#//i am officially moving. will figure out lily later but... Yeah

[ofsweetness]

mmkay- pls go follow @heartfe1t

[viking-raider]

Southern Generation - Part VI

Summary: Sy officially moves in with Lily and they go on a road trip to make amends.

Pairing: Austin Syverson/OFC (Lily)

Word Count: 11,965

Warning: PG-13 - Language, Fluff, Angst, Smut, Oral - F Receiving, Drama, Pregnancy Cravings

Inspiration: Syverson is OP

Author's Note: Thanks to the wonderful @wondersofdreaming

Author's Note 2: Make sure to follow and turn on the notifications for my Tag List blog @viking-raider-taglist to stay up to date on this and all my other stories!

“That's the last of them.” Sy smiled, setting the last box of his stuff down.

With Lily pregnant and them making their relationship official, Sy moved all of his stuff from his Austin apartment into the farmhouse with Lily.

“Well, officially.” Lily replied, resting her hands on her hips and looking up at him. “Welcome home.” She smiled, giddy and proud.

“Thanks, Darling.” He grinned back, cupping her face and kissed her.

Lily smiled, as she woke up from her nap, feeling the warm and heavy weight of Sy's body in bed with her, his head in its customary place, on her chest. She usually woke up from her naps with Sy, whether or not he was with her, when she fell asleep or not. Sighing and moaning softly, she lifted her hand to twist the short, curling ends of his hair between her fingertips.

“Hm.” Sy hummed softly, rubbing his scruffy face against her chest and hugging his arms tighter around her middle, thumb stroking her tummy.

“I'm surprised at you.” Lily whispered, still playing with his hair.

“Why?” Sy moaned back, turning his head to look up at her.

“When I first met you, I half wondered what your hair would look like if you let it grow out.” She explained, running her fingers through it.

“Oh?” He chuckled, smirking at her.

“Yeah.” She blushed at him. “But, I just didn't expect the Bear, Austin Syverson, would have curls.” She grinned at him, twisting the ends of his hair between her fingers, she loved his developing curls.

“My hair hasn't been this long in ten years.” Sy laughed, blushing and biting his lip. “I've been thinking about cutting it again.”

“I will end you, Wyatt.” Lily threatened, touching the tip of her finger to his nose.

“Oh, busting out the middle name and everything.” He smirked, taking a playful snap at the tip of her finger. “Lily?” He whispered, biting the inside of his lip as he stared into her eyes.

“What?” She replied, tilting her head at him.

“Have you thought about going back?” Sy murmured, brow creasing. “Back to Middleburg, to see your grandparents. Jak isn't a threat anymore. I'm sure they would love to see you and I'd bet my life, you want to see them again. Especially now, with the baby on the way.”

Lily pressed her lips together, resting her hands on Sy's shoulders. “It would be nice to see them again.” She answered, after a long pause.

“But?” He pressed, sensing it coming next.

“What if they don't want to see me?” She asked, searching his eyes for comfort, and found it. “What if they don't want me in their life anymore?”

Sy took a deep breath, sitting up as he did, and brought Lily up with him. “Then, that's their loss.” He told her, folding her up in his arms and pressing his lips to her forehead. “If they don't want you in their life, then they are missing out on knowing one of the most amazing gals, who can light up a room, simply by walking into it.”

“You're just buttering me up, Austin.” Lily mumbled into his neck.

“Woman, have I ever lied to you?” Sy grinned into her hair.

“No.” She chuckled, blushing shyly.

“I don't intend to now, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her temple. “But, you won't know their reaction, unless you go and see them.” He added, softer.

“I know.” She whispered back, leaning against his chest. “You're right. I owe it to them and myself.”

“Whatever choice you make, I'll support you, every step of the way.” Sy told her, gently tipping her head back and tenderly kissed her.

“I think I want to go see them.” Lily said, later that night, while she and Sy sat at the dinner table.

Sy looked up from his plate of spaghetti and garlic bread, slowly lowering his fork. “All right.” He nodded, straightening his back and giving her his full attention. “When do you wanna go?”

“The sooner, the better, I think.” She mumbled, shifting in her seat, her own dinner mostly untouched.

Sy nodded his head again, quietly regarding Lily from across the table. He could see the worried and fearful anxiety on her face, still mulling over every worst case scenario about seeing her grandparents again, he could almost see every one of them tick by her eyes. Afraid that her grandparents would disown her, the moment they laid eyes on her. Blaming her for what transpired with Jak. Afraid of what their reaction would be, when she showed up at their door, after five years of silence, pregnant with the baby of man they had never heard of or met before, especially since they were incredibly religious.

He reached across the table, just in time to catch the tear that escaped and started to slip down her cheek, then rested his hand over hers. “No matter what happens, Lily. You still have me.” He told her, lovingly.

“You still have us.”

Lily grasped Sy's hand and tried to smile at him and not cry at the same time, which was hard with the way her hormones were starting to really get out of control. “I know.” She choked back.

“Let me finish painting the rest of the house and go to your twelve week baby appointment on Friday, then we'll pack a bag and ourselves into the car and drive out there.” He told her, making a game plan, so her frazzled and tired mind could relax.

“It's only a twenty-ish hour drive.”

“I think, that's a good idea.” Lily nodded, chewing on her lip, taking deep breaths.

Sy smiled and squeezed her hand. “Good.” He chuckled and let her hand go, before picking his fork back up and dug into his spaghetti.

Sy double checked his large, Army issued duffel bag, making sure he and Lily had enough clothing, he had her zofran, nausea medicine, and prenatal vitamin, along with everything else he, Lily and Aika would need for the almost nineteen hour drive from Celina to Middleburg, Virginia, having already put her pregnancy pillow in the car, before tugging the bag closed, slung it over his shoulder and went downstairs.

“Billie promised to keep an eye on the place and pick up the mail for us.” Lily said, meeting him in the entryway hall.

“Great.” He smiled. “Well, I got all our stuff packed.” He said, jostling the duffel bag.

“I already packed some snacks in the truck too.”

“Then, we're all set!”

“No, I have to pee, one more time.” Lily giggled, and rushed into the half bath.

Sy laughed, shaking his head and took the duffel bag out to the truck, dropping it in the back seat with Aika. “All set?” He asked as Lily came out of the house.

“I am now!” She nodded, crossing the yard to the truck and got into the passenger seat.

“Did you lock up?” He asked, getting in with her.

“Yep.”

“You good, Aika?” Sy asked, looking to the German Shepherd, who let out a loud bark. “All right, let's get this road trip underway!” He pulled up Google Maps on his phone and entered the address to Lily's grandparents' place, then set the device on its dock and started the truck.

Sy and Lily laughed, as they sang along to a song that came on Sy's playlist that they both liked, Enemies by Shinedown. But, Sy turned the song down, when Lily suddenly stopped singing and quickly identified the look she got just before she threw up. Quickly popping open the center console, Sy reached inside of it and pulled out a circular, blue and white object and opened it, holding it out to her. Lily took it from him, without question and threw up in it, once or twice.

“Where did you get this?” She asked, looking at it, realizing it was a hospital-grade nausea bag. “Did you rob a hospital?” She chuckled, looking over at him.

“No.” He laughed back at her. “I bought them off Amazon. I wasn't sure if you got car sick on long rides or not. But, I was sure the baby would make you nauseous, at least, once on the drive. So, I wanted to be prepared and make you as comfortable as possible in the process.”

Lily tied the used bag closed, then opened the center console and found another twenty-plus of the blue emesis bags inside. She smiled up at him, shaking her head in disbelief of his utter and complete thoughtful and preparedness.

“You never cease to amaze me, Austin.” She said, sitting back up. “You see how amazing your Daddy is.” Lily grinned, looking at her belly, and making Sy blush.

“Well, I gotta take care of ya, don't I?” He smirked, resting his hand on her thigh.

“Yeah, I suppose.” She sighed, smirking back at him.

“There's some Listerine strips in the center console, by the way.” Sy added, after a few quiet moments.

“I'm sorry, am I offending you?” Lily giggled, opening the console again and fished around for them, before finding the small blue case.

“No, no.” He grinned, chuckling. “Just figured you'd want to get the taste out of your mouth.” He explained, finally getting them on the interstate highway.

“Did you pack my nausea meds?” Lily asked, feeling another wave wash over her.

“Yeah. It's in our bag.” Sy nodded, brow creasing, as he tried to figure out what stupid shenanigans the car in front of them was up too.

Lily twisted in her seat and pulled the worn green bag between the front seats, tugging it open and riffled through it, until she found the little prescription bottle of tiny, white oval tablets, then turned back around. She removed one of the pills and cracked open one of the two bottles of Voss water in the cup holders and downed the pill.

“Why don't you rest?” Sy suggested, reaching behind her seat for her pregnancy pillow. “It's just going to be annoying highway stuff for a while.” He said, giving her the pillow.

“I don't want you to get lonely.” Lily protested, maneuvering and situating the U-shaped pillow into a comfortable position.

Sy smiled over at her. “I'll be fine, Angel.” He assured her. “If I get lonely, I'll talk to Aika and we'll play the quiet game.” He chuckled, looking at the dog from the rear view mirror. “I'll wake you up around one, and we'll find some little place to have lunch.”

“If you're sure.” Lily yawned, she was usually already in the middle of a nap by now.

“Positive, Sweetness.” He nodded, turning the heat on a bit to make sure she was kept warm.

Lily contorted her body in her seat, drawing up her legs and propping her head and the curve of her pillow against the window, wrapping her arms around it and hugging it against her body, before dozing off to sleep. Sy reached out and rested his hand on her leg, gently massaging it as he kept his eyes on the road, just listening to the hum of the tires on the worn asphalt of Interstate Forty fill the silent cabin of the truck; Aika curled up on the backseat. The quiet boredom of the road allowed the devil to whisper into Sy's ear.

He wasn't sure what to do, if Lily's grandparents, the people that raised her, rejected her, and not only her, but their great grand-baby, his child. He knew he had to be strong for Lily, it would crush her, if they wanted nothing to do with her and the baby, but Sy wasn't so sure he would be able to keep himself under control. He had a feeling he would end up giving the couple a very big piece of his mind, before bringing Lily back home to Celina.

“It'll be fine.” He said aloud, glancing over at Lily. “It'll be all right.” He assured her sleeping form, leaning over just enough to lay his hand on her belly.

Sy found a turn off into Memphis just before one in the afternoon, parking at a small riverfront park in downtown Memphis, giving Lily a quiet place to wake up and all three of them a place to stretch their legs, and Aika a place to pee.

“Hey.” Sy called, softly, shutting off the car and leaning across the console. “Lily. Wake up, baby.” He cooed at her, brushing his knuckles against her cheek and tucking her hair behind her ear, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Hey, sweet pea.” He grinned, watching her eyes slowly flutter open, blinking at the bright sunlight glittering off the murky river water.

“Where are we?” She asked in a sleepy voice, rubbing her cheek against the microfiber cover of her pillow.

“The home of the King, Memphis Tennessee.” Sy chuckled, teasingly, and kissed her again. “So, love me tender.”

“I'm all shook up.” Lily chuckled, unfolding herself and sitting up in her seat.

“Well, it's now or never, baby doll.” Sy roared, his head going back.

“Oh, don't be cruel.”

“But, I can't help fallin' in love.” He chimed back.

“What now, my love?” Lily asked, smirking at him.

“I knew there was a reason I loved you.” Sy commented, finding more and more of them every day. “But, I thought we'd get some fresh air and stretch our legs, I'm sure Aika has to pee. Then, we'll find some lunch.”

“I like that idea.” Lily nodded, pushing her pillow into the back seat, then climbed out of the truck, taking the used nausea bag with her to throw away, while Sy put Aika on her leash.

Sy took Lily by the hand and strolled down the little sidewalk along the riverside, watching the various types of boats go by them on the water. The weather was nice and warm with pleasant enough humidity, a few clouds floating in the baby blue sky.

“Are you craving anything specific?” Sy asked as they patiently waited for Aika to do her business in the grass beside them.

“Hmm.” Lily hummed, pressing her lips together and considering if there was something specific she wanted for lunch; she hadn't had any definitive cravings yet, other than the three days she really needed to eat Mac and Cheese.

But, something specific did strike Lily.

“A pretzel.” She purred, already licking her lips at the thought of the salty baked good.

Sy chuckled at her, amused at the expression on her face, eyes closed and dreamy. “All right. I'll get you a pretzel then.”

It was like a ding went off in Lily's soul. “I want a lot of Pretzels.” She said, eyes popping open and looked up Sy, almost manic and desperate.

“Okay.” He replied, brows raised and blinking at her. “I'll get you a pretzel for lunch, then some to munch on.”

“Yeah.” Lily nodded, staring down at their feet, eyes wide. “Pretzels are good.”

“That they are.” Sy agreed, snickering, unable to keep back his amusement.

Lily's eyes snapped up at him, watching him laugh at her, his eyes practically teasing and making fun of her. “Shut up.” She snapped, but started to laugh back at him. “I can't help it.”

“I know you can't.” He nodded, trying to stop, but it only made him laugh harder. “That's what makes it even better.”

“I hate you.” Lily giggled, playful punching him in the arm. “Now, I want my pretzel, Captain.”

“Yes, Major!” Sy replied, saluting her, then quickly cleaned up after Aika and took them back to the truck. “I just need to find a place to get you one.” He sighed, taking his phone off its dock and googled where to get a pretzel in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Okay, there's an Auntie Anne's not that far from us that does pretzels.” He said, saving the directions and setting them in that direction.

Leaving Aika in the car, Lily and Sy went into the shopping center the Auntie Anne's was in, navigating the crowd and line to the counter. Lily chewed on her lip for a moment, torn between getting a regular pretzel or the pretzel bites, before finally deciding on the bites with the nacho cheese dip. With her food, they navigated their way around again and Sy got himself something from the Wendy's the center had as well, before going back out to the truck to eat there; Lily stealing a couple of Sy's french fries and sharing a couple of her pretzel bites.

Once their lunch was finished and they tossed their empty containers away, Sy made a quick run into the Mega Wal-Mart across the street from the shopping center to buy a big bag of mini pretzels and a case of Voss water for Lily, knowing she was going to get very thirsting from devouring them.

“Thank you.” Lily said, when Sy gave her the bag as he got in the car, her eyes glued on the bag.

“Just don't turn into one.” He teased her, chuckling. “All right, let's get back on the road.”

“I don't want you driving all night, Austin.” Lily mumbled around a mouthful of pretzel.

“I know and I won't.” He replied, reaching a hand into the bag. “I'll go until sun down, then we'll find a place to sleep for the night.” He said, then crammed the four or five pretzels into his mouth.

“Good.” Lily smiled, passing back a pretzel to Aika, who quickly devoured it and came back for more.

Reaching Blacksburg, Virginia just after dark, Sy found a drive-thru to order them dinner and a motel for the night, parking out front of the motel's office. Sighing, he rested back in the driver's seat, scrubbing his palms over his tired face and lulled his head to the side to look over at Lily, who had fallen asleep again, twisted around her pillow and her half eaten bag of pretzels clutched to her chest. They were three hours away from her grandparents' orchard, three hours from finding out whether or not they would be in Lily and the baby's life.

“Watch her, girl.” Sy said to Aika, before slipping out of the truck, locking the doors for extra measure, and going inside the office to get a room.

Once he had the room, Sy got back into the truck and parked as close to the room as he could, before going around and opening Lily's door, careful not to let her slip out. Then, gently took the pretzel bag from her and set it aside, unbuckled her seat belt and tried to figure out for a moment how to untangle the mess of limbs and pregnancy pillow, but quickly gave up with an amused chuckle. He just picked up both her and the pillow to carry her into their room and laid her down on the bed, tugging the turned down blankets over her, then went out to get their bag, dinner and Aika.

“Hey, Angel.” Sy smiled, closing the room door with his foot as Lily sat up, rubbing at her face and pushing her hair out of her face. “I got us some food.” He said, holding up the bag.

“You hungry?”

Lily nodded, still sleepy. “Where are we now?” She asked, sitting cross legged on the bed, beside Sy as they ate their food.

“Blacksburg.” He replied, shoving fries in his mouth. “About three hours away from your grandparents' place.”

Lily bit her lip and nodded her head, staring at the half eaten, plain chicken sandwich in her hand, suddenly losing her appetite and set it down. “I'm gonna take a shower, I'm sore.” She mumbled, getting off the bed and headed into the tiny bathroom.

Turning on the light and closing the door, Lily let out a heavy breath and tugged her tank top off over her head, followed by her elephant patterned leggings and underwear, before turning towards the shower, the walls were dingy and discolored, but clean. Spinning the hot and cold taps, then stepping under the shoddy shower-head, she leaned her forehead against the cracked acrylic wall, letting the pleasantly warm water cascade down her back, like a waterfall, with a soft moan. She was starting to have second thoughts about going to see her grandparents. She wondered how upset or disappointed Sy would be, if she told him she wanted to go back home to Celina in the morning, instead of going the three hours to Middleburg to see them.

She wondered how disappointed in herself she would be later on, if she chickened out this close to their destination.

The bathroom door opened and closed, followed by the rustle of clothing, before Sy stepped into the shower behind Lily, resting one hand on her hip and brought the other one around to cup the gentle slope of Lily's belly, pressing his lips to the base of her neck. Gulping down a thicket of emotions in her throat, Lily turned in Sy's arms and pressed herself against his chest, nuzzling her face into his neck. He smiled against her wet hair, gently kneading her hips and lower back, knowing after so many hours in the car and the way she contorted her body to sleep, she must have been in pain.

“Let me take care of you.” He whispered, kissing her forehead.

Sy picked up the little bottle of travel sized, hotel shampoo, broke the seal on it and poured it into his broad palm, then gently massaged it into her hair, stealthily wiping away a line of soap that dripped down her forehead and almost in her eye. Lily closed her eyes, softly moaning at the gentle and pleasurable pressure of Sy's strong and blunt fingers working the scentless shampoo into her scalp, his thumbs moving out to methodically rub her temples, easing the edge off of the tension migraine she had all day. Sy tipped her head back into the spray of the shower, combing his fingers through her wet and soapy strands to rinse out the shampoo. With her hair washed, he found a small wash cloth and bar of soap, and started to wash her body, beginning with her shoulders and applying a little bit of pressure as he did to massage the cramped muscles there.

“God, that feels so good.” Lily sighed, melting under his tender affection, a smile twitching on her face as he rubbed the cloth over the ticklish spots of her sides.

Sy smiled, kissing the bridge of her nose. “Anything for you, Angel.” He cooed back, paying special attention to the beautifully growing bulge of her belly.

“Thank you.” She whispered, relaxed and sleepy, after they got out of the shower, letting Sy dry her off and secure the towel around her body.

“You're welcome, Sweetheart.” He replied, kissing her cheek.

Lily went back into the room and opened their duffel bag, just pulling out the first article of clothing that her hand came in contact with, which was Sy's worn, Jack Daniels, Tennessee Whiskey t-shirt and let the towel slip off her and pulled on his shirt. Sy stood in the bathroom doorway, still naked and dripping from the shower and smiled at her, loving how the black garment hung on her like a dress, her shoulder length hair dripping and making it wet as she brushed it.

He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life.

Moving over to the full sized bed, Sy situated her pregnancy pillow, then turned towards Lily. “Lay down, Angel.” He cooed at her.

Frowning at him for a moment, but seeing the look in his blue eyes, Lily chuckled and laid down, situating herself with her head and neck propped up on the belly of the pillow and her body comfortably cradled in the middle of it. Sy picked up her discarded towel and used it to dry off some, before turning off the room lights, then crawled into bed with her. Moving between Lily's legs and gently bending up her knees and pushing them apart, Lily's startled gasp filled the dark room as Sy's warm breath wafted over her exposed folds, just before his wide tongue took one long and leisurely lick.

“Jesus H. Christ!” She cried out, gripping the arms of her pillow.

“Just me, Angel.” Sy chuckled, hooking his arms around her legs, so they rested on his shoulders, and pressed his palms down on top of her thighs, to keep her still, before dipping his head back down and pressing an open kiss to her clit, flicking the tip of his tongue against it, melting Lily into a sweet and needy whimper.

Sy licked and suckled at her delicate pussy, slipping his tongue between her folds to tease her entrance and get a deeper taste of her, lewd noises filled the room as neither of them hid the pleasure they were in and having. Lily rocked against his mouth, her hands pressed to the back of Sy's head to hold him in place, eyes rolled and fluttered, her anxiety of not wanting to go to her grandparents' in the morning completely forgotten in the heady peak of her orgasm.

“I love your mouth.” Lily sighed, out of breath, exhausted and pleasantly numb.

Sy roared with laughter, laying down beside her. “Good to know.” He grinned, pulling the blankets over them and draping his arm over her. “Good night, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her cheek.

“Night, Bear.” She mumbled back, starting to drift off.

Sy stayed awake for a little while, his hand slipping up inside the shirt she was wearing to gently caress her belly and stared at the back of her head. “God,” He whispered, careful not to wake or disturb her. “I don't ask much of you. But, for whatever my word is worth, please don't let these people hurt my girl. She needs and wants them in her life, so does our little one.” He said, lifting his hand to gently stroke her damp hair.

“Let this meeting tomorrow go well, for all of us.” He sighed, squeezing his eyes shut and hugging Lily back against him.

Lily took a deep breath and held it, as Sy turned the truck off the main road and onto the dirt road leading onto the Warren Orchard farm, seeing the tall apple tree shaped sign with Warren Apples carved elegantly in its trunk. It wasn't long before they came to the closed security gate, shutting them off from the rest of the farm. Sy rolled the truck to a stop and looked over to Lily, lifting a brow at her, waiting for her to tell him what they should do next, when a voice came to life next to him.

“Welcome to Warren Apple Orchards, what can I do for you?” A deep Southern drawl asked from a mounted intercom box outside the driver's side window.

Sy rolled down his window and leaned closer to the box, spotting the security camera mounted above the one side of the gate. “Yeah, we're here looking for the owners of the place.” He replied, glancing over at Lily again.

“Mr. and Mrs. Warren aren't taking visitors just now.”

Lily huffed through her nose and leaned over the center console and Sy. “Tell them, Liliana wants to see them, Judd.” She called out, biting and pressing her lips together.

There was a long pause with a bubble of tension, before an electric buzz filled the humid air around them and the metal gate rolled out of their way. Lily sat back in her seat and Sy gave her a concerned look, before driving though.

“You know him?”

“He's worked here as long as I can remember.” Lily replied, staring out her window to the immaculate lawn and row of trees beyond that. “Just keep following the road, you'll find the house at the end of it.” She added, picking at the hem of the shorts she was wearing.

True enough, a few minutes later, a massive colonial, plantation house appeared behind ancient weeping willows. Made mostly of white stone with two stories of wrap around porches and ornate black railings, tall marble columns, from the foundation to the roof; what looked like five chimneys, three turrets and an apple tree weathervane. The driveway looped around the front of the house, leading up the stairs onto the porch was double french, front doors.

Sy was in complete awe of it as he pulled around to the front of the driveway. “This place is amazing.”

“Yeah.” Lily gulped, biting her lip and stared up at the house. “Oh dear god.” She whimpered, shrinking her seat, trying to hide.

“What?” Sy frowned, then noticed a whited haired man step out of the house, wearing a pair of light brown khaki pants and a black pull over sweater with the Warren Orchard's logo on it, an apple with an arrow threw it, the front of the arrow's shaft bent in the shape of a W.

“I'm guess, that's--”

“My grandfather.” Lily nodded, peeking over the edge of the door to look up at him. “Yep.” She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut and pressed her forehead to the window.

“Well, you can't hide forever, Angel.” Sy told her, tilting his head at her. “He knows we're here and this is more than likely us, sitting here.”

“I know.” Lily huffed, chewing her lip. “I know.”

“You can do this, babe.” He encouraged her. “I'm right here, Angel.”

Lily looked over at him, looking at him like a lost puppy, before taking a deep breath and fortifying herself. “You're right.” She nodded, leaning over and kissed him.

Taking another deep breath, Lily opened her door and stepped out of the truck, gulping as she looked up the steps to her grandfather. Her heart felt like a war drum in her chest, she was excited to see him again, he didn't seem any different from the last time he had seen him, at least, not from the distance they were at.

But, she was also afraid of what was about to happen next.

“Paw-Paw.” She called out to him, softly, her voice shaky.

“Liliana.” He replied, lifting a snowy brow at her, his honey-brown eyes scrutinizing her.

“I've missed you.” Lily blurted out, sniffling, tears burning her eyes. “I'm sorry I disappeared. I'm sorry I just ran away and I didn't tell either of you where I was going or why. That I stayed away for so long without a word.”

“But, I thought about you all the time.”

He stared hard at her, crossing his arms over his chest. “You scared the daylights out of your grandmother and I, Liliana. We tried looking for you everywhere, but you just vanished into thin air, like you never existed.” He told her, his anger slowly showing on his face.

“We thought you were dead.”

Lily bowed her head, ashamed for what she had put her grandparents through. “I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention, Paw-Paw.” She choked, looking back up at him, breathing hard.

“Then, what was your intention, Liliana?” He barked at her, his eyes glowing with rage. “Who are you?” He hissed, as Sy came around the front of the truck to wrap an arm around Lily's waist, to comfort her.

Sy looked up at him for a moment, his eyes hard at the man. “Austin Syverson.” He replied, hugging Lily against his side and rubbing her back.

“Your relation to my granddaughter is what?”

“I'm her boyfriend.” He replied, narrowing his eyes at the other man. “Look, she's come here, because she misses you both, very much, and has regretted the way she left. But, she had to leave, she had a very valid reason in doing so. In reality, she's an adult, more than capable of making her own choices and doesn't have to answer to anyone as to why she's made them.” He told Lily's grandfather.

“That includes you.”

“But, she's gained the strength to come here to try and make amends with you both, for more than one reason. You can either accept that or you can not. What happens now, is up to you.”

“Davy, who is it?”

A voice called from the double doors behind Lily's grandfather, before it opened to a thin, elderly woman with a short, curly pixie cut, who struggled to wheel herself out of the house and onto the porch. Her dim and pale blue eyes almost instantly found Lily at the bottom of the porch stairs, her hands flew to the front of her flower pattern dress, mouth dropping open.

“Liliana!” She exclaimed, reaching out a hand to her husband.

“Mee-maw.” Lily sniffled back, smiling at her grandmother through her tears.

“Thank the Lord, you're all right, my sweet child.” She cried, pressing a hand to her mouth.

“I am.” Lily nodded, wiping at her eyes. “And, I wanna be part of your lives again. I want to make amends for what I did by running away and disappearing. I'm sorry, I hurt you and Paw-Paw.”

Lily's grandmother looked up at her husband, who was still glaring at Lily and Sy, pressed her lips together, then looked back at them. “Come inside.” She said, letting his hand go and turned her wheelchair around and headed back towards the door.

“Davy.” She called over her shoulder.

Sighing, he turned and pulled the door open for her, eyeing Lily and Sy as they mounted the porch stairs, then followed his wife inside the house, before doing the same. She rolled down the hallway and turned into the private study, motioning to the long leather couch and parked herself in front of it.

“Hello.” She said, looking at Sy as he sat down beside Lily on the couch.

“Ma'am.” He replied, politely nodding his head to her.

“Who might you be?”

“Austin Syverson, Ma'am.” Sy answered with a sweet smile. “I'm your granddaughter's boyfriend.”

“Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Syverson.” She replied, regarding him. “I'm Violet Warren, and this is my husband, Davis.” She said, motioning to him as he took a seat in a chair to Lily and Sy's left.

“Sir.” Sy said, nodding his head stiffly to him.

“You're looking well, Liliana.” Violet commented, turning her attention to her granddaughter.

“Thank you.” Lily whispered, licking her lips. “I just go by Lily now.”

Violet nodded her head. “Very well.” She acknowledged. “Where've you been, Lily?”

Lily drew a deep breath through her nose and slowly let it back out. “It's a long story.” She whimpered, gripping Sy's hand for support, chewing the inside of her cheek to bits.

Davis and Violet glanced at each other, before she leaned forward and took a small hand bell off the coffee table between them and rang it. A moment later, a young lady appeared in the doorway of the room and Violet asked her to serve them some tea. The tension was tight and thick in the room while the tea was being made for them, no one saying a word to each other. The servant returned, carrying in a highly polished tea tray and set it down on the coffee table, setting out teacups for the four of them and filled the cups, before leaving the room again.

“What is your story, Lily?”

Carefully drizzling a bit of honey into her tea with a honey dipper and taking a fortifying sip of it, Lily started her story. “You know that I had been seeing Jak.” She said, looking between her grandparents.

“We did.” Violet nodded, taking a sip of her own tea.

“Well, what you didn't know was Jak had been abusive to me.” She continued, staring into the rich and steamy liquid in the expensive china teacup. “He had been the entire time we were together. But, I was too naive and silly to break it off with him for the longest time. But, after a particularly bad incident, I decided I couldn't take it any longer. So, I packed a bag and went to live with Maggie. I didn't tell you-” She paused, brow creased, she had often thought about why she hadn't told them, but had never really pinned down a specific reason to why she hadn't.

But, she shook that thought off.

“I honestly don't know why I hadn't. All I knew was I was terrified of Jak finding me again and dragging me back into the life and situation I had been living in for so long with him. While I was with Maggie, I changed my name from Liliana Jade Warren to Lily Ana Moore, to make it harder for him to find me, which made it hard for the both of you to find me, and finished university.” She continued on. “After I did that, I moved to a very small town in Texas and started my own company for my Graphic Design and Photography.”

“It's how I've been supporting myself.”

“I was so consumed by my paranoia and fear of Jak finding me, that I never left the house I bought in Texas, five years ago, this is the farthest I've been from it, since I've moved there.” She confessed, looking to Sy, who smiled at her, supportive and proud.

“What's changed?” Her grandfather asked, his own teacup still where the servant set it, ignored and cold. “Why are you here now?”

Lily cleared her throat and set her tea aside. “I left and became reclusive, agoraphobic, because I felt unsafe and afraid. That Jak would end up finding me and hurting me. He did end up finding me, but Austin...” She looked to Sy, her eyes filled with appreciative love and pride. “Austin makes me feel safe again. He's protected me, in more than one way, and he's shown me what real love is. I owe him so much.”

Sy grinned brightly at her, gripping her hand, a bit choked up at her words.

“He's helped me get back to this place, a place I've held onto, wanting to be a productive member of society, to be back in your life and be your granddaughter again. I miss you and I love you both. That never changed and it will never change.”

“That never changed for us either, Lily.” Violet replied, resting her teacup back on its saucer. “You will always be our precious granddaughter and we have always loved you; from the moment you were born to this moment right now.”

“I hope you could find it in your heart, to have a little more love.” Lily whispered, biting the inside of her lip, gulping.

“For what?” Violet frowned, brows drawing together and head tilting at her.

