#one of them will be gifted on christmas!! the other holds my hooks
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Two of them Tuesday
#crochet#chicken#purse#cute#amigurumi#one of them will be gifted on christmas!! the other holds my hooks
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Mɪss Aᴍᴇʀɪᴄᴀɴᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Hᴇᴀʀᴛʙʀᴇᴀᴋ Pʀɪɴᴄᴇ
Relationship: professional tight end!Ari Levinson x pop superstar!fem reader
Words: ~3.7k
Summary: You and Ari bring in the holiday season with your own special celebration.
Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual content (m receiving oral sex, f receiving oral sex, daddy kink, unprotected p in v sex, dumbification, multiple orgasms) celebrity lifestyle, America’s sweethearts, 6’7” Ari. SMUT!! 18+ ONLY!!!
A/N: an early Christmas gift for all you lovelies!! I think it’s painfully obvious what this fic was inspired by and I’m not even a little embarrassed about it. They’re too cute!
I am no longer doing taglists so if you want to stay up to date on all my latest fics, follow my sideblog @the-iceni-library and turn on notifications!
You waved exuberantly to the crowd as your float rolled past them, the cold autumn sunlight filtering through the skyscrapers and making the sequins all over your dress sparkle. It was absolutely freezing, but you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling like an idiot. Not only had your tour ended up being even more successful than you had ever thought it could be, you finally got to realize your dream of singing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Of course, there was something else that had you smiling like an idiot for the past few months. As soon as you got close to the parade’s end at 34th Street you could see him in the stands, holding what may have been the most adorable homemade sign you had ever seen while surrounded by a bunch of screaming tween girls. He was easy to spot since he was six feet seven inches, which made it even cuter each time he had to bend down to answer one of their questions until they all started squealing. Ari was your big, burly, all American man but also perhaps the softest teddy bear on the planet.
When they all saw you they started screaming, and you beamed back at them, laughing when Ari lifted a little girl onto his shoulders so she could see better. Yeah, he was too cute for you, everything the man did made your ovaries flutter. It was hard not to just give him moony eyes all through your performance, but you managed to share your attention with the other fans as you sang your new Christmas song. Your cheeks hurt from smiling so much once you were finished performing, like they did every time you saw your beefcake of a man.
Backstage was a zoo but when was it not. Assistants flurried around you as they helped you out of your intricate costume. By the time a large, warm hand slid around your waist you were down to nothing but your bra and some leggings. It’s not like Ari cared about that, though.
“Hey princess.” Ari beamed when you squeaked before turning around to look up at him. “You were amazing.”
“Staaaaaaaahp…” you giggled when he bent down to kiss the tip of your nose, batting your hands at his chest when he teased his hands under the hooks of your bra. “Ari! We only have a few minutes before we have to go to your game, I don’t want your teammates teasing you about being whipped by your superstar girlfriend again.”
“Baby, if I minded their teasing I wouldn’t be dating you.” He kissed your nose once more before pulling your sweater over your head. “There, ready to go in record time.”
“Ari… Ari!” You shrieked with laughter when he flung you over his shoulder and slapped your ass a few times, your face heating up as he got closer to the doors and outside where you knew a pack of paparazzi were waiting to catch the two of you. “Ari!!!”
“Calm down, princess.” He dropped you to the ground and kissed you so deeply you couldn’t breathe for a second, then opened the doors and led you outside with your hand in his even though you were blinking and stumbling like a newborn baby deer. “I feel like they would have thought it was cute.”
“Maybe.” You waved at a few of the paps and made sure they got a good shot of you kissing Ari’s cheek before stepping into the limo. “They do seem to enjoy how much bigger than me you are.”
“Do they now?” Ari pulled you into his lap and started pressing kisses all over your face. “I also enjoy it an incredible amount.”
“Yeah, I bet you do, teddy bear.” You giggled when he leaned back and his face was covered in glitter. “Oh, I think your teammates are still gonna tease you…”
“What? Why?” Ari furrowed his brow until you held up a compact so he could see himself. “Yeah they might.”
“My poor teddy bear.” You pouted and wiggled a little bit in his lap before you began to slide down to the floor between his legs. “How can I ever make it up to you?”
“Yeah, princess, I’m not sure getting glitter all over my dick is gonna keep them from teasing me… ow!” He guffawed when you pinched his thigh before starting to drag his zipper down. “But whatever, I don’t care.”
You hummed in agreement before pulling his thick cock out of his pants and licking a heavy stripe up the underside of his shaft, keeping your eyes fixed on his when you wrapped your lips around his tip and sucked softly. Ari groaned when you swirled your tongue around him, cupping your cheek gently for just a few seconds before curling it around your throat. The sensation of his fingers pressing against your carotid was one you welcomed, your eyes fluttering closed as you started bobbing your head up and down.
Every time you gave him head you marveled at just how huge he was; how he towered over you when you were on your knees; how your jaw ached as you stretched it as wide as you could; how even after so many months you still sometimes had to fight the urge to heave when he slid down your throat. His grip on your throat tightened as you started gagging around him, guttural grunts and murmurs falling from his lips as your drool slid down his shaft until it was covering his balls. Ari’s face was getting flushed as you kept going, and when he leaned forward and braced his massive thighs on either side of your shoulders you could have fainted.
His free hand gripped the edge of the seat until his knuckles turned white when you brought your own hand up to fondle his balls, his gaze intense and full of affection as his thumb stroked your throat. He throbbed and twitched in your mouth as you brought him closer and closer, the taste of his precum coating your tongue before you swallowed him to the root again. You whimpered when he swelled even larger, your eyes beginning to water as you breathed deeply through your nose and gulped around his massive cock.
When he finally came down your throat you sighed, watching his face screw up and then relax as he let out a primal groan. Ari looked so good when he came, the way every muscle in his body would tense up for just a few moments before he would sag and breathe easily as he gazed at you with a sense of possession. You made sure to keep your lips wrapped tightly around his cock as he started to pull out, slurping up every drop of his cum until he slid out of your mouth with a pop.
“Not a spot of glitter on your dick, teddy bear.” You beamed at him as you licked your lips clean, purring when he cupped your chin lovingly.
“No, just all over my pants.” Ari couldn’t help but laugh about it, especially when you spluttered and tried to wipe it off but only made it worse. “Princess, it's fine. No ones going to notice.”
“They have flashbulbs, Ari!” You whined when he tucked himself back in and pulled you up to sit next to him. “Oh my god…”
You didn’t have any more time to worry before the limo came to a stop, squeaking and feeling yourself getting hot again as Ari helped you out of the limo. Thank goodness the man practically ran as he led you towards the team entrance, not giving the press a chance to pick up the sparkly evidence of you fellating him that was all over his pants. Even though he had to go warm up he still took a minute to say goodbye to you, kissing you several times before heading to the locker room while you waved adorably.
He was definitely falling head over heels for you, and he didn’t even care who knew it. There was definitely an unbelievable amount of teasing in regards to the glitter on his crotch and in his beard, but it was good hearted. All of his teammates could tell how happy he was, so even the barbs about him being a kept man for the rest of his life were filled with that sort of friendly affection that old friends shared.
There was also the fact that he seemed to play exponentially better whenever you were in the stands. Analysts were quick to point out that whenever you were watching him play he tended to double his receiving yards, it even became a little joke among the sports commentators. What could he say, he liked to show off for his girl. As soon as he ran onto the field with the rest of the team and saw you cheering on the Jumbotron he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest.
The trend continued. Maybe it was because every time he caught a pass or made a touchdown he could look up and see you screaming your adorable head off on the Jumbotron, but he managed to set a new personal record for receiving yards. Over a hundred yards by the fourth quarter as well as two touchdowns, and he could tell you were proud by the way you were jumping up and down in the box. Yes, he was extremely tired and extremely sore after so much effort, but the smile on your face made it more than worth it.
Ari couldn’t shower and get dressed fast enough. He definitely got some exasperated looks from the rest of the team when he left them to give all the post-game interviews, but it was hard to care when he knew you were waiting for him. As soon as he stepped out of the locker room you were right there, squealing happily and telling him how amazing he was while he lifted you off your feet to kiss you like a fiend. It was hard to control himself around you, but he managed to keep from feeling you up as you made your way to his car.
He couldn’t keep from feeling you up once you were in the Impala though. Every time he came to a light his hand was on your thigh or your waist, and when he heard your tiny little sighs he growled in response. You were starting to squirm in your seat too, and he knew exactly what that meant.
“Tell me how wet you are, princess.” Ari tucked his bottom lip between his teeth and toyed with the hem of your skirt while he waited for the light to change. “C’mon baby girl, I’ve been waiting all day.”
“Teddy bear…” you squeaked when he pinched the inside of your thigh and felt your face starting to get hot again. “Sorry, Daddy. I’m so wet, Daddy, my panties are sticky.”
“Yeah, I bet they fucking are.” He grumbled when the light changed and he had to focus on the road again. “Show me.”
“Yes Daddy.” Your heart was pounding in your ears as you slid your panties down your legs and hung them from the rear view mirror, wiggling even more when the air cooled the wetness that was between your legs.
It took all his restraint not to reach out and press them against his face. Yeah, he would have crashed the car, but dying with your scent filling his lungs was the way he wanted to go. He stopped himself just in time, though he did suddenly find himself speeding through traffic faster than the law allowed. When he finally pulled into the hotel’s garage he dragged you after him and lifted you to wrap your legs around his waist, leaving your panties dangling from the mirror without thought.
“Fuck, I need you real fucking bad, princess.” Ari’s lips vibrated against yours as he growled with lust. “I haven’t had your pussy in almost thirty-six hours, it’s killing me.”
“I know, I don’t like it either, Daddy.” You wound your arms around his neck as he carried you to the elevator. “Feel so empty without you.”
“I know, and it’s a damn crime.” He nipped at your chin as the elevator rose to your floor, grateful that no other guests decided to join you as he was pretty sure your ass was hanging out of your skirt. “My poor baby girl.”
You could only moan in agreement when the elevator arrived at your floor, giggling when Ari poked his head out first to make sure there was nobody in the hall before he started towards your room. While he worked on the door you nibbled on his ear, writhing against him and whining until you were in the room and he threw you onto the bed. Ari grinned at you as he ripped his shirt off and undid his pants, giving you a few mischievous growls and barks before pouncing on you.
Even when he was domming you he was still so soft and sweet, calling you his good girl and pretty princess while he kissed your neck and peeled your clothes off your body. The way he looked at you once you were naked made everything below your waist clench, especially when he growled at you like a hungry bear who was going to eat you alive. Then he leaned down to pull your legs over his shoulders and do just that.
“Daddy! Oh god…” Ari just grunted against you in response as he ran his tongue all over your pussy until you felt dizzy. “Mmm, ‘s so good.”
Ari knew it was good, he fucking loved making you turn into a panting, whimpering mess with your eyes rolled back in your head. It made him feel like a god. Those cute little noises and the way your thighs squeezed his head while he drank his fill from your cunt made him purr like a jungle cat. You were so sweet and so creamy, and the way your little pussy would pulse against his lips made his cock get so painfully hard he had to start grinding it against the bed.
His tongue parted your pussy lips so he could push it inside you and you had to kick your feet so you didn’t lose it completely. They thumped against his back as he started to gently fuck you with his mouth, your breathing starting to get heavier and heavier as every muscle in your body grew tight. Every single time he ate you out he managed to bring you to the edge so fast it was unbelievable, and tonight was no different. You were trembling underneath him, your eyes already starting to flutter and your toes curling while his beard rubbed your sensitive folds raw.
When he pulled his tongue out of you and started sucking on your clit that was it for you. You sobbed his name and arched off the bed as you gushed sweet juices all over his face. He reached his hands up to massage your breasts and that just made it more intense, tears rolling down your face and your fingers yanking on his hair while he kept sucking and squeezing until you couldn’t breathe.
“That’s my good girl.” Ari was grinning like the Cheshire Cat as he sat up between your quivering legs. “Fuck, you look so fucking pretty after you come, princess. You think you’re ready for Daddy’s big dick, honey?”
“Mmhm.” You licked your lips and gave up trying to catch your breath when he yanked his pants down and kicked them away so you could finally see him in all his naked glory. “Want it so bad, Daddy.”
“Daddy knows, princess.” He moved slowly as he crawled on top of you, his massive body completely covering yours and making your pussy start throbbing even harder. “You just relax and let Daddy take care of you, baby girl.”
You nodded and drew in a shuddering breath when he reached between the two of you to start rubbing your clit as he lined himself up. Ari hooked your knees over his hips to keep you wide open for him, his eyes fixed on your face for any sign of pain or discomfort as he started to push inside you. Even though he wanted to just drive his cock deep and fuck your brains out, he was painfully aware of your size difference and if he ever hurt you he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. He could tell you were just as hungry for him, beaming at you when your hands clawed at his massive biceps when he finally got halfway in.
It felt like it took an hour, but when his hips finally met the soft flesh of your thighs you moaned and wiggled happily underneath him. Your body was slick with sweat and glowing, and he’d never seen anything more beautiful. Ari gripped your hands and pinned them above your head as he started to move, his lips ghosting against your throat when you whimpered at the feeling of his cock stretching you so wide it burned. You loved it, though, murmuring nonsense words of encouragement under your breath and locking your ankles at the small of his back.
When Ari really started to move you almost fainted, arching your body to meet his and whimpering when he sucked on your ear. He had hardly even gotten going before you were moaning and whining in his ear, your body spasming underneath him as you came for the second time and felt your muscles turning to jelly. Your pussy was so slick that Ari couldn’t stop himself from starting to slam into you, not that you minded. His breath was hot as he grunted against the sensitive skin of your throat, his lips and teeth leaving a trail of bruises in their wake while he shoved his cock so deep inside you you could swear you saw god.
Even though he had well and truly fucked you stupid he couldn’t stop murmuring sweet praises for you under his breath. Every ‘good girl’ or ‘pretty baby’ just made you slip further and further into the rosy haze of multiple orgasms as he wrung another one out of you. At some point he had rolled the two of you so your were laying on top of him, but it’s not like you could actually ride him in your fucked out state. So Ari was just holding your waist and moving you up and down on his cock like his own personal cocksleeve, grinning up at you the whole time and telling you how good and tight your pussy felt while you whined and drooled all over yourself.
“C’mon baby girl, you want it?” The teasing tone of his voice was still full of affection when you hiccuped as he fucked yet another intense orgasm out of your body. “Daddy needs to hear his princess say she wants his cum or I’m just gonna end up fucking you all night, and I’m not sure you could handle that, baby.”
“Mm-mm… Daddy…” you couldn’t even hold yourself up anymore, crying softly as you rested your face in the crook of his shoulder as he continued to drive up into you. “Please come inside my pussy, please. I want it, Daddy.”
“That’s my good girl.” Ari kissed the top of your head and gave a lewd grind of his hips, chuckling into your hair when you shuddered with another climax. “Can’t say no to you, princess.”
Your eyes fluttered closed when you felt him swell and throb inside you, a low whine escaping from you when you felt the first hot, sticky spurt of his seed shooting inside your pussy. Ari held you close as he filled you to the brim, his big hands rubbing your hips while his body rolled under yours and he let out one of those yummy groans he always made when he got to come inside you. When you finally came to you were still on top of him, only barely able to lift your head and beaming at the sight of his face flushed red as he struggled to come back down.
“Hiiiiiii teddy.” You scrunched up your face adorably when he grinned at you and kissed your forehead. “I’d say that was a pretty good way to kick off the holiday season.”
“I’m gonna have to agree with you there, princess.” His thick fingers trailed along the curve of your spine and you felt like you could fall asleep just like that. “Definitely gonna have to keep it up. Speaking of holidays, though, I may have gotten you an early present, since we’re gonna be apart next week.”
“A present? Ari!” You squeaked and giggled when he reached towards the nightstand without letting you climb off him, shivering when the change in position made him rub right against your over sensitive clit. “That still gives you three weeks until Christmas, silly.”
“Well fuck me for wanting to spoil my girl.” He kissed all over your face and pulled out a small velvet box. “I know how much you like statement jewelry, so I figured the statement for this one could be just how smitten you are with your beefy football player boyfriend.”
“Ari… oh my god!” You sat up so fast when he opened the box you almost fell off him, grinning like an idiot when he caught you at the last second and steadied you while he showed you the ring. “It’s so big and sparkly!”
The moonstone in the ring was at least fifteen karats, and surrounding the center stone was a chain of labradorite that glittered under the low lights in the hotel room. As soon as he placed it on your right ring finger you leaned forward and wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing his face over and over and squealing with happiness.
“Everyone is gonna think we’re getting married now, teddy bear.” You rested your head against his chest once you made sure every inch of his face had been kissed at least once.
“Well, not quite yet, princess.” Like he hadn’t known the moment you said yes to a second date with him that he was going to marry you.
#natalie writes#holiday fic#ari levinson#football player!ari levinson#popstar fem!reader#ari levinson x reader#ari levinson x you#ari levinson x female reader#ari levinson x y/n#ari levinson smut#female reader#chris evans#chris evans character x reader#chris evans characters#chris evans smut#chris evans character#swiftie coded#miss americana and the heartbreak prince
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omg reader and jack making hotch a cute personal christmas present together would absolutely melt my heart 😭❤️ (and hotch's too)
hi lovely! thank u sm for ur request i hope u like it <333 | 0.8k of fluff with jack and hotch!
Aaron Hotchner breathes warmth into your life.
It’s in everything he does. The way he stocks his cupboards with your favorite snacks, the drawers in his dresser that are now yours, the extra hook by the door for your jacket. You never thought you’d find someone like him, someone who treats you so well.
It isn’t just with you, either.
There’s his team and how highly they speak of him, how highly he speaks of them, too. And, of course, there’s his son.
Jack looks up to his dad in a way that tugs at your heartstrings whenever you see it. He sits in his office with him whenever Hotch will let him, even highlights and writes over fake files Aaron gives him that are much more innocent than the ones the BAU actually deal with.
And because Aaron raised him, Jack has that same warmth his father does, only he doesn’t try to conceal it nearly as much.
You’d been worried at first, about what Jack would think of you, how he’d react to a new person in not only his life, but Aaron’s, too. Now, all you feel is lucky that you get to be a part of their life.
With Christmas coming up, you feel luckier than ever.
Jack had waited until Aaron was in the washroom the last time you were over to ask you if you’d help him make a gift for Hotch, and your answer of ‘of course’ was simple as breathing.
Now, you’re sitting with Jack at the kitchen table, Aaron still at the office. You picked him up from school—something you’re happy to do whenever Hotch needs the help, something that makes you feel lucky, too—and went to the craft store before coming back and setting up.
There are supplies spread across the table, markers and glue, stickers and printed pictures.
“Can you pass me the blue, please?” Jack asks you.
You smile, handing him the marker he asked for and smiling even bigger at his sweet ‘thank you.’ Then, you hear the jingle of keys turning in the door, and you and Jack look at each other surprised, his eyes wide.
“How about this,” you say, “I’ll distract your dad, you hide his present, yeah? We’ll finish it next time, promise.”
Jack nods, his face serious like you’ve just given him a real mission. He starts packing things up right away.
Aaron rarely comes home early, no matter how much he wants to. He’s focused, determined, always doing as much as he can while he’s in the office. So, whenever he gets the chance, he tries to get home sooner. To get home to Jack. To you.
His shoulders feel lighter as soon as he steps inside, as soon as he hears the muffled sound of your voice, the response of his son’s laughter.
You come out of the kitchen, the neckline of your t-shirt loose over your shoulder, a pair of Aaron’s socks bunched at your ankles. “Hey, Hotchner. You’re home early.”
“Hi, honey.” Aaron sets his things down, opting to get you in his arms, instead. He reaches for you at the same time you move towards him, like magnets. He trails his fingertips down your arms, holding your hands in his. “Where’s Jack?”
You squeeze Aaron’s hands once before letting go. “One second.”
You turn back to the kitchen, peeking your head in to find that Jack has, for the most part, cleared the table of any evidence. When you look at him, he gives you a thumbs up, “all clear.”
Hotch knows something’s going on with the way you’re acting. He is a profiler, after all. But he decides not to ask, because he trusts you, and he figures he’ll find out soon enough.
You’ve never been the best at keeping secrets from him.
He comes into the kitchen after you, tossing an arm around your shoulders and tugging you closer so he can press a kiss to the side of your head.
“Dad!” Jack cheers, rushing to hug Aaron’s legs.
“Hey, buddy.”
When Aaron looks at the table, he notices that Jack must’ve missed a spot when hiding any evidence, leaving behind two markers. Red and green.
He can feel his heartbeat do something funny in his chest, jumping, skipping, like the rhythm has shifted to beat in a different pattern. He thinks about what you must’ve been doing: making some sort of gift with Jack.
Aaron didn’t think he could love his family anymore, then you came into it and everything felt right, like you’d been the last puzzle piece to click into place.
He pats Jack on the shoulder and kisses your head again.
And on Christmas morning, when Aaron opens the scrapbook you and Jack made him, his smile is instant and wide. He swears he feels his heart swell in his chest.
#aaron hotchner#aaron hotchner x reader#aaron hotchner x you#aaron hotchner x y/n#aaron hotchner fanfiction#aaron hotchner fanfic#aaron hotchner fic#aaron hotchner one shot#aaron hotchner oneshot#aaron hotchner blurb#aaron hotchner blurbs#aaron hotchner imagine#aaron hotchner imagines#aaron hotch hotchner#aaron hotch x reader#aaron hotch imagine#aaron hotch fanfiction#aaron hotch x you#aaron hotch fic#aaron hotchner fluff#aaron hotch fluff#hotch blurbs#hotch blurb#agent hotchner#ssa aaron hotchner#criminal minds#criminal minds fic#criminal minds fanfiction#hotch x reader#hotch x you
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❛SANTA BABY❜ ( y. jimin )
p. gf!karina x fem!reader w. 0.7k+
— 𖦹 warnings. wlw ( don't like get off my page ), mentions of unsupportive parents, tribbing , dirty talk
— 𖦹 ( spending your christmas with you wonderful girlfriend ) !
8 days of christmas masterlist
MINORS DO NOT INTERACT
“Wait don’t open them yet.” You girlfriend said. “Rina, I wasn’t going to.” You laughed holding your hands over your eyes. “But you’ve forced me to sit here for five minutes — what could the surprise be?”
You and your beautiful girlfriend had only been together for a few months , and this was your first Christmas as official couple and the first one after you came out to your parents, which didn’t end well — so she was destined to make it the best one yet.
She’d been up since 3 am — she started with breakfast in bed, it wasn’t even a surprise though since you woke up, bit you still stayed in bed per her request. Then you spent the morning opening gifts, which was her basically spoiling you with just about things you had in your many different online shopping carts.
After spending the morning in solitude together, you got ready to go meet her family for the first time — who were amazing and accepted you and welcomed you with open arms, which made you tear up, jimin comforting you.
You guys eventually left, returning back to your apartment — where she rushed you into your room, forcing you to sit down, cover your eyes and wait. “My arms are getting tired.” You whined. “Okay baby open."
You uncovered your eyes, blinking to focus them, your jaw dropping. “Oh wow.” You said at her outfit choice. She was dressed in a very santa outfit, that barely covered anything — a santa hat on top of her head chunky black heels. “You like?”
You nodded, silent due to how gorgeous she looked. “Good, I hoped you would, it’s my last present to you.” She slowly stalked over to where you were on the bed. “gonna be a good girl and listen right?” She cupped your jaw. “Answer me pretty girl.” She grabbed your cheeks, making your lips form a pout. “Y-yes.”
“Good, lay back.” She pushed you gently back, straddling your lap. “So so pretty.” She brought her hand to your boob, squeezing . “R-rina.” You moaned. “that’s I baby, let me hear all those pretty moans.” She said kissing your neck. “gonna fuck you just how you like, just sit back and enjoy.” She took her heels off — along with dress, leaving her in nothing but her underwear and the santa hat.
“Let’s get these.” She reached for your skirt, pulling it down, you sat up quickly taking your shirt off before she pushed you back on the bed, climbing back on top of you, kissing you roughly, squeezing and feeling up your body, your moans being swallowed up by her kisses.
“R-rina please fuck me.” You moaned, she gave you a final kiss before ridding herself of her red underwear, along with yours. “Spread your legs, show me that pretty pussy.” She said, toying with your nipples. “that’s it pretty girl.” She moved to your clit, rubbing it. “you’re so wet for me.”
She held your leg up hooked it with hers, both your clits touching. “Fuck.” She sighed. “Ri-rina please move.” She began to rock her hips slowly, kissing your calf. “Yo-your pussy feels so good.” She moaned. “So fucking wet.”
“Fu-fuck rina, fuck me faster.” You moaned- — she sped up her movements, both of you screaming out in pleasure as your clits rubbed against each other, she reached down, grabbing your hand, guiding it to her boobs. “Touch me.” She moaned, you pinched her nipples, she yelp grabbing you boob returning the favor. “R-rina im gonna fucking cum.”
“Sh-shit me too.” She said, “Cum for me princess, cum all over my pussy make a mess for me.” She rocked her hips even faster. “W-wanna cum with you.” She smiled. “Yeah -fuck- wanna cum together.” You nodded, your orgasm approaching. “Cum with me.”
“Okay princess, hold on then.” She moved even faster, moaning even louder. “Fuck! Fuck im cumming, cum with me princess, fucking cum.” She grabbed your hand, something she always did, both of you moaning as both your orgasms washed over, your girlfriend hunched over, pulling you into a messy kiss.
You both were tangled up in the covers, you cuddled in her arms, your favorite Christmas movie playing in the background as you shared many kisses , and teasing touches. “did you enjoy your christmas princess.” You nodded, kissing her. “My favorite Christmas ever, because you’re here with me.” She smiled, moving a piece of hair out your face.
