We're getting closer and closer to Haven's secret...
And we've discovered Joy's! When Fin and Alanna find out...
Enjoy 😊
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Some time later, Finlay made his entrance in his trailer, about to get ready to shoot some scenes.
Although, acting was the last thing on his mind as of late.
He had decided, after a hearty talk with his mother, that he would confront Joy, as soon as possible.
The "as soon as possible" was today. Now.
He had spent the nights trying to work up the courage to approach her and talk to her, knowing that she wouldn't even want to listen to him.
That's just how Joy was: when hurt, she erected defensive walls around her, and it took a long and wearying siege to get around them. But he would do it.
He could, and he would do it.
He missed her too much not to at least try.
When was the last time he had been so stressed over someone? Had he ever lost a night of sleep over someone? Over Haven?
What did Joy have that made her so special?
All the memories he had of her, he cherished closely.
His mind went back to the first day they met, so he had an idea: he would recreate that scenario. It wouldn't take much effort either.
He just flung off his shirt and waited.
Was it appropriate, considering what they had done not even 4 days earlier, to let her find him half naked?
Maybe not. But Joy was, always had been, against anything and everything that was appropriate and ordinary.
The thought made him smile: she was an adorable little firecracker.
The door opened and, though he couldn't see who it was, he guessed
<<Hi Joy>>
<<Oh, hello. I'm not Joy; I'm the new helper, Reagan>>
That was not Joy's voice.
His head whipped around, and he ascertained that, in fact, it wasn't Joy who was standing at the entrance of his trailer, but a red-haired girl with moss green eyes and freckles on her face.
She was smiling shyly, and was trying not to stare too overtly at his exposed torso, though he noticed immediately.
Disappointment washed over him. Where was she?
He tried not to come off as rude
<<Hi. You are here to assist Joy?>>
<<Oh, didn't you hear?>>
<<Hear what?>>
<<Joy came in early this morning to discuss with the director>>
He didn't like where this was heading one bit
<<... About what?>>
Reagan shrugged
<<She resigned. But I don't know why>>
<<Oh>>
That was al he could say.
Oh.
"I know why" was perhaps the correct answer.
Why on Earth would Joy want to see him again? Why would she stay in a place where she was sure to meet him constantly, thus being reminded of what happened? Of how badly he had treated her?
He should have known better than to just assume it would be so easy.
He knew her well, too, damn it.
How could he be so blind?
Poor Reagan would have to find someone else to aid
-and ogle in the meantime-
He needed some time alone with his demons
<<Well, you know, I'm actually done here: I just have to put on my shirt. Perhaps Alanna could use some more help: I heard that getting dressed while trying not to mess up the hairdo is extremely difficult>>
It was evident that the redhead was not pleased at the prospect, but she went away all the same, leaving him to wallow.
He wanted to see Joy again.
In spite of all, he wanted to see her again and make things right.
It would never be the same, he knew that of course. But it would be better than nothing.
Sighing, he threw his shirt on. Joy would have to wait: work was still work, and he couldn't spoil an entire day for the whole set to run after a girl, no matter how much he cared about her.
After all, he knew where she lived. It wasn't like she was planning on leaving soon for who-knows-where, right?

<<Hey Finn>>
That greeting made him smile. Finally someone he enjoyed talking to
<<Hey, Anna>>
She huffed
<<You know I hate that name! Call me Al. Everyone else does>>
He pretended to think about it, then smirked
<<Nope. Sorry, not sorry>>
She playfully punched him in the chest, and he pretended to be hurt, staggering backward and dropping to his knees like a moribund man
<<I'm hit! I've been hit!>>
Alanna laughed. This was one of the reasons she liked him so much.
She offered him a hand to hoist him up, and he gladly took it
<<Oof! You're pretty heavy, Moore>>
He gave her his best intimidating stare
<<Don't call me Moore>>
Alanna smirked
<<Why not? You call me Anna, I call you Moore. An eye for an eye>>
<<But I don't like when people call me by my surname>>
<<Joy does>>
Ouch. He didn't want to go there.
If they started talking about Joy, Alanna would notice his uneasiness within seconds, and then all would be lost: she would have his head, that he knew.
The blonde was extra protective of her younger cousin, even though the brunette was totally capable of handling herself, and handing their asses over to anyone who challenged her.
Plus, Alanna was remarkably perceptive.
So he was actually grateful when someone materialised out of thin air and interrupted them
<<Hello, Finlay. Have you seen my daughter?>>
That is, until he noticed who it was: Beatrice Dahmer, Haven's mother.
Her visit never brought about anything good.
She always reminded him of a vampire, cold and aloof as she was
<<No, actually, I haven't>> He hoped she would just go away
<<And you?>> The woman asked Alanna.
She, too, felt extremely uneasy under the scrutiny of those slate-grey eyes. But not for the reason Finlay must have assumed, oh no.
He didn't know that, just the day before, she had shared a rather long kiss with his girlfriend, who happened to be this lady's child.
And Heaven forbid her from ever finding out.
Although it did have positive consequences, one might say: since that evening, Alanna had not thought of Finlay anymore. And, when talking with him previously, she had not felt the usual butterflies.
What was going on?
Well, the introspection would have to wait
<<No, ma'am. I haven't seen her, sorry>>
Miss Dahmer scoffed
<<I have no idea where on Earth she might be>>
<<You can't find her?>>
She shook her head
<<I haven't seen her at all yesterday or the day before, but I just assumed she had gone out with you or some friends; she doesn't tell me, usually>>
Finlay was worried.
Alanna too, much to her surprise. Well, as much as she -supposedly- hated the girl, she couldn't sit back and enjoy while others looked for her
<<Alanna -called Finlay- go to your car and wait for me there: we'll look for her together. I'll go talk to the director to explain the situation; I'm sure he'll understand>>
She nodded, and walked out.
She couldn't help but think, with not a little distaste and outrage, that Haven's mother didn't seem even remotely worried for the welfare of her only child.

