Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
Faye grinned as Alexis toddled off - for the fifth time in the last ten minutes - her keen eyes alight with excitement as she pointed at yet another curious looking animal. The kid sure was curious about the world around her, and now she was getting out of her toddler years, Faye tried to give her every experience she could, getting her out and about to see all that there was to see. "Ponyyy!" She cried with a giggle as her eyes caught sight of the zebra. Faye hurried after her to keep her in sight, pushing the stroller containing her much quieter one year old Brylee. "That's a zebra, sweetie." She smiled, standing beside her at the fence as they watched the animals grazing.
It wasn't a huge zoo, but it was big enough. Perfect for the kids, who got to see a little bit of everything and learn more about the world outside of Hickstead. "Come on, let's get something to eat." She practically had to pry Alexis away, promising they could come back to the ponies soon, but an ice cream did the trick and she settled that at a bench at the cafe, buying Alexis a chocolate ice cream and settled in with a strawberry one of her own as she peered in on Brylee, sucking on her dummy peacefully. "You are far too easy," She said lightly to her, not that she was complaining.
hayden couldn't help but smile as dean ran from one enclosure to the next, his smile getting larger and larger as he saw all the different animals, reptiles and birds that the zoo housed. it hadn't been a planned trip to the zoo, it had been a spur of the moment choice this morning as she'd been trying to figure out how to occupy him for the day. things at the house were still turned upside down with the arrival of dustin's brother joe, it was a very welcome upheaval but trying to keep the kids entertained, quiet and calm around him while he settled back into life at home was starting to become a difficult task. she didn't mind though, it was just another day she got to spend with just him before their family grew by one more.
she walked slowly behind him, letting him take his time looking through at every animal he wanted and if she was being honest she liked how slow the pace was, fast walking wasn't exactly her strength at the moment. not that she was anywhere near close to being due, she was just exhausted pretty much every waking hour this time around. she'd lost track of how long they'd been walking around when dean came back to her asking for something to eat. she hadn't packed anything for the day so she'd promised him he could get something special for lunch from the little shop, whatever he wanted.
walking up to the little cafe she smiled as she spotted some familiar faces and she put her hands on dean's shoulders lightly before she bent down to talk to him. "look who it is." she said as she pointed towards faye and alexis, who were sitting there eating the very treat dean had asked for. she smiled as the grin on his face grew and he pulled away from her, running towards the little group. "alexiiiis!" she shook her head slightly and smiled, following along after him. "it looks like great minds think alike!" she said as she approached faye before wiggling her fingers in greeting at brylee as dean clambered onto the seat next to alexis.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
She smiled down into Brylee's face as the kid suckled, and she touched a little strawberry ice cream to her finger before offering it to her child to have a try of. It was funny, how you followed all the rulebooks to start with when you had a child, and then once you had a second child, suddenly things didn't seem so scary, and you weren't going to hurt them by giving them a new food to try. Brylee suckled on her finger, her little face screwed up to start with and then she seemed to enjoy it. Faye grinned and gently replaced her finger with the dummy once again. "No more I'm afraid, sweetie," She had better not over do it - a little taste was plenty.
Faye heard the loud slapping of little feet against the floor and she looked up curiously, then saw who it was a gave a genuine smile. "alexiiiis!" Faye let out a laugh at the enthusiasm and Alexis looked up from her intense eating of her ice cream, half of it melting down her fingers. "Dean!" She called back, then frowned, "Careful of mys ice cweam!" She warned, tightening her grip on the cone as he barreled over. "it looks like great minds think alike!" Faye grinned and nodded, seeing Brylee looked up with big eyes at the new face, "It's been a decent distraction for them so far," She laughed, finishing her own ice cream off and wiping her hands.
it always amazed her how genuinely happy her son was to meet just about anyone. of course he had the people that he loved more but there was no one that he wouldn't talk to, no stranger than he wouldn't greet and there was no child he wouldn't stop to say hello to. it did her nerves in sometimes but today, today she was more than happy for him to run ahead to greet alexis. faye and nik were some of her closest friends and she was happy they'd run into each other too, although she managed to refrain from the same greeting her son had given. "oh that looks delicious alexis!" she said as she came up and put her hands on deans shoulders softly as she watched the ice cream drip through the little fingers.
