#Nona's “temper tantrum”

[parvasilvi]

Nona decided to save the universe because of a "dog"!!

[harrowharks-iliac-crest]

2

I've just realised! We have new chapter intro pics. This one is a stylised Locked Tomb:

We also had the same one last chapter.

Let's dive in.

PYRRHA worked for Nona, Camilla looked after Nona, and Palamedes taught Nona, all on the understanding that she was not simply a person, but probably one of two people. Nona did not know either of her real possible names.

We're starting with a banger. A quick explanation. This is, someone in Harrow's body, and the three she lives with seem to assume she is either Gideon or Harrow. She hasn't seemed much like either so far.

Nona talked to herself in the mirror even now. When she had been earlier born, and less self-conscious, sometimes she would rest her face against the mirror’s face, and try to reach her reflection. Camilla had caught her kissing it once, and had written about six pages of notes on that, which was humiliating.

This is funny and sweet and sad. Nona clearly loves herself so much more than either Gideon or Harrow ever loved themselves.

I don't think she is Gideon or Harrow. She could be Alecto, having left her memories behind with Harrow in Alecto's body, coming into Harrow's body nearly newborn, completely innocent. She could be some random revenant clinging to Harrow's body.

I suppose she could still be Gideon - reeling from Harrow's soul not being in her body, and working with Harrow's brain damage that is specifically designed not to remember Gideon at all. Therefore, she is now stuck in Harrow's body, unable to remember herself.

I suppose if that's true, even just getting a bit of tenderness from Camilla and Palamedes and Pyrrha is enough to make her love herself?

I suppose we will find out.

If Camilla had six pages of notes on her kissing herself she had about twenty regarding eyes. Nona’s egg-yellow eyes belonged to the other person —the other girl; that was how all of their bodies worked, not only hers.

Lending more weight to the Nona is Gideon theory; the only time we've seen Harrow's body have Gideon's eyes is when Gideon took over, when the Resurrection Beast attacked the Mithraeum.

Also this:

“So someone’s inside me, then? I mean—I’m that somebody?” She always stumbled over this.

Stumbling over Gideon's mere existence indicates this could be Gideon still struggling with the effects of Harrow's lobotomy.

Or Nona isn't Gideon but struggling with the existence of Gideon, thanks to the lobotomy.

Oh Harrow, I mean we knew you fucked up your body big time, but man, this kinda sucks, huh?

(Makes for very compelling storytelling, though.)

“They wanted to see me naked,” said Nona. “It was a sex thing.” Camilla had made a sound, and then pretended it was a cough, and drank a whole glass of water. After the glass of water, she said, “How did you know?” “That’s just the way people look when they want to see you naked and it’s a sex thing,” said Nona. “I don’t really mind.”

This made me chuckle. And points towards Gideon, again, I think.

But Nona couldn’t shoot or fight or think. All she had was a good nature —that wasn’t true all the time, but Nona didn’t want it bruited about that she had a bad temper when she had only ever thrown two tantrums in her life and couldn’t remember either of them.

She can't remember her "tantrums"? Interesting! Interesting indeed. What were they about? At least one of them was about getting stuck in clothes.

Every day she held a sword until she seriously didn’t care about swords anymore, but she still couldn’t fight with one, no matter how big or thin it was. Camilla had wanted to teach her properly, but Pyrrha said not to, that they wouldn’t be able to tell if anything suddenly came back. Nona couldn’t do the forbidden bone tricks either, even though Palamedes did nearly the exact same thing with big grey lumps of bone as Camilla did with the sword.

But Nona is weak, and doesn't seem to have either Harrow or Gideon's skills. She does have a very, very sweet nature.

Nona was good at: 1. touching, 2. wiping dishes, 3. running her hand over the flat cork carpet in a way that got all the hair out of it, 4. sleeping in lots of different ways and positions, and 5. speaking any language that was spoken to her, in person, so she could see the person’s face and eyes and lips.

That's a pretty good skillset, tbh. I love the languages thing. How??? It's so cool. I'm jealous.

Nona understood everybody, and could speak back to them so that they understood her, and nobody ever said she had an accent. This confounded Palamedes. When she first said that she could speak back by watching them talk and making her lips look like theirs, it confounded him so much more that it gave Camilla a headache.

That is pretty confounding!! Very cool, very mysterious. This isn't anything Gideon or Harrow could do, to our knowledge, and honestly languages never have been mentioned very much so far, so it's certainly very strange.

Was this one of Alecto's skills?

Many people had lived through at least one bad resettlement already. Everyone was crammed on one of three planets now, and they all agreed that this planet was easily the worst, though this always made Nona feel a little bit offended on the planet’s part.

"Everyone"?? All of humanity, presumably minus the Nine Houses, who live at the Nine Houses, and the Cohort, who seem to mostly live on spaceships? Who is "Everyone" referring to here?

You were not allowed to say the words zombies, necromancers, or necromancy outside her house, or really inside it either.

Okay, okay, so these are not necromancers, nor do most of them see necromancy in a positive light. Random civilians, people caught up in Blood of Eden stuff, or both?

Interesting that Zombie is used to refer to necromancers.

Nona was so grateful to have had a whole six months of this. It was greedy to expect much longer.

:(

Another girl, another teenager who's expecting to die by the end of the book. Haven't we had enough dead kids around here?

[iviarellereads]

Nona the Ninth, Chapter 19

(Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For detail on The Locked Tomb coverage and the index, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Open tomb icon)(1) In which Nona has her third embarrassing tantrum.

Nona awakes again on a makeshift bed of three chairs. She can't quite remember what's happened, and she doesn't recognize the room. These things don't bother her. What does bother her is that her ankles have been bound to the chair they're sitting on, one hand tied to the chair her head is on, and the other hand chained to the radiator with a thick bicycle lock chain.

Abruptly, Nona threw her third tantrum.

She doesn't remember her first tantrum, but Pyrrha told her about it, laughing with her mouth but her eyes betraying unease at the memory or something associated with it. Everyone remembers Nona's second tantrum, which was when they decided she really had to learn to keep her temper under control, and it's why Pal and Cam try to let Nona go to the ocean whenever she asks. The ocean stops her anger, and a weekly dip helps her stay collected.

But at that moment everything that had happened—Pyrrha—the Angel—Hot Sauce—calmly wiped out long and careful weeks of Palamedes and Camilla dipping her in the ocean.

Nona screams so loud and hard that her throat breaks, heals, and breaks again, and she screams blood along with sound.(2) This is her warning. Next, she pulls at the arm chained to the radiator, even though some part of her knows it should hurt, that everything in fact hurts very much, that she has made and is making a grave mistake, but the anger won't let her go.

Her hand came free of the chain and the radiator. It made a mess. Next she had to get her ankles free of the chair, and that was harder, because everything was wet now. She had to use both hands and both her feet. For long, helpless, frantic moments she thought she was stuck, the way she used to get frightened when Camilla had put a shirt over her head and things went wrong on the way and her head tried to get through the armhole. It was with the same kind of sweating, anxious rearrangement that she got her feet free now. The plastic ties were good, like Corona had said, and they didn’t break. But Nona came through them, screaming.

The chairs are all that's in the room, so Nona brushes "some of the mess and a discarded finger(3) off the seat of one". She isn't strong, this body can never really be strong, but she can use the chair to beat on the door with all her strength and without injury, over… and over… and over… until it caves in.

