Make bold choices and make mistakes.

Athena Moore | 35 | Mother of Carter | Journalist Professor at NYU

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gavinthcmas:

Gavin hadn’t intended on hanging out at the fair as long as he’d been there, but was glad that he had after running into a few friends he hadn’t had an opportunity to see in awhile. He was just about to wrap it up for the day and head home when he spotted Athena with her mother, and Carter, he assumed, the boy that had been confirmed to belong him. It had been a few days had passed since he’d received the results from the paternity test and he’d been contemplating the best way to reach out, though he hadn’t as of yet. The awkwardness and discomfort was palpable but he knew it was time to figure out a way to at least be cordial despite their past troubles. 

According to reports he’d seen about Carter’s medical condition,there were more important things that needed attending to and we wasn’t sure what that would all entail now that it had been confirmed Gavin was not a donor match for the needed bone marrow transplant. “LIkewise, wasn’t planning on being here actually,” he said, cordial. His gaze drifted toward Carter. “How’s the boy doing?” He asked, thinking he looked healthier than the reports had made out, though he was aware of the fickleness of the disease, symptoms came and went. 

It was a disappointment when the test results came back that Gavin was not a match for Carter. There was no regret about moving across the country back to the east coast. This would not stop Athena from finding a donor match for Carter, it would mean more hoops to jump through, but that didn’t scare her. The only thing that scared her was the time frame for her son. The good days were starting to fade and more bad days were taking precedent. 

Athena let her eyes wander over to where her mother and son were. Today was a good day, and despite her protests to stay home, she only feared what tomorrow would bring. She still wanted him to be a child. “We came against my wishes.” There was a drop in her tone. “He is having a good day. Stronger than he was a couple days ago.” Languidly her gaze turned to the blonde male. “It is hit and miss some days. Feel like he has his own hospital bed.” Her parents were adamant on getting him the best doctor, but there was only so much the doctor could do. Her hand rubbed against her other arm and took a deep breath. “He reminds me a lot of you.”

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Time had past since she had last spoken with Gavin. There was talk about a paternity test being taken by her lawyer. There was no denying that Gavin was Carter’s father and if that was what needed to be done, then so be it. She also knew there would be more lawyer involvement to continue soon after. Athena was ready for this and prepared for what the outcome would be. 

With Carter starting to feel better, and her mother in town, they had decided to give the carnival another shot. She liked seeing the smile on his face and wasn’t sure how many more good days they would get before it got worse. It always got worse. All the research she had done showed the outcome unless he had a transplant. 

Following behind her son and mother a face caught her attention. He was the last person she expected to run into. A hand rested on her mother’s shoulder and she leaned in to whisper into the woman’s ear. With a small nod, her mother whisked Carter away in promise of winning as many games as possible and eating all the junk food they could before she returned back to them. Athena eyes caught his and she slowly made her way in his direction, not quite sure how the outcome of this conversation would go. She was sure he would have a few choice words and then leave. 

She stopped a few feet away from him. “Didn’t think I would see you here.”

@gavinthcmas

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anthonyjwilliams:

“My mother used to say that anything worth doing wasn’t easy. Now that I am older I kind of agree with her.” Anthony replied, sending the woman a small nod. “We might get better at balancing, but I think we’d all still love to have another couple of hours in the day.” He added, sending her a smile. “Alright, well I guess I’ll lead the way.”

“I don’t think life is supposed to be easy, no matter how hard we wish it would.” She laughed agreeing with him. “What I would I give to have a couple extra hours a day.” Athena gave him a small nod. “Probably best, I would end up getting us lost.”

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It had been a stressful day and getting out was exactly what she needed. Athena was thankful her mom came into town to watch Carter for the night. She wanted to wait until her was asleep but her son was more than willing to push her out the door. Her eyes narrowed at the little boy before bending down to plant a kiss to the top of his head. “You be good for your grandma.” She glanced up at her mother before leaving. There was a part of her jealous that her mother was more involved with Carter than she ever was with her growing up. The feeling didn’t last long. 

Dressed in a pair of crop jeans, sneakers and a plaid fitted shirt, Athena found herself down at the carnival and slightly out of place. Looking over the people around her a familiar face caught her attention. She wasn’t quite sure if she was seeing properly. “Alex?” She shouted out, not sure if the other woman heard you. “Alex.” Thea made her way towards the other. 

@alcxchen

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ophelia-ohara:

+ @athenaharrison.

