#ares morrigan

[indigoelfinspirit]

Taking a break from the regular queue to provide you with a picture of everyone’s favorite rock boys in the infamous suit.

[indigoelfinspirit]

Azalea's wedding was beautiful. Unfortunately it rained so rather than the nice outdoor reception we all piled into the house afterwards. It was great, so many fun memories. It was just the family, Rode, Phoenix, and the Morrigans that stuck around after the wedding – which was probably more people than Az wanted to be honest.

It was just very relaxed. Everyone talking and telling stories. Uncle Ares and Dad told stories about when they started the band that I had never heard before. Rode talked about Az when she was a kid before she had met Alula to Az's absolute horror. Mom actually told a couple stories about Rusty, Az's dad, for the first time.

[indigoelfinspirit]

It's my last memory of all of us together, happy. Azalea naturally moved in with Alula and they were busy starting their lives. They lived closer to Rode now anyway, so he never really felt the need to come to the island after that. The Morrigans divorced a few weeks later. Uncle Ares would spend more time at his place next door after the divorce, which was the only upside. Aunt Sunflower had moved to a penthouse in San Espe, so Mars and Io would come spend the weekends on the Island with their dad. Io and the twins were super close, and Mars ended up being pretty cool for a straight guy so Phoenix and I would hang out with him a lot. The new school year would start shortly after that too. I came out and that completely changed my high school experience. I don't want to say it was bad, but accepting is not a word I would associate Nixieberg High. I'm digressing, aren't I? Let's just say it was the perfect wedding, and a day we'd all cherish.

[indigoelfinspirit]

Ares shook his head. "Are you okay? I mean you look like you've lost weight since I saw you last." Paris fidgeted for a second. "It's flaring up again." "Bad?" "Not as bad as last time." Ares looked doubtful. "I promise." "Do the kids know?" "Not really. They're a bit young. I do what I can with them, and they understand I have limits..."

[indigoelfinspirit]

"I'm sorry." Ares reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "I can't help you there. Honestly we're here this summer because Sunny's threatening to leave me. She loves everything my career gets her, but she doesn't like the time I spend. We're fine when we're touring oddly enough, but not when we get back and I'm in the studio writing and recording and suddenly I'm too busy and not spending enough time with the kids." He sighed. "No relationship is perfect. We all have are issues. At least your girl likes you." "Yeah, Sunny did only marry you for your hair." "Hey now." "Sorry you're having marriage trouble." "Oh, it was inevitable. I mean you did warn me." "And I was trying so hard not to say I told you so too."

[indigoelfinspirit]

"And how are you handling that?" "It sucks ass." Paris admitted. "Orion's on the track team and I can't run with him - and I loved running. The twins are still at the age that they want someone to play with them, and I can't really. We took them skating at Nixie Faire the other day and I landed on my ass and could barely walk the next day." "Ouch," Ares said. "And Callista... she wanted another baby, and I just can't. We can't, because I'm sick, and it's killing me to break her heart like that. She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't complain, she understands, and she's supportive but she shouldn't have to be. I should be able to do more and I just can't."

[indigoelfinspirit]

"Do you miss it? Touring that is." Paris shrugged. "I used to, but I like watching my kids grow up." "You can always bring the kids with you. Mars and Io love it." Ares pointed out. "Callista would hate it. But my touring days are behind me anyway." Ares looked worried, but he just signed. "Callie hates crowds and going places."

[indigoelfinspirit]

Ares sighed. “You want my advice kid?”

“Almost always.” “Ask him out. You’ll regret it if you don’t. Regardless of what happens in the future. I feel like the first person isn’t what you want or need right now, but the way you light up when you talk about the second guy is special. I had someone that I thought of like that way back and I am still kicking myself for not confessing because, kids aside, I settled for someone else and look how that ended. I’d rather have regretted trying and failing then to be stuck wondering what if like I am.”

Orion’s eyes narrowed. “It wasn’t my dad was it?”

Ares laughed. “That would’ve been hilarious. No it wasn’t, which is good because we probably would’ve starved to death in the studio.”

“Assuming this person is still alive, why don’t you ask them now?”

“Because I missed my window. Honestly we haven’t even talked since I got engaged. You see I realized too late that they were interested too, and when I chose someone else it hurt them too badly. They healed and found someone they could trust. I paid for it by living with someone who wanted to turn me into someone I’m not. Besides, I don’t want a relationship right now. Work has not gotten any less insane and what time can I free up I want to spend with Mars and Io.” Ares shrugged. “Guess I’m starting to become a boring, sentimental old man.”