They watched the men in the cars load their suitcases, and Robert laughed as Emily chased him around with a stick. Sara smiled next to Loki, and Robert ducked behind them, using Loki as a shield. He began to protest, and Emily tried to smack Ro ert in the butt with her stick. A red haired woman looked amused, and Sara tried to stop Emily.
"Protect me!" Robert shouted, and Loki managed to get away while Emily chased him across the yard in the pre-dawn light. The V.P. of Public Relations for Pruitt Transport Services came up and shook her hand. He assessed her elvish coat, and her snow boots and gave them a nod.
"Jason Andrews, Vice President of Public Relations Miss. Pruitt. I like your coat, it is very nice. Not what we would have approved of, but it will be twelve degrees before the Town Lighting Ceremony. It is important that you speak clearly, this is great advertisement for the company, and even better P.R." he said, and she took the printed speech from him. She read it over, and he sighed as the drivers held the doors open on the three shiny black, Cadillac Escelades for them. Their suits were neat, and she shook her head. She felt herself bristle, and she shoved the pages back at him.
"I am not praising my Stepmother, forget it. I will say good things about the company, but I am not about to lie about a family that abused me." She said, and the man took the speech back. He sighed, and rubbed his temples as she held her handbag over her arm and gave him a look that told him that she was refusing to budge.
"What about the part about forgiveness for the deaths of your father?" He asked, and she nodded. He used a pen to scratch out and make notes on the page, and he chewed on the gold pen. "How about something along the lines of family being what you make it?"
"That is great. Add that in, because my family is standing around you now. Also, I do not dress for anyone but myself, O am not putting on whatever crazy outfit you have in your head." She said, and he gave her a broad smile. He shook her hand again, and he looked thoroughly put in his place.
"You are definately a woman who controls her own life, I have to respect that. It is an honor to meet you, and I will make the changes as requested and get them to you as soon as I can." He said, and she nodded as he got into the back seat of the third vehicle and she felt a bit smug as Emily tossed her stick aside. Loki offered her his arm, and he helped her into the first vehicle and the driver gave him a slight nod. He recognized the man then, and he watched as he held the door.
"SHIELD still feeling the need to have physical eyes on me?" He asked the man, and Sara stopped him before he closed it on her. Her braid falling over her shoulder from the gray, rabbit fur hat she wore. The man gave a single nod, and Loki walked around the other side of the vehicle as the man paused before he closed the door.
"Director Fury wanted to ensure that everyone, including Loki, was safe on this trip, Ma'am. It is nothing personal." He said, and he closed the door, opening it for Emily, and ensuring her long coat was inside the car before closing it. She giggled, and looked back as Loki got into the car, and hooked his own seatbelt. He was wearing a nice suit for the occasion and photo ops, and his long coat and scarf looked very nice on him.
"Why do you look nervous Bugs?" She asked, and Sara texted everyone in the cars as they loaded in. She warned them that their Drivers were with SHIELD, and the red haired woman came over to her window and tapped on it. She gave a polite smile, as she rolled it down to speak to her and offered her hand.
"Miss. Pruitt, I am Natasha. It is a pleasure to meet you, I have been asked to be your Secretary for the duration of this trip. I have your itinerary, and you will be asked to oversee a Children's storytime event for the Photo Op." She handed Sara a book, and she looked at the brightly colored storybook and Sara nodded as she looked at it. "We will be leaving shortly, but the kids are looking forward to the event. The rest of the weekend is yours to enjoy the town, but we must keep to a little bit of a schedule."
"Thank you Natasha, you are very pretty, if I am allowed to say that. I sometimes get distracted by all the excitement, so I look forward to you helping me." She replied, and Emily smiled and waved to her. "How is Mr. Stark these days? I heard he finally popped the question and is getting married soon."
"He is well, and looking forward to the wedding, and you are very observant." Natasha replied, and left them as Sara rolled up the window and settled into her seat.
"Lie to me bitch, I will fire you in front of everybody and make you really find out how much Ukrainian blood I have in me." Sara muttered, and Emily laughed as she played with the radio. The driver got into the car, and turned the engine over. Loki took her hand, and held it, his eyes showing pride at her standing her ground.
