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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 18, 2008 5:19:43 GMT -5
Lina and her brother met at least once a week, just to catch up on things and to stay connected. It was weird for Lina... well, no. It was downright difficult, but this was her path, she had chosen it, and she wasn't going to give up because things were difficult. Her own parents were angry with her. Her father, who had always seen Lina as his perfect little angel, refused to talk to her, and while her mother made the effort, she still felt estranged.
Then there was Cyrus' family... most of them refused to acknowledge that Cyrus had anything to do with her. Hayden was a good friend, at least, she had Cyrus, and of course there was Jensen. He had been the only person she told of her pregnancy for the first five months, including Cyrus, and he had been her main support through the last two years.
She was waiting for him at the Three Broomsticks in one of the booths by the windows, the seat next to her filled with bags from shopping. Cyrus had taken Mara for the afternoon.
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 18, 2008 7:44:06 GMT -5
Jensen left his shop early since it was the day that he and Lina usually met. There was someone else working in there, so he wasn't worried about anything bad happening.
Arriving at the Three Broomsticks, Jensen put on a huge smile, casuing his dimples to show, when he saw his sister. "Lina!"
He was the only one in the family that supported Lina and her child. Jensen didn't mind it because he knew that she was in love with Cyrus and he personally thought that they were perfect for it each other. As long as Lina was happy, he was happy."
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 18, 2008 15:20:20 GMT -5
"Jensen," Lina replied, smiling as she stood up and hugged her brother in greeting.
"You look good, as always," she complimented him, gesturing towards the table. "I hope you don't mind, but I already ordered our drinks. The barmaid was acting a little impatient. How are you?" Most of this was all blurred together, said as one long, run on sentence. She was smiling brightly, like she usually did. Besides, Christmas put her in a good mood.
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 18, 2008 18:32:27 GMT -5
He laughed and hugged Lina. "It's good to see you, and thank you. The same goes for you." Jensen smiled and took a seat across from her. "No, no, I don't mind. You know what I like anyway. I've been doing pretty well. Can't complain too much." The barmaid appeared at the the table and gave them their drinks.
Jensen was used to everything running together like that when they first saw each other. "So, how are you? Mara doing well I assume?"
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 21, 2008 2:50:08 GMT -5
Lina smiled and nodded. "Mara's perfect," she said. If there was one thing she did well, it was loving that little girl. "And I'm doing okay, too," she added. She nodded at all of the bags at her side. "I went Christmas shopping today, so Cy took her for a while."
She had a lot to tell her brother, but they had time. It would all come out eventually.
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 21, 2008 8:32:05 GMT -5
"Ah, Christmas shopping. I haven't had time for that, although I'm sure that I should make time for it," he said smiling. "The shop has been keeping me pretty busy." Jensen took a drink from his glass.
"So, what have you been up to lately? Got yourself into any kind of trouble? Ran up and down the streets for no reason?"
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 0:51:44 GMT -5
"Well, Cy has been getting busier and busier at the Ministry, and by the time Christmas rolls around, I don't imagine he'll be able to watch Mara for me. And you're getting busy, you said, so I thought I should get all my shopping done now, while I could." Lina was genuinely happy for everyone and everything they had going on in their lives, but she felt a little left out sometimes. Still, she would never begrudge Mara this. She would much rather spend her time with that little girl anyway.
She sighed as well. There was another reason she was spending the day without Cyrus, and that was beause they had had their third fight in as many days. She loved him, and she hated fighting with him, but she couldn't help it sometimes.
She laughed at her brother's next question. "No, but the day is still young. I figured we could do a little aimless street running later."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 23, 2008 10:16:40 GMT -5
"I might come by one afternoon real soon and visit Mara. I haven't seen her in ages it feels like, that is of course if you don't mind." Jensen looked over to the bags. "I'm not sure what to even buy for Christmas, but I'll see what I can find." He gave her a smile.
"Oh, of course I'm game for a little street running. Although, everyone looks at you like you're insane, but that's always funny." Jensen winked and took a drink from his glass. "What do you need for Christmas Lina. Don't tell me nothing. I know you need something or another, and what about Mara?"
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 18:48:46 GMT -5
Lina shrugged. She didn't really know of anything she needed. She knew what she wanted, more than anything, but only Cyrus could give it to her.
"Mara really needs some new clothes. She is growing up so fast, Jensen. I can't wait until you come visit, actually. You'll be amazed how big she is. Anyway... yeah. Her clothes are getting small on her, if you wanted to pick up an outfit or two for her."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 23, 2008 20:01:52 GMT -5
"I'll go by and pick those up today since I'm already here. If you wouldn't mind, I could walk you home and I could see her this afternoon. I haven't seen her in a while." Jensen loved his niece. She kept him company if he baby sat her because his apartment was always empty, except for him. He didn't really mind the fact that he was single. It gave him more time to spend with his family.