Lily looked to Sy, who nodded his head at her. “Sy and I are expecting.” She mumbled, not meeting either of her grandparents' eyes.

“You're with child?” Violet asked, shocked disbelief in her voice.

“I am.” Lily nodded, whimpering.

“I hope you're not here, thinking this little reunion will get you money.” Her grandfather snapped, coldly.

Lily's eyes snapped over to him, a cold knot of shock, hurt and anger in her stomach, she could feel the tension stiffen Sy's body. “We don't need any of the family money.” She hissed, eyes hardening. “My business alone is quite well off, thank you; and I'm more than offended at the accusation.”

“That's putting it politely.” Sy chimed in, staring daggers into the old man.

“Davis.” Violet barked, offended at her husband's insult as well, she had no feeling that Lily and Sy were there looking for money or assistance with their lives or the baby.

“Excuse me, for the last time I recalled a couple sitting on that very same couch to tell us they were expecting a child, it was our sweet Daisy and that good for nothing, Palmer, and we all saw how that ended.” Davis replied, his voice cold and sharp.

“Austin isn't my father.” Lily barked, her voice mirroring her grandfather's.

Lily and her grandfather glared darkly at each other, before Violet grew annoyed with their childish behavior and clapped her bony hands together, catching the room's attention.

“That is quite enough.” She scolded them.

Sy hid his smirk around the rim of his teacup, already liking Lily's grandmother.

“How far along are you?” Violet asked, looking at Lily.

“Almost thirteen weeks.” She replied, unconsciously touching her belly.

“Do you know what you're having?”

“Not yet.” Lily grinned at Sy, giddy at the thought of finding out the gender of the baby, she didn't care if it was a boy or a girl, she was just excited in general. “We won't know for another five weeks.” She added, glancing over at her grandmother.

“Well,” Violet grinned, her eyes lighting up. “I can't wait to meet my great-grandbaby.” She said, sounding overjoyed at the prospect. “Davy?” She looked to her husband, her eyes still filled with excitement, but outlined with warning.

Davis looked at her for a moment, then over at Lily, before looking down at the watch on his right wrist, then stood. “I have to meet Mac in the south orchard.” He said, tonelessly, and left the room.

Lily let out an uneven breath and painful tears punched her in the chest, turning her face into Sy's collarbone as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against his side, pressing his lips to her hair. Violet's mouth was pressed into a thin, angry, lipstick red line as she continued to stare out the study doorway after Davis, the rapturous event of finding out about their great-grandbaby being overshadowed by his stubborn pigheadedness.

“I think we should go.” Sy said to Lily, gently wiping away her tears.

“Please, do stay.” Violet chimed in, turning her attention back to them. “There's more than enough room right here.” She said, looking back and forth between Lily and Sy. “Please, it's been so long, Lily. You've been gone and so far away. Town is twenty minutes away and with you here now, two minutes is too far away.”

Lily looked up at Sy.

“It's up to you, Angel.” He whispered, brushing his thumb against her flushed cheek.

She looked over at her grandmother. “Of course, I would love that.” She whispered, wiping her nose on the back of her hand.

Violet smiled at her, relieved to have her granddaughter under the same roof again. “I'll have Clara set two extra places at the table.” She grinned, overjoyed. “I'll even have her make your favorites for lunch and dinner.”

Lily smiled at her, touched at her grandmother's sentiment. “Thank you.”

“You remember where your room is?” She replied, lifting a brow at her.

“I do.” Lily nodded her head.

“Then, I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you must be tired with the baby and the long journey from Texas.”

“I am.” She agreed, sighing softly.

“Off you both go then, the bell will ring, when lunch is ready.”

“Thank you, Mee-Maw.” Lily said, nodding her head and stood up, Sy standing with her.

“Ma'am.” Sy nodded his head to Violet, then followed Lily out of the room and down the hall to a flight of stairs. “Well, that didn't go as badly as the two of us thought it would.” He commented, mounting the stairs behind her.

“No, it did not.” Lily replied over her shoulder, going up the three sets of stairs. “I just hope my grandfather comes around.” She added, coming to the second floor and going down to a door at the very end of the hall. “This is...was—my room.” She said, turning the vintage, metal and ceramic door knob that had a hand-painted gold floral design on it, and pushed the door open.

The bedroom was spacious and bright with the mid-morning sun shining in through four windows, between one set of windows sat a squat, five compartment, vintage chest of drawers, across from that was a full sized, poster bed, with the doorway to a bathroom to the left and a walk-in closet to the right. There was a bookcase and table against the wall by the door, mostly filled with church and home school related things.

“It's a nice room.” Sy commented, picking up one of the books on the table, a bible.

“Thanks.” Lily smiled, shyly, seeing that her grandparents had left her room the exact way she'd left it, when she moved out.

“Do you wanna rest for a little while?” He suggested, stepping up behind her and resting his hands on her hips, gently pressing his thumbs into the small of her back and massaging them.

“Yeah.” She moaned, her head dropping back against his chest, turning to kiss the underside of his bearded jaw.

“How about a nice warm bath first, maybe a cup of tea?”

Lily chuckled into his neck, grinning. “So dotting, Captain.” She teased him.

“I love you.” He cooed, kissing her forehead, then moved away from her and went into the bathroom, plugging the drain on the ancient claw-foot tub and turned the X-shaped tap handles.

Lily padded into the bathroom, sitting down on the closed toilet seat and pushed down the stress of her grandfather's behavior towards her, to watch Sy fill the bath for her, a soft smile on her face. She stood up for a moment and reached underneath the sink and removed a small bottle and handed it to him. Sy smiled at her and took it from her, uncapping it and getting the strong snap of eucalyptus and sprinkled the Epsom salt into the delicately warm water, before turning off the tap. He grabbed a towel and folded it, then situated it at one end of the tub, to pillow her head, when she started to soak.

“Now, where is the kitchen?” He asked, looking at her.

“Down the stairs, first door to your right.” Lily replied, getting out of her clothing.

“Cool, I'll be right back.” Sy told her, kissing her temple and stepped out of the room to go downstairs to get her tea.

Lily finished undressing and carefully stepped into the pleasantly warm water, leaning back with a soft and satisfied moan, focusing on the warm water enveloping her body easing away her aches and pains, melting away the anxieties that had accumulated during the drive over from Texas and the visit. While Sy found the kitchen and pushed open the swinging door, finding the cook, Clara, inside, who looked up as she heard him come in and wiped her hands on her apron.

“Can I help you?” She asked, lifting a brow at him.

“Um, just need a cup of tea.” He replied, licking his lips and glancing around the kitchen.

“Oh, of course, right away.”

“I'd hate to put you out.” Sy said, alarmed.

Clara chuckled at him, pulling down a cup from a high cabinet. “It's what the Warren's hired me for.” She assured him. “I'm guessing it's for Lily.” She added, moving about the kitchen as she put the things together to make the tea.

“Yeah.” He nodded, then patiently waited for her to finish and took the cup from her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Clara smiled, and returned to what she had been doing.

Sy carefully took the cup back upstairs to Lily, smiling as he stepped into the bathroom and saw her lounging comfortably in the tub. He was glad she could relax and let the stress go, even if it was for a little while. Lily stirred as he sat down beside her, smiling at him and taking the cup of tea from his outstretched hands and let out a pleased moan.

“Feels like a spa day.” She chuckled, handing her teacup back to Sy for him to hold, so she could relax back again.

“You deserve to relax.” Sy replied, softly. “You've got an important job to do.”

“Yeah, I'm growing a Syverson.” Lily chuckled, teasingly.

“Exactly.” He laughed back. “That's no easy feat to bring one of us into the world.”

“Bringing a Syverson into the world is just the start of it, then we have to raise them.”

“Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble.” Sy grinned at her. “Nothing, but trouble.”

“Toil and bubble.” Lily giggled, fully amused and lighthearted.

“Come on, sleepy, out with you.” Sy said, setting her empty teacup on the vanity counter and pulled the towel off the bar and held it open for her.

“Okay.” Lily replied, stifling a yawn with her hand.

Stepping out of the tub and into Sy's arms, she rested her forehead against his chest and let him dry her off. Sy had taken a liking to drying her off after she showered or bathed, since she'd become pregnant, none of which Lily protested to, she was usually very sleepy by the time she got out of them, so having him there to finish up was always nice.

“Oh, fuck.” He barked, after helping back into her clothing. “Your pillow is still in the truck.”

“It won't kill me to have one nap without it.” Lily said, through yet another yawn.

“You were a very cranky mama bear the last time you didn't have that thing to sleep with.” He reminded her. “I'll go down and get it, just sit tight.”

“I'd rather lay tight.” She huffed, starting to get cranky as she shuffled over to her bed and laid down.

Sy rushed back downstairs and nearly collided with Violet. “Oh my god, I am so sorry.” He panted, making sure she was all right. “ Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, where's the fire, Mr. Syverson?”

“Lily's laying down for her nap and I just realized she doesn't have her pregnancy pillow and she always wakes up very cranky, when she doesn't have it to sleep with.” He explained, calming down.

Violet smiled up at Sy, touched and pleased at the plain devotion he had for her granddaughter. “Well, we can't have that, now can we?” She chuckled, rolling back out of his way.

“No, ma'am.” Sy shook his head at her.

“Violet, Mr. Syverson. Just call me Violet.” She informed him as Sy reached the front door.

He paused, hand on the door and smiled at her, remembering when Lily told him to call her by her given name. “Of course, Ms. Violet.” He nodded at her, politely.

Violet smiled back at him and Sy went out to his truck.

“Hey, girl.” Sy said, opening the passenger door of the truck and only to get attacked by Aika's tongue. “I know, I know. I haven't forgotten about ya. I promise.” He chuckled, petting her. “I'll come back down in a couple minutes and take care of you. But first, I have to take care of your mama.” He said, reaching in the back seat for Lily's U-Shaped pillow, pushed Aika back and closed the door again, before rushing back upstairs.

“Okay, pillow.” Sy said, bursting into the room, only to find Lily curled into a ball and sound asleep, making him chuckling. He situated her pillow and gently unrolled Lily from her ball and slipped her between her pillow, before covering her up.

“Sleep sweet, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her cheek softly, then went back downstairs. “Um, do you know where Ms. Violet is?” He asked the servant that had served him and Lily tea when they had first arrived.

“Yes, she's in the private study, right through there.” She replied, pointing the way.

“Thank you.” He nodded, then went down, gently knocking on the door.

“Enter.”

“Ms. Violet?”

“Ah, Mr. Syverson, I'm trusting the pillow crisis was averted?” She asked, an amused glitter in her eyes.

Sy chuckled. “It was, thank you.”

“Then, what can I help you with?”

“I, uh, brought Lily and I's dog with us...” He said, sheepishly, though Lily's grandmother seemed like a very sweet woman, Sy got the vibe she was the authority in this household and crossing her wasn't the way to go. “She's in my truck and I didn't want to take her out without asking first, so I didn't step on any toes and cause any issues with you and your husband.”

“What kind of dog is she?”

“She's a German Shepherd.” Sy replied, licking his lips. “I found her in the war-zone on my last deployment.” He half explained to her.

Violet blinked several times at Sy. “You were in the military?”

“Yes, ma'am.” He nodded, with a deep sense of pride. “I was a Captain in the U.S Army, Special Forces, for more than ten years.”

“What's the pup's name?”

“Aika.”

“Well, Aika is more than welcome here.” She told him. “As long as she behaves herself.” She added, a soft smile on her face.

“She's a very well behaved dog, you have my word.” Sy replied, smiling back at her.

“Good.” Violet nodded. “Just make sure you keep her out of the orchards or Davis will have a never-ending fit.”

“Will do.”

Excusing himself, Sy went back out to the truck and put Aika on her leash, walking her around the front of the property and away from the orchards, making sure to clean up after her, then brought her inside, taking her upstairs to Lily's room, where she curled up on the bed with Lily, before he decided to do a little exploring himself before lunch.

He wandered into the orchards, seeing the short trunks, but wide crowns, light green and shiny apples weighing down its branches and a couple littered the ground. There easily had to be a hundred trees of the same sort for as far as Sy could see in the area he was in, before he moved on. Sy came to a small dirt lane and crossed it into a totally different portion of the orchard, these trees were still squat and wide, but the apples on their branches were medium sized and mostly two toned, a dull red that faded into a yellow-y green color.

He crossed another dirt road and found another orchard of another kind of apple, this one a light yellow color, when he heard voices and then his name and turned, seeing Lily's grandfather, realizing he had wandered into the south orchard.

“What are you doing out here?” Davis asked, approaching him.

“Just looking around.” Sy replied, keeping his tone guarded. “Lily's told me a lot about the place.”

“And where is she?”

“Back at the house, sleeping.” Sy told him, his shoulders stiff. “She gets tired a lot with the baby.”

“Hm.” Davis huffed and turned on his heels.

“What's your problem?” Sy barked after him, unable to hold his temper any longer. “She just wants her grandfather, the man that raised her, back in her life, in her child's life. Not your money or your business, just your love and affection.”

Davis spun around on his heels to face Sy. “I might have raised her, because my Daisy died, and her father was an unreliable scum, but she's making the same mistake her mother did. I won't be part of that again.”

“I won't be there when it kills her too.” He hissed, then stormed off.

Lily woke up to Sy's angry pacing at the foot of the bed and cursing under his breath, and sat up, rubbing at her eyes. “What's wrong, Bear?” She asked, frowning at him.

“Your grandfather is a pigheaded, son of a bitch.”

Her mouth fell open for a moment, then her brows drew together and her eyes narrowed. “Did the two of you get into an argument?”

“Sorta.” He huffed back.

“For the love of Jesus, Austin.” Lily barked at him, pressing her hands to her face. “Why?”

“I didn't go lookin' for it, Lily.” He retorted, stopping his pacing. “I was just checking out the orchards and ran into him. One thing came to another, I asked him what his problem was, all you want is his love and affection back, not his damned money or his orchard, and his reply was you're making the same mistake your mother made and you'll end up dying because of it too.”

“Which you will fucking not!” He added, a panicked fright breaking through his burst of anger.

“Of course, I'm not going too, Bear.”

Lily sighed, shaking her head and running her hand through her hair, before getting up out of bed. “I'll be more than all right. We have a great doctor and an amazing hospital back home. Plus, I have you to take care of and look after me, the whole time. I'll be perfectly safe and sound.” She told him, hugging her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest.

“Don't listen to him, Sy. He's just a grumpy old man, set in his ways.”

“What's that make me?” He asked, half jokingly.

“My boyfriend and Papa Bear.” She giggled, tilting her head back to look up at him.

“Good to know, Mama Bear.” He teased back, dipping his head to kiss her. “The fuck was that?” He asked as two loud dinging sounds filled the house.

“That is the lunch bell.” Lily replied, pulling away from him. “One ding is breakfast, two is lunch and three is dinner.” She explained to him, finding her shoes and slipping them back on. “Old Virginian hospitality, Syverson. I know you Texans aren't used to it.”

“Oh, you posh and polished Southerners.” He teased back, following her downstairs. “Give me the ringing of a triangle any day and this cowboy will know the way to the dinner table.”

“Remind me to buy one for our house, then.” Lily giggled, showing him into the family dinning room.

“Buy what for your house?” Violet asked, already seated at one end of the table.

“Oh, Sy was making fun of us for being—what did you call it?” She asked, looking at him as he vigorously shook his head at her. “Ah yes, posh and polished Southerners, for having a meal bell.” You grinned at him, impishly. “While, pointing out the Texas Cowboy in him could only find his way home, if he heard the call of a triangle bell.”

“I said, I would be able to find my way to the table. I know my way home, thank you very much.” He spoke up, his cheeks pink underneath the hairs of his beard.

Both Lily and Violet's laughter filled the dining room, but Sy soon joined them. But, the laughter died down as Davis entered the room, taking his place at the other end of the table, practically sucking the air out of the room as he took his seat.

“How is the south orchard doing?” Violet asked, as lunch was being served.

“One of the original York apple trees is starting to fail for some reason.” Davis replied, picking up the salt shaker. “Mac and I were running through a list of things we can do to save it.” He explained, paying closer attention to his food than to the others at the table with him.

“This looks really good.” Sy commented, licking his lips at his plate.

“It's one of Lily's favorites.” Violet smiled at him. “Creamy Shrimp pasta.”

“I used to try and bribe Clara into making it for every meal once for a whole summer.” Lily chuckled, twirling the angel hair pasta around her fork. “Never worked out.”

“Didn't deter you from trying though.” Violet chuckled, smiling fondly at her granddaughter. “I'm more than sure you'll love what Clara is making you for dinner.”

“I have no doubt.” She smiled back.

“Oh, Mr. Syverson, if you'd like a place to park your truck, I'm sure Davis could show you where the garage is.” Violet said, her eyes on her husband.

“Thank you, Ms. Violet.” Sy replied, smiling at her. “And, please, call me Sy or Austin, whichever you might prefer.” He told her, a bit shyly.

“Austin, it is.” Violet answered, giving him a sweet smile. “But, you can do that for him, can't you?” She said, lifting a brow at her husband, with an expression that dared him to object to her request.

Davis stared at his wife, his hard brown eyes holding Violet's stern blues, before his shoulders dropped slightly. “I'll show you after lunch.”

“Thank you.” Sy replied, stiffly.

Lily rested her hand on Sy's thigh, gently squeezing it, trying to keep him calm and relaxed. “How have the orchards been?” Lily asked her grandfather, trying to open any sort of connection with him. “I know picking season is coming up soon in the next few months.” She pointed out, gathering up a forkful of her shrimp pasta.

There was a long silence at the table, each second made Lily's heart clench tighter, fearing her grandfather would just continue to ignore her and pretend she didn't exist. She didn't know how much more of his coldness she could take, before it became too much to bear and she would just want to leave again.

No matter how much it would hurt.

“Other than the York tree showing signs of white rot, the orchards are as productive and fruitful as ever.” He finally spoke.

“What happens if you don't cure the white rot?” Lily frowned, concerned for the tree.

“We lose the tree.” Davis sighed, resting back in his chair and tossing his napkin onto the table beside his plate. “It'll only be the third originally planted tree on the farm we've ever lost. Well, with any luck the rot won't spread and it won't hit us too hard.” He explained, looking at her.

“Just because you lost one, don't mean you'll lose more.” Lily replied, holding his gaze.

Davis dropped his eyes and nodded his head, sighing, then looked up at Sy, noticing his empty plate. “You done?”

“I am.” Sy nodded, wiping his mouth.

“Come on, and I'll show you where the garage is and you can park your truck.” He said, standing up, leaving his half eaten lunch on the table.

“I'll be right back.” Sy whispered to Lily, kissing her cheek and stood, following her grandfather out of the house.

The walk from the house was silent as they stepped off the paved driveway and onto a pea gravel lane that led a little ways away from the house, through a small grove of very ancient looking weeping willows to a large building with several vehicles parked outside of it.

“You can park it here.” Davis said, motioning to the area in front of them.

“Thanks.” Sy nodded to him, then turned back to get his truck.

Bringing his truck around and finding a place to park it, Sy got out and and grabbed their duffel bag out of the back and locked up, heading back up to the house; when Davis stopped in his tracks, noticing the duffel bag slung over his shoulder; the worn military green and the faded, black U.S letters.

“Something the matter?” Sy frowned, turning back to him.

“That's a military bag.” Davis replied.

“Yes, it is.” He nodded, shifting it on his shoulder and tilting his head at the other man.

“It's yours?”

Sy's shoulders slumped and he stared at the old man. “I served more than ten years in the U.S Army as a Captain in the Special Forces.” He explained to him. “I retired almost a year ago.”

“How did you and Lily meet?”

“As I said, I retired almost a year ago and I returned home to Austin, Texas.” Sy replied, sighing. “Even though I could live quite well on my retirement, I don't like not having a job or being idle. So, I went about applying for jobs, mostly jobs I could do with my hands, construction jobs and such. A construction company told me about a contract that they had gotten from a young lady, who needed help fixing her place up in Celina, which is about three hours south of Austin. I called about it and got the job. I'm sure you guessed, it was Lily.” He smirked, chuckling to himself.

“I started fixing the place up for her and we grew close, especially after we helped each other through a few traumatic things.”

“Like, what?”

“I have pretty severe PTSD from my time in deployment and Lily's gotten me through more than one episode.” Sy smirked, blushing slightly and toeing the ground with the tip of his boot. “She's the guiding light to holding them back.” He whispered softly. “As for her, she's been through a lot in the last five years, especially the fear and turmoil caused by Jak.” He said. “There's nothing on this planet, there hasn't been anything on this planet, I wouldn't do to ensure her happiness and safety.”

Sy looked Davis dead in the eyes, a deep seriousness coming over him, even though he had a knot in his stomach. “Listen, your granddaughter isn't a little girl anymore. She's a grown woman, and a beautiful, loving and intelligent one, at that. She's so incredibly caring for the people around her, even when she's been so hurt and her trust in people has been cut deeply. Her work ethic is admirable, she built a company from the reclusion of her own home, that she hadn't left in more than three years, and it is thriving. She's even currently in the process of interviewing people to fill two positions, because she has so many clients, that she's in need of the extra help.”

“You're projecting the fear of your daughter’s mistakes and death on Lily and it isn't fair to her, or to you and your wife.”

“My Daisy Mae's misfortunes aren't the only failures that have me disappointed in the situation.” Davis said, rolling his jaw at Sy.

Sy huffed at him, biting his lip and nodding his head at him. “You think I'd be some, what was it, unreliable scum, like her father?” He asked, lifting a brow at him.

Davis sighed back at him, scrubbing a palm over his wrinkled forehead and lifted a brow at him. “Come with me.” He said, motioning him back towards the house.

Pressing his lips together, Sy followed him back up to the house and into Davis's private study, setting the duffel bag down by the door as Davis closed it behind him. Davis motioned to a leather and mahogany upholstered chair in front of a cold fireplace, then moved over to a small table of bottles and glasses, pouring them both a drink. He handed Sy a glass and took the seat across from him, taking a long sip.

“Smooth stuff.” Sy commented, licking his lips and admiring the rich, amber liquid.

“Maker's Mark, Kentucky bourbon whiskey.” Davis replied, smirking at his glass, appreciatively.

“Anyhow.” He cleared his throat, balancing his glass on the arm of his chair. “Palmer Hughes. He came to work here in the summer of 1985, he was twenty years old and Daisy was eighteen. I knew the boy was trouble the moment I set eyes on him and knew I should have sent him picking.”

“But, for whatever reason, and against my better judgment, I didn't.”

“He took an instant liking to our Daisy, who was ordinarily a good mannered, well behaved and proper girl. But, as soon as he set his eyes on her, he started corrupting her. He would stop coming to work in the fields to sneak himself and her off the property and go into town or wherever it was they would go to. Daisy started to become more defiant and rebellious. One of our church elders even spotted her and Palmer with a group of their lowlife friends in a questionable area of town, getting high, smoking and drinking.”

“It was such an embarrassment.” He sighed, taking a deep gulp of his drink. “When Daisy was twenty-one, she came to her mother and I and told us she was pregnant. Palmer had split the moment he found out about it. But, I tracked his no good ass down and dragged him back. He and Daisy got married just before Lily was born.”

“What happened?” Sy asked, frowning at him, the burn of the alcohol melting through the knot in his stomach as he thought about it. “How did her mother die?”

“She developed a hemorrhage that the doctor's couldn't get under control, so she ended up bleeding to death.” Davis explained, growing pale at the memory of the doctor's telling him and his wife the news of their daughter’s death, their only child. “For his part, Palmer did seem distraught over her death. But, he blamed Lily for it. So, he spent the rest of her life coming in and out of it, before Violet and I finally just adopted her and permanently took care of her.”

“It was Violet and I that ended up naming Lily, as well. Daisy hadn't picked one, that we were aware of, and Palmer wasn't being cooperative with anyone, us or the hospital staff.”

“Where is her father now?”

Davis sighed and carefully regarded Sy for a long moment, before replying. “He died, some years ago.”

Sy blinked at him, shocked. “You never told Lily this.”

“No.” He shook his head, guilty. “Vi and I thought it would be best that we didn't.”

“That's not really for either of you to decide.” Sy frowned at him, annoyed. “Lily deserves the truth.”

“I know she does.” Davis agreed. “I'll tell her, one day. As for you, Austin.” He met Sy's eyes. “I've unjustly projected my prejudices of Palmer onto you. You are, not even an ounce, the man he was. You are a man I wish my own daughter would have met and fallen in love with. But, I am glad my granddaughter met, fallen in love with and is having my great-grandbaby with you.”

“Thank you.” Sy answered, taking his compliment and finished off his drink.

[watchmegetobsessed]

VALERIE - Part V. (Harry Styles)

happy sunday loves!! part 5 is here, buckle up bc we are getting down to business here!! thank you so much for the nice feedbacks, it’s always so moving and inspiring to read your thoughts, so please keep them coming! even if it’s just some gibberish rambling, those are the best haha! now let’s jump right into part 5, we are heading into the christmas mood and im so excited for yall to read this part!! enjoy!

word count: 6.1k

SERIES MASTERPOST

masterlist

By the time November nears its end you officially become a couple with Marcus. It happens gradually, two more dates follow your first one, and then on the third one you agree to test the waters of the possibilities between the two of you exclusively. 

Marcus is a great guy. He is funny, caring and smart, always listens to you and cares for even the smallest details about you when you’re talking. He is great company and never fails to make you feel appreciated and wanted. Exactly what you’ve been looking for in a guy, Rosa really hit the nail on the head this time. 

You easily fall into a habit with him. Fridays are for date nights, sometimes you go for little trips outside the city on Sundays and he never misses a chance to send you flowers throughout the week. He is just the type of guy that’s always there to cheer you up with something whenever the days start to weigh down on your shoulders. 

You even have dinner together with Rosa and Steven one Saturday evening, Rosa keeps giving you those ‘I told you so’ eyes whenever Marcus kisses you shortly or places his hand to your waist. You mostly just roll your eyes at her, not wanting to make a big deal out of the two of you, but Rosa knows how long you’ve been trying to find someone. 

What’s a surprising turn is that you start seeing Harry more. Intentionally. You have no idea how it happens, but it does and you’re not mad about it. Some days you grab lunch together whenever he is in the neighborhood, some days you go shopping with him when his sister doesn’t have the time. Harry is a problematic shopper, he takes a long time to decide on clothes so usually you are the one that forces him to choose and finish before all shops close. 

When he has had a rough week and you happened to call him for whatever reason, the two of you agree to meet up for drinks at his place, then end up playing UNO for hours, slowly emptying out two bottles of wine.

It’s starting to get harder to imagine what it was like when things weren’t like this with him. When you were getting anxiety from just the thought of seeing him or having to talk to him. It’s like the both of you are showing a different version of yourselves to each other and you have to admit you enjoy being friends with him. 

He keeps his habit of teasing you and making jokes about you though, but you don’t mind it. He is not doing it in a mean way with the attempt to piss you off, but to make you laugh and start a playful war where you both throw insults at each other until one of you runs out of it and just starts laughing. You feel a kind of dynamic building between you and him that has a way better effect on you than the continuous killing you were doing before.

You can tell Rosa is thankful for the change as well. Whenever she sees you interact with Harry without making a grimace or have that face that screams how badly you want to hit him, she is relieved that she has one less thing to worry about and Valerie will have two amazing godparents who even like each other.

Christmas is always a big parade in your family. Your mom and your aunts always want to celebrate together so in the past few years it has become a tradition to rent a place out that has enough space for the whole extended family and spend three days there from the 23rd to the 25th. This year your dad found a huge cabin in the woods with ten bedrooms and seven bathrooms, just the perfect size for you all. It’s gonna be your parents, Rosa and Steven with Valerie, Aunt Monica, Aunt Teresa with Uncle Andrew, your cousin Etta, her husband Joe and their two kids, your other cousin Lily with her husband Jeremy and their daughter, and lastly you and Harry.  Though your mom urged you to invite Marcus along as well, he could join you for longer than a dinner, since he was already set to fly home to his family.

“You sure he can’t stay for at least the first night?” you mom asks on the phone one evening. You’re stirring the sauce in the pan. holding the phone to your ear with your shoulder so you have both of your hands free.

“Yes, I’m sure. It’s fine, he can come for dinner and then leave later.”

“I get it, but it would have been fun if he stayed,” she sighs, clearly disappointed that she couldn’t change what’s already set. If you’re being honest you don’t mind that Marcus is not staying for the night. You haven’t been dating for that long, you feel like it would be a little uncomfortable to have him there the whole time. A dinner is perfectly fine as a starter, since he hasn’t met anyone else from your family other than Rosa and Steven.

“Anyway,” she sighs moving on, “Have you figured it out how you’re gonna get there?”

“I don’t know, I guess I’ll tag along with someone.”

“Well, I think you should ask Harry. Everyone else is pretty packed already. Rosa and Steven won’t have any extra space with Valerie this year.”

You nod, even though she can’t see you. These past years Rosa always offered you a ride for the holidays, but even when they brought her over for just one night their car was jam-packed. No way you’re gonna fit in there so you are left with Harry since Marcus can only come in the afternoon.

“Sure, I’ll ask him.”

You shoot him a text that day and he replies right away that you’re welcomed in his car, though he won’t be able to take you back since he is leaving early in the morning on the 25th since he is flying back to the UK to his family. It’s fine, you think, you’ll just probably just tag along with aunt Monica back to the city, she always gets her a car for these occasions. Though it’s not your ideal option, she is not the best partner for rides, because she is a fan of smoking in the car, but you don’t have much of a choice. 

“I’ll call you when I leave, okay?” Marcus tells you on the morning of the 23rd. It’s early, barely seven, but he is up because he needs to work a little today and you are finishing up packing since Harry will be here in an hour to pick you up.

“Sure. Drive safe,” you huff sitting on the edge of the bed, staring down at your suitcase that’s still not closed, clothes are sticking out on the side and you’re sure you’ll have to sit on it to pull the zipper.

“See you later,” Marcus says before you end the call. 

It’s rather comical how you try to close the suitcase but you only care about the fact that you eventually succeed. Only minutes before eight you are packed and ready so when you get Harry’s text that he is outside you can leave right away.

Seeing you with your big suitcase he hops out of the car and rushes to help you.

“How long are you planning to stay, Y/N?” he chuckles lifting the bag up and you just shrug your shoulders with a smirk. You’ve alway been a heavy packer, no need to try to cover it up.

Harry throws your stuff into the back of the car as you take the passenger seat. His phone is hooked to the car, a playlist of his own playing gently through the speakers and you’re surprised to catch on the Christmas feeling in the songs.

“Are you in the spirit?” you ask when he gets into the car.

“Like to set the mood ahead,” he chuckles starting the car and off you go. 

Ridiculous to think about it, but it’s actually the first time you sit in the same car with Harry or see him drive even. The way you two used to be was not quite ideal to have you locked up in such a small place as a car. But now you have nothing against spending the almost hour long drive with him. 

