Ice, Ice Baby

Gaia Arrow,

[dailydccast]

[harlow-ackerman-deactivated2019]

“I still have a lot of LA to see,” she said, “I only know the basics– how to get to work, to the store, a few of the bars, and obviously back home.” She may have known a few more locations, like the coffee shop that she met Nyx at as well as the dance studio Friday ran, but the stranger didn’t need to know either of them. Harlow knew better than to reveal too much information, especially if it involved other people more than herself. “When I first got here I took a lot of time to walk around. Took a lot of getting lost to figure out my way around, though.”

Harlow turned her gaze toward the woman, a bit taken back by the offer of coffee. “I really don’t mind,” she assured her, even though it was a small lie. Not that she was wary around the woman, but mostly because of where they were going. Harlow intentionally avoided heading back toward Left Blank for very obvious reasons, but this woman needed to get there and find whatever it was she was looking for.

Realizing that she didn’t get much else from her even though they were walking around LA, Harlow shook her head. “I’m Harlow, by the way,” she introduced herself. “So are you just visiting the city?”

[gaiaxarrow]

“Well that’s all you need, really. I’m amazed you picked it up so quickly, it took me years to get the hang of New Orleans.” She stops talking only to laugh lightly at her hopeless sense of direction. “I used to set off for work a whole half hour earlier than I needed to just to accommodate for how terrible I was for getting disorientated.” It was something she couldn’t really explain, though perhaps it was something as simple as how easily her attention was capture by beautiful things. Hard to pay attention to street names when you’re too busy focusing on flowers in someone’s window or pretty shop displays.

Gaia notices the look on the woman’s face and let it lie, knowing enough about the tavern to realise it probably wasn’t where anyone in the city was in a hurry to get to. She’d seen the news and her sister had been there, if it hadn’t be the key to her finding her way back she too would have avoided it.

At the girl’s introduction she shook her head at herself. “Gosh, how rude of me. I’m Gaia and it’s lovely to meet you.” The beaming smile on her face seemed to confirm she was telling the truth. “Oh umm, sort of. I’m here to see my sister but I might end up settling here, I’m just not sure yet. What about you? Aspiring actress or something?”

[calebxchapel]

New city, new rules. Her words and he wonders exactly what she means by them. If this awkward distance between them is one of those new rules and that thought is immediately followed by the question he’s had for her since she’d gone. What had he done wrong? What had he done this time that they couldn’t just fight about with as much intensity as they do their making up. It’s how things went with them and he didn’t know what had been different this time to actually make her pack her things and leave. The question doesn’t get asked right away, because he’d like at least a few minutes of this comfortable feeling he has just seeing that she was okay and still in one piece. Her text had scared him. He didn’t know how bad things were here, but they had to be a certain level of frightening for her to text him. She was a brave girl. Independent. Didn’t mean she couldn’t call on him when she needed him. 

“Flight was long. You know they stopped giving out free snacks? When did that happen?” he asks, but it’s all playful and nothing that really matters to him. She knew that about him, he was sure. He was a freeloader by choice, not by necessity and not getting free snacks on a flight was just something to fuel his love of complaining. Just to give him a mundane topic that seemed to shield them from the reality of the world around them. There were far greater things to complain about, didn’t mean they had to overlook the little things. “It’ll be good to see them,” he nods when she hooks an arm into his, saying that Nyx and Jaxon will be happy to see him. It had been a little bit, but that was his family. Even if there was no marriage or recognized bond holding them together, he’d long ago accepted them as family. The kind he never thought he’d have. “Yeah, I missed my boys something fierce,” he admits, shaking his head as they start to walk out of the terminal and towards her new life in this city. 

[gaiaxarrow]

At the mention of the length of the flight she couldn’t help but feel that guilt rising up again at having been the sole reason for him uprooting, putting his life on hold and flying across the country. Her own flight had been unbearable, knowing that every minute that she spent in the air was putting her further and further away from where she really wanted to be. Maybe it was a cliche but to her home wasn’t a place. Home had a beating heart and put the air into her lungs. Her home was beside her right now and yet there she was trying to ignore that, trying not to cling to the one thing she knew was certain and put him first for once. Trying to convince herself, without giving him a chance to decide, that it was selfishness that took her back to him every time, rather than what was best for him. An impossibility to give him up. 

