How to save a life

He hadn't really heard from Elenora since she had taken her flight to New Orleans, he expected that she needed some time to herself as well. Ethan had lived through a lot, but he could never compare his pain to what she had gone through, and wouldn't even try. So, respecting she needed some time, he would add to his list tomorrow to check in if she didn't write him first. But for now, he had finished helping Tamilla, so all he had left to do was actually relaxing. Not thinking about work or what ever went on at home. He could just be in the moment. To some it might seem lonesome, just sitting here by yourself with a beer. But to Ethan, right now it was anything but lonely. It was peaceful. There had been so much pain and worry over the past years, to a point where he had completely lost himself. But here he was, and it reminded him of where his roots were, before he was everything this year had turned him into.

Hey Sid! Ethan turned his head by the cherry voice as a woman stepped into the bar. He frowned for a second and chuckled a little by the energy she carried, then took a sip of his beer again. Ethan couldn't help but listening to the conversation even if it didn't involve him. Zoe. He noted the name as if he hoped their paths would cross on the way. He emptied his beer placing it on the counter, just a few seconds before she turned towards him, and placed the bottles in her hands on the counter, reaching out to greet him. Ethan's lips pulled up into a smile and reached his hand out, "nice to meet you Zoe. I'm Ethan," he replied with a soft nod. Just a few days back home and he sounded like he never had left his home town. He knew Evelina would laugh a little at him and having lost the touch of English accent you got from living in Aston. "You are quite famous around here I take?" He asked hecing towards the fact that she knew some of the people that worked here.

The touch of her hand. There was this oddly and yet longingly energy again. It wasn't anything he could compare to something he had felt before. It wasn't too dark, and not to light. Perhaps, he just had to stick around long enough to figure out what it was all about. As she took her hand back, and jumped up on the small metal bar he chuckled a little bit. Ethan listened to her replying to his question about her fame, well so it seemed that she did have something to people knowing her name. Selling apples to the locals, he nodded with a still warm smile on his lips. It sounded like a lot of work, but owning a ranch, he had lived on a ranch before he moved to Gaia, before his father left his mother - before the world had gone mad. There was a special energy around her that couldn't or shouldn't be unnoticed by anyone. He felt bad that he had lived here before but hadn't met her till now. He watched her searching for something, most likely a bottle opener. The others laughing a bit at her, he assumed it was because they knew her well. Ethan didn't say much, but not because he wasn't interested in having a conversation. Too stubborn to ask for anything, he knew and lived by that saying himself, so it had him laugh a little bit.

Looking at her again as she opened the flasks and gestured him to take one. "Well thank you," he replied first and took one of the flasks as she sat down beside him. Ethan took a mouthful of the apple cider, and then placed the bottle on the counter, still with it in his hand. He licked the last drops of his lower lip and narrowed his eyes a little bit as if he was really test trying it. "Hmm," he narrowed his eyes a little bit, and looked to her before turning his entire face towards her. "I love it," he replied honestly then taking another mouthful. "It's the best I've ever had, I understand the hype," he confessed and sat the flask down on the counter, facing her again.

"I will agree, it seemed to be worth it," he added with a softer chuckle. He liked the atmosphere here, it was so warm and welcoming. Perhaps the most friendly place he had been in years. And he liked how easy going she was, not just towards him but towards everyone in the room. He felt like it was impossible not to like her. Then she returned her attention towards him, and he let his hazel eyes meet with her deep brown. He chuckled a bit. Ethan didn't mind letting people know his line of work, okay being a hunter wasn't something he flashed, and not something he really did anymore. Only in special cases where there really was no other way out, and normal police forces couldn't handle it. But nothing brutal, he wasn't like that. "Police," he replied to her question and took another mouthful of the cider. Ethan wasn't evolved human like his twin sister, but he knew how to spot supernaturals, just like he knew how to read most people - it was something you learned in his line of job.

He took a deeper breath in and exhaled. "I used to live here when I was a kid, it's been years since I have been back here, but it still feels like coming home," he then told and looked a little around before letting his eyes rest upon her again. "I travelled here with my sister, but she took off few days ago to New Orleans, had some things to sort out there, but I don't mind. I needed the vacation," he added with a small shrug. Ethan didn't mind sharing this with her, because if you wanted to get to know people, you had to talk - and he really liked talking to her.

