Sheer Panic (Connie, Ever and Luk)(PLOT)

[Everleigh Anne Mason]

Just a couple of hours...was that how long she would be sick, too? Would Ever feel better after the eclipse was over? Oh boy, did she hope so! She was hot and feverish but sweaty and clammy, too. The pins and needles feeling was still strong and it certainly didn't help much when someone grabbed her and moved her so suddenly. The little girl couldn't help the whimper that escaped her as Luk positioned her in his lap and the child curled herself up as best she could, turning her face against his chest until she felt something hot and wet hitting her forehead. Another whimper came out of her but soon she settled down enough for it to register that the cloth was making her feel a bit better. Letting out a long, weak, contented sigh, Ever let her head rest against Luk's chest.

That was how she could tell that the boy holding her was growling but the rumbling was somehow soothing against her heavy head. Luk adjusted her to a more comfortable position and her eyes never opened. She didn't know the person holding her. She never even peeked to lay eyes on him but at that moment the child didn't care. Whoever it was, he seemed to be pretty determined to help her, judging by what she could actually hear and understand.

Connie gave the person who's arms Ever was in, some last minute instructions on her care. Soup didn't sound like the best suggestion at the moment, though. Then, maybe, Ever might have to open her eyes and right now her eyes were feeling as heavy as her head did. The idea of staying awake enough to eat just didn't interest her at all.

The last thing that registered was that Connie and J were leaving. It sounded like J was helping Connie to stand. Maybe Connie was finally going to be able to dress and shower like she wanted to. Vaguely, the relief that the idea of that brought to the child registered for a moment before the child slowly drifted off into a fevered, restless sleep.

W O R D S * noofwords ;;
T H O U G H T S * stuffyouwannasay ;;
M U S I C * yourmuse ;;
T A G G E D * whofor ;;
W E A R I N G * clothes ;;
C R E D I T S * adele's chasing pavements ;;

template by RoyaLe of Caution 2.0

[Lukan Christopher Oliver]

Lukan paid very little (if any) attention to Jason and Connie. He dismissed them with a short growl. But his eyes were fixed on Ever, on this poor, frail, sickly little bundle of blanket and blonde hair. He felt his heart stop and cease his breathing with it. After nearly a minute of holding his breath, Luk let out a quivering gasp. His chest then began to rise rhythmically again, with the child's head nestled close to his heart. She was indeed close to his heart. He didn't even know her name, yet they were close through his past and her present. Luk was never cradled in a blanket or nurtured like this... except for maybe as a baby, and even then it was out of pure obligation rather than love or care (that paternal obligation once felt by Luk's mother and father eventually dwindled down to near nothing). But both Ever and Luk came from the bottom of the barrel. They were damaged. By the very frailty of Ever's body and the fact that she was quite obviously a stray, Lukan knew she was damaged.

But now she could be imperfect while resting against his chest, comforted. Luk gently pushed strands of hair away from her eyes before readjusting the towel on her forehead. There was a gentleness in his movements that he seldom showed. He softly stroked her hair while murmuring quiet words of safety. "It'll be... it'll be..." He hesitated. Would it be okay? If they were so similar, then how could she possibly be okay? Luk wasn't okay... he knew that. "You'll feel better soon..." That sounded more suitable to the situation. It wasn't in Lukan's nature to sugar coat life; Mr. Pessimist. But even Mr. Pessimist sometimes found his thoughts too depressing to bare. Like now.

She might not be okay... she might never be okay. The thought weighed heavy on his mind, even more so when he looked down at the girl. To think of this girl, this little blonde being, undergoing what Lukan went through and coming out the same... it made his stomach twist and his throat close up. He imagined her wandering through the forest with empty stomach and brittle bones. He imagined someone betraying her. He imagined the pain and the... he felt sick. One more look at Ever brought tears to his eyes. He gasped quietly and reached up one hand to wipe away the tears. Lukan's mouth was tight and his body rigid... but his eyes reflected some sad remembrance.

WORDS! 422
TAGS! Jason, Connie, and Ever
NOTES! Luk just made me cry
CREDITS! Haze

[Deleted]

He gently pulled Connie to her feet, slowly, so she wouldn't get dizzy. He reached out to steady her when she swayed, worry filling his eyes for a moment until she found her balance. Of course they would take it slow. "I'll take you to the one in my room. It's closest and I don't think you can manage the stairs right now." Yeah, that definitely would be a bad idea.

