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karajaynetoday · 3 months

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nothing's going right, and everything's a mess, and no one likes to be alone | jack hughes

author's note: don't ask me how the university semester timeline in this works. i have simply given reader a three week break in march bc why not. this is fanfiction okay, anything can happen 😂 no one proofread this for me so soz for any typos!

word count: 3.4k words

warnings: none that i can think of? but lmk if i've missed anything. soz if the ending makes you mad LOL i do love a cliffhanger

read part one here

read part two here

(This is a fem reader insert)

More writing here (soz that the masterlist is not up to date lol) | send thoughts/feedback/suggestions here

Somehow, the ill feeling of waiting until summer to see Jack again began to fade with each passing day. The itch to text him every time something exciting or infuriating happened to you began to lessen. The thoughts of him when you saw a funny meme he’d like, or your shared favourite foods on special at the grocery store, quietly stopped happening as frequently.

But then there were the things that didn’t stop. The sharp pain in your chest whenever Jack’s smiling face popped up on your social media feed. The butterflies in your stomach whenever your parents brought him up in conversation, fuelled by whatever the latest updates were from their group message thread with Jim and Ellen. The joy that would wash over you when you heard about a Devils win or a Jack Hughes goal, followed almost always by a wave of sadness that you were hearing about it second or third hand, rather than from Jack himself.

You were the one who’d asked for space. You needed time, you’d said. Given the blow up of All-Star weekend, all Jack was doing was respecting your wishes; but a huge part of you not so secretly wished he’d be a bit more disrespectful and reach out. Your mind was a mess of conflicting thoughts, and your heart wasn’t sure which emotion to feel or where to go next.

Since kindergarten, you’d barely gone more than a few days without seeing or communicating with Jack in some way. Now you were nearly a month without a word, and even though you were still mad at how he’d treated you, you were craving a return to the friendship you’d become so accustomed to. Jack knew you better than anyone, could basically read your mind with a single look, and although you had plenty of friends at college and still around in Toronto from high school, none came close to the camaraderie you shared with Jack. He was someone you could talk to for hours, or sit next to in silence for the same amount of time, it didn’t matter. With Jack, you could be utterly and entirely yourself, no complications. Now it felt like you were always pretending. And it was exhausting.

It was about 9pm on a Thursday night when you found yourself pushing through that exhaustion to try and complete yet another university assignment. For motherfucking economics. You couldn’t wait until you’d completed all of your compulsory economics credits because it was the absolute opposite of your cup of tea, when it came to academic subjects. This assignment was your last one, and you weren’t sure whether to cheer or cry at the idea of hitting the submit button on the online portal. Maybe you should’ve bought a confetti cannon to celebrate. Or a box of wine. Or booked yourself a flight somewhere fun, given you had a break from classes soon.

As soon as the thought of a trip crossed your mind, your phone began to buzz with an incoming video call. A video call from… Luke. Luke Hughes.

Your face scrunched in confusion, as you swiped to answer the call, met with Luke’s smiling face and messy curls.

“Hey sunshine! Long time no see. How have you been?” Luke spoke cheerily. Almost too cheerily.

You were immediately suspicious and narrowed your eyes at the youngest Hughes.

Luke was 3 years old when you met for the first time; he could barely remember a life without you in it. Given how inseparable you and Jack were, Luke became your de facto little brother, always tagging along where he could and joining in your adventures. Later on, when he became a teenager, you were the one Luke would come to when he was having issues with his friends, or trying to build up the courage to ask out the cute girl in his math class, or missing his brothers when they moved away. You were his second call after Ellen when he felt homesick at Michigan, and you were his first call when he had fucked up something that he felt his brothers would never let him live down. Emotional support and damage control, with a healthy dose of teasing and laughs thrown in. That was the dynamic between you and Luke. It also meant you could read him to filth when he was lying to you, and your honesty radar was through the roof at this sudden video call.

“I’m fine, Moose. Just trying to wrap up my final assignment before the break without losing my entire mind.” You offered weakly, half-expecting Luke to make a joke about your mind having been lost years ago, but the joke never came.

Instead, you saw the concern flicker across Luke’s face, just for a moment, before he forced a smile.

“How long is your break for? Any plans?”

“Three weeks, and not really. I promised my mother I’d spend a few days helping her with planning for their anniversary party in June, but that probably won’t happen until right before I go back to school.” You chatted absently, hitting save on your essay and standing up from the couch, bringing your phone with you as you moved into the kitchen to make yourself a drink.

You propped the phone up against the vase on your kitchen bench, reaching up into the cabinet to retrieve a glass.

“Well, you should come visit. We’ve got like 5 home games in a row or something ridiculous coming up. It’d be fun!” Luke’s tone was cheerful, but cautious, like he wasn’t sure how you were going to react.

You hummed in response, moving slightly out of view of your phone to get some ice cubes from your freezer and a soda from the fridge.

“Besides, I heard a rumour that you’ve got an airline voucher to use. I’d hate for it to expire or something.”

You could feel your heart starting to beat faster. Luke knew about the voucher. Did that mean Jack had told him about your fight?

“The voucher won’t expire for three years. I’m sure I’ll manage to use it before then.” You deadpanned, stepping back into frame to see Luke rolling his eyes at you.

“Yeah, sure, but will I survive that long without seeing you? Absolutely not. Come on, sugar. Please? Even if it’s just a weekend?” Luke had moved into full begging mode, with puppy dog eyes and everything.

You sighed, fidgeting with the straw in your drink and avoiding his gaze.

“I don’t… we haven’t talked at all, Luke. I don’t know what he’ll do if I just show up there.” You half-whispered, feeling that all-too-familiar wave of sadness coursing through your veins.

“He talked about you tonight at dinner. Says he misses you. But he doesn’t want to push, or not give you the space you wanted. But right now, he’s on the couch watching Gossip Girl, so…” Luke stated matter-of-factly, staring you down with a knowing look on your face.

Gossip Girl was something you’d insisted Jack get into when you were teenagers, as long as he “wanted to be called your official best friend”. And The OC. And Gilmore Girls. And One Tree Hill. And basically any other teen drama series you could think of. Collectively, those shows had thousands of episodes, and you always found yourself settling down to watch them whenever you were missing Jack more than usual. You’d never realised before that he did the same.

“Should… should we tell him I’m coming? I don’t want him to get upset by a bad surprise.”

“Not at all, sugar. Book the flight and send me the details, I’ll sort out the rest.” Luke’s beaming smile made a smile of your own creep onto your face, as you nodded at him and went to retrieve your laptop from the couch to log onto the airline website.

“Now that that’s sorted, I was wondering, what does it mean when a girl asks me what my sun, moon and rising are? Should I be worried? Or is it a good thing?”

–

Two days later, you were done with your semester and on your way to the airport. Luke had suggested you book a one-way flight, “That way, you can go home whenever you like!”, but you were starting to feel like the whole thing was a mistake.

Nonetheless, you pushed through those feelings and boarded your flight. The whole ordeal took less than two hours, and soon enough you found yourself navigating the arrivals area at Newark airport. You spotted Luke’s lanky figure, clad in a Michigan sweatshirt, with his back to you. You couldn’t help but creep up on him and poke his side, cracking up with laughter as Luke jumped at least three feet into the air. He’d always been the easiest to scare, ever since you were kids.

Luke cussed you out, and then pulled you into a bone-crushing hug.

“Missed your face, sugarplum.” Luke murmured, as you pulled away from each other and he rested his hands on your shoulders, studying you.

“Aw, Lukey. I’d say I’d missed yours too, but we really gotta do something about that hair.” You poked your tongue out as the youngest Hughes brother’s jaw dropped in mock offense.

You retrieved your bag from the luggage carousel, and headed out to where Luke had parked. The two of you fell into easy conversation as Luke navigated through the New Jersey streets back to the apartment he shared with Jack.

You managed to bury most of the nerves, but they came bubbling back to the surface when Luke pulled into the parking garage at the bottom of his building.

“Is… um… Is Jack home? Alone?” You managed to squeak out, and Luke looked at you like you were crazy.

Ever since All-Star weekend, you’d been having a recurring nightmare about Jack and the girl from the messages you’d accidentally become privy to. In particular, it was a scenario where you would come home from wherever you’d been out, and opened the apartment door to find them… entangled, on every possible surface you could think of. You felt yourself starting to feel ill as the images from your nightmares started to flash back into your mind.

“He’s alone. Ever since… ever since he came home early from All-Star, he’s been alone. None of the… usual visitors have been over. And he hasn’t been going to theirs, either. Not even when we’re on a roadie.” Luke said carefully, and you could tell he was trying not to upset you.

You could also tell that he was being honest. Because you could always tell when he was lying. But your mind was running a million miles a minute. Jack hadn’t… for a month? Because of his fight with you? You loved Jack, but you also knew (despite wishing that you didn’t know at all) that it had been years since he’d gone that long without intimacy. In fact, it was probably the longest since losing his virginity that Jack hadn’t fulfilled his desires.

Your mind was starting to wander into the gutter, and you pressed your eyes closed to bring yourself back to Earth. All you could do was nod at Luke, before you both hopped out of the car and into the elevator. Luke insisted on carrying your luggage, so you found yourself fidgeting incessantly with your hands as the elevator climbed to the correct floor.

You trailed behind Luke as he strode towards the apartment door and unlocked it, stepping inside and putting your bag down. He looked back and waved you into the apartment, pressing a finger to his lips. You tiptoed across the doorway, and your heart softened at the scene before you.

You could see the back of Jack’s head leaned up against the couch, and an episode of Gilmore Girls playing on the TV mounted on the wall. In fact, it was one of your favourite episodes; where Jess comes back and shows Rory the book he wrote, and calls her out for dropping out of Yale. You smiled ruefully as you thought about the parallels between that episode and your current situation with Jack, as the argument between Jess and Rory played out on the screen.

What do you mean?

You know what I mean! I know you. I know you better than anyone! This isn't you!

…

This isn't you! This! You going out with this jerk, with the Porsche! We made fun of guys like this!

You caught him on a bad night.

This isn't about him! Okay? Screw him! What's going on with you? This isn't you, Rory. You know it isn't. What's going on?

I don't know. I don't know…

“Are we Team Jess or Team Rory this time, Jacky?” Luke called out, making you jump.

“Team Jess all the way, obviously. Where have you bee-” Jack stopped dead in his tracks as he turned to face his brother, and instead saw you in the middle of his living room.

Jack’s face was a revelation. Confusion, at first. Then the briefest flash of hurt and anguish. Then a smile. Then caution and uncertainty, as he slowly stepped towards you.

You let a breath you hadn’t realised you were holding, and quickly moved across the room, clumsily throwing your arms around your best friend. You felt Jack freeze momentarily, almost as if he was shocked at your touch, but that soon passed and you felt his hands slide around your waist and squeeze, bringing your bodies as close together as possible.

You nestled your head on Jack’s shoulder, breathing in his scent. His thumbs softly rubbed up and down your side, and you felt him press a soft kiss into your hair. You stayed like that for a minute, or maybe longer, relaxing into the embrace.

The sound of the apartment door slamming shut made you jolt, and you rolled your eyes as you realised that Luke had tried to sneak way unnoticed and failed miserably.

“Hi.” Jack whispered, pulling back from you slightly but keeping his hands locked around you.

“Hi.” You whispered back, reaching up to brush his hair out of his eyes.

“Is it still shit hair? Or better now it’s longer?” Jack teased, rolling his tongue between his teeth.

“Better. But only slightly.” You teased back, your hands slipping down to the back of his neck comfortably.

The warmth of the surprise arrival was starting to fade. The dread you’d felt over addressing your fight with Jack was starting to set in, fast. The guilt you felt for being the catalyst for over a month for not speaking to your best friend was washing over you. Your heart rate was through the roof, and your palms were beginning to sweat.

Jack sensed your change in mood, and pulled away from you to look you up and down.

“Are you hungry? Do you want to shower? Or take a nap?” He was nervous, too.

“I ate before my flight. And showered this morning. And it’s 11am, so I think I’m good on the nap front. But I do think we should… we should talk. About everything.” You were basically tripping over your words at this point, but Jack’s reassuring nod helped to calm your nerves.

Wordlessly, Jack took your hand and led you over to the couch, gesturing for you to sit. You sat down and faced him, crossing your legs and resting your hands on your knees, still fidgeting with your hoodie sleeves.

“I’m sorry - “ You both said unanimously, a gentle laughter filling the room.

“I’m sorry I needed so much time apart, J. It fucking sucked, and it was my fault, and I just didn’t -” You began to ramble, only stopping when Jack leaned over and squeezed your knee reassuringly.

“You only needed that time because I was an asshole, sugar. It’s on me, really. I had no right to treat you like an occasional friend, or something that I shouldn’t prioritise -” Jack paused as you cringed, remembering the text messages that referred to his time with you as “boring family bullshit”.

“I was thinking with my dick, not with my head, and that’s not fair on anyone.” You shot Jack a weird look, and he looked sheepish in return.

“Quinn… Quinn said that to me. After you told him to tell me about the messages. He’s right, thought. It wasn’t fair.” Jack continued, pausing to take a deep breath.

“This whole… thing, this life -” Jack gestured broadly at the apartment around you, and you glanced around properly for the first time. Framed jerseys of Luke and Jack’s adorned the walls.Various photos of the Hughes family scattered about the place. The fridge, with a gas bill stuck to it, along with a polaroid of you and Jack from last Christmas. And a photo from your senior prom. And a group photo of everyone from last summer at the lake house, Jack’s mouth open in laughter with his arm slung over your bikini-clad shoulders.

“It’s all I thought I ever wanted. And it’s amazing, and I’m so grateful. But it’s worth nothing to me, the money, the girls -” You felt yourself involuntarily cringe again. “The fame, the accolades, it’s worth nothing to me without the people that I love by my side. And if those people don’t know how much I love and appreciate them, because I treat them like shit, then that’s on me. No one else. Me.”

You sat quietly, taking in Jack’s emphatic statement. You weren’t quite sure what to say. So instead, you gently reached over and took Jack’s hand in yours, lacing your fingers through his and squeezing softly, for a moment while you gathered your thoughts.

