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Whilst she may not be the smartest person on the planet, Abby could tell when unspoken words were being exchanged. She could tell when there was an unannounced excitement, when... something? Was happening. There'd been a muted excitement since she'd arrived this morning. She couldn't really explain it, but... she'd been able to sense something from Daria's first text this morning.

Daria didn't text to confirm that you were able to cover your shift. She'd expect you to check the rota and be there, and let her know a week in advance if you wouldn't be there.

But this morning, she had. Can you still cover this morning, Abby?

She couldn't really ask what was going on. But obviously, she covered her shift as normal.

She knew that Tia wasn't about to tell her anything.
She knew that Frankie wasn't about to tell her anything.
She knew that Lance wasn't about to tell her anything.

And she knew that, more than anyone else, Daria was not about to open up and spill the beans on what was going on.

But something was happening, there was no doubt about that..

She'd just have to wait to find out, she supposed.

But between the anxious waiting behind the counter, peering towards the door, excited whispers and exchanged glances that everyone seemed to be hoping that she didn't catch? Something was up.

Now respectfully speaking, she could smell Emmett enter the shop before she saw or heard him. No matter how much he showered or washed his clothes, he always smelled of cigarettes and was never quite able to bury it in body spray.

But really... He seemed to smell a little bit stronger than normal. Maybe he'd brought a companion? She didn't know. But she'd just finish cleaning up this table, bring the tray back to the counter-

"Table twelve."

The instruction was spoken through a breathless smile showing a full set of pearly teeth; which was always an obvious sign that Daria was nervous as hell about something. But she smiled and took the tray, turning on her heel to head to the given spot.

Table twelve was Emmett's favourite spot.

Among the mishmash of sofas and armchair's that made up The Coffee Cat, table twelve was a single small table that could sit two, by the old unused fireplace tucked into the corner.

She could see him perched in one of the two chairs in the corner that he frequented so often, but this time--unlike usual--he had a companion with him. She glanced down at the tray- two bacon rolls and a glass of shifter spell- presumably for the companion, as Emmett had had his just yesterday.

Emmett flashed her a nervous grin as he spoke to his companion, and a second or two later the rough looking man turned to look over at her.

Vinyl scratch.

The world seemed to entirely stop for just a few seconds,the two of them locking eyes as recognition began to dawn.

He clearly hadn't been taking care of himself. He looked like he hadn't been showering regularly in a long time. He was wearing what looked to be some of Emmett's clothes, likely because his own were a mess. His hair was greasy and unkempt, likely from months of neglect.

In an instant, she knew.

His hands trembled. He spoke in a voice not much more than a whisper. The entire diner hushed voices to near silence in order to catch his croaky whisper of disbelief.

"... Abigail..?"

She nearly dropped the tray in shock, her hands shaking just the tiniest bit as she tried to put it down in the edge of a nearby table.

"Dixon?"

From the very first day of moving in to this town, she'd been told that she'd likely never see her brother again. That harpies couldn't mingle with humans. That humans couldn't enter this town.

The months of being apart from him had been painful, difficult.

But there he was, shakily rising to his feet and stepping forward. The tears were already rising in his eyes.

"Abby!"

She couldn't stop herself from running, even if she wanted to. Hurdling over and pushing aside any and all tables and chairs in her way. Kicking aside pouffes as she cleared the gap over to the table by the old fireplace.

"Dixon."

She spoke breathlessly, blinking away any prickling tears, for once not caring if it ruined her makeup. She slammed into him, her vision blurring as she pulled him tightly into her arms. His breathing was laboured from the fact that he'd already started bawling. She didn't care. She was too.

She didn't care that he couldn't compose himself enough to form proper words. She didn't care that he was trembling. He didn't care that he was making the shoulder his face leaned on dripping wet.

Was it tears? Probably. It didn't matter.

Was it a dream? No. It couldn't be. Harpies had no need to sleep, and even if they chose to, they wouldn't dream....

