• Stealing Cinderella •

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg wasn't sure what she wanted from this relationship. Obviously, to help both of them in their own respective ways, but, what else? If it had been that reason alone, they could've been friends and left romance out of it, hanging out and talking and simply assisting the other in healing. No, there was something else here; a calling out for another heart, maybe. She wasn't lonely in the way many people were, but Meg had felt left out on occasion when in a group of her coupled-up friends. Theo filled that void, making her the happiest she'd been in a long while. He made her feel special; loved in ways her father and best friend could never accomplish. She guessed that was what she wanted from this new, budding romance; someone to love her for being her.

She wasn't just here for her, however. No, Theo was really her top priority in this; he was the one who she had to help, somehow. She wanted to make him smile more, and laugh, and not look so sad all the time. Some would say it was a far-fetched plan, but Meg didn't relent easily, as she was sure her boyfriend had already figured out. Her heart was set on making him better and, when Miss Warren's heart went for a goal, there was no stopping her until the happily ever after had been achieved.

A hand knotted gently on his shirt front, pulling him closer to her as the other wrapped around his neck to keep her from tumbling off the couch. She moved her lips with his, not missing a beat as the heat blossomed between them. When they were this close to each other, Meg had a hard time breathing, letting her body talk for her most of the time. A kiss, a sweet touch; that was the usual result. But, this was entirely new; it was more passionate, more fired. Well, not entirely new, thanks to their encounter at the library, though this felt a heck of a lot different now that they were actually together. Meg wanted to keep going now that they were nearly alone and could devote the time to savoring each other. She didn't want him to stop.

When he pulled away, she had to restrain herself from going at him again. This wasn't on the agenda for tonight and, while she hadn't planned on it being for awhile, there was an ache coursing through her that she knew could only be soothed by his touch. "Who said you had to?" she whispered, running her warm lips down his jaw before forcing herself into relaxing.

Meg couldn't hide her smile as he laughed, her head snuggled comfortably against him as he ordered their dinner. Silently, she was going over what they'd already accomplished in the short amount of time they'd been together that night. They'd already made out once, the movie hadn't even been turned on yet, and she'd been introduced to his darling daughter. All together, it was a pretty hefty lift, but she wanted one more thing added to it, though it was highly inappropriate. But, that hadn't ever stopped her before. "Fourty-five minutes, huh? What're we gonna do with all that time?" she said with a smirk, reaching up to press her lips lightly against his while she stretched over him to grab the remote for the TV. The sooner they started this movie, the sooner the fun could really begin.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 614!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo was still having a hard time wrapping his head around all of this. If someone had said to him a year ago that he’d spend tonight with a girl who he would proudly call his girlfriend, then he probably wouldn’t have even laughed; he’d have sombrely walked away without another word. A year ago, another relationship didn’t seem possible. He had been rational about all of this though. He had strong feelings for Meg, but he didn’t want to rush into something, especially not with Issy to consider with every choice he made now. Lilia had been told several times to calm down whenever Meg cropped up in conversation, but the eager brunette had wasted no time in telling their family across the water about Theo’s new girl. He had been apprehensive at first, especially since he knew Jenny’s family would hear the new sooner than he would’ve liked thanks to his sister’s inherent need to gossip. However, they seemed happy for Theo and had told him that Jenny wouldn’t have wanted him to spend his whole life alone and in mourning.

He had planned on taking things slow, but when Meg was around it was kind of difficult to stick to that vow. Her kisses set his blood on fire and her touch was enough to shatter his restraint. The night in the library had been inexplicable and it was one where Theo had simply giving into temptation and passion rather than fight it off like he usually did. It was so very different now that they were together though and it felt less…dangerous, now that they were in the comfort of his home without the risks that came with the university library. He wanted so badly to give into temptation and just take Meg upstairs now, but he had promised her a date and a date was what he was going to give her, even if it did seem impossible to pull away from her right at this moment.
Her whispers were almost enough to make him change his mind and throw caution to the wind. He never declared himself to be the perfect gentleman and it was a good job, since he would’ve been struggling like crazy by now to keep himself in check.