"Yeah," he confirmed with a wider smile. She was right, there was nothing like Santa Barbara. It had made him quite down to turn to Gaia move and the break up with Jessica back then. Perhaps what had really activated his powers in the end. Because he rembered being happy here, despite the whole problem with his father - he remembered the happiness. "A lot of places huh? How many?" He asked out of curiosity. There was something about her that told him, that she was an old soul, but he couldn't place it. Ethan clinked the bottles together before taking a sip. Yes, this was deserved. He wouldn't have believed this was deserved months ago, but now he knew he needed it. "Mostly to see my sister, but I would lie if I said that it's also nice getting a little away from my life back home," he confessed and took a deeper breath in. "Saying that I've had a rough year would be an understatement, so therefor, vacation," he added with a smile on his lips. Even Evelina had found it a brilliant idea. "I don't mind snooping," he pointed out with and took another sip.

Ethan listened to her story about moving here ten years ago, or got on vacation to this place ten years ago. It seemed to be the reason why they hadn't met before, it was around ten years ago when his mother moved him and his siblings to Gaia. "Some places and some people have the thing about making somewhere feel like the home we never knew we needed," she replied, even more curious now than before about who she was. What her story was.

He noticed the phone buzzing, and Ethan knew what it was like to have to answer a phone. It just reminded him of endless months of hoping for a call to ease his mind, but he also had to remind himself that not everyone was in the same situation. And he was right, as he listened a bit from afar it was something work related, he breathed out. Finally, she returned and he gave her a warm smile. No more distractions. It had been a while since someone was willing to turn of their phone completely to spend time with someone, and if it wasn't for the fact that he wanted to be able to take the call if Nora called him, he would have done the same.

She picked up with the question he had asked before, on how many places she had lived. It seemed to be too many to count. Ethan had never really travelled that far, been living here and then Gaia - it wasn't a lot of places. "That's impressive," he confessed with a soft smile on his lips. "I live in a hidden gem of a country called Gaia, if you know about it," he informed before taking another mouthful. Not many people did know about the Athena region, but some did and they were often entangled with the supernatural. "I can't really brag about any huge travel adventures, I'm afraid," he chuckled a bit.

He pressed his brows a little to her explaining that she used to have family there at some point. Ethan knew what those words meant, mostly by watching how she said that sentence. Even as the subject changed to travel, he was still holding on to what she had said. Ethan's frown didn't leave his face, but perhaps it turned a little more into a wondering expression. Ethan had heard the saying before, but he didn't know if he believed it, he wouldn't know - he never travelled. But he also knew the feeling of just not feeling at home anywhere for a while, longing to escape. One thing Ethan did agree on was home never was about four walls. It was a feeling, at least to him. It was the sense and feeling like you belonged somewhere, the people around you that made you smile. The people who saw the best in you even when you saw nothing but darkness and self-hatred. "Agreed," he replied taking the last sip of he cider and breathed out. "It's quite funny how you first find perspective of things once you get a little distance," he hummed a bit to himself lost in that thought for a moment. Getting at distance to the chaos Gaia had left him with, perhaps it had been the best choice he ever had made to take a break from there.

Ethan took a deeper breath in and then exhaled. "So, a ranch life - is it treating you nicely?" He asked licking his lips shortly. To Ethan it seemed like the free life, a bit away from the busy city life and just everything you sometimes really needed. He had just been at his sister's small house on the country side, it had been so relaxing, even Elenora seemed to have enjoyed the quite for a moment.

Ethan knew a little about hard work, overworking yourself to a point of burning out. If all winter and spring hadn't been a whole story of burning out till there was nothing left. Sleep. "Eight hours of sleep? I'm sure eight hours is overrated either way, I get like what - four, five on a good night," he chuckled a bit while shaking his head. The late hours was when he felt at his best, where he was the strongest so sleep wasn't really easy on him. Ethan knew it wasn't healthy, and he never really talked about how he slept, even through he had seemed to sleep better after Madelaine had gotten back, and after he left Gaia - funny really, but he blamed it on Elenora, having her around for more than just hours a day seemed to have a balance to it he couldn't explain.

