Changed

[Demeter]

Ayda blinked down at Hawk and blushed. Had she really just done that? To Hawk? Ayda scrambled away from Hawk and scrambled up a few steps to stair at the carpeting on the stairs.

"I didn't mean to do that. I mean, I like you. Underneath that harsh exterior you like to show off, you're a sweet guy." Ayda flush jumped in color and she hid her face in her hands. Was she really saying all of this?

"What I mean is that you're a great guy and I like being around you and you smell great and you don't mind me hanging around and I like the way you look and, gods above, why can't I shut up about this?"

Ayda groaned. She'd just spilled all the things she liked about Hawk to Hawk. "Perfect, just perfect," she muttered and then peeked between her fingers at Hawk.

[Shinigami]

Hawk blinked as Ayda scrambled away from him and up a few steps. He frowned as he sat up, opening his mouth to ask if she was okay, but was cut off. A smirk tugged at his lips as he heard Ayda's rambling, though his cheeks were still lightly blushed.

He blinked and smiled a bit more when Ayda let it slip that she thought he smelled good. As she continued on he snuck forward and crouched in front of her, propping his head up with his hand. There was a smile plastered on his face as he watched and waited for her to look at him once again.

When he saw her peek out from between her fingers, he raised a brow, still smiling. "Are you finished? Well, since you were so honest with me, I'll be honest with you." He paused a second, partly for dramatics and partly to figure out how to phrase it. "That little outburst of yours was adorable, and I've had quite the crush on you for a while now."

[Demeter]

Ayda's head popped up in surprise and she stared in amazement at Hawk. "You like me?" she asked in shock and then she grinned. "You like me!" she crowed for a second time and launched herself at Hawk, forgetting that they were perched on the stairs. Once the motion of falling stopped, Ayda looked up to see Hawk gripping the stairway banister. "Sorry, she muttered into the crook of Hawk's neck.

She enhaled his smell and stood up, a blush still present on her face. She held out her hand to Hawk and pull him up the stairs. "So, I'm going to go take that nap now. All that falling down the stairs has worn me out."

Ayda scampered up the rest of the stairs and stood in the second floor hallway. She glanced between the guest room she'd been given and the room across the way, Hawk's room. She shrugged her shoulders and hopped into Hawk's room and curled up on the bed.

[Shinigami]

Hawk blinked at Ayda's next outburst and his eyes widened as he saw her launch herself at him. He quickly shot his hand out and grabbed the railing of the stairs, dropped one foot down to the next stair to absorb some of Ayda's weight, and wrapped his free arm tightly around her waist to keep her from tumbling past him and down the stairs. He let out a relieved breath once they were both stable once more.

He smiled and gave a light chuckle at Ayda's muttered apology, loosening the arm around her waist to allow her to stand. He hauled himself up with a little help from the railing and took her hand, following her up the stairs. At her first mention of her nap Hawk's light blush found it's way back to his cheeks, remembering that she had planned to nap in his bed, but he wasn't actually expecting her to go through with it now. After all, that would be awkward, right?

Hawk watched Ayda hesitate, looking as though she were deciding between her room or his, before deciding on HIS room. His flush deepened three-fold as he watched her curl up on his bed. It was one thing to nap on his bed before, when she didn't know he liked her, and when he didn't think she liked him, but now? He didn't have the heart to tell her to nap in her own room, so he settled for curling up on his chair with his once forgotten book.

[Demeter]

Ayda grumbled once she work up. She glanced around, slightly confused because this wasn't her room. Ayda caught sight of Hawk and squeaked as the entire memory of the afternoon came flooding back to her. She'd confessed that she'd confessed her feelings to Hawk and he'd done the same. "Hello," she said after sitting up and glancing at him. "Sorry about intruding. I'm gonna go talk to Saiyuri now."

Ayda scooted off the bed and stood. She glanced around for a moment and then looked at Hawk. "Maybe we can talk a little later? About what happened this afternoon, that is." Once she got an affirmative answer, Ayda scuttled out of the room and headed for the basement stairs. Once she was in her friends apartment, Ayda stuffed her head against one of the couch cushions and screamed.

Once she expended all the air in her lungs, Ayda rolled over and stared at the ceiling. She tilted her head back to see a confused looking Saiyuri and a happy Lani, after all, Auntie Ayda had come to play. "Guess what I did this afternoon..."

[Maira]

Saiyuri was seething as Fiona finally left her home and she didn't bother to resist the urge to slam the door behind the other woman. "Good riddance!" she growled at the door. Turning back into her apartment, Saiyuri noticed that the peace lily on her dining room table had wilted a bit... "Oh you silly thing, I wasn't mad at you!" she exclaimed as she rushed over to the plant and took it to the kitchen sink for some water and miracle-gro.

