Prisca's_Writing_Area

Title: A short break
Prompt: moonlight
Character: Maggie Greene, Glen Rhee
Words: 100
Finished: October 2017

:::

Maggie rested her head on Glen's shoulder and sighed slightly.

„You okay,“ he asked, and the worried undertone in his voice let her smile.

„Couldn't be better,“ she reassured him. „It's a wonderfully warm and peaceful autumn night. The sky without clouds, the stars, and the moonlight, it couldn't be more perfect.“

And Glen held her in his arms, thinking about it that he would have given all he still owned to make the world pause, to hold on to this moment of peace, to make her forget how much the world had changed, at least for one night.

Title: The Baby Owl
Prompt: owl
Character: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Words: 177
Finished: October 2017

:::

Zeke stopped, frowning. „What's that,“ he asked.

Casey looked at his friend questioningly. „What's what?“

„Over there.“ Zeke pointed into the thick coppice next to them. „Looks like a baby owl.“

Casey smiled when he noticed the little bird sitting on the ground, watching them with curious, dark eyes. „Yeah,“ he agreed. „It's a barn owl. Cute little fellow. And so photogenic.“

While he grabbed his camera, Zeke huffed slightly. „Much too small, I would say. What is he doing here all alone? Do you think he's fallen out of his nest?“

Casey shook his head. „Probably not. Young birds often leave the nest, though they can't even fly. Usually, their parents take care of them nevertheless.“
He pointed up to the trees. „Listen. Can you hear the cooing noises? Probably, they are just waiting for us to leave; then, they will come to feed him.“

„Oh, that's good.“ Zeke grinned. „I've already started to worry that after the stray cat and the two hedgehogs, I will have to add a baby owl into my private zoo.“

Title: New Year's Party
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 840
Rating: PG13
prompt: party
finished: January 2018

Homeland Universe: AU stories, where Casey and Zeke are married and have adopted a little boy. All stories can be read as stand-alone ones. This story takes place about 15 years after the adoption.

:::

With a loud huff, Zeke dropped down onto the couch and grabbed his beer. It was more than needed.

New Year's Eve. The first one since years he and Casey had planned to spend alone. Not that he ever did complain about it; the times when he had been a wild party boy were long over. For almost twenty years, he was together with Casey now; never had he thought that he would reach this record. But he still loved him with all his heart. Like he loved their son, Jason, they had adopted the boy as a baby, disregarded by his parents, so small and weak, with big brown eyes and dark curls. It had been love at first sight.

In the meantime Jason was a smart and good-looking teenager; a little bit a rebel, but this was okay. Zeke had always trusted him and believed that he would know his limits. And he felt a mixture of disappointment and anger boiling inside him right now that he had been so wrong.

When Jason asked them for permission to spend this New Year's Eve together with some friends, Casey remarked that he was still very young, but Zeke only laughed.

„He is fifteen! Sometimes, you are a mother hen like your mom was back then. Remember how much you have hated it? It's about time that we give him a chance to find his own way.“

His hazelnut brown eyes sparkled when he added: “Besides that, I admit, I wouldn't mind having some alone time with you occasionally. Remember the first New Year's Eve we spend together? You were so freakingly hot when you ...“

„Oh, stop it,“ Casey interrupted him, and to Zeke's amusement, he had even blushed a bit. „Too much rum in the eggnog. I was drunk.“

„Hmmm. Just a little bit tipsy. And so cute. You know, I wouldn't mind walking down the memory lane together with you this New Year's Eve.“

:::

Jason had left the house early in the afternoon. When Zeke had prepared the eggnog and added a good lancing of rum, Casey had only laughed. The fireplace, the cheesy comedy on TV. Everything was just perfect. Soon enough, Casey had pretended to get tipsy and snuggled a bit closer.

Until the phone call had ruined everything. In a panic, they drove to the hospital, where Casey spent about an hour talking with the doctor, who reassured him that nothing serious had happened to anyone, while Zeke was running up and down the halls, unable to calm down. When finally the police turned up to talk with the three boys and the whole truth was revealed, Zeke's panic turned into anger. Casey had a good deal of trouble to keep him sane.

Even now, finally at home again, Zeke felt so stressed out that he could barely think clearly. Casey dropped down on the couch beside him. „He's finally in bed. Sleeps like a baby. Though I guess it will be a harsh awaking tomorrow.“

Zeke looked up with a dark face. „I can tell you; it will be! I could kill him.“

Casey chuckled slightly, grabbing a glass of soda. „No, you don't. You love him more than anyone else.“

„Doesn't make it better. I just don't get it. How could he do this? Just because of a girl? He brings himself and his friends into this trouble?“
Another sip of his beer, then Zeke took a deep breath and turned to his husband. Casey was still slightly pale but calm. „I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I should better have listened to you. You were right, he is still too stupid to go to a party alone.

But he will have to live with the consequences. Grounded at least for the following four weeks. And an early curfew. On the weekends, he can stay at home and study for school. And no science camp next year."

Casey laughed slightly. "Oh, that's a lot. Harsh."

"He deserves it!"

„I can't agree.“ Casey shook his head. „It was not okay what he did, and we will have a serious talk with him, Zeke, but I'm afraid he won't stay our little boy for much longer. Still two years and he will graduate. Three years and he will move to college. He's growing up, and we can do nothing against it.

I think he should better overstep the lines now, as long we are around to bring him back to the right way. With love, not with punishment."

Zeke put the beer back on the table, pulling Casey in his arms. „He is better thankful that you are around tonight. Tomorrow, I will hopefully be able to see everything through your eyes.“

Casey smiled and kissed him. „Happy New Year, Zeke,“ he murmured. „I love you.“