Jason waited patiently as Connie tried to give Luk some last minute advice about caring for Everleigh. With all his temper tantrums and quirks, Luk was more than capable of caring for the sick girl. Jason wouldn't be gone long anyway. "Everleigh will be ok. Luk can handle things here." Of that, he was sure. Although Jason has never really seen the boy like this before, he did know that the kid had a big heart under all that grumpiness and bitterness. He would be more than capable of keeping Ever safe.

Slowly, Jason guided Connie towards his bedroom, pushing open the door with one hand, the other wrapped around her waist to help her keep her balance. He gently guided her to sit on the edge of the bed with a soft smile. "I'll be right back." And disappeared into the bathroom. It would make more sense to run a bath for the poor woman, since her legs and feet were obviously causing her pain. Jason adjusted the knobs and the temperature of the water until he was satisfied that it was just right then hurried back over to the bed. "Ok. Here..." And he guided her back to her feet, slowly walking her to the bathroom but only helping her to sit on the edge of the tub before leaving the room. "I'll leave some clothes on the bed." He called, pulling out a t-shirt of his own and plopping it on the bed before going to search for pants that might fit her. Finding some in another bedroom upstairs, the alpha rushed back down and placed them on the bed with the shirt before exiting the room again and closing the bedroom door behind him.

With a heavy sigh, the man wandered back into the living room with the children and dropped himself into a chair, running both hands over his face. "God, I hope this stupid eclipse ends soon." For everyone's sake.

====================

[/size][/center]

tagged: person you're writing to
words: word count
notes: notes
lyrics: we are one from the lion king II
credit: LAVIEBOHEME @ caution 2.o

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Casted out

I’m watching your eyes

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af82/sataraalcaelahn/Lux%20Lunae/bluegradient.jpg');,true][cs=2] Love is like starting over

[atrb=width,240] Connie sighed a little when Jason helped to steady her. Her feet stung and almost seemed to burn with pain, but she managed to ignore it to limp with Jason to his bedroom. She would be embarrassed about that later, right then all she wanted to do was sit her happy ass back down. She winced as she stumbled, and Jason's arm wrapped around her waist to keep her steady. She leaned against him, letting him support her. As they entered his room, Jason lead her over to the bed. She was just grateful that she could sit down for a minute, but she tightened the blanket around herself and waited for Jason to come back. As she waited, she looked around the room, listening to Jason in the bathroom as he filled up the tub. When he came back, though, she groaned a little. "I can't wait to get in that tub," She muttered as he helped her stand and limp into the bathroom. She was trying not to shake and worry him more. She needed desperately to be alone so she could break and just cry in peace for a little while. Worry, fear, and pain were chipping away at her control until she was clinging to it by the skin on her teeth. "Thank you, Jason," She said gently when he said he'd leave her clothes on the bed in the other room. She gave him a weak smile as he slipped out and shut the bathroom door behind him. Tears started leaking down her cheeks almost as soon as Jason had left. She didn't bother wiping them away as she slowly stood and let the blanket puddle around her feet. She kicked it away, hoping it wouldn't get wet when she got in or out of the tub. Slowly, she turned to the steaming water. She stepped in, and let out a yelp of pain as her feet seemed to flare with the agony of going from frozen to boiling in a matter of milliseconds. She bit back another cry, not wanting Jason to come running back in here to make sure she hadn't killed herself in the tub. Tears were still flowing down her face, but now they were from pain and not everything mixed into one little ball in the pit of her stomach. She gasped as she lowered herself. The pins and needles seemed to turn to swords as she got into the hot water. Slowly, though, the needles, or swords, stopped stabbing her and she found herself relaxing. Nearly curling up in the tub, Connie bit her arm as she started to cry harder. Cry for Everleigh, who surely would have died if Jason hadn't sent her to find the child. For Luk, who was panicking yet still determined to take care of Ever. For Jason because he probably was freaking out as much as they were and wouldn't cry for himself. And for her wolf, because there was a deep, hollow spot inside her where her wolf used to be. She cried for all of them, and the rest of the pack who were surely as freaked out right now as everyone here was.