Joy sat in the hospital, in the parlour of the maternity ward, fiddling with her headphones, waiting to be called.
She was going to take a blood test.
Just to be sure
<<Baker>> The nurse called.
The young woman stood up and followed her to the doctor's office

<<Good morning, miss Baker >>
Greeted the doctor as she took a seat
<<Good morning>>
<<So, you're here because you wanted to take a pregnancy test>>
<<Yes. I know it's too soon, as it's been barely a few days since I've had intercourse, but I really, really need to know. I took a few tests at home, and they all turned out positive>>
The doctor appeared surprised; his eyebrows raised
<<All of them?>>
<<Most of them>>
<<Interesting... As you say, it is rather soon. But blood tests are far more accurate than drugstore's>>
She felt relieved, even if just a little
<<It might be advisable to retake the test again in the future, perhaps in two or three weeks>>
<<I will, thank you. But I can't wait>>
<<Alright, follow me>>
As they walked to the adjoining lab, she couldn't refrain from asking
<<How long will it take to see the results?>>
The doctor laughed
<<You really are impatient>>
Joy blushed
<<Sorry>>
<<Oh, don't worry. I'll call you in the afternoon to communicate the results>>
<<I won't move from the phone>>

Many hours later, Alanna and Finlay were still touring the town looking for Haven.
Her mother had said she would go back home, in case the girl might return, but something told Alanna that was just an excuse.
She was so scandalised she wanted to slap the hag repeatedly, and commended herself on managing not to do it.
They were currently in the parking lot of a mall that Haven frequented often, trying to think about where to look next
<<She seems to have disappeared from the face of Earth>>
<<I've been calling her and texting her constantly yesterday, and the day before, but she's been ignoring me completely, since...>>
<<Oh, right. Joy told me you proposed and she said no>>
Ouch.
Again, ouch.
Why would she do that? Why would Joy tell someone else about his pain?
That hurt
<<She did?>>
<<Well, she didn't really want to talk about it. She said it was a touchy subject for you, and that I should be content with what I knew. She was never one to like gossip>>
He mentally face-palmed. So, he accused her unjustly, on top of everything else.
And she had even defended him.
Man what a veritable idiot he was
<<How did you find out, then? You weren't on set Saturday>>
<<Oh, yeah; food poisoning. Anyway, I heard it from the two geese that always hang out with Haven>>
<< Chrystal and Jemma?>>
<<Yeah; they never mind their own damn business. I asked her because I couldn't believe those two would spread such a rumour.
It's too much, even for them>>
<<I totally agree>>
Finlay looked at Alanna, who was nibbling at a Lion's bar.
Suddenly, he had one of those realisation that deserve the drawing of a lit bulb on top of the head
<<Wait! I know where she is!>>
The blonde almost choked on a piece of snack
<<You do?>> She asked, patting her chest so she could breathe normally again
<<Yes! May I drive?>>
<<Sure, sure. Where are we going?>>
Once they had switched seats, he answered
<<It was months ago: we had been on a date, and Haven had drunk a little too much. She asked me not to bring her home, so we stopped at a motel nearby: it's called "The lion's cage">>
Alanna burst out laughing
<<And you got that from my snack bar? I didn't know we had bloody Sherlock Holmes in here!>>
He joined her laughter as they sped along the driveway

Once they had reached their destination, they dismounted
<<It's a squalid little place>>
<<What did you expect, a five-star palace?>>
Up to a few days ago, Alanna would have said yes immediately, and maybe would have also added some spitfire. But, after seeing her crying... After the kiss...
She had no idea what to expect from Haven anymore.
Finlay knocked on the door of room 301
<<That's the room you stayed in last time?>> Alanna asked. Finlay cocked an eyebrow
<<Oh, and I'm supposed to be "bloody Sherlock Holmes">>
She laughed.
The door opened slowly.
Haven stood behind it, watching one moment him, then her.
As their eyes met, Alanna blushed. If Haven noticed, she did not acknowledge it
<<Haven! What are you dong here?>>
<<I could ask you the same question, but there's no need to: my mother sent you, right?>>
She bit back. Finlay seemed pretty offended
<<Excuse me: first, we care about you enough to look for you because we want to, not because we have been prompted>>
The brunette turned toward Alanna and scoffed
<<As if; this one would rather run me over with her car>>
<<Haven!>>
She ignored him, glaring at the blond girl
<<What happened, hipster? Cat got your tongue?>>
Never in her whole life had Alanna felt sure of something as she did in that moment.
She could see it in her eyes: the hurt.
Haven was trying to mask her suffering behind a curtain of venom.
That's why she was always such a nasty bitch.
But what was the cause of her sorrow?
<<Well, Heidi?>>
<<You can stop pretending, Haven. We both know you do this just to cover up the pain>>
That reply was like a bolt from the blue.
Finlay was puzzled, but Haven was scared; she observed Alanna with bulging eyes and panic written all over her face
<<Ho- Ho- How?>>
<<Haven? Are you ok?>>
She blatantly ignored him
<<How can you say this?>>
<<We'll talk on the road. Come on, your mother's worried about you>>
At those words, an obscure fire lit the brown-eyed girl's eyes; she snapped her head around and snarled
<<My mother will never be worried about me!>>
That effectively silenced both visitors, leaving them quite befuddled.
Haven sighed and stepped to the side, revealing the interior of the room
<<Come in; we need to talk>>