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shoujosekaii · 2 years

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Ouchi ni Kaerou

一起回家吧

おうちにかえろう

Chapter 10

It's now December 24th, Christmas Eve. Mei is writing a shopping list - to buy roast turkey, salad, French baguettes and ingredients for cake.

Asahina comes to Mei's side and comments that she seems pumped up, asking her if they are going to have a Christmas party. Smiling, Mei replies yes, as it's her first time spending Christmas here (I think by 'here', she's referring to Iori's home). Mei tells Asahina with a teardrop that Iori had said to her that she could do whatever she wanted. (Iori in the bubble: I don't care much for Christmas anyway. Asahina remarks that that is something Iori would say.)

Noticing something, Asahina asks, "That thing, hanging in the balcony, isn't it mistletoe?"

Mei goes, "Eh? Mistletoe? (So that's what it's called.)" Asahina explains to her that it is a popular Christmas decoration in the West.

Asahina then lifts Mei's chin and goes close to her, saying, "Did you know? They say that 'Two people who kiss under the mistletoe will be happy forever.'"

Mei looks back at Asahina blankly, and then answers with a smile, "I see! What a wonderful saying!" Asahina then smiles back at her, saying, "Ahaha, my message didn't get across."

The two of them then get distracted by the doorbell. Mei goes to the front door, wondering who it could be - a delivery?

Opening the door, it turns out to be Kanon, and she is desperately pleading for Mei to let her hide in the house for a while. Mei is stunned and asks Kanon what's happened. Kanon explains, "After I quarreled with my boyfriend, he kept chasing after me!"

Mei says, "Eh?! That's no good...", but then pauses and thinks to herself, 'Huh? Boyfriend...?'

Mei then asks Kanon, "Ka...Kanon-san, what did you just say...", when Tokieda suddenly appears at the door, calling out, "Kanon!"

Mei is surprised to see Tokieda, and Kanon looks alarmed.

Kanon then shouts at Tokieda, saying, "Why did you chase me here, Ikkun!!", and Tokieda answers, saying, "Well, I have to come here for work, too..."

Mei is bewildered, asking, "Ik...Ikkun?"

Iori then comes out from his room (holding Soseki), saying that it's noisy. He says, "You dumb couple, can you find somewhere else to argue?"

Mei is shocked, going, "Dumb couple?! Eh, are you referring to..."

Iori then explains to Mei that Tokieda and Kanon are currently dating. (Tokieda's full name - Tokieda Ikuya / Ikkun) Mei is shocked beyond belief.

Mei takes some time to process this new information, thinking to herself that she never noticed it. Sighing, Tokieda mutters, "...Nevertheless, who knows what'll become of us in the future." Kanon gets agitated by that and scolds, "What's with you, saying something like that!!". Mei panics and wonders what to do about their fierce argument.

Going up to Mei, Iori takes the notebook from her hand and asks if it's a shopping list. Mei says that it is. Iori then says that Mei, Asahina and himself will go out to do grocery shopping, while Tokieda and Kanon can stay to talk out their issues. Iori says, "Let's go.", and Mei and Asahina follow along.

On the way, Mei wonders to herself why Iori seems to be used to dealing with such situations.

At the grocery store, Iori and Asahina are attracting a lot of attention from the women. (Asahina is asking, where's the turkey? Iori says, don't know. LOL) Mei is thinking to herself that the two of them are very eye-catching indeed.

Mei thinks that she feels a little dizzy, as she has been thinking about the relationship between Iori, Kanon and Tokieda. (Relationship chart: Iori has had an unrequited love for Kanon for 10 years. Kanon is Iori's step-sibling. Iori and Tokieda are work partners, while Tokieda and Kanon are dating.)

While Mei tries to conclude something in her thoughts, Asahina remarks, "Say, Iori-sensei, did you already know since long ago that the two of them were dating?"

Iori replies, yes. He has been strung along by Kanon all this time while she kept seeking Tokieda's affections. (Elementary school - Kanon hugging Tokieda while saying, I like Ikkun the most <3. Middle school - Kanon giving Tokieda a bento. College - Kanon holding Tokieda's arm, saying, we've started dating <3)

Iori says that he's already seen so much of Kanon and Tokieda fighting like that that he's already numb to it. Asahina then remarks, "They're the kind of couple who grow closer the more they fight, eh?". Iori replies, "... That seems to be the case."

Mei looks on sadly at Iori upon hearing the things he's said. Asahina then calls out to Mei, going, "Mei-chan, Mei-chan!" He whispers in her ear, "Isn't this your chance?!"

Mei goes, "Eh?", and Asahina tells her, "Kanon-san already has a boyfriend, doesn't she? Since that's the case, you don't need to support Iori-sensei's love anymore, right?". Mei says a little hesitatingly that he's right.

Asahina continues, "Also, Mei-chan, Iori-sensei treats you especially well, you know." Mei goes, "Eh?" again, and Asahina says, "Eh? You haven't noticed?"

Asahina then suddenly puts an arm around Mei lovingly, saying, "Wah-- you're so warm <3". Mei is surprised, asking Asahina if he's fine and if he's feeling cold.

All of a sudden, Asahina and Mei are pushed apart by a packet - it's Iori who has come between them. He hands Asahina a packet of heat packs, telling him to buy it. Iori then turns away from them, seemingly in a foul mood. Asahina then whispers to Mei again, saying, "See?"

Mei is in disbelief. She wonders with a blush if Iori was being jealous. While she stands aside blushing her head off, Asahina gazes at her and mutters to himself, "...Hurry up and get rejected, then come to me."

Later, they return home and Mei sees Kanon cheerfully decorating a Christmas tree. Mei wonders aloud where Tokieda has gone, and Kanon answers that he's left. Kanon comments that Tokieda seems to love to drown himself in work.

Kanon then notices something and asks Iori, "Anyway, what's happened? You're actually helping Mei-chan to carry the groceries. How caring <3"

Mei starts to say, "Thank you very...", but Iori cuts in and remarks, "Nah. It's because Mei is clumsy. Daydreaming and tripping over all the time."

Asahina then chips in, saying, "You're saying things like that again, but we know that Iori-sensei treats Mei-chan particularly well." Kanon doesn't seem pleased, while Mei goes, "So-Sora-kun, stop it!!" (and Iori saying that they are being noisy).

Smiling darkly to herself for a second, Kanon then says with a sparkling smile, "Iori, I was thinking, why don't I stay in this home, too? <3"

Mei is stunned at the suggestion. Iori is also surprised, asking Kanon what she's saying. Kanon then says, "It's fine, right? It feels like it'll be fun. There're empty rooms here, anyway."

Iori begins to say that the space isn't the issue, but Kanon has sauntered off to the shelves and picks up a picture book, going, "Wah-- come and look at this! This book gives me such nostalgia!"

Iori then gets annoyed. Mei wonders why Kanon is suddenly saying such things. Kanon starts reminiscing, "... Last time, you always read this book to me."

"Last time, when my father didn't come home for Christmas, I would cry alone at home. Iori would then come to accompany me and read stories to me. Iori has always been so caring."

Mei then thinks to herself that this is a memory that Iori and Kanon share, which she is not a part of - she thinks that the two of them truly grew up together.

Kanon asks Mei, "Mei-chan, is your father also absent?", to which Mei says yes. Kanon then looks down, saying, "It seems like we share similar circumstances. Perhaps this is the reason Iori can't leave us alone." Mei looks disappointed.

Iori then tells Kanon not to bring up the past anymore, while Kanon goes, "Eh, why?". On the side, Asahina remarks, "Uwah, clearly asserting her dominance, huh."

Mei sadly thinks to herself, "I thought I was special. Now I feel terrible for being so mistaken... It's because I'm similar to Kanon-san, that's why Iori-sensei cares for me so much..."

Later, they are all having dinner together and Kanon says for everyone to eat more. Asahina comments that Kanon is full of energy, and Kanon replies that it's because she's feeling merry.

Iori's phone rings and he excuses himself to take the call. Asahina also gets up, saying that he needs to use the washroom. Mei is then left at the table along with Kanon, and she thinks to herself that it feels awkward.

Kanon starts speaking, saying, "You know, I became Iori's double because of Ikkun's request. I wanted him to love me, so I did all I could to gain his affections, but I got nothing in return."

"Dad left because of a woman, Ikkun because of work. Everyone prioritizes other things over me."

"...Only Iori, only Iori is different. He's willing to take care of me."

"Therefore, Mei-chan, I'm begging you, don't take Iori away from me."

Mei wonders in her head what Kanon means, and asks, "...Kanon-san, did you already know all along about Iori-sensei's feelings for you?" (We see that Iori is in earshot of what Mei is saying.)

Kanon looks a little out of it (she is probably drunk), going, "Eh...". Mei continues, saying, "You're already dating Tokieda-san, yet you want Iori-sensei to continue liking you..."

Tearing up, Mei says, "Have you ever considered how Iori-sensei would feel...?" We see that Iori seems stunned, while Kanon goes, "Mei-chan...", and then she collapses on the table, shocking Mei.

Asahina returns while Mei is panicking over Kanon. He asks if Kanon has fallen asleep from being drunk, and says that he will carry her to the guest room. Mei says that she will follow, but Asahina tells her that it's fine - that she can stay and rest a little. Mei looks on and thanks Asahina. Meanwhile, we see Iori brooding a little over what has just happened.

Later, Mei is at the balcony looking out into the distance. Iori comes out to the balcony as well, commenting to Mei that she'd catch a cold (since it's cold outside). Mei is surprised to see Iori.

Mei then gets covered with a jacket. Iori says to her, "It's true. I might be paying extra attention to you."

"However, I've never thought that you were similar to Kanon."

Mei tears up and replies, ".....Okay."

Mei asks, "Iori-sensei, did you already know all along about what Kanon-san thought of you?"

Iori answers with a sad smile, "...Yes."

Mei looks at Iori indignantly, saying, "Sensei, you said it before. You said, 'As long as she keeps smiling, that's good enough.' What about yourself, Iori-sensei?"

Her eyes brimming with tears, Mei says, "You're always looking so glum, you don't seem happy at all..."

Mei recalls Asahina's words about mistletoe: 'Two people who kiss under the mistletoe will be happy forever.', and grabs Iori's face to give him a kiss (under the mistletoe).

Breaking the kiss, Mei says to a surprised Iori, "... I also want the person I love to be able to smile."

#ouchi ni kaerou #love #manga #romance #romance manga #shojo #shojo manga #shojo romance #shoujo #manga translation #spoilers

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atths--twice · 2 years

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Stories of Love on Christmas

While tending to a patient on Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Scully are treated to the story about how they met, prompting Dr. Mulder to share how HE met and fell in love with his wife...

December 25, 2010

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on Your troubles will be out of sight…”

“I met my wife on Christmas in 1954, did I ever tell you that, Dr. Mulder?” Henry Shaw asked, the music playing softly from his cell phone, looking down at his wife as she slept, the sedative she had been given after her emergency heart surgery allowing her to rest.

“No, I don’t think you have,” Doctor Fox Mulder replied with a smile as he sat in a chair watching him.

“Dr. Scully has heard this story, I’m fairly sure,” Henry said, looking over at her as she typed on the portable computer.

“I don’t think so,” Doctor Dana Scully said with a smile, glancing up before returning to her work. “But even if I had, I’d love to hear it again, especially as it is now officially Christmas.” She smiled again as Henry glanced at the clock and nodded, looking back down at his wife.

“She was so beautiful. I mean she is so beautiful, but that night…” He stroked her cheek with his arthritic fingers, the knuckles knobby. “I was nineteen and full of myself, believing I had it all figured out. I was at a Christmas party, standing back and staring at all the pretty girls in their dresses. A couple girls I’d known all my life were whispering in a corner and I thought I’d go and ask one of them to dance when Esther walked in right in front of me.” He smiled as he shook his head, now touching her hair, chuckling under his breath.

“She was eighteen, from the next town over, and had been invited to the party by a few girls. They were all happy to see her and there I stood, staring, as though my shoes had been nailed to the floor.” Dr. Mulder laughed and Henry chuckled softly.

“Her hair was a rich brown back then, long and set perfectly. Her dress, shoes, lipstick, all of it was red and it suited her to a T. No one I’ve seen, then or since, wears red the way she does. It’s as if the color was made for her alone.”

Dana smiled as she listened, glancing occasionally at him as she added her notes to Esther’s chart. She could picture the scene, his descriptions of the night so clear.

“She caught my eye and smiled and ohh,” he continued with a smile. “Like I said, I felt so sure of myself, so… much more than I was and with just a smile, she nearly took me out at the knees. I hadn’t even spoken to her, nor even knew her name, and I wanted to give her the world.”

“Funny how women can do that to us, huh?” Dr. Mulder asked and Dana turned her head to look at him, her eyebrows raised. “Oh, Dr. Scully, you can look at me as though I’ve shocked you, but you know I’m right.”

“Do I?” she asked and he nodded, looking back at Henry.

“So what happened?” he asked, a smile twitching at his mouth as she turned her head, rolling her eyes with a smile.

“Well,” Henry laughed softly. “I unstuck my shoes from the floor and walked toward her, but Robert Conner got there first.”

“Damn Robert,” Dr. Mulder mumbled and they all laughed.

“Yeah, he asked her to dance and I was furious that she agreed, although I had absolutely no right to be. I watched her dancing and laughing and I was determined to be the next one she danced with that night. The only one if I had my way.”

“Damn straight,” Dr. Mulder said and Dana shook her head with a chuckle.

“As soon as the dance ended, I was there, asking for the next. She smiled and took my hand, letting me lead her away, but she asked for a drink and I was more than happy to oblige.” He stroked Esther’s cheek again and sighed. “We never danced that night, but spent it talking and laughing. God, I fell in love with her so easily, so quickly. She was everything to me.”

“That’s so beautiful,” Dana said, scrunching her chin and sighing.

“Yeah. When she started feeling sick… I was terrified and she…” He shook his head. “She told me we’d had fifty five years together. We have five children, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild so far. We’ve been very blessed with health, time and love. So if she was to leave this earth, she would be content, knowing how wonderful her life had been.”

“Wow,” Dana said, wiping at her eyes. “That’s a very rational way to see life.”

“Oh, she always was, but I was having none of it,” Henry responded, shaking his head again. “We fought over her seeking treatment. She rarely went to the doctor, even with the children. I always took them to appointments, vaccinations, and even to the emergency room when our middle child broke his arm. She waited outside, pacing, but unable to come inside. Only time she was okay being in the hospital was to have our children.”

“I never knew she had worries about doctors and hospitals,” Dr. Mulder said and Dana looked at him, nodding in agreement.

“Oh… I’m going to really build your ego up here, Dr. Mulder, but it was you who changed her mind.” Henry smiled at him and Dr. Mulder frowned in confusion. “When we were referred to you, she stubbornly refused to go, but after we met you, she changed her mind about doctors.”

“Ahh, he laid on that charm he’s relatively famous for,” Dana said, crossing her arms and fighting back a grin. He gave her a look and shook his head.

“No, Dr. Scully,” Henry said with a chuckle. “It was that he was kind, attentive, explained what was happening, and the best course of treatment. He was upfront and honest with her. His explanation was rational. And as you said, she was rational with her own thinking, and so she took solace in his approach. When we left your office, she stated repeatedly how much she liked you. And then, well…” He looked at Dana and his smile grew. “We met you, Dr. Scully, and she knew she was in good hands and she wouldn’t be leaving this earth just yet. Not leaving me just yet.” He looked back at Esther and he sighed.

“She’s a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure,” Dana said and Henry smiled, his eyes still on Esther.

“She is. It’s what I’ve loved most about her.”

“Reminds me of my wife,” Dr. Mulder said and they both looked at him as he smiled and nodded.

“I didn’t know you were married. Or maybe I hadn’t noticed a ring,” Henry said quietly. “I’m sure Esther knew, being the sharp woman she is.”

“I’m sure she had.”

“How long have you been married?”

“Seven years now,” he said, smiling as he sat forward, looking down at the gold ring on his left hand. “I didn’t meet her at Christmas, but…”

“How did you meet?” Henry asked and Dr. Mulder looked up at him.

“Somewhat similar to you, our paths crossed and everything changed. For me anyway, at first.”

“Where did you meet her?”

“It was actually here at the hospital,” he said, smiling as he saw something neither of them could. “I was standing in the hall reading a chart when she walked in front of me. I didn’t know who she was, but she drew my attention immediately. So much so that I couldn’t stop staring at her, mesmerized by her walk.”

“The swing of her hips?” Dana teased and he laughed softly.

“No, although I would be lying if I said I didn’t notice that about her,” he said with a smile. “But it was more than that. It was the confidence in her walk, the way she held herself… like I said, I couldn’t stop staring at her as she continued down the hall.”

“Did you follow her?” Henry asked with a smile and he nodded.

“Course I did,” he said, crossing his arms and grinning. “I had to know who she was, this woman who had stolen my heart without ever seeing her face.”

“Oh please,” Dana said, shaking her head. “You’re saying you fell in love with a woman without ever seeing her face? Without knowing anything about her?”

“I did.”

“What if she was horrible? Or not physically appealing?”

“I liked the back of her, I was certain I would like the front,” he stated dryly and Henry laughed with a nod.

“And once you saw her?”

“Oh…” He covered his heart and shook his head. “The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life, she stole my breath away. But it wasn't physical at first, as much as it was her confidence. As I followed her, she was stopped by a colleague whom I didn’t care for much. He was misogynistic, rude, and I knew he had cheated on his wife more than once. I watched him staring at her as she looked over a chart he had handed her and he made me feel uncomfortable. I can imagine how uncomfortable she felt. I watched the smile on his face and I was suddenly walking toward them, hoping to… I don’t know what, when she looked up and saw his expression. She stepped back and handed him the chart, telling him he needed to speak to someone else, as her valuable expertise was required elsewhere. She walked away leaving him open-mouthed and I… I was in love with her.”

“Sounds like an ass of a man and a devil of a woman,” Henry said and Dr. Mulder grinned.

“Oh, you have no idea,” he said with a laugh.

“And you fell for her and still hadn’t seen her face?” Dana asked and Dr. Mulder nodded.

“Indeed I had. The back of her was enough to win me over.”

“Hmm,” she hummed and smiled as she shook her head.

“My Esther,” Henry said, smiling at them and then looking down at her as she slept. “After that Christmas party, I asked her to a New Years party. I kissed her as the year became new and we were married on March 5th 1955.”

“Two and half months?” Dana asked and he nodded. “That’s fast.”

“Hmm. It is, but God, it felt slow at the time,” he said, sighing as he stroked Esther’s cheek again. “She wanted to be married in a poofy, beautiful dress, so that had to be made. Also, her sister had just had a baby and we needed to wait until she was feeling well enough to be in our wedding party.”

“That’s incredibly sweet,” Dana whispered, letting out a deep breath.

“How about you, Dr. Mulder? How soon did you seek out your wife, telling her how you felt?”

“Oh… it was far longer than I would have liked, as she intimidated me.”

“What?” Dana asked, laughing softly. “You were intimidated by her?”

“Oh yes…” he said, nodding vigorously. “Intimidated, in awe… whichever sounds better. She was beautiful, intelligent, caring, and empathetic. I mean, how is a man supposed to approach a woman as wonderful as that?”

“So what did you do?” Henry asked.

“Hmm…” Dr. Mulder hummed and smiled. “There was a weekend conference out of town that we both had to attend. The first night I saw her sitting at the bar alone, drinking a glass of wine, and I knew it was my moment. I let out a breath, walked over, and sat down on the stool beside her. My heart was pounding and my hands were a bit sweaty as I turned toward her. Without a word, she slid a glass of whiskey to me, smiling slowly as though she had been waiting for me to finally show up.”

“Devil of a woman,” Henry whispered with a smile.

“Without question,” Dr. Mulder agreed, grinning happily. “Six months later, I proposed and six months after that we were married.”

“You found your other half,” Henry said, looking back at Esther. “Just like I found mine.” He shook his head and kissed Esther’s forehead. “She’s the one person I want to see every day. The one I want to tell everything to, the one that makes me happy just sitting and doing nothing.” He kissed her again and looked at the two of them with a smile. “Thank you, Doctors, for everything you’ve done for us. I will never be able to properly express my thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Dr. Mulder said, standing up and tugging at his lab coat, placing his hands inside his pockets. He smiled at Henry and glanced at Dana. “Perhaps we should let Henry get some rest, Dr. Scully.”

“Yes, I believe that would be a good idea. That couch there pulls out to give you a slightly larger bed. The nurses can bring you blankets if you need them, but I have a feeling that chair you’re in may be your bed for the night.” She smiled and he nodded, taking Esther’s hand and holding it gently.

“Thank you both again. Merry Christmas to each of you.”

“And to you. We’ll each be checking up on her after the holiday, unless there is an emergency that Dr. Bradley can’t handle. But for now, she’s doing wonderfully, she just needs to rest.” Dana smiled and he nodded. “Goodnight, Mr. Shaw.”

They walked out of the ICU room, Dr. Mulder nodding at her as he went to the left, leaving the ICU wing. She stopped at the nurses station and spoke to them about Esther, asking for some blankets and a pillow for Henry.

At her office, she hung up her lab coat and sat down at her desk. Looking over her notes, she added a bit more for Dr. Bradley when he would be in to check on Esther later that morning. Yawning, she glanced at the clock and sighed out a hum. It was already late and sleep was not yet on the horizon.

Finishing her notes, she stood up and stretched. Taking her purse from the bottom desk drawer, she put it over her head and across her chest with a smile. Reaching for her scarf, she had begun putting it around her neck as a knock sounded on her office door.

Smiling, she glanced over as the door opened and the man she had just been thinking of walked into the room. He grinned as he took her coat from the coat rack and helped her put it on, folding down the collar and arranging her scarf.

“Fell in love with the back of me, did you, Dr. Mulder?” she asked teasingly and he looked up with laughter in his eyes.

“Indeed I did, Dr. Scully,” he said, reaching into her inside coat pocket to take out the small round ring holder in which she kept her rings. He unlocked it, removed the gold diamond ring and wedding band, and slid them onto her finger, kissing her as he did.

“Intimidated by me?” she whispered and he hummed.

“You knew that already, my love,” he whispered, kissing her once more, closing the ring holder and putting it back into her coat pocket.

“Intimidated?” she asked again, raising her eyebrows and he scoffed, shaking his head as he buttoned up her coat.

“Have you seen you? How amazing you are?” He smiled and she licked her lips, biting the bottom one. “How incredibly sexy?”

“Stop. Or… keep going, whatever you wish,” she said, looping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply, his arms around her waist.

“We need to get home. It’s starting to snow and we have plans.”

“Hmm. We should get going then.” But she made no effort to do so, staring at him with a smile as they began to sway slowly.

“Hmm… honey, we have to go,” he said, shaking his head and glancing up at the clock. “Dana…”

“Oh… Dana… it’s serious now,” she teased, and he laughed softly. She pushed up on tiptoes and kissed him quickly, nodding with a smile.

He stepped back and she hooked her arm through his. Turning off the lights, she locked the door and they left the hospital.

