Two female pack members Viv knew casually had stopped her by the dining hall and they were chatting it up about the weather, men, girl stuff. It was a relief that no one was going out of their way to treat her differently, but it wasn't as if she was advertising that she was a Vyusher R'asa. Viv just assumed they didn't know, not that it mattered, at least she hope it didn't.
"How's your baby?"
"Happy and chubby." Viv pulled out her phone and showed them a picture of Catherine with her dad and the obligatory 'oohs and awws' commenced. "She's a good baby. Sleeping through the night already."
"Hi, Viv! Where's Catherine?"
Viv turned and saw Lewis standing in just about nothing. With his sweaty UnderAmour black workout shirt balled up in his hands, he was wearing running shoes and a reasonably and giving thanks worthy pair of black shorts. Dear god, his skin was glistening with sweat, too.
Viv cleared her throat and opened her mouth as she looked at his body. "Good gravy," she mumbled and then struggled to make eye contact. "Hey, hiya, Lewis."
Lewis nodded. "Hi."
Nodding, she pointed to the girls with her who were equally speechless. "I...these...what?"
"Where's the baby?"
"Oh, she's with her dad." One of the girls next to her nudged her and Viv turned her head but didn't look away from Lewis. "What? Oh, these are," jesus, she thought, what are their names, "these are Lisa and Ann. Girls, this is Lewis."
They both smiled but just stared.
Shaking her head, Viv blinked and finally looked away. Shoving the girls into the dining hall, Viv touched Lewis' arm and smiled. "Baby, you should go shower. You can come see Catherine later if you want."
"Ok, Viv. Nice meeting you two."
Lewis waved and then trotted off down the hallway to the Piper's wing. Viv and the three girls watched as he ran off.
"Who was that?" one of them asked.
Viv sighed, "That was just ridiculous."
First Date (Attn Reign)
"What are you going to wear?"
"I don't-"
"Where are you going?"
"Well first we-"
"Dude, don't wear that gray alien weirdness t-shirt."
"Why not? I like it and she might-"
"No, dude. She won't."
Lewis tried to get a word in edgewise, but Red, JT, and LT kept interrupting, asking questions and forcing advice. They were just returning from their run and all Lewis wanted to do was take a shower and maybe throw up from nerves.
"Listen, I'm going to-"
"We're proud of you, Matty," LT said, putting his arm around Lewis' shoulder and squeezing the hell out of him.
"I still think this nerd thing is a diabolical plot for some sort of sexual revolution of the nerds," Red said shaking his head.
Lewis rolled his eyes.
"Red's just jealous because he's out of the game," JT said, happily joining in if it meant to talk shit about Red.
"Whoa, whoa, who says I'm out of the game?"
"Your girlfriend?" Lewis offered.
"Shoosh, nerd."
"You won't mind if I ask out Cam then?" JT said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
"Oh, not cool, man. Not cool at all."
Grinning, Lewis waved and ran off back to his apartment to shower. He appreciated what the guys were doing, but it did annoy him a little knowing that they didn't think much of his social skills with women. Well, ok, they were lacking, but he didn't take much stock in how the other Pipers seemed to chase after women. If his mother heard him talking like that, she would have totally smacked him.
His shirt was sticking to his skin, so as he passed through the dining hall, he pulled off his shirt and wiped his face with it. Turning the corner, he ran into Vivienne talking to two other women.
"Oh hey, Viv. Where's Catherine?"
Vivienne Sena
12 years ago
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
Lewis thought nothing of Viv's reaction to seeing him. Figured he must've interrupted their conversation and probably wasn't too polite of him to do that. He'd apologize later, he thought to himself. Letting himself into his apartment, he kicked off his shoes and stripped off his shorts. Quickly he showered and put on a pair of jeans and a simple blue polo shirt.
Moving into his kitchen, he opened the fridge and checked the inventory, making a mental list for what he might need to cook for Reign, and then stepped back, letting the fridge door close. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and sent Reign a text message. It was early still, but he figured he'd let her know.
He considered how his closing should be.
"Nonono," he mumbled and deleted the last line.
Rolling his eyes, he sent the message and began straightening up his apartment.
Moving into his kitchen, he opened the fridge and checked the inventory, making a mental list for what he might need to cook for Reign, and then stepped back, letting the fridge door close. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and sent Reign a text message. It was early still, but he figured he'd let her know.
Hey, all ready here. Come on over anytime.
He considered how his closing should be.
Love, Lewis
"Nonono," he mumbled and deleted the last line.
-Lewis =D
Rolling his eyes, he sent the message and began straightening up his apartment.
Reign
12 years ago
Things had been just fine, right up until last night. Reign had managed to talk Hans into practicing on Friday. He had grumbled about it something terrible, but that was par for the course with Hans. Reign didn't pay him any mind. In between giving her hell about keeping her elbow in and her English being off the gnarled Dane had found out -why- Reign had moved the practice session. Which lead to an odd half discussion half argument. She was used to bickering with Hans and wasn't bothered by it.
