Cajun chicken with linguine

Continues from Business and Pleasure


Charlie stood at the kitchen counter, holding a butcher knife in one hand while the other lay flat on the plastic cutting board. A slender, brown arm reached across him, grazing his flat hand, causing shivers to run up spine. He lifted his thumb as it passed again, letting it touch the arm. Clearing his throat, the hand that belonged to the arm put a round, beef-eater tomato in front of him.

"Want this diced?," he asked, looking at the rest of the body that belonged to the brown arm. Vivienne flashed her bright smile and nodded, wiping her hands on her red apron.

"You can cook...right?"

"I've seen Top Chef."

Laughing, Viv wrapped an arm around his back and pressed her mouth into his shoulder. She patted him on the back before she turned, picking up a large set of dishes, and backed out of the kitchen's saloon style swinging doors.

Rolling his eyes, Charlie tried to catch his breath and ignore Vivienne's scent on him. He listened to her set the table when he heard the telltale noise of the rest of the Pipers coming to her door. Their voices carried through the walls and Charlie could hear Red, Domingo, and Lewis knock loudly on Vivienne's apartment door.

He had managed to be alone with Vivienne for almost a half hour, coming early to avoid the other Pipers not so quiet whispered teasing and attention. He had been put on prep duty, which was fine, since he spent the entire time in the kitchen with her. Looking at the knife, he began cutting the wet tomato into diced pieces for her dish. In no time, the other three Pipers that had shown up came into the kitchen and were put to work along with him.

Red came in first and clapped Charlie on the shoulder, winking at him. "You say anything to her?"

"No! God, Red." Charlie looked over his shoulder and blushed.

"You should tell her," Lewis said washing his hands, using the sound of the water to mask his whisper.

"Tell her tonight, after we all leave." Domingo even felt the need to give his advice, smiling as he did so.

Charlie held his knife up and used his index finger to mimic slitting their throats. "Come on, leave me alone."

Red shrugged as Vivienne reentered the kitchen, silencing the rest of them.

"You let her go off with him?" Brig got in LT's face, reading him the riot act about letting Vivienne go along with him and Marthinus to talk to Duban and her pet. "You should have kept an eye on her at all times."

"She can handle herself, Brig."

Brig turned and looked at Hammer who was standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "We all know you give two shits about her, Hammer, but her safety is our responsibility," Brig said turning his attention back to LT, "and if something happens to her, it's on us."

LT nodded but stayed quiet.

"Did you get a copy of her report?"

Hammer sighed, breathing out of his nose. "No."

"Where is she now? Her apartment?" His nephew nodded an affirmative and Brig turned to Hammer.

Hammer checked his watch. "It's early still."

Brig pointed to the door and LT walked out ahead of him, with Hammer bringing up the rear.

Hammer was annoyed with Vivienne, but not enough to storm off to her apartment like his cousin apparently was feeling. It wasn't often, but Hammer thought Brig came down too hard on the LT, but that was his nature lately. Hammer felt the embarrassed annoyance from the young man enough to stop Brig by calling out as they walked to Vivienne's apartment.

"LT," he said and both men turned around. "You're dismissed. See you tomorrow."

"Sir," LT said and left without looking at his Uncle. Beta trumped Commander any day.

Brig put his hands on his hips and stepped closer to him. Hammer didn't wait for Brig to open his mouth.

"What, you're going to yell at me like a kid now?"

That stopped Brig who dropped his hands and let his shoulders slump.

"I'd ask what's wrong with you, but I already know." Hammer continued walking, slowly until Brig caught up with him silently. "You're coming down too hard on them. Too hard on Lothias."

"This...from you?"

"Listen Brian," he started not looking at his cousin, "whatever is going on between you and me, it's affecting the Pipers. You run them ragged all day and then disappear all night. They're actually coming to me with personal things now. Me."

Hammer looked at Brig as they hit the stairs to the second floor, leading to the guest apartments. He wasn't sure what else to say, so he left it as they double timed it up the steps to Viv's rooms. Checking his watch, he noted the time again.

"We're a little early."

"Early for what?" Brig asked and knocked on the door.

Brig's shoulders were tense and his entire face felt bunched up with nerves. He was angry at both LT and Vivienne. Especially Vivienne. Brig could not help the angry twist of his blood memory, but just thinking of Viv with Duban's pet infuriated him. That thing touching her. He balled up his fists and felt his knuckles crack loudly as he ignored Hammer and his suddenly deep thoughts about how Brig was handling the Pipers. The men needed direction and focus and he was giving it to them. Was he still angry at Hammer, yes - he'd admit that, but it had nothing to do with the Pipers.

Or so he kept telling himself.

Staring at the door, he reached up to bang on it again when he heard the shuffle of footsteps, heavier than Vivienne's. His hand froze in front of the door as it opened widely, revealing Charlie's smiling face.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" It was the first thing he blurted out as he looked at a now startled Charlie.

"Sir..." Charlie started, looking over to his left.

"He's here for dinner, Brig. As are we." Hammer stepped around Brig and entered the apartment, forcing Charlie to take a step back to allow his sizable frame in.

Brig stepped in and looked to his right at the dining area. The table was filled with food and wine glasses. Charlie closed the door and pointed into the kitchen, just as the rest of the Pipers came streaming out, carrying more food and Vivienne came out smiling, bringing up the rear.

"What dinner?" Brig asked.

Viv shoulders slumped as she set down her dish. Rolling her eyes she said, "God, do you ever read my emails?"

Xeph knocked at Vivienne's door and it was promptly opened by Charlie. He greeted him warmly, still slightly unsure of his reception with the Pipers. He didn't doubt their loyalty; he'd grown up with most of them. But being treated like a cousin was actually a whole lot different than really -being- a cousin. He was actually hoping to be family tonight, not the Alpha.

That said he walked in and said, "Is this where the party is? I got this email..."

Nikhila was, sadly, in a class. But he'd brought another lovely lady along instead. She promptly left his side, deserting him for her fiance. "Well, so much for mom."

Approaching Viv, Xeph smiled and handed her a "thanks for dinner gift," which was a small plant, a young orchid, in a decorative pot. Only a few inches high, it was already beginning to bloom. He wasn't sure if Viv had a green thumb at all but his message was fairly clear; it would be difficult for her to travel far or long with this to take care of. He was hoping she'd stay a while.

Of course, he had a feeling Brig would be far more convincing than he could ever be.