[atrb=width,100] words , 545 tagged , Jason, Ever, Luk notes , Frozen solid

table by Kat ;; lyrics by 10 Years

[Everleigh Anne Mason]

The little girl slept for a while, curled up against Luk. If she were awake and were herself, she would have told the boy that she was alright. She would have tried to reassure him that her illness would pass and she would get on with her life. To Everleigh, there was nothing wrong with the way that she lived. There was nothing wrong with wandering a town where she hardly knew a soul, living alone in a cave near the lake. There was nothing wrong with the fact that she wasn't the most adequate hunter. She could fend for herself well enough. Being a werewolf protected her plenty. There was nothing to worry about.

As far as Ever was concerned, she would wake from this fever eventually and be her old self again. Life would go on as it was before the blizzard. Nothing would change. The child was more like Luk than the boy knew. She was stubborn and independent, reluctant to rely on strangers for anything or to ask for help. Both of those things had only brought the poor girl pain before. People died. Bonds didn't form as she thought that they would and being alone hurt a heck of a lot less. Though both children had adapted to their lives very differently, they were still so similar. Ever's trust issues were better hidden but just below the surface. They would rise up from time to time, only showing themselves through to look in her bright blue eyes. Her fear and pain were the same way. Choking it down was the girl's way of coping. Pasting a smile on her face was her way of getting through life.

Deep down the little girl wished that things were different. She wished she had the opportunity to take things for granted, like other kids. They went home to families that they know love them. They go to school and know they have friends to talk to and play with. Their lives are normal and safe and carefree. More than anything, Everleigh wanted that, too. And if she was conscious right now, were able to converse with the boy holding her, she knew that he would understand.

It was a long time before the tiny child stirred but Luk's sob had woken her. "Don't cry." Her voice was soft and apologetic. Was she making him sad? Was she in that bad of shape? Finally, the little girl awoke, her bright blue eyes fixed on Luk for the first time.

W O R D S * noofwords ;;
T H O U G H T S * stuffyouwannasay ;;
M U S I C * yourmuse ;;
T A G G E D * whofor ;;
W E A R I N G * clothes ;;
C R E D I T S * adele's chasing pavements ;;

template by RoyaLe of Caution 2.0

[Lukan Christopher Oliver]

Lukan, with tears still shining on his cheeks, shifted Ever's position so that she leaned against his chest. His arms wrapped around her much like a mother around her child as he murmured almost inaudible sounds of comfort. "It'll be better... it'll be better..." He still refused to call the situation fine. If Ever was anything like him... a lie would do her no good. But he'd keep her safe. He would! His teary eyes narrowed into blue, watery slits; he was daring anyone to prove him otherwise. Though the tears shining in his eyes reflected some inner sensitivity, Luk would not hesitate to bite and claw whoever approached the girl. In fact, he'd probably had no choice in the matter. Luk was in a delicate state right now. And whether he was crying or not, the boy's primary reaction to stress was violence.

But he could not show violence to the girl, not as long as it was only the two of them. It was that reason that her words produced no growl, but rather a look of surprise and embarrassment. "I'm not crying!" He wiped so frantically at his cheeks that it bordered on slaps. The tears ceased for a moment, yet within a minute they were back. Every time he caught Ever's face in his sights... a new flood of tears would start up. She was too delicate to have gone through this crap! A scowl formed on his face while the tears still worked in his eyes. He tore his eyes away from her form in an attempt to stop his crying, but then someone else caught his eyes. The scowl deepened.

Jason had entered the room. Lukan's body tensed into a rigid and unfriendly form. You won't get closer, it said. Not a step! Lukan pressed Ever harder against his chest and roped his arms around her; his grip became so intense that it neared uncomfortable. Ironically, he was trying to protect her, but he was hurting her in the process. But he took no notice to any pain he was causing Ever. His eyes were now on J as a growl ripped from his lips.

WORDS! 361
TAGS! Jason, Connie, and Ever
NOTES! none
CREDITS! Haze

[Deleted]

Jason had never been much of a drinker but if the man could have ever used a beer, it was right now. Between the blizzard, the sick child, an injured and weak Connie, a moody and freaked out Luk and losing his own wolf, J was stressed. And all that didn't even touch the fact that his whole pack wasn't with him right now. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that Connie was in rough shape and Luk was unpredictable, Jason would be out there right now, tracking every single one of them to the best of his ability. It was all the man could do at that moment to keep himself in that chair. He had to remind himself that he was already where he needed to be, he had to stay. He had no choice but all of that felt false. He felt like he should be doing more, being more. He just didn't know how and it killed him.

