The Reason I Stay • •

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo’s life might have been busier than ever now, but there was rarely a day when he didn’t smile. Not many people were given the chances he had seized and it seemed like someone finally wanted to give him a break from all the pain of his past. Since graduation, Theo had found himself travelling out of the city quite a bit for work. The jobs had been constant though and after a few small parts in some productions in Jersey over that following year, Theo had found himself heading to the west coast for the summer with scripts in the passenger seat for a few guest appearances on established TV shows and an ever growing baby girl in the back seat. The move hadn’t been permanent though, and with a child-minder on the sets to watch over Issy, Theo had basically lived out of hotel rooms and suitcases for several months before choosing to head back to New York and their old house.

He had missed the busy city and everything that came with it. Issy was almost four and the little girl needed something more stability in her life and she was Theo’s whole world right now; his daughter came before any production, any role or all the money in the world. In New York they were closer to Lilia again and Theo could still chase his dreams with plenty of chances in the city that never sleeps. He had done some good shows, received great reviews and was well and truly on his way to proving everyone who ever doubted him wrong. No one stopped him in the street or asked for photos just yet, but there had been one or two “Do I know you?” especially since his last show had come to a close. If someone was a hard-core theatre goer then they seemed to recognise something about Theo, though most of the time his broad Scottish accent was hidden by his character being from America or London. His own accent had been put to use once or twice out in California, but he was lucky he had practiced a range before graduating college, or else he might not have been offered the roles his resume now boasted.

The Scotsman had bounced out of the closing night of his last off-Broadway performance and straight into rehearsals for a bigger production that would be hitting the stage in what felt like hardly any time at all. With Issy at daycare, most of the rehearsal timing was fine for Theo and Lilia covered for him when he did have to stay late into the evening. He made it up to Issy with trips out and treats all the time; if he wasn’t on the stage then he was spoiling his daughter.

Technical problems back at the theatre meant that today the cast had an extended lunch. The director had promised to call them all once everything was fixed and ready for them to continue. He had also added a warning for them not to wander too far away, since he wanted them all back as soon as possible once the technicians had taken care of whatever had caused the lighting and the sound to stop working mid-way through act one, scene four. Theo left the building, chatting with his leading lady as they moved towards the coffee shop most of the cast seemed to rely on for their caffeinated pick-me-up most days. They mostly spoke about the play, laughing about some of the inside jokes they had and she asked about Issy as they joined the queue inside the little shop. Theo chatted happily away as they patiently waited, running his hand over the stubble on his chin as he let out a warm laugh as they joked about the director.

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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 674!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg had grown up a lot since leaving New York. She'd been busy down in D.C., and she'd been out west once or twice to visit the hometown she'd never realized how much she missed until she'd gone back. The job in D.C. had been rewarding though, and she'd quickly fit herself into the work environment. It was hard, she would admit that; crazy hours, sleepless nights, and random roadtrips. But, it was also a lot of fun, even if she was dealing with murders, dead people, and bloodstains.

Since graduation, she hadn't really thought about her life in New York. Her and her father had moved almost right after she'd gotten her degree, so it wasn't hard to just forget everything and turn her attention towards her new life. But, when her boss had offered a position back in the Big Apple, Meg had jumped at the chance; she would've always regretted it if she hadn't. She still had friends in the city; still had a family that she kept a slow contact with. True, she'd made her place down in D.C., but, it wasn't as exciting as New York, and never would be. The bustling city was her home, and she couldn't believe she was actually returning to it.

The plane arrived that morning, and all of the movers met her at the new, much larger, house that was to belong to her and her father. Her new job had quite a pretty paycheck, most of which she used to keep her dad and herself more comfortable than they'd ever been before. Looking around the box-filled house, Meg couldn't help smiling with pride; this place was legally all hers. It'd been her money used to buy it, her name put down on all the paper work -- it was hers. She was officially an adult now, one with her own house, her own car, and her own job. The movers drove off after a quick hour of pushing boxes into the house, and Meg was left alone with the cardboard mess. Her father was supposed to be up in a couple weeks, after he'd finished his own work back in D.C. Until then, Miss Warren had the place to herself, to decorate and set up as she saw fit. Before she started with the unpacking, she decided to grab a quick pick-me-up from one of her old favorite coffee shoppes. It was a short drive into the city and, after smiling at the familiar sights she'd missed, Meg found herself fighting for a parking spot and waltzing into the shoppe.

She waited in the line, sighing as more and more people began pouring in after her. Nothing seemed special about them; no one caught her eye on first glance, so she focused on choosing which warm drink to order. A voice pricked her attention before long, and it had her mind racing to place it in the large sea of faces she'd come to know in the last few years of her life. Someone from a case, probably; it was so fuzzy and old, like a song she used to love but had forgotten the tune to. And then the voice laughed, and memories suddenly came crashing through her like a slap in the face.

