dizzybee03

[dizzybee03]

Oh a surprise visit is exactly what glen needs!!

In the Space Between: Chapter 24

OTHER CHAPTERS:

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5

Chapter 6 I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 I Chapter 9 I Chapter 10

Chapter 11 I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15

Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19 I Chapter 20

Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23

Pairing: Glen Powell x OC

Summary: Glen and Gabby navigate their time apart as best they can, but both are struggling as the distance feels bigger this time after Glen's surprise visit.

Word Count: 1.9k (Shorter filler chapter here, next one will be longer!)

A/N: As always please let me know what you think with Hearts, Comments, and Reblogs. I love seeing your thoughts on this story as it progresses!

GABBY’S P.OV.

Gabby adjusted the strap of her backpack as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, the familiar creak of the steps filling the quiet evening air. Another day, another lecture, another stack of notes to review. Her routine hadn’t changed much since Glen left—it was all as predictable as it had been before. But now, everything felt heavier, quieter, and somehow incomplete.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside, greeted by the emptiness of her apartment. The silence seemed to press against her ears as she flicked on the lights, illuminating the small but cozy space. Glen, and by extension Brisket’s absence hit her immediately, as it always did. The apartment felt far too still without the soft padding of his paws or the way both of them would sprawl out on the couch.

Gabby tossed her keys into the bowl by the door and set her bag down with a sigh. The weight of her day lingered, but it wasn’t the tests or lectures that drained her. It was the moments like this—the coming home to an empty apartment, the absence of Glen’s laugh filling the space, the quiet reminder that he was 2,100 miles away.

She moved to the couch and sank into the cushions, pulling one of Glen’s hoodies off the armrest. It still smelled faintly of him, a mix of his cologne and whatever laundry detergent he used. She pulled it over her head, letting the fabric swallow her as she curled her legs beneath her.

Gabby thought she’d gotten used to the long stretches of time without Glen during his filming schedules. She’d done it before, distracting herself with school, friends, and the occasional weekend shifts at the coffee shop around the corner where she had started working part time. 

But this time was different. This time, she’d had a taste of what it was like to have him close—those stolen thirty-six hours together, sharing takeout on the couch, and waking up to find him next to her. Sometimes she thinks it would have been easier if he hadn’t surprised her. But then she also couldn’t find it within herself to regret his visit.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, snapping her out of her thoughts. Gabby reached for it, smiling faintly at the notification. A text from Glen.

Glen: Hey, babe. Just wrapped for the day. You still awake?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, a warmth spreading through her chest. He always made time to check in, no matter how long or grueling his day had been.

Gabby: Always for you. How’s my favorite actor holding up?

The reply came almost instantly.

Glen: Tired. Miss you like crazy. How’s school? Brisket says hi.

She laughed softly, picturing Brisket trotting around the set like he owned the place.

Gabby: School’s fine. Same old, same old. Missing you like crazy too. Give Brisket a hug from me.

The conversation continued, filling the emptiness of her apartment with his presence, even if it was just through words on a screen. But as much as she loved these moments, they always left her wanting more. She wanted to hear his voice, to feel his arms around her, to have him here—not just in texts and late-night calls but in the little moments.

Gabby pulled her knees to her chest, staring at the phone long after their conversation ended. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t dwell on the distance, that she’d focus on her own life while Glen was away. But tonight, like so many others, she found herself wishing the weeks would pass faster, that somehow she could fast-forward to the moment when he’d walk through her door again.

She shook her head, forcing herself to stand. There was no use wallowing, not when there was a stack of notes waiting for her and a paper due by the end of the week.

GLEN’S P.OV.

Glen leaned back in the folding chair, exhaustion settling into his bones as the crew bustled around him. The lights above the set were dimmed now, signaling the end of another grueling day. His call time was at 6 a.m., and it was already nearing midnight, but he wasn’t in a rush to leave. The empty stillness of his rented apartment wasn’t exactly inviting.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, the screen lighting up to reveal his favorite photo of Gabby as his lock screen—her sitting cross-legged on his couch, wearing one of his oversized shirts with a mug of coffee cradled in her hands, her laugh mid-sound. Just looking at it made something in his chest ache.

Glen unlocked his phone and scrolled through his camera roll, landing on a selfie they’d taken the day before he left. Gabby had kissed his cheek just as he’d snapped it, and his grin in the photo was as wide as hers. He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. She always managed to bring that out of him, even when she wasn’t trying.

His thumb hovered over the screen before he tapped into their text thread.

Glen: Wrapped for the day. Coffee here sucks. What’s your go-to order again?

He stared at the message for a moment, debating whether to send it. It wasn’t like he didn’t know Gabby’s order—he could probably recite it in his sleep. But these little conversations, no matter how mundane, made him feel closer to her. He pressed send and locked the phone, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

“Hey, Glen,” a crew member called, walking past with a clipboard. “We’re set to pick up tomorrow morning where we left off.” He nodded absently, offering a quick “Thanks.” 

Tomorrow morning felt too close already, but at least the work kept his mind occupied. Most days, he barely had time to eat between scenes, much less dwell on how much he missed Gabby. But it was in the quiet moments—like now, when the set was emptying out and the adrenaline of the day began to fade—that the longing crept in.

His phone buzzed in his hand, pulling his attention back.

Gabby: You know my order. But since you forgot: iced chai latte, add vanilla, with oat milk. ;)”

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair.

Glen: I didn’t forget. Just wanted to talk to you. Miss you, babe.

Gabby: Miss you, too. Get some rest, okay? You’ve been working so hard.

Rest. The word felt foreign lately. Between the pressure of nailing his scenes, the long hours on set, and the constant buzz of the production schedule, sleep had become an afterthought. And yet, every free moment he had, he spent thinking about Gabby—texting her, scrolling through pictures, wishing she was here to keep him grounded.

He pocketed his phone and stood, stretching out the stiffness in his shoulders. A few crew members lingered nearby, chatting quietly as they packed up the last of the equipment. Glen gave them a small wave as he headed out, his mind already wandering back to her.

Five weeks. That’s how long they had to be apart. It sounded manageable when they discussed it, but now, each day felt like an uphill climb. He thought back to her voice on the phone last night, soft and warm, grounding him even through the static. She had a way of making everything feel easier, even when she wasn’t physically there.

Glen stepped into the cool Atlanta night and pulled his jacket tighter around him. As he walked to the car waiting to take him back to his apartment, he found himself pulling his phone out again, snapping a quick photo of the empty street in front of him.

Glen: Midnight walks in ATL. Wish you were here.

GABBY’S P.OV.

The third day without a call from Glen left Gabby feeling restless. She tried to keep herself busy—pouring over class readings, taking extra shifts at the coffee shop—but nothing distracted her from the gnawing sense that something was wrong. Glen’s texts had been short and sporadic, his usual humor and warmth absent. She missed the sound of his voice, the way he always managed to make her laugh no matter how stressful her day had been.

She glanced at the clock on her bedside table: 9:15 PM. It was later than usual, and her phone sat silent on the pillow beside her. Gabby sighed, pulling her knees up to her chest as she scrolled mindlessly through her messages with Glen, rereading the playful exchanges from last week right after he left.

It had only been ten days since he’d left. So why did it feel like it had been weeks or even months. 

Her phone buzzed suddenly, and she nearly dropped it in her haste to answer.

“Hey,” Glen’s voice came through, low and tired.

“Hey,” she said softly, sitting up straighter. “I was starting to think you forgot about me.”

“Never,” he murmured, though his usual playfulness wasn’t there. “I’m sorry I haven’t called. It’s been...a rough couple of days.”

Gabby’s heart sank. “What’s going on?”

He sighed heavily, the sound tugging at her chest. “It’s just one of those days. Or weeks, I guess. We’re trying to get this big scene right, but it’s not coming together. The director’s frustrated, the cast is tense, and I keep feeling like I’m the problem. Like I’m not delivering.”

“You’re not the problem, Glen,” Gabby said firmly, wishing she could reach through the phone and pull him into a hug.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice thick with frustration. “I feel like I can’t get out of my own head. Every time I think I’ve nailed it, someone has a note, or the timing’s off, or the camera angle needs to change. It’s just...exhausting.”

Gabby’s chest tightened. She could hear how much this was weighing on him, and the fact that she couldn’t physically be there for him made her feel helpless. “I wish there was something I could do,” she said quietly.

“You’re doing it,” he replied, his voice softening just slightly. “Just talking to you helps.”

They talked for a few more minutes, but Glen’s exhaustion was evident. When they hung up, Gabby felt the emptiness of her apartment settle over her again. She lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing.

As the minutes ticked by, an idea began to form. She grabbed her phone and opened her browser, typing in “flights to Atlanta.” A list of options filled the screen, and she scrolled through them, her heart beating faster at the possibility.

A weekend visit. She could pull it off. She had some savings set aside, and she could shuffle her schedule around to make it work. But doubt began to creep in as quickly as the excitement had.

What if his schedule was too packed for them to spend real time together? What if showing up unannounced only added to his stress? What if...

Gabby shook her head, trying to quiet the voice of uncertainty. She clicked on a flight option and checked the details. The timing worked perfectly—she could fly out Friday evening and return Sunday night.

Her thumb hovered over the “Book Now” button, but she hesitated, her thoughts spinning. She needed help to make this work, someone who could coordinate with Glen’s schedule without tipping him off.

And she knew exactly who to call. Someone who she knew was already trying to plan a visit to Glen on set.

Gabby scrolled to Glen's sister, Lauren’s number and hit dial.

[dizzybee03]

Oh my gosh I loved the ending of this!!! Such a good story- I was terrified that Angie’s baby was going to end up being Bradley’s 😬

Love To Watch You Leave: Part 7 - Final

Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x Reader

Warnings: Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Swearing, Fluff, Angst, Bullying, Smut, Grieving, Pining, Alcohol, Military Inaccuracies, Knife Injury’s and Attempted Murder

- Part 6 Here -

——————————

18+ Only

——————————




Bradley was only on the floor for a second, before his adrenaline went into overdrive and he stumbled back onto his feet.




When he’d kicked the door open, you were pinned up against the opposite wall, the knife being plunged over and over into your stomach. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as you barely clung to consciousness, blood covering Bradley’s bed and walls.




White hot rage boiled through Bradley’s veins and he charged at Angie, knocking her hard into the back wall. The knife clattered to the floor and skidded a few feet out of reach.




Bradley and Angie both dove for the knife, fists and feet flying left and right and all sense of humanity and civility in the world now long behind them.




Bradley didn’t care that this was once someone he sort of cared about, or someone he recently felt sorry for, now she was just someone who was threatening everything he cared about in the world.




He pinned her to the ground with his knee on her back as he scrambled for the knife, but Angie threw all of her weight, which was surprising considering her size, and Bradley flew to the side, landing on his injured shoulder blade.




She grabbed the knife first and climbed on top of Bradley, straddling him with the knife pressed against his neck.




Bradley held his hands up, teeth gritting and nostrils flaring, “You might as well just do it, Angie. I’m never gonna forgive you for this.”




Angie shook her head softly, “We could still try, we could make this beautiful.” She grinned down at him, the knife nicking his already scarred skin.




Bradley carefully turned his head to look at you laying on the floor by the wall, blood covering your hands and stomach.




Tears brimmed to his eyes and he was once again overcome by rage and hatred.




“There will never be a world where me and you are together.”




Angie’s face turned from a grin to a scowl and she screamed, lifting the knife into the air, ready to plunge it into Bradley’s throat. If she couldn’t have him, no one else could.




As the knife lifted from his throat and rose up, Bradley took the split second opportunity to grab her wrist. He used what strength he had in his other arm to push her off of him and onto the floor. He quickly got up and knelt against her, pining her to the floor, the knife now pressed against her neck.




She suddenly changed her tactic and pulled out the puppy dog eyes, eyebrows pulling together, “No, I’m sorry! Im sorry! Don’t kill me, please.”

She cried, squirming for her life underneath him.




“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t.” Bradley growled.




“I’m pregnant.” She blurted out.




Bradley eased up ever so slightly on the knife. “You’re lying.”




“No, I really am, I promise. It’s yours Bradley, please, please don’t do this.” She cried.




“Fuck!” He threw the knife across the room and slid off of her, propping himself up against the cold wooden floor, shock now overwhelming him.




Angie lay on the floor trying to catch her breath, “We… we could be a happy family, Brad, don’t you see that?”




“Don’t fucking move or I swear to God I will kill you with my bare hands.” He spat, crawling across the room to you.




You were shaking and awash of any colour now, blood flowing over your fingers as Bradley lifted you into his arms.


“I’m so sorry baby, I’m gonna get help, please just hold on.” He shakily kissed your forehead and lay you down carefully.




Bradley stood on wobbly feet and limped over to the knife.




Pointing it at Angie, he told her to stand and walk in front of him to the living room where he left his phone.




She did as she was told, now having nothing to defend herself with, and Bradley sat her down in front of him as he called 911.




“If she dies, Angie, you’ve ruined my life and I will not let you get away with it.”




Bradley held the knife out and Angie stared back, almost a glint in her eye, neither moved until the flashing blue lights appeared outside.




——————————




- 1 year later -




“I’m thinking either French Blue or Sage Green for the living room, what do you think?” You held up two cans of paint to the light in the hardware store.




Bob chuckled, “Either, both good choices, whatever you prefer, it’s your project anyway.”




You hummed as you considered your options, “Okay, French Blue. Maybe green for the kitchen.”




“Yes ma’am, want me to take those for you?”




“No I got it, thanks.” You grinned.




“Honey, what about these for the garden?” A voice from the next isle over called. Bradley walked around the corner of the isle holding a box of string lights, “I know you love them usually, what do you think?” He asked, stopping in front of you and Bob.




“That’s a great idea, babe. But you’ll need to ask Bob if he can help with that as well, I don’t think I’ll reach.”




Bob shrugged, “I did offer to help with renovations, so use me as you wish.”




You didn’t remember much from the day Angie attacked you, only horrible flashes that often came back to haunt you at night. The last thing you remembered was running into Bradley’s room with the full intent of jumping out of his bedroom window, only Angie was faster than she looked.




She cornered you in Bradley’s room, a dead end and you hadn’t realised that Carole had installed new locks on the windows since the last time you saw teenage Bradley sneaking out of his window at night.




You backed up against the far wall, your hands held out defensively.




“Angie, please don’t do this. It’s not worth it.” You begged.




“The moment I saw you with him I began to plan this, the only reason I didn’t get it over and done with last night is because you said it wasn’t real. If only you had kept your word, Y/N, then none of this would be happening. God, does girl code mean nothing these days?”




The next thing you remember was the hot pain of the knife in your stomach, and again and again, you felt like you’d been punched over and over, the last few feeling like nothing as adrenaline and shock began to set in, the corners of your vision darkening. Just before everything went dark you thought you saw Bradley’s beautiful face but you couldn’t be sure if you were hallucinating.




You woke up 3 weeks and several operations later in hospital, your mom on one side and Bradley on the other.




You were so relieved to see that Bradley was okay, but when he ran you through the details and told you there was a chance he was going to be a father, you were heartbroken.




For days you refused to speak to anyone as you lay in your hospital bed. You had no idea how you’d gotten yourself tied up in this, you’d always swore you’d never go out of your way for a man if it would kill you, and this time it nearly had. You certainly never thought it would be Bradley you’d fall for either.




But Bradley remained by your side, giving you the time you needed but also the support you didn’t know you required.




The surgeries had taken a toll on you and you’d lost a lot of blood, but luckily the knife somehow missed all of your major organs. The day you were finally discharged, you insisted on walking to the truck instead of being wheeled, you were eager to stretch your legs after weeks in bed.




You hadn’t taken into account how weak your legs would be, and not far down the corridor your legs gave out beneath you.




Bradley was quick to catch you, his big strong arms wrapping around you and pulling you into him as you began to sob in frustration. He sat down on the floor with you in his lap, your head nestled in his neck with his chin resting on your head.




“I’m so sorry, for everything… but I’m not going anywhere, Y/N. I’m gonna be here for you, I’m gonna help you, no matter what you need I’m there.” He kissed your head, his hand stroking your hair.




“Why? What could you possibly gain from that?” You sniffled, tilting your head to look up at him with watery eyes.




Bradley chuckled softly as he pressed a long, loving kiss against your lips. He pulled away and stroked your hair from your eyes, “Because I love you.” He stated so confidently. “And when I thought I was gonna lose you, those were the darkest weeks of my life. I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”




You laughed a wet laugh and kissed him again, “Ditto, Bradshaw.”




A year later, and things were going much better. You’d moved in with Bradley and things were magical. Long gone was the boy that made your life hell, and instead here was the man that made your eyes roll to the back of your head almost daily, who made your heart flutter and was a real life Prince Charming.




You hadn’t realised how grown up he was until you moved in with him, and he would cook you these amazing dinners. He looked good doing it too, and you really loved watching him.




This would mostly end with you tearing his clothes off before dinner was even eaten, and he’d make love to you on the kitchen table.




You loved it when he did gardening, always in his jorts and shirtless, skin glistening in the afternoon sun and he worked away, muscles rippling and sweaty. You would lay reading on your lounger, ice tea in hand, but you would be too distracted to even notice the condensation dripping against the pages of your new book. This would almost always end with you taking his hand and dragging him into the house.




Bradley loved it, you swore he did it on purpose.




The first time you’d had sex had actually been a couple of weeks after you were discharged, Bradley had convinced your mom to let you stay with him, because your mom had to work and Bradley was still off on rest from deployment, so one day you lay on the couch as you watched him put up new shelves for your books.




He wore a tight white t-shirt which threatened to tear as his muscles flexed and bulged.




You suddenly found yourself biting your lip and clenching your thighs as you watched. You almost moaned as he turned to look at you over his shoulder, a screw between his teeth, and he winked at you.




“Brad.” You said softly.




“Hmmm?” He asked, the screwdriver twisting in his hand, the veins on his arms standing out.




“I need you. Like… right now.” You purred.




He immediately dropped the screw driver on the shelf and turned around. “Like… need me, need me?”




You nodded, biting your lip.




“Are you sure you’re ready?” He asked cautiously as he edged towards you.




“Oh you have no idea…”




The way Bradley made love to you the first time was like nothing else. He gently kissed you all the way down your body, spending extra time on your new scars. He was so careful with you but so sensual, it felt like your body was on fire and your nerves alight.




He really was big, but the stretch was just what you’d hoped for as he slowly ground into you, you had to plant your lips firmly to his neck to stop the noises he was pulling from you.




Those big hands of his made sure no part of you was left unattended for long, and his lips, those soft, full lips, they were secretly your favourite, you couldn’t get enough of them on yours and on your skin.




You were definitely fully head over heels for Bradley at this point, so just shy of 8 months later, when Angie had her baby in prison, you had decided you would support Bradley no matter what the results of the paternity test were.




You paced the living room as you waited impatiently for Bradley to get home. When he walked through the door, you stood and looked at him in silent anticipation.




“I’m… I’m not a dad.” He sighed in relief, and you exclaimed, jumping into his arms.




This meant you would never have to visit Angie in prison for the sake of their child, although you did feel badly for the new born baby boy, and what this meant for him.




“They did find the real father, he’ll be okay.” Bradley said, reading your mind.




You sighed in relief as you nodded.




You and Bradley were living together fully now, you’d moved all your things over from next door, and Bradley had said to decorate the house how you wanted, as it hadn’t been updated since he was a child.




Bob had offered some assistance, you, him and Bradley now close friends, and you’d dragged them to the hardware store that day to pick out paint colours.




You loaded the Bronco with your decoration haul and Bradley drove the three of you back, dropping Bob home to change into some overalls, he’d promised to be back later to start painting.




You excitedly hopped up the front porch, keen to drop the paints off and pop in to see how your mom was doing.




“You sure you don’t mind the colours I’ve picked?” You asked as you fiddled with the front door keys, Bradley’s arms wrapping around you from behind.




“No, you did a great job. You could paint the whole house yellow and I’d just be happy if you were happy.” He hummed, kissing the shell of your ear.




“You soppy thing, you.” You chuckled, opening the door.




A pile of post lay on the floor and you bent down to pick it up, looking through the envelopes.




“This one’s for you.” You handed him a big yellow envelope.




His face fell slightly as he took it, and his jaw visibly clenched while he opened it and read the document enclosed.




“You okay? What is it?” You stood in front of him, nervously waiting.




He looked up from the document and sighed, “They’re my deployment papers.”




“When do you leave?” Your happy mood suddenly deflating massively. You knew it was coming, he was given a good deal of leave, so it had to be any day now.




“2 weeks Thursday.”




You nodded, forcing a smile, “It’ll be okay, once you get back the house will be done and I’ll be right here waiting, promise.”




You’d keep your promise, just like you would countless other times in the future when he’d leave. You’d always be waiting excitedly when we returned, relieved he was safe.




The day came and you stood anxiously on the docks, your dress flowing in the breeze as Bradley unloaded his duffle bag from the truck.




He placed it on the floor and rounded the side of the truck to you, wrapping his arms around your shoulders and kissing the top of your head softly.




“Gonna miss you, kid.” He mumbled into your hair.




You pulled back slightly to look at him, your hand stroking his cheek in adoration, “I’ll be right here, just come back safely.”




Bradley nodded and pressed his lips to yours for a long moment, savouring the feeling while he could. He pulled back and rested his forehead to yours as he sighed, “I love you, you know that right?”




“Of course I do. I love you right back.” You grinned.




Bradley picked up his bag and blew you a kiss as he began to walk away. You leaned against the truck as you watched him.




“Hey Bradshaw!” You called out, and Bradley turned, a huge grin on his face as he looked at you with a full heart.




You chuckled, enjoying the cheeky look on his face once more, “I really hate to see you go… but I love to watch you leave.”




——————————

The End.

Taglist:

@dizzybee03 @cheyrenee @flowery-mess @wildxwidow @residentb1tch @championemmie @mycrofthomlesumbrella @sydneejean @milegonzalez96 @minnie-rae

[dizzybee03]

Ugh this is so heart breaking

Back Forty View (On Our Piece Of Ground)

5 - The Pain Ends When You Let Go

Pairings: Tyler Owens x OFC Georgia Tennley-Owens, Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x OFC Samantha Kazansky

Rating: EXPLICIT (MDNI! SERIOUSLY)

Warnings: TRIGGER WARNINGS Graphic description of animal death and disposal of a body. Please read at your own discretion. I wanted to highlight this because this is a real part of having livestock. This is written based off personal experience from working in the equine industry for over 20 years, though obviously elements were changed to fit the fic and the characters. The decision that Georgia is forced to make is one for the well being of the animal and is something that you have to think about every single day owning animals, especially ones as large as horses and even cows. Again, please read at your own discretion as some elements may be disturbing to readers.

A/N: I did in fact cry writing this and I will cry re-reading it every single time. This one means a whole helluva lot to me. Likes, comments, reblogs, feedback is forever and always appreciated. Even thought this one is sad, I hope that if you do read through it all that you can appreciate the journey it puts these characters on. Thank you again for reading <3

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva @kmc1989

Just After New Year’s

Georgia had gotten up earlier than usual. Jaycen was kicking hard and making her uncomfortable, as if he was trying to tell her something. She fed all the puppies, both theirs and Jake’s, and then headed outside to feed the horses. It was surprisingly warm, so she’d only put on a light jacket. There was still some ice from the Christmas snow storm. 

She greeted each horse and noticed that Wilene didn’t come up to her feeder when she dumped the grain. She peered over the stall door to find the mare laying on the ground. Once Twist had finished her grain, she stood at the back door of Wilene’s stall, her head peeking in and trying to touch Wilene’s nose. The painted mare was soaked in sweat and breathing heavily. She looked as though she’d been struggling to get up. 

“Wiley, mama...what’s goin’ on?” Georgia asked as she knelt down as best as she could by the mare’s belly. She placed her hand there feeling that she was cold. Too cold. Georgia rubbed the mare and she did nothing more than weakly swing her head in Georgia’s direction. She stood and began to wobble toward the house, all the puppies in tow.

Tyler had gotten up not too long after, as had Jake, Sam, Boone, and Lily, who had come to spend New Year’s at the Owens Ranch. They were all gathered around the kitchen table as Tyler had put on a pot of coffee and took out some eggs and bacon to start breakfast. He heard the door open and Georgia ushering the puppies in. He paused and looked directly at Jake when he didn’t hear her come all the way into the house.

“Tyler...” Her voice was low and sullen and he dropped what he was doing immediately. Jake watched his brother, ready if he needed help. Tyler walked to the door and saw there were tears in Georgia’s eyes.

“What’s wrong, Gee?” He asked, reaching for her. She drew back and motioned for him to follow.

“I need you to come out to the barn, now.” She demanded and Tyler slipped his boots on as fast as he could. He half expected Jake to follow him too, but he didn’t. He followed her and she opened Wilene’s door and let him go first.

“Aww...fuck...Wiley...” Tyler said, tone melancholic as he ran his hand over his mouth and scratched his beard. He rubbed the back of his neck and bent down, feeling the mare’s side. “Gee, she’s cold. You wanna call the vet?” 

“The vet won’t get here fast enough...I don't know how long she's been down...she hasn't even tried to get up...” Georgia folded her arms across her chest. Tyler sighed deeply.

“You want me to do it then?” He asked as he stood. He pulled her into his arms as she nodded. “Okay...you stay here and say your goodbyes then...” He kissed her forehead and headed back toward the house, stopping momentarily to gather his composure. Dread filled the pit in his stomach at the reality of what he was about to do. But it was the only thing to do, and he knew as the provider and protector of this family, it was his duty to do it. This was the worst part about having livestock. As he stepped through the door, everyone stared at him, but Jake locked onto him.

“Tyler...everything okay?” Jake asked, following his brother as he walked through the kitchen and into one of the spare rooms. Tyler opened the case with his old hunting rifle and loaded a bullet. He cocked it and carried it, then gained everyone’s attention with the click of the bullet into place.

“Tyler! What is going on?” Jake demanded, stepping toward his brother.

“R’member dad’s old rope horse...went down in the stall? I’ll need your help after...and you too Boone...” Tyler said, resolve thin, but there and firmly holding the last strip of it. Jake glanced around the room as his brother headed out the front. Jake jogged after him.

“Tyler, call the vet.” Jake said as he caught up and grabbed Tyler's shoulder.

“Vet won’t get here in time. She’s in pain. I’m not havin’ that mare be in pain, she’s done too much for Gee. She’s been too good to wait. I’ve done this before...” Tyler murmured and Jake nodded. Tyler turned to leave and then turned back to speak. “I’m gonna send Gee out of the barn. Please Jake...I need you to take her in the house, keep a hold of her until I come back in.” Jake shook his head and watched as Tyler headed into the barn, his gait stiff. 

He found Georgia standing, holding her stomach. Twist had her head behind Georgia, steadying her.

“You okay?” Tyler asked, propping the rifle against the wall, ready to offer her support.

“Baby’s kickin’ bad.” She said, her voice crackly. 

“Okay. Just push Twisty out of the way and shut the door. Head up to the house and stay with Jake until I come back in. It’ll be quick, I promise.” Tyler explained and Georgia was thankful for his calm demeanor. It put her at ease even though this was one of the worst days in a while. She moved Twist back and closed Wilene’s door. Wilene poked her nose out toward Georgia, who bent down as best as she could to give the mare a kiss on the nose. The mare blinked and closed her eyes as Georgia held her chin one last time.

“After...can you just look her over...see if you can figure out what happened?” Georgia asked as she stepped toward Tyler. He reached for her, pulling her into a tight hug and then kissed her deeply. There was an understanding passed through that kiss that somehow put Georgia at ease. She would and could  only ever trust Tyler with something like this. With what he was about to do.

“I will. Now go to Jake.” He said and tears welled as Georgia went toward the house. She met Jake on the porch and he wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her into the house. Sam saw him take Georgia in his arms, placing his chin atop her head. She folded her arms against his chest and he wrapped both of his arms around her tight. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on Jake’s breathing, which like Tyler’s, was calm.

Tyler, in the barn, knelt down and rubbed the mare’s head and pressed a kiss to her nose. She knew full well what was going on and tears stung Tyler's eyes as he scratched her chin. 

“Oh, mama...I’ll make it quick. You were a good girl, Wiley. Took care of Gee for a long time. Now you’re gonna go for a nice, long sleep, aright? I hope you get to chasin’ cans and cows up in the sky all you want.” Tyler spoke softly to the mare, all the while rubbing her neck. Then he stood, cocked the rifle and placed the muzzle end above her eyes and between her ears. Wilene held perfectly still and Tyler fucking hated that, because he knew she understood what needed to happen. The old mare sighed heavily, a shudder evident in her breath. She was ready to let go. He hesitated, swallowing hard, then wiped sweat from his brow, even though it was cold. His hands were shaky, but they steadied for the singular moment and the singular breath that he pulled the trigger. He didn’t miss. He couldn’t. He owed it to Wilene and to Georgia to make sure he didn’t.

Everyone in the house heard the shot and Georgia jumped in Jake’s arms. He held her tighter, feeling her breath stop for a moment and then she dissolved into tears, wetting Jake’s shirt. He rubbed her back and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. Sam watched with tears stinging her eyes, seeing a glimpse of the Jake she knew before he was captured. She knew it was still in there, that softness, and she knew that if it had somehow been flipped, some kind of similar situation where Jake had to take care of it, Tyler would have certainly been the same, comforting Sam in the same way. That was the one quality that the boys shared and Sam firmly believed it came from their mother. They were both so sensitive and gentle in times when it was really needed.

“Goddamnit, Tyler.” Jake muttered under his breath and then he felt Georgia’s nails digging into his chest through his shirt. “He’ll be back in a minute, Gee. I’m so sorry...”

Tyler waited, making sure the mare was dead. Once he was sure, he placed the rifle on the ground and climbed over the mare, examining her quickly. He’d sworn he’d heard a rattling sound right before he pulled the trigger, as the mare was shaking, damn near vibrating, from pain. He ran his hands over her hindquarters and pushed down as much as he could. She had lost some weight recently, and though she was still in good condition,  he could feel her hip bones and felt across her stifles and loins. There was swelling across her sacroiliac joint and the flares of the mare’s pelvis. He tried to move one of her hind legs and could hear the bones crunching and shifting as he did. He had his answer. Tyler stood and picked up the rifle and headed into the house.

Jake heard him coming up the porch and as he entered, Jake guided Georgia to Tyler’s arms.

“She’s gone, darlin’. And I’m sorry to say, Gee, she wasn’t gettin’ up if we got a vet here anyway. I’m pretty sure she broke a hip or her pelvis, maybe even both. Probably just slipped and fell like old horses do. You made the right decision and now she’s not in pain.” Tyler explained as he patted Jake on the shoulder and pulled Georgia tight to his body. She had stopped crying and wiped her tears on Tyler’s shirt. He ran his fingers through her hair gently and kissed the top of her head. “Want you to stay in here while Jake, Boone, and I go bury her, okay?

Georgia agreed to Tyler’s statement and he guided her over to the couch. He motioned for Sam or Lily to come over. Sam took Tyler’s place and Georgia fell into her arms. Sam was impressed. She knew it wasn’t the same as losing a human, clearly, but she was surprised how quietly Georgia held herself. This was not a decision made lightly, and Sam knew the loss was heavy in Georgia’s heart and it would be for a long time. Lily decided she was going to start making breakfast, figuring it might be good for everyone to have some food in front of them, if only to distract from the situation for a little bit.

Tyler put his rifle back and when he stepped back into the living room, he crossed it and knelt in front of Georgia. He placed his hands on her knees for a moment and his eyes were soft as they met her misty ones. 

“Darlin’...is there anything you need from me right this minute?” Tyler asked and Jake's head tilted at the tone of his brother's voice. It was the steadiness that drew his attention. Sam's eyes met Tyler's but he was only focused on Georgia.

“Just...please...her tail. As much as you can.” She brushed her fingers over his. He stretched up and kissed her and she folded back into Sam, who's eyes never left Tyler's. She saw a familiar sadness there, or maybe even solumn resolve, something she'd seen in Jake’s expression as of late.

Jake and Boone followed him out to the barn. Boone fired up the tractor and Jake locked Twist and the other horses in their stalls so that they could drag the mare’s body to the back of the property. Tyler opened the door to Wilene’s stall and pulled her front legs out straight and wrapped a heavy chain around them. When Jake entered, the sight of the blood on the wall and floor stopped him in his tracks for a moment. Tyler glanced up at him.

“You gonna be able to do this?” He asked and Jake cleared his throat.

“Yeah, just...the smell of blood hits a little different now. You ever think about how metallic it smells? Makes me nauseous now. The smell, I mean.” Jake asked, stepping closer. He glanced down at the mare’s body, noticing how sweat soaked she had been. “Fuck...how long was she down?”

“I’d like to think not that long but...with how sweaty she is...you see the boards behind her head?” Tyler pointed and Jake leaned over the mare to look. They were bowed and there was blood there. 

“Was she tryin’ to kill herself?” Jake asked, scratching his stubble. Tyler shook his head.

“She was thrashing trying to get up. The shavings are all kicked out from under her. Gee is gonna be kickin’ herself, thinkin’ how she shouldn’t’ve left the doors open last night. She’s gonna say she shoulda locked them in...” Tyler’s voice broke then and Jake grabbed his shoulder.

“You and I know better than anyone...sometimes there’s nothin’... nothin’ you can do to prevent somethin’ like this. You and Georgia care for these animals so much and you let them be horses. You give them as much freedom as you can. It’s no one’s fault.” Jake said as Tyler knelt down, he grasped Jake’s arm for support. 

“God, Jake. She’s gonna be heartbroken...” Tyler heard the tractor coming from the shed. Boone had taken a few minutes to let it warm up. He stood after throwing the end of the chain out the door. “And yeah, Jake...I’ve thought about my own mortality more than once...you know that...better than anyone.” Tyler's eyes glazed over and Jake was familiar with that look. Tired. Exhausted. Damn near burnt the fuck out. Tyler was sick of talking about his own mortality. That was a different time best left behind.

“That’s not what I asked.” Jake’s green eyes met his brother’s, shrouding his meaning but his brother knew.

“No, but it’s what you meant. Jake...talk to me...you haven’t. Did you tell Samantha?” Tyler shifted his weight to a cocked hip. 

“I gave her the PG version.” Jake murmured, glancing past his brother. Tyler threw a pair of gloves at Jake, old cowhide ones that were ready to be thrown out. Tyler put on a pair himself as well.

“Look at me.” Tyler demanded and Jake did as he was told, pretty green meeting rugged sage. “I want the R rated version. What’d they do to you, Jake?”

“They tortured me, Tyler. Strung me up with rusted shackles to a ceiling, starved me, beat me half to fuckin’ death, fuck...they...the drugs...were the worst part of it. Them dictating whether or not I was gonna be in pain...and not being in control of my own body...” Jake’s voice trembled, his hand on Tyler’s shoulder vibrating. Tyler pulled his brother into a hug.

“Guess it’s my turn to tell you that you’re gonna get better...all that shit...was just shit that you had to go through to get to the good shit. Jake...look at what you have now.” Tyler’s hug was tight and comforting to Jake. He closed his eyes as they heard the tractor idle. They parted and Tyler patted Jake’s back. Jake took a moment as Tyler went out to tell Boone what to do, and he knelt down and placed his hand on Wilene’s ice cold neck.

“What was the last thing you saw before you galloped across that big field in the sky, mare? Was it Georgia sayin’ goodbye to you? Or maybe it was Twist? Hell if I know, but I know I saw Sam in front of that big ball of light that day that I almost...” Jake heard boots enter the stall again. He stood, meeting his brother’s gaze, leaving his thoughts in the space between the mare’s faded soul and his own vibrant one.

