• Stealing Cinderella •

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg felt like she was in high school again, nervously awaiting the sound of a doorbell that would signal the arrivial of her date. It wasn't the date that had her on edge, not at all. Actually, she was looking forward to that part. What had her fussing was the fact that tonight, her father would finally be meeting her new boyfriend. She'd been prolonging this for as long a time as she could, but it was getting dangerously close to worrying her dad now. He knew she was seeing someone, and that that someone made her smile happier than it'd been in years. Meg hadn't told him too much else. She didn't want his judging eyes roving over Theo and finding every single flaw, like Mr. Warren did with all the past guys his precious daughter brought home. For her, Theo was good enough, and not even her father's opinion would be changing that. Still, it'd be nice to know that he approved because, no matter how old she got, she'd still be a Daddy's Girl to the core.

She swiped more lip gloss onto her already shiny lips, checking her hair in the mirror once more. They were only going back to Theo's for a movie night, but she still wanted to look nice. Plus, her dad didn't know about the later plans. If it appeared the couple were going out to eat instead of back to a house, Meg was positive her dad would let her go without a fuss. If he found out about the real plans, there was a chance Theo would be getting grilled about pregnancy, treating "Meggy" right, and various other things that Meg was cringing at already. Urgh, tonight was going to be interesting.

Meg came into the living to find her father sprawled out on the couch, book in hand though it was obvious he wasn't reading it. His eyes were on the mantle above the fireplace, photos and other momentos decorating the shelf. Most of the pictures were of him and Meg when she was younger, and a few of Meg alone. There was a wedding photo, and one of Meg with her mother on some vacation they'd taken when she was little. Compared to the blonde young woman standing in the doorway now, those pictures seemed to have been taken centuries ago. Meg smiled and spun around in front of her dad, who grinned at her and pulled his baby girl down onto the couch next to him. She kissed his cheek gently, getting back up as quickly as she'd been yanked down. "Could you please behave yourself? He's a really great guy, Daddy," she pleaded, giving him the puppy-dog eyes that nine times out of ten worked. Mr. Warren shook his head, "We'll see, Margaret." He picked up his book again, leaving a flustered Meg to collect her purse from the kitchen as the doorbell rang.

Before her dad had a chance to even think about getting up, Meg dashed back to the living room and opened the door, smiling breathlessly at Theo as she attempted to ward off a heartattack.

Well, here goes nothing.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 593!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

“Okay, look, I’m going to pick Meg up and bring her over. I need you ta keep an eye on Issy for me until I get back and then you can get out.”

[/color] Theo told his sister as he grabbed his hoodie and car keys. It might have only been a casual movie night, but he didn’t want Lilia playing the nosey little sister and interrupting things. “Luckily for you, I’m meeting up with the girls for a quiet drink.” The slender brunette told the older man as she moved to the sink to wash the dishes from her dinner. He gave her a brotherly smirk and moved to kiss Lilia’s cheek. “Love you, Lil.”[/color] He said with a small smile as he pushed his feet into his etnies. He had been happier as of late and hopefully tonight would be a chance for him to prove to Meg that he was capable of making a relationship work, despite how secretive and messed up his life seemed to be.

Issy was already in bed, but he wasn’t going to leave his daughter alone to go and pick up his girlfriend. Girlfriend; wow, that felt weird to say. It was still difficult to wrap his head around considering Jenny. He still wore the wedding bands around his neck on a chain and the tattoo on his back was a permanent reminder of who she was, who she had been and what this all meant. There were few pictures of his wife in the house, aside from Issy’s room and one on Theo’s own dresser. He was hoping to keep tonight a happy one and move on from his deceased wife. It might have been a simple night that he had planned, but it was a big deal for the Scottish actor.

He drove to Meg’s without worrying about what might be there to greet him. He hadn’t had any overprotective fathers when he started dating Jenny since her dad had known him longer than he had known his own daughter! The very idea didn’t even cross Theo’s mind at first, which probably wasn’t the greatest thing, but it kept his nerves at bay. Had he been worrying about a dad with a shotgun, he probably never would have left his own house, let alone drove to Meg’s. It didn’t take him too long to find the street she had given him and slowly he drove down it, his dark eyes straining to see the numbers of the houses before he finally found the right one. He backed up a bit and then slid his car into the space just before the drive.

He stepped out of the car and locked it, tugging his hoodie before he walked up towards Meg’s front door, ringing the bell and stepping back, turning around to survey the rest of the street. He heard the click of the lock and then smiled as he turned to face Meg. “Hello.”[/color] He said, his thick accent shining through as always.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!629
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg wasn't worried at all about the date-portion of the evening. That part she could handle. It was introducing Theo to her father that had her fretting and buzzing about. The look on her dad's face told her he wasn't going to let the couple get off easily, but she was hoping she was imagining it. He couldn't torture them too much, right? And, it wasn't like he could pull out old photo albums; most of the pictures around the living room alone were enough to make her cringe. He could scare off Theo though... that was her biggest fear right now. They were doing so great together, and both of them seemed happier now than they had been. Could her father really be the person to ruin it all for them? No, he wasn't that cruel, and Meg knew it. It didn't stop her from worrying though.

