#my mom was trapped in the passenger seat of my car today listening to me explain the entire project olympus history. i'm sorry | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

everybodyscupoftea · 4 years

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the fight

pike jj x reader (ft. our fave duo cody and tyler)

it all comes to head with brooke, a story in four parts

hello all, this is it. the blowup. i hope that i’ve done it justice :)

You were ecstatic to say the least. JJ hadn’t hung out with the group alone in months, and with your friend-aversary coming up, he was finally going to be forced to. Cody texted you a countdown every morning and they never failed to make you laugh, especially the day of.

Today Maybank finally sheds the 120 pounds that’s been holding him back

With a snort, you finished packing your bag and left your dorm room to walk to the boys’ to meet them. The group had decided the best way to celebrate would be to feast like kings, and Cody found a really nice Italian restaurant in Charlotte, a little over two hours away, to do so.

Tyler was the only one ready when you knocked on the door, and when he opened it, Cody went sprinting past, tooth brush in his mouth, dress shirt unbuttoned. Your eyebrows shot up, “The fuck is going on?”

“Cody overslept,” Tyler answered, sounding exasperatedly fond.

Frowning in realization, you walked over to JJ’s room. He wasn’t there, so you asked, “Wait, where’s J?”

Cody walked over, tooth brush gone, and said mockingly, “He went to brunch with Brooke. He’s meeting us at the car.”

“God, couldn’t go one morning, huh?”

Making a face, Cody finished buttoning his shirt and sighed, “No he fucking can’t.”

Tyler laughed as he realized he’d fucked up the buttons and was one off, and you rolled your eyes, knocking Cody’s hands away to fix the buttons for him. He pouted like a child until you finished, and muttered, “Thanks mom.”

“Let’s just go to the car,” you told them both, pinching Cody’s cheek.

Cody yanked his face away from your hand, rubbing his cheek with a glare, “No.”

Tyler snorted and held his arm out for you, ‘’Alrighty then, the lady and I will see you tomorrow.”

After a few seconds of not backing down, Cody relented, “No, I don’t want to miss sleepover time.”

The three of you were talking and laughing loudly on the walk to the car, Cody carrying all the bags (he lost rock paper scissors) until you froze. Tyler jolted to a stop and looked concerned, “What’s up?”

“Why are there two people by your car?”

“What?” Cody asked, finally catching up.

“It’s not just JJ by the car.”

“He wouldn’t,” Cody tried to reassure, the uncertainty in his voice betraying his true thoughts.

He would.

Brooke smiled at the three of you as you walked up, looking you up and down appraisingly when the other two boys muttered out greetings. JJ was looking down at his phone and looked up with a grin, “Running late already, boys?”

“I highly doubt it was the boys,” Brooke answered, not taking her eyes off you.

Rolling your eyes, you opened the passenger door and climbed into Tyler’s car. Not fucking worth it. Cody gave her a fake smile and dismissed, “Alright, Brooke, thanks for dropping him off, but we’re going now.”

“I’m coming,” she told him, stepping around his frozen form to slide into the backseat next to JJ. Your hand stopped, mid-buckling yourself in, and your head whipped around.

“JJ, what the fuck?” you asked, “this is a friend group thing.”

He looked uncomfortably between you and Brooke, clearly not prepared to have to choose. The fact he even had to think about it fucking hurt.

“I mean,” he started, “Brooke hangs out with us too.”

“Plus, it’s our four-month anniversary,” Brooke told everyone even though no one asked.

“Yeah, we’ll it’s our one-year. And honey, you just haven’t been around that long,” Cody told her, condescending tone.

“It’s for the bros,” Tyler added.

“She’s not a bro,” Brooke pointed at you.

Tyler scoffed, “She is. JJ tell her.”

“I,” he looked trapped again, “she’s one of our best friends. Come on, Brooke, I told you if you were gonna come you’d have to play nice and participate.”

She sighed almost at the same time as you and you had to fight every instinct screaming for you to get out of the car and go back to your bed and sleep the rest of the day away. Tyler passed you the aux cord, remorseful look in his eye, and you smiled weakly. Cody squeezed your shoulder and whispered, “You good?”

“I’ll make it,” you whispered back as Tyler cranked up the car and started to back out. What you’d forgotten was that Brooke had never driven in a car with Tyler, and had no clue that he drove like a bat out of hell.

She gasped loudly at his first sharp turn and you snorted, not even trying to hide it. Tyler grinned over at you and winked as he took another sharp turn to merge onto the interstate. One glance back showed Brooke clutching onto JJ’s hand as Tyler cut someone off in his merge.

Cody was facing away from them, grinning widely out the window, and you settled into your seat to pick a playlist. You hit shuffle on one and as Still Woozy started playing, Cody leaned forward, “Bro, is this the clique?”

“Yeah,” you laughed, “did you add this one?”

He nodded, smiling, as JJ asked, “Wait, the clique?”

“We have a collab playlist called the clique,” Tyler told him, “for when we go on car rides and stuff.”

Brooke scoffed, “That’s stupid, just take turns like adults.”

Your throat tightened, the collab playlist having been your idea, and Tyler narrowed his eyes at her in the rearview, “Pipe down back there, intruder.”

Cody snorted, still looking out the window, and you felt a little better. Tyler reached across and squeezed your hand in comfort. Brooke hummed, “So are you two together, then?”

“What?” you asked, “No.”

“Just a question, no need to get so defensive. Why not though?”

Blinking a few times, you asked again, “What?”

“Well, there must be something wrong with you if all you hang out with is dudes and none of them will date you.”

Your jaw dropped and Tyler flipped on his blinker, swerving off the next exit. He pulled into a gas station and threw the car into park before turning to look at her, “Watch your fucking mouth, you’re here, uninvited, and I’m not sure exactly what the fuck your problem is with her, but you stay the fuck out of our business.”

Cody smiled bitterly, “In case we hadn’t made it abundantly clear, you aren’t welcome here, be grateful we haven’t left you on the side of the road yet.”

“Hey,” JJ tried to intervene, but no one listened as Tyler pulled back onto the road to get back on the interstate.

The rest of the ride was relatively silent, thankfully, Tyler and you talking a bit since you were navigating. When he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, you were so ready to be out and away from the tension. Cody wrapped an arm around your shoulders, “Still good?”

“As good as I can be.”

He sighed, “Yeah, fuck her. Let’s go eat our body weight in pasta.”

Cracking a smile, you let his arm fall off your shoulders and followed the rest of the group inside, lightly holding onto the cuff of his sleeve. Tyler was the first one you saw at the hostess stand, arms crossed with a frown firmly etched on his face.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, as you and Cody joined the group.

“We reserved a table for four,” Tyler explained, “but now we have five, so we have no table.”

You sent Brooke a fake smile, “I’m sure we can roll the car windows down for you so you don’t get too hot.”

Her jaw dropped and Cody gave you a very discrete fist bump. JJ cleared his throat and shook his head at you. It was whatever, out of all the shit he’d let her say about you slide, yours was tame. He turned to face the other boys, “We’ll just go somewhere else, right?”

“No,” Cody stood his ground, “I picked this place, I made the reservation, I’m fucking eating here.”

You nodded, “I want pasta.”

“You don’t need pasta,” Brooke muttered loud enough for you to hear it.

“Fuck you,” you snapped, “I don’t need to deal with your shit anymore.”

“I’m sticking around, sweetheart, so I’d get used to it.”

You nodded, “Okay, sure. You’re barely past a hookup and literally no one wants you here.”

“I want her here,” JJ interrupted.

“And why?” you turned on him, “Why are you so fucking stubborn about this? About her?”

He looked around, seeing everyone’s eyes on your group. Cody and Tyler were leaning back, looking a mix of amused and proud of you. Before JJ could say anything, the hostess interrupted, “Um, if you can’t be quieter, we’re going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Make it a table for three,” you told her, motioning at Brooke and JJ, “they’ll be eating elsewhere, they have an anniversary to celebrate.”

She nodded and led you, Cody, and Tyler to a table, leaving Brooke and JJ standing at the front of the restaurant.

“Okay, remember what we told you,” Tyler said, picking up the boxes you all had after the meal, “be firm and confident. Tell him what you’re really thinking. Ignore Brooke.”

“Ignore Brooke,” you repeated, nodding.

“Good girl,” Cody affirmed, giving your hand a tight squeeze.

Brooke and JJ were sitting on the curb next to Tyler’s car when the three of you joined them, empty McDonald’s bags on the ground next to them. You couldn’t stop the dig, “So, nice anniversary meal?”

“Ours was great,” Cody added, “best pasta I’ve ever had in my entire goddamn life.”

Brooke rolled her eyes, “Hope you ate more salad than pasta.”

“Are you calling me fat?” Cody asked incredulously.

You were pretty sure she was talking to you because Brooke stuttered out, “Uh, no.”

“Bro,” Cody said, “I swear to god I would be cracking skulls right now, but I hashtag respect women so I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

“A hero,” you cooed mockingly at him.

Brooke glared at you, “Can’t talk to me on your own without a buffer now?”

And you were so tired. So fucking tired of dealing with her. You snapped.

“I don’t have to if I don’t fucking want to. All you do is berate me, and send me shitty passive aggressive messages on Instagram, and lie to the people I love. You’re the absolute worst person I’ve ever met in my entire life, I wouldn’t wish dating you on my worst enemies.”

JJ looked like he was going to interrupt, but Cody clapped a hand over his mouth and shook his head, warningly.

You kept going, “One day, JJ is going to wake up and he’s going to see how awful you are. He’s going to realize how miserable you make everyone around you and it’s going to suck for you and for him. I was waiting, I wanted to see it happen, but you know what, it’s just not worth my time.”

“This is insane,” Brooke laughed, a little hysterically, “you’re actually so manipulative.”

But you ignored her and turned to JJ, “I hope you’re so happy. I hope that this girl is worth one of your best friends walking out of your life. I’ve been there for you through shit, man. I’ve been a shoulder to cry on, I’ve been someone at your beck and call, and I’ve been someone who has seen you at your worst and stuck around.”

He was frozen beneath your glare and after a few seconds of waiting on any response, you finished your rant, “Because I’m tired JJ. I’m not going to just myself get hurt for no fucking reason. I never wanted to be that bitch that makes a guy choose, but I’m not in high school anymore, and I won’t be bullied like I am. Choose.”

JJ and Brooke decided to stay at a hotel in Charlotte instead of at the same Airbnb with you, Cody, and Tyler. Tyler stopped at a liquor store and picked up wine on the way to the Airbnb and the three of you put on your pajamas, turned on a movie, and drank.

You were laying on the bed between them, thinking about everything that had gone down, and without your permission, the tears started. Tyler noticed first and he paused the movie, sitting up fully to look at you.

“You gonna be okay, bud?”

“I’m sorry for ruining this trip.”

“You didn’t ruin it, Brooke did,” Cody soothed, running a hand up and down your back.

“I feel like it was me though. That’s what she makes me feel like. The intruder, the one who makes things worse, the one who gave an ultimatum. Which may I add, looks even dumber now that he clearly chose her.”

“We could leave them here,” Tyler suggested, “Make them pay for an Uber home.”

You smiled through the tears, “Fuck, that’s so tempting. But I want some moral high ground, I think.”

“We just want you to be happy,” Cody told you, voice soft.

“I am, mostly. But, god, sometimes it’s so hard. It feels so stifling. Like I found my niche, my friends, and then she’s there and she’s ruining it. I hate it so much.”

“Well, we’d never leave you for her,” Tyler soothed.

Cody nodded, “Never, even if we have to ditch Maybank.”

“Shut up,” you told them, smiling slightly.

“Serious,” Cody promised, holding out his pinky. You stared at it before slowly bringing your hand up to link them. Tyler did the same on your other side and you just breathed, both of your pinkies linked, content in the fact that if shit were to go south, they’d have your back.

JJ was waiting outside when the three of you pulled up to the hotel, Brooke nowhere in sight. Tyler parked and rolled the window down, “Where’s the spare?”

“She went home,” JJ responded, picking up his bag and walking over to your door, “Can I talk to you?”

“I don’t know, can you,” Cody cut in from the back seat.

You snorted and stepped out to talk to him, “Yeah, can you?”

JJ sighed, “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I don’t even know where to start,” he admitted, putting his hands in his pockets nervously.

“There’s a lot to work through,” you told him.

He smiled sadly, “How did we get here?”

Tears welled in your eyes, and you shrugged, “I don’t know, dude, it just sucks.”

“How do we get back?”

Shrugging again, “It’ll take some time. You hurt my feelings so.”

JJ nodded uncomfortably, “Right. Um, maybe start with breakfast tomorrow?”

“Breakfast tomorrow,” you agreed.

#jj maybank #pike!jj #jj maybank x reader #cody and tyler #jj maybank fic #frat!jj

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hurricanery · 3 years

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What’s a Soulmate? Pt. 2

Hi! This is part two of my previous fic. Amelink AU- ‘What if Amelia and Link had met at a different time in their lives?’ This part is basically the same timeline, from a different point of view. Thanks so much for reading the last part and for sending feedback! ALSO THIS IS LONGGG. sorry

tw: drug use

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Amelia Shepherd is 5 years old when she discovers that nothing is ever promised to you. By definition, she learns uncertainty. That your world can be ripped from right underneath you. The feeling is always there.

Age 5 is a blur for Amelia. She remembers everyone doting on her. Her mom and her sisters and her brother. But, that might not be the right word. She’d learn later that the feeling she was experiencing was suffocating. That’s the word she’d been looking for. The people in her life that were once so blissfully unaware, suddenly so overcareful around her.

By age 7 the suffocating feeling had slowed. Maybe her family had moved on from their need to keep tabs on her. Or maybe they’d genuinely grown tired of her. Either way, the feeling was replaced with a new one. She’d love to fantasize. Especially at night. She’d lay in bed and pretend she wasn’t herself. Staring up above her, she’d imagine the ceiling opening up. And then the roof would be flying off. And she would go with it. Not as a person, but a part of the wind and the clouds. She’d float up to the sky and be with her Dad.

Sometimes, she’d think so hard about this, that there would no longer be feeling associated with it. It would just be reality. And it was numb. When this happened, Amelia would tiptoe out of bed and down the hall toward Derek’s room. Derek was always really good at making her realize that the roof was still there. She was made to realize a lot of things at such a young age. She’d look at her older sister, Nancy, who carried herself in such a stoic way, and realize that pain was better when it was hidden. She’d look at Derek, who flinched at almost every loud noise and sudden movement, and realize that she never wanted to look vulnerable. She’d watch discreetly as her mother sat alone at the kitchen table, spacing out as she sipped her coffee, completely jaded by everything she’d been through in the last couple years. Her parents were soulmates. High school sweethearts. Completely each others’ person. She’d look at her mother now and realize that there was no such thing as soulmates.

_______

Amelia is 9 years old when she starts to feel again.

The moving trucks roll slowly down the street and the Shepherd children watch from their front lawn as they disappear. The front door of what used to be their home swings open and their mother comes barreling out, juggling two more boxes.

“Derek!” She beckons. “Come and grab one of these.”

Derek quickly runs to help his mother.

“And the rest of you- don’t just stand there! There’s a few more things inside!”

They load up the minivan and suddenly there’s not much left to do but to say their goodbyes to an empty house. Say their goodbyes to a home and all the memories associated with it. It was time to start new.

_______

The car ride to their new neighborhood is long and boring and Amelia sits all the way in the back, crammed alongside the last of the moving boxes like she’s an object being moved herself. That’s how she’s starting to feel, at least. Like an inanimate object being transported against her will. Her 3 older sisters occupy the seats in front of her, sharing headphones and giggling amongst themselves every few minutes. Derek, who’s seated passenger side next to their mother, turns around with searching eyes. He catches Amelia's gaze through the cracks between headrests and smiles at her in an assuring manner. He doesn’t turn away until Amelia reluctantly smiles back.

The minivan finally pulls into a quiet suburban neighborhood and stops in the driveway of their new home. Before the car is even put into park, Derek and Nancy are jumping out and running toward the house. Lizzie and Kathleen follow quickly after them while Amelia remains trapped in the backseat. She sighs. All she has to do is climb over the middle seat but she can’t seem to bring herself to do it.

“Come on, Amy,” she hears her mother’s impatient voice from outside of the car. The tone forces her out of her frozen position and she finally starts climbing over the seat. When her feet hit the pavement, she looks up at the house. She shifts her gaze to her mother incredulously and before Amelia can even say anything, her mother is grabbing her wrist and pulling her forward.

Out of the corner of her eye, Amelia sees movement across the street. As her mother pulls her toward the house, Amelia turns her head fully to meet the movement. She watches as a boy, about her age, drops his baseball mitt onto the grass and chases after his father. He’s laughing as his dad teases him about wanting macaroni and cheese again for dinner. The boy follows his dad inside and the whole time Amelia is listening to the sound of his voice as he argues playfully. Amelia finds herself smiling at the interaction. She doesn’t know why, but something about the boy’s playful energy sparks something in her. She feels excited, she thinks, at the idea of this boy being her friend.

_______

A couple of hours later, and the idea is becoming closer to reality for Amelia. When 9 year-old Atticus Lincoln stumbles through an awkward introduction on the sidewalk in front of her new home, Amelia cannot refrain from laughing. At first, his presence had startled her. The sidewalk chalk had slipped out of her palm and she’d almost fallen backwards from her crouched position. But, something about his energy had instantly made her feel calm and at ease. Amelia is grinning from ear to ear after watching this boy struggle with his words. After a little back and forth and a lot more laughter, Amelia decides she doesn’t want him to leave. She definitely likes his company. She wants him to stay.

“Anyway, Atticus, do you wanna play a game?”

_______

Amelia is 16 years old when she discovers that high school is her worst nightmare.

She walks up late today. Like really late. More so than usual. She must have missed her alarm. Or, forgotten to set it in the first place. That was highly likely.

Amelia curses herself as she jumps out of bed. All she has time for this morning is a quick teeth brushing. She glances in the mirror briefly, throwing a sweatshirt over what she’d worn to bed and grabbing her converse sneakers from the corner of her room. She slips on her backpack before running down the stairs and out the front door.

No sign of Link. She frowns. She must really be testing his patience. They usually walk to school together every morning. And he’d usually wait for her, even if she was running late. This morning is different though.

Amelia turns the corner, prepared to be alone with her own thoughts for the entire duration of the walk to school. But then she sees him, about a block ahead of her.

“Link!” She yells, desperate. “Wait for me, asshole!”

She sees him slow to a halt. He turns around up ahead of her. Amelia quickens her pace until she’s approaching him.

“Sorry, hi,” she greets him, kind of breathless. He looks her up and down, taking in the sweatshirt and sweatpants combo. Amelia tries not to get nervous under his gaze. But then he smiles.

“Is it pajama day?”

She rolls her eyes at him and shoves his shoulder gently.

“I had literally 3 minutes to get ready this morning.”

“Clearly,” he laughs again. He focuses on her face again, looking into her eyes, and Amelia feels his gaze burning into her. “You look-”

“Tired?” she interrupts him. “Don’t say it.”

“I was going to say hungover.”

Amelia looks away from him, ahead of them as they walk. She tries desperately to not have any sort of reaction to his words.

“Amelia, it’s a weekday,” Link speaks again, concerned.

She stays silent, subconsciously raising her hand to bite at the corner of her thumb nail. He finally looks away from her face and Amelia sighs internally, wishing they could talk about anything else.

“Did you study for the physics test?” Link speaks up again.

“Is that today?” Amelia mumbles.

“Yes…”

“I’ll study at lunch. I’ll be fine.” And she’s not even worried. She knows she’ll do fine. She always does. She feels an awkwardness between them and she hates it. Link usually makes her feel completely at ease. This morning, Amelia can tell she’s made him upset. She nudges his side with her elbow. When he finally makes eye contact, she smirks at him.

“Link, I’m fine,” she whines playfully. “Don’t worry.”

He breaks into a smile. Something that happens naturally whenever Amelia smirks like that. Her heart warms at the sight, watching as his eyes crinkle slightly from the expression. Link has the best smile.

“I know you’re fine. I just think you’ll be less fine when I crush you in this physics test.” He jokes.

“In your dreams!” Amelia laughs, feeling completely relaxed by their banter.

_______

Amelia doesn’t study at lunchtime. Jake, who’s a senior, and someone Amelia always feels the need to impress, invites her to the parking lot and she instantly agrees. Being invited to the parking lot is basically a right of passage and everyone knows it. It’s not just a parking lot. It’s a hang out spot. The place you escape to for a smoke sesh or to find out where all the parties are that weekend. She knows being invited to the parking lot basically means Jake and all his senior friends will smoke her out. So, Amelia isn’t studying at lunch. She’s currently sitting on the open trunk of one of Jake’s friend’s trucks, being passed a joint.

She takes it, placing it to her lips, closing her eyes and inhaling as deeply as she can. She keeps it in for as long as she can before exhaling slowly. She opens her eyes again when she hears Jake laughing next to her.

“Damnnn, Shepherd. Not even a cough? Impressive.”

“She’s not like other girls,” one of Jake’s friends, Eric, adds, laughing with him.

Amelia rolls her eyes, and instead of passing the joint, she takes another hit. She’s impressing them and she likes the feeling. She reluctantly passes it off after that.

“Shep, you coming out tonight?”

Amelia just stares, it’s a Friday night but she’s not sure of what’s going on.

“Big party at Tyler’s place, everyone’s going.”

“Oh, right.” Amelia plays along. “Yeah I’m thinkin about it.”

_______

When the lunch bell rings, signaling class is about to start back up, Amelia only panics slightly. Not only is she late for the physics test, but she’s also completely in the wrong mindset. She feels it as she walks to the science lab, the paranoia sets in as she approaches the door. She hates walking in late. And she hates that she’s too high right now.

She tries to not spark any suspicion as she enters the room, but the dead quiet of the room only makes her more anxious. Everyone has already started taking their tests. She eyes her open seat at the back of the class, and moves as swiftly as possible. She feels a set of eyes on her the entire time and once she’s taken her seat, she reluctantly meets Link’s gaze from across the room.

Amelia flinches at the disappointment on his face.

Link turns back to his test and Amelia glues her eyes to her empty desk before another face interrupts her panic. She looks up just as Mr. Thompson, their physics teacher, places a test down in front of her. Amelia only meets his suspicious stare for a second before glancing down at the paper anxiously. She pulls a pencil out of her bag and quickly writes her name in the top right corner of the page.

She gives herself only a minute to breathe before she reads the first question. Once she does start reading, panic swells in her chest again. She can’t do this right now. She can’t be here taking this test. She doesn’t know what comes over her, but the sudden need to get out of this classroom completely consumes her. She’s not subtle when she stands up, pushing away from the desk hastily. The chair makes a harsh noise as it slides back against the floor and Amelia quickly grabs her backpack, leaving the test unfinished on her desk. Heads turn in her direction as she makes her way to the door. She faintly hears Mr. Thompson calling after her but chooses to ignore it.

She doesn’t stop walking until she’s all the way outside. The cool September air instantly calms her as she walks. And she keeps walking. Physics is her last class of the day and there’s nothing stopping her from just walking all the way home at this point.

_______

She hides out in her bedroom until her Mother calls her down for dinner a couple of hours later. It’s officially the weekend and that means some of the older Shepherd siblings are home from college. Amelia sits at the table and tries to avoid Nancy and Kathleen’s stares. Their mother, Carolyn, clears her throat.

“Girls stop glaring and pass Amelia the salad,” she says sternly.

Kathleen smirks as she starts passing food across the table. “Well, aren’t you going to say something, Mom?”

“Kathleen, not now.”

Amelia’s plate remains empty. The energy is off in the dining room and she doesn’t really feel like eating.

“You can’t keep letting her get away with this,” Kathleen speaks up again, laughing sarcastically and looking pointedly at her youngest sister.

“What’s your deal?” Amelia finally bites back. “I’ve seen you all of three minutes and you’re already mad at me for-?”

“Girls!” Carolyn chimes in. She glances harshly at each of them. She looks back at Amelia before she speaks again. “Amelia...the school called just before you came down-”

“I answered!” Kathleen interrupts with a snicker, Nancy smirking along with her. Carolyn shakes her head at them in warning before she continues.

“Amelia, apparently your science teacher reported you walked out on your test today…?” It ends up sounding like a question.

Amelia stares down at her empty plate.

“She’s probably on pills again. Did you ever get a lock for the medicine cabinet?” Nancy’s harsh words cause Amelia’s head to snap up. She glares at her oldest sister. And for the second time today, she feels the need to escape. She can’t be here right now. In a familiar movement, she pushes harshly away from the table and moves toward the front door.

She doesn’t stop walking until she’s all the way across the street. Suddenly she’s pounding on wood until a front door is swinging open and Link’s worried eyes meet hers. She doesn’t realize she’s crying until she registers the haggard breathing sound is coming from her.

“Amelia?! What’s wrong, what happened?”

“I can’t-” her panicked breathing cuts the sentence short but suddenly strong arms are around her, pulling her inside the house.

Link shifts his grips to her shoulders and guides her toward the stairs, up to his bedroom. The door clicks shut behind them and Link is guiding her again toward the bed, sitting down next to her.

Amelia curses herself, embarrassed by her total lack of control right now. She doesn’t remember letting herself begin to cry. But now that it’s started, she can’t make it stop.

“Amelia,” Link’s steady voice pulls her slightly from her thoughts. He looks at her assuringly. “Breathe. You need to breathe.”

In a gesture, Link makes his own breathing pattern more obvious, in his attempt to get Amelia to match him. She tries. She really tries. She looks into his eyes and lets him hold her gaze, anchoring her, like he’s tossing her a rope and trying to pull her back in.

