Love and War.

LnW #5: Not All Beautiful Things Are Perfect.

"Please be seated." Haven said as she lead the men to the garden. "I'll be right back." she said and disappeared into the house.

Avery and Sébastien unpacked and got ready.

Haven returned with a tray of cookies and three glasses of juice.

She sat it in the middle of the table and sat down at the head of the table.

"Let's begin." Sébastien began. "Miss Dymond, how long have you lived with the Ross family?" he asked.

"I've lived here since I was 12, when I was moved here after... uhm... my biological parents passed away." she said, hiding her face from his view.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Dymond." Sébastien said, sounding sincere.

"That's okay, it was a long time ago. And please, call me Haven. Miss Dymond makes me feel too professional."

Sébastien smiled at her. She was the cutest thing he'd ever seen.

"No matter how many years have passed, Haven," he said testing her name as it rolled off his tongue. "the pain of losing a loved one never fades. It might grow weak, but its always present." Sébastien stared deep into her brown eyes, forgetting about his assistant sitting across from him.

Something flashed across Havens eyes as she stared at him, but she looked away before he could desifer it.

Sébastien knew what he was talking about. The pain of losing his mother was always there, but it didn't make him feel sad anymore. Not as much as it did at first. Now everytime he thought about his mother, a happy feeling surfed through him. She lived a good life and she lived it happily, he would always say to himself.

"Shall we continue?" he asked her. She nodded and cleared her throat.

For the rest of the meeting, Haven had to answer similar questions with an honost answer.

As the meeting drew to a close, Sébastien asked Avery to wait in the car, as he finished things up with Haven.

"All I need you to do is-" Sébastien was cut off by a crying voice coming from the house.

Havens eyes widened and she ran inside without a second thought. She ran down the hall to her room, where she saw baby Amanda with tears streaming down her little face and her blue eyes bloodshot.

Haven scooped the 3 year old into her arms and cooed her.

"Why are you crying, baby?" she asked the girl once she had settled down.

"I thought you left me here." the little girl whispered as she another sub threatened to escape. Haven wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead.

"Shhh. I'm here, baby. No need to cry. I would never leave you here alone." Amanda sniffed and nodded her head as she snuggled closer to Haven.

"Are you hungry, baby?" Haven smiled as Amanda nodded.

Haven turned around and gasped as she saw the silhouette in the doorway.

<~~~~~~~>

Sébastien looked at Haven as she sprinted into the house. Out of curiosity, he stood up and followed her running figure.

Down the left hall, and into the second room on the left. He walked to the room and watched as Haven picked up a crying little girl and shushed her. Haven wiped away the little girls tears and to his surprise she kissed the little girls forehead.

Sébastien heart leaped in awe as he watched his angel. Holding a little girl with such care as if the girl meant more to her than she meant to herself.