At any rate he handed the little orchid to Viv and bent to kiss her cheek lightly. "Thanks for the invite," he said. "Can I help with anything?"

Lily did, in fact, desert Aidan just as soon as she saw Iov. Unashamed of her feelings she went straight to his side and wound her arms around his neck, kissing him softly on the corner of his mouth. Turning she greeted Brig and then, finally spotting her under a pile of Pipers and Xeph, their hostess Vivienne.

Looking back and forth between Brig and Iov, Lily noted something.. well, slightly off. In both of their manners. As if they hadn't just arrived for a friendly dinner. They were too tense.

Nestled in against Iov's side she turned her head slightly and asked under the chatter of other voices, "Is everything all right?"

Before Brig could answer, there was another knock at the door. Charlie quietly walked past his Commander and opened the door, letting in the Alpha and his mother. Viv watched as Mrs Xephier, rather Lily, entered and went directly to Hammer, kissing him gently. Hammer gave her a small smile and tucked her small hand in his huge arm. It suddenly occurred to Viv that they were probably having sex.

"Oh my god, I'm blind," she mumbled as the Alpha approached her, handing her a lovely gift.

"Aww,...thank you, Al...Xeph. May I call you Xeph? I'm going to call you Xeph." Blushing, she stammered again when he kissed her lightly on the cheek and thanked her for the invite, as well as offering to help.

"Odds are I will kill this, but I am really going to try not to do that." Grinning, she cradled the little pot and nodded toward the dinner table. "Actually, the Pipers helped me finish everything up." Turning toward them, she hooked a thumb toward the Alpha. "Gentlemen, your cousin is here."

The Pipers whooped and cheered.

"Ok, I think we're all here. LT is off with his woman, but hopefully he'll join us next time. Let us break some bread, get incredibly drunk, and eat!"

Holding a hand out to the table, Viv smiled at Lily, touching her shoulder gently in a welcoming gesture. She looked up at Hammer who gave her a slow blink and a nod, apparently his way of thanking her for the invite, and showed them a seat.

Turning, she saw Brig who nodded politely at the Alpha's mother and then gave Viv a blank look. She set down her orchid on top of the sofa table and walked up to Brig, crossing her arms. "Seriously...you delete my email when you see it, don't you. I sent this like last week."

"We need to talk."

"Then talk."

"About Huntington."

"Ok, don't talk." Brig narrowed his eyes at her. "Eat please, will ya?" Viv held her hand out to the table, forcing him to grumble and finally find himself a seat. "All right then, mazol tov, yo!"

Hammer accepted the kiss from Lily and ignored the soft gasps coming from, no doubt, Red and Lewis. He rolled his eye toward the ceiling at Lily's question about Brig.

"My cousin is angry with Vivienne going along with the Pipers to talk to Duban and Huntington. He didn't know about the dinner, apparently he doesn't read Vivienne's emails...or something like that."

Hammer led Lily to the table as the men waited for the ladies to sit. As Lily and Viv took seats around the large, rectangular table, he was surprised she managed to find a large enough set to seat them all, granted the Pipers were squeezed in.

Charlie avoided looking directly at the Commander who was still standing near the door. Vivienne made her way over to him, trying to coax him into staying. Silently he prayed that the Commander would leave, but was immediately disappointed as Viv led him toward the table to sit down.

They waited for Mrs Xephier and Vivienne to sit before they themselves sat down. There was a chorus of "ma'ams" from the Pipers when they finally all took their seats. Immediately Charlie reached out and began passing bread in one direction as Red passed dishes of pasta in the other direction.

"This is Cajun chicken linguine pasta and it is not fat free. Made with a bevy of spices and heavy cream, tomatoes diced nicely by Charlie, garlic by Lewis, and the pasta made by Marko, Domingo, with Dougie and Marthinus supervising. Thank you gentlemen for helping tonight."

Charlie smiled at Vivienne as she announced the dinner. She caught his eye and gave him a friendly wink as the Commander settled down next to her seat which was at the head of the table. Ignoring the Commander's glare, he turned to the Alpha and made small talk as he heaped noodles onto his plate.

"So how does it feel being a Hammerthynn, sir?"

Viv looked around the table and watched as everyone passed dishes and scooped up this and that. There were heaps of food on the table, not just the pasta, but when her eye fell on the Alpha and his mother, Viv remembered something.

"WAIT!" she said, standing and holding her hands out, forcing everyone to stop. The men immediately stood politely, holding their plates and looking at each other.

Running into the kitchen, she opened up the fridge and pulled out a few more dishes. Running back in, she set them on the table, forcing the men to stand back up again.

"Sorry, sorry. I forgot about the raw food. Sit sit. Eat, eat!"

Everyone resettled into their seats and Viv giggled to herself, laughing at the men standing when she did. She was about to stand when Brig quietly spoke to her.

"Don't."

Narrowing her eyes at him, he continued to grab food without any reaction to her, save for the tiniest bit of a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"Fine," she mumbled to herself.

"Well if it dies at least you tried," Xeph said earnestly to Viv. "It's the thought that counts."

At her hastily stammered question/decision he laughed and shrugged his shoulders. No one called him Alpha Xephier. Well, okay, a few people. Which was fine. But Alpha Xephier was the previous Alpha's name. Come to think of it he probably should even be "Xeph" anymore, but he wasn't sure he could drop that. He just grinned easily at Viv; it didn't matter what she called him.

As they gathered around the table Xeph considered Charlie's question. "Well, I was a little worried at first but my eyeball didn't shrivel up and fall out and my sense of humor is still intact so I guess it's better than I thought it would be."

He didn't glance at Hammer, just delivered the line in a solemn voice with a slight twitch of his lips.

Used as he was to choking down cooked food at various functions and events, Xeph hadn't expected Viv to provide for every single variance in palate but apparently she had. He thanked her for her thoughtfulness and helped himself to what looked like chicken spiced with the same cajun recipe as what everyone else was digging into. He eyeballed the pasta suspiciously, passed the bread along, and when he turned back to his plate discovered a small pile of something vile and green had been deposited there.

He turned his head to Lily, who sat between him and Hammer, and raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

Lily gave Iov a knowing "ohhh," and let the matter of Brig's surliness drop. It wasn't her business and Viv seemed more than capable of handling it. She supposed she was, perhaps, still a little bit sensitive where Brig was concerned.

