[Open] Let your life blaze and burn so the whole world can see

[defy_the_stars]

1. Healing at Hillingdon House

Now that things were fairly settled with her home and business, Liadan was trying to establish a routine visit to Hillingdon, to see if anyone required her healing services. It was also a good way to get some adult conversation in that didn't revolve around childcare, as well as stay apprised of any new developments in the supernatural community.

Her neighbour, Mrs. Buchanan, was available to watch Johnny on Sunday afternoons after church, so that seemed the best time for her to head over. She gathered all the supplies she might need and headed over.




2. Playing at the park

It was getting a bit cooler these days but Liadan still took the children outside regularly, so they could burn off some energy. As they played, she had to remember to keep a close eye on Olivia, who was the only one of them who had developed any powers at the moment. Thankfully, her telekinetic skills were fairly weak so far, so the worst she could probably do would be to levitate sand in someone's face.

While the other children ran around on the equipment, Liadan pushed the youngest, Anna, on the swing, smiling as the girl squeeled with glee each time she sailed up towards the sky.





3. At the pharmacy

Liadan was getting used to comparing brands at this point but usually she was doing it at the grocery store, trying to pick out the best food. This evening, however, she was trying to decide which of the many brands of pregnancy test was the best.

Part of her wondered if she really even needed to take one. She'd only felt this way once before, back when she was pregnant with Johnny. But even though she trusted her feelings, it was always nice to have evidence to back them up.

She also wondered what Bran would think. They hadn't exactly planned this, though they hadn't done anything to prevent it either. And that night in Manchester had been so wonderful. So he might not be surprised at all but she wasn't sure.

As she walked to the counter with the test selected, she figured she'd find out what he thought fairly soon. And then the real planning would have to begin.

Comments

3

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy had been there before. Holding two different sorts of pregnancy tests, wondering which one she's going to wind up stealing, running home and taking and pray to whomever was listening that it was negative. If it wasn't... Nothing good ever followed. But that was her life before, before she'd met Cooper. Now, she was also a far better witch, finding different methods for birth control that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

She should say nothing. Buying a test like that was a personal thing. But she looked anxious, and Nancy was never good at impulse control. "First Choice is always a good option. Inexpensive, too."

Re: 3

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan hadn't expected anyone to offer a suggestion but she was rather happy that this woman had. "Thank you," she said, picking up the First Choice box. "I suppose I should have believed the name."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy gives a little bit of a chortle. "Yeah- never really thought of that, before." She pauses, and looks at the woman. She shouldn't ask. But... She had to know.

"Are you alright? I mean, everything's... never mind. You probably don't want to talk to a stranger, even if something wasn't alright."

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan smiled. "It's fine. And yes, I'm alright. A bit surprised but it's a good surprise." At least most of it was. As much as Bran tried to be there, she was essentially a single mother so much of the time. And now she'd have another baby to look after, without having family - without having her mother - around to help.

[stauncherhearted]

"Good, I'm glad to hear it." She gives her a warm smile, because if it's a good surprise, then that's brilliant. Hers had never been. Never the right time, and she knew deep down, never going to be wanted by the father.

"First one?"

[defy_the_stars]

"Second. I have a five year old son as well." She wondered what Johnny would think about being a big brother. She hoped he'd be excited about it. He certainly liked playing with all the kids from the daycare but he didn't have to share her as much with them as he would a younger sibling.

"It's going to be a big change for him. And me."

[stauncherhearted]

"Wow, I bet he's quite the handful. Still, I'm sure he'll be a big help, when the time comes." Especially if you framed it like that.

"I think you'd be surprised- my brothers were always good at adjusting, whenever we brought in another one."

2

[emotioneater]

Cooper was passing through the park, taking advantage of the weak winter sky. Even now, it was amazing to be in the sun instead of confined to the dark. He twisted the daylight ring Nancy had made for him around on his finger. He took a moment to pause and watch the children on the playground. There was a wistful pang inside, some adult hunger that had never gone away. Some vampires were lucky enough to have children before they were turned. Cooper wasn't that fortunate and he'd always wonder what fatherhood would have been like.

