#(( His office and suite are tour worthy honestly ))

[radicheart-a]

Guess who's already filled his office and hotel suite with enough Christmas decorations to put most others to shame?

This deer.

[zweiter-blog-me]

My Adventure WIP

This is the opening of my little adventure novel I'm very passively writing. Feel like I should put it on here for self-motivation purposes. It's certainly derivative and unoriginal, but so am I. The Indiana Jones inspiration is obvious and certainly opens up questions of exploitation and cultural imperialism, honestly no idea how or if I'll proceed with that in mind.

Historical accuracy, too, is a question. I think with both my current WIPs, they act as sort of excuses to go on research tangents.

Absolutely nothing is guaranteed final in my mind. I changed the name of the main character as I pasted it here, the plot/motivation I might as well, no idea.

Chapter One: Boston, February 12th, 1935

A man rushed up the steps towards the administration building of the National Archeological Institute. The nails of his boot heels clinked along the metal rain grates at the top, desperately in need of a resoling. His suit and coat were of high quality, if from a distance. Up close one could see the hasty repairs were self done, and he hadn’t much skill for the craft. He was running late by around 10 minutes, but he hoped his heavy breath could help excuse his tardiness.  

As he finally opened the door to the office of one Dr. Katherine Jones, a voice called out, “ah, you've arrived Mr. Fitch.” The woman was in her late thirties, but she was wearing the sort of thing a much older professor would. Her bright eyes and bobbed hair betrayed her older, established image however. The office was about what one would expect of any in the building: an official looking desk, bookcases on every wall filled to the brim with old books and various knick knacks, and a single window with the curtains closed but for a bit of sunlight managing to peek through.

“I apologize Dr. Jones, unfortunately they still haven't finished the construction on the new train line,” he said panting still. By the look on her face he could tell she was judging his abilities to plan ahead of time, but she seemed willing to let it slide.

“I understand of course, now, I believe you set up this meeting to talk about some important matter? I don't know why you couldn't simply say in your telegram.”

“Oh yes,” Fitch was only now beginning to regain some composure. “I was hoping to inquire about hiring someone from your department for an expedition I’m planning.”

“I don't recall employing any tour guides,” Jones quickly retorted. The smile on her face turned the phrase into a joke instead of relaying her annoyance.

“Of course, of course I understand that Doctor. You see, I couldn't explain more in my correspondence as I'm quite wary of prying eyes on the whole thing. It's a bit of a race you see, I'm desperate not to give my opponents any clues.”

Jones' eyes narrowed slightly in confusion, “just what sort of expedition is this?”

“Well, one week ago I received an important tip off from an informant of mine. An inventory log was found in a Dutch shipyard, some abandoned boat they were… investigating, yes investigating is the word. You see, this log,” he pulled some papers out of a pocket in his coat, “mentions an object of great importance to me, and I believe, your institution here. In fact, I believe this would be the find of the century, it would finally put you ahead of Oxford’s archeological department.”

“Well, come out with it, what is it. And why would you involve us? This thing, whatever it is, why can't you just do this yourself?” Her tone had shifted now, the joking was done with as her lips pursed.

“I would like to, very much so, but you see I'm not quite as young as I used to be and I'm not sure I'm up for the job.”

She eyed his out of shape body and his receding hairline, wondering if he had ever been expedition worthy.

Fitch continued, not noticing her judgmental expression, his gaze too focussed on the papers in his hands, “I believe this log is hiding the fact that the Germans have located and hidden away the Sword of Charlemagne.”

“Hold on, Joyeuse is in the Louvre, what are you playing at?”

Fitch could tell he was losing any sway he had with the woman before him. “Ah, they have a sword, yes, but it's just some copy or fabrication. The real Joyeuse was lost over a millennia ago. You see, I worked there in Paris for a time, but once I found out their secret I was kicked out. They don't want to lose the prestige of having such an artifact in their possession.”

“If I did believe you, and I make no promises with that, where does this log say the Germans have shipped it to?”

“The ship's inventory says that an object of utmost importance was shipped to a secret facility in Argentina. I have reason to believe this is referring to Joyeuse. You see, I have a former colleague among the Germans, from shortly after the Great War, who was obsessed with the thing. His name is also listed among the log as a supervisor.”

“And you see this as evidence enough to send someone all the way from Boston to Argentina?” This time her smile was not of mirth, but of disbelief.

“Yes, and I will pay handsomely for the whole thing,” Fitch had almost a pleading tone now. This had peaked her interest finally, as she was thinking about repairs to the facilities and new teaching materials.

“Very well, if you will finance the expedition and pay a hefty fee to the department, perhaps we can work together on this. My colleague, Dr. James Donahue would be up for the task. He’s a younger man, 26, but I believe you’ll find his abilities and maturity outweigh his age. He achieved his doctorate with a very quick course of study and specializes in this kind of…fieldwork.” There was an almost wistful air to her voice as she described the young man.

“As desperate as I am to begin the expedition, and to beat the others who will no doubt begin the chase soon, I’m sure some youth will speed it along. Is he in the building somewhere? I should like to speak with him first.”“Actually he is due to arrive back in the country today from Greenland. He was visiting a digsite looking for traces of Norse settlement. Nothing too exciting though, so I’m sure he’ll be up for your proposed…adventure.”

[queentargary3n]

unfaithful

Summary: Sakura is surprised to see Sasuke is the senior associate of the firm she is supposed to start working for. All of her feelings start to come back 10 years after he abandoned her. Sasuke finds out somethings are truly never behind you, and when he starts falling back in love with her, his past comes to hunt him. Her biggest issue? He is already married.

Sasusaku Fanfic AU Lawyers. M

chapter 2 

FF.net

Sakura felt terrible the next morning. It was as if all of her past embarrassments and mistakes were playing over and over inside her head, all night long. By the time she was supposed to wake up, she had gotten maybe 3 hours of sleep, if she was lucky.

Walking out the shower she assessed herself in the mirror, she had to remind herself that she had been over Sasuke Uchiha for a long time, that he couldn’t affect her anymore, that she was an accomplished law school graduate now amongst other things. I’ll be fine, I’ll avoid Sasuke-kun like the plague and I’ll be fine. Besides it will be fun working with Naruto. The firm seems like a friendly enough place.

So, she applied a cooling mask to her massive under-eye bags and make up to hide her lack of rest, and put on her lucky dress, a work-appropriate red bodycon dress for confidence. After all red had always been her color.

Upon arriving, was received at the front desk this time by an unfriendly red headed, bespectacled receptionist, who scowled at her entrance, eyed her from head to toe, and rolled her eyes when Sakura introduced herself.

“Mhmm right… newbie. Sit down, I’ll get you when I’m ready” The red-haired woman said, and continued to look at her computer, at what Sakura thought it looked more like social medial instead of work related.

15 whole minutes passed before the receptionist decided it was time to call for someone to get Sakura from the waiting area. Few seconds later, an attractive long-haired blonde with baby-blue eyes walked out, and looked at the receptionist expectantly, who in turn, pointed at Sakura with her perfectly manicured finger, and resumed her activity.

“Well, you’re late! Terrible first impression by the way, the Senior associate hates that, follow me!” Said the blonde as she wailed inside the actual offices.

Sakura was annoyed at this point. Cha! she did that on purpose! She thought. She followed the blue-eyed woman into the entrance doors and tried to listen attentively as she was given the official tour of the facilities.

“That was the waiting area for clients mostly, of course someone will call you and take the client to your office, when you have one. This in the center is the break area, that behind the bar is our humble coffee machine, of course if you want good coffee the best option is to go down to the coffee shop in the first floor, which most people do. Restroom is on the back here, and right across from here you’ll find your office” She pointed to a small office on the corner. All offices were arranged in a circle around the break area, separated by glass panels instead of walls, completely visible to anyone.

Sakura walked into her assigned office, it was furnished simply with a minimalist black desk and luxurious white chairs on either side.

“And this is for you…” She was handed a large box containing her newly printed business cards, that read:

U&U Attorneys at Law

HARUNO SAKURA J.D.

Civil Law Attorney.

Sakura was engrossed in her thoughts, trying to decide how the missing title in her name made her feel. She was so used to seeing her name end with a M.D. if felt strange to keep that a secret.

“Alright, so I’m Ino Yamanaka, I’m a paralegal, but I work here as an assistant on account of my awesome skills, I’ll be yours and two other Junior associate’s assistant, so don’t be getting any ideas, I won’t get your coffee, or pick up your dry cleaning and what not, I have more important things to do, I have all the connections with the attorney general’s office, and pretty much every single private investigator in the area, so that is my job, you might have been a genius in law school or whatever, but I’ve been here longer, and I know how to work the system, got it forehead?”

Ino knew she had to be assertive to deal with egocentric lawyers who always seemed to think they were hotshots simply for graduating. She felt pretty confident as this one seemed the be left wide-eyes and open mouthed at her insult.

I was obviously mistaken about the friendliness of this place. Sakura thought. But there was something refreshing about Ino’s attitude of not taking crap from anyone.

Ino was taken aback when the pinkette simply gave her an honestly kind smile, said “Nice to meet you! I’m looking forward to working with you, I just hope that your pig-headedness is not contagious” and dared to extend her hand in greeting.

“Ha! I think I might just get along with ya!” She laughed, brushing her long ponytail back with elegance. “Get settled and let’s go get a coffee so we can go on, ne?”

“I’m okay, shall we?” Sakura responded. She was guided by Ino back into the break area and handed a cup to pour herself some coffee. “Ne, Ino? Does everyone in this officer look like a model? I’m serious, the last time I saw so many attractive people under the same roof was, well never” She continued with a nervous smile, leaning against the centered bar-table with her hand on her cheek.

“Mmm? Feeling inadequate here, Sakura-san?” The blonde said, a hint of cattiness evident in her baby-blue eyes.

“Ha ha ha, just Sakura please and … noooo!” She responded nervously, although she did, in fact. Ino had the kind of body she had always wished to have when younger: curvy, busty and tall. So did the red-haired receptionist. She had come to terms with loving her body just as it was, by the time she came an adult, but in this situation in was difficult not to feel self-conscious. To think she had to come to work with these people every single day.

“Karin and I are the only two other females of the firm, so you won’t have to feel too intimidated” Ino said grinning. “The rest of the guys are pretty cool, once you get to know them, although Kiba is a shameless flirt so, careful”

“Karin, huh?” Sakura asked, wondering what the deal was with the hostile front desk attendant.

