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danaewrites · 9 months

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you with the dark curls (you with the watercolor eyes)

part i: and while you were asleep, i was surely awake

james potter x reader // read it on AO3

word count: 2.8k

summary: “Falling in love with your best friend was never a good idea, but you’d managed to do the idiot thing anyway, carrying a torch for a boy who would never look past Lily’s emerald eyes to see the watercolor ones that had always been by his side.”

tags: best friends to lovers, angst with a happy ending, based on the song "dear arkansas daughter" by lady lamb, fem!reader

author's notes: hii y'all, sorry for not posting in a year :P my only excuse is that i didn't feel like taking the energy to actually write out my story ideas. also perfectionism. anyway i somehow wrote this in two hours while procrastinating my college app essays and have plans to make this a multi-chapter fic despite intending to write an angsty oneshot request for a completely different fandom (i see you, beloved anons, and i raise you this completely unrelated fic <3)… the brain of a writer works in mysterious ways.

read it all here: part i, part ii, part iii (coming soon!)

You were in love with James Potter.

It was a fact of life, just like how the sky was blue, or that his favorite dessert was treacle tart, or that you were the only person he’d ever let see him cry besides his mother. You’d loved him from the moment you met him on the train to Hogwarts as a shy, anxious muggleborn unsure of the new world of magic and prejudice you’d been thrown into without so much as a warning. He hadn’t cared at all about your blood status- didn’t even think to ask about it. He had launched himself into your compartment and began talking at you a mile a minute, beaming with every tooth showing once he found out you were hoping to get into Gryffindor, his hazel eyes alight with the joy of making a new friend. And friends indeed you had become; you were proud to remember that you’d known him before Sirius or Remus or Peter did, though it took only an instant after the Sorting for him to become best mates with the rest of them, too.

You and James were inseparable from that moment on, giggling at Professor Binns’ failure to notice Sirius’ antics in the back of class and reassuring each other when home seemed too far away for comfort. He stole sweets from the Slytherin table for you at meals, and you covered for him when the teachers almost caught him pranking Snape– after all, who would believe that sweet, innocent Y/n would ever be involved in such shenanigans? The soft-spoken demeanor and love of everything pastel you’d thought would eventually oust you from the close-knit Gryffindor boys’ group proved to be quite the useful asset when affirming their ‘innocence’.

Not that they only wanted you around because you were helpful, of course. You had quite the talent for exaggerating stories until even Sirius fell off his seat laughing in disbelief, and your creative mind made for some glorious pranks and entertaining mistakes. Peter would blush for an hour straight if anyone mentioned The Great Plum Pudding Incident of Christmas 1974, all thanks to your clever meddling. And Remus– well, he was eternally grateful for your mother-henning during the worst of his moon cycles. You’d been the first to figure out his “furry little problem”, and upon learning that enjoying chocolate was his favorite method of escapism, showed up every month without fail with an armful of Honeydukes sweets. The little ways in which you loved each Marauder meant the world to them. They would do anything to protect you and make sure you were okay, James most of all. You often teased James that he was more bodyguard than friend, with his deep glares at too-forward Hufflepuff boys masking the big softie you knew he was underneath. You remembered fondly the summer days he spent chasing you around your house, scaring your mother half to death with his colander-and-pot ‘armor’ as he declared that as a chivalrous knight, he was meant to save Princess Y/n from the terrible Acromantula King. Privately, you thought James had a few too many Arthurian legends for bedtime stories as a child, but what could you do?

Even now, as sixth years, the bond between you and James never changed, your love for him ever-growing. Your heart melted every time you glanced over your shoulder in the hallway, only to find him chatting softly with a sniffling first-year and guiding them to Professor Sprout’s office for a hot cuppa and a biscuit. You cheered at his Quidditch victories and were euphorically lifted up onto his broad shoulders afterward, whooping as he galavanted through the common room in celebration. You were there when he needed a shoulder to cry on when his grandfather died, softly stroking his hair as he fell asleep in your lap with tear tracks still running down his face. And he adored you in return– braiding your hair while you worked on Herbology essays, racing you on his beloved broom when you stayed with him during the summer, distracting you from your rants about Slughorn’s unfair grading with a trip to the kitchens and a blissfully soft blanket.

James was your lifeline and you his– and nothing in the world could change that.

Except, perhaps, one tiny little complication. A complication with vibrant red hair, sparkling green eyes, and a natural affinity for Potions. A complication that had sparked your jealousy since the first time you noticed James glancing dreamily at Lily Evans in second year Transfiguration, jealousy that had only gotten worse with his grand declarations of love every week. He’d begun to announce his affection for the muggleborn to anyone who would listen in third year, and it didn’t stop there. No, when James Potter loved someone, he loved hard, and that meant that you had to watch as beautiful bouquets appeared on Lily’s nightstand nightly while the rest of the girls in your dorm whispered and swooned. You were a wallflower when he sighed about how lovely her skin was and how bloody talented she was at everything she did during one of your late-night chats in the common room, curling in on yourself with every word he spoke. When he asked her to Hogsmeade the first time (and the second, and the third, and the fiftieth), you observed as she rolled her eyes and shoved past him, despite the small smile on her face.

It wasn’t that Lily wasn’t smart or pretty or talented– far from it. She deserved every good Potions grade she got, and even the pureblood Slytherins begrudgingly noted how she was the darling of Hogwarts society. But you thought that the way she treated your best friend, refusing his advances quite harshly but sending him flirtatious glances and making a show of wearing his flowers in her hair, was rather unkind and misleading. She had James wrapped around her little finger and didn’t seem to want to let go of his attention anytime soon, despite Snape’s protests about how much time he was spending with her. You disliked Severus, but didn’t think he deserved Lily’s bad treatment either. Sometimes you’d see him staring at James and Lily deep in conversation, and shoot him a glance of communal disappointment– before realizing who you were sharing the moment with and resuming an expression of disgust, at least.

At first, you ignored your growing angst about his new obsession, chalking it up to sleep deprivation, stress over your upcoming exams, and even your monthly. But when you started to run out of excuses for the despair slowly overtaking your heart and flashes of his dark curls began to appear in your sweetest dreams, you were forced to admit that your feelings for James ran much deeper than a platonic friendship. From the way he spun you around in the snow to the way he snorted at Remus’ awful puns, you were head-over-heels smitten with your best friend.

The way he’d filled out since the end of fourth year hadn’t escaped your notice, either; you were pretty sure that his pecs should be considered a traffic hazard, with the way you’d fallen flat on your face after seeing him shirtless after a match. He’d rushed over to clean up every one of your injuries, of course, with a touch so gentle it released a whole menagerie of butterflies in your stomach. You’d barely managed to mumble a coherent thank-you before sprinting to take a very cold shower and scream into your pillow with embarrassment. How on earth did Lily Evans even think around him?!

Alas, you’d read your fair share of romance novels, and you knew how this story would end. Falling in love with your best friend was never a good idea, but you’d managed to do the idiot thing anyway, carrying a torch for a boy who would never look past Lily’s emerald eyes to see the watercolor ones that had always been by his side.

That was the state Sirius found you in, broody and lost in thought in a quiet corner of the library. He grinned rakishly, planting a well-polished boot on a nearby chair and leaning over to tap your forehead. “Lots going on in there today, huh?”

You snapped out of your daze and smiled sheepishly up at him. “Sorry, Siri, didn’t mean to ignore you. Just, er, thinking about my Potions essay, do you know how many uses there are for mandelwort? Quite fascinating plants, hones–”

Sirius winced and slid back far across the table. “Oh, no, you are not discussing horrid Potions work with me today when there are so many other wonderful topics.” He gestured to a table of swooning fifth-years gazing dreamily at his backside. “For example, those lovely ladies,” he crooned, sending an exaggerated wink towards them and smirking when they sighed.

