measure your life in love

He’d come home to find that while he’d gone things really had gone to hell in the place they’d called home 30 years ago. He hadn’t seen it for himself until now and his mind was running a million miles a minute trying to work through what this all meant. “Has it been like this the whole time?” Teddy found himself asking as put his tooth brush away and made his way into their bedroom. “Psycho murdering witches?”

She nodded her head and sighed lightly. “The first murder happened at the Founder’s Ball. I don’t think anyone expected it to be a witch, but it was kind of a genius plan. Absolutely psycho, but ingenious. Camden De Luca was found dead close to the fourth of July, poor Sophia has had to deal with so much the last year. “

“I mean I thought the champagne was to blame for that but its good to know it was for other reasons.” He teased as he watched her pick up a plate. “Wow.” He said holding his hand over his mouth. “Great throw Gabs.” He teased her.

“Don’t question it too much. The champagne makes me feel tingly.” She narrowed her eyes and scrunched her nose before gesturing. “Fine, show me how you do it, Mr Macho Man.”

“Awh she likes me, she really likes me.”  Teddy said with a grin. It was nice to be like this with her again, it was almost like he could forget about everything that happened. Like it was finally moving forward. “Plates it is.” He said leading her over to the stash of dishes. “After you my lady.” He said gesturing to the plates now. 

“I guess I like you, I mean, I married you or whatever.” She chuckled and snagged a plate, lobbing it dramatically across the room, the crash sending her into a round of giggles.”

“Well then why don’t we go and look in one of the other rooms before we both eat too much and then need a nap? Even the rooms that don’t have actual activities or entertainment are interesting. This house is gorgeous.” 

“I’m always down for exploring. Seriously, this place is decked out! I pity the clean up crew.”

“Look at you tapping into your inner bad girl.” Teddy teased with a wide grin as he lead his wife away from the dance floor and towards the wrath set up. “So what’s it going to be. Plate smashing, wall smashing, really all I ask is you don’t smash my face. Its the money maker.”

“I can’t be good all the time, where’s the fun in that? Besides, I thought you liked it?” She gave him sassy wink and turned to follow him towards the destruction. “I could never smash your face. I like it too much.” She stood on her tip toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Let’s break some china. I don’t mind broken plates when I’m not the one to clean them up.”

“Outch look at me making a mess. I spilled wine on Teddy not fifteen minutes ago. You sure? I can go get you a new one?” 

“If messes weren’t made, it wouldn’t be a part in Hollow Grove. And it’s a good thing I’m a pro at getting stains out of things, I can fix Teddy right up. No, seriously, it’s okay. I’m already eyeballing the little raspberry tarts. This room is dangerous.”

Rachel smiled happily to see Gabby beside her. She was glad not only that the young mother was here, but that she was out at all. “We’ll plateau at some point, and then where will we be?” she said with a sigh and shake of her head. “Good thing we have fast metabolism. So we can indulge a little.” 

“We might have a fast metabolism, but I’m going to feel disgusting after I leave this room. I seriously want to inhale everything, I might have a problem.”

Rachel looked at her wrist and then rolled her eyes at herself, remembering for the tenth time that she had left off wearing it that night specifically for this reason: so she could not check what time it was. Rachel liked spending time with her friends, but she was not one for crowds, especially ones that included copious amounts of alcohol. But Sophia had urged her to come, saying they both needed the break and the time off. Rachel would have preferred her night off to include a run maybe, pizza for dinner, ice cream for dessert, and hot cocoa or tea before going to bed. She sometimes felt as if she was 90 years old. 

Tilting her head to look at the person standing along the wall beside her, Rachel smiled. “I swear these parties get more extravagant every year. Oh, make sure you grab one of the salmon puffs, they’re delicious.” 

Gabby chuckled lightly and nodded in agreement. “Eventually we’re going to reach a point they can’t get any more opulent. It’ll be impossible. Aren’t they? This room will be the death of me.”

“Oh my!! Shit shit I am so sorry thats.. I didn’t mean to..” 

“So what do you say beautiful, you want to give this plate throwing, wall smashing thing a try.” Teddy asked with a grin as she swept his wife off the dance floor. 

@gabbymontgomery

“I thought you would never ask. Breaking things always feels so wrong, yet so right. Lead the way, handsome. Let’s go do some damage.”

When he heard her start to cry he only pulled her closer, it was the one thing he hated more then anything else in the world and that was to see her sad. His girl deserved every ounce of happiness the world had to offer and he hated that he was the cause of such grief for her. “I’m so sorry Gabs.” Teddy muttered as he rested his head on top of hers, his cheek resting against the top of her head. “I fought every day to get back to you, it was the only thing that kept me going. I’m so sorry you had to do this alone and I’m so sorry for all of this.” His eyes grew wet with tears and he found himself hugging her closer. He’d missed her so much and the truth was in those last days she was the only thread he’d been able to hold onto, she was the only reason he’d kept going. 

As he pulled her closer, she buried her face in his chest, the sounds of the children and their laughter reaching her ears. Her chest heaved, the weight of all the emotions she’d been trying to tamp down, bubbling to the surface. “I don’t need apologies, I just need you. I need our family. I need you to know that I don’t care that you’re different, I made a vow to love you through anything, and I don’t plan to keep that vow.” She pushed herself off of him and ran the back of her hand across her cheeks as she spoke. “As long as I’m alive, we will always find a way. We will make this work.”

“They’ll have loads of fun. They always seem to. What about the other one?” She joked, her stare and smile displaying appreciation. “You’re the best Gabby.” 

“JJ is always happy. Unless you take away his toys, then all hell breaks loose.” She snorted lightly. “That’s what friends are for.”

“I can’t go without you having my back. So I guess I’ll have to stay alive and make good life choices and not jump into freezing cold waters.” He said with slight dramatics though his words were the truth. Having dressed, Jett shot her a grin as he moved an arm around her shoulders. Hearing the werewolf speak about her children, he could not help the solemn expression. Ever since Teddy died, Jett made it his priority to check up on Gabrielle and the children as often as he could despite being stationed overseas by the Originals. But hearing her right in front of him was different from talking on the phone. He couldn’t hide the sadness in his eyes, after all losing Teddy was like losing a brother. But he realized long since that the woman before him was the strongest of them all. Swallowing, he finally looked at her with a soft smile. “That’s – that’s great, Gabs. Honestly, I’ve been missing Teddy a lot these days so seeing Theo … seeing all of them, really, I think it’d do me some good. Is it okay if we go right now?” 

“I think that’s a fantastic choice. I’m not ready to lose any of your charm or your devilish good looks just yet.” She quirked an eyebrow and settled in to the empty space as the weight of his arm across her shoulders gave her a slight comfort. Jett Danvers was one of the best men she had ever met. No matter the women he went through or the bravado he put forth, he was a wonderful man and an even better friend. She slung her own arm low around his waist and tightened her hand reassuringly. “We can absolutely go right now. The kid’s would be happy to see uncle Jett. And you can finally meet JJ.”