#tacu

Keegan was excited to get lunch with Danielle. The last time he had seen her was in London in November and it had been way too long since seeing his friend. Deciding to meet at a Mexican restaurant in LA around noon, Keegan got on his motorcycle and started making his way over there. It was a beautiful day out and the perfect weather to ride his motorcycle, something he always liked to do as much as he could anyway. Pulling up to the restaurant, Keegan saw Danielle outside with her dogs and waved at her once pulling into a parking spot. Grabbing his camera, Keegan walked over to Danielle and leaned down to greet the dogs. "Hi guys," he said, petting them both and letting Bella nibble on his fingers gently. "They're really cute," he said, smiling as he stood up to greet Danielle. "It's so good to see you," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her to hug her tightly.

Danielle had arrived to lunch early with the dogs on their leashes, grabbing a lighter jacket earlier when she walked out the door to her Los Angeles condo she shared with her younger sister. The taco bar the brunette invited Keegan to had been closer to her apartment, and she chose to walk with both dogs in tow to give them a little bit of time out from being inside. Vancouver was cold, but Los Angeles had bearable weather enough for them to have jackets on as well. She really didn’t stay long, already grabbing a table out in the patio and the roar of a motorcycle brought her out of the her trance in looking through the menu. She tilted her head when it ended up being Keegan, letting out a smile in her confusion and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. “Thank you”, she replied to him when she pulled away from his hug. “This is Jett and the one that you played with a little bit is Bella. They needed a day out too.” Danielle sighed at this point, sitting down at the table across from her friend and leaned back against her seat. “How have you been, Keegers? Doing well?”

Keegan smiled as Danielle introduced the dogs to him, petting them for a little longer as they sat down at one of the tables for the outside seating. When someone came to give them menus, Keegan thanked him and started looking through it as he heard Danielle speak. "I've been pretty good, yeah. I've just been going out a lot and exploring while taking pictures. Last night I went with Shay down Pacific Coast Highway and got some amazing pictures of the sunset. Other times I go through Hollywood and take pictures of people I see or things I come across. It's been a nice way to pass the time, keep my mind off of things," he said, smiling slightly at her. "What about you? How are things?"

Danielle ordered a water and chips and salsa for the table for now, looting through the menu to the restaurant. Her hands were in her lap, listening to Keegan speak about his adventures last night and today, which had been honestly amazing. “You’re so California”, she told him, lips turned upward in a wide smile and shook her head gently. “I think that’s what I miss about California. There’s so many different characters, different people—and the winter sunsets look like cotton candy.” The brunette listened on, licking her lips as she heard him explain about Hollywood, and kept that smile on her face. At least her friend had been actually keeping busy. When she asked her about her adventures, she let out a laugh and reached a hand down to pet one of the dogs. “Things are good. We’re filming the back half of the season right now and I’m still traveling around to do conventions. It’s been really nice and calm. Kind of how I like things, actually.”

Keegan nodded and smiled as she said he was so California. "I am, I guess that's what happens when I grow up here," he chuckled, running a hand through his hair gently. "Yeah, it's amazing. I got such a cool photo of the sunset yesterday. All the colors were incredible," he said, taking out his camera to get to the picture so he could show Danielle. Facing it her way so that she could see, Keegan listened as she explained what she was up to. "That's good, I'm glad it's nice and calm for you then. I just got back from a convention in Paris which was last weekend. It was incredible. Paris is amazing in general but then when I saw how many people actually watch and appreciate our show...it was incredible," he said, taking a chip once they bowl was brought to the table.

Danielle leaned forward in order to see the picture that was in the camera, jaw dropping in awe as she started to reach out for the camera; but she stopped herself then, pointing to the picture itself on the digital camera. “That’s amazing”, she told her friend, nodding her head firmly to assert her position. “That’s really amazing.” She leaned back into her seat then and took a chip, dipping it into the salsa before bringing it out her mouth. When he said he was in Paris last week, she bounced in her seat and hummed. “I love Paris”, she started out, gushing over the city. “I was there last year for a convention and I really want to go back. It’s so gorgeous. I’m so jealous.” Her tone of voice was light, giggles flowing out of her. “So did you honestly have fun? How many people were actually there?”