You wrinkled your nose and scoffed. “Oh, please, as if I haven’t heard enough about your conquests already. I’m already scarred for life from your stories about that Belgium Veela, let alone the muggle sailor you nearly broke the Statute of Secrecy for.”

He waved a hand, dismissing your allegations of the mental injury caused by his excruciating attention to sordid detail when slightly tipsy in the common room. You made a mental note to charm his shampoo to turn his hair bright lavender for the next week for that little snub. Although, being Sirius, he’d probably just use it as an excuse to sway the rest of the Hogwarts population into going to Hogsmeade with him. “Ah, but darling Y/n, that’s what I’m here for!” He furrowed his brow and stroked his chin in mock consideration. “However, I can’t seem to recall a time when you–” here he poked you in the cheek for emphasis– “confessed to a little tete-a-tete in the hallway. Ever. Which means we have a problem,” he grinned.

You felt rather like prey being hunted for sport. “That would be because I’m not interested in anyone, you dolt!” Crossing your arms, you turned your face back towards your homework. Maybe if you denied romantic interest for long enough, Sirius would leave you alone and go flounce off to flirt with the noisy table of fourth years. “Anyway, I heard Marlene’s been circling Dorcas like a lovesick pigeon lately, so perhaps you should be putting your matchmaking efforts to her benefit instead.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. “C’mon doll, I know you weren’t actually thinking about Potions when I arrived. Who’s the lead actor in those fantasies, mm?” He snatched up your favorite pink gel pen, twirling around his fingers as he looked at you expectantly.

Drat. He wouldn’t be so easily distracted with the latest gossip. You opened your mouth to protest yet again when you caught a flash of red over Sirius’ artfully tousled locks. You watched as James strode up to the alcove where Lily and her friends were studying, transfigured a sheet of parchment into a butterfly clip and held it out to her with a grin. Her laughter pealed out through the library as she let him lean over her shoulder to place it in her hair. He seemed oblivious to the titters of the girls around him while he gazed at Lily adoringly. You felt your heart clench as you recognized the expression on his face; you’d seen it on your own in the mirror after spending time with James, after all. And it seemed like maybe Lily was finally starting to be swayed into accepting his starry-eyed proposals, if the pretty blush on her cheeks was anything to go by.

Sirius tracked your despairing gaze to the couple and immediately paled in realization. “Oh, shit.”

Shit, indeed. Your face turned bright red as you scrambled to pack your bag and leave the area as fast as you possibly could, not sure how you could face Sirius knowing your deepest secret now. The boy had no self-control, fueling the Hogwarts gossip mill with the wild stories he overheard, and he had even less discretion when confessing things to his friends around the common room fire. It’s no wonder he wound up in Gryffindor, you thought miserably. There’s no way he’d be able to keep a secret like the rest of the Slytherins, and definitely not from James. It would only be a matter of time before he let it slip about your feelings to the rest of the Marauders, and— well, you’d just have to face losing your best friend for good once he heard.

Sirius broke your train of thought by wrapping his hands around yours, looking up at you with concern. “Hey, doll, wait— I didn’t know—“

You sniffed and wiped the tears threatening to fall from your eyes away fiercely. “That’s exactly it, Sirius, you didn’t know because you won’t be able to keep it from James.”

He looked guiltily down at the table. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit of a git with keeping things private lately, yeah?”

You nodded, covering your face with your hands. Sirius reached out, placing them back down on the table, and softly said, “Listen, I shouldn’t have pried so hard. You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.” He broke off, pausing to scramble for a handkerchief from his bag to wipe off your rapidly disintegrating mascara. “And I promise not to breathe a word of this to James,” he finished.

You looked up at him, startled. “Are you serious?” At his answering grin, you groaned. “Don’t answer that. But really, are you sure that you’ll be able to resist telling him everything?” You fiddled with the now-soiled handkerchief and whispered, “You two are so close, I don’t want to drive you apart. If James thought you were hiding something important from him, it would destroy him,” you sniffed.

He frowned. “Doll, you know you’re just as important as James is to me, right?” At your answering slump, his jaw clenched and he continued on with more intensity. “You’re like my sister, Y/n, there’s nothing you could do to make me care for you less. Especially not asking for your privacy. Clearly, I haven’t been treating you as well as you deserve if you doubt that.”

He walked around and took a seat in the armchair next to you, pulling you in to lean on his shoulder. “And I can be discreet, you know. I might not show it often, but growing up in a family of the most intensely secretive purebloods ever to exist taught me a few things.” You glanced at him doubtfully, the tiny quirk of your mouth the only sign that you were joking. “Hey, I’m being serious!” He laughed, then quieted suddenly. “This thing with James— you really love him, don’t you?”

You gave him an exasperated look out of the corner of your eye. Sirius released a breath and gazed deeply into the space in front of him. “Hey, we’ll figure this out together, okay?” He poked you in the side. “If he’s too focused on the smell of Evans’ hair or whatever to see that he already has the perfect girl in front of him, he’s not as smart as you think he is.” You giggled slightly, his words warming you. Sirius smiled, happy to see you cheering up a bit.

“Why don’t we go raid the kitchens? The coolest person I know once told me that elf-crafted mint chocolate chip ice cream is the best way to heal a broken heart,” he teased. You groaned, remembering how you’d told him that as a last resort to get him to stop complaining about how he missed his sailor ex-boyfriend every time you two went to Hogsmeade. At least your random advice wound up benefiting you now, you thought as you collected the last of your stationery and exited the library.

Neither you nor Sirius saw how James watched you smile up at Sirius as you walked away, holding his arm and laughing loudly at something he muttered. Anna Dumotier, a Hufflepuff fifth-year and one of Lily’s friends, would remember later that night how he seemed to tune out Lily’s voice for a moment and stared at the doors to the library with a strange expression on his face. His brows were furrowed like he was trying to decipher the answer to an unfamiliar puzzle, his eyes widened with confusion and a glint of something she could only identify as jealousy before Lily brought him back to the conversation with a graceful flip of her hair. But no— she shook her head— that couldn’t be right. What could James possibly be jealous of when he finally had the girl of his dreams in his arms?

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read on: part ii

#james potter x reader #james potter x y/n #sirius black #bisexual sirius black #remus lupin #peter pettigrew #marlene mckinnon #dorcas meadowes #fem reader #best friends to lovers #friends to lovers #marauders #marauders x y/n #lily evans #harry potter #hp fandom

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aghostsmirror · 6 months

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my marauders head canons:

Remus:

- screamed when he found out David Bowie was bisexual like a little girl who just got a text back from her crush (kicking his feet in the air and everything)

- learned how to light candles without a wand through lighting cigarettes

- loved hanging out with Euphemia when he visited the Potter's and would spend more time with her than with James

- learned how to paint his nails from Lily and would paint his nails black so often (Sirius found this very hot)

- stole all his friends sweaters until they eventually just gave in and stopped trying to stop him

Sirius:

- him and Marlene would do each other's makeup

- Marlene was the first person he came out to

- would use the map to leave Reggie gifts every Christmas and birthday without people knowing

- fluent in French but kept forgetting he was (yet would speak in french whenever frustrated)

- he stole his leather jacket from Remus after his rebellious pre-teen phase

James:

- made his own letterman jacket when Remus told him about them since they weren't in the wizarding world yet (also he's amazing at sewing since Euphemia taught him)

- made cookies every week for the dorm

-had a first aid kit on him at all times in case someone got hurt (even though it was usually him)

- shamed Remus and Sirius for smoking because he was worried for their health

#marauders #remus lupin #sirius black #james potter #wolfstar #lily evans #marlene mckinnon #regulus black #moony #padfoot #prongs #headcanon