He hoped the pizza would quell the hunger that was washing over him, but he knew full well that it wasn’t pizza he was longing for. Instead he wanted something blonde, adorable and currently curled up against his body. “I can think of a few things…”

[/color] He said mischievously as he pressed her into the soft cushions of the sofa before leaning down and capturing her lips again, unable to control his desires right now. Forty five minutes of this would be better than forty five minutes of trying to cool down with a movie he probably wouldn’t be paying much attention to. His hands travelled along her sides as he kissed her passionately, but before things could go much further, the alarm bells started ringing at the sound of the front door opening. “I cannae believe it. I wint out ‘n’ forgot ma phone!” Theo jumped up as though Meg had just caught fire and glared over at where his smaller sister stood, eyes wide as she slowly realised what she had interrupted. “Well, get it and get oot again.”[/color] Theo said through gritted teeth. Only Lilia could possibly do this to him. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. “I will. Dinnae worry, I’m nae stayin’ for the movie.” Her tone revealed more than her words and Theo had to resist jumping over there and throwing her out of the door himself.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!647
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg didn't want a perfect gentleman. She was no lady; hadn't ever acted like one, and never planned on becoming one. If she landed with a guy who'd sworn himself to some unspoken man-code, there wasn't a chance she'd be staying with him for longer than she had to. The crazy blonde wanted fun and a guy who didn't mind playing dirty on occasion; someone who wouldn't judge her for the less than logical ways in which her mind worked. She didn't want fast-paced and heavy either, though the relationship with Theo was quickly becoming that.

Right now, she would've stopped if he'd wanted to, but she kept getting the feeling that he longed for this as much as she did. The way hungry way his lips were moving against hers and the lust in his eyes could only mean one thing, and she wouldn't protest if he asked to go farther. Meg wanted him to keep going; wanted him to pick her up and take her to whatever bedroom was closest and love her like no one had for a long time. But, they were supposed to be taking things slow, testing boundaries and finding their footing with each other as each new step was taken. However, from the steamy turn the evening had taken, no one would've been guessing that.

Meg hoped Theo couldn't feel her heart pounding as he pressed her down against the sofa. His body pressed against hers was enough to send her nerves into overdrive; the clothes between them a thin layer that didn't filter any of the fire blazing over her skin. She wished they were gone, but didn't push anything, contenting herself with the electrified touches for now. Theo was in control here; she didn't want to force him into something he wasn't ready for. "Don't do anything you don't want to," she mumbled against his lips, breaking up the words with passionate kisses as she tried to keep herself in check. Meg ran her fingers through his hair, refusing to let them roam his body though they ached to. No; let him decide how far they went.

Through the haze of all things Theo, she heard the door opening. It didn't register in her mind until Theo was suddenly gone and, even then, she blinked in shock at Lilia for a moment before realizing what had happened. Her head was fuzzy from the lust and she couldn't even sit up to utter an "we weren't doing anything; really" as she stared in confusion at the sister who wasn't supposed to be there. Maybe being an only child had its perks afterall.

Her face burned with embarrassment while she silently waited for Lilia to collect her phone and leave, and she couldn't keep from lingering on the fact that pissed-off Theo was somehow turning her on even more than lust-filled Theo. Quelling her desire, she pulled Theo close to her again and innocently cuddled into his side, all the while wishing his sister had shown up ten minutes earlier.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 540!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo had never based a relationship on sex. Before Meg there had only ever been Jenny and back then he had constantly told her that he would wait for as long as she needed. The same would apply now, but they weren’t nervous teenagers and both of them seemed to want a lot more than just physicality from this. Why would Meg have chased him down if she just wanted someone to stumble into bed with? He didn’t want that either and emotionally he had been taking baby steps in this relationship with the pretty blonde, but the rest of him did want more and it should’ve scared him, but it didn’t. He had never thought with his nether parts, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to be with her. He was trying to make this relationship work, keep it simple and keep everyone safe. With Issy in his life he couldn’t just casually date someone and he shouldn’t be bringing girls home and taking them to his bedroom. It was all more than that with Meg and he knew it, but the anxiety still lingered in the back of his mind, temporarily blocked by the raging hormones that he hadn’t felt in such a long time now.

