by your hand!

With a grin he read over what Luke had written, smile in place as he gave a shake of his head. No need for apologies- I've been beyond busy. Something about being a dad and working a full time job leaves very little time these days. Which he knew he needed to get better at, trying to balance work, his social life, all while raising a baby. I am! Wanna grab our drinks and maybe a table to sit and chat at? Beyond glad he had ran into his friend.

luke smiles back at elliot and he reads his message, it is always good to catch up with friends. he didn't have many friends due to his awkwardness, so having elliot helped, "yeah. i get that, seems like everyone is crazy busy these days. how's the little one?" luke types. parenting wasn't really his thing, he couldn't see him himself as a dad, he did like elliot's little one though, he nodded his head at elliot's words, "sure! that'd be great, it'd be good to catch up".

@mcdnights @ the carolers

" for sure very hot, i'd hit on you if we weren't friends " a malicious grin tied to such a genuine compliment, they hot, no one could deny that. " this skirt is calling me… is it too short? " of course it was, yet she couldn't quite care. " maybe we can find some gifs for ivy? the store is pretty big, it can be a gift from autie safi! "

arden laughs, "that's definitely a sign i should buy it then" they reply, taking one last look at herself in the mirror. they look back at their friend, "nah. it's not too short, it's cute, get it" arden was all about their friends treating themselves, she was a bit of a bad influence. a smile comes across their lips, if they were being honest, "that's a sweet idea safi, thank you. i know they've got some cute vintage kids stuff here".

Location: Mila's apartment (Christmas tree decorating)

ivy was spending the day with her grandad, so arden had the day to themselves. so she was over at mila's helping her decorate a christmas tree. they used to not enjoy christmas, they struggled with it but as ivy has grown and become a child and started to love christmas, so has arden. now it's one of her favourite times of year, they love spending it with ivy, doing all of the christmas crafts, watching all the christmas films etcetera.

"you have got to be kidding me," austin complained as the red shell took out his avatar mere inches from the finish line. he tossed the controller onto the couch and slid down to the floor, head leaning back against the couch cushion as he stared down (up?) ivy. "cheater." he pushed himself to his socked feet and elbowed his way past a small child to reach the kitchen first. "did you know," austin said conversationally, grabbing plates from the cupboard and handing them off. "that you raised a cheater?"

arden hears the pitter-patter of feet running into the kitchen, they are greeted by austin first and then ivy. they were about to ask what happened but austin beat them to it, arden took the plates from him, putting them down on the side. as he was talking, she noticed ivy, pulling a funny face, arden couldn't help but smile, "a cheater?! that can't be right. i think you've mixed up ivy with someone else...".

The bakery was hands down one of those places that Elliot frequented a lot. And needing the biggest coffee he could get after a long shift was just what he needed. So as he headed inside, he caught sight of Luke, grinning in greeting and giving him a wave as well. Making his way into the line behind him already grabbing for his phone and sliding it over to his notes app. I swear, it's been forever since I've seen you. Turning his phone around to let the other read what he had typed down.

it was good to see elliot again, he was one of the few people that luke classed as a friend. he looks down at the phone, reading the message, the smile still stays on his face, luke pulls out his own phone. luke wanted to be a better friend to elliot, and learning ASL was on his list of things to do, but this would have to do for now, "it really has been, apologies! are you free now?" he held out his phone.

" yes, one can say that is an understatement " gentle fingers clasped on a glass of whiskey as thea regretted coming out alongside a few friends. " do you have a cigarette? " a casual smoker, she kept away from those ever since giving birth to nora.

"guess i'll be out here for the foreseeable then.." he replies, luke would probably end up stumbling home after this drink anyway. he nods, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket, "here you go" it was a bad habit that he meant to give up, but they helped him calm down.