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scullysflannel · 2 years

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and another thing about how the ghosts stole christmas! the elegance with which it dispenses mulder and scully’s lies! scully says “I’ve got wrapping to do” with her car already full of wrapped presents, and we see them like mulder does: for about two wordless seconds. he never calls her on it, so neither does the script. the undercurrent of the episode is that scully can’t say what she needs, and that mulder (stealing her car keys, lying about it) can’t admit he’s giving it to her. and if you blinked you’d miss how she dangles that need in front of him. impressive restraint from the episode where ghost lily tomlin says “I don’t show my hole to just anyone”

#txf #how the ghosts stole christmas #maurice and lyda but it's me and my tragic fear of separation from this episode #xf thoughts

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nerds-yearbook · 5 months

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On December 24, 1998, Special Agent Fox Mulder relunctantly convinced his partner Dana Scully to go with him into a haunted house on Christmas Eve by stealing her car keys. The ghosts (played by Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin) were of a couple who died in a murder suicide pact in 1917. The episode had only four characters making it the smallest cast in the series until the revival. (how the ghosts stole christmas)

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moonyssmommyy · 9 months

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My Marauders Headcanons Pt. 7 ~ Marlene Marie McKinnon

She's anemic

Hella mood swings

Marlene and Sirius were friends but not really close until after Sirius moved in with the Potter's

After the first summer Sirius was there him and Marlene became inseparable much like him and James

Spends nearly everyday at the Potter's during summer

Hates shaving, prefers to wax

She draws on her shoes

Steals everyone's clothes

Her favorite color is burgundy

Incapable of keeping more than 20 dollars to her name because she's a shopaholic

Sees an animal on the street or in a photo and immediately thinks she has to have it

She has two dobermans and she loves them more than anything

She also has two cats that keep having kittens so all the marauders have a cat that came from Marlene

Despite this her favorite animal is a rabbit

Beater on the quidditch team

Has a sternum tattoo and cried the whole time she got it

Math stupid but incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to history

Laughs after she cries

Marlene is fucking shittt at potions but her worst class is Transfiguration

Thank God her best friends are James Potter and Sirius Black

Dorcas got Marlene a pair of Doc Martens for Christmas when they first started dating so they could match

They're Marlene's fav now

Shameless Lesbian

When she gets caught doing something bad she has that deer in the headlights look

James has the exact same one

Has a cowlick

Her favorite candies are fizzing whizzbees

She's fiercely loyal

And just fierce in general

Marlene is always, always, always available to hang out

And if she's not she will make herself available

Has no spice tolerance

Sirius taught her to play the guitar

Jealousy issues!!!

Speaking of jealousy when James and Sirius became friends she was sooooo jealous

Cus James had been hers since they were little

Her and James got 'married' when they were little so Marlene always calls James her husband

In fact when Lily and James got married she made a big show of crying over how Lily stole her husband and Lily is in shock because she thought Marlene was a lesbian she had told her so herself

She had said Lily was her gay awakening to which Lily turned beat red and stammered over everything for an hour

In stark contrast to Lily's horrific shock James is dying of laughter and so is Sirius

James was laughing so hard he couldn't explain the situation so Sirius explained it for him

James quite literally almost died of laughter he was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe

Marlene is also very possessive over her friends

Her aesthetic is dark cottagecore

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aanoia · 6 months

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𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒘𝒐 - 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔

Lily Evans x reader day two of the christmas advent calendar words; 1431 warnings; none i'm actually in love with this one y'all, isn't Lily js gorgeous

I laughed quietly as Lily dragged me up her front porch, talking excitedly about how much she’s been looking forward to this. She opened the door, the great rattling against the wood as a warm peppermint smell filled my nose.

“Lily?” A deep voice asked from the kitchen and a tall, broad man came around the corner, a smaller, yet still tall, boy following. The man wore a bright pink sparkly apron around his torso.

“Dad!” She yelled happily and ran into his arms. I watched with a smile as he swayed them back and forth, greatly missing his daughter. I closed the door gently as they broke apart and he eyed me.

“Hey, Lils.” Her brother, Forrest, said and pulled her into a hug.

“You must be Y/n.” A female said and stepped aside her husband, her bright ginger hair matched Lily’s almost exactly.

I nodded, “Yes, that would be me.” I held out my hand to shake but she simply brushed it off and pulled me into a tight hug. She smelled like vanilla.

“In this house we hug, darling.” She said, patting my back and pulling away.

“Petunia! Lily and her girlfriend are here!” Lily’s mom called upstairs as her dad walked closer to me.

“You treat my daughter right?” He asked and Lily groaned as her brother snickered. Her mother walked up the stairs.

“Dad-”

I nodded, “I do, sir.”

“I trust you more than them boys, but don’t you hurt her. You hear me?”

“I understand, loud and clear.”

It was silent for a moment before a smile broke out on his face and he pulled me into a hug. He was more gentle than his wife. Loud footsteps came down the stairs as arguing filled the air.

“I don’t want to eat with Lily and her freak girlfriend.” A voice said disgustingly. I awkwardly rubbed my arm.

“Petunia, you will behave and treat our guest with respect. It’s Christmas, have some compassion.” The two came into a view and I stood silently as Lily grabbed onto my hand.

“Nice to see you, Petunia.” She said quietly and Petunia rolled her eyes, opting to just sit at the table.

“Don’t be rude.” Forrest said, walking to the table as the rest of us followed.

“Shut up.” Petunia spat back and her mother sighed as the oven dinged.

“Ah, the turkey’s ready!” Lily’s dad exclaimed happily, running to the oven and carefully taking the bird out. My head cocked slightly, not used to people actually doing things and not just using magic.

“It looks delicious dad.” Lily said with a smile and he smiled back. I noticed the worn look on his face, no doubt from the day full of cooking and dealing with his children.

“No, no, no, you can’t do that! Thief!” I yelled defensively as Forrest tried to take extra money from the bank.

Forrest rolled his eyes dramatically, “I’m not stealing! I’m borrowing!” “You can’t do that!” “How would you know?”

“I’m not that dumb!” I ignored his dads laughter as we argued and failed to notice the loving smile Lily was giving me, grateful that I fit right in with her family.

“You sure about that?” He yelled back and I reached for my pocket - note that I left my wand at home, wanting to spend an entire muggle Christmas - and pulled out the skewer I stole from the food.

“I’ll hex you!” To my surprise, I wasn’t the only one who stole a skewer and my mouth gaped as Forrest pulled out a stick as well and pointed it at me.

“Not if I hex you first!”

“You don’t know any spells!”

He waved the skewer hazardously, “Abra cadabra!”

There was a moment of silence before the entire table burst out laughing. Even Petunia begrudgingly let a few laughs fall from her lips. Lily’s mom wiped a few tears from her eyes as her dad started coughing loudly, only making everyone else laugh harder.

I clutched my stomach as we calmed down, “That was a work out.”

I sat on the couch, hand in hand with Lily as her parents brought out Christmas Eve gifts.

“Okay, we have everyone’s pajamas and a stuffed animal, like tradition.” Her mom said with a smile as she gave Forrest and Petunia their two gifts. Lily’s dad gave Lily her gifts and I squeezed her hand with a smile.

“And for you.” He said, holding two neatly wrapped presents in front of me.

“What?” I asked in shock before shaking my head. “No, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

Lily’s mom laughed, “Oh, of course we did. You’re our daughter's girlfriend, she loves you, so we love you. And we know so much about you from all of Lily’s letters.” Lily’s face turned bright red and I laughed, heat rising up my own neck.

“Okay, okay, enough yapping, can we open now?” Forrest asked excitedly and the parents nodded. We all opened the pajamas first. They were cute onesies, each a different character from popular muggle Christmas movies. Mine had a Santa suit on and green fur. Lily’s was a classic Santa Claus outfit.

“No fair, she gets the Grinch!” Forrest yelled, pointing at me. I stuck my tongue out at him, not mentioning the fact that I had zero clue who or what the Grinch was.

“Suck it up, buttercup.” I teased as we began opening our stuffed animals. I laughed at the creature looking back up at me. “What in the world is this?”