"Thank you Vivienne.. and thanks to all the helpers," Lily said with a smile, helping herself to the same dish as Aidan and politely adding small amounts of various cooked foods to her plate as well. She was a light eater but courtesy dictated she sample a little of everything.

"It's all beautiful," she said, enjoying the vivid colors on her plate and surreptitiously adding some green to her son's. Really, she'd raised him better. She pretended not to notice that several Piper plates that had been void of green things suddenly became very colorful.

"I don't care how fast you regenerate. They're still good for you," she said decisively to Aidan.You never stopped being a mother, just because your child was fully grown.

Red and Charlie exchanged looks as the Alpha's mother scooped vegetables onto the Alpha's plate.

"Oh that is just gangster," Red exclaimed. Smiling, he picked up the bowl of greens and heaped a serving onto his plate, then Charlie's.

"Aw, man," Charlie grumbled and then passed the bowl down the line.

"Hammer."

Her pseudo-adoptive (but not really) brother looked up at her from his pasta.

"How does everything taste?"

Picking up his napkin from his lap, he wiped his mouth and beard and set his fork down. Viv watched, completely baffled that someone so big would have such incredible table manners.

"Delicious. It's very good."

Raising her eyebrows, she made a face at his compliment. "Wow, thank you." Hammer had set his hands on the table, resting his wrists on the edge. He lifted his fingers and gave her a questioning look. "Oh, I was just wondering. Making small talk."

Hammer's lip cocked to the side, in what she assumed was a smile, and picked up his fork again.

"Actually...."

Hammer set his fork down again.

"I was going to ask, if you wanted, you and Brig can stay afterward to talk about that thing earlier."

"That would be fine, Vivienne." This time Hammer did not hesitate to shovel a large bite of pasta into his mouth, not too concerned with answering her questions.

"Okie dokie," she said and leaned back into her chair. Her eyes moved to her left and saw Brig looking at her, tapping the bottom of his fork on the table cloth. She sighed dramatically and faced him. "We'll talk about it later."

Brig flipped the fork in his hands and continued eating his meal without another word.

Brig listened to the conversations around him, specifically the Alpha. Charlie had asked him how it felt to be a Hammerthynn. It occurred to Brig that the Alpha's names didn't fit, and of course, he couldn't help but inquire about it.

"So, as a Hammerthynn, Xeph, do you plan on taking on any of the other Hammerthynn traditions? Say - your father's last name?"

The Pipers, Hammer, and Vivienne all stopped talking. Brig knew at this point the Alpha's mother did not think much of him, or ever will, but he was only asking what everyone was thinking. Brig scooped up a fork-full of pasta and ate it. Nodding, he looked at Vivienne.

"This is pretty good," he said talking around his food. Swallowing, he took another bite, looking up at the Alpha with a polite smile.

Xeph made a point of finishing his mouthful of chicken before raising his eyes to meet Brig's. His stare had a hint of challenge to it but when he spoke his voice was as warm and humorous as ever.

"Well, considering I was raised by two great men and only one of them will get to see his legacy live on it seems fitting I keep the name of the other, since it's been with me all of my life."

His answer was confident despite his internal relief that he wasn't Liam Xephier's son. Liam had been a good Alpha for years and years. The strife between him and Xeph would have happened regardless of who had raised him.

He shrugged a shoulder at Brig. "Beside, can you imagine the paperwork?"

'God damnit,' Viv thought, her fork frozen on its trip up to her mouth. Everyone literally froze; the Pipers had been chattering about the city, Viv was considering another plate full (she had been ravenously hungry lately), and in five seconds, Brig's question stopped everything. Lily snapped a glare at Brig while simultaneously dropping her hand to grab onto Hammer, who was glaring at Brig across from him. Hammer's right hand disappeared under the table but his left slowly balled into a vibrating fist. Her wine glass began to tremble from it, forcing Viv to reach out with her left hand to stop it. Brig's compliment about her cooking made her jaw clench tightly as the Alpha answered his question - and not near as angrily as Viv thought he would be.

Viv said the only thing she could think of saying, now that the room was pregnant with a heavy and awkward pause. She took a deep breath and let it out.

"Blergh."

Charlie snorted at the other end of the table, followed by a cough and soft apology. Viv ran her tongue over her teeth and set her fork down in her plate and picked up her full wine glass, draining it to the very last drop. Brig seemed to accept the Alpha's answer and the chatter started back up again, except for Hammer who stayed silent with undoubtedly some anger issues.

"I was going to say a toast." She picked up the wine bottle and poured herself another glass, hitting the now empty wine bottle's back end trying to get the last drop out. "I'm going to say it from my seat because I'm a girl and I don't want to stand, but," Viv lifted her wine glass and closed her eyes. "May we get what we want, may we get what we need, but may we never get what we deserve. Or...Wise, kind, gentle, generous, sexy. But enough about me, here's to you."

The others raised their glasses and the Pipers pounded out their toast, thoroughly deflating the tense atmosphere that Brig seemed to want to perpetuate. The dinner concluded without any more awkward situations and the Pipers helped clean the table as Vivienne made plates for everyone to take with them.

It had taken everything he had not to jump immediately on the defensive when that inevitable awkward topic had arisen but Xeph thought he'd handled it well enough. What worried him was his father's reaction. It was by no means calm, cool, or collected. So while the rest of the Pipers helped clear the table, Xeph pulled rank and privilege and sat that one out to have a quiet moment with his parents.

"Dad," he said, the word having lots of weight behind it. "Just let it go."

It was obvious that Hammer was angry. "I was going to talk to you both about this, but I was hoping you wouldn't mind if, when the baby is born, we give him both of your names. Stafford and Hammerthynn. If everyone's agreeable."

He shrugged. "My name is my name, but it doesn't have to be his."

Dinner had resumed at a normal pace. Aidan and Vivienne diffused what could have been a volatile situation and the meal and toast had finished with good cheer and full stomachs all around. Lily would have joined in the cleanup as well but instead she stayed with Iov which was really where she wanted to be. There was going to be plenty said later, but it didn't have to be said now.

Aidan's words surprised her and she smiled. "Are you sure that's what you want?" she asked.

She didn't have to be overly intuitive to know that Aidan would have gladly changed his own name as well. The things in his past had colored him against the man he'd thought was his father. It had been big of him to say what he'd said at the table and lily knew he'd stick by his words no matter how he felt inside.

Hammer was surprised at Xeph's use of the fatherly term. It wasn't that it made him uncomfortable, he had just wish Xeph had said it as a child, not as a fully grown man. But Xeph said it, that was all that mattered.

