[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210426/76eac6f3720cd7194a3a78456802a40a.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ipiKtAp.png[/img]	[img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/bd0e5d404c9ca8314ee531285457402f/a6cb4f9e7fc16fa9-e0/s250x400/831122e9dd732e114e5dd4a25b7bcd1951f27d5a.jpg[/img]
[sub][i]A [@HaleyTheRandom] & [@Venus] Collaboration
Featuring [color=C81935]Caitlin Cleary[/color] & [color=6495ED]Bradley King[/color][/i][/sub]

[right][sub][b]Location:[/b] King’s Mechanics ---> The King Living Room
[b]Interacting With:[/b] Each Other, [color=9ACD32]John King[/color] (NPC)[/sub][/right]
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[color=darkgray][indent][indent][color=C81935][i]It really feels great to be home.[/i][/color]

When she was a child and a teenager, Caitlin Cleary had wished for nothing more than an opportunity to have a fresh start somewhere else. Growing up in a small town where everyone knew everyone, it was easy to feel suffocated by the assumptions and expectations people had of you. As thankful as she was to be a part of one of the more privileged families of Edenridge, there was always a part of Cece that resented the unwanted attention she got because of who her relatives were. She always wanted to disappear, fade off into the background, go through life without having to worry about her every move being watched and scrutinized. But as they say: [i]absence makes the heart grow fonder[/i]. And if her time away from Edenridge had taught her anything, it was to cherish the invaluable gift that was home, friends and family.

Of course, there was [i]another[/i] reason why Caitlin had been so excited about returning home... And that was the person to whose driveway she was pulling up into at this very second.

As soon as she had parked and shut off her Beetle’s engine, Cece grabbed her homecoming gift from the passenger seat and exited the car. The sound of her sneakers against the gravel as she walked to the entrance of the shop were drowned out by the loud sounds of metal on metal that greeted her. A few short steps later and Cece was inside the shop, her eyes landing on two out of the three generations of King men doing what they did best: fixing cars.

[color=C81935]"Good morning, Mr. Richard!"[/color] Caitlin waved at the dark-haired man behind the register, the two of them exchanging smiles before Caitlin turned her attention to the boss man himself. [color=C81935]"Hi, Mr. John!"[/color] she said cheerfully, pulling the older King into a quick hug with him as soon as he was within reach. [color=C81935]“How are things going? I brought you all some cupcakes--”[/color] she told him sweetly, motioning to the small basket she was holding in her left hand. [color=C81935]“I figured it was a nice little way for me to make it up to you guys after being away for some time.”[/color]

With a slight smile and a grumble under his breath, John King returned Caitlin’s hug warmly. [color=9ACD32]”Now you know you ain’t gotta call me Mister,”[/color] he said, his expression going from stern to excited at the mention of cupcakes. [color=9ACD32]“I’ll go grab the milk then. You here to see Bradley, I reckon?”[/color] 

The redhead’s face lit up at the mention of her bestest, closest friend. [color=C81935]“If he’s around!”[/color] she answered, excitedly making her way around the garage and to the inside of the King household she knew so well. While awaiting Bradley’s entrance, Caitlin made a beeline straight to the mirror that hung in the hallway and checked her reflection. Although she wasn’t feeling her best, that didn’t mean she wanted Brad to see her looking anything less than presentable.

With the cupcakes in hand, John simply nodded his head and went deeper into the garage to find his son.

[b][i][color=9ACD32]“Bradley!”[/color][/i][/b]

Still working on the Henderson’s mini van, Bradley nearly hit his head on the bumper when he jumped at the sound of his name. [color=6495ED]“Jesus Christ, Pop. You ain’t gotta scare somebody like that.”[/color] Coming out from underneath the van, Bradley grabbed a nearby grease rag and began to wipe off his hands. 

Completely unfazed by Bradley’s reaction, John already had one of Caitlin’s famous cupcakes halfway eaten. The truth was that the older man didn’t care to respond, but he also was too caught up in the deliciousness to give a damn. [color=9ACD32]”Someone’s lookin’ for you out front. Tried to handle it, but they specifically requested you.”[/color] 

With a deep sigh and an aggravated expression, Bradley got up off of the ground and did his best to continue trying to wipe his hands and arms clean. Frustrated that he wasn’t done with this morning's task of fixing the van, Bradley was even more frustrated when he didn’t see anyone in the lobby waiting for him other than Richard. 

Having followed his son, John quickly put two and two together. [color=9ACD32]“Grab a cupcake, Brad.”[/color] 

[color=6495ED]“Where’s this mystery person at, Pop? I ain’t got time --”[/color] As Bradley turned back to look at his father, he finally noticed the container of cupcakes in his hands. That perfectly pink frosting could have only been made by one person. 

[color=9ACD32]“She’s inside,”[/color] John said, chuckling. 

Rushing through the lobby and into the back door, Bradley’s mood had done a total one eighty. Calling out to Caitlin, Bradley did his best to straighten his shirt and make himself presentable. [color=6495ED]"Red?! You home?”[/color] 

[color=C81935]“No! This is Scarlet, her evil twin sister. Caitlin’s not home right now, but she asked me to drop you a visit,”[/color] she joked with the brightest of smiles. Unable to hold back any longer, Caitlin raced across the room with her arms outstretched and ran straight into Bradley’s arms, wrapping the taller boy up in a tight hug. 

