The sun holds the moon, 8-17-12, evening

[Drew Carlson]

Move in had been interesting. Her whole family had insisted on coming down, not just her parents, but her brothers and their partners, and everyone. It had been ridiculous, unnecessary, and part of the reason that Drew had picked OSU for school.

But watching them all pile into their cars and drive away hadn't been... Drew hadn't quite been prepared for it. But she still had Aaron. The thought brought a small smile to her face.

The baby was with her, propped up on her hip - his favorite place - chubby little fingers wrapped around the locket at her neck. They'd been wandering around Columbus for half an hour already, taking in all the new sights and sounds. Aaron was an unusual baby, liking people to the extreme, much like Drew had been like as a child.

Friday night, all the young people out... She supposed she was still a young person, still only just nineteen. She'd spent almost the last two years of her life looking after the bubbly baby in her arms however. They should probably go home soon, he'd need to sleep, but he was still so excited from all the people and he'd taken a rather long nap earlier...

Drew couldn't bring herself to return to the campus. There were so many people, and they both wanted to watch them all. Ten more minutes, half an hour max, and then they'd find their way home so she could put Aaron to bed. Drew hummed softly, pressing a kiss to her son's forehead.

[Mercedes Jones]

When all the clouds darken up the skyway~ Mercy sang quietly, as she walked along the streets of downtown Columbus. She had lived in the area for all of her life. She traveled to Columbus often as a child. The choice to go to OSU had been a simple one, it had been the only one that her parents could afford, even with the partial music scholarship she received.

There's a rainbow highway to be found Mercedes sang as she glanced in the window. Move in had been relatively painless and she was looking forward to starting classes. Leading from your window pane, to a place beyond the sun, just a step beyond the rain Music was really in her blood. It wasn't very often that she wasn't singing, humming, or whistling something.

She smiled at the girl with the baby, as she passed them by, humming the melody from the song.

Cut kid.

[Drew Carlson]

Aaron's interest seemed to peak as a woman passed them, singing softly. He let out a happy gurgle, little fist clenched hands waving about happily. Drew let out a little laugh. Such a silly boy.

She took a few quick steps, trying to catch up the other woman without feeling like a creepy person. She'd had it, maybe she should just turn around.... but no.

"Excuse me miss? You have a wonderful voice." She smiled a little, cheeks red from a little more than a sunburn. She'd gotten so quiet after Aaron, and a new city was the perfect place to start feeling like herself again.

She gave another little smile, before stepping away, not wanting to keep the young woman if she had more important places to be. She truly did have a wonderful voice...

[Mercedes Jones]

Mercedes stopped at the voice. She wasn't sure that she was the one being spoken to, but when she heard beautiful voice, she pivoted on her heel and spun to face the girl and her child.

She smiled kindly at the girl, as she walked the few steps back to her. She reached out and let the baby grasp her finger.

"Thank you," She said, genuinely appreciative of the compliment. She didn't get them that often, so when she did get them, she jumped on them with both feet. "I'm Mercedes, by the way," She said, smiling. "Do you sing to this little guy here?" She asked, shaking her finger gently.

[Drew Carlson]

Drew smiled fondly, watching as Aaron interacted with the other. "You're very welcome Mercedes." She shifted Aaron a little, allowing him a better grasp on the other woman's hand. "I'm Drew, and this little guy here is Aaron."

She flushed a little at her question, shaking her head. "Oh no, only when he's upset and won't stop crying. He never seems to like it except then, and I can't really blame him because I've got a terrible voice." She laughed a little, shaking her hair back.

This was...nice.

[Mercedes Jones]

"Well Drew," Mercedes said, with a bright smile. "It is really nice to meet both you and Aaron." She tilted her head to consider the girl for a moment. She looked vaguely familiar, but for the life of her Mercy couldn't place her.

"Are you from around here?" She asked, as she dug through her purse for her set of house keys, so the baby would have something to hold besides her finger. She found them with a triumphant smile, and handed the key ring to Aaron. There was only one key on there, so she figured it was safe.

"Hey, now," She assured. "I'm sure you have other talents right? Singing is great, but I'm sure you do something equally as good."

[Drew Carlson]

"Likewise Mercedes," Drew smiled again. She shifted a little, Aaron was a bouncy, fidgety baby. "I suppose you could say that, but not really. Well not yet at least." She laughed a little. "We just moved here for college, I'm going to OSU."

The baby's eyes lit up at the offered keys, chubby hands immediately reaching for that. He loved people, but he loved shinny things more.

"Well thank you Mercedes. In High School I was quite good at Tennis, went to state twice before I had this little guy. Can't do that anymore though, as you could guess." There was a slight smile on her face, and she liked Mercedes, had no reason not to, but this was the part of the conversation where most people turned their noses up at her. She had such potential and she ruined it all by getting knocked up. Drew wouldn't change any of it for the world however.