While bickering, however, Reign realized exactly how long it had been since she'd been on a date. Let alone a first date. Hans had watched the color drain out of Reign's face and laughed his ass off. Then promptly made her play through her sudden attack of nerves. Bastard.
Waking up on Saturday it was a little better, not much but a little. Reign rambled at Sirius as she showered and dressed, and decided against breakfast.
"I've been out of the loop a bit haven't I?"
Reign concluded as she started brushing her teeth. Of course, it was her own fault... but that was another story.
She had been sliding the hook of an earring through the piercing when her phone chirped, Reign jumped, stabbed herself in the ear and swore. She quickly fastened the earring properly and picked up her phone grinning at the message.
Making sure Sirius had fresh water and his dog door was open Reign pulled on a pair of sandals, grabbed her phone and bag and left. As she drove Reign sung along with a jazz CD with a minimal amount of success, but it kept her calm.
Arriving at the Den Reign wondered if maybe she'd gone too casual with a pair of dark jeans and a soft to the touch bright green t-shirt over a lighter brown tank top. About the only thing Reign though she had right was the t-shirt which helped to make the most of her curves and the too deep scoop neck, hence the tank top under it.
Leaving her little SUV Reign started toward the familiar stone and wood structure, doing her best not to bite the inside of her cheek. She got as far as the dinning hall and realized she didn't know where to go next. Reign didn't generally go wandering through the Den. She tended to stick to the Tikerak or visit the Doc.
Sighing to herself reign ruefully fished out her phone and sent another message.
She wasn't a man and could ask for directions. I am woman here me roar or text or something.
While bickering, however, Reign realized exactly how long it had been since she'd been on a date. Let alone a first date. Hans had watched the color drain out of Reign's face and laughed his ass off. Then promptly made her play through her sudden attack of nerves. Bastard.
Waking up on Saturday it was a little better, not much but a little. Reign rambled at Sirius as she showered and dressed, and decided against breakfast.
"I've been out of the loop a bit haven't I?"
Reign concluded as she started brushing her teeth. Of course, it was her own fault... but that was another story.
She had been sliding the hook of an earring through the piercing when her phone chirped, Reign jumped, stabbed herself in the ear and swore. She quickly fastened the earring properly and picked up her phone grinning at the message.
Out the door in five. Be there soon.
Making sure Sirius had fresh water and his dog door was open Reign pulled on a pair of sandals, grabbed her phone and bag and left. As she drove Reign sung along with a jazz CD with a minimal amount of success, but it kept her calm.
Arriving at the Den Reign wondered if maybe she'd gone too casual with a pair of dark jeans and a soft to the touch bright green t-shirt over a lighter brown tank top. About the only thing Reign though she had right was the t-shirt which helped to make the most of her curves and the too deep scoop neck, hence the tank top under it.
Leaving her little SUV Reign started toward the familiar stone and wood structure, doing her best not to bite the inside of her cheek. She got as far as the dinning hall and realized she didn't know where to go next. Reign didn't generally go wandering through the Den. She tended to stick to the Tikerak or visit the Doc.
Sighing to herself reign ruefully fished out her phone and sent another message.
Would you think less of me if I said I got as far as the dinning hall and got lost?
She wasn't a man and could ask for directions. I am woman here me roar or text or something.
Vivienne Sena
12 years ago
Carrying a cup of iced tea, Viv sugared the hell out of it with splenda and then turned to exit the dining hall when she saw who she was fairly certain was the Alpha's friend Reign walk into the room. 'Ahhh', she thought, 'the first date begins'. Viv walked up to the blond and introduced herself.
"Hey, you're Reign, right? I'm Viv. I work with the Pipers." Lifting her chin in the direction of the Pipers wing, she couldn't help but cheese a horribly huge grin. "Looking for Lewis?"
"Hey, you're Reign, right? I'm Viv. I work with the Pipers." Lifting her chin in the direction of the Pipers wing, she couldn't help but cheese a horribly huge grin. "Looking for Lewis?"
Reign
12 years ago
Reign was doing her best to not look lost or like she was waiting for some one. She thought she was doing OK on that point and had actually relaxed enough she realized she'd not had any coffee that morning when she was approached.
Viv, as she introduced herself, suddenly made Reign wish she was about three inches shorter. Not that she was a giant, just some times... well... the feeling passed fast enough and she smiled a little sheepishly at being so obvious.
"Yeah I am. Nice to meet you."
News spread fast in the old west. That or they worked together and there weren't many secrets. Yeah, Reign would go with option two.
"It shows doesn't it?" The big grin gave Reign a bit of a nudge it let her be a little silly. "It's the shoes isn't it? I knew I should have gone for more of a stiletto."
Her own smile gained some confidence as she goofed around and hoped that Viv had a sense of humor.
Viv, as she introduced herself, suddenly made Reign wish she was about three inches shorter. Not that she was a giant, just some times... well... the feeling passed fast enough and she smiled a little sheepishly at being so obvious.
"Yeah I am. Nice to meet you."
News spread fast in the old west. That or they worked together and there weren't many secrets. Yeah, Reign would go with option two.
