𝕗𝕝𝕪 𝕙𝕚𝕘𝕙

Noah Hwang | 42 | Pilot

[noahhwcng]

gifs credit @keetika

Name: In-Soo Noah Hwang

Faceclaim: Hyun Bin

Gender & Pronouns: CIS-man & he/him

Age: 42

Birthday: September 27th, 1982

Occupation: Pilot

Neighborhood: Carriage Falls

Does your character have a secret? none.

Biography

tw: mentions of murder, death and drug abuse

Noah In-Soo Hwang was born on September 27, 1983, in Busan, South Korea to parents Dong-Hae and Mi-Sook Hwang. Noah was the middle child, sandwiched between an older brother, Sung-Min, and a younger sister, Ji-Eun. But fate, cruel and capricious, had other plans for the Hwang family. In the summer of '88, as Seoul held the Olympics Sung-min, barely a teenager, was found lifeless in an alley near their home, the victim of a senseless act of violence that would haunt Noah for years to come. The loss cast a pall over the family, driving Dong-Hae and Mi-sook to move the family abroad.

And so, at the tender age of five, Noah found himself in Wilmington, North Carolina, trying to adapt to the western world. Noah learned English quickly. In the halls of Chester High School, Noah discovered a passion that would define his life: flight. It was sparked during an air show when he was merely a boy. He dedicated himself to his studies, particularly in subjects that would support a future in aviation. It was there that he met Ellie Pearson—a firecracker of a girl with bright blue eyes and an infectious laugh. Ellie was everything Noah wasn't: loud, impulsive, electric. She was outgoing and impulsive, while he was quiet and reserved. However, Ellie's home life was troubled, marked by neglect and abuse. To cope, she turned to drugs. He cared deeply for her, but despite his efforts, he couldn't help her overcome her addiction. Ellie died during his sophomore year at UNC, leaving him devastated.

After graduation, he set his sights on the sky. He enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. But the path to the cockpit was neither straight nor easy. Noah's first attempt at the commercial pilot's license exam ended in bitter disappointment, a failure that sent him spiraling into a bout of self-doubt that threatened to ground him permanently. But his friends never let him give up. They cheered him on and told him to keep going. With renewed determination, Noah not only passed his exam but graduated at the top of his class. The years that followed were a blur of regional airlines and red-eye flights. And then, an offer came that would change everything—a position as a private pilot for a tech mogul with more money than God.

But with that, he found himself living in Weehawken, New Jersey, close enough to the Manhattan skyline but far enough to avoid traffic jams. The job was demanding, requiring him to be ready at a moment's notice. And then there was Deja, the mogul's personal assistant, whose quick wit and beautiful smile sent Noah's heart into a tailspin. Their romance burned hot and fast. Before he could catch his breath, Deja was pregnant with twins. On a sweltering August day in 2016, Zephyr and Lyra Hwang entered the world. The moment he held them, Noah knew he would love and protect them for the rest of his life.

Parenthood, however, proved to be a crucible that their relationship couldn't withstand. The late-night feedings, constant worry, and sheer exhaustion of caring for two infants while juggling demanding careers took their toll. Deja began struggling with postpartum depression, which evolved into ongoing mental health issues. It was later revealed she has schizophrenia. The strain became too much, and Noah and Deja eventually separated, where Deja began living in supported housing and the children would live with Noah full-time.

For years, Noah tried to balance his high-flying career with his responsibilities as a single father. But something was missing, a void that no amount of altitude could fill. And so, a few weeks ago, Noah made the decision to return to Wilmington. His sister, Ji-Eun, now a successful restaurateur, along with his parents, welcomed him and his kids with open arms.

tl;dr

Noah Hwang was born in Busan South Korea and moved to the US when he was 5 after his older brother was found dead. He pursued his passion for aviation, becoming a successful pilot and is now a pilot for a billionaire. He has 8 year old twins, Zephyr and Lyra, with his partner Deja. However, their relationship couldn't withstand the pressures of parenthood and Deja's mental health struggles. As a single father, Noah juggled his demanding career with raising his children. Eventually, he returned to Wilmington (in August 2024), where he now lives with Zephyr and Lyra, with Deja living in supported housing nearby.