“As long as im here all your holidays will be perfect, no one can ruin them with me
©️LUVYENI
#aespa x fem reader#aespa x reader#aespa smut#aespa scenarios#aespa fic#karina x fem reader#karina x reader#karina smut#aespa hard hours#kpop x reader#kpop smut#kpop fic#kpop hard thoughts#kpop hard hours#gg smut
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hot & heavy
epilogue: our love is going gold
neighbor!joel x f!reader
series masterlist
series rating: E (18+ MDNI)
series summary:
over the course of three summers, joel miller becomes woven into your life. the first summer is spent falling for him; nannying his daughter and sneaking around with him in a burning love affair. you know how you feel about joel, he isn’t so sure about how it all is gonna work. the second summer is brief. a month spent at home after graduation and before you move to boston for your dream job. one look at you, one time hearing your voice, and joel is hooked again. he pines over you for that month, but you think — how is long distance of over a thousand miles going to work for a single dad? the third summer, you return home burnt out and pride bruised from your post-grad life. you need time to feel at home again, like your complete self, so you’ve come back home with no return ticket booked. it’s only a matter of time before joel seeks you out, slowly spending more time with you. without an inevitable end to the summer looming over you both, what chances are you willing to take?
word count: 17.2k (but she's done. like done, done.)
warnings (**SPOLIERS**): NO OUTBREAK (don’t need to worry about the mushies), no use of y/n, inexperienced reader, age gap (joel is 30/31, reader is 22), canon-divergent (sarah is now 10 y/o), nanny au, pet names (sweetheart, darling, sweet girl, mariposa, etc.), established relationship, engagement, marriage, alcohol, eating, very lovey romantic, polite southern manners, spanish/spanglish cause joel is latino, soft joel, domestic joel, WIFE!! GUY!! JOEL!!, discussion of parenting, step-parenting, struggles with conceiving, negative self talk and image, smut, soft dom joel, fingering, oral (f receiving), joel worships the ground his wife walks on and also her body, praise, unprotected p in v (they're tryna get pregnant, not you!), breeding kink, sort of nursing kink? joel is briefly obsessed with your tits and makes comments, mating press, a flash of cumplay, the BRIEFEST mention of daddy kink, joel really wants to give his wife a baby, pregnancy, a mention of giving birth, girl dad joel, CUTE FAMILY!!!
also this is the song mentioned <3 it's a fave of mine and i think very joel & mari
a/n: this has been a doozy but happy to hand this over to y'all. this is simply what i envisioned for their future, and if you had different thoughts, i would love to hear them! <3 or if you have any headcanons for their life beyond this, drop them in my inbox! this fic and these characters are my children and i love them very much. will probably keep them alive somehow. and thank you to everyone who's read this series, you are all so special to me and have sincerely made me feel so much more confident in my writing!
as always, thank you thank you thank you @northernbluess for beta-ing, couldn't do it without you! and this extremely long ending is dedicated to el and kiwi @kiwisbell you are my hype people fr
i feel like i need to say like signing off on h&h now lol so this is me doing that & closing the book!
** this is set over three additional summers post-main story **
first of many
After the holidays, it was an easy decision to move in with Joel and Sarah. The Millers had joined your family for their annual, lowkey celebrations; spending Christmas Eve with Joel and Sarah, it was a treat to witness him playing Santa after Sarah had gone to bed. Only a few curses under his breath putting together the new dollhouse she’d requested from St Nick, the other presents from her father, and your gifts to her carefully wrapped under the tree. The two of you split the plate of cookies while watching A Christmas Story, you and Joel taking turns mumbling the words to the iconic scenes under your breaths.
The next morning, your heart was overwhelmed with the love that you hold for this family that has welcomed you in and made you a part of it. Sarah gifted you a photo frame that she’d made at school, painted with flowers and butterflies, and a photo of the three of you from the trip to the apple orchard you’d taken that fall. Once Sarah was occupied with her new treasures, gifts were exchanged between you and Joel. Requesting to gift first, you stand up from the couch and tiptoe around Sarah and her new dolls sprawled across the floor to the front hall closet and retrieve a brand new, custom acoustic guitar.
Sitting back with him, guitar placed into his hands and his eyes combing over it, his lips part with a gasping breath when he notices in the inlay of ‘SME’ for his daughter’s name, Sarah Elena.
“The old one in the corner of your room was lookin’ a little worse for wear, and I hadn’t seen you play it in a while…” you trail off in the silence, waiting for his response, “Do you—do you like it? Is it the right kind? I tried to match it the best I could to the one upstairs.”
“Oh, Mari baby, I love it. It’s beautiful, thank you so much…” He shakes his head, taking another sighing exhale in appreciation as he turns it in his hands. “Hadn’t played the other one 'cause it wasn’t quite playable anymore. Restrung it a few too many times, the wood was warped from some water damage. The perils of having a toddler around years ago. This is…it’s perfect, Mariposa.”
You beam, shifting in your seat and anxiously fiddling with your fingers. Joel sets the instrument down next to him carefully, turning back to you. He leans in, kissing you delicately and whispering another ‘thank you’ against your lips, “Guess m’gonna have to serenade you now.”
“Oh, yeah, J. I expect one nightly,” you playfully respond, kissing him again before he pulls away, his turn to stand from his place on the couch.
He wanders over to the tree, plucking the last wrapped gift from under it, and returning to sit next to you. Handing over the small rectangular box, you unwrap it gingerly, glancing at Joel’s knee bouncing. You gently set your hand on it, smiling at him which he returns, biting his lip to channel his jittery energy. Opening the box, you’re met with the shining gold links of a beautiful charm bracelet. Your eyes wander over the small icons, feeling your chest tighten with love as you take them all in: A small ‘S’ with a ruby-colored stone at each end of the curve, a matching ‘J’ with a sapphire embedded into it right next to the ‘S; there’s a tiny gold key, nearly identical to the one he had given to you those three summers before for your job that started it all; a tiny set of longhorn antlers that is reminiscent of home; a lighthouse that reminds you of one you visited while living in Boston, a day you had documented and sent Joel some of the photos in the mail to recap your time. It was a day you had been happy there, and it made your heart ache that he remembered that. The last charm on the bracelet is a butterfly, bejeweled with kelly green stones, the color of the leaves that you told him were your favorite years ago. The ache in your chest is worked out of its knot with Joel’s hand at your back, a gasping breath as you blink back tears.
Clearing your throat, your watery smile has a flash of worry crossing his eyes before you hand him the bracelet you’ve taken out of the box, lightly requesting, “Will you put it on for me?”
Joel nods shyly, taking the dainty piece in his hands, and hooking the clasp around your wrist after a few tries. You both admire it, your smile growing wider and his matching yours.
“Merry Christmas, Mari baby. I love you.”
“Merry Christmas, J. I love you, too.”
Now, months later, the bracelet on your wrist glints in the sun as you hold onto Sarah’s hand, letting her lead you around the atrium filled with butterflies. Spending the day at the same farm you three had visited summers ago, and had kept up with the tradition with the summers following, you picked an abundance of strawberries, wandered through the nature paths, and now ending the day at the youngest Miller’s favorite spot.
Sarah wildly points out the different types of butterflies, the encyclopedia book of the insect’s species that you had gifted her for Christmas coming in handy for today as she reads the small signs of each patterned, winged creature, adding in her tidbits that she remembers. A grin stays plastered on your face as you listen intently, paying no mind to Joel trailing behind the two of you.
Giving your lessons on the flora that you know of in the gardens, Sarah listens to you as well. Stopping in front of the small waterfall, surrounded by tropical plants and flowers, the two of you go back and forth in fun facts about plants and butterflies, unaware as Joel saddles up behind you. Sarah glances back over her shoulder and grins, the expression reading as knowing and mischievous. Before turning around, you start to warn Joel behind you playfully, “J, if you’re even thinking about pushing me or splashing me, I will ki—”
Your breath catches when you finally face him, eyes dropping to meet his; the backpack he’d be adamant about carrying all day is at his feet, unzipped, and in his hands is a small, forest-green velvet box. Joel rests on one knee, a soft but bright, devoted smile on his face.
“Oh my god…” It comes from your lips as a whisper, your free hand reaching up to cover your mouth while the other continues to tether you to Sarah at your side, her small giggle hitting your ears as Joel glances at her, sending her a wink.
Eyes back on your face, Joel clears his throat, adjusting himself on his knee as he takes a deep breath, “I have been trying to figure out exactly what to say, and I can’t seem to find quite the right words that tell you exactly how I feel about you. I love you, so much, Mariposa. The second you entered my life, that time I saw you for only seconds in your backyard while I was touring the house, I knew I had to meet you. And then the first time I met you, well, I knew that you were who I needed.
“I’ve been walking around blind, trying to figure out life for years, and moving next door to you, that was the last piece falling into place. You have made my life, and Sarah’s life, a million times better. And while these past few years haven’t been picture-perfect for us, we made it through, and I know that we can take on anything that comes our way. Eres el alma más hermosa que he conocido, y soy muy afortunada de tenerte. (You are the most beautiful soul I have ever met, and I am so lucky to have you.) I’ve been waiting for years to do this, Mari baby, and I can’t have any more summers pass by without you being mine. Tú eres mi media naranja. (You’re my soulmate.) I love you. Te amo, Mari. You’re my soulmate, sweet girl, and I can’t take another day without the promise of forever. Will you marry me, Mariposa?”
Without hesitation, you nod your head frantically, your tears that started falling as soon as Joel started speaking continue to flow. You uncover your mouth, squeezing Sarah’s hand and sharing a smile with her before she takes her hand away.
“Yes, oh my gosh, Joel…of course, of course, I’ll marry you. I love you so much, J.” You squat down in front of him, left hand trembling as you hold it out for him. He carefully takes the ring from the box, and Sarah, ever the helper, takes it from the spot where it rests on his knee for safekeeping. The delicate gold band slips onto your finger, embellished with clusters of tiny gems and centered with an emerald cut diamond. It’s perfectly you, and you can’t wipe the smile off your face as you watch Joel settle the piece of jewelry on your finger. Both of you take a deep breath, admiring the sight before your eyes find each other’s again, matching expressions of complete admiration. Your hands find his cheeks, pulling him in for a tenderly passionate kiss, attempting to breathe all the love in your chest into the kiss and his heart. Joel pulls away first, resting his forehead against yours for a quiet moment.
“Thank you, J,” you whisper, and his head tilts with curiosity.
“For what, baby? I think I should be thankin’ you for sayin’ yes to me.” He chuckles and rubs his thumb at the back of your hand, skimming next to the band of the new addition.
“Everything. For not giving up. Your patience when I was still finding my way back to you. How effortlessly you’ve welcomed me into your life and your family…” Cheating your body away, one hand reaches out to pull Sarah into the small huddle, reuniting the moment within your unit of three, “I just—I can’t wait for all my summers to be spent with you both.”
“I can’t wait either. This is gonna be the first of many, Mari baby.”
And the two of you really couldn’t wait.
Only a week after Joel was down on one knee, your family was throwing you an engagement party. Tommy, a few of Joel’s close friends from his contracting company, your college friends, and neighbors were all in attendance to celebrate the two of you, and it was a big to-do. Drinks flowing, music playing, and food was being passed around. Everything under the warmth of a Texas night and the strung lights across the stretch of your parents’ backyard. Joel was glued to your side the entire night, hand on your back or clasped in yours, grabbing your refills and whispering in your ear to make you laugh.
“So…are all of these people coming to the wedding? ‘Cause I can count about half that I have no idea who they are.”
To that, you whispered back, “I don’t know them either, so definitely not. Unless they wanna buy us the most expensive thing on the registry.” Joel laughed, squeezing you closer — if it were even possible — and pressing a kiss to your temple.
Later, once you two were far past tipsy, Joel mumbled against your ear, barely able to get the words out without drunkenly giggling himself, “D’you think Mrs. Clarke is thinkin’ m’the one that got away?”
You couldn’t contain your laughter, bursting out in the middle of the conversation happening around you two, quickly covering your mouth as the lingering hiccups escape, “I think she’s singin’ the blues about you, Miller.”
The rest of the evening was filled with small moments between the two of you; never left alone long enough to have a full conversation on your own. Whispers of love and affection breathed out, fleeting kisses exchanged. It wasn’t until the party was over, everyone dwindled out the door and back to their homes, that you and Joel took a beat to speak to each other in more than one sentence. The early hours of the morning had crept in without anyone quite noticing, and Sarah was knocked out, brought inside to sleep in your old bedroom around 10pm when she couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. Joel now held her in his arms, her head laying on his shoulder while the three of you walked the short distance home. After your quiet goodnight to Sarah that went unheard by her sleeping self, Joel put her down, taking off her shoes and leaving her undisturbed to sleep in her clothes.
Back in the ensuite of your, now, shared bedroom, you’re lazily getting ready for bed, movements slower and lagging from the alcohol you consumed. Joel stands behind you, facing your reflection in the mirror and giving you a smile as the exhaustion catches up to him.
“You have fun tonight, sweet girl?” His vocal cords rub together in a fry, hands finding their place on your waist and drawing you back into his chest. Littering kisses at the back of your neck, he hums contently before you affectionately shoo him off to brush his teeth while you apply your skincare.
“‘Course I did, J. Spent most of the night with you, how could I not have fun?” You grin at him from in front of your side of the double sinks, gently rubbing in your moisturizer. “Have you given any thought as to when you wanna set a date for?”
Whatever he responds is muffled by the foamy toothpaste, your face twisting in confusion before he leans over and spits out, rinsing his mouth and toothbrush. Standing back up, he rests his hip against the countertop while facing you, shrugging as he smirks slightly, “As soon as possible. Baby, I’d get married to ya in a garbage dump if it meant we could get married right this second. No puedo esperar para hacerte mi esposa. (Can’t wait to make you my wife.) And I know you don’t want that, and I want to make you happy, so whenever you want, Mari. Lo que sea que desees, lo haré realidad. (Whatever you wish for, I’ll make a reality.) But I will say, summer’s kind of our thing.”
A gentle smile stretches across your lips as you step closer, hands coming to rest on his chest and massaging your fingers gently into the muscles there, “Well, how about we do this summer? I mean, I don’t want anything fancy, just something special for us. Thought maybe we could do it here, in our backyard and my parents’. Where we met and fell in love and broke up and fell in love again and—”
“I love that idea, sweetheart. Think it’s perfect for us…” Joel punctuates his work by stealing a kiss, mint and strawberry lip balm melting on his tongue when he deepens it only for a few seconds, “Think we can manage for Labor Day weekend, mi amor?”
Nodding confidently, your hands skate up to his shoulders, pulling him down for another kiss, “I believe we just set our wedding date, Miller.”
“Damn right, we did, Miller.”
A whirlwind of planning and three months later, you now stand in your childhood bedroom on the second floor of your parent’s house, admiring yourself in the full-length mirror standing in the corner. Your mom had helped you with your hair, a small gold barette holding one side away from your face; your makeup was fairly minimal, fresh, and bright, but nothing too heavy that would melt in the heat that has graced Austin this weekend.
On your wrist is your charm bracelet from Joel, a simple gold locket to match that your father had gifted you the evening before at the rehearsal dinner — it has belonged to his grandmother, and now your grandma wanted you to have it since she couldn’t make the trip down due to her age. It was your ‘something old’ he said, playing into the old traditions that seemed to charm your entire family.
Your ‘something borrowed’ was a pair of white strappy sandals from your mom, ones that she had worn to her rehearsal dinner when she married your dad. The title of ‘something new’ belonged to the charm hanging off of your wrist that was hand-delivered to you this morning from Tommy, per the request of Joel since you both were getting ready in opposite houses. The gift box unveiled a gold lotus flower, hand painted with deep magenta petals. Inside the lid of the box was a folded note, the words written by your soon-to-be husband in his usual scrawl.
Mi amor,
Got to reading one of your books you leave around about plants, and they were talking about the lotus flower. Made me think of you — since they go back to the murky water each evening and open their blooms at the break of day. You always start fresh, sweet girl, you’re so resilient and strong and pure of heart. No matter what happens, you get through it. And you won’t have to go at it alone, baby. I’m gonna be right there with you through anything.
You make me a better man.
Te amo, mi media naranja.
J
You had to touch up your makeup after having read the note over and over for minutes straight, now fresh faced and eager to get downstairs. One last time in the mirror, you give yourself the once over, smoothing the long, full skirt of your linen dress. The ruched empire bodice lays across your chest, framing your neck with a square shape along with the cap sleeves. Simple, but it feels perfectly you. And now, you were finally on your way to get your something blue: Joel in his navy suit, waiting at the end of the aisle for you.
Everyone’s gathered in their seats, only a crowd of around forty people from your lives occupying the rows, all carefully selected to make the cut. It was easy for Joel, he had three people he wanted there for sure, and well, his daughter didn’t have a choice living right next door, plus with her dad being the groom, and you being the bride. The only chance of a wild card he had was Tommy, but he was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning despite the many shots he had the night prior. At the rehearsal dinner of all places.
Dressed and gaffed, he stands at the end of the short aisle after having walked down it hand-in-hand with Sarah, who was donning a lilac dress she picked out with your help and her hair in her natural, bouncy curls. She now sits next to Tommy in the front row, whose new girlfriend Maria is sitting on the other side of him, stealing peeks over the back of the seat to try to catch a glimpse of you at the top of the deck stairs. Joel is doing the same, eyes flickering from scanning over the crowd to tunneling at the opening of the stairs.
Music starts and it immediately tunes out of his ears, a tingle of excitement radiating from his chest throughout his body. A vision in white, you appear at the stairs with your arm linked to your dad, Mark; he isn’t paying attention to anything but you, captivated by your beauty. His heartbeat kicks up when you walk down, reaching the end of the grassy path between rows of chairs, and stopping for a moment. With the bouquet in one hand, you use the other that was resting on your dad’s arm to give him a short wave that he returns with a grin.
Each step you take brings up tears in his eyes, an overwhelming joy clenching around his heart. A few drop down his cheeks, using one of his thumbs to wipe away the streaks as you give him a gentle smile, speeding up your walk and dragging your dad along with you. The guests laugh at the eagerness, Joel rocking on the balls of his feet as he bites back his wild grin when you finally reach him. Exchanging hugs with your dad, Mark shakes Joel’s hand before clapping him on the back, a sure nod directed to him.
His hand slips into yours naturally, helping you with the last few steps to stand in front of him, exhaling a deep breath. A smile that he can’t wipe off stretches across his face, looking into your eyes as he lifts a hand to wipe his cheeks. You do the same, delicate touch against his skin while your gaze stays trained on his. Beating out of his chest, his heart thumps deeply, the wings of his butterfly fluttering madly in his gut in time with his heartbeat.
“Hey, Mari.”
“Hi, J.”
Everyone settles back in their seats, and your brother stands at the makeshift altar, a carved arbor handmade by Joel over the last few months frames the three of you in front of your guests. You turn to hand off the wildflower bouquet you put together to Sarah, eager to fulfill her responsibility of holding it during the ceremony. She grins, whispering to you loud enough for him to hear when she takes the arrangement.
“You look so pretty, Posey. I’m excited for you to marry Daddy.” Your hand reaches for her curls, squatting down in your dress to address her at eye level, unconditional love shining in your eyes as you look at his daughter.
“You look beautiful, Sare Bear. I’m so excited, too.” Other words are exchanged only between the two of you, a hug shared before Sarah retreats to her chair next to Tommy and you stand up and take Joel’s hands.
Chris ambles through an introduction, recollecting his version of events, as well as both of your sides, for how your relationship has progressed. Humor was laced throughout, laughter bubbling over throughout the crowd of guests, and especially between the two of you when you shared knowing expressions.
The ceremony moves quickly, with no religious elements to extend the length, simply secular. Before he knows it, Chris is reaching the vows, allowing a moment for Tommy to present the rings to each of you, clapping a hand on his brother’s back.
“Don’t fuck this one up, brother. Posey’s a good ‘un. Way too good for you—”
Joel cuts him off with a mumble and an eye roll, “I know all of this, Tommy, but thank you for the reminder.”
Chris directs Joel to go first, a deep inhale and extended exhale fills the air as you give his hands a reassuring squeeze. He flashes a smile at you before he drops one of your hands, finishing in his inside jacket pocket for the small slip of paper.
“I tried to memorize this, but we both know that wasn’t gonna happen…” he huffs out a nervous chuckle, reading over the page before his eyes come back to you, a patient and gentle grin on your face, “I genuinely hope you know how much I love you. I try to show you, to tell you, to make you feel it through osmosis every day, but I truly hope you can feel it. Through all that we have been through together and on our own, I have always had you in my mind. I thought about you every day you were away, and all I was hoping for was your happiness. I cannot tell you what it means that you have found your happiness with me, but I will be thanking whatever forces are out there for bringing us back together. Our roads may have been bumpy, and they may be in the future, but I’m so thankful to have you in my passenger seat. Cause we both know you don’t like to drive.” Joel winks and the crowd of guests laugh.
“I never want to let go. And I’m never going to let you go, Mariposa, I’m in it for the long run. Eres todo para mí. (You are everything to me.) You are everything I have ever asked for, hoped for, didn't think I deserved. You are…un alma tan pura (such a pure soul) and I don't know how you ended up with me, but I'm countin’ my luck every second of every day. I love you through anything, mi Mariposa, and I cannot wait for our future together, as a family. I’m so happy that you have found a place you belong with Sarah and me, and I feel so lucky that you have chosen me. Te amo, mi Mariposa. Siempre.”
Recovering from your tears, you choke out a small sob that tugs on his heartstrings, tightening his grip on your hand while his brow furrows softly in concern.
“Happy tears, I promise, J. Very happy tears.” Another sob comes with a burst of laughter, a hand of yours fanning your face. Joel reaches up, wiping away the stragglers, careful to not smudge any of your mascara. With a deep breath, you focus back, centered, offering Joel your left hand. He repeats the phrase from Chris, who recites it from his printed-out online ordainment course before slipping the simple matching gold band onto your finger above your engagement ring, ears ringing when he sees the symbol of his love and commitment on your finger, where it will stay for the rest of his time on this Earth.
Next, it was your turn to recite your vows, Chris pulled a piece of paper from his jacket and handed it to you. A giggle slips from your lips, wavering the small folded sheet, “Couldn’t memorize it either. Got too much to say…”
Joel relaxes in his stance, thumb circling the back of your palm as he listens, the butterfly wings fluttering into his chest and up to his head, love overwhelming his nervous system across his body. You clear your throat, looking up from the wrinkled white sheet, “I didn’t know that one summer spent at home would completely send me on a whole new life path, but looking back, I am eternally grateful that I wanted to mooch off my parents for as long as possible. That first summer, I fell hard and fast, and despite the obstacles, my love continued to root deeper inside of me and grow out new branches with every memory we made together. I am so lucky to have been welcomed so easily into the Miller household, and I cannot imagine my life with you or Sarah there right next to me. You both have brought so much into my life and thanks to you, J, I feel like I have truly found myself.
“I was always searching for what I was meant to do, who I was meant to be, and what I would leave behind in my life. And while I went out searching everywhere, the answer was my next-door neighbor. I am meant to be your person, I was meant to care and love and create a life with you, and your wonderful daughter, and I know I will leave behind all my love for you and our family behind. My success does not need to be measured by the reach of my impact, but by how deeply I love you. That is all that matters to me, to make you feel loved and supported and to know how incredible you are. You mean the world to me, and I love Sarah as if she were my own; both of you are my best friends and I could not do this life without you. I am so excited to spend the rest of my days, and the rest of my summers with you, J. I love you. Forever.”
The same routine goes for you, slipping a gold band around Joel’s left ring finger. He flexes with the new accessory on his hand, admiring it before he looks at you, a wide and wild grin crossing his face as he listens as Chris starts to ask him that very special question, “Joel, do you ta—”
“Absolutely I do. No question.”
Laughter rises from the attendees, and you, playfully roll your eyes. Chris nods shortly, chuckling as he turns to address you with the same question. He states your name, inquiring, “Do you ta—”
“Of course, I do. Only been waitin’ years for this to happen.”
Joel laughs, shaking his head as he mumbles a sweet agreement, “You and me both, baby.”
Chris drops the papers he was reading from next to him on the grass, clasping his hands together, “Well, that made it damn easy for me. With the power vested in me by apparently the state of Texas, but who really knows, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Now y’all can kiss finally.”
A hand presses against the small of your back, pulling you into his chest as he folds down, latching your lips to his in a deep kiss, all of his love pouring into the moment. It takes restraint to not take it further in front of everyone, your intoxicating taste drawing him in and quenching a perpetual thirst he has. You lean back first, fingertips digging into his shoulders to hold him off as you whisper, “Gotta keep some decorum until tonight, Mr. Miller.”
“Hard to do that with you, Mrs. Miller,” he rasps back, matching blindingly bright grins across your faces as you right yourself, turning to face your guests as your brother loudly announces.
“For the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Miller!”
With the low-key, intimate wedding that you both had planned together, there was no real formal separation of the ceremony and reception. Instead, everyone wandered over to the backyard of Joel’s home, which was now yours, too. There were rented tables set up with chairs around, no seating chart, and a checkered dance floor set up in the middle of the lawn. Lights have been strung from his deck to the tree at the back of the property line that holds Sarah’s tire swing, some lanterns strewn about to add more light as the sun sets in the later evening.
The family-favorite restaurant in the city that the three of you have frequented, even as friends, catered the meal, and your parents, ever so prepared, had stocked up all summer with booze. Your dad plays pretend bartender, getting your now-husband behind the tablecloth-covered folding table and pouring heavy drinks and somehow heavier shots. By sundown, everyone was liquored up enough to cheer for you both to have a first dance, chanting their request over and over.
Joel looks at you from his spot next to you, eyebrows raising in question. His hand at your back draws you closer, starting to sway to whatever song is playing as he grins with a looseness to him, relieved to have you as his for good and relaxed from the alcohol in his blood. “C’mon, Mari baby, I wanna dance with you. M’wife. I got the perfect song.”
“Okay, okay, you go tell Chris what song you want and see if he’s got it on his iPod.”
