((Closed except for Aiden. If you aren`t Aiden and you post here, I`ll bite your head off. :-* ))
Stacey was coming home at last. After being away for the three weeks, she was finally coming back to where she belonged. Real power singed through her veins, and she could actually use it without getting in trouble. That thought made her giggle. But the thought that made her smile brightly was the fact that she was coming home to Aiden.
She sat on a train that was destined for Hogsmead. Stacey had sent a letter ahead of herself that told Aiden when and where to meet her. She was coming home. There was no way that she could ever apologize to Aiden about being gone. She had vowed to never let her mother separate them, and she hadn`t kept that promise. It wasn`t really all of her fault, though. Carrie had done everything in her Muggle power to bring Stacey home and get her to a shrink.
That what had taken so long, the doctor. And the visions. How was she going to tell Aiden about the visions? She had to. She wasn`t going to keep a secret from him like that. She would worry about that when the time came. Right now, the train was hissing into the station.
Stacey stood up and pressed her nose to the glass, trying to see him, but the smoke fogged everything up.
"Come on, come on." She muttured, waiting for the director tp say they were free to leave the cabin.
Aiden stood in the crowded, busy train station. His belly was tightened up in a nervous but anxious feeling. It seemed long, too long since he had seen her. It felt horrible to be away from Stacey, his love. A day seemed like weeks to him, but three weeks? It was unbearable to say the least. The hadn't been away from each other since they had first met. It was like something else was missing from him whenever she was away.
Aiden's eyes were bright, unusually bright. His eyes were never this bright until he saw Stacey, but the fact that he was going to see her after being weeks away from each other made them the brightest they had been in a long, long time. He stood upright, feeling very impatient as he paced back and forth. He was finding it hard to sit still.
Suddenly, a loud high pitched whistle sound in the distance. Steam could be seen from the top of the train, and the tone could be heard getting closer. After a few minutes of the train slowing down, it came to a stop in front of the station. Aiden quickly pushed his way through the big crowd, and stood in the front as he anxiously waited for the large silver doors to open.
Stacey was all but bouncing up and down as she stared at the back of the conductor`s head. "Come one, come on." She whispered, clutching her bag in one hand.
The conductor blew a whistle and she jumped from teh seat with a yelp. She almost ran into the silver doors, she got up so fast. She jumped off of the train and disappeared into the croud, running right into Aiden.
((My mom decieded that she wants to take me to a surprise. Don`t go away. Xd))
((I won't. ;)))
Aiden looked at Stacey, startled by the collision. His heart almost skipped a beat as he met her magnificent eyes, the ones he had missed so much. His stomache tightened again, but this time with joy.
He quickly picked up Stacey, holding her tight in her arms. He squeezed her in a warm hug, and spun around in a half-circle. He didn't even want to let her go, never. He grinned a brilliant smile, and leaned his head back to look at her face. Aiden's teeth shined in the light along with his brightly golden eyes.
"You're back!" Aiden explained the obvious as he still held her in his arms.
((I back. XD Sorry for the suddenness. My mom was just like, "Come on, come on, we`re leaving." I got a Blizard. X) ))
Stacey had gasped softly when she colided with Aiden, and she instinctively used her free hand to steady herself, holding onto his arm. She managed to wimper before Aiden picked her up.
She laughed, her eyes flashing bright blue. She was unaware of everyone else now, it was only him. "Yes, I`m back." She exclaimed, and it was her turn to hug him now.
((Yummy! XD ))
Aiden held her up with much ease. He stared at her eyes, finding peace in them. When she hugged him, it made his heart pound in his chest. However, not of these things he was aware of at the moment.
Aiden held her close. He leaned forward to kiss her gently, he couldn't help but grin as he did so. His eyes shot brighter under his closed eyes. He wasn't even paying attention to all of the people around them. He didn't mind showing public affection to his wife. He leaned back with a smile.
"I missed you so much." He said truthfully.
Stacey grinned and looped her arms around him, putting her head on his shoulder. Her heart was beating quickly, but she didn`t know it. She could only think if him.
"I missed you more." She teased, her eyes switching from blue to light pink to green to orange, along with other bright colors. She was pressed against him, still in his arms. She didn`t care. She was his wife.
Aiden smiled up at her as he watched Stacey's eyes change a variety of colors. Blue, pink, green... he found himself getting lost in the familiar colors. He took in a deep breath, and exhaled with a sigh. It almost sounded as if he was relieved.
He gently rubbed his hand down Stacey's arm. He'd missed this, he'd missed this alot. Aiden was glad to have her back. It was as if a part of him had came home, to where it belonged.
"How was it?" He asked quietly.
Stacey winced slightly, her eyes pausing on a rather unpleasant green.
"My mom sent me to a shrink, Aiden. It wasn`t fun." She said, a small frown on her face.
She leaned into Aiden, putting her head on his chest. She had missed him, too. She had missed his slightly warmer skin against hers, the way she knew exactly how she would fit against him. This was what she missed. The simple touching, talking, just being normal. She didn`t like being away from Aiden.
Aiden leaned his head back. It was obviously not a good trip, her eyes showed that if not her wincing. He sat her down, wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug once more before leaning back, and taking her hand. He motioned his head to a bench of the other side of the train station. It would be quiet there for them to talk.
Aiden walked over there, holding onto his wife's hand. He sat down slowly, and turned himself so he could show his full attention to Stacey.
"A shrink?" He asked surprised. His tone may have sounded angry to someone outside of the conversation. "Why the hell did she do that?"
He meant no disrespect to her mother, but he knew Stacey didn't need to see a shrink.
Stacey smiled as Aiden suggested the bench. She sat beside him, but facing him. And she couldn`t help but grin broadly when he questioned her about her mother.
"Yes, she sent me to a doctor. And now that you mention it, I don`t really remember why she sent me. There was a reason, but..." Her voice trailed of and she shrugged. Figiting with her bag.
Aiden leaned forward without realization of doing so. He raised an eyebrow, curious about the fact that she had forgotton such a thing. He gently rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, edging her on.
He lifted his eyes to Stacey's. They had turned to his natural dark shade of brown now.
"You don't remember...?" He asked, curious.
((Don`t judge. I forgot. X( ))
Stacey paused for a moment, thinking.
"I... I think it was because of the dreams I had been having." She finally said. Did Aiden know about the dreams? She couldn`t remember if she had told him about them or not. He would freak out when he did know, nonetheless.
((Hehe it's cool.))
Aiden tilted his head more. He cleared his throat, and suddenly remembered the voices again. He frowned, a crease forming in his foread. Something about these dreams suddenly reminded him about the voices.
Aiden looked at Stacey's eyes again, trying to read her expression as she thought.
"Dreams?" He inquiered.
((I actually had to go check....))
Stacey looked down at her hands again with a guilty expression. It wasn`t like she was guilty abotu anything, but she felt bad for not telling him about the dreams. In person or by letter.
"Yeah, I started having these... dreams. But they aren`t like real... dreams." She answered slowly, choosing her words carefully. How would she tell him about Jonathan? And how would she question her father, for that matter?
Aiden watched her expression fall. His stomache tightened again in the same nervous way like it had when he was waiting on the train. He gently took her hand, holding it in his lap.
Aiden looked at her face, trying to find the right words to say. He was being careful, like he had always been since the voices.
"Dreams...? What are they of?" Aiden asked, his voice quiet.
Stacey chewed the inside of her lips, thinking of how to say it without making Aiden think it was much worse than it was.
"Well, they aren`t... dreams, really. They`re more like... visions. And... a man named Jonathan says that he`s my uncle." A man had paused a few feet away, seemingly looking at the train. He was too close for comfort. So she sent a burt of air towards him, making his hat fly away. Hee muttured under his breath and started to walk away quickly after his hat.
Aiden watched Stacey, not really noticing her what she was doing with the wind. He was too distracted as he listened to her explain. He hadn't known Stacey had an uncle, if it was true he didn't think Stacey knew either.
"And this guy, he didn't hurt you did he?" He asked, feeling wary again.
Stacey`s eyes snapped back up to Aiden`s, and there was something subtle in her eyes. Something deep and fierce.
"No," She said firmly, "he didn`t hurt me. All he did was talk to me. He said that he was my uncle. I don`t believe him, but it was him who caused the voices." She clenched her jaw for a moment, very angry all of a sudden at a man she didn`t know.
Aiden noticed her eyes change. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and turned his head so he could look Stacey directly in the eyes. He had to stay focused so he wouldn't get distracted by their ever-changing colors.
"He caused the voices?" He asked, his tone serious and getting louder. "Then he did hurt you!"
"Aiden, no! I mean... I don`t know." Stacey exclaimed, getting looks from a couple of people. She leaned forward and rested her head on Aiden`s shoulder.
"Can you... make your questions more specific? I haven`t been getting a lot of sleep." She said after a moment, squeezing her eyes closed. The truth was, she hadn`t gotten any sleep really since her mother had called her home, but it was the most recent nights that had affected her the most.
Aiden took deep slow breaths, using it as a remedy to control his anger. His eyes shot darker as a pounding began in his ears. It wasn't until a few moments later he realized it was his own heart beat. Aiden took a swift glance at the people around them.
He turned his head to Stacey, his eyes black with worry.
"Maybe we should talk somewhere." Aiden pointed out quietly.
He didn't want to cause a scene here. They would need to talk alone.
Stacey chewed the inside of her cheek nervously. She could tell that Aiden was angry and she leaned back so she could lookin into his eyes. It surprised her just how dark they were.
