you ok? Please tell me I didn't bring down another plane! I'm sorry... I can't control it when I'm in pain-"
He hugged Rachel tightly, tears streaming down his face.
"Don't leave me, please don't leave me, I'm sorry- I'm sorry..."

"That sounded like the beginning of a Disney movie.", Cole replied, chuckling. He tightly cuddled against Bailey, sighing happily.
"You know how we were best friends at first? I literally wanted to punch any guy that talked to you at school... heh."

Mike chuckled, just turning on the TV and putting on some documentary about the titanic.
"So... want to tell me a bit more about yourself?"

 

[Scripted Away]

"he's not my boyfriend!", Raven protested, before she looked at her watch and pursed her lips.
"Hey eh, if you have anymore questions or so, or want to talk about your Synesthesia, and not about Tyler- just grab a phone and give me a call, okay? I gotta go back to the office, still got to get something super important cleared up."
And she teleported back into her and Tyler's office.
she started her PC to write the latest report, taking a folder out of the upper drawer of her side of the desk while it was booting.
Sliding it over the desk to Tyler, she smirked. "Ah by the way, got paperwork for you. Y'know, just, basic stuff. Child custody over Billie, acquittal and full pardon of your crimes, an offer for an open-ended full-time contract, graduation from police academy and promotion to a real cop, stuff like that."
She explained, sounding as if it was the everyday boring paperwork, but secretly looking at Tyler over the edge of her PC with an excited smirk.

Rachel frowned sadly as she looked up into Jim's eyes.
"Jim, you are everything to me", she sighed softly, stroking through his hair as she knew that it usually calmed him down.
"Nothing special? Honey, meeting you, falling in love with you, starting our own family with you, is the most special and extraordinary and special thing that has ever happened to me, in my entire life."
She softly kissed his forehead, sighing soundlessly. "Might be that I loved Cody at some point. But imagine it like... Cody was like a star in my black night sky, and I thought I would never find anything better. Then you came, and you lit my world up like a comet, and suddenly there was a light I have never known. Colors and emotions I would have never guessed they could exist."
She looked up into his eyes, gently lifting his chin up, her gaze full of love.
"Nothing special? Right. Because a beautiful stone, a perfect summer day, that's something special. You, Jim, you are everything."

Bailey laughed silently, nodding with a wide grin.
"Yeah, I know, I could see it in your eyes. Though I always thought it was because you were worried that they would try to bully you again."
Smirking happily, she took his hand. "We were so awkward."

Ava just shrugged, her purple eyes gaining a kind of distraught expression.
"Well eh... What do you want to know? One direction?"
She winked.
"I was born in Sochi, a city in South Russia, together with my twin brother Hel. When we were about seven, our father, Sebastian Romanov, divorced from our mom, Darna Romanov, because of a woman from America he had been meeting for a couple of months already. Winnie Kingston...
Well, he moved to America with her, and adopted my adoptive half-brother, Levi, while mom was all alone with two...devil's children..."
She sighed soundlessly. "Many people in Russia believed that we were Descendants of the devil, because we both are casters. Hel also is a demon. Luckily grandma showed up regularly, to help Mom care for us. You know, Isis, Egyptian goddess and so on... When we were about ten..."
The grip in which she held Mike's hand tightened slightly, and she pulled up her knees to her chest, a shiver running down her back. "I don't remember much. I woke up from shouting and other loud noises downstairs. Some neighbors had gone on a rampage because they thought the recent storms and bad harvests were mine and hel's fault. Grandma wasn't there, and mom...she fought them to protect us, but they killed her. We hid in the walls of our house for about two weeks until finally, grandma had come back from wherever she had been. She took us in, and, in a cold and Misty winter's night, fled to Germany with us. We lived here illegally for a few years, fake IDs and so on...until my choice was made and I turned out to be a dark casters. Surprise surprise. My powers had already been unusually strong before that, being a darkborn, but they just went over my head that night. Grandma taught me everything, to contain myself, to control my powers...then one night...i went out with that nice guy. My first date. I was eighteen. He... He turned out to be a complete asshole who had only wanted to see me to fuck. I got so angry I accidentally killed him, and destroyed a good part of Berlin. Then grandma fled with us to Duisburg, where we are now, and tried to teach me to control myself, to keep locked up in myself... She wanted to protect me, but I... The darkness got the best of me, and I left grandma. Hel tried to take me home, he had always been there for me, but that night I said things to him... I have never seen my brother crying before. He went back to Russia, to educate about anoms and casters, and all other sorts of supernatural beings, while I landed on the wrong path and founded hack. I wanted to learn from them, have them show me how to control my abilities, but it all went out of hand when one of my most trusted workers was taken over by a demon. James... He was a good man, but the demon was a monster and...he threatened me to kill me if I wouldn't work along, and so I stayed the head of hack until he was killed in a fight. I left, deeply ashamed about what my company, that I had founded to educate, had become...and knowing I had no control about it anymore. I was just a picture from the past, a puppet that was no longer needed. Self destruction par excellence. Then Jetstream, the former leader of section one, found me, and, despite my past, gave me a chance to do what's right. I joined AF, gave everything, worked harder than everyone else. When she died while giving birth to her child, I was chosen to take over her place.
Well, and here I am, leader of section one... A prime example for a completely fucked up life..."
She took out her phone with a sad smile, to show Mike a picture. "Here, that's Hel. My stupid little brother..." She smiled softly, yet sadly at the same time. "I could always tease him that I'm twenty minutes older."
Sighing softly, she turned her phone off again and shook her head, closing her eyes as she cuddled against mike. "...I miss him..."

