It's morning.

Of course, if life came around so deft and quick like morning does every time onr lays her head down to sleep, everyone would be more than content with theirs. Honestly, one can never get enough sleep. Like ever. If morning were a character in a movie, she'd be an overly cheerful girl poking your back every time you fall asleep and screeching; "time's up! You've slept enough. I'm here now, get up and get on with this thing you call life"

That girl would be punchable. The real morning though, is a whole different story.

Scarlet pinches her eyes shut. Maybe if she doesn't acknowledge it, it will go away. She hates morning hours with a passion. But the bright sunrays illuminating her bedroom make her mission impossible as she finds herself almost fully awake.

Even days since the dreadful dinner from hell courtesy of the Steiners, Scarlet finds her mind wandering to it every time she opens her eyes in the morning.

A part of her knows Gabrielle Steiner was right, and maybe all that was missing was a push to the right buttons for Scarlet to feel like this; to feel so unfulfilled. Not that she would ever regret it, but sometimes Scarlet too wonders how she could have gotten herself pregnant at sixteen.

Not that she should have abstained till marriage, or yeah she should have, actually. But she could also have been more careful, that was reckless of her.
And why did she not continue with school? Why did she give up and not go on to college? Celine is unarguably the best thing that's ever happened to her, and it most certainly isn't her fault that Scarlet dropped out of school. She could have continued.

But she didn't.

Scarlet hits her head numerous times with one of her pillows. But then she realises; this is exactly what people like Gabrielle want; For other people to feel unfulfilled, to feel lower and bad about themselves. Even Shirley said it. Whereas she knows it's true, Scarlet will not give her words the pleasure of causing effect on her. She already has enough on her plate without self indignation. No amount of money or education in the world could ever compare to what she has when she has Celine and that's that.
Like she said; she does not need a piece of paper to tell her that she's accomplished. Scarlet is not unfulfilled.

Does she believe it though?

Scarlet gets up from bed, her gym trainer---whoever that is---is coming today; this morning. Maybe that's what she needs; a workout session, yes, she decides.  To release the tension and unyielding thoughts from her mind. Her fingers browse through the notepad on her bedside table for her daily schedule. She has an appointment with one of her restaurant managers all right. But that's still hours away.

Her stomach grumbles when a heavenly scent from the kitchen invades her nostrils. Yeah, she needs food too, a whole lot of it.

A few minutes later, she's managed to make herself a cup of overly sweetened milk tea to go with the waffles and bacon that Becca whipped up at God knows what time. Does the woman sleep at all?
Scarlet sits down at the island, downing her breakfast with nothing but the grinding of her teeth for company.
The door bell rings. She groans.

Where's Celine when you need her?

Getting up,  Scarlet walks to the living room, places her cup on the coffee table before walking up to the front door. "Coming!"

"Oh my god! Babe!" A man appears at her front door, shrieking and letting himself inside faster than she can even examine him. He immediately tackles Scarlet in a very peculiar own version of a hug. One involving his hands roaming all over inappropriate parts of Scarlet's body as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

Scarlet's hands hang limply at the sides and she doesn't hug him back, she doesn't know him. Or at least, remember him. "Um...hi," she says timidly over his shoulder. Finally though hesitantly wrapping am arm around his back. His embrace feels oddly familiar.

"Holy shit!" The guy bellows again, his voice is so deep that Scarlet wonders how on earth it's able to sound like a shriek. "This sucks," he concludes in a more normal voice as he pulls away. He stands a few feet from Scarlet, his turquoise eyes searching her face. "Babe?" he calls confusedly. She really doesn't know what or how to respond to him, so Scarlet finds that her lips must've been sewn shut.
"Fuck!" The man swears and runs a hand through his mop of brown hair.
"You really can't remember me," he seems to come to an own conclusion. Scarlet can't argue with him on it. "I thought they said you forgot the fucked up memories! You want me to think I'm a part of the memories you wanted to forget!" He clutches at his heart with one hand, immediately switching back to shreik mode. Using the other to dab at his eyes, rubbing away the nonexistent tears.

Scarlet tries to resist the urge to burst out laughing. He's very...interesting. At an examinable distance, Scarlet's eyes see an attractive man. He's wearing blue sweats and black muscle tee that makes his electric blue eyes shine like pretty lights.

"Hello?"

