sunshine mixed with a little hurricane

His expression softened and he offered a small smile back. “We can go on that walk,” he murmured, leaning forward to steal a quick kiss from her lips. There was still a twinge of guilt for missing the time he had told her they would go, but at least he could still take her before turning in for the night. 

The idea of having to go out later in the day, when there were less Peacekeepers around, had Fell uneasy. Not that he was much concerned about what they would do to him, but more about what they would do to Thalia. That they were constantly watching him, waiting for him to slip so they had a reason to punish him. It was heavily implied at the Victory Ball that they knew about him and Thalia, that she meant something to him. And if they intended to hurt her in order to punish him, Fell would never forgive himself. 

She spoke again, breaking through his train of thought. His smile grew a little wider, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair back from her face. “Nothing you need to worry about,” he replied, thumb gently stroking her cheek before he stepped back to grab the towel and sweater he had left on the mat. He glanced toward the exit of the Training center, noting the Peacekeeper shifting slightly near the door. He frowned, shrugging on the sweater before looking back at Thalia, “Shall we?”

She let out a small sigh of relief, happy that he was okay to go on a walk with her. It was always something she looked forward to with him. It was how they started off as friends and she was sure they were going to continue this little tradition for as long as they could. Thalia smiled at the kiss, always savouring the ones he gave her so she could remember them when he had to go back to Two. 

Thalia moved to kiss his wrist while he rubbed her cheek, stealing what she could too. She let his explanation go for now, waiting to return to it when they were away from the Training Centre. She nodded, following Fell out of the Training Centre. Once they were in the elevator up to the main floor, she wrapped her hand in his and gave him a kiss on the cheek. 

“You owe me a better explanation than I have nothing to worry about,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You don’t have to tell me everything, but if you got so distracted there’s got to be something weighing on you.”

Aspen had to laugh as they took a seat on one of the benches, purposely away from the hustle of the training center so neither of them got trampled by someone in a hurry. “I am thinking more school, crazy as that sounds.” It had never been an option before, but now she had both the time and money to pursue her interests. “Other than that, I don’t know. I feel like I should know what I want to do with myself, but I really don’t…” Aspen admitted with a shrug. A year ago she had believed she wouldn’t have a future to play for. “I think I might try my hand at medicine.”

“I am sure whatever you come up with will be lovely Thalia.” Everything Thalia made was beautiful, so Aspen expected nothing different for her designs for the interviews. “I did have some to do with it, yes.” She admitted with a sheepish grin. “I think the stylist thought I was mad and probably many other things for wanting to inject my own thoughts and opinions into her designs.”

“It’s just…” Aspen chewed her lip a moment. “They’re my tributes, I want the best for them. They think they’re getting overshadowed by the Career Districts and the fact that Primrose Everdeen is Katniss’ sister…” All valid points, Aspen knew that. “I wanted them to have a moment and to have some hope. I know how they feel. I don’t think anyone paid me much mind until I got a nine in training.” A fact that still amazed Aspen. “As for the arena, I don’t know and you know no one will admit it to me now. They all swear they thought I was going to win and while it’s sweet, I know it’s not true.” District Nine hadn’t had a Victor in over fifty years, most people weren’t betting on her to win.

“I just want them to give themselves a chance. What I mean is, I hope you know how important it is what you do for them. A beautiful outfit and some support makes you feel like you can conquer the world.”

“I don’t think I would have chosen more school, but to each their own. Besides, you don’t have to choose what you do now. I changed my life’s trajectory in my mid-twenties. And look where I am now. You have plenty of time to decide,” Thalia replied, crossing her leg for the other. She watched a couple of sponsors walk through the door and take a look around the Training Centre, very out of place. 

“Well, whatever you told her, definitely made the two of them stand out. You’ve got a good eye for styling. If you ever want to practice or any tips, my door’s always open.” Thalia was impressed with Aspen, she seemed to care deeply about her tributes. She admired that - it wasn’t just about winning. There were a few Victors like that and she knew that her first thought was always going to be helping them win, but Thalia always tried to help them remember themselves along the way.  

She let Aspen talk, air out her thoughts. She was all by herself, the older Victors from Nine letting her navigate this place on her own. “I don’t think they’ll be overshadowed, especially with you being the most recent Victor and all of your work to help them shine.” Thalia knew that was what some people said, but she wasn’t going to lie to Aspen, it wouldn’t help. “I never know who’s going to win. It’s not something I try to guess. After watching so many Games and analyzing them when I was younger, the only thing to expect is the unexpected.”

