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siempre-bucky · 2 years

Text

strawberries

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x fem!Reader

Summary: Jake's in love with the girl across the street, the one who always brings him fresh fruit from her family's farm before every deployment. He finally confesses in the form of a letter.

wc: 3.4k

“Clara, my dear, what do you have for us today?” Jake smoothly asked as he joined the long line of men and women in the mess deck. The older woman looked at the tanned blond and his friend beside him like they were the last people she wanted to see, well at least Jake was. He smirked and twirled his toothpick in his mouth, making her narrow her eyes more in displeasure.

“Same as always boys,” she sighed, dramatically pointing to the array of off-colored food. Jake and Javy grimaced at it, silently questioning if it was edible.

“I got an MRE in my back pocket we can share,” Javy snickered quietly. Jake looked at him and flashed a smile, slapping him backhandedly on the chest.

“You don’t eat my food, you don’t eat at all,” she scolded, waving her dripping red ladle. “There’s a surprise for you.”

Jake’s eyes followed the drops of transparent red until they stopped at a metal tin of strawberries. His eyes softened, his expression falling. This was a rare moment that Jake slipped out of the Hangman persona, Jake Seresin slipped into a memory—a beautiful memory about the girl who lived on the farm across the dusty dirt road.

While the Seresin’s were known for their horses, the Y/L/N’s were known for the fruit grown on their lush farm. You once claimed Jake was only your friend because you brought him and his family the freshest fruit from the harvest. Jake was friends with you because you were one of the only people who could deal it as well as you could take it; you never put up with his shit. It was that and the fact that Jake Seresin was utterly head over heels in love with you.

“We gotta get to the airport man, I’m not looking for a court marshall,” Javy sighed in annoyance from the Seresin’s kitchen table, his cheek resting in his palm. Jake kept pacing the wood floor, checking his watch every ten seconds; she was supposed to be here at 7:30 on the dot. It was 7:32. His mother Augusta and Javy shared a knowing look while his father George rolled his eyes as he took another drink of his bitter black coffee.

“We’ve got time,” Jake shot back, not looking back at them. He’s seen the looks before, he didn’t care for their knowing looks. All that mattered was seeing you before he left for the four-month deployment. A gentle knock on the patio door sent a shock of electricity through him. Jake coughed to compose himself and briskly walked towards the door.

His heart melted the moment he saw you standing there in a yellow sundress, your hands behind your back. His lips formed a smile as he noticed the small silver strawberry pendant on a delicate silver chain around your neck; it was his Christmas gift to you last year. “Hey,” you breathed, voice hitching.

“Hey,” Jake greeted, his tone matching yours.

Javy behind him rolled his eyes.

“I’m sorry I’m late, there was a problem with the watering system,” you explained hurriedly, knowing where Jake had to be.

“You’re not late,” he smiled softly. His green eyes flickered upward to meet your stare, “got somethin’ for me?” he asked, turning on the charm. You rolled your eyes and pushed past him and walked into the kitchen, greeting the three before returning your attention to your friend.

“Here,” you giggled, pushing a small mason jar of freshly cut strawberries towards him. Jake reached out, his fingers brushing yours as he took the jar. “I only gave you a little so you could have it before getting on the plane, and I know your mama likes the jars,” you told him kindly.

All the aviator could do was stare and run his fingers over the satin ribbon you tied around the lid, the little bow in the front made him smile. He noticed that you only had one jar with you this time, normally you brought a small basket for his parents and a small bag of things for Javy if he was with him. You only brought one for Jake and a sudden heat was rushing up his neck. “Gonna miss food like this,” he said, trying to fight off a blush.

“Well, hopefully, your iron stomach will hold up,” you mocked him, recalling how he lied to you while he was at flight school. You asked him if he threw up in the plane and he responded: “No, Y/N, I have an iron stomach.” He didn’t.

He was about to come back at you when Javy stood up, “We really have to go, Jake. I’m sorry.”

You and Jake looked at each other with a mixture of fear and sadness, lips suppressing three little words that were dying to be said. He hugged you tight, “Remember to call, text, email—write.” You added the last bit timidly. Jake never wrote to you while he was at sea, it left you jealous of his mother and sisters, hell even your little sister got a handwritten letter. Jake, you assumed, had his reasons which was why you never pushed.

“I’ll be back to annoy you soon.”

“Jake—Jake—Hangman!”

Jake was broken out of his trance by a harsh jab to his side. He looked around at the room, he was no longer in his kitchen and you were no longer handing him fresh strawberries. “You’re holding up my line,” Clara huffed, slapping a ladle full of the questionable strawberries and hurried them along.

Javy mockingly chuckled all the way to an empty table, ignoring his best friend's death glare as they sat. “You thinking about her?” he asked even though he already knew the answer, his shit-eating grin was enough.

The blond stabbed his fork into one of the strawberries and held it up to inspect it, “They look like shit,” he grumbled, slowly spinning it.

“Well they have been dethawed and frozen about five times,” Javy smirked.

Jake reluctantly popped it into his mouth, forcing himself to chew it. It was nothing like the ones on the farm. Picking them straight from the plant as you and him laid out on a blanket in the field. You let him judge their quality while he got to be spoiled rotten, feeling like a king as you fed him. You stopped instantly when it got to his head, he’d switch roles until the red juice leaked from the corner of your mouth and he had to force himself away from you, covering a blush redder than the berries, his pants suddenly a size too small.

“Gross,” he frowned.

“Have you talked to her?” Javy asked a while later, their meals nearly finished.

"Emailed her the other day, and left a voicemail. The usual," Jake responded plainly.

"Have you written to her?" Javy raised a single brow, the smirk on his plump lips undeniable.

"She doesn't want me to write to her."

"She literally told you to write to her," Javy shot back instantly.

Jake exhaled deeply and looked around the room, trying to avoid his friend's burning glare. His throat suddenly felt like it was going to close and it wasn't from the food. "I can't," he choked.

The other man formed a face. Jake wasn't about to get vulnerable around his team, he still had a reputation to protect. "Can't," Javy echoed with a snicker.

The two scarfed down the remainder of their lunch and Jake closely followed his friend out the doors and back to their room. Jake plopped down on his bed while Javy sat casually at the metal desk in the corner.

"Will the world come to an end if you send her a letter?

It would, because telling you about his day-to-day would just end with him telling you his biggest secret. "Yeah," Jake sighed in response, shrugging his broad shoulders.

Javy laughed, causing Jake to turn his head and look at him with an annoyed face sprawled on his chiseled features. "So you can call, text, email with no problem, but writing her a letter is your demise, Hangman?"

"When I call Y/N I'm in control of what I say even when I miss her. I can erase a text and an email—a letter's more permanent. I can't take it back."

Silence lingered in the small room, gently rocking side to side from the ocean outside its metal walls. Javy stood and opened the desk, noisily putting a piece of paper and a pencil with an unused eraser on top of the surface. Before he left, he gave his best friend a grim reminder: "She's not gonna wait forever, not even for you."

He didn’t know what scared him more, the fact that Javy was right or that he might come home to see you in the arms of another. Jake let it fester, the pit of his stomach only deepening as night fell. The sounds of Coyote’s snores kept him awake, or at least that’s what he told himself.

Jake put his head in his hands as he sat at the desk, the blank piece of paper staring at him as if it was taunting him. Rolling his neck, he finally began to write about his mundane life on the ship and in his jet. ‘I love you’ was screaming in the back of his mind until it became hoarse from trying to capture his attention. “Fuck,” he cursed with a growl in his tone. He flipped the pencil over and aggressively erased the page until there was nothing but metal left in its wake.

He opened the drawer and pulled out a note card, as he wrote the screaming came to a stop. The aviator breathed heavily as he put the pencil down with a small smack; he finally felt relief after so many years of yearning.

—

“What do you have for me today, Dolores?” you hummed as you knelt down in front of one of the cubes, pulling back the pink gingham privacy curtain. The golden-colored hen stared at you with black eyes, her beak ready to peck at your hand “Oh don’t be like that,” you cooed sweetly, maneuvering her to reveal three large brown eggs in the center of the hay.

Dolores clucked and hastily walked out of her room, shaking her tail feathers at you dramatically. “Thank you,” you giggled, placing the warm eggs in your wicker basket that had a blue ribbon weaved through the handle. Jake made fun of you endlessly for it when you told him you had a different basket for each of your tasks: robins egg blue for eggs, red for strawberries, and purple for blueberries. He only stopped after you punched him in the arm hard enough to leave knuckle-sized bruises on his bicep.

You stared down at the bucket full of eggs, eyes mindlessly scanning them. Your thoughts quickly drifted to the aviator as sat on the dusty floor with a fond smile and tears brimming your eyes. You looked around the old barn, remembering how he paraded around, and confidently picked up your favorite hens, spinning them around like dance partners.

“Put my chickens down, Jake,” you’d always huff.

“Fine, fine—you make a better dance partner anyway.” His one-liners echoed in your ears, the thoughts of him only making your heartache worse. You smiled as if you were watching a movie, Jake twirling you around in the center of the barn, kicking up dust and the place would be filled by your and his laughter. It was like he was right there.

“Y/N! Y/N!” Maggie called out as she came to an abrupt stop. She panted and hunched over with one hand on her knee and the other holding white envelopes in the air.

“What are you doin’?” you fought back a laugh, putting your fingers over your lips.

“You got mail!” she exclaimed, waving the letters. A wave of annoyance crashed into you, the mail when Jake was deployed only brought false hope. Never a letter from him, no matter how many hints you dropped before he left.

“I don’t need to consolidate my debt,” you huffed as you stood up, returning your attention to the coop, “and I don’t need to switch car insurances.” You scowled as you reached inside, snatching the eggs from the inside and putting them gruffly in your basket, not caring if they broke.

Maggie looked up with wide eyes, her eyebrows knitting together softly. “But it’s a letter,” she mumbled, her tone weaker.

“Already registered to vote,” you hum in annoyance, “jus’ throw them away Maggie.”

“It’s from Jake.”

You smiled, the barn falling silent, even the hens stayed quiet as if they all knew.

“You sure?” you questioned quietly, turning around while trying to remain composed.

“Lieutenant Jake Seresin. Right on the front,” Maggie read his handwriting as she crossed the room, slapping the letter in your shaky open hand. You looked down and read the words she just spoke for confirmation. The envelope had seen better days, black streaks littered the front as if it was run over a bunch of times, the corners slightly dented.

“Can I- uh, be alone please?” you ask, a clear waver in your tone. Maggie nodded and silently left you be, her fingers crossed behind her back.

As soon as the teen was out of sight, you let out the breath you didn’t realize you were holding in your chest. Jake actually wrote you- oh god he might be hurt, writing from a hospit- no, you thought, instantly clearing your thoughts. Jake would’ve texted or called if he was hurt. Could be a practical joke? Coyote might have put him up to it. He was always the funny one of the duo. You stopped pacing and sat on the stool next to the workbench resting on the side.

You couldn’t tear it open fast enough, the envelope tearing perfectly as your pointer finger dragged through the glued paper. A note card fell into your lap unknowingly as you held up the piece of folded lined paper. You inhaled deeply, your eyes fluttering closed as you said a silent prayer to the universe or whoever would listen to your pleas for his safety. “Alright, asshole, what do you want?” you whispered, opening up his letter.

The words were faded on the paper, but you managed to pick out some consultants and adjectives here and there. You managed to read a couple of sentences about the carrier and how Coyote snores when he sleeps. They weren’t faded from wear, you noticed as your eyes kept frantically scanning. They were erased, Jake wrote all that just to erase it; there were still little fragments of the eraser clinging to the page. “Nice joke, douchebag,” you grumbled angrily.

You crumpled the poor excuse of a letter and tossed it to the ground below you, your hens running to inspect the new object. Looking at your lap, you saw the white notecard. Perhaps one of his friends drew you a jet or something. With a heavy sigh, you flipped it over.

‘I’m in love with you’

The sentence was written dead center in his best handwriting and right below it was a doodle of a strawberry. It looked like he erased the drawing once or twice before he got the perfect shape of the fruit. Your jaw unclenched only to tremble as tears sprung to your eyes. “I love you too,” you whispered, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand.

—

The summer months had flown by, Texas had finally begun to cool down as Jake’s deployment came to its end. Neither you nor Jake mentioned his letter in his correspondence, you wanted to tell him how you felt when he was in front of you and— well, you didn’t know why Jake failed to bring it up.

You sat with your family in the early afternoon, the kitchen buzzing with your mom trying to cook while your father bugged her for samples. “I got it!” Maggie yelped as he heard the front doorbell ring.

“Ears of a dog,” your mother sighed, rolling her eyes from the stove.

You smiled and went back to your phone, scrolling mindlessly. “Y/N, it’s for you!” your sister shouted.

“Is Jake home already?” your father asked.

Your heart began to race, “His plane doesn’t land for another hour,” you answered unsurely. You walked to the door, the nerves in your body only getting stronger as you saw Augusta standing on the front porch.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she greeted you motherly as she pulled you into a hug. She pulled back and held your hands; it was like she knew. “I jus’ came ‘round to see if you wanted to come to the airport with me to pick up the boy.”

A wide smile broke out on your face as you eagerly nodded your head, “I’d like that very much,” you chirped, your heart finally beginning to calm down. You pulled away to step back inside grabbed your bag and took a look in the small mirror that hung near the door. You could see the smiles on your family’s faces in the reflection. “I’ll be back!” you called before slamming the door shut.

—

Jake scanned the occupants as he walked through the airport, his duffle bag hanging off his shoulders. He politely smiled and briefly responded to the older men who praised him and thanked him for his service but kept walking towards the exit. His green eyes were locked on the departures and arrival boards, a common place his family would be whenever they picked him up.

He didn’t see them this time.

He saw you.

He saw you standing in the middle of the room in the red sundress he mocked you for. All he wanted to do now was to tell you it was his favorite. You didn’t see him at first, you were still looking for the tall blond in a khaki uniform. Jake never thought he’d get one of those cliche moments in an airport when all at once the world slowed down with the person of his desire the only thing in focus. He’d never forget the moment when his eyes locked with yours, your searching expression turning gleeful.

“Jake,” you called his name happily to get his attention.

“I didn’t expect to see you till later,” he chuckled, finally putting down his bag.

“Your mom…” you trailed off, motioning towards the coffee shop.

There was a small pause before he stepped closer into your space, his chest nearly touching yours. “Did you?” he asked, trying to keep it vague.

You bashfully looked down, fiddling with your fingers. Jake always noticed your habits, he took your hands in his to get you to stop. “I got the letter…and the note card,” you answered him quietly, not trusting your own voice.

“I meant it.”

Removing your hands, the shakingly reached up finding the lapels of his shirt, fingertips tracing the golden pins at the ends. “Good,” you breathed, “because I love you too. I’m in love with you, Jake.”

That was enough for him to cup your face, bending down to kiss you. It was one of those kisses filled with passion, desire, and longing. A kiss that would make most people turn away and fan themselves. The two of you couldn’t help it, that kiss was years in the making. “Love you,” he mumbled after finally pulling away, his hands cradling your face.

You leaned into his touch and hummed in satisfaction, “Love you too” you responded. “I hate to break up the moment but you should go say hi to your mom.”

Jake pecked at your lips a few more times before reluctantly pulling away from you. Instead of walking toward his mom, he opened up his bag and took out a small cup. “Got these on the layover, they don’t compare to yours, but I wanted to return the favor,” he explained, handing you the cup and kissing your cheek.

Looking down, you lovingly looked at the cup of cut strawberries, a small black Sharpie heart drawn on the center of the tin lid. You looked up to find him hugging his mother, but his beautiful green eyes were looking at you, sending a charming wink your way that instantly made you weak in the knees.

#jake seresin #jake seresin x reader #jake seresin x you #jake seresin x fem!reader #hangman x reader #hangman x you #hangman fanfic #hangman imagine #jake seresin imagine #top gun #top gun maverick

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toskarin · 6 months

Note

Ms Toskarin, if a centaur got pregnant, do you think the fetus would be in the human half or the horse half?

alright fine I'll answer this.

I have to open this by saying I don't like centaurs. they always reminded me of centipedes. there are so many near and dear people in my life who love centaurs very much, and I've been working so hard on getting over my morbid phobia of them, but I still find them disturbing in a similar way to... I already said the centipede thing.

this is going to be an answer that betrays how deeply scary I find the anatomy of a centaur. the thought of touching a centaur's back and feeling how its spine bends makes me shiver like nails on a chalkboard. whenever centaur anatomy comes up, I can't help but imagine being a very distressed surgeon trying to work on a centaur patient who just. won't. stop. bleeding.

they're fine when I don't have to think about their physicality, though, so I kind of hate you for asking me this.

body horror warning implicit. this isn't a fetish thing, but it's going to land on some people's fetishes anyway, so consider that the second warning

let's get this out of the way: I think that a centaur's internal structure isn't just chimeric or anything. that's fine when you're going for fantasy, but there's a good reason fantasy stories rarely contain centaur dissections: a centaur wouldn't look good inside if you invited the audience to cut loose their suspension of disbelief like the sword of damocles directly on top of their internal organs. no good at all.

I'd say the organs are closer to a horse's than a humans, and they extend up seamlessly through the human body. a centaur has two hearts, though. this just makes sense to me. a centaur might also have a strange digestive system, but they'd be more of a ruminant, by my reckoning. they'd have teeth like a ruminant to account for this. do you think they'd have a diastema like a ruminant, too? oh, let's not get ahead of ourselves, actually. I'm wandering away from the question you asked

the human half would not carry a child. human pregnancies are already bad enough for our spine as it is, but can you imagine how much worse it would if a human's hips were forced back such that the weight wouldn't be distributed onto them? and then you have the matter of how disturbingly far the newborn would have to travel before being born. through all of those fucking organs? eugh.

no, it's gotta be the horse half. there's no other way.

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twimshi · 11 months

Text

Shattered Realities Prt.1 (Hobie brown/P!Reader)

ALSO THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT SINCE IVE NEVER WRITTEN LIKE THIS BEFORE.

What happens if someone from our universe where no superheroes exist, falls into the society of superheroes

"She isn't glitching"

She doesn't remember falling until she feels her stomach flip, her eyes flying open with the multitude of colors that blind her vision as she catapulted.

She also dosent remember screaming but she most definitely was.

"Holy shit-" Her arms are flailed and bent in all types of positions trying to possibly slow her descent as she hits the hard pavement.

It doesn't.

She thinks something pops but pays no mind to it because of the crowd forming around her.

Multiple people in a familiar red jumpsuit surround her vision.

She slowly gets up despite the pain in her left shoulder to examine everything around her.