“I fuckin’ hate this part. Hated doin’ this at the rodeos. Boone...” Tyler said to Jake as he motioned to Boone to bring the tractor closer. Tyler hooked the chain on the bucket and Boone lifted it. “Ah shit, hang on...” Tyler grabbed the mare’s old halter and put it on carefully, then tied the lead rope tight to her front legs so that they weren’t dragging her head in an awkward way. He still wanted to respect the mare, even though the way they had to dispose of her could be construed as harsh. Boone lifted the bucket and began to drag the mare out of her stall. 

All twelve hundred pounds of dead weight. 

Tyler and Jake had put a lead on each of the mare’s back legs, helping to guide the body out of the stall as smoothly as possible. Once she was out, Tyler stopped Boone and he asked Jake to grab a brush. He quickly brushed out the mare’s tail, braided it and then cut as much of it as was clean so that he could have something made from her tail hair for Georgia. He placed it in his pocket and asked Boone to continue.

Tyler instructed Boone where to pull the tractor so that instead of dragging her all the way back toward the woods, he could scoop her into the bucket. Tyler and Jake secured her into it and followed as Boone drove the tractor way back. Once they were in a good spot, Boone placed the mare’s body down and Tyler told him where to dig. After they covered her, Tyler had Boone drag a few large rocks over and place them over the top. He wanted to make sure Georgia knew where the mare was once the grass grew back eventually as there were no remarkable trees to use as indicators.

The whole process had taken about an hour, and when the guys headed back down to the house, the ladies had saved them food. Tyler still had to take care of the blood and mess in the stall so he had Jake help him with that before they ate. He needed to shower too. 

“T...you really fuckin’ love her...I don’t know if I could’ve done what you did this mornin’.” Jake said as they washed down the stall and cleaned it out. They let the other horses out and allowed Twist to check everything out, but she seemed sullen and she tried to stick by Tyler as they tidied up.

“I do, Jake. I mean...it’s what I had to do. It’s my job to take care of certain things around here as the man of the house. This is what I’ve always wanted, to be a provider for her. It’s just where I feel like I fit...” Tyler sprayed the area down with bleach and the hose and they scrubbed the wall. There wasn't much he could do for the bowed boards at the moment. That would be a project best left for warmer weather.

“Yeah...I guess I’m just still tryin’ to figure out where exactly I fit.” Jake leaned against the stall as he pulled off the gloves his brother had given him. 

“You fit with Sam, trust me. I ain’t never seen you look at a girl like you look at her. And I know you guys are workin’ through some shit, but it’ll all iron out. You gotta believe that. It’s just bumps on the long road of life, but you’ll be happier havin’ her alongside you for it.” Tyler took the gloves and trashed both pairs, making a mental note to grab a few pairs when he went to the feed store next.

“When did we switch places, Ty? When did I become the fuckin’ problem and you became the wise one?” Jake asked as they threw down shavings to soak up all the water. Tyler closed the stall doors so that it could all absorb and they could come back out later to shovel it all out.

“What the fuck you mean, boy? I’ve always been the brains here.” Tyler mused, patting Jake on the back. They headed toward the house, and Tyler paused for a moment, pulling the braided tail hair from his pocket.

“Nah, nah, nah. You may’ve been the brains to get us into trouble, but I always got us outta shit.” Jake chuckled as he watched his brother's expression change, humor fading to introspection.

“Yeah for sure, you did. I don’t know...Jake...having a kid really puts things into perspective...I mean I wanted to be back with Gee...always have...but then when we decided to do this, really commit...it just changed everything. And I know people always say that...but I feel like it made me realize I wanna live this life with someone I really love...and I know Gee is a sure thing.” 

“It’s good to be comfortable...I’d like to be right around comfortable again soon...Tyler...you think I’d be a good dad?” Jake asked, as they slowly made their way toward the house. Jake realized then that Tyler was given himself a few moments to try to decompress before he headed into the house, knowing that the rest of the morning was probably going to be spent comforting his wife. Tyler wanted the rest of his energy and mental capacity there for that. That was where Jake again, studied his brother and looked to him for guidance. 

“I do. You’re great with the dogs, and you love Sam. You’re a good guy, Jakey. You just need to jump into the deep end now.” Tyler said and then he clapped a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “Y’know, I just get the feelin’ that Sam’s in it for the long haul with you Jake. Who else but me is gonna put up with your sorry ass being emotional and shit? I know, I know you went through some shit...but not a lot of women would be okay with all the shit you gotta do to get better...and I think some guys wouldn’t even try to get better. Look at all what she’s already gone through with you. She’s a keeper for sure.” Tylers words were not lost on his brother. Jake soaked in every single one of them, agreeing with each point wholeheartedly.

“Yeah, no, I mean...I wanna get better for her. I am getting better.” Jake grabbed Tyler’s jacket and stopped him, his eyes darting around almost nervously as if he wasn’t sure that he was getting better, even though he knew he was.

“Yeah, you are. No more panic attacks?” Tyler was right there affirming his brother's beliefs though.

“Haven’t had one in a few weeks. It’s been nice to be out here though...away from everything.” Jake said softly, a small smile creeping across his lips.

“Never forget your roots.” Tyler rubbed Jake's back roughly, putting some energy into the space between them both.

“I’d never. They’re too strong. They’re too good.” Jake's voice filled with resolve, something that had been erratic up until now. The brother's headed inside to eat, and rest for a while before they did anything else for the day.

[dizzybee03]

Oh my gosh that ending between Ducati and Jaycen 🥹

Back Forty View (On Our Piece Of Ground)

4 - Windows Down On A First Ride In A Paid Up Truck

Pairings: Tyler Owens x OFC Georgia Tennley-Owens, Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x OFC Samantha Kazansky

Rating: Explicit (MDNI!)

Warnings: SMUT, lots of pregnancy talk, unprotected!piv (wrap before you tap) argueing, angry/annoyed!Tyler, brotherly teasing and wrestling, and hopefully I didn't miss anything. Just a reminder, none of my work is beta read and I do my best to edit as best as I can so sometimes I have to go back and fix things after I reread it a million and a half times so sorry about that!

A/N: This is an interesting chapter. I had trouble writing it at first and then once it started flowing I couldn't stop. There are a lot of key moments in here between our four main characters. There's a little smut, a little angst, a little fluff and just all around a lot. The part art the end is something I have actually seen happen so I pulled from some personal experience for this one and the next one as well. The chapter after this will come with heavy warnings because as always I can't leave well enough alone. So please enjoy this chapter, the next will be heartbreaking. As always, likes, comments, reblogs, and any feedback is always always appreciated! Love y'all that keep reading along and hang with me on this journey. It's a really fun one so far and there's a SHITLOAD more to come!

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva @kmc1989

Georgia had been getting many requests for lessons and training and she had tl weed out the people who just wanted to come and meet Tyler and be nosy because there were quite a few people who were exactly that. They jointly came up with a questionnaire for people to fill out, detailing exactly what people were looking for with their horses to make it easier to wade through the nonsense phone calls and texts. There had been a quiet period in between the holidays where there had been minimal inquiries except for one lady who kept calling. 

“Ugh...Tyler. It's the same lady.” Georgia said, looking at her caller ID. It was a number from a western Oklahoma area code and she knew it was the same woman because she'd leave the same text right after the call.

Unknown: Hi Georgia my names Taylor I've got a horse i need some help with. I know its the holidays but if you could call me back when you get a chance I'd appreciate it. Happy Holidays.

“Just answer. It's almost New Year’s anyway.” Tyler said. He had been sitting on the couch next to her, but decided to pause the video he was editing to engage in a cuddle session, seeing as Sam and Jake had stepped out to take the dogs for a walk around the property. Georgia giggled softly and then  cleared her throat as she answered the call. Tyler ceased his movements, his lips stationary against her neck.

“Hey, Georgia, my name’s Taylor and I was hopin’ you could help me out. I’ve got a pretty nervous horse and was told by a bunch of people that you were the person to take him to for training. I’m hopin’ you’ve got a spot open?” The woman sounded older and Georgia wondered if she realized it hasn't gone to voicemail.

“Hi, Taylor. Unfortunately I don’t have room at the moment and I’m actually pregnant so I can’t really do much more than groundwork. Maybe I can refer you to someone else for now?” Georgia said, hoping that might satisfy the woman's needs for now.

“I’d much rather wait until you were available. He’s been to too many trainers already. This is kind of the last straw.” The lady's voice grew heavy and Georgia pursed her lips. She turned to Tyler, who was listening. He shrugged his shoulders, leaving it up to Georgia to make a decision. Her lips thinned and she thought for a moment before making a suggestion.

“Oh...I’m sorry to hear that. I mean...best I could do at the moment is come take a look at him if you want?” That was the best she could come up with for now.

“Yeah, that would be great. I’ll text you my address. We’re just outside of Cleo Springs.” The woman said, hanging up immediately and sending the text with the address.

“Guess we're going to look at a horse?” Georgia asked and Tyler nodded.

“Well she'll have to wait until our make out session is done.” Tyler smirked and he took the phone from her hand and placed it on the coffee table. He hovered above Georgia before gently pressing her into the cushions. His hands were warm and inviting, much like his lips as they moved against any exposed skin he could find. Georgia’s head fell back against the couch and she let her eyes close, enjoying Tyler’s soft touch.

“Mmm, Tyler.” She purred in his ear and he chuckled as he splayed his fingers across her still growing belly. He locked her in place with his legs on either side of her hips. He shifted, kneeing her legs open. He was careful as he rested the backs of her thighs against his for support. 

“This okay? Comfortable? You’ll tell me if it isn’t?” He asked, kissing her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and then he stopped at her lips. She nodded and closed the distance between them. 

“I’m okay, Tyler.” Her voice was strained, and needy and Tyler’s cock twitched beneath the denim. He hummed and Georgia reached up to rest her hands at the back of his neck.

“Yeah, keep sayin’ my name just like that darlin’ n’ I’ll getcha there, pretty mama. ” His lids lowered, reaching for his belt buckle to undo it. He unzipped his jeans and pushed them and his boxers down his hips, then pulled her leggings and panties down. Georgia swallowed hard and her eyes met his, their mouths only inches apart.

“Ohhh, Tyler.” Georgia whimpered, as he was slow to push his length into her, stilling as he kissed her. He waited for her okay, wanting to be sure that he wasn’t hurting her. With her being pregnant, there were certain positions that had become uncomfortable for her and Tyler wanted nothing more than for her to still feel good about herself. She tugged at the hair at the back of his neck and bit her lip, signaling him to keep going. He was tentative at first but then as he saw a look of pure pleasure wash over her, he loosened up.

“Mama, yur so sexy, y'know that? Fuckin’ beautiful, gorgeous girl. Pretty Peach. ” He accentuated each compliment with a deep thrust, hitting just the right spot to bring her towards the edge of a powerful orgasm. When she crested that peak, Tyler was quick to follow, spilling inside her as his name left her lips in a satisfied moan. They soaked in their shared high for a few moments before they heard footsteps coming up the porch stairs. Tyler pulled his jeans back up, zippering them but not buckling his belt and then he pulled Georgia’s panties and leggings back up. 

The dogs came bounding in first as Tyler peeked over the top of the sofa. Jake glanced around and then saw him but not Georgia.

“Shit, sorry T. We interruptin’? He asked, stopping halfway through the door. Sam smacked him gently, trying to get in.

“No, no, you’re fine. We’re just makin’ out like teenagers.” Tyler chuckled and he helped Georgia sit up. She smiled at Jake, who let Sam through the door then.

“Nice. You doin’ the over the pants handy too?” Jake mused and Tyler grabbed a ball, strategically placed by Grits in reach and chucked it at his brother who caught it. “Ah you thought...you thought my reflexes were shit. I fly planes at supersonic speeds you ding-dong.”

“Why do you boys always use the most childish insults?” Sam asked, poking Jake in the ribs. He winced and whipped around to tickle her. Tyler smirked as she collapsed in Jake’s arms and against the front door.

“Well sayin’ ding-dong in front of kids is probably better than cocksucker.” Jake chuckled as he continued to tickle her. She swore and he captured her lips with his.

“You say that too, though.” Georgia said from the couch and Tyler raised a brow.

“Well, yeah, but Kenny used to yell at us if we swore in the house. So we reserved the really bad ones for out in the barn or on trail rides. Sometimes when we were pennin’ too.” Tyler explained and Jake had ceased his comical assault on his fiance. She was breathing heavily as she hung off of Jake. Tyler rose and Georgia grabbed for his belt, attempting and failing to hide the fact that it was still unbuckled. Jake threw his head back in a loud roar of laughter. 

“Oh my god, you were straight up fuckin’ before we came in, weren’t you! T! She’s already pregnant!” Jake cackled. 

“I’m gonna throw somethin’ else at’cha boy. We’re all adults here. I am allowed to bang my wife while she’s pregnant, thank you VERY much.” Tyler said, buckling his belt. He gazed over at Jake and his tone fell flat. “I’m sure you’ll be tryin’a do the same thing with Samantha. No offense, hun.” 

“None taken, Tyler. No, in fact, we were just discussing babies. Weren’t we Jake?” Sam said with a wide smirk. Jake’s nostrils flared and his eyes widened, surprised at Sam’s response but a little proud of her for it. This was the Sam he knew.

“Well, Jakey, if you need me to tell ya any tricks, I got a one hundred percent success rate, so.” Tyler mused and Jake's mouth fell open in a smile. Georgia couldn’t help the laughter that came from her. 

“You cocky motherfucker.” Jake scoffed and blinked a few times before crossing the room and grabbing his brother’s shirt. Tyler laughed and let Jake pull him around a little, their noses touching.

“You gonna kiss me, sweetheart?” I see why you joined the Navy.” Tyler joked and Jake pushed him back.

“That’d be the most hillbilly ass shit. We’d get hung for it.” Jake punched Tyler lightly in his chest and Tyler reached and took a hold of Jake, flipping him around and pretending to choke him out from behind. Jake fake gagged and felt to the floor and then they both laughed raucously again, all the while Sam and Georgia doing nothing but watching their significant others. Tyler helped his brother back up and then they shook hands. 

“Hey, you wanna come with us to check out a horse?” Tyler asked as their breathing returned to normal. Jake glanced at Sam and she nodded.

“Sure. Where are we headed?” Jake asked. “And should we leave the dogs here?”

“Yeah, they can all stay. Think that might be good. Sounded like this horse was kinda weird. It’s in Cleo Springs? It’s ‘bout an hour n’a half.” Tyler said. He motioned to the stairs. “We’re just gonna...change real quick.” Tyler smirked and threw his keys at Jake, who caught them and tipped his head.

“I’ll go start the truck.” Jake said and Sam made sure that the pups were all settled and happy. They’d had a nice long walk, so they’d all sleep for a while. Dustin could let them out when he came back later that evening.

🌪️ 🛩️🛻⚓

It had been a quick drive, considering there weren’t many people on the roads with it being the holidays and kids were on vacation from school. When they pulled up, Tyler scrunched his nose and glanced at Georgia.

“This place is a shithole, Gee.” He said softly, reaching for her hand. She looked around, having texted the woman, Taylor, that they were on their way about an hour ago. She said she’d be there, and she was coming from the back of the property. Georgia put her jacket on and Tyler ran to the passenger side, helping her down from the truck as it was decently tall. The woman shook Georgia and Tyler’s hands and then nodded at Jake and Sam. She was a bit awkward and she seemed very nervous, Georgia observed.

It was well into the afternoon and they didn’t want to be here terribly long with the sun getting ready to set. The horse was in a round pen at the way back of the property. The woman led them back to where she kept the horse, and they passed a few other corrals on the way with other horses in them that looked well fed and well kept. Maybe the place was just old. As they approached, Georgia noticed the woman fold her arms across her chest. 

“He’s pretty reactive. Don’t go in with him.” The woman said and Georgia stepped a little closer. He was a dark color, maybe a roan, but she couldn’t quite see all of him.

“Not a problem. Tell me a little bit about him?” Everyone stood close to the round pen and the horse stayed at the back away from them, his muscles twitching every so often. He was thin, and Georgia could count every rib, but he had muscle across his back and hind end so he wasn’t quite what she would consider neglected...yet. He needed weight though and when he turned his head, Georgia’s mouth dropped open and she grabbed for Tyler. He had a freeze brand. He was a mustang, and Georgia had always wanted one, since she was a little girl.

“Got him from the BLM holding facility at Pauls Valley. He was great for the first few months and was doin’ well and then he bucked me off and I hurt my back pretty bad. He’s never been aggressive but when he gets scared he just panics. In all honestly, miss, I really need to get rid of him...” The woman said, with tears in her eyes. “Sorry. I’ll be right back.” She said, sniffling and walking toward her house. The four of them watched her go and Georgia peered through the panels. The horse sniffed at the ground and then he jumped, hitting the panels and scaring himself.

“Tyler...” Georgia leaned against the panel, watching the horse as he trembled. 

“Gee...you’re very pregnant.” Tyler cautioned as his hand met the back of her neck. He squeezed slightly, as if to try to rub some sense into her, but he knew her decision was already made up.

“Tyler...please. He needs help.” Georgia's voice was pleading as she turned to him and looked up at him with her pretty blue eyes. Jake and Sam stepped toward the corral.

“And you cannot get injured. My kid’s in there. I can’t lose you.” Tyler said, tone flat.

“I won’t handle him. He needs to decompress anyway. I bet just takin’ him outta here would help.” Georgia reasoned. Jake glanced over at her and his eyes widened.

“That thing looks more like a bronc than a ridin’ horse...” He said softly, pulling Sam a little closer. The sun was going down quick.

“And what if he won’t go in the barn?” Tyler asked, his hands going to his hips.

“He doesn’t need to. He’s a mustang. He already lives outside by the looks of it. We’ve got panels. We can build him a small pen. He needs to be around other horses.” She suggested and Tyler shook his head.

“We? You mean me’n’Boone’n’Jake.” He said, slightly annoyed sounding as he motioned to Jake, who could see exactly where this was going. Just like Sam, Georgia would get what she wanted, one way or another.

“Yes...” Georgia said almost apologetically. Tyler sighed heavily and ran his hand over his face and scratched his beard. He stepped away from her for a moment, his heart pounding. He knew the right thing to do was to save this horse, but he was terrified that it might hurt Georgia. He would just have to be strict with her. He sighed again and then turned back to her, his hands on his hips, the classically annoyed Tyler look about him. Georgia bit her bottom lip.

“ And my bleedin’ fuckin’ heart can’t say no to you .” He said, displeased, but he stepped back toward her and pulled her into an embrace. “You’re not touchin’ that horse until Jaycen is born though. Dustin and I will feed him and muck the pen. We’ll go home and get somethin’ set up, and I’ll come back with Lennon to get him, okay? I’ve got no fuckin’ idea how I’m gettin’ him on a trailer.”

“Have I told you that you’re husband of the year?” Georgia asked with a wide smirk.

“Yup, keep tellin’ me darlin’. At this rate, I should be husband of the fuckin’ century.” Tyler said and he glanced at Jake, who just shrugged his shoulders. He pulled Sam in a little tighter as he glanced back at the horse.

The woman, Taylor, came back out of her house and she seemed in better spirits.Tyler motioned for Jake and Sam to head back to the truck. Jake took the keys and started it, letting the diesel warm up.

“Taylor, I’ve talked to my husband and if you’d like, we can take him off your hands.” Georgia said and the woman looked as if relief washed over her in that moment.

“Are you sure? You have a place for him?” She asked wearily. She probably couldn’t believe her luck.

“We can come up with somethin’ by tomorrow. We’ve got a lot of land.” Georgia said. Taylor took her hands in a thankful gesture and then hugged Georgia, careful of her belly.

“I don’t want anythin’ for him...you’d be doin’ me a mighty big favor. I..I don’t have a trailer.” Taylor said apologetically. Tyler shook his head and placed his hand back on the back of Georgia’s neck, squeezing gently. He rubbed between her shoulder blades and then pressed her toward the truck.

“We’ve got one. We can come pick him up tomorrow.” Tyler said, smiling at the woman. She thanked them and then as they were walking back to his truck the woman mentioned one last thing.

“This is great. I really appreciate your help.I’ll find his BLM paperwork so you can have it. His name is Ducati.”

🌪️ 🛩️🛻⚓

“Y'never know...maybe he'll turn into Jaycen's horse.” Georgia said as they drove home in the dark. Tyler’s knuckles were white on the wheel and Jake could tell by how hard his foot was on the gas that he was mad.

“If you can get that thing safe enough to tote around our kid and rope off it...I'll buy you ten more. You know I'd do anythin’ for you but I'd be on my fuckin’ knees like a slave if you could get that done because honestly, Gee, I don’t have any hope for that horse. He’s too fuckin’ skittish. He couldn’t even be a buckin’ horse like that. Fuckin’ Ducati...whatta name.” Tyler’s tone was clearly annoyed and Georgia knew that so she stayed quiet as Tyler continued to vent his frustration. “And for what it’s worth, I’m tryin’a not make all this harder while we got a kid on the way. You are damn near seven months pregnant, Gee! It’s a damn good thing Jake is around to take some of the load offa me because I’m gettin’ fuckin’ exhausted. God, Gee, I love you, I do...but I just want a few things to slow down.”

Everyone was silent then, Jake glancing out the back driver side window, Sam laying against him and curled up. She gazed up at Jake who gave her a small, worried smile. She saw Georgia’s eyes in the rearview and knitted her brows for her. Georgia bit her lip and glanced over at Tyler. He huffed in frustration and then he shot her a quick look. He reached across the center console and Jake observed his brother again, interested in what he was going to do next. And what he did surprised Jake.

“I’m sorry. I lost my temper. I didn’t mean to. I’m just worried bout’cha, darlin’. I love you.” Tyler’s voice became significantly softer and he took several deep breaths. This was Tyler healed and Jake was overjoyed for him. This was a much different Tyler than the one he’d been in the years that Georgia wasn’t with him. Tyler had worked on himself so much, trying to get control of his anger in that time and it had clearly worked. Georgia’s eyes were misty as she stared at him.

“I love you too. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have forced you into makin’ a decision. I just...” Georgia said and Tyler squeezed her hand.

“No, don’t you apologize. It’s another mouth to feed and muck but he needs to get outta there. You’re only thinkin’ of the animal. That’s why people ask you for help with their horses. You care more about the animals than anythin’ else. You’re such a good girl, Gee.” Tyler praised her and Georgia felt a wave of heat wash over her. His smile was warm as he glanced over at her again in between flicking on his turn signal and checking the signs for the exit. Everyone was silent again as Tyler drove through Stillwater and toward their home. When they got back it was a little past dinner, so they whipped something up quickly and ate. 

“Hey, we can clean up, you guys go rest. You got a lot to do tomorrow.” Jake offered and Tyler hugged his brother and thanked him quietly. Tyler headed upstairs, his limp evident now that he was at the end of his energy for the day. Georgia thanked Jake and Sam and then followed her husband. He had stopped at Jaycen’s room, appreciating the crib and the chair and the color scheme that had finally been finished. Everything was ready for the baby. But now, suddenly, Tyler felt crunched for time. Georgia waited for him to turn and he smiled weakly before heading into their room. He unbuckled his belt and stood for a moment, at the foot of the bed. Georgia stayed at the threshold of the room for a few minutes before she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. 

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t realize how tired you were too.” Georgia whispered. Tyler turned and he sat on the edge of the bed, He pulled her between his legs and she placed her hands on his shoulders. She reached up and ran her fingers through the hair at his temples. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

“I suddenly feel fuckin’ nervous. I don’t know why. And that horse just...he reminds me’a you...before. Spooky, skittish. I just get worried...” Tyler explained, his eyes going misty as he gazed up into beautiful and sad blue.

“Oh, Tyler...” She guided his head toward her chest, wrapping her arms around his head. His arms wound around her waist. She spoke softly as she caressed the back of his head, feeling the spot where there was scar tissue from stitches that didn’t quite heal properly. “I’m so sorry...I’m sorry I put that distrust in you and...and I know..I know I’m gonna be makin’ up for it forever but please...know I’m not gonna run anymore. I’m here to stay. I promise. I promise you I will stay. No matter how hard it all gets, I’m stayin’. I wouldn’t dare take your son away from you. Not after I lost my father. I will not let this boy grow up without you...without his father.” Georgia felt tears streaming down her cheeks and Tyler could hear the trembling in her voice as she made her vows to him. They hadn’t done marriage vows, but he was counting this as hers. And he knew she'd probably count them as hers too.

🌪️ 🛩️🛻⚓

Tyler decided that Georgia should go with him to pick Ducati up. Jake and Dustin had worked in the morning setting up a pen that was close enough to the barn that they could muck it out easily and he could at least get against the barn to block some wind until he got used to the barn. The pen was also in a spot where they could just pressure him off the trailer and into it without him escaping. Lennon sat in the back with Grits, who had decided he needed to come along for the ride because he didn’t get to yesterday. Lennon could rope damn near anything and Tyler would even say he was better than him, even though Lennon wouldn’t admit that. He looked up to Tyler. So they both brought ropes in case they needed them. 

Taylor was there with the BLM paperwork for Georgia to sign, showing that she now owned the horse. Tyler backed the truck and trailer up to the pen and they opened the gate to the pen and the back door of the trailer so that they only place Ducati could go was around the pen or into the trailer. The horse snorted and Taylor decided she would go back into her house and let them do whatever they needed to do to get him on the trailer. She didn’t think she’d be very helpful with how nervous she was. 

Ducati was a beautiful bay roan and now in the morning sun, Georgia could see that. He needed some groceries and some brushing but she knew with time, he’d fill out with muscle and be a good little horse. She hoped for that at least. Ducati was rounded up from the Pryor Mountain Herd Management Area in Montana and brought down to the Pauls Valley holding Pens in Oklahoma. He was a little over fourteen hands, so the size of a large adult pony. He was seven years old and castrated when he was adopted by Taylor. The gelding sniffed the air and he stepped toward the trailer without hesitation. Tyler’s eyes widened and he held his breath, as did Lennon and Georgia as the little bay gelding jumped onto the stock trailer. It took all of five minutes from start to finish and Georgia had a feeling if Taylor had been standing there she would’ve burst out into tears, knowing that the horse she loved on for so long had decided he’d rather hop on a trailer and leave.

Lennon secured the back door and Ducati was quiet as they started up the truck. They headed back to Stillwater, mustang in tow. The entire ride, there was not a peep from Ducati. Georgia glanced over at one point, Tyler meeting her gaze.

“He knew we came to help him, Ty.” She said softly and he reached over the center console like he had last night, taking one of her hands in his. He agreed wholeheartedly.

When they arrived home, Tyler backed the trailer in and Ducati walked calmly off the trailer and into his new pen. He sniffed the air as they closed the gate and pulled the truck and trailer away. Jake and Sam had come out, as well as Dustin, and Ophelia had finished riding her horses. Georgia held her hand out, through the panel fencing and Tyler cautioned her, but he had no need to. Ducati walked over, touched her hand gently and then poked his nose toward her belly. His ears flicked back and forth and he let out a huge breath as if to say ‘okay, I’m okay now.’

“That ain’t the same horse.” Jake said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“No Jake, he just realized the same thing that we did. He’s safe here. He could feel it immediately.” Sam said softly as she hooked her arms around one of his biceps. Sam was right. Jake had felt the same feeling of comfort wash over him as soon as he’d stepped onto the property. 

Ducati inched closer to Georgia. He very carefully, very gently touched her belly with his opposable top lip and she felt Jaycen kick then. She took Tyler’s hand and placed it on her belly, as Ducati repeated his actions, as did Jaycen inside her womb. 

“That’s crazy.” Tyler said, his eyes wide as he watched the interaction between the supposedly skittish horse and his pregnant wife, or rather, his unborn son.

“I think he’s pickin’ his rider.” Georgia said, glancing up at Tyler with a smile.

“Yeah, well, he’s got a ways to go before they’re both ready for that, but...” Tyler reached out and rubbed the gelding’s nose very carefully. Ducati pricked his ears and nickered softly, though Tyler surmised it was not at him. It was definitely at Jaycen. “I guess sometimes all you need is a change of scenery, huh, bud?”

[dizzybee03]

Holy shit balls I did not see that coming!!!! That’s so intense!!!!

Love To Watch You Leave: Part 6

Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x Reader

Warnings: Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Swearing, Fluff, Angst, Bullying, Lots of Smut, Grieving, Pining, Alcohol, Military Inaccuracies, Knife Injury’s and Attempted Murder

- Part 5 Here -

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18+ Only

Authors note: Sorry this part took so long! I initially wrote one version, hated it and then rewrote it completely, still not overly happy with it but heyoooo! Enjoy.

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Almost as soon as Bob had left and you’d waved him down your road, your bags not even having been taken inside yet, Bradley pulled up on your drive.




“Y/N, wait, please.” He called from the front seat of the bronco.




You rolled you eyes and sighed, picking up your bags.




“Not now, Brad. I’m tired and uncomfortable and I really just wanna have a shower.”




He climbed out of the Bronco and followed you up the drive, grabbing your bags out of your hands.




“Just give me 10 minutes, please?” He asked.




“Why?” You snapped, “What is the point of all of this?”




“What do you mean what is the point of all of this? You’re just going to kiss me like that and think everything will just go away?” His voice rose an octave.




“Shh! My mom’s inside and I really really don’t wanna have to explain to her why you just said that.” You covered your face with your hands as you groaned.




“Then come over to mine, please. You can shower and we can talk.”




“No, just leave me alone Brad.”




“Y/N… please.” He was earnest, his eyes pleading.




You sighed as you considered it, biting your cheek, and eventually nodded.




“Okay, fine. Shower first, then talk.”




Bradley nodded back and you followed him to his house. He placed your bags in his bedroom and lingered by the door.




“Remember the last time you were in this room? Punched me right here.” He chuckled, patting his shoulder.




You rolled your eyes but a little chuckle did escape you.




Bradley gave you some space to get yourself refreshed. You pulled out your jeans and a tank top, some bottles of body and hair wash, and your moisturiser.




Bradley’s bathroom was small but it was all you needed, you put your clothes on the toilet seat and climbed into the shower.




You sighed as the hot water washed the dried salt from the sea off of your skin and hair.




You didn’t spend long in there, and once you’d moisturised and gotten dressed you took a deep breath and made your way out.




You were anxious, not sure you really had the emotional energy to discuss what had happened with Bradley, but you had agreed to, so you walked to the living room where he sat waiting for you.




He stood as you walked in, hands on his hips awkwardly as he gestured for you to sit.




“Brad can you just spit it out, please?” You huffed impatiently, opting to stand.




He nodded for a moment, then took a deep breath, “I have feelings for you.”




You were silent as you stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he was being serious.




“Please could you say something?” He rubbed his face.




“What kind of feelings?” You asked hesitantly.




Bradley sighed, “You’re a huge pain in my ass… but all I wanna do is kiss you.”




You shuffled uncomfortably, “So you just want me to be another notch on your belt?”




He rubbed his face in frustration again, “No.” hands back on the hips, “It’s not like that.”




“Then explain it to me.” You insisted.




“Why? Don’t you understand what I’m trying to tell you?”




“No, Brad! If you were anyone else maybe I would take you at your word, but can you blame me for needing a little more reassurance from you?”




“What do you want me to say? Huh? That I’m falling for you, and that over the last week I’ve really enjoyed planning with you, and now I can’t stop thinking about you, and looking at you? That I wanna hold you and kiss you so much it hurts me? Because I do, okay? Is that what you want?” He yelled.




That was exactly what you wanted, but you wanted more.




“The kiss last night, and on the boat earlier, were they real?” You asked.




“Real? Y/N, what kind of question is that? Do you go around fake kissing people like that?” He laughed in exasperation.




“Just answer the question, Brad. Was it real or just for show?”




“It was real! Okay? I’d been trying to think of a way to kiss you ever since you made that stupid no kissing rule, and the more you did to annoy me or piss me off, the more I wanted you.” His face was red now and he was ranting. “God, and then you put on that damn dress and I nearly lost my mind, you made it so difficult to separate what was real and what was for show and-“




You grabbed Bradley by his shirt and pulled him into you, your lips pressed against his just so he would shut up.




“You talk too much.” You joked as you pulled back for air, immediately returning for more.




He groaned loudly, a little surprised, and his arm wrapped across your lower back, pulling you flush against him.




Your fingers tangled in his messy curls and he lifted you so you could wrap your legs around his waist, giving you a better angle to deepen the kiss.




“Does that mean you feel the same?” Bradley grunted between kisses.




“Just shut up and kiss me, Bradshaw.”




He did as instructed, and suddenly your back was up against a wall and his soft lips migrated south to your neck and collar bone.




You hummed at the feeling and gasped as Bradley ground his hips into yours.




“Now that…your mouth is free… tell me how you feel.” He mumbled against your skin.




You chuckled, your eyes closed as you relished in the feeling, “I think you’re alright.”




Bradley nipped your skin, “Don’t quote Shania Twain right now. The truth.”




“Fine.” You huffed, and his hands slid under your shirt, wrapping around your waste as he ground his hips again. “I… I’ve always had a crush on you… but this weekend… oh do I really need to say it?”




“Yes.” He mumbled into your skin again.




“I think I’m falling for you too…” you breathed.




Bradley immediately found your lips again, hungrily this time, and carried you to the couch, laying you on your back.




“Good girl.” Now he was kissing the skin on your stomach and rib cage, his fingers hooked into your jeans as he tugged.




You lifted your butt to help him and you were suddenly very relieved that you had grabbed your good lacy underwear before showering.




Bradley’s lips slowly edged downwards and peppered your hips, his fingers gently running along the top of your underwear.




Your hands moved to his back and you grabbed a handful of his t-shirt, pulling the garment over his head and flinging it to the floor.




You couldn’t get over how his body had changed over the years, he looked like a golden god, and you ran your fingers down the muscles on his back as Bradley kissed your lips again, his hand cupping your jaw gently.




You bucked your hips into his, desperate to feel him again, but a big hand pressed down on your belly to stop you.




“Nuh uh.” He shook his head with a smirk, “Ask nicely.”




You sat upright, Bradley still on all fours between your now bent legs. “Make me.”




He leaned forward to kiss you again, his hand grabbed your ankle and pulled you back down into a laying position. “Now, ask nicely.” He repeated.




You grinned playfully, “Please… please grow up.” You teased. Bradley quirked an eyebrow.




“Oh so that’s how you wanna play?” He growled, pressing his lips back on yours, kissing down your chin and neck. If that’s how you wanted to play, Bradley was going to show you how he could outplay you, and his thumb moved down to stroke over your clothed core gently.




You moaned at the feeling and bucked your hips again. He held you down and continued his movements over the lacy undergarment.




You clenched your teeth at the lack of control this gave you, at his teasing, at the fact that you were doing this with someone you, until very recently, couldn’t stand to be in the same room as.




You were getting very hot very quickly, so you discarded your tank top, your matching bra suddenly catching Bradley’s attention.




“Have you been wearing underwear like this the whole time?”




“Well, since after school, yeah.” You rolled your eyes as your chuckled, out of breath.




Bradley was practically salivating as he gently squeezed one of your boobs, “The matching set was a good call.”




You swatted his hand away, “I’ve taken off enough clothes now, time for you to lose the jeans, Bradshaw.”




He got up and shimmied out of his jeans, standing in just his boxers in front of you. You gulped at the size of whatever he was hiding under them, you’d felt it a few times now but it certainly looked bigger than you’d expected.




Bradley gazed down at you longingly, your beautiful form below him in your lacy underwear that was begging to be torn off of you.




Suddenly his attention was drawn to the window, and his eyes widened.




“Shit.” He hissed, dropping onto the couch and hovering over you as he ducked his head below the back of the couch.




“What?” You asked, your heart rate speeding up for an entirely different reason now.




He dipped his head just inches from yours and whispered, “It’s Angie.”




You sighed in annoyance, “Did she see you?”




Bradley shook his head, “Don’t think so.”




Then there was a loud knock on the door, and you both kept quiet as you waited, bodies pressed scandalously together, waiting impatiently for more.




Another knock followed by a frustrated voice, “I know you’re there, your car is in the drive next door.”