“Yup, you just met her out front, she always acts as if she owns the place, she is the receptionist, she doesn’t do much, that’s when she bothers to show up, really, she might be the boss’s wife, but she is definitely not the owner”

Sakura choked and spat out her coffee. “She is Sasuke’s wife?!”

“Yeah, I share in your disappointment girl, she works here to keep an eye on him” Ino said as she leaned in the bar next to Sakura.

“Does he like… sleep around?” Sakura wondered.

“What, no. I mean he doesn’t with me, and if he doesn’t with me, I mean” She explained as she gestured towards her body, as if it was something obvious and gave Sakura a little wink. “But I digress, she has a massive inferiority complex, extremely jealous and insecure, she’ll definitely try to rip you to pieces”

That explains the lack of girls around the office. Sakura thought, and said “I guess having your spouse around the office needlessly is pretty tacky”  

Unbeknownst to the two, someone else was listening in, at least for the last few parts. Sasuke was standing next to a pillar, watching the pair from behind. A scowl deep in his face, he took a sip from his mug and continued to listen in.

“So, Naruto-san is the other Senior associate, he will come in any moment now, before court, he will call a meeting, and he and Uchiha-san will assign the cases available, you’d be lucky if you get to do research for another associate’s case, Uchiha-san doesn’t like to assign cases to Junior associates until the prove themselves worthy” Ino explained.

Coincidentally at that moment, Naruto walked in the floor, in black pants and orange blazer, leaving Sakura to wonder if he had several ones of just wore the same suit two days in a row.

“Good morning everyone” He announced. “Sakura-chan! Looking lovely as always.” He was almost yelling, as he approached the pinkette and brought her in on a one-handed hug and held his arm over her shoulders.

Sakura was embarrassed, with everyone now walking out of their offices to watch, but she did always feel reassured with Naruto’s displays of affection, it was just the way he was.

Sasuke walked in from behind and cleared in throat, pushing Naruto to the side and taking a stand between his friend and Sakura. None of this on my watch idiot. He thought.

“Have any announcements teme?” Naruto said to begin the meeting. Unaffected by the interaction.

“Ah, as you might know, the trial for the case Konoha hospital v. Senju is coming up, pretty much medical malpractice suit, doctor says she had not choice to save patients life, hospital board is siding the patient. Because of the notoriety of the case I’m on it, Naruto still has his wrong full termination case with Shikamaru as second chair, Kiba continue to work with Shino on that animal abuse claim, get it dismissed before trial, the rest of you, do paperwork, that’s all”

“Wait, I want Sakura-chan as second chair for your case teme” Naruto said.

Sakura’s was left wide eyed at the last part. She was fully prepared to not be assigned a case, as per Ino’s explanation, but she had not expected Naruto to intercede.

“I… don’t need a second chair” Sasuke said seriously. Sakura thought she could almost see a dark aura of killing intent coming from him. Daggers shooting from his eyes.

“Aaaaa I think you do, that’s all everyone, good work!” He replied, looking at Sakura with a shit-eating grin.

Sasuke was scowling, but instead of saying anything he turned around and left. The blond uncharacteristically smirked and gave Sakura a small wink before taking his leave too.

“Just what the fuck was that all about?” Ino said, voicing Sakura’s own thoughts.

“I really don’t know…” Sakura said.

“You didn’t tell me you know the big boss!”

“Naruto? Am yeah, his wife and I were roommates in college” Sakura explained, walking back to her officer and taking a seat behind her desk.

“You know his wife? I’ve only ever seen her at the Christmas party. She doesn’t say much does she?” Ino asked, wiggling her eyebrows and taking a seat from across.

“Careful Ino, you don’t want to seem like a gossip” Sakura answered teasing. “She is… the sweetest person you can ever meet, she is so kind, and caring, really the perfect match for a guy like Naruto, but she is really shy thought, I practically had to force those two together”

“Ow that was sweet. And Naruto-san? How do you know him?”

“He was my best friend during college, he was in one of my freshman classes and we became pretty inseparable after that, but we lost touch after graduation, he only called me a few days ago to meet up and offered me the job” Sakura was grinning by then, and blushing as she tended to do. She was truly grateful for the opportunity Naruto had given her. Not so many recent graduates had the luxury of starting out in a law firm of this caliber.

Ino made a mock scandalous face, excited to finally have some drama around the office. “Ha? Are you guys hooking up?”

“No! He’s my friend! And I would never hook up with a married man, that’s terrible Ino!”

“Nah, what a disappointment, and here I thought you were kind of exciting forehead”

x

Thank you so much if you are still reading this. Please don't forget to leave your thoughts in a comment, what can I do better? where would you like this to go?

[ansgar-martinsson]

The Best Intentions - Part 3

The Best Intentions

Part 3

“It is no imposition, believe me,” Ansgar replied. “As much as I despise the fact that your building is suffering problems, I do enjoy solving them now and again.” He surreptitiously allowed his gaze to follow the path of her hands as they straightened out the denim of her skirt. He saw a strength in her movements, a power in the way her muscles shaped beneath the fabric - a power matched by her forthrightness. Not overwhelming, mind you… not false… not pretentious… just… present. This one - she knew what she wanted and how to get it, that much was obvious.

And admirable.

“Perhaps,” he continued, “you would like to change into something more suitable for structural investigations before we begin.” With his eyes, he indicated the Louboutin pumps, still lying discarded on the stage floor. “Why don’t I go take a look at the sprinkler heads installed backstage, and you tell me where to meet you when you’re done.”

Jo’s comfort came in the form of a pair of old broken in trainers (stained with paint from the tech shop), faded, ripped jeans (exposed knees from load-in from her last theatre job in Paris) and a ratty, old, black short-sleeved t-shirt (sprinkled with holes). She kept a wardrobe on hand in her office for days like this. Box office days, she dressed smartly, prim, proper for all the old biddies spending their pension on Puccini. Tech days, she wore black from head to toe. On opening and gala nights, she felt at home in a little black dress or a gown. Dressing for an office meeting felt like work.

The computer and its dancing screensaver called to her in the corner to research the lighting issue. The ramifications meant long hours of interviewing new candidates for her design or technical team. But that would have to wait… the rest of the repairs needed another pair of eyes, the haunted blue of the engineer. Something weighed on him, a brooding quiet, a dark hurt, a something that she couldn’t quite read yet.

She breathed a sigh of relief as the oh-so-soft denim whispered against her skin. She blew a kiss at her borrowed Louboutins, promising another night in them… soon-ish. She returned to find Ansgar wandering around backstage, making notes on a clipboard, knocking on walls with his fist, shining his torch this way and that, and testing the pulley system for the flies.

“Thank you,” Jo said announcing her presence, “I… this works.” She threw her arms out beside her palms out, displaying a tattoo on her left forearm. “Much more me for days like this.”

“Where do you need me?” he tucked his notes under his arm. His gaze followed her arm and the flash of color he saw.

“Ah, under the stage.” She pointed below her feet. “The sprinklers may have caused water damage? The hydraulics for the turn table works only when it wants.”

“Temperamental,” he commented with a chuckled grunt. He took control, leading them off stage right to the staircase for the other area. “Have you used the pyrotechnics down there?”

Jo followed closely at his elbow, anticipating questions about the integrity of the areas she showed him. “Not since… not last season.”

“Any of the directors turn in specs for it for the upcoming?”

She shook her head though he didn’t look at her. “Not yet. The designers haven’t either. We still need to find a team for The Flying Dutchman.”

Jo asked Ansgar to look over the box seats and the arrangement of it. The dip of the seats had started scaring some of the older audience members, fearing they’d fall into the orchestra below. The wall between dressing rooms seven and eight had begun to warp. The floor in the rehearsals spaces needed patching and sanding. She toured through with a careful ear listening to his tips and concerns, and possible hidden agendas amongst her crew.

When they were through the laundry list of items, Jo found some relief. She stood at the top of the orchestra, hands gripping the back of a red velvet seat. “I love my work, Herr Martinsson. I haven’t an ounce of talent of my own, but I love this place. I’d love to see it sparkle again. And so would Harold.”

Ansgar stared, his focus narrowing on her. “I’m sorry. Harold?”

“The opera ghost,” she teased. “He’s been with us the entire time.”

He humored her and offered her a good natured laugh, stepping in to stand beside her, looking over the sea of red. He placed his hands on the seat beside her. “Well, Joline… and Harold… I think I can help.”

She looked down and quieted the tiniest of swells of disappointment in her belly when she saw a wedding ring on Ansgar’s left hand. Attractive men were always married; she should know, she’d married one. “We both appreciate it. Harold and me.” She pushed a smile to her lips and brushed his shoulder with hers.

“Well,” he said, “we’ve a duty to our ghosts; to make sure they’re happy with the things they’ve left behind, don’t we?” Ansgar’s speech slowed as he spoke, the impact of his own statement not lost upon him.

His thumb, in an autonomic motion, tucked into his palm, the tip of it rubbing against the underside of the golden band that remained around his finger.

“I’m sure Harold will be supremely happy,” the woman by his side quipped. Ansgar’s lips quirked into a small smile, partly at her praise, partly at the fact that she had missed his passing discomfiture altogether. Or so he’d hoped.

In further hope of distraction, he raised his clipboard, running his finger down the list he’d made. “Well, Froken Lindberg,” he said, “if that is all of the issues, then, I think I ought to get back to the office and get this to my project manager. Get her on contacting the subs and suppliers immediately, get warranty claims made and bond claims if need be.”

“You mean Froken Wiessing?”

“No,” Ansgar shook his head. “But I think… well, Julia and I will have some other things to discuss.”

“Anything I need to worry about?”

Ansgar looked down at her and smiled. “Not anymore. Listen,” he said, “I apologise for all of this happening, I apologise for my company being so unresponsive, it’s… it’s not like us… not like me at all. Quite the opposite.”

“I know,” she shrugged. “It’s fine. It’s all being sorted now, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” he affirmed. “Are you sure?”

“Well,” she grinned up at him. “There is one more thing you can do.”

“Name it,” he challenged.

“Take me to lunch. I’m starving.”

Ansgar laughed. It felt good to laugh again… very good. Truly, honestly good. “Of course,” he bowed his head, smiling. “You name the place. It’s the least I can do.”

Jo discovered Carousel her first week as House Manager. The Mediterranean outdoor café suited her low-key wardrobe and Ansgar’s higher end threads. The grilled rib-eye tasted of heaven on a plate but Jo loved making a meal of the appetizers instead of gorging herself on mains. As she angled into the wooden bench, she wiggled-slid behind the oblong table, “The gazpacho and watermelon should be a sin.”