Her heart was racing as she opened the door, and she was aware of her father's eyes on her back, trying to see past his daughter to the young man on the porch. Meg tried to calm herself, opening the door wider and stepping back. "Hey," she smiled sweetly. "Mind coming in? There's someone who wants to meet you." Not giving him a chance to protest, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the living room, fingers lacing through his. If they didn't survive this, at least they'd be going down together.

Mr. Warren kept his position on the couch, eyeing the two of them up warily as Meg gave him the best innocent smile that she could. Stepping into the center of the living room, she gave Theo's hand a squeeze. "Daddy, this is Theo my... uhm... my boyfriend," she stammered, not daring to look at either of the men present now. If she did, she would probably burst from the nerves prickling in her body. This had to go well.

"Nice to finally meet you, Theo," her father answered with a nod. His face showed no emotion, and Meg was about ready to shake him if he didn't give some signal that he approved. "You take care of Meggy, ya hear?"

Meg's cheeks flushed and she gave her dad a disapproving glare at the use of her pet name. "Daddy," she hissed sharply. "We're just going for a movie, right? I should be home by-"

"Midnight," Mr. Warren interrupted, giving her a mirror of the look she'd just thrown him. "Midnight, little girl. I'm sure your boyfriend can handle that, yeah?" His eyes turned to Theo once again, a challenge present. This young man was by no means going to hurt any daughter of his, and that needed to be settled out front, even if Meg was silently begging him to stop.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 515!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Meeting Mr Warren was not something he had expected, but he figured that the man who had been sitting on the couch was none other than Meg’s father. Her question was seemingly rhetorical so he didn’t answer, but simply smiled at the older gentleman, not feeling at all fazed by the look he seemed to be shooting at him. Maybe it was because he’d done all of this dating thing before, or maybe because he’d never been confronted by a father before or even because he was a father himself and knew long ago that one day he’d be in Mr Warren’s shoes, staring down the boy who was dating Issy. When that day came, Theo would be putting on the aggressive side to his accent, throwing him the darkest look imaginable and putting his acting talents to excellent use to ward the boy off from harming his precious daughter. Yes, he understood the need to be protective and it wasn’t a strange concept for him. Theo had even seen his father doing it with Lilia’s high school dates, though usually there was Theo and Alan flanking him on either side, the trio making quite the formidable barrier between a hormonal teenage boy and the youngest and only girl in the family home.

He smiled down at Meg, slightly confused by her nervousness. Usually it was him who felt the anxiety build when they were together, not the sunshine blonde who was rarely without a confident smile on her face. He had yet to understand what it was that had her so fidgety all of a sudden, but then his eyes fell on her father who was motionless, still on the couch, his face a blank canvas of emotion. Ah, so it did seem that he’d be getting the father treatment. Right, he could deal with this. He was trained to act through almost every situation and this was one he had lived through time and time again, though never in the position of boyfriend. He knew how the game went though, and believed himself to be skilled enough not to fall for any of the usual tricks that Mr Warren may throw his way. “Pleasure ta meet you, sir.”

[/color] He said with a friendly smile and a small nod of his head too. Maybe it was a guy thing, but the nod was important in social interactions. It was that acknowledgement, that consideration for the other male and without it, well, Theo didn’t know what might arise. “Of course, nothing but the best for Meg. I cannae argue with that.”[/color] He responded with a soft chuckle in his voice. He tried to keep his accent soft, just in case. There had been people who did struggle with his foreign voice, but he didn’t like walking around faking one of the other many accents he had perfected thanks to his major.

He had to admit, he was a little amused by the whole situation, but he kept his laughter inside, at least until they reached his car. Then, he might take a few moments to compose himself again. He’d never been on the receiving end of this before and was wondering if he, his brother and his father had looked quite like this all those years ago. “Midnight, it is. The hour’s a little late for me, myself, so don’t worry. I’ll have her back on time.”[/color] He promised. Usually, at midnight, Theo was the only one awake, fighting to sleep through his fitful insomnia that was still plaguing him, despite his recent bout of happiness. He still found this whole thing amusing, but he was doing his damned best not to succumb to temptation and laugh with this man, discuss male bonding topics and share a drink or something. It was the father in him shining through; the need to bond with someone like himself, a man with a daughter of his own.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!690
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

All her life, Meg had been a Daddy's girl, and that showed without even looking at the pair of them. One glance around their house, and you would've instantly been able to tell how close they were. It was why she was still living with him instead of in a dorm or apartment of her own. She couldn't stand to leave him all alone, especially not in this dangerous city. Sure, by staying at "home" she was forced into situations like these that were basically a repeat of high school, but it was all worth it in the end. He was the only family she had left, and Meg wasn't about to let that go.