You waited in silence a little longer, and then Bradley carefully poked his head up over the couch when the knocking stopped.




“She’s leaving.” He whispered.




“Thank god.” You felt a sense of relief, you could not deal with more drama right now.




You and Bradley stared at each other for a moment, and then you both started laughing.




He pressed his lips to yours softly, and you relished the feeling, your legs wrapped around him again and his fingers dipped into the side of your underwear, slowly tugging them down.




Bradley lifted your legs and discarded your underwear, and you suddenly felt embarrassed to be almost naked in front of him. That was until he grunted in approval.




“Fuck, you are just perfect all over aren’t you?”




You blushed bright red, but propped yourself up on your elbows to kiss him hungrily. His hand snuck behind your back and he snapped the clasp of your bra off.




Now that you were entirely naked before him, something animalistic inside Bradley took over.




His hands pawed and grasped at your flesh as he kissed your lips hungrily, then trailing down your body like he had to cover you with searing kisses completely.




His lips were getting dangerously close to your sensitive area but he was taking his time teasing you, peppering kisses along your abdomen and thighs.




You bit your lip as he got closer, closer, and suddenly his tongue flattened against your core and he licked a long, slow stripe through your lips.




Your back arched and your head dug back into the pillow as you moaned loudly. He did that two more times, and then his soft lips moved to suck gently at your sensitive bundle of nerves.




His eyes never leaving your beautiful, arching form, his tongue darted back out to dip into you, his thumb now rubbing circles expertly against your clit as his tongue fucked you.




“Brad!” You gasped, “Fuck.”




He smirked, licking another slow stripe to your clit. He gave you a very short breather when he removed his mouth and sucked two of his fingers. He slid them through your folds and pressed them into you.




You gasped at the stretch as he pumped them in and out, and shook as he curled them into your g-spot, his lips and tongue returning to their place on your clit.




You were doing a bad job at containing yourself, with one hand covering your mouth and another in Bradley’s hair. Bradley grinding against the couch did little to prevent the coil building inside of you and all you could think about was him grinding into you instead.




You were so close, so painfully close, when you both jumped as you heard glass smashing and the back door to the kitchen opening.




Bradley pulled out of you carefully and you immediately covered yourself with a large pillow.




“What the fuck was that?” You panted.




Bradley motioned for you to stay where you were as he stood slowly. He picked up a paperweight from the mantelpiece and edged towards the kitchen from the hallway.




You held your breath, quickly throwing your clothes back on as best you could before following.




You stopped dead in your tracks when you heard Bradley yell and something metallic clang to the floor. The paperweight?




“Fuck! Angie, what are you doing here?” He cursed.




You let out a deflated sigh and walked into the kitchen, annoyed but relieved.




You stood just behind Bradley, and Angie’s face twisted in dismay.




“I knew it!” She spat, a large rock from Bradley’s back garden clutched in her hand.




“You broke my back door, Angie, what the fuck? You can’t just break in if I don’t answer the door!” Bradley exclaimed.




You hung back behind Bradley’s large frame, unsure of what Angie would do.




“You said there was nothing going on!” She pointed a perfectly manicured finger at you, tears streaming down her face.




You stepped forward carefully, hands held out as you edged around Bradley. “Angie I’m sorry, I didn’t think this would happen, I didn’t think he felt the same way about me, but-“




“I don’t care about your excuses, you said I could have him once you had played your silly game!”




“Angie, I don’t feel that way about you.” Bradley interjected, and she looked taken aback, like she’d just been punched in the face.




“But… you slept with me.”




“Yes I know, I’m sorry. I was drunk and your name was the first one in my contacts, and truth be told you were the only ex that hadn’t already blocked me. I shouldn’t have done that, we were finished and… that’s all it was Angie, it was just sex.”




You felt bad for Angie suddenly, but she was taking things way too far.




She stood for a while just looking between you and Bradley before her eyes finally settled on you.




“This is all because of you. Before you, I stood a chance.” Her voice was now low, monotone, very different to her usual high pitched treble.




You suddenly felt very uncomfortable and stood a tiny step back, Bradley stepping forward in front of you.




“I think you should leave, Angie.” Bradley stated.




She didn’t move, still staring at you through the gap in Bradley’s arm, her blue eyes intensely boring into yours.




She must have been assessing her surroundings, because suddenly, almost too quickly to react, Angie grabbed a kitchen knife from the rack and lunged at Bradley.




The knife skimmed his bicep, slicing Bradley as she directed it towards you.




Thankfully Bradley’s reflexes were too quick, and he knocked Angie’s hand away from you, the force sending her reeling backwards on the slippery kitchen floor.




“Go!” He yelled, pushing you out of the kitchen and into the hallway.




You could feel Bradley behind you, ushering you towards the front door, until suddenly you couldn’t anymore.




You glanced back over your shoulder and your heart stopped.




Bradley lay on his front, barely having made it out of the kitchen. Angie had stabbed him in his shoulder blade and was wiggling the knife out in an attempt to get up and chase you, but the knife was wedged in the bone. Bradley yelled out in pain, thrashing and trying to get her to the ground.




You immediately ran back, shoving her shoulders hard and sending her flying off of his back. Unfortunately this also dislodged the knife, and as she flew back she swung through the air and the knife caught your shoulder.




You clutched at the bleeding skin for a second, quickly realising you needed to get Bradley up and out of the house before she regained her balance.




You helped him up and you both ran for the door as quick as you could. Bradley grabbed the handle and pulled.




“Fuck!” Bradley slammed his fists into the door as he realised he’d locked it out of habit and the keys were on the living room coffee table.




He turned to face Angie who stood between you and the living room door, the one beautiful red head now deranged and terrifying. Panic sweeped over you as you considered your options.




“Brad, as soon as she turns around, go get the keys and get help.” You stated very quietly as you stared her down.




“What are you taking about?” Bradley asked.




You quickly lunged towards Angie and she swung the knife.




“Y/N!” Bradley yelled, reaching out to grab you and pull you back. You were already too far and out of his reach. Bradleys heart stopped as the knife missed your jugular by mere millimetres, and you dropped to your knees and crawled past her.




She screamed in frustration, whipping around.




You quickly stood to your feet and ran down the hall and around the corner to the bedrooms.




Bradley took the opportunity to grab the keys from the living room, and quickly unlocked the front door, leaving it ajar before running back towards the bedrooms to find you.




The door to his room was now closed, but neither you nor Angie were in sight. He tried the door handle but the door was locked.




“Y/N?” He called, panicked, wiggling the handle as hard as he could.




Suddenly a scream from inside the bedroom echoed through the house, so loud and shrill it made Bradley’s blood run cold.




He threw his body against the door once, twice, and the third time the door flew open.




Bradley stood and stared at the scene unfolding before him, before a ringing in his hears took over his senses and he dropped to his knees.




——————————

Fatal Attraction vibes much?

- Final Part Coming Soon -

Taglist:

@dizzybee03 @cheyrenee @flowery-mess @wildxwidow @residentb1tch @championemmie @mycrofthomlesumbrella @sydneejean @milegonzalez96 @minnie-rae

[dizzybee03]

BRAVO!! Your first time writing angst was a 10/10!!! This was sooo good

Mountain with a View

Pairing: Glen Powell (RPF) x Female Reader

Summary: Amid the beauty of a coastal getaway, years of neglect and unspoken pain come to a head as you confront Glen about the growing distance in your relationship. What begins as heartbreak turns into a moment of raw honesty as Glen opens up about his fears and regrets, and you acknowledge your own role in the cracks between you. With one final promise and a fragile hope for reconciliation, you take the first steps toward rebuilding, finding solace in the quiet reminder that love is worth fighting for.

Word Count: 8.5K

A/N: This is my first attempt at writing angst, and I think I did okay with it. This took me a little bit longer to write as I've been working on it for about a month or so. This is HEAVILY inspired by the song Mountain with a View by Kelsea Ballerini. I would love to know what you guys think!

The soft light of dawn spilled over the cliffs of Big Sur, painting the rugged coastline in hues of gold and pale pink. Through the open windows of the restaurant, the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore filled the air, steady and unchanging, like a heartbeat. The faint smell of salt mingled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, creating a serene tableau that should have felt like paradise.

The table was elegantly set, each detail carefully curated to reflect the luxury of the resort. Crisp white linens draped over the small table, their edges fluttering slightly in the gentle morning breeze. A delicate vase held a cluster of fresh flowers—soft blues and creams that mirrored the morning sky—while the steam rising from the coffee in front of you curled lazily upward, dissipating into the air. Two empty plates sat perfectly aligned, their white porcelain gleaming in the sunlight.

But your gaze lingered on the chair across from you. Empty.

The untouched menu lay neatly folded beside the vacant place setting, its pristine edges catching the light as if mocking the silence that hung between you and the space meant for him. You glanced down at your own menu, holding it loosely in your hands, though the words blurred together. How many times had you reread the same description of avocado toast? How many times had you looked up, hoping to see him striding through the doorway, his usual easy confidence carrying him to you with a quick apology and a kiss pressed to your temple?

The coffee in your mug had gone lukewarm. You wrapped your hands around it anyway, seeking comfort in its weight, its fleeting warmth. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you realized the server was probably waiting for a sign that you were ready to order. 

But you weren’t. Not yet.

This was supposed to be romantic. The thought came unbidden, sharp and bitter. You had envisioned something different for this morning—a quiet meal shared with him, stolen moments of intimacy as the rest of the world slowly woke. Instead, the carefully orchestrated perfection of the setting only made the absence feel heavier, more pronounced. The silence stretched, filled only by the distant crash of waves and the soft murmur of other diners scattered across the restaurant’s patio.

You set the menu down and traced a finger along the edge of the tablecloth, smoothing out an imaginary crease. The flowers in the vase shifted slightly in the breeze, their petals brushing against one another like a whisper.

And still, the chair across from you remained empty.

You lifted the mug to your lips, sipping the now-tepid coffee and willing the warmth to soothe the knot twisting tighter in your chest. But it didn’t. The weight of the empty chair across from you pressed heavier with each passing minute, and you couldn’t stop your thoughts from circling back to him.

You hadn’t heard from Glen since last night. A text around 9 p.m., short and vague, letting you know something had come up and he wouldn’t make it until today. No explanation, no details. Just: Sorry, won’t make it tonight. I’ll be there first thing tomorrow.

It was morning now, and tomorrow had become today, yet the chair in front of you remained unoccupied.

The unease gnawed at you, growing sharper with each passing second. This was his trip, his plan to reconnect, to prove that you both still had something worth holding onto. You hadn’t even asked for it; he’d been the one to insist you both needed a weekend away, somewhere beautiful and secluded, just the two of you. But now, sitting here alone at a table meant for two, it felt more like proof of how far apart you’d drifted than any sort of reconciliation.

“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted softly, and you glanced up to see the waiter standing nearby, his hands clasped neatly in front of him. His smile was polite but edged with curiosity, his gaze flickering briefly to the empty chair before returning to you. “Are you ready to order?”

You forced a smile, the corners of your mouth tugging upward as if on autopilot. “I think I’ll give it a few more minutes,” you said, your voice light but strained.

The waiter nodded, his professional demeanor not faltering as he replied, “Of course. Just let me know when you’re ready.” He moved away, weaving between tables to check on a couple sitting near the edge of the patio.

You exhaled slowly and reached for your phone, unlocking it with a swipe of your thumb. There he was, smiling back at you from the screen.

The photos posted this morning were polished, curated to perfection: behind-the-scenes shots of Glen on set, his arm slung casually around his co-stars; selfies of him laughing with the crew in picturesque European locations; snapshots of stunning landscapes captioned with vague, charming quips. You scrolled through them, one after another, and felt the ache in your chest deepen.

The pictures looked pretty—at least they did on his Instagram.

The sting of it settled in your chest like a sharp, jagged stone. You didn’t even know exactly where he was right now. The last time you’d spoken, he’d mentioned Amsterdam, but that was weeks ago. For all you knew, he could’ve been halfway across the continent by now.

Your thumb hovered over the screen, and for a moment, you debated texting him. Where are you? But you didn’t. Instead, you scrolled further, past the carefully filtered moments that felt so far removed from the reality you were sitting in.

When was the last time you’d had a real conversation with him?

You thought back to your recent texts, the ones that had become increasingly generic, a hollow routine of pleasantries that no longer carried the weight of meaning. Good morning, babe. Goodnight, miss you. The words had once made your heart flutter, a reminder that he was thinking of you even from miles away. 

Now, they just felt like muscle memory—sent out of obligation rather than genuine connection.

The memory of those texts brought a bitter taste to your mouth, sharper than the coffee you hadn’t touched in minutes. You set your phone down on the table with a quiet thud, your fingers curling into your lap as you tried to shake the growing resentment clawing its way up your throat.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to feel.

You stared out past the edge of the terrace, where the cliffs gave way to the water. The waves crashed below in a steady rhythm, their sound blending with the faint hum of conversation from the other tables. You tried to ground yourself in the moment, to let the beauty of the setting take the edge off the bitter thoughts swirling in your mind. 

But the ache inside was relentless, and your mind wandered to a different time—a time when things with Glen had felt so much simpler, so much easier.

He used to surprise you with the little things. You could still picture the way he’d walk into the apartment with your favorite coffee in hand, the sleeve scribbled with some inside joke that made you laugh every time. Or the way he’d grab your hand in the middle of the week and say, “C’mon, we’re going somewhere,” without offering a single clue as to where you were headed. You’d end up at some hole-in-the-wall restaurant he’d found on Yelp, or sitting on a blanket in the park with a takeout box between you. He always made it an adventure.

And the way he looked at you back then… you felt like the center of his universe. Like there was no one else in the world who mattered to him the way you did. You remembered the way his eyes would light up when you walked into a room, the way he’d pull you close just to tell you how beautiful you looked, even when you were in sweatpants and an old hoodie.

He loved me so much more at twenty-three.

The thought hit you like a wave, pulling you under. A lot can change in six years, it seems.

You used to believe that love grew stronger with time. That the shared memories, the inside jokes, the challenges you overcame together would deepen your connection. But now, sitting here alone at a table meant for two, it felt like the opposite had happened.

You remembered the first time he told you he loved you. You’d been dating for a few months, and he’d taken you to a concert in the city. It had been raining that night, and you both ended up soaked to the bone, laughing as you ran from the venue to his car. Later, as you sat wrapped in his jacket with your hands cradling a steaming cup of tea, he’d looked at you and said it like it was the easiest thing in the world: “I love you.”

You’d believed him then. Completely, utterly, without hesitation.

But now, the words felt like a faint echo of something that had once been vibrant and alive. You couldn’t even remember the last time he’d said it in a way that felt real. Not over a text, not in the perfunctory way he’d sign off on a phone call—but the way he used to say it, with his eyes locked on yours like he meant every syllable.

You ran a hand through your hair, the weight of the memories pressing down on you. Maybe it wasn’t fair to compare the past to the present. Maybe this was just what happened in relationships over time. But that didn’t make the emptiness you felt any easier to bear.

The waiter passed by again, and you glanced at the empty chair. Your chest tightened. He was supposed to be here. He was supposed to show up, to prove that this trip wasn’t just another empty promise. But as the minutes ticked by, the weight of his absence grew heavier, and the unease in your stomach gave way to something sharper—resentment, maybe.

Six years ago, he would’ve been here. Six years ago, he wouldn’t have let anything stop him.

And now? Now you weren’t sure what was left between you except memories of what used to be.

You let out a quiet breath, your gaze dropping to the untouched menu in front of you. Where did it all go wrong?

It wasn’t always like this—this hollow ache of waiting, of wondering. There was a time when Glen made you feel like you were his whole world. But now, it was like you were living in his orbit, watching him shine while you stood in the shadows, unseen and forgotten.

Your mind drifted back to the first time he missed something important. It wasn’t a big deal, not really. A dinner date that he had to cancel last minute because a meeting with a director ran late. You’d been disappointed, sure, but he made up for it the next night with takeout and your favorite movie. It felt like a one-time thing then—just a fluke in an otherwise perfect relationship.

But then it happened again. An anniversary he forgot until you reminded him the following morning. He’d scrambled to make a dinner reservation, his apology genuine but rushed. And then there was the weekend trip a few years back you’d planned together, the one you’d been looking forward to for weeks, canceled because he got called back to set for reshoots.

You told yourself it was temporary. That it wasn’t his fault. Glen was ambitious, and you admired that about him. He was chasing his dreams, and you wanted to support him.

But gradually, his career began to take priority over everything else—including you.

You remembered the first time you brought it up to him, years ago, around the time all the buzz for Top Gun: Maverick started. His career was taking off in ways neither of you had anticipated, and it felt like he was slipping away from you, one missed moment at a time.

“I just feel like…” you’d hesitated, trying to find the right words, “like we don’t see each other anymore. Like you’re always busy, and I’m just… here.”

He’d pulled you into his arms, his voice soft and reassuring. “I know, babe. I know it’s been a lot lately, but it’s just this project. Once it’s over, things will go back to normal. I promise.”

You wanted to believe him. And for a while, you did. But after the whirlwind press tour for Top Gun, there was another project. And then another. Each one bigger than the last. Each one demanding more of his time, his energy, his focus.

The promises he made—that things would slow down, that he’d have more time for you—started to feel like smoke slipping through your fingers. They were never meant to be kept, just empty words to soothe you in the moment.

The last year of your life had proven that. You could count on one hand the number of nights you’d spent together in the same place, and even then, his mind always seemed to be elsewhere. On a script, on a meeting, on whatever was waiting for him the next day.

Sitting at the table now, you wrestled with your emotions. Part of you wanted to believe that things could go back to the way they were, that the Glen you’d fallen in love with was still in there somewhere, waiting to come back to you. But deep down, you knew better. You couldn’t unring a bell. You couldn’t undo the years of distance that had grown between you.

The truth sat heavy in your chest, undeniable and cruel: Glen’s career wasn’t going to slow down anytime soon. And if you were honest with yourself, you weren’t sure how much longer you could keep waiting for him to choose you.

The sound of laughter from a nearby table broke your train of thought. You glanced toward the source, a young couple leaning into each other, their faces alight with the kind of joy you remembered so vividly from the early days with Glen.

You’d just decided to flag the waiter and order something when you heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“Sorry I’m late.”

His voice was smooth, polished, just like everything else about him. Glen always had a way of sounding like nothing was ever truly a big deal, like the world bent itself around his schedule and not the other way around.

You glanced up as he slid into the seat across from you, looking every bit the Hollywood leading man. His perfectly tousled hair caught the soft morning light, and his tailored shirt looked as though it had been pulled straight off a magazine cover. He flashed you the charming smile that used to make your heart race, but now it only made your stomach twist.

“You know how crazy things can get,” he added with a casual shrug, as if the excuse alone should absolve him.

You managed a tight smile, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “Yeah, I know.”

The silence stretched between you, thick and heavy, as Glen picked up the menu. You couldn’t help noticing the faint scent of his cologne, subtle but sharp, lingering in the air. It was the same one he’d worn for years, a scent that used to comfort you. Now it just felt distant, like a memory you couldn’t quite hold onto.

“So,” Glen began, his tone overly light, “how are you liking the trip so far?”

You glanced up at him, your fingers tightening around your coffee mug. “It’s fine.”

“Fine?” He raised an eyebrow, setting the menu down. “Come on, this place is amazing. I thought you’d love it.”

“It is amazing,” you replied, your voice quieter than you intended. You looked out the open window, watching the waves crash against the cliffs in the distance. “I just… I guess I thought we’d be seeing more of it together.”

The words hung in the air, heavier than you meant them to be. Glen shifted in his seat, picking up his water glass and taking a long sip.

“You know how things are,” he said, his tone apologetic but dismissive all the same. “This shoot’s been nonstop, and they’re already talking about reshoots next month. But I wanted us to have this time together, even if it’s just for a couple of days.”

“Right,” you murmured, forcing yourself to focus on the vase of fresh flowers between you. White lilies, delicate and pristine.

The clink of silverware against plates at a nearby table filled the silence. You glanced over at Glen, noting the way he avoided meeting your eyes for too long. He folded his hands in front of him, his polished watch catching the light, and for a moment, it felt like you were sitting across from a stranger.

He cleared his throat, forcing a smile. “So, what looks good here? Have you looked at the menu yet?”

You nodded, biting the inside of your cheek. “The avocado toast looks nice.”

“Avocado toast,” Glen repeated with a chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re so predictable.”

It was the kind of teasing that used to make you laugh, the kind that felt endearing. But now it felt different—like he was poking at a version of you he hadn’t taken the time to know in years.

You traced the rim of your coffee mug with your finger, searching for something to say, but nothing came. The silence grew, filled only by the distant crash of waves and the hum of other diners’ conversations.

Finally, Glen flagged down the waiter, ordering for both of you without so much as a glance in your direction. You didn’t correct him, even though you’d changed your mind about what you wanted.

The breakfast felt quiet and suffocating. Every bite of food tasted like nothing, every glance Glen threw your way felt like it came from someone miles away. You wanted to bridge the gap, to say something that would pull him back to you, but the words caught in your throat.

Instead, you focused on the details. The clink of his fork against his plate. The way he scrolled through his phone when he thought you weren’t looking. The half-empty coffee cup he didn’t bother finishing. And the way he kept glancing at his watch, like there was somewhere else he’d rather be. Somewhere else he probably was already planning to go.

Glen’s fork scraped against his plate as he finished the last bite of his omelet. You’d barely touched your avocado toast, pushing it around with your fork until it looked more like a suggestion of a meal than food.

He glanced at you, then down at the untouched plate. “Not hungry?”

You hesitated, forcing a faint smile. “I guess not.”

He nodded absently, flagging down the waiter with a lift of his hand. In one smooth motion, he pulled out his wallet, slipping a card onto the check tray as soon as it arrived. No hesitation, no glance at the total—it was a gesture that screamed effortless privilege, something that used to impress you. Now, it just felt... hollow.

“Ready?” he asked, standing and holding out a hand to you.

You stared at his outstretched hand for a moment too long before taking it, his grip firm but impersonal. He helped you out of your chair like it was a reflex, like leading you was second nature but looking at you wasn’t.

The two of you stepped out into the fresh morning air, the salty breeze carrying with it the faint crash of waves from below. Glen slipped on his sunglasses, the mirrored lenses catching the soft light of dawn as he looked down the narrow road leading toward your rental house.

“It’s a nice morning,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Want to walk back?”

You nodded, tucking your arms around yourself. “Sure.”

The two of you set off in silence, your shoes crunching against the gravel path before it gave way to the smooth cobblestones of the resort. The cliffs of Big Sur loomed in the distance, majestic and timeless, their beauty unchanging despite the ache in your chest.

Glen walked with the easy confidence he always carried, his long strides slowing slightly to match your pace. You stole a glance at him from the corner of your eye—his jaw was relaxed, his gaze hidden behind the reflective lenses of his sunglasses. He looked like someone who belonged in this setting, polished and effortless.

“Did you sleep okay last night?” Glen asked, breaking the silence.

“Yeah,” you lied. The truth was, you’d spent hours staring at the ceiling, the sound of distant waves doing nothing to quiet the spiral of thoughts in your head. “You?”

“As good as I could expect,” he replied, flashing you a quick smile. “You know how sleeping on a flight is.”

You nodded, unsure what else to say. The conversation fizzled out again, leaving only the sound of the waves and the occasional call of seagulls to fill the space between you.

As you rounded a corner, the rental house came into view—a charming, weathered cottage perched on the edge of a cliff, its white shutters standing out against the soft gray of its exterior. It had been your idea to book something cozy and intimate, a far cry from the glitzy resort Glen had looked into. At the time, you’d thought it would be a chance for the two of you to reconnect. Now, it just felt like a stage for the growing distance between you.

As he unlocked the door and stepped inside, you lingered for a moment, looking out at the endless expanse of ocean. The salty breeze swept through your hair, carrying with it a question you couldn’t push away:

When did it all start to fall apart?

The soft click of the door closing behind you felt heavier than it should have. Glen dropped his keys onto the small table by the door and shrugged out of his jacket, tossing it over the back of a chair. He moved through the cozy living room with the ease of someone who didn’t notice the growing weight in the air between you.

“So,” he said, heading toward the kitchen, “how’s Emily doing? She’s the friend who is pregnant, right? When’s she due again? We should probably send a gift or something, don’t you think?”

You froze where you stood, his words settling over you like ice.

“The baby shower was four months ago,” you said slowly, your voice tight. “Her daughter’s going to be three months old next week. I showed you a picture of her when she was born.”

Glen paused mid-step, glancing back at you with a sheepish smile. “Right. I—I guess I forgot.”

Forgot.

The word echoed in your mind, dredging up every other time he’d “forgotten”—anniversaries, birthdays, plans you’d made weeks in advance. The ache in your chest swelled, anger and hurt twisting together in a knot that felt impossible to untangle.

“You forgot,” you repeated, your voice sharper now. “Of course, you forgot. Why would you remember anything about my life when you’re too busy living your own?”

He frowned, the easy confidence he always carried faltering for a moment. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

You stepped closer, your arms crossed tightly over your chest, as if that could somehow hold you together. “It means you don’t know anything about me anymore, Glen. Not really. You’re so out of touch with my life it’s like you’re not even in it.”

“Come on, that’s not fair,” he said, his voice rising defensively. “I’ve been busy. You know how crazy things get with work.”

“You’ve been busy?” You laughed bitterly, the sound sharp enough to cut through the tension. “That’s your excuse for everything, isn’t it? I’ve been here waiting, Glen. Not just today, but for years. Waiting for you to show up. Waiting for you to keep your promises.”

Glen ran a hand through his hair, his frustration bleeding into his tone. “You knew what you were signing up for when we got together. You knew my career was important to me.”

“And what about me?” The words burst out of you, raw and unfiltered. “Was I ever important to you? Or was I just supposed to sit here and smile and wait while you made excuse after excuse? You promised things would get better, but they haven’t. And I can’t keep waiting for you to show up.”

His jaw tightened, and he shook his head, his voice low and simmering. “You’re being dramatic. It’s not like I don’t care about you.”

“Do you?” you shot back, your voice trembling with anger and something far more vulnerable. “Because it doesn’t feel like it. You’ll say I’m crazy for being the one to leave, but I can’t keep doing this, Glen. I can’t keep pretending everything’s fine while you’re barely here.”

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of your words hanging in the air between you. Glen stared at you, his expression unreadable, as if he was trying to piece together how things had unraveled so quickly.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, but no less defensive. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“I want you to try,” you said, your voice cracking. “I want you to fight for this, for us, but you don’t...And I don’t think you ever will.”

His silence was deafening, and in that moment, you knew.

You turned away, wrapping your arms around yourself as tears burned at the corners of your eyes. The sound of the waves crashing in the distance filtered through the open windows, a cruel reminder of the beauty around you that felt so out of reach.

When Glen finally spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. “I didn’t realize you felt this way.”

You turned back to him, your gaze steady despite the tears threatening to spill. “That’s the problem, Glen. You don’t realize anything.”

Glen stayed rooted to the spot, his hands resting on the back of the chair he’d just pulled out. His knuckles whitened against the wood as he gripped it tighter, the weight of your words pressing down on him.

“You’ll say I’m crazy for being the one to leave,” he repeated quietly, almost to himself. The phrase hung in the air, raw and unforgiving.

He looked up at you then, his usual polished composure cracking ever so slightly. His brows drew together, and his jaw flexed like he was trying to find the right words and failing. When he finally opened his mouth to speak, his voice wavered, and he stopped. His hand rose to his face, dragging down his jaw as he cleared his throat.

“You really want to leave?” he asked, his voice low and strained, like the words physically hurt to say.

You hadn’t expected him to sound so... vulnerable. It caught you off guard, but it wasn’t enough to soften the ache in your chest.

You turned toward him slowly, your arms still wrapped around yourself. The tightness in your throat returned, and you had to swallow hard before you could respond. You didn’t trust your voice, so you just nodded.

The moment stretched between you, heavy and suffocating. Glen exhaled sharply, running both hands through his hair now. He paced a few steps before stopping, his back to you.

“I didn’t... I didn’t realize it was this bad,” he said, his voice quiet, almost a whisper. He sounded less like the confident, larger-than-life man you’d fallen for and more like someone lost.

“That’s the problem,” you said softly, not out of anger but exhaustion. “You didn’t realize. You never realize.”

He turned back to face you, his eyes searching yours like he was looking for some flicker of hope, something to hold on to. “I know I’ve screwed up, okay? I know I haven’t been... I haven’t been what you needed. But I thought—I thought we were okay. I thought we’d figure it out like we always do.”

“Glen, we haven’t been ‘okay’ in a long time,” you said, your voice breaking on the last word. “I’ve been waiting for things to change, for you to keep your promises, but they’re always just words. And I can’t keep waiting for something that’s never going to happen.”

He took a step closer, his expression pleading. “I can do better. I’ll make time for you, for us. Just—don’t give up on me. On us.”

You shook your head, tears spilling over now despite your best efforts to hold them back. “I can't keep doing this. I’ve been holding on for so long, Glen. But I’m tired. I’m so tired of being second to everything else in your life.”

His shoulders slumped, and he took another step closer, hesitating like he didn’t know if he was allowed to touch you. “So that’s it? You’re done?”

The tightness in your throat became unbearable, but you forced yourself to meet his gaze. Your voice was barely above a whisper when you finally spoke. “I think I have to be.”

The words hung in the space between you, final and irrevocable. Glen’s face crumpled, and for a moment, you thought he might say something, might fight harder. But then he just nodded, a hollow acceptance settling over him.

You looked away, unable to bear the sight of him like that, and wrapped your arms tighter around yourself. The sound of the waves outside filled the silence as the two of you stood there, caught between what had been and what would never be again.

The silence between you lingered, heavy and unbearable, until Glen finally broke it. “Do you... do you want me to book you a flight home?”

His voice was low, almost tentative, like he was afraid of your answer. You didn’t look at him, staring down at the floor instead. Your chest tightened at the question, the finality of it. You didn’t trust yourself to speak, so you simply nodded.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the way his shoulders slumped, the way he exhaled like the air had been punched out of him. For a moment, he didn’t move, didn’t say anything. You swore you could feel the exact moment his heart broke, could see it in the defeated way he ran a hand through his hair. Maybe, some small part of him had been holding on to the hope that this was all a bad dream—that you’d wake up tomorrow and things would go back to normal.

But your nod was the final blow, and he seemed to understand that. “Okay,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He nodded once, more to himself than to you, and turned toward the bedroom. “I’ll... I’ll take care of it.”

He didn’t look back as he walked away, and you didn’t call after him.

As the sound of his footsteps faded, you turned toward the glass doors leading out to the balcony. The cool morning air hit you the moment you stepped outside, carrying with it the faint scent of salt and sea. The waves crashed rhythmically against the cliffs below, indifferent to the turmoil inside you.

You gripped the edge of the balcony railing, the smooth metal cold beneath your palms. The weight of everything—the fight, the words you’d spoken, the reality of what you’d just done—pressed down on you. It felt suffocating and freeing all at once.

You took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady the swirl of emotions inside you. This was it. The end of something that had once been everything to you. Six years of memories, of laughter and love, of promises whispered in the dark—they all came rushing back, unbidden, and it took everything in you not to crumble under the weight of them.

But as painful as it was, you knew you’d made the right choice.

For the first time in a long time, you let yourself feel it all—the grief, the anger, the sadness, the relief.

Inside, you could hear faint sounds of movement—Glen probably on the phone, making arrangements to send you home. The home you hadn’t been to in days, but already longed for.

You closed your eyes, letting the wind whip through your hair, and exhaled. You didn’t know what came next, but for now, all you could do was stand here, on this edge, and breathe.

The wind swirled around you as you leaned on the balcony railing, the weight of everything settling deep in your chest. The sound of the waves was steady, soothing even, but it couldn’t drown out the muffled noise that drifted through the open window behind you.

At first, you didn’t register it. But then it came again—a soft, broken sound that made you still.

You turned slightly, glancing over your shoulder toward the bedroom. Through the sheer curtains fluttering in the breeze, you saw him. Glen was sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, his face buried in his hands.

His shoulders were shaking.

You froze, the sight striking something deep inside you. It wasn’t loud or dramatic—just a quiet, private unraveling. But it was unmistakable: Glen was crying.

The realization hit you like a wave, unexpected and overwhelming. Glen never cried. He’d always been the one to keep his emotions in check, to brush off pain or sadness with a laugh or a quick deflection. The only time you’d ever seen him like this was years ago, when his family lost his grandmother. You’d held him then, wrapping your arms around him as he let himself break, his face buried in your shoulder.

And now, watching him through the window, you were reminded of that moment. Only this time, he wasn’t leaning on you for comfort. He was alone, carrying the weight of what had just happened all by himself.

This wasn’t the polished, distant Glen who had been showing up less and less in your life. This wasn’t the Glen who missed breakfasts or forgot about baby showers. This was the man you fell in love with—the one who used to bring you your favorite coffee on a random Tuesday, who looked at you like you were the only thing in the world that mattered. This was your Glen.

Your throat tightened as you watched him, your heart aching in a way that felt almost unbearable.

A part of you wanted to go to him, to cross the room and sit beside him, to wrap your arms around him and tell him it was going to be okay. That you didn’t mean it, that you’d stay, that you could find a way to fix things together.

But your feet wouldn’t move.

Because deep down, you knew that even if you comforted him now, it wouldn’t change anything. The years of distance, of broken promises, of waiting and hoping—it wasn’t something a single moment could undo.

Still, you couldn’t tear your eyes away from him. The sight of him like this—so raw, so unguarded—tugged at something inside you, a small flicker of the love you’d been trying to let go of.

You turned back to the balcony railing, gripping it tightly as you tried to steady yourself. The sound of his quiet sobs carried through the air, cutting through you in a way that made it hard to breathe.

And finally, you let yourself cry too.

The silence between you was heavy, the kind that wrapped itself around you and wouldn’t let go. You stayed on the balcony, gripping the railing like it was the only thing keeping you upright. Silent tears rolled down your cheeks, the occasional hitch in your breath the only sound you made.

Inside, Glen hadn’t moved much. You could still see him through the window, his figure barely shifting as he sat on the edge of the bed. His shoulders had stopped shaking, but he hadn’t lifted his head.

Minutes passed, maybe an hour—you weren’t sure. Time felt like it had frozen, stretching out endlessly in this painful limbo.

Finally, you heard him making his way out of the bedroom.

“The earliest flight I could get is this afternoon,” he said, his voice rough and low, like he hadn’t spoken in days.

You turned to look at him, meeting his eyes through the thin veil of the curtain. They were red-rimmed and glassy, his face pale, his jaw tight like he was holding something back.

You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak.

He stood then, running a hand through his hair before stepping through the sliding glass door onto the patio where you were.. He stopped just short of you, as if there was an invisible barrier between you.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice cracking on the words. “For everything.”

You swallowed hard, blinking back more tears as you waited for him to continue.

“For not making you a priority. For being too caught up in my own world to see what I was doing to you—what I was doing to us.” He paused, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady himself. “I didn’t mean to... I just—I didn’t know how to fix it.”

Your lips parted slightly, but you stayed quiet, letting him get it out.

“I thought if I just worked hard enough,” he said, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper, “I could make everything perfect for us. The house, the vacations, the security—everything. I thought that’s what you deserved. But... I see now I’ve just been pushing you away.”

The vulnerability in his eyes hit you like a punch to the chest. It was the same look he’d had years ago, the one that made you fall for him in the first place. It was a raw, unguarded honesty that you hadn’t seen in what felt like forever.

“I was scared,” he admitted, his voice breaking again. “I could tell things were getting bad, but I didn’t know how to fix them. And there was so much I couldn’t control—work, schedules, everything. So I buried myself in it, thinking... I don’t know. Maybe if I just stayed busy, I wouldn’t have to face the fact that I was losing you.”