Before she even tries to run away someone shoots something that reminded her of a tazer she saw in a minions movie once, but without the electric shock part, causing her to fall before her hands were stuck together making her fall on her face.

Though the impact alone didn't hurt her elbow sent a jolt of pain across her entire body making her scream in pain.

"Who is she?" One says on a horse.

Oh my god was she on drugs?

"Is she another Spiderman?" Another who looks almost the same as the other's outfit but blue says.

No way she can't be on drugs.

"Why is she here dressed all normal" A talking Lego says.

So many questions were asked before someone pulled her upright by a strong person, he kind of looked like a bear.

She considers the idea of her being on LSD at this very moment.

A really buff one in fact.

Who was also wearing a skin-tight suit?

He summons, well calls some robots to do a scan on her which sends a little shiver down her body.

The machine speaks "Foreign entity, no universe"

This sends the crowd of people into a frenzy, are they people? Probably some weird nerds.

Why are so many lights?

The strong angry teddy looing man manages to calm everyone.

"Who are you?" He says not even introducing himself, what a rude bear she thinks to herself.

So many red people.

Her eyes hurt.

Her shoulder hurts.

She wants to vomit.

Her head lolls to the back, something he recognized making his heart almost drop before going back to interrogation mode "Kid answer- Hey, hey hey don't just fall!"

She vomits and passes out.

".............We can't find out where she's from"

"............Maybe your system is bugged"

"............Maybe your brain is bugged"

Then the door closes when she hears someone complain about them being too loud and hears whoever that was talking stomp out.

She groans waking up, throwing off the blanket that was kindly placed on her, and stretches her arm - was it fixed? "Can you guys keep it down, my head hurts"

"You're awake" The one with The hijabi says, coming toward her "How did you get here?"

"I just fell?"

"Fell?" The girl in twin buns said before retracting her words "I'm Byte by the way, but is that all you remember before you fell? Like can you at least tell us your name so we can narrow down your location?"

"Yeah, it's..." Her heart drops.

Her brain is swirling on itself.

"My name is..."

The two share a look that makes her play with her hair nervously, trying to figure out what was happening.

Her body feels empty all of a sudden.

Sun-spider who has entered the room for nothing other than snooping coughs (who has not introduced herself by name) to try to break whatever nervous silence that was forming "As much as I love suspense, please tell us. I gotta get the ice cream machine working again"

She tries again, this time she's clawing her hair to grasp on anything - but every time she seems to get closer to anything, the memory falls into itself.

A nervous smile exits her lips.

It seems like the static in her head becomes louder and louder.

"I don't know..."

Byte raises a brow in concern, checking her head for injuries while questioning her "What do you mean you don't know?"

"I just can't, I don't remember anything" She says, all of the uncomfortable aura leaving her in an instant like a reset button.

Essentially returning her back to her ditsy self.

But Byte isn't convinced

"Are you sure?" She says moving closer to her and turning on another device to scan her heartbeat in case she was lying.

"Yup" The girl replies her bright mood suddenly lifted, which the others found odd, but she spins her head around "Where is the scary guy?"

"Why are you asking?" Byte says

"Just so I can avoid him, he scares me"

Byte chuckles and turns off her device, grabs the other girl, and shakes her head.

"He uh...A little rough on the edges"

The girl nods suddenly like she gets it "Like a cool brooding backstory?"

"Brooding?"

"Ah you know like usually that's what you describe an angry old person with a backstory that made them all like lonely and sad when originally they were a happy and nice person"

Malala nods trying to understand the girl, but also invested in anything about that is about Miguel.

"I haven't read a book in ages so it's like a character thing" Byte tries.

"Yeah! It's like that..."

"What's wrong?"

"Just remembering something, I used to write fanfiction"

Malala claps her hands seemingly finding it amusing as Byte signals the girl to continue "And?"

The anomaly girl looks slightly confused, what else was she supposed to say? "And that's all"

"That's all you remembered?"

"Yup, I used to write stuff like ship stuff that was a little canon divergent I think? I don't remember-"

Malala jumps onto the girl "Dont say that out loud again"

The girl looks at her and Byte whose expression was similarly as frightened as the Hijabi.

"But it-"

"Remember big Bear man?" The girl nods and lets Byte continue "Well he is rather....what's the word"

Malala awkwardly twidles with her headscarf "...Sensitive"

Byte nods "Yup that word, he's already worked up about you being here. I don't think he is getting much sleep so we need to just ban that word"

"Yup, banzo it" Malala adlibs on top of the girl.

Byte feels a lightbulb appear on her head "Why not we just talk about hobbies to try to get you to remember stuff about yourself so we can narrow your universe's location now?"

The anomaly girl gasps "You want to talk about my hobbies? Wow " She stays silent for a moment before saying "Wait universe?"

Somehow they've only found three things after three hours.

"So we narrowed down your universe with the little information you gave us about...Whale calling noises and the Lorax musical with the deleted song biggering"

"Hey, the noises whales make are cool and doesn't every universe have a deleted Lorax song?"

"Well, a couple but most of them use 'Biggering' in the musical number"

"But that's like the best song ever. Does my universe just suck?"

"Maybe" Byte shakes her head "We're getting sidetracked, is there anything else you remember?"

"Nope. Anyways, back to the Lorax-"

Miguel cusses something inaudible in Spanish when he overhears the conversation and calls Lylla "Did you do a scan on her yet?"

"Already did" He groans and signals her to continue "She showed no signs of memory loss or even anything developing like dementia"

He looks back at the scene, of the glitch he likes to call rambling to Byte about the amazing soundtrack that is 'Biggering'

"Lylla scan possible universes with minimal to no superheroes"

"Gotcha"

Jessica comes back from a mission thinking she can just report to Miguel that her mission went smoothly and go home, she always thinks that "You're telling me you just want to drop the girl to a random universe?"

"Ideally, no. But we need to then yes" He said, catching her up on the situation that happened while she was out.

She watches Miguel pace back and forth "Won't that affect the canon?"

"From the information I gathered from Malala and Byte who are getting along with her just fine. She says that Spiderman is fiction where she's from, from what she remembers at least. There were many but with her knowledge of her musical we managed to narrow down surprisingly three potential universes"

Jess nods at this information and watches the security footage to analyze how she got here in the first place until she notices something abnormal and zooms into the anomaly girl and rewinds the video.

She calls for Miguel and replays the footage, which he replies with "Dont bother I've rewatched that footage and analyzed all the portals"

"Please tell me you at least noticed this"

"Notice what?" Miguel has not had time to take an actual look in the mirror for a couple days due to a new anomaly from earth-1048, a video game anomaly, nothing new, but another headache.

Jess zooms into the anomaly girl for the rest of the footage "She isn't wearing a wrist band"

His eyes widen, she's right.

Since she's arrived here, she has never glitched.

Not even once.

Thats...impossible

"What do we do now" Jess says equally as distraught as him.

Miguel sends a quick text to Byte and gets an immediate reply then looks back at Jess "I don't know either, but Byte is running a few tests on her while she naps with her and I quote 'Enthusiastic consent'. Everyone was so shocked by her being a non-spiderperson and since she never glitched no one noticed"

Miguel takes a very slow exhale to think.

If she wasn't glitching then she can't be an anomaly.

Maybe that was a glitch on its own?

He notices Jessica scanning his face for a response, so he gives her one "Let's just put it to rest for now, since she isn't causing any trouble" He had stayed up monitoring the activity of the universes that involved Spiderman.

She nods her head, seemingly tired out for the day also, before she leaves a question pops up in her mind You said that you narrowed down her universe to three, that's a tight deduction. What musical was it? Hamilton?"

Miguel does not want to say the ridiculous cartoon name but says it anyways "......It was the Lorax"

Jessica almost snorts when she leaves the room leaving him alone.

He might as well get some sleep while he can.

After he knocks out for a thirteen-hour nap, Miguel looks at the anomaly girl and is reluctant on how to call her while she's converting with Malala and Byte so he just barges in and calls out "Girl"

The three girls turn to him with a confused expression.

"The one that's not Spiderman"

They all make an oh noise.

"Webby tie your shoe lasses you might trip" Says Byte.

"You remember your name?" Miguel is almost hopeful.

She placed her hand on her hip "Uhm no? I just named myself Webby since all of you have web designs on you"

Miguel is hopeless.

Anomaly girl- no Webby says with sass with her hands on her hips after poorly tying her shoe lasses like it's a fact that everyone should know but Miguel certainly does not seem to care enough.

He tosses her an empanada from the cafeteria which she catches, he notes her reflex "Eat something now because we're going"

"Goinsh?" She asks while chewing.

"Yes going" He cringes at her and gives her a tissue to wipe her face, she blows her nose instead "Just eat some motion sickness pills before we go"

Webby rolls her eyes but nods at the tall man as he still intimidated her, so she quickly finishes her food and gets some pills before meeting up with Jessica Drew, who had a small bump on her belly.

It was either bloating or that she was pregnant, Webby didn't want to ask but she thinks it was the after when Jessica held her stomach in a cradling motion.

Webby made sure she mentally remembered every single detail about this place so she could never forget it in her brain.

Jess looks at the girl whose eyes were becoming a little bugged out and red from how much she was forcing the open to take in the view.

"You know you can just take a picture right?"

She finally blinked her eyes in pain "Ouch, I would if I had a phone. It might have fallen when I was uh...Falling through the portal"

"I'll make sure we do a full sweep of the place to find it"

The girl's eyes widen and profusely thanks her hand as they walk "Thank you so much"

"Likewise, we can walk slower, just so you can get a good look at everything"

And that's exactly what they did, Webby is sure to talk about this to her friends (If she can remember them) about this.

Something catches her eyes in the distance, it was a boy whose entire border was changing as if he was made out of scrapbooks, his ears adorned with piercings.

As he played the guitar, every new strum seemed to change his color palate.

Webby couldn't help but stare

Jess also couldn't stop staring, mostly because she was telling him that his guitar was untuned.

He yelled back something about consistency and groaned when Jess told him to show the newbies around saying "I'm doing this because I like to see newbies, not because you told me to"

For a split moment, they both retain eye contact before Jess pulls her aside to go to Bytes lab because they needed to go.

Byte, Malala, and Sun Spider share a hug before Miguel calls for her and opens a portal, coincidently what she can assume emo punk was in the room bringing what she can assume is a newbie.

"Hobie what are you doing here, we're kinda busy" He says tiredly.

The guy who she assumed was Hobie just shrugs "You told me to show 'em newbies around, just gotta grab one on these and this-" They all were staring at him "Just imagine that 'm not here"

Miguel ignores him and offers Webby a hand to grab which she accepts reluctantly and waves goodbye to her short-term friends who waved back.

Once they reach the other universe Miguel readjusts his armband and looks for Webby to find her on the ground.

"Don't tell me you got sick again, I told you to take the medicine-"

But he dosent finish his sentence because Webby was glitching.

He wanted to help her up and call Lylla until she let out an excruciating scream like she's been stung by something and cradled her stomach. The pain was travelling all over her body as if she were electrocuted in the rain.

Webby doesn't know what's happening or what to feel other than the pain that surrounds her, she dosent even realize she isn't in control of her body and is slamming herself on the floornofnthe hard roof.

Miguel rushed to open a portal as her body was quickly becoming translucent.

The same type of translucent he's all too familiar with and grabs her to the portal.

She can't bare to open her eyes, her irises were stinging.

It was a bodily reaction, he wasted no time to grab her.

"That was quick-Oh God" Jess frantically calls for help

Webby thinks breathing slowly stabilizes because her body isn't burning , but not relaxing.

"Get the medic, now" Webby thinks the scary bear yells something.

Her eyes close, and finally, her body stops hurting when a mask is placed over her head as the coloured lights she thinks she sees now dissappear as her consciousness.

"What exactly happened out there"

"I.." He rubs his temples "Don't know"

Jess looks over to Webbie's vitals as Byte observes them carefully and Malala watches her from a distance.

Jess hasn't known Webbie for a long time but the gas mask on her face irks her so she tries one more time "Miguel, what happened out there"

"She stopped glitching only when we came back but was glitching hard when she got to the other universe, but not like normal" He looks at Jess's shocked face knowing Miguel spoke from experience as he continued his sentence.

"It was like her body was collapsing into herself"

HI AUTHOR HERE, this isn't my first fanfic but I haven't really written in this type of format (Also I'm bilingual so my English might be not epic) so it might be wonkey (I write mostly self-loathing type of things) I might or might now make this whole thing int a mini series of 6 chapters. ALSO I JUST GOT A JOB?! So if I do make it into a miniseries plz be patient because the 10 hour shift is no joke

#hobie brown x reader #spider man: across the spider verse #hobie brown #miguel o'hara

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angelofd3athandd0gs · 19 hours

Text

The Marauders As Things My Friends/Family And I Have Said Part 2:

Sirius: I wanna start a gang war James: DO IT Remus: DO IT Minnie: HERE'S ALL THE REASONS YOU'RE WRONG Sirius: Annoying over powerful James: *standing in a corner* I have a cramp. So I have to fix it Remus: It looks like you're trying to dissolve into the wall Sirius: Holding up the house? Peter: I thought they were peeing...

Remus: *on his tenth caffeine source of the day* Regulus: Your immune system has gotta be screaming for help James: It's been doing that since they were 5 Remus: It try to kill me first Reggie: TRUE Lily: *talking about Snape* He's nice. James: stops walking He's what? Remus: Why'd you go boom boom and then yay??? Barty:Repeated "no hibbity dibbity" Evan: Beetlejuice BEETLEJUICE

James: FORTHELOVEOFGODLETUSTHROUGH gangnam style to intimidate

Sirius: screams "ring" into a doorway Remus *after catching Jegulus in the commons* : What do you know about the guy your best friend was found with? James: What do you know about the guy you're running around with? Remus: TOO MUCH Barty *during a shared trial with Sirius*: For someone who's son is dead, you don't seem- Sirius: HE'S ACCUSING US

Regulus: I thought I just had a touch of the tism. But NOPE. Depression Sirius: Is there a trojan horse inside my kneecap? Is there like spartans tryna stab their way out? Remus: Wow. Almost every word of that was wrong

Snape: falls asleep James: Put a stick in it Sirius: WE'D HAVE AN IDIOT ON A STICK Remus: Y'know, that's a delicacy in france

Barty: Damn, looks like we're all down with the sickness. Evan: Oh aa-aaa-aa FUCK

Remus: Do you actually need something or are you just being stupid? Sirius: are those the only two options? Sirius: ....Yes James: WHOEVER'S SCREAMING YOUR MOM'S A HOE Remus: I DON'T FUCKING HAVE ONE, YOU TWIT James: chokes Jesus-

Sirius: I feel like I'm high James: i wish I was high Sirius: you wanna get high? James: we could get high? Sirius: we can get high James: Bet Remus: NOBODY'S SMOKING AT SCHOOL WHAT THE FUCK

Regulus: I should probably eat something Pandora: Yeah, but you won't Regulus: I- How would you know? James: How long has it been since you ate anything of substantial value? Regulus: like…… A week maybe a week and a half…. Okay point made-

#remus lupin #hp marauders #marauders era #regulus black #marauders #marauders fandom #the marauders era #dead gay wizards #the marauders #james potter #jegulus #sirius black #barty crouch jr #the slytherin skittles #pandora rosier

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nerdieforpedro · 5 months

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The Long Road to Together

Tommy Miller x Original plus size female character (Velora)

Fanfiction 18+

Masterlist

Warnings: Angst, Fluff, drug addiction mention, pain management, anxiety, PTSD, mentions of death, possible dub con (maybe), body worship, Tommy Miller's dirty talk, fingering, oral sex (female receiving), P in V (practice safe sex everyone), pregnancy kink, domestic fluff, cheesy jokes

Summary: Velora has been apart of the Miller brothers' lives decades. She's particularly close to Tommy. They've shared countless memories with each other over the years and in a single night everything changes. If only they'd get out of their own way.

Notes: So, I put many subjects and themes I've wanted to write about in here. It should make sense, I had the wonderful @musings-of-a-rose beta it for me and as a fellow Tommy fan, I trust her. I did also add a subplot with Joel because, why not try one out? I really enjoyed this and for Tommy's character. I have a different take on him.

Word count: just under 16K (because Tommy's worth it!)

“You got anything for a bad back?”

“Nothing that will actually take care of the pain. Best I can promise you is to dull it. You need to go see a specialist, Joel.”

“That sounds like it’s gonna take time I don’t have. You know I gotta…”

“Yeah, I know. Just let me know what appointments they have and I’ll see what my shifts are like old man. You can’t be folding over when Sarah’s just getting into high school. There will be boys there!”

A slap was heard to Joel’s shoulder and he winced, letting out a curse as he hunched over further at his desk. The stress of running the business by himself was getting to him. Tommy had taken a sabbatical as he called it, the timing had been pretty poor. Thankfully, he had a woman who he considered a little sister to help him out. Her father had been friends with theirs and they always hung out together as children. In middle school, the family moved away for a time, but returned while the Miller brothers were in the middle of high school. Velora had just started high school and looked similar to how she did now, telling dumbass jokes, finding a reason to smack Joel and always being supportive.

He organized the files that he would need for tomorrow and in particular, permits needed for a job the company would be starting on a ranch outside of Austin. Rebuilding a stable wasn’t too out of their depth, Joel just needed to research more on the permits required which he did, but damn if all the reading was making his head hurt even with his glasses on, add his back pain to that and he was miserable. He missed riding horses, but not so much he was willing to risk not being able to move for a few days. Velora had taken over administrative tasks that Tommy normally did as he was better at it and knew how to navigate the different offices they normally had to deal with the state and city, he was also much better at schmoozing suits and the like than his grumpy self. Velora helped out on her days off in between her shifts at the hospital. She sent Joel off for the evening and put away files that the elder Miller brother had taken out for review.

“He’s got to learn to put this stuff back. Otherwise he’s never going to find anything.” Velora griped, she wore gray capri leggings because they were easy to move in and matched her white t-shirt. Usually she would dress a bit better for the office in case Joel brought any clients by, but he had been out most of the day, leaving her to get phone calls, further organize items and files. She was also trying to understand Tommy’s organization system which even though he had explained it over the phone twice, she still didn’t understand. “He’s been gone three weeks, like I get it but also I still don’t get what I’m looking at. It’s not even organized by color, number or alphabet, what the fuck is this?” Her brain hurt trying to work out the system. She thought Tommy had mentioned to her that it was by the date they took the client on, but there was no distinction between finished jobs and complete ones as those were mixed in and with different dates. “I feel like he could tell me five more times and I wouldn’t get it.” Shaking her head, she put the files where she thought they went near the front of the file cabinet and locked up the office, heading out to her car and driving home. Once in front of her small two bedroom, one and a half bath house, she sighed, happy to be home. She had a shift again tomorrow, but hopefully Joel would actually look for an appointment. Icy hot, tiger balm and heat packs could only do so much. Velora understood why Joel didn’t want to go to a pain clinic, he’d have to tell them about his past addiction issues with alcohol and it may affect his treatment plan, hell with some doctors, they just keep recommending tylenol and ibuprofen when that clearly hasn’t been working for him. He needed good pain management.