He was so busy lost in memories and angst for what could have been that he didn't even notice the little boy who had broken off from the group, running at full speed across the grass. He bumped right into Cooper, stumbling like he was about to fall. "Whoop!" He threw out a hand and caught him before he could fall on his bottom. "Watch it there, little man. There's lions, tigers, and bears about."

The little boy looked up at him with big eyes. "Really?"

"Oh aye. Gotta be careful or they'll gobble you right up!" He tickled the boy, producing a squeal of laughter. "C'mon. There's safety in numbers." He led the boy back over towards Liadan.

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan saw Danny take off but before she could do anything about it, the boy had run into someone. Luckily, said person seemed okay with it. Liadan supposed it was to be expected, walking around a park.

"Sorry about that," she said when the two approached her. "Danny, did you apologize to this nice man?"

"Sorry," Danny murmured. "Can I go play now?"

"Only if you stay with the others this time." Danny nodded, then ran off to join the others.

Liadan sighed. "That one can be a handful."

[emotioneater]

Cooper shrugged, watching with a wistful expression that didn't really fit a teenager's face as Danny went off to play again with the other children. "He's just rambunctious. Kids're like that sometimes." He counted the number of kids and eyed Liadan. There's no way they were all her's, unless she was the little old lady who lived in the shoe.

"You watchin' over all these little scamps by your lonesome self?" He asked her, just another seemingly normal seventeen year old making his way through the park.

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan smiled. "I am. I run a daycare out of my house and, in order to preserve some level of sanity there, I thought I'd let them go outside and burn off some energy. Especially on such a lovely day."

There was something peculiar in the way the teen was looking at the children - not peculiar in a bad way, just in an unusual way. She couldn't quite place what exactly it meant.

[emotioneater]

"Smart idea. There aren't gonna be many more before we get more snow in." The little ones seemed to be having a wonderful time being outside. Most were playing some form of tag that involved half of them running away from the other, shrieks of delight filling the air.

"Reminds me of a scene from home." Cooper had come from a big Irish family of farmers and there had always been a bunch of kids inside their snug home. He'd been the oldest boy in the family, so he was always watching over his brothers and sisters. They were all dead now these long years, but he still thought about them with pangs of nostalgia.

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan nodded. "Hopefully we can get out for a bit even on the colder days but it certainly won't be for as long." Especially not for Anna, who was beginning to get fussy even today. Liadan lifted the girl out of the swing and put her down, letting her try and run after the older children.

"Where are you from?" It was always nice to run into an Irish accent in London.

1

[constantprisoner]

[ooc: This assumes that Sirius does not know about Liaden's being Hillingdon, if that's cool?]

Sirius can usually be found in two locations in Hillingdon House. The kitchen or the living room. Today it's the living room, where he's claimed one of the couches for an afternoon nap. Considering how alert he had to be at one time, little freedoms like this are something he's come to appreciate. That being said, old habits are hard to break and he can't help but pay attention to the sounds and smells around the house.

Especially one that seems familiar. He stares up at the ceiling, trying to place it.

Re: 1

[defy_the_stars]

[Sounds good to me]

Liadan chatted for a bit with the first couple of people she ran into, none of whom needed her services at the moment. Which, all and all, was a good thing. She'd knew things had been a bit tense in the city for awhile but lately the mood seemed more positive.

She walked into the living room, to see if anyone was there, and was surprised to recognize the man lying on one of the couches. When she met him in the supermarket, she had no idea that he was anything other than an ordinary human. Some days, it was a shame to only be able to recognize fae on sight.

"Hello again," she said with a smile. "Apparently it's a small world."

[constantprisoner]

"So it is," Sirius replied, sitting up and running a hand through his hair so that it didn't quite look like he'd been taking a nap. Although that was probably obvious. Regardless, he returns the smile.