"Any preference for traveling music? They have Statellite Radio!" Emily laughed, and Sara looked at her phone, and everyone returned a thumbs up at the warning text. Sara sat back, and she almost pitied the driver for what torture he was about to experience. They both began singing along with Pearl Jam, and Loki let out a long sigh at being trapped with the both of the Chaotic Goblins.
"We so need to start using your private boxes at all the arenas, see more concerts and stuff." Emily said, and Sara laughed as they rode in the car. The driver tapped along with the beat of Party Rock Anthem, and Sara laughed as Emily began moving in her seat.
"Only if you promise to take your Adderall!" Sara laughed, and Emily gave her the finger over her shoulder. They laughed, and Sara sat in the back and plugged her phone in to play a game of jewels as Emily took pictures of them from the back seat.
"Bitches be looking cuutteee!" Emily laughed, and they rode on toward Puyallup. Sara leaned over the seat, and tapped the driver. He turned his head slightly, and she laughed.
"I feel I owe you a bigger paycheck for putting up with all of us." Sara said, and Emily stuck her tounge out at her friend. He gave a laugh, and steered the car onto the highway, and shook his head.
"I get paid very well Ma'am, just enjoy your trip." He reassured her, and Sara laughed at his response. Emily regarded him a moment, and looked at him. He gave the redhead a glance, and returned his gaze to the road ahead.
"Where did you meet Spooky at?" She asked, the Agent laughing at the nickname. He shook his head, glancing into the mirror as he drove on.
"I was in the detail that escorted him when we had him in custody, he was strangely cooperative after New York." He answered, and Loki let out a long breath. He turned from his observation of the passing town of Roy, and looked at everyone in the car.
"There was no battle left in me at that time." He said, leaving it at that and returning to watching the town blur by. Sara gave his hand a squeeze, and he caressed hers with his thumb. She remembered the night before, and a thrill shivered up her spine at the memory.
"He will behave himself, he promised me." Sara said, and laughed. "Irish is way scarier than him anyways, she wanted to break his knees with a baseball bat when he first arrived."
The driver choked out a laugh, and Emily looked proud at herself as they drove on. Sara only hoped that they would get some time alone, and that she could show him the white satin and lace thing she packed in her suitcase for the trip.
--‐‐--
Sara stood up, the children applauding as she smiled at them and began handing out bags of treats. They took them, their small hands reaching for her and Natasha stood by as she handed out the last of the pouches of candies and small toys. She sighed, starting to feel like a trained dog again, and was waiting for the bone shaped biscuit. The photographer gave her a thumbs up, and all she wanted to do was go find her friends and hang out with them.
"We have lunch scheduled at a resturant nearby, are you ready to move on?" Natasha asked, and Sara shook her head. She was tired, she had done everything and they kept adding more to the list. She had given enough to the Pruitt family, bled enough for them, and ther still demanded more. She put her gloves and hat on neatly, making sure she was presentable.
"I want to spend time with my friends. ALL of my friends. Not just the ones you have picked out for the photo ops." She snapped, and faced the redhead. "I want to have lunch with them, walk with them, laugh with them. If you have a problem with that, you might as well shoot me with the gun you have under your coat right now. I spent enough time as a beaten dog for my Father and his wife, and I will not be one for you."
"Miss. Pruitt..." She began, and she frowned as the V.P of relations entered and opened a garment bag. He unzipped it, shuffling papers, and inside it was a slinky black dress with spaghetti straps for her and a pair of stiletto heels. Sara had it then, and looked at Natasha.
"No! Fuck! No!" She said, and stormed out of the hall. She flipped the V.P. the bird as she walked and adjusted her hat as she walked. Natasha caught up with her, and she grabbed her arm. Sara spun around, catching the wrist like Loki taught her and bent it back in warning. She realized what she did, and let Natasha go.
"I agree on the dress, and I have to respect that backbone of yours. That was some real fire there, why are you ending the cooperation now?" She asked, and Sara almost burst into tears as she turned on her. She stood in the street, wrapping her arms around herself, Natasha pulling her into an alley to give her some privacy. Snow crunched under their shoes, and Sara shivered in the cold.
"I am so tired of this! Haven't I done enough? I was not groomed since birth like my half brother, and now I am surrounded by people wanting pieces of me, and nowhere near the people I trust!" She cried, and Natasha handed her a kleenex from her pocket. "My family hated me, they called my Mother the Russian Whore and Katia, do you know what Katia even means?"