“Can you pull out the navigation when I leave the highway? I’m not sure where exactly I need to head,” he asks you, eyes fixed on the road ahead of him and nodding you open the app on your phone so his can keep on playing the music without the voice of the navigation interrupting it. 

“Excited to spend your first Christmas with us?” you ask. Though Harry was there at several family events, it’s his first Christmas since becoming Valerie’s godfather. 

“I am,” he chuckles, nodding, hands gripping the wheel gently. He is a natural driver, easily working the car, the kind you feel completely safe next to. As Baby It’s Cold Outside comes on a smile stretches across your lips as you start gently bop your head to the song. “I’ve heard crazy stuff about Christmases at your family,” he adds glancing in your way for a second.

“Like what?”

“I remember when Steven told me about his first Christmas with your family. You remember that?”

Searching in your memories you tried to remember when was the first time Rosa brought Steven along. They dated for two years before they got married so it’s been about five years since then, but as you think hard the memory of that specific year pops into your head making you laugh as you nod.

“Oh, yes. The year Aunt Monica almost burned the Airbnb down,” you sigh grinning at the memory. She brought some special kind of cigars that year that were told to be curiosities from somewhere fancy, but they ended up the literal worst quality, flaming bits were falling out them all the time when she would smoke one, almost making the rug catch on fire wherever she went. Best thing is that she was already drunk on the liquor so she didn’t even notice, there was always a person on Aunt Monica duty, following her around, making sure nothing burnt down. 

“Steven said he had a moment when he thought about bailing,” Harry tells you and you gasp, because that’s new information.

“Really?”

“Yeah, but like only for a split second after your dad walked in on him naked in the bathroom. That was kind of the last straw. Luckily Rosa could convince him to stay. Guess it all worked out at the end.” Harry smiles as he stares ahead of him.

You can’t imagine a version where Rosa and Steven don’t end up together. They met through a mutual friend not long after Rosa had a nasty breakup with her scumbag ex. Steven was there to put her back together and be her partner as she found herself again. The change and positive impact he had on her could be seen every day and you were so thankful to him for helping your sister find her way out of such a dark place in her life. It didn’t take them too long to start dating and he proposed a little more than a year later. You still remember how Rosa was screaming in the phone when she called you that evening telling you that Steven proposed. They are quite literally a match made in heaven. It’s been your goal in life to find this person in your life though you haven’t had much luck with men so far. Ironically, if you were in a room with every man you were ever involved with in any kind of way, Harry would be the only one you’d want to talk with. If you had to make this exact same choice just months ago you would have chosen to run out screaming. 

“Maybe this year it’s your turn to get horrified from us,” you laugh, sinking down a little in your seat as you adjust the seat belt. You’re still quite far away from the cabin, you might as well make yourself comfortable. 

“I think there’s not much that I haven’t witnessed yet. I was walked in on at the bathroom once too, but it was your cousin, Etta.”

“When did that happen?” you ask with a heartfelt laugh.

“I think it was last summer at one of your nieces’ birthday party. Luckily everything was already tucked away when she basically barged in.”

“She didn’t miss much,” you tease him with a smirk and your witty comment catches him by surprise.

“Are you saying my dick is not imposing enough to be worthy of peeking?” he asks with raised eyebrows and you’re happy he is driving. His intimidating look would already burn right into your skin by now, but he is forced to watch the road instead. 

“I mean, if you want to put it that way…” you continue, but a laugh escapes your lips.

“Take that back, Y/N,” he orders, sneaking a hard look at you before turning back ahead, but you can see the small smile hiding on his lips. 

“Or what?”

“Or you might find yourself in a war you don’t want to be involved in,” he warns you, but his words don’t quite have the effect on you he wanted. Because in a heartbeat you find yourself feeling… excited? Thrilled? Even curious about his means behind his words. 

“Wouldn’t want to lie, so…” Pretending like you’re sorry you shrug your shoulders as Harry gives you a look that makes your stomach churn. Now either you are gonna have some fun teasing each other or… you just threw yourself into the arms of the Devil himself. Either way, you’re certain Harry won’t leave it in that.

Turning your head to your window you can’t keep your smile contained as you think of the fact that how big of a lie it was. Harry is surely not a guy who should ever worry about any aspect of his manhood. You’re talking from experience. 

***

The cabin is absolutely gorgeous, just the perfect place for a cozy family holiday. Hidden from the busy roads with a secure gate and tall trees on both sides, the back of it is facing a majestic view of the valley and the evergreen covered hill in the distance. With an interior straight from the pages of a magazine, you need just a few moments to adjust to your surroundings upon arriving.

“I saved a nice room for you, Harry!” your mother gushes the moment she sees the two of you walk through the front door. You huff in annoyance.

“And what about me?” 

Harry chuckles giving you a smug grin. “Guess you’re just second after me.”

“It’s his first Christmas with us, he deserves the better room,” your mom shushes at you, making your eyes roll instantly. It’s still hard to believe Harry has this kind of charm over most people.

After greeting everyone who is already there, your dad, Aunt Teresa and Etta with her family, your mom walks the two of you down one of the hallways that leads to several bedrooms. She stops at the last door with an excited grin on her face as she opens it revealing the bedroom behind it. 

You instantly understand why she thought this is the best one. The view is absolutely breathtaking, the gentle noon light is flowing into the room through the floor to ceiling windows, the king sized bed facing them so when you wake up in the morning the first thing you see is the endless sea of evergreens on the side of the hill. Not to mention the room has its own bathroom, not many of the other rooms are blessed with that. There’s a spacious shower that has enough space for at least three people in there and it’s one of those fancy ones that can make you feel like you’re having a shower in the middle of a jungle, mood lights and bluetooth speakers attached to it.

“No fucking way Harry is getting this room!” you gasp as you look around, taking in the luxure your mother is willing to hand over to him.

“Jealous, much?” he smirks, throwing his sports bag to the bed already ruining the neatly made sheets. He does not deserve this.

“Mom!” you huff turning to her, but she has made her mind up already.

“Your room is nice too, don’t worry Honey. Let Harry have this one!”

“I really can’t believe you are taking his side,” you grumble under your breath, folding your arms on your chest as you take one last look at the stunning view. 

“Come on, Y/N. He is a guest!”

“He is not! You said it yourself he is family now!” you retort and Harry just laughs behind you, so you shoot him a murderous look over your shoulder, that just fuels his entertainment.

“Don’t be silly. Your room is the second one on the right from here,” she smiles at you. “We are gonna take a walk around once everyone arrives, so get settled by then!” she informs you before walking out. 

“Hey,” Harry’s soft voice makes you turn around. “You can have the room if you want.”

Your eyebrows rise at the kind gesture, it’s very not like him, even now in your friendly state, so it’s quite odd that he is willing to switch rooms with you.

“No need,” you shake your head grabbing the handle of your suitcase that you abandoned at the door.

“You sure? It doesn’t matter where I’m sleeping, really.”

“I’m not gonna deal with my mother’s scolding if she finds out I took your room, so you can totally stay.” 

Harry chuckles as you head out, but stop at the door to have one last word with him. “Though I might occupy your bathroom, that shower looks nice.”

“All yours,” he grins before you walk out.

***

By 11 am everyone arrives and the once quiet cabin is now buzzing from life, children running around, Valerie’s babbling shoots through the spacious living area where Rosa set her crib up, your mother is already making preparations for dinner while most of the men are circled around the pool table having a beer since no one has to drive for the rest of the day. 

“When is Marcus arriving?” Rosa asks, eyes on Valerie who is absolutely destroying something that once were an elephant maybe, but she’s been ruthless with the poor animal, chewing and throwing it around all the time, so it’s not just a grey, fuzzy mess.

“Sometime before dinner. He has some work to finish,” you tell her pulling your legs under yourself on the comfy couch.

“And explain again, why isn’t he staying for the night?” she turns to you with a puzzled look.

“Because he is going home to his family early in the morning tomorrow.”

“Okay, but he could have just left from here, didn’t he?”

“It’s… complicated. It’s better if he just goes back home tonight and then leaves from there in the morning.”

What you leave out of the whole explanation is that you didn’t really invite him to stay the night as well. Sounds horrible and ridiculous but you didn’t think you’d have felt comfortable with him staying. You’ve been dating for only barely more than a month and though things are going well, you felt like starting with just a dinner would be a better idea. Marcus didn’t question why you didn’t offer him to stay, it seemed like he was fine with just coming and then going after dinner. 

Does this make you a bad girlfriend? Maybe, but you value your comfort and feelings more than to ruin your favorite holiday with your family. 

Just as you mom said, once everyone is settled in their rooms for the upcoming three days, the whole gang dresses up to have a walk around taking the welcoming little path that runs around the cabin and is smooth enough for Valerie’s carriage as well. Your nieces and nephew are quick to surround Harry and nag him to join them at the front, exploring the woods surrounding the path. It seems like he doesn’t mind it and gladly takes part in the adventure, also secretly looking after them so their parents can have a break and enjoy the stroll in hopes the walk tires the kids out enough that they’ll willingly go to bed in the evening instead of whining to stay up late. 

You’re walking with Etta next to you as she tells you about Hannah’s latest dance competition when you spot that Harry and Oliver, your nephew, Etta’s other kid are suspiciously whispering around pointing in your direction. At last Olly nods and runs up to you showing a quite thick piece of wood into your hand. You look down at him confused.

“Thank you?” you tell him a little unsure what it’s all about.

“I found it in a bush, I want to take it home. Harry said you’ll keep it for me because you have a good hand for thick and hard sticks.”

You almost choke on your own breath, as Olly just carelessly runs back ahead to join his sister. You immediately look over to Etta in fear that she heard what Harry told Oliver, but luckily she was talking with Joe turning back, not really paying attention to the conversation you just had with her son. If she did, Harry probably wouldn’t live by now.

Speaking of the devil, you look in his way and that annoying, smug grin is right there as he nods in your way saluting before he shows his hands into his pockets and turns back around to catch up with the kids. 

That disgusting piece of shit really went into the depth of teaching something secretly dirty to your nephew as a way of payback for your comment in the car earlier. He surely wasn't just joking when he said you’d pay for what you said. And you have a feeling he is just getting started. 

***

Aunt Monica is like a legend in your family. She is the oldest between your mom and her sisters, already in her sixties, but in the heart she still feels like she has just turned twenty. She never married, but had several men in her life, love affairs, short flings, but none of them lasted for more than a year. 

“Why would I settle when there’s so many fish in the sea?” she once told you, her iconic Chanel sunglasses sat on her nose as she sipped on her martini. 

She has worked many jobs throughout her life, she was once a dancer, she waited tables and even worked as a TV host at one point in the ‘80s. She was the true free spirit of the family, her sisters often questioned her sanity, but you think there’s nothing wrong with how she lived her life, enjoying it to the last bit. In the early ‘90s she was seeing a millionaire, probably the only man she would have given her lifestyle up for. Unfortunately, they never married, the man passed away due to his heart problems, however, since he had little to zero family he left basically everything to Aunt Monica. Money, house, cars, business, everything. Being the smart woman that she is, she handed over the business into professional hands but she is still the owner, so the money is still flowing even though she could have lived happily on the money she inherited without ever having to work a day. 

She seems a little odd in your family, but she has always been a loving aunt to you, a caring sister and she never fails to take care of her loved ones. She is the one to pay for all these Christmas getaways, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to stay in places this nice.

“What’s all the money for if I don’t spend it on my family?” she always says when someone questions if she is fine with paying for everything. Your mom and Teresa have tried to convince her to let them at least pay for part of it but she wouldn’t even listen to them. 

She likes to have her own, sometimes odd ways in life. She definitely has a drinking problem, but not in a dangerous way. You have never seen her completely wasted, she just likes to keep things buzzing and always have a drink on her whenever she needs the extra fun. Because of her past she has the greatest stories about meeting famous people back in the days or how soldiers used to try to win her over when she was just a teenager.

“Oh, those things happened,” your mom told you when one day you questioned if you could believe all the crazy stories Aunt Monica tells you. “She was like… the star of the show. Used to hate living in her shadow, but I can’t blame her for enjoying life and doing the things I was too afraid to do myself.”

Now you’re sitting in the sunroom that faces the amazing view behind the cabin, the Christmas tree is standing tall in the corner, beautifully decorated in white and beige. Valerie is snuggled up to your chest as you gently rub her back and you listen to Aunt Monica tell you about how a literal captain once proposed to her after just three days of knowing each other.

“He was a gentleman, but a beast in the bed, Y/N. I’m telling you, men in uniform are just a different level of satisfaction.”

She sighs deep, taking a sip from her margarita that’s definitely not her first drink, and you just laugh nodding.

“He was begging for me to go to Italy with him.”

“And why didn’t you?”

“Who said I didn’t?” she asks with a pretentious hurt look turning to you and you just laugh. You should have known the story would go this way. “I accepted the offer, only turned down his proposal when we sailed off and then we parted as soon as I stepped onto the land of Italy. Broke his heart into pieces, but I was too busy enjoying the Italian summer.”

Harry comes in and hands you a bottle filled with juice that probably Rosa sent for Valerie.

“Thank you,” you smile at him shortly as you adjust the little girl in your arms and hand her the bottle.

“Young boy, have you ever proposed to someone?” Aunt Monica asks Harry who stops in his way as he was already about to head out, but now he walks back to the sofa where she is sitting.

“No, not yet,” he shakes his head.

“And how do you think you would if the time came?”

You watch Harry think to himself at the odd and quite random question. It’s not really something you would have ever asked him, but now that there’s the chance to hear his answer you are listening curiously. 

“Depends on the woman I’m proposing to,” he replies after a few seconds.

“How would you propose to Y/N?”

Your eyes widen as you turn to your aunt with shock all over your face. You definitely didn’t want yourself dragged into this.

“Aunt Monica, that’s--”

“Shush! I’m just asking theoretically. Wanna hear his answer.”

Harry’s eyes wander over to your sitting figure on the sofa as he leans onto the back of the one in front of him. You can feel the heat crawling up on your neck to your cheeks under his burning look and you just know he enjoys how nervous you got from this simple question that wasn’t even asked from you. 

Licking his lips he moves his eyes from you over to Aunt Monica who is still waiting for his answer.

“Something romantic, but not too grandiose, I know she doesn’t like being in the center of the attention that much. Maybe…” Tapping on his chin you listen to his words and without even realizing you hold your breath. “Maybe on a hike with a nice view. She would be admiring the view when I get down on one knee and as she turns around I pop the lid on the box.”

What bugs you is that it’s an awfully accurate description of how you’d imagined your proposal. He was right about many aspects, like how you don’t like being in the center of attention. No idea how he nailed so easily, but he did. 

Glancing down you pretend to be busy with Valerie who is still peacefully drinking her juice, eyes wandering around the room relentlessly.

“So you really look to satisfy her deepest fantasies, careful about even the smallest details. Women appreciate it,” Aunt Monica nods, completely oblivious to how uncomfortable she just made you feel.

“Thank you, I do like to satisfy women,” Harry cheekily answers with a smirk, eyes locking with yours for a moment as Aunt Monica lets out a laugh at the dirty comment. Before you could bite your tongue a retort slips out of your mouth.

“What a shame you don’t always succeed.”

Harry’s eyes turn from playful to dark pretty quickly and you enjoy the victory over him. Your comment in the car earlier already wounded his manhood, now it’s another stab right into his… crotch. It’s the least he deserves after what he taught poor Olly.

“That I don’t believe. He seems like an absolute pleaser.” Aunt Monica winks in Harry’s way who just smiles at her shyly, but you can tell your comment is still bugging him. 

“I think Y/N knows that too herself, am I right?” He tilts his head to the side and you stand your ground with holding his gaze and not looking away.

“Don’t be so sure about that,” you simply say, just when you hear your mom calling out for you. “Would you take her please?” you innocently ask walking up to Harry, holding Valerie out for him. You can tell he is looking for a witty comeback, but he has nothing just yet, so he is stuck with keeping his mouth shut as he takes baby Valerie from you. You gift him with a sweet, but definitely spikey smile before leaving him there with Aunt Monica. 

***

Dinner is already almost ready, you’re helping your mom and Aunt Teresa in the kitchen with the finishing touches, Joe and Harry packing out the wine bottles from the rack Jeremy brought them in, the two of them examining the bottles with such professionalism you almost believe they have the slightest idea about what to look for in a good wine. 

“Should we open some red or white ones for tonight’s dinner?” Joe asks your mom who is the master chef when it comes to the dinner.

“Red would suit better,” she answers. “Are they sweet?”

“Some, yeah,” Harry nods holding up a bottle and checking the label.

“Great. Monica loves that too,” Teresa chuckles as she adds some salt to the mashed potato. 

“And Y/N too,” Harry adds, not even looking up, but he successfully attracts your mom’s attention with his comment.

“She does?” Harry looks up and sees your boiling anger plastered all over your face, so of course he chooses to take it further.

“Oh, yeah. She can drink like a gallon. Wine drunk Y/N is like a whole different person.”

“I told you so many times not to get drunk, Y/N. It’s not too ladylike. When was the last time you saw her drunk?”

“There were plenty of occasions,” Harry exaggerates and you could kill him right there. “Though last time it was the tequila that got her wildin’.”

That damned smirk of his is making your hands curl into fists and for a moment you tell yourself it’s okay to punch him in front of your mother even if she’ll probably disown you for such behavior. 

“Y/N! I have told you a million times that you need to know where your limits lie!” she huffs shaking her head at you while you clench your jaw. Back at it with the lessons about getting drunk. She’ll never get over it, not even when you’ll be forty. Why does it matter to her so much? Sometimes she is the one to get you started, but then she gives you the dirtiest looks when you have one too many. She should just get used to it now. 

“She surely likes to have fun when she has had a few drinks,” Harry continues smugly. “Remember how much fun you had at Rosa and Steven’s wedding?”

“Oh, God! I remember how drunk you were that evening, I could have killed you!” your mother growls and you roll your eyes at her.

“It wasn’t that bad. There were a lot more people who got way more wasted than me,” you try to defend yourself folding your arms on your chest. 

“That doesn’t change that you were too,” she says with a hard look. Great, now she is mad at you for something that happened literally years ago. Kudos to Harry for ruining her mood.

“She wasn’t that bad,” Harry adds and you look in his way with suspicion. “She was a delight when it was time to get her to bed.”

Your mouth almost hangs open, but it seems like you’re the only one understanding what he really meant by that. Luckily, beside you and him, Rosa and Steven are the only people who knows what happened between you and Harry that night, so it’s no surprise no one else catches on the hint.

“You were the one who took her up to her room? Sorry if she was a burden,” your mother sighs and right at that moment you wish the floor would just open up and you could disappear forever. Harry’s satisfied grin is the evidence that he just won another round of this nasty war.

Just as you open your mouth to try and move the conversation to another field you see a pair of headlights pull up to the driveway. Everyone turns to the window as Marcus’ car parks down last in the line. As you step away from the counter you see the confusion in Harry’s eyes about the new guest.

“Oh, amazing! He is here!” your mom cheers, seemingly instantly forgetting about how she was dragging you just a minute ago.

“Who’s here?” you hear Harry ask, but you’re already out of there, heading to the front door to greet Marcus.

Just as you walk out into the cold evening air you see him get out with a warm smile on his lips. You wait for him at the door, arms wrapped around yourself and as he reaches you he places a soft kiss to your lips. 

“Hey, how was the drive?” you ask him.

“It was fine. I didn’t arrive too late, right?”

“No, we were just about to set the table. Come on in, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

He takes your hand in his as the two of you walk inside, all eyes immediately turning your way at the arrival of your boyfriend.

“Everyone, I want you all to meet my boyfriend, Marcus. He is staying for dinner.”

Your family members walk up to the two of you, shaking hands and introducing themselves to Marcus who smiles at everyone politely, trying his best to remember all the names and information that’s thrown at him all of a sudden. Everyone seems delighted to have him for dinner, the kids instantly make him promise he’ll play a card game with them after dinner and he happily says yes to the invitation. 

You can tell your mom is proud that finally both of her daughters are spending Christmas with a man by their side and you’re almost certain your dad took a liking to Marcus the moment he mentioned he is into fishing.

Everyone seems excited and happy for Marcus, there’s just one face that doesn’t fit in the line of joyful smiles. Harry stands quite far from the two of you and only gets closer when he shakes hands with Marcus. His cocky grin is long gone from his face as he keeps his hard look on your boyfriend who is chatting with everyone. Standing next to Marcus, your hand still holding his, your eyes lock with Harry’s and there’s an unknown, burning feeling in your gut when his hard gaze holds yours. The sudden change and cold act gets you wondering what’s really going on in his mind. He is the first one to look away and you watch him walk into the kitchen and disappear from your sight before you force a smile on your lips and turn back to Marcus.

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[heloisedaphnebrightmore]

Busted [Sirius Black x Reader]  - Requested 18+

Title: Busted Pairing: Sirius Black x Hufflepuff!Reader Word count: 4k Published: 4 August, 2020 Author: Heloise Daphne Brightmore Warning: Smut! 18+ If you are under 18, please do not read! Notes: I got this request almost two weeks ago and I am so so so sorry for being late with it, but smut writing is not really me and so it took me longer to think it through. I really am very much sorry for taking so long with this one, but I hope it's good enough. (Even if I feel it's not. I don't think I have done the best I could.) Disclaimer: Both characters are of age! Summary: You and Sirius have always been close, but in the last year you have been even more involved with each other. However you didn’t want others to know about it, so you kept it a secret. Up until you both made a mistake. Request: [x]

Hey babe💓 I love so so much Fluffy supporter🥺 Now I thinking about A Smut Sirius x hufflepuff!reader Where Sirius and Reader are best friends, but have a secret relationship, (everyone suspects) but one morning after they spent the night together, the whole dining room see how they enter with the wrong ties Please🥺 - Anonymous

Harry Potter Characters Masterlist | Masterlists

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The Gryffindor common room was unusually loud. The newest hits of the year were blasting loudly from the radio. People were drunk, barely able to stand, still they kept drinking their firewhisky as if they drank water. Some people stood in the corners, chatting about the Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor match, which Gryffindor just about won, some were making out in a more secluded part of the common room, forgetting about the crowd. Of course there were others who were just a tad bit tipsy, dancing in the middle of the room, barely feeling the effects of alcohol.

You were one of those.

You danced with a huge grin across your face as you have been invited by Sirius to join the celebration. Not many Hufflepuffs were invited, only you and your friend, Y/F/N. You slightly felt privileged that Sirius never missed an opportunity to show you off. Even if they only knew about your friendship and nothing beyond that.

Sirius was someone who meant more to you than anyone combined. He was beside you in your darkest times, he was making you laugh when you felt lost. Sirius was a light that shined through the walls you built up carefully around yourself. He knocked them down as if they were never even there.

You loved the boy, you adored him. His carefree attitude made you smile constantly. There wasn't even a second you didn't enjoy spending with him.

You danced in the common room, forgetting about the drink in your hand, swaying your hips to the rhythm, almost spilling the content of your glass. You felt an arm around your waist, but you didn't stop. You knew who he was. His touches sent little shivers through your body, alarming you of his presence. You smiled happily, moving your hips in sync with his.

"Are you enjoying yourself, sweetheart?" He asked as he turned you around in his arms, letting you link your arms behind his neck. His grey eyes were attached to yours, forgetting about anyone else in the room. Your smile grew as you ran your gaze through his handsome features, stopping to glance at his full lips a bit longer than you deemed appropriate.

He realised the way your eyes wondered lower which made his usual cocky smile appear. He bit into his lower lip seductively, knowing how badly it affected you when he did that. It was utter torture for you, watching as his teeth sank into his plump pink lips. You felt the need to grab his neck and pull him down, wanting to feel those cushions against your mouth.

"Stop doing that!" You warned him as you turned around and focused back on dancing. He wrapped his arms around your waist as he let out a cheeky laughter. He leaned down to you, whispering into your ear.

"I will see you later, sweetheart." He hinted a tiny kiss in the crook of your neck, before he turned around and left you dancing with your friends. You looked up at them, finally feeling in control of your Sirius filled thoughts, just to meet two pairs of sceptical eyes.

"What?" You asked as you stopped dancing and took a swig of your drink.

"Friends, right?" Lily asked and you shook your head with an eye roll.

"Are we still on the same subject?" You questioned with a bored expression.

"I don't know about you Lily, but my friends don't look at me like that nor do they start kissing my neck." Y/F/N shrugged, her sceptical look unfazed.

"Interestingly my friends don't do that either." Lily replied, making you groan.

"He didn't start kissing me, he gave me one kiss and as I have told you numerous times before, we are just friends." You threw your arms in the air, feeling agitated all of a sudden. The same conversation has been happening over and over again and you were painfully tired of it.

"Yep..." Y/F/N said, her eyes not even leaving you for a second. You huffed in an annoyed tone, trying to keep your cool. But then you could see her gaze move behind you, settling on a spot. You turned around and your eyes met two dark grey orbs watching every little move of yours. A cheeky little grin appeared on his face and you returned the expression involuntarily. "Is he aware of you being only his friend? Because it certainly doesn't seem like he is." She raised a brow as you turned back to her.

"Just stop it." You told her, downing the glass of drink in your hand.

"Will he?" She asked, making Lily chuckle, which you simply ignored.

"He isn't doing anything. He is standing in a corner, talking to his friends." You huffed, annoyance clear in your voice.

"Yeah, he is simply ogling you. I am telling you, it's not a friendship." She shrugged and you groaned, giving up and leaving them behind. You walked up to Sirius and grabbed his wrist pulling him out of the common room, your rushed steps hitting hard against the concrete floors.

"What is going on?" He asked, but you didn't speak. You kept dragging him along like a playtoy. Although he didn't mind, he loved it when you took control and found it to be a turn on, he was rather concerned for you.

You stopped in front of the Room of Requirements, walking back and forth, before a dark brown door appeared. You walked in, seeing the exact copy of your bedroom as you grabbed Sirius' wrist and pulled him in, closing the door behind him.

"Sit." You said firmly, waiting for him to take a seat on the small couch in front of you. He didn't argue, he simply kicked off his shoes and laid down on the couch, following your order-like request.

"Can I ask what happened?" He spoke with a raised brow, being completely oblivious as to why you dragged him away.

"We-" You pointed at him and then back to yourself." are supposed to be a secret. Why are you staring at me so obviously?" You questioned, which earned a low huffing sound to leave his lungs.

"Can't I admire my girlfriend?" He asked with a bewildered look.

"Believe me, I love the looks you are giving me." You walked up to him, bending down in front of him, cupping his cheeks. "But you can not keep doing this, if we want to keep it a secret." You explained.

"It was your idea in the first place to keep it from others and I still don't get why. Everyone already knows, we just keep denying it." He rolled his eyes, heaving a deep sigh as the conversation repeated itself once again. "I'm tired of hiding it."

"I told you. I'm scared." You spoke lowly, feeling your anxiety resurface. You loved him to the moon and back. He was your everything and every time he was around you, your heartbeat went frantic. But you were scared. You knew how mean his fangirls could be. You feared to make it official in front of others, knowing you would not be able to survive the heartbreak you eventually would get from him. You didn't want others to feel pity for you.

Sirius was watching you with curious eyes, trying to figure out your thoughts, when finally it all clicked. You did make your worries clear before and he had no problem reading your facial expression after having been with you for so long.

"Have I ever cheated on you?" He asked and your eyes grew wide at the sudden question. You quickly shook your head as a response. "Do I show you enough how much I love you?" He spoke again and you nodded quickly, reassuring him. "Do you love me?" He pulled you down to him, forcing you to straddle him as he rested his arms around your waist. You breathed out a firm 'yes' before hinting a small kiss on his lips. "So what are you worried about?" He questioned and you knew you should be sure of him and your relationship, but those stupid little voices in your head confused you. You awkwardly played with the end of his tie, keeping your eyes away from him.

"Nothing is forever. I'm scared to feel weak and pathetic when you break up with me." You spoke weakly. You looked up into his dark grey orbs to see them growing wider by the second.

"Why on earth would I break up with you?" He asked, pulling you closer, keeping his gaze on you.

"I don't know. There could be multiple reasons. Maybe you will find someone better or-" You wanted to continue, but he interrupted you. He placed his hand behind your neck and pulled you down to him, pushing his lips against yours firmly. You melted into his embrace, enjoying his warm lips on yours, making all your worries disappear. As he pulled away, he didn't let you go. He placed his forehead against yours and looked into your loving gaze.

"Was I clear enough? Noone is better than you! I love you and you have to accept that. I want to show others that you belong to me and I belong to you. I want others to know that they will never have a chance to get close to you because I will break them into tiny little pieces." He grimaced, making you chuckle at his tad bit possessive behaviour.

"Give me a bit of time and I guess we can do it." You smiled sweetly, hoping for it to turn out well. You just needed time to get yourself ready. Sirius' wild grin was fixed across his face as he pulled you down for another heated kiss. You wrapped your arms around his neck, wanting to feel his closeness, whilst his hands wandered under your blouse, his palm running through your soft skin. "Where are those hands?" You chuckled into the kiss.

"Where they should be." He smiled as he wandered down to your neck, hinting sweet kisses along your neckline, teasingly biting into your skin to make you moan. He ran his tongue across your sweet spot, gently sucking on it as you ground in his lap. He groaned at the friction you created, grabbing your hips to steady you. "Stay put, sweetheart." He moaned against your skin, causing goosebumps to appear on your arms.

"What if I don't want to?" You whispered into his ear, stopping him in your skin's appreciation.

"Don't play dirty, I know your weaknesses." He growled in a low tone, his grey irises turning darker, filled with lust.

"And I know yours." You pulled his face closer as you started grinding in his lap once again, making him moan, trying to stop your hips, unsuccessfully. He placed his arms under your butt, lifting you up, whilst walking over to the bed. He threw you on top of the mattress, making you squeak as you landed harshly on the duvet. You didn't have time to complain, Sirius was already crawling above you, kissing you harshly, claiming his territory.

His hands didn't waste time, he was already working on your last button by the time you came to realise what he was doing. You sat up, pushing your chest to his as he took off your shirt, and undone the tie, with a swift movement throwing them on the floor.

You hurried to remove his tie, unbuttoning his shirt, wanting to feel his body against you finally. Your hand shook in anticipation, causing him to chuckle lightly as he ran his eyes across your half naked chest, playing with the string of your bra.

Finishing with the last button you yanked it off him, throwing it next to your blouse, before cupping his face to kiss him again. You linked your legs around his torso, pushing yourself up to turn the position, straddling his hips in the process. You looked down at him, running your fingertips through his toned upper body, stopping at the edge of his trouser. You grinned playfully as you bit into your lower lip, your mind already craving his closeness.

You hovered above him, kissing him firmly, before wondering down to his neck, making him moan at your actions. You left tiny kisses on his torso, gently running your nails across his chest, reaching his trousers with a cheeky smile. He returned your expression, watching every movement of yours as you unzipped his trousers and slowly pulled it down his legs, leaving the piece of clothing on the floor.