_____________

“Hey. Mom,” Dana said, gently squeezing her mother’s shoulder, and smiling at her as she woke up.

“Oh, honey, you’re home.” She sat up with a tired smile, blinking and stretching as she adjusted her blue fleece snowflake robe. “Fox, hello.”

“Maggie,” he said, smiling at her as he took off his coat. “How were they?”

They all looked at the sleeping little girl on the couch next to Maggie, her dark auburn curls covering her pillow. She held her favorite pink one eyed dog in her arms, breathing deeply and covered with her Cinderella toddler bed comforter.

“Well,” Maggie said, smiling as she gently stroked the wayward curls. “This one wanted to wait up for Santa. She made it until about 8:30 before she passed out.”

They all laughed softly as Maggie continued stroking her hair.

“Poppy went down as usual at 7:30, happy as can be. They both had a bath after dinner and watched Frosty, Daisy coming up with the plan to wait up with the hope of seeing Santa as they both twirled around and giggled. I put Poppy down and came back to Daisy making up her bed here on the couch. I couldn’t discourage her, knowing she would fall asleep quickly, so I read her Christmas stories until she did.” She looked up at Dana and smiled. “She’s so much like you were at this age.”

“Hmm,” Dana hummed with a smile, laying her coat on the back of the couch, her scarf on top, and her purse on the floor.

“How’s your patient?” Maggie asked, standing up and running her fingers through her own hair.

“She’s doing well, thankfully,” Fox said, walking over to Daisy, brushing her hair back and kissing her temple.

“She’ll be feeling better soon, after she recovers and starts her physical therapy,” Dana said, coming over to hug her mother. “Thanks for watching the girls, Mom. You should get to bed. You know they’ll be up early.”

“You’re welcome, hon,” Maggie said, hugging her back. “Glad your patient is okay. Goodnight.” She pulled back and patted her cheek. “Goodnight, Fox.”

“Goodnight, Maggie,” he said, coming over to hug her and kiss her cheek. “Thank you for being here.”

“Of course, love. Goodnight.”

She walked upstairs, closing the door to the guest room softly as the fire crackled. Fox grinned at Dana, nodding as he left the room.

She walked over to Daisy and looked down at her, smiling at her pink cheeked girl sleeping with her mouth slightly open. Four years old and growing up so quickly. She bent down and kissed her cheek, uncovering her a little, the room warm enough without the blanket.

“So, where should we start?” Fox asked quietly. She turned around to see he had changed into his Christmas pajamas and was pushing out a large box with smaller boxes stacked on top. Smiling at her, she smiled back and stood up.

“The kitchen,” she answered and he nodded, moving the smaller boxes to the side to open the large box containing the toy kitchen, as she went upstairs to change into her own Christmas pajamas.

Together, in front of the fire, their girl sleeping on the couch, they opened and put together the gifts that were to be from Santa. They ate the carrots and cookies Daisy and Poppy had set out for the reindeers and Santa, sharing the glass of milk.

Laughing quietly, she put the sticker labels onto the kitchen with the skilled hands of a surgeon, as he opened the other boxes, taking out the cradle, stroller, and high chair for Poppy. He placed the padding inside the cradle and added the new baby doll. A stuffed bunny was placed in the high chair, a plate, fork, and spoon on the tray.

An art easel with a large roll of paper on one side and a chalkboard on the other was taken out next, the cups filled with chalk and markers. A vanity with a small seat was set beside the easel, pretend makeup and styling toys laid carefully upon it and in the small drawer.

“They’re going to love all of these gifts,” Dana said, looking at the makeup, and smiling, knowing Daisy would be giving them all makeovers in the days to come.

“They will,” he agreed with a smile. “Do you think we spoil them?”

“Pssh,” she said, waving her hand dismissively and looking over at Daisy. “They’re little for such a short time, truly they are. Why shouldn’t we spoil them from time to time? They’re good girls, full of love and happiness. They deserve to be rewarded for it.”

“Good, then we believe the same way,” he said, filling their stockings with bottles of bubbles, fruit snacks, hair bows, watercolor paints, and candy canes. She smiled at him as they hung the stockings back on the mantel.

“I love you,” she said and he smiled.

“I love you too,” he said, stealing a kiss before turning around and looking at Daisy. “Should we bring her to her bed or leave her there?”

“Hmm,” she said, walking over and looking down at her. “Part of me says to let her stay here, wanting her to have that memory of sleeping on the couch and waiting for Santa, but then I don’t want her to wake up scared and disoriented. I also don’t want to miss seeing her face when she sees all of this for the first time.” Waving a hand at the toys around the tree, she looked at him and he nodded.

“I’ll take her up then,” he said, and she smiled, uncovering her and picking up the pillow, blanket, and dog as he lifted Daisy.

“Mmm,” she whined, her head on his shoulder, limbs heavy with sleep.

Following him up the stairs, they put her to bed without her waking. She turned onto her side facing away from them, her dog in her arms. He turned on the nightlight as Dana covered her and kissed her gently. Walking out, he closed the door quietly, looking at her and motioning toward the stairs.

“The fire needs to be put out and the room cleaned.”

“Yup. Let’s get it done, I’m exhausted.”

Back downstairs they went, checking to be sure everything was perfect for the morning. The empty plates of cookies and carrots were placed back beside the fireplace, the empty glass beside it. All the trash and evidence of boxes were placed away from the girl's sight. Coffee was programmed to brew and the fire extinguished, before they went back up the stairs, closing the baby gate at the top.

Quietly opening Poppy’s door, they looked in on her sleeping in her crib. In her green fleece footie pajamas with happy smiling reindeers, her butt up in the air as she slept on her stomach, she seemed more baby than a toddler of two. Dana smiled as they closed the door and walked down the hall to their bedroom.

Teeth brushed and standing by the bed, she stopped him, staring up at him with a smile.

“I’m so glad you finally decided to find me not so intimidating,” she teased and he laughed.

“Well, I don’t know if I ever truly will, but…” he said, cradling her face and stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. “I will always be happy I took that chance.”

“All we would have missed… our life, those two girls…”

“A travesty, truly. I don’t even want to think about it.”

“Hmm…” she hummed with a smile. “Do you want to have another baby?” His eyes widened in surprise as he pulled back, his hands on her shoulders.

“I… I suppose the real question would be, do you want to have another baby? Is that something you would want to do?”

She smiled slowly, watching his face. The many emotions he was feeling as he began to understand her smile caused her to want to laugh hysterically.

“Are… what… what are you saying? Are you pregnant?” he asked, staring into her eyes. She smiled and nodded and he exhaled an incredulous laugh. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. I had a blood test done yesterday evening as I was experiencing all the same signs as I had with the last two pregnancies.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, his hand going to her stomach and she smiled softly, covering his hand with her own.

“I wanted to be sure first, to know it for certain.”

“Oh, honey,” he whispered, his forehead pressing to hers as they stood with their hands on her stomach. “Another baby…”

“Merry Christmas,” she whispered and he shook his head slightly as he laughed.

Pulling back, he kissed her forehead, cheeks, nose and lips, before dropping to his knees and lifting her shirt to kiss her stomach. She ran her fingers through his hair, closing her eyes and smiling as he whispered words of love against her skin.

Rising, he kissed her again, pulling back and smiling happily.

“God, I love you so much. So very much.”

“I love you too.”

The hour extremely late, they lay down, his head resting on her bare stomach, fingers running softly across the slight bump. She closed her eyes, smiling as she ran her fingers across his back, into his hair, and back again.

“Iris?” he asked and she opened her eyes.

“Hmm?”

“Iris, if it’s a girl? Sticking to our flower theme of names?”

“Hmm,” she hummed again. “What about Holly? Seeing as we learned about her at Christmas?”

“Oh, yes… I like that,” he said, kissing her stomach.

“And if it happens to be a boy?” she mumbled, sleep calling to her.

“Cosmos,” he answered quickly and she laughed softly, scratching gently at his scalp.

“Let’s discuss it later. Our two other flowers will be up far too soon.” She yawned and he bade her stomach a quiet goodnight with one last soft kiss, readjusting her shirt as he began to move.

Lying beside her, he pulled her close and she wrapped an arm around his waist as he sighed deeply.

“You surprise me with news of another baby and you wonder if I’ll ever stop being intimidated by you,” he whispered and she hummed with a smile. “The answer to that question is never. I will always be in awe of you, my love. Always.”

“And I will be in awe of you… always.”

She took a deep breath, snuggling closer to him. The warmth of his body, his scent, and sharing the news of the life growing inside of her, drew her to a peaceful slumber.

For a few precious hours at least, until the wonder of Christmas would be rousing them all, excitement and happiness filling the air.

#25 Days of Ficmas #The X-Files #XF Fanfic #Alternate Universe #Doctors #Hospitals #Love Stories #Christmas #Christmas Fluff #Happiness #Love #Family #Family Feels #Domestic Fluff #Christmas Surprises #Preparing for Christmas Morning

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potionsprefect · 3 years

Text

Just Another Day

Pairings: Ethan Ramsey x Victoria Clarke

Word count: 1.6k

Summary: It’s just another day he says. Little did she know...

Rating: General Audiences

Category: fluff

Victoria was watching Ethan as he pulled that face. That face of concentration and one of ‘I’m not paying attention to what you’re saying because I’m focused on this.’

“What day is it today?” Victoria asked.

Ethan looked up from notes. “What do you mean?”

“What day is it today?”

“I know what you said Rookie, I was asking what you meant. What’s so special about today?”

“It’s Valentines Day! You know what that means.” Victoria sighed.

“I’ll wait for you to tell me.” Ethan said.

“It’s a day when lots of romantic things happen. When couples buy each other cards and gifts to show how much they love one another.”

“I don’t need a specific day to do that do I?” Ethan said.

“No but... today’s a special day. The one day you definitely should.” Victoria said in a small voice.

Ethan got up from his desk and strode over to Victoria, he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. He stroked her hair before giving her a kiss on her forehead. “Valentine’s Day is a pointless day. I don’t need a specific day to show you how much I love you. I do that everyday.”

“I just... thought you’d want to do something special today.” Victoria sighed against his chest.

“I always want to do special things with you. Valentine’s Day doesn’t change that. It’s just another day.” Ethan cupped her face in her hands, rubbing the dark circles under her eyes with his thumbs.

“Okay fine. What time do you get off?” Victoria said.

“5pm. Shall I meet you in here?” Ethan said.

“Sounds good.” Victoria said, leaving Ethan’s arms and heading out the door.

Ethan made sure she was out of sight before he sat back down at his desk and opened one of the drawers. He pulled out a small box and flipped it open.

“Just you wait Vic. Just you wait.” Ethan chuckled to himself.

— — — — —

Victoria was filling out a patients chart when out the corner of her eye, she saw Sienna walking towards her.

“Hey Vic. Got any plans for Valentine’s Day?”

“I thought I did.” Victoria sighed putting her pen down.

“What’s Ethan done wrong?” Sienna said sitting down next to her.

“I thought we were going to do something special today. You know because it’s Valentine’s Day. But he just brushed it off. Says it’s just another day.” Victoria said.

“Well he’s right in a way. And you know Ethan. He doesn’t believe in specific holidays.” Sienna shrugged.

“You used to be so excited for Valentine’s Day.” Victoria said looking at Sienna confused.

“Things change. People leave and you never see them again.” Sienna said, small tears in her eyes.

Victoria pulled her into a tight hug as Sienna laid her head on her shoulder wiping a few tears.

“I’m sorry Sienna. I should’ve known how difficult today is for you. But Danny wouldn’t want you to be sad.” Victoria rubbed her back.

“I’m silly for crying. We weren’t even in a proper relationship.” Sienna laughed a little wiping her eyes.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t feel sad. You cared for him a lot and vice versa. It’s okay to be sad.” Victoria smiled.

“I know but all I seem to think about is him around this time of year. And Christmas. I just hate the fact that I didn’t act on my feelings sooner.” Sienna sighed, small tears rolling down her cheeks.

“You can’t dwell on the what ifs. He wouldn’t want you to do that. All you can do is remember the times you had with him.” Victoria said.

“I know. It just didn’t have to be like this.”

“I know it didn’t. I’m sorry Sienna.” Victoria sighed.

Sienna looked up suddenly wiping her eyes. “What on earth are you apologising for? You’ve got nothing to apologise for!”

“Sometimes I feel guilty for being alive. It was my fault Senator Ed was brought here in the first place.”

“No! You couldn’t have predicted what happened! And what happened would’ve happened at Mass Kenmore anyway. It would’ve been Aurora trapped in that room. Remember, we can’t dwell on the what ifs” Sienna smiled, squeezing Victoria.

“Hey that’s my line.” Victoria laughed.

“It’s a very good line. Don’t be too disheartened about Ethan. I’m sure he has something up his sleeve tonight.” Sienna smiled.

“Thanks Sienna.” Victoria replied, grabbing her chart and heading off down the hallway.

Sienna made sure she was out of earshot before she called out “I know you’re there Ethan, you can’t fool me” chuckling.

Ethan stepped out from behind the corner. “Is she ok?”

“Yeah she will be. Are you still going ahead with your plan tonight?”

“Yes. Make sure she finishes on time. Has her dress arrived?” Ethan asked.

“Yes.” Sienna took the package out of her bag and handed it to Ethan. “Are you going to take it back to your apartment?”

“That’s the plan. Thank you for helping me choose it by the way.”

“No problem. She’ll love it. And good luck. Although you don’t need me to tell you that.” Sienna smiled.

“Thank you Sienna.” Ethan smiled back.

— — — — —

“Whose signed my patients off?” Victoria asked to the doctors around her.

“Direct your frustration at Sienna.” Jackie waved a hand.

“But why? I wasn’t able to leave at 5. Now I suddenly can.”

“Sienna’s a magician when she wants to be.” Jackie chuckled.

“Do you know guys something?” Victoria narrowed her eyes.

“Not enough. But you trust Sienna enough to know that she has nothing but good intentions.” Aurora smiled.

“And it looks like your carriage awaits.” Elijah gestured behind her.

Victoria turned around and saw Ethan dressed in casual attire, his hands behind her back.

“I know I said we’d meet in the office but I guess I’m rather impatient.” Ethan chuckled.

Victoria’s smile grew wider as she approached Ethan. “You’ve become more soft in your age.”

“This is for you.” Ethan held out a single Rose before taking her hand and walking her to his car.

“Where are we going?”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.” Ethan chuckled as he settled into his car.

Ethan drove them back to his apartment and covered her eyes with his hands. He slowly opened the door to his apartment and guided her gently into the room.

“Are you ready?”

“Always.”

Ethan took his hands away and Victoria gasped.

On the floor was a dozen red rose petals, a box of roses sat on the counter and hanging off the chair was a glittery purple dress.

“Did you do all this?” Victoria looked at Ethan.

“Yes. I know I said Valentine’s Day was just another day but I’ve had this planned for a while.” Ethan kissed her forehead.

“Whatever did I do to deserve you.” Victoria hugged him.

“You didn’t need to do anything Victoria. Simply your existence was enough.” Ethan smiled.

“I guess I should go put the dress on.”

“You should. But don’t blame me if it ends up on the floor.”

“I’ll take that as a success then.” Victoria winked as she picked the dress up and headed into his bedroom to change.

Several minutes later, Victoria reappeared smoothing the dress. “What do you think?”

Ethan momentarily forgot what breathing was for a second. The dress hugged her in all the right places, her boobs were pushed up and in.

She looked like a goddess and Ethan felt himself growing hard.

“Speechless Ethan?” Victoria laughed a little.

“You look stunning.” Ethan breathed.

“You did well. Did you really choose this all by yourself?”

“I may have had help from Sienna.” Ethan said.

“Well you both have very good taste. I love it.” Victoria smiled. “So what’s on the menu tonight?”

“A classic Ramsey dish.”

“Not the chicken.” Victoria laughed.

“You may laugh Rookie but I know you love it.” Ethan laughed.

It didn’t take long for the chicken to be cooked and the couple sat at the kitchen table, laughing and drinking the night away.

“Thank you for tonight. I’m sorry if I was short with you in the office earlier.” Victoria said.

“You don’t need to apologise. I’m sorry for not taking you seriously enough about today. I know it means a lot to you.”

“It’s nothing Ethan. Really it’s ok.” Victoria smiled, taking his hand.

“That’s good because there’s something I need to do.”

“What is it?”

Ethan’s hand brushed against his trouser pocket momentarily before he reached into it and pulled out a small box. He moved out of his chair and got down on one knee.

“Victoria Diana Clarke I have been in love with you for so many years and I want to continue loving you for so many more to come. Will you marry me?” Ethan smiled flipping the box open.

There were tears streaming down Victoria’s face. She smiled happily. “Yes! Of course yes!” Victoria smiled.

Ethan grinned as he slid the ring onto Victoria’s finger then pulled her up out of her seat and kissed her deeply.

“Thank god you said yes.” Ethan murmured against her lips.

“Did you think I was going to say no?” Victoria chuckled.

“No! I just... was nervous to propose. All men feel like that.”

“I never thought Ethan Ramsey got nervous.”

“Well a certain resident has brought out sides to me I never thought existed.” Ethan chuckled pulling her against his chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too. And now I think it’s time I show you what the future Mrs Ramsey can do.” Victoria grinned.

“Allow me to speed up the process.” Ethan grinned as he picked Victoria up, threw her over his shoulder and carried her to their bedroom before slamming the door shut.

— — — — —

I have so many different proposal fics for Ethan and MC 😂

Happy Valentine’s Day (or Eve, depending on where you are, it’s not quite midnight here in the UK yet 😂)! ❤️

Hope you enjoy this! Let me know if you would like to be tagged in future fics

Tag list: @ohchoices @openheartfan @queencarb @genevievemd @iemcpbchoices @choicesaddict5 @schnitzelbutterfingers @alina-yol-ramsey @stygianflood @malakemads-blog @gryffindordaughterofathena @magicalshepherdtreeprofessor

#open heart #ethan ramsey #ethan ramsey x mc #play choices #pixelberry #fanfic #fluff #valentine’s day #Valentine’s day fic

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burnedbyshoto · 4 years

Text

Amelioration

pairing: todoroki shouto x reader

warnings: cursing, soulmate!au

word count: 5,792

a/n: here is the final part to the happiness series!!!! does reader forgive shouto??? does shouto marry momo??? who knows!!!

Happiness (part one) ~ Bravado (part two)

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

amelioration: (n) the act of making something better; improving

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

For the first time since that night seven months ago you feel truly and completely happy.

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

Two Months Later

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

It took time, but you believed after months of being upset, you were happy.

The periods of you crying over a boy, who didn’t want you, had stopped two months ago. Two months of rediscovering who you were. Two months of figuring out what kind of person you were outside of this soulmate ordeal.

Why did romance always have to overpower everything?

Why did everyone need someone else to love them when they could love themselves?

Why the hell couldn’t you love yourself despite believing no one else could?

So you had thrown yourself into work. You decided to invest yourself into what you did best as you figured out how to make yourself happy. You hadn’t spoken to anyone in your old class since Kirishima’s birthday celebration; you weren’t embarrassed by your actions, but you didn’t want to discuss anything with them.

Your phone number was changed, and you had moved out of Kaminari’s place within twenty hours. You hadn’t opened any sort of social media in weeks because you had started to get DM’s from your friends— if they even wanted to consider you their friend after that.

Yes, your guilt had quickly consumed you after that night, but the truth of the matter was that you were, in fact, happier. Your role as a sidekick to Miruko kept you busy (she was aiming to climb the charts again) and you, finally a Pro Hero, were now inducted into the chart. You needed to perform well to keep Miruko happy.

Todoroki’s name on your wrist was no longer covered; it was visible by anyone and everyone who dared to look.

“Todoroki Shouto?!” the man in front of you exclaimed as he held your wrist gently in his hand. “Isn’t that the Pro-Hero Shouto, son of the number one hero?!”

You nod your head with a smile. It was the downside of being soulmates with someone as big of an influence in Japan as the Todoroki’s. “It is,” you say as you pull your arm back. “Is that a problem?” You ask, your head tilting to the side.

You were on one of the many dates you’d had since that night two months ago.

Each one started or ended sort of like this.

You were happy, yet no one else would let you forget about your cosmic mistake.

“Don’t you know Shouto?” he asks with a confused look. “Didn’t you two go to U.A. together? I remember watching the two of you compete at the Sports Festival!”

“As much as I would love to discuss Todoroki, I am trying to learn about you tonight,” you say as coolly as you can.

It was nearing Christmas Eve.

It was a holiday for lovers. A day that held the record for the most black ink tattoos turning gold in Japan. You just didn’t want to spend it alone, especially seeing that you would most likely not be celebrating it with your old classmates.

“Yeah, but the thing is I’m friends with Shouto! I can’t be here romancing his soulmate!” He exclaims whipping out his phone, and immediately you’re on guard.

“What are you doing?” You ask trying to peer at his phone screen.

“Just texting my friend,” he laughs as he pockets his phone, “but I mean, what did he do to deserve the silent treatment? I know there are fangirls out there who would die to have his name on their wrists! Did you know that some girl actually got his name tattooed on her wrist over her soulmates?!”

Your eyebrows scrunch and you felt uneasy, but you let it go, deciding to continue the conversation instead. “You’re not able to put ink over soulmate tattoos.”

“It was part of her quirk or something like that!” He laughed merrily. “But what made you run away from him? Is it because he’s the worst at keeping conversations going?”

“I don’t really want to talk about Todoroki,” you admit as the waiter set your plates in front of you.

You wanted to leave. You didn’t want to be associated with anyone that would remind you of Todoroki. You could handle your dates being in awe over your soulmate, but them knowing him on a personal level? That was too much.

“Oh, okay sure!” he nods as he grabs his chopsticks. “I have no filter, sorry!”

Your smile is strained, but the dinner goes on smoothly.

The conversation between the two of you flows as smooth as it can. You’re apprehensive about getting too personal with him and he asks anything on his mind. Besides knowing about his connection to Todoroki, it wasn’t a bad date. But it was not likely that you would go out with him again in the foreseeable future.

“So you’re a sidekick over at Miruko’s agency?” He asks.

The plates that had held your food have been eaten to completion. The waiter returning to grab the dirty dishes as he leaned towards you. Your fingers grasped onto your glass of water as you drink it slowly. Your head nodding as you place the cup down.

“Yeah, I started off as an intern my first year at U.A., and I think it’s safe to say we clicked.” You explain brushing your hair out of your face. “It’s really great getting to work with her, I love Rumi.”

“Oh, I bet! Miruko scares me though! But again, I nearly crapped myself the first time I met Endeavor.” He laughed good-naturedly and you smiled in amusement. Being a side-kick at Endeavors agency was a testament to his strength as a hero. Getting in and staying there was no joke. “Plus with that ugly-- oh, hey! Over here!” He exclaimed with a large grin, his arm-waving to someone behind you.

Your eyebrows scrunched in confusion but the warmth of your tattoo grew as you felt someone standing by you.

“Shouto,” He says standing up and bowing to the man behind you. You stay in your seat, frozen stiff while burning holes into your dates head. “I’m so glad you came!”

