All Connected

*Saturday*

“You guys wouldn’t believe the week I’ve had.” Desiree laid her head on the table. Grabbing her rum and coke, she downed it in one sitting.

“I’m assuming stressful?” Fiona said smirking.

“Putting it mildly. Your advice about time management has been great and I’m functioning so much better, but then something happens like three bodies showing up at one time.”

“THREE?” Charlee stared at her wide eyed and she nodded sadly.

“Car accident. The youngest one was fifteen.”

"Wow…”

"I know. You would think I would be desensitized by now, but it still gets to me sometimes seeing them that young.”

Willow patted her hand, "I hope you never get desensitized to it. It makes you human, and it helps you to make sure that you’re able to give their families the best representation of them as possible.” It was the thing she loved the most about her friends, their ability to keep one another sane and strong.

"Anyway…what’s new with you guys?”

Charlee fiddled with her batwing necklace, "I finally hired my new director of outreach and expansion. He has an impressive resume and I’m really hoping he'll be a good asset.” Fiona grinned at her. "What?!”

“You do know I’ve been doing my job for years. I know sexual attraction when I hear it.”

Charlee rolled her eyes, "I am not sexually attracted to him!” The other three giggled and she sighed. "Okay! Okay! I admit that he is a lot more attractive than I expected him to be.”

Willow chuckled, "Well don’t keep us in suspense. What’s the stud's name?”

Charlee’s face flushed, "Umm…Callum Trevino.” They all looked at one another, "What’s wrong?”

Desiree leaned forward, "His father’s name wouldn’t happen to be Alaric, would it?”

Charlee’s eyes widened. "How did you know?”

"Because I just hired a Declan Trevino as my co-lector for Thanatology 211,”

Willow mumbled. "I just hired Waylon Trevino as an MMA trainer at the gym.”

The three looked to Fiona who could hardly get it out, "Fabian Trevino…nude model at the studio.”

"WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK!” Desiree shouted. Her voice causing people in the bar to look over. Giving them an apologetic look, she leaned in and whispered. "I-I asked Declan on a date…oh my God what if he’s a murderer? What if they all are? I mean really what are the chances that we hired all of them this week…what if they’ve been stalking us?”

Willow's lip trembled. "I-I guess we can ask them ourselves.” Lifting her finger, she pointed to the brothers at the door.

"Why are we here Fabian?” Callum said in irritation.

Fabian patted his back, "I can’t take my brothers out for drinks?”

Waylon scrunched up his face, "You don’t even drink anymore.”

He scoffed, "They do serve Pepsi at the bar.”

Moving their way through the establishment, Waylon paused and placed his hand on Fabian. He looked up to the ceiling, "You guys feel that?”

Declan arched his brow, "No.”

Gifted in his ability to detect, Waylon looked around. "Eyes…we’re being watched.” His eyes landed on a familiar pair of green ones. Lips parted, Willow stared at him in shock. "What’s she doing here?”

"Who?”

"Willow.”

Callum turned to where Waylon’s focus was and his saw sky blue hair. "Charlee? Wait… why is she with Willow…and who are the other two?”

Fabian rubbed the back of his neck, "Fiona…one brown, one blue.”

They tilted their heads, recognizing the last. They turned to Declan who was almost peach.

"Declan…your *wife* is Desiree McCoy?!” Callum punched his arm, "Why the fuck wouldn’t you tell us that?!”

"I told you her name was Desiree…”

"Yeah! But you left out the part that she’s famous!” Declan avoided her eyes seeing the clear fear in them. He whispered, "Um…I’m pretty certain they’re terrified seeing us together.”

Fabian smirked, "I could only imagine realizing that four strangers you met this week are all related.”

Callum scratched his head, "Yeahhhh, but on the flip side of that, we also didn’t know they all knew-” He stopped his words and rolled his eyes, "Granddad and Aunt Lucifer.” The others nodded.

Fabian placed his arms around Declan and Waylon, "Well, I will most certainly say that they did a good job picking.” He laughed.

All the brothers nodded in agreement as they looked at each other's potential wife.

"Are we all going to stand here just staring at them in awe, or are we going to go say hello?” Fabian may have been talking a big game, but seeing Fiona again made him feel both happy and nervous.

"JESUS! Are they like cut out from a magazine?! I thought Fabian was beautiful but they’re all fine including the damn daddy.” Fiona blurted out and Willow turned to her.