Kicking off her shoes, Velora flopped back on the couch and started at the ceiling. It was 8:30 at night. Too early to go to bed and too late to start any shows or movies.

“Where are you Tommy Miller?”

Elsewhere in the world…

The grass was crisp under his feet, the sun had just set not too long ago as he walked back down to the rock outcrop overlooking the rolls of green grass he had seen earlier that day. He couldn’t sleep again. The younger Miller brother had been worried about his brother Joel. He knew he didn’t deal too well with people even with Velora helping him. But he would text Joel later and maybe give Velora a call. There was more he needed to discuss with her than anyone else.

It had been seven years. They seemed to have passed by in a blink of an eye. Tommy recalled first joining the US Army, doing his patriotic duty and a way to use up the excess aggression he had from not really knowing where he was going next in life. At first it was fine, basic training then he was assigned to a platoon where he got to know other soldiers. It was when he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division that his optimism started to wear thin. His core group consisted of himself and five other members; they actually made it through Operation desert storm. What he saw there, the things he did, he never spoke about them except with the group and one person removed from the war. But the bodies, the smells, the tastes,, the sounds all of it overloaded everyone. Each man had their own way of dealing with it. One of the group was dishonorably discharged for using heroin he found overseas, but the Army never said what they did with the rest of it after removing it from belongings. He wasn’t the only one they confiscated it from, anyone who had it was dishonorably discharged but it was never made public what happened with the drugs. It was also never mentioned in great detail what they did to the country of Iraq. No one ever mentioned completely decimating and crippling a country, nearly burning it down to its foundation only for the same people who supplied the Army’s weapons and gear to switch profit off of a land that they aided in destroying.

Tommy left the army after seven years of service, thankfully his brother allowed him in the construction company to work so he wouldn’t go completely insane. But his ‘Ironsides’ members weren’t so lucky. One died from an opioid overdose, another from drunk driving and two from suicide by gunshot. None of the funerals were covered fully by the VA, each family only received $1500 toward burial costs, but had full honors with all the pomp and circumstance. The two cousins in their group asked to have their ashes spread to their home which was Ireland, the only reason the veteran came to this place. It was beautiful though he had to admit. He may want to bring Joel and Sarah here, his brother would complain the entire time but he may get a grin out of it and Sarah would enjoy exploring the land. The younger Miller wondered if he should ask Velora to come too, she wasn’t one for the cold, but may like the greenery too. Watching his oldest friend muddle around the hilly terrain would be fun, he could steady her, show her the lakes and watch the sunset with her. Tommy felt he may not have cried as much if his Sweet Pea was here, she could crack a joke or just let him hold her, rock him slowly as his head was on her shoulder.

With two urns, one under each arm, Tommy carefully set one down and opened one, pouring the ashes out to scatter across the cool breeze that was blowing. He did the same with the second urn, waiting until another wind could carry the ashes away. Tommy had taken more time then he told Joel and Velora he would be gone, he didn’t mean to stay longer. It was just easier, he could work though his emotions more and not risk breaking down in front of them, though that had failed with Velora the night he told her he was going to spread that ashes per his brothers-in-arms wishes.

Four weeks ago…

He had mentioned it like he was going to the store. She had asked him to explain and he didn’t. Tommy wasn’t going to until she pulled him into a hug. He didn’t realize it at the time, but tears had been running down his face. He remembered the warmth of her embrace and settled into the couch with her, almost laying on top of her to cuddle. She just ran her fingers through his hair, they didn’t say anything to each other, he tried to make as little noise as possible while sobbing. Her red shirt she had been wearing was soaked with his tears. Velora never mentioned his crying when he followed her to the bedroom and demanded to sleep next to her, promising to only hold her hand. She had smiled and told him it was fine if he needed more from her, to take what he needed. No matter if it had been money, time, food or those three DVDs he never returned, his old friend never complained. Velora would just smile and tell him it was okay. Even when Joel would get pissed with Tommy about the direction the company was going in to missing a game or two of Sarah’s (he really tried not to but sometimes the suits at the city were really long winded and insisted on drinks), Velora would be there in his stead for his niece and tell him play by play as much as she could of the game when she would stop by in the evening. The veteran recalled that the night had been humid, despite the fan running, moisture stuck to their skin. Velora was in her simple thin nightgown and Tommy just wore his boxer-briefs to bed.

Tommy may have took that a few steps too far.

The night began with him holding her hand, that was fine for a time but, then he took her into his arms from behind, drawn to her soft curves that accommodated his taut muscles. The delicate oche tone of her skin glowed within the moonlight. It was when he kissed the back of her neck and his hand went to her breasts that she pulled away from his touch slightly,

“Tommy…don’t play around and go to sleep.” He heard her say, he couldn’t make out the inflection of her voice. His friend’s hips wiggled toward him, his free hand grabbed her hip, pulling it toward him.

“I’m not Sweet Pea. I need to touch you more, just let me, just for tonight.” A growl emerged from his chest, his teeth grazed her shoulder before nipping her lightly. Her gasps encouraged him further, she never said it, but a small smile always came to her lips when Tommy called her that.

“Alright, but just…ah..” Velora wasn’t given a chance to finish her sentence. Her breast was plopped out of her nightgown as his hips grinded into hers. Tommy kept calling her his sweet pea in her ear and she reached a hand back to try and reach his cock, to feel it. “J-Just put a condom on and stick it in…” An order that Tommy wasn’t willing to follow right now, instead he pulled away from her, quickly slipped his boxers off and turned Vel on her back. “W-What are you doing? Why didn’t you just-” The nightgown she had on was over her head, the veteran hovered over her, he knew she would be angry but he would not fuck her the first time. Maybe the second time but not the first. Tommy had already planned other times he may bend her over. He wanted to make love to her in this moment, subsequent encounters could be messy and quick but the younger Miller brother wanted to savor her body as Velora was now, only for him..

“You told me to take what I needed.” His mouth took her erect nipple and large chocolate areola into his mouth, hearing her scream the first time convinced him that this was right. Her hands ran through his then medium length raven hair, tugging on it, his chest pressed into her stomach, sinking in it. The sensation had him grunt onto her nipple, rolling it with his tongue, his legs wrapped around her calf, his length dragging against her leg. Her body continued to writhe under his, his face soon in between her breasts nuzzling the sensitive skin between. Velora was looking down at him, panting, surprise on her face. She hadn’t expected him to fully undress her nor to try to explore her. “Velora,” Tommy paused and peered up at her, “I need all of you, so I’m going to take it all. Are you alright with that Sweet Pea?” He asked, moving upward and settling himself between her wide thighs. He wasn’t going to enter her yet. However, though she did spread her legs for him, Tommy closed her thighs around his waist so he could feel their soft embrace.

“Yes, I told you to take what you need. I didn’t quite expect this way though.” Her digits danced along his bellybutton, then his stomach, not as firm as his military days, but still tight enough to display an ab or two. The pads of her fingers circle his nipples, small but at attention, all for her right now. “You don’t have to be gentle either Tommy. I’m here with you, for you. Just let go.”

“Sweet Pea, I want to be careful with you. You deserve that, always you hear?” Descending, he felt her heartbeat against her chest with his, glad to know he wasn’t the only one feeling like it might burst. “Give me your love Vel.” Lips crashed together, he bit her bottom lip, drawing a sliver of blood. He just said he’d be gentle but it was overwhelming, one of his hands took the back of her head and forced it forward, deepening the kiss, Vel mewled into his mouth and pressed her feet into the mattress to help move her hips forward, she felt the throbbing of Tommy’s cock just above her folds, a hand came between her and the velvet skin. Two fingers parted her lower lips and a squeal was heard when he released her head and it fell on the pillow. “Not yet Vel, gonna eat that dripping pussy.” He meant to use sweet words with her, that’s what she should be hearing, his Sweet Pea. Sliding back down, Tommy hoisted her thighs on his shoulders, giving each a small peck and pulling them so she could only see his hair for a small part of his forehead. When he spoke directly into her mound, he heard her say it,

“Fuck Tommy, make me cum. Sop my pussy up with your mouth!”

The younger Miller brother smacked his lips. “I’m going to have to see how dirty I can get you to talk Sweet Pea.” His nose ran up her slit, taking in her strong scent, he caressed her opening with his plush lips before slipping his tongue inside, rotating his the tip of his oral muscle was causing her cunt to quelch already, he then inserted it centimeter by centimeter , reveling in her screaming his name. His length continued to throb but his goal was to have her climax before entering her. The waves of contractions inside of her canal was constricting his tongue, he longed to have his cock inside of her, to have her continue to cry out his name while he could watch her face unravel. The pressure on the sides of his head increased as her large thighs pressed together in an effort to keep him right where he was, not that Tommy had plans to be anywhere else. His nose tickled her clit and provided a particularly strong clamp down from her. So he set his elbows against the mattress and forced his face against her mound, holding his breath as he used his nose and mouth to make her climax. With alternating curses, calling on the Lord and Tommy’s name, Velora reached her peak, the soldier was able to at least draw his face back a little before suckling on her clit, overloading her body, making it jerk. Tommy managed to inhale deeply, satisfied that his face was soaked with her scent and nectar. He ran two fingers through her cunt and brought them to her mouth. “Suck on them with that loud filthy mouth on yours. Turns out I needed this side of you love.”

Her warm tongue quietly took her own juices from Tommy’s fingers, after they were clean, he got up from the bed and rummaged through his jacket and found a condom. He looked up at Velora who was turned on her side toward him, the easy shine of their affection for one another draped her body. Her curves and stretch marks on full display, ‘she’s mine’ he decided. ‘No one else’s, I’ll make damn sure of it.’ He crouched down next to the bed, meeting her at eye level, “Velora, you’re sure you’re alright with this next part?” He needed to know. They were friends first and foremost and he respected her boundaries, except tonight of course, but he wanted to make sure she was really okay with it. The woman nodded and took his hand in hers.

“Tommy Miller, get in this bed and make love to me. You said you wanted my love. I’m giving it to you. Come to me.” She got up on her knees and held onto the headboard to keep herself from tipping over back onto the bed. “I told you to let go. Just have me. Please.” It was the look she gave him, so permissive and delicate. His arms wrapped around her once more as he kissed her, not deeply just to touch his lips against hers. Their foreheads touched and he met his nose with hers.

“Velora, you’re a hellova woman.” Tommy smirked and laid her back, moving her toward the middle of the bed. He was in between her thighs once again as she opened herself before him. As he rolled the condom on his length, he marveled at her body; wide, tender, subdued and hushed for him, she bit down on her lip to quiet herself, presumably because he had mentioned volume and word choice. Tommy didn’t want her to quiet down now. He wanted her to go hoarse from calling his name, from what he did to her. Leaning forward, he pressed his tip into her folds, releasing himself and using both hands to cup her face, his thick fingers massaging her the top of her jaw, just under her ears, “Look at me Sweet Pea. Open your mouth, I want you to use those lungs.” A short nod from her was all it took, his hips eased forward and back easily for the first few pumps, only going in half way, keeping his eyes locked on hers as she cried out,

“Oh…oh..fuck Tommy, you’re…spreading…me…” Velora whimpered, her thighs began to close again and his hands had to move to keep them open. His rhythm picked up as his elbows made contact with her knees pulling her legs back toward her chest and curling her body for a deeper angle, the pace picked up as he was now diving his cock fully into her flush with her mound and pulling back until only the head of length was inside of her. It was difficult, he could barely speak because her cunt kept sucking back in deeper, the slapping of their skin filled the room. Tommy raised one of her legs and turned his head to bite her calf, then licking it after, tracing his tongue over his teeth marks.

“This pussy is mine Sweet Pea, you won’t fit anyone else Vel. Goddamn you tight as a vice woman…” He murmured into her leg, pounding into her, he felt the pulse of his hardness growing closer to completion. Velora reached for Tommy, her arms stretched outward toward him, he dropped her legs and grabbed her love handles, continuing to roll his hips into hers. His forearms were scratched by her nails, leaving red marks on his olive skin. “Velora, you hear me? This cunt is mine only mine. Say it Sweet Pea.” A command with her pet name. It pushed her over the edge,

“Shit yes, yes yes yes Tommy, my pussy’s just for you. Tommy Ahh!” Her neck flicked back as her walls closed around his heat, he was able to push into her six or seven more times before he released inside of her. The veteran didn’t pull out yet, dropping himself slowly on top of her plush form and ran his nose over her lips that were slightly parted, there was droop at the corner of her mouth, her eyes had tears dotting them, his large hand cupped her cheek against and tipped her face forward so her neck was no longer bent. “T-Tommy…T-Tommy that was…I…” Her quiet words expressed what he couldn’t.

What has he done with his best friend? They’ve crossed a major line. He was worried that when they came out of this, she wouldn’t speak of it, like other insecurities and issues that he had told her about over the years. She never shied away from listening to his thoughts, however intrusive and depressive. But he didn’t want to be this vulnerable with anyone else. Even with other women he dated, there was always a barrier that he put up as far as feelings. They always told him he hid behind his humor and sarcasm. Tommy knew he did, but the one person he was always comfortable with was Velora, was he the same for her? He realized he had never asked, not that she didn’t share her own issues with him, but she didn’t talk about men she dated with him so much. Not that he encouraged it, he never wanted to hear about her dating life, no one would be good enough for his Sweet Pea, was he even good enough for her?

“Valora, rest. I’ll be right back.” A peck from his lips to hers before he slid out of her and got out of the bed. He went to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Looking in the trash can, he scoffed at the loss, ‘should be inside of..’ before he could finish the thought, he cursed himself. Tommy knew he needed to stop, they hadn’t even had a conversation about what they just did, he was thinking about putting his seed inside of her?! “Fuck, I’m insane…” Shaking his head, he grabbed a washcloth out of her bathroom and returned to the bed, Vel had rolled on her side and was attempting to sit at the side of the bed, “Let me clean you up first, take it easy.” he brushed the back of his hand on the copper toned flesh of her hip. He tapped the washcloth on her thigh as she raised her leg and he held it for her, wiping front to back before tossing it on the dresser, knocking over a lotion bottle or two.

“Tommy, why would you throw it?” She asked, chuckling, ‘thank God, she still laughs. That’s good.’ His eyes went from her face to her slit, despite wiping it down it was still glistening, he licked his lips before setting her leg back down and letting her pull on his shoulder to sit up next to him at the bedside. Velora looked forward for a few minutes before speaking again.

“Did you take all you needed lucky beetle?” She kept turned away from him. “Thanks for cleaning me up Tommy. We should head to…” his hand ran up her spine.

“We’re not doing anything until we talk about this. Vel, I…I want to..” She kissed his cheek and told him words that devastated him.

“This should be between us like always. I won’t ask you for anymore. We’re just- just friends. I hope I was able to help you some. We don’t have to talk about it.” The younger Miller brother remained silent as she wobbled to the bathroom to relieve herself, she closed the door. In his disappointment, he quickly threw his clothes on and dressed, leaving her home and hopping into his truck. A deep wail came from Tommy before he started the engine and drove home, he laid awake and slept through his alarm the following day. Within the week he was off to Ireland to distribute the ashes, he said he would be gone for a week, week and a half tops. He was gone for about three weeks.

Velora’s tears streaked her face in her bathroom. She should have told him that yes, she wanted her cunt to be just his. For him to only be with her and no one else, but she couldn’t. She knew how Tommy gets when he’s sad or frustrated by something he can’t control. That’s when he’d normally find a woman to fuck. She’d used it to her advantage, granted she didn’t think it would happen, it never had before. The woman wore the same nightgown she had before, bland panties, they cuddled like they normally did. He liked to be the big spoon. She knew she shouldn’t have given in, but it was Tommy, her Tommy. She’s known him for more than half her life, tried to date other men but they flat out don’t compare or worse, they actually suck. She couldn’t tell him that it was the first time she had sex fully naked and the lights on, that he asked to see her face and took the time to prep her before entering her. God he used the mouth that she dreamed about on her, just thinking about it now…She should have let him finish. But she was afraid he’d say it first…that it should be another thing between friends. The way she heard him hastily dress and run out of her house told her, she had done to him what men had done to her in the past: dismissed his feelings.

In the time he was gone Sweet Pea tried to go on dates, but she couldn’t stand the touch of another man, even from a side hug she flinched. Whoever said the best way to get over a man is by getting under a new one was wrong. She can’t even be near a new one.

Two days before arriving home…

Joel had spoken to Tommy two days before the latter’s flight home, asking what the hell he did to make V go on so many dates. Tommy was curious how his brother knew the information given that he didn’t think they spoke about subjects like that. Joel said that he heard it from Tess, Joel’s off and on again, whatever she was. That was an entire bag of worms he wasn’t getting into. At least his relationship with Velora wasn’t like that…but it could be. They started out as friends and now those two assholes can’t be in the same room without eye-fucking each other or cursing up a storm. Tommy explained that they had a miscommunication when he last spoke to her and that’s why they were unusually curt with each other on the phone. Joel gave it some thought, sure he was closer to forty-five than forty, but nah, Tommy wouldn’t have right? Not with…

“Tommy you didn’t sleep with V did you? Tell me you didn’t.” Tommy could hear Joel’s head droop. Damn him and using the same disappointing voice he uses when Sarah talks a bit too much trash at soccer and makes one of the girls on the other teams cry.

“We sleep over each other’s homes fairly often after we hang out. I told you, it’s just..”

“Goddammit Tommy! You can’t do that shit, especially not to her. You know you can’t cut her out of your life like you do other women. I told you this shit would come back to bite you in your ass like a snake in a hole.” His older brother's condemnation of his actions past and present made Tommy suck his teeth.

“This from the guy who keeps holding on to a woman who only uses him for a few good times and disappears for months at a time. Fuck, she’s one who told me we’re not going to talk about it. Still be friends. What the hell else was I supposed to do? I took some extra time, what’s wrong with that?”

“The difference is I know what my relationship with Tess is, you asshole. You slept with a woman who’s been there for you through all your shit. I know you made it about you. It wasn’t about her at all, was it?”