He was beautiful, mesmerising. He was an eighteen year old teenager, but he looked like a grown man who captured every thought of yours with his mere presence. You kneeled above him, kissing his collarbone, before once again you started going down to his most sensitive area. You looked up at him as you left open mouth kisses on his torso, his eyes lustful, his lips parted in anticipation. You pulled down his boxer, his erection standing proudly in front of you.

You got hold of it, slowly moving your hand up and down on its length making him growl as his eyes closed down. He was heaving deep breaths as your hand picked up a faster pace. You smiled at his satisfied state, before you took his member in your mouth, hearing his breath hitch. He growled at the warm and wet feeling, running his fingers through your messy hair. He gently controlled your movements as your head kept bobbing up and down between his thighs, making his breathing pick up a faster pace. Loud groans left his lungs as you played with your tongue around the head of his member, whilst fastening the pace of your hand around his shaft.

You squeaked as he pulled you up unexpectedly, firmly attaching his lips to yours, his kiss uncontrolled, slightly sloppy.

"That's enough sweetheart." He breathed and pushed you down on the bed, removing your shoes and stockings, before kissing you again. He started taking off your skirt impatiently, almost ripping your clothing off in the process.

"Someone is eager." You chuckled, making him groan lightly. He trailed down your neck, leaving wet kisses across your upper body. He pulled you up to his chest, kissing your neck, nibbling on your sensitive spot, whilst unhooking your bra. He took it off you, sending it to the other side of the room, his gaze attached to your chest.

"Merlin, you are so beautiful." He breathed, making you chuckle.

"Merlin?" You questioned giggling, which he simply responded by biting your breast gently. Your breath hitched at the unexpected sensation, making you fall back onto the bed. He massaged one of your breasts with one hand, whilst spoiling the other with his tongue, making you squirm under him. Your breath quickened as his tongue drew circles around your nipple, nibbling on the sensitive area.

He kept his hand working as he wandered down to your belly, kissing his way towards your underwear, before pulling down the black lace thong.

"I want to rip it off." He breathed against your inner thigh, pulling down the material as slowly as he could manage in his uncontrollable state. He wanted to feel you around him, he wanted to feel you as close to him as possible. But he liked to take his sweet time.

"But you won't." You replied as he gave you a cheeky smile and an eye roll, removing your panties and dropping it on the floor.

He kissed his way back up your inner thigh, leaving you a moaning mess as he kept away from your most sensitive area on purpose.

"Who is eager now?" He questioned, but you couldn't answer. You heaved a shaky sigh as you felt his breath against your slit, the cool air hitting hard against the warmness between your legs. He smiled proudly, before licking across the small ball of nerves, making your hip buck up in anticipation.

"Please." You breathed involuntarily, making him chuckle. He leaned closer, running his tongue across the area once more, your hips coming up to him involuntarily. He placed a hand across your lower abdomen, holding you down as his tongue took you on a rollercoaster ride of sensations, making you cry out as his fingers joined in on pleasuring you. You didn't know what to concentrate on. His playful tongue, his lips sucking on the little ball of nerve, his thick digits inside of you, the movements of fingers in and out of you or the sensation of the warmness forming a knot in your stomach. You didn't think long as you felt the inside of your walls contract, leaving you a mess of moans and screams, before releasing you to let you ride your high out.

You kept heaving heavily as you ran your fingers across your hair, your eyes concentrating on the inside of your eyelids, enjoying the satisfaction you just received.

You didn't have time to rest much as you felt Sirius' lips on yours, his tongue meeting yours as you tasted yourself. You pulled him closer, locking your legs around his hips, urging him to take you finally. You felt him chuckle into your neck. He kept kissing you, whilst aligning himself with your entrance. You gripped his hips, wanting to feel him already, firmly grabbing his skin, but he didn't move. You wanted to groan at his behaviour, but your sound was cut short as you felt him fill you up. He didn't give you time to adjust, he started pounding into you enjoying the friction between his member and your walls.

His groans were low and shaky as you watched his long black hair sweating under his heavy movements. You grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him down for a kiss, wanting to feel him even closer. He quickened the pace, making you moan his name into the kiss. His lustful eyes attached to yours as he cupped your face, watching you, feeling your walls close around him. Your breathing became uneven, your lips dried out. You felt the sensation wash over you, making your back arch, your breasts pushing against his chest, a loud scream leaving you in pleasure. Sirius kissed you, nibbling on your bottom lip whilst you got lost in ecstasy. He quickened his movements, reaching you with a loud growl leaving his lungs, before falling on top of you.

You were taking deep breaths to organise your breathing, whilst Sirius laid on top of your chest, listening to your heart beating uncontrollably. You ran your hands across his hair, playing with the ends. He hummed in satisfaction, causing you to giggle at his child-like behaviour.

"I love you." He breathed as he pushed himself up to be able to look into your eyes.

"I love you too." You whispered against his lips.

He rolled off you to go and clean himself up, leaving you time to do the same and drink a small vial you placed in the pocket of your skirt just in case this was to happen. You drank the potion, protecting you against any unwanted pregnancy and laid back on the bed, pulling the cover over you as you waited for Sirius to return.

He crawled under your cover, pulling you on to his chest, hinting a small kiss on your forehead.

"Good night, sweetheart." He spoke in a tired tone.

"Good night, love." You replied with a small yawn, snuggling deeper into his arm.

Morning came fast. When you woke up and looked at your watch, you jumped out of bed, trying to collect all of your clothes as quickly as you could. You picked up one of Sirius' shoes and threw it at the snoring boy, who shot up with a tired, but surprised expression.

"What?" He asked, not even aware of where he was for a second.

"We have to go, breakfast is almost finished." You replied quickly. Throwing all of his clothes on to the bed.

"So? We can go to the kitchen later." He said, as he fell back onto the bed.

"You know I hate eating in the kitchen. Now get yourself up." You instructed him and he finally decided to do as you so kindly asked him, whilst whining constantly.

As you stepped into the Great Hall, the place went silent. You looked around, searching for the source of surprise that came over them, before you realised everyone was watching you and Sirius. You looked up at him questioningly, but his eyes were running across the room with a suspicious look and a deep frown, just like yours seconds before.

He looked at you with a questioning look, before his eyes wandered down to your chest. A huge grin took over his expression, before a loud laughter exploded from his lungs. You still didn't understand what was happening, but then he took your red Gryffindor tie in his hands, waving it in front of you. Red... Your eyes grew wide, your lips parted as you realised he was wearing your yellow Hufflepuff tie. You raised your palms to your face, hiding yourself from the curious looks.

"Sweetheart, look at me." He tried to remove your hands, but you didn't let him. "You said you would want to reveal us anyway. It just came a bit earlier." He chuckled, not helping your embarrassed situation.

"Not like this though." You cried into your hands.

"Come on, sweetheart. Everyone suspected it already." He said as he kissed your forehead and finally removed your hands from your heavily blushing face. "Come, sit with us." He said as he pulled you up to the Gryffindor table. You could feel the intense stares you have received from the other students, whilst walking up to Sirius' friends.

"Let me guess-" James stood up with a huge grin. "this has been ongoing for a while." Sirius chuckled at his friend and waved him down, not to tease you.

"Friends?" Lily joined the teasing, making you blush even darker. You sat down beside Sirius as he wrapped his arm around your waist, keeping you close to him, reassuring you.

"Yes, we have been together for a while, we just wanted to keep it a secret." Sirius spoke up, seeing your unresponsive state.

"How long is for a while?" Remus asked with a raised brow and a half smile.

"Maybe a year." Sirius replied, causing his friends to gasp.

"Wait what? You kept it away from us for a whole year?" James questioned with a slight annoyance in his voice.

"I made him." You interrupted. "I'm sorry, I just wasn't sure. I was worried. I didn't know how others would take it or how it would affect us if others knew." You explained, looking at his friends.

"I mean, it wasn't really a secret. We kind of suspected it." Peter spoke with a shrug.

"Shut up Wormtail, you were the most oblivious one." James chuckled as he punched his friend on the shoulder. "I'm glad you finally got it out there, although it was certainly a coming out to remember." He smirked and you took a piece of carrot from the plate and threw it at him. "Hey!" He whined.

"That wasn't funny." You said as you blushed even harder, hiding in Sirius' protective arms.

"It was though." Sirius said nuzzling up against you, hiding his face in your neck as you felt his quiet laughters. You shook your head, but you couldn't hide the tiny smile creeping up on your face anymore.

Tags: I didn’t tag anyone as I wasn’t sure of the ages.

Notes: If you enjoyed it, don't forget to like and/or reblog the chapter. Thank you :) 

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[isolemnlyswearpevensie]

12:45 AM | Sirius Black x Reader

Warnings: major character death, angst 

Time/Era: Marauders era, Age 20 (and a smidge of 18)

Word Count:  2.8k 

Summary: Sirius will never forget that one night when he looked at the clock and saw 12:45 am. 

Request: yo, can I request a story where Sirius is dating Lily’s sister (twin/younger) and he realizes he likes her and they start dating and eventually get married and they’re both in the order but she dies on a mission and at the funeral Lily tells Sirius that she was expecting? Wow I’m kinda evil.

A/N: Thank you for the request and patience! Enjoy!

masterlist | sirius black playlist | read on ao3

“Evans!” James yelled, running towards Y/N. Y/N sighed, holding her books tightly to her chest and turning around. His Gryffindor tie flew across his chest as he came to a sudden stop. 

“I’m not Lily, Potter. Honestly, if you’re going to date my twin you need to be able to tell us apart.” 

James throws his head back with a loud laugh before shaking his head. “No, no, I know you’re not Lily. I just needed to talk to you,” He leans his hands on his knees as he struggles to catch his breath. “It’s insulting you think I can’t tell you apart. No offense, Y/N, but you don’t have the same….oopla that Lily has.” 

“Oopla? What is oopla?” Y/N asks, amused. Even after seven years of being friends with James, she never quite got over some of his strange analogies. 

“Something Lily has, don’t you listen?” James straightens his back and twists, cracking his spine. “It’s not that you don’t have oopla, it’s just different oopla.” 

Y/N shakes her head. “You know what, I don’t even want to know. Why do you need to talk to me?” 

“Talk to you? Why do I need to-” A lightbulb goes off in James’ head. “Oh! I know why I need to talk to you! Sirius was looking for you. Something about after graduation plans or something. I’m not quite sure, I didn’t ask.” 

“Do you know where he is?” 

“That’s another thing I don’t know,” A goofy grin filled his features as he spoke. 

“You don’t make for a very good owl, Jamesy.”

“Good thing I’m not an owl then,” James said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Do you know where Lily is?” 

“No clue, you would know better than me seeing as you have a map and all,” Y/N’s grin matched James’ and she started to walk down the hall. 

“Don’t you have twin telepathy or something?! Just use that and tell me where she is!” 

“Bye, Potter!” Y/N called over her shoulder while walking towards McGonagall’s office. She remembered vaguely that Sirius had a career counseling session with her today, so she figured that the small chance of bumping into him there would be worth her while. 

Y/N pattered across the floor as quickly as possible without running. Thoughts swirled in her mind about what Sirius may need her for; they weren’t the closest of friends, nothing like him and the other marauders, but recently their relationship has grown rather flirty. Her stomach fumbled over itself as she thought of Sirius, but her feet only sped up towards the classroom. As Y/N rounded the corner, Sirius walked out of his meeting with his pearly white smile blinding all who could see it. 

“Oh, just the lady I’ve been looking for! Hello, darling,” Sirius said, walking down the hall with various papers clutched in his fingers. 

“Hello, Sirius. Career meeting?” Y/N asks with a subtle gesture to the papers. He waved the papers in the air with a dramatic flourish. Each paper held some grand title about being an Auror and going to the Auror Academy. 

“Good! Apparently Dumbledore put in a good word for me, so the Order is recruiting me!” Sirius seemed to bounce on his heels, the rubber souls of his shoes squeaking on the wooden floors. 

“I’m so happy for you! Oh my god! Congratulations!!!” 

The grin on his face grew exponentially, “You know what would make my day even better?” 

Y/N hummed. 

“If you snuck into Hogsmede for a drink with me,” Sirius leans in to whisper in her ear. “Unless you’re too scared, of course.” 

Y/N sucked in a harsh breath through her nose in an attempt not to focus on his hair tickling her cheek, or how his lips almost brushed her ear. She cleared her throat and nodded. 

“Not scared if you’re not, I suppose,” Y/N croaked. “I’ve done it, like, a million times.” 

Sirius pulled his head away, making Y/N yearn for the smell of his shampoo. “I can think of one time, and you were latched onto my wrist the entire time, rambling about how we could get expelled for skipping class.” 

A harsh red stained Y/N’s chest, cheeks, and ears, which only made Sirius’ smirk grow. 

“I was a different person then,” Y/N countered lamely. 

“Yeah? That was four months ago, love.” Sirius’ hands worked on his papers, folding them four times before shoving them into the pockets of his skinny jeans. Y/N’s eyes followed his teasing fingers, her gaze accidentally lingering on his pants. “Eyes up here, Y/N.” 

The boy made a small tsk noise, wrapped his arm around Y/N’s shoulders, and his hips swayed slightly as he started leading Y/N to the entrance to the Honeyduke’s cellar. His fingers found the bottom of her hair and started twirling it in and out of his middle and pointer fingers as if it were a cigarette. 

“I’m a different person than I was 4 months ago, aren’t you?” Y/N hesitantly snaked her arm under his leather jacket and wrapped around his waist. This was definitely further than they had ever gone in terms of flirting, and Y/N couldn’t wait for more. 

“Perfect four months ago, and perfect now.” Sirius laughed playfully placing a big kiss on Y/N’s temple. “I’m just taking the piss, love.” He turned to the statue blocking the tunnel and said the secret password. “Ladies first, darling.” 

Y/N hesitantly walked into the dark tunnel and cast a simple lumos charm; the damp pathway illuminated in front of the two teens before twisting into the darkness. Sirius returned to his spot next to Y/N and began to lead her down the path. 

“So, I was wondering,” Sirius began, kicking a rock into the wall. Y/N noticed this was a habit of his. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” 

Y/N snuggled into his side, the warm cotton of the inside of his leather jacket brushing her soft skin. 

“And we’re graduating soon…” Sirius let his voice trail before pulling lightly on Y/N’s hair so she would meet his gaze. “And I was wondering if you wanted to spend some special one on one time with me after we graduate?” 

“Special one on one time? Like,” Y/N took a deep breath and took a leap into the unknown. “Hooking up? Is that what you mean?” 

Sirius chuckled lightly, “Not exactly, but I guess that would be a part of it,” Sirius’s cheeky smile was illuminated by the light of Y/N’s wand. “I mean becoming official. I know there’s something between us, and I know you feel the same way, so it makes sense.”

“So, you’re asking me to be your girlfriend?” 

“Precisely. Will you be my girlfriend?” Sirius stopped walking and looked at the girl under his arm. She smiled happily and lightly punched his stomach. 

“I can’t believe you asked me out in the middle of a dark tunnel!” She laughed happily and brought her arms up to his neck to hug him. 

“Hey! I thought it was a good place! Is that a yes, babygirl?”  

“Yes, you idiot, I’ll go out with you!” 

~

Sirius and Y/N’s relationship blossomed quickly after the tunnel; after graduation, they moved into a small flat right in the middle of London’s hustle and bustle. Sirius loved to go out and explore every inch of the city with his girl, which usually resulted in a lot of adventures and long nights. During these times, the couple really took the time to grow their relationship and become closer as a pair. 

Sirius proposed to Y/N in the middle of an ice skating rink on December 13th, 1978. It was perfect; the snow was floating down, gracefully sticking to Sirius’ hair and eyelashes, soft Christmas music was playing in the background and the entire atmosphere of the event was magical. It was a rather simple proposal, but it was more than enough for Y/N. The couple then had a stunning double Summer wedding with the Potters. 

Sirius did amazing in the Order, which Y/N later found out all the marauders had joined. Y/N grew used to Sirius being gone during the nights and coming back injured; this was something she would never wish on her worst enemy. The anxiety-ridden nights and the unbearably silent flat took a toll on Y/N’s mental health. The only thing that got her through these was her twin sister, who was in the same situation. 

The two girls often spent these lonely nights together in attempts to share the burden. The two waited into the early morning nights for something, anything, to ease their tired minds and let them know their boys were safe. Usually, one would send a patronus message or Remus would reach out with cryptic plans and whereabouts. Still, this didn’t completely resolve the paranoia in their minds. 

Sirius and James noticed this early on in their new careers. Sirius suggested they invite the two to join the Order, as you didn’t need to be an Auror to join. But, James disagreed with this idea because Lily was his world and he didn’t want her to get hurt. Without Lily, there was no James and he couldn’t risk losing her. Sirius countered that he felt that way about Y/N too, but keeping the two women in the dark was just harming their relationships and causing a mental decline in all four. It took some convincing, but James finally agreed. Thus, Lily and Y/N joined the Order. 

The two were brilliant additions to the group; both were extremely talented witches and they were beyond smart. They quickly grew to be vital members and went on increasingly more dangerous missions as time went on. The two were an unstoppable pair, and their near-identical looks only proved to be an advantage. That was until Lily got hurt. 

Lily and Y/N were on a mission to stop a group of death eaters from invading a small muggle village just outside of Cardiff. Lily got caught between the crossfire of two wizards and had a huge chunk of flesh taken out of her leg. Y/N had to make an emergency backup call and the two were apperated back to headquarters. That’s when James and Lily decided as a couple that Lily was not going to go on any more missions. 

Y/N, however, only increased the amounts of missions she went on. Specifically, she was after one person in particular.

“I don’t care, Y/N, you can’t go,” Sirius pleaded angrily from the couch. “You can’t go on a mission every day of the week. Just one night, love. Stay with me for one night.” Sirius stood and walked to Y/N, wrapping his arms around her waist and placing a kiss on her forehead. 

“Babe, I am so close to capturing Bellatrix and putting her in Azkaban. Please, I have to go.” Against her better judgment, Y/N placed her head on his chest. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in her husband’s arms and let his soft voice lure her cramped body to sleep. Y/N noticed she seemed to be more fatigued lately, but she placed blame on her heavy work schedule.

 “I need you here, with me, baby. Between your schedule and mine, I barely see you. I miss you.” Sirius’ hands massaged her hips as they talked, all anger and annoyance disappearing from his voice. 

“How about this, we both take the next two or three days off and lounge around here together.” Y/N pulled away from Sirius’ warm, inviting body and began to gather her things. “Please try to get some sleep tonight, I’ll be home by dawn.” 

“I promise, my dear. I love you so much.” 

A ghost of a smile played on Y/N’s lips. “I love you more.” 

~

Sirius was awoken by James’ magnificent stag patronus entering the flat to find him. Rubbing his eyes and sitting up, unable to distinguish what words James’ voice was repeating. Sirius looked at the clock: 12:45 am.

“Can you repeat that?” Sirius’ voice was gruff with sleep.

“Pads, there’s been an accident. You need to get to headquarters immediately, it doesn’t look good. We need you to make some calls.” James’ voice was filled with more panic than Sirius had ever heard in his life, and there was the faint sound of a woman crying in the background. The patronus disappeared as Sirius jumped up and magically changed into some clothes. 

“Thank merlin you’re here,” James pulled Sirius’ arm into the next room once he appeared. He had blood splattered on his face. 

Upon entering the room, everything started to fade. Y/N was laid on the floor, a large gash in her shoulder and head, with healers all around her preforming different spells and CPR.  To her left sat Lily, her fingers coated in the red substance and gripping Y/N’s cold hand. She was crying, more like sobbing, while she watched the healers work on her sister. Sirius didn’t know whether he wanted to cry, puke or faint. All three, his body screamed.

 On the outside, no emotion covered Sirius’ face and he stood frozen near the door. He felt as if he was watching the situation happen from outside his body, almost like he was playing a video game or watching a movie. 

“She’s not going to make it!” One of the healers yelled, preforming compressions on her chest. The healer to his right, who was working on the head gash, cursed loudly and punched the floor. 

“She’s going to make it, god damn it! I’ll be damned if she doesn’t!” 

James nudged Sirius with his elbow, and his soul felt as though it returned to his body. Jumping to her side, he grabbed Y/N’s hand and squeezed. 

“Y/N, I love you so much,” Sirius said through his suffering. 

Her gorgeous green eyes that were focused on Lily rolled to see him and her lips mouthed, “I love you too, Sirius.” 

Sirius swore a smile ghosted her lips as her eyes closed and a final gasp exited her lips. 

~

Sirius stood in front Y/N’s grave in a slightly wrinkled black suit.

 The funeral service had been beautiful; all of Y/N’s friends, family, and casual acquaintances had been in attendance. Her close friends spoke of her adventures and funny stories, her family spoke of her character and strong will, and her professors spoke of her intelligence and quick wit. It didn’t click for Sirius that she was really gone until Minerva McGonagall had asked him how he was holding up, and if there was anything she could do to help. Sirius had responded that no, there was nothing she could do and that he was currently staying at the Potters’ for company. 

Sirius looked at the grave in front of him; it was littered with flowers, chocolate, and everything in between. He looked to his side and found Lily, staring down at Y/N next to him. Her eyes were red and bloodshot, and her nose was rubbed raw. 

“I could have saved her, you know. I was trying to talk her out of going. I should have tried harder.” Sirius mumbled, his voice cracking every other word. 

“This isn’t your fault, Sirius. You couldn’t have done anything,” Lily sniffled. She had no tears left, but if she did, she would be crying. 

Sirius takes in a big gulp of air and stares down at the grave in silence. 

“This might not be the right time,” Lily took a deep breath and looked at her friend. His eyes were dry and his nose wasn’t red, but Lily knew how hard he cries at night when he thought James and Lily were asleep. “But you need to know.” 

“Need to know what?” 

Lily paused for a moment before reaching in her bag and pulling something out. 

“When James went to your flat to grab your clothes, um, he found this in the bathroom.” 

Sirius reaches out his hand for Lily to hand him the mysterious object. 

It was a muggle pregnancy test. A positive muggle pregnancy test.  ~~~

General Taglist: @petalevans @modern-m-a-g-i-c​ Harry Potter x Reader Taglist: @strangerpilot011 join my taglist!

[pentagonpimp69]

Can you ever forgive me? Tom Holland x Reader Part X

*A month later*

“If you don’t think it’s a boy, you’re crazy.” Tom said while shoveling cereal into his mouth.

It had been about a month since talking to Grace. We have texted here and there but I’ve mainly been focused on myself and the baby. My baby. Today I am officially 12 weeks pregnant. Also today, Tom and I are going to our first ultrasound and we will learn the gender of our baby. Even though I feel so nervous, I am super excited to see what we're having. Of course Tom seems convinced it has to be a boy and won’t hear anything else.

“I don’t know what it is Tom.” I answer back. Still cooking my eggs at the stove. I see him roll his eyes out of the corner of my eye.

“You haven’t thought about what gender the baby is?” Tom says with a mouth full of food.

“No, Tom, I haven’t.” I say frankly. 

Tom shrugs his shoulders, “Well, Mom and Dad think it's a boy too.” He says.

“So do my parents.” I answer with a giggle.

Soon after meeting Grace, Tom and I decided that we had to tell both our parents about my pregnancy. Telling them was definitely interesting. My parents were shocked, but thrilled. They were so excited to finally become grandparents. We then decided to tell them about Grace. Well, I decided to tell them about Grace. They seemed upset at first but ultimately said they supported us. But I could swear my dad was glaring at Tom for the rest of the night.

Telling Tom’s parents was another story. They were happy don’t get me wrong, but they just looked emotionally exhausted. They were about to have 2 grandchildren from the same son by 2 different women. One that they know and loved and one by some girl that Tom had a one night stand with. It was a lot. But they are coming around to it.

But today was about none of that stuff. Today was about us and our baby.

“Are you gonna be ready to go once you're done?” Tom asks as I sit down to eat.

“Yeah. I should be. We still have another hour though.” I answer.

“I know, but there's nothing wrong with getting there early right?” He says. I just giggle at him. He has been so excited to go to this doctors appointment. It almost makes me feel bad in a way. When Grace has an appointment, he looks almost like he's going to a funeral. Gloomy and almost sad. But with me, he was ready to go when we first woke up. Granted, I am his long time girlfriend (kind of fiance now) that he's having a baby with, I still feel a bit bad.

“Let me finish eating and I’ll be ready.” I say looking up at him.

He walks over and gives me a kiss on the top of my head. “It’s 100% a boy.” He whispers in my ear. 

“Oh my god!” I say as I push him away. He just giggles and walks into the kitchen.

-

“So Y/N, how are you feeling?” The doctor asks.

“Good! I haven’t had any morning sickness really, just lightheadedness occasionally and that about it.” I say with a smile. Tom sits next to me and grips my hand tightly. His leg shakes not in a nervous way but in anticipation of the ultrasound.

“That’s great! Just make sure you are drinking plenty of water and take thing easy. Especially if you are feeling lightheaded.” She says with a smile.

“For sure!” I answer.

The doctor picks up my file and looks at it. “So you are 12 weeks now right?” she asks.

“Yes! 12 weeks today!” I answer excitedly. Tom squeezes my hand again. I can see his smile without even looking at him.

“Well then, let's get right to it then. If you want to lay back on the table and lift your shirt up, we can get an ultrasound started!” She says.

I nod my head and stand up. I climb on to the fake leather table with what looks like parchment paper on. After I lay down and lift my shirt up, the doctor puts the cool gel on my stomach. 

At this moment, I was hit with panic. What if there is no baby? I remember my mom telling me about her miscarriages in the past. What if this happens to me? I almost start crying when the doctor starts pressing the wand on my stomach. But soon enough, a small flutter starts to fill the room. The doctor turns a knob on the machine and it becomes my louder.

*thud *thud *thud

“That's the heartbeat there and if you look, there's your baby.” She says as she points to the screen.

“Wow.” I say. It's the only word I can think of. It looks like an actual baby in there. I mean I knew there was a baby in there, but just seeing it like that was crazy to me. My baby. 

I look over at Tom and his eyes are fixed on the machine. I say a tear slip from his eye. He looks down at me and gives me his goofy smile. The one I love. The one that got me here.

“Would you guys like to know the gender?” The doctor asks.

“Yes!” I say.

She nods and starts moving knobs on the machine while also moving the wand on my stomach.

“Well from what I can tell, it looks like you're having a girl!” She says excitedly. 

I looked up at Tom expecting to see a disappointed face, but instead, I saw a huge grin.

“A little girl?” He asks the doctor. She nods.

He looks down at me, “We're having a little girl!” He bends down and gives me a kiss.

We're having a little girl.

-

“So what do you think of the name Lily?” Tom asks as he walks in the living room.

“Lily?” I ask as a turn away slightly from my laptop to look at him.

“Yes, what do you think of that name?” He asks again.

“I used to have a dog named Lily.” I answer.

“Well, was she a good dog?” He asks, sitting on the couch next to me.

“No, she used to poop in the house all the time and ate all my dad's shoes. She also bit our blind neighbor once.” I answer, looking back at my laptop.

Tom just stares at me for a minute. “Okay, no to Lily.”

All of the sudden, Tom's phone starts going crazy. Texts are coming through every second.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

“I don’t know, they're all from my publicist. She's freaking out.” He says with a confused face. Finally they stop coming through so he can unlock his phone and read what they are saying. After reading the first one, his face turns white.

“I need to call her.” He says. He walks to the backyard and shuts the door.

I can seem him yelling and rubbing his face during the phone call. What is happening?

Then my phone goes off.

“What the hell is happening????” Is the text I got from Harrison.

“What are you talking about?” I answered him. Once I hit send, Tom walks back in. He won’t look at me. That isn’t good.

“What?” I ask.

“Grace sold a story to the Sun and said that I got both her and you pregnant. She sent them some texts from me as “proof” i guess. The Sun just published it online.” He says, staring at the ground the whole time.

“Are you serious?” I ask.

He nods. “And that's not the worst part.” He says.

“What's the worst part?” I ask. What can be worse than this?

Tom stays quiet.

“TOM!” I sob, “What's the worst part?”

“She’s told them that you threatened to hurt her and attempted to pay her off to go away.” He answers.

“What?” I say.

I cannot believe this. I felt so bad for this girl and then she went out and did this.

“Baby I know that didn’t happen. I’m so sorry.” Tom says as he walks over to the couch to hug me. I cry into his shoulder. What the hell is happening???

“How could she do this?” I choke out.

“I don’t know baby.” He says as he rubs my back, trying to calm me down. “But my publicist says that you need to stay in the house the next few days. Until all of this dies down.”

“Great. So I'm a prisoner in my own home for something I never did. What will I tell my work?” I say.

“Baby we’ll figure that out.” He says. I just nod. I shouldn’t even think about work with what I just found out. Tom and I embrace for a while longer before his phone starts ringing again. He looks down and sharply inhales.

“Who is it?” I ask, wiping away my tears.

“It's Grace.”

Hello! Hope you enjoy this part! Its kind of a whirlwind! Let me know what you think! Also, I've though about starting another series! Let me know what you guys think and who it should be with! Love you!

[reggiedarlin]

The Boy in The Band

Chapter Eleven: T.W: Homophobia.

Three days later....

Five days had passed since the accident. Sirius had tried to stay off social media as much as he could so he wouldn’t have to read some of the scary and/or crazy conspiracies people were coming up with. Today he couldn’t help himself, he clicked onto twitter and he saw that #WhathappenedtoRemusandJames was trending. 

Sirius clicked on the hashtag and started scrolling. He saw some that said things like ‘I bet it’s all a PR stunt so the band actually makes money.’ and others along the lines of ‘I hope James is dead. Never liked him.’ He knew it was a bad idea, but he kept scrolling and scrolling until he came across one that made him sick. The tweet said ‘I hope Remus Lupin suffered and died the f*g and I hope his little t*ink boyfriend kills himself’ Sirius ran to the bathroom and threw up.

He just so happened to run past Lily and James coming back from James’ appointment for his concussion. “Hey Sirius? What-” Lily started but was interrupted by the door in her face. She could hear Sirius’ retching from outside it made her feel sick. James had gone into the room to see if he could find anything that had triggered Sirius being sick and he found, face up unlocked, his phone. He read the thing that had, he assumed, made Sirius sick. He walked out the room.

“Lily, look.” James handed over the phone to his girlfriend. Lily’s mouth dropped at the tweet. “Oh poor thing, no wonder he’s being sick. We need to get him out of this hospital for some fresh air.” Lily told James. “I know but he refuses to leave Remus’ side, how are we going to get him actually outside the room and out the place where Remus is.” “I don’t know but I’ll figure something out.” 

