Threads | Elizabeth - Tumblr Posts

"It's better to bat my eyelashes and ask for forgiveness than ask for permission and be told no." She shrugged as if it was a good answer. Knowing how many times that option got her out of trouble in the past. It was also a good way of claiming any deniability, asking permission, being told no and still doing it was a fine way of being in double the trouble. "I think it's funny that you think I'd listen to the messages after not answering." Small smirk on her face as she rebutted. "Me jealous? Not at all, You do know that bats use their voices for echolocation since they can't see, is that why you talk so much ?" There was a small nugget of truth that she had come to listening to his voice.To his small random facts, his need to fill the silence that would sometimes fill the moments where they had nothing to talk about. It kept her mind from wandering sometimes.

"Oh," she laughed. "I think demoness might have been my favorite but I'd rather not get into the things I've been called." The nickname made her smile and feel happy in a way that she didn't know how to properly define but blamed it on his warm palm against hers and the comfortable hoodie. "I guess not," the words were soft as she took in that a dream was not childish, mostly because of how passionate he seemed about it. The way he said her dream was important to him just because it was important to her, it felt strange. It was something indescribable. Reeling herself in, she stared straight ahead instead. "Thanks but like I said all lighthouses are automated these days so," shrugged. "Guess I got to find a different dream." Snapping her fingers, she laughed. "Damn, and here I thought I could finally rid of you with your preference for bark."

The salt air and crashing waves had memories creeping in. Her first night out on the water, the inky darkness of it all that ate and swallowed everything. "When you're not used to the dark, or perhaps scared of the dark, it can seem scary. You literally can't see anything. Just complete and utter darkness except whatever light your boat has. One wrong move and you can find yourself overboard. It's oddly, peaceful. Reminds you just how small you are in the world."

"Hmm." Her head leaned back against the lighthouse as it tilted slightly so she could look over at him. "I never pegged you for someone scared of something, especially in your line of work. Did something happen on one?" It wasn't said in a playful way or a teasing way, it was an honest caring tone. Having learned something about him, something in her wanted to share something back. It was only fair right? "I hate rain, not like small rain but storms and small spaces. Like really small spaces, like cave exploring. Who the hell does that for fun? Squeezing into the smallest holes in the world and getting stuck or unable to breathe. How is that fun?" Both fears had come directly from her care under Jennifer, but that was neither here nor there. Glancing over at him, she saw his hair covering his eye and couldn't help but let a small chuckle out. "You look like those kids who say their life is miserable but live with mom and dad and listen to those bands that scream a lot. Here." She reached over and let her fingers take the hair and pull it gently back. "There. I never realized how long your hair actually is. Aren't there regulations about that?"

Settling with her back against the lighthouse again, she decided there was no harm in telling him. It was a good story, perhaps the only good story in her life. "I needed a break," the word was emphasized in a way that said it meant more but that wasn't going to be something that was going to be shared. "Charlie knew someone who knew someone who knew someone, as he usually does. And there was this fisherman, Michael. He had a small family fishery he had inherited from his parents. The thing is, he was deaf and his partner had left the business. He thought it would be no issue, but ended up being fined by the Coast Guard when he went out on his own and didn't heed their calls. He needed someone who was hearing on board to go back out, so he agreed to take me on for a while even if I couldn't help with the catches, in the beginning anyway. My sign language wasn't that great but good enough. Ended up staying on for a year until he found someone else to take over. I learned more sign language and a lot more about fishes and shellfish than I ever thought I would learn in life. Did you know that lobsters can live up to 140 years? Also when you go somewhere that sells cod, you are most likely eating pollock? Tastes just like it but cod is so regulated, they have to be a certain size and weight, and blah blah blah. Pollock is the better way to go. No limit on those bad boys. "

An amused smile overtook his features as she had a point. "It's like ask for forgiveness not permission sort of thing." He rolled his eyes and laughed, he set himself up for that one. "If you don't answer I'll still leave voicemails and you know I can ramble like no other about different topics. So choices for you are answer the call or be prepared to have a hundred voice mails all talking about different things." There was not going to be a day where he wouldn't enjoy annoying her just to get a reaction from her. Of course now it wasn't as bad as when they first started talking but still fun. That giggle was quickly becoming one of his favorite sounds. His heart picked up at having her so close but kept his composure. Being in a lions den with people who wouldn't hesitate to kill him if they knew his actual job was nothing compared to the way she made him feel. "Now you're taking a shot at my eyesight. Two for two. You're on a roll." That smile still plastered on his face as he said that. "Sounds like you're just jealous of my bat eyesight."

"You say that but I don't know there might be some part of you that likes hearing me talk. Especially when you've got random questions that aren't so random. I have a feeling you like my voice." She gave him food for thought. It would be funny to pull a prank on him for the fun of it. He hadn't pulled those types of shenanigans in a few years. More like a few months since he and his brother in law's would always one up the other. "A degree is just a piece of paper in the grand scheme of things. It just means that tasks were completed. Doesn't measure how smart you actually are."

"Oh okay. Now you got me curious to know what else you've been called. How imaginative these jerks have been." He could tell there wouldn't be words that would affect her the way people intended it to. That alone made him smirk. "Whatever you say, lila. Just know I'll still think you have the weirdest analogies. You can't stop me," he smiled as a soft chuckle escaped him.

"It's not childish to have a dream," he expressed. "Everyone has them. Adults and kids alike. Even animals. Whoever says that dreams are childish clearly don't understand what they actually represent. I don't know about others in life but I'm not one to squash dreams no matter how childish," he threw her words back. "They may seem to others. If it's important to you then its important to me."

The question made him think for a brief moment then grinned. "Well, milk chocolate can actually kill me so that one is out. I like both white and dark chocolate but have a preference for dark chocolate. The Godiva ones are so good. But all time favorite are the ones my sister makes. Regardless of your answer you can't get rid of me."

That elicited a laugh from him as he still stood his ground. "And you accuse me of being blind? I wore polka dots bracelets just like week. Also I do have a polka dot tie." It was the one his niece gifted him for his birthday and one he cherished as much as he did the small child. "Now hang on a moment. Why do you think a cat is scary, wouldn't you smile if you saw a friendly lighthouse instead of a boring one? Ones every other sailor has seen before?" Now he was just being difficult to be difficult. He loved when he ignited that small little fire in her when she couldn't help but contradict him.

He laughed as his brain zeroed in on how perfectly their hands fit together. Almost like they were meant to fit together. This was going to be the thing he'd get hung up on he just knew it. A startled chuckle escaped him as he followed behind her, eyes sparking with amusement at her head start. The fancy free manner in which he saw her let go if only slightly made his heart constrict in that way that Liz could make happen. Oh was he in trouble. He caught up to her and saw her sit down with her hands in his hoodie and he knew right then and there if he would have no problem being swallowed up by the ocean if the sight in front of him was the last thing he saw. He took a seat beside her and leaned his elbows over his knees as he tore his gaze away from her and focused on the water. It was serene, something shared between the two. "No," he whispered as he shook his head, letting his longer part of his hair cover one eye as he did so. "I've always wanted to. Though I may have a tiny fear of boats. Unsure though." It was a real fact he hadn't let anyone know about. He wasn't one who visibly showed his vulnerabilities easily. He kept things close to the chest most times and if it wasn't necessary to say then he wouldn't.

The heat had become unbearable and she just needed to cool off in any way possible. Using a magazine, she was fanning herself, thinking about filling up the bathtub with ice cubes, but how long would that last? Setting off to somewhere cold was also another idea she was toying with. "Nothing at all." A small smirk ticked up at the corner of her lips as she gave her honest answer. Even just the sundress itself seemed like one layer too many.

In her other hand, she held a little personal fan. It was shaped like a rectangle with a little cute cow on the front, a lanyard attached to the back of it and when turned on it blew air up towards the wearer. Carefully, she placed it around his neck and turned it on. "That a bit better?" She asked with a small smile hoping that, it helped cool the boy off a bit.

"No, thanks" She shook her head at Wally when he offered the ice pop. A sigh escaped her. "I think I might lay down in a bit actually. Starting to get a headache from all this heat. The sugar is just going to make it worse. Might take another shower too, starting to feel sticky again. You have it."

Listening to what Diana had to say and Wally's condition was harder than she thought it would be. Reaching over, she placed a hand on the other's shoulder in some sort of comfort. Something inside of her cracked, everything she tried to deny about how she cared about him came to a head. She could no longer deny it, but for now, she would push it aside. Diana needed her help, her feelings could wait for later, and she needed a clear head for this. Though the anger within her continued to build and be fueled by every single detail that Diana gave her. This was personal. They knew him well and she would make sure to do exactly what Diana wanted, she would make them pay.

Laughing, she shook her head. " Don't worry about me, I will never be a hero. You get ready. See in a bit."

⋇⋅⋇⋅⋇⋅⋇

Making it back to the office, she called Mai to come in as soon as possible. Heading up to her apartment above it, she cleaned up and wrapped bandages around her waist and abdomen for support to be able to walk a bit better without feeling like she was about to keel over. Using the outfit she usually wore for depositions, her white button up and black slacks, she tied her hair up and back before putting some makeup on so it didn't look like she was just on deaths door a couple of hours ago. She met enough agents in her life to know how to pass for one.

Giving Mai a cliff notes version of what happened, she let her know what to do if she misstep in any way and was unable to make it out. Mai in return set up a burn phone with an extra chip for her to download information onto for her to take in. She'd remotely set up a trojan horse which she could help the woman find more information on her end. After Mai left, Elizabeth took one last look in the mirror before tucking her 3d printed knife into the left ankle holster. It not being made of metal let her take it in past metal detectors anywhere she went. While it might not keep up as good her trusty switchblade, it would do in case she needed it.

With everything she could think of being taken care off, she headed off to meet with Diana. Having some time to think things over, she decided to just get straight into it. She needed to treat this like a case. "Okay, so when we go in, we'll split up. I'll look for any access I can to the system that will let me look for those call logs and access to anything else that might lead us to figure out what happened. You go see him. It'll keep eyes on him and they'll most likely be tracking whose coming and going to see him if a stranger," herself. "Showed up, it might tip them off. You coming to see him would just be normal. Even if they don't let you see him, I'll need a distraction. If you're okay with doing that, you putting up a fight will be a window I could use."

Facing Diana, she looked her straight in the eyes. "I have a lot of experience doing things like this. I can lie and wiggle my way out of situations that might arise, but I need you to stay safe. If anything begins to go awry, if your gut tells you to go, do it. One thing thats kept me alive is listening to that voice inside of you that says to go. Never ignore your instinct. Once we're in there, you do not know me, you do not worry about me. Okay?"

"I'm afraid," she didn't want to be brutally honest here but this wasn't something she could tell his sisters. "He won't make it through. My professionalism keeps me from freaking out but what his body undertook, it was a lot to come back from. His will is stronger sure but sometimes even the strongest person. It isn't enough. He doesn't advertise his weak points. So, this was calculated. Hinder him and catch him off guard. He's a near genius so mind games he can beat. Hitting his left lung no one knows besides us that is his weak side. I can't stop thinking about it. They didn't want to kill him there. They wanted him to suffer and left him to bleed out knowing getting him the necessary donor could prove impossible." Diana's face took on a different expression. "I want whoever did this to him to pay. By any means necessary." She nodded and worried over her as she didn't want her to further injure herself. "Fine but any little discomfort you tell me. Don't try to be a hero."

--

Tracing footsteps was a lot harder than she anticipated but if anyone knew Diana, they'd know she always got her way. Leaving her kids safely with her brother in law and having Andy as her back up, she was in prime position to poke. Fuck with her family and they'd be met with the human storm of one Diana.

She had never been drunk in her life but she'd seen enough movies to know the basics. There was a specific person she wanted the attention of and knew if she played up the damsel in distress that it'd be like a flame calling to a moth. Be careful. She heard her husband's voice in her ear and knew the only reason he agreed to this was because he had her back. That and he was the one with the black belt. She wasn't the only one he had to look after and she knew that but he knew better than to bench her given the circumstances.

Twenty five minutes later she met up with her husband having in her position what they came here for. She leaned over the gear shift and gave a kiss, thanking him for coming. Now she could leave this in the hands of the professional. "Powerful my ass. He was just like every single desperate man in the planet. Take us back home. I am meeting Elizabeth in less than thirty minutes. She's going to need this."

