[AU: BR] I'll Be the One You Won't Forget

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Looking down to her phone, Erika's brows furrowed slightly. The display showed a picture of three kids, Sophie, seven years old, Rory and Isaac, the twins, age four. She felt uneasy about leaving them alone in the care of Drew's parents for an entire weekend, but she supposed this could be considered as their weekend off. Of course, they could have brought the children with them to Montana, as opposed to leaving them in Los Angeles with their grand parents, but after some discussing back and forth, they'd agreed this was for the best.

Pulling her coat off, Erika hung it onto the rack and finally, turned her gaze away from her phone, her brown eyes slowly moving over the reception area. Despite technically owning the academy, though leaving it in the care of the council, Erika hadn't spent nearly as much time back in Kalispell as she perhaps should have.

Having three children, being married and having a career as a fashion designer kept her busy and mostly tied down in Los Angeles - save for a business trip or two every now and then. Though, she had very few complaints. The brunette loved the way her life had turned out.

Turning smirk in her husband's direction, Erika chuckled. "Last chance to sneak off to the locker rooms," she winked at him. Being back here made so many memories come flooding back - most of which was either good, or humorous in some way or another. All in all, Erika was happy about the way her life had panned out. She and Drew had gotten married shortly after graduation and moved to Los Angeles. A few years later, they'd gotten their first child, Sophie, and then the twins came a few years after. All the while raising their three kids, they'd marched straight forward into their careers, and even though they didn't have nearly as much time for each other as Erika would have preferred, she loved her life - even if being away from the kids worried her.

Tag: Drew Conner

[Drew Conner]

"No, look, we can't go any higher than twenty. The stock is barely worth twenty five at this point and it's dropping. Ff it doesn't work out I'm not going to risk taking that much of a loss." Drew stepped into the reception area behind Erika. The phone had been glued to his ear the moment they'd landed in Montana. The only thing busier than a day at the office was a day away from the office. Instead of being able to handle things directly, Drew found himself constantly bombarded with emails, phone calls and every other type of message he could possibly imagine. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he cast his wife an apologetic glance. He caught the sly, playful look on her face and here he was trying to keep a minor acquisition from falling apart at the zero hour.

"Listen." The single word came out stern and decisive. This was supposed to resemble some sort of getaway, a reprieve for a married couple that rarely was able to find time for one another. "Simmons is now project lead. Tell him if he can't close the deal at twenty and some change to pull the plug. We'll cut our losses and move on." Drew eyes shifted back to his wife as she spoke. "No, Eve will look at the project nomination when we get back. Don't bug her either." He sighed, eyes closing in frustration. "Okay, Alice, I'm turning my phone off." He pulled the device from his ear, the sound of his near frantic personal assistant could be heard from the tiny speaker. "Goodbye Alice. I'll see you at the office on Monday." Drew paused and though this over a bit as his assistant continued to ramble on about something or other. "Make that Wednesday." And with that the voice on the other end fell silent as Drew pressed the power button of the phone.

"God, I am so sorry you've had to deal with that since we left." He moaned, following suit now and shrugging out of his coat. "Is it always this bad?" He asked, hanging his jacket and moving to his wife's side. His hands went to her waist and pulled her to him. "I'm a terrible husband." He said with a sigh before his familiar smirk came out. "What's this you're saying about the locker room?"

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Tossing her husband a quick glance and a smile, the brunette's head shook. She could hardly blame him for being busy. After all, Drew did have a lot on his plate as it was, and even though they were supposed to take the weekend off, the brunette understood just how busy things could get. Sometimes, it was nice running your own fashion design brand, because things didn't get really hectic until fashion week.

"It's alright," she replied, shrugging. "That depends, do you want an honest answer, or do you want an answer that will make you feel better?" she asked, her smile turning into a smirk as he pulled her closer. Her eyes moved briefly over the reception area as she chuckled softly. Leaning in, she planted a brief kiss on his cheek. "Too late now," she smirked. "You had your chance." She tossed him a quick smirk before turning her attention towards the reception area, which was already crowded with various people.

They were too far off for any chatty people to catch sight of them yet, but it was only a matter of time before someone did, and they'd have to spend the entire evening repeating themselves over and over again.

Maybe that locker room idea wasn't so bad after all.

[Drew Conner]

"I'll take the latter." Drew said with a soft chuckle. He knew he was prone to losing himself in his work. It had been a slow process integrating the new 'mutant led' sections of the corporate conglomerate and he could feel the investments were about to pay great dividends. It became difficult sometimes to break away from the office and make his way back to his family and the woman who had given it to him. "And the more lying you do the better we'll all be." He laughed, already knowing the true answer to it all anyway.

