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!.
she smiled as she looked down into the little face of her nephew and she shook her head a little. "oh he knows i'll never think badly of him." she said as she snuggled him close, just taking in the moment because the moments were oh so fleeting. it seemed like yesterday that dean had been this size and now he was half way to a teenager. that thought was so terrifying to her. "he's going to use these looks for good and not evil, aren't you rocky boy." she said with a soft laugh. so far the boys in the family had all taken their looks from their father's, regrettably, so had dean, though she was lucky enough that he looked enough like her that people wouldn't question where he'd gotten certain features from, such as his light hair and his eyes.
"it certainly is." she said with a sad smile as she lowered one hand to her bump gently. "though i'm hoping time slows down just a little." she still had a few months to go but she had a feeling this would be the last for her and dustin. it hadn't been planned but she was more than happy with two, it meant she still had enough hands to grab both of them if she needed to. "it's become almost a habit for dean. he goes near water and he ends up in it. and i can't even be mad because it is always accidental." be it a slip, a fall or another reason, he tried to hard to follow the rules but life just conspired against him. "so it's be prepared."
she regretted the words almost as soon as she'd said them. she hadn't really meant to, it was something so stupid that it almost didn't warrant mentioning but it had been keeping her up at night. "it's so stupid." she said with something of a laugh though her face was a little forlorn. "i'm going to put it down to stupid hormones and emotions and lack of pickles but." she shook her head a little as she let out a sigh, comforted by the touch on her arm. "i just can't help but keep thinking if it's a girl .. what sort of example i'd be setting for her." she'd gotten out of a life that people struggled so much to escape from, she'd done that and what had she done with it, nothing she felt like. "it's not like dancing for money is a career to be proud of." and she hadn't been able to do that since she'd fallen pregnant either so she'd been pouring the drinks at the club. "boys are easy, they have dustin to look up to and guide them, it doesn't get much better than that. but a daughter? she'll only have me. a former homeless kid who has nothing to offer her to help her grow up."
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
she ran a hand through her hair as she waited for him to come out of the bathroom, resting it on her neck as she let out a breath and tried not to think about the time he was taking and worrying about whether she should knock and check on him. though she did suspect if she did that he'd actually breath fire at her and she knew she'd already pressed enough of his buttons tonight.
but she did hope it was a good thing, that he knew they weren't going to let him just suffer in silence on his own, that they were there when he was ready, even if he didn't see them as family. she straightened a little as the door opened and he walked past her without a word. well walked was a stretch as she noticed the limp and she nodded a little to herself. he'd changed and he looked slightly better than he had a few moments ago. she wasn't upset he hadn't reacted to her, she knew it wasn't really personal.
she waited where she was for a few more moments before she moved into the kitchen and saw him getting a glass of water. "do you want help getting to your room?" she asked him softly as she leaned against the counter. "i promise once you're settled i'll leave you in peace." she assured him, letting him know that there would be an end to her hovering, it just wouldn't be until she knew he was alright and safe somewhere comfortable.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
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 can't explain it love, it just is! but you have always had my affection, my devotion and my heart? <3 dean would like me to ask you oh so nicely, if you would pick up some chocolate icecream?
credit @ shadow
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
had she not been caught up in the moment she might have known. had she not been overtaken with the rush of emotion for what she'd felt she would have noticed how still dustin had been. she'd been sleeping next to him for long enough to be able to tell with relative certainty when he was dreaming about horrible things. as she whispered the words into his ear she'd seen it, the tense set of his jaw and she felt her heart go out to him. she wished in the moment she could shake him awake, that she could wrap her arms around him and chase the nightmares away from him, to only let him dream about the good times and the wonderful things in the world. of the laughter and the good times with his family but she couldn't and it hurt that she couldn't make it better for him. she resisted the urge to kiss his cheek softly and she decided that she'd lay back and try to get some more sleep. once he was awake in the morning she'd share the news and hopefully he could feel it then. she shifted a little, going to try and roll over but shen she did her hand slipped on the fabric and her hand brushed dustin's arm.
the change was quick, the movement swift and she'd had no time to prepare for it before his hand had clasped around her wrist. she felt the colour drain from her face and she felt the gasp of air leave her mouth as she reached her other hand up towards him to try and stop him but before she could he'd gripped that wrist too and suddenly both arms were pinned above her head and she couldn't help but feel a flash of sheer panic over the fact she was unprotected. she'd never been scared of him, she never would but he wasn't himself right now, he didn't know it was her. she felt chilled as the panic gave way to fear and she tried to let him let go of her arms. she also couldn't help the fear of what could happen to their child, she knew he'd never knowingly hurt her or them but it was those maternal instincts. she'd never tell him this but she was terrified in the moment.