“I know the life you live, Jack. You don’t have to be sorry for it. Playing hockey was all you ever dreamed of, and I honestly can’t blame you for… enjoying… all the perks it comes with.” You swallowed the wave of nausea that hit you, before continuing.

“I don’t… I don’t know what life looks like without you in it. The last month was such a bizarre experience, and not one that I ever want to repeat, but I also… I need to… Can I be honest?” You spoke softly, glancing up from your hands to meet Jack’s gaze, and he nodded encouragingly at you.

“I wasn’t just upset because you made me feel like I was inconveniencing you, or cock-blocking you -” It was Jack’s turn to cringe. “I think I was upset because I was jealous. Because that will never, ever be me. And I think… I think I want it to be? Maybe? Fuck, I don’t know!” You dropped Jack’s hand and stood up from the couch, and started to pace the room.

“Sugar, please sit down.” Jack pleaded, and you paused, looking back at him on the couch. One look was all you needed, and you narrowed your eyes at the smirk on his dumb face.

“Why are you smirking? I am experiencing emotional distress, you asshole.” You seethed, running your hands through your hair in frustration.

“Tell me more about this jealousy thing. I’m intrigued.” Jack’s tone was light and teasing, and washed over you like sour milk. Your head whipped in his direction and your face must’ve said a thousand words, because Jack’s smirk soon disappeared and he hurriedly stood up and walked over, reaching out to touch you.

“See, this -” You jabbed a finger into Jack’s chest. “This is why I have avoided this conversation for almost my entire life. Because you think it’s hilarious that we could ever go down that path. That we could ever be something more than what we are. Because I’m not good enough,or pretty enough, or just enough and I never will be, and I hate it. I hate it so much.” Your voice cracked on the last few words, and you felt the hot tears start to bubble out of your eyes and stream down your face.

Jack didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. He pulled you into a hug, bringing his hand up to your face and gently brushing away the tears with his thumbs.

“Breathe, sugar. You need to calm down.” Jack said quietly, willing you to calm. That just made you cry harder.

You were about to pull away, when you felt Jack cup your face with both hands, before leaning in to kiss you.

#jack hughes #jack hughes x reader #jack hughes imagine #jack hughes one shot #new jersey devils #luke hughes #luke hughes imagine #quinn hughes imagine #my writing #nhl fanfiction

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websterss · 4 months

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 — 𝐀𝐙𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐋

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: You and Azriel had dreamed of nothing more than to be parents. You were ready for it, you just weren't prepared to have that dream be ripped away.

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆(𝐒): angst, mentions of death, mentions of slight blood not really, mentions of stillbirth, grievance, and mourning, just angst all around really...

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓: 3,038

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: Azriel x fem!Reader

𝐀/𝐍: I hope you like it! I work with children so sometimes I get a cute teacher!reader idea fics. I was asked to help out in the early head start classes last week and well, being around 1-3 years old made me emotional, also I've been sad lately so this fic was the end result of how I've been feeling...also this is my first azriel fic and I'm fucking nervous...anyway let me know what you guys think!

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

You had dreamed of a life worth waking up to…in the room down the hall. Dreamed of the cuddles and nose kisses that would cure your bad woes away. Dreamed of the giggles and laughter, ones you’d hope would be replications of yours and Azriels combined. Dreamed of the late-night cries and restless nights of sleep. You wanted it…more than anything else. You wanted the life you were ready to live that awaited behind the door with the blue and pink butterflies.

The room you spent countless hours parading around and holding up color swatches to. It drove Azriel mad, having you make him repaint and coat with a new color you fell hopelessly in love with, but you knew he’d do it all over again to hold onto the hope you shared that was now gone.

Azriel stood at your bedroom door, his chest closing in on itself as he felt you hurt. He felt your hate, your grief…he felt empty knowing that the stillbirth wasn’t felt one-sided. He felt the loss of his two unborn babes.

You spent the days in your bed crying. Your bedsheets and pillowcases had long since turned soggy, and you no longer had the energy to cry any harder. Azriel took the brunch of your earlier breakdowns. holding you as you wept and pleaded to have them back. It had taken Rhysand to shut down your mind. Having you fall head forward into Azriel's neck as he held you.

“Rhys…please! I beg of you!” Azriel had cried out to his brother for help. Your pain had gone right down to his side of his bond and as much as he didn't want to he needed a moment's worth of quiet. Rhysand had only nodded cupping his brother's crying face, knowing Azriel wasn't doing this out of anger, but because he wanted you both to stop hurting for just one night, but that pain would never stop coming.

“Don’t you dare…don’t you dare! Rhysand no!” You wept as Azriel held you in his arms. “I don’t wanna sleep…I don’t wanna sleep yet…” It only took one glance at Azriel and Rhysand had pressed his forefingers against both your temples. Azriel eyes shut, and the last thing he heard was your whimpers dying out quietly.

His betrayal hurt, but your body ached more, your heart throbbed, and your stomach twisted into knots. You had done everything to prepare for their arrival. Had spent hours selecting their names, stocking the nursery, and speaking to them every day. Now you barely had the strength to get up and eat. Much less Azriel but he was doing his best to hold it together for you both. He lost two precious gems, he didn’t want to end up losing his beautiful diamond too.

He watched with a heavy heart as Madja checked your pulse for the umpteenth time this week.

“It would be best to start eating child.”

“I did everything you asked of me...” You murmured staring off into space.

“You need to gain your strength back, little one. Don’t tell anyone but you’re my favorite apprentice I've ever had. I’d hate to see you go so soon.” Madja brushed back your hair.

“I did everything right Madja…” Your breaths growing labored again.

“I know child. I know you did.” Madja's heart ached for you both. “Unfortunate and unfair circumstances.” She mourned for the beautiful twins she had to help you deliver. She looked up at Azriel as he hastily wiped a tear from his cheek.

“Child, when is the last time you’ve eaten?” She directed her firm tone at the Shadowsinger.

“I don’t want to eat.” You muttered.

“I won’t eat until she does.” You and Azriel spoke at the same time.

“Stubborn…” Madja cursed amongst something else you couldn’t comprehend.

Madja let out a small sigh before she pulled you into an embrace and pressed your head into her shoulder as she rubbed your back. In your moment of vulnerability, your emotions grew even more intense. You felt the tears on your cheeks mix with Madja's as she kissed your temple. Madja's heart broke seeing the once vibrant young woman that filled rooms with joy and energy, turn into a lifeless zombie of her former self. She broke seeing Azriel lose himself even further, falling back into his shadows for comfort. He resembled that of a scared lost babe, trying to find his way home again. When she received the call from Feyre, she knew the whirlwind of emotions that was going to follow.

"Where is she?" She called out as soon as she and Rhysand winnowed in. She didn't even think about it when she stuffed her bag with everything she needed.

"Third door down. The girls are trying to keep her calm... nothing's working." Rhysand followed right on her tail.

"She's having twins Rhysand of course not child!" Madja cursed as she hurried her footsteps.

The scene before her was a mess. The house a disarray, and the living room thrashed, probably where the panic started. She heard Feyra and Nesta ordering Cassian for more towels from upstairs. She climbed up to the second landing. Her eyes immediately fell onto Azriel's, finding him holding his stomach in pain with tears in his eyes, as he sat with his knees to his chest.

"Madja I can't feel them-" He could barely get out before she walked right past him.

"Get him up." She called over his shoulder. "I need you three in there."

"Why?" Rhysand asked as she followed the cacophony of your wails of anguish.

"I need you three to help hold her down, the girls won't be enough."

"Hold her down?"

"Get him up!" Rhysand had scrambled to haul him up on his feet. Ushering him into the room he had half a mind to go into. Azriel cried harder seeing your blood stain the sheets.

"Madja-" You cried out to her. Slightly relieved she was finally here to help you. "I-I can't feel—feel them. I can't feel—" You choked up.

"I'm here child. I'm here." Madja cleaned her hands and then checked under your nightgown. Your heart sank as she tried keeping her eyes at bay from watering. She hovered her hand over your stomach and as she paused, you knew it wasn't a good sign.

"M-Me or them?" Your lips quivered. "Madja? W-What's wrong? Are they okay? If you can...save them please. S-Save my babies please!" The healer only continued to remain silent. She looked up briefly at Feyre and Rhysand, her mind opening up to them.

Madja? Rhysand bent his chin in concern.

I cannot feel they're heartbeats. She thought. Feyre shed a tear at the news.

"Madja?" Azriel's voice pulled her thoughts away. "Are the babes okay?"

"Child..." She began somberly.

"T-Tell me..." You inhaled deeply, gripping Azriel's and Rhysand's arms tighter.

"...I can no longer feel their heartbeats. The twins I'm afraid are stillborn my child." A tear shed down her cheek.

"N-No." Your grip loosened up, as Azriel's grew stronger.

"And I need you to be very strong for me for this next part because you need to push them out."

"I-I can't-" You began to protest.

"You can! I know you can. You, my dear are the strongest person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing...and I will be here with you every step of the way. We all will."

You had barely mustered a disheartened nod before she told you to begin pushing.

“You both are a pain in my ass…a beautiful pain…but still a pain.” Madja shook her head, hearing Azriel scoff at her choice of comforting words. “Can I be honest?”

“You always are…” Azriel grumbled now shifting to the end of the frame of the bed.

“I do not care if you don’t want to eat. you need to eat. Precisely because I don’t want to have to receive an urgent call from Rhysand or Feyre telling me you idiots gave out on us. I refuse to have you leave this world so soon.” You looked up and met her arched brow.

“Madja—“ You began to protest.

“Eat. Both of you or I'll shove my hand down your throats and force-feed you.” Madja gestured to the nightstand with a tray stacked with two bowls and glasses. You’d been eating a few crackers, but she didn’t think that was enough. She had brought over soup from the kitchen in hopes you’d finally get some real food in your gut.

Azriel and you shared glances that told her you’d rather starve together than either of you eat at different times. Madja was about to argue but she knew she’d be arguing into the wind with you two. Your bond was too strong.

”I don’t want anything Madja...” Was your only reply as you hid your gaze from the healer and your mate, whose faces were so deeply etched with worry. Azriel was taking your pain on like he deserved it. Slowly withering away alongside you. It was you and him against the world, against death if that's how you wanted it. He wouldn't let you go alone. "It hurts..."

”I understand it hurts, but you gotta put something in your stomach or it’s gonna hurt even more.”

“Please…” You pleaded again, your voice hoarse and cracking as you spoke.

“Please Madja...” Azriel was soon echoing your pleas with the same breathless voice as tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

"Come." She motioned Azriel to sit on the other side of the bed.

Azriel met your somber gaze before he walked over and slipped into the bed with you. Shifting closer until his chest was pressed against your back. You slowly moved your head from Madja's chest and leaned it back against Azriel's chest. Madja looked between the two of you and gave a slight nod. The two of you both watched as she twisted around and then placed the tray down in the middle of your laps. She gripped both your hands before gesturing to the soup with crackers.

"Won't eat together, then you start together. Eat, I talk." You grumbled then let your shoulders fall at the two spoons she held out for you both. You took one from her, as did Azriel before allowing you to slowly sit up. Once situated, Azriel watched you slowly take the first spoonful then took one of his own from the bowl. His shadows vivaciously sprang to life as you both ate in silence together. "It won't pass...not for a long time." You both looked up at her for a moment before looking down again.

Azriel swallowed the soup without tasting it. It would take more time for him to start eating at a regular pace again. He took his time, enjoying the warmth of the soup as it slid down his throat. As you started to eat a little more from the bowl, he kept his gaze trained on you, watching every movement you made. He had not stopped worrying about you. You were weak and vulnerable in this state, as was he, but he refused to let you fall again. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to your temple as a tear fell down your cheek. When you cried, he wasn’t far from crying too. Tears of his own soon fell at the feeling of that bubble of anguish building up in your chest again.

"This kind of loss…it stays with you forever. The empty hole in your chests." She puts her finger in the center of your sternum gently. "That my dear child will fill itself up again within time. I'm not going to give you my apologies because I know you both have had enough of everyone's condolences, but I can give you the reassurance as your healer, and your friend, that it'll happen again, and again, and if doesn't then you can try again another time."

Azriel listened but remained silent. He had always been one who believed actions spoke louder than words. He couldn't force himself to believe that the pain and sorrow would eventually pass, but he could trust in her words this time. Her actions had proven themselves enough, you wouldn't be sitting beside him without her. If there was anyone he would be willing to trust it was Madja. She had been another mother figure to him after losing the two he did have. Her words brought an empty comfort to him, but her love brought warmth and familiarity like that of a mother's embrace. He knew she meant well. Madja always tried.

Madja's words of promise brought Azriel some hope. You could see the worry in his expression as he chewed on a spoonful of soup and nodded to her words. He knew she was right. If it wasn't meant to be now then you could always try again in the future. Madja's fingers caressed your skin softly. She could see the grief that lingered in your eyes. Her hand grazed against your cheek tenderly and her thumb swiped your tear away.

“And if it doesn’t?” You asked, your head tilting to one side as she spoke. You felt so lost now, so confused about what was to be of your grieving family of two right now. If you’d be okay after this and how you were supposed to move on. She had offered hope to fill the empty gap, but that void of that missing piece in your heart ached. It ached for your twins that you wanted more than anything to be resting in a cradle next to your and Azriel's bed, or for that night to have been a promise of new life blooming from within you, instead of death taking it from within you.

Azriel's head fell to the side, his gaze drifting to your intertwined hands. He knew that Madja meant well, but it didn't make her words any less painful to hear. He wanted more than anything to see your belly swell again. To fall asleep each night knowing you were cradling two precious gems within you. The thought of that possibility made his heartache. He couldn't even imagine the thought of trying again, it was too much.

"I don't want it to happen again Madja…I don't want to experience this pain again." You whispered, your voice shaking as you let out another sob. The pain was only going to get worse, and you weren't sure what to do. To you, it wasn’t even about conceiving another baby, but the fact that you lost the twins you held so dearly within your womb. Azriel gently scooted you closer into his arms. Your bodies pressed against each other as he pulled you into a gentle hug. "I don't think I could go through that again." You shook your head.