There was a sense of happiness knowing that others in the family had considered her and the things she liked. A sense of welcome that she had never thought she would feel before. Finishing off the tamarind candy, she smiled and decided to share. While she wasn't an open book like her best friend who wore his stories, past, and scars as badges for all to see, she knew small moments of opening up were necessary to move on. "Well, yes and no. I don't have a favorite honestly but those bring back good memories." To get over things as her therapist would say.

"When I was 13, my step mom was traveling though India. It was the day after my 13th birthday and we were there for Diwali. I had no idea what it was, in my naivety I thought it was a birthday surprise that she had planned or something. But I found tamarind candy and saw a lot of beautiful lights and visited the golden temple while I was there. Then about a year later, we were in Mexico. We were down by the Yucatan and I found a million ways to eat tamarind. In ice. In spicy candy. In drink form. In meals. It just brings back good memories."

Looking at the two, she tilted her head as she let her curiosity get the best of her. "What about you two? Have a favorite? Anything you associate with good memories?"

The narrowed eyes made him laugh quietly to himself. He didn't need to say anything else. She was already in too deep knowing his antics. At least she could take comfort that he'd ease up a little bit. Her boyfriend still got most of his shenanigans. The exchange of the chip bag made him stare at her for a moment. It had meant something to her just based off her reaction. Though he didn't comment on it. Unusual for the younger Martinez but still he just needed time.

As he popped the next few chips he heard his own son coming down calling for him. Lucky for Liz, this kid didn't like her candy and only wanted to see where his dad had gone. "It's fine Zoe, I got him." Janny told his baby sister who had come to chase her little nephew down. Jack was the more curious of the trio and grinned when he got scooped up. Still, Janny gave Liz a look to say not to worry her snack was still safe to eat in peace and made his son hold the bag of chips. Jack carefully gripped the bag and put his nose over it giggling to himself.

"Don't mention it. When I am out and about I get snacks and things for everyone. Just glad I didn't strike out with yours. Impossible given the fact that your boyfriend is the most detail oriented person alive but still. Is that your favorite ever?" Janny asked as he fed Jack a chip and the little boy quietly stared at Liz trying to figure out why she liked what she was eating. He had that same intense stare most of the children shared among the family.

"Well, I am honored and hope that I don't let her down." The way they all seemed to come together to always be there and support each other made her feel conflicted. A part of her, the child in her, was jealous, envious, having wanted something like that for the longest growing up. The other part of her, the part of her that was healing and trying hard to move on from a lot of things that she had been subjected to, was happy, and hopeful. The fact that a family like this existed made her happy and seeing the children that they were all raising made her hope for something better. Something she wanted to be worthy of. "It's understandable. I can only imagine the fine line between being truthful and stressing a child out is a precarious one."

Seeing Lena's happiness for her friends had her beaming. "They don't know just yet but I'll pass on the congratulations when I talk to them again. Appreciate it. I think for now they'll stay close to home while they nest and prepare. They just want to make sure things go well." She knew how precarious this time was for them. They needed to keep Anna healthy and safe. "Might be able to convince them to send me Orion for a couple of days so they can spend some time to themselves though, so we'll see how things go."

As much as she wanted to have some sort of conversation over ice cream, she never was one to crave sweet things. Ice cream flavors was not something she was not well versed in except what her nephews favorite one was. So when Lena began to talk about lavender-flavored ones and others with peach and hazelnut in it, she felt a little lost. She knew gelato was also a thing and froyo but thinking of so many flavors in one go felt like an overload. "That sounds decadent." Vanilla bean and walnut, made her smile because now not only did she know his favorite, she would surprise him with it and tease how she knew it. "I think I'll try that neapolitan of yours, it sounds interesting. I've never thought about mixing peach with either of those two flavors before and I'm curious now."

Lena's comparison of the twins made her smile. So they shared a lot more in common than not. It took her a bit to recall, almost everything was work-related in the beginning there was nothing that they shared in common or she bothered to care to know. She had wanted to keep him at a 10 feet distance then. "I think it was Dolly. I needed to ask for his input for a case and couldn't wait so I went to his place instead of waiting for him to come over to the office and met Dolly for the first time. Talked about her for a while and when she seemed to like me, I asked if I could take her for walks every once in while. I was doing some hikes and trails to get adjusted to the area and thought it would be a good idea to have a sort of companion with me on them."

The more she heard about this family, and came to know them, the more nervous she became. Only because everything in her told her to run, that she didn't belong. She was an imposter. "Can I admit to you that the reason I'm so," she thought about the right word to say here before continuing. "Anxious, is because this is the first time I'm doing all of this?" That sounded a bit strange so she wanted to clarify. "I mean relationships. It's not something I've ever done and put work into before. And meeting you all, wanting to know you all, its a bit daunting because I just never done it before. Thinking about meeting his entire family is a bit scary." Which made her laugh entirely seeing all she had ever come up against that had never even scared her before. But waking up in a hospital bed against all odds and mending broken bones didn't seem as hard as meeting someone's family. Wanting them to like her back."I don't know if anyone is going to like me, I feel like I don't belong as much as I want to."

Sighing as the last couple of words fell from her she felt like a bit of a weight had been lifted off of her. She wasn't sure how much Wally had told any of them about her past, about what he knew about her upbringing, but it didn't matter right now. "Sorry, it just feels good to say that out loud because I know he would just tell him I'm being silly and that everyone will. But it doesn't keep me from worrying."

Nodding, she reached out to hold the cardigan that she held out for her. "I think it will go amazing with this. Did you find what you needed? We could go to the next shop if you like."

Thinking of her daughter made her laugh. "She loves you. Doesn't give out Tia titles just anyone. She does not keep secrets from us. Mostly because we don't want her to start hiding things. We try very hard to have a reciprocal relationship when it comes to secrets. When my wife went to you, we didn't hide the reasons why. We embellished a bit not wanting her to have nightmares but she still knew we weren't keeping things from her. Thank you for not treating her like a child who doesn't know anything."

She smiled and shook her head. "Missed opportunity to be a bat. How about nowadays? What's your preference?" Hearing about her family friends had Lena smile excitingly. "I love this for them. It's going to be a hell of a journey but one that will be well worth it. If they need anything, some of Annie's baby clothes are still in the basement. Do they know what they're having? Poor buddy. I can only assume how hard it is to adjust to changes and I do suppose lashing out makes sense. I can see he's such a good kid. Do you think they'd be able to come down for the Harvest Patch in a month?"

She had never thought about this before so it took her a moment to answer. "You'll find this funny but I've never thought about it. When we're in the Bayou, I love anything lavender flavor. The ice cream they make over there is so good. Here, I like neopolitan only because the three flavors aren't chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. It's chocolate chip, peach and hazelnut. It's different and I like different. You could also try vanilla bean creme and walnut. That's Wally's favorite. Any of those sound appetizing?"

"They love you like no other. I feel like I've been spoiled because of the love I've received." She'd never tire of being in her wife's light. "Sometimes feels like an out of body experience. Baby steps is a good start. Rome wasn't built in a day so can't hardly expect yourself to accept yourself as you are and come to terms with it on the first time. No, you're fine. I get you. It's refreshing to get your take on how it's like." She smiled just to show she was making sense.

"I completely understand. Meeting parents or any family members is nerve wracking. Especially if you don't know what you're getting into. You can be told by everyone that you have nothing to worry about but what do they know, they've never been in your shoes. Do you really think they won't like you?" Lena smiled truly just wanting her to relax. She thought of the best way to put her question. What was Lucie like from the lens of someone who didn't grow up with her. What was Mama B like. Pursing her lips in deep thought she settled for something familiar. "Mama B, she likes being called that," she smiled and continued. "Is like if you put Wally and Lu in a blender. She's incredibly funny, cracks jokes when she's nervous and you can tell when her French starts to slip out and she transitions into more of a fast paced Louisiana accent. She loves books to an extreme point. Cries watching commercials of dogs. When she feels like someone else in the room gets nervous she goes over to them and starts off with a punchline to a joke just to get them to laugh. she likes calming everyone around her. Will learn random facts about a person just to have something to talk about. Uses humor to break the ice. Sound like someone we both know? She has that mom presence but its laced with childlike excitement."

"Lucie is different. Believe it or not she's more reserved than Wally is. She is silly but doesn't show it as much alone as she does when she's around her twin. Can look scary but is incredibly nice. Have you ever seen Wally talk about a topic he's passionate about or tells you a random fact wherever you're walking? That's her too. My brother, her husband calls her the female Wally." Lena laughed and shook her head. "She's quiet when you first meet her since she observes more than she talks. She loves animals. Pengiuns are top of her list. Annie is obsessed with tiny waddling animals. What was the first topic you and Wally talked about that wasn't work related? Were you nervous?"

Her eyes sparkled as her smile widened. "That's really pretty. Hmm, well I've seen these dresses paired with a jean jacket, a cardigan and a sash. Although, what do you think about this combo?" Lena went over to get a white short cardigan. "It covers shoulders and back while not taking away from the dress."

A small gasp came from her as her hazel eyes zoned in on the girl. "A boy next door?" With a smile, she couldn't help but ask. "Are they nice? Are they cute? Are they a friend of yours?" At the girls' words, she couldn't help the wide grin that came to her face as she leaned over as if she was sharing some secret of the universe with the girl. "Don't look for it. Its like a butterfly, when you just wait and mind your business, it lands on you. Finds you. That's the best kind of love in my opinion. And I know that you, Annie, are going to be found by a great love. I feel it in my bones."

The fact that she would have more bracelets to add to her arms soon made her idea for the displays of bracelets even more of a need and quickly became the top project for her to get started on. "I can't wait for the new one," it was a genuine respond she had come to love the accessories given to her by the little ones. "We can also make a pair ourselves! I've gotten better at making them and I figured out a new pattern with beads." It was new ways she learned to make them while also working on her side project, the hidden one she wanted to surprise Wally with at the right time. Which only made her believe that the girl was psychic with what she said next. It reminded her of the show that Orion said he was watching with the girl who was telepathic and playing matchmaker with her parents. "Is it not official now that you called me it?" She countered. "Like you said everything else is a formality. I'm not Charlie's sister but I'm still Orion's aunt. I'm not related to anyone in your family, but I can still be your aunt."

Baking was not something that she thought would help her bound with others when she first started it with Orion all that time ago. It became a universal language that she could share with everyone. Nodding at Annie, "You know it is, sobrinita." Then rolled her eyes at Wally as she continued to pet Antares that purred with her eyes closed and leaning against her contently. "Of course you are."

Tensing up the moment the sound came from Dolly, she carefully picked up Antares off her lap and nodded at Wally when he handed over his niece. Her legs no longer tucked under her but down and ready to run if needed, arms ready to wrap around the girl tightly as her mind began to process every exit, entry and which way would keep the girl the safest. Her heart pounded in her ears for a slight moment before she focused completely on their surroundings, waiting to see what was going to happen next and how to react.

"Oh," she sighed, letting herself relax and sink into the back of the couch, letting the adrenaline subside for a second before she smiled at the girl and tussled her hair for a moment. Just glad that it wasn't a serious situation. "It's your place, babe." She looked back at Wally. A look that said his niece was there, the curious one, the one that was already a lot like him and she didn't know if her hearing the details of the latest case would be something he'd want her to see or hear just yet. She also selfishly enjoyed watching him relax and be with his niece. A comforting sight to see him smile, not working or thinking about work. Biting her lip, she answered. "Can he just deliver it to my office? Mai can review it, she'll tell me if anything urgent is needed. We're having fun with Wheel of Fortune, we still have dinner to eat and a trip to plan." The moment that the words were out of her mouth she felt guilty.

"Yeah, but don't get any ideas on that foolish boy next door." Wally interjected which made Annie laugh heartily. He was always the more protective of the guys in the family. As it was with this family they always found their one very early on in life. Wally was the odd man out here when he found Liz later in life. He had good reason to be overprotective. "You'll always take the top spot. Promise." Annie shook her head and covered her mouth staring at Liz. "I hope I get a good one like you and my mamas and uncle's and rest of the family."