All he could do for a very long moment was hold his head in his hands and try to steady the world around him for just one damn minute just to think! He needed his head on straight. And that was when the growling started from across the room. Slowly, the alpha lifted his gaze to catch the boy's eyes; the boy's angry, emotional eyes. The man's first instinct was to snatch the child away but, judging by Luk's protective hold on the girl, that would be the worst thing he could do, not so much for Luk but for Everleigh. Jason, instead, took a deep breath, sat up straighter and locked his eyes with the boy. "Luk." It was all he said but his tone was strong and firm. His eyes, very pointedly, flickered from Luk, down to glance at Everleigh, who Luk was clearly crushing to his chest. The alpha knew instinctively that no command would reach Luk right now. He needed to bring the boy's attention to his own actions. Hopefully, that protective instinct that was so fiercely strong inside the kid right now would kick in and he would naturally readjust the girl.

Bringing his gaze back to Luk's face, Jason's voice became softer, more reassuring and gentle. "She won't go back there, Luk. I won't allow it." God, if anything could be under his control right now, J wanted it to be this situation. The alpha knew exactly what Luk was thinking and exactly why he was reacting the way that he was. If he did nothing else right tonight, he just wanted to make the boy understand. Jason would do anything and everything he could to make sure Everleigh had better than Luk had gotten. "She's pack now. She's ours." Not Jason's, the pack's child. Everleigh would belong to the lot of them. Of course J's thought about this, thoroughly. Part of him has hated himself for letting the girl exist out there alone for this long but he just couldn't bring himself to snatch her away from her comfort zone. He didn't want to traumatize her. It took this situation, this blizzard and this eclipse to make him see that he really had absolutely no choice but to be the bad guy. She needed this pack. She needed his protection and care. There was no way around it. If he hadn't insisted that Connie go and get her from that cave, who knows what would have happened to her. There was certainly no way that the girl would have survived. Of that, J was sure.

Letting out a deep breath, he shook his head as if to clear it of those awful thoughts before heaving himself to his feet. He really should go check on Connie and giving Luk some alone time might be wise. He wouldn't be long or far off anyway. Jason wandered back into the bedroom, leaning his tired, stressed frame against the side of the doorframe before gently knocking on the bathroom door. "Are you alright?" He called to Connie.

====================

[/size][/center]

tagged: person you're writing to
words: word count
notes: notes
lyrics: we are one from the lion king II
credit: LAVIEBOHEME @ caution 2.o

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Casted out

I’m watching your eyes

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af82/sataraalcaelahn/Lux%20Lunae/bluegradient.jpg');,true][cs=2] Love is like starting over

[atrb=width,240] The crying had nearly done her in. Connie found herself drifting off to sleep in the tub, but just as her chin touched the water she jerked herself awake, heart pounding as she tried to figure out where she was. When it came back, she relaxed as much as she could without her wolf. But she felt less like falling apart now that she had warmed up. The water now was chilly, nearing cold. She shivered and quickly stood, grabbing a near-by towel as she stepped out of the tub and pulled the drain. Drying herself off, she wrapped the towel around herself and snatched another one up to wrap around her hair. For awhile, she just stood, staring at herself in the mirror as she tried to relax. Finally, she managed to relax enough to turn towards the door, only to have Jason scare her out of a year of her life when he knocked softly on it. She'd been so focused on relaxing, she'd forgotten that Jason would come check on her when she didn't come out soon enough. "Yeah, I'm fine," She said, pulling open the door and clutching the towel around herself to make sure it wouldn't slip. That might be embarrassing. She looked up at him, and could see the strain that this eclipse was causing him on his face. "Oh, Jason... What a mess this is," She said softly as she pressed a hand gently to his cheek. "You look about as stressed as I feel." She tried to give him a weak smile, but thought it came off as more of a grimace. She sighed as she leaned against him for a moment, hoping to offer as much comfort as she took from him. "How much longer can this eclipse last?" She wondered aloud as she closed her eyes. She didn't really want to think, but she needed to know. "I miss my wolf. Is this what it's like to be human? I feel so weak."

[atrb=width,100] words , 351 tagged , Jason, Ever, Luk notes , Frozen solid

table by Kat ;; lyrics by 10 Years

[Everleigh Anne Mason]

The cold was finally leaving her body. Finally, Everleigh wasn't numb. There were no pins and needles stabbing at her. The pain from her time spent, naked, out in the freezing cold was finally fading but holy crap, was the poor girl roasting! With both the regular blanket underneath the electric blanket, even her temporarily human form was sweating! "It's too hot." She managed to whimper that much before attempting to wiggle out of her swaddling, not caring if Jason scolded her for disobeying him or not. She couldn't take the heat from all the wrappings anymore.

