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"Oh yeah? You packed my bags and everything?" He laughed, feeling comforted by how excited she seemed. He wanted to show her how much he supported her in the pursuit of her dreams and he hoped the trip would provide inspiration. And he was sure he'd find some along the way too. "I'm not entirely sure you're ready to see me in a pair of cowboy boots and hat so you know, prepare yourself," he teased before leaning in for a kiss. "I have to say, I've really liked being here with you all. Probably one of the best Christmases I've ever had. How you feeling?"

Coyote Christmas was the only one she had so it meant a lot that Percy tagged along, even if he didn't have to. And of course it helped how well he got along with her group, even Rhiannon who hadn't threatened his kneecaps yet which was about as good of an endorsement as any from her. He caught her mid-sip and she nodded, unable to respond before he was holding out an envelope for her. "Oh okay, I didn't bring anything over here either," she said as she set her glass down and took the envelope from him, figuring they'd exchange gifts in private some other time. Whenever they spoke of the future the assumption came naturally, that they'd be together. It was easy to imagine. "Percy..." Plane tickets in hand, she fought back an almost giddy smile as she looked back up at him. "This is really nice. Thank you. And this is probably when I should tell you I did plan an international trip without you, and we leave tomorrow so...," she trailed off, corner of her mouth quirking up in a way that showed she was joking.

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"Yeah I definitely got some swats but it was so worth it." Percy was grateful that he was able to join the Coyotes for another holiday, especially after the morning with his parents. He would catch up with the guys later but for now, things felt just right. "You feeling all the joy and love of the day?" He set his glass down and reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a small envelope. "I wanted to wait til it was just the two of us to give you this," he told her and handed it to her. "I also have a few more presents back at the apartment but I've been waiting to give this to you since I got it," he admitted. "I figure if we're lucky we have plenty of trips ahead of us but I wasn't going to plan an international one without you so," he explained as she opened up the envelope that would reveal two plane tickets to Nashville. "They say it's the songwriting capital of the world and I mean you're the best songwriter I know so only seems right for us to visit, right?"

"When does object permanence start? She might think every gift's her favorite, and also her first," she joked back, smiling over her shoulder as turned to face Percy. "It's gorgeous, wherever they found it." Scarlet obviously loved Christmas, and she felt so lucky to share it with her found Coyote family and now Percy, for the second time. "A little bit, yeah. I didn't want to mess too much of it up. Whenever Rhi does one, and she's really good at it, I swear I feel her phantom hand swatting me away."

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"I know she's barely two and just started emoting but you could totally tell my present was her favorite," Percy joked as he found Scarlet by the kitchen at the Mayer-Mendoza household. "Granted that's the most presents I have ever seen a child get, do you think Celeste and Tier searched all of the forest and cut down that tree themselves?" He refilled their glasses before leaning over to press a kiss to the side of her head. "You get in on that charcuterie board yet? It's delicious." @scarletvinson

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JEREMY ALLEN WHITE Calvin Klein | 2024

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"Believe me, it almost made the cut but I actually want to keep this job for now so I have to keep it cute," she told her with a loud sigh. At least until she finished her master's program. "Well let's see, first we're going to the dispensary because they're having holiday sales and you know I have that crush on the budtender who works Fridays, after that well we'll see where the wind takes us, my friend. And hope it takes us to somewhere that involves free drinks and a beautiful woman feeding me french fries. Or is that too specific?"

"Oh yeah that's professional as fuck. Unprofesh would be hitting one of these-," she flipped both her middle fingers up. "Overworked for sure, you don't really mean that. So how are we killing brain cells now that you're free, you know I always say I'll try anything once."

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"Because I value your opinion dearly but I also realize I had free will so why not," she replied with a laugh. "A few days? Louise, you need like a whole month to recover from how busy you've been. Not that I'm complaining about how good my wardrobe looks now and how much my dad has been raving about all of the new pieces. I'm pretty sure he probably sold out a whole store on his own despite your dads stills sending him free pieces." She raised her brows and leaned in closer. "Oh? Well spill it, dude, you got me on the edge of my seat."

