silver lining.

"It's one of the reasons you're my very favorite," he said, an actual glimmer in his eye when he knew how much trouble that could get him into, which he followed up with a wink, "don't tell the others." Truth be told, he could never choose a favorite cousin, the same way he could never choose a favorite kid, a favorite sibling, but he sure as hell did love them all. Especially when they came over with things that made his life a lot easier. "You're welcome," he said with a smile, taking the coat from her and hanging it carefully on the rack in the mud room, making sure that it would be easy to find whenever she was heading out again, especially lost against the myriad of rain coats and little girl puffer jackets that were hanging there now.

"I knew it," she gave a small grin, taking off her boots as well, leaving them on the rack near the door, leaving them on the end so they'd be easy to spot. "But- I don't know, could make for an interesting next family get together if word got out. All we have to do is sit on the sidelines with a drink and wait," she joked, a laugh escaping her lips. Her extended family being near was something she'd been grateful for. All of them held an equal spot in her heart, and she was glad she was invited over for a moment as special as this one.

"That's good. That's good." Xander mumbled the words, he really had been getting on the verge of being overwhelmed, and he really hated feeling that way. Now they were settled outside, he took in his surroundings, enjoying the flowers surrounding them and the soft scent of them in the air. It wasn't really the time of year for a lot, but it was nice. After a moment, he cast a glance back to Chelly, frowning thoughtfully. "Are you cold? Did you want my jacket?" The last thing he wanted was her freezing to death when she'd done him a favour by coming out here. "It is really pretty." A pause. "I should spend more time here during the rest of the year. Feelsl ike I'm missing out."

Content in the comfortable silence, Chelly took in the soft lighting that shone from the inside, which seemed to glisten on the few signs of plant life this time of year, before her eyes flitted over at his question. "Only a little bit," she admitted, a careful lilt of her shoulders, since she had given her winter jacket to the coat check earlier in the night. "But I'd appreciate it, if you wouldn't mind, of course," she gave a soft smile at his offer, before nodding in agreement. "You should try to make the trip out during the warmer months. The hydrangeas during the summer months are quite the sight to see."

Picking himself up from the couch to head for the door -- he didn't want to seem too aloof, Cage was tired, but not a bad host -- he was relieved to see Chelly enter, knowing that he hadn't just invited an Amazon delivery man or some stranger into his home. "Hey back," he replied with a smile, leaning in to greet his cousin with a hug, pulling back to look at what she had in her arms. "You really didn't have to bring anything with you!" given that he was pretty sure she had done more than enough with the food that was left on the porch, knowing that the kids, especially, had been grateful for that. And would be grateful for the cookies, too, wondering how long those would last with Colton and Shawn around. Not very long, he was willing to bet.

Beaming as Cage pulled her into a hug, Chelly let out a small laugh. "When have I ever been known to show up empty-handed?" Maybe it was how she was raised, but she always thought being welcomed into someone else's home called for a token of appreciation. Also, she was known to be a people pleaser to some. Though she figured the gift for the newborn, an onsie and a crocheted baby blanket in the blue bag, was something thoughtful for the newest Newman, something she had worked on for the last month. "Oh, thank you!" She shrugged off her winter coat, already feeling a bit warm in the home, though it always felt that way. Homey and well-loved in all the best ways, though she always felt that way when she entered a Newman home. The strong sense of family that seemed to greet her as she stepped in the doorway.

"Ever since she turned thirteen, I'm lucky for the activities she suggests, so I don't come across as the overbearing mother, suggesting every little thing," Chelly gave a small shrug at the admittance, the early teenage woes something she was coming to expect, even from her daughter. Grateful she had people like her future sister-in-law, Navy, and her extended family, who had children, could relate to her, and who she could count on for a night out of the house. "I do hope I'm giving her that grace, like you said, but I can agree," a fond smile came to her lips. "Games are awesome, and she may be missing out," she laughed, then shook her head at Navy's next comment. "Please, I'd love to see that competitive side. But know what you're getting into with the Newman family trait of being sore winners," she joked, humming at the suggestions she gave. "I do love Uno, or maybe hues and cues? Though I'll leave it to the hostess' pick."

The weather may only be improving slightly as we head into spring but it has been the best thing to get out and go walking with little Ronan. He's come to quite like our little strolls, of course, he's sleeping a good portion of the time but still think he's enjoying it. Getting that bit of time out of the house, slowly moving around, cannot recommend it enough. The whole winter blues, definitely a real thing. Since I've come up for air since the littlest Newman's arrival tell me, what has everyone been up to? Feel like I'm missing out on so much. @merrock

Winter seemed never-ending, didn't it? Glad that we're somewhat turning the corner, the sun being out later, and whatnot. I'm sure the two of you getting out for some fresh air was a welcome change. Trying to exist after welcoming a newborn can be tough, I know for a fact. How're the kids adjusting? And nothing really, unless you count the benefactor nonsense as 'new news,' I signed myself up for the committee, so that'll give me plenty to focus on for the upcoming months outside of work.

"Chelsea," he said when she turned to face him, relief crossing his face almost instantly. Someone from town, someone who knew how bad the trails could be in the winter, someone who wasn't going to end up making an already hard day even harder by ending up in the creek and requiring a rescue. He hoped, anyway -- she seemed like she knew what she was doing, most people who grew up in town did. His posture changed as he relaxed, tucking his hands into his coat pockets. "I thought you were a tourist, we've been getting a lot of randoms out here lately, people trying to get one last winter adventure in, and then… you know how it goes, I get called in to haul their ass up out of some ravine after they decided that they needed to get closer to the pretty waterfalls," the last few words were said in a more mocking tone, and he knew that he shouldn't have been so bitter. It was a gorgeous waterfall. A gorgeous trail. People wanted to see it. But Jason also knew what it could be indicative of: if it was this bad early on, what would summer bring with a resort in town and people who had no idea how this all worked? Taking a small breath, "but you do have the supplies, right?"

