#choices ethan ramsey
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Mixed Signals
(Dr. Tobias Carrick x F!MC *Chris Valentine) (Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC*Chris Valentine) (Dr. Bryce Lahela x F!MC*Chris Valentine) in an Open Heart Fan fiction.
Masterlist
A/N Sorry for taking so long to post. My health decided to do some wild things since the last post on top of the writer's block just having a field day with this storyline 😑 Anyway, we'll pick up where the last chapter left off.
Chapter 2
Chris slowly came awake. Though she knew in an instant that she wasn't in her own bedroom, the massive hangover she was currently under caused her to not really care where she was. Pulling what had to be some of the softest sheets she'd ever felt up over her face, she began to try and remember what happened the night before.
Flashes of her celebration at Donahue's flickered through her mind. Groaning over not only her actions with drinking way too much, she remembered what happened with Ethan.
Her eyes shot open.
Oh no. Did I go home with Ethan?
Peeking out from under the covers, she tried to discern the furniture around her.
Unless Ethan had done a major renovation since the last time she'd been in his apartment and had moved to a lower floor, she knew she wasn't in his place.
Chris clutched her head.
I know I'm not at Bryce's either. He wouldn't have brought me to his place with Kikei there.
She softly gasped.
Don't tell me I went home with a stranger!
Chris kicked the covers back and breathed easier to see she was still fully dressed. There was no indication that anyone had slept beside her. She did a quick examination of her body and knew she hadn't had sex.
Where am I?
She yanked the covers up when the bedroom door opened.
Tobias grinned at her.
"You're awake."
Chris gaped at him. "I went home with you!?"
He chuckled as he walked into the room.
"You demanded that I bring you to my place."
"Oh lord." Chris buried her head in her hands. Smoothing back her tousled hair, she looked up at him. "I'm so sorry."
He shrugged it off as not a big deal and sat down at the foot of the bed.
"I didn't..." Chris took a deep breath. "I didn't push myself on you, did I?"
Before he could respond, she shook her head.
"Of course I bloody well did. Why else would I be in your home?" She rubbed her hands over her face in an attempt to clear the cobwebs. "You should have given me back to my roommates. Then you wouldn't--"
"Hey!" He chuckled once more. "Easy there, Valentine. Normally, a woman in your condition would not be in my home." He patted her leg. "But, um, you were adamant that your doctor take you to his home."
"My doctor?" Her brow furrowed as she tried to remember the events of the previous night.
He laughed at her confused expression.
"Yeah, Ethan was not too thrilled when you declared I was not only your doctor but also the only doctor you trusted."
Her eyes widened.
What else did I do last night?
"You also told your roommates that you needed me to take you home since you had some medical concerns."
She vaguely remembered talking to Sienna.
"Anyway, I was going to actually take you back to your apartment after your friends left." He explained. "When I checked your wallet for a driver's license--"
"You saw that I still had my I.D. from Inverness." She finished with a groan.
"As much as I wanted to get you safely home, I wasn't quite up for the journey to Scotland." He teased.
Chris flopped back on the pillows with her arm draped over her eyes. This was quite possibly the most embarrassing moment of her life.
She then remembered she should be at work.
"What time is it?!" She sat up too quickly and immediately regretted such a rash action.
"Half past two." Tobias told her.
"Half past--" She scrambled out of bed.
"Whoa!" Tobias stopped her. "Where are you going?"
"I'm late!" She searched in vain for her shoes. "My shift at the hospital started hours ago!"
"Chris." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I called Ethan this morning and told him you weren't coming in."
"You did what?" Chris gaped at him. "Why?"
"As your physician," he winked at her, "I realized that I never gave you the all clear to return to work. Plus given how many drinks you had last night, I knew you wouldn't be in any condition to help your patients."
"Oh." She sank back down on the bed.
Tobias sat down next to her. He studied her worried profile in silence for a few seconds.
"Hey?" He nudged her with his shoulder. "Why don't you take a shower while I see about lunch?" He nudged her again. "Or breakfast for you?"
Chris snorted back a laugh. "Yes, please feed me after I forced my drunk self into your home."
Tobias grinned at her. "You can force yourself on me anytime."
She burst out laughing then gave him a playful shove.
He got to his feet to open a nearby closet.
"My sisters-in law leave clothes here so they don't have to pack so much when they come for a visit." He explained. "See if there's something of theirs that might do for now."
"I appreciate it," Chris began "but I shouldn't impose on you any--"
"You're not." He went into the guest bathroom to start the shower. "Plus, I insist you stay until I know you're okay."
With a smile that made her heart flip, he left her alone.
Twenty minutes later, Chris found herself clean, dressed in leggings that were too short and in what was supposed to be an oversized sweater, yet just barely went past her waist. She'd finally found a pair of wooly socks to keep her always cold feet warm and began to make her way downstairs, admiring Tobias's townhome along the way.
She paused in the hallway to discern just where her host was.
Tobias called out from a room farther to her left.
"I'm in here, Chris!"
She followed the sound of his voice, pausing at how inviting his kitchen was. Though modern, the warm colors he'd chosen for the walls, decor, and cushions somehow worked. It should have clashed, yet she found herself thinking of her grandparents' home. They had been given all new appliances a couple of years ago. The silver, sleek look met the older bread box, flower towels, and ruffled cushions and soon settled into a hodgepodge that they all ended up loving.
It made her homesick to sit down at Tobias's table.
"Coffee?" He asked from behind the counter.
"Please." Chris rubbed her forehead in an effort to clear the fog she was still slightly under.
"How do you take it?" He poured her a cup.
"Lots of cream and lots of sugar." She mumbled.
"How much is a lot?"
"More than true coffee aficionados can tolerate." She responded.
"This I have to see." Tobias teased.
He brought over the pot of coffee along with cream and sugar.
Chris blushed under his attention as she prepared her cup. Once she was finished, the rich black was replaced with a light beige color.
Tobias chuckled. "I bet you've gotten more speeches on your coffee from Ethan than you have medicine."
"You'd win that bet." Chris took a long sip, sighing in pleasure. "Don't tell me you're a coffee snob too?"
"I'm a to each their own coffee drinker." He teased. "Who am I to judge when I'll drink it any way someone prepares it? Though I will admit, I like mine with a little less cream than you do."
Chris rolled her eyes. "What about the sugar?"
Tobias leaned closer to her. "Who doesn't love something sweet?"
Having him close enough where she could see the flecks of gold in those amazing hazel eyes of his caused Chris to become momentarily tongue-tied.
His cocky smile creeped up at seeing her like this.
His attention next drifted over her face, taking in the strawberries and cream complexion he found rather cute. Her nose had a slight tilt that more than hinted at a stubbornness he'd been witnessed to on previous occasions. Her eyes held such emotion. Those gray eyes of hers could make a man hesitate for fear of wounding her.
How does Ethan keep it professional, he wondered. I don't know what I would do if the positions were reversed and she worked closely with me.
"So?" He cleared his throat and settled back in his chair. "Want to talk about last night?"
Chris's nose wrinkled at the very mention of it.
Tobias eyed her over the rim of his coffee cup. "You don't strike me as the kind of person who regularly gets drunk."
"Because I don't." She took another sip of coffee. "It was stupid of me to drink that much."
"What happened?" He prodded. "One minute, you seemed happy then the next you were downing drinks like you'd seen a ghost or something."
She snorted. If he only knew how right he was. There was nothing worse than a visit from the Ghost of Relationships Past.
Chris tried to avoid his question by focusing on her fork picking at the scrambled eggs on her plate.
Tobias wasn't going to let this go. If Chris really did consider him her doctor then he was going to make sure she was not only physically well after the attack but also emotionally. They were becoming friends after all. Weren't friends supposed to share problems?
He placed his hand on hers, causing the fork to slip from her grasp and clatter onto the plate.
Chris swallowed a tad hard before lifting her eyes back to his.
Tobias searched her steady, vulnerable gaze and gentled his tone.
"What's wrong, Chris?"
Unshed tears began to fill her eyes.
"I--I don't..." she sucked in a deep breath before burying her face in her hands.
Tobias got up and knelt by her chair. He gently brushed back her damp hair. As much as he wanted to demand she talk to him, he knew he could only wait and let it be her decision.
"I'm sorry." She lowered her hands.
"No need to apologize." He tucked her hair behind her ear. "If you don't want to talk about it, we--"
"I don't but I know I should." She took another deep breath. "It's a long story."
"Good thing it's my day off of work." He teased in the hopes of seeing her smile again.
Her lips curved briefly before falling once more. "I guess I should start at the beginning."
Tobias returned to his chair. He remained silent as Chris poured out everything that occurred since she first arrived at Edenbrook. There were many times he wanted to question her and express shock as she told him about her odd relationships with Ethan and Bryce.
Ethan hadn't been able to resist her after all, he thought to himself.
"And then Ethan pulled me away last night and it all began again." She explained. "After he kissed me and wouldn't say what we were, I just needed an escape. Not from him, but I needed to get away from myself."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"How can I go on in life in the same, exact, frustrating manner after being given a second chance?" She looked up at Tobias. "I should be making sure that nothing is wasted with this time I've been given, right?"
Tobias slowly nodded. "I think you shouldn't waste your time on anyone who doesn't give you what you deserve."
"Exactly!" Her breath hitched. "If I'm willing to give everything to someone, I should expect he give the same to me."
She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
"I know some say you should love without expecting anything in return." Her eyes searched his for understanding. "But I tried that and ended up miserable. I can't be that person again. I won't! It takes so much out of me and gives me nothing but mere crumbs to live on."
Tobias opened his mouth to reassure her again, only to fall silent when she continued.
"But what if I miss out? What if Ethan or Bryce is the one? What if I ruin what could be the relationship that will eventually give me what my heart needs? Am I suppose to fall back into what they want in case--"
"Whoa." He took her hands in his. "Easy there, Valentine. You're going down a rabbit hole of what if's."
"I know." She admitted. "That's all I do. I start off saying I won't put myself through this over and over and yet turn around and doubt my decision. I always end up here, questioning whether or not I should change anything."
Chris propped her chin on her fist while staring out of the kitchen's bay window.
"I am drowning in doubt." She admitted. "I am certain in everything I do in life except for love." She refocused on Tobias. "I don't know how to fix this."
Tobias didn't either. If she was suffering from the attack either physically or mentally, he'd have known exactly what to do. When it came to matters of the heart, he knew he was the last person who should give advice.
"The only thing I can recommend," he began a bit hesitantly, "is to only accept what makes you happy."
He took her hand once more. "As a friend of yours, I don't believe you should settle for anything less than what you want."
"That's what Sienna's been telling me for a while now." Chris mumbled.
"See? How can you ignore the advice coming from two different people?" He prodded.
Chris's lips quirked into a brief smile. "You and Sienna couldn't be any more different."
"It's a sign that it's the right thing to do." He argued. "You should tell Ethan and Bryce."
"Tell them?" Chris murmured. "You mean--"
"Tell them exactly what you want, what you expect, and see if they can step up and be that for you." Tobias told her. "Keeping it to yourself is only making you miserable. Plus, if they honestly don't know what you're wanting, how can they give it to you?"
Chris slowly nodded. She had tried to hint and kinda explain what she wanted each time with Ethan, but she'd never talked to him seriously about it. With Bryce, she kept things light and fun. Perhaps she was more responsible for her unhappiness than she originally thought.
"You know what you need?" He relaxed back in his chair. "You need a night out."
Chris blinked. "Isn't that what I did last night?"
"No, that was a celebration. You need a night out with no expectations, no questionable relationships, and no drunken escapes."
Tobias grinned at her. "You took me to your hangout. It's only fair you visit mine."
She began to laugh. "You sure you trust me to see where you love to go?"
"I guess I do." He murmured, grinning even more. "How bout it, Chris?"
"I really should get some sleep." She argued halfheartedly. "I have work in the morning."
"No, you don't." He reminded her. "Remember, I haven't given you the all clear yet."
Chris rolled her eyes over that.
"We both know I'm fine to go back to work."
"I don't." He laced his fingers behind his head to stretch. "You'll have to schedule an appointment with me for a final checkup." He winked at her. "Nice try, but there's no getting out of tonight."
Chris motioned to herself. "I don't have anything to wear."
"I'll take you by your place to change on the way." Tobias got up to clear their plates. "What do you say?"
Seeing no way out of this and was a little curious over where he went to unwind, she decided to give in. Chris admitted to herself that having a drink somewhere without Ethan or Bryce to distract her might be just the change she needed.
Plus, it might help her get the courage up to talk to them.
"If my doctor insists, -" Chris mumbled.
"I do." Tobias interrupted
"Then, I'd love to."
#choices open heart#mixed signals#tobias carrick#choices ethan ramsey#bryce lahela#choices oh#tobias x chris#ethan x mc#bryce x mc#tobias carrick x mc#choices fic writers creations#open heart fanfic
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(Un)Professionalism
This one shot shows Casey is learning to deal with the history between Ethan and Harper. But, it’s not as easy as she thought it would be.
This came to my mind when I was replaying OH 3. I couldn’t believe how Harper and Ethan were acting around MC. I also couldn’t believe how they don’t really expand on that storyline unless you do the extra scene with Harper at the MRI machine. Then again, book three was just a little crazy overall 😂
Warnings: slight sexual actions
Ethan Tags: @perriewinklenerdie @shelivesinthewoods @silversparrow1112 @miss-indecisive-says @alj4890 @naffeesaa @hija-del-universo @usuallyamazinglyaverage @heyabby102 @lilyoffandoms @cordoniaqueensworld @carreraleigh @ethanplaysfavorites @amillionmoonsred @drcaseyvalentineramsey @claudevonstrukesblog @princess-geek @lapisreviewsstuff @aworldoffandoms @paisleylovergirl @llamasgrl @blainehellyes @flyawayboo @timmagicktoad-blog @sparklinglilac @whenyourheartskipsabeat @desmaranj @triple-shadow0 @tessa-liam please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed from the tags!
“Remember when Dr. Collins bet you wouldn’t chug that bottle of champagne?”
Casey watches as Ethan cringes at the thought, but Harper laughs and rests a hand on his forearm. Feeling her gut churn in jealousy, the redhead looks back to the file of their patient, wishing Baz was still a part of the team. At least he would acknowledge that she still exists.
“He swore I had the liquid escaping through my ears, which is anatomically impossible.”
Both of them laugh, Ethan looking as carefree as he has been for awhile.
“Look, if you two want to walk down memory lane, why don’t I go do my job.” She slaps the file down onto the table and forcefully pushes her chair back.