She needs more though, something more forceful, and then she’s reaching for him. In the most platonic way, she grabs under his elbows, forcing his arms to engulf her small body. Desperate for the pressure of his strong hold.

She waits for him to catch on, and she sighs in relief when he squeezes her tight. The sensation of it is almost like a thunder jacket for a dog.

Amelia is just beginning to calm down when Link’s grip loosens slightly. She looks up at him bewildered. But he just looks calm. He pulls away even more but grabs her hand, standing up from the bed.

“Here, Amelia. Lay down on the floor, this will help,” he soothes, pulling her up from the bed.

She still hasn’t gained any control over her crying, but she listens to his instructions, laying flat on her back on the plush carpeting of his bedroom. She glances up at him and he smiles softly at her, eyes crinkling. Then he’s lowering himself over her.

“Let me know if I’m hurting you,” his voice is soothing. He even chuckles a bit at his actions. How crazy this must look. “My body weight will be like a weighted blanket…”

He’s twice her size but he lays fully on top of her, mimicking her positioning. He relaxes, and Amelia feels the weight of it completely. And to her surprise, it’s extremely calming. The pressure envelopes her nerves and the effects are almost instant. Her breathing begins to slow as they lay in complete silence, both staring up at the ceiling.

“Like a….gravity blanket,” Amelia’s voice finally breaks the silence.

Link chuckles. And now Amelia is smiling wide.

They lay like that for a few more minutes. Amelia is so relaxed and the room is comfortably quiet.

“Did you fall asleep on me?” Amelia whispers, laughing under her breath.

Link rolls off of her, laying next to her instead. He smiles at her, reaching between them and squeezing her hand. Amelia’s chest tightens at the gesture. And then he lets go.

“You okay?” Link asks.

“I am.”

They both resume the position of staring up at the ceiling. Link speaks again.

“You going to that party tonight?”

Amelia turns her head, looking at him in shock.

“Absolutely not,” she answers. Then she laughs again, adding “I’m staying here with you.”

_______

Amelia is 18 years old when she realizes that soulmates can be found in friendships.

She loves college right away. She loves being away from home and away from her family. She finds a good friend group and gets along well with the people she lives with. The only thing missing from her close to perfect equation, is her best friend, Link.

Her new college friends tease her relentlessly for her dependency on her best friend from home. The way she facetimes Link almost on a nightly basis, or the way she drops everything she’s doing the moment he texts her.

“That your boyfriend from home?” Amelia’s roommate jokes as her phone chimes with a text message.

“More like her soulmate,” her other roommate adds.

Amelia rolls her eyes. “He’s not my soulmate,” she laughs. “But...yes.”

The suspicious glances from her roommates don’t go unnoticed by Amelia. “I’m actually hanging out with Stephen tonight,” Amelia announces proudly.

“Ugh, he’s no good for you.”

“Yeah, definitely not soulmate vibes from Stephen.”

Amelia rolls her eyes again, standing up to get ready to see Stephen.

_______

Amelia likes Stephen. He’s tall and charming with dark hair and bright green eyes. He makes her laugh and provides the sense of calmness that Amelia seems to seek in those she surrounds herself with.

He’s not a distraction. That’s for sure. Amelia is even starting to think she loves him by the end of the first semester. She feels something every time she looks at him. His wide smile and the way his eyes crinkle when he laughs. Stephen feels familiar. And makes Amelia feel nostalgic.

And Amelia crushes any thought she has of Stephen compared to Link. To her best friend.

She doesn’t question what it means that every time she arrives back at her dorm after a night spent with Stephen, the first thing she wants to do is call Link.

She smiles to herself as she crosses the threshold to her room, instantly pulling her phone out and relaxing onto her bed. She swells with excitement as she glances at her calendar. It’s almost holiday break and for some reason she misses home.

_______

Amelia is 22 years old when she discovers what it feels like to finally open up.

She hasn’t seen Link in almost a full year, although she still considers him to be her best friend.

It’s finally thanksgiving and both Amelia and Link have returned home from their separate colleges for the weekend. She’s completely shocked when she first sees him. Link looks the same but also different. His hair is longer than Amelia remembers. And he seems taller...and more muscular, too. Like he’d suddenly started working out a bunch.

Link clears his throat, drawing her attention to his face. “Hi, Amelia,” he smiles. And the eye contact almost makes her breath catch in her throat. Had his eyes always been that color?

Link pulls her into a hug suddenly, pulling her away from her thoughts, and Amelia instantly relaxes into the familiar embrace.

_______

That night they end up at the local bar. Thanksgiving eve being the busiest bar night of the year, and basically a premature high school reunion for the entire town. Amelia really didn’t want to go. But, Link was interested in seeing a few buddies from school, and Amelia wanted to go wherever Link wanted to go.

They attempt to stay together for the entirety of the night, but it’s a little hard when there’s constant interruptions by vaguely familiar high school acquaintances.

Amelia sits at the bar and watches Link from across the room as he chats enthusiastically with his high school friends. She didn’t have a huge friend group in high school. She always had friends a couple grades above her, the ones she’d ditch school with. The ones she’d hang out in the parking lot with during lunch. And there was always Link. But that was it.

She catches his eye from where he’s standing across the crowded room and he smiles at her briefly. A moment later he motions toward the door. She frowns slightly before pushing through the crowd to join him.

“You’re leaving without me? What kind of date are you?” She smirks at him as she shrugs on her jacket.

“I wasn’t aware this was a date, Amelia.” Link responds, playing along. “But yes, I am leaving. Early morning and all that.”

“Well let me walk you home.” She continues, voice laced with irony.

“Let’s go home,” he agrees.

_______

They end up back at Link’s house, sitting at the kitchen table. There’s a lot of catching up, and reminiscing. And conversation about the future. Amelia feels a sense of warmness she can’t quite place. Link makes her feel warm. And she can’t stop smiling.

They talk about everything. Learn everything new about each other.

Amelia learns everything about Link’s college experiences. She tries to stay neutral as Link talks about the girls he has dated. She smiles through his drunken hookup stories. She learns that Link wants to pursue medical school, and that news brings her more excitement than she’d anticipated.

Amelia tells Link she wants to follow in her older siblings’ footsteps. She wants to become a surgeon. And when Link promises that he’d always known she’d make way for herself in the medical field, she feels warm again.

Amelia tells him about the relationships she’s been through. And the one she’s currently in.

“You’ll get to meet him this weekend, Link. He’s driving in tomorrow. For dinner.”

Amelia isn’t certain, but she thinks Link’s face falls at that.

“How long have you two been together?” He asks her.

“We met my freshman year. We’ve been dating on and off since then.” Amelia mutters, suddenly the warmth is gone. This conversation feels cold

“On and off?” Link questions.

Amelia clears her throat, feeling vulnerable. “Well, yeah.” She sighs. “We’ve broken up more than once. And gotten back together a couple of times…It’s um…” She pauses, collecting her thoughts. “It’s been, um, I mean I wouldn’t say a roller coaster, but…”

Amelia panics as she watches Link study her face. The analytical features remind Amelia of plenty of past conversations. Plenty of situations she’d gotten herself into and then called on Link.

“Amelia, are you happy?”

The question makes her heart sink and she can’t place why. Maybe it’s denial. Maybe she’s been dishonest with herself. She zones out as she stares ahead of herself, eyes glued to the space between them. Eyes glued to the table. She doesn’t like cold and vulnerable. She wants some of the warmth back. It feels like her body is on autopilot when she stands up on wobbly feet and walks around to Link’s side of the table. She can’t bring herself to answer him, or his daunting question. She doesn’t know why she does it, but suddenly she finds herself crawling her way into Link’s lap, legs dangling off the side of the chair and arms wrapping around his neck.

And then her own words surprise her, too.

“I had the biggest crush on you in high school. Probably since I was 9, if I’m being honest.” And she laughs at her own vulnerability.

She lays her head on his chest, hiding her face away from him. And she can feel Link wrap his arms around her waist. She feels him place a comforting kiss to the top of her head.

“And I, of course, was head over heels for you, but you already knew that. Everyone did.” He whispers, and Amelia is surprised at this response. She didn’t know that.

She laughs into him, and then she finally lifts her head, looking up at him.

“Let’s crash on the couch, yeah?” He offers. “Like old times?”

_______

It’s weird for Amelia the next night at dinner. To be snuggled into the embrace of another man. Not even 24 hours after she’d fallen asleep in Link’s arms.

His words replay in her head on a loop. The way he’d whispered ‘I’ve always loved you, Ames. Always will’ before they drifted off.

And the way that she’d responded. ‘I love you too, Link. You’re my best friend.’

Amelia is confused, and feels vulnerable, again.

_______

Amelia is 25 years old when she discovers that she's probably not destined to be a mother.

When she tells her fiancé of a year, James, that she’s pregnant, she doesn’t know how to feel. It’s overwhelming, that’s for sure. And she feels extremely anxious. She hopes it’s anxious in an excited way, and not for any other reason.

She ignores the uncertainty. She’d always wanted to be a mother, right? This is how everything was supposed to be. Anxiety and all.

_______

Amelia feels numb, three months later, when she has a miscarriage. She can’t quite process what she is feeling.

And it takes a toll on their relationship.

James is shocked. And grows more and more depressed over it.

Amelia takes her anger out on James, and he does the same with her.

They decide to take a break, and James moves out of their apartment. Amelia needs some time for herself. And she can’t quite place if what she’s feeling is relief. But she feels something. Because she knows that this is probably how it was meant to be. Everything happens for a reason.

_______

Amelia is 28 years old when Seattle becomes her true home.

She’s graduated medical school and landed her dream internship at one of the country’s top hospitals.

It’s her first day of work and she hops on the subway train downtown. The train is kind of crowded, and she automatically makes her way to a less dense standing spot. She settles in her spot, mentally preparing herself for a busy day.

Amelia counts down as the train makes it’s stops. Knowing that the next stop is hers, she moves her way closer to the door. It opens and she steps out onto the platform, glancing at her watch, deciding whether or not she has time to stop for coffee.

Her thoughts are suddenly interrupted by another body bumping right into her.

“Oh, sorry,” she mumbles, but she cuts herself off when she recognizes who has just run into her.

“Long time no see, Shepherd.” Link is standing in front of her, smiling widely.

And she can’t help how her face instantly lights up. She laughs, bewildered. Not quite believing what she’s seeing. She finds herself pulling him into the tightest of hugs, laughing breathlessly into his ear.

“What the hell, Link? What the hell are you doing here?” She lets go of him and they’re making eye contact, smiles wide across both their faces. They both seem to need to catch their breath.

“I could ask you the same thing.” He jokes.

Amelia shakes from her daze. “I..I live here now. I start a new job today. Like now, actually.”

Her shock and bewilderment doesn’t seem to die down whatsoever when she learns that Link has landed the same internship as her.

_______

Amelia is 29 years old when she discovers that her 7-year-old self was wrong. Soulmates do exist, and she knows by definition.

She knows what a soulmate is when Link takes her out on their first real date and he doesn’t even make a move, because there’s no need to rush things.

She knows what a soulmate is when she watches Link become the version of himself that is a brilliant, confident, orthopedic surgeon fellow.

She knows what a soulmate is when they finally sleep together for the first time. And it feels like it has been building up over a lifetime. The way they take it slow, reveling in each moment with each other because it didn’t quite feel real.

After their first successful surgery together, they’d gone out with some fellow surgeons, and Amelia knew what she was doing when she asked him back to her place for the night.

Amelia knows what a soulmate is that night. When she looks him in the eye and reaches for the hem of his shirt in question. She feels completely confident in his presence and especially in his arms. Like she was always meant to be there. This is her best friend, and her soulmate. And she’s completely awestruck by how good this moment is. How it can’t compare to anyone or anything else.

Amelia knows what a soulmate is the next morning. When she stirs from her slumber slightly, as familiar fingers dance slowly across her bare back.

She rolls over in bed and is met with her favorite pair of eyes. She mumbles to Link ‘let’s make pancakes,’ and she knows what a soulmate is as she watches him move about her kitchen, covered in pancake mix from the brief food fight that had broken out between them.

Amelia knows what a soulmate is when they move in together. In a tiny studio apartment in Seattle. And Link lets her decorate it exactly how she wants.

And despite their first fight, Amelia knows what a soulmate is. When Link meets her nieces and nephews, and nonchalantly makes a comment about kids one day, Amelia freezes in panic. And then completely avoids him for three whole days.

Amelia knows what a soulmate is when she learns to compromise. Because the two of them cope in different ways. So, when Link has a bad day, she gives him space to bum out, instead of bombarding him to talk through it. Even though she’d want the opposite for herself on her own bad days.

And he’s still her soulmate when they turn 30 and they move into a bigger house in the suburbs. Amelia is excited about each of them having their own office space. Link jokes about ‘room to grow’ and ‘future nurseries.’ Amelia doesn’t say it then, but she warms up at the idea.

When they’re 32, and they’re dancing at their co-worker’s wedding, Amelia knows what a soulmate is. After a particularly hard week at work, Amelia had been taking her frustrations out on Link. And he’d been letting her. He was always so patient. And now as they danced together slowly, Amelia can’t help but rest her head against his chest gratefully. She feels him squeeze her waist gently. She can’t help it when she mumbles ‘Maybe I’ll marry you, someday.’

_______

Amelia is 34 years old when everything falls into place for the rest of her life.

After she’d told Link she was pregnant, they’d both been completely overjoyed. And since then, Amelia couldn’t fight the realization that everything was meant to be this way. Everything had happened for a reason.

She doesn’t hear Link come into the bathroom as she stands brushing her teeth, eyes closed in happy exhaustion as she rests against the sink.

She feels his arms snake around her stomach and her eyes snap open to playfully meet his in the bathroom mirror.

Link squeezes her small bump and Amelia lays her head back into his chest blissfully.

“Let’s go to bed,” he whispers, “before you fall asleep right here brushing your teeth.”

_______

They lay down in bed and assume their favorite position as of recently. Amelia loves it when Link lays behind her, spooning her, arms instinctively and protectively wrapping around her stomach. She settles into his arms and almost immediately begins dozing off.

She feels Link’s breath tickling her neck before she registers his voice.

“Amelia, you’re going to make the best mom to Scout. I can’t wait.” He mumbles, and Amelia smiles sleepily.

“I love you, Ames.” he continues, gently squeezing her bump again. “Always have, always will.”

Amelia is awake just enough to respond “I love you too, Link. You’re my best friend,” before sleep takes her.

Feedback please/let me know if you want me to write more amelink/send prompts!!

#amelink #amelink fanfic #amelinkfic #amelia shepherd #atticus lincoln #amelia x link #amelinkfanfiction #my writing

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binniedeactivated · 4 years

Text

saint. || soobin (2.5)🌪

a/n: ya’ll if falling in love with this man was a sport---I’d win the world championship.

🖤┊𝔰𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔱 . ೄྀ࿐ 𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌: 𝖘𝖔𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖓 𝖝 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖗𝖊: 𝖘𝖒𝖚𝖙/𝖆𝖚 𝖜𝖔𝖗𝖉 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖙; 2789

“he didn’t throw the first punch I saw it all from the bathroom. the guys were threatening to kill him i swear”. the principal pushes his lips into a thin line. yeonjun is just drumming his fingers on his lap hoping he’d believe him and soobin was sitting aside, still trying to fix his uniform and look presentable while michael was in the nurse’s office. he was surprised yeonjun was even in there defending his name like that.

“are you sure choi yeonjun?”. the principal asked skeptically. he wanted to believe soobin was in the wrong here, for some stupid sick reason. but yeonjun didn’t let that happen. he nodded confidently. the principal huffs his breath.

“fine, I’ll believe you since you’re a trustworthy student. choi soobin I’m not going to suspend you since you were defending yourself against a group. however I will have to notify your parents”. he informed. and soobin had no problem with that considering the fact that he blocked the school’s number from his parent’s phones. soobin nodded gratefully, his parents would’ve tried to beat him until he couldn’t breathe anymore if they found out he got suspend from school.

“thank you”. the boys both bowed before exiting out of his office and the principal was set to call the other boys involved them and notify them about their suspension. it was weird walking in the halls with someone he wasn’t that fond of instead of his boys. well, his ex-boys. soobin pushes his hands in his pockets trying to figure out how to speak.

“you know um- thank you. you didn’t have to do that for me”. he finally said after a moment of awkward silence.

“don’t thank me that’s weird. I still hate you”. yeonjun pronounces with a small grin. soobin laughs.

“that’s how it’s gonna be?”.

“hell yeah. I still don’t forgive you for pushing me on the floor of your house when you first met me”. yeonjun admitted. soobin laughs again.

“I didn’t know you. barely even knew you were a fucking choi”.

“I’m convinced that even if you knew you’d still try to beat my ass because that’s who you are”.

“touché”. soobin agrees. they both were just following one another, going nowhere in particular.

“so um--have you told her yet?”. yeonjun asks. soobin shakes his head.

“not yet”.

“why not?”.

“you know why”.

yeonjun breathes hard. “you’re just digging a deeper hole for yourself soobin”.

“I can’t do it man..”. soobin trails off.

“how is she doing anyways? mia?”.

soobin shrugs.

“I went to apologize to her the other day she looked... like a zombie but I don’t want to get too involved with her because I don’t want to get blamed for shit else”.

yeonjun shakes his head laughing, “you’re crazy for doing it in the first place”.

“you want to know whose crazy? olivia”.

“how?”.

“she’s been trying to get with me ever since mia stopped appearing so much at school. what the fuck type of best friend is that?”.

“that’s pretty fucked up. but that’s how girls are. well, except for your little girlfriend”. yeonjun teases and soobin shoves him to the side to keep from blushing.

“shut the fuck up”. was all soobin could say before he waited outside your classroom door for you. yeonjun knew what he was up to so he didn’t bother hanging around for long. he hated being around couples anyway, they were annoying.

making the absolute wrong decision soobin decides to scare you while you’re walking out of the classroom and you jump back with your heart at the pit of your stomach. once you noticed it was him he decided to run down the hallway and you weren’t afraid to chase him since you both shared the next class. turning down 2 corners and 2 more more hallways later you finally catch him in the cut of two lockers. “why would you do that you scared me!”. you playfully yell and he holds his hands up in surrender.

“alright i’m sorry I’m sorry. I just thought it would be funny”. soobin stares trying to look serious but you knew a laugh was coming. you roll your eyes and walk the other way back to class. soobin follows after you and grips your waist from behind.

“are you really mad? I said I was sorry”. he begs. you thought the way he was acting was kind of cute so you furthered your agenda and kept ignoring him. he noticed you weren’t speaking so he steps in front of you. you cross your arms and glare up at him. “forgive me”. he pleads again and this time you step to the other side and continue walking to class. “mama”. he calls out. you ignore him again and arrive in your classroom grabbing the assignment sister helena had laid out for you both. you got a head start with writing your name on the paper and getting settled before soobin slid next to you. he turned to speak but sister helena decided to lay down the rules for today’s video, as if you all didn’t know what to do each day. you had to say though, class was so much better without kevin and his obnoxious antics. you didn’t know where he was but you hoped he stayed there for the rest of his life.

anyway, sister helena turns off the lights and turns on the tv instead. half of your classmates were already ready to go to sleep including you. you decided to stay up a little more last night to study. but it was hard to go to sleep with soobin landing his hand on your thigh. you jump up a bit with shock. you glance at sister helena to make sure she wasn’t looking.

“what are you doing?”.

“oh now you want to speak to me?”. you swat his hand away.

“yes because you’re touching me. move”. you demand. but you knew deep inside your heart you didn’t mean it. you found yourself wanting soobin more and more each day. you kind of thought being horny was like some sort of drug now. it was a thrill you couldn’t resist.

soobin smirks and leans your ear, letting his veiny hand wrap around your thigh even tighter. “who do you think you’re talking to hm?”. you shuddered even harder than you did the day before. you had to give yourself a pep talk to stay strong. you lay your hand on his.

“ssoobin we can’t do this here”.

“we’re in the back of the classroom no one even notices us”. he whispers. he moves his hand closer and closer to your heat.

“soobin I said mmove”. you shakily respond. and he does nothing but chuckles in your ear. he make sure sister helena is occupied before he continued. he lets his tongue drag from your neck to the back of your ear and tongue kisses it softly. “listen to me. you? don’t give orders. only I do that. and if I want to play with your pussy I will. do you understand me?”.

you sit calm feeling moisture pool into your panties. his voice was darker than you ever heard it. it made you kind of scared and suddenly you forgot all possible ways to regulate your breathing. “say yes daddy”. he orders. your heart races faster at his fingers brushing against your clit through your panties. “say it”. he demands again through clenched teeth. you did as you were told and you could feel him smile prior to kissing you on your cheek. “ good girl”. he snatches his hand away from you pretending to be focused on the tv screen.

you were going crazy on the inside. you wanted to be touched, you wanted to be yelled at, you wanted to be punished. maybe you did have a daddy kink. you’ll admit that. but you couldn’t admit how horny soobin made you. you were trapped in a daze and soobin knew it. he was filling out the answers on the paper smoothly. you sat uncomfortably in your seat until class over. he shouldn’t have left you wet like that.

“I told my mother you were tutoring me again today. not that she gave a fuck anyways”. soobin mentions while you grab your things out of your locker. “who said I wanted to tutor you today? what if my parents don’t like you?”. soobin scoffs. “yeah right. and you know you want to tutor me you just don’t like being nice to me for some reason”. you laugh a little. “I have to see if my parents are home”. soobin shrugs. “so what if they are? we’re just studying right?”.

you give soobin a glance almost as if to say, “yeah right”. he laughs in exchange. the both of you head towards his car. “I promise I won’t touch you this time. I really need to pass these exams. maybe i’ll prove to my parents that I’m a good kid after all”. you slide into the passenger seat, “you are a good kid. you just have bad kid tendencies”. soobin thinks about it for a moment until you decide to change the subject. “I have to call mia today to see how she’s doing”. you mention slipping out your phone. you dialed her number and it rang a few times before going straight to voicemail. you decided to call again getting a little worried. after the third ring the phone was answered but you could tell it wasn’t mia.

“hello? whose this?”. the voice asked.

“hey it’s me. the girl that brought mia to your car. I wanted to ask how she was doing?”.

“oh hey, this is mia’s mom and she’s doing okay. we took her to the hospital and the doctors prescribed her medication that has a bit of a side effect on her so we don’t know how much longer she’ll be out of school”.

“aw, well. I hope she get’s better soon. school is boring so she’s missing out on nothing”.

her mom chuckles lightly, “I’ll tell her you called for her okay?”.

“okay. see you soon”.

“okay, bye”.

you pressed the button and slide your phone back in your pocket.

“i missed you”. soobin muttered. you suck your teeth and laugh. “oh shut up soobin”.

“do you want to get something to eat before we go to your house?”.

“no we can eat there. I don’t want you to keep spending money”.

“money grows on trees you know”.

“says one of the richest guys in town”. soobin laughs this time. he never minded spending money when it came to you but he didn’t want to sound cheesy so he kept quiet.

❉ ╤╤╤╤ ✿ ╤╤╤╤ ❉

you tell soobin to keep quiet just in case one of your parents were home. your house was weird, the parking spots were at the back so you couldn’t exactly tell if your parents were home unless you went back there. you open the door with your key and spot absolutely no one. But you couldn’t make assumptions so you snuck soobin to your room as fast as you could and locked the door behind you.

You figured you were pretty safe but you still requested the soobin keep his voice low. you kick your shoes off and sit your textbooks out. soobin does the same on your bed, making himself at home. you thought he looked rather cuter when he looked nerdy. “do you remember what I taught you?”. you asked now moving your textbooks and notebooks to the bed. soobin nods. “internalize more than you memorize right?”. you pinch his cheeks and smile. “good job! do you want a sticker?”. it sounded like you were mocking him, but you actually did have a sheet of stickers in your drawer. soobin creates a pout with his lips, “yes please!”. he says like a child. you roll your eyes and smile, going to your drawer to fetch them. you held the sheet and peeled off a gold star sticking it to his forehead. he looked so pleased with himself it was adorable.

you open your textbook and you instruct soobin to open his and start from the first chapter review and take notes. he nods and does as he were told. while the both of you studied you watch him steadily making sure he was writing down things that were relevant to the chapter. so far so good, his notes looked pretty neat and organized. you decided to catch yourself up on your own notes. you were practicing math, the subject you hated most. the good part about this was that you were already prepared to not do well on the exam so it wouldn’t be much of a shock if you didn’t.

time progresses and the both of you filled your notebooks with notes. soobin now writing down important information from the chapter 3 review and you, going through several steps just to solve another math equation. you had to admit soobin was doing really well and he was paying good enough attention. you smirk. “how come you couldn’t do this in school?”.

“everyone thought i was stupid so i didn’t care enough”.

“that’s all it was?”.

“well sometimes it takes the right person to believe in you for you to do well. especially when you can’t believe in yourself”.

“if you keep studying like that you can pass any exam in that school I’ll tell you that. you have good focus”.

“yeah well, thank you for believing in me if so”. you blush, pushing his shoulder playfully.

“stop being cheesy soobin”.

“hey since i’ve been studying well do I get something else?”.

you slide a strand of your hair back putting your pencil back to your paper. “what do you want? another sticker?”. you were halfway through the equation when you realized soobin was still quiet. you glimpse at him for an answer and he was just staring at you. he waited until your eyes gave him permission to speak. and they did.

“when initiating sex theres the kissing, theres the hickeys, the touching and the feeling. but the most important thing you should do before you have sex is perform oral sex. do you know about it?”.

your heart started to race.

“was it in the video we watched?”. you question. soobin nods. his face was so unreadable it became scary. “so what are you saying soobin?”.

he positions your body on the edge of the bed before he gets on the floor in front of you setting a hand on your knee. you glare down at him in shock, you were nervous beyond words.