“You don’t know what a monkey is?” Lily’s dad asked and I shrugged.

“Never heard of it.”

“I thought wizards and witches were supposed to be smart.” Petunia said mockingly.

“Ever seen a unicorn?” I asked and she rolled her eyes. “Exactly.”

“You’ve seen a unicorn?” Forrest asked and I nodded.

“Even pet one before.”

“I want to pet a unicorn.”

“You can’t.” Lily answered.

“Why?”

“They only let females touch them, males give them anxiety.” She explained and I nodded.

“And you guys stink.” I added and Lily’s mom laughed.

“Amen to that. I’m afraid, however, it’s time to put those pajamas on and go to bed. Santa’s coming tonight.”

Petunia rolled her eyes, “Mom, we all know Santa isn’t real.”

Her dad grunted, “Go to sleep already.”

I laughed quietly as Lily walked into the room in her Santa Claus onesie that looked way too big for her.

“Aren’t you cute?” I teased with a smile and she rolled her eyes, walking to the side of the bed and straddling me, shoving her face into the crook of my neck.

“I’m sorry about my sister.” She whispered as I gently rubbed her back.

“Don’t worry about it. Your family is great, I can deal with her.”

She lifted her head and smiled at me. I quietly admired the way her eyes crinkled, “You really get along with them. They love you.”

I pressed a soft kiss to her lips, “I love them too.”

The sweet smell of pancakes filled the room as soft lips gently kissed my face. My eyes fluttered open and Lily smiled softly.

“Happy Christmas, my love.” Her breath was minty and I smiled at her before covering my mouth.

“Happy Christmas, Lils.” I replied and she giggled.

“Go brush your teeth, stinky.”

I pouted, “Don’t be mean, it’s Christmas.”

“Children, come downstairs!” Lily’s mom called out and she got off me, pulling me up with her.

“Ugh, I’m tired.” I groaned as she pulled me to the bathroom. She placed a kiss on my cheek.

“Brush.” I rolled my eyes and brushed my teeth quickly, then grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs quickly, relishing the sound of her laughter.

My jaw dropped as the living room came into view. Colorful presents were scattered everywhere, multiple different wrapping papers making them pretty. You could tell which were wrapped by Lily’s mother and which were wrapped by her father, as her moms were much more neatly wrapped and topped with a beautiful ribbon bow.

“Happy Christmas, you two.” Lily’s mom said, giving us each a hug and a warm smile.

“Happy Christmas.” We replied in sync.

I smiled at Lily softly, kissing her lips.

“I love you, and I love your family. Thank you for inviting me.”

She kissed me again, “I love you. I’d love for you to come every year, for the rest of our lives.”

I placed a third kiss on her lips, “Every year for the rest of our lives sounds good.”

Forrest gagged, “Ew, love.”

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#aanoia #romance #marauders era #the marauders #james & peter & remus & sirius #remus lupin #sirius black #harry potter #marauders #lily evans #lily evans potter #lily evans x reader #lily evans x you

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blitheringmcgonagall · 5 months

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Snow Cherubs & Delayed Deer ⛄️ 🦌

Jily fic Summary:

If you are looking for seasonal vibes: Pining idiots, snowflakes, a hungover stag, posh purebloods, non-existent snowball fights, Black Family vocab...

Inspired by this video of Prongs (in reindeer form but ignore that!!) chasing a train

🎄Start of Christmas Holidays 6th Year🎄

“Ah,” a pause. “How do you do, Evans?”

Sirius Black looked momentarily surprised to see her in their compartment (their personal flipping compartment), along with the other marauders. But his Black Family training had kicked in automatically. Polite stand-offishness.

“Remus and I were on our way back from patrolling this half of the train, so I stopped here for a chat,” Lily said, staring up at him, not even vaguely intimidated. “What happened?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” he said with an evasive grin, which was clearly a big, huge lie.

Remus was looking at him sceptically and Sirius cleared his throat.

“Er, Prongs said to tell you lot he’s been… unavoidably… delayed.” He brushed snow off his school jumper and stamped more snow off his shoes, before shaking his wet hair vigorously.

“Arhh! Youh hoaking we, you wankah!” Peter kicked him in the shin.

“Can’t be helped, we were dealing with… important matters.” Sirius smiled at Peter and stole his last ginger biscuit.

“Matters?” Remus repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Matters.” Sirius glanced from Remus to Lily in silent warning.

“Slytherin matters, of the mini Death Eater variety?” Remus obviously hadn’t gotten the memo.

Sirius’ grin defaulted to the I shall kill you later variety. Remus stared back. He obviously had received the memo, loud and clear, but had chosen to ignore it.

“Not again,” she said, sticking her legs up on the seat in front of her.

Sirius looked at his seat and then at her. She raised her right eyebrow.

“What?”

He raised his left.

“Did I say anything?” he remarked.

“Gods, I wish I could do that with my eyebrows,” Peter sighed despondently.

Sirius shook his head once more, liberally spraying them with slush. Lily looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“What?” He bit into the biscuit.

“Reminds me,” she said. “Of a dog.”

Remus stuck his head inside the newspaper he was reading.

“Really?” Sirius said, blinking innocently.

“The big black one that’s been hanging around the grounds, cute thing,” Lily added, narrowing her eyes. “His eyes are an unusual shade, silver, very similar to yours.”

Peter choked on his own biscuit.

“Oh, the attractive dog? The really popular one, with the sleek —“

But Lily wasn’t paying Sirius any attention.

“What in heaven’s name is that?” she said.

“Could I interest you in a caldron cake?” Peter shoved a box in her direction.

Lily ignored him.

“Remus, why is there a ruddy big stag running after the Hogwarts Express?”

“I don’t see- “

“There, can’t miss it,” she said, pointing out of the window.

There was indeed an ample stag, trotting after them at an increasingly frantic pace.

“What in God’s name is it doing?” she said, staring wide-eyed at him. “It looks almost as if…”

“Almost as if he’s late and missed the last train home for the holidays?” Remus mused from behind The Prophet.

Peter laughed, a touch hysterically, she thought - muttering something about worst secret keepers ever.

Continue on ao3

#that time of year #time for this again #Marauders fic #Jily fic #canon Jily #James didn’t make the train #etc etc #Lily Evans #James Potter #his friends think it’s hilarious

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midnightmoonytales · 1 year

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𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕖 ℙ𝕚𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕪: 𝔽. 𝕎

Genre: Fluff

Warnings: Slight angst, mentions of insecurity, mild argument, please let me know if I missed anything.

A/n: I tried writing this with my fellow curly-haired girls in mind. Bc yall- when people take time to learn how to properly handle curly hair and play with yours in a way that won't make your hair all wtf, in the end, is my absolute favorite.

White sparkling snow glistened around the burrow, covering every nook and cranny it could touch from last night's storm. Sounds of people's laughter mixed with Christmas Carols rang throughout the walls of the burrow. Three families all bundled up together under one roof, sharing memories, young and old. The dying flames of the fireplace crackle in the background, long forgotten. You could say it's cramped, hosting two more families on top of already having to fit seven people into the burrow. But no one would change a thing. Well... maybe Percy, poor boy forced to bunk with the twins and your younger brother, Teddy. Your fathers, Sirius and Remus bunked with your aunt and uncle, Lily and James. Said, "it reminded them of old times." What really justified how old they are, but we won't tell them that. Bill and Charlie ended up bunking with Harry and Ron, mostly to keep them out of trouble. Meanwhile, Hermione, Ginny, and you all shared Ginny's room.

Not that you stayed in there much, opting to sleep on the couch with Teddy. The fire crackling soon became a natural lullaby to you both. Sweet boy would wake you up frightened, during ungodly hours of the night complaining of nightmares that flooded his dreams. Refusing to sleep anywhere other than with you. It's been like this since he learned to walk. Not that either of your fathers minded, they had scrapbooks filled with pictures of you and Teddy.