“You invited a stranger on our date?” You snap as you stand up, immediately grabbing your purse and jacket that hung on the chair. “Thanks for a good evening but I have to go now.” You say ignoring his protests.

Your fingers grabbed a few yen you had and threw it on the table.

Making sure to turn out towards the side that Todoroki was not on, you hurried out. Their calls for you to come back falling deaf on your ears.

Your name being called did not stop you, nor did the looks being thrown your way. Weaving through people, you finally made it outdoors.

It was empty outside. No cars were driving by; no people walking either. It was empty with only the slowly falling snow to keep you company. Your jacket was hastily pulled on and the cold air stung at your cheeks as you continued walking. You needed to get away, yet you have no idea where you are right now.

“Y/n!” A voice called out for you.

It was him.

Your step doubled in speed, not quite running because of your low traction shoes. But the air stung more against your cheeks, and your nose turned red as you continued hustling.

“Y/n, wait!”

You didn’t want to wait. It had been months of you waiting, and now he wanted to make amends?! Now he wanted you to wait?

No.

Fuck that.

But then you heard the all too familiar sound of his quirk being used, and your feet were frozen in place.

Your eyes widen as you nearly fall over, your balance uneven.

“Fucking let me go!” You yell as you power your quirk through your legs, snapping yourself free from his trap, but it’s too late.

He holds your wrist before you can get away, pulling you towards him, and still, you don’t look at him.

Todoroki’s hand burns through your jacket and warms up your body and you hate that it makes you dizzy. You detest how unnaturally your body wants him near. How your heart yearned for him to win you over, but your brain screamed louder. Your brain demands you to move, and you comply.

“Let go of me.” You growl lowly, as you pull yourself away from his grasp.

“Please hear me out.” Todoroki pleads, once again holding onto you, but this time it’s by your jacket.

You despise the cold but it makes you unhappy being trapped by Todoroki. It makes you unhappy feeling like you will forgive someone when they don’t deserve it. So defiantly you slip out from the jacket.

The bitter and sharp air stab into your skin as you continue storming away, his shouts falling deaf on your ears. You didn’t want this, you didn’t need this. You were perfectly okay without him in your life, and now he was doing what? Trying to get you back into his life?

Was he going to ask you for permission to marry Momo?

Demand that you continue being unhappy for his sake?

That wasn’t going to happen, you wouldn’t let him use you like that.

Hot and angry tears freeze on your cheeks as you sniffle from the cold.

Footsteps hit the ground and your eyes widen as Todoroki is suddenly in front of you. His chest heaving, his eyes angry and sad.

“Put on your fucking jacket, idiot.” He speaks as he puts the warm fabric back around you.

“I don’t want it.” You sneer throwing the jacket onto the floor. Your eyes glaring daggers into him as smokey breaths expel from your mouth. “What do you want?! What is so damn important to you that you’re chasing after a girl you don’t fucking want?!”

“You’re my soulmate,” Todoroki flatly states, bending down to grab your jacket. He misses the way you roll your eyes and the temptation you have to kick him square in the dick and run away.

“I’m not your soulmate.” You say, your eyes locked on his as he stands back up. “You made that perfectly clear the first night. Say what you need to say and leave me alone.”

He stares at you at a loss of words.

It’s so cold, and you want nothing more than to leave him standing outside in the cold. You want to take your jacket from his hands. The jacket is warm because he’s using his quirk, and yet you want to yell at him to stop it. Why is he doing this? What is his purpose in standing here in front of you?

“What is it!” You scream but it’s broken. It sounds like a pathetic plead as your heart pounding in your chest.

“I’m…” Todoroki looks at you with panicked eyes. He doesn’t know what he needs to say, and it makes your throat tight. “I’m sorry…” He mumbles, his eyes falling from your face down to the jacket in his hands.

“You’re… you’re sorry?!” You repeat, your voice pitching as you stumble backward. Your face is twisted with anger and defeat. “Why the hell are you sorry?”

Todoroki looks back at you, his jaw dropping to respond back to you, but you don’t want to hear his reasoning. You don’t want to know what dared him to feel sorry.

“Shut up.” You whisper, making Todoroki stop in his tracks.

“What--?”

“You didn’t want me. You were the one who told me that you wouldn’t break your promise with Momo! You were in love with someone that isn’t yours and you decided that no matter who your soulmate was, she was the one. You rejected me! I wasn’t the one who fucking rejected you! A-And now what?! You’re goddamn sorry?!” Your voice is shrill. This is a never-ending fight, a looping argument that will never find its peace. “I deserve someone who fucking wants me for me! You didn’t want me until my name was slapped over your wrist, and even with that, you didn’t want me! So why on fucking god would I want your apology?!”

Your chest heaves and all Todoroki can do is stare at you, his eyes wide, his mouth locked together.

“I wasn’t lying, nor was I being petty when I said I wanted you to drown in your guilt and your thoughts. I want you to never be able to look at me again because you broke me in seconds.” Your finger jabbed against his chest as you took your jacket and pulled it around your steaming body. “But I also wasn’t lying when I said I wished you and Momo happiness and love, so I hope whenever you marry her… whenever you’re years down the road and you have your own family and are happy... I want you to see my face. I want you to remember that it was my unhappiness, my sacrifice, that gave you that.”

Your eyes held no tears as you turned away, the cold wind futile as you walked away.

“You rejected me on my birthday, and now this is me rejecting you.” You mutter just loud enough for him to barely hear you.

The snow falling onto your head a joke. It was a mockery of the beauty and innocence of yourself.

But you felt better, you were getting better, and now you were going to move on.

You were improving, even if it was ever so slightly.

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

Ten Months Ago

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

Shouto’s eyes stared at your name inked into his skin.

The black ink mocking him of what had transpired that night. It wasn’t that he was unhappy with your name being there. Had it not been for Momo he would have thanked the world for giving him someone he already trusted. But that was not the case right now.

Momo had been there for him for years. A force that reminded him that someone cared for him. She was a great friend, and it was only a matter of time before he fell for her.

Shouto had been there the night of her eighteenth birthday, the white light consuming her as Shouto realized that they weren’t meant for each other. He hadn’t been sad, and in fact, he had been happy for his friend as she exclaimed she knew who was on her wrist.

Shouto listened as she pulled out her phone, immediately calling the name of the person who was meant to be hers. It was exciting, and Shouto remembers laying on her mattress looking up at the ceiling in happiness for her. That is until her voice cracked.

Momo pulled the phone away, dropping it to her lap as she smiled.

Her soulmate was leaving the country.

They weren’t coming back to Japan ever.

Momo sniffs as she brushed away a tear. “What’s a girl to do about it,” she whispers.

“I’ll be your soulmate then,” Shouto said without thinking, as he normally does.

“Wha--”

“I’ll do it.” He insists as he sits up. “Being rejected isn’t something anyone should go through, especially if it’s just about distance. I know you don’t believe me, but if by the time it’s my birthday and I don’t have a soulmate I’ll pretend to be yours.”

“Todoroki-san, I can’t ask that of you!” Momo says shaking her head. “That would be unfair to when you have your own soulmate!”

“I want to help you out,” Shouto insists. “I won’t force you of course, but if you show up tomorrow with the ink-covered up, I’m all for it.”

It was then that Momo’s face flushed red, and her head turned away.

Shouto watched as the following day she appeared with her wrist blank, and his heart pounded at the thought of just what they were hoping to pull off.

But as all things go, a fake romance and a tight companionship turned into a real one, and Shouto found himself falling for the girl who couldn’t be his. Her persona became his drug and like a madman, he craved her, and the thing was she did too.

His birthday came around and he had no soulmate, so they went public.

Shouto was allowed to love the heiress out in the open, his own future soulmate wasn’t a thought on his mind.

That was until that March night.

He had been close friends with you since the end of the first trimester of the first year at school. Having Hero Work so frequently together only strengthened his friendship with you, and when he saw his name appear on his wrist, the reality of his lie came at full force.

Shouto should have known, he’d never been lucky in life. His soulmate both knew of his lie and was someone important in his life. Shouto didn’t know how to respond as you stood before him in complete euphoria. There was a serene look on your face as you seemed ready to give him anything.

But he panicked.

His feelings -- his love -- for Momo were too strong, and he had long ago said fuck what the universe wanted. So, like a fool, he denied you. Rejected a soulmate as Momo’s had done to her. But you were relentless, albeit correctly so at that, and burned away all the reasonings he had for this predicament. Your eyes inflamed, your energy wild, and Shouto made the mistake of lashing out as well. Submitting to his own emotions and saying things he regrets.

So currently, Shouto found himself in Momo’s room as routine. Sitting on her chair, he was silent as his girlfriend chatted about her dream. She then went on about how hopeful she was that you would have your soulmate’s name on your wrist. Shouto wasn’t listening though, his eyes locked on your name, the most twisted reality was coming to life and he didn’t know how to stop it.

“Okay, but my foundation is almost out so we need to go buy some later,” Momo announced as she walked over to him, the permanent marker in her fingers. “I know we tested out the new pen last time, did it work…” Her voice trailed off and Shouto looked up at her.

She had seen it.

“Oh, my god!” Momo panics as she drops the pen. “W-What are we going to do?!”

Shouto looks up at Momo, his face as confused as hers, “I… I don’t know?”

“Where you still with her when she found out?”

Shouto groaned as he put his face in his hands and dropped his head.

“Shouto…”

Shouto looked up at her, his face full of guilt and told Momo exactly what had transpired. Her face only grew in anxiety and a look of guilt exploded within her eyes.

“I can’t believe you told y/n that!” Momo cried as she shook her head. “You probably destroyed her! She’s your soulmate, Shouto! I would have understood!”

“But I promised you that I would be yours.” Shouto whispers. His head feels like it’s ready to explode. He wants to be with Momo but everything within him yearns for you.

Duty versus love.

Which was more important to Shouto had never been touched before, and now it was making his head split.

“I want to try with her, but I don’t want to just leave you… and the class thinks we’re soulmates!” Shouto groans even more as his fingers clutch at his hair. “We fucked up.”

“We can figure things out later?” Momo suggests with a confused face. “We need to discuss this more before we make a final decision.”

Shouto found himself unable to keep his eyes off of you from that moment on.

Your wrist was clear of his name, and he watched as other boys in the class continue to flirt with you. Shouto noticed every fake smile, every moment where you weren’t being truthful about your feelings, and it made him feel like throwing up.

You were everywhere all at once, and Shouto could only watch.

It didn’t help that you absolutely hated his guts now. Every single private interaction had you fifty steps ahead of him. Your steps light as a feather yet felt like an earthquake as you denied him the chance at looking at you.

Shouto found himself in Momo’s room with his decision one morning. The morning that ended with you telling him to forget all about you.

“I want y/n,” Shouto whispered to Momo. “I know I said I was going to stay with you, but… I can’t do this to her anymore. I thought I was sure about you but is missing your soulmate this hard?”

Momo was silent as she rubbed his back, her fingers stiff and foreign. Since your birthday they hadn’t been able to be comfortable around each other anymore.

“Well,” Momo whispers with her lips pursed. “I had you to distract me, it made it so much… more bearable. It wasn’t that I didn’t want them any less, but you have me enough love and attention it wasn’t always in my thoughts.”

That sent a painful twang to his heart as Shouto groaned, yet another heated line to your argument was true. He had fucked you over and now you didn’t want a single thing to do with him. “I fucked up.” He rustles.

“We both did, I owe y/n the biggest apology, I just hope she’ll forgive us,” Momo mumbles. “And I know that the situation is awful timing, but my soulmate reached out to me last night, and well… they’re coming back.”

Despite the bittersweet feeling of that revelation, Shouto smiled for his friend as he pulled her into a hug.

“I’m happy for you,” Shouto says. “I hope that you’ll be happy.”

Momo sobs and Shouto pulls away to see the heiress rubbing tears away as she shakes her head.

“I should have just dealt with it! I wouldn’t have put you into this situation and you would have been happy! It was just six m-months! I could have dealt with six m-months of h-heartbreak!” She guilty cried into her hands.

“I was the one who did the most damage,” Shouto disagrees as he rubs her back softly. “At the end of the day, it was me.”

It was hard for him to admit it but as he said those words Shouto felt the need to prove to you that he was your soulmate. A soulmate you could love.

He was going to win you back, no matter how long it took.

The next day was their graduation, and for the first time ever both Shouto and Momo wore their true soulmates names on their wrist. It just so happened that no one noticed, and before Shouto could confront you, you were gone.

His school uniform, a proud symbol of where he was from and of his journey, wilted. The second button on his jacket broken and in his hand. It was to be a gesture to you, the sign that you held his heart, but you were gone. The worst part was that he had no idea where to begin looking for you.

It seemed that the universe was not in his favor either.

You had blocked his number, no longer lived at home, and Miruko was no longer working in collusion with Endeavor.

He wasn’t sure where you were and no one would give him any hints. The birthday celebrations for his old friends were always attended by everyone, but you. The one he missed you showed up to. It was a constant reminder of his tragedy, and it was the same for Momo.

You wouldn’t let him get near and the first time he saw you, it was in a situation he didn’t want, and yet couldn’t blame you for.

Shouto was running late to Kirishima’s party. He had accidentally fallen asleep at his desk at work and woke up to it being nearly midnight. Cursing he changed quickly and rushed to where Momo was hosting the party. Tonight was the night where he was going to get you to talk to him. He was going to confront his mistakes, and for him to apologize for being one of the biggest douches on the planet.

When the taxi pulled outside of the house Shouto clutched his present close to him. His anxiety high, his heart pounding at the thought of finally being able to see you.

But the first thing he saw were two figures kissing sensually on the doorsteps. He didn’t need to wonder who it was, he could point you out in a crowd of imposters.

Shouto watched in silent jealousy and horror as you pulled away, and your face shines with joy.

You were happy.

Shouto watches with swinging emotions as he can’t figure out whether to be happy, mad, jealous, or sad. Did he have a right to any of these emotions? God, he knew he didn’t but they were stirring within him.

Paralyzed and overwhelmed, Shouto continues staring at you, unable to figure out why the fuck Kaminari is touching you like that. Your head leaning against his shoulder as your fingers play with his hands.

It takes everything within him not to freeze the world into the next Ice Age, but the feeling disappears when Kaminari glows a bright white.

Shouto can’t help the small victory that erupts in his chest as he begins to walk over, his mind on a single track of getting you back. You and Kaminari seem immersed in a conversation so that you both don’t notice Shouto.

He stood there, hearing from you about how you had been hiding your soulmate, and Kaminari talking about staying with you. It angered him, this shouldn’t have been a thing to happen to begin with!

So when his name was finally spoken, and you told Kaminari to shut up, did Shouto finally speak up. But it wasn’t the conversation or tone Shouto wished for. He was angry still, emotionally stunted as he couldn’t keep quiet. Your comments about this being a mistake piled up onto his emotional horror. His anger palpitating as he wanted to say what he had been rehearsing, but it wasn’t coming out.

Blame and anger were what was expressed instead. Hurtful things pouring from each other’s mouths and accusations of not waiting.

You had been angry about something that had happened seven months ago. Shouto thought it was about you hiding away from him, not an engagement ring that sat on Momo’s finger. But when that was revealed to him it was too late to apologize. The deception Momo and he had pulled months earlier was revealed as you left with the last laugh.

Nothing had been accomplished, and Shouto felt like the world was crashing around him once more. He kept fucking up… why was he so bad at this?

Shouto wanted you, he needed you; still, whenever he confronted you it seemed to end in a battle.

Even tonight as he stood under the falling snow watching your figure storm away he paused. He wanted to make things work, but you weren’t bending to his pleas.

He shivered due to the cold, his eyes looking at your name printed on his wrist. Shouto couldn’t blame you for behaving the way you were, and with one final resolve he took after you in the snowy environment.

Even if you didn’t want him back, even if you truly rejected him, he was going to make you listen to his apology.

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

You climbed the staircase into your apartment, the sounds of your shoes echoing through the hallways were loud in your ear.

Why was it that you couldn’t get away from him? Why were you never able to be free of your goddamn soulmate? You didn’t want him and he didn’t want you so why did it matter?

You pushed through the third-floor door and your ears caught onto the main floor door slamming open. Someone was in a rush, you thought as you walked down the halls pulling out your keys and entering your apartment.

It was a hot tea and bath night. You wanted to rub his touch off your body.

Fuck the universe and everything it claimed, you weren’t happy with who they had chosen for you. What made them so sure you and Todoroki of all people were destined lovers?

What made him perfect for you?

You slipped your key into the lock and stepped in. The door clicked behind you as you take off your shoes, saying hello to an empty apartment that was still littered with your moving boxes. You didn’t even have that many belongings, but you had been too busy to start unpacking, too unmotivated to begin.

The apartment was warm and you slipped your jacket from your shoulders and hung it on a hook. Ready to end your night with a cup of tea and a nice soak in the bath, you turned on your heel.

But you stopped.

A frantic knock echoed through your hallway, your front door physically moving from the pounding.

Your eyebrows knit as you walk over to the door, your guard up as you open the door.

It’s Todoroki, his eyes widen as you open the door, and his hand flying out as you try slamming the door in his face.

“Please hear me out!”

“I don’t have to give you shit!”

“Y/n--!”

“Stop! I don’t fucking want to hear it!”

“I want to say sorry!”

“I said I don’t want to hear it!”

“I know you don’t, but -- fuck -- y/n, please!”

You hate that the desperation, pain, and sincere guilt in his voice makes your constitution crumble.

Sighing, you open the door, and Todoroki pulls his hand away. It’s slightly bleeding and most likely bruised from having been trapped by the door.

“You have ten minutes to explain yourself, and after that, you will respect what I want to do concerning you.”

Todoroki walks into your apartment, and you watch as he walks to your living room. You follow behind and sit down on the chair furthest away from him.

“You have eight minutes.” You say as you sit down, your legs pulled up on the chair, your chin sitting on your knees.

Todoroki nodded, his fingers clenching with his nerves as he began.

You listened to every word, every excuse, and every reason for what happened.

Your eyebrows scrunched together as his apology became a speech. His apology was a story that you knew was coming.

Months of wondering what made him choose Momo unraveling before you as he apologized. His fingers locked into his pant legs as you stared at him.

“I know I fucked up. I fucked up more than anyone really could, and I don’t know how to fix it.” Shouto dragged his fingers through his hair, a clear indication of his frustrations. “I know that my apology can be seen as something you can see as being pure guilt, but I want to go back. I want to go back to that night and yell at myself for being an idiot. I shouldn’t have rejected you, and I should have done more to get you back but I didn’t. I just can’t stop thinking about you, and I want you, but I know it isn’t right of me to demand such things.”

Your eyes fall away from his face as you try to figure out your own thoughts.

What should you do? What can you do?

You were becoming happy without him, why did you need him now?

“What are you expecting from this?” You whisper staring at him. Shouto’s eyes widen, he wasn’t expecting that question, and eight minutes had been up ages ago. “What do you expect me to do?”

“I don’t expect anything,” Shouto confesses, his eyes looking at the floor. “I apologized for myself, as you said. I’m not expecting you to forgive me or give me a chance at winning you over again. I know I messed up a lot, and if you don’t want me that’s okay.”

You fall silent, your mind roaring as you try to figure out what to do.

What should you do?

“I can forgive you,” you said with a soft sigh. “I can forgive you, but I won’t be your girlfriend, nor will I be romantically involved with you.”

Shouto’s face falls as he takes in your words.

“Y/n--”

“Let me finish,” you interrupt as you raise your hand. “If you want my name to turn to gold, and if you want my genuine love, you have to work for it. Just because the universe chose you for me, doesn’t mean I agree. Make me agree with the universe. Fight for me, woo me, make me want you in return. I’m willing to love you for the rest of my life, but you need to give me a reason to want you.”

Shouto’s eyes warmed as he nodded, a smile falling on his face as he nodded.

“I can do that.”

✩✶✩❇✩✶✩

Bonus!

Your arms wrapped around Shouto’s neck as you grinned.

Your mouth pressed kiss after kiss after kiss on his mouth.

“You’re. An. Idiot.” Shouto laughs between every kiss, his fingers tracing up and down your thighs as he had you lifted up on his waist.

It was a year later, and the mess that had come about for the two of you had finally dissolved. The two of you were in love, and yet those words had yet to be told between the two of you,

You hadn’t said it because you still weren’t sure. Shouto refused to before you because he was scared of how you’d respond.

Your mouth moved fluidly against his as he hummed in appreciation.

“I love you,” He whispers as your lips pressed against his jaw.

You freeze as you feel Shouto still underneath you. You pull away as your heart pounds in your chest. It's silent as neither one of you speak. Eyes lock on each other and your smile grows as you press a kiss against his mouth again.

“I love you, too,” you whisper as he drops you to the floor. His hands cup your face and it brings you elation as his mouth pressed against yours.

Neither one of you sees it at the moment, but as his sleeve falls from his wrist and your wrist is exposed as you clutch his shirt, gold ink stains both your wrists.

True love after the pain is possible, sometimes it takes a bit of personal improvement to get there.

#todoroki shouto #todoroki shoto x reader #todoroki x reader #todoroki shouto x reader #todoroki angst #todoroki fluff #todoroki scenario #bnha writing blog #bnha #bnha x reader #bnha todoroki #mha #mha x reader #mha todoroki

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eleanorbloom · 3 years

Text

Love Actually Is... (Bryce x MC)

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x f! MC (Eleanor Bloom)

Word Count: 5k

Warnings: Fluff and some curse words. Rated T.

Summary: Eleanor is feeling down and Bryce has a very particular way to cheer her up.

Taglist @utterlyinevitable @choicesficwriterscreations @starrystarrytrouble @lahellacute @lucy-268 @cinnamonspongecake @romewritingshop @bratzlahela @freckles-spangledvampire @mercury84choices @curiousconch @openheartfanfics

_________

“

4 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS.

“Bryce, love, what are you doing?” I shouted from the couch in the living room toward our room. My voice was husky and nasal because I had been crying for the past hour, and I was drying my puffy and reddened eyes for the umpteenth time that evening. I was frustrated, sad, and angry, but I was doing my best to move on, “We have to decide what are we gonna do on Christmas Eve. I’ll go to the grocery store tomorrow.”

No response. For a moment I thought he was in the bathroom, or sleeping, but then I heard some rummaging in the room, so I knew for sure he should’ve heard me.

"Goldie, what are you up to?" I insisted as Bryce didn't respond to me nor approached the living room in the next minute. I was about to get up from my seat when I saw him coming out of our bedroom with a smirk on his face and some strange clothes on. He was wearing a white buttoned shirt and black cotton pants, very different from the dark jeans and green Henley he was wearing ten minutes ago.

I frowned.

“Love, why are you wearing that? You have a wedding I wasn’t aware of?” I asked, watching him come to the living room.

“Wait and see.” He simply replied as he was scrolling through his phone, and then walked to the big windows of the living room.

Outside there was the reason for my disappointment, of my anger. It was dark, stormy, and really, really cold. The glass of the window was completely frosted, so the streetlights barely could percolate through the thick layer of snow in the glass.

One more click and a few notes started playing in the home sound system. Bryce, giving me his back, started swaying his hips.