Keegan smiled and nodded, taking another chip. "You were? That's great. They seem to have a lot of conventions there. This was the third annual for this one in particular and I think there's going to be one next year, so maybe I'll get to go to that one too," he said, pursing his lips. "Yeah, I got so many pictures. It was great to have time to sight see a little bit too and since a few of my castmates were there it was even more fun," he nodded. "So many people, it was crazy. The audience for the panel was huge. The autograph line was massive too. These fans have so much dedication," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I feel so fortunate whenever I get to go to these things, and of course I came home with so many letters and gifts. I'm sure you experience the same, especially since you go to so many more than I do," he said. When the waiter came to ask for their order, Keegan ordered a burrito and leaned down to pet the dogs while Danielle ordered.

Danielle listened intently to Keegan’s story about his convention, reminiscing about her own moments and experiences with her own conventions. They were similar, even though their shows weren’t at all, and the fan bases even matched in enthusiasm; but she knew that there had to be far more for his than hers alone. “I do”, she replied to him, ordering just a few soft fish tacos to eat. “I go to one at least once a month. Just one weekend out of the month when we’re still filming. I was supposed to go to one last week, really”, she said as she pointed a hand towards him, smiling once he started interacting with the dogs. “But it was cancelled Saturday and I was there, but I had to leave early Sunday morning in order to work Monday so I had to miss that.” A little remorse showed in her voice, but she shrugged her shoulders and took a picture of Keegan and the dogs with her phone.

Keegan raised his eyebrows, impressed that Danielle was able to go to one per month even which such a busy filming schedule. "Wow, that's crazy. Super cool of you to be able to do that though," he said, listening as she said one had gotten canceled last week. "That sucks, at least you tried though. Unfortunately you can't do much and work has to come first," he said while shrugging, knowing he's had similar experiences in the past. Looking up at Danielle who took a picture as he played with the dogs, Keegan smiled and shifted in his seat, grabbing his camera as he waited for the food to come. "As promised, here are some new pictures of Phillip and Sophia. No one has seen these yet, I took them the other day when they were with me," he smiled, handing her the camera once he got to the right point.

Danielle nodded, agreeing with Keegan about not being able to make certain obligations because of work. She moved her thumbs against the keyboard of her phone quickly, replying to a few things, and then placed her phone face down on to the table. For a moment, she sat in quiet and started eating their appetizer, but clapped her hands as she was handed the camera in order to see pictures. She loved children, absolutely adored them, and Keegan and Troian’s were two of the most adorable she’s ever met in her life. “They’re so grown”, she whispered out, moving the cursor around in order to see the various pictures. “How are you even coping with them growing up so much like this?”'

Keegan smiled at Danielle's reaction to the pictures, shaking his head as she spoke. "I'm barely coping," he chucked, rubbing his face with his hand. "It's crazy, I can't believe how much they're growing. Especially Phillip. It's like...crazy how much he does now. He loves to paint, he loves any kind of sea creature, much to my dismay, and he can name so many of them. He's so good at all his colors now and he loves to draw. I'm getting a new picture weekly these days," he said, smiling at the thought. "And Soph can roll over now and is getting more and more active. Blabbing and making noises. I can't believe it. Having two kids growing this fast...makes me feel super old."

Danielle smiled down into the camera, still moving around in order to see them all. Her ears tilted towards Keegan in order to listen properly, figuring that it should be the same with any parent when their child grows up. However, she gave him a look, crossed between amusement and confusion before shaking her head. “How old are you”, she asked of him. He couldn’t be no more than around her age. “You’re not old. You’re just a dad with two wonderful kids.” It was then that she gave the camera back over to its owner, the waiter bringing around their food at this point. “And you’re really lucky you get to spend so much time with them. Most people in our industry don’t get to spend time with their children.”