Silence…his brother had him there. At the time, it hadn’t been about her, he even used the fact that she said he could use her however he wanted to do exactly that. Tommy exhaled.

“Then what the hell am I supposed to do now? I’ve already blown everything to shit. She’s doing the same thing I would, getting out there and meeting some guys. Why’d you have to tell me you asshole? I fuckin’ hate it…she’s out with some bastard who won’t even….”

“Eh, I don’t need details of what ya’ll did. And it’s not really going that well. She told Tess that she freaks out when the guys try to touch her, even holding her hand. It’s all for show, guess trying to prove something to herself. Both of ya are a damn pair.” Joel chuckled on the line, the first time during their conversation. Tommy followed suit and a low rumble of laughter.

“We’re two people who make shitty ass decisions. Just, see if Tess can get her to hold off ‘till I come home. I know her, it’s only making things worse and she’s going to be in head about it. All of it.”

“Yeah, on that same token little brother, get your head out of your ass and talk to the woman. Velora deserves that much at least. You’ll have to get her to listen tho’. I don’t think she’ll be keen on ya right now.”

“Shut up and just pick me up at the airport in a few days. Bring Sarah, I miss my cute niece.”

“Don’t tell me to shut up and then mention my daughter. I shouldn’t bring her just to spite ya. But she wants to ses you too. Loves your stupid ass. I guess you’re a’right at times Tommy. Take care, I gotta go to bed.”

“Lucky you. You can sleep. I’m just awake for no damn reason. You aren’t the worst big brother. See you in a few days.”

The brothers smiled as they ended their calls. Joel trotted upstairs and kissed Sarah goodnight as she was already in bed. She stirred slightly and a smile formed on her face at her father’s warmth. One of the few times Joel didn’t look like he was completely over everything was whenever he gazed upon his daughter, his only light.

It was 3:15 am where Tommy was packing up most of clothes, he had brought a backpack and a duffle bag that was significantly lighter now that the two urns weren’t in it, plus he wouldn’t need to check his bags this time so he might get through their airport quicker and get home. He went out into the cold night air with his coat on, hands in his pockets and hair tied back. The puffs of hot hair leaving his nose made him chuckle, he thought of her again, hoping that she hadn’t had too many dates in his absence but some to make her feel better. He didn’t want them to have gone well of course, but if she has the dates that’s fine. Joel wasn’t wrong, he did need to speak to her when he got back, he just had no clue what to say.

Sorry for fucking you? Sorry for telling you that I don’t want anyone else to see you like this? That I’m especially sorry for not doing this years ago when I first realized that my feelings for you went deeper than that of a friend and maybe sabotaged some of your dates, sent messages from your phone and comforted you when the guys of course stopped communicating with you. Thankfully I only did that a few times before you caught me and told me to just tell you if I thought a guy was trash. I brushed you off because I would tell you they were all trash, but I knew I was garbage too because I was still fucking around, so i couldn’t tell you that. I didn’t have the right. Actually, that might be why you said what you did that night, you knew I didn’t have the right to you. I used you once again and why should I feel like I’m entitled to more? Just because of how you said my name, how you seemed surprised when I wanted to see you and hold you, how good you felt in my arms, how happy I am when I’m in yours…I’ve really screwed the pooch on this one.

The short walk and the cold air gave Tommy pause as he found himself at the same rocky outcrop that he had spread the ashes over. “Had I asked, you would have come with me. I should have just asked…I have to tell you sorry in person, Sweet Pea.” The stars were hanging in the sky, twinkling at the haunted man. He began slowly back to his cabin and was finally able to sleep, there was no one to hold him when he shed his tears that night.

Velora had tears of a different nature, she was able to finally kiss one of her dates, it was a fair kiss, definitely not like her one with Tommy. She compared him with everyone now that she had a taste of him. Her date suggested that they go back to his place to which she declined, there was no spark, no longing, no anticipation. The man was good looking, could put sentences together, paid for dinner, seemed nice, no real reason to not try him out except he wasn’t Tommy Miller. He didn’t have his dark hair, deep brown eyes, that goofy looking mustache that tickled her tummy, his cinnamon skin or velvet voice. This man was none of those things and it wasn’t his fault. It was hers for agreeing to this date. Vel’s friends were proud of her for getting out there and exploring her options, but she was going through the motions, no matter if it was work, helping out Joel and Sarah or just moping at home, it was all hollow. The man walked her to her car, to which she thanked him for the date and drove home.

Once home, she hopped in the shower and wash the date away, scrubbing her inner thighs especially as he had tried to finger under the table, but seemed to have difficulty navigating her large thighs, she couldn’t tell if he just hadn’t been with a larger woman or was out of practice in general. Velora got out of the shower, dried off and brushed her teeth, using extra mouthwash, she didn’t want to taste that man at all.

Sitting on the bed, she looked at herself in the mirror, wrapped in her towel. This was the room she was taken by Tommy or more apt, she offered herself to him. Happily. The circles under her eyes were darker and she chuckled, it’s not the first time she had cried over Tommy Miller, but it was usually because he had done something stupid and not the other way around. It was enough to keep that man in a place that would freeze a witch’s tit an extra week and a half.

He may have told me that he wanted to be friends with benefits or maybe that he actually had feelings for me, but I didn’t let him talk. These men aren’t Tommy and it’s not their fault. I should have told him years ago but I didn’t want to lose him as a friend. Tommy, Joel and Sarah are family and I just couldn't…I still may lose them anyway. I shouldn’t have told Tess why I was crying and dating. She likely told Joel and…would he know? Is that why Tommy hasn’t come back yet? My head hurts. I feel like shit. Tommy’s the only one that looked at me like that, he touched me from head to toe and told me that I was only his. It was likely just dirty talk but still, it was nice to hear. Pfft, just nice? It was what I’ve always wanted to hear. I just didn’t want to be second anymore…Second to his grief, to his anger, pain and second to whoever the flavor of the month was. I’m tired of being second, I want to be first.

Vel laid across her bed and started at the ceiling, her tears were steady and she gave up trying to wipe them away. She woke up the next morning with a stuffy nose from not covering herself properly before sleeping.

“Fuck, even my nose is tired of my shit…”

The day Tommy gets home…

Tommy arrived at the airport around seven in the evening, he was almost home. He had called Joel to pick him up, the uncle was excited to see his little niece as his brother said he would bring her. Normally he would call Vel but he couldn’t see her yet. Sarah and Joel greeted him warmly in the drop off area and helped him lay his bags in the truck. The brother chatted about how business had been and Sarah chimed in about soccer and school. The bright young teen did have something important to share.

“So Dad, we’re going to have pizza tonight right? Since Uncle Tommy’s back.”

“Yeah pumpkin I told you we would.” Joel sounded puzzled, unsure why his daughter was confirming plans they had already discussed. Tommy did not like the sound of this, it’s never good if Joel is surprised. He knew his brother stayed prepared.

“I invited Aunt V to eat pizza with us, you got three pizzas right?” Tommy glared at Joel who kept his eyes on the road. His daughter may be in cahoots with Tess, which surprised him because he didn’t think Sarah liked the woman. He foresaw major issues going forward.

“I ordered three because I thought it was going to be the four of us. You didn’t mention Vel.” The older Miller brother said slowly, he needed Tommy to know this was not his idea, and frankly he didn’t want the clusterfuck this was going to be, to be in his house.

“Well, Aunt V has been kinda down lately, hasn’t she Uncle Tommy?” Sarah leaned forward in her seat and patted Tommy's shoulder. He couldn’t lie to his only niece, but he also was not going to speak about his love life to a fourteen year old.

“I’ve been away Peanut so I wouldn’t know. Has she now? We should cheer her up.” Tommy bit his lips, and rocked forward, Joel knew those motions were, he was self-soothing. He was so pissed, but couldn’t say anything because he would sooner die then show Sarah anything other than her sweet uncle. Joel knew this was going to be a problem when they were alone.

“Baby girl, you are so loved.” is all Joel managed to say before cutting on the radio.

Tess was at Joel’s house paying the pizza man and Velora was sitting on the couch. Tess was humming, this woman they all maybe saw three months total out of the year. It was weird, but Joel loved it so Vel figured she would just keep her trap shut. She shouldn’t speak about anyone’s relationship since she had mucked hers up with Tommy. Though a part of her wanted to look nice for him, so she ended up pinning her hair up, exposing her neck and wearing an olive green three-fourth sleeve shirt dress, she also may have left the top button open so she had a bit of cleavage showing but not too much. Sarah was going to be there after all. Vel also made sure to put on her favorite lotion from Bath & Body Works, ‘into the night.’ Maybe she was hoping for something to happen, at the very least, she wanted to be able to talk to him, likely not about the last time they saw each other but at least be civil.

The door opened and Sarah burst in, hugging Vel and snuggling into her, commenting on how good she smelled, Joel carried a bag of Tommy’s and hugged Tess, giving her a kiss on the cheek. That’s when Vel lost her breath, Tommy Miller strode through the doorway and set his backpack on the floor, nodding toward Tess. His eyes met Vel’s and he went to speak as she did , but nothing came from either of them. It looked like Sarah was going to say something but Joel suggested that they eat before the pizza gets cold. Everyone ate and listened to Tommy’s trip and embellished stories, Vel soaked up his laughter and smile, wondering how she would feel if he were to tell her he didn’t want to speak to her again, as he did other women. She was going through the motions again as Joel carted Sarah off to bed before long, she had fallen asleep across Velora’s lap. A place Tommy wanted to be. She looked beautiful, the earth tone dress looked gorgeous on her. It was then that he was surprised, Tess offered Vel a ride home. Apparently, a car ran a stop sign and rear ended her. She hadn’t been injured but her car was in the shop for repairs. Joel and Tess had been giving her rides from home to work. Tommy saw an opportunity. He had left his truck at Joel’s so he could drive home once he made it to their house after the airport.

“I can drive you home Sweet Pea.” He stated quietly, setting a hand on her shoulder, he stepped in between Tess and where Vel was sitting. Tess was about to interject but Joel shook his head, signaling to let them be. Velora nodded.

“Sure, thanks Tommy.” With that, she stood and thanked Tess for the offer giving her and Joel hugs before slipping her flip flops on and heading out with Tommy. He opened the truck door for her and she climbed in, he took special care to take a gander at her legs which the moonlight was reflecting off their well moisturized sheen. Tommy then got in the truck and started driving.

“Tommy…I-I’m sor…”

“Leave it for when we get to your place. We need to sit and talk face to face.” The grave tone he used worried her, was this really happening? Was she going to lose her best friend over the best sex she had?

Once at her home, she opened the door and Tommy locked it after they got in, Velora set to opening a bottle of whiskey and pouring them both glasses with one cube of ice each. She sat next to Tommy on the couch and slowly sipped on her drink, clicking her nails on the glass. Tommy took a large swig and set his on the coffee table, taking hers and placing that on the table as well.

“Velora, I need you to listen to me. Don’t say anything yet.”

“T-Tommy, just you’re not going to leave right? Just forget it. Just don’t tell me to go away.” His eyes widened, that wasn’t what he expected. He placed a hand on her thigh and squeezed to try and calm her, but that only made her jump. “I know I shouldn’t have, honestly you’d never taken me up on it before. I wanted to see how far you were going to go, I didn’t expect…not that i didn’t enjoy it, but if it means we can’t be friends then, I’ll forget about it.” Her speech was pressured and rapid, eyes wild and darting around, when she did focus on Tommy’s face, he saw that she was frightened.

“Sweet Pea…Just give me a…” Tommy tried to cut her off to explain but she kept going.

“You can’t call me that anymore. You can’t say it like that. Sweet Pea, it makes me wet each time and I can’t, I can’t Tommy Miller! We’re friends, you can’t call me that, not after…” The tears that she had been avoiding since she saw him walk though Joel’s doorway broke through, it was Tommy’s turn to hold her and to console. It was then he realized he wasn’t the only one that had been having feelings over the years. How long had she been in love with him? How long had he been hurting her? How long had they been hurting each other?

“Velora I don’t want to be just your friend. I feel the same way. Honey please…” Tommy whispered as he brought her close, her tears were wetting his shirt, but it was fine by him. He just needed to make her understand that he didn’t want to share her. But he also thought maybe he shouldn’t undress her this time.

After some time, she stopped just embracing her, small hands wrapped around his back, pressing on his shoulder blades. They were quiet except for a few sniffles. Vel leaned back and kissed Tommy’s cheek, her face puffy from her waterworks,

“I’m sorry I didn't let you talk, well this time and especially the last time. I just wanted to avoid talking about it. I couldn’t handle you telling me it didn’t mean anything.”

“Velora. That’s not anything I would ever say to you. And it wasn’t what I was going to say the other night either. I planned to tell you that I don’t speak like that to anyone, even during sex and that I didn’t want you seeing anyone else. I don’t want to see anyone else. Vel…I…” Tommy was cut off by her lips, not forceful but clearly to quiet him again, he cupped her face and leaned into the kiss, letting out a small moan. He did let her go after he licked her bottom lip and she didn’t allow him in. Not that type of kiss he figured.

“Just a little at a time Lucky Beetle. Please a little at a time. You just told me something major, I can’t have you say that I love you right now too. I know you like to get things all out in the open but just let me sit in it a bit.” The explanation made sense to him, in his haste to share his feelings, he forgot that she needs things in pieces, slowly. It’s why he loved talking to her because she could help him see things part by part, but that was clearly different in a relationship aspect. Her hands raised to play with his hair, then ran along his cheeks and poked his mustache. “It’s not that I don’t want to hear it, but I just need time. It won’t be too much. I promise.” He nodded, accepting her proposal.

“Should we get you cleaned up? Your face looks a mess Sweet Pea. Er, not that…” The woman let out a bellowing laugh, it was a sound that he was elated to hear. He hadn’t heard it for weeks and the last time he did, was one of his highest and lowest points.

“Yeah, I know I look a mess.” She stood up and patted his shoulder for him to follow her to the bedroom. “Tommy, I should tell you, or rather I don't know if you already heard from Joel, I have been on dates since you were away. A few…” A drawer opened and she got out a pair of boxer briefs and a t-shirt for him. Tommy had his own drawer at her house and she did at his, they had for years. “Like four dates,” She turned to face him, but kept her eyes to the ground, still she felt she needed to be honest. “None of them panned out. They weren’t you, I compared them all to you. Even the last one…” Her arms crossed over to stomach as she held her elbows, Tommy could fill in the gaps but he still needed to know.

“How far did you go with him?” He asked flatly. He readied himself for the potential answer that she may have slept with someone, it’s not like he hadn’t done the same thing in the past, though while he was away he didn’t think to. The vet hadn’t expected Velora to take a page from his playbook as far as fucking away feelings.

“Kissing and he tried to…well not that he could find what he was trying to finger. It’s not like mine’s in a different place than a smaller woman’s, you just have to go a little deeper.” Her eyes rolled as she complained and Tommy chuckled, it was entertaining hearing her mock another man and gave him a sense of pride.

“Sounds like you had a tough go of it hun.” He placed his hands on his hips, his mustache continued to dance above his upper lip as she continued to chuckle. Velora shook her head and threw the clothes at him, which he caught. “Thanks for telling me though, you're honest to a fault.”

“Shut up Miller. I’m going to shower first.” A small smirk greeted her lips as she grabbed her own nightshirt and panties before heading into the bathroom. Tommy set his clothes on the bed and went back into the living room to finish his whiskey. They felt more normal, like themselves. It was good, but he didn’t want it to stay like this. How else was it supposed to feel?

Velora took a quick shower and brushed her teeth, remembering the glass of whiskey she had and that mint likely wouldn’t taste good with it. She tossed her worn clothes in the hamper and found Tommy sitting on the couch, looking at his empty glass. “Did you want mine too? It doesn’t go well with colgate.” Tommy shook his head and downed her glass as well before heading into the bedroom and stripping, then into the shower. When he came back out, he put his clothes in a small pile in the corner of the room out of the way. The pair sat on the bed next to each other.

“So…”

“So…what do we do now?”

“We should sleep, talk more about things with fresh minds.”

“Did you want to go get breakfast tomorrow?”

“Sure, though I should probably check in with Joel to see if he needs help at the office.”

“It can wait until the next day, he’s actually doing better. Tess convinced him to go to a pain clinic.”

“Really? He left that part out when he was updating me. Old man with a sore back.”

Velora climbed up in the bed and slid under the covers, Tommy watched her and wondered if he could really sleep in the same bed as her without touching her. He should be able to, he has self-control. He followed suit and slipped under the covers as well, turning on his side away from her. If he faced her, he would feel tempted to touch her and after they had a positive conversation the last thing he needed to do was compromise that again.

Turned out it was not up to Tommy Miller whether things were going to happen or not.

Velora became the big spoon to Tommy’s little spoon and that was fine until the sun started to shine through the curtains of her bedroom window. Tommy rolled over on his back and Vel’s leg wrapped around his slim waist. That would be fine, if his hips hadn’t shifted up slightly and a familiar bulge touched her inner thigh. Exhaling, she opened her eyes to see if he was awake, he was not, his breathing still steady and his face in a neutral position. Her finger started to circle his dark nipple, she sank her body weight on top of his abdomen and rested her forehead on his chest, her soft digits inched along both sides of his clavicle. “Fucking delicious menance Tommy.” Vel hummed into his chest, sturdy hands took hold of her hips.

“Am I now? Right back at ya Sweet Pea. I thought I was having a damn good dream. Looks like wakin’ up is even better. Didn’t know you were such a vixen.” A low hum emerged from Tommy’s lips and he sat up, holding her over his hips. “Don’t move, you’re ridin’ me this mornin’ Sweet Pea.” His eyes had a soft glow to them, placing his lips over hers before she could protest, he knew what she’d say, to lay her back down because she was too heavy, but he didn’t want to, He wanted to watch as she bounced on top. Her hands moved from his chest to his shoulders, grasping tight, unsure how much pressure to put on him. Tommy, released her hips to slide his boxers down, unleashing his swollen member from the cloth confines. He then slid her thin wet panties aside to touch her puffy lower lips, a long moan was released from Vel as the mixture of cool air and warm callused fingers entering her, made her squirm. “Sweet Pea, you’re ready for me this morning aren’t ya? Fuck Vel, we wasted too much time. I could have had a ring on your finger and Sarah could have a cousin or two.” Her eyes shot open, did he just…? She pulled back, making her ass press against his thick cock, a gasp escaped from his mouth.

“Tommy, d-did you just…what?”

“I don’t say things I don’t mean Velora. You don’t want me to say three words fine. I know many a way to tell you the same damn thing woman.”