Sirius walked out the bathroom ten minutes later, throat dry and eyes red. He sat back in the chair he had barely left the past five days and grabbed Remus hand “Hey Rem, it’s me again, I know you can’t respond but I just wanted to talk to you. I haven’t left your side for five days, I miss you, I really fucking miss you.” Sirius felt the slightest squeeze of his hand, he thought if he kept going it might get stronger. “Rem everybody misses you so much, please come back to us.” he felt the squeeze again but this time it was stronger. “Remus please I don’t know what I would do if you didn’t come back.” this time the squeeze came with a croak from the pale body next to him. 

“Wat- Wat” croaked Remus “Oh you want water.” Sirius grabbed the water sat next to him that Lily had brought him earlier. Remus practically drank the whole bottle, this didn’t surprise Sirius as being a medical student he had read that people in comas usually wake up extremely dehydrated because of lack of water. “Hi.” Remus spoke to the boy next to him who wanted to give the brunet a hug but didn’t want to hurt him. “Hi.” Sirius said back unsure of what to say to someone who had just been in a coma for five days. “Give me a hug dumbass.” Remus said. This surprised Sirius but he didn’t argue and flung himself into the man’s arms. “Missed you idiot.” came Sirius’ muffled voice from Remus’ shoulder. “Missed you too dickhead.” Remus replied, voice just as muffled from the other’s shoulder. “I heard all your conversations with me by the way. I never knew you liked my smell?” Remus teased still hugging Sirius. “Shut up leave me alone I was grieving.” Sirius pouted. This made Remus laugh which then made Sirius laugh so James and Lily walked into the room to find Sirius and Remus laughing like mad men.

“Holy shit Moony! You’re awake!” Came the cry of James Potter who ran over to the bed to join the hug. “Yeah Prongs I’m awake!” Remus said tears threatening to spill. “Good. Now I can kill you for scaring the shit out of me. You bastard why would you do that to me.” James said punching his best friend in the arm hard but not hard enough to do any real damage. “I’m sorry Prongs, I really am.” Remus apologised pulling James into a proper bear hug. “It’s ok mate just glad you’re alright now.” James replied trying not to cry. 

James didn’t admit it, but Remus being in a coma had really affected him. They had been like brothers since they were little when Remus’ family had moved from Carmarthenshire to Harrogate. James broke down just at the thought of Remus not being in his life. On the very rare occasion that Sirius had slept the last five days, James would sit and talk to Remus himself. He would tell him about Marlene and Dorcas coming to visit, telling him how much they missed him and how they had just got engaged. He had told him about management still wanting them to go on tour in September instead of postponing it. James leg would be healed but Remus might not have been awake yet. He also spoke to him about Lily telling him how wonderful she was and how good things were going. He told him about the cool fidget cube Lily had bought him to help his ADHD. The most important things he told him were about how his dad was sick and how he was really worried about him and he would explain more when he knew Remus could definitely hear him.

“Red! Get over here and join the hug!” Remus said to Lily. “Oh I’d rather not I just don’t want to crush anyone with you know being ‘big’ and all. I can give you a hug when you’re stood up though!” Lily said sheepishly not wanting Remus to think she didn’t want to hug him because she didn’t like him. “Oh, ok no worries!” Remus replied feeling sad that his friend felt that way.

“Oh Remus you’re awake, I was just coming to do your OPS!” said Remus’ nurse, Poppy Pomfrey, walking into the room. “Yeah I’m awake!” Remus said enthusiastically. “Well I’ll check this then I’ll talk to you ok?” “OK.” 

After Dr Pomfrey had checked his monitor’s she spoke to Remus. “Hi Remus. We haven’t officially met but I’m Dr Pomfrey or Poppy, whatever you’d like to call me, you have been in a coma for five days since being in a car accident. You faced quite a lot of trauma in your head as that’s where your body took the most impact. We believe this is what caused your body to go into a coma. Your blood levels and heart rate have been relatively normal while you’ve been out, so we aren’t majorly concerned. We would like to keep you in for a few days just in case you go back in, which we are pretty confident you won’t but safety precautions. So after we’ve monitored you for a few days you should be good to leave. Call me if you need anything.” Poppy explained while changing his wires. “Ok thanks Dr Pomfrey and don’t worry I will.” 

[c-atm]

Fighting Flirty: Birthday Boss Rush

Chapter 1: Hanging with the Maheswarans

The sound of the warp pad reverberated throughout the area as a stream of crystal blue hit the pad and vanished as fast as it came, leaving the now 22 year old Steven ‘Mister’ Universe, dressed in his usual summer outfit of a black cotton short sleeve button up, pink bubble vest, blue jeans, and black and pink sneakers. He took a step off, hands in his pocket as he headed towards his destination. It didn’t take long for him to reach it, as he came to a large fountain with a statue of Rose Quartz, his mother;  in the very middle. He sat on the edge of the fountain, kicking off his socks and shoes and dipping his feet in the water. He turned towards the tear streak visage of the woman who gave him birth, with an even smirk.

“Hey Mom.” It was so much easier to call her that these days, no longer feeling the strain of living up to her legend or cleaning her mistakes. “Hope you don’t mind me stopping to check up on you unannounced, just figured I should while I have a bit of time.” He grinned, not getting an answer, not that he was expecting one. “It’s my birthday, I’m officially twenty- two today and man, let me tell you about it so far.”

*earlier that day*

Steven just finished getting dressed, looking himself in the mirror before nodding in approval. He looked at the time read 11:30AM, Connie already left to run her errands and her shift at R&D,a half hour ago. Sighing, he went downstairs to the living room of his and Connie’s home to see a crystallized orb and a pink note beside it that simply read ‘Mister💝’. He picked it up with a curious smile, the smell of her chai and lily perfume caressed his senses as he opened the note up.

To my dearest Mister

I’m sorry that I can’t be there with you right now to celebrate your Birthday

But unfortunately ,things are happening at R&D that I need to be there for.

So with that in mind, I figured a way we could have fun together.

A birthday quest.

The orb, it holds part of your gift, but you need a voice activated code to open it.

I left pieces of the code with people I trust to keep a secret. My champions so to speak.

You’re tasked to get their part of the code by winning their challenges, whatever that might be.

As to who I chose, well follow your nose, Mister. You already have the scent of the code.

I hope you enjoy your birthday game and I'll see you later.

 💘🍓

P.S. :Your first clue

'L'.

"A hunt, huh?" Steven thought as he looked at the orb. It shined in the sunlight and was small enough to fit in his pocket. " Well, I've never been one to turn down a wholesome and fun time."  Pocketing the crystal in his vest, and the note in his pants pocket, not before giving it another sniff, a relaxed smile on his as Connie’s mischievous grin came to mind; gathering his keys from the bowl near the door, he set off, determined to win Connie’s game.

Steven gave a diamond enhanced sniff every few seconds as he walked around Little Homeworld, quite sure that a few of her ‘Champions’ were gems. It didn’t take him long to get a slight waft of the perfume, multiple actually. All moving around except for a couple.One being Startries and the other being at Funland for some reason he felt the champ at Funland was more menacing than the one at Startries, he made his choice and headed to Startries.

He was surprised to see that the champions weren’t inside but sitting at one of the outside tables. He would have doubted the authenticity of the situation, but the scent was definitely coming from their table. Steven couldn’t believe she got them in on it. He pulled up a chair grinning. “Priyanka, Doug.”

"Good afternoon, Steven."

"How are you doing on this fine day, My boy."

The Maheswarans greeted the birthday star, with warm voices and sly grins.

"Can't complain."The hybrid answered as he looked at the streets of Little Homeworld, seeing humans and gems interact with each other so easily, satisfaction on his face. He turned to the two as he leaned back on his chair "Seem like it's another peaceful summer day."

"That it does." Priyanka agreed.

"So Steven, how does it feel to be twenty-two years old?" Doug inquired.

"Hmm." Steven sat back in thought. "No different from yesterday." He scratched  the back of his head, kind of surprised at his answer. He used to feel so much excitement for this day when he was younger. Now after everything he has done..after everything he's currently doing with his life. It almost feels like another day. “Guess it comes with being older. Feel like another day on the calendar.”

“Oh wow…Didn’t expect that from you.” Priyanka responded, honestly. “I assumed you had a party planned.”

Steven let loose a shy chuckle. “That would be my normal MO, but I even forgot my birthday was coming up to a few days ago.” 

“Been that busy for you, lately?”  Doug asked. 

 Steven nodded with a smirk. “It’s not bad though. ” 

Priyanka looked at him closely, narrowing her eyes at the boy she considered a son. “Hmm..” She leaned back in her chair “Well doesn’t look like you’re overworking yourself..”

“What?” Steven waved his hands in front of him “ No no. not at all! I’m definitely making time to relax.” He reassured “Even today, my plans for the day were just to make rounds around Beach city and Little Homeworld. Check up on everyone." He folded his hands on the table. "That is until, Connie enhanced it."

"Enhanced it. That's a nice way to put it." Doug joked

"I'm still making my rounds, she just made them a bit more fun. Guess she wanted to make sure I'm enjoying my birthday to the fullest" His cheeks turned a bit pink "Just like her to play such a prank."

Doug and Priyanka glanced at each other privately, sharing secret smirks at the loving tone in his voice.

"That being said..." gave them the grin from before."...What game two got for me?

Priyanka sighed as gently folded her arms. "Really, we are having such a good conversation as well."

Doug chuckled. "You can't blame him, he is on a mission for our Kahanni. We gotta play our roles as 'Champions'."

"You’re really getting a kick out of this, Durga." She playfully chastised as Doug nodded.

"So what's my challenge?"  

The Maheswarans looked at the eager Steven before glancing at each other and back at him.

"Have you ever heard of the game 'Plead the fifth'?"

They chuckled lowly and mischievously as  Steven's eyes widened,his lips pursed together in a thin line and his nostrils flared.

"Oh..You've played before." Priyanka stated, matter of factly, her grin growing a bit more.

"You guys gonna grill me?"

"It's just five questions, Son. You can survive five questions without pleading the fifth,right?" Doug teasingly taunted.

"Five invasive questions."

"I promise not to get too invasive Steven." Priyanka swore, though her grin said differently.

"I'm afraid of that 'too'." Steven admitted with a sigh. " But I trust you. " He gave them a strained smirk. "I'm ready. Ask away."

"What is it that you want for your birthday?"

Priyanka turned to her husband a bit embarrassed at his crassness. "Really Doug."

"Hey, can't blame me for taking the opportunity." The security officer shrugged. "Besides, he could plead the fifth...He'll lose his right to our piece of the code..buuut.." He smirked as he left his statement hanging.

"It's ok." Steven laughed. "I did the same thing to Connie when we played once...Though that was about...Something else." He paused a  bit of a longing look on his face, before shaking his head. " But yeah my birthday, have no idea. Like I said, I had to be reminded of it by Connie." Steven looked up towards the sky and took a moment to ponder the question. "Though I've been trying to get back into my tube tube, maybe something towards that."

Priyanka glanced at her husband to stop him from giving them away, he was already in position to punch the sky in celebration.

" Who knows maybe you will." Priyanka said with a fox grin. "Now that Doug asked his ONE question-"

"I'm satisfied with my question, thank you very much." The man Interjected giving his wife a kiss on her temple, getting an eye roll and a hand squeeze. 

"It is my go, ready?"

"No. and that counts."

Priyanka's mouth was agape at his cunning, but soon nodded a bit impressed. "Fine. three questions… One. What did you ask Connie, when you two played this game?"

Steven smirked." I asked her many things. How long her hair was, who’s her favorite fictional character. A lot of things."

"You said you asked her something similar to Doug's question towards you. What was it?"

"What kind of ring she wants to be proposed with."

Priyanka eyes widen at the confidence  in his voice.  There was no blush, no shaking, no bashfulness. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Yup and that's question number five." He breathed out before grinning, doing a small little jig "I win..I win."

"You let him have that." Doug stated in a whisper in her eear.Giving her temple a kiss.

"It is his birthday, after all." The Maheswaran mother said weakly, trying to save a little face. She turned to the twenty-two years old and clapped her hands in flux applause. "Congratulations on your win."

"Yeah!....OK, I'll stop now." He chuckled as he tapped the tabletop.

"So ready for your code, your spoils of victory." Doug dramatically flared as he crossed his arms.

"Yes sir" Steven sat up straight puffing out his chest.

"You are both silly." Priyanka sighed as she shook her head, a half smile on her face. She signaled Doug to go inside the bakery to get his prize.  He did, stating he'd be right back, leaving the two alone.

"She worries." Priyanka  stated as Steven lay his head down.

Steven sighed. "I thought that was my job…"

"It's a 'THING'...mutual thing. You want the person in your life to be happy. " Priyanka answered expecting him to refuse the status. She was surprised when he seemed to nod in agreement.

"True enough...and I am happy. Happier than I've ever been in a while…" He turned his head towards Priyanka. "Your daughter gave me a quest for my birthday and it is already my favorite." 

Priyanka nodded before squeezing his shoulder giving him a motherly smile. "She would love to hear that…"

Before he could answer the fragrance of her perfume ignited his senses. He was surprised to see a box, wrapped in rose pink paper with a red bow land in front of him. 

Wrapped in the bow was a pink paper, the same one the note was written on. He took the paper breathing in the scent, before unrolling the paper.  "ove"

"Love.." He admired. "Certainly smells like it." He chuckled, putting the note with the other one.  He turned to the box and was caught off guard at the expecting looks of the Maheswarans. 

"Happy birthday, Steven." They both announced with matching smiles.  

Steven tittered in surprise as he undid the bow and tore open the wrapping paper. 

"Guys, you..Aw man." In front of him was a whole recording setup for a home studio. "I don't know what to say…" He gave them both a tight hug. "Thank you so much

for this."

"It's no problem." Doug assured. 

"We're happy to do it, Steven."  

Steven released them turning back to the box for the moment. "Aww man. I just want to set this up and start recording and streaming… I want to but, still gotta a way ahead of me."

"Don't let us stop you." Priyanka assured "We'll drop it off at your home later" Doug added. 

"You sure? I mean, I don't  want to take you out of your way." The hybrid commented, feeling a bit guilty.

" I'm not taking no for an answer. Trust us, ok?"  Priyanka told him as she took the box in her hands. "Now go. You gotta quest to finish" She commanded him in motherly tone.

"Better do what she says.." Doug joked. "You don't want her to get the abacus."

Steven took a look at Doug before turning to Priyanka who arched an eyebrow, challenging  him to defy her. "Pssh.. Mean." He pouted before getting up.

"Get going young man."  she snickered as he rose.

"Yes mom." He droned in play before smirking."You guys wouldn't know the code..Would you?"  His eyes lingered to the set up. " Just wondering."

"No. She didn’t say...And you'll be able to play with this when you're done." Priyanka reprimanded. " I swear Boys and their toys, no matter the age." 

"You better get going Steven," Doug added with jest. " She might really get the abacus."

"OK, I'm as good as gone." Steven announced as he began to  walk away, only to turn in give them one more hug. "Love you guys."  With that he was gone heading toward his next destination, Funland.

As the two watched  they found themselves  wrapped in another hug which they returned.  " Was you watching this whole time,Connie."

Connie Maheswaran  gave her mother a father a kiss on their cheek, before nodding.  "You guys did awesome..Even  if you went easy on him mom."

"It's his birthday. " She defended. "That being said..Ring size?" Priyanka added in tease.

Connie took the box from the table, grinning cheekily. " I plead the fifth." 

[malumsmermaid]

I’d Do Anything (Bonus Chap-2)

Hi, back at it again with my favorite trio, Cashly (aka CEO!Cashton). They’re all officially moving in together.

Word Count: 5,190

Warnings: Poly!Cashton, smut

Prev.       Next

Ashton and Calum were away together on business, leaving Lily home alone in Calum’s home, Smokey and Duke happy to spend the days together. Tonight the dogs were snuggled together on the couch as thunder crashed overhead. Lily was in the kitchen cooking dinner for herself. She boredly looked at the time on her phone, humming as she opened it to text Calum.

Come over, my parents aren’t home 😉

Not long after, her phone dinged,

Would love to sweetheart, but I’m halfway across the country

I’m making enchiladas, and our boys are missing their favorite thunder buddy

A moment later her phone was ringing with a FaceTime call from Calum. Lily smiled, answering it and propping her phone up against the ledge that connected the main counter to the bar.

“Hey good lookin’” she said as she waved at the camera.

Calum’s brown eyes gleamed as he greeted her back, watching as she flitted around his kitchen continuing to work on cooking dinner for herself. They idly chatted back and forth while she cooked, Lily finally picking her phone back up and walking into the living room once she’d set the tray of enchiladas into the oven, settling next to Duke and Smokey on the sofa. She picked up the small dog, letting Calum see his pup. He grinned, cooing over at Duke, while Smokey looked up in offense at the sound of the smaller dog getting affection. Lily giggled, stretching her leg over to sate her dog’s need for attention while still cradling her phone and the smaller dog.

Ashton soon stepped into frame, “Hey gorgeous, heard someone thinks that Calum is the dogs’ favorite thunder buddy.”

Lily giggled, “Maybe they aren’t missing Calum, maybe they’re missing you.”

“Oh, so you miss Calum and the dogs miss me? Great to see where I stand.” Ashton’s face lit up as he teased his girlfriend, Calum chuckling as he shifted so that the other man could fit into the frame too.

“I miss you both.” Lily whispered, carefully moving her hand out from beneath Duke so that the small dog could go lay down again.

Both their faces fell slightly as she said this, “We miss you too,” Calum whispered.

“Just two more days and we’ll be back.” Ashton picked up, hand running through his golden curls.

Lily nodded, “I know, it’s just not the same being here with just the dogs and no one else coming by.”

Calum chewed his lips, suddenly blurting, “Look, babe, I’ve been thinking and, watching you move around my kitchen and everything and how often you’re there, do you want to just move in? Next big project we can focus on. We can all get your stuff together, work from the house until you’re all settled.”

Ashton looked at Calum in shock before saying, “Am I invited too? I’m in and out more often than Lil is, but I’d like to be there.” Calum smiled, nodding slightly at his best friend before turning to make eye contact with his girlfriend through the phone, “What do you think princess? Wanna live with both of us?”

Lily nodded, “Yeah, of course I do. Just, can we talk about it more once you guys are home, figure out exactly how we’re going to set this up?”

Both men agreed and Lily smiled, just as the oven dinged. “Enjoy your dinner sweetheart, we’ve got an early morning and it’s getting late. We’ll see you in a few days.” Ashton said, Calum nodding as he agreed.

They all said their goodbyes, blowing kisses and smiling before Calum ended the call, letting Lily go so she could eat.

~~~~~

Two days later, Lily was getting ready for work, texting back and forth with Calum and Ashton in their group chat while the two men were stuck in an airport waiting for their next flight. She had dug around in Calum’s closet, not wanting to wear any of her own clothes today, pulling out one of Ashton’s button downs that had gotten mixed in with Calum’s clothes at one point, a short sleeved black button down with large red hearts printed over the fabric. She pulled on a pair of her ripped black skinny jeans and took one of Calum’s belts, a plain black one with a large, engraved silver buckle and put it on over the shirt, tightening it around her waist. She had just capped her mascara when a new text from Calum came in:

Think we’d both enjoy a nice picture of you getting ready to help us survive this layover, princess.

Lily giggled, taking a quick mirror selfie and sending:

An hour too late sweet boy, along with it.

She smiled to herself as the photo sent before undoing the buttons on Ashton’s shirt to the top of the belt she was wearing with it, throwing it off her shoulders slightly to expose her chest as she took a new selfie, staring up into the camera, green eyes wide as she leaned against Calum’s bathroom sink. She took two pictures, sending them both to her boyfriends and locked her phone back, redoing the buttons on the shirt and walking out to put on her light grey ankle boots and go to work, giving Smokey and Duke each a quick head scratch as she grabbed her bag and ran out the front door.

Lily spent the first half of the workday curled up on the couch in Ashton’s office, staring at her laptop screen as she emailed back and forth with different departments and other companies who were checking in on the status of the most recent project that they were investing in. Just before noon the alarm she’d set on her phone went off and a grin broke across her face. She began packing her things and ran down to the parking lot so she could meet her boys at the airport.

Lily arrived earlier than she anticipated, so she pulled out her laptop and touched up a few presentations while she sat in the pickup lane. Twenty minutes later she jumped at the sound of tapping on her window, grin breaking across her face when she locked eyes with Ashton. She unlocked the car and he and Calum went around to the back to throw their bags in the trunk. Lily climbed out of her car, Ashton quickly running over and wrapping her in his arms, giving her a hurried kiss before mumbling, “That picture Calum asked for most certainly didn’t help either of us survive the layover, or the flight.”

He gently nipped her ear as Calum walked up behind him, glancing around before leaning down to press a kiss to Lily’s cheek. She hummed as she turned to look at him before saying, “Let’s go get some lunch before the meeting we have to go to. Then we can go back to Cal’s and have a little talk about the topic that he brought up the other night.”

Both men assented, climbing into the backseat to change from their hoodies and basketball shorts into button downs and slacks as Lily drove to the nearest restaurant. The three of them huddled around the table, Lily’s laptop connected to the free wifi as they discussed the upcoming meeting and what they were ready to talk about there. The whole time they were there Calum was playing footsie with Lily under the table while Ashton’s thumb rubbed circles higher and higher on the inside of her thigh.

As soon as the meeting ended, Calum took the keys to Lily’s car and drove them all straight to his house. He and Ashton dropped their bags at the front door and Calum let the two dogs out, joining them outside as they were dancing around his feet. Lily was about to follow after him when Ashton grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him, his lips crashing into hers in a hungry kiss as his long fingers began undoing Calum’s belt that she was wearing on top of Ashton’s shirt. By the time Calum had brought the pair of dogs inside Ashton had unbuttoned the shirt halfway and Lily’s lips were kiss swollen and her cheeks red from being denied air.

Calum shook his head, smiling as he walked over to join them. Ashton had pulled away for a moment when he heard the sliding door open again, Smokey making a beeline for him, the pit bull nuzzling against Ashton’s legs since he hadn’t seen him for over half a week. Calum took the opportunity to pick Lily up, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist. He buried his face in her neck, swaying as he held her to him.

Ashton stood from where he was petting the dogs, Calum’s back to him, and he used the moment to unzip Lily’s heeled boots, placing them near his bag, toeing off his own shoes as well. Lily stole a glance towards him as his bare feet slapped against the wood floor, his hazel eyes dark as he stole a glance at her kissed lips. He grabbed hold of one of her hands, giving a gentle pull as he kept walking, enough to make Lily tighten her body against Calum’s for balance before the other man received Ashton’s message, that it was time to move.

The dogs were content to stay curled up on the couch, having greeted the pair that had been gone longest, as Ashton led the way to Calum’s bedroom. Ashton let go of Lily’s hand as Calum settled on his bed, shifting Lily so she was in his lap before wrapping a hand in her hair and bringing her lips to his.

Ashton climbed onto the bed too, kneeling between Calum’s spread legs and running his hands over Lily’s sides, allowing Calum to finally get a taste of their girlfriend’s lips for the first time since they’d seen her. Ashton busied himself, finishing undoing the bottom buttons of the shirt she’d stolen before pushing up the back of the shirt so he could undo her bra, undoing the straps from the band as well so that his shirt wouldn’t have to come off her body, yanking it off of her and throwing it across the room. Ashton wrapped his arms around her then, hands cupping her breasts as he pressed a wet kiss to her neck. Lily let out a muffled moan and Ashton was about to comment on the fact that he had barely done anything when he felt her shift. He glanced down, smirking as he noticed Calum’s hands tightly gripping her hip, making her grind against him as he continued their kiss. He began pinching and pulling at her nipples before tugging her earlobe between his teeth, pulling away to mumble, “Look so good, taking our clothes and making them your own. That picture you sent us really was a treat, we were both just upset we weren’t home. Calum spent the rest of the layover in our little booth doing his best to hide from the rest of the airport that he had his hand down his pants.” He smiled at her little whimper, a low growl rising from the back of Calum’s throat as he thrusted his hips upwards. Ashton smirked, leaning down to suck at her jaw before continuing, “Think I wanna fuck your face, doll, and we’ll let Calum finally get the taste he’s been whining for all week. You’re not gonna finish before I do though, ok sweetheart? We need to let Calum hear those pretty noises of yours that he loves so much. We’ll figure out more from there, ok?”

Calum pulled away from Lily, turning her to face Ashton so she could answer properly, taking the moment to undo his pants, hand disappearing into his boxers, a low grunt passing his lips as Lily stared at Ashton in a daze. The golden haired man grasped her chin between his fingers, hazel eyes searching her dark green ones, waiting for her to answer him. Finally she mewed, “Yes, Mr. Irwin. Please.”

He smiled, giving her a gentle kiss, her eyes slipping closed as she leaned into him. He trailed his hand through her auburn hair, enjoying the small, soft moment before pulling back. “You and Calum help each other with the rest of your clothes, you’re to keep my shirt on you for now though.” He commanded, pulling back and standing from the bed.

His pants constricted the slightest bit more at the soft, “Yes sir.” That fell from Lily’s lips.

His eyes fluttered momentarily as he bit back a groan at the sound of her voice, turning so his back was to the bed as he removed his own clothes. Ashton wrapped his hand around his length, eyes closing as he flashed back to the images Lily had sent early that morning. He was brought back to the moment that he had taken part in creating at the sound of Calum groaning out Lily’s name. Ashton turned, Lily’s hand around Calum’s shaft as she straddled one of his thighs, the pair having been left to their own devices while Ashton’s back was turned. He hummed, giving himself one last stroke before walking back to the bed.

Calum’s eyes locked with Ashton’s and he lifted Lily off of his leg, “Hands and knees for us princess.” He whispered in response to her whine, smiling fondly at the woman.

She obediently shifted herself, Ashton stopping in front of her, hand gently pushing her hair out of her face and over her shoulder. Calum was getting into his spot behind her, hands pushing the shirt out of his way and up her back, lips beginning to dance along the inside of her thighs. Her body let out an involuntary shudder as Calum started eating her out, going straight in like he hadn’t eaten all week, but Ashton could tell she was doing her best to focus on him. He smiled, thumb stroking her cheek as he whispered, “You know the drill, doll. Three taps if you need a moment, gotta make sure my girl is ok. Also want you to keep those pretty green eyes on me, like in your pictures.”

“Yes sir,” she whimpered, a small moan leaving her lips from Calum’s actions behind her.

He smiled, nodding as he took a small step forward, his tip directly lined up with her lips. She leaned forward, giving it a gentle kiss before taking him in her mouth, tongue lapping at his tip as she sucked in her cheeks before he slowly began pushing into her mouth further. He slowly thrusted, sinking further into her mouth with each one, his eyes locked on her to make sure that she was ok with each extra inch of him until he reached the back of her throat. He hummed as he felt her take a deep breath through her nose, her tongue running along his vein as she relaxed and took him further.

He groaned, eyelids fluttering yet again as he stared down into her green eyes. He chewed his lip for a moment before gathering her hair in his fist, suddenly pulling back out before fully beginning to fuck her throat, grunting at the feeling of her automatically reacting and hollowing her cheeks. He continued to use the makeshift ponytail as leverage as he thrusted in and out of her mouth, doing his best to keep his eyes locked on hers. His eyes rolled back when Lily reached up one of her hands, fondling him, spots appearing before his eyes for a moment. He moaned loudly, and once she was back in his view he noticed the way she was tightly grasping at the quilt, her body quaking. He realized then that Calum was keeping her right at the edge, both of them holding out according to what Ash had said not three minutes ago. He knew she needed to get him closer so she could finally let go. He picked up his pace, nodding down at her in acknowledgement, and between the feeling of her mouth around him and her touch he was soon releasing down her throat, her name falling from his lips as he tightened his hold on her hair.

As soon as he knew he was spent he reached for the nightstand, pulling out a tissue and quickly wiping around her mouth. Her green eyes were wide, still looking up at him as he cleaned her up. He smiled, giving her a gentle kiss, whispering “Such a good girl for me.” She let out a little moan at his words and he smiled, “All yours Calum.”

Lily let out a gasp as Calum instantly pulled her closer to his face, fingers digging into her thighs as he kept his lips connected to her. She quickly fell apart with little extra effort from Calum, his name filling his bedroom as Ashton stood there, watching Lily shake, her arms giving out as her orgasm washed over her, Calum not holding back as he worked her through, brown eyes closed as he groaned against her, the vibrations from that causing her to shudder more.

Even after it was clear to Ashton that Lily had made it through, Calum’s head didn’t shift from between her legs. Ashton hummed in appreciation, nodding slightly as he heard Lily’s gasping moans, struggling to push her body back up as Calum kept working at her, using everything he’d learned over the past six months to build her back up again. Ashton moved to sit next to her, carefully lifting her with one hand, using the other to gently massage her throat, whispering quiet praises to her, taking deep slow breaths while he tried to focus on taking care of his girlfriend and not the sounds filling the room.

His focus was pulled away when the bed started rocking slightly, Ashton now noticing Calum’s slightly muffled, desperate grunts. He hummed, grabbing a pillow from where it was resting against the headboard, putting it above his bent knee, sliding both his knee and the pillow under Lily’s chest to continue to help her hold herself up, moving to stretch his tall frame across the bed, taking hold of Calum’s length.

The other man shuddered, an appreciative groan falling from his lips as Ashton slowly began pumping him, his hand doing far more for Calum than the mattress. Calum flipped Lily over onto her back, allowing Ashton to move his leg out from under her so he could maneuver into a more comfortable position while he helped Calum through. With one last harsh sucking noise, both Lily and Calum came, whimpering in harmony.

Once they’d both made it through, Calum flopped onto his back, pulling Lily to rest her head on his chest, panting as his fingers ran through her hair. “Not done.” She whispered, looking up at Ashton with hooded eyes.

He smiled, not one to deny her, crouching above her, his knees on either side of hers, “If you say so, doll, your wish is my command.” He whispered, his lips gently slanting over her own.

He pulled his shirt off of her body, tossing it towards the bathroom door, easily slipping inside of her and immediately began thrusting. He was being gentle, placing gentle kisses to Lily’s face and neck until she began clenching around him. He let out a groan, pulling out, but keeping a thumb on her clit until Calum’s body replaced his, Ashton pumping himself over her once Calum was in place, spreading himself over her stomach. Calum did the same when he was ready a few minutes later, working her through her fourth orgasm as he did so.

Lily laid on the bed, shaking, and Ashton gently cradled her jaw in his hand, gently worrying over her as Calum flopped back onto the mattress, letting out a groan when he landed, his face scrunched up. Ashton just shook his head, humming quietly as he looked down at Lily, waiting to see her green eyes looking up at him.

She slowly blinked her eyes open, staring up at Ashton adoringly, reaching her own hand up to stroke his cheek. He smiled, gently grasping her hand in his own, pressing her knuckles to his lips. He sighed as he looked down at her body, whispering “C’mon doll, we’re gonna go get you cleaned up, Calum will join us in a minute.”

She hummed, allowing Ashton to get out of bed and scoop her into his arms, carrying her into Calum’s bathroom. Calum watched them with half open eyes before slowly getting up, gathering all his sheets from the bed and carrying them down the hall to the laundry, tossing those into the washer before grabbing a set from the shelf above the two machines, placing the clean sheets in the dryer with a dryer sheet to freshen them up and warm them for when Lily left his shower.

When he entered the bathroom after starting the dryer he found Ashton sitting on the shower floor next to Lily, fingers combing conditioner through her hair. He smiled, stepping in and sitting on Lily’s other side, grabbing her body wash and putting it on her sponge, slowly rubbing it over her stomach and between her thighs before moving on to her back.

Ashton sat back, humming and rubbing his eyes tiredly, “I already washed myself, let her sit down and chill out while I did, gonna go ahead and dry off.”

Calum nodded in response, watching as Ashton carefully got to his feet, stepping around the other two people in the shower and walking through the glass door, shutting it behind him. “Wanna clean me up while your conditioner sets princess?” He asked with a smile, opening the bottle, ready to pour some shampoo into her hand as she nodded.

Once they were both rinsed and dried off, Calum helped Lily into a pair of her boy shorts. He pulled boxers on over himself before walking her out into the bedroom, scooping Ashton’s button down up from where he’d thrown it when he’d taken it off of Lily, placing it back over her arms, pressing a kiss to her wet hair. They both watched as Ashton tucked the final fresh blanket into the mattress, folding it back so that they could all crawl in and get a nap before dinner.