He was relieved that Meg clearly felt the same way he did tonight. There was such a fire between them that it seemed impossible to extinguish and Theo really wanted to give into temptation. He kept thinking that he should’ve been more worried about taking things to the next level, but he wasn’t worried at all. Everything felt natural and it just seemed right to be here with Meg, his lips on hers and her body close to his. He pulled away for a short second, his brown eyes opening to meet hers. He pushed her hair back and smiled sweetly. “I want this; I want you.”

[/color] He confessed huskily, before kissing her again, this time more passionately as he finally made the choice to succumb to his desires.

Theo had a sneaky incline that Lilia had left her phone on purpose – if she had left it at all! Walking in had been her sisterly move since he had first started dating Jenny back when he was a teenager. He folded his arms and threw his sister a knowing look as she struggled to keep the smirk off her face. He knew it! She was going to be in for it later when Meg wasn’t around and Theo could really let rip on the younger Sterling. “I’ll just get oot o’ your hair…” She knew she was going to be in trouble later and that she had walked in on something she wasn’t supposed to have seen. He waited until the door closed again and ran his fingers through his short hair before turning back to Meg. “This is why siblings are a nightmare.”[/color] He said with a sigh before sitting next to her again, his lips ghosting over hers. There wasn’t a chance for things to get hot and heavy again though before the crackling static of the baby monitor was broken with the sound of Issy crying for her “Da”. Theo groaned, looking at the monitor before pushing himself to his feet again. “She probably just needs a cuddle.”[/color] He told Meg as he turned to the stairs, not knowing if she would follow him or not this time. If there was one thing to kill the mood, it was a baby needing her dad.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!623
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Tonight may have originally been planned with pure intentions, but, now, they were clearly being tossed out the window. Meg didn't want to pressure or complicate their relationship; that was the last thing on her mind. But right now, on a couch in his living room, everything seemed perfect. No strict plans, no school work, no other eyes watching; it was natural and unexpected. Meg hated for love to be scheduled and timed, much preferring the spontaneous and random moments every day life could bring. They were living in one of those moments now, and she didn't wish it to go to waste. She wanted Theo, and she wanted him now.

Every place his hands touched sent shivers running over her body and the desire growled hungrily inside of her. She didn't mind that they weren't in some fancy hotel, or that he hadn't technically bought her dinner yet. There didn't need to be candles or romantic music for this mood to work; the fire blazing already was enough. None of the superficial aspects manttered; it was only them, creating a sweet memory together. For Meg, that was more than enough.

Her breathing was heavy as he pulled back, but she didn't try to calm herself as she saw her own lust mirrored in his eyes. They both wanted this tonight and, even if it was a bit risky with a baby upstairs, nothing was going to stop them from giving into the passion burning between them. She smiled softly at him, touching the side of his face very gently as she kissed him again. Lips trailing down his jaw, Meg whispered near his ear, "I want you, too."

She barely knew Lilia, but part of her was guessing the sister had come back to spy on Theo. It seemed like a sibling joke, and Meg was all for fun on most occasions, though this one was a little out of her comfort zone. She hadn't wanted to ruin the atmosphere that had been building, but with one word from his sister, it was shattered. But, she wasn't one to complain, so smiled and tried to hide the bit of frustration welling inside of her at being interrupted. "Yeah," she laughed gently, kissing him back and climbing into his lap to maybe pick up where they'd left off. Wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips onto his, she smirked wickedly, "You look... mmm... when you get mad." Meg pressed her body closer to his, prepared to continue on the path they'd started, but she stopped once the baby monitor began to make noises that could only be coming from his daughter. With a sigh, she pulled back again and took her place back on the couch. Maybe they weren't so alone, after all.