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 20:07:18 GMT -5
Lina frowned. "I wouldn't mind... in fact, I would kind of like you over. I'm just now sure if Cyrus will be... conversational. We fought again before I came out today."
In fact, Cy was the reason was she was out today. She ran a hand through her hair, knowing she would use her brother as an excuse not to talk to Cy for a while. She loved him so much... which is propbably why she fought with him so passionately.
She waved her hand. "Anyway, yeah, come over this afternoon. It will be fine."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 23, 2008 20:12:55 GMT -5
Jensen knew that Lina and Cyrus did fight every once in awhile. The good thing about it is that Cyrus never did raise a hand to her. Goodness knows that if Cyrus ever did raise a hand to Lina, then Jensen would be all over him before Cyrus could get out of the door. He had always thought that Cyrus was a good man, and he did make Lina happy.
"What did you argue about this time," he asked. Of course, he knew that Lina would more than likely wave it off and not really talk about it. Jensen just looked at her as she changed the subject. "After I pick out Mara something, I'll walk you home."
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 20:19:45 GMT -5
What we always fight about lately, Lina thought to herself. Of course, as her brother anticipated, she didn't really talk about it. "Nothing really. It was something stupid, anyway."
She nodded though. "Yeah... that sounds good. I can help you with sizes and such that way too. I swear, babies get so big so fast. And I'm not sure how good babies are with colors, but she always seems to smile when she sees bright colors... yellows and pinks and things..."
She laughed at herself, a pretty, young laugh. "You don't care at all, do you?"
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 23, 2008 20:32:41 GMT -5
He smiled. "I'm not that keen on what colors go with what, but I'll take your word for it and pick something out I think she would like. Plus to, I think it's time that I bought her toys to play with and possibly annoy the mess out of her mother and father." Jensen gave Lina a teasing grin. "After all I am supposed to spoil my niece."
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 20:53:38 GMT -5
Lina smiled, and refrained from telling Jensen that Mara was in that stage where she was supposed to play with noisey toys.
"She'll love anything you get her. And then, of course, she's going to expect you to spoil her everytime she sees you."
Somehow, she didn't think that Jensen would disappoint his niece in the least. "So, tell me how things at the shop are going. Or I'll talk your ear off all day."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 23, 2008 22:48:24 GMT -5
"I hope she does like it. I saw one of those noisey things that all she has to do is squeeze it and it squeaks. I have to get her something like that just because." Jensen grinned at Lina again. "And of course I'll spoil her everytime I see her."
At the mention of the shop, Jensen just gave a shrug. "Things are going pretty well. Sales are great. The store was so full of people the other day it was crazy. The line was so long. It honestly took me almost an hour to get everyone through. Then I had to go and re-organize things were people just knocked the stuff down." He gave a shake of his head. "Other than that, it's alright. I can't really complain that much."
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 22:58:07 GMT -5
Lina rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. So she can find other ways of keeping us awake all of the time. I swear, the girl never sleeps."
She took a sip of her drink. "You should think about hiring some help," she offered, watching Jensen for his reaction. "Especially with Christmas coming around. You'll have more people coming in. They can keep things organized while you ring up the customers."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 23, 2008 23:09:58 GMT -5
"Hiring help? I've thought about it. I barely made it through last Christmas because I didn't have anyone then. It would take forever to train them though. I would say that you could do it, but there's Mara. However, maybe I can post something up in the window and have a few people to come in and possibly want the job." Jensen looked at her and then smiled. "I'll put the sign in the window before I go back home."
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Post by Lina Harper on Nov 23, 2008 23:20:28 GMT -5
Lina wanted to do it the second he mentioned it, and she knew she could. Jensen wouldn;t mind if she brought Mara into the shop, but then she worried that the girl would cry or need her while Jensen needed her, and that would be unfair. She couldn't do that to Jensen, and her prorities lay with Mara, so she didn't say anything.
"Well, I'm sure there's somone competant out there looking for a job. You could just keep them around for the holidays."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Nov 24, 2008 17:46:44 GMT -5
"I'll see if anyone applies," said Jensen. "Like I said, on my way back to my apartment, I'll put something up in the window saying that I need help. I'm sure that several people are looking for jobs. I might give it to the first person that comes in there. It'll be a hands on job application."
He smiled and drank from his glass again. "I will give it a shot. Now, what are you wanting for Christmas. I need ideas."
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