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"Maybe because it isn't something you have thought about with a partner until Fred?" Though perhaps it'd been considered with Joe before given how serious they had been together. "I'd always love your opinion. Look, whilst we like different things, we'd always give advice that works with those preferences. It doesn't have to be my favourite thing to tell you if it looks good or not." Freya spoke in soft amusement. "I'm tempted to copy you and do a pinterest board myself but I might be jumping a little ahead with that." She admitted, given that she and Damien hadn't even discussed moving in together. "I love a green garden so you know I'd always be out there. Maybe I could create a way to go to my creatures out there rather than how I enter currently." She mused, finding herself rather lost in that thought.

"It really is. I never quite got it up until now," she admitted. "I know you won't. I mean the same will go for when you're decorating your own place– if you ask for my opinion in return that is," she shrugged. "That sounds so incredibly you. I feel like you'd have the most whimsical back garden," Vera commented with a warm smile. "I don't have a naturally green thumb so I'll just have to come over yours to enjoy all the beautiful greenery."

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Freya laughed softly at that. "There is something about creating all that with a person you love. It's pretty special." She admitted with a little nod of her head at the thought. "And as a witch, there is so much open to you." They weren't exactly limited by size, only cost. "You know I'll give you my opinion on things but I'll not be upset if you don't take them given we do have different tastes." Freya hummed at the thought of the back garden. "I will never forget reading A secret garden and I've always imagined having something like that if I could."

"Never thought I'd be so invested in backsplash but here I am now, zooming in on pictures of kitchens and picking them apart in regards to what I want for my future home," Vera confessed with a snort. "Thank you though. I figured you'd like– but I still want to know everything nonetheless," she added. "Thankfully we both agreed on this but I insisted on a lot of outside space. For River, for entertaining– I want a nice garden or something. Fred was one hundred percent on board for it too."

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They were so used to sharing things at this point, she didn't even bat an eyelid when the phone was passed over to her. Flicking through the different things that Vera had in her mind, Freya couldn't help but smile. These are nice. I like the decor ideas." They both had put their stamp on this apartment so it was no surprise that she liked what Vera was thinking of here. "Are there any non-negotiables you have been thinking about?"

"That's true. And even before then we've been close for years. It was only a matter of time," she nodded. "Yeah, I know right? It seems I just couldn't help myself," Vera laughed, pulling out her phone to hand it over to Freya. "Have a look. I'm sure you'll have your own opinions which honestly I would love to hear." She shifted to grab her glass and sip from it. "Please! It's so much more fun to share it with someone and while I know I need to run everything through Fred I want an outside opinion too. And there's nobody's I trust more than yours."

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"It makes sense though, you two have been seeing each other for a while now." But equally, Vera was right that time had felt a little like it had stopped still. They were both ready for next steps but still happy to keep living as they were too, like they didn't quite want to give up this part of their lives. It'd been such a big part and they had come through so much, it was no surprise that they'd been holding on so hard. "A pinterest board already? You really are excited." Freya said with a soft laugh. "I'd love to see and help you bounce ideas around. It's exciting to do all this kind of stuff."

"And fair enough. It's within your best friend duties to look out for things like that after all," she acknowledged with a laugh. "Whenever we talked about it it felt like one of those 'down the line' sort of things. Like it didn't feel so... close? If that makes any sense," Vera shrugged. "So when Fred brought it back up again one day it wasn't completely out of the blue but it still felt a little unexpected. I guess I forgot time hasn't been frozen– sometimes I feel like we're still those young girls fresh out of Hogwarts. But I'm so excited, I really am. And I know you would be for me too," Vera reached to squeeze Freya's hand. "Absolutely! I've got a Pinterest board already started of interiors and furniture and things like that– but we're making a shortlist of places we'd like to see. I'd love to share everything with you."

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"As you should be. If you weren't I would be concerned about you making that move with him." Freya told the girl with brushing her hand softly against Vera's arm. She did have to laugh when Vera assured her that it hadn't been something they had been debating for months without telling her. "I mean, that would be your prerogative if you had, I couldn't be upset with you for that but what I actually meant was, have you been thinking about it for a while because it seems like something you would both have talked about for a while before finally jumping in. But, I'd love to see what the pair of you are looking at. I know it's not my decision to pick of course but I can get second hand excitement too."

