Io found himself calm as he waited on the hilltop, basket with food and drink in hand. The reaffirmation of his and Annabeth's status as friends was relieving: he needed a friend to rely on without complicated feelings and drama and the like. He smiled as a carriage approached, Annabeth and one of her maids emerging.

"Good evening, Annabeth," he bowed to her, then to the other lady. "Ma'am. Your dress is very styled for the activity, Annabeth, though I am glad I brought a few towels to sit on: I'd hate for you to get a grass stain."

Io's eyes widened a bit, then settled into a small sad smile at her offered gift. "Thank you, this means a lot. I suppose word has gotten around about my shop. It will be a lot of work but I will build it back."

"After you," The tailor gestured to where he had sat out towels, gently setting down the basket as well. "I brought wine and a few glasses, as well as some pastries. I...will apologize in advance, I am not too apt a baker, but I do have some honey cakes, almond cookies, and apple turnovers. I hope they are not too burnt."

Anna often finds herself longing to escape from the world, weighed down by a profound sense of guilt. When she closes her eyes at night, she imagines an alternate reality in which all of her past mistakes have been erased, and she is blissfully married to her beloved Castiel, wrapped in his warm embrace, lulled to sleep by the gentle rhythm of his breathing.

However, she cannot take back the mistake of her fucking up. So in that sense she was thankful she has one friend in her life. She wouldn't know what to do right now if she didn't have Io as a friend. She possibly be sitting at home alone, scared. She hated being alone, she not the type of person who works well at being alone. Yet she messed up trying to be confident.

Giving a warm smile to Io as he complimented her dress "Thanks Io." She has never been really good at taking compliments, she either deflects them or has her heart fall for the man given them. She takes a soft breath.

"I am sorry to hear about your shop. How are you doing?" Asking if she knew that that shop was his lively hood and she hated that somebody took it upon themself and destroyed it. It wasn't just a shop, it's somebody family legacy, a way for somebody to live. She just hope that something could be done and whoever did this get caught and put in a cell.

Annabeth sat down on the towels in front of her and smiled at the variety of food. "Who cares if it burnt, it's just a little more crispy." She joked with Io. "It clearly a beautiful night for star gazing." Sh smiled as she looked up to the sky.

"I'm...well, I'm managing. I will not allow some haphazard criminal destroy the business my father built from scratch. I just need to rebuild better." Io dipped his head. "Though your concern is greatly appreciated."

The tailor lowered himself to the ground, an awkward maneuver with his prosthetic. He grinned at her comment, halfheartedly shaking his head.

"You're too kind to try to save my pride. I've much to learn in the realm of baking," he looked up to her maid, gesturing to an empty spot of towel. "Ma'am, you are more than welcome to join us and partake as well. Please, make yourself comfortable."

At her last note, Io nodded, looking up into the sky. "Indeed. I was worried it would storm tonight. I am glad that was not the case."

The night sky was clear, littering with a multitude of bright shining stars. Underlying hues of deep purple and blue illuminated swaths of the landscape, as if a giant painter had taken a brush to it. It was a tremendous display, one Io could only dream of capturing in a dress or suit. Perhaps one day. Though, an astronomy and star based line would be a rather unique way of rebuilding...he'd have to think on it, but it might be the inspiration he needed to begin creating again.

Annabeth give a supportive smile to her friend as he spoke. "You shouldn't have to though." Annabeth didn't like how this criminal ruined a legacy.

Annabeth try and do a check grin, "Me? Saving your pride? I don't want you get big headed." She wasn't very good at being confidence and there was uncertainty to her voice. She was used to supporting her friends. "But I am sure these are fine Io." Her kindness was a fault, however she too scared to not be kind.

Annabeth's maid smiled. "Thank you Sir." Dephane sat down on the empty spot near Annabeth then anyone as she picked up a piece of food

She looked at the sky. Wishing that she can find happiness. "When I was a child I would sit in my bedroom and wondered if the stars were people watching down on them and I would hope that there is a star watching over me."

"Perhaps not in an ideal world no...but I have always believed in making the best of the circumstances," Io tapped his prosthetic for emphasis with a small smile. "Everything will work out in the end."