"I did have my chance." Drew agreed with a nod. Slowly a sly smirk spread across his face as he reached out to slip an arm loosely around Erika's waist. It was the traditional posture the two of them had grown accustomed to taking while out in public. They looked very much like a couple walking the red carpet. Close, all the while keeping an almost regal and professional demeanor. "I'm not so far removed from being a hormonal teenager that couldn't keep his hands off his cheerleader girlfriend." He pointed out, giving her a light, playful poke to her side with the hand that had settled upon her hip.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"Then you're an amazing husband," she replied with a soft smirk splaying over her lips. To be honest, Erika had very few complaints. Sure, there was little time saved up for them as a couple, but at the end of the day, even Erika understood that it was all part of growing up and dealing with real life. It was simply how things was, and there was little point in arguing over it. Instead, they should both make the best of it. They were both busy with their work, and had kids on top of everything. Of course they would get busy, and of course that meant they wouldn't have much time for them.

Pressing her lips tightly together to avoid the smile to form on her lips, Erika's head shook faintly. She squirmed slightly at the light poke, but remained somewhat still. She turned her head to look at him, her eyebrow quirking. "Ah yes," she nodded. "Too bad you're screwing yourself over by missing the chances as they're offered then," she added with an almost innocent smile.

[Drew Conner]

"Ouch." Drew said, unable to keep the light laugh from escaping. Erika was on her game tonight having already pulled away ahead in the battle of wits Drew wasn't even aware they were engaged in. "I just can't win, can I?" He replied with a smirk. There was no point in defending himself or even attempting to counter, not when Erika was like this. He knew better than that. She had his number tonight and all he could do was roll with it and hope he could survive the onslaught.

"Alright, so, do you think it's too early for someone to have spiked the punch?" He asked, glancing to Erika. Admittedly, Drew hadn't been overly excited about attending the reunion. Montana had grown to be very much a second home to him but he was never really in much of a hurry to return. They visited one in a while because of Erika's roots in the area and that was probably the only thing that could get him to take the trip. Anyway, the people from school Drew cared enough about to be interested in what they were doing ten years later he'd kept in touch with already. "If so, do you think we could head to the liquor store in town?"

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"Nope," she replied simply. She had always enjoyed their innocent battle of wits, and playful remarks. It was nice to know that even know, they managed to still enjoy each other's company and keep things even and interesting, without falling into the cycle of that overly dull and boring married couple that barely spoke one word to each other. They'd always had an incredibly interesting dynamic, and she was glad that hadn't changed over the past ten years.

Rolling her eyes, Erika gave Drew her full attention. "You're not going to be that cliche fool that gets drunk at his school reunion," she laughed, her head shaking. "It's not that...bad." She tossed a quick glance over the room and grimaced slightly. Okay, so, maybe it was. After all, the people worth her time, she was still talking to. Everyone else... Eh. There was a reason she didn't talk to them still after all.

[Drew Conner]

Drew couldn't help but let out a low, almost pitiful groan. Yes, he figured it would have been in poor taste for one of the people who's names were attached (literally) to the Academy failed to make an appearance at the reunion and, by proxy, her husband would be expected to show up as well. That still didn't mean he wanted to be there. Drew had even gone so far as to try in vain to convince Erika to greedily take the time for themselves and find some out of the way place to hide away for a few days instead of coming here to recount the same basic story of his their life over and over.

"I make no promises." Drew said quickly, his eyes drifting out over the reception area in search of a familiar face. The reunion had garnered mixed reactions from the few people who received invitations that Drew still was in contact with. He hoped like hell there was someone around he could talk to for a while in hopes of passing enough time before he'd be required to go mingle again. "But I did come prepared, just in case." Without looking to Erika, Drew reached into his suit jacket and withdrew a small, metal flask just enough for her to be able to catch sight of. "If you want a drink, just let me know." He smirked as he tucked the flask away.

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

Rolling her eyes at the flask, the brunette issued a low laugh. "I'll be just fine without, thank you very much." Besides, there was much better stuff hidden away in the headmaster office anyways. She still had the keys, with still technically being in charge of the school, and all. It had been signed over to her once she'd turned 21 and she'd left the main care to the council. That didn't mean she didn't have a say in everything that went about, of course, but she didn't have to actively be present, save for signing various important documents and the like.

"Besides, I already have my stash tucked up in the office," she said as she tossed her husband a sly smirk. He could keep his puny flask all to himself and she could go fetch the good stuff if she needed to. Not that she thought she would, but she figured this whole ordeal could become rather... tedious. At least considering how this thing lasted for a whole damn weekend.

[Drew Conner]

"Oh, that's right." Drew smirked right back at his beloved wife. Even now she kept him on his toes and never failed to call him on his bullshit. It was equal parts humbling and empowering to have spent the last ten years married to someone like that. "I always forget you have an office here." He said chuckling. With their respective businesses taking up so much time in Los Angeles, Drew often went months without the Academy ever crossing his mind. He didn't miss Kalispell all that much as, in his mind, he'd gotten to take the best thing Montana had to offer with him to share in the rest of his life.