Without another look at either doctor, Casey strides out the doors. Before they shut behind her, she can just barely hear Ethan excuse himself and his footsteps hurrying behind her.
“Casey!” The loud whisper isn’t enough for her to even look back, but she picks up her pace, knowing his long strides will catch her easily. “Rookie, please.”
Confused anger clouds his raised tone, causing her to stop. Even though she doesn’t turn back around, she can hear his steps slow down and he takes in a deep breath before he steps in front of her. Her brown eyes focus on the tile spreading down the hall, her body tense with shame and her gut still filled with jealousy.
“Casey, what on earth is the matter?” Ethan’s large hand gently slips under her chin and lifts her face up.
He notices the guilt swimming in her eyes and everything clicks into place. “I apologize. Harper and I were being quite unprofessional.”
Silently, she closes her eyes and nuzzles into his hand before she shakes her head. “That’s not what bothered me.”
Not saying anything, he leads them into an empty patient room, shutting the door behind them. He watches her closely, analyzing her movements before she leans against the bed in the middle of the room. She crosses her arms and doesn’t look at him as her finger taps against her bicep.
“It’s your whole relationship, Ethan. We don’t have that and honestly, I don’t know if we ever will.”
Still utterly confused, he walks to her and lifts her chin again, trying to read her thoughts. “I don’t understand. What you and I have is nothing like the friendship I have with Harper. No offense intended, but I rather like it that way.”
Her eyes bore into his, the ice blue eyes hold their normal warmth she’s become accustomed to. His gentle touch is comforting her, not someone else. Right?
“But you two have history and that spark is still there, I can tell and I think Harper still feels it.” Rambling, she pushes off the bed and steps away from him, needing space to think and calm her racing thoughts.
Understanding dawns on him once again, this time he realizes exactly what is bothering her. He felt the same way during her intern year, seeing her with all those young, bright eyed men surrounding her at various times. The surgeon. The paramedic. Hell, he had even seen other attendings eye her. It was torture on him due to his own selfishness of not allowing them to become an item publicly.
“Casey, you and I are figuring this relationship out, but I can assure you, there is nothing between Harper and I.”
She settles in front of the window overlooking the parking lot, her eyes bouncing from the people to the cars peppering the asphalt.
When she doesn’t say anything, he continues, “She and I may have history, but that is all it is. I think of her as a colleague and a friend, nothing more. I know for a fact she feels the same way but I understand what you are feeling.” Slowly, he approaches her from behind, gently laying his hands on her shoulders. “If you remember correctly, I had a bout of jealousy that earned you a punishment in one of the vacant halls.”
Below his hands, the tense muscles loosen as she laughs quietly. “How did you take care of yourself after that anyway?”
Chuckling, Ethan turns her around and picks her up, allowing her legs to wrap around his waist. Stepping towards the wall, he presses her back against it, pinning her between it and his firm body. She can feel his hardness begin to grow as he presses his groin against hers. Both of them experience deja vu.
“You didn’t give me an opportunity to, so I suppose I had to imagine you as I took care of it myself.” His lips travel across her neck, his stubble tickling her soft skin deliciously. “Perhaps this time, we can take care of each other.”
Casey playfully grinds against the hard member straining against his slacks, tossing her head back against the wall at the sensation pooling in her core.
“Mmm, I think I’d like that.”
He breaks away from her neck and cups her cheek, brushing his thumb across her cheekbone. “Know that I have not been with anyone besides you since Miami.”
“Then why did it take so long for you to give in?” Her big eyes burn with curiosity.
Sighing, he looks down, “Because I could not bring myself to risk your career. At least that is what I told myself. Now, I know I told you and myself that so I could realize that taking a risk on you was not a risk at all.”
Ethan raises his eyes to meet hers again, cupping her face with both hands. “You are it for me, Casey.”
Their lips meet in an electric kiss, her hands delve into his thick curls and her legs tighten around his fit waist. A moan escapes her as his lips reach any skin he can find and as his hands reach under her scrubs, caressing her breasts through the sports bra.
“Ethan, mmm, I love you.”
He pulls away to meet her eyes and gives her a blinding smile, his hands holding her face. “I love you too, Dr. Valentine.”
This kiss they share is soft and gentle, exuding the love coursing between them. But the gasp at the door breaks the trance. The couple breaks apart, Ethan sets Casey down gently as she blushes furiously.
“Do you need something, Harper?” Ethan’s voice is steady, but his lips tremble with suppressed laughter at the shock on their colleague’s face.
Casey steps behind Ethan, hiding the silent laughter at her own embarrassment and Harper’s.
“I—uh—“ Without a coherent sentence, she turns and slams the door behind her, leaving the couple to dissolve into a mess of laughter.
As Ethan turns, he gathers the giggling redhead into his arms, holding in a tight hug. He allows himself to relax, resting his chin atop her head. “I suppose I should do some damage control.”
“Probably. At least this time you don’t have to do your own damage control.”
He releases her at that and smirks, “I would have suggested you take care of that.”
Casey leans forwards and kisses him softly, “Maybe we can arrange for some of that damage control tonight.”
#choices#playchoices#choices ethan ramsey#dr ethan ramseyxmc#dr ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x casey valentine#open heart#ethan ramsey#choices open heart#play choices#ethan ramsey x mc#choices fic writers creations#dr. ethan ramsey#cfwc fics of the week
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Newborn Love
A/N : Thank you to @peonierose for these two prompts, that inspired this. Hope you guys like it.
Tags under the cut
Perma : @starrystarrytrouble @quixoticdreamer16 @coffeeheartaddict2 @liaromancewriter @tessa-liam @gryffindordaughterofathena @crazy-loca-blog @zahrachoices @bex-la-get @potionsprefect @schnitzelbutterfingers @a-crepusculo @custaroonie @aishwariya26 @jamespotterthefirst @rookiemartin
Ethan x Meera : @jerzwriter @wanderingamongthewildflowers @takemyopenheart @mvalentine @cariantha
+ @choicesficwriterscreations & @openheartfanfics
Please let me know if you want to be added or removed. 💜
#pixelberry choices#pixelberry#pictagram edit#pictagram#choices : stories you play#choices the stories you play#choices stories we play#playchoices#choices stories you play#choices#choices ethan ramsey#choices edit#choices edits#open heart edit#open heart#open heart edits#open heart ethan#choices open heart#open heart choices#dr. ethan ramsey#ethan x mc#ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x mc#dr. ethan jonah ramsey#ethan jonah ramsey x mc#ethan x meera#dr. meera bose#meera bose#avantika naveena ramsey#ishaan alan ramsey
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Until You Love Me
Chapter 1: We Are the Crowd...
Pairings: Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Casey Valentine); f!MC (Casey Valentine) x f!OC (Tatum Erikson)
Series Summary: Constantly worried about Ethan's faithfulness, Casey Valentine's paranoia reaches an all-time high when she meets a blast from his past.
Chapter Summary: A celebratory night at Donahue's takes a turn when Casey meets a girl that has caught Ethan's eye
Music Inspo: "Paparazzi" - Kim Dracula
Word Count: ~2500
Rating/Warnings: 🔞 Mature Audiences Only🔞 This miniseries will contain NSFW material (🍋), infidelity, language, discussion and/or depiction of medical situations, gaslighting, mental abuse & illness, suicide, violence, criminal activity; alcohol use
A/N: I am SUPER pumped to be participating in week 1 of @choicesflashfics prompt challenge! I chose prompt #1: “You getting so flustered is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.” The prompt will be in bold.
A/N2: This is very much an AU; our main characters will be written OOC; most of these characters and some plot points belong to our friends at Pixelberry. Special thanks to my sweet friends that helped me brainstorm and pre-read various parts of this. This is not beta'd, so please forgive my errors.
~🖤~
Donahue's. The vibrant, neon sign to the well-known dive bar illuminates the otherwise quiet street. The establishment itself rests comfortably in a residential neighborhood a few blocks north of the medical district. A small parking lot was added years ago--not that anyone abides by the yellow fluorescent lines. But even with Donahue's attempting to appear more official, more business-like, everyone reveres it like a second home. A place to relax. A place where people know your name.
He lowkey loves it here; that's the only reason he dared to venture out tonight. If Ethan Ramsey had it his way, he would much rather stay in on a Sunday evening, enjoying a finger of scotch with the Patriots on mute and his nose in a historical prose.
But lucky for me, not tonight.
Tonight is Midnight Madness, a rite of passage among med school graduates and residents where we celebrate a turning of the page, so-to-speak, as we all take the next big step in our medical careers. For my Edenbrook friends and I, gone are the days of being the scut of the hospital, the runts, the bottom of the healthcare food chain. Residency is over, and Monday morning brings private practice, fellowships, and new research. It’s one last time for celebration.
So, of course, I naturally want Ethan here with me.
As I step out of the car, he walks ahead of me. He's due for a haircut, but I secretly love watching his dark waves gently bounce on the collar of his shirt. He's wearing one of my favorites: a pinstripe Hilfiger button-down with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, the musculature of his defined forearms on display. His pressed khaki chinos accentuate his well-rounded, well-toned backside, and I must admit: my eyes fail to look away from the beautiful spectacle.
Well, that is until I nearly collided with the front door to the sports bar.
He didn't hold it open for me.
And my heart sinks.
As I slip inside, Reggie, the bar owner, nods my direction, giving me a kind, sympathetic smile.
Did he see that, too?
He fixes my favorite drink – a cherry vodka sour – and slides the glass tumbler in front of my usual stool at the bar. I slink into my seat. Sipping through a straw, I casually glance around the large, open-concept room, looking for my Ethan.
Where did he go?
The room is dark with warm ambient lighting from stage lights, disco balls and multicolored lamps. There's a subtle haze of smoke as bar patrons sway to the heavy pulse of the music.
The bass is hypnotic, and I feel the energy thrumming in my veins as I sip on my cocktail, surveying the room.
There he is; there's my handsome man.
But I feel the joy drain out of my face instantly.
He's talking to a tall, curvy blonde at a bar-top table near the jukebox. Who is she? She's wearing a silk, black camisole that lays perfectly across her full assets along with a snug pair of perfectly-tailored skinny jeans that show off her long legs and obviously plump rear.
She's beautiful. Actually… she's stunning.
Does Ethan even know her?
Oh God. He just made her laugh. She tosses back her head, her platinum tresses bouncing over her shoulders as she coyly covers her nose and mouth.
It couldn't have been that funny.
Ethan takes a sip of his own amber drink, no doubt a top shelf. But his eyes remain trained on her.
What the hell is going on right now?
"Would you like another?" Reggie pulls me from the scene unfolding in front of me–and it's a good thing, too. I feel my jealousy building in the pit of my stomach.
I always worried about other women making moves on my man. But… I never thought I'd have to worry about him reciprocating flirtation.
He wouldn't. I know he wouldn't do that to me. To us.
No. I'm sure there is a logical explanation to Ethan's exchange with this woman. More than likely, this is purely innocent, and I'm just perceiving this all completely wrong.
Although reality is perception…
Shit.
I cordially smile at the bartender, nodding my head. "Better make it a double."
—---
It's been over an hour, and Ethan has barely spoken to me. I already sense the odd looks in my direction as if everyone can sense the awkwardness between us. Damnit, I hate people giving me that look, as if they pity me. What they don’t know is that Ethan and I have a mutual understanding; he’s not into public displays of affection.
Does he have to act like such a prick?
Okay, that’s not fair. I know that’s how I’m perceiving him. He’s not a prick, but I would think he’d at least talk with me. If I had known he was going to be this cold, I would've stayed home.
Being with this man is maddening.
I finish another drink, raising up my finger in Reggie’s direction to order another one. I nonchalantly glance around the room. I can see Ethan lounging outside on a brick patio next to a firepit, sharing cigars with Tobias and Victor, two of his longtime friends and colleagues. He’s smiling, which always makes for a good night for us.
Suddenly I remember the blonde, and my eyes naturally shift to where she was sitting. But, she’s gone.
Did she leave already?
I shrug, turning back to my freshly served beverage. Keeping my hands in my lap, I lean over the polished bar, capturing the wayward straw first with my tongue, then my mouth.
“So that’s the kind of night you’re aiming for.”
I abruptly twirl around on my stool, following the seductive giggle, and I am met face-to-face with the blonde bombshell Ethan was talking to earlier.
Only now, I am up close and personal, and I swear I am staring at a goddess. Her skin is like a blanket of sun-kissed velvet. Her golden hair sits like a crown on her head, and her rosy, heart-shaped lips frame her pearly white teeth.
Damnit, she's gorgeous. No wonder Ethan was staring at her…
“Is this seat taken, doll?” She gracefully gestures to the stool next to me, the simple movement seductively mesmerizing. I lock my attention on her, swimming deep in the ocean of her blue eyes.
I pretend to sip my drink as I motion for her to sit. As she makes herself comfortable, I look around the bar, noticing at least eight other open seats she could've taken.
But she chose to sit next to me…
I bite my lip as she continues talking. "God," she sets her clutch on the bar, crossing her legs. "Espadrilles are supposed to be comfortable, right?" She chuckles. "My toes keep going numb, and I swear my arches are bleeding." As she bends over to adjust her shoe, I'm given the perfect view straight down her slinky shirt.
No bra… Damnit! She saw me looking…
She snickers deviously, a mischievous Cheshire grin stretching across her face as if to pretend she didn't just catch me staring at her tits. "I'm Tatum," she holds out her hand to shake mine. "What's your name, doll?"
"Casey," I say softly.
"Wait," she grabs my arm as a look of surprise etches across her face. "Casey? As in Ethan Ramsey's Casey?"
I curiously look at Tatum, taken aback by her words, and I can feel a smile curling on my lips. "Yeah… yeah, that's me. How… how did you–?"
"I met him earlier! Girl…" she grows conspiratorially quiet, "he's quite the looker." She titters, "you need to keep him on a tighter leash!"
I let out a cordial laugh. Reggie passes by us, raising his eyebrows at me. I grin, nodding that everything is fine.
"But listen," Tatum grabs my hand endearingly. "Before I could even try hitting on him, he told me he was here with the most beautiful woman in the world–"
"Pssh," I hiss. I look down at our hands, lowering my voice. "He did not."
"Did too!" She begins to trace circles across my skin with her thumb. "He said you were waiting up here at the bar for him, and your name was Casey."
I can feel my cheeks warm. He might be cold towards me tonight, but Ethan Ramsey truly does love me.
"Oh, Tatum," I throw my arms around her shoulders, "I know we just met, but you have managed to make my night a million times better."
She pats my back. "Were you having a bad night?"
