snow in the moonlight

Valarya Basala

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

Reagan took a deep breath as she nodded along to Pierce’s words. “I wish I was as optimistic as you are. I just…I don’t want to get my hopes up. Besides, they’ve been friends with you almost as long as I’ve been alive. That’s…a little intimidating, I won’t lie.”

“Well think about it this way: Annie definitely has your back, Tara’s going to spend the entire night interrogating Brennon, so you won’t need to worry about her. And you did just help Hannah with the Hampton’s house situation,” Pierce pointed out, “So that should at least give you a few points in your favor.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

Reagan let her sister guide her to the couch, wiping at her eyes at they moved. Try as she did, the tears would not stop flowing. “I’m sorry. You didn’t come here to deal with me crying my eyes out. You came to celebrate Christmas.” 

“No, don’t apologize. If you need to cry, you need to cry,” Cairean said, holding her sister close. She hated that California was an entire country away - even though it was closer than she’d like to Padriac (and she wasn’t even trying to think of her being in the same city now). But she knew that Reagan needed her, and there was only so much that she could do by video chatting, “We have the rest of the month to celebrate Christmas, I’d rather help you first.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

The tears started flowing before Reagan could stop them.  “It happened again. At Thanksgiving. Pierce knows now.” Better her than Maeve, at the very least. No matter that some nights she barely slept and clung to Pierce like he was a life preserver. At least her sister got some respite. The same way Caireann had tried to protect her for years. 

“Come on, let’s sit down,” Caireann said, leading her sister to the couch.  She hated it, that it kept happening over and over. Just like she hated that she couldn’t protect Reagan from it anymore.  “Just let it out,” she soothed, stroking her sister’s hair, “cry it all out.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

Reagan wanted to believe her husband (wow saying that was going to take some getting used to) but between Ciara and the hospital, she just couldn’t. Taking a step closer, she reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. The feel of his skin under hers grounded her, a reminder that someone loved her, no matter the voices in her head. “Are you sure about that? Today seems to have different ideas.”

“I mean, Brennon’s also new so you have that in common, Annie already loves you, and Tara’s coming around which everyone’s going to see is a big deal. Then I can’t see any reason as to why Laura or Hannah wouldn’t like you,” Pierce insisted, smiling down at his wife, “I think that today’s going to end on a good note.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

A fairy tale. Or a romantic drama. One where the main couple actually liked each other, not the ones where they end up having passionate sex until the fire burns out and they grow sick of each other. “Good. I’m happy for you. To tell you the truth, sometimes I wish I could do that too. But I couldn’t leave them to deal with him, not when I could…” Reagan trailed off, her mind wandering back to Thanksgiving. “I wish there was more I could do.”

“I know,” Caireann quietly nodded, pulling her sister into a tight hug, “Honestly leaving was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I just....” he paused as he voice broke, “I had hoped that it’d only be me. And that he got it out of his system. And I’m sorry,” he continued, “I wish there was more I could do too.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

Reagan smoothed down her dress for the hundredth time as she looked in the mirror. Meeting your husband’s friends who just moved back to the States from Africa? Completely normal. Meeting your husband’s ex-wife? That wasn’t normal, was it? Her hand went up grab a strand of hair for inspection. Why had she let Devin talk her into the blonde? Pierce liked it, and Reagan had to admit she did too, but for everyone else it just seemed to confirm that she was a gold-digging whore who only wanted Pierce’s money. She heard the bathroom door click open and she turns to present her outfit to Pierce. “Well, how do I look?”

Pierce was excited. It had been a while since he had heard from Hannah (other than hearing a few things about her current divorce) and he’d been looking forward to seeing Laura and really getting to meet Brennon. It hand been awhile since the med school group had gotten together, and he couldn’t help but hope that they liked Reagan, though he couldn’t imagine them not liking Reagan. Not when she had Annie's seal of approval and Tara’s tolerance (which was a big step in and of itself). “You look perfect,” Pierce smiled as he looked at her outfit, “They’re going to love you.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“Fine, you win this round. Getting paid is much better than having to pay. Congratulations on being older than me.” Reagan teased. “At least I don’t have to go through a residency with law, though. I’m not sure I could stand it.” As if a residency was the only thing standing between her and a career in medicine and not the fact that she fainted every time she so much as thought about blood. “I would say that second year of university isn’t a great time either, but I guess that’s when a lot of people start serious relationships. But despite the stress and business, are you happy?”

“Well, I think that was just luck of the draw there,” Caireann chuckled, “Well I guess you got lucky finding Pierce, maybe I’ll get lucky like that someday. Like something out of a fairy tale,” she continued with a smile, before nodding at the question, “I am happy. Like I know that cutting off the family with stuff kind of rubbed everyone the wrong way, but it’s like I finally can breathe and be myself without..everything.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ll still be in your residency while I’m in law school. So you’re going to be suffering just as much as I am.” Reagan missed this easy banter. She knew Caireann had her reasons for hiding all the way across the country, but the selfish part of Reagan missed her big sister. “Our ways? Is this your way of trying to tell me something? Maybe a special someone?”

“Okay true, but at least I’ll be getting paid for it by then,” Caireann pointed out, though really she knew that Reagan was right. She missed her, and there really was no amount of video calls that could make up for actually being with Reagan in person.  “No, there’s nobody,” Caireann said, shaking her head, “I mean the last year of med school isn’t really a great time to get to know someone anyway, like what guy would want to try to start dating me when I’m this busy and stressed?” Though really the idea of dating a guy really just was the last thing Caireann ever wanted to do again, not that she was going to admit that part out loud. 

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“All I have to say to that is better you than me.” Laughing at her older sister’s expense was mean….it was also exactly what she was supposed to do as a little sister. “It keeps us busy, that’s for sure. But, I’m not turning down any happy occasion I can get. I really don’t think he will. He’ll just be glad you respect his celebrations.”

