This Last Week Has Been *a Week* If You Too Have Been Going Through It, I Am Sending You Lots Of Love

this last week has been *a week* if you too have been going through it, I am sending you lots of love and hugs and positive vibes.

Elizabeth smiled at the girl as she told her about the way she spoke about the boy and how self confident she was about it all and who she was at such a young age. "Yup," she agreed. "And you're right someone who likes you just the way you are will come when you least expect it. It's best when you're not looking for it."

Bracelet making had been a skill she learned to make something for Wally when she was stuck trying to figure out what to give him for his birthday. Wanting to give him something with a personal touch when she confessed her feelings for him, only to be surprised and have him do so first. "Like this?" Smiling, she held up her right hand to show the couple of bracelets she had collected so far, along with the red one that he had given her, what felt like, lifetimes ago. "Of course, Annie! It'll be super special because only you and I will have the matching set. I even learned new ones with beads, so we have many different patterns and designs we can make now."

Leave it to Annie to always put things into perspective. But officially? Did she want them to get married? Granted, the girl was right. In emergencies, she most likely wouldn't be able to do much unless someone else vouched for her, but marry? That was never something she thought about doing, but if Wally asked, she knew what her answer would be in. But that was a bridge to cross another day, for now, she tapped the girl nose. "Well, you shouldn't be stressing about things like that, okay. We'll all be healthy and safe for a long time and all that matters to me is that its official to you, okay. "

Grabbing one of the cookies for herself she nodded in agreement before taking a bite. "Next time, we'll make raspberry or another fun flavor everyone likes." The curious little girls sigh was met with one of the woman's own sighs. "There is such a thing as being a little too curious Annie, but I promise you next time I have another case that Mai needs help with, I'll let you tag along."

"Well," a small chuckle. "Your uncle has been wanting me to take him to Iceland for as long as I've known him. So I thought it was about time I showed him around my island." There was a question she was going to ask Annie, when it was forgotten as Wally returned like a whirlwind. "Four hours?" Her surprise at what he was showing her was evident as her mind began to run with things to do. There were so many things to take care of, wasn't there? Then she was looking down at Annie who was so wise in her few years.

Smiling, she nodded. "With you always." Then she got up and held her hand out to Annie. "Want to help me pack?" It wasn't like she needed much but she did want to let the girl in on a little secret.

Annie giggled and turned a bright red. "Very nice. Always has treats for me. We are friends. I think we are but I don't think he likes me very much like that. That's okay too. I'm not for everyone. Someone who likes me will come later." A butterfly made her smile. "I really like that. The butterfly landed on you."

"Me neither. You're going to look so cool! I'm thinking beige that goes with your eyes and a deep crimson. It'll match my red one." She showed off her bracelet on her left hand. "Just make sure you have yours on your right side. That means you are inviting the good juju into your life not out." She gasped in surprise. "We can make some ourselves with a new pattern? Are you serious?"

Hmm she had a point but still that had the little girls head tilt in her direction. "Sure, you're right. But what if one of us gets hurt," more likely her uncle in this case but she digressed. "And you get blocked by people who tell you you can't know anything because you're not a spouse or family? Then you wouldn't get blocked out. We're family because I say so and it works but then wouldn't you like to be part of the family officially?"

She could eat lemon cookies all day long. It was never enough and never got her fill of them. "These are so good. Next time we need to make more and hide them!"

He took that look from his love as subtle confirmation this was a work free zone. Grabbing his keys off the desk he gestured that he'd be back momentarily. He opened the door slowly and closed it just as fast. Annie frowned being bummed that she wasn't going to get to see. "You two are no fun," she sighed then smiled and sat next to Liz. "Where are you going on your trip?"

Wally made sure to tell him to send all related content over to Liz's office that Mai would get it and relay anything important over if it should arise and then wished him goodnight. It didn't take much more than a few minutes before he was back inside, keys dropped back in their place and phone out to scroll through flights. "Alright. Back to our regular scheduled programming. About that trip? There's a flight in four hours. Nothing says seize the moment like just doing it. We've got no excuse." He grinned softly as he sat at the edge of her seat and showed her the seats. Annie nodded and pushed her chin on top of Liz's hands. "Go. Don't leave it for tomorrow. Sometimes it may never come."