"It shows doesn't it?" The big grin gave Reign a bit of a nudge it let her be a little silly. "It's the shoes isn't it? I knew I should have gone for more of a stiletto."
Her own smile gained some confidence as she goofed around and hoped that Viv had a sense of humor.
Vivienne Sena
12 years ago
Viv raised her eyebrows and pointed behind Reign in the direction of the Pipers wing. She wasn't about to add to Reign's nervousness and decided to just be polite, especially when she saw Lewis come high tailing it down the long hallway behind his date.
"Well, he tends to do that to people. That down home nerd charm does get to you, doesn't it?" Viv chuckled and then waved to Reign as she passed her and went to the stairs up to the second floor. "Nice meeting you."
She didn't stick around to watch Lewis like the other Pipers would have, but she did wish him luck, not that he needed it.
"Well, he tends to do that to people. That down home nerd charm does get to you, doesn't it?" Viv chuckled and then waved to Reign as she passed her and went to the stairs up to the second floor. "Nice meeting you."
She didn't stick around to watch Lewis like the other Pipers would have, but she did wish him luck, not that he needed it.
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
Lewis got the phone call from Dom that Reign was on the property and he quickly finished picking up his apartment before running out the door to go meet her. As he ran the long hallway from their wing, he saw Viv talking to Reign, but she left before he could introduce them.
"Hey," he said coming up to Reign, his hands immediately wanting to shove in his pockets and kick the hardwood floor like an 8 year old. "You made it."
Should he kiss her? He should right? On the cheek or the lips? Not the lips, too soon. Right? "Uh," he mumbled and leaned in close to kiss her on the cheek. "You look really pretty."
Mentally he rolled his eyes. He was awful at this.
"You met Viv? She's my god daughter's mother."
"Hey," he said coming up to Reign, his hands immediately wanting to shove in his pockets and kick the hardwood floor like an 8 year old. "You made it."
Should he kiss her? He should right? On the cheek or the lips? Not the lips, too soon. Right? "Uh," he mumbled and leaned in close to kiss her on the cheek. "You look really pretty."
Mentally he rolled his eyes. He was awful at this.
"You met Viv? She's my god daughter's mother."
Reign
12 years ago
"It does have an effect."
Reign agreed as Viv excused herself. Honestly you'd think that they'd already seen each other naked, the rest should be easy. Or at least easier.
Before she could get any more nervous Lewis showed up. Reign grinned up at him.
"Of course I did."
She agreed as he very sweetly kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks, so do you."
Again Reign was struck by the fact that Lewis was just far too... yeah every thing and thanked God he was a little on the awkward side. It made him real and approachable.
Looking back the way the other woman and disappeared Reign made note of that fact. Lewis had said the baby, Catherine was three months old. Dear God, if she ever had kids she was going to be a werewolf because Viv did not look like she'd just had a baby. Nikhila had done the same thing.
"Does Catherine look like her mom or her dad or is it too soon to tell?"
Reign agreed as Viv excused herself. Honestly you'd think that they'd already seen each other naked, the rest should be easy. Or at least easier.
Before she could get any more nervous Lewis showed up. Reign grinned up at him.
"Of course I did."
She agreed as he very sweetly kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks, so do you."
Again Reign was struck by the fact that Lewis was just far too... yeah every thing and thanked God he was a little on the awkward side. It made him real and approachable.
Looking back the way the other woman and disappeared Reign made note of that fact. Lewis had said the baby, Catherine was three months old. Dear God, if she ever had kids she was going to be a werewolf because Viv did not look like she'd just had a baby. Nikhila had done the same thing.
"Does Catherine look like her mom or her dad or is it too soon to tell?"
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
"I'm pretty, huh? My mother said I was handsome, but you know...she's my mother. I think by law she has to tell me I'm handsome." Lewis chuckled as he teased her and then followed Reign's look up toward where Viv had disappeared.
"Oh yeah, yeah, here." Digging into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and found a recent picture of his god daughter. Really it wasn't that hard, he probably had fifty from just the other day. He found a picture of him with Catherine and showed Reign. It was down in the Situation Room, sitting at his console. Catherine was curled up asleep against his chest, drooling all over his uniform shirt.
"She drools a lot, but we all think it's adorable and even the Beta lets us get away with it. Right now I'd have to say she looks more like Viv, but I dunno, maybe down the middle with the Commander, too. She's got his eyes, but Viv's hair."
Lewis stood close next to Reign and looked down at the picture with her. She smelled exquisitely Reign times a thousand and from his vantage point, he could see down her long neck and swell of her breasts. Clearing his throat, he felt himself blush as he realized just standing next to her was doing despicable things to his nether regions.
"Oh yeah, yeah, here." Digging into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and found a recent picture of his god daughter. Really it wasn't that hard, he probably had fifty from just the other day. He found a picture of him with Catherine and showed Reign. It was down in the Situation Room, sitting at his console. Catherine was curled up asleep against his chest, drooling all over his uniform shirt.