He was just about to reply yes to get another flask, as she just opened it and pushed it towards him, "thanks," he replied with a soft chuckle. Ethan could visualize the scene, of watching the houses being let out and run over the hills. Even if he was more a stay up till late kind of guy, he would rather sleep in than getting up early - even if early mornings most of the time was part of the job. He liked the winter hours, where the darkness still roamed over the streets when he woke up. "I can imagine that being quite the sight."

For a moment. Just a moment he felt like he finally had started over, that nothing from his past could follow him here. Then the three men walked in, it didn't take him more than one look in their direction to know what they were all about. However, before he could say or do anything Zoe excused herself, seemed in a rather hurry to get away. Ethan pressed his brows together trying to create a sentence but it wasn't like anything worthy came through his lips, so he just let her write the number down on his palm, and he nodded shortly before her lips met his cheek. Then he watched her take off. It didn't surprise him that hunters were around all parts of the world, the supernatural didn't rest in Athena, even though it sometimes seemed to be nesting there.

Ethan turned his head back towards the three guys, snorting a bit to himself when he realized he had seen one of them before. "Stan Bradly in the flesh," he said before getting up from his chair and walked towards them. Even if it was long ago since Ethan had really been around here, he was good at remembering people's faces. Besides, with Zoe's reaction she had to be supernatural, and he now made it a priority to make sure she at least was given some time to get away. "Well, if it isn't Ethan Davidson, I thought you were off to Athena," he went over and gave Ethan a quick hug, before letting him go. Ethan not really fond of the mingling, but well, he did have to buy Zoe some time. "Well, came here for a small vacation, but you know I've always been up for a little excitement, why don't you tell me what you are up to?" He asked curiously. Maybe if he got close enough Stan could tell him something about what was going on here. "Werewolves, would you believe it? There is a few around town, nasty little fellas, but you know that," he replied to Ethan before grabbing his shoulder, guiding him to the rest of the group. "Looks like we have an old friend of mine joining in on the wolf hunt," he looked at Ethan. "My old pal Davidson." Ethan sighed, but then again after the episode with Quentin - he wasn't really risking anyone getting hurt. After having them give him more than enough of the information he needed, they went outside. Ethan taking a deeper breath in, as the cold breeze from the night air ran over his face.

They had their suspects, making it easy to tag along, making sure they didn't do anything. But then, he was sure he could see Zoe as they drove past her, making his heart skip a beat ahead when they stopped. "Be prepared for this one, I think she might know something," Stan winked to Ethan, before he jumped out of the car and loaded his gun with silverbullet. "Well well well, look what the cat dragged in, trying to reach your little wolf friends sweetheart?" He asked. Ethan taking a deeper breath in, before walking out of the car. He walked up next to Stan, but didn't take his eyes off Zoe. "Stan," he tried to calm the man next to him a little bit down. "This is not what you want, she has done nothing. Just let it go man," but Stan just laughed. "What? Are you for real Davidson? I thought Athena was supposed to give you a little more hair on your chest, not defend these creatures," he aimed for Zoe, making Ethan summon a gun of his own, placing it towards Stan's head. "I said, you don't want to do this. Now lower your weapon." Stan lowered his weapon. "Now drop it," he added following Stan's movement to the ground as he dropped the gun to the ground. "Good," he looked shortly behind him as Stan straightened his back again, making sure the two others behaved. Then he looked at Zoe again, "run, go, now."

He didn't want Stan to make a wrong move, or try anything else and even if Ethan didn't feel like it gunpoint was sometimes the only way to keep someone from doing anything stupid. The darkness around them seemed to be empowered, Ethan of all people felt that the second as she manipulated the shadows, making him frown for a second. She disappeared in the dark, but for someone like Ethan, he could still trace her every movement. It wasn't often he met other people who could be in the dark. Zoe saying she wasn't going without him, made him raise his brows a little bit, his eyes almost screaming for her just to listen to him, even as she placed her hand on his upper arm. Ethan wasn't scared of the hunters, but he also wasn't one for standing in a fight when there was no use for one. And he had used to many months getting his darkness under control, and unleashing it tonight wouldn't really be good for anyone. But when she squeezed his arm, he looked to her again and gave her a nod, as she started running towards the ranch. Ethan hammered the gun towards Stan's head, making him pass out, then he started running after Zoe to the ranch.