 

[Wyosch]

As Raven teleported away, Heather giggled evily.
"She sooooo wants him to be her boyfriend!", she called, chuckling.
"Did you see how much she started to blush?"

Tyler tiredly ran his hand over his face, yawning, just nodding when Raven gave him the files.
"So why were you called to your uncle?", he asked, opening the file to take a look at it - his eyes widening all of a sudden, his jaw dropping as he stared at Raven.
"This is not a joke? Is this real?"

Jim looked deep into Rachel's eyes, holding his tears back.
"I'm sorry...", he mumbled, a single tear escaping his eyes, clutching Rachel's hand tighter. "I'm sorry I'm like this. I wish I could be normal so I would stop hurting you..."
His eyes turned black, just staring at Rachel until he frowned painfully and his eyes turned blue again.
"Will you forgive me...? Once more?"
He wrapped his arms around himself, looking at his wife with huge, terrified puppy eyes.
"I keep letting everyone down, and I keep hurting everyone, but you are always patient enough with me... and I honestly don't know why but... thank you."
Jim just took a step forward and hugged her, hiding his face in her neck with a sad sigh.
"...I love you..."

Cole smirked akwardly, lifting his shoulders.
"Honestly, I believe it was both.", he replied. "Though it was also my mistake I was bullied in the first place. I was rude and aggressive to everyone, wore hoodies to hide my face in, and I didn't care about anything or anyone. A loner. Always a good target."
He nodded when Bailey mentioned how akward they were, chuckling.
"Oh, we were super akward. Still are, sometimes.", he winked, ruffling Bailey's hair and kissing her nosetip afterwards.
"I love akward."

Mike stared at Ava with big eyes, thinking about what he should say to her - in the end just hugging her as tightly as possible.
"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you think of all that again. I really- I don't know what to say.", he mumbled, sighing sadly.
"I'm so sorry about everything that happened to you... I... I just... I don't know what to say."

 

[Scripted Away]

"she definitely likes him", Mac chuckled mischievously, playing around with one tomato.
"I wonder what Jim will sat about Raven Haven a crush on a former criminal. Oh jeez..."

Raven grinned happily as she got up from her seat and gave Tyler a tight hug from behind.
"I'm 100 percent seriously not kidding."
Shifting into her half bunny form, she hopped up to take a seat on the edge of Tyler's desk, her nose twitching excitedly. "Congrats, partner. You've come a long way since I shot you in the knee. I'm proud of you." Shifting back, she winked at him. "Let's ditch the paperwork for tonight and go celebrate. I'm shouting our newest officer a drink. Whatcha say?"

"I love you too", Rachel whispered with a soft smile, stroking over Jim's head.
"And...I know it's your fault, honey. It's your past, the trauma...and as long as you promise me to regularly go to mayrose and do the therapy, I will always be right beside you to help you up when you stumble and fall. I promise."
Gently kissing his forehead, she looked deep into his eyes with a soft smile. "Just don't ever forget that you mean the world to me. You and i, forever. I actually wanted to suggest something, honey-..."

"It's understandable though, considering all the crap you were dealing with, all on your own", Bailey spoke up while she thought back to the day they had met for the first time.
She remembered how tired he had looked, and how overwhelmed by how much Sam cared about him.
She however giggled happily when Cole kissed her nosetip, and gently shoved his shoulder with hers.
"And I love you, you friggin cheese ball."