You push Joel along, giggling to yourself as he shuffles over to Chris, the makeshift DJ for the evening. Joel leans in, talking in your brother’s ear over the music currently playing. They exchange a smile and nod, Joel laying a hand on his shoulder and shaking it affectionately. His beer gets abandoned on the nearest surface, giddily running over to you and taking your hand. Impatiently, he pulls you to the center of the dance floor, and Tommy intercepts your drink before it sloshes all over the front of you, huffing out a disbelieving breath as you continue to drag behind Joel.
Your husband turns you in his arms, one hand finding your back as the other lifts your joined ones toward his shoulder, elbows bent. Everyone else clears the dancefloor as an upbeat guitar riff sounds out of the speakers surrounding the dancefloor, the bright drums kicking in as Joel starts to shuffle the two of you around the dancefloor, a swing to your movements again.
The familiar lyrics of Orleans’ Still the One that Joel has sung to you many times over the last year are recited right back to you, making you reminisce about the time you were driving in the car to pick up Sarah from camp, a rare afternoon that both of you had off together. The song had come onto Joel’s favorite classic rock station, perking him up in his seat as he turned the volume dial up.
“Oh, Mari baby, this is such a great song.”
Not as familiar with it, you listen, giggling as he sings along with his words pointed at you, and you had to admit, they were pretty sickly sweet. Ever since then, Joel got into the habit of singing it to you, learning to play it after he received his new guitar from you at Christmas.
Dancing with him now, under the sticky heat of the tail end of Texan summer, surrounded by family and friends, he makes you feel as if it’s only the two of you again like it was for every other moment before with this same song.
In your ear, he sings along only for you, pulling away and twirling you as y’all take over the entire dancefloor with how free and loose you’re playing it. “You’re still the one that makes me laugh…still the one that’s my better half…we’re still havin’ fun and you’re still the one.”
At the next chorus, you join him in singing along, laughing at his excitement, both of you singing along louder. The song reaches the guitar solo, and Joel takes both of your hands, swinging you out from his chest before pulling you back in; he spins you to cross your arms in front of you, and your back to his chest before twirling you out. On the last line, when the final word is dragged out, he wraps his arms around you, spinning both of you around until the final chord strikes, setting you down and chests heaving to catch your breaths. Wide smiles still find your open mouths, cheers and whistles from the guests gathered around the dancefloor, now filling the checkered floor as the next song plays.
Breathless, Joel grins madly, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly before asking, “Think we did pretty damn good for unplanned, don’t you, Miller?”
“Damn right, we did, Miller.”
The rest of the evening was all the same, a night spent with your closest family and friends all celebrating the two of you and your love. Both you and Joel shared a dance with Sarah separately, relishing in her unbridled joy and Joel comforted his daughter when she shed a few tears about how happy she was. Your dad pulled you for a short jaunt around the dancefloor, and Joel asked your mom for a dance, which she accepted happily as a stand-in for his mom.
More drinks flowed into glasses and out of bottles, your shoes kicked off and Joel’s jacket and tie discarded onto the back of a chair somewhere. Your cheeks ached from how much you were smiling and laughing the whole time, a weight lifted, the promise of forever with your favorite person now on its way to being a reality.
You both ceremoniously cut the small single-tiered cake that your mom ordered, serving the slice on a plate. Grabbing a piece with your hands, you cheers it with Joel’s, watching as his went into his mouth and laughing as yours went across his cheek. He feigned shock, shaking his head as he looked at you with a glint of mischief in his eyes, taking a step closer. A turn on the ball of your foot directs you in an attempt to get away; failing miserably, misstepping from your level of drunkenness, Joel catches you in his arms. Turning you back around to face him, he steals a purposefully sloppy kiss, buttercream smearing against your lips and chin, the taste of vanilla coating your tongue as it melts into the taste of Joel, whiskey, beer, and sugary sweetness from the dessert.
At the very end of the night, most guests in cabs home or retreat to their homes down the street, it’s left to your closest people. The last song of the night is announced by Chris, the same song that has come up again and again for the two of you trilling over the speakers. Everyone dances and sings along to American Pie, the perfect cyclical moment for the two of you, and the closing moment of your summer. Sarah dances with the two of you, laughing as Joel twirls her around, infectious smiles on their faces.
Your heart grows in your chest, nearly to the point of bursting as you take a step back in your mind, taking in all of the moment as it surrounds you. In the backyard of your new house, the next chapter of your life starts with Joel and Sarah; right next door is your childhood home, full of love and memories with your parents and brother. Even through the hardships, these places and people have never stopped feeling like home.
The song finishes with a flourish, Joel tucking you into his chest after he scoops Sarah into his arms with a soft groan. Sarah lays her head on her dad drowsily and he presses a kiss to her forehead, mirroring the same on yours; a mumble against your skin is barely heard by you, his drawl exaggerated by the liquor, “Mi Mariposa y mariposita. My lil’ Bug. Love my girls so much.”
Tommy slides sleepy Sarah into his arms from Joel after you two say goodnight to her, the younger Miller brother already prepared the arrangement for her to stay at his on the night of your wedding. You reassure her the promise to meet at Waffle House in the morning, which will likely be the afternoon with the state of the adults. Maria, the designated driver, and Tommy, much closer to sober than drunk than you were expecting, send another congratulations your way before they’re off to the car with Sarah.
After the necessary sweep of cleaning is done between you two and your immediate family, food, drink, and lanterns gathered, they part ways, taking everything back to theirs to deal with in the morning along with striking down the tables, chairs, and dancefloor. In the quiet of the early morning hours, you and Joel stand with your arms around each other, swaying gently. Cheek to chest, Joel’s voice rasps from overuse, vibrating your ear pressed against him, “Was it what you wanted, sweet girl?”
“Everything and more, J. I loved it,” you say as you pull your head away, tilting your chin to look into his eyes, “And I love you, m’husband.”
“I love you more, m’wife.” He shakes his head, biting a smile back, “Don’t think m’ever gonna get tired of callin’ you that, Mari.”
“Me neither. Gonna be callin’ you my husband instead of usin’ your name,” you flirt as your smirk grows and he wiggles his eyebrows, hand drifting down to the curve of your ass.
“Guess we better test that theory, baby.” He grins as he bends his knees, lifting you over his shoulder. His other hand rests on your ass to balance you, your hands pressing against his lower back as you shriek slightly from the initial shock. “Want the whole neighborhood to know m’your husband now. Even if they weren’t invited, so you better be loud, m’gorgeous wife.”
He walks you both up the stairs and through the backdoor, your snort echoing in the quiet of the night, pulling out the ol’ faithful from the early days with him, “Yes, sir.”
second nature
“What do you think about getting a dog?” you ask from your seat on the bed, propped up against the headboard with a book in your lap. Joel pops his head out from the en-suite, brow quirked as he continues to towel off his hair and laugh softly.
“Can’t say I’ve thought about it, darlin’.” He disappears again, hanging his towel on the back of the door before coming back out of the bathroom with a clean pair of boxers on, washed up from his long day on-site. “Have you been thinking about getting a dog?”
A sheepish grin stretches across your face, shrugging your shoulders as Joel gets into bed. He matches your position, leaning back against the headboard and turning his head toward you. He’s intrigued. If he wasn’t, he’d tell you that you could talk about it more in the morning, and then he would give you his honest opinion in the light of day. Never wanting to start a silly argument before bed, always attempting to keep the peace.
Which made him great at compromising. To what you wanted in the first place.
“I’ve been thinking it would be nice for Sarah. Like something to learn responsibility — teaching her to feed it on schedule and take it for walks and fill the water bowl.”
“Yeah, it’ll teach her that I’ll take on all those responsibilities when she gets bored of it,” your husband snorts at his own comment, making you roll your eyes playfully and scoot closer.
“Oh, c’mon, J. Don’t you think it would be fun to have a dog around? We wouldn’t even need to get a puppy if you think it’s too much. But I work at home nannying baby Amelia so I’d be around all day and then when Sarah gets home from school or camp, she can take him or her for a walk. And then feed it before you even get home. Oh! Or you could take the dog to work with you! How cute would that be, you could train him to grab your tools for you.”
A contagious smile brightens your face in the low lamplight, one that Joel can’t help but mirror on his own face. The eagerness is evident in your expression and your voice, and the proposition doesn’t seem like it would be too difficult of an adjustment. Shaking his head at your suggestions, he laughs quietly while reaching a hair up to smooth your hair away from your face.
“Are you gonna be the one to teach it what all the different screwdrivers are?”
An excited gasp exhales and you scramble to straddle Joel’s lap, “Wait, are you serious? You’re actually okay with getting a dog?”
Wrapping your arms around his shoulders, you lean back to look at his face. His hands find the curve where your thighs melt into your ass, squeezing gently. Always handsy.
“Yeah, baby, we can get a dog.” Joel groans dramatically when you pull yourself tight against him, hugging him while on hand rubs back and forth at the base of your spine. “I’ve got some conditions though.”
Unraveling from his neck, you stay perched in his lap, nodding fervently. “Anything. Whatever you want, if it means we get a dog.”
“Oh, anything?” he teases with another squeeze of your bum, laughing when you shoot him a look.
“Not what I meant, Miller. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“Can’t help it with you, sweet girl. My mind’s always in the gutter around you.” The sentiment is punctuation with a tender kiss to your lips and one to your forehead. Calloused palms skate along your bare thighs, humming contently, “Conditions are: has to be a big dog. Don’t want one of those little white dogs or like something that’ll break if we have babies and they’re a little rough with it.”
The forethought he has for your future children warms your heart, and you agree immediately, “Deal. Didn’t want a little dog anyways. What else?”
“Gotta fence in the backyard. I don’t mind putting in a gate for us and your parents to easily go back and forth through, but I don’t want the chance of the dog gettin’ out when we’re all outside.”
“Totally understandable. I’ll even help you install the fence,” you offer proudly.
“That’s real sweet, Mari baby, thank you. You don’t gotta lift a finger though, I’ll bring some of the guys over and pay a little extra and we’ll get it done in a day, no problem.”
“Alright, so big dog, fence. Anything else you’d like to negotiate, Mr. Miller?” you mock a formal tone, turning your nose up. Joel laughs, tightening his arms around your waist and tugging you closer. Kisses press into your neck and along your jaw, pausing inches away from your lips as he makes his final request.
“Dog sleeps in Sarah’s room or downstairs. I like our privacy.” He smirks before kissing you deeply, easily flipping you onto your back and hovering above you. Your legs hook around his waist and he raises his eyebrows, “That all sound fair to you, Mariposa?”
“Absolutely it does. Guess we’re getting a dog, ri—” You’re cut off by his lips on yours again, pressing you further into the mattress with his body weight.
“Let’s save the rest of this for the morning,” Joel mumbles against your skin as he trails his mouth down your neck to your collarbone, “‘Cause right now, I think I’d rather get some pussy.”
He doubles over in laughter at his own joke, forehead pressing against your chest as his shoulders heave. Your fingers comb into his hair, unable to fight quiet chuckles of your own no matter how hard you try to not give him the satisfaction.
“God, you’re such a dork.”
The clock rolls to 3pm as you sit in your car, lined up along with parents of campers. Shrills of laughter and screams echo from the bright, primary-colored playground across the way, counselors attempting to corral the kids to lead them out for pick-up. Air conditioning blasts on you as you fan at the back of your neck, exhaling in the sweltering Texan heat. It’s only the beginning of summer, June barely having turned over, but the temperatures have reached record highs for the year already.
Your stepdaughter. The thought still makes you smile months on, the dynamic between the two of you falling naturally into a closer, more nurturing relationship. Little acknowledgments from Sarah have made your heart sing over the days; routinely saying goodnight to you along with Joel, asking you for permission to go play outside, seeking you out nearly as much as Joel when she has had a nightmare. The pair of you have built routines of your own before bed, you making a promise to Sarah to read with her and to show her your favorite books from when you were her age.
A few nights ago, Sarah had retreated with you to her room, at least thirty minutes before her bedtime to get in another chapter of Matilda by Roald Dahl. The main character reminded you of Sarah’s sweet and spunky personality, and you were so excited that she fell in love with the story and its characters as quickly as you did when you read it for the first time.
Sat up against her headboard, Sarah laid back in your arms and cracked open the novel where her bookmark stuck out, started to read aloud to you in the low lamplight. Mindlessly, you played with her hair as you listened to her confidently recite the words from the page. The day caught up to you, the peaceful moment pulled a yawn from your lungs. Sarah’s words slowed down, her eyes slowly blinking until they closed, which was your queue to slip the book from her hands and mark the spot, and laid it on her nightstand.
When you tried to slip out from behind her to leave her to sleep soundly, she stirred, mumbling the sweetest, “Will you stay for a little bit, Posey?”
And you had no choice but to oblige her request. After getting comfortable next to her, Sarah curled into your side and you pressed a kiss to her forehead, continued to play with her hair to soothe her back to sleep.
What you hadn’t realized was that you also drifted off in her twin bed with her, the lamp still on. Joel was watching TV downstairs, waiting for you to retreat down the steps as you do every night, but no sign of you after an hour had him standing up to go searching. It was quiet when he reached the top of the stairs, no telling giggles or loud whispers to give the two of you away.
He pushed open the cracked door of Sarah’s bedroom, and was met with a sight that squeezed his heart tight, a sigh exhaled from his lungs. You tucked right next to his little one, and both slept deeply. Without disturbing your rest, he tiptoed over to the nightstand, tugged the blanket up over both of you before he hovered above the bed to press a gentle kiss to each of your foreheads.
Lamp clicked off, he whispered to your unconscious ears, “G’night, girls. Love you two.”
It was a few hours before your usual alarm when you’d woken up, sore from the small space and glanced around the dark room to discover you had fallen asleep next to Sarah. Carefully slipped out from the covers, you tucked her back in and padded down the hall to your bedroom where Joel was sleeping, a soft snore came from him as he’d starfished out on the mattress. You gently shook him half awake to move him, and he groaned softly at the disruption before he tugged you into his chest and pressed a drowsy kiss to your shoulder.
“Was jus’ too cute to wake you up, Mari baby. My Mariposa and my lil’ Bug…” He hummed sleepily into your skin, hand gently rubbed circles in your lower belly while your eyes close, desperate for those last few hours of slumber. “Makes me so happy.”
“Me too, J. M’so, so happy she’s that comfortable with me. My baby best friend. And you’re my big baby best friend…” You breathed out an airy giggle and Joel protested weakly behind you, a gentle pinch to your side before you both exchanged a quick “love you” and drifted right back off.
The reminder of the sweet moment in the morning from Joel was the highlight of your week.
Climbing out of the car, the engine running and door open, you round the front bumper and stand on the curb to wait. You find her before she finds you, calling out to her to grab her attention, “Hey, sweet pea!”
Her familiar deep brown irises search for the source of your voice, landing on your face and waving excitedly. Sarah checks out with her counselor for the day, scurrying over to you with her backpack bouncing at her shoulders.
“Hi, Posey!”
She collides with your torso, her growth spurts finally starting over the last few months so the top of her head hits just at your chest, and nearly knocks the wind out of you. Patting her back, you laugh and pull her back to look her in the face, “Well, hello to you too, Sare Bear. How was camp today? You ready to go?”
After your greetings, she climbs into the backseat on the opposite side of Amelia’s car seat. You store her bag in the passenger seat with yours before retreating around to the driver’s side, heading off once both of you are secured in your seatbelts.
Flicking your eyes up in the rearview mirror, the two of you catch up, which mostly consists of her recapping the camp activities and excitedly talking about the pool day that’s planned for Friday. As you turn onto your street, Sarah’s brow furrows at the sight of Joel’s truck in the driveway.
“Dad’s home already? That’s weird.”
“Hm, I guess he is. Or maybe he’s just stopped by to grab something he forgot. You know how he is.”
Sarah laughs in agreement as you park your car next to his truck. Both of you get out and head in through the garage, straight into the kitchen where Joel’s standing at the counter eating a sandwich.
“Told you, Sare, stopped by ‘cause he forgot something. Lunch.” You send him a teasing grin as you deposit Sarah’s bag by the door and kick off your sandals. She does the same before wandering past her dad to the fridge in search of a snack. Apple doesn’t fall far.
“What? I can’t happen to drop in hoping to see my wife and my daughter in the middle of my work day? Do I have to have ulterior motives?” Joel speaks, words muffling around the bite in his mouth as you approach the island to stand opposite him.
“Dad, you literally always ask ‘What’s for dinner?’ or ‘What’s cookin’?’ after you say hi to us every day. Your motivation is always to get some food,” Sarah chimes in from in front of the fridge, laughing when Joel looks at her offended.
“See? Even a ten year old recognizes the pattern of behavior,” you confirm your findings, laughing as Joel grumbles to himself and pops the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth.
“Well, for your information, both of you, I am here for an entirely different reason than lunch and to see you two.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest, looking between the two of you with a mischievous smile on his face. “Why don’t y’all go look in the living room and then tell me if you wanna keep makin’ fun of Dad?”
Sarah excitedly starts off toward the living room, giddy about the surprise awaiting her. Your brow furrows and lips twist up in curiosity, eyes staying glued to Joel. He laughs and nods to the other room, a bright smile on his face.
“Better go see, mi amor. Think you’ll want to meet him.” Joel winks, your attention being pulled away when you both hear Sarah gasp from the living room.
“Oh my gosh! Posey, come here! Aw!”
That’s when it registers — the surprise, home in the middle of the day, the smirk, ‘you’ll want to meet him’.
“You didn’t,” you breathe out, head snapping back to Joel as he gives you a wide, genuine grin.
“Go! See for yourself.” He rounds the island and grabs your hips from behind, guiding your steps into the living room. Sarah’s giggles fill the room as the fluffy Bernese Mountain puppy stands in her lap and licks at her face. The small dog’s attention is pulled from her and over to you and Joel entering the room, a tiny bark sounding before he scampers over.
“Joel, oh my god, how did you—when—oh my god…” You kneel down to scoop up the little one into your arms and cuddle it gently, giving it pets before letting him run around again.
“Found someone who had a litter with their family dogs the day after we talked about it. And arranged to pick him up. They said he’s the energetic one, and that he’s gonna be a big boy. Like a hundred pounds.”
“Oh my god, he’s so sweet…thank you, J.” You beam up at him, waving him to bend down and steal a kiss, squeezing his shoulder.
Sarah’s playing with your new family dog, tugging with a rope toy as he fights back with his whole little body. “Thank you, Dad. He’s so cute!”
“What should we name him?” Joel asks as he lowers himself to the floor next to you, smiling as the puppy runs over. The two rough house, Joel easily flipping him over to scratch at his belly as the dog pants happily.
“Any ideas, Sare?” you ask, looking over at her.
She thinks for a moment before looking up between Joel and you, laughing at the tiny pup’s antics, “What about Goose? He just seems like one. Like a silly goose.”
“Goose? I like it, Bug,” Joel confirms, turning to you with a grin, “How about you, Mari?”
Nodding, you look at the new addition to the family, burning bright with happiness at your people’s excitement, “I think Goose is a perfect fit. And now you’re not outnumbered anymore, J. Two girls and two boys in the Miller household.”
Sarah laughs and lays down to cuddle with Goose while Joel moves closer to your side, wrapping an arm around you and kissing your head as he quietly whispers, “Hopefully won’t be too long before the boys are outnumbered again.”
“And what makes you say it won’t be us girls being outnumbered?”
“Call it father’s intuition. Wouldn’t know what to do with a little boy, bein’ a dad to another girl would just be second nature. Plus, I would want a mini Mari running around the world.” Joel presses a kiss to your temple before you turn your head, catching his pursed lips with yours sweetly.
“I’d take anything if it means havin’ a little piece of you forever, J.”
third time lucky
Negative.
A single line, bold and brash, stares back at you. Turning the plastic in your hands, you attempt to read it at different angles, the smallest bit of hope lingering for another line to appear — that it was a trick of the light that was causing your disappointment.
To no avail, the blue strip remains unaccompanied in the small window. A sinking feeling fills your body from your toes up. Everything feels heavier, except your lower stomach. That has never felt as empty as it is now.
Heavy footsteps thump a vibration in the floors, but your focus remains on a speck of dust floating in the light past your field of vision. His presence hangs in the bedroom, milling about, unknowing of what you were up to before he came in from mowing the lawn.
“Hey, baby, m’gonna take a shower and then we’ve got Sarah’s softball game at three. Probably half to leave here around two, her coach asked all the parents to be thirty minutes early for some reason…” Joel’s voice fades in your head as your thoughts start to yell, scream, fight, taunt inside of your mind.
A hard swallow pops your ears, the ringing in them growing louder as your mind begins to wander. The test is left discarded on the bathroom counter, with no heart yet to throw it in the garbage where the others have ended up. Your bare feet shuffle against the rug as you seek out solace under covers, even in the ninety-plus-degree heat. The springs of the mattress shift under your weight, lying on your side facing the opposite side of the bed that lays empty right now. The coverlet is pulled up over you, curling your fingers at the hem tightly, white knuckle grip to release some of the tension that has taken over your mind. You want to scream, cry, yell, question — but what you want most of all is to be able.
Why aren’t you able? Why can’t you do what your body is made to do, what it begs for, what it reminds you that you’ve failed at every month?
Joel stands in observation of you, careful distance, one hand lifting before he drops it. He can guess what this is about. What you’ve left behind in the en-suite. But to confirm his suspicions, he quietly walks into the tiled room, leaving his clean clothes on the counter while he picks up the test.
Negative.
His body sinks, toes up to his head, but with a gaping, empty feeling in his chest. There’s so much room left in his heart, room he is eager to fill with another part of you, another love, another soul to protect. Now, though, all of his emptiness is filled with an ache for you. You’ve been dreaming out loud for a year now, wonderings and visions shared with him late nights and early mornings — Will they have his eyes? You hope so, so that they look like their sister. Who’s ears would they have? What quirks will they pick up from both of you? Who will they grow up to be? How will we be able to contain our love for both of our kids?
Our kids. Joel remembers that night; after you said that, he couldn’t hold himself back, couldn’t contain his love for you. No hesitation that his own was yours now, too. All he wanted was to give you another, to see your belly grow and your smile brighten and your skin glow. He was begging for whatever power was in the universe for that time to take, for both of you to be gifted with what you wished for so often, so deeply.
Desperation. Wavering confidence. Sorrow, worry, dwindling hope. He saw it all over you, time after time when the single line appeared on the plastic sticks.
You and Joel had been trying for a year. A long year. Maybe your desire was too strong, too overpowering. But shouldn’t that be a sign of your love? For each other, for your family? All he wants to do is give you the life you’ve wished for. And yes, all you’ve said you want is a life with him, but anyone who meets you would be able to tell you are meant for a nurturing life. Meant for motherhood.
It was already natural for you, taking a ten-year-old in stride, making her into your best friend — making her a priority over Joel most of the time. He knew it didn’t matter to you that she wasn’t yours, biologically speaking, but he can’t help but want to give you a child that is part you. How badly he wants another piece of you in the world, all of your goodness packaged into the purest soul.
Resigning with a sigh, he sets the test down on the cool countertop and exits the bathroom, a slow stride over to your lying form. Crumpled under covers. With a soft groan, he lowers himself to his knees with cracks popping his joints. His age is starting to show the closer he gets to forty and the more hours he works in the summer weather, another looming factor for him — he’s only known being a young dad. If you two have to wait, what would it be like to be nearly sixty when your kid graduates high school?
Shaking the superficial concerns from his head, his wide palm glides along the quilted fabric draped over your side. He rests his chin on his opposite arm, laying against the mattress close to your pillow. At the coax of his touch, you turn over to face him. Lips pursed in a frown, dried watery streaks being washed anew with your fresh tears, fat and rolling down your cheeks and over the bridge of your nose. They drip off of your skin, dotting and darkening the fabric of the pillowcase underneath you.
Joel leans in, brushing your hair from your face and pressing his lips to your forehead for a lingering kiss. A deep breath draws the smell of your shampoo into his nose, down deep into his lungs where it soothes his aching chest.
“Mari, sweet girl, I know it’s hard. I know we want it so bad, but there’s always another option,” he speaks softly, kindly, delicately, “We can go to that fertility specialist your doctor recommended. I promise, mi amor, we’ll have a baby together.”
He means it, and you can tell he means it. Ever since you had been back together, ever since he confessed his feelings for you — years ago now — he hasn’t made an empty promise. From tiny little things like a pledge to stop on the way home for your favorite ice cream, going to three different stores and adding nearly an hour to his day simply to show up with it for you, to larger, grander oaths, his wedding vows, the promise of building a beautiful life with you.
Emotion is thick in your throat as you attempt to vocalize your concerns. They keep you up at night, with Joel’s warm and expansive hand resting on your stomach right above your womb as he sleeps soundly. He wants it clearly as much as you do; you can feel it each time you’ve tried. How badly he wants to provide this for you.
Is he having the same thoughts as you? Does he wonder if something’s ‘wrong’ with you?
“I wanna be able to do it. Why can’t I do it on my own?” The sound of your meek voice shatters his heart and he shakes his head back and forth, adamant in shutting down the thoughts.
Tugging the covers down, Joel’s hands find your exposed skin, sliding across with a clammy touch from his labor outside. And nerves, too, you’d guess. Moving from his knees on the floor next to the bed, he finds a spot sitting at your side and shifts you to lay on your back. Opening up to him. Warmth rests over your womb, blanket pulled down to the tops of your thighs while his thumb brushes at your stomach, catching on the fabric of your shirt.
“No—oh, mi Mariposa, you don’t even know if it would be you with an issue. Very well could be me. Maybe breathin’ all the paint fumes at work killed m’little swimmers.” He breathes a small laugh through his nose, attempting to lighten the mood.
Your hands fly up to your face, muffling your voice, “Oh, god, don’t say that. I wanna have your baby, not some sperm donors.”
His hand coasts up your torso, over to your side to wrap around your rib cage, feeling your breaths as his fingertips lightly tickle the spot, “That was supposed to make you laugh, sweet girl.”
Hands falling away from your face, your brow pinches together and your frown deepens. About to make a retort, your mouth open, Joel skates the fingertips of both his hands up and down your sides, alternated on each side of you to make it harder to catch his wrists. Laughter bubbles up from your chest, your frown morphing into a flashing smile before you’re calling for a surrender in between gasping breaths.