One of the arms of the chair has snapped off. She'd used a smaller, jagged piece earlier to "make herself smaller"(4), but this one is nice and big for grasping safely even with everything wet.(5) Soon she stands in the hall and faces down a group in masks and combat gear, their boots just like Pash's. This thought makes her angry all over again, because if it weren't for Pash, nobody might have got shot.

In front of her was a row of shining holes at the ends of raised guns, and for the fourth time in a very short period, they shot her. She slipped in a puddle and fell backward into the splintery door wreckage, two bullets in her chest, one in her knee. Nona got up again and she was madder than ever. She stamped one foot in the splatter, and then another; she brandished the piece of broken cheap metal like a sword, and she screamed so loudly that it was coming out of her nose and her eyes and her brain,(6) and every one of those soldiers took a step backward.

Nona turns and runs, making slopping noises with her feet. More people with guns gather, someone yells to disengage but her scream drowns them out, and one of the soldiers shoots her again. She runs at him with the chair arm, both of them screaming through their masks (Nona's is her face).(7) There's a lot of noise, and the Edenite has dropped their gun and clapped their hands to the sides of their helmet, over their ears.

Someone dropped something over her head. It was a hood, and it was tightening at the neck. She reached up to tear it off, but something big and heavy pinned her arms against her body. It was like being swaddled. Nona struggled, but this was a good defence against her, maybe the only defence; Camilla had wrapped her up in a blanket too, the second time. When it all went dark, her body seemed to remember that she had used something up inside her, something enormous, and she started to tremble.(8) She trembled so hard that she thought she would die then and there, that this was what dying was finally like. Inside the hood she heard her mouth say, savage and distinct and cool despite the trembles: “Fool. You’re killing her.” But she was only talking to herself, after all.(9)

=====

(1) This one is not locked, the chains are broken and the door is empty. Nona's tantrum is related directly to the Locked Tomb somehow? If you've put together the hints so far you may know why… (2) This chapter sure is full of vivid word images that I'm really glad I can't make literal pictures of in my head because the sympathetic reactions are bad enough without the seeing. (3) Yes, one of hers, from when she tore it out of the cuff or the chain. (4) Thusly, the finger(s). (5) The whole room must just be an absolute Dexter scene at this point. (6) Screaming so hard the resonance just keeps breaking all the small and medium blood vessels in your head must really suck the next day. (7) I love how this is both commentary on how we wear different masks and become different people in different contexts and also for how Nona is wearing Harrow's meatsuit. (8) The worst feeling in the world. I've had, well, not tantrums on this level, but instances where I got so worked up and in my feelings about being angry. The sudden flick back to feeling like a stable human is... impossible to describe precisely. (9) Who spoke?

[peachdoxie]

The temper tantrum scene puts a big ole tally mark in the "Nona is Alecto" box for me, but also a smaller tally in the "Nona is Harrow" box, and also another tally in the "Nona is more than one person" box, so I still don't have any solid guesses.

[anneapocalypse]

On Nona's Identity

I'm sure I'm not the first to think or suggest this, but as I've just finished my re-read of Gideon and Harrow and the Nona preview and it's my current working theory, I figure I may as well put it out there! Spoilers for all of the above.

I think Nona is Alecto in Harrow's body.

I mean, Nona being in Harrow's body is hardly a theory; I'd say that part is almost a given based on what we know from the preview. Nona looks like Harrow. She and Pyrrha were rescued and brought to Blood of Eden by Camilla and Palamedes after some Big Event. Most critically, Nona's hair grows unnaturally fast (which Harrow's has done ever since her brain surgery thanks to Ianthe's little trick).

Initially, I sort of assumed it was going to be some new character hopping into Harrow, some ghost we hadn't met yet, but re-reading the epilogue of Harrow the Ninth, in which we are first introduced to Nona though not by name, there is considerable emphasis placed on the question of who she is.

Moreover, in Harrow's final moments in Harrow the Ninth, she finds herself seemingly back in the Locked Tomb, climbing into the empty coffin where the Body once lay, as if to symbolize that they have switched places.

I think Alecto has already been haunting Harrow. There's some solid foreshadowing of this in Harrow when Abigail explains the mechanisms of hauntings to explain the presence of Commander Wake in the two-hander, and later Cytherea's body. But in that conversation, which centers around Harrow seeing written messages that no one else in the River bubble can see, Harrow never brings up her visions of the Body which has visited her, on and off, since the day she broke into the sepulchre there by the sea and beheld the face of the Holy Corpse—the Body being the reason Harrow believed herself to be insane in the first place.

As understandable a response as that would have been to the various traumas of Harrow's childhood, I don't think the Body was ever a hallucination. Sudden and violent death, as Alecto's murder likely was (and per this theory I am inclined to believe it was not her first murder but her second) has a tendency to produce revenants—spirits that cling to some vestige of their former life in order to complete unfinished business. I think that one way or another, Alecto's soul found a thanergetic link to follow and a way to follow Harrow out of the Tomb.

We've been told repeatedly (and shown, via the unfortunate case of Colum Asht) that a body left vacant is vulnerable to possession by lost and hungry souls. And if she was already right there, Alecto would have had first dibs when Harrow and Gideon left Harrow's body vacant aboard the Mithraeum.

The memory loss is easily explained by the length of time since Alecto's death. Ten thousand years trapped in isolation is more than enough to result in some kind of madness.

Nona feels like she has heard and been told many things before, and forgotten them. Sometimes she knows things but doesn't know how she knew them. Though she was initially unable to speak, she now can comprehend and speak every human language, something her companions could not have taught her, which speaks to what she was before (see again the theory I linked above).

Finally, as an incidental, there's the question of Nona having tantrums, which comes up a couple of times in the preview:

In the bad old days she used to have to be helped even with the nightshirt, because she couldn't be trusted not to get stuck with it halfway over her head and get all hot and upset from claustrophobia. It was incredibly important that she not get upset like that again. She had only ever had two tantrums in her life, but it would be humiliating to have a third.

And later:

All she had was a good nature—that wasn't true all the time, but Nona didn't want it bruited about that she had a bad temper when she had only ever thrown two tantrums in her life and couldn't remember either of them.

Any of this could be just as easily explained by Nona, bereft of memories and struggling to communicate, getting upset about her lack of control over herself and her environment. But also, boy I bet being a soul for 10,000 years in a facsimile of the place you died (a la Palamedes in Harrow) could make you pretty damned claustrophobic. And if we know one thing about Alecto's personality, it's that she could get very angry.

So that's what I've got! Could be right, could be wrong, but either way I can't wait to read Nona the Ninth as soon as it's here.

[gothpanda]

A Little Bit of Attitude Ch.32: Los Angeles

WORD COUNT: 5.6k

A/N: lol I’m not dead. Just had finals

TAGS: @madamsixx​ @emariehorror​

Read on Ao3

Previous/Next

May 31st, 1987

Oakland, California

"... At the dollhouse in Fort Lauderdale! Girls, Girls, Girls! Rocking in Atlanta at Tattletails,"

Sammi groaned loud from the music through the speakers, lightly banging her head against the metal shelves aligned with cassette tapes. It was a brand new song that seemed to play 24/7 since being released, Sammi wanting to rip her ears out of her head. It didn't help that she was in a record store where most of the employees were goth or punks. As Sammi rested her head on the cold metal, Athena couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's dismay while browsing the selection of pop tapes.