I knew those notes. My mind was racing, trying to decipher where I had listened to them. “Is this…?”

Your eyes tell me how you want me

“Oh my god.”

I can feel it in your heart beat

Then Bryce took slow steps backward and turned her face to wink at me, all seductive and teasing while he was singing along with The Pointer Sisters. Then he pointed a finger to me while his hips started rocking toward my way.

I started laughing instantly, of course. The way he was looking at me and how smooth his movements were would never stop to amaze me. But it was also a mix of fun and tenderness, because he was acting like a character from my favorite Christmas movie, Love Actually, only to cheer me up, so even if I was laughing my ass off, I was pretty emotional too.

He kept moving and singing until he reached the center of the living room, and then changed his steps. Now he was moving to the sides with open arms and legs, moving his head to the beat. The whole step was hilarious, but he was doing it even funnier with his confident smirk and his expert motions, exceeding the very well presentation Hugh Grant did in the movie. It was like he was born to do that scene.

“I’ll take you down, I’ll take you doooown, where no one’s ever gone before”

“Love, oh my god!” I said wiping the tears off my eyes, as was crying again, but this time for a very pleasant reason.

We were so immersed in the dance that none of us heard the sound of keys in the lock, and the door cracking open. Just when the door slammed shut, we realized Keiki was there, staring at Bryce with a puzzled look and biting her lips to not burst out of laugh.

“What the hell are you doing, weirdo?”

“Jump in and feel my touch! Jum if you want to taste my kisses!” He said dancing towards her, rocking his hips teasingly, and Keiki gave him a horrified look as he saw him dancing around her. “Hi Keiks, welcome home.”

“No! I’m leaving! I should’ve never come back! Nikka, take me with youuu!!" She screamed as she pretended she was asking her best friend to rescue her.

Then she turned to me, as I was cackling louder than ever, “Ella, are you okay with this?” she asked me with a mix of disappointment and amusement, taking a seat beside me.

“Keiki, it’s hilarious.”

“Jump! You want to taste my kisses in the night then”—Suddenly Bryce jumped to the empty space beside me and started dancing over, moving his butt over me. “Jump, jump for my love!”

“Eeewww Bryce!” Keiki squealed, covering her eyes with both hands. “Honestly, I don’t know how you can live with this weirdo, share a bed with this clown, Ella.” Her cheeks were flushed, partly because of the embarrassment but mostly because she was trying so hard not to laugh.

“Well, I mean, you live with him too, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but you consciously chose him. And I bet you already knew how ridiculous he was before agreeing to be his girlfriend. I literally had no choice.”

Bryce jumped to the floor again and then squeezed to sit in the middle of me and Keiki.

“Oh, come on little sistah, don't be such spoilsport," He said “Are you thirsty? Can I offer you a glass of wotah? Or maybe a cup of tea?”

“Oh my god, Ella what the hell did you give him? Did he smoke anything?”

“Dear lord! Where are your modals, Keiki? Your Governess would be ashamed of how rude you are behaving with your beloved older brother.”

“Okay, I’m going to my room now.”She said as she was trying to stand up from the couch but Bryce stopped her.

“But darling, tell me first how was your day? The mall was too crowded?”

“A living hell, but now I realize it was better than this hell.”

“Oh, and what will be my Christmas present? Did you found that lovely china cups I’ve been dreaming about so much these past months?”

“Will you ever stop talking like you’re auditioning for Downton Abbey. Ella, please talk some sense into him.” She looked at me, pleading, and I couldn’t help but tease her even more.

"Keiki, darling, wot is wrong with ya? Why are you speaking this strange accent? One way to the shopping mall and you’re all American? The Queen would be ashamed of you!”

“I can’t believe this, you of all people, Eleanor?” She was disappointed, but I could tell she was enjoying the whole exchange.

“Stop complaining, you stupid sandwich!” Bryce shouted in his best Gordon Ramsay personification. “It’s almost Christmas, laugh a little, child!”

“Sandwich? Did I hear Sandwich?” I asked with a mischievous smirk on my face.

That was our intern joke. Whenever or wherever we would say the word sandwich…

“Noooooo, sandwich nooooo, dam….n…”

We would sandwich the last person to react. So Bryce and I wrapped Keiki into a tight hug, sandwiching her.

"SANDWICH!" We squealed happily.

“Please, help me, god." She pleaded, feigning annoyance. “I can’t believe you are 29 and behave like 10 years old kids. Worse, like you were 5!"

“Don’t play the dumb, Keiks, you like being sandwiched.” Bryce defied. After a moment, she surrendered and gave him broad smile.

"Only because I have no other option but to accept your weird ways of showing love."

"We have more adult ways, but you don't like them either." I added, then Bryce and I squeezed her a bit more, to finally release her from our grip, "Aaaand you’re free”

“Thank god” She sighed loudly. “Why all this fuss, though? You two were watching Love Actually again? Or is this your normal mode before Christmas?”

“No, I was just trying to cheer Elle on.”

“Why? What happened?”

“They canceled the flights due to the snowstorm for the next two days so… we’re not going to Chile.”

“Oh, no.” She whispered. I could see the disappointment in her eyes. We have been waiting for this trip for weeks, maybe even months. “I’m so sorry, Ella. I know this was important to you. I was really looking forward to traveling to Chile too.”

“I know... That’s what has me so sad and angry…” I shook my head, trying to shake off the bad emotions. “So, well, you know your brother, he likes to ridicule himself to make me laugh, so he was doing just that.”

“Ridicule myself, excuse me? That’s was a terrific presentation, it was divine! The Queen would be so pleased! So would Hugh Grant!”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, bro.” She rolled her eyes “So, what are we gonna do?”

“Well, have Christmas Eve dinner here and maybe join our friends on Christmas Day? If you’re okay with that, of course.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” She smiled. “Whatever helps me not spend the whole day with you two, weirdos”

I chucked.

“Excellent, I let them know we’ll joining them on Friday”

After we discussed the menu and we came up with a complete grocery store list, Keiki finally stood up from the couch. “Well, now that we are ready with that, I’m gonna laid down a bit. You two are exhausting, you know that? I only hope you’re not this impossible on Christmas Eve.”

Bryce and I watched Keiki walking to her room with two bags in hand at a light pace.

“That was Keiki or is Ethan ventriloquizing Keiks somewhere?” Bryce asked once his sister got into her room.

“She’s a teenager, love. I bet you were that grinch too.”

“Well, yeah, but not that grinch.”

“Maybe she’s right and we really are impossible.”

“Yeah, but she cannot know.” We both laughed. “Let's behave until New Year's Day."

“Deal.”

2 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS.

As I wasn’t going to be out of town for the next days before Christmas, I went to work so I could have those free days in the future.

I was checking on a patient when my pager went off. “MEETING IN 10 MINUTES.”

After updating the chart and checking one more patient, I walked toward the Diagnostic Team Office. When I entered, ready to sit in my usual spot between Ethan and Baz, I was surprised as I found Baz sitting in my spot and Ethan on Baz's. The rest of the spots were full of papers, so the only option was sitting in Ethan's spot, next to the whiteboard and facing the glass wall.

"Have a seat, Eleanor," Ethan said as he noticed my worry.

“Ooookay. So, what’s the matter?”

“Cleveland Clinic called to report a new symptom, and I think this might be our cue to provide some alternatives to their Diagnostic Team.”

“Oh, okay.”

Ethan was explaining the new symptoms when something behind the glass walls caught my attention. Two blinds were partially closed while the other two were opened, revealing everything outside the hallway.

A figure in a red turtleneck sweater with a snowman in the middle, a red Santa hat, and something white on his arms.

Then I realized it was Bryce and what he was grabbing with his arms were big white cards.

When he realized I recognized him, he winked at me, giving me his usual dashing smile.

Ethan kept talking, ignoring that I was kind of unfocused. I couldn’t help but give glances to the wall behind him, wondering what was happening out there.

Then Bryce put the cards in position.

“PRETEND IT’S A BEE”

My eyes widened but I tried to dissimulate. Ethan kept talking.

“I KNOW YOU’RE STILL DOWN”

I smiled sadly.

“I GUESS MY SEXY DANCING WASN’T ENOUGH”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, so Ethan noticed and looked at me confused. Then he looked where I was looking, so Baz did.

"For the love of God," Ethan said pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Please ignore him.”

Bryce continued.

“SO HERE I AM, TRYING AGAIN”

I shook my head and bit my lower lip, resisting the laugh.

“I KNOW WE’RE AT WORK, BUT LET ME SAY”

“WITHOUT HOPE OR AGENDA”

“JUST BECAUSE IT’S CHRISTMAS”

“AND IN CHRISTMAS YOU TELL THE TRUTH”

“TO ME, YOU’RE PERFECT”

“Awww” I heard Baz squeal. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction.

“AND MY WASTED HEART WILL LOVE YOU”

“UNTIL YOU LOOK LIKE THIS”

And in the next card, there was a photo of me, sleeping, with my open mouth and all, completely oblivious that someone was taking me a picture.

Baz laughed again and even Ethan chuckled.

"Oh my god," I covered my face with both hands in embarrassment.

“SORRY, THAT WAS LAST NIGHT.”

“Son of a…”

“BUT I DO LOVE YOU EVEN IF YOU LOOK LIKE THAT”

“OR LIKE THIS”

This time it was a photo of me, sick, about three months ago. The three in the office laughed. Even Ethan was enjoying the spectacle.

“AND I WILL LOVE YOU UNTIL YOU LOOK LIKE THIS”

“(I SWEAR THIS TIME IS TRUE)”

And there was a picture of ashes.

“OR MAYBE UNTIL YOU LOOK LIKE THIS”

There was a picture of a koala.

“WHETHER YOU BECOME ASHES OR REENCARNATE IN A KOALA”

“OR IF YOU LIVE SEVEN OR TEN LIFES”

“I’LL FIND MY WAY TO YOU”

“AND I’LL KEEP LOVING YOU AND CHEERING YOU UP ALL YOUR LIVES.”

“MERRY CHRISTMAS KOALITA.”

“YOUR GOLDIE THAT LOVES YOU VERY MUCH.”

By then there were tears all over my face. I was sobbing. Without thinking too much, I stood up from my chair and ran outside where he was leaning the cards against the wall.

“Hmpf!” He said when I crushed against him. I pressed my face to his chest and sobbed. He stroked my hair softly. “Hey… I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you cry” He muttered softly. I shook my head. “I wanted to cheer you on, baby koala”

A few seconds later, I parted from him. His sweater was stained with my tears, and my face was a complete mess. “It’s fine, it’s just… I thought you wouldn't notice. I didn't want you to notice."

“Love, of course I’d notice, and I’d feel horrible if I didn’t, honestly. It’s okay if you’re still angry and sad. You can rant with me, you know that, right?”

“I know, it’s just that… I didn’t want to bore you with my emotional mess. I know this is something out of my hands and I should just accept it… but I’d been months waiting for this.”

“I know baby, I’d been too, and I’m really sorry we couldn’t make it, but you don’t have to pretend, not with me. If you’re feeling sad, I wanna be there for you, alright?”

“Okay, love. You’re right. It’s just… Ahhh!” I grunted in frustration and I buried my face deeper in his chest for a moment “I really want you to meet my abuela. And my tata. And cousins and… Just everyone. And I want them to meet you.”

“We’ll make it, gorgeous. We’ll find the perfect time to travel, I promise. In the meantime, I'll try to cheer you on while you're sad, okay?”

I nodded and he kissed me on my forehead.

"Thank you, my love."

Just then, Baz went out of the office.

“You know I’m team Zines” He stated, and then shook his head “But you two make it really difficult to maintain my position."

I chuckled.

“It’s your brother after all, I get it.”

"Just know that you're in second place in my hashtag relationship goals." I nodded. “And you, mate” He added, looking directly at Bryce “I don't know why you're still alive. With those pictures...”

I gave a stony glare to Bryce.

“Oh, yeah, don’t think I’ve forgotten, Bryce Lahela! When we get home…!”

“Ooof, I better go," Baz announced.

“But the meeting?”

Baz snorted and kept walking. I turned around and Ethan was leaned against the window looking at us, serious. “I thought you couldn’t be cheesier, Lahela, but here you are, always proving me wrong.”

"And I pretend to keep proving you wrong,"

Ethan rolled his eyes.

“Wait… Ethan, you knew about this?”

“Obviously. Do you think this jackass would dare to interrupt me? In a meeting?”

“Well, yeah?”

“Eleanor Andrea Bloom how dare you!” Bryce scowled at me.

“You should know better than me that he’s wiser than it seems, Eleanor.”

“Well… actually yes, it makes sense, but I also know that you would never agree to this.”

“Maybe I was feeling generous just because it’s Christmas.”

"Thanks, buddy, I owe you one."

“By this time, like a hundred. And I'm not your buddy. How many times do I have to tell you?"

“Thank you, Ethan, really.”

“Don’t thank me. Just don’t ask me something like this never again.”

And he started walking toward the elevator, leaving us alone in the hallway.

Bryce took the cards and we went inside the office.

"Now… explain to me when the fucking hell did you take that photo?"

“Ooooof Keiki is waiting for me at home, gotta go, babe…”

I took his wrist. “Bryce. Explain. Now.”

"I always take random pics of you, I thought you knew. Reading, sleeping, cooking… At work… This one… I might have taken it like two months ago? When you had 24 hours shift and a bear could've fallen over you and you wouldn't have felt it."

I giggled. “I can’t even be mad at you for embarrass me in front of my colleagues.”

“I know, my charms are irresistible, mad-proof.”

“Don’t tempt fate, darling.”

“Is that a threat?”

Bryce leaned towards me, just a breath away. His warm breath, smoky with coffee and sweet with cream and sugar made me thirsty. I really wanted to resist, but it was hard. Besides, what was the point? I wasn't even mad at him. If all, just melted. Of course, he knew that, he knew he could advantage of that, like he knew I would forgive him for such embarrassment just because he was cute and handsome. I mean, I don't even have to explain to you what effect he has on me, you have seen him in action a couple of times by now. So I just gulped as I was looking into his lips quirking in a smug smile, trying so hard to resist…

“Maybe not now but-” I try to retort but he silenced me with a kiss. I could’ve moved my face, push him away… But I’m weak around him. He knows it perfectly well.

“You talk too much, babe.”

“How da…”? He silenced me again with another kiss. Marvelous and breathtaking. He smiled against my lips.

I can’t resist him. I’m weak. I can be strong for a lot of things, I can set my mind for a lot of things, but when it comes to him… I’m so weak. But at that moment it felt so right to give in. Because the whole surprise and the way he was there to soothe me really helped me heighten my spirits, he helped me accept that I couldn't travel but everything would be alright because he was with me, and he would be right by my side in case things turn dark again.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

Despite the sadness that we were feeling, especially me, for not being able to travel to Chile, we had a great dinner, and we behave like adults for Keiki’s sake.

And the dinner was especially delicious because it was made by the three of us. Sometimes it’s concerted, sometimes it’s improvised, but when the three of us are in the kitchen, the meal is always more gratifying. For the collaborative work and for the bond. For the memories. Cooking together will always remember us of the night Keiki came into our lives. The night I met her and the night Bryce saw her again after ten years. So every time we do it, it reminds us of how far we have come.

How far Bryce and Keiki have come after struggling for his ten-year absence for months after she came back into his life.

How far Keiki and me we have come after she finally accepted me in her life, because she came to Boston to have his brother back, and instead, and she won a new sister too, even if at some point it didn’t seem like she was happy with that.

How far we have come Bryce and me, as partners, as roommates.

How far we have come the three of us as a family.

It makes us proud of ourselves and the way we congratulate each other is by sharing something we as a family prepared.

When I woke up that morning, Bryce was already up, making breakfast in the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas babe," He said, kissing me on the lips, before slicing a berries pie I had bought for Christmas morning.

“Feliz Navidad, amor," I said giving him a mischievous smirk. He loves when I speak in Spanish, if you know what I mean.

Just then, Keiki appeared in the living room.

"Merry Christmas! Can we open our presents now?"

“Oooh, looks who woke up with lots of energy and cheerfulness!”

“Don’t ruin it, Bryce!” I said, nudging his shoulder.

"Thank you, Ella."

I sprinted towards her and hugged her. "Merry Christmas, Keiks!”

“SANDWICH!” I heard from the kitchen.

“Sandwich!” Keiki shouted instantly, and the next thing I knew is that Bryce was hugging me from behind. It was my turn to be sandwiched by the Lahela siblings. “Why I feel like I’m being sandwiched even if I’m supposed to be the bread? You’re so invasive, Bryce.”

After a few seconds, they let me go, so we all approached the Christmas tree and started distributing the presents. First, we gave Keiki her presents, then Bryce’s, and then it was my turn to receive presents.

We normally give hints the month before of what things we need or want and this time I honestly didn’t want too much. Just a new gloves for the cold (which Keiki gave me), maybe some new book and a supersonic hairdryer. I had been hallucinating with it for the past month because the reviews say that it cuts the hair drying time in more than half, so it was really looking forward to having five minutes more of sleep each morning because now it wouldn't take me that much dry my hair. Plus, it leaves the hair shinier than normal hairdryers.

I talked about it three or four times the past weeks, and Bryce catches everything. Sometimes there are times when Bryce notices first than me when I’m pissed off about something, so it was impossible that he wouldn’t know what I wanted for Christmas.

And what I received as a Christmas present instead? A box full of pens and sticky notes and cute notebooks.

"Oh, this is cute," I said, trying to hide my disappointment. "Oh, and it has a puppy! A goldie like you!”

“Yeah, that’s why I picked that one, I know you would love it," Bryce said, smirking at me.

“Thank you, this is very useful!”

Then we went to have breakfast on the kitchen island. After a few minutes, the disappointment dispersed but still. Pens, sticky notes, and notebooks. What the fuck? That would’ve fitted Keiki better than me. A teenager me, maybe even a Med School student me, but not an in-half-a-year-I’ll-be-attending me! I couldn’t believe it.

When we were done, I got up to put the dishes in the dishwasher, but Keiki stopped me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll do this.” She said, grabbing the mugs before I could reach them.

“Let’s have some sleep before we go to see the guys, babe” Bryce took my hand and led me to our room.

I sat in the bed and when I leaned to place my head on the pillow, I felt something hard under it.

I furrowed. Bryce was staring at me, biting his lip. I moved the pillow and I found a box wrapped in snowy gift paper with a red ribbon. When I opened it… there it was, the freaking supersonic hairdryer.

“Oh my god! This is… This is what I wanted!”

"I know," He said, smiling.

“You did it on purpose?”

I heard a laugh at the entry of the room where Keiki was walking towards us with her phone on hand, recording.

“I bet Joni Mitchell was playing in your head the whole breakfast, am I right? I’ve looked at clouds from both sides nooooow”

“You…”

At that moment it hit me.

"Okay, so now I'm the crying wife? You made the fool of me as Harry did with Karen?" I said throwing the pillow at him. “And you helped him, Keiki!”

"Hey, in my defense, it was a joke, I didn't buy this hair dryer for my secretary or something."

“Oh, so I should thank you that you’re not cheating on me? You made my breakfast bitter! Sticky notes! What the hell!”

By this time, Keiki was sitting at the edge of the bed, still laughing but looking at me cautiously in case I would throw her another pillow.

“Hey, I had planned to do this in Chile, which means… you would’ve opened the gift at midnight and not until the next morning you would’ve found out what was your real gift.”

I shook my head.

“You really got me.”

“I know. It was painful seeing your disappointment, but totally worth it after seeing your reaction with the real gift.”

“And now we can watch it every night before sleeping if we want” Keiki teased.

I scowled at her, but then I just chuckled as I felt a sentiment of thankfulness and joy invading me. Bryce, and Keiki too, had been doing tons of things to cheer me up the last few days, and even if at that moment I still wished I was here, I felt so complete, because despite all, there we were, laughing, boding, teasing each other, in our natural selves. Just as families do and I was thankful for the family I had. The family I chose.

“Thank you, both of you, for cheering me up these last few days while I was so gloomy and weepy."

“That’s what family is for. They stick with you no matter what.” He kissed my cheek. “And to prank you even when you’re down”

”

“Oh dear, I can’t stop laughing, he really got you!” Ofelia giggled, wiping a tear off her cheek.

Eleanor stared at her grandmother by her side and followed suit, releasing a hearted laugh. "Yeah, and I couldn't believe it. I mean, I’m always very grateful for whatever he gives me… But a box of sticky notes, lela? I was so sure he knew what I wanted... But it was all a prank in the end. The last scene of a very Love Actually Christmas."

“You never have a dull time with him, do you?"

"Never. He always finds a way to make a difference, and even on normal days, when we are tired and bored and none of us have the energy for anything else than lie down on the bed… even like that, he somehow makes it feel special."

"Mmmm yes, he does have a way to bring out the best in people and the best in any situation."

"Yup, that's definitely him." Eleanor smiled fondly, watching as Bryce was cheerily speaking with her grandfather at the other side of the table, sharing tips about how to make the perfect barbecue. Bryce didn't know a thing about barbecues, but he was learning the Chilean way.

They had arrived two days ago in company of Keiki and had planned to spend a couple of days there, getting to know the family and then they would take a tour around the south of the country, especially Chiloé and Torres del Paine for a week or so, and then they would return to her grandparents house for the proper farawell before getting back to Boston.

A few moments later Bryce turned his head and winked at her.

Eleanor couldn't help but smile goofily at him.

"It's so rare what you've found here, dear, and in such short time" Ofelia continued, after noticing the exchange between the couple. Eleanor gave her a puzzled glare "What do you mean?"

"The devotion you two have for each other. Sometimes it takes years, sometimes people get married without having it, but you already have it. And it's so hard to find, Ellie, because you can kiss and sleep with anyone thinking it's love, you can even get married and have kids without even love the other person, or just believing it's love when sometimes is just comfort or an illusion. But you two…" She gave a quick glance to Bryce and then to Eleanor "You don't even have to tell me to know you're in love because the way you look at each other, the way you care about each other speak volumes."

"You really think so, lela?" Her eyes shined with hope.

"I do. The way he cares about you and brings out the best of you, the way you admire him and push him to be a better brother, a better friend, a better partner. That's what love actually is, making each other better and be happy with the simpler things in life, and you two have it, without a doubt. And you know what? That's the kind of relationship everyone should aspire to have for the rest their lives and you two are lucky to have it.”

Eleanor stared at the resolution with whom her grandmom was speaking and she knew it was all honesty. She felt relieved because there was someone outside her that thought that too. Sometimes she used to think it was too soon, but now was realizing that maybe it was alright. It was all real.

She had known it since she realized she was in love with Bryce, and it became more clear when they moved together, but now the truth was undeniable and more palpable than ever: Bryce was the man she will spend her whole life with.

Bryce was the man she was going to marry.

_____

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays! I hope you all enjoyed the day (or the days) despite the sad circumstances.

Special thanks to Conch @curiousconch for helping me with the initial ideas of this fic, I think without your support and ideas, I don’t think this fic would’ve turned out the way it did without our brainstorming session, so thank you so much!

And thanks to Ruby @starrystarrytrouble for encouranging me and sending me motivation to keep writing it despite my blocks and being out of ideas, thank you dear, I hope you enjoyed this!

