In Kismet Harbor, they’re known for being warmth in motion—the kind of woman who makes people feel at home within minutes, equal parts sunshine and steel—though those who look closer can see the resilience beneath it, built from a life that’s asked her to start over more than once.
Life Now: Married to Julian Hawthorne, raising their blended family, and running The Home Genies real estate agency. Her life is full—motherhood, marriage, business—and for the first time, it feels like something she chose, not something she survived.
Home Base: Emerald Mist, Kismet Harbor—busy, a little chaotic, but deeply rooted. It’s the kind of place where doors are open, voices carry, and there’s always something happening.
What They Do: Owner of The Home Genies real estate agency. She’s personable, intuitive, and deeply people-focused—she doesn’t just sell homes, she reads what people need and helps them find where they belong.
Their World: Her days revolve around her boys, Julian, and the business she built from the ground up. There’s constant movement—school runs, client meetings, family dinners—but it’s grounded in a sense of purpose and love she fought hard to create.
Where You’ll Find Them: Most of Haven's days are spent in the comfort of her home in Emerald Mist but it's not a rare occasion you'll see her out on the soccer field pushing her double stroller, carrying the twins on each arm or pulling them in a wagon. Though sometimes she goes to Cobblestone Cafe on the days she's child free to see her sister in law and also to enjoy her favorite dish. The rare occasion she's in the office at The Home Genies she's usually on her computer, booking house showings or answering emails, though she also tries to travel for her husband's races when she can.
Community: Equine Emporium · Game On · Mommy Network · Open Mic · Parenting Pioneers · Trivia Nights
What People Don’t See: How much of her happiness was fought for—the grief she carries from the people she’s lost, the fear of losing it all again, and the quiet vigilance she keeps to protect the life she’s built.
Their Anchor: Her family—Julian and her boys, especially Lake—the life she created from nothing, and the reminder that even after everything, she’s still capable of building something lasting.
He was back and forth in his mind, why he came to her, he didnt want people to know he was drinking again. That he just felt better drunk, but he knew it wasn't a good thing. "I don't know why I came... I shouldn't bother you." Here he goes, his head spinning again. "I don't... "he let out a breath. "I don't know, like I want help, but I know how shitting I felt when I was sober and not being makes it not as bad," so it was hard, he felt bad sober and didnt feel as bad drunk, so it was hard. "I don't know... "he admitted this did mean he didnt want it, he wasn't ready for the help yet. @havenhawthorne
Haven exhaled as she shook her head. "You have to want it or it's not going to help you." she admitted, eyes shifting as she turned for a second, than turned back towards him. "When you decide that being sober and having people in your life all the time is more worth it, than you can come back and I'll help you." she nodded. "But until then, don't come back here. I have nothing for you as long as you don't want to help yourself, River." she paused, turning again. "Good luck. I know you'll come back around when you're ready." @riverxjackson
Jasper's expression softened as he watched his twin blink back tears. It wasn't the first time he had ever seen her do that. In a moment like this, he had to swallow hard to fight the bubbling of overwhelming emotions in his chest. At her question, his shoulders lifted into a shrug. "I'm not picky." Jasper had long learned to eat what was given to him and while he was in a lifestyle now that he didn't have to do that, it was almost second nature. "Whatever is good with me, honestly, Haves." He smiled faintly at her. "I'm happy to lend a hand in the kitchen too." @havenhawthorne
When Jasper admitted that he wasn't picky, Haven felt herself smile. "Well I know you weren't growing up, but, you know people can change. I wouldn't have put it past you to be a more difficult eater now." she joked. Yet, as she spoke she moved towards the kitchen, one twin on her hip in the process. "If you'll bring Jesse we'll feed them whatever I have made in the fridge for them while we make dinner." she stated. "I'm leaning towards chicken fajitas I think. Nice and easy and we can put it over rice to keep it a little healthier." @jasperxsinclair
"Oh I bet that saves so much hassle with laundry and pet hair!" Haven laughed. "I assume that also makes the non-allergenic? Is that how that works?" It had been awhile since Haven had had a pet in the house, but she assumed that in most cases a pet with no fur was a pet that didn't cause any sort of issues. "I think that's fair." she nodded. "My life has been far too busy recently in the majority of my adult life to feel comfortable enough to get a pet anyways but I do think I can agree. Dogs are a lot." Though, that didn't mean she wouldn't consider getting a family dog at some point. A talk she'd have to have with Julian for sure. As the conversation continued with plants Haven smiled. "I really shouldn't even try to commit to something like a garden with the type of schedule I have -" she started. "But I do know that at least with something like that it'll be a little easier to enjoy. Water them, harvest the food as it's ready but most of it I can probably forget about and let nature do it's thing and it's not going to be the end of the world if it doesn't turn out." she shrugged. "I'm excited to learn though!" @enid-marr
"Funnily enough it makes more laundry. Since they don't have hair, they get so oily. But I love them. I think they snuggle me more than the other two." She gave a shake of her head. "No, but I wish. Not that I'm allergic to them—knock on wood." Growing up, her family had always had at least one cat in their house. Maybe it was the fact that they'd never had dogs, but she'd never been interested in having one, at least not right now. "I get that, so much. If it wasn't for my job, I'd probably have more cats." There were plenty of animals she would bring home if she didn't have more pressing responsibilities. For now, she was content with the ones she did have. "Listen, I work a lot. Schedule is always packed, and I have no problems with caring for my plants. The most work is when you first get it started, but once it's thriving, it's doesn't take much work at all. Plus, I'm always willing to come do garden duties if you need."