"Thanks! Yeah I'm– I'm excited," she admitted, hugging Freya back tightly. "I'm going to miss this so much though. Like... we still have to have girls nights all the time, yeah?" Vera added hopefully, giving Freya's forearms a squeeze. "It's still pretty fresh. I promise I haven't been harboring this secret for months or something," she felt the need to clarify when Freya asked her how long they'd been talking about it. "While I've been stalling, it's not that bad, I swear," Vera laughed. "We're currently in the stage of listing off things we want from the property and trying to find ones that fit. We haven't done any viewings yet."

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Freya really had to wonder what was coming when Vera began her speech because it sounded a little daunting. Thankfully, the reveal wasn't anywhere near as bad as what she'd been anticipating though and Freya leaned over to pull Vera into a big hug. "That's amazing V. Congratulations on taking that step in your relationship together." Because despite the slight underlying sadness she felt at the thought of not coming home to Vera and having moments like this any more, she supported her and wanted her to be happy. Fred made Vera happy and as long as that continued, she would always be in her corner cheering them on. "How long have you been discussing that for?" Freya asked after a moment.

"I'm just going to come right out and say it because putting it off it only going to make things worse–," Vera finally said, sounding a little nervous. The two had been having a nice night in with all the usual stops– wine, face masks and a comfort movie. It was hard to think about how this wouldn't be a regular thing for them soon. She sat up, looking to Freya for a moment before speaking up again. "Fred and I are going to get a place together."

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"And you've been doing plenty of that I hope? I know you sometimes have a temptation to kind of... shut yourself away. It's nice to see you getting out and about." Especially after everything.

"Thanks, Freya," Gale said with a small smile, "Sometimes I do need the push," he admitted, "I haven't been up to much," he admitted, "Just mingling and catching up with people."

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"Oh my sweet boy, I know." Freya spoke on a whisper at the fact Damien had pointed out that they were going through this together, and that he wouldn't have left her to deal with it on her own. She didn't doubt any of that for a moment. Seeing the tears pouring down his cheeks too, killed her all over again and she found herself drawing him tightly to her. "I know you wouldn't say that but I assure you that in my eyes, you are." And really, that was all that matters. "Come lie with me?" Freya requested softly after a moment, just wanting to curl up in her bed with Damien and absorb all the comfort they could get from one another. She felt like they both needed that right now. It wasn't about whether one was hurting more than the other, but that they'd both been through such a terrible experience. One only the two of them in that moment could understand. "I love you so much, and I'm so sorry for all of this pain."

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"Oh my sweet boy, I know." Freya spoke on a whisper at the fact Damien had pointed out that they were going through this together, and that he wouldn't have left her to deal with it on her own. She didn't doubt any of that for a moment. Seeing the tears pouring down his cheeks too, killed her all over again and she found herself drawing him tightly to her. "I know you wouldn't say that but I assure you that in my eyes, you are." And really, that was all that matters. "Come lie with me?" Freya requested softly after a moment, just wanting to curl up in her bed with Damien and absorb all the comfort they could get from one another. She felt like they both needed that right now. It wasn't about whether one was hurting more than the other, but that they'd both been through such a terrible experience. One only the two of them in that moment could understand. "I love you so much, and I'm so sorry for all of this pain."

Without even having to think about it, his arms found a way to envelope Freya as she shifted forwards. Damien's hands resting on her upper waist gently as took his face into her own hands. "I can't imagine being anywhere else, Freya. Of course I'm here by your side. There is no world where I'd let you go through this alone," he insisted. "Besides, we're going through this together," he reminded softly, although his pain in regards to this would never match how it had to feel for Freya right now. "You don't need to worry about me going anywhere," Damien promised, tears streaming down his own cheeks at this point. "I would not say I am a miracle, mon coeur. But you can guarantee that I will always fight by your side no matter what."

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Perhaps Freya had needed this little bit of perspective because Damien had been supporting her so much to the point where she'd almost allowed herself to forget that she wasn't the only one hurting. The blonde shuffled forward gently, eyes still damp but she shakily took his face in her hands, holding the man so tenderly. "None of this is your fault." She felt that was the most important thing to get out of the way righ then. Freya didn't want him to think there was any hesitation in those words, or that she believed differently. "You have given me back so much Damien. I... this is not something I ever thought I would be going through but if I have to, I am glad you're the one by my side for it. I don't think I could... if you weren't here..." There was no way she could have made it through without him. "I need you. And you're my miracle. Please believe that." She could feel the tears falling again, this time for him too.

"I've done some things I'm really not proud of," Damien admitted softly when she'd ask how any of this could be his fault. He hadn't wanted this conversation to take this sort of a shift. While he had every intention of telling Freya about this part of his life sooner rather than later, everything surrounding their baby had taken up time and space and he hadn't wanted to overshadow any of it with this. "And because of that well... I've always been convinced that I don't really deserve happiness. It's why what I have with you consistently feels like a miracle that fell into my lap. I'm often convinced that you are far too good to be true."