Looking between the two men in the room, she felt like she might faint. Her father was a perfect image of the typical, movie-worthy father defending his innoccent little baby girl. Theo, on the other hand, seemed cool and confident and much more at ease than she was for once. Then again, he was an actor. She should've expected as much. Meg continued to give her father pleading looks, trying not to roll her eyes as he spoke again. She wanted this over and done with; the sooner, the better.

"Your best and my best may be two very different things," Mr. Warren answered, lips pressed tight into a thin line. "Just get her home on time. And no funny business, Margaret Rose," he added, eyes back on his fidgeting daughter as she turned her gaze away from him now. The use of her full name made her cringe, and the blush on her cheeks darkened. In a way, it was even worse than the pet name. Meg may be twenty-two and legally allowed to decide her own curfew, bedtime, or whatever else it could be called, but she'd never dare disobey her father. She'd always be a little girl when around him; his little girl.

"I'm sure Theo can manage it, Daddy. He's been doing fine the past couple weeks," Meg retorted, shifting closer to Theo and giving him a tiny smile. If there had been no incidents since their encounter outside the auditorium, she doubted there'd be a big one tonight. Afterall, how wrong could a simple movie date go?

With another nod, Mr. Warren said, "Good. I don't want my girl out all night with a guy. She's got school to worry about. You have your phone, Meggy?"

Now, Meg really did roll her eyes. But, to hopefully shut him up, she reached into her purse, expecting to find her phone in its usual pocket. When she didn't, she mentally cursed. "Must've left it in my room. Behave while I'm gone?" Her eyes went between both guys, making it unclear who the comment was directed to. Really, Meg didn't know herself. She released Theo's hand and dashed off towards her room, leaving them alone in the living room.

With his daughter gone, Mr. Warren finally stood up, now level with Theo. "I don't want her hurt 'cause of you. Or at all, for that matter. She's a good girl, and the likes'a you don't need to be wrecking that. Clear?"

If Meg had been present, there was a chance she would've fled the house in total horror.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 589!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo could understand Mr Warren’s over-protectiveness. It was one of the primal responses in life to protect the children from any threat and whilst Theo meant Meg no harm whatsoever, he understood that to Mr Warren, he was potentially the man who would take his daughter away from him. He could tell that Meg was a daddy’s girl from the tales she had told or the way she would talk about her father. It wasn’t something he minded at all and he hoped that when Issy was in her twenties she would talk about Theo in the same happy manner that Meg did her father.
Even this, right now, was that primal fight that was usually seen on wildlife documentaries. Mr Warren was sizing Theo up, making sure he was the right kind to let into his pride, his home. They had to evaluate each other; Theo to see how much leeway he would have as Meg’s boyfriend and Mr Warren to see how much this Scotsman might hurt his daughter. Either way, Theo would always be a threat to the older man, but it was going to take time for Mr Warren to accept that his words were honest and his silent promise spoken with his eyes was valid.

Although, Theo had to be honest; he didn’t like being on this side of the situation. It might have been hypocritical of him, but he didn’t like the tone of Mr Warren’s voice or the nervous disposition of his girlfriend that only grew worse with the nicknames and the unnecessary usage of her full name. “I promise, she’ll be home on time and in one piece.”

[/color] Theo gave the father a confident look to accompany the slightly forced smile now. He wasn’t going to be belittled by him, but he knew better than to kick up a fuss. If women could fight with their eyes then guys could also, though usually guys had a battle of power, rather than a battle of control or possession. “Dinnae worry. I have a 9am workshop myself. She’ll be back not a minute afta midnight.”[/color] Theo swore, throwing the man another smile, hopefully this time winning him over.

As Meg left the room, the tense atmosphere only thickened and Theo knew what was coming next before Mr Warren even spoke. He had played this scene before; he knew how the game went, even if being the boyfriend as opposed to the brother was a little new for him. Eye level with him now, Theo didn’t flicker though that was partially due to his acting abilities. Nodding his head in understanding, Theo paused for a blink of a moment before responding. “’The likes o’ me’ have no intention o' wrecking that, or anything else in Meg’s life. I like your daughter, Mr Warren, and I only want ta give her the best.”[/color] The next part came out before Theo really thought about it, or maybe he did think and consider that Meg had already told her father the situation the twenty six year old was in. “I have a daughter o’ my own, sir, so I understand how protective you are, but believe me, I want nothing less for Meg than I want for my own baby girl.”[/color] Theo hoped that would clear up the tension between them, but the little voice in the back of his mind began to believe otherwise from the second Theo shut up.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!690
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Silently, Meg was cursing herself into oblivion. She couldn't believe she'd actually agreed to doing this tonight. There could've been an elaborate dinner, or maybe a night spent together for a birthday, or anything other than the current situation. It was quite clear that her father wasn't going to wait much longer to meet Theo, so what other choice did she have? She could've called to warn her boyfriend, but she knew that'd only make him nervous and more fidgety than she was. No, this was the best option if they were to be introduced out of the blue. But, gosh, did she wish it could've gone down some other way.