"I was about to suggest it." She said just as softly. She stood up carefully, looking down at Aiden, still holding his hand.
Aiden slowly walked after Stacey, holding her hand softly. They wouldn't have to worry about her bags, he had gotten someone to take care of them for her.
He followed Stacey, looking down at the ground. He wasn't paying attention to the large crowd around him, his mind was elsewhere. He wasn't angry at Stacey, not at all. He was angry at the man who did this, who was supposedly her uncle. Aiden ground his teeth together as he thought to himself.
Stacey led Aiden silently, lost in her own thoughts. One thing that stood out, though, was his anger. She could feel it like cold water over her skin. It made eher unhappy to see him like that. So as soon as they exited the train station, she stopped.
"Aiden, where do you want to go?" She asked slowly and softly, meeting his eyes with a concerned look in her eyes.
((Will they go to their house, the forest?))
((Um, how about the forest for now?))
Aiden lifted his head, and led them towards the forest. He looked around, and saw no one was near so no one was in earshot. He took a deep breath, exhaling with a deep sigh.
Aiden stopped walking, and turned towards Stacey. He was calmer now, but still upset. He waited for her to say something.
Stacey follwed Aiden now, and they stopped just barely inside the cover of the trees. She could tell that Aiden was angry. Maybe not a lot, but it was still there.
"Aiden, I-- I don`t know what you want me to tell you. When my mon called me home, she never wanted me to come back. I`m not sure exactly what happened, but she sent me to a shrink. The dreams.... they were getting stronger. The voices were softer, but I have ahandle on them anyway. Then one night.... something happened. It was like a vision, but in dream form. I dreamed of you. Me and you. And... first I want to know if you dreamed that too."
That was the first time Stacey had felt some sort of substance in a dream. It was important for her to know if Aiden had felt it too.
Aiden slowly entwined his fingers through Stacey's fingers. He gently squeezed her hand and looked in her eyes. There wasn't any place to sit down so they had to stand. However, he didn't mind much, it was peaceful here.
"Well, I had dreams, but what was yours about?" Aiden asked quietly, turning towards her completely.
Stacey slowly took Aiden`s other hand and laced her fingers through that hand, too.
"Well, I don`t really know. We were just... together. It about about a week and a half after I had left. I know that I felt better after." She tried to explain softly.
Aiden gave her a small smile. He did have some dreams, all of them being about Stacey and him. That's how it always was now since they spent most of their time together it was expected.
"I had dreams, too. All of them about different things." He pointed out quietly.
"And of this guy...?" He trailed off, not sure of his name.
Stacey smiled slowly, but rested her head in her hands. She was getting a headache, and she was exhausted. All of the lack of sleep seemed to rest on her now.
"Aiden, like I said, I haven`t slept very well. You`ll have to make your questions a little more descriptive if you want a logical answer." She said, looking up at him with a pained expression. She didn`t like having to ask this of him. It wasn`t just that she was showing weakness, but because she was showing it in front of Aiden. She didn`t want him to worry, even though she was.
Aiden watched Stacey carefully. He sighed, and took one of her hands in his own.
"No." He replied quietly, his tone serious.
He looked up at the sky, seeing it was almost sunset. Aiden could tell Stacey desperatly need to sleep. He tilted his head to one side, and took her hand down from her face.
"First you need to get some sleep." He said slowly.
Stacey squeezed Aiden`s hand tightly.
"Aiden, really. You can ask your questions. I`ll be fine. I promise." She looked up at him, pure love in her eyes. She felt that Aiden more than deserved the answers to his questions.
Aiden lifted his finger, and put it up to her lips. He looked at her eyes and watched different emotions run through them. He squeezed her other hand as a reply.
"Yes, but my questions can wait. Your health is my first priority." He replied quietly.
Stacey sighed softly and closed her eyes for a moment. "Okay, my moon." She said softly and stepped forward slwoly and wrapped her arms around Aiden`s waist in a hug.
"I love you. I`m glad I`m finally home." She whispered. She really was tired, she just didn`t want to be.
Aiden slowly wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a soft, gentle hug. He closed his eyes gently even if he wasn't going to sleep.
"I love you, too." He replied softly in her ear.
He tilted his head to one side.
"Do you want me to take you back to the dorms?"
Stacey winced as she thought about it.
"Please. And could you transpost us? I`m more tired than I want to admit." She opened her eyes and gave Aiden a pained look. She didn`t want him to worry about her, but that would mean lying to him. She wasn`t going to do that, either.
Aiden saw the look on her face, the look of pain and loss of fatigue. His eyes suddenly flashed a darker shade, and he nodded. He slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"Sure thing love."
Aiden closed his eyes, taking in a deep, slow breath. He exhaled slowly and did this once more. He closed his eyes, and suddenly in what seemed like a matter of seconds they were in the Gryffindor common room.
Stacey sighed softly and opened her eyes.
"Thank you." She said softly, lowering herself onto the end of the couch.
"I`m sorry about all of this. I should have never left. This probably wouldn`t have happened if I didn`t let my mother control everything." She covered her face with her hands.
Aiden slowly sat down on the middle of the couch next to Stacey. He wrapped his arm over her shoulder, the other around her waiste. He looked at her straight in the eye with his own dark brown eyes.
"Stacey, don't blame yourself. I know it wasn't your fault." He told her quietly.
He gently rubbed her shoulder.
"There is no need to apologize."
She slowly closed her eyes as Aiden rubbed her shoulder.
"Yes there is. I shouldn`t have left. If I would have stayed here, we`d both be happpy, and I probably wouldn`t have let those dreams work." She sighed.
"I don`t know what happened." She said before yawning largely.
Aiden embraced her gently as he watched her more and more slowly get tired. He would stay awake, but Stacey needed her sleep. She probably already had a rough few days.
"Shh.." He whispered in her ear quietly.
He would let her sleep, knowing it was only a few moments until she would be under.
Stacey yawned again, popping her jaw.
"I love you." She whispered before once more falling into the blackness of sleep.
((Okay dokie, you can wake her up now. XD ))
Aiden adjusted himself as he sat on the couch. He had accidently fallen a sleep for a few moments, so he blinked his eyes to get the sleep out of them. It wasn't until a minute later he noticed Stacey's heavy breathing. He shook her shoulder a little too hard as he tried to wake her up.
"Stacey?" He called, his voice urgent.
((I was going to make it so she had a dream of Jonathan. Can you wake her up as if she had screamed then stopped breathing?))
((I fixed it. Is that better?))
((Yepp. Thank you!))
Stacey woke with a start. She rolled onto the floor and onto all fours, coughing heavily. Her eyes were wide and lime green-- shock.
After a few minutes, she stopped coughing.
"I`m sorry." She said, her voice hoarse.
Aiden quickly bent down to his knees on the floor. He put one hand behind Stacey's head to hold her up and the other around her back. His eyes were dark with worry, and his expression full of suprise and panic.
"Sorry? What? No." He exclaimed. "Stacey, whats wrong?"
Stacey coughed once, then sat up, rubbing her hands over her eyes. She blinked a few times, clearing her sight.
"It was Jonathan." She said softly after a moment.
He pat Stacey's back softly, and held her up against the couch. Aiden looked over her to see if she was hurt, but found nothing. His face still looked worried and panicked.
"How?" He asked, calming down his voice.
Stacey`s eyes went distanr as she remembered the dream. She let Aiden hold her against the couch, clutching his hand.
"It was like before. I was just asleep, and he was suddenly there." She was silent for a moment, then shook ehr head.
Aiden pressed his lips together into a tight, straight line as he thought of what to do.
"What happened in the dream?"
Stacey thought for a moment, her breathing slow and steady.
"He was angry. He couldn`t access me while conscious after I got back. It made him mad, because he could before." She sounded like she was talking more to herself instead of Aiden.
((After you post, I won`t post again until after I get the next part in the FF out.))
Aiden looked down, sliding his fingers in between Stacey's as he held her up against the couch. He quickly grabbed a pillow from the couch, and sat it behind her head as a soft place for her to lean against.
Aiden kept his eyes fixated on their hands as they were entwined together
"How did you make it stop?" He asked, lifting his eyes to meet Stacey's.
Stacey gave a small, sideways grin as Aiden put the pillow behind her head. It seemed like he was always looking out for her. Always trying to do what was best for her or what would make her happy, even if it meant going out of his way. And it seemed like she was always the one who ended up needing help.
"I don`t know." She finally replied. "I guess some part of me just pulled myself from it. It was still a dream, after all." She explained softly, thinking as she spoke.
Aiden slowly ran his fingers through Stacey's soft hair as an attempt to comfort her. He leaned his back against the couch in a more comfortable position. He looked down, thinking for a moment.
"Did he say anything to you?"
Stacey nodded slowly, her eyes becoming distant again as she thought.
"Yes. He said.... something about me getting stronger as I neared magic. How he had to work harder to get to me." She said softly.
Aiden nodded, rubbing his neck with his palm. He bit his lip, and looked at the fireplace.
"So, that would be good, right?" He asked.
Aiden cleared his throat and turned his eyes to look at Stacey.
"That means he won't be able to get to you as easily. Maybe these dreams will stop completely."
Stacey slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. Her eyes were dark-- they had been since she woke up-- and the were a dark grey that would remind anyone of storm clouds. She could hear it in his voice; he wanted what he said to be true. He hoped the dreams would stop. But Stacey knew they wouldn`t.