"Why are you so dramatic? I thought you'd be happy the band is being successful," said Athena, side-eyeing Sammi's pouted lips.

"I would be happy if I didn't have to hear or see them all over the place. It gets annoying after a while," said Sammi, walking down the aisle of music, finding something new to entertain herself in. Athena followed in her little sister's footsteps, keeping a safe distance from her. It was Athena's idea to check a music store as Sammi showed her around the Bay Area, never having been able to visit until today.

"Well, it's not like you've been avoiding them or anything like that. Of course, it would get annoying,"

"I am not avoiding them," mumbled Sammi.

"Are you sure? You have done a pretty good job if you ask me," said Athena, grabbing a new Aerosmith cassette for her walkman.

Sammi stopped dead in her tracks, turning to glare right at Athena, who had a playful smirk. "I have not, Athena. I've been busy. " There's a difference," said Sammi, turning into the magazine aisle near the shop's cash register.

"Really? You could've fooled by the way you haven't been home in a year. When was the last time you talked to mama or dad?"

Sammi sighed out. "I'm sorry for missing out on stuff, but school has been a bigger pain in my ass than I thought. And I have spoken to mama and dad,"

"You've missed: Tommy's birthday, Mama's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday-"

"Okay, I get it, Athena! You don't have to remind me. I'm going home for a month aren't I?" asked Sammi with a sting of sarcasm, glancing at all of the headlines from the gossip tabloids.

"And thank god for that,"

"Why L.A isn't living up to its potential anymore?" joked Sammi.

"Exactly. Everything has been moderately boring since you left. It's not fun hanging out with Tommy after he got married. Our lovely sister-in-law isn't up to crazy fun. And all of my friends are acting like full adults now with 9 to 5's," said Athena.

Right as Sammi responded, her eyes fell on an issue of 'Rock Secrets,' another gossip magazine amongst the hundreds. The cover for the tabloid made Sammi's heartstrings get pulled in different directions. Nikki in the arms of another woman, both smirking. Sammi knew the woman from the party scene of Los Angeles, a dancer for every music video but nothing more. She was the complete opposite of Sammi in every single way. The woman was someone taller who was almost the same height as Nikki in heels. She was slimmer than Sammi and tanner in comparison to Sammi's pale cheeks. Sammi didn't want to believe Nikki running out to get new girlfriends after she left but knew it was bound to happen at some point. It had been a year. Sammi was never one to feel self-conscious about her appearance but seeing someone so different from her have Nikki wrapped around their finger stung. As Sammi stared longer at the cover, she was able to see the haze in Nikki's eyes that she hated, the girl almost matching him. Sammi reached for the magazine, facing Athena with a ghastly face, a cocktail of anger and sadness show. Athena pressed her lips tightly together, taking the tabloid for herself to examine.

"She isn't close to being as pretty as you," said Athena in hopes of cheering Sammi up. Sammi scoffed. "And Tommy hates her with his whole being. Apparently, she's some crazy attention whore. That's probably why she's on this stupid cover,"

"She is pretty, don't lie. And I don't care if Tommy doesn't like her or she's an attention whore," said Sammi, yanking the magazine from Athena's hand. She curled her lip as she stared at the cover, turning pages to see more photos of the couple around Los Angeles. With the luck of being around drugs and partying, Sammi could see when Nikki was high in the images. "Her name is Veronica?" asked Sammi.

"Yeah. Don't let her get to you, she's just some background dancer who's gotten with other musicians," answered Athena, skimming through a Rolling Stones magazine.

"Still. She has a pretty name," mumbled Sammi under her breath, unable to look away. When it finally felt too much for Sammi, she threw the thin tabloid down the aisle with all her force in one quick motion. Athena whipped her head fast, snapping her eyes wide open in shock.

"Sam, what the hell?" asked Athena in a sharp whisper. Sammi only continued to walk into a different section of the music shop. "Was that really necessary?" asked Athena, raising an eyebrow at Sammi.

Sammi shrugged her shoulders, pouting slightly. "It felt good for a second, now I'm just annoyed again,"

"It's great to see you've moved on," teased Athena, throwing her arm around Sammi's shoulders.

"What? I can't be bitter if an ex got a new girlfriend?" asked Sammi, folding her arms across her chest.

"No, because you're supposed to be the mature one, remember? It shouldn't get to you,"

"I beg to differ on being mature,"

"Hey! You can't throw around the magazines!" yelled a young goth girl, picking up the crinkled magazine from the floor, frowning at Sammi and Athena.

"Sorry, she had a temper tantrum. Won't happen again!" answered Athena, trying her best to hide a chuckle. "But seriously please don't do that again. I like to come back to this place next time I visit you,"

"Oh finally you're thinking about visiting?" asked Sammi with a smile, crossing her arms against her chest.

The sisters continued exploring the record store a moment longer, buying cassette tapes to listen to on the drive back home. When Sammi would scan down the rock section, she couldn't help think about what Nikki would like. It was a habit she couldn't break yet. The Oakland streets were beginning to grow busy with summer vacation coming around, Sammi seeing more tourists than usual. "So, I know you don't want to talk about Motley but I should probably tell you this," said Athena.

Sammi kept her dead stare ahead of her, scowling into the distance. "What is it? No one's dying or in the hospital right?"

Athena scoffed in amusement. "No, nothing like that. They're going to be back on the road soon," said Athena, lighting a cigarette as the sisters walked down east.

"Oh. Good for them," said Sammi, wrinkles deepening between her brows. "When are they packing up?"

"Third week in June? Tommy hasn't given me all the details yet except for one,"

"Which is?"

"He wants to throw this huge kick-off party at his and Heather's,"

"Okay," Sammi shrugged.

"I wanted to let you know before Tommy gets so incredibly excited to tell you, he forgets to ask if you're okay," said Athena, blowing out smoke into the air.

"Athena, I'm fine. I just needed to let out my frustrations for a second,"

"Sammi no you're not and please listen," Sammi stopped her steps, sucking her teeth as she faced Athena. "You can admit to not wanting to see Nikki when you get back home. It's understandable to not want to see an ex. You shouldn't tough it out for the sake of Tommy or anyone else. If you're not okay just tell me,"

Sammi sighed out heavily, gazing up anywhere but Athena. "It's okay. I'm okay. Yeah, it hurts Nikki moved on, but what am I supposed to do? We haven't talked in a year, and we both messed up," said Sammi, continuing to walk with heavy steps.

"How did you mess up?" asked Athena.

"I got up and left without telling him. I didn't tell my boyfriend anything about me leaving, and I just left him. You don't think that's a little messed up?" asked Sammi, scrunching her brows together with a frown.

"You two broke up before you left," reassured Athena.

Sammi stopped again in her tracks, looking right into Athena's eyes. "Did you know Nona died last year? Nikki's grandma" asked Sammi.

Athena bit her lip. "No, I didn't. Tom never mentioned it," muttered Athena, looking down at her feet.

Sammi bit the inside of her cheek, shaking her head slightly and continuing to walk. Instead of spitting out venomous words, Sammi pulled out a cigarette from her crinkled pack of Camels, lighting it in silence. "You've been busy, Sam. Don't be hard on yourself," said Athena.

"This conversation is going way longer than I want," muttered Sammi, staring dead ahead of her.

"Fine. Are you ready to go home then?" asked Athena, looping her arm around Sammi's. Sammi sighed out with a nod. The sisters continued their walk through the city streets until finding the car park, silence forming between them. Sammi only wanted to go home to her family.