Theo.

The name had her insides turning to mush as her head flooded with all the kisses, the laughter, the fights; the relationship they'd ended so both of them could move on with their lives. Meg felt her heart break as that scene rolled past, though it picked up again as she turned to peek at the only man who'd ever managed to steal away her heart. He looked good; happy, too. That had been her biggest fear when she'd left, that he'd never move on and spend his time hiding from life again. But, from the looks of it, he was out in the world, and enjoying every second of it.

Her eyes flickered to his company, and any hope she'd been feeling froze. Apparently, he hadn't just been living; he'd been loving, too. The girl he was with was prettier than Meg ever thought herself to be. She was the kind of beauty that belonged on the stage, and probably had some starring role that had brought her into Theo's life. They'd probably turned into the lovestruck theatre geeks who poured all their romance into chemistry for leading roles; this was the girl who he'd chosen to replace Meg.

"What can I get for you, miss? Miss?"

The voice of the cashier pulled her attention back, and she quickly ordered her coffee. Hearing another round of laughter from behind her, she added, "And, whatever the guy back there wants. Tell him it's from an old friend." Her smile was a bit sad at the end, but the young man didn't question it, and handed over her coffee as she dug for her change. She nodded her thank you and slung her purse back over her arm, turning to walk passed Theo with her head down as she exited the crowded shoppe.

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 896!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Things could’ve been very different if he didn’t have Issy to consider. There had been some big roles and opportunities turned down because of the little girl, but Theo didn’t regret sacrificing chances for her happiness. Throughout everything she was the one constant in his life and the person who kept him smiling when days were tougher than others. There were still parts of him that were broken and irreparable. He would forever grieve for Jenny; the mother who would never see her daughter grow in the way Theo would. The rings still hung around his neck as a reminder and the photos still adorned his house. All the happiness in the world couldn’t bring him to forget her and the Scotsman never wanted to either.

Besides Jenny, his thoughts late at night often wandered back to another blonde girl who had changed his life for the better. They had said goodbye to chase their dreams, but that didn’t mean Theo had been able to forget about Meg. He still had photographs in drawers and silly trinkets in his house from their relationship and while he was through living in the past, he just couldn’t bring himself to get rid of them. He wondered sometimes if she was happy, if her life was everything she had hoped for and if she had met someone who had stolen her heart. The selfish side of him hoped not, but Theo had never been the type of man to wish unhappiness on anyone, especially not someone he cared for so much. If she was happy, then he would be, but he doubted that he’d ever find out and often just rolled over and tried to force himself to sleep. He might not have been as broken as he once was, but Theo’s insomnia still plagued him in rough bouts every so often and it was a chance for those thoughts to overwhelm him.

His life was essentially built up of Issy and acting. Lilia had her own life and Theo didn’t want to interfere in that when it only resulted in the brunette yelling at him over it. He still spent as much time with her as he could, still feeling indebted to her for everything she had done to help him get back on his feet in the aftermath of Jenny’s death. Really though, Theo was home most nights after a performance and dating was something Lilia only hopefully mentioned every so often and usually around the time when Theo was closing a show and had the time to spare for other things. The last break he had had was used to re-decorate Issy’s bedroom and he’d rather spend that time more practically than emotionally.

As he stepped to the front of the queue and reached for his wallet, he was baffled to hear the barista tell him that the coffee he ordered had already been taken care of by “an old friend”. Theo twisted around and glanced over the heads in the crowd, trying to pick out a familiar face with his pale blue eyes. He just caught the blonde slipping out of the door and his eyebrows furrowed. It was like something out of an old dream, but he quickly snatched up the coffee, mumbled an apology to his leading lady and navigated his way quickly back to the streets, checking both sides of the sidewalk for the blonde woman who was stirring old memories as he searched for her. “Meg!”

[/color] He shouted as he finally spotted her a little further ahead. Walking quickly, he approached her and his heart was racing, wondering if this was real or if he’d hear his alarm clock screeching in the next few seconds. “Meg, is it really you?”[/color] He asked quietly, wanting to reach out to her, but scared in case he’d made a mistake.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 684!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg had spent many nights wondering what would've happened if she'd stayed in New York. If she hadn't left, what would her life be like right now? Would she be wearing a ring, or still supporting her father on her own? Would she still be the college kid with the world open before her? Would she be as happy as she was right now? They were questions she was scared to find the answers to, but they were also useless. She'd chosen to go and chase dreams rather than stay in a place where she was comfortable. But, running was what she'd done for as long as she could remember. Run from the people who wanted to comfort her; run from the town that held too many memories; run from the big city on to a new, more promising one. If she'd stayed, would she still be running?

