margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

Maragret raised a brow at the other, her lips slipping into a smile and knowing smile as she set the cup of tea on the table. "I said hello, Dae-Hyun," she repeated, her voice light and teasing. Her eyes flicked to the ring that he was fidgeting with and she tilted her head slightly, "but it seems your mind is elsewhere today," it wasn't difficult to piece that together. "What's got you so distracted? Or should I take it personally that my company isn't quite as riveting as possible? Which," she held up her hands in a mock apology, "I can't say I'd blame you, the holidays take a lot of out me." She continued with a slightly playful tone at the other. @daehyunxkwon

Dae-Hyun enjoyed his weekly meet-ups with Margaret. Were they best friends? He didn't think so. They ran in very different circles and they didn't have a lot in common aside from their work during the budding minds gatherings. With the gardens being out of use until spring, they'd agreed to meet up every Tuesday at the same time as they would be in the community gardens. This time however, his mind was occupied elsewhere, playing with the wedding ring he had on his middle finger rather than the finger it needed to be one. Babysteps, right? He looked up when Margaret sat down, having completely missed if she had said anything. "What?" @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

Margaret paused at Julian's words, her heart swelling in her chest at the sentiment behind them. "Oh-" she paused, realizing it wasn't something that had come up for her. She didn't expect that Julian give her any special treatment because they were siblings. "I guess that I could do both," she offered to her older brother, "Ballet is a different kind of challenge for me," she told him, "a passion project but that is something that could be done after hours, weekends, it's not like I don't have the whole set up in the basement," she continued on. Her expression softened as she looked up at Julian, "I do appreciate it, though, it means a lot to me. I've always respected that you've been thinking ahead, planning your next steps." @julianxhawthorne

"Yeah.. I know." Julian uttered, knowing what she meant about it not meaning anything. He didn't understand why their parents were so anal about the male and female aspect. If an outsider had to choose, they'd choose Margaret over him, and he fully respected it. Now, it was a safety net for when he quit racing. He would still have a career and he would be good at it too. He was trained for it all his life after all. Gone to university for it. "You should." Julian nodded, letting a crooked grin slowly grow present at her joke. "I'm not going to lie. I was hoping you'd be my COO when I take over." He voiced his thoughts, thinking of how with that, he would've asked Simon to be the CFO. The three of them would run it together. "But if ballet's your future, you've got my support." @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

Margaret had opted to get out of the house while Nate and Taylor were spending some quality time together. They did things together as a family but often made sure to split time with their daughter as well so that she was getting the most of them. Margaret had not been the most present parent in years past, but she was planning on making changes with the new year. The bonfire was the perfect place to reflect on how she was going to start putting those changes in motion. She had walked through the sand, wrapping her jacket tighter around her as the wind picked up until she picked a spot that wasn't too involved. "Oh, Levi," she smiled, realizing who she sat next to, "I did," she nodded her head, "it's always a tradition to do so." @levi-steelexhutchinson

starter for @margaretxhawthorne Location: Kismet Beach

Levi had come to the beach alone, he sat as he watched the bonfire, listening to the waves as the crashed on the beach. It was peaceful and he took a sip of his drink, watching as people laughed and smiled. Levi was an extrovert but there were times where he liked to just seat back and watch people, observe. It was not like he was lost in thought when someone sat by him, causing him to turn his head and he smiled. "Hey Margret," he spoke with a charming smile. "Come to enjoy the bonfire too?"

[margaretxhawthorne]

Margaret smiled at Haven as she complimented her in return, eyes following as the other blonde woman rested her hand on the growing bump. A part of her was jealous, missing the moments in which she was excited about becoming a mother. Her and Nathaniel would have had more than Taylor but the stress of trying had broken their spirits, nearly leading them towards a path they couldn't come back from. "Good, they will have plenty of years to stress you out, they shouldn't give you any problems before they're born," she teased Haven with a smile on her lips. "I'm glad," Margaret was relieved that Haven didn't think the holidays were that bad. They were a blur, that was certain, as she played buffer not only for herself but for Haven, though the woman had never asked. However, she wanted her brother to be happy; they both deserved to be happy. "Things were nicer at our own home," as they often were, "admittedly, there's no pressure when it's just the three of us. As soon as you step into the Hawthorne residence, Christmas becomes something so much more and not in a good way." @havenbsinclair