Relenting, his hands stop, settling at the curve of your waist. He leans over you, nudging his nose against yours before pressing a ghosting kiss to your lips. A small grin, hopeful and reassuring, with a tinge of worry flickering in his irises, barely there before his smile reaches his eyes, “It’ll happen for us, Mari baby. Why don’t we say, one last go before lookin’ into the doctors? We’ll do all the things, track whatever we need to track. I’ll drop whatever I need to come home and put a baby in you.”
Joel wiggles his eyebrows, playful smirk crossing his expression. You roll your eyes under him, pushing an accusing finger into his chest, “Like you don’t already do that. I could call you in the middle of work and just go ‘Hey, J’ and you’re in the truck on your way home.”
“That’s right, Mari. As it should be. Y’know what they say — happy wife, happy life.” Another kiss to your lips, this one a bit more savoring. “What d’ya say, mi amor? One more go?”
“Okay, yeah. One more go.”
Butterflies kick up in your stomach when you hear the low rumble of Joel’s truck cut, heavy door swinging closed and quick strides following. The front door opens after a short jingle of keys, shutting behind him with the slide of the lock back into place. Distant grumbles of his make you laugh, his frustrations with his work boots floating upstairs to where you’re sitting on the edge of your bed, leaning back on your hands. Clad in only your bra and panties, you work your bottom lip between your teeth as anticipation builds with each of Joel’s footsteps up the carpeted stairs.
You both only have the afternoon — less than an hour of your afternoon, actually — to make your last attempt. Already having taken advantage of the window in your cycle twice, the peak day of your ovulation fell, of course, during the busiest time of year for Miller Construction. Summer has come to a close, and now people have picked up their home improvements to start nesting for the winter; a craving you’ve been having yourself, desperate to make your home larger and livelier by one more. Joel has snuck away for a moment that you two have alone, and you’ve told the couple you nanny for that you have an immovable appointment for today.
Pretty sure the only thing that will be immovable today will be you once Joel’s hour is up.
“Mari? Mi amor?” he calls out and you chuckle softly at the boyish excitement in his voice.
“In the bedroom, J!”
Joel rounds the doorway into your shared room, stopping a handful of steps past the threshold when he registers the sight of you. He hums a low moan, licking his lips as his eyes devour your lacy undergarments, “Mierda, mi esposa, estás tratando de matarme? (Shit, my wife, are you trying to kill me?) You look so fucking beautiful, darlin’.”
A low whistle leaves his lips as he stalks closer, eyes rake over your form as you present your primped self for his taking.
“You get all pretty for me, sweet girl? I like this…” he rasps as he’s within arm’s reach now, stretching a hand out to toy with the strap of your bra and snapping it against your skin sharply.
“Wanted to look pretty when you fill me up, J.” One curl of his finger under your chin draws you to sit up straight, tilting your head back to look at Joel towering over you.
“Good girl,” he praises, a glint of excitement in his eyes, “You want me to fill up your sweet little cunt, Mariposa? Want me to give you a baby? Tell me.”
“Yes,” you breathe out shakily, eyelids fluttering closed as his hands trail lightly across your exposed skin, ghosting everywhere you need him most.
“More, sweetheart. Dime. Dime cuánto lo deseas. Suplicar por ello. (Tell me. Tell me how badly you want it. Beg for it.)” His instructions float through your head, only keywords translating in while Joel leaves over you, lips pressing feather-light kisses along your neck, across your chest.
“I need it, Joel. Need you so fucking bad, I wanna have your baby. Want you to make me a mom, fill me up as many times as it takes until we get our baby…please, J…” As if the taste of you wasn’t enough to do him in, the wild, fervent look in your eyes intrigues him beyond. Hearing the words from your lips, directed to him, he’s fucking aching. He was growing hard on his way over here, the thoughts swimming through his mind of you laid out and ready for him to take delegating his blood supply to rush down below his belt.
He needs you, but first, he needs to see you unraveling underneath him only from his fingers.
“Don’t worry your pretty little mind, Mari. M’gonna take care of you. I’ll make sure this one takes. Let’s call it third time lucky this summer.”
He shoots you a wink, your mouth parting to respond. Before you can let any breath escape, his lips are crashing with yours. Heavy, heady, and so fucking hot it spirals your thoughts into nothing. His tongue melts with yours, the taste of his black coffee and the donut he must have eaten at work this morning tingling your taste buds. Sweat sticks to his skin when your hands rest at the sides of his neck, falling backwards as he climbs over you. He smells of wood shavings, freshly mowed grass, and hard work — calloused hands gliding along your body and feeling the softest of scratches of his blue collar hands.
“Joel, need you — please.” It’s more of a whine than a begging whimper, rising frustration levels from his lack of touch in the place you need and want him the most.
Your cunt is desperate, dripping down your folds and surely soaking the sheets. A quick jerk of your hips attempts to brush against him, to catch any relief for the need building low in your stomach. A large palm presses your lower half back against the mattress, the other hand pushing your leg to the side to open you up further for him. A knuckle brushes your clit, grazing up and down your seam through your soaked panties. Your husband clicks his tongue as he shakes his head at you, patronizing tone slick in his voice.
“Darlin’, I wanna take every second of my time with you. Are you gonna let me? Gonna let me get your cunt squeezing my fingers? Gonna let me fill you up, mi amor?” he asks, as if you wouldn’t say yes to all of those requests and he knows it. Nodding, a desperate yes exhaled when he applies more pressure with his finger against your clit, rubbing slow circles. “Good girl. Siempre tan bueno para mí. (Always so good for me.)”
Joel folds over your, taking one of your perked nipples into his mouth through your bra and sucking. His tongue flattens against the cup before he’s pulling at the nub with his teeth. The material is darkened where his mouth was when he grows a bit more needy, grabbing at the straps and yanking the bra to rest at your midsection. You slip your arms out of the straps and he pushes you further onto the bed by the back of your thighs, stripping your panties off and settling on his knees.
Pressure forms against your clit from two of his fingers, slow circles dragging a moan from your throat. Joel smirks, satisfied with the way you squirm under him, trying and failing to get more from his hands. Before you can vocalize a whine, Joel is over you again, bringing his attention to your now bare breast while the circles continue. Hot, humid kisses are littered on the soft skin, happy hums rolling from Joel’s chest. He pulls his head up, looking down at your chest with a half grin and his dimple on display.
“You’re gonna get so soft and swollen everywhere, Mariposa. Round belly, huge tits—can’t wait to play with ‘em.” His grin widens, boyish and brazen with the glee that the fact fills him with. “You gonna let me, baby? Gonna let me make your sore tits feel better with my mouth?”
His question goes unanswered as his mouth attaches to one of your nipples, sucking and flattening his tongue as he nurses it. Pulling away with a pop, he mimics the same on the other side, the intensity of his suckling along with his fingers rubbing faster against your clit — even slipping down to tease at your entrance — has you wiggling under him, desperation notching up your spine.
“Joel, please,” you plead, choking on your breath when he pulls the bud of your breast between his teeth, a low growling sound rumbling from his throat.
Two of his thick fingers push into your dripping cunt, a relieved moan echoing against the walls of the bedroom. Curling up into your spongy walls, they thrust quickly and pet at the certain spot inside of you. Joel’s mouth is still at your chest, his hunger feeding itself on the taste of your skin.
“Fuck, Mari, gonna break my fucking fingers off. So fucking tight.”
A distraught whimper crawls from your chest, breaths heaving as your walls clench around his quick-paced fingers. You gasp when he slips a third one in, hooking them up. Despite the stretch, you still feel an emptiness. All you want is his cock inside of you, spilling into you and leaving you to grow fuller with his baby. The thoughts of him above you, fucking it all deeper into you to reach your womb, drive you over the edge. The tips of his fingers press against that spot inside of you, his warm mouth hanging open at your tit while his eyes watch you come undone. Writhing and walls pulsing around his fingers, his name falls from your mouth as you choke out moans and your vision grows dark.
“That’s it, Mari baby, fuck,” Joel works you through the orgasm before his fingers leave you and he sits back on his haunches. Sucking his digits clean of your slick and come, the other hand rubs your thigh gently before he coos down at you, “That was a big one, wasn’t it? Feel good?”
Still coming down from it all, your body feels liquidity, taking whatever form Joel is molding you into right now after he’s stripped himself bare. One hand slips under you, unclasping your bra and tugging it away from your torso, leaving you as naked as him. His eyes drink in your body while his grip holds your calves, chuckling darkly when you finally breathe out a response, “I feel…like I need you to put a baby in me.”
“Cualquier cosa para usted, mi esposa. Vas a estar tan lleno de mí. Te encanta la sensación de mi mecos dentro de ti, ¿verdad? (Anything for you, my wife. You're going to be so full of me. You love the feeling of my cum inside of you, don't you?)” Your head rolls with a nod, agreeing to anything Joel says in the moment, still hazy from how hard he’d made you come moments ago. Half-lidded eyes watch as he licks his fingers, stroking his cock a few times with a quiet sigh. That’s something you could watch all day — Joel’s pleasure. And here underneath him, you have the perfect view, and the perfect position to be used for it.
Fully handing over control to him, his hands tug you up so your ass sits on his thighs while he’s on his knees. Fingertips skate along the distance of your legs, grabbing at your calves to rest them on his broad shoulders. Even the slightest shift forward from his hips stretches you wide, a delicious ache creating a craving for more.
“Tell me how bad you want it, Mari, tell me how much you wanna have my baby.”
Joel’s gripping his length, rubbing his tip through your wet folds. The notches against your clit quiver the already stretched muscles in your thighs, whines replacing words coming out of your mouth.
“Tell me, or I won’t give you what you want, mi amor.”
“I want it so bad, J. I wanna feel you fuck me so full of you, and I don’t want that feeling to leave. I feel like there’s an emptiness and only you can fill it, I want your baby. Wanna have everyone know how good I am for you, carrying your baby like you want me to. I wanna have a part of you forever,” you gasp out the last word, Joel’s cock inching into you. Muscle memory takes over, your whole body relaxing with the knowledge that he’ll take care of you — he’ll always take care of you.
Joel bottoms out easily, filling you to the hilt before he pauses to take a breath. His eyes meet yours and he smiles, sweet and sincere, while holding your shins, “I fucking love you, mi Mariposa. Wanna give you a baby…”
“Pleasepleaseplease—” You don’t know if you’re begging more for him to give you what you want or to move his hips, but in the end, you get both.
Joel starts out slow, shallow thrusts keeping him inside of you. Grunts from the controlled movements fill the room, your small whimpers following each noise he makes. The sound of him fucking into your cunt captures his attention, gaze zeroed in on where you two meet. Watching the stretch of your tight pussy around his cock, he feels the burning desire for more. To watch you take it deeper, harder.
The next snap of his hips is just that - smacking his skin against your ass before he adjusts, laying you back completely on the mattress and leaning over you. Your legs are still hooked over his shoulders, the burning of your muscles now straining your hamstrings and glutes. His entire body folds you, his head hovering over yours as he fucks into you further. The tip of his cock kisses your womb, the force of his thrusts driving your hips open more for him.
“Gonna — fuck — gonna make you a momma, Mariposa. That what you want? Get fucked so well, be so full of me that we make a baby? Everybody’s gonna know I treat my wife right. With your round belly…swollen—ah—swollen tits. Gonna be so beautiful, and so fucking sensitive everywhere.”
His words only add onto the feeling of his thick cock filling you up, nearly verging on too far and too much. Moans exhale on your lips, his name repeated like a chant with each harsh snap of him into you. Your hands scramble for purchase as his sheer power drives you up the mattress, sheets scratching against your bare back. One set of fingers dig into the meaty flesh of his shoulder, nails pressing crescent shapes like an iron-hot branding.
Above you, Joel studies how your mouth has fallen open, thoughts completely left your mind with how cockdrunk you are. He gingerly grips your chin, holding it to face him and commanding your eyes to his as he pants heavily.
“What d’you wanna make me, baby?” It’s only met with the sounds of his cock dragging in and out of you, the slap of skin as you gasp under him. “C’mon, Mari baby, use your words.”
“A daddy,” you breathe out, your opposite hand combing into his messy curls and gripping tight.
“Say it again. Dime.” Not thinking it was possible, Joel pushes you further, hitting into you harder with each thrust nudging his tip toward your cervix. You might only leave this afternoon with soreness, but you continued to hold out hope for a baby to be the well-worth prize for how you’re going to feel tomorrow.
“A daddy!”
“Dime. Dime. Dime,” he commands and you listen, writhing under him as he hacks away at your shared resolve, throwing you closer and closer to the edge.
“Daddy — oh, fuck, a daddy. Wanna make you a daddy!” You’re yelling at this point, sobs of pleasure wracking your body and you thank god for a split second that the two of you are home alone in the middle of the work day. Surely the whole block might be hearing all of your wanton sounds.
“God, I could get used to you calling me that, Mari baby,” Joel groans and throws his head back, bearing his teeth as he punches his hips into your clenching pussy, the telltale sign that you’re close.
“C’mon, mi amor, give it to me. Come for me and I’ll let your fucking pussy milk me for every last drop. That’s what you want, right? Gotta fill you up and make a baby for my Mari baby.” He’s rambling as you reach your peak, toes curling and coming even harder than your first one this afternoon.
A near scream pulls itself from as deep as your gut, the sound as if you were in more pain than the absolute pleasure you feel. Your grip on his hair tightens, drawing him down for a messy kiss as you mumble against his lips.
“Please gimme a baby, J. Need it all inside of me, please. Come for me, mi esposo.”
The name sends goosebumps across his shoulders and trickles down his spine before he’s barking your name once and spilling into you, painting your walls with each rope. He takes a moment to breathe before he gently presses his hips in a few short thrusts, fucking his spend as far into you as possible.
Joel collapses against your torso, no other efforts exerted to move away. Delicate, nimble touches brush the hair from his sweaty forehead, rubbing his shoulders as he hums contently.
“Fuck, baby, might just have to stay inside. Keep you plugged up so I can stay here all day with you.” Quiet, breathless laughter leaves your lips as you shake your head, tracing along his jaw before he turns his head to press his lips into your tummy.
“Can’t wait for you to be a momma. Gonna be the best one ever, y’already are. Love you so much.”
The two of you lay like that for what feels like hours, only to be reminded of Joel’s limited schedule when his cell starts ringing from downstairs. Getting up with a groan, he slips out of you and lifts your hips, stuffing a pillow or two underneath them to keep your lower half elevated. You roll your eyes at the superstitious gesture, gasping when his fingers push into you once more to put his leaking come back into where it belongs.
“Gotta make sure it takes, pretty girl. Wanna see you get all round with my baby in you. Everybody’ll know how good I am to you, huh? Pumping you full of me so much we made a new fucking life…better stay like this until I get home again, Mari baby. Wanna make sure those lil swimmers get all the help they can get.”
“Mm…” you hum, hands grabbing for him to lean over you again. Sneaking a kiss, you pull away to whisper to him with a grin on your lips, “Better get back to work…daddy.”
He snorts out a laugh, beaming a bright smile as mischief glimmers in his eyes, “Mal. Mala chica. (Bad. Bad girl.)”
Three days late. You’ve been tracking your cycle like a mad woman, ticking off days in the notebook next to your bed, and now you’re officially three days late. Joel and you had agreed to wait a few days after you expected your period, hopeful that the extra time meant a more accurate, and desired, result.
The kitchen timer sitting on Joel’s side of the bed ticks away while you side on the edge of the bed. Tapping your fingers against your thighs, bare skin against your fingertips from the high hem of your denim shorts. Joel paces the room, eyes focused a thousand yards ahead. Anxiety and anticipation had been plaguing both of you all day, work slugging by minute by minute, second by second. Joel had left the jobsite as soon as was acceptable, leaving Tommy to wrap up, and swung by the pharmacy to pick up a new box of tests. Your task for the day was to chug water, or any liquid, all afternoon — by the time Joel was one foot through the door, you were ready to burst. Snatching the bag of tests out of his hand, you ran to the bathroom to pee in a plastic disposable cup and stick at least three tests in.
Now, you two are waiting for more seconds and minutes to tick by, added to the tally of the entire day. As you’re about to stand and stop Joel from burning treads in the area rug from walking his tight circles, a trill of a bell vibrating demands your attention. Turning off the noise in a flash, you stand and cross the room to where your husband is now frozen in place. A gentle touch to his cheek, his eyelids flutter close and he takes a long exhale before opening them again.
“Ready?” you ask, uncertainty pitching your voice up.
A minute nod, one shake of his chin, Joel’s hand finds the small of your back as he responds, “Ready, mi amor.”
His hand guides you into the bathroom, and a handful of steps from the three tests laid out on the counter, you turn around, panic twisting your expression. Joel stumbles to stop his collision with you, large palms grabbing onto your biceps to catch himself.
“M’scared, J…” Your voice is meek, cracking with emotion. This is the last shot you gave yourselves, whatever is laid on the counter either means unbridled joy or a long road of poking and prodding in countless doctors’ offices.
The warmth of his hands rubbing your arms and the press of his lips to your forehead coax you to relax, to take deep breaths, “I know, Mari baby, I would be lyin’ if I said I wasn’t scared too. But no matter what is on those tests, we’re in it together, right sweet girl?”
His index finger hooks under your chin to draw your attention up to his face, a small smile filled with love and reassurance stretching his lips.
“Always in it together, J.” You take another deep breath, turning around and nodding shortly, “Okay, now m’ready.”
“That’s my girl,” he mumbles before he’s following right behind you again, the two of you pressing yourselves to each other against the counter. Joel has an iron grip on your hips, nerves manifesting in the squeezes of his hands. Shaking fingers turn over each test before picking them all up to your lines of vision.
Two lines. Two bold lines screaming at both of you, across all three tests.
Positive.
Positive. You’re pregnant. You and Joel are having a baby.
“Holy shit…” Joel exhales behind you, smile creeping into his voice. Somehow, his grip gets even tighter as he turns you around, “Holy shit! You’re pregnant, Mari. We’re havin’ a baby! You’re gonna be a momma!”
Giddiness overcomes both of you, happy and disbelieving laughter while you hold each other in a tight embrace. Joel litters kisses around your face, catching your lips last — all teeth and tight lipped from your matching grins.
“You’re gonna be a dad again, how’s that feel?”
“Like I won the damn lottery, mi amor.”
Another kiss, supple and heavy. Joel pulls away first and shakes his head, pressing his forehead to yours, “I love you so fucking much, Mari.”
“I love you too, J.”
“You ready to go, Sare?” you ask, standing next to her seat at the kitchen table where she’s working away at her homework, reaching a hand out to play with her curls. She smiles and nods, writing down one last answer to a question on her worksheet before she lays her pencil down and stands up, rushing over toward the door.
“Just gotta get my shoes on!” she calls out, and you smile, shaking your head.
“Take your time, sweet pea! God knows it’s gonna take me longer to walk over to the door.” Your joke falls on deaf ears of your husband, who stands at the kitchen island and rolls his eyes before he’s crossing the room over to you. Within arm’s length, his hands cup the bottom of your large belly, leaning in for a sweet peck.
“Nobody cares if you move slow. Better to be careful than—”
“Careless, yes, I know. I think those might be our baby’s first words since they hear them so much from their dad,” you tease and he shrugs, kissing you again while his touch wanders across the flannel of his that you’re sporting, too tired to buy more maternity clothes that you’ll grow out of and opting for his closet every morning.
“Jus’ looking out for my girls. All three of ‘em.” He beams proudly, brown eyes shining brightly before he turns you in his arms, accompanying you to the front door where your near-teenager is waiting. Ever the sweetheart she is, she’s got your purse slung on her shoulder, car keys in hand to pass off to you. You thank her quietly, turning back to Joel as he looks between the two of you.
“Alright, have fun with your girls’ day. And call if you need anything — either of you. I’ll be waitin’ here for ya.” Joel smooths down Sarah’s hair before kissing the crown of her head; she squirms away, the teenage attitude rearing its head in some early moments, especially with her dad. There’s less patience for him, which you completely understand as a teenage girl once yourself. He huffs out a sigh as she slips out the door, heading down the front path toward your car.
“Hey, s’nothing. Teenage girl things. She loves you, and you’re the best dad.” A hand on his cheek coaxes him down to your lips, a supple kiss exchanged before he pulls away and bends to kiss the top of your belly.
“Bye, my little June Bug.” He stands upright again and steals another kiss, mumbling, “And bye, mi Mariposa. Drive safe, let me know if you need anything while you’re out. I love you.”
“We love you too. And m’speaking for the moody one, too.” Joel chuckles and rubs your bump once more before sending you on your way, watching and waving from the door as y’all drive away.
The plan for today had come about when you started to notice Sarah growing quieter, retreating to her room more often after family dinners and denying the chance at movie night some days. Joel had noticed too, but was a bit nervous to broach it with her, not wanting to make her feel bad about being more independent.
Your relationship with her though was much different to Joel’s. There was the foundation of your caretaking role with her, much more of a friend with authority when it was only you two before you were anything close to a parental figure. More open and, well, you could relate more to what she was going through. She confided in you first about girls at school being catty, about her growing crushes on boys in her grade. And this year, only a month after your due date, she will officially become a teenager. It was a strange time in any girl’s life, full of growing pains.
And on top of all of that, add on a new baby arriving. Attentions drawn elsewhere, priorities shifted to preparing for the baby. Sarah never fell to the backburner in your minds, but you didn’t know how she was feeling. Guessing by her quiet actions, you could tell she was feeling left out but didn’t want to stir up trouble.
Always the sweet girl. And you knew how that was.
So, you’d asked her for a girls’ day, excluding her dad from the fun and giving both of you some time with each other to feel like it was years before. It was all about Sarah today, no mentions of baby — no buying diapers or supplies or clothes. A promise made to yourself to make Sarah feel special, because that is exactly what she was. The baby on the way may be your first biological child, but nothing can compare to the unique bond that you have with your Sare Bear.
The day was spent waddling throughout the mall, helping her pick out new outfits and shoes for the end of the school year. Collecting a haul, you two stopped off for lunch and a trip to the nail salon before you finally made your way back home in the evening. Sarah was smiling brightly in the passenger seat, joking around with you and eagerly telling you all about the latest school drama. Your heart was about to burst with how much she’d come out of her shell again all day, even wanting to show off her new things to her dad when you both got back.
In the living room, Joel greets you two from the couch, eyes widening and a low whistle leaving his lips when he sees the damage done, “Quite some shoppin’ there, Bug. Y’all buy out the whole store?”
You wave him off and encourage Sarah to show off her haul, walking over to settle onto the sofa next to Joel. The younger Miller excitedly starts pulling out pieces and showcasing them, excitedly telling her dad exactly where she plans to wear them. His hand rests on your leg, attention completely focused on his daughter in front of him, squeezing you gently when she gets particularly worked up over something. You can tell he feels what you were in the car, heart bursting that she seems like herself again after a day spent with you.
“That’s nice, Sare Bear. I like the color,” Joel comments on the last shirt Sarah holds up, her smile still beaming as she tosses it back into the bag.
“Thanks, Mom actually picked it out! I thought it would be fun to have for camp this year, since I’m gonna start the counselor training program…” Her voice trails off as Joel listens intently. You, on the other hand, take deep breaths to hold it together, the simple moniker rolling off of Sarah’s tongue so naturally. Your heartbeat thumps in your chest, and baby Miller kicks her feet against your tummy — equally as excited.
You manage to keep it calm while Sarah recaps the rest of the day before she gathers up her shopping bags to take to her room. As she’s leaving the room, she’s quick to run over and give you a hug, leaning down to meet you where you sit on the couch. Your belly sticks out between the two of you, but regardless you pull her into a tight squeeze as she says thank you. Her curls bounce as she scampers off upstairs, the quiet sounds of her feet in the hallway queuing your watery eyes to overflow and for your nose to sniffle. Joel is grinning brightly next to you, pulling you into his lap and holding you against him as he wipes the few happy tears away.
“She called me Mom…” you whisper to your husband, afraid to admit it any louder as if it would disappear.
Joel presses his forehead against yours, a sweet kiss against your lips before he whispers back, “You have no idea how happy it makes me to know she feels that way about you.”
“I just…I feel so lucky. And maybe it’s hormones, but oh my god, I can’t stop blubbering. I’m a mom.”
“You’re the best mom. Have been to Sarah since she met you, and you’re going to be the best mom to our little one on the way.”
June 21st, 2009.
The first day of summer.
It’s the first day of summer and you’re stuck inside. Not at home, no, you’re currently propped up in a hospital bed with your legs in stir-ups, breathing in between contractions. Exhaustion weighs on your body, a full hour passing of you pushing in time with the pain in your abdomen that radiates all over. Sweat sticks your hair to your forehead and Joel sitting next to you brushes it out of the way. His other hand is limp in yours, ready to be squeezed with a vice grip whenever you need to push. Joel leans over you in level with your head, lathering on encouragements.
“You got this, Mari.”
“So strong, baby. You can do it.”
“Thank you, mi amor, thank you thank you thank you.”
The last one comes after a string of complaints against him doing this to you — despite you both knowing you begged for it nine months prior — and for having such a big head in his own baby photos that he had to have passed down to the baby.
Another wave kicks in, your doctor and nurses coaching you to give another final push. Putting every last bit of your energy behind the flex of your muscles, groaning out with pain and frustration before a piercing cry fills the room. Heavy, tiny sobs ring in your ears.
“You did it, baby, m’so proud of you. Our little girl,” Joel says in awe, glancing between you and where the doctor holds your little baby girl, summoning Dad over to cut the cord.
She’s taken away to be cleaned up and Joel returns to your side, ready to help you attentively through the afterbirth. You wave him off, begging him to go keep an eye on your little girl. Once she’s clean enough, the nurses lay her on your bare chest, the sight of her tiny fingers and toes bringing about your own cries. Your hands hold her there, delicate touches brushing against her soft skin and her damp but full head of dark brown hair.
The rest of the process is painful but smoother, shorter. Before you know it, all tests are done and Joel is next to the bed again, wiping a damp cloth across your forehead.