I pull back and give her a guilty-look. "No?" I sigh heavily. "Yes? I don't know" I lay my head in my hands.
"What's wrong, doll?" She combs my strawberry-blonde hair behind my ears as her voice turns into a whisper. "Is this about Ethan?"
I timidly nod my head.
"Oh gosh, Casey!" She puts a finger under my chin, lifting my gaze back to hers. "I don't know what has happened with you two in the past, but that gorgeous man loves you." She pauses, watching me. "Is he having trouble showing that to you?"
Is it that obvious? I nod.
She exhales dramatically as her long eyelashes flutter across her high cheekbones. "Men," she mumbles, shaking her head which causes me to giggle. She catches my gaze… and it feels like–I don't know… she continues. "How's the sex?"
I begin to choke on my drink, covering my shocked expression with my fingers. "Wh–what?"
"The sex?" She wiggles her eyebrows. "Oh c'mon," she snickers, "I bet he's hot in the sack."
I feel a swirl of heat invade my neck and face as I take a long pull from my vodka drink.
Why would she ask that?
“I see,” she exhales. “Well,” she tilts her head to meet my gaze before taking my hand and settling it into her lap. "Maybe you need to… spice things up."
She begins to gently caress my hand in hers. I feel goosebumps ignite across my body, a sudden ache forming deep in my belly as I stare at her full lips.
Wait… no.
I shake my head as I stand up.
What's happening here?
"I–I'm sorry, Tatum, but I think I gave you the wrong impression. I'm not like that," I grab my purse.
“Casey,” Tatum slips out of her chair, “don’t go. I’ll leave.” She leans over her barstool, collecting her clutch. As she stands up straight, she brushes her body against mine, her lips a breath away from the shell of my ear. “But if you do want to spice things up,” she whispers, “come find me.”
The rush of my own air escapes my lungs. My toes contort as electricity ignites through my nerves.
God, she’s so sexy…
This is insane; I just met her! And yet, she... and my body...
What the fuck?
If I wanted to 'spice things up'… What does that even mean? Does she mean my sex life with Ethan? Or specifically my own personal life?
What has me more curious: how would she spice things up?
I pay my tab, wishing Reggie a good evening. Ethan is still outside, and I see a table with my old friends, deep in jubilant celebration of Midnight Madness. I don’t want to interrupt, so sneak past the crowd, quickly retreating to the bathroom.
There she is.
She’s casually bent over the sink, finger-combing her hair. As the door shuts behind me, she turns to look at me before raising an eyebrow.
I can feel beads of sweat collecting on my back My pulse turns into a gallop as I watch Tatum take a step towards me.
And then another.
She slinks past me, reaching for the door to lock the deadbolt.
The silence is driving me crazy; the unspoken anticipation feeds into my arousal. Should it be? I mean, that’s what this is, right? Something sexual? I clear my throat.
“So, um… about spicing things up?” With the clacking of her heels, Tatum slowly approaches me, towering over my petite frame.
God, she–she's just so…
I swallow thickly when she doesn’t respond. “How does this… I mean, how will, um–?”
Tatum begins to laugh, gently cupping my cheek in her hand. “You getting so flustered is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.” With her other hand, she rakes her nails through my hair.
My eyes flutter close, relishing her intimate touch.
God, it’s been so long.
“Just relax, doll,” she purrs.
And without warning, she captures my hungry lips, but in a way my body isn’t used to. It feels soft, sweet… even somewhat innocent, caring, as if she doesn’t want to hurt me. But the pull of her mouth teases me, coaxing my lips apart as the flick of her tongue sweeps inside to tickle my own.
Oh, this. This is so…
A quiet moan escapes from me as Tatum grabs my hips. She giggles against my supple pout, continuing to kiss me with fervor. Harder. Faster.
She walks me backwards, pushing my body against the cool brick. Pulling out of our kiss, she stares into my eyes. There’s an intensity there I’ve never seen, never experienced before in my life. And I’m terrified. And thrilled. And…
Just touch me again…
She gently strokes my flushed cheek with the back of her fingers before caressing my neck.
Then my breasts.
“Are you sure you want to spice things up, doll?” She pants.
I feel my chest rising and falling in pace with her breathing. I’ve never felt so intune with someone in all my life–let alone, a woman.
My eyes flicker to her beautiful, feral mouth. God, I need it on me…
And with the nod of my head, she unbuttons my jeans before dropping to her knees.
—-----
It's just past 9AM Monday morning, and I'm already on my third cup of coffee. No doubt I'll have jitters later, but after being exhausted in the most heavenly way possible, it's so worth it.
Ethan didn't say anything last night. Or this morning.
Oh God, was that cheating?
Shit. I didn't think this through…
But it was with a woman. And I'm not… well, at least I don't think I am…
It doesn't count, right?
But, damn, it was good.
I round through the department, checking on my fresh batch of interns, mulling around, glued to their pocket diagnostics guides.
Oh, to be young again…
As I turn the corner to enter the charting station, I suddenly freeze, recognizing a familiar tall blonde.
In a white coat.
What the…? Tatum?
Even under the fluorescent lights, her platinum highlights perfectly shine, her waves bouncing effortless on her shoulders. Her scarlet wrap dress hugs her curves beautifully, and her patent-leather nude pumps show off her toned calves, those thick thighs, and–
Tatum clears her throat.
Shit.
As Tatum goes back to looking at her charts, I slowly saunter up bedside her.
What do I even say? Just be cool…
“Morning, Tatum,” I smile.
She squints her eyes, giving me a cordial smile.
“Uh, hi,” she stutters, her face contorting. “Do I know you?”
~🖤~
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It's probably about the whole situation surrounding Ethan.
Yeah, I just took a little deep dive into the fandom and saw all the posts about Ethan and his sexuality.
To be honest, I'm so fucking tired of seeing people who play the story one way think their way is the correct way and everyone else is wrong. It's called CHOICES for a reason. Each player can make their own choices regarding the story. There's no "right" story that is the be all, end all. And to be honest, it absolutely REEKS of biphobia.
My guess is that the person who got all pissed off about it plays as a female MC and strictly romances male LIs, so they all think every single love interest in any choices story is straight. However, you also have to consider that if you play with a male MC, then a lot of your "straight" male LIs skew to being bisexual, at the very least.
Me personally, I've always considered every love interest in any GOC MC story to be canonically at least bisexual unless shown otherwise. So yes, in my opinion, Ethan is at least canonically bisexual, as is Bryce, Rafael, and Jackie. Because not only do you have to count for the fact that people may play as a female MC, but that people will also play as a male MC. So how could they be straight if you can have a male MC and are able to romance a male LI? It makes no sense...
I would say I'm surprised that this is even being considered a heated topic of discussion, but considering the fact the same fandom defended PB's original decision of killing off Rafael (A POC) so that they could have more Ethan scenes and said everyone who wanted Rafael back ruined the series (im not joking, they have and a lot of them still continue to retort that rhetoric), I'm not surprised the fandom is falling back into a raging dumpster fire...
#anons#open heart#choices open heart#open heart fandom wilding again#ethan ramsey#choices ethan ramsey#im over this fandom
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A Novel Concept
Ethan Ramsey is in the dog house. It's apparently clear, and his buddy, Tobias, comes in with an assist. But will his advice help or hurt Ethan's chances of getting back in Kaycee's good graces?
Book: Open Heart
Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x Kaycee MacClennan (F!MC)
Characters: Tobias Carrick
Rating: Teen
Words: 1,778
A/N: Thank you, Nonny, for this ask from the @choicesaprilchallenge24 prompt “A picnic?! Have you swallowed a romance novel?”" It went a little longer than a drabble, I hope you don't mind! (Didn't have much time to edit... so hope it's all good!)
My Masterlist
The tension in the Diagnostic Team Office was almost palpable. So palpable that Harper retreated to her office nearly an hour before. But Tobias was braver than that – or just stupid; the jury was still out.
He remained behind, his eyes darting up from his laptop every time Ethan mumbled under his breath or Kaycee let out an exaggerated sigh. Both of them assumed Tobias was doing research on their recently admitted patient, blissfully unaware of the missive he was typing, all about professionalism in the workplace and why it’s ill-advised to date your colleagues. He’d shoot that to them in an e-mail once he was sure they were in better moods. But the truth was, Tobias Carrick was nosy and was not about to leave before he got the tea. And there had to be tea!
Tobias was in on the secret, but to most, Ethan and Kaycee were the worst-kept secret in Edenbrook. On a typical day, they were all heart eyes and butterflies, but today, they barely acknowledged each other during their morning meeting, and that hadn’t changed since its end. Even Kaycee incessantly tapping her pen against the conference table hadn’t earned any commentary from the stone-faced Dr. Ramsey. Not a single sarcastic comment, endearing remark, or complaint fell from his lips.
Kaycee was the one to finally break the standoff. Standing up with a huff, she pointedly looked at Tobias and announced she was going to make her rounds. With a side-eyed glance at Ethan, she slunk out the door without another word. Tobias waited patiently for his friend to open up... but that never occurred. If the man retained water as much as he did his emotions, he’d be their next patient, not to mention a sideshow act: Edenbrook’s human blowfish! Tobias laughed at the image in his mind, finally requiring his friend to acknowledge his presence.
“Care to share what’s so amusing?” He said after clearing his throat. “Did you finally figure out the knock-knock joke Dr. Lewis told at the conference two weeks ago, or are you imagining what your latest conquest’s reaction will be when she figures out how old you really are?”
Tobias pushed back from the table with a raised brow, “Really? Do you want to go there, Ramsey? Because according to my calculations, Kaycee is about three years younger than my latest... has she figured it out yet?”
Mouth agape, Ethan was eager to change the course of the conversation. “So... what were you laughing at.”
“I was imagining you as a human blowfish.”
“You know what... remind me to never ask you what’s on your mind again. It’s too dark and scary in there.”
“As if you could resist!” Tobias laughed. “But I want to know what’s on your mind. What’s with you and my buddy MacKlennan? You could cut the tension in here with a knife this morning.”
“Nothing is going on,” Ethan said, offering no genuine attempt at being convincing.
“You’re a shitty liar, Ramsey. What did you do?”
Ethan finally looked up from his notebook. “Why do you automatically assume I’m the one to blame?”
“Because you usually are,” Tobias smirked. “Now, what’s going on?”
Ethan took off his glasses, placing them on the table with a sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Kaycee is mad at me because I forgot our six-month anniversary.”
“Man,” Tobias chuckled, “You suck.”
“That’s not the worst part. See, I didn’t forget. But it happened to coincide with me coming off my second double in three days. I was so tired. I truly thought it was still a day away.”
“But that’s understandable, and Kaycee is reasonable. Why would she be so upset with you over that?”
“Probably because I followed up with ‘who celebrates six-month anniversaries anyway? High school students and people who are certain they’ll never hit the year mark.”
“Really?” Tobias glared. “All these years, and still none of my charm and charisma has rubbed off on you? What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t!” Ethan protested. “I was exhausted and cranky.”
“YOU?” Tobias teased.
“I’ve apologized a half-dozen times, but she still barely speaks to me.”
“Well, in fairness, she’s worked a lot this week, too. I doubt either of you are your best selves right now.”
“Thank you, Mother Oprah. Now, do you have any wisdom to help me repair this situation?”
“As a matter of fact, I do, wiseass... but keep talking like that, and you can add me to the list of people barely speaking to you.”
“All right,” Ethan surrendered. “I’ll be nice...how do I fix this?”
“A sincere apology, not the half-assed shit I’m sure you’ve mustered so far... and then you’re going to have to go all out to celebrate your anniversary.”
“I’ve already made reservations at Mistral. I just don’t think she’ll want to join me at this point.”
Tobias waved a dismissive hand. “Anyone can make reservations at Mistral. You need to do something better than that,” he snapped his fingers as an idea came to mind. “A picnic! Show up at her place with a picnic basket filled with her favorite treats, then take her to a pretty, secluded spot... for a small fee, I can share some of my favorite places... you may even have to pick wildflowers for her, buddy.”
“A picnic?” Ethan sneered. “Have you swallowed a romance novel?”
“Fine!” Tobias said, shutting his laptop and rising to his feet. “If you don’t want my advice, figure it out on your own.”
“Wait, wait...” Ethan softened. “I’m sorry, did I mention the sleep deprivation?”
“You did... but face it, we all know you’re still an ass when fully rested.”
“A picnic?” Ethan asked, ignoring him. “Do you really think she’d like that?”
“Chicks, dig that shit,” Tobias insisted, pulling a pen from his lab coat to jot some notes. “Here... these are some very romantic spots within driving distance, and the name of a little gourmet deli in Cambridge that will make a great lunch and pair it with the perfect wine... I can write some of my go-to lines when I need to get out of the dog house if you like?”
“No... no... I’m good. If I’m honest, I don’t think you’ve had a relationship that lasted more than three months in the past decade, so I may need a different approach.”
“Yeah, but that’s not because they didn’t want them to last longer... I think you’re missing out.”
The sound of footsteps approaching caused the men’s heads to turn toward the door, where they saw Kaycee coming down the hall.
“Shh!” Tobias ordered. “She’s back! Here’s your chance.... turn on the charm, bro. I know you’ve got it in you.”
Oblivious to Tobias, Kaycee walked up to Ethan with a look of contrition. “Ethan, we have to talk.”
“No,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I have to talk. I am so sorry for being a jerk. It’s not an excuse, but I’ve been tired and more of a curmudgeon than usual. But of course our six-month anniversary is something to be celebrated. I hope you know how much each day I’m with you means to me, and I hope you’ll let me make it up to you.”
Kaycee let out a breath, and her lips twisted into a tender smile. “I mean, I kind of like the fact that you’re a curmudgeon... just not when it’s aimed directly at me.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, brushing a tendril away from her face. “If you’ll forgive me, I will make it up to you.”
“Oh, will you?” she simpered. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well,” Ethan glanced at silent Tobias, who gave him the thumbs up. “I know this quiet little spot on Spectacle Island. I thought we could go there for a picnic. I’ll get your favorite wine, some baguettes, a nice brie... chocolates for after. Maybe we can pick some flowers before, you know...”
“Really?” she asked, “That’s what you want to do? A picnic?”
“Why? Don’t you like the idea?”
“I do,” Kaycee insisted. “It’s just... it doesn’t sound like you. Did you swallow a romance novel or something?”
Ethan's eyes shoot to Tobias, who bursted into laughter.
“Tobias?” Kaycee said, finally noticing he was in the room.
“I’m sorry! I’m leaving,” he grinned. “But you two need to work whatever you’ve got going on, and do it now... because, I swear, you two... you’re perfect for each other.
