Chapter 761: Tribeca
Saturday, March 25th, Morning
The morning light poured through the windows of the Worth Street Duplex loft penthouse. She looked around the room and took in the industrial style that decorated the main room. She turned around and leaned on the deep casements of the windows. It was an old building in a historical area, which was why she liked it. This place also had a lot of significance to her and her history. Today, this place served as a hideout and escape, as she was significantly south of her usual haunts on Waverly Place. This was even though she was less than a block from Broadway.
There was a knock on the door. Fallon turned around and reached into the small of her back. She withdrew her pistol from her waistband. Fallon believed now she couldn't be too safe. She carefully walked towards the door, feeling the hardwood floors through her thick wool socks. Looking through the peephole, she sighed in relief and returned the pistol to her yoga pants waistband, covering it with her tank top.
Fallon carefully unlocked the door and let Grant in. He stepped in, burned down with grocery bags and a tray of coffee. Fallon took the coffee, kissed Grant on the cheek, and closed the door behind him. Grant walked into the kitchenette after setting down the groceries and started to unpack them. Fallon set the coffee tray down and looked at them.
"Which one is the half-caff blend?" Fallon asked.
"The one with the name Fallon on it," Grant said.
Fallon nodded and picked it up. After opening it, she took a deep sip, feeling the warmth pass through her body. She watched Grant finish unpacking the bags and put the stuff away. Fallon walked away from the kitchen and looked out the window at Tribeca.
After the kitchenette fell silent, Fallon heard Grant leave it. Fallon heard Grant's footsteps as he crossed the living area and felt his arms around her.
"Why did you bring me here?" Grant asked.
"I wanted to get away," Fallon said.
"Tribeca?" Grant asked.
"It's not the village," Fallon said.
Grant nodded and kissed the side of Fallon's head. He looked out the window and took in the morning light. "What is this place?" he asked.
"It's someplace I can hide and not be found," Fallon said.
"Are you sure of it?" Grant asked.
"It doesn't appear on my list of properties," Fallon said.
"How?" Grant asked.
"It's mine, but not mine," Fallon said.
"So, what is this place to you?" Grant asked.
"This was my mom's apartment before she married my dad," Fallon said.
"So, it's yours?" Grant asked.
"My mom's estate owns it," Fallon said.
"It still exists?" Grant asked.
"To manage her likeness and images," Fallon said.
Grant nodded, "That's right, she was a model," he said.
Fallon nodded, "Yes, I got her looks and build, but my grandma's height," she said.
"So, why are you here?" Grant asked.
"I'm getting arrested soon, I know it, I feel it," Fallon said.
"So, you come here? To what?" Grant asked.
"To hide, to be prepared, for me," Fallon said.
"Be prepared for what?" Grant asked.
"To watch what my family built burn down around me," Fallon said, "All on my watch."
"You didn't know or authorize any of this," Grant said.
"I'm in charge, and the buck stops with me," Fallon said.
Grant nodded, "You can't beat yourself up about it; if you do, all you do is make yourself miserable," he said.
"I wonder if this is how Romulus Augustus felt as Odoacer approached?" Fallon asked.
Grant kissed the side of Fallon's head. He rested his chin on top of her head. "You said the fall is coming, but it shouldn't matter," Grant said.
"When the fall is all there is, it matters," Fallon said.
Grant nodded, "Where does that come from?" he asked.
"A movie my sister Trin likes," Fallon said.
"What movie?" Grant asked.
"A lion in winter," Fallon said.
"I've never seen it," Grant said.
"You should, it's a good movie," Fallon said.
"What is it about?" Grant asked.
"An aging, powerful man looking at who would succeed him and the infighting between his sons," Fallon said.
Grant nodded, "Do you have a connection with the movie?" he asked.
Fallon nodded, "I do; at first, I felt like Alys, but now I identify with Henry," she said.
"Why?" Grant asked.
"Because I don't know what will come after me, of what I built," Fallon said.
"Did Henry say the line?" Grant asked.
"Which line?" Fallon asked.
"When the fall is all there is, it matters," Grant said.
Fallon shook her head, "No, Richard, Henry's oldest son when he thought Henry was going to have him killed," she said.
"What type of movie is this?" Grant asked.
"A drama," Fallon said.
"Oh, so, you feel like Henry?" Grant asked.
"I identify with Henry, but I now feel like Richard," Fallon said.
"Waiting for the fall?" Grant asked.
"If that's what's left," Fallon said.
"I don't think that's all that's left," Grant said.
Fallon nodded, "If it isn't all that's left, take me to bed," she said.
"Umm, sure," Grant said.
Fallow twirled out of his arms but maintained control of one of his hands. Now standing apart, the distance of both their arms, she locked eyes with him and gave him a devilish grin.
"Take me to bed," Fallon said.
"Alright," Grant said.
"Just follow me," Fallon said. She turned around and started walking, pulling Grant gently by his arm. He followed her up the stairs to her lofted bedroom.
Hey Road Warriors! It's your favorite beta reader with some updates!
We have kept this hidden for a while, because we're still working on how to curate things, but we're on Twitter and Tumblr!
Twitter: Ms. Ellie Scott (replies are in character): OfJotsAndT ("Jots And Thoughts")
Tumblr: LifeInTheRavensNest
As the Road Series wraps, we're working on some fun things. Twitter and tumblr are only the beginning!
See you down the road,
SheIsTheUberWriter and ThumperE23.