It always seemed like time would drag it's figurative feet when there was something new and exciting planned for later in the day, or perhaps even the day after. That right there was probably one of the worst things, having to wait in wild anticipation for something to happen that wasn't promised until the next day. In a way, it was kind of like waiting for Christmas, or so that was what the honey-blonde woman thought. She could remember well those Christmas Eve nights begging and pleading with her parents to let her own just one more small present before morning came. Of course, they would tell her to just be patient each and every year, but goodness it was just so hard for the young girl to do as they asked her to. In the end, after one last attempt to guilt them into surrendering with a little pout of her lips only to fail, Ellie would somehow find it within herself to wait. It would always be that night, as her mother and father would usher her into her bed, telling her that the sooner she fell asleep, the sooner Christmas would come, that were always the longest. It would take little Ellie what felt like forever before she would finally become even just a little tired. Tired enough that her excited mind would still just enough so that she could be swept away and into the realm of dreams. There were even some Christmas Even nights where she would wake up only to discover that her room was still pitch black, Christmas morning still hours â€" or days as she would say it felt â€" away from arriving. Naturally, as she grew older and older, those restless nights started to disappear until it eventually became just another night, but what never did change was the bright and radiant smile that would light up her face as she scrambled out from beneath those warm covers and run down the hallway to the living room where the beautifully decorated tree harboring those gifts would be found. Even last Christmas had left her with a wild flurry of emotions, the excitement now diluted with a touch of sorrow when she would realize that her mother and father weren't going to be there, but she still found a reason to be bright and happy as she would drag her big brother out of his room so they could open the few presents that sat there beneath those coniferous branches.

This memory was the closest comparison that she could find as she sat there at her desk, finishing up that last chapter in her children's development book. Tomorrow would be yet another grueling exam, but she was finally nearing the end of them. She had to keep on telling herself that she only had two more exams after this one and then she would be done and she would finally have more free time to do whatever it was that she wanted instead of just being cooped up in her bedroom studying for those hours-long tests or working those hours at Beachside Bar and Bistro. Like baking. She hadn't realized that ever since meeting Ludo at The Bakery which had only just opened a few weeks ago, she'd have this fascination with making those baked goods. And then, of course there was Frost whom seemed to rather pleased with her natural talents in the kitchen, his favorites seeming to be anything that she made with carrots. At least, from what she could see on that rather solemn and expressionless features when she'd met him at Inner Sanctum to bring him another batch of those carrot and cream cheese cupcakes. The man was intriguing to the huntress, even if she knew how her friend Lani felt about the man with white hair and amethyst eyes. Understandably so, the blue-eyed blonde part-time barista didn't particularly care for the man, but after how he'd teased her about Andras and seemed to be so... cold towards her, Ellie could see why it was that her friend had reservations about Frost. But, Ellie being Ellie, she liked the man anyway. If he was a truly malicious and wicked being, then why would he have mused her silly questions she'd asked him the afternoon he'd interrupted the short visit she had been having with Lani in the café? Why would he have given her his number and told her that she could contact him "if anyone gave her trouble", whatever that meant? If anything, she had a sneaking suspicion that he enjoyed her company more than he let on. She was determined to make a friend out of the man yet! All she needed was time... and more baking supplies.