Ethan smiled proudly and wrapped an arm around Kaycee’s shoulder as Tobias slunk out of the room. “He’s right, you know... we are.”
“He is,” she blushed. “But be honest... the picnic... that was his idea, not yours. Right?”
“What? Don’t you think I’m capable of planning a romantic date for you?”
“Of course you are! And you have, but did you come up with this idea?”
Ethan leaned back against his desk with a sigh, pulling Kaycee against him. “How did you know?”
“Hon, do you have any idea how many people he’s brought to Spectacle Island? The stories in the hospital are legendary.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously! Nurses...doctors... the new PT assistant in pediatrics.... the communications director....”
“All right,” Ethan laughed. “I get it... so that means we won’t be making a spectacle of ourselves on Spectacle Island?”
“Well, it’s not that I’m opposed – but we can do it our way, not Tobias’s.”
“Then what do you say we go with the evening I had planned for us?”
“Oh?” She asked curiosity piqued. “And what did you have in mind?”
“I was thinking we could get all dressed up,” he said, placing a kiss behind her ear.
“Mmm... go on.”
“Dinner at Mistral?” he offered, brushing her hair away from her neck as his lips traced her newly exposed skin. “Maybe a little dancing after... so I can show you off?”
“Mmmhh,” she sighed. “And then?”
“Then we go back to my place... and we get to take off all those fancy clothes...”
Kaycee pulled back with a playful smile. “To do what, exactly, Dr. Ramsey?”
“Things that will make you forget you were ever mad at me?” he winked.
“Now... how can I resist that. When will you be picking me up?”
“Saturday? Six o’clock?”
“It’s a date,” she beamed. “And Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“You’re pretty good at this romance thing all on your own.”
“Shhh,” he whispered in her ear. “Don’t let that get out. I have a reputation to uphold.”
“I get it,” she said, stepping away and straightening her clothes. She was at the door when she turned with a smile. “We can’t have anyone thinking you swallowed a romance novel.”
~~~~~
@choicesficwriterscreations @choicesaprilchallenge24 @openheartfanfics
Tagging others separately.
#choices fanfic#open heart#open heart fanfic#chocies open heart#open heart choices#ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x f!mc#tobias carrick#playchoices fanfic#choices stories you play#choices#playchoices
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Daddy’s Girl
Premise: A poignant moment between father and daughter after the poison attack.
Book: Open Heart
Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Cassie Valentine); feat. Robert Valentine (OC)
Rating/Category: Teen. Angsty Fluff.
Words: 1,510
A/N: Submission for @choicesjanuary2024 day 16 prompt "relationships". I'm also using @choicesflashfics week 69, prompt 3
Robert Valentine had a plan. He’d graduate from college, sail around the world and then settle down to live out the Valentine legacy of working in the family business. His father also had a plan, and it featured only two of the three items on his list.
Unable to say no to the strict man who’d raised him, Robert gave up his dream of feeling the wind in his hair on the open seas. A chance encounter in Greenwich during summer break from Wharton further altered his plans.
A year later, he was married to a woman who not only shared his love of adventure but actively encouraged his carefree side. Becoming parents hadn’t been part of the plan, at least not so soon after getting married. But fate had other ideas.
As they stared down at the two tiny humans behind the glass of the nursery at Newport Hospital, he gently hooked one arm around Olivia’s waist. The boy was restless while the girl was asleep, their hands lightly touching.
“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Olivia murmured, still tired, her head resting on his shoulder.
Even though they’d known Olivia was carrying multiples, seeing them was a different reality. On top of that, the twins had arrived a month early. They still hadn’t landed on names or completed the nursery in the townhouse they’d bought near his work.
“We should come up with appropriate names,” he said quietly after a while. “Can’t keep calling them Thing One and Thing Two.”
“Imagine the shock on our parents’ faces if we put that on their birth certificates,” Olivia teased, her eyes swimming with laughter.
Robert chuckled, folding his wife in his arms. Being a father would change him; it was inevitable. But he didn’t have to give up his dreams, just adjust them for two more.
Now, all these years later, Robert watched his daughter’s even breathing as she lay sleeping on the hospital bed and wished he could turn back time to when she was a baby, tucked safe and sound in his arms.
The last two days had been harrowing and emotional. The panicked call from his son in the middle of the night, the long flight to Boston from Paris, the uncertainty about Cassie’s condition, and the anger when he and Olivia were denied entrance into the hospital.
But that was all over now, he sighed in relief. His daughter was no longer on death’s door. It would take time, but he’d been assured she would recover. If he thought Cassie wouldn’t be pissed at him for doubting her precious Dr. Ramsey, Robert would’ve whisked her off to the best specialists in the world for a second opinion.
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Cassie’s eyelids fluttering as she slowly awoke. But he heard her whimpers and the sound of sheets rustling. He was out of the chair and by her bedside seconds before her eyes drifted open.
“Hey, kiddo,” Robert smiled softly, taking her hand.
“Daddy?” Cassie said in a confused tone, her voice reed thin and somewhat raspy.
She struggled to sit up, and he placed a steadying hand on her back while pressing a control button on the guardrail to raise the bed’s head. He adjusted the pillow to support her neck and poured a glass of water when she started coughing.
“Better?”
When she nodded, Robert set the glass down on the table. He turned away to drag the visitor’s chair closer to the bed and sat down, covering her hand with his palm. They smiled at each other, matching green eyes.
“You haven’t called me kiddo since I was ten,” she commented, smiling despite the sudden discomfort under her sternum.
The machines she was hooked up to briefly beeped before settling down as the pain subsided. Robert stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
“Old habits,” he said, taking his eyes off the flashing numbers on the monitor. “You haven’t called me Daddy since you and Max decided that word was for babies.”
“Well, I feel weak as a baby right now, so that could be the reason,” she joked, and then tears filled her eyes, dripping down her cheeks. “I was so scared I’d never see you or Mom again. ”
Robert leaned in and wiped the tears away with his fingers, shushing her the way he used to when she was five and had a nightmare.
“When I was in that room, all I could think of was the last time you took us sailing,” she continued in a watery voice. “It was just before I moved to Boston. The fresh ocean breeze tossing my hair, the taste of salt on our lips as water crashed around us. Max cursing as the unruly waves rocked the boat and almost tipped us over. Your laughter booming in the wind. That feeling of truly being alive.”
Leaving the chair, he sat on the side of the bed and folded her into his arms, mindful of the drip lines and wires.
“You are alive, Cassie honey,” he whispered over and over as sobs wracked her body, and she burrowed her face into his chest. “You’re here, safe in my arms.”
Eventually, the storm passed, and he returned to his seat. The comforting silence stretched, broken only by the beeps and hums of the machines.
“Where’s Mom?”
“At the hotel, hopefully getting some rest,” Robert explained. “She barely slept these last couple of days. Max, too. Your brother pretends to be invincible, but he was running on fumes by the time we got here.”
“Maybe if he drank coffee every now and then,” Cassie said with a wry twist of her lips.
Robert shook his head in amusement and chuckled, well familiar with his children’s opposing views on this matter and their needling of each other as a result.
“Have you seen Ethan?”
“Yes, he dropped by an hour ago to check on you,” Robert replied, hiding his disquiet at how Cassie’s eyes locked on the closed door, waiting for the other man to walk in.
He steepled his index fingers under his chin as he sprawled on the chair, stretching his legs out under the bed. “I take it you’re both still hiding your relationship?”
Robert was glad Cassie at least had the good sense to look abashed. He wasn’t happy with the turn of events, but his wife was convinced it was the real deal and they should give the couple space to work it out. Olivia’s instincts were flawless, which was the only reason he exercised restraint.
“What do you think of him?” she asked, her eyes beseeching him to understand. “You didn’t say anything during or after the weekend in Newport. I really want you to like him, Daddy.”
“He’s certainly different from Jackson or anyone else you’ve dated before,” he said neutrally. “Older, reserved, and perhaps a little austere for my carefree daughter.”
“That’s just the side he shows everyone else,” Cassie said, her voice full of conviction. “He’s different when it’s just the two of us. Granted, our relationship is still evolving, but he cares for me, deeply.”
“I know, Cassie,” Robert said, remembering the tender look in the other man’s eyes earlier. “This isn’t up for debate. But as your father, I’m allowed to be concerned. Gossip from a workplace romance is rarely kind to the woman, especially when there’s a power imbalance.”
He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “You still have two years left in your training here. All I ask is that you be careful and protect your reputation if not your heart.”
Before Cassie could respond, there was a perfunctory knock on the door, and then it swung open. Ethan Ramsey crossed the threshold and suddenly stopped, causing the nurse accompanying him to crash into his back, the tray in her hand rattling before she steadied it.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Ethan said, his brows furrowing as if sensing he’d stepped into a quagmire. “We need to draw Dr. Valentine’s blood, check her vitals and run a few tests.”
“Yes, of course,” he said, pushing the chair back and standing up. “I’ll let you get on with it while I grab a coffee and check in on Olivia.”
Robert turned to smile down at Cassie. “Why don’t I get you something to eat?”
“Well, I am feeling a bit peckish,” Cassie mused, a teasing twinkle in her eyes. “Hospital food sucks.”
“I’ll ask the chef at the hotel to whip up your favorites.” Robert leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Be good, and no more heroics.”
He nodded at Ethan, who came to stand across from him on the other side of the bed. He noted the softness in Cassie’s eyes, the concern in Ethan’s and felt like a third wheel.
As Robert left the room, he glanced at the nurse, oblivious to their situation, and hoped Cassie heeded his advice. Ethan seemed decent enough, but if he hurt Cassie…. Well, when it came to his children, all bets were off.
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Submissions: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics
Ethan & Cassie only: @cariantha @custaroonie @youlookappropriate @zealouscanonindeer
#open heart#ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x mc#open heart choices#choices fic writers creations#cfwc fics of the week#open heart fanfics#open heart fanfiction#choices fanfics#choices fanfiction#ethan ramsey x cassie valentine
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Adjusting
Pairings: Ethan Ramsey x Victoria Clarke
Word Count: 1k
Summary: Victoria is back at work, and not everything is the same
Rating: Teen
Category: Angst, Fluff
Victoria sat down in the cafeteria, a whole pizza in front of her. Today was her first day back at work since the Senator attack. She knew she would have to come back eventually but it didn’t seem real that she was finally back, sat in her white coat, helping those who desperately needed it.
She was desperately avoiding the corridor where her room was. She knew all she would see would be herself in that room, terrified of whether she was going to die. The team had a patient in there but Victoria hadn’t met them yet.
Slowly, Victoria ate her lunch. She had opted to go early to avoid the queues but she really avoiding doing as much work with the patient as possible. Instead, she stayed in the teams room, helping devise a treatment plan. It was unlike Victoria to hide away and she knew she was being unprofessional.
A figure sat down in front of her, a handsome but concerned look on his face. “You’re in here early.” Ethan said.
“I wanted to beat the lunchtime queue.” Victoria shrugged.
“So it’s nothing to do with you wanting to avoid the patients room?” Ethan folded his arms, an eyebrow raised.
Victoria sighed. “Am I that obvious?”
“Yes. And I don’t need to tell you that it is also unprofessional. But we’re letting you figure it out on your own. You know you can’t avoid that room forever.” Ethan said.
“I know I just… I can’t go back in there. All I see is myself, struggling to fight for life.”
“Maybe you’ve come back too soon.”
Victoria sighed. “It’s not down to me. Blame the system.”
“You know to take it one step at a time. But I’m saying this as your boss and not as your boyfriend. I would like to see you visit at least once before the end of your shift. And I’m saying this as your boyfriend. I’ll come with you if you want.” Ethan reached across the table and took Victorias hand in his.
“I think this is something I need to do myself. But thank you for the offer.” Victoria smiled. “I will probably come back to the office as quickly as possible.”
“Then I’ll be in the office waiting for you with a hug.” Ethan smiled.
Victoria ate the rest of her pizza, quiet in the presence of Ethan. She knew this would be one of the biggest parts of her recovery to date and the longer she put it off, the harder it would be further down the line.
Today would be the day she faced it. The day she proved to herself how strong she really is.
Victoria took several deep breaths as the elevator doors opened. She was thankful that she was in the lift alone for which she could deal with her emotions by herself and not have to embarrass herself in front of anyone else.
The only sound that could be heard was Victoria’s shoes as she walked slowly down the empty corridor. Victoria loved it like this, an empty corridor where she could consider her thoughts was always better than a crowded one.
She cast her mind back to that day, all she could see from her room was the frantic faces of her colleagues who were rushing about trying desperately to find a cure.
We’re running out of time. What if they don’t make it?
The voices were loud and frantic, panic evident in their voices. Victoria wanted desperately to smash her way through the glass and break free.
Victoria approached the window and saw the patient gazing out the window. Victoria smiled softly at the patient. It seemed surreal to think of the horrors this room saw not that long ago.
With a gentle push, Victoria opened the room door. “Mrs Winston? I’m Doctor Clarke. How are you feeling?”
“Oh much better thank you. I don’t believe we’ve met. Are you one of the doctors working alongside the team?” Mrs Winston smiled.
“I am. I’ve been helping draw up some treatment plans for you. I apologise for not coming to visit you sooner.” Victoria replied.
“I understand dear. I remember reading on the news about the awful events that happened here. I’m glad you’re alive.” She smiled.
“Thank you. And I have no doubt that the team and I will help find out what’s wrong with you soon.” Victoria smiled.
After a while, Victoria left the room, heading back to the diagnostics teams office. She felt lighter on her feet, happier even. She had done it and now it was over, she could look forward even further.
Victoria reached the office and opened the door. Ethan was sat at his desk, paperwork in front of him.
“How did it go?” Ethan stood up and walked over to Victoria.
“Better than I hoped. It wasn’t easy but it’s done now.” Victoria said.
Ethan took her face in his hands. “I am so proud of you. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
Victoria pulled away after a few seconds, resting her forehead against his, eyes closed. “This isn’t easy.”
“It was never going to be. Recovery is slow and sometimes painful.” Ethan pulled her to his chest, running a gentle hand through Victoria’s hair.
“I just don’t like living in uncertainty. I want to know what’s happening and I want to know when. But I know that can’t happen and I should just accept whatever comes my way.” Victoria said.
“You don’t need to rush anything further. It can all go at your own pace.” Ethan smiled.
“What if I’m like this for a long time? What if you don’t want to put up with that?” Victoria asked.
“I will endure anything for you. And I don’t care how long it takes. Your health is number one priority and no matter how long your recovery is, I will be by your side throughout.”