Wally couldn't help the small smirk watching her blush and slowly took his eyes off her. Like they've just drank her in for the first time. "Consider it done then." He replied, chewing his bottom lip. There was a moment when he was watching his niece that he felt like the air had began suffocating him. She was just way too smart and he felt that pretty soon she'd be ahead of everyone else. Liz speaking up made him look at her and felt his heart grow another size. She fit pretty perfectly in the role and let Annie's excited squeal feel their living room. "Yay! We're going to have so much fun. I can finally give you my matching bracelets! You have room." If her wrist was visible there was room. "I like that you call me sobrina. Maybe now someone can make it official. Though, no paper makes it official. That's just for—" she tried to find the word and put her finger up to not tell her. "Formality." She felt confident that was it and smiled going back to her paper.

Wally frowned softly wondering why she wasn't adding herself to the equation. "Something wrong with that sentence. I think you meant you and Annie would be an unbeatable team." He smiled as his face nuzzled into her hair. Having her leaning against him made him lean against her as a small yawn escaped him. The day had caught up to him but he wasn't going to head to bed just yet.

"Who's been this week's cookie monster?" He asked already knowing who it might have been. "I think you got to start hiding the good stuff in the lowest of cabinets." A funny thing since that would just make it harder for two people who were known to be cookie thieves.

He went back to trying to give Annie more kisses a let out a laugh yelp when she happened to squish his lap accidentally. He had to remember she was not as little as she once was. Annie turned her head and squeezed herself out of his grasp as she shook her head. "Commerical!" Then blue eyes looked over the Tupperwares and gasped when she saw the one with the lid. "Please tell me thats lemon?"

Wally scoffed as he shook his head before taking a bite. "Impossible. Bet you had this clue figured out before the first letter showed." There would never be a day where he didn't think her baking skills were incredible. "I'm totally blaming my inevitable sugar rush on you and your delicious cookies."

Dolly got up and started to bark as she got closer to the door. She heard something and was trained to bark low if there was a scent she didn't recognize. Wally shifted from relaxed mode to agent in less than a second. He lifted Annie up and sent a look to his girlfriend. That look gave it that she's safest with you should anything happen. Dolly stood down as he caressed her ear and told her what a good girl she was before he went over to look through the peephole and once he saw who it was he sighed against the door. "It's Bailey," he whispered mostly so Liz could hear. That was a name he knew would probably elicit an eye roll. "Probably has news on the case you had I asked for. Should I let him in?"

Annie being closer to Liz didn't show any signs of being afraid, in fact all she showed was confusion. "Who's that?" she asked not remembering a Bailey in any conversations before. "A case? Is it one of the ones you work on?" Excitement was not hidden in her voice at the prospect of having an inside look at how a case was solved.

"You and I both." She patted his shoulder with a small sigh. It was a fact she had come to know him since meeting him. Their conversations, their glimpses into each other's upbringings. Well more like her into his with the little she shared with him. "Well don't say I didn't warn you when you find yourself flat on your back in the first couple of seconds."

The salt in the air, the sounds of the crashing waves, and the night began to calm her. Bring her back to what mattered and what didn't. And a big part of her hated it. The usual gene, instinct, whatever the hell it could be called, to run was nowhere to be heard or seen. Instead, there was a voice that said that she needed to get some rest and apologize tomorrow instead. It irked her but annoyed her more that it was right.

There was no way that she was going to leave now that she knew for sure what his goal was. Wasn't that why Charlie had created Thieves Gambit? To help people instead of hurt them? Wasn't that what Wally was doing, helping someone? Internally something told her that she was oversimplifying this, that it was two very different situations. Yet, she knew this world inside and out, he was already injured, she needed to stay the course. Much like she had known in life, she needed to lay the traps out and wait for the bait to be taken and help Wally accomplish what needed to be done.

Knowing that there would only be little time until the sun would break across the sky, she decided to head back to her room. Taking one last glance out at the dark sky meeting the ocean at the horizon, where they combined into one, and you wouldn't be able to tell where one ended and the other began unless you knew what you were looking for, she decided to head back to her room. Any little bit of rest she would be able to get would help for what comes next.

Making her way down and back towards her room, she found herself yawning and actually looking forward to sleeping for a little bit. The ocean waves had served more than just a lull, it was also something that grounded her. Calmed her. When suddenly she found herself wide awake at the sight outside of her bedroom door. "Wally?" A small wave of worry overcame her thinking he perhaps was hurt again but saw the mug next to him. Had he come over just to thank her for it? Kneeling besides him, she looked him over to make sure that he didn't have any more injuries than he had earlier before asking, "Seems you got lost, need some help up?"

"I feel like that's a motto I'm well accustomed to." Though the thought of that running through her mind as being the only means made his heart constrict. "No, if he's gonna whip my ass into shape. There is no going easy. Come on, that's not fair and you know it."

As he went back to his room he felt the pull of his bed calling him until his eyes caught sight of the mug and ice pack. But what caught his attention was the mug more than the ice pack. Something in him couldn't help but feel warmth over something that was used for everyday use. Elizabeth confused him, she was like a puzzle, seemingly easy to figure but also difficult to pin point. There was something like the beginnings of a smile that spread across his features. He didn't know why he could detect the pretty faded scent she left in his room. It was just so her. With that he knew sleep was not going to be had in the moment. There was something he needed to make right.

Wally went in search of Elizabeth, mug in hand and frozen bag in the other. His walking had improved and didn't feel like his insides were going to fall out. He shuffled toward her room thinking that would be where he'd most likely find her. He had assumed a lot on this one but still he gently knocked on her door.

While he waited he took a few bites of his mug cake which had him laugh a little bit to himself. There were a lot of questions running through his mind but that he'd get to later on. For now he hoped she was willing to receive his company if only for a brief moment. Just so he could apologize and not go to bed with this hanging over their heads. After a few more seconds he sighed and knocked again. "I can bet two pennies you're not asleep yet. Will you open the door. I just want to talk and thank you," he wasn't above talking just to talk until she got annoyed enough to come to the door. "It's not good for me to stand as I'm recovering," a joke as he felt a little bit more loopy than before.

He wasn't lying about not being able to stand for long so he slid down the door until she decided to open it. While he waited he also started to talk to her. "I knew you had baker vibes. I feel a little bad that I'm getting to enjoy this all by myself. It's a little unfair. So I'll save you half. Though, did you know if you cut half of a cake you're still getting symmetrical pieces?" He was now talking nonsense the meds taking their intended effect. "Also, are you a cupcake person? Do you eat the top half first or the bottom half first?"

His mother was right. He didn't like quiet. It spooked him like no other. Something in him wanted to make sure she knew he wanted her around. It was now just like a reflex. Wanting to make sure she was comfortable and right now that is all he wanted. It was like if they were back home and he wouldn't quit asking her questions when he happen to come by her office. Though she didn't know why he was actually at her office bugging the hell out of her. "Do you like muffins?" He asked after he swallowed a piece and finished chewing.

"You were what?" The thought of him sitting out in the hall instead of being in bed resting, talking to the walls nonetheless, confused her. Even more the things he said. "Uh, that's not what that phrase means. It doesn't mean that the fruit, you know what. You know this, I don't know why I'm trying to explain this." Then it all made sense. "Oh, they gave you the good stuff, huh." Shoulders relaxed and she crawled over to place her back against the door sitting next to him, legs out in front of of her crossed over each other. "You must be feeling better good right now in order for you to make it over here."

His questions caught her off guard, she never thought that it bothered him that she didn't talk to him. Thought that he was used to her being aloof at times. Or honestly noticed. "No, I do remember adventure week." It wasn't like she would ever forget it, it was the only time she didn't work, as much as she wanted to. The dates taken off work were not regretted inany wayy, she would never admit it out loud but she had enjoyed it and had fun. It also made her realize how much she had come to like spending time with Wally, which made her want to create a distance between the two. Not out of malicious intent but because she didn't know what it meant. It was better to create distance knowing she wasn't staying long than concocting some sort of imaginary situation or worse some sort of attachment.

"I just had a lot of work backed up and didn't have time for much." Small shrug, as her left hand fingers began to run across the scars on the palm of her right hand. "I didn't think you'd notice much since you probably would have work piled up too." It was a small white lie. "Plus," she brought back some levity to this, better than admitting the complicated things happening to her, softly she bumped her shoulder against his. "You had to be getting tired of my ass by then. We were spending so much time together, a break was warranted. Or else you'd be sick of me. Also, I think it's called the small hours, where it's not quite night but not day just yet."

Were these questions that he was just holding onto that with the medication he felt okay saying out loud now? Or were they just random thoughts that were surfacing because of the medication? Unsure, she decided to just answer, sure that once the medications wore off he would most likely forge what they talked about. "No, it's like riding a bicycle actually. I know I was upset earlier but its just because you're so stubborn. I'm used to doing things alone. Working alone. You trying to watch my back while I try to watch yours is just weird. You have a family you have to get back to and I feel like I already failed a lot because you're already so hurt." That was a full truth, an omitted history but a truth. Even with the medication she could tell that he couldn't stand the silence and smiled, it was nice to know that Wally was still Wally under many different situations.

"Uh, no. Not muffins. They tend to be really dry. You like muffins? Online. Orion wanted to make cupcakes and it was late and I didn't feel safe having him near an oven just yet so we tried out every microwave mug cake recipe we could find until we got it just right." The wobbling of the mug made her chuckle. "Come on, I should get you to bed. It looks like you're not going to stay awake for much longer."

Continuing to answer his questions, she reached for his hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders so she could help him stand up. "Yes and yes." Settling his arm around her shoulders, she was about to wrap her arm around his waist when his eyes looked at her in that manner in which she felt like he was reading a thought of hers. She felt a heat begin to rise on her cheeks at the realization of how close they were. How easy it would be to just lean over and kiss him again like they had on the plane. A thought that she hated having crossed her mind.

A simple act like kissing had been something she never thought twice about. It was just something people did. Something she had done millions of times before with just as many people and she found pointless. But there was something about the kiss on the plane that made something in her want to kiss him again. His next words, thankfully, made her laugh and forced her back to the situation at hand. "Sure, sure. Anything you say. Do you think you can make it back to your room once we're up or are you crashing in my room?"

"Hey!" Wally exclaimed making his dimple show as crystal green eyes looked up at her excitedly. "I guess I really was talking to your walls. Anyway," he shook his head and offered her some cake. "You should have some. Taste the fruits of your labor. Isn't that a silly expression. How are fruits in labor?" The idea of it just making him chuckle. "I'm not lost silly," his finger tapped her nose or as close to her nose as he could get before he released a sigh. "Not lost. I just didn't like how we left things. I don't like it. Feels weird and strained and that's not us. Sure, I didn't forsee the giant fuck ups we'd be met with but that's the job. Rolling with the punches." He'd lost track of his sentence but quickly brought it back. "I'm sorry. Genuinely so. No I'm fine. Meds taking effect. Good as new in no time."

His head leaned back at her door and sighed. "It's nice having you here. I don't think I told you that. I miss adventure week. Remember? No. Probably not. Been a while. You kinda didn't talk to me for a bit. Why?" He had a lot of questions he knew that. "You can think of the answers while you sleep or rest. You don't need to tell me right now. It's late. Or early depending how you see it."

"Hey, do you regret coming? I think you do maybe. I drew something for you. Its in my room but can show you tomorrow. Not important." He closed his eyes and hummed. "Not asleep just resting my eyes. Did you see the ocean?"

Silence was not his friend, he hated it. "I asked you before if you liked muffins. Where did you learn to make this? I want....I don't know what I want. Maybe finish off this marvelous cake and sleep for a week. It'd be the same amount of time you were busy. Was it true you were busy." His hand wobbled the mug and he got so surprised. "Whoops. Better keep that one steady.'

'Did you like the ocean? Could you smell the sea breeze coming in?" His head turned to look at her, green eyes shining as they blinked at her. "You know," he started as he took a look at her hair. "This is nice.' To what nice was he referring to he had no idea but he liked the fact that he could look at her without having to search her face. She was just there. 'For the record. I'm not loopy." Though he sounded it but he was sure he wasn't.

"I know you are," she stopped herself there. Ready to give a lecture about how how a moment ago he couldn't even walk on his own and decided to just let it be. There was no point to the argument right now. They had already crossed that bridge, both too stubborn to admit if they were hurt. They were a lot alike in that manner, not letting whatever came their way deter them from their goal, no matter how hurt they were. Returning his small smile, with a small one, herself, she decided to let it go.