The anger was immediately diffused in him, making him narrow his good eye at his son. "Did you just do that twinkle thing on me? I hate that jedi mind trick thing you do." Despite his indifferent tone, he displayed a rare smile and nodded.

"Whatever last name you give him, he will still be my grandson. I'll...talk to Brig about his inappropriateness. That is if Vivienne doesn't do it for me. They seem to enjoy bickering at each other."

Hammer draped his arm around Lily and gave her a gentle squeeze just as the Piper's sergeant came out of the kitchen, walking directly to the door.

The Pipers were moving in and out of the kitchen, clearing the dining room table and bringing in dishes and plates. Charlie lingered near the sink with Vivienne, helping her wrap up the leftovers onto paper plates. Occasionally he'd look up and catch funny faces from the other Pipers, some encouraging, some just downright ridiculous, but if Viv noticed, she had the good graces not to comment on them. Once everything had been cleared, he and Viv moved down the counter space to rinse the dishes.

"We can do this for you," Charlie said looking at the plates instead of Vivienne.

"Don't offer, because I'll totally let you do the dishes."

"Well, we all," and he turned to see that all the Pipers had left the kitchen, leaving him alone with Vivienne. Even the saloon doors were swinging suspiciously. "I can, if you like."

"We'll do it together, get it cleaned up faster so we can go get to' up!"

Charlie smiled as they rinsed the dishes out and loaded the dishwater. Their hands dipped in and out of the soapy warm water, occasionally touching, but again if Viv noticed, she didn't react to it. The more it happened, the more Charlie felt his face blush hotter and redder. He could hear the laughter and talking from the other room but he could not keep his eyes from the sink, watching as her hands moved fluidly through the warm water. Finally, he took a deep breath and turned to her.

"Vivienne?"

"Yup," she replied, looking up at him with a bright smile as she began to towel dry her hands.

The sink was located near the corner of the L shape counter top. Viv took a step back and nestled herself into the corner and began folding the towel when Charlie took a step closer to her, not giving her any room to run. His put his left hand out and placed it on the counter top beside her, then leaned in slowly to kiss her, but instead...kissed her hand as she placed it over his mouth.

"Whoa, whoa!" she yelped.

"Charlie, are you going to kiss me?" He mumbled something behind her hand. Charlie was pressed up against her, pushing her into the corner of the counter top. "What?"

He lowered her hand and said, "That was the plan, yes."

Viv felt her skin break out into a sweat as she stood there looking up at Charlie and his sadly sweet face. "Charlie, you can't kiss me."

"You don't want me to?"

She pointed at him, "No fair, that's not what I said. But no, sweetie. I don't want you to, besides the fact that you shouldn't even be trying." Viv put her hand on his chest and pushed him back, out of her space. Tapping it, she handed him the towel and tried to explain.

"I'm seeing someone, Charlie. I'm," she searched for the words. "I'm pretty sure. I mean almost completely...well...no, yes...yes I am. I am in love with someone else."

"Oh. I'm sorry, Vivienne." Charlie's face turned bright red and he took another step back, away from Vivienne.

"You know, any other time and place, Charlie I'd be all over you. Honest injun, but I love him. The him other guy him." She took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm sorry."

It didn't take much soul searching for Viv to be able to say those words and know she meant them. She knew from the beginning that Charlie had a thing for her, and she may have had a thing for him before she realized Brig was more than just an interesting smelling man, but she should have told him sooner that it wasn't going to happen.

"This is my fault. I should have said something earlier."

"Yeah, well you didn't," he said, wiping his hands on the back of his jeans and moving toward the saloon doors. "I'm going to,' Charlie pointed to the doors and pushed through them, leaving her alone in the kitchen.

Rolling her eyes, Viv blew out a long sigh and wiped down the counter. "That was...awesome," she mumbled, folding the dish towel, only to throw it in the sink. "Awe. Some."

The Pipers quietly filed out of the kitchen and stayed near the table, conveniently in between the kitchen and Brig. He was standing over by the fireplace mantle, looking at Viv's picture of the Canberra Den again, listening to Hammer talk to his son. Brig bristled again at the word, but the overwhelming guilt he felt for trying to embarrass his cousin in front of everyone was doing a damn good job fending every other emotion off. What he said was wrong, the fact that he said it in front of Hammer's son and Vivienne made him feel worse. That was, until, he noticed all the Pipers, save for Charlie, had come out of the kitchen.

He looked openly at the Pipers who had their backs to him. Setting the picture back down on the mantle, Brig took a step toward the men when Charlie came walking about of the kitchen, straight through the group of Pipers, and to the door, ignoring Red calling out to him.

Red turned to the others and he pointed to the door silently. They nodded and watched Red quickly exit behind Charlie. Just then Vivienne came out of the kitchen. Brig watched as they all thanked her for the meal and apologized for leaving so early. One by one, they all exited.

Vivienne stood at the table and watched them go, the expression on her face sullen. Brig remained by the mantle, leaning against it in between Viv and the others - Hammer, Lily, and the Alpha. Looking back at Hammer, Brig shifted his feet and then flicked his eyes back at Vivienne. She wouldn't look at him.

It occurred to Brig, just then, that Charlie had tried something with Vivienne in the kitchen. Whether he succeeded in trying was questionable, but Charlie leaving quickly was a clear clue as to what happened. He thought he'd feel better about Vivienne telling Charlie to back off, assuming she had, but he couldn't help the spark of jealousy that ignited itself just thinking of them alone in the kitchen, with Brig right in the other room. Pushing off the mantle, Brig walked over to Vivienne at the table.

She looked up at him, her fingers picking at her nails. Her body language was stiffly relaxed, if that was even possible, and he watched as she struggled with what she wanted to say to him, but couldn't because of Hammer and the others. Instead she looked away and at Hammer.

"You ready?" Brig asked in a monotone voice.

Viv shrugged and moved away from him, walking over to Hammer. Slowly he followed her and sat down on the arm of the couch, silent and waiting.

Xeph snorted at his father. "No, I didn't. I did that 'dad, let it go' thing on you. Nice to know it works as an adult too."

A shared smile was a relief though. He still didn't know, really, how to tell Hammer that he'd spent most of his life wishing he was his father. Or that words could really do that feeling justice. Maybe it didn't need to be said though.