"A hundred dollars." Natasha said, amd let out a long breath. "All Russian Prostitutes call themselves that, because it is what they charge. I was born in Russia."
"My Mother was from Ukraine, she died there. I never even got to say goodbye to her." Sara said, and she blew her nose. Natasha giving her a bit of space. She handed Sara her purse, and pointed over her shoulder toward a bathroom.
"Go use the toilet, and fix your makeup. You look like you got punched in the eye." She said, and Sara almost felt her heart sinking into her snowboots. "I may have lost track of you, the chip in the back of Loki's hand has them two blocks down near the sledding area. For your Mother and mine, and I am sure you make yours very proud."
"Your mom is proud of you too." She said, and gave the woman a hug. "Loki and I..."
"Yeah, you kept smiling at him and your hands kept touching when you both stood together as you checked in." She said, and shrugged. "I'm a spy, I notice things, small details especially. And I may have snooped through your suitcase after you left your bags in your room."
"Thank you." She said, and hurried to the public restroom. She cleaned her smeared mascara, and fixed everything and she adjusted her makeup to look perfect again. She was ready, and she hurried from the toilet, and saw Natasha.
"I forgot, be back here at four for the town lighting. And enjoy the rest of the weekend." She said, and Sara hugged her again and Natasha gave her a smile. "I will not tell Fury about your relationship, but I think even he will let it slide."
"I will be at the stage at four, I promise." Sara said, hurrying down the road and waving to her. It did not take long to find them, and Emily squealed and tackled her when she came into view. Both girls going over backwards, and laughing. She stared above her, laying in the snowbank the redhead knocked her into and hugged her friend back.
"Jesus Irish, you want to not kill her?" Robert laughed, and helped them both up. Loki had a brown, paper shopping bag in his hand, and she smiled at him and gave everyone a hug, including him.
"I managed to loose the other redhead, you will not believe what they were trying to get me to wear tonight!" She groaned, and smiled as everyone laughed. "Lets just say, I would have frostbite in places I do not want to mention."
"Well, we are glad you are here, want some Bravarian sandwiches and beer?" Mark asked, and she nodded. She burned off her breakfast hours ago, and smiled as she looped her arm around Loki's. Her stomach rumbled, and she walked with her friends toward the pub.
They found seats in a cozy space in the back, ordering food and drinks as they all squeezed in together. Sara ate her soup, smiling at her friends and listening to all of them. Loki's leg against hers as she smiled, and they shared a loaf of bread.
"Hey! Let's go to the hat store!" Emily suggested, and Sara smiled at it. "They have all sorts of hats, even really funny ones!"
"Sure, it sounds fun!" Sara replied, and she tried to cover their meals, but everyone insisted on paying for their own. She was taking out money, when Emily slapped a hand over her mouth, and the Waitess laughed.
"I'm covering her meal." Robert said, and Sara stuck her tounge past her lips and licked Emily's hand. The redhead ripped her hand away, and cringed.
"NASTY! Did you have to luck my hand?" Emily said, making a face as she used a napkin to clean herself up. Mark took her purse and money, putting everything back in tger wallet and handed the billfold to Loki.
"Keep this away from her." Mark said, and Sara reached for it, and Loki held it out of reach. Amy cleared her throat, and Sara looked at all of them.
"We decided as a group, you pay for way too much, and it has not been fair on you. We decided that we are buying you stuff today." Amy said, and Sara crossed her arms as Loki tucked her wallet into the pocket inside his coat. Her mouth fell open, and she was about to protest, but Robert cut her off.
"We know you have money, and you don't mind, but you gave us a MASSIVE gift, so let us at least pay you back." Robert said, and she laughed to herself, and nodded.
"Okay. You guys can spoil me." She replied, and she blushed as Loki grinned at her. She looked at her hands, and she sucked her lower lip in. "I was not meaning to make it seem like I was buying your friendship though, I just like helping you out. And I could, I have more money than I know what to do with, and you all had so little. You guys looked out for me when I was wearing nothing but worn out hand me downs, I wanted to give you all something back."
"You did Bugs, you were our friend back." Mark said, and she smiled and blinked back tears.
"I already paid off my Student Loans, so I am not giving the money back." Amy said, a d finished off her beer. Sara laughed and Mark shook his head.