Keegan smiled when Danielle asked how old he was. "I'm twenty eight, I'll be twenty nine in July. Extremely close to thirty, it's getting scary," he smirked, watching the waiter place their food on the table. "Thank you," he said, cutting his burrito in half and taking one half into his hand, taking a bite. Once he was finished chewing, Keegan shrugged. "I guess I should see it that way. I'm so lucky to have two great kids. Especially since they both behave so well," he said. "I know, I'm definitely lucky there too. It's nice that Troian and I work together so then it's easier to spend time with them, and we don't live too far away from each other so it's nice," he said, clearing his throat. "Plus I'm not in as many episodes as a guest star so I get that free time with them which I love."

Danielle smiled at the waiter and said her thanks before grabbing the hot sauce on the table. Automatically, Bella and Jett gravitated towards her when they smelled the food, letting out a laugh while Keegan spoke. Of course she was listening, but she picked up both dogs and set them down to the ground again, only to have them come back up. “You’re only a few months older than I am”, she pouted at him, pointing to her friend and then giving up and giving the dogs just a few pieces of her food. “So you’re really not old. Stop it. Stop it forever.” The brunette took a bite out of her food then, glad that her friend was at least content with his life right now. “So once you’re not acting, what are you doing? Are you just with the kids or is there anything else you’re working on?” Danielle was mostly curious, making small talk and trying to catch up as she ate. Who knows just how long they’ll go until they’ll see each other again?

Keegan chuckled when Danielle said he was a few months older than him. "Okay, okay. I won't say I'm old then because then that would mean you're old too," he teased, taking another bite of his burrito. "When I'm not acting, I'm usually with the kids. I mean that's how it used to be, but now that I split the time with Troian, sometimes I'm alone when not working and I really just do what I was saying earlier. Taking pictures of all sorts of things. I like the longboard and skate through Malibu Beach sometimes on the boardwalk, that's always fun. Sometimes I focus on music but I don't really have the time. But I'm currently working on a second book too so that takes up a lot of my free time. What about you? What are you doing when you have some free time?"

Danielle laid her finger to her nose to show Keegan that he was right on that notion. They were only as young as they felt. And Keegan’s life, to her, was full of adventure and excitement. She was content to live vicariously through her friend, looking at his pictures and hearing his stories, and even then it was just something that she could only dream of doing. “Yeah”, she started out again, moving her arms out in front of her and taking a sip of her water. “You are so California.” But she cleared her throat, rooting through her head in order to offer her friend something. “I have notebooks”, she continued out. “I fill the notebooks with pictures and journal entries. They’re nothing. Sometimes they’re just recipes or sometimes they’re just doodles. I’m really boring, Keegan.” Her tone of voice trailed off, pressing her lips together. Danielle used to travel in her off time, go around the world and try new foods. Now with a steady job and she loving her time she shared with her boyfriend, she toned it back down completely. “I’m really boring.”

Keegan smiled as Danielle said she had notebooks that she would put recipes and other sketches in. "That's awesome though, I don't see that as boring. Notebooks like that can be a great thing to have. Especially if you want to write about your feelings, like a diary. Sometimes I do that but I try to put them into song lyrics," he explained, taking another bite of his food. "I don't think you're boring at all. You do so many things, plus you bake amazing stuff and even in your free time you seem to be always moving," he said, leaning back in his chair once he was finished. "And you have cute dogs to play with," he grinned.

Danielle eyes widened at the mention of her baked goods, both hands going to her face. She couldn’t believe she forgot what she promised Keegan—cake pops that she make once she got to Los Angeles—but when she landed in this morning and getting the dogs situated along with taking care of things around the house for her sister and making them and keeping them in her fridge to cool, it completely fell out of her mind. “I’m so sorry”, she whispered out, fully embarrassed that she had forgotten about the cake pops. “I had everything planned out and they were sitting in the fridge and then the dogs and”, she continued on to explain and sighed. “If you want to pick them up later or I can drop them off, I can. It completely went out of my mind I’m sorry.”

