no apologies, no regrets.

Killian Fitzgerald & @darrenxtaylor ; A MOODBOARD

Killain Aloysius Fitzgerald; A MOODBOARD

Ever since Mikey had broken up for the winter break, Nina had took it upon her shoulders to fill his days with every possible mother-and-son activity she could find in an effort to make sure his fifth Christmas was going to be very merry and bright. Today wasn’t any different as they stood in their modest kitchen, covered in flour and cinnamon, faces pressed up against the oven door until their little gingerbread people were ready to come out. Before she could remind her son that patience was indeed a virtue, there came a knock at the door and within seconds, Mikey was itching to answer it. Nina chuckled softly to herself, waiting to see who had stumbled upon their messy tableau. 

“Uncle Killian!” came Mikey’s excited declaration as he clasped eyes on one of his favourite people. Nina’s head flicked up as soon as she heard his name, a beaming smile fixed on her lips and hands on her hips. “Well, well, look who it is. I was starting to get worried you were going to miss out on eating some gingerbread people” She smirked, draping her arm around Killian’s shoulder, kissing his cheek sweetly. Pulling back from the tight embrace, she ushered them both into the living room, closing the door behind her as Mikey almost fell even further under Killian’s spell. “Where are you taking us today?”.

At Mikey’s exclamation over seeing him, Killians grin grew tenfold. “Mikey, my man” he said happily, leaning down to hug the kid before standing up and raising an eyebrow at Nina “Well, I certainly can’t miss the gingerbread men, especially if there’s a chance I can decorate them” he said in mock horror, stepping into the half hug and wrapping her in his arms for a moment before standing straight and holding up a bag. “I come bearing gifts, and the promise of food, and, activities, whatever your little hearts desire” he promised, the smile on his face returning. It was very rare he volunteered to do anything that would tarnish his hard ass, cynical reputation, especially things that required he be around the hustle and bustle of people holiday shopping and doing wintery things, but for Nina and Mikey, and his other most important people, as Lola liked to call them,   he had a habit of making exceptions. “Seriously, food, fun stuff, whatever you guys want, I’m just wanting to spend some time with some of my favorite people.”

“Butter. Butter! Get back here!” Of course, only her dog would turn a leisurely winter walk through Boston Commons into an absolute goose chase by pulling out of his collar and making a run for it, with Gwen hurtling after him through the park like she was a turkey that had recently lost her head.

Luckily, Butter was an insanely social dog, so he managed to stop at the first person whose smell seemed to call to him, sniffing at the strangers shoes and wagging his tail happily as he pawed at their leg in greeting.

“God, I’m sorry about tha’…” Gwen panted as she approached, lungs on fire and out of breath as she crouched down to scoop up the corgi. “I hope he wasn’ bothering you. I swear, the snow makes him crazy.”

Killian had decided to walk back after having lunch with a client, he had some time to kill and, the weather  wasn’t exactly the worst as of yet. It was good for him to breathe in the fresh air and, the brief exercise was always an extra benefit. After stopping to get a coffee from one of his favorite places, he began his walk back to his office, taking in the sights, mostly minding his own business. 

Then there was a dog, stopping at his feet and sniffing around him and Killian stopped in his tracks. He wasn’t exactly an animal person. Didn’t really have them growing up, didn’t hate them but just didn’t have the time for the maintenance they required.  He didn’t know what it was, maybe the holiday air, maybe the lack of sleep, but he had actually reached down and petted the dogs head. 

When the girl approached, full of apologies and scooping up the dog, Killian stood, shaking his head. “It’s not a problem. He’s in a good mood.the holiday season does that to people and animals, apparently.” he laughed gently. “He’s cute, though.”

“This is nice,” she pointed out while draping the knitted sweater against her chest to gather a better mental image. “Then again, I’ve been told I have the taste of an elderly bingo-goer.” By this point in the afternoon, even Greer was running out of suggestions. “I’m inclined to take you up on that offer, but only because I think they’ve played Jingle Bells four times over since we’ve been here.” There’s only so much dashing through the snow one person can take, after all. “In the meantime, I’m way better at this Santa thing if I have more details about the recipient. Teenage girls are complex creatures, my perspective could be really off.”

Killian eyed the sweater being held up for a moment before nodding “It’s not terrible. And definitely Lola’s style” he commented, reaching out to touch the sleeve gently. “It has definite gift potential, I’ll add it to the list” he noted with a nod of his head, and then a smile tugged at his lips. He was never really the holiday type, and, couldn’t really remember he decorated anything (his assistant took care of the office, and his house had a distinct lack), so the holly jolly white Christmas songs always got annoying to him. “I’ll buy food, we’ll go somewhere where they don’t play Christmas music and I can tell you all about brat of a daughter” he added jokingly, nodding towards the exit “Shall we?”