Wanted Connection

Old Friend (Her): She was the best friend of Ellie Pearson. They were always cordial to each other and now they are learning to become friends again as adults. Gwendolyn Wade.

Best Friend: Dante Russo

Friends:

Neighbors:

Chess: He's great at chess and play it often. I would love it if he had friends for this.

Basketball: He also plays basketball, so I would also like him to have friends who plays basketball.

Marathon training buddy: He runs marathon, so I would love a training buddy for him.

Parent Friend:

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

Hearing Noah’s decision for her to stay caught her off guard as she tilted her head and stared up at him out of curiosity. “I thought the couch would be more appealing.” she teased with a soft chuckle. However, after learning about the fact that he was preventing his sister from finding him dead asleep, Gwen simply nodded in understanding and asked in a playful tone, “Ah, so you need my help? I feel like I’m preventing a candid moment that your twins could capture.” She then resonated with his response as she could understand what it’s like to not take one’s own advice. “It looks like we’re both on the same boat. I’m similar with my younger siblings and direct reports…I’m aware that’s something I need to work on, but I prefer it that way. I can take care of myself in my own unconventional way.” She was always independent and found ways to keep herself afloat even during difficult times. Were they healthy coping mechanisms? Not for the most part, but it’s what got her by. “I’m sure you’ll find a compromise that will work out. At some point you’ll have to if you don’t want them to follow the footsteps of such bad habits.” 

[noahhwcng]

Gwen's joke about the sofa pulled a chuckle out of him—she had this way of making everything simpler. The fact that she wanted to protect him from embarrassing moments with the twins showed him a side of her he hadn't expected. "That’s very tempting, but good company wins out," he said, realizing he meant every word. When she talked about handling things her own way, it clicked for him. Life rarely fit into neat little boxes, especially with kids. "Sometimes the unconventional ways are what get us through," he told her, glad someone else got it. Being a single dad meant constantly juggling, and here was someone who seemed to understand without him having to explain. The twins would absolutely love catching him zonked out on the couch—they were eight going on eighteen when it came to finding ways to tease him. "Though I'm pretty sure my kids would love nothing more than photographic evidence of their dad passed out on the couch. They're at that age where embarrassing me is their favorite hobby." Her words about his habits affecting the twins hit home. Maybe she had a point about finding better ways to take care of himself. "You're right about finding a compromise. Maybe we can start small — like actually sitting down for lunch instead of inhaling it while standing. Baby steps, right?"

[nikhilxkohli]

It was amusing to Nik that Noah thought Nik would be that much of a pushover. He clearly had no idea the types of people Nik had to be around during his season and so he really had a lot of experience dealing with people who tried their hand at mind games no matter how serious or non serious they could be. His kiddos would be no match for him. “I mean like I said—they can have two cookies each and I think that’s a healthy enough compromise, don’t you think?” With a grin he looked back at his friend and nodded at his explanation about the kids learning from their father. Noah was a formidable opponent in that way of course but Nik was determined to handle this as best as he could. “I’ll do my best man, don’t worry about it. You just call me and we’ll make it happen.” Nik glanced down at his phone which had beeped with a reminder. “Now I’ve gotta run—I’ve got a massage appointment that I can’t be late for. But I’ll catch you later!” 

FIN.

