fanficwritinggirl

[fanficwritinggirl]

A Pawn Once More

Character: Haymitch Abernathy

Requested: No

Type: Angst/ Fluff

Summary: For years, Haymitch has kept his biggest secret buried—his love for the one person he couldn’t afford to lose. But when the Quarter Quell announces that tributes will be reaped from the pool of Victors, his worst nightmare becomes reality.

A.N: Scene from Catching Fire. No, I haven't read Sunrise on the Reaping, so please, No Spoilers. It's a Female!Reader.

Age Gap: Haymitch is 41 and Reader is in her 20s (preferably 25)

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. As you know, in every Quarter Quell, we do things a little differently. To commemorate the 75th Hunger Games, the third Quarter Quell, we have decided to add a new twist to the tradition."

"The tributes will be reaped from the pool of existing victors."

The air was thick with the screams and desperate cries of your family, their voices echoing in your ears as your own face twisted in horror. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

After surviving the 66th Hunger Games, after securing your place in history and your district’s fleeting pride, you were supposed to live out your life in something resembling peace. You’d be called back each year to mentor, yes, but never again would you be dragged into the arena. Never again would you face the bloodbath.

But now? Now you were nothing more than a pawn again.

You had to leave. You had to run. Your little brother’s tiny fingers clung desperately to you, his sobs vibrating through your chest as your mother—your mother—threw things in fury, her heartbreak spilling over. Every instinct told you to stay, to comfort them, but you knew better. You had to leave or you’d lose your mind. Or worse, you’d drag them down into your nightmare.

You ran. The pounding of your feet against the dirt was deafening, a frantic rhythm of escape, but your body couldn’t outrun the reality clawing at your soul. You ran until your legs gave out and you collapsed, crumbling to your knees, gasping for air. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It had to be alright. It had to be. But deep down, you knew it wasn’t.

You wiped away your tears, your breath ragged and uneven, thoughts spinning wildly. Out of the eight victors from your district, only you and one of your mentors were women. And you weren’t about to let your mentor go through the Games again. There was no chance. You knew the nightmares she’d endured, the scars that marked her body. Like you, she had survived, but she wasn’t as capable as she once was when she won during the 47th Games. At least you still had a fighting chance.

Your mind turned to your family next. You just needed them to promise you one thing. They couldn’t watch. They couldn’t watch you die. It was the only mercy you could give them. You couldn’t let them see that.

Your death would rip them apart, you knew it. Your mother would be left without her daughter. Your brother would grow up without his older sister to protect him. Your father, already a shadow of the man he once was, would be broken, lost in the absence of his “princess.” And Haymitch—Haymitch.

The thought of him hit you like a physical blow, your heart constricting in your chest. He’s a victor too. A chilling realization gripped you like ice in your veins. He could be reaped. He could be sent to fight.

Tears spilled freely, hot and relentless, as you gasped, your breath stuttering. The weight of it crushed you. He could be reaped. And that terrifying thought shattered you more than the fear of your own reaping ever could.

You let out a scream—gut-wrenching, heart-shattering—your body shaking as it tore through you. It was a sound so full of anguish, so desperate, it seemed to rip apart the very fabric of the world around you. Haymitch. He could be reaped. And with that, all your nightmares, every awful memory, every twisted fear, came to life.

-----

“Get me that damn tablet,” Haymitch barked, shoving his way through the train car in search of the device. His mind was a tangled mess, his body still buzzing from the alcohol he’d consumed in an attempt to dull the gnawing pain. 

The last few days had been a blur, but he could still feel the sharp sting of the announcement ringing in his ears. The tributes... the victors... and his own twisted fate. He should’ve been focusing on how he’d somehow managed to cheat death. Instead, his mind was consumed with one thing—and one person—from District 5. You.

When the announcement came about the victors being reaped, he hadn’t reacted with surprise. No, he’d gone into a frenzy. He’d torn apart his house, broken everything in sight, and drunk himself into oblivion. His fingers had clutched his most prized possession with a desperation he couldn't explain—a beautiful gold chain, wrapped tightly around his finger, holding the most precious ring. 

The night before, Katniss had begged him—no, pleaded—for him to volunteer for Peeta during the reaping. He had agreed. Not because he wanted to, hell no. But because he had to be there if you were reaped. And now, as Peeta decided to take matters into his own hands, Haymitch found himself thrust into the role of mentor. It infuriated him. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want you in the arena again.

The other districts should’ve already been reaped by now, and his mind was frantic, itching to know if you had been chosen. Unfortunately, he’d been trapped in the mentor role, unable to watch the reaping unfold. Now, though, he was pushing everyone aside, his hands shaking as he aggressively swiped across the tablet screen, searching for answers.

“What's his deal?” Katniss scoffed, watching Haymitch swipe frantically at the tablet.

Effie, doing her best to keep the secret Haymitch had entrusted her with, attempted to downplay his urgency. “Oh, he’s just trying to see which victors got reaped. Don’t worry about it yet.”

“I can’t find it. Turn on the damn video on the TV,” he snapped, his patience gone. Effie scrambled, finally finding the footage and flicking it on.

As the video began, Haymitch subconsciously started playing with the gold band around his neck, his fingers caressing it absently as his heart hammered in his chest. The room fell silent as the broadcast began—District 5’s reaping.

"Welcome, welcome," the escort’s overly cheery voice rang out, her ridiculous outfit blinding in its absurdity. "As we celebrate the 75th anniversary and the 3rd Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games, as always, ladies first…”

Haymitch’s leg started bouncing in nervous anticipation, his pulse quickening. District 5 had eight victors, but only two were women—and you were one of them.

He couldn’t help it. His eyes locked onto the screen, unable to tear himself away. You stood there, dressed in black, your face a perfect mask of stoicism. Your eyes were red, your pain carefully hidden beneath a practiced, blank expression—the one you’d perfected from years of surviving. He’d taught you that. How to hide everything. How to show nothing. How to survive.

He watched you hold hands with your mentor, the two of you standing in quiet solidarity. A tiny part of him hoped that it would be you—the one they called forward, so your mentor could volunteer for you. He knew she would. You just had to let her.

The escort’s voice cut through his thoughts, though he barely heard it now. She gave both you and your mentor a small, sad smile before unfolding the slip of paper. “The female tribute of District 5…” she began, and the words hung in the air like a death sentence, “Abigail Winston.”

Effie’s sigh of relief was audible, probably thinking that you were home free, that everything was going to be okay. But Haymitch knew better. He knew you. And that’s why his entire body tensed in an instant. The anger surged through his veins like wildfire, hot and uncontrollable.

And then he saw your movement. The way you stepped forward. No.

Before your mentor could even make a move, your voice steady but fierce rang out, “I volunteer as tribute.”

Time seemed to slow. Haymitch’s heart stopped, the world around him blurring as he felt everything he’d been holding together shatter. His breath came in ragged, panicked gasps as the glass in his hand fell to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. The tablet in his hands followed, crashing to the ground in a violent thud.

Katniss and Peeta exchanged confused glances, unsure of who you were or why Haymitch had reacted like that. Effie’s tears fell silently, a mix of sorrow and disbelief. But before anyone could speak, Haymitch turned away, his mind consumed by rage and heartbreak. He didn’t look back. He couldn’t.

He stormed down the train, away from them all, his hands clawing at the air as if trying to rip the world apart. Every part of him, every inch of his being, was focused on one thought: You. You had volunteered. You had sealed your fate. And now, all of his nightmares were coming true.

-----

Haymitch wished he were drunk. He wished the alcohol could drown out the aching pain of having you step into that arena again. It wasn’t fair.

You barely had two years together. Two years of being an official couple, and yet it felt like it wasn’t enough. He’d first met you at the end of your Victor’s Tour, when you decided to escape the attention and hide at the bar. You outdrank him that night, which, frankly, was impressive.

At first, he never expected to care for you. You were just another survivor, bound to the same cruel fate as him. But then, over time, as you grew up and proved yourself in ways he never imagined, he couldn’t help but fall in love.

You were 15 years younger, and he had always kept his distance, hiding his feelings behind a wall of friendship. But as the years passed, and you all met yearly for the Games as mentors, one thing led to another. A night full of too much alcohol, too many unspoken feelings—and before he knew it, you had shared a night neither of you would ever forget.

The next morning, you confessed what had been lingering beneath the surface for so long. It took him months to work up the courage to ask you out, battling his own demons of self-doubt and guilt.

And then, for two beautiful years, you two had kept it secret. Notes passed in shadows, stolen kisses, quiet smiles, and letters filled with raw emotion. Two years of sneaking around, being completely, utterly in love.

And now, it was all coming to an end.

Effie found him passed out in the train’s aisle, and without hesitation, she put him to bed, understanding that he needed space.

The next morning, Haymitch tried to seek you out. He wanted to see you, to make sure you were okay, but his duties as a mentor took priority. Effie begged him to focus, to speak to Katniss and Peeta first, and then find you. He was torn between his heart and his responsibilities. And in the end, Effie dragged him to the kids.

He spent that day drinking and half-heartedly trying to teach them about the importance of allies.

“Finnick Odair, right?” Katniss asked, as they went through the list of reaped victors.

He nodded, pointing to the screen. “Yes, he won at fourteen—youngest victor ever. Extremely humble.”

“You're kidding, right?” Katniss scoffed.

“Yes, I’m kidding.” He flipped his hair dramatically. “He’s a... peacock. A total preener, but he’s the Capitol darling. They love him here. Charming, smart, and very skilled at combat—especially in water.”

Peeta leaned forward, glancing at the screen. “What about weaknesses?”

“One person, Mags.” A frail, wrinkled woman appeared on the screen. “She volunteered for Annie. Mags was his mentor, basically raised him. If Finnick’s trying to protect her, it exposes him.”

Katniss stared at the screen, watching the woman bravely volunteer for the young girl in tears. “A guy like that has to know she’s not going to make it. I bet when it really comes down to it, he won’t protect her.”

Sadness flickered in Haymitch’s eyes. “Well, Katniss, I just hope when she goes... she goes quickly. She’s a wonderful lady.”

He pressed a button on the tablet, knowing exactly who would appear next, but his body tensed involuntarily as the screen flickered to life.

"District Five: Mason Cover and Y/N L/N." Haymitch stared at the screen, his eyes locked on you, unable to look away.

"She's the girl we saw on the train," Katniss said, sensing the weight of Haymitch’s reaction. "What's her story?"

Haymitch glanced at Katniss before downing his drink. “She won the 66th Games at 16. The last hour of the Games, there were five tributes left. She killed each one of them single-handedly—arrows, spear, you name it. Extremely skillful, resourceful. And beloved by many of our victors.”

He pointed to Mason Cover, “Mason won the 55th Games at 18. Lethal in hand-to-hand combat. The last 30 minutes of those Games were a triple threat match. Those two are close friends. You want them as allies. And if you trust me... trust them. They're who you should be allies with.” He repeated, his gaze locked on Katniss. “Trust me.”

“Who is she to you?” Katniss asked bluntly, her voice cutting through the tension. “We all saw the reaping. We saw the way you reacted. Now you want to team up with her... why?”

Haymitch squinted at her, his fingers subconsciously playing with the chain around his neck. “She's just a friend. I've known her for years. I know both of them. Good people. Trustworthy people.”

“I don’t believe you,” Katniss retorted.

“Katniss,” Peeta interjected, sensing the simmering tension. "Let it go."

But before anyone could speak, Effie burst through the door, her heels clicking sharply against the floor as she hurried toward Haymitch. "Haymitch, thank God you're here!" she said, voice strained with urgency. She then saw Katniss and Peeta standing in the room, and immediately faltered. "Oh... uh... Haymitch, you're needed outside of this room." She gestured quickly toward the door, trying to keep the situation under wraps, hoping the kids wouldn't notice.

Haymitch caught the hint, and without a word, he practically flew out of the room. Before the door even clicked shut behind him, he was pulled into an embrace. Your arms.

And for a moment, everything around him seemed to stop.

"Haymitch..." you whispered, your voice trembling as tears flooded your face. After days of terror, the weight of the world finally seemed to melt away in his arms. He was here. You needed him more than anything.

"Y/N..." He squeezed you tightly, his arms wrapping around you like a lifeline. His heart hammered in his chest, sobering instantly from the haze of alcohol. The warmth of your skin, the sweet scent of you, and the soft wetness of your tears soaking through his shirt — this was real. You were here, with him... for now.

He pulled back slightly, needing to see your face, his hands gently cupping your tear-streaked cheeks. He smiled at you, the corners of his mouth trembling with something he couldn't quite control. "Hi, sweetheart," he whispered, his voice breaking.

It hurt him to see you like this—eyes red and swollen, your hands shaking, a look of grim acceptance in your gaze. The kind of acceptance that made his heart shatter. What had you accepted? What were you preparing for? That thought alone gnawed at him.

"It's going to be okay. I’ve got you, pretty girl." His voice cracked with desperation, the words pouring out in a rush. "I’ll get you sponsors, and you'll be okay. Then when this is over, we can go back to my district, or yours, and live the rest of our lives together. I’m not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever." He whispered it, desperate for you to believe him, for you to feel safe, for the horrible weight of your future to somehow lift.

But then, you shook your head, sobbing. "You can't... Katniss and Peeta are your responsibility. You need to help them. You need to save them." The words broke out in a cry, your eyes locking with his in raw, painful clarity. He shook his head, his heart sinking.

"No," he muttered firmly, "I’m not leaving you alone for this." His hands gripped your shoulders, holding you as if he could keep you safe, as if he could protect you from the arena, from everything.

"I’ll be alright," you tried to smile, wiping away the fresh tears that fell. "You don’t need to worry about me." You forced the smile, trying to push him, to focus on the kids, on them. You knew the truth, knew the game was rigged. Katniss needed to be victorious; you were just collateral damage, nothing more.

Your hand reached up to caress his face, your thumb tracing the rough outline of his jaw. "The kids need you, my love. You have to choose them over me. You have to choose Katniss over me. She... she is important."

"You're important." His voice cracked as he tried to hold on to some semblance of control, but it shattered as soon as he looked at you. "You're everything to me. You're my world. My wife... You don’t know what you’re asking me to do..." His voice broke, the words too raw, too heavy. "I can’t leave you in that arena. I won’t. I will save you."

You stared at him, tears running freely down both of your faces. He looked at you in disbelief, his eyes wide with an agony he couldn't hide. You had accepted your death, but he couldn’t. Not now. Not like this. He had already lost so much. He wouldn’t lose you too. Not like this. Not again.

"You don’t understand," he whispered, his voice raw, breaking with the weight of everything he couldn’t say. He shook his head, disbelief flickering in his eyes. "I can’t let them take you from me." His mind was already spinning, heart racing with frantic thoughts—how could he get more sponsors? Who could he talk to in the Capitol? There had to be a way. Anything to keep you alive. "Why the hell did you volunteer? Why—Jesus Christ, why you?" The words cracked through his chest, his heart shattering with the pain of it. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. He was losing you, and he couldn’t stop it.

You reached up to cup his face, your thumb gently brushing over the rough, scarred lines of his cheek, your touch a silent plea. You saw the desperation in his eyes—the panic, the fear that he couldn’t hide. Your voice trembled as you whispered, "Haymitch... I promise you, I’ll be okay. I’ll be fine." The words tasted like ash on your tongue, but you said them anyway, because you needed him to believe it. You couldn’t bear the thought of him falling apart, not when you knew what was coming. You had to be strong for him, even if it broke you to lie like that.

And then, with everything breaking inside him, you leaned in, pressing your lips to his in a kiss that spoke of everything: grief, love, fear, and an unbearable desperation. It was rough and frantic, a mixture of tears and longing. The kiss was an apology, a plea, and a final, desperate act of love.

What neither of you knew was that Katniss, Peeta, and Effie were watching from the crack in the door, their eyes wide with shock. 

Haymitch has a wife.

And she was about to die.

[fanficwritinggirl]

Cold

Jackson!Joel Miller x F!Reader

summary: after an attack by raiders, you end up lost in the dead of winter. Joel doesn't take the news very well.

Word count: 2.9k

warnings: mentions of death (no actual death though), some swear words

a/n: hi all! this is my first piece of Joel workings so please let me know what you think! i have some WIPs that i am excited for as well so look forward to those as well! thanks for reading!

_________________________________________________

You’re smart enough to know that the fact that you no longer feel the cold isn’t a good thing.

The shaking has stopped, so have the pins and needles in your body. Your breathing is shallow and little puffs of what seems like fog come from your mouth as you exhale. The ripped up puffer jacket on your body is no longer keeping your body heat in, the thick leggings barely helped in the first place but now helping even less with the rips. In all honesty, you’re slightly surprised that you’re still alive or at least conscious. You know that you’ve probably lost quite a bit of blood from the stab wound in your upper thigh and maybe the laceration on your head. You can’t feel if the beanie you were wearing hours ago is still there but that thing was pretty itchy anyways so you don’t necessarily mind. The only thing you can feel right now is the pressure of your body pressed against the ground, your eyes locked on the sky. What seems like thousands of stars staring back at you almost taunting you, waiting for you to join them. You can’t feel it in the slightest, but a tear rolls down your temple. It’s a beautiful way to go, numb and looking at the galaxy above your head. 

You aren’t completely positive what happened, all you know is there was a yell from one of the others on patrol behind you and suddenly you were on the ground, head ricocheting off of something, what it was you aren’t sure. It took a second to come to, but everyone was a blur. The only person you could really recognize was Jesse who was fighting off some raider. In your attempt to help him, one of them stabbed you deep in your thigh. The last thing you remember is Jesse telling you to run and you didn’t second guess his words. You took off in the first direction that you saw, running until your leg could no longer hold you up anymore. You were losing too much blood and the cold was no help. You had no idea where you were or what your surroundings were. No idea how far away Jackson was. All you knew was that you were going to die here. No warmth. No pain. 

No Joel.

God, you almost want to pray to whatever deity was listening that your body would rot away out here after you die and nobody, at least nobody from Jackson, would ever find it. You would hate for Joel to have to see you like this. You know that he isn’t a very emotional man, but good God, does he love you. You’ve heard it from multiple people in Jackson; Ellie, Tommy, Maria, even people that you have never even talked to before. You can hear it in his voice, see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch. You’ve never had to worry with him, knowing that you were safe, appreciated and loved every second of every day. You couldn’t bear the thought of him having to see you like this; broken down and dying if that is what this is. Knowing that he’ll be in pain once you go, that is the worst part of all of this.

What you don’t know is that Jesse spent the better part of an hour searching for you. He began panicking once the sun went down and decided he had to make his way back to the town and gather a search party. He feared having to explain to Joel and Tommy why he was alone. As he rode up to the gates on one of the horses that was spared in the fight, he could hear one of the gatekeepers yell out ‘lone rider!’ and his heart dropped. He knew that Joel waited for you after every patrol shift that you had and that he most likely heard the keeper yell. As the gate opened, he could see multiple people, including both Joel and Tommy, run out to him. While a couple of the people including Tommy helped tend to Jesse’s wounds, Joel immediately started questioning him about your whereabouts. Jesse could only babble out what he could about the raid as he broke down into tears, explaining the attack and him telling you to run so you wouldn’t get more hurt all the way up to his search for you in the surrounding wooded area. Joel’s heart fell completely out of his body, freezing as it landed in the soft pile of frosted grass beneath his feet. He didn’t hesitate to help drag Jesse back inside the safety of Jackson’s walls, not to ensure their protection but to question the hell out of him as to where he looked. Jesse told him everything he could. After Jesse was brought to the infirmary, Joel looked to Tommy who was already looking at him wearily. 