*

June 2nd

Los Angeles, California

"Sammi!" screamed Emma excitedly from the apartment balcony, smiling down at her best friend. Sammi slammed the backseat door, swinging a duffle bag on her shoulders as she smiled back at Emma. Sabrina soon rushed out behind the sliding door with a smile on her face. "Do you need any help?" yelled out Sabrina.

"No, I'm good! I'll be right up!" answered Sammi, racing up to the second floor of the apartment complex. As Sammi reached Emma and Sabrina's door, Emma swung it right open, engulfing Sammi in a lovingly tight hug. Sabrina wrapped her arms around both the girls, everyone smiling gleefully. Once finally pulling apart, Emma grabbed Sammi's duffle off her shoulders, playing a great hostess.

"We've missed you so much," said Sabrina, kissing Sammi on her temple.

"Come on and welcome to our very adult apartment," joked Emma, swinging her arm around Sammi's shoulders, walking into the apartment. It was perfect for Emma and Sabrina, enough space for both with extra for Sammi. Anyone who visited could see the elements of a future lawyer and a star athlete, a mix of color and neatness. Sammi admired the decor from every corner, noting the purple sofa and accent chair in the living room.

"I like everything. You girls really got the place up and pretty," said Sammi, dropping herself on the sofa.

"Thanks, we did have a year to get it clean for you," teased Sabrina with a smirk, sitting down on an accent chair. Sammi glared at her, matching Sabrina's smirk as Emma took the duffle bag to her room.

"Ha. Ha. I just wanted to give you two all the time in the world,"

"In that case, you better love every single corner of this place," said Emma, prospering herself next to Sammi. "But enough about this place! How's San Francisco? Is it great and gay as I imagine?" asked Emma with a goofy smile.

"Is school going great for you? I know my mom wanted me to move there for college," asked Sabrina, almost on the edge of her seat.

"Are the nightclubs totally amazing like I hear? We should go to one when we visit next month!" exclaimed Emma.

Sammi only looked down at her hands, checking her nail polish with a forced thin smile on. She shrugged her shoulders, trying her best to think of something great. "San Fran's pretty, don't get me wrong, but it's so… cramped and stiff. It's nothing but an overpriced tiny island," scuffed Sammi, pouting at Emma and Sabrina.

"Really? You made it sound so nice on the phone when we'd call," said Sabrina, scrunching her brows together.

"I also make those phone calls short if you two recall," said Sammi, Sabrina and Emma exchange worried looks. "The only nice thing I can think of was the food. Great Japanese restaurants. But school is school. One year down, one more to go. The people I've met have been incredibly rude. One was some Christian freak who said the boys were satanic, and I wasn't any better hanging out with them,"

"Wow. Wait until you tell her you like to hang out with a lesbian," joked Emma, earning a smile from Sammi. "Sam, you should've said something about not being happy. We could've gone up and hung out for a weekend," Emma suggested.

"And brought some company with us," said Sabrina, pressing her lips firmly together.

"You'd really make Emma sit in a car with her ex? Even if they were my sister?" teased Sammi.

"No, I think she was talking about another ex," said Emma, biting the edge of her thumbnail. "And not a blonde ex,"

Sammi looked back down at her hands, grabbing a pillow to hug. "I think Nikki is already pretty busy with his new girlfriend. He wouldn't want to come to San Francisco," shrugged Sammi.

"You sure? I think he would drop everything if we asked him to tag along. The guys haven't been on tour yet," said Sabrina.

"Yep. I'm sure. Nikki was never a fan of San Francisco,"

"Sabrina is right about Nikki dropping everything to see you, Sammi. It wouldn't matter if he has a girlfriend or not. He hasn't seen you in a year or talked to you-"

"He's tried, mumbled Sammi.

"What?" asked Emma, scrunching her eyebrows deeper.

"He tried and I tried, but I just fucked it up," sighed Sammi with a shaky breath.

"Sammi, please talk to us," said Sabrina, leaning forward on her legs, hands closed.

Sammi sighed out, resting her head from the side in the palm of her hand. "Nona passed away. Nikki left a voicemail, sounding messed up and I didn't do anything about it. I didn't call him to check in on him. I didn't call his grandfather to check in on him. I didn't do anything. I would call him in the middle of the night and then hang up right away after I first moved. He would be high," said Sammi, wiping away the forming tear that could fall.

"Sam," said Emma softly, reaching out to hold Sammi's hand.

"Please don't tell me I didn't fuck up because I did," pleased Sammi, looking at Emma and Sabrina.

"Okay, the both of you have had bad communication skills, but it still isn't considered  fucked up ," said Sabrina. "You're home for a month. Maybe now it's a better time to speak to him,"

Sammi shook her head. "There's more than just that. I slept with Vince after we got drunk," admitted Sammi. "I fucked up,"

Sabrina and Emma stared at Sammi for a moment, glancing at each other to find something to say. "How bad do you feel about having sex with Vince?" asked Sabrina.

"S,"

"No Em, I'm just asking a question. Sammi, why did you sleep with Vince? And why did you feel bad afterward?" asked Sabrina again, this time in a stern voice.

"Because it didn't feel right after I sobered up. There were no rekindled feelings within me for the person I dated. I was drunk and Vince kept saying how great Nikki was doing. He didn't sleep with me because he missed me. It felt like he just wanted to get back at Nikki," said Sammi running a hand down her face.

"Did Vince tell Nikki?" asked Emma.

"I don't know. When we spoke, I told him it was a one-time thing and to keep it between us," said Sammi.

"I still think you should talk to Nikki," suggested Sabrina.

"You're going to have to someday," said Emma, swinging her arm around Sammi's shoulders, bringing her in for a hug.

"I know. I have to do it next Saturday," groaned Sammi. "Tommy's going to throw a party before the guys leave on tour and I have to go,"

"You mean we have to go," added Emma, Sammi scrunching her brows together. "You seriously think we're just going to let you be alone where Nikki is? What kind of friends do you think we are," teased Emma, smiling at Sammi.

Sabrina walked over to the sofa, perching herself on the sofa's armrest, placing her chin on the crown of Sammi's hair. "You'll be fine. Things may seem like shit right now but I promise you, there's always a glimmer of light after a storm," said Sabrina. Sammi only smiled at the two girls, nerves slowly thawing out and relaxing.

June 13th

"What time does Tommy want us to show up?" shouted Sabrina from her bedroom into the hallway, scowling down at the multiple outfits on her bed. Sammi shuffled into Sabrina's room, undoing the last hair roller from her dark locks.

"He said 8:30," answered Sammi, seeing a digital clock read 8:40. When it came to times for parties, they were only a suggestion for the girls. Tommy never meant the time he really said. Sammi scanned the bed before picking up a blue strapless dress. "You should wear this one. It's a nice summer color,"

"So happy to have you help with my little dilemmas," smiled Sabrina, grabbing the dress to change in the private bathroom. "Is Emma ready?" Sabrina shouted through the restroom.

"Yeah, I just needed to finish straightening my hair," entered Emma, ready to go in her purple jumpsuit. "Are you ready, Sammi?" asked Emma.

Sammi scrunched her brows together. "Oh yeah, I'm already dressed. I only need my heels,"

"I don't mean physically ready even though I love that black dress. I meant ready to see the guys again. Specifically a certain bassist,"

Sammi pursed her lips out. "No, but it's going happen sooner or later,"

"That's the spirit! I'll call us a cab while Sabrina's changing. Remember it's still going to be a fun night!" cheerfully said, Emma.