"Then why ask me if you think it's professional or not?" Louise asked Steph as she hadn't even had a moment to give her opinion before the blonde had made her mind. "I have to agree." Louise nodded, before looking over at her. "What? Yes, even I enjoy having a couple of days away from the atelier. Especially when my days away are going to be spent in the Swiss Alps with the dads and Alfie. You know, it's our family yearly tradition and it might be the last year I get to do it." She let Steph know, with a small smirk. A smirk that just said she had something on the tip of her tongue she just needed to say.

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"You know, I've always said number four is the charm," he joked, for once not scared of the idea of it all. He happily enjoyed their kiss until he could hear someone knocking against the window and laughed as he pulled away. "I can't tell if they were cheering or telling us dinner is ready," he joked, brushing his thumb across her cheek as he took her in. "You ready to face our adoring fans?"

"Probably, should we look at rings somewhere too, maybe in Amsterdam?," she laughed. If it wasn't their kids watching or eavesdropping then Percy's friends probably were but she didn't care, her only concern being the man in front of her. Kissing him after all this time was still just how she remembered it, the feeling of his lips familiar despite the new facial hair.

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"Do you think it's professional for me to put a picture of me holding up a peace sign with a full bar behind me as part of my holiday out of office message? You know what fuck it, I'm doing it anyway." Steph finished with her phone and then dropped it on the table. "I have to say, the high of setting my out of office response might be the best kind of high there is. Or maybe I'm just extremely overworked and in great need of something that doesn't involve using a single drop of my brain cells."

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"Moving too fast? Us? If anything I think we've probably already moved too slow. I'd love to spend Christmas together. Think the kids might like it too," he suggested. "I'm sorry too," he told her and despite knowing that his family was probably looking at them from a window somewhere, he wasn't going to fuck up their second first kiss the way he had fucked up their first. So he didn't hesitate to move closer and leaned forward to kiss her like he had been dreaming of doing again or all of these years.

"Well it's hardly my studio time, I'm writing for another artist. Strictly business," she teased, face growing warm as his lips met her skin. It felt a little unreal, the ease with which they'd agreed to be in each other's lives again. "Oh we're doing a world tour, okay. I love Brazil, they're always asking for me there. You want to do Christmas together or is that moving too fast?" Their ability to be candid with one another hadn't changed, once they'd broke that initial barrier. It was part of what she'd loved most about their relationship- no ego, no second guessing. Once he set his glass down she did the same, turning to face him fully. "I missed you too. I'm sorry it took this long."

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"I'll keep it in mind o wise one." He gave her a fake salute before digging out his phone to show her the picture. "Check it out, in all it's glory. Kind of cool to think that people are gonna be sitting around that for holiday dinner and everything. Who knows, you keep up the good behavior, you might get your own table," he joked before getting up from the booth once the bill was paid. "See you tonight, Cruz."

"Hour minimum. You can stay longer if you want, always remember that." Even if she wasn't shutting down parties like she used to she still liked to linger towards the end, never the last to leave but definitely not among the first. All the good stuff happened later anyway. "Right, my cool friends all have other plans tonight." Naomi picked up her phone and texted him her address, which was to say, yes, she wanted a ride, and looked up with a smirk as his phone dinged. "Sweet thanks. Do you have a pic of this big ass table? I want to see."

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He felt relief flood his nervous system when he saw her reaction. Could it really be that easy? He guessed that with the right person it was. "We can do whatever. I'd be happy to be your groupie in the studio," he joked, this time not hesitating to reach out for her free hand and brought it to his lips for a brief moment. "Well, it's the holidays. I think we should see a bit of snow and a bit of sun. I love Amsterdam at Christmas time. I'd also love to lay out with you on a beach somewhere in Brazil. That's a hell of a hop around but I meant it when I said I have nothing but time. Guess we could let the kids hang out with us cool adults somewhere in there but I'm okay with being a bit selfish at first." He set his wine back on the table and shifted in his seat so he could be closer to her. "I really missed you."