She can hear the front door open and then shut. That's my cue. Dressed in blue boot-cut jeans and a powder blue v-neck long sleeve with honey blonde hair tied into a side-braid that fell over her shoulder, she opens her bedroom door and moves down the stairs of her townhouse into the living room. Lazarus was gone for yet another late night of whatever it was he would be up to, whether it be getting drunk at one of the bars in Sacrosanct, searching for a one-night stand, or both, and with Donovan out doing his own thing as well, there was no one to question where it was she was off to. She knew without a doubt that her big brother wouldn't have let her take a single step out the front door without answering him, and the last thing she wanted to do was have to lie to the man only to have him track her to the west side of the city and find out who it was that she was meeting. Lazarus had a thing about her being around guys, threatening openly that if he ever found her running around with a man, he'd hardly hesitate to make it clear that she was "off limits". Benjamin didn't need her overly protective brother on his ass, and if the dark hunter knew about the cute guy with black hair and smoldering amber eyes, that was exactly where he would be. Grabbing her keys and phone, she departs from the townhouse in Hawthorne Village and waves down a taxi."Where to, miss?", the man in the driver seat asked as she slid into the back. Ellie gives him a warm smile."Warehouse District, please", she asks politely. The man gives her a curious look before shrugging and pulling off the curb and begins driving. Staring out the window contentedly, she feels her phone vibrate in the front right pocket of her jeans and moves to retrieve it, seeing that it was a text from Benjamin. "Gonna be late, sorry! Be there soon, I'm bringing the puppy!" Ellie simply smiles as she types back a reply: No worries! See you soon! She couldn't imagine beating him by that much, knowing that the man was walking from the far east side of Sacrosanct. All the same, she just hoped that wherever it was he wanted to take her so that they could watch the lunar eclipse together, they wouldn't have to worry about shady individuals. After that scare she had at the bar, she wouldn't deny that she was almost nervous about where they were headed. Admittedly though, it was the best place to try and get a good view of the moon and night sky. Maybe if they were lucky, they might be able to see more than just a small handful of stars! The taxi pulls over to the corner of 18th Avenue and Park Street, the honey-blonde woman handing him the cab fare she owed before thanking him and opening the door."Be careful out there", he says to her before she is able to close the back passenger door, the young woman smiling warmly to the man."I will be. Thanks again for the ride", she replies sweetly before finally closing that door and waving as the yellow sedan drives away. A gust brushes past her then, pulling gently at stray strands of her hair and she realizes only now that the black white windbreaker jacket she brought wasn't quite keeping her warm like she'd thought. It was a shame that she'd forgotten her pale-yellow hoodie in the dryer... Walking down the street with hands in her jacket pockets, she moves to stand at the abandoned warehouse closest to the harbor where she and Benjamin had agreed to meet.

Looking around, she doesn't see him yet and so she simply leans against the graffitied wall. Perhaps only about ten minutes pass her by when eyes of early morning frost spot him. Instantly, she gives him a radiant smile as he comes to stand in front of her, a sheepish expression on his face that only has her giggling gently."There's nothing to be sorry for", she answers warmly before moving to put her hand on his arm reassuringly before looking at the australian shepherd puppy jumping up to put her front paws on Ellie's knee."Hello, cutie!", she greets the puppy in a sing-song voice before bending down to ruffle the fur between her ears before her attention is brought back to Benjamin as he takes a step back and eyes her attire before his voice falls over lightly parted lips, again having Ellie laugh softly as she looks down at her own clothes."I didn't think it'd be quite this cold. But that's alright, I'll be fine", she insists sweetly before watching his lips shift into what was almost a smile as she'd learned from their first encounter was typical Benjamin fashion. Her eyes fall to the thermos he was carrying in his other hand and her own eyes brighten before they notice the frown that finds his face. She smiles gently to him then as she shrugs lightly."That's okay. At least you brought the hot chocolate and not just the cups! I'm not worried about getting kooties from you or anything", she teases playfully before giving him a cheeky grin. That was Ellie, always looking on the bright side of things. He gestures for him to follow her into the warehouse and up the broken and battered stairwell, the young woman very much thanking her lucky stars that she was agile as she steps lightly and carefully after Benjamin, offering him a warm smile whenever their eyes met as if to say "I'm okay". After climbing a couple flights, they reach the place where there's a hole in the ceiling. She watches in surprise as he gently tosses the pup up first before he jumps up to grab an exposed pipe, pulling himself up with ease. Wow! He's pretty good! When he reaches for her hand, she jumps up and grasps it, helping him as best as she could as he hauls her up onto the roof beside him, the honey-blonde woman smiling at him as she moves to stand up."Gee, Benjamin. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've done this a time of two", she says playfully, glacier blue eyes glittering as he gestures to those "front row seats", Ellie happily moving to sit on the ledge before gently patting the place beside her."Thank you for inviting me to join you guys", she says warmly as she gives him another bright smile before reaching out to stroke the pup's soft fur.