take a deep sigh

Let's make this house a habit Let's make the sun shine

Just stay with me tomorrow  And tell me all your secrets I'll tell you what I know

Simon had been looking for a faster way to the dining room that didn't go past the eerie lady in the main hall. Instead, they had opened the door and seen him. It sent Simon stumbling backwards out of the room, face staunch and pale.

They could feel their lungs seizing up as the shaking started. No, no they were getting better-- "N-n-no, you're-- you're dead, you're not-- this can't b-b-b-be real."

simon's mask

Henrick’s smile dropped just slightly as he saw a familiar face cross nearby. He hoped and prayed they wouldn’t come to talk to him, just keep walking. They gave each other a knowing nod and that was it. Thank the gods. He didn’t want to be associated with his pack — or any pack for that matter. He wanted to be normal. He wanted to be a normal, everyday human. He yearned but knew it was a fruitless desire. It was in that moment he realized his smile had dropped.

However, when he looked to the seat next to him and saw the little girl looking up at him, his human self took over. “I bet your mama is pretty but you sure you’re not the prettiest?” He poked her nose. She was so small, so sweet. He wished she could never grow up. “Must be a lot of work but would you have it any other way?” Henrick scratched his cheek thinking of eight year old Isabella. “Sometimes it’s like you never want to see them grow up.”

--

“Don’t be sad.” Susan told Henrick, and Simon’s heart broke a little as Susan scooted back over to the man and wrapped her little arms around his larger arm, hugging it tightly. “Sometimes, Daddy’s sad, and Mama says it’s okay. It’s okay, Mister. Don’t be sad.”

Simon had to look away. They tried their best to keep the harder parts of their recovery from Su-- she didn’t need to see the panic attacks, or hear them wake up screaming, or know why they never went into the woods any more. She was just a baby. She was just their sweet, loving little girl. She didn’t need all of Si’s traumas.

“They’ve got a way of doing it without us looking, don’t they?” Simon said, turning their face back again. “Growing up and surprising us. Are you a parent, too?”

-

Callan didn’t offer any comment that he had seen families tear themselves apart over these things; it wasn’t his place and Simon clearly trusted the people in his life. “It takes a few days. We can draft a will today, but I will need a list of all your assets, then I will have to check all documents associated with those assets, speak to Gringotts, you know… nothing against you, but checking legitimacy. Due diligence.” He started moving papers around on his desk. “I will need a healer to testify that you are of sound mind and body, and a witness to sign the final document, though that I can provide. It’s often easier if they are not affiliated with yourself or any person named in the will.”

--

Simon nodded as though they understood everything that Callan had just said. Most of it made sense, but they weren’t really sure what a witness would need to be there for. Callan knew best though, so Simon would trust his judgment. “Assets, is that just a list of everything I own? Does it include everything I’ll inherit? Because that’s not technically mine for a while yet. And I should include things at the house too, not just in the vault?”

Shivaun followed without complaint, grateful for the other person’s confidence in the space. Shop assistants set off his nerves like nothing else, but it seemed like this person was more just a… frequent customer. A friendly frequent customer. His gaze landed on a barrel of something called a ‘cockroach cluster’ as they walked. He pulled a face. Maybe he’d give that one a miss. “No budget. I-I mean, a reasonable budget because I’m only one man who doesn’t want to completely ruin his system with a kilogram of sugar, but. Price tags don’t worry me, is what I’m getting at.”

✍

Simon nodded as they considered this. That would make this even more of an adventure, it gave them so much more room for options and combinations. “Cool, that’s gonna helpful. Promise not to send you home with too much or anything, but it definitely frees up some options. Do you have any tastes you really don’t like, and any tastes you really love?”

where: the park. who: @si-gh-monbones || simon.

Henrick loved walking. He liked exploring. It was the only good thing about his life; he got to see everything and everywhere. London wasn’t as vast but there was always something around every corner and always someone new. Whether the latter was was a good or bad thing was up for debate but it was what it was.

That day he’d found a park that had been hiding. It was lovely. A wide open field, people walking, couples holding hands and a few occupied benches. He glanced over where an unassuming person was sitting and sat at the other end. “I hope you don’t mind,” he motioned as he sat. “Thought I’d take a rest.”

--

Simon had gotten way better at not flinching when people approached them in public. Taking Susan along with them helped too, most people just stopped to them that they had a beautiful daughter. Su was always happy to giggle and babble her few toddler sentences, showing off the ducky than Mina had gotten her to anyone who stood still long enough.

“Oh, feel free.” They gave the stranger a hesitant smile as Su came toddling back to show her new friend Ducky. 

“Uck!” Susan said proudly, holding the already well-loved duck up for Henrick to see. “Uck!”

“Yeah, Su, that’s your Ducky. Let’s give our new friend some space okay sweetie? Maybe they want some rest.”

