Thea didn’t like the way that he was talking to her especially because everything he was saying was the truth. She just didn’t want to admit it. “I guess we’ll both just look at it differently than,” Thea replied, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at him. “You had no problem handling it and you helped yourself to one of my oranges anyways so I’m not sure why you would complain,” Thea said. She knew that she should go home, that the bodyguards were probably looking all over for her but she was enjoying her freedom too much. “There’s still plenty of time until curfew.” 

“We’ll have to agree to disagree. Look at how diplomatic we can be.” Achilles spoke as he saw two goons who looked out of place. He smirked because he knew he was right. “Who says I am complaining? I am just saying that you don’t belong here princess. So head back to your icy tower princess. Besides you’re not welcome this part of town.” No, not when there were children starving the government turned a blind eye because they were trying to starve off the rest that hadn’t succumbed to the bombs. “Then try not to get yourself killed, or do. I really don’t give a shit.” Achilles admitted as he began to walk away he just pulled his hood over his head to shield his face.

Thea had been one of the lucky ones, being the daughter of a General. When the bombs had dropped she had been in an underground bunker and she hadn’t seen any of the carnage from the aftermath. She sometimes didn’t realize her privilege, her father kept her locked up in their home and it was rare that she was able to actually go out onto the streets. With a father like hers, she knew that she could get away with pretty much anything, but she had never actually tried anything like that. Thea didn’t think that she was going to be able to catch that guy who stole her bag and even if she could, she knew that she wouldn’t be able to get it back from him. She gasped as she watched a guy reach out and knock the man to the ground and got her bag back. She bit down on her lip as he looked into it and then pulled out an orange. She should tell him to put it back but he did get it back for her and she couldn’t be too picky. “Thanks,” she said as she took the bag back. “I guess I should have been paying more attention,” Thea agreed, nodding her head. She took the man in, he was cute, and he looked potentially dangerous, someone her father would kill her for talking to. “I can handle plenty,” she replied. But she had never been out past curfew, and never been out without the bodyguards that trailed her all the time. This was the first time she had been without them. 

Achilles couldn’t help but snort when she mentioned she could handle plenty. “Considering you just shouted for help while some guy ran off with your very expensive items, I don’t really think you can handle plenty.” Ach replied. If she could handle herself she wouldn’t of shouted for help and attracted attention. He peeled the orange and tossed the rind in the street as he took a bite of the sweet fruit that was untainted by chemicals. “Go home to where ever that is, trust me you don’t want to be out here princess.” Achilles’s tone was gruff as he spoke with her.

heaven in hiding

Thea walked out of the store, bag in hand. It had been incredibly picked over but she had managed to find a few oranges and some chocolate which was impossible to find these days, even with her father’s connections. She had ditched her bodyguards and she knew that her father would be furious but it was nice to get to walk around without them looming over her all the time. She knew why her father did it, he claimed that she could be a target of the rebels if they knew who she was but she thought that it was all bullshit. Why would the rebels give a shit who she was? Just because she was Thea Gray and her father was a general didn’t make her a criminal in their eyes. They didn’t even know who she was and she wasn’t out there flaunting it. Those two asshole bodyguards put a target on her back if you asked her. She gasped when someone suddenly snatched her bag and started to run. “Help!” She shouted. “That man took my bag!” 

Achilles was leaving work on his way home when he heard a woman shouting. Spotting the guy who stole her bag he reached out with an arm to clothesline the other man to the ground knowing the government was probably watching and he’d recieve a warning later in the mail. There were eyes everywhere, at this point Achilles was sure you couldn’t use a restroom without big brother watching them. He wanted to tear down the entire operation. The government was the cause of the bombs that dropped years before. They remained stowed away while he remembered hearing the screams of people who were not prepared and perrished when the atomic bombs hit. Even now coming across non contaminated food, or being able to breathe on the streets was still a challenge. He grabbed the bag and surveyed it’s contents taking an orange considering it a finders fee, as he offered her the bag back. “You ought to be more careful if you’re going to be walking the streets with items like this.” Simple things like oranges and chocolates were hard to afford for most people, he assumed she was one of them. The kind of people Achilles wanted to spit on for how disgusted he was. “You ought get back to your home before the curfew strikes. I doubt you could handle the streets after hours.” No that’s when the people and the soldiers fought. Each night was marred by the sounds of gun shots and people screaming in the streets.

Tory looked over at Chase and bit her lip. Even though Chase had asked her to come home they hadn’t really talked about it since then. “I do live in New York, yeah,” she finally said. “And well, January’s a slow month in business so I’ll be here for…a while,” she said, looking over at Chase. She watched as Jade walked over to the couch and sat down and she bit her lip when she said that she should join them. “No, I don’t want to impose, you guys should have your Christmas, it’s really okay,” she said. Tory was about to speak when she heard Savannah in the other room. She watched Chase walk away and she bit down on her lip. She didn’t know what to say around this woman. “I’m not going to hurt him again,” she finally settled on, looking at the spot that Chase had just been at. 