Ansgar folded himself into the chair at the head of the table, to her left. Grinning at her, he took in the colorful and lively atmosphere. It all seemed so… normal. So ordinary. Comforting normality of his home.

Her voice dropped to a sensual moan. “The sweet and the savory…” She rolled her eyes skyward. The grumble in her stomach wasn’t just hunger but curiosity about her lunch companion and this need to prove herself worthy as House Manager. After months of chasing attention at Martinsson Construction, she now felt consumed by this mad drive to show him that the house and how it ran remained safe in her hands.

“I brought the mockup of our final mailing and advert campaign… the last push to get asses in the seats for the new season.” Ticket sales and revenue secured her position. As it was her first full season as manager, it was final examinations on her worth. “We open in September with The Marriage of Figaro.”

His finger traced along the glossy production photographs of women in wide elaborate frocks and taller wigs. The text read clean and concise, listing titles of the upcoming operas, dates, the box office website, and other means to purchase tickets or sponsor levels. “Impressive,” he nodded.

“Did you get your invitation to the opening night gala? My staff sent them round to all the executives at your company.”

“Uh… no… no. I’ve been away,” he repeated his mantra from earlier. “I’ve not caught up on correspondences. I assume that Britta has added it to my calendar.”

Jo wrinkled her nose, “This is boring to you.”

“Not at all. Your… passion is admirable actually.”

Her wide blue eyes met his and kicked herself for flirting with him. She shouldn’t encourage this. She couldn’t.

But it was one lunch. One lunch couldn’t hurt.

It’s only lunch, Ansgar thought.

But it was true what he’d said, he admired her passion. it seemed to permate every inch of her, seep from her pores. Passion - well, it was extremely attractive. Her passion for her job, her passion for her art - for it was her art, he knew. Even if she wasn’t the Prima Donna, or a visual artist or a composer or even if she wasn’t a musician or a set designer or a lighting designer, it was still her art.

Like his work with steel and glass in structural engineering, he knew her expression of her self came with the craft of engineering logistics.

“Tell me,” he said, stabbing up a forkful of spinach salad, “what’s your talent utilisation style?”

She cocked an eyebrow at him over the rim of her water glass. “My what?”

Ansgar swallowed and nodded. “I mean… your management style. How do you… how do you manage to keep all those….”

“Artistic types in line?” She chuckled. “Sometimes it’s like herding cats… cats who have been rolling in catnip and have eaten an entire bag of Smarties. You just have to know how to use the right toys to fiddle them out and get them to pay nicely together.”

“Oh.” Ansgar laughed. “Sounds a bit like my situation, except sometimes my cats have been chewing on the Valium tablets or tippling at the brandy. Most sluggish, and they simply do not want to come out of their hidey holes.”

She inhaled through her nose. “So I’ve noticed.” She flashed him a closed-mouthed grin followed by a slight cringe at the brazenness of her words.

Which again made Ansgar laugh. “Touche,” he tossed. “Okay, change of subject,” he smirked. “This Gala of yours, this opening night do you’re organising.”

She shrugged. “What of it?”

“Well, I suppose I’d like to know when it is.”

“Why, do you want to go?” Her sudden burst of eagnerness made her grimace. “I mean,” she composed herself. “Do you plan to attend?”

Here goes nothing, Ansgar thought.

“I believe I do,” he said, plainly. “That is, if you will allow me to accompany you for that evening. It’s the very least I can do.”

Jo pushed her spoon through what was left of her gazpacho, watching the bits swirling round the bottom of the bowl. She smirked, her head bounced slightly on the sound of humor. “When I stormed your castle this morning…” She chanced her gaze back up, “I… well, uh… I didn’t think…” she spread her hands wide and circled around the half eaten dishes they’d consumed, “this would happen.”

Ansgar laughed with her, matching her mirth. The exaggerated and animated gesture unexpected but none the less amusing. He dipped his head in an almost bow. “Admittedly, this wasn’t my agenda for the day.”

She pointed upwards and nodded, dropping the last of her pride, and then shrugged, “It was the least I could do.”

The imitation of him was spot on and he gave into a good-natured chuckle at his own expense. He’d extended that precise statement to her more than once, to assuage his guilt, to be the attentive and present CEO that he should’ve been, to be the man he believed himself to be. “Fair play, fair play.”

As their laughter faded, Jo addressed the elephant that sat between them, pink and plump and ripe for a tickle. She chose her words carefully, mincing them so as not to wound or offend. “I don’t want your obligation.”

Then she waited, stealing another glance at the ring on his left hand, curled around a pint.

Don’t entertain it, Jo. Not for a breath, not for an afternoon, not for a thought or some scorching hot sexual fantasy. Your mother had a sense of humor, naming you after Dolly Parton’s other woman, but don’t be that woman, Jo.

You’re not that woman.

Clearing her throat, she covered her pause and stray thought. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I do actually want your obligation.”

This was met with a furrow of his brow and his fingers brushed the sexier than sin stubble at his chin.

“My professional self would feel satisfied… I’d get off—I’d celebrate it!”

Pull it together… Jesus, Jo!

“As CEO of the company that built my building,” she carefully spoke without a trace of arrogance, “I absolutely want your obligation. But me? Jo, me?” To illustrate her point, she splayed her hand over her heart, inadvertently accentuating her breasts. “She… she doesn’t want your obligation.”

Ansgar lowered his pint from his lips, his movement slow and controlled. He seemed to consider her words as if each one were a bead of condensation that hung on the glass. “I think you’ve misunderstood me…” That was the moment he struggled with a way to address her.

“I understand it. Your company and your name are in jeopardy, but I’m not looking for that kind of publicity. I won’t say anything to the press. As long as the work in the theatre is fixed by opening,” she waved her finger between them, “we’re sorted. Hell, make it a restoration special, to the press if you want… your good deed for the community, for Stockholm. We’re square.”

Ansgar couldn’t help but smile at her take on his invitation. A diplomatic and thoughtful, perhaps even pragmatic solution to the complication that brought this woman trampling down the door to his office. If he read her correctly, he’s piqued her interest, if the lack of drink thrown in his face were a sign. She remained his lunch companion, another indication that he hadn’t piqued her anger. He couldn’t use work obligations to spend an evening with her.

Using a different tactic, he began, as his grin intensified, “Well, as long as we’re square—“

Before he could say anymore, she cut him off, “Hey! I got an obligatory lunch for my efforts.” She grinned over a piece of seasoned bread she shoved into her mouth. “That was the least you could do. My gala,” she shook her head, her speech muffled by bread, “would go above ‘the least.’”

[dragon-kazansky]

Cinderella - Steve Rogers x Reader

Summary: Steve comes across someone having a bad day, he cant seem to get you out of his mind. Shame he didn’t get your name.

Notes: Part 1 of my fairy tale series

Another failed interview. That seemed to be all the luck you had the past couple of weeks. Apparently wanting a better job and being a hard worker to acquire the better job just wasn't paying in your favour.

Your left the building feeling worse than ever and found yourself sitting on the steps outside, your head in your hands. All you could do was keep trying, but that didn't mean the rejections weren't getting to you at this point.

You gave a long sigh as you worked out your frustrations and prepared yourself to get on with the rest of your day. As you lowered your hands and prepared to get up off the step, a voice called out to you.

"Are you alright ma'am?" The voice was polite and sweet.

You turned to see a tall blond man, with very defined muscle you might add, looking at you. His eyes were shining with concern and you felt bad for making this stranger worry about you.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Thank you, though." You weren't quite sure why you were thanking him. For his concern? He only said a few words.

The very attractive man sat down on the steps beside you, his gaze never once leaving you.

"You looked worn out. Bad day?" He was asking polity and he didn't feel like a threat as he sat there talking to you. Yet, it felt so weird to have a stranger come up to you and ask about your well being.

"Something like that. Nothing I'm not used to." You put on the best smile you could, hoping to ease his concern for you.

He smiled back.

"I find doing something I like helps cheer up after a bad day. One bad day shouldn't be the cause of a lifetime of sadness."

"Right. Unless everyday is a bad day in which case nothing changes." You let out a huff of air as you reflected on your words.

"There's gold at the end of the rainbow. Keep your chin up and something good will happen." He still sounded so confident and friendly.

You gazed at him for a few moments and smiled.

His eyes seemed to brighten up and smiled back at you again, making you feel better already.

"Thank you." You said standing up and brushing off your trousers. "You've made my day better already."

"I'm glad I could help." He stood up also, both of you walking down till you reached the bottom step.

"It was nice meeting you, but I need to go do something fun now." You looked up at him. He was very tall.

"Wait, there's a party tonight at the Avengers base, if you like you're more than welcome to come." He spoke quickly, as if he didn't want you to leave so soon. Too focused on the mention of the Avengers, you didn't really pay much mind to his hurried words.

"The Avengers? For real?"

"Yeah. Thor's back in town and they're holding a get together to celebrate. It's pretty much an open party."

"That sounds reckless, but fun." You smiled. "I'll think about it."

"If like it of you came." He looked sheepish.

"We've only just met."

"I know, but you seem like a nice person and you've caught my interest." He chuckled.

"I'll think about it... uh..."

"Steve. Steve Rogers."

"Steve... Rogers... you're... Captain America?" You gasped.

"Yeah. Surprised you didn't notice." He chuckled again.

"I only know you in the fancy suit." You laughed. "You're much better looking without it."

"What about you? Don't I get to know your name?"

You were about to answer, but it seems the receptionist from inside had enough of you two hanging around on the steps and had come out to move you.

You smiled at Steve.

"Maybe another time." You gave him a mock salute and began to head down the street.

"I'll be expecting to see you tonight." He called after you. All he got in reply was your laugh as you merged into the crowd.

Steve chuckled to himself and wondered what he was doing. He saw you sitting on the steps and just had to make sure you were alright. When you looked up to acknowledge him, his breath was taken away. You were stunning, even if you were frustrated.

Shaking his head he headed back to the base. He'd be expecting you to come, but there was doubt on if you would actually show or not. He supposed he'd just have to wait.

When he returned to the base he was met with Tony who looked at him over his glasses, silently asking where he had been off to.

"Just out." He replied. Tony was convinced that was it, but he didn't push it.

"Well, we need you to go get ready, we open in an hour. Come on, hurry up." He gave Steve a pat on the back and carried on down the corridor.

Steve made his way to his room where Bucky was waiting for him.

