Post by MICHEAL ALEXANDER HERONDALE on Jul 19, 2023 23:29:06 GMT
When Summer walked into the Three Broomsticks Micheal had no inclination to share any thoughts he had on his growing feelings for her, but he couldn't deny that he was happier for it. He'd always had that nagging thought in the back of his head that he was fine when the day came that she moved on to another after her husband, but he'd started imagining it being him there beside her at night sharing stories of their day, tucking in her girls, blending their vampire families. It'd been a pipe dream, something he'd never imagined actually happened but as Minister he'd also thought hard on the logistics of a relationship with someone and any time that someone was presented instead of a blank-faced person it'd been Summer. Her safety had always been important to him regardless, but stepping into a different limelight as his partner came with its own set of dangers. One that Micheal took seriously. He'd been a little bashful in admitting the lengths he'd thought of to protect her if anything had grown romantic between them but was no less untruthful. “I would never want to hide you for any other reason than concern for your safety. But if want to come out in the open we will. But your girls won't. They'll never be mentioned. Not because I'm ashamed of you having kids or anything," he added quickly realizing how his words could sound, "I just care about them staying safe. I didn't have a choice with Grace, but even she's kept mostly from the papers and media other than public appearances where she's merely mentioned as my daughter, never her name and since all this chaos I haven't even had those small appearances with her. The kids just mean a lot to me. And I want to keep them safe and protected as long as I possibly can." He finished gently. He didn't want any harm to come to Summer's girls, and they were still so young that he wasn't sure how to explain to them just how dangerous the media could be for them if they wanted to be friendly and open with the cameras. Not to mention Summer had already been forced to give up their last name and that danger could still exist for them, targeting the rest of Finn's family while he was dead and unable to protect them.
It was nice to have this conversation with Summer, though. To admit what he felt, to open himself up after so long of being closed off and being able to communicate with her about this new step in their lives. He valued her friendship and wouldn't risk taking the plunge as they were if he wasn't so sure of how he felt and he hoped Summer was the same. Slow would be his chosen pace because he was rusty at this whole boyfriend thing after so long putting a love life aside in favor of raising Grace and building his career. He wanted a safer world for his daughter, but a good thing with Summer had fallen into his lap and he wanted to pursue this with her. Especially now that he was reassured he hadn't been a constant reminder of what she'd lost when he'd stop in and check on her over these last two years. He hadn't ever been able to completely drown the wonder and second guessing, moreso when he could feel his feelings for her growing and sure she couldn't feel the same, though it appeared now that surety was false. "You make me happy, too." He said with a warm smile.
He couldn't spout the lie that some said about never feeling happier than when he was with her because he had Grace and the bond they had as father and daughter was special, even if it started out rocky when he was trying to juggle parenting this infant vampire baby and he had no clue how, and it wasn't all that popular a subject to look into. Every moment of his free time was spent trying to learn how not to mess up his kid's life and looking back he seemed to have done a good job. Grace was smart and kind and all the best parts of himself and didn't seem jaded by her upbringing, but there were some long days where being a vampire was all that had kept him going was the fact that they didn't have the same requirements for sleep as their human counterparts. "They do. Being my own village at first was brutal. But I got there in the end until my small village was there to help ease the load. Based on how amazing she is now, I don't think I could have messed her up too badly." Micheal laughed, knowing he'd end up jokingly asking Grace if she wanted therapy as a result of her childhood and then fill her in on this conversation and try and bring up the topic of him dating for the first time since her own mother had left them. Who she could be blaming herself for. He'd always been quick to make sure any time the topic came up he put the blame on his shoulders if he had to place the blame anywhere but on her lack of wanting to stay because of Grace, but Summer, who’d lived through it in a different aspect but with an absent parent nonetheless, had still found a way to blame herself, which as far as Micheal was aware could be the normal thought process for Grace. “You didn’t. You’re just part of my village, apparently it’s still needed even when they hit the teenage stage.” He joked, adding more seriously, “I will take your advice to heart, though.” He told her gently, not sure if he would tell her much earlier than he’d originally planned or not just yet. Micheal had never minded telling Grace things about her mum, it wasn’t a sore spot for him, and he looked back on their time together fondly, always glad that he met her as it’d brought them Grace, he didn’t have many photos of her, a sign of the times more than anything else, but he kept the few he did have of Grace’s mother in case she did ever want the photos of the woman who was half of her.