Meg raced into her bedroom, the same one she'd had since moving to New York a few years back. Everything remained in the exact place it had been put upon arriving in the bustling state but, at the moment, her phone was not where it was supposed to be. "Really? Are you kidding me?" she mumbled angrily to herself, diving down onto her knees to check the floor around her bed and dresser. It had to be here somewhere. The last place she'd seen it was on her nightstand before she'd gone and gotten in the shower, and when she'd returned -- wait. It hadn't been there. But, her dad had been sneaking guiltily out of her room. She was going to scream the moment she was alone with him again.

Back in the living room, Mr Warren was watching this boy with the eyes he used on every one of Meg's "dates". He knew this was more than one date, and that his daughter was too old to need his approval of a guy now, but it didn't stop him from staring the lad down. If this Theo was going to be present for awhile, which he assumed was true from the look on Meggy's face, there needed to be some ground rules set. And, if this really was the guy who'd steal his precious baby girl away, there would need to be time for the two of them to get comfortable with each other, though, at the moment, bonding was far from his mind. ""You have a... a what?" he responded, eyes widening in shock at the mention of this young man having a daughter. He couldn't be much out of his mid-twenties, and yet he had a daughter? Right away, his protective mode clicked on and so did the animailistic need to protect his baby. ""Now, listen here, I don't want her pregnant by any means or even... even for you to think about doing that with her," he said, still stunned from the revelation. Meg had to have known about the kid; she was too curious not to pry until she found out about it. But she hadn't told him and, now, it looked like she'd never have to.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 515!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo stood there, patiently expecting Meg to come down the stairs before the two men could really have a serious chat, but it seemed as though other forces were at play, because despite how hard he tried, he couldn’t hear her footsteps approaching the small room where the two men were having a rather epic struggle for power in the situation, though it seemed neither really wanted to push the other too much. The actor didn’t want it to appear as though he was stealing Meg or trying to act arrogant, but at the same time, he wasn’t going to cower before her father. Theo was twenty six with a lifetime of experiences not many his aged shared and they defined his character and made him who he was; what he wasn’t, was a coward.

That little voice was right once again. It seemed Theo didn’t do well in the aspects of his life that weren’t scripted. He saw the shock on Mr Warren’s face and the protective rage that followed, but Theo held up his hands and shook his head. The older man had gotten this all wrong, but he hadn’t exactly worded it properly either. “No, no, it’s nothing like that.”

[/color] He said quickly before relaxing his posture and sighing softly. He hadn’t told Meg any of this yet. She knew about Issy, but that was as far as her answers went. He wasn’t ready for her sympathy or her pity and the wound was much too fresh to just sit her down and tell her willingly. Her father might understand though, but could he trust him to keep quiet until Theo got around to telling Meg? “I was married. I was with the lass for eleven years, married for three o’ those. Her name was Jenny and she died a few days afta giving birth ta our daughter, Isabella.”[/color] He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open to a picture of the red haired one year old and offering it to the other dad. “I’ve been raising her and balancing college ever since. She turned one just before Christmas.”[/color] He smiled softly and then looked up at the older man once more. “I have nothing but respect and admiration for your daughter. I’ve never been the kind of man to treat a woman like that and I’m not about to start now.”[/color] He said confidently, hoping to make his point clear. It was hard to give him the brief details of what had happened, but Theo felt like it was right. Father to father, man to man, it was something he would have had to do sooner or later and since he had foolishly put his foot in his mouth, he had found himself with no other option this time around. “It’s not been easy, mind, but your Meg has been the first person ta make me smile since then.”[/color] His hand absentmindedly touched his chest where he knew the rings and the chain lay and he took a deep, shaky breath to compose himself before he did what Meg was used to and ran. Not because he didn’t want to be with her, but because he didn’t want her to see him breakdown and look weak.

