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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 26, 2009 13:56:25 GMT -5
Lina shrugged. "Being patient and giving her space obviously isn't winning me any points, so... I need to be a little more proactive. If she wants to see Mara... she and I are a packaged deal right now. Cyrus already knows that."
Mara was the innocent in this, and if push really came to shove, she would give in. Mara should have all the family in the world... but Lina wanted that too.
She smiled at him after he said he was proud. "Thank you."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 27, 2009 0:11:02 GMT -5
"I'm positive that my parents will love Mara once they see her. It's impossible not to love her." He smiled down at the baby in his arms. "And if she has a problem with you coming, I'll just say I invited you. She can invite Riley, knowing that all we do is argue... well, I can invite you." He gave a slight smile.
"You know, if Cyrus doesn't come around... I might just have to propose to you myself," he added, only half-joking. He adored Mara, and the thought of finally getting his mother off his back was tempting. But he didn't love Lina, not the way she deserved. She deserved to be with someone who truly loved her.
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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 27, 2009 3:04:56 GMT -5
"You keep saying that Roland," Lina said with a smile, her hand reaching across him to run her finger over Mara's cheek. Man, if it were the other way around, Lina would be breaking down doors to get to this little girl.
"But you know neither of us would ever be happy." She was addressing the half of him that wasn't kidding, the half that might seriously propose if she seriously asked him to.
"It's all going to work out just fine. You know that. Maybe it won't be like we planned, but it will be fine. Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 27, 2009 13:13:14 GMT -5
Roland looked at her in amazement. That she could still be so positive, even while realizing that the one she loved might never grow up and come for her, absolutely floored him. Although he'd come from a close-knit, loving family, Roland had always been a little bit cynical. Over the years, it had gotten worse. Working as an Auror didn't exactly help improve his outlook on the world. He fought to make things better even as he knew that his meager efforts were not nearly enough to do what needed to be done.
"I don't care so much about being happy for myself," he said quietly. "I don't really see myself getting married or having children. But you deserve better than that. You deserve love. I wish I could give you that.... but we both know I'd only be a substitute for the one you really want."
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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 27, 2009 13:37:44 GMT -5
Lina wasn't entirely sure she wanted Cyrus anymore, but she kept that to herself. She still loved him with everything she had, but she was also realizing that you could love someone like that and still not be right for them. She had been wrong when she thought Cyrus was the one.
"He's changed, you know." She said quietly. "I just don't understand why he was willing to give them up to live with me, but not to marry me. Maybe it's just a commitment thing. And anyway, you deserve better, too, Roland. You deserve someone who won't ever see you as a substitute for anything."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 27, 2009 16:25:56 GMT -5
Roland didn't actually think Cyrus had changed at all. He remember how, when they were younger, Cyrus had a habit of starting things he couldn't finish. He was excited about things, he started out full of energy and enthusiasm, only to lose interest and motivation along the way. In the end, he would abandon each project for something new and different. Roland couldn't help but feel that maybe this was the same sort of thing... Cyrus had lost the will to keep fighting for Lina and Mara... and maybe he was afraid to make the commitment to see it through.
Although Roland claimed to have a fear of commitment, that really wasn't why he didn't want to get married. The real reason was something he couldn't admit, even to himself--he was afraid of falling in love. He knew what it would do to him, and he was secretly afraid to let anyone have that kind of power over him.
"Cyrus is an idiot," he said simply. There didn't seem to be anything else he could say.
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Post by Jensen Harper on Jan 28, 2009 7:59:41 GMT -5
It was time for Jensen to get off of work and head back home. Today was a long day, at least to him, so it was going to be a treat to get home and see his two most favorite girls, his sister and Mara.
Arriving at the door, Jensen opened the door and took off his cloak, hanging it by the door. Closing the door behind him, he walked into the living room. At first, he didn't really pay much attention to Roland, he saw Lina and smiled. "Hey Lina," his attention was turned to a man with black hair and his eyebrows raised. Jensen never met this man and he looked at Lina questionably.
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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 28, 2009 11:47:22 GMT -5
Lina smiled a little whe Jensen came home, getting off the couch to hug him like she did every night he came home.
She wondering just exactly what he was thinking of Roland, but couldn't bring herself to be rude and find out.
"Hi Jensen. Good day? I want you to meet someone." She led him around the front of the couch, where Roland was holding Mara still. "This is Roland Ferrera, Cyrus' brother. Roland, this is my brother, Jensen." Turning to Jensen again, she said, "He came to check on me and Mara."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 28, 2009 12:06:27 GMT -5
Roland smiled at Jensen. He was still holding Mara, so he shifted her slightly so that her neck was supported in the crook of his elbow, leaving one hand free to hold out to Lina's brother. "Hi, Jensen," he greeted him. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Please forgive me for not getting up."
He looked at Jensen with interest, deciding immediately that he liked Jensen a lot. He could tell that he would take good care of both Lina and Mara, and that was important to him.