"If you say so," said Sammi with hesitation.

*

From the grand driveway, guests from the party scenes had already flooded the mansion, either inside or outside. The girls walked up the front steps, smiling politely and maneuvering past people they didn't know until inside. Sammi scanned the foyer and living room, hesitant to find familiar faces just yet. It wasn't until Sammi heard her name yelled out in a high pitched voice.

"Sammi! Finally, you're here!" yelled out Heather in excitement, walking as fast as she could in her heels. She swiftly hugged Sammi tightly, ignoring the presence of Emma and Sabrina. Sammi embraced back with less enthusiasm but still happy to see her sister-in-law. "It's been so long! I have missed you so much!" said Heather, releasing Sammi from her grip. "Did you all just get here? Let's go to the kitchen for a drink!" suggested Heather, grabbing Sammi's hand, pulling her further into the house. Sammi flashed anxious wide eyes at Emma and Sabrina, the two only shrugging their shoulders and following. A few people began to recognize Sammi as the four passed through, almost remembering Tommy's other sister. The kitchen wasn't better in the number of people, some others herding in the quarters. Heather let go of Sammi, playing hostess, as she filled up three glasses of expensive champagne. Soon another person in the herd approached the absent girl, clearing his throat to gain her attention. Sammi's eyes lit up, as did her smile when realizing who it was.

"Mick!" exclaimed Sammi.

"How have you been, Little One?" said Mick, smiling his best as the two exchanged a small hug. "I'm not one to be needy, but how come I haven't heard much from you?"

Sammi shrugged her shoulders. "School has been kicking my ass. It's harder than I forgot," joked Sammi.

"I'm happy that's your reason. It's been quiet without you,"

"How can it be so quiet? I'm the least crazy out all of you," teased Sammi.

Mick shrugged his shoulders. "Quiet for me at least,"

"Here you go, Sammi. Heather had to find Tommy," said Sabrina, passing her the champagne glass.

"Hey, Mick! Enjoying the party?" asked Emma, forming a small circle between the four.

"As much as I can for a little while. I'm just waiting for my girl to stop by then I'm taking off," said Mick, earning wide eyes from all the girls.

"You have a girlfriend?" asked Sabrina with an amused smile.

"That's so nice!" said Emma.

"Who is she?" asked Sammi, cocking a raised eyebrow.

Mick began to smirk, taking a sip of his alcohol of choice. "Her name's Emerson. She's a backup singer, but please don't tell the guys. The three of you can't tell them,"

The girls all scrunched their brows at Mick. "Why? Is she someone they know?" asked Emma.

"We hired her to tour with us. That's how we met. But I know they'll just bust my balls for liking her,"

"Mick, you shouldn't let the guys dictate who you want to like. If you really like this girl then they're just going to have to deal with it," advised Sabrina.

"Unless she's mean to you then we're going to have a problem," said Sammi, winking at Mick.

Mick scuffed at the girls. "Whatever just please keep it yourselves, for me. That is all I ask,"

"Promise," the girls said in unison.

"Thank you. Come on let's find your brother and sister, they've been wondering about you," said Mick, taking the lead to leave the stuffy kitchen. Right as Sammi stepped out, her eyes couldn't help but fall directly onto a man far away, almost making her freeze. Nikki staring right at her, back against the wall. Sammi swallowed hard, continuing to follow Mick and the girls, eyes looking down. This didn't stop Nikki; he followed every step Sammi took until disappearing behind a wall. Sammi couldn't help but finish the champagne in one gulp, placing the glass on a random table.

"Sammi! Finally! I was starting to think you were going to show up!" yelled out Tommy in excitement, hugging the youngest sister. "And ladies, always lovely to see the two of you!" Emma and Sabrina giggling alongside Tommy. Athena appeared right past Emma, only smirking at her without a word. She kissed Sammi on the cheek, passing her a refreshed drink of vodka. "I see Mick got to you before anyone else. Let me get Vince!"

"Tommy, it's cool. I have all night to talk to people," said Sammi, biting her lip.

"Besides Vince is wrapped around a new blondie's finger," added Mick, sitting down on a nearby sofa.

"Vince got a new girlfriend?" asked Sammi.

Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "She's basically a look-like of Sharise. I give it two months while we're on the road,"

"When did you know about this?" Sammi asked Athena.

"About an hour ago when he walked through the door. She seems like a nice girl if I'm being honest," said Athena.

As if his ears were burning, Vince sturt his way to the group with a young woman wrapped around him. "Sam! What a surprise!" said Vince with excitement. Tommy shot a look between Athena and the girls, sitting down beside Mick. "Babe, this is Sammi. Tommy's other sister I was telling you about,"

"Hi, I'm Hayley. I've heard a lot about you," said Hayley extending out a hand, trying her best to not seem uncomfortable.

Sammi smiled politely, accepting the handshake to not be rude. "All good things I hope,"

"Of course all good. I'd never talk bad about you," said Vince, smirking lustfully at Sammi.

"Yeah, like how smart and nice you are," said Hayley. The tension between the two girls was incredibly thick. Anyone could cut it with a knife. Suddenly, the music changed from its rock sound to a techno beat, blaring even louder than before. Tommy jumped up to question, only to let out an annoyed groan when seeing a wild hair woman jump on the coffee table in the middle of the room. To the music's beat, the woman danced faster and faster, almost too fast for the music. Emma couldn't help but curl her lip at the woman, wrinkling her brows at Tommy. Sammi hitched her breath, caught in her throat when realizing it was Veronica.

"Who the hell is that?" asked Emma.

"Nikki's new girlfriend," groaned Tommy, pouring some whiskey into his solo cup. "She's a bitch," he whispered to the girls, noting the somber expression from Sammi.

"I don't know how Sixx deals with that. Come on, babe, let's go out to the pool," said Vince, wrapping his arm around Hayley's waist. "Later, Sam," winked Vince.

Sammi remained silent amongst everyone, sinking into the sofa to watch the unfortunate show display in front of her. People around the grand living room gathered to watch Veronica, snickers from other women as they watched. Muttered comments going around on the visible state of Veronica being high on some type of drug. This went on longer than anyone wanted, Sammi beginning to wonder if anyone had the heart to stop her. Most found it entertaining, while others didn't. Sammi glanced around the room, wondering where Nikki was during all of this. It wasn't until Heather stomped up to Tommy, bringing him down to her level to whisper in his ear. Sammi was able to read the anger on Heather's face, seeing her fold in her arms right at her husband. Tommy shook his head, marching straight to Veronica, and one swoop brought her off the table, clinging onto Veronica. Tommy tried his best to shuffle out of the living room even when it was becoming difficult.

"Let go of me you asshole! You demon!" shouted Veronica, her weak legs making her almost sink to the floor. As Tommy lifted Veronica back on her feet, Nikki appeared from thin air confused. Tommy couldn't help but throw the intoxicated girl at his best friend. Nikki didn't bother to help her stand on her two feet, letting Veronica stumble by his feet. Sammi could see the three frowning at Nikki's careless attitude toward Veronica.

"Was she dancing again?" asked Nikki, scowling down at Veronica.