Getting up off the couch, she followed after him and grabbed his hand, holding him back for just a few seconds. "Maybe I could wait in your room?" she gave him a hopeful look, but didn't try to kiss him again as the thoughts of what they could do in his bedroom began to run through her mind. "We can keep going somewhere your sister can't walk in on us again," she teased gently and hoped he'd say yes. Meg didn't want the entire night to be ruined by the other girl's in his life but she knew there was a strong chance that it might be.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 615!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

This whole night seemed like one x-rated dream. When Theo had planned this date with Meg he didn’t think about just how strong his feelings might be for her, or how impulsive he would become after one simple kiss. In many ways it was so unlike him, but at the same time he wasn’t the same man he used to be a year ago. With Meg seeming unlikely to slow down or push him away, Theo found himself addicted to her, wanting more than he could imagine from this night and their little make out session on the couch. Addictive, intoxicating and damn right gorgeous, Meg held more power over the older man than she probably knew and Theo was slowly coming to realise that she was already up there with Lilia and Issy as one of the girls he needed in his life.

His hands came to hold Meg close, fingers tightening around her hips as she sat on his lap. Grinning, he pulled her closer to his chest. “You should stick around for the aftermath of that then.”

[/color] He teased, incredibly warm all of a sudden since Meg’s confession. She had no idea what she was doing to him right now, but Theo was on the brink of losing all self-control and care. He wanted her and the sensation building in the lower pit of his stomach increased tenfold when their lips touched again. His hands roamed across her body, dipping playfully under her shirt and when the baby monitor signalled a distress call from upstairs it was like someone had dumped a bucket of ice cold water on the hot blooded male. Above all things, he was a father and nothing trumped that; not even a beautiful girl in his lap who wanted him.

Blinking down at her, he paused for a moment despite the cries coming from upstairs. No one had been in that room or that bed with him since Jenny and this would be an even bigger step than sex for him. It felt right though and he had to move on at some point; tonight seemed to be that time. “What aboot the pizza?”[/color] He said, reminding her of their prior plans. He wanted this, but he didn’t want her to go hungry either and he didn’t think that there would be time for cooking later considering that he was determined to get her home on time. Still, he tugged on her hand as he stepped towards the staircase again. “It’s the last door on the left.”[/color] He told her, his voice a little deeper than normal before he turned to attend to Issy, knowing he’d be distracted if he looked back at Meg again.

In the nursery, Issy was standing up looking at the door, waiting for her da to appear. When he did, the wailing stopped but she still reached out for him and Theo hoisted the little girl into his arms, all thoughts of Meg vanishing while he slipped into the role of father. “What’s up, ma wee girl?”[/color] He asked, cuddling her close whilst her sobs ebbed and she snuggled into his chest. A few moments later and she was fast asleep again. Theo carefully lowered his daughter back into her crib and then left the room, closing the door and making sure that he had the monitor before moving to his bedroom. Outside, he paused and swallowed hard. This was a massive step for him, but he wanted it more than anything. He turned the handle, stepped inside and then closed it quickly, placing the monitor on the top of his drawers before pulling Meg up against his body, his lips crashing to hers with all the passion from the library but with no reason to stop this time.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS!668
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg didn't know how huge their next step was going to be. They were both going to give into their desire tonight, that much was evident, but she didn't know how much of it would be hard for Theo. Would he be thinking about Issy's mother? Did Meg look like her? Had they ever made love in this house? She had questions but was too distracted to remember or ask them, and they'd only ruin the mood. They didn't need all of that drama tonight, either; it was just them. She had never wanted a person so much as she did right now, and Meg didn't plan on letting a few distractions get in the way of it. A word from Theo, however, would snap her back in an instant, though she didn't believe he'd be showing a red-light anytime soon.

She could see the hesitation in his eyes and she almost said forget; they could stay here if something was the matter. The goal wasn't to push anything tonight, even if she would've kind of preferred a bed to a tiny couch. It wasn't important, however, and she pulled him down for a quick kiss before laughing at his mention of the pizza. "We can stay down here if you want to; I don't mind," she said, squeezing his hand. This was about his comfort level, too, and it was his house. Their venue was sort of up to him. "Screw the pizza! I'm in the mood for someone else now, anyways," she smirked suggestively, eyes glinting with the longing for a new hunger to be filled before the other could even be considered again. Waiting on the bottom step, she kept a hold of his hand and looked up at him. "Meet me there and we can come back if you change your mind. You need to be comfortable with this, too," she said gently before following him up the stairs and walking into his bedroom.