"It hurts my feelings to think you would assume I forgot about that week." It was a tease but there was a sliver of truth to it. A minute part of her that felt slightly bruised but there was the louder voice that said that of course people would assume that. If it wasn't for what she stole or the injuries she left in her wake, no one would remember her, why would she them? Even then, it wouldn't be her, it would be whoever she had been to them. "No," hint of a laugh in her tone. "We did. I did. It was the most fun I've had since I moved."

The answer that came to mind was automatic. Its not me that you miss, it's who you think I am, but that wasn't quite right. It wasn't the truth. Her hazel eyes took him in, really took him in. Not the injuries, not the physical that could be seen, but everything about him that she had come to know. There was a realization that dawned on her, in the time that they had spent together she had never lied about who she was. Omitted, yes. Her past was something she never liked to share or dwell on, pretending a lot of it didn't happen, it was how she was able to get out of bed every morning. But she never lied to him. He knew her and still wanted to spend time around her anyway. It was all too much so she looked away, let her head fall back on the door behind them and willed whatever the feeling that blooming in her chest away. Convincing herself it was just because she was tired. "Yeah, the small hours." She repeated back, voice low and soft unsure of herself as her right hand traced the scars on the palm of her left. There was a moment there where the silence did take up space between in an uncharacteristic way before she cleared her throat and spoke up again. "Does it squeak? The new toy?" For now she'd chalk this all up to the medications, she knew all too well the side effects most drugs had and what they could make you do or say.

As most questions Wally came up with, this one was just as complicated. Taking a moment to think of the right way to answer this, she sighed before just saying a great amount of things without saying much. "I learned at a very young age, you can't trust anyone at all. That all I had was myself." The scar on her back sent a shiver down her spine in memory. "It was best to just watch my own back than risk someone sticking a knife in it." With a gesture he would probably find all too common by now, she shrugged. "Surviving is what I do best in any given situation." Lips pursed into a straight thin line, she considered what he said. "Just because you're not dead doesn't mean I haven't failed but yeah, I guess it counts for something. I mean," she crossed her legs and leaned forward trying to bring some levity to this all, too many things beginning to swirl in her head, a small smirk thrown his way. "Maybe now I can have you sign over rights to Dolly so she can be mine."

Shaking her head, she laughed. "No, there's nothing I love, never really stayed in one place long enough for something to become a favorite. But I will say that Coney Island Nathans hot dogs are something I find myself missing. Mostly because Orion and I would race to see who would finish theirs first." Snaking her arm between him and the door, she wrapped it around his waist while her other held onto his wrist over her shoulder. "Alright, we'll get up slow, okay?" True to her word, she took her time, never pulling him up, just being support for him as he needed her. Carrying Charlie after being called by local bartenders who she come to know more than she cared for, was great practice for this.

Another shiver electrified her spine at just how close they were, it wasn't a bad thing, but something she rather not think about right now. Letting go of his wrist for a brief moment, she opened the door and cautiously led him in. "You're crazy if you think you're sleeping on the floor. What kind of a monster do you take me for?" Once they made it over to the bed she let him take his own time sitting on the edge of it, laughing. "And don't make promises you can't keep. You be as quiet as a mouse? That's the day I-" give back everything I ever stole, it was an old joke she used to say to Charlie on days he was being outlandish, it wouldn't land the same way in this situation. So, she modified it. "Set sail and never set foot on land again. Anyway," she sat next to him for a moment. "Is there anything you need before you lay down? Something to drink?" As soon as he got comfortable, she'd settle on the couch and sleep for an hour or two before getting up again.

"I feel okay," he nodded with a smile. "I'm stronger than I look. Just don't tip me over." He let out a light joke knowing that this would wear off and he'd feel his body scream out in pain. At least for now he could forget he had gotten the shit beaten out of him. He turned his entire focus on Elizabeth and threw her a small smile. He wondered what went on in that head of hers. Sometimes he felt like he could read her mind and then thought that would be his coolest superpower. It would be fun to get a look in her head. Maybe then he'd figure her out fully.

"Really?" Wally asked surprised that she had remembered that. "I thought you'd forgotten."he hummed as a small chuckle escaped him. "Are you lying to me?" It wasn't an accusation but a curious question. "We had fun. I thought I had scared you away." A long sigh escaped him. "You kept running in my mind afterwards. I don't know why really. I saw something that would remind me of you and then think back to our week of fun. It was fun." He didn't work and that was probably the most time he'd spent not thinking about work. "I always notice you," he reaffirmed. "I ended up missing seeing your face. I like spending time with you. If it wasn't that obvious already. Work was work. Spent that week at home. Dolly got a new toy by the way." He wasn't sure why he had told her that but he thought she'd still like to know. He laughed and shook his head while his hand wiped at his eye. "I couldn't get tired of you. Call me crazy but I could spend a lifetime with you and I'd not get tired." He made a small ah sound as it made sense and squinted up at her. "Sure that makes sense. The small hours."

"It's my most irritating trait but it's what has kept me alive all my life." Not his agent lifetime but his entire life. There was no difference there. "We clash but somehow it works. I don't understand one thing about you though. Try as I might I still don't get it. Why don't you trust when I say I have your back? Have you really been burned deep by others that promised the same?" He shook his head adamant that her claim was false. "That is untrue. You haven't failed. I'm still alive aren't I? I mean, you are still talking to me. I'm talking back. That counts for something right?"

The muffins talk made him smile. Glad that she was going along with his questions and not being put off by his need for sounds. The silence wasn't something he could take. "This one I like. In general no. Actually not true. I had never had a muffin before. They don't have any in the island. Online? You can learn so many off the internet. This is really good. I can see why it was a hit. If not muffins then is there something you really love?" He wanted to say says you but he really didn't see a point. He would crash at any point. "Okay, let's go."

Being so close he nuzzled the air between them. He was affectionate by nature but something about being this close to her. The one he knew meds or not that he had a crush on, was a little too much to bear. The kiss they shared, she didn't know that was him. Not his a character he was playing. Almost in a sorrowful sigh he closed his eyes and leaned on her. "If you don't mind me crashing on your room floor. Promise I'll be quiet as a mouse maybe if I crash in your room. Stairs seem like too much right now. Once was enough. Coming down was easy."

"Sure, sure," she chuckled trying to brush his words off but something about them made her feel good. The fact that he thought about her that way, just being powerful enough to get away with something for just being her felt nice. Fake gasping, she placed a hand on her chest in mock surprise. "You would leave a voicemail with an enthralling tale just to get back at me? You are wicked." Pretending to be someone else, she knew that all too well. "Well, if its any consolation, you have a soothing voice, so listening to you is not all that bad."

The comment didn't go unnoticed but she didn't react to it. She was sure he meant that they were meant to be friends because of the small things they shared in common and the others that they didn't. She wasn't going to assume anything especially when the two had done nothing more than get on each other's nerves and occasionally get along, which she was keen on anyway. Shrugging, she couldn't recall. "I don't remember. As a kid since we moved a lot, we camped a lot too, I don't remember being scared of it. But that first night at sea, I was. It was so pitch dark, if the lights weren't on at the stern and sides of the deck, I wouldn't have been able to see my own hand in front of my face."

His words rang truth but she could also note a sense of heaviness in them. Something that told her that his fear had come from something. An event. She wanted to tell him that he didn't need to tell her, that she was sorry for bringing it up if it was a sore subject, but he was telling her something she could tell was personal. Something that he had most likely not shared freely with many. Something about it had her scouting sideways closer to him so she rested her head on his shoulder. Knowing all too well the things people did to children but for it to come from his own father seemed horrible, she hoped her small act would bring a little comfort. Something that said thanks for sharing when you didn't need to. "My definition is going into the cave to begin with! Is this your way of telling me that you love exploring small tiny caves?!" A shiver ran through her thinking about the cramped spaces she had been made to stay in growing up.

"Yes! That, an emo kid." Elizabeth laughed as she smiled at him, watching his green eyes shine like emeralds. "School days." She repeated to herself smiling at the thought of his niece. "I bet she loves those days."

"Yes. I knew the basics," her hands began to move in front of her. My name is Elizabeth. There's one at the door. What do you need? It was another thing Jennifer taught her. Not many knew what they were saying unless they were deaf themselves. Smirking at his signing, she brought up her right hand to her chin and down in front of her, in thanks. "Not many I would say, mostly stories about their misses with other animals that might have eaten them. Or about how they nearly missed being caught by a fisherman.” Thinking about it for a second, she shrugged. “I don’t know I feel like I’ve lived 140 lifetimes already. I’d probably enjoy a boring lobster life. Crawling the ocean floor eating mussels and little sardines. Enjoying fisherman notching my tails and throwing me back in with a snack. But as a human,” she shrugged. “I can’t say read every book ever because there’s millions already and new ones every day. I’ve done a lot of traveling now. So I’d probably be a boring lobster.” Sitting back up and stifling a small yawn, she put her hands back into the hoodies pocket. “What about you? What would you do with 140 years?”

Laughing, she shook her head. “No, not at all. I helped with a couple of traps and learned some things. Not an expert at all. I’m a jack of all trades but a master of none. And if I bored you with the blah, I’d fall asleep on you because it is not interesting or entertaining at all. Just fishing regulations and such.” Turning her attention back towards the sea before them, she let the sound of waves crashing in the distance fill the void for a moment before smiling at a story told to her long ago by her father. “You know in Iceland we have marbendill, merman. They’re not evil or malevolent, just want to be left to be in the sea.”

Wally smiled not a trace of joking in his voice. "Wouldn't need to bat those eyelashes. Something tells me you'd get away with everything just because it's you." He chewed his inner cheek and laughed. "I know you would. You'd be too curious not to listen to them. What if I tell you a story in one of them? Would you really be okay perhaps missing a story of some sort?" He laughed fully amused and closed his eyes for a brief second before answering. "Not normally. It's only when around you that I talk a lot. I'm extroverted because the job requires it and I'm almost always pretending to be someone else but reality is I'm an introvert. You just happen to make me comfortable enough to talk your ear off."

Demoness. He tried it out in his head and smirked. "Oddly not unoriginal. Hmm. Interesting." Why that amused was a mystery to him but still left it at that. "You can always have more than one dream. Just because they're automated doesn't mean it can't still be made a reality." He shrugged and chuckled to himself. "I'm starting to think we may just be perfectly imperfect for each other." He hummed and could see her point. "We're you at any point scared out in the dark?"

"Everyone is afraid of something." He spoke softly as he let out a sigh. It always went back to his father. "I was locked in one at the bottom deck one time. It was a deafening silence that I hated. I don't know how long I was in there for. But I do remember my aunt's terrified shrieks after the fire department opened it up and I crawled out. Since then, I've gotten better at being on the sailboat Andy has. Just can't really do big boats yet." He smiled like he had just let her in on a secret just for the two of them. He smiled softly as she told him about one of her fears. "You know, it's interesting. You bring up a lot of good points. I think insane people like enclosed spaces. That's the only explanation. Or ones that use it for some sort of odd pleasure when it comes to being in tight spaces. Cave exploring can be fun but it depends on what your definition of it is."

The thought was hilarious seeing as he was one. "An emo kid?" Wally asked amused and stared at her briefly. The gesture was sweet and soft and it derailed any incoming thought besides how soft her fingers were against his hair. How nice it felt. Comforting. His green eyes shined a little brighter as he suddenly became a little shy. Leave it to Liz to make him unable to react confidently as he was used to. She discombobulated him in the best ways possible. Taking a beat he cleared his throat and semi shrugged his shoulders. "There are when I'm in the office. Usually those days I slick it back to look professional. Though I do have some leeway for missions. It depends on what it calls for, I can keep my long hair. When I'm on site working as a detective then yes I have to shave and look like an actual professional. But that doesn't happen too often. I usually can work from home except on days when a case goes active again. As you know," he chuckled as he laid his hands together on his lap. "My school days as Annie calls them."