"You can talk to him if you want," Xeph said with a shrug, "but I have a feeling he already knows." At his father's comment about Viv and Brig bickering, he laughed softly. "Well that's what happens when you... you know."

They all watched quietly as first Charlie, then Red, then the rest of the Pipers silently left Viv's apartment. After that he would have assumed the party was just about over, but Viv and Brig seemed to want to talk.

Never sure anymore what topic was going to come to the fore, Xeph smiled at the two as they approached.

Hammer's eyebrows furrowed at Xeph's comment about Vivienne and Brig's bickering. He had started to ask what Xeph meant, but both the subjects of their conversation stepped up to their group now that the Pipers had left.

Marthinus seemed to fit in fine with the other men, despite his age and relations. His pup had been extremely quiet, but he blended in perfectly. How could a fifty something year old man, granted with a new lease on life, so easily act like a young man again? Had Marthinus' life been so void of light? Hammer wondered and then turned to the matter at hand.

Vivienne came up beside Hammer and he watched as her sullen expression smoothed out on her face. Brig settled onto the couch behind her and crossed his arms, waiting for her explanation; neither one seemed ready to say anything, again making Hammer glance at his son, wanting to ask what he meant again. Dropping his arm off of Lily, Hammer turned to Vivienne and started.

"We didn't receive a report on your conversation with Huntington. Care to give it now?"

Vivienne stuck her bottom lip out in thought and shrugged a shoulder. "Part of what I do is read body language. I wanted to get a baseline on Huntington's without Duban present."

"And?" Brig said, standing from his perch on the arm of her couch.

"Well apparently he likes Impressionism artwork. I personally don't, but he gravitated toward it." Viv unfocused her eyes and recalled the conversation. "'A distorted view of beauty can still be beautiful.' he said. Then I asked him about the blood memory."

"Why?" Hammer asked.

"Because you don't think it's strange that you have it, but can't recall it?"

"This again," Brig said in a low voice.

"What do you mean again?"

Hammer rubbed his scarred eye slowly, "Huntington asked me the same thing when we met to offer the truce."

"He said that they don't remember what they did." Hammer gave her his version of an incredulous look. "I admit, fifteen hundred years is a long time, but you'd think they'd remember your family, Hammer."

"This is what you talked to him about?" Brig asked, stepping up next to her, effectively crowding her in between Hammer and him.

"For the most part, yes. He did offer to," Viv shrugged, remember how close Huntington was to her and the syrupy charm of his voice, "find out what it was that caused the blood memory. Together."

"And this is what I'm talking about," Brig said through his teeth.

"You went off with him."

"Barely thirty feet."

"To talk about something you have no idea about. Because he offered to help you find out why our families want to kill him and Duban? Was he that charming, Viv?"

"I didn't take him up on his offer."

"What you and LT fail to understand is that you are our responsibility. The families will not look favorably on the Beta and I if your safety is neglected. What else did you two talk about?"

"Listen, just because I have breasts, does not make me a target, nor does it make me incapable of defending myself. I've been doing this a lot longer than you think, Commander; I don't appreciate you forcing the 'dumb broad in peril' label on me."

"Hammer?" Brig looked at his cousin, waiting for him to weigh in on the argument and back him up.

"She broke your nose, Brig. I'd say she can handle herself," Hammer said and not without a slight grin.

"Our job is to protect the Alpha and leadership within the pack. She walked in here with the power of the two families behind her. While she's here, we're suppose to give her the proper respect that is due to someone from the families. How does her getting a lucky shot in during a play fight with me constitute her being able to take on a thousand year old vampire? Are you going to let me do my job or not?"

Brig's voice had risen, despite the Alpha's mother still being present, but his irritation with Hammer's flagrant avoidance of proper protocol with family dignitaries was starting to get on his fucking nerves.

Xeph sighed as Brig's temper began to get the best of him, something that seemed to be happening a lot lately. He got Brig's attention by stepping forward slightly towards him. As he did, the particular trait that made an Alpha an Alpha seemed to make him larger than he was, tougher than he was, and more serious than he was... all attributes which, on a normal day, were nothing to thumb your nose at where Xeph was concerned.

"Brig," he said softly, interrupting. When the wolf in question looked at him, Xeph continued to stand over him. it wasn't in his genetic makeup to make himself lower than Brig. He couldn't, not when he already felt somewhat threatened.

"Vivienne has a job to do here. Same as you. She can't do it if you're intent on locking her in a cage. You may have to do your job from a distance in some cases. And you would afford her very great respect indeed if you would give her credit where it's due."

The subtle jab was aimed at both the situation with the vampires and Brig's toned down "play fight." His eyes continued to bore into Brig's though. Xeph expected Brig to back off, even if it was slight, and he wasn't going to take any shit from him.

"You don't have to like it. But you could act like a grownup about it."

This was the second time the Alpha had to give Brig a dressing down. Viv inwardly winced as Xeph stepped forward, exerting his dominance, again, for Vivienne. It made her extremely uncomfortable being the cause of Brig's reprimand; she chanced a glance at Hammer, only to see him staring back at her with his solitary eye. She held his stare and shrugged. Hammer shrugged back.

"Alpha Xephier...Hammerth...Xep," she sighed rolling her eyes. "Sir, I think now would be a good time for me to sit down with the Commander and Beta. Privately."

Hammer and Brig both turned their heads, looking at her with hard stares.

"Yeah, now would be a very good time."

Silently, Brig took one step back away from the Alpha, relinquishing any type of challenge or dominance, as if he could even try against his Pack's Alpha, but held the younger man's eye just the same.

Viv didn't understand how Brig could be two different people; the hard, prone to anger Commander or the man she was fairly sure he used to be with her.

The Brig she knew and loved was tender, goofy, easy to laugh, evenly tempered, and friendlier than a hound dog. The Commander was every bit of spit and steel as his rank suggested; cold, short tempered, choleric, and callous bordering on cruel. He exhibited Alpha Male traits toward Charlie or anyone else showing the least bit of interest in Vivienne. It was really starting to piss her off.

"Are you going to let me do my job, Commander?"

"That's a wonderful idea," Xeph said, his voice still hard as rock. He headed for the door but not before stopping before Viv and smiling at her. "Thanks for the dinner. It was delicious."

Passing by Brig, Xeph paused and growled under his breath, low enough that anyone else would have had trouble making out his words. "Get it under control. Or lose her. Your choice."