He did truly believe that. He had to. That something good had to come out of all the bad...it may be naïve thinking, but it's what helped him when his father died, and when he lost his leg. His father had, after all, instilled in him the necessity of hard work and endurance. Io would not be caught wallowing in the pit of self-pity.

The tailor laughed and grinned back at her comment. "I will certainly try to stay humble, then."

That wasn't too difficult a task for him. While he knew the worth of his work and tailoring expertise, he had always struggled with confidence in himself and his personhood. Io wished deeply to be as self-assured and bold in his personal life as he was in the workshop.

"People?" Io mulled the thought over, looking up at the stars. "Perhaps. I know my father always thought the stars a novelty: apparently in Nevermere the sky is always covered in clouds, day or night. Who would you want watching over you?"

Everything will work out in the end. Annabeth used to be like that, always wanting to look at the bright side of things, being somebody who thinks positive because she knows what it is like to sit in the dark and be on the receiving end of mental and physical abuse on a daily basis. To the point that she always faked being happy so nobody sees that she was hurting inside. Now she was the one who hurt somebody who really cared about her, who loved her. She struggling to see how it will work out well in the end.

Annabeth laughed softly, "Good. I will try and knock some humility into you if i think otherwise."

"Your father sounds like an amazing man Io." Giving a soft smile. Annabeth looked up to the sky when Io asked who she wanted to watch over her. She doesn't know who she would want they could be a few people who she would like to watch over her. It really tough to think about that because they possibly will be disappointed in her by the recent mistakes she made.

One answer possible her unborn child that her first husband asked her to get rid of but Io doesn't know that and if anybody really know how the baby died then she be in more trouble. "My brother, he died, well was killed during the eldouir trails he was bringing me flowers and the dragon..." She paused for a moment. "He always made me smile so i think he would be watching down on me trying to find ways to make me happy." He was eleven when he was killed. Annabeth felt guilty for his death every single day.

Io paused at the comment about his father, slowly shaking his head with a sad smile. "He wasn't, Annabeth. Rolt Demeter had many flaws. But he was my father, and I do hope I've made him proud."

Would his dad be proud of the man Io was becoming? A man so invested in his work that it took his business being destroyed to sit still and try to enjoy moments such as this night? A man who had never truly experienced a woman's touch, and could hardly speak to a beautiful lady without fainting? What had Io accomplished outside of the legacy his father had given him? Now he hadn't even that...everything Rolt had worked for had literally been smashed to pieces.

The tailor was pulled out of his thoughts as Annabeth spoke again, face falling. "I am so sorry, Annabeth. Were you two close?"

Io couldn't imagine losing his little sister, even for all the scraps and insults she threw at him.

When Io explained that his father wasn't that nice, Annabeth looked at him for a bit, she know the feeling all too well. The Porter men don't really have a nice reputation. They are known to be horrible to the women and Annabeth knows all too well that is true. there was a look of understanding in Annabeth's eyes. "I am sorry to hear about that."

"When he asked if her and Luke her was close. "very close. When Luke was born, I promised to make sure that our father won't turn him into another Porter. He was the sweetest kids ever, he wanted to become a royal guard. He always made me laugh." There was a soft smile as she thought about her brother.

"Mr Demeter the apple pie is lovely." Miss Lynn smiled as she finished the slice of pie.

"It is quite alright," Io shrugged with a small smile at Annabeth's apology. "Every family cannot be perfect. I like to think he was still trying to be the best father he could be, despite his extracurricular activities."

He listened intently as the lady described her lost brother, nodding at some points. "He sounds like a wonderful young man. I am sure he would do everything in his power to continue watching over you."

Io was not sure what happened after death: he certainly gave some thought to it after his father passed. Was there a spirit as some assumed, or did one just cease to exist? Did the dead watch on as their loved ones lived and suffered, or did they enjoy some eternal paradise somewhere? He was not sure, but he did not want to call into doubt any comfort Annabeth had found in her belief.

The tailor nearly jumped at Lady Lynn's words: he had honestly forgotten she was there. "Ah, I am glad to hear that, My Lady. Please, help yourself to anything more."