He was always so attentive when Liz talked. Whether that was about something random or something important. Whatever she had to say was important to him. So, as she began he turned his body toward her giving her his full attention. His eyebrows knitted together as she started with that she needed a break but didn't interrupt. He knew better. "Had you already known asl before you got the job?" He did the sign for that's pretty rad and smiled. "I know very little but mostly conversational." Quickly shook his head as he hadn't known that lobster fact. "140 years. Makes you think about what kind of life they see or the stories that they have but can't ever tell people because they can't talk. What would you do if you lived for 140 years?" He gasped and let his jaw drop. "No, I feel like I've been lied to for years. I'd like the full blah blah blah. What else did you find out on your time out in the vast waters. Does that mean you are now expert fisherwoman?"

Elizabeth smiled at the girl as she told her about the way she spoke about the boy and how self confident she was about it all and who she was at such a young age. "Yup," she agreed. "And you're right someone who likes you just the way you are will come when you least expect it. It's best when you're not looking for it."

Bracelet making had been a skill she learned to make something for Wally when she was stuck trying to figure out what to give him for his birthday. Wanting to give him something with a personal touch when she confessed her feelings for him, only to be surprised and have him do so first. "Like this?" Smiling, she held up her right hand to show the couple of bracelets she had collected so far, along with the red one that he had given her, what felt like, lifetimes ago. "Of course, Annie! It'll be super special because only you and I will have the matching set. I even learned new ones with beads, so we have many different patterns and designs we can make now."

Leave it to Annie to always put things into perspective. But officially? Did she want them to get married? Granted, the girl was right. In emergencies, she most likely wouldn't be able to do much unless someone else vouched for her, but marry? That was never something she thought about doing, but if Wally asked, she knew what her answer would be in. But that was a bridge to cross another day, for now, she tapped the girl nose. "Well, you shouldn't be stressing about things like that, okay. We'll all be healthy and safe for a long time and all that matters to me is that its official to you, okay. "

Grabbing one of the cookies for herself she nodded in agreement before taking a bite. "Next time, we'll make raspberry or another fun flavor everyone likes." The curious little girls sigh was met with one of the woman's own sighs. "There is such a thing as being a little too curious Annie, but I promise you next time I have another case that Mai needs help with, I'll let you tag along."

"Well," a small chuckle. "Your uncle has been wanting me to take him to Iceland for as long as I've known him. So I thought it was about time I showed him around my island." There was a question she was going to ask Annie, when it was forgotten as Wally returned like a whirlwind. "Four hours?" Her surprise at what he was showing her was evident as her mind began to run with things to do. There were so many things to take care of, wasn't there? Then she was looking down at Annie who was so wise in her few years.

Smiling, she nodded. "With you always." Then she got up and held her hand out to Annie. "Want to help me pack?" It wasn't like she needed much but she did want to let the girl in on a little secret.

Annie giggled and turned a bright red. "Very nice. Always has treats for me. We are friends. I think we are but I don't think he likes me very much like that. That's okay too. I'm not for everyone. Someone who likes me will come later." A butterfly made her smile. "I really like that. The butterfly landed on you."

"Me neither. You're going to look so cool! I'm thinking beige that goes with your eyes and a deep crimson. It'll match my red one." She showed off her bracelet on her left hand. "Just make sure you have yours on your right side. That means you are inviting the good juju into your life not out." She gasped in surprise. "We can make some ourselves with a new pattern? Are you serious?"

Hmm she had a point but still that had the little girls head tilt in her direction. "Sure, you're right. But what if one of us gets hurt," more likely her uncle in this case but she digressed. "And you get blocked by people who tell you you can't know anything because you're not a spouse or family? Then you wouldn't get blocked out. We're family because I say so and it works but then wouldn't you like to be part of the family officially?"

She could eat lemon cookies all day long. It was never enough and never got her fill of them. "These are so good. Next time we need to make more and hide them!"

He took that look from his love as subtle confirmation this was a work free zone. Grabbing his keys off the desk he gestured that he'd be back momentarily. He opened the door slowly and closed it just as fast. Annie frowned being bummed that she wasn't going to get to see. "You two are no fun," she sighed then smiled and sat next to Liz. "Where are you going on your trip?"

Wally made sure to tell him to send all related content over to Liz's office that Mai would get it and relay anything important over if it should arise and then wished him goodnight. It didn't take much more than a few minutes before he was back inside, keys dropped back in their place and phone out to scroll through flights. "Alright. Back to our regular scheduled programming. About that trip? There's a flight in four hours. Nothing says seize the moment like just doing it. We've got no excuse." He grinned softly as he sat at the edge of her seat and showed her the seats. Annie nodded and pushed her chin on top of Liz's hands. "Go. Don't leave it for tomorrow. Sometimes it may never come."

"As for dinner. We can have it on the way. Sleep can be done in flight. All we really need is a suitcase. Which I believe we have plenty of. You got me curious over this trip to see the lights and have a mini getaway. You totally do deserve it." That killed all birds with one stone. "Up for an adventure with me?"

Her wrists garnered with bracelets were something she liked to show off. It wasn't expensive jewels or gold bracelets that she treasured and beamed with pride to show off. It was these, little colorful threads that children had given her because they cared for her. They meant something. Of course, the meaning of the one she had the longest was something she had not known until now. It was when Annie told her what the red one meant that her smile faltered a little. Not because it upset her or concerned her, but because he had known all along. He had always known her better than she knew herself, how many times had he said that he saw her, but she refused to believe it. Even back then, he knew somehow they'd end up here. Taking a moment to process it all, it further cemented her decision. Her smile came back and she nodded. "Me too. We'll make so many that I'll have to start an art galley! Maybe even start your own business."

Lifting her finger up with a serious look on her face, she held it out for Annie to take while using her other hand to sign a cross over her chest. "Pinky swear and cross my heart."

Her heart began to pound against her ribcage and she felt a surge of adrenaline run through her from the happiness that filled her. The nerves as well, though she didn't know why. As they passed by Wally, she took a second to give his cheek a quick kiss before heading off with Annie to pack. Her hazel eyes relayed how elated she was they were taking this trip and how much she loved him back. "Yes," she answered the girl as they walked towards the bedroom. "It is cold and the hoodie sounds like a wonderful idea. See, what would I have done if you weren't around to help me pack?"

Leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar, so she could hear if Wally was coming down the hall, she went into the closet and grabbed the hoodie. The one in her favorite color, her favorite one the one that once had been his and placed it on the bed, before whispering to Annie. "Want to know a surprise I have for your uncle?" Grabbing the box where she kept some old things in it, she reached into it and grabbed another box, but a smaller one, flat and not thick at all, at a glance it looked like it could hold a thin notebook. Kneeling on the floor by the side of the bed that Annie was on, she laid it between the two. "Have you ever heard of a handfasting?"

Taking the lid off the top of the box, the girl could see what she had been working on for months with no one none the wiser. It had begun as a way to practice new bracelet patterns on a bigger yarn before trying it on smaller threads, but then it began to take a life of its own. Slowly but surely she realized what she was making. A handfasting rope. "Like you said the red one is when you picture someone being in your life forever, this is like a big bracelet version of that. It's my way of telling your tio, that I also want to be in his life for as long as he wants me around. What do you think?" She bit her bottom lip as she stood up and though this over. Heading back to the closet to grab some more clothes, she asked over her shoulder. "You think he'll like it?"

"I'm looking forward to that. Someone who comes in and crash lands into my solar system." The saying was funny to her but that was something she understood. Her thought process was trailed off as she looked at her wrist and grinned like she had just been given the secret recipe for the sour apples at the pumpkin patch. "Oh my gosh! That one," she was quick to point out seeing the red one. "He gave you that one. He liked you. We don't share the reds unless we see them in our lives forever. It was the first thing I learned when I saw them." She trailed her fingers over each one and smiled. "This is beautiful but yes we need to add more." She clapped her hands giddily. "I'm so excited!"

"Pinky promise?" Annie lifted her finger for her to take. "I worry because I want all my people safe." Still the thought of having Liz as an actual family member gave her hope. Yet another member of her family would lock in their happiness. "You sound just like tio wally." She murmured as a laugh escaped her. But the prospect of accompanying her and seeing a case was enticing enough to hold her over until that day came.

His eyes shined an I love you and his smile showed amusement at how quick she agreed. Annie jumped up from her seat and quickly to grab her hand. "Yes please! No time to waste! Is it cold?" A million questions were fired off as that left Wally chuckling to himself cleaning up the living room and finding the travel items for Dolly. He had gotten the confirmation for their flight and that had him put away his phone. "Come, lady. Let's go get your suitcase." The dog wagged her tail and followed him over to the hall closet being followed by Antares trying to see what was happening.

The little girl climbed on the bed already knowing her way around and sighed blowing hair out of her eyes. "What's first? Exciting. This time is for fun." She crawled over to the other side and giggled having fun rolling to one side. "If it's cold you should take the hoodie! Maybe a dress if he takes you to dinner." Shaking her head she didn't know what was to happen but was excited nonetheless and waited for Liz to say something.

Mentions of her late nights elicited an eyeroll from her. "As if you're not the one sending me a message first, maybe you just wake me up. Ever thought about that?" Which of course was a lie. She was glad for the company, being a very light sleeper, every other new sound kept her awake. "Oh god, I paid you a compliment you're going to hold onto that forever now aren't you?" A playful groan came from her as she smirked to herself, it wasn't as if it was a lie, his voice was soothing.

"No," she said shaking her head, a tiny small smile as she stared out at the sea. "I just took it for what it was. Let it envelope me. I think I felt more whole there, it was weird." It wasn't like she could go into how or why without telling him everything about her. "It was the most peaceful my life had been in a very long time. I think the fact that I just had to accept the surroundings and respect it just felt nice. I don't know it sounds stupid now that I say it out loud like this. I think I'm just tired now." Getting into it now would have to be explaining the dominos that stacked in her life that led to the moment of her needing to flee and lay low for a while, who she really was. Right now was not the time for that, she wanted to be someone else for a while.

Feeling his fingers run through her hair, she closed her eyes for a moment. Old memories that flashed through her head. There was something to be said about how Wally just opened up to her that she couldn't put her finger on, made her want to open up and tell her why she had fears too. This small moment they shared, the sounds of the waves crashing and the salt in the air filling her lungs, it felt intimate in a way that she hadn't experienced before. She didn't feel pity for him, having been on the end of many brutal things as a child, and an adult, she found herself sympathizing with him. The sympathy ended abruptly when he suggested going into a cave. "I trust you to not shove me off the top of this thing, but you trying to make me go into a cave," she shook her head. "We're back to square one now, Agent. Maybe send me a picture of the damn thing and then I'll see. "

The thought of just the sound of a man breathing heavy made her shiver, unpleasant memories surfacing. Inside the the hoodie, her fingers curled into fists, digging her nails into the palms of her hands. "Yeah," she said trying to shake it off, taking a deep breath and letting it out slow forcing herself to remind herself that she was here, not there. The talk of Annie helped ground her memory back to now, chuckling at the thought of the girl swimming in one of his sweaters. She could understand the attachment that the girl had with her uncle, it was the way she herself missed her father. He had doted on her while he was around. "Of course she does, she loves you. You're her favorite person. Anything that takes you from her, she'll hate. I feel sorry for the one you end up dating or marrying, Annie will be someone to contend to. People usually have sisters and brothers to grill their significant others, you have an Annie." The thought alone had her giggle.

"Lobsters all look the same," she bumped her shoulder into his with a wide grin on her face. "So you're saying I can't shake you in any lifetime? What did I do?" A small groan in a jestering manner came from her as she stretched out a bit, beginning to tire from sitting in the same position. Stretching her legs out straight in front of her, she took her hands out of her pocket and stretched out to touch her toes before sitting back up with her back against the wall, but she looked at him the entire time, letting him know that she was still listening to him. "That sounds nice and not boring at all." When you were haunted by ghosts of things done and done to you, it seemed like such a weird concept to her that people would willingly want to see them, but a dream about it seemed just as strange to her. Shrugging at the thought of past lives, she looked back out across the ocean. "My dad believed in reincarnations, fate, gods, fairies and all of that but I don't know if he actually believed in it or just was curious and loved stories. When I was in India I learned about karmic lives and reincarnation, and," taking a deep breath, she thought about her life, what karma would her past self have to make up for having to live this life? What karma would her next life have to pay off for everything she did in this life? Letting it out, she looked over at him. "I think there's some truth to it but I don't think we're meant to really know. I mean yeah I've thought about it once or twice but what good would it do me now? You know?" Shrugging she didn't know how to respond fully without also being angry about what she had gone through this life if any of it was true, then she had to have been a terrible person before, karma comes back to you 10 fold, the woman had told her. What would her next reincarnation have to go through for what she did in this one? "I just don't think that I've given it much thought. Just sort of wanted to make it to the next morning kind of thing. What about you? You believe in it? Seen a psychic, have them read your palm and tell you all about your past and future?"