She started to shake her head slowly. "No, they won`t, Aiden." She replied softly. "I don`t know what he wants, but he`s determined to get it. He won`t give up on what he believes in." She took Aiden`s hand and squeezed it gently.
I won`t give up, either. She thought to herself. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you." She reminded softly. "In case you forgot about me." She smiled, knowing he would argue. She had missed him too much to care, though. She just wanted to stay here forever.
Aiden frowned, opening his mouth to object but he decided not too. He knew that Stacey knows he would never forget her. Not in a million years. He squeezed her gently as he embraced her in his arms.
"I love you too." He replied quietly.
He sighed, and patted her back.
"You know, maybe if we can find what he wants...we can figure this out." He suggested.
Stacey closed her eyes for a moment, thinking. She didn`t feel physically tired any more, but she was mentally tired. There had just been so many questions that she didn`t have the answers to. She hated not knowing what was going on. What if Jonathan got to her father? Or worse, Aiden? She didn`t think that she could stand it if Aiden got hurt.
"Maybe." She replied. "He wants something, but I have no idea what it is." Stacey leaned back so she could look at Aiden.
Aiden leaned forward slowly, his eyes serious as if he were thinking hard about something. He placed both of his pale hands on either sides of her face, caressing her cheeks. He slowly pressed his lips to Stacey's for a quick kiss.
"I'll help you find out what it." He said after he leaned back. "If you want."
Stacey couldn`t help but smile as Aiden kissed her. After he spoke she kissed him back.
"Of course you can help." She said, then grimmaced. "If you can. I don`t know when he`s going to show up again, or how strong he`ll be." She said with a frown.
Aiden smiled as Stacey kissed him this time. He leaned back, and ran his fingers through her soft hair absentmidedly now.
"Maybe..." He began, trying to think.
"Maybe if I waited with you while you slept or something. I could watch and see if anything happens." Aiden explained.
Stacey nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Since I can`t see myself when I`m asleep, maybe that would be a good idea." She agreed.
Suddenly feeling embarassed, Aiden rubbed his palm against the back of his neck.
"I just realized how creepy that sounded of me." He pointed out with a frown.
Stacey laughed and took Aiden`s hand.
"Like you don`t watch me while I sleep anyway." She teased. She had never actually witnessed Aiden sleeping. He often stayed awake while while she slept, so he really did watch her while she slept.
Aiden smiled.
"But it still sounds creepy." He teased as he began cringe over-dramatically. "I can't imagine how you felt when I suggested that.
He squeezed her hand gently, rubbing his thumb over Stacey's palm slowly.
"But I'll make sure nothing happens to you." He added.
Stacey laughed again.
"Actually, I didn`t think anything bad about it, you`re the one that made it sound staler-ish." She wrinkled her nose and lifted their hands so she could kiss the back of Aiden`s hands.
"And I know that you would never let anything happen to me." She said sincerely.
Aiden smiled even more as she laughed.
"Well, if you're not going to notice these things...someone has to." He pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
He watched Stacey kiss his hand. He squeezed her hand once more playfully.
"I'm glad, because I'll do everything in my power to make sure nothing does happen." Aiden added on a serious note.
Stacey grinned, but then looked at him seriously.
"Hey, I`m not that prone to accidents." She said, suddenly breaking into another grin.
Aiden's eyes gradually got bigger as if he had just seen a ghost.
"You're not?" He asked, sounding astonished.
He chuckled, and shook his head.
"Honestly, Stacey, accidents are attracted to you in every way possible. I've never known someone so accident-prone as you." He teased.
Stacey pretended to gasp as if she were hurt.
"You are so mean to me." She complained, then pushed his head, laughing. "So, so mean to me." She crossed her arms, ready for Aiden to push her back.
Aiden used his finger and gently pushed her back. He frowned again.
"It's true." He pointed out, making his eyes look sad, almost puppy dog like.
"You know it is." He added quickly, his tone teasing again.
Stacey giggled and pretended to faint into his lap.
"I shall perish with your meanness." She said, trying very hard not to laugh. Her eyes lightened to a merry pink.
Aiden chuckled and wrapped his arm over her shoulder.
"Maybe I should apologoze then." He pointed out almost teasingly.
Stacey smiled and moved her head to kiss Aide`s cheek. "I`ll be fine." She assured.
She had missed this so much. She joking and teasing. The hugging and kissing. Just the little simple things. She had her husband back.
Aiden smiled, mimicking her thoughts even if he couldn't read minds. Althought, he desperatly wish he could, espeically Stacey's. He sighed suddenly, more like content sigh than anything.
"I love you." Aiden said suddenly, raising his eyebrows in a teasing gesture.
Stacey grinned, her eyes flashing a bright blue-- the color that they were most of the time when she was near Aiden.
"I love you, too, my moon." She replied, putting her hand over his. "I missed you so much."
((You just wanna have a time lapse? I don`t really need to put what they did all day in the FF.))
((Sure, go right ahead. lol))
((Kk. I`m lapsing to later in the night, when they`re getting ready to go to sleep.))
Stacey traced a finger over the back of Aiden`s left hand. The only light in the room was from the fire, because it had gotten dark out by now. You could just make out the moon if you looked out the window at the right angle.
"Can I ask you a question?" She asked suddenly. Neither of them had spoken for about half an hour, content with the silence that had been filled with the occasional kiss or laugh.
Aiden stared into the fire, the bright orange flames reflecting in his eyes which were now only his natural medium brown shade. He was sitting on the couch, next to his wife. It had been quiet for the last half hour which was rather nice. He was keeping his thoughts to himself, mainly thinking about the past and occasional future.
Aiden turned his head slowly, removing his gaze from the flames.
"Sure, anything love." He replied.
Stacey was silent for another moment.
"What do you want to do? Like, as a job? Have you ever thought about things like that? I mean, the Ministry thing I did was kind of forced on me, but I really don`t have to work at the Three Broomsticks if I didn`t want to." She said, softly but quickly.
Aiden lowered his eyes as his lips pursed together, his deep in thought expression. He leaned back against the couch, his other arm resting against the back of it. With the fireplace, the room felt very cozy.
He turned his gaze back to Stacey.
"I don't really know anything I'm good at for a job." He replied.
Stacey nodded slowly, her eyes getting a little glassy as she got a little more tired.
"You know, really, neither one of us should have to work." She said. "I need to take you to the Black`s vault in Gringott`s sometime." Her eyes flickered back up to his, the flames reflected in them.
Aiden did notice how tired she was getting. He leaned his arm around Stacey, and leaned back more. He looked down at her.
He thought about that for a moment. He out his index finger up to her lips softly.
"You know I would never do that." Aiden decided quickly.
He cleared his throat.
"I need to work for my money."
Stacey smiled kindly. Of course Aided would want to work. He had insisted on taking care of the honeymoon and the house himself. Both were surprises for Stacey, too.
"Okay," She said, knowing that he wouldn`t change his mind, "then what do you think you would like to do? There are a few shops in Hogsmead or Diagon Alley that would like a couple extra hands."
Aiden about that for a moment, too. He needed a job, even if it was only working for some small shop in town. Better than nothing, right? He nodded, and looked at Stacey.
He gently squeezed her fingers.
"That's a good idea. Any particular stores in mind?"
Stacey shrugged, her eyes on the fire. As she watched it it shivered and sparked, then just did whatever fires do.
"Not really. I don`t know what you would want to do." She said slowly, holding back a yawn.
Aiden watched her look into the fire. He followed her gaze, and took a deep breath. He quietly snapped his index and ring finger together, causing the fire to slowly dim down. He noticed how sleepy she seemed to be.
Aiden looked back at Stacey.
"You know what, I'm going to check them out and see whos hiring." He decided.
Stacey grinned as Aiden dimmed the fire. She knew that he knew that she was getting tired, even if she tried to hide it.
"You really don`t have to do that." She argued half-heartedly. She knew that he wouldn`t change his mind, but she didn`t mind.
Aiden smiled down at her. He didn't let the fire out completely, figuring the common room should have a little light at least so they could see.
He shrugged his shoulders as he tilted his head to her.
"Well, I think it's a good idea. I want to." He replied quietly.
Stacey smiled again.
"I know you do, my moon." She said softly, tracing patterns on the back of his hand. "I`m just saying that you don`t have to if you don`t want to." She added.
She coouldn`t hold the yawn back any more. Her jaw popped loudly as she did, and she rested her head against the back of the couch.
Aiden looked down at their hands, and he gently began to rub his thumb over the back of her palm softly. He noticed her yawn, and raised an eyebrow.
He turned himself towards Stacey more.
"You need some sleep." He noted.
She didn`t even argue about it. She just nodded.
"M`kay." Stacey sighed, yawning again. She snuggled between the corner of the couch and Aiden, making sure that she still held his hand.
Aiden leaned back some, and took in a breath. He used his other hand to slowly run through her soft hair. He would wait for Stacey to wake up, making sure she didn't dream anything bad.
Aiden watched her yawn again.
"Goodnight love." He whispered softly in her ear.
Stacey slowly smiled, her eyes flickering a bright blue before they closed.
"I love you, my moon." She mumbled softly, snugling into his shoulder.
Slowly his lips curved in half of a smile. He moved his arm so that it gently rested around Stacey, and against the back of the couch. He slowly leaned his head back as well, and rested his feet on the table in front of them.
"I love you too, so much. Sweet dreams." He whispered quietly.
((Okay, now wake her up like she was having a seizure, and fell onto the floor again.))