“You know, I’ll just have to file that one away once I am finally working and you’re suffering in law school,” Caireann teased, even though they both knew that it was an empty threat, “I can’t blame you though, we never really got enough happy growing up, so I guess we both have our ways of trying to make up for it now.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“Giving you a right proper go-around, is it? This semester’s been the same for me. It feels like the last few months have passed in a whirlwind.” Reagan chuckled and took another sip of coffee. Some of that whirlwind was her own doing, some of it was school, and some of it was just life have a laugh at her expense. “No, I’m sure he won’t. I think he likes getting to share his culture and religion. I was so afraid I was going to drive him bonkers with all of my questions last, but he had just as many about Christmas and Easter so I didn’t feel as bad.”

“Yeah, university just has a way of doing that to you,” Caireann nodded knowingly, “But that’s good that you guys are sharing like that. It must be a really nice way to learn about each other with the different holidays and everything.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

Reagan’s eyes followed Caireann’s gaze to the menorah set up beside her nativity scene. “Oh, yeah. I thought I told you that? We’re a Christmas and Hanukkah family.” Her eyes posed the question her mouth wouldn’t voice: is that going to be a problem? “Um, Hanukkah lasts until Friday, so I think he’d appreciate it if you said something. And you’re welcome to come tonight, if you want.”

“You might have but you know med school,” Caireann chuckled, letting out a dramatic breath for emphasis, “But that sounds fun. It gives you more stuff to celebrate,” she continued, with a smile, “But yeah I’d love that.  If he wouldn’t mind, I don’t want to impose on everything, but I’ve always been a little curious about it since we never celebrated.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

A wide smile spread across Reagan’s face at Caireann’s question. “Married life’s been great. Honestly, it’s not that different from how things were before but I have a new piece of jewelry and a new name.” Everything she said was technically true, even if the honeymoon period wasn’t as happy as it should be thanks to Thanksgiving. “But we’re both happy. Pierce is great.”

“Good, I’m glad, you deserve to be happy,” Caireann smiled, finally starting to take off her gloves and scarf now that the presents were arranged under the tree the way she liked it, before spotting the menorah by the nativity set, “Oh...Pierce is Jewish?” she asked, “I didn’t know that. Am I supposed to tell him Happy Hannakuh or is it over already?”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“Believe me, I still can’t believe it either. I think my eyes just about popped out of my head the first time I found that out.” Reagan chuckled with a shake of her head. “And it’s still a little weird for me to hear people calling him Dr. Montgomery. I guess it’s all about perspective. You know him as a world class surgeon and I know him as my boy-husband. Which is also taking some time to get used to.”

“Yeah, that makes sense,” Caireann chuckled, as she finished setting the presents under the tree, “But you’ve only been married like a month, so you’re allowed to still be getting used to it. So how has married life been? Still happy and in your honeymoon stage?”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

This was not happening. Reagan was not talking about sex, her own or a roommate’s, with her sister. No way in hell. She’d rather kiss the Blarney stone on her own, with no safeguards than have this conversation. “No. I am not getting my husband sex candy for Christmas, regardless of if we open presents in front of the whole family. And I’m not sure he’ll really want to go ice skating considering the like insane amount his hands are insured for.” Reagan sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll figure something out. Eventually.”

“Oh....right. I forgot that super important surgeons get to do that,” Caireann said, still blushing from the fact that she had brought up sex candy, “But yeah, maybe we can just window shop and there’ll be something that you see that’ll just scream Dr. Mont......Pierce. It’s still a little weird getting used to that.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“You and me both. I got him a freaking make your own hot sauce kit for Valentine’s, like. I even asked him what he wanted and he said “Surprise me.” Like how’s that supposed to help me figure this out.” Reagan took another large swig of her coffee, barely grimacing at the taste or the temperature. “He’s the most spoiled cat int he world and eats wet cat food as a treat. He thinks kibble is an attempt to poison him so no dry cat treats.”

“Yeah...........maybe when we go get our nails done we can go to the mall and see if we can find something. I mean if he likes something that you can do together maybe find something like that? Or like...one of my friends got her boyfriend like some weird like sex candy thing that she spent like the last two weeks talking about nonstop so like maybe you could do that? But I don’t actually know where to get that or what you would do with that, so actually let's not do that it’d probably be weird,” Caireann said, blushing as she wished she could get her mouth to STOP TALKING, “Especially if we do presents in front of the whole family, so let’s go back to the activities you can do together. Or like...maybe like take him ice skating or something?”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

“Hmmm, that’s odd. He usually likes people. I’m sorry about that.” Reagan glanced down at the machine. “I don’t know…maybe twenty years?” She brought her cup to her lips, pausing as the thought hit her. “Oh shit. Pierce has had this coffee maker since his first marriage. That is…… I really have to talk him into replacing it.”

“Yeah....that’s kinda weird,” Caireann chuckled, “Though I’ve been struggling to figure out what to get him for Christmas, because you know what do you even get the surgeon who can afford everything. But clearly, a coffeemaker might be in order. And maybe also cat treats,” she continued, “What are Simba’s favorites? Maybe I can bribe him into liking me.”

[rya-basala]

strangertothedark​:

For the however many time of the night, a blush once again spread across Reagan’s face. She still didn’t understand what Pierce saw in her, but she wasn’t questioning it. Not when being with him sent the same sparks through her. “I like spending time with you too.”

Wow, she was cute when she blushed. The thought just sprung into his mind and truthfully he was glad that he didn’t have to back it up with trying to convince himself that she wasn’t interested. “I’m glad,” he smiled, focusing on getting the stitches out, “And done,” he said a few minutes later, “Good as new.”