Chase left the girls for a few moments. But when he returned he smirked a bit. “Glad to see you two haven’t killed each other. I was worried about getting blood out of the couch.” He teased but as he looked at Tory he walked over and kissed her cheek. “Tory agreed to join us for dinner but we’ll spend the morning with Savannah.” He told his ex-girls really. Though he hoped for Christmas, Chase would get a repeat of New York from Tory.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Yeah, yeah,” she said, shaking her head. “I know. I’m not upset about it. I’m glad that they had you,” she said. It just showed that Chase was the better man than her, and she was incredibly nervous to come face to face with his family again. She nodded her head. “It doesn’t,” she agreed. She looked up at him and was about to lean forward to kiss him when she heard a noise in the other room. She was worried that it was Savannah so she quickly pulled away, but instead it was a woman that looked very much like Savannah. She bit her lip and looked at Chase for a moment. Savannah’s mom was pretty, she could see why he had fallen for her. “I guess I am,” she said, with a small laugh. Savannah talked about her? She could only imagine what she had said. She eyed Chase for a moment, before she smiled at her. “Hi. I’m Tory,” she introduced. “It’s um, it’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry for barging in on you guys. I just uh, was in town.” She didn’t know what Chase had told her about them, about what had happened in the city and she felt very uncomfortable. 

Savannah waved Tory off. “I know it’s more than just in town. Chase was stuck in New York. That’s where you live no? I might by dying but I never was blind.” She said as she walked over to them and sat on the couch carefully. Chase bit his lip. “Look were going to get our Christmas..” He told his ex and she shook her head. “Tory should join us, isn’t this the woman Savannah will get used too after I’m gone? Assuming you’re going to stick around and not break this idiots heart again.” Chase made a face he hadn’t been heartbroken though that was a bold faced lie. Savannah called for him and he sighed. “Please don’t kill each other?” He asked but when to see what trouble his daughter had gotten into for a moment.

Tory bit her lip. “Maybe I’ll finally learn, huh?” She teased back, shaking her head slightly. She realized that she needed to get better at that and stop being so impulsive. She watched him for a moment when he said that he wanted her here too. “Okay,” she said, nodding her head. She was a little bit nervous, but knew that it would be okay. “I swear you spend more time with my parents than I do,” she said, shaking her head, but it would be nice to spend the holiday together. She hadn’t seen his parents in forever, and she definitely felt a tad apprehensive after everything that went down. “That sounds really nice. Thank you. I’ve missed you.”

“I won’t count on it.” He teased her back but then shrugged. “You were gone Tory. I wasn’t going to shun your family just because you decided you needed something new. We were always here for you.” He admitted honestly, but he nodded. “I missed you too, I hope you know that. Texting does not do any justice.” He countered and knew that it truly didn’t. He turned around hearing Jade come out of his room. “Hey sorry, I thought you were resting.” The woman waved chase off. “I’ve rested enough, I heard you talking anyways and I see it wasn’t to Savannah. Is this the funny woman my daughter keeps telling me about after trips with you?” Jade knew exactly who this woman was, she was the reason that Chase would of never given himself over to her fully. The reason his heart still beat. She had to admit that the other was pretty,even if her baby daddy had a thing for a seemingly basketcase.

Tory bit her lip and nodded her head. “I wanted to see you,” she admitted, looking at him. “I uh, I’ll be around for a while.” She watched as Savannah came back out of the room and offered the little girl a smile. She could sense that something was off though, in the way that Chase was acting around his daughter. She bit her lip but when he looked at her and spoke, her eyes widened. “Chase…” she trailed off, looking at him. She realized what this meant, that Savannah’s mom was dying, he was going to be a single dad, and Savannah was going to lose her mom. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “That…I’m so sorry,” she said, cursing herself for feeling jealous of this woman again. She was so dumb. “I’ll go. You guys should have your Christmas together, and we can talk after the New Year. You need to take care of them right now and me being here would be in the way. I’m so sorry. I should have called.”