Spending Christmas with your parents was rare, the full moon causing your parents to send you off to the Potters until it passed. They were like a second family to you and Teddy. Harry became like a brother to you, always trying to protect you even though you were older. It became a tradition at the Potter's house to make muggle Gingerbread houses during Christmas time, ending the night with a glass of eggnog.

Wanting to make the most of having everyone here this year, you and Harry convinced the others to compete in a gingerbread-making contest. The parents all agreed to be judges as the kids tried their best to win. Key word tried, of course, you and Harry had an advantage after making them due to years of experience. Assisting Molly in the kitchen early this morning to bake pounds of gingerbread for the contest.

With the delicious aroma of gingerbread baking in the oven. Everyone huddled around the living room, making room for one another. Sirius and uncle James telling everyone a story about your old professor Snape. Earning a swift smack against their heads from Lily, since Severus is her best friend. Remus recalled how Sirius got yoinked by the whomping willow because he was too cocky. Harry mutters, Father like daughter, reminding you of the time you ended up in the infirmary when trying to get one of the animals that escaped from Hagrid.

A few more stories were spread around before George spoke up. "My favorite story from when the three of us attended Hogwarts is probably Fred being caught sneaking out of Y/n's room." Groans left both yours and Fred's lips, remembering that eventful morning.

<><><>

The sounds of small pebbles hitting your window awoke you from your sleep. Growing aggravated from being woken up, you through your duvet off of you. The brash cold air stole away whatever sleep you had left in you. Reaching for your wand on the nightstand, "Lumos," muttered from your lips. With the glow of your wand, the sound of pebbles halted to a stop. Approaching your window, you could faintly make out a mop of red hair through the dense fog. It could only be one person, quickly you opened your windows. Before you know it, Fred was mounting off his broom. "What are you doing here!" You quietly shouted, trying your best to not wake anyone in your house. Swiftly closing your window behind him.

"I missed you," He grumbled, wrapping his arms around your waist. You could see the tiredness in his eyes, but it warmed your heart to see he would fly all this way to see you, even if he was tired. Reaching your hand to fix his air-ridden hair, you dragged him to your bed. Wanting to get out of the cold that was surrounding you both. It was rare to get to spend time together lately. Between George and him running the joke shop and you preparing for your NEWTS, your schedules were jam-packed. But you both made it work.

Snuggling into each other, his hand caught your chin. The smell of cinnamon and gunpowder flooded your senses. Rubbing your lip with his thumb, planting a passionate kiss on your lips. Neither one of you is in a rush-rather slow tired kisses being exchanged as you both fall into a sleepy embrace.

The sounds of birds chirping, and streams of bright light wake you up. Groggily rubbing the tiredness out of yours, "Shit," you mumble. Fred was supposed to be gone before the sun was up. Your parents were early birds, which was their normal since you were born. Rushing out of bed, your legs got caught in your duvet, causing you to fall to the floor with a loud...THUMP. Alerting your sleeping boyfriend. Trying to pry yourself as fast as you can, you noticed that your window was slightly cracked. You swore you closed it last night.

"Are you okay?" Fred panicked, quickly making his way off the bed to help you get out of the duvet.

"You have to get out of here, it's morning." You warned him. The color drained from his face. Quickly, he picked up his broom that was in the corner of the room. Looking out your window, the coast was clear. Turning around, you were met with a kiss. "Mm as much as I love kissing you," Pushing him away gently, "you have to get out of here before you get caught." Fred smiled like he had just won the lottery, mounted his broom and flew out the window. He turned around to say bye, a bright smile on his face soon replaced with fear as a big black dog grabbed onto the end of his broom. Bringing him down to the ground. There was only one person that it could be...your papa. Quickly turning around, you were faced with your stone-faced father standing in your doorway...oh no.

<><><>

"You gave the boy a proper fright Padfoot," James wheezed, bent over in his seat. Lily shook her head at her husband's amusement. A few poorly hidden chuckles were admitted from the others. On the other hand, Molly was fuming. She knew her boys were always up to no good, but she usually found out.

"You better thank Godric, Fredrick Weasley, that I'm only learning about this now," Molly exasperated, Arthur rubbing her arms up and down trying to calm her down. Whispering something into her ear, you could see her start to calm down. The bell that Harry brought Molly a few Christmases back, rang, alerting everyone that the gingerbread was done. You and Molly excused yourselves to the kitchen. Grabbing the mittens from the drawer, you pulled the gingerbread from the oven. "So... Y/n dear, do you want to marry my Freddie?" Molly asked, her attitude completely different from the one just a few moments ago. Panicked, you dropped the gingerbread. Luckily enough it fell onto the oven door rather than on the floor. "Sorry dear, I didn't mean to frighten you," She spoke tenderly.

Frighten you, that was a nice way to put it. It's not that you didn't want to marry Fred- Rather, it was a dream you had since you attended Hogwarts, but you didn't think he wanted to marry you. It felt stupid to think that way. You two have been dating for seven years now. Marriage was bound to come eventually. Especially now that you both were older. The two of you were doing well in your careers. You have a lovely home together, midway between your parent's home and the burrow. "I truly do wish to marry him, Molly," you said, separating the correct pieces of gingerbread into their respective plates.

She stopped what she was doing before looking up at you, "but?" She was one person who knew you too well. Doting on you even before you started dating her son.

Laughing under your breath, "but I don't know if he wants to marry me," You finished, turning around to continue separating the gingerbread. Your mind wanders to the possibility of him not wanting to marry you. Molly's hand softly rubbed your shoulder making you aware of the feelings of wetness falling down your cheek.

"Oh dear, that boy is absolutely enamored with you." She said, pulling out a chair and beckoning for you to sit in it. Softly but efficiently pulling your hair tie out, separating part of your hair into sections as she spoke, gently yet diligently detangling knots with her finger. "That boy has been planning on marrying you since he learned you could tell him and George apart." Her voice was laced with amusement.

"He has?" You asked, turning around to face her. Hands gripping the top of the chair. Nodding her head before turning your face forward, she continued to play with your hair. Gently pulling pieces apart to easily braid your hair into a crown. It wasn't perfect, with random little hairs sticking out in certain places, but it was you. You were far from perfect and that's okay. You don't have to be. Your hands smooth over the apples of your cheeks, hoping to hide any possibly noticeable pigment. Her words didn't take all your worry away but did ease the thoughts that plagued your brain.

By the time Molly was done braiding your hair and complementing it with mistletoe, the gingerbread was cooled. Icing prepared the night before. It was time for everyone to pair into teams. Looking for your partner in crime, you realized he was nowhere to be seen. While it was possible to lose him in the sea of redheads, everyone else was accounted for. Mumbling each person's name as you saw them. Realizing that your boyfriend was not amongst them.

Glancing outside through the kitchen window, dark clouds started filling the sky. Another storm in the midst of brewing. Yet, Fred was still nowhere in sight. Scenarios scorched through the inside of your eye lids, panic overtaking any relief that you once had. Where the bloody hell is Fred? Why would he go out now? We’re with family, why would he do this when we are with our families? You rather him do whatever he is doing behind closed doors of your home than sit here embarrassed amongst your families. Not that it makes it any better, because it doesn’t. Rubbing your sweaty palms against your trousers, hoping to wipe away the worry. A firm hand settled against your shoulder, squeezing it ever so slightly. Looking up to see both of your fathers standing behind you, soft smiles placed lazily on their lips. A weak smile spread across your lips, more so worried about wherever Fred disappeared to.

“We’ll be your gingerbread partner's pup,” Sirius said, moving a strand of hair that had managed to escape the braid. Remus hand rubbing circles along your spine, relieving some tension. Parents weren't supposed to team up with the children's since they were supposed to be judges, but since your partner is missing, they couldn’t leave their daughter by herself. Nodding, you quickly got to work planning and setting up. Choosing to make a mini version of the shrieking shack. Both holding memories, good and bad, from your parents and your years at Hogwarts. Rather than using it to change on full moons, George, Fred and you choose it when picking an inconspicuous spot to prepare pranks.