Wrapping his arms around her smaller frame, Bradley instantly felt himself relax at the familiarity of Caitlins touch. Giving her a quick kiss on the top of her head, Bradley didn’t wait too long to start with the questions. 

[color=6495ED]”So how is it being back in town? How long are you here for this time?”[/color]

[color=C81935]“Eh, it’s fine… I just wish I was coming back under better circumstances…”[/color] she confessed sadly, her face still nuzzled against his shoulder. Cece took a second to envelop herself in the comfort of the young man’s presence and his spicy cologne before pulling away from the hug, still keeping her arms around Bradley’s taller, chiseled frame. [color=C81935]“Mom’s health isn’t doing too good right now, so I decided to put the studies on hold and focus on taking care of her until she gets better-- however long that might take.”[/color]

Looking down at her, Bradley did his best to hide his concern, but could still feel the hints of a frown forming upon his face. [color=6495ED]“Is she gonna be okay? Are [i]you[/i] going to be okay?”[/color]

[color=C81935]“I’m not really worried about myself-- I’d feel pretty darn selfish if I was,”[/color] she told him, letting go of Brad just long enough to take a seat on the nearby couch. [color=C81935]“She’s getting surgery next Tuesday--, so Dad and I will be driving her down to the city that day and we’ll take turns spending the days with her until she’s released,”[/color] Cece explained, trying but failing to sound like she was taking things in stride. [color=C81935]“Like I said, I’m not really worried about myself. I’m mostly worried about her and the family, you know? I mean, Dad might be a grown man, but he’s useless when he’s without Mom most of the time, and he’s got the pub to run on his shoulders. Sure, Rhett helps a lot too, but he’s nowhere near ready to take on the responsibility of the pub on his own full-time yet. Brogan I know is more than happy to help, but she’s also got her plate full with classes, coaching and going to softball games all around the country. And Rowan’s only a kid. What fourteen year-old kid wants to watch their mother go through that sort of painful process? I know [i]I[/i] don’t want to, so I can’t even imagine how she’s feeling right now...”[/color] she trailed off, tears starting to pool up in her emerald green eyes.

While Cece began to talk, Bradley made his way into the kitchen to wash his hands. Taking extra care to get the dirt and grime out from under his nails, the young man dried his hands off on a nearby kitchen towel before grabbing a drink from the fridge. He knew by the way she was rambling on that she was stressed. Coming back into the living room to take a seat beside her on the couch, Bradley took a drink of his Dr. Pepper as Caitlin trailed off. 

Looking over at her, Bradley could see the pain in her eyes. The frustration that she had at the world. The concern for her family. His expression quickly went from neutral to caring. Turning to the side so that he could look at her easier, Bradley took her small hands in his before speaking. 

[color=6495ED]“Hey, look at me.”[/color] Taking his right hand, Bradley gently grabbed her chin on either side and turned her face towards his. [color=6495ED]“Everything’s going to be okay. I know things are rough right now, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”[/color] 

Truth to be told, Bradley's outlook on things wasn’t the brightest - but he could fake it when he wanted to. Especially for a friend. 

[color=6495ED]“You’ve got me to lean on. I’m here for the rest of the family too - you know that. And if you want to, I can give you rides to the city. Maybe go on one of our old adventures and take your mind off of things, hm?”[/color] 

[color=C81935]"Like the time we decided to find that waterfall in the middle of nowhere and ended up getting lost for hours without any phone signal?"[/color] she teased with a smile in an attempt to lighten up the mood, her eyes lighting up at the funny memory. After dealing with the influx of distressing updates about her mother's health by herself in her dorm room for so long, Cece had almost forgotten how easy it was to feel comforted and reassured whenever she was in Bradley's presence. It had been that way ever since their first encounter back at the graveyard years ago, and it was still that way today. He provided a feeling of safety and protection that was different from the one her father, brother, Danny and Quinn offered-- one that she had experienced only once before. 

Chuckling, Bradley leaned back on the couch. [color=6495ED]"Exactly. Maybe we could take a trip to the beach or something this time. Who knows?"[/color] 

Caitlin's smile widened, and she nodded vigorously. [color=C81935]"I'd like that very much,"[/color] she said softly, placing a gentle kiss on the hand Bradley had so tenderly holding her face.

As Bradley's smile faded, John reentered the house - box of cupcakes [i]still[/i] in hand. 

[color=6495ED]“You're gonna get diabetes, ya know?"[/color] Bradley scolded his father, earning himself a chuckle from Caitlin.

[color=9ACD32]"Worth it."[/color]

The older man took a seat in his armchair, reclining it back as he put the box of cupcakes on top of his lap. Bradley spotted something else in John's hands, his blood running cold. John looked up from the stack of envelopes and junk mail, his eyes sad as he looked at his son. 

[color=9ACD32]"I’m sorry, son. But there's another one."[/color][/indent][/indent][/color]