Theo smiled up at her father and then took his wallet back, slipping it back into his pocket. “Listen, I, um, I haven’t told Meg yet - about Jenny. She knows about Issy and that I’m raising her alone, but the time just hasn’t been right for the rest. I’m not ready just yet ta share it with her, but I do intend ta.”[/color] He glanced down at his shoes and then back up to her father. This hadn’t been what he had in mind when he’d seen the father/boyfriend situation arise. “I know it’s not fair ta ask you ta keep something like this from her, but I want ta do this right, make her happy and find some peace for myself in this.”[/color] He hoped Mr Warren would understand and that he wouldn’t have to spell it out anymore. He didn’t think that he could. Where had Meg gotten to though? She seemed to have been gone a while now, but Theo was thankful that she hadn’t walked in mid-explanation there.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!759
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

The last thing Mr Warren had been expecting was to find out his daughter's new boyfriend had a daughter. Already, he could see possible situations arising, and they all involved Meg's heart being played with or broken, two things he'd sworn long ago to prevent as much as much as he could.

The explanation that came from Theo had his mind swirling into other directions, mainly ones that were nearly a decade old. He remembered how hard it'd been to lose Meg's mother, and how much he'd thanked god that he had a daughter to help ease the pain of that. Even if the situation had been lessened a bit by the fact that he'd had someone to share it with, it wasn't something he'd wish on anyone, especially not a college student who was supposed to be enjoying life, not fatherhood all alone. Suddenly, this lad seemed a lot more capable of taking care of his precious daughter. "I remember how hard it was losing Meg's mom. She's still not quite over it herself," he stated gently, eyes flickering with a slight smile to the photo. Mr Warren kept his gaze on the picture, trying to avoid looking at the few on the mantle of his lost wife. "Pretty girl. Looks 'lot like her mom?" he questioned, looking back to Theo before his eyes skiddered to a picture of a younger version of Meg. It seemed like such a long time since he'd been able to carry around baby pictures; now, he had graduation photos tucked into his wallet.

With a sad smile, Mr Warren nodded. Meg was more often than not his smile, too. Somedays, she was the one person who could keep him going. It was her who he'd had to take of, and her who'd gotten him to move out to New York and away from cruel memories. It was her who he got up for in the morning, and her he worked to keep a roof up for. Part of him was glad someone else could benefit from her sunshine, but the other half of him was jealous. He couldn't stand the idea of losing his baby girl; not yet, at least. "That's how she is with me, too." Placing a hand on Theo's shoulder, Mr Warren chuckled. "She hasn't badgered that out of ya yet? I'm surprised. But, you're secret's safe with me. Just... be sure to tell her. She won't judge ya for it, I know that for a fact, but she deserves to know." His strong fingers squeezed the younger man's shoulder, new respect in his eyes as he stepped back again. "Speaking of that girl, where's she gotten off to? Margaret Rose!" he bellowed, and his voice brought a very distraught blonde into the room, glaring daggers at her father.

"Where the hell did you put my phone?" she whined, hands on her hips as she planted herself in front of her dad. Meg glared up at him, a pair of eyes just like her mother's giving Mr Warren a look he'd grown used to seeing on her face by now. With a smirk, he pulled the device out of his pocket, handing it over to her.

Meg took it, smiling and pecking his cheek, all anger gone now. They played games like this all the time, plus, she'd could yell at him later. For the moment, the only person on her mind was Theo. She spun around, giving him a nervous smile. One of her hands grabbed his, tugging him towards the door again. "You ready to go? See you later, Daddy," Meg called over her shoulder, gently shoving Theo out the door before her dad could protest again. The quicker they escaped, the more time they could spend together without her father's interfering lectures.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 703!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

There was definitely a stabbing feeling in Theo’s chest as he relayed the story he often wished wasn’t his reality. So many nights he had wished for it to be an awful dream that he’d wake up from to the sound of Jenny singing in the kitchen and the smell of the pancakes she’d make every weekend for him. It never was though and the nightmares were now the dreams where everything was perfect and she was still here. His past had never been told to anyone outside of Scotland before and even Jenny’s co-workers had stopped checking up on him after the first few months. No one in New York knew his story and in a way it was both agonising and relieving to finally tell it to someone, even though the pain was still fresh, the loss so tragic that there would always be a part of him that would never get over it, no matter how happy he became.

Theo nodded his head slowly in understanding, his eyes cast downwards on the picture most of the time so that he didn’t crack and the tears didn’t spill. Issy had always been his reason to stay strong and looking at the picture reminded him of that so much. “In a way, I’m a wee bit relieved that Issy will never feel that loss. It may not be easy for her growing up, but I’d rather have her happy than grieving.”

[/color] He said quietly, before smiling sadly, his rough fingers skimming the surface of the photo. One of Theo’s biggest worries was that Issy may one day feel as though she was to blame for Jenny’s passing, once she was old enough to hear the truth. He had every intention of masking the truth for as long as was physically possible. “Aye, she definitely is like her ma. The only thing she got from me was that hair.”[/color] She shook his head affectionately at the copper locks curls on his daughter’s head. His had darkened as he grew up, but Theo definitely spent a few short years with hair so vivid it seemed unnatural.