"I-Is Fabian the devil with the supermodel face? Does he really just walk around looking like that all day? Who looks like that at 7:30 at night?! If he’s your nude model…you’re in trouble Fi.”

Fiona nodded her head and whispered. "Yeah…I am.”

Desiree’s mouth hung low. "Who’s the huge one who had to bend down to enter the bar?”

"Waylon…” They all looked at Willow whose face was bright red.

“Willow…I mean this with the most respect... he’s going to fucking destroy you.” Charlee said with mocked seriousness.

Willow pouted, "And I would have let him too! But of course, he’s a part of a murdering foursome.” Charlee tried her best to stifle her laugh and Willow glared at her. "Why are you laughing? I don’t even have to ask I already know the tattooed one is Callum. He can’t even walk properly, the third leg keeps getting in the way.”

"OH MY GOD WILL YOU SHUT UP!” Charlee tilted her head. "Now I’m looking at it! He’s about to kill me and I’m doing him with my eyes!”

Turning their attention to Desiree, they all saw how quiet she was. Fiona leaned in, "Desiree…”

"I know okay! At least the other three are blatant with theirs. You know Declan and I verbally sparred in the middle of the lecture hall? I almost forgot that anybody was there, and a part of me didn’t even care. I would have let him bend me-”

“Hello-Desiree.”

Desiree heard Declan’s voice above her head. She whispered to Fiona, "You think he heard me?”

Callum smirked, "If he didn’t, we all did and will certainly make sure to tell him, though judging by his face…he heard you.”

She placed her head on the table, "Somebody shoot me dead.” Looking up in horror at the four brothers, she blurted, "I didn’t mean that! Please don’t kill me!”

Charlee nudged her. "What she means is…we didn’t know you were related.”

Waylon folded his arms to his chest, "We’re brothers.”

"Jesus Will, even his voice is huge. You never stood a chance.” Willow punched Fiona in the arm and Fabian laughed.

"You really just say whatever is on your mind huh?”

She shrugged, "It’s a gift and a curse.”

Charlee's eyes traveled over all of Callum’s tattoos. The collar shirt he’d been wearing before, hid them all except the ones on his hands. Now, she couldn’t stop looking at the map on his arms and his neck, and she couldn’t help but wonder where they began and ended.

"They’re everywhere. Probably in places you wouldn’t even expect,” he smirked seeing her eye him.

"I-um-o-okay,” she grumbled in embarrassment.

Fiona folded her arms to her chest, "Okay, I’m going to just say it since no one else will…what is this? Are you four like a murder squad that preys on innocent women?”

The brothers laughed and Fabian shook his head, "I would describe you as a lot of things Fiona but innocent… probably not.”

She cut her eyes at him, "What’s that supposed to mean?”

He looked at her in humor, "You tell me.”

Her lips parted at his devilish grin. She whispered, "So much fucking trouble.”

"We didn’t know you all knew one another…consider it a happy coincidence,” Waylon's voice boomed through the bar. He tilted his head, "Willow how come you’re so quiet? You weren’t before when you attacked me on the mat.”

She saw the other girls’ eyes widened and she glared at him, "I DID NOT ATTACK YOU!”

He laughed, "Attacked me…straddled me…I was trying to be polite.”

They were enjoying watching their *wives* blush in embarrassment. Declan even found it funny. It felt like payback for catching them off guard the day they met them and leaving them speechless.

Callum spoke, "Now that we’ve gotten that out the way, would it possible for me to speak to Charlee alone for a moment?”

"W-what? Why?” Charlee stammered.

Callum just extended his hand. Saying nothing, Charlee took it, and the two walked away.

Fabian folded his arms to his chest, "You still mad at me?”

Fiona smiled sweetly, "That depends…what do I get if I say yes?”

He laughed, "Name it, it’s yours.” He saw her eyes gleam.

"Don’t threaten me with a good time.” He laughed and she laughed as well, and the two slipped away to the bar for two Pepsi sodas.

"So, are you going to ask me away or just continue to stare at me?” Willow watched the slight shock plaster itself on Waylon’s face. She stood and grabbed his hand. "Come on before you have a damn heart attack.” He looked back to Declan, who chuckled. Waylon knew of war and competition, but Willow had just managed to regain ground.

Declan sat across from Desiree, "Did you really think I was a murderer?” He retched his head back, "That’s pretty dark.”

She sipped her drink, "What would you think if you were me?”

He tapped his chin, "That maybe my handsome co-lector isn’t trying to slaughter me and my friends.”