"I don't know, I'm not much of a fisher either. Just because I was on the boat doesn't mean I did much fishing. Helped with the traps most of the time and looked for the lobsters with eggs. So we might both be shit fishers." Shaking her head, she chuckled. "No thanks, I think thats enough me being carried around for a while. And of course you do. Everyone loves my voice." It was joke said teasingly as she brought a shoulder up to her face and smiled over at him. "Again with that! You really don't let things go, do you?" Laughing, she shook her head. "I don't know, you held back bringing me here for how long? I don't think I should be taking you anywhere just yet." Or ever, she thought.

Yawning, she took a look at her phone. "I should get back to my place. Get at least an hour or two of sleep before I have to get ready for the lawyers." Sighing, she began to get up slowly, not wanting to leave. "If this case wasn't important I'd probably reschedule it, its really nice up here." Taking one last look out across the sea, she looked back at him and smiled. "Honestly, thanks for bringing me. I know I can be a bit of an ass, but thanks. This was a million times better than getting laid. "

That half chuckle half smirk crossed over his features as he shrugged. "I can play dirty. But see, the idea of a fun story would get you to change your mind on listening to them. So maybe I will leave you a ton of messages each day a different story. Maybe if I'm feeling nice I'll do a whole audiobook for you. Use it on those pesky nights where you stay up way later than normal." As he had found when he'd get a quick text back in the middle of the night when he supposed she was asleep. Something he noticed but had never said anything about. "I knew it," he chuckled fully amused.

As he listened he could picture the scene playing out in front of him. Green eyes washed over the glistening darkened waters. He could assume that being out there without much light would not only disorient but also terrify anyone. "Did you ever try to adjust your eyes so you could see it better?" He would but only because he used to that to Christmas lights when he'd focus and unfocus his eyes.

Feeling her scoot closer, the gesture was immediate. His hand reached up to softly caress through her hair as he felt her head rest on his shoulder. A silent but I survived. He didn't tell her something so deeply personal to get pity but to tell her in not so many words that through darkness there was always light. Something to look forward to. Something better. He trusted her which was huge since he usually kept things close to his chest. Only choosing to let it be known if it became necessary. His family history for one, was one of those that he kept under lock and key. People assumed what they needed to but would always see him be the well adjusted man he had worked hard to become despite his short comings.

The heaviness dissipated as a laugh erupted from him. "No but you got me thinking. If we went together would you trust me enough to do it? There's a space that looks like an igloo actually huge ceilings and the like that I have been curious about. But, that's the type of cave exploring I'd take you to. The small spaces are creepy. I'd never submit you or myself to that. I saw a video last time where this guy had taken a video of a cave that was pitch black and all you could hear was his heavy breathing and saying it was a little hard to breathe."

"She does. It's her favorite days because I'm safe and she can see me. It's also because I take her out for ice cream so she likes that benefit of having me home. Last time she started to wear one of my hoodies around and snuggling into me when I had to type up a report. I can't say that I hate those days. I know she would never admit it to my face but I know she hates when I leave and possibly even my entire job as a whole."

A grin was shot in her direction as his eyes followed her fingers. It was something so mesmerizing coming from her. "Interesting stories nonetheless. I actually can't picture you as a boring lobster. You're anything but boring. Though you as an actual lobster? Cute." The thought of a Liz lobster made him chuckle. "I don't know. I think if we lived at the same lifetime again, probably be a crab crawling around annoying this cute little lobster just wanting to be left alone." So, really not much changing from human form. "Probably go around being a guardian. I feel like I can't shake that off my DNA. Though I'm the baby brother, being a protector will always be a thing. I'd try my hand at coming up with cures for diseases. I'd have plenty of time. Maybe try being a chemist. I'd read the books I've not read. Basically live out a quiet boring life not really getting in the way. I had a dream I could see ghosts once so maybe that was a past life. Do you ever think about past lives? Is that a thing in your mind you believe?"

"We could go fishing on our adventure week? I'm no Andy but I'm not bad." He bumped her shoulder and roamed his eyes over her face. "You don't bore me. If you fell asleep I'd carry you home. I like hearing your talk. Your voice." Why did she think he asked her so many questions. Following her gaze he stared at the sea then quickly went back to stare at her profile. Drinking in every detail of her face under the moonlight. "I'm sorry and you didn't lead with that?! I'd like to go to Iceland one day. Maybe I can convince you take me."

Emotions, hormones, whatever it was, her husband's words made her tear up as she felt her heart balloon over in love. Growing up believing that she was so hard to love that no one would ever do so, that every single day she was loved without even asking for it felt like a dream. A fantasy. Even after all this time together, it still amazed her that he had picked her. Wiping a tear away, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Ma meilleure moitié."

At the old term that Annie had given them long ago now, she laughed. A big smile on her face now, thinking of that they had gone through, all the patience and love that he had given her. Things that never in her wildest dream would ever have. And yet here she stood, loved and with a family of her own. Nodding, blinking the tears away, she agreed. "Soul lobsters."

The shark song, the bane of her existence and sanity. Thankfully, they seemed to be growing out of it and past it but it still earned her husband a small head shake and eye roll. Now that it had been mentioned there would be bath times and lunch times with it being hummed or sang again. "Maybe," she suggested with a grin. "We should all take a nap and then help unpack." Even if only one or two of their kids agreed at least it would be a little less stress on her husband.

"I know," she said with a closed smile his way. Knowing that his worry for her wouldn't wane until a couple of months after they caught their stride with the new addition to their life home. As he came in to kiss her cheek, she couldn't help but turn and steal a kiss with a giggle, reminiscent of the times he would do it when they first started dating.

"Hmmm," Elizabeth smiled as she took a bite from another slice. As much as she hated to admit it, a horse or a pony would most likely be their first one. It was the only other animal besides lobsters that she knew much about, thanks to Wally. She knew that they were all waiting for her to weigh in, so she just pretended to continue to think about it as she took another bite and chewed slowly. Eyes looking up towards the ceiling as if the answer was there and she was just trying to read it before looking back at them. "I think that maybe a visit to your uncle Andy's ranch after we finish cleaning things up might help us all decide what should be our first." A cope out she knew it, but it would still buy them some time to fully figure out just how many of what animals they could have on the land and where they would go.

After a couple of more bites and some more chatter, she began to feel more exhausted and with the growing life within her awake and moving, she wanted nothing more than to lay down. "I think I'm going to head off and have a laydown now." Brèanainn stood up and said that he would nap with her and Isabeau quickly volunteered to stay with their dad and help. Vivienne just smiled and looked back and forth between them all trying to figure out which to choose, caught between wanting to help and wanting to sleep but also trying to figure out how best to get away with things as well. Perhaps sneaking back out to the yard to roll around in the grass again.

Smiling at their son, she took his plate and then leaned over to kiss Vivi on the top of her head. "You be good my little tourbillon." While Isa would listen to her father, being his little shadow, Vivienne was their wild one, her imagination and energy knew no bounds, and sometimes it could be a bit much. Hopefully, she had burned most of her energy outside and soon enough would come up and nap too. After taking their plates to the sink, one hand on her low back which had began to ache, her sons' hand in the other, she kissed the top of Isa's and Wally's head before the two headed up.

Shaking his head he made sure her eyes locked with his. "Beautiful, I never saw showing you I could be trusted as a chore. Getting you to open up at your time and speed, well honey, I'd have waited a whole two hundred years for you. You are it for me. I didn't want anyone else back then and that hasn't changed now. You make me happy. You have always been worth it to me. There's a reason why there are zero songs about easy love. You gave me a reason to believe in love." He reached over to grab one hand while his thumb caressed her index. "I meant it then and I mean it now. I could take not having a family, yes it was a dream but that I could take it or leave it. But, not having you in my life. No, that'd crush my soul."

He knew she had put pressure on herself when it came to building a family of their own back before any of this sitting before them became reality which had come with its own tribulations. "Whether we had one or none at all, the only thing that'd matter to me is you. How I could best continue to make you fall in love with me." That thought alone mortified him to no end. The remnants of what had transpired way back before they were even a thing still ran through his mind like old sitcom reruns. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before a soft whispered no slipped past his lips. "In every and any universe I'd come find you. We're soul lobsters."

"I'll tell you, some people would do anything to get out of hearing baby shark for the millionth time. Even take a nap," he again couldn't help but tease his wife. All he wanted was to make her smile even though he'd prepare himself for an eye roll or two. Turning serious he nodded and was relieved she'd agreed to take that nap. "Once you're up maybe the house won't be so bare." A challenge he was up to for sure while chasing around their tiny whirlwinds and getting one room unpacked.

He couldn't help but chuckle, she was right in the fact that this wasn't their first rodeo but that still didn't stop him from worrying. Things went wrong all the time as evident by the many trials and tribulations they had gone through already. "Fair," he tried to smile through his concern. "You know I'll always be worried up until the very last moment. Maybe some after." A soft chuckle escaped but nodded. "If you need anything you know," he kissed her cheek. "I'm here." His face morphed into playfulness and scoffed. "You do deserve me. Actually deserve this and more. Don't you forget it. Especially on my birthday." He added cheekily.

Wally couldn't help but smile as he finished off his bite. "I am much more interested in knowing what mama wants as her first animal." Truthfully, he hadn't thought about it. He knew that penguin and a flamingo would be on the list. Though those two would need to be in a sanctuary than their actual land. But he did once think horses were fun. Before he got thrown from one on his aunt's ranch. Getting back on a horse seemed to be coming back to him. Finishing his bite he wiped his mouth and chuckled. "This is hard because any animal is hard to start off with. But saying that, I have a little bit more experience with horses." And by bit more it wasn't by much. He just knew how to feed them and muck their stalls. He didn't need to look in Isa's direction to know that she knew what she had desired was on the verge of coming true. "So, horses maybe a pony and not gonna lie. I think a baby goat would be super cute." Looking in their children's direction he warned, "But, mama is right. We can't get animals until the land is ready and we've settled. There may be visits to uncle Andy's ranch in the future though."

It was just like her to always run things. Beautiful things. Since she was five and her infinity had manifested that was all she did, destroy. As she let the late evening air chill her and help will the warmth under her skin away as she walked away from what she had considered home, she didn't keep her eyes on her surroundings. Something she made sure to do since escaping the facility years prior.

A grave mistake.

Her mind was preoccupied with the events that just occurred, as she took a turn down a street without paying any attention, she didn't notice the van trailing behind her. She replayed the situation over and over again in her head trying to figure out how to make this wrong right when she found herself surrounded in an instant. She knew by their uniforms where they were from but they came prepared this time.

Flanking her while she was unaware, two held her arms while another stabbed a needle in her neck. "No!" She yelled as she tried to pull away from them but her limbs were failing quickly. "No!" Was all she could say as they began to pull her towards the back of the waiting van. Trying to call her infinity up failed each time, whatever they had injected her made her body betray her in every sense. Her vision began to blur as she was placed on the floor of the van. "Blue!" She yelled out pathetically as she began to succumb to the darkness and they drove her back to her prison.

Walking away from her, he didn't care if she staid or if she left.. but he assumed that she'd leave. It was only fitting that she did after seeing what she had, a fact that he had tried to keep hidden from her for as long as humanly possible. A funny statement considering he was a demon.

Walking into the bathroom, Blue keeps his glamour up despite the fact that she was gone, leaning heavily onto the vanity in the bathroom. Surging forward and falling back repeatedly in a rocking motion, Blue attempts to work past the anger that he felt... but his first mistake?

Was looking in the mirror.

Releasing a bellow of rage, he slams his fist into the mirror, uncaring of the cuts that he gets as the glass clatters to the floor, multiple broken pieces reflecting his image in small pieces rather than one big piece...