Home Life: Full house with twin baby brothers; a mix of structure and chaos. Lake’s used to adapting—he helps where needed but keeps a piece of his life separate.
School/Grade: 8th Grade (Starts High school in the fall)
WHO THEY ARE
Lake is used to adapting without being asked. He carries responsibility naturally, not because he was told to, but because it’s always been easier than letting things fall apart. He doesn’t say much about what he feels—he puts it somewhere else and keeps moving.
Personality Breakdown: Emotionally aware, resilient, carries Haven’s quiet strength and ability to keep going no matter what. Understated charm, guarded with deeper feelings, tends to keep things to himself. Driven, competitive, naturally confident in his abilities—especially athletically. Balances independence with responsibility; grew up fast but still holds onto pieces of being a kid.
Notable Traits: Protective older brother, self-reliant, disciplined when it counts.
HEALTH & NEEDS
Physical: Active and athletic; manages Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed December 2024) with growing independence.
Emotional/Mental: Internalizes stress; doesn’t always ask for help even when he should.
Ongoing/Notes: Still adjusting to living with diabetes—good at managing it, but the mental weight comes and goes.
THE LITTLE THINGS
Foods: Balanced meals he can count on; snacks that won’t throw him off too much.
Things: Soccer gear, headphones, anything tied to routine.
Activities: Soccer above everything; training, games, even just kicking a ball around, playing Mario Kart.
Comforts: Being on the field, late-night quiet, familiar routines that keep him grounded.
Afraid of: Losing control—of his health, his future, or the people around him.
Wants: Stability, even if he won’t say it outright.
Feels brave when: He’s on the field or pushing through something on his own.
Known for: Being dependable, athletic, and composed under pressure.
Misunderstood as: Distant or too serious—when really, he just carries more than he lets on.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Friends: Tight circle—teammates mostly; trusts actions over words, Klaus Peterson - since they were babies really.
School life: Solid student; not the loudest, but respected. Teachers see potential, even if he doesn’t always push it academically.
Activities/Community: Deeply involved in soccer—Julian helped support it early on, and it stuck.
Safe place: The soccer field; it’s control, focus, and escape all at once.
A DAY IN THEIR LIFE
Morning: Up early, checks his levels, gets ready without much fuss. Keeps things routine.
Afternoon: School, then practice or training—most of his energy goes here.
Evening/Night: Home with family, helps out when needed, then decompresses—music, phone, or just being alone.
Home Life: Busy household with a teenage brother and a twin; Jesse stays close to the edges of it, preferring calm over commotion. He tends to attach himself to one person at a time.
School/Grade: N/A (home with parents/caregivers)
WHO THEY ARE
He likes the quiet before everything starts. Jesse is the kind of child who takes his time—watching first, deciding second, and only stepping in when he feels sure. He doesn’t need constant activity, just closeness and the comfort of knowing someone is there when he reaches for them.
Personality Breakdown: Emotionally intuitive, gentle, and comfort-driven; mirrors Haven’s softness and awareness of others. Observant and internally steady; processes before reacting, even at a young age. Balances solitude with attachment—needs both space and someone to return to.
Notable Traits: Clingier twin, slower-paced, intentional in movement and interaction.
HEALTH & NEEDS
Physical: Slightly behind his twin developmentally but consistent; benefits from patience and routine.
Emotional/Mental: Strong attachment needs; easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation.
Ongoing/Notes: Does best in predictable, quieter environments where he can regulate at his own pace.
THE LITTLE THINGS
Foods: Familiar, soft foods; prefers consistency over change.
Things: A specific blanket, a worn comfort toy, anything tied to scent or routine.
Activities: Quiet play, observing others, being held or nearby.
