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[epcwillaaahh]

After a couple days back in L.A. she was beginning to feel more like her usual self again and was actually beginning to enjoy the whole unpacking process, mostly because it gave her an excuse to throw on her old, comfy jeans and paint the walls of her bedroom, and possibly the bathroom, to match the new decor she'd purchased for her new studio apartment that she was, slowly, beginning to fall in love with.

A day of shopping always requires a hearty dose of caffeine to get you through and she'd already become a regular at the coffee bar near the end of her street, so it was the logical choice for a quick stop before making the journey across the freeway to Home Depot, opting to make the short walk on foot and return for her car when she was ready to go. Those who knew her well would have noticed the slight skip in her step as she approached the cafe, holding the door open for a a woman and her children with a bright smile.

"After you" she sing-songed, stepping aside and waving the trio in ahead of her, only beginning to recognize the blonde as she passed by her. It took a few moments for it to place the familiar face and she was already in line to order her extra large latte when it suddenly dawned on her. "Oh my god" she said outloud, before she could stop herself "Now You See Me! I loved that movie!"

Settling in.

It had been a rather large decision to uproot their growing family from London back to L.A. A decision that in the end, was deemed rather necessary. Tom had been working on films in the States, and Melanie seemed to be swimming in scripts her agent kept sending her. Moving back to L.A seemed like a logical choice in the end. Thankfully though they’d found quite a lovely neighbourhood just adjacent to the one that her and Tom had previously lived in. 

William surprisingly seemed to start settling in quite well. When told they had to move for Mum and Dad’s work he didn’t question much. With some of his room unpacked already, Melanie scooped her son up and twirled him around, making him fall into a fit of laughter. The pair of them lay on the floor tickling each other until they were both gasping for air. “Should we leave the rest of this for later? We can go get your sister and find a park to go to. After Mum gets some coffee. Don’t think Dad has pulled the espresso machine out of a box yet.” 

The boy looked up at her and nodded happily. Giving her son a kiss, Melanie scooped him back up into her arms. Within twenty minutes Mai was in her pram and the trio were on their way towards the coffee shop Melanie had spotted when they were looking for their new house.

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She tucked the journal underneath her thigh, taking a deep breath as she leaned back against the trunk of the oversized tree and crossing her arms over her chest, rubbing at her upper arms a bit to warm herself up some. She'd felt tough coming back from an already long winter in Canada, but perhaps she should have worn more than a thin hoodie. It wasn't anywhere near freezing, but it wasn't exactly balmy either. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the rough bark as well, losing herself in her own thoughts for sometime before she heard another voice nearby.

Snapping her from her daydream, her eyes shot open and she immediately looked up, smiling when she saw the trio and shook her head "Not at all, make yourselves at home" she said "It's a great view." she added, looking back towards the water.

Pushing the double pram down the edge of the pond Tom took in a deep breath, he could never quite get used to the mild winters.  Back home he would be battling sleet and freezing temperatures if he dared to venture outside, and William and Mai would be bundled up resembling giant marshmallows.  Instead they were in light jumpers and trousers.  Mai was napping in the back section while William was in the front, looking around himself and babbling.

"Yes darling, there are ducks there, aren’t there?" he commended the boy as he spat out the word.  Pushing the pram to a stop under a tree he glancined over at a figure nearby.

"You don’t mind if I set myself up here, do you?"

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"Oh, I remember." she pursed her lips to stifle a grin as she nodded. "In fact, I vividly remember you and Brody picking on me relentlessly!" She had a lot of good times back then and she couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic as he returned the embrace. "Oh you know, needed a break from the Canadian winter while we had some time off and I can't stay away from L.A." she explained. "Just got a place up the street. I've seen the show!!" she exclaimed happily "It's great, you're great" she added quickly. Let's be honest, she couldn't resist tuning in when she'd heard he'd signed on. "Look who's talking!" she shook off his compliment "You look fantastic - what are you now, thirty-six? And still making the girls swoon!" she rolled her eyes playfully. 