Gaia couldn’t help but grin at his playful remark, once again providing her with a chance at easy rather than the difficult conversation that’s lurking on their horizon. It’s never once bothered her, his choice of life, not when she had him. Money seemed so abstract providing they could pay the bills and all she’d ever needed was him. “I had no idea until I was outraged on my flight. It’s scandalous.” She’s playing along, the both of them knowing she doesn’t have it in her to lose her temper in public - there’s usually too much goodwill in her for that. Caleb was , of course, a different situation and their arguments stemmed from her caring too much to stay quiet, too much passion to ever hold her tongue. They make it outside and she looks for a cab just as he replies about their family, dogs included. There’s a biting of her lip as guilt gets to her again, she’d not only taken herself from him too but his family and that’s when she can’t avoid it any more. “I’m sorry. I should have -” She trails off, not sure what she could possibly say in that moment but just knowing she needed the apology in the air between them before she could go any further.

[nox-incendii]

“Come here.”

Nyx moves in to embrace her sister, kissing her son on his cheek since he’s still wrapped around Gaia too. She doesn’t mean to sound unhappy or ungrateful to see the younger woman, it’s just that now her reasons to worry have jumped exponentially. Gaia is too sweet and too prone to trouble for her to be around now. But the tone of her voice when she asks Nyx why she shouldn’t be here tells her she won’t be moved either. She’s staying.

When she lets go again, Nyx looks over her baby sister – she looks well though there’s something a bit lost in her eyes. She picks up on it after she greets the two dogs at her feet and notices a very obvious empty space next to Gaia.

“Does he at least know you’re here?” she asks, not needing to specify. Gaia knows her and knows exactly what she means.

Hearing Nic Nac makes her cringe playfully as it always does, but it does the job in making her pay attention. She nods, well aware of the fact that her lack of communication would’ve provoked her family’s concern.

She hugs the young woman again, a bit longer and tighter this time.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispers genuinely, smiling. Then she has a thought that makes her smile even brighter. “Bellamy’s here too.”

[gaiaxarrow]

Gaia relaxes into the embrace, the worry she’d been feeling for her sister finally fading to relief. She always felt Nyx’s absence, they were sisters after all, but she didn’t think she’d realised how much she’d missed having Nyx around until that moment. Despite being all grown up now, she still needed her. Always would and she wasn’t afraid to say so nor admit she still looked up to her sister as much as she did when they were younger.

The grin on face face fades slightly at Nyx’s question ans she’d ducking her head to hide some of the shame on her face that she’s sure Nyx can see now that they’ve moved apart. “He does now.” It’s too much to say that he didn’t to begin with or that she left in the middle of the night without a trace.

But in that moment any guilt she might be feeling is eclipsed by the fact that her sister is stood in front of her. In one piece and smiling, which is almost all she’s ever wanted.

Then just as quickly as she’s let go, Nyx is pulling her back again and she’d be lying if she said she minded. “And I’m glad I came, couldn’t let you meet alll those movie stars without me.”

There’s a genuine smile at the mention of her sister’s best friend, knowing full well how important the other brunette is to Nyx. “Then I guess you’ve got your whole squad right here.” Though it went without saying, because she knew both of them would want to avoid it,  that the two men in the Arrow sister’s lives were decidedly absent.

[gaiaxarrow]

And there's certain things that I adore          And there's certain things that I ignore                     But I'm certain that I'm yours

[calebxchapel]

Very little about this felt right. Her hand touches his arm, but that’s the most she offers. She’s remaining cordial and he can recognize by now when she’s holding back. He’s doing the same, because he’d already have his arm around her if this were any other day. If she hadn’t packed up everything and just walked out without saying why. He didn’t know the reason. They’d had an argument, but they had plenty of those. He wasn’t sure what it was about this one that had made her decide enough was enough. And he didn’t know how the situation here was so bad that she went back on that solution. At least enough to go back to the habit of coming to him when she needed him. He at least had that, but he wasn’t sure what he was going to do if that was all she offered him anymore. Because he was practically crawling out of his skin not being able to wrap an arm around her, or pull her close, feel her skin beneath his lips. The distance was excruciating. 