“Joel-“ Tommy began, but Joel didn’t let him finish his sentence.

”I’m going whether ya like it or not. With or without ya.” 

In 20 minutes time, a search party of about 10 people, including Tommy, Maria and Ellie, had gathered together to search for you. Joel’s heart couldn’t stop its rapid beating in his chest. Jesse told him about your hit to the head and injury to your thigh. They didn’t know the severity of them both. The party headed off in the general direction of where both you and Jesse were attacked and spread out from there. Joel started to yell out your name in hopes that you would be able to respond to it. Tommy immediately began to shush him.

”Joel, we can’t just start screaming her name out here, there could be more raiders in the area-“

”I don’t give a fuck who else is out here,” Joel interrupted Tommy. “My girl is out here and we are gonna find her tonight.”

They agreed, much to both Joel and Ellie’s dismay, that an hour-long search would happen before they would all have to retire until the next day. They all separated in 5 groups of 2. Each with weapons to defend themselves, whistles around their necks and first aid in the hopes that they could find you.

But you had already given up mentally and almost physically. You couldn't ask for better company in death than the stars. The crickets. The wind. The trees. Death would be peaceful, painless, easy. The only thing you wished was that you could say goodbye to Joel. Kiss him one last time. Hold him one last time. The only heat you’ve had in a while bursts in your chest at the thought of him. You close your eyes, the heat dissipating. 

Maybe you’re dreaming or maybe you’re just hallucinating, but you think you can hear someone calling your name. You think it could be an angel calling you home or some religious shit like that, but no, you know that voice. You open your eyes, looking back at the stars. You hear it again and another familiar voice echoes behind it. 

Tommy and Maria are here.

You could cry, out of happiness or sadness you don’t know. Happy that you could be rescued and brought back to your home, regardless of either it was Jackson or Joel. Sadness because you know that there is a bigger chance of you not making it than there is that you will, and either they or Joel will have to watch it happen. But regardless, you’re happy it was them and not Joel. 

Your name is called again, slightly closer than it was before. You know that you won’t be able to speak, to call out that you’re here, so close yet so far away it seems. You worry that if you don’t make noise soon, they’ll turn the other way and your fate will be sealed. You think fast, remembering that small handgun Joel likes to shove into your pack. You muster up all the strength that you can and search for the pack without turning your head. Feeling the zipper, you undo it and slip your hand in, feeling around until you grasp the handle of the gun. Pulling it out, achingly slow since the burn in your muscles is agonizing. Tears fall down your temples again as you hear your name once more, now further away. Using all the strength you can, you aim the gun away, cock it and shoot. The sound of it is almost deafening, the shot making your arm fly back some. That shot is all it takes.

Tommy and Maria both turn towards the sound of the shot, both of them reaching for their weapons. They’re confused when they don’t see another raider but continue towards the area. Maria gets there first, gasping and throwing herself off of her horse and falling to her knees at your side. She touches your face a few times and says something to you, but you can’t hear it through the relief that floods your brain. More tears fall as Tommy slips off his thick jacket, laying it on top of you. Maria rubs her hands along your arms to attempt to warm you as much as she can. 

“We gotta get her back to town. She’ll die out here.” Tommy says hastily. 

They both aid each other in helping to lift you up and onto Tommy’s horse. He straddles it behind you, praying Joel will forgive him for doing what he has to in order to keep you both warm and alive. He pressed his front to your back, resting his head on your shoulder and immediately began to ride back towards Jackson as fast as he could. He was speaking to you, telling you that you had to hold on, that you had to fight because he didn’t know if Joel could take another heartbreak like this. He had one hand on the reigns of the horse, the other one rubbing against your thigh to try and help you gain your heat back. His hand felt wet and he pulled it back to see it covered in crimson. His stomach churned and he attempted to get his horse to ride faster. He couldn’t let you die, Joel wouldn’t be able to come back from this. He barely came back from Sarah, he couldn’t imagine what this would do to him. 

Maria rode back towards where the party originally separated and blew her whistle as loud as she could. She did it for a few moments before turning back towards the town while still blowing it. As she left the wooded area, she could see a few of the other riding back towards Jackson as well. Mostly, she could see both Joel and Ellie riding as hard as they could back to their little sanctuary. They all reached their within the same small time frame. Maria, Joel and Ellie all stormed towards the infirmary and saw Tommy’s horse abandoned outside. Maria could see the fear in Joel’s eyes as they stormed inside, pushing past the doors and into the main room. 

Joel pushed past a few people to get to the back room that they usually keep unoccupied for emergencies. When he pushed the door open, the doctor was hovering over Tommy who had her huddled in his lap, hands gliding up and down whatever inch of skin he could reach. Joel promised himself that this was the one time he would let that slide, especially since her life depended on it. Tommy made eye contact with Joel as he stormed over to them, subtly sliding her over to Joel as he sat next to them. Joel could feel her weight press down on him and first the first time that night, the tightening in his chest loosened just a little bit. He immediately started to run his hands up and down your body through the two blankets that were tucked around you. The doctor was speaking to him, but he wasn’t listening. He called your name a few times, hoping that you could hear him. 

“C’mon, honey,” he begged, “I need you to open those pretty eyes for me. Lemme see them.”

He was practically talking to a statue, the cold almost becoming you. Joel didn’t cry very often but he figured now would be an exception. They ran down his cheeks rapidly as he held back a small sob; he couldn’t care less that Ellie, Tommy and Maria were there to see it.

”Please, baby. I need you to look at me.” He sniffled some. “I can’t do this without you. I’m so sorry; I should have been there. I should have protected you. You… you’re everythin’ to me. Please don’t go. I promise I’ll do anything as long as you stay. I won’t… I won’t make it through this.” Joel shook his head, pulling you closer to him. “I need you to stay with me. I’m beggin’ you.”

Ellie had to turn and leave, she thought she was going to be sick. Maria left with her, not wanting to interrupt this moment, whether it ended good or bad. Tommy stayed with Joel, assisting in trying to get your body heat back to somewhat normal. 

You, on the other hand, felt like you were floating. You could hear Joel’s words, the pleading in his voice, the urgency in his and whoever else’s hands were brushing up and down your skin. You thought that the stars were the perfect company in death but now, you realize that if there was something you’d want to look at as you go, it would be Joel. You wanted so badly to let him know that you were here with him, that you could hear him but your muscles were so tight, so tired. All you could get out was a deep hum from the back of your throat that you weren't sure was even your voice, you couldn’t recognize it. But Joel did, pulling you tighter against him. 

Joel turned to Tommy quickly with an urgent look in his eyes.

“You gotta leave.” He told him.

Tommy looked at him oddly. Joel shook his head.

“Body heat. She needs body heat.”

Tommy finally understood, standing and exiting the room to go and find both Maria and Ellie. The doctor excused himself as well, standing outside the room in case there was some sort of emergency. Joel wasted no time in stripping off any layer of clothing that he could get to. It didn’t take much to rip off what was left of the leggings that you wore but he struggled a bit with your jacket. He laid you down on the small bed, taking off his clothes as fast as he could; he didn’t want you away from him, worried that even a second not near you could do more harm. He laid himself on top of your body, both of you now only covered in your undergarments. He knew that you would most likely complain about the fact that we were practically naked in a public place but at this point, he couldn’t give a shit. All he cared about was making sure you stayed alive. He covered as much of your body as he could while still whispering sweet nothings into your ear, trying to get some sort of reaction from you.

It took about half an hour but your body temperature was coming up slowly. You almost wished you were still numb because the pins and needles were returning, causing some discomfort. You found your voice a little while later, moaning out of pain. The dull throbbing in both your thigh, now stitched and covered up, and your head (which surprisingly wasn’t busted open like you thought it was) was hurting. Tears developed in your eyes and for the first time that night, you could feel them running down your face. You could feel a sob rising in your chest quickly before it came out of your mouth. And though it was a sign that you were in pain, Joel was ecstatic. Because it meant that you were warm enough to feel again. 

“I know, I know honey. I know it hurts. I’ll get you taken care of.” Tears rose in his eyes. He never thought he would be excited to hear you crying, but here he was. He continued to warm your body as he held you while you cried. You genuinely thought that you were going to die out there, alone with the stars and sounds of nature. You never realized how you had taken being held by Joel for granted and boy, did he know how to hold you. 

Once you could feel your limbs again and had full control over them, you slowly lifted an arm to warm around Joel’s middle, holding you to him as tight as you could. Joel released a sob at the touch of your skin on his. Like you, Joel started to realize how he had taken holding you for granted. The world was a scary, uncertain place. Every day, people walked a thin line between life and death and today, you almost crossed it. You were both so close to never being held by each other again and Joel couldn’t handle the thought of that. 

“It’s alright, honey. I gotcha. I always have ya.”

And you believed him. Because he saved your life. 

And unbeknownst to you, you had saved his too.

[fanficwritinggirl]

Gingerly

Pairing: No-Outbreak!AU, Joel x Teacher!Reader, same timeline

This one is set not long before the events of "A New Chapter" - before Reader & Sarah pick out Halloween costumes :)

Summary: Early mornings in the first trimester present a new set of challenges for the growing Miller family. Joel does his best to find remedies for their dilemma.

Warnings: pregnancy, so many euphemisms for vomit, so beware

A/N: this one isn't very long. it's lowkey a prequel to the one I'm posting next. Very similar stories at two different points in their lives. <3

Word Count: 1.8k.

____________________________________________________________

You’re spending longer than usual this morning hugging the porcelain. It didn’t take long after discovering your pregnancy for the morning sickness to kick in, and it’s a killer. This is happening more often than you’d like, but at least it’s over pretty quickly most days — just a little eviction of last night’s dinner to make room for breakfast, apparently. Isn’t this kid supposed to make you hungrier? What’s their deal?

Today’s a little different, and you’re left retching long enough to impact your punctuality to work. Gotta send a text to some coworkers to get your class covered. You hate it, but it’s not exactly a willpower game at this point — this kid wants all of yesterday’s food GONE, but your stomach is putting up a fight. Unfortunately, you’re the one losing.

Joel’s wandering anxiously in and out of the bathroom, worrying like hell. He’s going back and forth between sitting with you and rubbing your back —he’d pulled your hair up for you after the first evacuation — and checking on Sarah, making sure she gets ready for school. He’d hovered for a while until the two of you heard Sarah come downstairs, and you insisted he go get her some breakfast, just please don’t tell you what it is. He’s in and out as Sarah eats, and she pops in to check on you and tell you she made him sit down for a minute and eat something too. You shoot her the most grateful smile you can muster on the green-around-the-gills visage you’re sporting at the moment. He’s got a full day ahead as well, and you’d been worrying right back… from your position on the bathroom tile, at least. 

When they’ve both finished breakfast, Joel returns to your side, waiting until the last possible second to leave before Sarah’s late for school. You assure him it’s not a big deal, you’ll be okay in a little while. He knows this, and that it’s normal, but it breaks his heart to leave you there on the floor.

“How ‘bout I drop Sarah off and come right back? Tommy can get everybody started at the site, and I’ll just stay long enough to get you to work,” he questions, placing the back of his hand to your cheek to check your temperature again “just to make sure that’s all it is!” before sighing and tucking some loose hair behind your ear. You shake your head slowly, trying to minimize the nausea. 

“There’s not really anything for you to do, sweetie. As much as having you here with me afterward makes me feel better, we can’t both be late to work every day for the next month. Maybe longer than that. I’ll probably be fine by the time you get back anyway. Just be a wasted trip.” You huff at the end, hoping the nausea is reaching its end for this morning and you can get up and get ready to leave.

Joel looks at you with a pained expression and cringes at the word month. Just seeing you dealing with this the last few weeks has been agonizing for him — he doesn’t even want to imagine how it feels. 

“No such thing as a wasted trip when it comes to you, darlin’. ‘S my job, you know that,” he responds, with a sympathetic smile, and continues before you can rebut. “But alright, I’m goin’. Promise you’ll text me if you’re feelin’ any worse?,” he lifts a pinky to you, and you hook yours right back, turning your cheek when he tries to kiss your lips. You chuckle at his disappointment when his own lips meet your cheek.

“Gross, you do not wanna kiss me right now,” you laugh through. He begs to differ but understands your reluctance. He tells you to hang tight for just a minute before he finally leaves, and returns with an armful of supplies. Next to you on the floor are a water bottle, some plain crackers, some tylenol, and something with bubbles to settle your stomach. 

He asks you to “please try and eat a little somethin’ before you leave, baby”, to which you nod and assure him you’ll do your best, trying to get him satisfied as possible and light a fire under him before Sarah’s late for school. He bends down, kisses the top of your head, squeezes your shoulder, and heads out the door to meet Sarah in his truck. 

______________________________________________________________

Joel's texting to check on you around the time you get off the floor. You’re nibbling the crackers he left and trying small sips of water like he asked — which he’s reminded you of again — but you’re struggling with it.  He calls you as you’re packing your things to leave. 

“Hey sweetheart, how you feelin’? Get any of those crackers down for me?” he inquires.

“I’m fine, just about to leave. I ate a couple of them, and I’ll bring them with me,” you respond, trying and failing to keep the exhaustion from your voice. He pauses for a moment.

“Level with me, baby. You don’t sound up for it, you sure we don’t need to talk to the doctor? I can come home, we can go today, I’ll just—” but you cut him off before he can spiral any further.

“Joel. You’re sweet, and I know you’re worried, but it’s not any worse than normal. It’s just sticking around longer today. Yes, I’m still a little,,, blech,,, but it’ll be gone in a bit. I’ll make some tea before I leave, that’ll help,” you affirm. He lets out a sigh that tells you he’s not convinced, but resigned to the fact you’re going to work regardless. Soon enough, he arrives at the site and asks you to keep him updated, which you promise and wish him a good day and an “i love you” to get you both through the day. 

______________________________________________________________

You get to work right before the switch to 2nd period, still not feeling great, but stable enough to drive there safely and get your kids started on something to keep them busy. Today’s a good day for a documentary, a worksheet, and a dark classroom. The kids will thank you for it anyway, but somehow still need something every three minutes. That’s at least one thing that won’t be unfamiliar when the baby arrives — even though you have high schoolers. 

You shoot Joel a text, letting him know you got to work okay, and that you’ve chosen something to help you take it (slightly) easy today. You hope this message will ease his mind so he can get back to work as well.

Joel responds with a brief message in the affirmative, but he’s still worried sick. He’s seen you deal with this each day for the last couple of weeks, but this morning your voice was shaking and your face was ashen. What if this isn’t just today? What if it’s getting worse? He's afraid you’ll end up dehydrated or won’t bother to eat enough at work. You struggle with remembering lunch on days you feel good, he knows you won’t even bother today, and it’s eating at him while he works. 

He decides to surprise you at lunch time with something filling that won’t upset your stomach, and that’ll entice you to eat. He wants to make sure you’re fed today, and that there are some more options at the ready — for your sake and his own. He does a little research and stops by the grocery store to grab an array of plain foods and a bunch of liquids. By the time he leaves there are multiple types of crackers in tow, applesauce packets, a few bone broths, some of your favorite juices and teas, a bag of ginger candies plus a jar of ginger gummy vitamins, and more. He’s no technology wiz, but the man can google up a storm when the need arises. 

He rolls up to your classroom’s back door when he knows it’s time for lunch and texts you, grabbing his things and stepping out of the truck to meet you. You walk out to find him with a big bottle of cold gatorade and a takeout bag hanging from his fingers. You muse that the pretty big gatorade bottle looks normal-sized in Joel's large, gentle hands. You don’t even take anything from his grasp before you lean forward into his chest and wrap your arms around his waist. He smiles, and wordlessly puts his chin atop your head before wrapping his free arm around you, rubbing lightly up and down your back.

Neither of you has to say a word for him to tell you’re still not feeling 100%, and he’s whispering sweet things while you stand there in his embrace. You hide your face in his chest trying to quell your tears before they start. You know him well enough that this gesture doesn’t exactly surprise you, but he’s so thoughtful that his kindness moves you every damn time. It’s not something you ever felt before Joel, but he’ll never stop trying to get you accustomed, and you know that.

You look up at Joel like he hung the moon, memorizing every warm shade in his bright eyes, hoping your own reflect the appreciation and admiration dancing in your chest. He holds you tight and sits you in the passenger seat of the truck before pulling out the takeout boxes and cracking open your gatorade. The cool, lightly-flavored liquid soothes you in a way water hasn’t quite accomplished today — doesn’t even matter that neither of you knows what “Glacier Freeze” means, it’s effective. 

You lean against his shoulder while you both eat lunch, talking to each other and the baby. Joel laughs and praises you for putting on a movie for your kids before recounting the events of his morning. He shares everything he learned from his research, and even more he heard at the grocery store from a couple of older women who saw him contemplating the ginger options by the prenatal vitamins. You imagine him staring intently at bottles in the pregnancy aisle of the Health & Beauty section and laugh, thinking of how his concentration and concern would’ve made the old ladies he spoke to melt. You’re surprised he didn’t get a cheek pinched at this rate. 

You sit together until the school bell breaks your reverie and you have to kiss him goodbye. He hands you an already prepped ziploc baggie of even more shelf-stable snacks he bought to keep in your desk to settle your stomach as needed. You grin at him again, shaking your head.

“Joel, this is too much trouble. I can’t believe you did all of this just this morning!” you exclaim, before he scoffs and responds. 

“I told you — no such thing as a wasted trip for you, baby.”

[fanficwritinggirl]

Across the threshold

Fandom: Fate: The Winx Saga Ships/Characters: Musa/Riven, Winx Suite members, Male OC Word count: 10.033

“Where’s Red Flag?” “Who?” Terra’s eyebrows furrow, either at his presence at their suite in general, the nickname she’s never heard before, or the fact that he kind of stumbles in place. “Riven? Are you drunk?” He leans a hand against the doorjamb to steady himself. “The mind fairy, Terra, is she here?” She opens the door a little further, revealing her flannel pants and oversized band tee, and he has a tiny strike of clarity about what time of night it must be. “You mean Musa?” she murmurs lowly. “Well yeah, she’s in our room, but—what do you want with her?” Always so suspicious of him, like it was never the two of them against the world. “Can you go get her?” he presses on. Or: 5 times Riven shows up on Musa's doorstep + 1 time he convinces her he always will. Written for the @winxsource Holiday Exchange as a gift for @gossipqueen2000.

Read on ao3

[fanficwritinggirl]

Best Kept Secret ☆

A MANDALORIAN SERIES MASTERLIST

[ COMPLETED ]

✩ a bodyguard!din x princess!reader fic ✩

series summary :

Married off to a prince on a planet that you hate? New husband doesn't know you, and doesn't want to know you? New husband gifts you a personal Mandalorian body guard as a wedding present? Mandalorian is a wiseass who won't leave you alone? Lucky you.

18+ mdni

do you like kitschy, campy romance novels? if you're reading this, I hope so.

behind the scenes & chapter notes + other extras (spoilers) :

chapters 1-5

chapter 6-15

spotify playlists

Lysa & Elaine information

the bks screen adaption

bks q&a

bks what if's

reader is generally not described past being picked up a few times, and having hair long enough to be put up

✩ chapters containing smut!

chapter one : honeymoon (6.7k words)

[ Absurd.

