Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Outer Banks. I only own my OCs.

A/N: Sorry for the wait. My attention had been on Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. I really thought I wasn't going to like the reboot but I got invested in the show very quickly. I really do hope the show doesn't share the same fate as The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. And by that I mean the show starts off good but then turns to shit. The creator is the same person who made Riverdale and CAOS. So fingers crossed.

I've also been re-watching Pretty Little Liars and it's been a laugh. Don't get me wrong, I think the show is iconic but some of the stuff that happened is just ridiculous. If you haven't seen Mike Mic's Pretty Little Liars recap videos you really should. He does an amazing job explaining what the fuck was happening on that show.

Anyways here's a new chapter. It's a short but sweet chapter. Slightly sweet? Anyways, I'm thinking maybe one or two more chapters before I start the season one story-line.

Also for those who are wondering, Andrea's face-claim is Saoirse Ronan and her boyfriend Ben's face-claim is Joseph Quinn. I plan to include them more when I get further into the story. As you already know Maribel and her maternal aunt are not close, and are awkward around each other. As you'll find out in this chapter. That changes obviously but we have yet to get there.

Don't you just love family drama?

Chapter 5: Dear Aunt Andrea

"Sorry JJ, I can't give you any more cherries." Maribel tried being stern with the blond Pogue but affection for him remained in her tone.

So far it had been an unusually slow day at Paradis. Since arriving at the shop this morning Maribel could count on one hand with how many customers have ordered ice-cream.

When Maribel was on her break she texted JJ about it and within thirty minutes he showed up, deciding to keep her company. She was only working until two, and it was already past noon. JJ told her he didn't mind the wait, and in all honesty Maribel liked having the company.

She wasn't working alone but her co-worker Ashley wasn't really the talkative type. Ashley wasn't churlish, she just preferred only talking when she needed to, like with customers.

Ashley, like Maribel, was a Pogue.

Maribel, however, didn't know very much about Ashley. Outside of work the only other place Maribel would see her was around school. Ashley didn't go to the Boneyard, at least not to her knowledge because Maribel never saw her. She was a year older than her, and from what Maribel did remember thanks to Pope, was that Ashley used to be on the Math Team with him.

Even though they came from the Cut, and despite them not being friends, there was an understanding of some sorts between Maribel and her. It was a bonus that whenever Ashley and her did talk, Ashley was never rude or condescending.

The quietness between them still made Maribel feel lonely. She never really liked feeling lonely. Now did she like being alone at times? Sure. It was during those alone times that she worked on whatever DIY project she had going on.

But the actual feeling of loneliness was not something Maribel liked. So now that JJ was here she wasn't going to complain about having the extra company.

This wouldn't be the first time JJ came to visit her at work. Unlike the first time JJ visited the ice-cream shop, Maribel wasn't embarrassed to be seen in her bright pink work uniform by him anymore. Okay…maybe she was still a little embarrassed but not like before.

Did she want to hide in the back and take off the matching bright pink hat the first time JJ set foot into the ice-cream shop? Absolutely.

Except she didn't do that.

Instead she laughed it off. Maribel fought against her heart, who'd been trying to convince her that the way JJ smiled and looked at her with those beautiful oceanic blue eyes of his was anything but platonic.

Try as she might, her heart won the fight. However Maribel kept her mouth shut, and did her best to remain cool as a cucumber. She thought she did a fairly good job, even now.

Currently her co-worker Ashley was out in the back taking her break and smoking, courtesy of JJ. He had discreetly given her a joint outside before coming in.

Maribel would have been concerned working with a co-worker who was stoned if it hadn't been for Ashley reassuring her she'd work while stoned before. She would have never figured that on her own because Ashley was very good at hiding it.

So now it was just Maribel and JJ in the ice-cream shop.

Even though she said no to giving him ice-cream, the affection in Maribel's tone wasn't lost on JJ. It let him know she wasn't as annoyed as she tried appearing to be. He gave her puppy dog eyes. "Aw, come on Mar."

Maribel let out a sigh. He had to do the puppy dog eyes didn't he? It made saying no hurt more. "Nope sorry." She shook her head from behind the glass counter. Even if she wanted to give him more cherries, she couldn't.

"But you gave me some before with my ice-cream." JJ whined from where he was sitting on one of the pink chairs the ice-cream shop had for customers to sit. It was funny seeing JJ sit on a pink chair. It wasn't something Maribel had seen prior to her working at Paradis.

"That's because they were a topping. And anyways the ice-cream I gave you before was a free one." Maribel explained to him, yet again. One of the perks about working at Paradis was the free ice-cream order she was able to get either during her breaks or lunch. Since JJ came to visit her today she gave her free ice-cream to him. "You're welcome by the way."

