She's been doing well; there's no question about it. There's been more flickers (and more genuine) smiles seen in her almost three months back than many had seen in her years as Queen. Each day on crutches has had her step getting stronger. There's no question she's better than the woman who left broken all those months ago ( Read more... )

21 was a big age on the Outside, Melinda had heard. Not so much here. And the daily routine still had to go on as usual; even more than usual, maybe, thanks to the heavy snow that was still ever present. That being said, the day hadn't been bad - in fact, far from it. Working for the Suit was an honor that she enjoyed on all days ( Read more... )

A couple months work with a pair of surprisingly capable helpers - and a third who was good at taking care of the more delicate odds and ends - and the pub was pretty much done. Not open yet, of course, but if you managed to get past the tall Scot working on the outside window, you'd see a fairly impressive sight.


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It's been a while since they last met properly. Not one of those fleeting glances in passing that strangers smiled and coyly averted their gaze away from when their eyes happened to meet at the same time, but an actual time, place, sit down and talk to me type of meetings ( Read more... )

Since the show where he'd broken down and talked about his mother, Shuffle had been fairly quiet overall. And you really can't blame him--it was all too easy for people to discover who had brought their mother into the hospital and moved into Heart Castle. So, there had been no great controversy from the DJ. Oh, he'd reported on the new additions ( Read more... )

Pierre cares for his uncle's family. They're sweet and more than a little affectionate, which can sometimes get uncomfortable, but he tolerates it. Nóra still insists on critiquing his wardrobe, and Erin really wants him to have children someday, but that wasn't even the most shocking bit of news today -- and, in fact, none of that was shocking at ( Read more... )

If asked, Ben intended to say it was for the children. Which it was, but it was also for him - since somehow the Deck had lasted so many years without some enterprising Scotsman building a golf course. Admittedly, his mini golf course, composed mostly of obstacles that he'd collected from various Diamond storage rooms and barns, was definitely not ( Read more... )

Others may have been antsy about the fact that they can't escape from the confines of the Deck, but Rachel's been increasingly more anxious to be more properly out of the confines of the wheelchair. Her strength has been building, slowly but surely, especially since she's returned home, and the weeks of physical therapy have been effective in ( Read more... )

New Year's Day found Lasse a little bit tired, a little bit hungover, possibly still a little bit drunk. But in spite of all that, he seemed mostly content, happiness humming quietly under his skin, as he wandered around outside. The crisp winter air didn't bother him that much. Actually it was quite refreshing after being holed up all day in his ( Read more... )

The first day of every year, no matter how much she's drunk or how late she's stayed up, Säde is always up to watch the first sunrise from the highest hill in the Deck. The castle towers are usually crowded with the leftovers of celebrations, and anyway she prefers the walk in the chilly air ( Read more... )