But in her mind she couldn't make it make sense. She'd been told oh so strictly when she first resurfaced that no, it wasn't safe and she'd never see her brother again. She couldn't go out and look, no matter how hard she begged, but-

It was as she felt her eyes burn from a sudden blast of sapphire-blue light and she felt the weight in her arms sink and shift that her unspoken question was answered. The transformation took a handful of seconds, but after that she could feel four small clusters of claws digging into her thighs, and pressed against her stomach.

A small caramel and white nose poked out of the neck of the grey hoody, followed by two droopy lop ears. Thr high heartbeat she could still sense, but finally he seemed to relax some.

A small, cold palm pressed to her shoulder suddenly brought her back to reality, and where she was, but a genuine, warm black-lipped smile from her boss brought her a sense of peace.

"Take the next couple of weeks, Abby. We'll be okay." Daria was beaming, already taking over the role she'd asked of her just a few moments prior. Pulling up a pouffe for her, and having placed the tray at table 12.

Her heart skipped a beat for a moment as she realised all eyes had been on her and her brother, but really. It was understandably so. Reunions were known to be rare.

Lance and Finley had appeared from the back, a hand cupped over the former's mouth. Both were covering Tia's, a rare look of delight gracing her cheeks as her eyes became teary themselves. Finley was simply clapping quietly.

But as she glimpsed around at the faces watching them, one stood out.

A tired but contented Emmett, shaking his head faintly. I knew it, he mouthed a few times but never once showing anything other than a sense of 'I told you so'.

With the tray placed on the table, Shifter spell and bacon sandwiches in tow, Daria left her and the rest of her table be. She was vaguely aware of her setting the rest of her staff back to work, but Abby didn't care.

She'd just been gifted something she'd been told many times she could never see again. She had her brother.

And right now, with her brother still sat in her lap in rabbit form, cuddled against her stomach.

She felt the happiest that she had felt in years.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Whilst she may not be the smartest person on the planet, Abby could tell when unspoken words were being exchanged. She could tell when there was an unannounced excitement, when... something? Was happening. There'd been a muted excitement since she'd arrived this morning. She couldn't really explain it, but... she'd been able to sense something from Daria's first text this morning.

Daria didn't text to confirm that you were able to cover your shift. She'd expect you to check the rota and be there, and let her know a week in advance if you wouldn't be there.

But this morning, she had. Can you still cover this morning, Abby?

She couldn't really ask what was going on. But obviously, she covered her shift as normal.

She knew that Tia wasn't about to tell her anything.
She knew that Frankie wasn't about to tell her anything.
She knew that Lance wasn't about to tell her anything.

And she knew that, more than anyone else, Daria was not about to open up and spill the beans on what was going on.

But something was happening, there was no doubt about that..

She'd just have to wait to find out, she supposed.

But between the anxious waiting behind the counter, peering towards the door, excited whispers and exchanged glances that everyone seemed to be hoping that she didn't catch? Something was up.

Now respectfully speaking, she could smell Emmett enter the shop before she saw or heard him. No matter how much he showered or washed his clothes, he always smelled of cigarettes and was never quite able to bury it in body spray.

But really... He seemed to smell a little bit stronger than normal. Maybe he'd brought a companion? She didn't know. But she'd just finish cleaning up this table, bring the tray back to the counter-

"Table twelve."

The instruction was spoken through a breathless smile showing a full set of pearly teeth; which was always an obvious sign that Daria was nervous as hell about something. But she smiled and took the tray, turning on her heel to head to the given spot.

Table twelve was Emmett's favourite spot.

Among the mishmash of sofas and armchair's that made up The Coffee Cat, table twelve was a single small table that could sit two, by the old unused fireplace tucked into the corner.

