Lockwood & Co - ONE SHOTS

(4)

-Slipping Rapiers Part 2-
-Domestic Bliss-
POV: The aftermath of Portland Rows residents
sleeping in each others beds. Having to face the music more importantly their feelings.
With special guest Flo Bones.
WARNINGS: Raging hormones & Flustered Teenagers

Part 1 - The Wake Up Call

The sun peaked through the blinds in the final days of summer. The sunbeams heated up the carpets and lit up the bedrooms telling everyone in Portland Row another day had dawned. Holly Monroe was the first to wake and first to be busy in the town house. She opened the front door 8:0'clock on the dot every day and today was no different. She closed the door, singing a song under her breath and hung her light jacket on the rack. Whistling the tune now, Holly made her way through the hall and into the kitchen seeing it more clean than she had in a few weeks. The four other members of Lockwood and Co had been incredibly busy and lamented apologises most days for the mess to her. She didn't mind, she liked helping the way she did. Plus she knew she was the only one in the agency actually on a payroll. She did the dishes first, cups and small plates that had been piled neatly beside the sink. She took the skull out of the oven, it's face permanently stuck in a gruesome leer. She kept it at arms length as she placed it on the counter by the door. She cleaned the table, shaking the thinking cloth from it's crumbs outside and then placing it back in it's original setting. The kettle was filled and she took out the breakfast things. The job her friends and colleagues had attended last night was a big one and no doubt she wouldn't see any of them nearer noon. She took down their work clothes and put on a wash, hung up their rapiers above their desk down in the basement and tided things down there as well. While all of this was happening, the mail was delivered and Holly retrieved the daily paper from the floor on the mat. The times of course, Lockwood's favourite and no doubt he would be eager to peak through it after his interviews and photographs of yesterday. Holly unrolled it, putting down the other letters from Deprac and gas companies. As she flicked it to the front page, on the table Holly gasped practically beaming. As on the front cover two photographs, smiled back at her. The top Lucy and Meghan and barely beneath Lockwood and George. The girls were grinning, rapiers raised and arms around one another. Lockwood was dapper as always, hand on his hilt of his rapier in it's belt. George was as expressive as ever, Rapier pointing to the ground as his arms crossed over his chest. The article said-

Lockwood & Co taking hauntings to another level.
Anthony Lockwood, Lucy Carlyle, George Karim and Meghan Ionesco yesterday as they take on their biggest excavation yet to date. It can be seen clearly why this small group of talented operatives have been in trusted with such a complex and large job. Each one expanding on talents, from extraordinary sight, listening, research and skill. The Willobay Estate were ecstatic with the job that Lockwood & Co have done.
The full story on page 2-3.