The towel against her head was too much, too. It wasn't exactly hot anymore but it was uncomfortable from the fever that still raged in her. It was just as she was trying to twist her head away from the cloth that J came in the room. Luk was tense now with the alpha's presence. Everleigh didn't understand it one bit but Luk's hold tightened on her so much that she let out a sharp yelp. Her body wasn't cold anymore but she still wasn't comfortable, by any means. "Ow!" She couldn't help but cry out.

Jason was talking now and what he had to say to the boy holding her, how he said it, so confident and sure; it was the last thing she wanted to hear. And he was adamant. Everleigh wouldn't be allowed to leave the pack and go home. Just the idea made her sob again. The cave was her home, her comfort zone. She couldn't leave it! She had to go back! Now her wiggling increased more. She didn't care about the discomfort. She didn't care about the blizzard. Now, she just wanted her cave.

W O R D S * noofwords ;;
T H O U G H T S * stuffyouwannasay ;;
M U S I C * yourmuse ;;
T A G G E D * whofor ;;
W E A R I N G * clothes ;;
C R E D I T S * adele's chasing pavements ;;

template by RoyaLe of Caution 2.0

[Lukan Christopher Oliver]

Lukan rose his growl in a rumbling rage after the alpha's warning. You don't phase me, he thought. He didn't even consider that Jason was acting on the behalf of Ever's safety. In fact, not only did Lukan not cease his smothering, he pressed her even harder against his chest. His fingers dug into the blanket wrapped around Ever's body and tightened it like a dangerous cocoon. If not for Ever's cry of pain, Luk surely would have suffocated her or cracked her ribs. But once that sound reached the young girl's lips, Lukan's growl dissipated into the air as his grip loosened tremendously. He nearly knocked her to the floor in all his panic. The teen, now somewhat distraught, put his best effort into soothing the girl back into a dreamlike state.

"Stop wiggling! I mean.. I'm sorry. Stop wigg-" The boy's voice drifted as he took notice Ever's new source of distress: the heat. Luk tore the blanket off the girl with such furiosity that it nearly ripped in two. The towel was the next to go, and it quickly joined the blanket on the floor. "Sorry..." If anything could make Luk say sorry, it was a hurt or scared child like Everleigh. But when Jason started speaking again, Luk had to divide his attention between shooting cutthroat looks at Jason and comforting the girl.

Once Ever answered Jason with a sob... Lukan couldn't even try to focus on anything else but the girl. The protective boy gathered Ever up into his arms again and held her to his chest, but with a much gentler touch than before. He murmured words of comfort and rested his chin on the top of her blonde little head. "It'll be better... really. For you it'll be better." There it was. For you. Not for him, right? But if they were so similar, then why should he wish a different fate on her than he would himself? Because she was a child, and as Luk often exclaimed, he was not. She needed protecting, according to Lukan, he didn't. His ignorance had no bounds.

WORDS! 351
TAGS! Jason, Connie, and Ever
NOTES! Post is blah
CREDITS! Haze

[Deleted]

Jason's words seem to have just the opposite effect on Luk and the alpha couldn't help that he leapt out of his chair at the sight of the girl being crushed further against Luk. Of course, J knew that Luk was only trying to help the poor child but it was clear that the kid's emotions were getting the better of his judgement and J would not be leaving this room until he was sure that Luk really did have things under control, namely himself!

J hadn't even uttered a word before the sound of Ever's pained cry reached both Luk and Jason. Luk, though he was fumbling and clearly freaking out, did manage to gain enough control over himself, eventually, to take care of the girl. And the alpha just stood there and watched. Luk could send him all the glares he wanted to, could protest all he liked but the man's only concern at that moment was the tiny girl's wellbeing.

Another few minutes were spent just watching as the girl seemed to calm down at Luk's soothing. Only when Jason was satisfied that the drama was over did he finally wander into the bedroom to check on Connie. And apparently, judging by how quickly the woman answered the door, he had startled her. Blushing lightly, as only she seemed to make him do, Jason allowed himself a bit of a chuckle. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Her hand came up to lightly rest against his cheek and his smile fell just a bit as he placed his large hand over hers. "We'll all be alright, Connie." Jason was sure of that much, at least for the few of them in the house. He still was itching to get outside and check on the others of the pack. Whether he had his wolf or not, he would do his best to track down all of the pack that he could.