Nothing had happened in D.C. to drive Meg out; she'd been happy there, with her job and with the new life she'd built. She'd left because she'd wanted to return to New York, and, now that she was back, she would admit, she'd missed the bustling city streets. It felt like coming home as she wandered and fell back into the music of Big Apple life, but it also felt so different. She and the city had both changed; this wasn't the same place she'd left years ago. Still, it was familiar and comforting, and she was glad she'd accepted the new job here.

Seeing Theo only strengthened the idea that New York wasn't the same anymore. He was a different person than the one she'd kissed goodbye, and she was betting her remaining friends were just as altered. She herself had changed; the more professional clothes, a tamed hairstyle, her simple makeup. Looking around, Meg was realizing how different people and places could become after a small period of time; she was only hoping she'd still fit somewhere in the new puzzle.

It hurt to walk out of the coffee shoppe, hurt more than she was ready for. Meg had never really gotten over her love for the theatre boy, and, watching him with another girl, she felt those feelings sprouting up against her will. He wasn't hers anymore though; they'd freed each other so they could live their own lives without being tied down. Still, she didn't like the idea of him moving on, even if he was happy because of it.

She sipped her coffee as she wove her way down the sidewalk, attempting to push Theo out of her mind while she tried to find her car. She dug for the keys in her pocket, unlocking the doors and preparing to venture into the street to climb in on the driver's side. Hearing her name, she froze, looking up in surprise as she saw Theo himself crashing down on her. At his words, she contemplated the idea of saying no; it'd be easier, keep their break clean and not complicate either of their lives now that she was back in New York. But, she'd never been able to lie to him, and she didn't want to start now. "Hi," she smiled breathlessly, shaking her head as she turned towards him. "You weren't supposed to come after me. Go back to your date; I'm sure she doesn't want you chasing after silly blondes," she said, looking down at the ground awkwardly. She didn't want to stare, but, gosh, did she want to taste those sweet lips she'd dreamed about while being gone.

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 633!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Out in California, Theo had been tempted to stay. He contemplated settling down with a house not too far from the beach, where he could sit on the decking and learn his lines and Issy could play in the sand. There would’ve been plenty of job opportunities on the stage and in front of the camera and Theo probably could’ve made a good go of it out there. The several months that he had spent working in LA had been enjoyable and a part of the city had captured his heart and his spirit, but in the end it just hadn’t been New York. Lilia was back there and so were his old college friends, their home and Broadway. He had once told Jenny that his name would be on the listings there someday and he still had the dream to chase. Returning was something he didn’t regret; it was home. Despite all the heartache here and the struggles, New York was where Issy had been born and it was, and always would be, home.

He might not have been the same man upon his return and his little girl was not the same infant crawling along and clinging to her daddy. They had both changed, but the neon lights of New York still welcomed them back and it felt like they had barely left. The city was still busy, still alive with so many different characters and Theo fell straight into a new routine that evolved around rehearsals, call backs and cast meetings. Really the biggest changes in his life were the lack of a baby-seat in the back of his car and just how busy his days were now. That hectic lifestyle had brought him out of his shell, stopped him from wallowing so much. He took Issy to the park, rehearsed with his cast mates and spent many hours pretending to be someone else.

Right now, he didn’t care about the coffee or about the play rehearsal that had been interrupted with technical faults. His thoughts were on Meg and the relationship they had given up three years ago. New York was a big place and he might have been mistaken, but instinct told him he was right and Theo wasn’t about to shrug something like that off; he didn’t know if he’d ever see her again, if it really was her. Seeing her brought a smile to his lips. She looked great; really great and those old feelings were rising up from the pit of his stomach once more. “Hey.”

[/color] He said with a short burst of disbelieving laughter. Of all the gin joints in all the world…His dark eyebrows came together for a moment, trying to understand what she was talking about. He hadn’t been on a date since their break up and the only time he kissed anyone was when there was a camera or an audience nearby. Shaking his head, he reached out hesitantly to hug Meg with his free arm, careful not to spill any coffee. He didn’t know how she’d react, but he needed to feel her against his body, just in a friendly hug, at least. “She’s not my date, hen. She’s a friend, a cast mate from the show I’m rehearsing.”[/color] He said, amused that Meg had thought otherwise. Theo had never even looked at any of his co-stars with that sort of idea before, even if he did have to “fall in love” with them.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 619!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

She hadn't expected to run into Theo, at least not so soon upon her return. She'd only been back for a few hours; what were the odds of them meeting again in that short amount of time? She wasn't anywhere near ready for the emotional roller coaster this would no doubt turn into. Seeing Nix, or any other college friend, she could've dealt with, but Theo had too many memories surrounding him for Meg to be able to face him without some internal break down. They may've said goodbye three years ago, but that hadn't meant her feelings had died as soon as she'd driven out of the city. Every time she'd seen a photo, or even when her father would drag her out to see a show at the local theatre in D.C., she'd thought about him, wondering where he was and what he was doing. Apparently, he was still in New York, chasing dreams just like she was.