“You’re a really good man you know that?”
Ethan laughed. “So I’ve been told. By all the right people.”
Victoria always knew that coming back to work was never going to be easy. But she knew that as long as she has the right people by her side, she could face anything.
And she had exactly that with Ethan. Her fiercest and most loyal protector.
I made it sad and then I made it happy lol
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Talk is Cheap (2/2)
Book: Open Heart
Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Sawyer Brooks)
Rating: General
Warning: Mentions of pregnancy
Category: AU; Angst (with a happy ending)
Word count: 2.7K
Prompt: What would have been the outcome if Sawyer had discovered that she was pregnant whilst Ethan was in the Amazon?
A/N: The theme song for this fic is “Go Get Her” by Restless Road.
Part One
It took Sawyer two days and ten chewed up fingernails to work up the courage to call. And it took three unanswered calls to realize that her heart wasn’t done breaking.
“Ethan, it’s Sawyer. Please call me as soon as you get this message. I really need to talk to you.”
Ethan listened to the message several times. There were only two possible reasons for her call: something was wrong, or she wanted to talk about them. The only clue he had, her shaky and hesitant voice, was not enough to go on. Worried that weeks of strategic silence and self-inflicted loneliness would be for nothing, he determined that the safest course of action was to call his mentor. Speaking to Naveen would rule out several of the “something wrong” scenarios that were racing through his anxious mind.
Ring, ring. “Hello, Ethan. It has been a while,” Naveen answered. The two hadn’t spoken since the video call that ended with Sawyer darting away from his office in tears.
“Naveen. How are you? How have you been feeling?”
“I’m fine, son.”
“Did you have your check-up with Baz this month?”
“I did. My labs were normal.”
“Good… that’s good… uh, how’s the team?”
“They are managing quite well, and June is taking full advantage of her time at the helm,” Naveen chuckled.
“I don’t doubt it. And the interns? Have they killed anyone while I’ve been away?”
“The interns?” Ethan’s attempt at small talk was already suspicious, but asking about the interns was a dead giveaway. “Or one in particular?” Naveen pressed.
Giving up his pretense, Ethan confessed, “She left me a vague message. I was concerned that something had happened. That one of you might be sick or hurt.”
“I think it’s safe to say she’s hurt, Ethan,” Naveen challenged.
“You know that’s not what I meant. Is she okay? Has there been any more backlash from the trial? Has Nash been harassing her?”
An exasperated Naveen sighed, “I don’t know the reason for her call, Ethan. And even if I did, I would tell you to speak with her yourself. Tell me, how are you planning to work together if you’re not on speaking terms?”
“Our relationship will return to that of a strictly professional one. Working together on your case, sharing that secret… the lines got blurred and I let things go too far. It was the result of heightened stress and frequent exposure to-”
“Bullshit,” Naveen interjected.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. We both know if that’s all it was, you wouldn’t have bothered to call me. You wouldn’t care this much. Now, swallow your pride like that over-priced whiskey you drink and call her.”
<><><><><><><><><><>
The following day, Sawyer stood outside of Naveen’s office. “Hi Danielle, any chance the chief has some free time in the next day or two?”
“Let me check his schedule, Dr. Brooks,” the assistant answered, clicking her computer mouse.
“Sawyer? Is that you out there?” Naveen called from inside his office. “Come on in.”
Sawyer offered a thankful smile to Danielle and then stepped into Naveen’s office, closing the door behind her. “Thanks for giving me a few minutes.”
“I can always spare a few for my grand-mentee.” He gestured to one of the seats in front of his desk. “What’s on your mind, dear?”
Sawyer took a grounding breath, then proceeded. “A lot actually. I, uh…” She paused, nervously biting her bottom lip. Then as if ripping off a Band-Aid, she came right out with it. “What is the policy for taking a leave of absence? And if I did, how would that impact my fellowship?”
Naveen pursed his lips, mentally diagnosing the situation. “Well, that depends on the type of leave being requested.”
Sawyer hung her head for a moment, and when she looked up, her eyes were glassy. “Maternity leave.”
He followed her eyes when they shifted to a picture displayed on the hutch behind him, confirming his suspicion. Naveen hoped that Ethan had taken his advice last night. With a sympathetic air, he leaned forward and folded his hands. "Does he know?"
She shook her head and bit her lips, trying to prevent the spill of tears. “He hasn’t returned my calls," she finally managed.
“I’m so sorry, dear. Is there anything you need? Anything I can do for you?”
Sawyer reached for a tissue. “I just need to know what my options are.”
He nodded.
“And if it comes to it… the process for transferring my residency.”
He couldn’t help the frown on his face. “Of course.” A short while later, with a hug and another offer of support, Naveen said goodbye to Sawyer.
"Danielle, would you mind letting Dr. Cyrus know that I am running a few minutes behind?" Closing his door for privacy, he retrieved his phone from the pocket of his white lab coat.
Later that night, in his tiny studio apartment in Atalaya, Peru, Ethan sat on the edge of the bed and scrolled through his phone contacts. He stared at Sawyer’s profile picture for a long while, gathering the strength to stay firm in his resolve, while also preparing for the worst. If she was sick, he would call in every favor he was owed. If she was moving on with someone new, he would hate it, but wouldn’t interfere with her happiness. If she was quitting… leaving… he would break.
With his thumb hovering over the call button, he was startled when the phone pinged. Tapping on the notification, he read the incoming lines of text and quickly realized that he had not anticipated this scenario.
In her bedroom in her Boston apartment, Sawyer paced back and forth. The word “Read” appeared after the last line of her text message and she anxiously chewed on her thumbnail waiting for any kind of response. Preferably a call, but she would settle for three bouncing dots and a few lines of text. A half hour later, accepting the silence as his response, she powered off her phone and tossed it aside. Curling up in her bed, she cried herself to sleep.
In those same thirty minutes, Ethan stared at the sonogram picture and choked back tears. His knee bounced up and down nervously, carefully considering what to say and do to make things right. When he finally pushed the green call button, he immediately heard her voice on the other end of the line. “Hi there, you’ve reached Sawyer. Leave me a message.” He redialed several more times, but each time it went straight to voicemail. “Dammit!”
Ethan stood and raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. He spun around taking in his humble surroundings, considering his current obligations. “To hell with it.” After calling for a ride, he tossed his phone on the bed and began shoving his belongings into his open suitcase.
An hour later, from the backseat of a taxi, Ethan made another call. “Dr. Stehl, it’s Ethan Ramsey. I’m sorry to do this, but something has come up back home in Boston. A family emergency. I’m on my way to the airport now…”
After twenty-four hours of cramped bus rides and connecting flights, and a quick stop at home to freshen up, Ethan stood outside of Sawyer’s apartment door. Taking a deep, calming breath first, he knocked.
Elijah greeted him a half minute later. “Dr. Ramsey? I didn’t know you were back.”
“Yes, just. Is Sawyer here?”
Elijah moved backward and gestured for him to enter, assuming that Sawyer was already expecting him. It wouldn’t have been the first time she entertained Dr. Ramsey in their apartment, after all. It would also explain why she passed on going to Donahue’s with the other roommates for “Ladies Night” half-priced drinks. “She’s in her room. You remember which one, right?”
Ethan nodded. “Thank you.”
“By the way, I like the beard,” Elijah remarked, closing the door. “Maybe I should try to grow one so my patients won’t think I’m fifteen anymore.”
“Hmph,” Ethan huffed in amusement as he moved deeper into the quiet apartment.
He inhaled and exhaled slowly before gently knocking on the last door at the end of the hall, the door to Sawyer’s room. Though light emanated from underneath the door, there was no answer. He knocked again, and when she still didn’t answer, he carefully turned the doorknob and peeked inside.
Sawyer was fast asleep, hugging a pillow close to her body.
Quietly shutting the door behind him, he softly padded to the side of her bed and carefully sat on the edge. Her laptop lay open behind her. On the screen, an application for residency at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, which made Ethan’s stomach sink.
Odds were she hated him at this point. Despite the risk, he reached out to touch her. Tenderly skimming his fingers along her hairline, he brushed a few loose strands out of the way. “Sawyer,” he quietly said her name. When he repeated it, she finally began to stir and then opened her eyes.
Shocked, she bolted upright and backed away, nearly knocking her laptop to the floor. “W-what are you doing here?” she asked, trying to get her bearings.
“I came to talk. To apologize. To try to make things right.”
“Ethan, I–”
Sensing her distrust, “Please, give me a chance,” he implored. “I know I don’t deserve it, but will you please hear me out?” When she didn’t protest, he continued.
“I have been so selfish, Sawyer. When Naveen appointed you to the diagnostics team, I feared a scandal if people discovered we were together, especially with the ethics trial still fresh in people’s minds. I could never, in good conscience, put you in a position like that. You worked so hard and earned this fellowship. It’s a rare opportunity that I don’t want to get in the way of.” His eyes begged for understanding. “Please believe me when I say this… I want to be with you. So much so that I considered stepping down as team leader. Hell, I even considered resigning from the team altogether.” He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “As much as I care for you, Sawyer, I couldn’t give it up. I have spent my entire career preparing to one day fill Naveen’s shoes. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, until you. But everything between us happened so fast. It was still so new-”
“Ethan, I would never expect you to make that kind of sacrifice. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you did,” Sawyer firmly cut in.
“I know, Rookie, and that’s why I told myself the only way forward was as colleagues, and nothing more.” He made a point of looking her in the eye. “But the problem is we’ve never just been colleagues, have we. There’s always been something more between us. I took advantage of the distance, hoping that if we cut ties for a while, the connection would fade and make it easier to leave what we had in the past.”
Sawyer shook her head in frustration.
“You don’t have to say it. I can probably guess what you’re thinking,” Ethan acknowledged.
“That you’re an idiot?” she quipped.
“Yes, and you’d be right to think so. I had convinced myself it was a solid plan. As long as we still worked together, I would still get to see and talk to my best friend without the constant worry of holding you back or jeopardizing your career.” Sawyer followed when he tipped his head to the laptop screen behind her. “Knowing how badly you wanted to be at Edenbrook, and how hard you fought for the fellowship, I hadn’t considered the possibility that you would leave. When you said you might move back to Arizona, I realized my plan backfired.”
Ethan gave her a moment to process.
“Why didn’t you call or write me back after I told you about the baby?” she demanded an answer.
"I know this will be hard to believe, but I swear I was just about to call you when I got your text. You can blame me for a lot, but you can’t blame me for the sudden shock of learning that I was going to be a father. It took me a while to catch my breath and find my words. When I finally got my shit together, I tried calling. Several times. But I kept getting your voicemail.” Ethan absent-mindedly stretched his hand toward her. “Sawyer, we both know words without action are meaningless. You mean so much to me and-”
“You have a real shitty way of showing it,” she interjected.
"And I'm here now because I want to change that. You deserve better than a phone call, and certainly more than a text message. You, Rookie, have the unnerving ability to read me like an open book. I want you to be able to look into my eyes and see the truth in my words when I tell you how I feel."
Protectively clutching her pillow to her chest, she braced herself. “And how do you feel?”
“About you?” he paused, his eyes darting between hers. “I am hopelessly in love with you, Sawyer Brooks.”
She swallowed, nervously anticipating his next words.
“How do I feel about this baby?” He sighed softly. “I’ll be honest, I never pictured myself settling down or having a family. I’ve spent the last twenty-four hours on buses and planes alone with my thoughts, and they were consumed with the idea of becoming a father. For the first time in my life, Sawyer, I could picture it… a family of my own... but only because you were with me in that dream. And I’m worried that I’ve fucked it all up.”
Overcome with emotion, Sawyer hid her face with her hands and sobbed.
“Sawyer?”
“Arrrrrgh,” she growled into her hands before lowering them. “I’m still furious with you… I’m not sure where we go from here… how to trust that you won’t walk away again.” She wiped her tears away. “But I guess we have a lot to figure out…” she said, her voice cracking, “because despite myself, I’m still in love with you, too.”
A wave of relief washed over Ethan. There was hope, even if the space between them made it feel like they were still on different continents.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, looking her over.
“I’ve had a little morning sickness, but mostly I'm exhausted.” She opened her mouth to say more but stopped herself.
“What is it?”
Her bottom lip quivered when she continued. “I’m scared to death.”
Ethan gently removed the pillow barrier and drew her near. “Come here.” He pressed a kiss to her temple and murmured, "It will be okay."
“You’ve said that before,” she mumbled into his chest.
He pulled back to look her in the eyes. “I’m sorry for letting you down before. I know that it will take time to earn back your trust. But I promise you, Sawyer, I’m here for you… for both of you. You can count on me,” he assured, his fingers twining with hers. “I will be the man... the partner… that you need me to be.”
They held onto each other in comforting silence for several minutes.
“I missed you, Asshole,” she whispered, then lifted her head to really look at him.
Ethan smiled. “I missed you, too, Rookie. Every minute of every day that I was away.”
Sawyer ran her hand over his scruffy beard, then over the soft leather of his jacket. “We’ve got ourselves a brand new Ethan Ramsey,” she assessed.
“This jacket’s been through a lot with me.”
“It suits you.”
Scratching his cheek, “And the beard?”
She studied him for a moment, then with the playful smile that he had missed so terribly, she teased, “You look like a dad.”
Seven months later…
Ethan stared in awe at the carefully wrapped bundle his wife held in her arms. The newborn’s tiny hand wrapped around the tip of his finger. Without letting go, he carefully nestled next to his wife on the hospital bed. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he leaned in and pressed an appreciative kiss to her temple. When he pulled back, she turned to him with a smile, soliciting another kiss but this time on her lips.
“I love you. How are you feeling?” he asked.
Before she could respond, there was a gentle knock on the door. Two older men bearing flowers, balloons, and teddy bears quietly entered. While the silver-haired man exchanged cheek kisses with Sawyer, the dark-haired man in the sweater vest moved to the other side of the bed and placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder.
“Dad. Naveen. Let me introduce you to your grandson,” Ethan announced. “Brooks Winter Ramsey.”
#open heart#open heart choices#open heart fanfic#ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x mc#ethan x mc#ethan x sawyer#choices stories you play#choices open heart#playchoices#choices fic writers creations#cfwc fics of the week
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Vices & Virtues - Ethan Ramsey x MC
Dr. Ramsey's weaknesses don’t disturb his everyday life often, but when they do, a certain intern happens to always be involved.