“would you like to see what that feels like?”. you fixed your mouth to answer but soobin was already planting sloppy tongue kisses along your thighs and inner thigh. you panted softly, “ssooobin we can’t make noise”. you stuttered. soobin flips your skirt up giving himself more access to you. “you better keep quiet then”. he mumbles. you were about to say something else but soobin thought it was best to lick your pussy through your panties. you felt yourself growing weak and you were growing hotter at the feeling of his mouth. you started panting even heavier agreeing that if this wasn’t the best feeling in the world you didn’t know what was.

with lustful eyes he glances up at you and slides down your panties with ease, putting a finger to his lips signaling for you to be quiet. but it was hard to do that when soobin immediately wraps his lips around your clit sucking it softly. you let out a high pitched moan by accident, slapping a hand over your mouth shortly after. his lips were so delicate on you and he looked so invested in making sure you felt good. he could feel your legs trembling as he licked around your folds. so he made it his duty to intertwine his hands with yours so you’d have something to grasp onto when you couldn’t handle it. as his tongue traveled you you squeezed his hands harder.

you were whining and squirming on his tongue and that didn’t make things any better. you bit your lips and cried, “ssoobin i don’t knnow if I can stayy quiet for this long”. you moan and he’s ignoring you, tongue kissing your clit over and over as if it were your tongue. you open your mouth and exhale trying to keep yourself in order but you couldn’t help your small cries. you were throbbing harshly and beyond wet at this point.

that was, until you heard your dad calling your name and walking up the staircase.

#choi soobin #choi yeonjun #choi soobin au #choi beomgyu #txt #txt au

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saharamae21 · 3 years

Text

All of My Wrongs - Chapter 11

Pairing: Topper x OC and Rafe x OC

Summary: After her adventure with Topper, Rory is more confused than other. Her feelings for Topper were as unstoppable as gravity. She was just drawn to him. However, she knows that she will never be enough to please him or his family. Then there was Rafe. He was broken like her. They understood each other, but everything is moving to fast. She feels an enormous amount of pressure to please everyone and she can’t.

Word Count: 2.1K

A/N: Thank you for all the positive feedback, I love hearing what you guys have to say! Please keep commenting and sharing your thoughts with me.

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We walked out of the planetarium even though I never wanted to leave. I smiled to myself thinking about how amazing Topper was. He went to such far lengths to make me smile. I hoped that he knew that I would always do the same for him. He was just special to me. The day had slipped away from us and night was approaching quickly. I walked side by side with Topper, stealing glances at him every once and a while. He wore the most charming smile. The evening golden hour danced across his face, just like that first day on the dock.

“Thank you for today,” I said shyly. He glanced over at me, radiating pride in his smile. He told me I was welcome as we walked up to the harbor. Just as we were walking up, the last boat was leaving. We had completely lost track of time. He apologized and asked me what I wanted to do. I think he was expecting me to be upset, but instead I laughed. Secretly I had just wanted some more time with him and that wish came true. I froze as his hand brushed a strand of hair out of my face. The way his skin grazed my cheek was enough to make my heart flutter for a second. I blinked up at him and bit my lips together. This was how you were supposed to feel around someone you loved.

“C’mon,” he said, taking my hand in his to guide me through the harbor. He guided me back to one of the main roads. His hand felt so big around mine. I couldn’t focus on anything else except his hand on mine. Even though all of this felt so perfect, it also felt horribly wrong. No matter what I was feeling now, nothing could happen until Rafe and I were over. I couldn’t do that to him when he was so infatuated with me. I wished that feeling was mutual…

We came across a house in the nicer part of town. Topper checked the area for a key and I looked around wondering how he knew about this place. He slipped the key into the door, but I grabbed his wrist. I didn’t want to intrude on someone else’s home. He smiled at me and explained that his family owns this house. They used it for business when they had to be in Chapel Hill for longer than a day. I was shocked, but with the understanding I had of his family, it all made sense.

From there we just ordered pizza and watched movies. It was such a simple thing to do, but with him it felt special. When it was all over, I crashed in his designated room. There was almost nothing in it, but still it suited him. Minimalistic in a sense, but still full of personality. I laid in bed and thought about today. Everytime I thought about Topper, an uncontrollable smile covered my face, but guilt came with it. I was something with his best friend. Rafe and I weren’t really dating, but we were. There were no labels, but I knew what was going on. I didn’t want to hurt him, but how could I continue to ignore these feelings for Topper?

Those thoughts kept me up all night. I couldn’t sleep knowing that I was doing everything so wrong. I didn’t even know how Topper felt about me and jumping to conclusions wasn’t doing me any favors. My thoughts and worries swirled around my head like a whirlpool, harsh and uncontrollable. I walked down the steps the next morning and heard Topper on the phone with his mom.

“I’m with Kelce, chill out. I’ll handle it when I get home,” he muttered. I frowned as I realized that I stole him from his everyday life. He had expectations at home and he had people who wanted him there. “Yeah, I’ll talk to Sarah when I get back.”

Sarah. Every doubt I had about loving Topper came back with one mention of her name. Did he still love her? Would I ever compare to her? I didn’t want to think like that, that’s one of the reasons I gave him up. I walked into the room like I hadn’t been listening to his phone call and pulled a piece of pizza out of the fridge. I smiled at him when I caught his eye and he smiled back. Even this early in the morning, he looked handsome. I hated it. He walked out onto the patio to finish his conversation, leaving me to think about how the past 24 hours had felt like a dream. A dream that I needed to wake up from.

We caught a ferry home and smiled as we walked back to where his car was parked. I grabbed my bear out of the passenger seat and thanked him for taking my mind of everything. I knew from the phone call with his mom that he had things to do and I didn’t want to keep him from them. Plus, I had no intention on going home yet.

“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” he asked me, his voice laced with concern. I nodded and hugged the bear tightly to my chest. “Rory, I can give you a ride somewhere else too if you want. At least let me get you back to your car.”

“I’m fine, bottom,” I snickered. He rolled his eyes as his nickname came back for a reprise. I knew that secretly he loved it though. He sighed and told me to come over when I went home so he knew I was alright. I nodded confidently and held out my pinky to pinky swear. He shook his head, smiling at how childish I could be sometimes. He obliged though and we promised on it.

I felt my smile fade as he drove away. It was like you were waking up from a dream that you wished could keep going. I bit my lips together and walked back in the direction of the beach. The adventure I had just had with Topper swirled through my head endlessly. It made my stomach drop into the pit of my stomach, because I knew that home was the next step. Knowing that made me walk a little slower, but it didn’t stop me.

I reached the beach and got into my car, sitting there for a moment before starting it up. The interior was burning hot, but that discomfort was worth not having to walk anymore today. It was a short drive, but wanted it to last forever. No amount of time would be enough to ease my nerves. Luckily, I had promised Top to tell him when we came home.

I walked up the steps to his house and heard some yelling inside the house. I frowned as I thought about how angry his mom sounded on the phone this morning. I wondered if he was in trouble because of me. As I raised my hand to knock on the door, I heard his mom’s voice ring out loud and clear.

“Go talk to Sarah or you end up with someone like that girl next door,” she yelled at him. My shoulders sank as I slowly lowered my hand back down to my side. In that moment, I realized why I had given up on Topper. I would never be good enough for him… A guy like him deserved someone who could give him the world, but I had nothing to provide. I would just be dragging him into my mess of a life, just like I had done yesterday. Then the door opened and a body walked right into me.

“Rory…” he said. I knew that I wasn’t concealing my feelings and that he could read you like a book. “I’m sor-”

“Don’t be,” I interrupted. “She isn’t the first mom not to like me.”

He didn’t laugh at my joke. He saw right through my coping mechanism and pulled me into his arms. Only now when he did that, I only felt guilt. A girl like me would ruin his life. I told him that I should go inside and he nodded, observing my face closely. Now that he knew what my real smile was like, lying to him would be a million times harder. I didn’t even try to tell him I would be fine, because I knew he would see through me. He released me from his hold and let me walk away, never taking his eyes off me.

Upon entering my home, dad immediately ran to me. He pulled me into his arms and muttered how sorry he was. His arms around me used to comfort me, but now it made me feel trapped. I just wanted to go up to my room without seeing my mom. I just wanted to go undetected, but Skipper ruined that dream. As soon as he saw me, he yelled out and ran over to me. I knew that he was scared from the events that took place yesterday. I had never acted out before and I was always the one to pick up the pieces. He had never seen mom spiral so far and I wasn’t there to be his big sister.

“Aurora…?” a small voice rang out. My eyes looked up to see my mom. She looked as if she hadn’t slept at all. I stared at her, knowing that I couldn’t stay here. Just seeing her made me feel like I couldn’t breath anymore.

“I’m just grabbing stuff,” I said without thinking. I didn’t even know where I’d go for sure. I walked towards the steps, but my dad grabbed my arm. He raised his voice, saying that I lived under his roof. He said I couldn’t just come and leave as I pleased. He said that I was being ungrateful. My heart broke as my dad told me off. He had always been understanding of how I felt, but ever since moving here, everything was different. “Dad…”

He didn’t stop though. He told me that we were all having a hard time adjusting. He told me to stop being selfish. The way he looked at me was like a bullet through the heart. Tears filled my eyes and as he saw that, his expression softened. He realized what I went through yesterday and regretted raising his voice, but I could tell that he meant ever word he said.

“I’m suffocating here,” I said in a flat voice. I began to block out every emotion and disassociate with the situation. “When I see mom, I can’t breathe. If I stay here, I feel like I’m tieing my own noose. I can’t be here right now.”

I didn’t give him a chance to respond to me. I just pulled my arm from him gently and walked up to my room. I packed a small bag, throwing everything I needed in hapharzardly. I heard a small knock on the door and saw Skipper peering at me. I frowned and walked over to him, pulling him into a hug. He was a sensitive kid, even if it wasn’t obvious to others. I muttered I was sorry and that he had to be strong. He nodded and told me to tell him when I found a place to stay. I agreed and walked towards the front door, waving sadly at him as I left.

I walked over to the only place I knew I was welcome, Rafe’s house. He pulled me into his arms as soon as he saw me. As his arms tightened around me, guilt filled my being. I knew that my feelings for Topper were undeniable and it was horrible to lead Rafe on. He pulled away and stared at me, wondering what was wrong. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and observed my face carefully. Then, in a last ditch effort to make me smile he said the three words that should’ve made me happier than any other girl.

“I love you,” he said. My stomach dropped as I stared up at him unable to say it back. I opened my mouth to say anything, but no sound came out. He just looked at me, a soft smile spread across my face. I watched as it started to fade as moments went by. I panicked. Everything was happening so quickly and you couldn’t process what was going on.

“I-I love you,” I stuttered out. I didn’t mean it yet though. I knew it was wrong, but that part of me that didn’t want to let people down began to kick in. He just cupped my face in his hands and placed a kiss on my forehead. He stared down at me with a huge smile. His face was full of pride, much like Topper’s was yesterday. However, his was different. Topper’s was proud and Rafe’s was almost cocky.

“Hey, Buttercup? I need you to do me a favor,” he muttered. At this point he knew exactly how to manipulate me… “If you love me, you’ll do this for more.”

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myexgirlfriendisthemoon · 4 years

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It Feels Better Biting Down — Ch. 1: First Impressions are Lasting Impressions

Set in a modern bending AU, Roku High and Kyoshi High are rival schools in every sense. When financial troubles cause Sokka and Katara to go to separate schools, their bond and new friendships test the civil and social boundaries that lie behind school lines and familial ties. With new friends Aang, Toph, and Suki, will Sokka and Katara be able to hold their Gaang together, or will they let the fire nation clique's drama split them up for good?

“So are you sure you can get me to class on time? I mean, if I ran, I’m sure I could catch up to the bus.”

Sokka shook his head, clicking his tongue in a ‘tsk, tsk’ sound. “Katara, sister o’ mine,” he said, grabbing his keys from beside the front door. He held it open for his younger sister and locked it behind her. “Remember that one time you were sick and forgot your science project? And I-”

“-stopped for a milkshake on the way to school, spilled it on my lab report, and got it to me twenty minutes after it was due?” she retorted with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest.

Sokka waved his hand, dismissing his sister’s comeback. “Meaningless details, really. Anyways,” he said, walking over to the driveway. “Do you want a ride or not?”

“I do,” Katara said, following behind him, “but do you honestly think your car wants to get us there in one piece today?”

Sokka gasped and put his arms over his car. The thing he called his baby was a navy hunk of metal that at some point resembled an ‘81 Honda, with scratched up rims, too many dents to count, and a few knicks in the windshield (Katara liked to play a game called “How fast can Sokka drive over speed bumps before his windshield shatters.” So far, she’s seen him take the thing a surprising 45 mph over a bump without damage. She swore it was only a matter of time though.).

He turned his head towards his sister with a pout. “Don’t talk about Tun Tun like that, Katara; it’s rude.” Sokka looked back at his car with a strange sort of fondness that Katara knew only Sokka was capable of displaying. “Don’t listen to her Tun Tun,” he cooed. “You’re beautiful just the way you are.” The meticulously taped up side view mirror slipped from it’s rearranged spot, hanging on only by a fraying electrical wire.

Katara couldn’t help the snicker that escaped her.

“See what you did?!” Sokka said, exasperated. “Now Tun Tun is upset, great.” He opened up the backseat and grabbed his spare roll of duct tape. “Absolutely fantastic,” he muttered, beginning to patch up his beloved jalopy.

Katara walked around to the passenger side, and slid in, placing her bookbag down at her feet. “Can you fix Tun Tun any faster?” she called out.

“While I do appreciate you calling her by her name,” Sokka replied, “Car maintenance on a budget is a careful art that takes time and precision.”

Katara groaned and sunk deeper into the worn fabric seat. She could already feel the embarrassment of being late on her first day. This definitely wasn’t the impression she was looking to give her new teachers, especially coming in on a partial scholarship. “Sokka, I’m going to be late.”

He placed one last piece of tape and sighed. “Alright, alright. Quit your whining. I’m finished.” He hopped in the driver’s seat and threw his tape towards the backseat. Sticking the key in the ignition, he gave Tun Tun one, two, three good cranks before she finally sputtered to life. Katara let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

Katara fiddled with the hem of her uniform, a red wrap-around blouse with ornate gold trim. Her other hand unconsciously rested on her mother’s necklace.

Sokka glanced back and forth between the road and his younger sister. It wasn’t unusual for her to lose herself in her thoughts for a moment or two, but under normal circumstances, she would probably be bickering with him over something stupid or giving him some long-winded speech about how he needs to take better care of himself and start thinking about the future or something else dumb and hope inspired and just very Katara.

But today wasn’t very normal.

He didn’t blame Katara for being a bit on edge. Hell, he was, two years ago when he was in her shoes. After Mom had died, Gran Gran and Dad had decided it would be wise for them to hone in on the Southern Water Tribe’s future, specifically Katara and Sokka. No pressure, though.

“So,” Sokka said, clearing his throat and interrupting both of their thoughts. “Are you excited to be going to Roku High?”

Katara shrugged. “I guess.”

Sokka knew better than to let Katara slip back into her own thoughts. “C’mon, Katara. This is your chance to actually get to bend with other water benders, let alone benders in general. You can’t tell me you aren’t at least a little bit excited.”

She sighed. “I mean, I know I’ve been practicing and all. I know that I know my stuff. It’s just,” she got quiet for a moment, searching for the right words. “What if I’m not as good as Dad and Gran Gran say I am?”

“Oh, shut up!” Sokka laughed. “Katara, you know damn well you’re the best water bender in the whole Southern Water Tribe.”

“I’m also the only water bender in our tribe-”

“Besides the point. Look,” Sokka said, pulling up to the sprawling private academy’s campus. “Dad and Gran Gran wouldn’t have given up so much if they didn’t believe in you. I wouldn’t have given up so much if I didn’t believe in you.”

Katara smiled softly at her brother and trapped him in a bone-crushing hug. “You know, when you aren’t being so sarcastic, you’re actually pretty ni-”

“Okay, okay, I get it. Stop being an annoying little sister and go kick some fire bender ass,” Sokka said, prying her off of him. “Go before you’re actually late, you nerd.”

Katara laughed and opened the door, swinging her bag over her shoulder. “Love you,” she called over her shoulder, closing the door behind her.

“Yeah, yeah, love you, too,” Sokka chuckled, putting his car in gear and slowly driving away.

Katara closed her eyes, lifting her shoulders back. She raised her chin, trying to ignore the slight sting of homesickness in her chest as little beads of sweat gathered above her brow. Opening her eyes, she touched her mother’s necklace as she walked up the white stone steps to her new school.

“Nothing will ruin this for me,” she whispered as she entered the building. “I promise, mom.”

__________

“You fucking scream water tribe, you know that?”

A hand slams onto the locker opposite Katara, jolting her out of her thoughts. She pulled her eyes away from her schedule and scoffed. “Excuse me?”

The black-haired teen cornering Katara rolled her eyes. Her silk hair was pulled back into a perfect bun, with two choppy side bangs framing her face. Her eyes and facial features were sharp enough to cut someone. She was a cunning viper, and her lips dripped poison.

“You know, if you’re going to go to a Fire Nation school, you should at least try to blend in, or at the very least, not be so… offensive to our traditions.”

Katara grabbed her books from her locker and shut it harder than she had intended to. “Look, I don’t care who you are and how old of a Fire Nation family you come from, but water benders and earth benders go here too, so lay off.”

“You should watch who you’re talking to,” the viper hissed.

A brunette, petite girl behind her frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but a girl next to her with two buns, bangs, and long black hair held up a hand to stop her before she could get a word in.

“And while other benders do attend Roku,” the girl with two buns said, “Azula is right, it has always been a traditional Fire Nation school. Hence the name Roku.”

“Thank you, Mai,” the viper, apparently named Azula, said. Katara couldn’t tell if she was actually thanking Mai for her input or if Azula was staking her claim to this battle. “You’re wearing Fire Nation colors for a reason, water girl. Take our advice, it’s best if you don’t stand out.” She sized Katara up and down. “Which tribe are you from anyways?”

“Southern,” Katara answered proudly with a smirk, leaning against her locker.

The three girls sneered at Katara.

“How the hell does a peasant from the Southern Water Tribe like you afford to come to Roku anyways?” Azula remarked. “No offense, of course.”

“Azula,” the brunette with the braid interjected, “maybe you should-“

“Shut up, Ty Lee!” Azula snapped at her.

The brunette sunk back in defeat.

A crowd started forming around the four of them, but Katara didn’t pay them any mind. She had a battle to win.

Katara glared at Azula and took a step forward. She picked up her shoulders, staring the viper straight in her eyes. “I don’t know who you think you’re talking to, but this ‘peasant,’” she barked, “is the daughter of Chief Hakoda and the last water bender of the Southern Water Tribe. So I suggest you watch who you talk-“

Azula let out an outraged gasp and blue sparks danced at her fingertips as she raised her hand and mentally cursing her bravery, Katara closed her eyes and said goodbye to this cruel word and-

The impact never came.

Katara opened her eyes and looked up to see a young man with his hand around Azula’s wrist.

“Enough, Azula,” he said quietly, barely above a whisper. “You know combat is forbidden outside of class.”

“I don’t care,” she hissed back, her eyes shooting daggers at him. If looks could kill, it would have been a blood bath.

“Really?” He raises an eyebrow. “Unless you want a demerit and father to find out.”

Azula’s face went ghostly pale and she got quiet. When her palm stopped crackling with electricity, he released it. He locked his golden eyes with Katara’s ocean ones for a moment. While he was probably only a year or two older than Katara, maybe around Sokka’s age, the bags under his eye and the permanent looking scowl on his face aged him further.

“Okay ZuZu,” she snapped. His emotional disarmament seemed to be only of temporary effect. “We’re done here. You can leave us to our girl talk now.”

He rolled his eyes and sighed, turning on his heel. Briefly, he nodded to one of Azula’s friends.

“Mai,” he greeted.

“Zuko,” she nodded back, cracking what could have been, had you squint really hard and looked closely, could possibly be the hint of a smile.

Zuko walked down the hall and the four girls watched him go. As he exited, so did a majority of the crowd, save for a few curious eavesdroppers.

“Now that my brother is done flirting with my friends and playing hero,” Azula said with a sigh, turning her attention back to Katara. “What was I saying before I was so rudely interrupted? Oh, right. Look, water girl, or whatever your name-“

“Katara.”

“Katara.” Azula drew out her name, testing the way it felt on her tongue. “Listen. I don’t know the way it worked in igloo village, but here, things are different. You don’t want to listen, fine by me. But my dad is someone really important, too, so I wouldn’t start swimming in water that’s too deep if you catch my drift.” Azula flicked Katara’s necklace with her finger, smirking at her. “I think we’re done here, ladies.”

Azula pushed herself off of the lockers and the others followed suit.

“Welcome to Roku High, Katara,” Azula called over her shoulder.

_______________

Sokka perked up when his sister opened the door, jumping over the couch to greet her.

“There’s my favorite bender!” He said with a huge smile, walking up to her with open arms. “How was your first day of-“

Katara slammed the door shut behind her and shot him a glare.

“... school?” Sokka whispered.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she mumbled, pushing past him and heading straight for her room, slamming that door behind her, too.

Sokka walked over to Gran Gran in the kitchen. “Ah, teenagers. You think she liked her school?”

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morphituu · 4 years

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Milagro

Chapter 15: Omens

Ch: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14

Callie’s brows furrowed in bewilderment when Nick’s hand cupped beneath her fist to catch the muffin wrapper, quickly tossing it away before speeding back to help pull her sweater up her arms.

“Why?” she only asked, blinking up at him in confusion while he went so far as to help pull her beanie down her cheeks.

“You heard the doctor,” he snipped, not even bothering to shield his own scalp from the rain as he kept the umbrella clear over her and only half over his lumbering frame.

“Rain isn’t pitocin,” she sassed, taking control of the handle to make sure he wasn’t pelted by the persistent rain.

“I’m not taking any chances,”

“You do realize that sex is what’ll make everything start moving, right?” she teased with a lopsided grin. Nick’s pointed ears twitched when the displeasure of such a realization rooted into his mind.

“I guess we’ll have to cut back,”

“Oh shut up, like we could,” she smirked up at him. “You really wanna stop fucking like we did last night?”

Nick flushed at the recollection of the evening; the way they were both left breathless, shouting each others names into the early AM hours. How she unwound the tight coil at his center, her loving gaze keeping him in suspension as she witnessed him unfold, smiling against his open mouth that howled her name.

“Okay come back down to Earth,” she patted the back of his hand clutched in her hold a few times, giggling when he nodded languidly but clearly was still wandering through his thoughts as he sauntered on.

“We should try that position again,” he said below his breath after opening the passenger side door of the truck and helping her climb in. She snorted as she clicked her Chucks together to shake off the water and gravel.

“That’s the only position I can do anymore,” she scoffed, wiggling around until she found her spot with the seat reclined a little farther.

Nick shrugged; I don’t have a problem with that.

When he’d rounded the truck and stuffed the umbrella in the side compartment, Callie was already setting her shoes in the back and grabbing for her heels and stockings with the heater on blast, the final touches of her outfit coming together before she went in for work.

“You’re gonna snap an ankle on those things,” he mumbled, his repulsion towards the tortuous footwear evident in his tone.

“Maybe, but damn if they don’t make my fat legs look better,” she struggled to lift a heel onto the dash and show the definition of her calf.

Nick neither agreed or disagreed; he knew better than to fall into that trap again.

Her phone vibrated loudly in the center console, and she hissed a low curse trying to finish inching her stockings up her thigh and under her tight pencil skirt in time to grab the phone.

“Hey Rose,” she exhaled, pinning the phone between her shoulder and cheek while she worked on the next leg. “Yeah we just left,”

Nick listened quietly, twisting through the wet streets leading away from the clinic nestled behind luxurious townhomes and sprawling businesses with equally extravagant day goers cluttering the slick sidewalks. The glossy streets reminded him of the tune-up the truck needed, more urgently the changing of the tires it was due for. Preferably before Leo joins us. He glanced through the rearview mirror at the carseat still perched neatly behind them; he gripped the steering wheel tighter, containing a wide smile.

“Three centimeters already,” Callie smiled, but it quickly vanished. “No- centimeters, not meters,”

Nick snorted.

“No they still say the 21st,” she grunted, finally finished and pulling her skirt down her thighs. With a hard exhale, she let her head bounce back against the seat and her legs spread and stretch to relieve the pressure on her lower stomach. Now Nick could finally snake his hand under her arm and caress her stomach, drumming where Leo kicked in protest of his mother squishing him. “I doubt it, he’s still head down. Yeah. Uh-huh. Today?” she looked at Nick, holding the phone against her chest. “Are we doing anything today?”

Nick shook his head, only half sure; are we?

“Yeah I can but I need to go home first cuz there’s no way in hell I’m walking around in these heels,” Callie returned to her call, pulling her lipstick from her purse and pulling down the visor. “Yeah just pick me up from the house when you’re ready,”

“I need more lotion!” Nick whispered, snapping his jaws when she shooed him away.

“Okay pues I’ll see you then. Ah-huh, bye gurl bye.” Callie dropped the phone into her lap, finishing with the lip stain. “Rosie’s gonna take me to do the gift registry for the shower,”

“Oh get everything I wishlisted on Amazon, especially that bottle set,” Nick piped, glancing at her excitedly.

“No one’s gonna buy us that, baby, it’s expensive,” she again reminded, and pouted compassionately when his spirits dropped a little bit. “He’s gonna be attached to my boob anyways,”

Nick grumbled a little bit. “Add the sling then?”