There as little motivation to revisit Erika's office. They had few memories there save for when she'd asked him for more space that ultimately led to their unceremonious split the first time around. In truth, while Drew looked back on his time at Bellefonte fondly, his stay at the Academy was merely a means to an end. Much stronger, more lasting memories had now taken the place of long nights spent studying and sharing the occasional drink with a friend or two. Memories of the lavish wedding ceremony where he'd declared his undying love for the woman who still stood beside him, or the birth of their children now lingered in his mind.

"Alright." Drew sighed and glanced around again. "I'll be good." Another smirks surfaced and turned toward Erika. "For now."

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"You and me both," she admitted. She tossed him a smirk; over the course of the years, Erika had spent less and less time in Kalispell. She loved her life in L.A, and she likely always would. She saw little reason to come back here, unless it was important. The school board had most things under control, and if they ever needed her, it could usually be fixed over the phone or mail.

Rolling her eyes, Erika's lips pursed slightly in amusement. "For now," she repeated, her head shaking faintly. Now, she wasn't about to claim that she would hate it very much if he didn't. She had always loved every part of him - even that smirk she claimed to loathe so much.

She did however look out over the reunion and frowned slightly. Issuing a low sigh, her head shook once more. "We don't have to stay that long. I mean, this thing lasts the entire weekend. How about..." She looked over at Drew and smiled. "We walk in, make sure people see us, say hello to a few people and then get out of here?" She leaned in closer, lips brushing against his cheek. "I still have the keys to the entire school," she whispered before pulling away, attention once again directed towards the crowd ahead.

[Drew Conner]

"Okay, okay." Drew nodded as he attempted to push aside the reluctance he couldn't help leaking out. For a brief moment he silently chastised himself for his behavior. He was acting like a spoiled child. Many people returned to their old schools for reunions and didn't whine and carry on as if they had gotten a skinned knee while playing on the merry-go-round in the playground. It wasn't the worst event or function he'd been forced to attend in his years since graduating. Not by a long shot. At the very least he could take solace in knowing he hadn't left Bellefonte with a number of enemies. Maybe it would be interesting to see how some of their peers had ended up, after all.

"Let's just see how the night goes, alright?" He offered, turning a light smile in Erika's direction. Regardless of whether or not either of them really wanted to be here, Drew wasn't going to complain the entire time and ruin any sort of pleasant time Erika might be ale to have. He simply took her hand again, his fingers lacing between hers, and started forward. "We should take bets on who's been popping out kids like crazy." He commented idly, although the idea was amusing. "It wouldn't surprise me to find out McCarthy ended up with a herd."

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"Alright," she said, nodding. She issued a chuckle at his next words, brown eyes moving towards the crowd again. "Last thing I heard, he adopted his best friend's kid," she said, brows furrowing slightly. It was one of those sad tales everyone eventually heard of. She had heard from the board, because apparently one of them had known the girl's mother - or something along the lines of that.

Erika shrugged her shoulders. She saw no reason in drowning themselves in the gloom and despair of other people - whom they obviously had no contact with for a reason - especially when there was so much else to do. "Though, we're hardly ones to speak," she reminded them, her own thoughts drifting to their own children - all three of them.

[Drew Conner]

Drew cast a short glance in Erika's direction. He almost questioned her further into what she'd heard about their classmate but thought better of it. Drew hadn't been one to talk about others when he was a teenager and that had certainly not changed as the years had passed by. Still, it sounded a curious development for someone Drew wouldn't trust to take care of a potted plant, let alone another living person. Perhaps he'd look into it more on his own time before they left Kalispell.

"That's not fair." Drew smirked, glancing toward Erika. "You only got pregnant twice." He felt the need to point out. Two pregnancies in ten years was hardly a feat worth noting. It wasn't their fault they got a two for one when the twins were born. "We're padding our numbers." He gave a soft chuckle at that, though, as he let his gaze move about the area to take in the others around them before his head shook and he issued a low sigh. "Goddamit." He muttered, glancing back over his shoulder. "We could've brought them." he said with a frown. "They would love it here."

[Erika Conner (Bellefonte)]

"Still have three kids," she countered. "It hardly matters how many times one get pregnant; what matters is how many children you have." After all, there was plenty of people around who adopted, and they still counted as their children, did they not. She wasn't about to argue the finer details of things though and simply let the subject fall. "This is hardly the kind of thing you bring children to," she said, looking around. "No one else did. I have a feeling they'd either get really bored, or start building their own crime imperium," she added and tossed her husband a sly smile.

She could only hope they took up other, simpler activities like art or chess, though, knowing their luck, they'd likely end up with all three of their children turning into master criminals or villains, attempting and probably succeeding at taking over the world. It seemed like the kind of thing that'd happen to them.