Leaving the door ajar, Meg checked herself in the mirror she found. Her hair was already a mess from Theo's hands and her dress was slightly askew from the make-out session on the couch but, other than that, she looked fine. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm the butterflies racing through her stomach now that she had a moment to think all this over. She and Theo were really about to have sex; their relationship was going to a new high.

Meg looked up as he came in and shut the door, her butterflies only getting worse. She went into his arms without protest and kissed him back with all the love that had been building over the course of their time together, pulling back once to whisper for the last time, "Are you sure?" Her eyes looked up into his with concern evident, but she didn't want to stop. She had to make sure he was perfectly okay with this though; if he wasn't, it could destroy all of the progress they'd made since first meeting.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 544!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo felt a little bit stupid. It wasn’t as though tonight was his first time, obviously, and it wasn’t anything to do with Meg either. He wanted this – he wanted her. There were no doubts left in his mind about that, but he felt terrible that Meg was looking out for him and his feelings when clearly she wanted this just as much as he did if not more. He was moving on from Jenny and the thought was terrifying but at the same time it felt as though it was what should be happening. This wasn’t just lust after being alone since her death; this was something more and he wanted to be with Meg more than anything else and his fear was nothing more that anxious nerves at the thought of taking their relationship to the next stage when it was all so unplanned and unexpected.

He pulled her close again, his hands trailing to the small of her back. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

[/color] He whispered, kissing her lovingly but with that heat still underlining everything he did right now. He wanted this, but because he wasn’t expecting any of this to happen tonight it all caught him off guard and it took him a moment or two to catch up with it all. There were no doubts, no regrets and no whispers of self-loathing in his head or heart though. “I’ll cook you something before I take you home.”[/color] He promised, his voice thick and laced with concern despite the husky give-away of his thoughts and intentions. Smiling at her, he pulled her back for a short, sweet kiss before letting go of her hand. “I am, dinnae worry so much aboot me.”[/color] He told her, not wanting her to fuss anymore about this. If Theo wasn’t comfortable he would’ve pushed her away downstairs. He had pushed her away when they were getting to know each other and he had tried to run from everything then; the second that feeling returned would be the moment when he repeated those actions and tried to escape the beautiful blonde once more.

Theo pulled away from Meg, his hand moving up her body to her neck, sliding under her messy hair as he smiled down at her. “I wish you would stop asking me that.”[/color] He teased, kissing her hungrily again before trailing his lips along her jaw to her ear. “I want you more than anything else right now.”[/color] He whispered deeply, his lips quickly finding her neck whilst his hands roved over her body, pulling her closer to him as he gave into his desire entirely.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS! 477
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg didn't want Theo to regret tonight, or anything that they were about to do together. She kept asking if he was okay because she was afraid of pushing him farther than she'd already done. Throughout their relationship, she'd been shoving him into facing his feelings and moving on from whatever it was that had kept a storm cloud over his head for so long. Sex was the one area where she wouldn't force him into doing anything, and she wanted him to understand that. One word was all it would take to call her off, though her entire body was longing to be pressed against his. She'd stop, however; she'd do anything for him.

The heat intensifying each small touch between them had some of Meg's fears subsiding. He wanted her as much as she did him; she was sure of it. It didn't mean she wouldn't keep checking to make sure he was alright with all of this, especially since it was so spur of the moment. Neither of them had planned on things going this far, but neither of them seemed to be flashing the red-light, either. "I won't starve to death, Theo, I promise," she joked, kissing him reassuringly before letting him go so he could check on his daughter. Smiling lovingly at him, she said, "I'm your girlfriend; it's my job to worry about you." She released his hand and followed him up the stairs, her heart racing with anticipation.

Meg could feel herself becoming puddy beneath his hands, but she used the last sliver of her mind to focus on making sure he was still giving the go ahead. "Just making sure you won't regret anything between us," she said breathlessly, gently pulling his lips back up to hers and locking him into a passionate kiss as the fire began to rage between them. "Take as much of me as you want," Meg mumbled against his lips, tangling her hands into his hair as she pressed closer to him, her skin burning beneath her dress while his hands roved her body.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 406!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

All logic and worry had left Theo’s mind the second he had stepped on the first step of the fourteen stairs in his house. There was no fear, no anxiety other than excited nerves. It was true that without Meg’s push in this direction he’d probably still be running away from her in the library, but it didn’t mean that he wasn’t ready for this or that he didn’t want this to happen. It was spontaneous, but it didn’t matter; he wanted to take this relationship with Meg further and he wanted her to stop worrying about this and what it would mean to them both. He wasn’t about to run away from this now, but she needed to believe this.