[samiraxiyer]

“My point exactly!” Samira was honestly glad Noah understood it because some people would take the other’s reaction and allow it to drive them to do a worse job but that wasn’t what Samira liked. She rather exceed her own expectations as much as possible. When the conversation moved back to Gwen, she found herself smiling as he spoke about trying to get her to take more breaks and nodded right along with him. She knew it would do her friend a world of a difference if she could take some more time for herself. “I hope she listens to you more than she’s listened to me,” she admitted with a soft chuckle before looking back at him when he spoke about her being a guru of shopping with him. “You’re welcome,” she grinned before nodding along with him, “that works for me—I mean I’m not only good at shopping for kids but yeah otherwise you’ll call me up for everything and that won’t work with this friendship,” she chuckled with a teasing tilt to her voice. As they made their way into the cafe, she was smiling at the scent that wafted around them. This place was truly a little piece of heaven in her mind. “Okay—I think coffee with sugar will be good for me because I need that cinnamon bun, otherwise I’d go with that liquid dessert option.” 

[noahhwcng]

Noah found himself smiling from cheek to cheek at how Samira got the whole perfectionist thing—finally someone who understood his drive for excellence. When she brought up Gwen's stubborn streak about taking breaks, laughter bubbled over. "I've got my ways of convincing her. The twins are my ace in the hole, no one can resist those puppy dog eyes, especially not Gwen." The jab at his shopping skills stung in that funny way that made him want to defend himself. "Come on now, give me some credit. Those light-up sneakers I got for my nephew? Total win. Sure, it took three stores and I nearly lost my mind, but I got them." The smell of cinnamon buns wafting through the cafe brought back sweet snapshots of Saturday mornings, sticky faces, and pure joy. "I'm copying your order. Also, I've been known to snag a bite or two when my friends aren't watching." His curiosity about her life kicked in and he found himself asking before he could stop himself. "So, how's work been treating you? That caffeine craving makes me think you've had your hands full lately." 

[nikhilxkohli]

Maybe the fact that Nik hadn’t been around his own nieces and nephews for so long left him a little blinded by how adorable kids could be. But then again—he did always think they were cute and seeing as he had yet to have one of his own, that perception wouldn’t change. “I mean—even I know that much,” he said with an eyeroll at the other’s words before giving him another smile. He had cookies for breakfast as a child but while that was nice once in a while, of course he’d be feeding the other’s kids proper nutritious meals. He listened intently as Noah told him what he was like as a child and chuckled before shaking his head. “So basically it’s all come round circle for you. You were a crazy kid so now you get to have two that are like you, or maybe more intense,” he grinned before nodding at the other’s words. “Nah man I’ll be fine—I’ve had a lot of experience so you better believe those kids are going to call me their favourite babysitter.”

[noahhwcng]

Noah shook his head at the breakfast suggestion, knowing full well how persuasive his twins could be when it came to treats. "You say that now, but wait until they tag team you with those puppy dog eyes," he said, thinking back to all the times he'd caved to their requests. The discussion about kids being kids brought back a flood of his own childhood shenanigans—those late nights sneaking around, the extra cookies he'd snatch when no one was looking, and the endless stunts that drove his parents crazy. His twins were absolutely payback for all of that. When Nik started talking about being the favorite babysitter, he had to laugh. "Famous last words. Just remember, they learned their negotiation skills from me," he warned, already picturing how this would play out. "And I've got years of practice dealing with those tactics." He'd watched plenty of overconfident adults fall victim to Zephyr and Lyra's coordinated charm attacks, but maybe Nik would surprise him. Having someone else step up to help with the twins meant more than he could express. "But seriously, thanks. It means a lot to have someone willing to brave the chaos."

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri couldn't believe how much Noah's twins reminded her of those TV detectives she used to watch during rec time. His story about their ice cream stakeout had her imagining two tiny agents in footie pajamas, complete with magnifying glasses. "Real talk, your kids are like tiny FBI agents," she said. Noah's teasing about her being nosy only made her want to know more. Her law school excuse was totally transparent - she straight up wanted the tea about these mini sleuths. "Look, this is research for my future career. I need intel on their spy game." The mental image of Noah sneaking around his kitchen for a midnight snack, only to get caught by his pint-sized patrol squad? Peak entertainment. "For real though, your kids are giving me major future Supreme Court Justice energy. Or maybe they'll run the CIA. Or both? I mean, they've already mastered stakeouts and interrogations at what ... five years old?"