He smiled and nodded his head once more in understanding. Theo was just glad that Mr Warren now understood the situation and that his cold attitude had now melted as the two fathers found a connection they both shared. With a soft chuckle, Theo explained things to him. “She knows that there’s more ta ma story, but she’s agreed ta give me time and ta be patient.” [/color] He said quietly, knowing that Meg would be back any second. “Thank you. And, I will, I’m just a little out of ma comfort zone at the moment. I’ll tell her soon.”[/color] He vowed with a gratuitous smile.

Theo had to laugh at the father - daughter moment he witnessed, shaking his head at the antics he would no doubt one day be playing with Issy, once she was old enough and her vocabulary extended beyond the few words that she stumbled over daily. For some reason, sitting in her high chair was the perfect time to repeat “dada” and “blue” over and over. “Bye, Mr Warren!”[/color] He called over his shoulder as Meg basically shoved him from the house. Once outside, he fished his car keys out from his pocket and smirked across at Meg. “How much d’you want ta crawl into a cave afta that?”[/color] He asked, teasingly as he pressed the button to unlock his car and slowly made his way to the driver’s side, his eyes never leaving the pretty blonde.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!637
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg hadn't talked about her mother in ages. Nix knew, only because he was at her house so much and he'd asked about the photos enough times. Her father, obviously, knew, but Theo wasn't someone she'd told the entire story to yet. A sharp pang hit her every time she tried to admit to being in his and Issy's place, though the roles were somewhat reversed. She was the daughter who'd lost her mother, and her father was a much older version of Theo. Whenever the words fluttered to the tip of her tongue, she'd bite her lip in self-reproach and remind herself that she was supposed to be helping him move on from whatever loss he'd suffered so horribly from. Could he help her do the same though? It'd been years since her mother had been gone, and her wound had already started to heal. It was no where near being closed, however, but maybe Theo could be those stitches she needed; maybe he could help her, too.

It was obvious she'd walked in on some serious father-boyfriend bonding time, and part of her wondered what the hell her dad had drugged Theo with. One look at her boyfriend's face told her she shouldn't ask; it was one of those topics she had to wait for. The waiting was killing her, but she was managing it as best she could. Meg didn't pause to restrain herself, trying to keep her mouth busy so it couldn't question the odd tension change in the room since she'd left. From her father's eyes, something had happened that made his sudden, and probably short-lived, hatred melt into what looked almost like admiration and acceptence. What had happened since she'd left?

The door closed behind her with a bang and a click of the lock settling itself. Meg let out a deep breath, giving Theo a playful glare at his comment. "More than you could ever know," she laughed, shaking her head. With a gentle, much more relaxed smile, she said, "He liked you. I've never seen him smile before at a guy I've brought home." Meg turned her eyes up to him, happiness sparkling in them. Whatever he'd done to impress her father had worked, and it only made her more comfortable with this relationship. Theo had passed the nearly impossible Daddy-test, earning both more love from Meg and more freedom from her father's pryings.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, not letting him get too far from the door as she smirked up at him. There was mischief written across her face now, which was her sign for Theo to begin worrying. "But, even though he didn't kill you, I do owe him some crap for stealing my phone. Come here," Meg joked, lips brushing softly against his as soon as her words ended. She pressed her tinier body close to his, savoring the taste of his kiss even if it was meant to make her father cringe at her choice of revenge.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 549!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo has had his suspicions about Meg’s mother, but he had never outright asked her what had happened. He had glimpsed the pain in her eyes and saw the smile she tried to fight it away with, but the drama student knew better than most people how irritating it became when people were constantly asking, ‘are you okay?’ or ‘do you want to talk about it?’. If Meg hadn’t had such a hold on him before that day outside the auditorium Theo would still be keeping the truth a secret from her and he already was holding back quite a large portion of his own tragic tale. He knew though, deep down, that when the time was right and Meg felt comfortable she would share her tale in the same way that one day in the near future he would share his with her. He didn’t push people though, and he wouldn’t with her; especially not with her.

He knew the scene Meg walked in on was a little bemusing to say the least. When she had left the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife and now it was like it had all evaporated away. She didn’t ask though, which did help Theo relax a little more. He knew that she needed to hear the truth in its entirety from him one day soon, but not right now and not like this. Fatherly bonding was definitely one of the many wonders of the world and the society in which they lived. There was something about it that helped in situations like this one, even if it had appeared as though Mr Warren was willingly ready to throw Theo through the window just a few moments earlier.