"Yeah. Now can you please watch your chick? Some of us are trying to enjoy our night," said Tommy, going to the stereos to finally switch the music to something more bearable. He walked over to Heather with his classic Tommy smile, kissing her on the lips to melt any anger away. Grabbing Veronica by her arm, Nikki dragged her up on her feet, quickly turning away from all staring eyes. Nikki grinds hard his teeth when his eyes fell on Sammi for the second time of the night, being able to see the worry from her. The dysfunctional couple disappeared from within the house, everyone soon forgetting about the little show—everyone except for Sammi. Sammi stared down at her drink, Sabrina sitting right next to her.

"Ready to talk to him?" asked Sabrina?

Sammi bit the inside of her cheek, glancing up in the direction of where Nikki was. "Will I ever be?" scuffed Sammi, taking a swing from whatever was in her cup.

"Probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to try another time. Nikki already saw you. He knows you're here. And he's leaving in a couple of days. I'm only suggesting because I care about you,"

"I know. I'll be right back," said Sammi, passing Sabrina her cup as she stood up while fixing her short dress.

Sabrina wrinkled her brows at Sammi. "You're going to talk to him now?"

"No, but if I just happen to go missing please come find me," answered Sammi, carefully passing through the sea of people.

*

"Why do you keep making a scene everywhere we go?" whispered Nikki from behind the closed door. Sammi paused from touching up her makeup in the mirror, remaining completely still and silent to listen. "You're high again aren't you?" asked Nikki. Sammi pressed her ear to the door to listen better. She knew there was no point in hiding in the bathroom, thinking of Emma and Sabrina looking for her.

"So what if I am? It's a party!" shouted Veronica.

"That I didn't invite you to!" said Nikki. The silence between the two soon followed for a moment, Sammi slowly opening the door. She tried her best to not make her heels clank loud on the tile, walking into the hallway with small steps. The hallway's right end was utterly empty, causing Sammi to drop the cautious act as she shut the bathroom door behind her. "Sammi?" said Nikki, Sammi jumping in her skin when hearing her name. She peered over her shoulder, Nikki looking dead at her for the third time, somewhat softer finally. Veronica leaned slouched against the wall with a deadly stare, unhappy to see Sammi even if she was a stranger. It was clear to Sammi Nikki looked better than most days, Veronica appearing to be the only one under something. Sammi didn't peep a word, unable to say anything to Nikki, especially with his new girlfriend by his side.

"I know who you are," slurred Veronica, stumbling on her feet to regain balance, dodging Nikki's attempt to hold her down. She fought the urge to fall onto the floor, wanting to be right in Sammi's face. Sammi couldn't say or do anything, freezing at the taller woman looking down on her. Sammi could see the pin needle pupils in Veronica's eyes. "I know exactly who you are. You're the one corrupting Nikki. The one corrupting everyone," Sammi scrunched her brows deep together, looking past Veronica to Nikki. "No! Look at me! You're nothing but a devil. A devil!" shouted Veronica, inching closer to Sammi's face. Before having the chance to grip onto Sammi's bare arms, Nikki yanked Veronica down to the floor with no care if she got hurt.

"Don't fucking talk to her! You don't get to talk to her!" yelled Nikki at Veronica, scowling at her. Veronica laid flat down on her back, pouting up at Nikki. Nikki didn't care about Veronica's state of being in this moment, only wretched when Sammi appeared scared. "Leave her alone and leave me alone," Nikki said, grasping Sammi's arm lightly as he led them away from Veronica. Sammi couldn't help look back at Veronica, wondering if she had any idea of what was really happening. Nikki took Sammi to another empty hallway, the music almost a bit louder from where they stood. Sammi rested against the wall, unable to look Nikki in the eye even when she could feel Nikki's on her. "Got nothing to say?" asked Nikki.

"Thank you," mumbled Sammi, looking down at her feet.

Nikki scoffed, shaking his head. "Is that really all?" Sammi stayed silent. Nikki stepped closer to Sammi, lightly taking his hands to cup Sammi's cheeks, cradling her face. He brought her eyes to meet his, a loving brown meeting a foggy hazel. Just from the simple tough of something so innocent, a flush of pink stained Sammi's cheeks. Nikki couldn't help but crack a small smile, missing the sweet face. Alas, the unfortunate always comes. "I know you and Vince had sex," said Nikki, dropping his hands and stepping back.

"What?" uttered Sammi, lips parting in shock, deep wrinkles setting in between her brows.

Nikki only shrugged his shoulders. "I guess you aren't that great anymore to keep him around," said Nikki.

Before Sammi could say anything, Nikki headed straight for the front of the house, hands in his pocket as he ignored everyone. Everything came like a tsunami wave; all Sammi could see was red. Instead of beginning to cry, Sammi marched her way through the party, ignoring the calls of her name from Athena or Sabrina. When reaching the outside, Sammi was able to find Vince in a short second, making a fast b-line to him. Vince didn't pay any attention to his surroundings, talking to a friend by the pool without Hayley. Vince was soon heavily pushed into the body of water in a blink, drink flying out of his hand. When he came up to the surface, Vince was ready to fight until realizing Sammi was scowling down at him.

"Sammi, what the fuck!?" yelled Vince. Tommy and Athena were quick to run out to get Sammi, Sammi pushing away their grasps.

Hayley rushed to Vince's side. "What's wrong with you?!" asked Hayley.

"Why did you tell Nikki?!" screamed Sammi. "You promised!" Vince bit his lip, looking at everyone but Sammi. "Huh?!"

"Sam," whispered Athena, softly pushing her away from the edge of the pool. Tommy pulled Vince up out of the water, glaring right at him for answers.

"Why are you so mad you slept with me?!" asked Vince, Athena, and Tommy, eyes opening wide at Sammi.

"Because it was a drunk mistake!" shouted Sammi. She shook her head at Vince. "You didn't give a shit about me," spit Sammi.

"You had sex with Vince?" asked Athena, concerned. Sammi didn't give an answer.

Emma and Sabrina delicately put a hand on Sammi's shoulders, being the only people who didn't get shoved off. "Sam, we're going home," ordered Emma, grabbing her hand as she shot daggers at Vince. Sammi didn't protest, letting the girls engulf her in protection from stares. They didn't need anyone to judge Sammi as she was only a stranger to everyone. Mick had already left from the madness, knowing he would hear from the grapevine. Once the girls were in a cab, Emma turned to Sammi. "Are you finally going to talk to Nikki? And this time like adults?" Sammi only dropped her head against the fuzzy middle seat, nodding with another word.

[myhappyendings32]

Life Altercation’s

Chapter 9

Calzona AU: Callie Torres had it all, popularity, captain of the cheerleading squad, dating the starting Quarterback of Seattle Grace Mercy West High School football team, a straight A student, and with the love and support of her family she is one her way to a full ride scholarship to medical school at Johns Hopkins. What happens when tragedy hits? Will a blued eyed blonde-haired fire cracker be able to lead her back on track or will she be forced to give it all up?

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or phrases of Greys Anatomy, if I did Callie and Arizona would still be together.

__________________________________________________

‘Hakuna Matata!

What a wonderful phrase

Hakuna Matata!

Ain’t no passing craze

It means no worries, for the rest of your days

It’s our problem-free

Philosophy,

Hakuna Matata!’

Thanks to the Oxycodone that Callie was prescribed for her routine meds, the little dance party to Hakuna Matata, that the girls and I have going on is not affecting the beautiful brunette sleeping in the bedroom across the hall one bit.

“I want dance with Nona, Emma!” Ashlyn pushes Emma out of the way to get closer too me.