“Of course,” she smiled, patting his molted hand. “That’s more doable than a fifty dollar bottle set,”

He grumbled again. “You never know...”

“Uh-huh,” she teased, giggling when he dug his fingers into her belly. Once she’d finished the last touch-ups of her makeup and fluffing her hair around her shoulders, she could recline into the seat and relax the remainder of the drive across town through the winding hills, and listen to the rain pattering against the roof of the car with the radio drifting softly around them.

Her eyes drifted down when Leo tapped insistently under her own palm, cracking the smallest of smiles when she followed the gentle nudges.

“I can’t believe there’s only a month left,” she cooed, her thumb stroking the rough skin of his hand.

“Mom told me the last month takes the longest to go by,”

“Yeah my mom told me that too,” she agreed, watching Nick’s fingers roll when Leo spun. “God I’m only gonna get bigger,”

“He’s gonna get bigger,”

“And I am gonna get chubbier,”

“More ass to bite into,” Nick smiled, clicking his sharp teeth together a few times when Callie glared at him.

“Lookin’ for a new spot, huh?”

“Always, but I’ll wait ‘til after we’re married. Bite into the spot,” he explained smugly, his vague detailing making her eyes narrow.

“Don’t know if I wanna marry knowing I’m literally gonna be bitten on the ass for it,”

“No way out of it now- Orcs mate for life. This finger is mine,” he sang, her ring finger in his hold and wiggling her hand. “Gonna have my baby and my last name,” he boasted, shoulders shimmying in the seat as he turned into the parking lot before the bank.

“Fine, you can have all that as long as I get to swim in that police pension,” she countered cheekily, shoving her makeup pouches back into her purse.

“Ha, have fun waiting another twenty years,”

She smirked, her lips pursing as he grinned. “Deal. I’m off at 2,” she caved, leaning over the center console to meet his lips for a series of loving kisses. The crook of her hand held under his jaw, igniting a small chuff; getting him going before work was one of her favorite past times.

“No heavy lifting,” he got in between. “Boss people around,”

“Like I need to be told that,” a final kiss was placed on his cheek, his hand rounding her stomach before she pushed the door open and slid down the seat.

“I love you- don’t do anything strenuous!” He called, sticking his head out the window.

“I love you too!” She smiled, waddling towards the entrance and thanking the security guard who opened the door for her.

Nick shook his head, shifting the truck into reverse. “Stubborn brat.”

He only felt a tad bit guilty stopping at a Taco Bell; it wasn’t only for him, but for Sergey too. It was his first day back after a bumpy recovery that had extended twice when the ‘burns’ across his chest didn’t heal as expected, but that itself was expected after being bludgeoned by a spell. Nothing heals right when magic is involved.

Nick pulled up to the first window, digging through his wallet for cash when the worker at the window exclaimed.

“Where’s your wife?” asked the stout older woman he’d met at the window nearly all of the times visiting this particular chain with Callie beside him.

Her aged smile was kind, but the interaction still made Nick edgy.

“At home waiting for the food,” he lied through a stiff smile. He’d once made the mistake of telling someone at work that Callie still worked so late into her unpredictable pregnancy, and he’d been dealt a harsh reprimand from an officer he barely knew, at that, scolding Nick about letting his lover work when he should’ve been bringing in enough money to support them both.

Nick avoided that officer from then on; no longer would he acknowledge his presence when they were near.

Don’t tell me how to handle my life, he recalled wanting to shout. Besides, Callie would fucking castrate me if I tried forcing her to stay home.

“Ah, such a good man going for his lady,” she admired, quickly finishing his purchase. “See you later than, ah?”

“Yeah- thank you!” Nick replied awkwardly, quickly collecting his card and rolling to the next window. He exhaled, hopeful the other worker at the next window didn’t recognize him.

With the food collected and another awkward encounter avoided, he quickly exited the plaza to start his small trek across town, caving into his hunger and chowing down on a burrito before he made it halfway to Sergey’s. It was unfortunate that he’d be returning on such a gloomy day, but Nick was determined to make his transition back into their high-stress- and high harassment- job as smooth as possible, and starting the day with one of his favorite meals seemed to be a good start.

Entering the Orc predominant neighborhood Sergey resided in didn’t bring Nick as much heat as it once did; he could shoulder a few glares if the majority of his interactions were kind. Munguz carried a lighter air to it now, and he was thankful. Nick wanted his presence amongst the Orkish community to be neutral at best before Leo made his debut, and knowing the hardships halflings grew up with meant Orcs were his best bet at fitting in.

Nick sighed, bridling the troubling thoughts. Worry about that when it comes.

By the time he parked neatly along the narrow street, he spotted Sergey standing in the doorway of his small cottage, his frown as telling as his slumped shoulders and holding a mug that steam danced from in the chilled afternoon. Before he exited the truck, he reached over to pop open his glove box and retrieve one of the invites Rosie had made for Callie’s shower Nick had been handing out very meticulously.

Sergey watched Nick make his way across the street, his spirits admittedly lifting a little when he spotted the paper bag in hand.

“Did you just wake up?” Nick grinned, and Sergey nodded.

“Couldn’t sleep much last night,” he confessed, tilting the mug to watch the creamy tea swirl.

Nick felt unsure of himself once he stood before his young partner. “You’re not ready to go back, are you?”

Sergey shrugged, looking back out across his yard. “S’not that. Just nervous,”

“I know the feeling,” Nick affirmed, handing off the food.

“Aw, you remembered my order?” Sergey keened, and Nick’s eyes rolled, following him inside.

It was a welcome relief to step into the warm home, the scent of the Orchid tea drifting through the home that was dimly lit and tidy. Dura decision to pursue homemaking had really tapped into her creative side, and upon observing how much he liked the colored walls and small decorative pieces, he considered asking her to help him with the make-over his home desperately needed. Neither him or Callie were very good at mixing and matching.

“Ah, Nick! It’s good to see you!” Dura exclaimed, popping out from the kitchen and pattering over to him for a hug.

As he leaned down to get his arms around her, he had to remind himself that even though Callie was growing fast, Orcs grew even faster during pregnancy. The poor girl was already waddling, her stomach popping out much farther than a human would expect at 11 weeks along.

“How’re you feeling?” Nick pressed, holding her hands when she’d straightened back out.

“I’m doing good, just trying to keep up with this little girl,” she smiled, holding her round stomach.

Nick’s ears twitched. “You guys are having a girl?” he turned to Sergey, meeting his smug grin. Nick had brandished that same smile countless times before while going on and on about Leo, so he let him live it up. It was definitely something to be proud of.

“Speaking of babies,” Nick remembered, pulling the invite from his back pocket and handing it to Dura.

“Oh this is so cute!” Dura whined, her fingers tracing gently over the designs and raised stickers of the invite. “Callie wasn’t upset you chose an Orkish design?”

Nick shook his head. “She doesn’t like the whole ‘Leo lion’ thing,”

“Yeah it’s kinda mayonnaise,” she teased, carefully pinning it up on the bulletin board above the corner that housed her working computer. “How’s she been doing?”

“Good, good- today is her last day at work,”

Dura scoffed. “Just now going on leave, ah?”

“She gets restless easily,” Nick shrugged.

“I’m surprised her little legs keep up carrying that belly around,” Sergey voiced, and Nick nodded in agreement. “How about you, old man? Ready to be a dad?”

“Just counting down the days at this point,” he responded calmly with his palms rubbing together, but beneath the surface he was containing an excitement that made him feel like he could run the diameter of the world twice.

“When he’s screaming all night you’re gonna wanna go back and rethink those words,” Dura countered playfully.

“I guess we’ll see then,” he bumped Sergey’s arm as he’d began to chow down on a taco. “You ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” he mumbled through a mouthful, his slides already on and moving past Nick towards Dura.

She keened over Sergey adoringly, his thin face held in her hands and nodding at her persistent questioning while he rubbed the side of her stomach, eventually leaning in for a tight hug. Dura looked to be more reluctant about his departure than Sergey himself did, but that was expected. Callie had been the same way his first day back after his attack.

“Nauk-avurn votar avo avhiuk liavavle ni, ah?” she ordered gently, smoothing her hands across his head once more before exchanging a few kisses.

“Jiak'll alwayuk nauk-avurn avo mausan girluk,” Sergey grinned, bringing forth a dazzling smile from Dura.

Once more she hugged him, her arms tight around his neck and committing the moment to memory, more fearful than before that her husband wouldn’t return.

“Keep an eye on him,” she told Nick once separating from Sergey and walking them to the door.

“Won’t let him out of my sight.” He winked, patting her arm before following his partner back into the chilled afternoon.

The officers hunched through the small onslaught of rain, already wishing they were in their own homes and avoiding the miserable weather when they climbed into the cold truck.

“What if the rain is a bad omen?” Sergey mumbled, pulling out his next taco.

“If rain was a bad omen I wouldn’t even be with Callie,” Nick argued, and although Sergey’s mouth opened many times to argue, he ultimately kept silent, thinking over his words critically. Surely he didn’t know the true meaning behind that, but if it distracted him from the dread he was surely feeling, Nick would keep quiet and let him work it out.

“How’re you feeling?”

“Ehh, I still get sore sometimes, muscle spasms. I hope we’re not expecting to chase anyone down today,”

“I’ll do the chasing, your aim is better anyways,” Nick cracked.

“I’ll take the next chase,” he sighed.

Nick glanced at him as he navigated the narrow road and rain. “What’s up?”

Sergey shook his head. “We can’t talk about it,”

Ahh. “Still have questions?”

“About a million,”

“You know, you can always go and request a meeting with Kandomere. We can’t openly talk about it but you can-”

“I have. Four times,” he exhaled. “I keep getting rescheduled,”

“Keep at it. MTF is worse than the IRS,”

“I don’t know if they’ll even give me the answers I want. If they’re not even willing to talk then what’s the point,” he grumbled, nearly popping a sauce packet all over Nick’s truck as he angrily tore it with his sharp teeth.

Nick ran his tongue over his clipped tusks as he pondered. This could end badly. “What do you wanna know?”

Sergey looked at him as he chewed, his hairless brows furrowing. “Huh?”

Nick nodded encouragingly, silently bolstering him.

Sergey tucked his food away, turning his shoulders to better face Nick.

“Why was she there?” he asked first, and Nick glanced at his rearview mirror, counting down the seconds until the sirens came up behind them.

“She needed another Bright’s help to take down the one following her,”

“You’re a Bright!?” he yelled, but Nick hushed him despite knowing no pedestrians or drivers could possibly hear them.

So he shook his head, and when Sergey mouthed ‘Ward’ in question, his brilliant eyes widened. “He is!?” he hissed.

“She couldn’t find him so she found me,”

“How did she know you two?” he pressed, and Nick sighed, glancing at his mirrors again, but there was no flashes of red and blue trailing them.

“Years ago there was a similar incident she was involved in, that’s all I can tell you about that, but, just like this time she dragged us into some shit,” Nick detailed sparsely, but Sergey didn’t seem to be too up in arms over the vagueness.

“So me being there was completely coincidental?” Sergey mumbled sullenly, and Nick nodded.

“No one was ever meant to know, not even Callie,”

The younger Orc nodded, shifting back to face forward. They were approaching the precinct when Sergey huffed angrily, pulling Nick’s attention from the officer he gestured to at the front entrance.

“Here I thought I was chosen to be a part of something cool and all it was was coincidence- fuck that,” he rattled off hotly, gathering his food before he zipped up his hoodie and pulled his hood over his head. “That’s bullshit,”

Nick snorted softly. “You saved people from an explosion, remember? That’s pretty cool,”

“Oh yeah I’m a badass now,” he chuffed, opening the door a little viciously. Nick stifled most of his chuckle as they made their way through the parking lot and into the building, and it was Nick’s first relief when most of the officers who passed Sergey welcomed him warmly. There was always the few who either turned cheek or made a remark under their breath, but it was easy to block those unwarranted comments and steer him towards the locker rooms.

“That wasn’t what I was expecting,” Sergey admitted below his breath as they at last made it into the locker rooms.

Nick still gave Daryl’s former locker a glance every time he passed it, but the heartache that was significant the first day he’d not been to work after his early retirement was gone, and he could now recall the good days they had together on shared routes.

Nick opened his own, always fixing the photobooth strip that was surrounded by numerous photos of him and Callie, a few of Pucca and his parents, and a whole corner filled with only ultrasounds of Leo that he taped in order, from the very first wiggling blob of a heartbeat to the perfect cinnamon roll he already was.

Now Sergey could tape up his own of… wait a minute.

“Do you two have a name picked out?” Nick asked, bumping his arm.

“Mariak,” Sergey grinned. “It means ‘my beloved’,”

Being that Sergey was normally such a goofy person even when he had Dura around, it bewildered Nick to some extent to see him so smitten over his little girl, but Nick was also sure that if anyone from work witnessed how he himself acted around Callie and often had full conversations with her stomach, they’d be shocked to see his usual stoic demeanor so… mushy.

“It already sounds like it suits her,” Nick clapped him on the back, grinning when Sergey beamed proudly.

Small conversation passed between the Orcs as they changed, and just as Nick’s kevlar vest had been loose upon returning from his recovery, so was Sergey’s, but the men’s attention was pulled from his fittings when a fellow officer walked behind them, snorting in the direction of their open lockers.

“Is it part of clan law to have kids at the same time?” The heavier set officer mocked, walking by with his utility belt thrown over his shoulder.

Nick was ready to ignore the remark like so many others he’d brushed off, but out of the corner of his eye he spotted Sergey spinning quickly, and Nick immediately recognized the same protective fury he’d been forced to learn how to harness early on.

“Fuck you Andrews,” Sergey spat, Nick’s hand coming to his chest to bring him back a few steps.

“Oh calm the fuck down you grunter, it was a fuckin’ joke,” Andrews laughed, as if the slur meant nothing on top of his first jab.

Sergey pushed again, but Nick pushed harder.

“Keep your head on your shoulders, Malinka,” he ordered below his breath.

“They get to-”

“But they can use more against us than we can against them,” Nick said through a clenched jaw.

Nick got it- he really did. Letting go of any kind of insult in his childs direction was like chewing glass, but even if this one time was taken care of, it wouldn’t stop the others increased efforts to bring them down if the Orcs were known to snitch.

Sergey huffed unwillingly, pushing Nick’s hand away harshly to turn back to his locker.

Nick glanced at Andrews, the men exchanging differing expressions that said all the words they needed, but just as Nick’s silent snarl was rebuked, so was Andrew’s priggish smirk.

It was just another day Nick secretly wished Ward was still working. Even if they rarely worked side by side, having a human back-up meant he was able to snap back without fear of a full repercussion from the Chief. Now, he was Sergey’s safeguard; he couldn’t go jeopardizing either of them.

They finished tacking on the last of their gear, but Sergey still slammed his locker heatedly once he’d grabbed his phone.

“C’mon, we’re probably working Grand today,” Nick nudged his arm, and caught his brows perking up. “Putting assholes in cuffs always feels good.”

↠

A hard exhale puffed from her pursed lips, her elbow draped over her eyes and rocking in her office chair, but even being reclined and keeping movement constant didn’t completely appease the little one favoring one side of her hips to lean on.

No matter how she pushed back or resorted to kicking her heels off under her desk to walk circles in her office, Leo did his best to stand straight and break free of his ever shrinking home no matter how he tossed his mother about.

A particular hard jab against her bladder stirred a grunt, her knees pinching and jerking upwards.

“C’mon Leo, harass me at home but not here,” she lamented, smirking when he tapped gently under her rubbing hand.

“Is he using your insides as a trampoline?” came Tam’s voice, and she unveiled her eyes to find her peeking over her cubby.

“He’s bungee jumping with his umbilical cord,” Callie smiled weakly, her head dropping back as Tam laughed.

“You up for lunch? I brought wings for everyone,” her boss smiled coyly, but the immediate growl in Callie’s stomach banished the curiosity as to why she’d gone out of her way to buy such a luxurious lunch for everyone.

“I’m always in the mood for wings, c’mon now,” Callie sassed, graciously accepting Tam’s hands when she aided in getting Callie standing.

“Maybe it’ll get that little boy settled down,”

“He only stops when he’s tired,” Callie groaned, again accepting Tam’s elbow as they walked across the polished marble floors to the break room. A small trip through the branch couldn’t go without someone commenting on her size, always asking how close she was to popping. At first watching their faces shift between surprise then either disgust or amazement when it was revealed she wasn’t as far along as people assumed was funny, but now it just annoyed her. People became bolder the bigger she got, it seemed.

Maybe they assumed she wouldn’t try swinging in her condition if they kept egging her on…

“My branch isn’t gonna run as smoothly without you here,” Tam grieved, the girls taking a turn down the hall to the break room.

“I bet you’ll like the replacement more than me, but if any of you ruin how streamlined I have those orders now I swear I’ll hunt you,” Callie threatened.

She thought it odd when Tam stepped before her to grab for the doorknob, and eyed her suspiciously once stepping in, but the loud shouting from the many co-workers stood behind a table with assorted foods and a small cake brought her hands to her cheeks, stifling her wide smile as they cheered and clapped for her.

The glimmering banner that read ‘baby boy’ stretched across the narrow room said all she needed to know before spotting the gifts stacked atop another table, and Tam walked her in, everyone giving Callie a hug and wishing her best during her last day of work before maternity leave. The silver and gold decorations brought the usually drab breakroom to life, as well as the clammer that went on inside as she made her rounds, thanking every person who found the time to help with the surprise.

Curious hands found their way to her stomach, most of them knowing how active of a kicker Leo was. Plenty had seen her wince through presentations or conversations when he’d act particularly vivacious, and plenty had also helped her waddle across the building when Leo was ruthless.

Now, they had a chance to feel the calmer kicks and somersaults, most of the women stacking their hands and blubbering when they witnessed first hand how reactive he was to small taps and pokes.

But the more the hands piled on, the more Callie wanted to push them away; she could handle a few, but the insistent questions from every direction and clamor all around was making her fatigued, and sweat start to collect at her hairline.

“You look like you’re ready to pop right now!” Lupe, one of the new girls Callie was still warming up to exclaimed as she came up to hold her stomach a little aggressively. Her unusually long, square tipped nails always bothered her in addition to the tacky blue eyeshadow she caked on, but even if the girl was awkward and didn’t know boundaries, she was sweet and a good worker.

Callie laughed flatly. “Still have a month left,”

“Oh I’m sure you’ll go before then, are we doing bets? Who’s holding bets?” she turned to announce, running off to harass someone about it.

Callie shook her head, moving to a chair she could easily recline into.

“You okay hun?” Ellie came up next. They’d both been hired the same day those years ago and had excelled in different positions, but through all the competition, they’d had remained close. Ellie was also one of the few at the branch who had a good head on her shoulders and kept her nose out of other people's business, something that was hard to do in a building full of young adults that gossiped like mad.

“It’s just a lot,” Callie said lowly, fanning her warm cheeks.

“Do you want me to make everyone leave?”

“Nah, I’m hidden in the corner back here. I just need a minute,” Callie grinned, grabbing a cold water from the bucket beside her.

“Hopefully they give you a few minutes before the next wave comes.”

Callie scoffed, downing the cold water before fixing her camisole under her thick sweater. Another long breath, and she situated deeper into the stiff chair, holding her stomach protectively when someone moved to closely and she thought they were going to lean in for a touch.

Now that Leo was settling down, it made her reluctant to get up and interact with the people who had spent time and money on throwing this, but finally having a moment of peace in her own body made her aware to how tired she was. On top of restlessness, her son was just as restless, often keeping her up at night coupled with the heartburn and braxton hicks. When she figured no one was looking, she let her head rest back against the wall, her hand tracing across her belly where she felt one final swirl before probably falling into a nap.

“Cal!? Callie!?” she’d heard him yell, and tensed with a hidden, beaming smile when he came charging back into the room, his footing nearly lost as he jumped onto their bed.

“You’re pregnant? Is this yours? This is yours?” he exclaimed, pulling the blanket away.

“It’s been sitting there since we got home!” she laughed, squealing when he shouted and jumped, quickly pulling her into a bone crushing hug.

“Oh baby,�� he wept, holding her face to kiss her repeatedly. “I’m so proud of you-” another kiss, “Oh my god,” he went on, burying his face against her neck when he wrapped his brawny arms around her waist, keeping her tight against his chest. “Oh I can smell it!” he sobbed, taking deep inhales past the stuffiness of his nose.

She wiped her teary eyes behind him, smiling against his mouth when he chanted thanks in Orkish, holding her face between his big hands.

“When did you take it?” he asked, sitting back so he could lean farther down to press his face to her flat stomach.

“At work,” she sniffled, holding his shoulders when he pulled her into his lap. She kissed the top of his head, embracing around his neck. With his cheek against her chest, he breathed deeply again and again, noticing the small differences of her scent this time around.

He continued to squeeze her in tight hugs and kisses, telling her how amazing she was, how proud he was; that this one was going to be their miracle.

“What if it happens again?” she asked quietly, as if saying it too loudly would determine this baby’s fate.

“It won’t. This one is yours,” he told her firmly, holding her head. “You’re gonna hold this one and watch it grow. I can see it in you already, baby. I think your body knows that this is it,” Nick told her sincerely, his thumbs wiping away the tears that slipped down her cheek.

She placed her hands over his, nodding with her eyes closed and their foreheads touching. “I’m really excited,” she confessed silently, smiling when Nick’s own gleamed up at her.

“Good, stay excited,” he pressed, kissing her again.

“What if-”

“No what if’s this time. We go with hope this time, okay? No more being cautious. It’s not good for you,” he pleaded, letting his breath go when she nodded hesitantly.

“I’ll try,”

The kiss he gave her was tender, and careful. It was a lot to ask her to be optimistic when she’d only been dealt unfair hands thus far, and he wanted to remind her that with every step or bump, he’d be there, shouldering the same struggles as best as he could. But even though he could feel the slight tension in her frame, he could also feel how much she bared to him, and in turn how much she trusted his words.

“We’re gonna have a baby,” she said softly, her dazzling smile filling him with warmth.

“We’re gonna have a baby!” He shouted, tackling her back onto the mattress and smothering her until she laughed.

The moment often came to her when she’d stare down at her size, always amazed at how much time had flown by and how little she worried for Leo’s passing now, but the memory had a way of bringing her back to herself. In moments where she felt unsure, or anxious- often when she wondered if she was ready for this new step in life, it reminded her that no matter the crowds or opinions around them, it was her and Nick. They’d jumped into parenthood hand in hand, and sometimes they looked at one another without a clue of what came next, but she was thankful he was there to be scared with.

No one else fought like they had to the point they were now or knew their unborn son like they did. Nick could tell if Leo was close to napping by the temper of his kicks, and if he talked long enough, he could seemingly hypnotize him into peace.

This one is yours.

Callie grinned against the palm of her hand.

He’s mine.

“Callie!”

Her head shot up, finding Tam motioning in her direction. “C’mon, we have games!”

The self indulgent moment was comfortably tucked away, and she stood to join her co-workers at the tables just as they’d started pulling out rolls of toilet paper.

↠

“Boy, seven arrests in one day!” Nick exclaimed, slapping Sergey’s palm forcefully after they’d stepped from the cruiser.

“Ah it’s just luck,” he brushed off, grabbing the latest arrest from the back seat. The middle aged woman tugged against his strong hold, but otherwise kept her blonde head bowed down in shame.

“Luck is finding dope in the trunk. All of this,” Nick shook the impressive pile of paperwork. “Is pure instinct. This is impressive for your first day back,”

“I didn’t think I’d jump at chasing someone,”

“And some tackling too, apparently,” Nick mumbled in Orkish, motioning towards the disheveled nature of the girl, more notably the deep scratches covering her arms after she’d been chased into some thicket.

“I have energy I can’t take out on Dura anymore,” he intoned, and Nick scoffed.

“I hear that,” he sighed in return, the pair entering the precinct. They were about to take a hard left to intakes when a flash of blue caught Nick’s eye, and he stopped Sergey.

Pointing down the hall, they both spotted Kandomere speaking to one of the detectives that had been called in from another state to help deal with a recent increase in dragon slayings that were out of season. As usual, the elf was calm and collected, and as usual, didn’t acknowledge the Orcs existence despite meeting their curious gazes.

“Now’s your chance,” Nick murmured.

“I have this,” Sergey muttered, but Nick quickly took hold of her cuffs, jerking his chin in Kandomere’s direction.

“The worst that can happen is you leave with the same answers you had before,”

Sergey exhaled, his hands flat against his chest. “He makes me nervous,”

“If you give him back the attitude it makes it easier to deal with,” Nick advised, shrugging when he eyed him dubiously. Sergey stared a moment longer before squaring his shoulders and puffing his chest.

“You sure you don’t mind?”

“Go for it.”

It was slow, but Sergey still headed down the hall with confidence in his frame, waiting patiently until Kandomere had finished his conversation before grabbing his attention. Nick couldn’t help but linger even as the woman in his hands commented on their stalling, waiting until Sergey was following the elf down the hall and turning to give him a thumbs up.

Nick released his breath, finally directing the woman to the back of the precinct to be processed, but as he walked, he came to a stunning realization.

Watching Sergey walk up to Kandomere had filled him with such anxiety that he was certain if the young Orc had been berated before the men and women surrounding them, he would’ve stepped in and shielded him from the lashing. Somewhere along the line, Nick had become fiercely protective of his partner, even willing to go as far as saying he was the younger sibling he’d secretly always wanted.

He already found himself wanting to smack him upside the head when he made bold strokes that would land them in hot water, and the two would often fall into near wrestling matches when either of their tempers flared, but it was also nice talking to someone who was on his side of the daily battles.