Meg didn't protest as she was pulled into a hug, instinctively moving to fit herself against his chest, even if it was for a short moment. She wrapped her free arm around him as well, stepping back to try and calm herself before she let those old feelings get the better of her. "You're in a show? That's great, Theo," she smiled, pride in her voice, even if he wasn't hers to be proud of anymore. She couldn't help it; after everything they'd gone through together, she was proud of him for following his dreams and not giving into his darker side. "She's not your date?" she said slowly, backtracking and shoving the hope out of herself again. He probably had another girl then; he wouldn't wait around for her like she'd been unknowingly doing for him. Smiling at him, she asked, "Are you busy? Do you want to go get lunch or something and catch up?" She bit her lip, sipping on her coffee to try and hide the pleading look on her face. Meg wanted to spend more time with him; she didn't want to let him go for the few moments that she had him again.

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 402!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo had previously had no idea that Meg was back in New York. If he did then…well, he still didn’t know what he’d do with that information. He would want to see her, even if it was just a short meeting, but at the same time he didn’t think that he’d like to hear that there was another man, or spy a ring on her finger. Three years was a long enough time for anything to happen and the waiting game was not one he suspected Meg would play on the slight off chance of an encounter with him. He had found himself in DC once, for a weekend, when he was filming a small guesting role in a TV show. His thoughts had travelled to Meg then, too, but he didn’t have the faintest clue where to find her and his free time was limited with the hours the studio needed him to be there for. In the end it was just a far-flung fantasy that Theo knew was best saved for the writers of blockbuster movies, rather than a single guy in a strange city with a countdown on how long he’d be there for.

It felt good to see Meg again now, to hold her. It was ripping open old feelings, but Theo didn’t care; he was just thankful for this chance. He wanted to catch up, share tales and act like it was the good old days again, even if it was just for an hour in this fateful afternoon. Nodding his head, he smiled a modest grin, though there was an excited twinkle in his light eyes. “Aye for now; it seems that I’m quite good at acting.”

[/color] He joked. He still wasn’t used to praise from anyone; not even his director. It just didn’t feel right; especially not when he was just a man doing what he had loved since a young age. “No, hen. She’s my leading lady, but she’s no date.”[/color] He reaffirmed, completely baffled as to where Meg would get such an idea from. His blue eyes met hers and with another small smile he decided to put his heart on the table without explicitly setting himself up for a potential heartbreak. “There’s no one.”[/color] He said quietly, ignoring the thumping of his heart against his chest. Theo glanced at his watch and then back up the street in the direction of the theatre. “We’ve got technical problems, so I’m free until the director calls me. It could be an hour, it could be six…I dinnae ken.”[/color] Lunch and a catch up did sound good and Theo was now silently hoping that the problems with the lighting would be the kind that would hold up rehearsals until tomorrow morning; he didn’t want to have to run off on her, not this time.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 515!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

She hadn't told anyone she was coming back, and for good reason. Meg had wanted to get settled before she threw herself back into the crazy social world of New York, and she was kind of looking forward to the few weeks alone so she could adjust herself back to the cool climate. She was planning to decorate the house, hire a few people to move or assemble furniture for her, and make herself comfortable at the new job before her father took a single step off the plane. Maybe she'd even surprise him with a dog; the house was big enough to house a few in addition to the father-daughter duo.

Meg would never complain about her job. She'd groan about the hours, curse when she got a call in the middle of the night, and mutter protests as she inhaled coffee to stay half awake. But, she would never complain about the actual work she was doing. Her lab down in D.C. had been like a second home, and, after a year of sharing one, she'd finally been granted her own to run and rule over as she saw fit. It was going to be like that in New York, too; her own lab, a few interns to watch over, and cases galore for her to study and help solve. Her superiors in D.C. had promised all of it and more, and Meg was excited, to say the least.

She couldn't keep the smile off her face as Theo spoke. It felt so good to hear his voice again, and she would've paid any sum to just listen to him talk for a few hours. Catching up would be nice; she wanted to know how he was doing, how Issy was, and where his life had taken him in the few years they'd been apart. The selfish part of her also wanted to brag about her own successes and triumphs, but she also wanted to drill and see what romance had found him since they'd last seen each other. "I could've told you that," she laughed softly, her grin widening. "Have you been signing autographs left and right? I'm surprised you don't have your own security team yet," she teased back, a smirk on her lips as she met his gaze.