*****

Saiyuri was reading Lani some stories in the nursery when they both jumped at the sound of feet coming down the stairs to their apartment. Curious, Saiyuri looked to Lani and asked, "Shall we go see who it is?" The baby girl just blinked her violet eyes knowingly and cooed. "Alright then," Saiyuri agreed.

Setting the book down and grabbing up Lani's rattle, Saiyuri headed out to see who had wandered into her apartment from the main house and was pleasantly surprised to find Ayda screaming into one of the cushions on her couch. With Lani merrily shaking her rattle, Saiyuri just waited to see what Ayda wanted.

When Ayda finally said, "Guess what I did this afternoon..." Saiyuri couldn't keep the smirk off her face. Mercilessly she answered, "Oh you mean besides planting a big wet one on my brother? I honestly don't know what could top that Ayda but if you've got somethin' that does I deffinately wanna hear it." Her grin was from ear to ear and she had to fight to keep in the laughter that was bubbling under the surface when her friend's face went beet red.

Lani, not quite understanding the situation her dear Aunty Ayda was in, squirmed and wiggled until Ayda noticed her. As soon as her aunt took her from her mother, Lani started cooing and babbling in baby speech. Her rattle dropped to the floor completely forgotten as she reached for the collar of Ayda's shirt and stuck it in her mouth.

[Shinigami]

Hawk's attention was drawn from his book as he heard Ayda mumble. She squeaked when she realized he was still in the room and he raised a brow at her. He was slightly alarmed when it seemed like she was just going to hurry off to see Saiyuri, already putting his book down, but when she offered to talk about their earlier experience he was relieved. He nodded, planning on staying in his room like he did most of the time.

He sighed, picking his book back up again and shifting so he was sitting Indian style in his chair. He found he couldn't concentrate on his book, so he lay it in his lap, open, and leaning his chair back against the wall so only the two back legs were on the ground. He opened the window next to him and broke out a new pack of cigarettes.

He sucked in a good breath of smoke after lighting a "cancer stick," as his family was known to call it, and held it in for a minute. Hawk was happy to have the distraction and set about trying to form objects out of the smoke he exhaled.

[Demeter]

Ayda groaned when Saiyuri guess straight away what she had done. "You saw didn't you? You just had to see that. And do you know what the worst part is? I took a nap in his bed. A nap, Saiyuri. After confessing my feelings towards him - don't you smirk at me - he confessed feelings back and then I took a nap in his bed!"

Ayda took Lani and cuddled the baby close. "I mean, what was I supposed to do? Pretend that I don't like him even though I wouldn't mind tackling him any day of the week?" Ayda, with Lani held close, sprawled out on the couch and looked up at Saiyuri. "Your brother drives me insane."

[Shinigami]

((ooc- sorry Maira, but I couldn't help jumping in again.. it appears I'm RP deprived, lol ))

Hawk soon got bored with his cigarette and stubbed it out on his window sill and tossing it into his trashcan once he was sure it was out. He laid his book out on his desk and stuffed a stray piece of paper in it to keep his place before letting it flop closed. His stomache rumbled as he set all four legs of his chair on the ground, so he decided he's kill some time by getting something to eat.

He left his bedroom door open a good 6 inches, which he never did unless he was in there, to let Ayda know she could go back in if he managed to slip past him and make it up the stairs. Hawk made his way down the stairs and glanced at Saiyuri's door as he walked past. He was quite certain that's where Ayda had scampered off to and he was curious about what she was telling her friend.

There was only slight hesitation before he decided it would be better, for his own sake, if he kept himself from evesdropping and just got his food. He wandered into the kitchen rooting around for a bunch of vegetables to cut up and dip in some dressing he pulled from the fridge. It would hold him over until dinner time at the very least, so he settled at the counter and munched, glancing over at the door to the basement apartment every so often.

[Maira]

Saiyuri was still fighting the urge to laugh when Ayda declared that Hawk drove her insane. Unable to resist, Saiyuri replied happily, "Welcome to my life Ayda. My whole family drives me insane. And I spose if you're so eager to tackle my brother that means you're going to be part of my family too and you've been driving me insane for years so I suppose its only fitting."

The look of shock, and then the following glare, that came from Ayda were totally worth it it to Saiyuri and she just stuck her tongue out at her best friend and turned and walked into the kitchen. As she went she called out, "Want something to drink? Some icecream? Chips?"

Lani was still contentedly sucking on her aunt's shirt collar when her mother walked away into the kitchen. She stopped what she was doing for a moment, then asked quietly, "Mama?" Then she looked back at her Aunty Ayda and asked again, "Mama?"