"As for dinner. We can have it on the way. Sleep can be done in flight. All we really need is a suitcase. Which I believe we have plenty of. You got me curious over this trip to see the lights and have a mini getaway. You totally do deserve it." That killed all birds with one stone. "Up for an adventure with me?"

Her wrists garnered with bracelets were something she liked to show off. It wasn't expensive jewels or gold bracelets that she treasured and beamed with pride to show off. It was these, little colorful threads that children had given her because they cared for her. They meant something. Of course, the meaning of the one she had the longest was something she had not known until now. It was when Annie told her what the red one meant that her smile faltered a little. Not because it upset her or concerned her, but because he had known all along. He had always known her better than she knew herself, how many times had he said that he saw her, but she refused to believe it. Even back then, he knew somehow they'd end up here. Taking a moment to process it all, it further cemented her decision. Her smile came back and she nodded. "Me too. We'll make so many that I'll have to start an art galley! Maybe even start your own business."

Lifting her finger up with a serious look on her face, she held it out for Annie to take while using her other hand to sign a cross over her chest. "Pinky swear and cross my heart."

Her heart began to pound against her ribcage and she felt a surge of adrenaline run through her from the happiness that filled her. The nerves as well, though she didn't know why. As they passed by Wally, she took a second to give his cheek a quick kiss before heading off with Annie to pack. Her hazel eyes relayed how elated she was they were taking this trip and how much she loved him back. "Yes," she answered the girl as they walked towards the bedroom. "It is cold and the hoodie sounds like a wonderful idea. See, what would I have done if you weren't around to help me pack?"

Leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar, so she could hear if Wally was coming down the hall, she went into the closet and grabbed the hoodie. The one in her favorite color, her favorite one the one that once had been his and placed it on the bed, before whispering to Annie. "Want to know a surprise I have for your uncle?" Grabbing the box where she kept some old things in it, she reached into it and grabbed another box, but a smaller one, flat and not thick at all, at a glance it looked like it could hold a thin notebook. Kneeling on the floor by the side of the bed that Annie was on, she laid it between the two. "Have you ever heard of a handfasting?"

Taking the lid off the top of the box, the girl could see what she had been working on for months with no one none the wiser. It had begun as a way to practice new bracelet patterns on a bigger yarn before trying it on smaller threads, but then it began to take a life of its own. Slowly but surely she realized what she was making. A handfasting rope. "Like you said the red one is when you picture someone being in your life forever, this is like a big bracelet version of that. It's my way of telling your tio, that I also want to be in his life for as long as he wants me around. What do you think?" She bit her bottom lip as she stood up and though this over. Heading back to the closet to grab some more clothes, she asked over her shoulder. "You think he'll like it?"

"I'm looking forward to that. Someone who comes in and crash lands into my solar system." The saying was funny to her but that was something she understood. Her thought process was trailed off as she looked at her wrist and grinned like she had just been given the secret recipe for the sour apples at the pumpkin patch. "Oh my gosh! That one," she was quick to point out seeing the red one. "He gave you that one. He liked you. We don't share the reds unless we see them in our lives forever. It was the first thing I learned when I saw them." She trailed her fingers over each one and smiled. "This is beautiful but yes we need to add more." She clapped her hands giddily. "I'm so excited!"

"Pinky promise?" Annie lifted her finger for her to take. "I worry because I want all my people safe." Still the thought of having Liz as an actual family member gave her hope. Yet another member of her family would lock in their happiness. "You sound just like tio wally." She murmured as a laugh escaped her. But the prospect of accompanying her and seeing a case was enticing enough to hold her over until that day came.

His eyes shined an I love you and his smile showed amusement at how quick she agreed. Annie jumped up from her seat and quickly to grab her hand. "Yes please! No time to waste! Is it cold?" A million questions were fired off as that left Wally chuckling to himself cleaning up the living room and finding the travel items for Dolly. He had gotten the confirmation for their flight and that had him put away his phone. "Come, lady. Let's go get your suitcase." The dog wagged her tail and followed him over to the hall closet being followed by Antares trying to see what was happening.

The little girl climbed on the bed already knowing her way around and sighed blowing hair out of her eyes. "What's first? Exciting. This time is for fun." She crawled over to the other side and giggled having fun rolling to one side. "If it's cold you should take the hoodie! Maybe a dress if he takes you to dinner." Shaking her head she didn't know what was to happen but was excited nonetheless and waited for Liz to say something.

Kraven the Hunter (2023)