Annabeth smiled softly when Io explained that he believed that he thought that his dead was doing what he believed what he could to be a good father. At the end of the day that all you can do, is to be the best person you can be. It always good to be able to keep on growing, as Annabeth believe that they always room to improve that nobody really perfect. Like look at her she a mess, she know she isn't a angle and she knows for a fact that she will always finding something wrong with herself, something for her to improve upon. It might be unhealthy but she doesn't know how to be confident, she doesn't know how to be happy with what she got.

"Luke was a wonderful young man, he shouldn't of been taken when he did." The amount of time she would blame herself for his death, that she should of been with him to protect him from being killed. It was her job as an older sister to protect him from any harm, to keep him safe from any potential danger. Being close to the trails where Hiram Eldouirs are being tried and where other Eldouirs are were indeed dangerous. She should of told him to stay at home that she would see him when she got back. However, she didn't and now he is dead because she didn't do a good enough job at being an older sister.

"thank you sir" The maid who Annabeth brought along with her gave a soft smile towards Io.

"Hows your head from the other day?"

"My head?" Io looked a bit confused, then his eyes widened. "Oh! Yes, I'm quite fine, thank you. I believe it was just a dizzy spell."

A dizzy spell as Annabeth had gotten so very close to him and touched him and the memory of his evening with @oriana came rushing back...he squeezed his eyes shut a moment as if to physically repress the memory. Not here, not now. He still had not fully processed those consequences, and moreso had decided to just move on as best he could the events did not happen. There was no point in getting bogged down in a thought or feeling, was always Io's motto. If it became a problem later or Oriana brought it up, he would deal with it then. For now, he was just enjoying time talking to a friend.

A sudden glint caught Io's attention, gazing up to see a bright light streaking across the sky. It was a stunning display of nature, all too great of a reminder of what Io missed when he was so wrapped up in his work.

"Annabeth!" the tailor pointed out the shooting star with a small smile. "Make a wish."

Annabeth's smile was gentle as she breathed a sigh of relief that he was safe and sound. However, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. She had a habit of rushing into relationships, following her heart without considering the consequences. This often resulted in her getting hurt or hurting others. Annabeth knew she needed to focus on herself and figure out her own path, but she felt unsure of how to go about it. It seemed daunting and overwhelming to break this pattern, especially at her age. She wished she could stand on her own two feet and not rely on someone else to define her worth.

However, he caught her attention when he mentioned to make a wish she looked up to the stars and see a shooting star. She closed her eyes 'I wish that I will be able to find a way to be happy in my self.' she wished even though she doesn't fully believe it. How can she when she feel so much like a failure, at the end of the day she is one. She failed everybody who needed her, she failed Prince Augustus, she failed Scout, she failed her cousin, above all she failed Castiel he needed her at the moment and she let him down.

She opened her eyes as she looked up to the night sky "Darkness comes and go,like shooting stars but the wishes you make they will carry. For the day may come for you to start a new. For every new day a chance to start a fresh."

Io paused at her words with a slow nod. "Certainly. You are wise beyond your years, Annabeth."

He was inclined to believe her sentiment. Similar beliefs had gotten him through the loss of his father, his leg, and now his shop and livelihood. No...perhaps not the words themselves, but the people who supported him. Io had been blessed to meet and rely on so many wonderful people of late, from Lady @severine, Lord Elliot Moore, Oriana, Annabeth, even Prince Augustus Rainecourt and Queen @iliana themselves. He knew everything would turn out just fine. It always had...in the end. Io could not get his father nor his leg back, but his shop and business were certainly achievable.

So at the passing of the shooting star, Io did not wish for vengeance on whomever destroyed his shop. He did not wish for wealth to rebuild. His hopes were the same as they had been before the destruction. He wished for a family. A wife to cherish and care for, to adventure with and explore life. One day for children of his own to raise and see them flourish into beautiful unique individuals. A contented hope settled in his chest as the shooting star disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

"Annabeth, this has been wonderful, but I do not wish to keep you up too late," the tailor glanced over to the lady then her maid. He did not want to rush to time, but he was worried about the gathering chill of night making them uncomfortable.