"since when have you been married?"

big dog hummed at the question, both he and celeste had a bit of distance from the kids in front of them who walked and talked anything and everything as the went.

"since i left," he answered easily, "it's the reason i left, really. the business I had to take care of...i was getting married. wedding day was that week and i didn't want to involve my family in my shit."

celeste turned the response over in her head, analyzing it and picking it apart.

she opened her mouth to ask but he seemed to already know what it was; "he's my kid. we had him few years before we got married. lilith...she knew what i was doing. didn't like it, 'course, but...she looked past that. she was it for me." he tilted his head back, the dopiest smile she had ever seen had formed on his face. celeste blinked before her faze dropped to the sidewalk.

did she and luka look like that when they talked about the other?

her cheeks warmed.

"no kiddin'- you got someone, don'tcha?" celeste jumped, wide eyes meeting mischievous ones. he laughed, the kids glancing back to see what was so funny. they quickly decided it was not as interesting as what they were discussing and quickly went back to their own conversation. "honestly, i thought you'd never let anyone in. you were always so closed off, even before-"

"people change," she interrupted. she felt slightly offended, but she understood. he was right, she wouldn't have let anyone that close. she hadn't even let him, and he was the closest thing she had to an older brother or father figure in her life.

but she's learned since then. a small, delicate smiled bloomed and eyes softened as she thought of luka. big dog blinked, her focus was not him.

"people are constantly changin'," she continued, losing control on keeping her accent in check. "i am not the same person i was then, just as i am not the same as i was yesterday. i've learned that- i've been taught that. and i've learned so much just by...lettin' people in. it's hard, still, but i'm tryin', y'know? i'm lucky to have people who are patient and willing to meet me halfway. they know i am tryin'...every day is a new day, every day i learn, every day i am changin'."

"what are you, eighty, now?" big dog scoffed, no heat behind it, only disbelief. "you grew up faster than you should've."

"i grew in an environment that forced me to," she immediately shot back. "that's as much yer fault as it is mine."

he pursed his lips, "fair enough. but that's a good outlook you've got, yeah? never the same person as ya were yesterday, i get that. every day is different with my little rascal, i..." he trailed off, smile disappearing. 

"love him to bits and pieces," celeste supplied. their eyes met once again, "and would do and take anything for him."

"yeah," big dog chuckled, "anything and everything."

"i suppose we can finally agree on something."

"you got that right."

comfortable silence filled them, they were nearing the park once where her friends awaited. only a few minutes if they kept their pace as is. 

celeste had never been at ease around him before, but she no longer worked under him. they were no longer in a tense atmosphere or expectant of one of another.

they were just two people- acquaintances, really; a high school student and a father whose brother and son were close friends. 

that's all they were now.

"nicolas was the one i left my message with, before i left."

celeste sighed.

"of course you did."

"hey! watch the tone, i didn't think he was a rat with how he chased after you like a love-sick puppy all the time!" celeste scoffed in disbelief, "what, don't tell me you hadn't noticed? it was clear as day to anyone with eyes."

she blanched, "no, i had no idea. thought he was just suckin' up."

"how you managed to realize yer own feelings for someone is a mystery t' me."

she spluttered but pointedly did not look his way. she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that she hadn't realized her own feelings until she was confessed to. 

she cleared her throat, "makes sense that it was nicolas though, he's running the remnants of what we left. apparently he's pretty shitty at it, from what i saw. ran into him not too long ago and he picked a fight with me- kicked his and his posses asses. 

"i'd expect nothin' less." 

they neared the park, and they hurried to catch up to the boys who were bouncing of the balls of their feet waiting for the pedestrian signal to flash so they could go.

"it was nice runnin' into you, y'know?" big d- mr. moulin leaned over to tell her softly, so that the boys couldn't hear them. "i'd always wondered what happened to you after i found out. couldn't find you anywhere, which is impressive considering that bubblegum hair of yours."

"my bubblegum hair is one of the things my boyfriend likes, thank you very much," she snapped back.

lucien whirled around with eyes as wide as saucers and mouth dropping open, the look of utter disbelief painted on his face.

"you have a boyfriend?!" 

oh.

whoops.

"uh," celeste replied intelligently.

"when did this happen?" he questioned, pouting up at her and grip tightening on the straps of his bag. "who is it? why do i even ask- it's luka, isn't it!"

celeste pursed her lips, sending a dirty look to mr. moulin who was doing his best to contain his laughter, shoulders shaking with the force it was taking to keep it in. she nodded slowly at lucien. 

nathan shook lucien's arm with urgency as it was time to cross the street, lucien turned to walk and huffed, "'bout time you guys got together."

celeste spluttered and mr. moulin threw his head back as he cackled.

luka turned his head when he heard a celeste's voice but paused when he noticed not only lucien and his friend nathan, but also an older man with brown hair, leather jacket, ripped jeans and some studded boots.

what a cool style.

celeste eyes flicked over to him and she smiled at him which he returned along with a wave. 

if she wanted him to join, she would let him know. they seemed to be heading their way anways.

the man looked over his way and grinned wolfishly before clapping her on the back, and said something only she could hear. he watches celeste blush the pretty pink that starts from her neck, to the tips of her ears and cheeks flushing beautifully. 

she reels her leg back and kicks the man in the shin, causing him to yelp and catch their entire groups attention.

"stupid old man, you're just the same as always- fuckin' creep, mind yer own business and keep yer nose outta mine!" they heard her nag at him, as she stomped over just behind lucien and nathan who turned back to watch in interest of their guardians' interaction.

lucien's mouth turned down into frown, "celeste, you shouldn't say such bad words."

celeste faltered before regaining herself, "just don't repeat what i say, don't take me as an example."

nathan giggled, "dad's always sayin' stuff like that too. mom gets on 'ta him all the time."

"hello nathan," luka greets, "is this your dad?"

"yup! turns out he and celeste know each other, they've been talkin' the whole way here!"

"lucien, nathan, how about you go show nino your pokemon skills, he's been wanting to play with you."

lucien's eyes glinted but smiled brightly as he went over to nino, the poor teen had no idea what was coming.

"celeste?" luka asked, but celeste waited until lucien and nathan were focused on their game to answer. some friends decided to stay closer to them, sensing that this was a more personal conversation, but also glancing over curiously and clearly keeping an ear out.

"luka, this is mr. moulin, nathan's father," she introduced, "however, until today i only really knew him as big dog."

he heard someone choke on their spit and someone splutter in disbelief.

because-

well...yeah.

that wasn't at all what he was expecting.

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