"Where have you been? Thought I'd have to come find you." Bucky was already dressed up for the party.

"I was out."

"That it? You were gone ages."

"I met... someone." Steve was being vague on purpose, trying to get past his best friend and get ready.

"Someone? A girl?" Bucky was smirking at the idea that Steve had met someone.

"Yeah. I was on my way back when I saw her. She was sitting outside one of the office buildings upset. I just couldn't walk on knowing someone was having a bad day."

"Steve, people have bad days all the time. What made this one any different?" Bucky was very interested in this now.

"She looked defeated and..." He shook his head and tried to move away from the subject.

"And what?"

"She was beautiful." Steve looked Bucky in the eye as he admitted his honest thoughts about you.

"Crushing on a stranger." He best friend was highly amused by the idea, but he was happy Steve was getting out there and meeting people. "Is she coming tonight? Maybe you'll see her again."

"I invited her, but she didn't out right say she would attend." Steve smiled. "She didn't she wasn't coming either, so I don't know."

"What's her name?"

"I never got the chance to find out. We were interrupted before I got an answer." He sounded quite disappointed.

"Keep an eye out. She might come. If she does, consider it fate." The smile on Bucky's face was genuine and kind. He was being a good buddy.

"Thanks, Buck."

Bucky left to Steve to get ready and joined the others in the main hall. A few people had begun to arrive and the party was just about starting.

Steve joined his friends after about 15 minutes of getting ready. 5 of those minutes was him staring into a mirror and thinking about the young woman he met earlier that day.

When he arrived at the party he joined Sam and Bucky at the bar, the latter waiting with a drink for him, and tried not to get his hopes up for the evening. Bucky gave him a firm pat on the back when he saw his buddy's expression.

An hour in and he had made the rounds of talking to his team mates, meeting a few fans who had come and spent some time talking with Tony and Pepper.

He had yet to see you.

"Is she here?" Bucky came over to ask.

"No. I haven't seen her. I suppose it makes sense she wouldn't accept an invitation to a party from a stranger." He sipped his drink.

"Did she know who you are?"

"Yes, after I told her my name."

"Did she seem into you?" Bucky arched a brow in Steve's direction.

"I don't know. I made her smile." He shrugged.

"Don't give up yet. It's still early."

Another 30 minutes passed and Steve had already danced with Wanda and gone off to crack jokes with Sam. In which case he stood there and listened to Sam talk.

Just as he his eyes happened to gaze over the door, his whole world seemed to slow down.

You were here.

You were standing In the entrance way wearing a pretty dress and liking rather awkward as you looked around the room.

Noticing Steve was no longer paying attention to him, Sam followed his gaze and saw you. He called over Bucky.

"I bet you $50 that's her." He elbowed Bucky in the side as he nodded at you.

Bucky glared at Sam, "dude, I'm not getting over my best friends potential girlfriend. Thigh I do get that's her."

Steve was paying them any attention. He was already walking towards you.

Your eyes met his and you smiled softly at him

"Sorry I'm late. I had to find something Avenger worthy to wear." You tucked some hair behind your ear.

"You look beautiful."

You bit your lip and cast your gaze elsewhere as he looked at you.

"Shall we dance?" He offered you a hand.

Smiling and nodding, you took his offer and let him take you over to where others were dancing.

Bucky turned his gaze to the DJ and gave him a subtle nod.

None of the guests questioned it as the song phased out and much slower one came on.

Your eyes never left his bright blue ones as you began to move to the music.

He couldn't look away either.

Bucky and Sam stood off to the side watching proudly. Now they knew for certain you were the girl he was talking about.

Tony came over to them and gestured to you.

"Who's that?" He asked.

"Steve's date." Sam grinned.

"I didn't know he had a date."

"He didn't know he had a date until he met her this morning." Bucky chuckled.

"He met her this morning?" Tony turned his gaze over to them.

"Yep." Bucky confirmed.

The pair of you were so wrapped up in each other's gazes that you paid no one else any mind. You focused on the rhythm of which you were moving to.

"You're a really good dancer." You said softly.

"I've had time to practise." He smiled.

"It paid off."

You spun around slowly.

"I'm glad you came." He told you honestly.

"I don't know why. We met literally hours ago." You gave him a smile. "Though I'm glad I came too. You're cute."

"Cute?"

"Yeah. My day got better all because you decided to talk to me. Cute guys talking to me make everything better. The fact you're Captain America is a bonus."

Steve chuckled at your words.

The song came to and end and you both stopped tour dancing to look at each other for a moment longer.

"Why don't we go outside. I'd like to talk to you." Steve offered.

You nodded, ignoring the grins on his friends faces.

He guided you outside, giving his friends a pointed look over his shoulder as he went. He knew they had been watching.

Once outside you tool a deep inhale and starched out your arms. Though you felt bad for leaving the party despite having just arrived a moment ago, it felt nice to be out in the cool air.

"You haven't told me your name yet." Steve pointed out as you both fell into a nice little stroll.

You had a playful smirk on your face as you glanced at him. "Where's the fun in telling you right away?"

"What do I have to do to know your name?" He was playing along.

"Spend some time with me. I don't think many people get to hang out with Captain America."

"Not really, you're quite lucky." He chuckled. "What had you so upset this morning? If you don't mind me asking..."

"Oh... I had an interview. I failed it. I've lost count of how many potential jobs I've failed. I'm not really a lucky person, but today is the first time something good came out of my misery."

Steve smiled warmly at your compliment. He felt happy that he was able to make your day better.

"Keep your chin up. One day you're going to succeed, some things just take several goes."

You liked that he was being optimistic.

"It could be a sign, maybe today has been nothing but a sign." You looked ahead of you lost in your thoughts.

"Sign of what?"

"I fail all those job interviews and then one day I meet an Avenger who I get to hang out with. Maybe it's a sign that things will change. Maybe now I'll have more luck in the future."

"I hope that's the case."

The pair of you stopped walking and looked at one another.

"Does this make us friends?" Your head tilted to one side.

"I think so."

"Good."

You looked around the lawn and bit your lip a little anxiously. It was clear to you that Steve wanted to get to know you, but you decided to play with fate a little.

"I think I've had enough partying. It was cool seeing the Avengers and all, but I think I'll head off now. I'm not huge on partying." You began to walk backwards slowly, looking at Steve.

"So soon? We danced once and came out for a walk. You've been here less than an hour." He chuckled softly.

"Maybe next time I'll stay longer." You teased.

"Next time?" There was so much hope laced in those words.

"Maybe~"

You stopped for a moment and headed back inside to get your bag.

Steve followed you back inside and watched you collect your things from Pepper, who had come over to see you. He assumed Tony might have mentioned you to her.

"Will I see you again or were you just teasing?"

You took your things from Pepper and looked at him. "That depends."

"On?"

"Do you have a pen and something to write on?"

Tony, as if had been waiting for this, came up beside you and held out a pen. Be slow a napkin across the counter from behind you and winked.

You giggled as you wrote on the napkin.

"If you want to see me again then I'll be here, on this day, at this time." You held out the napkin which had an address on it. "If you don't come then it's fate we were only meant to meet today. If you're there, then I know I was right." You smiled up at him.

"I'll be there." He took the napkin.

"I guess we'll see."

You turned around made for the exit.

"Wait, what's your name?" Steve called out.

You threw a smirk over your shoulder.

"I'm relying on you." You turned back around and walked out.

Steve stood there looking down at your neat handwriting, surrounded by his friends who had come to see what happened.

"Did you get her name?" Bucky asked curiously.

"No, but I will." He held up the napkin.

"Let's hope the world doesn't decide to screw this up for you by being in danger, Cap." Sam grinned.

Bucky gave Steve a pat on the shoulder.

"I think you found your own Cinderella." He smiled. "Go get her Prince Charming."

Steve rolled his eyes and laughed with his friend.

If tonight proved anything, it was that steve was even more taken with you.

He'd see you again no matter what it took.

[ownworldresident]

Side by Side. Chapter 13: Honesty

King Liam x Rayne (MC): With new additions to their family, Rayne and  Liam re-evaluate their relationship dynamic.

Disclaimer: Most  characters are the property of Pixelberry studios. I am just borrowing them and will return them when I am done.

MASTERLIST

Side by Side Masterlist

Coming to you after a long hiatus from this series. I felt super angsty over the weekend so finally got back into it. Enjoy!

Rayne was in the gardens. Her feet took her on familiar paved routes past hedgerows and roses as her mind fought itself and she sat contemplatively in the background.

Do it now. Do it now. The voice that had sat within her for so long was getting louder, stoked by her friends. Until now she thought it had been quieted. After that dinner with Liam she had assumed that the voice was sated. Do it now. Evidently she was wrong and, really, she had already known that. Do it now.

It doesn’t matter. That was the other voice. It doesn’t matter, and too much is at risk. That voice had always been dominant, but in the background, whilst she went about her days. Too much is at risk. If she spoke to him, completely honestly, it could change a lot, and she liked where she was. Liked where they were, where they could spend time with each other and with the twins uninhibited. It doesn’t matter. Keep it safe, don’t do anything, stay safe. Too much is at risk.

There were three days until the trial, and Rayne had foolishly assumed that the time between her attacking Madeleine and watching the woman tried and sentenced would be relatively calm. Of course her friends would descend. They cared too much not to, but they were wrong. Clair and Drake, and Olivia and Leo, were wrong, because what Rayne and Liam had right now was better than it ever had been, and she could not threaten that.

Abruptly Rayne reached the gazebo and stood staring at it. She loved this gazebo, it had a few claims on her. The grapefruit coloured climbing roses starting to wrap around the closest two posts had been Liam’s birthday present to her a few months ago. He had surprised her with them, she had mentioned how much she loved the varietal back on the engagement tour, almost a year beforehand, and Liam had remembered. Now she leant before the two first blooms on one bush and inhaled the sweet scent, standing a few moments later with a smile and a sigh. She could never deserve him, never deserve such kindness after how she had treated him. Harbouring resentment from how she had been treated was not a pass to keep hurting him and she was so glad that the woman oppressing them was gone. The bloom had only come out a couple of days ago, she and Leo and Evie and Liam had found them and taken a couple back to their suite. A constant reminder of how thoughtful and generous this man of hers was, even when she sidelined his love.

When she turned back to the palace it was with a determined eye.

Do it now.

Too much is at risk.

 ---

The courtroom was full. Rarely did every member of the council come to a trial, or even every meeting, but this case was exceptional, and worthy of making the effort, and finding the extra chairs.