He held her close against him when she leaned in and sighed heavily. "It shouldn't be too much longer now." It had to have been over an hour since all this started, of that, J was sure. Any moment now, things should be back to normal. "And I know how you feel." Being a born wolf, himself, J was acutely aware of his missing other half, too. And it was leaving him feeling rather hollow and a bit lost. "I've never been human but I would imagine that this is what it's like." Because, really, except for the wolf inside, were and humans were very similar.

With a light chuckle, Jason pulled back to see Connie's face. "You, Connie, are far from weak. Carrying that child as far as you did and caring for her even through your own pain. No, that is very far from weak." It was brave and selfless. It was Connie. "She's getting better. She wouldn't have survived at all if not for you." Jason was positive of that.

He held her for another moment before it occurred to him that the poor woman was standing there in a towel. Blushing yet again, (God, how did this woman do this to him?!) he reached behind himself and grabbed the clothes he had laid out on the bed. "I hope you don't mind wearing my shirt. The pants should fit, though. I think one of the other girls left them." And that reminded him. "Oh! I should find something for Everleigh to wear. I'm sure one of my shirts will work for now." He grinned at the mental picture of the tiny little girl in his massive shirt. "It'll be like a dress on her." But it'll do.

====================

[/size][/center]

tagged: person you're writing to
words: word count
notes: notes
lyrics: we are one from the lion king II
credit: LAVIEBOHEME @ caution 2.o

[Connie Lynn Marshall]

Casted out

I’m watching your eyes

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,10,true][atrb=style,background-image: url('http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af82/sataraalcaelahn/Lux%20Lunae/bluegradient.jpg');,true][cs=2] Love is like starting over

[atrb=width,240] Connie sighed when Jason held her closer. For a moment, she forgot she was just wearing a towel and her hair was still dripping down the back of her neck, despite the towel she'd wrapped around her head. The comfort was enough to help the last bit of tension fade away, and finally she started to feel more like herself, sans her wolf. If Jason was right though, her wolf should come back soon. She was glad now that she had finally regained her control. If her wolf had come back even five minutes before, Connie wasn't sure she could have stayed human. "I know you didn't mean to scare me. I was just off in my own little world." She smiled faintly, but didn't move from where she was. She was suddenly so tired, and she wanted to sleep, but she knew she couldn't, not yet. She still had to help Jason keep Luk and Ever sane, especially when the moon came back and called to all their wolves. Connie let out a soft laugh. "Man, we're really out of our element. Both of us born wolves, and having no idea what to do with ourselves when something as simple as an eclipse comes to call." She couldn't help laughing a little more, feeling safe enough to laugh now. Connie leaned back as Jason pulled away so he could look at her face. She tilted her head to look up at him, and couldn't help a light blush spread across her cheeks. "I just wanted to make sure she wouldn't get hurt... That's all," She said softly, embarrassed that he would think she was strong, even without her wolf. She didn't feel strong. When Jason let go of her, she thought she saw his face had heated up to red. She blinked, but took the clothes he held out to her, and realized the reason for his blush. She jolted into action, her face flaming red as she slid back into the bathroom and closed the door except for a crack so she could still talk to him as she dressed. "I don't mind the bigger shirt. Beggars can't be choosers in this case." She smiled a little as she pulled it on, and listened to him talk about how the shirt would look like a dress on little Everleigh. Connie could have walked out then and not have worried so much, the shirt went down mid-thigh on her. Stooping, she pulled on the pants as well. "Yeah, that tiny little thing in one of your shirts. She won't need pants. Look at this, it nearly looks like a dress on me." she laughed as she stepped out, hanging the towels on a towel bar to dry as she did. She ran a hand through her damp hair when a thought occurred to her. She winced. "Crap, my pot roast!" She sighed as she patted Jason on his arm. "Grab a shirt for Ever, I need to go check on the pot roast." She rushed out, hoping her cheeks would cool soon. She still felt flushed. Running into the kitchen, she only gave a brief glance to Luk and Ever. "Luk, Jason is getting Ever a shirt to wear. Do you want to show her to a room where she can put it on in privacy?" Connie called as she busied herself in the kitchen, finding the gloves to put over her hands, and pulling out the pot roast. "I have a pot roast ready to eat, so get her changed and come in here, you both should get something to eat. The moon should be back soon, and it's easier to eat this in human form."

