Who: Nick and Mel (Helen cameo) What: Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back... Where: Home When: Yesterday, afternoon Warnings: None
Cry for me another tear, another fear, another tear. Call me back home again, but don't you fear, don't you fear? This is the wasted moment, the time you want to hold in. Want me home, want me gone, Can't make up your mind again. I'll walk away, run away, Because this pain we just can't hold in.
Sitting in the back of the taxi, the goth rocker hummed some tune to herself, watching as the scenery of Miami passed her by. The driver had managed to not give her more than a single curious glance, but the woman was more than used to it. Black short hair, pixied and spiked. Dark eye liner, eyeshadow and a smooth dark red lipstick. Her skin was properly fair, and she was dressed with the newest of the fashions. Still, somehow, the look wasn't over the top. It was eye catching, but tasteful. She had practice.
Next to the woman was a single messenger bag, while the trunk held her suitcase. Large, plaid, and by the weight, filled with clothes, it was a complete to the bag in the back seat. She rested her hand on top of it, tapping out a pattern of drums that went to the tune she hummed.
Eventually, the cab pulled up to the large Aiolos mansion. Up the driveway and straight to the front door. He got out first, with the passenger following after, pausing to look up at the building. A roll of thunder was heard in the clouds above. She glanced up, and rain began to fall.
Figures.
Quickly the driver took her suitcase out, moving it to the top of the steps for her before coming back down to her side, and naming off the price owed. The young woman shut her door, reaching into her bag and pulled out the named cash, plus a healthy tip, murmuring for him to keep the change. He thanked her, pocketed the money, and climbed back into the cab as she turned to head up the steps herself. A test of the knob, and the door was locked.
Giving a small sigh, she reached out and pressed the door bell. Home sweet, home...
A male voice from inside the house called, "Coming!". There was a few moments of silence before footsteps could be heard, and a shirtless Nick opened the door wide, holding a squirming Helen in a towel with a wet dog at his feet.
The mortal man froze for a moment, almost not recognizing her with the fake hair and makeup. But it only took him a second to say, "Mel?"
"Hey," she mentioned nonchalantly, as if she'd only go to the store or on some errand. "I think I left my keys here." Her eyes shifted to her daughter, and she gave the smallest of smiles, reaching out to brush her hair back from her face, then glancing down to Shadow. "Thanks for taking care of them for me," she mentioned to the dog, before looking back up to Nick. Surprise?
Huh? Oh... He stood there blankly for a moment before stepping forward to pull her close, kissing her quite deeply. The only thing that ruined the romantic scene was Helen reaching up with a giggle and yanking off the wig.
She touched his cheek, pulling and keeping him close as she returned the kiss, just as deeply, just as passionately. She didn't even flinch as the wig was tugged from her head, finishing her proper kiss before slowly pulling back to grin at Helen. "Do you want to put that on [sweet princess]?"
"She's getting into dress-up," Nick said, looking down at the toddler as she struggled to put the mass of fake hair onto her own head. She did, finally, but backwards. "Aboo?" she called, puzzled by the sudden blindness.
Mel carefully reached forward and straightened the wig. It was far too big for such a small head, but the child seemed to enjoy the idea of it. Mel's own blonde hair had been loosely netted beneath it, and now tumbled down her back, free. She reached and took her daughter into her arms. "It's a wig. We'll make you a costume, for Halloween."
Nick smiled and reached to stroke the immortal's cheek. The look on his face was pleased, but still surprised. "She's missed you." He paused, and added a little more quietly, "I did, too."
She kissed her daughter's cheek, then nuzzled a bit into her lover's touch, before raising her eyes to meet his. "I know." She wasn't gone that long. Less than a month. But she knew he had missed her. "I missed you both too."
He smiled, meeting her eyes, and kissed her again. "Come on. We're gonna get sick out here," he said, pulling away to take her hand and tug her inside. "And your makeup is running."
A small frown. "It shouldn't be. Most of it's supposed to be waterproof." Not that she'd paid for it, but it was the point of the matter. But she let him take her hand as she shifted Helen into her other and nodded to the large wheeled suitcase that was next to her. He'd have to get that.
He reached for it, taking the handle and wheeling it into the living room. "Hungry?"
She shrugged. "A little. What were you three doing?"
"Helen got kinda messy eating." He gave the child a frown of disapproval. "Turned around to get her some water and she decided to up-end the bowl all over herself, Shadow, and me." At least she had good aim? Probably explain why he was only walking around in his jeans, though.