They filled both sides and the back of the room. At the front, taking centre stage, was Liam. Several feet to his left were Rayne, Leo and Regina. Several feet to his right were Drake, Clair, Olivia, and Maxwell. Liam turned to his friends, who nodded and smiled encouragingly, with Clair narrowing her eyes and glancing at Rayne. Intending to have done so anyway, Liam followed her gaze, and settled his on Rayne’s brown eyes, shining, smiling. He felt his confidence bolstered by the intensity of her gaze, of her belief in him. Smiling back, he nodded briefly to Regina and Leo as well, then turned to the court.

“Attention please,” the room’s relaxed conversational din quieted, not even a whisper, and the change and attention he commanded still sent a chill through him. After all this time, especially now, he was reminded starkly of his position by moments like this, where he sometimes forgot its weight when he was with his family. He smiled, “thank you.” In order to keep this formal, he had not placed Rayne as close as he would like, not yet. The focus needed to be on the trial, and not on their relationship. He nodded to the guards at the back of the room.

“Bring her in.”

 ---

Liam was in his office. It wasn’t where he would rather be, but things piled up during absence. He sighed, leaning forward on his elbow, fingers threading through his hair as he wrote. Terrible for long term focus to sit this way but the work seemed so dull and menial and repetitive when there was such a priority elsewhere for him. Logistics for the trial, applications for event permits, requests for an audience, even press conferences... The more time he spent with his young family, the less significant these tasks seemed. Less important, when his family was there now, and needed him more.

A message came through on his mobile and he stared at it for a moment. Confusion and surprise were gradually supplanted by relief and a smile and he stood and moved around his desk. There was no longer a meeting today and he was glad of it, because he had a more important job to do. Turning back, he placed his pen down and organised the papers he had been writing. There were still a few tabs open on his laptop, he remembered as he closed it, from when he had been searching for a short trip away with Rayne so long ago. Back before these most recent events had happened and the complicated life he had had had been known.

Now there was something else to do, that he should have done a long time ago, but which still set his heart pounding. It was easy enough objectively but would be nowhere near easy in practise. Confident in spite of this, Liam walked out through the quiet halls and towards the back entrance to the palace. He didn’t need to ask his friend if the same two people who had come to him had gone to Rayne. Drake was their closest mutual friend and her friend, Clair, was unlikely to hold back from speaking to her, either.

There was a smile still on Liam’s face as he reached the hall leading onto the gardens. Clair had insisted on looking after the twins herself, eager for time alone with her godchildren, and Rayne had taken the opportunity to go walking while the weather was still fine. Standing at the entrance he folded his arms and breathed the fresh air, leaning on the huge doorway and watching Rayne at the gazebo. He could only just see it from here, watching her kneeling before the rose he’d had planted for her, and she kneeled there for at least a minute before standing and turning back to the palace. She wouldn’t see him from here, and didn’t usually use the main back entrance, so Liam snaked around the corner to meet her as she headed towards the entrance to the royal wing. It was a relatively unassuming entrance, preferable to her ever since she had taken up residence there.

“Good morning.” Liam said softly, crinkling his eyes as he smiled at her and receiving the same in return as she turned from her path to face him.

“Good morning my love.” Rayne altered her route and came towards him. There was that same bare sincerity in her gaze that he felt, and he met her with outstretched arms, holding her against his chest as she hugged him tightly. They stayed that way for a long time, and he could feel and hear her breathing as she would him. When he let her go, he kissed her forehead, and squeezed her hands.

“We should talk.” She nodded even as he spoke and leant up to kiss him.

“Yes.” Liam smiled wider even as he felt his chest tighten and saw her lip quiver. Before either could comment he led her back towards the palace entrance by her hand.

 ---

With a bored, unimpressed smile, Madeleine came into the crowded room and glanced around at the attendees with distaste. There were members of the press in the crowd, and her smile did not change as their flashbulbs went off. They photographed Liam as well, and Rayne, and even Drake and Clair for some reason. Drake kept his focus on Liam, who looked down at the disgraced former queen.

“Countess Madeleine of Fydelia.” the woman recoiled at the use of her former title. A reminder that she wasn’t a queen anymore. Drake smirked, then frowned as he felt thin fingers thread through his own. Turning his head he saw that Olivia looked, not at him, but at Madeleine with that characteristic contempt for those she did not consider worthy. It was chilling. Drake squeezed her hand and smiled, then turned back to the trial. Liam continued, “you stand accused of fraud, treason, and high treason. You have threatened the livelihoods of Lady Rayne, Crown Prince Leo, and Princess Evelyn, and you have endangered my life as well. You understand the severity of this, of course.”

“Of course.” Madeleine said, and from the outside it would seem to be understanding and cooperation but Drake, like Liam, Olivia, Leo, and Maxwell, had known her long enough. Madeleine was seething, “If I had committed these crimes, that would be very severe, particularly as Queen,” she looked around at the court and council and press assembled, “you are fortunate, then, that I was not responsible.”

---

Rayne allowed Liam to lead her through the palace to one of the parlours on the ground floor that overlooked the maze. Her heart beat fast and her breathing was quick and not just from the speed of their walk. Liam paused a few feet into the room and let go of her hand before standing tall and turning to her. She closed the door and stepped up to him and smiled nervously. No more barriers. Do it now, too much is at risk.

“I ne-”

“-Ray-” she paused as did Liam after he spoke over her. It broke the tension a little, and she smiled and moved further into the room towards the large window. It was starting to rain now, she was glad she had come in when she did. Turning back she smirked as he chuckled and shook his head, then came over quickly, “Rayne...” arms tight around her waist Liam lifted and spun her, and with her laugh left every bit of nervous energy.

“I love you so much,” Rayne leant up when he set her down to kiss him, then took a deep breath, “we should talk, though.”

“Yes, we should. Come.” He walked her over to the couch and sat beside her. After a moment of fiddling with her hand against the space between them, Liam sighed, “I guess this has been a long time coming.”

“But now is the right time,” Rayne wasn’t sure exactly what Liam was going to tell her, or ask her, but regardless she needed to hear it, “I’ll go first, is that okay?” she said it before she could decide otherwise and watched him nod.

“Of course,” Liam’s voice was gentle, “take your time.”

“Thanks,” she took a deep breath, “I’m scared.” Liam looked surprised for a moment, then blinked and nodded for her to continue, “I know that you’ve been bringing your work home to let me help because you want to show me what I can do. I know that.” It hadn’t been difficult to discern that it wasn’t for her safety like he had made it appear, but for the chance to have her contribute to the running of the kingdom. He wanted her to run it with him still, she was sure, “I don’t mind love, I want to help, but truly I already knew that I was capable of that, of – of governance...” Rayne looked away, that was stating it overtly, and she didn’t want him to take it as her admission to being ready for anything like what she had already been doing for weeks...

“I’m glad,” Liam’s voice was light, and she turned back to him frowning, “you are incredibly intelligent Rayne, enough to know what you are capable of.” He lifted a hand to caress her cheek, then stood and stepped away, “I know you aren’t finished but let me interrupt for a moment,” Liam reached the window with his hands before his back and turned for confirmation. Though her hands shook Rayne nodded from the couch, “thank you. We are completely honest here love. I am not going to withhold anything and so I am sorry if this hurts to hear.”

 ---

Liam narrowed his gaze and watched Madeleine closely. Every eye was on him, some friendly, some less so, most scrutinising. They had brought her here for this charge and though it was not unheard of to oppose the charge despite their truth, it was surprising that she would do so when she could – would – be so openly disproven.

“Is this your plea, then?” he said carefully, still projecting his voice. Out the corner of his eye Liam saw Rayne looking to him encouragingly and it bolstered his confidence. Of course Madeleine would try to undermine him here, it was her nature to do so.

“This is the truth, Liam. Perhaps if you dedicated more time to your wife and less time to your mistress you would know when I spoke the truth.” The corner of Madeleine’s mouth curved into a cold smile and Liam breathed deep as he considered an answer. The ride he had been on in the last few days emotionally had been draining and the defences he usually had and should have for people like this woman. Resisting the urge to look to Rayne, Liam took a moment to clear his throat and reorder the notes before him where he sat.

“I will consider it your plea, then.” Liam ran over his options and decided to proceed, rather than enable her further, “we have a few testimonies to hear. Madeleine if you could take a seat, Councillor Glaugh could you please come to the front.” There were several councillors who had been present the day Madeleine had attempted to force through the custody form who were willing to make a statement. He would hear three of them, and then they would start questioning.

 ---

Carefully he watched Rayne for her reaction. She was sitting very still, but her face had paled, and her hands were shaking. This was why they kept their secrets. To avoid this, but avoiding it wasn’t healthy.

“Go ahead.” She whispered, not looking at him but at a vase on the table beside him. Liam sighed.

“I want to marry you.” He said, then waited. And waited. And waited and it seemed as if the room had stood still before finally, mercifully, Rayne nodded. Liam stood tall and nodded to himself, “Rayne all I ever wanted was you. However I could. Having you with me in this life is truly a gift and I am thankful for it with every breath I take,” he moved over to her again and met her gaze. Rayne’s lip quivered and she bit on it, but there were still tears in her eyes. Every time he thought of her as his wife his heart beat fast is if in its own anticipation, but she was in front of him this time and heard him and he could only hope that she couldn’t hear it, “I am telling you this so that you know it, not because I want to sway you.”

“I know.” Rayne lifted her hand and ran it across his cheek, and he had to smile at the contact, “thank you for telling me, and I...” she stood now and hugged herself and looked away from him, “I’m scared because I know what I can do and how much I want to help and I know that you want more...” she looked down at the rug and Liam resisted the urge to object, or to wipe the tears off her cheeks. After a moment in which he held his breath, Rayne turned back, “I don’t think I can do both. That is what I am afraid of. But I know that I can, but I don’t think...” she shook her head and frowned, frustrated, “it’s the same goddamn roundabout I’ve been in for weeks. Months even. I know that I can help, but I don’t think I can do it all, but I know that I can, but I already told you I couldn’t... and then I ignored that because I knew you weren’t going to ask me, and I could pretend it was okay and I did. I pretended everything was okay just like you did with Madeleine even though it wasn’t.”

It was as if a dam had broken and Rayne couldn’t stop. Liam watched her patiently, listening and trying to absorb what she said as still she hugged herself and looked frustrated. Rayne knew she was capable of being queen, but she decided despite that that she couldn’t. And everything he had said to assure her that it was okay had only contributed to crippling her, to supporting her belief that she wasn’t good enough.