Tears welled up in your eyes again, and you had to look away, your gaze dropping to the wooden floor of the balcony.

“All I want is for you to be happy,” Glen said, his tone softer now, almost pleading. “And if... if you're not happy with...” His voice cracked completely, and he had to stop, clearing his throat before continuing. “If you're not happy with me, then... I’ll understand.”

You looked back at him then, really looked at him, and for a moment, it felt like you were staring at the Glen you used to know—the one who used to bring you coffee just because, who used to hold your hand in the car, who used to make you feel like you were the center of his universe.

But that version of him felt so far away now, like a memory you could barely reach.

“I just... I just want you to be happy,” he repeated, his voice barely audible, as if saying it again might make it hurt less.

You wiped at your eyes, feeling the weight of his words settle over you. They were honest, raw, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they felt real. But they weren’t enough—not anymore.

You turned fully to face him, leaning back against the balcony railing for support. The tightness in your chest didn’t ease, but you forced yourself to speak through it.

“It’s not just you, Glen,” you began, your voice trembling. “I—I let this happen too.”

His brow furrowed slightly, as if your admission confused him.

“I’ve been avoiding the hard conversations,” you continued, looking down at your hands, your thumb nervously tracing over the edge of your ring. “Because I was scared. Scared of what they might reveal. Scared that if I said how I really felt, it would all just... fall apart.”

His lips parted, but he didn’t speak, waiting for you to finish.

“I thought that if I just kept quiet, if I just kept pretending everything was fine, then maybe we could get back to the way we used to be eventually. But it hasn’t worked. And now... now I feel like we’ve just been drifting further and further apart.”

You paused, taking a shaky breath, your fingers tightening around the edge of the railing.

“I love you, Glen,” you said, your voice breaking on the words. “God, I love you so much it hurts sometimes. But love isn’t enough—not if you’re never here. Not if you’re always somewhere else, chasing something I can’t reach. I'm never going to be happy if you're not here with me.”

He flinched like the words physically hit him, his hands clenching into fists at his sides before he shoved them into his pockets.

“I need you to be present,” you said, tears spilling over your lashes again. “I need to feel like I matter to you, like our relationship matters to you. And I haven’t felt that in so long.”

His jaw worked, his gaze dropping to the floor as he struggled to find something to say. You could see the tension in his posture, the way his shoulders rose and fell with each heavy breath.

“You do matter to me,” he said finally, his voice hoarse. “You matter more than anything. I just... I didn’t realize how much I was failing you. I thought I was doing all of this for us, but I see now that it’s not enough. That I’m not enough.”

You shook your head quickly, stepping closer to him. “It’s not about being enough, Glen. It’s about being here. Being with me, not just physically, but emotionally.”

He looked up at you then, his eyes glistening, and for a moment, neither of you said anything. The weight of everything you’d been holding back for years hung in the air between you, raw and unfiltered.

“I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Your heart ached at his words, at the pain in his expression, but you didn’t know how to bridge the chasm that had grown between you.

“I don’t want to lose you either,” you admitted, your voice trembling. 

The silence stretched between you, heavy and fragile, until Glen took a tentative step forward. His hand hovered in the space between you for a moment, like he was waiting for permission. Then, with a careful slowness, he closed the distance and pulled you into his chest.

The warmth of his embrace was immediate, familiar, and for a moment, it felt like you could let yourself fall apart. His arms wrapped around you securely, one hand resting against the back of your head as he tilted his chin down to press a kiss to your hair.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so, so sorry.”

You didn’t respond—not with words, at least. Instead, you buried your face against his chest, the fabric of his shirt soaking up your tears. Your arms slipped around his waist, your hands clutching at the back of his shirt like it was the only thing anchoring you to the ground.

His grip tightened, just enough to make you feel safe, but not enough to smother. You could hear his heart beating against your ear, steady and strong, and for a fleeting second, you wondered if you’d ever hear it this close again.

You clung to him, your fingers curling into the material of his shirt as if holding on could somehow freeze time. The thought that this might be the last time you’d feel his arms around you made your throat tighten, and fresh tears spilled down your cheeks.

He leaned down closer, his lips brushing against the top of your head as he murmured, “I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt you.”

You shook your head weakly, your voice muffled against his chest as you choked out, “I didn’t either.”

Glen pulled back slightly, just enough to look at you, his hands still resting on your shoulders. His eyes searched yours, wide and desperate, his voice breaking as he finally spoke.

“Please,” he said, the single word trembling with emotion. “Just... give me one more chance.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words caught in your throat. His grip tightened just slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to anchor you in place.

“I know I’ve said this before,” he continued, his voice low but urgent, “but this time it’s different. I swear to you, it’s different.”

You wanted to believe him—God, you wanted to—but doubt lingered like a shadow in the back of your mind. He must have seen it on your face because he rushed to keep speaking, the words tumbling out almost faster than he could say them.

“I’ve been thinking—really thinking—about how I’ve let you down. About how I’ve let us down. And you’re right. I’ve been so caught up in work, in trying to make everything perfect, that I didn’t see how much I was losing in the process. But I’m done, okay? I’m done putting my career ahead of you.”

Your breath hitched, the weight of his words sinking in. “What are you saying?” you whispered, barely able to meet his gaze.

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he nodded like he’d already made the decision. “After this project wraps, I’m taking a break. A real one this time. No more back-to-back shoots, no more press tours that take me halfway across the world. I’ll cut back—one, maybe two projects a year, tops. I don’t care if it hurts my career. I just want to stop hurting you.”

His words were raw, unpolished, but they hit you like a punch to the chest. For the first time in years, it felt like he wasn’t just saying what he thought you wanted to hear. There was thought behind his words, real intention.

He took a deep, shaky breath and pressed on, his voice softer now. “I’ll do whatever. Whatever you need, whatever it takes. I’ll prove to you that I can be better. That I can be the man you fell in love with again.”

You stared at him, your tears blurring his face as his words echoed in your mind. You could feel the sincerity in every syllable, see it in the way his hands trembled slightly as they held onto you, like you were the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

“Please,” he whispered again, his voice cracking as his hands slid down to take yours in his. “Just give me one more chance. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this. To fix us.”

His words wrapped around your heart, tugging you in two directions. The part of you that had been hurt over and over again wanted to stay guarded, to keep the walls you’d built firmly in place. But another part—the part that still loved him, that still saw glimpses of the man you’d fallen for—wanted to believe him.

This time, it felt real. It felt different. And for the first time in years, you allowed yourself to imagine that maybe, just maybe, it could be.

You took a deep, steadying breath. You took a step back, your gaze dropping to where Glen’s hands now held yours. His grip was firm but not forceful, a silent plea for you to trust him just one more time. You swallowed hard, your voice barely above a whisper when you finally spoke.

“I’ll stay,” you said, the words trembling on your lips. Glen’s breath hitched, and you could feel his grip tighten ever so slightly, like he wasn’t sure if he’d heard you correctly. “Just for the rest of the weekend. When we get back home... we’ll figure out what happens next.”

The relief that washed over his face was almost heartbreaking. His shoulders sagged, the tension visibly draining from his body as he nodded quickly. “Thank you,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “That’s all I need right now. Just... thank you.”

You gave a small nod, unable to say anything more as you turned and made your way back to the balcony. The cool ocean breeze kissed your cheeks as you leaned over the railing, staring out at the endless expanse of water. The waves crashed softly against the shore, their rhythmic sound both soothing and haunting.

A moment later, you felt Glen step behind you. His arms wrapped gently around your waist, pulling you back into the solid warmth of his chest. He didn’t say anything at first, just rested his chin lightly on the top of your head as the two of you stared out at the water in silence.

It wasn’t the silence of before—the heavy, suffocating kind that carried unspoken resentment. This was different. It was quiet, yes, but there was a sense of fragile peace in it. Like the storm that had been raging between you for so long had finally calmed, even if only for a moment.

“I love you,” Glen whispered, his voice so soft you almost didn’t hear it over the sound of the waves. But you did, and the words sent a fresh wave of emotion coursing through you.

You closed your eyes, leaning back into him as your hands moved to rest on top of his where they were wrapped around your waist. “I know,” you murmured, your voice thick with unshed tears.

For the first time in what felt like forever, you allowed yourself to let go of the hurt, if only for a little while. You let yourself feel the weight of his arms around you, the steady rise and fall of his chest against your back, the quiet sincerity in his voice.

As you stood there together, you thought back to that moment earlier in the day—standing alone, feeling the crushing weight of loneliness as you stared out at the beauty of this place. A mountain with a view, and yet, it had felt so empty.

But now, with Glen’s arms around you, it felt different. The view was still the same, the ocean stretching endlessly before you, the horizon painted in hues of gold and pink as the sun began its descent. But now, you weren’t alone.

And for the first time in a long time, you allowed yourself to hope that maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t have to be.

[dizzybee03]

Jake being a jerk is exactly what Tyler needs!

Lightning On My Lips (Every Time You Kiss Me)

26 - Empty The Bottle And Empty My Soul

Pairing: Tyler Owens x OFC Georgia Tennley-Owens

Rating: Explicit (MDNI!)

Warnings: Alcohol comsumption, medical crap, mentions of suicidal ideation, mentions of SMUT

A/N: This should read like a series of bad dreams that neither Georgia or Tyler can wake up from. Lots of mutual pining and no actions. Don't think that Georgia doesn't feel bad for what she did. She does. Tyler was a fucking mess. Thank you y'all for reading and continung to read! As always comments, likes, reblogs, and any feedback is super appreciated! Hope y'all enjoy this one!

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva @kmc1989

Tyler laid uncomfortably in his bed, running his hand over the cut on his head. He traced it lightly with his fingertips and it seared with pain when he did. It was throbbing and the pain killers weren't doing shit for him. This was the last time, he vowed, the last time he'd get staples in his head for riding a bull. The last time he'd get stitches for opening up his skin on a fence. The last time he'd get a cast or a sling for breaking something. This was it. He was done. He needed to do something else because now he'd lost the love of his life and his riding career was pretty much over. He wouldn't live long enough to do what he's dreamed of his entire life if he didn't stop.

But he hated all of that. And the part he hated the most was that he'd lost Georgia.

“Why'd she leave?” He asked, sitting up, while groaning in pain.

“All she said was she couldn't lose someone else. I didn't ask her what that meant. I'm so sorry T. She said she loved you.” Boone said, as he shifted in his chair. He knew the biggest thing his friend needed right now was support and it was kind of shitty that Georgia left. She’d probably even admit that. But as the days stretched on and Tyler became more cognizant of what his life was really going to be like for a long while, he even commended her for leaving.

“Well a lotta good that does me now!” He exclaimed, slamming a fist on the bed, Agony radiated throughout his entire body and he yelped. 

“T, easy. Ya gotta chill.” Boone stood and made a calming gesture with his hands. 

“Why Boone? I'm fuckin’ done. I can't walk. Can't go anywhere. What the fuck use am I now? I'm glad she fuckin’ left. She doesn't havta see me like this, all broken and fucked up.” Tyler said, laying back down. He huffed in frustration.

“T, seriously man. It'll be okay. Just gonna be a long road.” Boone said, fidgeting in his seat, uncomfortable at Tyler’s burst of anger. He’d seen the bull rider get mad before but not like this. There was a ferality in his eyes that Boone wasn’t sure he was okay with in that moment.

“Nah, Boone. This is dumb. I...I gotta find somethin’ else man...what am I supposed to do sittin’ in a fuckin’ bed rottin’ away.” Tyler shifted again, grabbing the cup of water from the tray in front of him and chucking it across the room. It landed with a splash and Tyler cried out in pain.

“Tyler...I'm sorry.” Boone didn’t know what to say or do to help his friend, so he decided just being there was going to have to be enough for now.

🌪️🛻🌪️

“FUCK THIS.” Tyler yelled, throwing the book he’d had his nose in for nearly three hours, across his room. It thudded against the wall and Boone ran up the stairs as quickly as he could. He’d been in the process of making his best friend lunch. Tyler was studying for an exam. A college exam. While he was laid up, he’d decided the best use of his time was to go to school. If he couldn’t exercise his body, at least he could exercise his mind. 

“What’s wrong, T?” Boone burst into the room and saw Tyler wheeling his chair backwards. 

“Fuckin’ cloud microphysics...pissin’ me the fuck off. I don’t get it.” Tyler said, slamming the wheelchair into the bed frame, the impact radiating up through the chair and into Tyler’s taxed body. 

“Can you be a lil’ less aggressive with the chair, T? You’re gonna break it and need a new one.” Boone pulled the chair slightly away from the bed.

“Maybe if I fuckin’ break it they won’t give me a new one.” Tyler glared at him.

“Then how you gon’ get ‘round?” Boone asked, knowing what his friend was hinting at. He would have to let the therapist know.

“I won’t. I’ll just heal or I’ll die. Who cares at this point.” His statement hurt Boone to his core. He knew someone that would care, but damn if he knew how to contact her, He’d tried and it came up as an out of service number. Maybe she had to get a new phone. Maybe she changed her number on purpose. Maybe she stopped paying the bill. There were a million reasons but there was only one that he cared about. Boone was banking on her coming back at some point. It would help Tyler. 

🌪️🛻🌪️

“You’re gonna graduate in that fuckin’ chair if you don’t start tryin’ a lil’ harder.” Jake said to his brother, offering an arm and that was it. He wanted Tyler to be rageful, so that he would try to stand and maybe punch him. But Tyler had become complacent and it killed Jake to see him this way.

“Do you understand how much pain I’m in?” Tyler asked, glancing at his brother before gripping tightly to his arm.

“I don’t give a fuck. Get up.” Jake scolded him and helped pull him to his feet. “You’re supposed to be trying to walk. Let’s go.” 

“FUCK. It hurts, Jake!” Tyler yelped, nearly collapsing. Jake caught him and pulled him back up.

“I know it does but you have to try.” Jake said, helping Tyler straighten back up. “You wanna fuck a girl again?”

“I mean...yeah...” Tyler’s brows furrowed.

“Then you have to walk!” Jake exclaimed, pulling his hands away from Tyler. He wobbled as Jake backed away. “Walk to me.” Jake said, motioning for Tyler to go toward him. Tyler focused hard on Jake, taking a couple of heavy steps. He sighed and his breath shuddered. Jake stepped over and held his brother. “You’re okay, T. You’re okay.” 

Jake knew he was struggling. Tyler had begun standing in physical therapy but he needed help at home with it. Boone had been able to for a while, but he also had to go back to work so he could make a bit of a living too. Jake had come back from a deployment just in time to help take care of Tyler. 

Tyler couldn’t control his emotions. He began sobbing against Jake’s chest.

“I can’t do this Jake. I’m in so much pain. I just want to end it.” Tyler said between sobs and Jake guided him back to the bed. Tyler folded into his brother like a child, burying his face in his neck.

“You can’t, T. I need my wingman. You can get through this. I know it hurts. I can feel you shaking. But you’ve gotta push through. Its the only way those muscles are gonna come back.” Jake rubbed his brother’s back. Tyler’s muscles were spasming and he was sweating. He’d been in the wheelchair for so many months that most of his muscles had atrophied to a point where any physical activity was difficult. Tyler was thin and weak and it horrified Jake to see his brother that way.

“Jake...if I asked you..” Tyler began and Jake cut him off.

“I’m not helping you end it. I’m helping you live, T. Stop being selfish. You’ve been through harder shit than this. Pull yourself together. For me.” Jake and Tyler’s eyes met. “Do you still want to have a house, and the girl, and kids, and all of that? How you gonna get that  if you don’t get through this.”

“How can I have any of that...she left me.” Tyler said and Jake scoffed.

“She’s not the only girl in the world, T.” Jake said softly.

“No, but she’s the only one I want.” Tyler said.

“How do you know that?” Jake asked.

“When you know, you know. And I fuckin’ know.”  Tyler affirmed and Jake shook his head but then puzzled through a solution.

“Well then T, if she’s the only one for you and you know, then you gotta get her back. You gotta work to do that. She ain’t gonna want a fuckin’ cripple. And you can’t make babies and maintain a house and all that other shit like this. So pull yourself together and remember what you want. If you want all of that, then go get it. Make it happen. Get better so that you can have everything you want.” 

🌪️🛻🌪️

Tyler had agreed to go on one date, set up by Boone with a girl from his Computer Modeling class. Talia was cute, a tiny blonde with glasses, little tits and a small ass. Not Tyler's type at all. There was only one girl that was his type.

The whole time he was at dinner with her he couldn't help but think of how different she was to Georgia. Tyler, being the stud he was, could barely see past her body. Sure she was smart, probably smarter than him, but all he could think of was what she'd be like in bed. 

He had to get Georgia out of his head. But even as they headed back to her apartment, fumbling with the lock as they made out, Tyler thought of the beautiful blonde he'd loved before. Her curves, which this girl lacked. Georgia had perky, large breasts that fit perfectly in Tyler's large hands. Georgia had just enough around her hips that Tyler could grab on and not be worried he'd hurt her. Talia was all bones. And as he slipped the condom on and thrust inside the cute meteorology major, pain shot through his loins and immediately softened his length. He tried. He did. He just couldn't keep it up. By the time Talia orgasmed, Tyler's hips were screaming. He pulled out and panted and she went to the bathroom to rinse herself off. 

He gathered his clothes from the floor, trashed the condom, dressed and left. He sat in his truck at home, rubbing one out to an interview that Georgia had done for the NFR. He couldn't believe himself and how low he'd stooped. 

Tyler would pick a bottle of whiskey, vodka, or rum, sit out in a wheatfield at night in the back of his truck and drink himself to sleep. He’d look up at the sky, pray to God and the heavens above that Georgia would come back some day, but the alcohol always left him with no hope for that and a hell of a hangover in the morning.

🌪️🛻🌪️

He had an impressive archive after four years. Every run, every pickup, every exhibition, every interview. Even the silly English show she'd done. Gee looked damn good in breeches, he admitted. That was the only thing that had gotten him through school and his recovery, was being able to watch her succeed time and time again. But every time he went to comment on a post or DM her, his thumb would hover over the button and he just couldn't bring himself to send it.

He'd struggled with pain management throughout those four years, attempting to end his life twice because it had become unbearable. There were days that he woke up and could barely move. Then he had really good days where he'd thought maybe he'd hop on a horse at the local arena and rope the dummy a couple times. 

He'd been building a truck to start storm chasing. Boone had helped and they were looking for a team. They'd started a YouTube channel, he and Boone getting some wild chase videos. The one that went viral and put them on the map was just outside of Tulsa, after Tyler had installed the augers on the truck and they tested them for the first time.

It had been a long time coming, but that was really when Tyler began praying. Tyler would go out to some different wheat field a couple times a week and polish off a bottle of whiskey or rum, whatever he had on hand, and lay in the bed of his truck, mumbling to God and the heavens above about how he just wished he could have her back. He just wished she'd come back around and they could forget the past four years and go back to what they had. Tyler just wanted her. 

He was tired of the girls throwing themselves at him. Tired of taking them out and trying to learn what they liked and didn't like when he already knew Georgia. He didn't want some other girl. And he was tired of the meaningless sex. They only wanted to bang him so they could say they'd slept with a famous youtuber. He should be sponsored by a condom company with how many he used over the course of the four years. He was so done with girls trying to get in his pants that he started letting Georgia's name come from his lips as he came, if he came. He didnt give a fuck anymore. Sure, he felt bad when it happened, and he apologized but he just couldn't take it anymore. He was done with other girls. Time to focus on his career, which was on an upswing that he couldn’t deny.

🌪️🛻🌪️

She was miserable. She was burnt out. Exhausted. She'd run every bit of ground at every single rodeo in the country over the course of four years. And she still thought about Tyler every single day. He weighed heaviest on her mind. He was the piece pushed far in the back that pulled at her subconscious.

“What's wrong, sweets?” Skylar or Beau or Johnny or any of the hundred other bull riders or ropers would ask her, knowing she was distracted and Georgia would just shake her head. He didn't care. Not like Tyler did. No one cared like Tyler did.

And not one of these guys could give her release like Tyler could. Skylar thought he was God’s gift to women, and was always too rough, making her sore afterwards. She’d fucked around with Johnny a couple times and he was too boring. Beau was too wild, too erratic, barely could get her off, so she made it very clear she wasn’t interested in him. There was a guy that had come close to Tyler, but for whatever reason she would always go back to Skylar. Maybe she felt like she needed the punishment. She felt like she deserved to be in pain. 

When Georgia saw the Tornado Wranglers channel for the first time come across her YouTube suggestions, she gasped. He looked just the same as he had, but a little older. More mature, but still playful at heart. The banter between him and Boone made her smile. She watched every livestream that she could. And then when the channel hit a million subscribers, Georgia wanted to message him and congratulate him but she couldn't. 

With Tyler's YouTube fame, she figured she would be as insignificant as any random fan that messaged the channel. He wouldn't recognize her. She fucked up. Now she had to live with that. 

So she did the only thing she could do. Continue on.

🌪️🛻🌪️

She’d gotten a call from her mother, saying that she wanted help moving down to Florida. Eleanor didn’t want to deal with tornados anymore. Emmaleigh didn’t have time to help her with everything she and her husband were doing. 

So on the day, when Georgia brought the mares back home, let them out into the field by the barn and set up their stalls, it was her mother who came out to the barn for once.

“Hi honey.” She said softly, taking her daughter in a weak hug. 

“Hi momma.” Georgia said. They watched the mares for a moment and then her mother spoke.

“Came to bring me down to Florida?” She asked and Georgia shook her head. “And then what’ll you do after?”

“Probably come back here. I got a job offer from one of the local weather stations for camera work. Met one of the meteorologists while I was on the road.” Georgia explained, moving her tack into the barn.

“Yeah? That sounds good. No more competin’ then?” Eleanor asked, as the mare ran back towards the barn. She reached out to rub Twist, who nickered softly to her. Georgia threw a couple apples on the ground under the fence for the mares and then folded her arms across her chest.

“Momma. I need a break. I’m exhausted.” Georgia said, her tone flat. 

“I don’t think you’ll get much rest chasin’ storms either, sweetie.” Eleanor rubbed a hand over her daughter’s back and then glanced back at the truck and trailer.

“Maybe I'm hoping to find something or someone else while I’m doin’ it...” Georgia murmured as she began to walk back to the truck. Eleanor walked with her and spoke even softer then.

“Tyler.” She said and Georgia stopped dead in her tracks. Even after four years, she didn’t think her mother would remember him, but she did. 

“Momma I know what you’re gonna say.” Georgia leaned against her truck for a moment. Eleanor put her hands on her hips.

“All I’m gonna say is if that’s what you want...be prepared for him to not want you back honey. You know what you did. I love you. I do. I always will. But I also know that you know that boy deserves more than you gave him.” She said, then heading into the house, leaving Georgia to think about what she said. Her mother’s words stung and brought tears to Georgia's eyes. She was right. Why would she ever think Tyler would want her back after what she did to him?

[dizzybee03]

Jake giving that tough love!!

Lightning On My Lips (Every Time You Kiss Me)

26 - Empty The Bottle And Empty My Soul

Pairing: Tyler Owens x OFC Georgia Tennley-Owens

Rating: Explicit (MDNI!)

Warnings: Alcohol comsumption, medical crap, mentions of suicidal ideation, mentions of SMUT

A/N: This should read like a series of bad dreams that neither Georgia or Tyler can wake up from. Lots of mutual pining and no actions. Don't think that Georgia doesn't feel bad for what she did. She does. Tyler was a fucking mess. Thank you y'all for reading and continung to read! As always comments, likes, reblogs, and any feedback is super appreciated! Hope y'all enjoy this one!

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva @kmc1989

Tyler laid uncomfortably in his bed, running his hand over the cut on his head. He traced it lightly with his fingertips and it seared with pain when he did. It was throbbing and the pain killers weren't doing shit for him. This was the last time, he vowed, the last time he'd get staples in his head for riding a bull. The last time he'd get stitches for opening up his skin on a fence. The last time he'd get a cast or a sling for breaking something. This was it. He was done. He needed to do something else because now he'd lost the love of his life and his riding career was pretty much over. He wouldn't live long enough to do what he's dreamed of his entire life if he didn't stop.

But he hated all of that. And the part he hated the most was that he'd lost Georgia.

“Why'd she leave?” He asked, sitting up, while groaning in pain.

“All she said was she couldn't lose someone else. I didn't ask her what that meant. I'm so sorry T. She said she loved you.” Boone said, as he shifted in his chair. He knew the biggest thing his friend needed right now was support and it was kind of shitty that Georgia left. She’d probably even admit that. But as the days stretched on and Tyler became more cognizant of what his life was really going to be like for a long while, he even commended her for leaving.

“Well a lotta good that does me now!” He exclaimed, slamming a fist on the bed, Agony radiated throughout his entire body and he yelped. 

“T, easy. Ya gotta chill.” Boone stood and made a calming gesture with his hands. 

“Why Boone? I'm fuckin’ done. I can't walk. Can't go anywhere. What the fuck use am I now? I'm glad she fuckin’ left. She doesn't havta see me like this, all broken and fucked up.” Tyler said, laying back down. He huffed in frustration.

“T, seriously man. It'll be okay. Just gonna be a long road.” Boone said, fidgeting in his seat, uncomfortable at Tyler’s burst of anger. He’d seen the bull rider get mad before but not like this. There was a ferality in his eyes that Boone wasn’t sure he was okay with in that moment.

“Nah, Boone. This is dumb. I...I gotta find somethin’ else man...what am I supposed to do sittin’ in a fuckin’ bed rottin’ away.” Tyler shifted again, grabbing the cup of water from the tray in front of him and chucking it across the room. It landed with a splash and Tyler cried out in pain.

“Tyler...I'm sorry.” Boone didn’t know what to say or do to help his friend, so he decided just being there was going to have to be enough for now.

🌪️🛻🌪️

“FUCK THIS.” Tyler yelled, throwing the book he’d had his nose in for nearly three hours, across his room. It thudded against the wall and Boone ran up the stairs as quickly as he could. He’d been in the process of making his best friend lunch. Tyler was studying for an exam. A college exam. While he was laid up, he’d decided the best use of his time was to go to school. If he couldn’t exercise his body, at least he could exercise his mind. 

“What’s wrong, T?” Boone burst into the room and saw Tyler wheeling his chair backwards. 

“Fuckin’ cloud microphysics...pissin’ me the fuck off. I don’t get it.” Tyler said, slamming the wheelchair into the bed frame, the impact radiating up through the chair and into Tyler’s taxed body. 

“Can you be a lil’ less aggressive with the chair, T? You’re gonna break it and need a new one.” Boone pulled the chair slightly away from the bed.

“Maybe if I fuckin’ break it they won’t give me a new one.” Tyler glared at him.

“Then how you gon’ get ‘round?” Boone asked, knowing what his friend was hinting at. He would have to let the therapist know.

“I won’t. I’ll just heal or I’ll die. Who cares at this point.” His statement hurt Boone to his core. He knew someone that would care, but damn if he knew how to contact her, He’d tried and it came up as an out of service number. Maybe she had to get a new phone. Maybe she changed her number on purpose. Maybe she stopped paying the bill. There were a million reasons but there was only one that he cared about. Boone was banking on her coming back at some point. It would help Tyler. 

🌪️🛻🌪️

“You’re gonna graduate in that fuckin’ chair if you don’t start tryin’ a lil’ harder.” Jake said to his brother, offering an arm and that was it. He wanted Tyler to be rageful, so that he would try to stand and maybe punch him. But Tyler had become complacent and it killed Jake to see him this way.

“Do you understand how much pain I’m in?” Tyler asked, glancing at his brother before gripping tightly to his arm.

“I don’t give a fuck. Get up.” Jake scolded him and helped pull him to his feet. “You’re supposed to be trying to walk. Let’s go.” 

“FUCK. It hurts, Jake!” Tyler yelped, nearly collapsing. Jake caught him and pulled him back up.

“I know it does but you have to try.” Jake said, helping Tyler straighten back up. “You wanna fuck a girl again?”

“I mean...yeah...” Tyler’s brows furrowed.

“Then you have to walk!” Jake exclaimed, pulling his hands away from Tyler. He wobbled as Jake backed away. “Walk to me.” Jake said, motioning for Tyler to go toward him. Tyler focused hard on Jake, taking a couple of heavy steps. He sighed and his breath shuddered. Jake stepped over and held his brother. “You’re okay, T. You’re okay.” 

Jake knew he was struggling. Tyler had begun standing in physical therapy but he needed help at home with it. Boone had been able to for a while, but he also had to go back to work so he could make a bit of a living too. Jake had come back from a deployment just in time to help take care of Tyler. 

Tyler couldn’t control his emotions. He began sobbing against Jake’s chest.

“I can’t do this Jake. I’m in so much pain. I just want to end it.” Tyler said between sobs and Jake guided him back to the bed. Tyler folded into his brother like a child, burying his face in his neck.

“You can’t, T. I need my wingman. You can get through this. I know it hurts. I can feel you shaking. But you’ve gotta push through. Its the only way those muscles are gonna come back.” Jake rubbed his brother’s back. Tyler’s muscles were spasming and he was sweating. He’d been in the wheelchair for so many months that most of his muscles had atrophied to a point where any physical activity was difficult. Tyler was thin and weak and it horrified Jake to see his brother that way.

“Jake...if I asked you..” Tyler began and Jake cut him off.

“I’m not helping you end it. I’m helping you live, T. Stop being selfish. You’ve been through harder shit than this. Pull yourself together. For me.” Jake and Tyler’s eyes met. “Do you still want to have a house, and the girl, and kids, and all of that? How you gonna get that  if you don’t get through this.”

“How can I have any of that...she left me.” Tyler said and Jake scoffed.

“She’s not the only girl in the world, T.” Jake said softly.

“No, but she’s the only one I want.” Tyler said.

“How do you know that?” Jake asked.

“When you know, you know. And I fuckin’ know.”  Tyler affirmed and Jake shook his head but then puzzled through a solution.

“Well then T, if she’s the only one for you and you know, then you gotta get her back. You gotta work to do that. She ain’t gonna want a fuckin’ cripple. And you can’t make babies and maintain a house and all that other shit like this. So pull yourself together and remember what you want. If you want all of that, then go get it. Make it happen. Get better so that you can have everything you want.” 

🌪️🛻🌪️

Tyler had agreed to go on one date, set up by Boone with a girl from his Computer Modeling class. Talia was cute, a tiny blonde with glasses, little tits and a small ass. Not Tyler's type at all. There was only one girl that was his type.

The whole time he was at dinner with her he couldn't help but think of how different she was to Georgia. Tyler, being the stud he was, could barely see past her body. Sure she was smart, probably smarter than him, but all he could think of was what she'd be like in bed. 

He had to get Georgia out of his head. But even as they headed back to her apartment, fumbling with the lock as they made out, Tyler thought of the beautiful blonde he'd loved before. Her curves, which this girl lacked. Georgia had perky, large breasts that fit perfectly in Tyler's large hands. Georgia had just enough around her hips that Tyler could grab on and not be worried he'd hurt her. Talia was all bones. And as he slipped the condom on and thrust inside the cute meteorology major, pain shot through his loins and immediately softened his length. He tried. He did. He just couldn't keep it up. By the time Talia orgasmed, Tyler's hips were screaming. He pulled out and panted and she went to the bathroom to rinse herself off. 

He gathered his clothes from the floor, trashed the condom, dressed and left. He sat in his truck at home, rubbing one out to an interview that Georgia had done for the NFR. He couldn't believe himself and how low he'd stooped. 

Tyler would pick a bottle of whiskey, vodka, or rum, sit out in a wheatfield at night in the back of his truck and drink himself to sleep. He’d look up at the sky, pray to God and the heavens above that Georgia would come back some day, but the alcohol always left him with no hope for that and a hell of a hangover in the morning.

🌪️🛻🌪️

He had an impressive archive after four years. Every run, every pickup, every exhibition, every interview. Even the silly English show she'd done. Gee looked damn good in breeches, he admitted. That was the only thing that had gotten him through school and his recovery, was being able to watch her succeed time and time again. But every time he went to comment on a post or DM her, his thumb would hover over the button and he just couldn't bring himself to send it.

He'd struggled with pain management throughout those four years, attempting to end his life twice because it had become unbearable. There were days that he woke up and could barely move. Then he had really good days where he'd thought maybe he'd hop on a horse at the local arena and rope the dummy a couple times. 

He'd been building a truck to start storm chasing. Boone had helped and they were looking for a team. They'd started a YouTube channel, he and Boone getting some wild chase videos. The one that went viral and put them on the map was just outside of Tulsa, after Tyler had installed the augers on the truck and they tested them for the first time.

It had been a long time coming, but that was really when Tyler began praying. Tyler would go out to some different wheat field a couple times a week and polish off a bottle of whiskey or rum, whatever he had on hand, and lay in the bed of his truck, mumbling to God and the heavens above about how he just wished he could have her back. He just wished she'd come back around and they could forget the past four years and go back to what they had. Tyler just wanted her. 

He was tired of the girls throwing themselves at him. Tired of taking them out and trying to learn what they liked and didn't like when he already knew Georgia. He didn't want some other girl. And he was tired of the meaningless sex. They only wanted to bang him so they could say they'd slept with a famous youtuber. He should be sponsored by a condom company with how many he used over the course of the four years. He was so done with girls trying to get in his pants that he started letting Georgia's name come from his lips as he came, if he came. He didnt give a fuck anymore. Sure, he felt bad when it happened, and he apologized but he just couldn't take it anymore. He was done with other girls. Time to focus on his career, which was on an upswing that he couldn’t deny.

🌪️🛻🌪️

She was miserable. She was burnt out. Exhausted. She'd run every bit of ground at every single rodeo in the country over the course of four years. And she still thought about Tyler every single day. He weighed heaviest on her mind. He was the piece pushed far in the back that pulled at her subconscious.

“What's wrong, sweets?” Skylar or Beau or Johnny or any of the hundred other bull riders or ropers would ask her, knowing she was distracted and Georgia would just shake her head. He didn't care. Not like Tyler did. No one cared like Tyler did.

And not one of these guys could give her release like Tyler could. Skylar thought he was God’s gift to women, and was always too rough, making her sore afterwards. She’d fucked around with Johnny a couple times and he was too boring. Beau was too wild, too erratic, barely could get her off, so she made it very clear she wasn’t interested in him. There was a guy that had come close to Tyler, but for whatever reason she would always go back to Skylar. Maybe she felt like she needed the punishment. She felt like she deserved to be in pain. 

When Georgia saw the Tornado Wranglers channel for the first time come across her YouTube suggestions, she gasped. He looked just the same as he had, but a little older. More mature, but still playful at heart. The banter between him and Boone made her smile. She watched every livestream that she could. And then when the channel hit a million subscribers, Georgia wanted to message him and congratulate him but she couldn't. 

With Tyler's YouTube fame, she figured she would be as insignificant as any random fan that messaged the channel. He wouldn't recognize her. She fucked up. Now she had to live with that. 

So she did the only thing she could do. Continue on.

🌪️🛻🌪️

She’d gotten a call from her mother, saying that she wanted help moving down to Florida. Eleanor didn’t want to deal with tornados anymore. Emmaleigh didn’t have time to help her with everything she and her husband were doing. 

So on the day, when Georgia brought the mares back home, let them out into the field by the barn and set up their stalls, it was her mother who came out to the barn for once.

“Hi honey.” She said softly, taking her daughter in a weak hug. 

“Hi momma.” Georgia said. They watched the mares for a moment and then her mother spoke.

“Came to bring me down to Florida?” She asked and Georgia shook her head. “And then what’ll you do after?”

“Probably come back here. I got a job offer from one of the local weather stations for camera work. Met one of the meteorologists while I was on the road.” Georgia explained, moving her tack into the barn.

“Yeah? That sounds good. No more competin’ then?” Eleanor asked, as the mare ran back towards the barn. She reached out to rub Twist, who nickered softly to her. Georgia threw a couple apples on the ground under the fence for the mares and then folded her arms across her chest.

