acontritemess | Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

[She didn't actually get nervous until they'd passed Ohio. The next step marked the furthest from home she'd ever been. She trusted Freya, at least somewhat, but home wasn't a place, a concept really was what it was. Home was her family, and she was leaving it on the other side of the country. It was terrifying, but she was equally excited, since she was seeing things she'd never had a chance to see before.

The country changed as they made their way across it, and as they neared the mountainous and wide-open country of Montana, she was in awe. It was just like every postcard she'd ever seen, and she was having a hard time thinking it was real.]

....it's so beautiful...

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Peter and James are their cousins. They're...kids, Toby.

[She pauses.]

You don't want me to go.

No... that's not what I said.

[He's getting death glares from Cas.]

I'm just worried.

[His little girl is so far from home.]

I miss you.

...you didn't have to.

[She breathes a sigh. She'd assumed this would happen.]

I miss you guys, too, but I'm okay. Really. You don't have to worry. David knows this whole forest and he's not going to let anything happen to me.

[She begins to smile as she speaks of David again, and she can't help it. She doesn't really even realize it.]

[Toby notices the way she says his name and it turns his stomach uncomfortably.]

...

Right.

[His voice sounds tense.]

I'm glad you're safe. I need to call Kevin. When will you call next?

Toby...? [She doesn't like where this is going.] Why do you need to call Kevin...?

[She pauses for a moment.]

I'll call before we leave town to head back up the mountain. I don't know exactly when that will be. Probably after noon.

It's fine Cat.

[He waves it off as if it isn't important.]

Okay. I'll talk to you then.

[Freya tenses behind Toby, taking a small step forward.]

Who did he say he's calling?! WHY!?

...it's not fine. [She does her best to sound firm, but with Toby, she's rarely able to pull it off.] ...you don't trust me, do you?

It isn't you that I don't trust Cat.

[His voice is soft but exasperated. He's currently getting this from Cas too...]

[She doesn't say anything for a moment, her eyes tearing up. When she speaks, her voice quivers slightly. She's sleepy, and she'd been having so much fun until this. He doesn't like David and he doesn't even know him.]

...it's...the same thing, but you're going to do whatever you feel is best regardless.

[Her tone is even to an extent. She's trying to sound strong, at least.]

I'll let you know when I won't be reachable the rest of the day.

I love you Cat.

[With that Toby flips off the phone to makes another call, hoping that Cat doesn't take things to heart.]

[Freya is seething when she hears the click on the phone.]

What was that?! Aren't you pissed?! He's being an ass.

[She glares at the phone after the call disconnects, tears still welling there. She hates that she cries no matter what she's feeling.]

Of course I'm mad. And now he's going to call Kevin, and Kevin's going to ruin everything!

[Freya freezes like a deer standing in headlights.]

He won't really call Kevin will he?

[Her voice is tense, edging on frantic.]

[Immediately, Cat pockets her phone and reaches out her hands to her friend, her voice gentle and calming.]

Hey, hey. It's going to be fine. No matter what happens, we'll handle it, okay? Or I'll handle it. He's my brother.

Yeah but...

[She understands what Cat's doing but she can't help but feel a little nervous. Instead of trying to answer she just nods her head.]

But don't worry about it. [She smiles.] Everything's going to be fine, and it's not like Kevin knows how to teleport, okay? We have time. So let's go have a good time, then we can go bother Ranger Vaughn at work.

[Freya can't stop the small burst of nervous laughter from her lips.]

Ranger Vaughn? I am not calling David that.

[Cat laughs as she takes Freya's hand, leading her toward what looked like a shopping district.]

He's your cousin. I don't think you have to.

[AND MOVING FORWARD!

Freya has an ice cream in one hand and a little spoon in the other. Her ice cream is vanilla and it's delicious. There is a smile spread across her lips, her previous depression all but forgotten.]

I can't believe that I remembered his favorite ice cream. I'm awesome. [She's proud of herself.

Freya pushes open the door with her spoon hand letting Cat slip into the building first. Her hands were full, its polite. When they step inside they are greet by a receptionist.]

Where is David's office? Sorry. Ranger Vaghun

And saved the knowledge for the forces of good and stuff, which I completely support.

[Cat has actually forgotten Kevin was coming, at least for the moment, and laughs when Freya refers to David as 'Ranger Vaughn" to the receptionist.

The woman, in her mid-thirties with blond hair and sparkling eyes, laughed as well and looks back toward the hallway behind her.]

Why don't your girls stay here? I'll be right back.

[She heads down the hall, though not far, to an open office toward the right. Human ears wouldn't hear it, but their ears were far from human.]

Joe, I've got two girls here asking about Sleeping Beauty. What should I tell them?

[There's a short pause, then a deep, male voice.] Little girl, blond? Taller, brunette? Adorable?

Sounds like them.

I'll handle it. [There's the sound of a door being opened, with no effort to keep it quiet, and he doesn't shut it behind him.]

David. Time to wake up, son.

[David doesn't remember falling asleep. In fact, he doesn't remember the last hour when his head was planted firmly on the desk with a small thread of droll gathering beneath his chin. He doesn't sleep well in chairs and the imagine isn't flattering.]

Joe?

[He quickly realizes where he is and snaps awake.]

Oh Shit! I'm so sorry. I didn't sleep much last night.

[David rubs his eyes stifling a yawn.]

What time is it?

[Joe nods, leaning against the side of his desk and crossing his arms.]

Yeah, that much was obvious. Your cousin and her friend are here for you. I think they brought you something.

[David blinks, trying to remember that morning more clearly. He remembers Cat first and a shiver creeps down his spine. He hasn't forgotten her smell, even while sleeping.]

Something?

[He asks a little groggily, looking up at Joe.]

If you're easy on me for sleeping I might start slacking off.

[David stands and stretches his arms overhead. Yeah, that was a really good nap.]

[Joe laughs and shakes his head.] I'll let you slack off just this once, but your fans are waiting. [And he points off toward the lobby.]

Fan’s… really? Oh! Cat and Freya. [He does remember telling them to stop by and then he remembers sleeping. Oh, now he feels like a jerk. He adjusts his collar and then quickly organizes the papers he’d fallen asleep on. With that done he flash Joe his ‘prince charming’ smile and then dashes from the office.

He isn’t surprised to see Freya or Cat but he is surprised to see ice cream.]

Oh, you use the Vaughn scoop? There is a funny story about that actually.

[He hears a high pitched throat clear and turns to see the receptionist, who is watching them with interest.]

Aren’t you going to introduce us?

[David suddenly blanks under the pressure. He has no idea what to say, luckily Freya speaks up.]

I’m his long lost dead cousin Freya and then is my best friend Cat.

[Freya flashes David a smile which suggests that the introduction wasn’t so hard. His own smirk is the only reply that Freya gets in return.]

Long lost dead cousin...?

[The receptionist looks confused and turns to David for an answer.]

It's a long story.

[Cat retorts, to keep David from feeling more awkward than he probably already does.]

...do you still like strawberry?

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next morning...

That next day...

That next day...