[atrb=width,100] words , 618 tagged , Jason/Ever/Luk notes , Making Jason blush

table by Kat ;; lyrics by 10 Years

[Everleigh Anne Mason]

When Ever cried out, the boy holding her seemed to panic and the poor little girl gave a shriek when the boy all but dropped her. Thank goodness he caught her first. Her body was still achy and stiff but tons better than it had been.

Stop wiggling? Well, how the heck could she do that? She was frying under that electric blanket combined with the regular one underneath. But then the boy noticed that, too and nearly tore them both off of her. At least Ever managed to cling to the material of the regular blanket before it joined the electric blanket on the floor. It was all the covering she had left. Next to go was the cloth on her forehead and it, too, was tossed on the floor. That was much better.

But then there was a whole new drama. "She won't go back there, Luk. I won't allow it." Those words sent sheer panic rushing through the child's chest. Even with all his fumbling and even after he had just nearly dropped her on the floor, Everleigh couldn't resist letting the boy gather her in his arms and hug her. She couldn't help the tears flowing from her eyes. She was shaking now, not from the cold, like she had been before, but from the terror of having to suddenly move in with a whole bunch of strangers. What if not everyone liked her? What if someone tried to hurt her? What if she just blended so well into the background that everyone just plain forgot about her? What if this situation turned out to be just like foster care had been? Werewolves were a million times stronger and faster than humans. Someone could easily kill Everleigh without even meaning to! What if.... Those thoughts were whirling through her mind, even as the boy was trying his best to reassure her. The child kept completely silent, though, not uttering a word until Jason had left the room. Her voice spoke volumes of the terror she was feeling. "No. I want my cave." She had turned her face to hide against the boy's chest, muffling her words from everyone in the house but for Luk. "I was safe. And happy and I can take care of myself. I wanna go home!" And those last four words rolled repeatedly off her tongue as she cried in Luk's arms.

The little girl was so lost in her own world of grief and panic now that Connie running through the room towards the kitchen nearly gave her a heart attack! It was then that the child finally registered the smell of the pot roast. Even though it smelled wonderful, the little girl was much too distraught to even think about food. She just kept herself hidden against Luk, though. For now, this was the only safe place she was allowed to go.

W O R D S * noofwords ;;
T H O U G H T S * stuffyouwannasay ;;
M U S I C * yourmuse ;;
T A G G E D * whofor ;;
W E A R I N G * clothes ;;
C R E D I T S * adele's chasing pavements ;;

template by RoyaLe of Caution 2.0

[Lukan Christopher Oliver]

Lukan watched with sad eyes and panic tightening his chest as Ever launched into hysteria. At least when he'd joined the pack, it was by choice... well, technically he was starved into joining, but it was he who acquainted himself with the alpha. It was he who joined... and he who sealed his fate. Lukan felt his heart drop into his stomach. But perhaps... perhaps he really had no choice. Am was the one who left him stranded! Lukan felt a burning sensation start up in his throat, followed by a flush of warmth across his cheeks. The more he dwindled on the subject, the angrier he got. I had no choice... I had no choice... The teen cut his thoughts off with a curt growl, though the anger did not cease. Even as he turned his attention towards a very distressed Ever, Luk could not prevent his voice from tensing.

"I won't let this become a trap for you." There was a fierceness in Lukan's eyes - though still their human shade of blue - that seemed to freeze the air. Within them was and angry determination, but another feeling enforced it: sadness. She had to live here - that much he was sure of - but he could hardly stand the thought of her having no choice in the matter. Though what could he do!? Let her starve and then join the pack, like he did? No one should have wished such hell on a child. Lukan certainly wouldn't. "I promise you... it won't be a prison. Not if I have a say in it." He nodded with certainty and cast his eyes about the room, as if daring some invisible entity to argue with him.

Even with his promise given, Ever's tears broke his heart... as if it wasn't broken enough. He gathered her closer to her chest and stroked her hair away from her tear streaked face. "Sshhh... c'mon, sshhh." Lukan steeled his jaw, but his cracking voice shone of weakness. It was then that he decided to take advantage of Connie's order so to separate himself from the older packwolves. He would not let them see him cry... again. Hurriedly, Lukan scooped Ever up and rushed off to the nearest bedroom. But once he was there, Lukan's movements softened and slowed; he set her on the bed and sat close by, stroking her back. As tears began to sting his eyes, Luk moved the girl's head to his lap and turned her face away. She wouldn't see him cry either.