Mel looked down to the dog, and saw how his tail wagged. "That must have been fun for you..." He gave a bark, and Helen began to giggle, pulling the wig free from her head once more to examine it. Carefully, the muse untangled it from her daughter's fingers, then set it off to the side on a table as they walked. "We need to work on your manners, lady. [Princesses do not throw food unless it is a food fight or meant to be an attack.]" Helen watched her, not understanding most of the Greek, though that was probably for the best.
Nick laughed and headed for the stairs to put her suitcase away. "So... how was your trip?" he asked, since it was the default question for people who just got back. Though that usually applied to vacations. This didn't seem like a vacation.
More slowly, the remaining three followed behind, until Shadow raced ahead to catch up and jog past Nick. Mel continued to play with Helen, a bit as they went up the stairs. She pondered the question for a short bit, before deciding on an answer. "Successful, I think."
"...Cool," he said. She didn't elaborate, he wouldn't ask. Mum's the word. He headed into the bedroom and placed the suitcase down. "What are you feeling like for dinner?" asked the mortal, looking to her.
"Anything but fast food," she returned. She'd been eating enough of that of late, that given the choice, she didn't want to do it again. They had a cook. Let them earn their wages. She set Helen down on the bed, and her messenger bag down with the suitcase. As she opened the large one up, it seemed almost a tribute to high end goth and punk shopping. An amazing feat. Poking through it, she pulled out a silver glitter headband, and went to put it on Helen's head, seeing if the little girl would actually wear it. "And I want to eat in..."
Holy bling. Nick tore his eyes away from the cascade of black and buckles and replied, "I can call 'em in. I'm feeling like Asian myself."
"As long as Jessie has everything needed," she shrugged. A glance to the suitcase and she almost cringed at the thought of unpacking. She'd walked out of the house with almost nothing, and was returning like some star on tour. Fishing around in the bag again, she found a silk scarf, and loosely wrapped it around Helen. She glanced up to Nick, staring at him for a moment.
He caught her eye as he put on a shirt. "What?" he asked, wondering what the look was about.
A small shake of the head and she left Helen for a moment to move to his side and give him another kiss.
Nick smiled and returned it, wrapping his arms around her to hold her tightly. "... [Thank you for coming back,]" he murmured as he pressed his face to her cheek.
She cradled herself against him, closing her eyes to soak in his scent. "[I said that I would,]" she mentioned, the 'duh' unsaid. About to say more, she heard a thump, back by the bed, followed by the starts of crying from her daughter. Mel swore under her breath and quickly went to scoop Helen up from the floor, placing a kiss on her cheek. There was no injury, a cry more of surprise than actual hurt.
Melpomene frowned, bringing her back toward her father as well. Couldn't she had even one good moment?
Nick froze at the sound as well but relaxed when he saw that Helen was fine. He took the child, giving her a hug and a kiss to reassure her she was okay. Helen didn't seem entirely convinced, but only sniffled, cuddling into his shirt. "Aww. Heh." He smiled over at Mel. "See, she's a toughie. Just like Dad, am I right?" ... Sure.
Mel nodded, taking a step back and hooking her thumbs in her pants as she forced herself to relax. Helen was fine. Nick was fine. They were fine now, and they'd been fine when she was gone. But she couldn't even be home for half an hour before she'd risked her daughter. Maybe she shouldn't have come home. Raising her eyes from Helen, she glanced at Nick. "I'll go see if Jessie is about to start dinner," she said, then turned, intending to head for the kitchen.
Ack. It wasn't hard to catch that look, and he took her wrist in hand before she got far. "Mel..."
She paused and looked back at him, keeping her expression neutral. "Yeah?"
"She's fine. We're just glad you're home," he said, offering her a smile.
Different responses were considered and dismissed, before she leaned forward and gave each another kiss on the cheek. "So am I."
He wondered for a moment if that was what she had meant to say in her heart, but decided not to question. He returned it and said, "I'm gonna finish drying her up and get her dressed."
She hesitated, then held out her arms. "Can I do that, and you find Jessie?"
"Oh. Yeah, sure, go for it." He gave her another kiss and headed out the door, waving to Helen as he left. She ecstatically repeated the gesture before looking up to her mother. "Mama," she said as a statement of fact.
Mel looked down at her daughter, and smiled. "Hey. [Let us find you something to wear, princess. Something pretty, maybe something your father bought for you.]" Hugging her, mother carried daughter out of the room and to the one with all of her own clothes, calling for Shadow to come along with.