It felt like stepping into a different view of the world after something as simple as getting into a car would lead to Micheal being unable to stop himself from kissing Summer like he was a human horny teenage boy again instead of a grown man with over a century of life experiences. “Well, it’s not a bad thing. Would have liked for my hormones to act more my age, but apparently all men are still horny teens when a gorgeous woman is involved.” He joked, knowing that he never minded kissing Summer, and would look forward to doing much more of it in their infant relationship as it grew. Part of that growth was tearing his eyes, and lips, from Summer and driving to the restaurant, which suddenly didn’t feel adequate enough to take her if this was to be their first real meal together as a couple. It was missing a few stars and a higher dress code than the date ideas he had once pictured taking her for a date, but it was a favorite place of his nonetheless, and he was happy to share it with Summer. “I’m not making an announcement of it or anything but I have no doubt some magazine or person trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame will spot us together, me holding your hand or something that definitely shows you’re not just part of my staff and then it’ll be everywhere. And I don't want Grace to be blindsided.” He tried to picture holding a press conference to announce his change from single to in a relationship and the idea of it was comical, as Summer asked what he liked about this place, “It isn’t immensely popular so there’s not usually a large crowd, most are regulars, and the wait staff take the time to know the regulars, their drink preferences, their usual food, hell even the table for those who stick to that much of a routine. Plus the food is excellent. The main Chef is the grandson of the original owner of the place who himself came from China.” He explained as they made their way to the front of the restaurant and he pulled open the door for her and stepped inside after her. They were quickly greeted by a very obviously pregnant woman, “Ah, Celeste. I thought the next time I saw you you’d be showing off baby pictures.” He greeted, “So did I. Two weeks overdue and this kid is taking it’s sweet time.” She said miserably, rubbing her belly before showing them to a table for two and smiling at Summer, “I’m Celeste by the way and I’ll be taking care of you guys today. I’ll let you get settled and I’ll return in a moment to get your drink orders.” She said warmly before heading off, where Micheal assumed the bathrooms were. “Celeste is the best waitress here, she’s been here since she was a teen and so she’s pretty looked after by all the staff and regulars. Her husband lost a leg and an arm rescuing an elderly couple from a fire and in the midst of that they found out she was pregnant. The days she doesn’t work they have a Celeste tip jar to help with the expenses of the baby to surprise her with.” He explained as he handed Summer one of the menus from the holder leaving his there as he knew already what he’d be ordering. “What do you think of my little hole-in-the-wall place?” He asked after Celeste came by and left with their drink orders.
It was nice to have this conversation with Summer, though. To admit what he felt, to open himself up after so long of being closed off and being able to communicate with her about this new step in their lives. He valued her friendship and wouldn't risk taking the plunge as they were if he wasn't so sure of how he felt and he hoped Summer was the same. Slow would be his chosen pace because he was rusty at this whole boyfriend thing after so long putting a love life aside in favor of raising Grace and building his career. He wanted a safer world for his daughter, but a good thing with Summer had fallen into his lap and he wanted to pursue this with her. Especially now that he was reassured he hadn't been a constant reminder of what she'd lost when he'd stop in and check on her over these last two years. He hadn't ever been able to completely drown the wonder and second guessing, moreso when he could feel his feelings for her growing and sure she couldn't feel the same, though it appeared now that surety was false. "You make me happy, too." He said with a warm smile.