"Something like that," she chuckled. It felt like she spent forever trying to find her footing, working at the bar and playing around Rosewood, and then within the span of just a few months it all happened, she was catapulted into the thick of it. "Oh, wow. Three years." They didn't need to address the obvious, the lyrics that probably hit a little too close to home. Scarlet hoped he'd say as much, that this was a rekindling, and she fought back her giddy school girl smile, nodding for him to continue. "Now through January, that's a lot of time for new old feelings," she joked, the warmth of her expression giving away just how on board she was. "I think I'd really like that. I have some studio time I'll need to move around, or you could come with, but other than that... I don't know, where do you want to go?"

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"I was married and you were living your best musician life," he joked, wondering if it had been like she had hoped it would be. Bringing her music to life, finding her voice and all that came with it. "Of course, it was Nomad. One of my favorites. Pretty sure it was my top song on my Spotify wrapped for like three straight years," he admitted. It always made him feel closer to her as silly as that sounded. "Because I hoped maybe we could get into new feelings. Or new old feelings," he added, suddenly more nervous than he had been but the longer he looked at her, the longer it felt kind of ridiculous for him to be. "I'm taking off, for the holidays. I'm off from now all the way through January. You'd be amazed to find that I have finally learned to delegate and I have some especially capable proteges," he smiled as he thought about the reactions from his employees when he announced he was actually going to take a few months of time away. He couldn't tell if they were nervous or far too excited to get him out of the office. Either way he had trust. "I was hoping that I could spend a lot of that time off with you, actually. Back here or anywhere really. Wherever you go, I want to go with you. What do you think about that?"

She had relationships after Percy, plenty of them, but she'd be lying if she said he hadn't crossed her mind, especially in those in-between periods. Even when they broke up, however many years ago that was, she didn't think that'd be the end, that they'd inevitably find each other again. "I think it's tricky, looking back at all the things you would've done differently. That's the one thing I'd change, or maybe I'd just reach out sooner. You were married though and I was-," she made a dismissive motion with her hand, not getting into her various flings or relationship with Vic's father, another musician who didn't believe in marriage as an institution. If she'd been holding her breath at all she didn't realize until she let it go and nodded. "Nothing came close." And maybe that was nostalgia talking but with each year or relationship that passed she knew what they had was once in a lifetime, and he knew it too. "Do you remember what song?," she asked with a curious smile and a teasing furrow of her brow, not that it mattered. "But it'd be so like you if you did," she joked, barely registering the glass still in her hand. "Good!" Nodding, she took a sip, watching the liquid move around in her glass while she weighed her next choice of words carefully. "So if not to get into old feelings," she started, looking back up, "Why am I here?"

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Percy was quiet as he held onto her words for a moment. He had thought about it so much over time but somewhere along the way he had convinced himself that she had probably moved on, that he'd only be disrupting her life. "Well, I think it's safe to say I've lived a life with many regrets but probably nothing I regret as much as not coming with you." He took in a breath and then laughed. "I mean I've had a fun life but thrice divorced was actually not at all on my vision board. And it was foolish. I feel like a fool," he admitted, "Nothing ever came close to how I felt with you." It was something he had never quite let himself say out loud because of how guilty he felt about it. Embarrassed that he had been holding onto feelings for so much of his life. "I wish you could've seen my kids faces when I told them I knew you. We were in the car and one of your songs came on, I was singing it word for word. Had to show them a picture of us just so they'd believe me." He finished off his drink and sat up in his seat a bit. "Sorry, I didn't invite you over to get all into our emotions," he joked, "Or maybe I did, who knows. How's the wine?"

"Thank you." Scarlet smiled back at him, suddenly feeling a bit shy herself. It'd been a while since she'd been truly nervous to perform, back when the only lyrics she could sing on stage weren't her own. Percy saw those early jitters, turned the other way, because she asked to, while she played him something new. "It is stupid, I mean on my part too. I kind of thought you'd come after me," she joked, light enough to not come off like a total confession. It wasn't like she'd waited all this time for him, they both had their lives, but every spontaneous once in a couple years run-in came with this little hope that they'd go it again soon. On purpose. She glanced back as Percy did, catching the unmistakable sound of her daughter's laugh, and nodded. "Yeah. It's pretty great though isn't it." Turning, she met his eyes and softened under his gaze, vulnerable. "I think about that too. You. And you're in so much of my music, it's hard not to."