“Since when have you ever been able to let me be the boss?” he asks, though the grin on his face shows how playful the words are. He can keep this up for a little bit, acting like nothings wrong when he just wants to ask her why she left. What he’d done wrong to make her go and what was going on here that she felt the need to text him to come out here. He was here, whatever it was. While he didn’t share the same sort of mutation in his genes as she did, he supported her nonetheless. Went out of his way to show his support for the rights and safety of those like her. Had joined a small group of protesters and let his art do most of the talking while he vandalized billboards and the sides of walls with murals depicting free mutants and mutant rights. They’d been getting ready for something big, coming up here. But then she’d left and he’d gotten the text. So here he was. “Didn’t buy my return ticket,” he tells her. “So we’ve got all the time in the world.” It’s meant to show her that he’s here, that he doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon and whether she wants to or not, they’re going to talk about what was happening between them. Not this second, but he wasn’t going to leave without having that conversation. 

[gaiaxarrow]

It would have been so easy to let herself fall back into ways that had only become old through her decision and to place herself in his arms like every part of her wanted to. After so long together there was a certainty that rang through her that she was completely his. No one else would come close; no now, not ever. And yet here she was trying to create some sort of distance between them in a seemingly futile attempt at self sacrifice for his safety. Gaia kept reminding herself that he’d be better off without her and the dangers that her DNA brought with it, especially with what was going on here in LA. She couldn’t help but feel she’d brought Caleb into the warzone rather than her intention of keeping him away from it. But then he’s grinning and playful and for a moment she forgets every intention she had of being selfless and selfishly lets herself enjoy the moment by grinning right back when she shouldn’t be instilling false hope. “I thought it’d be fun to give something new a try. New city, new rules.” It’s at that moment she decides that they’ve spent long enough hovering in the airport and where she’d usually intertwine fingers with his to lead him out, instead she links an arm through his in an attempt at a little more distance.

His declaration that he hadn’t bought a return ticket shouldn’t have the effect that it does but that doesn’t surprise her. She shouldn’t be allowing it to make her heart soar and the thought of feeling whole again with him by her side for however long. But there’s that sinking feeling that the buying of that ticket might be sooner rather than later once she gives him the explanation he deserves. One that she’s not sure she wants to even voice any more but it’s the very least that she owes him after everything that has passed between them. She catches herself once more as the beaming smile his words had brought turns into a more tentative one at the thought of that conversation. “Well I’m glad you don’t have to rush back for anything.” It gave her some time to find the right words and the courage to do it. Once again she finds herself talking to keep things moving. “How was your flight? Nyx and Jaxon will be so happy to see you, not to mention the boys.” The two dogs were likely to give him the reception he deserved where she’d failed.

[harlow-ackerman-deactivated2019]

Harlow’s gaze lowered to the two dogs straining to step toward her and she offered a shake of her head, “It’s all right,” she replied, slipping a hand from her pocket. Fortunately, her anxiety hadn’t sparked her powers so she let the two dogs sniff at her hand. Harlow didn’t mind dogs much, and the two seemed to simply be curious. The woman seemed to be rather grateful for the assistance; she had to be new to the city. Just like Harlow had been. And even though she was wary of strangers, Harlow could never really turn a cold shoulder to someone that needed help.

“I’m not sure if they closed down part of the street or not,” she mentioned, “probably just near the tavern there…” It would have been the first time since that night Harlow would have been anywhere near Left Blank. But she was willing to suck up her worries and nerves to help her get to where she needed to go. The woman seemed kind, very talkative but Harlow was fine with that. She was always more of a listener than a speaker, anyway. “It’s not a problem. I’ve only been here for less than a month, I think? It’s a lot to try and figure out on your own.”

[gaiaxarrow]

Giving the girl a grateful smile as she pardons her dogs for their eagerness, Gaia speaks to them gently once more. “Come on, boys, that’s enough.” As they’re walking the girl brings up that the street might be closed down, effectively reminding Gaia of what she had witnessed on tv. It’s not often a frown sits on her features but at that moment it does. It’s one from concern and worry mainly - thinking about how easily her sister could have been taken - but part of it is caused by severe distaste towards the organisation that did it.

Thankfully, the other girl keeps talking and the frown quickly fades as it’s replaced by a smile again. “I don’t think I’d be able to show anyone around after a year nevermind a month.” Laughing at her own hopeless sense of direction, she carries on like she always does. “Honestly, I swear I could manage to get myself lost on a straight road so you have genuinely saved me and my boys from wandering around these for hours. I owe you a coffee at the very least.”