She could see him perched in one of the two chairs in the corner that he frequented so often, but this time--unlike usual--he had a companion with him. She glanced down at the tray- two bacon rolls and a glass of shifter spell- presumably for the companion, as Emmett had had his just yesterday.

Emmett flashed her a nervous grin as he spoke to his companion, and a second or two later the rough looking man turned to look over at her.

Vinyl scratch.

The world seemed to entirely stop for just a few seconds,the two of them locking eyes as recognition began to dawn.

He clearly hadn't been taking care of himself. He looked like he hadn't been showering regularly in a long time. He was wearing what looked to be some of Emmett's clothes, likely because his own were a mess. His hair was greasy and unkempt, likely from months of neglect.

In an instant, she knew.

His hands trembled. He spoke in a voice not much more than a whisper. The entire diner hushed voices to near silence in order to catch his croaky whisper of disbelief.

"... Abigail..?"

She nearly dropped the tray in shock, her hands shaking just the tiniest bit as she tried to put it down in the edge of a nearby table.

"Dixon?"

From the very first day of moving in to this town, she'd been told that she'd likely never see her brother again. That harpies couldn't mingle with humans. That humans couldn't enter this town.

The months of being apart from him had been painful, difficult.

But there he was, shakily rising to his feet and stepping forward. The tears were already rising in his eyes.

"Abby!"

She couldn't stop herself from running, even if she wanted to. Hurdling over and pushing aside any and all tables and chairs in her way. Kicking aside pouffes as she cleared the gap over to the table by the old fireplace.

"Dixon."

She spoke breathlessly, blinking away any prickling tears, for once not caring if it ruined her makeup. She slammed into him, her vision blurring as she pulled him tightly into her arms. His breathing was laboured from the fact that he'd already started bawling. She didn't care. She was too.

She didn't care that he couldn't compose himself enough to form proper words. She didn't care that he was trembling. He didn't care that he was making the shoulder his face leaned on dripping wet.

Was it tears? Probably. It didn't matter.

Was it a dream? No. It couldn't be. Harpies had no need to sleep, and even if they chose to, they wouldn't dream....

But in her mind she couldn't make it make sense. She'd been told oh so strictly when she first resurfaced that no, it wasn't safe and she'd never see her brother again. She couldn't go out and look, no matter how hard she begged, but-

It was as she felt her eyes burn from a sudden blast of sapphire-blue light and she felt the weight in her arms sink and shift that her unspoken question was answered. The transformation took a handful of seconds, but after that she could feel four small clusters of claws digging into her thighs, and pressed against her stomach.

A small caramel and white nose poked out of the neck of the grey hoody, followed by two droopy lop ears. Thr high heartbeat she could still sense, but finally he seemed to relax some.

A small, cold palm pressed to her shoulder suddenly brought her back to reality, and where she was, but a genuine, warm black-lipped smile from her boss brought her a sense of peace.

"Take the next couple of weeks, Abby. We'll be okay." Daria was beaming, already taking over the role she'd asked of her just a few moments prior. Pulling up a pouffe for her, and having placed the tray at table 12.

Her heart skipped a beat for a moment as she realised all eyes had been on her and her brother, but really. It was understandably so. Reunions were known to be rare.

Lance and Finley had appeared from the back, a hand cupped over the former's mouth. Both were covering Tia's, a rare look of delight gracing her cheeks as her eyes became teary themselves. Finley was simply clapping quietly.

But as she glimpsed around at the faces watching them, one stood out.

A tired but contented Emmett, shaking his head faintly. I knew it, he mouthed a few times but never once showing anything other than a sense of 'I told you so'.

With the tray placed on the table, Shifter spell and bacon sandwiches in tow, Daria left her and the rest of her table be. She was vaguely aware of her setting the rest of her staff back to work, but Abby didn't care.

She'd just been gifted something she'd been told many times she could never see again. She had her brother.

And right now, with her brother still sat in her lap in rabbit form, cuddled against her stomach.

She felt the happiest that she had felt in years.