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"I know, I know. It was silly but I was a little high and feeling shy," he admitted with a shrug. "Yeah, the stage suits you. Seeing all those people singing along with you. It was amazing. You, were amazing, as always." He laughed, thinking about how eager he tried not to seem when extending the invitation. He didn't tell her that it had been Symone who had ultimately encouraged him to do it instead of just thinking about it. "This is true, I was trying not to seem obvious but you know, I don't exactly have a great poker face. And I really wanted to spend more time with you," he admitted. "I think somewhere along the way I convinced myself it would be better if we saw less of each other and more and more lately I'm realizing how fucking stupid I was for that." He looked over at her and smiled before glancing back into the living room where Steph, Eve and Vic were laughing with each other on the couch. "You ever think it's kind of crazy we're parents? I mean whole human beings that we kept alive." He shook his head and looked back at her. "I love my life but I can't even count how many times I think about you and our old apartments."

"I try to stay on the pulse," she said with a shrug and chuckled, though she wasn't the least bit ashamed she'd been following his career too. Scarlet's brow raised, "You were in Amsterdam, at my show?" Aside from how crazy it was of him to not say anything, it carried this strange sort of intimacy too- the thought of disappearing amongst the crowd, hearing things in her songs no one else was privy to. "Percy that's insane, you could've texted me. But I'm glad you liked it. I like the short tours like that, just a few cities, small venues." How comfortable even the silence between them felt refreshing, even if she knew how easily they could've yapped each other's ears off. She couldn't outright tell him it was Vic who'd made her change her mind, because she was so, so bad at saying his name without totally giving herself away. "I realized you probably weren't just being nice and actually wanted me to come," she admitted with an easy smile. "It's not like you to say things and not mean them."

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"It's good to be seen," he replied without much hesitation and then laughed at himself for how corny it sounded. "Yeah, Milan. Look at you keeping tabs. It was...busy but I have some great mentees who are really starting to carry the torch. And also help me keep my head on straight most of the time. They've been mildly successful in that. Your last European tour was really something. I was at the show in Amsterdam but there were so many fans waiting for you I didn't want to hog up your time." That and he had wrongfully assumed someone backstage was her boyfriend but he wasn't going to tell her that after all these years he was still a Libra with minor jealousy issues. He was silent for a moment, just letting it settle among the two of them. He knew he had missed her but sitting here with her now, he was realizing how much. "What made you change your mind about coming over today? I didn't think you would."

"Oh no, what have you told her?," she joked, surprisingly comfortable meeting one of his exes. It was a little weird, sure, that they'd both lived entire lives outside each other and in his case maybe several lives. Scarlet let him usher her around the room for introductions, sending a skeptic glance back his way as Symone mentioned how much she'd heard about her. Once it seemed like she'd met everyone she walked with him out to the patio, the scent lingering in the air letting her know they'd just missed some of his other guests. "It's great," she agreed. "You have a great life." She meant that, glad he had so many people around who clearly adored him- after all, who wouldn't. Scarlet looked out at the backyard through the patio screen then took a seat, Percy joining her shortly after. "I'm happy to see you." It felt like a confession despite being so obvious. "I saw your.. what was that last fashion week you did, Milan? Gorgeous."

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He laughed at her words, a good laugh that almost made him spit up his coffee but he managed to get himself together. "I know, it's a real shame. I think my head just expanded way past it's limits," he told her and made a motion as if his head was exploding. "Alright, pool party. I think I'll stay for an hour to get good footage of my sister doing something embarrassing and then head out," he told her as he reached in his pocket for his wallet. "If you want a ride, I'd be happy to pick you up but you know, I want to make space for all of your other cool friends," he joked, taking the check before the waitress could set it down. "My treat today, I'm in the holiday mood. Well that and I just sold one of my biggest pieces. Biggass table, fit for a family of like I don't know..thirteen. Some rich guy on the Northside bought it and paid for it to get delivered to his place."

"Uh-huh, she wrote that about me. Oh yeah that's definitely it, and it didn't help that I'm so pretty either. They were all like hey one or the other." She raised her own mug back at him, chuckling as she took a sip. "Right you told me that I think, about your dad." Naomi pursed her lips skeptically, as if she disagreed. "Hm, too bad you didn't grow into it."