~~~~~~

Lily was woken a couple hours later by Calum gently rubbing circles on her exposed hip. She rolled over as best as she could in Ashton’s hold, his hazel eyes trained on the ceiling, having been woken by Calum’s alarm an hour earlier. He smiled, kissing her softly before whispering, “Dinner is ready, made your favorite.”

She grinned, Ashton smiling as he moved on top of her, stealing his own kiss before helping her out of bed. Lily hummed, her eyes trailing over Calum’s now clothed figure. He smiled, “Figured the neighborhood didn’t need to see what they’re missing out on while I took the dogs on their evening walk.” He teased, easily gesturing towards the two dogs laying in the middle of the cool kitchen tile.

Lily let out a giggle, tucking herself to his side before maneuvering around the dogs to fix herself a plate of veggie stir fry and a mug of tea, leading the way to the living room and finding a show or them all to watch while they ate.

Once they’d all finished and the kitchen was clean, they all gathered back on the couch. “So, I’ve actually been thinking about asking you guys to move here for a little bit now. Ordered a new bed that actually should comfortably fit three adults and two dogs now. We can move the current bed into one of the guest rooms for when one or two of us is away so that whoever is still here doesn’t feel alone in the big bed, or we can use it as somewhere to go when one of us needs some alone time or something happens and we need to split up for a night to cool down, y’know? It’s gonna be here in two weeks, which should be enough time to get you both packed and unpacked and settled in, yeah?” Calum rambled, looking at the other two members of the triad.

Lily glowed as she listened to him, Ashton nodding along, having heard this the night before. They all agreed and Calum whispered, “So we’ll start packing your stuff up tomorrow, Lil, take this weekend to get you all moved out, and then we can move onto Ashton.”