Someone who could identify with his struggles on a more relatable level. Venting to Callie or Ward always lessened the heartache, but knowing Sergey went home sometimes feeling the same weight on his shoulders didn’t make him feel better, but brought him to feeling content in his decision to become a cop. After years of battling hate and doubt, it was good to know someone else was as dumb as him to pursue such a dream.

Nick chuffed, startling the woman before him.

It could be his paternal instincts kicking in and asserting themselves over the people he cared for.

Either way. It seemed that Nick had taken Sergey under his wing in every sense, yet it made him prideful. He liked being able to share his knowledge and wisdom in hopes it would improve his experience.

Assuming I could keep him from being blown away by a Bright.

A rogue hand dipped into his pile of potato chips smothered in Tapatío, but before Nick could swing, Sergey plopped down before him with the chips crunching in his mouth.

“I keep forgetting to tell Dura to get me this,” Sergey groaned, snatching another chip despite Nick flicking his hand.

“How’d it go?” he inquired, bringing his late lunch closer to himself.

He could see the words processing in his eyes as Sergey opened his own, shrugging or scowling, eventually saying, “He really does have an attitude,’

Nick chuckled. “Told you,”

“I got my answers though. Now I can sleep knowing she won’t show up randomly,”

Nick’s brows furrowed. “He told you where she is?”

He nodded, opening his hearty chicken soup. “He didn’t tell you?”

“I never asked, actually,” Nick mumbled, leaning back in the small cafeteria chair. “Where is she?”

“Kamishak Bay,” he said before biting into his dipped crackers.

Nick blinked away the disbelief before sitting forward, his voice dropping a few octaves when he asked, “Kamishak actually exists?”

“Apparently,”

“They have like, Minotaurs there!” Nick hissed, his eyes wide with wonder, but Sergey snorted.

“Minotaurs don’t exist, dumbass,”

“Neither did Kamishak until fifteen seconds ago,”

Sergey opened his mouth to protest, but the more he thought it over, the more likely that all the creatures rumored to not exist suddenly held great possibility of roaming the Earth, and he matched Nick’s stance in leaning over their food before whispering, “I’ve always sworn I saw a Griffin once,”

That was when Nick thought maybe it was a little far-fetched to think they were housing creatures.

“Either way,” he went back to arranging his food. “Why take her there, though? She was dismantled,”

“Where else would they take her?”

Nick poked his chicken and rice, eventually shrugging. “Well I hope they threw away the key after locking her in.”

↠

A jaw stretching yawn Callie didn’t bother to cover went largely unnoticed by the account holders in line, but there was always that one that eyed her upon seeing someone yawn like a horse. She could really give two shits; after an extended lunch and keeping up with games and people, she wanted to nap for a full day, and the last hour of work had dragged on and on.

So had Leo’s insistent kicking, right against her bladder.

She didn’t make it five minutes into the final hour before texting Nick to come take her home early, and once she spotted the cruiser pulling up outside, she eagerly placed the ‘closed’ placard on her counter, catching the displeased sigh from an older woman who’d admittedly been waiting in line longer than anyone should, but once spotting Callie’s obvious condition after she slid down her chair and waddled into view, sympathy flickered across the woman’s hardened brows before she looked away stubbornly.

“You need help taking the bags out?” Tam asked over her office wall once Callie had started gathering the few filled to the brim with leftovers and various gifts.

“Nah it’s okay,” she grunted while standing upright with the bags in hand and purse over her shoulder. “Nick’ll be in here in a sec,”

“Wait wait-” Tam rushed around the wall, outstretching her short arms.

Callie frowned, placing the bags down to reach over her belly and embrace her boss tightly.

“My branch is gonna crumble without you here,” Tam greived, but Callie giggled. “Promise you’ll bring Leo in when he’s born?”

“I promise,” Callie smiled, giving her a final squeeze. They parted in time for a few more co-workers that had seen Nick come in to bid Callie a temporary goodbye. She could excuse the gentle belly pats this time as they in turn wished Leo best wishes, and in addition asked to see the little one once he made his debut.

Many goodbyes and promises later, Callie had her bags in hand and was waddling back to the cubby she had been set behind to grab her sweater when some rather peculiar conversation floated her way, and looked over to the two new girls stood by the fax machine behind the counter, staring out into the lobby with hungry eyes.

“No girl, I’ve seen him here before!”

“Have you talked to him?”

“He’s always working, I don’t wanna bother him,” the curly haired brunette whined, peaking over her shoulder. Callie followed her eyes, and nearly choked when it lead to Nick handing out stickers to a small mob of children.

Her brows pinched, thinking they must have been talking about someone else.

“You freak, you like Orcs?”

Callie scoffed under her breath. Nevermind.

“He’s mad cute bitch, don’t deny it!” She looked over her shoulder again, as if trying to catch Nick’s attention by staring long enough.

Callie’s eyes narrowed in thought as she pulled her sweater on; had she really gone without making it known that that cute cop was her cute cop? The very one that had planted this little boy in her belly? During the entire two weeks they’d started working there!?

“I’m gonna talk to him,” the brunette decided with unsteady confidence, tugging on the shoulders of her cardigan. “I don’t see a ring on his finger, either,” she winked, squealing when the other girl did.

Okay, that’s enough.

Although it would’ve been entertaining to see her waltz up to Nick on her cheap heels and try to woo him with her caked lashes, the territorial side of Callie was irked, and had she not been so exhausted, she might’ve had the energy to chew her out. This matter at hand was rearing its ugly face far too often to keep letting it slide.

“Go go, he’s free!” her co-worker encouraged, pushing the brunette towards the end of the counter.

“I can talk to him for you,” Callie smiled without even apologizing for eavesdropping, but the girls sparkling eyes only spelled excitement.

“Really!? You know him?” she beamed, shimmying her shoulders to spread her camisole a little farther.

Callie had to withhold rolling her eyes. “Yeah! He’s my baby daddy,”

The smile weakened, and the confusion across their faces almost stirred a hard snort, but before either could ask if she was serious, she was gathering her bags to click across the marble lobby.

She knew their eyes were following her, and upon walking up to Nick and seeing that his eyes although covered by his Clubmasters were only on her, and those lips curling into a toothy grin were about to meet hers really tempted her to pull him down for a searing liplock, but Callie reminded herself that the quick yet loving peck he left on her mouth coupled with his hand holding her face spoke louder than causing a commotion.

“What’s all this?” he asked, visibly scenting the air when the aroma of wings wafted upwards.

“Mini baby shower, and,” Callie stepped closer, pretending to struggle in handing over another bag. “The brunette behind the counter wants to get at you,”

Nick looked behind her, witnessing the girl fumbling to look occupied with anything else, and his brows flattened in mild disgust. “Good thing I only like strippers,”

Callie punched his chest, her knuckles cracking against his vest before they made their way towards the doors. She didn’t bother looking back, but didn’t care if they were still watching, even with Nick’s hand placed on her lower back and opening the heavy glass door for her. Maybe they’d ask around, and maybe she’d gain another enemy, but something she’d come to learn dating and now bearing the child of an Orc, is learning how to stand her ground like them.

“You’re coming in?” she asked when he too exited the cruiser with the gifts in hand.

“For a quick bite of these wings,” he grinned, jogging to the other side of the car to offer an elbow. When she grabbed ahold, she couldn’t resist squeezing his rock hard biceps that the uniform was becoming increasingly snug over. She grinned knowing her co-workers had admired him from afar, and knowing she could run her hands across his chiseled body at any moment had her blood racing.

“Tryin’ to get a feel of these guns?” Nick teased, tensing his arm so she’d titter.

“Si, do it again papi,” she whined in exaggeration, laughing louder when he tried to pull away from the awful pet name.

“Get your cute ass inside,” he ordered playfully.

“Okay ready?”

“Ready,” he said around a wing, holding his phone up with the camera open.

Callie turned with a yellow onesie striped with dark blue lines laying over her stomach, a blue beanie to match rested under her bust. “This is my favorite,”

“That’s the one,” Nick smiled, clicking a few pictures worth as she spun in various poses.

“Right!? I saw it and thought the same thing,” she whined lovingly, her hands over the onesie and swaying.

Nick grinned as he chewed, watching her look down at her stomach and rub her hands over the outfit, eventually sliding it up over her chest. “I can’t believe I get to hold him one day,” she smiled.

“Soon, not one day,” he corrected, grabbing for another wing as she held the clothing up one last time to gaze at it. Carefully she folded it away into a separate bag from the other gifts littered about the kitchen counter.

Turning his wrist to glance at his watch, he sighed. “I gotta get back,” he groaned.

“Yeah?” she glanced over her shoulder. “Rosie is gonna be here soon,”

“At least you can knock some stuff off the registry,”

She chuckled. “Yeah that’s true,”

His classic pout made her giggle once she finished organizing the bags, lifting her arms until he stepped into her hug. Even with the heavy vest and belt across his body she snuggled tight against him, tilting her face up.

“I want you to come with,” she groaned, her jaw held in his hand as he peppered her with sweet kisses.

“Me too,” another smooch, “but I gotta go make more ladies swoon,”

A brow kicked up as she gazed up at him. “Getting a big head now?”

“It was a joke,” he grumbled, reluctant to unwrap from her warm embrace.

“You know it happens a lot more than you think,”

Nick scoffed. “Quit fibbin’,”

“I’m not! Do you know how often I hear girls talking about you? Looking at all this muscle?” her hands added point by slapping his ass, but he only snorted. “I can’t stand the way they look at you,”

Now Nick’s brow kicked up, the beginnings of a smirk creeping across his mouth.

“It’s not funny!” she exclaimed, leaning back enough to slap her hand against his chest.

“Do you get jealous?” he dared asking, smiling when her big eyes narrowed.

“I do,” she admitted lowly.

“You know I don’t look at anyone else,” he devoted softly against her lips before placing another kiss there. “I don’t even notice it,”

“I do. They can fuck off and get their own cop,” she blistered, the temper of her eyes rising as she tugged on his hips possessively. His mouth sealed over hers, a low moan hatching in her throat as his wide palms smoothed up her curved spine, his fingertips finding her hot skin as he made it up across her shoulder blades.

“Too bad humans can’t smell who you’ve fucked,” he whispered against her jaw, pressing his face flat against her neck when he caught the first hint of her arousal soaking through her panties.

“Too bad I can’t fuck you in the middle of a crowd when I see someone staring,”

Nick laughed. “Welcome to my world,”

“You can fuck me right now?” she breathed, arching back to find his face. “Fuck me so they know who I belong to,”

His eyes fluttered, a searing flush firing up his body. She was so unbelievably sexy and didn’t even know it.

A short gasp tumbled from her lips when he lifted her onto the countertop, reaching for the velcro on his sides but stopping when she grabbed for his hands.

“Keep it on,” she smiled, bringing his lips to hers. “Lemmee fuck my man in uniform,”

Nick whined, relieved he didn’t have to waste any time in stripping off the gear across his body, and quickly worked on his belt and pants as she wiggled side to side to pull her tight skirt up, all the while continuing to kiss him hurriedly.

His open mouth found her slender neck when his heavy dick fell into her grasp, pulling her closer to the edge of the counter and poking blindly until his thick head pushed between her slick lips.

The sweet burning of his girth always made her head roll back, a long sigh billowing out as he buried himself deep in her pussy. Her fingers hooked over the collar of his vest, clinging to him desperately as he made long, slow passes in and out, his forehead against her shoulder so he could see her juices shimmering across his cock.

“Is’so good,” he slurred, the heavy hands that had been on her hips moving roughly up to the crook of her spine when she bowed backwards, her heels hooking the cabinets below them and knees spreading farther.

Callie sang before him, jaw hung and gripping the hand that had grasped the collar of her camisole for better leverage when his hips started rutting harshly against her.

She smiled when noticing how concentrated he was on where they came together, the gear across his body doing nothing to hinder his rocking hips or fervent hands wandering across her form.

All that mattered was the slick heat engulfing him, and the way she whimpered his name and reached down to gently touch where he entered.

“Harder, Jakoby,” she gasped, and his dilated eyes shot to hers.

“What?” he breathed.

“I said fuck me harder, Officer Jakoby,” she ground out, using her heels to pull him closer.

She saw the feral shift in his eyes before she was suddenly being dragged off the counter and spun, his big hands pulling the skirt farther up her hips.

It took only moments to find her center again and squeeze in, his groin pressed tight against her ass. Callie moaned, pressing her ass tighter against him. She wanted him deep; she wanted to cry out every time he slammed in.

And she did. He fired into her with an iron grip at her hips, the head of his dick shooting delicious shocks high into her gut and making her eyes roll back.

A choked cry forced it’s way past her clenched jaw, her elbows landing on the countertop. The dizzying pleasure made her knees weak, but she was sure even if she went limp that Nick would hold her in a dangle and still finish.

She wouldn’t mind, of course.

A burning slap to her ass cheek made her bow, her eyes pinching shut. A thick handful of her hair craned her neck, a louder cry ringing off the walls.

“Say it again,” Nick groused into her ear, his voice shaking with his hard thrusts.

“Fuck me harder, Officer-” she strangled, crying out when his foot pushed at her inner ankle and spread her thighs farther.

She could hear the keys to his belt jingling, the gear clicking and shifting; she considered reaching back to touch his gun, but when a brilliant fire started to grow in her groin, her breaths started to come in pants.

“Nick- I’m gonna cum-” she gasped, reaching back blindly, but her wrist was snatched and held against her lower back, a loud growl following from Nick as he savored the way his impacts shot up her body, relishing in how her moans came forth in cries and whimpers.

His girl had kept a dirty secret from him after all this time, and her body was alive under his touch. Heaving, begging, writhing- he drank it all in, and when her pussy started to tighten around his cock, he leaned his head back, slowing to long strokes.

Her muffled words confirming her climax barely floated to his ears as he basked in the pulses, massaging every inch he hid inside and now gripping her sides hard enough to make her cry out when it was enough to send him over the edge. He still carried on with the slow strokes, milking himself into her tight center, their juices mingling and dripping from her flushed cunt onto the tile floors.

He sang her name repeatedly, his stomach stiff from clenching and thighs shaking the longer he forced himself to stay buried inside her.

Nick’s eyes peeled open to look down at the way he slipped from her slowly, his wet dick falling heavy from her filled hole.

He leaned over to kiss her shoulder, leaning onto the counter when she turned her head lazily to kiss him, her dark tresses tangled before her face. The two panted as he rested over her, his face pressed against the back of her neck and his dick pressed against her folds as they both came floating back down to earth.

“There’s so much,” she whimpered, looking down at the mess between their feet.

“I’m sorry,” he slurred, pushing off the counter and stiffly standing upright.

She was pushing her skirt down her hips by the time he sauntered from the kitchen and towards the bathroom, the gear across his body heavier than before.

Callie held her stomach as she went about cleaning the mess they’d made, but never before had she wanted more than to just flop onto her bed and sleep, even with Nick’s load still inside her. Doggy always took it out of her; in that position, he found the deepest her pussy stretched and filled it completely, sometimes finding it’s end if she were positioned just right.

She slapped the used wipe into the trash and leaned against the counter, her stomach knotting uncomfortably.

“Are you okay?” Nick asked with concern, holding her sides when he came back up behind her.

“I think you pressed my labor button,”

“WHAT!?” Nick shouted, his hands retracting and spinning her by the shoulders.

Callie giggled. “I’m joking,” she grinned, watching the color return to his face. “That was just a hard session,”

“I did what you asked,” he said bashfully, still a little lightheaded from that sudden rush of panic.

“I know baby, but he-” she jabbed her finger in Leo’s direction. “Is mad he got thrown around,”

Nick snorted, imagining how jostled Leo really might’ve been during that. “Are you gonna be okay going out?”

“Oh yeah. If I have to I’ll use one of those scooters,” she smiled with an eye closed as their son kicked angrily into her ribs.

“Just be careful. I gotta bounce,” he leaned down to bless her lips with a few soft kisses, his hand cupping under her jaw.

“Be safe,” she frowned, looping her arms around his waist one more time for a tight hug.

“Always am.” He said into her hair, bending over to kiss her stomach and mumble to Leo before grabbing his sunglasses and phone to leave. They said their I love you’s softly to one another at the door, a final kiss passing before he skipped down the porch and to the cruiser parked in the driveway.

She lingered at the door until he was on the street, smiling when he chirped the sirens and flashed the lights before driving away.

“Oh God oh God oh God.” Callie spun to race down the hall towards the bathroom, her bladder near exploding.

Callie let out an animalistic noise as she struggled out of Rosie’s sedan, her back stiff and hips sore.

“Add a belly band to the list,” Rosie had jogged around her car to help straighten Callie up.

“It’s going at the top,” she winced.

The two were slow going across the wet parking lot, but walking was easier than standing for extended periods which Callie quickly found herself in when the woman behind the counter proved she shouldn’t even be able to breathe and blink at the same time let alone work at Target. A sour beginning to a night they’d both been looking forward to, but after two more associates chased off the dense worker, Callie had a scanner in hand and a growing grin as she made her way deeper into the store.

“Thank you, next,” she sang after scanning a few nursing bras with Rosie beside and sharing sage advice she’d accumulated over the years.

It amazed Callie just how much went into pregnancy aftercare; spandex bands that squeezed muscles back into shape, the Dermaplast that would help ease the burning after pushing Leo out- even panty liners!

“You’ll never sneeze without peeing a little ever again,” Rosie explained, taking the upper hand in scanning the packs multiple times. “Always cross your legs,”

She followed her older sister a little dispondantly after that. Maybe a c-section wouldn’t be the worst…

Rosie glanced back when her fawning over a baby blanket set went unanswered, finding Callie looking down at her stomach.

“No, a c-section wouldn’t be better,” she guessed, and Callie looked at her skeptically.

“How-”

“Cuz I thought the same thing, now c’mere, look,” she jerked her head in the direction of the blankets, pleased when quite the handful were scanned.

“I’m not a fan of the blue,” Callie mumbled as she skimmed through what they’d selected so far.

“It’s impossible to avoid though,”

“Yeah I guess,”

Rosie was running her hand over a luxurious velvet sweater when a particularly sour topic came forth, chewing her lip in hesitation before deciding to speak on it. “Trish wants to help with the baby shower,”

She’d expected Callie to brush that off rather quickly, but not the genuine holler of laughter she let out, a hand on her chest as she leaned back into the whooping.

“That amusing, huh?”

“C’mon, you know she’s just doing it to stick her nose in my business so she has more shit to talk,” Callie rolled her eyes, scanning the small sweater.

“Hasn’t done much of that lately, actually,”

“But when I asked to see Yare she had to call dad and cry that I was the one out of line, right?” she looked back, her lips in a flat line and eyes wide in wait.

Rosie tried to fight the facts, but in the end, she settled with, “Yeahhh,”

“I fought years to get to this point and I’m not gonna let her ruin it, Rose- I don’t care how upset it makes everyone,” Callie scanned clothes angrily, her arm snapping with every barcode inputted.

“I get that but-”

“No buts! Everytime I miscarried she found some way to pin the blame on me just when I’d start to convince myself there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening,” Callie snapped, the old, bitter emotions crawling out from the closet she’d stuffed them into with her skeletons. “I would never blame what happened with Michael on her but if you show any sign of weakness around her, she attacks. Fuck that noise,”

Rosie nodded, following silently behind as Callie clicked the scanner vehemently over random objects whose purpose in raising a baby was unknown, but she could barely see past the fresh, stinging tears brimming in her eyes.

“For three years I tried to have what you two could do in your sleep and when it happened, all she said was ‘was that so hard’?” Callie looked back at Rosie whose brows were furrowed in horror.

“She said that?” she hissed, grabbing Callie’s arm when she tried to turn away. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What’s another knife in the back?” she murmured, wiping her eyes quickly.

“Ay chaparrita,” Rosie keened, pulling Callie to her side and resting her cheek against her head as she composed herself, the tears wiped away on Nick’s thermal she’d borrowed. A few sniffles later and she was stepping away, running her fingers through her hair and letting a deep breath go. “I’ll tell her to stay back. I wish you would’ve told me sooner though,”

“It’s one of those things that are harder to repeat than first hearing it,”

“I hear that. Look,” Rosie reached for a set of swaddlers. The chubby lion was at the center of the sunflower yellow wrap, it’s big eyes and blocky mane striking a chord in Callie.

She scoffed and sniffled again. “I don’t like the Leo lion thing,” she mumbled.

“But this? This is fucking cute. I wish they would’ve had this kind of stuff when I had Joaquin,”

“Mm… Nick would like it,” she noted, scanning the set and handing it back. “It is kinda cute,”

When a few more were handed down from Rosie, she scanned them, less enthusiastic as before.

Rosie felt for her. She knew just as well how vicious their older sister could be, how willing she was to fire at people when they were at their lowest.

In a heated argument once before, she’d asked Rosie how she could’ve made the mistake of leaving her children unattended long enough to find their way into death's arms, and it had been the cause of her second relapse back into Ambien, desperate to sleep away the words that were left branded into her skin. Sometimes, she had to remind herself that just because she’d patched the crack between them crudely didn’t mean others were ready to do the same.

“No more talk about Trish, yeah? I’m sorry I brought it up, she’s just been at my neck about it,” Rosie sighed.

“If she’s so adamant she should just come to me, but that’s like a nun touching a dick,”

Rosie’s face soured. “Nick’s given you a foul mouth,”

“It’s cuz of where my mouth has been-”

“Okay enough,” Rosie wiggled her hands before Callie’s face. “Your son is listening!”

“Poor thing was forced to listen to the fucking Nick laid on me today,” Callie panted playfully, fanning her cheeks.

“You probably poked one of his eyes out,” Rosie said through the corner of her mouth, earning a hard smack to her arm. “Is that why you’ve been walking weird?”

“Mind your own business.” Callie smarted, scanning three different brands of the baby slings Nick had told her of numerous times.

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we're definitely shifting into a little slice of life kinda writing, but DON'T YOU ALL WORRY CUZ YOU KNOW I ALWAYS HAVE SOME SHIT JUST AROUND THE CORNER FOR THESE TWO <3 if anyone caught when callie said there was only a month left until Leo's predicted birth, it might give you a little insight as to when we might expect him! ;D i apologize the updates have been staggered! i hit a rather nasty bout of writers block and THEN artists block AND THEN DEVELOPED A SINUS INFECTION so i've been clogged in every aspect hahaha

anyways, i hope you enjoyed the chapter! feedback is always appreciated! 💛

Translations: -Nauk-avurn votar avo avhiuk liavavle ni, ah? - come home to this little one, ah? -Jiak'll alwayuk nauk-avurn avo mausan girluk - i'll always return to my girls

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avid-author-activist · 4 years

Text

The Princess Andromeda (1): I Crash A Date

(read it on ao3!)

Blackjack’s wings skimmed the waves below as we dipped towards the Atlantic. The salty sea spray filled the air, dissipating a little of the anxiety curdling in my stomach. I glanced at my pocket, where I kept a picture of my girlfriend, Silena. She’d seemed nervous before I’d left camp today, but these days, everyone was jumpy.

“You don’t have to do this, Charlie,” she’d told me. “Let someone else go instead of you.”

I pulled her in for a hug. “It’ll all be okay,” I reassured her. “It’s just another routine mission.”

“No… no, it won’t,” she sniffled against my chest. “I have a bad feeling about this, Charlie.”

“Hey, you’ll see. I’ll come back, just you wait,” I promised. “But I have to go now.”

As she pulled away, I saw a silver bracelet glinting on her wrist. There was only one charm on it, like a moon or something. I opened my mouth to ask her about it, but—“Stay safe,” Silena said, and I was alarmed to see tears shining in her eyes. “Goodbye, Charlie.”

I felt a lump in my throat. “Bye, Lena.” The words stuck in my mouth.

With an effort, I pulled myself back to the present. We were spiralling higher over the Atlantic, flying parallel to a couple seagulls. Some part of me wanted to put out my hand and touch one, but the glint in its eyes gave me pause. Blackjack shook his mane and flew higher, like he wanted to get away from the birds too. Man, even the horse knew seagulls were evil.

“There they are,” I said. As the mainland came into view, I could see a Prius parked right on the ridge above the ocean. If I squinted, I thought I could make out the outline of Percy in the driver’s seat. Blackjack tossed his head again, as if in acknowledgement. Not for the first time, I wondered if he was able to understand me.

“That’s ridiculous,” I said aloud.

The pegasus snorted.

As we got closer, I finally recognized the girl sitting in the passenger seat. Frizzy red hair pulled back into a ponytail, freckles, peeling sunburn. That could only be Rachel Dare, the girl Percy might or might not have a crush on. I said might not because I’d seen the way he and Annabeth looked at each other. Silena gushed about those two all the time:

“When are they going to start dating? If Percy doesn’t ask her out soon, I think I’ll die!”

“Alright, Lena,” I always said. If it happened, it happened, and if it didn’t, it didn’t. That was my philosophy on couples. But Silena always listened to my rambles about armor and smelting, so I listened to her attempts at matchmaking.

I fought the urge to reach for the photo of her in the pocket of my shorts.

Then—WUMP-WUMP-CRUNCH! Blackjack stomped across the hood of Percy’s car, leaving horse hoof indents in the metal and almost throwing me off in the process. Way to make an entrance.

“Blackjack!” I groaned. If a horse could shrug, Blackjack would have.

I sighed and put my head in my hands. Percy hadn’t turned sixteen yet, so that Prius had to belong to his parents. They were going to kill him… if he survived our mission. Maybe they’d be mad enough to dig him up and kill him again.

“Blackjack, what are you–” Percy looked up. His eyes met mine. Act natural!

“‘Sup, Percy.” I nodded and waved, trying not to look concerned about the fact that I was sitting on a pegasus that had just trampled the hood of his car. Not that natural!