                                  “Are you sure you don’t want us to go wi— okay, okay, I hear you, I hear you—-” Ophelia held up her hands in surrender, laughing softly as she watched Idris suppress an eye-roll, gently reassuring her that he and Carter would be fine going on the carousel without her and Athena breathing down their necks. Seven years old, and Ophelia still often felt like he’d just been born yesterday, the little brother she’d always wished for, and now couldn’t imagine her life without. Their mom would’ve been so proud of him if she could see him now; especially after the year he’d had. The test results from his ‘unofficial’ last round of chemo were still pending, but Ophelia had allowed herself to see the changes in him; the strength and the rise in energy and focus. Maybe now this nightmare would end, and he’d finally be able to be a kid again. 

                     Watching the two boys wait in line as they played around, talking about something— maybe Pokémons or superheroes, she smiled lightly and turned to Athena. “You know, he talks about Carter all the time; always asking when he can invite you both over for another playdate,” she said. “—-he could barely sleep last night, just excited out of his mind.”

Athena wasn’t quite sure if Carter should be out at the carnival. Her doctor assured her in was in good health at the moment and the best thing for him was to be a normal kid. What was being a normal kid anyway? Little pleads from doe eyes had her pack him up and take him out. She pointed out that they would not be later than nine pm; which he happily agreed with. She could have told him five pm and he would have gone along with it. 

It was a surprise when she ran into Ophelia and Idris at the entrance and the two boys were inseparable. Thea was happy to see Carter have a friend. She went to go open her mouth to protest about the ride, however, the look her son gave her she let him have a little more freedom. “You too?” She glanced over at the brunette. “Idris is all Carter talks about and if he can have him for a sleepover.” Her head shaking laughing lightly. “That would make two of them excited.” Her eyes turned back to the boys watching them get onto the ferries wheel. “I am finding it hard to let go a little. Give him more freedom.”

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dcvilishangel:

Angel was loving this back and forth between him and Athena. The vibe was definitely flirtatious and Athena was giving him all the green lights so far. He chuckled when she inquired if his bilingualism helped him win the ladies over.  “Claro, mas eu sou charmosa mesmo em inglês,” he drawled comfortably in Portuguese, capping his sentence with a playful click of his tongue. Angel followed Athena into the crowd of anonymous dancing bodies, his eyes fixated on the older woman’s curves from behind. He smiled when she turned around to face him, confidently moving to the beat of the tune currently playing through the club speakers. He adjusted his snap-back, determination furrowing his dark brows as he moved toward her, wasting little time in closing the gap between them. Sliding his hands down her sides to rest on her swaying hips, Angel pulled Athena against him as they danced together.  

Perhaps he was right. There was something alluring when Angel spoke another language. Not that she could understand. If it was Spanish she would have been able to get some of it. Athena knew she was going to get herself into trouble tonight, but that didn’t seem to bother her one bit. Her body swayed with each beat of the music blaring around them. Her arms wrapped loosely around his neck, their bodies grinding against each other. There was no need for words to fill the space between them. Her body was telling him exactly what she was thinking. Her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck and her glossed lustful eyes never faltered from his. He moved well, it made her curious about other things he could do. 

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bobbymurphyy:

“Yeah, I’m gonna walk you there,” Bobby said, taking out a packet of gum from his pocket, popped one out and then began to chew before holding out the packet to his new companion. “It’s my job. You ignore the signs, I gotta walk you back to the campsite rather than doing any conservation stuff. You can see why I’m pissed.” Still, a smile had warmed to his face now, refusing to fall into the grumpy lumberjack stereotype too much.

“You are going to?” Athena didn’t know how she felt about this. She should be grateful that someone would escort her back to her car considering there was a bear wandering our, or that she was capable of taking herself there. “Thank you,” she took one, popping the piece of gum into her mouth. Her head tilted side to side, “isn’t this the bears backyard though? Don’t we take the risk of running into wild life when we camp? It would be the same like any true New Yorker risking their life to go Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve? You are bound to end up home with a few bruises.” She laughed trying to lighten the mood.

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benxscott:

Ben hated that he wasn’t actually going to be all that useful to her. Yes, he’d spent some time in Westbrook when he first moved here, but unless it was somewhere he went a lot, he wasn’t all that great with directions. “I’m awful at this kind of stuff,” he answered honestly, a laugh escaping him. “But I think it’s this way…” He pointed up the street she was already heading up, tilting his head thoughtfully a moment. “I can try and help you find it.”