Thalia wrapped her arm around the Victor’s shoulder and gave her a squeeze, leaning her head against Aspen’s. “I want to make a difference for them. Show them that they can still be themselves. And help them win. It’s good to hear that, Aspen.”

It was rare for Fell to feel on edge, but he was feeling it that day. For him, it was obvious that the Peacekeepers had been keeping a very close eye on him, especially when Training had started. Probably assumed if given the opportunity, he would pick up one of the weapons and use it on one of them… not that he ever thought about that once. But he was pretty damn close to today. 

He had just been sparring with a Trainer and a Peacekeeper had made their way up toward the mat after he had pinned the trainer down. Fell wanted to speak up but kept his mouth shut, backing off and heading for the cafeteria instead. He couldn’t even help train his own Tributes without having someone breathing down his neck– it was annoying.

So he had gone down to the Training Center later that day, and was down there ever since. He had been throwing harsh punches at a punching bag, the echo of each impact resounding through the almost empty center. Of course, there were three, maybe four, Peacekeepers near the doors, but that was pretty typical for The Capitol.

After one particularly harsh punch, Fell paused when he heard Thalia. Shit. They were supposed to go on a walk earlier. He looked over at her with a frown, “Sorry. Just kind of got too wrapped up in my own head down here.” He didn’t feel like that was a good enough excuse, especially for her, but it had been the truth. “Didn’t mean to make you worry.”

It was a relief that Fell was okay. There was no reason for Thalia to think that he wouldn’t be okay, but there were times when she would get those flashbacks to the confrontation they had with that Capitolite and the Peacekeepers last year. What if he got into trouble without her around and she wouldn’t be able to do anything?

“It’s okay. I might just worry about you no matter what, even though I know you can handle yourself,” she admitted, her arms wrapped around her waist. “But, I wouldn’t mind the walk that you promised me for tonight,” she said with a small smile. 

Thalia couldn’t shake the feeling that Fell had more going on in his head than he was letting on. She stood by the entrance to the sparring mats, a look of slight worry on her face. “What’s going on in there?” she asked, pointing her finger at his temple. 

“Hi Thalia!” Aspen said happily as she turned to find the District Four stylist beside her. “I can take a break. I don’t see my tributes here yet anyhow.” She was sure they were on their way or would be once the rest of the District Nine team was done prepping them for the day. Aspen had needed a little extra push to dive into training too last year. She was hoping it would be reassuring that they could figure this out together.

She nodded. “I’ve been busy, but well. I finished school a couple weeks ago.” There had been a lot of work to do and things to get sorted, especially since she had options for her future her classmates didn’t have. Aspen didn’t have to take a job in the fields. “I’m getting a little more used to it to be honest. I am not sure I’ll ever get used to people watching everything I do. That’s a bit weird.” Whenever her team taught her something new to do with her hair, makeup, or gave her new clothes her classmates always tried to imitate it to the best of their ability.

“How about you? Got big plans for the interviews coming up?”

Thalia was grateful at how accommodating and sweet Aspen was. She didn’t particularly feel the want to go to one of the stations unless someone else wanted to. “Why don’t we take a seat at one of the benches and watch the hustle and bustle of the Training Room for a bit? I’m not keen on getting run over by one of the very busy people in here,” she added with a chuckle. 

She was so young. Not that Thalia was particularly old, but it had been so many years ago that she had graduated high school. It felt like a different life. When she had split from her family’s business, it felt like her life started again. Thalia smiled at Aspen, clapping her hands together. “That’s amazing! Anything special planned now that school is done?”

“It’s all a part of this world. My best advice is to seek out the peaceful moments for yourself, it makes the busy ones worth it.” It was the one thing that she had learned working for her father. She had to find time for the moments that she wanted, otherwise her hard work was wasted. Even if it was directly correlated to her work, it was hers. “I have some plans in the works. I think the crowd reaction on Delta’s dress was the push I needed to put together a couple of options. Your tributes looked very beautiful. Did you have anything to do with that style?”

She threw on a pair of joggers and one of Fell’s zip-up hoodies that she had accrued over his time in the Capitol in January and moved from the Fourth Floor down to the Training Centre. Thalia was without a lot of her normal accessories, only her phone stuffed into the pockets of the hoodie. 