“Time?” Percy asked, trying and failing to look upbeat. Rachel pursed her lips. I looked back and forth between the two of them. It looked like they had been on a date… had they been on a date? I took a mental note to tell Silena later.

Rachel looked up at me. “Hi.” Her startling green eyes reflected the sunlight. She wore a white blouse, bird-shaped earrings, and... mascara? According to Percy, Rachel never wore makeup.

Yep, I had definitely been that guy that interrupted your normal date by landing a pegasus on your car.

I waved, trying to ignore the heat rising in my face. “Oh, hey, I’m Beckendorf.” I almost expected her to snicker at my last name. A ton of people did, mostly the immature rich kids at my old middle school. “You must be Rachel. Percy’s told me… uh, I mean he mentioned you.”

“Really? Good,” Rachel said, quirking an eyebrow. The expression reminded me of Silena for the third time in probably five minutes. I tried to block her face out of my mind, just temporarily. If I lost focus like that on the cruise ship… well. That wouldn’t end happily for Percy, me, or Western civilization.

Blackjack pawed at the hood, which flattened alarmingly. Not for the first time, I wished he came with reins and a saddle. What was I supposed to do in this situation, talk to the horse? “Whoa,” I said under my breath. The pegasus ignored me and kept beating up the car.

“So I guess you guys have to go save the world now,” Rachel said, glancing at Blackjack. She seemed incredibly calm about the entire thing. I remembered Percy mentioning she could see through the Mist.

“Pretty much,” I said.

Percy looked at Rachel. “Would you tell my mom–”

“I’ll tell her. I’m sure she’s used to it. And I’ll explain to Paul about the hood.” I could see what Percy saw in Rachel now. She was mortal, yeah, but she also kept an incredibly cool head in weird mythological situations. And she was really pretty in her own way.

“Good luck.” Rachel leaned in and kissed Percy on the mouth. He turned brick red. I managed to turn my laugh into a cough as he glared at me. “Now, get going, half-blood. Go kill some monsters for me,” she said.

Percy clambered onto Blackjack’s back with a last wave to his date. The pegasus spread his wings and launched us into the sky. I swallowed, watching the ground recede beneath us, replaced by glittering blue waves. Pegasus takeoff always made me a little sick.

“So,” I joked, once my stomach had settled. “I guess you don’t want me to mention that little scene to Annabeth.”

Percy groaned. “Oh, gods. Don’t even think about it,” he said.

I grinned. “Just pulling your leg, Jackson—wouldn’t dream of it.”

To pass the time, I studied Blackjack’s wings as we soared in circles over the ocean. They seemed way too brittle to get a horse and two armored demigods into the air, but somehow they did. If I could copy and modify the design, I could build a sweet war chariot. Sure, the chariot would have wings, but that just added to the cool factor.

The sun sank slowly over the horizon, turning the sky and sea to gold. The only sounds now were those of the ocean waves below us and Blackjack’s steady wingbeats. I breathed in the salty air, grounding myself in the moment. Part of me couldn’t help but wonder if it was the last sunset I would ever see.

As the sky purpled into twilight and the first stars came out, the Princess Andromeda appeared over the horizon. The ship gleamed gold and silver in the night, bobbing gently in the waves. Suddenly, it seemed like a large and flashy piece of bait, waiting to trap unsuspecting demigods—us—with the larger and scarier monsters aboard. It was so bright that whenever I glanced away from it, spots appeared in my vision. Even so, I noted that the craftsmanship was perfect, and I felt a twinge of regret that we had to destroy such a beautiful work of art.

In my head, I ran through the countless dry runs we’d done over the last few weeks. Get in, plant the explosives, get out as soon as possible. It was a simple plan, but it had every chance of going wrong.

Blackjack dove parallel to the ship, and I thanked the gods that he wasn’t a white pegasus, or we would’ve been spotted for sure. As we sped pasrt, I glimpsed decks stuffed with countless monsters—telekhines and dracaenae, for the most part. If Kronos had his way, they would all be in New York by tomorrow. My blood ran cold at the thought. We have to stop them.

The lowest stern deck was deserted. Blackjack spread his wings and landed gently. I slid off his back, a hand on the hilt of my sword. Part of me tensed, expecting the alarm to be raised any time now, but everything was silent.

"I think we're clear," Percy whispered. I nodded in agreement, checking to make sure the explosives were secure in my bag.

Blackjack took off into the night, leaving us alone in enemy territory. I watched him disappear on the horizon, praying that we would both live to see him again.

I told myself to stop being morbid. Percy and I would both be fine. No one knew we were here.

But what if they did? What if they were expecting us, and this was all just one big trap?

Stop thinking about the what-ifs, I scolded myself. What was it that the Athena campers always said? Anything can and will happen. Worrying about it won’t change the outcome.

I took the picture of Silena from my pocket. She seemed more beautiful than ever, even by the dim light of Percy’s sword. I decided to ignore my earlier resolution to keep her from my mind. If anything were to happen, I wanted to have her in my thoughts.

“We’ll get back to camp,” Percy said, coming up behind me. I almost jumped a foot into the air. I tucked away the picture, part of me embarrassed that he had seen.

“You bet.” I tried to bury my fears. I couldn't let them mess with my head on this mission. “Let’s go blow Kronos back into a million pieces.”

#percy jackson #pjo #charles beckendorf #pjo fanfic #Percy Jackson and the Olympians

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thelookingglassalice · 5 years

Photo

Generations Pt. 5

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier x Taya/OC

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1446

Square Filled: Threesome

Summary: Since the identity of the father is out, everyone is agreed that they need a day off. So Delilah gets her first trip to Central Park.

A/N: @star-spangled-bingo @avengerscompound @lillianfromaccounting@patzammit @mumbles411 @until-theend-oftheline @nikkimarie (If you’d like to be tagged just ask)

“If Stark doesn’t stop referring to Delilah as ‘the result of our threesome’ I’m going to have to hurt him just a little.” Bucky read a text message that Tony had sent to the group.

“I had a threesome all by myself. How depressing is that?” Taya stirred her coffee and leaned her butt against the counter.

“She sleeping?” Bucky was surprised and slightly disappointed they’d made it through the night without him.

“She’s excited for her day out. Not that being trapped in here for five months hasn’t been wonderful. It’s not like her mommy is ready to steal a car to get out of this place.” Taya eyed Bucky as she sipped her drink.

“I think after the results we all need some fun. Maybe not grand theft auto, but we’ll see how the day goes.“ Bucky shrugged.

To say the results of the blood tests had just complicated things, was an understatement. Delilah’s DNA was chaotic. Bruce was still trying to make sense of it. Bucky, Steve, and Taya were all represented in the child. There were traces of something that resembled the serum Steve had been given, but it had different chemical markers.

In scientific terms, the kid didn’t make sense. Period. Bruce had noticed some acceleration in her cellular growth and requested a possible PET scan to see how her brain was functioning. When he was met with the glaring of the parents, Bruce had suggested they wait a few days on that. Natasha and Clint were working their intel connections harder and even Tony was doing some long-distance hacking to help the search for the experiment records.

Scientific shit aside. Steve and Bucky now had a child together and with a woman, they never met until a few months ago. Odd that it wasn’t the most outrageous thing to ever happen to them. Steve had suggested they get the hell out of the compound and do something for Delilah’s birthday.

“Where exactly are you and Steve taking us today?” Taya cocked an ear, listening for Delilah.

“Not sure. Is she too little to ride the Cyclone?” Bucky asked.

“Maybe we save Coney Island for when she’s a little older.” Taya laughed.

“Fine. Central Park it is.” Bucky nodded.

“That sounds nice. I’m going to grab a shower since sleeping beauty is still out.” Taya headed down the hall. Bucky smiled as he watched her go.

Steve arrived while Taya was getting dressed. Delilah had woken up and Bucky had gotten her some breakfast. Now he was trying to figure out how the stroller Tony had brought worked.

“Morning...what’s that?” Steve greeted them.

“Stark said it was a stroller but it has a fucking motor on it.” Bucky eyed the thing carefully.

“Yeah.” Delilah nodded emphatically

“Can you say that around her?” Steve picked Delilah up and she offered him a Cheerio.

“I don’t think she understands it. And if she does, don’t say it.” Bucky pointed a finger at her.

“Kay.” Delilah went back to force-feeding Steve cereal.

“If that thing hovers she’s not going in it,” Steve mumbled around the pieces of Cheerio. “Thank you, that’s enough.”

“Hey, Steve.” Taya came in with a diaper bag. “Can you put a few toys in here? I’m going to get her dressed. Issues with the stroller?

“I’m not sure it’s a stroller,” Bucky explained.

“Is that a refrigerator on that thing?” Taya traded Steve Delilah for the bag and went to get her ready.

“Taking a kid out shouldn’t be this complicated.” Bucky frowned.

“Really. A couple of hundred-year-old super soldiers taking their scientifically created offspring and her ex-spy assassin mother to the park should be way easier.” Steve suppressed a smirk as he decided which toys to put in the bag.

“This is not the threesome I ever pictured.” Bucky was also holding back a smile now.

“Hey, You could do worse. I’ll have you know that’s America’s ass pal.” Steve winked.

“I’d salute it but my hands are full.” Taya deadpanned as she returned with the baby.

“Maybe later then.” Steve shrugged as Bucky hit one last button on the stroller.

The stroller unfolded itself gracefully and a screen lit up between the handles. Bucky poked the screen and it started to talk. It ran through the weather outlook, child-friendly activities available today, the temperature of the stroller seat and onboard refrigerator compartment, then waited for a command.

“Okay, there’s no chance of that becoming sentient and taking over Manhattan, right?” Taya narrowed her eyes as Steve and Bucky shared a look. “What?”

“I think we wore her out.” Steve pulled the canopy up, exposing Delilah.

“Looks like it.” Bucky leaned sideways as they walked to look at her.

“Two nights in a row I’ll get to sleep.” Taya clapped.

The group was working their way back to where they had parked after all day at the park. It had gone better than anyone had expected. The nice thing about being enhanced was that no one got tired from the miles of walking. Although, Delilah had her stroller and Taya was leaning on Bucky.

They had begun the day at the zoo, where Delilah tried to convince her mom they needed to take a sea lion home. Bucky had compromised and bought her a huge stuffed sea lion which was currently riding on top of her in the stroller.

The animals had all been very interested in Delilah, they had tried to come close to her as they could and those in habitats had pressed up against the barrier to see her. Luckily, no one seemed to notice but Taya filed it away to worry about later. After the zoo, they made a long trek to a playground for toddlers. Delilah had climbed eagerly out of her stroller and joined the other kids in the sprinkler feature and exploring everything she could.

The adults had sat near the sandbox, eyes on her at all times. But they couldn’t help and enjoy her little bit of freedom crawling and climbing. She had come to the sandbox and was digging a hole when a bigger kid knocked her over, wanting her toy she was burying and unburying in the hole. Steve and Bucky had both tensed, but Delilah got up scowled at the boy and stomped over to the grown-ups.

“He bad. I hit?” Delilah asked them.

“No. But I’m sure Steve will help you get the toy back.” Bucky brushed off Delilah’s hands and nodded to Steve.

“Hm, I got this.” Steve followed Delilah to where the kid had her toy. Bucky and Taya watched with amusement. “Excuse me, son? I think you have her toy.”

“No, I-” The boy looked up, recognized Captain America and dropped the toy.

“Tank you.” Delilah grinned at the boy and skipped back to her stroller.

“So much for being low-key.” Taya helped buckle Delilah in as Steve rejoined them.

“We were getting ready to leave anyway.” Bucky clapped Steve on the back.

“Carousel?” Steve asked.

That was where they went next and then they ended the day at Victorian Gardens.

“We didn’t even get to the other side of the park.” Bucky was enjoying the weight of Taya leaning on him. Her arm was wrapped around one of his to keep herself upright.

“Next week.” Steve stopped the stroller next to the car. “We should just get a place in the city.”

“I thought you had one.” Taya frowned.

“The lease lapsed a month ago.” Steve chuckled. “When I’m in the city I crash at Clint’s so I don’t have to drive all the way back.”

“Don’t want to live with us?” Bucky teased as he handed Taya the huge stuffed sea lion and unbuckled Delilah.

“You were the one looking at apartments in Brooklyn before these two showed up.” Steve grabbed the diaper bag. “How can you afford that?”

“I was going to have you co-sign the lease.” Bucky dropped his voice as he picked up Delilah with a grin.

“Good schools in Brooklyn?” Taya asked from where she was shoving the stuffy into the trunk. It didn’t want to fit so Steve came around as Bucky got Delilah in her car seat.

“Yeah, Steve, why don’t you get a place and we’ll all just crash there.” Bucky slid next to Delilah.

“Ice cream,” Delilah muttered in her sleep. Bucky stroked her hand, soothing her and she grabbed one of his fingers,

“Considering it.” Steve climbed into the driver’s seat and Taya into the passenger side.

“Did anyone else see the animals trying to follow her today?” Taya asked.

#starspangledbingo #bucky barnes fanfiction #the winter soldier fanfiction #avengers fanfiction #marvel fanfiction #bucky x octaya

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unlikelysecretivewriter · 4 years

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Stone Box

There are two types of isolation, although they are not mutually exclusive. The first and most literal type of isolation is physical isolation. It is when you are excluded from the outside world and have no ability to contact society. The second type of isolation is mentally. When you feel like an outcast inside your own body. I find myself in social situations completely shut out. I could be riding in the passenger side of my mom’s car and unable to focus on the conversation my mom is having with me. The only things that are keeping me grounded are my senses. I might not be able to listen to what my mom is actually talking about, but I can hear her voice. I can hear the sound of our rubber tires racing down the blazing pavement in mid-July. I can smell the artificial “Hawaiian Breeze” air freshener circulating through the AC vents above the radio. The feeling of my sweaty bare legs sticking to the leather seats unsettles me. Beads of sweat are dripping down my forehead and dampening my hairline. The AC is failing its job. As I look out the window, I see the burning sun is practically blinding me. I see the cows grazing the pasture and finding relief from the heat in the shade of a nearby tree. The road and scenery are racing past my line of vision before my brain has a chance to process it. I do find myself aware of my surroundings, sometimes too aware, but I never feel connected to reality. My mental prison is keeping me hostage. I am trapping myself, but at the same time I can’t seem to find a way to tell myself how to escape either. My prison is of a simple yet cruel design. My true self is the one trapped inside of me while the numb minded version of myself fills the physical body. I sit in a cold dark room. It is made of smooth dark grey stone. It has no way in or out, which leads me to wonder if I have always been here. Maybe there was never a time when I was free of the stone walls that enclose me today. There are no chances of freedom. Daily, I find me slamming myself against the walls hoping for a crack. I try to climb them and paw at the imaginary windows that are nowhere to be seen, begging for someone to lead me out of my misery. There are no windows for two reasons I suppose. The first one is that glass is weaker than stone, and if the glass broke then I could escape which defeats the purpose of a prison. It’s supposed to keep you captive. The second reason is that windows provide people a way to observe what is within, but no one can see the pain I am going through. No one is allowed to see me in distress and try to help because my mind has decided that I don’t deserve help, and I don’t deserve to be saved. When I grow weak, I find myself sitting in the center of my cage observing myself. I seem to imagine myself with physical scars all over my soul's body. They are not physical injuries that I have had in the past but are emotional cuts, bruises, and scars. I feel that if everyone in reality had visible scars displayed on their bodies from emotional wars then maybe the world wouldn’t be so pretty. I feel like in my life I am always on the outside looking inside the reality I call my life. I’m afraid to tell people what I really feel and what I really think. I fear that if they know the dark thoughts that run through my head, they might want to fix them or stop them. People say that’s a good thing. What people forget is that depression, anxiety, and sadness are addictive. I might hate my prison, but I also find comfort in it. Just like any addiction, even if it’s bad for you, you don’t want to stop. I like to be sad. I find that my tears lead to a certain amount of depth and meaning in life. It’s as if sorrow gives existence purpose. I quickly grow bored of happiness. What a terrible thing to grow bored of. I find that pain, greif, and agony give me pleasure. It’s dangerous because once you feel that way, you never stop. The only temporary relief is masking the true feelings with positive superficial ones. What scares me the most is, if one day, someone decides to create an escape from my trap, will I actually leave?

#thoughts #personal writing #reflective #writing #original writing

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writersrealmbts · 5 years

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Cranberry Kisses

Description: One of the Thanksgiving story raffle submissions, Purr-fect Kiss Sequel. Safe with Me Universe. Y/n meets Jimin’s family for thanksgiving.

Warnings: N/A.

Posted: 11/19/2018

Tags: Jimin, Hybrid!Jimin

Fluff: 1,785 words

A/N: It’s not my best work. Seriously. I’m sorry. I struggled with this a lot.

“Are you sure about this? What if they don’t like me?” “Y/n, relax. Hoseok already likes you, and I love you so Eomma and Appa will love you too. So will Jungkookie and the triplets.” “Oh gosh, the triplets. What are their names again?” You asked, wringing your hands in the passenger seat. “Minsu, Nari, and Kaemon. Minsu doesn’t have a tail, Kaemon has human ears, that’s how you tell them apart. Relax, the triplets love easily. Kae is the only one you need to be careful around. He’ll warm up to you after a while, just respect his space. He’ll come to you.” Jimin pulled up to the house and parked in his spot, then turned to you. You looked back at him, chewing your lip nervously. “Maybe I shouldn’t have—” “Then you’d be spending Thanksgiving alone. Your parents are on the other side of the country. I love you. You’ll be fine. I’ll be right beside you all day.” Jimin leaned over with a purr and kissed you. “Come on. I want you to meet my family.” You finally got out of the car, carrying the cheesecake you had made for today. He kept purring, trying to comfort you. “It’ll be fine. I promise.” He opened the door and held it for you. You hesitantly stepped inside, immediately inhaling the mouth-watering scent of turkey cooked to perfection and the subtle undertones of a fire in a fireplace. Jimin’s purr got even louder. “Eomma? Appa? I’m home and I brought y/n!” You heard the soft murmur of conversation suddenly turn excited and you gave Jimin a panicked look before a small, knee-high blur of black hair and a red sweater hit Jimin’s legs. “Jimin-ssi!” “You little gremlin, that’s hyung to you,” Jimin laughed, scooping up the child and tossing him into the air before cuddling up with him. “Jimin-ssi!” The boy said again, grinning and then rubbing his nose against Jimin’s. Jimin then tucked the boy up to his neck, both of them scenting each other lovingly. “Missed you, Min-min.” Your heart was bubbling over with warmth at seeing how loving Jimin was with the child and your mind drifted to wondering what he might be like when he was a father. Your head was screeching in panic at meeting his family. Your stomach felt like a stone. Jimin turned with Minsu toward you. “Minsu, this is y/n. My girlfriend.” The boy smiled at you. “Hi!” He was waving. You managed to smile and wave back. Both Jimin and Minsu looked concerned. Minsu beat Jimin to speaking. “Are you scared? We’re not scary! I promise! Well, Yoongi-hyung can be scary. So can Namjoon-hyung. And Appa, when we’ve been naughty. But we’re not scary.” You looked at Jimin. “Does it really show?” He purred with slight amusement. “Come here, y/n. We’ll go out there together.” He set Minsu down. You let him tuck you into his side, and the two of you following Minsu into the kitchen and living room. “Eomma!” Minsu called, running over to the only other woman in the room. A human. Right. Jimin had said she was a human. She looked over and smiled softly, coming over and hugging Jimin. Kissing his cheek, then turning to you and smiling welcomingly. “Y/n? I’m Emma. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Jimin has told us so much about you.” “I brought cheesecake,” You squeaked out, holding out the carrier. She grinned. “Great! I’ll put it in the kitchen.” She took it carefully and walked toward the kitchen. Jimin’s father came over and greeted you, and it wasn’t as scary since you had met him before. “Y/n, we’re so happy you’re joining us for Thanksgiving! We were actually just asking Jimin when we would meet you.” Jimin hissed in embarrassment. “Appa—” Hoseok came over, laughing. “Really, we were. Last friday when Yoongi-hyung got here we didn’t know we would have the pleasure of you joining us.” “Yoongi’s still here, right?” Jimin suddenly was searching the room. “He’s upstairs with the baby,” Jin replied, hand brushing through Minsu’s hair, the child clinging happily to his leg now. A bunny-hybrid (Jungkook, right?) peeked over Hoseok’s shoulder. He looked at you then nodded. “You’re right. She’s even prettier in person, hyung.” You blushed, glancing at Jimin. “Yah! What’s wrong with you?!” Jimin lunged at his brothers, leaving you looking at the three men playfully wrestling with a little surprise. Minsu dove onto the pile, followed by a little girl and another boy and it turned into a tickle fight, the three older boys tickling the younger three kids. Jin chuckled. Soon the pile was just the triplets cuddling and scenting Jimin as if he hadn’t been there in forever when he had just been there yesterday. Kae was the first to frown and pull away, wrinkling his nose. “You have a funny smell on you.” Minsu batted his brother. “It’s his girlfriend, silly. Smells good.” Kaemon’s gaze shifted to you and he shrunk back, hiding behind Hoseok. “It’s okay, Kaemonnie,” Jimin murmured softly. “Take your time. She’s just going to join us for dinner.” Kaemon slowly nodded after he saw you nod and gently smile at him. He studied you from behind Hoseok for a couple minutes, then scrambled behind the other canine-hybrid that came over with a monkey-hybrid that was grinning. Jimin got to his feet. “Uh, anyway. Y/n, this is Jungkook, Namjoon, Taehyung, Kaemon, and this little pup is Nari!” He scooped up the little girl and cuddled her lovingly. She relaxed into his arms, making soft noises of happiness. The soft smell of lilac wafted through the room. You dipped your head. “Nice to meet you all.” Namjoon smiled back at you. Jimin came back to your side, taking your hand. “They don’t normally live here. Just during the holidays. Yoongi-hyung will be down soon. He just adopted the cutest little kitten. Poor thing was abandoned.” Jimin had a slight growl in his voice at the last word. “It’s in the past now,” A new voice said. You turned toward the cat-hybrid that must have been Yoongi. He had a small baby in his arms, and a small giggle came from the bundle along with the smell of vanilla and sugar cookies. Yoongi purred happily. “Hyung, this is y/n. My girlfriend.” Yoongi smiled softly. “Pleased to meet you.” You hesitantly nodded toward the baby. “May I?” He nodded, letting you go over and look at the baby. You could see injuries on her, starting to heal now, but still far too recent. You could smell the medicine that was put on some injury you couldn’t see. “She’s a maine coon and american shorthair mix,” You said, finger tracing over the infant’s ear. He looked at you in surprise. “Y/n specializes in hybrid breeds. Specifically medical anomalies associated with mixing breeds and species in infants,” Jimin explained, rubbing his head against your shoulder. “She’s really good at identifying breeds, even mixed ones.” Yoongi looked at you curiously. “You sure?” “The shape of her ears, her markings, the fact that her fur is between short and long-hair. It narrows it down to a few species. What about her tail?” You asked, knowing it was one of the best confirmations. He tensed. “Got cut off halfway down.” You felt your eyes narrow, and Jimin’s arms around your waist tightened when a growl slowly started in your throat. “What? Who would…ugh. Never mind. I know. She’s obviously better with you. Listen to that healthy purr.” You heard your own voice soften and the purr that came from Jimin said he found the change adorable. “Food’s ready. Hands washed. Jimin, find out what y/n would like for a drink?” Emma called out, taking dishes to the table. Jimin nuzzled into your neck. “What do you want, baby?” “Water. Just water.” You cuddled back into him. “Am I doing okay?” “You’re doing great, baby. Go take a seat, I’ll be there in a second.” You went over somewhat nervously, taking a seat on one side. Jimin came with glasses of water for both of you and sat down on one side. His tail wrapping around your ankle to comfort you a little. He seemed to know that while you found his family nice and welcoming you were still nervous about making a good impression. Kaemon clambered into the seat next to you, perching on the seat and offering you a shy smile. “I sit here?” You smiled back, then nodded. You knew it took him a lot to build up the courage to sit there next to you. Minsu leaned on his elbows. “Are you and Jimin-hyung going to get married?” Emma lightly whapped the pre-schooler’s arms. “No elbows on the table.” You were sure your face looked like a tomato. At the very least you felt like you could fry an egg on your face. Jimin chuckled, purring slightly. “Maybe.” He caught your eye. “What do you think, baby?” You trapped his tail against your ankle with your other foot, making your threat clear. He cleared his throat, suddenly looking nervous. “Uh, right. Anyway, Kae, do you need help?” You looked over saw him struggling to cut some of his turkey. He looked up at you, then offered the utensils to you. You took them, cutting the meat up for him. “There.” The boy caught your hand and rubbed his cheek against the back of it. “Thank you.” You swallowed your weird purr, smiling at him. “You’re welcome.” He gave you a sweet smile, and you could see both of his parents in him. Adorable. Way too adorable. Minsu started talking to you about his lessons and about Jimin, telling you stories in an adorable way that had Jimin blushing and complaining weakly. Minsu just seemed to draw encouragement from his older brother’s protests and the chuckles of the rest of his family. Kaemon kept looking to you when he needed help, even though his Mom was sitting on his other side. You made it through the dinner, following Jimin and two cuddly pre-schoolers into the living room. Jimin sat with you, pulling both boys up to sit with the two of you. They were out before you two even finished getting comfortable. Jimin leaned over and kissed you. He tasted like the cranberry sauce that he appeared to love so much. “See? Told you it’d be fine. They love you.” He was purring and he kissed you again. You leaned into the kiss, finally letting your own garbled purr out.

Masterlist. Series Masterpost. Purr-fect Kiss. Marshmallow World.