“I left it, and you didn’t ask, and it was comfortable, I was safe. But they,” she laughed, “our friends didn’t believe that, did they?” she looked at him again and he smiled as he saw her arms relaxing.

“They have a habit of being right. I suppose we should be grateful to them.” He sighed, wondering how the hell they could make it up to Drake and Leo and the others for being so relentlessly stubborn.

 ---

At Olivia’s request, they had included a live polygraph at this stage in the trial. Madeleine was back at the centre of the room, and there was a technician on the other side of the table she sat at, fixing everything in place. After a few moments the man turned and nodded to Liam.

“Countess Madeleine.” Liam stood tall and looked hard at the ex-queen, who met the gaze unflinching, “you know how this works.”

“You are not the only one who has met a Nevrakis, Liam.” She scowled, and Rayne watched her glare at Olivia, who promptly flipped her off. Liam continued.

“Let’s begin then. Did you attempt to pass a custody form through the council on October the 26th?” the crowd watched Madeleine, but Rayne kept her gaze on Liam. The day they had finally released everything to each other had left them a little tense. Their relationship had never been stronger, but the shift in what they knew had taken some time to adjust to. They hadn’t shared a bed that night. They had taken time to themselves.

“Yes.” Madeleine said, and they watched the polygraph start recording.

“Did you intend to remove Rayne’s right to see them?”

“Yes.” Rayne met her gaze and felt her clenched fists shaking, turning when Leo put a hand on her arm.

‘Are you okay?’ he mouthed, concerned. Rayne nodded, and Leo squeezed her arm before releasing. No, she wasn’t okay, she wanted to hit that woman again. A lot harder this time.

“Did you force me to sign that form?” the room collectively held their breath and Madeleine smirked at Liam.

“No.” they waited as the machine whirled, then the technician turned to Liam and nodded.

“What...” she heard Leo say, suddenly feeling faint.

“Who was responsible?” the polygraph would only confirm answers to yes or no questions, but it didn’t mean Liam had to stick to those.

“Why, the young royal’s grandmother, of course.” Madeleine glanced up at Rayne as the focus was suddenly on Regina. A sinking feeling came over her as her stomach knotted itself.

“I did no such thing.” Regina said firmly, and up close Rayne and Leo saw how taken aback she was, “think again, Countess.”

“Oh that won’t be necessary Queen Mother,” Madeleine said, “I refer to their blood grandmother.” She looked back to Liam, who’s expression was stoic. Rayne’s breathing was shaky and a moment later she heard Leo swear and he squeezed her hand.

“Was Genevieve O’Mara involved in my poisoning?” he said steadily. The room was eerily silent again as they waited with bated breath for the answer. In her heart, Rayne already knew it.

“Yes.” The machine whirled, time slowed down and sound drowned out as the technician turned to Liam.

He nodded.

Every eye in the room fell on Rayne. No. Regardless of how little she thought of Genevieve, her mother wouldn’t descend to this.

She met Liam’s gaze and he seemed miles away. All she could hear was her own breathing and heartbeat and all she could see was his face. Please. No.

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[leggigoesabroad]

free rent living in my mind

Lyrical title, and all future lyrical blog titles from now until forever, will be from Taylor Swift’s LOVER which was released August 23rd and has already drastically improved my already great life.  It’s 18 songs of perfection and we aren’t worthy.  Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair have called it a career-capping masterpiece.  God this bitch just continues to show us that she’s the only person who ever matters and good lord I’d kill a man for her if she asked me to.

In the meantime, weeeeeeeeeee’re back!  Well, I am back, because I’m in Alaska and honestly that’s practically abroad.  It’s so far from everything except Canada and Russia and other parts of Alaska and life here is wild and so different and thus, Leggi has gone abroad again.  Currently sitting on my bed in my plush robe in my Veranda Suite, looking out into the seafoam green water of Endicott Arm and its little bits of glacier floating by.  Which I learned today were called “bergy bits,” isn’t that the most made up “technical term” you’ve ever heard?!  Someone was definitely sipping wine on a boat a while ago and saw some ice float by and said “lol look at those little iceberg pieces… those little…. ‘bergy bits!!!!!!!”

This journey begins a full week ago but I’ve literally been either gone all day, not had internet, or been too sleepy to even fathom blogging.  And yet I have so much to say and so much that I want to remember that I just MUST document it all, especially considering I’ll be back in June 2021 on a member trip with my company and two years is a long time to remember minutia.  I’m here on a site visit on the Seabourn Sojourn to experience the cruise firsthand, try out all of the shore excursions and visit tons of different vendors and partners, and make note of all details so I can answer all questions when we ultimately plan, sell, and execute this trip.  Or as I like to say, “someone’s gotta make sure it’s good enough, right?!”  One takeaway from this site visit is that it’s equal parts incredible and I’m pinching myself, and also at times I want to die and I’ve been close to full fledged panic attacks.  Don’t worry, we’ll get into all of it!! Probably in several different entries to keep attention span up.

We started by flying to Vancouver early Monday morning, August 19th.  After dropping bags at the hotel we immediately set off to do detailed site inspections of three hotels in the area (when we come back for the member trip we need a block of ~250 rooms so it’s no small feat) and then visited three different possible event venues for a welcome event the night our members arrive.  The first was called Grouse Mountain Resorts which is about a 20-minute drive to a gondola that takes you up to Grouse Mountain, a beautiful resort area overlooking all of Vancouver.  The area has so much to do once you’re up there – a ropes course, lumberjack show, bear sanctuary, massive chalet with dining options, etc.  We look for things that I never would have thought of or noticed before, especially when paying attention to the demographic of our members and also the realistic logistics of moving a group of about 450 people around.  Things like, “will members really want to come up the gondola after a long travel day and eat at the chalet, only to have to walk down a quarter mile path to do the lumberjack show? Which place will include tables and chairs so we don’t have to rent? What will keep their attention while also feeling special and unique to the area? How long is the walk from the bus to the gondola for people with mobility issues? What if someone wants to go back to the hotel early, how long will they have to wait? Will there be enough for kids to do?” On and on.  It’s pretty interesting, especially because I’m traveling with three people who have done tons of member trips and know exactly what works and what doesn’t.  Since I’ll be referencing them a lot, the three coworkers are Brooke (mostly in charge of the entire Once in a Lifetime Journeys team, travels over a third of the year doing site visits and member trips, not overly pleasant but I’m starting to wear her down), Ryan (other Journeys team member who will be Brooke’s co-manager on this cruise, we get along super well and he’s the one who encouraged me to apply for this Alaska trip, also fucking hilarious), and Nick (member services account manager like me who recently got promoted to be 50/50 for member services/journeys team and is my co-trip lead and also really great to be around.)  Brooke and Nick have done a bunch of member cruises before but it’s a first for me and Ryan so it’s been a good balance.  There’s also Yolanda, our Seabourn shore excursions expert/partner, who Nick and Brooke know well from previous cruises.  She’s originally from South Africa but lives in Holland and is honestly a goddamn nut.  Sometimes we love her deeply and sometimes we’re like YOLANDA WE CANNOT WITH YOU RIGHT NOW OH MY GODDDDDDDDDD.  More on that later as well. 

We spent Monday night in Vancouver doing the site inspections and then had a lovely, long dinner on the water with our Seabourn partners.  Wine like, FLOWED.  On Tuesday morning we went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge to do a site inspection for that as a possibility as a daytime activity for members before boarding the ship. I remembered being there a loooong time ago on our Vancouver trip as a kid (I want to say… 1999?  Mom, keep me honest) and I thought “wow, the bridge looked so much bigger when I was a kid!  This is nothing now!” Famous last words.  Got about halfway across and started panicking and couldn’t look down and told myself to just put one foot in front of another until I made it across.  That was all well and good, until you get across and realize the only way back IS ALSO THE BRIDGE.  As Hilary said upon reflecting on it when I told the family this, “I remember thinking, ‘there’s no way that’s the only possible way back.”  Sure is, sure is.  Ultimately after visiting the Capilano area, Grouse Mountain, the Vancouver Aquarium, and Science World (my personal favorite but got hardcore nixed…) we think we’re going to try to rent out Capilano for the evening and include food and drink and guided tours all around the park as our welcome event, and then just give members the morning at leisure.  We’ll see, all of that work comes AFTER the site visit, and I can’t think about After the Site Visit right now because I’ll cry because this ship is now my home and I refuse to leave.

On Tuesday morning, we went on the ship early while they were still turning it over from the departing guests and getting ready for all of us to board later.  We did a full tour and got to see all the different categories of suites available, because it’ll be important for us to know all the details when advertising and selling the trip.  Let me just tell you, this ship is fuggin dope.  To me, it’s a perfect size – about 225 cabins (not including crew) so it’s big enough that it doesn’t feel like a small little boutique liner, but small enough that you don’t get any of the creepy mass Carnival cruise line heebie jeebies and feel trapped on a skyscraper at sea.  It’s been a week and I already feel like I know everyone.  I keep joking that I’m the mayor of the ship and honestly it’s not ALL in my head, I’m very popular around here.  You’ll notice that theme running throughout these blogs, so consider yourselves warned.  It also helps that we are among the youngest people on the ship, as you could have guessed – I’d say about 60% of the population is in their 60s or above, and the remainder are spready through 50s/40s/30s.  There’s literally ONE child aboard, a little 3-year old boy that we are all obsessed with.  He wears bowties and suits to the formal dinners and little nautical themed clothing all other times, and carries his slinkie around everywhere wanting to play.  Nick said at lunch today “he’s 100% my favorite person on the ship.”

We finally officially boarded the ship around 4 pm on Tuesday and it was honestly so exciting.  I felt like a celebrity, especially because the entire staff knows that we are here for a site visit and I think has probably been told to pay us special attention.  The captain, his officers, the maitre’d, the sommelier, the hotel manager, the hospitality director, the executive chef, the Alaskan Ventures director, the cruise director (Jan who we despise, more on her later), all have specially introduced themselves to us and have greeted us by name since the first day.  I know the crew and staff all have manifests before we board with our names and pictures, but I’m honestly still floored at how impressive their memories are.  On the first night, I ordered a double vodka soda with extra lime and a splash of cranberry juice from the head bartender.  Three nights later, I hadn’t seen him since, I walked in and he made that exact same drink for me and just put it in front of me.  What the fuck?!?! The captain’s staff captain passes by me daily and says “Ms. Rice, hope you had a lovely evening!” I was like “sorry who are you?!”  I always fancied myself good at names and faces and now I’ve learned that perhaps a decade of marijuana usage has turned me into a trash brained human who has no special skills anymore.  TBD.