Comforts: Physical closeness, soft voices, early morning stillness.
Afraid of: Being left alone too long, loud or chaotic environments.
Wants: Steady closeness without pressure.
Feels brave when: Someone he trusts is right beside him.
Known for: Being the quieter, clingier twin.
Misunderstood as: Behind or overly dependent—he’s simply more deliberate and sensitive.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Friends: Closest to his twin, though more dependent than interactive.
School life: N/A, but likely to prefer smaller, calmer settings.
Activities/Community: Primarily home-based; engages when he feels secure.
Safe place: With Haven or Julian—physically close and grounded.
A DAY IN THEIR LIFE
Morning: Wakes first; spends quiet time self-soothing before seeking someone out.
Afternoon: Stays close during busy hours; observes more than participates.
Evening/Night: Needs extra comfort to settle; most attached at night.
Home Life: High-energy and constantly moving; JJ thrives in the center of it, engaging with everyone and everything.
School/Grade: N/A (home with parents/caregivers)
WHO THEY ARE
He moves toward things, not away from them. JJ is curious, quick, and constantly inserting himself into whatever’s happening around him. He doesn’t look for permission—just opportunity—and expects the world to meet him there.
Personality Breakdown: Open, expressive, and socially driven; reflects Haven’s warmth in a more outward way. Confident and calculated—acts quickly, but with underlying intent rather than impulse. Driven by curiosity that outweighs hesitation; engagement comes naturally.
Notable Traits: More advanced twin, independent, highly stimulated by movement and interaction.
HEALTH & NEEDS
Physical: Ahead developmentally; eager to push boundaries and keep progressing.
Emotional/Mental: Builds confidence through action; less reliant on reassurance.
Ongoing/Notes: Needs consistent outlets—without engagement, frustration builds quickly.
THE LITTLE THINGS
Foods: Enjoys variety; interested in whatever others are having.
Things: Interactive toys—movement, sound, cause-and-effect.
Activities: Crawling, climbing, exploring, following people.
Comforts: Active environments with familiar people nearby.
Afraid of: Being held back or restricted.
Wants: Freedom to explore and be included in everything.
Feels brave when: He’s leading movement and others follow.
Known for: Being the louder, faster twin.
Misunderstood as: Impulsive—his actions are quicker, but not thoughtless.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Friends: Naturally engaging; initiates interaction easily.
School life: N/A, but likely to thrive in social, hands-on settings.
Activities/Community: Drawn to busy, stimulating environments.
Safe place: In the middle of activity—movement equals security.
A DAY IN THEIR LIFE
Morning: Wakes ready to go; transitions quickly into activity.
Afternoon: Peak energy—exploring, engaging, constantly moving.
Evening/Night: Burns through energy and settles more easily once tired.
Jasper looked up as Noah came out with the pitcher and some glasses. His breath caught in his throat at the thought if it being their mother's recipe. He hadn't even attempted to do something of the likes because he knew that he would never be able to do it justice. Plus, he didn't feel like it was something he should attempt to do considering how he abandoned the family. "Thanks, Noah." He told his brother, listening to Haven as she spoke about getting the boys down. "How's wedding planning going, Noah?" @noahsinclaxr
"A little bit of home." Noah smiled sheepishly. He knew that the loss of his parents and their life in Boston in general hadn't been the easiest on them, especially the twins. He found comfort himself in the little things, like a pitcher of lemonade. Perhaps that was because he knew both their parents in happier times longer than they had, Noah didn't dare ask what they remembered. "Good. I'm just dreading the day they outgrow the cots, honestly." He chuckled, always making sure there were plenty of opportunities for his nephews to stay over, even if it were just for an evening. When Jasper asked how the wedding planning was going, he nodded. "It's going. Nothing concrete yet, we're taking it step by step." For example, he wasn't sure if he wanted it to be a big celebration or if they were okay with having a modest one. At least they had plenty of opportunity to talk about it. "That's actually what I wanted to talk about with you." He sat up straighter on the bench, hands clasped together. "I wanted to ask for your permission to give Giovanna mom's engagement ring." The question was asked. He'd always had their rings. Their wedding bands and their mother's engagement ring, saving it for the day one of them decided they wanted it for themselves. He'd never thought about it with Tessa, nor even with Constance. Perhaps that should have been a sign to begin with. "And maybe, if Giovanna agree with it, reuse their wedding bands. But I'm not doing it if either of you have even the smallest sliver of doubt." @havenhawthorne
When Jasper asked how the wedding planning was going Haven exhaled, shaking her head. "Thank you for asking, Jasper. I'm the worst." she chuckled. She knew Noah wouldn't mind she hadn't asked yet, but, she always wanted to see what was going on in both of her brother's lives, but especially with the announcement that Noah and Giovanna had gotten engaged. "I'm also dreading the day they outgrow those cots, but, it's unfortunately going to happen sooner rather than later." she paused. "I could talk about them all day though, let's talk about you. Should I get with Giovanna and help?" she paused. "I don't want to overstep because it is the two of you guys' wedding but if you think she'd want another female insight or something I'm down." she shrugged. She knew Giovanna had a sister of her own, however, Haven wasn't sure their relationship at this present time. It was only when Noah asked about Giovanna getting their mom's wedding band that she felt her heart ache a little. As a little girl she'd always dreamed of the day she'd get married, wear her mom's ring, the sentimental value often fogging her memory in the younger years. Yet, she'd never once thought about it when she'd married Julian. Sure, they'd married quicker rather than not but also Julian had picked out a ring specifically for Haven; and now that it was on her finger, the stone color the same shade of blue of her own eyes and the boys' they shared together she'd never picture it any other way. She looked up from her lap towards Jasper and then at Noah, nodding as her smile grew. "I personally can't think of another person that deserves that ring." she shook her head. "I would love for Giovanna to be the one to wear it, but if Jasper is opposed-" she paused. "Sorry to put that pressure on you, Uncle Jazzy." @jasperxsinclair