A rush of adrenaline, pure unfiltered need and excitement to meet your daughter keeps you awake, sitting up carefully as you accept her into your arms from your husband who’s wearing the biggest smile. He sits on the edge of the bed, hand on your leg as you study the features on her small face.
“She’s perfect, isn’t she, Mari? Looks like her momma.”
You beam, shaking your head as you place a fingertip against her nose, “See, I think she looks like her daddy. Already got the grumpy brow.”
Both of you laugh, your unbridled attention on the tiny bundle in your arms as you gush over her for minutes longer. Joel rubs your leg, drawing your eyes up to him as he asks, “So you think we picked a good name?”
“I think we picked a perfect name. Our ‘S’ girls,” you grin at him before looking down at your little girl, “Skye Isla Miller. I think it suits her perfectly.”
A bit more time is spent between only the two of you and Skye before you’re itching to see your eldest, and for her to meet her little sister. Joel retreats to where Sarah’s in the waiting area with Tommy and Maria, who’s now three months pregnant herself, waving her to come back with him. She nervously enters the room, quiet as a mouse until you reassure her with a smile and welcome her to sit in the bed next to you.
Joel makes the introductions, voice thick with emotion as he stands over his three girls, watching as his first little one meets his second, “Sarah Elena, this is your baby sister, Skye Isla.”
Sarah quietly asks permission to hold her; you lay Skye in her arms carefully, teaching her how to support her head and where to avoid her soft spot. Sarah picks up on it like a natural, adjusting her little sister when she fusses a bit, finally settling into a new set of familiar hands.
“Dad said you did a really good job, Mom. With everything today. S’pretty cool that you brought a whole person into the world…” Sarah glances over at you with a shy smile before addressing both you and Joel, “M’really happy she’s here.”
“You’re gonna be a great big sister, Bug,” Joel beams with pride as he squeezes her shoulder, leaning over to press a kiss to the crown of your head. He hums as he looks over you three, “Got my Mariposa, my Bug, and my little June Bug. Mi maripositas. Don’t think anything could beat seeing my three girls altogether finally.”
You find yourself observing your family from afar, listening with muffled ears as Joel and Sarah chat about who Skye got what features from. Cheeks aching from smiling, you can’t help but think that this summer was off to the most wonderful start, and that every summer after was only going to get better.
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The Knight & His Queen: Part 1
Fic Masterlist ||| Main Masterlist
Dieter Bravo x OFC
Summary: While looking for the perfect Christmas gift for his niece, Dieter Bravo finds himself in a small mystic shop, owned by the sweet and eccentric Amina. After an impromptu tarot reading with unexpected and surprising results, the two quickly find themselves entranced by each other.
Warnings: Spicy language, alcohol consumption, smut, & mentions of drug use. Mystical topics such as tarot readings, spirit guides, chakras, etc. Dieter Bravo comes with his own warnings.
Chapter Quote:
“The first one’s free. That’s how I get you hooked.”
Amina POV
My Monday morning started like most of my days had recently. I woke up…alone. Even though it had been seven months since splitting from a long-term relationship, it was still weighing on me. I was such a mixed bag of emotions, struggling with loneliness but also swearing off men for the foreseeable future. I felt stuck and unsure of my path forward after watching all of my plans crumble down before me within hours, altering all aspects of my life. All because my significant other suddenly decided he needed someone a little less eccentric for his corporate lifestyle.
I was finally settled into my small LA apartment, everything was unpacked, but it still didn’t feel like home. As I lay staring at the ceiling, I could feel a dark shadow over the place. Like this wasn’t where I was supposed to be or like an important piece of my life was missing.
I was jolted out of my thoughts when my long-haired black cat, Miss Pickles, jumped up on top of me. Her intense green eyes showed her annoyance that breakfast had not yet been served. She gave a low growl before rubbing her head roughly against my chin.
“Alright, alright, I’m getting up,” I said to her with a huff.
There was a chill in the air as I made my way to the kitchen to portion out a bit of premade raw food onto Pickles' recycled green glass plate. She sat on the counter, impatiently whipping her tail about as she watched me prepare her meal, then meowed excitedly when I sat her plate on the food mat. She wasted no time digging in. I gave her a quick scratch above her tail as I walked toward the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.
I emerged from my bedroom, wrapping a deep forest green scarf around my neck. I grabbed a dark red coatigan from the closet and shrugged it on over my olive green tee, kicking my favorite brown leather lace-up boots out of the closet as I did so. After putting my boots on, I walked over to the island, digging through my large brown leather satchel to make sure I had everything I needed for the day. Pickles walked over to paw at the feathers clipped into my wavy black hair. I paused my movements, laughing at her sudden attack, before giving her a quick pat on the head. She stood, swatting me with her tail as she turned to paw at my tarot deck that I was about to stick in my bag. She let out a loud meow as she looked at me, then back to the deck. I sighed.
“Why bother? You know it’s gonna be the same thing that it’s been for the last seven months.”
She meowed at me again, “Fine… but don’t get mad when I say I told ya so.”
I grabbed the deck, tapped it three times, then did a quick shuffle before pulling my one card for the day. Death. Again. The end of possibilities in one aspect with a transformation on the horizon. Clearly, I had not let go of whatever baggage I was holding onto from my past since the spirit guides were still telling me to move on and close that door before the next could be opened. I rolled my eyes, grabbing the card pouch to pack them away and toss them in my bag.
I sighed, “See, what did I tell you? The same damn thing.”
Pickles whipped her tail out of frustration and meowed again before jumping down to go sit in her window.
“I’ll see you after work. Please try to stay out of trouble today,” I added before grabbing my bag and heading out the door.
I walked two blocks in the crisp December air to my shop, Enchanted Curios, that I opened five years ago. It was a mystic shop of sorts, with carefully curated spiritual items from all over the world. Anything from books, herbs, crystals, totems, elixirs, and home decor lined the shelves. It was fairly popular since there was a little something for everyone. It was one of the things that made me too eccentric for my ex. He had wanted me to give it up for something more fitting to his high class persona. The judgy looks he got when he shared what his fiancé did for a living was too much for his fragile ego to handle. He had set foot into a world that was no longer compatible with mine and it became the final crack in our already crumbling relationship.
I entered through the front door of the shop, turning on the pink neon sign that indicated we were open for business before making my way around to turn on all the other displays and diffusers for the day. I could hear the shop manager and my best friend, Heidi, in the back near the loading dock talking to one of the delivery guys as he carted in boxes off his truck. Once they were finished with the delivery, Heidi dramatically walked through the beaded curtain from the back, “Good morning, Mina.” She was a little too chipper for it to be so early.
“That must have been the cute delivery guy from the candle place,” I said with a smirk.
“It was. I’m pretty sure he was flirting with me this time. I think I’m gonna ask him for his number when he comes back.”
She looked energized and excited by the thought of this as she bounced on the balls of her feet.
“Did you pull a card today?” Her mood shifted, more serious now as she took in my glum expression.
“I did. Still the same.” I rolled my eyes as I moved to straighten up the counter displays.
“Maybe you should try dating again or something. Wouldn’t that help take your mind off you-know-who?” She moved to lean against the edge of the counter on the opposite side from me.
“Ugh, I don’t think I’m ready for that. I just don’t trust my judgment when it comes to men right now. I’m feeling a little vulnerable and I don’t want a rebound thing, you know what I mean? I don’t want things to get messy.”
“What if you knew what to look for? Take out some of the guessing. The cards can give you an idea.” She was practically vibrating at the thought. Heidi was new to tarot reading, but she was a natural, immediately in tune with her intuition. She wanted to do a reading for anything and everything at this point just for practice.
I gave her a dismissive laugh as I shook my head, “You’re too much sometimes.”
“No, I’m serious. Let me do a three card spread for you. Let’s see what happens.”
I gave her an admonishing look, not wanting to go down that road, but she wouldn’t let it go as she reached for her deck under the counter with a grin.
“Ok, fine. I’ll humor you,” I relented, leaning against the counter to watch her work.
Heidi went through her routine of shuffling and clearing the cards before pulling the first one.
“Ok, so this card represents you, the Queen of Cups. Full of compassion, creativity, and intuition. Well grounded, sensitive, and empathetic… this card is associated with water which can be gentle, but powerful when needed. Also, the Pisces star sign…” She raised an eyebrow at me, questioning if that was correct. I nodded. She looked pleased with herself before continuing. She pulled the second card, the Knight of Wands.
“This card represents your ideal partner…interesting. He’s gonna have that masculine fire energy and lots of charisma. That’s definitely not you-know-who…” She had a smirk on her face as she glanced in my direction, waiting for a reaction.
“Ha ha. You’re hilarious,” I said sarcastically, before waving for her to continue.
“So, your guy is most likely gonna be either a Leo, Sagittarius, or Aries. A very passionate and enthusiastic lover. Probably adventurous in the bedroom too…I feel like you could use a little adventure in your life.” She busted out laughing as she watched my eyes widen in horror at her words.
I shook my head, “Was it that obvious?” Heidi nodded, “I could tell just by looking at the guy that he probably wasn’t a good time. Too uptight for that.”
I chuckled, “I guess there’s no hiding that my sex life has been very vanilla then. I sure know how to pick em…”
Heidi laughed before continuing, “Ok, I feel like this guy is gonna be super energetic and bold. Maybe even a little eccentric and spiritual in his own way. He’ll probably love attention and be a little impulsive and impatient…but your water energy could help him balance those things out.”
“Great…so a man child then. Got it.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes at her.
She gave me a pointed look, “Come on, be a little open minded…please. It might help get that death card out of your life.”
I raised a brow at her, not at all encouraged or impressed by her words. She shook her head at me as she pulled the third card from the deck, the lovers. She inhaled deeply, eying it in the spread, “Well…this card is meant to tell us what your relationship would be like if you found this person.”
We stared at each other for a beat, both of us surprised by the pull. “Well, I feel like that’s a long term sort of meaning behind it. A serious connection of souls…like a true life partner…a spiritual connection with a strong bond. It’s an honest relationship of trust and respect for each other…which you totally didn’t have before...”
A sly grin spread across her face. She seemed pretty damn proud of herself.
“I don’t believe that. That sort of thing doesn’t exist,” I said, shaking my head as I made my way toward the front display window to place one of my handmade statues in a recently vacated spot from a sale. As I stood arranging it just right, a young girl, possibly in her teens, stopped to admire the display. She was soon joined by a tall man that I didn’t pay much attention to. I smiled politely at the girl before walking back toward the counter.
I noticed Heidi had focused on the two figures outside as I approached her, “Ooof, Mina, I think that guy was checking you out. He’s kinda hot.”
“He’s with a kid, I’m sure he’s married…Not interested,” I shot back without even giving him a second glance. I heard her huff out a sigh of defeat beside me as I moved to pick up the cards off the counter, accidentally dropping a few in my haste. All were facing downward on the floor, except one…the Fool. I suddenly felt goosebumps form on my skin as I looked back toward the front store window to see the man and young girl continuing down the sidewalk until they were out of sight.
“Mina, you ok?” Heidi asked suddenly with a concerned look.
“Yeah, I just…never mind.” I furrowed my brow, confused by the shift in energy that I had just felt. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, leaning down to pick up the cards.
As the day turned to evening, I forgot about the odd feeling I had. Choosing to focus on updating inventory instead. I was standing by the side wall double checking numbers when I heard the low tinkling of the bell above the front entrance. When I turned, still looking down at my clipboard, I nearly crashed into a towering stranger.
“Oh geez! I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, nearly dropping my pen and clipboard over his sudden appearance.
When I finally looked up at him, he had a half smile on his pillowy lips as he slowly slid his dark sunglasses down his nose before removing them altogether. I noticed he had what looked like a bullseye tattoo on his left hand, just between the thumb and index finger. His chocolate eyes were wide as he took in my expression. He didn’t say anything at first, looking just as surprised as I was. I laughed nervously under his gaze, “Umm, did you need help finding something?”
“Uhhh, yeah, sorry. I was…um outside earlier with my niece. She noticed the…statues in the window.”
He held my gaze, not blinking as his eyes darted around my face. I could feel the energy shifting again causing goosebumps to form all over my body.
“Oh, the magical creature collection?” I raised my brows in question.
“Yeah, she’s been looking for one of the horse things with wings. Do you know if they make one of those?” He scratched at his patchy beard, looking unsure of himself.
“I don’t have any made right now, but I would be happy to do a custom piece for you.” I smiled nervously as he processed what I was saying, realizing that he actually looked a little high.
“Ohh, so you make them? That’s… amazing.” He sighed in relief, visibly relaxing some. “Is that something you could have done before Christmas? I don’t want to put you in a tough spot with it.”
“Absolutely, let me just run and grab the custom order forms.” My smile widened as I moved toward the checkout counter. I passed through the beaded curtain in a flurry, looking through the supplies on the shelf. Heidi appeared next to me from the office asking where the fire was.
“I need a custom order form.” I could feel my heart rate picking up.
“Why?” She asked as she peeked through the curtain. “Is that the guy from earlier…with the kid?”
I responded with a clipped tone as I turned to face her, “Yes. Where are the forms?”
“Under the counter, where they always are…”
She was staring at me with wide eyes and a smirk, “What’s gotten into you?”
“Nothing, I just couldn’t find them,” I said over my shoulder as I went back out front toward the checkout counter. I took the opportunity to get a better look at him from a distance as he looked around the shelves. He had dark brown hair that looked like it had been carefully crafted into a messy style, sticking out in all directions. He was wearing a gray and black zebra print sweater with dark cargo pants and lace up boots. I could see the glint of a small silver hoop in his left ear lobe and a couple of large rings on his left hand. He definitely had some interesting style choices.
After I found the forms, I made my way back over to him. As I approached, he nearly dropped the wolf figure incense burner he had been inspecting, before quickly sitting it back on the shelf and patting the top of it for good measure. He quickly turned to face me with a crooked grin on his face as he squeezed his hands together.
“So, you said she wants a Pegasus sculpture, right?” I asked, scribbling notes on the order form.
He nodded, “Yes, but not a white one. She was pissed that they’re always white.”
I quirked an eyebrow in his direction, waiting for him to clarify.
“She said she wants a dark one… I guess maybe black? I think flat black is boring though… maybe you could add undertones of purple and blue? Sort of like a Raven’s feathers… but also make it pretty.”
“Pretty?” I raised both brows at him this time, unsure of what he meant.
“She’s thirteen, do with that what you will,” he added, shrugging at his explanation.
I nodded, figuring that probably meant a long flowing mane and some girly teenage flare.
“How big would you like this to be…height wise?” I was still scribbling notes as I waited for him to respond.
“What’s the biggest you make?”
I paused, that wasn’t a normal question. It was usually ‘how small can you make them’ because of the cost. I looked up at him, gauging his reaction, “Twelve inches…those are pricey though.”
“Oh, I don’t care about that…it cost what it cost. Also…I noticed you have crystals. Do you think you could add some in around the base? That would be cool, right?”
He briefly looked excited by the idea, but then he pinched his brows together in question, suddenly unsure of himself again.
“Yeah, that actually would be. I’ve never thought of doing that…”
I was surprised by his suggestion as I watched his lopsided grin return. He suddenly looked like a big fluffy dog who was excited about being called a ‘good boy’. His brown eyes further added to the illusion by sparkling brightly and crinkling at the corners. I was momentarily transfixed by him, before snapping back to reality.
I cleared my throat before looking down to scribble a couple more notes on the order form as I spoke up.
“So, I’ll do a mockup drawing for your approval. I’ll also pull some paint samples and crystals for you to look over. I have some new iridescent paint shades that I haven’t used yet that I think will look really neat on this piece.”
When I looked back up, he was intently staring at me with wide eyes. Once he realized I was done speaking, he nodded enthusiastically with a small smile on his face. He had odd mannerisms, but there was something almost endearing behind them.
“Hey, I noticed the tarot reading sign...I’ve never done that before, is that something you do…personally?”
Heidi suddenly appeared at my side, “Yes, she does do them, and she is excellent at it. Would you like a reading? I can go grab the deck for you…” She glanced toward me, widening her eyes and raising her brows, silently telling me to do it as she nudged me toward the small bistro table where we did the readings.
“That’s…I would love that.” His lopsided grin returned as he closed his hands into fists at his sides, almost vibrating from excitement. He seemed to radiate a childlike energy that was kind of infectious. I couldn’t help but to smile over his enthusiasm.
“Yeah, just have a seat. Is there something specific you need guidance on or want to ask the cards?” I questioned as I sat down across from him, moving the decorative crystal ball out of the way to make space for the spread.
He seemed to be momentarily distracted by the decoration as I pushed it out of the way, “It’s not real. I think it’s just a glass paperweight actually…”
He chuckled, reaching to run his hand over the wooden stand holding the ball, “I was just admiring the detail in the base. I love elephants.”
I gave him a small smile as he met my gaze, “I do too. That’s why I got it.”
Heidi reappeared at my side with the deck and gently set it in front of me. I picked it up, taping three times before shuffling.
“So, what would you like to know about?” I asked him.
“I’m not sure…I didn’t know I would be doing this. What do people typically ask about?” He scratched at his chin, seeming unsure of himself again.
“Oh, you know…jobs, money, major life decisions…” I replied.
Heidi cut in, “Or relationships…love.” I narrowed my eyes at her, and she gave the both of us a beaming smile in response.
The man laughed, “My love life is a disaster. It seems I keep going after the wrong kind of people. I’ve kind of given up on all that.”
He glanced over at me, but quickly diverted his eyes to look down at his hands on the table.
Heidi’s eyes lit up and her smile grew impossibly wider, “You know…you could do the three card spread for him. To see what characteristics his ideal partner would have.”
I furrowed my brows at her. What the hell was she up to?
“You know…the one I did earlier this morning.” She gave me a pointed look.
“That might be interesting to know,” the man said in a low voice. “Yeah, let’s do that. Maybe it’ll change my life,” he chuckled as he relaxed back into his seat.
I gave him a tight lipped smile as butterflies formed in the pit of my stomach. I shuffled the deck a few more times for good measure just to make sure Heidi wasn’t up to some funny business.
“Ok. Let’s get started then…”
The handsome stranger raised his brows and leaned forward in his seat to get a better look at what I was doing. His energy shifted to something more serious and intense as he awaited the outcome. I pulled the 3 cards, leaving them face down to add a little dramatic effect. When I flipped the first card, my breath nearly caught in my throat. It was the Knight of Wands. I suddenly felt Heidi’s hand resting firmly in my shoulder. She didn't have to say anything for me to know what she was thinking. My eyes shifted upward to meet his. He seemed to sense my hesitation as a concerned look formed on his face.
“This card represents you and who you are as a person. Is your star sign a Leo?” I didn’t know that for sure, but my gut said it was.
His mouth hung open slightly, “Yeah…how - how did you know that?”
I smirked at him, “This card represents someone who is either a Leo, Aries, or Sagittarius. My gut said Leo.”
“I’m an Aries moon,” he added as the corner of his mouth lifted.
Heidi interjected, “Ooooh, doubling down on that fire energy…nice.”
She winked at me, then they both laughed as I shot her a dirty look before continuing, “The Knight of Swords tells me you're adventurous, but not in a typical or expected sort of way. You tend to be passionate and creative about your endeavors and full of confidence and enthusiasm. Your charismatic energy often attracts people to you...You can be a little impulsive with your choices, so it might be a good idea to slow down and think through things every once in a while.”
He was listening attentively, now leaning forward with his elbow on the table, “That is freakishly accurate, and I humbly accept that advice.”
I gave him a half smile as I moved to flip the second card, “This card represents your ideal partner…” I paused, looking down at the card in shock. It was the Queen of Cups. There was no way this was actually happening. What were the odds?
I glanced up at Heidi, who was covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes round. She was just as shocked as I was. The stranger glanced between us with a perplexed look. I cleared my throat before speaking again, “The Queen of Cups represents the star signs Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio…. the water signs. This person would balance out your fire energy and bring emotional stability and compassion to the relationship. They would be very in tune with your feelings…an excellent communicator. They’ll probably have a creative side that you would strongly connect with. They would also be very intuitive when it comes to making decisions, which could help balance out your impulsive habits.”
The man exhaled slowly, “Wow. That’s…that is life changing. I’ve clearly been going for the wrong type,” he chuckled in astonishment.
I was still reeling from the cards, almost afraid to flip the third. I felt a little lightheaded and had a chill creeping up my spine. I forced a smile before reaching for the last card. It was the Lovers. Heidi let out a low, “Holy shit,” as she took in the spread.
“What’s wrong, is that a bad card?” The man asked with a worried tone.
Heidi chuckled before walking toward the beaded curtain, shaking her head as she went, quickly disappearing to the back. I let out a nervous laugh, meeting his gaze before responding, “No, it’s…not a bad card. It’s ideal actually. It represents the overall energy of the relationship…long term. It shows a meaningful and honest connection between partners. Like a soulmate type situation…an intense emotional and sexual connection. A strong harmonious bond, two opposites that make a whole.”
The tension left his body as he sunk back into his seat, considering my words. “That’s…a lot to take in. I didn’t think there was potential for something like that…for me.”
His brows pinched together as he studied me, the gears in his head working to make sense of it all.
“Can the cards tell me when I’ll meet this person…or what I need to do to find them?”
He seemed almost desperate now. Like he finally had the answers to something that had plagued him for an eternity and needed to act on it at once.
“I mean, they don’t give specifics, obviously…but we can see what they have to say. I’ll pull one more and see what we get.”
I reached for the deck to pull one additional card. When I flipped it in my hand, I paused briefly, feeling another wave of goosebumps breakout across my body. It was the Fool. I inhaled deeply, tilting my head to the side as my eyes met with his beautiful brown ones. They were rounded with anticipation. I set the card down, face up.
“I’m not really sure how to interpret this. The fool isn’t necessarily associated with time…it usually means new beginnings or a new journey. An unexpected opportunity you should immediately take the chance on when it’s presented. So maybe you’ve already met the person and you just need to take the leap to give it a try? Or maybe it could happen at any time at an unexpected moment?”
I could feel my heart rate picking up again…I was feeling something, but what, I was unsure. The man chewed on his plump bottom lip as he studied me, digesting my words. He raised his brows, “Well that certainly gives me something to think about.”
I gave him a small smile, “Indeed. That’s…a lot to process,” for the both of us…
Our eyes locked for a moment, before I shook my head to clear it and looked away.
“Umm so, your order…” I reached for the clipboard I had set to the side. “I need you to fill in this top part with your contact information. I’ll shoot you a text once I have the mock up ready so you can come in to look at it and the samples for approval.”
When I met his eyes again, there was something different about his expression. I felt like he was looking into my soul. It also made me clench my thighs together, that familiar ache forming in my core. My breath hitched slightly, before I moved to hand him the form. He gave me a smirk before glancing down to fill in his information, almost like he could sense the effect he just had on me.
While he scribbled on the form, I stood and collected the cards from the table and took them to sit on the counter. When I turned back around, he was there in front of me with that goofy crooked grin of his. He held up the clipboard to hand over to me. As I took it, he cleared his throat to speak.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I got your name…in case I have questions or…” he started wringing his hands together. He seemed nervous to ask.
“It’s Amina, or just Mina is fine too. Let me grab a business card for you.” I couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across my face as I turned to pull a card from beside the register and handed it to him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that name before…It’s beautiful. It…suits you.” I could fill my face flush as he looked down at the card, biting his lip, and scratching at the back of his neck. Was he flirting with me? I wasn’t sure, but I felt like he was.
I smiled shyly, “Thank you.”
His eyes widened as he looked back up at me, “Oh, I’m Dieter.” He hesitantly reached out to shake my hand. As soon as our skin touched, I felt the warmth of him spread throughout my body, igniting something deep inside. His large hand engulfed mine as we held onto each other a beat too long. Once we realized the awkwardness of it, we both chuckled and dropped each other's hands.
“Ugh, well I have a thing for work, so I need to go…but I guess we’ll talk soon…and I wanna check the shop out properly too. It seems right up my alley. What do I owe you for the reading?”
“Oh, nothing.” I turned to point toward the tarot reading sign, “The first one’s free. That’s how I get you hooked.” I bit my bottom lip as I winked at him. What the hell was I doing? It seemed to momentarily take him off guard, but it didn’t take long for his grin to return.
“Well, you most certainly did that.” He snickered as his tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip. I probably focused on his mouth more than I should have. I hoped he didn’t notice. “I’ll see you soon. Have a good evening,” he said with a hand flourish, before turning on his heel and exiting the shop.
I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as Heidi busted through the beaded curtain from the back. “What the hell just happened? Did that really happen? That’s not normal…right?”
I rubbed at my forehead, stiffly shaking my head from side to side.
“No, I don’t think that’s normal…that was really fucking weird.”
Heidi reached down and grabbed the clipboard from my hand and started looking over the attached form.
“Oh shit.” Her eyes widened as she looked up at me.
My head snapped up to meet her gaze, “What?”
“I thought he looked familiar. That was Dieter fucking Bravo,” she said excitedly.
I shrugged, “I don’t know who that is…”
“The actor...”
I stared at her blankly, “You know I don’t watch a lot of movies…”
“Jeez Louise, never mind. I think he was into you though.”
I rolled my eyes, “Don’t start with that. He’s a customer. No.”
She gave me a sarcastic look, “The cards disagree.”
“That had to be a coincidence. Maybe I just didn’t shuffle them well enough or something.”
That had to be what it was, right?
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#dieter bravo#dieter bravo fic#dieter bravo fluff#pedro pascal#pedro pascal characters#the knight & his queen
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i just want you for my own
Taylor and Link share a moment under the mistletoe while preparing for a Close-Foster-Swift family Christmas party, and things get a little fiery.
christmas gift for @happi-tree <3
[title from All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey]
ao3
Every year Taylor and his mom have spent Christmas together, just the two of them curled up on the couch watching Frosty the Snowman: The Anime and eating the gingerbread houses they built hours before.
This year is different.
