House of the Road House Rollers [Private]

[Jane]

Dragging her feet, shoulders sagging down, eyes never leaving the ground. Holly unlocks the front door to the house. She walks slowly into the living room, dropping the keys along the way. Her body folds slowly as she collapses into a ball on the couch.

[Dan]

Ellis pulled up into the driveway next to Snuffleupagus. His eyes had dark circles under them and there was a visible drag on his frame. The last month had not been an easy one for him. He shut off the engine but hesitated as he grabbed the keys.

"Hollys home..."

He sighed as he pulled the keys out of the ignition and stepped out of the car. The nights since the Caern opening had been mostly sleepless. His mind kept returning to the voice in his head... his voice. It told him truths about himself, things that at least some small part of him always knew. He could still hear the voice in the back of his head nagging at him and tarnishing everything he did.

The door was open so he closed it softly behind him. As he walked into the dimly lit room he heard a metallic clink against his shoe. Princess had asked him to join her pack. It was a tempting offer, very tempting, but something held him back. He refused her. He liked to think he did it out of a sense of friendship, pride, or honor maybe, but deep down he knew the real reason. He liked Princess too much to inflict himself on her.

Ellis bent down and picked up the keys laying on the floor. He smiled a bit at Holly's silly little mammoth key chain, where'd she even find something like that? He kinda wanted one of his own. He remembered the passion in her voice as she pleaded with him not to leave the pack. She called him part of the family. She said that they needed him and that they'd fall apart without him. Then came the secrets and the lies. They didn't need him, they barely even wanted him around. That's why they left him here in Seattle while they went off to explore and meet new people. Worst of all now were the rumors he'd heard. They confirmed his worst fears about them, things he'd always just written off as his own fault. Either by misreading the signals and body language or outright seeing things that didn't happen... or rather couldn't happen. It was all just another lie though, he was just as guilty of their crime as they were. He knew fully well what was going on and chose to turn a blind eye.

He turned the corner to find Holly curled up on the couch. She was clearly in no condition for a confrontation but he didn't care. He was done looking the other way and accepting lies. He damn well deserved to hear her tell him the truth, to his face. She owed him that much.

"Holly, you awake?"

[Jane]

Glancing upwards Holly looked around the room and found Ellis standing there starting at her. She could see the anger on his face. *This was going to be bad. They had been so wrapped up in making a plan to stay alive that they hadn't considered how Ellis would take this whole thing.* Holly continued to wonder in her head, *He's never said anything against Metis before* that Holly could recall.

"Yeah, can't sleep."

Tears slowly stream down Holly's face. She glances down at the couch cushion she has been using a as pillow and there is a large stain from all the tears she has shed. The overwhelming sense of being completely alone washes over her. Holly clenches her teeth, grimaces, closes her eyes and lets out a sigh. She shifts over on the couch to make room, and looks up at Ellis.

"I'm sorry Ellis, We should have told you the truth. I know it no excuse, I've just been scared out of my mind since the moment I found out the voice was telling the truth. I fully expected to die," looking over at the clock on the wall, "last night. I've been paranoid really, I kept think that they would kill the whole pack and anyone else that knew."

Glancing up at him, tears still streaming down her face, "I'll understand if you want to leave. I'm sure Hannibal is long gone. Can't be much of family now..."

Wrapping her arms tight around herself, and mumbling quietly "I've never had one... I guess it was to much to hope for this time..."

[Dan]

The expression on Ellis' face changed suddenly, this wasn't at all what he expected to find.

"So it's true then? I..."

He sighed in defeat and sat down on the couch placing an arm around his alpha.

"You know, somedays I wish I were born an Ahroun. Then I'd be able to stay angry at someone even when they're sobbing like a child. It's just unfair really."

[Jane]

"I'm sorry..." Holly whispers... "I'm sorry..."

Exhausted Holly collapses into ball, her head falling on Ellis's knee.

"I'm sorry... I'm... not... fit... to... be... alpha..." Holly mumbles as her exhaustion takes hold and she falls asleep...

[Dan]

Ellis growled impatiently at Holly.

"Fine! I get it, you've had a bad day."

He took off his jacket and draped it over her before brushing some of her hair out of her face.

"Don't think this means I've forgiven you."

[Jane]

Holly falls into a deep sleep with ease and begins to dream. The dream however is a nightmare, beyond any of the nightmares she had had lately.

Holly begins to twitch and shift in her sleep.

"no... no..." She shudders.

Holly pulls her knees to her chest, squeezing herself into the tightest ball she can manage and begins to rock back and forth, all the while still asleep...

[Dan]

Ellis watched Holly sleep and dream while he contemplated exactly how he got himself into this situation. Caring for a distraught pregnant Garou. He wasn't qualified for this, hell he could barely even take care of himself and deal with his own emotions. What would Dr. Holmberg say about this? Probably something like

'Ellis, you brought this on yourself by not effectively communicating your feelings to the people who are most important to you. Also, I'm a waste of your parent's money.'

... ok maybe not that last bit but still... god that guy was a douche. He shook Holly's shoulder gently.

"Hey, Holly wake up."

[Jane]

Holly rolled off the couch, landed on her butt, and scooted frantically backwards on her hands and feet until her back slammed into the wall.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Holly whimpered. Eyes wide and unfocused, looking frantically around she mumbles to herself, "just a dream, just a bad dream."

Taking a moment to collect herself, Holly breaths deeply in and slowly lets it out.

Her eyes focus on Ellis, taking in his frustrated expression. "I'm sorry, Ellis. I totally fell asleep on you, when I'm sure you have way more to say then, 'hi' and 'so it's true'."

[Dan]

Ellis couldn't help but glare at her as he climbed to his feet.

"Maybe I did but you're clearly so wrapped up in your own issues you don't really give a damn."

He walked across the room and squatted down next to her.

"I've had the time to stock the kitchen while Hannibal and you were gone. How about I make you some hot chocolate and we talk."

[Jane]

"Sure" Holly replied looking down and away from Ellis, shoulders hunched over.

She stood slowly, head hung low and waited for him to lead the way into the kitchen.

[Dan]

Ellis nodded then turned and walked down the hallway to the kitchen/ dining room area. He pointed at one of the chairs at the table.

"Sit. Good girl."

He then walked into the kitchen and put a kettle on to boil.

"So, talk to me. I don't really care about what I just want to know what's on your mind."