After what seemed to be forever, you all finished. Proud of your work, the shack looked just as wrecked as it was in real life. Windows hanging by a thread and the building tilting ever so slightly. James, Lily, Molly and Arthur all stood together, conversing. Going from one gingerbread to another as everyone stood behind their respectable houses. As the judges chatted amongst themselves, their final decision being Teddy and Charlie who made a wonky dragon on top of a crumbling house. While it probably wasn’t fair, you would do the same thing for Teddy. The smile that appeared on his face made it feel like you won yourself. Faintly, your attention was captured by the sound of the door opening and closing. Snow littered through his hair and shoulders, frantically trying to shake it off. Excusing yourself, you made your way over to Fred.

“Hello Darling, mmm I love the hair style,” he said, planting a soft kiss on your forehead. Shrugging off his coat, leaving it to rest on the coat hanger that was probably already too full to hang anything else. “Did you guys already start the gingerbread house?” He said, bummed. Stating earlier that he wished to partake in it.

Annoyed, you sat there for Godric knows how long, waiting for your lover. “You don’t get to be bummed when you leave without us knowing.” The feeling of being embarrassed and humiliated swelled up in your chest. Upset that your parents even saw his absence. You loved working on the gingerbread house with them, but still. “Where the bloody hell were you,” You whispered shouted, trying your best to not alert those around you. Which didn’t work as well as you hoped, everyone around going quiet. Before Molly rushed everyone into the back yard, despite the protest that it was snowing outside.

Caught off guard, “What exactly are you insinuating?” His arms crossed and his brows furrowed. He knew he had to keep what he was doing a secret but couldn’t believe you didn’t trust him. Never once in the past seven years has, he done something to break your trust. Of course, you had fought every now and then, but that's what couples do. However, this conversation in itself was absurd to him.

“I don’t know, Okay,” you said, fidgeting with whatever you could touch. Millions of thoughts were going through your head. “You go missing during the middle of the night for hours at a time.” You rambled on, expressing thoughts that have been inside your head for a while now. Your fingers picking at your bottoms as you expressed your emotions. “I just don’t know what to think, you’ve never done me wrong before, but hours at a time at night is concerning,” You stated, never truly making eye contact with him.

“You want to see where I’ve been off to at night then fine.” He said, taking off his sweater off the rack and pulling it around you. Before taking your scarf off the rack and wrapping it around your neck. His shoulders raised ever so slightly, considerably tensed. Even when he was upset, he still took time to make sure that you were all set. He didn’t have to prove either where he went but if it made you feel better then so be it. Opening the door, he pulled you through piles of snow. “I wasn’t going to do this till tomorrow, but plans changed.” He muttered.

“W-what?” You asked, confused on where he was taking you in the middle of winter. Snow falling continuously, not caring that you were traveling somewhere. After what felt like hours, and a steep hill, you made it to the willow tree you and Fred used to come to when either of you were having a bad time. “What are we doing here Fred?”

“Please be quiet, and let me talk,” he said, cold fingers pressing against your lips. “I was going to wait till tomorrow, but I’m going to do it now.” Digging into his pocket, pulling out a red-velvet case, decorated by painted flowers. “You’ve been my partner in crime for over seven years now. You never once mixed George and I up, even when we tried pulling pranks on you to believe we were the other person. You helped us open our Joke shop, staying up countless nights helping us fix gadgets that were faulty.” He spoke, getting onto one knee, opening the velvet case to show a crystal encased in gold vines that shimmered in the moonlight. “You made me feel like my own person, not just another Weasley people couldn’t name. You taught me how to be vulnerable, and how to be a better man. All those nights I was out, I was planning how to make this as special as I could for you.” Looking around you noticed your favorite flowers in floating pots and fairy lights hanging from the old willow tree. Over to your left, your whole family scattered around, smiling at you. “So, will you do the honors of being my partner in crime for the rest of our lives?”

Tears swelled down your face, all this time you thought he was out doing something sketchy he was really just planning your proposal. Before you could speak, little arms wrapped around your legs tight. “My sister,” Teddy said. Digging his head into your legs. Laughs escaped everyone, as your fathers came to grab him. Planting a small kiss on his head before your parents took him back over to everyone else.

“Yes,” Wiping the almost frozen tears from your face as he slipped the gorgeous ring on. Pulling him into a kiss as soon as he was finished. Happy that your thoughts were wrong in the end. You were getting your happily ever after, the one you always dreamed of.

<><><>

I went full time at work so I could buy a new laptop for school, and I'm absolutely drained. Especially when there only one of me and I'm getting pulled six different ways at once. But on a good note, I'm so glad I finished this.

@ghostofscarley @verygayauthor

#fred weasley #fred weasley fluff #fred weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #fred x reader #fred x y/n #fred weasley x you

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typingtess · 5 months

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"How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" - when Mulder and and Scully spent Christmas Eve with Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin.

#The X-Files #Dana Scully #Fox Mulder #ed asner #lily tomlin

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goforth-ladymidnight · 4 months

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A Second Chance

Ch. 7

Pairing: Tamlin x Lucien

Word Count: 4k (I know it's shorter than usual, but the next chapter will make up for it)

Summary: Tamlin is not the only one keeping secrets

Available to read on AO3, or below the cut:

A blanket of fresh snow crunched beneath the tires as Lucien slowly pulled through the wrought iron gate and into the circular drive.

Tamlin leaned forward in the passenger seat to get a better view of the large, three-story manor. “Where are we?”

“My brother’s house,” Lucien explained as he shifted the car into Park. “Eris. You’ve met him before, I think. When I brought you home for Christmas that first year.”

“Oh, yeah. I think so.” Tamlin sat back and stared at the tall stone steps leading up to the massive front door. “Doesn’t he have, like, a million dogs?”

Lucien chuckled as he pulled off his seat belt. “He has ten, the last time I counted. But it’s been a while since I’ve been here, so who knows anymore.”

As Tamlin handed him the extra takeout container, he asked, “Do you want me to come in with you?”

“No, I’ll just be a minute,” Lucien insisted, opening his car door. “I have to bribe him with some latkes, and then we’ll go pick out a Christmas tree, okay?”

“You have to bribe him? What for?”

Lucien pulled the door closed against the stream of cold air blowing in, and thought quickly. “Since Vassa’s been in town, I’ve been falling behind at work,” he lied. “So, Eris has been covering for me. This isn’t so much a bribe as it is a thank you, so…”

Tamlin nodded slowly. “Oh. Okay.”

On a whim, Lucien leaned in and brushed a kiss against his cheek. “See you in a minute,” he said with a reassuring smile, then slipped out of the car and left it running.

He could feel Tamlin’s eyes on him as he made his way up the steps, pretending nothing was amiss. His heart was beating like a drum as he pressed the buzzer.

The red light clicked on as a voice sounded through the subtle layer of static. “Yes?”

“It’s me,” Lucien replied evenly.

The red light turned off with a click, but thankfully Lucien didn’t have to wait long for a response.

Eris answered the door himself, wearing his favorite Sunday attire: an embroidered velvet smoking jacket over his black silk pajamas, complete with matching slippers. The only thing missing from his ensemble was a fez.

Making a mental note to add one to his shopping list, Lucien smiled and said, “Hey. Thanks for seeing me.”

“No problem,” Eris said with a sniff, crossing his arms against the cold.

While they had both inherited their mother’s slender build, Eris had pale skin that freckled in the sun, and short, gingery-red hair that he kept tucked behind his ears. Unlike most redheads he knew, including all six of his brothers, Lucien tanned in the sun, and his hair was more auburn than red. At least his mother’s hair was auburn too, or he might have wondered if his brothers were right about him being adopted all those years ago.