Aiden's eyes shot open. He had woken up with a start, only having dosed off. He quickly saw Stacey beside him shaking as she did before. His eyes got wide, and he quickly grabbed her shoulder.
"Stacey, can you here me? Wake up!" He wanted to scream as he struggled to keep his voice down.
Stacey rolled over with a loud gasp. Pulling herself from the dream had been hard, and she was paying the price for it. Her breathing was ragged, and her hands were clenched in tight little balls. She was shaking all over, but her eyes were open and a terrified orange.
Aiden quickly got on his knees in front of Stacey. He grabbed both of her shoulders gently, and looked her straight in the eyes, his face was a mixture of shock and worry.
"Stacey! Are you okay?" He exclaimed. "Please say something."
Stacey clenched her teeth together and nodded quickly. She was still trembling, but she didn`t notice.
"What happened?" She asked, her voice soft and shaky.
He rubbed her shoulder gently, and his brow was creased with worry and stress. He watched her eyes and her expression carefully.
"I- I don't know. You woke up and you were screaming and shaking." He explained slowly.
Stacey closed her eyes, the trembling getting worse.
"It was him. It was Jonathan." She mumbled.
Aiden paused for a moment, taking that in. Was he ever going to stop? She couldn't even sleep for a few hours without him haunting her in nightmares. Aiden blinked, and snapped back to look at Stacey.
"What did he do?" He asked.
Stacey shook her head, but not as an answer, as just a physical reaction.
"I don`t remember." She said, shivering violently.
Aiden ran his hand to the back of her neck, and leaned her back slowly and gently. He watched her shake, and grabbed a blanket from the side of the couch. He put it over her, and tucked it around Stacey.
"You don't remember anything?" He fretted.
Stacey opened her closed eyes, and locked them with his.
"He was mad, Aiden, very mad. If you had been there, you wouldn`t question me." She said softly, but with a slightly sharp tone. She didn`t mean to, though. She felt on edge, like she was going to be sick.
Aiden nodded slowly, not feeling the least bit offended at her sharp tone. He understood. He could only imagine what she was going through now.
"Mad about what?" He asked quietly.
Stacey bit her lip, thinking, trying to remember.
"I`m not sure." She replied. "I think he tried to block it." She added.
Then she jerked once, twice, her eyes fluttering closed. Her hands fell away from her lap and landed flat against the floor, trying to keep her balance.
Aiden leaned his head back a little, surprised by Stacey's sudden jerk. He shook his head, and looked at Stacey up and down.
"Are you okay?" He asked, confused.
Stacey shook her head-- a jerky motion. She balled her fists up until her nails dug into her palms. She was shaking, but again she didn`t know.
It felt like someone was running a hand through her, pulling on the invisable ties of her powers. It was a shocking thing, and it was uncomfortable. Stacey couldn`t feel anything around her, nothing at all. She only heard the sound of Aiden`s voice.
Aiden looked at Stacey up and down. He struggled to keep his hands on her shoulders as she shook violently. It was painful to look at, to see his wife this way. Espeically knowing someone caused her took react so strangely.
Aiden watched Stacey struggle, feeling helpless.
"Stacey, I'm about to transport us, okay?" He told her, unable to know if she could actually make out what he was saying.
He struggled to get a grip on himself. Aiden took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. Within a matter of seconds they were in the clearing.
Stacey gasped as her lungs filled with fresh air. She sat up quickly, her hands flying out to support herself.
"Thank you, my moon." She breathed, closing her eyes tightly. Slowly she sat down and her hands instead went to the air. She opened her eyes, which were a stormy grey, and moved her hands in a circular motion.
The sky filled with dark, swirling clouds. Thunder softly boombed in the distance, and lightening flashed briefly. She was trying to keep in under control, but she felt like she had to do something. She felt full of power, too full. She had to burn it off.
Aiden watched Stacey's eyes, his gaze fixed on them. He did look away, but out of the corner of his eyes he saw the sky turn dark with violent looking clouds. He could hear the lightning and the wind swirl around them quickly.
He took in a deep breath.
"Stacey, listen. I need you to calm down. Take a deep breath." He spoke slowly.
Stacey shook her head, turning her head to meet Aiden`s eyes.
"Aiden, don`t, please." She said, her eyes begging him not to ask her to calm down. She didn`t know how she knew, but she had to get rid of this energy that filled her. It was bad. It had to leave her system. She couldn`t help that what resulted from it wasn`t going to be good, but she could keep it from destroying something.
Aiden's brow creased as he looked into her eyes. He saw the pleading and he realized she need to do something, something with the what she was doing now. He didn't understand about the way she was using her powers. It looked rather destructive, but he knew Stacey could control it.
Aiden slowly nodded his head.
Stacey smiled thankfully at Aiden and stood up without using her hands like the dancer she was.
She turned her gaze to the sky, her eyes the exact color of the clouds, flashing brightly with the lightening. She rolled her fingers together and flicked them towards each other. Then she raised one hand, using the other to sweep to the side. At first, a soft wind gently pushed Aiden, warning him to stand back. As soon as he did, the wind picked up and started to whip around her. Her brown hair flew and twisted and it was pulled by the conjured force.
Aiden stood up, and slowly took a few steps back. His eyes were not on the sky, but glued to Stacey. He waited patiently for her to finish whatever she needed to do. For some reason he knew this was important.
As she felt that the wind would keep going until she made it stop, she made the motion for fire, and it joined the fast winds. The heat from it would have made anyone else quite hot, but fire was her power. She had to learn to deal with the heat or suffer immensly. Aiden would be okay, too.
She clasped her hands together, then raised them back into the dark sky and her arms twitched as if she had shot a gun. One great bolt of lightening shot down from the sky and touched her hands. But instead of electricuting her, she let the energy go off with the light. The wind and fire promptly disappeared, and Stacey stood alone in the middle of the clearing.
She turned to face Aiden, and collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.
Aiden's eyes drifted away from Stacey and into the sky. He watched the wind, lighting, and fire. He knew there was nothing to fear, he wouldn't get burned or electricuted. Surprisngly, he was calm.
Aiden eyes went to Stacey as she collapsed. He jogged over to her, and knelt down.
"Stacey, are you okay?" He asked, his eyes scanning over her.
Stacey nodded slowly, keeping her eyes closed.
"I`m fine. Just tired." She mumbled, struggling to sit up. Then she turned towards Aiden and pulled something from her hip. "Do you know how to shoot a gun?" She asked, looking up to him.
Aiden looked down to where she was pulling something from her side. His eyes looked confused as he looked up to her face.
Aiden looked into her eyes, watching the sky out of the corner of his eye.
"Yes." He said slowly. "But why?"
The sky was quickly clearing up, the clouds disappearing into nothingness. Everything seemed as calm as before they got here.
"Because you`re gonna need to know." She replied, handing the gun, butt first, to Aiden. Then she unhooked the holster from her hip, too. You couldn`t even tell that she had been carrying a gun, let alone fourteen other knives. True, the gun was only a hand pistol, but it could kill someone if you needed it to.
"I want you to carry that from now on. It`s loaded, so don`t snap it thinking that there`s blanks in it." She handed him the holster, looking at him seriously. "I have my knives, I`ll be fine without that. I haven`t needed it yet."
Aiden held out his hand, and slowly took the pistol in his firm grip. He looked down at it for a long moment. His eyes scaled up, and down the barrel.
He didn't look up as he spoke.
"What do I need to know?" Aiden asked, his voice a mere whisper.
"To know how to shoot." She replied, standing up carefully.
"How good is your aim? Do you know where to hit?" She continued. What Jonathan had said made her very wary, and she didn`t exactly know why. But the fact that he had pushed that energy into her pushed her theory.
Aiden nodded once more. He pointed the gun down, and looked on the side of the handle. He pushed the button gently, turning the safety on.
Aiden looked back up at Stacey.
"Yeah, I've owned a gun before." He replied.
"What do you think he'll do?"
Stacey shrugged, pulling her shoulders forward to let her arm knives loose. She pulled the blades from her sleeves, the expert way without giving herself a little scratch.
"I don`t know, but I`d feel a lot better if you had that on you all of the time." She said, looking down to him.
Aiden nodded for a third time. He ran his index and middle finger up and down the top of the barrel for a few moments. It had been awhile since he'd held a gun.
Aiden's eyes looked back up at Stacey's once more as he hooked the gun on the back of his jeans with his belt.
"What happened Stacey?" He asked, remembering when she was shaking violently just moments ago.
Stacey squared her jaw.
"That was the energy." She said, pulling four knives from her hips and dropping them carefully onto the ground. "It was too strong for me to handle." She closed her eyes. She felt so weak, so frail. It had been a long time since she had felt that way.
He watched her drop the knives on the ground. Most of the time he'd forget she had nearly a dozen knives on her at all times. He wondered now why she was unhooking them all.
Aiden sat down on the ground in front of her.
"Did the dream trigger something?" He asked, unsure if Stacey only knew as much as he did at this point.
Stacey leaned backwards, leanign back up with four knives in hand. Those were the tricky ones to get out, but the best placed ones.
"I don`t know. Jonathan pulled me into a dream, and talked to me." She sighed. "I don`t even remember what he said." She mumbled.
Aiden bit the inside of his lip. He wished for nothing more but for Jonathan to show up now, espeically since he had a gun now. The thought made his eyes turn a darker shade of brown.
He was quiet for a moment.
"Do you want to go back?"
"No." Stacey said sharply, instantly leaning in front of him.
