After all these years. (Laine and Open)

Finally, after five years, Esmeralda and Laine were going to be reunited with the survivors of Camp Jupiter.  Well, not only that, but they were also going to meet those from Camp Half-blood, and new Romans and Greeks altogether! Esme could hardly believe that her life had taken this sudden turn, that she should discover that the Greek and Romans had established a whole city for themselves on an island.  How they managed to do that in the span of five years was amazing--she was told by the agent who had fetched her and Laine that it was like a resort.  Technology was allowed and there were buildings and vehicles.  People had paying jobs.  It was amazing, too good to be true, and she couldn't wait to lay her eyes on it.  What brought tears to her eyes, though, was the fact that Accalia, Quinn, and Madame Troublemaker still lived--the agent knew them and had told her that they were thriving well on the island. 

When she was on the ship and they were entering the ports, Esme's breath was taken away.  She had been anticipating the grandness of the island, but when it came to actually seeing it with her own eyes, she was completely stunned.  Even as she stepped off of the ship and was standing on the harbor, she really couldn't believe what she was seeing.  Without knowing what she was doing, Esme reached out with her hand and gripped onto Laine's arm.  "Wow..." she murmured.  "This place...is..amazing...I think...I think I'm dreaming."  

@laine

Laine wasn't a huge fan of being touched, but five years with Esme and you kind of got used to it. She was torn between a feeling of amazement and relief and the feeling of bitter resentment and anger. The agent hadn't known a thing about the people Laine had asked about, which wasn't a good sign. He tried to reassure her by saying he hardly knew everyone on the island, but she wasn't sure @finley had made it out alive. What would she say to him, even if he had? It's not like they were lovers or anything. She gritted her teeth at the words left unspoken and shook her head, "Somehow I don't think it's a dream..." She mumbled, brushing some dust off of her torn black jeans. Gray threads were hanging off her knees and a rip on the inside of her thigh. Her tan skin was showing skin with her black KISS tank top. Esme wasn't a liar pretty much ever, so touching her never really presented much of a problem. Being on this island, though, Laine felt more exposed than she ever had.

Mac had been to see Accaia and Quinn off on their quest. She would have joined the girls, but she had a mission coming up that she couldn't get out of. Still, it was in her nature to see them off at the docks. She stood there, waving as the ship sailed away only to hear faint yelling coming from her friends. "What? What the Hades are you guys saying?" Mac yelled back. Accalia and Quinn were waving frantically and pointing so something that seemed to be behind Mac.

Mac spun around, tapping her bracelet in order for it to unravel into sword form, expecting an enemy. But what she was not an enemy. She dropped her sword, and ran toward Esme and Laine. She didn't know Liane very well, but Esme was one of her closest friends. "Es-Esme!" she called out as she ran, colliding with Esme and pulling her into a hug. She felt tears start to fill her eyes. "Oh my gods, Esme. Esme you're alive, you're alive," she repeated over and over as she held her friend tightly. Even though the four girls were incredibly close, it was often Mac and Esme together and Accalia and Quinn. Still, they all cared deeply for one another, but Mac felt a certain stronger heartbeat for her best friend Esme.

@esmeralda @laine

Fin had been informed that there were some rescues from Camp Jupiter coming in today. One of their teams Patrolling the mainland had found them, and Fin was coming to greet whoever it may be. He was excited, to say the least, for he knew everyone in Camp Jupiter having been Praetor and all. He never doubted that some of them may have been alive and wandering around, looking for where all the Romans had gone. This was part of the reason he pushed so hard to have teams searching the Mainland often. He was glad his hard work was paying off.

He arrived at the Ports in order to meet the newcomers and the first thing he saw was Agent Carter tackling someone. "Mac-" he started to say, perhaps telling her to give the girls some space but that was before he saw who the second person was. He stopped in his tracks, about seven or eight feet away from the three girls. His jaw dropped, but only slightly. He closed him mouth before clearing his throat and taking another few steps forward. "Laine." He said. Serious. Professional.

But his heart was threatening to beat out of his chest.

@laine @esmeralda @mac

Her jawline hardened. She almost didn't remember the random blonde flying out of no where to tackle Laine's long time friend. Her name rolled off his tongue and sounded so natural to her. Straightening, she nodded toward him, "Finley." Her voice sounded steadier and stronger than she was feeling, which made her calm down a little bit. Brushing her hair over her shoulder, she tied it in a pony tail and continued, "You're alive." It came across more as a statement of fact rather than a moment of relief, even though it was relief she was feeling.