When she arrived in the Training Centre she peeked her head in and heard the muffled sounds of something being hit. Thalia walked through the stations towards the hand-to-hand mats where she saw Fell wailing on an upright punching bag. 

“Fell?” she called, twisting the ends of her hair. “I thought we were going to go on a walk. And you didn’t answer your phone. I thought maybe something had happened.” // @fellvasile

Aspen stood there just inside the door of the training center a moment praying she didn’t look too lost. She hadn’t felt this lost at the start of her own training, but then again, no one expected tributes to know what they were doing. Mentors however, they were supposed to know these things. She wished she had someone to ask, but District Nine’s other mentors were quite old and had elected not to make the trip to the Capitol now that they had someone to take their place. Right, she could figure this out.

“Hey…” Aspen said to the person next to her. “I was thinking of heading over to the first-aid or camouflage station, did you want to come?”

@ttwstarters​

Thalia still enjoyed walking around the Training Centre. She wasn’t like most stylists in that sense. Despite not wanting to relive her childhood, she still was rather surprised that she could be here and tell her 10 year old self that this place was how she imagined it when her father made her watch all of those Games. 

She had made her way to the entrance of the Centre when she noticed a young woman standing just in front of her. Realizing it was Aspen, Thalia stopped beside her and gave her a warm smile. 

“I can come if you want, but I don’t know how helpful I’ll be at any of those stations. I can’t really paint and I only know very, very basic first aid. But, I wouldn’t mind spending time with you Aspen.” She tucked her notebook under her arm and slid her pen over her ear. “How have you been? Enjoying Victor life?”

delta caliban’s tribute parade outfit inspired by the fierceness of the waves during winter storms // @dxltas

“That’s funny,” he commented with an amused smirk. The thought of all sorts of outfits and clothes racks all around his room would have brought on endless teasing from the District Two team. Even if Fell thought the idea would have been funny.

He turned his head once her arms slipped around him and he placed a hand over hers, only to let it slip when she slipped under one of his arms and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I don’t know if that’s my area of expertise, Miss Ohayon, but I’ll do my best.” Fell would have been just fine with Thalia in anything, honestly. She looked beautiful no matter what she wore, especially when she had adorned one of his shirts one of the mornings he had stayed with her in The Capitol.

“Maybe this one,” he offered, pulling out a light gray t-shirt for her to see, “simple and comfortable with a gray for District Two flare.” He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at his own impression of Two’s stylist. “Or do you want something with more color? Because… I might have something in red. And that’s it; otherwise it’s all grays and black.”

She grinned, laying another kiss on his hand that draped over her shoulder. “I’m sure some of my expertise has rubbed off on you,” she replied, looking up at his face for a moment, before re-focusing on the half-filled closet in front of her. Thalia watched him pull out a simple gray shirt. Easily something she could see Fell wearing on a normal day. 

She laughed at his attempt at ‘stylist’ talk and took the gray shirt from him. Thalia stretched it out and inspected it. “I’m not sure if it quite has flare to it, but it looks very comfy and very Fell. And I know that for me at least, Fell is very in right now.” She hung the shirt on a hook on the wall and stepped forward, moving her hands over the hangers and looking at some of the clothes in the closet. 

“I think I will go with the gray shirt, but now I’m just curious to what’s in here.” She smiled at the lack of colour, and moved through the t-shirts and jackets that took up most of the closet. She paused on one piece of clothing though, tucked in the corner and turned to raise her eyebrow at her. “What is this?” she asked, pulling out a whole outfit that was folded on a hanger. “I-, I don’t know what to say about this.” A slightly appalled expression graced her face, but there was still a slight twinkle in her eye.

“I understand.  It’s so much more comfortable for the tributes if they have something familiar and don’t feel like weirdly exaggerated versions of themselves.”  She could remember her own parade.  Marina had felt very uncomfortable in the mermaid inspired look her stylist had gone with.  It garnered attention, sure, but it made Marina feel vulnerable.

Waverly babbled happily in Thalia’s arms.  It was clear that the little girl was comfortable with Thalia.  The infant gripped at Thalia’s shirt while she stayed there.  It was a wonderful sight to behold and Marina was more than grateful to have Thalia in her life.  Especially during those months she was in the Capitol.  It would have felt so isolating if Jackson was the only familiar face she could see.