“It’s fine you didn’t know. I just.. wish you’d learn to pick up the phone for once in your life.” He teased her, god over the years how many times had they both interjected at the wrong times? “Hey, I want you here too. Give me the morning with them, with Sav to make those memories. Come spend dinner with us, your parents were invited, and mine and we’ll all get together.” He rubbed her arms as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

Tory was confused for a moment when she saw the look on Chase’s face. She had thought that he would be happy to see her, but then a second later, she saw Savannah and her eyes widened. Tory wanted to disappear of course he would be spending Christmas with his kid. Why didn’t she ever think? She supposed that she had spent the last couple years with little responsibility and she had definitely forgotten to think about Savannah and how Chase would probably want to spend the holidays with his kid. And Savannah’s mom? She wasn’t ready to meet her. “Oh my god, I’m an idiot,” she told him when Savannah ran back to wherever her mom was sleeping. The jealous part of her wondered if she was in Chase’s room. But as Chase stepped aside to let her in, she had no choice but to walk in. “It was a surprise. My parents don’t even know yet,” she admitted, looking at him. “It looks good in here. You always had an eye for decorating around the holidays.”

“I’m sure you had good intentions about wanting to come home?” He told her as he gave her a small shrug. “Well it’s a surprise that’s for sure.” He nodded his head. He watched Sav come out of his room and shake her head. “Let your mama sleep then okay? Go on and go play with the dog while I talk to Tory okay?” He assured his daughter gently, but then looked at Tory. “Her mom stopped treatments, I flew them out here for one last christmas together. We haven’t told Savannah yet, we were going to do it after Christmas.” Chase told Tory and any other year, he’d love to have Tory here and have that chance to have another christmas with her.

Christmas Surprise

Tory had thrown herself into getting things in order in New York after Chase had left to go back to Arizona. She wanted to surprise him for Christmas and go home to spend the holidays and January with him, then maybe they could figure everything out together, what came next. It had taken a lot longer than she had thought it would, and she didn’t get on a plane until Christmas Eve morning, but she was determined to be in Alabama for Christmas, with Chase, and to start this new year on the right foot. When she finally arrived in Alabama she felt like she had to wait hours to get her rental car, but eventually she was out of the airport and on her way to Chase’s. When she got there, she left her bags in the car and walked up the porch and knocked on the door. When Chase opened it, she smiled. “Surprise!” 

Chase had flown Savannah and her mother back home to Alabama. Chase wanted to give his girls one last christmas where they were all together and could have the day as a family. However, his plans had a wrench thrown in them the moment he opened his door and saw his ex-wife there. “Uh, Tory.” He wished for once in his life this woman would give him some damn warning. Feeling his daughter crash into his legs he glanced down at her. “Go see if your mama is awake okay?” He told his daughter who nodded but Chase stepped to the side to let Tory in. The house was decked out but Chase always had gone all out for the holiday. “I didn’t know you were leaving New York for the olidays.” He told her softly.

“One day we’ll have nothing that we have to do and we can just lay in bed and be lazy all day,” she countered. But she knew he was right, and if she wanted to show him her city, well, she needed to do it now. She rolled her eyes. “Blame away, but it’s not that cold,” she retorted. “I’m pretty sure it’s colder in Siberia and I hear men have no problems there,” she told him. She caught her coat in her arms and pulled it on before linking their arms. When she stepped out into the snow, she grinned up at him. “Isn’t it magical? It hasn’t been touched by the plows and the millions of people walking around yet, it’s so beautiful,” she told him as she started to lead him towards Central Park.

“Why do you think they call Russian women so cold? The men have little knowledge of the pleasure of a woman.” He pointed out as he then smiled down at Tory as they walked. “I don’t know about magical.”  He kicked some snow up into the air with a chuckle though as they walked towards what he assumed was Central Park.

She nodded her head. She knew he would have to continue on, but she was just glad that she had him for a few more hours. “Okay,” she agreed, biting down on her lip for a moment. She rolled her eyes at him when he tossed the shirt at her and she pulled it on before climbing out of bed. “You’ve never complained about that before,” she retorted with a smirk. She kissed him again and then went over to get dressed. She looked back at him. “We’re going to make each minute count,” she told him. She knew this was one of the few times he would willingly brave the cold and she didn’t intend to waste it. 

“That was when we didn’t have jack squat to do but you and I darling? We have plenty that we need to do.” Chase told Tory as he then glanced at her getting dressed. “Yeah yeah, if the parts of me you enjoyed so much last night and this morning freeze off, I’m blaming you forever okay?” Chase grabbed his coat and slid it on before he tossed her coat to her. “Come on, show me this city you love too much.”

“I’ve never been, but that’s what I hear,” she agreed. She laughed and watched him as he pulled his shirt off and got into bed with her. She leaned over and kissed him. “How was that?” She teased him, laughing. She nodded her head. “You better,” she whispered against his lips.

Laying in his arms, she felt happier than she had in a long time. Knowing that in a few weeks they could be together again, that she would see him again made her happier than she had been in a long time. Suddenly the lights came back on and she turned to look at him. “Guess they finally fixed the power,” she said, leaning over to kiss him.