Thank you all for reading!

I hope you all have an amazing week, and my best wishes to each and every one of you in the year that’s about to start soon.

A big hug!

#bryce lahela #Bryce x MC #Bryce Lahela x MC #Open Heart #Open Heart Choices #Playchoices #Pixelberry #Choices #Choices Stories You Play #Open Heart Fanfic #Open Heart Fanfiction

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utterlyinevitable · 3 years

Note

hc about what happened in the time jump for the bryce and raf routes to fix this mess? Make the lack of progression make sense! please and thank you

Sorry it’s taken a while to get these two done, i’ve been too busy living in my carefully curated Ethan timeline 😅 You can find Ethan x MC During the Time Jump here. (raf will be another post)

Bryce x MC During the Time Jump

After the gala, things weren’t that much different between them.

The most notable difference was the intimacy. It seemed stronger, deeper. Effortless.

They weren’t casual anymore that much was certain. They weren’t just fucking for fun. They were making love to last a life time. Their bodies knew one another in a tale as old as time.

But they’re both too timid to admit it. They won’t say the weighted phrase until they’re certain life and residency won’t tear them apart.

MC spent any free time she could having dinners with Keiki and Bryce. MC did most of the cooking but Bryce was the best sous chef learning how to adventure past pasta. The two doctor’s helping the teen out with her homework however they could. As smart as they are, they don’t understand Common Core...

But then Ethan turning the hospital into a greater version of the clinic meant MC was constantly busy. She barely even had 30 minutes to grab lunch. And sometimes she was even much too tired for drinks at Donahue’s.

Bryce had to lean on his surgical acquaintances a lot more now that his internal medicine buddies weren’t around. The clinic hadn’t trickled down to the surgical department; mostly because there were only so many ORs and you couldn’t rush procedures.

The week before Thanksgiving Bryce and Keiki were invited to MC’s apartment to celebrate with her roommates on their only day off together in weeks.

Despite the exhaustion everyone felt, they were up early and super cheery.

Sienna did most of the cooking with MC and Aurora lending a hand. Bryce and Jackie were on drinks duty and Elijah was in charge of entertainment.

They all crowded around the dining table on the matching chairs and ones from their bedroom desks in order to accommodate. It was a mismatch but it was perfect.

Conversation flowed freely and everyone said what they’re thankful for and what they think the upcoming year will hold.

Then out of seemingly nowhere Keiki brought up boarding school.

Bryce looked at her with utter shock. The other’s asked questions about it.

Keiki shrugged saying, “it’s just an idea. I can’t live with Bryce forever”.

It was true, but doesn’t mean Bryce felt a little sad at his sister leaving all too soon.

Christmas came sooner than anyone realized.

MC saw her family the weekend before the holiday as became her tradition since med school.

Since Bryce’s call to his mother about the funds to send Keiki to boarding school, she was sending him more messages and asking Keiki to come home for the holiday. She offered to pay for first class flights for her two darling children to come home.

Both Lahela’s were against it.

Bryce took off as much time as he could to spend with the kid before she goes to school. But there’s only a handful of days he could take off at the busiest time of the year.

He managed to get Christmas and the day after off, and a half day on Christmas Eve.

Eve evening, Bryce came home to half priced decorations unceremoniously scattered about his living room, and Keiki and Mc standing on the couch trying to hang a daisy chain banner that looked like kindergarteners made it.

He couldn’t help but smile and pull MC into the biggest hug. She made everything 1000x better.

The small family spent the evening eating and laughing and decorating the table top tree MC and Keiki picked up at the Walgreens down the street.

Cuddled up on the sofa in each other’s arms and Keiki on the makeshift bed she’d been sleeping on since her arrival, they watched classic Christmas movies and ate chocolate. It was perfect.

Except MC had to work the next evening.

The amount of patients coming through Edenbrook’s doors tripled in the upcoming days and kept everyone busy.

Luckily the group of friends were able to spend New Years together.

There wasn’t a single question as to if they were kissing at midnight.

Bryce started kissing MC during the countdown; from her neck, up her jaw to her ear, cheeks, to the tip of her nose and then her lips at midnight.

Shortly after the brief celebrations with the others, the two retired to her bedroom and kept ringing in the new year the right way.

Keiki leaves for boarding school a few days after New Years. It was a very emotional journey down to Connecticut.

Bryce was endlessly thankful MC accompanied him. Without her he’s pretty sure if would have cried a lot more on the drive home. And he probably would have stopped off at some sketchy gas station for a pick-me-up snack. Thankfully, MC suggested they hit Buffalo Wild Wings before entering the city instead.

The couple thought Keiki being gone would give them more time together.

They were so wrong.

Mc got busier and busier and her time off didn’t coincide with his schedule, and everything got so damn complicated.

They hadn’t seen one another properly outside the hospital that wasn’t in passing in weeks.

So Bryce carved out some time around Valentine’s Day.

MC was too busy to even realize the significance of the day. Every single day melded together to the point she didn’t know what was up or down, the month and barely clocked the time.

She was leaning against the nurse’s station rapidly filling out charts when Bryce made a move.

He slid up next to her, rubbed her shoulders and told her to take break with him.

“Bryce I can’t I have patients. You see that line don’t you?”

“You haven’t taken lunch yet,” he said simply. He dropped his hands and turned around and called, “Hey Inès, MC is going on lunch!”

“Enjoy!” the senior resident called back.

Bryce folded up the charts, handed them to Sarah behind the desk and dragged MC by both the wrists down the hall to the elevator.

“Where are we going?” MC asked.

Bryce may have set up a little rendezvous spot in a shut down inpatient wing. He had some take out he picked up from the café around the corner set up by the window and two clinical chairs. On the still-made bed was a stuffed bear holding a “Be Mine” heart and chocolate that he certainly did not steal from the gift shop.

“The last time we were in one of these something really magical happened,” he said as he closed the door behind them.

“The only thing magic was your hands.” MC wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his lips.

The evening of the group’s night on the town started off rough and stressful.

Bryce admitted he applied for a transfer to MK. He needs to be in Boston or really any hospital within driving distance of his sister’s school. She didn’t fly all the way out here just to be abandoned by him again.

MC understood - of course she understood his reason for staying here. She just didn’t know what to do for herself. They hadn’t talked about the long term, if they were going to try and be close. They hadn’t talked about their future at all, actually. The only times they did Keiki was the main subject.

And she guessed she just had to apply to places and hope for the best. She knew where he’d be and now she needs to figure out if she fits into that.

When applications got sad and boring the group got all dolled up and went out for a drink. Or six. Enough alcohol to forget the awkwardness that was earlier in their apartment. To forget the looming uncertainty of their unofficial relationship.

Bryce was committed. MC was committed. They just weren’t vocal about their devout commitment.

They got so drunk and ended up at the helipad on top of Edenbrook.

Cracking beers in hand, dancing and singing and enjoying the evening to it’s fullest. Bryce held her close and they lamented on the view as they sat against the wall, anticipating the sunrise over the horizon.

The nightly breeze picked up. He rubbed patterns up and down her arms and she drew circles at his inner thigh.

MC looked at him, their eyes locking.

Bryce’s lips turned upwards in a weighted smile. MC leaned her forehead against his and let out the sigh she didn’t know she was holding in.

He kissed the corner of her mouth. Then her cheek. Then her nose. Then her neck. Her hands gripping to the lapels of his sports coat.

They went back to his place and they didn’t talk about the future at all. Both of them clinging to the here and now.

That evening they didn’t have sex. They held one other the entire night. They fell asleep to the sound of the other’s heartbeat.

Small pleasantries were exchanged in the morning along with light kisses.

For another time that year, they both felt the change.

Edenbrook’s last day came and they were both in their feelings. Bryce was set to start at MK in a few weeks time and MC still didn’t know where she was going. Not a single application response on the east coast had come back yet.

Bryce was standing outside with his best friends when the lights of Edenbrook finally went off that fateful day.

Minutes later MC walked out. He noticed how her features, mood and hopes simultaneously fell lower than he’d seen in a while.

Her eyes found him right away, his arms waiting for her. She melted into his hug. Deep in his embrace with all her friends chattering around them, a part of her hoped they could compromise. There was so much more to explore between them. This couldn’t be the end.

The entire Boston Bucket List event was bittersweet. As much as they enjoyed the escapades and these memories with their friends Bryce and MC just wanted some time alone. They needed time together to combat the unknown.

By the time it was MC’s turn she chose a total cop-out. A kiss with Bryce.

A kiss she hoped encompassed every feeling she was too scared to say. A kiss that told him just how much the uncertainty of their future was eating her up inside. A kiss he desperately needed as well.

________________________________________

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therewillbnoexplanation · 3 years

Text

Writerly Ephemera

Thank you so much for tagging me @amywaterwings I love all of your fics so much, and it was so cool to get to see the little pieces of you that ended up in them.

I could describe the challenge in my own words, but I think Amy put it so beautifully:

The idea (and I hope I understand it!) is Writerly Ephemera, which is a word for when we add little bits of ourselves to our writing, scattering memories and places and phrases and things into our stories. The game is to find five examples of this, of YOU, in your writing and show everyone.

This seemed impossible at first, but soon I had so many examples that it was difficult to pick! My 5 examples are below the cut!

1. In Simon and the Phantoms, there's a reference that hasn't come yet (you're getting a sneak peek!) that is so embarrassing. I was a huge One Direction fan growing up (ok, still am, ngl) and the best way I could think to describe an excited crowd was a 1D concert. People were always screeching, not just because the music was good (the attractive band members helped....)

We get to the instrumental break, and Baz picks up his violin again. He sounds incredible, as usual, and all the girls in the crowd scream like this is a fucking One Direction concert (although I have to admit that I see where they’re coming from).

2. In the sweetest con, the ice cream shop is based on the best ice cream experience I've ever had. My friend and I went to see our mutual friend's dance recital, but rather than go out with everyone afterwards, she took me to this ice cream stand on the side of the road. It was delicious, and the vibes were off the charts.

His ice cream shop is quite literally on the side of the road. It’s as though we’ve left the town altogether and ended up on some strange, way-back roads. The store itself is circular, with curved windows along the front. The white walls stand out in the darkness, as does the bright neon sign, which reads EBB’S ICE CREAM, topped with a picture of a banana split. Despite it being in the middle of nowhere, the parking lot is full. Teenagers are sprawled out in the grassy area surrounding the place, enjoying their dessert or just laying in the grass.

It also should be noted that my entire evermore series comes from my deep love for Taylor Swift. (and Dana's encouragement)

3. My Carry On Countdown Day 26 last year, Does he know you can move it like that?, is based on another One Direction song. (That's so embarrassing.) I'm a bit of a wild dancer. I just kinda flail around and my body takes over. It's not good, but it's entertaining. The basis of the One Direction song "Does he know" is does your boyfriend know you're such a sexy dancer, but I thought oh gosh if that happened to me it'd be 'does he know you are such a wacky dancer. I decided Simon dances the same way.

That’s when I see it. A flash of golden hair, oscillating wildly on the dance floor. The mob spreads out, and suddenly the wild dancer is in the center. I can just about see them from where I’m leaning against the bar. They’re doing this weird motion with their arms where they criss cross them in and out, making an x to the beat, and their legs have a mind of their own. Half jumping, half shuffling, it seems they’ll go wherever the beat takes them. I’m surprisingly envious of this person. I wish I had their ease, their comfort in their own skin. They look ridiculous, sure, but they also look like they’re having fun. Somewhere deep down in my cold heart, I love having fun. As the song ends, the crowd starts cheering, and the mystery dancer turns my way. That’s when I get a good glimpse of them. Golden curls, moles I can spot from here, a ragged old t-shirt and jeans. Simon fucking Snow. I need to get out of this bar.

4. Another Carry On Countdown, Day 28, keep shining on. My most favorite Christmas tradition is driving around neighborhoods with my mom, looking at other people's light displays. We always get hot chocolate and listen to music, and it just feels so magical. On top of that, "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay has always been one of my favorite songs ever. I was a dramatic kid, so it appealed to me so much.

If we drive around for one more minute, I think I might be sick. “Remind me why we’re driving in circles right now when I could be in my pyjamas,” I grumble. “I’ve almost found the house, I promise!” Shepard calls from the front seat. “This better be worth it.” Simon takes my hand and scoots to the middle of the backseat. “Besides, it’s Christmas Eve Eve Eve , Baz. You have to get in the spirit!” he says. I just roll my eyes, pressing my face to the cool window. I have to admit, the houses are really pretty. It feels like every house on this street is lit up brightly with gaudy Christmas lights. There are blow-up snowmen and Father Christmases on roofs. It’s almost comforting.

5. I gave Baz my Fleetwood Mac obsession in Sing Me to Sleep. Like me, Baz gets it from his mother. I always loved "Landslide" as a kid because my mom would play it just for me in the car. She'd cry when she sang, but I never knew why. Now, I know what it's like to connect to the song as you grow older. I made Simon defend "Silver Springs" because it is one of their best songs. Both of these songs would be played from her CD of The Dance, which was a live recording of the band in the 90s.

Then I started listening to The Dance, my comfort album. It reminds me of driving in the car with my mother before she passed. She would always cry to “Landslide,” but neither of us ever acknowledged it. Now Snow is in my apartment, mentioning how he loves Fleetwood Mac and defending the honor of “Silver Springs.” I’m not quite sure what to do with myself, if I’m honest. I keep going back and forth between loathing and something weirdly close to yearning.

THAT GOT TO BE SO LONG! Sorry!! I just love telling stories. I'd love to see your examples, if you're comfortable sharing! I'll tag just a few: @snowybank @seducing-a-vampire @ninemagicks @aristocratic-otter @palimpsessed and anyone else who feels inspired :)

#tag games #my writing #it me

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anastasiaenache003 · 3 years

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It’s all about the magic of the moment...

A/N: Hello there! This is my first post ever on Tumblr, and it’s also a fanfiction, more precisely an entry for #johnicaweek2021 , organised by the specatcular @eileen-crys :) I really hope that I managed to picture in the best way possible the tender relationship that John and Ronnie have. Enjoy!

My Instagram account: @anastasia.enake ( just in case)

Johnica Week day 5- “Memories” and “Nowadays”

Word count: 3087

It was the New Year’s Eve of 2021. The fireworks were now heard somewhere in the distance, with people rejoicing the last moments of a magical night. The whole house on an empty London street has gone quiet; it was dark, only the streetlights’ pale light making its way through the half-open curtains and the only sound that could be heard was the slight, almost intangible crinkling of the wood in the fireplace. On the second floor, behind the closed bedroom doors, the house’s habitants were seeing sweet dreams. Some of them were dreaming about the presents they would get in the morning; some were dreaming about the little holiday they were all going to go on for a couple of days.

The master bedroom, however, was empty. Or, to be more precise, it has been “relocated” into the living room. There were, sleeping on a comfy sofa beside the fireplace, covered in a huge and warm blanket, two old people, a man embracing his wife. On the coffee table in front of them was laying a very old and dusty photo album, which has been left open on a blank page, probably because someone had accidentally turned two pages at once. Or not?...

New Year’s Eve, 1971

“John, where’s the champagne? I thought you had bought it already?” questioned Mary as she greeted the young man in the doorway.

“I’m truly sorry, but I can’t believe that literally NO SHOP was open today in our area”, sighed John as he took off his coat. “It looks like there’s a conspiracy theory or whatsoever, I swear!”

From somewhere in the kitchen popped out a big black-haired head. “Don’t worry, darling, I made sure we would drink as much champagne as possible tonight!” Freddie gave his most flamboyant smile towards the guest. “Please, feel welcome! Mary, would you be so nice to introduce Deaky to our guests?” he added nonchalantly before disappearing in the kitchen.

As sweet and gentle as she was, Mary took his hand and led the way into the big living room where you could already hear the chattering. Freddie has always been keen on spending every holiday in the best way possible, be it Christmas, Easter or even his birthday (he was not modest at all). This year’s New Year celebration, as he and his other three friends formed the group “Queen” and already began on working for an eventual debut album, had to be very special. And extravagant nonetheless. Not that he gathered all London town’s population in his tiny apartment (although he would’ve loved to), but a close circle of good people who knew how to have fun was always welcomed.

When Mary and John entered the living room, John felt a little bit uncomfortable as all eyes were on him instantly. Truth be told, he didn’t enjoy that much big companies, but felt that this evening meant so much for the other three guys, especially for Fred, that he tried his best not to look or sound not at ease. People were approaching him and tried to engage him into different conversations, about music, books or whatever topic was popular at the moment and soon, John’s shyness melted away. As she made sure that everything was alright with the new guest, Mary glanced quickly over the people who were already in the room. She smiled to herself and then disappeared in the hallway.

The party was delightful, in every sense of the word. Soon arrived Brian and brought a whole packet of fortune cookies, “for entertaining purposes”, of course. “What is New Year’s Eve without fortune-telling?” he wondered surprised as Roger, who wasn’t into all kinds of “children games”, took the packet from his hand and gave it a discontent look. “Bri, I know you’re a very kind and wise man, but WHO ON EARTH reads fortune papers on New Year’s Eve? Be serious, no one’s interested in those and-!”. “Nice to meet you too, Rog”, smiled Brian as he shook the snow off his clothes and fluffy hair.” If you wanted us to play games, then we should’ve done “Truth or Dare”, complained Roger,” AND it’s far more interesting, at-”. He was suddenly cut off by Freddie’s yelling from the kitchen:” Not all of us are interested in THAT kind of games, Rog! Let the guy come in and enjoy the party! It’s all about magic tonight, and not about what you had in mind!”

The last phrase was said louder than the previous two, as a few people wandered curiously in the hallway to see what was happening, but soon got back to the rest of the party. Roger rolled his eyes and helped Brian to take his fur coat and scarf off, mumbling something to himself. “Don’t worry, Rog”, Brian teased him, “I guarantee that you’ll have great fun tonight!”. “Pinky promise!” he burst out laughing, not really trying to control himself. “Fuck off!” Roger shot him an annoyed look and punched him slightly in the ribs, but also couldn’t constrain a toothy smile. The two then hurried int the living room where they were welcomed by a burst of applauses and cheesy jokes. Now, the party must have truly begun.

It was already half past eleven when the doorbell rang, to a big surprise for some guests. As neither Freddie, nor Mary, were to be seen to be going to open the door, John has offered himself to do it.

When he opened the big wooden door, in front of him was standing a young woman, a very good-looking woman, dressed in a white fur coat and a white hat. Around her neck she was wearing a bright reddish scarf which was definitely pointing out her elegant look. In her hands, he noticed a few little present bags with lots of different velvet boxes inside, which he immediately offered to help with. But as she lifted her eyes to thank him and to meet his gaze, he stopped abruptly and stared in that astonishing sparkling pair of hazel eyes. His mouth fell open in awe as the mysterious guest slightly shook his shoulder. “Excuse me, sir, are you alright? You look… a bit lost” she spoke and John could swear that the tone of her voice was sending shivers down his spine. It was so soothing, calm and sweet at the same time that his heart began beating faster. He hardly found his words and whispered: “Um… no, thank you… In fact, … I… You… You should come inside, it’s already twenty minutes to midnight and it’s freezing here…” he finally found the force to speak properly as he welcomed the young lady inside.

As he helped her with her clothes and bags, Mary appeared in the long hallway. “Is everything alright with you two?” she wondered grinning at the couple. “Yes, Mary, thank you! This young man has come to help me, we shall come in about 5 minutes to you, guys! Open the champagne!” reassured her the new guest. Mary lifted her brow at what she was witnessing, but then decided not to disturb the two and quickly made her way in the main room.

When John carefully took the coat off the lady’s shoulders and helped her with unwinding the scarf, she stood in front of him in full height. John’s eyes were glued in the very next moment to her appearance. She seemed to be rather shorter than him, considering that she was wearing heels too. Underneath the coat was hiding a splendid tea-length long-sleeved silky dark-red dress with fine dark embroidery on the hem and on the collar. He took in every inch of her astonishing look, especially of what he later considered to be her most precious jewel- her bright hazel eyes, whose shade differed from caramel to apple-green in the light of the lamp.

“You look…” he began, unable to find the right words to describe her otherworldly beauty. “How do I look?” she questioned, smiling widely, which made it even more difficult for John to talk. “You… You look breathtaking!” he witnessed, more to himself, not completely trusting his voice and emotions. At his confession, a tint of blush covered her already rosy from cold cheeks. “I must be honored to receive a compliment from a gentleman like you, then” she bowed her head in response. The sound of her softly spoken voice made him smile in return. “The others are waiting for us; I think we shall go…” she whispered nodding towards the door leading to the living room. Without any further explanation, John offered his hand to the young woman. She accepted it gladly, putting her tiny hand in his and together they walked into the crowdy room. This wasn’t left unnoticed by Mary, who was sitting at the big table next to Freddie and Brian.

As the couple appeared in the doorway, someone poured them a glass of champagne for each, as Mary raised hers for a toast:” My dear friends! Here we are, 15 minutes before celebrating the New Year of 1972! This year has been a tough one, not gonna lie. It had a lot of difficult situations which we are bravely over now. Still, 1971 has brought some delights in our lives, which I will be eternally grateful for. This year has seen the beginning “, she then looked at Freddie and the rest of the band, “of a new musical group, “Queen”! These four guys, who were not afraid to start a band, made their first steps into the big music industry and I hope that, in a year or two, we shall all be hearing their brand-new album storming the charts! Cheers to that!” she cried happily as everybody stood up and clinked their glasses. “Let me have my little word here too, my dear!” exclaimed Freddie, hugging Mary from behind. “I just want to wish you, to all of you, that the new 1972 brings you what you desire the most in your lives, be it love, new friends, money or whatsoever! In other words, peace and love to all of you! Cheers!” he joked and raised his glass, much to the joyful laughs of their guests.

All this time, John couldn’t take his eyes of the mysterious lady who was, much to his pleasure, sitting on his right hand. As Freddie finished saying his toast, John raised his glass to her and whispered so quietly so that only she could hear him:” Happy New Year?”. “Happy New Year!” she responded, leaving a peck on his cheek. John felt vulnerable under her tender gaze. He must know what her name was. It was a matter of life and death. Maybe he wanted to ask her that question, but was interrupted by the joyful cries of the guests who were glued to the clock on the wall- 1 minute and 30 seconds until the new year of 1972. “Open the balcony! NOW!” shouted Roger, desperate to watch the fireworks invading the city’s night sky. Even at 22, he still remained that little child who loved the New Year’s Eve. Who didn’t, though?

The whole party started to crowd the small balcony of Fred’s apartment, waiting impatiently for the show to begin. “Follow me”, the lady leaned and whispered in John’s ear, “I know a better place to watch them.” Making their way through the crowd, the couple got dressed really fast and stormed out of the apartment, giggling. “We must use the fire escape, but quickly!” she added and started to climb it, careful not to slip on the icy stairs. John followed her immediately, paying attention to her movements.