"She drools a lot, but we all think it's adorable and even the Beta lets us get away with it. Right now I'd have to say she looks more like Viv, but I dunno, maybe down the middle with the Commander, too. She's got his eyes, but Viv's hair."
Lewis stood close next to Reign and looked down at the picture with her. She smelled exquisitely Reign times a thousand and from his vantage point, he could see down her long neck and swell of her breasts. Clearing his throat, he felt himself blush as he realized just standing next to her was doing despicable things to his nether regions.
Reign
12 years ago
"Good to know you come from law abiding stock then.â€
Yup, very law abiding and honest she decided watching him pull his phone out. Wait, what was she thinking about? Baby. That was it.
There was absolutely no way you could help but smile at that picture. Reign also decided she was a tiny bit jealous of Catherine all cuddled up on Lewis' chest like that. To solve that Reign leaned over a bit, ostensibly to get a better look at the screen.
"She is absolutely beautiful, drooly or not and clearly has good taste in men.â€
It was very hard not to stand so close to Lewis and not remember being pressed up against him in Terminus, or the cab, or her house. Making herself remember that they weren't in a bar in the middle of the night but the middle of the Den in the morning Reign focused back on the picture.
"What are you going to do when she stops drooling and starts crawling around and unplugging things though?â€
Reign said as she looked away from the picture and back up at her date. Her expression made it pretty clear she was teasing him. Reign did think, however, it was rather cute that the little girl had been adopted by the Pipers. It was hard to resist big guys with little babies, Lewis was proving that right now.
Yup, very law abiding and honest she decided watching him pull his phone out. Wait, what was she thinking about? Baby. That was it.
There was absolutely no way you could help but smile at that picture. Reign also decided she was a tiny bit jealous of Catherine all cuddled up on Lewis' chest like that. To solve that Reign leaned over a bit, ostensibly to get a better look at the screen.
"She is absolutely beautiful, drooly or not and clearly has good taste in men.â€
It was very hard not to stand so close to Lewis and not remember being pressed up against him in Terminus, or the cab, or her house. Making herself remember that they weren't in a bar in the middle of the night but the middle of the Den in the morning Reign focused back on the picture.
"What are you going to do when she stops drooling and starts crawling around and unplugging things though?â€
Reign said as she looked away from the picture and back up at her date. Her expression made it pretty clear she was teasing him. Reign did think, however, it was rather cute that the little girl had been adopted by the Pipers. It was hard to resist big guys with little babies, Lewis was proving that right now.
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
"I plan on teaching her the importance of being earnest and electrical hardware by the time she's two. I hope to have her able to hack her first network by the time she's five. Don't tell her parents that. I think we all have plans for her though. We're all so far from our own families...I dunno, it's been a little while since there was a baby around the Pipers, other than the Alpha's son and that's not quite the same thing. We can't play with Noah as much as we can play with Catherine."
Reign pressed up against Lewis' chest, making him gulp. They were standing just in the entry way of the dining hall and, although he wasn't about to look away and check, he knew someone had to be watching, so he slipped his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the front doors.
"So what do you feel like having for dinner tonight? Are you a red meat and potatoes kind of woman or maybe a vegetarian?"
Something occurred to him as he led her out of the building. Should he be taking her back to his apartment? What would Red do, he wondered? Whatever Red would do, he'd do the opposite, Lewis decided. Leading her out for their date seemed to be the right idea. Or maybe she wanted to go back to his apartment? Dear god he was over thinking the whole thing.
"We can cook whatever you like."
Reign pressed up against Lewis' chest, making him gulp. They were standing just in the entry way of the dining hall and, although he wasn't about to look away and check, he knew someone had to be watching, so he slipped his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the front doors.
"So what do you feel like having for dinner tonight? Are you a red meat and potatoes kind of woman or maybe a vegetarian?"
Something occurred to him as he led her out of the building. Should he be taking her back to his apartment? What would Red do, he wondered? Whatever Red would do, he'd do the opposite, Lewis decided. Leading her out for their date seemed to be the right idea. Or maybe she wanted to go back to his apartment? Dear god he was over thinking the whole thing.
"We can cook whatever you like."
Reign
12 years ago
Reign laughed. It wasn't the dumbest thing she'd ever heard. After all she'd found her first pool table when she was eight or nine.
"So she is going to be the most formidable toddler ever is what you're saying.â€
That was something Reign understood, being far from your family and missing them.
"Where is your family?â€
Pack did tend to be pretty dang international, that much Reign had learned. She'd met people from all over so no matter what his answer she really wouldn't be surprised, but she was curious.
She liked the feeling of his arm around her shoulders and easily walked with him. Sliding her arm around Lewis' waist seemed perfectly natural at that point. It was probably good they were heading out, standing in the middle of everything would draw more attention than she really wanted.
"Honestly, it is a hassle to cook just for me so... I improvise a lot. Anything goes. And I've learned not to argue with the cook, its dangerous.â€
Years of close ties with the large Italian family across the street while growing up had taught Reign that lesson quite well.