She raised her brow. "Did you just refer to yourself as handsome?”

"Just saying what you said.”

"I didn’t say that.”

He shook his head. "Again, we find ourselves in disagreement. You don’t strike me as shallow, but you also don’t strike me as someone who would let someone you didn’t find attractive bend you over a desk.” She coughed loudly and he laughed.

"You’re never going to let me live that down, huh?”

His eyes gleamed, "Never. It did wonders for my confidence.”

She placed her hand to her chin, "You are a mystery. On one hand, you assaulted my door when you saw me, and on the other, you sit across from me blatantly flirting.”

Declan copied her gesture, "I find you a mystery myself which is why I accepted your proposal for a late-night study session.”

"We REALLY will be studying.”

He smiled. "I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He ordered himself a drink, and the two toasted to their Monday *not* date.

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"Okay, you said you wanted to talk to me.” Charlee folded her arms to her chest.

Callum smirked, "Be nice.”

She rolled her eyes and then let out a small smirk herself. "You’re going to give me a hard time, aren’t you?”

"Maybe…but only because I know you can handle it.” He looked her over, "Am I allowed to tell my new boss she looks beautiful today?”

She waved him off, "Oh…I guess I’ll allow it.”

He tilted his head, "I didn’t know you had that many tattoos…” The small portion of her stomach he could see held a cascade of spiderwebs.

She smirked, "They’re everywhere. Probably in places you wouldn’t even expect.”

He chuckled, "Cute.” Then he stepped into her, "Go on a date with me.”

She stepped into him, "Are you asking or are you telling?”

"Whichever will get you to agree.”

She shook her head and laughed, "I’d love to go.”

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"You know, I usually require dinner and a movie before someone can see me naked.”

Fiona laughed at Fabian’s words, "Wow, that’s all it takes? I would have gladly offered more.”

He placed his head in his hands trying his best not to chuckle, "You catch me off guard a lot. Not too many people can do that.”

She smiled, "I’m truly honored to be one of the lucky few.”

"Can I ask you something?”

"Is it about my eyes?”

He looked at her apologetically, "Sorry, you probably get that a lot.”

She waved him off, "No worries. Blame my mom’s rare genetics. She has blue eyes, I have one blue, one brown. I got teased for it a lot but now I think-”

"They’re the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.” Fabian couldn’t understand what was happening. But the more he looked at her, the less numb he felt. "Do you think maybe you could hang up the paintbrushes and notepad for a night?”

She scrunched her face, "Are you asking me on a date?”

"Yes, I am.”

"Dinner and a movie?”

He chuckled before putting up two fingers. "I promise I’ll be on my very best behavior.”

Fiona snapped hers. "Damn! I’ll still go I suppose.” And they both shared a laugh.

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"Why are you looking so uncomfortable Waylon?” Willow said smirking.

He was, mainly because this type of interaction was a bit out of his element. He’d been with numerous women, but his focus was always fighting and war, and because of that, he had no idea how to handle a conversation with Willow. She was toned, she was strong, but he also could sense she had a vulnerability, and usually outside his family he would hate that, but with her, it made him like her more. He rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sorry.”

She tilted her head. "You want to go somewhere with me next week?”

His eyes widened, "What? Why?”

She scrunched her face, "Um okay…you could have just said no.”

"NO!” His voice boomed and he shook his head. "What I mean is, is it something for the gym? I’m just a bit confused.”

She looked down to her feet, "No…I just thought maybe you’d like to hang out but really it’s fine.”

He could see her embarrassment. He hadn't meant to make her feel like that, but Waylon didn’t *hang out* with anyone outside of the family. It served no purpose, and it honestly bored him, yet seeing the freckle-faced beauty in front of him look down at her shoes embarrassed bothered him. Waylon’s voice spoke before his brain could catch up.

"Would you like to go to the museum of torture?” He felt confident in his offer. Knowing she would say no, and he wouldn’t have to disappoint her.

"REALLY?! I’D LOVE TO! I’VE BEEN WANTING TO GO SINCE IT OPENED! It's not a cool as the one I heard of in St. Augustine, but I still think it would be great.”

Waylon’s face paled, "What really? You really want to go?”

She laughed, "I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t, and technically, I asked you first.”

He sighed, "I don’t understand you. You’re like a flower with a thousand thorns…it’s extremely confusing.”

"Is that a bad thing?”

"I don’t know.”

She shook her head, "Well, maybe a day of torture will help you to decide.”