“You’re sometimes too understanding.” Julian groaned, not certain if it helped with the embarrassment or not. In the end, he knew she wasn’t upset about it, and he could’ve gone the easy route, have his mouth do the work, but he was determined to pleasure his wife the way he knew she wanted to. So he just nodded, waiting for her to get off while he reached for the nightstand, getting them some tissues before getting comfortable. He did have to admit, reaching that moment of ecstasy, albeit in a pace he’d rather have prolonged, did lift a weight he didn’t know he was carrying. As if he were more relaxed. “Come here.” He told her, settling down in the pillow, his arm moving so she could snuggle against him. The concerns about his hands had been forgotten, for they were lightly caressing whatever part of her they could reach, though having his fingertips circle her hip happened to be his favourite place to touch. “I think we can safely say you’re the only woman who’s made me come within five minutes.” He joked, not even considering his first time. They’d discussed that bed partner in a moment of fragility. He wasn’t going to bring her name up anymore either. “You’re so beautiful.” @havenhawthorne
Haven laughed, shaking her head as Julian groaned. "I mean, would it help if I was pissed off at you?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow. Not that she wanted to be, nor did she think she could ever be over something like this but, if he found it to be a turn on she couldn't say she wouldn't try. It was only once he nodded she let herself move, one leg thrown over his hip so that she were no longer straddling him. She waited, took a tissue or two from him to help clean up faster and waited for him to relax, snuggling into his arms like two puzzle pieces joining together once he'd welcomed her. She smiled, though that smile quickly turned into a laugh when he commented on how long he'd lasted, causing Haven to shrug. "I feel like normally women wouldn't want to hear that." she laughed, shaking her head. "But I'll take it as a compliment. You found me so attractive you couldn't resist." Though she knew that wasn't entirely far from the truth; add in the fact it had been months and she would almost say she were shocked he'd lasted that long. Impressive she might add. As his finger tips circled her hip she let her own hand rest against his chest, the other tucked underneath her as she was facing him, her cheeks flushed both from the heat of the moment prior and the way he was looking at her. "Thank you, babe." she smiled, leaning forward to kiss her softly. "I love you." @julianxhawthorne
"You say that now. But beer guts aren't flattering in my family. You've met Uncle George." Julian joked, not close to his aunts and uncles since he'd pretty much always been in boarding school and then they moved to the states, which in the end it was what it was. He was far richer with the family he had created with Haven. "Okay, okay. I'll hold you to that." He mused, tossing a grin her direction, Jesse's small hand captured between his thumb and index finger to which the little boy was content with. "Oh yeah? Well I miss you when I blink." Julian one upped her, more in a jest but there was also a fraction of truth there. Any fragment of a second being deprived of her was a fraction too long. "Yeah?" He sounded, his voice gentler now as he nudged some of her hair from her cheek with his nose, planting a soft trail of kisses down her cheek towards her neck. He was aware they were in public, so this was him behaving. "How much?" @havenhawthorne
Haven chuckled - a little louder than planned - and she nodded at her husband's words. "I can guarantee you there's no part of you I could ever find unattractive or unflattering." she admitted. The truth. She was convinced she'd be head over heels in love with this man for the rest of her life; and in the afterlife too if she had her way. Watching the way he interacted with their son made her heart sore, a sight she could definitely get used to; it was truly the life she'd always wanted. Yet somehow a million times better all in the same breath. It was only when he protested that he missed her when he blinked that she let herself laugh again. "How did you ever survive before you had me in your life to miss just by blinking?" she joked, though if she'd thought about it long enough the question was kind of morbid. She'd only opened her mouth to tell him not to mention it when he placed a kiss against her cheek which trailed down to her neck. Eyes closed as she exhaled, slight hum escaping her lips she only looked up at him a moment later. "More than I can even put into words." @julianxhawthorne
His lips were feverishly on hers, not even bothering to properly undress his lower half as he just shimmied it down far enough that it would suffice. At this point, it had been long enough that he didn't want to waste any more time. All that had been dwelling in his mind for the past few months had been quelled, pushed back to where it was a faint blip on the radar and in that moment all he felt and breathed was his wife. There was a wave of excitement, of determination, to finally give his wife what she'd been missing out on. Kissing her, touching her, and then it was over.