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There was a pause from Freya at Hazel's questioning. Much as she didn't really like to revisit the past few months; ones in which she perhaps considered even worse than the situation with her ex in its on way, she knew she'd already kept far too much from her siblings. It wasn't something she really wanted to discuss but divulging this at least wasn't something that could harm them. Freya took a breath. "Damien is wonderful. Truly. But that doesn't mean life is always simple. Perhaps we should go somewhere a little more private?" It was a request more than a suggestion despite how she had worded it.

"Put the past behind you?" Hazel asked with eyebrows raised. "I figured you were having a good year. I mean, you and Damien seem to be doing good an everything. You tend to be smarter and handle everything else way better than I do." Hazel paused lightly. "I don't want to make assumptions or offend you but I feel like I should ask, things are good between you and Damien, right? He's treating you right, right?"

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"It is one of the things I hold most valuable to me." Considering she'd done a disappearing act, Freya knew she had been lucky that Vera had welcomed her back with open arms. More so than even her siblings and that had been before she'd given her an explanation. "I think we need to explain to the boys that we're going to have to find adjoining homes or build them ourselves." She stated after a moment with humour to break the seriousness of their discussion.

"Just you so much as try and forget about me. I'd never let you hear the end of it," her threats empty and playful as she wagged a finger at Freya. She smiled softly, reaching to take her best friend's hands into hers before giving them a gentle squeeze. "Our relationship will remain strong. I haven't got any doubts about that," Vera assured warmly. She genuinely couldn't imagine a world that she and Freya weren't taking on side-by-side. The woman would always be one of the most important people in her life.

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"I don't know about new me but a new start is always a nice thought." It'd ended up being a tough year for Freya and whilst there were plenty of highlights, one moment in particular managed to sour how she viewed the entire year. "I want to put the past behind me and just start over again."

"Well I'm pretty tipsy right now, so that helps," Hazel said, taking a sweet and opening up the wrapper. "I don't really believe in new year, new me ideology. It always just pisses me off in the end."

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"Perhaps it will and then I'm going to have to take you out each time as a thank you for your exceptional tastes." Freya told her with a little laugh, though honestly, she wouldn't mind the others company, excuses aside. "I can understand that. Maybe next time I can do the same for you?"

"Who knows? Maybe it'll become your new favorite coffee place," she then shrugged hopefully when Freya assured her that she'd appreciate the place no matter what. "And then I can be glad that I shared something with someone else. It's always so affirming when you give someone a recommendation that they enjoy."

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"I'm proud of you for working on it. I'll help remind and reassure you as many times as it takes." Freya said with a smile of her own when he explained. "Whilst you don't need to thank me, I appreciate it anyway. Come on. I am looking forward to celebrating with you. You can tell me what you've been up to tonight."

"I know, I know," Gale said, nodding, "I know it's a me thing, not an everybody else thing. I'm working on it," he explained, smiling. He didn't need to voice what she meant to his childhood. His first words had been calling her mama, enough said. He nodded in gratitude though, making sure his expressions showed it too, "Thank you."

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"I'm glad you're able to work through that because you've never been a burden to me Gale. I understand why you may feel that way given our upbringing and we all have our own crosses to bear when it comes to that, but you are not a burden. You and our sister will always be the best things that happened to me and the happiest part of my childhood." Even if their lives were not easy and she didn't want them to go through what they did, she was lucky enough to have them by her side through it all. She didn't think she would have been the same if she'd gone through it alone.

"I..." Gale trailed off, "No, you're right. There is time and I'm definitely not trying to get rid of you. I was just, feeling like a burden. I'm getting better at identifying it after my sessions," he explained, "Let's get a drink then. There's plenty of space to find a spot before midnight."

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"I'm sure that some people are or they wouldn't continue to sell them, surely." Freya mused before giving a little shrug of her shoulders. When Bekah pointed out how deep the conversation had gotten, Freya laughed. "Nothing like a little existential crisis to bring people together. Besides, you brought up the dreams aspect a little bit."

"Is anyone really good at the recorder? I feel like it's an instrument that everyone sucks at," she considered with a snort, amused by the anecdote. "Just keeping the conversation light and easy, huh?" Bekah joked when she'd been asked what she dreamed of. "My answer might sound like a cop-out but it's honest– I'm not sure. As long as music is in my life in some way, it sounds good to me. I suppose I should work a little harder on figuring out the dream thing however."