“So,” Eris continued. “You said something about ‘better than hash browns’?”

Before Lucien could answer, one of Eris’s adopted retired racing greyhounds appeared by his side as if summoned by the smell of still-warm latkes, wagging its tail and whining in hopes of a handout.

“Hey, there,” Lucien said sweetly, reaching out to fondle the dog’s silky ears. The dog sniffed at his hand, body wagging furiously, then circled his legs and nipped back inside with a yip to get out of the cold.

Eris chuckled and stepped onto the covered porch and shut the door behind him. “That was Lily. She’s new. She doesn’t know that much about snow yet.”

Lucien huffed a laugh that was visible in the frosty air. “How many dogs does that make now. Eleven?”

Eris smirked. “Twelve. I’ve got a mini grey that’s napping in my chair right now. Do you want to come inside and meet her?”

Lucien regretfully shook his head, then nodded at the car running behind him. “I can’t. Tam’s waiting in the car for me, so…”

As Eris accepted the takeout container, his amber eyes turned sharp as he stole a furtive glance over Lucien’s shoulder. “That him?” he said in a low voice.

“Yeah,” Lucien said quietly.

Eris let out a long, slow, frosty breath. “If half of what you told me is true, it’s going to get ugly. Without a rape kit, and without eyewitness testimony, his chances of winning this suit are next to nothing.”

Lucien’s heart sunk. “So, you’re saying we shouldn’t even try?”

Eris’s mouth pursed. “I didn’t say that,” he said more gently. “If anyone is willing to testify on his behalf, I might be able to scare the University into coughing up a settlement.”

“Is that all?” Lucien asked, disappointed.

“It’s better than having his name dragged through the mud. Especially if that dean is in bed with the police.”

Lucien felt a twinge of guilt for sharing Tamlin’s story without his permission, but he needed to know if there was a chance Tamlin could get his life back. If anyone could help him get a shred of justice, Eris could.

“Have you told him what you’re planning yet?” Eris asked.

Lucien shook his head and rubbed his gloved hands together. “Not yet.”

As Eris opened the takeout container, he said, “Before you say anything, let me look into it.” He paused to breathe in the fragrant steam. “Is that applesauce?”

Lucien smiled. “Does it count as a bribe if I say ‘Yes’?”

Eris smirked and waggled the container. “It depends on how good the goods are.”

Lucien grinned as he turned for the steps. “Trust me. They’re good.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“I thought you were a lawyer,” Lucien called over his shoulder.

“Not on Sundays,” Eris countered.

Lucien laughed as he walked down the steps. “So call me and tell me the verdict tomorrow, Your Honor,” he quipped. “I’ll be out most of the day.”

“Doing what?”

“Buying a Christmas tree.”

“Is that right?”

Lucien turned around at the bottom of the steps and gave his brother a friendly salute. “Dad can’t say no to me buying myself a tree and a few decorations now, can he?”

Eris frowned thoughtfully. “I guess not.”

“And what’s a Christmas tree without a few gifts to go underneath it, right?”

Eris’s lips pursed in disapproval as he shook the container at him. “You’re toeing the line there, little brother.”

Lucien grinned and reached for the car door handle. “Don’t I always?”

“Always,” Eris called out. “And I have the heartburn to prove it.”

“Try the applesauce,” Lucien called back, then got into the car to go shopping with Tamlin.

* * *

“This is where you live?”

Tamlin winced at Lucien’s question. Hybern Heights was not exactly the height of luxury, no matter what the brochures said. “I know it’s not that impressive,” he said, slipping off his seatbelt, “but it keeps the snow off my head.”

“I’m not judging you,” Lucien reassured him. “I’m just… surprised, that’s all.”

“Yeah,” Tamlin murmured. “Me, too.”

It was a far cry from the dorm room they had shared all those years ago. Even if the rooms were small, at least they were clean and well-kept.

He didn’t know how old these apartments were, but they were most certainly older than him. Angular cracks traced the gray brick facade, which had once been painted white, but what wasn’t peeling away was now the color of old bone. Overgrown ivy clung to the walls in summertime, but in winter, they were brown, spidery husks clinging to the bricks like skeleton fingers. At least the snow softened the worst of it, but it did nothing to hide the sins of the interior. Stained carpets, peeling wallpaper, rusty taps… It was a wonder how easily he had gotten used to living there, and thinking it was okay.

It wasn’t okay. It was pathetic. Especially because of the amount of money Mr. Hybern charged them in rent. If they finished this job for Koschei, maybe they wouldn’t have to put up with it anymore. But that was a big IF.

As Lucien unbuckled his own seatbelt, Tamlin stopped him.

“You should wait here,” he said quickly. “It’s a mess in there, and I’ll only be a minute. Really.”

Lucien quirked his mouth to one side. “If you’re sure,” he said, but he sounded reluctant to agree.

“I’m sure.” Tamlin smiled and reached for the door handle. “I’ll be right back.”

“Tam?”

He paused. “Yeah?”

Lucien slid his sunglasses up and into his hair. “You know,” he began slowly, “I have tinted windows, so… feel free to kiss me anytime you feel like it, all right?” He gave Tamlin a teasing smirk. I promise I won’t mind.”

Tamlin blushed. “How did you get to be so confident about all this?”

Lucien shrugged. “Practice.”

Tamlin considered this, then shyly glanced around to make sure no one else was hanging around the snowy parking lot. It was a Sunday morning, so the chances of anyone being up and around weren’t that high. Even with tinted windows, he felt better knowing no one else was there.

“It’s just us, Tam,” Lucien said gently.

Tamlin took a deep breath, “Okay,” he said softly, then leaned in. “Come here.”

Lucien grinned. “That’s more like it.”

One awkward nose-bump and affectionate kiss later, Tamlin pulled away, blushing madly. “I’m not very good at this,” he said, slumping back in his seat.

Lucien, however, was beaming. “That’s what practice is for,” he declared, then nodded at the apartment building. “Now go on. The sooner you get back, the sooner we can practice some more.”

Tamlin was still blushing when he made it up to the third floor apartment.

He was so distracted that when he walked in, he thought he had walked into the wrong unit. It was bitterly cold from all the windows that were cracked open, and there were piles of stuff everywhere. When he recognized the sagging, blue-checkered sofa, his next thought was that they had been robbed. Except he couldn’t tell what the would-be robbers might have taken. The nicest thing they owned was the television, and that wasn’t saying much. At least it was still there.

He was beginning to think that some kind of wild animal had gotten in and trashed the place, when Jurian walked out of the kitchen, carrying a roll of garbage bags and the old broom and dustpan.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re here,” Jurian said distractedly, gesturing to the piles. “Grab a bag. Pick a pile.”

Relived but not quite, Tamlin slowly closed the door behind him. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like? I’m cleaning.”

“I can see that, but… why?”

“Why?” Jurian gestured to the mess. “Because I just spent the night in one of the most luxurious hotels I’ve ever seen outside a magazine, and I realized we live in a trash compactor.”

A wry smirk touched Tamlin’s mouth as he stepped closer. “Took you long enough.”

Jurian shot him a look, then did a double take. “Where have you been, anyway?”

Tamlin blushed again. “Oh, you know. Out.”

Jurian raised his brows in silent inquiry.

Tamlin shrugged him off, then reluctantly admitted, “With Lucien.”

Jurian looked him over with a slow, thoughtful nod. “Are you just getting in?”

Tamlin wasn’t ready to admit that he had just spent the night in one of the most luxurious beds in the world with a guy who had just come out to him as gay, because he himself wasn’t ready to come out as anything. He wasn’t even sure what to call what they had done. Platonic cuddling? Sensual handholding? Sleeping together but not that way?

Since he owed Jurian an answer, he simply said, “Yeah. We just talked.”

“All night?”

“Yeah,” Tamlin squeaked, then cleared his throat. “Basically.”