"No, no. Fuck." He breathed, his hands dropping from her chest as he waited out the wave of pleasure that wove over him. Not one of his finest moments, one that made sense if he put some logic behind it, but the fact she'd always experienced him having a high stamina and now he was barely lasting two whole minutes was a new low, even if in the moment he couldn't be all that mad at himself. "Shit, sorry." Julian said again, his hand lifting and slapping her leg with a soft pat. "Give me five minutes." The words left him, mixed with some breaths.
Haven had been so caught up in the moment she honestly hadn't noticed, at least not at first. She'd been too caught up in the way her husband's hands caressed her body. The way that his lips hungrily moved with hers, the rhythm of their bodies moving together filling her gut with a sense of comfort; one that she'd missed but came just as naturally as it always had. It wasn't until he cursed that she realized what had happened.
Eyes opened, shifting to look at him, her own body stilling as the realization came over her, causing a soft smile to form on her lips as she shook her head. "You don't have to apologize." she exclaimed, though she understood why he was. This wasn't normal. In the past they'd been able to spend plenty of time exploring each other's bodies before anything were to ever happen, and this time they'd barely gotten started. When he asked to give him five minutes Haven nodded, leaning forward to press a kiss against his lips before she pulled away. "We can also wait." she shrugged. "I want you to do whatever you need; I'll be okay."
He was a mess and confused about why he came here. He knew better she had a family and people she cared for inside. She didnt need him and his problems; he didnt want to tell someone what he had been doing. "I don't know why I came here," he said, walking a few feet away, but they could still hear each other. He was just stressed, so he had to keep moving. " I don't know," he cried out as he looked at her. "It just happened, and keeps happening," he hated how it was. "I don't wanna bother people, I don't wanna bother, Rory or you or whoever" with his problems, but here he was outside Haven's house. But had told no one who knew he was sober about his drinking again. @havenhawthorne
Haven wished she had the answer to River's question to why he came here, yet she couldn't. She loved that he trusted her enough to come there, however she didn't know if she could help him. She listened as he spoke, nodding. "I know it's not easy and I appreciate that you trust me enough to talk to me." she spoke, eyes shifting from him to the ground. "And I want you to be okay, but you have to want to do it." she nodded. "For yourself, not for everyone else." she spoke. "You have to want to do it for you." she nodded again. "I can help you if you need, I'll be here to support." she paused. "But if you don't want this for yourself then my hands are tied." @riverxjackson
havenhawthorne: It's always my pleasure to celebrate you, my love. Another trip around the sun, another day spent spoiling you and cheering you on; watching you do what you love and then spending the rest of the day with your family is never something I want to take for granted. happy birthday, babe. we love you so much. also prepare to see this photo in every room of the house because you're stunning.