Keegan was confused for a few moments when Danielle started apologizing until he remembered them discussing the cake pops she was going to make him. "Oh, don't worry about it," he chuckled, shaking his head. "It's fine, you had a lot going on and you have the dogs. It's okay. It's not that big of a deal. If you want I can pick them up later if you already made them. I don't want them to go to waste but I know you have the charity thing, so just let me know when you're home and I'll stop by. It's really okay," he said, smiling softly. "Am I keeping you? Your thing is probably soon, right?"

Danielle sighed, licking her lips and nodding her head to Keegan’s words. She still felt awful for forgetting them, making them specifically for him. “Please swing by and pick them up. I walked here, so it’s not even that far, but please pick them up when you can. They were cute little BB-8 cake pops”, the brunette spoke out, using her hands to help her talk out of nervous habit. She wrung her fingers together, shifting in her seat and shaking her head. “No, no. It’s Sunday”, Danielle started out to explain herself. “You’re not keeping me at all. Am i keeping you from something?”

Keegan smiled and nodded. "Okay, I will then. I'm super excited to see how they came out," he said while grinning. Nodding as she said her charity event was Sunday, Keegan was glad he had more time with her. "No, not at all. I just thought your event was today. I'm glad we have more time together then. I could come by to pick up the pops now if you like. It'd be cool to see where you live when you're not in LA," he said. "It's with your sister, right? Is she home? I can see her again after our soup exchange," he smirked.

Danielle nodded, waving their waiter over to be able to grab the check so they can cash out. “Keegan Allen—my sister”, she teased of him, raising an eyebrow before mirroring the smirk that was on his face with one of her own. Looking down at her phone and replying to a few things, they would very well be able to meet up with Kay at this point. “She should be home right now, so you can catch up if you want. I can give you the address and you can head their first. I’ll be walking with my babies right here.” Her hand went out to pet Jett’s head at this point, giving the dog a soft smile while Bella laid content on the ground. “Would that be alright?”

Keegan smirked and shook his head. "What? She's pretty and it was nice to see her," he said, clearing his throat and running a hand through his hair. Listening as she spoke, Keegan smiled at the idea of getting to talk to her sister again while Danielle spent some time with the dogs. "Are you sure that won't be awkward? Maybe I should wait for you..." He trailed off, suddenly feeling a little nervous. "Will it be fine? I don't want to bombard her or anything. I mean she probably doesn't even remember me," he chuckled.

Danielle ’s smile grew wider with each word that Keegan managed to let out. His worry was endearing, and it was completely refreshing to see him like that—even if it was just towards her little sister. “I can’t believe you have a crush on my baby sister”, she started out, teasing him even further and scrunching her nose out of pure joy. “You’re fine. She probably does remember you. Give yourself some form of credit, you know? You’re kind of awesome.” Once the waiter came by with the check, she started rooting through the doggy carrier she had for her wallet.

Keegan blushed slightly and shook his head. "It's not a crush," he said, clearing his throat. "Okay maybe it's a little crush but it's not a big deal. I've only seen her once," he said, rolling his eyes as she teased him. Shrugging as she spoke, Keegan figured it was worth a shot and there was no harm in getting to know her at least. "I got the check, if you're looking for your wallet don't bother," he said, taking out his own and grabbing his credit card to put with the bill, calling the waiter over to take it. "You made me awesome cake pops, it's the least I can do," he said while smiling. Once the check was paid, Keegan stood up and cleared his throat. "So uh, how do I get to your sister's?"

Danielle made a face, wide eyed and smiling, and threw her arms out at Keegan’s words. She thought she’d at least be paying for her own food, but it was sweet that he wanted to pay for lunch for her. “It’s really not that big of a deal”, she said, brushing it off and getting the dogs and the carrier ready. “But thank you for lunch. You’re absolutely amazing for it.” Standing up now, she took the leashes in her hands and pointed down the street. “It’s about a minute that way if you’re in your motorcycle”, she started out, and then pointed back towards him. “Which you should be wearing a helmet while driving, Keegan Phillip Allen. Safety is always the number one concern and you always wear a helmet. Always.” It was just her thing, to worry about the people that she cared about, and brought her hand down. “I’ll text you the address once you get to the bike, yeah?”