Laughing, she fetched Orion's Yankee's. " Well our favorite team is the Yankee's, so you're stuck in Yankee blue. The Giant's is only when I got back to California." Gently placing it on the girls head, she asked. "Knowing baseball and liking baseball is different. Do you like baseball, Annie? Have a favorite team, been to a game? "

Smiling, she made a sign of crossing her heart. "I won't, promise." Orion had been the same way the last she saw him. Wanting independence and learning how to do things on his own. She didn't know if that came from wanting to prove to his new parents that he wasn't a burden or wanting to be self-sufficient but nonetheless gave him the space and skills he desired. "Can I just give the belts a tug to make sure it's all good to go?"

Of course, Annie was smart enough to figure this out independently. "Yeah." She said softly thinking back to all that had happened. "I helped him on that, a lot happened but I don't think I should be the one to tell you any of it. I'll never keep anything from you Annie, but your uncle and his missions are his to share, okay."

Settling into the driver seat, she sighed as she looked at the girl in the rear view mirror before starting the car. "We're going to the bank first," she turned her attention back ahead of her and began to drive. "I have to get some money. Then I'm going to talk to an acquaintance of mine, who has an ear on all things that happen. Have them tell whoever knows anything about your uncle to meet me somewhere and then talk. We're just gonna talk." And bribe, but that was neither here nor there. As she stopped at a red light, she sighed. "I'm pretty sure you know quid pro quo, right Annie?"

The girl's question was just as complicated as the ones her uncle would ask her. Leave it to these two to make her have to revaulate the way she thought about people. "I do care about and for him, he's a friend and he's helped me through a lot of things. We've been there for each other and I just want him to be okay." That was the best she could come up with for now. Parking into a space in front of the bank, she smiled at Annie. "Alright, first stop."

The question of the cap had her snap her up in a quick motion. "Yes, please. As long as it's not the Giants or Angels cap." She made a face not liking either of those teams. "I know baseball," she giggled. "I've got many uncles who love different things and I get to soak it up." She stood there and gaged if she could do it. "I can do it." Annie had the same independent spirit of her mothers. "I'm a big girl! Just don't tell my mamas they'll get sad."

Her reaction to Canary's had her know that she was onto something. "No. He doesn't know I know. He doesn't talk about his missions with me. I overhear sometimes. But that's not important, you were there with him. So you were the one who helped him?" Her voice was hopeful and grateful. Here she was thinking he had done it all alone. Then wondered why he didn't say he had her help. "Something happened didn't it?" She was intelligent and unlike most kids her brain could calculate things with a look or in this case, silence.

"So, you have a plan. What is it?" Annie was sometimes a tiny little woman inside when she asked questions. She wasn't concerned with cartoons, what interested her was having her mind be stimulated. This was one of those cases. "Do you care or do you care for him. They're very different."

"Oh, so you want me to ignore your texts, is what I hear. Noted. I will make sure to wait until the sun is up to return your message from now on." She said with a laugh in her tone, knowing all too well that they both kept odd hours anyway. The nickname that he had come up for her with never failed to make her smile for some reason. The fact that it wasn't overused or that it was some alias lent to it. Though she was no longer tipsy, she still felt her cheeks warm as a slight tint, small blush came to her cheeks that she tried to hide by pulling her head back into the top of the hoodie. "If I admit that I do, will this be the last time you bring it up?"

Sometimes she regretted not staying on that boat but she knew that it wasn't for her. Her usual habits had called her back to land. A life she could never leave behind. "Thanks," she said in a low voice, unsure why he would say that nothing she said would sound stupid to him. The words though seemed to give her brain permission to just be honest around him. "You ever felt that way somewhere? Just a place that made everything inside of you calm down so much that you feel like someone else. Someone new? Someone you were supposed to be?" The mention of horses made her chuckle. “l respect animals and how majestic they are but I do that from afar. So no, I’ve never ridden one. Situations in which I can’t talk or fight my way out of are not in my comfort zone.” She’d watch people, mostly tourist, get thrown off horses during her time in Mexico. Seen people, again mostly tourists, get trampled by elephants in India. Crocodiles snap their jaws on limbs of people, again mostly tourists, in Florida. She respected their agency and would not like to find herself in any of those situation, glad to watch them from afar.

The way his fingers ran through her hair made her feel at ease. A simple gesture that made her spine shiver in a way that said it wanted more. That it wanted the tips of his fingers to continue to tangle in her hair and glide across the sensitive skin on the back of her neck. A thought that she hastily had to shove away. “Your listening skills need work,” she chuckled. “I said I trust you not to. Honestly if you did I’d pull you over with me, there’s no way I’m going it alone.” Tilting her head up at him, eyebrow quirked up high. “Nice cave? That’s an oxymoron. I can’t believe that I opened up and told you I’m scared of small spaces and here you are trying to get me to go to one.” When her phone chirped, she rolled her eyes. “I’m not looking at that right now.” Settling her head back down on his shoulder muttering sarcastically to herself. “A nice cave.”

Her hand had began to feel cold as it dug its nails in her palm trying to keep her out of her head when a sudden warmth washed over it. His hand. It was his hand over hers. A small part of her wanted to pull her hand back, to apologize. The louder part of her said not to, they had already held hands, and in all honestly it felt so nice. So she found her fingers uncurling slowly under the warmth of his hand. “Of course she has a list. In your wildest dreams, agent,” Elizabeth laughed sitting up, there was no way anyone good like Wally would ever need up with a terrible mess of a person like her. He deserved better. “What’s on this list? I can help you find someone she’ll approve of before I go. I’m sure there’s someone on these islands somewhere that can meet both your standards.” Smiling at him, she quipped. “Listen to you, you sound like you know a lot more about lobsters than you let on. And if I somehow signed up for this, where do I unsign up?” It was a tease as her hazel eyes took in his features right now. Unsure how she had got to this point. To this place. With this man. Talking about things she never had with anyone before so freely.

Listening to him, she simply hummed in acknowledgment that she was listening. Taking in what he was saying. "Our meeting was fate? And here I thought we met because of someone who made the worst choices in life. No, its not weird, just because you believe in something doesn't mean you believe all that it encompasses. You're a leader not a follower, you make up your mind about what you do or don't believe in, I think that's the beauty of belief, its a choice." The idea of good deeds being repaid was something that felt weird but that was a more complicated matter for another day. "Psychics freak you out?" Rolling her eyes at his supposedly future card, she couldn't help the smile on her face.

“When I fall in trying to cast, we'll see how easy it is.” That was a skill she was never able to learn or honestly cared to learn. Content with pulling out the lobster traps and sorting them. If anything, she'd bring a book for this excursion, read to pass some time. “Lame?! You’re just as married to work as I am. So if I’m lame so are you by default. And it's because I just went. I go every year on my birthday and then every once in a while when I can. So, you missed your chance sir.” It was an excuse, but a good excuse. Taking someone back to the place she wanted to be home was something that she had never done. Something she didn't plan on doing.

"You'd make me walk home, Wally?" Laughing, she shook her head. Deep down she knew that even if for some reason she said no, he would still take her home. He wasn't like the people she had known her entire life. Truth be told, she didn't want to say no, she was actually quite excited to do this adventure week of his. "Your listening skills need work because I'm pretty sure I had already agreed to it when you said I could take Dolly while you're gone. Just no caves, that's all I ask." Standing up, she took her heels off and began to make her way back down. "You are too much of a sweetheart, Wally. Don't lie, I am an ass. I work hard at it. I like my shell. Firework day? Am I safe to assume it's not the fourth of July? Don't they usually close down lighthouses for those kinds of nights?" The idea of an errant firework hitting someone on the deck seemed like a possibility. The chill just made her long to get out of the dress and bundle in her blankets again as she put her empty hand not carrying her heels back into hoodie, which was quickly becoming a comfort. "Thanks again for letting me use this, I know I said it before but its so comfortable." It felt lived in, cared for and just as warm as its owner. "You can crash at my place if you like." It wasn't like he hadn't before. "You can take the bed and I'll sleep on the pull out sofa since I'll be up early for the lawyers anyway. You can sleep in a bit." It was a small way of saying thank you, she guessed since he had stayed up late to take her to the lighthouse, the least she could do was keep him from driving some more and get some rest.

"Maybe you're just a light sleeper," he retorted. His quick wit on full display. "You could just ignore my texts but you send it back nearly a second after. So, maybe most likely, you're just waiting for it." Wally nodded his head. "Oh yeah, definitely. Keeping that one in my heart. It's special. You, lila paid me a compliment. Totally shouting that from the rooftops." In all honesty he loved giving her a hard time and this time was no different. "You pretending you don't like my voice doesn't bother me because I know you do." He didn't really but still fun to tease her.

The sea was beautiful and he knew it but even that gorgeous sight couldn't tear his own eyes from her. She encapsulated beauty like he never had seen before. Even as she talked he couldn't keep his eyes from behaving and not drinking her in like she was water and he was the desert in need of hydration. "It's not weird," he shook his head. "It makes sense. It doesn't sound stupid. Never when it comes to you. I like that you felt at peace. Sometimes places do that to you. Kind of sounds like how you also have to respect the horses when you first learn to ride them. Ever been horse back riding?"

His fingers glided to a soft stop as his index tangled in her hair for a moment. "I wouldn't throw you over of this thing. That's a deep dive down. What kind of monster do you take me for?" As for the cave he couldn't help but laugh. "It's a very nice super high cave. Looks like a ceiling." She didn't believe him he knew that so one handed he took out his phone and sent her the cave picture.

He took his hand and placed it over hers in an attempt to offer up comfort hearing her deep breath. Though he didn't look at her he kept his eyes on the sky. He thought there was something that was said to have her react the way she had. Her giggle made him laugh. "That's true. Annie is going to hate whoever ends up being swept up in the chaos. As it is she has a list of qualities she wants for me. Though, gotta say she does have a strong liking to you. Maybe you're the one I end up with." Though that was said non chalently there was a part of him, the side that truly did like her, could see himself with her.

He bumped her back as a smile overtook his features. "They may look alike but not all are the same. One may have a short claw than the others. Not good to generalize." Wally teased and sighed. "You kind of signed up for this. At least you won't be alone in every lifetime. You'll have someone you know and who knows exactly how you need to be annoyed." Keeping eye contact with her felt intimate. Something only lovers did when they wanted to convey words but they weren't necessary.

He hummed at the question which hadn't really been asked much. The only people that knew were family so this was a little funny. "I do," he stated before he explained. "I mean I believe in the gods not Jesus and all that the Christians believe in. But more so Greek Gods. The crystals and magic of it all." His eyes widened at that. "Fate. I didn't before but now, well, they gave me something to believe could be considered fate. Met you didn't I? Diana is a real believer and it kind of rubbed off on me. As for reincarnation? I don't know about that. Not because I don't believe it but I just don't know enough. Wild I know because you'd think believing in Greek gods would be a straight shot into reincarnation but I don't know."

"I do believe in good deeds gets repaid. Like find a penny then you'll have good luck all day long." That wasn't the same he knew it but it was where he was at. "No psychic. They freak me out. But I have gotten those future cards from the machines at the carnival. I got one that said you'll soon annoy a brunette who isn't what they seem."

Picturing them as fishermen was funny. He knew he couldn't do it. But for her, she would probably be good at it. "Watch, you'd be one to make it look easy." The quip about her voice made him nod. "I do love your voice. Why do you think I ask you so many things at one time." Wally tilted his head as he rolled his eyes. "You hype it up so much now you got me curious. I would like to go. And who better to go with than you. Are you gonna deny me that?" He wasn't above using puppy dog eyes. "Why not? You can't say because of work. Lame."

He looked at her yawn and smiled. Biting down on his lip. "I can take you home but only after you agree to adventure week with me. Not let work get in the way. Just give me one week. How about a week of adventure with me?" He shook his head and had none of that. "You're not an ass. I don't think that. You're a bit of a hard shell but it's not a bad thing. Maybe we will come up here again. Fireworks day is pretty epic."

Of course, he knew that she would feel bad about this. Leave it to him to care about how she felt about this rather than how she had made him feel. She didn't deserve it. The admittance of her planned leaving filled her with guilt and she nodded. "I was supposed to open this office get it off the ground and move on. Go back to New York or find somewhere else to open another." The guilt quickly dissipated with his next comment, earning him a small smile and an eye roll. "Yeah, you thwarted them. In the best way possibly imaginable though."