((ooc: Lani's first words and Saiyuri isn't even around to hear them lol! sorry its so short otherwise...))

[Demeter]

Ayda glanced down and blinked at Lani. She giggled and then her giggling turned into full-blown laughter. Lani's first words and Saiyuri wasn't even in the room! When Saiyuri sped into the room, she would only find Ayda, holding her baby, and laughing like a loon. After a few minutes, Ayda stopped laughing and waved at hand at Saiyuri. "Oh gods, I can't breathe!"

She broke into giggles again while pointing at Lani. "She..." Giggling broke into Ayda's speech. "She just said her first words!" at the crestfallen, if slightly confused look on Saiyuri's face, Ayda started laughing. "And you weren't even in the room!" she crowed, thrilled to have something that sorta kinda worked as payback.

Ayda handed the baby back to her mother and made for the stairs. "I need to go before I hurt something." she paused at the stairs, glanced over her shoulder and started laughing again. She knew the situation wasn't that funny but after everything that had happened to her, she enjoyed the chance to laugh her head off.

Ayda spilled out of the basement apartment into the main kitchen. Where she say Hawk. The laughter instantly dried up. She shyly reached up and started to play with the ends of her hair. "Hi." she said and crossed to the kitchen to stand in front of Hawk.

[Shinigami]

Hawk looked up, startled at the sudden sound of near histerical laughter. He had just been about to munch on a carrot when he heard it, but he put the vegetable down in his plate, forgotten. He was just curious enough to shift on the stool, ready to go investigate what all the laughter was about, and having a sudden flush of embarrassment thinking it was over what had happened earlier, but he heard someone running up the steps and paused.

When Ayda burst through the door and up into the kitchen Hawk blinked. It had been her that had been laughing, and it made him increasingly paranoid that she had stopped immediately when she saw he was there. He offered hesitant greating back. "Hey."

After a moment of awkward silence he slid the plate of vegetables and dressing towards Ayda and the empty stool next to him, a silent invitation for her to sit and munch with him if she liked. On top of now feeling paranoid that Ayda had been laughing about what happened earlier, he was nervous as hell. He had been the 'stick to your self loner type' most of his life, and most especially through High School, so he had never actually had a relationship. That meant he had no idea what to do. He wanted Ayda to go out with him, be his girlfriend, but how the hell was he supposed to tell her that?

Hawk's cheeks were in fire as Ayda sat next to him, and his embarrassment couldn't take the silence anymore. "So... I, uh, I guess we should talk about earlier, right?"

[Demeter]

Ayda sat down next to Hawk, close enough so that her thigh pressed against his. She took a carrot, dipped it in the dressing and ate it. She glanced over at Hawk. "Lani just said her first words and Saiyuri wasn't in the room. I had a good laugh over that." She bumper her shoulder against his.

"I guess we should talk about earlier." Used to getting what she wanted, Ayda jumped right in with both feet. "I want you, Hawk Deluge." She popped another carrot into her mouth. She looked straight at Hawk. "What do you have to say about that?"

She leaned her weight against him, enjoying the warmth his body put off. "I like you, and I want you, Hawk." She twisted her head around and pressed a kiss to his mouth. When he lingered over her mouth, Ayda grinned. "I rather think you want me as well."

[Shinigami]

Hawk was a little more at ease when Ayda sat close enough to be touching him. He felt more at ease around her normally anyway. He let out a snort to hear Saiyuri had missed her own daughters first words, smirking behind a carrot. He looked back over at her when he felt her bump into his shoulder.

The words 'I want you Hawk Deluge' caught him off guard, and a deep flush took over his face and he coughed a bit on his half eaten carrot. He most certainly hadn't expected Ayda to be so blunt about it, especially after how embarrassed she'd been on the stairs earlier. He had a bit of trouble finding the words to answer her in his shock.

As she restated her feelings Hawk's mind started to settle down. And he certainly liked the feel of her leaning against him. That was what he had wanted, right? Then he should just get over himself and tell her. Hawk's lips were otherwise engaged when his brain finally caught up with him, and he reacted to the kiss immediately by returning it and letting it linger just a bit.

Hawk couldn't help but smirk at Ayda's remark after the kiss. "I rather think you're right, Ayda Davis. I want you, too." He leaned forward for another kiss, not quite caring they were in the middle of the kitchen.

[Demeter]

Ayda lounged on Hawk's bed. He was in it at the moment, he wasn't even in the house, but she found that she preferred his bed. Granted, they'd only been seeing each other for a few days at this point and Hawk was a working Custos. And she has that whole pard change thing coming up. Sooner or later. She wasn't really looking forward to that. She was looking forward to Hawk returning.