Book: Open Heart, Intern Year (between Chapters 5 & 6)
Warnings: language, my rusty writing, a truckload of pining
Rating/Category: Teen+ / fluffy angst
Author’s note: [insert the ‘surprise, bitch’ & 'it's been 84 years' reaction GIFs]
I’m eternally grateful for the very few angels still waiting for new E&T content—this one’s for you 🫶🏻 Hope you’ll find a moment to read my word vomit and enjoy the mess (aka my writing). I appreciate every comment and like more than words can convey!
Edenbrook is indigestible on Mondays. Though Ethan Ramsey doesn’t believe in whatever ‘curse’ humankind attributed to an absolutely random day, he cannot deny the madness that usually ensues upon the beginning of each week. An inexplicable air of post-weekend malaise does tend to envelop the globe, and Boston is no lucky exception.
“Mondays suck!”
Striding across the hustly-bustly pediatric ward, Doctor Ramsey overhears an agitated boy explicitly expressing his annoyance.
Ethan’s Monday has been a doozy of a day as well, but he’d rather keep his troubles six feet under, preferably in concrete. Nevertheless, a drop of sympathy implores him to stop near the patient’s room and watch the scene unfold at a safe distance.
The child blows a raspberry at the nurse preparing him for a corridor-long wheelchair ride, clearly upset about the surgery he’s being taken to.
A heavy sigh followed by the unmistakable giggle of a certain copper-haired radiologist interrupts Ethan’s first break during today’s demanding shift.
“It’s not Monday, kid. It’s just your life.” Doctor Herbert whispers into Ethan’s ear, a large cup of raspberry tea in her hand. “But at least it’s going to be all rainbows and candy again in three weeks.”
Meanwhile, the situation has escalated quickly: a river of tears streams down the young Monday-hater's cheeks now, his concerned mother shooting pleading looks between her shuddering offspring and the strict nurse trying to efficiently finish the task so she could move on with her hectic schedule.
A pang of dejection pierces Ethan all of a sudden when a long-forgotten fragment of the past he buried flashes through his mind. Before its splinters reopen old wounds, he swiftly pushes the unwanted memory back to the unexplored depths of his psyche.
“I don’t think he’s heard you.”
“Gee, Doctor Ramsey, share some of that cheerful attitude with the rest of us!” Liz nudges his side, almost spilling her hot beverage on his foot. She mouths an apology, but his unimpressed gaze falls elsewhere.
“You wouldn’t even know what to do with it.”
“Thank God your interns still haven’t caught that grumpiness you’re suffering from.”
“No need to worry, it’s not contagious.�� He gives a dismissive wave of his hand, partially to announce his departure, then continues the journey to his primary destination: the harmonious sanctuary of his private office.
As soon as the elevator door closes behind Ethan, the confined space becomes his temporary resort. He takes a deep breath, rubbing his sunken, aweary eyes to relieve the tension—an aching remnant of the sleepless night. The exhaustion begins to mess with his senses, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary; permanent fatigue has been his steadfast companion for more than a decade of his career as a doctor.
There’s a crack in that orderly, borderline clinical life of his, as big as a closed fist, and he’s slowly beginning to realize its detrimental consequences.
But none of that matters now.
What matters is that his desperate efforts to bend Naveen’s stubbornness weren’t in vain; there’s still hope—a notion Ethan isn’t exactly on board with, but he puts his trust in science, and beyond any doubt science will point him in the right direction. As long as there’s time, he’ll do whatever it takes to save his mentor, his friend. He’s confident he can do it, he’s capable of diagnosing and curing whichever mysterious illness keeps Naveen captive.
He’s the only one who can do it.
A double shot of deep roasted espresso shall help this cause. Or, at the very least, make his Monday slightly more endurable.
Loud metallic thud followed by a streak of bright fluorescent lighting annunciates the arrival. Empty, windowless corridor welcomes his nostrils with the odious mixture of staleness and antiseptic, typical of the office wing on the sixth floor. He operates on autopilot, mindlessly trudging ahead, marginally consoled by the aura of eerie quietude. Blissfully oblivious to what the so-called Manic Monday has prepared for him next.
All his rational thought and peerless logic evaporate into thin air the second his drowsy gaze zooms in on the old waiting room under renovation currently withheld by the recent budget cuts. Within its hoary walls, a familiar sylphlike figure catches his eye, unwittingly staking her claim to his undivided attention.
Ethan’s dire need of coffee has vanished as well; he’s wide awake now.
Smiling to herself, a sense of pride evident in the alluring dimples carved into her cheeks, Doctor Addams arranges a stack of papers atop a massive couch protected by thin plastic sheet.
Ethan acknowledges that he must ignore the tempest raging inside his chest, but he’s unable to focus on anything else other than the energy she exudes, luring him in like a siren’s song.
This isn’t the first time the infamous Doctor Terminator is utterly powerless in the face of her—the most intriguing mystery he’s tempted to unravel for some godforsaken, unfathomable reason.
Everything he knows about Tiffany Addams has been collateral damage from their close proximity and the isolating nature of their work. Against better judgment, Ethan has stored every single crumb of information thrown at him, like it’s a treasure guarded in the vault of his mind, acquiring new pieces and adding them to this clandestine collection.
With certainty, there’s a new element behind that glass wall, ready to be studied in secret.
As though pulled by a magnet, his feet carry him towards the room while Ethan shuffles through a myriad of excuses plausible enough to start a conversation. A good excuse, however, requires an elaborate background story, supported by a carefully planned follow-up—both of which clearly out of his reach at the moment.
Fully aware of the possible disaster awaiting inside, Ethan steps into the room quietly, leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed over his chest. A sophisticated scent of sultry vanilla wrapped with notes of luminous lavender pervades the space, handily smothering the musty odor of the old hospital furniture stored here for at least a year.
Heedless of his presence, Tiffany remains locked in her own bubble. She’s seated on the couch, browsing through a large leather bag with a lot of noise.
Long onyx locks neatly tamed in a sleek bun reveal the exquisitely sculpted contour of her features, its sharp edges so far removed from the overpowering warmth hiding in her sparkling emeralds and tenacious kindness dripping from the corners of her full mouth.
That stark contrast surely must be a part of her allure, he reckons. Not that there’s any evidence at his disposal—he’s her boss, for fuck’s sake. But the set of cardinal rules applying to the situation doesn’t stop him from looking, nor does it dilute the poison seeping from that singular contaminated thought…
Loud, treacherous voice snarls inside his mind like a beast at the gates of his sanity.
This isn’t staring, this is a comprehensive risk assessment.
Regardless of the pretext, watching her feels almost perverse, but he’s too transfixed to listen to his voice of reason hopelessly trying to redirect him to the path of impeccable propriety.
He can’t look away. Can’t move either. She'll notice him…Eventually.
Is that all he’s become? A disappointment, a fraud. One of the best diagnosticians of the generation, the esteemed Dr. Ethan Ramsey is consistently failing to do his job. His own mind appalls him—once the most treasured asset, his pride and joy, now compromised, useless, struggling to cut through the veil of his inappropriate longing.
Perhaps instead of triggering a spiral of destruction, he should address a more pressing matter: why is there a splotch of purple paint on her cheek?
Better late than never, his focus switches from Tiffany to the negligible surroundings. On her left, spread across the polythene-covered couch, lie a couple of ridiculously abstract drawings, colorful and confusing, each of them made with the skill and precision equal to a six-year-old if he has to guess.
Suddenly, it all clicks.
Along with his tongue.
The short clack doesn’t make her flinch, though she straightens immediately, a glimmer of surprise shining in her riveting eyes when she looks up at the intruder and deems him worthy of a smile. Her lush, rosy lips curl up generously, greeting him with a beam so dazzling his body heats up like bare skin kissed by the blazing midday sun in the middle of summer.
The older doctor doesn’t return the cordial gesture—he has a reputation to uphold and his bruised dignity to save. He quickly takes refuge in the shadow of his perfect decorum, dexterously covering the unjustifiable act of treason committed by his very own carnality.
Tiffany, however, is undeterred in her mission to melt his callous indifference with the disarming sincerity of her vivacious spirit.
“Before you drop your sarcastic grenades on me: no, I have not found my true calling elsewhere. I have not been slacking up either. These aren’t even mine, so insulting someone else’s artistic skills would be totally inappropriate.” Her hand waves over the drawings.
“I wouldn’t dare to insult a respected artist and credit you with their art.” He retorts flatly, then spills the aforementioned sarcasm like the Lord intended. “Early Pollock must cost a fortune or two. How come such rare artworks ended up in your possession?”
His comment inspires a peal of infectious laughter; the powerful melody of Tiffany’s unadulterated amusement conquers the room, all but obliterating the chronic sternness of Ethan’s face.
He cannot help but bask in the glory of this unexpected outcome: he’s the reason behind the glorious, velvety sound; she’s laughing because of him.
“You made a pretty solid assumption, Doctor Ramsey, but I have to disappoint you: early Pollock had an affair with surrealism and his style was way more compositional than this.” She points at the glittery mess splashed in the center of one of the pieces, not so subtly suppressing another wave of laughter.
Miss Addams and her irreplaceable wit painfully remind him of the golden rule he often pretends doesn’t concern his giant ego: do not speak on the topics your knowledge of is insufficient.
Lustrous vivid-green eyes fixed on him and the urgency he’s facing at the moment leave him no choice but to quickly shake off the embarrassment and adapt his reaction accordingly.
Reluctantly, Ethan clings to brutal honesty. “I’m not an art connoisseur, so I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.”
“Oh, trust me, you would.”
A smudge of amethyst retrieves the diagnostician’s attention for one split second, demanding a seamless change of topic.
“I presume you spent your lunch break on the pediatric ward again, trying to start a new art movement.”
Doctor Addams gasps theatrically and presses her slender fingers to her mouth, lowering her head slightly. “What gave me away?”
Ethan considers revealing the truth through another shot of bluntly delivered sarcasm (something he would have done in any other case), but his body betrays him, subconsciously drawing near Tiffany.
“Apart from the excited chatter on the second floor? Nothing.” He replies, straining to keep his impeccable composure just as she bites into her lower lip tantalizingly in what appears to be keen anticipation.
A few risky steps later she’s at his arm’s length, and he decides to measure that dangerously short distance; akin to an audience member of some ludicrous soap opera, the diagnostician observes his hand move towards the intern’s face in slow motion, as if that bloody limb wasn’t his and the falsely innocent intention swarming inside his incisive, virtuous mind filled him with repulsion.
Except he wants this. He needs to feel her.
Even though the mere ghost of an idea may bring his demise, he cannot break free, imprisoned by the torturous vision of her vanilla-scented skin gliding smoothly against his.
Much to his bewilderment, her breath quickens just as much as his; the evergreen forest in her eyes bursts into flames when their gazes meet, burning his hesitation down.
She wants this too.
Nothing could convince him to refrain from acting on this forbidden desire now, not a single reasonable thought seems to be charged with a cogent argument.
So he lets his thumb brush down her right cheek, down the lick of wet paint smeared across her warm skin, taking most of the dark purple off the silken canvas along the way.
The sky didn’t tear in half, there was no divine retribution exacted upon a sinner like him, no sign of punishment fit for his appalling misdeed.
“Nothing. At. All.”
Nothing but the silky smoothness of her face, rapid rise and fall of her shapely chest, and fiery heat searing through his veins…
Inevitably, the unbearable tension crackling between them dissipates in a flash when Tiffany snorts at the sight of his acrylic-stained thumb, a soundless ‘fuck’ escapes her mouth as she sprints to find a prompt solution for the paintmergency, stripping him of time to ponder on what the living hell just happened.
He takes advantage of the moment, immediately scolding himself, forcing his thoughts to flee from the crime scene concocted by his newly depraved brain.
“Must be your enviable instinct of an outstanding diagnostician then.” Cheeky as ever, she casts a playful eye over Ethan while rummaging through the drawers, summoning him to focus on her.
Within a long minute, she scuttles back to him, stretched arm offering one of the two pieces of paper towel sprayed with hand sanitizer. They use it to rub the paint off their skin. As soon as they’re done, Ethan quips back. Sort of.
“The balance between mockery and flattery is a bit too delicate to be used in a professional environment, don’t you agree, Addams?”
Unintimidated by the tricky question, Tiffany lifts her shoulder in a half shrug. “It all depends on the intelligence of the person you’re speaking with. You’re ultrawealthy in that department, so I assumed you wouldn’t mind some harmless friendly banter.”
“We’re not friends.” The speed with which he retaliates might have just sealed his fate. Deep down, he doesn’t quite believe those words himself, but there are rules to be followed unconditionally, rules that cannot be broken under any circumstances.
Dark, noble brows accentuating the breadth of her radiance crease together in sheer bewilderment. He can almost hear the scoff she’s choking back when she sees right through the cone-shaped hole in the thick wall separating them.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
“We’re getting there.” She nods vigorously, openly mocking his well-meaning mendacity with lips pursed into a thin line and narrowed eyes surveying him diligently.
„An attending befriending his intern? I can’t see that happening.”
A winning grin lights Tiffany’s features up. „It’s already happening, whether you like it or not.”
The more she pushes forward, infuriatingly so, the more he resists, fortifying his helpless defense.
„Would you be kind enough to explain why on Earth would I let it happen?”
“It’s beyond your control.” She shakes her head. „There’s nothing you can do now.”
He frowns at her, takes her fierce expression in, feigning utter disinterest in the mesmerizing spatter of freckles adorning her glowy skin.
Is the intensity of his glare too revealing? Can there be a flash of ardent curiosity swimming in his eyes and acting up against him?
„You’re awfully confident about all the wrong things, Rookie.”
She mimics the military salute, right hand raised sharply, touching her forehead, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing down. „The colossal pain in your ass reporting for duty, sir.”
This display of her goofiness, derived from the smidgeon of irreverence he’s found himself covertly fond of, successfully penetrates his ruptured facade.
At last, Doctor Terminator’s perpetually grim face blooms with an ear-to-ear smile, so wide and genuine that Tiffany blinks once, twice, most probably questioning whether the exceptionally unusual scene in front of her is real.
The way she gapes at his mouth almost drills a hole in him—she’s that awestruck, like a pious believer who stumbled upon irrefutable evidence confirming the foundation of her faith.
“You should smile more. You…” Her plush lips part when she trails off, then sucks in a breath, as if to stop the profanation of their professional relationship jumping on the tip of her tongue from slipping out recklessly.
She wants this too.
“It suits you.”
Ethan’s cheeks erupt with disgraceful heat, resembling an awkward teenager attracting his crush’s attention for the very first time—the feeling almost as mortifying and inexcusable as the unprecedented lack of any snarky response.
