heracooper

[heracooper]

Her eyes went to the stroller and then back at the man. "Yeah. If you don't mind. She'll scream otherwise." She laughed softly, but wasn't lying about that. They started walking down the street and Hera looked at him. "Gonna take mail carrier off my list of potential jobs. No offense, but I really don't want to be caught in a downpour if I can help it." She laughed. Nodding, she shrugged. "Kinda. I was here throughout middle and part of high school before I dropped out and left town. I came back since my adopt... my family is here." She corrected herself. @lorenzocelestino

He watched as she began moving the stroller back and forth, his eyes focused on her as he pointed in front of them. "We can walk, if you need." he said. He was no baby expert, but, he and his wife had had several friends back in Michigan that had had parents and there were more times than one that Lorenzo had been the one either helping them settle their child or reassuring that they could accommodate. So it wasn't something he wasn't used to; plus, no one wanted to make things harder on a baby. He could adapt. At her comment about the weather he laughed. "Yeah, I say that too until I get drenched delivering mail because I didn't check the weather for rain." he stated. "That's when I get annoyed and try to remember just to repeat the process all over again." he shrugged. At her question he paused, nodding. "Sort of." he laughed. "I moved to Boston when my parents split up when I was nine, but then I moved back for high school." he admitted, focusing on her again. "You?" @heracooper

[heracooper]

She let out some tears and looked at him. "But why? How am I ever supposed to feel like I have the hang of this if she just cries?" Hera asked. Sometimes she felt overwhelmed by all this and right now was definitely one of those times. She sniffled as she kept moving her daughter in hopes of calming her even a little bit at this point. She nodded and kept pacing the room as well. "Well, that's something at least." She did like that Maia looked like her. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle it if she looked a lot like Dylan. She could see a little bit in her, but not too much that it made it hard to look at her. @tomasxcooper

He sighed as he looked at Hera for a moment. This was all about being a parent. "Sometimes babies and kids just cry to cry," he looked at his daughter holding her own, and smiled at her. "I didn't know you as a baby, sadly, but it was just a thing I've had so many babies and all do this, don't worry," he wanted Hera not to worry; she was doing something wrong. "Just keep walking, bounding her, loving on her, she will settle down," he had let her do it on her own. "But I can't help but see how much she looks like you." Yes, the baby was screaming her head off, but he saw Hera in her so much. @heracooper.

[heracooper]

Being near both Jet and Tomas over the last several months had really been healing for Hera. She finally realized that she was loved and wanted somewhere. She felt horrible still for being gone for so long. It would've saved her a lot of pain over the years. Hugging Jet just felt like home and she wished she could stay in that moment a little long than she probably should've. "You and me both." She laughed a little as she took a drink of her coffee. "I just hope I haven't caused too much trouble for you or Dad." She told him. It had been something she worried about more often than not. Shaking her head, Hera leaned against the counter. "I can't think of anything." She told him before listening to what his plans were for the day. "Really?" She asked and stood straighter. When she left at seventeen, she only packed what could fit in her already stuffed duffle bag and nothing else. It would be interesting to see what she left behind. "Okay. I'd love to help you." @jeffersontcooper

The lingering hug from his daughter warmed his heart, and Jet placed a soft, endearing kiss to the top of her head as he cuddled Maia as well. There was really know better feeling in the world than the way he felt hugging his daughters. "That's wonderful." eh smiled, looking down at Maia more clearly now once Hera had taken a step back. "I'm glad that nights seem to be going better." he admitted. He and Tomas hadn't been blessed enough to have Hera and Evan as babies, but, they'd fostered enough newborns through the years that he was more than aware of how those nights could go. There had been several instances where he and Tomas had split nights so that someone was always rested. As she stated she didn't have much to do, he smiled. "If you do, I can watch her for awhile. I'm off work today." he stated, though looked back at Hera when she asked if there was anything that he needed. "Well, I was going to grab some more boxes from the attic today if you wanted to go through them with me." he stated. "I know there are several things that belong to you and your sister up there." he admitted. "I've already taken her a box, I don't know if she's told you that she has some of your things or not. I didn't go through that one." @heracooper