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myloveofwords · 5 years

Text

Can’t Find My Way Home. Part 4.

Reader Gender: Female (You’re Samantha Winchester)

Word Count: 2,866

Summary: With Samantha and Dean’s meeting done, let's see how well Samantha handles the Winchester custom of lying to those you care about...

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.

The Bunker.

I wake up in the passenger seat of the Impala. I feel the smile across my face as I glance down and see Dean's leather jacket draped across my body.

I sit up and stretch, in a vain attempt to relieve the constricted aching of my limbs. I glance over at Dean and see the worry clearly etched across his face.

We sat there for a while, neither of us knows how to start up a conversation. What do I say to my biological father after eighteen years?

I clear my throat and try anyway "So where are we headed?" Without taking his eyes off the road he mumbles "Lebanon, Kansas." I eye him skeptically "Why?" Dean's mouth turns upwards as he talks "We're going home."

I look at him dubiously "You have a home? I thought you lived out of hotel rooms and the Impala." His smile widens "We do when we're on cases. When we're not on a case we head back to Kansas."

I look out the windshield not being able to look at him "You still live where your mother died?" Dean shook his head "Nope."

I release the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding "Then where do you live?" He looks at me arrogantly and says "You'll see."

I huff back into the seat and fold my arms across my chest "Where's Sam and Castiel?" Dean moves his hand off the steering wheel and starts rubbing that spot on his arm again "Sam's behind us driving your car back and Cas. . . I've given up on trying to keep up with him."

I nod slowly running out of things to say. The rest of the drive is pretty quiet I ask a couple of questions, Dean answers them flatly, and we sit in silence again.

As we cross over into Kansas I am singing along to Metallica and smiling out the window. Dean looks over at me suddenly "You like Metallica?"

I nod as I continue to look out the window "Mom listened to it in her room a lot. She liked Classic rock, I guess it reminded her of you." Dean didn't respond, but I knew that pleased him.

Dean takes a back road into the woods and I mumble "Of course you live in the middle of nowhere." Dean simply smiles and nods. Intrigued now, I sit up and cross my arms on the dash looking eagerly ahead.

I suddenly see a big concrete mass with railings leading down to a single door "Seriously? Do you literally live in a hole in the ground? You're too big to be a hobbit." Dean smiles over at me as he parks the Impala "Just wait until you get inside."

I hop out the Impala and bounce my way over to the door "Why? What's inside? Maps of Middle Earth and walking sticks?" I stand patiently waiting for Dean to open the door.

I smile up at him innocently as he responds "Remind me to never introduce you to Charlie; she'd love you to death."

Dean opens the door and motions for me to go in. As I make my way into space where my father apparently 'lives', a single phrase escapes my mouth "A bunker? You live in a bunker."

Dean walks down the steps into the main room and lays his duffel on the mahogany table.

I walk around slowly, trying to imagine living here and trying to come to terms with how large this place is.

I walk slowly into the kitchen, noticing that it looks very commercial. I walk down many hallways stopping at every door I can find. I notice a door with a large hole in it and wonder what in the hell was trying to get out.

I walk into a room that looks like a storage room, and I eventually find a leaver that moves the selves and reveals a dungeon type room. Holy hell, we have a dungeon?

I laugh inconceivably and walk over to the single chair in the middle of the room. As I get closer I see that the handcuffs have traps and sigils on them, well that's smart.

I walk out of the room and close the door behind me sighing heavily, why is my family so weird?

I shake my head and move on; I open the door to one of the rooms and find a military-like bedroom. Everything is in its place, nothing but neat.

Guns above the bed, a single picture of Dean and Sam on a dresser, and as I walk deeper into the bedroom I smile as I inhale deeply.

It smells of Dean; a hint of leather, musk, and whiskey.

This is my father's bedroom, I tilt my head as I smile wildly to myself. I hear Sam's voice ricochet across the bunker and I slowly make my way back to the main room.

When I am in the hallway about to get back to the main room I hear Sam and Dean's whispers. Sam sighs deeply and says "Dean you have to tell her. She has a right to know." I hear Dean's grunt as he hastily replies "Drop it, Sammy. It's my problem, I'll deal with it."

I hear Sam's condemning tone "Dean." Dean didn't say anything and I hear Sam's dramatic sigh "So how are you doing? With all this, I mean."

Without a seconds hesitation Dean answers "I'm fine." I peek around the corner and see Sam's unconvinced facial expression "Yeah. Sure."

Dean lays down the book he was currently reading and says "What do you want me to say, Sammy? That I'm terrified? That I'm scared shit-less that I'm not going to be a good father? That she might die doing what we do and it will be all my fault?"

Sam doesn't say anything he just waits for Dean to finish then says "Dean, you were the closest thing I had to an actual father. I'm proof that you are a wonderful father. Everything bad that has happened to me I did to myself, and you were always there to help me clean it up. We'll figure this out, together."

I walk into the main room and clear my throat, Sam looks up and smiles at me "Hey there kiddo." I smile politely and say "Hiya Sammy." I walk over to the table and ask "What are we researching?"

Without looking up from the computer Dean says "There's an article about a woman mysteriously dying in her own home. I sent Garth to wrap it up, sounds like a simple haunting." I nod "Then why are you looking up spells? You don't need a spell to cast away a spirit."

I see Dean rub the spot on his arm again as he says "Just brushing up on my exorcisms." I look at him questionably "But that's not an exorcism."

At this, he turns and says "And how would you know that?" I shrugged "I speak Latin. I thought it would be a good thing to learn for my line of work. I also took a Spiritual Communications Class in college. We analyzed several exorcisms . . . And let's just say that I took the extra credit seriously."

Sam looked at me obviously impressed "They have those now?" I nodded "It was a one-semester course and it was mainly for people who thought of the idea of spirits interesting."

Dean spoke up "You speak Latin?" I smiled smugly "Etiam Decano. Quam turpe nescire." Dean looked at Sam expectantly and without even looking up Sam instantly translated "Yes Dean. I speak Latin."

I smile and look back at the book Dean was looking at "So why are you looking at a spell that is used to get rid of a wart? Do you have warts, Dean?"

Dean looked at me sulkily "Seriously? Warts?" I nodded slowly and pointed to the book "That word there means wart. In some contexts it could mean mark, but not in this context. You can tell by the sentence construction."

Sam looks at me with a shit-eating smile on his face "How old are you again?" I look up and land on Sam's inquiring eyes. I feel my cheeks go red under his prodding gaze "Eighteen. I turn nineteen in June."

Sam continues with the questioning "And you just finished high school?" I shake my head "Not exactly. I was sixteen when I graduated high school. Right now I'm technically a junior at Georgetown." Sam nods "Georgetown, that's impressive. What's your major?"

I smile and dramatically breathe in before I say "I'm working on a Major in Classical Studies with a concentration on Hellenic Studies, and a minor of Theology with a concentration of Biblical Studies." Dean spoke up "Well that's a mouth full."

I blush and say "Yeah, imagine writing it on job applications." Sam's face is split into a grin as he watches me "Do your foster parents know what you do?"

I smile sadly "No, they understand that it's dangerous, and they understand that I can't tell them because it will put them in danger. Speaking of which, I need to call Barbra, she'll be worried. I'll be back in a second."

I padded off to the kitchen and called Barbra. She answered on the first ring "Samantha sweetie, is that you?" I smiled at her understanding tone "Yeah it's me."

She started shooting off questions excitedly, all the unwanted feelings flying to the front of my head "What happened? Did you find Bobby? What is this all about? Are you okay? Do you need me to come?"

I smile warmly to myself as I hear the concern in her voice "No Barb. I . . . I kinda met my biological father today." I hear the excited screams on the other end and hold the phone away from my ear "Oh My! How!?!"

I feel the heavy tug on my heart return as I realize the excitement had worn off "He was at Bobby's." You smile sadly as she politely asks "And how is Bobby? Staying out of trouble I hope."

I couldn't fight off the sob that ricochets deep in my throat at Barb's harmless inquiry "Yeah, you could say he's staying out of trouble. . . Um, Bobby's dead."

Barbra's voice dropped immediately "Oh my. Sweetie are you okay?" I nodded sadly to myself as I feel the grief threaten to take over "Well, I will be I think. Eventually. It's just going to take some time to realize that he's actually gone . . . But anyway, apparently Bobby had planned this all along, he had sent for us both to show up at the same time. I met Dean, his brother Sam, and their friend Castiel."

I hear her reassuring tone "Well that's exciting, maybe you all can grieve together. I know Brad and I will. He was such a good man. . . Anyway, tell me about Dean! What's he like?"

I sit on the table in the kitchen and say "He's exactly like I imagined him! I mean he is strong, protective, and occasionally really sweet. But at the same time, he can be distant, cold, and unwilling to make connections with people. It's a weird combination."

Barbra calmly said "Well, he probably has his reasons. Just give him some time. Now tell me about Sam!" I smile at the memory "Sam is different but the same. I always envisioned him as a geeky little brother, but he isn't. He's sweet, funny, and can be protective. But Sam's other side is different. It's like he feels he's let Dean down, and he is constantly trying to make it up to him. It's a very unhealthy relationship."

Barbra laughs a little "You've always been able to read people. Do they look like you imagined?"

I smile as I hop off the table and lean on the door frame of the kitchen watching Sam and Dean work "Well, Sam is much taller than Dean, which I didn't expect. Dean still has short hair, and Sam's hair is almost as long as mine. But they are both adorable. They've each got their own charm about them. Dean is more of a manly man bad boy type, but Sam is more lengthy and tall. They're both exceedingly handsome. It's weird to think that I actually came from this bloodline."

I can imagine Barbra's proud smile as she says "I can believe it. You've got the best of both worlds it sounds like. You've got the beauty and brains from Sam, and Dean's demeanor, you could conquer the world if you wanted to."

I laugh loudly at her "Yeah right."

I see Dean come into the kitchen and lean on the door frame. I smile at him and tilt my head questionably; he smiles and asks "Can I talk to her for a minute?"

I smile as I ask Barbra "Ummm, so Dean just walked in, and he wants to talk to you."

I hear Barbra's confused but excited tone "Yes, of course! I'd like to talk to him too."

Before I hand the phone to Dean I turn slightly and put my hand over the microphone so only she can hear me "I'm gonna warn you. His voice is like velvet dipped in chocolate. So behave." I hear her laugh as I turn back around and hand the phone to Dean.

I smile as he takes the phone and says "Barbra? This is Dean Winchester." I hear hints of Barbra's excited voice from across the room and smile as a smile crosses Dean's face.

I watch him carry on a conversation with my foster mother and I feel a warmth come over me. This is unbelievable.

I'm snapped out of my happiness by Dean's voice "Would it be okay with you if my brother Sam and I came by? We'd like to meet you and your husband face to face, and I'd like to personally thank you for all you've done for Samantha."

I watch with wide eyes as my mouth drops open. Seriously? What in the hell brought that on?

Dean smiles at my reaction as he says "Great, we'll head on over there now. I look forward to meeting you." I watch with a dumbfounded expression on my face as I watched Dean say goodbye and hang up the phone "What in the hell brought that on?"

Dean smiled and shrugged his shoulders "It was Sammy's idea." I walk over to him slowly, eyeing him the whole way and grab my phone out of his extended hand "I don't believe you. This was your idea, you want me to finish out college and you're trying to get Barbra and Brad to back you up!"

I watch the cocky smile cross his face as he coolly declares "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I walk past him into the other room, "So Sammy, apparently we're heading to Ohio." Sam doesn't look up from his computer "Okay, let me grab my bag."

I turn around and Dean is gone and when I turn back around Sam is gone. Okay. These guys have to be ninjas or something.

I sit at the table and look at the books on the table, I see a couple of common lore books but then I see a file folder. I reach over and pick it up. Okay, that's the Men of Letters symbol. Let's see what I can find out here.

I open the folder and see a single picture of a red abrasion on a forearm. Okay, I know this symbol, this is a similar concept of the mark of Cain.

I look into the folder more and I find a handwritten account on all current information on the mark of Cain. Cain killed Abel . . . Blah, blah, blah. . . I know all this . . . Ah, so Cain made a deal with Lucifer to save his brothers soul. And Lucifer tricked Cain into killing his own brother. Wow, that's kinda harsh, and it feels oddly familiar. So we're trying to remove the mark of Cain . . . From who? Cain?... Who in the hell is Metatron? And why in the hell was he in the dungeon?

I hear footsteps so I close the folder quickly and place in back on the table. Sam walks in and sits down across from me as he asks"You doing okay?"

I nod quickly "Yeah, considering. Once the excitement wears off it'll be different though."

Sam smiles sadly at me "Yeah, Dean took it pretty hard when Bobby died."

I nodded "Yeah. It's not an easy thing to deal with, and I'd only known the man for eight years, I can't imagine losing someone who was there for your whole childhood."

Sam looks at the table and starts fiddling with his computer "He'll be okay. Dean is well-known for getting through hard times."

I smile at Sam and nod as Dean walks in the room and says "Ready?"

Sam and I nod and follow Dean out to the Impala.

#spn #supernatual #deanwinchester #dean winchester #daddy winchester #Daddy!Dean #daddy dean #dean winchester father #winchester boys #Sam Winchester #uncle sam #uncle winchester

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mmazzeroo · 5 years

Text

Jonerys Advent Calendar 2018

@helloimnotawesome

Dear Val! I’m so excited (and nervous) and honoured to be your Jonerys Secret Santa!

Just a real quick shoutout to Val’s story ‘I Chose You’ - go read it if you haven’t already! *hearteyes*

Never done anything like this before, but got this crazy idea in my head and just couldn’t get it out. So I thought why the heck not?! Why advent calendar you ask. Because they are a vital piece of Christmas celebrations in my part of the world, and as a child I loved them so hoped you might too. Beginning your day with a small piece of chocolate what’s not to like, right? (I still do sometimes even when it isn’t Christmas, please don’t tell my mom). There are advent tv-series where children (usually) somehow end up saving Santa or Christmas or both. So I thought I’d try to transfer the concept into writing by giving you a little drabble-ish sized bite each day from Dec. 1st to 25th.

Fair warning: Virgin fanfic writer (written non-fic pieces though). Un-beta’ed, so apologies for that. English isn’t my native tongue. Any and all grammatical and spelling errors, plot-holes and messed up timelines are entirely mine, and I own them proudly. Since this is based on fiction I’m not trying to make it realistic, just plausible enough to be believable. Totally ball-parking everyone’s ages! Also, because it’s Christmas time I’ve tried to keep the story light and cheery despite the underlying current of heartbreak. (Did I give too much away now?)

Hope you’ll enjoy the story - and the ride! Can be read here below or on AO3.

NB: All rights belong to George RR Martin and HBO. Also, all lines and quotes from various movies, tv series and songs belong to their respective writers / producers / owners. I own none of the content.

ARYA I - What A Shit day!

"Sir! Sir! You need to lay still! We're here to help you, ok?"

She was looking into steel grey eyes as wide as saucers. Like a deer caught in the headlights. Wide with fear and pain. Always the same mix only the degree of either varied. The grey eyed man unfortunately seemed to learn towards fear. Damn it! Fear only made her job more complicated. Fear was only a few steps away from panic and panic was lethal. Panic shut down the brain and prevented her from reaching or reasoning with the patients.

"My wife!" He grabbed her collar and pulled her closer to his face. "Save my wife! She's 8 months pregnant! Please!!" His voice broke at the last word and he loosened his grip on her jacket. Yup, definitely need to calm him down. Shit! She took a quick look towards the tree-line feeling like she was being watched.

"Sir, your wife is being tended to as we speak, ok? She's in good hands. Now can you please tell me your names?"

His lips moved but she couldn't hear a thing over the helicopter taking off just then. Brilliant! Thanks Rakharo! She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. By the old gods and the new please keep the woman and her child safe. Brienne was an amazing paramedic and always did everything within her power to keep everyone alive. She had to have faith, yet she could never help herself to say a little prayer whenever she was on a scene. Especially one like this.

Detective Bronn from King's Landing City Watch had already arrested the drunken sod who'd caused this mayhem. SUV hit in the side, pushed off the road, rolled down a hill and burst into flames. Metal pieces, glass and blood spread heavily all the way down. Pools of blood where the bodies of the driver and passenger had landed. Strange how being thrown out of a vehicle could suddenly be looked at as 'lucky', but it had prevented them from being trapped in a burning car. The blood was all too easy to see in the snow even though the only light available was that from the flames of the burning car - which the firefighters were working on putting out - and her own headlight strapped to her forehead. Both bodies had appeared unresponsive until she and Brienne had managed to get close enough. The drunken driver had gotten off with a broken nose and a busted eyebrow. Fucking asshole! If any lives were lost this evening he'd have a much worse hangover than he could possibly imagine. DA Martell would make sure of that!

A couple of decades ago the Starks and Targaryens had entered an unprecedented partnership. While the Tyrells and Martells were battling over who should reign supreme over Westeros, the wolves and dragons set out on a different mission: They united their medical skills for both humans and animals alike. Under one roof. Together. So today when an emergency call was made they sent out paramedics and a tracker for the hurt and scared animal. To help all injured beings. At first there was the usual scepticism when someone does something new, but gradually people began to understand. Her dad and the late Commander Targaryen both believed the idea of 'leaving no one behind' must include ALL family members regardless of number of legs or wings or scales etc. President Tyrell had successfully managed to get a law past about a decade ago which clearly stated that 'a life is a life' and 'any life taken by outside forces will henceforth be considered a criminal offence and proper authorities shall investigate as such'. So if Tormund and his bloodhounds didn't find and come back with a living breathing dog belonging to the grey eyed man...well then mr. drunk-with-a-busted-eyebrow would be waking up to murder charges tomorrow morning.

"Can you tell me your name, sir?"

She had leaned closer to try to maintain eye contact with him. His eyes blinked once, twice, then closed, she felt his breath on her face and felt his hands slip from her jacket, fall and landed limply in the snow. There was a cry from the woods sounding almost like a wolf, but there were no wolves this far South.

"Clegane! CLEGANE!! Get your arse over here! We need to get him out of this godsdamned snow!"

Sandor Clegane was by her side in a few big strides. He helped strapping the man to the board and helped pull him uphill. He hopped in the driver's seat while she went to work in the back of the ambulance.

"Don't you dare die on me now, buddy! C'mon!" Still no reaction. "C'mon damn it! Wake up!!" Fuck! Cutting his clothes to get to his torso she was met by a sight she'd never seen before. His upper body was covered in scars. Some clearly old while some looked to be pretty resent. Seven hells! What's happened to you?! If only she knew his name. People tend to respond well to hearing their name. She kept working on the man while listening to a symphony of Sandor cursing the King's Landing late night traffic. There was a strong pulse again. Good.

"Yes! He's stable again. ETA?"

"5 mins"

"Roger that."

She searched his pockets for any ID's or papers of any kind but came up empty handed.

"Sir, can you tell me where you are?" She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We, we just..." His breathing was shallow and laboured. "We just wanted to find our family." Tears started to pool in his eyes and he was visibly shaking now from trying to keep himself together. "And now," he took a deep shaking breathe, "it's all gone to shit." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he closed his eyes. Once again crashing.

"Damnit man! Stop doing this shit, it's getting real old! You hear me?!" We're so close to the hospital, just hold on a little longer. Leaning in she whispered in this ear, "Your family needs you."

When they arrived at the emergency entrance at the Lyanna Stark Memorial Hospital, Dr. Lannister was already waiting for them.

"Male, injured in vehicle accident. In and out of consciousness, but stable for now. Seemingly superficial wounds to left side of the head. Broken ribs and possible punctured lung on the left side of the chest."

"Has he said anything, Stark?" Dr. Lannister lifted his eye from his notes and looked straight at her. He didn't mean to she knew that, but the fact that he was so tall he literally looked down at her tend to make her feel like a child being scolded whenever he spoke to her. She did not like that feeling. Despite being one of the best surgeons Dr. Lannister wasn't arrogant though. Sure he would often state the fact that he's better than most, but does telling the truth make you arrogant? She wasn't sure.

She lifted her chin towards him and said, "Only few words here and there about his wife and family, doctor."

"Alright. I'll take it from here then. Time to go fix this daddy!"

He started pushing the gurney down to the lift. She took a few steps down the hall.

"Know anything about his wife?"

"Dr. Martell and Dr. Stark are working on her and the babies as we speak. They're in good hands, Arya." His kind green eyes met her own concerned grey ones.

She nodded.

"Wait! Babies? Plural?"

"Twins!", he shouted before the lift doors closed and he disappeared up to the OR.

Twins! Now she hoped even more that Robb and Dr. Martell could work their magic. She knew her brother was a skilful paediatric surgeon, but rumours had it that he was particularly skilled in neonatal care including surgery. Had to be why else would someone like Dr. Martell pick him as resident? Not known for doing favours she wouldn't give two fucks who his dad was if he didn't have any knowledge and skills of his own. Deep breathe. Ok, so overall the country's top surgeons were busy working on her grey eyed patient and his family. That had to be enough. It had to be!

Normally she'd go check the status of the affected animals over at the vet wing, however not expecting Tormund and his hounds to be back already and since technically her shift had ended while out on the call, she went straight to 'Hot Pies & Ale'. Not exactly the most inventive of names, but as Davos said 'we do what it says on the tin.'

Much to her surprise she heard the rambunctious wildling's voice the second she set foot in the pub.

"For fuck sake Bobby, stop licking Bessie's tits! At least buy her dinner first, you dog!" Tormund shook his head as he took a sip of his beer.

"Well, he is a dog so what did you expect?"

"Ha! Little Stark! Smart as always. Bobby B's a dog, aye, but does that mean I want to listen to him licking his girlfriend's tits all night? Tell me that!" He said challengingly, his eyebrows up and chin raised.

"I'm not 'little Stark'—", she said through clenched teeth

"Only because Bran's sitting in a chair!" he bellowed.

"—and 2nd, I don't know what the hells you like listening to!"

Turning towards the bar she hopped onto one of the stools and nodded to Tyrion and Viserys sitting side by side chuckling, probably at her and Tormund's little exchange.

Giving them an annoyed side glare, idiots, she turned around slightly to face the red-haired man. "Didn't expect you back this early. Is that good or bad news?"

"Good. Found it not too far off in the woods. Growling like a motherfucker though, had to sedate the poor thing. Must've taken some hits in that tumble down the hill. Had a few burns as well not too bad all things considered."

She remembered all too well the sound of the growling coming from the car as she had manoeuvred around the vehicle to get to the man. When the firefighters had managed to cut the lock to the crate open all she saw was a flash of white fur, and it was gone between the trees.

"Dr. Tyrell and Sansa was with him when I left."

Giving him a puzzled look he clarified, "Dr. Targaryen isn't expected back until tomorrow. Anyway, Dr. Tyrell says the dog should be back up and running in a jiffy." Giving her a reassuring smile he continued with a wistful look in his eyes, "Could swear it looked like a winter dog. Albino one at that. White as snow. Big gorgeous beast!" He ended with one of his signature big grins.

"Do winter dogs howl?" she asked while taking a sip of the soda Davos had placed before her.

"This one did that's what led me straight to him. Up North they do and the wolves will reply. Can keep you up all night with their howling banter", he laughed out loud and shaking his head as if remembering something. "We'll know for sure tomorrow when Dr. Stark comes."

"Dad's coming??", she asked perhaps a little too excited.

"Aye, Dr. Tyrell called him down for a consult to make sure. If it is a winter dog then he's more wolf than the huskies she's used to."

"Speaking of howling", Viserys interrupted and looked at Tyrion, "your sister was causing quite a ruckus this evening," he chuckled.

Sighing deeply Tyrion asked, "Do I even want to know what she did this time?"

"She kept yelling for more wine", Viserys laughed trying to immitate Cersei "More wine! MORE WINE! MOOOORREEEE WIIIINNNEEEE!!" Leaning back on the barstool, hand on his stomach laughing out loud he continued, "she almost couldn't sound more looney even if she tried!"

Everyone laughed out loud at that including, and especially, Tyrion.

"I swear rubber cells were invented for the likes of my sister."

"Tyrion!", she slapped him on his arm, "she may be crazy but she's still your sister."

"That's exactly why I say it! If set free she'd be a menace to society." He took a big gulp of his beer. "Speaking of menace, have I ever told you the story of the jackass, honeycomb and brothel?" he asked with a grin wiggling his eye brows.

Leaning closer to him with a big smile on her face she answered "Ooh do tell Mr. Lannister!"

"Well, I once brought a jackass and a honeycomb into a brothel—"

He was interrupted when the pub door was ripped open and the voice of a furious woman yelled, "Hey! Watch where you're going fuckface!!"

Stepping through the door she practically threw her bag to the side as she stomped straight to the bar.

"Dany! Good to see you again, sis", Viserys leaned in to kiss her on the temple, "Flight catch some disturbance did it?" he chuckled.

"Oh if only it was the flight", she growled, "Davos, give me a shot of your Dothraki booze."

"As m'lady wishes", Davos poured a shot while exchanging a look with both Vis and Tyrion. "Here you go."

Dany put the glass to her mouth and threw her neck back taking it in one shot. Resulting in heavy coughing and wheezing. "Gods! I hate that stuff! Give me another one. Now, Davos!"

"Hey, why can't I have any of that by the way?", she suddenly asked pointing her index fingers at everyone's drinks.

"Because Arya," Gendry, having been quiet this entire time, said and raised his hand to point at the sign hanging at eye-level clearly saying '21', "you must be this high to ride this ride." Everyone around her laughed out loud with him. A smug look on his face indicating he was very pleased with himself.

"Fuck you! I'll be 21 in just a few months!"

"Few months isn't 21 today, sorry Arya", Davos said sympathetically.