"Well, c'mon then" she went on, boldly lopping her arm through his "I'll even let you buy me a coffee to drink while you catch me up on everything you've been doing for the past..." she bobbed her head back and forth while she counted "What? Five...six years?" she asked while leading them to the counter so they could order. "I hope you're not in a hurry!"

Welcome Home

He stood behind her waiting for her to turn around. She probably thought he was some fan. That was true. He was a fan of hers, but he was also an old friend. Once she looked back at him, he gave her a half smile. “I probably did. Who can remember?” He teased with a chuckle. It had been a while since he last saw Willa. He gave her on over exaggerated fake ow face. “Watch the left hook, Rocky.” The older man teased. He looked at her as the smile stained his face. 

"That is my name." He gave her a small wink before hugging the woman back. "I needed a break from the hectic life of filming my new show." Ben shrugged and let go of her. "What about you? What are you doing here, Willa?" The man asked while looking her over. She had changed since the last time he saw her. To be fair, they hadn’t seen each other in a good 5 plus years. It was back on The O.C. that they had met. That was his big breakout role, and he became the heart throb every teen girl loved. That may have gave him a bit of confidence and ego back then, but now, he is more humbled by the thought. "You look amazing."

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Interview with a Willa

Normally she hated these things and she would make her manager promise cookies and lattes in return, but a break from unpacking suddenly made a telephone interview with Cosmo Girl seem appealing. Still, she let out of a bit of a groan when the phone rang, kicking back on the couch to get comfortable.

"Thanks for doing this Willa," the voice on the other end of the receiver said after a few pleasantries and brief introductions "we know you're probably busy so let's get right to it."

"Shoot" she nodded, covering the phone while she munched on an Oreo.

(C) What is your full name?

(W) Willa Joanna Chance Holland

(C) Where and when were you born?

Right here in L.A., on June 18, 1991 - the best decade ever!

(C) Who are your parents?

(W) Darnell Gregorio-De Palma is my mom- she did a little bit of acting but has owned a restaurant with her newest hubbie (Edoardo Baldi) since 2006. She can be a bit uptight and, in my opinion, is overly concerned with 'appearances'. I guess she pressured me a bit as a kid to, but at the same time she has always come through for me and at the end of the day, I always know I can count on her. Keith Holland is my biological dad, he's a cinematographer and director and also very English in that typical stoic, cold sort of way. We lived in England for awhile when I was a kid and back then I guess we were close, but these days, not so much. I've struggled to find a way to connect with him in any meaningful way since I was a teen. Brian De Palma is a film director and also my mom's second husband, and my stepfather. Brian was around more during my adolescence and unlike my mom, I could always be pretty real with him and definitely felt closer to him than I did to my real dad. Him and my mom divorced years ago, but he's always remained a father figure to me. He actually probably knows Willa me better than anyone and I trust him completely. I don't feel like I need to put on a show or hide parts of myself from him. He's always been there, better or worse. He gets a little overprotective sometimes though, even now, and I think he questions my ability to make it on my own because he has a tendency to butt his nose in, even when I don't want him to.

(C) Do you have any siblings? What are they like?

(W) They're awesome. Brianna Holland is three years old and  also works in the film industry, but more behind the scenes - camera and electrical sort of stuff. She is the responsible one of us three and often taking on almost a mothering role with both Piper and I. She is bossy and sometimes over-bearing, but always out of concern and worry and I love her more than anything. Piper De Palma is five years younger than me, and technically my half-sister, but I don't usually other with that. She's just my sister. The baby of the family, Piper and I have always had their differences, mostly arising from silly sibling rivalries and jealousy centered around her dad. I was really jealous when we were kids that she was his 'real' kid and kind of took that out on her. We still bicker often, but the last few years we've gotten a lot closer and I really love being her big sister.