"Why don't we just see what looks good and go from there unless you have a specialty or something you're dying to try? Nothing wrong with experimentation.â€
"So she is going to be the most formidable toddler ever is what you're saying.â€
That was something Reign understood, being far from your family and missing them.
"Where is your family?â€
Pack did tend to be pretty dang international, that much Reign had learned. She'd met people from all over so no matter what his answer she really wouldn't be surprised, but she was curious.
She liked the feeling of his arm around her shoulders and easily walked with him. Sliding her arm around Lewis' waist seemed perfectly natural at that point. It was probably good they were heading out, standing in the middle of everything would draw more attention than she really wanted.
"Honestly, it is a hassle to cook just for me so... I improvise a lot. Anything goes. And I've learned not to argue with the cook, its dangerous.â€
Years of close ties with the large Italian family across the street while growing up had taught Reign that lesson quite well.
"Why don't we just see what looks good and go from there unless you have a specialty or something you're dying to try? Nothing wrong with experimentation.â€
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
Reign slipped her arm around his waist and he felt his voice crack nervously as he told her about his family.
"My family is mostly from northern Scotland, but really all over northern Europe. We're from Jameson stock, but I'm the only Piper right now. It was either that or...well I was a little too inquisitive with my computer so ten years ago they recruited me into the Pipers."
He cleared his throat, it was Pipers or jail, but he didn't feel the need to share that with Reign just yet. Lewis was a hacker and a very good one - till he got caught.
"Anyway, my family is big. A lot of boys, but I have one younger sister. My brothers watch out for her. Catherine is our third, fourth, even fifth cousin and she's our Commander's daughter. We'll be in her life forever." Lewis considered that for a moment and grinned. "I bet Viv would push to make Catherine a Piper, not that the Commander would let her do that. There are no female Pipers."
Lewis realized he was chattering on and he squeezed her shoulder with his hand. "I'm for anything. I can try any type of cooking you like. Top Chef says to try and cook outside the box if you're going to learn anything. Tell me what you like. Tell me about you, your family."
"My family is mostly from northern Scotland, but really all over northern Europe. We're from Jameson stock, but I'm the only Piper right now. It was either that or...well I was a little too inquisitive with my computer so ten years ago they recruited me into the Pipers."
He cleared his throat, it was Pipers or jail, but he didn't feel the need to share that with Reign just yet. Lewis was a hacker and a very good one - till he got caught.
"Anyway, my family is big. A lot of boys, but I have one younger sister. My brothers watch out for her. Catherine is our third, fourth, even fifth cousin and she's our Commander's daughter. We'll be in her life forever." Lewis considered that for a moment and grinned. "I bet Viv would push to make Catherine a Piper, not that the Commander would let her do that. There are no female Pipers."
Lewis realized he was chattering on and he squeezed her shoulder with his hand. "I'm for anything. I can try any type of cooking you like. Top Chef says to try and cook outside the box if you're going to learn anything. Tell me what you like. Tell me about you, your family."
Reign
12 years ago
Reign did her best not to notice his voice crack and managed to swallow a smile. It wasn't nice to tease some one about being nervous, especially when you were dealing with some of those feelings yourself.
The way his story was phrased Reign looked up at those gorgeous green eyes, thought of the movie War Games and decided against saying anything.
"In the long run that's good though. Some one recognized your talent and you're making the most of it.†She paused for a second, "OK so the only Piper but is ever one else Amaroq? Crap... I don't even know if that's a polite question. If it isn't, forget I said anything.â€
She half smiled an apology and nervously tucked some hair behind her ear.
Some day she was going to ask for a family tree. There seemed to be a lot of relatives running around. With a half laugh Reign grinned a little.
"Why don't you wait till she grows up and find out if Catherine would even be interested before you worry about that?â€
Even the little squeeze of her shoulder could be distracting. It reminded her of the big warm hand resting there, and the big warm guy said hand was attached too and she licked her lips and tried to think about food instead of other things.
"How about something sort of Asian? Spicy and light, its been too warm out for heavy meals.
My family huh? Big as well, three boys and three girls. Ummmm... everyone but me still lives in Chicago or they will in the next few weeks my youngest brother is moving back home from the west coast. No nieces or nephews yet but smart money says Helen is expecting by this time next year if not sooner.â€
The way his story was phrased Reign looked up at those gorgeous green eyes, thought of the movie War Games and decided against saying anything.
"In the long run that's good though. Some one recognized your talent and you're making the most of it.†She paused for a second, "OK so the only Piper but is ever one else Amaroq? Crap... I don't even know if that's a polite question. If it isn't, forget I said anything.â€
She half smiled an apology and nervously tucked some hair behind her ear.
Some day she was going to ask for a family tree. There seemed to be a lot of relatives running around. With a half laugh Reign grinned a little.
"Why don't you wait till she grows up and find out if Catherine would even be interested before you worry about that?â€
Even the little squeeze of her shoulder could be distracting. It reminded her of the big warm hand resting there, and the big warm guy said hand was attached too and she licked her lips and tried to think about food instead of other things.
"How about something sort of Asian? Spicy and light, its been too warm out for heavy meals.