[noahhwcng]

The comparison of his kids to FBI agents had Noah smiling—Zuri really got it. His twins would absolutely rock those tiny suits and sunglasses. Her enthusiasm for their "spy game" made him wonder if maybe he should encourage their detective skills, even if it meant never getting away with sneaking snacks again. "Supreme Court? CIA? Well, they've already mastered the art of making me confess to every cookie crime," he said, pride mixing with amusement at how scarily competent his five-year-olds were becoming. Their interrogation techniques were getting more sophisticated by the day. "Last week, Lyra actually used my own words against me. I told her 'sharing is caring' when she didn't want to split her markers with Zephyr. Then she threw that right back at me when I tried hiding in the pantry with the last Pop-Tart." The memory still got him—outsmarted by a kindergartener. "Maybe I should start teaching them about plea deals. You know, negotiate my way to at least half a cookie without getting reported to the Snack Police."

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

Dark hues averted to the bouquet of flowers on the table and after hearing what troubled Noah, she picked it up to assess them and smiled brightly as a result of the kind gesture. “Not at all, these are lovely. Thank you for getting them.” As she set them aside, her attention was fully on Noah as she did her best to ignore the nerves that were resurfacing now that it’s the two of them. “Is that so?” she rhetorically asked with an amused smile. “For what it’s worth your sacrifice is duly noted and admirable, plus it's for a good cause...And at the end of the day, her restaurant will always be number one in my heart—if you disregard the biases of course." Lifting up the menu, she scanned it briefly before asking, "Do you have any recommendations?"

[noahhwcng]

Relief filled Noah when Gwen accepted the flowers with such grace. One point going towards this date going in the right direction. She actually likes them—he was sweating bullets the whole way here wondering if bringing flowers was too much. Maybe he hadn't completely messed up the gesture after all. Her quip about Ji-eun's restaurant had him chuckling. At least she understood his sister's influence over the local food scene perfectly. The nerves that had been dancing in his stomach started to settle. He felt at ease now—an easy comfort he hadn't expected to find on a first date. He studied the menu, though he'd already memorized most of it during his previous visits with the twins. "The braised short ribs are incredible. I heard, the seafood stew is a secret family recipe." The words tumbled out before he realized he might be rambling. 

[samiraxiyer]

“It’s true but sometimes…as bad as it sounds, it can almost help them out.” Samira mused with a grin before looking back at the man she was walking with. Her friendship with Noah had begun very organically and she was very thankful not only to have a friend for herself but even for Maya who had quickly become friends with both Zephyr and Lyra as well. “I hope they enjoyed the accidental pep talk because in the workplace, I refuse to compromise, you know?” She knew it sounded bad but now that she’d been promoted to VP of External Affairs she knew she had a big job to do and wanted to ensure it happened without a glitch. It was very cute to see Noah’s reaction to Gwen’s name and mention and she could not stop grinning at the other before nodding as he mentioned her deserving it. “That’s what we’re for—right? Making sure she knows to take time for herself.” Samira grinned at the other man, knowing he’d be sure to do it for the other woman. As they continued walking toward the cinnamon bun place, she glanced back at Noah and shrugged. “I am—plus I’m also a great gift giver so any time you need help, you just ask okay?” She grinned at the other man before nodding and patting his arm, “yeah you probably would’ve been stuck here for hours. Now you get to actually relax so definitely a bonus.” 

