To Riordanlover16- Nightmares are more forte, I do love writing a good nightmare :)
To LooneyPeach- The organisation people... You'll have to bear with me this week, I'm super super sleep deprived XD What are we on about?
To valdeznation- haven't heard from you for a while! Hope school isn't keeping you down!
Piper had a plan. After Louisa's nightmarish outburst, she and Mikey— who was quickly becoming her new best friend— devised a plan. A wicked, brilliant plan that even the others couldn't argue with.
Go-karting and junk-fooding had shown them glimpses of the old Louisa. Snarky, challenging. Hanging out with her friends had brought out a sense of normalcy and that was what she needed. No more pain, no more monsters, no more fighting. She just needed normal.
Hence the plan.
She shook Louisa awake about eight. It had only been a few hours since the nightmare, but her charmspeak had worked this time. Louisa was so rundown and scared, she had allowed Piper's charmspeak to work and had fallen into a deep sleep.
She wasn't particularly happy to be woken up, swatting at Piper and grumbling swears. Piper, undeterred, drew Mikey in and together they bullied Louisa awake.
"What, what, what d'you want? Assholes. What?"
"You need to get ready."
"Ready? For what? What's going on?" She reached for her watch, remembering it had been confiscated. Piper waved her down.
"You'll enjoy this, don't worry. No weapons needed." Louisa narrowed her eyes suspiciously, leaning back when Mikey grinned that grin of his. She knew that grin. He had been plotting. And, by the looks of it, his plotting had involved Piper and she was grinning that grin too.
"Ready for what?" she tried again, looking between them. They shared a look she did not miss.
"You'll see," was her only answer. "I'm going to do your hair," Piper said, "while Mikey picks your clothes."
"Do my hair? Clothes? What?"
"Just go with it, it's easier. Also, we're on a schedule, so get up."
First, Piper sent Louisa to shower and wash her hair. The water, while obviously not sea water, was still blissful, still relaxing. Hot and heavy, she could almost imagine the nightmare from last night washing down the drain.
Of course it hadn't been real, she chided herself. She lathered in blueberry shampoo, fingers catching in tangles. There was no way it was real.
There had been too many of them in that room last night for him to get in unnoticed. Reyna may not have had Leo-level security measures, but she would have had something. Louisa was sure she had seen her automaton greyhounds prowling about the place, on guard.
Piper banged on the door. Louisa rinsed the last suds from her hair and switched the shower off. Something at the back of her head told her not to mess with the daughter of Aphrodite, not today. She didn't have an option of getting dressed. It was all in hand and she just had to wait. She had some clean underwear to put on and then wrapped herself in a large fluffy towel as Piper thumped the door again.
"Let me in!"
"Hold on a sec, would ya?"
"Nope!" She wriggled the handle until Louisa let her in. She was not best pleased to see Piper sweep in with a torture kit of scissors and hairbrushes and weird plastic-looking things. Round, stippled with holes, pink and blue.
"What are they?" Louisa marvelled, pointing.
"Hair curlers, Lou. Mm-mm, we need to civilise you a bit more. Sit!" She swung a stool in as well, though Louisa wasn't sure where it had come from. She was ordered to sit once more and then ordered to stay still.
Piper brushed her hair out, fighting with the tangles in places and scolding her for not using conditioner. Louisa, wisely, stayed quiet, holding the towel about her. It came down to her knees and she was grateful for that, but it didn't cover her arms or shoulders. She knew Piper had noticed. She couldn't not notice. The scars, the burns, hardly an untouched bit of skin.
Credit to her, though, she didn't say anything.
The scissors came out. Louisa sat statue-still, more still than she had ever sat in her life, as Piper snipped away. Dark, damp locks curled on the floor around them. Piper had her tongue out in concentration.
"What's the plan?" Louisa asked when the scissors finally went away.
"Ssh," Piper said. "You'll find out in a bit."
"What are you doin' now?" She could feel tugging on her head. In the corner of her eye, she could see Piper had picked up one of those pink things.
"Hmmm, I wonder what I could possibly be doing with a hair curler." She moved in front of Louisa, meeting her gaze defiantly. "You have natural curls; I'm just embellishing them a bit."
"Why?"
"You'll find out."
"Can't ya just tell me?"
"No."
"Why?"
"That takes the fun out of it."
"But ya've teamed up with Mikey."
"What?" Piper smirked coyly. "You scared?" Louisa thought about it for a minute.
"Kinda."
Piper snorted a laugh and carried on bedecking Louisa's hair with pink and blue thingies.
She ducked instinctively when there was a roaring sound, Piper grabbing her by the shoulder and hauling her back.
"It's a hairdryer!" She blasted hot air in Louisa's face. "Don't tell you don't know what a hairdryer is?"
"I do know, I just didn't know ya had one!"
"Of course I've got one!"
"Some warnin' next time!"
"No." Another blast of hot air. Louisa grumbled and flailed a hand at her.