We spent the next day at sea, which I’ll pick up in the next bloggy bit (inspiration drawn from bergy bits.)

[marshmallow-phd]

The Experiments

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, experiment au

Pairing: Fem!Reader x Exo (????)

Summary: You were a med school graduate who just wanted to help research cures for the world. Instead, what you got was a dream job at EXO Applied Sciences. That is, until you discover the secrets of Level Sixty-Six and the nine inhabitants that inhabit there….

Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 I 10 I 11 I 12 I 13 I 14 I 15 I 16 I 17 I 18 I 19 I 20 I 21 I 22 I 23 I Final

A/N: This is a story that had been bouncing around in my head for a while. I hope you all enjoy it! The pairing is unknown right now because I’m still trying to decide who (y/n) should end up with. BTWs the picture is not mine. Happy reading!! XOXO

**

EXO Applied Sciences and Operations was the dream job. You had to be at the top of your class to entertain the idea of the company as a possibility and even then, there’s no application process. You have to be offered the job personally, no exceptions. Those who wanted to spend their lives doing research and finding cures vied for the right to be accepted there. And that was exactly your goal.

Since high school, you knew you wanted to be a doctor. By the time you got into medical school and had to start boggling down on a specialty, you realized you didn’t want to be in an OR or the ER; you just didn’t have the steady hands for that. But you liked the experiments. You liked analyzing the data and coming to conclusions, finding the answers to problems those before you couldn’t solve.

All the hard work paid off. You graduated third of your class. Not exactly the top spot, but it was enough. The day of your graduation ceremony, after all the cheers, speeches, and annoying traditions that still somehow get carried on, a man in a black suit pulled you off to the side, handing you a large manila envelope. At home when you were alone, with shaking hands and a pounding heart, you opened the package. Sliding out the stack of papers, you read the first sentence and nearly fell off the couch.

It was the invitation you’d been waiting for. All the information you needed to accept the job was right at your fingertips and you didn’t hesitate. But those first six months were brutal.

Though it wasn’t officially “entry level”, it might as well been. On your first day they introduced you to the other new hires in your area and dropped you off in a large laboratory where the walls were lined with filing cabinets and a long table in the middle littered with desktops.

You were on paper pushing duty. As the results of the experiments that other people were conducting came in, it was up to you and the other bottom feeders to organize, sort, and label the findings and put them in the filing cabinet to be easily accessible later on. If someone came in needing those results, you were there to find the file and check it out in the system. There was only one room that was off limits to all of you in the laboratory. A special code encrypted on the company-issued badge was needed to gain access. The others around you were all dying to know what lied beyond the secret door, but you didn’t really care. You just wanted out of that damn filing position.

As the months rolled by, you watched the faces of the people around you change. Some were transferred to other departments while others just flat out quit. You held on, though, just needing to get through the grilling trial of being the newbie. You weren’t going to quit just because the road got a little bumpy. But it was a bit disheartening to watch others be freed while you were left behind.

It was another day of expected boring paperwork when your luck finally change. As soon as you clocked in, you were pulled out of the laboratory and into the office of Dr. Kwon Daesuk. You’d never met him, but you’d heard some of the other doctors whisper his name as they passed through the lab right to the secret door. Worry washed over you. Had you done something wrong? Had important files gone missing?

Dr. Kwon was sitting at his large desk looking over files as you entered. As one of the top researches for EXO, it was no surprise that he was up there in the age department. His hair was more silver than black and his face was littered with crevasses that wrinkled even more when he frowned. Though he wasn’t as big as some of the other doctor’s you’d seen, he did have a little extra weight on him that gave him the aura of a grandfather you could trust.

When he saw you standing in his doorway, he motioned for you to sit down in one of the simple, dark wooden chairs in front of him. The upholstery was a garish green and tan paisley pattern. At least you were sitting on it and not having to stare at it.

“Good morning, Dr. (L/n),” he greeted, closing the files. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve called you here today?”

You nodded cautiously, your entire work history running through your mind. As far as you remembered you hadn’t had anything disciplinary worthy happen.

“Well, we’ve been monitoring your work here so far and you seem to be very dedicated. As you certainly are aware, most people don’t make it to the sixth month mark. We wanted to be sure of your determination.”

“Working for EXO Applied Sciences has been my dream for a long time,” you answered honestly. “I wasn’t just going to give it up for some pharmaceutical company that I have no interest in because I wasn’t handed a lead position right of the bat. If that meant another six months of filing before being moved to a team, I’d do it.”

Dr. Kwon grinned. “That’s exactly what I like to hear. Dr. (L/n), you’re no longer stationed in the holdings lab. We’re moving you to level sixty-six.”

You nearly choked on the air in your throat. Level sixty-six was deep underground and the most secretive area in all of EXO. It was where the government sanctioned experiments and top-secret holdings that no one but the select few knew about were located. It was also access to the forbidden room.

“Your thesis on using animal DNA to heal injuries and cure diseases was fascinating and exactly the kind of ideas we need here.” He tossed over a badge to your side of the desk. Your picture that you’d taken on your first day here was smiling up at you and a tiny new symbol that you couldn’t quite make out from this distance was shining in the top right-hand corner. It looked like a hexagon, but you’d have to confirm it later with a closer look. “You’ll need this to gain access to the basement. Come with me. We’ll start the tour.”

You followed him out of the office and back to the laboratory that you would no longer call home. Your former coworkers watched you pass the tables, their eyes growing wider than petri dishes at the realization of where you were headed. Dr. Kwon stopped in front of the door that, until now that it, had never really given you excitement.

“Ladies first.”

With a little worry that your badge wouldn’t work, you held it up to the square black pad off to the side and watched with glee as the small red light switched to green. Dr. Kwon opened the door slowly and allowed you to enter first. Whatever your imagination had conjured up about this room, it was a complete let down that shouldn’t really have surprised you.

Bright florescent lighting stung your eyes as the beams bounced off of the white and chrome surfaces. Twelve individual filing cabinets lined the walls, four drawers high. Each cabinet had its own designated number, large and black on the top drawer. Three of them had a harsh red “X” passing through them.

You turned around to face Dr. Kwon, who was smiling at you expectantly. “What exactly is housed in here? I mean, what do we do on level sixty-six?” 

More importantly, what would you be doing there? And would you constantly be having to ride the elevator up here?

A little chuckle left his thin lips. “Well, my dear, level sixty-six is where we conduct the human trials. Thanks to grants given by our wonderful government, we’re working on the ultimate soldier.”

“Super soldiers?” you scoffed. That was seriously still a thing? “Like Captain America?”

“Not quite,” Dr. Kwon countered, walking over to the filing cabinet labeled “12” and pulled out a file. He handed it over to you. Inside was a standard info sheet, including the subject’s date of birth and their current height, and weight. All that was missing was their picture. “They’re Special Forces, but we’re concentrating on the healing factor, especially for severe injuries, along with unique abilities that could come in handy in covert operations.”

Now your interest was piqued. “What kind of abilities?”

“In time, in time.” Dr. Kwon took the file back and replaced it into the cabinet.

Your eyes settled in the large red “X”’s. “What happened to these three?”

Dr. Kwon frowned. “They were transferred to our Chinese division. They’re doing much better over there.”

There was no explanation for it, but for some reason the way he phrased the transfer set you on edge, like a ghost story around a campfire. But there was nothing unusual about a patient moving to another building for further testing. Maybe your nerves were just getting the best of you today.

“Come now, let’s introduce you to your new coworkers.” Leading the way to the elevator, Dr. Kwon explained to you how your full hours were to be taken in the basement, including lunch breaks, just for precaution’s sake. There was a fully stocked break room and bathroom facility, so the only reason to ever leave was to come to the holding room for any files that you may need.

Once again, your badge was needed to access the basement from the elevator and when the doors dinged open, they revealed a small round lobby that broke off into two hallways at eleven and one o’clock respectively.

“Your main lab is down this way,” Dr. Kwon said, leading you down the hall to the right.

You couldn’t hold in your curiosity. “What’s down the other hall?”

“Oh, that’s where we house the subjects,” he clarified. “For safety precautions.” Safety precautions. You seemed to be hearing that a lot. It shouldn’t be that strange since this was a laboratory, but the way Dr. Kwon was saying those words was sending strange signals off in your head. Maybe you were still just waiting for him to say “just kidding!” and make you go back to filing for another six months. 

That strange, ominous feeling just could be shaken from you as the hall, lined with heavy metal doors on either side, seemed more like a jail than a housing center, but you forced the thoughts away. You still didn’t know exactly how things operated down here and for all you knew on the other side of those doors could be five star hotel rooms.

Dr. Kwon stopped at the second door on the right. “This is our blood work lab and your new home.”

The lab was like any other you had worked in during med school. Everything was either white or chrome. Refrigerators with glass doors so you could see inside lined one side of the room, storing dozens of vials and dishes waiting for testing. Other display cases showcased glass slides, each shelf labeled with a corresponding number with the cabinets upstairs. At the long table in the middle of the room sat a woman around your age in purple scrubs looking into a microscope while an older woman in her mid-forties stood over her, writing on a clipboard.

The older woman noticed you first and bowed a greeting.

“Hello, there. You must be (y/n).” she stepped forward as the younger one looked up. “I’m Dr. Wang.” Your new boss appeared to be a kind woman, her smile wide and genuine. Her hair was pulled back into a precise and sharp bun without a hair out of place. “This is my assistant, Dr. Kher. I’ve been waiting for you to arrive here since you accepted our offer. I’m looking forward to what you can bring to our research team.” She held out her hand and you took it enthusiastically.

“Thank you,” you beamed. It was the greatest compliment you had ever received.

Dr. Kher stood up and walked up to join the group. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m happy I won’t be by myself anymore.” She was beautiful, with caramel skin and dark hair to compliment it. Her friendly grin just seemed to pull the whole package together. You hoped that her personality was just as pretty. So far, it seemed so.

“Well, I will leave her to you then,” Dr. Kwon bowed and left us alone.

Dr. Wang shook her head as she watched him leave. “I can’t believe he made me wait six months to get you down here. I wanted you from day one, especially after getting a hold of your thesis. Your analysis on blood work is right in line with what we’re doing down here. But no, you still had to go through the trial period.”

“I’m surprised they waited six months,” Dr. Kher chimed in. “I was only up there for three before they pulled me down here.”