Ava just gently pushed her index finger against Mike's lips and slightly shook her head.
"You don't have to say anything, Mike. It's my past, no words will ever change that."
Leaning closer into his hug, she sighed peacefully.
"But..."
She blushed slightly, closing her eyes as she just rested her head against his chest.
"...for some odd reason...it hurts a bit less right now. Your hug and warmth are really comforting..."

 

[Wyosch]

"What would uncle Jim say about it then?", Heather asked, shifting into the white english thoroughbred foal, trotting around the room.
"Hehe she was so cute trying to deny it!"

"Yeah, shooting me in my bad knee was a really good idea.", Tyler replied, winking, staring at the files again for a moment before he nodded.
"That sounds great. I've been up since 5 and have only done paperwork today, I really need some time off."
He got up from his chair, stretched for a moment and lastly gave Raven a tight hug.
"Thank you. Without you I wouldn't have been able to do all this."
He chuckled akwardly, raising an eyebrow.
"And, your mom called - me? She wants me to come over?"

"I had to change the appointment for today because I couldn't have made it because of the wedding, I'll be going tomorrow then.", Jim explained, wiping away some of his tears, fear creeping up as she said she wanted to suggest something.
A divorce. She wants a divorce.
No, she doesn't.
What if?!
"...what do you want to suggest?", he asked silently, gulping nervously. "Is it something bad?"

"I do know that I love cheese, but am I already really that fat that I start looking like a cheeseball?", Cole asked, chuckling, running his hand through his hair.
"You know, I am really glad Sam threw his donut at you. Accidentally, of course."

Mike smiled softly at what Ava said, just hugging her tightly again.
"Well then I'll have to hug you a lot so it won't hurt anymore.", he suggested, chuckling silently.
"Hey, you sure you don't want to eat or drink anything? Some hot tea maybe? Soup?"

 

[Scripted Away]

"well he would be everything but happy for sure", Mac muttered, watching Heather while he was chopping the tomatoes- not even having to look to make sure he wouldn't cut himself.
"He hasn't made the best experiences with people like Tyler in the past."

"Hey, I healed it again!", Raven laughed. Her expression however switched to a soft smile as Tyler hugged her, closing her eyes for a moment as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Always, bud. I know what it's like to try your best and feel like it's never good enough...and you just had that exact same expression on your face when you told Billie he had to go back to the Millers."
Whyyyy did he have to smell so good?!
Why did it have to be him who made her all tingly and nervous?
Who made the butterflies in her stomach go wild?
They were coworkers! Partners. How awkward would it get between them if Tyler ever found out about her feelings for him and didn't return them?
Oh jeez...
She locked her lapis blue eyes to his ice blue ones for a moment, raising one eyebrow, until she groaned at what he told her.
"Ohhh nooo..." She slightly shook her head, facepalming. "...for some reason my mother thinks we are a couple. I suppose she wants to get to know you. Sorry for that, my family is...one of a kind sometimes."

Rachel shook her head, smiling softly as she looked up at jim.
"It's something else or told me about a few weeks ago. It's something gods and a few other beings can do intentionally or unintentionally.
For God's like us, it basically means that it... More or less fuses both souls into one. They feel eachothers feelings, can hear eachothers thoughts... It increases the power of both, and even allows them to walk in one body together. And...when one died, the other one does too. It's a bond for life and death, a huge gain but also very dangerous when one of the two isn't trustworthy. I do trust you enough for this, and I'm ready to form this kind of bond with you. Question is if you are too. It's like...marriage just much more powerful."

Ava looked up at Mike with a soft smile, slightly lifting her shoulders. "I wouldn't mind it at all", she mumbled gently, playing around with the hair on the back of Mike's head for a moment.
"...maybe a glass of water would be nice...? Thank you, Mike."

 

[Wyosch]

"What do you mean?", Heather asked, galloping over to her father and shifting human again.
"Do you think Tyler is a bad person then?"

Tyler laughed out loud when Raven told him her mother thought they were a couple.
"What did you tell your mom then?", he asked, raising an eyebrow at her while he quickly turned back to his computer and turned it off.
"Don't worry, though. I bet your mom is just worried. Perhaps because of my past?", he suggested, grabbing his and Raven's jackets from the desk and handing hers over.
"You know, Billie keeps asking me about you when I visit him. He drew dozens of bunnies, and they're his favorite animal now. You're his hero."