That is the only word that comes to mind as you stare at yourself in the mirror. “His favorite color is blue.” ]

chapter two : silent treatment (7.4k words)

[ Something is wrong. You bolt up from the pile of blankets that you call a bed and your eyes dart around the closet as you furrow your brow trying to discern why you feel so much different. ]

✩ chapter three : the smitten paladin (4.6k words)

[ You’re starting to think the planet isn’t the reason you’re so hot all the time.

You had woken up this morning feeling a bit better than you thought you’d be, your stomach is full of butterflies but you're still standing and considering the night you had you’re gonna take that as a win. ]

chapter four : sarad'ika (6.8k words)

[ Sarad'ika. 

You won’t forget it this time, you can’t. So you write it in your book, just under Mando’s favorite color you write the two little words that have been keeping you up at night. ]

✩ chapter five : lunar interlude : just a man (5.0k words)

[ Absurd.

It’s absurd how much the job pays. Din’s not even sure he should take it at this point because it’s too good to be true. ]

✩ chapter six : torment (5.1k words)

[ Okay, maybe you didn’t think this through. 

You didn’t think he’d actually come in and now suddenly the door is shut and you’re alone with him. ]

✩ chapter seven : just friends (3.1k words)

[ Maker it feels like it’s been an hour and you’re both just laying here. He was just inside of you; it shouldn't be so hard to find something to talk about at this point. ]

chapter eight : solar markets (5.3k words)

[ It’s nice to wake up excited again. 

You wish you could say that it happened more often but hopefully it will from now on. It’s going to be your first time leaving the castle grounds since you got here. ]

✩ chapter nine : shuk'la rules (5.6k words)

[ You need sex.

Normally you would be satisfied for quite some time after getting off but for some reason with Mando it was different. But it’s only been two days and you need more. ]

✩ chapter ten : lunar interlude : briikase gote'tuur (4.1k words)

[ He’s grateful for the break from you, even if brief. 

That’s not to say that he doesn’t enjoy every moment he gets to be in your presence but the more time he spends with you the harder it gets to remember that this isn’t real. ]

chapter eleven : he loves me not (4.6k words)

[ Something is wrong. 

All day it’s been wrong. 

He’s different. Distant. ]

chapter twelve : pretend (4.4k words )

[ Two days.

That’s what you’re willing to give yourself. Two days to get over it. One to get it all out of your system and one to pull yourself together. ]

chapter thirteen : lunar interlude : vercopa (3.5k words)

[ He did it.

He did exactly what he knew he needed to do.

So why does he feel worse than ever? ]

chapter fourteen : condemned (4.9k words)

[ You’re having trouble sleeping. 

You have no problem falling asleep, it’s mostly staying asleep. There’s a million different things that consume your thoughts and everytime you drift into unconsciousness you find yourself jolting awake, barely able to stay asleep for more than an hour at a time. ]

chapter fifteen : two tea parties (5.4k words)

[ “What did you do to her?”

Her voice breaks through his sleepy haze as he sits up properly. 

“Excuse me?” ]

chapter sixteen : absolution (4.6k words)

[ There’s a visceral sense of dread when you wake up, for several reasons. 

The glaring obvious culprit of your discomfort would be the fact that today’s your husband's birthday. ]

chapter seventeen : the apostate’s cabin (3.5k words)

[ Just Din. 

It’s sinking in as you walk in silence, holding his hand tightly as he pulls you towards his home. ]

chapter eighteen : portrait of a man (5.4k words)

[ It’s deliciously warm when you wake. You can feel his heartbeat and you can feel the soft traces of sunlight dancing along your back. You stretch in his arms slightly but freeze up as you feel him nuzzle his chin into your hair, planting a kiss against your hairline. ]

✩ chapter nineteen : reverence (7.3k words)

[ You really want to. 

You couldn’t possibly want to more than you currently do. 

It’s actually a bit mean. That he’s left you here in this state. ]

✩ chapter twenty : like real people do (8.4k words)

[ Mando and Din. 

All you can think about right now is how there must be two of them. 

You’re playing with his curls. ]

✩ chapter twenty one : te mirci't (9.0k words)

[ “It means I love you.” 

You aren’t entirely sure how long you stare at him, looking rather silly with your jaw practically on the floor. ]

✩ chapter twenty two : it’s you that i lie with (11.3k words)

[ Naboo has several trading ports. 

You could get him on a cargo ship. That would be the most inconspicuous form of transport. It would help if he was willing to ditch his armor. ]

✩ chapter twenty three : lunar markets (15.0k words)

[ Sneaking out of the castle gets easier every time you do it. 

It only takes a few minutes and you’re walking outside towards the forest trail, Din’s hand in yours, still giddy. ]

✩ chapter twenty four : lunar interlude : riduur (7.8k words)

[ He doesn’t deserve this.

How could he possibly be deserving of you? Yet somehow you make him feel as if he is. With your soft touch and the way your eyes get just a little bigger when you see him. ]

✩ chapter twenty five : wedding bells (11.7k words)

[ Four days of Leo. 

You were upset that Din was leaving you but you got over it rather quickly with the promise of his hasty return. ]

chapter twenty six : crucifixion (12.7k words)

[ “My room is too big.” 

He bursts into genuine peals of laughter and you gently smack his arm.

“Don’t laugh, it’s a serious issue! My room is enormous.” ]

chapter twenty seven : the apostate (6.0k words)

[ Silence.

That’s all there is in his brain. 

It’s hard enough as is for him to hear. It doesn’t help when he’s been beaten half to death. ]

✩ chapter twenty eight : a place for us (8.4k words)

[ You’d spent the better half of the day trying to get on top of him. 

Every time you managed to get close he’d simply set you down on the nearest surface with a kiss on the cheek and go back to doing whatever he was working on. ]

chapter twenty nine : the best kept secret (epilogue) (6.1k words)

[ The morning sun is warm against your face, you bask in it, unmoving and only half awake until you feel a tiny hand slapping your cheek. The illusion of tranquility is immediately shattered as you softly laugh. ]

[fanficwritinggirl]

The Recipe for Remembering 

The Bear AU (Part one)

Pairing: Carmen x Fem! Reader

CW: language, mentions of panic attack, Carmen being an ass

Story's Summary: After waking up in a hospital with no memory of the past three years, Y/N must piece together her life. Her last recollection is a chaotic night at work, culminating in a heated argument with her demanding boss, Carmen. As she grapples with the fragments of her forgotten past, Y/N embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting unexpected truths about herself, her relationships, and the enigmatic role Carmen may play in her lost memories.

A/N: Hey guys! Here I am again with a story that's been cooking in my mind for a couples of months already. Hope you enjoy it and if you wanna be tagged, let me know! :) I intend to post every week a new chapter!

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Y/N! Are you fuckin' serious?" The air in the kitchen seemed to crackle with the force of Carmen's voice. Y/N stood frozen, the scent of burnt sugar and garlic permeating the air. Her heart hammered against her ribs, each beat a deafening drum in the sudden silence. The perfectly plated pieces of the birthday cake, hours of meticulous work by herself and Marcus, lay scattered across the floor. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move. 

"Chef, it was my fault. But don't worry, I've backed another..." Marcus began, his voice a low murmur in the tense silence. 

"I don't fuckin' care, alright?" Carmen roared, running his hands through his already disheveled hair. The veins in his neck bulged. The evening service had been a relentless storm, a chaos of orders and demands, and Carmen, on the verge of implosion, had been pushed to the brink. This was the last straw. "Are you doin' this on purpose, chef? Or- or is this sort of a fuckin' test?" He spat the last few words, his face flushed a furious red, his eyes burning with a dangerous intensity. Y/N felt a dizzying sensation, the edges of her vision blurring.  

"I’m... sorry, chef” she whispered, her whole body trembling and sweating like never before. The words felt strangled in her throat. This couldn't be happening. Again. Just this week, she'd nearly tripped over a tray of glasses, sending a cascade of ice water crashing to the floor. In all her years of training, in all the bustling kitchens she'd worked in, from the small, family-run bakery in Henley-on-Thames to the refined elegance of Chelsea's Tom's Kitchen in London, she'd never been so clumsy, so utterly incompetent. At least she felt so at this moment.  

Four months ago, she'd arrived in Chicago with a single suitcase and a backpack, brimming with excitement. Aikens, her mentor at Tom's Kitchen, had secured her this coveted stage with Carmen Berzatto, the rising star of the Chicago culinary scene. She'd devoured every article, every interview, every television appearance featuring the enigmatic chef. The Bear had become a legend in the culinary world, and Y/N, fueled by ambition and a touch of naivete, had dreamed of honing her skills under Carmen's tutelage, of learning from the best. Now, she questioned every decision that had led her to this moment, to this suffocating kitchen, to this withering criticism. 

Carmen took a step closer, his face inches from hers. Y/N flinched, the scent of his cologne, a sharp, almost metallic blend, filling her nostrils. "Get out of my sight," he hissed, his voice low and menacing. 

"Chef, maybe she just needs a minute," Sydney interjected, her voice calm but firm. She hesitated, her eyes darting between Carmen and Y/N, the intensity in his eyes making her stomach churn. She knew better than to push him further when he was in this mood. 

Carmen turned his icy gaze on Sydney. "Continue with your task, chef" he growled, his voice dripping with barely contained rage. Despite her initial protest, Syd wisely decided to remain silent. 

Y/N, feeling utterly humiliated and defeated, turned and fled the kitchen, tears stinging her eyes. She stumbled out the back door, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stifling heat of the kitchen. She leaned against the brick wall, gasping for breath, the weight of his words crushing her. Was this really what she had come to Chicago for? she wondered bitterly. To be humiliated and belittled by the very chef she had idolized? 

Suddenly, a hand rested gently on her shoulder. Y/N jumped, startled. "Hey," Natalie's voice was soft, concerned. "Are you okay?" 

Y/N looked up to see Carmen's sister, her face etched with worry. "I saw the whole thing," Natalie said, her voice low. "He shouldn't have spoken to you like that. It was completely out of line." 

Tears welled up in Y/N's eyes. "I... I don't know," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I feel like I'm a complete failure." 

"Don't be ridiculous," Natalie said firmly. "You're not a failure. You're talented. You're dedicated. You just had a bad day." 

"But it's not just today," Y/N confessed, her voice breaking. "I've been feeling like this since I came here. I feel so… lost, so alone. I miss home, I miss my friends, I miss everything." 

Natalie pulled Y/N into a hesitant hug. "I know," she said softly. "It's tough. Chicago's a big city. But you're not alone. You have us." 

Y/N shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know if this is even worth it anymore," she whispered. "Maybe I should just go home. Give up on this crazy dream." 

Natalie pulled back, her eyes searching Y/N's face. "Don't you even think about it," she said sternly. "You're too good for this. You're talented. You're strong. And you're not going to let some… some… asshole like my brother discourage you." 

"But what if I am not good enough?" Y/N sobbed, burying her face in her hands. 

"You are," Natalie insisted, her voice firm but gentle. "I'll talk to him. I'll make him apologize. He needs to understand how out of line he was." 

Y/N looked up at Natalie, her eyes red-rimmed. "Please don't," she pleaded. "Please don't say anything to him. I don't want to cause any more trouble." 

Natalie frowned. "But—" 

"Please," Y/N repeated, her voice barely a whisper. "I just want to go home." 

Natalie hesitated, her gaze lingering on Y/N's tear-stained face. Finally, she sighed. "Alright," she said, her voice laced with concern. "But you're coming back tomorrow. And we're going to talk about this." 

Y/N nodded weakly, too exhausted to argue. Natalie, sensing her need for space, gently patted her shoulder and walked away, leaving Y/N alone with her tears and her doubts. As she watched Natalie disappear into the back door of the restaurant, a wave of loneliness washed over her. She was so far from home, so far from everything familiar. Y/N felt utterly lost, adrift in a sea of self-doubt and despair. Was this really what she wanted? Was this the life she had envisioned for herself? Or had she made a terrible mistake? 

After a few minutes she was able to calm herself and decided that the best now was to go home. Y/N hurried back inside, her heart pounding. As she reached the locker room, she paused, her ears straining to hear the commotion from the kitchen. She heard Carmen's voice, loud and angry, cutting through the usual din. 

"I don't have time for this," he was saying, his voice low and furious. "I'm already stretched thin as it is. If she can't handle the pressure, then maybe she should just go home." 

Natalie's voice, though softer, was firm. "She's a good chef, Carmen. You know that. She just needs some time to adjust." 

"Adjust to fuckin’ what?" Carmen scoffed. "To my temper? To this chaos? Look, I'm sorry if I was a bit harsh, but she needs to learn. This isn't some fuckin’ bakin’ competition, Nat." 

Y/N's blood ran cold. His words echoed in her mind, each syllable a sharp blow to her already shattered confidence. "If she was too soft for this job..." The words hung in the air, a cruel and unforgiving judgment. 

Tears welled up in her eyes again, blurring her vision. She quickly grabbed her bag and rushed out of the locker room, ignoring the lingering echoes of Carmen's angry voice. She didn't want to hear any more. 

As she walked down the street, the cool night air doing little to soothe her trembling hands, Y/N felt a profound sense of defeat. Maybe Carmen was right. Maybe she wasn't strong enough. Maybe she should just give up and go home. 

The cab Y/N hailed arrived, and she numbly climbed inside, giving the driver her address. As the cab pulled away from the curb, the city lights blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors, Y/N began to feel a strange sense of detachment. Her thoughts raced, a chaotic jumble of self-doubt, fear, and the echo of Carmen's harsh words. 

She tried to focus on the city lights, the rhythm of the traffic, anything to distract herself from the suffocating weight of her emotions. But the intrusive thoughts wouldn't stop. You're not good enough. You're a disappointment. You should just give up. 

Her breathing quickened, shallow and uneven. Her chest tightened, making it difficult to breathe. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she gripped the seat, her knuckles white. 

“Are you alright, miss?" the driver asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. 

Y/N tried to respond, but only a strangled gasp escaped her lips. The world around her seemed to tilt, colors swirling into an indistinguishable mess. Panic clawed at her throat, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. She felt herself slipping, losing control, the edges of consciousness fading into a terrifying abyss. 

The harsh, sterile scent of antiseptic filled Y/N's nostrils. Her eyelids fluttered open, struggling against the blinding white light. Disorientation washed over her, a wave of nausea threatening to engulf her. Where was she? What had happened? 

Then, darkness. 

-------------------------------------------------

A gentle smile appeared on the face of the woman who had just entered, carrying a bag containing a clear liquid. "Well, well, well, look who's finally awake," she chirped, her voice warm and reassuring. "We were starting to worry about you, sleepyhead." 

Y/N blinked, trying to focus on the nurse's face. She had kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, her hair pulled back in a neat bun. "Where… where am I?" she mumbled, her voice hoarse. 

"You're at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, sweetheart," the woman replied. "Don't you worry, you're safe now. By the way I’m nurse Kristi." 

Y/N tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head, forcing her back down. "What… what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling. 

"You had a bit of a… mishap," the woman explained. "But you're doing much better now." She leaned closer, her eyes twinkling. "Since you’re awake, let’s do a small checkup. Can you tell me your name?" 

"Y/N Y/L/N" she replied, her voice a little stronger. 

"Great! And what is your birthdate?" 

"7th of February 1993" Y/N answered, a flicker of something, perhaps a memory, stirring within her. 

"Good girl," nurse Kristi praised. "And where are we, do you remember?" 

"Chicago," Y/N replied, a hint of confusion creeping into her voice. 

"That's right! Now, try to remember what happened before you… well, before you woke up here." 

Y/N closed her eyes, concentrating. The last thing she remembered… it was a blur, a chaotic jumble of images. The Bear, the shouting, the humiliation… and then… panic. She was in a taxi, her heart pounding, her breath coming in ragged gasps. 

"I… I think I was in a taxi," she said slowly, "and… and I was having a panic attack." 

The woman's smile faded slightly. "Okay... What do you mean, panic attack?" 

"I… Like I said, I was in a taxi going home, before this I was at work and..." Y/N stopped herself mid-sentence, her voice trembling. 

Kristi’s expression became more serious. "It's okay, darling. It's not uncommon to experience some confusion after a traumatic event. You've been through a lot. " 

Y/N felt a wave of dizziness, the sterile scent of the hospital suddenly overwhelming her. The room seemed to tilt, the white walls blurring at the edges. "Traumatic event?" she whispered, fear gripping her. 

The nurse’s smile returned, but it didn't quite reach her brown eyes. "Everything is gonna be okay, sweetheart," she said gently, "You've been here for three days, but as soon as the doctor-" 

Y/N's eyes widened. "Three days?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm. "But… but I just…" She trailed off, confusion and fear washing over her. How could she have been unconscious for three days? 

The woman hesitated, sensing Y/N's growing anxiety. "Hey, you know what? Perhaps we should wait for your doctor," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "He can answer all your questions. I’ll go get him and be right back" 

As she waited for the doctor, Y/N stared at the ceiling, a wave of dread washing over her. Three days. Three days of her life, lost in a void. How could this happen? She felt a sudden chill, despite the warmth of the room. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.  

“Listen, dear," started Nurse Kristi, returning with a tray containing a glass of water and a small plate of crackers. "Doctor Hauschild is currently with another patient, but he'll be with you as soon as he's available. In the meantime, try to rest. I brought you some juice and crackers. Try to eat something. You must be starving." Her voice was warm and comforting, easing some of Y/N's anxiety. 

"Thank you," Y/N whispered, feeling a slight tremor in her voice. 

"You're welcome," Nurse Kristi smiled. "Oh, and by the way, some people came to visit you while you were asleep. They were very worried, especially your mom, of course. As well as your... boyfriend? He asked me to call them as soon as you woke up. So, yeah, if you need help with anything, just press the button next to you, okay?" 

Before Y/N could respond, Nurse Kristi left the room. Y/N stared at the tray, the juice and crackers suddenly seeming insignificant. Wait a minute, a boyfriend?

‐---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[fanficwritinggirl]

Iris (Harry Potter)

"Does Harry seem off to you?" Hermione turns and looks at her sister, who is standing across from her, a glass and a drying clothe in hand, worry etched her face. Her heart ached, conflicted.

"No, I mean he's Harry," Y/N shakes her head and sighs.

"That's what I'm worried about. With everything that has gone down with dumbledore, and you know who, I'm just scared that he is putting too much on himself. I get that he is the chosen one and all but... he's still Harry, Mione," her eyebrows are raised, tears threatening to spill. Hermione's heart breaks. "I'm just don't want him to lose himself and forget who he truly is," placing the plate down, Hermione embraces her sister into a hug, her own tears threatening to fall.

"He is going to be okay, Y/N. And you're going to be okay as well. I promise," if only she knew what was going to happen.

"Go to bed, I can finish up here," she tells you.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I am. Go on, I know you want to cuddle with your boyfriend," you laugh shaking your head, with another grateful smile you turn, heading up the stairs. After you are out of view, Hermione turns, leaning on her hands on the counter and letting the tears free, God why did this have to be so hard.

"Mione?" her gaze meets Ron who is looking at her, sadness in his own eyes.

"I don't know if I can do it," Ron moves word, pulling her into his arms.

"You have too."

"I know that, but why does it have to be so hard?" Ron gives her a gentle squeeze and sighs.