[calebxchapel]

The flight to LAX shouldn’t have seemed as long as it did, but it felt like an eternity. It gave him too much time to think, too much time to sit quietly when he felt too much anxiety in his chest at what he was about to do. He hadn’t thought it through. When she’d texted him, when she’d told him what was going on, it was second nature to buy a one way ticket out here. Call him foolish for running to the aid of the woman who’d up and left him without so much as an explanation – but that was his woman. From the moment he’d met her, he’d always known he’d do anything for her and if this wasn’t anything then he didn’t know what was. So he’d bought his ticket, packed a bag, and made his way to the airport. The doubt had only started settling in once they were in the air, once the flight seemed to go on and on and on. She’d left him. He didn’t know why. There were a million assumptions he could make, because if they knew how to love each other well enough, they knew how to fight each other with the same level of tenacity. 

It was only when he saw her again that the doubts melted away. He couldn’t help the toothy grin on his face as he came out of the gate, dufflebag over his shoulder. If he expected her to hug him, to touch him, if he moved to embrace her, it only managed to dampen his smile when she didn’t. Arms length between them and if she needed the space, he’d give her the space until they talked this out. “Hi,” he greets her back. She stumbles over her words, telling him that he didn’t have to come out this way and he gives a small scoff. “’Course I had to come out here,” he tells her, as if it were plain to see. He doesn’t go into an explanation as to why it should be obvious. Seven years together, they both should know. Though her leaving casts some shadows on that knowledge, it doesn’t break the relationship they had. “Never been to LA. Couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” He grins, because they both know that’s not why he’s out here. 

[gaiaxarrow]

The whole thing felt wrong to her and she hated that it was all her doing. Sure, he was here and unsettled feeling that had clung to her without him by her side was fading but this wasn’t them. The space she was keeping between them only proved that. They weren’t awkward pauses and stumble, rushed words on her part. They were raised voices and slammed doors. Every movement dramatic because when you put two people who possessed so much passion in one room stilted, measured actions and words would never do them justice. Their past was littered with break ups and make ups and Gaia wouldn’t change any of it for the world but there was no denying she’d steered them into uncharted territory by leaving not just their home but their state. And by enforcing the distance between them she was only pushing them further out to sea.

Once again she can’t help but think she doesn’t deserve this, deserve him. Not when he’s travelled so far without question and was here grinning and gracious, letting her have the space that she didn’t really want while confirming that there was no way he wasn’t going to come. For a moment she forgets herself, overwhelmed by the gesture though after all these years it shouldn’t surprise her, and there’s a half step taken forward. If she was going to embrace him she stops herself, hand landing lightly on his arm instead. She doesn’t bother to correct him or call him on his comment when they both know there’s no denying he the reason he travelled so far. Because she’d needed him and he’d came, as simple as that. Before things could linger too long she’s returning to default and speaking again. “Well, I guess I’ll have to try to show the sights while you’re here. My sense of direction is as pathetic as always though so it might end up with you being the guide.” As she finishes speaking she lets her hand fall, already missing the contact. “But first we need to get you out this airport.”

[gaiaxarrow]

What if The Initiative got a hold of your sister?

“Wha- Why would you even say something like that?”

“They’re not getting any of my family. It’s not going to happen. It can’t”

[gaiaxarrow]

Do you regret asking Caleb to come here?

“I don’t regret having him with me - I never could. But with everything going on here… I just - I hate thinking I might have put him in more danger when I wanted to avoid that by coming here.”

[nox-incendii]

The days since the raid have been the most stressful Nyx has had since she first got to California. Then it was thoughts of taking her son so far away from his father without telling him that kept her up all night and biting at her fingernails. Now she spends all her time wondering who’s watching her. She had pretty clearly aligned herself with the mutants at the tavern, and she figures the Initiative would think it safe to assume that she too is a mutant, one whose power had been canceled out by the Corinthian (and godfuckingdammit she’d just known there was something wrong with that guy).

She’s not worried about herself – she can handle her own defense just fine – it’s Jaxon she’s nearly sick over. Her little boy is the only thing she has now since she’s left her family behind in Louisiana. Who knows if any agents had followed her or could track her here? To her baby. She’s been so cautious lately, almost too much so, and even though her son clearly notices, he’s far too carefree a child to fret over it. And he trusts her. That’s the scary part. He trusts her to take care of him, to keep him safe. Nyx can only pray her fighting spirit won’t lead to a betrayal of that trust.