Being dominant wasn't easy. Ever. Xeph wasn't entirely unsympathetic to Brig's position. He had to handle Nikhila with kid gloves, let her know that he valued her, loved her, and respected her while still protecting her. It was a fine line to walk but if Brig didn't pull the wolf back in check he'd end up without Viv. He hoped it didn't happen. They seemed too well suited for it.

((ooc: Xeph out.))

Lily didn't want to interfere in any of what was being discussed so she resigned herself to being the silent companion, a role she was just fine with. If Iov wanted her opinions he'd ask her later, and she would ask her own questions then as well.

She nodded at Viv with approval and embraced the younger woman, thanking her for dinner and nodding politely to Brig, who thus far had not merited an embrace like he used to. Crossing to Iov she laid a slender hand on his cheek, kissed him softly, and said, "I'll see you later."

With that she made a graceful exit through the door Aidan held open for her.

((ooc: Lily out))

Brig stood silently as the Alpha showed himself out, but not before saying something just under his breath. Something that made Brig do a startled double take with his eyes at the younger man. It immediately diffused his bitter anger and confused him, all in one breath.

He could take what the Alpha said one of two ways: on a professional level Brig was being an asshole, misusing a value commodity and talented psychologist in Vivienne. Her abilities could help him regain what was lost with Hammer, their control of the Pipers, and prevent volatile situations like Michaels' that could result in lives saved. He could also interpret what the Alpha said on a personal level: that he was acting like an asshole (still) and would lose her because of it.

As the Alpha's mother said her goodbyes, he looked down as she passed. Again the guilt in his gut set in, knowing that he had just added more to mountain of bullshit he was building with Lily. Regret, unfortunately, still did not trump bitterness, so he returned her polite gesture with his own, but remained silent.

Brig clenched his jaw and turned back toward Hammer and Vivienne.

Hammer, Vivienne, and Brig stood in a large triangle by her bedroom door. Brig and Vivienne were both void of any type of emotion. Hammer, on the other hand, was already missing Lily's warm presence and withdrew into his normal indifference. Sighing deeply, Hammer took a step out of the formation and headed toward the kitchen. Poking into the fridge, Hammer pulled out three bottles of dark beer and twisted the caps off without the use of an opener. The sharp edges of the bottle caps were a refreshing change from the numbing silence and tossed them onto the counter before he exited back out to the dining room.

Setting them down on the table, Hammer sat back down in the chair he was in during dinner. He slouched into the chair and made himself comfortable with his back to them. Hammer was the last person who wanted Vivienne stomping around on his brain, poking for secrets or expecting confessions, but he wanted to get it over with and the only way that was going to happen was if he sat down and let it happen.

Reaching out he took his bottle and brought it up to his lips, tipping it back. He rolled the bottle in his fingers, reading the label when Vivienne came over to the table and dropped her ipad in front of the seat she had for dinner, settling down into it. She powered up her ipad and lifted her leg, tucking it underneath her. Hammer took a moment to really look at her now.

She had twisted her hair up into a loose bun with what looked like a yellow no. 2 pencil. Her blue jeans hung low on her hips and wore a fitted, stone colored safari button up shirt. It was opened far enough to show the swell of her breasts, but not too provocative with two vertical strips running from the shoulders to the bottom of the shirt tails and continued over both breast pockets. Hammer put his drink down and really looked at the shirt.

"Is that...?"

"Indiana Jones' shirt? You know it."

Hammer shook his head and pulled his leg up, resting his ankle on the opposite leg when Brig finally walked over and sat down across from him.

Lily's embrace had been warm and welcoming, something she would not have expected from the woman in Canberra. Not that she ever had the chance to meet the old Alpha's wife. There were stories about the old Alpha; things Vigo did not even want to talk about. So Viv took the show of friendliness for what it was, a warm hug from a lovely woman, and smiled as Lily let herself out with her son.

Then they stood there, the three of them, just staring at one another until Hammer took it upon himself to break the silence with the thumping of his heavy boots. Helping himself to the beer in the fridge, he sat back down in his dinner chair and relaxed. Viv walked into her bedroom, watching Brig as she passed him, and picked up her ipad from her nightstand. Returning into the living room, Viv made her way again passed Brig, without looking at him, and sat at the head of the table, dropping her ipad in front of her.

She felt Hammer's eyes on her as she powered up her ipad, taking the time to actually look at her, head to toe. What did he see when he looked at her, Viv wondered? Did he see the filthy, blood stained ten year old little girl? A grown woman with valuable traits, capable of handling herself in the sea of tall men or maybe just an interloper on his territory, dirtying his shit up?

"Is that...?"

"Indiana Jones' shirt? You know it." Who didn't love Indiana Jones? The shirt had been difficult to find, especially one that fit her, but it was worth the search. Viv was a nerd and she'd admit it to anyone.

Finally Brig sat down across from Hammer at the table. He reached out and took one of the two leftover bottles and drank from it, draining it down to almost empty. Pulling her ipad into her lap, she rested the length of her arm across the top and leaned back in her chair. It had a stylus for writing which converted anything she wrote into text - easier to organize than just writing on paper. She would have rather typed, but the touch screen annoyed her with her nails starting to get too long.

Suddenly she was reminded of the night before with Brig, scratching his back while he laid his head in her lap, watching some movie they put in. They had gotten used to the 2-4 hours sleep, but after another round of rigorous love making, he softly snored while her back scratching put him to sleep.

Viv picked at her nails with the stylus and glanced up at Brig. His bright blue eyes were looking back at her while he tipped the bottle back and drank it dry. She watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed and Viv marveled at how something as simple as that turned her on. He had been exhibiting Alpha Male traits and the wolf in her reacted accordingly - besides Brig being Commander of the Pipers, he was her mate, if not by name, but by territory. He knew that, she realized, and the way he looked at her now reminded her of it.

It took everything not to react to his stare, but she felt goose bumps rise on her legs as he did his best to give her a dark, smoldering look of possession. To her right, she flicked her eyes at Hammer who was twisting his empty bottle in his fingers, spinning it on the table top.

Viv took a deep breath and started. "So what has to happen for you two to get your shit sorted out?"

Brig set his empty bottle down with quiet satisfaction. Being in Viv's apartment had softened the impact of her scent as opposed to coming across it in the Den. Those first initial traces of her scent were still powerful enough to almost stop him in his tracks, but right then it was subtle, like a soft perfume. That was until he felt the alpha male in him after he realized Charlie was alone with Viv in the kitchen. Looking at her now, he felt that territorial quiver across his hackles and Viv responded to the change in him as she stared hard at him, her eyes dilating to thin golden brown rings.