They all cuddled up on the couch for the rest of the night. Content in each other’s arms as they continued with the show they’d begun watching together a few months back.

~~~~~~

Two weeks later and they were almost completely done moving in. They’d managed to spend the entire time working from Calum’s home office, sitting on the floor or taking turns at the desk while the others kept emptying boxes. They’d organized Calum’s large walk-in closet, fitting everyone’s clothes in there, set up Smokey’s feeding area where they usually just temporarily set his bowls when they were over, and found places for all the photos and art Ashton and Lily were adding to what Calum already had.

It was the day that the new bed was arriving and Lily had to go into the office. Both men gave her gentle kisses, promising to focus on moving the furniture around so that the new bed would fit. As soon as she pulled out of the driveway they both ran upstairs, smiling as they began their surprise project for the office. First, they moved Calum’s desk to a different wall, then carried the pull out sofa bed from the guest room across the hall, settling it against the wall Calum’s desk had been by.

Calum then went into the guest room closet, pulling out two desk boxes, taking them one at a time across the hall to the office. They both then went downstairs, taking apart the current bed and slowly bringing it up to the guest room, reassembling it, finishing that project as soon as the new bed arrived. Ashton led the men to the bedroom, helping them shift the nightstands that would rest on either side of the bed. Once the frame and mattress were all in place, Ashton shook both men’s hands, showing them out with a grin. He pulled the new bedding out of the dryer, Lily having started washing it before she left, quickly making up the bed before rejoining Calum to help set up the desks.

It was lunch when they finished running wires between the three desks, a surge protector resting under the middle one, which was to be Lily’s. She only had her laptop, which was currently at work with her, so it was more a case of getting the boys’ computers plugged in and set up. When Ashton crawled out from under his desk he found Calum sitting on the floor, frowning at his phone. “Lil’s not having a good day. Told her we already ate and to treat Kels to lunch, she’s been doing her best to help Lily out with everything.”

Ashton nodded, holding his hand out to help Calum up. He grinned as he looked around the office, “Just need to bring that bench over and put Lil’s books in it so she can have her little reading nook.”

Calum nodded, smiling and they both worked on the final project, chatting and joking the whole time. They finished at six, right as Lily texted them that she was just leaving the office and on her way home. Both men frowned at their phones, each taking a quick shower and changing into pajamas while they waited for her to get home. They were both on the couch when she walked in, and they smiled over at her, opening their arms. “We ordered a pizza, figured we could have a chill night in, movie night.” Ashton whispered as she settled between them both with a huff.

Calum nodded, kissing her cheek, “It’s a movie night for sure, baby.”

Lily closed her eyes, settling into them both. “Gotta finish unpacking the last of my things, find a spot for my books.” She whispered stubbornly.

Calum and Ashton both giggled, smiling at each other. “What’s so funny?” She asked, pouting at them both.

“Just get into your pajamas and we’ll show you. Had a few projects today that you didn’t know about.” Ashton said with a smile, hand gently tapping her ass as she got to her feet and walked infront of them.

She scowled at him playfully, but did what he said. The two men grinned at each other, waiting impatiently for her to rejoin them. “New bed looks great.” she said as she walked back into the living room.

Calum hummed, nodding, and they both got to their feet. Calum scooped Lily up, putting her on his back. “Close your eyes, gonna be a surprise.” He said, slowly beginning to walk upstairs, Ashton already bounding ahead of him.

He smiled as Lily nestled her head in his neck, trusting him as he gave her a piggyback ride through the house. He set her down outside the door into the office, holding her to his chest. “No peeking,” Ashton warned teasingly as he opened the door ahead of them, watching as Calum carefully walked her into the room.

He stopped, facing the trio of desks, slowly counting down from three before spinning her around. She gasped as she took in the desk set up, a smile crossing her face, looking at the way they’d arranged photos above each desk. She grinned, turning and smiling at the sofa, “Told you it would work in here.” She called, gently shoving Ashton.

He giggled, nodding before turning her ninety degrees to look at the window, her dreamed of window seat highlighted by pillows and the new, light curtains on either side of it. Her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes watering slightly as she stared at it. Calum passed her off to Ashton, walking over to the bench, which had shelves under it in addition to the under-seat storage. He carefully removed the pillows and cushion, opening the bench to show Lily her books, spines facing up so she could easily find what she was looking for. She was truly crying at this point and Calum lowered the lid, putting the cushion back on and pulling her to sit down, both he and Ashton cradling her in their arms as they settled on either side of her. Calum ran his fingers through her hair, quietly cooing, “We love you so much, Lily.”

Ashton simply nodded in response when the doorbell rang. Ashton gave her a gentle kiss before moving downstairs to get the pizza. The three crawled into the new bed, Duke and Smokey happily joining them, sitting together and eating their dinner as the first movie began, the five of them truly at home.

Tags: @irwinkitten @empathycth @calpops @dammitbands @gorgeouslygrace @5sosalh

[softboywriting]

Dad | Finding Home Series Finale

Summary: Lily gets a dad for her birthday. [dad shawn] [non au]

Word Count: 2k

|Masterlist In Bio|

One month later

“Momma?” Lily's tiny voice calls through the half open door and you lift your head from your pillow. The room is dark and you have to squint to see her tiny figure in the doorway. You assume she's had another bad dream. She's been having them since Shawn left for London at the beginning of the week.

“Yes baby?”

“Can I sleep in here?”

“What's wrong with your bed?”

Lily is quiet.

“Lily?”

“I had a bad dream.”

“Again?” You sit up and turn on the bedside lamp, flooding the room with a soft yellow glow. Lily walks in and crawls up onto your bed with much effort. Her little hands slipping in the comforter. She manages and gets up onto your lap. “Tell me about it.”

She sniffs. “There was a dinosaur and it ate Shawn.”

“Why did it do that?”

“I don't know. But I was all alone and I was very scared. I wanted to make that dinosaur puke him out.” Lily makes a blech noise. “But he ran away and Shawn was gone forever!”

“Oh baby. It's okay, Shawn is okay, he's in London, remember?”

Lily leans her head into your chest and you run your hand over her hair. It's so wavy and unruly just like Shawn's. “Can we call and make sure?”

“Call Shawn?”

“Yeah.”

You reach over and grab your phone off the nightstand. It's almost one in the morning. You're not sure what time it is in London. “It's pretty late. I think Shawn's in bed still maybe.”

“But...what if the dinosaur got him?”

“I promise dinosaurs are all gone bud.”

“Even in London? What if it was an alley gator. They look like dinosaurs. There could be alley gators in London!”

You sigh and give in. As soon as you hit dial you press the video call button and give the phone to Lily. A few rings later and Shawn's face appears on screen lit by what looks to be early morning sun.

“Hello? Lily?”

“You're alive!”

“Yeah?” He chuckles and smiles sleepily. “What's up pumpkin?”

Lily tells him her dream, this time in much more detail as Shawn listens with his eyes closed. He hums now and again and lets out breathy little laughs. “...so I had to call you and make sure you didn't get eaten.”

“Nope. I'm all good. I think you can go back to bed now. You wouldn't want to be tired for school tomorrow and sleep through music day would you?”

“No!” Lily looks panicked. “I'll go to sleep! Good night Shawn!” She kisses the phone screen and gives it to you before hurrying off to her bedroom.

“Did she call me or did you?”

You lay down and turn off the light, laying the phone upright against the pillow next to you. “I called. She had to make sure you were okay. I didn't know if you'd be awake because of the time difference.”

“Mmm. It's almost seven in the morning so no worries. Are you sure you didn't just wanna call and hear my sleepy voice?”

“Oh please.”

“I know how much you love it.” He purrs, voice low and sleep rough. You roll your eyes, he says your name and that gets your attention. Too much attention. “There it is.”

“There what is?”

“That look. The one you save just for me.” He grins and presses his cheek into his pillow. “I love it.”

“Yeah well...shut up.”

“I wish I could be in bed with you right now.”

“But you’re halfway across the world.”

“And I miss my girls.” He sighs sleepily. “I should probably get up soon, the sun is blinding me. Go back to sleep darling.”

“Don't you darling me, I hate that word.”

“Sweetheart.”

“I'm going to hang up.”

He pauses a moment before grinning. “Honey.”

“Shawn.”

“I love you.”

The phone screen goes dark and you just lay there. How dare he get the last word in. God he infuriated you in the best way and he knew that half way across the world, there was nothing you could do about it. You love him even if he was a little shit. ____________________

Friday, the twenty fifth, Lily's birthday and you get a call that she is sick at school. There is no way you can leave work without your boss flipping out. You feel sick. Lily needs you and you have to risk your job to get her. You fucking hate this place.

Initially you want to call Olivia and see if she can pick her up, but she isn't in town this week. So you check your messages to see if Shawn has landed yet. Sure enough Shawn has just texted you a few minutes ago that he's landed and will be at the house when you get home with Lily.

You hit dial and put the phone up to your ear. “Shawn?”

“Yeah? What's up?”

“Are you still at the airport?”

“Just getting my bags now. What's wrong?”

“Can you pick up Lily? She's sick and if I leave right now I will lose my job.”

“Of course. I'll be there as soon as I can.”

Unexpectedly, your meeting ends shortly after you return from your phone call with Shawn. As soon as you are able to, you head out of work to hopefully meet him at the house. The second you get home you find Lily on the couch. She's covered with a blanket and watching TV with tired eyes, barely awake it seems. Shawn is nowhere in sight but you assume he's probably just in the bathroom.

“Hey baby,” you coo softly, petting her hair back off her sweaty forehead. “How's it going?”

“My tummy hurts and I'm tired.”

“Do you need some water?”

Lily shakes her head. “Shawn got it.”

“Oh.”

“I'm sleepy Momma.” She rubs her eyes and turns into the couch cushions. You rub her back and she falls asleep immediately.

You find Shawn in the kitchen, filling up a bottle of water. “Hey, thank you.”

Shawn turns and smiles softly. “Of course. I'm glad I was able to get her. How was work? I thought you couldn't leave?”

“The meeting ended quicker than I thought. Did you have any trouble picking her up? I texted the teacher that you were her dad and that you're allowed to take her home.”

“No problem at all.” He looks into the living room and shakes his head. “The poor kid. Sick on her birthday.”

“I know. She just needs to rest. How was Europe?”

“Same shit as always. I couldn't wait to get home. It's funny, I've never been so eager to just relax.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “The whole time I was thinking about what I wanted to do for Lily's birthday and here we are.” “There's still tomorrow.”

“You're right.”

“I'm going to get changed, do you mind watching her for a little bit longer? I know you must be exhausted.”

Shawn shakes his head. “No, go ahead. I'll sit with her until you're cleaned up.”

Half an hour later and you're showered, changed and ready to see how Lily is doing. The moment you walk into the living room your heart just melts. On the couch is Shawn, sprawled out with his feet hanging over the end and Lily curled up on his chest with her blanket on top of her. You decide to go to the kitchen to make Lily's birthday cake instead. The two of them could sleep a while.

That night you find yourself in the living room picking up a mess of toys, sippy cups and blankets strewn about from the week. Shawn had just woken up and carried Lily's still sleeping form to bed moments ago and you decided to clean up a bit, changing the tv to a music channel while you did so.

As you stuff Lily's dolls into her little toy box and set aside her blanket and a couch pillow to be washed, you hear something move behind you. It's Shawn. He's pushing the coffee table toward the wall under the TV. “What're you doing?” You ask and he holds his hand out for you.

“Dance with me?”

A slow song starts on the music channel, one of his from a few years ago and you just shake your head at him. “Really? To your own song?”

“Yeah. It's about you so I think it's a pretty good choice.”

“No...it is not.”

“Yes. I swear.” he chuckles and shakes his hand for you to take.

You grab his hand and he puts an arm around your waist and slow dances you side to side singing along to the song. “Be mine yeah, any time any time.”

“I love this one.” You lay your head against his chest and he keeps singing softly. The two of you sway together while he sings quietly through two more songs.

“Thank you.” he whispers lowly against your hair.

“For what?”

“For everything. If I hadn't come to see you when I did, I don't know where I'd be right now. I never would have met Lily or decided that I am officially ready to slow down. I wouldn't be dancing in your living room and feeling so in love my heart is about to burst.” He pulls back and looks down at you. “So thank you, for letting me in that night it was raining. You really saved me.”

“You saved yourself Shawn.”

“But you helped.” He kisses you softly. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

____________________

Lily wakes up bright and early the next morning. You can hear her little feet running down the hall before she bursts into your bedroom and flings herself up onto the bed between you and Shawn. You've been awake for a few minutes, just thinking about everything that's happened in the last month or so.

“Momma! Shawn! Wake up!”

You roll over and face the dark haired little girl beside you. Five years old now. Oh how time flies. “Yes bud?”

“My birthday is over! I didn't get any presents!”

Shawn rolls over and loops his arm around Lily. “Who says your birthday is over?”

“But...it was yesterday.”

“Yeah but it's not over until we celebrate. So it's still your birthday.”

You boop her nose and she giggles. ��Let's have breakfast and then we can open presents.”

“Okay!”

Lily practically inhales her breakfast so she can open presents faster. You worry about her stomach being sensitive but she seems to be alright. Shawn brings in a stack of boxes from the laundry room where you had hidden them and the three of you sit down in the middle of the living room.

“What's the green box?” You ask Shawn as Lily tears into a gift wrapped in pink and blue paper.

“A surprise.”

“A surprise huh?”

Shawn grins and you eye him suspiciously.

Lily opens everything, squealing and thanking the two of you until she gets to the last box, Shawn's. It's a small green box, no bigger than a deck of cards. “Momma, this is for you too.”

“For me? But it's your birthday bud.”

Lily hands you the box and sure enough on the top is your name and Lily’s. “What is it?” You ask Shawn and he just smiles innocently.

You lift the lid and inside is two matching rings with feathers that wrap around them lying side by side. Lily's eyes light up and she realizes what it is before you do.

“Matching rings! Momma! Is Shawn going to be my Dad?!”

Shawn raises his eyebrows as you pick up the smaller of the two rings. You slide it over your ring finger and look to Lily. “Yes he is baby. Yes he is.”

Lily shrieks and throws herself at Shawn, wrapping her little arms around him.

“I figured maybe we could get married before we go public with our relationship and Lily. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, just friends and family.”

“That sounds perfect.” You take the other ring from the box and slide it over Shawn's finger. He rests his hand on Lily's back and she just snuggles against him, sighing softly as you lean against his shoulder.

“I love you Dad,” Lily says softly and you close your eyes.

“I love you too Lily. I love you too.”

The end.

[jilyss]

what happens in greece shouldn’t stay in greece

my take on “2 people I know who broke up years ago are on separate romantic vacations w their partners iN THE SAME GREEK TOWN and Im just sitting here watching it unfold on ig, where they have each other blocked. ”

read on Ao3

Lily stretched out onto the warm sand, letting it settle around her fingers and toes. Sighing happily, she shifted so that her head was resting on her boyfriend Blake’s stomach. His fingers moved to play lazily with her red hair tied back in a messy bun, and she closed her eyes, letting the sun coat her skin. 

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Blake murmured, and she could feel the rumble in his stomach as he spoke. They were on a vacation in Lindos, Greece, a small town on the coast. While it was still a touristy town, it was relatively quiet compared to the busy city of Athens they had visited yesterday. At the moment, there were only a few families and couples scattered along the beach, splashing in the water and enjoying the sun.  

“The best place I’ve ever visited,” Lily replied, falling into a peaceful quiet. But within a few minutes, she was already hot, feeling a light sheen of sweat break out on her skin. Sitting up, she pulled off her shirt, revealing a yellow bikini. “Do you want to go in the water? I’m a little hot.”

Blake shook his head, reaching for his phone. “I’m good. Maybe in a minute?”

Lily nodded, shifting again so that she was lying sprawled out next to him, and forced herself to relax in the sun.

XXX

Marlene was sitting next to her roommate Dorcas, watching the newest episode of the Bachelor, and mindlessly scrolling through Instagram when she saw Blake’s newest post of his and Lily’s Greece trip. She double tapped it, not thinking much about it since Lily had sent her a nearly identical picture a few hours ago to prove they were still alive. 

She tossed the phone onto the couch and stood up. “Lily seems like she really likes Blake,” she called as she opened the fridge. “Think they’re gonna move into together after their trip?”

Dorcas shook her head. “No way. I mean, she might be ready, but I don’t think Blake is the type to commit this soon. How long have they been dating?” 

“I think they took this trip because it’s been a year. I don’t think that was the ‘official’ reason or whatever, but yeah, it’s been a year.”

“Hmm,” Dorcas said, eyes focused back on the tv. “I hope Lily isn’t expecting anything.”

Marlene closed the fridge, holding a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Sitting down next to Dorcas, she propped her legs up and pulled out her phone again. “I don’t think so. She’s been warier this time around than with her other boyfriends. She always goes into everything headstrong, you know? Loves first and asks questions later? I think she’s trying to take it slower with Blake.”

Dorcas nodded, tucking her legs underneath her. “Hopefully Blake sticks. I mean, he’s a little arrogant sometimes, but I think he’s been my favorite so far, besides James, I mean.”

Marlene snorted. “Just don’t tell Lily that. She’ll blow your head off.” Dorcas grinned. Marlene went back to scrolling through Instagram, bored. 

As Dorcas reached for the chip bag next to Marlene, Marlene suddenly sat straight up, eyes wide and staring at her screen. 

“Wha - Mar, what’s wrong?” Dorcas said, tugging at the chip bag. “Let me have some chips - “

“It’s not that,” Marlene said, waving her free hand frantically. “Look at this.” She shoved the phone into Dorcas’s face. It showed a picture of James and his friends, Sirius, Remus, and Peter, snorkeling just off the coast of a beach. Dorcas’s eyes flicked up to the location at the top of the picture. Lindos, Greece. Her eyes narrowed. 

“Isn’t that where -”

“Yes! Lily and James are in the same town.” Marlene bolted out of her chair, pacing anxiously around the room. “And I’m pretty sure James still has her blocked on Instagram, and Lily barely checks anyway. Dor, do you know what this means?”

Dorcas rolled her eyes. “So what? The probability that they run into each other is super low, and even if they do, it’s going to end up in a big fight, just like every other time they’ve seen each other since.”

Marlene’s eyes flashed excitedly. “I’m calling Sirius, right now.”

Now Dorcas jumped up, reaching out to grab the phone from Marlene’s hand. “Marlene! You can’t just -”

Marlene jumped out of Dorcas’ reach, standing on the couch. Dorcas followed her, and practically leapt on top of her, laughing as she pulled her down and wrestled the phone out of her hand. 

Holding it above her head, Dorcas used her other hand to push Marlene away. “If we interfere now, it’ll throw both of them into a nervous wreck and ruin their vacations.” Marlene lunged at Dorcas, who stepped neatly away, grinning. “It’ll be much better if we let them just find each other. It’s a small town, there’s a good chance they will run into each other at the beach already.”

Marlene stepped back, eyes widening as she understood Dorcas’ plot. “What happens if they don’t run into each other?” 

Dorcas shrugged. “If they’re meant to be, they’ll run into together sooner than later.”

Marlene snatched her phone back and sat down heavily on the couch. “Fine, I won’t call Sirius. But, if Lily hasn���t seen him by her last day, I’m calling him.”

Dorcas shoved her legs off the couch so that she could sit down. “Deal.” 

XXX

At exactly 8:00 am, Remus’ alarm went off and four men collectively groaned. James, who was sleeping closest to alarm, tapped at the phone’s screen aggressively until he hit the snooze button. No one moved otherwise until it went off a few minutes later, and Remus finally sat up, rubbing at his eyes. “We gotta get going if we want to make it anywhere before all the tourists get there.” When no one moved, he pulled the covers off of Peter, who he was sharing the bed with, who instantly groaned and curled into a ball. 

Remus shuffled out of bed and pulled the covers off of James and Sirius, who reacted similarly. They had been out late the night before, at a local bar and had had one too many drinks, but Remus was determined to make the most of their vacation, so despite his hangover, he was getting up. 

Their Airbnb room was already littered with various clean and dirty clothing items, and when James finally got up, he had to sort through until he found a clean outfit. Head pounding, he got dressed and wishing that he hadn’t gotten so crazy last night. He hadn’t meant to drink as much as he did, but it had been a long time since he had gotten that wasted that he had let himself get carried away. By the time he was finally dressed, Sirius was still in bed. James chucked a pillow at him, and when Sirius didn’t even flinch, jumped on top of him. 

“James - urgh!”

A few minutes later, Remus was pushing everyone out the door, ready for another day in Greece. 

XXX

“Hey babe, look at this,” Blake said, grabbing Lily’s hand, and pulling her over to a vendor’s stall filled with tea bags and glowing candles. Instantly, she broke out into a huge smile. She had always loved candles, especially the smell just after lighting them. 

Lily let her fingers slip from Blake’s to pick up the one closest to her, taking a deep breath of the lemon lavender candle. She spun around, intending to show Blake when she thought she saw a figure pass by in the corner of her eye. Confused at the familiarity of the figure, she tried to step out of the vendor’s stall to get a better view of the person, but Blake stepped in her way, handing her another candle. 

Shaking her head, Lily focused back on Blake. She had to have been seeing things - the chances of seeing him in Greece, were impossible, and it had to have been someone who had a similar body type. 

“You want to get anything?” Blake asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. Lily shook her head, still distracted. 

“I’ve got plenty already. Do you want to go get lunch soon? I’m starving.”

XXX

Later that afternoon, Lily had almost completely forgotten that she had seen her ex-boyfriend’s lookalike in Greece. But not quite. Every dark-haired stranger that was taller than her caught her eye for the rest of the day, but finally, after dinner when they had wandered down to the beach to watch the sunset, she managed to forget about it as she stepped side by side with Blake. 

They had just sat down on a pier bench, with a view of the boardwalk and the beach in front of them, when Blake cleared his throat. “Can we talk for a minute?” 

Lily gave him a questioning look, suddenly nervous. “Yeah, of course. What’s up?”

Blake glanced at his hands, which were twisting in his lap and cleared his throat again. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking… about us.” Lily’s heart rate skyrocketed, and she couldn’t breathe. Blake reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box, but didn’t open it. “A lot of people wanted me to propose on this trip. But you - I don’t think we’re ready for that yet.” He laughed lightly. “But I am ready to make a promise and move in together. I love you, and I know it’s cheesy or whatever - but I know how I feel about you, and I know where I want us to end up.” 

Lily gasped as he opened the velvet box to reveal a small diamond encased in a silver ring. He held the ring out to her, and Lily took a deep breath. 

Unbidended, a memory of the man she thought she had seen earlier popped back into her head. Late one night, she and the man she had been almost positive she was going to marry, had snuck to the top of a building and stayed until the sun had gone down. Wrapped in a blanket together, and laughing together was the happiest Lily had ever felt. 

“Lily?” Blake’s voice brought her back to the present, and she rapidly blinked away the image of James’ unruly black hair and sparkling eyes. “Are you ok?”

Lily smiled, trying to shake off the weird feeling surrounding her. “Yeah, you just surprised me.” She took Blake’s free hand and squeezed it tightly. “I think a promise ring is a great idea. Um…” 

He raised an eyebrow as she trailed off. “Is something wrong?” 

Lily bit her lip, glancing up at him. “I don’t want to put the ring on my ring finger if that’s alright with you? You know how my friends are, and I still want to take this slow so -”

“Oh yeah, of course. I wouldn’t expect you to.” Blake grabbed her right hand and put the ring on her ring finger. “We’re taking it slow, I know.” 

Lily pulled him in for a kiss, taking her time to show him how much she appreciated the gesture. The longer kiss was definitely not because she had thought of her ex-boyfriend when she thought her current boyfriend was proposing and she felt guilty. 

XXX

Earlier that afternoon, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter had rented bikes to go up and down the boardwalk as the sun had gone down. The cool air from the ocean mixing with the heat of the day had made everything seem calm and peaceful amongst an orange sky. Letting the wind push their backs, they took their time biking home. 

XXX

Blake stood up, grabbing Lily’s hand. “Let’s go back to the hotel?” He whispered in her ear, sending goosebumps down her arm. Lily nodded, laying her head on his shoulder as they began the walk back. His fingers wandered down her back, and although at any other time Lily would have loved the attention, tonight, she couldn’t stop comparing Blake with James, and she hated herself for it. The unwanted memory that had popped up had brought emotions she had forgotten about to the surface, and the whole reason she was taking it so slow with Blake in the first place. Pushing the thoughts aside once again, she planted a kiss on Blake’s cheek. 

XXX

Sirius brought his bike to a screeching halt, nearly causing Remus to crash into him. As the rest of them stopped, he reached out with one hand to get James’ attention. “Is that Evans?”

“What?” Peter asked. “Are you out of your mind? We’re in Greece.”

“No, no - over there, by that bench. Is that Evans?”

James’ heart rate quickened, and his breath caught as he caught sight of Lily Evans. There was no doubt in his mind that that was her. Her red hair caught in the golden hour lighting, and her skirt swished around her long legs that he knew so well. Swallowing hard, he shook his head. “Nope, not her.” 

Sirius shot him a pained look. “That’s Evans.” He sat back on his bike and stood up to pedal. “I’m going to go say hi. Oi, Evans!”

“No, Sirius! No!” James called after him, grabbing onto the back of his shirt. “You can’t -”

But it was too late. Lily glanced over her shoulder and spotted the Sirius pedaling towards her, and the three men standing sheepishly behind him. 

“Sirius? What are you doing here?” Lily detached herself from Blake, only holding onto his hand now. As her eyes took in the four men that used to be her best friends, her heart twisted painfully in her chest. When James and Lily had first broken up, they had done their best to stay in touch, but it had gotten too hard for Lily to stay near James, and she had eventually stopped returning their calls. 

“I just couldn’t stay away, Evans,” Sirius smirked, stopping right next to them. He glanced over at Blake and stuck out his hand. “Sirius, Lily’s former friend.”

“I’m Blake, Lily’s boyfriend.” Blake tightened his grip on Lily’s hand, pulling her closer, but shook Sirius’ hand. 

James, Peter, and Remus made their way over, and each introduced themselves to Blake. “How’ve you been, Lily? We haven’t seen much of you lately,” Remus asked. 

“Good!” Lily said quickly, trying to break the awkward tension that hung around them. “I got a new job at Time, so I’m keeping busy.”

“What are you guys doing here?” Peter asked. 

James looked away from Blake and Lily, having not said much. They had broken up over a year ago, and he had gotten over her, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt that she had a boyfriend, and especially since he still couldn’t bring himself to date seriously. 

“Couple’s getaway,” Blake said, kissing her cheek and pulled her even closer. Lily tried to smile, but no longer felt comfortable with him in front of her former friends. “What about you?”

“Remus just finished up his medical school, and the rest of us decided to take a vacation before he went into residency,” Peter said.

“Can I talk to you for a minute, Evans?” Sirius blurted out, eyeing Lily and Blake carefully.  

“Um, yeah sure.” Lily let go of Blake, sending him a quick smile, and followed Sirius a distance off to the side, leaving Blake with the three other men. 

“What’s up?” Lily said, folding her arms and watching Sirius carefully. Knowing him, she knew he wasn’t going to be gentle, so she prepared herself for whatever blunt fact he threw at her. Not being one to hold back, Sirius started talking immediately.

“What’s up with you and Blake? Are you guys engaged?” 

Lily shook her head, holding up her right hand. “Promised, I guess. As of today.”

“Hasn’t it been a year?” 

Lily frowned. “A year isn’t a very long time -”

“And yet when you were with James you were ready to say yes within a year. What’s the difference?”

Lily shrugged. “I guess I learned my lesson. I need more time.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. “That’s bullshit, Lily, and you know it. What’s Blake holding out for?”

“It’s not him that holding out, it’s me,” Lily whispered, her eyes suddenly stinging. Sirius always had a way of making all her emotions come out at once with his honesty. “I’m just not ready for the next step.”

“You mean he’s not James?” 

Lily glared at him. “What are you trying to do Sirius? James and I broke up because James freaked out over marriage, and said he was never ready to get married and didn’t want any type of long term commitment.”

Sirius shrugged. “I’m not trying to do anything. All I know is that it’s been over a year, and James still barely smiles or goes on any dates. You got a boyfriend three months later, Marlene says you aren’t as happy as you were with James, and you don’t even talk to us anymore.”

Lily let a single tear slip out and brushed it away angrily. She looked over her shoulder, at James and Blake, standing side by side, talking politely. “You know I couldn’t hang out with you guys anymore because James is always there.”

Sirius was quiet for a minute. “Come back, Lily.”

“What?” Lily choked out, brushing back another tear. 

“Ditch Blake. You and James are meant to be.” 

Lily swallowed hard. “You’re talking for James? If he wants this, he should man up and come talk to me himself.”

“No, I’m not… he’s not - look all I’m saying is that-”

“I’m with Blake now,” Lily said firmly, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. “James and I are over. I’m not sure how we ended up here, at the same time, but I would really like to just… not see James again.”

Sirius shrugged, turning on his heel. “Fine.”

As they rejoined the group, Blake tucked Lily under his arm. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, all good,” Lily said, sneaking a glance at James, who was staring at the ground. She waved at Remus and Peter, both standing with their hands shoved in their pockets. “I’ll see you later, I guess.” 

They murmured their goodbyes, and then Lily and Blake walked quickly away. As they made their way to the hotel room, Lily checked her phone and saw that Marlene had called her. 

“Hey, Marly called, I’ll be right in,” She told Blake, and made her way down the elevator and into the hotel lobby before she called. 

“Hey Mar, did you call me?”

“Yeah, Sirius just called me. Said you might need some help. What’s up?” 

“Huh, that’s surprising coming from Sirius. Did he tell you what happened?” Lily collapsed heavily on a plush red chair. 

“That you saw each other on the boardwalk in Greece, but that was it.”

“He thinks I should get back together with James.”

“What?” Marlene shrieked so loudly that Lily had to pull the phone away from her ear. “James wants to get back together?”

“No, no. At least, I don’t think so. Did you tell Sirius that I’m not happy?”

The other end of the line was quiet. 

“Marlene.” 

“Ok, don’t get mad at me, but he called like two months ago? Just to catch up, you know, and I might have mentioned that you were happier with James than you are with Blake.”

Lily wanted to reach through the phone and strangle Marlene. “What does that even mean?” 

“It means that Blake is nice and all, but you and James… you guys were just meant for each other.”

Lily groaned, leaning back, and kicking her feet up on the coffee table. “I’m so confused Marlene.”

“Wait, you’re actually considering this?”

“No, yes, well, no, definitely not, but I thought I saw James earlier today, and then Blake gave me a promise ring, but there was this moment James popped into my head during that and I haven’t been able to shake it all day, and I love Blake and I don’t even know if James loves me anymore, and I can’t just leave Blake because he wants to get married and James doesn’t and -”

“Lily, Lily, Lily, can you please just calm down for a minute? “Look, James wasn’t ready back then. But maybe he is now. And I know you love Blake but are you completely over James? In my opinion - Look, you got together with Blake three months after you guys broke up. I don’t really think you were ever over James.”

“You’re just telling me this now?” Lily sighed. “So what do you think I should do?”

“Call James.” 

“Are you out of your mind? While I’m with Blake?”

“Lily, sometimes you are too good for your own good.” Lily could practically see Marlene’s face through the phone, exasperated and impressed. “You can explain to him later. But you never know what could happen. If anything, it will get you some closure.”

Lily sighed again, sweeping her fingers through her hair. “Fine. See you in a few days.”

After hanging up, she pulled up James’ contact information and set the phone on her lap. She sat staring at the phone for almost half an hour, tapping her finger on it occasionally as the screen went dark. Her brain was a jumbled mess. 

When she had first met Blake, it had been an accident. Marlene had invited Lily to a party but had left twenty minutes in, leaving Lily alone. Blake had taken pity on her and talked to her for most of the night, and before Lily really thought about it, they were dating. Thinking back, Lily wasn’t even sure that she had consciously made a decision to date him, it had just kind of… happened. Obviously, that wasn’t the start to a healthy relationship, but Lily, still in a James induced post-breakup fog, wasn’t thinking straight. 

The more Lily thought about it, she more she realized that she hadn’t been entirely truthful to Blake, not that she had even known. At the beginning of the relationship, she still loved James, and if she was completely honest with herself, she still did. 

Admitting that simple fact, that yes, Lily Evans, still loved James Potter, gave Lily more questions than answers. What if James didn’t love her anymore? Had he gotten over her? Was Sirius right? And if Marlene and Sirius were right about James being ready to move forward, what was Lily going to do about it?

Before Lily could do anything, Lily’s phone lit up with a text from Blake. 

wya?

A second later, her screen changed, indicating a call from James. Heart racing, Lily picked up the phone, at war with herself over what to do. Squeezing her eyes shut as if she could block out the ringing, Lily tapped the green button and pressed the phone to her ear.  

“Hello?” She said softly. 

“Hey,” James murmured. There was some shuffling on his end of the line, and then silence. “Um, Sirius said you needed to talk to me?”

“That bastard,” she swore, sitting back in the chair. 

James breathed heavily on the other side of the phone, and Lily could picture him running his hands through his hair in the angry way that he so often did. “So you didn’t need to talk to me?”

“Um, no. Yes - I mean, no, not really.”

James stayed silent on the other end, knowing that she needed a minute before she could speak. 

Lily bit her lip again, bouncing her knee up and down. “Sirius told me that you haven’t been yourself lately.”

James cursed bitterly again and Lily instantly felt bad. She hadn’t meant to start so abruptly, and that wasn’t she even wanted to talk about. “He said that? Things have just been really busy at work lately, and you know my parents are getting older. I guess I’m just a little stressed. I’m fine.”

Lily nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about, actually.” She took a deep breath as if to say something, but couldn’t form the words of what she actually wanted to say. 

“Ok, I’m listening…”

“Do you still love me?” Lily cursed herself for starting so abruptly again, but kept talking anyway. “Don’t answer that. I mean, when I first started dating Blake, I still loved you. And seeing you today, and talking to Sirius, made me realize that… I might still love you.”

“Fuck Lily, I - you can’t just come out of left field and say that. You - We broke up over a year ago and I - you broke it off because I was scared, how are you still - why would you still love me?” Lily could hear James’ anger in his voice. “You wanted marriage, and I wasn’t ready for it, so you broke it off. And now you want it again?”

Lily’s throat clenched, and she swallowed tightly. “I don’t know what I want anymore.”

“Do you love Blake? He seems like a nice enough guy.”

“Yes,” Lily whispered.

“Then it seems like you have a problem.” James' voice was hard and cold. “I’m not your second option Lily, and you weren’t willing to just wait  -”

“What do you want now, James?” Lily pinched the bridge of her nose. “Do you still love me?” 

The question hung between them, fraught with tension and longing. It was silent on both ends, and Lily let out a silent, shaky, breath. 

“No. It’s too late. I - sorry.” 

Lily had to hold the phone away as she felt tears stream down her face. “Alright. I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah. Bye.” James hung up, and Lily stifled a sob through her hand. The hotel receptionist sitting on the other side of the lobby cast her a sympathetic look, and Lily realized that she hadn’t exactly been quiet while talking to James. Wiping her eyes, she straightened out her shirt, stood up, and walked back to the hotel room. 

XXX

Lily was able to successfully avoid any questions about her phone call when she returned to Blake but spent the rest of the trip trying to stay as positive as she could. Two days after seeing James and Sirius, Lily and Blake were packing up to return home. 

As Lily haphazardly tucked the last of her swimsuits into her suitcase, Blake wrapped his arms around her from behind, lifting her off her feet for a second. Lily laughed, using one hand to push him off while she used the other to zip the suitcase. She turned around in his arms, giving him a quick kiss before dodging his next attempt.

Blake righted her suitcase, then turned around, folding his arms. “Is everything ok with you? You seem… off.”

Lily flashed a small smile. “I think I’m just a little jetlagged. It’s finally catching up to me.”

Blake raised his eyebrows. “C’mon Lily, I know you better than that. What’s really wrong? Is it the promise ring? Was it too fast? We can always -”

“No, no - I just - Seeing James here really surprised me. It kind of threw me for a loop for a minute.”

“Oh.” Blake took a step back, looking disappointed. “A lot of people told me that you weren’t over him yet when we started dating.” Lily’s eyes darted up to look at him. “I didn’t want to believe it because -”

“Blake.” Lily took a deep breath, stopping him before he could say anything else that hit too close to home. “Looking back on it, I don’t think I was a hundred percent over him before we started dating but I didn’t realize it at the time.”

“So… I’m a rebound?”

“No! I mean, no - I always wanted to be serious.”

Blake took in a big breath, leaning back against the wall behind him. “Were you only interested in me because I eventually wanted to get married? I mean that’s why you broke up with James, right? Because he didn’t want to get married?” Lily felt his eyes bore into her and she shut her eyes tightly. When she didn’t reply, he said quietly “Talk to me, Lily. Do you still love him?”

Lily’s chest felt like it had been wrenched open and her heart had been smashed to pieces. Because it was true. She was still in love with James, despite ignoring it for the better part of a year, and seeing him again had opened that hole in her heart once again. 

“Maybe we should just go home. I think we’re both a little jet-lagged -”

“Damn it, Lily, just tell me!”

Lily threw her hands into the air, shrugging. “I don’t know! I thought I was way past it, I was in love with you, and then I saw James and now…”

“You love James again.”

Lily stayed quiet while Blake moved to sit behind her on the bed. Voice cracking, Lily said, “Maybe we should take a break.”

“If you still love him… I think this is over, Lily.”

“No - Blake, I don’t - Give me a week, and I’ll-” Lily stopped herself. Looking at her current situation, Lily couldn’t see herself marrying Blake, and James wasn’t going to talk to her again. There was no way a ‘break’ could make any of this work out, and she needed to move on - from Blake and James - and accept it. “I’m sorry,” she choked out, tucking a strand of loose hair back. 

“Me too,” Blake said quietly. “Was any of it even real for you? Or did I just waste a year of my life?”

“It was real, all of it.” Lily smiled through her tears, standing up and giving him a hug. “I’m sorry it ended here.”

Blake broke the hug rather abruptly, brushing a tear back himself. “I’ll uh… catch the first flight back. Goodbye, Lily.” He grabbed his suitcase, gave her one last quick smile, and walked out the door. 

And just like that, Lily was alone, in a lonely hotel room, on the other side of the world as her friends. 

As soon as the door closed, Lily fell back on the bed, using a pillow to muffle her sobs. She cried so hard that she could barely breathe, gasping for air through the wave of tears and snot rolling down her face. 

It must have been hours before she was finally able to pull herself together enough to remember that she was had a flight to catch. Assuming Blake had already caught a flight, she was going to be able to take their already scheduled flight home. She pulled up the boarding pass on her phone and realized that the plane was scheduled to leave in less than an hour. 

Checking the time was enough to almost make her start crying again, but she was drained, and no more tears came out. Instead, she stumbled her way into the bathroom, where she stripped off her clothes and turned on a cold shower. 

Over an hour later, her face still red and puffy, she emerged from the bathroom, dressed in loose shorts and a t-shirt. She grabbed her phone, took a steadying breath, and dialed Marlene, who promptly answered. 

“Hey! Did you talk with James yet?” Her bright cheery voice made her burst into tears immediately. Trying to cover her sniffles, she tried to answer, but when nothing came out, she hung up the phone and tossed it onto the bed. Marlene was going to kill her for it later, but she couldn’t care less at the moment. 

Lily forced herself to drink a huge bottle of water to try to calm her pounding head and rehydrate after crying so hard. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she evaluated her options. All in all, she really only had one: book a flight home. 

But like Marlene had said, sometimes Lily was ‘too good for her own good’, so Lily decided to add a completely out of the blue second option: not go home yet. She couldn’t go home yet - Marlene and Dorcas would want to try to persuade her to get back together with James or Blake, and would refuse to accept Lily’s decision for at least a few days. Right now, Lily couldn’t handle that when she didn’t even know what she wanted for herself. She knew she couldn’t be with Blake, and although she was still in love with James, he had made it clear that it was too late. And even if it wasn’t, how would they pick up the pieces of what they had together? 

Opening her phone back up to see eight missed calls from Marlene, four from Dorcas, and two from Sirius, nearly threw Lily for a loop again. She bit down hard on her lip to check her emotions, opened her browser, and booked a cheap hotel in Athens for two more nights. She didn’t have to checkout for another three hours, which meant she still had a little bit of time to kill before she needed to leave. 

As her phone lit up again with a call from Marlene, she glanced in the mirror to see that her face, for the most part, had returned to normal. She switched her phone to airplane mode, pulled on her shoes, and walked out the door. 

And right into James. 

“James? What are you doing -”

“Why aren’t you answering anyone’s calls? Marlene has called me three times now to ask if she’s seen you,” He said flatly, arms folded against his chest. His face looked tired, and his hair more scrambled than usual. 

Lily took a small step back, looking down at her feet. “Blake and I broke up. I’m actually about to head home right now”

“Without your suitcase?”

Lily opened her mouth, ready to lie, but she knew James could see right through her, like he had always been able to. “Plane doesn’t leave for a few hours.”

“Why did you two break up?” 

Lily leaned against the doorway. “We… things were moving too fast for me. And I wasn’t-” She rolled her eyes, sighing. “You already know the rest, I guess.”

“And now you’re just going back home?” His tone was even colder than before, and he looked angry. 

Lily shot him a look. “Why did you say it like that?”

James took a step towards her, lowering his voice. “You’re just going to give up?”

“What do you mean give up? I realized that I wasn’t being honest to Blake, even if I didn’t realize it. So, we ended it.”

“And that it’s?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“You’re always the good girl, Evans, the one who always does the right thing, even when it hurts you. Why didn’t you just keep Blake and do the wrong thing for once in your life?”

Lily stepped back bewildered. “Are you serious?” Her voice raised a notch. James glanced down the hallway as a family walked by them, and pushed both of them inside, closing the door behind them. Lily continued. “Why do you even care? I made the right decision, and now I’m moving on. And for the record, I’m not doing the right thing here. I’m not going home.”

“What?” James asked, as if he hadn’t heard correctly. 

Now, Lily felt stupid. “I mean, I am, just… I decided to take a detour to Athens before I go back.” She paused, not knowing what to say next. “Why does it really matter that I did the right thing here? I’m confused.”

“Because - this would all be a lot easier if you just… stayed with him.” His eyes were downcast, and Lily suddenly realized what he was trying to say. 

“Because then it would be an easier decision for you?” She whispered. His eyes shot up to meet hers and he thrust a hand in his hair. He shrugged. 

“You left me, Lil, after one of the best years of my life. And you moved on so quick, and I thought I could never be that happy again.” When he looked up at Lily again, her heart wanted to break all over again. His face was so troubled and shattered, and it was clear that he was in pain. “If you were still together with him, I could have just checked on you and left.” His voice choked a little and he threw his hands in the air. 

“What do you want me to say, James? You freaked out - in a major way - after I mentioned marriage once, and then went AWOL on me.”

James tipped his head back, leaning into his heels. “I messed up, okay? I never pictured myself getting married when I was little because I was always with Sirius, and we never thought about the future. It wasn’t on my radar.”

“Then why were we even dating?” Lily could understand that he hadn’t thought it about marriage a lot. James wasn’t the type to get caught up in romantic daydreams, he liked to do things headfirst, and think later. But what had hurt Lily so much a year ago was that he didn’t think about the future of them together.

“Because I’ve been in love with you since we were eighteen, Evans!” James burst out. “I’ve always loved you, and -”

Lily stood up, taking one small step towards him. When he didn’t move, she took another, and another until she was close enough to feel his heat. “Does it still scare you?”

James looked down at her, glancing at her lips, then looked up to the ceiling, tipping his head back. Lily held her breath. He released his breath slowly, lowering his head so that he was looking directly at her. “No.”

Lily didn’t move, not sure that she was comprehending what was happening. She didn’t want to make a move if he didn’t want it, so she stayed frozen in place, staring at James’ hazel eyes. James inched forward so that their fronts were touching, glancing down at her lips once more. An instant later, Lily grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her, crashing her lips onto his, and wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him down to her level. He responded instantly, leaning into her and putting steady pressure on her hips with his hands. Lily took a step forward, forcing him backward until he was leaning against the wall. She used one hand to thread through his soft hair - something she had missed more than a little since they had broken up, and used the other to feel the strong muscles in his back.

A second later, James flipped them around so that Lily was the one against the wall. He pulled away for a second to catch his breath and used his arm to prop himself against the wall, still inches from Lily’s head. 

“We’re really doing this?” Lily asked, letting her hands trail from James’ back to his front, up to his chest, and back into his hair. 

“Oh, hell yes,” James sighed, lips crashing down onto hers once more. Lily grinned at his eagerness, biting down softly on his lower lip. He groaned and reached down to grab her legs. She settled on his hips, pressed against the wall, just slightly taller than him. He used the height to litter her neck with kisses, and Lily knew that she would have more than a few marks in a couple of hours. 

James pulled them off the wall and lowered her down onto the bed. As Lily fell back, James stood over her, reaching up to pull off his shirt. He had just leaned down to kiss her, her nails gently scratching his tan skin, when he stopped. 

“James?”

“You were here. With Blake. In this bed.” His eyes clouded heavily, and although he was still on top of her, he lifted himself a few inches from her. 

Lily let her head fall back into the bed and closed her eyes. “I -”

“It’s fine, Lil, it’s not a big deal. Your choice of what you want to do with your body. But…”

“You don’t want to stay in the same room,” Lily finished. She sat up, and James rolled to the other side of the bed. Straightening her shirt, she tucked a loose piece of hair back. “Maybe it’s a good idea that we don’t rush right into this.”

He sat up next to her, their shoulders just brushing. “I mean, you did break up with him… three hours ago?”

Lily smiled, although a little guilt crept into her. “Almost four. But yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“We’ll get back to London, and figure everything out there. I think we both need some time before we go back to how it was.”

“Hmm,” James murmured, leaning over to kiss her again.

“Want to go to Athens?” Lily said, pulling away once again. “I mean, I know we’re not trying to rush anything, but I did book a hotel and I already paid for it, and checkout is in shit - fifteen minutes - so -”

“Lily, hey Lily!” James cut off her ramble, laughing. “Yes, yes, I’ll go to Athens with you. We don’t have to go slow on everything.”

Lily gave him a devious look and kissed him once again. James pulled away, laughing a few minutes later, checking his watch. “I uh... I better give the guys an update if I’m leaving mid-trip. I gotta cancel a flight, tell the guys, and pack my bags.” 

Lily pecked him once again but stood up. “I should probably call Marlene and tell her I’m okay.”

“I bet twenty bucks she won’t forgive you for a week.”

Lily grinned, picking up her phone. “Hm. Well, when I tell her I got back together with you, she is going to literally knock Dorcas out with her screaming.”

James opened the hotel door, tousling his hair with one hand. He leaned over and gave Lily another deep kiss, and when he finally pulled away, he winked. “Poor Dorcas.”

“Hm,” Lily murmured, swaying into him as he kissed her neck. Then, laughing gently, she pulled away, pushing on his chest gently. “Go, go tell Sirius that I’m fine. I’ll call Marlene, and meet you out front in an hour.”

“Sounds good.” James kissed her once more. “See you in a bit.”

As James walked down the hallway, Lily quietly closed the door. She collapsed on the bed, picked up her phone and dialed Marlene. The sudden changes - breaking up with Blake, getting back together with James - would take some getting used to, but the instant James had come into her hotel room, she felt a thousand times more comfortable than she ever had with Blake. And with that happy feeling, Lily gathered the last of her things, checked out of the hotel room, and went to go meet her boyfriend.

read on Ao3!

[durzarya]

HP x Good Omens crossover part 2

So here is part two as I promised

You can find part one here: (1)

So Harry goes home, and he has so many things to say, because yeah he wrote letters, but it’s not the same

He starts to tell everything about the whole mystery, about the Stone and how he faced Voldemort again, how he killed a man, and how he might be responsible for another two deaths, and dad please save them please

After the first panic, because their son’s life was in danger, Crowley realizes that he actually knows the Flamels, but like from the 15th century, they were one of the few people who know about him being a demon, he never wanted them to die

And apparently they invented immortality, which is, what even are humans, and now they are dieing, angel we are doing something

This is how a couple around their 50s move into the house next door. Dumbledore baffled by their choice comes to visit. Aziraphale being a good neighbor invites them for tea, Crowley does not want the headmaster in his house, because he couldn’t protect his son, but loses the argument

Aziraphale: “It’s nice to have so many young people at the house!” Nicholas: “You are doing quite well for you age too!”

Dumbledore is so confused, Crowley never loved more his bastard of am angel

It should be a gloomy summer, because it’s supposed to be the last, but Adam wants sun and fun, and the world listens to him as always

the Flamels start making another stone, the Them want to hear everything about Hogwarts and sometimes Hermione and the Weasleys come over for fun (Draco too, but never at the same time as the others, he has an image)

Ginny still has a crush on Harry, it goes away quickly after an afternoon with Pepper

They become friends, it’s terrifying

Soon it’s time for Harry’s and Adam’s birthday and all of their friends are staying over the house (even Draco, come on it’s important!)

It’s a two-day celebration, as usual and the second day arrives Dog, the hellhound and the whispering starts

Crowley and Aziraphale are worried for Adam and Harry of course, they would let the world burn if it would mean the two would live

But this time Adam knows, that he is the Antichrist, he knows what the voices want, and he knows what he wants and he could rebuild a world from the ashes, but he likes this one. They already have plans how to make it better (at least Pepper and Wensleydale knows, and Brian likes helping people, and he would do anything for them, for his own little paradise here)

Anathema moves into the cottage and starts searching for the young Beast and the lesser Beast, instead she finds a bunch of weird people and a handful of sweet kids, she accidentally leaves her book in the Crowley-Fell house (the four immortal read it on a single night)

The first time they hear about her, there is a debate between the kids if Anathema is a witch, a witch or a witch (the first one being a someone without any actual powers just knowledge about things others don’t, the second being someone with power but not the same as Harry has, and the third one being a normal Hogwarts student)

Soon they start talking about the history of witch burning and how many innocents were executed end up with how higher authorities manipulate education

This is the first time Anathema meets and promptly invites them to her newly rented cottage, brilliant young minds need to be cared for, after all

It’s almost the same, but this time Adam doesn’t go mad, Anathema gets her book back sooner and slightly more people face off the combined forces of heaven and hell (the Bentley still ends up in fire and three still ride the sky as two)

The Them face off the horsemen Beelzebub and Gabriel arrive and there is a bunch of people they never met, and they aren’t afraid until the Flamels start threatening with immortality (humans never dieing, this way heaven and hell won’t have their soul)

They summon Lucifer too, and he is angry up until the point his son calls the Serpent of Eden father, and now he is intrigued, still a little scare never hurt anyone

The Devil firmly back in hell, or at least for now, angels and demons terrified and humanity alive Adam and the Them finally get their Hogwarts letters

Dumbledore delivers them personally again this time with Severus at his side, because a) neither were on the list until today and b) he needs to know what’s happening with this family

“No Albus he is not Lily’s brother!” “I could be, professssor.”

Crowley loves causing chaos, thank you very much

They go to the Diagon Alley again and Adam receives a black talking diary, with Draco frantically singing behind his back not to write in it

He doesn’t listen, because there is something tugging at him, instinct telling him to do it, he wouldn’t do it, but they are not the same voices that asked for the world ending, it’s more like him knowing he would get a dog

Tom Denem is fifteen and half a soul and he is delighted he finally has someone both to talk and manipulate, fifty years is long time alone

He tries to take Adam’s magic, a tiny bit, just enough to give him a way for later, for possessing for taking more

Except he is Adam, and he is powerful and protected and he ignored voices more powerful than a whisper, so when he takes a tiny bit of his magic… he pops into existence

The following family meeting is awkward, especially after they figure out that the boy is Voldemort, the man who killed Harry’s parents and tried it again a few months ago

And yeah he is Voldemort, or he is going to be, for now he is a power hungry fifteen year old horcrux made by both accident and opportunity, he didn’t commit all those horrible things

Adam has an idea, if he is half a soul, why shouldn’t he make it whole again? He knows what he feels like, he can wish the other pieces here

This is the point where the rest of the them arrive so while he does his thing there is another round do explanation

Pepper threatens the former/future dark lord with death by fire if he hurts anyone she loves, Tom decides this is the weirdest thing ever happened to him, and he found out he was heir of Slytherin

Adam summons all the pieces except for the one that is Voldemort’s ghost, and everyone has a fright when a shiny snakelike child comes from Harry wailing and crying (it’s Aziraphale who calms it down with a shushing parseltongue)

Tom has the other half of his soul laid out on the table, and the strange, powerful boy is inspecting it. He tries not to feel judged

Adam is confused, all these little parts and they don’t seem to fit together, and he can make souls and bodies from nothing, Atlantis and his father is living example for that, but repairing something is harder than making it new even if it’s worth it

He can’t make these for, but the soul that matters not the thing that holds it. It doesn’t take long for all the parts to transform into little puzzle pieces

It’s a 3D one with 128 parts and finally he can do this

The Them help too and it’s weird, because it’s something obscure with no help or instructions, but they can know where the parts supposed to go

And every time Brian puts a piece to it’s place, Tom can feel his thoughts becoming clearer, when Wensleydale does it, the power hunger in him eases and Pepper makes him feel at peace and Adam gives him a will to be alive not just live until the end of the times

It’s almost done, his soul is now in four pieces, but one is missing, the same one that holds ghost Voldemort and that’s the most important one

Because taking the soul apart is dark, but not random, even when it happens spontaneously the magic chops down a part of the soul (every time taking something from you), but the core remains, and Tom doesn’t have that

But Adam is the Antichrist, he can make souls and bodies and reality bends for him, this will be more difficult because the piece needs to fit, to hold the four part together

And he can do many things, he invents the best games and he doesn’t listens to authority. Imagination and free will, all human traits

But Adam also loves

He loves strong enough to stand up against the combined forces of heaven and hell and choose earth. All the love he ever felt he learned from his family, from this tiny village and friends

Tom has imagination and free will, but Adam has seen his soul and he couldn’t find an ounce of love here. So maybe if he shares his it will be strong enough to hold a soul, to heal one really

And suddenly the last puzzle piece is there fitting perfectly and Tom doesn’t know this warm fierce feeling, but he knows he won’t be able to ever give it up

Everyone is exhausted and after tucking the children in (“Yes Tom, you too!”) an angel and a demon decide they can have another kid

The next day Tom Fell officially arrives, after his father’s early departure from the living

Two days later Dumbledore shows up again with another surprise letter this time for a fifth year student (all of the other letters were sent already, why do magical people just keep popping up in this place??)

He almost has a heart attack when he sees Tom Riddle sitting at the breakfast table eating cereal

After an accusation, a dressing down and an apology (“How dare you, headmaster! That’s my cousin, he just lost his only living parent!”), Dumbledore leaves more confused than before

Everyone still speaks parseltongue in the family

Tom can’t wait for the upcoming year

Yeah I think I will finish here, and I will add some random headcanons later, because there are some more but nothing like this

[feed-the-birdss]

Let Your Hair Down

Authors Note: I wrote another Jily Fanfic based on the song “Let Your Hair Down” by MAGIC! This fic is dedicated to the Toronto Maple Leafs (who are, to my utter devastation, officially out after tonight’s game, but I just might survive), and to @blitheringmcgonagall for being so amazingly supportive lately <3

Summary: James and Lily are in their seventh year at Hogwarts, and the stress about being the perfect muggleborn Head Girl has been getting to Lily lately.

Read it on Fanfic.net

“I’ll see you later. I have a meeting with McGonagall,” murmured Lily as she got up from the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall leaving a half-eaten plate of her lunch. Just as she was about to walk away from the table, James grabbed her hand and looked at her with furrowed brows and a concerned look in his eyes.

Lily paused and looked back at him with a small smile as she gave his hand a squeeze with hers, making James’ expression soften in response, and she used her free hand to gently run her fingers through his hair unruly messy black hair as she walked past him to exit the Hall.

James watched her long red ponytail swing back and forth as she walked away from him with a dumb look on his face. All he could think was “there she goes, there she goes”. To him, there’s nothing better than her.

However, James’ train of thought about his beautiful woman was quickly interrupted when Sirius, who was sitting across from him, smacked him over the head. “OI!” yelled James to Sirius, “what the bloody Hell was that for!?”

“You looked like a fool just staring after her Prongs,” lectured Sirius as he continued to shovel food into his mouth.

“Whatever mate,” muttered James with a scowl as he too proceeded to finish his meal.

“What’s going on with her anyway?” asked Sirius before gulping down the rest of his pumpkin juice and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “She seems more stressed out than usual. Remus agrees.”

James sighed and pushed his plate of unfinished food away from him, “Yeah, apparently Mulciber’s dad, who’s on the Board, asked Dumbledore to remove her as Head Girl all because of some dumb ass uniform infraction he noticed when he came to the school last week. Dumbledore refused, obviously, but still…”

“The fuck!? That’s Bullshit. Every sodding student wears their uniform wrong. It’s a rite of passage for any poor bloke or bird who’s forced to wear this ridiculous monkey suit,” he hollered. “They can’t honestly expect us to have our top buttons done up all the time!? It’s a fucking death trap. I feel like I am going to choke whenever it’s done up,” ranted Sirius. “But Lily’s uniform is always near perfect though!? I don’t think I’ve ever seen her with her top button undone…fuck, how on earth does she manage that,” he paused. “Small neck must be. Do you know what he said was wrong?”

“Fucking prick said her shirt was wrinkly, and that her kilt was an inch above the approved kilt length,” fumed James as he turned around with clenched fists to look at Mulciber chortling with his friends at the Slytherin table.

“WHAT!?” bellowed Sirius causing many heads to look in their direction and for Professor Flitwick to throw them a warning look. “Kilt length. That cunt is attacking Kilt length!? They’ll have to kill me before I let the misogynist villains on the board try to actually regulate Kilt length! If a bird wants to show off her arse, who the fuck are they to stop her?”

“I know, mate, but now Lily’s not only all worried about being the perfect Head Girl, but also making sure she looks perfect too.”

“Well shit, they actually got to her?”

“I mean, she says she doesn’t care what Mulciber’s dad thinks of her, but she loves being Head Girl, and she sees the difference she’s making with the other muggleborns in the school. So she’s refusing to let herself give Mulciber’s dad, or any of the Slytherins really, any excuse to call for her removal, and that has added a Hell of a lot of pressure on her,

‘Like, I’ve never seen her wear a ponytail as often as she does now. This morning she actually steamed her school shirt, and worst of all,” sighed James with hunched shoulders, “she almost didn’t want to risk sleeping in the same bed last night.”

“Well I’m sure you did a good job of convincing her not to do that, right Prongs?” asked Sirius with a smirk.

James smirked back, and his eyes started to glaze over as if reliving a memory, “maybe.”

“Good man,” congratulated Sirius while reaching over the table to give James two pats on the back, “and now, we leave to meet Moony at the greenhouses,” he declared as he grabbed James’ collar to drag him to the greenhouse with him.

A few hours later, James was strutting down an empty corridor with his broom hung over his shoulder sporting his red and gold practice quidditch robes. Just then, he saw Lily turn a corner at the opposite end of the corridor.

She stopped once she saw him, surprised. He, on the other hand, quickened his pace.

“All right, Evans?” asked James with his customary smirk that brought Lily back to the days of when he used to ask her out repeatedly.

Lily started to walk toward him as well returning his smirk with one of her own, “I’m good Potter. You off to quidditch practice?”

“Yep,” answered James once her finally reached her. He dipped his head so he could kiss her, but Lily swerved her head away.

“James, we can’t. I don’t want to get in trouble about kissing in public,” fretted Lily as she quickly turned her head to look behind her and see if anyone saw. “Other students can’t do it. So we can’t either.”

“Lils,” he implored as he cupped her cheek softly with his broom-free hand, “there’s no one around right now though.”

“I know love, but I can’t risk it right now,” she warned with pleading eyes. She then carefully took his hand from her cheek and lightly kissed it before putting back beside him. “McGonagall warned me that the pureblood fanatics on the Board and the Slytherins are desperate to see me out because I’ve given a lot of the muggleborns here enough hope to stick around.”

That’s when James took a good look at her. His eyes moved over her from behind his spectacles, and he saw her polished black flats, her uniform approved grey socks ending just before her knees, he kilt exactly 5 inches above her knees, her crisp white shirt perfectly pressed with the top button done up, her red and gold tie tightly knotted against her collar, her black wrinkle-free robes, her perfectly groomed eyebrows, and her red hair slicked back into a perfect high ponytail hiding the waves he loves to run his fingers through.

He sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean to risk that for you. I just love you.”

“I know you do,” she said with an appreciative smile.

“Just, if you can, please tell me when I can steal that kiss from ya, okay?” he smirked.

Lily rolled her eyes, but her smile still remained. “Anyway, you should head to practice Captain. I’ll meet you after my rounds in our dorm.”  She then continued to head down the corridor.

After quidditch practice and his shower in the locker rooms, James went to his and Lily’s dorm to finish up his homework and get started on the Prefect’s schedule for next week.

When he heard the door opened he immediately looked up to see his beautiful girlfriend walk in with her red hair still done up in a tight ponytail.

“Hey,” he smiled as he got up to greet her properly. Her words about kissing echoed in his head, but he figured that they were alone in their private dorms, the water is warmer here; so he grabbed her around the waist and dived right in putting his lips on hers.

To James’ relief, he was met with no resistance. Lily’s hands went straight for his messy hair, and when he started sucking on her bottom lip, she moaned in response. His lips then left hers to follow her jaw down to her neck and nip at the soft freckled skin there while his hands started travelling up from her waist.

However, he paused when his hands reached the back of her bare neck. James’ lips broke away from her skin to look at her with an expression Lily couldn’t quite place. So, Lily, the crazy girl she could sometimes be, stuck her tongue from out between her lips and licked James’ face starting at his chin and reaching it as high as she could go.

“Ew Lils,” cried James as Lily burst out into a fit of giggles. James started laughing too while wiping his face with the back of his hand, “what was that for?”

“You stopped,” confessed Lily with the mischievous glint still in her green eyes. “I was just trying to get you out of your own fat head.”

James chuckled, “Yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about your hair.”

“My hair?” questioned Lily confusedly.

“Yeah, I mean, no one’s here right now, and it’s the end of the day, so we’re not on the clock now either. I just thought that you could let your hair down, and that this moment is nice because of that fact,” he said while his hands made their way back to her waist, and he started to dive once again.

He was met with resistance this time, however, as Lily turned her head and looked up at him confusedly. “Uhhhh…what? You don’t like my hair up?”

“What!? No! It’s not that at all. I love your hair all ways. I would love you even with no hair. I just meant it metaphorically,” he paused, “okay, well no, I meant it literally too, but that’s just because running my fingers through your hair is one of my favorite things to do. But like, in the metaphorical sense, you know, you’re just so stressed and worried about needing to be perfect all the time because of Mulciber, so I just wanted to, like, talk to you about how you don’t need to worry about being perfect with me. You can relax you know….let your hair down and stuff.”

Lily just giggled and responded with, “you’re such an idiot sometimes Potter.” She then reached up her hand to pull the elastic band holding her ponytail out of her hair letting it fall down in the waves that James loved.

James hands immediately started to comb the soft strands relishing in the softness between his fingers with a victorious gleam on his face, and just as he was about to dive right back into their snog session once again, he was, once again, met with resistance as Lily swerved her head. “Oi!” he whined.

“Sorry Potter, we’re gonna need to hold off on the snog session until later. We need to practice the Chicken Dance if you’re coming with me to Petunia’s wedding. I refuse to have a date who doesn’t have the perfect technique for the most important wedding dance of all time,” she declared as she grabbed her wand from her robes to move the furniture around and make room for their practice.

James just laughed but proceeded to indulge in her foolishness anyway. He knew that this dance wasn’t that important and that Lily just wanted to make him look like a fool, but this was the best part of spending time with Lily when it just the two of them and she didn’t have to worry about being the perfect Head Girl. They could be ridiculously in love as they were, and more importantly, they could be themselves.

[thruheavenandhighwater]

Valentine’s Day Series - Luke

[Ashton] [Michael] [Calum]

Pairing: Luke Hemmings/ Female OC

Requested By: N/A

Word Count: 2,947

Summary:  Sequel to Luke’s Holiday Series installment. Luke and Ariel celebrate Valentine’s Day by getting some matching tattoos. 

Luke and Ariel have been together for a little over two years by now. It was two years of love, inside jokes, weekend long snuggle sessions, and more than a few stupid fights about nothing. Ariel had moved into Luke's apartment nine months after they met, when the lease on her own apartment ended. It was a bit of an adjustment for both of them at first. Neither of them had ever lived with a significant other, and both had been living completely alone for at least a year. But it was good. They were good.

The pair were very much in love, and it showed. The first time Luke had taken her back to Sydney to meet his family, his brothers got into an argument about who would be his best man at the wedding. The entire Hemmings clan knew from that first visit that Ariel was good for Luke. They were good for each other.

They were quickly approaching their second Valentine's Day together. They'd both gone a little crazy the year before, the rush of the relationship still being so new. But they'd talked and decided that neither of them really cared much for the idea of Valentine's Day after that.

“I just, would rather you surprise me with something thoughtful randomly than be given the same necklace and earrings set that 15,000 other girls are getting on the same day.” She'd explained. Luke had to agree. He'd always thought that being told that you were supposed to love your person extra for one day a year was a little silly.

So, they'd both agreed to keep Valentine's Day to the bare minimum going forward. Luke had bought Ariel a funny card that he saw while he was out with Eric. And Ariel had been stocking up on Luke's favorite candies since Christmas. That was all either of them had asked for from the other, and both were happy to oblige.

It was a few days before Valentine's Day and the couple was lying in bed, an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine playing from the open laptop on Luke’s stomach. He had one arm around Ariel’s shoulders, his fingers rubbing her skin lazily. He looked over to where his hand sat on her shoulder.

“I really like this one.” He whispered to her, using his pointer finger to trace around the tattoo of a black cat that she had. She’d accumulated a small collection of tattoos over the last few years, in addition to the handful that she had when she’d met Luke.

Luke adored her tattoos, loved the way that they decorated her skin so beautifully. Part of him had always wanted to get a few tattoos himself, but he never did. He’d had a lip ring at one point, but that was as far as his body modifications went.

“Thanks,” She said, moving her head to look at where his hand met her shoulder. “I've been thinking I need a new one soon. Feelin’ that itch again.” She laughed.

“Yeah? What are ya thinking?” He questioned.

“Not sure yet.” She shrugged. “Probably just something small, though.”

“Maybe I'll get one, too.” He laughed.

“Oh, boy, don't even joke about that.”

“Why not?”

“You? With a tattoo?” She asked, raising her eyebrows as she pulled away from him. “I can barely keep my hands off of you now. I don't even know how I'd act if you got a tattoo.”

“Guess there's only one way to find out.”

“Wait… You're serious? You really want a tattoo?”

Luke shrugged, suddenly feeling a little self conscious. “I mean, yeah. Kind of.”

“Well, what of?” Her voice took on a new level of excitement as she thought of Luke sitting in her tattoo artists chair.

“Dunno,” He answered, shrugging again as he tried to hide his smile. “The only thing I've ever liked enough to want it around forever is… Well, you.”

“Luke, you fuckin’ softie.” She said, leaning into him again. “I want you around forever, too.”

“We should get matching tattoos.” Ariel said bluntly the next day over breakfast. They were sat at their dining room table, a plate of Toaster Waffles a la Luke between them while Petunia snored beneath his feet.

“Sorry, what?” Luke asked, nearly choking.

“Matching tattoos.” She answered with a shrug. “We love each other, and you said you want a tattoo. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve been tossing around a few ideas of a tattoo to symbolize this anyway.”

“Symbolize what?”

“You. Us. This. What we’ve made for ourselves here.”

Luke grinned to her across the table, his blue eyes lighting up beautifully. “What were you thinking?”

“Nothing solid yet. Just a few ideas, really. A few key dates, maybe some lilies, since you brought me lilies on our first date.” She wore her own smile as she looked down to the plate in front of her. She dragged a piece of waffle through the maple syrup on the plate absentmindedly. “There’s a million different things I could choose to represent us. But if we can both decide on something to get together, that would be… I don’t know, I just think it’d be sweet.”

Luke’s grin grew as he listened to her. He’d never put a lot of thought into love or relationships before the day that she’d walked into the coffee shop, shivering from the cold and offering a day of fun to a complete stranger. But the moment his lips met hers that first day, he felt an immediate shift inside himself. The longer he spent with her in his life, the more sure he was that she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

They spent the next few weeks bouncing ideas off of each other. They'd thrown around Ariel's original idea of important dates in their lives together. The day they met, their first real date, the day they became official, they day Ariel moved in, the day Petunia joined the family. But neither of them could agree on which date was the absolute most important.

“We'll just have to save that one for the wedding.” Luke said with a wink, effectively ending the mini disagreement they'd been in the middle of.

There was also the idea of doing each other's favorite flowers. But Luke didn't particularly have a favorite. Luke had suggested song lyrics that remind them of the other.

“That is just way too many options.” Ariel laughed as they lie in bed together with Petunia at Luke's feet. “I would never be able to choose just one.”

It felt like forever passed before the night that Luke let out an annoyed sigh, tired of them not being able to choose. He was in the bathroom, leaned against the counter with his hands crossed over his chest while Ariel showered.

“What's the matter, sad boy?” She asked.

“I want a tattoo.” He said, his voice slightly whiny. He sounded like a toddler being denied a dinosaur toy.

Ariel giggled as she rinsed conditioner from her hair. “So then get a tattoo. You're plenty old enough.”

“No,” He sighed again, dropping his arms and hoisting himself to sit on the counter. “I mean, yes, I am. But I want a tattoo with you.”

Ariel cut the water and opened the shower curtain. She quickly wrapped a towel around herself before moving to stand between Luke's thighs. “It’ll happen, honey.” She told him. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he rested his forehead to her exposed, and slightly wet, shoulder.

“But when?”

“When we can agree on what to get.”

Luke huffed and pulled his face away from her neck. “Why do tattoos have to be such a big deal, Ari?” He asked. She moved her hands from around his shoulders to rest on his thighs. “Why can't we just get something dumb like hearts or something?”

“Hearts aren't a bad idea, actually.”

Luke perked up instantly. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, I'll get a blue one-”

“And I'll get green?” He asked, his hands falling to hers.

She laughed as she turned her hands, linking their fingers and bringing their hands up at her sides. “Yeah, you can get green. I'll text AJ in the morning and set something up. Now just to figure out where to get them.”

Luke brought one of her hands to his lips. “Could get yours here.” He told her as he softly kissed the inside of her wrist.

“Or even here,” He whispered, his lips moving to just below her ear.

Ariel took a step back as Luke hopped down from the counter. He leaned forward, smirking up to her before his lips fell to her collarbone. “Even here.” He whispered. Luke led her to the bedroom, continuing to kiss his way across her body. All in the name of finding the perfect tattoo placement, of course.

A few days later, Luke and Ariel were walking hand in hand into the tattoo shop. AJ, the only artist Ariel ever went to, greeted them both with a grin.

“Thank you so much for squeezing us in, man.” Ariel said to him as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“Don't worry about it. Shouldn't take any time at all.” He told her as they separated. “You must be the boyfriend?” He asked, turning his attention to Luke and putting a hand out to him.

“That's me,” Luke laughed nervously as he shook AJ's hand.

“Luke is nervous,” Ariel explained, placing a gentle hand on Luke's shoulder. “It's his first tattoo.”

“Ah, a virgin?”

“Guess so.” Luke answered, nervous laugh returning as he glanced down to Ariel.

“You sure you want your very first tattoo to be a matching one?” AJ asked with a raised brow.

Luke smiled down to Ariel again, his blue eyes finding her brown ones automatically. She returned his smile as he took her hand in his.

“Yeah, I'm sure.” He answered, confident for the first time since they'd walked in the door. Ariel moved to stand on her tiptoes, craning her neck slightly to meet Luke's lips with her own.

“Okay, lovebirds. Let's chill with the romantics, yeah?” AJ laughed. “Let's get ya in the chair before my 6 o'clock shows up.”

They followed him down a hallway to his station. It was nothing more than a small room with a few art pieces hung on the walls, a few pieces of furniture, and a red toolbox in one corner.

“Who's goin’ first?” He asked as he sat on his stool. He turned to the large toolbox and pulled out three bottles of ink. One black, one blue, and one green.

“Want me to go?” Ariel asked Luke quietly. He didn't answer, just silently nodded and hoped that his face didn't show how scared he was. He knew that tattoos hurt, and was not looking forward to it.

Ariel kissed his cheek quickly before removing her coat and handing it to him. Luke sat in a chair next to the door while Ariel took her own spot in the familiar chair next to AJ.

“Giving him a chance to back out?” AJ asked with a wink as she set her arm out for him.

“Nah, I just can't wait anymore.” She answered with a smile.

AJ pulled two small plastic cups from a drawer next to him. He put black ink into one, blue ink into the other. Luke watched intently as he got his machine ready to go. Once it was ready, he picked up one of the two small heart shaped stencils that he had ready to go for them. They were both the same image, just a very simple line drawing of a heart shape, both just a few inches wide. He took the first stencil and applied it to Ariel's arm, just below the bend of her elbow.

“Right about there, yeah?” He asked after pulling the stencil away. Ariel looked down to the simple purple outline with a grin before nodding to AJ. “Then let's do the damn thing.” He said as he picked up his tattoo machine.

Luke's eyes never left Ariel's face as she got her tattoo done. You'd think that it tickled or something by the grin that stayed on her lips through the whole thing.

It couldn't have been more than five minutes before she was done. “Look, baby!” She called excitedly to Luke as she stood to walk over to him. She held her arm out to him, proudly showing off her newest artwork. It was simple. Just a baby blue heart with a solid black outline. But it was perfect. Exactly what she'd wanted.

“Looks great, love.” Luke told her.

“Your turn, chief.” AJ said with a slight chuckle. He took the cups of ink and threw them away before pulling out two more and filling them with ink. He took a moment to put a fresh needle into his machine while Luke gave himself a silent pep talk.

Luke nodded as he took off his own coat, handing it off to Ariel, before moving to take the seat that she had previously occupied. He took a deep breath as he set his arm out in the exact same way that she had. He relaxed just a bit when he heard her moving the extra seat to sit next to him. She took his free hand in hers and offered him a sweet smile.

“Ready?”

“I think so.” He answered as AJ dipped his needle into the cup of black ink. Luke shut his eyes tightly, preparing for the worst. He was pleasantly surprised to find that it really didn't hurt. It didn't feel great, but nothing at all like what he was expecting.

“How ya feelin’?” Ariel asked quietly, squeezing his hand lightly.

“Great.” He smiled at her. “This is nothin’.”

A small giggle fell from her smiling lips at his answer. She averted her eyes from him to where AJ was working on his arm. The outline was already done, and he was already moving on to the green.

A few minutes later, Luke was done. He couldn't contain his smile as AJ wiped a bit of blood and excess ink from the tattoo. He turned slightly to show Ariel, as if she hadn't been watching it being done.

“I can't believe you actually did it.” She giggled.

“Neither can I.”

“You mind if I take a picture for my socials?” AJ asked, already pulling his phone from his pocket. Luke and Ariel happily agreed, both of them showing off their new ink with matching grins.

AJ put bandages over both tattoos to avoid them getting rubbed by their coat sleeves. After Ariel paid, she took Luke's hand and led him out the front door of the shop. Even though it was freezing, neither would have said so, both of them still feeling the rush of the whole thing as they walked home.

They hung their coats on the hooks next to the front door and Ariel carefully removed their bandages. “Bled a little.” She commented as she threw Luke's into the bathroom trash. She showed him how to properly care for his tattoo, he focused on every word she said as if it were law.

“Warm water, not hot. Especially the first few days. Here,” She said, motioning for him to put his hand under the running water. “This is the perfect temperature. It's super easy. Just get it wet and rub a little soap over it.” She told him, doing every step as she explained it to him. He followed her movements exactly. “Then just pat it dry with a paper towel. Put a little of this on it, and you're good.” She finished, handing Luke the tube of ointment after she was done.

Luke squeezed the tube, a small dot of ointment coming out onto his fingertip. He did exactly like she'd just done, rubbing it into his skin with his middle finger.

“Just like that.” She smiled. “It'll start itching in a few days, but that's a good thing. Don't scratch it. If it gets real bad you can sorta slap your arm a little and it helps.”

Over the next week or so, Ariel coached Luke along the healing process of his tattoo. He already knew about most of it, having seen her baby more than a few new tattoos during their time together.

“Ari, look!” He called excitedly from the bathroom one day. When Ariel walked into the room, he pushed his arm toward her. “It's scabby!”

“Yeah,” She giggled. “It's healing up really nice, Lu. Should be all pretty and healed up in a few days.”

Luke's eyes lit up anytime he looked at his tattoo, which was often. Anytime he had a spare second at work, or if he'd catch it out of the corner of his eye. He loved looking at it. He loved what it stood for.

Once their tattoos were finally healed, Ariel allowed Luke to take a photo to send to his mom. Liz loved them. When she facetimed them a few hours later, she could hardly stop smiling as she asked them to show her just one more time.

As Luke and Ariel laid down for bed a few hours later, he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist before sighing.

“What's up, buttercup?” She asked with a yawn.

“I want another tattoo.”

Ariel laughed, laying her arm over Luke's. “It's addicting, huh?”

“It is.” He agreed, placing a kiss to the back of her neck. “I think I want a sleeve next.”

“Baby steps, my love.” Ariel said, yawning again. “Baby steps.”