Jurian shrugged. “Okay.”

As he looked away, Tamlin was grateful he had let it go, even though he might have already guessed. Jurian’s sloppiness did not apply to his detective work, after all. To keep his attention elsewhere, Tamlin decided to change the subject. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Jurian asked, shaking out an empty garbage bag.

“What about you and… you know. Vassa.”

“What about her?” Jurian said stiffly, keeping his gaze averted.

“How did it go last night?”

Jurian eyed him sidelong, strangely silent, until he suddenly sagged onto the couch, which creaked beneath his weight. “Oh, my god,” he moaned, then ran a hand through his hair. “She’s incredible. She’s absolutely incredible. She’s gorgeous; she’s funny; and she’s into me… Those are three things I never thought I’d string together in a sentence. Not to mention she’s bilingual in the best possible way…” He murmured something in Scythian. “My god…”

Tamlin looked at him askance. “What happened?”

Jurian sighed and dropped his hand to his lap as he stared at the ceiling. “Nothing I’d be willing to confess to a priest.”

Tamlin made a face as he thought it over. “Eugh.”

Jurian sat up and glared at him. “Hey. I don’t give you shit about your love life; you don’t shit on mine. Got it?”

Tamlin winced and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. Sorry.”

Jurian’s frown softened. “Yeah,” he muttered, running a hand over his stubble. “I know. Me, too.”

Tamlin shifted from one foot to the other as he glanced around at the half-cleaned apartment. “So… Did you invite her over?”

“No. Hell, no.” Jurian sat up. “I just realized that if I did invite anyone over, there wouldn’t be anywhere to put her coat, let alone her purse, even if she wanted to stay.” He gestured to the mess, no further explanation necessary.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Tamlin remarked, stepping towards the coat closet where his meager possessions were stored. “Lucien’s waiting for me outside. I just came up to change clothes and—and grab some stuff.”

As he draped a fresh shirt and clean-ish jeans over his arm, Jurian asked him, “What kind of stuff?”

Tamlin kept his gaze averted as he added more clothes to his pile. “Oh, you know… Clothes and—and stuff.”

“Uh-huh.”

Tamlin’s face flushed as he tried to hide three days worth of fresh socks and underwear under yet another sweater.

“I hope you’re not emptying that closet on account of what I said,” Jurian remarked. “Vassa’s not coming over, and even if she was, we could put her coat somewhere else.”

Tamlin shook his head without turning around. “No, that’s not—I’m not—I’m not doing that,” he stammered quietly.

“Are you moving out?”

“What? No!” Tamlin turned around and tried to squelch his panic. “Unless… unless you—Did you want me to move out, or…?”

Jurian gave him a sad, resigned kind of smile. “Are you kidding? Of course not.” He groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. “You’ve got a place with me as long as you need it, you know that.”

With a relieved sigh, Tamlin said quietly, “Thanks, Jurian.”

“No problem, kid.”

Tamlin watched as he bent and grabbed the first of many old takeout containers and shoved it into his garbage bag. “Did you want me to stay and help? I can let Lucien know…”

“Nah. I got myself into this mess. I can get myself out of it.”

As empty cans and bottles began to clink inside the plastic bag, one against the other, Tamlin somehow suspected he didn’t mean taking out the garbage. “What about Vassa?”

“Kid. We have already had this discussion,” Jurian said coolly.

“I don’t think we have.”

“Look. I just had the most amazing night of my life, with the most amazing woman I’ve ever met…” He threw another bottle into the bag with an especially loud clank. “…and I realized that you were right.”

“I was?”

“Yeah.” Jurian straightened and ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t—I can’t take my work home with me. No matter how incredible she is.”

“Isn’t it a little late for that?”

“Technically, we went to her place, not mine,” Jurian said with a wry, sad smile. “So, technically, it doesn’t count.”

“Are we talking legally, or biblically?”

“What’s the difference?”

Tamlin gave him a look, and Jurian looked away.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Jurian let out a weighty sigh. “It doesn’t matter anymore, because I’m done.”

Tamlin gawked. “You’re done?”

“Yeah, I’m done,” Jurian said, waving dismissively. “It’s over. I can’t see her anymore. It’s unprofessional. I should have known better.”

“But if you already slept with her, then—”

“Look. It doesn’t matter. I’m never going to see her again. That’s it. End of story.”

Tamlin stared as Jurian bent over to grab more garbage for his bag. “Never?” he asked. “Like… never ever…? Or…?”

Jurian looked up at him, half-bent over, still holding an empty bottle. “Why.”

Tamlin sucked in a sharp breath between his teeth. “Well…”

“Well, what.”

“You know, it’s just…” Tamlin took a deep breath. “Lucien invited you and Vassa to a tree decorating party at his place tonight at seven o’clock,” he said quickly, hoping his smile would be persuasive.

Jurian straightened up and stared at him. “Are you kidding me?” When Tamlin shook his head, Jurian groaned and dropped the bag and the bottle to the floor to grip his hair with both hands. “What are you doing to me, kid?” he moaned at the ceiling.

“Hey, you don’t have to come—”

“Oh, I’ll come,” Jurian said, pointing at him. “I’m just going to be a little bitch about it.”

“Hey,” Tamlin said sternly. “You’re the one who wanted to take her out last night. You’re the one who ignored your own goddamn code of ethics.”

Jurian’s face crumpled. “God. I know.”

As Jurian buried his face in his hands and moaned, Tamlin uncomfortably shifted his pile of clothes from one arm to the other. “Did you really sleep with her?” he asked quietly.

Jurian was silent for a long moment. “Do you really want to know?” he asked, muffled.

“No.” Tamlin shook his head for emphasis. “It’s bad enough knowing that she’s Lucien’s friend. I don’t need to know the particulars.”

“Yeah.” Jurian sighed and scrubbed at his face. “It’s for the best.”

Tamlin took a half-step toward the bathroom to change. “So… are you coming tonight?”

Jurian sighed without looking at him. “Yeah,” he murmured.

“Are you really going to end it with her?”

Jurian dropped his gaze to the floor and nudged the garbage bag with his foot. “I don’t know yet,” he murmured.

Tamlin sighed. “If… if you want, I can bring my camera. I’ve still got an old point-and-shoot, so we could get this job over with if you…” He trailed off when Jurian shook his head.

“Nah.” Jurian ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a party. And it’s still Sunday. We’re off the clock.”

“Oh. Okay, then.”

When Tamlin came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Jurian was sitting on the couch arm, surveying the mess he had made. At least he’d finished tying up one garbage bag, but he wasn’t anywhere near done yet.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?”

Jurian startled as Tamlin walked up to him. “Yeah. No. I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“I’ll be fine,” Jurian said emphatically. “Just tell me where this party is, and I’ll be there at seven with a smile on my face and a poinsettia under my arm.”

Tamlin smiled a wry half-smile. “You don’t have to bring anything.”

“The hell I don’t,” Jurian said lightly, then gently punched his arm. “I’ve got a date tonight. I can’t just show up empty-handed.”

“It’s not a—a date…” Tamlin faltered when Jurian shot him a look.

“I don’t think you know what a date is, kid.”

Tamlin blushed and hoped it wasn’t obvious. “Fine,” he muttered, then told him the address.

Jurian whistled. “They don’t charge admission to get in, do they?”

“No, I think your wallet is safe,” Tamlin said with a smirk.

Jurian smirked back. “Good,” was all he said.

Tamlin turned to go, then paused and asked, “By the way… How was Swan Lake?”

Jurian looked thoughtful, and his smirk softened to a smile. “It was nice. Real nice.” He nodded at Tamlin. “Tell your friend I said ‘Thanks’. From both of us.”

#did somebody say update?#it's been a while!#hope you like #:)#my writing #my fanfiction #acotar fanfiction #acotar fanfic #tamlin x lucien #lucien x tamlin #tamcien

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