“Oh of course,” she chuckled.  “Everyone loves baby time.  I swear she emits some like happiness aura that makes everyone excited to see her,” she joked.  Still, babies could work their magic on those who liked them.  “I’m going to take you up on that eventually.  I can’t remember the last time Jackson and I had a proper date night.”  And it was important that they did.  While Waverly wasn’t the catalyst for them beginning a relationship, she came so quickly into their lives they needed more time to focus on just themselves as a couple to make things work for the long run.

“I mean, sometimes they won’t care and will just let me choose, but I’d really rather like to figure out something for them that fits their personality. I have yet to find a nut I can’t crack,” she said, chuckling. Her notebooks were a testament to that. Not only tributes, but her team, clients, anyone that she cared about would get something that reflected who they were. Fashion to her was making something beautiful, but reflected the person wearing it. If someone saw something in her clothes that made them feel themselves, that's who she wanted to buy it. 

Thalia bent down and gave her goddaughter another little kiss on the head, letting her little hand curl into her shirt. If Thalia didn’t have work to do, she would have gladly sat like that for the whole day, playing with her and making her laugh. She would rock her to sleep and take care of the little one. But, she only had a little time with Marina and Waverly. 

“She definitely has some kind of happiness magic,” Thalia agreed, turning her attention back to Waverly for a moment. “Right, Waverly?” Thalia nodded, her eyes back on Marina. “Anytime Marina, just maybe not tonight - I’ve got a few things I need to do before the parade,” she laughed. “If you don’t mind, I’d probably invite Fell over to help me take care of this little one.”

Fell brought a hand up to run along her back, wanting to stay close to her, too. Even though he had visited her for a week in The Capitol, having to go back to Two was still difficult. To get back into his usual routine without being able to wake up next to Thalia or actually get to hold her. So he wanted to make up for that lost time.

“Debatable,” he teased at her compliment, but he smiled at her kisses, turning his head to catch her lips in a quick kiss. Fell nodded, “I might have a couple,” he replied, reaching to take one of her hands and lead her out of the kitchen. Fell had never felt this attached to anyone before, and it was new to him. Yet it also felt so natural and comforting, especially being so close with Thalia. 

He led her to his room, smoothing his thumb along her knuckles before he let her hand go to open his closet. “This room’s way too big for me,” he murmured, stepping aside to let her look at the different clothes he had in the large closet. He didn’t even have that much stuff, but there was plenty of room if he ever felt inclined to fill it. Which he never did. Even the closet wasn’t full, but there were a few outfits in there that his stylist had managed to sneak in there. Pretty sure he wasn’t going to wear any of those.

“I know I have a huge selection,” he teased.

Thalia grinned as Fell caught her cheek kisses and turned them into real ones. She took his hand, following him from out of the kitchen and into his room, one that she hadn’t spent any time in before. Thalia squeezed his hand back before he let go, taking a step back to sit on the edge o his bed as he moved to his closet. “If you’re not using this space, I could start storing more of my outfits in here,” she teased, a mischievous smile on her face. “You’ve seen my room on Four, full to the brim of outfits for my team. I mean, a rack could go there and there and there...” she trailed off, pointing to open bits of the room. 

She expected the lack of clothing options as he opened his closet, but couldn’t help but feel the need to make Fell more clothes so he could have more options everyday. “Empty closet space calls to me, Fell. Maybe you shouldn’t have shown me this, I think I might need to fill it up for you,” she chuckled. 

Thalia got up from her place on his bed, walking over just behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid a kiss on the back of his shoulder. She moved under his arm, leaving her arm around his back and peeked at the closet. “What do you think would look good on me? Tell me your suggestions, Mr. Vasile.”

Marina nodded along while Thalia spoke.  She had always wondered how the stylists managed to get something fitting for the tributes so quickly after the Reaping.  “Well, you’re welcome to steal Delta soon.  I’m sure whatever you decide to put the tributes in will be gorgeous as usual.”  It was hard to imagine Thalia designing anything that wasn’t flawless.  Even the baby clothes she made for Waverly were perfect.

But seated and content, Marina was able to relax for the first time since before the Reaping.  So she eagerly nodded at the suggestion.  “Honestly, go for it.  I could use the break,” she half laughed before removing Wavelry from the sling carefully and handing the infant over to Thalia.  The little girl was comfortable enough with Thalia that she went without protest into her arms, babbling contently.  

“You know you can always have baby time, Thalia.”