As they got on top of the roof, the fireworks were already blasting in full force, coloring the sky in the colors of the rainbow. London town was glowing. It was a breathtaking view, perfect to spend the New Year’s Eve with someone special. “I’m Veronica Tetzlaff, by the way. But you can call me Ronnie…” she whispered as they were standing close to each other, still holding hands. “Happy New Year, Ronnie” he turned to face her beautiful eyes. “My name’s John Deacon, or Deaky, as the others call me” he smirked. “May I hug you, Ronnie Tetzlaff?”. “Please”, she smiled,” Happy New Year, John Deacon!” her voice now muffled in his shoulder. Behind them, the whole world was celebrating the new upcoming year of 1972. However, a new tiny world has been created, and it was now growing at the speed of light between the two young people.

“Can I ask you one more question, Ronnie?”.

“Yes, John. Ask me anything. I like the way your voice sounds when you talk, really…” she giggled, looking up to meet his gaze and his beautiful smile.

“It might sound too bold from me, and considering that we’ve only knew each other for less than half an hour…” he started, but she cut him off. “Really? I thought I have known you for a whole lifetime…”. At her words, John’s heart skipped a beat. Truth be told, he had heard talking about two people being soulmates. But he never thought he would be able to find his, and that fast, and on such a special night.

“Ronnie, I… May I kiss you?” he breathed out shakily, his face just a few inches away from hers. He could see the fireworks’ reflection in her eyes, which made them even more spectacular to look at. She didn’t say anything, just slowly nodded and smiled gently at him. The next moment he carefully took her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. Her lips were as soft as a rose petal and felt perfectly matched for his. He moved his hands to her middle and hugged her tightly while she embraced his shoulders. If there was Heaven on Earth, that particular moment could represent it in the best way possible. However, not shortly after, he noticed that she was sobbing quietly in his arms. “I’m so sorry, Ronnie, I shouldn’t have gone that far- “he quickly started to apologize to her, but she gently stopped him. “Silly, I’m crying because I’m the happiest person in the world! Everything is perfect. You’re perfect” she kissed him back as a confirmation of her words. Freddie was right, the new 1972 has definitely brought something that they both desired in their lives- a true and profound love, which would last over the years, in happiness and grief…

When they returned back in the apartment, it seemed that, curiously, nobody has even noticed their absence. However, as soon as they stepped into the warm hall, they were greeted with a flash of a camera. “Roger! Maybe should’ve waited for us to look more presentable!” John half-shouted, half-laughed. “It’s all about the magic of the moment, so shut up! Plus, you look very presentable nonetheless. I’m talking about you, beautiful young lady. What about you, my fine friend…” teased Roger before receiving a punch in the shoulder from John. “Okay, problems aside, let’s celebrate! It’s the New Year!” giggled Veronica, taking both boys’ hands and running in the living room where the others were cheering and celebrating loudly. Happy New Year 1972…

Everything was just fine, exactly how it should be…

“Do you think it will work out for them?” Mary wondered as Freddie helped her washing the dishes. The apartment was now empty and only the confetti hanging from the chandeliers were bringing back the memories of an unforgettable night. “God knows… But I’m sure they found each other interesting, even at first sight. Do you agree, my dear?”. Mary just smiled to herself. “I hope so…” she added nonchalantly…

The first morning of the new year is always a special morning. The kids always hurry to get their presents under the decorated tree, whereas their parents and grandparents exchange secret knowing smiles and enjoy the happiness and the delight of the little ones.

The old couple sleeping on the sofa woke up before anyone else in the house. “Seems that we fell asleep here” the old woman yawned. “Good morning, beautiful” the old man turned to face her. Her hazel eyes were exactly the same as in that very morning, 50 years ago. Nothing had changed in their beauty. “Young man, you’re staring. How bold of you!” the woman added laughing. The man caressed her cheek, still admiring her eyes that caught his attention a long time ago and hadn’t let him go ever since. “You’re still as breathtaking as on that New Year’s Eve, my love. Happy New Year, Ronnie” he whispered, kissing her forehead. “Happy New Year, John!” she sighed, a feeling of perfect harmony growing in her chest. A couple of cheerful cries were approaching the living room. “Be prepared for the attack!” she laughed before sitting up and greeting her ten grand-children with a warm embrace. “Happy New Year, grandma and grandpa!” they cried in unison. “Happy New Year, our darlings, our sweet-hearts! Now go and open your presents. They’ve been waiting for you all the morning!” she advised them as she and John watched them go and rip off the packages impatiently and with stars in their eyes.

“Grandpa?” asked the youngest one, Mary, “shall we put another photo in your album? I’ll bring the camera, if you want to”. “Hurry up, then, my dear, and please wake up your parents and the rest” John told her warmly as the girl ran upstairs in her room. Soon, she returned with the whole bunch of parents and a camera in her hands. “Now”, she began enthusiastically, “everybody, gather round the tree and I’ll take a family photo. I said NOW, Richard!” she yelled at her older brother who seemed not to like the idea, but obeyed anyway. The whole family, still sleepy from the last night’s celebrations, came together smiling round the decorated tree, with the old couple being in the center of the group. “And now”, the girl warned as she fixed the camera on the tripod and quickly ran and stood at the side of the group so she would appear in the picture as well, “say CHEESE!” and pushed the camera button. The Polaroid came out instantly and showed a happy family on a New Year’s magical morning. A great picture for a photo-album. “It’s all about the magic of the moment” remembered Ronnie and saw John tearing up a little. “Yeah, it’s all about the magic of the moment…”

#johnicaweek2021 #john deacon #veronica tetzlaff #queen fluff #queen fanfiction #newyearseve

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365days365movies · 3 years

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February 27, 2021: Love Actually (Part 2)

In case you hadn’t noticed by now...this movie is a lot.

I won’t dwell, and I’ll get back into All Around, but just trust me...this is a bit too much. All I know is that they packed way too much in this film, which is also somehow too long? It’s a lot, yeah? OK, first part of the Recap is right here, let’s get into the second half before I lose my nerve.

Recap (2/2)

So, good news is, Rodrigo and Sarah start dancing at the party, then start to hook up at her place! But the sad news (not bad, just sad) is that it’s interrupted by calls from her brother, Michael (Michael Fitzgerald), a very mentally ill man who lives in an asylum. Their love affair is cut short, and Sarah visits him the next day, where he lashes out at her and claims the nurses are trying to kill him, before being subdued. YIKES. Fuckin’s whiplash.

A little more sadness, as Karen’s convinced that Harry’s fallen out of love with her, having seen how he interacted with the attractive Mia at the party. That’s going to cause some friction, I’m sure. This is folllowed by Mia’s flirtations the following afternoon, which are once again accepted by Harry with no words to the contrary. He also calls her as he’s out, and he appears to be giving into the flirtation, rather than denying them. And as he’s meeting Karen for shopping! Dammit, Harry.

At the store, he buys a necklace for Mia from jewelry salesman Rufus (Rowan Atkinson!). Rufus asks is Harry wants the necklace gift-wrapped, and he agrees. And Rufus...Rufus is the best gift-wrapper of all time. Seriously, the man is a fucking ARTIST. His attention to detail is astonishing, and I love him. Harry doesn’t, as it’s taking way to long. YOU CANNOT RUSH PERFECTION, HARRY! But, yeah, it’s taking too long, and Karen shows up. Harry abandons the necklace, and poor devoted Rufus.

One week until Christmas, as holiday shenanigans take place with everybody! Jamie’s learning Portuguese for Aurélia. Colin (yeah, remember him?) is headed to America, while his roommate Tony is back to work at the film set, where Judy and Jack are being stand-ins for a myriad of sex positions, and Jack asks Judy on a date, which she accepts! A very cute couple, all things considered. They go out on a date on Christmas Eve, and the two kiss on the doorstep. They are legitimately adorable.

Colin arrives at a bar in the United States, and as soon as he orders a beer, his accent IMMEDIATELY draws the attention of Stacey, Jeannie, and Carol-Anne (Ivana Miličević, January Jones, and Elisha Cuthbert). And...IT FUCKING WORKED? These girls are all immediately into him, and invite him to stay with them at their place. However, they only have a small bed, and no couch. Not to mention the fourth girl, Harriet. But he bites the bullet, and accepts the invitation. And once he gets there, the sex proceeds in shadow. I cannot believe it worked, and it’s kind of hilarious.

Meanwhile, the jig is up for Harry. He did indeed get the necklace, and Karen finds it in his pocket before Christmas, assuming that it’s for her. However, when Christmas comes, Harry gives her a Joni Mitchell CD instead, and she realizes that the necklace was for Mia. Which is...shattering. Karen’s extremely hurt by this, fucking understandably.

Christmas Eve! Billy Mack’s song, despite the odds being completely against him, has reached the number one spot on the charts. He appears to be quite happy at a party celebrating him, although his manager appear slightly less so. Wonder why. Jamie, meanwhile, heads to the airport, quite on impulse. Wonder why.

Karl bids Sarah a good night and a Merry Christmas, and she cries when she realizes that their chance of getting together again is shot. Damn. She goes to visit her brother, and I gotta say - she’s a very loving sister. And then...well, it’s the scene. The most famous scene in the movie. You know the one.

youtube

And here’s the thing about this scene: is it superficially romantic? Yeah, sure, I guess. And it’s true that Mark doesn’t actually expect anything to come from this, but...this is still an AMAZINGLY shitty thing to do to someone in a committed relationship that involves your friend. Because it could potentially sabotage their relationship. I mean, maybe she’d be tempted to kiss you in a brief moment of infidelity that initially seems romantic, but is kinda fucked up when you really think about it.

Yeah, yeah, LITERALLY JUST LIKE THAT

OK, after that terrible idea, Bill shows up by surprise at his manager Joe’s place, and notes that he could be going to a big party at this point, but Christmas is a time to spend with his family and loved ones, and that the closest thing to that is, in fact, his manager, who is in fact the love of his life. Not sure if that’s necessarily romantic, but that is still sweet. Anyway, they get drunk and watch porn together. Yup.

David, meanwhile, gets a bevy of Christmas cards, one of which comes from Natalie. She apologizes for the kiss situation, and refers to herself as “Your Natalie”. Time to get in the fuckin’ car, David. He drives down to her neighborhood, and goes from door-to-door until he finds Natalie’s place. Her and her entire family are headed to a school concert, and David offers to give her and her little brother a lift there.

On the way there, the two begin to admit their feelings for one another, and Natlie notes that the President forced herself on her, but nothing else happened. While he’s reluctant about the whole affair, she brings him into the concert backstage. As he enters, he runs into his sister Katie, who’s glad to see him, and is clearly holding back tears because of the Harry situation. Judy and Jack are also there, as well as Daniel and Sam (who’s in the concert).

The kids’ concert takes place, and its headed by a solo from Sam’s crush, Joanna (Olivia Olson), who...WAIT, OLIVIA OLSON? As in...

...Huh. Of all the members of this ensemble cast, she’s the one I least expected! But OK! As expected, she’s an excellent singer, and headlines a rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas”. Which seems mildly inappropriate for a kid’s concert, but whatever, sure. She points at various people when saying “is you” in the song, but never at Sam, who’s on the drums. Oof. Sorry, buddy.

The song ends, and the curtain drops, and...

Well, uh...shit. I ean, I’m happy for them both, but David’s officially FUCKED at this point. However, the crowd seems to receive it very well, and that’s lucky. The night ends, and everyone disbands for the night. Harry and Karen are amongst them, and Karen confronts him. She asks what would he do if he were in her position, revealing her knowledge about the necklace. And it’s...affecting, goddamn. He’s made a fool of himself and of her, and she’s struggling.

Daniel congratulates Sam about his performance, but notes that it didn’t work Still, Daniel encourages him to tell Joanna his feelings for her, and he goes to get his things first. Daniel bumps into Carol (Claudia Schiffer), and there’s a connection. Daniel and Sam go to speak with Joanna, but they’re on their way to the airport. They run to meet her there, like in a terrible romance movie. Wait -

At the airport, Daniel and Sam are too late, but decide to make a run for it while Rufus (KING OF GIFT WRAPPERS) is holding up the attendant while looking for his boarding pass. Sam bolts, unnoticed, and Rufus walks away, giving Daniel a knowing look as he passes by, LIKE A KING. Sam bolts through the metal detectors, as the post-9/11 airport attendants RIGHTFULLY FREAK OUT ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION. However, they’re once again distracted by Billy Mack on TV and he catches up to Joanna before being taken away by the fuzz. However, she gives him a kiss on the cheek, and Sam and Daniel hug. Supportive father-son relationship is sweet.

Jamie goes to find Aurélia in Portugal, and the entire village ends up following him until getting to the restaurant were he works, and proposes to her in INSANELY broken Portuguese, which is hilarious. And she accepts...IN ENGLISH! Which is saccharine as fuck...but also sweet.

We cut to a month later, and everybody’s at the airport for the Epilogue. And we’re gonna do this...well, bit by bit.

Billy Mack and Joe: Career’s going well, and a comeback is imminent. Not in a romantic relationship, but still extremely close friends...I think.

Juliet, Peter, and Mark: Juliet and Peter are still together; Mark is still single, seemingly. They meet up with...

Jamie and Aurélia: Coming to England for the first time together, and still in love.

Daniel and Sam: Went to see Joanna at the airport, and Daniel is now dating Carol, which is nice!

Harry and Karen: Oof, icy. They definitely don’t appear to be on good terms, and we never learn why Harry’s been away, but yeah. Not looking good for their relationship, understandably.

Jack and Judy: Married! FUCK YEAH! Adorable. They run into...

Colin and Tony: Colin’s back, and he’s brought back Harriet (Shannon Elizabeth) and her sister Carla (Denise Richards), who IMMEDIATELY takes a liking to Tony and they make out at the gate. Can’t believe that Colin was right, goddamn.

David and Natalie: David’s back from a visit somewhere overseas, and he and Natalie happily reunite right in front of the press, and it’s sweet.

And we’re full-circle, as countless people at the airport reunite in loving embraces. And, I gotta say...it is sweet, but you ever been to a crowded airport around Christmastime? Dude, I’ve been to JFK around that time period, and lemme tell you, it’s less happy reunions, and more pissed-off TSA, lost luggage, stressed out EVERYBODY, and Cinnabon. That last one’s not a complaint...I just really want Cinnabon.

Mmmmmmmm...OH RIGHT, THAT’S All Around (AKA Love Actually). This has been...a lot. BUT, I’ll get into the whole thing in the Review! See you there!

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alyjojo · 3 years

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Ten years ago, I really didn’t want to be induced. It was my first baby, and I was scheduled for the day after Mother’s Day (her due date). I spent that whole day prior walking the entire zoo with my own mom, trying to get her to come. I spent that whole night crying because in the morning, they’d force her.

So the night after Mother’s Day, under a full Scorpio moon, my Mother’s Day baby was here, head absolutely covered in dark brown hair and big brown doe baby eyes ❤️ Everything went perfectly fine and I learned a lesson as a very naive girl, to never let doctors tell me what to do with my baby ever again.

I didn’t see a doctor with my 2nd baby until I was almost 6 months pregnant, because I couldn’t get the insurance issue worked out. So we got married. No regrets 😊 And because it had been so long, doctors couldn’t legally even give my Shmoo a set due date to try to sell me on induction (much to my doctors dismay). We were all very (purposefully) cloudy with information, except for me, and my Pisces moon baby came on a Sunday morning all by herself. That Mother’s Day, I had two little girls 💕

My son was an enigma. Things were not very good at that time...later his birth chart would read that hard conditions were necessary for him to come into the world (which made me feel better...some).

I had a period the same month I was pregnant with him. In the beginning of the month, I bled, and at the end of it I guess I got pregnant. I spotted the next month, but pretty regularly, which I also assumed was just a light period. Month three I took a test and...went to the doctor. They gave me a Christmas Day due date, I got mad, called the lady a liar, and switched doctors 😆

I thought there was no way it could be Christmas when I had it at Feb., they’re trying to force him out.

Next doctor said Christmas, I was wrong. On Christmas Day, he was very patient through the girls present opening and his fiery Aries moon was born very quickly Christmas night. When it was on, it was on. Scarily fast. They had me on meds to slow him down while hubby took girls to gmas. 4 hour labor, probably could’ve been 2. The doctor delivering was a man, and him & hubby had jokes the whole time 😒

That Mother’s Day was extra special, I had a little BOY now 💙💙💙💙💙

I was always meant to be a mother and didn’t know it, even if I really did. The first time I ever saw Monsters Inc, I was maybe 13ish, and I said out loud to someone (idk who) “my little girl is gonna look just like that”. And when I played a video game years later, with a sweet little brown farm girl, I said “and that’s her name”. And I just knew that. And she is 😊

When I met my sister in laws step-son, a brown baby Christmas Eve boy who is so much handful and so stinkin sweet that you don’t even mind the madness...I said to my husband, my son will be just like that someday. He just laughed and said yeah he’s cute isn’t he 😆

When Shmoo was in my belly I just got all warm and fuzzy and said “this baby looks just like her Daddy”, even though we had no way of knowing. She does. And I covered her room in pretty fish and mermaids. She was the biggest surprise, I never thought I could have two girls. I never thought I could have any heh.

Before I met my husband, my teen years were filled with six month intervals I had to go to the doctor to force my body to bleed. I dated the same guy throughout those years. I had a false positive which scared him off like a...anyway, it was meant to be. The day it was over I broke down...and bled, all on my own. And it never stopped again.

When I met my husband, we had a full year of no protection and nothing happened. I was hot to move out and get my own place, and he was like sure...and came with. That first time in our new place. Hello baby. Moved a year later. First time in our new place, hello baby 2. It’s a theme 😆

Idk what time wasting bill paying job I’m “destined” for. I like to sing and write. Any job I ever did have I only had because a friend or a guy I liked worked there. 100%. The only thing that ever seemed destined was that I was destined to be their mama.

*cue Forrest Gump feather*

#to all mamas #and pet mamas #and mamas that have lost #mama is the only job #I will ever give a damn about #unapologetically #always very blessed #I didn’t forget jane #that’s another story #she has my heart too #love my kids #I’m so lucky

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bechloeislegit · 4 years

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2020 BeChloe Valentine’s

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE TO SHARE

Prompt from FanFiction User horsegurl03: Hey, how about a 2nd shot to (I think Christmas 2018) chapter 13 - In Sickness And In Health. [Both announced they are pregnant]

Beca and Chloe checked in at the desk for their appointments. They sat in the waiting room and Beca couldn't help but stare at her wife.

They were both ten weeks pregnant and having their first ultrasound. They would have had them at eight weeks, but Chloe's grandmother passed away and they were in Tampa for a week.

Beca sighed and sat back, thinking back to Christmas when they both surprised each other with the news of their pregnancies.

On Christmas Eve, they had both said they had a special gift for the other. Chloe had run out of the room to get her gift for Beca, while Beca had hidden hers under the tree.

"Who should go first?" Chloe asked.

"You go first," Beca said. "I have a feeling my present is going to overshadow yours if I go first."

"I highly doubt that," Chloe said. "But, here."

Chloe handed Beca a box wrapped in paper with A Charlie Brown's Christmas scenes on it. It was Beca's favorite holiday story and she watched it every year.

"Nice paper," Beca side with a smile.

Beca tore the paper and threw it to the side. She looked at Chloe who was nervously chewing her bottom lip. She opened the box and set the lid down on the floor.

Beca peeked in the box and found layers of tissue paper. "Are you sure you want me to see this?" Beca asked with a laugh. "How many more layers do I have to get through to find it?"

"Oh, be quiet you," Chloe said, slapping at her arm. "It's under the paper."

Beca moved the tissue paper and pulled out something made of white cloth. She unfolded it and held it up.

"I know I'm small, Chlo," Beca said with a teasing smile. "But I don't think this is going to fit."

"Turn it around."

Beca turned it around and she quickly turned to look at Chloe. Chloe was smiling and had tears running down her face.

"This is for real?" Beca asked with tears in her eyes as she looked at the little tee that said 'I Love my Two Mommies.' "You're pregnant?"

Chloe nodded her head and Beca grabbed her and kissed her. She placed a hand on Chloe's stomach and pulled back.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Beca said. "When you didn't say anything, I thought you were upset because the pregnancy test was negative."

"I was going to tell you that night," Chloe said. "But when you came in you were so loving and gentle and I decided I wanted to do something special and surprise you."

"Well you did surprise me," Beca said.

Beca pulled Chloe to her again and held her for a few minutes.

"We're going to have some excited soon-to-be-grandparents here tomorrow," Chloe said with a laugh.

"They may be a bit more excited than you think," Beca mumbled.

"What?"

"I think you should open your present."

Chloe opened the gift to find the same shirt she gave Beca. "How did you know I was pregnant?"

"I didn't," Beca said and just looked at Chloe. She knew the second Chloe figured it out.

She stared at Beca with wide eyes and her mouth opened and closed a few times before she managed to squeak out, "You're pregnant, too?"

"Yep," Beca said. "Surprise?"

"But, how? When? How?"

Beca took Chloe's hands in hers and moved closer so they were sitting knee to knee. "You were so upset when the first two tries didn't work that I was afraid of how you'd react if another attempt didn't work. And with Christmas coming up I didn't want you to be sad, so after you had your procedure done I went in and had it done, too. I figure we had a better shot at one of us being pregnant."

"So, when we thought you had the flu, it was-"

"Morning sickness," Beca finished. "Yeah."

"Oh, my God, Becs," Chloe said and let out a sob. "We're going to have two babies." Chloe grabbed Beca in a hug and kissed her. "I love you, so much."

"I love you, too," Beca said.

"This is going to be a great story to tell our kids one day," Chloe said.

"Mrs. Mitchell," a nurse called out, rousing Beca from her memories.

Chloe stood and held her hand out to Beca. Beca took it and followed Chloe to the ultrasound room.

"Which one of you is Chloe Mitchell?" the nurse asked.

"I am," Chloe said.

"Okay. Please remove your shirt and pants and put this on," the nurse said, holding out a paper gown.

"Um, I need one of those," Beca said.

The nurse looked at her.

"I'm pregnant, too," Beca said. "We both have an appointment for an ultrasound today."

"Oh," the nurse said. She grabbed another paper gown and handed it to Beca. "I'd better get your chart. What's your first name."

"Beca," Beca said.

The nurse left the room. Beca and Chloe both disrobed and put on their paper gowns. Beca sat on the exam table and Chloe stood next to her.

"Maybe one of us will have a girl," Beca said. "And one of us will have a boy. That would be cool, wouldn't it?"

"I think so," Chloe said.

"Hey, are you okay?" Beca asked, pulling Chloe to her.

"I'm so nervous," Chloe said. "It took so many tries for me to get pregnant. What if something happens? What if-"

"Hey," Beca said, interrupting Chloe. "No matter what happens, we are in this together. Literally."

Chloe chuckled. "I'm sorry. I just want us both to have a healthy baby."

"Me, too," Beca said and suddenly pulled back from Chloe. "Oh, my God! I just thought of something. What if we both go into labor at the same time? I want to be there for you."

"I want to be there for you, too," Chloe said. "I'm sure our folks, and even the Bellas, will be there for each of us."

"We have to tell them first," Beca said. "Why don't we tell them on Valentine's Day?"

"We should make sure everything's okay first," Chloe said.