The hope let itself back into Meg's heart as Theo said there was no one; not that girl back in the coffee shoppe, or anyone else. There was no one in her life either, not since him. Dating was hard when your life was basically spent in a lab, and unprofessional relationships with co-workers were generally frowned upon. No one special was in her life either; her dad was still the only guy who had any hold on her heart. "Then no one'll mind if I steal you for awhile," she said with a happy smile. Meg gripped her coffee cup tightly in her left hand, her fingers absorbing the heat of the drink inside. No rings decorated her hand, proof that her love life had basically stalled since Theo.

"A quick lunch, then," she nodded, locking her car back up and nodding towards the closest cafe. Meg walked slowly, keeping one eye on Theo as she went. "I haven't eaten since D.C., so I'm starving," she said with a laugh, tucking her car keys away. "So, besides your acting career, what's new? How's Issy?" Meg smiled fondly at the little girl's name, realizing that she probably wasn't so little anymore. Three years were a lifetime when it came to growing up; the girl was old enough for school now. It really had been a long time since she'd been in New York.

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 671!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Most of the time Theo didn’t know where he would be one week to the next. He called Lilia to check on things, but most of the time he couldn’t give his sister an actual location until he arrived there or got a call telling him where his next role was going to be. It made having a social life sort of complicated, but he worked with people who understood and so cast parties and casual drinks after rehearsal some nights had been the best way to combat all of that. Besides, if there was one thing that hadn’t really changed much it was Theo’s lack of a social life. Once graduation was over he didn’t suddenly turn into some social butterfly and go out every weekend; it had never been his style and it probably never would be.

His work kept him busy and fitting roles in around Issy was more complicated. Luckily, the little girl behaved well and many of the directors he’d met so far in his young career hadn’t minded the little girl taking up room quietly somewhere during a rehearsal. Whenever Theo had been in front of the cameras, there was always a stylist or other crew member more than smitten with the little toddler to take her away and keep her occupied for a few hours. Theo had lost track of how many “makeovers” his little girl had given to the women in the trailers before today. He’d been lucky, but there had been parts he had turned down, good roles tossed aside because Issy would always come first.

Theo couldn’t wait to listen and catch up with Meg again. It had been far too long and he knew that the clean break had been best for both of them. Now that she was standing before him though, it seemed like forever has passed by since their goodbye and he had never, in a million years, expected to see her again. A warm laugh erupted from him and he shook his head, running his fingers through his short hair. “I doubt many people even ken who I am.”

[/color] He was becoming a more frequent performer and one or two people had demanded his autograph, but they were mainly old friends, or people who knew most of the cast because they ate their lunches in their café or brought late night snacks from their diner. “What aboot you? Bored of those white labs yet?”[/color] He said with a charismatic smirk.

He had the time to spare this afternoon. Issy was with her little friends at the day care and then Aunt Lilia had promised her some adventures and treats in the afternoon, since Theo couldn’t give a time on finishing today, especially not now. He could be called back to the theatre at any given moment or he might get a more frustrated call later from the director telling him to be back there for eight in the morning. He was just glad he wasn’t one of the technicians today; the poor men and women were probably getting non-stop lectures! “No one at all; least of all me.”[/color] Theo was unable to hide the slight flirtation, but he knew better than to assume too much. He was just being honest and no one could find malice or ulterior motives in that.

His eyebrows arched in surprise and he looked down at the pretty blonde by his side. “You’ve only just got back in New York?”[/color] He asked, even more amused now by their coincidental meeting. He crossed the street with her, holding the door to the café open when they reached it. “Nothing much. Aye, Issy’s doing grand. She’s starting school after the summer, but the little monster is already running around excited for it.”[/color] He couldn’t believe his little baby girl was growing up so fast, but she was, and there wasn’t a day that went by when Theo didn’t feel his heart swell with pride for every little thing that she did. “So, what’s brought you back to New York? Work?”[/color] After hearing about her recent return, it seemed to be the only logical answer in Theo’s mind, but after all the surprises today, he probably shouldn’t be making assumptions.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 753!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Her life had hardly been boring the last few years. It wasn't full of wild parties, expensive getaways, or a wedding, but it hadn't been boring. Meg had been doing what she loved, and she'd been climbing her way up her own ladder to gain more and more respect for herself. A lot of people were surprised by the little, innocent blonde woman, and she was very happy to prove herself and make them realize that not everyone had to look like a smart nerd to actually be one.