“I’m giving you a date one way or another.”

[/color] Plus, he didn’t exactly want her returning home to her dad with the tell-tale afterglow of their bedroom activities and a rumbling stomach. He had scraped by making a good impression earlier and he didn’t want to lose that in less than a few short hours, even if his control was slipping away from him faster than he cared to think about right now. “Well, you dinnae have to worry about this, I promise.”[/color] He said, hoping it would be the last either of them would have to say on the matter. Theo thought his actions were making his answer obvious enough for them to avoid these conversations.

His blood was burning beneath his hot flesh and he simply couldn’t get enough of Meg. “I don’t, I won’t, and if you mention it again I’m throwing you into a cold shower and getting that pizza.”[/color] He threatened, though the husky tone of his voice kind of ruined the menace. Still, now was not the time for words or a conversation about this. His arm encircled her waist and pulled her body flush against his own as he gave into the heat of the kiss. Theo lifted Meg up and turned her to the bed, dropping her onto the mattress and smirking hotly at her before peeling his shirt off and over his head, falling into the space next to her and pulling her closer, his lips finding hers whilst his fingers slipped the straps of her dress over her shoulders. He didn’t want to stop now he had her.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS! 426
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Part of Meg wanted to stop this before it got too complicated. In a few months, both of them would be graduating, leaving the future of their relationship unpredictable. Taking this step would only make the inevitable day of "good bye" harder and she hated leaving behind people she loved. She'd never been in love like this before, but she knew it was going to make graduation that much more difficult, even if she'd hopefully be living the dream with some new job afterwards. What they were doing now was setting themselves up for more heartbreak, yet Meg didn't pull away. She wanted Theo, all of him, and she didn't want to consider any of the risks that may involve.

Her breathing sped while their kiss grew hungrier, but she didn't protest as she was lifted off the floor and brought to the bed. His husky words washed away the last of her fears about him, leaving her with no other arguements to keep delaying this. Meg was very ready for it though, and the sight of him shirtless was enough to send her stomach into butterflies. The primal instincts took over, her lips kissing down his jaw and neck as he slipped the straps of her dress down. She pulled back from him, preparing to yank the dress off all together, but the flash of a design in the mirror had her pausing. Distracted eyes flickered quickly to it, widening in curiousity as she made out the white rose and date being reflected back at her. She froze, staring at it.

"12/9/6... what's that for?" she said, her eyes turning back to Theo. He'd never mentioned having a tattoo, especially one that seemed so meaningful. "Is it Issy's birthday?" she questioned, trying to fit this new puzzle piece into the jigsaw she'd been slowly working out. He kept throwing her odd-looking shapes and they landed her back at square one again; she had a feeling this would be one of those pieces.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 423!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo wasn’t even thinking about their goodbye yet. He knew in the back of his mind that one day it would happen, but he wasn’t focused on that now. He was falling hard and fast for Meg and he was happy that they had met that fateful day in the library, but he was also happy that he could move on from the skeletons of his past. He was in no way using Meg for that, but she was the one who was opening the doors of the room he had felt locked in after Issy’s birth and Jenny’s death. Without her, he would still be the sorrowful actor who didn’t do very much with his life as of yet. There was a long way to go before his heart was completely recovered and he knew that a part of him would always love and miss Jenny, but this relationship with Meg was slowly starting to change him back into the man he once was and the man he wanted to be.

His dark eyes narrowed as he sensed Meg freeze up beneath him. Had he done something wrong? It might have been some time since he’d slept with anyone, but he didn’t think he would have forgotten how it all went. It was only when she spoke did he feel his heart sink. If there was anything more effective than a cold shower for killing the mood it was the implicit mention of Jenny. He hadn’t even thought about his tattoo when he had removed his shirt and now it wasn’t something he could shrug off until later. Mr Warren may have advised him to tell Meg his final secret soon, but Theo didn’t think that he would ever quite imagine it being unveiled by the discovery of a tattoo that had decorated his shoulder blade since the year it stated in black ink.