She didn't know when it happened or why but could tell all the emotions and thoughts going through his head. The worry, the possibilities, the resignation to let it go. Her hand came up and cupped his cheek and brought his forehead against hers, nuzzling her nose against his she quietly said. "It's okay. I'm okay."

A small contended sigh of pleasure involuntary came from her as she felt the familiar feeling of his fingers in her hair. Something simple that made her feel safe, and cared for. Looking at their hands, a small chuckle at the sight of them tangled together like that. How many times since that night at the lighthouse had they held hands without her thinking twice about it? How many times had his hands touched her and not caused her to recoil? The thought of his fingertips tracing her scar ran through her mind. An action that if anyone else had done would cause her to anger, fight, but from his warm hands, felt oddly healing. The red bracelet on her wrist making her smile as her fingers continued to trace her line on his palm, every crease on every finger, trying to memorize every part of them. Another piece that made up the man that she had come to love.

Hazel eyes looked up at him through eyelashes, taking in the sight of him as he spoke. "Okay," she agreed to letting him know if a boundary or something that made her uncomfortable came up. His words only solidified her faith bout this, about them about finally taking a chance. As he kissed her again, she couldn't help but giggle against his lips at his pointing out this being a real date. "Then you got yourself a date, Wallaby."

Pulling back from him was a harder thing than she thought it could be. There was nothing more she wanted than to just continue to sit there with him. Just the two of them. "I think I have some snacks in the kitchen that I can bribe Antares out of hiding with." Slowly standing up to not agitate her side, she couldn't help but ask. "Where would be going on this date? Should I change?"

Quickly waving it off he shook his head. "Now that I know the real reason, I understand. I am not ever going to be mad at you for needing time to figure things out on your own. The no contact was hard but it makes sense. I want you to also do me a favor and not feel bad about this, okay?" The next thing that came out of her mouth made him still his movements. "You really were going to leave?" All the other times before were coming together, there were moments he didn't think twice about when she'd either look pensive or she'd brush a comment off that now if he connected it, would make sense as to why she'd pass over it. Still, him asking now gave her a chance to honestly tell him if that was always the plan. "That was always the end goal, wasn't it?" He didn't know for sure but that clicked in his mind. A small smile came over his features. "It's totally my fault," he remarked teasing lacing his tone. "I thwarted your plans. I am pretty good with that." If Antares was about to have kittens, he knew he was going to have to get Andy to build a bigger nest. They'd cross that bridge when they got to it.

He didn't love that this seemed to be more than just a little story but nevertheless, he respected her wishes and let it go for now. His fingertips ghosted over her side and after a second he dropped it back to his lap. Nodding his head saying fine, it was left at that. If he was deeply impatient he'd take the shortcut and ask Diana. But doing so would look bad if he went behind her back. His thoughts were pretty clear on his face and then pulled himself out of those and focused on the fact that she was here and his heart felt like it had come back into its place.

The distraction of her wide smile pulled him into the now. "Your first instincts were right. Shouldn't have trusted me." He teased knowing those were the first impressions he always made when people first met him. A small callback to their beginnings. "Told you my dimpled smile would get me out of trouble." For what it was worth the way he saw a different side to her, how the smallest of changes seemed to be charged with big leaps, the cheek kiss was proof she had it in her. He was enjoying watching these different, albeit baby steps into uncharted waters for the both of them.

As she scooted closer and with her head on his shoulder, his free hand went up to run his fingers through her hair. It was an immediate response, like breathing in air. Wally had a tender side to him, that in this case was in full effect. He let her play with his hand as much as she wanted to and extended his fingers out so she could squeeze hers in between. Like they were intertwined starfishes. For anyone else, the quiet that surrounded them would have been a red flag, some type of look into what could lay ahead. But in their case, he knew how she worked. Sometimes with her tells which he came to learn the more he got to know her, it was easy to decipher whether she was overthinking, tired or distracted by past thoughts of whatever got pulled into the forefront. Times like these he learned to be patient with her quiet. He came from loud atmospheres, people chattering over each other to get a point across that the quiet should have deterred him. Instead, it made him give her an extra grace of patience.

"Okay," he let out a soft gush of air, thinking this would be something they'd learn together. "That is okay. I think the more we get into it, the more we will learn about each other. We could be one of those cheesy couples and do those relationship quizzes for fun. I also want you to know if I ever overstep or cross a line that you don't feel comfortable with, whatever it is. It can be something small and simple or big, just tell me. Because this is all so new and scary, I don't want you to lose yourself or think you don't have a voice or choices." Wally smiled hoping what he was trying to convey came through or made sense. He wasn't going to be one of those guys who'd dim her light over some whack power trip. Not that he was ever like that he just wanted to make sure that she knew that as they navigated new waters together.

He softly thumbed his finger across her chin as he pulled away a little bit to look at her. Giving her a moment to really look at him and smiled softly. "There's not many things I can promise you but this I can. You're going to be okay, we're going to be okay. Do you know why? There's a solid foundation here, aside from the relationship aspect, we have got friendship. I don't think we've ever had trouble telling the other the honest truth. Fear being one of the main emotions here makes it clear that you care as much as I do to make us work. Life is full of fuck ups but what counts is how we get back up." His words were running away from him he knew that. Chuckling he shook his head, "You make me nervous enough to make me a fumbling fool. What I want to say is being scared, somewhat terrified is a good thing. It makes us more aware of how to approach a situation and how to handle it without lashing out. I promise you I will always be honest with you, even need be, brutally so if the need should arise. We share the same fear there, I don't want to do anything to make you regret taking a chance on me - us." The action of the kiss caught him off guard momentarily, it was the first time she initiated contact and whatever else he was going to say went out the window. His hand cupped her jaw and kissed her back, noses brushing against each making him chuckle softly under his breath. He spoke against her lips as his smile widened, "Yeah? Sorry to say it is an actual date," his facetious nature peeking through as the running gag was that she never saw their outings as mini dates. "Then we better get Antares to that vet and confirm or dispel our suspicious so I can take you out on a proper date. I know just the place."

Gods, the sterile smell of isopropyl alcohol, the linoleum floor, the lights, everything, about hospitals made her uncomfortable. But Anna's hand in Elizabeths anchored her to why she was here. She was here to support Anna in this moment, and that made it easier to walk through the halls.

Sitting in the exam room trying to keepcut their minds off of worrying, she smiled at Anna. "Yeah, beaches, mountains, and you have the built in babysitter, me. You guys could leave Orion wit-" When their conversation was cut off by the doctor entering, Elizabeth reached over and held onto Anna's hand. The moment the words are out of the doctors mouth, Elizabeth is smiling and pulling Anna' close in a side hug, not letting her go as she answers the doctors questions.

Her imagination running wild with the thought of a girl with Ana's smile and Charles eyes, or a boy with her eyes and his smile, but their family was getting bigger. A dream of theirs was coming true. True to her word, she didn't leave her friends would side the entire time. There was planning to do, she would have to go back to the office and make sure that Mai would be good to go so when the new addition came Elizabeth could come back to help them in any way she could.

When they exited with the ultrasound and a new thing to celebrate, she smiled wide at Anna. "There are so many ways to do that. Would you like me to help you with that? Also, are you hungry? We should get you something to eat." Already she was ready to dot on her friend during this time while she was still in town.

Anna knew this had to be hard for Elizabeth... and a part of her was truly thinking of telling Liz to just go home or just wait outside for them to be finished. But the selfish part of her, the part that wanted to put herself first, won over, keeping Liz by her side. Though she knew this should be Charlie with her... she was excited to surprise him and Orion with the news of their upcoming child... or the potential for an upcoming child, anyways.

"Go back to Honolulu? I was thinking the mountains ... but I could go back to Hawaii again..." she ventures, "Let me talk to -" she cuts off at the knock at the door, looking up as the doctor enters with a smile on their face.

"Congratulations, you're pregnant."

Anna couldn't help but to gasp, clutching Liz's hand tightly as tears sprang to her eyes.

"When was the date of your last period?" "I don't ... know.. my periods are irregular thanks to my condition." "And your condition?" "Endometriosis."

The doctor nods, explaining they want to do an ultrasound to check the progress of the baby and date it that way. It doesn't take but a hour or so before Anna is in the room with Liz, the ultrasound tech having Anna lie down and soon enough the picture of the baby is up on the screen as a practical speck. Judging Anna to be about 6 weeks in, Anna is genuinely shocked by the news but overjoyed... and after a few print offs of the ultrasounds, Anna and Liz exit the hospital...

And Anna is unable to stop smiling as broadly as she does. "Oh my gosh, I gotta figure out how to tell Charlie now," she speaks, bouncing with each step.

There was a way he felt when she was around? Everything in her wanted to know, how he felt when she was around. If it perhaps was the same way she did and maybe find out what it meant but this wasn't the time or place. "That's not what I meant," she chuckled. "I meant there are more ways than just physical for someone to betray someone else, but points for originality.”

"I don't have a chose side, I just lay wherever I want. Center, I guess.” The honest answer was whatever was closer to the window but seeing as her bed in her apartment was not a shared one any place she laid was near the window. The window in this room was on the opposite side of the room so side of the bed didn’t matter. “Take whichever side you want.”

She could tell that there was something that was hard for him to say there, especially when he turned away from her. He never did that. The words he said softened her demeanor as she took in something he never shared before. With a small sigh, she walked over to the couch and turned it around so it faced the bed and pushed it slightly closer before making herself comfortable on it. “I don’t know who Henry was, but this couch is actually really comfortable. Might be the nicest one I’ve slept on.”

Even now she could feel his mind racing and so she spoke aloud eyes straight up ahead at the ceiling. “Did I ever tell you the story my dad told me of the marbendill, the mermen?” Thinking back to their night at the lighthouse, and the week they spent with each other now that he had brought it up she decided a story would help.

"It's okay if you're not kidding," he chuckled. "Wouldn't hold it against you. You laugh but it's true. This just tells I need to bring you stickers. Who doesn't love stickers. Did you know that they give a boost to the ego but it's the good kind. Weird if you didn't like stickers." There was no denying he enjoyed the prospect of getting a gold sticker. I'll be the best damn tour guide." He was quick to shake his head. "No. She was spelling Liz. She's the smartest dog. Also tells me she misses you." The Spanish quip made him laugh. "She is trilingual. Could have been spelling luz. You're right."

"No but I know what I feel when you're around. I wouldn't betray you like that. Also, okay smarty pants with your different ways to stab someone. I think the worst is the spork stab." Before she could retort he wanted her to give him a chance to explain. "The actual knife hurts like a bitch yes but you don't get the plastic bits stuck on you. That's the worst." This coming from experience having someone actually try to stab him with a spork one time.

Wally looked at her like she had just grown two heads. "At home what side do you take? Or do you switch? You had to have chosen a side when you saw the bed. Everyone has a side." Relax made him snort. If she only knew but still she had a fair point though he couldn't figure out why she was insistent on the couch. Did she like hurting her back or neck for that matter. His eyes studied her briefly before they went back to the ceiling trying to come up with a way to tell her where he was coming from.

He waited until she finished though the finger did make him smile. He was amused more than anything but requesting this one thing from her made him feel uneasy. Like, exposing himself to her. Clearing his throat he became a bit shy. "I really do respect your decision but," this was harder than he thought it'd be. How would he explain his unusual quirk that she wouldn't even know about. Normally his sleep buddy was Memo. His teeth sank into his bottom teeth as he turned to his side and away from her. "I can't —I have this quirk," he sighed and decided to blur the sentence together. "New places I can't sleep in them. It's been a quirk since I was seven." The age he got ripped away from his mother. "Please. Just don't go." This was the most vulnerable Wally had been and the most he'd been thoroughly honest with her. Aside from feeling the injuries. "Pretty sure that was Henry's couch. Fancy couch." Wally murmured as he placed his head on the pillow and couldn't stop moving. "I do hope you sleep more than two hours though."

Not getting into a comfortable spot he moved his feet and sighed. "You're a comforting presence." The words were quiet but still loud enough for her to hear. He wanted to fill the space with words but currently had one too many things running around in his head. He couldn't focus and that in itself annoyed him. His head never was quiet but at least he was able to shut it off at night. At home.