"Its only for a little while, we will get them back. I promise." But that didn't make Hermione feel any better if anything it made her feel worse.

His gaze is stuck on the ceiling, never had it seemed more interesting than now, but it was helping to keep his mind off of everything, everything that was going to happen.

"Harry?" he turns his head and sees Y/N standing in the doorway in her pyjamas, arms wrapped around herself. "You, okay?" all he can do is offer her a small smile and a nod. Moving over, he pats the empty space next to him. With a smile, you saunter over to the bed, lying down next to him, your head coming to rest on his chest, your arm wrapped around him. Harry sighs, breathing you in. He places a kiss on the top of your head making your smile grow.

"You know I love you right?" turning your head up to look at him, your eyebrows knit together in confusion.

"Of course I do. Why do you ask?" he sighs, biting his lip.

"I just, want to make sure you know, I feel like I haven't been doing a very good job at showing it lately," shaking your head, you place a hand on his cheek, your finger rubbing it gently.

"I love you, that is never going to change. I know that it has been hard at the moment, but it will pass, just like it always has. And every time it happens, I will be by your side Harry, because you are the love of my life," Harry feels tears burning in his eyes, a sniff, nodding with a small smile. You move further up the bed, taking him in your arms.

"God, I wish you didn't have to go tomorrow, I would just lie with you in bed forever," you laugh and shake your head.

"Harry, its only 2 weeks, and then we will be back together, and we can lie in bed as much as we want," you place a kiss to his jaw and all it did was make him feel worse.

"Hermione, are you coming down to watch tv? Hermione looks down at the newspaper, her hands tracing it.

"Coming," she bites down on her tongue to stop the tears from coming. With a sigh, she walks down the stairs. Forcing herself to move forward, she comes to stand behind the three of you, who are sitting watching the television. Lifting her wand, she whispers out the spell.

"Obliviate."

"It's so hot," Hermione groans at this.

"Ron, we get it. You have said it a thousand times in the past hour."

"Why did you have them move to such a hot country, why couldn't you have gotten them to move like... Alaska," she rolls her eyes. Why did her boyfriend have to be so annoying.

"Alaska has a smaller population for one. Australia has a large population and is a massive country and is on the other side of the world, so it was the safest option. Now stop complaining, I haven't heard a word out of Harry so please be more like him," Ron looks back at Harry who is walking a few feet behind them, lost in his own world.

"You alright mate. You have been awfully quiet," Harry looks up at Ron, his face a mix of fear and nerves.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just very hot," Ron mouth gapes open and turns to Hermione with a smile of his face.

"See Mione. I'm not the only who thinks so," shaking her head Hermione picks up her face leaving the two men to walk together.

"Seriously are you alright. I know that this is hard on you," Ron wasn't wrong. It had been over a year now since Hermione had whipped both your and your parents' memories, a long year that he has been longing to have you back in his arms, kissing you, telling you how much he loves you. But they had to weight a little longer after the defeat of you know who to make sure that it was definitely safe. All of the death eaters had been caught and sent to Azkaban for live out their sentences and Harry and Hermione thought that it was time. Time to bring you all back home.

"I just hope that Hermione is able to bring their memories back. I don't know what I am going to do if she can't," Rons lips push up into a straight line and he puts his hand on Harry's shoulder and offers him a comforting look.

"It's going to be okay mate. Mione is the brightest witch of our generation. If anyone can do it, its her," Harry nods at this and offers Ron a smile.

"Thanks Ron," the two catch up to Hermione who is now standing in front of a beach house.

"So, this is it then," Ron asks, Hermione nods, her face white.

"Hey, Mione. Its going to be okay. You got this," Hermione takes a deep breath, shaking herself a little before clearing her throat.

"Okay... okay," Hermione marches towards the front door leaving the two men standing outside waiting, having decided that it would be for the best so that they wouldn't be too overwhelmed with all of them in there.

Harry walks back and forth, while Ron leans against gate, waiting.

"Do you think she is okay, it's been a while," Harry stops and asks Ron, who looks down at his watch.

"It's only been three minutes mate. Give her time," Harry groans.

"How long does it take to do a spell, a minute," Ron shakes his head.

"She's not just going to walk in there and cast the spell, blindsiding them. She is going to have to make them see that she is not just some weirdo who showed up at their door. And there is going to be a lot of emotions after she has done it, they are going to be confused. You need to have some patience," Harry sighs, rubbing his hand through his hair, letting it fall to the back of his neck, rubbing it slightly.

"That's why I wish I was in there."

"And you will be. Soon."

A few more minutes pass before they hear a door open. Their heads shoot to look to see a dirty blonde-haired girl running down towards the beach.

"Is that..."

"Y/N," Harry whispers. He is off like a bolt before he can even think about what he is doing.

"Harry, mate. Wait," he hears Ron call after him, but he didn't care. He had to get to her. He had to explain. Stopping he looks down at the long stretch of beach, there was a few people walking about but the only person that mattered was the women who was standing at the edge of the water, looking out, her curly hair blowing in the wind. Nerves fill him as he walks towards her, the rest of the world fading away. He stops a few feet from her.

"Y/N," he hears her gasp, her arms come to wrap around herself.

"Harry," her teary voice whispers, Harry moves forward taking her into his arms. His arms wrap around her waist, his head moving into the crook of her neck. She leans back into him, her hands moving down to rest of his arms as she cries.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers over and over again. She turns in his arms and they see each other, they look into each other's eyes, tracing their faces, seeing how different it was from the last time they saw each other. Her skin now had a golden glow to it, her hair was longer, blonder, curlier. His skin was paler, he had lost weight, and his eyes had dark bags under them.

"Why?" she asks, her voice was broken. Harry sighs.

"I had to protect you, it was the only way," she shakes her head, tears falling.

"I didn't want your protection, I wanted you," she pulls back a little from him, his hands keeping her from going to far. "I would have gone through hell and back for you. I wouldn't have cared what happened as long as I had you at the end of the day," Harry shakes his head and pulls her closer.

"But I couldn't have lived with myself if something bad happened to you. There is people that have been hurt and lost because of me, and I would have never forgiven myself if you were one of them. You are the love of my life and that means that I am going to whatever I can to protect you, because I love you," they are both sobbing hard at this point, trying to accept everything.

"I love you... but I also really hate you at the minute," Harry nods.

"I know and you should," she bites her lip.

"I need some time, just to come to terms with everything. But I promise that I will come back to you," Harry leans his forehead on hers and breathes her in.

"Take as much time as you need, but I will wait for your Y/N, I promise that until the day I die," closing the space between them, she brings their lips together, sealing the promise. It would be the first and last for a while. Pulling back, she looks him in the eyes, giving him a small smile, running her hand down his face, memorising it.

"You are different. Like you are still my Harry but... different. One that I don't know," Harry rubs his hand on her back and nods.

"I am different but if you let me, I want us someday to get to know each other all over again, start fresh. I want to know the person you became without me, to be able to love that part of you as much as the rest of you," she smiles and nods.

"Someday."

"Someday," a promise. Pulling away from each other, she looks back towards the house.

"I should go and check if my parents are okay... see Hermione," Harry nods.

"Yeah, she has really missed all of you," smiling, you press a gentle kiss on the cheek before leaving him standing there on the beach. Soon, you just needed time, and for you, Harry would give you as much time as you needed.

[fanficwritinggirl]

Would you fall in love with me again (Draco Malfoy)

This is inspired by the song 'would you fall in love with me again' from Epic. As the chapter goes on it is heavily influenced by the lyrics of the song so credit goes to the writers. 

Love is a painful and awful thing. Its what you tell yourself all the time, maybe it is just something you repeated as a way to make the pain in your chest hurt less but it never did. The longing for the one person you want most in the world and not being able to reach them is the most painful thing. You question whether it would be easier if he were dead. Would you have been able to go on and live your life, maybe not in the way that you thought that it would be but still you would be able to move on but yet here are you, someone who spends their entire days wishing for sleep to come so that you can be with him in your dreams, it's the closest that you have been able to be with him in years. And everyday it brings you some kind of peace as you wait for them to let him out, back to you.

BANG, BANG, BANG, you shoot up out of bed, your heart racing, adrenaline pumping as your senses kick into overdrive. Shoving the covers off of yourself, you grab your wand from your bedside table and move carefully over to the window and moving the curtain so that you can look down at your front door. A black-haired man stood at your door, and you couldn't help but roll your eyes. Groaning, you grab your nightgown before trudging down the stairs and towards the door. Pulling the door open you are met with the sight of your brother.

"Harry, why the bloody hell are you here at this hour, shouldn't you be at home with your wife?" you snap at him, but he doesn't pass any attention to you as he pushes past you and into your house. "Okay, I know that I am your sister, but don't you dare push yourself into my house Harry or I swear to..." he cuts you off as he turns.

"He's getting out," you feel like all the oxygen in your lungs have been taken from you with that statement, you could barley speak. Harrys eyes are filled with concern as he looks at you.

"Y/N," your eyes don't meet his as you feel the tears swelling in your eyes. You falter causing Harry to shoot forward holding onto your forearms. "Let's get you sat down okay," he guides you both through the archway and into the sitting room and towards the couch. You sit on the couch, your eyes not looking up, fixated on the carpet.

"I'm going to get you a cup of tea," Harry tells you softly, giving your arm a rub before walking into the kitchen. You sit there in a daze for a few minutes, not breaking once even with Harry being loud in the kitchen. Your eyes trail down to your hands, you rub your finger over your wedding ring, a ring that has never been taken off, not since he placed it there all those years ago.

Harry walks over to you, a piping hot cup of tea in his hand. "Here, drink this," he sets it down on the coffee table in front of you, not trusting your shaky hands. Sitting down, neither of you speak for a few moments, not knowing how to start.

"How?" your voice was a whisper. Harry rubs a hand over his jaw.

"I don't know exactly... you know what the ministry are like, but it doesn't matter..." you scoff at that, your head shaking.

"It does matter Harry. It all good letting him out but are they letting him out as a criminal who has served his sentence or are they admitting that he was wrongfully imprisoned for something that he couldn't control. He had to comply with you know who or he would have been killed," you chock on your words, emotions bleeding out of you. "And by putting in him there... its worse than death. They might as well have killed him," a tear runs down your face causing you to raise a hand and whip it away, your hand moving forward and taking the mug into your hand, letting the warmth run through your body.

Harry keeps his gaze fixed on the window away from you. He couldn't look at you knowing how much pain has been caused with Draco being kept in Azkaban, how you have not lived for the last 7 years waiting for him to come home.

"Tomorrow," is all he is able to say to you and all you can do is nod. Tomorrow your prayers would be answered.

Your hands were shaking, you couldn't keep still, you were running a whole into the floor of the hallway as your paced back and forth. The black tiles and the black and white checkered floor became sore on the eyes with the illuminating lights. How long had you been out here for? A few minutes? A few hours? Heck if you knew. It sure felt like forever.

"Y/N," you stop, your gaze meeting Ginny's.

"How much longer?" Ginny sighs, her shoulder lifting up in a shrug.

"I know just as much as you," you huff, shaking your head.

"I don't understand why they can't tell me. I'm his wife for crying out loud, I should be allowed to be there from the second he is out and declared a free man," you lean against the wall, your arms crossing as you lean your head back to rest on the smooth surface. Ginny offers you a small smile and comes to stand next to you.

"It might be for the best," she offers causing you to turn and look at her, your eyebrow raised. "He has just been kept in Azkaban for the last 7 years, which is going to mess anyone up in the head. The Draco you knew is not the one that is going to be the one coming back. It's going to be overwhelming for him, and maybe seeing Harry and Ron first might be better, seeing someone he recognizes but not someone who he is super close too," God why did she have to make so much sense. You close your eyes and sigh.

"It feels like a dream, that he is finally coming home," Ginny smiles at you, her hand coming to rest on your forearm.

"Not long now," and God you hoped she was right.

The door swings open, a few members from the ministry walk about, their facial expressions coy. Their gazes meet you; they nod their head towards you as they scurry past, too scared to hang around for to long.

"Mrs Malfoy," Kingsley Shacklebolt comes to stand in front of you, his expression saddened. "I must once again apologise for the pain that the ministry have caused both you and your husband," you scoff at this.

"Mr Shacklebolt, my husband has been wrongfully imprisoned for the past 7 years. 7 years in which we will never get back. I understand that we have been rebuilding since the war but for it to take 7 years... its unfathomable. My husband is never going to be the same because of you and your ministry's negligence," Shacklebolt's expression is nothing but regret.

"Mrs Malfoy, I'm sorry that there is nothing more than I can do but apologize, I wish there was," you scoff and shake your head.

"Take responsibility and make sure that it never happens again," the door opens again, and Ron pops his head out gives you a small nod.

"He wants to see you," you turn and look and Shackbolt, his expressions hasn't changed and with a shake of your head you march towards who is really important in this situation, and that is your husband.

You didn't know what to expect when you walked into the room. It was different from most of the rooms that you had been in when you had previously visited the ministry. You could actually say that the room was homely. Maybe it was couches, you could see the back of a three-seater couch and two chairs sat across from it. His back was the first thing that you saw, his platinum blonde hair you could see was long, an unkept version of his fathers. Harry sat in one of the seats across from Draco, his eyes drifting to you as you walk in. Harry offers a comforting smile before standing up and walking towards you and Ron who was still standing in the doorway, not daring to move. Harry comes to stand in front of you, an expression on his face that you couldn't read.

"Is he alright?" you whisper to him, and he offers you a comforting look.

"He is different. He is still getting used to be free, so we need to go easy on him," Harry gives your arm a squeeze before walking out with Ron, the door closing behind leaving you alone with Draco for the first time in years. It is silent for a few minutes, neither of you knowing what to do. You take a step forward, causing his head to move slightly but not enough to actually see you.

"Y/N," you hear him whisper and you stop, losing your breath.

"Is it really you?" he turns full and it's the first time that you have laid your eyes on him, and it brings tears to your eyes. "You look tired," he wobbles a little as he stands, he grips the couch for support as he stands, and you are able to finally take him all in. His frame was lighter, his smile torn. "Is it really you, my love?" your voice was no more than a whisper. His eyebrows are pushes together; you can see his eyes getting teary.

"I'm not the man that you feel in love with, I'm not the man that you once fell in love with," you purse your lips together and nod.

"What happened?"

"Things that I don't wish for you to ever know. If you knew the things that I saw and had done to me, you would never be able to look at me the same way again. But I endured them all so that they would bring me back to you," your eyes meet, and you feel the burning in the back of your eyes. "Would you fall in love with me again? If you knew all of it. Things that I can't undo, I am not the man you knew, and I know that you have been waiting for him," his hand comes to rub over the beard that now decorated, and you can't help but see the dirty band that sits on his ring finger.

"If that's true, can you do me a favour. Would you look at that band on your finger," he holds his hand out and his gaze looks at.

"Would you take it off?" his eyes dart to you, his head instantly moving side to side in disapproval.

"How could you ask me that. We promised the day that we got married that we would never take them off. That from the moment we put them on that someone would have to cut them off to get them. The only way to take them off is to cut them off," a cry breaks from your chest.

"Only my husband would know that, so that means that makes him you," tears fall down your face as you realise that deep down that the Draco you married was still in there.

"Y/N," he moves closer to you, yearning for you.

"I will fall in love with you, over and over again. I don't care how, where, or when. No matter how long it's been, your mine. Don't tell me you're not the same person. You're always my husband and I've been waiting," he takes another step towards you.

"Y/N," step.

"Waiting."

"Y/N," another step.

"Waiting."

"Y/N," another step.

"Waiting, oh waiting," Draco stands in front of you, his hands cupping your face, his hands were rougher than you remember but they are his. Tears are streaming down both of your faces, sobs barrelling out of you. He brings his forehead to rest on yours, his hands slipping to fall on the back of your neck. Your hands rest on his back as you breath each other in.

"How many years has it been?" he asks you, forcing your emotions down you look at him.

"Seven years," a tear drops from his eye as he nods, accepting. "I love you," he whispers, and you gasp, he pulls your lips down on his and for the first time, you feel like you can breathe. With him here in your arms. Pulling back, you two look at each other now with a small smile on your faces.

"Let's go home," you say to him. You wanted to move on, you had lost seven years together, there was no point in losing anymore. 

[fanficwritinggirl]

Chapter 11 - Nervous (My Montana)

He was on cloud nine, his heart was singing, and he couldn't help the massive grin that was decorating his face, how had he managed to land a date with her. He had liked her for years, well maybe it took him a while to realise it, but he was starting to feel things that he had never felt. The only thing was, he was going to have to tell Danny. And God he hoped that he wouldn't be too upset.

It was late at night when he finally mustered up the courage. Slowly, he made his way down the stairs, careful not to wake any of his younger siblings. A low mummer of the tv echoed down the hallway as he makes his way towards it, his nerves growing like weeds by the second. Poking his head around the corner he sees Danny sitting on the couch in his pyjamas, another one of his movies playing on the tv. Dannys gaze meets his.

"Hey, I thought you were going to bed?" right, he was doing this. Cole nods his head, his hand coming to rub the back of his neck, his gaze on the floor.

"Yeah, yeah, I was... I just uhm... needed to talk to you about something," Dannys eyebrows raise, his face changing to confusion. Grabbing the remote he pauses his movie, sitting up.

"Okay..." his voice trails off. "Do you want to come sit?" Cole presses his lips between his teeth and nods, walking over to the blue couch and slowly sitting down, a sigh escaping his lips.

"So... what's up?" for some reason his hands were now the most interesting thing in the world. "Cole?"

"I like Josie," silence. Loud, awkward silence. Neither of the brothers knew what to say in that moment. Minutes passed before Danny dared to speak.

"What?" Cole finally looked at Danny's face which was a mix of confusion and shock. "When did you... how long has this been going on for?" and finally Cole found his words.

"A few weeks at least. I mean... I think I have always liked her, you know but I think I was just that self-absorbed that I didn't see it but... I really, really like her Danny. Like I have never felt this way about anyone before," Danny leans into the back of the sofa, his head moving side to side.

"Does she know this?" all he could do was nod and Danny sighed, his head rolling back.

"So, are you two like going out now, is this going to be a relationship?"

"I want it to be," Dannys expression changed into something that Cole didn't even know what. "I really, really like her Danny. All I can think about is her and I just... I should have told you before I asked her out and I'm sorry. I don't want your guy's relationship to be ruined because of me but Danny, I promise that I will do everything that I can to make her happy," relief washed over him as he confessed, knowing that the worst part was over with but God he was still sweating. Danny rubs his hand over his lip as he sits and thinks before raising his lips and shrugging.

"Alright then," he grabs the remote and turns the tv back on and Cole's jaw falls open.

"Wait, hold on. What?" Danny pauses the film again and he looks at Cole with a slight smirk on his face.

"Did you honestly think that I didn't know this already. I mean Cole, come on, I'm your twin brother and if I'm being honestly, I found it rather convenient that you have been really picking up your grades, been on your best behaviour and ending it with Erin not to long after I see Josie storming out of your shred," Cole falls back in disbelief. He was actually an idiot.

"And hey, I mean Josie has been really obvious as well, every time you walk in the room, you are all she can look at. You both are lovesick puppies, I swear," Danny is chuckling at this point, absolutely loving the entire situation. Cole shakes his head.

"I cannot believe that I have been worried for weeks about how I was going to tell you, and you knew the entire time," Danny laughs.