"Buy snacks for the soccer team for one game sounds about right." she shrugged, countering his comment. Haven wasn't too proud to understand that she didn't need to worry about money anymore, however, the part of her that had made her name in this town had been hard to break away from. Sometimes she struggled with the idea that money wasn't as scarce to find these days. And as her mind wondered - this time about money - she let her gaze meet Julian's only once he commented about needing inspiration, making Haven's cheeks flush. "I mean you know as well as I do that I don't need it." she stated. "But I like to keep things interesting; maybe even help the mood sometimes." she spoke. "At least - uh, now you know what I do when you're not here." she shrugged, cheeks flushing at the admittance out loud and brushing past it like she hadn't even said it. As he seemed to allow her to relax into him, hands resting a top hers as she spoke, she let her body relax, more weight pressed into him as she spoke. The mention of her surname - not his, not theirs but hers - rambling away as she let herself relax against him, the idea of being 'half unready' passing over her in an instant. She'd moved onto the next big home appointment she'd had, the one that she was sure he'd know a lot about as he'd listened to her rant about this particular client for nearly a year now. Sitting up a little straighter - back less arched, hands resting against his sides closer to his hips as she leaned back a little - the words paused. "His appointment isn't until -" Yet she paused, smile widening as she was clearly distracted, leaning backward more, intentionally. Allowing herself to smirk she shifted, right hand moving from it's place against his side to brush up against him, her own bottom lip moving between her teeth in the process. "If I'd had known all you needed me to do was talk about work in my underwear I would've done this months ago." she teased, leaning forward to kiss him, chest pressed to his. @julianxhawthorne
"Oh?.. Oh." He wasn't offended. Well, maybe a little bit. But he wasn't going to ask if she actually pictured the men from the books and at least assumed she still got a kick out of it picturing him. Save his ego at least a little. "Hey I won't get in the way of your smut. This book's good. Fiddle away." He joked, actually finding it kind of hot that that was how she did it. It sure as hell beat watching the videos. Imagination went a long way. His sure did, his bottom lip gently captured beneath his teeth without even realising it, the mental image of ravishing her the way she had the nerve to look this stunning at the end of a long day while also doing his best to listen to everything she said. One was clearly taking the upper hand as his presence beneath her grew. It was when she stopped speaking that he blinked, his lips parting. "What?" He asked, not knowing what had interrupted her, yet as she move and it shifted beneath, did he realise, the next words spoken from her lips one that made him laugh. "Just shut up and get undressed already." He commanded, lips eagerly meeting hers with his hands wasting no time moving to her back and undoing the clasp. @havenhawthorne
The way he responded made Haven smirk, a shake of her head. "Don't worry. You're the only one running through my mind during." she shrugged, knowing she didn't need to boost his ego but happy to do so regardless. Mostly because it was the truth. There was no other man for her even if she were reading the sexual fantasies of another man in a book; her husband was the only one she ever pictured. An ego boost to even herself; she'd landed a man that she thought about twenty four seven. A flex in itself. As he continued, she laughed, nodding. "Maybe I'll show you sometime." she shrugged, eyes focusing on him.
Though, almost as if she'd barely had the time to think everything seemed to happen quickly, the kiss on against lips, the smirk that grew wider at his words. Nodding she shifted, lifting her hands from his chest to shimmy out of the bra she’d been wearing, only lifting her hips when it was time to undress her lower half. @julianxhawthorne
"Imagine what we could have done with a hundred dollars." Julian joked, though he knew that what a hundred dollars were for him, had been different for her for most of her life. He was trying his best to be modest about money, his spendings definitely having decreased since the two of them having gotten serious, even if he did spoil her too much with flowers, gifts and dinners. "I didn't think you would've needed the inspiration, I guess this is a humbling moment for me, soak it in." He simply wasn't going to mention the fact that apparently the two of them hadn't had sex for almost half a year and ever since she had made him aware of that fact he had sincerely tried to initiate, but never quite made it into that headspace. He figured the stress he was in was still too much of a muddling factor that kept him from turning it all off. Another insult to his manhood, but he was lucky he'd married a woman who seemed to understand everything that was going on, who was patient. And so the least he could do was listen to her talk about her day. His hands were placed on hers once they gently weighed against his chest, running his hands up her arms slowly and gently, trailing the map towards her shoulders, then down her sides to her hips. He was smiling at her throughout everything, even more for a moment when she mentioned her surname. Her surname. How'd he get so lucky to snatch her up and call her his? To get her to come home to him and talk to him so enthusiastically, to be the person she wanted to share her day with? For the first time in a long time, he found himself relaxing, his chest warming with joy at the sight of his wife, even if he admittedly had to share his attention span with impure thoughts. The urge to pull down the strap on her shoulders, slide his hand someplace warmer, but he at least had some restraint to not steal her thunder, to make her feel he wasn't interested in conversation. But that didn't mean that he was able to control the unmistakable reaction that was happening, even before he realised that it did. @havenhawthorne