"No, I do not want to go back, and no, you are not going to kill him." She could easily read his mind, so close to the school. "He is immortal, I knwo that. I don`t know what he is, but a bullet won`t kill him. Maybe slow him down, but not kill."
She looked down at the gun that Aiden held. "The bullets are heavy duty, and plated with silver. They could kill a werewolf or vampire if you did it right. I don`t think that it will work for him." She said grimly.
Aiden frowned, a crease in his forehead. He sighed, and grabbed the gun out of his belt. He looked down at it. He pulled the chamber back, and clicked a button on the side of the handle, releasing the magazine. He looked, and saw the silver bullets.
"What can kill him?" Aiden asked suddenly.
Stacey looked down at the silver bullets.
"I don`t know." She whispered, looking back to Aiden with a protective fierceness. "That`s why we`re leaving. Both of us."
He lifted his head to look at Stacey quickly. He quickly slid the magazine back into the gun, and hooked it back onto his belt against the back of his jeans.
"Leaving? Where?" Aiden asked, confused.
Stacey pulled two more knives from virtually nowhere and set them with the rest. The last could stay where it was for now.
"We`re going back to my house, so we can talk to my dad. If Jonathan is really my uncle, then my dad will talk."
Finally she pulled the strange dagger from her bodice. It`s black wooden handle was shiny, and the blade glinted in the sunlight. She ran her finger along the edge and looked at it. Blood bubbled up on her skin.
Aiden looked at the knife, and silently watched her as she ran her finger over it. He then noticed her bleed, and he really looked at the blade, seeing how sharp it really was.
Aiden slowly took her hand. He ran his thumb over her finger gently, wiping the blood away.
"Is that your knife?" He questioned.
Stacey shook her head slowly. She set the knife down carefully and sat down beside Aiden, squeezing his hand.
"No, Jonathan gave it to me and told me to give it to my father." She said, staring at the deadly knife.
Aiden held her hand gently. He turned his head to keep his eyes on hers. They were beginning to lighten up again back to his normal brown color. He took in a deep breath, and exhaled with a long sigh.
He, too, looked down at the interesting looking knife.
"What do you think that means?" He asked.
Stacey shrugged and reached for the knife with a shaky hand. She gripped the handle and flipped it around, to look at the other side.
"Sothing`s evgraved on it." She said after a moment, squinting to look at it. "It... it looks like a snake or something. It`s in a circle, and it`s biting it`s own tail." She set the knife back down, completely confused.
Aiden suddenly looked down at the knife, and narrowed his eyes at the engraved symbol. He leaned his head down to get a better look.
He used his thumb to feel the design that seemed so familiar to him. He then suddenly leaned back, and looked forward.
"Ouroboros." Aiden clarified.
Stacey`s eyes snapped to Aiden.
"How did you know that?" She asked, her eyes flashin purple.
Aiden turned to Stacey as he felt her eyes on him. He squeezed her hand gently.
He looked back down at the knife, and the symbol.
"When I was younger I remember reading this book. It had a picture of that right there." He explained, pointing to the snake.
"I can't recall everything it said. However, I do remembering something about re-creation."
Stacey sighed and closed her eyes.
"The Ouroboros, a symbol of recreation and new life. Immortality. Power. Strenght. D*mn." She whispered. "It`s coming back now. We had to study them in Defense Against the Dark Arts, but it was brief." She looked up to Aiden, trying to hide her fear. Ourobori couldn`t be killed, not by any human way.
Aiden nodded slowly, remembering now what the story told about the ancient symbol. He didn't know how he remember it since it was years ago since he had read about it.
He turned to Stacey, sensing her fear. He put his other hand over hers.
"It'l be okay." He whispered.
Stacey gave a sad smile.
"I love you, Aiden." She said softly, then sighed again. "We should probably leave for my house tomorrow morning." She rubbed her eyes with her palm. She was tired, and she felt really weak.
Aiden saw the sad smile. He slowly lifted his hand to her face, and cupped it under her chin, his thumb resting gently on her cheek.
He nodded slowly.
"I love you too, Stacey Gray." He replied quietly.
The smile she had now was real.
"Well, Mr. Gray, how about we go get something to eat?"
((Want to skip to the next morning.))
He replied by nodding his head slowly.
"Sure." Aiden agreed as he stood up.
He held out his hand for her.
((Mhm, go ahead.))
Stacey stood nervously on the last stair, looking out to the forest. It looked so dark in there, she had never noticed that before. It had always just been a place to be alone, a place to hide. Now it looked like a place for people to be hiding.
"Are you ready?" She asked Aiden, keeping her eyes on the massive trees. Two bags were at her feet, ready to be moved. She was wearing a long-sleeved green shirt and jeans to hide her knives. Aiden had the gun. She didn`t know if he would need it, but she wanted him to have it if he did.
Aiden stood beside Stacey, holding her hand gently. He wore a pair of light blue, thrashed jeans with a black jacket with the hood resting over his head. He was barely aware of the gun he had on him, but it did help him feel more secure.
Aiden turned his head to Stacey, nodding his head up and down slowly.
"Ready when you are love." He replied.
Stacey nodded. "Okay, I`m going to transport us right into the garage. I couldn`t do that before because he had a block on it, but I asked him to take it down. But we`ll show up. I`m not going to leave you here after what has happened." She looked up to meet Aiden`s eyes, her own shimmering in the soft light of the morning.
Aiden took in a deep breath, and squeezed her hand as he sighed. He was recalling in his mind the night before, and the way Stacey woke up. This explained his almost distant expression.
His eyes stayed his normal brown color.
"I understand." Aiden answered quickly.
"Have you talked to your father yet?" He asked before she could transport them.
((??))
"No." Stacey replied. "I`ll talk to him when we get there. I was kinda thinking about going back anyway. He would know what was happening. But no matter what, you were going to come with me." She explained quickly and quietly.
Then she took his other hand and faced him, pushing the bags so that they were between him. "Ready?" She asked again.
((Sorry, messed up that post.))
Aiden pulled her hand up to his lips, and kissed her palm softly. He looked into her eyes, and smiled gently to her.
"Of course I would come." He said quickly.
"And I'm ready."
((It`s okay. I got what you ment... kinda.))
Stacey smiled and nodded.
After a second of what felt like free-falling, they landed in the so familiar garage of the Black house.
She opened her eyes and looked around. Her little red car was back in its spot; her father had brought it back from the train station that she left it at.
"Ready?" The question now had a much different meaning, one that meant something much more.
Aiden opened his eyes for he'd closed them as they teleported here. He had become more familair with transporting, having learned to do it himself. However, it still made him feel sick every once in awhile.
He slowly looked around the room, his eyes curious. It had been quite a long time since he'd been here, but arriving back reminded him of that first day here.
"Yes." Aiden replied, looking at Stacey now.
"Are you?"
Stacey nodded, looking at the different cars. Her Posche, her Mustang, and her little red car were all in a row, shiny and new-looking.
"I`m ready." She squeezed Aiden`s hand and led him towards the door that would lead inside.
Aiden smiled at Stacey as she led him to the door. He squeezed her hand back as his pale fingers were entwined with hers.
((Sorry. Lame post.))
Stacey pushed the door opened and stepped in, pulling him with her. The house was silent, and Stacey paused, listening.
She could hear a heartbeat, but it could have been Aiden`s. She closed her eyes and listened harder, searching for another noise.
She led Aiden through the house with her eyes closed, knowing where not to walk in order not to run into anything. She stopped in the room of windows with the piano. James was there, staring out onto his land.
Aiden followed Stacey silently through the different but familiar rooms. Since he was walking behind her, he couldn't tell she was walking through the house with her eyes closed.
When they walked into the piano room he saw James standing before them. He wasn't sure whether he should be the first to say anything or not. However, he kept quiet guessing that Stacey would want to be the first to speak with her father.
James turned around, having heard the two enter.
"I wasn`t expecting you this soon." He said with his gravely voice.
Stacey narrowed her eyes.
"And yet you knew that we were here." She replied sharply. "Maybe we should go to the living room."
James nodded, his brown hair hiding his eyes. He moved past them and walked to the living room, seating himself in the overstuffed armchair, leaving Stacey and Aiden with the couch.
Stacey sat down, pulling Aiden with her. She looked at him, asking him silently if he wanted to stay.
Aiden followed them into the much bigger living room, and sat on the soft couch beside Stacey. He remembered back where this is where they sat when he first met Stacey's parents. How long ago it seemed.
He turned his head to Stacey, and nodded his head to show that he was fine with staying if she wanted him to. He would leave it up to her.
Stacey looked down at there hands and took a deep breath. She slowly pulled the dagger out and lifted it for James to see, the engraving facing him.
"Jonathan said to give this to you." She said softly but clearly.
James stood up, his eyes set on the sharp knife. "Where did you get that?" He demanded.
Stacey jutted her jaw out defiantly. "Like I said, Jonathan said to give it to you. He came to me by way of dreams. He caused the voices in my head. He caused all of my mental problems." She said, her eyes growing a little red.
James stood gracefully and took the knife from Stacey`s grip. "D*mn." He whispered, looking the knife over, only breifly scanning the engraved Ouroboros.
((Okay, because I still want some of this to be a surprise for you, I`m not going to finish this part. XD I`m going to skip a bit, and just reply to that.))
Stacey was staring at the floor, tears in her blood-red eyes. She was squeezing Aiden`s hand tightly, so tightly that her knuckles were white. She leaned oer and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes to keep from crying.