"You say that as if I haven't already thanked you." JJ replied, now fidgeting with his hat. There was silence, and he took the moment to throw his hat in the air, easily catching it. He smiled sheepishly when they locked eyes. "So…can I get a sample?"

Maribel smiled in return. A sample rather than an actual order? That she could do. "Sure but cherries don't come with samples."

"They really should." JJ complained as he threw his hat into the air again. Like before he caught it with ease. "Your manager's not even here. And it's not like Ashley is going to rat you out."

"Ashley might not rat me out but you see that video camera?" Maribel looked quickly toward where said object was at. "That'd be enough evidence for my manager to fire me."

Thankfully the video camera didn't record sound. If it had, Maribel would have lost her job back when Rafe first came in. Her manager wouldn't have liked the way she'd spoken to a customer. Even if that customer was a major douche such as Rafe Cameron.

JJ stared at the camera, his blue eyes narrowing. Suddenly he turned to look at Maribel, his eyes now twinkling with mischief.

"That's something that can be remedied." JJ made a show of standing up. He put on his hat, pulling it down to cover his face. Not that it would help much since the camera had already been recording him the moment he entered the ice-cream shop.

Maribel knew he wasn't really being serious but that didn't stop her from giving him a warning look. "Nope you stay in that seat mister."

JJ sat down with a grin, lifting his hands as if he were surrounding.

A laugh escaped Maribel. "Compromise?" She suggested.

JJ set his fist under chin, leaning forward. He was interested to hear what she had to say. "I'm listening."

"When I get off work I can make us agua fresca." Maribel offered with a pep in her stance. She had planned working on the seashell satchel she'd been making for Kiara. The teen was halfway done with it though, so she figured she could finish it later on tonight. Also that way she could ask her aunt her opinion on it.

Maribel enjoyed making things for her loved ones. She crocheted often, and she was proud to admit she was quite good at it. The collection of satchels, patterned tops, and beanies Kiara had from her were proof of that. Maribel even gifted handmade things to JJ, Pope, and John B several things, such as crochet blankets.

JJ's face brightened up even more in her presence at the mention of agua fresca. "What kind?" Truthfully he was more than fine with any kind of agua fresca because anything Maribel made always came out great.

"Watermelon." Maribel happily told him. She was going to cut the watermelon she had at home anyway as a snack but now she'd use it to make agua fresca. The other ingredients needed for the recipe were already at home, so Maribel didn't need to worry about that. "Agua fresca de sandía."

JJ smiled dreamily. "Say that again."

Maribel rolled her eyes playfully, finding only the humor and not picking up on any flirtation. The flirtation was certainly there, and if any of the other Pogues were there with them they would have knowing smiles at how obvious yet oblivious Maribel and JJ's feelings were to each other.

As they were having a moment, someone walked into the ice-cream shop. It wasn't Maribel who reacted first to the interruption, but JJ. Maribel saw his expression fall. She didn't necessarily see anger in his face, which was reassuring. If there had been anger Maribel would have guessed it was a Kook they knew and didn't along with who had come in.

Like Rafe.

It wasn't him though. And it wasn't a stranger. It was Andrea Fox…Maribel's maternal aunt. She tried thinking positive. At least Andrea's presence was better than Rafe's.

JJ knew that Maribel wasn't Rafe's biggest fan. Neither was he. In fact, none of the Pogue's liked the dark blond Kook. JJ definitely would have caused a scene if Rafe had been the one to walk into the ice-cream shop.

Maribel imagined JJ causing a bigger scene if he knew about the incident of Freshman year between Rafe and her. But he didn't. None of the Pogue's did because Maribel never told them about what happened at the Kook party.

What the Pogues did know was Maribel's dislike toward her maternal Kook grandparents, and her indifference toward her maternal Kook aunt. Despite the supposed indifference, Maribel never said anything bad about Andrea.

This mainly was because she didn't talk much about her in the first place. Unlike with her grandparents, Arthur and Rowena Fox. Maribel could talk shit about them all day long.

So because of all that JJ stayed put, and watched with caution. He'd give them space but would be there, ready to step forward if Maribel needed him to.

Andrea Fox walked toward the glass counter, her face open with kindness that Maribel couldn't quite ignore. She smiled, and when she did Maribel's mother's face flashed in her mind. Andrea and Mary were sister's alright. Andrea had a similar smile to the one Mary once had.

"Hi Maribel." Andrea greeted, her voice soft. Her eyes shifted to JJ who was still watching them, her in particular like a hawk. "JJ."

JJ wasn't surprised that she knew his name. Aside from her being Maribel's family, even though they weren't close, JJ did see Andrea a few times at where he worked. She was bound to find out his name sooner or later. He merely gave her a nod.

Maribel cleared her throat. "Hey…Andrea." She said her name afterwards. "What can I get you?" No, how are you doing auntie? It sort of felt silly to ask because of their family history. So she treated her as she would with any customer. At least tried to.