Thalia grinned at the compliment, always appreciating when someone recognized her genius in her designs. She knew that Marina liked her styles, but always liked hearing it. “I think I’ll go find her in a little bit. I have something I think would look gorgeous on her, but I don’t want to force her into something that isn’t her, you know? I’d be just like some of these other stylists if I did that and I don’t want to be like them.”

Thalia carefully took Waverly from Marina, smiling down at the little infant. She cradled her in her arms, lifting Waverly up so she could give her a little kiss on her cute, chubby cheeks. Holding the little girl was something she loved to do, whether or not Marina looked tired or not. She could feel the love that Waverly gave out and she wanted to take every bit that she could. Thalia didn’t know if she would ever have kids, it wasn’t something that she particularly thought about considering how busy she was. So, having Waverly she could have at least one little one in her life. 

“You know I love baby time,” Thalia replied, lifting her gaze from Waverly to Marina. She began to rock from side to side a little, hoping that Waverly would feel soothed by the motion. “I’m always happy to take her off your hands. If you can pry yourself away from her for a night to have some alone time with Jackson, you’ve got a babysitter right here.”

“Oh,” Delta answered, somewhat taken aback. “I thought-”

No, “I thought that was your job” sounded rude outside of her head. Delta didn’t want to sound rude. In truth, she was always bad at fashion. She liked her soft cotton pants and denim shorts with t-shirts. Whatever was comfortable or practical for the day. 

“I mean, I don’t really know, if I’m being honest,” she said, fiddling with the locket around her neck. “I’ve always just worn whatever’s comfortable.”

Colors and fashion hadn’t even been something she’d really considered, she realized. People at home tended to wear cotton or linen or whatever was light and easy and would dry quickly if it got wet. Most of the girls she knew wore hand-me-downs from their mothers, and Delta realized only now that perhaps that was the reason she hadn’t ever bothered.

“I don’t have my mom,” she said frankly. “So I didn’t learn… girl fashion.”

“Is comfortable what you like then?” Thalia asked, getting the feeling that Delta would wear whatever she told her too. But, that wasn’t the point in Thalia’s mind. She wasn’t like some of the other stylists who wanted the tributes to wear their vision. Thalia wanted to work with her tributes so that the vision could be what they both liked. 

Thalia nodded, sympathy in her eyes. “I didn’t really learn fashion from my mother either. She wasn’t really around.” She tapped her pencil against her notebook, regarding Delta and the necklace that she fiddled with. “You don’t need ‘girl’ fashion, just your own. I’m here to help you find if you need help.”

She pointed at the necklace. “Do you mind if I take a look? This must mean a lot if you brought it here.”

Thalia’s appearance was a welcome relief.  She’d missed her friend while she’d been in District Four, making sure Waverly got some family time with her grandparents, aunt, and cousin before making the journey back to see her dad again.  “Well I think there are easier ways to get your attention,” Marina joked as she shifted Waverly in the sling, the baby babbling a little, perking up when she spotted Thalia.

Tiny hands reached out for Thalia’s fingers while Marina smiled to herself.  “Thanks,” she replied as they moved to find somewhere to sit.  “She’s good.  A little cranky from the train but that’s to be expected,” Marina explained.  “There’s a lot of fun people for her to look at so that’s good stimulation for her little brain.  How’re you though?  I’m surprised you haven’t rushed off to figure out the parade stuff.”

Thalia let out a chuckle, her attention already diverted by Waverly. She let her fingers be grasped by her goddaughter, keeping them there as Marina led them to a seat. She plopped down beside the mother and daughter, pulling her fingers gently away so she could move the diaper bag and her purse to the floor. 

“I think I’d be cranky from the train, if I’m being honest,” Thalia joked, smiling at Marina. “Been busy as always. Actually, have a few options ready and prepped for our tributes, but nothing concrete yet. I need to sit down with Delta first I think. She was a little hard to peg down in the Reaping. Besides, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t come check in first?”

She looked from Marina to Waverly and held her arms out a little. “Do you mind if I hold Waverly for a bit? Give you a bit of a break?”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Delta smiled at the woman. Businesslike, put-together, no-nonsense. At least that was how she seemed, and Delta could respect that. “So you’re doing… all my outfits? Like, parade and interview and stuff?”

That would be nice, to not have to deal with dressing herself. At home she usually stuck with neutrals because she was bad at figuring out what looked good with what, at least as far as colors went. Sure, she liked the combination of green and red and yellow, but it had taken one day of rude comments from her fellow middle schoolers several years ago to put that attempt to rest. 