As if the worst was yet to come, Tiffany keeps on staring at him with such exhilarating wonder and sureness he doesn’t quite know how to proceed with such abundance of emotion meddling with his stoic approach.
She wants this too.
For a fleeting moment, the abyss of his solitude shrinks significantly, purple paint filling the crack on the illusory contentment with the life he’s chosen, just as her piercing gaze invites him further into the impossible fantasy.
Then, a jolt of sobering guilt runs along his spine in a rude awakening, at the same time when Tiffany realizes the gravity of her daring statement and its perilous implications.
“I, erm…”
“Uhm, my…”
Ethan smashes the uncharacteristic uneasiness descending on them, a benign half-smile and barely perceptible nod encourage her to continue. “Go on.”
Her gaze flickers towards the hall, a tinge of crimson reddening freckled porcelain. “My break is almost over. I should head back to the ER.”
Hell must have frozen over: his fearless protégée, strong-willed and sharp-tongued at all times, befuddles him with this uncommonly demure armor plate she has put on. The most challenging obstacles and cases fail to break her down, stress and pressure never threaten her admirable strength, and yet there she is—bleeding from her own sword.
This supremely fascinating token of hidden vulnerability sheds new light on the beguiling collection of contradictions making her whole.
He examines the younger doctor pacing around the room as she gathers her belongings up, stuffing her capacious bag with them. Half-way, she spins to address him directly and points at her cheek.
“Am I…Still…?”
“No, you’re alright. The paint is gone.”
“Splendid.”
As she goes forward, assembling her patients’ drawings into a neat pile, and—rather intentionally—ignoring Ethan, he readjusts his tie and dives headfirst into the pool of her discomfort.
“Addams?”
“Hm?”
“You don’t have to dedicate such a vast portion of your free time to helping others.”
She freezes, visibly offended, but still intent on avoiding his gaze. “I know. I want to.”
“What I meant...Is that you need to add yourself to the equation, Tiffany.”
“I’m doing just fine, thank you.” She scoffs, the barely noticeable defensive undertone reverberating in her firm answer not entirely convincing for the diagnostics virtuoso.
His evaluation is disrupted by the abominably loud beeping of Tiffany’s pager. Their eyes finally clash for a brief shootout with no winner before she shuts the damn thing up.
“Well then. See you later, Doctor Ramsey.” She blurts out hastily without giving him a second glance and turns round to rush out of the room, but stops in her tracks near the door.
Something sparks inside that brilliant mind of hers, reigniting her boldness. Dense curtain of long lashes flutters at him over her shoulder, inky-black and luxurious akin to the finest lace, the signature magnetic smile dancing on her lips again—this time infused with genuine concern. She inspects his countenance for a still moment, inch by inch, crease by crease, until her head falls to the side like she has just uncovered his biggest secret.
“Consider locking the door in your office and getting some rest.”
“Giving me advice isn’t included in your job description.” He sneers, the unnecessarily harsh huff of his disapproval concealing the alien sentiment spilling inside his chest.
Somehow it’s still not enough to antagonize her.
Her eyes bore into his audaciously; the gentleness gleaming from elusive emerald green, reminiscent of safety, offers shelter he despairingly seeks, but cannot take. “But it’s nice to have someone watching out for you, isn’t it?”
Somehow they might have more in common than one would think.
Careful not to expose the motley collection of feelings stirring his blood, Ethan draws in a long breath and slips his hands into the pockets of pristine white coat, perfecting his posture, with tense body standing even taller, as though to appear completely unaffected by her undeniable appeal, more unrelenting.
He’s been looked at countless times, yes, but this must be the first instance where he feels truly seen.
It is indeed nice.
The attending doesn’t say a word, for he would have to agree with the intern. She smirks triumphantly, accepting the tacit disbelief etched on his face as conclusive proof of her diagnosis.
Instead of claiming victory through verbal manifestation of her sass, Doctor Addams attacks him using a different weapon: a provocative wink. “Just think about it.”
With a graceful twirl indicating goodbye, his Rookie struts out, leaving a dizzying mist of her divine scent behind.
Wasting no time, Ethan scoots to the exact place where she stood prior to this moment, soaking up the delicious cloud of fragrance, unable to resist sniffing the air like some sort of disgustingly pathetic creep.
Thankfully, there are no witnesses to this particularly revolting descent into madness.
No witnesses to the beginning of his fall.
Mind over heart has never sounded more delusional than now, that his hard-won empire of spotless reason stands on the verge of crumbling. But he’s not giving up—he can’t give up. There’s too much at stake.
Beyond dispute, Ethan Ramsey is not an easy man to defeat. The King of Quiet Desperation wears his broken crown with arrogance, each burnished gem representing his sins, though the ultimate one hasn’t brought him down yet.
Having put the mask of nonchalance back on, Doctor Ramsey turns off the lights and stomps into the empty corridor—his hand still carrying the heavenly softness of Tiffany’s skin like a fingerprint, like a sin, shaky fingers curling at the very thought of the contact—then begins a seemingly casual stroll to his office.
He doesn’t have many vices—she is all of them.
_____
A/N2: Hope you enjoyed this bad boy ❤️ Sorry (not sorry) if it's too long and repetitive...I literally can't shut up when it comes to these two fsksjdkfjs Plus it felt really good to find my writing mojo after such a long time!
PS. If there are any typos and/or mistakes...No, there aren't lol I'm fighting COVID at the moment, so my brain's a little foggy. I had this fic sitting in my drafts and decided to just go with the flow while I'm feverish and can't see any faults sjfskfkjf I'll get back to everyone waiting for a reply when I'm more coherent. Stay safe, lovelies!
#ethan ramsey#open heart#ethan x mc#ethan ramsey x mc#playchoices#fluffy angst#choices open heart#open heart fanfiction
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I posted on IG earlier and it got banned in Russia... Okayyy?
Anyway, real
#choices stories you play#choices#pixelberry#playchoices#choices crimes of passion#ceri rose#choices ceri#trystan thorne#ethan ramsey#tobias carrick#cas harlow#gabe adalhard#blaine hayes#flynn o'malley#ian Kingsley#class of 09#ruby webster
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Hello!
It is canon that Naveen is an unabashed gossip. We also know Ethan is practically his son, and he adores MC. But let's face it, we know those two had to be the source of a lot of gossip.
How do you think Naveen dealt with that?
Sorry this took so long. After the week with Tobias, it took me a little while to get back into "Ethan is going to end up with the MC" mode 🤣 So here's my take on how Naveen would enjoy the gossip going on about two people he cared about.
Rating: G for pure fluff
@hopelessromantic1352 @twinkleallnight @tessa-liam
Masterlist
Tea Time
"Dr. Banerji." Marlene greeted as she sat down across from him.
"Ah, just the nurse I was hoping to see." Naveen set his crossword puzzle book to the side of his tray. "How's your day been?"
"Busy but good." She chuckled. "You should see the new batch of interns in action."
"And how are our second year's holding up?" He prodded.
Marlene rolled her eyes. "I know you really only want to hear about one in particular."
Naveen snorted in amusement. "You caught me. How is Casey doing?"
"She definitely got the toughest intern I've seen in years." Marlene glanced about the nearly empty cafeteria. "I think she's a harder nut to crack than Dr. Mirani."
"Zaid?" Naveen winced. "Poor Casey. But if anyone can get someone to open up, it's definitely her. I've seen her work wonders on the ones you'd least expect."
Marlene nodded while picking through her salad.
"Any other news?" He asked.
"She seems to be holding her own on the diagnostics team." Marlene pointed out. "So far, I've seen each member impressed with her ability to figure out what is wrong with the patients they treat."
"Interesting." Naveen stroked his chin. "I might have to pay a visit and see how things are going myself."
He checked the time. "Looks like my reprieve from paperwork is nearly over."
"There's one more bit of news." Marlene whispered.
The smile on her face let him know she was finally getting to the good stuff.
"Trish was walking past the office when she saw Dr. Valentine in there alone with Dr. Ramsey."
"And?" Naveen leaned forward.
"And she believes they were holding hands under the table while reading through medical files." She explained.
Naveen sat back with a grin. "Holding hands, hmm? Interesting."
He got to his feet and placed his unopened pudding cup on her tray.
"Keep me posted." He said on his way out.
**************
A few weeks later...
"Baz!" Naveen called out. "Good to see you this evening."
The younger doctor turned around with a warm smile. "Naveen. It's good to see you too. How are you feeling?"
"Almost like new." Naveen teased, draping his arm around the man's shoulders. "Tell me how things are going on the team with Ethan in charge."
"They're great!" Baz exclaimed. "We are working like the well oiled machine you created."
"Umhmm." He hummed in approval.
Naveen could care less about that. He knew that Ethan would continue to succeed, never doubted it.
"And how is the newest member settling in?"
"Casey?" Baz's smile grew. "Like she's always been there."
"Really?" Naveen paused with him outside the locker room. "No awkwardness?"
"Not really." Baz stroked his chin in thought. "I mean, her first few days with us she was more quiet than she is now. She started contributing more after she talked to Ethan alone one day."
"Alone, hmm?" Naveen wondered what happened there. "Good. Very good."
He patted the young man on the back. "Glad to hear everything's going as it should."
Baz wished him a good night on his way to get changed.
Humming to himself, Naveen returned to his office. He made sure to take the long way there, pausing outside the glass doors of the diagnostics office.
He stayed somewhat in the shadows as he peered into the dimly lit room. He could see Ethan sitting there on a sofa. A rare smile was upon his face as Casey talked. With the way her hands were gesturing, she was relating a humorous story.
Naveen narrowed his eyes as he studied the man he considered a son. He hadn't seen Ethan that relaxed in quite some time, nor willing to sit there after hours to listen to someone else's story.
And then he saw Ethan reach for Casey's hand. His thumb brushed over her knuckles as the pair directed their attention to their clasped hands.
Casey's expressive face sobered. Ethan said something that made her grimace. Whatever she replied with had him hesitating before shaking his head and releasing her hand.
Naveen could almost feel the longing from here. With a slight frown of his own, he decided to maybe drop a hint or two to Ethan that one shouldn't miss out on life.
***************
A few nights later...
"Ethan, my boy." Naveen rose from the table to shake his hand. "I was just about to order us some appetizers."
"Sorry I'm late. We had a last minute development on that influencer who insists on filming everything."
"Ah. And what is her diagnosis?"
"A tapeworm." Ethan pointed at the menu. "Stay away from the steak tartare."
Naveen chuckled. "Did she film that announcement?"
"She did." Ethan smirked. "And it has been the best part of my day."
Naveen laughed once more.
After they placed their orders, the two began to discuss Edenbrook's financial crisis.
"We have to keep it going." Ethan told him. "After all the work you've done over the years to make the hospital mean something more than--"
Naveen waved his hand in a dismissal fashion.
"Whatever happens, the diagnostic team will have served its purpose."
Ethan sat stunned over his cavalier attitude over what had been a huge milestone of Naveen's entire career.
"When I was dying," Naveen began, "I had a lot of time to reflect on my life."
Ethan quirked an eyebrow in silent question.
"Believe it or not, the creation of Edenbrook's revered diagnostic team didn't even factor into my thoughts."
"What?" Ethan blinked. "What did you think about?"
"All that I'd missed out on." Naveen took a sip of his wine. "Did you know, that when I was a young man that I'd planned on doing a tour of Europe?"
"No."
"I did." Naveen smiled sadly at his wine glass. "I was going to walk through the vineyards, sample the finest wines the world has created, see landmarks I'd only viewed in travel books, and simply soak in the culture."
He sighed, setting his glass down. "I never went."
"That doesn't mean you can't still go." Ethan pointed out.
"It's not the same." Naveen argued. "I'm not the same man I was forty years ago. I can't trek all over the countryside with knees aching from arthritis. I can't look at the world with those wide, young optimistic eyes I once had. I'll see everything through my years of witnessing people be ravaged by disease and self harm."
He eyed Ethan.
"And, I'll be alone. There was a young woman I was dating at the time of my big dreams. She was more than ready to drop everything in her life, like one easily does in their twenties, to spend months with me in Europe."
Naveen turned toward the window their table was near. His eyes grew distant as he tried to capture the image of his lost love's smile. "Carmen was ready to start a life with me. I kept keeping her at a distance. I put off asking her to marry me, believing I needed first to become some great all knowing doctor."
He ran his hand down his face with a slight sigh. "I didn't give her the attention she needed. So, someone else came along who did."
Ethan's brow was furrowed in thought as he listened quietly.
"Don't let my goals become yours." Naveen stressed. "You owe me nothing."
"I disagree." Ethan muttered. "I owe you everything with my career."
"You accomplished it all on your own. I didn't give it to you. You earned every bit of recognition and respect you have from me and your colleagues."
Naveen leaned forward to drive his point home.
"As someone who cares about you like you were my own son, I don't want to see you waste your life on one single endeavor. Find other things, people, places that make you happy. Let them give you warm memories when you are old. Don't end up like me with nothing but regret when you are on your death bed."
Naveen motioned for the waiter to bring him the check. "I want you to have a full life, Ethan."
"I do." Ethan argued.
"I hope you will soon see the truth." Naveen paid the waiter and pushed away from the table. "I better be-"
"What truth?" Ethan got to his feet. "What are you trying to get me to understand?"
"I can't tell you that." Naveen placed a comforting hand on Ethan's shoulder. "That's something every man has to discover for himself."
He gave him an affectionate squeeze then left Ethan alone with his thoughts.
*****************
A few weeks later, Naveen cornered the one doctor he suspected knew more about Ethan and Casey than anyone else.
"Dr. Trinh!" He smiled at her. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good, Dr. Banerji." She slowed her pace to match his. "How are you?"
"Still going which is always a plus at my age." He replied with a wink.
She giggled. "It is at any age."
"True." He glanced at the clock. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"No sir." She grimaced somewhat. "I've been going nonstop since I got here this morning."
"Then as Chief, I insist you take a needed break." He took the folders out of her hands and set them at the nurses station. "Danny, take care of these for Dr. Trinh please."
He then took Sienna's arm and led her towards the elevator.
"But, I should really--"
"Are any of your patients in danger?" He asked.
"No." She replied. "They are all stable."
"Then we aren't arguing about it." He told her. "I'm starving and would like some company this afternoon while I eat. Would you join me for lunch?"
Sienna blinked in surprise. "Of course. Thank you."
"I should be thanking you. You're saving me from people staring at me with curious pity as to why I'm eating alone at a restaurant."
Sienna laughed. "I doubt that's why they are staring. They are probably curious what type of physician you are once they see your white coat."
"Or how that old man ended up alone." He teased. "Allow me my dramatics, Dr. Trinh. It's one of my few enjoyments in life."