Aiden listened quietly, his eyes distant as he stared off toward the wall. As Stacey leaned into his shoulder, he used his arm to cradled her cheek softly.
He took a brief look at the knife, and the symbol on the handle. He could only guess what it meant.
"It'l be okay." He whispered in her ear, only loud enough for Stacey to hear.
Stacey let go of his hand and wrapped it around him, shaking her head back and forth slowly. How could her own father have kept something like this from her? This was something vital, something about who she was. It said so much about who she was, about why her powers were developed the way they did.
James looked at the knife, then set it on the floor in front of the couch.
"I`ll leave you two alone for a while. I`ll be back in a few minutes." He said softly, then left.
Aiden watched James leaves, grateful that he gave the two of them a moment alone to talk. Stacey was obviously upset, and he wasn't sure what to say.
He took one quick glance at the knife before looking back at the wall.
"Love, are you okay?" Aiden whispered, resting his hand on her shoulder.
Stacey opened her eyes and nodded. She leaned back and wiped her eyes from the tears that hadn`t spilled ever.
"I`m fine, I just... I just don`t understand how he didn`t tell me this before. About everything. I mean, if Jonathan always seemed to be a threat, then he should have told me." She wasn`t really upset, just angry and confused. Frustrated.
Aiden hugged her gently against his chest. He wrapped his other arm around her as he listened quietly to what she said. He couldn't help but think of what he'd do if he were in the same position.
"He must have a reason why he kept it from you." He said quietly.
Stacey nodded, not able to keep the red from her eyes.
"I know, but still. He... Jonathan could have killed me. Now or when I was younger. The voices have taken me over before, and not even Ginny knew that it was a live person causing it.
Aiden nodded, understanding her fear. Even if this Jonathan wasn't attacking him directly, he was attacking him by hurting those closest to him, Stacey. That alone made him to want him dead.
Aiden hugged her gently, but leaned back after a moment to look into her eyes.
"He must be waiting for something." He pointed out, pausing to take a breath and to think for a few seconds.
"We have to find what he's waiting for."
Stacey looked up to meet Aiden`s eyes.
"I know, but nothing makes sense. He doesn`t seem to want anything in particular, he justs wants to... I don`t know, hurt me. Maybe its my dad he`s after." Her eyes moved to the doorway her father had left through.
"I just don`t know."
Aiden lifted his head slowly and looked at the wall, his eyes getting distant as he tried to think of an explanation. While he thought, his mind wandered back to the Ouroubos.
"Maybe if you spoke to your father...try to find out what happened with him and your father. Perhaps if you knew more about what happened it would explain more." He suggested.
Stacey took a deep breath and nodded. As if on cue, her father walked back into the room.
"Jonathan is your uncle." He said firmly. "And that`s something I`m ashamed of, but he is bad, and he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants." He looked down to the dagger, still on the floor.
"The Ouroboros mean immortality." He explained as he started to unbutton his shirt. "Life, and renewed death. Power." He had gotten the shirt off, and turned around. An Ouroboros was tatooed across his back. It was a blue dragon that was shaped in a circle, eating its own tail. "Jonathan`s is red. You can guess why." He said sternly, pulling his shirt back on.
Aiden looked at the tattoo on Stacey's fathers back that was identical to the symbol on the dagger. He stared long and hard at the dagger, thinking of why immortality would be on both the dagger and the the two brothersAdenineden suddenly cleared his throat, his eyes curious.
"Is that your dagger?" He asked, hoping it was okay for him to speak.
James lifted his eyes to meet Aiden and shook his head.
"No. It is Jonathans, but it has killed many people. It`s blade is sharper than any other, and I`m sure you found that out." He looked at Stacey, who nodded.
"He wants something, obviously, but I don`t know what it is, and I`m guessing you two don`t either."
Aiden shook his head, even if the question wasn't pointing directly at him. He leaned forward, resting his elbow against his knee as his expression changed.
He stared at the wall, obviously thinking.
"Would you have any idea what that would be?" He asked.
James sighed and ran his hand through his brown hair.
"I have no idea. I haven`t talked to Jonathan for about three hundred years, and we weren`t on such great terms then, not now, either." His met Aiden`s eyes with a soft glance.
Stacey looked between them. How careful both of them acted. Her father seemed to be so careful not to intimidate Aiden, who seemed to be... remotw.
Aiden pressed his lips together into a straight line, his eyes curious yet his face was obviously looking as if he was thinking hard about something.
Aiden stared at the knife that was on the ground. He leaned forward, and picked it up in his hand. He gripped it tight, and looked up and down the handle, trying to peice something together or at least find some sort of clue or answer.
Stacey carefully took the knife from Aiden, holding the blade with two expert fingers.
"The Ouroboros, does it mean anything special to him? You said his tatoo was red, and that means that`s he`s fire. Fire symbolizes evil.' Her eyes got distant as she thought. "If he`s evil, his plan would be complicated, because he would have thought about it a long time to make sure it was perfect. The plan will go perfectly, unless we do something unexpected." She looked up to her father, who now seemed ancient.
Aiden turned to look at James as Stacey asked him the question. He tried to remember the story from his younger days about the Ouroboros. Nothing came to mind except the brief description of what it was and how it looked liked.
He turned to stare at the knife now. Aiden tilted his head gently.
James nodded again.
"Yes, the fire represents evil, when it comes to him. I`m guessing that you inherited your gift from him. In your case, of course, fire means rebirth and renew." He explained. "My main gift if water, which is why my Ouroboros is blue. And before you can ask, I`ve already cheacked your chromosomes, you won`t live forever." He said. The statement could have been funny, but it wasn`t.
"What?" Stacey asked. "Live forever?" Her voice could clearly state that she was freaking out.
"Yes, Stacey. I wil live forever, until someone kills me. Unfortunatly, it is the same for Jonathan."
Aiden reached out, and took Stacey's hand in his own. He layed his other hand on top of that one, and squeezed it gently. He looked at James, thinking real hard.
Aiden blinked a few times before clearing his throat.
"Do you know how to kill him?" He asked.
James squared his jaw for a long moment, thinking. Only Stacey was able to see that he was debating on telling the truth or not. There was no way the Aiden would be able to see it, but a small part of her hoped he would.
"Yes, I know how you can kill him. You have to decapitate, then burn the body and freeze the head. After that, anything can happen to the remains, but there will be no more. The fire prevents the body from reuniting itself with the head, and freezing the head kills the brain." He explained quickly and softly.
Stacey wondered just how old he really was. He hadn`t really said, just that he was really, really old.
Aiden's eyes fell, and he frowned. His expression showed that he obviously wasn't pleased with that answer. He just hoped for a way to stop all of this, to protect Stacey. In the back of his mind he regretting not going to his classes to learn more spells.
Aiden sighed, and balled one of his hands in a fist. He wasn't angry, only frusterated.
"Is there name...for your kind?" He asked awkwardly.
Aiden lifted his eyes, looking at Stacey's father.
James shook his head.
"We have no specific name. Humans don`t know about us, and therefor don`t have a name for us. But we call ourselves the Immortals. There is no other word that can describe what we are. No words for your language can say it right, and that says a lot, because you have a very specific language." He tried to smile, but it turned into a grimace.
Stacey squeezed Aiden`s hand, and not gently. She didn`t notice it, and her eyes were distant and a grey-red. How could he have kept something like this from her for this long?
Aiden looked at the ground, and then at the dagger that Stacey held in her hand. His face showed the curious surpise he felt. He couldn't believe someone could hide something huge like this from his daughter, or that they would even want to.
He squeezed Stacey's hand as a reply.
"Then what does that make Stacey?" Aiden asked James quietly.
James was quiet for a moment, his eyes on his daughter. He could tell that she was tense, and that she was angry with him. He expected it, ow could he not?
"She is half-Immortal. When you live forever... things happen." He explained quietly, lowering his eyes to the floor in a submissive way. Aiden probably wouldn`t see it, but Stacey would.
And she did. As he spoke, her eyes flickered to his in time to see them drop. It meant that he was sorry. The wolf had been his Animagus form, and often raised Stacey by the ways of the wolf. He was sorry and ashamed, so much that he couldn`t put it into words. She nodded and slowly relaxed her hold on Aiden`s hand. She also turned the knife in her other hand, and dropped it safely to the floor.
"Wait, you can`t be an Animagus? Can you?" She asked, looking up to her father with questions in her eyes.
"No," He replied," I am also a shape-shifter. That`s another reason why humans can`t tell us apart. We can age ourselves if we want to. And we have a chosen animal form. Mine is the wolf."
Stacey nodded, looking down at the knife. This was a lot to take in.
"I want to take him downstairs." She said softly, looking from the knife to the man she had trusted. "We need to, if this is going to continue."
James just nodded in reply.
Aiden turned to his head, watching Stacey's face carefully. He waited for her to get angry or sad, but nothing yet. He swallowed the hard lump that was in his throat, and took a deep breath.
Aiden lifted his eyes, scanning them across the room to James, Stacey, then the knife that now layed delicatley on the floor. His eyes were full of so many questions, but he decided it was best to wait for the appropriate time.
Aiden layed his other hands over Stacey's, looking at her expecantly.
Stacey looked to Aiden, her eyes a solid wall that let no emmotion through. She nodded to him and stood up, bringing him with her. She led him away from the room and down two different halls. She stopped at a door that stood alone at the end of the last hall. There was a number pad on the wal beside it, and she punched in a series of numbers.