Andrea, as Maribel was going to find out soon, wanted the conversation to mean more.

"Strawberry and double scoop in a cone please."

"Do you want to know about the special flavors we have today?" Maribel asked, still sticking to being professional. Today the only flavor she thought was bad was rum raisin. So she hoped Andrea wouldn't ask for that instead of strawberry. She turned back to face her after she finished washing her hands and putting on gloves.

Andrea shook her head. "No thank you. Strawberry is fine." She paused, her face becoming softer. "Mary used to love strawberry ice-cream."

Maribel was in mid-scoop when Andrea said that. She paused, her eyes closing for a moment. She was glad they weren't filled with tears when opening them again. She resumed her scooping.

Andrea started to feel awkward when Maribel didn't reply. It was a touchy subject bringing up Mary, but once she brought up her sister she just couldn't stop. "The flowers you and Estefanía picked out were beautiful." Andrea tried keeping the conversation going again.

Maribel knew she was referring to the flowers her aunt and her picked out for her parents grave. Unlike before Maribel did reply. She finished with the second scoop and then held the cone for her to take. "The ones you picked out were beautiful too."

Andrea grabbed the ice-cream cone. "Ben helped me with the bouquet this time."

The bemusement on Maribel's face pretty much said: Who the hell was Ben? Although she had a pretty good guess on who he was.

"Ben's the name of my boyfriend." Andrea clarified as she held the ice-cream cone in one hand and used the other to take out money from her purse.

Actually Ben was more than a boyfriend. He was her fiancé, and had been for a couple of months now. But Andrea decided to hold that piece of information for a while longer. Except she didn't think right now was the right moment to tell Maribel. "You might have seen him…at the cemetery. Or maybe not."

Andrea had caught sight of Maribel and Estefanía when they were leaving the cemetery. She didn't know if they saw Ben with her though.

Maribel nodded her nod. "My aunt and I saw him with you." She went quiet until she said how much she owed her for the ice-cream.

Andrea paid as she yet again shared more with her niece. "He's from England." She put the remaining bills she pulled out into the tip jar. Maribel thought back to the way Rafe had rudely tipped her. Unlike him, Andrea had kindly put the money into the jar as one was supposed to.

"So he drinks fancy tea?" JJ blurted, scoffing a bit. He'd been silent for the most part but not after hearing that. There was an attitude in his voice but Maribel knew it could have been far worse. Somehow Andrea knew this as well.

"He's more of a coffee person, actually." Andrea had no problem sharing. She spared the blond a glance before directing her eyes onto Maribel again. Her smile was small but it didn't lessen the happiness that was shown. "He actually grew up in the countryside. Cornwall. Redruth to be exact."

Why she was suddenly sharing so much about her personal life, Maribel hadn't a clue. But she wasn't annoyed that she was sharing. Maribel suddenly got the urge to share as well but her awkwardness was stopping her from doing so.

"That sounds nice." Maribel replied, trying to smile but failing. It definitely came out more like a grimace. "He sounds nice."

"He is." Andrea quickly agreed. Her chest warmed at the thought of her wonderful, silly and kindhearted, boyfriend. She'd been with so many assholes for most of her college years because of her low self-esteem.

Andrea had her mother to thank for that. Rowena Fox nearly ruined her. For the longest time Andrea thought she'd never find real love, that she was undeserving of it until Ben Fernsby came into her life. "He is really nice."

Maribel could tell there was a lot going on in Andrea's head when she said that. And based on the happiness she could see on Andrea's face, this boyfriend of hers really must mean a lot to her. More than an average boyfriend.

Maribel wanted to say something kind in return, about how great it was that she had someone in her life that made her feel that way. However when she spoke something completely different came out. "Your ice-cream is melting."

Andrea gasped a little. The ice-cream from the cone was indeed melting. She felt silly for not noticing sooner but she'd been trying to talk to her niece. The ice-cream melting was probably a sign for her to leave now.

"Right, I…I should go." Andrea muttered a goodbye to both Maribel and JJ, feeling a little embarrassed holding melting ice-cream in her hand.

"Andrea." Maribel called out.

Andrea turned around, curiosity and hopefulness rising. Her hopefulness shattered a bit, and her curiosity settled when she saw Maribel holding out napkins for her to take. "Thanks."

This time it was Maribel who initiated the smile. It didn't feel like a grimace this time. "Have a good day."

"You too." Andrea replied, and she left with another smile that reminded Maribel of her mother.

Once they were alone again, JJ whistled. "So…that was awkward, right?"

"Yeah." Maribel answered halfheartedly. There was no denying the conversation between estranged niece and aunt was awkward, but it was nowhere near awful territory.

Maribel actually found herself going over the personal information her aunt shared with her for the remainder of her shift.