“Neither could I…” Azriel whispered. He kept his eyes focused on you as he caressed your back and held you close. It wasn’t so much the grief that caused your hearts to break, but the thought of going through the journey again only to have the same results. Would you be able to handle losing your babes again? Azriel knew he wouldn't be able to. Would there be a point break in your hearts that you both wouldn't be able to take on any more pain? That thought alone scares him. Azriel pulled you into his body, burying his head into your hair. His body shook with every word he tried to hold back, but his voice gave way.

"I'm sorry my love..." He mumbled with his lips pressed against your forehead as he hugged you tighter. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the images of you almost giving out on him. You could feel the drops of his tears fall on you, but he refused to let go. Azriel held you close, his breathing becoming heavy as memories of the night flooded his mind heavily.

"I'm here..." You whispered sweet nothings of reassurance to him.

“I can't promise that we won't go through this again…” Madja’s heart skipped a beat at your tear-filled eyes. You both wanted nothing more than to conceive another precious babe in the future if you're both up for it again surely, but you both fear the heartache that would follow if it takes the same turn again. Madja is right, that kind of pain will never truly heal or leave you. You can only pray that it won't happen again. You both turn to her. "But I can promise you'll have many many beautiful babies. Your body will allow it my child that is my reassurance. I can't take away your pain, your grievance of your lost twins, but I can give you the hope for better days and the expansion of your little family that will continue to grow and grow." She brought her hands up and cupped the sides of your faces.

"Promise?!" Azriel's voice was filled with hopefulness as if he could already see the light at the end of this dark and twisted tunnel. You could finally see some relief wash over him as she explained. His hands reached up and rested against her palm as he focused on her every word.

Madja's words brought you comfort, at least for now. Her promise of conceiving future babies gave you hope that one day you'd still have your dream of a big family with Azriel. You wouldn't have to carry the weight of the twins' death on your shoulders alone. You had Azriel alongside you, and Rhysand, and Feyre, and Nesta, and Cassian, and Mor, and Amren, and Madja. She was right though, she always was–the hollow of sadness wouldn't go away, but it could be filled. You'd make sure to make that empty in ache that burned you whole again, if not now, then you and Azriel would have the future and many years to come. That was all you could hope for now.

"That I can promise you." You both nodded as she pulled you into her embrace. Your and Azriel's minds wander further down the hall, where the door remains closed. The door with the blue and pink butterflies.

#acotar azriel #azriel imagines #azriel imagine #azriel x reader #azriel x fem!reader #azriel shadowsinger #azriel oneshot #azriel x you #azriel fanfic #azriel spymaster #azriel angst #acotar fanfiction #writings by juls #my gif

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feyascorner · 3 months

Note

You writing is amazing! I eat it right up!

Now this idea has been stuck in my hand for a while. Tav that wants to give Astarion blood but are horrified of needles and that fear applies to his fangs. So when they try to give blood the instinctively move away even when Astarion "The bit comes in 3 2 1" but Tav insist on trying again. When Astarion finally gets some blood Tav straight just goes "Oh okay great" and faceplants in the ground. When they wake up again they say the weirdest shit because they are still whoozy something like "Hey Astarion do crabs think fish can fly?"

Anyway have a nice day :]

im crying they're so silly...also i wrote like the dumbest questions but they're genuine questions so pls if anyone has answers...

"Just do it."

He nods. "Very well."

"Wait, no, I need a countdown."

"Fine. Three...two..."

"Actually, it's too nerve-racking, just--"

Astarion pulls his face away from the crook of your neck, eyes lidded as he sighs. "Darling, if it's too difficult..."

"It's not that bad. I want to help you, and you said this would make you more powerful in battle," you insist, bursting with enthusiasm but not enough to will you through your deathly fear of needles---or anything sharp for that matter. "I've done it before, I can do it again."

"Yes, love, but the last time we did this, you had me do it while you were asleep. You also woke up and punched me in the chest, even though you're the one who suggested the idea."

"I can do it this time! Just try again!"

Despite his hesitance, he follows your request, gently inching you closer and leaning into your neck. His breath feels cool on your skin, but the second you feel him nearing too close, you pull away again instinctively. He doesn't even seem surprised this time.

"Okay, maybe we should just do it while I'm sleeping again-"

He grabs either side of your face, pressing a kiss on your cheek and then another on the side of your nose. He trails down to your chin, and before you can even tell what he's doing, your face is flushed in embarrassment. So much so that you don't even realize he's trailed down your chin and his fangs are now right at your neck. "What are you--"

It pricks.

Astarion tries to make it brief, regardless of how badly he wants to drink more, because he can sense how limp you feel in his arms. He pulls away, licking at the excess on his lips with a triumphant grin. "There. Exquisite as always."

But you only stare at him blankly. His smile drops. It worries him.

"Oh, okay," you blink. "That's great."

You would've face planted straight into the floor had he not barely grabbed you by the back of your shirt.

You only awake a few hours later, groggily rubbing at your eyes while Astarion looms over you with pursed lips, and you wonder how long he's been sitting here. When your eyes peel open, he groans, shoulders slumping in relief.

"There you are, I thought I'd nearly killed you again!" he smiles, reaching for a plate of fruits beside your bedroll. "Now feed yourself before you go and pass out on me aga--"

"Your hair reminds me of a white rat I saw last week."

He stops.

"Why do you think Karlach's underwear doesn't burn off? Are they enchanted? I want enchanted underwear."

Ah, he realizes. You've finally lost your mind.

Your lips stretch dreamily. "Maybe I can ask Withers to make my underwear glow in the dark."

"No, before we move on, let's discuss that rat comment."

"Do crabs think fish can fly?"

"I---I suppose they would?..." He's at a loss of words, which is especially rare for him.

You blink wearily at him, staring at a spot on the wall behind his head. He'd think your confusion to be adorable if it weren't for the borderline offensive comments you were spouting out like a broken water fountain. "Do vampires poop, Astarion?"

You've crossed the borderline now. He runs a hand down his face, sighing. "Please stop talking, my love."

"You can technically eat food, even though it tastes bad, right?" you raise a brow, squinting at him. "So where does that food go? Do you poop it out or does it just kind of slide ou--"

"Okay, that's quite enough talking for today," he shoves an apple into your mouth. He snickers at how you struggle to take a bite. "No more questions until you finish the entire bowl."

Fortunately for him, you fall back asleep before you're even finished with the apple. And he's grateful you do because even he himself doesn't know the answer to that question.

#astarion ancunin #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate astarion #astarion x tav #bg3 astarion #astarion x reader #astarion #bg3 x reader #bg3 #fluff

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amentomensmut · 4 months

Note

hi! could I please request an angst piece for Mike Schmidt where he starts working longer hours and accidentally misses his date with the reader because he’s picking up extra shifts to make enough money to buy them nicer things like jewelry? I would appreciate it if they could talk about it and then he tries to make it up to them by spending more quality time with them :)

How can I make it up to you?

Mike Schmidt x Fem!reader wc: 1.8k

warnings: none, really! angst, fluff, pet names (baby, sweetheart)

note: SORRY i've been gone so long, part 2 for first time for everything WILL HAPPEN. however, loved writing some angst for a change :) enjoy <3

45 minutes.

Mike was supposed to be here 45 minutes ago.

You check your phone again out of habit and sigh. No new missed calls or texts. You scan the restaurant once again and you realise how pathetic you must look sitting here alone. You down the last of your chardonnay and call for the bill.

You know Mike works hard to provide for Abby, and you admire that. However, he promised you a nice night out tonight. You hold back tears as you leave the restaurant. Sometimes you feel selfish for thinking it, but you wish Mike didn’t have to work so much. You barely get to see him during the week, and when you do he’s so tired he can barely keep his eyes open. You shouldn’t hold it against him, you know that. But can’t he also make time for you?

Tears are spilling out of your eyes and down your cheeks by the time you get to and in your car, and you don’t care enough to wipe them away. The sting of mascara in your eyes doesn’t seem to faze you, and when you see Mike's name pop up on the screen on your ringing phone, you start to cry even more.

“Baby? I’m so sorry I’m late, but I’m on my way over now. I had to pick up an extra shift, and then I needed to make a quick stop at the store which took me way longer than expected.” You hear Mike's distant voice on the other end of the phone, and the sound of a turn signal going off; signalling he’s in his car.

You try not to make it obvious you’re crying, but the sound of his voice makes a broken sob leave your lips.

“Sweetheart? Please talk to me.” Mike calls, and his voice sounds so desperate for any kind of answer on your end.

“Just don’t even fucking bother, Mike. I left already anyway.” Your sadness has very quickly turned to anger from hearing Mike’s half-assed apology, and you couldn’t give a shit if your words hurt him. He hurt you first. You start your car, wiping your blurry eyes and pulling out of the parking lot.

“You left? But you’ve wanted to eat at that place for months.” And Mike was right. You had wanted to eat at that restaurant for months. It was some new Italian place that had sparked your interest, and when you had planned this date, the first thing you did was make a reservation. Too bad it had gone to waste.

“I guess I lost my appetite.” You said, hanging up the phone. You want to yell and scream at him, but what good would that do? You don’t have the energy, so instead when you get home you change into some comfy clothes and curl up in your bed.

You’re not one for big, dramatic gestures, but you do consider burning his hoodie that you currently wear. It smells exactly like him and that makes you cry even more. The one person who you want to comfort you right now, is the reason you’re crying. You’re not sure if it was fair for you to be so harsh towards him on the phone, but you can’t find it in you to care. You had the whole night planned, you wore Mike's favourite dress, you bought his favourite ice cream to share when you got home, all for it to be wasted.

The sound of your doorbell ringing jolts you awake, and you groan as you roll out of bed. You’re almost 99% sure you know who’s at the door, and you consider not even answering it. However, the part of you that still wants to see Mike wins, and you open the door. On your doorstep is a very guilty looking Mike holding a bouquet of your favourite flowers, and in his other hand a bag that holds your favourite candy. You almost want to forgive him right then and there. Almost.

“It’s late, Mike.” You say, crossing your arms like it's a defence mechanism. You take in his appearance. His hair is dishevelled, like he’s been running his hands through it, and you know that’s something he does when he gets anxious. His eyes are tired and his lips are bitten.

“Yeah, yeah I know. I just-, well, I got you these.” He says, handing you the bouquet of flowers. You consider not taking them for a moment, but you rule that option out as you look at Mike’s tired, sad eyes. You hold the bouquet in your hands, waiting for Mike’s next words. You know he struggles with voicing his feelings and emotions, but if he thinks he can just buy you flowers and candy as a way to apologise, he would be sorely mistaken.

“How’d you get these? The flower shop closed two hours ago.”

“It was closing when I got there. I kinda had to bribe the guy to let me in.” Mike says with a nervous laugh, and your heart warms at the sweet gesture. There’s a pregnant pause, and you can tell Mike is trying to find the right words to speak.

“I’m really sorry. I’m sorry for being late, that I upset you.” Mike starts, and you sigh.

“But we planned this, Mike. And you just didn’t come.” You know your eyes are getting watery again, but you’re hurt.

“I know, baby. I wanted to get you a gift, but there was a long line at the jewellery store, and the wait was way longer than I expected. I decided to wait because I’ve been picking up extra shifts for months to get you this necklace and-” You cut Mike’s rambling off.

“You got me a necklace?”

“The one that was in that magazine you showed me.” Mike said, and you furrow your eyebrows. If you’re thinking about the same necklace, it was one you had showed him on a whim a few months ago. You were reading a magazine when you had come across a necklace that was just to die for. You had shown him the necklace, gushing about how beautiful it was, but how you could never afford it. There was no way Mike had bought you that necklace, right?

“But I brought that up months ago.”

“I know.”

“You remembered?”

“Of course I did.” Of course he did.

“That’s too much, Mike.”

“I picked up some extra shifts.” He says with a shrug, like what he did isn’t a big deal.

“You’re making it really hard to be mad at you right now.” You say with your bottom lip between your teeth. Your head and your heart are saying two different things, and even though you do want to forgive him, you’re still hurt from tonight.

“Come in.” You say, motioning for Mike to follow you inside.

“Just so you know, I’m not letting you in because I forgive you. It’s just…cold outside.” You continue, putting the flowers on your dining table before leading Mike to your living room.

“I should’ve just forgotten about the necklace. You’re more important than that. I just really wanted to get you something nice.” Mike says as you both sit down on the couch. You can really see how anxious he is now with the way his leg bounces up and down rapidly and how he picks at his nails.

“Can I see it?” You ask, and Mike is nodding, reaching into the bag that also holds your favourite candy to pull out a box. He hands it to you with bated breath, his eyes scanning your face. You open the box, your lips parting in shock. You knew it was the necklace you had been wanting, but to see its beauty in real life was something else.

“Mike, it’s beautiful.” You say, taking the necklace out of the box to feel it in your hands.

“I thought it suited you.” Mike says. “Can I put it on for you?” He adds, and you nod, turning around so your back is facing Mike. Mike’s gentle hands push your hair over one side of your shoulder. He lays the necklace over the front of your neck, clasping it at the back.

“Let me see you.” He demands softly, and you turn back around. Mike’s lust filled eyes scan your neck and face, and you feel shy in his intense gaze.

“You’re stunning, baby.” Mike says, and the sincerity in his voice makes you melt. “Can’t believe I made my pretty girl cry. I’m so sorry.”

“I really wanted to have a nice night together, Mike. I feel like I barely get to see you anymore.” That selfish feeling bubbles up in your stomach once again, but you push it away. You need to have this conversation with him. Mike sighs, and you can see a look of guilt and sadness wash over his face.

“I know, sweetheart. And you’re right. I don’t mean to neglect you. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a while. You keep me sane.” Mike admits with a sad smile, and he reaches to grab your hand, squeezing it softly.

“I guess sometimes I get so caught up with work, wanting to be able to provide for you and Abby.” Mike continues, and he looks up into your eyes so you can see the truth and a genuineness in his tone.

“I love the necklace, I think it’s incredibly thoughtful, don’t get me wrong. But I'd just rather you spend time with me than buy me things. I know you’re busy, and I know Abby is your first priority so I’ll never ask you to sacrifice the time you dedicate towards her, for me. All I’ll ask is that when we plan a date, or when we're together, that’s the time you dedicate to me, and you're completely there in the moment. Okay?” You say, rubbing your thumb against the back of Mike's hand. You know how hard he works, and it’s one of the many things you admire about him. You’re not asking him to drop everything to be with you, and you know how much Abby means to him. You love him, and the time you don’t get to spend with him feels like time wasted.