"Oh yeah, I must thank you, it has been very interesting to watch. But in all honesty..." Danny turns his body, so he is fully facing Cole. "If you hurt her, I will kill you. She is my best friend Cole, and I cannot have another bad thing happen to her. Not after everything that she has been through," Cole offers him a small smile and nods.

"It's the last thing I want to do. I really care for her," Danny scoffs, a smile still present on his face.

"I don't think care is the right word but hey... you'll get there," Cole rolls his eye a smirk on his face, he jabs Danny in the ribs who laughs back at him before resuming the film which Cole gladly sits and watches, feeling the weight of the world had been lifted off of his shoulders and nothing but pure relief.

"Wait? Where are you two going again?" the blonde-haired women's face is painted with a confused look at she sits at the end of the bed.

"I don't know. He said that he wanted it to be a surprise, which is cute and all, but it doesn't help me know what is best to wear," grabbing a hold of a dress, she twirls around holding it against her body. "Do you think it's a bit much?"

Hattie looks at her with a raised eyebrow, her mouth slightly agape, "I mean it's a lovely dress, but it's just a bit too... formal," Josies face scrunches up in disappointment before throwing it to the floor.

"So, it's too much," she sighs, turning around and looking into the closest again. "Why is it so difficult to find the right dress," Hattie laughs, shaking her head.

"You're overthinking it; that's the problem. Remember this is Cole, the boy who you have practically grown up with. I mean, if you showed up in a pair of sweats and a hoodie, Cole would still find you beautiful," Josie couldn't help but smile at this.

"Okay, okay, okay. I get it... its just," Josie sits down next to Hattie, her hands coming together in her lap. "It's our first date. And I want... I want it to be perfect. It's the first time in my life that I have felt this way about someone and all I want is for it to be perfect," Hattie offers her a small smile and nods.

"You know, my first date was... let's just say It was a disaster, an absolute disaster..." Josie laughs, her hand landing on her stomach as she cackles, Hattie smirking and giggling along with her. "I mean the guy took me out to a drive in theatre and drank that many beers that I ended up having to drive him home because he was that drunk. Let's just say that his mom was not impressed at all. And I mean I don't blame her, if I had my 17-year-old coming back in that state I would be livid," Josie laughs loudly, falling back onto the mattress unable to control herself. "And that I why I cannot look or smell Budweiser ever again. All over the side of the car, I really hope that she made him clean that up because I would not have done it, his mess, he can clean it up," Josie grimaces at this but can't help giggling a little. Hattie shakes her head, still smirking. She pats Josie on the leg and looks back at her.

"Now I know that that is not what your date with Cole is going to be like but Jos... it's your first date. I know that it's a big moment and everyone remembers it, some more fondly than others..." Josie laughs quietly again. "But at the end of the day, as long as you are with someone that you really care about it doesn't matter. You are lucky that you and Cole have known each other for years and all that awkwardness is out of the way, so don't worry. It's going to be okay, don't stress out about it," Josie smiles, letting out a sigh of relief and bring her aunt into a hug.

"Thank you, Aunt Hat. I really needed that," Hattie smiles, patting Josie on the shoulder a little before pulling away. The pair look at each other for a moment before Josie smirks, standing up and walking over to her closet again, she looks over a few outfits before smiling and pulling one out.

"How about this," Hattie smiles and nods her head.

"Its perfect."

His hands were sweating, why were his hands sweating. He's nervous, he shouldn't be nervous its just Josie. Josie that has been coming over to his house for years and pretty much lived there, there was nothing to be nervous about. Jumping out of his truck a bunch of flowers in hand, he can't help but lean down and looks at himself in the rear-view mirror, fixing his hair a bit and straightening his jacket. Satisfied he strolls up to the Whitlock house and knocking. He hears footsteps on the other side of the door and when it opens, he can't help but have his breath taken away from him. She was absolutely beautiful. Her auburn hair was tied in a half up, half down, a bow clip over the hair tie. A yellow floral, off the shoulder dress decorated her body, a denim jacket covering her from the cold.

"Hey," she offered him a nervous smile and he could help but look at her with the same expression.

"Hey... you look... beautiful," her cheeks turned a rosy colour, leaning her head down she tries to hide so that he didn't see her blushing and he just thought that it was the most adorable thing.

"Thanks... you don't look to bad yourself," Cole's face breaks out into a boyish grin.

"Thanks. Uhm... I brought these for you. I hope you like them," Cole hands her the flowers and Josies mouth falls open.

"Oh Cole... they are stunning. Thank you."

"I picked them from one of the fields, I was riding when I saw them and just thought that you would like them," their gaze meets, both of their faces plastered with smiles, their cheeks slightly red.

"I'm going to put these in some water quickly and then we can head off," Cole nods and Josie smiles her lips coming between her teeth and she scurries back into the house. Letting out a breath, Cole paces the porch waiting for her to come back. Voices can be heard, growing louder before the door opens and not only is Josie walking out but Hattie is followed behind her. Josie gives him a sheepish smile, coming to stand next to him.

"Now you two, I want you to have a good time, but I have to be a responsible adult here so, I want you to drop her back here by eleven, no later, or I will be having words with your mom Cole. You understand," the young couple couldn't help but laugh at this, it was kind of hard to take Hattie seriously when she herself had a slight smirk on her face.

"Eleven, not later. Got it," Hattie smiles and nods at the pair.

"Alright, now go on, have a good time. Don't do anything that I wouldn't," Cole and Josie look at each other before sauntering off towards the car. Cole walks a few steps in front of Josie, grabbing the door handle and opening the door for her. Josie nods her head towards him in thanks as she gets in the car, Cole closing the door behind her. Cole rounds the car, getting in himself and the pairs eyes meet, a look that made all of their nerves go away.

"So do I get to know where we are going?" Cole smirks at this.

"And ruin the fun, I don't think so," and Josie can't help but laugh. As Cole drives off, they both couldn't help but feel excited for what was to come next. 

[fanficwritinggirl]

Chapter 10 - Cider Stand (My Montana)

"Wow, there is a lot of people here, it's like the whole town is here," Jackies eyes travelled around, watching the sea of people. Josie chuckles, shaking her head and the younger girl. She clearly didn't have something like this back in the east.

"That's because it is the whole town. This is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest day in Silver Falls," Jackie raises her eyebrows a slight smile in her face.

"And what if we don't win, what is the point of any of this," Josie purses her lips and shrugs.

"Well then there is going to be a couple of weeks of mourning because we plan our revenge for next year," Jackie's shoulder shake as she laughs. The pair slip through the sea of people, reaching the small, old, Walter family cider cart. Alex stands behind it, head in his hands, clearly wanting to be anywhere but there.

"Hey Alex," Jackie says, moving slightly in front of Josie. Alex's lips lift into a smile as he sees the New Yorker, sometimes he made it so obvious that he like her.

"Hey Jackie"his eyes falls on the red haired girl. "Josie" he nods in her direction and Josie can't help but internally laugh.

"Alex. You ready to sell some cider," Alex looks back towards the family's cider cart, Will was leaning over it, tool in hand, clearly trying to fix something.

"We will be, just have to fix some screws, or something," a grunt comes from behind Alex as they all turn and see Will, with a scrunch up face in frustration and cider spilling out from around one of the big bolt screws.

"Should one of us go help him," Jackie asks, her eyebrows pinched in a nervous expression. Josie and Alex shake their heads.

"Trust me, if you don't know anything about the cart, don't help, you are just going to make things worse," Alex's eyebrows lift up.

"Yeah, especially when you are drunk off your ass," Jackie's jaw hangs open as she turns and looks at Josie, who sighs.

"Seriously, how bad were you and Danny that day," Alex lets out a cackle and shakes his head.

"Oh they were bad, trust me. You should see the videos..." his hand reaches for his phone in his pocket causing Josie to launch toward him.

"No no no, trust me Alex, no one needs to see those videos. I'm just getting over people talking about it," Alex runs around the cart to stand behind Jackie, phone now out of his pocket. Josie stands behind the stand and looks at the pair as he pulls up the videos, a pained expression on her face. Jackie gasps as a loud bang happens, causing Josie to put her elbows on the stand and shove her head in her hands.

"Oh I'm never going to live this down," Jackie raises her eyebrows and nods, a smirk on her face.

"You fell through the stand," Jackie states and Josie just nods her head.

"Trust me, you don't have to remind me. I still feel that bruise on my ass," Alex shakes his head, wishing he didn't know that information. Jackie laughs, her hands wrapping around her stomach.

"If you think that if funny, the video of them trying to fix the bolt of funnier," Jackie leans towards Alex to look at the video.

"Danny you need to push it more," her words come out as a slur.

"I'm pushing," Danny puts effort into pulling it. Josie groans, stomping over towards him taking the wrench..

"No you are pulling it, I'll show you how it's done," Danny shrugs, stumbling over and planting himself on the ground behind the stand. Gripping the wrench, Josie places it and starts pushing it forward, trying her best to tightening it.

"Your not doing it right," Danny slurs, his eyes fluttering open and closing every few seconds trying to stay awake.

"I am doing it right," Josie pouts as she pushes harder, which wasn't actually that hard.

"Josie I don't know how you call what you are doing pushing, you are just laying your hands on it and giving in a press," Josie scrunches her eyebrows up and huffs. Grabbing the wrench with both of her hands she pushes it using all of her weight. Huffs and puffs are coming out of her mouth as she pushes, her body leaning more and more into it. In the blink of an eye, she leans to far towards and she goes sprawling on her front. Danny burst into fits of laughter, gripping his stomach and falling back on his back as he cackles. Josie groans, lifting her face off of the ground and leaning on her cheek.

"What the hell," George exclaims as he walks towards the pair, Cole not far behind him. Lifting her head up, Josie offers him a drunken smile.

"Hey George, one of the screws was loose but don't worry, she stumbles up onto her feet, moving a little to far on one side, causing Cole to come and grab her. "I fixed it," she finishes. Cole looks between the two of them, his eyes landing on Danny.

"Are you drunk?" Danny laughs at his twins question.

"And 10 points go to Cole Walter," he laughs at his own joke, causing Cole and George to shake their heads.

"I'm not drunk, Cole. What are you talking about," Josie looks at him with her drunken eyes, her bottom lip out, pouting. George sighs, shaking his head.

"Right, come on, both of you. You are going home," George walks towards Danny, grabbing his elbow and pulling him up. Josie gasps, shaking her head.

"No, George. We are fine, we can still sell the cider," pushing herself off of Cole, she walks towards Danny grabbing hold of him.

"Come on, Danny. Let's sell some cider," Danny nods at her, wrapping his arm around her as they stumble to 10 foot to the stand, Cole and George hot on their tails. Leaning against the stand Josie turns and looks at Cole and George. "See we are fine," she slurs, Danny giggling away to himself beside her. One second they were leaning against the stand, the next minute the cart is falling forwards, causing people in front to move out of the way, as it tumbles to the floor. Cole and George shoot forward, trying to grab ahold of Josie and Danny but it was too late, the pair tumble with the stand. Slamming into the backside of the stand, Josie and Danny sprawl out on top, shocking coming over their bodies. For second everything comes to a standstill, nobody knowing what to do, and then laughter fills the air as Josie and Danny burst into drunken laughter. George aren't Cole just stand and look at the pair Not knowing whether to laugh or be disappointed.

Jackie and Alex lean forward gripping their stomachs as they watched the video back. Josie sighs.

"You were like two stubborn children," Jackie wheezes out. Josie shakes her head.

" Let's just say it's one of the many reasons why I do not get drunk anymore," Alex laughs, pointing to the screen.

"Look at dad and Cole, they don't know what to do, the pair burst out into laughter once again, Josie just shaking her head at the pair of them.

"What are you all laughing at," Josie turns and see Will standing, with his hands on his hips. Jackie takes in a deep breath, suppressing her laughter.

"Alex was showing me the videos..." she laughs again, her hands going to her knees. "The videos of Danny and Josie... and the stand," she bursts out laughing and Will can't help but start laughing as well, his head slightly moving side to side.

"Oh come on will, not you too," the older man just shakes his head, clearing his throat to help stop his laughter.

"Sorry Josie, but you have to admit that it was funny," this causes the girl to groan.

"That is what everyone has been saying."

"What had everyone been saying?" Biting her tongue, Josie turns and sees the face of the one person she has been wanting to see. Cole is standing in his classic brown jacket, a slight smile on his face as he looks at Josie. The pair stand and look at each other for a moment, everything and everyone else fading. He looked handsome today, he always look handsome but for some reason today, he looked more handsome.

"Hi," Josie gets out, causing Cole to smirk.

"Hey yourself," Josie can't help but bite her lip.

"Ehem," a voice clears behind them, causing the two to break out of their trance and look at Will, who's gaze is going between the two, clogs in his head turning.

"We were watching the videos of Danny and Josie when they did the stand," Cole raises his eyebrows, a smirk growing on his face.

"That was definitely a day to remember," this causes her to groan.

"Seems like everyone is remembering it."

"How could we not," Alex states, walking back behind the stand. Jackie now calmed down has just a smile on her face.

"Is the cart fixed?" Josie asks, changing the subject, finally.

"Cart is up and running, ready for the homecoming," Alex smiles, hands coming together in a clap.

"Well then, I think it's time you guys to get on with it," Cole claps will on the back and starts walking off. I'm going to go and get some pizza," his eyes land on Josies. "You coming Jos," he asks. A smile comes to her face, turning she looks at Jackie who is grinning at her, her thumbs lifted up in a thumbs up. Josie bites her lips and nods.

"Yeah, sure."

"Pineapple on a pizza, yay or nay," Cole asks, shoving a slice of pepperoni pizza in his mouth. Josie chews her own pizza moving her head from side to side, putting a hand out in front of her mouth so she can speak.

"Absolutely not, that's criminal, fruit should never be on pizza. Aunt Hattie likes it and trust me I judge her every time ," Cole chuckles. They were both sat in the pizza place, at a small table in the corner providing them some sort of quiet in the busy town.

Swallowing her food, Josie looks up at Cole who is leaning back against his chair, his eyes fixed on her. Clearing her throat, she puts down her slice and straightens in her chair.

"I heard that you broke things off with Erin," Cole stops chewing, stopping for a moment before putting his own slice down and nodding.

"Yeah, it was time... no point leading her on," the pair look each other in the eye and Josie can't help but smile.

"I also heard that you have been improving your grades, doing better in class," Cole smirks.

"Well I was given some motivation, I want my reward," Josie smirks, biting her bottom lip.

"And what's this motivation," her innocent act makes Cole smirk and lean forward.

"A date, with this girl. Now I mean this girl she is amazing. You know she is brave and kind and has the most amazing voice that I have ever heard," her cheeks become rosy and warm. "I could listen to her forever," this causes Josie to lift her head and look into his deep blue eyes. Cole smiles at her, moving his hand across the table he takes her hands in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, a smile on his face. Josie smiles, gripping his hands, the twos eye meeting, smiles on both of their faces.

"So do I get my reward?"

"Yes." 

[fanficwritinggirl]

Chapter 9 - Grapevine (My Montana)

"Did you hear about Cole and Erin?" Grace sat down across from Josie and Jackie at their table in The Lark. The pair look at each other, confusion on their face.

"What do you mean, what happened?" Jackie asks, putting down her cup of coffee. Grace grins as she leans forward.

"Well I heard through the grape vine that Cole broke things off with her," Josie raises an eyebrow trying to pretend that she didn't know.

"But they do this all the time, they break it off and then by next week they will be back together," Grace shakes her head.

"Turns out that Cole," she takes a dramatic pause. "He likes someone else. He told Erin that he wanted to be with this other girl. I mean, what if she doesn't even like him back," Jackie smirks, her chest moving up and down a bit as she tries to hide her laugh, grabbing her mug she takes a sip. Josie stills for a minute not knowing how to reply. Jackie nudges her foot, subtly telling her that she needs to say something to seem less obvious.

"Well maybe she does like him. We don't know what happened, for all we know Cole and this girl have already talked about it."

"But what if they hadn't. I mean imagine, Cole is risking losing everything with Erin because he wants to be with this other girl. Like how romantic," Grace was swooning, a massive smile on her face, little giggles leaving her mouth. Jackie puts smiles.

"Very romantic indeed, I wonder if this girl is going to give him chance," Josie looks down, grabbing her mug.

"Maybe she has, I'm sure we will see soon enough," taking a drink from her mug. Grace looks between the two girls across from her and raises an eyebrow.

"Am I missing something here?" She asks. Jackie and Josie look at each other, Josie just giving a slight shake of the head, to which Jackie turns back to Grace.

"No not at all. So heard anything else about this," Grace smirks and nods.

"Well, when I was walking past Miss Jacob's office the other day, Cole was in there talking to her. She was praising him because he has actually been paying attention in class and really turning around his grades. Can you believe? Who is this new Cole walking about," Grace laughs and Josie can't help but allow her lips to turn up a little bit.

"Turning around his grade huh."

"Yes. I heard from Kate Matthew's that he has been participating, putting his hand up, answering question. Actually handing in assignments. It's like he has done a whole 180 on his life," excitement and happiness rushes through her body as she hears this. He kept his promise. Gulping down the last of her drink, she grabs her bag.

"You know, I just remember that I promised my aunt Hat that I was going to help her with something, so I need to go," she slings her bag over her shoulder, turning to the other girls.

"See you girls at the homecoming?" Jackie nods.

"I'm working the cart with Alex this year," Josie raises an eyebrows a smirk on her face.

"Oh that is going to be a long day, trust me. You do not want to hear about the year and Danny did it," Grace giggles.

"It was hilarious, they were so drunk," Josie groans remembering.

"What? When was this?" Jackie asks.

"Last year, me and Danny got bored standing around, so we started to drinking the cider under the cart. Let's just say it didn't end well," Grace laughs, wheezing, judt about being able to get her words out.

"You and Danny, falling over and knocking the cart down," she chackles. "Was the funniest thing I have ever seen," Josie shakes her head.

"Oh my god," Jackie's mouth was hanging open, and Grace was just pissinng herself.

"Let's just say me and Danny have been banned from doing the cart," Jackie snarled her head, a smirk on her lips.

"Well, I don't think me and Alex are going to do that now," Josie nods.

"Trust me, don't. I still remember the hangover, I didn't get out of bed for two days. I don't think aunt Hat knew whether to laugh or be angry," the girls giggle. Josie sighs.

"Well I have to go, so I will see yous later," the girls nod at her.

————————————————————

"Aunt Hat?" Josie closes the door behind her. Slipping off her bag she places it on the floor, her shoes are slipped off.

"In here," Hattie calls, following the voice Josie finds her sitting on the couch, a book in hand.

"Hey, how was the Lark," Josie smiles, plopping herself down next to her aunt.

"Yeah it was good, was getting busy though. A lot of people were talking about the homecoming,," Hattie closes her book, placing it next to her.

"Well it is only, arguably the biggest night of the year for the town, hundreds of years of tradition," Josie shakes her head.

"It is a little ridiculous though, I mean so much work for one day and then it is over before you know it," Hattie shrugs, moving her head side to side slightly.

"Well you know people can say the same about Christmas," Josie gasps moving away from her aunt, her mouth hanging open.

"I cannot believe you just said that! Christmas is the best day of the year," Hattie laughs.

"I'm sorry Josie, didn't mean to offend you," The pair laugh Josie leaning into the cushions. Hattie leans forward, putting her arms on her knees.