"Oh I'm sorry," Scarlet says embarrassedly. "I...I think we should um...talk abou .. Please come in." But he's in already.

"If it isn't him." Celine's voice interrupts with faked disinterest from somewhere behind Scarlet.

"The one and only." The guy winks.

"Good morning Scar." She greets her mother.

"Good morning Cee. Sleep well?" Scarlet asks, kissing her on both cheeks.

Celine nods. "Yes mommy and you?"

"I slept well honey thank you!"

"Hello uncle Han." She makes her way past her mother to stand in front of the guy; Han, his name seems to be. In one hand she holds a mug full of milk, in the other is her phone plugged with earphones. She uses the hand holding the phone to hug him. Only making it quarter way around his huge frame.

"Hello pretty little monster!" Han kisses Celine on both cheeks. "Got cake?"

"I was starting to wonder when you were going to show up in this house." Celine adds, a hint of indignation in her voice. "You can't have taken long enough. It's been da- wee- long! Where have you been? Did you know that mommy was in the the hospital? Why didn't you come? Me and Mrs Jake, only, and Kay! We waited for you!"

Scarlet eyebrows shoot up as she pulls a frustrated Celine into her arms and kisses her head. She looks on the verge of exploding. "Hey it's okay baby, mommy doesn't mind, yes?"

"But - but - mo- okay... yes," she sniffles as she finally agrees.

"Yeah yeah!" Han says. "I missed you too Santa."

"Who said I was missing you?" Celine looks like an iron rod now, as if she wasn't sniffing seconds ago. "Oh no! Don't call me that again!"she throws herself away from her mother.

"You didn't?!" Han cries. "And I told you, Santa is Spanish for Saint!"

"No." She shrieks. "I didn't. And I  told you, I don't care what it means! I don't like it!"

Han mock sniffs. Celine narrows her eyes. Scarlet crosses her arms against her chest as she leans against the door, watching their little banter in silence.

"Well," Celine continues nervously after sipping on her cup, buying Han's false sniff. "Let me know when you've stopped crying so I can get you that chocolate cake---" Han perks up at the mention of the chocolate cake. "---you know how Mrs Jake really hates cry babies. That's why I never cry!"

"Right," Scarlet mutters.

"Ugh! Pleas-" He whines. "Wait, who cares about her old fat ass? I want cake, I'll eat fucking cake. That's what you pay her for, ain't it?"

"Han!" Scarlet and Celine exclaim.

Han rolls his eyes. "Yeah yeah, I get it. Bad words bad words!" He sighs. "God!" He looks up to the ceiling. "This house is obsessed with bad words!"

"Mommy?" Celine calls. "Could you take him to the basement please?"

Scarlet grins and doesn't even ask why the basement. "Whatever you say my princess." She turns around, tugs at Han's hand and heads for one of the two staircases that leads to the gym.

In a distance, Celine sighs, her voice fading the further they go down the hallway. "It's been such a good home without him around."

"Hey! I heard that!"

"I think you were supposed to hear it."

☆☆☆

"Okay, I know I'm hot stuff and all but do you think you could stop eyeing me like that?" Han asks.

Do not blush! Her subconscious demands. Do not blush! Do not......you idiot!

Scarlet blushes, it's not every day that she gets caught checking out a guy. She just couldn't help it. This Han guy is undeniably good looking, ripped body and all. What surprises Scarlet though, is the fact that she doesn't feel attracted to him. It feels like she's appreciating her own brother's body. He feels more like one of the girls than a guy.

"Like what?!" Scarlet asks, feigning cluelessness.

Han rolls his eyes. "You know what. You're looking at me like I'm a very delicious piece of meat you can't wait to devour raw. I mean I know I am but for God'sake babe! You know I don't roll that way anyway." He sighs.
"Oh shit you dont! It's just...it's unnervingly awkward." He srunches his nose.

Scarlet sighs, she's about to apologise for her blatantly gawking but as if something has taken her mouth over, "You know, you can be a very hot guy when you keep your mouth shut," she retorts.

"And now?" He opens his mouth wide.

"You're not!"

"I am, you know I am," Han gurgles.

"Are not! Shut it before a fly fills it for you!" She gestures to his still open mouth.

Han mock sniffs before sobering up. "Yeah yeah whatever floats your boat." He turns around. "But wait babe, tell me you think I'm hot! Please?"