“Thank you, I studied and worked hard for everything that’s on there.” Payton said, appreciating the words coming from the man. As he gestured to the chairs in front of his desk, she sat down in the one on the right. “I’m okay, thank you.” She answered his question. As Killian sat down, she waited for him to start with the actual job talk. Even though she really wanted the job, she had a strong disliking towards job interviews. “What make me a good fit for Fitz and Levinstein is the fact that I’m someone that strives to be the best they can. If I do something, it has to be perfect. I didn’t study nearly one third of my lifetime to ‘kind of’ do my job. No, if I’m going to do this, I’ll put my everything in it. And I think that’s just what Fitz and Levinstein is looking for.”

Killian liked that, to hear that the people who worked for, or were trying to work for him, worked hard, and were dedicated to doing there job and doing it well. Killian nodded when Payton began to talk, leaning back slightly and crossing his legs as he listened. Everything Payton was saying was good, more than good.  “I have to say” he began, biting back the smile that threatened to form on his lips. “That you sound like the perfect fit for us. We expect only the best out of any of our employees, and, you seem to be that” he complimented, lifting the file he sat on his desk with her resume and cover letter in it.  “It’s exactly what we’re looking for. Everyone here has excellent credentials and, I think you’d be a great fit, and asset.”

“Good point.” The blonde nodded and pressed her lips together. As much as she appreciated the honesty, she has never understood why teachers have the need of embarrassing students in front of the class. However, she didn’t say anything. After all he was an actual lawyer, mind you a criminal defense attorney, so Liz had to suck it up. Besides he was being nice to her, there was no need of scolding him. 

“Thank you.” Liz smiled a little. Of course she was flattered by his words, though she wasn’t surprised. Sure people teased her all the time, such as calling her a nerd or making few remarks about her non existent social life but she didn’t care – she’d rather to land a great job when she graduate than have fun in college. Her eyes widened in surprise, she chuckled at his words. “I didn’t think you were anyway. But sure, coffee sounds great.”

Killian knew that, by most accounts, he was an asshole. He knew tht well enough by now and so far, through many years of life, he had gotten by with that, and though it turned most people off,and the people it didn’t? Well, they were good. But right now he figured that wouldn’t get him by. He had to be at least slightly less well. Killian, than he usually was.

 He let out a sigh and looking around the room for a moment and then nodded at her thank you. He wasn’t lying when he had said he noticed she worked hard, and knew what she was talking about. He liked to pay attention to those things, weed out the weak ones, and, even more so the the ones with potential. “Well, you never know, but now that’s cleared up.  But Darwin's is a decent place. We can walk there, if that’s okay?”

She was already smiling from the comment but his next two comments made her laugh more. Evelyn shakes her, “God, you really take the “Pardon my French” to heart, don’t you?” She’s teasing. While she was born in the states her mother was born right in the heart of the “city of love” and made sure her daughter knew everything about it. It was always a pleasant surprise to run into others who also spoke the language. “I’m Evelyn. Did you learn the language in school or are you from France?” She asks curiously. Part of her hopes he’s from France just because it would make the situation that more ironic. “And do you know if our friend is ever coming back tonight?” She had arrived late to the bar thanks to work. She was still dressed in a blank pants suit and black heels. Her late arrival had meant she hadn’t had a proper introduction to Killian and with her friend long gone it looked like they were taking it upon themselves. 

Killian couldn’t help the self satisfied smile that pulled at his lips. “Well, I never do anything halfway” he shrugged a single shoulder with his comment. Killian wishes he could say he was from France, or Italy or Spain or literally anywhere else but the hole in the wall in Boston that his family was from. But instead he just shook his head. “No, neither. Just a bit of a linguist. Wanted to travel, didn’t want to seem like an idiot american, so I learned the languages. What about you? From France yourself, school?” he raised an eyebrow, lifting his drink to his lips to take a sip and then looking around. “I hate to break it to you but, like most other guys, as soon as they start thinking with their dick, all else fails” And it was true, Killian knew it all too well, but, it was unfortunate none the less that he had come here from work to meet up with a friend, and their friend, only to be left alone. “Though, I honestly can’t say I hate the present company. Can I buy you another drink?”

“Makeup.” Lila laughed a little. “Honestly, makeup and like gift cards were like the two biggest things I asked for for Christmas when I was a teenager.” she said, looking at Killian. “Food would be nice. I can’t drink any alcohol.” she looked down at her baby bump before looking at him.

“I would buy her makeup but I always buy her makeup” Killian sighed and shook his head. He did, Whatever Lola wanted, Killian had a tendency to hand over his black amex. He figures it stems from his lack of seeing her as often as he would’ve liked when she was in Canada, and, probably something with his own childhood, but he didn’t want to think about those kind of things. “I could possibly do a giftcard, takes the stress out of buying” it felt sort of like cheating but wasn’t it the thought that counted?  “Right, pregnancy, baby, no alcohol. Food though, we’ll do food” he nodded his head “What would the lady like? Your options are infinite.”