"So I have to know, who is doing the cart this year," Josie groans, putting her hands on her face.

"Well, you will be happy to know that George and Katherine are still banning me and Danny from doing the cart," Hattie dramatically puts her hand on her heat and lets out a deep breathe causing Josie to roll her eyes. "It's Alex and Jackie." Hattie raises her eyebrows, her lip coming out from under her upper lip in almost a pount, nodding her head slightly.

"That will be interesting to see. I don't know how Alex is going to fair though," Josie nods.

"He's not really you know..."

"Socially out there, a bit awkward. Yeah. But hey, it might help bring him out of him shell. It must be a bit weird for Jackie though, I bet they don't have anything like this out east," Josie chuckles.

"Or trust me, she doesn't, but then again she went to an all girls school that didn't even have a football team," Hatties mouth falls open.

"Seriously an all girls school. No boys. And their teenagers. God I couldn't imagine that," Josie raises her eyebrows.

"We you boy crazy as a teen?" Hattie scoffs.

"Oh yeah, not the finest time in my life, but everyone has been at some point right. Well maybe not you, you have only had one guy catch your eye, a certain blonde," Josie gasps, grabbing a pillow and chucking it at her aunt.

"I cannot believe you just said that," Hattie cackles and puts her hands up in defence as Josie goes to grab another pillow.

"Hey, it had to be said. Seriously Josie, when is something going to happen between the two of you. I have never see two people pine over each other as much as you two," Josie groans.

"I told you, that it's complicated," Hattie scoffs.

"Come on, that was weeks ago and don't think that Katherine hasn't been telling me stuff," Josie throws another pillow.

"I swear have you two got nothing better to talk about than me and Cole."

"Ha, come on it's our jobs to, how can we not," Josie sighs, shoving her face into a pillow. Hatties mouth falls in a straight line and she gives Josies arm a poke.

"Come on, what's happened," Josie shakes her head, head never leaving the pillow.

"Nothing has happened."

"Come on Jos, I don't believe that for a second. Katherine has been telling me how Cole has changed, and I would place my money on it having something to do with you," Josie huffs and lifts her head up, her chin now resting on it. Hattie looks at her with her eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer. Josie sighs.

"Okay so maybe something happened," Hattie squeals.

"Oh my god, tell me, tell me," Josie rolls her eyes.

"I swear you are worse than a teenager.

"Oh but you still love me. Now tell me," Hattie inches closer and Josie leans her head back.

"Okay, okay. So it happened the night after the whole..."

"Incident in the kitchen," Hattie finished for her, Josie nods her head.

"Right. So I went to go and ask him about what the hell that was. And we were in his shed and he started telling me how he didn't know what he was doing, that he shouldn't have done it. But he never said that he didn't mean any of it. And then he said 'how could I not mean it'," Hattie gasps, her eyes wide, excitement coving her face.

"And then you know, he tried to kiss me," Hatties mouth closed and a million different emotions went across her face before landing in confusion.

"What hold on, what do you mean, tried to kiss you. Did you not let him kiss you," Josie closes her eyes and groans.

"Trust me, it's not that I didn't want to, I wanted to. Like I really wanted too," Hattie laughs.

"Ha, yeah I know, you looked like you really wanted to shove your tongue down each others throats and play tonsile hockey that day in the kitchen.

"Aunt Hat," Josies cheeks go red and she hides her face in the pillow. Hattie rubs her her arm.

"Sorry, sorry. That was a bit much, come on tell me why didn't you kiss him," Josie huffs.

"It was because of the way he was acting with Erin," Hattie leans back, eyebrows raised.

"Hold on, like on again, off again Erin," Josie nods.

"He had his arm around her at lunch that day," Hattie scoffs.

"Seriously?" Josie nods, moving the pillow under her arms.

"So that's why I told him, that if he wanted to be with me, and he really meant all of those things than we was going to have to prove it. Change his behaviour, stop leading girls on and then I might give him a chance," Hattie beams, she puts her hand out, Josie gives her a high five.

"That's my girl, don't make it too easy for them," Josie laughs a smile on her face.

"And I think he is changing aunt Hat. Grace was telling me how everyone is saying how he is getting involved with class. Apparently he is really turning around his grades," Hattie smiles giving her a nod.

"I know, Katherine got a phone call this week. His teachers will really singing his praises," Josie can't help but grin. "But what is going on with Erin, has he really broke it off with her yet or is that next on the list," Josie giggles, shaking her head.

"According to Grace, he broke it off with Erin, saying that he had feeling for another girl," Hattie leans up on her knees and squeals. Josie can't help but laugh, her cheeks hurting from smiling so much.

"Finally!" Hattie shouts, bringing her niece into a hug.

"I'm happy for you sweetie. You deserve some happiness," Josie hugs her aunt back and giggles.

"I am, I will be as long as he stays like the old Cole," Hattie nods knowing what she means.

"He will do, it's Cole," Josies smile grows wide again. Pulling back, the pair look at each other, Hattie strokes Josies hair, rubbing her cheek.

"What did you grow up so quickly, it feels like yesterday I received the Polaroid or you in the mail," Josie laughs.

"I don't know, but don't worry, you'll never get rid of me," Hattie sighs in relief.

"Thank god," Josie laughs at this. The pair just sit in silence for a minute before Hattie clears her throat and stands up.

"Okay enough of this, I'm going to go and make dinner. Pizza okay?" Josie nods, leaning back into the couch.

"Love you aunt Hat," Hattie stops at the arch and looks at her niece.

"Love you to Jos."

[fanficwritinggirl]

Chapter 8 - Happiness (My Montana)

Trigger warning ahead - ab*se

"YOU STUPID SLUT!" Plates and cups hit the wall with a SMASH. Tears ran down her eyes, her body trembling, her knees brought up to her chest, her face hidden.

"I ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH TO DO WITHOUT HEARING ABOUT YOU WHORING AROUND THE TOWN," more plated and cups go flying. Sobbing can be heard in the silent moment.

"I'm sorry okay. I didn't mean it, I'll do better," her mother apologises over and over again, I'm sorry.

"SORRY IS NO GOOD ENOUGH, AUBREY. I GIVE YOU EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING FOR YOU AND THAT GIRL AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY," a bang is heard, a table sliding and a body hitting the floor. Her mother cries out in pain, sobs following after. She covers her ears, trying to drown out the noise. The back door slams and Josie hears the car turn out and drive away. After a few minutes, she gathers the courage to come out of her closet and look out the window. Her dads truck was gone, he wasn't hear, she had to make sure before she went down stairs.

Her small legs carry her down the stairs, treading carefully to make not to much, adrenaline and fear still coasting through her veins. She walks across the living room, towards the door to the kitchen. It's was slightly ajar, the light providing a pathway towards it. She pushes the door gently poking her head around and taking the image in front of her. Her mother had a cut above her brow, bruises decorated her arms purple, little red and blackish brown cigarette burns covered her arms. Ring little cuts were on her knees, a shimmer of light hit the glass that was imbedded in them.

Josie took in the sight of her mother, she was on her hands and knees with a dustpan and brush, sweeping up the broken glass, the table was on its side. Tiny sniffles were the only noise coming from her.

"Mom," she said in a weak voice, her mom looked up at her and Josie wished she could say that this was the first time that she had seen her mother like this. Her moms lips turn up a little, trying to give her daughter a reassuring smile.

"It's okay baby, daddy was just mad."

"He's always mad, mom."

"I know baby. But it's fine," her mom leaned back on her feet trying to stand, having to grab the counter to bring herself to her feet.

"It's not fine. He shouldn't be doing this..." Josie has tears streaming down her face at this point. Her mother limps over to her and brings pulls her toward her, her head now resting on her chest.

"I know baby. God I know," her mother was crying again. "But I made peace with this a long time ago. And your daddy is not all that bad, he just get mad sometimes," Josie shakes her head.

"Doesn't mean that he should lay his hands on you," Josies mom shakes her now.

"Baby, don't worry about me, okay. Just stay up in your room when your daddy is mad, let me deal with him," Josie looks up at her mom.

"I don't want him to hurt you anymore," a tear leaves her mothers eye and slips down her face, a sniffle leaves her mother and then she places a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Go and get some sleep baby, you have school in the morning," and then her mother turns and continues to clean up the mess. And all that Josie could do was turn and walk out of the kitchen.

————————————————————

"Wait you gave what to Skylar?" Isaac asks Nathan as they sat on one of the outside tables. Josie leaned her head on her hand as she spaced out.

"You don't think a song is a bit much. I mean you not even dating. Don't you think Josie?" Isaac turned and looks at the older girl not even paying attention. Danny who was sitting next to her shakes her shoulder.

"Huh?" She asks as she breaks out of her trance.

"Isaac was asking you something," Danny tells her and she looks over at Isaac and gives him a small smile.

"Sorry Isaac, I wasn't paying attention," Isaac nods, accepting her apology.

"No it's fine. I just said that maybe writing a song for a guy your not even dating might be a little much," Isaac said turning back to Nathan who had a sheepish expression.

"I just didn't know how else to tell him, I thought that a song would be subtle."

"Subtle, that is the opposite of subtle," Alex pipes up.

"Hey guys, come on lay off of him a little," Josie tells them, seeing that they were making him feel more embarrassed when he clearly already was embarrassed enough. Nathan gives her a small smile.

"While I agree that maybe a song is a little bit much when you aren't even seeing each other, I think it's sweet," Josie tells Nathan who just nods his head. Isaac shakes his head a little before grabbing his bag and giving Alex's shoulder a slight tap.

"Come on, I want to get some lunch," Alex nods at him, grabbing his own bag and the pair walk off. Josie rolls her eyes before turning to Nathan again.

"I must say I cannot believe that you have been writing songs and have not told me," Nathan chuckles at this and shrugs.

"I was just trying something out," Josie raises her eyebrows, a smile still on her face.

"Well, I want to hear this song. If you'll let me?" To this Nathan nods, and jumps off of the table.

"I'm going to go and catch up with the guys, get some lunch, talk to you later?" Josie nods and he walks away. Danny nudges her arm when Nathan is gone and she turns to him.

"What was that?" He asks her, which causes her face to scrunch up in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"The spacing out. You have another bad nightmare?" Josie huffs leaning forward and placing her head on her wrapped arms.

"Aren't I always," Danny sighs.

"Have you told Hattie about this," Josie scoffs and laughs.

"I don't need to tell her, she is the one who wakes up to me screaming," to this Danny leans his head on his fist and looks at her.

"Have you looked into getting more sessions with June," Josie huffs.

"Danny, there is only so much therapy can do, and I'm not going on the pills."

"They won't put you on pill, Josie."

"Danny, I have been on this road for 8 years, we have tried everything and the only thing we haven't tried is pills. But I'm not taking them, they would have to shove them down my throat," Danny shakes his head and sighs. "You know it's not something that I'm ever forget, I'm just going to have to live with it Danny," Danny sighs.

"You shouldn't have to," Josie laughs at this, Déjà vu again.

"I know, I shouldn't, but I do. It's just my life Danny," Danny gives him a small smile and nods. Josie groans feeling bad putting all of this on him. "Come here," she says opening her arms. "Bring it in," she tells him in which he laughs pulling her into his arms. They hug for a moment, the once sad atmosphere dwindling. "You are my best friend you know, the closest I'll ever have to a real brother," Danny laughs.

"I know, you tell me all the time, your like another sister to me Josie."

"And you know that I do care about what you think, I just... this is just something that you can't help me with. I just need to figure it out on my own," Danny nods.

"I know, just don't like you suffering," Josie laughs.

"Im not suffering Danny, I'm living my life, proving him wrong," Danny pulls back and laughs.

"Hell yeah you are," and the two burst into a fit of laughter. Josie looks to her left and sees Cole walking past.

"Hey Cole," a voice says cheerily, Josie turns around and sees that it's Erin who is being so cheerful. Cole gives her a small smile and nods his head.

"Hey Erin, can I have a chat with you."

"Yeah of course," Erin turns to Olivia exchanging s few words and then the pair are walking next to each other into one of the buildings, out of sight leaving Olivia on her own.

"I wonder what that is about?" Danny asks and Josie has a feeling about what it might be about.

"Umm, im not sure," and Josie can't help but feel bad for lying.

————————————————————

You take down from the shelf Stories I tell To feel like I feel right now Remember this time, of just you and I We light up the

Josie sits at the top of Nathan's bed as he strums along of his guitar the song that he wrote Skylar. Josie had a smile on her face. It was one of the sweetest things that she had ever heard. As he finished Josie can't help but clap.

"That was amazing," she tells him, Nathan's gives a sheepish smile.

"Thanks."

"Seriously Nathan, it was so sweet."

"Not a little much," Josie stills for a minute before raising her shoulder a little.

"Just a bit," Nathan's groans. "But it doesn't make it any less sweet, and I think that Skylar should be at least flattered that someone wrote a song about him. I know that I would be," Nathan's chuckles.

"Sorry to tell you Josie, but I don't swing that way," Josie scoffs, grabbing his pillow chucking at him, doing her best to avoid his guitar.

"No shit Sherlock, but Nathan seriously, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. I mean you started off strong, now you just have to wait for Skylar to make his decision," Nathan sighs, putting down his guitar.

"It's just... I really like him and I don't want to mess it up before it has even started," Josie can only nod, she knew exactly how he felt. Josie rubs his arm and gives him a small smile.

"Don't worry about it now, everything will work out as it should," Nathan nods and pulls her into a hug.

"Thank you."

————————————————————

Walking into the kitchen, Josie is met with the sight of Katherine cooking dinner. "Hey Katherine," the older red head turned and smiled at the younger girl.

"Hey sweetheart, you looking to get some peace," Josie laughs as she sits down.

"Maybe, but I've grown used to it," Katherine laughs at this shaking her head.

"Sweetheart, you might be used to it but you need some peace and quiet," Josie snickers.

"And when do you get peace and quiet?" Katherine raises her eyebrows and nods.

"Good point," the pair laugh. It was nice to have this time with Katherine, it felt like sometimes they didn't get these moments anymore. Katherine was busy with the practice and having to deal with the drama that comes from having this many kids, when Josie first moved here, Katherine was on maternity leave and they had more time to spend together. Over the years Katherine had become another mother to Josie, if Josie ever had a problem and Aunt Hat wasn't available she always knew that she could come to Katherine.

"So how have you been sweetheart, you okay," Josie looks down at her hands and nods.

"Yeah I've been fine, you know. I'm always fine," Katherine puts a mug of tea in front of Josie, which she happily accepts.

"I find that when someone says that they are fine, they are not really fine," Josie sighs and takes a sip of her tea, putting it down she looks at Katherine.

"It's just... there's just a lot going on."

"Care to elaborate," Josie leans her head back and sighs.

"I like someone," Katherine takes a minute to take it in and then leans against the counter.

"Okay."

"And he likes me too, but it's just, it's complicated," Katherine nods.

"Complicated how?" Josie sighs.

"He just... he has made some decisions that just make it harder to be with him, like by being with him it's going to upset people."

"Who is going to be upset about you both being happy," Josie laughs at this.

"It's not that they are upset about us being happy, they are just going to be upset because it changes things. Because they were lead tto believe that something could become something and that was never the case," Katherine can only think about giving her son a hit on the head.

"Well I think that as long as he fixes those issues then you should allow yourselves to be happy, Josie. Sometimes you need to stop thinking about what others may think. You have to think about yourself," Josie nods.

"Maybe I should. But I think I am going to make him work for it a little more. Can't make it to easy for him," Katherine laughs at this.

"You really are your aunts, niece."

"What was aunt Hat like when it came to dating," Katherine smiles thinking back to when they were younger.

"She never made it easy for them. She was not going to waste her time on a guy if they just wanted a meaningless fling. She had nothing against others for having flings but she just wasn't that person. She wanted something meaningful, something that could become something," Josie takes a sip of her tea and thinks.

"And what about after I came. What was it like then," Katherine bites her lip, choosing her words carefully.

"I think that after you came to her, she realised that there was somethings more important than finding someone, that she had you to look after and nothing else mattered," Josie sighs at this.

"But did she not want more."

"She did. At one point she wanted to go travelling around Europe. Get her degree and just go and see the world but things change. Life works in mysterious ways and maybe, there is a reason things happened in the ways that they did," Josie understood what she meant, but it didn't make her feel any less guilty.

"Hey, enough of this deep chat. Let's get this dinner out," Josie laughs and grabs the bread rolls and brings them to the table.

"And Josie," she turns and looks at Katherine.

"Please let yourself be happy, you and Cole deserve it," and Josie was left speechless.

[fanficwritinggirl]

Chapter 7 - Prove it (My Montana)

Josie knocks on the door, leaning back and forth from the tips of her toes to the balls of her feet. She played with the ends of her sleeves as nerves filled her body. "Come in" the voice invites her, taking a deep breath she opens the door. Inside Jackie is sitting on her bed with text books surrounding her, a notebook open with a pen now laying on top of it.

"Hey Jackie, how you doing?" Josie asks her nervously, awkward tension filled the room.

"I'm fine, thank you," Jackie replied politely. There wasn't much else she could say to Josie. Though Jackie had been living in the Walter household for months now, you would think that the pair would have spent sometime together by now, but when it came down to it, Josie was spending most of her time with Danny or helping Nathan learn guitar or help some of the younger kids with whatever they were getting up to. So I didn't really leave much time for the two of them to handle out.

"Was there something that I could help you with?" Jackie face was plastered with confusion, probably wondering why she was just standing in her room.

"Oh um," Josie steps closer closing the door behind her. "I know that we are not close or anything and you can say no if you want but... I was just wondering, if it would be possible, for you to help me with chemistry. See I'm not failing chem or anything but just... I'm finding it hard and I want to get a better grade and Danny was saying to me how you were in advanced classes and to ask and see if you could help. You don't have to say yes, it's fine if you can't or don't want to," god she was embarrassing when it came to talking to new people.

Jackie shakes her head with a smile on her. "Of course I can help. Come sit, we can go over whatever you need." Josie lets out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much," she sits down on the bed as Jackie goes to her desk and gets a textbook.

"I'm sorry for you that whole, verbal diarrhoea," Jackie laughs at that as she sits back down on the bed. "It's just, I'm not great with talking to new people." Jackie nods her head understanding.

"I get it, people have a tendency to think that a person is so confident but really they don't know what inner demons they may be facing," Josie gives a sympathetic smile.

"You saying that from experience?" Jackie looks at her with a small smile, opening up the textbook.

"So how come, I have been living here for months now and we have never gotten to know each other?" Jackie asks and Josie just smirks.

"Well you know what the Walter household is like, there is never a quiet moment, there is always something going on that you end up getting dragged into when you don't want to," Jackie groans.

"Oh my god, yes. Sometimes it's like I can't get a moments peace. I am always planning to do something and then end of getting dragged into something else and I never get around to that job I was planning to do," Josie laughs.

"A word of advice, stick to hanging out with Alex. I might not be that close to him but I think that you two would be good sticking together," Jackie sighs at this and rolls her head back.

"What?" Josie asks her confused at her reaction.

"Promise to keep this between us?" Jackie asks her nervously. Josie smiles holding up her pinkie finger. Jackie smiles linking her pinkie with Josies.

"Pinky swear," Josie tells her. Jackie groans.