Theo smiled down at Meg and draped his arm over her shoulders casually. He wasn’t really much of a PDA man, but something innocent like this wasn’t anything for people to roll their eyes at. Plus, it added to the moment when Meg still seemed a little awestruck by the change in her father’s mood and Theo did feel himself filled with pride for being able to do what other had not. “Aye, well that’s Scottish charm for ya.”

[/color] He teased, not about to give the pretty young blonde the slightest of hints about what might have happened when she left the room. It hadn’t gone exactly how Theo expected it to, or how he would have liked, but it worked out alright in the end and it seemed now as though he would be allowed to spend time with Meg more freely and there wouldn’t be any of the awkward tension they had experienced tonight when he picked her up for future dates.

His hands instinctively went to her waist when she hooked herself around his neck. He chuckled deeply into the kiss, but pulled away before Meg could get too carried away with her little revenge plot. “I just got him on side; I’m not about ta let him hate me again.”[/color] He joked, stepping back so that there was space between them, though his hands did linger on her sides for a few seconds more. “I can see me needed ta play peace maker between you two at times.”[/color] He teased, taking her hand in his and leading her towards his parked car.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!558
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg wasn't one for lying or secret keeping, but she did have a past like every other New Yorker. The difference was, she didn't let it get in the way of her daily life. Instead, she worked hard to become someone who could help others like her; people who'd lost someone important to them through a crime or car accident. Meg wanted to be able to bring those people justice and peace, two things she'd never gotten herself. If that meant putting her feelings of loss on the back burner, she'd do it if only she could help all the teenagers who lost their mothers every day. Her and her mother would not be a tragedy; they'd be a story to tell other's who were in the same situation. Meg would never let herself become a walking pity party, which was why she didn't shout the story of her life from the rooftops of New York. If she wanted sad looks, she could've been all depressed and sad; instead she was happy to fend it all off. No amount of crying was going to bring her mother back, so what was the point of wasting time on it? The more she devoted herself to living the life her mother had dreamed of for her baby, the more she gained the approval of her father and the closer she was to gaining it from her mother.

"Maybe I should bring you 'round more often. He might let me get away with more if you're sitting there 'charming' him," she teased back, cuddling into his side. Meg knew that he wasn't one for PDA, and she wasn't either, but simple touches like this were enough for her. They proved that they were together, and that was plenty, in her eyes. Every time he pulled her close to his side, or gave her a casual peck on the cheek, Meg couldn't help smiling. Finally, she'd gotten him to say that they were together, and to admit it to the world. It felt like such a great accomplishment that she almost burst with it the first time people had seen them around school. On campus, Meg usually spent her time by Nix's side or lounging around the science wing. Suddenly, she'd been lurking around the auditorium and snuggling under some new guy's arm, giggling and laughing with him instead of her bleach-blonde counter-part. To say the least, she'd heard rumours ranging from "lover's quarrel" to "she's sleeping with that theatre boy". All of them made her laugh even harder and stick closer to Theo's side, a place she was beginning to find more and more comfortable.

Meg pressed herself against Theo, not caring that she could almost hear her father's head exploding behind the living room's picture window where he had a perfect view of the porch. She smirked against her boyfriend's lips, letting him pull back and grinning as his hand found hers. "This was a good night. You should see us when we really go at it," she laughed, walking close to him as he lead her towards the car.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 554!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

As an actor, Theo could control emotions to a certain extent, but when he wasn’t on the stage he didn’t see the point in being someone who he wasn’t. He had been and still was hurting and that wasn’t something he even wanted to ignore. He didn’t want to bottle everything up and pretend to have the perfect life. He’d rather live the way he had been with the bags under his eyes and the broken smile whenever he did manage to find a spark of humour or happiness in a situation. At least now with Meg things weren’t always like that anymore. His smiles with her were real and slowly the black clouds seemed to be fading away, glimpses of blue skies finally appearing again after almost two years. It was a nice change, even if the insomnia was still plaguing his life.

Theo smirked to himself. Meg didn’t have a clue what had happened with the two men and he figured that now Mr Warren knew his secret their future conversations would probably lean more towards the kind Meg would find terrifying. Parenting advice in which Mr Warren would reveal shameful moment of Meg’s infanthood and then they would probably be laughing over it whilst she argued with who was to blame the most for embarrassing her. She might never know what exactly had been said when she was looking for her phone, but it had been enough for Mr Warren to accept Theo, this relationship and the baggage that the young man was carrying; the same baggage that might be one of the repetitive obstacles in his relationship with Meg. “I’m sure you’ve already got him wrapped around your finger enough ta get away with murder.”

[/color] He said, smiling down at Meg with a secretive twinkle in his eyes.