Chase saw the lights come back on and nodded his head, he kissed his ex-wife back and then pulled away. “Come on we should get up. I got a few hours then I really need to be trying to get my way to Arizona.” Chase told her, he wanted to spend a little more time with Tory before he had to fly away. He tossed a shirt at her. “Put some clothes on would you? God, tempting a man too much Tory what a terrible woman you are.” He teased playfully.

Tory nodded her head. “That’s good. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. And it’s not cold in Arizona,” she teased him, smiling. She rolled her eyes at him. “You know, I wouldn’t even complain if that’s what you wanted,” she teased, leaning over and kissing him. She knew that he was just teasing, She laughed and smirked. “You know, I wouldn’t tell you no if you wanted to come and join me again,” she told him. “Gotta keep warm somehow,” she smirked. She nodded her head. “I do. And I will come and find you,” she promised him. 

“It is not cold in Arizona.” He countered as he kissed her back when she repeated that she wouldn’t tell him no. “Well in that case I’m cold warm me up.” He said playfully as he pulled his shirt off again and joined her under the covers pulling her nimble body close to his. “I’ll hold you to that.” He whispered before kissing her again.

“Going to visit Savannah?” She asked, biting her lip. She wasn’t surprised, she knew that he went to see her a lot. Tory couldn’t complain though, that he was there. She knew he would want to get to Arizona, though. She looked up at him when he said that he was wondering why she was looking at him like that. “I don’t know,” she said, biting down on her lip. “I just…I never thought we’d be here. You….asking me to come back with you,” she told him. “I…” she paused and bit down on her lip. “I’ve thought of how this would happen a million times since I last left Alabama but I never thought you would ask. It just…it feels like a crazy dream or something.” She bit her lip. “Give me a little bit…to figure things out here. And then i’m there. I’m so there.”

“Yeah i had a few days to see her, so I was on my way to see her and her mother.” He said with a shrug.  “Maybe I just wanted some more of that incredibly hot sex we had last night. Maybe I’m just asking for an extended booty call from you.” He wasn’t but it didn’t mean that he didn’t want to mess with Tory. “I’m sorry you imagined we’d be naked right? I mean I can strip down again and join you under those covers.” He teased her a little bit more. He peeked under the covers and down at Tory’s body. “You know where to find me.”

“It’s not so bad,” she said with a laugh. “You get used to it. And I don’t know, the snows pretty,” she said with a shrug. “And you just don’t have a proper coat. What’d you do, leave all your snow stuff in Vermont?” She asked, raising an eyebrow. When he spoke, she felt her heart start to race. Was he…asking what she thought that he was? “For a visit? Or…?” She trailed off. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, didn’t want to believe that he was asking her to come home with him. “You’re…you’re serious? You’re not joking?”

“I might have... I wasn’t planning in stopping in New York on my way back. I was supposed to be in Arizona right now.” He told her as he then shrugged. “Visit, to stay. Whatever you want.” Chase didn’t think he was asking the world or a loaded question he was simply saying their home was open to her if she wanted to return to it. “The only thing I’m wondering is why you’re looking at me like that. When do you know me to waste breath on a joke?” He questioned.

“That’s what I hear,” she agreed. She had thought that it would be weird, having Chase in her bed again, but it was nice. This entire thing…whatever it was, was nice. She opened her eyes briefly when he got out of bed and whined at losing the warmth he was providing, but she curled up again and closed her eyes. She dozed off for a little while, but when she heard her front door open, she opened her eyes and sat up, stretching. “You got coffee? You’re amazing,” she told him with a smile. She took her coffee and took a sip of it. “How is it out there?” She asked him, curiously. 

“It’s shit out there, I don’t know how the hell you do New York in the winter.” He frowned he was a southern boy through and through, that meant hating the cold. Even though he went to vermont most of the time he was bundled up better than what he had on right now. “You should come back down south with me.” Chase mentioned after a moment. To come home and spend the winter where it was warm.

She nodded her head. “You were ready to be a dad. And from what I hear? You’re a damn good one. I wasn’t ready to be a mom then…but now? Now I think that I am…if it ever happens, you know?” Tory mused. She didn’t know if it would happen, and there was a time that she was okay with that. But now? Now she wasn’t so sure if she would really be okay not having kids, not having someone. She bit her lip and nodded her head. “Okay,” she said. “You too,” she told him, curling up against his chest. 

Chase chuckled a bit. “From what I understand and experience it happens when you’re least expeciting it too.” He shrugged but when she curled up to him he just kissed her head glad that together they could keep warm. In the morning power still seemed to be out. Chase tucked Tory in as he got out of bed and re-dressed he went out into the winterwonderland and found a little cafe that was running off a generator and got him and Tory both a cup of hot coffee as he brought it back to the apartment he saw Tory just waking up. “Hey brought coffee.” He said sitting hers on the nightstand next to her as he sat on the edge of the bed.