“Well you wanna try this morning?” Her suggestion made him kiss her neck, licking it as his fingers pumped inside of her slowly. “T-Tommy, give me your…”

“My what Sweet Pea? I’ll have to be careful where I call you Sweet Pea. I can’t have you gettin’ this wet at a cookout.” He smiled into her neck, before biting it. One of Vel’s hands grasped the back of his head, tugging it toward her neck.

“Fuck Tommy. Your cock. I want your cock. I’ll make a baby with you. Give it to me.” She yelped as his fingers started to move faster, her nectar dripping down his palm.

“Not yet, I have to show you who can find your pussy with these fingers.” His mouth left her neck and found her lips again, biting her lower lip as she moaned his name. He could watch her like this for the next hour, maybe hours.

“Don’t be an ass about it Tommy.” Her hips were moving faster, her hands came back to his shoulders as she began moving up and down instead of in a circle.

“Look at you, quick study like always Sweet Pea. Be my angel and soak my fingers.” Tommy commanded, curing his head to nipple at the top of her breast. He felt her squeezing his fingers, then the flood of her slick down his wrist as he slowed down his fingers to match her body’s release and subsequent decrescendo. She sat panting on his lap, her eyes heavy as she met his dark brown orbs again. “Velora, you’re sure I can cum inside you? We still have a shit ton to talk about.” He saw her nod but needed her to speak to him so he didn’t move.

“Tommy, I’ve dreamt of you getting me pregnant and raising a family with you. We’ll work out the details later. It may not even happen this go around. We’ll have plenty of other times to practice. I love you Tommy Miller. I want to make a home with you and a family.” Velora kissed Tommy’s forehead and reached behind her ass, taking his hot member in her hand, teasing his head, “I too am not going to let anyone else have this cock if I have anything to say about it.”

Tommy wondered why he hadn’t seen it, how he could have been so blind, but that moment passed, “Did you have me not tell you I love you so you could say it first?” Vel chuckled as her small hand stroked his cock, “You’re my petty ass vixen angel and I love you. Take off that gown. We don’t fuck clothes in this house.” A beamng chuckle was shared between them as she removed her gown and tossed it on the floor and Tommy assisted her in lifting up to remove her panties, he then shimmied his boxers off and he sat her right back in his lap. “Ready Velora? I’ll ease you in slow.”

Velora’s hand guided Tommy’s cock to her soaked folds, slipping inside of her easier than she thought, though she didn’t expect her hips to slam flush with his. She let out a loud whimper from the expansion inside of her, the pulsing heat, the grimace disappearing from his face once he was inside of her, she remained still to adjust and was unsure if she should move, it felt as if he was piercing her womb and stomach. It felt like they were finally in the right place and the right time with each other. But she wanted more, she would take from him until he had nothing left to offer her, He hadn’t said a word until she pulled on his shoulders and pressed her feet into the bed to move up, only making it where half of his cock was still inside of her. “Tommy, I don’t think I’m going to be able to do this too long, damn…did you get bigger while in Ireland?”

Tommy still didn’t answer, he was focusing on not shooting his load into her after she sat her full weight on him. Velora was able to take all of him in one stroke, a feat that hadn’t been performed by any other woman he had been with. Now with her moving, he was twitching even more and it felt as if the wrong move or loss of concentration would have him prematurely released. However, when she commented about his size, his eyes open to see the woman that he loved struggling to ride him, it was breathtakingly slow, the perfect pace to make him last longer. “Sweet Pea, I’m gonna be rough for a few, you’re doing the Lord’s work up there. Need to know how it feels to fill you to the brim with my seed Velora.” Bewildered, Vel’s mouth formed an ‘o’ as he began, taking ownership of her hips and forcing his upward into her, she truly started to spring off his member, leaving only his bulbous head inside of her before bringing her back down so his balls smacked her ass.

“Goddamit Tommy! I’m gonna break, Ah…Tom-Tommy..” Her voice cracked as she screamed, one hand dug into his shoulder, her nails drawing blood from his skin as her other hand cemented itself at the base of his skull. Her back was already arching, she was trying to stop her walls from sputtering, to draw this sensation out, him making her and her cunt cry for him. Miller’s grunts increased with his pace, his goal was to stuff her with his cum and he would succeed this morning. His mouth found her round shoulder, her light stretch marks broke though the rest of her brown skin, he started licking them, but felt his teeth start to dig into the soft flesh. “Ah..chew baby, Bite me Tommy..!” She continued to call his name, it was a ballad leading to their mutual end. Velora came first, her nails, raking across his back and head as her cunt attempted to milk his cock of its contents. Tommy was able to get in a few more pumps before he felt it, finally, thick ropes coated her walls as he moaned her name into her shoulder, tasting something metallic on his lips. They remained still, regaining air in their lungs, Tommy fell on his back with Vel on top of him, her breasts landing on either side of his head as her chest fell on his face.. He tilted his chin up and landed a string of kisses in between and on the tops of her breasts. She hummed as she stroked his hair, feeling him soften and start to slip out of her stretched pussy. Thankfully, only halfway.

“Velora, you alright honey? Didn’t break I see. You’re too strong of a woman for that.” His familiar glow returned to his face as she looked down at him and nodded.

“I’m better than I thought I would be. You might be the death of me yet Tommy. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to just relax again.” Her bubbly sounds had Tommy trace his hands along her love handles and back.

“If anything, I’ll go first. You started it this morning, remember?” He reminded her as she raised up off his flaccid cock and plopped beside him and he pulled the covers over the both of them. His hands returned to her waist as she nuzzled in the crook of his neck. “We’ll have to check our injuries later, let’s get some sleep. I love you Velora.”

“I love you too Tommy.” The two found sleep in each other's arms for the time being.

The next morning…

A series of loud knocks was at Velora’s front door.

Sarah had been adamant about seeing her uncle Tommy. Joel and Tess tried to assure her that he’s fine, he’s resting up from his long flight, which might be true though Joel doubted it. The fact remind that he did leave his bags at his place from when he drove Velora home last night. Sarah was worried that Tommy may not be happy with Aunt V going out on dates and he could have argued with her and might be moping around his house. It was plausible and Tess found it convenient to need to drive into town for a meeting or two, which she did not have to do before this conversation started.

“You shoulda never told a child about grown folks business.. Tess.”

“Sarah’s a teen, not an idiot. She knows things have been weird with them. Plus she overheard Vel and I talking, I didn’t tell her anything.”

“And now you have to go? After you start some shit?”

“They were meetings I thought were pushed back and now the parties want to meet. It’s annoying and horrible timing but -”

“Seems like good timing for you.”

“Joel, don’t start that shit again. You always do this get mad at me and then-”

“And then you leave and stay gone, not talking to me for weeks or months at a time. Would it kill you to be consistent Tess? Lord knows I am.”

Tess held up her hands, done with the conversation for now. She headed for the door. “Joel, I’ll be back later tonight. Take that time to calm down so we can talk like two adults.”

Joel crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling. He felt small arms wrap around him. “Dad, why don’t you just talk to her instead of picking a fight?” The older Miller brother kissed his daughter’s forehead and smiled.

“Your old man’s stubborn as a mule baby girl. I gotta be right, even if it kills me.”

“We’re going to take uncle Tommy’s stuff by his house right? I want to show him my new trophy. I fell asleep before I could show him last night. Joel couldn’t say no even though he was fairly certain his brother wouldn’t be home. Gathering Tommy’s junk, he threw it in his truck and drove over to the house. His brother’s truck was absent from the driveway so since he had a key he dropped off the bags inside. Sarah still insisted on seeing him so he drove to Velora’s where now he was knocking on the door.

When there was no answer, he turned to his daughter who shocked him once again,

“You think they’re going to be friends with benefits or actually date? But they know each other pretty well so maybe not for long. I’m going to be a bridesmaid or the maid of honor.”

“Sarah honey, that’s putting the cart before the horse baby girl.”

“Dad. I’m fourteen. I know these things.”

“Where did my sweet girl go? I don’t want you to know these things.”

Tommy climbed out of bed first, he heard chatter outside the door so he figured he had some time. He relieved himself in the bathroom and grabbed a warm rag for Vel, cleaning between her legs. He couldn’t help but use two fingers to push some of his cum that had leaked out back in, that made her flinch and wake up. “Good morning Sweet Pea, better late than never. Fell asleep before I could clean ya. Someone’s at the door. Goin’ to tell them to kick rocks.” She nodded and rolled over toward the nightstand to check the time, two in the afternoon? It was pretty late.

Tommy popped his jeans on and didn’t worry about boxers. The cold floor felt good under his bare feet as he walked to the door, now on the other side, he heard two voices that he didn’t want to see right this minute. “Welp, it was going to happen sooner or later.” He unlocked the door and swing it open,

“Afternoon brother, little Peanut.” Joel noted Tommy’s messy hair that was sticking all over the place and that he seemed to have some bruises on his abdomen. Dammit, really? My daughter has to see you like this…

“Hey little brother. We took your crap to your house. You good? Your hair is a little…” Joel studdered, first Tess and now Tommy, why were the adults he knew so damn bothersome and exposing his sweet daughter to things she shouldn’t know until she’s his age, scratch that, he needs to be cold in the ground before Sarah even thinks about, such things.

“Uncle Tommy, is Aunt V alright? If you look like that, what does she look like? Did you put a hurt on her?” The youngest Miller asked with a head tilt. Both men remained silent. Joel was the one now with his arms crossed and rocking between his heels and the balls of his feet.

“She’s taking a bit of a nap right now, Peanut. I can stop by the house later-”

“I'm alright, You should maybe go get freshened up though Tommy.” Velora walked up behind Tommy in a loose gray t-shirt and black leggings and tugged on the waist of his jeans to signal he should head back inside. Vel stood in the doorway and gave a stern look to Sarah before bursting into laughter. “You’re a firecracker young lady. You’re going to give both your father and uncle heart attacks. Please let your father hold onto his dream that you’re still his baby girl.”

Sarah stepped forward and gave her aunt a hug, patting her back and niggling into her. She whispered, “Aunt V, you look a lot happier. Both Dad and Uncle Tommy can be kinda dumb so don’t be too mad at him.” Vel chuckled and patted the teen’s head,

“I won’t. I promise. All adults are dumb at times, Peanut. It’s our claim to fame. I love you, you little scamp.” She kissed her forehead and let her go, Joel nodded and he headed back to the truck and left with Sarah. Asking her questions about what she knew about ‘putting a hurt on someone’ and where she had heard it. He didn’t really want to know, he just needed to identify whose knees he needed to break for telling his daughter this information.

Tommy was in the shower, using Velora’s green tea and jasmine body wash. It smelled nice on her, he wasn’t much for smelling like a flower, but he did need to be clean. He was lathering his chest when his Sweet Pea entered the shower naked and put her hand over his, helping him to lather himself. He chuckled at her eagerness to touch him, he was planning on initiating later but he wasn’t opposed to having a bit of slippery fun. He reached beyond the shower curtain and grabbed a second washcloth, the basket they had been neatly folded in fell over, but that could be tidied later. Tommy was quick to wet it and turned around, nearly falling back against the shower wall at Vel’s hair in her hot pink shower cap. Her lips pinched together as she pushed slightly on his chest to signal she was not amused.

“Sweet Pea, you can’t tell me that’s not funny though. It had to be that neon, bright ass pink?” He cackled in between her soft hits with the soapy washcloth.

“Dammit Tommy, you know I can’t get my hair wet unless I plan to wash it and do that whole process. Stop laughing..ha, ha.” The woman started giggling along with him, the pair of them laughing until they wheezed.

Tommy took his washcloth and ran it over Velora’s shoulders and took special care under her arms. He rung the washcloth out over her breasts and added more of the body wash to make the lather thicker before circling around each breast, carefully lifting them from their lowered position. Velora continued to drag her washcloth across his chest, then around to his back until she lowered it just before reaching his butt. She then brought it back to the front and wiped up and down on his abdomen eliciting a few more chuckles from the mustached man. Tommy started in the middle of her stomach and branched out with larger strokes before starting on her back. He then paused,

“So how do you want to take care of below the waist?”

“I think we should each do our own, I don’t trust you not to start fingering me and I don’t want soap in my pussy.”

“You know me so well Sweet Pea.” He answered with a smirk and made sure to clean his cock and balls well and ended with his ass as Vel did the same. They rinsed off and Vel stepped out of the shower first to set a few towels on the floor to soak up the water she was dripping and to grab two towels, one for each of them. After drying off, Vel put on the same t-shirt and black capris she had on before, they had been fresh out of the drawer so she didn’t mind putting the back on. Tommy slipped on a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt from his drawer in Velora’s bedroom. Tommy headed to the kitchen to start some coffee and make some brunch. He found eggs, onions, peppers, cheese and toasted some bread with some apple butter. Velora was finishing up the bathroom when she smelled his cooking, her mother told her not to trust a man who can cook when she was younger, but Vel found it to be one of the many sexy qualities Tommy had, among others that she could put her hands on now.

She walked out to her small kitchen and got some plates and glasses down to get the table. It could fit four people comfortably though it was on the smaller side, with just the two of them, it was just the right size. Tommy dished up the food, he made three pieces of toast for each of them, after he set the frying pan in the sink and ran some water in it, they sat down to eat, in silence for the first few bites.

“So…should we talk about things or…?”

“I mean we can. I guess we should start with whose house we’re gonna live in. Yours is on the smaller side Vel. makes sense since it’s just you living here, but…”

“No I mean, about before. We moved things pretty fast and you never told me about how your trip went with, well what you were going to do, though we weren’t really speaking at the time.” Velora moved a piece of her omelet around on her plate as she bit into her toast.

Sitting back in his chair, Tommy crossed his arms and sighed, “Do we really need to talk about it? I went, took care of my guys’ ashes and came back. Yeah I was gone longer, but I needed time to think. I couldn’t do that…”

“While you were here. While you may have to face me, is that it?” She asked, looking up from her plate. He rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“What about you? While I was gone, you’re out here setting up dates left and right. I know that was your one friend who doesn't think I’m shit who told you to do that and you did it! I had to hear it from Joel of all people. That was weird as shit.” he shook his head, recalling the conversation, it had been unnerving.

Velora took a deep breath, “I told you about it when you came back and we finally talked before and we…I was honest about it. I didn’t need to hide, I came to fucking Joel’s house with all that damn pizza and listening to tess talking about meetings and travel! I didn’t want to go, seeing you…it, I was happy to know that you were okay, but I felt guilty and hurt Tommy.” Her eyes never parted from his, the intensity of them caused him to look away, but the veteran was drawn right back.

“I know. I was in shock when Sarah mentioned on the drive home that you were going to be there. I honestly didn’t think you would want to see me, given how I reacted when you said what you said after we made love. You can say it, you know Velora. We’ve made love twice now.” Tommy grinned, trying to lighten things up a bit, but to no avail.

“I know I told you that I needed time.” Velora paused to try and figure out her phrasing. Tommy titled his head, trying to anticipate what she may say, he hoped it wasn’t that they should see how things go. He was serious about moving their relationship forward. “I’d rather we talked about things and made some future plans. We skipped ahead on the babymaking front. I didn’t think I’d…well I knew I wanted to but…” Her cheeks were becoming hot once again, having a child with her best friend and crush Tommy Miller had been a fantasy. Now she may have actually done it without dating, marriage, deciding where they’re going to live, none of that. It made her giddy that he wanted to see her pregnant and have a child with her, but what would come with it? Was she prepared for that?

“Velora, well I won’t say relax because we’re needing to make some major decisions.” Tommy rose from his chair and stood behind Vel, placing one hand on each shoulder and kissed her temple. She took a few sips of water for her throat that was painfully dry now. “One step at a time honey. It’s alright we don’t know right now. We just started this together. Plus we gotta move you into my house, this kitchen’s too damn small and I got room in my master bath to expand the shower.” Vel coughed on the water, setting an elbow on the table before cradling her forehead in it.

“Lord above you really are trying to kill me Miller.” Their expressions of joy echoed through the small kitchen as they continued their meal and bikered about whose house should be sold, which mattress should be in the master bedroom and who has the better office.

Six months later…

Velora plops another rose near the mailbox. She already had brought three over from the back of Tommy’s truck. She had borrowed it to drive to the florist to pick up her order that she had placed last week. Set on adding more color to the front yard, she had added yellow tulips near the large front window that was off of the living room. Red was what she wanted on the corner around the mailbox. She took to gardening well, finding it was calming in addition to decorating her new home. She and Tommy had closed on her small home last month and were able to make a sizable profit from it. Due to the time constraints though, she sold much of her furniture except what was left to stage the house. Tommy, Joel and Sarah had helped moved her items into Tommy’s larger house. Velora had fussed about it, but she knew it was the right choice, moving into his house. It was her first house though, she remembered when Tommy had helped her move in.

Standing up from her leaning over position, she felt light-headed and had to lean on the mailbox, thankfully it was sturdy and she was quickly able to regain her balance. Her head swam for a minute but then calmed. It was happening more frequently and it worried her. Tommy had asked her to cut back on her hours at work, go to part time at the hospital. She was stubborn and refused, stating that it happened from time to time, she was fine, it would pass. It’s been two months of symptoms off and on again. What really worried her was her tender breasts and back pain. They didn’t seem connected and both had been happening since she hit puberty decades ago. She didn’t mention it to Tommy though, didn't want to worry him. Heading back inside the house, she called and made a doctor’s appointment, relenting that she may need to have things checked out, though whenever she had scans before they were always benign and she was advised to lose weight. “They’ll just tell me the same damn thing.”

Tommy was thriving, sure he had way too many pillows on his couch now, but he was able to convince Sweet Pea to keep some on the bed and in the guest bedrooms, at least break them up some. The little touches as far as plants, new colors of green, reds and yellows, nothing overbearing but more accents to his neutral home. In the pillows, but also in the towels, rugs, blankets for when they would watch movies on said couch and even a few shirts in his closet. He only wore those colors for her, no one else though. Tommy brought up the topic of marriage first saying that before a baby came, he wanted to have a ring on her finger and a certificate in his hand. Velora shook her head at him as usual and asked him how he planned to do that. She was washing dishes, wearing just one of her oversized t-shirts and panties.

“Well, like this Sweet Pea. You thought you were gonna be stuck with me before. Now we’re going to make it official.”

“Miller, we moved in together three months ago, don’t you think it’s a little soon to-” His arms wrapped around her waist as he kissed her cheek.

“No it’s not. I told you we’d do one step at a time. This is the next step. We can make it big or small. Besides, I got this ring on sale.” He chuckled in her ear and reached in his back pocket, pulling out a small box. Vel dried her hands and turned around.