"I had a feeling there was something more to you, but it's always embarrassing to come out an ask in those settings."

At the very least, he was glad his sense of smell had yet to let him down.

[defy_the_stars]

"Yes, I imagine it would be." At least the one thing about her ability was some level of certainty. Though she had discovered since arriving here that sometimes people who had extensive contact with fae began to feel like fae. But at long as none of them were in league with the Lady of the Forest, then it did not trouble her too much.

"I don't believe I caught your name before. I'm Liadan."

[constantprisoner]

"Sirius," he replied, offering his hand for a hand shake. "Nice to meet you, properly this time."

Now that he was aware of it, he could definitely catch the supernatural scents, especially ones of the Fae. He was curious, but thankfully, aware enough that he could use tact.

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan took the offered hand, shaking it gently. "Nice to meet you as well, Sirius. And, to avoid any future awkwardness, I'm a meta human with healing abilities, among other things. That's what I'm doing here, checking to see if anyone needs a healer."

3.

[reticence]

Faolan certainly isn't at the pharmacy for the same reasons as Liadan, but everyone has their needs. Faolan's just aren't quite the same as hers would be. A fact which is made readily obvious as Faolan turns the corner of the aisle and knocks straight into her, automatically dropping everything in his hands and accidentally knocking her shopping from her.

It takes him only a moment to recognizer, have the embarrassment of the moment flicker of his face, before he's dropping to his knees in front of her, mumbling out an apology. "Sorry, I'm sorry," Faolan says, "Liadan. I wasn't looking where I was going I hadn't..." He trails off, unsure how to put into words the fact that the season itself is playing havoc with his thoughts. It's just as well he isn't talking, considering his hand closes at that moment around the box of the pregnancy test as he collects their collective shopping and realizes just what it is he's got in his hands.

Re: 3.

[defy_the_stars]

Well, that's one way of sharing your news. And still better than the way that Bran had learned of Johnny's existence, the day by the lake when he had appeared so unexpectedly and jumped to all the wrong conclusions before finally accepting the truth.

Liadan reaches down and takes the box from his hands. "Thank you. And there's no need to apologize, these aisles are very narrow."

[reticence]

Faolan struggles with himself as he passes her back the box and then tries to think of what a person should say in such circumstances. Obviously she doesn't know whether she's expecting another child or not, that's what the test is for. But on the other hand, she wouldn't be looking for the test in the first place if she hadn't suspected... Gods be merciful, but he's not any good in a situation like this.

"I..." he says, before trailing off and starting again. "They are. Still." He should be watching where he's going more carefully, especially if he's nearly bowling over potentially pregnant women now.

"Are..." He tries, trailing off once more, needing to gather the courage to continue to ask, "Are you alright?" He doesn't just mean because he'd knocked into her either. He knows what her life is like, with Bran gone most of the time and all. He wonders how she's doing, having to come into a pharmacy for a test like that at a time like this.

[defy_the_stars]

Faolan's concern is sweet, though Liadan can't help but wish that Bran was in his place right now. She imagines both of them would handle such an encounter with the same amount of awkwardness.

"Yes, I'm fine. Obviously, this is a bit of a surprise but I think it is a welcome one."

She hopes Bran will agree about that. After all, it wasn't like they had taken measures to prevent it from happening, other than only seeing each other on an infrequent basis.

[reticence]

He doesn't really know what to do in this sort of a situation, but he's glad at least that she isn't upset. She is a friend to him, however awkward a friend he is in return. She had helped him, after all, and she would no doubt need to help him again. The least he could do was be there for her in return, if and when she needed a friend in return.

He flicks a gentle smile at her, moving to stand. "I... I'm glad," he says awkwardly, but it's the truth, and it's honest. "Does Bran know?" The next logical question to follow, of course.

[defy_the_stars]

Liadan appreciates that Faolan is trying his best, despite the awkwardness. He has been a good friend to her since she arrived in London, better than perhaps he realizes.

"No," she replies. "I wanted to be completely certain before telling him. Hence the test."