Viv belonged to Brig and she knew it.

He tempered the testosterone volcano in him and looked at Hammer across the table as Viv asked, rather disrespectfully, what they needed to do to sort out their differences, or as she put it, their shit. His cousin looked back at him silently, both very much the alpha in the situation, fighting for dominance.

"Hammer knows what he did."

"What I did?" Hammer asked. His tone was insulted yet apathetic.

"I trusted you."

"You still can."

"How? With constant reminders surrounding us? The beautifully innocent Lily at your arm and your Alpha son who has your back."

Hammer let go of his bottle and pounded his fist on the table, knocking over the third full beer bottle, spilling it. "Show some respect, Brig. He is my son."

"Yes," Brig replied without flinching, "so you've said. But Hammerthynns aren't Alphas, Hammer. That's not what we do; it's not what we are."

"This is because Xeph is the Alpha?"

"This is because you LIED TO ME."

Viv jumped when Hammer slammed his fist down on the table, knocking the bottles of beer over, spilling the still full third one.

"Ok, wait a minute," she said, snatching the bottles and righting them only to have Brig get half up out of his seat, pushing against the table. Viv sighed and pushed back on her chair, getting out of their way.

"How did I lie to you, I had no idea?"

"I'm talking before that, Hammer, when you were going behind our Alpha's back, fucking his wife."

Brig came completely out of his chair, pointing at Hammer who had both hands on the table, balled up into tight fists.

"What was I suppose to say to you, Brian?"

"Right, I suppose you couldn't leave me a note saying 'I'm fucking Lily, details later'".

"Jesus, ok, stop guys," Viv said, lifting her hands, but it was already too late. Hammer grabbed the large, and borrowed, dining room table and threw it against the wall to his right, breaking it. Brig and Hammer met in the middle while Viv pushed her chair back further, trying to get out of the way. Brig was still in his uniform and Hammer in his typical khaki button up and matching slacks and almost immediately Viv heard material ripping along with the distinct sound of two men beating the living crap out of each other.

"This is not what I meant by sorting your shit out!" Vivienne yelled. "Stop...BRIG! God damnit, HAMMER!"

Brig twisted Hammer, wrestling him to the ground as they backed up against the wall leading to the kitchen, putting a good foot in diameter dent into it. Hammer got a foot up under Brig and kicked him off, sending him back into the living room.

Vivienne watched as Brig sailed past her. Her eye immediately went to the delicate orchid Xeph had brought her as a house warming gift. It wasn't something she was going to be able to take with her - definitely not able to suffer the rigors of travel or temperature change. It represented more than just a welcome gift and Hammer and Brig were about to kill it.

"NO! NOT MY ORCHID!"

Hammer got up off the ground and came at Brig, landing a solid right hook, sending the latter into the door and successfully splintering part of it. Viv ran toward the sofa table where she had set the orchid down, reaching out to it when Brig came back at Hammer, shoving him directly into the orchid, landing on top of it and toppling over the sofa, crashing into her coffee table in front of the fireplace.

Viv stood frozen, looking at her orchid's shattered flower pot. The soil was spread out all over the floor along with the broken remains of her orchid. She felt her stomach twist, threatening to vomit her dinner. It wasn't just an orchid. It was the first and only symbol of laying down a root in a place that cared about her and wanted her there. A gift from THE Alpha. Viv felt the pain in her gut rise up in her, changing into something akin to, if not directly related, a fucking, raging cow.

Hammer and Brig continued to fight, bloodying themselves and her furniture up, completely unaware of the damage they were doing to her apartment. Her dining room table was demolished, her sofa table flattened and broken apart, her sofa overturned and her glass coffee table shattered. Viv straightened up and walked back into the kitchen. Grabbing a bucket from underneath the kitchen sink, she listened to both men continue to break glass and wood as she filled up the bucket with ice cold water from the tap. Not as cold as she'd like, but cold enough. Once it was filled, she returned to the living room to find another dent in the opposite wall, next to her bedroom door frame, and the table in between her sofa and chair upended. Taking the bucket, she walked over to them and threw the water, drenching them.

Both men pulled back from each other, shocked from the cold water and covered in cuts, bruises, and now soaked. She walked back to her sofa and righted it easily, her strength feeding off her anger. Pointing at them both, she yelled.

"YOU!" she said pointing to Brig. "SIT DOWN!" Then she turned to Hammer. "YOU!" Viv righted the reclining chair she and Brig had made love in. "SIT DOWN. And I swear to god if you break anything else, I will kill you both!"

The fight had been a blur of fury, physical pain, and it felt incredible. Hammer had wanted to beat the hell out of Brig for all the caustic and disrespectful remarks, but as he sat down on the sofa chair and surveyed the damage they had done, he did not want retribution at this price. The breaking of glass and a soft sigh made Hammer lift his eyes and look past Brig on the couch.

Vivienne was kneeling down looking at something, her face strained and near tears. Brig followed his eyes and twisted around; peering over the back of the couch to see what Viv was looking at. His cousin turned back around, rubbing his hands over his now pale face.

It was the orchid Xeph had given Vivienne. Hammer rose to help her when she pointed at him without looking.

"Sit down, Hammer," Vivienne said in a stern voice. Hammer sat back down automatically, causing him to wrinkle his forehead, wondering if guilt was suppose to be that palatable. Just then there was a creak at the door, then forceful pushing swept it open, almost off its hinges. It was Marko and Domingo, immediately looking at the broken furniture and undoubtedly their bleeding and disheveled Beta and Commander. Brig did not turn around, but instead spoke into his hands.

"It's fine guys," Brig said. "That'll be all."

Hammer watched as they looked down at Vivienne and then the Beta. Hammer nodded and the men immediately backed out, closing the door as best they could. Hammer's eyes flicked back to Vivienne who seemed to be just staring at the broken flower, maybe trying to decide whether to disturb it any further. Slouching back into the chair, Hammer looked up at the ceiling and felt the red climb up into his face, shaming him.

"I think you should tell him now, Hammer," Vivienne said quietly from behind the couch. Hammer was silent for a few moments longer before finally looking at Brig, catching his eye.

"I think I loved her from the first moment I met her." Hammer looked back up at the ceiling, recalling the exact moment when Liam introduced Lily to Hammer; a fresh faced, new wolf that looked at Liam with such awe and love. Her soft auburn curls, soft spoken voice.