"i'll be caweful!" hayden smiled a little at the promise from her son and she leaned down to kiss his head and she pulled her purse out of her bag. "here, you can go buy your own ice cream honey." she said as she handed him the money he'd need. they'd been working on his independence and while it was breaking her heart to know he was getting older, she was glad he seemed to be taking it like a duck to water. she watched as he started to run towards the kiosk before she sat down next to faye on the bench, dropping her purse next to her. "it's perfect for that isn't it." she said with a smile. "i don't think dean will ever get bored of this place." she said as she leaned forward a little to see brylee in the pram.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
"oh that looks delicious alexis!" Alexis nodded, her big eyes wide as she tackled it enthusiastically. "It's my favourites," She gave a shy smile, and Faye grinned slightly. Alexis was getting better at expressing herself, there had been a time when she was really quite quiet - surprised the heck out of Faye considering how she was quite an opinionated person herself and Nik wasn't particularly shy, but she knew Nik to be a strong and silent type at times and wondered if Alexis took after him in that respect. She came out of her shell around her friends though, but it sometimes depended on the day.
"i'll be caweful!" Faye chuckled a little at that, "Oh, they're so sweet at this age," She smiled and shook her head, watching as he was sent off with his own money to buy an ice cream himself. "Can I gos with him?" Alexis asked her mother, and Faye gave a nod, "Be careful," She warned, knowing Alexis would understand what she meant - no talking to strangers, and try not to fall over with the ice cream in hand. Her daughter smiled and nodded, then hurried - carefully - after her friend. It gave Faye a brief chance to talk adult with Hayden at least. "it's perfect for that isn't it. i don't think dean will ever get bored of this place." Faye grinned and pushed the pram back and forth a little to keep the baby settled as they talked. "I hope he doesn't for your sake, at least then you have the perfect bribe and present, plus you can host his birthday parties here too whilst he still enjoys it - the answer to everything!" she joked.
hayden smiled softly at the expression on alexis's face. she was so adorable and really a carbon copy of both her parents in looks. "is it? what flavour is it?" she asked gently as she fished her wallet out of her pocket. she reached her free hand to run it over dean's head gently and she smiled at him. "that's very nice of you honey." she knew that often he didn't mean to be but he had the energy of a bull and while he was one of the sweetest kids he did often forget himself and he could be clumsy and he did have a habit of forgetting to mind other people. never in a malicious way but if he was excited. but he was only a child and it was all part of the learning. she had to agree with faye that they were at one of the best ages. not that she had experience with older kids but she didn't think it could get better than it was right now. she dreaded the day her sweet, affectionate and loving son would turn into a moody teenager who slammed doors and blasted sad music through his door.
she watched the two of them run off together and she had to rest a hand on her heart softly as she took the opportunity to sit down next to faye, keeping an eye on the kids while she did. "i think i'll celebrate every event in his life at this zoo. i can see him cutting his twenty first birthday cake right there." she pointed to one of the party tables in the area with a smile. she rested her hand on the bump of her stomach though and she looked down and smiled. "at the very least i'll have this one to use as an excuse to come here for a few years after he grows out of it." the thought that one day he might be too old for the zoo tugged at her heartstrings but she pushed it down. he was still six years old, that's what mattered now.
she watched as the kids hurried back to them, carefully and calculated steps as den held an ice cream cone in his hands, already slowly dripping down his hand. she couldn't help but hide a giggle as she saw him stick his tongue out between his teeth in concentration as he walked, thinking about each step before he took it, lest it cause the ice cream to tumble to the ground, never to be eaten by anyone. "ooo bubblegum flavour?" she asked as he nodded his little head before he sat down carefully on the ground in front of him and faye, eating his ice cream like he'd never eaten it before in his life. "so how much of the zoo do you guys still have left to see."
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
"is it? what flavour is it?" Faye smiled as Alexis grinned at her friend, "Chwocolate!" She exclaimed the ice cream smeared around her lips already, her hands sticky. She grinned when they headed off together though. She had always wanted her kids to grow up with close friends, and it had worked out better than she could ever imagined. Having a sister was one thing, but she didn't want loads of kids, and instead, she had practically cousins that she could run around with instead - mostly her own age. She hoped they stuck it out together as they grew up, and she thought that maybe they would as she saw Alexis help Dean pick out a good ice cream flavour. "i think i'll celebrate every event in his life at this zoo. i can see him cutting his twenty first birthday cake right there."
Her attention returned to her friend and she laughed slightly as Hayden pointed out the party tables. "at the very least i'll have this one to use as an excuse to come here for a few years after he grows out of it." Faye grinned and nodded. "If you plan it right, perhaps you could pop him out at the right moment, and then combine the birthday's into one!" She suggested, knowing full well it didn't work that way but considering she understood, the joke was obvious. Faye smiled at the show of the kids returning. "Urgh they're just too cute." She shook her head, "If only they stayed that way." But she knew it was a part of growing up.
