Morningstar Manor

Deacon and Nia had picked Charlie up from the gallery and they had lunched in the auberge then had gone along to the usual temporary costume shop to get something suitable for Nia to go trick or treating in.

There was plenty of choice.

Bundled up against the early morning chill, Ang was in the gardens with Faith, and an equally well wrapped up Gavin. She'd woken early, and unable to get back to sleep had snuck out of bed and gone about her morning routine. Luckily this pregnancy was seeming to be easier, less nausea for one, so she was doing much better so far.

Faith had done her business, and was now busy letting Gavin chase her about the lawns, entertaining both of them while Ang wandered more slowly around the paths, contemplating life and the essay she had to finish for tomorrow, lunch and how happy Alec had been last night when the Yankees swept the Minnesota Twins to get a place in the next stage of the so called World Series. She snorted a little with laughter, drawing Faith's attention, again amused by the fact that with only American teams in the competition they called it the "World Series". As Faith drew closer, Gavin in hot pursuit, Ang fished a tennis ball from her pocket and lobbed it out onto the lawn, sending Faith barrelling after it. But it wasn't Faith who got to it first....


(OOC: Sal, moved this for you, hadn't noticed it was in the wrong place. Sorry hun!)

Kris was at the Spa reception desk checking his appointment book and waiting for Gabe to finish a massage so he could resume teasing him about Sarah. It was a tough job but someone had to do it. Also Gabe expected it and would be disappointed if he didn't. It showed Kris cared.

###

Vincenzo was on patrol and had, as usual ended up on the roof. The builder's rubble was gone now, the gravel neatly raked and the planters loaded with fragrant flowering plants. He checked in with Frank then clipped his radio to his belt and went to check out the pool house.

It looked fantastic with russet and turquoise tiling, white and gold paintwork and lightweight arching Triplex panels. The water flashed and rippled as a couple of tenants swam leisurely lengths. At the far end where the walls drew back the hot tub seethed quietly.

"First chance I get," he promised himself.

###

Charlie and Nia were on their way home after a very successful shopping trip. Which meant that he was laden with groceries and Nia had a helium filled balloon that was - oh joy - shaped like a manically cheerful penguin.

She bounced it a couple of times making penguin noises then dashed forward with a squeak as the elevator door opened. Charlie followed her in and held the door for someone who was coming up behind them. "Going up?" he asked.

An earlier phone call while out for a walk now had Emma in a bit of a tizzy, and she was scribbling notes and making lists on several pieces of paper on the table in front of her. Strangely she wasn't sketching, but she was muttering and alternately sipping at her hot chocolate, or nibbling on a cookie whilst looking both worried and excited. Beneath the table Faith and Lily were curled up together, both exhausted after the long walk around the Riverwalk Park, followed by Emma almost running back to the Manor.

Neither of them had a clue what was going on, and of course, after a cookie and some water, neither really cared, but other people might.

Nia was playing with a bucket of water and a child sized watering can, 'helping' by watering the tomato plants she and Charlie had planted in their tenant's plot. And while she was occupied Charlie was taking the opportunity to splash some paint around on a board and asemble a rough sketch of whatever happened to be in his head today.

The painting had started off being of the flowers in the border but the face of a red haired woman kept intruding and he couldn't make up his mind whether it was Ceri or Samantha, Nia's mother. He shook his head and splashed on more paint, wondering what he was trying to tell himself.

"An' Scruffy, play with Scruffy, an' Unca Nick an' Unca Seff." Nia nodded as she stumped along at her father's side dragging Brian by his ear and holding her parrot under her arm.

She was completely all right with her Dads going away - they often did that and they always came back - and she was very happy to have Unca Seff to play with.

Or that's what she had given Charlie to understand but right now, now it came to saying goodbye, Charlie was having major parental doubts and a HUGE helping of guilt.

He tapped on Seth's door, smiling down as Nia banged too. She looked happy enough. And getting away from the gallery for a while would be good.

Steaks and a good night's sleep had worked wonders and so Charlie had taken Nia to the zoo and D had had a bit of time to himself before joining them to drive them out to Cleveland for dinner with old friends Katie and Ben Fuller.

"Is she a little girl or a BIG little girl?" Nia demanded as they drove up to the house. She was desperate for someone new to play with and had been talking about Jessica all day.