There’s been less than no time for her phone. Between worrying about Jaxon and Rhys who she’s learned has gone missing and staying with Ariadne whose concussion hadn’t been helped by Orion’s disappearance, Nyx has been pretty tied up. She can’t even remember where her phone is, let alone when the last time she looked at it was. When she finally finds it (in her son’s underwear drawer) and notices the obscene number of missed calls and texts from her sister, she feels guilty and makes a mental note to stop and call the younger woman back before she does something drastic.

Like show up at her place.

“…………..Gaia?!”

Her sister is the very last thing she’d expected to see when she and Jaxon came back from their walk, yet here she is, she and her babies all stirred up with concern and excitement. Jaxon peeks from around her legs and sees his aunt and lights up.

“YAYA!!!!!!”

He runs at her and leaps into her arms as Nyx shuts and locks the door behind them and heads further into her house.

“Jesus Christ, what are you–?! Gigi, you can’t be here right now!”

[gaiaxarrow]

Upon hearing Nyx's half finished question, she just shakes her head. “Long story.” And not one she wanted to get into right away. The relief that she felt upon seeing her sister was almost literally knocked out of her as her nephew charges in and answers her question without Nyx having to answer. Scooping her nephew up she can’t help the grin on her features. “How’s it going, Little Man?” There’s a giggle from him as she peppers kisses over his little face, though he protests it through it. Her eyes are eager to take in anything that might have changed in the little boy and as always she can’t help but indulge him. “You’re not so little any more, maybe I’ll have to start calling you Big Guy.” In her hurry to get there she’d forgotten to bring him anything, something she’d be sure to make up for.

Her sister’s word make her look over the little boy’s head at her. Just like her gaze had travelled over Jaxon, she took in her sister’s appearance. It didn’t take much for her to spot how worn and worried her sister looked and she wants nothing more than to be able to help. So while Nyx’s words might make her frown and leave her stumped for a little while it’s not long before she’s issuing a light, “Why not?” though there’s no denying the quiet challenge in it to an adult.

Before she’s really given enough time for her sister to answer, Gaia is moving swiftly on in an attempt to nip any arguments in the bud. She’d needed to be there, firstly because she wasn’t going back to New Orleans any time soon and secondly, it was obvious that her sister needed her. Whether or not Nyx would admit to that or not was yet to be seen. “You weren’t answering your calls, Nic Nac.” The use of her childhood nickname for her sister is both habit and an attempt to get her to listen. “I know there’s something going on and you know I’m not going anywhere when you might need me.”

“Besides I-” Stopping short she decided not to mention her other motive for being there just yet, knowing her sister would be quick enough to pick up on the lack of Caleb soon enough. “Besides, I’ve missed you.”

[harlow-ackerman-deactivated2019]

Harlow was getting better at trying to be out in L.A. She couldn’t keep herself locked up in her apartment and shut everybody out, but having been in the tavern when the attack struck had her nerves at their peak. She and Friday had barely gotten out of there, and she had seen people she recognized fighting for their lives, even being cuffed and having those black bags slipped over their heads. Just like in all the rumors she heard on her way to L.A. Now she knew they were truth. Harlow tried not to think much on it, but at the same time, she hated how quickly she resorted to hiding away versus trying to be even remotely helpful. Maybe she could get a hold of Friday or Connor, people in The Syndicate and see if there was anything she could do to offer help.

Her train of thought was interrupted when a woman had stepped out in front of her, making her pull up short. The woman seemed nice, definitely had a nice smile but Harlow couldn’t help the nervous twist in her gut as she looked up at the lady. No stranger could easily be trusted, no matter how nice of a smile they had or how kind they appeared. But she only wanted to know how to get to Left Blank, or somewhere close to it. Harlow swallowed a lump in her throat, “You’re not too far away,” she finally replied. For a moment her teeth worked her bottom lip, trying to recall the directions in her mind before she just shook her head, “Um, if you want, I can take you there? Or close to there.”

[gaiaxarrow]

There had been a pause before the young woman replied, Gaia waiting patiently for an answer with what she hoped was a soft, encouraging smile. After all, she had practically pounced on the small stranger in her eagerness to find her way again. In her typical fashion it had slipped her mind that Los Angeles wasn’t exactly the sort of place where people would be all that willing to trust a stranger, although she could at least hope that she didn’t appear too threatening. After all at 5′3, with a wide smile and eyes that were currently radiating warmth, despite the sadness that had lurked there the last few days.