Taylor has always had an affinity for Christmas, but this year he has a whole new side of the family that shares that sentiment. And they are throwing a gigantic party. Link and his dads came early to help set up, Taylor’s dad will be here soon, the others will arrive after, and Glenn will surely be “fashionably” late. It’s going to be great.
Right now, Taylor is barely balancing on a stepstool trying to string lights at the top of his door frame. If only his tiny wings emerging from his back could actually help him fly.
“Need help?”
Taylor nearly stumbles off the stool when strong arms wrap around his waist to steady him.
Link.
“Careful.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Here,” Link says, holding Taylor’s hand and helping him down. Then, Link spins him around by his shoulders and lifts him up with both hands on his tummy.
Taylor can feel Link’s hands under his loose tee shirt and his hands are quite cold in contrast to his naturally high body temperature. He fights back a shiver at the sudden contrast, and sticks the lights to the door frame with tape. Link sets him back down, and he hopes he can’t see how red his face is, or hear the breathlessness in his voice when he says, “Thanks.”
“No problem. It looks cute.”
You look cute , Taylor wants to say.
Taylor isn’t the type to get crushes. Well, not ones like this . Sure, he’s found people cute—he can recognize attractiveness when he sees it—but man …
Link’s always been cute, and dreamy, and charming, and…
Taylor doesn’t know when it got so intense, but at this point it seems that everyone knows but the boy himself. Scary won’t let up on the teasing, but Taylor just retaliates by teasing her about a certain mascot.
It’s true though, Lincoln Li-Wilson has got Taylor down bad.
The doorbell rings.
“Dad!” Taylor shouts, nearly tripping down the front step in his excitement.
“Hey, kiddo!” Nicky’s already ruffling his hair as soon as he reaches the bottom of the steps.
“Hi!” Taylor says, burying his face in Nicky’s torso and wrapping his arms around him. “We’re still decorating.”
“Ooh, well I brought something for you.”
Taylor pulls away. “What is it?”
Nicky pulls a flaming plant out of his pocket and holds it out in the palm of his hand.
“A mistletoe?” Taylor asks.
“I thought it might come in handy,” Nicky whispers, glancing off to the side.
Taylor follows his gaze to see Link, wrapping a shimmering garland around the railing.
“Dad!” Taylor whisper-shouts back, feeling his face flush.
“Come on, I see the way you look at him,” Nicky says, pinching Taylor’s cheek and ruffling his hair again. “It’s a special mistletoe from Hell. I kissed your mom under it way back then.”
“Oh my god, Dad!” Taylor shouts, taking it from him. It’s hot, but a little fire never hurt a tiefling like Taylor.
“Go hang it up,” Nicky pats Taylor on the shoulder.
Taylor can barely contain his own sheepish grin as he runs back up the steps to the entrance of his room.
The mistletoe is connected to a small hook, one he could hang on the lights fairly easily if he weren’t too short.
But then there’s an arm around his shoulders and a hand over his, picking up the mistletoe and hanging it over the lights like he had planned.
“What is that?” Link asks, moving his hand to the small of Taylor’s back in a way that almost makes him feel faint.
“It’s a—a mistletoe,” Taylor says, shifting to lean his back against the doorframe to take some of the weight off his feet. “From Hell. My—uh, my dad gave it to me.”
Taylor could not be more thankful that Link’s more focused on this flaming, flickering mistletoe than how red his cheeks must be with the way he can feel them burning up.
Link’s wearing a red sweater with white snowflakes patterned across it and Garfield on his stomach wearing a little santa hat. He’s got a white collared shirt underneath the sweater, though the top few buttons are undone…
He’s smiling, and the glow of the fire is lighting his gorgeous brown eyes. “It’s pretty.”
“You’re pretty,” Taylor breathes out despite himself.
“What?” Link asks.
“What? Sorry, wha—uh, what did you say?” Taylor stutters, biting his lip.
“The mistletoe, it’s pretty.”
“Yeah… I… uh… my family likes these traditions a lot. On my dad’s side, mostly.”
“It looks like we’re standing under it,” Link says, looking back down at Taylor with a mesmerizing gaze.
God.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s—it’s a uh, it’s a silly tradition, we don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Taylor barely squeaks out, surprised he hasn’t caught fire himself yet.
“Well, It is your family’s party, so I might as well honour your traditions,” Link says, leaning forward a little and brushing a strand of hair out of Taylor’s face and tucking it behind his ear.
Taylor’s hands take purchase on Link’s shoulders and snake their way up his neck. He sucks in a shuddering breath and shuts his eyes as Link cups his cheeks and leans the rest of the way in.
As timid as Link can be, he kisses like he’s in charge. He slides his hands to hold Taylor by the waist and dip him ever so slightly, and Taylor can feel the heat from the mistletoe as if it’s consuming him whole.
“Mm,” Taylor hums into the kiss, and he feels heat rushing past his lips.
“Taylor,” Link whispers, pulling away a little.
“Mhm..?”
“Taylor, you’re burning up.”
“What?” Taylor opens his eyes to see flickers of light at the ends of his hair. “Oh my god, I’m on fire,” he breathes out, and ah, smoke. Smoke leaves his lips. “Oh god, oh my god, oh my god—” Taylor stumbles away from Link and hits his back against the doorframe, wincing.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Nicky comes running up the stairs. “It’s okay, it’s normal, I promise. Just breathe, kiddo,” he says, putting a hand on his too-hot shoulder.
He hadn’t even realized how unsteady his breathing had gotten. Closing his eyes, he slows it to the best of his abilities, though when he opens them, the ends of his hair are still very clearly flaming.
“Look, now you’ve got aesthetic demon flames to add to your look,” Nicky winks.
“Dad!” Taylor shouts, pressing his hands against his cheeks. “I—I’m gonna go to the bathroom. Bye!” Taylor squeaks, before running through the doorway in his room to the bathroom connected to it.
And looking in the mirror he sees it: flaming hair and flaming horns, and a glow in his eyes he’s seen before but only in the dark.
“My first kiss, and I immediately catch fire,” Taylor grumbles to himself, “Just another day in the life of Taylor Swift.”
“I’d say it’s not the worst of days.”
Taylor whips around to find Link with his a firm grip on the doorframe, gazing at him like he’s something special and not just a ball of uncontrollable fire.
“Link!” Taylor presses his palms against his cheeks once more. Burning and bright red. “Uh—hi. Hi. Sorry.”
“It’s okay, Taylor. I—I like the hair… flames.”
Link steps a little closer and reaches for Taylor’s hands, but he pulls them away. “I—I don’t want to burn you. Sorry, sorry—”
Taylor feels the tears start to form, but then they evaporate with the heat of his cheeks.
“It’s okay, I can handle a little heat, I promise. And your dad told me it’s not enough to leave any real damage. Not when it happens from, uh… excitement, I guess.”
“Oh my god, this is so embarrassing, I’m sorry, we should continue preparing for the party,” Taylor brushes past Link, unable to look him in the eyes.
“Wait,” Link says, taking hold of Taylor’s hand. It’s coolness is refreshing in comparison to his boiling temperature. Taylor turns back around to gaze at those beautiful brown eyes once more.
“Wha—”
“Can I kiss you again?” he asks, shy and timid.
“Ye—yeah, you can,” Taylor nods, perhaps too eager, but as Link pulls him in again, he doesn’t seem to mind.
This time, Link dips him all the way, and the flames get stronger, but Link doesn’t seem to mind.
“Mm,” Taylor hums into the kiss, and breaks away for air before going back in for more, His arms draped over Link’s shoulders.
Taylor starts to trail kisses across Link’s collarbone, briefly forgetting that his lip gloss will make his skin all shiny, but with the little giggles he makes at it, it’s all worth it.
When Taylor reaches Link’s neck, he briefly wonders if he could leave something resembling a vampire mark with his newly sharp fangs, and as he’s about to figure that out, there’s a knock.
“Door’s still open, kiddo!”
Taylor clamps a hand over his mouth and turns to see the wide open bedroom door.
“Either close it or help decorate!” Nicky shouts, already down the hall.
Taylor turns back to Link, whose eyes are just as wide as his own.
“You wanna decorate?” he asks, letting go of Taylor, much to Taylor’s dismay, but alas, there are duties that need tending to.
“Yeah. We should—yeah.”
And as they walk out the door, Link says, “Hey, now you match the mistletoe!”
Taylor giggles at that, and leads him by the hand down the hall.
꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖⋆❅♡❆(◕દ◕)
#swiftli#christmas fic#taylor swift dndads#lincoln li-wilson#nicky swift#dungeons and daddies#dndads#cookies writes and cookies wrongs#mistletoe#mistletoe kiss#fluff#first kisses#:3
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Howdy Howdy! 🫶❤️
Between Riot and Ghost who would be the first to lend their jacket to the other when it’s cold out? Which would peel the other’s orange if asked? :0
Love youuuu @vasyandii sorry for the time it took me to answer this <3 I'm writing this on a whim because I got inspired right now, so it's unchecked and unedited
Tagging my usuals that asked just because I love them <;3 @glitterypirateduck @jamesrifftapes @sofasoap @mmyrrhh
It was late December and snowflakes were slowly falling down on the streets of Hereford, a chilly winter wind rolling between the buildings. Crowds of people were roaming the shops, making late purchases or exchanging the gifts received in Christmas.
''How many shops are we going to visit today?''
''As many as I need so I can find all the ingredients I want''
Ghost shook his head slowly, dutifully following the blonde spitfire walking in front of him, looking down at the notebook in her hand while crossing out the items that they had already bought and that he was carrying in several bags.
Riot didn't look up even when a group of distracted people almost stumbled upon her, and Ghost gently grabbed her elbow to steer her away from their path. She didn't look up even then, completely trusting him to keep her safe and on her path to the next shop.
''You're gonna get run over, lovie''
''Pfft, as if you were going to allow it'' Christine answered cheekily, with a tiny smile that was hidden by her mask but the smiling wrinkles on the corner of her eyes betrayed her. Ghost rolled his eyes, with his own fond smile hidden by his balaclava, and followed her inside the next deli shop.
By the time they had almost finished their shopping, the temperature had dropped and the snowfall was getting heavier, so they decided to grab a takeaway coffee in the nearest coffee shop ands wait for the snow to clear a bit before going back to the car.
Standing side by side under the portico of a building, the bags stored behind them and against the wall, they observed in comfortable silence the snowflakes falling onto the pavement, sipping their coffee.
Both were clad in heavy coats and gloves, and Christine was also wearing a tartan scarf that Soap had gifted her on Christmas ignoring her protests. Still, she was so cold she couldn't help but shiver when another boost of chilly breeze rolled down the street. Seeing this, Simon started to lower the zipper of his jacket.
''Don't you dare'' She looked up at him, frowning, her mask tucked below her chin to be able to sip the coffee while his balaclava was hooked over his nose. ''You'll freeze''
''You're freezing now, doll'' Simon ignored her protests and unzipped the garment all the way, but before he could take it off she moved between his arms, against his chest, and snuggled into the open borders of the jacket, circling his waist with her free arm as she held her coffee cup with one hand.
He stood there, still for a moment and wondering how in the Earth she could protest about everything and anything and then just fix it right away, and with a low, rumbling chuckle, closed his arms around her, holding her close and resting his chin on her head.
''Well, this works too'' He murmured, and felt her shake lightly against his chest, but with laughter.
''As if you didn't know the good ideas are always mine'' Christine raised her head to look up at him, comfortable in the safe refuge of his arms, and smiled at him. Simon grinned back.
Neither of them were fans of PDA when they were out and about with the others, feeling awkward and self-conscious, but in a town (although it was the nearest to the base) where nobody knew them? Fair game. With decent limits of course.
''You're going to catch a cold if you keep trying to give me your jacket in this weather...'' She murmured against his chest, her cheek right below his heartbeat, steady and firm. His mouth and nose were buried in her hair now.
''Well, it's a risk I'll have to take''
''Right, because if you're sick you're a joy to deal with...'' Christine giggled, remembering the mild cold Simon had caught at the start of the month and that rendered the stern Lieutenant insufferable for two whole days.
''I didn't ask you to fuss over me, lovie'' Simon shrugged, and flinched when she bit him over his jumper. ''What was that for??''
''It's not fussing over you, you stupid oaf'' She looked up at him, frowning. ''I made you soup, knitted you a scarf, that you don't use by the way, kept Johnny away so he wouldn't bother you, peeled the damn orange you asked for in the middle of the night, and still you think I'm fus...''
Simon cut her rant short by simply tilting her chin up and bending down to cover her mouth with his, chuckling. It always worked like a charm, like when it was the other way round and she kissed him to shut him up when he was ranting away about anything.
They kissed like two teenagers in the portico while the snow kept falling over the streets, the wind rolling between the buildings, the crowds roaming the shops.
#simon ghost riley x christine riot vega#christine riot vega#simon ghost riley#ghost riley#riot vega#cod mw2#cod oc#call of duty modern warfare#call of duty#cod original character#call of duty original character#cod fanfic#call of duty modern warfare 2#call of duty fanfic#cod fanfiction#cod fic#call of duty fanfiction#call of duty fic#ghost mw2#ghost cod#mw2 ghost#call of duty oc
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Why All This Music?
Masters of the Air - Rosie Rosenthal x OC
the last of the christmas chapters </3 but i hope you liked them!!!
the masterlist is linked here
14. Kind of Hoping
Freddie was on the phone when Rosie came down the stairs. He knew in an instant she was talking to Millie.
“- tell me everything you get,” she was saying, her wide smile audible in her voice. “Do you want me to tell you what my parents got for you like last year or should I leave it wrapped up for you to open when we get back?”
She paused as she listened to Millie’s reply, then continued, “Yes, me too. It’ll be like having a second Christmas that way.”
Millie said something more which had Freddie giggling, then she was hurrying to say, “Okay, okay, I’ll let you go. Merry Christmas, Mils! I miss you so much!”
Millie said one more thing before Freddie hung up the phone and she turned to face Rosie grinning. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas,” he greeted her back, accepting her hug. He was praying she wouldn’t notice the blush he could feel on his cheeks - her ‘pyjamas’, as she’d called them, looked more like lingerie, all lacy and pale pink and clearly expensive, though mercifully she was wearing some sort of silk robe over the top - but he knew she’d noticed when she winked.
Still, she didn’t mention it, and instead called past him up the stairs, “Mum! Dad! You’re running late!”
Her father called something back to her in German which made her laugh before her mother appeared, also in nightwear, at the top of the stairs with him following close behind.
“Morning, Rosie, dear,” Alma greeted as she made her way down. “Wilfrieda, don’t raise your voice so early in the morning, please, we have neighbours on both sides if you remember correctly.”
“Paul and Della won’t mind and there are children on the other side, so I don’t think anyone’s worried, mum,” Freddie replied breezily, hooking her elbow with Rosie’s and leading him into the living room.
“Was it Millie you were on the phone to?” Alma asked as she progressed past them and into the kitchen.
“It was indeed. She sends her thanks for her presents but we’ve decided not to open them until we’re back at the airfield, so I’m sure you’ll get a thank you letter at some point, too.”
Alma smiled over her shoulder at this. “I like Millie,” she said.
Freddie rolled her eyes as she sat on the couch and tucked her legs up beneath her. “More than me I sometimes think,” she said to Rosie as he sat down beside her.
“I’ll let the dogs out, shall I, Wils?” her father asked sarcastically from the doorway between the living room and the kitchen.
Freddie gave him a big toothy grin. “Yes, please, dad, that would be wonderful.”
He, too, rolled his eyes before going to sort the dogs out - letting them outside to go to the toilet and then feeding them.
The dogs all came running in a few steps before Freddie’s parents entered, holding four cups of tea between them. Just as Freddie had predicted, the tea wasn’t a matter Rosie had had a choice in.
“My babies!” Freddie exclaimed as the dogs hurried to greet her. She tried valiantly to split her attention between all three of them evenly but eventually Earnie grew tired of having but one third of her affection and resorted to Rosie’s lap instead.
Once everyone had settled down, Meatball at Freddie’s feet and Bruno at Alma’s while Earnie watched everything happen quite happily from Rosie’s arms, Freddie’s father took a final sip of tea before heading over to the fireplace and unhooking Freddie’s stocking. Just like that, Christmas morning had officially begun.
Freddie received various gifts from her parents - dresses and makeup and a new hairbrush, books of poetry and jewellery and new pyjamas. But slipped down the side of her stocking was something wrapped in newspaper which Alma frowned at in unrecognition as Freddie drew it out.
“I don’t recognise that,” she said, and then realisation dawned on her. “Oh,” she said, smirking at Rosie.
Freddie followed her eyes and laughed. “From you?” she supposed.
Rosie shrugged.
“You didn’t have to get me anything!”
Rosie smiled. “Wanted to.”
“I’m impressed you managed to get it in there with no one looking.”
Rosie had to fight so, so hard not to laugh at that one. When Freddie realised what she’d said, she did, too.
Trying not to draw attention to the innuendo, Freddie instead focused on unwrapping the gift and let out a small exclamation of excitement upon discovering what it was. “Where did you get it?” she asked, pulling out a book of piano sheet music and starting to flick through it.
“Managed to slip away from the flak house for a couple hours.” He looked so boyish and charming as he fidgeted under her gaze. She wanted to squeeze him.
“You’ve been holding onto it all this time?” Freddie asked, grinning. He’d been to the flak house in October.
Rosie shrugged again, focusing his attention on Earnie who was only too happy to lap it up.
“It’s wonderful, Rosie,” Freddie said, smiling as she watched him. “So, so thoughtful. Thank you.” She set it down gently on the couch before leaning over to hug him, then rose to hug and thank both of her parents, too.
Rosie opened his gifts with clear embarrassment at the attention but the Leroys forced him to endure it anyway. His gifts weren’t anything terribly personal - jumpers and socks and cufflinks - but he thanked Freddie’s parents so profusely they may as well have gifted him a house. From Freddie he received books, one of which was on American jazz music which she knew he liked. When he asked her where she’d found it she shrugged and looked away, keeping her cards close to her chest.
The gift-giving passed in a blur after that. Freddie’s parents’ gifts were mostly sentimental and occasionally lavish, and they thanked Rosie again for his donation of food and alcohol which he had already passed on the previous day to be stored in the kitchen. Then the dogs got to open their gifts - a personalised collar for Meatball along with some proper dog toys, and Freddie would be taking his new dog bed back to Thorpe Abbotts with her, too. His new personalised stocking would be remaining at home in case he spent next Christmas there again. And lots of treats, of course, for all three of the dogs.
Breakfast was the British staple of beans on toast, which Rosie secretly thought was revolting but declined to mention, and then everyone was back upstairs getting ready.
Freddie put on one of her new dresses, red and festive and more formal than she’d usually wear at home but it was Christmas, and did her hair meticulously, setting it into neat waves down her back. Her makeup was the same as it always was, perhaps a little bit better done because of the better lighting and increased time she had, and she smiled when she took in her reflection.
She wanted to look pretty today. Rosie had only ever seen her in uniform, really, aside from last night, and she didn’t feel it suited her. But dresses like these were where she felt comfortable. She tried not to fiddle as she descended the stairs.
The hours sped by in a blur. Rosie played with the dogs with Freddie and helped Alma with dinner wherever he could. He had a drink - one drink, Alma had warned in no uncertain terms - with Freddie’s dad, who he now knew as Felix, then read one of the poetry books Freddie had received to her at her insistence.
Before he had time to worry about it there was a knock at the door and Rosie knew it would be Daniel’s parents.
From beside him on the couch, Freddie leaned over and kissed Rosie’s cheek. “It’ll be fine,” she whispered to him before she was up and heading for the door.
The greetings at the front door were enthusiastic and polite. Rosie wasn’t sure whether he was supposed to stand or whether that would be too formal. As Freddie led Daniel’s parents into the living room, he stood all the same.
“This is Rosie,” Freddie introduced him as the pair came to stand at the edge of the room. “And Rosie, these are Daniel’s parents, Paul and Della.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, sir, ma’am,” he greeted them, holding out a hand for Paul to shake and hesitating on how to greet Della until she reached for one of his hands and gave it a squeeze.
“Lovely to meet you, too, Rosie,” Della said with a soft smile. Her voice, too, was soft, almost so quiet he felt he might have to lean in to hear her.
The three of them all stared at each other awkwardly until Freddie jumped to ease the tension. “Would you like anything to drink? Tea or water - or we have a bottle of red wine which Rosie brought if you’d like?”
“Tea would be lovely, Freddie, darling,” Della said, reaching over to squeeze one of her hands too.
“Yes,” agreed Paul. “Tea. Thanks, Fred.”
“Of course. And you, Rosie?”
“Oh, I’m sure I can make the tea,” Rosie said, suddenly aware she intended to leave him here with them. “You want some, Fred?”
Freddie quirked an eyebrow at him, suspicious of his tea-making abilities, before she peered past him and saw both of her parents in the kitchen and understood they would likely be making it for him. “Tea would be great, Rosie, thanks,” she told him, smiling softly as she watched him go.
The three of them - Freddie, Paul, and Della - sat down and exchanged pleasantries before the question emerged. “Is he your boyfriend?” It was Della who had asked, as Freddie had expected it would be, and she was watching Freddie closely as she awaited a response.
Freddie sighed. Her eyes fell to her hands in her lap. Almost as if he’d sensed her distress, Meatball came trotting in from the kitchen and laid down on her toes, nudging one of her calves with his nose before he settled.
“Not yet,” she offered, trying to ignore how her heart was racing.
“But he will be,” Della finished for her.
“Well,” Freddie hedged, forcing herself to meet her eyes, “I’ve been kind of hoping he wants the job.”
“And Daniel?” Della asked. There was no real unkindness with which she said it, just curiosity. Maybe a little bit of the defensiveness Freddie had anticipated.
“I’ll love Daniel all my life,” Freddie said seriously. “But I’m also kind of hoping it’ll be a long life. Too long a time to spend alone.” No one said anything, so she pushed on, “Rosie’s good to me. He knows all about Daniel. He’s respectful and he’s attentive and he’s patient. He lets me talk about Daniel with him, lets me cry about him to him, and he never gets jealous or defensive. He knows I still love Daniel and that I always will. But what I feel for Rosie is different. He’s not a replacement.”
“He’s kind to you?” Della asked.
“Overwhelmingly so,” Freddie replied with a watery smile.
“He looks after you?”
“Always. Unfailingly. Even when I’m being difficult.”
“Then I’d like to give him a chance,” Della decided. And her word was final.
Freddie released her breath and all of the pent up tension in her body in one big gust. “Thank you,” she whispered, leaning forwards to wrap her in a hug. “Thank you.”
“We brought the old photo albums over,” Paul spoke up finally. “Thought we might have a look after dinner.”
Freddie beamed. “I would love that. I think Rosie would like to put a face to a name, too.”
Paul nodded his approval. “Good.”
Everything was easier after that. At dinner everyone was jovial, wearing the paper crowns from the Christmas crackers at Freddie’s insistence and chatting light-heartedly about everything they could think of. Then after dinner came more presents as Daniel’s parents showered Freddie in gifts. Rosie supposed she was something like a daughter to them and they had no other children to spoil anymore. For her part, she gave them each very thoughtful gifts in return, blushing under their spill of thanks and affection. Then, as Alma served a traditional homemade Christmas cake for dessert, Paul brought out an old photo album which seemed entirely focused on the years of Daniel’s life he’d known Freddie. Rosie shared the book with her, spreading it across both of their laps, as they turned through the pages, watching Freddie and Daniel grow into adults together.
Freddie didn’t say much as they did but Rosie could tell she was feeling a little bit fragile about it all. She tried to smile and make little comments about the pictures, likely more for Paul and Della than for herself, but her voice kept emerging strained and her finger would shake as she pointed. Rosie didn’t know what to do or how to comfort her under the watchful gaze of her old boyfriend’s parents so he simply rested his free hand on her back where no one else could see it and ran it gently up and down, hoping to remind her he was there.
Alma could see it. And she was hiding her smile behind her mug of tea.
“Oh,” Freddie said suddenly as she turned a page, pointing out another picture. “This was my first day at university.” In the picture, she and Daniel were standing in front of an ornate old door, their arms around each other and grinning at the camera. Freddie looked excited but Daniel looked proud, holding her tight presumably before she went to her first class.
“He was so proud of you,” Della said, smiling. “Wouldn’t stop talking about how smart you are and how talented. His boss at work told him to knock it off after a few days when he still wouldn’t shut up about how his girl was the best pianist the world had ever seen and she was training at Oxford.”
Freddie blushed, gazing wistfully down at the photo. The two of them looked so young. That had been back in 1938 when the war still felt like a pessimistic maybe instead of an unfortunate definite. Daniel was as handsome as ever, blond hair combed neatly for the occasion and his finest suit on. More than anything, Freddie missed getting to see that smile on his face. It was different in pictures to how it had been in real life. He’d always smiled in a strange, unique way, one corner of his mouth tugging slowly upwards before the other rushed to mirror it at the last moment. He’d had the most gorgeous smile Freddie had ever seen. She’d told him often that that smile of his was the first thing she’d fallen in love with.
She moved on after that, scarcely making a comment about any of the photos they passed. And after a few pages Daniel started appearing in an RAF uniform, and then Freddie in the uniform Rosie had always known her in. War had broken and the pair of them were off to face it together.
“The beginning of the end,” Freddie whispered.
She left Rosie to it after that. She didn’t want to look any more, she said - had already seen the photos a hundred times, anyway. And everyone could hear the tears in her voice so they let her be as she sat on the floor and occupied herself with the dogs, wrapping her arms around Bruno for comfort and then giggling as Earnie demanded his fair share of attention.
After Freddie closed the door behind Paul and Della, she turned and her smile dropped straight off her face. The next thing anyone knew, she was sprinting up the stairs.
Alma sighed, going after her immediately. She mumbled, “Oh, Wils,” as she went.
Rosie looked to Felix helplessly and found him staring at his clasped hands in his lap. After a moment, however, he must have felt Rosie’s eyes on him, for he looked up with a sad smile. “She’s being sick,” he explained quietly.