They were front page news, finally. Holly with a hand over her mouth, could see the faces of each one of them as they peer down at the paper with glee. Now deeply encouraged, she started working on a huge brunch for them all, which included savoury and sweet, tea and juice, bacon and cinnamon buns, toast and eggs amongst other scrumptious things. It was after ten by this time, the house was looking it's best. The floor swept and mopped, cushions back in place and Portland Row was shining it's brightest on a good morning. Holly knew, that Meghan was alway first up, she like Holly was an early bird. It was common that Holly would be washing the breakfast things while Meghan and Lockwood had a chat over coffee while the other two agents had an extra hour.
As time passed slowly, she waited to see who was ready first to face the day. It was funny how if you live with people or see them often enough how you pick up on even the tiniest things that individualises them. Like how everyone knew who was coming downstairs just by the sound of their feet. Holly knew what everyone would want for breakfast, Lucy had toast and bacon, she loved fry up's salty Smokey bacon and sugary tea. Lockwood would have toast and eggs, plus whatever cake was on offer and his fancy honey, one sugar, tea bag left in, tea that only he drunk. George would have everything, a full plate and he ate like a drunk man with his milky tea. Then Meghan, she would have toast maybe, perhaps something fresh and cold, like yogurt or hot ready break porridge. She had to be in the mood for fry ups but was partial to a roll and square sausage a Scottish breakfast delicacy; and many cups of strong, no sugar just a little bit of milk, tea.
It turned ten-thirty and Holly was impatient at this point. She wanted them to see the newspaper, to have their celebrations. But no one had come down yet, not even the early birds. Then a worry started to niggle, was everyone okay? Did they get hurt? Do they need help? Feeling hopeless, Holly got up from her seat in the kitchen, covered the cooked food up and then headed upstairs to do some of her own investigations.
-
Meghan opened her eyes slowly, heavily. They blinked a few times before actually opening wide enough to see her surroundings. It was bright, too bright and she didn't recognise the bed spread. The window was next to the bed, instead of its usual place being nearer the door. And so many books, book upon book and what looked like a giant plastic frog on the floor in the corner. With a deep inhale raised her chin but struggled with weight literally laying on her back. Peeking around, she saw the culprit. Fast asleep, using the space between her shoulder blades as a pillow, George Karim. Both of his arms held her hips, his comfort kept her captive as his rhythmic peaceful gentle snores echoed in the room. There's that small amount of time that when you first wake up you can't remember a single thing either of yesterday or of any time you spent on earth. Some would say it's the best part of the day. Meghan found herself at the end of that time, as the night flooded in like waves. George carried her off the table and up the stairs, his and Lockwood's muffled conversation on the landing and then the flannel. She'd sleepily pulled on his flannel and went into a dreamless perfect sleep, in his bed. Typical. Of course she would. Meghan yawned, stretching her neck a little as much as she could laying on her stomach and having a whole George laying practically on top of her.
"You better have trousers on" She sniffed, hand leaving its warm place under the pillow and rubbing her eyes, no doubt spreading yesterday's mascara across her face. She could hear the distant wheezing and rattling of the washing machine, Holly was here and probably waiting to meet them all. Meghan looked for a clock, an alarm of any kind and only found George's watch on the side table. With trouble, she stretched over getting a protesting mumble from the sleeping bear in response. Two of her fingers only barely grabbed the strap and lifted it up back to her.
"Shit" She breathed, seeing it was getting closer to 11am. "George" She called, one hand holding the watch, the other reaching down and patting his arm. "George"
"Shhhh" He said.
"It's almost eleven," She told him.
"Mhmm" He adjusted his face so it faced away from the window now. "Shhhh"
"George, come on Holly's probably made us a big spread and we're sleeping the day away" Her hand gently moved up and down his arm.
"I'm comfy," George smiled gently.
"I didn't take you as a snuggler," She tried to move his arm with her hand. "More like a Boa Constrictor, George come on now my darling, let me go"
He relented, moved and fell onto the pillow beside her.
"What did you call me?" He asked, picking up and putting on his glasses.
"George?" Meghan sat up, stretching her back, now that she was able to move.
"No, no after that" He poked her rib, making her playfully flinch. "My darling?" He said in his best attempt of a Scottish accent. Meghan scrunched her face up at that, shaking her head as she tied her hair up with the hair tie on her wrist.
"Never do that again in my presence" She gave him a pointed look, with a finger wag for effect.
"Okay love" He smirked, watching her bite the inside of her cheek. "I'm not complaining, I like the sound of it"
"Sure you do" Meghan got up. "I wonder if you'll like the sound of me telling the rest how much of a little snuggle bug you are" She pouted her lip, tilting her head at him like he was a puppy in a cage needing rescuing.
"I'll tell them how loud you snore," He crossed his arms, hair dishevled and eyes big. She thought he looked rather devilishly handsome.
"That would be a lie, now wouldnt it?" Meghan called his bluff, picking up her t-shirt from the floor.
"Yeah...you don't even snore, or kick. Actually you sleep so still at one point I checked your pulse" He shook his head. Meghan laughed amusedly.
"Just add it to the list of things you like about me, my darling" She winked, opening his door carefully and stepped out.