Athena knew better than try to ask for help. A new concept she was still working with. She should be talking to her phone provider with how useless her phone was. Her fingers combed through her dark mane, lips pursing in thought, she could go home and call it a day. Sure Carter would be upset, but he usually got over things quickly. There was ice cream in the freezer. “Don’t worry.” She smiled at him, her head canting when he offered to help. “I don’t want to put you out. It has to be somewhere around here.” She glanced both ways, her shoulders dropping. “Help might work.” She laughed softly. 

[athenaharrison-blog]

emil-gabor:

Emil smiled as the woman approached him, nodding. “I do, yes,” he said, offering her another slight smile. “We are actually not that far – I was heading in that direction myself. My son is obsessed with their Oreo cheesecake. I could show you, if you would like?”

A bright smile etched into Athena’s features. Being not too far was better than lost, considering the time. “You don’t mind?” Her brow arched, she didn’t want to become someone’s problem. “That would be wonderful. Seems my son is obsessed with the Oero cheesecake thanks to my mother and he had a good day today, trying to do something nice.”

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anthonyjwilliams:

“I try my best, but it’s not always easy.” Anthony replied, shrugging at the older woman. He had a habit of taking care of those around him first, and then himself later. Anthony sent her another smile. “Are you sure? I really don’t mind paying. We are celebrating you after all.” He replied, smirking at the woman. “Well, nice to meet you Athena. I’m Anthony.”

“I don’t think lie is supposed to be easy.” She had a few chapters in her life that were her breaking point. “Over time we learn how to balance it all, or pretend to think we know how to.” A soft smile lingered on her features. “How about we decide who pays later and go enjoy ourselves.” Athena stood up and pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “Pleasure to meet you.”

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luzmaldonadox:

Luz sighed and resigned to coming to a full stop. She figured it wouldn’t take too long to sort out since the woman appeared to have the general idea of where she needed to go in the neighborhood. “Okay.” Luz folded her arms across her chest. “It’s not that far from where I work.” She walked by the bakery often. “Are you familiar with the fire station?” 

Athena wasn’t sure if the other woman was going to help her. Half expecting to turn and figure it out on her own, she was surprised when the other stopped, tucking her phone into her back jean pocket. “Fire station?” That should have been an easy answer but still being new to the city, she was still learning about everything. “That would be a no.”

[athenaharrison-blog]

sofiaflxres:

                     “Yeah, you’ll see it when you pass through, I promise— cross my heart and hope to die, and all that jazz,” She replied, mirroring the other woman’s gentle smile. 

“I wouldn’t mind going with you though, if you would like? It gives me a really good excuse to bring home a couple of red velvets.” There wasn’t a whole lot Sofia wouldn’t do for food, especially not cake and sweets, and being able to help someone while treating herself to a cupcake afterwards— well, it didn’t get much better than that.

A bright smile etched into Athena’s features. She was sure that following the directions given to her would be simple, but time was ticking down to the wire and she wanted to get there before the bakery closed. “If you don’t mind, that would be helpful.” A small nod followed. “My son would be forever grateful.” And she would have to thank her mom for sending her on this little excursion. 

[athenaharrison-blog]

anthonyjwilliams:

“I try my best, but it’s not always easy.” Anthony replied, shrugging at the older woman. He had a habit of taking care of those around him first, and then himself later. Anthony sent her another smile. “Are you sure? I really don’t mind paying. We are celebrating you after all.” He replied, smirking at the woman. “Well, nice to meet you Athena. I’m Anthony.”

“Isn’t that the truth. You never realize how busy life is until you sit down and wonder how so many days passed. Or it usually is when there is a death of someone you know and wonder how you could have put more time in.” Or, regrets and decisions that weren’t thoroughly thought out. “How can I ask you to pay for something that I invited you out for?” Athena raised a brow at the other. “My treat.” She smiled. “Nice to meet you Anthony. If you want to lead the way.”

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anthonyjwilliams:

“Life has a way of always throwing tasks at me.” Anthony replied, sending the woman a small nod. Things were extremely hectic in his life some times, but thankfully summer is going to allow for things to calm down a little. “Yeah, I am hoping to be able to spend more time with family in general.” Anthony replied, smiling at her once more. “It’s not super far. We can easily walk there.”

“As long as you take some time to yourself.” Athena could take that same advice. Even being in Lanford without Carter at the moment she was still not taking time; except for right now. Dinner out sounded delightful. “I think that would be a good idea. Something I will have to do as well.” She stood up from her chair grabbing her bag. “This will be my treat though,” she smiled at him. “I’m Athena by the way.” She laughed realizing they hadn’t introduced each other. 

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