“Tommy I’m not taking some mood ring you got on…that’s a box. An actual box.”

“Yes. Wait, you thought I was gonna fake you out with a mood ring? What kind of man do you take me for?” Tommy exaggerated his fake outrage, crossing his hand over his chest and stumbling back. “You wound me…Vel how could you?”

Velora shook head again, her face in her hands, not believing what she was seeing. The punk did get her a ring. She hadn’t asked for one, she honestly thought it would be next year before she got one, they hadn’t even made wedding plans yet. “You keep surprising me every day Tommy. I find you as annoying as much as I adore you.”

“I’ll take that as a yes honey. Put this on so I can see it on the pretty hand of yours.” He removed the gold ring from the box and slid it on her finger. He held her hand as he moved it around, it appeared to be a little loose. “I was sure I got the size right. Vel, did you lose some weight?” His eyes squinted at her hand, they didn’t look much different so he released her hand and grabbed her hips making her gasp.

“Tommy! I haven’t lost any weight. We just have to get it re-sized. I’m still going to wear it anyway until we do. It’s beautiful.” She admired it, a 6 mm band with 1 carat diamond in an oval setting. “Wait, how much was this?”

Tommy ignored the question, his hands were roaming her hips and love handles, she felt a little less, though she didn’t look it. He would know, the man felt her up daily, several times a day. “Sweet Pea, when’s your appointment? I’m going to come with you.” Vel kissed his cheek before placing her left hand on it.

“You don’t need to, I’m fine. They’re just going to tell me I need to rest or drink more water or lose weight like they always do. It’s why I usually just go for my physical yearly and not much else.” She explained. Tommy knew not to press her too hard on it, they were both stubborn so he would just worry instead. A distraction was in order they had gotten a new dining room table, Vel had called his old table “musty” for the mismatched driftwood it had been made of. The dark cherrywood suited the otherwise light room perfectly, drawing your attention to it.

Tommy used his hands on his fiancé’s hips to guide her back toward the table, he reached and lifted her ass onto the table. “What’s gotten into you now? Don’t be picking me up like that. You’ll end up with a back like your brother.” He tugged on her panties pulling them down to her knees and then off. Squating, he used his forearms to part her thighs before nibbling her sensitive skin.

“If I get a bad back from lifting you Sweet Pea, I’m gonna make sure it’s well earned. Let me taste my fiance. I wonder if now you’ll be more savory or honeyed.” He felt her put her legs over his shoulders and place her calves against his back, by now, she was aware of the position he wanted her in for his meals.

“How does that make any sense? Shit…don’t just use one love. I always need more.” Her hips bucked at the insertion of his finger, he was teasing her, leaning toward her mound and inhaling deeply, filling his lungs with her scent, intoxicating as he found it.

“My greedy girl. I aim to please ya always.” A second digit followed, pumping into her down to the knuckle, usually he worked his fingers in slower but her juices were dribbling onto the wood table, making it glisten. “May have to use your nectar to polish the table later, Sweet Pea.” Tommy ran his other hand up her shirt, pulling it to reach her cushy belly. He placed a kiss on it before placing his hand on the small of her back and scooting her hips forward to start to curl his fingers inside of her, a small spongy depression he discovered inside her months ago that had her babble in between obscenities. Peering upward, his head was hung forward toward her chest, hands firmly on the table, arms taunt, forcing her pelvis to meet his hand. “Almost there Vel, a little more…” His thumb plucked the small bundle of red flesh hidden at the top of her slit. A feral growl left his love as his fingers were taken from her, thighs pulled his upper body forward.

“Tommy…Either put your fingers back in or use your mouth. You will not leave me like this on our dining room table. Didn’t you just say you ‘aim to please’?” His snickers echoes against her drenched mound, his breath, rolling over her sweltering skin.

“I do, but you know I like my pleasantries. I’m a Southern gentleman.” Velora couldn’t see his face, but she could picture his lips curving upward, forever teasing her. She guessed she knew what it was about, she was able to keep her balance with one hand as the other twirled in his soft onyx waves.

“A gentleman now huh? Who leaves a lady wanting? Not sure I want a gentleman then. I want the same man who told me he was starving and I had to make sure he had a warm meal.” Her voice raspy from her screams, cracking when she spoke. Tommy flicked his tongue on her clit, then blew on it.

“Not my exact words, but I’d hate to make such a beautiful woman wait.” He felt Vel release his hair as he plunged into her moist cunt, lapping at entrance, grunting with the roll of her hips toward his face. His mustache tickled her clit each time he pulled back to take a small gasp of air. Her body went rigid as her peak was reached and Tommy shot up to wrap his arms around her waist easing her down on the table. “Easy Sweet Pea, easy Velora…” He kissed her chin, her hands reached for his face and licked his lips,

“I think I’m more savory than Sweet love. May need to change my nickname.” The veteran’s head dropped into her chest, matching her laughter. He now knew how sturdy the new table was. It could stay.

One week later…

Joel pulled up to the florist’s shop. He needed to send flowers for the condolences of one of their frequent customers who would use them for construction contracts. The man’s mother had died and the elder Miller brother in his effort to be more sociable, was following more social cues. He also was doing what his daughter had suggested and ‘ghosting’ Tess. He didn’t feel great about it, but Sarah had advised to ignore her calls and texts since they couldn’t agree to which direction their relationship should go. Joel wanted a partner, someone who he would be comfortable having in his life with his daughter. Tess got along with Sarah just fine, because they didn’t spend much time together outside of a few weeks or a month. His sometimes partner was just fine with that arrangement, thus their disagreement. The man was currently distracted though so he wouldn’t be answering any calls, he was placing his order with the same florist who V had been getting her flowers from. On the glowing recommendation, he ventured into the shop and was met with a woman who had a silver streak in her otherwise strawberry blonde hair. She gave him a warm smile, wiped her hands off on her apron before reaching out for a handshake, it was firm and she had callaouses as well from the different plants she had worked with, a small pink mark was on her neck. Joel wondered what it was from, he did eventually place his order, but they ended up comparing handshakes, whose accent was stronger, discussing children, trucks and work boots. A warmth that Joel hadn’t felt since his wife passed spread in his chest, her name Andy, she had told him like the sheriff from ‘The Andy Griffith Show.” The two laughed over the reference and that their children had no idea who the man was.

Velora sat next to Tommy on the plane. He had asked her to set aside three particular weeks in September. Vel agreed as long as he didn’t have a flash mob or a minister to marry them at an airport. He defended himself by telling her she may be the one to take them to a drive through wedding chapel if she can find one, just to save some time and money. Her head found Tommy’s shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. She felt safe and terrified. She hadn’t had a chance to speak with him before leaving the country, well maybe she did, but she got cold feet, she was also nervous. It was happy news, but more than anything, she didn’t want to stop working. She knew Tommy would insist on her not working or at the very least, going on light duty, a compromise. Not a bad one if she was being honest. The flight was nearly thirteen hours, Tommy had done this by himself? There were points when they did move around and chat about what their actual wedding plans would be. Something small at the courthouse with immediate family and a reception at their house in the backyard, unsure of where they were going for their honeymoon, it was decided they could figure that one out later. Holding Tommy’s hand as the plane finally started its descent, Velora resolved to tell him one way or another.

The emerald grass crunched under their boots as they walked gingerly in the forest behind the cabin they were staying in. It was cozy and Tommy smiled to himself that Vel was indeed holding onto his arm for any warmth she could gather. He surprised her with the destination of Ireland, but he wanted to show her it’s beauty that he had seen on a much more somber trip. His fiance had been the first person he thought to bring here besides his brother and niece. They were on their way back from the same rocky outcrop that he spread the ashes over some months ago. Velora held his hand as he teared at the memory, glad that she was here with him this time and for every journey the pair would take after. Velora stopped and Tommy did as well, wondering why she had stopped walking.

“We’re almost there Sweet Pea. We can warm up and drink hot chocolate. Might even go out and try some brennivin. One glass though, it will knock you on your ass, almost got me.” He was trying to lighten the mood after this visit to the site. Vel shook her head and it made him confused, she looked nervous.

“I-I have something to tell you. Honestly, I had to think about it and wrap my head around it, because normally it's never anything.” A strong gust blew through the trees whipping the leaves loudly to where the puzzled man saw her mouth move but didn’t hear. He made out, ‘we’re…’ What? All of her body language changed, like she was about to burst, whatever it was it was happy, so was it what he thought?

“Say again Vel, I can’t hear you.” He pointed to his ears but she lunged toward him and cupped his face, giving his lips a peck. The wind had started to calm but was tossing her ponytail in every direction. “Tell me what earned me that.” He grinned.

“We’re pregnant! You’re going to be a father Tommy!” Snot was starting to run down her nose and her eyes were squinted due to the air currents, a mess, but to Tommy it was the face of the mother of his child. The only face he needed to see until the baby was born. His outcry of joy was matched by the enthusiasm in which he picked up Velora and spun her around. She screamed for him to put her down, her laughter spurring him on, eventually he did and tugged her along to their cabin where they lit the fireplace.

Tommy insisted that they shower and she spread out on the bed so he can put his head to her belly. She assured her fiance that it was too early for that but no was not an option. As her nails lightly scratched his scalp, Tommy rubbed his head on his other half’s stomach, knowing that a new life was growing inside of her.

“Thank you Velora. You’ve given me so much over the years. Now you’re giving me a little Miller and a future too. I love you Sweet Pea.” Closing his eyes, he listened to Velora breathe, her hand was still in his hair but she had fallen asleep. With a light huff, his fingers ran up her arm and traced her jaw, ending on her soft lips. “I’ll tell you again when you wake up, Velora. Rest up honey, we’ve a long road ahead together.”

Moots who might like it: @maggiemayhemnj @laurfilijames @rhoorl @fhatbhabie @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @trulybetty @goodwithcheese @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @yorksgirl @guelyury @perotovar @saturn-rings-writes @megamindsecretlair @morallyinept @legendary-pink-dot @undercoverpena @beabliss @grogusmum @sp00kymulderr @magpiepillsjunior @for-a-longlongtime @pamasaur @linzels-blog @mysterious-moonstruck-musings

#tommy miller x plus size reader #tommy miller #tommy miller x reader #tommy miller fanfiction #tommy miller smut #Tommy miller angst #tommy miller fluff #fanfiction #I needed more Tommy Miller so I wrote this

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teddybearsandspaceships · 2 months

Text

I´m procrastinating, so here´s too many notes about yesterday´s fantastic Scar stream, ft. Tango, Etho, Joel, Cleo, Ren, Bdubs, Wels, and Grian.

Scar claiming the giant roast in his carnivore car is clown meat

Scar defending himself against chat that he knows things in Minecraft and suggests asking Etho to confirm

Scar “imitating” the neighborhood nerds coming over ^^ they want to learn some scarstone

Tango and Etho complimenting the new cars with the fish tank, and then Tango asking why there are no clownfish ^^

Scar talking about differently scary clowns, and Etho says Baby Yoda scares him more than regular Yoda

Scar offering Tango and Etho a diamond block if they can find his permits in his chest monster, they take them instead and make him worry, Scar finds out and immediately afterwards jumps down the mail chute and his permits actually go missing.

Etho is the only one who knows how to properly operate the post office door…

Scar and Etho both want to collect glass permits. Etho says if Scar doesn´t give him his they´ll have to open a shop together and that´ll be torture for Scar. “I love you Scar but you´re gonna hate me I think…”

Aww, Etho talking about how Bdubs “invented” the piston step-stool one of the first times they met

Literal pillow talk

Scar loses his headphones again, Etho teases him, Gem in chat: “I know etho isn’t talking about replacing tech” xD

Etho: “The tissue box is in good shape, I take good care of it.”

Etho making a block representation of how he sits at his desk, Scar and Tango and Mrs. T flabbergasted

Etho adding lips to Scar´s fish

Who on the server is left-handed? Keralis is, and now they have to go ask the new guy.

Touring Joel´s base with Joel! Looks very nice. There´s no magic mountain chat yet, but there is a mail system chat. Joel: we get it you do mail, shut up Etho. Etho, high-pitched: you´re very impressed though, right Joel? ^^

Etho thanks Joel for the banners, he´s using them. Joel: “I saw, I saw, you´re such a big fan of me.” Etho: “Well someone´s gotta put up with you.” Scar saying they need to get a room xD

They go find the other leftie in Ren, Bdubs joins, then Skizz…

Tango to Skizz: “So how does your wife feel that you´re attracted to her brother? Is that weird?”

Talking about spoiling things on the server, Grian logs in just to say that they spoiled his chicken farm

Bdubs: “ZombieCleo. Former mother of mine and greatest friend.” Buttering her up ^^ Cleo tells them to use the villagers until she´s set up her shop. Bdubs jokes about getting books and then selling them, Cleo says she´ll kill him and all his horses. Good at making threats! Nobody doubted her.

Etho saying Cleo should play favorites between Bdubs and Scar xD Cleo protesting she doesn´t have any.

Cleo gives Bdubs, Scar, and Etho a Mending book each. Etho asks what he could send Cleo to help them, Cleo says emeralds or gunpowder. And she´ll take heads as well. Cleo sent redstone to Etho as thanks for the mailbox and Etho sent gunpowder and heads back and she thought that was a valid deal. Tango asks who does that, Etho: “I know my Cleo! I figured she would like a couple heads and things…” Cleo: “You know what I like, explosives and dead bodies.” THEM.

Until Scar gets around to building his actual portal he plans to continue using the mail tracks; might lead to problems with more mail being sent…

Scar: “Now that we know there´s left-handed people out there…” Cleo: “We can avoid them.” ^^

Scar, Cleo, Etho, and Tango come as Bdubs´ posse to Wels

Tango calls him B-Double-Doinkers; unsurprisingly Cleo likes it

Wels shows off his walls and tent. Cleo: You´re doing medieval, something new and different for you!

Wels calls Bdubs the master of castles. Etho, crouching: “I built a sandcastle once.” xD

Bdubs and Wels go to one side to escape all the short jokes. Wels: “Let me get down to your level…”

Etho, Tango, and Scar admire Cleo´s vtuber model that includes hands. Etho: “Can you go like you´re disciplining me?” Cleo, finger pointing: “Don´t you dare, bad Etho, no cookie.” Etho, a bit later: “I might have phrased that poorly. I was going more for a teacher thing…”

The band broke up, how sad. Cleo and Scar: let´s go steal Bdubs´ horse!

Scar jumpscared by Bdubs while talking about Star Wars

Scar and Bdubs talk about thinks that can´t be changed and Bdubs brings up when they became the Clockers! “something else was written in sharpie and you couldn´t say anything other than that thing…”

Scar doesn´t want to give Etho too much credit because, little does anybody know, that man has an ego. Bdubs, astonished: Really? Scar: no, just joking. Bdubs: oh, whew. That almost destroyed… you know they say never learn about your heroes.

Grian shows up, Bdubs asks him if he got Mending. Grian, slightly baffled: Only a week ago. Bdubs, enthusiastic: Great job!

Grian wants to experiment, gets Scar to die twice, second time to a creeper that Grian doesn´t stop from approaching Scar in time. Cleo in chat asks if Scar is okay, Scar: “No can you kill G?” “Thank you mom” Cleo: “never been able to before” ^^ (not true Cleo did actually kill Grian once in Secret Life.)

Grian, out of nowhere: “You ever wonder what life would be like if we were all lip skin?” A James Acaster joke apparently.

Scar and Grian switching to a left-handed skin for funsies and it looks veery strange.

Scar mentions his older brother is ambidextrous. Grian: “You know I don´t like it when you talk about your older brother.” Apparently Scar sometimes sends him pictures of his brother posing in the gym??

Some talk about build planning. Scar watches a creeper walk up to Grian and doesn´t say anything, Grian sees it in time and kills it. Scar says he had such Third Life flashbacks but he was on the other side of it.

Scar offering Grian they go 50-50 on the sand permit! Grian says there´ll be a joint ownership form.

Grian is not looking forward to permit office work. He´ll get the two most competent men he knows as enforcers, Scar and Skizz, and he´s pretty sure with them as enforcers he won´t have to do anything.