“Okay.” Mike says, and he’s pulling you into a long embrace. His strong arms hug you and hold you tightly to his body. You wish that things could’ve gone differently tonight, but you know that this conversation was important, and you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

“Do you want to watch a movie and dig into this candy that I bought for you?” Mike asks, his voice muffled from his face being tucked into your shoulder. You pull away from Mike and he presses a kiss to your forehead, something you know he always does to wordlessly say “I love you.”

“I’ll even let you choose the movie.” He teases, and you roll your eyes at him.

“How generous of you.” You tease back, and soon enough you’re curled up into his side, eating your favourite candy, watching a movie that you got to choose.

#josh hutcherson #mike schmidt #josh hutcherson smut #mike schmidt x reader #mike schmidt smut #smut #fnafmovie #fnaf

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somber-sapphic · 9 months

Note

hi!! how are you doing? is it ok to ask for a wandanat x reader with reader having a migraine and they basically help and take care of her? (i have a migraine it hurtsss :( )

Painful Whispers

〖Notes: Hey anon! I hope you're feeling better! It's been a while, huh? Well, I'm sorry for the delay. I did my best with this one but I've never actually had a migraine so it required a lot of googling. I hope it's up to par <3〗

〖Summary: You get a migraine for the first time.〗

〖Word Count: 1.3k〗

〖Pairing: WandaNat x Reader〗

☾Masterlists☽

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

You whimpered softly and curled yourself into a ball, shivering even under the blankets. The pain was so intense that you could barely move, every twitch sending agony through your body. The pain you were experiencing was something you had never felt before, and it was the worst you had felt in a while.

The first few hours of your day had been okay; you ate your breakfast of strawberry yogurt hesitantly, noticing that something in your body was off yet unable to pinpoint it. The only difference you had managed to identify was the glimmer shining across your vision.

Your go-to solution was to drink water – it always was. Whenever you felt even the slightest bit off, you drank some water. In fact, you were constantly reminding the rest of your team to hydrate and had your water bottle with you almost everywhere. This had become a running joke that you happily went along with.

It was during your morning workout that the pain struck. It felt like someone had slammed you on the side of the head and was squeezing your skull in a vice. It was so bad that you had practically given up on your workout immediately and retreated to your bedroom, away from the bright lights and loud sounds.

You barely managed to change into comfortable clothes before collapsing into bed, pulling the covers over your head. The comforter blocked out the light, but it didn't stop the pain; it merely kept it from getting too much worse.

You had been in that state for roughly two hours now, ignoring the buzzing of your phone, which was most likely your concerned girlfriends. Eventually, you figured they would find you and fix it. You generally trusted that they could fix whatever was wrong.

It took about five minutes after that last thought for your girlfriends to burst into the room, both of them being far too loud.

"Y/n?" Natasha demanded, storming into your ensuite bathroom. "Are you in here?" She was yelling, and you had half a mind to start shouting back at her, but that would definitely hurt too much. All you could manage was a pathetic whine, hoping that Wanda, who hadn't started breaking things, heard you.

After a few seconds, you felt Wanda's hands on your back, probably sensing your pain.

"Natasha, quiet," she snapped, her voice quiet yet stern, successfully silencing the shorter woman. You could hear Natasha walking over to you and felt the bed dip as she sat down.

"Y/n, love, what are you doing under there?" The brunette murmured, gently pulling the covers down from your face. You didn't move, simply shut your eyes in case they turned the lights on and made a low sound in the back of your throat.

Wanda's brows furrowed, and she glanced at Natasha, who wore a similar concerned expression. The redhead reached over and touched your forehead, a bit surprised when she didn't feel a fever. Your face was pale, and your eyes were puffy from crying.

"Y/n?" The witch asked again, tucking a strand of damp hair behind your ear. You winced slightly, and Wanda made a decision. She didn't like using her magic, especially without permission, but you weren't speaking, and she needed to understand what had upset you so much.

She placed two fingers on your temple, and whisps of red magic surrounded your head. She didn't pry deeply into your mind, but it didn't take much.

Pain flared in Wanda’s head, and she pulled away, shock written on her face. This was only a fraction of what you were feeling, and it was enough to make her stomach churn.

"Migraine," the witch projected, not wanting to speak any further out loud so that you wouldn't have to deal with the sound. Natasha nodded, picking up on what she was doing. You heard her voice in your head, but it wasn't loud or painful; it was feather light and soothing.

"I'll go get her some meds. Cold compress too?"

"Please." Natasha pressed a kiss to your forehead and squeezed your shoulder in a show of support. Wanda also got up and secured the windows, ensuring that no light could get in.

After that, she turned on the AC, trying to remember what she had read about caring for someone with a migraine. It had come up with Tony once, but that hadn't really been her responsibility. Cool compresses, Excedrin (which thankfully they had), head and scalp massages, and quiet music.

That was all she could recall reading, and she was going to try everything. If none of that helped, then she would take on some of the pain herself.

"Okay, sweet girl, I'm going to put on some meditation music. If you want it off, squeeze my hand, alright?" You grunted quietly and allowed her to prop your head in her lap, the movement making the pain even worse. But Wanda had an idea.

She placed one hand on your forehead and let a bit of her magic flow into your skin, smiling a bit when you relaxed. All she had really done was make her skin a bit cooler, but it seemed to help. Unfortunately, the lowered body temperature wasn't something she could sustain for long; you would need the cool compress.

Natasha wasn't gone long, and based on the quick pace of her breathing, you guessed that she had run to get the supplies. Not only did she bring Excedrin and a damp cloth, but also a glass of your favorite juice and a lavender-scented sloth that had been warmed in the microwave.

"Alright, let's get these in you, yeah?" Natasha asked, with Wanda acting as a go-between so you could hear her voice. You blinked at her; even your eyelids hurt. With the help of your lovely witch, you managed to sit up, not really trusting your voice.

Nat crawled onto the bed beside you, balancing the juice carefully as she shifted so she was pressed up against you. She tapped two of the pills into your hand, and you swallowed them, followed by a large sip of juice. It wasn't until then that you realized how thirsty you were.

You ended up drinking the rest of the glass, and when you were finished, you gave the redhead a watery smile as you leaned against Wanda.

"Thanks," you whispered, your voice a weary rasp. Natasha leaned forward and kissed you softly, simultaneously pushing you back onto the pillows. She placed the cool cloth on your forehead and put the sloth on your stomach, giving your hand an extra pat.

"Lay with me?" You breathed, closing your eyes again. You knew it would be a while before the medicine kicked in, but for now, the combination of the pitch-black room, cloth on your head, and soft music was helping. The stuffed animal was a very nice touch.

"Where on earth would we go?" Wanda responded through the telepathic link, still not wanting to speak. You didn't need them to talk out loud; this was more than enough. The gesture would've made you tear up if not for the exhaustion caused by the pain.

Your girlfriends lay down on either side of you, Natasha sitting up a bit so your head rested on her chest. She began to run her short nails against your scalp, keeping her touch incredibly soft. Wanda had one arm wrapped around your waist, holding you in a protective gesture.

You let out a soft sigh and closed your eyes, deciding that though you probably couldn't sleep, just relaxing like that was enough. You had also come to one very distinct conclusion: migraines suck.

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luveline · 9 months

Note

I know this is a long shot and probably too asks you for, but pregnancy loss with Eddie? Im on my own in this and I lost my daughter last week at 24 weeks and I've been reading your fic to try to calm down before bed, I know it's a heavy ask feel free to ignore.

hey my love, i wanted to say thank you for your request, and that i am so, so sorry for your loss. i can't imagine how you feel, i know words just aren't accurate for how it must feel for you. i hope this can offer you even the tiniest bit of comfort, and that you're as okay as you can be during such a difficult time. all my love <3

cw for pregnancy loss

Your face fits like a jigsaw piece in the curve of Eddie's neck. His chin presses gently to the top of your head, his arms wrapped loosely around your ribs where he holds you from behind. The bedroom is dark, and the TV is off. You can't bear the noise.

His hand eases up to just under your chest. "Wanna try eating something?" he asks.

"I don't think so," you say. Your voice is near monotonous. You know you're breaking his heart, if it isn't already completely shattered. You just can't seem to find the will to move.

"No?" he asks, rubbing your sternum over your t-shirt gently. "That's okay. We can eat something in the morning, sweetheart. Just don't want you sleeping hungry."

You turn your face further into his chest, rubbing your nose into his chest. You hope it says that you're here for him as he's here for you, but you're not feeling present.

He smells like his hair conditioner even hours after he showered. You sniff. The sniff turns to a sniffle of its own accord, your hand coming to rest against your stomach. The pain of it all hits you like an unstoppable wave, and it's a surprise how quickly it can turn from an under the skin thrumming to full body agony.

You can't breathe, it hurts that badly.

Eddie sounds teary as he says, "Sweetheart, it's okay. It's okay." His face drops further down. He's pleading with you. "It's alright, just breathe."

It's hard to quantify the feeling. Grief like paralysis. There's only one thing you want that could help, and it is devastating, because it's the one thing you can't have. Eddie's offered to do so much for you but he can't change what's happened.

You press your hand to your stomach and the agony turns white hot —you can't think.

Eddie hushes you softly, turning you in his embrace so he can pat your back. It's worse for a moment to be treated with the tenderness he would treat a child, knowing what you've lost, but the constant touch and rhythm helps you to breathe. To cry without gasping for air.

"It's okay," he says again quietly. You think he might be crying too, his face hidden but his voice tenuously strung. "Please don't wind yourself up again, honey. I know it hurts, but you scared me… I need you to take it easy, please."

"I–" Sobs from what feels to be the base of your chest shake apart your words. "I just want her, I just– I– Eddie. If I just–"

"No," he cuts you off firmly. "Stop it."

"But if I–"

"Stop it. I'm serious. There was nothing else you could do." His arms cross over your back, the bridge of his nose pressed hard to your temple. "You did everything you could do. You did everything. And I'm so proud of you for how you're making it through this, I'm," —a breathlessness trips him up— "so sorry."

"It's not your fault," you say. You feel sick.

"And it's not yours. You have to know that."

You needle your arm under his back, clinging to his chest. "I'm scared I won't make it through this," you confess into his shirt, barely audible, your shoulders tensing.

"You will. I'm right here with you, but you're more than strong enough all by yourself. Strongest girl I ever met, and you can lean on me as long as you need to, alright? I don't care how long you need to feel like this, honey, s'long as you give yourself a break." The heel of his palm drives a long and slow path to the small of your back. "I love you. It's not fair."

You tilt your head back and push your hand up to his cheek. He immediately moves into your palm. "I love you," you whisper.

"Try and get some rest, alright? I'll be here when you wake up." Eddie meets your eyes. His gaze is sorry, and loving, and endlessly patient. "Promise."

You squeeze your eyes closed and try to sleep.

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson oneshot #eddie munson scenario #eddie munson drabble #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfiction #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things fic #stranger things x reader

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carelesslywriting · 2 years

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Mercy - Eric Coulter

This is day 3 of 10 for my 10 days of music prompt! There's still some open songs available on my pinned post to choose from if you'd like to request an imagine. Based off of Mercy by Shawn Mendes.

Masterlist Here

Word Count: 1395 Trigger Warnings: death Note: These imagines are my own work and I do not consent to distribution of my work elsewhere!

"You always do this shit, Y/N! I don't have time to spend with you, you know I work crazy hours and that's not my fault," Eric shouted at you, tightly crossing his arms across his chest as he glared over at you.

You didn't ask for much from Eric, you know his hours, all you were asking for was some time spent together at the end of the night in some form. It's been what feels like weeks to you where you've only seen glimpses of Eric, and it's been starting to take a toll on you. Why couldn't he understand all you were asking for was 15 minutes of acknowledgment or even just a conversation before he went to bed or started his wind-down routine?

"I'm not asking for a lot, Eric," You retorted, feeling defeated before you even opened your mouth to continue. "This fight is the most interaction I've had with you in weeks! You don't even ask me how my day is. Even though you don't mean to hurt me, you keep tearing me apart," Your voice got quieter towards the end, and you decided to stop speaking there because you didn't want to break down and cry in front of him.

"Bullshit," Eric responded, rolling his eyes. "Stop being so fucking insecure and maybe try being understanding. I'm so sick of this shit from you when I get home after a long day."

"Eric I'm opening my heart up to you about how I feel and you call me insecure? Why can't you ever be supportive? Why can't you ever just tell me that how I'm feeling isn't crazy, or that you miss me too and want to spend some sort of time with me when you can? I can't take this anymore, would you please have some mercy on me?" You begged, a tear falling from your eye.

"Mercy? Seriously?" Eric asked, scoffing. "That's so pathetic. I don't have to comfort you for every little thing, that's not my problem." You wiped the tear that fell from your eye, looking down at the ground and taking in Eric's words. Nothing is ever going to change. You sighed, looking back up into Eric's cold eyes.

"Fine, then I need you to set me free because this isn't fair to me anymore," You spoke, voice shaking, looking for any type of emotion from Eric.

He stayed silent, just staring at you. After a minute of silence, you decided to walk out the door before he could even say anything. Your pride is all you've got left, and your heart shattered at the thought that Eric could just never take it easy on you or try to understand you. You felt like nothing but a puppet being pulled by its strings whenever you tried communicating anything that hurt you, and you didn't know if you could take any more. He always manipulated and weaponized your feelings against you.

You took off running towards the chasm, more tears falling from your eyes as you thought of the past year and the relationship with Eric. You gave so much for so little in return, he didn't even care that you left. Lost in your thoughts, you didn't realize how slippery the bridge over the chasm was, or that Eric had followed you.

"Y/N!" Eric yelled out, taking you by surprise. And snapping you out of your thoughts.

You whipped around, in shock that he followed, but the next thing you felt was losing your balance due to your foot slipping. You cried out, trying to reach out to anything that could keep you from falling. You heard Eric shout out your name again as you just barely gripped onto the edge of the bridge with the fingertips of one of your hands. A final tear left your eye as you realized you weren't going to be able to hang on. You saw Eric's hand reach for yours to try and grab you, but he was a second too late. His face was the last thing you saw as you fell to your death.