Meeting with Margaret always felt like a breath of fresh air in a sense. While Julian's family was often a stressful time for Haven, his siblings had at least provided some comfort both through the holidays season and in general. They gave Haven more of a sense that she belonged there, which was never a bad feeling to have if you asked her. Her eyes searched for Margaret, only offering the other a small smile once she'd spotted her, her cheeks flushing only slightly at Margaret's compliment. "Thank you; you look great yourself." she replied, hand instinctively resting against her growing bump, nodding at the other's confession that the food was already ordered; thankfully Haven didn't mind when other's ordered, it often gave her the chance not to change her mind on what she wanted. As she sat, working on getting comfortable, Haven allowed herself to exhale, nodding in reassurance at her question. "I'm actually feeling well today, babies seem to be giving me a break after the rush of the holidays." she laughed, her eyes focused on Margaret as she realized that she was also asking about the holidays. Anyone that knew them knew that Haven and Julian hadn't had the best time since they're engagement, but, she wasn't one to dwell on that. Besides, she never wanted to make things awkward for Margaret; she already felt bad it was that way with Julian. "Actually the holidays weren't bad." she shrugged, not remembering much of an incidence where she'd been uncomfortable outside of what was a normalcy for her these days. "You got to enjoy them right? I know you were playing a great part of being the social buffer it seemed so I hope you were able to do what you wanted as well." @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

Margaret knew that letting it slip that she wanted to quit would be a shock. For her entire life, Margaret had been working to prove herself to their father, a man that would never appreciate her in the same way that he did his sons. "Yeah, ballets always been a passion of mine and," Margaret paused, "Nate and I have been talking and these years," the blonde ran a hand through her hair, "it doesn't mean anything," at least not to their father, "I should finally do what makes me happy." Those words were not something that she thought she would ever say. "Between you and Nate, you might be able to concoct something up," she half-joked as she spoke of her husband, "I just want to be happy, Julian." @julianxhawthorne

"One can dream, but I sincerely doubt it." Unless their mechanics and engineers were able to keep up with improving the car, there was only so much that he could do. Julian arched his brow when Margaret disproved his theory, taking a sip from his drink which happened at the wrong time. Her mentioning the word quitting got him to inhale part of his drink, sending him into a coughing fit. At least it wasn't coming out of his nose, there was no coming back from that one. "Quitting?" He managed, watching how she looked around her as if their parents were to jump out of the wood works at any moment. "Ballet?" He repeated once more before he caught on that's what he was doing and not exactly replying. "But I thought w--" He stopped himself, setting the glass down on the table. It wasn't about him after all. "Need me to distract the old man with big news before you announce it? I'm sure I can come up with something." @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

starter for @havenbsinclair

location: nourish bistro

"You're looking lovely," Margaret greeted her soon to be sister in law as she walked up to the table, "our order is in," she had ordered at the counter for the both of them and it would be brought out to the table when it was ready. "How are you feeling?" Margaret's questioned was geared more towards the pregnancy but in general, she knew things hadn't not been all sunshine and rainbows now that Haven and Julian were engaged. "I'm hoping the holidays weren't too torturous for you," she hadn't had the chance to spend much time with Haven with everyone around and trying to appease her own parents, as she often did. If anything, Margaret had hoped she was playing a buffer role for Haven, but she wasn't sure if she had succeeded.

[margaretxhawthorne]

"We'll be catching up soon with it in no time I'm sure." If anything, she'd order someone around to get the rest of the decorations up. Or at least a little more. "Great." She smiled at her sister and relaxed against her chair a little. Laughing softly, Stevie nodded as she looked over at Johnny in the other room and then back at Margaret. "We definitely have, haven't we? God, I feel horrible agreed to that." She shook her head. "How's Taylor doing? And the husband?" @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

"She's always been a bit of speed demon, huh?" Margaret commented in terms of Zoe zipping around. "Strollers do slow you down," she remembered all the times having one when Taylor was younger. "I swear they are merely invented to be a bigger pain in the -" she cut herself off, "regardless, they're not meant to be as functional as they sound." Of course, she used hers religiously but curse words often followed any use. "That's sweet of you," Margaret said, "I'm shopping for Nate's parents right now. He's been swamped with work." @millieswagner

[margaretxhawthorne]