“Momma. I need a break. I’m exhausted.” Georgia said, her tone flat. 

“I don’t think you’ll get much rest chasin’ storms either, sweetie.” Eleanor rubbed a hand over her daughter’s back and then glanced back at the truck and trailer.

“Maybe I'm hoping to find something or someone else while I’m doin’ it...” Georgia murmured as she began to walk back to the truck. Eleanor walked with her and spoke even softer then.

“Tyler.” She said and Georgia stopped dead in her tracks. Even after four years, she didn’t think her mother would remember him, but she did. 

“Momma I know what you’re gonna say.” Georgia leaned against her truck for a moment. Eleanor put her hands on her hips.

“All I’m gonna say is if that’s what you want...be prepared for him to not want you back honey. You know what you did. I love you. I do. I always will. But I also know that you know that boy deserves more than you gave him.” She said, then heading into the house, leaving Georgia to think about what she said. Her mother’s words stung and brought tears to Georgia's eyes. She was right. Why would she ever think Tyler would want her back after what she did to him?

[dizzybee03]

You know what would have been a HUGE plot twist is Bodhi being Jake’s wingman!!

Delicate (Jake's Version)

26 - Callsign: Sunshine

Pairing: Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x OFC Samantha Kazansky, OMC Captain Bodhi 'Sunshine' Denson x OFC Samantha Kazansky

Rating: Explicit (MDNI!)

Warnings: All kinds in this one! We've got heavy alcohol comsumption, SMUT, protected!piv, typical fighter pilot violence, AN ACTUAL FIGHT with blood and punching (and one cheap shot) mentions of death and cancer treatment

A/N: This one is gonna hurt. And it's not Jake this time. I told y'all Bodhi was important. This is all flashbacks but they're super important and it's kind of wrapping up some plot points and connecting some things. As always, comments, likes, reblogs are most appreciated! Check out the other two parts of this story by heading over the the Masterlist for Twisters/TopGun Crossover!

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva

Sam never thought she'd see Bodhi again after that night, but she did. A couple of weeks later, it was spring break, and she'd come home, and to the realization that her father might not make it to her graduation. He was currently undergoing a round of chemotherapy, which seemed to be helping significantly. So, they wanted to keep it up until he was at a comfortable place, but there was no way he could get on a plane in his condition, with his destroyed immune system. 

Sam went to a bar that night, not even one she knew, and had too many drinks. She was about to text her mother to come get her, which was the most embarrassing thing ever, when she felt a hand at her back. It equally startled and comforted her.

“Samantha.” It was Bodhi. His smile was warm and inviting and Sam nearly fell into him. She giggled and he took a hold of her, steadying her. 

“Too much to drink again, honey?” He mused. 

“Hi Sunshine, what brings you here?” Sam hadn't put together just how drunk she was until she heard herself slur her words. This was bad. 

“Well, sweet girl, I think I might be here to save you from yourself.” Bodhi said, as he guided her away from the bar and threw some cash toward the bartender. He gave him a thumbs up and shooed them away. An easy smile crossed Bodhi’s lips as he helped her onto the sidewalk. “I’ll drive you home, honey.”

He ushered her carefully to his truck and the whole way, Sam was laughing and telling him how sick her father was, how good she was doing in school, and how terribly sad she was that her father was probably going to miss her graduation. 

“I’m sure he’ll figure a way to get there. If I know anythin’ about Iceman, it’s that he’s always reliable.” Bodhi said, as they got to his truck. Sam turned in his arms, letting her lips fall toward his. It shocked him and then he eased her away for a moment.

“Honey...not like this. You’re way too drunk.” He said softly, running a hand over her cheek. There was a sadness in her eyes that he hated to see there. He wanted to make it better but he knew he couldn’t do a damn thing. 

“Take me to your place.” She slurred and Bodhi sighed. His place was closer. He helped her up into the truck and then drove. Back to his tiny studio apartment. It was the third floor, and had a great view of the ocean. Bodhi helped Sam up the stairs, careful to not let her trip. Once they were inside, he settled her on the couch.

“Can I see your phone? I'll text whoever you need me to.” He said and Sam very willingly handed her phone over.

“Just text my mom and tell her I went home with Nat. She'll know who that is.” Sam said, laying down on her side. She coughed and heaved, causing Bodhi’s eyes to widen and run to the kitchen. He grabbed a large pot, figuring if she was going to throw up, at least she could have something to catch it in. He was in for a rough night. He sent a text to her mother.

Sam: staying at Nat’s tonight

It took a few minutes but her mother responded with no more than an ‘okay’ and that was enough acknowledgement for Bodhi. He gave Sam her phone back, and then he sat down next to her. She smirked and sat up, reaching for him.

“Ohhh Sunshine...Sunshiiiine.” She chimed, making him chuckle. He shook his head as she latched onto him and leaned in to kiss him.

“Honey, not like this. You’re way too drunk.” He said softly, running his knuckles over her cheek as her mouth connected with his messily. He allowed the kiss but when she let her fingers drift down to his belt, he stopped her.

“Sweet girl...if you really want me that bad, you can have me in the mornin’ when you’re not drunk. I ain’t takin’ you like this.” He pulled her against him and she struggled for a moment, clawing at his shirt. She just wanted to have sex. Meaningless sex, and he wasn’t having it, and she wasn’t understanding why through the shroud of alcohol, but she’d come to her senses in the morning.

She fell asleep sprawled on top of him.

Halfway through the night, she woke up, puking in the bucket, which then woke Bodhi up. He took her to the bathroom and held her hair as she vomited several more times. He wiped her mouth and chin off. He helped her out of the pretty dress she had been in and into one of his old t-shirts. He got her water and brought her to his bed and tucked her under the covers. He dumped the bucket in the toilet and then washed it out and placed it by the side of the bed. He climbed under the covers next to her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep again.

When the sun shone through the windows in the morning, Sam had a ripping headache and her throat hurt. She rolled to face the handsome pilot. He did not stir, only breathed softly next to her, an arm draped over her. She was dizzy and she decided to crawl out of bed and find the bathroom. The studio was small, so that wasn’t hard.

After she found some mouthwash and took a quick shower, she headed back to the bedroom, where Bodhi was still asleep. She cuddled up to him under the covers and after a little while, he awoke. He shifted and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. 

“You’re not burning up anymore.” He whispered and she cocked a brow.

“What do you mean?” She asked, her voice raspy. 

“You were so drunk. You were pouring sweat in your sleep. I had put a cool cloth over your forehead to help.” Bodhi explained as his arms came to wrap around her. 

“Did we...” She asked, and Bodhi, seeing the worry in her eyes, comfortingly rubbed her back.

“No honey. I wouldn't do that to you.” He said softly, bringing tears to Sam's eyes. She tentatively stretched towards him and he closed the rest of the distance to kiss her. 

“Like I said last night, if you still feel the same, you can have me now, since you're not drunk anymore.” He mused, his voice taking on a slightly husky quality whether he meant it no or not. It sent a jolt straight through her core, her abs tightening with the thought of him inside her again. She did want him. She wanted his musky, mature scent caging her in on all sides. His muscular, lean body protecting her, and moving against her. She wanted his breath heavy in her ears, whispering sweet nothings to linger in the space between them. 

“Oh Captain...my Captain.” She sighed, pulling him in for a torrid kiss that set both their bodies ablaze. Bodhi climbed over her, fumbling in his bedside table for a condom. He was quick to roll it on, slow to slide inside of her, and even slower to fuck her. She whimpered beneath him, her nails grazing over his chest, rapidly pressing him toward a point of no return. 

It was not long before she sighed, his callsign slipping from her mouth, which in turn sent Bodhi over the edge. And as they fell asleep, Bodhi whispered ‘think I might love you a little bit, honey’ without realizing it.

That was the last time Sam would ever be that drunk again. However it was not the last time she would see Bodhi. In fact, she would see him several more times. They would have ‘meaningless sex’ several more times. Sam kept telling him ‘can’t have feelings’ and ‘can’t keep doing this’ but she kept going back for more. Bodhi treated her all the same though. 

His lingering touches when they were together, his gentle presence beside her, made her feel protected. Even though the feelings weren’t reciprocated in the moment, Sam could maybe admit there was something there, between them. To Bodhi, it was all the same. Whether she loved him or not, he treated her the way a man should treat a woman. With respect. With reverence. And he showed her what she could have, if she would just let her guard down. If she would just let him in. If it had been another time, another place, maybe it could’ve worked. But all he hoped for was that in time, she would find the right man, and she could shake off her armor and let him in.

And then, Bodhi’s jet would have mechanical failure and he would go down somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The funeral was quiet, some of his squadron and Samantha, Maverick, and her father. That was when she realized just how little Bodhi mattered to anyone. But he’d been important to Sam.

And Samantha would realize that she should’ve loved him. She should’ve given him more of herself. She should’ve stopped telling him she didn’t have feelings for him, because she had. She should’ve admitted to him and herself the feelings that she had, because they were more than just liking him. She had loved Bodhi, just too little and too late.

So when she sat at the Hard Deck that evening, and Jake Seresin made his intentions very clear right then and there, she decided to give him a chance. She gave him the chance that she didn’t give Bodhi. For the memory of Bodhi, for her Sunshine, she would love Jake Seresin in all the ways she wouldn’t let herself love Bodhi. It was what he would’ve wanted. If it wasn’t going to be him, Bodhi would’ve wanted her to find someone to love and to heal. In some ways, she thought maybe Bodhi had sent Jake to her. Maybe she saw just a little of Bodhi in Jake.

🛩⚓️🛩

Several months before the incident between Sam and Rooster...

“Delta One inbound. Missiles locked. Standing by for go.” Jake said through the comms. 

“Delta Two on your left. Weapons envelope. Missiles locked. Defer to Delta One.” Austin said, his gaze shooting toward Jake’s jet. 

Austin Arin, callsign ‘Pope’, had been Jake’s wingman for a while now and the two had a great bond. Jake, who was hesitant to trust anyone other than himself, trusted Austin implicitly. They’d been sent overseas, somewhere in the Pacific for a mission. A strike on a carrier connected to nefarious sources in the Middle East that was prohibiting supplies from being brought into the ports closest to where US bases resupplied from. 

It was going to be a dogfight. Jake knew that. Austin knew that. And it was as if Bradley didn’t. Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw was flying as a third, behind Austin. It was the first time Rooster was flying a dual F-18. For Charlie, his backseater, this was the first time they’d flown together. It had been a last minute decision from the boat, having had two pilots come down with illnesses unrelated to each other. One pilot was headed home and the other was manageable on the boat, but there was no way he’d be flying this mission.

“Delta Three Weapons Locked. Defer to Delta One.” Rooster said and the boot acknowledged all three planes. 

“Delta you are a go for attack. Fire at will.” The Commander said and Jake punched it, heading toward the battle zone in the air. There were several enemy fighters. 

“Bandit on your nose Delta Two. Evade!” Jake said, successfully warning Austin, who dove out of the way. Rooster followed and Jake took out one bandit, Austin taking out the other. There was one more, but it seemed to skip in and out of radar. It came up behind them and Rooster evaded. Their goal was to destroy the carrier deck of the enemy boat so they couldn’t launch any more planes. 

As they got closer, more fighters were launched in quick succession. Jake, Austin, and Bradley called for back up and their commander sent another team out.

“Delta Three head to target we’ve got this.” Jake said, with Austin posting up beside him, their wing tips close. They glanced over at each other and saluted then dipped away from each other. Rooster flew toward the enemy carrier evading several bandits as he went. He fired a missile, blowing a huge hole in the deck of the carrier. It wasn’t enough though, because as soon as his second volley of missiles was launched, they catapulted what looked to be some of the last of their fighters. 

Austin was taking out planes left and right. Jake would slide in at the last second and distract them while  Austin dove down below them or above them and fired. The other team had arrived in time to help get rid of the majority of the bandits, but as Austin got out of Jake’s range, it was now on Rooster to help him. 

“All Deltas flow to carrier. Target is destroyed.” There was cheering that could be heard over the comms, and everyone complied. The spare team headed back first and successfully landed on the carrier one by one. Then Jake touched down and just as he was about to exit his jet, there was chatter over the radios.

“Delta Two defending! I need help! Delta Three where are you!” He heard Austin’s voice over the radio and his heart stopped. He saw flares and only saw one jet but as he looked closer, there was another jet behind Austin.

“On my way Delta Two, Still five miles out. Evade!” Bradley said and Jake’s heart sank.

“Delta Three where the fuck are you! Get here now!”

“Delta Three! Delta!” 

Static. 

Then silence.

Jake looked up in the distance just in time to see the explosion before anyone heard it. In a ball of fire and smoke, Austin ‘Pope’ Arin died for his country. Jake watched as Delta Four launched and took out the bandit, just as Rooster showed up. Both jets landed a few moments later and as soon as Bradley stepped down from the ladder, Jake was on him.

“WHERE THE FUCK WHERE YOU?” Jake yelled, pushing Bradley. He fell to the ground and got right back up, grabbing Jake’s flight suit and pushing him against the ladder.

“I was on my fucking way! We had an engine issue and I couldn’t push the jet!”

“THAT’S BULLSHIT ROOSTER. YOU FUCKIN’ KILLED MY WINGMAN CAUSE YOU JUST PERCHED ON THAT GODDAMN TRIGGER. YOU WERE LATE. YOU’RE ALWAYS FASHIONABLY LATE!” Jake’s rage could not be contained and he jumped toward Rooster, his hand connecting with the other man’s face hard enough to draw blood. Rooster drew back and got a few punches in before Jake had him on the ground again. He kicked Rooster in the ribs and then pulled him up by his collar and threw him against the nose of the nearest jet. Rooster wobbled as he stood, landing one more good punch to Jake’s gut, but it was Jake who landed the knockout blow. He hit Rooster square in the jaw and Roos saw stars and fell to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.

“I swear to fuckin’ god, Rooster, the court martial is worth it. You killed my best friend, you ignorant fuck. You’d better stay the fuck outta my way from now the fuck on.” Jake’s voice had evened out. It was almost calm as he wiped the blood from his own mouth. He rubbed his stomach and groaned as he headed toward medical. 

No one helped Rooster up immediately. Because they sort of knew Jake was right. Bradley had gotten there too late and left Austin open without help. Jake had every right to do what he did. And Rooster was the only one who thought otherwise.

Back home, Austin’s funeral was hard for Jake. He met Austin’s mother, giving her the folded flag. He punched his wings into his best friend’s casket. Jake was given a service medal. He didn’t want it though. He didn’t feel like he deserved it. 

🛩⚓️🛩

Samantha needed to talk to someone. She found herself driving to the cemetery. Her legs carried her down the rows to the small stone set in the ground, where there was no body buried. They’d never found him.

She knelt down and placed her fingers over the cold stone, tracing the words etched there.

“Capt. Bodhi ‘Sunshine’ Denson, 1976 - 2022, VFA-151 Vigilantes, Beloved Pilot”

Sam always wondered if Jake knew him. 

“Sunshine...Sunshiiine...” She sung softly, tears stinging her eyes. “I should’ve loved you better. But I know you’d be happy to see me with Jake. If I could ask one more thing of you...please protect him and bring him back to me...” 

A gentle breeze blew, caressing Sam’s cheek and she let her eyes flutter shut. She swore for a moment that the scent of Bodhi’s cologne, a musky, woody warmth, floating to her nostrils, as if his spirit accepted her request. The breeze rustled the leaves above and a few fell, one landing on top of Sam’s hand.

“Thank you for sending me Jake. I know it was you. It was your last act of service. Rest well knowing he’ll take care of me just like you would’ve. I loved you, Bodhi. I always will.” She kissed her fingertips and then touched the stone. She took the leaf that had fallen and placed it on the dashboard when she got into her father’s truck. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, and glanced back at the dogs sleeping in the back seat. Only Rocco stirred, giving a small whine and a wag of his tail. 

She then drove back to Jake’s, laid back in his bed, and waited for a miracle.

[dizzybee03]

Oh this gave me chills! Their stories were sooo similar! And I like how Rooster played a part in both as well

Delicate (Jake's Version)

26 - Callsign: Sunshine

Pairing: Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x OFC Samantha Kazansky, OMC Captain Bodhi 'Sunshine' Denson x OFC Samantha Kazansky

Rating: Explicit (MDNI!)

Warnings: All kinds in this one! We've got heavy alcohol comsumption, SMUT, protected!piv, typical fighter pilot violence, AN ACTUAL FIGHT with blood and punching (and one cheap shot) mentions of death and cancer treatment

A/N: This one is gonna hurt. And it's not Jake this time. I told y'all Bodhi was important. This is all flashbacks but they're super important and it's kind of wrapping up some plot points and connecting some things. As always, comments, likes, reblogs are most appreciated! Check out the other two parts of this story by heading over the the Masterlist for Twisters/TopGun Crossover!

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva

Sam never thought she'd see Bodhi again after that night, but she did. A couple of weeks later, it was spring break, and she'd come home, and to the realization that her father might not make it to her graduation. He was currently undergoing a round of chemotherapy, which seemed to be helping significantly. So, they wanted to keep it up until he was at a comfortable place, but there was no way he could get on a plane in his condition, with his destroyed immune system. 

Sam went to a bar that night, not even one she knew, and had too many drinks. She was about to text her mother to come get her, which was the most embarrassing thing ever, when she felt a hand at her back. It equally startled and comforted her.

“Samantha.” It was Bodhi. His smile was warm and inviting and Sam nearly fell into him. She giggled and he took a hold of her, steadying her. 

“Too much to drink again, honey?” He mused. 

“Hi Sunshine, what brings you here?” Sam hadn't put together just how drunk she was until she heard herself slur her words. This was bad. 

“Well, sweet girl, I think I might be here to save you from yourself.” Bodhi said, as he guided her away from the bar and threw some cash toward the bartender. He gave him a thumbs up and shooed them away. An easy smile crossed Bodhi’s lips as he helped her onto the sidewalk. “I’ll drive you home, honey.”

He ushered her carefully to his truck and the whole way, Sam was laughing and telling him how sick her father was, how good she was doing in school, and how terribly sad she was that her father was probably going to miss her graduation. 

“I’m sure he’ll figure a way to get there. If I know anythin’ about Iceman, it’s that he’s always reliable.” Bodhi said, as they got to his truck. Sam turned in his arms, letting her lips fall toward his. It shocked him and then he eased her away for a moment.

“Honey...not like this. You’re way too drunk.” He said softly, running a hand over her cheek. There was a sadness in her eyes that he hated to see there. He wanted to make it better but he knew he couldn’t do a damn thing. 

“Take me to your place.” She slurred and Bodhi sighed. His place was closer. He helped her up into the truck and then drove. Back to his tiny studio apartment. It was the third floor, and had a great view of the ocean. Bodhi helped Sam up the stairs, careful to not let her trip. Once they were inside, he settled her on the couch.

“Can I see your phone? I'll text whoever you need me to.” He said and Sam very willingly handed her phone over.

“Just text my mom and tell her I went home with Nat. She'll know who that is.” Sam said, laying down on her side. She coughed and heaved, causing Bodhi’s eyes to widen and run to the kitchen. He grabbed a large pot, figuring if she was going to throw up, at least she could have something to catch it in. He was in for a rough night. He sent a text to her mother.

Sam: staying at Nat’s tonight

It took a few minutes but her mother responded with no more than an ‘okay’ and that was enough acknowledgement for Bodhi. He gave Sam her phone back, and then he sat down next to her. She smirked and sat up, reaching for him.

“Ohhh Sunshine...Sunshiiiine.” She chimed, making him chuckle. He shook his head as she latched onto him and leaned in to kiss him.

“Honey, not like this. You’re way too drunk.” He said softly, running his knuckles over her cheek as her mouth connected with his messily. He allowed the kiss but when she let her fingers drift down to his belt, he stopped her.

“Sweet girl...if you really want me that bad, you can have me in the mornin’ when you’re not drunk. I ain’t takin’ you like this.” He pulled her against him and she struggled for a moment, clawing at his shirt. She just wanted to have sex. Meaningless sex, and he wasn’t having it, and she wasn’t understanding why through the shroud of alcohol, but she’d come to her senses in the morning.

She fell asleep sprawled on top of him.

Halfway through the night, she woke up, puking in the bucket, which then woke Bodhi up. He took her to the bathroom and held her hair as she vomited several more times. He wiped her mouth and chin off. He helped her out of the pretty dress she had been in and into one of his old t-shirts. He got her water and brought her to his bed and tucked her under the covers. He dumped the bucket in the toilet and then washed it out and placed it by the side of the bed. He climbed under the covers next to her and rubbed her back until she fell asleep again.

When the sun shone through the windows in the morning, Sam had a ripping headache and her throat hurt. She rolled to face the handsome pilot. He did not stir, only breathed softly next to her, an arm draped over her. She was dizzy and she decided to crawl out of bed and find the bathroom. The studio was small, so that wasn’t hard.

After she found some mouthwash and took a quick shower, she headed back to the bedroom, where Bodhi was still asleep. She cuddled up to him under the covers and after a little while, he awoke. He shifted and pressed a light kiss to her forehead. 

“You’re not burning up anymore.” He whispered and she cocked a brow.

“What do you mean?” She asked, her voice raspy. 

“You were so drunk. You were pouring sweat in your sleep. I had put a cool cloth over your forehead to help.” Bodhi explained as his arms came to wrap around her. 

“Did we...” She asked, and Bodhi, seeing the worry in her eyes, comfortingly rubbed her back.

“No honey. I wouldn't do that to you.” He said softly, bringing tears to Sam's eyes. She tentatively stretched towards him and he closed the rest of the distance to kiss her. 

“Like I said last night, if you still feel the same, you can have me now, since you're not drunk anymore.” He mused, his voice taking on a slightly husky quality whether he meant it no or not. It sent a jolt straight through her core, her abs tightening with the thought of him inside her again. She did want him. She wanted his musky, mature scent caging her in on all sides. His muscular, lean body protecting her, and moving against her. She wanted his breath heavy in her ears, whispering sweet nothings to linger in the space between them. 

“Oh Captain...my Captain.” She sighed, pulling him in for a torrid kiss that set both their bodies ablaze. Bodhi climbed over her, fumbling in his bedside table for a condom. He was quick to roll it on, slow to slide inside of her, and even slower to fuck her. She whimpered beneath him, her nails grazing over his chest, rapidly pressing him toward a point of no return. 

It was not long before she sighed, his callsign slipping from her mouth, which in turn sent Bodhi over the edge. And as they fell asleep, Bodhi whispered ‘think I might love you a little bit, honey’ without realizing it.

That was the last time Sam would ever be that drunk again. However it was not the last time she would see Bodhi. In fact, she would see him several more times. They would have ‘meaningless sex’ several more times. Sam kept telling him ‘can’t have feelings’ and ‘can’t keep doing this’ but she kept going back for more. Bodhi treated her all the same though. 

His lingering touches when they were together, his gentle presence beside her, made her feel protected. Even though the feelings weren’t reciprocated in the moment, Sam could maybe admit there was something there, between them. To Bodhi, it was all the same. Whether she loved him or not, he treated her the way a man should treat a woman. With respect. With reverence. And he showed her what she could have, if she would just let her guard down. If she would just let him in. If it had been another time, another place, maybe it could’ve worked. But all he hoped for was that in time, she would find the right man, and she could shake off her armor and let him in.

And then, Bodhi’s jet would have mechanical failure and he would go down somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. The funeral was quiet, some of his squadron and Samantha, Maverick, and her father. That was when she realized just how little Bodhi mattered to anyone. But he’d been important to Sam.

And Samantha would realize that she should’ve loved him. She should’ve given him more of herself. She should’ve stopped telling him she didn’t have feelings for him, because she had. She should’ve admitted to him and herself the feelings that she had, because they were more than just liking him. She had loved Bodhi, just too little and too late.

So when she sat at the Hard Deck that evening, and Jake Seresin made his intentions very clear right then and there, she decided to give him a chance. She gave him the chance that she didn’t give Bodhi. For the memory of Bodhi, for her Sunshine, she would love Jake Seresin in all the ways she wouldn’t let herself love Bodhi. It was what he would’ve wanted. If it wasn’t going to be him, Bodhi would’ve wanted her to find someone to love and to heal. In some ways, she thought maybe Bodhi had sent Jake to her. Maybe she saw just a little of Bodhi in Jake.

🛩⚓️🛩

Several months before the incident between Sam and Rooster...

“Delta One inbound. Missiles locked. Standing by for go.” Jake said through the comms. 

“Delta Two on your left. Weapons envelope. Missiles locked. Defer to Delta One.” Austin said, his gaze shooting toward Jake’s jet. 

Austin Arin, callsign ‘Pope’, had been Jake’s wingman for a while now and the two had a great bond. Jake, who was hesitant to trust anyone other than himself, trusted Austin implicitly. They’d been sent overseas, somewhere in the Pacific for a mission. A strike on a carrier connected to nefarious sources in the Middle East that was prohibiting supplies from being brought into the ports closest to where US bases resupplied from. 

It was going to be a dogfight. Jake knew that. Austin knew that. And it was as if Bradley didn’t. Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw was flying as a third, behind Austin. It was the first time Rooster was flying a dual F-18. For Charlie, his backseater, this was the first time they’d flown together. It had been a last minute decision from the boat, having had two pilots come down with illnesses unrelated to each other. One pilot was headed home and the other was manageable on the boat, but there was no way he’d be flying this mission.

“Delta Three Weapons Locked. Defer to Delta One.” Rooster said and the boot acknowledged all three planes. 

“Delta you are a go for attack. Fire at will.” The Commander said and Jake punched it, heading toward the battle zone in the air. There were several enemy fighters. 

“Bandit on your nose Delta Two. Evade!” Jake said, successfully warning Austin, who dove out of the way. Rooster followed and Jake took out one bandit, Austin taking out the other. There was one more, but it seemed to skip in and out of radar. It came up behind them and Rooster evaded. Their goal was to destroy the carrier deck of the enemy boat so they couldn’t launch any more planes. 

As they got closer, more fighters were launched in quick succession. Jake, Austin, and Bradley called for back up and their commander sent another team out.

“Delta Three head to target we’ve got this.” Jake said, with Austin posting up beside him, their wing tips close. They glanced over at each other and saluted then dipped away from each other. Rooster flew toward the enemy carrier evading several bandits as he went. He fired a missile, blowing a huge hole in the deck of the carrier. It wasn’t enough though, because as soon as his second volley of missiles was launched, they catapulted what looked to be some of the last of their fighters. 

Austin was taking out planes left and right. Jake would slide in at the last second and distract them while  Austin dove down below them or above them and fired. The other team had arrived in time to help get rid of the majority of the bandits, but as Austin got out of Jake’s range, it was now on Rooster to help him. 

“All Deltas flow to carrier. Target is destroyed.” There was cheering that could be heard over the comms, and everyone complied. The spare team headed back first and successfully landed on the carrier one by one. Then Jake touched down and just as he was about to exit his jet, there was chatter over the radios.

“Delta Two defending! I need help! Delta Three where are you!” He heard Austin’s voice over the radio and his heart stopped. He saw flares and only saw one jet but as he looked closer, there was another jet behind Austin.

“On my way Delta Two, Still five miles out. Evade!” Bradley said and Jake’s heart sank.

“Delta Three where the fuck are you! Get here now!”

“Delta Three! Delta!” 

Static. 

Then silence.

Jake looked up in the distance just in time to see the explosion before anyone heard it. In a ball of fire and smoke, Austin ‘Pope’ Arin died for his country. Jake watched as Delta Four launched and took out the bandit, just as Rooster showed up. Both jets landed a few moments later and as soon as Bradley stepped down from the ladder, Jake was on him.

“WHERE THE FUCK WHERE YOU?” Jake yelled, pushing Bradley. He fell to the ground and got right back up, grabbing Jake’s flight suit and pushing him against the ladder.

“I was on my fucking way! We had an engine issue and I couldn’t push the jet!”

“THAT’S BULLSHIT ROOSTER. YOU FUCKIN’ KILLED MY WINGMAN CAUSE YOU JUST PERCHED ON THAT GODDAMN TRIGGER. YOU WERE LATE. YOU’RE ALWAYS FASHIONABLY LATE!” Jake’s rage could not be contained and he jumped toward Rooster, his hand connecting with the other man’s face hard enough to draw blood. Rooster drew back and got a few punches in before Jake had him on the ground again. He kicked Rooster in the ribs and then pulled him up by his collar and threw him against the nose of the nearest jet. Rooster wobbled as he stood, landing one more good punch to Jake’s gut, but it was Jake who landed the knockout blow. He hit Rooster square in the jaw and Roos saw stars and fell to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.

“I swear to fuckin’ god, Rooster, the court martial is worth it. You killed my best friend, you ignorant fuck. You’d better stay the fuck outta my way from now the fuck on.” Jake’s voice had evened out. It was almost calm as he wiped the blood from his own mouth. He rubbed his stomach and groaned as he headed toward medical. 

No one helped Rooster up immediately. Because they sort of knew Jake was right. Bradley had gotten there too late and left Austin open without help. Jake had every right to do what he did. And Rooster was the only one who thought otherwise.

Back home, Austin’s funeral was hard for Jake. He met Austin’s mother, giving her the folded flag. He punched his wings into his best friend’s casket. Jake was given a service medal. He didn’t want it though. He didn’t feel like he deserved it. 

🛩⚓️🛩

Samantha needed to talk to someone. She found herself driving to the cemetery. Her legs carried her down the rows to the small stone set in the ground, where there was no body buried. They’d never found him.

She knelt down and placed her fingers over the cold stone, tracing the words etched there.

“Capt. Bodhi ‘Sunshine’ Denson, 1976 - 2022, VFA-151 Vigilantes, Beloved Pilot”

Sam always wondered if Jake knew him. 

“Sunshine...Sunshiiine...” She sung softly, tears stinging her eyes. “I should’ve loved you better. But I know you’d be happy to see me with Jake. If I could ask one more thing of you...please protect him and bring him back to me...” 

A gentle breeze blew, caressing Sam’s cheek and she let her eyes flutter shut. She swore for a moment that the scent of Bodhi’s cologne, a musky, woody warmth, floating to her nostrils, as if his spirit accepted her request. The breeze rustled the leaves above and a few fell, one landing on top of Sam’s hand.

“Thank you for sending me Jake. I know it was you. It was your last act of service. Rest well knowing he’ll take care of me just like you would’ve. I loved you, Bodhi. I always will.” She kissed her fingertips and then touched the stone. She took the leaf that had fallen and placed it on the dashboard when she got into her father’s truck. She wiped the tears from her cheeks, and glanced back at the dogs sleeping in the back seat. Only Rocco stirred, giving a small whine and a wag of his tail. 

She then drove back to Jake’s, laid back in his bed, and waited for a miracle.

[dizzybee03]

Oh my gosh- Angie is showing her true colors!! She is certifiably crazy! I really thought the boat ride would be when Bradley admitted he was only mean because he had a crush on her.

Love To Watch You Leave: Part 5

Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x Reader

Warnings: Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Swearing, Fluff, Angst, Bullying, Eventual Smut, Grieving, Pining, Alcohol, Military Inaccuracies

- Part 4 Here -

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18+ Only

———————————




You woke up with a stretch, yawning before nuzzling back into your soft pillow. You sighed comfortably and thought you could easily go back to sleep for another few hours.




You were warm, snuggled tight and you didn’t want to go anywhere, wiggling deeper into your comforting cocoon.




Your eyes shot open as you suddenly remembered who slept behind you, and his hand which you hadn’t realised was draped over you, wrapped you in tighter, pulling you flush against his sleeping body.




Bradley’s face, scratchy but warm, nuzzled into your neck as he continued to sleep.




You were stuck with two options at this point. You could either sneak out of bed, get ready for the day and save both you and Bradley the embarrassment. Or you could pretend to be asleep, and enjoy this guilty pleasure until Bradley woke up.




You decided the first option would be best, really not wanting to take last nights flustered antics any further, so you carefully lifted his arm and shuffled towards the edge of the bed.




“Where do you think you’re going?” His gruff morning voice ground out against the pillow.




You froze in your tracks. “Bathroom.”




Bradley rolled over, eyes still closed and you took the opportunity to get up and brush your teeth. You walked out of the bathroom, eyeing up Bradley’s muscular back.




You didn’t understand how someone who was once so lanky could fill out so nicely.




You bit your lip as last night played on your mind. How tempted you were to just go with it. But you knew once Bradley had his fun you’d just be discarded like yesterdays newspaper and then it would be even more unbearable between you and him.




You walked around to the other end of the bed, Bradley still fast asleep, his breathing deep and even.




You bent down and shook his shoulder gently, “Time to get up, Brad.” You whispered.




“No.” He grunted, eyes still closed.




“We’re going to be late for the boat ride.”




Bradley groaned and rolled onto his back, one eye popping open. He eyed you with it, a small grin finding place on his lips.




“Come here.” He said.




“What?” Your heart thumped against your chest.




“Just come closer.”




Nervously you did as he said, scooting towards him. His hand came out to rest on your jaw, pulling you closer, and for a moment you found yourself yearning for what was to come.




His thumb gently brushed against your bottom lip, “You had some toothpaste on your lip.” He murmured, and his hand retracted.




“Oh.”




—————————




You and Bradley got ready for the day and you changed into jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. You hadn’t packed for a boat ride but this was likely the most appropriate outfit considering it was windy, and you didn’t want your dress that you had reserved for tomorrows final day to blow up and flash everyone.




Bradley took your hand in his as you walked out of the guest house, the role of fake boyfriend coming more easily to him now.




You said good morning to those who waited out on the lawn, and you both flipped your sunglasses down to dim the bright morning sun.




“Good morning ‘love birds’!” Angie bounced out of the main house in a mini skirt and blouse. You supposed at least she had opted for pumps rather than heels today, so you gave her some credit.




Your head was already pounding from one too many wines last night, you weren’t sure how you would fare all day with her voice in your ear.




Bob stood on the other end of the lawn, he hadn’t made his way over to you yet, but for now you were grateful at least one other person wasn’t ready to make conversation.




You watched Bradley as Angie spoke to him, you watched his body language and wondered if he liked her, you wondered, once you had finished this little performance, whether he’d go back to her.




You weren’t sure why you cared, but when Bradley noticed you watching him, he smiled at you and suddenly you knew for a fact that you hated the idea of him going back to Angie.




“Honey can I speak to you for a second?” You interrupted Angie mid story about how her nail tech messed up and she’d had to find a new one at short nice.




Bradley nodded, the smile still on his lips, “I’m all yours.”




You pulled Bradley by the hand a little way from the growing group on the lawn, and once you were sure you were out of ear shot, you stopped and turned to him.




You took a deep breath, “Brad I don’t think tomorrows break up is gonna be such a good idea.”




His eyebrows creased as he lifted his sunglasses to rest on the top of his head, “What do you mean?”




“It’s just… I don’t know, it’s just so public. Maybe we should just wait and then tell people at work that we broke up. I just feel like if we do it in front of all these people, that it would just be so…”




“So final.” He nodded.




You hadn’t realised that had been the exact word you’d been searching for, but you nodded back.




Bradley took a breath, “Y/N, if you want something more out of this-“




“No, that’s not… what I’m trying to say is-“




A loud horn sounded behind you and the group cheered, the boat had docked a little further down the beach and the group all began to filter down the steps towards it.




You sighed in frustration, “Can we please finish this conversation later?”




“Yeah… fine.” He nodded, a notable air of frustration suddenly between you.




You all loaded onto the boat, which now that you were closer definitely looked more like a yacht, and found seats around the edge.




You sat next to Bradley in a girlfriendly fashion, resting your hand on his knee to keep up appearances. Angie and Bob sat opposite you, for that you were relieved.




Bob was not the issue, and he had been more than pleasant to deal with, and he seemed to be very much keeping to himself that day, but Angie was really working on your nerves for some reason.




You had considered the fact that maybe, just maybe, you were jealous of what she and Bradley had.