Eric shouted out for you, looking at the hand that almost had your wrist. It all happened so fast. He looked around frantically, not wanting to believe he had just witnessed you fall. The sound of your body as it hit the ground below was going to be a sound forever pierced into his ears. All the air inside his lungs felt like it had disappeared as he started to hyperventilate. He continued to shout out for you, tears falling from his face down to the bottom of the chasm where you laid. One minute you were together, and the next you were gone, just like that.

"Y/N, I'm so fucking sorry," Eric cried out to the void. "Come back, fuck, COME BACK! Please Y/N..."

A crowd began to gather around as Eric continued to call out for you. He hung over the ledge, arm still out like he would be able to save you from the fate you just suffered. Max and Four quickly followed the sound of the commotion and yanked Eric off the ground the moment they saw him leaning over the edge. Both men had to use all their force to wrestle him away from the edge of the chasm and into a more secluded area, away from all the people who ended up gathering around him.

"Eric, what the hell happened?" Max asked.

"Y/N.." Eric trailed off, "She slipped, I couldn't grab her in time."

Four's face instantly dropped. Eric fell back down to the ground, head in his hands as he quietly sobbed. He didn't care how weak he looked, he just lost the one thing he loved. He was always prepared to sacrifice his life for you, and instead of him dying, it was you. The pain he felt swelling up in his chest was unlike any type of physical pain he'd ever felt before. He was internally begging for the same mercy you just begged him for. His cold, hard exterior that he'd maintained for his entire life fell the moment you did. If he hadn't yelled at you, hadn't called you names, if he had just listened to what you had to say, if he had asked you to stay.. all the what if's were now running through his head as he silently begged to be woken up from the nightmare he was in.

•

Eric jumped out from the seat he was in, breathing heavily as he ripped the wire off his head. He quickly wiped the tears on his face and looked around the room trying to reorientate himself to reality. He got up quickly, pacing the room and trying to ground himself as he kept repeating in his head that it was just his fear landscape and it wasn't real.

Eric's fear landscape was complicated. When he was originally an initiate, this specific fear was mild. He was never too worried about pushing people away and losing them. However, after he met you, this fear gradually grew and developed into his worst fear. Every time he ran this landscape, it never got easier.

It's hard to switch the coldness required to do his job off when it comes to you. The love Eric feels for you is complicated because of that. He's petrified of losing you, but he doesn't know how to not be argumentative and defensive when it comes to feelings. While he's been able to manage it for the most part within your relationship now, he's scared that might not be the case in the future. He wants to have that type of mercy for you, he truly doesn't mean to hurt you when he does. That's why he continues to suffer and run this landscape every week until he can figure out how to make it easier and beat it.

Once Eric felt he had his composure back, he realized he was late for meeting you for a quick lunch. It reminded him of the landscape, how he constantly blew you off and tore you apart that way. With that thought in mind, he quickly hurried out the door to meet you. One small step at a time, Eric was working to be the type of guy he felt you needed.

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runningthroughthegarden · 1 year

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sometimes friends fall out for the right reasons pt2 - rowan laslow

Summary: After a quick love confession both of your lives begin to crash down. Until you both realize being together will always fix everything. Well almost everything.

Word count: 971

It's been a couple days since your fight with Rowan.

You've spent the last two days at school completely ignoring him. You couldn’t bear to see him. Your eyes were constantly puffy. Hair a mess. You barely even spoke. Everyone around you knew something was wrong but they had no idea what happened.

What you didn't know was that Rowan was going through the same thing.

Rowan’s pov - 3 days ago

As I rush down the steps of the Nightshade library, I can hear my mother's voice ringing through my head. I have to get to the bottom of whatever the hell this Wednesday girl is going to do. I'm going to be the one to save this school.

I quickly rip out the page I've been desperately searching for.

I'm already forming my plan as I exit the library, carefully planning my next move.

I look up to sky, noticing the stars. Fuck.

I know I was supposed to me y/n but I was finally putting together the missing pieces of the puzzle. Right now, this is the most important thing. This school needs a hero and it's me.

I wake up to find Xavier already gone. Thank God. I can't stand to be around anyone right now and I need to figure out when I'm going to kill Wednesday. A couple hours go by, and I start to realize how difficult this is going to be. But who said being a hero was easy.

I feel like I'm going crazy. My powers are out of control, and I can't even control my emotions. All I can think about are my mother's words.

I hear a knock at the door and quickly hide the papers scattered across the floor.

I open the door to see y/n. She angrily pushes past me asking why I didn't meet up with her. No one can know what I'm doing so I use the same excuse.

I stand there silently as my best friend yells at me. I seriously can't take this shit right now. I have so many other things to worry about and this isn't one of them.

Something in me finally snaps and I start yelling back.

"Jesus Christ, I don't need this right now y/n!! You have no fucking idea what I've been going through. I'm SO sorry I missed our stupid little date, but I have actual shit I need to get done. And I don't need you following me around like a lost puppy. Just leave me the hell alone" I yell.

The next she says changes everything.

"And to think I was in love with you" she sighs scoffs.

I feel my whole body weaken at that simple sentence. I feel my eyes soften. I have waited for this moment for so long.

That's when my mother's words replay in my head. I can't.

I snap back. I back her into the wall just to feel close to her one last time.

"Forget about your stupid little crush and get out of my room. I don't need you"

She rushes out of my room. I throw myself against my bed. "It had to be done" I think.

Present day

I am going to kill Wednesday the night of the festival.

It's taken the past couple of days to figure out but I'm ready.

I've noticed how horrible y/n looks. A part of me feels terrible but I know it was the right thing to do. I had to cut off ties with her at some point. The love confession was sort of a setback. But I don't need this right now. She hates me, which is perfect. Now she won't get hurt. I can only protect her in that way.

y/n pov

The rest of the week was shit. It went the same as previous days, crying and ignoring Rowan. It's Friday night and I'm spending it in bed watching sad romcoms.

I was just about to fall asleep when I hear a frantic knocking at my door.

I open it to see an even more disheveled Rowan. Before I can say anything, he walks through the door, pacing around my room. He's hyperventilating with tears in his eyes.

"Rowan what the hell is wrong with you?!?" You questioned with concern.

"I'm going crazy" he says stopping in front of you.

"What do you mean Row?" you say confused.

"My mom. And the book. and the school. and Wednesday." He says pulling at his hair.

"Row please just calm down for a second" you say resting your two hands on his cheeks.

You stare into his eyes while his breathing slows down.

He looks like he's having a battle inside his head. Thinking of what to say or do next.

"I'm in love with you" he confesses.

You stand there in shock, still holding his face in your hands. "What?" you question.

He stays silent, moving his hands to cup your own.

"But-but at your dorm you told me to get out and. and you. you said all those-"

You were quickly cutoff by Rowan smashing his lips against yours. Every ounce of emotion was put into this one kiss. Years of secretly longing for each other. You both began to smile into the kiss.

"I've loved you for a long time" Rowan says, resting his forehead against yours.

"Me too" you whisper.

"I'm sorry I said all those things. I don't know what's been going on with me. But I know whenever when I'm with you, my troubles don't seem so significant. Will you go the festival with me tomorrow?" he questions.

"Of course" you respond with a soft smile.

And there you two were. Two teenagers in love. Hands cupping each other. Foreheads gently resting against each other.

You don't know what tomorrow has in store... but you can only hope for the best.

A/N spoiler!! tomorrow has absolutely NOT the best in store.

tag list! @akikoslippers @stxrg4zer @theesuckerforthe80s @starrypoti0ns @kota-log @pennyluvr @ilikefictionmen @ykyouluvme @yy4ngj @oprvah @ify0useethisn0youdidn0t @wrmmi @seenit

#rowan laslow #rowan x reader #rowan laslow x reader #wednesday addams

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roostersmustache · 7 months

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The Hard Deck VI.

Pairing: Rooster x Bisexual Female O.C.

Author's Note: Hi hi! Thank you all for being soooo patient with me. School, work, and life in general has been kicking my ass, so writing isn't something I get to do often. But here she is! The next part of The Hard Deck! The next part will be the last, but I love the little story I've created for Charley and Bradley so much that I'll be writing many many blurbs and shorts for them. Maybe I'll even open requests >:). This isn't the most proofread, so be gentle with me. Thanks for sticking around!

Synopsis: The day of the mission, and everyone is on edge.

Warnings: Mentions of an age gap, swearing, sexual tension, mentions of an abusive relationship (heavy topic in this chapter so please proceed with caution!), violence (LOTS this chapter, please please PLEASE proceed at your own discretion), possible TGM spoilers, and as always, sexy pilots.

Word Count: 10.8k (lmfaoooo)

Masterlist

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five

CHARLEY:

Charley was awoken in the early hours of the morning by Bradley getting out of bed next to her. She turned over, her eyes slowly blinking the sleep away, and checked the time on her phone.

3:57 am

Once she saw the time, she groaned and rolled back over, reaching out for Bradley in the process. Her hand made contact with his bare back, as he was sitting on the side of the bed, putting his socks back on.

"Morning, baby," he grumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

"Morning, Roos," Charley replied, a smile spreading on her face. However, this smile disappeared as soon as it had appeared, as the realization hit her that the reason they were both up this early was because Bradley had a mission. A mission that the both of them were dreading.

The two settled into silence, Bradley laying back down on the sheets and pulling Charley into him. They laid there together, just holding onto each other. It was tense, as each one of them knew what they were facing.

"You fly there, do what you have to, and fly right back. Please," Charley whispered, her head on his chest.

"Of course, baby," He whispered back. "I will come back to you."

"Please," she said. "You and my dad both."

"Charley," he said, maneuvering them to where he was on top of her. "Me and Mav are going to do everything in our power to make it back to you."

"I know," she said, tears filling her eyes. "I know, Bradley."

"Please don't cry, Char," he said, wiping a tear from her face.

"I just can't stop thinking about what you said about someone not coming back. I need that to not be you or my dad," she sniffled.

"Your dad proved this mission can be flown. We will come back to you," he said, kissing her forehead.

"Can I please stay with you tonight? When you get back?" She asked.

"Of course, baby, I was hoping you would," he replied, smiling down at her. "I have to get ready, though."

Charley just frowned up at him, not ready to let go of him.

"Don't give me that look," he said, smiling sadly at her. "I have to go."

"Please don't," Charley said.

"Char-"

"I know, I know that's unfair," she said, cutting him off. "I can't ask you that. I just wish you could stay here with me."

"I wish I could stay here with you too, honey," he sighed, his forehead resting on hers. "But I've got some enemy ass to kick," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"And enemy ass you will kick," Charley laughed.

The pair finally got out of bed, and began their respective morning routines. Charley just put on a fresh pair of sweats, and one of Bradley's t shirts since she was planning on going home and trying to get some more sleep. She probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep though.

When Bradley emerged from his closet, he was in his flight suit and had his duffel bag that contained his gear in it with him. Charley looked up to him, and gave him a small smile, the grin not really meeting her eyes. He sighed at her and walked towards her, grabbing her hand and pulling her up to him, as she had been sitting on the bed.

"I have to go," he whispered, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

"I know," Charley said back.

The pair held each others hands as they headed out of Bradley's place, leaving together. They walked down to the parking lot, where their cars were parked next to each other, and stopped in front of the two of them. Charley had already started crying a bit more, the moment she had been dreading finally upon her.

"Hey," Bradley said, grabbing her chin and tilting it up to him, as she was avoiding eye contact. "I will be back for you, sweet girl."

"I know," she said, wiping at her eyes.

"My plane will land safely back on that runway today, okay? Me and your dad both."

"I'm so scared, Bradley," Charley cried. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me, honey," he said, wiping a stray tear from her cheeks. "I have something I want to give you."

He pulled back from her and reached into the pocket of his flight suit, pulling something out and wrapping it in the palm of his hand. He reached for Charley's hand and put the object in her hand, and she looked.

It was his dog tags.

"This is an older set of mine, cause I have to wear my current ones, but this way you can hold on to a part of me while i'm in the air."

"Oh, Bradley," Charley said. "Thank you so much."

"Of course, baby. Besides, I'll have you with me in the air too."

"What do you mean?"

"I asked your dad for a picture of you that I could put in my plane so I could look at you while I fly. He gave me a copy of the one he keeps with him."

"You asked him for that?" Charley asked, fresh tears welling in her eyes.

"I did. I asked at training yesterday. I needed something to remind me of why I have to get back home. I've never felt like I'd had a reason to make part of my mission when I'm on a mission to get back home. I don't really have anyone. But," he said, pushing a strand of her hair back from her face. "But now I have you. I have to fly home. I have to come back to you."

"Bradley," Charley said, taking a step closer to him, her watery eyes looking up into his.

"Charley," he said back to her.

"I love you," she said, tears streaming down her face.

"I...," Bradley started, tears also forming in his eyes. "I love you too, Charley. So fucking much," he said, and he leaned down to her and pulled her in for a tight hug.

"Come back to me, Bradshaw," Charley said into his shoulder. "I can't lose you when I've just finally got you."

"I'll be back for you, baby," he cried. "I love you, and I'll see you later today."

"I love you too," she said and squeezed his hand one last time. He made his way over to his drivers side door, and she made her way to hers, the pair never breaking eye contact. "Please please please be safe, Bradley."

"I'll be as safe as I can, honey," he said, opening his door.

"Please don't let my dad do anything stupid," she said.

"I won't," he chuckled, getting into his car. "I love you, Charley."

"I love you too, Bradley," she said, finding it hard to reply with her crying.

"I will see you later, baby," he said.

"See you later," she choked, watching him close his door and start his car. She watched as he backed out of the parking lot, and drove off, not getting into her own car until she couldn't see him anymore.

Once inside of her car, Charley let everything out. She sobbed, praying that her Bradley would come back to her. She needed him to. She loved him. God, she loved him. She was so scared to lose him so soon into being with him. It terrified her. And her father. Her father was a reckless man, not always thinking his actions through. She couldn't lose him either. She's lived through several of her father's missions, and none of them have ever been safe, but this one feels different. Something about this one unsettles Charley, makes her feel sick. It feels ominous.