"Then I guess I'll have to humor you." She said with another laugh.
"I hoped you would."
******************
"Sienna, so you do see what I'm talking about?" Naveen exclaimed. "Why don't they see it?!"
"I don't know!" Sienna dropped her head back in frustration. "They are in love! But Casey won't force Ethan to make a definite decision about them and he keeps saying he can't because of their job."
"I thought I was helping them when I put Casey on the team." Naveen grumbled. "I wanted to reward her brilliant mind with more challenges after discovering what I once thought was my unsolvable illness. I wanted to give Ethan a chance to grow closer to her. I never dreamed that the man I once considered highly intelligent could end up--"
"An idiot?" Sienna slapped a hand over her mouth for insulting Dr. Ramsey in front of the one man she knew adored him.
"Precisely. The biggest idiot, save for my former self, that I've ever seen." Naveen grumbled.
"Can't you talk to him?" Sienna asked. "I know Ethan respects you."
"He does, but Ethan is very stubborn. If he has it in his mind something has to be handled a certain way, there is no swaying him differently."
Sienna placed her fingers at her temples and began to rub in slow circles. Her eyes narrowed at the table top while she tried to find a way around getting her best friend with the man she loved.
"Could you talk to Casey?" Naveen asked.
"I have." Sienna sighed. "A lot. She wants him and is holding out hope he'll finally say they can be together. At this point, I think she'd be willing to keep their relationship a secret. But from what I can tell, Ethan won't do that to her."
"Hmm." Naveen scratched at his chin. "There has to be a way forward for them."
"I know. I want there to be one." Sienna slumped back in her chair. "It can't just stay like this. Something's bound to give and I'm worried it will be nothing but heartache for both of them."
"Me too." Naveen checked the time. "We should probably head back."
Sienna began to dig around in her purse for her wallet.
"Put that away!" He scolded. "This lunch is my treat for you humoring an old man."
"That isn't necessary." Sienna smiled at him. "It was nice eating with you."
"I'm glad you think so." He eyed her for a moment. "Shall we make this a weekly meeting?"
Sienna's eyes lit up. "So we can plan a way forward for a certain pair of doctors?"
Naveen beamed at her. "Sienna, I am very happy I approved of your internship at Edenbrook."
She giggled. "Me too, sir."
*****************
As the weeks went by, Naveen heard more and more snippets of gossip about Ethan and Casey. With Sienna, Marlene, and an unknowing Baz keeping him updated on a weekly basis, he knew that most of what was whispered about by others was true. It seemed the two doctors were becoming a bit more daring in the affectionate touches.
Then the attack happened. Naveen was only able to briefly observe how Ethan was taking the news that Casey had been affected by the maitotoxin. He was forced, as Chief, to handle the panicked staff and removing patients from the floor.
Once he finished, he made his way up there to get an update. After speaking briefly to the group of doctors, he was hopeful to see that Tobias believed he had figured out a way to fight the poison that was doing its best to kill Casey and Rafael. Naveen didn't want to have to make two more phone calls to families to let them know they had lost their loved ones. It had been hard enough with Danny's parents and Bobby's wife.
He glanced around at the physicians working with a speed only the young and desperate possess and noticed one missing. Curious but not wanting to interrupt them anymore than he already had, he slipped quietly out of the room and made his way to the observation window.
He ducked into the shadows when he saw Ethan sitting by Casey's bedside. Ethan's face was nothing but pure torment as he held her hand, watching her as she struggled through tears to say what she regretted in her short life.
Then Ethan admitted how much he regretted all the times he'd pushed her away. Naveen watched as Casey's pale face lit up briefly with happiness as Ethan continued to say he wanted to be with her and that he was done fighting against his feelings.
When Casey said she'd always thought they would be good together, Ethan's surprise was soon replaced with a smile as she pointed out that was the reason she kept bringing up that they should try and make it work.
Naveen felt his heart nearly break when Ethan climbed into bed with Casey, taking her in his arms to hold her while she slept. From this distance one could easily see Ethan's face contorted in a sad sort of anger. Naveen wondered if it was because he finally knew the truth about what he needed in life and yet believed he was about to lose her.
Naveen silently crept away with anxiousness for the coming dawn. He hoped that the next news he heard was that Ethan and Casey had a future.
****************
On the evening of the gala to help raise the needed funds for Edenbrook, Naveen was pleasantly surprised to see Ethan arrive with Casey. He tried to keep his attention on what one of the donors was saying to him, but he found his attention was more focused on keeping tabs on the couple.
Sienna slipped over beside him.
"Mrs. Parker," Naveen said to the donor who was oblivious to his lack of attention, "will you excuse me? I need to speak to Dr. Trinh about two patients of ours."
"Yes, of course." Mrs. Parker smiled at him. "I hope they are doing well."
"They are!" Sienna couldn't contain her excitement. "They've improved more and more these last few weeks."
The elegant lady left them with a congratulations.
Naveen led Sienna off to a less crowded area of the party.
"Well?" He prodded, his own excitement growing with hers. "What happened?"
"So much! I think they have been secretly meeting! Ethan asked her to the gala!' She whispered. "He said it was to represent the diagnostic team, but Casey knew the real reason."
Naveen chuckled. "Of course she did."
"But," Sienna continued, "when he arrived at the apartment to pick her up, Casey introduced him as her date."
"She did? And how did Ethan take that?"
Sienna was practically beaming. "He didn't correct her."
Naveen noticed the couple talking to a possible donor together. They then drifted over to the bar for a drink.
"Sienna, look!" He gestured toward the ones they were gossiping about.
Sienna turned to see Ethan take Casey into his arms, kissing her passionately in front of everyone.
She squealed softly, throwing her arms around Naveen in an excited hug.
He couldn't stop smiling as he returned her hug.
After all, he saw that he would have many, many more delightful gossip sessions about the two people who held special places in his heart.
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Just keep pretending like you don’t care about MC. Don’t worry, we alllllll see it Ethan.
#dr ethan ramsey x mc#ethan x mc#choices ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey#choices#playchoices#open heart#dr. ethan ramsey#choices open heart
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Hii 😍
What if your MC / LI sent the wrong picture to the wrong number? It can be a fun or spicy pic
Wrong Number
Submission to @tobias-carrick-appreciation-week Day 8 : free day and @aprilchallenge : Fun
Hi dear friend! Thank you so much for sending this in and I apologise immensely for being so late. Now coming to your question, ofcourse they have! Like who hasn't done this embarrassing mistake atleast once? Lol. Here I'm going to share a mistake Ethan's never making again. 😂 Hope you like it.
P.S. All texts are from Ethan
Tags Below Break
Perma : @starrystarrytrouble @quixoticdreamer16 @coffeeheartaddict2 @liaromancewriter @tessa-liam @gryffindordaughterofathena @crazy-loca-blog @zahrachoices @bex-la-get @potionsprefect @schnitzelbutterfingers @a-crepusculo @custaroonie @aishwarya26 @jamespotterthefirst
Ethan x Meera : @jerzwriter @wanderingamongthewildflowers @takemyopenheart @mvalentine
+ @tobias-carrick-appreciation-week @aprilchallenge
#pixelberry choices#pixelberry#choices : stories you play#choices the stories you play#choices stories you play#choices stories we play#playchoices#choices#choices ethan ramsey#choices edit#choices edits#open heart#open heart edit#open heart edits#open heart ethan#ethan jonah ramsey x mc#dr. ethan ramsey#ethan freaking ramsey#ethan x mc#ethan ramsey#ethan ramsey x mc#dr. ethan jonah ramsey#ethan jonah ramsey#bryce lahela#dr. bryce lahela#tobias carrick#dr. tobias carrick
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Holiday Cheer 🎄 ❤️ 💚
My loveliest @jerzwriter and @lilyoffandoms, I adore you both so very much! I am grateful to this fandom for bring you both into my life! You both make this fandom a better place by being your amazing selves. Love you both!!!
I hope you enjoy this holiday art of our Open Heart babies by the always lovely, @weetlebeetle!
Holiday Cheer 🎄 ❤️ 💚
Prompts: Christmas: @choicesdecember2023, @choicesficwriterscreations, @choicesholidays, @choicesflashfics (holiday prompt, in bold)
Pairing: Bryce x Olivia , Ethan x Merida (@lilyoffandoms), Tobias x Casey (@jerzwriter)
Book: Open Heart
Word Count: >700
Rating/Warnings: general
Synopsis: Olivia, Merida, and Casey decide to decorate the Diagnostic Office.
The Diagnostic Office buzzed with festive energy as Olivia, Casey, and Merida decorated Ethan's office with holiday cheer. The trio, wearing holiday sweaters and festive headbands, worked diligently, preparing a surprise for their significant others. Boxes of decorations lay scattered across the room. In the center of the space lay a jumbled mess of tangled lights.
Casey grappled with the relentless knots in the string lights, muttering under her breath. The more of the knots she freed, the more the lights seemed to conspire, weaving her into their tangled web.
Merida offered her assistance, teasing her friend playfully. "Making friends with the lights, Casey? Or are they plotting a holiday takeover?"
"They seem a formidable foe," Olivia chimed in, giggling as she watched Casey try to unravel a particularly tangled section.
"Ugh! I feel like neurosurgery would be easier than this," Casey joked, tediously separating the stubbornly intertwined wires.
Olivia added miniature ornaments to the long strands of garlands strewn around the rooms, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I can't wait to see their faces when they walk in." She clapped her hands enthusiastically, unable to contain her excitement.
"Finally!" Casey jumped up, pumping her hands in the air in victory. She quickly gathered the lights, placing them in Olivia's arms. "They're all yours!"
"My pleasure!" Olivia took the lights, holding them up in front of her, deciding on their perfect placement.
A mischievous spark flickered in Casey's eyes as she caught Merida's attention. "Let's add a little extra surprise." She produced a small sprig of mistletoe from her bag.
Merida's brow arched. "Do you and Tobias really need another reason to be all over each other?"
"Oh, it's not for me," Casey teased, winking toward Merida. "I think we can all agree that a certain diagnostician would benefit from letting loose a little bit."
"I'm not sure he'll share your sentiment, but I'm willing to risk it. Who knows, maybe we'll see our own Christmas miracle," Merida retorted.
With stealthy precision, they positioned the mistletoe above the office doorway, chuckling at the playful addition to the festive decor.
The two stood beneath it, making sure it was safely secured, and somewhat out of sight.
Merida's gaze shifted between the decor and Casey. "If this doesn't get Ethan's attention, I'm sure I could find someone else to take advantage of it with?"
Casey shrugged coyly, curious by the prospect, "And, perhaps also even if he does!"
As the three friends finished up, the room transformed into a cozy haven adorned with twinkling lights and festive cheer.
Just then, the door swung open, and Bryce, Ethan, and Tobias entered, greeted by the sight of the dazzlingly decorated office. Their eyes widened in surprise and appreciation, well, at least for two of them.
“It looks like Santa threw up in here," Ethan grumbled.
"It's festive," Tobias quickly defended, admiring the decorations. "You gotta lighten up, Scrooge."
"I wish someone would decorate the O.R. like this," Bryce added gleefully.
"You do realize that none of this is sterile," Ethan interrupted. “So unless you plan to risk your patients lives, you do not wish someone to decorate the O.R.”
"Ignore him," Bryce wrapped his arms around Olivia, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It's beautiful."
Ethan sighed, rubbing the space between his brows. He was truly outnumbered. He always was, but sometimes he had Olivia on his side. Not this time. “...It can stay," he mumbled reluctantly.
"It really wasn't an option," Casey smirked.
Ethan stepped further into his office, but his movements were halted.
"Not so fast—" Merida sauntered forward, pressing Ethan back under the doorway once more. "I believe you owe me a kiss."
"That's a juvenile tradition," he protested.
"Are you refusing? You know that's bad luck."
"You know I don't believe in luck."
Merida shook her head; she wanted to scold him but this was who he was, and she loved him for it. Her fingers flirted with his tie a moment, before she pulled him down to her, her lips crashing against his.
Their embrace was met by whistles and howls from their friends. The pair ignored them, their lingering kiss enduring.
Casey turned to Tobias, her voice soft, "Merry Christmas." Her lips met his tenderly.
Olivia leaned further into Bryce, letting the warmth and comfort of his embrace engulf her as she marveled at the beautiful lights and displays surrounding them.
Their jobs weren't always easy, and sometimes things could seem bleak, but right now, surrounded by their friends and such a cheerful display, everything seemed just right.
#bryce lahela#bryce lahela x mc#tobias carrick x mc#ethan ramsey x mc#tobias carrick#ethan ramsey#bryce oph#bryce lahela x oc#open heart#playchoices#choices#choices game#olivia hadley#bryce x olivia#brylivia#lovealexhunt#oph bryce#fan fiction#open heart fan fic#my commission#brylivia commission#lovealexhuntgetsart#december2023
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My heart in one picture
Some of my favourite "Choices" love interests ever.
Made by the lovely @jennifer.plays.choices (Instagram).
@jeanele ❣ @missameliep ❣ @regencylady1810 ❣ @i-put-the-sin-in-sinclaire @whenyourheartskipsabeat ❣ @xjustin-ethansgirliex ❣ @noesapphic ❣ @gardeningourmet ❣ @paisleylovergirl ❣ @dailydoseofchoices ❣ @rhyssescups ❣ @storyofmychoices ❣ @a-shining-lucky-star ❣ @lorircreates ❣ @lorirwritesfanfic ❣ @walkerduchess ❣@indiacater ❣ @kinkypot ❣ @anotherbeingsworld ❣ @hellooliviaolivia ❣ @pixel-writer19 ❣ @sinclaire-ity ❣ @darknessabovethelite ❣ @brightningstar ❣@ezekielbhandarivalleros ❣ @marlcasters ❣ @bhartigat81 ❣ @lyannacyrill706 ❣ @daddytyrilstarfury ❣ @secretaryunpaid ❣ @allisonreilynn ❣ @fauxleaves ❣ @twinkleallnight ❣ @kingliamrys ❣ @iloveethanramsey ❣ @surewhyynot ❣ @yvettegolx ❣ @itlivesinpixelberry ❣ @chutchoices ❣ @electroniccreatorwerewolf ❣ @spookycolorpeanut ❣ @peonierose ❣ @quixoticdreamer16 ❣ @lilyoffandoms ❣ @tessa-liam
#king liam rys#tyril starfury#ernest sinclaire#ethan ramsey#mark collins#the royal romance#blades of light and shadow#choices desire and decorum#open heart#love hacks
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