"Whatever!" She left 5 dragons on the bar and jumped off the stool marching to the door.

Gendry called out to her, "A soda's only 4 dragons."

As she swung the door open she looked back and said, "Keep the change...you filthy animal!"

She heard a choir of laugher as the door closed behind her. What a shit day!

#joneryssecretsanta2018 #helloimnotawesome #jonerys #advent #christmas

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scornedlove · 5 years

Text

Chapter Nineteen

ROBYN

“Hi” I exhaled sharply; I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath. I don’t know why seeing him was such a surprise. I should’ve known he would be here today, after all, he lost his first son too.

“Hi” he replied, stroking the back of his neck. He looked even more stunned than I did, I just couldn’t tell if he thought it was a good thing or bad one. “Can you believe it’s been a year?”

“Feels like it’s been a decade” I replied, moving past him and squatting down to put the flowers I brought in front of the tombstone. My heart was beating ten times faster than it normally does, so I closed my eyes and slowly counted backwards from ten as I stood back up.

“Robyn? Are you okay?” Chris called out placing his hand on my shoulder. That alone sent electricity through my body. I turned around to face him and nodded as we made eye contact. I hadn’t seen him since Christian’s funeral, so my stomach was doing back flips.

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you” I admitted so nervously, it came out shaky. The concern on his face disappeared as he took a step back and put both hands in his pockets.

“Why haven’t you called? I don’t care what terms we’re on, you can always call and I will always listen”

“I called a couple of times and Kate answered. I didn’t want to cause any drama between ya’ll so I hung up”

“Kate answered my phone? You must be talking about a long time ago or something”

“Yeah, it was a few months ago…but do you have time to talk now?”

“What’s up?”

“Not here” I replied glancing down at Christian’s tombstone. I know it would probably seem silly to him, but I didn’t want to taint this area with our bullshit.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere but here” I replied with a shrug and he grabbed my hand to lead the way to his car.

“I’m sorry for not showing up on my birthday” I began to explain once we were settled in his car. “Rayven was in an accident so I spent a week with her at the hospital”

“It’s all good. I hope she’s okay now”

“Yeah, she’s fine. How’s your uh, family? “I stammered, looking for the right words.

"Mama? She’s good. She’s doing great actually. She has a boyfriend now”

“Wow. Tell her I said congratulations. I really miss her”

“She misses you too. She’s still asking about you” he smiled, looking in my direction. His gaze made me nervous, so I turned and looked out the tinted window. His phone rang and he quickly hit ignore. We sat in silence for a couple of minutes until I got up the nerve to correct him.

“When I said family, I meant…. You know” I hinted, hoping he would catch on, but he just looked at me like he was clueless. "Kate and your daughter”

“Wow” he chuckled and his expression softened. “You never heard? I was pretty sure you heard through the grapevine. Kate’s baby wasn’t mine”

“What?” my head snapped in his direction. That completely caught me off guard.

“It was her ex’s baby”

“Fi true?! I knew some wasn’t right. I can’t believe I was right all along!”

“Yeah, I should’ve listened to you and waited for DNA results. You were right, I was naïve.”

“Damn right I was right. They always wanna trap the good guy. You’re a catch, ya know. If it weren’t for all the damn lying, we’d be somewhere married right now” I chuckled and it grew silent again.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about Michelle?”

“Truth is, I didn’t want to lose you Robyn. Once I knew about what your mom went through, I thought if you knew about my past, you would drop me without a second thought”

“But that’s what I don’t understand. You were never violent with me”

“I was never violent with her either. It was all a lie. A lie that first cost me my basketball scholarship when I graduated high school, then it cost me my future with you.” he explained how the Michelle situation started and escalated but was over now and I couldn’t believe it. It was like a movie, one where he was stuck with the shitty role. “If I could do anything different, it would be telling you the truth from the start”

“Wow. We really lost everything over lies and bullshit” I realized, shaking my head.

“It’s my fault. I take all the blame” he admitted as his phone rang and he ignored it for the second time. We sat there for a moment. Just looking at each other, lost for words. I waited for this moment so long, and now that it was here, I was speechless. I had so many things I wanted to say, I just didn’t know how.

“I have this huge event happening tomorrow and Tina needs me at the office right now. Can we meet up later? Sometime tonight so we can finish catching up?” he asked. I figured I could use that time to gather my thoughts and say what I really want so I quickly agreed.

“Let me get that for you” he offered, before coming around to open the passenger door.

“Can I have a hug?”

“Come’re girl. You know you don’t gotta ask for that” he smiled, pulling me as close as he could. He smelled so good and his embrace was so welcoming, that I just melted into him. I missed this and I wanted it to last forever.

He finally released his grip and when he did, I stood on my tippy toes and stole a kiss. I didn’t know what to expect, so when he kissed me back, I slipped my tongue in and easily found myself getting carried away.

CHRIS

I guess this is the universe’s early birthday gift to me. I thought to myself as I sat furthest from the entrance of Giorgio Baldi, waiting for Robyn’s arrival. I preferred to meet somewhere else, but she insisted that she was in the mood to eat here anyway, so I reluctantly agreed. Being here just brought back so many memories, and I didn’t want to go down memory lane tonight.

Just when I felt like I was possibly being stood up again, I felt her presence. I looked up just as she lifted her shades and we immediately locked eyes. She smiled and her eyes lit up, she was excited to see me. That made me smile as I stood up for a hug. This one lasted twice as long as the last one and I realized that she really did miss me.

“You look beautiful” I complimented her after our waitress had taken off with our order.

“You’re not too shabby yourself” she teased with a wink. We talked about everything we had been up to in our careers over the appetizer, and the crazy things that have been going on with our families and mutual friends over the rest of the meal. I felt like I was reconnected with a long-lost best friend while we talked about everything except ourselves.

We finished our bottle of wine and took our dessert to go. I was opening the passenger door for Robyn to get in when she did the same thing she did earlier and leaned in for a kiss, and like earlier, I kissed her back.

“Wait” I whispered, slowly pulling away from her soft, full lips. She opened her emerald eyes and bit her bottom lip, lust written all over her face. “Damn, you’re so beautiful” I found myself saying, instead of what I was supposed to be telling her.

She pulled me back to her by grabbing my head and I couldn’t resist. Our tongues danced as we devoured each other right there in the parking lot. She started nibbling on my lips, then moved to my right ear, then my neck. She smelled sweet like vanilla and it turned me on. My hands started to roam her body and my manhood started to grow, that’s when the guilt began to sink in. I can’t do this to Tae.

“Robyn” I called out, trying to get her attention, but she was a woman on a mission. “Hold on. Wait. Stop”

“What do you mean? Don’t you miss this?” she asked offended.

“I’ve missed you for over a year now, but I have a girlfriend” I blurted, before I could change my mind. For some reason, I was embarrassed to say it.

“Oh” she replied wiping the corners of her mouth, smoothing out her dress, and quickly backing away. “I’m sorry…I uh…I’m sorry.”

“We actually just made it official today. It’s still new” I added, hoping to ease the hurt on her face.

“Well…. I’m glad you’re obviously doing perfectly fine. Never mind on the ride. I’ll get myself home” she spat before whipping around so fast that she almost slapped me with her hair.

“Wait! Robyn!” I called out, praying she would stop. She slowed down and turned around for a moment so I closed the space between us. “Don’t be like that”

“It’s just…I don’t know Chris. I still have feelings for you, and you let me go on and on about how much I’ve missed you in my life all night, so yes, hearing that shit hurts” she admitted, as her eyes teared up.

“It’s not like I haven’t tried talking to you and waiting for you to come around. What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to say you still love me as much as I still love you”

“I do. You know I do, and I don’t expect that to change”

“What are you saying?”

“Let’s be friends.”

ROBYN

“Let’s be friends” I repeated to Melanie a couple of hours later. I was sitting on her love seat repeating the day’s events to her as we shared a bottle of Moscato. I was livid, with no right to be, which Mel reminded me of instantly.

“What’s the problem with that?” she asked confused. “You’ve told me hundreds of times that you just wanted to know how he’s been. Now that you know he’s actually in a good space, you’re acting jealous.”

“Fucking right I’m jealous. I should be the one who’s moved on and doing good right now, not him. He’s the one who lied and fucked everything up, and to think I was going to ask him if he wanted to try our relationship out again”

“Do you hear yourself right now?” Melanie asked, taking my glass out of my hand to demand my attention. “You could be in a relationship right now, and with a good guy. Dre has been on your ass like a lovesick puppy and what do you do? You do everything in your power to make sure he knows ya’ll aren’t together. You gotta do better than this sis. You’re being selfish and making yourself miserable in the process.”

“Wow…selfish? Don’t I have the right to be?”

“You have every right to be selfish, but don’t complain with the unhappiness that comes with it” she replied, handing my drink back to me. “You know what’s crazy to me? I decided to count how many times you called to check up on me in the past few months. Guess how many times you called me.”

“Seriously? I don’t know, we talk at least once a week, so at least five to ten times.” I answered easily.

“No. I call you once or twice a week. You called me once this entire year. You don’t even know that while I was in Vegas a few weeks ago with J for his conference, we decided to get married there” she revealed nonchalantly.

“You lying” I laughed. “There’s no way you’re serious”

“Robyn, every time we talk, it’s all about you. We’ve gotten to the point where I don’t even say much when we do talk because you’re going nonstop about your problems”

“Bitch you got married and didn’t tell me? There’s no way I’m that fucking bad.”

“You really are though. If you wouldn’t have run in to Chris today, you wouldn’t even be here right now” she pointed out, and I realized she was right.

“Oh my God. You’re right” I admitted in shame. “I’m sorry. I’ll get it together. I promise. I feel horrible now.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel bad, I just want my best friend back”

“I don’t even know who that girl is anymore, but I can make sure you have a new and improved best friend” I promised, kissing her cheek. “Just promise not to replace me”

“You know you’re irreplaceable. That goes for Chris too.” she added. “He’s right. If you really want to try with him again, just try being friends first”

CHRIS

“Man, I had a ball” Taylor stated, grabbing a bottle of water and downing it in seconds. We had just finished our kickball game, my team won of course, so I was talking shit.

“Well at least ya’ll had fun getting ya’ll ass kicked” I teased, drinking a Gatorade just as fast as he did his water. It was hot as hell outside today and the T-shirt I had on wasn’t making it any better. I was ready to take it off, but kept reminding myself that this was a family event.

“Naw, we would’ve won if it weren’t for Ryan being on our team. She didn’t even make it to first base all three times she kicked, and I’m pretty sure it was because she was helping you out. I’ve seen how she looks at you” he joked with a wink.

“That’s Anthony’s girl” I replied shaking my head.

“Oh really? My bad, I was just kidding, I hope he didn’t hear me”

“I heard you, but it’s all good. That’s not my girl, she for everybody. Ain’t that right Chris?” Anthony asked, reaching around Taylor and grabbing two bottles of water himself.

“Don’t disrespect her like that. That’s the homie” I replied, shaking my head. I forgot how bad he was when it came to speaking his mind. He always said what he felt like, no matter how disrespectful it came out.

“I’m just being honest. Matter of fact, I’m sure you could get that too, if you wanted to” he laughed, tapping Taylor’s arm and hitting my last nerve. I finished my drink and stepped closer to him so we could be eye to eye and he saw how serious I was. “I asked you once alre-”

"Happy birthday Chris” Robyn’s unmistakable voice called out, stealing my attention. Anthony frowned, then stepped back and walked in the opposite direction.

“You actually came.” My head whipped around so fast to make sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me. I couldn’t believe she showed up. I was pretty sure she was done with me, after my confession yesterday.

“Of course I came. If it’s important to my friend then it’s important to me” she winked. "We were in the stands the whole time” she added pointing over to Rayven, who was at the concession stand ordering food.

“How do you two know each other?” Taylor interrupted, making his presence known.

“What are you doing here?” Robyn asked, squinting as she shielded her eyes from the sun.

“You know my little brother? “I asked, wide eyed in shock. Surprises were coming left and right today.

"No, I mean he works at my gym, but I don’t know him” she explained, shifting weight from one leg to the other. “Wait this is Taylor, your long lost brother? He told me his name was Quincy. ”

“Quincy is my first name, I use it in the professional world, but everyone who knows me calls me Taylor, my middle name” he clarified.

"This world is small as fuck” I shook my head in amazement.

“Well, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday Chris. We’re about to take off. This was awesome, we had a lot of fun” she blushed, giving me a light punch on the arm. “It was good seeing you too, Quincy” she added before walking off.

“Bro. You gotta hook me up with her. She’s bad as fuck. I can tell she likes me too, she’s just nervous about my age.” Taylor exclaimed like a freshman who just met the prom queen. “And age ain’t nothing but a number. So, now that I know that you know her, you can vouch for me bro”

“Nah. I’m sorry to break it to you, but you can’t have her. We have too much history.” I replied, leaving it at that. This wasn’t something that was up for discussion.

Fortunately, we made it through the rest of the event without any incidents. I was glad to be home, freshly showered, and lying in bed with Diamond. I had almost dozed off when my phone rang.

“Hey babe, how did everything go?” Tae’s perky voice rang in my ear.

“Everything was perfect”

“Did anything exciting happen?

“Nothing too crazy. What about you? Did everything work out with your schedule?” I answered quickly, changing the subject. I wasn’t ready to reveal the fact that I’d run into Robyn yet. Our relationship was still so new, I didn’t want her to feel like she entered a competition, because that wasn’t the case. Although I love Robyn, I wouldn’t put myself in the same cycle as I did before, neither of them deserved that.

“Everything worked out perfectly. I miss you already though. I can’t wait for Nicki’s wedding so I can have an excuse to see you again”

“Don’t worry babe. Two weeks will fly by, and you’ll be in my arms in no time” I smiled. It felt good to be missed, but most of all, it felt good to be genuinely happy.

#robyn rihanna fenty #chris brown #ff #fanfiction #fanfic

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greekowl87 · 6 years

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"you have no idea what you do to me" from that prompt list! MSR ❤️

MSR. Post Tithonuaus. Fluff. Pure MSR Fluff.

A/N: Hope you enjoy! Sorry for any typos :) Tagging @today-in-fic

After Mulder had arrived in New York, smiled, sat on the edge of her bed, took her hand and affirmed to both themselves that Scully was okay, she couldn’t be rid of her partner. For the first day or two, he slinked around her room and wing, sleeping beside her in a chair, hardly leaving her side. He sneaked in meals, New York style pizza slices that made her mouth water and that the nurses would scold him for. By the second day, Mulder was holding her hand, watching the tv as she dozed lightly on the bed beside her. He heard her room door opening and it revealed her mother and Big Brother Bill.

“Scully,” Mulder murmured in her ear. He bent over and pushed back a stray lock of red hair. Her grip instinctively tightened on Mulder’s hand as she came back to consciousness. He could already feel the searing gaze of Bill burning into the back of his head. “You’re mother and Bill are here.”

She pulled back and groggy blue eyes searched his face first for some sort of clue before focusing on her family. Mulder moved to yield the chair to her mother but found his hand chained to hers. She glanced at him quickly, wordlessly begging him to stay with her. He slumped back into the seat. Mulder caught Bill’s scalding gaze and Scully groaned dismissively. “Leave it be, Bill. Mulder wasn’t there.”

“He should have…”

“Bill, shut up,” Scully groaned. She tilted her head to the side as her mother hovered about her. “Mom, I’m fine.” She let go of Mulder’s hand in a vain attempt to escape her mother’s ministrations. “Mom!”

“Dana!” Mrs. Scully snapped. “I just flew on a moment’s notice with Bill from San Diego when Fox called, telling me of the news!”

“I’m fine,” she grumbled. Her eyes narrowed at Mulder. “This is your fault.”

“Blame me,” he whispered affectionately. He bent over and kissed her forehead, and he had an odd moment of deja vu. “I need to shower. My clothes are about to stand up on their own and I’ll be back.”

“Bring real food?”

“Of course,” he promised. He caught Mrs. Scully’s gaze and discreetly nodded towards the door.

“I’ll be right back, Dana.”

Bill curtly brushed past Mulder without a word and took over his seat. Scully looked uncomfortable but he could tell she was already drifting back to sleep due to the drugs in her system. Mrs. Scully and Mulder exited out into the hallway. “You look like you haven’t slept in days, Fox.”

“I got here right as she was coming out of surgery,” he yawned, suddenly tired. “I haven’t left her side since.” Mrs. Scully gazed at him approvingly. “Anyways, she is going to be fine, stubbornness notwithstanding. The doctors said she just had an angel or something watching out for her because her recovery has been remarkably faster than anticipated.”

“Why is she drugged?”

“Painkillers,” he supplied, with another yawn. “She sleeps a lot, in and out. You just came in the middle of her fourth nap today.”

“That’s Dana; she could sleep practically anywhere,” Mrs. Scully smiled.

“No matter how loud,” Mulder added.

“Fox, why don’t you go freshen up and try and get some sleep?”

“I promised I wouldn’t leave…”

“Dana would understand. Besides, Bill was wound tighter than a mouse trap on the plane, even though you had nothing to do with this.” She patted his bicep. “Best face him when you’ve had some shut-eye.”

“Yes, ma'am.” He paused. “I’ll…if she wakes up.”

“I’ll call. Thank you, Fox.”

Mulder watched Mrs. Scully disappear back into the hospital room and Mulder rubbed his face blearily. “You have no idea what you do to me, Scully,” he mumbled lovingly.

… .

Scully did not make the best patient. She snapped at her mother more than once, almost punched big brother Bill in the jaw while he mocked her (“You’re flat on your back anyway, Dae, what makes you think you can get me?”). Cocky bastard. And Mulder. The only clue that he left was that his clothes had changed. First from the wrinkled suit and then just different colored sweaters and tee shirts. He never left her side and when it came time from her release from the hospital a week later, Mulder was carrying her bags through Dulles after a long painful flight back from New York and her difficulty walking did not go unnoticed.

“Do you want me to get a wheelchair, Scully?”

Her breath came in short hitches as she shook her head vehemently. “I’m fine, Mulder.”

He slowed their pace as she eyed another airport lounge and sat gingerly in the chair, mindful of her still fresh bullet wound in her abdomen. “I’m just…” She took a deep breath. “Being courteous to you, Mulder.”

“Of course,” he admitted. He sat down the bags next to her and joined her in the lounge chair. “So, how long do you want to take a break for?”

Scully cast an annoyed glance at her partner and wisely kept silent. Mulder continued disregarding the pause. “What I think is that I have not been paying enough attention to you and what not. Now’s the perfect time to start making amends. I’m going to grab you a wheelchair–not because of the gunshot wound or anything. I just thought it would be nice not to walk through the hell of Dulles.”

She opened her mouth to reply but transformed it into a small smile when she saw the wheelchair being pushed by a flight attendant.

“Thank you,” Mulder smiled, “we got it from here.”

“You don’t have to make amends, Mulder,” she whispered, getting up and sitting stiffly into the chair. He handed Scully her carry on and slung their overnight bags over him. “Or be my pack horse.”

“Maybe I want to.”

“You haven’t really left my side since you arrived in New York, even tolerating Bill. That’s a big step up, Mulder.”

“Well,” he shrugged as he began to push the wheelchair, “maybe I learned something.”

“You’ve never been a sorry son of a bitch,” she mumbled, reaching behind her. Scully’s small hand squeezed his forearm and he smiled. “I heard what Bill called you during my cancer. Besides, I was glad you were there. And here now.”

“Wanna race?” he asked leaning over to whisper in her ear.

“I don’t think–”

Scully always knew he could be a fast runner. She had seen his long legs sprint at speeds that would have taken her breath away when chasing a suspect down but the moment he started springing with her in the wheelchair. The laughter that bubbled up from her chest erupted into the pain that transformed into a hideous cough that hurt every time her abdomen contracted. Mulder stopped immediately and she waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine, Mulder,” she managed.

“I’m sorry.”

She shook her hand and caught his hand tightly. “Don’t…be.” She gave a painful smile. “Just ease up on the antics until I’m better, okay?”

He gave a weary smile and nodded. “You okay?”

She nodded. “As well as can be expected. I know…” She swallowed. “You know I don’t like to admit weakness but being here, Mulder…thank you.”

“That’s a lot coming from you, Scully.”

He got up and begin to push her again. “Shut up, Mulder.”

He smiled and replied, “So since your lovely vacation in New York, I have been taking care of things. You’re on medical leave until next month or until you feel better. I’ve kept your mother at bay until feel ready.”

“That doesn’t sound like her,” she reflected thoughtfully.

“Probably nothing.”

“Unless she got Charlie or his wife…”

“Scully, stop thinking.”

“What about you talking about?”

“You think too much.”

“What are you gonna do with me out of commission,” she smirked, rolling her head back. He should have kissed her right there. “Kersh might fire you.”

“Universal mysteries,” he supplied vaguely. “Do you want anything before I pull around the car?”

“No,” she yawned. “I just want to go home.”

… .

Halfway on 66, Scully slept with passenger side chair lounged back, her hand held his hand tightly never letting go. He smiled.

… .

“Mulder, why does my apartment look different?”

Scully stood (more leaned against Mulder) in the doorway as he flicked on the light to her living room. She noticed some of his things mingling with hers like his weekend bag and a grocery bag of sunflower seeds on her kitchen table. She elbowed him expectantly. Mulder gasped for breath and replied. “I don’t know what you mean. Go sit down, I’ll bring you a glass of water and take care of these bags.”

“I could do it,” she sighed, bending painfully.

“Scully, need I remind you I am at least a foot taller and probably have seventy pounds over you right now? And if I blew, you would fall over. Scully, for once, I’ll even pinkie-swear, let me take care of you.”

“It’s not an option, is it?”

“I knew you were the smarter one.”

Scully gave him the evil eye and shuffled towards her couch where she very gingerly sprawled out. She kicked off her shoes, pulled the afghan over her clumsily. She closed her eyes, only for a few minutes she promised herself, as she listened to Mulder turn NPR and rummage through the kitchen. Her partner was here. Mulder was here. Without a second thought, either exhaustion or the pain meds she was likely still high off of, she slipped into a brief slumber while Mulder watched from the kitchen, smiling as he started the coffee instead of getting her a glass of water.

When she awoke again, Scully found herself in her bedroom still wearing the clothing that she had come home in. Gingerly, she pushed herself up in bed, wincing in pain as she brought a hand uselessly to her still healing wound. She needed to change the bandage and while she could do it herself, she was not going to even attempt.

“Mulder,” she called. Her voice sounded gravelly from being unused. “Mulder!”

He appeared moments later barefooted and wearing jeans and a white t-shirt splattered with spaghetti sauce all over it. She arched an eyebrow questioningly. “Don’t ask. I was trying to cook and well, it looks like I killed someone.” He motioned to his shirt. “But I found this recipe and conjured up something resembling chicken noodle soup when you’re ready. I promise its edible.”

“I can take care of myself you know.”

Mulder saw her smile and relaxed noticing she was joking with him. “Very funny,” he mumbled. “You still called me in for something.”

“To change my bandage. Did you carry me in here?”

He nodded and guided her back to the bed. “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” she dismissed. “Why are you still here?”

He stopped what he was doing. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” she hissed, sitting on the bed. She pointed to her bathroom where her medical kit was. “You don’t have to be here. I’m not making you.”

He retrieved her bag and took out gauze, surgical tape, and scissors. Kneeling down before her, Mulder’s warm hands gently rolled up her shirt. She hitched her breath as the pads of his fingers traced around the bandaged area where red still radiated outwards. She hissed again and he mumbled ‘sorry’ under his breath. He gently pulled away the bandage and Scully watched him grit his teeth angrily. She calmed him instantly by grabbing his wrists.

“You are here now,” is all she said softly. He nodded tightly and under her careful directions cleaned and applied a fresh bandage to her wound. He leaned forward without thinking to place a quick, ginger kiss. She smiled. “What was that for?”

“Um…” He grinned and blushed. “Sorry.”

“Why? I’m not.” He met her eyes with an unspoken question unfolding before them. “Why are you still here, Mulder?”

He gave a weak smile. “You have no idea what you do to me, Scully. I, uh, with what happened…with everything that happened and I wasn’t there and I should’ve been. It just made me realize, after everything, Scully, how much you…well, how I should act.”

She gave a tight smile despite the throbbing pain in her abdomen. “How should you act?”

“You aren’t making this easy, are you?”

“Never.”

He got up from his kneeling position and framed her face within his hands. He kissed her softly once. Again. And again. He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. “After all the times you’ve cheated death, I think it’s time to step up my game. Well, I’m going to try. If you would allow me to play nurse for you? I make an excellent manservant. I’ve already made us dinner”

“You do know that I may not be able to…” She motioned at her wound. “I wouldn’t be much fun.”

“Hasn’t stopped me before. Besides, we’ve already waited six years. What’s a little longer?” He smiled as she leaned forward this time and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. “And I didn’t tell you. I’m on leave until you get better since your mother is unable to take care of you.”

She chuckled, wincing as she did. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “How did you manage that?”

“Secrets. Can’t rush the romance, Scully. Now, you ready to change into something more comfortable and join me for dinner? I found a zombie movie marathon on the Sci-fi channel.”

“You’re such a dork,” she smirked. She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I may need some help with that.”

Mulder’s eyes lit up darkly and he kissed her again. “You know, I don’t think I could get tired of that. And your wish is my command.”

She just pulled him close and took a moment to thank whatever had saved her and delivered her into this new reality. “I don’t think I’ll grow tired of it either. Or forget it either, Mulder,” she whispered, remembering Fellig’s words. “I won’t ever forget this.”

#prompt #asked and answered #msr #xfiles #xf fic #txf #txf fic #msr fic #mulder #scully #mulder and scully #fluff #msr fluff #post ep #tithonus

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