"Buy snacks for the soccer team for one game sounds about right." she shrugged, countering his comment. Haven wasn't too proud to understand that she didn't need to worry about money anymore, however, the part of her that had made her name in this town had been hard to break away from. Sometimes she struggled with the idea that money wasn't as scarce to find these days. And as her mind wondered - this time about money - she let her gaze meet Julian's only once he commented about needing inspiration, making Haven's cheeks flush. "I mean you know as well as I do that I don't need it." she stated. "But I like to keep things interesting; maybe even help the mood sometimes." she spoke. "At least - uh, now you know what I do when you're not here." she shrugged, cheeks flushing at the admittance out loud and brushing past it like she hadn't even said it. As he seemed to allow her to relax into him, hands resting a top hers as she spoke, she let her body relax, more weight pressed into him as she spoke. The mention of her surname - not his, not theirs but hers - rambling away as she let herself relax against him, the idea of being 'half unready' passing over her in an instant. She'd moved onto the next big home appointment she'd had, the one that she was sure he'd know a lot about as he'd listened to her rant about this particular client for nearly a year now. Sitting up a little straighter - back less arched, hands resting against his sides closer to his hips as she leaned back a little - the words paused. "His appointment isn't until -" Yet she paused, smile widening as she was clearly distracted, leaning backward more, intentionally. Allowing herself to smirk she shifted, right hand moving from it's place against his side to brush up against him, her own bottom lip moving between her teeth in the process. "If I'd had known all you needed me to do was talk about work in my underwear I would've done this months ago." she teased, leaning forward to kiss him, chest pressed to his. @julianxhawthorne
"Not at all. We had a fun day, bed time went smoothly." And honestly, it had been a long time since Julian had been alone with the boys for an extended period of time. Normally Haven was always there with him, or Lake was, but now he needed both hands and feet to keep them occupied. Julian watched, the book placed on his chest, his attention fully directed at her. He'd missed this. Missed seeing the enthusiasm on her face, hearing it in her voice, the passion with which she loved her job. It reminded him of the early days of their relationship when she had more time to concentrate on her work rather than on the twins. All he could do was look at her in complete awe, how she could be acting so mundane with the simple act of undressing at the end of the day and talking about work and making his heart flip at the same time. "I had no doubt in my mind that you could pull it off." But of course, he'd always praise her to anyone that he could and simply assumed that she would at some point be running a business that would spread throughout the entire country, if not continent. When she asked him about 'having gotten to the part yet, he blinked for a moment, before a cheeky smile grew on his face and he picked up the book again, checking the page number (for later) before closing it. "Maybe." He mused, laying the book down on his chest. "I gotta say, there's some good ideas in there." Then he moved, placing the book on the nightstand, his hand then reaching out to her. "Tell me more about your success. I want to hear all about it." @havenhawthorne
"Isn't it funny how bed time for them became so much easier once we discovered they liked sleeping in the same bed. Wish I'd have known that when we bought the stuff for the nursery; could've saved a few hundred bucks on that second crib if we'd known." She should've as a twin herself she always felt like she was the most herself when Jasper was around; it had been painful when he'd left, at times even feeling unbearable as she'd felt like she'd lost a part of herself with his departure. When she'd realized that her day was going to consist of a late night for her - one of the few she'd had since the twins were born - Haven had felt a bit of guilt in her gut at the idea of not being there to put them to bed, yet, it had quickly been overshadowed by the joy she'd felt when the company had landed the job. Not that she'd doubted herself, but, there were always the nerves that came along with big projects like this one. It was only when Julian encouraged her with his words that she let her smile widen. It was one of the many things she loved about her husband; he was an incredible father, an amazing brother, top notch businesses man, and her personal hype man. Encouraging her to pursue whatever passions she wanted would never be something she were sick of. Yet, as her attention was drawn to her husband, book pressed against his chest, eyes focused on his wife, bottom lip pulled between his teeth watching her she let herself stand up a little straighter, eyes focusing on him. His own hands moved, taking a glance at the page number before placing it on the table besides them, legs carrying her to the middle of the room now as he mentioned there being a lot of good ideas in there. "Why do you think I read them?" she teased, though it wasn't exactly far from the truth. As his hand extended, her own reached for his, allowing herself to move onto the bed, getting into a position where she was now straddling his waist, one knee on either side of his hips. "Well I already told you about the biggest one." she spoke, hands resting against his chest, "I have a few decoration projects coming up in the next few months; a nursery in the old neighborhood the house is in. You know how much I love decorating nurseries so I may or may not be getting some ideas for some ideas for our next set of twins." she joked. "And then in a couple weeks I have to finalize the new build in Hawthorne Hideaway. They asked me to help because my last name is Hawthorne, though it's not like anyone would know that based simply on the business." she paused. "It's a modern home, much smaller than ours but the decor theme gives me a headache. Modern granny is what they're calling it and it's the tackiest thing I've ever had to decorate but you know if anyone can handle it, it's me." At this point she was rambling, thumb rubbing against his chest as she spoke. @julianxhawthorne