[noahhwcng]

Noah knew exactly how spite could drive someone. When Samira started talking about workplace expectations, his brain went finally, someone gets it. "Sometimes the best way to lead is by setting high expectations. Makes everyone step up their game." The conversation turned toward Gwen, and there went his cool factor, right out the window. Seeing her with his twins had changed everything—they'd practically inducted her into their exclusive club, and it felt absolutely perfect. "Yeah, she works too hard. Between you and me, I've been trying to convince her to take more breaks." Thank god she knew her stuff about gift shopping—his brain was about ready to explode from stress. "You're definitely the shopping guru here. I usually end up panic-buying at the last minute, so having backup is a game-changer." The mall actually made sense with her leading the way. "Next time I need gift ideas, you're my first call. You’re a parent, if anyone knows how to shop for kids, it would be you." Small clouds of cinnamon-scented steam drifted through the cafe's open door, and his stomach growled loud enough to the point where anyone could hear it. Turning to his friend with a smile, he asked. "Okay, drink options, we've got sugar with coffee, coffee with sugar, or their special which is basically a liquid dessert with coffee somewhere in the vicinity. Choose wisely."

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

Flipping her hair jokingly, Gwendolyn chuckled and replied nonchalantly on the topic of abusing her power, “What can I say? I am not like the others.” She tried to be different from her predecessors and she hoped it showed in a positive way. “Baby steps.” she then reminded him when it came to taking initiative for his breaks. “For what it’s worth I have faith in you.” It was easier said than done and she knew it would probably take some time for him to even get into the routine of taking a break. 

A laugh escaped her lips after hearing Noah’s plans if she hadn’t shown up. “Honestly…” As she glanced up to meet his gaze, she expressed a cheeky smile and continued with, “Sounds like a blissful break if you ask me." Glancing down at her watch, she then tilted her head and said, "You still have time to carry that out if you want? I can leave you be."

[noahhwcng]

Her claim about being different from others made Noah grin—it rang true from what he'd seen of Gwen so far. The faith she placed in him meant more than she probably realized. Most people in his life either expected too much or too little, but she seemed to get the balance right. When she called his potential nap blissful, he had to agree. The idea of just zonking out on the couch sounded perfect right then. The offer to leave him to it was tempting, but oddly enough, he preferred the company. "Nah, stay. The couch will still be there later. Plus, I'd rather not have my sister find me passed out and drooling when she brings the twins back." The easy back-and-forth with her felt natural, like they'd known each other far longer than they had. Maybe it was because she never pushed too hard or expected him to be anything other than himself—just a tired single dad trying his best. "Though I should probably start setting better examples about taking breaks before the kids pick up my bad habits."

[benjicho]

seeing the way that noah looked at his kids definitely tugged at his heart strings. benji loved seeing anyone with their kids, especially since it was something he wanted for himself at some point in his life. "always next year." he agreed. "i mean, i have no doubt that we'll last. i really care about kim. i mean, i think i'm falling in love with her." to admit that and get it off his chest was almost relieving, especially since he hadn't had a chance to tell her yet. "she'd probably love that. i don't mind getting something extra for her. she may be hungry from all the walking we've been doing."

[noahhwcng]

He found himself grinning at Benji's admission, the kind of grin that sneaks up when you're happy for someone. Falling in love—man, that was a big one. It wasn't the kind of thing you just tossed out there, so hearing the other say it felt like a moment worth acknowledging. "It’s alway nice to hear that you’ve found love. Kim's lucky, and you know what? If you're already thinking about feeding her, you're definitely on your way to husband material." He couldn't resist teasing a little, but there was no denying he meant it. As for the pretzels, he figured it was a solid plan. The twins had never steered them wrong before, and if they called these the best in town, that was good enough for him. "Alright, extras for Kim it is. Those twins know their stuff."