The door opened with a low click and Stacey pushed it open. A long line of stairs were visable, and everything was black except for the small footlights near the floor, giving only enough light to see where you were going.
She squeezed Aiden`s hand, biting her lip. She shook her head slowly.
Aiden followed Stacey, keeping up with her rather quick pace. His eyes scanned the hall questioninly, having never seen this area of the house. It's low lighting and blackness almost reminded him of a tunnel, despite being in the middle of his wife's house.
Aiden turned his eyes towards Stacey's, his eyes watching the back of her head as she led him through this unfaimiliar area of the Black's house.
"Where are we going?" He asked quietly.
Stacey sniffled.
"To the basement. If Jonathan is going to keep coming to me, I want to be armed." She explained softly, keeping her eyes on the stairs in front of her. The little lights near the floor weren`t much light, and she hadn`t been down here this often.
Aiden followed Stacey, down the stairs, and into the basement. His head was just barely tilted to one side as his curious eyes looked around him.
"Armed?" He questioned. "Should I get something more, too?"
Stacey nodded, suddenly stopping. There was a door in front of her, and another keypad beside it. She punched in another number, and the door clicked like the other one. A burst of cold air hit her as she pushed it open.
The room was large and round with little pads mounted on the wall every now and then. There was a panel on the wall, and Stacey walked over to it. She pushed a few buttons, and lights switched on with a soft hum.
There were glass cases everywhere, with drawers under them. There were also daggers and machetes, looking deadly in the bright lights. Staceyw as still holding back tears, but she had it controled.
Aiden looked around the room, amazed at how a normal looking house like the Black's could secretly be hiding such things as knives, guns, and machetes. It was fascinating but at the same time intimidating.
His eyes locked on Stacey. Aiden slowly walked up to her, and wrapped his arms around hers. He rested his head on top of hers. He couldn't help but try to imagine how she was feeling.
"What are you thinking?" He whispered in her ear.
Stacey took a shaly breath and wrapped her arms around his waist. What was she thinking?
"I don`t know, my moon. I`m confused and angry, but I`m sad and frustrated." She shook her head. There was too much going on in her head. "How is this... possible?" She asked, a sob breaking through her voice.
Aiden held her against his strong frame, holding her close that she was comforted and knew that he would protect her against anything. He closed his eyes slowly, and took in a breath.
Aiden shook his head slowly. He wanted some way to fix this, but he knew that this wasn't something he could control, no matter how badly he wanted to.
"I know. I know." He started slowly.
"But are you okay?" Aiden asked, his voice urgent.
Stacey thought about that. Was she okay? She wasn`t physically hurt. She wasn`t going to be crippled in any way. Really, she was fine.
"I guess." She said as she sniffled. She squeezed Aiden tightly before taking a step back. He had always been there for her, always there to comfort her.
"Can you shoot a Glock?" She asked suddenly, pulling off her shirt to reveal a black tank top and her sheathed knives.
Aiden looked down the tank top and on her arms, staring at the knives with a thoughtful expression. His eyes finally reached hers, realizing she was asking him a question.
"I'm sure I can manage." He replied in a hard, serious tone.
He swallowed, and cleared his throat. He still had so many questions roaming in his mind.
"Are you giving me another gun?" Aiden asked as he finally spoke.
Stacey looked down at the ground, no expression showing through her eyes.
"Yes, and you`ll have to learn how to shoot it right." She looked up to meet her husband`s eyes. If he`s coming after me, he`s sure as he^l not going to leave you alone." She said, quickly pulling off her jeans. The tight sheaths of her lower-body knives didn`t move a centimeter, secure in their spots. just like this, anyone could see that she had at least a dozen knives on her. She had started to carry more, only have carried a couple before things started getting bad.
"Take this." She had turned towards a class cabinet and punched a few more buttons. It clicked and popped open. Stacey removed the wicked-looking gun and handed it out carefully to Aiden. She opened the drawer under it and pulled out a handful of new magazines.
Aiden held it hand out, and took the gun slowly in his palm. He looked at the silver gun, knowing this small peice of metal could be lethal. He had seen the effects happen before himself.
Aiden took in a long deep breath, and sighed. His eyes weren't dark, but a medium brown. However, it wouldn't be long before they changed. The mood around them would be sure of that.
"Don't worry about me, I can handle myself. It's you I'm worried about." Aiden said slowly, knowing she would probably disagree.
Stacey stood there, looking down at the floor, a small gun in hand. Her bottom lip trembled, and she looked away and blinked, trying to clear them. She stepped closer to Aiden again took his hand. It was a moment before she spoke.
"What happened to your parents, my moon?" She asked in a soft, shaky voice. She traced the lines of his palm with a fingertip, trying not t cry. She felt as if the world was on her shoulders, and she was crubling under the weight. She didn`t want Aiden to worry about her, but she wasn`t going to lie to him and say that she was fine when she clearly wasn`t.
Aiden blinked, surprised by the question. She had never really asked him about his parents. He always promised he would tell her, but the question still took him off guard.
He put the gun behind him through his belt. He used his now free hand, and took Stacey's other hand in his own. His eyes strayed to the floor, finding it difficult to look up.
"They died in a car wreck." He said simply, his voice almost sounding angry.
Stacey squeezed Aiden`s hands and hugged him tightly.
"I`m sorry." She apologized. "I just... I don`t know. I guess I just wanted to know. I`m sorry for asking." She whispered, burrying her face in his chest.
Aiden wrapped both of his arms slowly around Stacey. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, and closed his eyes. He took in a deep, slow breath.
He gripped his eyes shut tight, and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"It's okay." He reassured her quietly before he paused.
"I should've told you more earlier. It's just...It made me a wreck, you have no idea. I wanted to do some things, I had ideas..." Aiden said, unsure.
Stacey squeezed Aiden tigtly.
"Don`t think about it anymore, my moon. You can`t think about that now, not with me here." She whispered. A tear ran down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. "I`m sorry. I really am." She added.
"You said you were worried about me," she said, changing the subject. "I`m not going to tell you not to, because I know you will anyway. Just remember, I can take care of myself, but I need you with me." She leaned forward on her toes to kiss him gently. She didn`t mean to make him upset. She wanted him to be happy again, or at least as happy as he could get with the present situation.
Aiden kept his eyes closed tight. His kissed her back gently, and sighed again. He pressed his lips together in a straight line with a expression on his face as if he were thinking hard about something.
He opened his eyes slowly, which were black now. It wasn't until then he saw tears streaming down her cheeks, and he used his thumb to catch one and wipe it away off her red cheek.
"I promise to be here, love. I'll be here with you as long as you need me." Aiden whispered.
Stacey raised her hand until her palm was pressed against his cheek. She stared up into his eyes, her just as black as Aiden`s.
"I know you will be." She sighed. "I know I can count on you. you`ll always be there for me, just like I`ll always be here for you." She replied, running her thumb along his cheekbone.
Aiden looked at Stacey's eyes, seeming to see through them. He was barely aware of how their eyes were the same dark colors, which meant they were feeling the same way.
Aiden nodded slowly, lifting his hand to touch arm while her hand rested softly on his cheek.
"I know." He whispered as he blinked slowly.
"We can help each other through this."
Stacey leaned forward and rested my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"I don`t know what I ever did before I found you." She whispered, closing her dark eyes. He felt unusually cold to her. Normally he was hot compared to her, but right now he felt almost the same. Maybe it was just the room, but she doubted it.
Aiden scooted closer, and hugged Stacey near him. He sighed, and moved his head so that he was breathing on her neck. He closed his eyes slowly, and stood there for a moment.
After a long pause he finally broke the silence.
"I know my life was worthless until I met you." He whispered into her ear.
Stacey couldn`t help but smile a little as he said that.
"You know, i was nothing until I found you. Just some girl who sat in the back of the class and never talked to anybody. You made me find out who I was." She replied softly.
She tilted her head just slightly to the side, letting Aiden`s breath run over her skin. It was somehoe calming, and made her feel a little better.
Aiden stretched his face closer to Stacey and kissed her neck softly, in a polite way that he hoped would comfort her. He leaned back a fraction of an inch, and kept his eyes tightly closed against the lids.
"You know I'll love you no matter how you are." He pointed out, his voice slow and quiet.
Stacey smiled, opening her eyes, which had lightened a little to a soft grey. She leaned forward on her toes and pressed her lips against his softly, returning his sweet kiss.
"And I`ll love you no matter what." She said softly just as the door was pushed open. James appeared and closed the door quietly.
"I thought you`d like to know something." He said, ignoring how close his daughter and Aiden were.
Aiden lifted his head as James approached them. He stepped back, but kept his arm securely wrapped around his wife. He blinked, and waited for James to continue.
Stacey lifted her eyes to look at her father. She really didn`t want to see him right now, and he would know that. It must be something important for him to have come down to the basement.
"Gold. It has the smae effect that silver has to werewolves. You have silver-plated weapons, but not gold." He didn`t meet either of their eyes, and just walked over to one side. in the display case, there were two heavy-duty guns with three locked drawers under it. James ran his hand over the front of it, and it clicked open.
"I want you to take these, but be careful with them." He got out four boxes of bullets and magazines and two knives. The blades were silver, though. Stacey looked up at her father with a questioning gaze.
"White gold." He explained. "If you pulled out a gold knife, Jonathan would know it. These aren`t so easy to noticeable."
Stacey stepped forward and took the weapons in both hands. She handed two of the boxes and one of the knives to Aiden.