"ooo bubblegum flavour?" Faye pressed her lips together to hide the smile, not her kind of flavour but Alexis grinned. "I helped picks it!" She said proudly, going to sit down with him and try to tidy up the mess of her ice cream which had been dripping whilst she'd temporarily been distracted. "so how much of the zoo do you guys still have left to see." Faye tidied up her own at the thought, offering a little more to the child left out when she grizzled, but she wasn't that bothered about her own. "We are about half way round, how about you? We could combine forces?" She suggested, if they hadn't seen too much of it already.
hayden had to stile something of a grin when alexis exclaimed that it was chocolate so proudly. she was one of the most adorable children hayden had ever seen. it had been hard to miss what flavour the ice cream had been, with the drippings covering alexis's little hands like a label but there had been no harm in asking, it had included her in the conversation and that was the most important thing. "oh, well that is the most delicious flavour!" she said with a large smile on her face as she watched the two of them make their way over to the counter and she couldn't help but feel like she watched dean grow up just a little as he walked away from her. she knew that was impossible but it seemed that every time she was away from him or he was out of her view, he changed. he was just a hair taller, his face looked a little more grown up and there was less of a child standing in front of her. she knew it was something all parents must feel but she couldn't help feeling her heart sink a little every time it happened.
she rested a hand across her bump lightly as alexis joked about popping him out at the same time as dean's birthday. she laughed slightly and nodded her head a little, not helping being able to see the image of a joint party at the zoo, with two grumpy children at the helm mad about having to share their birthdays. "oh i think this one is going to be the exact opposite of dean .. he's going to hold on and stick it out in there as long as he can." dean had been born a week or so earlier than he'd been supposed to and she just had this inkling that this next child was going to want to take their sweet sweet time. "but i could start throwing dustin's parties here too." she joked with a laugh, just the thought of that was enough to make her laugh.
they really were just too adorable. she watched them walk back together, dean so careful with the ice cream in his hand but still making sure to walk that little bit slower so alexis could keep up with him. he melted her heart more than once every day and she knew it was going to get a lot worse the older he got. "they really do need to create a freeze time button for parents." she wished they would. it still felt like yesterday dean had been taking his first steps and now here he was buying ice cream on his own. she smiled at his enthusiasm for the bubble gum ice cream. "she did help me!" she smiled at both of them and reached out to touch both of their heads softly. "well you two are just about the smartest kids i know then, very clever." she said as they both went to sit down with their ice creams.
hayden heard the baby grizzle and she couldn't help but sympathize with the child. missing out was no fun. "do you want me to cuddle her so you can eat?" she offered as she leaned forward to look into the stroller. she couldn't help it, she was always clucky and willing and ready to fall in love with every baby she laid eyes on. whether they were her friends or not. "that sounds like a great idea." she said as she looked over at dean and alexis, watching the ice cream drip through their fingers as they ate it and chattered happily about the animals they'd seen. "dean is desperate to go see the snakes." she couldn't help but shudder a little but she smiled. she wasn't their biggest fan but she'd suffer through it to see her son smile.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
"oh, well that is the most delicious flavour!" Alexis grinned and nodded, agreeing with the statement as she wandered away. Faye's eyes drifted to the chocolate dripping down the child's hands but smiled all the same. She had learned early on that kids were generally always sticky and most of the time covered in something. But, she would prefer that and to just wash their clothes more and wipe them down than have children that were scared to play should they make a mess. She didn't allow them to run all over her - no drawing on the walls or being unnecessarily exuberant with toys - nobody needed to have to redecorate the house - but she didn't mind them making mud pies or the like.
She smiled and finished up her own ice cream before that could start to make a mess, threatening to drip over the cone and onto her hands. "oh i think this one is going to be the exact opposite of dean .. he's going to hold on and stick it out in there as long as he can." Faye grinned and nodded, "Normally the second one is on time or early, are you that keen to stay pregnant?" She teased, knowing that whilst she had enjoyed the journey, she did not miss it and felt that the two girls were plenty for her lot in life. It was hard coming back into shape, which mattered to her given her occupation, and she did not miss the sore back, swollen feet, being unable to bend or crouch and the generally discomfort. It had been better the second time with Nik by her side as opposed to Alexis' pregnancy when he'd been hiding out and she'd been alone. But even so, she was tapping out at two. "but i could start throwing dustin's parties here too." Faye laughed, "I'm sure he would be delighted," He seemed like the type to just be happy with whatever Hayden might gift him - Faye had seen the way he looked at her when Hayden wasn't looking. It was very sweet. "So would the rest of the lads too, I'm sure," She added, thinking of that group of men their other halves hung out with on the daily.