"Alex is nice and all, like we get along really well," Josie nods in agreement. "But I just get the feeling that he likes me more than that, like maybe he likes me, likes me," Josie laughs.

"You can say that again. He is like a doe eyed puppy," Jackie puts her head in her hands.

"That's what I'm afraid of. Like I said he's great but do you know just when someone just gives you the... you know."

"The ick," Josie finishes for her. Jackie moves her hands away from her face like a huge weight is lifted off of her chest.

"Exactly, and I know I have Grace I could talk to about this but I think we both know that Grace can be a bit of a gossip," Josie nods understanding where she is coming from.

"Lovely girl just doesn't get to experience things like you do because of her parents," Jackie nods.

"It's just, I want to be able to be friends with Alex and it not have to be something more. Or people thinking that it's more than it is," Josie gives Jackie's arm a reassuring rub.

"Trust me, from someone who has for years had to listen to people assuming that me and Danny are more than we are, I get that it can be annoying," Jackie raises an eyebrow.

"So there isn't anything going on between you and Danny," Josie groans leaning back on the bed, Jackie laughs.

"I'm sorry, it's just, I have heard that rumour from others and I just have to say, I don't see it between you two," Josie lets out a sigh in relief.

"Thank you, trust me Danny is like my brother and I'm like a sister to him," Jackie nods. The room falls silent for a minute before Jackie scrunch's her face up a little.

"Right, I don't want you to think that I am overstepping here but I just have to ask?" Josie sits up and looks at the younger girl, eyebrow raised.

"Is there something going on between you and Cole?" Josie freezes. "It's just I have seen the way you two have been acting, like there is just some you... tension or unspoken feelings there. Correct me if I'm wrong?" Josie sighs putting her head in her hands.

"It's... complicated."

"Complicated?"

"So complicated Jackie. I mean I have just been through the ringer with him. One minute we were nearly kissing and then the next minute he has his arm around Erin at lunch..." Jackie stops her.

"Wait hold on, near kiss and Erin?" Shock was clear in Jackie's voice. Josie groans realising she just slipped up. She looks at Jackie with pleading eyes.

"Please don't say anything to anyone outside of this room," Jackie nods. "Yesterday when I was at home, Cole popped over. We had hot cocoa and next thing I know we are having a water fight and then dancing..."

"Aww you were dancing," Jackie smiles finding that detail adorable.

"Yeah, and it was really sweet and then before I know it he has his finger under my chin and is leaning towards me."

"Please tell me you leaned in too?"

"Of course I did, I mean... I have known Cole for years, since we were kids. And before the incident with his knee and everything he was this kind, amazing person to everyone, everyone liked him," Josie recalls.

"But you liked him more than a friend didn't you?" Jackie asks the question and Josie can only nod and sigh.

"But after his knee injury, he just... turned into this person who just didn't care about anyone else, or at least act like he didn't care about anyone else. But sometime I see the old Cole come through, the one who I care for, the one who I miss and yesterday I saw that Cole," Jackie gives a small, sympathetic smile.

"So why didn't you kiss?" Josie groans at this.

"My aunt Hat came home so that we could have lunch together, I don't think she knew what to think of the situation," Jackie laughs.

"Well, if you walked in on your niece and a boy nearly kissing then I wouldn't know what to do either," Josie groans.

"Its just made my head spin, and I talked about it with my aunt Hat and everything. You know we are close and I tell her pretty much everything but I don't think that this is something that she can help me with or understand. I mean it has been at least 10 years since she has dated anyone, so I just don't think she is the best person to ask for dating advice," Jackie frowns.

"And you think that I'm the person for that job?" Josie shrugs.

"Well, after hearing about your predicament with Alex, I've second guessed that decision but you at least know what dating in this day and age is like, even if it's just from listening about others," Jackie nods. "So any advice?" Jackie laughs at this.

"I think you just need to talk to Cole. Ask him what the hell that whole thing was and ask him what that thing with Erin was at lunch, which on that note what was that thing with Erin at lunch?" Josie sighs.

"I was at lunch today and he just waltz's in looks at me and then goes and sits putting his arm around Erin, acting like a couple," Jackie's mouth flies open.

"Seriously, you really need to bring that up," Josie looks down playing with the sleeves of her top.

"I just don't want to act like a crazy bitch," Jackie shakes her head.

"Your not, if he is giving you all of these mixed messages and then acting like he and Erin are together the day after this all happened then you need to talk to him. Don't beat around the bush," Josie leans back again the bed and sighs. She sits thinking for a minute before a laugh escapes her lips.

"Why did I never come to you before. How have we not been friends before this," Jackie laughs at the comment.

"Maybe because Danny, Nathan and the rest of the family have been hogging you," Josie continues laughing.

"Well from now, us girls must stick together," Jackie nods before opening the chemistry text book.

"Now we must really get on with chem," Josie huffs and nods. "What is it you have been finding hard?" Josie snickers.

"Would you hate me if I said all of it?" Jackie raises her eyebrows nodding her head slowly.

"Okay, so why don't we start from the beginning."

————————————————————

Josie sighs as she opens the front door of the Walter house, the fresh air hits her and she leans back taking a deep breathe. She huffs a little bit before rubbing her temples with her fingers. Let's just say after spending two and a half hours learning chemistry her head was pounding.

Dropping her hands to her side, she looks around, it was dark, the only thing illuminating was the porch lights and the light on Cole's work shed. Running her fingers through her hair, pulling it back she rolls her shoulder back and marches towards the shed. She was going to get answers one way or another.

She grabs the handle, pushing the door opened. It was bright inside, Coles work tools scattered around from where they have been discarded carelessly. "Cole?" her voice carries through the small space. Wheels squeak as they are pushed, Cole's body roles out from under the truck, his back layed on top of the car creeper. Cole lifts himself up and turns looking at her. His head falls down as he sighs and carefully lifts himself up, placing his tool on the workbench. He slowly turns to her and leans against his workbench, rubbing his hands with a cloth.

"Do you want something?" He asks her shortly, causing her to snicker.

"Wow, is that really what you are going to ask me," Cole shoves the cloth down on the workbench and sighs.

"What do you want me to say, Montana," he questions.

"I want us to talk about what happened yesterday. What the hell was that?" Cole groans and pushes himself off of the bench and runs his finger through his hair.

"I don't know okay. I don't know what the hell I was doing," Josie huffs, shaking her head, her hands coming to rest on her hips.

"What do you mean you don't know what you were doing Cole. You were saying all those things to me and we nearly kiss. I..." Cole cuts her off.

"It was stupid okay. I shouldn't have said those things. Alright," Josie takes in a deep breathe, tears coming to her eyes.

"You said you shouldn't have said that, but you didn't say that you didn't mean them," she shakes her head, biting down on her tongue. "Did you mean it."

"Of course I meant it," Cole bursts, his attention was now on her. "Of course, I meant it, how could I not, look a you. You are so beautiful and brave and... strong. I watch you with my family, how you treat each of them so much time and attention. I honestly don't know how you do it..." he steps closer to her taking her hands in his. "You brighten my life, Josie. When you walk into the room, I can't help but look at you. And I know that I know that I'm not good at showing how I feel, I go around things the wrong way but... I care for you more than I should... but god... you are all I think about," Josie bites her tongue and nods, her eyes looking at their intertwined hands.

Swallowing, she looks up at him. "What was today with Erin. You were back doing the same thing that you always do. You give a girl false hope and then you go running back to her. If you care for me, then why do you do that," Cole sighs, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know, god I don't know. Since everything with my knee, my head is just so fucked," tears comes to his eyes and Josie shakes her head, being her hands to wipe them. "Why do I do these things Montana. I know it's shitting of me and I still do them. But I don't want to anymore, I want to be good and not lead them along like I have. I don't want them, I just want you," tears are running down her face now. This was the Cole that she knew, not he fake one.

"Then you need to show it. Be the Cole that I know. The kind and considerate one, not the one that you have been pretending to me. Be the Cole that I fell for," Cole nods his head, a smile appearing on his face.

"The Cole you fell for?" He asks, hope in his voice. Josie sighs, shaking her head and looking down. Cole brings his finger under her chin and lifts her head up to look at him, it was giving serious déjà vu. Cole leans forward, going to connect their lips. Josie leans forwards but leans back and groans.

"Cole, we can't."

"Why can't we. I care for you, you care for me, so what is stopping us," Josie steps back and sighs.

"Because... I need you to show me that you mean that. We nearly kissed yesterday, and then today you were like that with Erin. I need you to show me that you mean what you say. Apologise to Erin for leading her on, to any of the other girls you have been leading on and promise that you are not going to do that again. And to everyone else, you need to make time for them, keep your promises when you make them and prove to them that you are not an ass like you have been. And we need to find a way to tell Danny before everyone else," Cole raises an eyebrow.

"Danny? Why would we need to tell Danny?" Josie groans.

"Come on Cole. I'm his best friend, you're his brother. It's going to change things," Cole puts his head down and nods.

"Okay... we'll figure something out. We'll find a way to find Danny, and I'll make it up to you, to everyone else. I promise you," Cole takes her head in his hands and rests their foreheads together. Josie nods.

"It's a start, now prove it."

[fanficwritinggirl]

Chapter 6 - Mistake (My Montana)

Hot balls of oil spit underneath the bacon as it sizzles in the pan on the stove, the smell filling the house as it cooks. Cooked bacon was what woke Josie from her deep slumber, having no recollection of even falling asleep. She carries herself down the stairs, the need for food becoming more imminent. Hattie stands at the stove, the tip of a spatula placed on the bacon as she presses on it.

"You know that's not going to make it cook quicker right," Josie tells her as she passes behind her and to the coffee maker. Hattie smirks.

"It's cooked, I just want it to get some colour. Colour adds..." Josie looks over her shoulder and cuts her off. "Flavour, I know. I swear I hear you bang on about it every time you cook food," Josie fills her mug and walks over, planting herself in a chair at the table taking a sip of her black coffee, grabbing a slice of toast that was sitting between the metal wires of the toast holder. Hattie, having taken the bacon the pan, follows behind her, plate of bacon in hand.

"Well seeing as I don't cook that often, it's surprising that it has stuck with you as much as it has," Hattie comments as she takes her own slice of toast. Josie smirks, raising an eyebrow as she chews on her toast and swallows.

"I think that because of the rare insistence that you cook, the memories stay with me more," the room falls into silence, though smiles are both present on their faces.

"I don't remember falling asleep, it was like I passed out," Hattie nods at the comment, taking a sip of her tea.

"Yeah. I ended up coming back late, got called out to the Bennetts ranch due to a calf being breached, and had to do an emergency C-section."

"Did they survive?" Josie's eyebrows were knitted together in concern. Hattie shakes her head a bit and sighs.

"Mama was fine, but the calf died, there wasn't enough oxygen. Mr Bennett was able to get a surrogate calf from Mr Myers farm," Josie nods, understanding that, that was a normal thing in farming, stock died, it's mother nature. The room returned to silence again, a pause in the conversation as one topic needed for discussion, hanging in the corner of the room, waiting to be discussed.

"So... are we going to talk about what I walked in on yesterday?" Hattie purses her lips slightly as she glances at her niece from the corner of her eye. Josie places her mug down, cradling it in between her hands as she ponders her words.

"What do you want to know?" Josie asks quietly, causing Hattie to laugh, her hands lifting into the air a little as her face lifts.

"Oh, I don't know what is going on between you and Cole," it was such an obvious question and Josie didn't quite know how to answer it.

"There is nothing going on between us," Josie tells her aunt truthfully, Hattie's eyes lift in disbelief. Josie puts her hands out.

"No, I am being serious. Nothing is going on," Hattie leans back in her chair and crosses her arms.

"SERIOUSLY!" she shouted, and Josie couldn't help but groan.

"Yes, seriously."

"What is your guy's problem?" Hattie's hands untangle themselves and she places them on the edge of the table. "I mean come on, you were clearly having a moment before I interrupted," Josie scrunches her eyes up and nods her head.

"Yeah, you did. Thanks for that."

"Sorry."

"But I mean..." Josie brushes her hair back and she slides them over her head and rests them, connected, behind her neck. "He came over, we had hot cocoa, ended up having a water fight and then next thing I know, he is pulling me to him, and we are dancing in the kitchen. And it has just thrown me into a spanner, Aunt Hat. I mean what does this mean?" Josie spirals and all Hattie can do is place her hand on the younger girl's forearm.

"Hey. Listen to me, okay. I don't know what this means," Josie's face drops, and Hattie puts her free hand out. "But I think it's safe to say that there are clearly some feelings there from Cole's side. But clearly, he is not very good at expressing, verbally, what he is feeling," Josie scoffs.

"Oh, you can say that again," she takes a sip of her coffee and Hattie sighs.

"Look all I know is that there is something between you and Cole, and one of you need to grow a pair and say something, because at this rate you two are going to drive me to drink, and I already have 101 reasons to become an alcoholic as is," Hattie comments and Josie smirks at her aunt's antics, her face quickly changes as she leans back in her chair, her face becoming serious.

"It's just... my nightmares, me mentally right now, Danny. these things I take into consideration before starting a relationship. If there is a relationship to start."

"But what about what June said about being happy. Allowing yourself to be happy and that it might help the nightmares to become less severe. And I'm sure Danny isn't as blind as you think to what is going on between you and Cole," Josie snickers.

"Trust me, I love Danny, but he sometimes can be so oblivious to what is going around him, he almost deserves a medal for it, though I can't blame him. I mean when you have that big of a family and you are seeing and hearing about all the shit that is going on with them, I can't really blame him for not seeing it."

"Doesn't mean that the others haven't," Hattie comments and Josie smirks, shaking her head.

"Yeah, Alex. Guess he is the best perspective. But that is just because he watches every detail of Cole's life, waiting for him to slip up so that he can hold him to it forever. Not letting him forget the little mistake he has made. It's toxic," Hattie nods.

"Yeah. These two together have never been a good mix. Sometimes siblings are just made to argue, and that is Cole and Alex," Josie smiles.

"Where you and Mom like that," Josie asks and Hattie laughs as she reminisces.

"Oh, your mother was a pain in my ass. In a good way," Josie laughs. "She used to steal my clothes a lot when she started dating... you know," Josie smiles drops and looks down at her mug and nods understanding what her aunt was insinuating.

"And next thing I know, she was married and out of the house and moved to another state. And I would do anything to have one more day to argue with her," Hattie's voice cracks and Josie can do nothing but stand up and wrap her arms around her aunt in a hug. Hattie smiles as she wraps her arms around her niece.

"Hey, none of this now. Too early for this now. Why don't you go and get ready for the day. I'm sure the boys will be here soon to pick you up. You sure you don't want me to drive you?" Josie pulls away and shakes her head.

"No, it's your day off. Go back to bed, sleep some more and relax. I'll be fine," Josie tells her before putting her plate in the sink and running up the stairs. Hattie sat and sighed as she took a sip from coffee.

"God please let her be okay, and figure everything out. For my sake and your Aub," she speaks to nothing but herself.

————————————————————

Josie hated chemistry. She really did, like how was she going to be able to use this in her life. Yeah, she might not know exactly what it is she wants to do yet but she knows one thing, chemistry is not going to help her in any case.

"Okay class, can anyone tell me the atomic structure of oxygen," Josie puts her head down, continuing to doodle at the corner of her page.

"Anyone? Josie why don't you tell us," Josie lifts her head, eyes wide.

"Umm...it has protons and electrons," she states dumbly.

"Correct and how many protons and electrons are there?" The teacher asks her and Josie was stumped. A foot hits her, under the table and she turned and Danny has written on the corner of his page the answer.

"8 protons, 8 neurons" the teacher smiled and nod.

"Correct well done Josie," they moved on and continued the lesson. Danny nudged her with his elbow and she looks at him again.

"You okay?" Her lips lift up a little and she nods.

"Fine."

"You sure, you keep zoning out," Josie nods again.

"I'm fine, just tired. And it's doesn't help that chemistry makes absolutely no sense to me," Danny nods understanding where she was coming from.

"I know she is a few grades below up, but I heard that Jackie is quite good at science. I think she's in advanced classes. Maybe you could ask her to give you some help you know," Josie sits there and thinks about it. It would be useful, with Jackie living at the Walters and all, it not like Josie isn't there herself most of the time.

"Yeah, yeah. I think I will."

"So how was yesterday," Josie chokes on her water, coughing as she tries to catch her breath.

"Wow," Danny hands her a napkin and she wipes the drops of water running down her chin.

"Thank you," Danny chuckles before shoving some food in his mouth.

"So, how are you feeling after yesterday," Danny asks again and Josie nods her head, eating her food.

"Yeah, you know. Tiring, you know what June is like she doesn't leave any stone unturned. You would think after me going to her for so long she would have less to weave through," Danny shrugs.

"I don't think therapy is ever meant to be easy," Josie snickers at the comment.

"You can say that again," the pair chuckle between themselves. Josie eyes trail behind Danny and she sees a certain blonde waltzing in. She freezes for a moment as their eyes meet, he slows for a second, taking a longer look at her before he tears his eyes away from her, his eyes now falling to the floor and walking towards his friends. He slides in next to Erin, his arm draped over her shoulders as she turns and smiles up at him. Josie bites her tongue as she takes a breathe and looks down at her food. She should have known better.

"Hey, I'm going to go and see Miss Jacobs quickly before lunch ends," Danny looks confused.

"Yeah okay, is everything okay?" Josie nods as she grabs her back.

"Yeah fine I just remembered I needed to ask her something. See you in class," and then she was out of the door before he could say anything else.

[fanficwritinggirl]

My prerogative (Fred Weasley)

"Love?" your eyes look up towards Fred who is standing in his pyjamas in the archway to the stairs up to the boys' dorms, his hand rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. "What are you still doing awake? Its 3am," he walks closer to you and all you can do is offer him a tired smile, you had been up for hours, you hadn't even changed out of your uniform.

"Studying, its only a few weeks until our O.W.L.s Fred, if I want to move...," Fred cuts you off.

"If you want to move onto the N.E.W.T.s you have to do well," he finishes for you. Rounding the couch, he plonks himself down next to you leaning fully against the back. "You're going to do well love," you shake your head at this.

"You don't know that, Fred. I mean I have been studying for weeks and it just seems that there is not enough time to revise all of this information. I mean if I fail an Owl then I am going to be held back," your heart was racing, you could feel tears threatening to fall.

"Oh love," Fred leans forward pulling you into his arms, your head falling into the crook of his neck, your tears now free falling. His hand rubs comforting circles on your back as you cry which now had turned into full blown sobs.

"You don't need to worry love, you'll pass," you shake your head, pulling your head away you look at him.

"But you don't know that. I'm not like you and George, I'm not someone who can just trust that everything is going to work itself out. It just seems that my brain won't shut off Freddie," Fred face scrunches up before pulling you into his arms again.

"I hate seeing you like this," he whispers to you, his own tears now threatening to fall. Fred didn't know how long he lay there with you in his arms before realising that you had fallen asleep. Fred smiled at this, thankful that you were finally getting some proper sleep. Carefully he moved the both of you so that you were sprawled on top of Fred who had now moved to lie fully down on the couch. George looks over at the roaring fire and sighs as he looks back at you. He was going to help you if it was the last thing that he did.

"Wait you want to do what?" George looked at his twin like he had three heads.

"Come on Georgie, its for Y/N. She's been really stressed out with the O.W.L.s coming up and I just want to see her smile is all. I'm not asking you to do it with me just to help out," George was shocked. He and Fred had done some silly things in the past but nothing like this, this was taking the cake.