My family huh? Big as well, three boys and three girls. Ummmm... everyone but me still lives in Chicago or they will in the next few weeks my youngest brother is moving back home from the west coast. No nieces or nephews yet but smart money says Helen is expecting by this time next year if not sooner.â€
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
"Oh, no I don't mind. All but my sister, so far, at least. She's in college still and my other brothers did it as soon as possible. There's six of us - five boys and my sister. I'm right in the middle. Our family's been part of the Pipers for generations. We're Jamesons." Lewis shrugged like that's all he needed to say to explain what they were. "Just depends on your particular abilities if you get recruited in or not, though."
Lewis closed and eye and looked up at the sky considering his god daughter's future. "She'll be whatever she wants to be, but if she's anything like her mom, she'll kick ass like a Piper. But yeah, she is only three months old," Lewis laughed.
"Chicago huh? You sure you don't want some bratwursts and sauerkraut? I can do a mean dog. So you're all born and raised east coast? Do you have family abroad?"
Living in America was different for Lewis. The outside world looked at this country with such disdain and awe, it was hard to imagine that anyone here was originally from Europe or the other countries. Americans were so steadfastly...American. The Pipers had assimilated into the culture without any problems, their South African accents were all but gone within months, but every now and then something from the local culture would throw them off entirely.
Reign somewhat fit into that aloof American stereotype - that's pretty much the assumed opinion of the Pipers when they saw her on the property. Most of the women Lewis met, if he noticed them, were superficial, but Reign was different. He liked her outward shyness because she was anything but in private.
They had walked a little bit of the perimeter of the Long Run outside the Den's building and he turned them toward the vehicles in the garage carports.
"We can do Asian. We can do something like yakitori? It's like, grilled skewered chicken? With some coconut shrimp? Like finger foods."
Lewis closed and eye and looked up at the sky considering his god daughter's future. "She'll be whatever she wants to be, but if she's anything like her mom, she'll kick ass like a Piper. But yeah, she is only three months old," Lewis laughed.
"Chicago huh? You sure you don't want some bratwursts and sauerkraut? I can do a mean dog. So you're all born and raised east coast? Do you have family abroad?"
Living in America was different for Lewis. The outside world looked at this country with such disdain and awe, it was hard to imagine that anyone here was originally from Europe or the other countries. Americans were so steadfastly...American. The Pipers had assimilated into the culture without any problems, their South African accents were all but gone within months, but every now and then something from the local culture would throw them off entirely.
Reign somewhat fit into that aloof American stereotype - that's pretty much the assumed opinion of the Pipers when they saw her on the property. Most of the women Lewis met, if he noticed them, were superficial, but Reign was different. He liked her outward shyness because she was anything but in private.
They had walked a little bit of the perimeter of the Long Run outside the Den's building and he turned them toward the vehicles in the garage carports.
"We can do Asian. We can do something like yakitori? It's like, grilled skewered chicken? With some coconut shrimp? Like finger foods."
Reign
12 years ago
Reign nodded and for a second tried to consider how her childhood wold have been different if one by one she and her sibs had been Gifted. It was a wild thought. She grinned a little at his shrug. Some families produced generations of fire fighters or cops or doctors, that little bit of matter of factness said it all, didn't it?
"Middle child hmmm? Were you the the trouble maker looking for attention or the super good one?"
Grinning Reign teased him a little. Her best guess was not trouble maker, but you never knew.
Apparently growing up in a wolf pack came with potentially high expectations. Impulsively Reign kissed Lewis on the cheek when he decided to let his god daughter grow up.
"Brats and beer need more than two people..." She just let that thought hang their for a second with the most innocent look she could muster before rambling a little. "We are disturbingly salt of the earth Midwestern types. I even have a couple of uncles who are farmers if you really want to know. Well... sort of. I'm not sure I'd say family but we do have relations in Denmark and Wales that some of my family stays in touch with. I've never met them though, I'm not even quite sure how we're related."
They just came up in conversation now and then. She knew that some of her more immediate family had gone to meet these people but they were there. Maybe some day she'd look them up.
"Almost cliché isn't it?"
No point in not being amused by how white bread and mayo her family was. Ultimately what Reign knew was that she had a solid family and she drew a certain amount of strength from those roots.
Lewis was extremely easy to talk to and Reign was starting to wonder why she'd been so nervous about this. It was pretty silly in retrospect.
"That sounds perfect. And potentially messy, but fun. Hmmmm... the last time I had good Japanese they did asparagus rafts, I don't know what they basted them in but they had toasted sesame seeds on them. Pretty dang tasty."
They'd made good time on their little walk from the Den and now even seemed to have something of a plan as far as food went.
"Middle child hmmm? Were you the the trouble maker looking for attention or the super good one?"
Grinning Reign teased him a little. Her best guess was not trouble maker, but you never knew.
Apparently growing up in a wolf pack came with potentially high expectations. Impulsively Reign kissed Lewis on the cheek when he decided to let his god daughter grow up.