He laughed warmly as he strapped himself into his seat and glanced across at her. “I’d rather I didn’t hafta see a bad night.”[/color] He said, kicking the engine to life and carefully pulling his car out into the street once Meg was settled for the short twenty minute drive across to where his house was in the vast city.
It wasn’t much to look at really. It stood attached to several others on the street with a small drive and garden. It was basically what they could afford when he had married Jenny and it was the best place to stay, even when he didn’t want to look at everything that reminded him of his wife when the grief was still too raw. He parked up the car, killed the engine and then smiled across at Meg. “Prepare ta be unamazed.”[/color] He told her before hopping out of the car and taking Meg’s hand to lead her through the front door of his house.

Inside, it was evident that there was a baby here. Issy’s walker, bouncer and several toys were stored neatly in the hallway and the high chair was visible in the kitchen from where they stood. Theo kicked off his shoes out of habit and hung his jacket up on the hook, taking Meg’s and hanging it next to his own. He wanted her to be comfortable in his house and not feel like an awkward guest. As soon as the door clicked shut, he heard the footsteps upstairs and rolled his eyes, the smirk already forming as the woman who was unmistakable for his sister appeared with a sweet smile on her face as she descended the steps. “Meg, this is Lilia, ma wee sister.”[/color] He said, shooting Lilia a warning look before leaning back against the wall whilst introductions and girly banter took place. Lilia looked like she was set to leave though, which he was thankful for. His sister would hang about otherwise and just annoy him as though they were kids again.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!679
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

There was no doubt that Mr. Warren was wrapped around his only daughter's finger. Meg was his life, his smile, his everything; there wasn't a thing on the planet he wouldn't do to keep her safe and happy. And Meg knew this. It was a dangerous weapon to wield, and a card she only played in the most desperate of times because of its heavy weight. If it came down to it, though, Meg was positive her father would be behind her and forgive her for anything. After all, he'd already forgiven her for making her mother go out on the drive that cost the women her life.

There was a dark smirk on her lips at his mention of getting away with murder. Truthfully, the forensice science student would be able to do that without help from anyone; a terrifying though for anyone. She was such an innocent little blonde, but, with her knowledge of finger prints and crime scenes, she could be the most lethal type of killer. "I'm sure I could get away with murder without his help," she laughed, shaking her head as she smiled and shrugged casually. "I'm his only little girl, though. It's his job to be wrapped around my finger." Meg and her father were the last family either of them had, something that only made their bond stronger. If one of them was gone, it would take a long time for the other to adjust. Honestly, Meg didn't know how she would cope without her Daddy to come home to at night, a pair of arms to cuddle her or skilled hands to cook for her. At the end of the day, her father was the one man she trusted with all her secrets and her life. And, even if she got married one day to a man she absolutely adored, it would still be like that. The loss and the bond that formed from it created something unbreakable; something stronger than blood itself.

Meg buckled up, smiling at Theo as she looked back up. "Wimp. Won't even come defend me from my dad's torture," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him and leaning over to gently kiss him. She settled into her seat after that, playing with her hair as she pulled out her small tricks to get him to smile more for her. Jokes, things Nix and her had done, past antics with her father; anything she thought would bring some light onto his life. It was habitual for her now whenever they met, and she took pride in cheering him up or getting him to laugh more every day. Little steps, but big in their own monumental ways.

She took in the place as Theo parked the car, observant eyes capturing details in a sweep. Ocasionally, training yourself to have sharp senses came in handy. Meg liked the neighborhood, however. She wasn't in a position to be looking down on other's living arrangements, not that she ever would. Besides, this was Theo's house and it was the first time she'd ever really been there; ridiculing it was the last thing on her mind. "I'm sure it's not horrible," she countered, shaking her head and climbing out of the car. Meg tucked her purse strap over her shoulder, giving his hand a squeeze as he lead her through the front door.

Again, her eyes looked around, but they sparkled in amusement when they noticed little indicators here and there of the baby. Theo's baby. "Looks like my dad's not the only one wrapped around his daughter's finger," she joked in a soft voice. Meg hesitated before neatly stepping out of her own shoes, knowing they'd be off her feet in a matter of minutes, anyways. If they curled up to watch a movie, there was no doubt her shoes would be off and she'd be as comfortable as possible snuggled under Theo's arm. She gave him a thankful smile as he helped her out of her coat, looking up as someone else materialized on the steps. There was her pretty, innocent smile on her lips as she looked up at the girl who looked so much like Theo. "Nice to meet you. Hope you don't mind that I've been stealing him lately," Meg said, bumping her shoulder against Theo playfully before grabbing his hand again. Meg had never had a sibling so she couldn't understand how big a role they could play in a relationship, but she did want Theo's sister to like her. It was obvious his daughter and his sister were two people that meant the world to him, and Meg didn't want to disrupt that in any way.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Warren Residence!
WORDS: 841!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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