The job offer for New York was proof of how well Meg had actually done. Her father had made a few comments about it, especially since they hadn't been in D.C. for too long. It was kind of odd to be travelling again, but it wasn't like she didn't do that with her old job, anyways. She found herself going all over the place for crime scenes, a job requirement when you had to go gather evidence at crime scenes. The new job was going to, hopefully, stay a little more local, so she wouldn't be flying all over the country without a moment's notice.

She was excited to see Theo again. Meg just hadn't been expecting to run into him the first day she was back in New York; she hadn't really been expecting to run into him at all. She'd figured he'd be going all over the country by now for roles, and that he would've left New York a long time ago. She didn't regret it at all, and she was glad they'd get to catch up, but she was wondering how good this was for either of their sanities. They were supposed to have had a clean break; nothing left but the memories. Now, as she walked with him into the cafe, Meg had to keep herself from pulling all the little flirty remarks that were on the tip of her lips. They weren't a couple anymore, just old friends, an old flame, that had been put out after graduation.

Meg laughed quietly, shaking her head. "Murders don't exactly get boring. I've seen things worse than any horror movie in the last few years," she said with a smirk. It was true; she should've been corrupted beyond repair from all the gore, bodies, and disgusting scenes she'd witnessed with her line of profession. But, that was what she'd chosen to do; it was written out in the job description, and she wasn't regretting anything now.

She couldn't help smiling back at his remark, noting the flirtation coating his words. It felt natural to be like that with him; to cuddle, grab his hand, kiss his cheek. Meg had already had to stop herself from pulling some of the old quirks, and it was harder than she'd ever thought it would be.

Meg looked back up at him, grinning and laughing. "Just a couple hours ago, actually. Unpacked a few moving vans, then came into the city for coffee before I got to work going through the cardboard boxes." She smiled sweetly as he held the door, nodding a thank you and passing through. "Do you have a picture? She must be so big now." She shook her head in disbelief and sat down at a table, setting her purse by her feet. If they were going to make this quick, she wanted to enjoy his company for as long as she could. She just hoped their food got their fast. Pulling out a menu, she nodded, "They offered a job up here, and I jumped at it. Daddy was glad it'd keep me home more, but I think he really just missed the city." She smiled, biting her lip as she picked out a meal she hoped wouldn't be too hard to whip up in a short amount of time. "He'll be up in a few weeks. For now, I've got an empty house all to myself," she said, a note of bitterness in her tone. Meg wasn't used to being alone; it was going to be strange, even if it was only temporary.

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 742!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

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[Theo Anthony Sterling]

His life hadn’t been full of glitz and glamour like so many assumed came with a life of acting. There were a few parties at the end of a run, but Theo never stayed around for long and he never found himself staggering home to relieve a babysitter of her duties. Normally, he heard all the stories from his friends the next day about what some of the cast ended up doing before the night came to a close. He could only laugh at some of their antics, believing that they deserved to run around, go a little crazy and celebrate after putting in the hard work for so long to make the show a success. Other nights his insomnia plagued him, keeping him awake and watching infomercials until the sun was creeping over the skyline. Then, he had long nights of script reading, learning and memorising his lines while Issy slept. It was hard work and quite the struggle at times, but hearing the praise of the critics or the applause of an audience made all those long nights worth it.

“Aye, I bet you have.”

[/color] Theo said with a smile and a shake of his head. He admired Meg for chasing her dreams and for doing so well. He could remember how driven she had been and how determined she was when they said goodbye to make a go of things in the world. He was just happy that it had all worked out for her and that she wasn’t back in New York because of something going wrong in her life.

He nodded his head, understanding things a little better now. “I’m still in the old house.”[/color] He told her, even though she hadn’t asked. Living out of hotels hadn’t exactly been a lifestyle he’d make permanent, but keeping hold of the New York house meant that Lilia still had it to call her home and they had somewhere familiar to return to when all was said and done. That house was full of memories and stories that Theo hadn’t been ready to let go of. Nodding his head, he reached into his pocket for his wallet, flipping it open to pull out the small photo of the four year old. “Aye, here she is.”[/color] Issy was grinning a toothy grin in the photo, her hair tied up in cute little bunches as she sat on the grass in a yellow summer dress. Theo had taken the photo only a few weeks ago when the weather had been nice and Issy had spent the day running about the back yard while Theo took care of the garden chores that came along every spring. “It’s an easy city to miss.”[/color] Theo had longed for the bright lights of New York himself some nights, especially if he had been unable to sleep. “Well, if you need a hand with anything, I’m usually out of rehearsals by five most evenings.”[/color] He offered, eager to spend more time with Meg, whatever the situation.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 547!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