"Brats and beer need more than two people..." She just let that thought hang their for a second with the most innocent look she could muster before rambling a little. "We are disturbingly salt of the earth Midwestern types. I even have a couple of uncles who are farmers if you really want to know. Well... sort of. I'm not sure I'd say family but we do have relations in Denmark and Wales that some of my family stays in touch with. I've never met them though, I'm not even quite sure how we're related."
They just came up in conversation now and then. She knew that some of her more immediate family had gone to meet these people but they were there. Maybe some day she'd look them up.
"Almost cliché isn't it?"
No point in not being amused by how white bread and mayo her family was. Ultimately what Reign knew was that she had a solid family and she drew a certain amount of strength from those roots.
Lewis was extremely easy to talk to and Reign was starting to wonder why she'd been so nervous about this. It was pretty silly in retrospect.
"That sounds perfect. And potentially messy, but fun. Hmmmm... the last time I had good Japanese they did asparagus rafts, I don't know what they basted them in but they had toasted sesame seeds on them. Pretty dang tasty."
They'd made good time on their little walk from the Den and now even seemed to have something of a plan as far as food went.
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
"I was a good kid compared to my brothers." Lewis considered the trouble his brothers got into and then the level of trouble he seemed to attract. "Comparatively, I was a good kid."
Lewis listened to Reign talk about her family, smiling as she did so. "Well isn't everyone from America from somewhere else? That's kind of what I don't get about pop culture here and the level of intolerance in some cases. Do people forget that their families aren't from here, either?"
He asked in all honesty because he really did not understand the mentality. Unless they were native american, everyone was an immigrant, but the intolerance he had seen, and certainly have felt when they'd meet new people here, boggled his mind.
"I suppose that's more of a rhetorical question, but I could care less where someone is from. It doesn't figure into what I think of them. But you're midwestern then? Is that where they say...uh...y'all? I love that western dialect. It's just ridiculous!" Lewis snorted just thinking of it.
Reign was agreeable to the asian cuisine so he stopped to decide their itinerary for the day.
"So, ok. We can head to the farmer's market and grab what we need, then head back here, drop it off real quick and then head back out again? Or we can go to the market last and enjoy the day. What would you like to do? Somewhere you want to maybe go and see? Or we can head back to my apartment and watch a movie or whatever else. I have a pretty good collection of movies."
Lewis innocently asked Reign back to his apartment, not realizing...well, just not realizing, that was until he stopped and thought about what he had suggested. Go back to his room and watch a movie? Would she think that's code? Is that code? What would Red do? He shouldn't do whatever that might be. He looked down at Reign and felt a blush rise up to his cheeks.
"Uh...so yeah, what did you feel like doing to me, I mean toDAY."
Oh dear god.
Lewis listened to Reign talk about her family, smiling as she did so. "Well isn't everyone from America from somewhere else? That's kind of what I don't get about pop culture here and the level of intolerance in some cases. Do people forget that their families aren't from here, either?"
He asked in all honesty because he really did not understand the mentality. Unless they were native american, everyone was an immigrant, but the intolerance he had seen, and certainly have felt when they'd meet new people here, boggled his mind.
"I suppose that's more of a rhetorical question, but I could care less where someone is from. It doesn't figure into what I think of them. But you're midwestern then? Is that where they say...uh...y'all? I love that western dialect. It's just ridiculous!" Lewis snorted just thinking of it.
Reign was agreeable to the asian cuisine so he stopped to decide their itinerary for the day.
"So, ok. We can head to the farmer's market and grab what we need, then head back here, drop it off real quick and then head back out again? Or we can go to the market last and enjoy the day. What would you like to do? Somewhere you want to maybe go and see? Or we can head back to my apartment and watch a movie or whatever else. I have a pretty good collection of movies."
Lewis innocently asked Reign back to his apartment, not realizing...well, just not realizing, that was until he stopped and thought about what he had suggested. Go back to his room and watch a movie? Would she think that's code? Is that code? What would Red do? He shouldn't do whatever that might be. He looked down at Reign and felt a blush rise up to his cheeks.
"Uh...so yeah, what did you feel like doing to me, I mean toDAY."
Oh dear god.
Reign
12 years ago
That answer made Reign laugh and she had to give him a little bit of hell.
"Sure, I'll believe that when I see it."
It was an unexpected question but it was sincere and Reign really wished she had a better answer.
"Go ask Drew Benally that one..."
The Boy had explained some of the history of his clan and it was less than pretty and then top that off with being part of the Pack, good times. Although she did try to come up with an answer.
"It doesn't make sense to me either really and last I checked every one had an equal chance of being a saint or a sinner..."
Before she could get too serious Lewis had jumped to the far side of the map and Reign was laughing. Just for fun she dropped into her best 'Fargo' imitation. It came naturally if she spent a lot of time around her relatives.
"No you get outside of the city there and it is all about the 'you 'betcha' and 'don't ya know'." Clearing her throat Reign shook the accent. "Although I think we might have adopted ya'll at some point but I draw the line at 'howdy partner' and ten gallon hats."