[heracooper]

Since being back in Kismet Harbor, Hera had a routine with Maia to go to the cafe usually every morning. It was a nice way of getting out of the house for the both of them and a nice treat for her as well. Once they got there that morning, she found a spot and parked the stroller before getting her daughter out and getting in line. Hearing her name, she turned around to see one of her favorite teachers from high school. "Mr. Kincade." She greeted him. "I came back in April. I'm doing good. Just busy with this one." She said and smiled at Maia. "How are you? Still teaching?" @bradleyxkincade

starter for @heracooper

location: cobblestone cafe

School would be starting up soon again and Bradley would have to get used to not spending his mornings at Cobblestone Cafe. However, until then, he was soaking up every minute that he could. Bradley was stepping up in line to get a refill on his coffee, not wanting to make the barista come to him when he spotted a face he had not seen in Kimset Harbor in quite some time. A former student stood out to him. "Hera Cooper," Bradley spoke her name with a smile, "I hadn't realized you were back in Kismet Harbor," though it had been some time since he had spoken to either of the Cooper's. "How are you doing?" He spoke with a smile on his lips.

[heracooper]

She started making the coffee how she liked it while paying attention to what Wren was saying. "And you like it?" She was a waitress before, but never worked in a coffee shop. It really shouldn't be that different since both were customer service jobs. Plus, it would be easy to get a job there without having her GED or high school diploma. "Sorry for the questions. I'm just thinking of applying." @wrxnxashby

Wren removed the cup from under the machine once it had filled, grabbed a few sugars and milk, and brought it to the woman. After setting everything on the table, he took a step back, clasping his hands behind his back. "Started about a month after moving here so, about four, almost five months." It wasn't all that long, but it felt much longer than it had been. For his first ever job, he was enjoying it. He'd never had to work for anything in his life, so the change was great for him.

[heracooper]

Hera shook her head. "Hey, you have every reason to be. This was a man you once saw the rest of your life with. Seeing and assuming he's dating someone is one thing, but him marrying someone? That's another." She couldn't imagine what her sister was feeling, but she knew that if Dylan were to do that, it'd crush her. She moved and gave Evan a hug. "You deserve so much better than him." @evanxcooper

"Yeah, at least he did that," she echoed what Hera said, but the words leaving her lips were coated with an emotional exhaustion. "I had a feeling," she told Hera, "I ran into him and her at the Elliot wedding a few months ago, but I was trying not to make assumptions." Doing so had already cost her many years with a man that was never going to be able to give her what she wanted. "It's so stupid," Evan sighed, pushing back from the sink as she let her shoulders sag. "We're divorced, I shouldn't even be upset." But Evan knew it wasn't that easy. @heracooper

[heracooper]

She smiled over at the man. "It's nice to meet you too, Wren." Hera told him and got her daughter settled back into the stroller. A sigh left her lips as she sat back and finished off the coffee she already had. Once Wren brought her the new one, she thanked him before asking, "So, have you worked here long?" Her eyes met his. She had been thinking of making applying, but wasn't a hundred percent sure yet." @wrxnxashby

Wren chuckled with a nod and made his way back around the counter. "It isn't a problem. It's the least I can do, really," he said over his shoulder. He pressed the button on the coffee machine, the cafe filling with the whirring of a fresh cup brewing. He grabbed a mug and a little saucer, placing it under the nozzle. As it brewed, he turned back to the woman. "Hera. I'm Wren—Wren Ashby."

[heracooper]

She smiled a little and nodded. "Well, good." She knew she'd still think about it, but was glad the other man was okay so it wouldn't be that bad. She took a breath and heard her daughter stir a little so she started moving the stroller back and forth to keep a meltdown from happening. Or, at least she hoped. "Well, it's just weather, I guess. There's more important things to remember." She looked at him. "You grew up here too then?" @lorenzocelestino