He let out a sigh and pulled away from Meg entirely, sitting up so that he was on the edge of the mattress. He twisted his head to catch a glimpse of the ink work she had questioned and then closed his dark eyes. Of all the things to come up now, it had to be this?! There had never been a worst time, but when that thought floated into his head, Theo felt terrible. He was better than some hormonal guy who only wanted sex, but right now, for a split second, that was how he felt. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell her everything and answer whatever questions she might have. “If it were Issy’s birthday then ma wee lass would be nearly six.”

[/color] He said, ruling out Meg’s first thought. He paused, running his hand through his short hair as he took a deep breath, preparing himself to talk about the most painful thing in his life story. “12/9/06 is the day that I got married.”[/color] He said simply, biting the inside of his lip immediately afterwards to control the wave of emotions by blocking it out with sharp pain; physical pain was easier to manage than emotional.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS! 557
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg may have been a "live for the moment" type for the past few years but, the future was quickly coming and, as much as she hated to say it, the time for goofing off was long gone. Soon enough, she'd have to support herself and her father, and there would be school bills to pay off, jobs to look for, co-workers to please. There wouldn't be a spare moment to waste on screwing around. She'd still have fun, sure, but she'd never be the almost carefree college kid again; that part of her life was over. Being with Theo was helping her to realize this and to grow up in ways she'd never had to before. He needed her, that much she'd figured out, but she needed him, too, and that balanced the relationship. They were both using the other, yet they weren't. They'd fallen too far for their relationship to be that superficial.

Meg was curious by nature, and the tattoo was like candy for her brain. The numbers accompanying it sent her mind flying and, if she hadn't been so distracted by his lack of a shirt, she probably would've realized how stupid her question was. 12/9/06 had to be a date; one that was too old for it to be his sweet daughter's birthday. But, Theo had succeeded in clearing her mind and, while she still longer to be touching and kissing him, this was much more important. Now, if only she could explain this the lust twisting in her stomach.

Her face fell as he pulled away, and she gave him half a second before following him to the edge of the bed. She sat criss-cross beside him on the mattress, no longer caring about the "etiquette" wearing a dress required. Meg bit her lip sheepishly, laughing breathlessly. "Yeah. Guess my head's a bit off. You're really good at... this," she said, one hand gesturing vaguely to their previous positions on the bed. He'd been doing a wonderful job of taking her breath away; she just wished she hadn't caught sight of the tattoo.

His words took a minute to sink in once Meg realized what they meant. He'd been married. She stared at him for a long moment, looking him over. The sight of him shirtless sent her desire into butterflies but, upon studying him, she noticed the chain hanging around his neck. Her eyes traveling to the middle of it, she saw the rings hanging there. Hesitantly, she moved closer to him, one hand reaching out to touch the bands before her gaze returned to his eyes. "You're not still married, are you? Because, if you are, we might have a bit of a problem," she joked gently, pulling her hand away as she looked up at him. Gently, she touched his cheek, turning his face towards hers. "She's the last piece, then. You're wife." Her voice was soft as she spoke, but there was no question in it. Meg knew, without asking, that this was onw of the last pieces of the puzzle.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 559!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Some people might say that Theo had to grow up quicker than he should have done, but that wasn’t the case at all. He had been with Jenny for eleven years before her death and friends for as long as his memory went back. Their love wasn’t some foolish whirlwind romance and it had been real; there was no denying that. They had done everything sensibly and even though Issy was a bit of a surprise for them both, they had quickly adapted their lives to welcome a little baby. The real growing up quickly had come in the days after Theo became a dad. No twenty five year old ought to be managing fatherhood for the first time and planning the funeral for the woman he loved. So, the sorrow most people saw was from that; the celebration that turned into one of the worst memories in the young Scotsman’s life.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room was entirely different and the guilt washed over Theo like a torrential downpour. It wasn’t just guilt for what he was about to do with Meg, or forgetting Jenny either. It was everything; not telling Meg sooner, not finding a way to grieve better, Issy not having a mother…if there was one thing Theo was exceptional at, other than acting, it was feeling guilty. Even if it didn’t make any sense, he would feel guilty about something. He ran his hands over his face and let out a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Meg right now, his emotions just too overwhelming. He wanted to kiss her, to cry, to run away, to scream…he had never really dealt with Jenny’s death all too well and that was something that had come back to haunt him time and time again. It hadn’t been easy though being so far from home and with a newborn baby to try and care for. Theo barely had time to shower, let alone mourn the wife he had lost.