#hermitcraft #hermitcraft streams #hc s10 #gtwscar

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i-rate-horse-games · 10 months

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rating Alicia Online

the best way to quickly summarize this game is “fantasy horse mariokart”! i really enjoyed playing it and i am SO glad someone suggested it!! i was shocked that I had never heard of a game this great. that said, the installation process did feel pretty sketchy at first lol

it's ok (it was)

i walked into this game without any prior knowledge, and so this is what my notes doc looks like

THE HORSES CAN DOUBLE JUMP YOU CAN SHOOT THINGS??? “You’re doing really well! You are now ready to participate in real races.” WHAT KIND OF HORSE RACE INVOLVES CASTING ELEMENTAL ICE ATTACKS ON THE OTHER RACERS??? there are people on the sidelines in full body horse costumes cheering us on came first place in my first race but people are legit shooting fireballs at me and my horse and my horse has fallen to the ground poor thing this is amazing my horse just rolled over me twice and we both just got back up and kept running whoah these horses are really animated!! feeding them and . whoahh

after playing games like star stable and horse isle 3, it felt like we were ZOOMING. i mean REALLY GOING FAST. it was AWESOME

the game felt really balanced! even just starting out with the First Horse with no stats and no saddle, we were able to win some online races! there are a few NPCs hanging out at the player ranch who you can talk to for quests, and they’ll gently point you in the direction of tutorials, but they’re not required. they also teach cool stuff, like you can rear up at the start of the race for a little speedboost! the player ranch can also be customized and decorated how you like when you level up enough, and you can visit other people’s ranches and look at their horses.

if you play on PC, you can rent better stats for your horse, letting you get on even footing with your opponents no matter what your horse’s stats actually are! it’s incredibly welcoming to new players!

you can map the controls to whatever you want them to be!!! this could mean minecraft horse controlls! although you'll need two extra buttons for drifting!! and using powerups. and also one for teleporting a few seconds behind yourself! it's great in case you want to dodge something or someone, but sometimes they’ll also press that button and it’s like a reverse leapfrog sort of thing!

in magic races there are a whole bunch of items that can be compared to mariokart items pretty easily, but are also different in their own way! there’s a phoenix feather that gets passed around like the mariokart wii thundercloud! there’s one that keeps your horse from jumping! there’s regular lightning! there’s one sort of like squid ink, but it also makes your horse feel unsteady and they’ll start wobbling side to side, a nice touch that makes it harder than just using the minimap for a bit.

there’s random status conditions that shake things up, like sometimes it’ll just tell you there’s no slowdown when running uphill for a race. sometimes there’s a carnival and it will say stuff like “Glide for 3 seconds!” or “No one falls out of the track!” and if that condition is met, then you’re entered into a lottery for goodies, like the in game currency which i can’t find any way to purchase with real money, which is neat.

a small thing is that bits of the game everywhere are still in korean, and you just gotta feel your way around sometimes. things like the ESC button after a race that toggles if you'll leave straight to your ranch or not, things like popups that tell you what you just unlocked, thinks like the popups you get when you click on a highlighted word that's supposed to explain what it is but only a few of them are translated. could be there's a ton of stuff I missed because of this! not that big an issue to me, though. i figured it out B)

there’s breeding in this game! it seems like a lovely system! it doesn’t limit how often you can breed at all, just how many total horses you can have. if your horse successfully woos another you get a foal right then and that foal is an adult in one hour! no paywalls!! can you believe it? it’s like they want you to have fun! with each generation of horse you breed and train to max level, you get a class or so higher, and the higher the horse's class, the more total stat points you get, which you can allot to whichever stats you want.

the soundtrack is pretty great! the racetracks are really great! there’s one with massive grass dinosaurs on the side and it’s just great fantasy settings! they're gorgeous!

next up, character customization! you do make your character at the start, and there are sliders for things like height and head size and width, but if this is what it looks like at max width, what’s the point of having that slider? i don't remember there being any dark skin options if there were any at all (i forgor). additionally the amount of gender segregation felt very intense which i guess is also a Good Thing because it must mean the games i've been playing Haven't Had That Much Gender Segregation, but here’s me as a Boyly Boy v.s. me as a Gorly Gorl in the same sleeveless hoodie that i fell in love with.

you can see it. the turned in knees, the slouch, the way the hoodie is an entirely different thing now, the way she's shorter and skinnier and less muscular even though this is presumably still the tallest and widest settings. don’t like that. but hey, at least there's wearable cat ears!

now for the community! it’s fun seeing so many languages in the same one server! i tried to join a conversation with my many years of spanish classes and was told “it’s okay, dude, you can just speak english.” i then made an Utter Fool of myself by trying to say “your FACE is an [mean word they used first]!”, my typical go-to funny retort that makes people step back and think “what does that even mean. why am i here. why am i saying things i don’t care about. what is the meaning of life.” except i mixed up the words cara and camisa and instead said “your SHIRT is an idiot!” and the whole chat laughed at me and i was also laughing but I will never live that down. there are also nice veteran players who will see your little racing room titled Queststststs and will race 10 boring races with you so you can get it done. there are even people who will meow back at you in the chat (important)

that said, there is a very even mix of the good and the bad. there are rooms titled PRIDEEE <3 and there are rooms titled NO FREAKS! and the game will randomly put you into one if your old one closes or other things happen, so sometimes you’ll just glance at the chat and think “oh wow that’s a lot of racism!" or "oh, those two players that were typing during the whole race still placed in the top three. and they said they're steering with their feet? oh, they're cheating." then you think "i'll just report them."

there is no report button.

the official system to report players is to go to a twitter-like website i hadn't heard of before and message the game's account the player’s username and screenshots. the only in-game remedy is to block their messages from your eyes. that’s a pretty big issue to me. the players in that same room had horses with impressively profane names, and i realized there’s also no filter at all. maybe there is one for korean words, though! i hope!

and although I didn’t figure out how to do it, people were messaging me and asking for my discord, so there’s another internet safety rule broken i think.

i would not recommend this game to anyone who hasn’t mastered the ancient sage ways of not getting mad online and internet safety, including Youth.

i really wanted to rate this game five stars, but the lack of a report button is just too big of an issue for me. i really hope they change this someday, but for now

I rate Alicia Online 4.5/5 stars!

★★★★✬

i'm putting it above star stable online on the tier list though lol

looks like the next game is going to be Horse Eden Eventing!! stay tuned!

#horse game #alicia online

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canmom · 4 months

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the shape of things that my brain likes is a chain of 'whys'.

if i can ask 'so why is it done this way' and get an answer like 'well, when you try to do x, you encounter y problem, which you can solve by z' that is great. if it's 'we found/created this space of possibilities, and we're all exploring it', that's also great. if it's a historical story, like A came along and defined the scope of the activity, and then B came along and responded, and then C and D and E and F, we're iterating - well it's more arbitrary but if that's the best answer available it's the best answer available.

if it's 'idk, just is' then it's frustrating.

unfortunately the thing is... we humans are instantiated with pretty much an untrained neural net. at first our brains gotta learn shit like motor functions and recognise there's other minds and absorb a language to guide our thoughts and all that shit, but at some point we are just kind of left to our own devices to figure out what to do with the remaining decades of being alive. we have some sense of the shape of the world and it's affordances, our bodies give inputs that we can desire to feel again or hope to avoid, but once survival is taken care of, what we actually do with being alive is not something that has a nice 'deducible from first principles' sort of answer. we have to make arbitrary decisions. confound it!

just about anything can be an art form or a game (two very closely related concepts). it's just like... the scope of some activity that humans have settled on, maybe because we find it tends to arrange the world in ways that please our senses, maybe because it gives a handle to understand the noise around us. we find it satisfying to create these little bits of logical structure in the complete arbitrariness of everything. learning, the process of adapting to something, is a big part of what makes it compelling.

we learn these different activities by imitation at first. but since we crave novelty, and since all these activities are embedded in social relationships of power and prestige and so on, maybe at some point we get unsatisfied, we feel we've seen everything this particularly scheme has to offer, or that the activity as we encounter it doesn't suit our particular lives and we'd rather put a different spin on it... so we adjust it, make another variant. thus cultural practices evolve. they evolve in a way that is much more vague and hard to define than alleles, proteins, and organisms. there's no skin defining the boundary of a concept, it's more like the soup of bacteria swapping genes.

it's all so fascinating, because it's all made of the things that someone somewhere has found fascinating and hoped to communicate to other brains like it. "try this, you might enjoy it," spread across eight billion people and counting. 'i' could live a hundred times from the same starting point and spend the 80-ish years i get alive in a hundred completely different ways and develop into 'different people' each time, and in each one feel that i lived as interesting and purposeful a life as anyone gets to live. but i only get to experience the one lifetime, so I have to choose, even just to let the world choose for me... and let all those choices become a history that pushes into one trajectory or another, even if i can't see its shape. tumbling like a plinko horse.

why am 'i' this person, who cares about these things, and not another person who cares about other things? why did the whirlpool form there and not ten centimetres to the left? why are these sounds a musical genre, why are these shapes an art style? systems be complex, sometimes that's all you can say...

but even if I'm just one little tentacle of the incomprehensible superorganism/egregore/glider-pattern fumbling its way through experience-space, I'm glad i get to be that. wouldn't miss it for the world...

#introspective nightposting #art #philosophy

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iamthenerdqueen · 7 months

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The Red String of Faith - Chapter XIII

Idol!AteezXOCs Soulmates!ot8AteezXOCs OCXOC Slight Social Media AU!

MDNI 18+ ONLY

slight twigger warnings:Polyamory, group of 10, two OC's -feel free to replace one OC with yourself if you'd like- , listen this is an idea me and my best friend had and is something for fun read at own risk, not edited as always, also we are starting to explore themes such as bxb and gxg if thats not for you, this story may not be for you.

Chapter VIII, Chapter IX. Chapter X, Chapter XI, Chapter XII, Next

*note play How To Save A Life while reading this chapter cause we're emotional*

Lyra’s phone ringing on the table with Lia’s name was the last thing she wanted to see during this dinner. Still, she knew she couldn’t just let it ring like that her anxiety wouldn’t let her.

“Oh, I'm so sorry. Is it okay if I take this? It’s Lia,” Lyra felt bad for having to step away like this but all she could do was hope Yerim understood.

“I swear to god, Lia, if you're about to ask me to bring you home something to eat the answer is no.” Okay, so Lyra wasn’t over the spat they had earlier. Everything is fine, it’s fine.

“Lyra,” the sound of Lia’s voice over the phone sent chills down Lyra’s spine. It was quiet and horse, something was obviously wrong on the other end of the phone. “Ly, I think something is wrong. I’m bleeding and my head hurts so bad I can barely see.”

“Okay, I’m on my way back to the apartment right now, stay on the line let me get out of this restaurant real quick, Okay?” The cold rush of panic hit Lyra’s blood system as she rushed back over to the table. Something in the back of her mind told her it was rude to leave like this but her only concern was getting home. Lia wasn’t the type to admit when something was wrong unless she thought it was a life-or-death situation.

That thought shook Lyra to the core.

“I’m so sorry Yerim, I’m going to have to go. Lia is feeling really bad and I need to go be with her. Tonight is my treat though, so I went ahead and paid. I'm so sorry I have to rush like this.” Lyra barely heard Yerim’s response and goodbye before she was back out the door and back on the phone with Lia.

“Lia, are you still there?” Lyra was trying to not let her own panic bleed over the phone, she knew the best way to keep Lia calm was to be calm herself.

“I’m here,” she sounded even worse than just a few minutes ago, Lyra had half a mind to run the few blocks from the restaurant to their apartment but the street was too busy for her to avoid running into anyone.

“Just stay on the line with me okay, tell me about the last thing you saw on twitter? Was it anything interesting?” The first thing that came to Lyra was to keep her talking about literally anything and Twitter was easy.

“I can’t remember, I think something about the airport or someone at the airport. It was funny I think, I don’t know,” Lia could hardly keep her eyes open on the other side of the phone, she had never felt so weak in her life. Her period had come early as well which only made her feel worse. She hated it when she was spotting.

Lia could hear Lyra saying something on the other end of the phone but she was too hazy to answer at this point and the haze of her eyesight had worsened. She just wanted to sleep in her spot in the bathroom, a nap really sounded great.

But then there was the annoying sound of the door once again, keeping her from taking her nap just like it had early in the day.

“Lia. Lia!” Lyra was knocking on the other side of the bathroom door, but she couldn’t get in. Lia had locked the door when she walked into the bathroom.

“Lia,” there was Lyra's voice again, she could hear her, “Lia, I need you to get up and open the door. The paramedics are on their way, but you gotta open the door so we can help you,” Lia didn’t remember making it to the door, she didn’t remember much until they made it to the hospital really.

Everything moved fast from that point, the paramedic was there and in a matter of minutes, Lia was on a stretcher heading for the back of an ambulance. If Lyra thought that the initial phone call from Lia was the worst part of the night, she was dead wrong. It was the silence she was met in the back of the taxi as she rushed toward the hospital.

Hongjoong didn’t answer his phone.

Wooyoung’s phone went straight to voicemail.

Yunho, Seonghwa, Jongho, Mingi, Yeosang, San. Not one of them answered their phone.

They were still at practice and would be until late into the night, it was no different than any other night as far as they knew. So the only person Lyra knew could get to them was Hajoon.

“Lyra? Are you locked out of the building again?” No one expects the phone call, you know the one.

“Hajoon, we’re on our way to the hospital and I can’t get the boys to answer my calls,” Lyra was crying on the other end of the phone

“We who? Are you hurt?” He was so confused as to who was hurt, and why they were going into the hospital at almost 10 at night.

“No, not me. Not me. Lia, I'm following behind the ambulance now,” She was speaking almost too fast for Hajoon to follow, her Korean had gotten sloppy because of how upset she was.

“Tell me what happened,” over the next few minutes he just sat there listening to exactly what had happened from the moment that Lyra had gotten the call from Lia while out at dinner to where they were now on their way to the hospital. He kept her on the phone as long as he could, part of it was to try and make her calm down also so that he could get as much information about the situation as possible. He was only responsible for Ateez, his job ended and began with their well-being. These two girls weren’t his job, he didn’t have to care about them. But he did, he cared about them just as much as he cared for the boys one room over. Now it was both his job, literally and because he cared for those girls, to tell those eight boys that their soulmate was in the hospital.

“Why is it always you,huh? Can’t the universe decide to choose someone else to pick on for once,” Lyra was playing with Lia’s fingers, sitting next to her in a hospital room. It was an eerily familiar scene for the pair, but this time they were on the other side of the world and couldn’t call their moms to tell them everything would be okay.

Lia hadn’t really woken up since they left the house, there were a few moments when she would wake up before going back to sleep. The nurses had been in and out, but the doctor hadn’t been in to see them yet. The room was rather quiet besides the general buzz of a hospital room.

“Lia? Lyra?” Two people stepped into the small hospital room with black face masks covering the lower halves of their faces. Lyra could recognize her soulmates immediately, Jongho walked into the room first followed by Hongjoong.

Lyra stood as they entered the room and pulled each one of them into a tight hug, despite the brave front they were putting on she could feel their hands shaking and how they held her close. All of them were hiding how scared they really were, maybe if they acted this way the situation would right itself.

“Where’s my hug?” The three of them turned to see Lia sitting up in her hospital bed as best she could while trying to avoid getting wrapped up in the different cords attached to her.

Each of them went next to the bed, Hongjoong grabbed her hand and gently stroked the back of her hand.

“Hey,” Jongho said from the other side of her, Lia couldn’t really read his expression because of his mask but she hoped that there was a small smile on his face.

“Hey,” Lia was moving around some more and really didn’t want to be tied down to the bed anymore. She didn’t really know what happened but it was easy enough for her to put two and two together. She was in the hospital plain and simple.

Lyra hadn’t said anything, she just stepped out of the room really quickly. Lia couldn’t blame her, she didn’t remember much after getting up to use the bathroom but she did remember how harsh she had been the last time she spoke to Lyra at the house.

“How are you feeling?” Hongjoong asked, trying to figure out what was wrong with her, it all seemed to come out of nowhere.

“Bad, like someone beat me over the head with a baseball bat plus my period start and that’s always trash,” She was trying to make the situation a little more lighthearted but it was obvious that the boys were not ready yet to give into her humor.

“Why didn’t you say anything, I thought we talked about this. I though-” Hongjoong got a little choked up on his words, frustrated and worried about the person who seemed so fragile before him.

“I just thought it was a migraine, that it would just ease up. I’ve had migraines like this before,” It was the honest truth, she had migraines that had lasted for months as a teenager and there was nothing that could really be done except to take an advil.

Before they could continue their conversation, Lyra came back into the room with a nurse behind her and the small room became even smaller with all the people there. After the hospital staff was alerted that Lia had woken up it was a furry of people in and out. Redoing tests and administering new tests to try to figure out why she had ended up here. They wouldn’t tell anyone anything specific just that they were trying to get answers before they saw anything definitive.

The other boys were just as anxious to be there, but the hospital had a cap on how many people could be in the room at once, so those who were there right now would trade-off in the morning. Jongho was sure that Hongjoong and Lyra had fallen asleep in their chairs somewhere around 1 a.m. The room had become less busy and Lia had gone back to sleep after they had given her some medication to help ease any pain she was in.

He couldn’t hold it anymore as he let the tears spill over while trying not to wake anyone with his crying. He didn’t show his emotions as much as the others, but it didn’t mean he cared any less. He felt so helpless just watching from the sidelines like this, as one of the most important people in his life was suffering.

“Please be okay. Please. Please. Please,” Jongho whispered the words like a prayer of sorts, hoping that something out there would listen to him. Maybe it wasn’t that serious but sitting in a hospital room it always felt like the world didn’t continue outside. Like everything revolved around the happenings of this awful place.

“I’ll be just fine, you know,” Jongho’s head popped up to see Lia smiling at him. He quickly tried to wipe the tears from his eyes and hide the evidence that he was upset.

“How do you know that, we’re sitting in a hospital and. And-” The tears were back, heavier this time and he had to bring his fist to his mouth so as to not make any sound.

“I just do. Maybe it’s because I know that I don’t have to do this alone. That Lyra doesn’t have to sit on the other side of the bed alone this time.” Lia was holding his hand, and without second thought Jongho placed his head on her bed next to where their hands were intertwined together, every so often he would bring their hands to his lips. The two of them ended up falling asleep like that.

Soon enough the morning came, the nurses filtered back in and the doctor would make his rounds around 9 am.

“Okay, Seonghwa and Mingi will be here in a little while. Wooyoung will come around noon after his schedule is over.” Lyra looked up from her spot near the bed and nodded before getting up to give them both a hug and kiss.

“I’ll keep you all updated, I promise.” Lyra said as they moved around the room to say goodbye to Lia as well who was dosing in and out of sleep.

Not long after the boys left, the doctor finally made his rounds and had some news.

“Our tests have told us a couple things, firstly you were dealing with some lasting side effects of having soul sickness with major separation. While you were being treated, you did not finish the last of the medication, correct?” The doctor paused to get some sort of confirmation from Lia who sheepishly nodded her head confirming that she did not finish the bottle of medication she had from her last time in the hospital.

“That is why you have been feeling so fatigued and the constant migraine, so we will give you another round of medication. You must be sure to finish them this time and I promise there will be no complications if that's what you’re worried about,” Lia was following the doctor until his last little point. What type of complications was this doctor talking about, and why would that be a concern.

“I’m sorry, complications?” Lia asked the doctor rather pointedly, making it quite clear that she didn’t understand what he was referencing.

“Well, complications with the pregnancy. You don’t have to worry about the spotting, it happens sometimes during this stage of pregnancy, but overall the blood tests have told us it’s healthy thus far. We will give you some information to set up an appointment with an OB.” The doctor kept talking but Lia had tuned out his words. She hadn’t missed any of her pills, except for the night before.

“I’m pregnant.” Lia cut off the doctor, If Lyra wasn’t just as surprised at the news she would have laughed at the look on Lia’s face.

“Shut up, I’m not pregnant. Don’t joke about things like that,” Lia was sure this was some sort of joke that someone was playing. She’d laugh about it later, but for now, it wasn’t very funny.

“No, you’re pregnant. I’m sorry if you didn’t know, but I wouldn’t dare lie about this.” The doctor was taken back by the tone coming from Lia.

“Nope, not me. I refuse, I would like a refund.” Lia was adamant this was a joke or a mistake or something other than what she was hearing.

“I can show you the blood test results, or we can try and do an ultrasound. I’d say you’re just about six weeks along, so the baby should be visible. Perhaps we may even be able to see the heartbeat,” The doctor offered as a solution to which Lia readily agreed and then they would see that there was a mistake, she wasn’t pregnant.

“Oh dude, I hope there has been some sort of major mistake. We can barely take care of ourselves let alone a kid,” Lyra said while grabbing Lia’s hand, her words weren’t very calming but they did make Lia laugh so that was a plus.

It would be an interesting conversation later when the boys made it home, Wooyoung was going to have a field day with this.