"Well she's bigger than you," Deacon said, "but she's still a little girl. I think you'll like her." ( Read more... )

It could have been the curry, or it could have been the catfish. Either way, Charlie had a very uncomfortable 24 hours, some of which, once the initial unpleasantness was over, had been spent asleep. Astonishingly, and thankfully, neither Nia nor Deacon had been affected and had left him curled up with Perrier and crackers while they looked at the dinosaurs.

"Raaaaaaggghhhh," Nia said, wearing her dinosaur hat.

"Raaaagh," Charlie said in reply and looked fondly across at Deacon who was driving exceedingly smoothly despite the roughness of the road.

Another campsite, another cook out. But this time they had bought steaks.

They had found a good campsite the first night, to break them in gently, but tonight they were in a more isolated spot and Nia was speculating loudly about the possibility of bears.( Read more... )

Charlie had been as organised as it was possible for him to be and, so far, things appeared to be going according to plan. ( Read more... )

Leo had actually been into the office on a Sunday, not unheard of but not a regular occurrence, because Carnahan had called him to say that some papers from Pangolin had been misdirected to his office and that he had, shamefully, forgotten to mention it. He had offered Leo Sunday evening dinner in recompense and Leo had accepted cheerfully, then had put the phone down and cursed and got down there sharpish. Now he was back, envelope in pocket, considering options and ready for tea - possibly iced because it was a warm day.

#

Vincenzo greeted Lawyer Beck on his way through the lobby then settled back in his seat and eased his collar. It was hot. He might have to fetch the one of the fans from the security suite. They didn't need ALL of them in there.

#

Ruth had finished her laundry and paused to look in the mail room. She felt - restless - and couldn't work out why.

On impulse she spoke to the young man at the security desk and he smiled and agreed to keep her small package of laundry, neatly folded inside a pillow case, in his cupboard until she came back for it, and she hitched her purse under her arm and went for a walk. Maybe to the park - or the Square.

Though she would probably end up at the museum.

#

The lack of the pool house was being felt quite keenly by some of the residents so Charlie had obtained an extra large and extra tough paddling pool and obtained permission to put it on a sunny patch of ground not far from the gazebo. Overnight he and Nick and Phil had put it up and filled it and now the sun was busy warming it.

He sat on the grass laughing as Nia, in a very frilly swimsuit, dipped her hands in and squealed and ran about shaking them and going "brrrrrrrrrrr". The way the temperature was rising it would soon be milk warm and he might even have a paddle himself.

Some mornings were just to nice to stay inside. This morning was one of them. With the weather warming nicely they decided that once breakfast was done it was time for a bit of play in the gardens. Coffees in hand (and some apple juice for Nia) Deacon and Charlie and Nia headed down to the gardens and soon enough were sitting on a bench watching Nia chase butterflies and occassionally playing catch with the ball they'd brought down.

It was a lovely way to start the day.

Another day at the Manor and Jason was at the lobby desk, looking over reports and sipping coffee. It had been one of those weeks again. Something off, some people feeling a little strange. When you'd been around as long as he had you got used to it.

But it still made for a lot of interesting reports that made for a lot of paperwork.

Anastasia stood in line in a white, paint-splattered tank dress and blue flip flops, staring at nothing in particular. She hadn't lost time in a few days and that was good. Stll, something wasn't setting right. Frowning, she studied the menu. Best not to think too hard without caffeine.

Bea was sitting alone at a table, flipping through a magazine and fighting the urge to stare at the guy a few tables down that was flipping through the issue of Smashing with her on the cover. She'd had a bad weekend and didn't think she was up to a bad review just yet.

Rhiannon sat at a table with Harvey and Lee, giggling at the two boys. Lee had let Harvey draw a mustache on him with his eyeliner and now Lee was swaggering in-chair and doing a John Wayne impression. Rhi was pretty sure John Wayne hadn't had a mustache, but Harvey was laughing his head off and so was she.

They couldn't have asked for better weather. Here - away from the City and the Manor - Spring was stirring and even though the wind coming off the lake was still cool the day was warm. Warm enough for light jackets anyway and breakfast on the back deck.

This time Deacon had gotten up early to start breakfast, letting Charlie sleep in a bit - or at least as long as he could before Nia woke up and pounced on him. Nick arrived shortly after Deacon had gotten the coffee going and Deacon had sent him out to hide the eggs. When he came back in Deacon handed him a big cup of coffee.

"None hidden to high for little girls right?" he asked the big man.