"You are really whipped," is all George says before walking off. God this better be worth it.

You were exhausted, you could feel yourself falling asleep. "Y/N," fingers clicked in your face snapping you awake. You look over at Hermione whose eyebrows are frowned. "You were falling asleep again," you give her a small smile before taking a sip of your coffee that had now gone lukewarm.

"Have you been getting any sleep. You know what Professor McGonagall said, we need to not only be studying but getting good sleep. There is no point in showing up to the O.W.L.s falling asleep," you nod your head.

"Just feels like there is not enough time is all," Hermione nods at this, knowing what the pressure felt like better than anyone. Just as you are about to speak you hear a loud bang. You and it seems everyone else in the great hall jumps, heads turning towards the source. You were shocked when you see Fred standing on top of the Gryffindor table. Your eyes meet and Fred just gives you a smile before nodding his head towards George who is standing off to the side with what looks like a speaker.

Within seconds the start of the song starts, and you instantly recognise it. My Prerogative by Bobby Brown was one of the first muggle songs that you introduced Fred too and it was one of your personal favourites.

Fred starts dancing to the song causing everyone to start laughing and cheering him on.

Everybody talking all this stuff about me.

Why don't they just let me live?

Fred dances his way down the table, making his way towards you and you couldn't help but smirk, shaking your head. God he was an idiot, but he was your idiot.

I don't need permission to make my own decisions.

That's my prerogative.

Fred comes in front of you and you both look at each other and can't help but laugh. This was one of the most ridiculous things anyone has ever done for you. Jumping off of the table Fred pulls you into his arms. "So, what did you think love?" you laugh and shake your head.

"Ridiculous but very entertaining," Fred smirks at this and nods.

"I'll take it, if it means I get to make you laugh love," and God did your heart melt and this.

"I love you Fred," you whisper to him. Fred smiles, taking your face into his hands.

"I love you too, love" he brings his lips to yours and the room burst into cheers from everyone who was soaking up the entire situation, loving it.

"MR WEASLEY," Professor McGonagall shouts as she marches towards the pair of you. Well maybe not everyone loved it.

For all of by book readers, you will get this chapters reference.

[fanficwritinggirl]

Got to be quiet sweetheart (George Weasley)

Smut

Why did class have to be so boring, like really, really boring. Bless Professor Flitwick for trying to make it entertain but your mind was anywhere but in whatever charm he was teaching. It also did not help the fact that George was sitting next to you looking as handsome as ever.

"Is it just me or is this class going on forever," George whispers into you ear causing you to smirk.

"Oh yes, I think I have been zoning out to what he has been teaching for 20 minutes. If he asked me to answer I would not even know what to say," George chuckles at this. You try to turn your attention to the class when you feel George's hand run up your thigh. Your eyes go wide, your mouth falling open slightly. "What are you doing?" you hush to him, bending your arms, elbows leaning onto the desktop letting your fist cover your mouth ever so slightly.

"You look so good today sweetheart, I just need to have a feel is all, is that okay?" you feel heat in your core as you think about it. It was so wrong, embarrassing if you were caught but it was also hot. Really fucking hot. Making your pussy dripping wet hot. Biting down on your hand to nod him. He smirks at this, his hand starting to run up your skirt. His hand brushes over your covered pussy and you fight to keep your breathing steady.

"Soaked," you heard him mutter. His hand snakes up over the top of your tights, sinking underneath his fingers meet your wet clit, your hands come to your mouth, and you bite hard to supress the moan. You bite harder when you feel him sink one of his fingers in, he pumps one in a time or two before adding a second, it was taking everything in you not to rock against his hand. You were on fire you could feel yourself turning red, a layer of sweat covering your skin.

You try to keep your attention on the class, but you cannot feel your eyes flickering open and close, it is getting harder and harder to keep them open when you are getting closer and closer to your climax.

"Miss L/N?" you feel like you have had a bucket of ice water splashed on you. Your gaze meets that of Professor Flitwick, your heart racing. Thankfully, George takes this time to carefully slip his fingers out of you and his hand out from under your soaked panties. "Are you okay dear, you are awfully red looking," your eyes widen a little.

"I do not think she is well sir. She said she was not feeling well this morning, but she did not want to miss class," George pipes up, his hand coming up to your forehead. "She has a temperature. I think it might be best to take her to Madam Pomfrey," God you had never loved this man more in your life.

"Yes, that might be best George, why don't you escort her, make sure she gets there okay," they both grabbed their things hastily, thankful that they were at the back of the class making it a smoother get away.

Rounding the corner, George's hand grab one of your hips, the other comes to the back of your head as he shoves you into the wall, his lips attacking you. "God, I hate Flitwick for interrupting us. I could feel that you were close sweetheart," you moan against his mouth.

"God, it felt so good. I wanted to cum so badly," he smirks.

"Trust me you will baby. Am going to take you somewhere that they cannot interrupt us," you nod, breaking apart from each other, holding onto each other's hands as you run off back to the dorms.

Clothes scatter the floor as they are peeled of their bodies, completely disregarded. Their lips were back on each other as soon as they were over the threshold of the boy's dorm. George kissed his way down your neck, his hands cupping your breast causing you to roll your head back with a moan. George smirks, his hands trailing from your breast to your ass, grabbing it tightly and lifting you into his arms, your legs wrapping tightly around his waist. Bring your arm around your back you unclasp your bra letting it fall loosely between your pressed bodies.

Walking over towards his bed, George and you fall onto it, no space between yous. George's mouth leaves your neck as he lifts himself up away from you and onto his knees. You fully remove your bra letting it fall to the floor, eyes never leaving George as he stays looking at you. "You are so beautiful," is all he says before his hands come to your hips, gripping onto your tights, and ripping them off.

"George," you gasp.

"Don't worry sweetheart, we can get another pair," this causes you to moan. Moving off the bed, George gets down onto his knees, pulling you so that your ass is on the edge. His kisses start on your thighs, working up towards your core. He swipes his tongue over your soaked panties, your head falls back onto the bed, your hands gripping the bedsheets. George rips your panties off your body, chucking them away and leaning back down towards you. His mouth cups around your core causing you to gasp, your hands turning white from gripping the sheets.

You can feel Georges eyes on you as you move around being a moaning mess as he sucks onto your clit. "More," you gasp out, your back arching for him. His chuckles causing vibrations, making you cry out. George moves one of his easily from your hips, he removes his mouth and lets his fingers move over your soaked core, getting them lubricated before inserting two of them. Your bite your bottom lip, trying not to cry out. His mouth is back on your core, his two fingers thrusting into you. Grabbing a handful of his hair, you grip it causing him to moan.

"Just like that sweetheart, be a good girl for me," you moan gripping his hair tighter. Your core tightens. "Are you going to cum for me sweetheart," you rapidly nod your head. George chuckles before removing his fingers and his mouth causing you to gasp.

"What are you doing don't stop," you plead causing him to laugh more. Lifting himself up, he curls his hand around your hip, turning you over so your ass is facing him.

"Patience sweetheart, I want to feel you cum around my dick," you smile, George grabs a condom from his bedside table, rolling it on and throwing the wrapper away. "Ass up in the air for me," he instructs, causing you to push your hips up. His dick pushes slightly into your entrance, a little bit more and more each time, letting you get ready for him. Once he feels you are ready, he pushes himself fully into you causing you to moan, you hear him groaning as well. He lets you adjust to him before slowly thrusting into you. You gasp into the sheets as your hand grips the sheets.

"Yes George, just like that," George moans at this, grabbing your hair he pulls onto it, pulling your head back and thrusting harder. Tears brim in your eyes as you feel yourself nearing release.

"Are you ready to cum, you going to come with me," you moan, unable to nod your head. Just as you are ready to cum, George lets go of your hair, moving his hands around to your front, his hands cupping your breasts and pulling your back into his chest. Within seconds you are crying out as you cum, your eyes roll back into your head. George moans into your ear as he comes to his own release, the both of you falling forward.

You lie there for a minute, your panting filling the dorm room. A smile comes to your face as George moves your hair and kisses your shoulder. "You are the most amazing person that I have ever met," you laugh, looking over your shoulder at him.

"You're not too bad yourself," sighing, George lifts himself up and pulls himself out of you, walking over and discarding the used condom. You roll over onto your back and allow yourself to catch you breathe. "We should do this all the time. So much better than Flitwick's class," you say, causing George to laugh at you, sauntering over towards you, completely exposed, causing you to lose you breathe.

"I wish we could, would keep you in bed with me all day If I could but I don't think that our grades or our parent would appreciate it," you groan at this.

"When did you suddenly care about grades and what our parents say," you lift yourself off of the bed and walk towards George, your hand coming to rest on his chest.

"Well, when you want to be able to provide for someone and give them everything that they deserve, kind of motivates you to do well," a small smile comes to your lips.

"Oh yeah, and what exactly is that?"

"Well, she has always said that she wants a nice house in the country, a bit like my parents. Have a few fields so that the kids can run around in them. Maybe have a few animals as well," he smiles down are you. "Whatever she wants, I will do the best that I can to give it to her," your eyebrows scrunch up and you nod your head and smile.

"She is pretty lucky," you gaze into each other's eyes and smile, your arms wrapping around each other.

"Do you what I want right now?"

"What sweetheart?"

"I want to go to the bathroom and then for us to practice making them kids about which we were talking. You know because you can never have enough practice," George laughs, kissing your forehead.

"That I think I can do," and he did many times after that. Was better than Flitwick's class.

[fanficwritinggirl]

So High School...

“Harriet… Harriet are you listening to me?” her eyes widened as she snapped out of her daze. “Did you hear anything that I just said?” Hermione’s eyebrows were scrunched together as she looked confusedly at her friend. Harriets eyebrows raised as she stumbled on her words.

“Uhm, no sorry, I’m still half asleep,” it was a lie, she had a cup of coffee that morning and two cups of tea so tired was the last thing she was. No, her attention had been to drawn to that of Oliver Wood, star quidditch player and literally the most attractive boy that she had ever laid on especially when he was sitting further down the Gryffindor table with that annoyingly attractive smile on his face, his head rolling back every once in a while as he laughed at whatever his friend were saying.

“I’ll get you another coffee. We have a long day ahead of us. With classes and studying for end of term exams. And we have still have the quidditch game later on,” Harriet smiles at this. It was Gryffindor vs Slytherin today, the most important game to date, it was all that everyone had been talking about for months.

“Well, we are going to crush Slytherins arses, can’t have Malfoy or any of the other sleezy snakes bragging,” Hermione rolls her eyes at the thought.

“Oh imagine. They would never let us forget it. But with Harry on the team we won’t lose,” Harriet raises an eyebrow at this.

“Alright Mione, you do know there are other players on the team,” Ron comes up behind them, planting himself next to Harriet, his plate filled to the brim with sausages.

“Thanks for the confidence Mione,” Harry thanks into Hermione’s ear as he sits down next to her. Hermione smirks shaking her head.

“I’m just saying, Harry is the seeker. It’s one of the most important positions in the game.”

“And the seeker needs help from everyone else on the team, they all have their own roles to play. I mean look at Oliver, he’s our keeper, who would defend the goals without him. And I mean Fred and George are beaters, who would attack the other team,” Ron’s rant makes Harriet laugh to herself. Ron and Hermione really did bicker like an old married couple.

“Well, my statement still stands,” Hermione’s statement ends the conversation, causing them all to fall into a silence as they eat their breakfast.

Screeching and the flapping of wings come over head as owls start flying in dropping mail. Banging comes as they hit the hard wooden tables causing Harriet to jump. “Could they do it more gently,” she grumbles. A letter falls in front of both Hermione and Ron, unsurprisingly the pair usually got letters unlike herself and Harry who never received anything.

Turning back to her food, she passes no attention to the mail falling around her until a large, wrapped gift falls in front of her. Hermione looks up from her own letter, confusion on her own face.

“Who is that for?” she asks, standing up and leaning across to lift the tab on it. A smile paints her friend face.

“Harriet, its for you,” shock washes over her. Who on earth sent her something. Standing up herself, she takes the tab out of Hermione hand, seeing her name written plain as day, HARRIET MATTHEWS.

“Well go on then open it,” Harry tells her, both he and Ron were now standing. Hesitantly, she pulls at the lilac, fabric ribbon that was tied around the thin, white rectangular box. As the ribbon falls, she curls her fingers under the lid, pulling it upwards. Her heart jumps as she investigates the box, wrapped carefully was a bouquet of flowers.

“Wow, they’re…” she cuts off Hermione.

“Hyacinths. My favourite flower,” Ron raises his eyebrows and laughs.

“Well, you clearly have caught the eye of someone,” Harry nods.

“Yeah, but who?” carefully Harriet lifts the bouquet out, Harry and Hermione looking between the box and the ribbon that was tied around the stems of the flowers.

“Doesn’t say,” Hermione says as she leans up, looking at the flowers. “Do you have any idea who it could have been?” Harriet lost for words, shakes her head.

“No… no idea.”

“Well, he has to tell you soon, I mean he must like you enough to give you a big gesture like this,” Ron says as she sits down next to him, flowers still gripped in her hands.

“Yeah, maybe…” her voice trails off.

Harriet loved the quiet of the hallways as she strolled down them, rarely were they empty, no loud, chatting teens filling them, now it was just the occasional echo of frantic footsteps as students run because they are late to class. As she walks towards the girl’s bathroom a hand wraps around her forearm pulling her into a nook in the wall causing her to yelp in surprise.

“Shhh… its just me,” her body relaxes when she hears his voice.

“Oliver,” she groans in frustration, causing Oliver to smirk at her.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” she huffs, looking up him with a pout on her face. Oliver sighs leaning forward. “God, I’ve missed you,” before his lips are on hers. Harriet smiles into the kiss, wrapping her arms around her neck, his hands trailing down to her waist, gripping slightly. He pushes her further into the wall, causing her to groan, her hands moving to grab a handful of his hair giving it a slight tug, his mouth leaving hers as he groans at the sensation. “You are perfect,” he whispers. Harriet smirks, giving him a quick peck on the lips.

“You’re not too bad yourself, Mr anonymous,” Oliver huffs at the nickname before moving his head into the crook of her neck, his lips meeting the skin. A gasp leaves her mouth as he sucks. “Hyacinths? How did you know they were my favourite,” he pulls back looking at her with a smirk.

“You took a few back with you after our date a while back. Have been meaning to get you a bunch sooner just haven’t had time,” she smiles at this, a hand falls from his neck to caress one of his cheeks.

“And having them delivered in the mail? I thought we were keeping this between us for now,” Olivers hold on her loosens as he takes a step back from her, his eyebrows knitted together.

“I know that’s what we agreed on, its just…” he trails on, his hand coming to rub the back of his neck. “I want people to know about us,” that statement causes her to freeze.

“Oh,” is all she can say, her head falling to look at her feet. Oliver looks at the girl before him and he sighs.

“I’m sorry, I know you wanted to keep things private because of everything that happened with that ex of yours but…” leaning forward he takes her chin in between his fingers, pulling it so that her eyes meet his. “Sometimes when I am with you, I can’t believe how lucky I am to call you mine and I just… want to shout it from the rooftops,” Harriet giggles at this, a smile painting her face. “You are the most amazing person Harriet Matthews, I’m not like Peter, whatever that arses last name is,” Harriets head falls back as she laughs, her arms wrapping around his neck once again. “Unlike him, I don’t want to hide this, and as long as you are okay, I want to be able to hold your hand as we walk down the hallways, and kiss you whenever I want without the fear of someone catching us,” Harriet lifts an eyebrow, her smile turning into a smirk.

“Well… we might have to practice more PG type kissing, I don’t think everyone is going to want to see a lot of the stuff we do,” Oliver chuckles.

“So… are we done hiding?” Harriet looks into his eyes and her heart can’t help but melt. Oliver wasn’t ashamed of her, not like Peter, and it causes her to feel giddy.

“Yeah, we’re done hiding,” his lips meet her frantically, giggles leaving both of them as they move their hands around each other.

“You know, I would say that I have about 10 more minutes until McGonagall really starts to question where I am,” he chuckles.

“10 minutes… I can do a lot in that time,” his hands run up her thighs, trailing under her skirt causing her to moan.

“I know you can, so do it. Fuck me,” and who was he to argue with her.

“Look at them, its like they have already won,” Hermione looks over across at the Slytherins who all are standing, grinning like they have just found a pot of gold.

“Hermione they are Slytherins, what else do you expect,” Hermione nods her head.

“True. Well, I just mean that it will be all the more satisfying when we beat, they’re arses,” Harriet and Hermione look at each other and laugh.

“God, I love quidditch,” just then the trumpets start, and everyone starts standing up cheering. Hermione and Harriet grin standing up and cheering alongside them. One by one the teams start flying out, the cheers getting louder and louder.

“Also where were you earlier?” Hermione asks causing Harriet to lift her eyebrows.

“When?”

“Earlier on, you asked professor McGonagall to go to the loo, you must have been gone for 15 minutes,” Harriets heart stops as she remembers, Oliver saying that he wants to tell people, his fingers trailing down her, being inside of her and then his penis, how they used their mouth to muffle their cries of pleasure. Harriet feels herself warm up.

“Are you alright, you’ve gone really red,” Harriet clears her throat, loosening her scarf.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just got really hot there for second, think its just with everyone being around.”

“Do you need a minute, we can leave if you want,” Harriet shakes her head.

“No, I’ll be fine,” with that they’re attention turned to the game.

 They crushed them, absolutely crushed them, the Gryffindor’s were going absolutely mad, drowning out the boos of the Slytherins who all were giving out, being the sore losers that they were. Hermione and Harriet had massive grins on their faces as they run down to the teams changing room. “Oh, that was amazing, did you see the Slytherins faces. Oh, they were so mad,” Harriet bursts out laughing.

“Hermione I’m starting to think you are a bit of an evil minx,” they reach the Gryffindor tent, members pilling out, their faces euphoric. Harry and Ron come barrelling out spotting the girl, walking over.

“That was some game,” Ron says, taking off his hat.

“You can say that again, I didn’t know if they were trying to win or go for our blood that time,” Harry says shaking his head.

“They are Slytherins. They are always going out for our blood,” Harriet says causing the trio to nod, chuckling to themselves.

“Did you see how Oliver defended that goal, it was insane.”

“If he hadn’t stopped that from scoring, we would have lost.” Harry replies causing Ron to nod.

“Thank you, Oliver Wood,” Harriet smiles at that. Over Rons shoulder she sees Oliver coming out of the tent, they’re eyes meet. Oliver smiles at her, picking up pace and jogging towards her. Harriet grins, pushing past Ron. Harriet walks forward meeting Oliver who lifts her up into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as they hold onto each other, laughter coming from both of them.

“You did so good. That was the most amazing thing that I have ever seen,” Oliver laughs at that, bring her face before his.

“That I know is not true,” Harriet shakes her head, grinning.

“Top five,” she offers.

“Top ten,” Oliver offers causing Harriet to sigh.

“God you are insufferable,” she brings his lips to hers, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly bringing him as close as possible.

“Do you know…” Oliver mutters as they pull back. “I love you Harriet Matthews,” her heart explodes.

“And I love you Oliver Wood,” they couple kiss again. Letting the world around them fade away.

“What the bloody hell is happening?” well almost fade away.