A/N: you know I keep say that I wont be updating for a while. I keep updating anyway. But here ya go, and trust me when I say next chapter wil have all 8 boys and their... reactions to the news. ;)

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keep-the-wolves-close · 5 months

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Steady Heart

Chapter 5: Diggin’ a Hole

• Pairing: Slow-burn Kayce Dutton × OFC Stella Daniels

• Rating: M? (Still figuring out the rating system) (might eventually be M anyhow)

• Warnings: brief mention of suicide, language, I think this chapter is pretty tame?

• Word count: 3,798ish

I would love to give credits to @dameronscopilot for being a sounding board for me during this whole process, giving outsider insight, being a cheerleader, and allowing me to screech at her about things that have happened during the writing process. seriously couldn't have gotten this far.

Author's note: I hope everyone is enjoying so far! I hope you love this chapter as well! 💛🤓

Stella pulled up to the barn by the bunkhouse. When she shut off the car, she and Jimmy sat in silence and stared out the windshield. The day had hit hard, in more ways than one.

Stella breathed out a whispered, “fuck,” and rubbed her face.

Jimmy nodded, numb, still staring out the windshield. He looked over to Stella. “You gonna be okay?”

She thought carefully. “Yeah, I think so. I gotta go clear my head. Probably gonna go for a ride.”

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna shower before closing everyone up for the night.” Jimmy opened the door and slid a leg out before Stella’s voice stopped him.

“Jimmy I’m sorry.”

His brows pulled together. “For what?”

Stella shrugged and gestured in the direction of Kayce’s. “For all of that.”

“What do ya mean?”

“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have had to experience that.”

Jimmy relaxed back into the passenger seat, one leg still against the SUV door. He twisted to face her better. “Stella, c’mon. You couldn’t have known something like that was gonna happen. It’s not your fault.”

“Yeah,” Stella sighed. “I guess so.”

“You good?”

“I will be.” As Jimmy stepped out of the car, she remembered Rip was probably going to give him hell. “I’ll take care of Rip for you too. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.” He smiled and let the door fall shut.

Stella let her head rest against the seat and zoned out on the pasture in front of her. She felt for Monica. She had lost so much in such a short amount of time. Stella couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of heartbreak Monica felt right now. There should have been something someone could have done before it came to this. ‘Thinking about the what ifs and maybes isn’t helping, and won’t help.’

She must have sat there for longer than she thought when she focused back in and saw her brother walk by with his horse Blue Jeans. Hurrying into movement, she hopped out of the car. Ryan heard the flurry noise and he slowed his gait.

“Hey brub.” Stella greeted him.

He pulled his brows together. Something wasn’t right. She only called him that when she was feeling small. “Hey Stellee. What’s up?”

She gave BJ a soft pat on his rump to let him know she was there as she walked behind him. “Hey BJ,” she whispered. Placing herself in front of Ryan, she leaned into his chest, asking for a hug. To which Ryan automatically wrapped her up with his free arm.

“Woah woah, what’s going on? Are you okay?” Stella heard the panic in his voice.

A muffled reply came from her. “Yeah I’m okay. It was just a really long day.” She stroked BJ along his shoulder, finding solace in the simple act.

“You wanna talk about it?”

After a few minutes of thought, Stella straightened herself and pulled out of Ryan’s hold. “Let me go get Abigail and then we can go to the river.” She looked at BJ, “as long as he’s up for it.”

“Of course he is. Let me come help you.”

Ryan followed his little sister into the barn and watched her closely. She moved in calm, but silent motion. Her quietness bothered him. He handed her things as she reached for them. They worked like a fine oiled machine. A nice assembly line of tacking up her mare.

The aforementioned mare nuzzled at her owner occasionally, trying to elicit a response. Stella whispered to her, “hold on girl.” Ryan would almost say it looked like Stella was going to cry. Once the last piece of the puzzle was placed, Stella didn’t even wait for Ryan. She just knew he would follow.

The sibling duo made a quick pit stop to grab the other horse and prepared to set off toward the lower part of the river. “I’m gonna let her leg it out.” Stepping into her saddle, she let the bay roan take off.

The woman and her horse slowed to a walk when the river came into view. Stella heard Ryan and Blue Jeans coming up behind them. Ryan stopped BJ next to his sister and observed the thousand yard stare.

“Stella, what happened? Where’d you even go earlier?”

“I went to Kayce’s and I took Jimmy thinking Kayce and I could teach him something that would help him here.”

Ryan held off asking again because he could feel that the flood gates were about to burst.

“Well everything was going great. Jimmy was learning something, and we were all having a great time.” Stella’s heart fluttered in her chest, making it hard to catch her breath. “Then we heard a gunshot—,” she cut herself off and took a stuttering breath in. “It was Monica’s sister-in-law.”

“Wait, she?”

Stella confirmed with a solemn nod.

“Oh my god.”

“I didn’t see much because Monica took over, but I saw enough.” She leaned forward. “I wish I had words, but I don’t. I’m sorry for Monica, I’m sorry for Samantha’s kids.” Stella shook her head. “I just don’t know what I want to say.”

“And that’s okay. You don’t have to have something to say all the time.”

“I just wish there was something any of us could have done.”

“I know what you mean.”

In the silence that fell over Stella and her brother, she thought about the situation with John. There were so many things she was unsure of. Is she fired, is she staying, is she demoted? The anxiety crept up on her. It’s cold, bony hands gripping her shoulders and weaving their way to her neck.

Ryan watched Stella tense up again. He knew she was always safe here, but as of late it seemed that she was losing that comfort. “What else is going on?”

His voice broke her out of her thoughts of the situation. Stella had tried to avoid telling Ryan anything about it. She had a choice in front of her. She could lie and say it’s nothing, or she could spill the beans completely.

If she lied, Ryan would know. That was one thing she could never get away with by herself. Kayce always helped convince him, or anyone they were trying to pull the wool over on.

If she fessed up, he would most likely go on a tear to find John and argue with him. Stella didn’t want to put his livelihood and job in jeopardy alongside her. It was her stupid mistake and he shouldn’t have to take the fall with her.

“You gotta promise me you won’t go on a rampage after this.”

Ryan stiffened in his saddle. He focused his gaze directly on Stella. “I make no promises, but I’ll do my best. Go on.”

Stella took the plunge and let it all fall out. “So I overheard a conversation I shouldn’t have, and when I went to sneak away, which I now realize I should have just waited it out, Mr. Dutton saw me and now my job and time here is in the balance.” The silence that enveloped them had Stella twitching in her saddle. She could almost hear the impending explosion. “Ryan, please don’t. Don’t risk yourself trying to defend me.”

His glare locked her in place. He looked furious. Stella braced herself for the onslaught of her brother's wrath. “How dare you ask me that, Stella?”

“Ryan come on now, we both can’t afford to lose our jobs.”

“It’s not about that!”

“Then what is it about?!” She screamed back at him.

“John should know better! You’ve never had any problem with secrecy! He should know you better than that!”

“Well Ryan, I don’t know when he’s gonna decide, and I don’t have the power to make him change his mind or sway his decision.”

“Kayce would! Have you told him?”

“He’s got enough going on. I’m not dragging him into this. He would go to a whole different level of blood rage.”

“You can’t just lay down and submit. Even if he is your boss, say something damnit!” If there was one thing John hated in his employees, it was when they gave up.

Stella rolled her eyes. Ryan was right, but John’s words, you’re on thin ice little girl, ran through her head over and over. “Alright, fine,” she grumbled. “What would I even say?”

“The truth.”

“Wow, don’t you think I already did that?”

“If you would let me finish my thought,” Ryan raised his brows at her. “Tell him the truth, but we all know he can be a bully sometimes. So be a bully back.”

John just finished talking to Jamie in the house. He needed to find Rip. There were questions he needed answered about Stella. He hoped he could find the answers with his foreman. Thinking since it was late, he would try the foreman’s lodge first.

On his way down the hill in the dark, he heard hooves as they barreled away from the barn. John caught a quick glimpse of Stella and Ryan headed off to the river.

He rapped on the lodge's door which brought Rip front and center. “Sir? Is everything alright?” He stepped out onto the small porch.

“It might be, but I have a few questions.” John stopped and reflected. Rip remained wordless, waiting for John to continue. “Tell me about Stella.”

“What do you wanna know, sir?” Rip frowned. John knew Stella just as well as anyone else on the ranch.

John contemplated. “I know she’s been here a while. Hell, grown up here, really. She’s a hard worker. My son loves her. The men love her.”

Rip nodded. “Yes sir, I would agree. I’d trust her with my life. Without a doubt.”

“But can we trust her with sensitive information?”

“I believe we could. I’ve never heard anything come up otherwise. And I can’t swear to what she’s overheard in the past or not. If she’s even paid attention to it.”

“Oh, she’s paid attention to it.” John declared.

“She’s been here this long with her brother, and nothing has made her run. She’s protected all of us like a grizzly when she’s had to. Even the resident dipshit. What did she hear?”

“She heard Jamie and I talking about Kayce being identified and what to do with Lee so they couldn’t identify Kayce.”

“Oh, that kind of information.”

“Yeah. The burying kind.” John confirmed. “Does that change your mind?”

“No, sir. I could talk to her for you?”

“No. I feel like I should handle this.” John turned and left Rip standing there. He paused for a moment to mention something he’d forgotten, “oh she tried to fight Fred by the way.”

“Fuck.” Rip cursed to himself in a hushed tone. “I thought I heard some of the men talking about her landing a hit. I’ll take care of that, sir.” He would have to talk with Stella, hopefully before John got to her. Rip knew they could trust her not to say anything, but John was a hard man to convince. Even with Rip’s blessing.

John continued on his way past the round pen and into the barn. He went to go sit with Tank and remembered Stella and Ryan were gone. John opened the stallion’s stall. He placed himself at the back corner.

He sat there for about 10 minutes before he started hearing noise at the front end of the barn. He caught Stella faintly talking to her brother. He couldn’t make out what she was saying. The tone was glum from what he could tell. Her voice floated closer as she stood her mare outside the stall next to him. Ryan’s voice sounded a bit further to the left.

Tank moved to the open window and chuffed at her. Stella reached out to pet his nose from afar. “Hey buddy. You did a great job today. I hope those boys have been treating you right.” The stud brushed against her hand. She glanced at her brother over her shoulder. “Y’all been treating him right?”

Ryan laughed. “Yes, Stellee. Not many of us can touch him for long anyway.”

Stella went back to breaking down Abigail. She mumbled softly to her. “You did great today too, babe. I’m sorry I’ve been making myself scarce. I just don’t need another run in like yesterday. I don��t want us to get kicked outta here. I don’t know what I would do if that happened.” She brushed Abigail’s side softly.

Ryan interjected softly. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay.”

“How can you promise that?”

“I can’t, but I know our boss well enough. You stick to your guns, and everything will work itself out.” Ryan suggested.

“Fuck Ry, I should have known better.” Stella huffed. Abigail chuffed at her and gave her arm a hard shove with her nose, sensing her girl’s anxiety.

The siblings became aware of noise behind the large mare in front of her. Letting her shoulders drop, Stella prayed with every fiber of her being that it wasn’t John. She peeked over top of Abigail’s withers, which at 16.3 hands, was just high enough that she could just barely see over at five foot seven if she went up on her toes a bit. When she saw that it was Jimmy just coming in to close everyone up for the night, she sighed in relief. She fixed her glasses and readjusted the backwards ball cap she had on.

“Hey Jimmy.”

“Oh hey, Stella. Ryan.” When Ryan didn’t say anything, Jimmy went about closing up stall windows at the far end. “You doin’ okay, Stell?”

“Yeah I’m okay. I think. We just got back from a ride around. Had to clear my head.” She paused for a moment. “You comin’ in to shut everyone up for the night?”

“Yeah. The usual low man stuff. I had to clear my head too.”

Stella ignored the scoff from her brother. “Nah I don’t consider it low man. Being in here was some of the least stressful time I had. Out there?” Stella pointed out the barn door. “Well as you saw today… you gotta be worried about not only yourself, but everyone, and every move you make.” She continued to brush out Abigail.

Jimmy laughed. “You’ve got a point there. Can I help you out?”

Stella glanced at him over top of Abigail again and then at her brother. She debated for a minute, but decided he was harmless and it would also help her get out of here quicker.

She smiled at him. “Sure. Why not?”

They made quick work of getting the mare ready for the night. Making sure she was properly cooled off and locked up safe in her stall. With Ryan finishing his horse and lending a hand, it went even faster.

“I’m sorry the guys are hazing you so bad. It’ll get better here soon. I think you’re doing great for someone who had no previous experience.” Stella encouraged him. “And having me and maybe Kayce, if I can convince him, you’ll be great in no time.”

Ryan watched the exchange and felt the need to break up the love fest. “When did this become Stella’s School for Dipshits?”

Stella smacked Ryan’s arm, hard. “How about you shut the fuck up or else you’ll be enrolled in Stella’s School for Dumbasses Who Need to Eat Knuckles?”

“Okay okay, my bad. I’m sure you learned a lot from them both today, Jimmy. I wanna see it in action out there.” Jimmy assessed whether or not Ryan was serious. When the genuine look remained on the man’s face, he gave him a small smile.

His gaze moved back to Stella. “Thank you for standing up for me to Fred by the way. He’s batshit crazy and that wasn’t a great idea, but I appreciate it. I don’t know if I’m cut out for this though.”

“Of course, Jimmy. As for being cut out for this? None of us really are. It gets cut into us.” Ryan emphatically nodded.

“What do you mean?”

“Usually, by one way or another, we pick up on the little stuff we’re not good at. Trial and error. Learning the ropes isn’t easy. It certainly doesn’t happen overnight, either. Give it time, Jimmy. Lloyd has faith in you. So I do too.” She patted his shoulder. “Goodnight Jimmy. Thanks for the help.” She and Ryan began to wander off to the door.

“Sorry, Mr. Dutton, should I, um…,” Stella heard Jimmy utter those words and wanted to die right there. He had been in the barn the whole time. She gave a wide eyed look to her brother and picked up the pace. She could hear the men talking faintly behind her.

“You never knew your grandmother, did you?”

“No, she, uh…,” he paused and then continued, “she died when my mother was young.”

“I remember.”

That jog to the outside felt like it took forever. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding while she looked over her shoulder making sure her brother was behind her. Stella’s eyes were closed as she brought her head back forward. She opened them a second too late and ran face to chest into Rip.

She let out a little startled gasp. “Jesus, Rip!”

“Woah! You okay?” He grabbed her shoulders to steady her, but also made his eyes level with hers.

Stella nodded. “Yeah I’m fine. You just scared the shit out of me.”

Rip greeted Ryan with a nod, but continued questioning Stella. “What happened to having him back by the afternoon?”

“Something heavy came up at Kayce’s after he and I were working with him. Trying to teach him things to help him here.” Stella’s tone was soft, and she looked to the ground. She didn’t have the heart to go into the details again.

Rip saw the sensitivity and quickly changed the subject. “Ryan, you go on to the house. I have to talk to your sister for a minute.”

Ryan made eye contact with his sister, pleading with her to remain calm. Trying to convince her that everything was going to work out. He gave her a quick one armed hug before making his way to the bunkhouse.

Rip waited until he was sure Ryan was out of ear shot. “So what’s this I hear about you trying to fight Fred? Did you forget the rules?”

Stella clenched her jaw. “Oh come the fuck on. He’s a big headed bully bitch. He deserves every punch thrown at him, and you know it.”

John heard their slightly raised voices from inside the barn. He got up from his place in Tank’s stall and went to stand by the door.

Rip started, “I do, but—,” Stella interrupted.

“—and you also know as well as I do that he’s not branded. So it really shouldn’t matter.”

Rip sighed. “That’s not the point Stella.”

“Then what is it?!” She screamed at him. She was tired of people saying that to her today.

“Just because you’re miss Stella-belle, and we all love you dearly, doesn’t mean you get to break the rules and not get reprimanded for it.”

“Rip, I’m not gonna fight you. I also only technically hit him once. Enough to make my point.” Stella defended.

“Listen, I gotta bar you from the bunkhouse for a while. One hit or not.”

“What?!”

“You and Fred obviously don’t get along. He knows what buttons of yours to push. I don’t need your anger to get the better of you.”

Her head dropped back with a frustrated groan. “Okay, okay fine. I’m already walking on eggshells as it is.”

“Why?”

“When did you start asking so many questions?” Stella didn’t mind him showing concern, but she wasn’t really in the mood for another interrogation.

Rip made himself eye level with her, holding onto her shoulders. “When people started askin’ me fuckin’ questions about you.” He let go of her, but stayed eye level with her.

Stella smacked her lips. John must have spoken to Rip already. “Touché, you’ve got me there.”

“No, not “touché”. Why is he askin’ me if you can be trusted or not?”

“Let me start off with, hindsight is 20/20. Instead of doing the smart thing and announcing my presence by walking out into the barn hall, I decided to sneak out the window. Which I understand now, looks very suspicious. My first initial thought was to ignore it. I didn’t see anything, I didn’t hear anything. Just like with everything in this place.”

She started to pace. “But then, keeping up with my mindset of, I didn’t see or hear anything, I decided it was a great idea to then lie to John when I didn’t know he had seen me leave.”

Rip rubbed his eyes with his finger tips in disbelief. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ, Stella. Why did you see a giant pile of dog shit and think it was a good idea to step in it?!”

Stella sucked her lips inward and rubbed them together. She was in a huge pile of it, she knew that very well. She fixed her glasses and released her lips with a pop.

“In my defense, I didn’t step in it on purpose. Should I have just waited until everyone left the barn, and continued on with the ignore it mindset? Yeah. But I didn’t. And now that misstep is potentially gonna royally fuck me over.” She took a deep breath. John leaned closer to the door and made eye contact with Rip through the door. Stella’s tone got soft. Solemn.

“This place, all of the people here? Other than my own house, this is the only place that feels like home. The only ranch Ryan and I have been to that felt like that.” She slid her glasses back up her nose. “If you think I would do something like run my mouth to someone about some shit I don’t even know the context for? Risking the safety of said people and place? You guys don’t know me at all then.” She shook her head and looked to the ground.

Stella sighed. “Can I go to my house now?” Rip nodded.

As Stella walked away she heard him say to her, “we’ll get this figured out Stella. I promise.”

After Rip gave her that heavy promise, he saw the door to the barn open. John stood there and looked in the direction Stella had gone to her car. “Has she given up?” He asked his foreman.

“Not quite. She’s definitely beating herself up about it though.”

“Have her come around noon tomorrow. I think it’s safe to say she’s learned her lesson.” John started to walk away.

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