"Everything will be fine," Beca said, hugging Chloe. "I can feel it."

There was a soft knock on the door. A doctor, and the nurse that was there previously, entered.

"Good morning, Mrs. Mitchell," the doctor said. "And Mrs. Mitchell. I understand you're both pregnant and are here for your first ultrasound."

"Yes," Beca and Chloe said.

"Okay, then," the doctor said with a smile. "Who wants to go first?"

"I'm already on the table so I'll go first," Beca said and laid back on the table.

Chloe stood by Beca's side as the nurse placed a sheet over Beca's lower half. Chloe pulled the gown up and exposed Beca's stomach.

The doctor clicked on the screen and took a tube of gel. He placed it over Beca's stomach.

"This is going to be a little cold," the doctor said as he squeezed some of the gel.

Beca's stomach contracted at the cold feeling. The doctor placed the ultrasound wand over the gel and started moving it back and forth as he watched the screen.

"Do you hear that?" the doctor asked.

"Oh, my gosh," Chloe said. "Is that the heartbeat?"

"It is," the doctor said.

Beca and Chloe listened as tears gathered in their eyes. Beca grasped Chloe's hand and squeezed it gently.

"That's our baby's heartbeat, Becs," Chloe whispered in awe.

"I know," Beca whispered back.

"Everything looks good," the doctor said. "I'll print off a picture for you to take home."

"Could you print a couple of them?" Chloe asked.

"Of course," the doctor said with a smile.

"Thank you," Beca said.

The nurse wiped Beca's stomach and pulled the gown down. She removed the sheet and helped Beca off the table. She removed the paper sheet and replaced it.

"Mrs. Mitchell," the nurse said, looking at Chloe. "You're next."

Chloe got onto the table and the nurse got her ready. The doctor handed Beca copies of the first ultrasound. Beca held it as tears came to her eyes.

"It's so beautiful," Beca said.

"Okay, Mrs. Mitchell number 2," the doctor said. "Are you ready?"

Chloe pulled her gown up to expose her stomach and nodded her head.

"Whoa," Chloe said and laughed as the gel landed on her stomach. "That is a bit cold."

"Sorry," the doctor said as he moved the wand over Chloe's stomach. "There it is."

Beca and Chloe listened as the baby's heartbeat filled the room. They looked at each other and smiled.

The doctor checked the screen and smiled. He moved the wand.

"And," the doctor said with much fanfare. "There's the other one."

"What?" Beca and Chloe both asked.

~ 2020 BeChloe Valentines - Whole Lotta Love to Share ~

Beca and Chloe sat in their car, stunned at hearing the Chloe was expecting twins. Beca held both their ultrasounds in her hand, tracing over the tiny shapes in awe.

Chloe sat in the seat next to Beca, her hands over her stomach, smiling as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Can you believe it, Becs?" Chloe asked, looking over at her wife. "Twins! We're going to have three babies."

"I know," Beca said, still in awe. "I don't think I've ever been this happy before."

"Me, either," Chloe said. She reached for Beca's hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Beca said and leaned over to kiss Chloe.

"Let's go home," Chloe said, kissing Beca one more time. "We need to tell our folks."

"They are going to freak," Beca said. "Hey, if we have a girl, do you think it'd be okay if we named her after your grandmother?"

Tears flowed down Chloe's face. She leaned over and grabbed Beca in a hug.

"I think that would be more than okay," Chloe said.

Beca smiled at Chloe and started the car. Chloe wiped her face and smiled all the way home.

A few hours later, Beca and Chloe were cuddling on the sofa. Both of their parents had been ecstatic to hear about the twins. Mama Beale cried when they told her if one of the babies was a girl they were naming it after her mom.

"We should find out what the babies' sexes are," Chloe said.

"That's a good idea," Beca said. "We can figure out names and color schemes for the nurseries."

"Yeah," Chloe said.

"We should definitely tell the Bellas, soon," Beca said.

"I think Valentine's Day will be a good day to tell them," Chloe said. "They'll all be in town."

"Do you think we should tell Stacie and Aubrey first?"

"They are our best friends," Chloe said. "But-."

"But, what?" Beca asked.

Chloe moved to face Beca and used her left hand to play with the buttons on Beca's shirt while putting her right arm around Beca's waist.

"Is it wrong that I want to keep this to ourselves for just a while longer?" Chloe asked.

"No, I don't think it's wrong," Beca said, kissing the tip of Chloe's nose. "We'll tell all the Bellas at the same time."

"I like that idea," Chloe said. "It's only two more weeks."

"I agree," Beca said, pulling Chloe closer to her. "Plus, I read somewhere that you should wait until you've reached twelve weeks to tell people."

~ 2020 BeChloe Valentines - Whole Lotta Love to Share ~

The next two weeks found Beca and Chloe still walking on air over the news that not only were they both pregnant, but Chloe was pregnant with twins.

Beca was at the studio finishing some work so she'd have time off to spend with the Bellas. Stacie and Aubrey were the first to arrive, followed by the rest of the Bellas over the next two hours.

The girls were sitting around, catching up and chatting when Stacie called out to Chloe.

"What time will Beca be home?" Stacie asked.

"Around seven, I think," Chloe responded. "I'll text her to see."

Chloe went to the kitchen to text Beca.

"Do you have any wine?" Jessica asked. "The girls want to start partying."

"Um, yeah," Chloe said and grabbed two bottles of wine and some glasses.

"Beca texted she'd be home soon," Chloe said as she and Jessica rejoined the Bellas in the living room.

"Who is she working with?" Ashley asked.

"I can't tell you," Chloe said. "But you all love them."

"Not fair, Chloe," Emily whined.

"Sorry," Chloe said, not looking sorry at all.

"Shots! Shots! Shots!" Amy suddenly yelled.

"Yeah, shots!" CR cried out.

"I don't know, you guys," Chloe said.

"Come on, Chloe," Stacie chimed in. "It's a Bellas party. We have to have shots."

Just then the front door opened and Beca walked in.

"Beca!" Chloe squealed and ran over to her wife.

"Beca's home!" Amy shouted. "Now we can really get this party started."

Beca kissed Chloe and looked around before whispering, "Let me guess. Shots?"

"Yeah," Chloe whispered. "We can't drink. We have to tell them now before they start pushing the shots on us."

"You're right," Beca said. "Come with me."

Beca took Chloe's hand and moved toward the stairs.

"Beca!" Stacie called out. "Get over here. We're doing shots."

"I need to talk to Chloe about something," Beca said quickly. "We'll be right back."

Beca hurried Chloe up the stairs before anyone else could say anything to them.

"Ew, they're going to do it while we're all waiting down here," Aubrey said.

"No, they're not," Stacie said. "That wasn't Beca's 'I'm going to have sex with my wife' look."

The girls all stared at Stacie. "What?" she asked with a shrug.

"I don't even want to know how you know that," Ashley said, shaking her head.

Beca dragged Chloe into their bedroom and closed the door.

"I'm going to change into sweats," Beca said. "Put this on. I had them made during my lunch break."

Beca took two shirts out of the bag she was carrying. She handed one to Chloe.

Chloe held up a t-shirt that read Baby #1, Baby #2 with an arrow pointing down.

"What is this?" Chloe asked.

Beca held up her shirt to show Chloe. Hers said Baby #3 with an arrow pointing down.

"I thought we could put these on and see who figures it out first," Beca said.

"That's clever," Chloe said, smiling as she took off her shirt and replaced it with the t-shirt.

Beca quickly changed into sweats and put her t-shirt on. "Ready?"

"No, but let's do it anyway," Chloe said.

"I love you," Beca said, kissing Chloe.

"Mmm, I love you, too," Chloe said.

~ 2020 BeChloe Valentines - Whole Lotta Love to Share ~

Beca and Chloe came back downstairs to find the Bellas facing off against each other.

"Pizza!" the first group yelled.

"Chinese!" the second group called out.

"Oh, God," Beca said. "We go through this every single time."

"I want both," Chloe said.

"Then both you shall have," Beca said, kissing Chloe quickly. "Guys! Guys! Stop!"

The girls all shut up and looked at Beca.

"We can get both," Beca said. "Someone write down what the pizza group wants, and someone else write down what the Chinese group wants. I'll pay."

"Alright, Beca," Amy said. "I'll do the pizza order."

"I'll do the Chinese," Jessica said.

Chloe grabbed paper and pens for the two and everyone started saying what they wanted.

The orders were placed and the girls were sitting around the living room, talking and drinking. Beca and Chloe managed to keep away from having to do the shots by getting things from the kitchen.

"I can't believe no one's mentioned our shirts," Chloe told Beca as they gathered plates, napkins, and eating utensils.

"Yeah, and they said we were oblivious about our feelings for each other," Beca said. "We're practically telling them we're pregnant and they haven't noticed."

"I'm surprised Brey hasn't said anything," Chloe said. "She's usually more observant than the others."

"Foods here!" Flo called out from the living room.

Beca and Chloe left the kitchen to find the girls passing around the food. Beca sat next to Chloe and handed out the plates and napkins.

The girls started eating and Stacie was looking at Beca and Chloe. She slowly chewed her General Tso's Chicken as she stared at the couple.

"What's up with you two?" Stacie finally asked, waving her fork between the two of them.

"What do you mean?" Chloe asked.

"I don't know," Stacie said. "Maybe it's the wine or the shots, but something is different about you."

"Different how?" Beca asked.

"Yeah, Stacie," Emily said. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm not sure," Stacie said, her brows furrowed as she stared at Chloe.

Chloe began to squirm under her scrutiny.

"I know what it is," Stacie said suddenly. "Chloe, your boobs look bigger."

"Did you get a boob job?" Amy asked.

"What?" Beca screeched.

"No!" Chloe said.

"Then why do your boobs look-"

"You're pregnant!" Aubrey said.

The other girls whipped their heads around to look at Chloe, staring at her chest.

"Would you all stop looking at my wife's boobs," Beca said, putting a protective arm across Chloe's chest.

"It makes sense," Aubrey said. "Your boobs are fuller."

"And you haven't been drinking," Emily said.

"And you have this glow about you," Ashley said.

"Beca's boobs are fuller, too," Chloe said, laughing as Beca blushed. "And she hasn't been drinking."

"We're not talking about Beca," Stacie said. "We're talking about you."

"Are you pregnant, Chloe?" Aubrey asked.

The girls all stared at Chloe, waiting to hear the answer.

Beca and Chloe both breathed out a "Yes."

"Oh, my God, Chloe," Aubrey said, jumping up to run over and hug Chloe. "That's such wonderful news. Congratulations, I'm so happy for you."

"Um, we have something else to tell you all," Beca said, taking Chloe's hand and pulling her up to stand next to her.

Chloe smiled at Beca, but before either could say anything, Jessica shouted.

"Oh, my God! Look at their shirts. They're both pregnant! And Chloe-. You're having twins?"

"Yep," Chloe said with a big smile.

The girls all squealed and hugged Beca and Chloe. Flo sat off to the side watching, confusion written all over her face.

After everyone settled down, Chloe stood next to Beca with a smile as big as Beca's.

"Wait," Flo said. "I'm confused. How did you both get pregnant?"

Beca and Chloe told how Chloe had tried twice and the procedure didn't take. Then on the third try, Beca had the procedure done without Chloe knowing because she was afraid Chloe would be disappointed again if she wasn't pregnant.

"And we're both about twelve weeks," Beca said.

"And we found out that I'm having twins at our ultrasound two weeks ago," Chloe said.

"Wow!" Emily and Ashley said.

"This is, this is something else," CR said. "We're all so happy for you guys."

After everyone settled down, the topic of babies came up. It wasn't long after that everyone decided to call it a night.

~ 2020 BeChloe Valentines - Whole Lotta Love to Share ~

The next morning, Chloe gently eased out of Beca's arms and got out of bed. She pulled the blanket up around Beca's shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.

Chloe quietly made her way to the kitchen and set up the coffee pot. She put water in the tea kettle and set it on the stove. She was getting the cream and bottles of juice out of the refrigerator when she heard a raspy "Good morning" come from behind her.

Chloe looked over her shoulder to see Beca make her way over and take some of the things from Chloe, setting them on the counter. Chloe set what she was holding down as well.

"Did I wake you?" Chloe asked as Beca turned into her and hugged her.

"No," Beca said. "I reached for you and you were gone. Then I heard someone down here and figured it was you."

"The coffee should be ready in a few minutes," Chloe said. "I was going to give everyone another hour before I started waking them up. Our brunch reservation is for 11:00."

"Sounds good," Beca said. "I'll help you. But, first-"

Beca dropped down to her knees and hugged Chloe around the waist. She kissed Chloe's stomach twice and said, "I love you, babies."

Beca then stood and hugged Chloe. "And I love you."

"I love you, too," Chloe said, kissing Beca.

Beca continued to hold Chloe and started singing softly in Chloe's ear as they gently swayed back and forth together.

Having my baby What a lovely way of saying How much you love me. Having my baby

Chloe laughed as Beca continued to softly sing to her.

What a lovely way of saying What you're thinking of me.

Chloe pulled back and kissed Beca. She then started singing to Beca.

I can see it your face is glowing I can see it in your eyes. I'm happy knowin' that you're having my baby.

You're the woman I love and I love what it's doin' to you. Having my baby

Beca kissed Chloe, causing her to stop singing.

"I can't think of anyone else in the world I'd want to have a baby with, than you," Beca said.

"Right back at ya, babe," Chloe said.

"Oh, my God, that was so sappy," Stacie said.

"Bite me, Conrad," Beca said, not taking her eyes off Chloe.

"Is the coffee ready?" Aubrey asked.

"Yeah," Chloe said, kissing Beca before turning to get coffee cups down for everyone.

Chloe made Beca's coffee and set it in front of her. Beca pulled Chloe to her and rested her forehead against Chloe's.

"Before I forget," Beca said. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Happy Valentine's Day, my love," Chloe said.

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Song excerpt from: Having My Baby by Paul Anka.

#bechloe fanfiction #bechloe #beca mitchell #chloe beale

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theother-will-grayson · 4 years

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The Marathon

Fandom: Scrubs

Ship: Jdox

Word count: 2,777

Notes: So yeah uhhh if you didn’t know, this is an old ass blog and I am still officially a Scrubs stan, so if this is a surprise to you...I’m sorry. Here’s a little Jdox oneshot because my rewatch is giving me feels.

Summary: One hard night at the hospital brings two pining doctors together.

Also on FFN and AO3

JD wasn’t the most athletic guy growing up, and he certainly wasn’t anymore, but from 7th grade until he graduated high school, he participated in a horrible, deadly, thrilling sport called cross country. Initially, it had been the bright idea of his optimistic father in a fit of wishful thinking. Optimistic, because 7th grade JD looked like a stiff breeze could give him a panic attack, and the thought of running in front of people in the woods nearly made him go catatonic. But as time went on, he realized it helped a lot with stress and anxiety, whether he was any good at it or not.

There was this race, hosted by the Minooka Mountain Lions. It was the longest course in the conference. High school kids ran 5ks, or about 3.1 miles, but by middle school standards, the winding 1.8 miles of Minooka Park’s trails may as well have been a marathon. And at the end, a hundred scrawny twelve year olds were expected to drag themselves up a hill that seemed to shoot straight into the sky before shoving themselves across the finish line at a dead sprint. The year asthmatic, skinny, pale JD, pre-puberty and all elbows and knees, joined the team, it was the first race of the season, so they all had about a week and a half of conditioning under their belts. It was like asking toddlers to conquer Europe.

The race day came, no matter how much Johnny begged it not to. The gun went off, he jogged a bit and then walked on and off for, like, a mile, and when he turned the corner out of the woods and saw the most legendary sledding hill in the county looming over him, he fully stopped at the foot of the hill, not even noticing the parents screaming encouragements or the equally skinny and asthmatic competitors passing him. He simply stared up at the slope, awed by its incline.

That’s how he felt staring at a 12 hour on-call shift on Christmas Eve with Dr. Cox, a board member in the ICU, 4 car accident victims, one of which had already coded twice, and a young man desperately awaiting a kidney. It was the same feeling, only this time he didn’t start puking Gatorade so violently that his dad had to run onto the course and help him to a porta-potty while a coach directed traffic around his stinking lunch.

At least, not yet.

The door to the on-call room swung open, a figure standing in the door frame, and his heart was in that race again, fleeing his chest in a panic

In a rare moment of Christmas spirit, Kelso had granted a small splurge for some fairy lights in a few places around the hospital. Their twinkling light cascaded through the open door and cast Doctor Cox’s sharp silhouette in a gentle glow. JD had never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

“Let’s get to work, Newbie.”

The hill loomed.

JD barely registered what he was doing, his world becoming a blur of rooms, beds, faces, charts, pens, needles, and Perry. Perry wasn’t blurry. Perry’s hand was on his shoulder, Perry’s eyebrows were furrowed as he wrote, Perry didn’t even blink while tossing JD a chart. And every time he got a chance to finally close his eyes, it seemed like only seconds later that Perry was shaking him awake, helping him to his feet. God, his feet. He just wanted to get off his feet.

Despite the rants and the fights and the distinct lack of affection that JD caught himself daydreaming about, they made a good team. One to think and process, one to bark for efficiency. One to feel, and one to do. One to ground the other. They had to snap at each other, shove charts in each other’s faces, whistle, touch, anything to keep one another focused. Suddenly the hill was muddy. JD was injured, Perry was barely awake, someone was shooting at them, and they were dragging each other up the slope, JD screaming for bandages —

Just a dumb fantasy. Focus, JD. No, don’t. You’re in a brief moment of blessed peace. Savor it. He tilted his head back against the wall, just wishing he could sit, but knowing the trip to the break room would only waste his precious respite. Perry was handing him coffee.

And then, his pager. Perry’s pager. They locked eyes as they recognized the room number.

Zoe.

Among all the christmas bustle there was one of the usual snow related accidents on the freeway. A little 7 year old girl had been in the pileup. Her 16 year old brother, Charlie, had been behind the wheel driving in his first snow. He was dealing with broken ribs and internal bleeding, but he looked like he was going to pull through. Zoe had been touch and go for a while, but she had seemed stable enough. What the hell had happened? He abandoned his coffee without hesitation. Charging towards her room, all JD could think about was how young she was, how guilty her brother had felt about the whole thing and how relieved he’d been when he’d found out she was stable.

She wasn’t dead yet.

JD pushed every thought that wasn’t do this now out of his head as he sprinted down the hall, his stethoscope bouncing on his chest, running on his toes, muddy tennis shoes digging into the earth and bounding up tree roots like stairs…

“Starting CPR.”

It was probably going to rebreak her ribs but he didn’t care. Broken ribs are common when bending them two inches past their normal state, especially when they’re barely healed on a little girl.

He was sweating from the effort of the compressions. His heart was pounding. He found himself wishing for the magical ability to transfer his racing heartbeat to this little girl, to give her his shallow breaths.

“C’mon…” He was climbing uphill, carrying Zoe on his back. She was heavier than she looked. His lungs burned, his calves screamed, but he pressed on. The end was so close.

But medicine isn’t a race. There’s no finish line that you have to push for, no giant timer telling you your level of success, no string of plastic flags to funnel you into the blessed end. Saving lives has a time limit. If you’re not fast enough, the finish line disappears.

Zoe ran out of time.

He slumped to the floor outside the room. Doctor Cox stood above him. “Can’t win ‘em all, Newbie.”

All he could do was rejoice in being off his feet.

He could feel Perry’s eyes on him as he decided whether he wanted to listen to the half of his brain that begged for sleep, or the half that knew he didn’t deserve it. For a moment, it almost seemed like Dr. Cox could hear those voices too, or at least could identify the outward signs. Either way, he simply said, “Go home.”

JD couldn’t even muster the energy to express his surprise. He had come to expect baiting and tricks from his unwilling mentor, but for once he seemed genuine. He hauled himself to his feet again. God. “Merry Christmas, Doctor Cox.” And that was the closest they would get to a fanfare, to a roaring crowd praising them for collapsing across the finish line.

The sliding doors opened to greet his approach and a gust of wind dusted a few flakes of snow onto the carpeted entrance. The asphalt had already been salted, leaving goopy gray puddles of slush that squished and splashed in grainy chunks beneath his sneakers. But beyond the parking lot, outside the perimeter of the hospital, the snow glinted off the trees colored by dancing Christmas lights.

His mind wandered to his apartment, to Turk and Carla, who were already asleep in the apartment. They would wake up only a few hours after he got home, ready to celebrate and smile and laugh with their favorite third wheel.

He thought about that warmth, that contentment, that boost that he couldn’t bring himself to believe he deserved, and decided he wasn’t ready to leave.

Suddenly invigorated, JD about-faced and power-walked to the nurse’s station, filled with anxious adrenaline that he knew was a sprint and could only last a moment.

“Where’s Doctor Cox?”

The nurse pointed, and before he could stop himself, JD had flung open the door to the on-call room. Breathless, he wondered if the lights silhouetted him the way they had Doctor Cox mere hours ago. He’d been breathless then, too.

“Belinda, what are you —”

“Is anyone else in here?” He was stalling — he knew the answer.

“Not a soul. Newbie —”

JD shut the door behind him, at a loss for what the hell to do next.

“Sasha, you’d better go ahead and tell me what the hell is happening or so help me —”

“I don’t want to go home.”

Silence. JD cringed, realizing how childish he sounded. But that was just it. He felt like a child, reduced to basic emotions of tired, frustrated, sad. He couldn’t express anything else. Not that he should, even if he were able. He couldn’t just say, “Kiss me so I know that everything will be okay.” Like most things, that was better left in his head.

“Come here.”

JD obeyed semi-consciously. Dr. Cox’s warm hands connected with his shoulders, their heat spreading through his veins like ink in water and guiding him toward one of the beds. JD had a brief flash of clarity, realizing he was about to be tucked in. Child, his brain scolded. He ignored it, toeing off his shoes and folding himself under the thin blankets.

Dr. Cox sat on the edge of the bed, half on and half off. The sight of his profile, curved forehead, elegant nose, full lips, strong jaw, outlined against the navy darkness behind him took JD’s breath away. With all the running and the shoulder touching and closeness, he hadn’t even taken a moment to question why Dr. Cox hadn’t already put his foot up JD’s ass. Before he could dwell on it, let alone say anything, Perry’s fingers were in his hair and every one of JD’s brain functions stalled.

“It’s been a while since this job got to you, huh? Yeah I think you’re about due for a breakdown.”

His throat felt thick. Despite finally being in bed, off duty, off his feet, JD felt less like relaxing and more like crying.

“Now, me, I had mine last week, a few days after Jordan finally decided to leave for good. So I’m a solid rock. Whatever you need, Newbie, I’m here.”

All he could do was nod.

Dr. Cox sighed, the soothing motion of his fingers combing through JD’s hair as steady as his presence ever was. “What I’m saying there, Newbie, is that there’s no shame in letting go and breaking down, as long as you’re still ready to put your dukes up the next day and take some more punches.”

So he let go.