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

❛ ☾ ◟━ LOCATION: recommended korean restaurant

❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: evening - dinner

❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: closed for @noahhwcng

Gwendolyn wasn't sure if it was the nerves or excitement, but she honestly felt like she was in high school again getting ready for a date that she'd been wanting from the get-go. When Noah had texted her the details, she had immediately blocked off her calendar to give herself time to get ready right after work and be able to take her time with it rather than rushing out. She didn't want to be under duress over a man, but the other side of her felt a like a complete teenager as she felt her emotions getting the best of her. After parking her car, she had made way inside and was led to their table where she greeted Noah with a quick cheek kiss, "Hopefully I didn't keep you waiting for too long." she said at first in an apologetic tone. "How are you?" As she met his gaze, she then jokingly said before taking her seat, "Isn't this technically one of your sister's competitors? You sure she won't know? The last thing I want is for you to get traitor status."

[noahhwcng]

Noah had been sitting there for a few minutes, the bouquet of flowers resting on the table like a silent question he couldn’t answer. Were they too much? Too little? Were flowers still a thing for first dates, or was he just being overly old-fashioned? He’d spent way too long at the florist debating between lilies and tulips before settling on a mix of both—bright but not overwhelming, or so he hoped. When Gwen arrived, he felt so nervous, he nearly knocked over his water glass. Smooth start. He gave her a quick smile, trying to play it cool, though his brain felt like it was running laps. “Not at all,” he said, brushing off her apology. “I was just trying to figure out if these flowers make me look like I’m trying too hard or not hard enough.” He nudged the bouquet toward her, hoping she wouldn’t catch the nerves in her action. Her jab about his sister made him laugh, and for once, it wasn’t the awkward, rehearsed kind he’d been practicing. “Oh, Ji-Eun will definitely find out. She has spies everywhere. But, I’m willing to risk it. You’re worth the traitor status.”

[nikhilxkohli]

He could see the look on his friend’s face and shook his head. “You’re looking too surprised, that doesn’t bode well for me…your kids are angels,” he told the other before nodding happily and deciding that he absolutely would help out with the kids just to give Noah (and anybody he’d like to spend his time with) a little bit of a break. “Good call,” he grinned at the other before shrugging, “after all—offers this good don’t come along often you know?” With a grin he shook his head at Noah’s words of warning. “I promise I’ll keep it to cookies if anything,” Nik also knew that he’d have a hard time saying no to these kids but he’d attempt it if he had to. As soon as he heard Zeph’s voice accusing his sister he laughed and shook his head. “Hey now—they’re just kids, don’t tell me you weren’t the same way?” Nik may not have had any siblings but often he’d be accused and the accuser when he’d be playing any games as a kid as well. 

[noahhwcng]

Angels? That was generous. Zeph and Lyra were more like tiny tornadoes with selective manners. Still, the offer was reassuring. It wasn’t often someone willingly stepped into the chaos of twin life without flinching. “Bold choice. Just don’t let them convince you that cookies are a balanced meal,” he said, with a hint of warning. He appreciated the gesture more than he let on—having someone he trusted offer to help felt like a rare win in his otherwise hectic balancing act. When Nik laughed off the sibling squabble, Noah couldn’t help but chuckle too. “Oh, I was worse,” he admitted, the memory of his own childhood antics flashing briefly in his mind. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to pretend I was perfect when I tell them to knock it off.” He shook his head, amused by the irony of parenting. “Alright, you’re officially on the babysitting roster. Just don’t come crying to me when they outsmart you.”

[reyhan-birlik]

—Open Starter (0/4)

Reyhan was still getting her footing in town. Her four years at Duke meant to she familiar with North Carolina in general, but it had been a few years, and each place had its own quirks. The first step of a successful campaign was to get to know the audience, and to do that Reyhan was going to have ingratiate herself with the locals.

"Hey, sorry — cool if I pick your brain for a minute?" she asked a passing stranger, not giving enough time to answer before plowing on. It was her proverbial 'get as much as possible through the door before it shuts' type deal, and it generally served her well. "I'm new to town, and I'm dying for a halfway decent cup of coffee. Any suggestions? And, y'know, a freebee for your troubles..." She wasn't above bribery, and if they took her up on it, she'd be able to expense it.