"I am looking g at a house for me and Emily." He said, and she smiled. Robert raised his hand, and looked sheepish.
"Paid off my Student Loans, and I bought a new truck in McKenna." He admitted and Sara smiled. Emily looked at Sara, and redhead shrugged.
"I put some of mine into investment accounts, for in case i have kids one day." Emily said, and Sara looked at Loki, he smiled at her, and adjusted his tie.
Saving most of it." He replied, and she laughed. It felt good that she was able to make their lives a bit better, and she shrugged. As the Waitress brought back everyone's change. Loki took his, and put it in his pocket, after leaving the woman a tip.
They got out of the snug corner, and headed up. She and Emily ended up in a candy shop, and they both both a few scoops of different treats.
"Load that bag up, you barely have five dollars in there!" Emily insisted, and she added a scoop of gummy bears to her bag. Sara laughed as Mark added chocolate covered pretzels, and she began to laugh harder when Amy added gummy sharks.
"You guys will be paying my dental bills after this! Jeez!" She said, tying off her bag, and Robert plucked it from her and paid for it. She shook her head, and She held her bag of candies as they walked down the street together. She was having fun, and they walked i to the hat shop and they all spread out and began laughing together.
She was looking around at the funny hats, and she threw her head back when Emily appeared with a green top hat on. Sara covered her mouth, slipping her gloves off and sticking them in her pocket.
"Touch me Lucky Charms, I will shank a bitch!" Emily sang, and Sara squealed in laughter. Robert showed Amy a hat that had floppy ears, and they stood up when her squeezed the ties. Sara laughed, and took her fur hat off and put on one that had bunny ears, and a pink nose and whiskers.
"Oh my god! Loki! Get over here!" Emily shouted, and she laughed as she wore the hat amd he walked around the display and saw her.
"A Snow Bunny!" Loki laughed , ad Emily shoved him at her. They took pictures together, and she laughed so hard her stomach hurt. He put his arm around her, making her laugh as he smed for the pictures and he tugged the ears on her hat gently.
"Only Sara could pull off the bunny hat and make it look even more adoreable." Robert said, and she blushed as she put the hat back. She put hers back on, and Loki took har bag of candies and put it in his paper bag.
They walked through a shop of music boxes, and the old man who ran the shop showed her one of a golden colored, brass egg that opened to reveal a crystal butterfly that moved its wings. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and she loved Clair De Lune. It was her favorite piece since she was a little girl, she was about to ask how much it was, and she remembered that Loki had her wallet. She couldn't ask her friends to buy it for her, so she smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, it is really the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." She said, and she smiled as she stepped back. Emily came up to her, and she looked down.
"Hey, I have to pee. Will you walk with me?" She said, and she nodded. She waved to the man, and Emily and she walked to the public restroom. She used it since she was there, and left to meet up with their friends. She thought about the music box, and she looked at Loki and held her hand out.
"I need my card. I found something I am going to buy myself." She said, and he gave it to her. Mark crossed his arms, and she ran back to the shop.
"Hi, that music box i was looking at? The egg? I would like to buy it." She said to the old man, and his face fell.
"I'm sorry Miss, I sold it just after you left. I have other ones though." He said, and her heart sank I to her stomach. She smiled anyways, and put her card away. Shaking her head, and still being pleasant.
"It's okay, I am glad someone loved it as much as I did." She replied, and left the shop. She returned to her friends, and handed Loki back her wallet.
"You didn't buy it?" Amy asked her, and she shook her head. She smiled anyways, and took the arm that Loki offered her.
"It was sold before I could get it. There will be others though, and that other person probably wanted it more." She replied, and Loki smiled at her as they walked. She checked the time, and frowned. "Trained Seal Time."
"We will all be there for you, don't worry Bugs." Amy said, and she smiled at her friend.
--
"With that, we would like to wish you all the Happiest of Holiday Season from Pruitt Transport and Logistic Services!" She said, and the Mayor gestured to the bell she was to ring, and she rang it to signal that it was time for the town to be lit. The lights came on along each building, and everyone cheered. She glanced at Loki and blushed at his thumbs up, and Robert applauded and raised his fist in support. She clapped her gloved hands, and the town began to return to normal as people began to wander off. No one cared about the speech, they just wanted to be with family, just like Sara wanted to be with hers.