They'd only been together a few minutes, but, already, Meg had all the old butterflies fluttering away in her stomach. She couldn't keep the smile off her face, and her heart was thumping quicker than normal; all things that hadn't happened since the last time she'd been with Theo. It was strange, almost like coming home, and she wouldn't have traded it for the world. Still, she wished she would've been better dressed, or better prepared maybe. He looked wonderful; as handsome and happy as ever. She, on the other hand, was still in her airplane clothes, and she had dirt caked under her nails from carting those boxes out of rusty moving vans. Her hair was in shambles, barely any makeup was on her face, and she looked half asleep from the time difference her body was adjusting to; not exactly the perfect state for a reuniting with her ex-boyfriend.

Meg smiled at him, nodding. She didn't expect him to be anywhere else; it would've felt odd knowing he lived somewhere else. It was already hard to realize she wouldn't be at the cozy place that had belonged to her and her father for so many years, but the new place was a heck of a lot nicer. "I wish I could be. The new one's totally different," she said with a laugh, shaking her head and sipping her coffee again.

Her eyes turned to the photo he pulled out, and her smile widened as she took in the little girl who didn't look so little anymore. "Oh, wow," Meg breathed with a laugh. "She's beautiful, Theo. I bet she's getting to be a handful though," she said in a teasing voice. That girl was probably spoiled rotten by her father, but, from the looks of it, she was doing just fine; she was happy, just like her dad.

Meg nodded quickly at his offer, not even thinking twice about how desperate or pathetic it may be to jump at such a plan. She wanted to spend more time with him, and, if they were unpacking boxes, at least something productive would get done. "I'd like that. A lot, actually," she said with a smile. "If you don't get called back, I'd love to have you over for a while. We could order take out or something, and you can help me set up my bed so I've got a place to sleep tonight," she added hopefully, laughing at herself. For now, all she had was one old couch buried beneath a mound of bags and boxes. She didn't even know where her pillow was in the mess!

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 483!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo couldn’t believe that he had run into Meg this lunch time. What was even more unbelievable was how fast the old feelings and instincts had resurfaced despite the years they had been apart for. It felt like they had only parted ways yesterday despite how much had changed in their lives over the last three years. They ought to be different people who wanted different things, but Theo felt exactly like he had done back in the days when it was normal for Meg to curl into his side and for him to kiss the top of her head like there was nothing to tear them apart. The Scotsman still thought that she looked as beautiful as ever and a part of him was glad that their meeting had been so unexpected and unprepared; it meant that neither of them got to overthink the situation or put in too much effort. He had stumbled from a bust of a rehearsal where he had been sat since dropping Issy off at the small day care facility she loved. He hadn’t shaved, done anything more than run wet fingers through his hair and had grabbed the first clothes folded in his drawers before shoving his feet into the same old pair of Etnies that Meg had probably already seen when they were dating.

“Aye, I remember that well.”

[/color] Moving into the house he now called home had been a big challenge, but a necessary one. It had taken Theo some time to get used to it and he spent quite a long time wishing that they could be back in their old apartment or a house similar to the kind they had grown up in. Now he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else; the home simply carried far too many memories for him.

Theo smiled, unable to stop himself whenever Issy was brought up in conversation. He was so proud of his little girl and it was a wonder he didn’t boast about her more than he already did, whenever the opportunity arose. “I can still keep up with her.”[/color] He shrugged his shoulders casually, but his proud, fatherly smile stayed fixed in place. She was getting more curious these days and since she had found her voice she was asking questions about everything and anything, running her mouth at a mile a minute sometimes, but she was still a polite little girl and the tantrums were surprisingly rare for her.

He returned her smile and nodded his head. “Aye, that sounds good to me. Lilia’s looking after Issy for me today.”[/color] He added, letting Meg know that the little girl was already in good hands for the day and the evening if necessary. His sister already knew that the screw up at the theatre meant that he might not make it home in time for tea, but she had told him not to worry; she had only planned a night of movies and girly things. “An’ we can’t have you sleeping on the floor, hen.”[/color] He added, smirking and nudging her playfully.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 555!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3

[Margaret Rose Warren]

Meg was looking forward to making a new home for herself in New York. Life was going to be a lot different than how it had been while she was a student, and it'd be twice as complicated with her crazy work hours. D.C. had already been a mess, and that city wasn't exactly as crazy as the Big Apple! She was excited for it though; happy to have a chance to re-establish herself in the city streets as a new person.