Jim's eyes widened at what Rachel told him, hardly believing it at first.
"Are you just saying that because of my... tantrum - or do you really...?", he asked, looking at Rachel with huge eyes.
"You would feel my feelings and hear my thoughts, are you sure you're ready for that? They're really messed up. And my synesthesia would probably confuse you quite a lot but-"
His lips formed a soft smile, his eyes sparkling happily.
"I do. I trust you with anything and everything, and that you trust me enough to want to form a bond like this with me... thank you."

((You didn't reply to Cole xD))

Mike nodded, gently grabbed Ava's hand to take it away from his hair, and got up.
"Water for both of us then. I'll be right back.", he made his way to the kitchen, quite surprised to find everything in order already, and grabbed two glasses and filled them with some water.
"Would you like some cookies or chips?", he called, searching for something sweet to eat as he was actually starting to get quite hungry.

 

[Scripted Away]

"no, I think he just had a very hard time in his past", Macon explained with slightly furrowed eyebrows, leaning against the fridge. "It's just that uncle Jim doesn't trust people easily."

"All I did was draw a fox while my family was watching the Lion King", Raven laughed, rolling her eyes, and quickly covered herself in shadows to change into a simple, light blue jeans, white top and red converse. Throwing on her black leather jacket, she smirked at Tyler. "You gonna take me with you like this?"
As Tyler spoke about his little brother, Raven immediately smiled widely.
"Billie is such a great little guy", she chuckled softly. "If you'll ever need a babysitter for him or so- just give me a ring.everything for my little and my big friend." She gently swatted his shoulder before she went over to the entrance door. "So, what bar should we go to? Our bar where we always go?"

Rachel smiled softly as she gently hugged Jim.
"Well, just as I can feel your feelings then, I can help you with them. I love you, honey, and I trust you. I know you won't let me down."
Sighing silently, she looked to the wall.
"And I can't stop worrying about Raven and Tyler... I don't even know why..."

((Dang! XD))
Laughing silently, Bailey got up and went to the fridge, just to come back with a box full of donuts.
"To be honest, since that day donuts are my favorite snack", she chuckled. "Apart from carrots. Carrots are awesome."
She grinned slightly as she took a bit from one donut, wiggling her eyebrows at Cole. "You too?"

"Not hungry, thank you", Ava called back, but then got up, half disappearing in Mike's Yankees sweater that was just far too big for her, minding that she was almost an entire foot smaller than him. She looked like a fairy beside him, with her slim, gracile stature and rather tiny height.
The sleeves hanging over her arms, she leaned into the doorframe. Dang that guy really could afford going shirtless...
"Mike...?", She asked silently, softly stroking a streak of hair out of her face while she took a deep breath. "I was wondering...if you'd want to go out for dinner this weekend? Y-Y-know?"

 

[Wyosch]

"But maybe Tyler is a very nice guy and uncle Jim can trust him.", Heather replied, smiling softly at her father. "But if uncle jim doesn't trust easily, we should all be happy he trusts us, right?"

Tyler covered himself in metal, wearing some dark jeans, a Nirvana-shirt and his old jeans jacket as it disappeared again.
"C'mon, you always look good no matter what you wear. I'll take you with me anywhere.", he replied, smirking softly as Raven suggested going to their usual bar.
"An old friend of mine actually just opened a café here in town. It'll probably be quieter than in our usual bar, but would you like to give it a try? I promised him I'd once check it out. He makes really good banana splits, by the way."

Jim had finally calmed down again, his heartbeat had steadied, his thoughts had too, and his body wasn't shaking anymore.
Everything alright.
"You really love me if you trust me with something like that...", he mumbled astonished, a proud smile on his face as he stared into Rachel's mesmerizing eyes before kissing her.
As she said she was worrying about their daughter and Tyler, he raised an eyebrow.
"Tyler? Who's that?", he asked, thinking. Sounded familiar. What if it was something important and he hadn't listened to her when she had been talking because he had been too busy with his own thoughts?
Wait.
"Tyler, the ex-criminal who's now supposedly a police officer? What about that scumbag?"

"You know I can't say no to donuts!", Cole replied, grabbing one and taking a bite out of it.
"Damn, carrots are amazing too. Oh wow, imagine a donut that'd taste like carrots. Nah, that'd be weird, wouldn't it?"

Mike turned around to Ava, a chocolate chip cookie in his mouth, the two glasses in his hands, surprisingly raising his eyebrows.
"Wchou wchant to gho have dinner whith meh?", he asked, quickly - akwardly - finishing the cookie so he could talk normally again.
"I'd love to!"
Too much.
"Eh, I meant, hey, sure."