"I get it." Lorenzo nodded. As someone that had spent the majority of his life pleasing other people, Lorenzo could sympathize with feeling bad about it for days. "Thankfully you won't need to." he nodded. "Everything's good." Taking a peak at the stroller to make sure the other hadn't hit something that caused any damage to it in the process, Lorenzo let his gaze meet the other's a moment later. "Same here." he nodded. "I also forgot how much it's rained here." Lorenzo nodded. "You'd think it'd be hard to remember a place you grew up but." he shrugged. "I'm glad for the sunshine that's for sure." @heracooper

[heracooper]

"Good morning." Hera said as she carried her now four month old into the kitchen. It was crazy how big Maia had gotten over the last four months, but she was still so small at the same time. Being back in Kismet Harbor had been the best thing for them both and she knew that more now than ever before. The help from her family to learn how to take care of her daughter meant more to her than she could ever explain. It even helped her open up more to them and start calling both Tomas and Jet "Dad". Though, when Maia was around, she tended to call them "Papa" so she could call them that one day.

She let Jet take Maia before hugging him and staying in his arms a moment. "It was good." Sleep was definitely getting better for both her and Maia. It took some time, but they were finally getting there. "She only got up twice and went back to sleep quickly." Hera said proudly before she stepped back and went to go get some coffee. "I don't really have much to do." Her only focus the last few months was taking care of Maia. Now that she was getting older, though, maybe it was time to look for a job so she didn't have to rely on Tomas and Jett like she has been doing. "Was there anything you needed to do?" @jeffersontcooper

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @heracooper

"Hi!" Jet smiled, arms outstretching to take the baby from his daughter, arm outstretching to pull her into a hug. He'd loved being a father more than anything in the world, but something about being a grandpa, it nearly made him burst into tears thinking about it. "How'd you guys sleep?" he questioned, arms still wrapped around his daughter in an attempt to hold her for longer. She'd truly grown up faster than he'd been able to imagine and sometimes he himself needed the hug as a reminder she'd always be his little girl. "If you're feeling up for it, I can watch her for awhile for you to get done whatever you need." he stated, eyes focusing on the baby in his arms. It was almost crazy to him how much she looked like a tiny version of her mother. "Or, whatever you need me to help with, I'll do." he shrugged. "Just say the word. You've got me as long as you want." Eyes averted as he looked at the baby, tossing her a smile. "And you're going to be nice and let us get it all done right?" he laughed. "No meltdowns or anything on my watch."

[heracooper]

She groaned a little as she adjusted her daughter in her arms. The little one was still crying and she kept bouncing her a little. "I tried feeding her and she doesn't need changed." She was frantic and it was clear. She just wanted to help her daughter and once again, she was feeling like nothing she was doing was working. "I was walking around the room and still nothing." She looked up at Tomas with watery eyes. "What do I do?" @tomasxcooper

He looked over at her, always happy to hear her, his dad. He had kids call him that or some form of dad, along with Tomas a lot, or Mr Cooper. Whether the family adopted them or not, he let the kids call him as they pleased. But hearing Hera call him dad after so many years was nice to him. "You are doing well, she's crying since she knows she needs you," he said, giving his daughter a kiss on the top of her head. "I may have been doing this longer than I would like to admit, but I don't always know what to do too "But you just need to try each thing she likes, see if she needs food or change, just a rock or walk... " just smiled at her "Try each thing and take it easy" he smiled.

[heracooper]

Hera watched her and could tell she was upset. She wasn't sure what as going on, but she started thinking maybe her sister just didn't like blood. After a moment, the truth came out and her heart ached for Evan. She could understand the feeling. If she heard Dylan was with someone else, she'd be hurt even after everything. "At least he did that." She breathed and touched Evan's arm. "Did you know he was seeing someone?" @evanxcooper

"It's nothing, a little cut." But her mind wasn't on the cut, not really. She hesitated a moment before looking to her younger sister. "Honestly," a sigh passed over her lips and her shoulders sagged with the weight of so much more. "I haven't really told anyone yet, but Riley got married." Evan let the news slip into the space between her and her sister. "I'm still trying to process it. He came and told me himself," she shook her head, "but I don't know. I'm so fucking thrown by it." The exhaustion of her mind constantly running at night showed in her eyes now. @heracooper

[heracooper]