Conceding that it didn't take all day to do some shopping Reign was pondering options thinking that although it had been between hot and warm it was nice to be outside. Although, when he put it like that a movie was nice. But ... whoa... what... do -to- him. Why she didn't blush too Reign didn't know. It was not nice of Lewis to be in her head like that.
Reign reached up and kissed him on the lips this time, softly. She'd wanted to do that since he'd come up to her in the dinning hall.
"We'll play it by ear. Improvise. Its a big city, something will come up."
"Sure, I'll believe that when I see it."
It was an unexpected question but it was sincere and Reign really wished she had a better answer.
"Go ask Drew Benally that one..."
The Boy had explained some of the history of his clan and it was less than pretty and then top that off with being part of the Pack, good times. Although she did try to come up with an answer.
"It doesn't make sense to me either really and last I checked every one had an equal chance of being a saint or a sinner..."
Before she could get too serious Lewis had jumped to the far side of the map and Reign was laughing. Just for fun she dropped into her best 'Fargo' imitation. It came naturally if she spent a lot of time around her relatives.
"No you get outside of the city there and it is all about the 'you 'betcha' and 'don't ya know'." Clearing her throat Reign shook the accent. "Although I think we might have adopted ya'll at some point but I draw the line at 'howdy partner' and ten gallon hats."
Conceding that it didn't take all day to do some shopping Reign was pondering options thinking that although it had been between hot and warm it was nice to be outside. Although, when he put it like that a movie was nice. But ... whoa... what... do -to- him. Why she didn't blush too Reign didn't know. It was not nice of Lewis to be in her head like that.
Reign reached up and kissed him on the lips this time, softly. She'd wanted to do that since he'd come up to her in the dinning hall.
"We'll play it by ear. Improvise. Its a big city, something will come up."
Lewis Kearney
12 years ago
Lewis was surprised when Reign kissed him, even after his unfortunate Freudian slip. She pulled away too quickly, making him lean toward her hungrily, but he couldn't help but chuckle at what she said next.
"No pun intended, right?"
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her this time, although a little bit more aggressively than she had. Pressing his forehead against hers, he broke the kiss and closed his eyes.
"So, we can go for a drive maybe? There's the Arch?" Lewis kissed her again, pulling her close and losing his breath. "Later tonight Red and JT are playing at the Howl if you want to go to that after dinner."
Lewis felt his chest tighten as he began to experience something close to a heart attack or at least heart palpitations.
"Or take a walk into the Tikerak. It's really pretty out there this time of year."
Lewis let his lips hover above hers and he tried desperately not to attack her right there in front of the Den. Mentally he was cursing himself, praying the others weren't watching him make out with Reign.
"No pun intended, right?"
Smiling, he leaned down and kissed her this time, although a little bit more aggressively than she had. Pressing his forehead against hers, he broke the kiss and closed his eyes.
"So, we can go for a drive maybe? There's the Arch?" Lewis kissed her again, pulling her close and losing his breath. "Later tonight Red and JT are playing at the Howl if you want to go to that after dinner."
Lewis felt his chest tighten as he began to experience something close to a heart attack or at least heart palpitations.
"Or take a walk into the Tikerak. It's really pretty out there this time of year."
Lewis let his lips hover above hers and he tried desperately not to attack her right there in front of the Den. Mentally he was cursing himself, praying the others weren't watching him make out with Reign.
Reign
12 years ago
Suddenly aware of what -she'd- said Reign grinned a little like Cheshire Cat.
"Of course not."
Instead of protesting her innocence any further regarding that little comment she found herself being kissed. She liked that much better.
Reign made some vague affirmative sound, either of those were fine. This time it was her turn to ask for a little more from their kiss.
"I might have had other plans for after dinner. But we can do both..."
Apparently she'd decided to channel Kathleen Turner right there. It almost didn't sound like her voice.
This was a little... different. Good, very good, but different. Typically Reign moved slower than this with guys. She tended to be a little shy and let's face it she'd been hurt more than once but not this time. Hell if it hadn't been so early in the morning and she though they could get away with it she would have skipped right to her after dinner plans.
"A walk with or without the kids and the Frisbee?"
Lewis hadn't pulled away and Reign took advantage of that continuing their little make out session. At this rate they were not going to get off the property and she wasn't sure she cared.
"Of course not."
Instead of protesting her innocence any further regarding that little comment she found herself being kissed. She liked that much better.
Reign made some vague affirmative sound, either of those were fine. This time it was her turn to ask for a little more from their kiss.
"I might have had other plans for after dinner. But we can do both..."
Apparently she'd decided to channel Kathleen Turner right there. It almost didn't sound like her voice.
This was a little... different. Good, very good, but different. Typically Reign moved slower than this with guys. She tended to be a little shy and let's face it she'd been hurt more than once but not this time. Hell if it hadn't been so early in the morning and she though they could get away with it she would have skipped right to her after dinner plans.
"A walk with or without the kids and the Frisbee?"
Lewis hadn't pulled away and Reign took advantage of that continuing their little make out session. At this rate they were not going to get off the property and she wasn't sure she cared.