"Great," she smiled as Simon said that he would do his best. Spending time with family was important, Margaret knew that even when she struggled to make time for it herself. "Thanks," she continued to smile at her brother. "He's not really," she shook her head, "I mostly do it to myself," to get the attention she had been trying to get for most of her life from him. Had she actually been one of his sons, her position in the company would be much more than it was today. She wasn't Garrett, as much as he wanted her to be. Instead, she was Margaret. "The end of the year usually gets pretty busy, anyway." She explained, lifting her shoulders in a wrong. "Everyone trying to wrap up last minute projects." @thesimonhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

"She's always been a bit of speed demon, huh?" Margaret commented in terms of Zoe zipping around. "Strollers do slow you down," she remembered all the times having one when Taylor was younger. "I swear they are merely invented to be a bigger pain in the -" she cut herself off, "regardless, they're not meant to be as functional as they sound." Of course, she used hers religiously but curse words often followed any use. "That's sweet of you," Margaret said, "I'm shopping for Nate's parents right now. He's been swamped with work." @millieswagner

She nodded. "We are. Zoe is around here somewhere. She's faster than I am, but she also isn't pushing a stroller around." Millie laughed a little bit before she looked around and spotted her other niece. "There she is." She said and pointed to her over at a booth close by. "I wanted to get them out and help pick something for their parents." She smiled. "How about you guys?" @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

"I have no doubt about that, you've always been a super human of sorts." Margaret meant it as a compliment. Even before she found out Stevie and here were related, she had always thought highly of the other woman. She seemingly had it all together and was happy. In some sense, Margaret was jealous of Stevie. "You really have," she laughed softly, "Taylor's good, she's doing well in school but she always looks forward to the time off over breaks," she told Stevie, "and Nate is good, he's busy with work. HCP Holdings doesn't always slow down for us at the end of the year." @steviexwagner

"We'll be catching up soon with it in no time I'm sure." If anything, she'd order someone around to get the rest of the decorations up. Or at least a little more. "Great." She smiled at her sister and relaxed against her chair a little. Laughing softly, Stevie nodded as she looked over at Johnny in the other room and then back at Margaret. "We definitely have, haven't we? God, I feel horrible agreed to that." She shook her head. "How's Taylor doing? And the husband?" @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

END.

"It can be a really overwhelming flavor," Margaret commented in return after Harlow mentioned it could make her feel a little sick. "My daughter has been guilty of overloading herself on candy canes and not feeling well. She's yet to learn her lesson." The blonde woman laughed softly at the thought of her own daughter. "You're welcome," she told the younger woman, "it's not a problem at all," plus Margaret had been feeling generous and wanted to shower her gratitude. "You were a great help," she smiled, "and I wanted that to be appreciated." @harlowhanlon

[margaretxhawthorne]

Margaret was out with her daughter, as the two were forming a tradition of shopping together during the winter festival. While Margaret's relationship with her parents might not have been the best, Taylor loved her grandparents and always liked to get them something that she picked out. Taylor and her were pausing at a booth when she heard auntie being shouted aloud. It caught her attention and she looked a moment until she saw Millie holding Naomi. She tugged Taylor along to walk over to them, "Hello to you, too," she smiled, "we are," she nodded her head, "Shopping for Johnny and Stevie?" @millieswagner

closed event starter for @margaretxhawthorne

"Zoe, wait up." Millie begged as she pushed Naomi in her stroller. She was helping out Stevie and Johnny for the day and while her dad had Logan, she had the girls and Zoe was pushing through the crowd like everything was going to be going away that night. She wanted to help the girls get gifts for their parents and she knew how the oldest of her nieces was determined about getting the perfect gift which was why she was moving so fast. Finally, she caught up to the thirteen-year-old and she started looking over the booth as well when Naomi started shouting, "Auntie!" Millie rounded the stroller to get the girl out, only to see the cheer wasn't for her, that it was for Margaret. "Oh, hey. You out shopping too?"