(C) Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

(W) Echo Park, L.A. - just got an amazing studio on my own and am looking forward to finding out what this part of town is all about and meeting more of it's people.

(C) What is your occupation?

(W) Actress/Model. Amateur photographer.

(C) Write a full physical description of yourself.

(W) 5'7", 123 lbs, brown hair, green eyes. Faint scars on left wrist (let's not talk about those), no tattoos (yet). I guess my style is pretty casual for the most part. I'm most comfortable in sneakers and a pair of jeans, but when I do get dressed up, I like to do it big.

(C) To which social class do you belong?

(W)I'm no Bill Gates or anything, but I suppose I would fall into the 'upper' area somewhere.

(C) Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?

(W) History of bulimia, alcoholism, depression and anxiety. Things I've struggled with since I was a teen.

(C) Are you right- or left-handed?

(W) Right- boring, right?

(C) What does your voice sound like?

(W) Deeper than you would expect, I'm one of those people who hates the sound of their own voice. It sounds so different in my head but I got told it was sexy once, so I suppose it's not all bad. It can get pretty shrilly when I'm excited though.

(C) What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?

(W) Fuck, Dude, Whatevs. There's a lot of them.

(C) What do you have in your pockets?

(W) Bonne Bell Lip Smacker (Cherry Coke, of course), some lint, my beloved iPhone and a couple Starburst, you know, just in case.

(C) Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?

(W) I swear too much, probably drink too much, but mostly in private. I smoke but again, try not to in public because I'm well aware it's a disgusting habit. I'm fiercely protective of my cookies and I tend to babble when I'm nervous.

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It was a short walk to the cafe, but by the time she got there, she was freezing. Anyone who told you L.A. was balmy in January hadn't lived here long enough. It may not be as cold as Vancouver, but when you're used to tank tops and jean shorts even a slight drop in temperature made a difference. She pulled the door to the cafe open, eager to get inside an warm up, when she heard a voice behind her. She wasn't even going to turn around and acknowledge its source, but something about it felt familiar and she couldn't resist a peek over her shoulder, her eyes instantly widening gleefully when she caught a glimpse of him entering the coffee shop a step behind her. 

"You better! I think you used to babysit me." she joked, a bright smile overtaking her features as she reached out, without thinking and gave his shoulder a light punch "Ben fucking McKenzie." she shook her head in disbelief as she stared at him for a moment before wrapping a single arm over the shoulder of her old co-star to give him a hug "What the hell are you doing here?" she asked curiously, stepping back to get another look at him. She'd had the hugest little girl crush on him back in their O.C. days (what girl didn't) and even now it was easy to tell why.

Welcome Home

The last couple boxes of his own were dropped off earlier that morning. Ben just looked at all the boxes stacked together in some sort of pyramid shape up against the wall. He stood there and let out a deep groan when realizing he has to unpack all of these by himself. As he walked towards them, he had an idea. Coffee. No one could be expected to unpack with out the need of a plain black coffee. Slowly, he moved away from the boxes and grabbed up his wallet and phone. “Coffee break.” He finally declared before leaving the house. 

On his walk down the streets of the neighborhood, he just looked around at all the shops that seemed to just fit in this place. The place had a sort of up-scale feel to it all. It made him reminisce on the places they would go during filming in New York. It truly did when he passed a couple of food carts. A small laugh rumbled out as he finally found a coffee shop a couple of blocks from his place. Upon reaching the entrance, he saw a young woman. Someone who looked very familiar. Without thinking, he approached the woman. “Excuse me, miss.” He spoke boldly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I think I know you from somewhere don’t I?” He gave a smirk as he waited.

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Welcome Home

She closed the door behind the movers after they'd dropped the final load of her things in the middle of her new living room. It had been a long day, filled with a mixture of emotions both positive and negative and as she twirled around in the sea of boxes she had an idea that would hopefully lift her spirits and give her some much needed energy for the work she had ahead of her.