[noahhwcng]

Noah barely had time to process the stranger’s words before they all came tumbling out, fast and full of purpose. She had this kind of determined energy that made him curious about what else she bulldozed her way through in life. “The Cozy Cup,” he said without a second thought. The name felt automatic—like muscle memory. “Best coffee around, hands down. They’ve got these seasonal lattes that sound weird but always end up being amazing. You sit down, and suddenly it’s an hour later, and you’re wondering if you even need to leave.” His eyebrows shot up as he processed her words. She was offering liquid payment for liquid advice? That was either the most redundant or most clever bribe he'd ever heard. “Wait, so you’re bribing me with coffee... for coffee advice? That’s a pretty solid hustle.” He said, clearly joking, “I’m headed there already. There really is no need for you to do that, but I could direct you that way,” since he was already going that way.

[attyjoshualee]

"Oh she does? What's it called. I'll have to check it out." Sofia let him take over while she dealt with the pasta. Making fresh pasta was always a treat and she knew today would be no different. Given the way the sauce was coming out, Sofia knew they would have a delicious meal to try by the end of this. "I grew up an only child and it was always just my mom and me. The idea of having a couple kids to spoil and love... and even to deal with all the crazy parts of being a parent; I don't know. It sounds like one heck of an adventure, but I want that. I want a family." She didn't know when the conversation had gotten so deep while they were making pasta, but here they were.

[noahhwcng]

The restaurant question earned a nod from Noah. "She does," he said, while his thoughts wandered to Ji-Eun—his sister who'd basically written the book on turning food dreams into reality. He gave the sauce another stir, painfully conscious of his less-than-stellar kitchen skills. Not burning down the studio would basically earn him a gold star at this point. Talk about timing—dropping the family card during pasta night. He went with it, though. “It’s definitely something. Like running a three-ring circus with amateur graffiti artists.” He paused, thinking about Zephyr and Lyra—some days were straight-up survival mode, but when his son would curl up next to him with his favorite book, or she would declare him the "best daddy ever" over burnt toast, and suddenly the chaos made perfect sense. “But yeah, it’s worth it. Every crazy second of it.”

[gwendolynwcde-archived]

Gwendolyn was taken back by Noah’s response as she wasn’t expecting him to be upfront about what she had said. Truthfully, she thought he would take time to process everything as it was a lot of vulnerability coming from her end. At this rate, the Chief of Police could feel her heart racing as it fluttered at the fact that he was willing to accept her, the real her—a wall that she had been hesitating to put down. “No filters…No pretending…” she repeated with an air of confidence while meeting his gaze. There were no lies, only truth and so she believed him. “Okay…” she softly said as she was willing to drop her guard. “I trust you..” 

The pilot’s response regarding his kids was one that Gwen can resonate to in a sense where she too was still learning till this day. Despite going through different motions of life, the eldest Wade was self aware of the things she needed to work on. Right now, she was unlearning to actually put herself first for once and to allow the good that was around her. She decided to move forward with the pumpkin as there was no push back from the both of them. As she was about to head over to the register, she immediately stopped in her tracks as she listened to what Noah had to say. She was just about to open her mouth and explain that he didn’t need to give her an answer now, especially since she sprung all that vulnerability stuff on him. However, she immediately shut it as she took the time to process what was said. 

Noah’s words were the breakthrough that she needed to hear. He was taking a chance on her and she was all in from that moment on. “You have my heart.” she mused as her smile emanated warmth. "I'm all in and willing to give us a try." A laugh soon followed as he spoke about making things official and having dinner someplace else. Leaning up, she captured her lips with his as she gave Noah a gentle kiss to confirm how she felt before pulling away and nodding in response. “Mmkays, it's a date then. Just text me the details and I'll be there." Lifting the pumpkin, she then pointed to the registers and said, "I'll pay for this and we can head out to look at the rest of the attractions." She then took his hand and led the way for the both of them.