Scarlet rolls her eyes. "No."

"Please?"

"No."

Han flutters hus eyelashes and even though she knows it's a faked plea, she gives in. "You're hot!"

"She said it!" Han squeals. It's a funny sight watching a full grown half naked man squealing.

"What do you mean?" Scarlet asks.

"Yeah, you have no idea how long I've begged you to say those words! This memory loss may not be such a bad thing after all."

Scarlet glares at him.

He clears his throat. "Well let's get down to business now." And then all traces of playful Han are tossed to the wind.

"Today we are going for the basics, you don't remember our workout routine, do you?  ... we'll get to that later on." He sets the black suitcase he brought with him aside. "You're just going to be punching."

Scarlet nods. "What's in there?" She gestures to the black suitcase.

"Well," he looks thoughtful for a second. "--let's just say you don't want to find out yet or you might run for it. Now remove your shirt."
Scarlet pales. He's not asking her to remove her shirt. Is he crazy?

"No I'm not." Han snaps. "Shirt. Off. Now. We're way back on the schedule."

Scarlet awkwardly clears her throat. "I'm not going to flash you!"

Han bursts out laughing. He laughs so hard and clutches at his stomach. "Honey," he croaks. "What?! I don't want you to flash me! Eww! I'm just saving myself from the gross sight of you scratching yourself."

"What do you mean?" Scarlet is genuinely confused.

"Your tummy," he pants in between laughter. "It has this allergy thing to sweat. I have no idea how it works but I know that it doesn't itch or swell when you don't have a shirt on.

"And besides," he continues. "There's not a part of you I haven't seen yet. I've at one point had to run you a bath when you were too wasted to do it yourself."

But she doesn't drink?

"I know," Han says as if reading her mind. "There are more ways to get wasted than one."

She surely doesn't do pot!

Right?

.......

Han pulls something out of the case, a black leather bag is what the something looks like. On one end of it is a hook that he uses to hang the bag up from one of the bars below the low ceiling of the basement gym.

"What's that?" Scarlet asks.

Han smiles. "You'll see." He picks up a syringe and a bottle full of a brownish liquid and Scarlet shudders.

Han attaches a needle to the syringe and presses it to the leather bag, emptying its liquid into its thin skin. Slowly, the bag enlarges, wide, wider, until it becomes something along the lines of a leather balloon.

"Wow!" she exclaims.

"You'll get used to it," Han chirps. Scarlet rolls her eyes. "That brown liquid is kind of a serum I developed after deciding that my hands were too pretty to ... never mind," he smirks, explaining as he moves around it in a circle, admiring his handiwork. "I use it to enlarge just about anything and give it extra weight." He continues. "If I inject you with it right now, you'll feel like there's a Melissa Mccarthy seated on your head."

As he's explaining, Scarlet makes her way over to the balloon. She reaches out and touches it, it feels heavy on the touch. "A punching bag." She realises with a small smile.

"Step back we have a genuis!" Han snorts.

"Except ego boosting reasons, kindly explain to me why we couldn't use the normal punching bag."

"Well, first off, these hands," he holds out his palms. "Are too good to handle a hundred pounds of whatever it is they stuff in those things."

Scarlet rolls her eyes. "Hey that was fat shaming!" She remembers something he said about Melissa Mccarthy.

"Hey I don't give a shit!" Han retorts. "Now starting punching."

Scarlet's hands move down to the hem of her shirt, slowly lifting it up to reveal her white sports bra before tossing it aside. She takes in a long deep breath. Jogging on her heels, Scarlet sets her feet apart and throws her first punch. The bag fills like it's full with water.

........

"So Han huh?" Scarlet asks amidst heavy breath intakes. She places her hands on her knees, trying to catch some air. She's worn out. An hour of a fight with a punching bag does that to you. But she feels so good. Alive.

"Yeah," Han responds. "You like to call me Hydra though." He grins.

"Hydra? Why?" Scarlet asks, finally able to stand up.

"Oh you know, like that thing's multiple heads, I'm a man of many talents." He smirks. Scarlet rolls her eyes even if she's realised it's true. An unnatural seriousness etches on Han's face. "So yeah, I'm Hansel, you're Gretel. And together we hunt down the twenty first century witches."

Scarlet is sure that wasn't a joke, but she isn't sure she wants to find out what its seriousness entails exactly.