This area of L.A. was known not only for its terrific coffee but for an abundance of food carts, full of good for you food disguised as treats - exactly what she needed to face this particular challenge and so, without further hesitation, she grabbed her coat and headed first to the cafe near the end of her block that she'd spotted earlier, hoping the crowd that was gathered in its outdoor seating boded well for the quality of its lattes.

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Amen, sistah!

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Lazy days with my gal pal!

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It's like you know me or something.

Okay. I might kinda miss you.

I've been married now for...

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Really, really god actually, thanks for asking!

What about yourself, lovely?

Awh pleasure to meet you too Willa, thank you! How are you?

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Such a suck up, babe. I love it.

Fine but it better the good chocolate - not that stuff from 7-11! Hurry though, Big Brother is starting soon. I'll keep your spot warm!

I've been married now for...

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Pleasure to meet ya, Justine! I'm Willa, welcome to Silver Lake!

Hello everybody, I’m Justine or you might know me as iJustine? Eh, I tried! Hello!!

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RUH-ELLY? How bad did you think it was gonna be, huh??

You better come home with flowers or its the doghouse for you!

I've been married now for...

like two months..I think? It’s not as bad as I thought it would be.

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He's such a bad influence!

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Best. Cast. Evah!

((We really need a Colton and Pappa John!))

The ‘Arrow’ Cast at SDCC courtesy of Selfie King Paul Blackthorne (x)

[epcwillaaahh]

She visibly relaxed when they both reacted so encouragingly, returning Chace's hug after giving Blake a quick kiss on the cheek as well. She clapped and squeed excitedly "Oh man, I'm so glad you guys aren't freaking out - I was terrified to tell you." she admitted with a chuckle "I know it was totally crazy and everything, but.." she stopped to catch her breath, in all her excitement and nerves, she realized she was talking way too fast. "Anyway, I'd love for you guys to meet him, hopefully you love him as much as I do. I'll talk to him when I get home tonight and we'll set a date" she promised.

"Now" she shook her head, returning her focus to them "you need to back up a little bit cause I'm pretty sure I heard you say twins and that would be just..." her eyes darted back and forth between the couple, for confirmation she'd heard right and their smiles said all she needed to know "OH MY GOD" she yelped, immediately clapping her hand over her mouth, remember Penelope was asleep. "Double the good news!" she grinned leaning in towards Blake a little "You know what this means, right?" she winks at Blake and mouths 'Shopping!" blake-lively-crawford christopher-chace--crawford

Big News || Blake, Chace, Willa

"I know Blake really would like a boy, but if we do, it’ll be wonderful, but then again, I’d be happy, blessed with a girl, or two girls," he grinned happily, looking at Blake, holding her hand once more, squeezing it as he smiled then, looking back to Willa, and laughing with happiness due to her excitement and the embrace - he knew she was happy for them and it made him happy, happier to see now.  Chace knew, and believe deep down, whatever happened would happen, and was meant to be - just the fact he and Blake were expecting was a miracle, something beautiful on its own, and it making him immensely happy.

"Oh my god, really? Just wow…" Chace was speechless for some moments, but with her further words, her look of happiness, the ring and everything, he gave her a quick embrace, nothing to make her feel uncomfortable but meaningful, happy one as he said, pulling away, "Congratulations, Willa— I’m, we’re… We’re so happy for you, and for your husband, well both of you."  He just looked at Blake, nodding and agreeing with her, "Yes, and please do… Well one day when you’re free, or find available time somewhere, please do bring him over, and we’d love to meet the one who is making you this happy."  Everything Blake said, he agreed, and happily adored the idea, now looking to Willa, the both of them waiting her reply, hoping she would say yes.

[ blake-lively-crawford + slcwillaaahh ]

[epcwillaaahh]

- Moooove bitch get out the way. Via @willaaaahh