Aaron inspected the key in his hand for a few seconds before promptly putting it into his mouth; Drew sighed a little. "Is that um, is that okay with you?" Her fingers hovered against his cheek for a second.

[Mercedes Jones]

Mercedes stared at the girl for a moment. So, they went to the same school. That was kinda cool actually. There wasn't that many people around that she knew, so a familiar face would be nice.

"I actually go there too," She said with a slight smile. "Do you know what you're majoring in yet?" Not everyone was like her, and knew what they wanted to do already.

Especially not people with children.

The kid was really cute though. Mercedes couldn't help, but smile at him. She loved babies. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself," She said firmly. "Look at what you got out of the deal."

Mercedes just grinned at Aaron, before looking back up at Drew in confusion. "Is what okay?" She asked.

[Drew Carlson]

"Not quite yet, no. I've got a few ideas, but nothing solid yet. You?" She had a year, two, before she had to figure it out for sure. She was still trying to feel everything out, make sense of everything.

She laughed a little, shifting again. "Oh no, you don't have to tell me that. This little guy is my pride and joy. I'm perfectly aware of how most teenagers with a baby don't make much of their life, but everyone seems to enjoy telling me anyway." Drew's fingers brushed at Aaron's hair. She wasn't a fan of how it had happened, of Aaron's father, but she wouldn't change any of it because she didn't want any more or any less of anything, she liked Aaron just the way it was.

"And the keys..." She frowned a little. "I'm sorry," she pulled at the key chain with one hand, soothing Aaron when he got upset with it. She put them in her hand that was holding Aaron, smiling a little when he reached for them. With her free hand she rummaged around in her purse, looking for sanitary wipes. Once she found them she made quick work of cleaning the keys, giving them back to the baby. Aaron was delighted. "I'm sorry, my mother would kill me if she found out I let him put something "dirty"," she did air quotes with her free hand, "in his mouth."

[Mercedes Jones]

"Music Education," She stated, very sure of herself. "I am thinking about a minor either in psychology or theater, but I haven't decided that part yet." She knew that she wanted to work with kids, and she loved music, so it seemed perfect for her.

"Unfortunately, I still have to take all of my pre requisite classes," She said, with a small shrug. She watched as Drew took the keys from the baby. She flushed a little. "I am so sorry, I should have realized that. That was very dumb of me. I have a brother and sister at home, I should have realized."

Mercedes felt bad, and would have to think of a way to make it up to the young mother somehow.

She got a fierce look on her face at Drew's statement about single parents. "Haters are gonna hate, but I want you to know that I'm not one of them, okay. It takes a lot of courage to do what you're doing girl, own it."

She gave the girl a bright smile.

[Drew Carlson]

Drew smiled, not a soft little one, but a full one. It was rare, and she was going to soak up every single one of Mercedes' words. "Thank you Mercedes, that's very nice of you to say." She pressed another kiss to Aaron's forehead.

"And don't worry about the keys. I've gotten lax, and I know I have, and I know one day it'll come back to bite me, but Aaron hasn't gotten sick once since he was born." Her lips twitched up. "He sure made me feel sick, but he's always been such a healthy little thing."

The baby gurgled again. "Yes sweetheart~" She looked up at Mercedes. "I'm afraid I'm going to be horribly forward, but I really don't know that many people here, and you said you were also going to OSU, and Aaron really does need to be laid down soon, but would it be horrible of me to ask if we could meet up again even though we've just met?" She smiled slightly at the other.

[Mercedes Jones]

Mercedes smiled brightly. She was glad that she could make her life a little easier, and was happy that Drew seemed to be receptive of her compliment.

She nodded her head immediately. "Of course, of course," Mercedes said immediately, pulling a piece of paper out of her purse and jotting her phone number down, handing it back to Drew.

"Please, feel free to call anytime," Mercedes said. "I have a pretty open schedule, other than class," She finished with a small laugh.

She snagged her keys away from Aaron, hoping not to cause too much trouble. "It was very nice meeting you, little man," She said softly, as she ran her finger along his cheek. "And you Miss Drew," She said with a grin. "I will see you around."

[Drew Carlson]

Drew smiled, grabbing a pen and paper out of her own bag and writing her number on it. "Thank you very much Mercedes; it really was wonderful meeting you." She handed it to the other when Mercedes gave Drew her number.

Aaron gave a sharp cry when Mercedes took the keys, arms and legs kicking as his face got read. Drew couldn't help it but her lips twitched up slightly. She reached into her bag again and pulled out a toy for him to play with.

"Yes, same." She grinned one last time, before turning around. "Come on little one, it's time for your bed~" Drew would probably stay up a few more hours, finish unpacking and organizing, make a few calls to her family, things that needed to get done in order for her to be successful this year.