She was no interior decorator, but Meg had been picking out colors, furniture, and wall-hangings since she and her father had chosen the house. This was her first official place, so she felt like she had a right to go all out with it, despite her father's fears of neon colored floors and zebra-print couches. She'd given him his bedroom, however, along with the spare room to use for whatever he wished. He'd forced her into taking the master suite, so she had more room than she knew what to do with, but they were both going to have their space other than the neutral first floor and basement. Meg already had ideas for the living room, kitchen, and dining room, and she was excited to get to work on bringing them to life so they'd be ready by the time her father finally got back home.

She laughed and nodded. "There's a couch buried somewhere in the mess, but I would prefer the big bed over it," she said, returning his playful touch with a gentle elbow to his side. Meg had missed this relaxed relationship, and how, even if they'd had to fight for it, everything was full of love and fun. It was so different than a simple friendship, though they had been apart for so long. Higher powers had already been at work today to bring them together, and Meg was looking forward to seeing where this evening led to. She couldn't get her hopes up too much, and she knew that, but this was the most light-hearted she'd felt in a long time, and she didn't want to lose that feeling.

Meg ordered her lunch as the waitress came over, getting a class of water and a sandwich. If she was going to be feasting on greasy take-out with Theo, she wanted to save room for it. Besides, she wanted to eat fast in case he did get called back to his rehearsal. Handing over her menu and smiling kindly at the girl as she walked off to put in the order, Meg said, "So, what've you been doing for three years? What's Lilia up to?" She kept her eyes on him, honestly interested in it all. She wanted to know what he'd been doing, everything he'd seen, and how far he'd carried his dream since the last time she'd seen him. If his adventures were anything like hers, she knew they'd be talking the entire night, but that wouldn't exactly be a bad thing as long as they spent it together.

TAG: Theo-Bear! <3
LOCATION: Coffee Shoppe!
WORDS: 544!
MUSIC: "Good in Goodbye" by Carrie Underwood
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[/size]

[Theo Anthony Sterling]

Theo still had a long road to travel in terms of making a name for himself. He wasn’t all that desperate to see his name in lights and have the regular Broadway goers recognising his name on posters, but he would be lying if he said he hadn’t dreamt about it; what actor hadn’t? For now, he seemed to have a steady income from one job to the next, savings tucked away just in case something went wrong or his career did hit a dry patch. His agent was a good guy; kept him informed, got him walk on parts for TV when he could and kept sliding scripts Theo’s way long before the first was off his desk. He even took the time to consider Issy and had babysat on the rare afternoon when a shock audition slot had opened up and Theo didn’t have the time to call Lilia or any of his regular go-to people for sitting.

His own place still looked the same as it had always done. There was a new three piece suite in the living room, but it was almost identical to the one that had sat there before it. Issy’s toys had gone from toddler’s building blocks and delicate plush dolls to more age appropriate toys; if there was a morning when Theo didn’t trip over a doll of some kind, it was a miracle. Why she had so many he didn’t know, but he was certain this had to be where the shoe obsession stemmed from. Although he was going to forever blame Lilia for anything like that since Issy always wanted to copy her aunt every time she was heading out for a night out. Theo didn’t complain and he let them have their fun; Lilia was, after all, the primary female influence in Issy’s life after Jenny had died and Theo had parted ways with Meg.

Laughing warmly, Theo scrubbed his hand over his stubble and nodded his head. “I think we all would! Trust me; I’ve done my fair share of couch sleeping over the years.”

[/color] He didn’t feel the same heart ripping pain these days when he spoke about the darker parts of his past. They still hurt him and they probably always would, but he had grieved enough for those days. The insomnia and the memories still haunted him from time to time, but he could cope without feeling like he had to retreat into the shell he had been hiding in the first time he had met Meg.

Ordering a glass of orange juice and a small chicken pasta salad, Theo sat back in his seat and got comfortable, shrugging his shoulders slightly. “Acting here, there and everywhere. I took Issy with me on the road and took a few jobs out in LA and Chicago, had a couple of weekends filming in other locations and then came back to New York so Issy could go to school.”[/color] He summarised, keeping it brief and simple. Hopefully there would be time for them both to share stories now that they were living in the same city again, but Theo didn’t feel like bombarding her with tales from the various stages and sets he had walked on just yet. “Lilia is Lilia. She’s still driving me crazy on a regular basis, but then I dinnae think little sisters ever grow out of that habit.”[/color] He said with a fond shake of his head. Without Lilia, New York and the last several years would’ve been very different for him. “How’s your dad?”[/color] He smiled as their drinks arrived at the table and then raised the cool, refreshing juice to his lips.
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• • •

TAGGED! Meg!
WORDS! 657!
OUTFIT! Daddy Bear!
LYRICS! If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn - - - Sleeping With Sirens
NOTES! <3 <3 <3