"Nope," Nick said with a grin. "But I hid a few little things at about Seth's eyeline. Don't see why the kiddies should have all the fun." ( Read more... )

Charlie was well aware that he had probably been a pain for the past few days. He had been anxious and clingy and had spent more time than usual watching Nia play, or following Deacon. In fact he had got underfoot more times than he could count.

In the end it was Nia who told him off about it.

"Fuss, fuss, fuss," she chanted tugging her foot out of his hand and snatching her shoe as well. "Want to do dis mySELF. Go play."

Charlie's face fell and he sat back on his heels while she got the shoe back on and did up the velcro straps, then she turned onto her tummmy and kicked her feet in the air while Winnie the Pooh danced across the tv screen.

Charlie bit his thumb nail and got up and went to see if Deacon wanted anything - and if he was okay.

he would be - but Charlie really needed to see.

"No you paint yours," Charlie said. "I can manage mine on my own."

Nia pouted but carried on finger painting and Charlie took moments to give her proud glances in between his own brush strokes.

All was peaceful for maybe ten minutes - which was good going for Nia - then there was a ping from the doorbell and Nia squealed, "Who dat?" and dashed off to see. Charlie followed and peered through the Judas in the door.

"Ooh, I dunno if we want to let this one in," he said.

The Mocha was jumping today and many Manor regulars were out and about.

Deacon sat at a table reading over an email Seth had sent to him. It spoke of collars and other alternatives to them and had gotten Deacon thinking. But when Nia insisted on climbing into his lap he closed the email and instead opened up the video player to one of her Winnie the Pooh shows. He'd have to take her to daycare soon so that he could go to the dojo but until then they had a bit of time. So she sat happily in his lap, munching on a cookie and watching Pooh Bear and Deacon sipped his coffee and smiled down at her curly head.

****

Erik had been on the phone when he'd first arrived in the Mocha - speaking to his estate agent and working out everything that would need to be done before he and Angela returned home. Moving everything from their flat here back to Norfolk was a daunting task and so when that call ended - and he'd gotten his tea and found a table - he took a moment to simply sit. He'd had a bit of time before the next call needed to be made.

****

Micah sat in one of the chairs near the Mocha door, sipping his coffee and staring at nothing in particular. He was still furious with Robert Rossi's assumption that he could be bought off like that and hadn't yet said anything to Isabella about it. He'd need to though and likely soon. He'd also need to tell Max about the baby. That was a conversation he wasn't looking forward to.

****

Across the room at at a table Max was reading a paper and enjoying coffee and a bagel before it was time to head to work. Something was up with Micah, he knew, and he'd give it a bit more time before pressing the issue. Then there was the matter of Sterrin and her ex. Granted Max hadn't seen anymore of the man he'd sent to the ER but the fight had obviously caused a riff between Sterrin and her brother - something Max wasn't pleased with.

He sighed and turned a page in the newspaper. Relationships could be such a bother.

****

Rhys was back in the Mocha as well, dressed for work in slacks, a button up and a tie that hung a bit loose around his neck. A duffle bag with a change of clothes and his scrubs sat at his feet and he munched on his bagel and drank his coffee and mentally prepared for his shift.

Bea had spent all day making cupcakes.

Yes, cupcakes. The cake part was easy - all she had to do was follow the directions on the box of cake mix. However, what she'd really went balls-out on was the decorating. She'd made faces and figures and shapes and cartoons out of icing and candy until she was blue in the face, and it was time to deliver.

Trying to stay distracted? Maybe. But it was good karma, right?


She figured it was best to start at the top and work her way to the bottom, so she grabbed the first batch and took them up to the fourteenth floor, dropping a bride and groom pair off in front of Erik and Andy's door with a note, not wanting to disturb the love birds, then went to knock on Charlie's door.

She had a penguin cupcake for miss Nia, and a mouse cupcake for Charlie, plus plenty of flubs in case they wanted more.

Nia had been very good on the drive over even if it was longer than she normally wanted to sit still for. But they had sang songs and told stories and now she was getting a bit sleepy as they pulled up to the lake house. While Charlie carried her, Deacon got their bags and went inside, turning on lights and heat and getting the fire going in the fireplace.

She perked up a bit then and played happily in front of the fireplace while they waited for her room to warm up a bit.

"Goggie?" she asked and Deacon shook his head.

"Not tonight. We'll see him tomorrow I bet."