She had never really been one for styling her hair. She hadn't really had time and there was no point— not with the amount of fights she got in. Why curl and pin her hair when the latest upset monster or god or whatever wanted to throw her out a window or into moving traffic? A ponytail was the best she managed. Her mom or Lizzie would sometimes braid her hair, but that was the extent of it.
Piper had cut and curled her hair to shoulder length. Ringlets, she called them, teasing some out into waves. Then, once satisfied, she helped Louisa to her feet and steered her in front of the mirror.
"See what a good haircut can do for you?" she smiled. "Don't you feel like another person?"
"Uh…" Louisa puzzled at her reflection. Was that still her? Her hair had never been so neat. "Sure," she said. "Thank you." She made to touch her hair, Piper smacking her hand away.
"Do not mess it up. Don't run, don't fight, don't even turn your head too quickly. Is that clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Piper told her to stay put. She bustled out the room and came back with jeans loaned by Reyna and one of the maternity shirts Louisa had picked. Big and baggy and soft, a pale blue in colour, and didn't impede her when she needed to feed Bradley.
Mikey and Piper dragged her before the others, who were all waiting in the living room. Louisa didn't like this, feeling like she was on parade, and pulled away.
"It's OK!" Annabeth assured. "Trust us on this one, Lou."
"Y'all actin' weird. Stop it."
"It's for your own good," Hazel nodded. Beside her, Reyna did too.
"Go with it, Lou. You need it."
"Need what?" Louisa puzzled, mind spinning. Why were they all looking at her? What had she done? What did she need, what were they on about?
Piper stepped forward carefully, stooping a little to take Louisa's hand in both of hers.
"You need to feel normal," she said gently. Louisa gave a mock laugh and Piper smiled dryly. "I know, stupid as it sounds, but if anyone needs a bit of normal right now, it's you. You deserve some normal, Lou, and… we can help with that. You just need to trust us, OK?"
There was a knock at the door. Smiles broke out all round. Piper squeezed her hand. "Do you trust us?"
"Not really. Mikey's bouncin'."
"I'm not!" Mikey said, forcing himself to be still. "Get the door, Lou!"
"It's never good when Mikey's bouncin'."
"I'm not bouncing, I swear!"
Piper touched Louisa's cheek, making her look round. Her kaleidoscopic eyes held Louisa's. There was nothing untoward there, nothing menacing or deceitful. Piper smiled warmly and Louisa felt herself relaxing.
Piper was right, they were all right. Normal sounded so very nice right about now.
"OK," she said. "I'll get the door."
Leo was on the other side. He was gently rocking the pram, peering in to check Bradley was still asleep. The baby bag hung from his shoulder. He smiled when the door opened, about to say something. He blinked when he saw her, smile dipping.
She didn't know why, but Louisa suddenly felt very, very self-conscious.
Leo shook his head and the smile was back, brighter.
"Oh, wow," he said. "You look…" Colour rose in his cheeks and he glanced away. "You let Piper cut your hair?"
"I didn't have much choice."
"It suits you."
Her own face warmed and she looked down, clutching the hem of her shirt. Hissing behind her, a nudge in her back. She raised her gaze, only a fraction, noting Leo's clothes. A dark blue shirt unbuttoned over a black T-shirt and black jeans. He still had his toolbelt, as always, but he was surprisingly clean and tidy. Even his hands had taken a good scrubbing.
"Why are you here?" she asked his shoes. "Is Bradley OK?"
"Yeah, he's fine. Snoring and pooping like a trooper. Had a whole bottle when he woke up." He was still rocking the pram with one hand, holding the other out to her. "I'm here to take you to breakfast."
Louisa looked over her shoulder. Sweet smiles greeted her, none sweeter than those Mikey and Piper wore.
So this was their plan…
Leo was talking again. "I know somewhere that makes really nice pancakes."
"Yeah, alright." Pancakes sounded good, sounded normal. She ignored the excited giggles and whispers behind her, pulling her sneakers on. Leo's hand was still offered to her, but she waited for the door to be shut on those grinning faces before she took it.
His hand was warm, unsurprisingly, his fingers lacing with hers. Why she took his hand, she had no idea. It was there, still there, and taking it seemed like second nature.
He beamed at her, flames flickering in his hair. She put her other hand on the pram handle, leaning forward. Bradley had thrown his hands up over his head, snoring softly in his blanket.
Somehow, they managed the pram between them. Silvercross, Jessica had called it. Old style thing with big, padded wheels and a basket underneath. The hood had been pulled up, keeping Bradley in the shade.
Louisa glanced sidelong at Leo. "Has he really been OK?"
"Yeah, why?" She shrugged a shoulder. She didn't want to relive the nightmare. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, her baby was safe and Leo held her hand. The nightmare wasn't going to ruin it. "Honestly, Lou," Leo smiled, "he's been an angel. Only three diapers last night, no leaks. A whole bottle this morning and I think he smiled, but Jessica said it was just gas."