"Be careful with that." She mummured softly as she handed him the knife. "The blade is almost as sharp as the other one." By 'the other one' she meant the one with the Ouroboros engraved on it.
"You`ll want to get a few sheaths, so it doesn`t cut you." She added. She didn`t even seem to notice that she was standing there in nithing but a tank top and not-very-long shorts, along with her matching sheaths that were strapped closely to her body.
Aiden took the in his hand, and gripped the handle tight in his palms. He ran his left hand over the blade slowly, careful not to cut his fingers. He tilted his head slowly to one side.
After a few moments Aiden lifted his eyes, and looked at James. He blinked, and nodded his head once as a reply.
((Writers blockk. >.<))
James nodded to Aiden, meeting his eyes for only a moment.
"Gold will disable some of an Immortal`s powers. It`ll hurt, too." He winced as if he was remembering pain.
Stacey nodded, not facing her father.
"Okay. We`re taking a few things, but just the normal stuff." She said softly, looking at her pile of knives a few feet away.
Aiden held the knife tightly in his palm that his knuckle was turning white. He only wished that Johnathan was here now and he could end it now.
Aiden looked at the ground, and tilted his head. He blinked his eyes slowly, and turned his head to look at the rack of lethal weapons on the wall.
"Is there anything else that we should know?" Aiden asked quietly.
The expression on Aiden`s face was full of hatred. No matter how how he tried to hide it, she could tell that he was mad. She she put her hand over his, lowering the knife in his hand.
"No." James said. "We`re too powerful for much to harm us. We heal fast, too. There`s not anything else that can outlive us." His voice was soft and his gaze was on the floor.
Aiden pressed his lips together, and swallowed. He cleared his throat, and lowered the knife as Stacey's hand brought it down.
He blinked, trying to make his eyes change back to their normal color. He didn't want to seem upset for Stacey's sake, knowing his eyes betrayed his emotions better than his face ever could.
"Ah." Aiden said dryly, his eyes still dark.
Stacey sighed sympathetically, knowing that he was trying to change his eye color. She hated it when their color gave away heer emmotions at certain time. But they had a mind of their own, and would not change unless they wanted to.
"And... one more thing." James said, interupting her thoughts, "Stacey, your power to absorb energies is very unique and perfectly rare. That`s because the only known person to also be able to do that is Jonathan." Stacey froze, her eyes back to blood red and looking pure deadly. James quickly excused himself, closing the teen couple back into the room full of weapons.
Aiden turned, his entire body facing Stacey now. His face looked worried, but only for her. Her eyes, like his, showed some deep emotion in their dark red color. However, he couldn't tell if it was anger or fear.
His eyes watched her face, and he could feel the tenseness in the room.
"Stacey?" Aiden asked ina hushed tone.
Stacey noticed that the air felt heavy, like it didn`t have good circulation. It smelled slightly musty, too. The room would have been cold if heat hadn`t been coming from Aiden. She could tell that he was trying to get her attention, but she had to concentrate on pulling herself out of her anger.
"I`m fine." She said softly. "Or I will be." She corrected herself, knowing that he would just argue against her lie.
Aiden hugged her tight, but not to tight. Just enough to show his concern. His eyes looked ahead but not really seeing anything.
"Don't worry love. I'll make sure nothing happens to you, I swear it. I'll do whatever it takes." He promised, showing his sincerity in his voice.
He took in a deep breath, and waited a moment to exhale. It wasn't until then that he took in the real meaning of what James said. A crease furrowed in his brow.
Stacey looked up, feeling Aiden tense.
"What?" She asked, a crease forming in her own forehead. "Did you remember something?" It had, after all, been him who had recognized the Ouroboros on the knife. Maybe he had remembered something that he hadn`t before.
Aiden shook his head, wishing he had remembered something more about the Ouroboros. Perhaps an answer or something else to explain a little more. His dim memory began to frustrate him now more than ever.
"No." Aiden said quietly. "I was just thinking. If your father is immortal, that makes you at least half of what he is, right?"
"No."
Stacey said softly and firmly. "No, he said he had checked my chromosomes, I was mortal. That means I`ll have a normal life span, but I`m guessing a lot of my powers are influenced by that half. I`m one of the most advanced people for my age, and that doesn`t happen unless something makes it happen. My mom is a Muggle, so she wouldn`t be the cause."
Aiden nodded, his expression distant. However, her answer seemed to comfort him quite a bit. He breathed out a sigh of relief, and rubbed her shoulder gently with his pale hand.
He stared into Stacey's eyes, seeming to come back now after his dark eyes looking so far away.
"Who do you think then?"
"What do I think about what?" She asked.
"I don`t know what to think, my moon. I... I feel... betrayed. Left out. I feel like some part of me was lost. Like I lost my father." Stacey clenched her teeth together and pressed her head against his chest, tears escaping again despite how hard she tried to hold them back.
Aiden patted her shoulder gently, resting his cheek against her forehead. He closed his eyes, and nodded in understanding. He sighed softly, however in his mind he was searching quickly for a way to deal with Johnathan.
"I know, love." He whispred softly.
Aiden turned his head so that his lips were at her ear.
"It's okay. You can let it out."
Stacey tightly closed her eyes and whiped her tears away.
"God, I mean, how could he keep something like that from me? He`s immortal. He`s lived a thousand lifetimes, and how am I supposed to know how many more he`s made? He could have lots of children over the years." Her words stoped suddnly. She had pulled a little away from Aiden in her own torment. Her hands were balled into tight fists and she could feel her fingernails digging into her skin.
"I`m sorry." She whispered.
Aiden took both of her hands, and held them both in each of his, not caring about how tightly balled around his they were. He stared into her eyes, a hint of something glowing in his own.
Aiden shook his head slowly, as if he couldn't quite wrap something around his mind.
"You're sorry?" He asked, confused.
Stacey squared her jaw.
"Yes. I`m sorry. I shouldn`t be freaking out on you like this, I`m sure you`re under enough stress without me yelling like I`m some sort of maniac." She uncurled her fingers and squeezed his hands. She saw the little flicker in his eyes, but didn`t say anything.
Aiden moved his hand to caress her cheek softly as his fingertips ran through the hair by Stacey's ear. He stared into her eyes seriously.
He cleared his throat.
"Stacey, you have nothing to be sorry for. You must be going through so much now, and I don't blame you for acting any certain way. However, you're definatly not acting like a maniac." He replied.
Aiden paused, scanning over her face.
"Take your time."
She squeezed his hand that was still in hers and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and pushing it out slowly. She did that two more times before she opened her eyes, which had lightened slightly. Doing that had made her feel slightly better. Her heart rate was slower, and anger wasn`t the first thing on her mind.
"Okay." Stacey said softly as she looked up into Aiden`s eyes. She felt horribly bad for making him go through that, even though he didn`t seem to mind.
Aiden ran both of his hands from her back, to her shoulders, then to caress each side of her face softly. He lifted her head up to his and looked into her now lighter eyes.
He gave her a small smile out of the corner of his lips.
"Better?" He asked, relieved as he noticed her eyes.
((I giggled when I saw this reply. >.< ))
Stacey nodded, starting to smile. How could she not feel better when Aide was there with her? "Yes. Are you ready to go? I think we have enough." She motioned towards the room with her hand, but her eyes stayed on his. She was still standing there in her shorts and tank top, but she didn`t seem to feel the cold.
((I think we should wrap this up in a couple posts, so I can kind of end the fan fic and we can start on the you-know-what. (I said that because there are people here who are reading this instead of the FF. SKY.) And I don`t think I want to wait until February. XD ))
((Mmk. Whatever works. I'll start wrapping it up.))
Aiden nodded slowly, seeming to feel better now that Stacey was smiling at him. For a moment he just had to smile back, his eyes almost shining despite the darkness in the room.
"I'm ready." Aiden replied slowly, but his voice showed that he was sure of himself. He squeezed her hand
Stacey squeezed his hand in return before letting it go and moving towards her clothes. she slipped back into her jeans and shirt, running her hands over the fitted sheaths that were completely hidden now.
"Is there.... anything else you want to ask him?" She asked softly, motioning toward the door where her father had left.
Aiden stood there, staring at the door. He remembered all the questions he had earlier in his mind, but none of them seemed to be right to ask, at least right now. He would wait.
Aiden shook his head, turning to look at Stacey again.
"No, not right now." He replied after clearing his throat.
Stacey nodded, also looking down to he floor.
"I don`t know about you, but I really don`t want to go up there again." She looked at the door, her eyes flickering darker for an instant. The thought of seeing her father again just made her want to cry, which is something she really didn`t want to do.
Aiden shook his head up and down slowly in understanding. He pulled her close to him, and wrapped his arms around Stacey. He took in a deep breath, and turned his head to whisper in her ear.
"It's okay. We can stay down here as long as you want." He said slowly.
((I`m writing the FF for this, so I might take a little longer to reply.))
Stacey did smile then, her eyes sparkling slightly.
"Do you really think that I want to stay down here? It`s cold and smells funny. And there`s more than one way outa here." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Aiden`s waist and in the next second they were back in the warm garage.
Aiden chuckled, looking around the garage. The atmosphere was alot warmer here than in the dark, damp basement. He already felt more relaxed and comfortable.
Aiden looked down at Stacey.
"Do you want to stay here, or would you rather go somewhere else?"
Stacey just shrugged and opened the door.
"We can do whatever we want. What do you say we go down to the coast?" They could do whatever they wanted. Stacey felt free from the long morning under her father`s strong gaze.
((And scene. =P ))