He couldn't spout the lie that some said about never feeling happier than when he was with her because he had Grace and the bond they had as father and daughter was special, even if it started out rocky when he was trying to juggle parenting this infant vampire baby and he had no clue how, and it wasn't all that popular a subject to look into. Every moment of his free time was spent trying to learn how not to mess up his kid's life and looking back he seemed to have done a good job. Grace was smart and kind and all the best parts of himself and didn't seem jaded by her upbringing, but there were some long days where being a vampire was all that had kept him going was the fact that they didn't have the same requirements for sleep as their human counterparts. "They do. Being my own village at first was brutal. But I got there in the end until my small village was there to help ease the load. Based on how amazing she is now, I don't think I could have messed her up too badly." Micheal laughed, knowing he'd end up jokingly asking Grace if she wanted therapy as a result of her childhood and then fill her in on this conversation and try and bring up the topic of him dating for the first time since her own mother had left them. Who she could be blaming herself for. He'd always been quick to make sure any time the topic came up he put the blame on his shoulders if he had to place the blame anywhere but on her lack of wanting to stay because of Grace, but Summer, who’d lived through it in a different aspect but with an absent parent nonetheless, had still found a way to blame herself, which as far as Micheal was aware could be the normal thought process for Grace. “You didn’t. You’re just part of my village, apparently it’s still needed even when they hit the teenage stage.” He joked, adding more seriously, “I will take your advice to heart, though.” He told her gently, not sure if he would tell her much earlier than he’d originally planned or not just yet. Micheal had never minded telling Grace things about her mum, it wasn’t a sore spot for him, and he looked back on their time together fondly, always glad that he met her as it’d brought them Grace, he didn’t have many photos of her, a sign of the times more than anything else, but he kept the few he did have of Grace’s mother in case she did ever want the photos of the woman who was half of her.
It felt like stepping into a different view of the world after something as simple as getting into a car would lead to Micheal being unable to stop himself from kissing Summer like he was a human horny teenage boy again instead of a grown man with over a century of life experiences. “Well, it’s not a bad thing. Would have liked for my hormones to act more my age, but apparently all men are still horny teens when a gorgeous woman is involved.” He joked, knowing that he never minded kissing Summer, and would look forward to doing much more of it in their infant relationship as it grew. Part of that growth was tearing his eyes, and lips, from Summer and driving to the restaurant, which suddenly didn’t feel adequate enough to take her if this was to be their first real meal together as a couple. It was missing a few stars and a higher dress code than the date ideas he had once pictured taking her for a date, but it was a favorite place of his nonetheless, and he was happy to share it with Summer. “I’m not making an announcement of it or anything but I have no doubt some magazine or person trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame will spot us together, me holding your hand or something that definitely shows you’re not just part of my staff and then it’ll be everywhere. And I don't want Grace to be blindsided.” He tried to picture holding a press conference to announce his change from single to in a relationship and the idea of it was comical, as Summer asked what he liked about this place, “It isn’t immensely popular so there’s not usually a large crowd, most are regulars, and the wait staff take the time to know the regulars, their drink preferences, their usual food, hell even the table for those who stick to that much of a routine. Plus the food is excellent. The main Chef is the grandson of the original owner of the place who himself came from China.” He explained as they made their way to the front of the restaurant and he pulled open the door for her and stepped inside after her. They were quickly greeted by a very obviously pregnant woman, “Ah, Celeste. I thought the next time I saw you you’d be showing off baby pictures.” He greeted, “So did I. Two weeks overdue and this kid is taking it’s sweet time.” She said miserably, rubbing her belly before showing them to a table for two and smiling at Summer, “I’m Celeste by the way and I’ll be taking care of you guys today. I’ll let you get settled and I’ll return in a moment to get your drink orders.” She said warmly before heading off, where Micheal assumed the bathrooms were. “Celeste is the best waitress here, she’s been here since she was a teen and so she’s pretty looked after by all the staff and regulars. Her husband lost a leg and an arm rescuing an elderly couple from a fire and in the midst of that they found out she was pregnant. The days she doesn’t work they have a Celeste tip jar to help with the expenses of the baby to surprise her with.” He explained as he handed Summer one of the menus from the holder leaving his there as he knew already what he’d be ordering. “What do you think of my little hole-in-the-wall place?” He asked after Celeste came by and left with their drink orders.
You're beautiful, strong, full of light
I enjoy you
made by remi of adox