[ END. ]

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri had to laugh at Noah's description of his kids' detective skills. These twins gave off total mini superhero vibes with their cookie-busting powers. "The bathroom's your best bet for secret snacks," she said. "For real though, I'm basically a pro at stealth missions by now." His stories about their supersonic hearing made her think about all those times she'd tried to be sneaky back in her foster homes - but this was way cuter. When he asked her to sit and catch up, she did a quick mental check of her other tables. The diner was dead quiet now anyway. Law school drama could wait - she wanted all the tea about these tiny spies who kept their dad on his toes. "Okay but spill about this 2 AM ice cream situation. I need every single detail about how they caught you ... you know, for my future legal career and stuff."

[noahhwcng]

Noah had to admit, Zuri’s laugh made the whole cookie-busting saga feel less like a parenting fail and more like a sitcom episode. Her suggestion about the bathroom as a snack hideout was oddly genius—though he wasn’t sure he wanted to explain to his kids why their dad was eating Oreos next to the toothpaste. “Stealth missions, huh? Sounds like you’ve got some experience in the field,” he said, amused. Her curiosity about the ice cream incident made him chuckle. Of course, she’d want the full breakdown. He could already picture her filing it away as some kind of case study for future courtroom antics. “Alright, so here’s the deal,” he began, leaning in slightly. “I thought I was being smart—waited until they were dead asleep, crept downstairs, and didn’t even turn on the lights. But Lyra? She’s got this sixth sense or something. She just knew. Next thing I know, she’s standing there, arms crossed, asking why I didn’t bring her a bowl too. Zephyr joined in like two seconds later. It was like being interrogated by tiny FBI agents.” He shook his head, still baffled by how they managed to catch him every time. Then, with a teasing grin, he added, “How does my 2 AM ice cream debacle correlate to your law career?” He squinted at her, letting a dimpled smile break through. “Admit it, you’re just trying to be nosey.”

[samiraxiyer]

“Spite can make a person do the most insane things so really I’m not even surprised.” She gave him a smile before continuing, “I remember one time we had someone new sign onto the team and I by mistake spoke about how I didn’t think they had it in them to be part of the stressful team and within months they’d proven me wrong and earned my respect,” she told him with a grin before shrugging. “So I definitely can see the benefit in it,” she told him with a grin before looking back at his face when they spoke about Gwendolyn once more. It was so cute to see the way his mood could shift at her mere mention. “I’m not going into detail,” she told him with a smile before explaining a bit, “I just mentioned to her that you were wanting her to take some time for herself and while she didn’t say anything, I think she really appreciated hearing that.” The mention of needing a cinnamon roll had yielded a very good result with Noah’s agreement and so without a second thought, she was nodding and leading him in the direction of the shop. “Well then you’re very welcome, I always aim to please. Now let’s get this cinnamon goodness.”

[noahhwcng]

Noah had always found spite to be an oddly effective fuel—messy, sure, but undeniably potent. “You won’t hear any arguments here. People do the strangest things when they’re spiteful,” he said, smiling at the memory of his own stubborn streak. “Yeah, that tracks. Nothing like a little doubt to light a fire under someone. Guess you gave them the best accidental pep talk ever.” The second Gwen came up, his heart went and did that thing—that stupid, fluttery thing that made him feel like a teenager again. His kids were already three steps ahead, plotting ways to keep her around forever, and honestly? The way she turned their daily chaos into something that felt suspiciously like peace was making him wonder if they had the right idea. “Oh, really? Well, I’m glad you said something. She deserves it, even if she won’t admit it.” The cinnamon roll deal sealed, he followed her lead, amused by how easily she’d turned his chaotic mall trip into something bearable. “You’re a lifesaver. Seriously, I’d still be wandering around like a lost dad cliché if you hadn’t stepped in.” He figured anyone who could navigate his mess of a shopping list and still prioritize dessert was a friend worth keeping around.