Let's Talk of Plans (Shaydra/Open)

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

Forty three days since the arrival of the new Ulfric. Six days since Shaydras arrival and so far so good. Things were still hanging in the air and yet so far so good. It was no easy feat not giving into the pervasive doubt worry and negative feelings that threatened whispering frim the horizon of calamities afoot.

He sighed and once again packed them away locking the mental trunk he kept them in. Pulling his phone out he dialed the number Shaydra gave him last they'd spoken. Almost a week since she'd come back into his life. And while he would have gladly spent everyday with his daughter he wanted to take things slow. If everything worked out there would be more than enough time.

Waiting for her to answer he looked over the quickly jotted list if things they needed to work through...

[Deleted]

It had been a little while since her and Selene had come to Chicago, she'd seen and talked to Hiero. Her and Selene had gotten settled fully into the house, having gone out and gotten some things they both wanted, one a bedroom suite for Selene, Shay kept alot of what was alraedy in the house. Only adding a few things that captured her eye and made the place feel more like a home to them both. Instead of like just an apartment or hotel even.



Even though he'd told her, the car was in the garage out back she'd yet to actually take it for a drive. Of course, she knew he was going to complain about that the moment he found out since he knew he disliked her classic car. But they would have to agree to disagree for now. That baby out back honestly, she'd not driven since he gave it too her.



So for the most part, things had been going pretty well. Shay took Selene around the city, when it warmed up alot more, she was planning a zoo trip. But they just went shopping the first few days, knowing she'd have to get her to the school soon, since her and Hiero had already talked about it. There was just a slight little problem, Shaydra didn't trust a single sole with Selene aside from Hiero himself. Everyone else would be lucky to not lose an arm or their face if they got near her. Mostly due to realizing everything that came from her brother was a lie, a manipulation so to say her own trust had been damaged with people was an understatement.



But when one didn't know who had been truly under her brothers thumb and might still be, she just wasn't going to take chances.



Hearing her cell phone ring, Shaydra paused fixing her and Selene something to eat, saw who it was and clicked accept.



"Hello Hiero. How are things going?"



Watching Selene realize who it was she was speaking too and that smile had Shaydra smiling right back at her.

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

He smiled into the phone as he heard the little noises in her background alerting him that Selene was being quietly active.

"Things are..., how is it going getting settled?" Small steps. They'd talked briefly about the broadstrokes. The legal issues had been squared for the most part in his end. There was an endowment created for Selene as well as an expense account opened for her living expenses along with several investment accounts formed.

In short unless she wanted to Selene would never need work for the remainder of her life. Shaydra as executor also had been empowered with accounts of her own. Not as sizable but he knew she would all but raise high holy hell if he overdid it. Even as it was he was sure she would do her best to tell him to shove it.

So that would be broached last along with the debit and credit cards that would be arriving any day now. First however was Selenes schooling.

[Deleted]

Watching Selene smiling at her she finally couldn't help giggling a little, shifting the phone a moment to the counter, but not before letting him know.



"Give me a couple of minutes was making us something to eat, so your going to speak. Say hi or she might explode from over excitement."



Clicking it over she set the phone down on the counter and nodded to her daughter to say something. Which was probably a bad idea cause that was like giving a child the run of a candy store. "Hi daddy! Guess what mommy and I went shopping, I got to pick out my bedroom suit, these cool new clothes, some toys. We ate at that place you took us so we had that great view oh and mommy let me get this shirt that says daddy's angel mommy princess. You want to see it? I have to show you my room, mommy says we can paint it."



He'd hear Shaydra softly laughing in the background, which was only cause their daughter had just said that all in one long breath without stopping. But she already adored him and she'd only just met the man, which made Shay actually happy, she'd not been sure what would happen. Yet seeing and even hearing Selene speak about Hiero or ask about him, wonder when they could see him again it was adorable. Thankfully the question of living hadn't come up since yeah she wasn't even sure how'd she answer it honestly.



"Princess, you have to give your dad time to reply, you just told him alot in one breath. Sorry Hiero she does that alot if she is excited. But its going, she got her stuff I changed and got a few things, but yeah. Your being the official painter by the way just thought you like to know. Yup your the designated mural designer as well. Don't ask cause I have no idea what she wants she hasn't said."



Yeah the lion had managed to once again slip her question to something else and she just shook her head. Finishing up the stir-fry and letting it simmer for now. So she picked back up the phone, left it on speaker since he did need to answer Selene and took them both to sit on the couch.

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

It was a lot to take in and process but the just was Selene was happy with the newness of it all. She didn't seem overwhelmed which was a great bit of news. Hearing Shaydra laugh was a pleasant surprise as well. The whole world had been turned on its ear and even as he put on a good show of persevering the truth 2017 had taxed him to the limits of himself.

He hoped this year would be easier. So far it was not short on surprises pleasant and just surprising.

"Princess that seems as if you have had your hands pleasantly filled. I can't wait to see you again mayne we can have another city date or just a nice lunch somewhere. As for painting I'm so there... Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Turning toward the door as he listened to Double A and Janet talk about their last night he chuckled as he caught the bit about Janet pulling Double A of the bar dancing. Turning back to the notes hed jotted he looked at the underlined number one. Schooling.

"So I know we talked about in the broadstrokes but have you softened on the tutor or school thing...?"

[Deleted]

Shaydra was honestly enjoying seeing Selene excited about something, especially her father. Plus she could already tell he was gone, he was so wrapped around this little girls hand, she could walk on water with him. Not that she ever expected differently, well maybe. They'd never said anything about kids, well than again they were different species it wasn't suppose to happen and yet. Yet here was this sweet princess and Shaydra had become something she'd never thought she wanted to be or would. A mother and damn she was just as vicious if not more so of this little one.