“Oh, well,” Dr. Wang sighed. “We’ll just have to make up for lost time. Dr. (L/n), I’ve already taken the liberty in pulling the files for subjects’ Zero-One, Sixty-One, and Ten for you. I’ve pulled all their vials and set up your station; it’s just across from Dr. Kher. I’ll be in and out today, we’re running some further tests on subject Zero-Four. For now, I just want you to become familiar with those three subjects and get to know their blood like the back of your hand. Later on, I’ll introduce you to more subjects and what we’re aiming for. At the end of the day, just make sure everything is put back into its proper place, including taking the files back up to the filing room. If you have any questions, Dr. Kher should be familiar with everything by now.” She checked her watch at the end of her speech. “Oh, I’ve got to go. But I’m so glad to have you here.”

Practically running out of the room, Dr. Wang disappeared from view, her white lab coat flapping behind her.

“That’s about the same introduction I got when I transferred here,” Dr. Kher mused. She turned to you with that smile still on her face. “I read your thesis, too, although it seemed a bit comic book to me.”

You blushed with embarrassment. “Well, to be honest, that’s where the inspiration came from. However, all the research is legitimate, Dr. Kher.”

She threw her hands up. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend. Just an observation. I know your research was accurate. Oh, and you can call me Nada when it’s just the two of us.”

“No, it’s okay,” you reassured. “I’m just protective over my work. And you can call me (y/n).”

“Well, (y/n), I think we’re going to get along just fine.”

[television-overload]

Father of the Bride

Chapter 4

(Read on FFN here)

Chapter 4:

By some miracle, Gibbs and Vance had talked the FBI into a joint investigation, which explained why Eli David was currently sitting in NCIS’s conference room and sipping hot coffee.

The door to the room opened, and Fornell entered, followed by Gibbs and Vance.

“Where is my daughter?” Eli asked, noting her absence with slight disappointment.

“Hospital,” Gibbs grunted in response. “With DiNozzo.”

Eli nodded in understanding. After the uncharacteristic display of affection he had witnessed on the jet, it should have been obvious that she would be with him.

“Director, we need to know why Bodnar made an attempt on your life,” Fornell spoke, getting directly to the point.

“I do not know,” Eli replied honestly, “he was like a son to me. I cannot think of why he would want me dead.”

Gibbs set a file on the table in front of Eli, who opened it immediately. “McGee had to do some digging, but he found a plane ticket that you booked for next week,” Gibbs said, pointing with a rigid finger to the evidence on the page. Yes, he had used an alias, but that only made things more suspicious. “Why were you planning a trip to DC?”

Eli sighed. The three American agents waited impatiently for an answer, the seconds passing slowly before Eli finally spoke. “That is classified. My own officers had no knowledge of my plans,” he said, much to Gibbs’ annoyance. “It is sensitive information dealing with international relations,” he added, vehemently insisting that they leave the matter alone.

“We need to know,” Vance said, his face cold and calculating. “Right now, this is the only lead we have. What were you doing planning a secret trip to the United States?”

The piercing stares of Gibbs, Fornell, and Vance eventually got the best of Eli. “Fine. I will tell you, but you must not speak a word about it outside of this room.”

“Agreed,” Vance said shortly, glaring expectantly at the Israeli diplomat.

“I was planning to meet my Iranian counterpart, Arash Kazmi, here to discuss peace between our nations,” he announced.

Vance stood quickly and began to pace the room. “That sounds like a controversial topic, Director,” Fornell observed sarcastically, “You think someone might have wanted to stop it from happening?”

Eli did not appreciate the sarcasm in the slightest. “It is possible, yes. Bodnar was my Deputy Director. Perhaps he did not share my opinion of the Iranians.”

“Did Bodnar have any allies that may be working for him?” Gibbs interrupted. Eli could still be in danger. Just because one man had been taken care of did not mean that the threat was lifted.

Eli shrugged. “I do not know how deep this goes at Mossad, but Bodnar had a brother, Yaniv. He would be the most likely accomplice.”

Gibbs scribbled notes in his notepad as the Director spoke.

“I’ll make some calls to the Iranians, tell them to increase security on Kazmi,” Vance announced. “He could be the next target.”

Eli nodded as Gibbs helped him to his feet, escorting him out of the room.

“Where are we going?” Eli asked as Gibbs pressed the button to call the elevator.

“Hospital visit,” Gibbs answered, “you need to talk to your daughter.”

-.-.-

The car ride was silent. Neither man was known for being very talkative. Besides, tensions were high. Eli was Ziva’s father by birth, yes, but Gibbs was more like her father in every sense of the word, and this was something that both of them knew to be true.

“Do you know why DiNozzo was in Israel?” Eli asked eventually, trying to strike up some form of conversation to break the silence.

“Yes,” Gibbs answered bluntly, which irritated Eli to no end.

“This is usually the part where you tell me what you know,” he explained, maddened by Gibbs’ indirect answers.

“He came to me first,” Gibbs said gruffly, emphasizing the last word. He was the first to know of Tony’s plans with Ziva, NOT Eli.

“And what was your response?” Eli asked, intrigued to hear Ziva’s self-proclaimed second father’s take on the situation. He knew Gibbs had a rule against relationships between coworkers.

“I gave them my blessing,” Gibbs all but shouted in reply. “They deserve it after what they’ve been through, after what you put them through.”

The blame landed squarely on Eli’s shoulders, and they were silent again for the rest of the car ride. Gibbs’ not-so-subtle accusation had not gone unnoticed. Eli had been thinking a lot over the past year about his mistakes and his wrongdoings. In all honesty, he had hoped to put some of those to rest during his trip to DC. Peace between nations was his main focus, yes, but his daughter could not go forgotten. Not anymore.

As the two entered the hospital, they nearly collided with Ziva who was on her way out.

“Abba,” Ziva said, surprised to see him. “I was just on my way to Tony’s apartment. He has requested that I bring a small portion of his movie collection so he won’t get bored,” she spoke with a hint of laughter in her voice, which was a good sign. It meant Tony would be okay.

“Ah yes, I had almost forgotten about DiNozzo’s love for film,” Eli chuckled as he turned and placed an arm around Ziva. “I will accompany you,” he decided, glancing up at Gibbs who nodded in approval.

“Yeah,” Gibbs said shortly, “you go. I’ll stay with DiNozzo.”

If Ziva had wanted to disagree, she didn’t have a chance. Before she knew it, Eli was escorting her out of the building in an unnervingly fatherly fashion.

They drove in relative silence to Tony’s apartment. Every few minutes, Ziva would look over to see a peaceful, almost happy curl to Eli’s lips, the reason for which she wasn’t certain. He was acting strange, and she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it yet. The fact that he had offered to help her do Tony a favor was unfathomable, and yet here they were.

As they stood outside, Eli couldn’t help but notice that the key to the apartment was on Ziva’s own personal key chain. He raised his eyebrows at that, but didn’t say a word. The first step into the apartment confirmed what he thought he might see, and he couldn’t help but let a small smile cross his face. Yes, the place was small and obviously had been a bachelor pad for a while, but his trained eye could spot the objects strewn about the room that were clearly the belongings of a woman.

Ziva made her way to the shelf full of movies and pulled out the list Tony had given her, which told her which ones to bring. She busied herself with placing each one in her bag as Eli helped himself to a tour of the apartment. With his hands in his pockets and a curious expression on his face, he stepped closer to observe Tony’s fish bowl. He watched the little goldfish dart back and forth until a photograph on a nearby shelf caught his eye.

“Where was this picture taken?” he asked Ziva, who seemed to be finishing up on her mission for Tony. She placed one last DVD into the bag before joining her father in front of the shelf.

“Paris,” she said fondly, “three years ago.”

Eli smiled. “It is lovely,” he said, admiring it. “Maybe DiNozzo should have been a photographer.”

Ziva laughed at that, remembering Tony saying something similar on the flight home. “No, I think he is much more suited to be an investigator, Abba.”

Silence fell upon the father and daughter as Eli picked up the framed picture to get a closer look. The seconds dragged on and soon it became apparent that one of them would have to address the elephant in the room. Apparently, that person was Eli.

He placed the frame back onto the shelf and turned to his daughter. “You two are close,” he stated. It was a fact, not a question, and Ziva was shocked by how direct he was being.

“Y-yes,” she answered, not entirely sure where the conversation was headed. “He is my partner, we have each other’s backs.”

“Even closer than that, my Ziva,” Eli corrected in a calm, level-headed manner that unnerved her. She gaped at him, unsure of how to respond. Clearly he knew of their relationship, but the question now was why he seemed so relaxed about it.

In the past he had made his dislike for Tony quite clear. Now, however, he seemed completely fine. Happy, even.

“You know,” Ziva stated.

“Yes,” Eli confirmed with a nod.

Ziva’s brow furrowed. “And you are…okay with this?” she stuttered, searching her father’s face for any sign of dishonesty.

Eli placed his hands on Ziva’s shoulders and gave her a smile, which up until this visit had been almost unheard of. “It seems my initial impression of Agent DiNozzo was incorrect,” he admitted, much to the confusion of Ziva. “He is a courageous, respectful man, and I am grateful to him for saving my life.”

Ziva allowed a smile to cross her face as she nodded in agreement. These were the characteristics of Tony that you saw only if you looked beyond his goofy exterior. The fact that her father could see them now meant the world to her.

“Tony is willing to put everything on the line, if it means saving someone he deems worthy,” Ziva commented, thinking back to her time in Somalia and her subsequent rescue. She had felt anything but worthy of such a favor, but still, Tony had come and dragged her back from the dead. “Which leads me to ask why Tony was with you, and why he would save your life,” Ziva questioned, confusion replacing the pride and love that had taken over her features for a moment.

Eli was quiet for a few seconds, carefully formulating a response. “The purpose of his visit is not for me to disclose,” he answered finally. “But I have seen the type of man he is, and the effect he has had on you, my Ziva. So I want you to know,” Eli paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, “that you have my blessing on your relationship. I see the love you have for each other, and I will do nothing to stop you from being with each other.”

As he finished speaking, Ziva’s eyes began to well up with tears, and she rushed forward for the first proper hug she had given him since she was a young girl. The embrace caught Eli off guard, but he only had to take a moment to process it before wrapping his arms around his only surviving child.

This. This was why he was here. ‘Redemption’ he might say. He savored the moment with Ziva until she pulled away, hoisting the bag full of DVD’s up onto her shoulder and starting toward the door with a small smile on her face.