"i'm sorry." she said as he growled at her not to touch him and she hoped that if she spoke to him he'd come around quicker to knowing that it was her. "dustin, let me go." she said, trying to keep her voice as even as possible, though it broke a little because having her arms pinned above her head was starting to hurt her and the grip he had on her wrists was tighter than she'd ever been held. she knew he could break them with little more than a twist of his hand and she hoped to god that he snapped out of it before that happened. not because she couldn't handle the pain, not because she scared that he'd hurt her, but because she knew he'd never forgive himself.
then almost as quick as it had started, the darkness in his eyes lifted and the man she loved was back. the release of her wrists as almost instant and she couldn't help but sit up as quickly as she could, shuffling slightly as she rested a hand across her stomach lightly without thinking about it. she could feel her heart pumping and almost hear the blood rushing through her head. her wrists ached and her shoulders hurt but that wasn't important in that moment. knowing her child was okay and that dustin was okay were the things on her mind. "dustin, you didn't mean it." she knew she couldn't tell him it was okay. he'd never believe her but she could tell him that it wasn't his fault. she reached across to turn on the light beside her bed so they weren't in darkness still and she slowly got out of bed, reaching her hand out to him. "come here" she spoke softly, "please?"
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
it was with a soft sigh she found herself woken from her sleep. she'd been dreaming but she couldn't recall what it had been about. there was just this soft and contended feeling she had and it made her smile into the darkness without thinking too much about it. she took a second to listen for dustin's breathing behind her, the softness as he slept, and she hoped to anything it was a peaceful sleep he was having. things had been so hard the last few months for him. she hated that she couldn't snap her fingers and make it better for him. she knew he loved his family but they were trying at times and even she couldn't deny that. but it was the silent struggles, the moments after the fights that his family missed. the way his shoulders were just carried a little less high. the things they missed because they didn't get to see him like she did. though she was aware that as much as they were together, there was so much he didn't let her see either.
once she was satisfied that he was still there she shifted slightly between the sheets, listening to the monitor they still had in dean's room. it might have seemed like a bit much but there were reasons she insisted on it, because she had an ever present fear that daz would work out what her and dustin were trying to hard to keep secret. she knew that if he figured it out while dean was young he'd be back, he'd do what he could to make them miserable, to never let them forget or worse, he'd do what he'd done to another family and tear the child away from them. it made her sick to her stomach to think about losing her child like that so she made sure she could always hear him at night. she could hear him snoring softly and it made her smile once more, knowing that he, like his real father, was sleeping just like he was in the bed next to her. all was right in her world and it made her sink back against her pillows.
it was then she felt a familiar sensation in her middle, the feeling of her and dustin's child shifting within her and she rested her hand atop it gently. she felt her mind drifting off a little, wondering how this child was going to fit into life in the home, especially with everything going on. it hadn't been planned but she knew it was welcome and she knew it was loved but she couldn't help but be worried it was the wrong timing. as if to disagree with her, she felt something against her palm she hadn't felt yet. she gasped softly as she felt the small thump again. "finally little one." she said softly into the dark as she held her hand there before she turned her head to where dustin lay and she shifted slightly to whisper against his ear "dustin, mon amour, veux-tu te réveiller?." if he was in a deep enough sleep he shouldn't hear her but if he was rousable, she was certain he'd want to feel their child's first kicks, especially at the moment.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
one day she might be able to tell him about the men from her past, the ones who had done things to her that had numbed her to whatever joe could think of doing to her. the things she'd had to defend herself from in the past had been scary enough that there was nothing joe could do that would scare her. she was immune to being scared when it came to herself. there were few things that truly scared her and they were to do with the family she had. losing dustin was one of the scariest. she couldn't imagine life without him by her side, without him being there to lean on and share everything with. but even that paled in comparison to her children being hurt or lost to her. it was the only reason she'd been wary of joe when he'd grabbed her wrist. because she carried a child within her and that meant what happened to her happened to the baby and that terrified her. had it just been her? there was no question he'd never scare her.