Faye's expression softened as she watched them toddle back together, it was so sweet, and she was glad they were good friends - it made things so much easier. Alexis was quite a sociable child and seemed to make friends easily enough but even better that they were her 'cousins'. "they really do need to create a freeze time button for parents." She chuckled at that, "I know, but then they go and do something that makes you hope for a little fast forward." She teased, it wasn't really true but tantrums were all a part of the process. "she did help me!...well you two are just about the smartest kids i know then, very clever." Faye chuckled and watched Alexis sit down so that she could focus on her ice cream now, satisfied that she had helped her friend enough for the moment.
Faye bent down to help with Bry as she threatened a cry, trying to settle her before it could become a full on whinge. "do you want me to cuddle her so you can eat?" Faye laughed softly and nodded, "be my guest," She was more than happy to pass the baby on to other arms so she could take a moment, she reached in and gently brought her out, offering her to Hayden carefully. "that sounds like a great idea. dean is desperate to go see the snakes." Faye chuckled again and looked over at the kids, watching them chatter as they licked away. "We can handle the snakes... I think Alexis wanted to see the tigers at some point but otherwise we'll happily troop around the whole place." The longer they were entertained and worn out; the better.
there was no way she wanted to stay pregnant. while she loved the feeling and loved the fact she would be welcoming another child into the world there were too many downsides to it. the morning sickness drove her crazy and with dean it hadn't really stopped. it seemed to have settled a little with this pregnancy but she wasn't going to jinx it by saying anything. then there were the cravings, she'd been having some insane cravings and dustin, the sweetheart, had been doing his best to indulge her even though she was more than certain most of them grossed him out to no end. then there was all the other things that came with it that weren't pleasant. she'd never be one of these women who really enjoyed being pregnant but she'd put up with it for the end result, the child in her arms. "i have a feeling this one takes after dustin, and you know how likes to do things his way and take his time doing them." she said with a laugh as she touched her fingers to her bump. it was something she loved about him, that he thought before he acted, he considered and he didn't rush it. it was so different that she'd been in the past it was something that had drawn her to him and if his child was like him, it wouldn't matter in the slightest to her, it would just be one more thing that connected the two of them.
"oh you know they'd all have a field day." she could just see it now, all of their other halves lose in the zoo with no supervision. "i can just imagine what joel and avery would get themselves into." she laughed a little, though it was with affection. those two never seemed to run out of ways to give them all heart attacks and fits of laughter in tandem. she also had to agree with the time freeze. she loved dean to death and he was a great kid but even great kids had their moments that made her want to pull her hair out. but then on the flip side he'd do something straight after that would just make her heart melt and remind her that the struggle was all worth it.
she smiled as faye said she could cuddle brylee and she held her arms out for the baby, taking her carefully and settling her on her lap gently, patting her back gently. "what's all this fuss baby doll." she said softly as she pressed a kiss down to the young childs head, trying to settle her so faye could focus on eating. she bounced her legs in an effort to help her settle and she smiled as she looked back at faye and nodded. "dean loves the tigers so that won't be a problem." she was also happy to walk back around the whole place, anything to expel the endless energy dean seemed to have, especially since they were having to be careful about how they played at home right now, with joe being there it made things a little difficult for the kids. it was a fine line between keeping them sane and safe and secure in knowing they were in a safe place to do what they could and keeping them from doing something that might scare joel or overwhelm him when he was in such a state right now.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
"i have a feeling this one takes after dustin, and you know how likes to do things his way and take his time doing them." Faye gave a soft laugh as she thought about Dustin and his ways, then gave a nod. "Oh dear, I mean.. good luck to you on that," She joked, though she knew Dustin was a good guy. "At least they might think before they jump into things? Might be a good thing?" She chuckled, the 'head long, leaping into things without thinking' was a scary thought for your youngster. It was harder to protect them, though they didn't seem the type to need protection. She finished up her ice cream, sharing a little more to the baby chatting away in the pram, and then wiped her fingers on the napkin given along side it. Her fingers still felt a little sticky but she had baby wipes in her purse for that; well more for the kids.