He had cried in front of his reluctant mentor several times, but never like this. These weren’t angry tears or exhausted tears or frustrated tears. These were all of the above, shoved down for god knows how long. And Dr. Cox endured it, scratching gently at the short hairs on the back of his neck and not saying a word. Minutes passed, and JD felt his mind coming back to him, along with the clarity he needed to be embarrassed. He sat up, shoving the heels of his hands into his eyes as if trying to force the tears to stop flowing. Dr. Cox gripped his wrists and pulled them away.

“Sorry,” JD said. Whether he was apologizing for the tears or the self-abuse, he did not know. He reclaimed his hands, which felt heavier than he remembered, and lifted the sleeve of his scrubs to wipe his eyes.

“Maggie, if you didn’t gather from my highly out of character kind speech from before your little sobfest that you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, I’ll repeat it in a way that you can understand.” Perry gripped JD’s chin, and oh how he wanted that to be real affection. “This. Place. Sucks. And no matter how thick your skin is, this hellhole is going to get to you. Bottling it up will drive you crazy, Newbie. Take it from someone who knows.”

“...Thank you.”

“Of course.”

Of course. What an odd response to a thank you. As if JD shouldn’t expect anything less.

It was then that JD realized that Perry had let go of his chin, but their faces were still achingly close. He could feel Perry’s breath on his lips, beckoning him closer. It was so tempting to reach forward and kiss him, not in some fireworks display first kiss full of romance novel heat and passion, but to just kiss him once on the lips, once on the neck, and just fall asleep in his arms as if they’d been lovers for years.

The unusual comfort and warmth was getting to him. He was drunk on the affection and everything felt so twisted, but he was spellbound, unable to move away. Only closer.

And closer

And—

Dr. Cox put a hand on his chest. “Newbie—”

“No,” he interrupted firmly. “No more excuses.”

And just like that, they connected. It wasn’t a fireworks display, but it wasn’t familiar either. It was easy, natural, electric. Like he was meeting Perry Cox for the first time. It was that final sprint, pushing everything he had into gaining seconds. It almost snuck up on him. One second he was enjoying the scent of Perry’s cologne up close and the next they were gripping each other’s faces, enraptured by the taste of one another. For a few unending moments, they couldn’t get enough of each other. For a few brief infinites, they gave into the absolute irresistibility of one another, the magnetism that they had fought for so long. And like magnets, they clicked into place.

And then they parted, slowly, achingly. Their lips hovered centimeters apart as they tried to breathe in one last taste.

JD pursed his lips, his head swimming as he fought for the courage to speak. “I…” just do it, Dorian. “Um, I have feelings for you.”

A tense pause. And then, he laughed. Doctor Cox actually laughed, and JD froze.

“That’s your glorious love confession?” Perry said, still grinning against his lips. “‘I have feelings for you?’ Surely after years of pining you can come up with something better than that.”

JD felt like an idiot. Of course. Of course Doctor Cox didn’t reciprocate. This is why he didn’t say anything for so long, because he knew it would turn out this way. All thought was replaced with action. He panicked and pulled Perry in for another passionate kiss, one he couldn’t escape from. Just keep kissing, pretend it never happened.

He seemed to gain ground for a moment before Perry shook off his surprise and pulled away, ducking another attack.

“JD,” He said. “I have feelings for you too, they’re complicated, messy feelings, but there’s no use denying them anymore.

JD felt the breath leave his body. “Really?”

A chuckle and a sweet kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Give me a chance to speak before you panic next time.”

Next time. There would be a next time. JD had been waiting for this moment since the first day of his internship. Perry Cox was confessing his feelings while kissing him in the on-call room, and suddenly he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. They clicked into place once again, grinning against each other’s lips. JD sprung forward, and they fell together, tumbling and laughing and kissing and feeling and lifting shirt hems and grabbing skin and—

“Not here, Newbie.” The nickname had never sounded so sweet. “Not now.” He granted JD a kiss. “Soon, I promise. But not in this dump.”

JD wanted so badly to protest, but he was so goddamn tired, and Perry’s arms looked so inviting. His face fit perfectly in the crook of his harm, and fingers came to ruffle his hair briefly, but JD didn’t let them leave. Perry chuckled and obeyed, gently scratching at JD’s scalp until his eyes could barely stay open.

Every shift at the hospital felt like a race, filled with hills and obstacles. But Perry...Perry had been a marathon. And it felt so good to cross the finish line.

#fanfiction #jdox #scrubs #jdxperry

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okimargarvez · 4 years

Text

REVERSE - 19

Original title: Reverse.

Prompt: Penelope is the new girl on the BAU team and Luke tries to treat her cold.

Warning: A.U., possible OOC.

Genre: drama, romantic, family, friendship.

Characters: Luke Alvez, Penelope Garcia, BAU team, Derek Morgan, O.C. Sam Cooper’ team, Roxy.

Pairing: Garvez.

Note: oneshot 62 in Garvez collection.

Legend: 💑😘👓🔦🐶❗🎲🎈👻🎬🎵.

Song mentioned: Amici per errore, Tiziano Ferro.

Reverse- Masterlist

GARVEZ STORIES

19 # Friends elsewhere, friends by mistake...

Since a while, his life has become an endless series of I shouldn't have. The last bullshit, to be added to the bottom of an endless list, was to accompany JJ to prison. He stayed out, but her expression told him everything he needed to know. She is one of his best friends, of course, not like Chrissie... but she has always been a separate matter. However, he cares a lot about her and cannot bear to see her so destroyed. Like there is nothing they might do to change things. They remained embraced in that shabby courtyard for at least five minutes, amid the astonished looks of the prison guards. And it was as if through that grasp he had absorbed his friend's pain. And not only that. Backing to the base, he ran to the bathroom, where he is still, spewing even his soul. He has cleaned up any trace, but his face is too pale for his usually darker complexion. Hair is wet, pulled back. He made no effort to settle down. He doesn’t expect visits, not there, then. Not she, over all.

Already the ticking of the heels should be a good clue, but his brain today has decided not to work and his intuition too. -Luke, are you okay?- Garcia is standing in front of him, in her white dress with lipsticks and mascara (not low-cut), her flower and pink shrug. Her lost expression.

She had just left the toilets when she heard noises from the corridor, noises that she identified with someone in pain. It wasn't any of her, business but then she had that totally irrational feeling and she understood, she sensed that it was Luke. For this she entered without announcing herself, not even considering the possibility that it was someone else or that he was not alone. -You are in the men's room.- he points out the obvious. But she is trying to recover from that unprecedented and so intimate vision. She has already seen him sad, embittered and above all angry, for example when they returned with Reid handcuffed or during the bail process. She never liked this, though. Those black shadows that she had only caught in passing inside his eyes are now dancing freely. He seems to be sick both physically and emotionally. He is completely down. She forces herself to answer him, rejecting the need to hug him.

She stays where she is, on the threshold, without approaching. -I know, you think they'll arrest me for this?- the joke has no effect, not even a half grimace, absolutely nothing. She swallows, but now she is alone in this mess and can no longer look the other way... if she ever succeeds. -Hey, what happened?- she asks, in a sweet, sad, low, sugary, comforting tone. All in one package. Luke turns away from her, staring at the sink. She ventures to look at him. She doesn’t know that her words were like medicine on his wounds. After an endless pause, realizing that he won't get rid of her so easily, he faces her again.

He shakes his head. -Nothing, absolutely nothing.- his eyes are dull, vague, even if Garcia senses that he hasn't cried. Which is already something, but too little. She doesn’t think that he is one who often allows himself to cry. -Go ahead with your life.- he claims. His tone is nuanced, so empty. He doesn't really try to drive her away.

She understands that he needs a shock, to recover, or at least to break trough it. Away the sweetness, then. Hard way are needed, as with one of her adoptive brothers, who loves to bask in self-pity and watch others solve his problems. -Now don't start talking like a woman, Alvez.- here, a little twinkle in his pupils. -You know perfectly well I won't go away.- she says, showing more convinced than she really is. The time has come to take advantage of the skills learned thanks to the theater course recommended at the group's meetings on the creative elaboration of mourning. -Now you understand how stubborn I can be.- she adds, crossing her arms. Luke sighs and she realizes that he has given up. He runs a hand over his face.

He speaks without looking at her. -At least let's get out of here.- his voice sounds so fragile that only by a miracle Garcia doesn’t hold him against her breast, like a mother with her baby. And he's damn sexy in this moment too. They walk along the corridor at a certain distance, until they reach one of the balconies that face outwards. Even that time of the joke about Roxy, he had chosen the outdoors. Perhaps he finds comfort in the caress of the wind. Or maybe when something like this happens, he becomes claustrophobic.

She gives him plenty of time to open up, but he doesn't get the message. He clings to the balustrade and looks down. -Therefore?- she captures his gaze for two seconds. She approaches. -I am aware that you would prefer to speak to anyone outside of me.- she suddenly feels selfish, wanting to be the savior at all costs. She sighs. -You want that I call someone? Rossi, JJ, Emily, Tara, Walker?- with the last surname she doesn’t tear a chuckle from him by a hair. Without knowing it, she almost followed a precise hierarchical order. She doesn't say the right name, of course. She can't be there. He reads in her face the awareness of not being that person.

But Luke surprises her doubly. -No. Please.- his is almost a moan. She clears the distance by a few more centimeters. He too. It's the only way he has, in this moment, in this state, to make her understand that he doesn't really want her to leave. He needs her, her words, her understanding. Even if he could never admit it verbally, even if he hadn't that lump in his throat.

Garcia, never been a profiler, has guessed the right explanation at first sight. -Is it about Reid's matter?- man doesn’t move. -I haven't received any new messages.- she then adds, not knowing how to proceed. He sighs, realizing that she is much closer than he thought. He scratches his head.

-Yeah.- he says. It’s still a result. -You know he can get visitors now.- a nod of assent; of course, it was she who had made a chart to establish the order of the visits and had placed herself at the bottom, even after Walker (moving him to tears). -JJ went to see how he was. I accompanied her.- it should be enough, but now that he has removed the cap, everything flows towards the drain. -They hit him. He is hurt.- he looks away suddenly, unable to bear the eyes of the woman, who foreshadows the worst.

-Oh God.- she covers her mouth with her hands. -Is it so bad? He's not going to die...- an absurd smile appears on Luke's lips. She doesn't even think for a thousandth of a second that it's for happiness or relief.

He nods. -Yes, he's serious, but I don't know how to answer the other question.- she sees him tremble. She puts her hand close to take his, but then she doesn't. -Prisons are a microcosm in its own right, as he would say.- a sob escapes him. It is almost the coup de grace. Because he can't really imagine him in that context. His mega brain is useless in that place; in fact, it could even be a problem.

He watches her move her fingers on the railing. -But he did not even find a friend?- she asks him, keeping her tone soft, so as not to increase, if she can't decrease, his level of anxiety and stress. Luke's look climbs along the curves of her body until he stops in the eyes.

-Two, according to JJ.- he tries to remember the names she said to him. -One is called Delgado and the other... Shaw, I think.- Garcia lights up like a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. She would definitely play the shooty star in the crib.

-Shaw?- she repeats that surname, which had no particular meaning for him. -It won't be Calvin Shaw?- he nods, recognizing the name, hearing the voice of the other blonde in his head. He frowns forehead and eyebrows.

-Why, do you know him?- he can't understand what someone like Garcia has to do with a human trash (of the worst kind) like that guy. He didn't know him, but he read his file, furtively, taking advantage of the fact that JJ was driving. It is partly the cause of his nausea. The idea that Reid was bonding with him...

Garcia shakes her head, a cascade of blond curls. -I don’t, but Morgan...- she doesn’t need to specify who she is talking about. If he knows, better for him, otherwise, it is not fundamental information . -I think he took care of his case. If I remember correctly, it was one of us.- Luke nods. -He killed his Russian contact.- he doesn’t hold back, doesn’t choose to add that detail, but his mouth opens and the words come out on their own.

-Yes, and probably his own baby.- she opens her eyes and looks at him in shock. Now she has all the elements to understand why he is so angry, even if he never thought of wanting to become a father, start a family, carry on the name of the Alvez, with discontent of his entire family, especially of his beloved grandmother.

She swallows, he can hear her sucking the air and holding her breath. -God, was she pregnant?- he breaks eye contact. Absurdly he sees Chrissie with her baby bump, her husband Richard with the baby in his arms, when they announced that he would be the godfather, if he wanted to.

He pushes the image away with difficulty, closing his eyelids. -Considering HCG levels, it would seem so.- he is not prepared for her reaction. Garcia punches the balustrade, probably risking to get hurt, at least to break a fingernail.

-What a bastard!- she exclaims. It is the first time he has heard her say a dirty word. -I'll call Derek and ask him to have a chat with this… man.- she reassures him, but her gaze is bad, another novelty. Can she really hate people? Maybe then she's human. -He is the best in this kind of thing.- she says, full of pride for her best friend.

He can just say one word. -Well.- there is no problem, she speaks enough for both. She comes closer an inch, without noticing, or maybe it's him. He has no certainty, nothing in any area.

-And hopefully in the meantime Emily and Fiona will be able to move the bureaucratic waters.- he nods, feeling a flame developing in his chest. He cannot remain indifferent to her way of expressing herself. But then he hears a familiar sound that catches her gaze going towards the bag, towards the cell phone.

-There is a case, there isn’t it?- a flicker of provocation. Garcia willingly takes the blame (actually not hers) for interrupting his opening moment.

But then she reaches out and finally squeezes his hand, hard. -Luke, trust me.- her gaze is equally intense. -We can save Reid.- it sounds like a promise.

But he can't risk evreything. How would he come out in the event of a defeat? He lets go of her hand and shakes his head. -I wish I could believe you.-

TAGS: @martinab26 @thinitta @shyladystudentfan @pegasus-scifichick @paperwalk @inlovewithgarvaz @the-ellen-stuff @astressedwriter @symphonyashley @kofforever @myhollyhanna23 @tootsienoodles @centiaaa @penelopesluke @dumbdraws @onefail-at-atime @reidskitty13@adorarapril @princesstreaclefanfic @glocknade111-blog @magiunific @fallen-novak @dreatine @hopelessdayydreamer @painterofhorizons @racing-against-the-sunset @majo0803 @vickyd-2012 @writing-whats-that @wearejuststars@klngzeewp @heylittlehollywood @kirstenvangsness @blu3crush@futureperfectmedia-blog @jade-cheshire3303 @life-between-pages @tooshorttobeanadult @xxlonelyghostxx @honeydoodles @pennypeabody @alessiapolimeni @londonrosebooklovingwitch @bbyxk @full-on-fangirl @catlynhoss05 @lushmp3

#garvez #criminal minds #cm #penelope garcia #luke alvez #penelope x luke #luke x penelope #garcia x alvez #alvez x garcia #spencer reid #tiziano ferro #amici per errore #a.u.

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allie1804-fan · 4 years

Text

A Doorway is Opened (Chapter 2)

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It was June 2020 and progress was being made with plans to re-open film production - Keanu would soon be heading back to Germany to continue shooting the Matrix 4. With the lock-down restrictions on meeting friends lifting, Keanu invited Hannah to dinner at his house. He even cooked - a dish of spaghetti with prawns, fresh tomato and lemon that his sister had taught him. This would be their first meeting in 2 months and their last in 2 months due to the shooting schedule.

After dinner, they went through to his living room and sat on the sofa to talk through the latest draft of the script.

“So, you’re glad I pushed you on this aren’t you? Gave you something to do in lock-down huh?”

“Yeah OK you win”, she laughed. “I’m grateful to you for giving me the confidence to try”

She carried on:

“You know these past couple of months I’ve felt like the clouds have lifted, the clouds of grief …. and I know that’s partly just time passing but it’s also thanks to you and your friendship” she spoke in an almost whisper. When she met his gaze he was blushing again!

“The screenplay gave me a real focus for the first time since Mark died you know other than helping the boys and just putting one foot in front of the other”

He nodded his understanding

“I kind of feel like a plant coming back to life after a long dark winter”

He smiled to think he’d helped her to loosen grief’s grip on her soul.

“I heard a theory about this before. They said that your grief is always the same, the same size and just as painful but your life grows around it and cushions the pain”

Keanu nodded his agreement

“For me” he said, “sometimes my grief bursts forth like an alien from my chest when I least expect it. I hope we find a way to express your concept in the movie when it’s made - I love it so much. You have some beautiful ways of explaining grief”

“Well like I said, that one’s not mine, it’s just one I found that really resonated with me”

“You’re too modest”

They looked at each other. Somehow, the atmosphere had changed with the sharing of such deep feelings. Keanu looked at her, soft brown eyes holding hers for a few moments longer than felt comfortable. Suddenly he shook his head as if a shiver went through him

“Where are my manners, would you like some more wine”

“I better not, I’m driving and I’ve already had one glass” she said.

“You could always sleep over, in the spare room I mean, I mean I’m not hitting on you or anything, not that I wouldn’t want to, oh God! ……….”

By this point, Hannah had started laughing at his befuddlement and he started to giggle as well.

“Sorry for being such a dork – could you stay though?” he beseeched her with his eyes, or do you need to be back for the kids?, I know I sound like I’m begging, I kind of am I guess ……….. it would just be nice to talk some more ………. I mean what with we me going away for 2 months, Facetime just isn’t the same!”

Hannah took pity on him and placed her hand on top of his and stroked it softly

“1 I don’t need to be back for the boys, they’re at their grandparents this week and so 2, yes I could sleep over and 3 yes please, more wine!”

Keanu beamed and leapt up to fetch the bottle from the kitchen.

“What were we talking about before I started being a total dork?!

Hannah chuckled “oh grief, death, our usual cheery stuff!”

“Oh yes, of course we were, what else is there after all?!”

A ghost of a smiled showed on Hannah’s face.

“Do you mind telling me some more about Mark? How long were you together”

“Wow, over 30 years - we were just kids when we met, literally in elementary school. But we didn’t go out until I was 17, nearly 18. I guess I kind of stalked him until he caved in! We knew we were in love about a month in I guess and we got engaged whilst at uni but married just after. I was 23 so we had been married 27 years when he died”

“Wow you were so young to be getting married!”

“I know right! - when I think Toby is already nearly that age, it freaks me out big time. Anyway, I guess you almost know the rest, from the book. We were lucky in so many ways to find each other and stay in love throughout.

A comfortable silence fell as she reflected and wondered about his romantic history. She hoped their current intimacy meant it would be OK to ask.

“What about you? Who have been your big loves, if it’s OK to ask”

“Sure – I mean I think I can be confident of not seeing any of this in next week’s National Enquirer! Let me see, errrrm there was Penny. She drove with me from Toronto to LA when I left there to pursue my career. It wasn’t exactly serious - she knew how focussed on my acting I was, but she was special, my first steady girlfriend I guess.”

Keanu then told her about a few other steady girlfriends in the 80’s and early 90s. None of them had lasted beyond a year. Film and promotional schedules often overtook his time and took him away from LA making it hard to sustain relationships.

“And then there was Jennifer. We had a long distance thing largely as I was away filming the first Matrix not long after we hooked up. I think that added in my head to the romance of it all. Writing her letters on my little typewriter after long days on set, posting them from thousands of miles away. Once I got back to LA things felt less sure, she was never confident in us, always needing reassurance and I think she found the celebrity thing both exciting and overwhelming - like she was part way a fan, partly my lover, you know? Then she got pregnant and everything changed”

“Oh so Jennifer was the mother of your baby, the one who died?”

Hannah knew this one fact about him but had steered away from looking stuff up on-line about it. She counted him as a friend now so if anything was to be shared, it had to come from him.

“Yeah, Ava’s mother. 19 years ago…….so much water under the bridge.”

“Do you think about her often now?”

“Who? Jen or Ava?”

“Both I guess”

“Yeah sometimes. You know in a sliding doors type way, especially at Christmas. That’s when we lost Ava. Christmas Eve 1999. What about you, do you think about your lost babies?”

“Yes sometime of course ……. but I think it’s different for me. My lost babies paved the way for Josh. If they’d lived, he wouldn’t be here, so I don’t mourn them as maybe you mourn your daughter, do you see? Of course I do think of them and every Christmas we’d hang stars and angels on the tree for them. That’s how we remembered them and the pain of their loss.”

Hannah was quiet for a few moments, remembering

“Do you have a way, a ritual to remember Ava? Do you and your family do something to remember her?”

“I guess they always just try to make sure I’m not alone at Christmas. That’s threatened to happen a couple of times and then Brenda or Janey or Alexandra have stepped in you know to rescue me! Stop me embodying my meme!”

“Your meme?”

You know, “Sad Keanu”?

“That one must have passed me by! I’ll get the boys to explain to their boomer mom!”

“I’m so glad you’re a boomer mum as you say and not all over it when it comes to press and internet stuff about me. It’s refreshing. Makes me feel I can be me without all that stuff informing who you think I am. Sometimes it gets in the way with new people, you know? I know I can be myself around my old old friends like Alex (he was in Bill and Ted) and Rob (he was in the band with me)

“Wait you were in a band?”

“Yes back in the 90s, Dogstar. Our folk thrash punk band”

“Sounds interesting – I clearly wasn’t paying enough attention back in the 90s!”

“Well we weren’t exactly topping the charts so that would probably explain it!”

“Can I hear some of your stuff?”

“Sure”

Keanu fetched some cds and had a look through to pick a song, going for “And I Pray”.

“Gosh, a man of many talents” she praised “what did you play?”

“the bass”

“Cool”

“wanna listen to some more music? I can hook up my phone to the speakers and we can play things on Spotify”.

“Sure, so you’re au fait with all the new tech? I took me ages to get there and I still have loads of cds and vinyl”

“me too - believe me I’m generally way behind the curve with technology but my god-daughter and my kid sister both played a role in bringing me into the 21st century”

They spent the next couple of hours, huddled on the sofa, scrolling through music choices on his phone and sharing both his and her favourites as well as reminiscing about bands they’d grown up listening to and great concerts they’d been to.

It was around 1am, with Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” softly playing that Hannah’s head lolled onto Keanu’s shoulder, the impact startling her back awake

“sorry, sorry” she said embarrassed

“hey no worries, you wanna go to bed now?” he asked

“Yeah, as you saw, my eyes are closing”

“Come on, let’s get you set up in the guest room, I’ve got a spare t-shirt you can sleep in if you like and there’s a new toothbrush in the en-suite with your room.

The room was a pretty one, perhaps decorated with his god-daughter in mind she thought. Once he’d shown her where things were and how to work the shower, Keanu bade her goodnight with a light kiss on her cheek. Despite being so tired, it took Hannah a good half hour to fall asleep. She touched the cheek where he’d kissed her and giggled inwardly at herself for feeling like a giddy teenager. In the past 2 months, she’d recognised her growing fondness for Keanu, putting it down to a mix of absence making the heart grow fonder and the Covid crisis making her susceptible. She’d found him very attractive way before she met him but she certainly hadn’t expected that he would reciprocate those nascent feelings. Tonight his lingering gaze as they talked about grief, his befuddlement trying to get her to stay and his soft goodnight kiss all made her wonder and maybe even hope. Tomorrow was another day.

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#keanu #keanu reeves fanfic #keanu reeves fanfiction #keanu reeves imagine #fluff #romance #miscarriage #stillbirth #same age

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