Charley just wants them both home as soon as possible.

When Charley entered Penny's house, she expected the lights to be off, and for everyone to be asleep. But when she made her way into the kitchen, she saw Penny, standing at the counter, sipping on some water in her pajamas. Her eyes were dark and heavy, it was clear she had also cried recently.

"Hi, Pen," Charley said quietly, giving her a soft smile.

"Hey, honey," Penny replied, giving Charley a sad smile in return.

Both of them felt the tension in the air- as both of them had just had to say goodbye to the men that they loved. Though Charley had two people on her heart and mind that were flying in this mission. It was going to be a long and hard day for her.

"When did my dad leave?" Charley asked. She knew he had spent the night because he had shot her a text the night before.

"He left about an hour ago," Penny said, her voice light.

"I'm scared, Penny," Charley said. "I don't want to lose either one of them."

"I know, baby," Penny said, walking up to her and putting her arm around her. "I'm scared too. But they'll be okay. They're the best pilots in the world. If anyone can survive this mission, it's going to be them."

"I know," Charley said. "I'm just really scared."

"That's okay, Charley, so am I," Penny said, brushing back a strand of her hair. "I'm going to take Amelia on a sailing trip later to distract myself if you would like to come."

"I think I'm going to go by the bar, take care of some things on our day off. Working will help distract me."

"Charley, it's your day off for a reason. We closed the bar today to give us both a break," Penny said.

"Yeah I know, but I have some storage to sort through, and I really think it'll be good for my head."

"Only if you're certain, honey, I don't want you to overwork yourself."

"I'll be okay," she said, wiping at her eyes that were drooping from exhaustion. It was getting close to five in the morning, and Charley really wanted to go back to sleep. "I think I'm going to go and try to get some more sleep."

"Okay, hon," Penny said, rubbing soothing circles into her back. "I hope you can get some sleep."

Charley sauntered off to her room, and she closed the door tightly when she got inside. She swiftly got herself ready to get back in her bed, i.e. changing clothes, turning down her sheets, etc, and she climbed into her bed. She laid there staring at her ceiling for what seemed like hours, just thinking about how today could end. The fact that she didn't know how today was going to end is what scared her. She only hoped it ended in the best way possible.

It's safe to say that Charley didn't get anymore sleep.

BRADLEY:

The entire way to base Bradley's stomach was in knots. Sure, he'd gone on several missions and sure, he was one of the best pilots in the world, but something about this one made him more nervous than usual.

It was Charley.

He had never had anyone to come home to, no one to actually safely land on the runway for. It scared him. It scared him bad. He had always been lonely, with both parents gone, and he was a hopeless romantic, but love never seemed to come his way. Because of this, he had never really worried about what would happen to him in the air. It's not like he wanted to die, but he also accepted the fact that he could with open arms.

This time was different.

He had to make it home for Charley. He had just got her. The thought of never getting to kiss her again, touch her again, or hold her again was enough to make him determined to get home. He hated he had put her in this position; waiting for him, not knowing if he'd come back. But he was too selfish. The better part of him told him, at the beginning of summer, to not get involved with her until after the mission. He knew that was only fair for her. But the other part of him won, and he acted against his better judgement and went after her.

When he arrived at base, everything seemed gloomy. The skies were dark, the air was quiet, and everyone had the same solemn looks on their face.

Two miracles. Two miracles and a dog fight. That's all it took to make it back home. It sounds so much easier than it actually is.

Bradley made his way to where the other pilots were standing, used to his group of friends cracking jokes or Hangman having some silly insult to say to Bradley as he joined. But he was met with silence. Natasha looked at him and gave him a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. Everyone was scared. Everyone wanted to make it back.

"Good morning, Pilots," Cyclone said, getting the attention of everyone in the room. "A very difficult day is ahead of us. But each one of you have trained for this moment. I believe in you all. It is time to board the ship, though, so if you could all swiftly make your way to the boat so we can stay on schedule."

Everyone quietly made their way onto the boat, silence thick in the air. Everyone would first make their way into a quick briefing room to hear who Maverick would choose to fly with him, and then they would load up on their planes. Pete came and walked up next to Bradley, the pair nodding at each other. Bradley knew things between them had changed. They had to. They both loved Charley, and they both wanted to make it back home for her. Bradley still had a hard time being around Mav, as their past was rather...difficult. But Rooster was willing to try harder than he ever had to look past everything for his girl.

"How was she?" Maverick asked, not looking to Bradley, but Bradley knew he was talking to him.

"She's good," Bradley said, nodding. "Very worried."

"She's strong, she'll be alright," Maverick said. "Did she cry?"

"She did," Rooster said.

"Did you cry?" Mav asked, trying to lighten the mood a bit by flashing Bradley a small smirk.

"....I did," Bradley said, avoiding eye contact with the Captain.

"I cried this morning too," Mav said. "Completely normal reaction to leaving those we love, knowing we may never see them again."

"Yeah," Bradley said, sucking in a breath.

He would see her again.

The aviators filed into the small briefing room, anxiously awaiting Mav's choices for his team. Bradley didn't think he was going to get picked, especially now that Maverick knew of his relationship with Charley. Rooster also knew Pete probably didn't feel like he was capable of flying the mission, he did pull his papers to the academy because he didn't think he was ready to fly. But Bradley hoped Maverick picked him. He knew he was capable, and he wanted to make Maverick well aware of that.

"It was an honor to fly with you," Maverick started, gaining the attention of those in the room. "Each of you represents the best of the best." Everyone in the room stood with their heads down, knowing what was coming. "This is a very specific mission," Maverick continued. "My choices are only just reflections of that."

"Choose your two foxtrot teams," Cyclone stated, standing behind Mav.

"Payback and Fanboy," Maverick stated. Bradley watched as the two shared a handshake. "Phoenix and Bob," Maverick finished, his two foxtrot teams announced. Bradley could see Phoenix and Bob share a glance, both surprised yet happy they were picked.

"And your wingman," Cyclone said.

A tension fell over the room, especially between Bradley and Jake. The two of them were strong contenders, everyone knew that. But Bradley knew Jake was going to get the job, there's no way Mav would pick him.

"Rooster," Maverick said.

Bradley's eyes shot up and looked to Pete, who was giving him a somber look in return. Rooster was shocked, he did not expect for Maverick to pick him. But he did. This meant he actually had to fly now, and that's what he wanted. But a large part of him felt helpless in this moment. Because before, there was a chance he would stay on the landing strip as a spare, with an almost guarantee he'd be back home to Charley. But now, that chance had diminished completely.

The crew got one last briefing before being told to load up onto the planes. They had two minutes and thirty seconds to complete this mission. Before, it seemed impossible. But Maverick somehow proved the opposite, so at least that gave Bradley some ounce of hope.

As he walked out onto the runway to his plane, Bradley was stopped by Hangman. Hangman would be a spare in case of emergencies, and Bradley knew that's not what Jake wanted.

The two pilots stood in silence just looking at each other. They hated each other, so why was Bradley feeling a bit somber? Yes, Hangman was a pain in the ass, but Rooster also knew he was a good guy at the end of the day. The two had just never seen eye to eye.

"You give 'em hell!" Jake shouted at him over the commotion of plane engines being started. Bradley just nodded, which was enough closure that the pair needed.

He resumed his walk to his plane, but he stopped once he saw Maverick getting his plane ready. Bradley didn't want to die with a strained relationship to Maverick. After spending time flying with him, he saw how much he cared, and he started to blame him less and less for what happened to his father. And now he's with Charley, Maverick's only daughter. A shitty man and a shitty pilot couldn't have raised such an amazing, strong woman, so Bradley also gained mass amounts of respect for Pete because of Charley.

"Mav," he hollered, but the pilot didn't hear him. "Mav!" He tried again, still no reply. "Sir!" He said, even louder. This got Maverick's attention.

"I just," he started. "I just wanted to say...," but he didn't really know what he wanted to say. Nothing was coming out of his mouth.

"We'll talk," Mav stepped in. "When we get back."

Bradley nodded back at him, fear written on his face because the chances of them making it back were very slim. He turned around and began walking to his plane, only for Maverick to stop him.

"Bradley! Bradley!" He yelled, causing the younger pilot to turn back around. "You got this," was all Maverick said. Once again, Bradley just nodded at him.

Bradley finally made it onto his plane, and he had a couple of minutes to breathe before he had to get in position for takeoff. This was it. Was all he could think to himself. He may never come home from this. He may never get to hold Charley again, may never get to see her smile or hear her laugh ever again. He reached into the pocket of his vest and grabbed the picture of her he had brought. He took a good look at her, her beautiful smile shining up at him, before putting the picture back into his pocket.

The original plan was to put the picture somewhere in his plane so that he could look at her when he flew, but he decided that if he died, he wanted to die with her close to his heart.

CHARLEY:

Charley decided to roll herself out of bed close to ten in the morning. As expected, she hadn’t gotten any sleep. She spent her morning tossing and turning, not knowing if her boyfriend was flying or not. Hell, him and her father might be dead for all she knew. But she knew she couldn’t let these thoughts fester all day. They could also both be very much alive, and Bradley could be on the ship.

When Charley sauntered out into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee, she saw a note on the countertop from Penny.

Hi Char,

Me and Amelia went on a little sailing trip, and won’t be back home for a little while. Keys for the Deck are on the hook by the door, as per usual, and I made you some eggs. They’re in the fridge. Please don’t drown yourself in work at the Deck. And try not to worry about the boys too much. They’ll make it back home to us.

-Penny

The note made her tear up a bit, a small smile forming on her face. She truly did love Penny. Penny was a calming force in Charley’s life. And she knew that if her world caved in today, at least she’d have Penny to lean on.

She made her way over to the fridge and grabbed the eggs Penny had made for her, before she quietly sat down and ate them. She unlocked her phone and checked for any kind of message from her father or Bradley. There was none, and she knew there wouldn’t be any, but she needed to check regardless. She felt helpless, as there was no way for her to get any kind of update. She just wanted to know if they were okay.

Once she was done eating, she quickly got ready and made her way to the Hard Deck. She knew Penny didn’t want her to work, it was her day off, but she couldn’t just sit at home and wait around for any kind of word on the mission. The bar was closed, so it would just be her, her music, and the storage closet.

When she arrived, she unlocked the bar and walked in, setting her stuff on top of the bar counter. Seeing the Hard Deck empty gave Charley a sense of nostalgia, thinking of all of the things that have happened in this very bar throughout her life. Her dad taking her here when she was younger, him guiding her to the dance floor and dancing with her, her standing on his feet. Her birthday parties she'd have here, some of her friends never even coming because their parents didn't like that the party was at a bar. Her hearing all the times Bradley would sing "Great Balls of Fire" on the piano when she was younger. Her high school graduation, and how Penny let Maverick slip her a couple drinks to celebrate. The time she got a job here, not too long ago. And falling in love with that same Bradley in this very bar. It was like the biggest moments from her life were bundled up into this small little bar.

Charley decided to get on with her work and not continue to go down memory lane, so she turned on her speaker, put on her favorite playlist, and got to work. She went to the back and started going through the storage her and Penny have neglected for months. Boxes and boxes filled up the back closet, each full of various bar supplies and office tools. Charley knew the best thing to do to get all of this done was to just dive in and go for it, so she just started going through boxes.

Her time in the bar flew by, and doing the storage did just the trick to get her mind off of the mission. She had one box left, and she was pretty sure it was full of napkins, so she sauntered to the back one last time to grab that last box. While she was back there, she heard the bell on the door jingle, indicating that someone had entered the bar. Dammit. She forgot to lock the door.

"We're closed!" She hollered from the back, picking up the last box and making her way back out into the bar, kicking the storage closet door closed behind her. She kept walking when she heard footsteps from another person still in the bar, and she hollered again.

"I said, we're closed!"

She got back into the bars main room, and she still saw the person in her peripheral. She set down her box and huffed out, quite loudly.

"Look, the bar is closed. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

She kept her back to the person, not in the mood to give them her attention. The bar was closed, and she's told them that multiple times. She started unpacking the napkins out of the box, and when she heard no movement from the person in the bar, she gave up and turned to face them.

"Listen, asshole, I don't know how many times I have to tell you that the bar is closed, but it is very much closed and not open for business. Now, if you will please see yourself out-"

"I just want to have a conversation with my girlfriend."

Charley froze. Chills erupted all over her body, and not the good kind. She hoped she was dreaming, and she hoped that when she turned around to face this nightmare it would be Bradley standing there, alive and well.

But when she turned, she was not met with Bradley's soft smile and kind eyes. She was met with Dylan. He had a coy smile tugging at his lips, and his hands rested in the front pockets of his jeans. His jet black hair was the same as it always had been, curly and unruly. And his eyes pierced Charleys. Her breathing got sharper when she made eye contact with him. The look in his eyes was one Charley was all too familiar with. His gaze didn't hold a sliver of kindness, just pure evil. That look was the only look Charley received after he would hit her during their relationship.

"Happy to see me?" He asked, taking a step closer to the bar.

Charley backed up, her back hitting the counter, and her hands quickly finding the smooth wood of the countertop, her knuckles going white. Her heart was beating so fast her head was starting to spin. She didn't know what to do. She felt so trapped. Penny was gone on a trip with Amelia, and her father and Bradley were up in the air.

"You..," she let out a breath and licked over her now dry lips. "You shouldn't be near me."

"But why not? You're mine, and that stupid little restraining order you filed expired. So, legally, I can be near you all I want," Dylan said, stepping closer to the bar.

"I'm not yours, Dylan," Charley whispered out. "You and I are done, I thought I made that clear."

"No one, and nothing, can stop me from being with you. Not even yourself, am I clear?" He stepped up to the counter opposite from Charley and walked around to the side to open the little gate to get into the bar with her.

"But we aren't together-"

"I said," he said, banging his hand down on the counter, causing Charley to flinch. "Am I clear?"

His face was now inches from Charley's, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open in fear. She didn't want to give into him. She wasn't his, and she didn't want to give him the satisfaction of saying that she was. But she was terrified. She knew what he was capable of, and she knew he didn't care about hurting her. Her hands were shaking as she gripped the counter tighter, not being able to look away from him. All of a sudden, though, she was looking at the side of the bar, and her ears were ringing.