“I’m glad one of us does, because I am not a fan right now.” She pointed to her head and pulled a face. She was mildly embarrassed by herself in that moment, and had no doubt that in years to come she would look back and cringe into her hands. Luckily, it now seemed that Simon would always be around to offer comfort. “You are too good to me.”

Miraphora grinned widely. She hadn’t yet dared to say the words out loud, but hearing her future married name fall from their lips filled her with joy. “Miraphora Bones. It has a ring to it.” She nodded decisively. Simon, Mira and Susan Bones. They would truly be a little family, just as she had always wanted. “I’m sure we can invite whoever we like. The more the merrier. Jae can host it at our family home, it’s very large.”

“We have so much to do, but I can’t wait to be married to you.” She wrapped her arms around their neck. “Kiss me.”

--

“You’re too good to me.” Simon countered, There was no way they would’ve remembered about marriage if she hadn’t pressed. Now they’d be a real proper forever family and Mira would be their wife and how on earth could they ever top that? “I’ll happily spend the rest of forever reminding you how much I love your brain, and every other part of you.”

Simon moved to wrap their arms around Mira’s waist, still smiling even though their cheeks were starting to hurt a little now. “Jae may have to fight Mom and Dad for the honor, I think they’ve both been waiting for us to get married.” Simon admitted. It certainly would explain some of the pointed looks they’d been getting at family dinners recently.

“As you wish, Mrs. Bones.” Simon kissed both of her cheeks before kissing her properly. “Jae has Su for the whole night?” They asked, barely moving away.

“Not early enough in most cases.” Callan’s reply was blunt, but truthful. Far too many people thought about their wills later in life, or often forgot about them entirely and left entire families squabbling over inheritance. He had seen it often. Sometimes the arguments had been amusing, and sometimes they had almost made him sad. “Well, as to your spouse, your assets would naturally pass to them upon the event of your death, unless someone decides to contest the fact.” Callan clasped his fingers together. “But a will is the best security you can have, and power. Life can be unexpected, as can death. The papers are not too difficult to draw up.”

--

“I don’t think my parents would try and keep anything from Mira, they love her.” Sometimes more than they loved Simon, depending on how recently Simon had visited without Susan in tow. “Could we do one today, do I need anything? I just...” they’d already been kidnapped and tortured on two separate occasions. They needed to make sure their family got looked after properly. “With everything happening, you know?”

where: prince law firm with: anyone

“You’ve caught me between clients and my assistant appears to be on her break” he murmured, glancing around them and out of the door to catch sight of the empty desk. He hadn’t heard Mary leave, but then Mrs Watson had been shouting so loudly he had barely been able to hear himself think. He couldn’t blame her for running. “I should have a few minutes, if you’d like to take a seat. What can I do for you?”

--

“How early is too early to make a will?” Simon asked. Their parents had a lawyer, and Simon liked them well enough, but Mira had taught them to get multiple opinions on things. “Because I’ve got a baby and soon I’m gonna have a wife, and I want to make sure that if something bad happens they’ll be okay, that all my money goes to them.”

Mira knew she shouldn’t have been surprised. She had always been the one to measure each path carefully, and count the steps to the next part of her life. Simon had been a surprise in her path; she hadn’t been looking for them, when they’d smiled at her and told some cheesy joke, before berating themselves for the cheesy joke. She’d laughed, harder than she ever remembered laughing before. So much so, that she had crushed hard, fallen harder and planned her whole life around them.

“You want too?” she whispered, feeling relief and trepidation, as though waiting for the other shoe to drop. She needed to know that her dreams were not only her dreams, though she wished she’d eased them into it. Instead, she’d let her emotions rule her actions. “You do, miss them. Whereas my mind plans each step meticulously and forgets to tell anyone else about them. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about this sooner, I just let it build up in my head.” 

She squeezed the hands that held hers, feeling both happy and guilty. “A ring, and a name… and maybe to force Kaz and Percy into uncomfortable dresses” she smiled, tugging one hand free to tuck the hair behind her ears. “I want to spend forever with you too, Simon. I… are we really doing this then? Are we getting married?”

--

“I do, want to.” Simon said, nodding. Now that she was smiling, it felt more real. She had always been the easiest part of their life. Even when they’d fumbled their way through their first ever meeting Mira had still given them a chance. “I like your head, and how you think everything through. You keep me floatin, Mir. I would love to marry you.”

They squeezed her hands in return and grinned. This wasn’t how they’d expected this evening going, but Si would hardly complain. This was the best, most wonderful surprise of all. “Miraphora Bones.” Simon whispered, just to test it out. “Can Sia come, too?” Simon wouldn’t mind if the whole world saw them get married.

“Forever with you is the best idea in the whole world. Let’s get married. Let’s really do it.”

Sometimes they go to playgrounds without Susan and just commandeer the swings.

“well then I’d have to take a piss.”

--

“I mean, you’re gonna have to do that eventually anyways?”