Wiliam rushed out as he caught the scent of Zoe returning to the ranch, and a stranger. He could hear the adrenalin pumping in their system, but he still rushed out to the front porch. He narrowed his eyes a little, because he knew the mountain running just behind Zoe. After he had turned a few years ago, he hadn't really met up with his siblings or family, still a bit afraid on how they would act on having a werewolf brother. But watching Ethan run next to Zoe, made him realize that perhaps he didn't need to be so afraid. Wiliam kept a gun in his hand, aware that perhaps hunters could come for them, especially after Zoe's phone call. "Liam?" Ethan stopped running the second he saw his younger brother standing on the front porch.

Wiliam didn’t blame her for being extra worried, and the second she had her arm around him and the other hand on his face - he was assured she was alright as well. The next question filled up the space, where they brothers. “Yeah, it’s quite the story really” Liam replied with a softer chuckle. He had been hiding this for his big brother, even Tamila knew, but she also worked here time to time. And with everything Ethan had on his plate, this wasn’t a problem Wiliam had wanted to add more onto. “ Coming right up boss” Liam gave Zoe a soft wink before heading inside again to get what she requested.

Ethan followed them inside the ranch. His brother was a werewolf, who would have thought? There was no fiber in Ethan that hated the supernatural. There was only people and some people made the wrong choices and had to suffer the consequences of them, but this was what the law was for. Ethan looked around, letting Zoe call around to who ever she might need. Ethan himself took his phone out and reached for some old contacts of his father’s, no one he was in contact with. Not ever since figuring out that he was adopted. But this seemed like a matter to be dealt with by some that just wanted peace and to clean up other hunters messes.

Liam turned to them with some glasses in one hand and a bottle in the other. ”Its been a minute,” he said to Ethan taking a smaller more nervous breath in. Ethan nodded clearly not completely sure what to say, so he just went over to give his younger brother a hug.

_______________15th of August_______________

He had stayed here at the ranch the last six days, a working vacation like this was good for his soul. He liked helping where he could, and besides it also gave him time to spend time with Zoe. Ethan had taken a good like to her spirit, like his darkness had settled evne though it still felt empowered near her. It was odd really. Ethan put down his phone after he had talked to Elenora, still not believing the news she had told him some days ago, but he was truly happy for his sister - she deserved all the happiness she could find. And he looked forward to meet this Archie person. "So, Elenora asked if it would be alright if her and her fiancé came over in a few days, spending a few days here before we head back to Aston on Thursday," he asked Zoe as he walked closer to her outside. "Looks like the weather is with us today, maybe we should saddle up the horses and get out of here?" He raised his brow a little with a warm smile lighting up on his face."Unless you are busy?" Ethan couldn't really get enough of spending time with her, it was like a new chapter in his story had begun, and he looked at the world with a new and more clear view. He had hope again, for finding peace, happiness, love.

Ethan nodded grateful as Zoe said that they could stay over, and quickly texted Elenora to let her know, before putting his phone back in his pocket. "Thank you," he smiled warmly to her. Besides even though he had spend the first few days with Elenora back here, he hadn't gotten a chance to actually show her around where he had grown up. Not even knowing if she wanted to know or see. Ethan knew he had to go in a days time, but he also didn't wanted to leave. It was rare to find someone where you could just spend so much time with and just feel so devasted by the thought of having to leave, without knowing when and if you would see each other again. So, Ethan cherished this time. Ethan followed her to the stables with a small laugh as she said she wasn't busy.

It was rather easy to saddle up, but he didn't mind having Zoe helping him, he liked having her close. How it felt like electricity her hands found his, making his heart race in a way he had forgotten it could. His hazel eyes found hers as she looked up, and it was like the world around him stopped in this very moment. It wasn't what he had expected finding when he got here, he had wanted a to get a new perspective of his life, and maybe he had just found that and more. "Yeah," he breathed out and took a deeper breath in. Endless and meaningless thoughts ran through his mind at this second, trying to figure out what to do or how to act. But it all came down to the attraction he had tried to hide from over the past days, but running, he had done plenty of running away from what he wanted. He had served his time in regretting moments that would never find him again, and that time was over. So, for the first time in forever he took a chance on life, took a chance on something, as he leaned down letting his right hand find her cheek just as he placed his lips against hers.