Emma than retaliates and pushes her back. “Nooooo. She my sissy.”

These 2 have been spending way too long with each other, they are starting to fight like sisters. “Girls, no shoving, we need to have nice hands. Now you both can dance with me on each side.”

Apparently neither of them liked my solution to the problem. “Zona, we dance you me.” Emma looks directly at Ashlyn, glares at her and says; “Not Ashwin!”

“Emma, we can all dance together.” I say, and with that the water works are full on display.

“You don’t love me no mores.” She is lying on the ground arms and feet flailing up and down throwing a temper tantrum. “You like Ashwin more den me.”

2 almost 3 months ago Emma was diagnosed with Autism. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences.

Flashback

Dad, Emma, and I are sitting in the waiting room anticipating the arrival of a nurse to call us back. Today is the day we are going to find out why Emma is so quiet and standoffish at times also we would like to find out why her temper tantrums have gotten worse instead of better.

“Emma Robbins” The nurse calls out.

“That’s us” I respond, as far as asking and answering questions about Emma my father has left that up to me. He is there because of the adult factor, but knowing what to say and what to ask has never been his forte. Which surprises me because of his military background, nonetheless I don’t question it.

We are led out of the waiting room and into a room with Disney characters in lining the walls and medical supplies throughout the room. “I’m Mackenzie” Mackenzie gets down to Emma’s level and asks; “How are you doing miss Emma?”

Silence

“Hi, I’m Arizona, I am Emma’s older sister.” She is never going to get anything out of Emma. The only adult I have ever seen her talk to besides our dad is Calliope. “I’m sorry, but Emma is a hard person to get to talk.”

The nurse nods at my response. “I completely understand, a lot of kids are not a fan of the doctor and getting them to say anything is nearly impossible.”

“No, you don’t understand, her not talking is why we are here and her temper tantrums.”

Nodding, the nurse goes about taking Emma’s vital signs, and weight, at which Emma surprisingly abides to. After Nurse Mackenzie leaves we wait about 20 minutes, (but with Emma’s impatience it seems much longer) for the doctor to appear. “I am doctor Higgins M.D.” Smiling at Emma and then looking at my dad she inquires you must be Mr. Robbins?” She puts her hand out to shake.

My father being my father clears his throat and states; “That’s the Colonel” All I can do is roll my eyes. He is so embarrassing sometimes. I get his position in the military I really do, and I couldn’t be prouder of him, but don’t correct someone who calls you mister.

“Excuse me, my apologies Colonel.” He sits back down, and she looks at me and asks; “And you are?”

My hand flies out in front of me to shake her hand. “My name is Arizona Robbins, I am Emma’s sister. Also, if you could direct all your questions to me and if its all right with you I would like to be able to tell you what’s going on with Emma?”

The look on her face is filled with both amusement and concern. “Sure of course if that is what The Colonel wants?” Her gaze goes to my father and he gestures his head in a up and down motion. “Ok then, what is going on with Emma?”

“The last couple of months we noticed some drastic changes in her behavior. She goes quiet for a long period of time and when she does talk it’s very minimal. Within the last month she has started throwing temper tantrums and they only get worse each time.”

Dr. Higgins looks back to dad and again nods a yes in confirmation. “How has her eating habits been?”

“She eats’ as well as a normal 2-year-old eats. She is a meticulous eater will only eat select foods like Macaroni and cheese, she loves peaches, banana’s, and oranges, and sometimes depending on her mood I can get her too eat some meats such as chicken or turkey.” My sister comes walking up to me and puts both arms out for me to hold her. “Would it be ok if Emma sits on my lap?” She says yes and writes something in her notepad.

“Her weight is normal, vitals are normal.” Then why did she just ask me how her eating habits were? “I’m going to ask you a series of questions about Emma and I would like you to answer them as honest as possible.” I shake my head yes in agreement. “Question 1: How is Emma towards others outside of your household?”

“She won’t talk to anyone except for a friend of mine that I recently have been hanging out with.” My blue eyes sparkle just mentioning her.

Dr. Higgins follows up with another question. “Why do you think that your friend has that effect on her?”

“Honestly… I think it has more to do with her sister than anything else. She has a sister Emma’s age and they have really connected and I think that might have a lot to do with her liking Callie, but Callie is a great person in my opinion.”

The red headed Doctor continues on with her assessments and I happily answer all of them as truthfully as possible until she makes a diagnosis. “Sounds like she has Autism to me. Now it looks like she almost 3 which means that she will be eligible for school here soon? First, I would like you too to take her to another Doctor one who specializes in Autism at Seattle children’s Autism Center, just to confirm my suspicions, then if they confirm it I would like you too sign her up at Academy of Precision Learning.”

End of Flashback

Of course, it was confirmed that she has Autism, since then my dad signed her up for The Academy of Precision Learning and we have toured the place. I think this will be a good experience for her.

Picking Emma up off of the floor and carrying her over to the couch she is still wailing over what she believes is the word, but really its nothing. “Emma, you know I love you so much. Do you want to know how much I love you?” Her head pops up and she looks at me with my arms extended out to both of my sides. “I love you this much.” I extend wider to prove my point.

Her dimples pop out and her crying succumbs to sniffles. “Really?”

“You better believe it baby girl. I just think that Ashlyn should be able to dance with us too.” Her sniffles turn into a whine and her lips start too quiver. “How about we not dance and maybe watch a movie?”

Both Girls shout yay. Thank god, they like that idea. I am hoping that popping in the Lion King will put them to sleep and allow me to get the house cleaned, I also am hoping that I can put my plan into action to help relieve Callie’s stress.

It’s been a week since Calliope confessed about her mom and what happened. I cannot begin to fathom the hurt and agony that Calliope has gone through. Put that on top of losing her father, and now raising her little sister… how has she gone this long without help and not cracking?

The girls were pretty worn out from the dance party so not even ten minutes into the movie and both of them are out, now its time to get into action. Callie has been sleeping for an hour and will probably be waking up here soon, so I need to hurry in my restraint of time. __________________________________________________

“Wow, you got both of the girls asleep and the house looks amazing Arizona.” Callie says as she strides up towards me.

I help her over to the love seat and sit right next to her. After her heart felt confession, her and I have gotten very very close, both personally and affectionately. She trusts me now. Well… as much as she can. There are still times where she still tries too push me away, but I pull out my Robbins charm and bedazzle her with kindness. “Hey beautiful, how was your nap?”

Her hand ends up on my thigh and she starts to rub it as she gazes into my orbs. I really don’t think she knows what she does too me when she does that. Her eyes are glazed over, probably from the medicine, but it almost looks sexual. Callie had her first doctor’s appointment yesterday and where everything is looking great are hormones on the other hand have to be contained for at least 6 to 8 more weeks. I can’t wait and neither can she. She goes into give me a peck, which one peck leads to another peck, which leads to another and before I know it her tongue is invading my mouth, her hand that was messaging my thigh moves further towards where I would love her too be and right there I have too stop her. My hand moves to hers and halts it. I then make a stop too the kissing and growl at the loss of her lip.

“Wh-why did you stop?” She asks me confused. “It was getting good.”

I smirk she is almost as bad as a horny boy. “You know we aren’t allowed to do anything while your still in recover Calliope and it would look pretty bad if I was making you scream my name while the girls were right there.” Looking down at the precious sight I continue. “Besides I want too woo you take you out on an official date before you and I go all the way.”