Hearing him reply back she couldn't help laughing once more softly seeing Selene jumping up and down. "See mommy, daddy will help paint I get to have my room done!! But I'd loved to see you again, we can all go to lunch, the park, ooooo mommy, daddy I want to go to the zoo!!! I want to see the wolves and lions." Shaydra had this permanent smile on her face before nodding some softly.



"I see and we will talk about about another outing, though I don't think the zoo is open right now sweetheart might have to wait till it warms up. And I seriously wonder why you want to see lions and wolves exclusively, little trickster. But you go play in your room, food is a little bit away and I need to speak with your daddy."



"Okay, bye daddy, come over soon we have to get my room done. I love you." And she bounced back out of the living room to her mother still laughing some before exhaling and shifting it back off speaker, taking a few breaths before remembering his question.



"Who exactly? At this moment in time I wouldn't trust have of Chicago with our daughter. I wouldn't know who was under my dick of a brothers influence or not. Or what else he might of had planned, Hiero he knew I was pregnant with her. He fucking knew and also that if either of us had been aware I wouldn't of even thought of leaving."



She exhaled pinching the bridge of her nose some and sighed.



"I'm sorry. I'm not fussing at you, just ever since that letter which is still here by the way, my mind keeps throwing all these damn what-ifs, its frustrating and I struggling right now to even sleep without something keeping me awake. Nevermind, forget I said it not your problem. But as for this subject I don't know...you'd be lucky if I didn't rip a throat out or arm off on anyone but us touching her. I'm more protective of her than I ever thought possible."

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

"Of course that's to be expected. You never slept easy to begin with..." He said as he skirted the best way to tire her out before sleep would claim her. Normally a light sleeper she'd be dead to the world for a few hours.

He realigned his thoughts hearing her objections. Understanding them. It was a sound bit of paranoia. But in truth part of being an adult was doing the hard thing not out of need or want bit due it being right.

If Selene was to grow strong and true she'd need the education the school could provide as well as the socialization.

"I get it. I do but she needs the school for what it can provide her. And save for Seth most if not all of the wolves your brother had been corraling have left. The newest Ulfric seems sound and he is setting about really focusing on the school shaping minds and bodies into their best version of themselves. It's still early true enough. Yet he seems honest and dedicated."

What he didn't say was he also seemed stable which was rarity when it came to the Ulfrics the city attracted.

[Deleted]

Shaydra frowned hearing what he said and shook her head some softly, unsure how to comment about that. Instead she got up and went to go check on their food, so he'd hear her moving through the room, before she was stirring the pan a bit. Exhaling softly, leaning on the opposite counter a moment before she brushed her tongue along her lips. Clicking the ring on the roof of her mouth. Yet she remained silent, not saying anything to his comment on her not sleeping easy.



A low growl slipped free when he said new Ulfric and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end a little.



"What.New.Ulfric? You told me Seth was only here I even told you I was thinking of taking Ulfa. Damn it Hiero..."



She was hurt and a little disappointed he'd not told her especially knowing she was going for the female Ulfric since she was back. And the phone clicked before he only heard a dial-tone clearly hurt and mad with him about this.

[Hieronymous Banks-Walker]

The dial tone let him know it went better than he'd expected better by far. Looking at his notes he stood up and stretched. Slipping his phone into his pocket he moved into the kitchen he grabbed a few waters from the fridge before rifling around the junk drawer for his wireless headphones. Finding then at last he checked the battery life. Nearly full he sighed slipping them on and synced his phone.

Moving out to the weight room in the garage he paused deciding whether to do what he knew was right and call back or just zone out to his playlist then call.

He chose now and dialled her back as he racked the bar for a lighter workout.

As she answered h3 laid on the bench and began lifting.

"Yes you spoke about taking the pack as your own. And yes I never really responded but I am responding now. Forgive me for being more focused on Selene and swallowing down the bile that rose with the letter. I have and had a lot in my mind. Plus now you won't be a clear target just in case something bad happens as it tends to do with nearly every titled leader of the pack. And by every I mean EVERY..."

Right ad he knew he was it didn't make it any easier to say. It was however the easiest to admit. The other shoe left unwrapped was even being angry at her and dealing with his abandonment issues he didn't want any I'll to come to her.

If there wad one position that attracted crazy fallout it was the Ulfrics.

[Deleted]

He was lucky, she could of cussed him out, shut-off the phone than what would he do? A light breath as she fixed Selene a plate and called her to come eat. Her own plate considerably smaller, but she wasn't in the mood and just munched a little, not letting Selene see she was upset or trying too. A light breath as Selene finished before asking if she could go play in her room for awhile and Shaydra nodded. Right as the phone rang again and Hiero's number flashed.



"Yes?"



Hearing him, she could tell he was doing something else with the sounds and how his breathing was, but pushed it off a moment brushing her tongue over her lips. Leaning on the counter having put their plates in the sink and let her foot tap on the floor a little, arms crossed while she kept the phone pinned by her ear and shoulder. Shaking her head and than growled, she was doing things she'd do normally if they were face to face talking and it frustrated her.



"Don't be so sure, we still don't know who he was working with or why. I hope your right, but...."



She trailed off hearing a loud band followed by Selene crying out and the small hint of blood.



"Hiero I need to go Selene's hurt."



She clicked the phone honestly unsure what to say to him right now, making her way down to Selene's room. Unsure what happened, but the smell of blood even small had her on alert.