Thalia nodded, her fingers dancing along the top of her notebook as she regarded the girl in front of her. She hoped that Delta would show her more of her personality in the next little bit. Thalia wanted her outfit to fit her in more ways than one. “You’ll get your training outfit issued to you by the Capitol, but the Parade and interview will be all me. And I’ll be there to dress you for the Arena too, although I have less of a say in that then I’d like.”

Delta had beautiful red hair like Marina and she would look so strong up in that chariot. She wasn’t sure if that was what Delta would want, but Thalia saw it. “So, what kind of impression do you want to make? What colours, what fit? If you have a preference at all.”

She opened her notebook, her pencil poised to write down anything that might help her shape the costume more. 

Coming to The Capitol always had one big perk: seeing Thalia. The visit back in January had been great, just being around Thalia and doing all sorts of things with her to fill the week– it was nice. Beyond nice. Going back to Two was rough, but they were back into their routine of texting and calling. Still, it never compared to actually getting to be near her. To talk to her face to face, to hold her and kiss her. 

Fell had gotten up to the District Two suite after checking up on the Tributes in the Remake Center. Briella seemed more than ready for The Games and had her head on straight. Fell hadn’t seen much of Maximus yet, but they had time to meet up yet. He had just been walking out of his room when he spotted Thalia in the kitchen.

It looked like she had spilled her drink on herself and Fell’s brow quirked. “Looks like it,” he replied, leaning forward to press a kiss to her temple, “Still good to see you all the same.” Fell stepped around her and tore off a sheet of paper towel, running it under warm water before squeezing the excess water out. “Here,” he offered, “warm water should help.”

Thalia smiled, gratefully accepting the forehead kiss. Despite being so out of sorts and not being her usual put-together self, she was glad to see Fell. It was coming to the point that she didn’t care how Fell saw her because she knew that he didn’t care as long as it was her. She leaned into the kiss, wanting him as close as she possibly could get him. 

“You’d think I would know that since I work in fashion,” she said, accepting the warm paper towel and dabbing it on her shirt. “At least one of us is thinking.” 

Thalia was sure she had gotten out the parts of the tea that would stain her shirt, but now it was just a little bit wet. “You’re a hero,” she commented with a smile, standing on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheeks. “Would you happen to have a shirt I could wear for the next little bit? I’d say I’d go up to Four, but I kind of just want to stay with you.”

@ttwstarters

The journey to the Capitol was uneventful.  Waverly was a little fussy, Marina chatted with her tributes in an attempt to get a feel for their abilities.  But then she watched the reaping and saw what happened in Twelve.  Well….that wasn’t good.  There was a piece of Marina that was angry knowing Jackson lashed out, but she understood why.

The District Four train arrived and when she stepped off, Marina made sure to keep her infant daughter close to her chest, snug in her baby sling.  After what happened, she couldn’t be too careful.  Marina was suddenly very acutely aware of the fact that this tiny person was something that could be used against either one of them.  The wrap held Waverly against Marina’s chest, allowing the infant to snuggle closer.

She pressed a kiss to the top of the girl’s head when she whined.  “It’s okay, starfish.  Mommy’s got you.  We’ll find Daddy.  I know you’ve had a big day.”  However, focusing on her daughter, Marina wasn’t paying attention as she made her way through the tower lobby, she adjusted the diaper bag over her shoulder and accidentally brushed someone with it.  “Oh gosh,” she half laughed.  “Sorry about that.”

Thalia was ready for the day. She had heard from Four’s escort that they were just reaching the station and Thalia had gathered the few essentials in her small purse to bring down to the atrium. She didn’t know who she’d run into first and get sidetracked with, so she was prepared. Finnick was bound to stay outside and let the paparazzi eat up his presence while Annie snuck into the Tower quietly. 

She was hoping she would run into Marina and her little goddaughter. Thalia had gotten used to being able to pop into Marina and Jackson’s apartment and not having that option for the last couple of days was killing her. 

Thankfully, she got her wish as the motherly goddess that was her best friend nudged her with her diaper bag. “You can always hit me with the diaper bag,” Thalia replied, smiling brightly at the duo. “Let me grab it actually and we can go find somewhere to sit?” She shouldered the bag and wiggled a finger at Waverly. “How’s my favourite goddaughter?” Thalia cooed.