“Okay… I guess you are right. It’s just kissing you feels so good I can’t help myself sometimes.”

I know what she is talking about. Pulling back is getting too be harder and harder every time. Instead of answering her I change the subject. “Christmas is a few days away what are your plans?” When I say a few days away I mean 5 days. I love this time a year.

She shrugs her shoulders. “I’m not sure.” The lust that was in her eyes dissipates into tears and sadness. “I haven’t even gotten Ashlyn her presents, not even sure I will have the money for Christmas presents for her. I’ve been out of work for almost 3 months and I only had not even a week of vacation and sick time. The last time I got paid was a month and a half ago.”

Now I’m confused. “I thought that you were getting your parents inheritance?”

“I am, but not for another 7 months when I turn 18.” My dimples beam out as I am about to give her the surprise of a lifetime. “This is bad news Arizona. How can you smile?”

My hand finds hers and I start. “Calliope, I have talked to Dr. Richard Webber and a couple of approved staff that he told me that knows your situation and they are all doing a what they call an Angel tree. Usually the people that are doing the Angel Tree would go out and get the presents, but none of us was sure what exactly you or Ashlyn wanted or needed, So Dr. Webber pulled anonymously a pool of money and half is going towards you presents for you and your sister and the other half is going towards living expenses. To help out.”

She still has tears in her eyes, but I have a feeling that those tears are tears of joy. “Th-th-thank you.” She chokes out. “I L-llo love the Idea of that, but I can’t take someone else’s money. That’s not who I am.”

“Calliope Torres. You will take the money offered to you.” I get my bookbag that has a lock box and key that is capturing the money and grab the black metal box to retrieve the green bills hidden within the said box.

When I open it, her eyes nearly bug out of her head at the sight of all the bills. “There’s got to be thousands of dollars in there. I definitely can’t take that much…”

“You can, and you will Calliope. I have non-refundable money with me and the only person who is aloud to spend it is you, so you might as well start thinking of what you want to buy Emma for Christmas, because again you only have 5 days.” She gets up and heads into her room. “What are you doing?” I ask

“Bringing out the baby monitor so that I can take you to my bed and show you how much I appreciate you.” My mouth begins to move, and she puts her hand on it. “There is no rule that says we can’t have a good old fashion make out party.”

There isn’t any rule that says that. With a sultry whisper I state. “I will agree to this as long as there is no funny business” With that she is dragging me onto her bed.

__________________________________________________

Emma and I had to go home for more clothes and we needed to see what’s going on at the Robbins front. Emma had woken up first and, so I decided that taking her now was as good as any. I volunteered to bring Ashlyn, but Callie said that she was more than ok with keeping her there.

“Dad.” I bellow. “Emma and I are home.”

My dad is in the living room watching football. He is a big Seattle Seahawks fan and when he got transferred here he was the most excited I have ever seen him. Men and football, I tell you. “Hey pumpkin, I wasn’t expecting you home so soon?” Emma runs up too him and gave him a big hug with a daddy for extra. She may not show it much, but my dad has always been her favorite. Sometimes it takes being away for a while to realize that. “Hey peanut, how’s my favorite girl?” He asks as he tickles her tummy. He brings out a giggle that has been hidden away for a long time.

Even though I really want to be mad at the favorite girl, her giggling makes it hard. “We have run out of clothes and was just making sure that all was ok here. How’s Timmy doing, I haven’t seen him in almost a week?”

“He has been spending every waking moment with that girl he’s been seeing. I think her name is Tanya… no that’s not it.” He scratches his head.

“Teddy dad. You’re looking for Teddy and she is amazing I am glad that their relationship is working out. I do have a question and I need you to have an open mind about it?”

His face straightens up and he puts Emma down. “What’s going on?”

“Calliope and Ashlyn don’t have anywhere to go for Christmas and if you say no, I will understand, but I will have to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with her and Ashlyn…”

My dad drops the magazine he had on the coffee table to get my attention. Damn, I have picked up her rambling. “What is your point sweetie.”

Taking a deep breath and spit out. “Can Callie and Ashlyn stay over at our house for Christmas eve and Christmas?”

He smiles picks up the remote to turn off the tv and says; “Of course they can stay with us. On one condition?”

“What’s that?” I question

“She has too sleep in a separate room.”

I think that can be arranged __________________________________________________

Thoughts?

AN: Wanted to post this on Christmas, but fanfiction was down and wasn’t letting me post. I will try and post today.

Guest that said that they wished there was more smut. I was thinking about that and if anyone would like to assist me with it that would be great.

Next, I do have quite a ways too go, but if anyone has anything they would like to see let me know.

AN2: Thank you everyone for the follows, Reviews, and favorites.

P.S. again if you want to give me a Christmas present hit that review button.

[thekorcariwilds]

what’s homophobic is that you can barely spend any time with any of the girls and you’re stuck with Bickering Men. Also the Nona and Ren ending? Give me a Nona and Clarissa ending they’re gfs

god I KNOW i get more and more tired of ren and jonas the more i play this game..... we r in a life or death situation its REALLY not the right time to throw temper tantrums boys ! i just want to spend an hour talking to clarissa blease

[angelfireeast]

Thank you to @avalonsilver for the questions and the kind words.

Who’s the werewolf and who’s the hunter? 

Barry’s the werewolf and Iris is the hunter. Sorry Bar but it works so perfectly with season one. Barry becomes a werewolf. Iris starts to investigate werewolves in the city because Barry saw his mother murdered by one as a child. Joe knows Barry is a werewolf and gets him to agree not to tell Iris because it’s too dangerous. Soon everyone from Eddie to Cisco knows the truth but not Iris. She becomes determined to get to the truth as smells a cover up so she turns into a bit of werewolf hunter. She wants justice for on Barry’s behave. (check back for season three when her brother becomes a werewolf too lol)

I don’t know much about the familiar thing to give a good answer so I went with the Mermaid/Fisherman instead.

Who’s the mermaid and who’s the fisherman?

Iris is the mermaid just because I think she’d be beautiful as one. Barry would be poor fishermen orphaned after an evil sea monster killed his mother and his father was taken to jail for the crime. Barry was a young boy but got work on a fishing boat and by the time he grew up he earned enough to own his own little boat. Joe is clearly Poseidon once a friend to Henry Allen but turned back on humans after his human wife (turned Mermaid) left him to return to the world of humans. Poseidon never knew his wife gave birth to a son after returning to human form. Everyone lives happily ever after in mermaid form and they defeat the evil sea creature who killed Nona and spring Henry from jail. But he’s soul is heavy so he decides to sail the world for a year before becoming a mermaid joining family under the sea. Wally also comes to join them there too.

Who’s the barista and who’s the coffee addict?

Well, Iris was a barista so I guess Barry can be the coffee addict. But he only became a coffee addict because he needed an excuse to be hanging around Jitters so much so he’d buy and drink lots of coffee.

Who’s the teacher and who’s the single parent?

Barry’s totally the dorky elementary teacher, like grade one teacher, and Iris is the single parent. Barry is totally the fun teacher who wears soft sweaters sings songs with the class every day, gives the best story time, talks to every kid making them feel special and totally knows how to deal with a temper tantrum like pro. Iris a single parent after his husband Eddie Thawne died on the job as police officer. It’s been 5 years and she’s ready to date again but she wasn’t expecting to fall for her daughter’s grade one teacher. Dorky nerds do something for her I guess lol. Plus she did go to elementary school with him years ago.