"oh you know they'd all have a field day. i can just imagine what joel and avery would get themselves into." Faye pulled a slight face at the thought, "I mean, they are surprisingly self reliant and more responsible than I first thought-" She considered as her mind jumped back to the time Nik had disappeared on witness protection and left her alone and pregnant. They had all come to check on her regularly, banding together to get her anything she needed and to help get her to her appointments and all on time. It was a bitter sweet time. "Okay, I'm not so sure about Joel," She amended, with a sheepish grin.
Faye helped settle Brylee carefully in Hayden's keen and waiting arms, rolling her eyes as the fussing and grizzling started. "Oh shush you," She teased softly. "what's all this fuss baby doll." It was always tough to hand over your child, though she trusted Hayden and knew she'd never let anything happen to her - it was a little easier with Brylee, having gone through it all with Alexis and not having ruined or lost her yet, gave her confidence she was doing the right thing with Brylee. "dean loves the tigers so that won't be a problem." Faye smiled and pulled out the baby wipes to clean her hands, an eye still on Alexis and the ice cream dribbling down her fingers a little - there would be one for her when she was done too. "So do I, I have to admit I do love the big cats."
she had to admit, she had noticed more and more that dean was, so much like dustin already. they didn't share genes but they shared something more important and a lot deeper. love. there was a bond there that had come from dustin being the man that had first held him as a father, been there to help him learn everything since then and the hands that held dean when he needed them. but dean was considerate, thoughtful and he took his time making up his mind too. he was a little shy but she knew that was mostly age and he'd grow out of it some day, how could he not with influences like avery and joel in his life, the uncles that were the kind to take life by the horns and ride it till they subdued it, or the other way around. "i think holly is hoping that levi learns patience from dean and dustin." she said with a small laugh. "because she knows he's not going to learn it from avery." she said with affection.
"how about we give them the benefit of the and just call them ... rock solid?" she said with a small laugh. because whatever else they were, they were solid and dependable. reckless and fearless and headstrong, but she knew in a crisis they were both just as level headed as dustin could be. she curled her arms around brylee softly, making sure to hold the girl securely and she rocked her softly to try and settle her. she missed this stage so much, when they wanted to be held, to be cuddled and loved on. dean wasn't unaffectionate but he often had more exciting things to do than hug his mother. it was one of the best and worst parts of being a parent, watching them grow up.
she couldn't help but smile as dean noticed the ice cream dribbling down alexis's fingers and without anything being said he got up and hurried over to get some of the wipes from the packet faye was using and he walked back to alexis, waiting until she'd finished eating and then offering to wipe her hands down for her. her heart melted a little at that and she smiled. "how did i make that." she said proudly as she looked across at faye. "so do i. the lions especially." she said as she stood up carefully with the baby in her arms and she looked across to the kids. "are you ready to go see the big cats!?" she said excitedly.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
"i think holly is hoping that levi learns patience from dean and dustin. because she knows he's not going to learn it from avery." Faye let out a light laugh at that and raised a brow slightly. "I don't think it'll be learnt much from Holly either." She joked, a friendly one at that. She had known Holly long enough to know she had a feistiness about her that rivaled her other halves. It had caused some real blow ups in the past, from what their friend had told them. "how about we give them the benefit of the and just call them ... rock solid?" Faye laughed again and nodded. "That I can agree on." She said with another laugh. She knew that, jokes aside, they honestly were though. Solid and strong, dependable. Her gaze turned to Brylee as the baby have a soft murmur, settled and comfortable in Hayden's knowledgeable arms. Faye had no doubt she would come to miss this part too, as she had done with Alexis, but she didn't want to think about it now. They had time, at least, to enjoy these moments a few years more.
Faye watched the two older kids interact, smiling at Dean's thoughtful attitude to help with the clean up. Alexis sweetly agreed to the procedure, almost turning a little shy as she finished her ice cream and let the boy help wipe her down. She was a pretty tidy kid compared to what Faye had expected, not really one to throw her toys all over the place. Faye had worried at one point that she might not be playing right, a stupid worry, because she seemed more orderly than Faye thought she should be. But the girl had plenty of imagination and was happy to make messes when it worked for her. "how did i make that." Faye chuckled and shook her head "I swear they pull stuff out of thing air sometimes." She shook her head, but it was adorable.
"so do i. the lions especially." Faye smiled again and started packing up to get moving, making sure they had everything they'd come with, reflexively glancing to her baby as Hayden stood. She knew things would be fine but it was hard to switch off the motherly instinct. "are you ready to go see the big cats!?" Faye laughed as Alexis rushed over, her face lit up, a quick nod to confirm a yes as she clapped her hands in excitement. Then she grabbed Dean's hand and went to try and drag him toward the nearest sign post to check the way.