"Those green eyes. I loved her, Brig, but it took me ten years to even tell her. Months just to look her in the eye when talking to her. That part of me around her closed off immediately, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to be alone with her at all." Hammer took a long, slow breath, trying to calm his thumping heart in his chest.

"As the years went by and Lily just couldn't become pregnant, Liam changed. You saw it. You must have. He'd come back and savage her. His own wife. I had to look at those bruises and that empty look in her eyes." Hammer closed his eyes. "I kissed her for the first time the week before you and your Pipers came back with Liam that last time. We were only together a week. That was it. Never after Liam returned and she became pregnant."

Hammer was quiet for a long while before swallowing back the pain he had held onto for over sixty years. "I wanted Xeph to be mine, but...you know me. I never seriously considered the possibility. But I raised him, the way I would have raised my own son. Not like Vigo. Not like the family." He reached up and ran his fingers through his short hair.

"I had a week, Brain. That's it."

Brig took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead as he sat forward, listening to the crinkling of broken glass under Vivienne's feet as she looked at her broken flower. Once again, someone had been caught in the cross-hairs of his fight with Hammer. Brig wasn't sure at first why she seemed so upset about her flower, but the delicate piece of fauna was more than just a gift from the Alpha to Vivienne. It was an offer to stay with the pack in Nachton, offering her a place to stay to take care of the delicate flower that wasn't meant for travel. Along with the glass, Brig was fairly certain he heard Viv's heart breaking.

Brig flicked his eyes over to Hammer who had slouched back in the sofa chair, the very same one that Brig and Viv had shared very personal memories and made new ones in. Hammer looked down from the ceiling and caught Brig's eye. Brig quietly listened to Hammer confess his sins.

Hammer was almost wistfully talking about Lily. How much he loved her and for how short a time he was able to love her. Brig now understood why Hammer never married or had any children. Brig had been married four times and Hammer had been there, right next to him, for each one. Patiently sat through his ridiculous stories about whomever he was dating, every single morning at breakfast. Hammer, who had suffered through the painful loss of his mother at a young age, then losing Lily after only being with her for a short seven days. Brig looked at his cousin now, finally with the woman he had loved for almost two lifetimes. He smiled when Hammer used his secret nickname for him. Brain. But the smile left his face almost as quickly as it had come.

Quietly, Brig spoke.

"I don't know what hurt me worse, Hammer; you breaking the Alpha's trust or you not being able to tell me after what we've been through." Brig looked away, swallowing the large lump in his throat. "I know there are...some secrets...you just can't tell, but," Brig felt a large tear spill from his eye and he quickly wiped at it, clearing his throat, "I might have been upset then, but you're still my cousin, Hams, and I love you. I still would have been there for you so you wouldn't have had to suffer alone."

Standing, Brig got off the couch and went into the kitchen. Looking in a cabinet, he got out a tall glass and came back into the living room. Kneeling next to Viv, he scooped up as much of the clean, glass free soil and put it in the glass. Gently he took the orchid and did his best to replant it. It was probably a lost cause, but he put the glass in front of her. He paused a moment and then reached out to touch her shoulder, kissed her cheek, and then left.

((OOC Brig out))

The Pipers busted into her apartment, no doubt alerted to the crashing of furniture and glass, but were summarily dismissed. Viv remained kneeling on the floor, thankful she had not taken off her sneakers because of all the glass, but her heart broke looking at the poor little orchid.

Viv loved orchids. She wasn't sure how the Alpha knew, maybe he didn't and just thought she'd like it, but it was her absolute favorite. This particular species was a Cymbidium or the boat orchid. Bloomed in the winter and could grow up to sixty centimeters. It was mauve pink with five petals, the center a deeper hue of rose. She couldn't bring herself to touch the flower and just looked at it as it laid on the floor amidst glass and wood.

"I think you should tell him now, Hammer," Viv said as she looked sadly at her broken flower. And to her surprise, Hammer did.

She had guessed at Hammer waiting ten long years to be with Lily. It wasn't in Hammer to take up a scandalous relationship with the Alpha's wife and it must have killed him to do it. The way he talked about Lily, even his tone changed saying her name. Hammer loved her more than anything and had never loved anything or anyone more since her. It reminded her of his father; Vigo never remarrying after his wife's death, never fathering any more children even though it was expected of him. Hammerthynn families had a minimum of four boys and had been that way for generations. Vigo was the first to have only one.

How long the two men suffered silently, living within the confines of their indifferent and expected personalities. The only thing they had were their Jameson counterparts. Vigo had Duncan and Hammer had Brig - so much alike, they were. This was why Vigo sent Viv to Nachton - to make sure Hammer and Brig did not suffer alone. Ever. Both sons were slated to step into the Elder positions, and both fathers did not want to see a lifelong friendship that had serve them well emotionally and professionally not benefit their sons.

Brig finally spoke, confessing the pain that Hammer had caused in him. Maybe Hammer really did think that hiding one secret for so long would not have caused this much damage, but Brig let him know that it wasn't so much that Hammer did what he did, but that Hammer didn't trust Brig enough to help him weather that particularly painful storm. What were cousins for after all?

When Brig stood, Viv did not stop him. There wasn't much else that could be said. She didn't look at him when he returned with a glass and did his best to save her orchid. But when he kissed her on the cheek in front of Hammer, the tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally fell. He understood the damage in her apartment was not just monetary or material possessions; that the orchid wasn't just a pretty flower.

After a minute, Hammer stood, the sofa chair creaking as he lifted his sizable weight off it. Walking over to Viv, he knelt down and apologized softly, promising to have someone clean up the mess in the morning. Viv looked at Hammer and when he saw the tears streaming down her face, his expression was shocked. Painful shame rose up into her face and she turned away, standing.

"That's fine Hammer. I'm going to bed now." Viv side stepped by him when Hammer reached out and grabbed her arm gently, stopping her. Without looking at him, he pulled her close and hugged her. It was probably the most unnatural thing in the world for him to do and it left Vivienne confused, her face tightening up against his chest. It reminded her of Vigo and how much she missed him.

"Forgive me, Viv?"

Viv wrapped her arms around Hammer's huge chest and cried. "All right," she said, her voice muffled by his torn shirt. "But just this once."

((OOC Hammer and Viv out))

Continues in That was just a love tap, yo