"Jason," Chelly offered a courteous nod, uncrossing her arms and tucking them into her jacket pockets, feeling around for her spare pair of gloves. It's not like she expected a tourist to call her out, but lately, it'd been where her mind was wandering, the worst yet to come, she always thought. A bubble of laughter left her lips. "But isn't getting rescued by a local small-town blue-collar rugged man a part of the fantasy they tend to have...who are you to deny them the experience?" She played it up a bit, obviously, maybe a bit presumptuous of her, but living in the town for all her life, she usually had an idea of what big city types thought of the town. A town of fishermen, or the quaint Hallmark types of people that were romanticized. The perfect place for a vacation destination in their eyes. She supposed being cynical was her way of coping with the news. She was glad Jason seemed to share her thoughts on the matter. "Obviously," she gave a nod at the question, before tilting her head thoughtfully. "Do you have to patrol for other damsels in distress, or would you care to join me?"

Once outside, Xander allowed the cool air to wash over him, his eyes drifting closed as he inhaled very slowly. It really had been getting too much for him in there. But out here, he actually felt as though he could breathe again. When Chelly's voice broke through the relative silence, his eyes clicked back open again and he glanced back over to her. "Much," he answered softly, a small smile flickering across his features. "Thanks." He always appreciated it when friends understood and humoured him in moments like these. "If you don't mind being away from it for a while."

"Don't mention it. I was kind of itching to break out of there myself," Chelly laughed, a delicate lift of her shoulders. She could admit she much preferred an intimate setting with a few of her closest friends to the frills and extravagance of a gala, happy to afford the same escape to Xander. Nodding her head, she pulled up the shawl resting on her arms to cover them. The dress she wore was gorgeous in the moment when she twirled around in the living room for Ivy, a flash of burgundy and a giggle at the dramatics, but not so much when exposed to the elements. "Not at all. It's pretty out here even in the dead of winter."

WHO: jason & open.

With the winter stretching on, or at least it felt like it in her eyes, Chelly was itching to get outside. Enjoying the little things about the small town, she always felt in shared moments over booths at Collab, gabbing with local sellers, and over family dinners with Bradley or her extended family, or during town events. With the whispers of change shared in grocery store aisles, or over small conversations shared over the water cooler. She wanted to take it all in, clear her head. She knew to be prepared; she wasn't a tourist or someone not familiar with the winding paths after all, so when turning her head at the proposed question and the familiar face accompanied by it, the dark-haired woman let out a short huff as if it'd been on a whim and not planned. "Please, you know for sure I can handle myself along these trails." Maybe a bit stubborn in hindsight, but she crossed her arms to prove her point.

"I just have to first say thank you for coming." Navy smiled, popping a grape into her mouth as she made her way into the living space she shared with her fiancé; a wooden charcuterie board in her hands. "I know that I say this every time we meet up here for game night but I do mean it. We should do this more often; this is always so fun to plan and I can't wait to play games. Even if my goal is to win." - OPEN (0/3)

"Oh, it's no problem really! It's nice to get out of the house. And Ivy is at that age where she definitely doesn't want to play board games with her mom. Which sucks because I love a good game night. So anytime you want one, give me a call," Chelly gave Navy a bright smile, as she'd gotten comfortable sitting on one of the loveseats. Truthfully, she liked hanging out with Navy, even aside from the fact that she was engaged to Bradley. And she had a competitive side that gave her a run for her money. "What are the options for the night?"

WHO: cage & @chellynewman

If the one thing Newmans were known for, it was showing up for family. When Chelly was a young mother herself, she remembered her cousins showing up to visit, or just casual phone calls to check in and keep her sane during the days when things were overwhelming. It was the least she could do when Cage's newest came along. She was excited to meet their newest addition, nearly dropping her phone when she got the message from the text chain on Cordelia's delivery. She knew it would take a while for them to establish a routine, so she waited for that call from Cage, happy when it finally came through, in between the time, dropping off food on the front step for them so they wouldn't have to worry about cooking when focusing their attention on their newborn.

The truth was, deep down, that Xander wasn't really coping. There were too many people around, too many people wanting to talk to him and ask him random questions. Small talk had never been something he enjoyed nor was he very good at it. "No, no drink. I'm good." He nodded his head, immediately making a beeline for the door. "It feels too claustrophobic in here," he added after a moment. Maybe he was freaking out a little, so the escape would do him good.

"No worries," Chelly gave a nod, following after him, her own drink recently topped off, so it was fine with her. Opening the door to the outside area for them, Chelly breathed in the winter air, a welcome relief from the almost saccharine floral scent lingering in the corners of the room. Turning to him, a smile on her face. "Better? We could take a little walk around, sure that we can get away with not being present in there for a bit."

where: Rose Colored Gala - Paradise Gardens when: February 14th, 2026 who: Sylvia & @chellynewman

Chelly had been people watching from her spot at the table, having a sparkling water with a splash of rose essence as recommended by the bartender. As Sylvia approached her, she gave a bright smile. "Why, thank you lovely," she beamed, taking a look at her own outfit, now she was able to see it up close rather than from a distance. "But you should be talking! I love this look for you, it's giving romantic gothic, very you."