“Oh,” Rosie replied, equally as quiet. “Right.”
“She’ll be alright,” Felix went on, a reassuring note to his voice. “Happens sometimes when she’s stressed or sad or overwhelmed, and Daniel’s parents tend to have the effect of all three on her these days.” He smiled once more. “Gets it from her mum.”
Rosie recalled Millie saying something similar a couple of months ago when she, Freddie, and Jem had all been violently hungover after drinking two bottles of whiskey between them. But he didn’t say as much aloud, mostly for fear of worrying Freddie’s parents further by telling them she was liable to do it on base, too. Instead, the two of them lapsed into silence until Freddie and Alma returned some time later, Freddie smiling sheepishly at Rosie before ducking her eyes away.
Alma directed Freddie to sit down on the couch and turned a smile on Rosie. “Rosie, darling, will you go and pour some wine?” she asked, stroking Freddie’s hair as she sat down beside her.
“Yes,” Rosie replied instantly. “Yeah, sure, of course.” He hurried into the kitchen, fumbled for the bottle and poured it out into four glasses, then carried them in two to a hand by the stems and passed them out.
“I think we’ve earned it,” Alma joked softly as she accepted hers from him, “don’t you?”
Freddie tipped half of hers back in one go before wiping her eyes. “Is my makeup smudged?” she asked no one in particular.
Alma cleaned up what little mascara had landed on her cheekbones and smiled. “You’re perfect, my love.”
Freddie laughed just a little bit. “Sorry for causing a scene.”
“You’re dealing with it better than I would,” Rosie said with a quiet chuckle and a smile, then froze with his wine glass halfway to his mouth as he realised what he’d just confessed. But he couldn’t try to cover his tracks because it was true. If Freddie was killed he didn’t know what he would do, but causing a scene every now and again was the very least of it.
Mercifully, Freddie laughed anyway, and Alma shot him a wide smile sidelong.
“I don’t want to go back tomorrow,” Freddie confessed after a long moment. She tipped back the rest of her wine and continued, “I want to stay here for a while.”
“Tip your job and come home,” Felix suggested. “You can go back to university.”
Freddie laughed. “But I like my job. And it’s important.”
“You’ll just have to come back and visit then, won’t you?”
“I want to stay for a week,” Freddie declared in place of replying. “I don’t want to leave the dogs and my bedroom and you both again. Or my clothes. Not yet.”
“What about Millie?” Alma asked her. “Hm? You don’t think she’d miss you?”
Freddie huffed, knowing this was true but not wanting to accept it.
“You have to give her her presents from us. And she’s got presents to give you from her parents, remember? And her parents will think you’re rude if they don’t get a thank you letter, which you won’t be able to send if you don’t open them.”
Reluctantly, Freddie smiled.
“And are you really going to send poor Rosie back on his own?” Alma went on. “I think that would be rather rude of you, Wils. And then what about Meatball -”
“Alright!” Freddie exclaimed, starting to giggle. “I get the point! Goodness, I was just saying it would be nice to get to spend a little bit more time at home and all of a sudden you’re starting a campaign to get me out as soon as possible.”
All three of the room’s other occupants laughed. “Come on, schatz,” Felix said, slapping his thighs and pushing himself to his feet. “I don’t know about you but I think I need one more piece of cake before Christmas is out, and I don’t want to have to eat it alone.”
Freddie smiled, standing up and following him into the kitchen. “Of course you won’t be eating it alone,” she told him. “We don’t get cake on the base.”
#my writing#watm#mota#hbo war#masters of the air#masters of the air x oc#masters of the air fanfic#masters of the air fanfiction#rosie rosenthal#robert rosie rosenthal#rosie rosenthal x oc#rosie rosenthal fanfic#rosie rosenthal fanfiction#rosie rosenthal x reader#hbo war x oc
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december chaos
summary: you try crocheting a sweater for your girlfriend and it seems like everything that could go wrong, goes wrong.
pairing: wednesday addams x fem!reader
day 3 of ficmas (december 21st, 2022)
…………………………………………………………………………….
wednesday addams, the girl who couldn’t care less about love or feelings was in a relationship. a public relationship at that. you guys got together when wednesday kissed you out of nowhere while you guys were checking on the bees. you’d always had feelings for the goth girl but never once thought they were reciprocated. that was a couple of months ago.
though she still wasn’t as comfortable with hugs or affection, she tried to make sure you knew she loved you. instead of holding hands, you guys would link your pinkys together. it shocked everyone at nevermore when you guys were seen walking down the hallway to class with linked pinky’s for the first time. but wednesday didn’t care about other people’s opinions and she wasn’t gonna start caring any time soon.
“hey enid, do you have any good tutorials for making a sweater vest?” you asked her from wednesday’s side of the room. you were waiting for her to get back from class.
“i’m pretty sure i do. why what’s up?”
“well i wanted to crochet wednesday a sweater vest for a christmas gift since she wears them all the time.” enid’s smile grew upon hearing your reasoning.
“you know, i think it’s cute you want to give your girlfriend a handmade gift! here let me send you the youtube channel i watch,” she grabs her phone to send a link to the channel.
“thanks enid.”
“what are you thanking her for y/n?” you jumped back and faced your girlfriend. when the hell did she even get in the room?
“wednesday babe, you have to stop scaring me like that.” you turned to glance at enid before staring back at her, “i was just thanking her for choosing my new nail color. i was debating between a couple of colors.” wednesday eyed you suspiciously, she knew you were lying to her but for now she wasn’t going to question it.
-
it was the last week of school before break and you still couldn’t crochet the vest. you had scrolled through the youtube channel enid sent finding the perfect vest you knew your girlfriend will like. it was gray, black and white and have spiders and scorpions on it. but you couldn’t even get passed actually making the animals.
immediately after the fifth time attempting, you threw the crochet hook across the room and cried in your hands. you felt like a failure who couldn’t even make her loved one something special. you were glad your roommate yoko had stepped out of the room to hang with the sirens as it was too embarrassing to be seen like this.
wednesday hadn’t seen you all day today and she was beginning to become worried. you weren’t in class and none of your friends had seen you. she even asked your roommate but yoko refused to answer. were you ignoring her on purpose?
“thing where is she?”
the hand panicked and signed to her that he didn’t know. of course, he knew and so did everyone else. you had told them not to say anything because you needed this vest to be a complete surprise.
“i will pluck your finger nails one by one. where is my girlfriend?”
thing gave up your location after the threat of losing his finger nails. that was not worth it at all to him. without saying any more, wednesday makes her way to your dorm room. she steps inside not even knocking but she does that all the time anyways. there she found on you on the floor crying with your computer pushed to the side, a crochet hook a few feet away and yarn.
“y/n?” you looked up to see your girlfriend and burst out into more tears. sobbing back in your hands, you felt worse now that she was in here. wednesday’s hard face soften at the sight of you.
“what is all of this?”
“i tried making you a sweater vest for christmas and i can’t get it right,” you stuttered out the words. wednesday walks up to sit next to you on floor.
“why are you crying then?”
“because i wanted it to be perfect for you. i’m not even a good girlfriend, i can’t make a simple stupid vest,” the black haired girl pulls you into a hug without hesitation. this was different for her but she didn’t want to invalidate your feelings. never wanting to hurt you.
“you’re a great girlfriend. though i appreciate the gesture, it’s not necessary.”
“but wednes-“ she shushed you holding you a bit tighter. you took the time to wrap your arms around her too. you liked when she hugged you because it didn’t happen often.
“cara mia, you need not to stress yourself. you are a good girlfriend and for that i love you,” wednesday blinks realizing she finally said the words out loud. you paused your cries and glanced up at her.
“do you really mean that?” you sniffled quietly. she nods her head slowly suddenly scared of the way her stomach fluttered.
“i love you too wednesday,” you hugged her again and she was thankful you couldn’t see the blush that warmed her cheeks. she cleared her throat for a second before lightly pushing you away. wednesday then wipes the remaining tears off of your face.
“you tell anyone about this and i will deny it,” she’s quick to shuffle away even though her heart is pounding at the thought of holding you again.
“i will never tell,” you giggled and kissed your girlfriend’s cheek before moving to clean the floor. wednesday had managed to make you feel better about not finishing the vest. you had gotten a hug and a cute pet name of this. maybe you should be sad more often.
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player: Mats Hummels
words: 1k+
request: Mats Hummels - no pref - 250 - 500 - Them decorating the tree together and she gifts him a new bauble (they have a collection of silly and memorable ones) to tell him they’re gonna have a baby
A/N: ... so this is why it's taking so long for me to write these. I can't abide by the word limit.
A/N 2: in my haste to get this posted, I (wrongly) forgot to thank @percervall for helping when I was getting inside my own head and couldn't think straight.
“I didn’t realise ornaments held so much until you.” Mats says from his sprawled out position on the floor. He’s not a grinch, but he’s not the first one banging down the door to get a tree up and decorated. That being said, he does enjoy seeing the result and though he tries to deny it, he revels in watching her getting excited about the small things.
“They just capture a moment or two in your life.” she says, holding one in her hands while she scans the tree for the perfect place. She wouldn’t say she had a need for things to be perfect but Mats absolutely would and he takes every opportunity to move some around when she’s annoyed him, just to watch her staring at the tree for far longer than needed trying to work out why it no longer looks right.
Some have been passed down through generations and obviously hold sentiment to her, some are funny little ones that either Mats himself had picked up or they’d both purchased together once he learnt of her love for decorations, some just simply looked good. Some, like the ones they’ve been looking at today, are from key moments. Like their first christmas together and she’d brought her favourite one to his to put on it to cement her place in his home. Or one that they’d purchased together when they moved into their new home. There’s even a new one today to symbolise his man of the match award, a small tree trinket that she’d picked up as a joke but he had to chuckle when he saw it.
But that’s not the only new thing for the tree that she’d bought for him. And nerves are building in her belly as the thought of it creeps back in once more. She knows if she doesn’t get it under control, she’s going to go to pieces and the announcement is ruined. She’s wondered how to do this for far too long and figured that since they were now making this a tradition where the two of them both put a bauble on each, that this would be his main bauble to hang. She hasn’t seen him eye any up yet which makes this even better for her to be able to pass him the one she needs him to look at.
“I think I’ve left my drink in the kitchen, do you mind going to get it for me?” She asks as she places her bauble on the tree. Her hand moves to her stomach, a move that has become so instinctive since she’d see the pregnancy confirmation on the pregnancy test(s) that she’d taken, but also to try and physically settle herself. She’s kept this to herself for a few weeks while she tries to work out what she wants to do and weighing up how he’ll react to the news and now that the time is here, she realises it’s probably the waiting to tell him that’s got her into this anxious state.
He grumbles as he gets up but he does as she asks. The moment he’s out of the room and she hears him moving away, she goes to where she’s hidden the surprise, retrieves it and puts it in with the other decorations. She needs to remain calm but she heard the way her voice crumbled a little when she asked that question. Mats, for all his dumbass-ery, was quite smart and he knew her better than she liked to admit. It wouldn’t take much more voice wavering for him to figure out something was wrong.
“I gave it a little sip,” he declares as he walks back into the room. “Had to make sure it was still warm,” he justifies when he catches her expression. She lets him off the hook, but only because of her nerves.
“Thanks.” she takes a little sip herself once it’s in her hands and she throws a look in the direction of the decorations. “Can you pass me the white one over there please? I’m trying to think where to put it.” She says as nonchalantly as possible.
She keeps her back to Mats as she hears him rummaging through the packaging until he picks one out. “This one? With the black writing that says…” Mats trails off as he reads it to himself. She wants to turn to look at him, to see what his initial reaction is but she also can’t stand to see if it’s a reaction that’s less than happy. “Baby Hummels coming summer 2024” he repeats, his voice taking a tone that she’s never heard before.
It’s only now that she turns, eyes raking over him to see his body language. He’s standing there with it in his hands, unable to look away from it, fingers gently stroking over the words written in acrylic pen. She wants to disturb him, wants to ask what his thoughts are but she knows oh too well what it felt like to see those two lines on the test. This was his test.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“How sure?” Only now does he look at her face.
“Quite sure. I took five that first day and I’ve taken two weekly ones since.”
“You’ve known for two weeks?” He asks quietly.
“I needed to get to 6 weeks for it to be classed as a pregnancy. Anything before then is…”
“Right.” Mats nods and looks back at the bauble.
“Are you ok with that?” she nervously asks.
“We both agreed for you to come off your pill months ago. Yeah, I think I’m ok with it,” he grins and pulls her into a hug. “Our last Christmas as a two. Hey there, Mama.”
And even though it’s a name that she’s thrown around to herself, saying it softly as she’s stroked over her stomach which, thanks to the increase in hormones, has made her lower belly a little more bloated and giving her a false belief that this is her bump.
“Hey there daddy.”
_
It's worth noting here that week 12 is generally considered the safe week for pregnancies, the week where you can tell people because the rates in which you can miscarry drop with each week.
Week 24 means that your baby has a chance of survival should they be born early.
However, in order for your pregnancy to be classed as a pregnancy, you need to get to week 6. I know this first hand. This is when they can perform an ultrasound scan.
So while it may seem in the fic that she means week 6 is the "safe" week, it just means that she can now be classed as pregnant from a medical perspective.
#mats hummels one shot#mats hummels imagine#mats hummels blurb#mats hummels drabble#mats hummels fanfic#mats hummels fanfiction#football imagine#footballer imagine#football one shot#footballer one shot#football fanfiction#football blurb#football fanfic#football drabble
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Do Not Open Before Christmas
Box Bastards Masterpost
tag list: @spectral-whumpy-writer @transgender-scout
CWs: pet whump, unconventional restraints
“Merry Christmas!”
Lynx jolts awake, groaning. Their body aches, and their cheek is smushed against the carpet. Something stiff digs into their arms and legs, and there’s more of it wrapped around their head, securing a gag in their mouth. What the fuck happened last night? They struggle to remember as they blink the grit out of their eyes.
Kennedy stands over them in his plaid pajama pants, wearing a Santa hat. “Look at you, all wrapped up and quiet,” he coos, kneeling down to admire his own handiwork. “This is the best present I could ask for.”
They try to say fuck off, but it comes out garbled from behind the gag. As they roll over onto their back, pine needles tickle their cheek. The lights of the Christmas tree twinkle above them. It makes their head ache in a familiar way. Right. Kennedy drugged them, and then …
They glance down and glimpse the shiny lengths of red ribbon crisscrossing their body. Now it’s coming back to them.
Kennedy hooks his fingers through the ribbons and, with a little effort, hauls them upright. Their head swims, but he holds them steady. “Aww, look at you!” He grins, and there’s a plasticky crinkle as he pats the top of their head—that’s when they remember the bow. “Should I keep you like this, or should I cut you loose? Hmm? Will you be nice for me if I untie you?” They growl at him through the gag, and he laughs. “Oh, come on, Spike. That can’t be comfortable.”
It isn’t. Their hands are numb, and the hard plastic edges of the ribbon are cutting into their skin. But they continue to glare at him, unwilling to back down.
Finally, Kennedy sighs. “Well, I probably shouldn’t keep you like this for too much longer, anyway.” He fishes something out of his pocket, and they flinch at the scrape of a switchblade flipping open. “Now, hold still.”
He works slowly, from bottom to top, peeling ribbon out of the deep grooves in their bare arms and untangling the knots around their legs. They stay as still as they can, their breath stuttering every time the blade gets too close.
Unfortunately, the gag is the last thing to go. They spit it out and rub at the sores left on their cheeks. “Fuck you.”
“Hey, that’s no way to talk on Christmas.” Kennedy sets aside his knife and stands up. “And to think, I actually got you a present.” They glare at him, but he holds out his hands innocently. “No, really. If you’re good this morning, I’ll give it to you.”
Their eyes narrow. “You’re fucking with me.” The present is probably … a shock collar, or a whip, or something equally awful. He’d never give them something they actually want.
Kennedy shrugs. “Well, if you’re good, you’ll find out, won’t you?”
They’re still wary, but their aching body and dizzy head don’t give them much of a choice. “Fine,” they mutter. “I’ll … be good.” Their tongue tastes bitter, and they can’t tell if it’s from their surrender or from the gag.
“That’s the spirit!” He ruffles their hair. They flinch and bat his hands away, but he’s already distracted again, kneeling by the wrapped boxes under the tree. “Now, let’s see what I got for Christmas …”
Lynx finds a spot by the couch and dozes as Kennedy opens gifts from his friends and family. How did a dick like Kennedy get so many gifts? Lynx didn’t even know that he knew so many people—but, then, they don’t get out of the house much. They half-listen to him murmuring his appreciation over new clothes, bags of fancy coffee beans, and other uninteresting human things. Mostly they’re just relieved that he’s distracted.
“Oh, look, Spike,” says Kennedy, rousing them from their sleep. “My parents sent you some treats! Do you want one?” He shakes the box at them. The image on the front has a biscuit with some kind of sugary, sprinkle-covered coating. Lynx’s mouth waters, but they press their lips together and shake their head. Right on cue, their stomach growls. “Alright, c’mere, Spike.”
Reluctantly, Lynx crawls over to him. It’s only slightly less humiliating that he’s sitting on the floor, too, but the smug look on his face doesn’t make it any better. He pulls a biscuit out of the box and holds it teasingly in front of them. “Open up,” he says with a grin.
“I have hands, you know,” they mutter.
They reach up to take the biscuit, but he catches their wrist and leans in. “I know,” he says. “But you’re being a good little pet so you can get your reward later, and you know how this goes. So open up.”
Their face burns, but they open their mouth. As soon as the biscuit is between their lips, they bite down and yank it away. Half of it falls into their lap, but they grab it and shove it in their mouth. The biscuit is as sweet as it looks, and they practically drool over it, devouring it with embarrassing speed.
Kennedy chuckles and scratches their head. They flinch away, licking the crumbs from their lips. “Good pet. Want another?”
Their stomach still feels hollow, and they can taste leftover sugar on their tongue. They cross their arms and open their mouth.
He looks delighted as he holds out another treat, and they grab it so fast that their teeth graze his fingers. “Hey,” he warns. But his tone softens as he scratches their head again. They’re too busy trying not to choke on the too-big bite to pull away this time. “Alright, no more treats for now. I’ll get you your breakfast in a little bit.”
Still burning with embarrassment, Lynx retreats back to their spot by the couch. The rest of Kennedy’s presents go quickly, and soon the floor is littered with red and green paper and lengths of ribbon that Lynx eyes warily. But Kennedy just tosses it all in a trash bag. Lynx’s sore wrists ache with relief.
Once everything’s cleaned up, there’s just one present left under the tree. With a smug grin, Kennedy brings it over and deposits it on Lynx’s lap. The box is bigger than they expected, but not particularly heavy. For a moment, they just stare. “Aren’t you going to open it?” Kennedy prompts.
They swallow down the dread and slowly rip open the package. They lift the lid and flinch automatically, because they were expecting something horrible, not … something red and fuzzy?
Hesitantly, they pull the thing out of the box, and it unfurls into a blanket. It’s thick, not like the flimsy little one they have on their bed now, and it looks big enough to cover their whole body. All they can do is blink at it, their fingers curling in the soft, plush material.
“Well?” Their stomach jolts at the sound of Kennedy’s voice. “Do you like it?”
When they look up, Kennedy is giving them an expectant look that they can’t read. Their voice jams in their throat. Are they supposed to like it? What’s the catch?
They pause for too long. Kennedy leans over them, and they flinch away, but all he does is remove the empty box from their lap. They’re still holding up the blanket in front of them like a curtain, unsure of what to do with it.
He gives them a teasing grin as he pulls it from their hands. Their stomach jolts in anticipation, but it’s almost a relief. Of course it’s not really theirs. He’s fucking with them, like usual.
Then the blanket settles over their lap, and he ruffles their hair. “You’re so slow,” he chuckles. “It’s yours. Go ahead, use it.”
They raise an eyebrow. “You’re not gonna … kick me in the ribs or something?”
He rolls his eyes and sits down on the couch, his hand tangled in their hair. They unsuccessfully try to squirm away. “It’s Christmas, Spike. I wanted to do something nice for you. But if you’re going to be an ungrateful little bastard about it …” His hand hovers over the edge of the blanket. They tighten their grip on it. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. What do you say?”
They pull the blanket up to their shoulders and lean against the side of the couch. The blanket is so soft, it doesn’t even chafe against the marks on their arms. “Thank you,” they mutter begrudgingly.
He sighs. “You know, I really thought your reaction would be more like those cute pet videos …” He scratches their scalp, making them shudder and duck their head away. “But you’re welcome. Merry Christmas.”
It’s warm under the blanket, and even sitting up, Lynx feels themself getting sleepy. They rest their head against the back of the couch, mostly convinced that Kennedy isn’t going to hurt them right now. “Merry Christmas,” they murmur back.
#whump#whump writing#christmas whump#restrained#pet whump#captivity#captivity whump#zipwrites#oc: lynx#oc: kennedy adams#box bastards#merry christmas lynx <333#i have a sequel started but we'll see if i finish it before the end of the week lol#if not ... maybe next year?
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Gifting
I’ve not done this before but I believe this would be what 8 of the Pedro Pascal Guys would gift you on Christmas morning. A little bit of fun & some of you might not agree but this is what I think they would gift you underneath the tree.
Obviously some of these are not going to be minor friendly so best not to read if you are under 18!
Din Djarin
Din would look on (behind the mask obviously) & se you start to unwrap you small gift. The knot won’t undo so Grogu starts to use the force. You think it’s sweet but Din tells him off for not being patient. You undo the last layer of the brown paper & see that Din has gifted you some Beskar. It has his & Grogus emblem on it & you smile back, you are not a mandalorian. You then notice it has a hook & chain. Din comes & sits behind you & slowly clips in it place & you smile. Through his modulator you hear him whisper”your part of our clan now”
Oberyn Martell
You awaken in your chambers, usually a small bowl of fruit is waiting for you from your lover. But this morning there are 3. One filled with fruit, one with nuts & one with spices. There is also a large display of flowers in front of your mirror. You smile & slowly climb out of bed & see a note from your Prince. “I shall come to see you later today, to make sure you remember our day of celebrations”. Oberyn is a man of his word & satisfy you for an hour later that morning. He is greeted by his own gift of your naked body lying on top of the bed sheets.
Frankie Catfish Morales
Frankie is Sober this Christmas & remember to actually get you a gift. No last minute dash to a 24/7 store on Christmas Eve. Nope underneath the tree is that jumper you pointed out 3 weeks ago when you went shopping, plus a watch, yours stopped working a little while ago. You hold them up proudly & smile that Frankie has taken so much in recently. “Awww Frankie” you say & you scoot along the sofa & kiss him softly. “So perfect, you do listen to me”.
Joel Miller (pre outbreak)
Post out break Joel doesn’t even know what day of the week it is but pre outbreak would have spoilt you with gifts. Ginger bread house packs the week before to build. Flowers & plants for you to make a Christmas wreath with in advance. Candles for the Christmas table. It’s like he was doing his own advent calendar himself. But in the day he softly will wake you up & gift you a small piece of jewellery. It’s not much but it will be half his monthly salary. He’d slowly but on the bracket, neckless or earrings on you & then would pepper you in kisses.
Jack Daniels / Agent Whiskey
He’s probably on assignment, saving the world. If he is he gifts you a bottle of the next years Statesmen for you to have & save for the future. But if he is home he’s got you something to make your life better. This year he has got you an air fryer. You’ve heard the rest of the world talk about them & he thought it was a rather cool gadget. You both wonder if you can air-fry Brussel sprouts to see if that makes them taste better.
Marcus Moreno
Marcus feels sorry for you. He’s not been a good boyfriend, but you understand being a super hero is more important. So when he is not in bed on Christmas morning you’re a little concerned. But then I’m he walks. “Breakfast in bed for my beloved” he’s made pancakes, proper coffee, fresh orange juice & there is a large bowl of fruit too. “I have other gifts under the tree for you but I promise to be here more emotionally & physically this year” he says before he slips back into bed with you to eat the breakfast & maybe have some morning delight.
Pero Tovar
Rice. He’s got you rice. It’s what keeps him going. He’s grumpy if he doesn’t eat & it’s his favourite. So him buying you 3 bags of rice for Christmas means you don’t have to spend any of your money on it for the next three months, which you are secretly happy about.
Dave York
He’s given you a couple of standard gifts over the day in front of the family, but as you both finish putting things away from the day, Dave hands you a small box. No one else is around the girls are in bed, the in-laws have left. So when you open the box & you see the see through nightdress & new vibrator, you blush. “David!” You squark. He lifts you up abandoning the rest of the cleaning away. “But I’m not wearing it” you say. “I know” Dave replies “I don’t want you wearing anything while i fuck you tonight”
#pedro pascal#no minors#over18#pedro pascal cinematic universe#pedro pascal characters#pedro pascal character fanfiction#pedro pascal fanfiction#Dave York#pero tovar#Marcus Moreno#din djarin#oberyn martell#agent whiskey#Joel miller#Frankie catfish morales#pedro pascal fan fic#pedro pascal fandom
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Christmas Morning — Greta Gill x Fem!Reader
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Synopsis: Greta wakes you up with an early Christmas present.
Warnings: Praise, cunnilingus, consensual minor somnophilia, etc…
Word Count: 800
© Do not copy, repost, or modify any of my works.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Christmas was always your most favorite time of the year. The gifts, the snow, and the hot chocolate were just some of the best things..but the best of all was spending it with the one you love most.
This was the first year you and Greta got to spend it with each other and although you couldn't spend it with each other out in public, it made it much more special that it was just the two of you spending it alone with each other in the warm indoors without any distractions.
The sheets slowly rising at your feet with the soft trace of notorious ruby-colored fingernails gliding up your legs was more than enough to stir you from your sweet slumber. Hot breath could be felt along your naked thighs as fingers gently spread your legs.
A pair of lips attached themselves to your soft skin before moving their way to hover over your barely clothed center. A featherlight kiss was placed along your see-through lace.
"𝑀𝑚𝑚, 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎." Your raspy morning voice just barely makes it to her ears.