WORDS! 425
TAGS! Jason, Connie, and Ever
NOTES! Crappy post is crappy
CREDITS! Haze

[Deleted]

It was the moment when Connie went tearing out of the bedroom. worried about the meal that she had been cooking for them all that Jason had a weird sort of thought occur to him. Here he was with two children, a woman he cared for and a home cooked meal. It was a moment so completely domestic, so completely normal that, just for a moment, it brought Jason's mind back fifty years. If Amelia and the baby hadn't been lost. If he still had his family in tact and had been given the last fifty years to share with them, how many moments like this would he have accumulated? Would moments like this have been so common that he would hardly have registered them at all?

Shaking those thoughts from his mind, Jason took that moment, the first moment he had alone since all this craziness had started, to gather himself together. Everleigh and Connie were physically better but the alpha still wanted to check on the little girl to make sure she was emotionally ok. He could hear occasional sounds of distress coming from the living room and Luk's mumbled voice, his tone soft and gentle. God bless that kid.

By the time Jason had found a shirt of his that wouldn't come down so low on the little girl that she would trip, he finally vacated his room. But the living room was now empty of both kids. This set a deep frown on his face until he heard the faint sounds of footsteps above his head. J allowed the children a few moments of privacy before finally ascending the stairs. They were in the first bedroom at the top of the stairs and, for a moment, he couldn't help just standing in the doorway, watching the pair. This was a side to Luk that Jason very rarely got to see. It was the side that he was most proud of. The boy really did have a good heart and it was reassuring to see Everleigh showing so much trust in someone she barely knew.

Finally the big guy pushed himself away from the door jam and entered the room. Both children were crying but, if he knew his boy at all, he knew that Luk wouldn't want Jason making a fuss over his emotions so instead J focused right on Everleigh. Squatting down to be at eye level with the little girl as her head lay in Luk's lap, Jason reached out one long finger to stroke a piece of blond hair from her eye. It took a moment for J to gather his thoughts. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had upset the child. She had to have heard his words to Luk. J didn't know much about Ever yet but the one thing he did know was that she was skittish and shy around strangers. It had taken a good hour or more for him to get her to relax around him at all. Now the alpha just hoped that he hadn't undone all the progress that he's made with the little one by forcing her to join the pack. If only he could find the right words to explain himself. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to scare you." That seemed like a good place to start. His finger continued to lightly stroke the side of her cheek. "The very last thing I want is to see you get hurt." There was a glint of sadness at just the thought as his blue eyes locked with hers. "You've been trying so hard to take care of yourself and live in your cave alone. And I know that being here is a lot to take in. I know you're scared." God, that look of fear in her eyes was making him feel like an ass.

There was a long pause as he tried his best to come up with the right words. "I can promise that no one under my roof will ever try to intentionally hurt you, at all. I would never let that happen." He let out a sigh, running his other hand over his face. He didn't feel like he was really making the point that he wanted to. "Everleigh, the thought of you alone in that cave during this blizzard...and then with the eclipse..." His voice trailed off for a moment. "You're not a prisoner here. You can come and go and play. This pack and this house will be a safe place for you to live. You'll always have food. You'll always have someone to come to with anything that you need help with. You'll have people to play with." His eyes traveled to Luk for the first time with a light smile before glancing back down at the little girl. "You'll spend nights here where its warm and safe. You'll have a comfortable bed instead of a hard rock to rest against. You won't be cold. You won't be alone." He could only hope that she understood what he was trying to say. If anything ever happened to her, Jason would feel responsible. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if the girl got hurt in any way. At least this way he could be sure she was safe and he would know where she was. That gave him some measure of comfort. "The only rules you need to worry about are no swearing in my presence." His eyes, once again, traveled to Luk with a teasing smirk before looking back down at Ever. "And you must be back at the house by the time the sun sets every night." His voice dropped just a bit. This was one point he was absolutely adamant about and he needed her to understand that this was the most important part of this whole speech of his. "Whether you're with someone else in the pack or not, after the sun sets, I want you here."

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tagged: person you're writing to
words: word count
notes: notes
lyrics: we are one from the lion king II
credit: LAVIEBOHEME @ caution 2.o