"Yeah. So are you." Finley spoke just as calmly as formally as she did, though he could feel himself losing it a little bit. He took even another step forward, but looking into his eyes just caused him to slip back to that day five years ago...

All at once the building was crumbling beneath them. Finley and a small team, Laine included, had taken to a roof in order to get a better vantage point. The monsters had started closing in around them, shaking the building as they went. The support beneath Laine collapsed and she tumbled over the edge of the roof, but not before Finley could clasp onto her hand.

He had avoided touching her for so long. Not wanting to be forced to tell her how he really felt about her. “Just drop me! Get them out of here!” she called out, but Finley didn’t move, he tried to pull her up, but there were forces on the other end working against him. “FINLEY! Why won’t you just let go?” she said.

“Because I love you!” he had no choice but to tell the truth, considering they were touching skin on skin. Her eyes widened, but only briefly until she forced her hand out of his and slipped from his grasp into the pile of monsters below them...

Now here she was, right in front of him and looking more beautiful than ever, but also more tormented, understandably. He took yet another step forward until he was right in front of her. Suddenly both of his knees hit the ground in front of her. He leaned forward, wrapping both arms around her legs and turning his face to the side as he hugged himself to her. Not caring if he'd have to tell the truth when he spoke up.

@laine

So many things happened all at once, that Laine couldn't keep up mentally. Her mind was going a million different places a minute and she was doing her best not to react to seeing him. She hadn't had to chance to reply to his confession. Amid the chaos of the battle, she had wanted to save him. That was all she could think about. But she knew he hadn't been lying and she knew it wasn't exaggerated by the battle, it was his true feelings. Her fear was that his feelings had changed, because her's certainly hadn't.

Then suddenly, he was on his knees in front of her, expressing more emotion in that moment than she had ever seen him have in all her years of knowing him. His arms were around her legs and she stood there in shock, watching him hug her knees to his face, "Fin-..." Her voice choked before she could say his name and she untangled her legs from his arms to join him and the ground, "You're alive..." She said again, this time her voice cracking under the pressure of her feelings, "Thank you gods..."

Laine didn't seem to be all that starstruck and dazzled by this magnificent place, but Esme knew the stark differences between the two of them, and so she didn't mind.  Besides, she was way too stunned, dumbfounded, and amazed to pay attention to Laine's reaction, even if she used the other girl's arm as a means of support.  It prevented her from collapsing on her knees.

But anyway, she snapped out of this trance of hers at the sound of her name being called loudly in surprise and recognition.  That...that voice.  She let go of Laine's arm and turned in the direction of the person calling her name, and her heart skipped a beat.  That blonde--it was...Esme gasped.  "MAC! MAC! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! IT'S YOU!" she screamed, and then she was running toward McKenzie, although the daughter of Victoria got to her first.  They were soon hugging, and Esme was burying her face in Mac's shoulder and sobbing tears of happiness.  "Oh, Mac, I thought I'd lost you forever! You and Quinn and Accalia!" she said through her sobs.  "I was so sure I'd never see any of you again.  I'm...I can't express how...how happy I am to see you..." Her voice was getting shakier the more she spoke, so she just gave up speaking altogether at this point. 

@mac

Mac completely understood Esme breaking down in tears. In fact, she had her own tears spilling out of her eyes and threatening to stain her face with mascara. She held Esme close, reaching a hand up to the brunettes hair to stroke it softly. As much as Mac wanted to be held herself, she was sure Esme had been through a heck of a lot these last five years.

After who knows how long of holding each other and crying, Mac pulled away just enough to keep her hands on Esmes shoulders and look into her eyes. "You'll stay with us, Esme. Quinn, Accalia and I. We have an adorable house. Gods, you're going to love it!" she said excitedly, trying to push the tears away. She had almost forgotten about Laine and turned to address her, only to find her kneeling on the ground holding onto Fin. Colonel Fin?!

Macs eyes widened, "Well, maybe we should get you guys settled in, eh?" she said, turning back to Esme but talking softly as to not interrupt the two... whatever they were. Mac didn't even know they were friends!