She took that as a sign to keep going, her nimble fingers hooking underneath the waistband of your panties before dragging them all the way down your legs and completely off the skin of your body.
Her fingers made their way back between your thighs, skillfully running along your newly soaked cunt.
"What happened to opening presents when we got up?" You gasped as she took two of her fingers to spread your folds for her tongue to devour your most sensitive spot.
"Oh I planned on it . . . but I opened my favorite present just now, beautiful."
A soft moan was forced out of your mouth in return as her free hand tightly gripped onto your inner thigh, holding you into place.
Greta hums in approval as her tongue swiftly explores every inch of your center.
It doesn't take her long for her lips to wrap around your clit, giving it the attention you were oh so craving so much.
"𝐹𝑢𝑐𝑘, Greta just like that!" You whimpered, the sensitivity already taking control over your body.
Your hands grasp at the sheets beneath you, knuckles turning white at the almost deathly grip being held at its silky material.
She switches between sucking and flicking her tongue against your bud in the way that causes your toes to curl and your legs attempt to forcefully close.
Her grip on your thigh grows stronger to keep herself from being squeezed between your thighs.
"Be a darling and keep those legs open for me."
Her pace grows more demanding just as the shaking in your legs comes to her attention. The muscles in your thighs begging to be relaxed.
Soft moans escape your parted lips, head pushing deeper into the pillow as you find yourself unraveling into a pit of ecstasy from the redhead devouring you between your legs.
"𝑂𝑜ℎ— 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎!" Your voice hitches in the back of your throat as you become completely undone, pleasure taking total control over your senses as you come.
"That's my girl . . . you've done so good for me."
She eases you through your high, stopping just as your hips begin to buck from the feeling of oversensitivity.
Greta leaves one last kiss against your clit before carefully sliding herself up from beneath the sheets to straddle herself over your hips.
You finally got the chance to look at her for the first time this morning. Her usual perfect hair was now a frizzy mess and one strap of her nightgown had fallen off her shoulder.
She still looked as beautiful as ever but your eyes couldn't help but focus at the way her nightgown rode up over her thighs and sat just perfectly against her hips.
Greta catches you staring at her and leans forward, hands on either side of your head, her face hovering just slightly in front of yours. Dark eyes glued onto your own.
"What's that look for?" She questioned.
"You just look so damn beautiful to me."
Her lips quickly formed into an appreciative smile at the compliment.
She brought her left hand to cup your cheek, thumb gently grazing against your skin before stopping just next to your lips.
"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me . . ." Her chocolate eyes were filled with nothing but love and adoration towards you. She hovered her lips just slightly above yours. ". . but you are the sweetest thing of all, my love."
Soft lips connected with yours in a sweet kiss lasting a few seconds.
"Now let's go open some actual presents, shall we?" In one swift movement she slides off you, fixing her nightgown and extends her hand out for you to take. You adjust your own nightgown before lacing your fingers with hers and standing from the bed.
"Merry Christmas, darling."
"Merry Christmas, Greta."
#greta gill#aloto#a league of their own#fanfic#lesbiansmut#smut#wlw smut#oneshot#praise#fluffy#no plot whatsoever#pwp fics#darcy carden
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Christmas in August, part 3/5
Newlyweds Shane and Chloe have just added a new extension to the Bartlett-Fleming-Morris family, but when it seems like the couple won't be able to make it "home for the holidays", Tim comes up with an idea to make their first extended family Christmas happen.
Characters: Shane, Chloe, Tim, Miranda, Jack, Lisa, Amy, Lyndy, Lou, Katie, Nathan, Paul.
A/N: Sets around the time of the season 17 finale.
****
Meanwhile, inside the Heartland ranch house, the day had gotten started as well.
Before going to the Dude Ranch, Tim had helped clean the stalls and Jack had fed the horses, because the two of them were usually the first ones up anyway, so they "might as well".
Usually Amy was happy to do the morning chores, but she was now looking after Lyndy who had been in and out of sleep through the night as they had made few trips between the bathroom and the bedroom. Sometimes Lyndy had vomited, other times it had just been a false alarm.
When the younger Fleming sister had heard sounds coming from the kitchen around 6:30, she had gotten up to have some breakfast when it seemed like the worst was over with Lyndy.
"I feel so bad that I'm not really able to participate", Amy said when she was eating her bagel and drinking her orange juice as the other people of the house were already up and running around, doing their errands.
"Don't be silly, Amy", Lisa said gently as she was making them all sandwhiches to the fridge, so if anyone would feel hungry during the busy day, they could just grab one to-go. "You have Lyndy to look after."
Lou nodded along to what Lisa was saying while holding a small notebook and a pen. "How is she, by the way?"
"Weak. She threw up few times, but it's definitely slowly getting better, I think. Her head is hurting, but at least the fever's down. I tried to get her to drink as much juice as possible, but she also needs the rest", Amy reported.
Katie took her empty bowl of cereal to the sink and rinsed it from the left-over milk.
"I'm just glad my room is on the other floor; I don't know that I would have been happy to listen to her throw up on the other side of the wall..." Katie commented, knowing she didn't respond well to that sound.
Lou gave her a meaningful look, and with a sigh, Katie picked up the bowl again and placed it in the dishwasher.
"Well, I think we have everything covered, don't we?" Lou then checked. "Let's go through the list again. -- Grandpa, turkey?" she called out to Jack who was sat down in the mudroom after getting his boots on again.
"Goin'", Jack said, then getting up and putting on his cowboy hat before grabbing his keys from the hook. "Lis - you coming?" he checked.
"Yes, yes, coming", Lisa said, just as she was about to put the sandwhich plate to the fridge. She then made her way to the mud room so she could join her husband for the ride to the town.
"So... that's food - checked", Lou wrote it down. "Katie and I on the decorations...." she checked that off as well.
"Quonset hut, right?" Katie checked as she was ready and free to go.
"Yeah. I'll come with you in a minute", Lou confirmed, then looking around. "Where's Jessica?"
"She said she'd go to the dark room. Something about the gift", Katie knew. "Oh, and Amy, she said she'll help you with Lyndy if you need a break. Just let her know."
"Oh, thanks", Amy was relieved.
If she were to look after Lyndy properly, she herself needed some rest too, so Jessica's offer was welcomed.
"Okay, well... Jessica's doing her part then", Lou murmured, writing that down. "Oh... there's one more thing on the list that no one's assigned to..."
"What is it?" Amy asked out of a curiousity, feeling a little guilty about it probably being her part, but since she was tied to looking after Lyndy, it was going to have to be someone else's job.
"The tree", Lou said, then pondering about it, trying to find some type of silver lining, but failing a little bit. "I mean, I suppose we can make the house look nice with all the decorations, but... the tree is traditionally the centerpiece", she continued, feeling a little bummed.
"It won't look right without the tree", Katie agreed.
Lou nodded, having to admit it. "But... I guess no can do. We only have limited time and resources. There's no Christmas tree sellers this time of the year, and besides, why would we want to buy one when we have plenty of land of our own."
"Actually..." Amy interrupted them, thinking of something. Maybe she was able to help them after all. "I might know someone who knows great trees around this area..."
Lou and Katie looked at her with curiousity.
"I'm listening", Lou said.
****
Back at the Dude Ranch, Shane and Chloe were sat at the end of the dock, having their breakfast - picnic style - because the weather and spot was perfect for that. The sun was getting up from behind the cabins, so it wasn't too hot to be sat on the dock yet - in fact it was almost a bit chilly in the shadow of the trees.
They had a blanket meant for this very occasion under them, and on top of it they had a tray that had bowls of fruit and berries, a pot of coffee and croissants with apricot jam.
Chloe snatched the last of the strawberries from the bowl and fed it to Shane, smiling. This felt like a perfectly romantic morning to have.
The man accepted the berry and munched it, but looked absent. It made Chloe feel a little worried.
"Everything okay, hun?" she checked. "You've been so quiet."
"Sorry..." Shane realized he wasn't acting like a happily married man - even though he was - and he didn't want to give that impression to Chloe. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just... I saw my mom and dad have a talk earlier. They seemed so... suspicious. I guess it just rubbed me the wrong way. Brought back a lot of memories - and not the good kind."
Chloe nodded, understanding.
She had never seen Tim and Miranda together before this, she only knew things had not been great with them in the past, so she was relying on the stories Shane had shared with her before.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Chloe offered a listening ear.
"Ah, it's okay", Shane tried to wave it off. "This is our first morning as a married couple, we have a view like this, a weather like this..." He gestured around them. "I don't want to ruin it."
"Well, yeah, but... what was it that Jack said yesterday before we said "I do"?" Chloe tried to recall. "Something about the problem with looking at the sky so you miss what's in front of you. -- I don't want to look at the sky. I want to focus what's in front of me - you."
Shane let out a sigh and smiled briefly, touched my Chloe's concern.
This relationship was definitely not going to be a repeat of whatever his mom and dad had had.
"So... what's this about your parents?" she wanted to know.
Shane took a deep breath.
"Well, they didn't let me in on things when I was a kid. Like, for starters, that Tim's my dad", Shane recapped, giving Chloe a refresher course to their dysfunctional family dynamic. "And I get I was a kid and things were messy, but... it still really hurt me. Being lied to. -- So, now, every time I feel like they're lying to me about something, I just feel like... I'm back to being that little kid who felt so... patronized."
Chloe nodded, understanding where Shane was coming from. It couldn't be easy to shake that off.
"And I understand that we're still figuring out these new family dynamics, but... I guess I was hoping it would be different somehow. I get now that it was wishful thinking, but because I felt like mom had changed and dad had changed, that somehow magically it would mean that they'd come together and it'd be different now. But people fall back into the same old patterns if they're allowed to", Shane said, sighing. "I almost prefer them to be angry at each other than them scheming behind my back..."
"And you talked to your mom about it?" Chloe checked as she had seen Shane with her earlier.
"I tried, but she basically said I was just imagining things", Shane scoffed. "I know I'm not. I know the signs all too well."
"Well, you might not get answers from your mom", Chloe said, knowing from experience Miranda could be difficult to deal with, "but you have this great relationship with your dad now, don't you?"
"Yeah. I do", Shane agreed.
"So, why don't you give him a call, ask what's going on?" she suggested.
Shane nodded, realizing it was probably the best move right now. They had not had a chance to talk since last night because Tim had left so abruptly earlier.
"Yeah. I should do that. Thanks, Chlo", he said, giving her hand a kiss before getting up and pulling out his phone from his pocket, then dialing to Tim's number.
He left Chloe to admire the scenery at the end of the dock while he kept pacing around, listening to the dial-up sound. He felt his hands getting sweaty as he tried to think what to say.
What if Tim would tell him nothing was going on either? What then?
He waited and waited, but the phone would not connect. So when Tim didn't pick up, Shane felt like he was back to square one.
He sighed and moved the phone from his ear, checking the screen.
"No answer?" Chloe asked when she glanced toward him.
"No", Shane regretted to inform. If Miranda wasn't telling him anything and Tim wasn't picking up... "Maybe I should visit Heartland, ask him face to face."
"That's one way to do it", Chloe agreed. "Do you want me to come with you? I don't need to be involved, but just... if you want some back-up."
"I'm sorry, this isn't how I pictured our wedding life to begin..." Shane realized. "I doubt you did either."
"Well, it's "for better or for worse", right?" Chloe reminded.
"Well yeah", Shane admitted.
Chloe shrugged. "So, that checks out."
Shane smiled. Chloe was so supportive of him, even though she had every right to want to do something else right now.
"Have I told you that I love you...?" he asked.
"Not for few minutes", Chloe grinned.
"Well then... I love you. And I accept your offer."
"Let's go then", Chloe said and got up.
They started cleaning up after themselves, so the birds wouldn't get into the leftovers, and took everything to the cabin.
When they were done, Shane started walking to their car while Chloe was locking up - not something they needed to do necessarily around here, but it was a habit they couldn't shake after living in a city this long.
Miranda, who was sat at the porch of her cabin and was skimming a magazine, noticed that something was going on, so she she jumped up like there was an emergency.
Chloe joined Shane.
"Where are you guys going...?" she demanded to know.
Yesterday's wedding day had been so nice with everyone being on their best behaviour, that Chloe had almost forgotten Miranda could be like this. For Shane's sake, she stayed quiet and let him handle it.
"To Heartland, to see my dad", Shane informed his mother.
"No, you can't", Miranda said immediately. When she saw Shane's stern look, she realized she had not thought this through either.
"Why not?" Shane asked, hoping he could get Miranda to confess as it seemed like it was weighing on her.
"Because Tim could be here any minute now, and you have to be ready for the trail ride", Miranda said, knowing how much that trail ride meant for Shane. "In fact, he said something about coming back around this time..." she lied, acting like that memory had just struck her.
"I tried calling him, he didn't answer his phone", Shane explained.
"See? He must be on his way already. And he's driving responsibly, not picking up calls when driving", Miranda pointed out, hoping to pick some brownie points for Tim and appeal to Shane's righteousness.
Shane sighed and looked at Chloe.
Did his mother have a point or should they give the visit to Heartland a try?
"I suppose we could wait a little while longer", Chloe suggested, not wanting this to turn into a fight, and hoped Miranda was actually right and they might be able to resolve this in a way that pleased all of the parties involved.
"Okay then. We'll give it... 30 minutes", Shane decided, sighing.
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All is Calm, the Future's Bright
This is my @mlsecretsanta gift for @juliettelime! You wanted some sweet holiday fluff, so I hope this delivers the feels. Merry Christmas!
Adrien leaned against the door frame, staring at the blue-black messy bun that was bent obsessively over the desk. He smiled. He had known from day one of his lady’s brilliant, creative mind and her ability to bring the most convoluted plans to fruition, but the same intensity that had led them safely through hundreds of battles also led her to get easily overwhelmed by deadlines and panic over setbacks.
“Of course, knowing that Ladybug is Marinette means I know how to take care of her when she gets like this,” he thought warmly. It was just what made her the woman he loved, the woman he needed in his life as much as the air he breathed.
Padding softly across the crimson rug of her studio, he eased up behind her. Moving slowly so as not to trigger her selfdefense skills - it took getting thrown off a building only once to get that through his thick skull - he placed the mug of hot chocolate on the desk where she could see it but there was no way she could knock it over.
Then, bending over, he kissed the back of her neck gently, the loose curls hanging there delightfully tickling his nose.
“Hmmm,” was her only response, a questioning lilt in her hum as her stylus skated over the tablet.
“It’s getting late, love,” he murmured, breathing in deeply of the scents of flowers and citrus in her hair and the deeper, more personal scent of her that drove him to distraction even when he wasn’t transformed. “You’ve been at it all day.”
Marinette sighed. “I was just trying to get this finished. You know the spring line needs to be in production by mid-January and-“
“Yes, I know,” he interrupted, wrapping his arms around her. “But I know you also need to rest well to work hard, Princess, and you have been skimping on sleep again.”
He felt her cheek grow warm against his. “How did you know?”
He let her go and spun her chair around so he could see her face. “What, you don’t think this old cat doesn’t notice when half the bed gets cold? Besides you have been depriving me of the joy of having my wife wake up in my arms in the morning.”
Her blush deepened, but her eyes sparkled. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to you saying things like that without the mask.”
Holding himself over her on the arms of her chair, he leaned in with a smirk. “Oh, trust me! I’m worse when you’re not around. Nino says I’m an unbearable sap and most of the other guys either make gagging noises or pretend to call their dentist.”
A smirk of her own spread across her lips as she tapped him on the nose. “It’s your own fault for being such a sweet talker, Kitty.”
His heart skipped a beat. Even after eight years together in one way or another, he would never get over her punning back at him. “Oh, and when she smirks like that I am liable to kiss her senseless!”
“Speaking of sweet, you should drink your hot chocolate before it cools,” he said with a sigh. “And if you don’t come down by the time I’m finished with mine, I will come fetch you myself.”
Her smirk widened into a mischievous grin. “You know that does’t give me much motivation to do that, don’t you?”
He growled and spun her chair around playfully. “I am giving you five more minutes, little bug, then I’m canceling our reservations.”
He saw her eyes widen in surprise before he sprinted for the door, barely hearing her panicked cry of “Reservations?! What-“ over his laughter.
Adrien chuckled all the way down the stairs of their townhouse, enjoying the mischief he had caused his Lady. Marinette could take it, of course, and give as good as she got, but she had been working too hard for the last six months and she had to relax and get the rest she needed in order to be her best. It was no mean feat, as she was trying to get her fashion boutique up and running, but he made sure she got it, by hook or by crook.
He made himself a cup of hot chocolate and settled on the couch, thumbing through his phone’s contacts with a subtle smirk. Just keeping up with his lady was a full time job.
In less than five minutes, Marinette rushed down the stairs, empty mug in hand and a chocolate mustache on her upper lip. “There. All done,” she panted, looking at him with worried eyes. “What was this about reservations? Adrien, I’m sorry! I must have forgotten -“
Standing up, he moved to her side. It had been a shock several years ago to learn exactly how drawn to Marinette he had always been, even before he had learned she was Ladybug. She had always been his lodestone, whether with the mask or without.
“Shhh. The only thing you have forgotten is to take care of yourself, love,” he soothed. Reaching out, he wiped the chocolate from her lip and then licked it off his finger. “You take care of everything and everyone except yourself, Marinette.”
She sighed. “Comes from being a hero too long, I guess. I’m just used to it. Kind of hard to break that sort of habit.”
“And that is why you have me. To take care of you so you can take care of everything else.”
She smiled at him crookedly. “I don’t deserve it, you know.”
He scoffed at that. “My lady, I would find a way to bring you all the stars of the Milky Way on a diamond chain if it would make you smile. What’s a little thing like making sure you sleep and eat regularly?”
At that moment her stomach rumbled loud enough to be mistaken for an angry monster. They exchanged looks and burst out laughing!
“Speaking of which,” she said, laughter still on her lips, “I believe someone said something about reservations?”
The doorbell rang throughout the town house.
Marinette sighed. “If it is Stella with more fabric samples tell her I'm not home!” Her voice was petulant but her lips still quirked in a smile.
Adrien kissed her on the forehead and went to answer the door. He saw her face turn confused when he returned with two delivery bags full of take out boxes.
“But I thought-“
“Our reservations, my love, are for the most exclusive location in town. Invitation only.” He set the bags down on the coffee table and started unpacking them. The heady scents of garlic and marjoram filled the air and he saw Marinette’s eyes light up when she saw the restaurant name on the bags.
“You ordered from Prima Vera? You remembered!”
“That you love their lasagna? Yes, but the location goes hand in hand with the meal. So you go get dressed in something cozy while I finish laying it out.”
“Cozy?” She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, rubbing her face against his shoulder blade. “Shouldn’t I dress for the occasion, Kitty? A date at an invitation only spot sounds very exclusive - black tie at the very least.”
“It generally is,” he replied with a smirk, pulling one of her hands up to press a kiss to her palm. “But tonight it is lady’s choice. Besides, I …ahem… happen to know the owner.”
“Really.”
“Oh yes.” Adrien left the boxes on the table and turned around so he could hold her. “He happens to be dead gone on you and would do anything to make his dream princess happy.”
“He sounds sweet,” she replied coyly, looking up at him through her lashes. She rose up on her toes to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. “But I hope you told him I have a very jealous husband and cat at home.”
“He knows, my love. I go off to duel with him at dawn over you. If I don’t come back, Cat Noir can have you with my blessing.”
Marinette fell into a fit of giggles, laughing so hard she ran out of breath and was left gasping in his arms, clinging to him to remain upright.
“You’re ridiculous!” He grinned widely at her happy smile as she wiped laugh tears from her cheeks. “Adrien, you always know how to make me laugh!”
“Good! Step one of Operation: Holidate has made a successful start!” He turned her and gave her a gentle push towards the stairs. “Now, you go get dressed in something comfortable while I slip a twenty to the manager for a prime table in front of the fire.”
She chuckled on her way up the stairs to their room.
“Thank you for planning all this, Adrien,” Tikki said, flying out of the kitchen with two cloth napkins. “Our girl works too hard. She’s always put so much pressure on herself to get things done. Whether that meant fighting akumas, homework, competitions, or presents for friends, she has trouble knowing when to ask for help.”
“But that’s why she has us.” He went and grabbed two of their good china plates and some silverware, laying everything out nicely on the coffee table. He lit a fire in the fireplace and candles all around the room, giving it a romantic, golden glow. He even laid out little plates in the kitchen for their kwamis with some fried mozzarella for Plagg and a slice of chocolate torte for Tikki.
The little red kwami flew up to his cheek for a fond nuzzle. “You’re so thoughtful. Thank you.”
He smiled and stroked the top of her head the way he often would for Plagg. “You’re welcome, Tikki. You are so considerate that it is a pleasure to do nice things for you.”
There was a derogatory snort from Plagg and Tikki rolled her eyes. “He should say thank you too, but he is too busy stuffing his face, as usual!”
There was a loud gulp followed by an even louder burp. “Lay off, Tiks! If you keep being this sweet, you’ll spoil him after I finally got him trained up right!”
Adrien chuckled. “Just be thankful I’m not telling her about your teaching methods, you old stinker!”
“You can’t scare me until you’ve been around the block a few thousand times, Kitten!”
“Well, in that case, I’m sure Tikki would love to hear about the time when you encouraged me to sneak into Marinette’s room while she was out and-“
Suddenly his face was full of nervous, black kwami trying desperately to cover his mouth. Adrien burst out laughing as Tikki shot Plagg a look that could blister paint and tackled him out of the air.
“What was that all about?”
He turned to see Marinette smirking at him with a raised eyebrow. Adrien’s breath caught in his throat at the sight. Her raven hair spilled around her shoulders in silky waves, held away from her face by a pink cloth headband. She wore one of his dress shirts, the sleeves rolled up enough for her hands to show, and a worn pair of grey leggings. She was beautiful, alluring in a way that only she could be for him and she did it without really trying.
A few years ago, Adrien would have been stunned stupid by the sight, but younger Adrien had been too afraid to speak his heart honestly. He knew better now, he knew her better now, and he wasn’t afraid to say what was in his heart to the woman who held it gently in her own hands.
He stepped up to her, his hands running up and down her arms slowly, soothingly, despite the rapid tempo of his heartbeat. “Have I ever told you what seeing you in my clothes does to me?”
Marinette looked up at him coyly and pretended to straighten his collar. “Hmmm, at least once. I believe there might have been something about kissing me senseless, but I was a little distracted at the time.”
“Didn’t Maman teach you never to eat dessert first,” he chided with a smirk of his own. “You’ll spoil our lovely dinner.”
“You’ll spoil me, more likely,” she whispered and rose on her toes to kiss him softly. “But you are right. I’m starving and everything smells amazing!”
So they sat on the sofa, eating delicious food and listening to some soft jazz as they watched the firelight dance in each other’s eyes. It was a beautiful moment, like the world had paused just for them to enjoy and Adrien burned it into his heart to remember forever. There had been so many years of loneliness, heartache, fear, hurt, confusion, and, finally, acceptance before they had found each other.
Marinette was his storm anchor, holding him fast when the world threatened to spiral out of control. She had been there for him through it all, giving of herself and her golden heart long before he understood what love really was. She fought his demons when he was no longer able to fight for himself. She was his laughter, his peace, his home.
And now, with her lying curled against his chest within the circle of his arms, he felt overwhelmed by the gift she always gave him.
“I love you, Princess,” he murmured softly, kissing her forehead with all the tenderness of his overflowing heart. “I don’t know how I could have made it this far without you. You are so precious to me, Marinette, and you need to take more time for you. For us. I need time with you. You are what makes me feel whole and alive. I… I’ve missed you, little bug.”
She looked up at him with eyes full of love and tears welling up in the corners. “I’ve missed you too, Kitty. I just know how much you disliked modeling for … that man and I don’t want to bring back unpleasant memories for you. You’ve been so good about supporting me, but-“
He placed a gentle finger against her lips. “None of that! I love you, Marinette! I have always supported your dreams of being a fashion designer! Always! And believe me, there is a world of difference between helping you with your boutique and working for Gabriel. You are thoughtful and considerate of my needs, you listen respectfully when I offer suggestions, and you want to work with me. More than anything, you love me and it shows in everything you do, my lady. I look forward to building new memories at your side for the rest of our lives, but I need you to step out of your bubble in order to do that. Okay?”
She blushed and sighed. “You’re right. I’ve just been trying to do it on my own and try to keep you from getting hurt. You know that is the last thing I would ever want, right?”
He nodded and stroked a tendril of hair behind her ear. “I know, but there are no more akumas… no more chances for broken moons, no mater what our nightmares may tell us. So let me in more and come out more yourself. You’re doing yourself no good staying locked away in your studio all day.”
She smiled up at him. “Have I told you how much I like it when you stand firm like that?”
“Not recently,” he drawled, cuddling her closer to him.
“Well, I do. Like it, I mean. It makes me feel safe… protected… loved.” She yawned hugely, stretching like a kitten on his lap.
“It really is getting late now, my love.” He chuckled ruefully. “I got down the boxes of garlands and things earlier. I thought we could do some decorating, but you need sleep more than holiday spirit.”
She giggled sleepily, blinking her cornflower eyes slowly at him in a way that warmed him all over. “Just so you know, I don’t deserve you.”
“So what do you deserve for saving the world a thousand times before getting out of university?”
Marinette leaned up and kissed him lightly on the end of his nose. “A happy ending?” She sighed and snuggled back against him. He breathed in her sweet scent and sighed contentedly. It was the scent of home.
He knew she would be asleep soon, but he didn’t want the moment to end just yet. He wrapped his arms around her more firmly and settled deeper into the sofa, watching the firelight sparkle off the satin of her hair.
“Sounds good,” he whispered. “As long as it’s with you.”
#miraculous ladybug#miraculous fanworks#miraculous fanfic#mlb secret santa#married adrienette#holiday fluff#Christmas date#I had to write this four separate times so as not to end up with angst#I forgot how to write pure fluff!#adrien agreste#marinette dupen chang#adrienette#mlb fandom#prpr#ml love square
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