Ayda stretched out on the bed, sprawled as she was on top of the bedding. She was acting like a giddy teenager with her first serious boyfriend and she knew it. There was just something about the younger man that made her act like that. Ayda rolled onto her stomach. When she heard heavy steps on the stairs, Ayda perked up. She rolled back onto her back and grinned when the door opened. "Hello there Hawk." she waved at him.

[Shinigami]

Hawk was tired, no, exhausted. He was hoping the day would be business as usual, but of course the offender he had been sent after had been a Custos, and not willing to submit without a fight. The bastard had left him with a few scratches and a bruise on his side. He'd even had to draw his sword! Of course, he had succeeded in doing the job he had been sent out to do, and Gaea had been pleased.

Thinking about his Goddess brought his mind almost immediately to thoughts of Ayda. Those thoughts made him feel better, especially since he knew she'd be at the house when he got home. Hawk couldn't help but smile and blush all at once. He was happy to be able to call Ayda his girlfriend now, but he was also horribly embarrassed about just how happy he was that he knew she'd be home when he got there, or that she was most likely in his room.

Hawk had changed clothes before heading for home and had the gym bag with his other clothes slung over his shoulder, and he had his katana in the other. Add the lit cigarette in his mouth and he probably made quite a sight on his way home. He took a few more drags from his cigarette as he walked up onto the porch, getting as much out of it as he could before he stubbed it out in one of his ashtrays in the kitchen.

The downstairs was empty, so he immediately headed up the stairs towards his room. When he opened the door he was greeted to the sight of Ayda sprawled on his bed. Hawk sighed, with a small smile on his face, as he replied. "Hello, Ayda." He dropped his bad just inside the door, rather roughly, but placed his katana on its shelf with much more care. Hawk flopped himself down onto the bed next to Ayda on his stomach.

[Demeter]

Ayda bounced a little when Hawk dropped onto the bed. Once she settled, Ayda scooted just a little to the left and settled next to Hawk, head resting against his shoulderblade. Though he'd changed clothing, Ayda could smell the day's work on him. Instead of being disgusted, she breathed in the scent. It calmed her. She craned her neck up to look at the back of his head. "And how was your day?" she asked.

While Hawk talked of his day, she listened to his voice and felt the vibrations rumbling through his chest. She smiled and shifted against him, curling along the length of his body. The man was warm and she fit against him so easily. Though the first day's she'd known him, Ayda had felt nothing but loathing for the man but she slid so perfectly into his rhythm and life and he seemed to do the same for her.

Once he finally stopped talking about the Custos he'd been assigned to, Ayda leaned up and kissed his cheek.

[Shinigami]

Hawk took a deep breath, letting it out as he felt Ayda's head rest on his shoulder-blade. Her touch was comforting. After a moment of silence she asked him about his day, and his first response was a deep groan. He launched into a small rant about the jerk of a Custos that made him actually have to draw his sword instead of taking the punishment he was due. He even gave a mild complaint about his bruise, but the warmth of Ayda now curled up against him was relaxing him far too much to care.

He smiled when he got a kiss on the cheek and he shifted around a bit to turn more onto his side without forcing Ayda completely off of him. Hawk threw his arm around her waist once it was free and kisses her forehead. He was so exhausted he found himself drifting off to sleep like that.

[Demeter]

Ayda smiled and let her weight sag into the bed. She was warm and cozy and snuggled up against Hawk. Nothing seemed better then an afternoon nap before dinner. Using her feet, Ayda fished around for the thick blanket she'd tossed on the foot of the bed when she'd flopped on the bed earlier. She hooked the blanket and pulled it up.

Carefully, as to not wake up Hawk, Ayda spread the blanket over the two of them. Hawk's body created this little pocket of warmth that she curled into. With the blanket tucked around her shoulders and well over her toes, Ayda drifted off to sleep, snuggled against Hawk.

[Shinigami]

As Hawk began to regain consciousness he realized two things: that he was incredibly warm, and he was incredibly comfortable. He took in a breath as he opened his eyes and suddenly remembered -why- he was so warm and comfortable as he noticed he was still quite tangled with Ayda on his bed. He blushed a bit at first, still not entirely used to thinking of Ayda as actually being his girlfriend and being allowed such comforts.

The blush passed quickly and it was replaced by a smile as he left a kiss on her cheek. Hawk glanced over her shoulder to look at the clock, only to be reminded that the clock was on the table -behind- him. He sighed, not really wanted to pull away from Ayda or the warmth she provided, but he could hear the rest of the family puttering about the house, so he knew it must be close to dinner time. He turned to glance behind him, grumbling that he still couldn't see the clock, so he slowly started to shift onto his back, groaning when he noticed it was in fact dinner time.