@esmeralda, @finley, @laine

Fin heard her choke out his name but still didn't move. Not until she pulled herself away and knelt down in front of him. He looked up, reaching forward to take both of her hands in his. He didn't say anything for a while, he just stared into her face, but his lip, shook his head and let the tears start to make his eyes misty. "Laine..." he finally said, but he didn't get much farther then that.

It was clear by the way she spoke that she felt something for him too. Whether it was just a strong bond of friendship or not, Finley was grateful for her emotions. For her caring about him. This was something that he had wanted for years, but he was slow moving and they were both such stoic people. To see her reacting like this... well, well it made him want to kiss her and hold her and never let her go.

But he didn't.  He squeezed her hands. "You must be... exhausted. Let me take you home," he had gathered his wits somewhat, and stopped his voice from trembling. He didn't even turn to look at Mac and Esme. He barely realized they were there. And by home... well, he wasn't sure what he meant by that considering her home had been destroyed.

@laine

Lainey was still on the ground. Her knees were aching from the splintered wood of the docks and even still just didn't want to move. Her eyes couldn't break from Finley's but eventually she regained her composure, "Home?" Her voice was steady again as she climbed off the ground and pulled herself into a stiff, standing position. Her blue eyes tore themselves from Finley and she looked at Esmeralda, "I see you have found your friends." Lainey smiled stiffly and nodded her head at he blonde girl, "I am Laine Michaelson. You're friend has taken good care of my these last five years."

As Laine stood, Mac took Esmes hand, just because she wasn't quite ready to let go of her yet. "Laine. I know, I'm Mac," she nodded also toward the girl her seemed to transform from being on her knees with the Colonel to standing stiff again. "I'll never be able to repay you for being with Esme all this time. I mean..." she looked at Fin for a moment and then back to Laine, "there is room in our home, if you want it. You don't have to decide right now but we can always make room for you. Two of us will have to share a bedroom but I don't think that matters."She offered.

After a while of crying, Esme was able to get a grip of herself again.  She looked back into Mac's blue eyes with her own watery and bloodshot ones, and her smile if it wasn't already there brightened.  "A house?! Seriously?! I thought...there would be barracks!" She laughed.  "This is awesome!" She remembered that Laine was with her too, and was turning to face her friend to ask her if she wanted to stay with them, too, and if there was enough for Lainey. 

But what she saw surprised her more.  It wasn't just her who had an old-time friend to coincidentally happen across the ports and meet her there.  Lainey had a friend, too, but that friend was--"Praetor Rockefellar?!" Esme quickly brought her hands up to her forehead in a clumsy salute, but then hastily brought her hand down again, realizing that times probably had changed, and that the protocol of back then didn't really matter today.

Esme's expression turned less perplexed, but happy again when Laine got up and introduced herself to Mac.  Well, she first said that Esme had taken care of her, and Esme shook her head.  "Oh, no, Lainey was the one to be there for me.  Without her I wouldn't have known what to do!" The truth of the matter was that they had been a good team, Esme inventing stuff for them to use to make their plight easier and Lainey being a good soldier.  Esme could fight too, but Lainey had been so much better than she was.  Her seriousness and grit was just...wow.

She nodded her head vigorously when Mac suggested that Lainey stay with them.  "Yes, yes, yes, Lainey! Come live with us! It'll be so much fun! You can totally meet the other girls! They're really nice.  You'll love them!"

There were so many emotions that Lainey had racing through her head in that moment, it was hard for her to tell which one was showing on her face. Chances were good that she was as straight faces and boring as normal. She nodded slowly at Esme and her friend, Mac, "I will consider that. I appreciate the offer." She looked at Finley and gave a sort of half smile that only those who knew Laine well would even be able to see, "But for now I am going to speak with my old friend." Her voice was solid and professional despite the red-faced girl that was jumping around in Laine's head.

Fin couldn't help but smile as Esme did her clumsy salute and called him by his old title. He walked over to her and nodded firmly with an amused smile. "At ease, Esmeralda. Glad to have you back. Oh, and it's Colonel now, by the way," he glanced at Laine as he said this, wondering for a moment what she would think of his being a part of the army still... she wouldn't be surprised, of course.

He stepped away from Esme as Laine spoke about speaking with 'my old friend'. He felt his heart sink a little, but he understood why her tone was such. He nodded once more, addressing both girls. "We need to get you two registered, should only take a moment. Mac, care to join us?" he asked, picking up both Laine and Esmes bags and heading toward the correct offices.