He had slapped her.

Her eyes blinked several times to focus, and soon enough they were welling with tears. All Charley could think about in that moment was how horrifying this situation was. It used to be a constant habit of his in their relationship, but when she filed a restraining order against him, she celebrated the fact that she would never have to be struck by his hand again. But that had just changed.

She slowly turned back to face him, lightly placing a hand on her cheek. She knew it'd bruise and swell, it always did when he hit her. He was staring at her, his face red with anger, and a furrow in his brow.

"Am I clear, Charley?" He asked. All she could do was nod and swallow harshly, her mouth dry and at a loss for words. But that wasn't good enough for him. He grabbed her by her throat and shoved her up against the counter of the bar, a silenced whimper coming out of her throat.

"Do you understand me?" He yelled in her face.

"Y-yes," she croaked out, not being able to make much noise with his hand around her neck.

"Good," he said, letting her go and exiting the inside of the bar. She slumped over, a hand now going to her throat where she knew she'd also bruise. She heaved, trying to regain her breath and composure, but all she could do was silently cry as she watched him sit at one of the stools outside of the bar.

"Now make me a drink."

BRADLEY:

Much to everyone's relief and surprise, the mission had been successfully accomplished. The target had been destroyed, and most of the pilots had made it back to the ship.

Most.

However, Bradley and Maverick were currently laying in the snow watching the now destroyed enemy runway, trying to figure out how the hell they were going to get home. Bradley was grateful he had even made it this long, considering his plane was destroyed. Maverick had literally run away on foot from a massive helicopter. The two were in shock but also survival mode, because they weren't home yet.

"So what's the plan?" Bradley asked, turning back to Maverick. The older pilot handed him a pair of binoculars, and Bradley looked through them, looking at what Maverick had had his eyes on. Bradley saw an F-14. The last intact plane on the runway. Bradley had never flown or even been inside of one of those planes.

"You cannot be serious," he said, looking to Maverick. Maverick didn't say anything, he just gave Bradley a look. "An F-14?"

"I took down three enemies in one of those things," Maverick said, looking towards the old plane.

"How do we know if that bag of ass can fly?"

"We're gonna find out," Maverick said, standing up.

"Mav," Bradley whisper yelled at him. "Mav!" He said again, but the older pilot kept walking. "Okay," Bradley said, standing up and running up beside of Maverick.

The enemies were too busy trying to fix what they had left of the landing strip to notice the two American pilots crossing over towards their last intact plane. The two men hurried, knowing that they would be shot on sight if they were caught.

Once they reached the plane, Pete proceeded to give Bradley instructions on how to start it up. Maverick took the front seat, and once the plane started, much to their surprise, Bradley joined him in the back.

One thing Rooster noticed was how short the ruined runway was. Sure, they had started the plane, but how were they supposed to get it in the air if all they had was a taxiway? Maverick being Maverick, however, decided to just go for it. So he dispatched the wings, getting into takeoff mode.

"Mav, why are the wings expanding?" Bradley asked. But the pilot didn't reply. Bradley knew what Pete was about to do, and he didn't know if he'd be able to pull it off. "This is a taxiway," he said. "A very short taxiway, Mav."

"You just hold on tight," Maverick said, before surging the plane forward. Bradley yelled curses in the back, and Maverick furrowed his brows, focusing on the task at hand. Luckily they got it in the air, only leaving the landing wheels behind.

Once successfully in the air, Bradley was able to get the GPS on, and he could only hope that base got his location. They'd know he was with Maverick by the fact that he would show up as being in an F-14. Bradley finally took a sigh of relief, knowing he was finally on his way home. He would be making it home. He would get to hug his girl. He wished more than anything that he could let her know that him and her father were both on their way home, alive. He smiled thinking about how happy she would be.

But his smile didn't stay on his face for long. He quickly noticed that two enemy aircraft were circling below them, coming to fly up next to them.

"Mav, tally two five o'clock below," he announced.

"Ok, listen," Mav started, letting out a shaky breath. "Act calm. If they knew who we were we'd be dead already."

"Here they come," Rooster said, watching as the two planes flew right up next to them. "What's the plan?"

"Let's put on our helmets," Maverick said, and the two did. "Remember, we're on the same team. Just wave and smile."

The pilots tried to act normal, but the enemy pilots kept throwing up signals that neither one of them recognized.

"Shit, his wingman is moving into weapons envelope," Maverick said. Both pilots knew this meant they were about to have a dogfight. "Ok listen, when I tell you to pull the rings above your head, pull them. They're the ejection handles."

"Mav, can we beat these guys?" Rooster asked.

"Not with our guns and missiles."

"Then it'll be a dogfight," Bradley said.

"In an F-14 against 5th generation warplanes?" Maverick stated.

"It's not the plane, it's the pilot," Bradley stated, giving Pete his own advice. Pete just stayed silent, knowing that Bradley was right. "If I wasn't here you'd be after them."

"But you are here," Maverick said. The last thing he wanted was to put Bradley's life in danger. He had already been the cause for his father's death, he didn't need to be responsible for Bradley's too.

"Come on Mav, don't think, just do," Bradley said.

After taking a moment to breathe, Maverick decided that the only chance he had to keep Bradley alive was to dogfight his way back to the ship. He knew it'd be risky, but it was the best chance the two of them had to getting back home.

The fight ended up being close, but they won, and no longer had the enemies on their tail. The fight ended up costing them their missiles, and they took several hits, so they needed to make it back to the ship immediately. They would surely be dead if they came into contact with another enemy.

"Mav, I got the radio on," Rooster announced in the back.

"Great, make contact with the ship," Mav replied, sinking a bit into his seat, feeling the relief of being able to make it home to his daughter.

Both men fell into a silence, the exhaustion of the day hitting them. It was a miracle they were alive. They should both be dead. But the mission had somewhat mended the torn relationship between the two men. When Bradley was up in the air and Mav's plane got shot down, it hit him all at once how much he loved Maverick. He was deliberately told not to go after him, as he was probably dead, but he did anyways. He didn't want to lose the closest thing to his father he had left. But now, the pilots had fought for their lives, multiple times, and they were so close to being back to the ship.

Bradley knew that him and Pete would have a talk when they made it back. He knew it'd be sentimental. Not only did Bradley actually want a relationship with Mav, but he was also dating his daughter. He knew Pete wasn't the biggest fan of this development, but he also knew, deep down, that Maverick knew Bradley would take care of Charley.

However, as soon as Bradley started to try to make contact with the ship, beeping came from the radio, and he could see that there was an enemy plane somewhere in their midst. He had no idea where the plane was, and he scrambled to look for it, but it was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the hell is this guy?" Bradley asked, both him and Maverick doing their best to stay calm.

"Right on our nose," Maverick replied.

Sure enough, Bradley looked out the window again, and saw the enemy plane flying straight at them, right on their tale. He took a second to close his eyes and take a deep breath. He opened them and began fighting with what he had left. They had a problem, though, as they had run out of ammo.

"Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air!" Rooster yelled, as the enemy had just fired at them.

"Rooster, flares!" Maverick yelled back. Rooster fired the deflectors, and just as the missile was about to hit, the deflectors hit it and saved them.

"That was too close," Bradley hollered. The two had also just ran out of deflectors. Bradley was trying not to lose his cool, but they had no missiles, no ammo, and no deflectors either. The chances of them surviving were dwindling fast.

"We're out of flares, Mav," Bradley announced. "Shit he's already on us!"

The enemy aircraft weaved behind the two of them, firing shots while Maverick did his best to weave in and out of the lines of fire. They were so close to the ship, the two didn't want to give up. But they kept taking hits, and they had nothing to fight back with.

"We can't take much more of this!" Bradley yelled.

"We have to eject, we need altitude," Maverick yelled, hoisting the plane upwards, getting them ready for a hopefully safe ejection.

"Wait but Mav-"

"Rooster we can't out run this guy. We have no other choice. Eject eject!" Maverick yelled.

Rooster, much to his dismay, began to violently pull at the ejection handles above his head. But he stayed seated in the plane. The handles didn't work. Bradley's doom slowly sunk in, realizing he would not be making it back to the ship, and he would never see Charley again.

"Rooster, eject!" Maverick yelled again.

"It's not working!" He yelled back, trying at the handles again. "Mav!"

"I'm sorry, Goose, I'm sorry," Mav said to himself, knowing that any second both him and Bradley would be no more. Maverick had never felt failure like this before. He had let everyone down, himself, Penny, Charley, Bradley, and now Goose again. He had spent the last couple decades carrying the guilt of Goose's death, and now he'd die with the guilt of Bradley's.

But the explosion he was anticipating never came. He heard one, and he turned to look, and the enemy plane had been blown up. Out of the smoke emerged one of the Navy's planes. Both Rooster and Maverick stared with wide eyes.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen," came a voice from the radio. "This is your savior speaking."

Hangman flew his plane right up next to Maverick and Bradley, the two taking breaths of relief and laughing at the unexpectedness of the entire situation.

"Please fasten your seatbelts and turn your tray tables to their locked upright positions, and prepare for landing," Hangman continues.

Maverick tapped on his window twice in thanks. And Bradley took a sigh of relief. Just a few moments ago, he was bracing himself to die, and now he's on his way back to the ship, on his way back to Charley.

"Hey Hangman," Rooster started. "You look good."

"I am good, Rooster," Hangman replied. "I'm very good. I'll see you back on deck," he said as he flew away from the pair.

Both men shook their heads in disbelief. They had survived. They'd both make it back to their girl, back home. The flight back to the ship was an easy one. Both men were anxious to get back, so Pete flew the plane fast.

Once they got back on the ship, they had a rough landing due to a dead engine and no landing wheels, they hugged all of their friends and celebrated a completed mission. One that everyone had survived. Amidst the chaos of everyone cheering and celebrating the success, Bradley and Maverick found each other.

The two men stared at each other, both feeling the same things. Lots of emotions poured through them, going back years to Goose's death. They had just survived one hell of a mission together, and Bradley knew deep down that Maverick only wanted the best for him.

"Thank you for saving my life," Maverick said to Bradley, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"It's what my dad would've done," Bradley replied.

Rooster watched as Mav started to tear up, and he pulled him in for a hug. After today, Bradley knew that Maverick and him would work things out. He knew they'd fix things and finally have the relationship they both needed.

Once everyone was done celebrating and the boat got back to base, Bradley was able to shower off in the locker room and change clothes. He retrieved his phone and turned it back on, hoping that he had heard from Charley.

Char 🩷

thinking abt u. pls be safe. im at the hard deck and will be for a while to clear my head. cant wait to see u later. love u baby fly safe. 💞

He read the text with a smile on his face, and went to text back, but decided it would be better if he surprised her at work instead. As he walked out of the locker room, he walked by Maverick, who had also cleaned up, and decided that it would be nice if they both surprised her.

"Hey Mav," Rooster said, the pair stopping in the hallway. "Charley's at the hard deck, whaddya say we surprise her there?"

"That's a great idea Bradley," Maverick replied. "Hopefully Penny's there too. Are you ready to head out? I am, so we can head on if you're ready."

"I am, yeah, was just about to leave."

"Great, I'll see you there."

Bradley drove as fast as he legally could to the deck, impatient to see his girlfriend and hug her again. He made sure to blast his favorite oldies music, celebrating the life that he still had. Maverick was close behind him on his motorcycle.

When he arrived, he spotted Charley's car and smiled to himself. He noticed another car there, too, that he didn't recognize, but he shrugged it off thinking it may have been Penny's fathers. He hopped out of his car and happily walked over to Maverick, giving him a smile.

"You ready?" Bradley asked, his patience running thin. All he wanted was to see Charley.

Maverick didn't reply, though, as he just gave Bradley a grim look and swallowed. All of the color had seemed to drain from his face.

"Mav? Is everything alright?" He asked.

"That car," Maverick said, glancing over to the car Bradley didn't recognize. "That car belongs to Dylan."

The words Maverick had just spoken hit Bradley like a ton of bricks. The color drained from his face as well, knowing that his girl could be in serious danger inside. Who knows how long Dylan had even been there. He swallowed thickly thinking about how he had been in the air while his girl had been down here in danger.

"Pete," Bradley said. "What do we do?"

"I don't know. I don't know if he's armed, I'm not sure."

"Should we call the police?"

"Yes, yeah get them on the line, and then we go in there and stop this shit."

CHARLEY:

The past two hours of her day, Charley had spent trapped by the presence of her abusive ex boyfriend, Dylan. He had demanded so many drinks from her that he had become drunk. Charley believes this was his goal, as he got his worst when he was under the influence.

She had thrown up multiple times at this point, because the stress from the mission combined with the presence of Dylan was too much for her to handle. He had hit her multiple times, her cheeks puffy and red, and her head was pounding. Her throat was dry, and her eyes irritated, as the amount of crying and abuse had done a number on her.

"Charley," Dylan mused, walking over to the jukebox and putting on a song. "Come dance with me."

Charley just shook her head from where she was curled up in the corner. The song he had chosen was "Great Balls of Fire," and it's almost as if he chose this song to mock her. It just made her cry more. She wanted nothing more than to be held by Bradley right now.

"I said dance with me, Charley," he said, stumbling towards her, his beer in hand. "I wasn't asking."

"I don't want to dance with you," Charley rasped, giving the man a glare.

"And I said," Dylan started, leaning down and yanking her up to her feet by her arm. "I wasn't asking."

"Please, Dylan," Charley cried, fighting against his grasp. "Please leave me alone, I won't tell anyone you were here, I swear it."

"Charley, I am not letting you run away from me this time," he sneered, pulling her closer to him, his face a mere inch away from hers. "You are mine, and no navy pilot can change that."

"No, Dylan," She said, trying to yank herself from his grip. "I don't want you. I will never want you."

He replied by giving her a firm punch to the nose, her vision going black as she stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. Blood began pouring from her nose, and she started breathing heavily, her ears ringing from the pain.

"Wha-" Charley stuttered. "Dylan-"

"That's what happens when you don't listen, Charley. You should know by now."

Dylan had never punched her. He had only ever struck her. Her brain was spiraling, and she was trying not to pass out. The pain was unbearable, and the amount of blood coming from her nose was alarming. He had definitely broken it.

