#wolfmond au

[allroundlostcause]

[video message of toddler ollie standing on a bench in the kitchen, mini chef hat and apron, tongue poking out of the corner of his lips as he vigorously stirs cake batter - mostly egg since the flour seems to have gone everywhere else. the tot looks up at the camera and grins, holding up the spoon - more mix goes flying. "Happy birthday, Uncle Ric!" the blond boy squeals before stuffing the spoon into his mouth]

Alaric laughs his head off. No doubt. Ollie is gonna be a chef, one day. Alaric watches the video twice before he heads upstairs to show Nik.

[@ally]: I’ll blow off the nightshift. We’re coming over, I need to taste this cake. Thanks, both of you. Best birthday present ever.

[meredithcheats]

@littlestripedwarrior liked for a thing

  “So I did this thing where I took a weekend off,” Meredith announced as soon as she saw the red head.  “Which means I really want to visit with you.  And play Auntie Meredith.  Can I do that?”

[allroundlostcause]

[voicemail] "Hey, babe! We're in.. Vienna! Oh my god, I can't believe I'm doing this.." She laughed a little, sounding nervous before the sound of Ollie's babbling could be heard. "I just wanted to call and update you. We're all safe and sound and only mildly jetlagged. We love you guys!"

"Nik,” he called. “Come and listen to this.”

Alaric played the message for Nik. Ally sounded so happy; Alaric was glad she’d gone, and he was glad he’d managed to buy the go pro camera so they could see a little of it. 

“I’ll send a message.”

[text]: You sound so happy. Have an amazing time! Take thousands of photos and give Nate a New York kiss from us. Our nephew, too! Merry Christmas, Ally.

[allroundlostcause]

[text] Haha go for it! Thank you, Ric!

[text]: I’ll sort it out on the weekend and definitely see you before you go. Come by and try the duck. Love you. Give the little prince a kiss from me.

[allroundlostcause]

[text] Of course! [text] Maybe I'll hook up a GoPro on Ollie and capture the whole thing :P [text] 17th. Still got a week and a bit to sort out work, and obviously see you guys before then!

[text]: Let me buy you guys a GoPro for Christmas. Please? I was stumped anyway.

[allroundlostcause]

[text] I'm doing it. [five minutes later] [text] Tickets booked. Holy fuck. I'm doing it!

[text]: Best Christmas ever. You’d better send photos. When are you leaving?

[allroundlostcause]

[wolfmond] [text] I'm going to go visit Nate in Vienna just before Christmas. [text] Am I crazy? Is this completely nuts?

[text]: Of course it’s nuts. Love is nuts. Do it!

[allroundlostcause]

[wolfmond] [voicemail] "Hey, sweetie. I guess you're working. Or sleepin'. I just.. I needed to talk to you. Y'know, Nate got a part. A really great part in this historical drama flick. Really, he's going to do so well.. except it's in Vienna. He's going to Vienna. Th-that's a long way away, Ric. A long way away for /months/. I'm happy for him, I swear I am. I want all the best things for that man but.. can't I be a little sad too?"

Alaric receives the voicemail early in the morning, after the restaurant is closed. He sits for a moment, and then opens his laptop to send an email.

to: [email protected]: [email protected]

Hey, Ally.

I get it. You’ll miss him. And you’re allowed to feel nervous, scared, whatever the hell you feel. But you have to see what we’re seeing, right? He’s kind of besotted with you, and he loves Oliver.

It’s going to be okay.

Be sad, but be sad over here where you’re loved. I expect you at the family table tomorrow night. Tonight, I mean. It’s late. I think I mean tonight. Every night.

Anyone worth loving is worth missing, babe. Don’t ever forget that.

~ A