The compliment she threw him almost went unnoticed; a small, half-hearted chuckle left his lips. If there was anything he wasn’t thinking about anymore, it was what might have been if Meg’s eyes hadn’t landed on the ink of his shoulder. Now, he was focused on the memories and story he had never told to anyone else before; the memory was too painful for him. Still, he couldn’t run from it now. There was no way of escaping this now and Meg deserved to know the truth now. Still, he found himself avoiding the first question of hers; he didn’t want to explain it all just yet, he needed to ease into it in the only way that he could. His fingers came up to close around the rings that never left the chain on his neck and he took a deep breath. “Her name’s Jenny. She’s Issy’s ma.”

[/color] He looked at her with forlorn eyes when she moved for his attention, but he couldn’t bring himself to stay there. He reached down to grab the shirt on the floor and pulled it back on; suddenly sitting shirtless didn’t seem like the best of ideas. “I married her back in ’06 and we had Issy together in December 2010.”[/color] He couldn’t quite bring himself to tell her the tragic story yet, but he had to tell her something about the woman who was his wife. Still, he swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "We're not divorced."[/color] He wanted to tell her the truth outright, but his mind was swirling, eyes growing glassy and he couldn't bring himself to say "she died".
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg <3
WORDS! 634
OUTFIT! Darling Date!
LYRICS! Beauty And The Beast - - - Disney
NOTES! <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg should've been guessing at this sooner. She knew Issy had to have had a mother and that, at one point, Theo must've been in love with the woman; he definitely wasn't the type to be careless. She was so focused on treading carefully and not drowning that she'd never imagined him married and with a wife. If something with the marriage had fallen through a few years back, it could explain why he was considerably older than most of the college kids; but, still, it didn't answer everything. Marriage was supposed to be a happy thing and, especially since he would've been a considerably young groom, there had to be more to it. She couldn't push though, even if she wanted to.

Watching him with the rings, events from her own past began to flicker through her mind. Her father cleaning specks of red off a wedding band; a jewelry box filled with her mother's trinkets being hidden in a closet; taking flowers out to a gravestone every week during high school. Her breath caught as the memories slammed into her but, suddenly, she could almost hear the words Theo wasn't saying; the ones her father had had to say so many years ago. The scene felt like it was only yesterday and, whenever she had nightmares, it usually involved the speech that led up to doctors and her father revealing that her mother was dead. Watching Theo now, she could feel those words hanging heavy in the air; she almost wished he didn't have to tell her.

She didn't move as he pulled his shirt on, instead just sitting silently while he spoke. Meg ate up every word he said, but she didn't reach out for him again or try to comfort him. Talking about this was inevitable; there wasn't any way they could circumvent it. Still, she didn't want to cause him any more pain than she had to. "Issy's like me, then," she whispered, dropping her gaze from his face. "A Daddy's girl because she doesn't have any other choice." She twisted her hands in her lap, already feeling bad for the little girl who'd grow up without seeing her mom. Meg had been lucky in that she'd at least known the woman and had spent the first half of her life with her. This innocent baby would never have that chance and, in a way, it comforted Meg to know that she'd at least be able to remember her mother's smile.

Meg let out a weak laugh, picturing the same words coming from her father's lips. She may have almost been a teenager, but she'd asked the question then, too, and gotten the same answer. "We're not divorced; your mother and I are just gonna be apart for a little while, hunny." "My dad said that to me when I asked about my mom," she smiled half-heartedly, shaking her head gently before the memories of her mother could overwhelm her.

TAG: Prince Charming <3
LOCATION: Theo's Place!
WORDS: 535!
MUSIC: "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks
OUTFIT: SIMPLY CLASSIC!
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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