she gave him the space he wanted to get changed and cleaned up but she stuck by her promise not to leave him. she was leaning against the wall across from the bathroom door, listening carefully in case he fell down or became ill again. if it kept happening she'd go and wake dustin or avery, he seemed to respond better to his brothers than he did his sisters and certainly better to them than he did with anyone else in the family. which was understandable, they could probably all understand each other, having been through the same horrors. but she hoped he grew to realize that not all the worlds horrors happened in wars. she rubbed her hand over her neck a little, feeling the tension of still being awake at this hour start to take it's toll a little as she waited there for him to open the door to the bathroom so she could either help him to the couch or the bedroom. she wasn't going to rush him but she did hope that he came out soon or she might be asleep and slumped on the floor when he came out.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
she couldn't help but smile wide when holly said that she could take the baby as soon as she sat down on the rug. she held her hands out for him and she took him into her arms gently, settling him into them and cuddling him as gently as she could against her chest. she smiled down softly at him and bounced him gently, rubbing her hand over his back. "hello there beautiful boy." she would never turn down an opportunity to cuddle with her niece or her nephews. one because she knew they were going to outgrow it very very quickly but also because she knew the favour would always be returned if she needed help with her children. she'd trust anyone in the family with them, she had no doubts they'd protect and love them like their own, just as she would do for their children. it was then she remembered that holly was sitting right there and she laughed a little. "i'm so sorry. i have babies on the brain and they refuse to leave." she said with a smile as she looked over rocke's head slightly to check on where the boys were.
"i have a spare set of clothes for each of them." she couldn't help but confess. it was just so much easier to prepare for the amount of kids that were coming than to be caught short and she knew her son. as much as he was a smart cookie he could get excited around water and that was enough of a reason for her to believe he might end up in the pond. "i'm okay, chugging along." she said with a smile as she rocked the baby gently in her arms. "i wish i could say i couldn't complain but i can't." she said with something of a soft sigh. she could have said everything was fine and dandy but that's not what these catch ups were about, they were about really catching up so they could support each other through the ups and downs of being part of the family they were and just life in general. "but before i bring you down with that, how are you?"
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
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
she hadn't meant to push this button but she had accidently and now she needed to deal with it. she fought the urge to rub her wrist where he'd been holding it and she could already feel the bruise that was threatening to come out. she'd have to come up with a reason for why it was there, in case dustin saw but that wasn't something to focus on right now. she wanted to help joe, keep him safe in the moment and hopefully help him back to the couch or up to his room depending on which one he wanted. she'd give him either option and hopefully he'd pick one of them without too much argument. "joe, scarier men than you have threatened and hurt me." she said softly but honestly. she wasn't scared of him and no matter how much he growled about it, she never would be. "you can growl all you want at me but it won't stop me from caring." those were the breaks and she wasn't about to lie to him. she'd respect his wishes and not touch him while she could avoid it, she'd keep her distance when he was okay and she wouldn't push him when he didn't need it. but this was different, he was injured, possibly concussed and vomiting. those were all signs that someone shouldn't be left alone.
she cringed a little as he was sick again and chewed her lip as she watched but couldn't comfort or to anything to help. all she could do was wait till he was finished and make sure he didn't pass out or fall over and cracking his head on the sink because he was dizzy. she nodded a little when he finally agreed to clean the blood off his nose by himself and she held her hands up just slightly in agreement. "alright, i'll get the shirt for you." she said as she turned to open the door to the bathroom and she stepped through. she was about to close the door behind her when she heard him mutter to himself and she paused. she hadn't been supposed to hear that, at least she didn't think she was but it was enough to stop her. "it doesn't matter if you've seen worse joe." she said softly as she looked back at him. "you're stressed, dealing with hard things and probably even a little scared." she said as she lifted her hand from the bathroom door as she stepped through the space fully. "you've been through a lot and your body is trying to deal. it's normal."
she crossed the hall to the table she'd left the clothes she'd gotten from upstairs for him and she took them into her hands, turning back to step back to the bathroom door. she knew there was no way he'd agree to let her help him at least change his shirt so she held them out to him. "here." she glanced down at the clothes. "i got you some of dustin's pants and one of your shirts." she waited for him to take them as she looked back at his face. "i'll be just out here if you need help, okay?" she knew that would probably earn her a sharp word but she wasn't leaving until she knew he was safe laying down somewhere.
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
yeah, i walked through the door and heard them. not sure what it's about though, i tried hard not to listen. ooo that's not a bad idea. you know i think i saw one of those games for sale the last time i took dean to the toy store.
credit @ shadow
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT
mayday mayday! okay so maybe not mayday but there's tension in the house, thought i'd warn everyone before they came home. joe and heather. these kids are breaking my heart.
credit @ shadow
TWENTY SIX | DANCER AT LUNA LOUNGE | DATING DUSTIN GASPARD MCCARRAN DEAN MCCARRAN | 6 PREGNANT