"You did great! I'm heading back to Seattle now, let me know if you need anything!" Jason, the V.P. said, and Sara shook his hand as they ushered her off the stage. Natasha shook her hand too, and she gave her a goodbye in Russian that Sara understood.
"Thank you Jason, and thank you again for understanding about the dress. I was not going to wear that in these temoeratures." She said, and he nodded as he left with Natasha. The got into one of the cars, and she knew that they would have their cars and drivers until Sunday afternoon for their travels around. She joined her friends, and Robert obviously faked a yawn.
"Yeah, so the rest of us were thinking, we are really tired and we want to head back to the hotel. Why don't you and Loki have a Date night together?" She asked, and Sara knew what they were doing. She hugged her friends, taking the hint and let them leave. She admired the buildings for a moment, and Loki stood in his coat and suit as she blushed at him.
"They do have a nice resturant nearby, or we can go back to the hotel ourselves and snuggle together." She said, and he gave her a wide smile. He leaned forward, kissing her lips, and she almost melted on the spot.
"We should really eat, you look like you need food. The town looks wonderful with all these lights too, I would like to paint this." He said, and she blushed as he took her hand and walked with her down the street toward the resturant. They found the resturant quickly, and she ordered the beef stew and a glass of wine, Loki ordering the steak and fresh vegetables and he smiled at her.
"You did very well during the speech, but you did not get fully out of view of Natasha." He said, and he mouth fell open as she sat at the cozy table. "She followed us about, no doubt reporting everything to Fury."
"Oh no!" Sara joked, and gave him a wink. "She knew about us, she saw us holding hands and said she would keep it a secret. The worst she saw was you trying on all the funny hats in that one store, I think she understands that we are two broken people that found eachother."
"I an certainly glad for the day I was brought here, and remember the kind gesture you gave me in bandaging my hand." He said, and the waiter brought their food. He left them, and she smiled a bit at him. "It hurt too see you so ill as well, so weakened by the cancer that was stealing your life away."
"I was skin and bones, a strong breeze could have knocked me over. I guess it is over now, and I have other adventures to look forward to." She said, and he cut into his steak and smiled at her across the table. "No more depressing stuff, what do you think of this town?"
"It is quaint, and has endearing qualities to it. I enjoyed it a great deal, but wanted to experience it with you. To see your joy, and happiness in everything you saw." He replied, and she smiled at him again. She washed her bite of food down with a sip of wine, and she pointed at him.
"We can see it tomorrow, together. The rest decided to let us have a day to ourselves, and let us wander. They felt bad for me, being forced to perform like a trick pony while that had fun." She replied, and he laughed and studied her a moment. His eyes lit up a bit with his grin, and he shook his head.
"Yiu are the finest mare I have ever seen, lovely maine, and even nicer eyes." He said, and leaned closer as he flirted. "I know a stallion that would love to have you in his stable, and outside it."
"Loki!" She whispered back, and blushed as she giggled. "You Asgardians know how to flirt!"
"That was not even flirting Sara, I am quite talented with my tounge." He said, and took another bite of food. He raised his eyes in thought, and looked back at her. "For one smile in my direction, I would pull the very stars from the sky and lay them at your feet in offering. For a single glance of your eyes, I would offer you the sun itself, but it would pale in your presence, and never shine so bright again. You are the light in my shadows, the sweet flickering of warm candle flame that draws me to it. There is no hel I would not walk through, no battle I would wage, to keep you safe. You are the heart in my chest that beats, and the blood that gives me life. You are the one who could warm me with the smallest touch of your delicate finger, and give me breath from your gentle lips. I swear fealty to you Sara, and will never rescind my offer."
She almost dropped her fork at what she said, and her eyes stared at him. She reached for her glass of wine, and blushed. She took a sip of it, and she knew then that she would put on that pretty nightgown and make love to him in their Hotel Room. She wanted to do it, and she blushed as she realized how much he would give up for her.
"I have nothing to top that, I really don't." She said, and he smiled back at her. He gave her a wink, and she turned shy at the gesture. She almost felt giddy at what she had planned for later, and she really hoped he liked it.
"You will find something, I am sure of it." He said, and she smiled at the Mt. St. Helens Emerald on his finger, feeling happy that he was wearing her gift to him.