She let out a playful laugh. "Then I guess just in a cup would be fine." Hera told him before looking up into his eyes. "Thank you. I appreciate that." She smiled at him. A free cup of coffee was definitely a nice thing when she was dealing with an upset child. She looked down at her daughter as she finished calming down and then back up at the man. "It is. It's nice, really." She paused. "Oh, I'm Hera, by the way. Hera Cooper." @wrxnxashby

"Well, unfortunately I'm not exactly qualified to do that." Wren wished he could help more, but his experience with children was extremely limited. What he could do is simply offer his support, and caffeine. "Just say the word, and I'll make you anything you need." He got a little closer, shielding his mouth. "On the house," he whispered, smirking. No, he wasn't in the position to do that, but he'd put it on his own card. What was a coffee or two? "That is a wonderful way to do so. My brother and I have middle names after our grandpa. I think it's a nice tradition."

[heracooper]

— Ocean Vuong, from On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (via letsbelonelytogetherr)

[heracooper]

COURTNEY EATON Photographed by Jared Kocka for Flaunt Magazine Issue 198, May 2025

[heracooper]

Relief filled her and she moved the stroller back a little so it was out of the way. "Good. I'm glad I didn't. You may not have minded, but I would've felt horrible for days." Which was the truth. She hated the idea of running into anyone, especially with the stroller, and it would've made her think about it for weeks probably. "It is." She agreed and let out a sigh. "I know. I forgot how much it rained here. It's not too bad, but after days of it, I'd like a break, you know?" @lorenzocelestino

"No, you didn't hit me no worries." Lorenzo smiled, tucking the package in his hand further under his arm as he sorted through another bucket in his truck. Delivering mail all throughout Kismet Harbor had given him the ability to meet all sorts of people - people he'd known since childhood, people he'd never met, or people that had also made Kismet Harbor their home more recently. It was a way for him to get an insight of the people's lives; or it at least felt that way. "You didn't hit me, but, even if you did I wouldn't mind." he admitted, eyes focused on the other as his smile grew a little. The child in the stroller was young, and with the amount of rain they'd been having in Kismet it felt obvious to him that the woman was likely just trying to get some fresh air. "It's a good day for a walk." he smiled. "That rain was starting to be really annoying." @heracooper

[heracooper]

"Maybe I just need it in an IV." She joked a bit as she continued to try to calm her daughter down. She looked around to make sure he was right and it looked like the lady she initially annoyed left and no one else seemed to care. Hera looked back at the man and smiled. "Thanks." She bounced Maia more and the baby slowly started to calm down. "It was my grandma's name. I thought it would be nice to honor her." @wrxnxashby

Wren was used to this. It wasn't the first time someone had brought their crying kid in the cafe, and it definitely would not be the last. Sometimes, it could be annoying, but he was rather understanding when it came to children. That was just what babies did—they cried. "Five more coffees comin' right up." He laughed, shaking his head. "No, no. Don't be sorry. It's dead today; doesn't look like you're bothering anyone, and you're not bothering me." If anything, the crying child had snapped him out of the thought loop he'd been stuck in. "Maia is a nice name."

[heracooper]

Hera heard the glass shatter and she looked towards the kitchen to see what was going on. As her sister called out, the woman quickly went to the bathroom and found the band aids before going back and bringing them to her. "Here you go. What happened?" She asked as she looked at the damage that had been done and the blood. She was never a big fan of blood, but she wanted to make sure Evan was okay. @evanxcooper

starter for @heracooper

location: evan's place

She had invited her younger sister over for dinner, for drinks. In part, it was so that her sister could have a break. Being a mother so young had to take its toll - not that Evan would know. Evan was cleaning up the dishes from dinner, rinsing them under the warm water. The glass slipped from her hands, soapy water betraying her grip and shattered. "Fuck," she swore under her breath, going to pick up the pieces of glass in the sink. She inhaled sharply, pulling her hand back from the sink as she started to get some pieces out. "Son of a bitch." Evan seethed, though it wasn't because of the cut, it wasn't because she were bleeding. She could just blame it on that in the moment. "Hera, can you get me a band aid?" Evan called to the living room where her sister sat. "They're in the bathroom, mirror."