An older woman you’d spoken to the night before walked past you on the way to her seat and looked down at the hand on Bradley’s lap.




“Oh you two, it’s so great to see young love so very much alive.” She winked.




You laughed nervously. “Yup, very much alive.”




Bradley’s arm wrapped around you as he pulled you closer and kissed your head, “What can I say, Marge, I just can’t get enough.”




She stood staring at the both of you expectantly with a grin.




You looked at her and then at Bradley.




“Oh! No, we’re okay. We don’t wanna gross anyone out with too much PDA.” You began to flush.




“Oh, don’t be silly! You’re on a boat, it’s romantic! Show each other some love!” She insisted, waiting and staring again.




You felt nervous now, everyone’s eyes suddenly in the two of you.




“Uhm…” you looked over to Bradley, who was biting back a grin.




“Yeah, come on honey.” He chided.




You forced a smile, “Okay.” And quickly pecked Bradley on the lips.




Everyone laughed, “Come on, darling!” Another man called out, “You can do better than that!”




Bradley was smirking now, and he wiggled his eyebrows at you.




You gritted your teeth in frustration, and took a deep breath.




Your hand slid around Bradley’s neck and you pulled him forward, but just before your lips connected, Bradley spun you off of your seat and into his lap, dipping you slightly as he pressed his lips into yours in a romantic embrace.




Your breath was sucked out of you and for a moment you couldn’t move, but something inside you sparked alight as Bradley deepened the kiss, and this time you found yourself kissing him back, melting in his arms.




Almost everyone cheered and Marge clapped her hands.




“That’s what I’m talking about! Wish my Harold would kiss me like that.” She shot her husband a look.




You pulled away slowly, your eyes still on Bradley’s trying to read if that was all just part of the stunt, or if maybe some part of him actually was starting to feel the way you were.




Angie stood from her spot, “Alright you two! Save something for the bedroom later, won’t you?” She chuckled awkwardly, her face a picture of disdain.




You sat upright and shuffled back into your seat, heat pooling in your cheeks as you adjusted the sunglasses on your head back in place.




“Show off.” You whispered to Bradley.




“Well at least I know how to act.” He whispered back.




Ouch. You felt slightly wounded at the fact that he had just confirmed that it was, in fact, just for show.




For the next few minutes you sat awkwardly, trying to avoid eye contact with everyone as you watched the water below.




Once you got far out enough to sea, the boat was anchored and you were served lunch. Everyone sat around the several tables laid out on each of the decks, enjoying fresh fish, fruit, cheeses and cured meats, downing sangrias and wine spritzers in the sun.




You were quite happy to be sat at the same table as Bob, and while Bradley fell into easy conversation with someone to his right, you smiled over to Bob.




“You’ve been quiet today, you okay?” You asked.




Bob nodded, a small smile on his face. “I’m okay.”




You nodded, but you could tell something was up.




“You gonna swim later?” You tried to make conversation.




“Uh… nah I think I’m just gonna hang out on board.”




“Yeah, same. I forgot to pack swimwear.”




Awkward silence fell between you as you picked at your food.




“Bob are you sure you’re okay?”




He was quiet for a moment, holding a glass of water in his hand as he looked at you in thought.




“I have something I should tell you.”




“What is it?” You asked, concerned by his body language, surely it couldn’t be anything good.




“Not here. Can we go inside?”




You looked over at Bradley who was very much distracted and still deep in conversation, so you turned to Bob and nodded.




You followed him inside to the seating area, which was empty apart from the odd yacht team member filtering in and out.




“What’s up, Bob?” You crossed your arms, now cold from being out of the sun and also somewhat nervous.




“You can’t trust Angie.” He looked towards the door, watching for anyone who might overhear him.




“Why?”




He sighed, “After we left last night, she told me that she saw you as a threat, and she didn’t want anything to get between her and a second shot with Bradley.”




You barked out a laugh, “Bob, she’s a little bit extra but she doesn’t scare me. Plus I told her after Sunday, Bradley’s fair game.”




Bob shook his head, his eyebrows pulling together, “But that’s the thing, Y/N. I think she can tell there’s something going on with you and him, for real. She was going on and on about how if you tried anything she would have no choice but to step in.”




“What are you talking about?” You were determined to deny it, just to protect your dignity.




“We can all see it, Y/N. Maybe this started as an act but… you both clearly have some unresolved feelings for each other.” You couldn’t tell if Bob was upset by this but you did know you didn’t like people telling you what you did or didn’t feel.




“All I’ve ever felt for him is deep dislike. Nothing else, all of this has been an act. In fact, I can’t wait for this weekend to be over and done with so I can go back to my life, where I don’t have to see Bradley much at all.” You stated, your voice shaking as you lied to protect yourself.




A movement at the door caught your attention and you looked over to see Bradley leaning against the frame.




“Good to know how you really feel. Guess you’re a better actor than I thought.” He bit his cheek and nodded, before turning around and walking away, leaving you out of breath and full of regret.




“Fuck. Bob I gotta go.” You ran after Bradley, who was already down on the lower deck, where most people had began to gather for anniversary speeches.




“Bradley!” You called, but you were doing so in vain.




Harris stood at the front of the boat, a drink in hand as he summoned everyone around.




“Hello everyone! I just wanted to say a quick thank you that you all could be here for this wonderful, important occasion.” He summed Mrs Harris up to stand next to him, the beautiful older woman beamed at everyone as her husband spoke.




“I’ve been married to my beautiful wife now for 30 years, and truth be told some of the those years were tough, but we certainly made it out on the other side stronger than ever. I’m so lucky to have found my best friend all those years ago.”




You looked down at Bradley, who stood with his arms crossed and a stony expression. You edged down the stairs slowly as the speech continued.




“I’ll keep this short and sweet, but thank you everyone for making time to be here, we both certainly appreciate it more than you know, and Deb, my sweet Deb. In another life, I’d pick you with whom to do it all over again.” He raised his glass and everyone followed in the action, and a chorus of “cheers!” erupted.




You took a sip as you reached the bottom of the stairs, but Bradley had other plans.




“I’d also like to make a toast!”




Everyone turned to look at Bradley, confused.




“Oh, uhm… yes thank you Bradshaw, that would be wonderful!” Harris chuckled.




Bradley stood in Harris’ spot at the front of the boat, cleared his throat and raised his glass ever so slightly.




“I’d like to make a toast to Lieutenant Commander and Mrs Harris, for their unwavering love and respect for one another.” He forced a smile as he looked out at everyone, “You show the world what true love looks like, and you have shown each other, more importantly, what honesty, respect, and kindness looks like.”




Harris clapped and smiled, “Thank you Bradshaw! What lovely words!”




Bradley continued, much to everyone’s confusion, “You see, in a strong relationship like yours, you would never go around telling practical strangers that you can’t stand one another, right?” He laughed, “Surely, you would say only good things behind one another’s back, right?”




Harris stammered and everyone eyed one another up as they shuffled uncomfortably.




“Anyway, congratulations to you both! May the happy years keep coming. Cheers.” He quickly lifted his glass and downed the contents.




Frustrated and flustered, you stood on a chair at the back of the group. “I’d also like to make a toast!”




Everyone turned to look at you, speechless.




“Lieutenant Commander Harris, Mrs Harris, you are both filled with so much kindness, bringing us to your beautiful home and inviting us to celebrate with you.” The Harris’ smiled, lifting their glasses.




You continued, “You would think that most people would have that side of benevolence to them, but what you probably wouldn’t know is that there are some people in this world who just get off on making other people miserable.”




Another uncomfortable shuffle and a murmur.




Bradley pulled out a chair and stood on it, making himself taller than you once more, “Well maybe some people deserve to be miserable, but when someone apologises for something like that, and thinks that maybe you’re moving past it, what you don’t do is talk shit behind their back-“




“Okay, great! Thank you, some… great speeches there.” Harris chuckled anxiously. “I think we’ll bring out the cake now, how’s that sound?”




Everyone cheered half heartedly in agreement and utter confusion, but you and Bradley stood glaring at one another from either end of the deck.




You were the first to break the stalemate as you got down from your chair, and you stormed inside.




Bradley quickly followed you into an empty room, and as you turned around he took you by the arms angrily, pushing you against a wall, and planted a hot, passionate kiss against your lips.




You pushed him off of you hard, sending him back into the opposite wall. You stared at him for a second, before pouncing into him arms.




Your lips pressed against his in a fiery embrace, hands groping and grabbing as you crashed around the room.




“You are the worst.” You panted between kisses, gasping for breath.




“Fuck you,” he kissed down your neck and lifted you by the backs of your thighs to wrap your legs around him, “you’re a pain in my ass.”




Your fingers tugged at his messy curls, “Shut up.”




Bradley nipped at your neck as one of his hands snuck slowly under your t-shirt, palming your flesh like he needed to make sure you really were there.




His lips moved back to yours as his other hand moved to hold the back of your neck, the feeling taking your breath away.




“I hate that you make me feel this way.” He grunted before kissing you again.




Someone cleared their throat.


“Uhm…” a familiarly annoying voice came from the door. “This looks a bit too real to be part of the act.”




You both turned to look at the door, and Angie stood with her arms crossed as she leaned against the door frame. She didn’t look happy and you suddenly got a really bad feeling in the pit of your stomach.




Bradley slowly set you back down, eyeing her up cautiously, “Angie, this… this part is none of your business.”




She scoffed, rolling her eyes, “You know, I was willing to keep your secret when I thought you wanted me, Brad. But I’m starting to think I have someone to compete with now, and I don’t like competition.”




You opened your mouth to speak but Bradley held out a hand to tell you not to, and he looked back at Angie.




“I’m sorry if you had the wrong idea, Angie, but… I’m not interested in continuing anything with you.”




You cringed at the hurt look on her face, suddenly feeling very sorry for her.




“You see what you’ve done, Y/N?” She spat, and then ran off crying.




You brushed past Bradley, “Angie wait.”




You followed her along the side of the yacht, “Please just wait-“




She swung around to face you, “You said he was all mine after this! But now you’ve gone and taken him all for yourself, you bitch!”




“No, listen! It’s not like that, ok? It was just a heated argument-“




“Stop lying to me! This was your plan all along, you just wanted to dangle hope in my face and laugh as you snatched it away! Well… I won’t let you!” Angle’s hands shot out suddenly, making hard contact with your chest. She put a foot back and pushed you over the side of the boat, and you fell into the cold water below.




“Angie! What have you done?” Bradley yelled, running to the side of the boat just as your head bobbed out of the water, coughing and spluttering.




You looked up at the spectators, everyone had moved to the side of the boat to watch the commotion.




Bob was already removing his shoes and shirt to come and save you, but Bradley was in the water first, fully clothed.




He swam up to you, his face a mixed picture of worry and amusement once he was sure you were fine.




“Bradley I think I can make it back to the boat on my own.” You huffed, swimming past him, your face red with embarrassment and anger.




You climbed the ladder with Bradley close behind.




“My dear, are you okay?” Lieutenant Commander Harris asked as he draped a towel around your shoulders.




You eyed up Angie over his shoulder as she scowled at you, you nodded.




“Yeah, sorry. I just slipped.”




—————————




You refused to speak to anyone on the way back. Bradley had laid into Angie for 15 minutes before storming off. He had tried to make sure you were okay, but you brushed him off.




“I’m fine, it’s just… this isn’t worth it, Brad. I’m not getting into a cat fight for your attention.”




You stood with the towel wrapped around your wet shoulders, staring out at sea. Bradley bit his cheek, hands on his hips.




“That’s not what’s happening here.” He stated.




“Isn’t it?” You snapped, looking back at him, “I’m not interesting in being just another one of your conquests.”




“You really think that little of me?” He scoffed, “Despite everything, I still thought you knew me better than that, Y/N.”




Bradley left you to stew, knowing full well you were in no state of mind to consider anything he had to say.




You had insisted you were fine to continue the remainder of the boat ride when Harris had offered to turn around and head back to the beach house for your sake. You’d laughed it off and promised you were just clumsy, and the dip had actually been refreshing. You could tell he didn’t believe you, but to save face he smiled and got one of the kitchen staff to make you a hot chocolate.




You thanked him for being such a gracious host and he left you to stew some more.




By the time you docked back on the beach, your clothes had mostly dried and you were the first off the boat, making your way straight to the room.




You immediately placed your bags on the bed, changing into your black dress and tennis shoes, brushing your damp hair and pinning it a messy bun.




You quickly threw your skincare products and makeup into a bag, and you took whatever cash you had in your purse and left it on the dresser for the broken door.




Bradley walked into the room just as you’d finished packing, and he stood watching you for a second, confused.




“What are you doing? We’re still meant to be here another night.” He tried to reason with you.




“You can, I’m gonna catch a bus back.” You said cooly as you zipped up your last bag.




“Why are you being like this? We had a plan, Y/N.”




“Yeah well nothing has exactly gone to plan, has it? Plus I think we can count todays little speech stint as our break up. Feel free to tell them whatever you want.”




You brushed past Bradley with your stuff, leaving the room that held so much tension, and he was quick to follow.




“Will you just wait? I’ll pack my stuff and we can go.”




You swung around, dropping your bags to the floor with a huff, “No, Bradley. I need some space right now.”




He looked at you, sadness filling his eyes.




You took a deep breath, your voice softening slightly, “I’m more confused than I’ve ever been before. More so than the day we met, when you were a dick for no reason. Now… I have these unexplainable feelings for someone I spent my whole life loathing, and I…I just don’t know. I gotta go.” You quickly picked up your bags and left Bradley in your dust.




You fought back tears as you walked out onto the lawn, everyone now dispersed and enjoying the morning sun.




You walked past Angie and Bob, and heard her murmur, “Guess she just couldn’t hack it.”




You scoffed, “Go fuck yourself.”




Angie looked taken aback, not expecting you to bite back, and you kept walking.




At the driveway Mrs Harris stood saying goodbye to a few guests, so you thanked her for having you and made an excuse about your mom needing you to come home early. She understood and thanked you for coming.




“Do you need someone to drive you home, sweetheart?” She asked just as you were about to leave.




You opened your mouth to kindly refuse, but someone else beat you to it.




“Don’t worry Deb,” Bob chimed in, his truck keys swinging around his index finger, “I’m taking her.”




You gave him a look almost as if to say “sorry” and “thank you”.




As you walked to his truck, you looked at Bob with a sigh, “You really don’t need to do this, I’m happy to get a bus.”




He grinned at you, “Don’t be silly. I’m happy to. I think I could use a break anyway.”




As you drove away from the beach house, you made the mistake of looking back in the mirror.




Bradley stood on the driveway, his strong stature shadowed by the heartbroken look on his face, and Angie hanging on his arm.




——————————

- Part 6 Coming Soon -

Taglist:

@dizzybee03 @cheyrenee @flowery-mess @wildxwidow @residentb1tch @championemmie @mycrofthomlesumbrella

[dizzybee03]

Oh man this is gonna be a hard 6 months!!

Wildflowers For A Hangman Ch. 21

Summary:

Daisy, a career novelist, moves in with her college best friend Phoenix who has been permanently assigned to Top Gun with Dagger Squad. She finds herself instantly connected with a cocky pilot who's soft only for her and Jake can't help but want to know everything about her. When the past comes knocking at both of their doors, will they stand together or fall apart?

Or: The Dagger Squad can't cook and Jake falls in love with a woman who makes a mean lasagna while they work their personal trauma.

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x writer!femOC | 18+ (eventually) minors dni. Fluff, smut (eventual), idiots in love, past trauma.

A/N: Dagger Squad going away party and then Jake and Daisy say goodbye at the docks

A/N #2: *walks in 3 months late with a dunkin iced latte* sorry, y'all the mental illness got me.

AO3 Link

Previous Chapter

  Six months. Jake and Bradley were going to be gone for six months. I was pretending that it didn’t feel like my world was ending, helping Penny plan a send off party to distract myself. 

“It’s going to be a fun night, Wildflower,” Jake pressed a kiss to my temple, hands smoothing over the sides of my dress. Even though it was a little cold out to be wearing it, I had put on the green sundress he liked, planning on adding a cardigan for warmth before we left. “Just focus on that.” 

“I know, Penny said to focus on the positives, and Tasha said if I can’t do that, find her and she’ll get me drunk.” Jake chuckled, kissing his way from my temple down to my neck, hands gripping my waist.

“Between our favorite bartender and your best friend, I think there will be plenty of tequila available.” I leaned back against his chest, savoring the feeling of warmth coming from him. Jake looked good, dressed up in dark jeans and a green button down that matched my dress with the sleeves rolled up, and if we didn’t have the party to go to…well, we probably would have been spending every second until he had to report for duty in bed. “Let’s just try to avoid a hangover.” 

“Deal,” I turned in his hold, hugging him tight. “Now let’s get going before Ames starts calling asking where we are.” 

Mav and Penny’s house had been turned into a party venue, with string lights, banners, and lots of drinks all around. The cake Ames had helped me bake was on display in the kitchen, which Rooster was eyeing while talking to Mav about the plane they were fixing up.

“Drink this,” Tasha greeted me with a hug and a shot, Javy close behind her with a beer in his hand and a smile on his face. They were good together and it made me happy that Tasha finally made things official. Tasha had gotten a kick out of Operation Sitcom, especially the original plan that involved handcuffing them together and locking them in a room. “Tonight is about celebrating, I don’t want to see any tears except tears of laughter and joy. Got me?” 

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” I took the shot, shaking my head at the burn. “Did Penny manage to hide the karaoke machine from Ames?” Just the look on her face was enough to answer.

“Karaoke?” Jake sounded nervous, “Why would there be karaoke?” Javy chuckled,

“Come on, man. Haven’t you told Daisy that you’re an ace at karaoke?” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jake said flatly. “I don’t sing.” Had I really never told him about mama ratting out his talent show exploits? I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. 

“Even if I ask you to?” I batted my lashes at him, “I know exactly what song I’d request.” 

“And what would that be, baby?” 

“Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Jake groaned, letting go of my waist to cover his face, making all three of us laugh. “I’m pretty sure you know it.” 

“Who told you? Helen or Caroline?” I looked at Tasha, feeling lighter than I had since being given the news about the deployment.

“Let’s go convince Bob to sing too,” Jake made a noise of protest as Tasha led me away. 

Bob and I got side tracked, looking at pictures of his sister’s dog for a while, debating if it would be a good idea for him to get a dog or not.

“Girls love dogs,” Tasha pointed out. “You could get a dog and then the dog will help you get a girlfriend.” 

“I don’t think that’s how that works,” Bob shook his head with a smile. “But now that you’re starting to sound like my mom, I’m going to get another pop.” 

“We should find him a girl,” Tasha sighed, sipping her drink. “Bob’s nice, he’d be the perfect boyfriend.” 

“A thousand percent, he’s boyishly cute, polite, and endlessly thoughtful. Why aren’t we dating Bob?” 

“I think we were tricked,” Tasha snorted. “Come on, let’s get your boyfriend to sing for us.” 

Jake did end up singing, which I had dutifully recorded and sent to his sisters, much to their delight. Caroline had especially loved Jake and Rooster’s duet of Eye Of The Tiger. Tasha and Bob had managed to keep me in good spirits, which meant I didn’t need that much tequila to get through the night. That made the next morning just a little bit easier. 

Jake and Rooster had to report to the docks before sunrise, his alarm going off far too early in the morning for my liking. I tried to bury my face in Jake’s chest to block out the noise, whining when he pulled away.

“We’ve gotta get up, baby. Come on,” Jake’s voice was deep and scratchy from sleep, “I’ll give you kisses if you get out of bed.” 

“What if I want kisses in bed?” I knew it was childish, delaying the inevitable, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted Jake to stay. I wanted to go to sleep beside him every night and wake up with him in the morning. I wanted him to come home from work and tell me how good the dinner I was cooking smelled. I just wanted him. 

“One kiss in bed,” Jake chuckled, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “Now, out of bed for a real kiss.” He took my hands and pulled me out of bed and into a long kiss.

“I love you,” I whispered, kissing his chest right over his heart. Jake whispered it back, kissing the top of my head. “Get dressed, I’ll make breakfast.” 

“Or you come sit on the counter while I get ready,” Jake’s eyes softened. “I want to spend as much time with you as I can.” My heart broke and I had to bite my tongue to hold back tears, nodding my head.

Jake led me to the bathroom and lifted me onto the counter, serenading me with country songs as he showered, and giving me kisses between swipes of his razor as he shaved. The domesticity that I loved was tinged with sadness but I tried to stay in the moment, focusing on how much I loved him and he loved me. 

X

The truck was quiet as we drove to the base. Coyote was riding with Rooster so that someone could drive the Bronco back and take care of while we were away and Phoenix was riding with us as emotional support for Daisy. It was going to be hard, being without Daisy for six months but at least it wasn’t a year long deployment or one that required them to be no-contact with their families, that probably would have killed me. 

The whole squad had already promised to take care of Daisy while Rooster and I were deployed, which made me feel at least a little bit better. Helen and Caroline had also talked about coming for a spa weekend, something that I knew Daisy would enjoy.

“I’m going to say goodbye to Rooster,” Phoenix patted me on the shoulder, “Don’t be a dick out there, Hangman.” Of course. I smiled a little, giving her a nod. 

Daisy had tears in her eyes when I looked back at her. She was wearing her pajamas, with her hair in a messy bun, and I knew beneath her sweatshirt were the dog tags I had bought for her. One day, hopefully soon, she’d be wearing my ring too. 

“If you asked me to stay, I would,” The words left my mouth without thinking but they were the truth. I loved the Navy, I loved flying, but I would give it all up if I never had to see Daisy cry again. Daisy flinched, blinking in confusion,

“Absolutely not,” She cupped my face between her hands. “This is your dream job, you love it, I’d never ask you to give it up.” Daisy fixed me with a serious look, eyebrows scrunched together. “You’re going to come home to me, it’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.” 

“Marry me?” Daisy laughed, tears spilling down her pale cheeks.

“Ask me again when you get home.” I kissed her hard, tasting the syrup from the pancakes she had made for breakfast. I was going to marry this girl just as soon as she let me.

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Next Chapter

[dizzybee03]

Oh my gosh he is simply adorable 💙💙

Update: we got a puppy! His name is Leo (short for Leonidas, idk ask my husband why he needed a Greek name) and he’s a red British Labrador 😭

[dizzybee03]

Oh this was so hauntingly beautiful 💙

Stop in the middle

Jake Seresin x reader

Two sides of the same coin; they were joined at the hip; partners in every way but the romantic. The words “I love you,” had passed between them many times, but neither of them had been brave enough to say, “I’m in love with you”.

So much wine by Phoebe Bridgers  Somewhere else by Indians Abbey by  Mitski

Warnings: The reader is referred to as she/her, (call sign Angel), with no physical description, crash landing, wilderness survival, major injuries (non-graphic description), discussions of death, happy ending though (I promise!), hurt/comfort, idiots in love, possible Navy inaccuracies, (please let me know if you'd like me to add anything else)

Word Count: 4.7K Masterlist | talk to me about Jake and Tyler

This is as good a place to die as any, she thinks.

 Laying in the snow she watches the sun rise inch by inch over the tree line. The sky bathed in a soft orange glow that warms her skin for what she can only assume will be the last time. He’ll hate her for leaving him without saying goodbye, but her voice has already left her and her arms are too weak to shake him from his slumber. 

In the distance the cotton fluff clouds rest on the peaks of the mountains; tremendous contrast so perfectly balanced. She feels each of Hangman's breaths expanding the firm plane of his chest as her breathing grows slower. Two days ago she never would have imagined dying in the arms of Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin. 

---

They had taken off at the barest crack of dawn breaking. 0600 hours. It was supposed to be a simple recon mission. Take off from the carrier. Fly over. Survey the valley below—report anomalies. Continue the flight path, and land at a nearby ally airbase. Refuel. Return to the carrier. They'd been tasked with flying similar paths for the last two weeks as part of a larger peacekeeping and security effort. As far as deployments go, they were lucky to have been selected to be the joint task force; and more fortunate to not be engaged in active combat. 

Though Hangman would loathe to admit it with his two confirmed air combat kills, she knows herself that no pilot wants to be under enemy fire or in a position to take a life; it's an unfortunate consequence and frequent reality of the job. 

In the time they’ve known each other, she’s heard Jake speak frequently about his mother and her homemade pie waiting for him in Texas. He tells stories about the boys he used to play football with in high school, and family reunions with little nieces and nephews running about barefoot. She’s heard him making plans to buy a home and settle down. He dreams of a future. Anyone paying attention knows that beneath the outwardly cocky exterior, and adrenaline rushes, he's afraid of dying. 

It wasn't enemy fire that took them down two days ago, but rather sudden major malfunctions that left them without any navigation system, defective coms, and an aircraft almost completely unresponsive to pilot commands. Their saving grace had been Hangman's quick thinking to point them towards a clearing in the tree line, and her decision to dump their fuel as they descended rapidly toward the ground. Flying too low to eject safely they braced themselves for impact, an apology for something he could not have stopped on Jake's lips. 

The sounds of alarms and rapid beeping tones woke them. The smell of burning jet fuel startled them into action again. Jake's head stayed lulled forward his eyes slipping shut again before his limbs burst into action with a level of urgency that forced her to react with equal fervour. She watched wide-eyed as Hangman pushed open the canopy pulling himself up and out of his seat, rolling sideways out the opening. Only in watching his exit did she notice the awkward angle the jet had landed at. The nose crumpled by the force of the impact, their wings clipped and lost somewhere in the trees or across the clearing; the body had slid half on its side, a couple hundred feet through revealing mud beneath and leaving a wake of burning grass melting through the powder white snow. A sharp pain threatened to make her lose her breakfast as she clambered from her seat and the tangle of buckles and straps that had saved her life. She tumbled with purpose but little grace out into the frozen valley. 

“Alright?” Hangman asked standing with his back straight as she doubled over trying hard to catch her breath. She nodded but he didn't make any effort to speak or move giving her a moment to collect herself. 

Sucking in the ice-cold air she ignored the searing pain tearing through her rib cage. Her attention drifted from herself back to Jake who swayed on his feet, the soft crunch of snow sounding beneath his feet as he tried to find a place to stand steady. Watching him pale she only grew more convinced Jake was concussed. 

“Are you alright?” She asked.

“Dizzy for sure”. 

“Well, we'll thank our lucky stars we crashed in allied territory. Once we find shelter, I'll run a concussion protocol for you.” 

Their non-functioning radios had left them no way to communicate their mayday calls. They had tried in vain to transmit their approximate coordinates as their headsets filled with static. Their navigation system ran haywire, the coordinates too impossible to be accurate in any case. 

His brows furrowed as he turned to survey their crash sight. His usually bright smile had been pulled into a firm line that confirmed to her they'd be stranded for a while. 

A gust of wind reminded them of how exposed they were in the clearing. While enemy scouts wouldn't be an issue, the potential for hypothermia would be. 

“Map. Compass. Let's grab the chutes from the seats as well,” she suggested. Hangman was uncharacteristically quiet in his agreement, giving her a nod of affirmation as they collected what they could from the jet. 

The sun was still high in the sky above them providing decent light though filtered through bare branches and evergreen limbs. Somewhat guarded from the biting wind they allowed themselves to settle for a moment hoping to find their bearings and build a solid plan for their survival. 

Before they began to plummet they had been about a quarter of an hour's flight from the air base on the other side of the valley. Plotting their estimated crash site on the paper map they found themselves nearly 250 miles away from their destination, walking sun up to sun down would still mean a 2-and-a-half day walk. 

“Look alive sunshine,” she teased as Jake's eyes began to droop. He'd let out a laugh his smile surprisingly bright as he tilted his head back to look at her. “You're so bossy,” he complained. 

“I'm about to get bossier, I've got to make sure you don't have a concussion”. 

“Yes ma’am,” he saluted. 

“Don't sass me Seresin,” she warned, though she tried to keep the tone playful. 

For years they'd played this game; pushing each other's buttons skirting around the edges of flirtation and toeing the line of verbal bullying. Ribbing him was how she had learned to be affectionate towards him. Giving him a hard time made him flustered, or it made him laugh, and either reaction was a well-welcomed sight that had left a fluttering in her chest. The lighthearted back and forth they'd learned to communicate through made it easier to ignore the sidelong glances, and yearning that had begun to take shape beneath the surface. 

“Alright,” she sighed, pulling the tiny flashlight out of her belt, “eyes on me”.

“They usually are,” he smirked. 

With the light, she checked his eyes and got promising results: no abnormal dilation. Both pupils were even and responsive to light. “Today's date?” She asked him. 

“February twelfth”.

“Your date of birth?” 

“October twenty-first. Nineteen ninety”.

“Any headache, nausea, persistent dizziness?” 

He responded no to all the symptoms and she allowed some relief to fill her knowing the initial symptoms had dissipated and not worsened. Finally, she held one finger up waiting for his eyes to focus. “Follow me,” she said her hand moving to the left, his eyes followed. 

“I'll follow you anywhere,” he said as her hand moved to the right. 

“Don't flirt with me, Hangman”. 

“Wouldn't it be stranger if I didn't? I’m just proving I’m not concussed”. His point was somewhat valid but she didn't let him know she thought so, continuing her evaluation in silence.

He's like this with everyone. She'd been telling herself the same thing for years. You're not special. He'll flirt with anyone. A painful truth that's helped her ignore his beautiful green eyes and warm countenance. 

---

Laying on her back in the snow drawing her last breaths now she wishes she could see those eyes one more time as her vision begins to blur. The blue sky swirls into the emerald pines, the colours lightened by the soft sunlight. The colours like sea glass make her think of him and tears begin to gather behind her eyes. “I'm sorry,” she wants to say but only a pathetic whimper leaves her. She wonders if she would have been kinder to him if she had known she was going to die. Would she have been more honest with her feelings? Or pushed them down deeper in some foolish attempt to protect him? The sun continues to rise and she knows he will wake soon. Selfishly, she hopes she’s drifted off before then, unwilling to see him hurting on her behalf. 

---

“Not concussed, but still a pain in my ass,” she had teased him, pushing his hair off his forehead, double-checking for any wounds. He took her words as permission to keep moving. Each of them threw a parachute pack over their shoulders and continued their walk northeast through the woods. 

By 1900 hours the sun had begun to dip beneath the horizon, and the sky above turned a deep blue dotted by tiny spangling stars. Breathtaking and brilliant it had been easy to forget, just for a moment, where they were. She slung the chute of her shoulders towards the ground hissing at the movement. She hadn't had the time to check herself over. Best case her ribs were bruised, at worst she'd find out they were broken, and there would be nothing to help her until they had access to a medical bay anyway. 

“Are you sure you're okay, Angel?” Hangman asked, using her call sign letting her know he meant business. He was not asking as a friend, he was asking as her teammate. 

“Yes,” she lied. The pain was tolerable, only worsening with sharp or sudden movement. Nothing she couldn't handle, and nothing she would force Jake to worry about. 

“Are you sure? I wouldn't be opposed to stripping you down to check for injuries,” his flirtations softened the conversation in an attempt to get her to tell him the truth. 

“In your dreams,” she responded instead, moving along the base of a nearby tree in hopes of gathering some firewood and kindling.

“Quite frequently, actually,” the wink he shot her way repeats in her head even now piercing through the fourth wall of the masquerade they had built, an honest and boyish confirmation that their feelings for each other were something beyond friendship. 

The plethora of fresh fallen snow meant finding water wasn't an issue of concern. Finding food would be more difficult and that first night under the stars they sat watching the flickering flames of the fire they had built, their empty stomachs rumbling with nothing to fill them. 

Stretched between two trees, one of the parachutes they liberated from their wreck was used as a windscreen, protecting them from the cold. The second one lay draped around their shoulders as an extra layer. 

Proximity wasn't an issue for them. They had spent enough time in cramped cockpits together to be familiar with the sounds of each other breathing. They had sat shoulder to shoulder in briefings enough time that she had memorized the smell of his cologne. And yet, when he put his arm around her to pull her closer in their makeshift cocoon her heart stuttered. How could his hands be so strong when her own wouldn't stop shaking? How could a simple touch warm her from the inside out? His fingers brushed along her side with no real pressure, but still prompted a gasp to escape her. Tears left glass trails on her cheeks in the firelight. 

She tried to turn away from him, to feign sleep but he wouldn't have it. “Hey,” Jake caught her attention, waiting for her to look at him before he continued, “We're going to be okay”. 

She believed him. 

---

Everything about their uniforms has been painstakingly designed to keep them safe. 100% cotton undershirts and pants because the material won't melt to their skin in the event of a cockpit fire. But the surprisingly soft base layers have never stopped the blaze burning inside her. From the moment she laid eyes on Jake Seresin she knew he'd be the beginning and the end of everything. He pushed people away with his cocky attitude, somehow convinced that his refusal to be vulnerable would keep him safe from forming meaningful bonds; that he might get further ahead if he had fewer people to let down. But, he'd let her in. He'd let her break down his walls and climb over the fences he'd tried to put up. She'd held him when he got the news his father had died. On a ship thousands of miles from his home he'd told her about his brother dying when he was a child, and growing up in his shadow. He told her how badly he wanted to make his parents proud and how lonely he had made himself in the process. He'd kissed her forehead as they parted that night, and her world changed forever. 

What had been an embarrassing schoolgirl crush she couldn’t shake had become a push-and-pull relationship neither of them could do without. She knew how to put him in his place when he took a joke too far. He knew how to goad her into showing everyone what she was capable of, refusing to let her slip into the background when he knew she deserved more. 

Two sides of the same coin, they were joined a the hip; partners in every way but the romantic. The words “I love you,” had passed between them many times, but neither of them had been brave enough to say, “I’m in love with you”. She wishes she would have said it. Lying at death’s door she remembers being told that you often regret the things you haven’t done more than you regret the things you did. “I’m in love with you, Jake Seresin,” she whispers to the wind. 

---

Their second day of walking was far more painful than the first. Jake had startled himself awake, his eyes wild as he fought to remember where it was they had ended up. The acceptance of their reality hadn't seemed to comfort him and he grew uncharacteristically quiet as they packed up their makeshift camp. The pine trees towering above them had been kind enough to shed some of their cones while they had lay sleeping in shifts. Though they hadn't offered many, they were able to harvest a handful of pine nuts between the two of them for breakfast. It was nowhere near a meal, but the snack had managed to quiet their angry stomachs for a few minutes.

The ache in her side had grown to become a constant agony. What had started as a negligible strain was now a torment that threatened to collapse her with each footfall. Despite the subzero temperatures, a sweat had broken out across her brow, and the heat spreading up the back of her neck left her wanting to strip off her cold weather jacket and flight suit. 

“Have you ever had rabbit?” Jake asked around noon. His footsteps had slowed enough for her to catch up with him. His voice had startled her after all the silence. 

“I can't say that I have,” she answered. A gunshot pulled her from her thoughts and she realized she hadn't ever answered out loud. Jake stood a few feet ahead of her, his service pistol in his hand. The world around her was spinning. The trees blurring together as a sudden wave of nausea filled her. She could hear her name being called; muffled and distorted. Jake. His face soon filled her line of vision. 

“Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you,” he told her, but her mind still struggled to put the pieces together. For a moment it felt like she was underwater, all her breath gone from her lungs and all she could feel was the scalding pain burning from the inside out. Momentarily she entertained the idea that it was her who had been shot until she spotted the rabbit lying lifeless in the snow. 

“We need to eat,” Jake spoke again, “you're going quiet on me and I don't like that-- we’ll get some energy in you again before we keep moving”.

The very idea of eating anything threatened to leave her dry-heaving, but she took advantage of the moment to rest. He didn't mention her lack of assistance building a fire or preparing the rabbit, but she watched with incredible focus his hands moving with precision and surprising gentleness for the task at hand. 

She can recall him telling her stories about his childhood, standing on step stools to reach the countertop in his mother's kitchen rolling out pie crusts and later on slicing apples. He once told her that it was his mother who had taught him patience and gratitude while they baked together; two traits he had neglected to exhibit far too often in his adult life. 