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Post by Jensen Harper on Jan 28, 2009 12:44:26 GMT -5
Hugging Lina and smiled. "Yeah, it was a fairly good day, but it felt like it lasted five years." Jensen gave a laugh.
He looked to Roland again. "Hey Roland. It's nice to meet you too," Jensen said shaking his hand. "And don't worry about getting up, Mara looks like she's comfortable." He smiled while he glanced down to Mara. Jensen decided that he liked Roland too. Mara seemed to like him, and after all, Roland was her other uncle.
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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 28, 2009 15:30:59 GMT -5
Lina once again smiled at her daughter in Roland's arms. She put her hand on Jensen's arm. "Mara seems like him quite a bit. She takes to him everytime she sees him."
Then she pulled away, on her way to the kitchen before she even asked, "I already have hot water. Would you like some tea, Jensen?" She liked taking care of people, her daughter, her brother, Cyrus, Roland... it didn't matter. Motherhood suited her well.
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Post by Jensen Harper on Jan 28, 2009 15:57:35 GMT -5
"I can tell," Jensen said smiling.
He noticed Lina heading for the kitchen, and he had a pretty good idea of what she was going after. "Sure," he called to her. "Thanks mum." Jensen laughed and looked to Roland. "Thanks for checking up on them. I know how things are going on her end anyway, and I appreciate that she has others to turn to for whatever. I don't know if she has already asked or not, but you are more than welcome to stay for dinner. I'm sure that Mara and Lina both would love it."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 28, 2009 16:10:10 GMT -5
Roland chuckled. "I appreciate the invitation, but I can't stay," he said politely. "Anyway, I like Lina and I enjoy spending time with Mara... I was just sort of hoping that my brother had come around. Apparently, he's more of an idiot than I thought. But I'm glad to know that she has you and that she's safe here."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Jan 28, 2009 16:23:26 GMT -5
"I agree with you there. Maybe he'll come to his senses sometime soon. I know that it's still bothering her, even if she tries not to act like it. She's a strong one," he said.
"Of course she's safe here. I do whatever I can for her, to keep her happy some way or another." Jensen smiled. "And Roland, I know that you probably already know this, but you're welcome to come over whenever. If Lina and Mara trust you, I don't see any harm in trusting you either." He gave a chuckle.
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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 28, 2009 16:56:12 GMT -5
Lina came back with a cup of tea and handed it to Jensen.
"You know, boys, I was ten feet away. I could hear you." It was still cute that they waited til she left to talk about making sure she was happy and with the right people.
"You're both perfect, though. There are two very lucky women out there somewhere. Besides me, naturally, because I get you both."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Jan 28, 2009 17:03:32 GMT -5
"Well, it's a good thing that we didn't talk about things that we didn't want you to hear, right Roland?" Jensen gave a laugh. He grinned at Lina. "Thank you," he said taking the cup carefully.
"Ha. That's funny Lina. Whatever woman you think would be for me must exist in your imagination. I don't see anything like that happening anytime soon." It wasn't that Jensen didn't know any women, it was just that he didn't see himself settling down with anyone, or in other words, he hadn't met anyone he could see himself settling down with. "As long as I have my sister and niece around, I think I'll be just fine."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 28, 2009 23:40:57 GMT -5
Roland smiled. "We didn't say anything that you didn't already know," he said. "I'm serious, Lina... even if my brother doesn't come around, I'll always still think of you as family. You're like a sister to me, and I'll always be there for you if you need me."
He looked a little embarrassed by the emotional statement, as well as her comment about a woman being out there for him. He looked down at Mara, almost shyly, but chuckled lightly at Jensen's comment. "I think us single guys ought to stick together. Everyone's always trying to marry us off."
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Post by Jensen Harper on Jan 28, 2009 23:51:41 GMT -5
"I'm right there with you Roland," Jensen said grinning. "I think Lina has been trying to marry me off for some time now. Everytime I turn around she is saying something about me finding a woman or something. I'm surprised that she hasn't set me up on a date yet." He laughed. "Although, I shouldn't give her any ideas."
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Post by Lina Harper on Jan 28, 2009 23:58:31 GMT -5
"I adore you both," Lina said. "Which is why I would never set either of you up on a date. You can't force that kind of a thing."
She smiled, sitting on the couch next to Roland again and taking one of her daughter's hands in her own.
"Besides, girls are precious. It's up to you guys to figure that out on your own."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 29, 2009 14:48:57 GMT -5
Roland chuckled. "Believe us, we know," he said. "It doesn't mean we're ready to settle down, or that we even want to. But, Lina... I meant what I said earlier, OK? The offer is still good, if you want it. But I'm glad to know you're doing OK here. If you were really unhappy, I wouldn't be able to leave you here."
He still wanted to kick Cyrus up the arse for not running over here right away and leaving Lina and Mara alone. He was strongly considering doing just that. There really was just no excuse for it... if Cyrus really loved her, he should be fighting tooth and nail to get her back.
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