But before there was any chance to get sidetracked by thoughts of the man she’d left back home, the two retrievers tugged on their leads, straining to get closer to the girl before Gaia attempted to pull them back. “Sorry about them, they just like making new friends.” Hearing the girl’s offer, her smile widens. “Oh really? That would be fantastic, thanks.” There’s no missing the air of discomfort that the other woman is radiating so Gaia does what she knows best: talks. “Just new to the city and my sense of direction is terrible, so I really appreciate it.”

[gaiaxarrow]

@calebxchapel

She hadn’t expected to find herself standing in LAX again so soon. In fact Gaia couldn’t even say she’d planned on ever setting in the airport within the year, not if she’d been serious about putting any sort of meaningful distance between her and Caleb. Except she’d failed miserably in her attempt at being selfless and cutting him loose, even if he didn’t recognise it was better for him, safer, without her in his life. But all it had taken was a lapse in concentration and giving in to old habits and what was now ingrained in her. They’d been together so long he was always the first one she reached out to about anything, it was second nature now. And there had been no denying her sense of joy and relief when he’d told her he was coming to her, the same emotions running through her now when he gaze met his. Heading over to meet him, trying not to pay attention to how quick her pace was, Gaia had to catch herself before throwing herself into his arm, instead stopping short rather awkwardly. Hands that usually would have reach out for him falling to her side.

“Hi.” It seemed so cold compared to their usual greetings, not even the slightest contact between them. Just space that never usual existed between them. As always when she found herself at a loss for what to do, she spoke. “Thank you for coming, it means a lot.” And it did. She’d never once doubted the depth of Caleb’s feelings for her, one look at what he dedicated his time to would make that clear enough, but if anything this just confirmed what she already knew. Then there’s an overwhelming sense of guilt at having dragged him out there when she’d been the one to leave. Calling it off without any explanation as to why. “I shouldn’t have asked, not when-” Trailing off she can’t bring herself to finish the sentence, it would make the whole thing sound to final so instead she settled for another truth. “You didn’t have to.”

[nilani-s-deactivated20160921]

[jimothyshalpert-deactivated2017]

[gaiaxarrow]

leiazorgana:

Do you believe in destiny?

[gaiaxarrow]

The sun. That was what she’d decided that she loved most about Los Angeles. The buildings might not have been as beautiful or anything close to what she was used to in New Orleans but the sun’s rays seemed to bathe everything in a warm glow and that in itself was enough to make her smile without even taking the beaches or beautiful views into account. There’s a tug on the lead she was holding that brings her out of her gazing and focused her attention one the two very expectant pairs of brown eyes looking at her. “Ok boys, we’ll head home.” There’s an indulgent smile for her dogs before Gaia realises that she can’t remember exactly how to get back to Nyx’s but she can remember a place near enough to it that she’d be able to get her bearings. Without hesitating she steps in front of a passerby. “Hi,” There’s no pause before the girl powers on, smile firmly in place in an attempt to charm them into giving help. “Could you tell me how to get to Left Blank Tavern? I know it’s not really where anyone should be going right now but don’t worry, I just need to be somewhere close to it.”

[gaiaxarrow]

Waiting had never been something she was able to do well. There was always too much energy running through her veins, begging to be put to use. But that was what she found herself doing as she sat on her sister’s sofa, miles away from home and where her heart still was. There had been countless calls to her sister that had gone straight to voice mail and she’d been biting her lip something chronic each time her heart leapt only to fall quickly once more as she failed to get through.

In such a state she’d forgotten why she’d ventured out there in the first place. Her fingers had moved quickly across her phone screen without thinking, typing a messaged packed with worry to the man whose life she’d been trying to make better with her absence. The fact that she’d failed barely occurred to her as she searched for something to distract herself, turning on the news only to be greeted by images that sent a chill down her spine and let every worst case scenario run rife through her head. 

Gaia didn’t know how much time had passed before she heard a key in the lock, the two blonde heads at her feet lifting at the sound. On her feet in seconds, she turned to the door, not bothering to give her dogs the instruction to sit or stay. They knew who was coming through. “Where the hell have you been?” Conveniently forgetting that Nyx might have had questions of her own, like what exactly her sister was doing so far from home, Gaia continued to let her words flow freely and quickly. “ I saw the news, I saw - I’ve been so worried. Are you ok? Where’s the little guy - is he ok? ”