"And a great mom, at that." Jasper assured, though he wasn't sure she needed it. It was obvious, at least to him, that she was a great mom. Haven had always been nurturing. "Yeah, I think it suits me." Jasper said with a huff of laughter, shaking his head after he spoke. The Uncle Jazzy person that he had become was not someone he expected to be, not ever. "Thanks, Haven." His cheeks grew warm with the words that she spoke to him. Part of him didn't think he deserved it, but he was learning to accept that was just part of the process for him. "It's good to be back." He smiled faintly in his sister's direction. "Are we cooking or ordering in tonight?" @havenhawthorne
Hearing her brother compliment her, Haven smiled a little wider. "Thanks, Jazz" she exhaled, though the words hit her harder than she'd expected and a second later she was blinking back tears. She knew that this moment was a rarity and even though she didn't like to think that way, there would never be a part of her that regretted having her brother back in her life. She left it at that, only letting herself speak again at the question about dinner. "Depends on what you want." she smiled. "Though we should probably cook; I've already eaten out three times this week and Lake's diabetes will thank me if I make something on the healthier side." @jasperxsinclair
Friday night. Julian had no obligations to be anywhere for racing, he'd ended his day at the office around three so he could pick up Lake, help him collect his bag and then drop him off at his sleepover for a kid's birthday party, then he collected the twins from daycare, taking them home for the rest of their daily activities. Playtime, dinnertime, bath time, story time, bedtime and then Julian time. After a quick shower, he lay down on his bed, comfortable in sweatpants and a t-shirt when he decided to pick up the book Haven was reading, careful so he wouldn't misplace her marker. When he heard a sound of her entering, her fast steps pulling his attention from the story. "I'm in the bedroom." He called out, yet not loud enough to wake the kids, or at least that was the intention.
Making her way into the bedroom, Haven couldn't help but let the smile on her face grow more and more with each step she took. It wasn't often these days she felt like she got to throw herself entirely into work without the feeling of guilt washing over her, so when Julian had the chance to be home with the boys for Haven to go to the biggest meeting of the year, she'd accepted of course. Heels clicked against the wooden floor, causing her to take a moment to lean down and remove them, retreating up the stairs just as her husband's voice sounded through the hallway, causing her smile to widen. "Thank you for being so flexible today, I'm sorry I couldn't be here for bedtime. This entire day ended up being longer than I expected." Haven beamed, attention only half on Julian as she was already in the process of getting undressed and into the shower with something much more comfortable on later. "The meeting obviously went longer than I expected -" she started, heels tossed onto the floor carefully before she made her way to the bathroom, makeup wipe rubbing across her face in an attempt to wipe it clean. "I was so nervous that this meeting was going to be more make or break than I thought - and I mean as you can see it took all day." And then she started rambling, explaining what all had happened, what she'd experienced, how the entire day had made her feel; all indications that she'd really missed this part of the job, taking off each peace of jewelry individually as she went along. "It was incredible and of course they accepted the offer, they want to work with us and it's going to do wonders for the business." she stated, now standing in the doorway of the bathroom, shirt and dress pants lost on the floor somewhere in the process. She looked over leaning against the doorframe, smirk forming as he eyes landed on her husband and the book he was reading. "You gotten to the part yet?" she questioned, eyes shifting to look him over before landing back on him again, watching. @julianxhawthorne
"He should be a kid first. I feel like I grew up too fast." Julian sighed, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. "I'll be quitting eventually, just hopefully not now. Besides, you should want me on my game for as long as you can. I'll grow a beer belly once I no longer have to maintain a diet and have an extensive workout." He jested, for he couldn't imagine life without working out. And though it wouldn't be as extreme as for his career, going was definitely necessary. And so he nodded, knowing that they had made it for as long as they had with making the best of the time they had, even if it was more limited and difficult with one year old twins, but they did their best. "I miss you as soon as you turn around from me, what do you mean?" Julian scoffed, followed by a cheeky grin as he leaned in to sneak a kiss from her lips. "So we have. I love you." @havenhawthorne
"That's the plan." Haven nodded, though she knew with every year that passed the less Lake wanted to do kid things anymore. Something that broke and warmed her heart in the same breath. "I know." she nodded, "And I'll love you forever, beer gut or not." she nodded, eyes focusing on her husband, only letting her smile widen at the thought of having him home more. She'd have to wait - which she was fine with. "Though we always have the option to work out more together." she shrugged, meaning it in literal terms and in other terms, which she was sure he'd understand if he thought about it long enough. It was only when he joked about missing her when she turned around that she laughed a little harder. "Okay same." she added. "Sometimes I miss you when we're in the same room." she laughed. As he leaned in for a kiss she returned it, offering him a smile. "I love you." @julianxhawthorne