"Get up. I told you to dance with me," Dylan said, yanking Charley up once again. She winced out in pain, her vision going in and out.

"I can't," she cried to him.

"Yes you can. Do you want me to hit you again?"

"Dylan," Charley stumbled trying to stay upright. "My nose."

"You did that to yourself," he sneered, dragging her to the center of the bar. The bleeding had let up a bit, but the pain was still blinding.

As soon as Dylan started to sway the two of them back and forth, Charley heard banging on the door of the bar. Dylan had locked it earlier, preventing anyone from entering. But Charley watched as the door shook with each bang, before it eventually swung right open. Dylan stepped away from her, causing her to fall to the floor. When she looked up, she saw her father and Bradley barge into the bar.

She choked on a sob, seeing her boyfriend and father enter the bar together, both alive. The relief that overtook her was the best she had felt in a long time, almost like she knew everything would be okay. She couldn't believe they were okay and alive, and here for her.

She watched as both men stormed in, anger written all over their faces. Once Dylan realized who was there, he crouched down next to Charley and yanked her up to him, holding a pocket knife to her throat. Charley cried out in fear, locking eyes with Bradley. She instantly felt better, as seeing him made her feel at ease.

"You let her go," Maverick said, stepping forward. "You let my daughter go, Dylan."

"And why should I do that?" He retorted. "She's mine."

"You're fucking delusional, dude," Bradley said, stepping forward. "Get the fuck away from her."

"Bradley-" Charley started, her eyes never leaving him.

"Shut up," Dylan sneered, pressing the knife into her neck.

"I said," Bradley said, taking a step towards them. "Get the fuck away from her."

"And who are you, to make demands about who has a hold on her?" Dylan said, snarling back at Bradley.

"I'm her fucking boyfriend, so let her go," Bradley said, taking another step towards them.

"Boyfriend?" Dylan yelled, throwing Charley to the floor. Maverick immediately ran to his daughters side, scooping her up and holding her as she sobbed into him. "She's mine!" Dylan yelled.

Dylan lunged at Bradley, pocket knife in hand, swinging it at him in an attempt to harm him.

"Bradley!" Charley cried out, knowing what Dylan was capable of.

Suddenly, they all heard sirens outside. Maverick and Bradley had called the police, and they had finally arrived. Dylan froze in his tracks, and Bradley just gave him a malicious grin. The police burst through the bar, armed with their guns, ready to fire if necessary.

"Put the knife down!" An officer yelled. Dylan gave a look of angry defeat, before throwing the knife on the floor. He raised his hands, surrendering to the police, as they cuffed him. He looked towards Charley one last time, who was still clung to her father.

"I'll be back, bitch," he said, snarling at her as he was escorted out of the bar.

As soon as he was gone, Charley let out a guttural sob, wrapping her arms tightly around her father. Maverick cried with her, hugging his daughter and kissing the top of her head.

"Are you okay?" Maverick asked, pulling Charley back to look at her face. Her cheeks were bruising and swollen from being hit, and her nose was stained with blood, and a deep purple, indicating a broken nose. "Oh my God, Charley, baby I'm so sorry," Maverick cried.

"You're alive," Charley cried back. "Thank God you're alive." She then pulled back from her father and moved her eyes to Bradley, who was stood watching the pair, silently crying.

"Bradley," Charley said, moving away from her father and over to her boyfriend. "Bradley, I love you, I love you so much," she cried, kissing his cheeks when she got to him.

"I love you, Charley," he cried back, kissing the top of her head. "We need to get you to a doctor, baby. I think your nose is broken."

"I'm just glad you're okay," she said, taking his face in her hands. "That you're both okay," she added, looking to her father.

"Are you okay, Charley?" Bradley said, gently tugging her chin so she was looking at him again.

"I am now, promise," she kissed the palm of his hand before snuggling into his chest. She quickly pulled back, though, as her nose had made contact with his chest, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Honey," Maverick said, coming to the couples side. "We need to get you to a doctor."

Charley nodded her head, her hand cupping her nose, and her eyes squinted in pain. An officer came up to the group with a notepad, and stared at Charley expectantly.

"Could I get a statement from you, uhhh-" he started, looking down at his paper to find Charley's name. "Miss Mitchell?"

"Can't you see that she needs medical attention?" Bradley asserted, stepping forward.

"Baby, it's okay, I'll give them a quick statement and then we can go," Charley said, turning towards the officer.

Charley began giving the officer a statement, and she made sure it was detailed enough so that Dylan wouldn't be getting out of prison anytime soon. She fought her way through talking about how he had put his hands on her. She had been speaking about how he had slapped her, and then punched her, and it had caused her breathing to become shallow, her vision blurring, and her heart pounding. She turned to face Bradley, her face pale, and her skin blotchy.

"Charley?" He asked, worry prominent on his face. "Charley, talk to me baby. What's going on?"

"I think," she started, her eyes not meeting his. "I think I'm having a panic attack."

"Okay, honey, just breathe. Breathe, Char, everything's okay," Bradley said, pulling her close to him. "Officer, I need to get her to the hospital."

The officer just nodded back to Bradley, and he ushered himself and Charley over to his Bronco. Maverick walked over to the pair, as he had just finished giving a statement himself.

"Is she okay?" Maverick asked.

"She needs a doctor, her nose is broken, and she says she's having a panic attack."

"Okay, I'll follow you to the hospital."

Once Bradley had helped Charley into the car, he passed her his water bottle. Her breaths had become more normal, but she was still shaking.

"Drink this, Char," he said, holding the water up to her lips. She sipped slowly, and then took the bottle from Bradley, maneuvering it herself. The entire drive to the hospital felt so long for the both of them. Bradley felt like they would never get there, and Charley felt the same way. Her nose was throbbing, and her whole head felt like it had been rammed into a brick wall.

"Can you walk?" Bradley asked, opening her car door.

Charley just nodded her head, grabbing onto Bradley's arm to get out of the car. Pete walked up to the two of them, offering Charley his other arm in case she needed the extra support. They walked into the emergency room, and Charley immediately lost her footing, grasping onto Bradley, and clutching her enflamed nose.

"Oh, baby, c'mon," Bradley said, picking her up and carrying her the rest of the way inside.

Bradley and Maverick walked up to the front desk quickly, Charley crying silently in Bradley's arms. Her nose brought her so much pain, and her head was spinning. Everything hurt, and all she wanted to do was fall asleep.

Her father explained to the nurses what had happened, and she was immediately ushered to an exam room. Once they got her situated on the hospital bed, a doctor came in to examine her. Maverick waited in the waiting room, and Bradley joined her in the exam room. The doctor took some x-rays, and came to the conclusion that she had a pretty severe concussion. Her nose was also, as she suspected, fractured, but the doctor said he could easily pop her nose back into place.

"So, you're just going to pop it back into place?" Charly weakly asked the doctor.

"Yes, the pain will be minimal, but it will be over before you know it."

Charley nervously glanced over to Bradley, and he took that as his invitation to come and hold her hand.

"It'll be okay, baby. You're so strong, Charley. This is the easiest part of your day," he said to her while brushing her hair out of her face.

She just nodded, squeezing Bradley's hand and screwing her eyes shut. She felt the doctor sit on the side of the bed, his cold gloved hands coming to rest gently on her nose. She flinched at the contact, taking a shaky breath in.

"I'll be quick, on the count of three, okay?" The doctor said, his grip on her nose tightening.

"One....two," he said.

"Three."

With a snap, her nose was back in place. Charley let out a pained groan, tears immediately falling from her eyes.

"That's it, Char, you're done, you're done," Bradley shushed her.

"Alright, for the nose, it'll finish healing on its own, just don't go too crazy on it," The doctor started, taking his gloves off and filling out a piece of paperwork. "As for the concussion, lots of rest, seriously, no working out for you or anything extraneous for the next little while. As for the cuts and bruises, a nurse will come in and clean them off for you, and we'll send you home with a bag of cleaning supplies." He stops his writing and turns to look at Charley, giving her a somber look. "I hope you heal quickly, Miss Mitchell. I am very sorry to hear of your circumstances. If you need anything else, you can always stop by. Just ask for 'John.'"

"Thank you so much," she whispered to him.

Bradley nodded to the doctor as he left the room, and he spent the next few minutes kissing Charley's forehead, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. The nurse came in the room, and cleaned Charley's minor cuts, and gave her the bag of supplies as promised by the doctor. She was soon discharged, and she had enough strength to walk herself out of the hospital.

Bradley drove her back to Penny's house, Maverick followed. Pete had kept Penny updated, and the poor woman insisted everyone sit down for dinner together. Once they got to Penny's, Bradley helped Charley inside. Penny immediately came and checked on Charley, then checking on Bradley, giving him a big hug. Maverick was the last to walk inside, and Charley and Bradley observed their tender reunion quietly. Bradley followed Charley to her room, and helped her change into some fresh clothes.

"I'm so glad you're here with me, Bradley. I was so worried about you," she whispered to him, slinking her arms around him and resting her head on his chest.

"And I'm glad you're safe, Charley. I'm so sorry that happened to you," Rooster said, resting his chin atop her head.

"It's okay, I'm okay knowing you're here with me."

A knock disturbed the couple, and Penny peeped her head in.

"Dinner's on the table," she said.

"We'll be right there," Charley said back.

Penny closed the door, and Bradley's lips found their place on her forehead. He felt a drop on his hand holding hers, and pulled away, tilting her chin up to look at him. Charley was crying, and Bradley's brows pinched together, a thumb coming to wipe a tear off her cheek.

"What is it, Char?" He whispered, cupping her cheeks.

"I was so scared today," she whispered. "Even before Dylan showed up, I was sick to my stomach all morning. I really thought I was going to lose you today. And then I thought I was going to die. I can't lose you Bradley, and the stress I felt today was so unbearable."

"Hey," he said, wiping more tears from her cheeks. "It pains me more than you know to know that I was up in the sky while you were fighting for yourself here on your own. But here we both are, alive, and after we eat dinner, I will take you back to my place and we'll lay together for as long as you want. I love you, and I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," she cried, hugging him tighter.

"We'll get through this. I promise."

~~~~

Dinner at Penny's was quiet, but the mood happy. Everyone was happy to be safely in each others presence, happy to have that moment together, as they didn't know if they'd get it at the start of the day.

Bradley drove him and Charley back to his place, the two immediately taking a shower together and getting into bed. Bradley helped Charley change all of her bandages, and she helped him do the same with the ones he got on the mission.

"Tell me about your mission," Charley said to him, her voice quiet in the bedroom, the couple wrapped in the safety of each other.

"Are you sure you want to hear about it?" He asked, brushing her hair out of her face. "It wasn't easy."

"You're here aren't you?" She said back, cupping his cheek. "I can handle hearing about it."

"Well, we hit both targets, so the actual mission wasn't the issue. It was getting back," he stated, looking away from his girlfriend and staring at the ceiling in thought. "The missiles were coming at us so fast, I was losing control of my plane. One was coming right at me, but your dad cut it off. It hit him instead."

Charley's eyes went wide, and her lips parted a bit. Her dad took a missile for Bradley? That honestly didn't surprise her much. She knew her father cared for him. But her dad being hit by a missile in the first place? Charley was so grateful he was alive.

"They told me to come straight back to the ship, we were so close, but I couldn't leave him like that. I didn't know if he was dead or not, but I didn't want to risk leaving and him being all alone out there. So I went against orders and went after him. When I found him, he was out of his plane about to be gunned down by an enemy helicopter. I blew the aircraft up, and he was fine, but then a missile got me and shot me down."

"Oh my God, Bradley, that's so scary."

"I know, are you sure you want to keep hearing?" He asked, softening his eyes for her.

"Yes," she said in full confidence.

"Well, your dad then came and found me, I had ejected from my plane, and we bickered, him telling me not to come after him, me telling him how stupid that sounded, etc. In the end, though, we were happy to see each other both alive."

Hearing that her father and Bradley were happy to see each other could've brought tears to her eyes. She desperately wanted the two to put their differences aside, she loved them both so much.

"We found a plane, it was so scary because the runway, that was completely ruined, might I add, was flooded with enemies. But we managed to get it going and get it in the air. It was so old, an F-14, I'm lucky I was with your dad, since he knows how to fly one of those. Once we got in the air, it was just a smooth sail home, but we did come in contact with enemies. They recognized us as the enemy because of our helmets, and we ended up having to fight them off, losing us a bunch of ammo. But we fought them off, so we thought we'd be safe."

"There's more?"Charley asked.

"Yes," he sighed. "Charley I really thought I was going to die. I've been faced with the possibility of death so many times, but never like this. We had another enemy on our nose, who kept hitting us, and we ended up running out of guns, ammo, flares, all of it. We had no way to fight him off. And the plane wouldn't eject. I tried to pull the handles, but they were stuck. I really thought I was going to die."

Charley noticed him tear up, and she immediately cupped his cheeks and kissed his forehead.

"Hey, but you're here now. You're safe, you're alive."

"I know, but I was so scared. I've accepted death on every mission I've ever gone on, but this one, having you, I couldn't die up there. And if Hangman hadn't gone against orders and come to help us, me and your dad would both be dead right now."

Charley sucked in a breath, making a major mental note to thank Hangman for saving their lives.

"He disobeyed orders and circled back and shot the plane down himself. I owe him big time now. He saved my life," Bradley said, wiping a tear from his cheek.

"I love you," Charley whispered to him. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Me too, we were able to return to the ship safely after that. And that's when I came to you."

Charley leaned up to hover above him, and then leaned down and pressed her lips against his. He happily kissed her back, his hands finding purchase on her waist and pulling her closer to him. The kiss was passionate, slow and tender. They both just wanted to feel each other.

"I love you, Bradley," Charley said between kisses. "Thank you for coming back to me."

"I will always come back to you, Charley," he said, pulling her to him again, kissing her hard before the two fell asleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know whatchu think! And send me blurb requests so I can start brainstorming! As always, likes, comments, and shares are always appreciated. Much love!

-Sophie

ALSO! Lots of heavy topics in this one, so I am going to include the domestic abuse hotline below. You are so worthy of a love beyond measure, and if you or someone you know is struggling, call the number below.

National Domestic Violence Hotline:

(800) 799-7233

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