1x1 w/ Anna and Echo

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Jace leaned against him, letting himself slowly fall asleep in his arms, exhausted. He whimpered in his sleep, clinging to Alex.

[AnnaCat17]

-next day-

CIrce tiredly sat on the couch, trying desperately to get Vizzie to eat, but all she would do is cry. Circe's hands shook as she held the bottle to Vizzie's face as tears ran down her face, quietly mutterign to the baby to try to calm her down but she only wanted her parents. Circe sniffed sadly and wiped the tears off her face, trying to hold herself together. She needed Ricky and Saige. Ricky had taken care of ehr as a baby so she knew he knew how to do this, but without Saige both him and Vizzie were inconsolable. She felt lost and just held Vizzie in ehr arms, gently rocking her as the wails continued to fill the small living room.

Alex woke up on the floor beside the couch, having tucked Jace in to bed on the couch so he could be comfortable but wanting to stay close in case he needed anything in the middle of the night. He sat up and blinked tiredly as he looked around the room as sunlight streamed in through the windows. He tried not to let himself become comfortable here. Last night hadn't meant anything and Jace would most likely go back to being uncomfortable around him once the grieving period had ended.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

A knock sounded on the door. Fade entered the house, nervously following the cries. He fiddled with the ring in his pocket nervously, watching Circe try to calm the ifrit baby down. To be honest, he was surprised to see someone taking care of her, even after the parents rejected it. He had thought maybe Saige wouldn't, but here the child was, so she must have not wanted it.

Jace woke up in bed, dried tears on his face. He slowly got up, going into the living room. He didn't know if Alex had stayed, but he saw him sitting on the floor, and relief crossed his face. "Alex. I thought you would have left..." His voice was rough from crying as he spoke.

[AnnaCat17]

Circe looked up and as soon as she saw him she threw a shield up around her and Vizzie, holding her closer and making her cries grow louder. "Kailor!" She yelled to the bedroom, hoping t wake her from her sleep as she looked at Fade scared. "You can't have her if that is why you are here. Ricky.. hell kill you if you take her. He is going to be right back." She lied quickly, but she had never been very good lying. To be honest, she didn't even know where Ricky was.

Alex quickly forced a tired smile, trying to give him some comfort. "Hey. Ya... um. I can go. I just wanted to make sure you were ok throughout the night." He got up and ran a hand through his messy hair before grabbing his coat. He was relieved that Jace at least didn't seem upset to find him still there but he didnt want to make Jace uncomfortable again. "Ill call CIrce and see if she can come over or something. Ill watch the baby while she does so you two dont have anything to worry about." He offered, hoping to find some way to help him. He felt terrible for what happened to Saige but it was hard enough to get his elven heart to care as much a it did for Jace, there wasn't room to love anyone else the way that all of the others loved each other.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Fade knelt on the ground, trying to show that he meant them no harm. "No one sent me. I would never harm the child," he assured her. "I was...curious, I guess. I wanted to see it."
Kailor came out of the bedroom, her eyes narrowed. "Ifrit. What do you want now?"

"No--dont go." He lunged and caught his arm. "Please." He looked at him desperately, not wanting him to leave. He needed Alex here with him.

[AnnaCat17]

Circe hesitated but slowly lowered Vizzie in ehr rms so he could see her but kept the shield up so he couldn't touch her. It killed her how much Vizzie looked like Saige. Her eyes were clearly Ricky's but everything else looked like Saige.

Alex looked at him shocked but slowly nodded. "Ya. Of course." He sat down his coat again but didnt pull out of Jace's grasp. "Can I do or get anything for you?"

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Fade peered over at the baby girl, his expression softening. Kailor snapped her fingers to get his attention. "Ifrit. What. Are. You. Doing. Here." Fade winced a bit. "I figured the kid would be coming soon, and I didn't think anyone would have wanted it, so...." His cheeks flushed in embarrassment, he looked away. Kailor arched an eyebrow as she studied her. "What, you were going to take her? You? Really? What do you know about taking care of babies?" Fade winced again. "Uh, not much. But I didn't want her to grow up like I did..."

Jace shook his head, keeping hold of Alex. He pulled him back over to the couch where he sat down with him. "I'm sorry for bothering you yesterday," he whispered. "I hope you're not upset with me." He didn't want to be keeping Alex here if he didn't want to be here.

[AnnaCat17]

Circe narrowed her eyes at him. "She is very wanted. I am going to be here to help Ricky take care of her. He is just a little bit busy right now." She said before refocusing on trying to get Vizzie to stop crying. She could barely think through all of the noise and her exhaustion.

Alex shook his head and gently rubbed Jace's back. "Don't apologize for that. I told you i would be here whenever you need me and I intend to keep my word. I will be around as much as you want, especially to help out with all of this."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Fade took a step back, feeling out of place and intimidated. "Oh. Uh, yeah. I can see that." He backed away, leaving the house. He knew he definitely wasn't wanted there. He wouldn't offer his aid. He knew they'd be better off without him interfering. He hated to admit it, but he would have wanted to have the company of another like him, one not under a demon's control, even if it was an infant. But she was wanted here, and he wasn't. He knew better than to push.
Shaking her head, Kailor went over and carefully took Vizzie into her arms. She tried to calm her down, her eyes narrowed at the door.

Jace relaxed, leaning against him. "Thank you, Alex. I don't deserve your help." He knew he didn't. Not after sending him away. But he was grateful for him being here and helping him.

[AnnaCat17]

Circe looked up at Kailor exhausted. "I dont know what to do. I think demon babies are different from other species. She just wont calm down."

Ricky sat alone in his house. he had already destroyed most everything through the night in his grief leaving him with nothing else to do but sit on the floor and drink. He drank straight from the bottle as he stared blankly at the wall, looking at the cracked photo on the wall of hima nd Saige at their wedding. He wanted to kill the baby. It had taken her away from him, but the more he thought about it the more he found he could only blame himself. The baby wouldn't even be there if it wasn't for him.

ALex wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. "Yes you do. Helping you is what I am here for, Jace."