He let go her hand to pull the baby bag round. They stopped walking so he could show her how prepared he was. Extra clothes, extra blankets, extra diapers and wipes and disposal bags, extra bottles of milk and then, underneath it all, some Mars bars.
"Babies can't have Mars bars," Louisa remarked. Leo tapped his nose with a grin.
"Mars bars are for Mama. After breakfast though. I am under strict instructions to fatten you up."
Louisa didn't say anything, biting her lip. Leo resealed the bag and swung it back round so it no longer hung between them. He started to say something else, interrupted by a lady.
Louisa's hand went to her wrist immediately, but Reyna had never returned her watch. Normal, this was supposed to be normal. Piper would kill her if she messed her hair.
But the lady wasn't a monster. Not a monster, not a god, not a threat. She was a normal, elderly lady enjoying the early morning sunshine. Maybe seventy-odd, with fluffy white hair and gold-rimmed glasses hanging from a chain around her neck. She put these on.
"Mind if I have a look?" she asked in her sweet old lady voice, looking at Louisa. Leo had to nudge her and she nodded, heart pounding. Her grip was clamp-like on her bare wrist.
The old lady leaned forward. "Oh, just precious. Look how wee!" She cooed. "I've only the one grandson, he's almost five now. Enjoy it while it lasts; they don't stay tiny forever."
She made one last face at the baby, something heartfelt and simpering. Then, she wished them luck and toddled off. Louisa stared after her, thoughts whirling. She startled when Leo touched her hand, coaxing her fingers away from bruising her wrist.
"It's alright," he promised. "I had that a few times on the way over." She stared at him, confused, and he gave a lopsided grin. "All da ladies stop to check out the baby. And me, of course." He pushed a hand through his hair and winked. Louisa snorted and the tension, the high-alertness fell away.
They carried on. Louisa tucked her hands in her pockets, thinking. Leo pushed the pram, humming to himself.
They were stopped three more times. All women. One had a little girl that wanted to see the baby, waiting for approval before lifting her up. The girl squealed and clapped. Bradley stirred but did not wake.
The second was an old woman, older than the first. She told them about her nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was the only one that asked his name, smiling. Bradley had been her husband's name, "God rest his soul."
The third was a woman with a chocolate labrador. The dog had pulled on the leash to sniff the pram, Leo deftly steering round it. The woman, straining, squeaked apologies.
"Heel! Come on, Hersh, heel!" A final tug and the dog whined, sitting beside its owner.
"Hersh?" Leo remarked. "Like Hershey's?"
"Yep, like Hershey's." The woman's eyes slid to the pram and then to them. "Can I have a look?"
Leo looked to Louisa, as he had each time. She nodded. None of them had been monsters.
The woman smiled. She told Hersh to stay and stepped forward, peering in. "Oh, he's got the bluest eyes I've ever seen! Look at them! Sorry, he? She?"
"He," Louisa mumbled. "Bradley."
"Ooh, that's such a sweet name. Congratulations." She smiled at Louisa and then Leo, before turning to have another look. Louisa gave a start. She threw a look at Leo, biting the inside of her cheek. He was smiling at the woman, saying something Louisa didn't hear for the ringing in her ears.
Leo had said people had stopped him on the way there to see the baby. The woman with the dog was moving on now, wishing them luck. Them. Not Louisa, them. Hersh the dog sniffed Louisa's leg and then trotted alongside his owner.
Them. Wished them luck.
All of them had done it, all four that had stopped to see Bradley, but it was only now that Louisa had noticed it.
To them, Bradley wasn't Louisa's baby. To them, he was their baby.
Leo looked back at her and she forced a smile. They started walking again. She could distantly hear him chattering to Bradley, now he was awake, describing pancakes to him. "You wait 'til you've got teeth, chiquito. You'll love pancakes. Chocolate and syrup and marshmallows. Ooh, marshmallows."
Chiquito.
Leo's nickname for a baby that wasn't his.
Louisa blinked, eyes prickling.
Neither of them had corrected the four that had asked to see the baby. Had Leo corrected anyone before he picked her up?
Louisa grit her teeth.
No. She didn't want to correct anyone. She didn't even want to correct herself.
Leo nudged her again, pulling her from her thoughts. They had arrived. A small café she couldn't read the name of, goddamn cursive, but with pretty pink and yellow awnings and matching umbrellas over the cluster of white iron-wrought tables outside. The chairs matched and were softened with flowery cushions tied to the seat. Menus stood ready and waiting in a wooden holder, wobbling slightly in the breeze that had stirred.
"Are you OK?" Leo asked as he steered the pram in. He put it on the other side of the table, away from the road and in the shade of the umbrella. He put the brake on without even looking down. Louisa stared at him.
"Yeah," she said. "I think so."
"Well, you'll know so when you've had these pancakes." He chef-kissed his fingers, which made her laugh. He pulled the chair out for her, closest to where Bradley was. "Madame," he said with a dramatic bow.
Louisa tweaked his nose as she sat.
"Dork."