[margaretxhawthorne]

She had thought Julian was doing well, but she knew that her understanding behind her brother's career could be lacking. In which she thought he might have performed at his top level, he might think the complete opposite. However, she was always proud of him at the end of the day. He was clearly doing something that he loved and she had never had the guts to do something like that. "Hopefully next year will go better," she smiled at him before shaking her head, "No," she paused a moment as she realized this was going to be the first time she said it aloud. "I was thinking of quitting." The words left her mouth and she immediately looked around, half-expecting their father to be standing within ear shot. "I want to teach ballet." @julianxhawthorne

Part of him was eager to tell his sister of the shit their mother had pulled. To at least pull one person out from under the pyramid scheme that was the Hawthorne family. And yet, despite the anger he felt towards his mother, there was still that duty-filled and loyal part of him towards the family crest that just kept him silent. He also knew, that with how eagerly Margaret wanted to please their parents and prove that she mattered. Which she already did, but she knew it hadn't been easy for her just because she wasn't their first born son. Especially towards their father. "This year was shit. Our performance dropped, it's a miracle I made champion, but not a surprise we didn't win for the constructor's title." Julian never hid his true words, voicing his thoughts. Especially when it concerned his racing career. He also wasn't happy with his team mate, so he hoped for better days next year. "Oh? You're taking a sabbatical? You're right, I might actually not believe that." @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

"Great," she smiled as Simon said that he would do his best. Spending time with family was important, Margaret knew that even when she struggled to make time for it herself. "Thanks," she continued to smile at her brother. "He's not really," she shook her head, "I mostly do it to myself," to get the attention she had been trying to get for most of her life from him. Had she actually been one of his sons, her position in the company would be much more than it was today. She wasn't Garrett, as much as he wanted her to be. Instead, she was Margaret. "The end of the year usually gets pretty busy, anyway." She explained, lifting her shoulders in a wrong. "Everyone trying to wrap up last minute projects." @thesimonhawthorne

He gave her a smile. Honestly, he didn't know how things were going to go being Julian's manager, especially once the season was over, but he liked it. Surprisingly, he also liked that unlike most of his life, he didn't have a straight lined plan. "I'll definitely do my best then," he replied as he gave his niece a bright smile. It seemed somewhat paradoxical that he would have more time now that he was travelling more but investment banking was known for the lack of personal time. "Ah don't sell yourself short." He looked up from the menu. "Dad's making you work hard?" @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

"I have no doubt about that," she laughed with Stevie. She had noticed the lack of decorations in the home, or rather the lack of it being entirely done but it was only because she knew how all out that Stevie and her husband went for decorating. "Good, I can do that," she smiled as she remembered what it was like to only have people helping her and talk about her daughter when they came to visit. Adult conversation had been something that the woman craved for quite some time. "I wouldn't think it is possible," admittedly, Margaret had been known to be neglectful at home from time to time. "But, knowing the two of you," she laughed once more, "I can see it being possible. You two seemingly have always broken the rules of normal relationships, in a good way, of course. Always a couple that people could look up to." @margaretxhawthorne

Part of her felt relief that someone in her life understood what she was feeling right now. While yes, she was tired and healing still, she wished she could get up and do more. Especially with the decorating for the holidays that still needed to get done. The house wasn't half as decorated as Stevie usually did and it felt empty. "I swear I'll go crazy by the time I can move around again." She laughed a little bit. "Good. I'm happy you can come visit as well." She beamed at her. "Someone to just talk to is great. Johnny, of course, is a big help and he's making sure I'm taken care of. Is it possible to fall more in love with your husband when you have loved in for over thirty years?" @margaretxhawthorne

[margaretxhawthorne]

"It can be a really overwhelming flavor," Margaret commented in return after Harlow mentioned it could make her feel a little sick. "My daughter has been guilty of overloading herself on candy canes and not feeling well. She's yet to learn her lesson." The blonde woman laughed softly at the thought of her own daughter. "You're welcome," she told the younger woman, "it's not a problem at all," plus Margaret had been feeling generous and wanted to shower her gratitude. "You were a great help," she smiled, "and I wanted that to be appreciated." @harlowhanlon

Harlow nodded, as though Margaret's words contained a profound revelation of an unknown truth. Something grand, which she had not considered before. "Probably." Another nod, and then another smile played around pink lips. "I love peppermint flavors but I'm afraid my body does not. Too much peppermint flavor makes me feel a little sick, to be honest." A sigh. "It's a shame, really." And as they arrived at the counter, Margaret's order placed was nothing but a minor detail amidst the white noise, ubiquitously swimming in the room's warm and cozy atmosphere. A brief glance sent her blue eyes to check her phone's screen, before averting her attention to her company once more. "Thanks again, by the way." She said, vaguely pointing at the barista preparing their drinks. "That's really nice of you." @margaretxhawthorne