She listened to him thank the rabbit for its life as he cut away pieces to feed to her. There was an unmistakable love in the way he moved, his eyes cast over his shoulder to check on her. Slowly, she realized that she was not doing a good job hiding her suffering. In a fleeting thought, she imagined Jake having to carry her lifeless body for the rest of their journey. In their line of work, it had never been considered morbid to have funeral plans from a young age. Flying with him for years she had learned to trust him implicitly, despite the call sign he'd earned and worked tirelessly to recover from she knew early on that he'd do right by her. Challenging authority, but always following the rules; complete and unwavering dedication to whatever task he had at hand; precision and perfection in the execution of his duties be it laundry or taking down a fighter jet midair. As her energy continued to leave her she took comfort in knowing her life would be in Hangman's hands. 

“I'm not hungry,” she said to him. 

“You need to eat,” he insisted again but didn't push any farther. With a longanimity he forgot he possessed, and a magnanimity he couldn't credit himself for carrying he cared for her; making the executive decision to make camp early as her seemingly catatonic state worsened. She managed to chew and swallow bites of the gamey meat, her body grateful for the nutrition.  

Night fell too soon after and the sound of the wind in the trees and the rustle of creatures that may have been lurking left both of them far more on edge than they had been the night before. 

“Scoot closer,” she whispered to him, and he complied without complaint. Neither of them was warm, but their proximity to the fire helped them imagine they could be. His shoulder bumped hers and she leaned her head against him. “Put your arm around me?” She asked. He complied again this time with more hesitation. 

“You know if you wanted to snuggle with me you could've just said so,” he teased though she could tell his heart wasn't in it. 

“I'm scared,” she confessed, a half-truth. She was terrified, feeling her heart rate starting to slow by the minute, her vision slipping in and out of focus. 

“We're going to make it home,” he whispered, both arms wrapped around her now, his lips pressed to her hairline. Tears blurred in her eyes and she gave up fighting back a sob, body shaking and heartbreaking. “I won't let anything happen to you,” he said so sincerely. She cried harder knowing she had already broken that promise for him. 

She had realized she'd lost feeling in her fingers and toes when he'd begun to trace shapes on her back. Her digits buzzed with needles and pins and her limbs had began to feel heavy. Bile rose in her throat choking her as she scrambled to get her distance before dinner made a reappearance. Jake didn't make a fuss, or make his worry known, but she could tell that her perturbation had begun to seep beneath his calm, cool, mien. His hand shook as he rubbed her back hoping her coughing fit might free her off the anxiety and discomfort that had overtaken her. 

She can remember almost every time Jake Seresin has touched her. The memories float suspended in golden warmth, kept safe from the things theyve done, and the things they’ve seen. She holds those moments of fleeting, passing goodness, near to her heart. The smallest reminders that Hangman has a heart; and it’s full of love to give, and on some occasions, she has allowed herself to believe she could be worthy of that love. 

He used to sit beside her in the mess hall no matter how many seats were available; his broad shoulders bumping her own, his elbow knocking at her ribs, their hands brushing as he slid his mashed potatoes onto her plate and she slid her green beans onto his. Silent and symbiotic in their bond, determined to look out for one another. 

The first New Year's Eve they were able to spend together off base was spent with as many friends as possible and too much liquor to handle. Neither of them got a midnight kiss because she was spilling her guts in the alleyway behind the bar, Jake by her side saying “I told you not to do shots after drinking a glass of wine”.  But his satisfied smirk was overshadowed by the genuine concern in his eyes and the steady warm hand he'd placed on her back. “There you go, you'll feel better once you get it all out”. He was drunk himself, his words half slurred but no less encouraging. She had thought then that he was seeing her at her worst. She knows now that she was wrong. 

By some miracle they had been deployed together more often than not. At first it was pure coincidence, but over time it became clear that together they were a dynamic duo with a combined force and efficiency they're commanding officers could not deny, and were often interested in capitalizing on. They had become two halves of a whole, a packaged pair anyone would be disinclined to separate. Still, they had not been permitted to bunk together, and neither of them had ever been interested in breaking the rules of the institution so they never pushed it. But on nights when the creaks and groans of the 900,000 pound ship kept her awake, and the rocking of the waves around them was too much to ignore she knew she'd be able to find him lurking around the corridors as well.

 “I couldn't sleep,” she'd say. “Me neither,” he'd respond. Sometimes, when the world felt too heavy on his shoulders and they'd been away from home for too long they'd find their way to the floor together, his back pressed to hers, their arms circling their knees, and he'd sync his breathing to hers convincing himself that so long as she was their he had some piece of his real life with him. A part of Jake Seresin that wasn't just a pawn in battles bigger than him, he was a man with thoughts and feelings, and dreams outside of his role worth achieving. 

---

This is as good a place to die as any, she thinks.

The parachute that isn't being used to block the wind is still draped over the two of them and she hopes it keeps Jake warm until he wakes. His walk to the base will take him longer now dragging her weight behind him, he'll need his sleep. 

She lets the sound of the wind lull her and she finds that she's not afraid anymore. Just sad; angry even; but not afraid. Her pain is excruciating, and she’s honestly welcoming the relief of a permanent slumber. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. The wind gusts come steadily, growing louder and ever closer. 

Jake stirs beneath her, sitting up her head falling to his lap. “Well would you look at that! No more walking for us,” he grins. Her eyes have shut but she can hear it in his voice, the boy like wonder bursting  the surface. “Angel, wake up,” he shakes her shoulder. The joy that had filled him moments ago has been replaced with a more serious tone, “they sent a chopper for us, honey,” he says, shaking her again, “you've gotta get up,” he pleads with her, but she cannot answer him. His hand is surprisingly warm on the side of her face, and the world goes dark and silent. 

Death is softer than she expected. It's dark still, but her head is resting on something plush, and there's a feel of woven fabric at her fingertips, it reminds her of the blanket Jake's mom had sent to her last Christmas. Her back and her legs feel stiff and she makes no attempt to move them uninterested in exploring this darken world she's found herself in. Her ribs ache but far less than they did back in the snow, the pinch she feels with each breath is like an echoed sound, a pallid reminder of her last moments. 

There's a humming; a mellifluous tune. It drifts in and out, bookended by murmuring she cannot decipher. Come back to me. The words become clear. Angel. Guilt fills her, petulant and helpless as emotion overwhelms her. She wants to move towards the voice, to apologize for leaving but she's not sure she can. I need you honey. 

Jake. Oh, it's so clear now. Jake. 

“Hey, hey, you're okay,” Jake's hands brace her shoulder, and just above her knee willing her to stop flailing her panicked limbs. Her eyes shoot open to meet his; golden green and brimming with tears she wishes she had the strength to stop. The insistent beeping that had filled the room quiets as she relaxes back into the pillows. 

The Navy infirmary isn't anything fancy, but it's far more comfortable than the nights she spent with her back up against the bark of a tree. She has so many questions but they fade out of her mind as quickly as they spark in. Blips of clarity overriden by the need to speak to Jake who is looking at her with more wonder than she's even seen. The man has seen the world from 40,000 feet but he's looking at her like she hung his stars in the sky. 

“Jake,” she manages. 

“Yeah, Angel”. 

Her throat feels like sandpaper, her voice scratchy and raw with disuse, but she fights through it, 

“I'm in love with you,” she says, sucking in a breath that makes her cough. Her lungs feel like they're on fire and she works desperately to inhale and exhale as the ache in her side is reawaken. 

Jake offers her water that manages to swallow down, and when she takes a few shaky breaths without wincing, he sets the paper cup aside. 

She gives him a gentle nod, refusing to meet his gaze. He doesn't let it slide, his forefinger tilting her chin up so she can't hide from him. She envies his confidence, his ability to simplify a scenario. 

“I'm in love with you,” he tells her too. 

[dizzybee03]

Ok I was not expecting Angie to need to tell her that- but I REALLY don’t trust Angie at all…clearly she can’t keep a secret. I do love Bob though and thought it was so sweet he was concerned about Bradley cheating. This is getting juicy!!

Love To Watch You Leave: Part 4

Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x Reader

Warnings: Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Swearing, Fluff, Angst, Bullying, Eventual Smut, Grieving, Pining, Alcohol, Military Inaccuracies

- Part 3 Here -

——————————

18+ Only

——————————




You grew uneasy as Angie pulled you around the back of the guest house, away from the noise of the party and away from prying eyes… away from anyone who could help.




“Angie, is this really necessary?” You huffed, your arms crossed over your chest as you inspected your surroundings.




She was quiet for a moment, and in the dark you couldn’t make out her expression. Suddenly, startling you, she exclaimed, “Oh Y/N, I am so sorry! You’re gonna hate me, and I don’t want to be the one to wreck something good, but…” her lip began to tremble and her fingers clasped together as if in prayer.




Your eyebrows creased together, “Angie are you okay?”




“I’m a home wrecker!” She suddenly wailed, loudly. “I didn’t know he was in a relationship! I had no idea you existed until today, but he… that man, he slept with me a little over a week ago. I’m so sorry.” She was full on sobbing at this point, her high pitched cries carrying far.




You tried to shush her, not wanting to draw attention to this situation, “Hey, no, please don’t cry. Uhm… please, it’s okay… shhh…”




You tried to calm her down and you even rubbed her back like your mom used to do when you were a kid, to calm you down, but nothing worked.




“I s-swear, he never ever mentioned you.” She cried. You internally rolled your eyes at her need to state that.




“I wouldn’t have ever gone near him if I knew.” She sobbed, and then another high pitched wail escaped her lips as she cried into her hands.




“Angie, please, shhhh. Angie… ANGIE! Bradley and I aren’t even together, okay?” You blurted out.




Suddenly you clasped your hand over your mouth, and Angie stopped crying, looking at you in surprise.




“What? But I thought-“




You shook your head, “Okay, look, you can’t tell anyone, but… Bradley and I need to pretend we’re together, just until Sunday. I can’t explain why, but it’s so important nobody finds out.”




She sniffled, “Why? What’s happening on Sunday?”




“We’re staging a break up, we just have to pretend while we’re here, so… you’re not a home wrecker.” You have her a sympathetic smile. You suddenly felt sorry for her, you hadn’t expected her to have this side to her. At least she was honest.




“Okay… I feel so much better now.” She giggled through her snotty nose and tears. “So… does that mean Bradley’s available?”




You took a deep breath in through your nose to calm your sudden pang of annoyance, “Yup. He’s all yours… after Sunday, okay?”




Angie nodded and threw herself onto you for a hug. You awkwardly rubbed her back.




“Do me a favour, Angie? Give me a few minutes to tell Bradley, I don’t want to throw this at him.”




She nodded, and you both rejoined the party.




Bradley came jogging over to you, “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”




“I was gone like 5 minutes, possessive much?”




“Anything could have happened, I was just scared you’d run off with Bob or something.”




You suddenly laughed, a bit surprised, “Brad, are you a little jealous of Bob?”




“No.”




“You sure? You seem a little jealous.” You poked a finger into his side teasingly.




“Shut up. You’re being a child.” He flinched away from you, but you kept poking him until he cracked a smile.




“Hey, I need to talk to you.” You admitted, “Can we go somewhere?”




Bradley eyed you up suspiciously, “Okay sure, where to?”




You dragged him back around the same corner, and Bradley was now beginning to worry.




“Look, if this is about the kiss earlier…”




“No.” You cut him off by shaking your head, “Nothing like that. Angie knows.”




Bradley almost did a double take, his jaw ticking, “I’m sorry, what?” He hissed.




“She started crying, like really really crying, saying she was a home wrecker and that she was sorry, and I couldn’t just let her believe that. She won’t tell anyone.”




Bradley rubbed his face in frustration, “Y/N, you can’t trust Angie. That’s why we broke up in the first place.” He sighed.




You were about to ask him to elaborate when Angie popped around the corner.




“There you guys are! Not fake kissing again I hope?” She winked comically, “Dinners starting, come!” She beckoned for you to follow, so you looked at Bradley expectantly.




He took a deep breath and nodded, “We’ll finish this conversation later.”




You sat down at the same long table and fell into easy conversation under the decorative lighting, relaxing slightly. Your eyes kept straying over to Bradley who was already looking at you, but you couldn’t figure out his expression. Frustration? Maybe. Anxiety? Probably. Annoyance? Definitely.




You felt bad for telling your secret, but you would have felt worse if Angie had thought she was the bad guy all weekend.




Once all 3 courses had come and gone, you were free to mingle and everyone changed seats to have conversations with other people. You stayed put, not really feeling up for being told off by Bradley. You sipped slowly at your drink as you watched everyone mingle. Bradley was on the other end of the table talking to Harris, probably spinning more yarn on your tall tale, when you felt someone’s presence next to you.




You looked over at what was previously an empty seat to find Bob, he smiled over at you.




“Hey, I’m sober now.” He announced with a chuckle. He really was quite cute, a traditionally handsome face and stunning blue eyes.




“Ah, pity, I thought you were quite a funny drunk.” You joked with a grin.




“I’ll go and grab some wine in that case.”




You laughed lightly at his humour, “Nice to meet you, Sober Bob.”




“Likewise.”




You spoke to Bob for about 10 minutes, getting better acquainted without giving away too much yourself.




“So do you work with Bradley?” You probed.




Bob nodded, pressing his lips together.




“What?” You chuckled curiously.




“Nothing, he’s just… how long have you two been together, out of curiosity?” Bobs eyebrows were ever so slightly drawn together in concern.




“Uhm… 6… 6 months.” You nodded, “How come?”




Bob took a deep breath and thought for a second, before nodding back slowly and giving you a sympathetic smile.




“I don’t think it’s my place.” He mumbled.




“Come on Bob, whatever it is, you can tell me.” You poked him light heartedly to lighten the mood.




Bob shifted uncomfortably in seat, eyeing up Bradley on the other end of the table, as he bit his lip, before turning back to you and leaning in close.




“I’m so sorry in advance for any hurt this is gonna cause… but Y/N, Bradley’s been cheating on you. Kinda openly too, he brings dates to the bar we frequent all the time, the last one being no more than a couple of weeks ago.”




You tried to force back a grin, you were very taken by how kind Bob and Angie had both been trying to make you aware of your fake boyfriends antics, but you knew you had to play the part of heartbroken girlfriend, and you thought for a second, Bingo, this was what you and Bradley would break up over.




You sat up straight, forcing a frown. “Oh wow.” You said, feigning surprise. “I… I can’t believe he would do this to me, after everything.”




You wiped at dry eyes and stood from your seat, putting on a broken voice, “Thank you for telling me, Bob. You did the right thing. I just need a moment.”




Bob watched you with sad eyes as you walked down the end of the table, partially regretting his actions.


You reached the end where Bradley stood in heated debate with Harris over some recent football game.




“Honey can I speak to you for a moment?” The question was only out of courtesy, you were already grabbing his lapels and pulling him towards the guest house with you.




“We’ll…finish this conversation later.” He said as you dragged him away.




“What are you doing?” He hissed at you.




You let go of him and as soon as you were sure you were out of everyone’s sight, you grinned.




Bradley cocked his head at your new expression, “Y/N…”




“We have an out.” You grinned proudly, summoning him to follow you back to your bedroom.




You closed the door behind you and urged him to sit on the bed.




“Can you just spit it out already?”




“Ok fine, fine! So Bob just sat me down and-“




“Yeah I know, you two just can’t keep your hands off of each other tonight can you?” He interrupted you, his eyes rolled as he leaned back against his elbows.




You looked at him with a deadpan expression, “Brad, come on, focus.”




“Sorry.” He mumbled.




“So, Bob kindly informed me that…” you held back a snort as you tried not to laugh, “that you’ve been cheating on me. He was very surprised that we’ve been together 6 months because you’ve been bringing girls to the bar, and I can only imagine doing obscene things with them.”




“That little snitch.” Bradley sat up right.




You rolled your eyes and ignored him, “So now we have a legit excuse to break up on Sunday.”




“I’m gonna kill him.” He was huffing now, not even looking at you.




You walked up to where he sat on the bed and placed your hands on his shoulders.




“Look dickwad, we’re not actually together so he didn’t really snitch you out. I mean… he did, but he did the right thing so you can’t really blame him.”




Bradley looked up at you with big brown eyes and nodded glumly. “I know, I know.”




“So, how do you wanna do this thing? Wanna pretend tonight and tomorrow that we’re working through things? And then Sunday I can throw a hissy fit and end things?” You wiggled your eyebrows at him playfully.




He chuckled, his hands landing on your waist. You held your breath for a second.




“You never used to be this funny.” He stated, his smile returning.




“Actually, I’ve always been funny.” You grabbed his hands and removed them from your waist as you stepped back and walked over to the mirror. “You’ve just never given me the time of day.”




Bradley’s eyes followed you and he grinned back at you in the mirror as you smirked at him.




“I’m sorry.” He said.




You turned your head to look at him properly, “What?”




“For what it’s worth, I never actually hated you.”




You turned back to inspect your makeup, “Well, I hated you. But… that’s faded more to an intense dislike now.” You joked.




Bradley stood up and walked behind you, eyeing you up in the reflection. He stood silently for a few seconds, so you stopped what you were doing.




“Brad, are you okay?”




He nodded, his jaw clenching, and one of his hands moved your hair to adjust your dress strap again.




“Was uneven again.” He mumbled.




You weren’t sure if it was the wine or if you were just losing your mind, but for some reason you turned around to face Bradley, the space between you already too tight, and leaned against the dresser under the mirror.




You could feel Bradley’s hot breath fanning down on your face, literal inches away.




“I don’t actually hate you. Not anymore.” You admitted softly as you looked up at him.




“I thought you said it was an intense dislike?” He chuckled softly, and again that damn hand landed on your satin waist.




“You’ve really grown up, Brad.” Your hand flattened against his chest, whether to feel him under you or to push him away you weren’t entirely sure.




His hand squeezed your waist gently and your heart began to thud.




“Y/N I-“




Suddenly he was rudely interrupted by a loud pounding on the door and he stepped back quickly, you took a deep breath, regaining some sense.




Bradley walked to the door and opened it.




“You guys! I might have accidentally maybe told Bob.” Angie walked into your room like it was her own, biting her rouge nails, her big blue eyes like a puppy dog that knew it had done something wrong.




You looked at Bradley with wide eyes, and then suddenly at the door when you noticed Bob standing there, awkwardly.




“Ah fuck.”




——————————




You now found yourself standing awkwardly next to Bradley in front of Bob and Angie, trying to explain how you’d gotten yourself into this predicament.




Bradley glared at Bob, still pissed off that Bob had ratted on him. Angie stared lovingly at Bradley, biting her lip at how his neck veins strained under his clenched jaw. Bob stared at you, wondering how soon would be too soon to ask you out.




“Guys, is anyone listening to me?” You moaned impatiently.




A chorus of “mhm” and “yep” came from the group.




“Ok so we’re clear on the fact that no one can tell anyone else about this? Or Bradley and I are toast.” You we’re starting to stress now, and you clasped your hand over your forehead in an attempt to cool it down.




Bradley looked at you, worried, and then at the clock on the wall that read 11:15pm. “Maybe we should call it a night, guys. It’s been a bit of a long day.”




Bob and Angie said goodnight and Bradley closed the door behind them, his forehead resting on the closed door as he sighed.




He turned to watch you pace up and down the room.




“Hey, can you calm down, please? Everything’s gonna be ok.”




“I dunno, I have a really bad feeling.” You bit your thumbnail nervously, and then sat down heavily on the bed and plopped your head in your hands. “God, what have I done?” You groaned.




Bradley quickly moved to sit next to you and he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. “Would you just relax, please? Nothing bad is gonna happen, I promise.”




You looked up at him through your fingers, “Not gonna lie, this side of you is kinda freaking me out.”




Bradley chuckled a sorry and removed his arm, and you sat up straight and huffed. “Ok, I think maybe you’re right. I’m gonna have a bath and get into bed, need to use the bathroom before I get in there?”




Bradley shook his head and made a start removing his shirt and pants to get into bed, which you quickly looked away from as you gathered your pyjamas from your bag.




You mumbled a ‘goodnight’ to Bradley, fully expecting him to be asleep by the time you were done, and you locked the bathroom door.




You drew a bubble bath and slid out of your dress, climbing into the warm water.




You sighed in relief as the water calmed stiff muscles and sore feet, and you quickly fell asleep.




The next thing you knew, you were waking up to the sound of someone banging violently on the door, the bubbles all gone and the water ice cold.




You shot out of the bath and wrapped a towel around you just in time for the door to fly open, the lock on the hinges breaking with a loud snap.




You let out a squeal of surprise, “What the fuck, Brad!”




Bradley’s expression was visibly relieved and his shoulders slumped. “Fuck, Y/N! I was calling you for like 10 minutes. You’ve been in there for 3 hours.”




You glanced over his shoulder at the clock that now read 2:25am.




You looked back at Bradley and pressed your lips together as a giggle tried to force its way out.




Bradley’s eyebrows creased, “That’s not funny.”




Too late, you were full on laughing now, doubled over and struggling to breathe.




Bradley had to stifle his own laughter, and he rolled his eyes. “Seriously who the fuck falls asleep in the bath for that long. Thought you died. Now I’m gonna have to pay for a new door.”




You managed to stop laughing eventually, wiping tears from your eyes, “I’m sorry, I was tired.” You explained.




You realised you still had a full face of makeup on, so you quickly washed it off in the sink and moisturised. You realised the door was not staying closed, and even with it pulled to, it would spring open a few inches without the lock in place.




“Don’t look.” You said to Bradley, who was back in bed around the corner. “I just need to put my PJ’s on.”




“Wouldn’t wanna anyway.” He said, regaining his breath and waiting for his heart rate to slow back down.




You discarded your towel and turned your back to the door as you pulled on your underwear and pyjama shorts.




Bradley caught a glimpse of your upper back and shoulder blades in the mirror opposite the bed and quickly diverted his eyes. He couldn’t help but look back every couple of seconds, admiring how your skin glowed in the yellow bathroom light.




You pulled on a white tank top and walked out of the bathroom while you brushed your hair.




“No, this isn’t gonna work.” You stated as you looked down at the bed, Bradley’s large frame taking up more than half of it.




“I’m not sleeping on the floor.” He stated.




You rolled your eyes, “Can you at least move over then?”




“To where? I’m already on the edge.”




You huffed, “No you’re not, you can easily move over a few inches, look.” You knelt on the bed and pushed Bradley’s side, trying to shift him further.




He would not move, the big oak heavier than you’d expected.




“What are you doing? Get off.” He tried to swat your hands away but you kept coming back and pushing, straining to get yourself a little bit more room.




“Move.” You grunted.




“Stop, you’re actually tickling me now.”




Frustrated with being tickled, he grabbed one of your wrists quickly, and you lost your balance, landing on top of Bradley with a ‘ooph’.




You quickly looked at him with wide eyes, something hard pressing against your hip.




“Sorry.” You whispered, and made a move to get up, but you were surprised when you felt his hand on your thigh and he pulled your leg over him.




“Brad, I don’t think… maybe I should sleep on the floor.” You stuttered, but you made no effort to move. Your face was so close to his now, even in the dark you could see how his heart pounded against his chest, and the veins in his neck pulsed. You gulped.




“Did you just gulp?” He chuckled lowly, his voice a husky whisper.




You nodded, and Bradley’s hand brushed your hair back over your should, his long fingers gently stroking your jaw.




You were acutely aware of his other hand which was still clasped around your thigh, and you wondered for a second how that hand might feel on other parts of your body.




You suddenly realised who you were thinking about, the man you hated for the better part of your life, and you gasped out loud, throwing yourself off of his torso and onto your back next to him.




You stared at the ceiling in horror.




“I think we should go to sleep.” You said maybe a fraction louder and more assertive than you needed to. The last thing you needed or wanted was to be Bradley Bradshaws newest plaything.




“Yeah, you’re right. Got enough room if I turn on my side?” He sighed.




“Yup. Goodnight.” You said quickly, turning away from him.




It took you forever to fall asleep that night, because all you could think about was how you were hot and flustered for your worst enemy, and how his boner was pressed into your lower back.




———————————

- Part 5 Coming Soon -

Taglist:

@dizzybee03 @cheyrenee @flowery-mess @wildxwidow @residentb1tch @championemmie @mycrofthomlesumbrella

[dizzybee03]

Another great chapter!!! I love that we are getting to see this glimpse into this part of Jake’s life

Back Forty View (On Our Piece Of Ground)

3 - Twilight In The Mornin', 'Fore The Day Wakes Up

Pairings: Tyler Owens x OFC Georgia Tennley-Owens, Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x OFC Samantha Kazansky

Rating: Explicit (MDNI!)

Warnings: LOTS of detail, sorry. Also random SMUT hahaha. unprotected!piv (wrap before you tap) alcohol comsumption

A/N: Uh, so this got long and I refused to stop. As usual you get a little flashback for Tyler and Jake, and then there's the Wrangler's Christmas Eve Party with so much going on and I hint at an interesting pairing that I'm fully ready to explore even if every is gonna hate me for it. Everyone gives gifts and they eat and they play games. Then, where it got really out of my hands was at the SMUT. It just had to happen. And then Christmas morning SMUT. Whoops my hand slipped. Please enjoy the chaos!

Tags: @mrsevans90 @djs8891 @gpsmississippihippie @barnesboo1967 @dizzybee03 @coloraturadiva

Jake and Tyler came down Christmas morning to Kenny sitting in the living room, holding a fat white dog that had a speckled left ear, some speckled brown across that same side eye, and a weird red and black speckled back foot. She had long nails and her ears were floppy and she wagged her long tail as the boys walked over to her. 

“Boys, this here's Dixie. She's an ole hound from a friend'a mine and she needed a home. So she's your Christmas present this year.” Kenny said and the boys descended on the dog, Tyler wrapping his arms around her and Jake rubbing her head and ruffling her ears with both hands. Jeanie hadn't seen the boys that happy for a Christmas present since she got them new ropes a few years ago. They had then proceeded to try to play ‘cowboy jousting’ in the snow that year every chance they got. 

With Dixie, it was a chance for the boys to learn to share something and care for something other than the horses, which they didn't share anyway. Dixie would truly be for both of the boys and they would have to compromise. And they certainly did. They took that dog anywhere and everywhere they could and they did it together, only making their brotherly bond strongly as they headed into high school. Tyler, Jake, and Dixie were inseparable.

🌪️ 🛩️🛻⚓

Christmas Eve was cold and snowy in Stillwater, Oklahoma, but the Tornado Wrangler’s Christmas party was full of warmth and coziness. Javi, Kate, and Scott had arrived together, all coming from Kate's mom's house, where they'd had dinner. Boone and Lily arrived together as well and Dexter and Dani had carpooled. Sam and Georgia had slaved away for a good portion of the afternoon making food and cleaning the house. Dustin had gone home to his parent's for a few days, leaving Tyler and Jake in charge of the horses. 

The spread of food was impressive, with dishes such as buffalo chicken dip, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, teriyaki meatballs, taco salad, and a shitload of barbecue ribs, brisket, and chicken with several different sauces. Jake's favorite Christmas time dish was also present, roasted duck breast, a la Georgia. Her father would make it every so often and her mother and she loved it but her sister hated it. So Georgia learned how to make it to piss off her sister. 

"I can't wait to try that." Sam said excitedly. As everyone settled either in the living room or in the kitchen with a plate of food, they all enjoyed the comfortable silence that filled the house. Georgia and Sam prepared plates for the dogs with a little bit of everything that was safe for them to eat.

"Wow. It's really crazy how much you two look alike but also so different.” Kate said, examining both Tyler and Jake separately. It is an easy feat with them sitting right next to each other, their significant others on their farthest sides from each other. That hadn't been by choice on Georgia and Sam's part. It had been strategically the boys decision so that they could pick off each other's plates. 

"Yeah we get that a lot when we're together. We are twins after all. Tyler just looks old because he's had to keep my ass in line all these years.” Jake smirked and his brother punched his shoulder gently before stealing a piece of duck off his plate.

"We're the same age, you dingbat.” Tyler said, as he leaned slightly into his wife. Georgia smiled and glanced at Jake.

"How's that duck?” She asked and Jake held a thumb up.

"Almost as good as our momma's.” He said, taking a huge bite of the piece Tyler had stolen half from, Georgia smiled warmly at him, as Tyler gave her an approving look. He'd nearly forgotten that she was a pretty decent cook and it appeared that Sam was as well. It was the baking that Tyler would die for though. Georgia could make a mean pie. Any and all pie, by Georgia, was good pie.

Everyone else seemed very content with their food and they all took their time munching, making some small talk here and there. This was the first time that Scott had been to a Wrangler party since the El Reno tornado and he had seemingly lightened up quite a bit. He and Javi had made their peace and moved on and Scott had a huge change of heart once Kate discussed with him how wrong it was what Storm PAR had been doing. He had actually grown to enjoy working with Kate and liked the way she challenged his knowledge. It seemed as though Kate had the attention of the two men and Tyler and Georgia both loved that for her. For now, Kate was focusing on her career but that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun here and there.

After food, it was time for gift exchanges. Everyone gathered around in the living room, filling up not only the couches but the floor as well. Tyler had pulled Georgia onto his lap and Jake did the same with Samantha. Boone and Lily sat on the floor, as did Kate and Javi. Dexter, Dani, and Scott took up the other couch, and all the dogs were scattered around. The funniest placement of a dog had been Grits, who had leapt up on the back of the couch behind Tyler and placed his head on his human’s shoulder. Ballast sat at Jake’s feet, while Muster balanced on the arm of the couch by Sam. Rocco and Pancake sat in front of the fireplace which had been lit and was extremely warm now. Waffles was between Tyler and Georgia’s feet.

Scott had gotten everyone gift cards, a hundred dollars each, but he had a special bag for Kate that he asked she wait to open until later on. She smirked at him and nodded, thanking him. His card to Javi was for his favorite coffee shop. The one’s for Dexter, Dani, Boone, and Lily were for Walmart. He apologized to Jake and Sam for not getting them anything. 

“Nah it’s totally fine, you guys didn’t know we’d be here to be fair. We didn’t expect anything from anyone.” Jake explained and it seemed as though some of the parties in the room let their breath out in relief. No one had to feel bad now, but they still would just a little, deep down.

“That’s for the two of you, for little Jaycen.” Scott said as he handed Tyler and Georgia a card. Tyler let Georgia open it and Tyler’s eyes scanned over it. There was four hundred dollars placed neatly in the pocket of the card. Tyler’s eyes widened in surprise. He thanked Scott warmly and he smiled. “That’s from that bet Javi and I had...”

Next up was Dexter and Dani’s gifts. They’d purchased as a pair, giving everyone a hat, gloves, hand warmers, and a twenty dollar Tractor Supply gift card. They also handed Tyler and Georgia a separate card, which was for Jaycen. Tyler opened it this time and saw an Amazon gift card for fifty dollars so that they could get some baby supplies. 

Boone and Lily had also purchased gift bags as a pair. They did something similar to what Dexter and Dani did except they got everyone a t-shirt with a funny saying on it, a hot sauce, and a gift card to different fast food restaurants that they all stopped at during chases. Again, they’d gotten something special for Tyler and Georgia for Jaycen. A couple of packs of newborn onesies and some little shirts with cute sayings on them that Georgia held up for Tyler to look at. He wouldn’t say anything now but it made his heart ache with joy at how real everything was, seeing the baby clothes. They hadn’t even purchased anything yet. 

Javi got everyone a card with money in it and a bottle of some sort of alcohol.That was about as creative as he could get. He always said he was bad at giving gifts. He’d gotten wine for Dexter and Dani each, Tequila for Boone and Tyler, Whiskey for Georgia for when she wasn’t pregnant, Vodka for Scott and Kate, and Rum for Lily. He had gotten a bottle of wine for Jake and Sam after Tyler had told him about their engagement, figuring Tyler would end up giving it to them. He hadn't expected to be able to meet them in person, but it was a nice change of scenery. New faces. 

Kate was the champion gift giver, or so she touted. She got Dexter a new hat and a cozy sweatshirt. She got Dani a small set of tools that she’d be eyeing. She got Javi a gift basket that had specialty coffee, mugs, and flavor syrup. She got Scott a couple of nice polo shirts and a sweater, and a small bag just like he had with her that needed to be opened at another time. She'd made up a small bag for Lily, including a small blanket, and some Bath and Body Works items because even though Lily tended to be a tom-boy, she still liked her feminine creature comforts. Boone had been the hardest to shop for, and Kate felt bad that she had found nothing in particular so a gift card to Bass Pro Shop for a hundred dollars was all she could come up with. He was pretty damn happy with that anyway.

“Okay now there's somethin’ for Georgia, Tyler, and for Jaycen.” Kate said, handing them three bags. 

"Can I just say, we love and appreciate that y'all got stuff for Jaycen.” Georgia said as she opened her bag. There was a comfortable looking sweatshirt that said ‘Kid Wrangler’ on it which made Georgia laugh. Tyler’s was also a sweatshirt and it said ‘my other kid is my cattle dog’ to which he chuckled and thanked Kate. The present for Jaycen was a small shirt that he would probably need to grow into but it said ‘Littlest Tornado Wrangler reporting for duty’. 

“Kate, this Is awesome, thank you!” Tyler exclaimed. She smiled warmly and for the first time in a while, she actually felt like she belonged. 

Tyler helped Georgia off his lap and he stiffly walked over to a large box that was tucked behind the Christmas tree. He pulled shirts out first and handed one to everyone, then hats, both beanies and trucker hats, and then Georgia pulled out the sweatshirts. Tyler and Georgia had designed a logo for the barn and everyone was excited when they opened up the t-shirts to see it for the first time. Everything was black but the logo itself was in hot pink. It was a tornado, with a horse running around it like a barrel and said ‘Tennley-Owens Performance Horses’ in a bold but pretty font that was dainty but also looked like it could punch you in the face.

“This is sick! You guys did a great job on the logo.” Boone said excitedly. He had known they were working on it and had begged to see it but Tyler wouldn't budge any.

There were still some presents under the tree, but those were for in the morning, for Tyler, Georgia, Jake and Sam to exchange amongst themselves. With gifts exchanged, Tyler opened a bottle of whiskey and poured some shots. Jake, Javi, Kate, Scott, Boone, Lily, and Tyler all took one and downed it in celebration. Tyler poured them all one more and then spoke. 

“I just wanna thank y'all for coming, for bein’ the best team out there.” He nudged Jake. “Best brother out there.” Then he glanced at Georgia with the warmest smile possible. “And thank you for bein’ so supportive of Gee and I. We couldn't do any of this without this amazin’ support system. Y'all are the best.” He finished and they downed their shots. Tyler then began cleaning up the food, and Georgia came over to help. As everyone else cleared out of the kitchen for a few moments, they were left to themselves. Tyler paused, a piece of duck in his fingertips. 

‘Y'know. Jake won't admit it, but I will. You made this better than my momma.” He put the piece in his mouth, savoring it and licking his lips. Georgia stepped into his space, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck. She stretched up to kiss him as he finished chewing, tasting whiskey and the cherry sauce from the duck on his lips.

“Mmm, thanks. I've got a question for you, Ty.” She said, her voice dropping an octave. Tyler raised a brow, pushing his hips toward her. 

“Yes ma'am?” He leaned down to catch her lips, and before she asked her question, they soaked in the atmosphere of the night. The warmth of the house and the banter between their friends. The quiet click of the dogs nails as they shifted around on the old wooden floors. The sight of the couples in the group holding onto each other, and the inclusion of the singles, never to feel left out. 

“How excited are you for this baby?” Georgia asked, as they parted. He touched his nose to hers and let his eyes close, taking in a deep breath.

“More excited than words could ever say.” Tyler murmured, holding her tight, and feeling several little kicks from Jaycen. Georgia smirked and said ‘ouch’ with a smile. Tyler blew air from his lips. “He's gonna be a wild one, just like his daddy.”

“Nothin’ I can’t handle.” She said softly, placing her head on Tyler’s chest, while they took several more moments to themselves. There was loud laughter from the living room then and they both glanced over, seeing all smiles and bodies shaking with amusement. Tyler and Georgia stepped away from each and continued cleaning up all the food. They stole touches and glances as they did so and didn't realize that they had two observers from in the living room. Sam and Jake would look over occasionally and then look at each other and then wondered whether or not to go help them. 

It was once they had finished putting away dinner that Sam and Jake had strolled over. They helped place out a large tray of cookies and a few different pies. A rhubarb pie, a pumpkin pie, and an apple pie, all warm from a quick pop in the oven. Everyone filed in for dessert and drinks, but Dexter and Dani had decided they needed to get on the road, so they took theirs with them and some leftovers.

“We’re heading back to Arkansas and wanna get on the road before the snow gets any worse. Thank you for having us! Thank you for the gifts. We’ll see y’all after New Year’s!” Dani said, hugging everyone and Dexter did the same. 

Boone, Lily, Javi and Scott decided to post up at the kitchen table. Tyler and Georgia had offered them rooms if needed, but Lily had stopped drinking alcohol so that she could start the drive back towards Arkansas. They were going to try to get some good snow footage for the channel on their way, so they wanted to leave when the weather got worse on purpose. Kate, Javi and Scott had come altogether and Kate had elected to be the designated driver so they were covered there. The four at the kitchen table proceeded to play Cards Against Humanity, and Kate watched for a couple of rounds before she decided to sit on the floor with the puppies by the fireplace. 

Sam and Jake sat on the couch closest to the fireplace and Georgia laid across Tyler’s lap on the other, larger couch, drifting in and out of a light sleep. He knew she was completely wiped out after today. He vowed to tuck her in later, do night check on the horses, let the dogs out one last time before bed, and come back to cuddle. Georgia had been satisfied with his plan. She glanced over at Kate.

“Psst. Kate.” She whispered, snapping her fingers at the blond. Kate whipped her head around, but kept her hand on Waffles, who had joined Rocco and Pancake by the fire. 

“Yeah?” She asked, with a small smirk. Her eyes were wide. 

“So...Scott or Javi?” Georgia asked and Tyler, who had been checking some comments, looked over at her, curious as well. She shrugged.

“Javi is a really good, old friend...Scott is...I don’t know...not what I expected. He’s new...kind of like a fresh start, I guess? But...we’re not labeling anything so...” Kate explained, exchanging glances with Scott briefly. He hadn’t heard what they were talking about, but her look told him all he needed to know. 

“Not labeling it?. Has he taken you on any dates?” Georgia asked, sitting up slightly. Tyler helped her, readjusting himself so that she was snug between his legs. He placed a pillow between her back and his crotch so that she wouldn’t be leaning fully on him. 

“We’re not labeling it.” Kate said firmly, but with a lilt of humor in her voice still. Georgia smirked and relaxed back against Tyler, whose arm dropped from the top of the couch, where he had been petting Grits, to rest over her breasts. Georgia turned slightly to gaze at Tyler who wore a dirty smirk as he continued to read and reply to comments. His gaze never left the phone, but his hand began to massage circles into one of her breasts, coaxing her into closing her eyes. 

Jake was comfortable on the other couch, his arm over Sam’s shoulder. She had her head rested against his shoulder and one of her legs draped over his. 

“Can we talk about the fact that you and Tyler are twins? That’s insane.” Kate said, shifting to look at Jake. He smiled.

“He always says he’s the better looking twin, like. We’re the same. We would always argue about it too.” Jake chuckled and Tyler blew air from his lips.

“I am better lookin’. You’re too clean shaven. To be honest Jakey, you’re a little too gay lookin’.” Tyler chuckled and Jake had every reason to throw something at him, even though he knew his brother was joking, but he wouldn’t because Georgia was laying on top of him.

“If Georgia wasn’t layin’ on you...I’d come over there and beat your ass.” Jake murmured and Tyler glanced over, finally peeling his eyes from his phone with a toothy and mischievous grin. 

“C’mon over here. I’ll drop you from where I lay.” Tyler goaded and Jake shifted, a feral smirk on his lips. Sam glanced between them, not sure if they were serious. 

“Oh stop it boys. Tyler...” Georgia groaned, squeezing his knee. She knew they were kidding and weren’t going to do anything, Kate was giggling on the floor.

“Wait, wait. Who’s stronger?” She asked and they both said ‘me’ at the same time. They whipped their heads to look at each other and then laughed the exact same bellowing laugh. Everyone in the kitchen looked over, regarding the twins with humor and then focused back on their game. Tyler moved his hand from Georgia’s breasts, down to her stomach. He splayed his large hand across it and felt a small kick from Jaycen. Georgia’s eyes shot open and she smiled.

“You woke him up.” She whispered and Tyler said a small ‘sorry buddy’ before placing his phone down on the coffee table. He moved his other hand to her belly as well, then she covered his hands with hers. 

“I think we should have a ropin’ competition.” Tyler said, glancing over at his brother, who was watching him intently as if studying what he was doing for his wife. Jake shot him an easy smile.

“I haven’t roped in years. We didn’t do it with Kenny the past two years cause his arthritis has been so bad. Did you call them by the way?” Jake asked and Tyler nodded.

“Yeah. This mornin’. Kenny said he was actually feelin’ pretty good even though it was chilly. He said momma’s not feelin’ well so they’re not gonna stop by until after New Year’s.” Tyler explained as he could see worry flash over Jake’s expression. 

“She okay?” Jake asked and Tyler shook his head.

“Kenny said she just has a cough and the sniffles. She just doesn’t wanna get any of us sick, ‘specially Gee.” Tyler’s hands turned, intertwining his fingers with hers. She was breathing so quietly he thought she might’ve been asleep, but she wasn’t. She was just resting her eyes from the lights in the room. 

A couple more hours went by and as the rest of the Wranglers settled down. They were all fairly tired and had begun to clear up the cards. Kate had mosied over at one point and leaned on Scott’s shoulders. He glanced up at her and smiled but that was as much as they’d let on and let everyone see. 

When it was time for everyone to head home, they all thanked Tyler and Georgia for having the party. They all took home some food and dessert. They also all hugged Jake and Sam, happy to have finally met Tyler’s brother and his fiance. Boone had met Jake before so he left with a ‘nice to see you again’ and they left. Tyler and Jake put jackets and boots on and made their way out to the barn to do night check and let the dogs all have their last potty break before bed. The ladies cleaned up the last of the dishes and then said goodnight to each other and headed to their respective rooms. 

As quickly as they could, the brothers checked the horses’ blankets, fed them some more hay, and closed up the barn for the night, they both glanced up at the starry night sky where the moon was framed in a ring of ice, and flurries had just begun again. 

“Snow again? Damn. I don’t remember the last time we got this much snow.” Tyler rubbed his hand together and blew his breath into them as he nudged at Jake, who called for all the dogs. The pack of them came running from wherever they had all been on the arena side of the barn and bounded ahead of the brothers. 

“Man, I’ve been in Cali too long. I kinda miss this part of the country. I wanna see a tornado again.” Jake mused, making Tyler chuckle.

“You can stay as long as you want...or need. Or, you can always come back as much as you want. There will always be room here for you and Sam.” Tyler wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders. “I miss you a shit load. Miss my wingman.”

“Yeah...I missed you too. A whole helluva lot.” Jake said as he squeezed Tyler’s bicep playfully. They headed inside, brushing the snow of their jackets at the door and toweling off the dogs. They all placed themselves around the fireplace and on the couches for the night and respectfully let their humans go to bed.

Tyler found Georgia breathing softly, nearly asleep. She awoke briefly as Tyler settled under the covers beside her, stripped down to just his boxers so that he could effectively steal some of her warmth. She nuzzled close to him and he wrapped his arms firmly around her, a small noise of satisfaction emitted from his throat as they both easily fell asleep.

Jake, on the other hand, was still very awake. Sam was curled under the covers and when she felt Jake’s muscular frame wrap around her, she pressed back into him. He kissed her neck, then her shoulder, and then he pulled the covers down to expose her naked form. She giggled softly as he continued down her body.

“Have to be quiet, babygirl.” He whispered as his hands traveled up and down her body, eliciting soft whimpers from her the more he touched her. He draped the sheets over their bodies and without much more than a few swipes of his fingers, he was pressing inside of Sam. She gasped at how hot and hard he was for her, knowing that had been building up throughout the day. He leaned down to kiss her as he began to move, slow and deep thrusts that made Sam hang onto him for dear life. It wasn’t just the physical power he put into it but the gravity of the intimacy between them that made tears sting her eyes that she hoped he didn’t see. They were not out of sadness in any way. They were of happiness because Jake made her the happiest she’d ever been when she was with him.

🌪️ 🛩️🛻⚓

Christmas morning was chilly and even more snow had fallen overnight. A true white Christmas.

Tyler and Georgia awoke early to go out and feed the horses, letting all the dogs out in the process. Georgia especially had come to like the little red dachshund for his attitude and courageous spirit. Grits could be a bit of a bull at times and where Rocco was older, he taught the puppy and little bit of respect. It was something that the Malinois could probably get across just as well, but the long and little red dog commanded the room when he walked in and that was good for the whole pack. Grits grew to like the little guy too, but his favorite was Ballast. He could rough house with the other male dog and Ballast could take everything that Grits threw at him. In a way,  the two dogs' relationship was symbolic of Tyler and Jake's. Cut from the same cloth, they as well as their human counterparts, were duty bound to protect their families. 

Jake and Sam slept in a little. It was about eight A.M. before Jake's eyes fluttered open, one at a time, and he was made very aware of where he had positioned himself. He was wrapped tightly around Sam, his returning muscles flexed protectively and possessively around her. One of her legs was over his and he was painfully hard against her core. The air in the room was cool but under the blankets it was an inferno and Jake's skin was sticky with sweat, not only from sleep, but from their love-making late last night. He'd nearly fallen asleep inside her. In fact, he was sure he had, so at some point he'd slipped out. 

Sam stirred, nudging him, her arms curled into his chest. Her head was tucked under his chin and Jake pressed a feather light kiss to her forehead. She inhaled their shared scent, sweat and sex heavy in her nostrils, bringing her out of her slumber. Jake reached up, tangling his fingers in her hair and guiding her lips to his. She whimpered softly, the thigh that was draped over him pulling him in further. 

“Merry Christmas, Jake.” She whispered and then sucked in a sharp breath as he, like last night, thrust into her leisurely. He didn't need to ask permission. There was an unspoken contract between them now, her movements giving him the go ahead. She would always hesitate if she didn't want him and he knew that deep in his core. And by far, morning sex was her favorite with him, because Jake was extra intimate when he'd just awoken. 

“Merry Christmas, Samantha. I love you.” He gently tugged at her roots, earning a soft moan from her. Her nails dug into his pecs, surely leaving tick marks behind. He growled in approval as he rocked slowly in and out, his movements barely there. 

“I love you too, Jake. I love you so much.” She nearly choked on the words as he increased the force, his loins burning with need for release. Her hands made their way to his hair, coaxing him closer and closer to the edge. His fingers left her hair and travel down, one set tracing heavy circles on her clit, the other kneading one of her breasts. His lips stayed locked with hers and before she could even say anything she was clamping down on his length and making him come first, following shortly thereafter with his help. She moaned into the kiss and she felt his lips draw up into a devilish smirk as he stilled, and spilled inside of her. 

“Ohhh god, Jake, it feels so good. You feel so good.” Her words were strangled, pleasure dripping from every syllable as he too voiced his ecstasy. He hummed, and pulled his fingers from her clit and grasped her hip, rubbing up and down her thigh. He purred as his mouth covered her again, his tongue caressing hers in a gentle gesture full of contentment. 

When they parted finally, they both let out heavy sighs, panting and sharing each other's air as they came down from their high. As the sage green depths of his eyes met hers, he saw surety. He saw emptiness of fear, and the pretty chocolate brown fill with delight as she shifted against him. Their noses touched as she searched, seeing only love reflect back to her in the morning light.

“This is the best present I could ask for, by the way.” He said softly and she let her lips touch his for a moment.

“Maybe soon, there will be another present on the way.” She murmured, and Jake's irises lit up at the thought of that. Never had he wanted something more than what she was giving him in that moment. Hope for the future and all the love she could ever spare.

They spent some time just touching each other as they untangled from the messy sheets. Then they dressed in comfortable clothes and headed downstairs where Tyler and Georgia had begun to make breakfast. Jake again, observed his brother's easy demeanor and gentle way around Georgia. Like he and Sam, they stole kisses and touches every chance they got, and they weren't afraid to let anyone see it either. Jake could only think in that moment how much love they had between them and how much they were going to give to the little boy that was due in a few short months. 

Jake always knew his brother would be a good father, because when they were younger, he took care of Jake. He always looked out for him but he taught him more than Kenny or Jeannie could about life. It had been the two boys against the world and even though their parents loved then unconditionally, the bond between the brothers was more than they could ever give. It was a different kind of love and one that Jake needed, especially now. Jake hadn't had any nightmares since coming down to Stillwater. He could only hope that he was on the back end of his mental strife and it was thanks in part to the environment that his brother fostered. 

They sat briefly for breakfast and then gathered on the couch. Tyler took the lead, handing out presents, knowing that there was one that he desperately wanted to save for the very end.

He gave Jake his first, from him and Georgia, a Carhartt jacket in a dark blue color that fit him perfectly. Jake had brought an old one with him that had rips and tears and had been well used but often forgotten in his closet in the warm California climate. In Jake's box underneath the jacket was also a tactical collar, two inches wide with a handle, and sandy brown with ‘Ballast’ embroidered in lime green. It was a little big so that the dog would grow into it. 

They gifted Sam a similar package except her jacket was a pretty lavender color, and Georgia had picked out a hat and gloves of the same shade. There were similar collars for both Muster and Rocco, hers being the sand brown with hot pink writing, and Rocco's with blue embroidering.

They had ordered the same type of collars for their own dogs, except theirs were grey bases with Grits’ color being red, Waffles was a light blue, and Pancake's purple.

It was then Sam and Jake's turn to give their gifts to Tyler and Georgia. Their gift to both of them was something they hadn't even been able to look at yet, but Sam had picked it out and Jake had agreed heavily on it. It was a crib for Jaycen, which Jake offered to help Tyler put together. They were ecstatic, seeing as they'd just finished painting the nursery walls. 

Then there were the individual gifts. Sam's to Jake was the boots, as well as an amalgamation of clothes, including hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and a couple of pairs of jeans. Jake had gotten Sam something that she couldn't have now, but could cash in any time he was back up in the air.

“I talked to Cyclone...he gave me the okay once I'm airworthy, I can take you up in a jet. I know you never got to and you've always wanted to.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply. Not only did that mean a lot to her, but it would mean a lot that Jake kept his promise to her father, to keep her safe and to give her anything that he couldn't. 

Tyler's present to Georgia was the halters for her horses. When she opened the box and looked them all over, be could see her eyes get misty. 

“These are perfect, Ty.” She said hugging him. She drew back and pulled her phone out to show him a picture. “Lennon offered to go get it for you. Should be here this afternoon.” It was a blue pipe cattle roping chute. He'd been showing her pictures of different ones and he'd seen that particular one, almost brand new, up on Facebook Marketplace. He vowed he'd get one eventually, but Georgia could see how bad he'd wanted it. So she took a little from her savings and sent Lennon and Ophelia on an adventure to pick it up. 

“How'd’ you know?” He asked, kissing her forehead. She smirked.

“Just know things sometimes.” She laughed and Tyler conceded with her for that. 

There was one more present under the tree. A small box, left unopened. It was in pretty silver paper and it was no bigger than Tyler’s palm as he handed it to Georgia. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a small blue velvet box. Georgia’s eyes shot up to look at Tyler, who was kneeling on one knee in front of her. 

“You already...” Georgia started but Tyler took the box and opened it, a beautiful diamond with a rose gold band sparking in the morning light. 

“I know but It didn’t feel right you not havin’ a ring. I know you said its not a big deal but it is to me. So now you have one. That is if you still want to be my wife.” Tyler joked and Georgia flung her arms around his neck, nearly strangling him. 

“Of course I still want to be your wife, you silly man!” Georgia exclaimed. “I would never want anyone else!”

A wide smile crossed Jake's lips, not knowing the full story,but not needing to. Whatever Tyler's reason for not having a ring in the first place was, it just showed that when he was committed to something or someone, he gave it his all. Jake knew Tyler made brash decisions and this had clearly been one of them, but it had also been calculated. Tyler made quick decisions but he also thought on them for long periods of time and Jake also knew that Tyler had always only had eyes for one woman and that was Georgia. It didn't surprise him one bit that Tyler followed through and made her his wife. 

[dizzybee03]

Welcome Back!!!!!! This was such a good way to start my lunch period off!! I am gonna say Javy is a natural in the kitchen! He just needed the CONFIDENCE (see what I did there) to do it

False Confidence: Chapter 14

Pairing: Javy “Coyote” Machado x Reader

Part of the San Diego Dogfighters universe

Summary: The Athletic named Javy Machado the fifth sluttiest player in the NHL last year. He’s a known playboy who leaves every game with a different girl. As far as he’s concerned he’s living the dream, playing his dream job with the dream lifestyle. Unfortunately his friends and bosses don’t agree. At 33, they think it’s time for him to settle down. You’re a kindergarten teacher at an esteemed private school. You don't expect much when you finally accept your colleague’s invitation to attend her husband’s hockey game but when you accidentally get separated in the post-game rush, you find yourself in a compromising situation with the last person you’d ever expected to meet. When his PR rep suggests a mutually beneficial agreement, your hands are tied. How long will you have to keep up the act? And how long will you be able to?

Series CW: 18+ ONLY, swearing, angst, fluff, fake relationship, suggestive language, anxiety, school system inaccuracies, hockey inaccuracies etc. There will be individual chapter warnings. No use of Y/N.

Word Count: 3.9k

A/N: I’m BACK, baby! And I missed these too so much!! 😭

Previous Chapter // Series Masterlist // Next Chapter

“Javy, where’s your fridge?” You frown at the space that should be the object of your search. It looks like a fridge. It’s where a fridge should be. And yet… there’s no way this is actually his fridge. You look back inside as the alarm system starts to beep, urging you to close the door. Reluctantly, you take out the egg carton sitting inside. You’re setting it on the counter when Javy appears in the kitchen. He’s carrying Roxie in his arms and she’s enthusiastically licking at his cheeks.

“What do you mean, sweetheart, it’s right there?” Javy nods toward the refrigerator behind you. Your brows furrow in confused irritation.

“I mean, I know it’s right there…” you bite your lip, trying to find a way to ask your question without coming off painfully blunt. “Javy, where’s the food in it?” Your voice dies off as the question escapes.

He blinks at you and you blink back, an awkward silence falling over the two of you. The pause is long and punctuated by the jingle of Roxie’s collar as she continues showering her dad with affection. “Technically, there is food in it-“

“Javy, sauces aren’t food.” You cross your arms, your teacher-voice starting to slip through the cracks.

“I have the eggs!” He argues and you flip open the carton.

“This is full which means you bought them just for this,” your brow furrows. He’s floundering and you sigh softly. “Javy, I’m not trying to criticize you, but I just, I worry. You’re a professional athlete, that means you have to eat a lot and you don’t have any food, and I’m your girlfriend and also your friend, and I worry.” Your frown softens as Javy’s eyes do.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Roadie girl, I’m eating plenty. I just tend to order out instead of cook. I’m not starving by any means.” Your brow tightens again even as he tries to reassure you.

“But that’s not necessarily healthy! You need to eat real food!” You exclaim and he gently crosses the kitchen to you as you slowly start to get wound up.

“Hey, hey calm down. I’m okay, Meep, I’ve been doing this for years and I’m still here.” Your frown deepens even more.

“But that just means you haven’t been taking care of yourself for years and your body has just adjusted to it! And knowing you, if you aren’t taking care of yourself, that means you probably aren’t letting people take care of you either!”

***

Javy can’t help the way the corners of his mouth are twitching upwards as you start to unravel in front of him. He knows you’re saying all this because you care. The more you say, the more he can’t help the way his heart swells. As the only boy in a family of women, Javy’s used to being fussed over but this feels different, warmer somehow. Family fusses out of responsibility, but this, this fussing is your choice and he lets the smile slip free as he comes around behind you, wrapping you in a hug, burying his face in your hair gently, letting himself soak in the warmth of your presence and sweet words.

He feels the subtle shift of your body in surprise before settling in his embrace as he does so. You’re visibly more comfortable with him than you used to be but old habits die hard, it would seem.

“Are you even listening to me, Javy?” He hears the pout in your voice, the sharpness in your question melting like your inhibitions and he rubs your arms even as they heat under his ministrations.

“You worry too much, Meep.” He teases right next to your ear, pride licking at his chest as your body responds. He doesn’t have to see your face to know you’re rolling your eyes at him. He loves it when you do that.

“And you don’t worry enough!” You may as well have stamped your foot, the petulance in your tone making Javy chuckle.

“Well it seemed like you had it covered for the both of us,” he points out, accenting his point with a kiss to the apple of your cheek before reluctantly letting you go. “So, where’s the box?” He crosses over to the tote bag you had brought with you, looking inside and frowning when he doesn’t see what he’s looking for.

“Box?” You come over to where he’s looking into the bag, peering around his broad shoulders. “What box?”

“The mix? For the brownies?” Javy looks back at you to see a look of affront on your face. He’s confused so he looks back into the bag hoping it’ll hold an answer.

***

You should have known when you saw his fridge but you can’t help feeling a bit offended as you take the tote bag from Javy’s hands, trying to ignore the flutter in your stomach when his fingers brush yours. You wonder absently if that will ever fade before reaching into the bag, taking out each ingredient carefully, and placing them on the counter, hoping the silence will speak for itself but you just see his confusion growing and you sigh, placing your hands on the counter, gathering your patience. “There’s no mix, Javy. We’re going to make them from scratch.” His eyes widen in realization.

“Oh,” the single syllable is deafening in the otherwise silent kitchen.

“Please tell me you at least have mixing bowls somewhere here?” He gives you a chagrined half-smile and you heave a sigh. “Here,” you walk over to where you left your keys, handing them to him, “There’s a bag of supplies in my trunk, I’m going to get set up here and take stock, if you don’t mind grabbing them?” Javy nods and heads out of the apartment without question.

The moment you hear the door click shut, you pull out your phone, fingers flying. Nat picks up on the first ring. “Fine,” you grind out, “you were right.” She cackles on the other side of the line. “His fridge is EMPTY, Nat, EMPTY! It just looks like a condiment bar!”

“What did I tell you? A New Orleans upbringing was wasted on that man, I tell you.” You shake your head in disbelief, propping the phone on your shoulder as you start poking around in Javy’s cupboards. “He doesn’t even have mixing bowls, Nat!”

“I can’t believe you thought he’d have a stand mixer!” Nat wheezes through the phone. You scowl at the mostly empty cabinets, rolling your eyes as you find one that’s actually full, packed with various protein powders and pre-workout containers.

“If I had professional athlete money, it would be the first thing I bought!” You bemoan, You hear the click of the door, and your head whips towards the hallway. “I’ve gotta go, I’ll see you at Family Day.” Nat bids you goodbye and you manage to hang up before Javy returns to the kitchen, arms laden in reusable bags full of your baking supplies.

You unload bowls and utensils while Javy gets your mixer set up on the counter. “Okay, so what do you know about baking?” You ask tentatively, forcing yourself to keep from going straight into baking mode and into your more patient teaching mode instead.

“That it tastes delicious and you’re really good at it?” Javy gives you an embarrassed smile and you return with an unenthused look.

“When was the last time you baked something?” You pivot and he pauses as if sorting through his memories.

“I mean my mom and sisters bake all the time but the last time I baked something? I think Jake and I made a boxed cake in our first apartment back in college? Yeah, I think we did it for a buddy’s birthday? It turned out okay, Jake didn’t want to use a boxed mix but we didn’t have enough supplies to make it the long way.”

You bite your tongue from arguing against his calling scratch baking “the long way,” focusing instead on the task at hand. “Okay, then we’ll start slow. Pull up the recipe I sent you.” You wait while he pulls out his phone, coming over so you can read it. “First, we need to prep a few things.” You place a cutting board in front of Javy, unwrapping a bar of chocolate and handing it to him with a knife, moving to preheat the oven. “We’re going to cut the chocolate up before we melt it down. By cutting it, we’re just speeding up the melting process, so you don’t have to worry about making it pretty. Wash your hands and I’ll show you.” You demonstrate the kind of cuts you want and then hand Javy the knife. “This goes without saying but please be careful. I’m going to start boiling water.” He turns as you walk over to the sink to fill a pot.

“Wait, why are you boiling water?” His brows are furrowed in confusion.

“To melt the chocolate, we’re going to put that glass bowl over a pot of boiling water and melt the chocolate in that along with the coconut oil.” You start the stove and come back to where Javy still looks confused.

“Why not just put it in the microwave?”

“It’s too imprecise, you could burn the chocolate.” You explain and he nods, turning over the new information in his brain.

He starts chopping before he pipes up again, “There’s coconut oil in brownies?”

“Not always, but I wanted to make these dairy-free so it’s a good substitute. You could use butter instead.” He nods again, turning back to his work. When he’s done chopping, you lead him over to where you’ve set up the bowl above the now-simmering water. “See, the steam and heat from the boiling water is heating up the bowl. “Now add the chocolate to the bowl,” you measure in the coconut oil and hand Javy a spatula to stir the mixture. Slowly the softened oil and hard chocolate melt into a uniform liquid.

“Okay, now we need to move on to the eggs and sugar. I’m using coconut sugar because it’s a healthy alternative to the regular kind. You can sub out the eggs for a vegan alternative but I wanted to keep the protein content high so I’m keeping them in.” You watch Javy crack the eggs into the bowl, before adding the sugar. “Now we’re going to whip them with the mixer. You’ll know they're done when the mixture is pale and fluffy. It should look bigger too.” You bring your hand mixer over and plug it in, turning it on and demonstrating the proper holding technique.

“You don’t have one of those fancy ones that does it for you?” Javy asks, brows furrowing yet again as you pass him the mixer. “That’s what my mom always used.” You shake your head even as your cheeks heat in embarrassment.

“It’s a big investment and it always seemed like more of a luxury than a necessity. Hundreds of dollars versus this one that works just fine and barely cost me thirty. I’ve had it since I moved out for college.” You pause for a moment before you add, “Just be glad I have an electric one. When I was little, my grandma had one of the ones you have to crank by hand.” Javy looks horrified at the idea.

“But even with the electric one, the recipe said it should take five to seven minutes! Imagine if you had to crank it!”

“You should have seen her arms, she could put you hockey boys to shame,” you remark, and Javy smiles at that.

“I’m sure she could.” After a moment of quiet populated only by the steady buzz of the mixer, Javy speaks up. “Is she…”

“Oh! No! She’s just since upgraded to an electric one! My dad got it for her for her birthday when I was in high school. He claims it was from the goodness of his heart, but we all know it was because he was starting to feel guilty when he asked her to bake something as she was getting older.” You give him a rueful smile as you take over the mixing. He watches, impressed.

“You’ve got some pretty strong arms yourself, Meep, I was starting to get tired and you don’t miss a beat.”

You laugh nervously, “Practice makes perfect. We’ll make a baker of you, yet, Javy Machado.”

“My mom’s going to flip,” Javy says with a laugh and you smile back.

“Maybe we can bake her something the next time she comes to town,” you suggest and your heart does a flip as his face breaks into a boyish grin.

“I’d love that, Meep and I��m sure she would too. I can’t wait for you to meet her, she’s going to love you.” You feel heat flush your cheeks as the nerves in your stomach flutter back to life. Truth be told, you’re incredibly nervous about the Dallas trip. Sure, you’ve met Javy’s family over video call but it’ll be completely different seeing them in person. Even online, you can feel their infectious but intense energy and you’re worried that it’ll overwhelm you and ruin your first impression. Javy pulls you back as he asks whether the mixture in the bowl looks ready. As you’ve been lost in your thoughts, it’s finished mixing.

“Okay, now I’m going to keep mixing very slowly while you add the chocolate,” you explain as you shift so Javy can read around your hands to add the chocolate into the bowl. Once it’s fully incorporated, you turn off the mixer and point to the sifter on the counter while you grab the almond flour, cocoa powder, and salt. “Grab the sifter.” Javy looks confused as he picks it up and brings it over.

“Okay this I’ve never seen before,” he admits and you smile gently as you take it from him.

“It’s a sifter. We put our dry ingredients through it to get out the clumps. Here, let me show you.” You demonstrate with the flour before handing the sifter off to Javy to do the other two ingredients. “Now you’re going to fold these into the batter until they're mixed with no clumps. Remember, be gentle yet firm. You want to make sure the batter has air in it, that’s why we’re not using the mixer.” You watch proudly as Javy frowns in concentration as he awkwardly tries to recreate the folding motion you showed him. You take over a few more times to remind him what it needs to look like. Finally, it’s done and you hand Javy a bag of chocolate chips to add liberally. He probably adds more to both of your mouths than to the batter but the bag gets used up all the same. The brownies go into the oven and you move to start cleaning up. After ejecting the beaters from the mixer, you hand one to Javy and he grins at you.

“Now this I’m familiar with,” he says before licking generously at the batter-coated metal. You giggle, placing the other one into the mixing bowl. His reaction is much more satisfying than you’ll find the batter. You push them in his direction before you start collecting measuring spoons and other utensils, taking them to the sink. “You’re not going to have one?” You look over your shoulder to where Javy’s holding the other beater in your direction, finishing off the last of his. You shake your head as you start the water in the sink.

“I’m good, you can have mine.” You almost miss the way his face contorts in confusion as you turn and you feel a little guilty for denying him but he seemed so happy with his that you wanted him to enjoy himself a little longer. You don’t think about the silence that stretches as you focus on washing the dishes until the wet sensation hits your nose and you squawk in surprise. The chocolate aroma hits your nostrils before your eyes can focus on the brown glob now perched precariously on the tip of your nose. Your brows furrow in confusion but before you can voice it there’s a wetter sensation followed by a rough feeling and you screech, nose scrunching in surprise as Javy pulls away, rogue tongue licking his lips as he savors the chocolate he’d deposited and subsequently licked off your nose. “You licked me.” You sound more surprised than you’d hoped and Javy just grins, not an ounce of guilt in his eyes. “You. LICKED. Me.”

He shrugs. “I licked chocolate. I’ve been doing that for the last five minutes.”

Before you can stop yourself, your arms flick and Javy blinks in surprise, your previous shock transferred to his face. You can’t help the satisfied smirk that climbs up your lips as he reaches a hand up to wipe the water off his face. “You splashed me.” The grin is back, widening with each word. “Oh Meep, you just declared war.” He sticks his hands into the mixing bowl and your eyes widen in realization. His fingers come out coated in chocolatey goodness and your stomach drops. Your hand moves of its own accord, curling around the spray head. Javy lunges towards you, hands outstretched and before you realize what you’re doing, you’re whipping the spray head towards him in defense. The water takes a moment to spurt to life and you feel chocolate streak your cheeks as Javy swipes at you before the spray head explodes with water and Javy jerks back with a surprised laugh. You stumble backward yourself, surprised by the realization of your actions and trying to put some distance between yourself and the chocolate. Your foot slips on the now-wet floor, and you screech as you feel yourself start to fall. You let go of the spray head and the water cuts. No longer being held off, Javy manages to catch you with two strong arms around your middle, swinging you off your feet awkwardly with a laugh as he pulls you close. You don’t have time to worry about his chocolatey fingers on your shirt as the breath is knocked out of your lungs by the sudden movement and unexpected closeness to Javy. He catches himself on the kitchen island, leaning on it with your weight on his front. You turn awkwardly to face him and you’re caught off guard yet again by the tender fondness in his eyes despite the fact that he’s soaked and covered in chocolate.

Javy leans in to kiss a streak of drying chocolate on your cheek. “Hi,” you squeak, inwardly cringing at the breathlessness and awkwardness in your voice.

“Hi,” he rasps, bumping his nose against yours. “That was fun.” He pumps his eyebrows at your eyes dart to the side as your cheeks heat.

“Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.” He shakes his head, intent on dismissing your guilt.

“Nothing wrong with a good scrim. I knew you had some fire in you; keep this up and you’ll be on the ice with me in no time.” Your eyes widen in horror at the thought. “Don’t you worry, Meep, I won’t let anyone get any hits on you.” You can’t help rolling your eyes at him and he laughs in response, that deep rich sound that you’ve come to love. He tightens his arms around you and you feel yourself lean further into him.

“We should clean this up,” you remark, even as your heart aches in response to you ruining the moment.

“I guess we should,” Javy agrees, and you pull away carefully, minding the wet patches of floor. He keeps broad hands on your elbows until he’s sure you’re steady before straightening himself. You replace the spray head next to the sink as Javy comes over and starts to wash the dried chocolate off his hands. Meanwhile, you go to grab a towel, stooping to mop up the floor.

When Javy’s done with the sink, he gestures you over and you’d almost forgotten the chocolate decorating your cheeks until Javy’s damp hand reaches up to your cheek. A wet thumb goes to work, loosening the hardened substance and cleaning off your skin. Your fingers itch to push him away and tell him that you can do it yourself, old self-sufficient habits starting to rise up, but you force them down. You let yourself be taken care of for once. “Thank you,” his eyes flick to yours from where they were locked onto their task. Blood thunders in your ears as you force yourself to meet his gaze. He’s not searching for anything, just looking.

“You don’t have to thank me, beautiful. I’m doing it because I want to.”

“Thank you for wanting to,” the words come out small but you’re still surprised you managed to get them out. Your toes curl as you struggle to keep eye contact.

“Thank you for letting me,” Javy’s hand on your cheek startles you, but the contact distracts you from your fear and you lean into it instinctively. He leans his forehead against yours and his lashes flutter shut and your lungs relax, letting out a breath as your eyes flutter shut in turn.

***

You’re not sure how long the two of you stay that way, but eventually, the oven beeps and you’re forced to part. Javy offers to let you borrow a shirt so you can change out of your chocolate-stained one. When you come back from the bathroom where you change and somehow manage to stop the pounding of your heart, Javy has finished up the dishes and the brownies are cooling on the counter. He’s changed into dry clothes as well. “Oh, don’t put everything away yet,” you remark as you get back to the kitchen and Javy looks up from where he’s looking at something on his phone.

“Why? The brownies look okay to me,” he glances at the tray next to him.

“Oh they look great, but I know how much you guys eat, so you’re going to make another tray.” You come up next to him and bring over the mixing bowl, placing it next to him.

“That’s a good idea, actually, wait did you say ME?” You nod without missing a beat.

“You helped me with the first batch and you have the recipe. You’ve got everything you need to do this one by yourself,” The fear and horror on Javy’s face makes a smile creep across your lips. “Come on, Javy, you’ve got this. I’ll be here the whole time. If you have any questions, you can ask, but I’m not going to touch anything. That’s all you.” You place a hand on his arm, encouragingly. He looks at you then, and you're surprised to see nerves dancing in his eyes. Javy’s always been nothing but unshakable confidence and swagger. You’ve yet to see him doubt himself, even for a second. You slide your hand down to lace your fingers together, squeezing his hand in yours. “You’ve got this.” He nods, swallowing hard. “Remember, I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be with you the whole way through.” You lean over and kiss his cheek. “I believe in you,” he nods slowly like he’s trying to convince himself. “I promise I’ll stop you before you do anything too dangerous.” He chuckles then and you watch some of the nerves leave his body.

“If you insist, Meep. Game on.”

A/N: Aaaaaa I’m so glad I finally got this out! Special thanks to @fanficfandomlove for lighting the fire under my butt to get this done 🥰 How do we think Javy’s brownies turned out?