~~~

So, full disclosure, Sham did give me this idea. She originally gave it to me because I was having trouble coming up with an idea for Michael, but I just loved the idea of Luke and Ariel having matching tattoos. But, I super love these characters and I just wanted to write them again.

Can’t wait to hear what y’all think of this one!!

If you have any requests, or would like to be tagged in future 5sos fics please let me know!

Tag List: @crownedbyluke @24kcalum @blue-skies-are-alright @lmao5sosimagines @therainydays4 @rosecth @thesoundsyoumake @kinglyhemmings @a-little-international @harryandthelesbians @lukescherrypie @ashotofblues @youngblood199456 @rexorangecouny @cashton-queen @tothemoonwithclifford @babylon-uncrowned @asht0ns-world @abitloudforanaccousticset @gettingjillywithit @itjustkindahappenedreally @dancingonanemptywallet @lustingforwunder @mysticalhood @5sos-are-banhanhas @cxddlyash @sweetmisseddreams2002 @myloverboyash @valentinelrh

[every1studio]

the first step” [w1: Park Jihoon]

genre: fluff + first date!

ficstyle: bulletpoints 

summary: how will your first date with Park Jihoon go? (a warm Spring day)

note: with the appearance of Woojin as your brother

“did she like daisies,,, or was it daffodils... it was something that started with the letter d!”

JIhoon was struggling trying to pick out flowers for you

it was your guys official first date

the whole concept of dating was something you both didn’t want to mess up

in the meantime

you were trying to figure out what to wear

“should I wear a skirt? or a dress? maybe I should opt for jeans..”

you had a few outfits lying on your bed as you were trying to choose

“you should wear a trash bag”

you heard your brother, Woojin, say as he walks past your room

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?” 

you chased him as you threw a pillow at him

“sheesh! I just said that because Jihoon doesn’t even care about stuff like that. hurry up and pick out your outfit. I have friends coming over and I don’t want them to hear you talking to yourself” 

you scowled at him before walking back in your room

you ended up choosing a white, laced off-the-shoulder top with high-waisted mom jeans and tan, tassled ankle boots

as you whipped your hair into a high ponytail, you heard the doorbell ring

naturally, Woojin goes to open the door but you wanted to get to the door first so you pushed him out of the way

“HI JIHO-.. oh”

you opened the door to see Woojin’s friends

“OH HI Y/N, YOU LOOK NICE, TODAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY” they all crowded around the door to greet you

(they’d never talk to me like this if I was in my uniform) you thought

before Woojin would tell them off..

“AHEM, Y/N IS ON A DATE WITH ME”

everyone turned to look at Park Jihoon with a bouquet of flowers; a bunch of daisies, daffodils and day lilies with hints of baby breathes

“wooooooooo” all the guys just admired Jihoon for his manliness and muttered “sorry” as they walked past you

“I’ll make my own dinner tonight so you can just stay as long as you want, see ya y/n, Jihoon” Woojin says as he closes the door

you two were left in awkwardness

he hands you the bundle of yellow and white flowers

“uh.. here’s some flowers... I forgot which ones you liked so I just got a bunch of em..”

Jihoon was blushing a little bit, he’s never bought flowers for a girl besides his mom for Mother’s Day so he was nervous

you held onto them

“they’re beautiful” you smiled as you smelled them

“just like you, you look breath-takingly beautiful today.. I MEAN YOU DO EVERYDAY BUT LIKE YEAH.”

there was a long silence after that until Jihoon spoke again

“well then.. let’s go? are you hungr-”

GRUMBLE

your stomach spoke before Jihoon could even finish his question

you turned bright red and cleared your throat

“UH YEAH I AM HAHAHA”

you were internally cursing at your stomach for making the whole situation embarrassing for you

he tries not to laugh out loud so he holds your hand 

“I know this really good place downtown”

Jihoon made you feel comfortable by not saying anything about your grumbling hunger

you guys entered a cute little restaurant

Jihoon was leading you the whole time, being a gentleman

on the other hand, he was hoping that you wouldn’t be able to feel him trembling from nervousness because he really wanted to impress you

“a table for two, please” he says to the waitress

“my my you two are absolutely adorable! I’ll have you two seated at our table with the best view!”

you both blushed in a mighty, deep shade of red

the waitress led you to the rooftop seats near the railing where you could see the whole city

“i’ll bring you water and get your order~” she squealed as she muttered to herself how she loved serving cute couples

“she’s quite nice...” you said before you sat down

but cue in Jihoon, he pushes your chair in for you as you sat down

“oh thanks..”

he sat in his seat that was across from you

(how am I suppose to eat when he’s looking straight at me) you couldn’t even look up at him

there was a nice breeze and it decided to make your baby hairs and side burns fly all about 

Jihoon reaches over to tuck your side burns behind your ears

“better?”

BADUMP BADUMP

you’d call him a liar if he couldn’t hear how loud your heart was thumping in that moment

(OH GEEZ I DID IT LIKE SEONGWOO HYUNG TOLD ME I HOPE SHE DOESN’T THINK I’M CRINGY) he was mentally screaming

the waitress came and got your orders

you got a chicken poppy seed salad as Jihoon got a creamy bacon carbonara

you actually wanted a pasta dish, but that was going to be so messy and unladylike 

when the food came out, you kept on eyeing Jihoon’s food

he catches you

“do you not like your dish?”

you gulped

“don’t get me wrong I like my salad.... but that looks really good..”

“it is really good,” he says as he eats it

“is that how it’s going to be? you’re too mean~”

you pouted

“I’m just kidding, here”

he twirls the pasta into a spoon and reaches it over to you

you tried to take the spoon from him but he resists

“just eat it” he says as he smiles

(WHAT IF IT FALLS OUT OF MY MOUTH?) you smiled as the pain of that thought lingers 

safe, you ate it without any messes

“oh y/n...”

once again he reaches over and wipes the corner of your mouth

“there...was sauce..”

(GOOD JOB JIHOON, GIVING HER A LARGE SPOON OF PASTA AND WIPING THE SAUCE OFF! SEONGWOO HYUNG WOULD BE PROUD!)

the amount of times you blushed today was one too many times

Jihoon kept talking to you the whole time since you two got to the restaurant

he made all the worst-case scenarios float farther and farther away 

he even ordered patbingsu to share so that you guys could play the spoon version of footsies

when all of the eating was done, Jihoon paid without even asking if you wanted split the bill with him or not

“you didn’t have to... I was planning to pay for my fair share”

you felt bad

Jihoon smiles at you

“you paid by being with me, for the next times we go out to eat, I’ll pay for it so don’t worry”

being with Jihoon felt natural.. like where was he before in your life?

when he was walking you home, he noticed it getting a little chillier since the sun was about to set

Jihoon takes off his jacket and places it over your shoulders and takes your hand and puts it in his pocket

you looked up at him

“you’re gonna get cold too...”

“being with you warms me up already” 

(this is why I wore a hoodie under my jacket muhahah and she looks fricking adorable with my jacket) Jihoon is 100% proud of himself

you both get to your place and you’re sadden that the day is already over

“thanks for today, Jihoon.. I really thought it was going to be awkward.. since all first dates are...” you fumble your hands together, “but you made it supe-”

Jihoon leans in to kiss you

it was soft, sweet and for the zillonth time, you felt the heat flood your face

he leans back and smiles, “you’re the one who made it super amazing and wonderful and all the more special.. I’ll call you later tonight, hon” 

he shoots a wink at you

“alright! good night~” you say as you wave at him, with the flowers he got you

he waves back as he waits for you to get inside the house safely

Jihoon starts to walk home

that walk turned into a jog

and into a run

with the biggest smile on his face

he couldn’t wait to call you when he got home

and brag to his members about his successful date

and he couldn’t wait to plan many more dates with you

the first step was taken and it can only move on from there

END

[sarahjane0886]

Begin Again 12

Chapter 12

"Are you sure you're okay keeping Mav?" Sharna asked as she worked on curling her hair.

"Babe, yes, stop asking me that. He'll be fine. Maks is gonna come over and we're going to do we're going to take them to the park, then dinner and ice cream. He got a new movie. He'll help with bedtime and then once they are asleep, we'll tuck them in. Mav has the mattress in Lottie's room. And if anything happens we'll call you guys. Stop worrying, it's going to be okay."

"I know, I just....I want this to go good."

"And it will. You guys need this. It's going to be good. I promise." Peta said reaching forward and squeezing Sharna's hand.

"I hope, does this look alright?" Sharna said as she finally finished her hair. She turned to look at Peta for approval. Her and Noah were going on their first official date that evening and after, they were going to go back to his house for the night. Peta had said she'd keep Maverick for Noah so he and Sharna could focus on them and do whatever they wanted.

"Gorgeous, Noah is going to love it. Are you still wearing the black dress you picked out?" Peta asked. They had a girls day yesterday and went shopping and primping. It was one of the first times they took Lottie out to do it and she had loved it. Sharna had found a black dress that came to her knees and had a sheer lace overlay over the top. The lace was detailed beautifully. It was fitted through the body while the bottom flared out just slightly. She also had a white and gray one but Peta had picked the black one from the beginning.

"I think so. I gotta do my makeup and throw my bag together and then I'll decide for sure."

"Alright, you want me to stay or you want quiet time?" Peta asked. She knew that sometimes she wanted distraction and sometimes she needed to think.

"No, stay. I just. Yeah, stay. I'm almost done. He should be here in 20 right?" Sharna asked. Noah was picking her up around 4 since he wanted to take her to dinner a little ways out of town and have some fun before they returned to the house for some them time.

"Yeah, in about 20. What are you taking for pajamas?" Peta said with a wink.

"Both?"

"Good thinking, although I'll bet you don't need anything other than that dress."

"P!"

"What, he's an attractive man. You're an attractive lady. That dress is smoking. Enjoy yourself. Have some fun."

"Oh my god, I should have sent you downstairs." Sharna said as her cheeks turned as red as her hair.

"I'm just teasing you. Here, give me your bag, go get dressed." Peta said taking the pile of stuff Sharna already had stacked on the bed. Sharna threw her the bag she was going to use which was actually Peta's and took the dress and headed into the bathroom. Peta packed while Sharna dressed.

"Well?" Sharna said finally appearing in the doorway. Peta turned around and her eyes got wide. "I mean I can wear the other one."

"No, no, no. Babe, you look stunning. Oh my goodness. The dress looked good in the store, but this, with your hair and your shoes. Babe, Noah is going to melt."

"Honestly, you think it's that good? Do you think I need a necklace?" Sharna said checking herself in the mirror. She was suddenly feeling very shy and indecisive. Two things she wasn't used to feeling.

"Babe, what's wrong?" Peta said looking at her best friend. There was something going on in her head and she could see it.

"I don't know, I just, I'm nervous. I want this to be perfect P. I've never been nervous like this before. It's not an oh my god, this might fall to pieces nervous, it's more of a giddy, excited, want this to work perfectly nervous." Sharna said as her hands started to fidget.

"Whoa babe. First breath. Second, i get it. It's actually how I felt when I first started dating Ollie. Everything was heightened. It'll settle. I promise. When you close your eyes, think about what you want out of this. I promise, it'll come to you." Peta said as she held Sharna's hands tightly in her own and squeezed. Sharna's eyes closed and she breathed deep a few times. She concentrated on what she wanted out of tonight and knew that Peta was right. It was different and that's why she was scared. It wasn't cause of Noah, it was becasue it was real.

"Better?" Peta asked after a few minutes.

"Yeah, thanks P."

"Anytime. Now the necklace. I think it could do either way, but it would be a nice touch. I have that kinda tight gold chain so it wouldn't lay on the lace, how about that?"

"Let's try it." Sharna said as she followed Peta to her room. She found the necklace quickly and hooked it on for her friend.

"I like it." Peta said moving so Sharna could see in the mirror.

"Me too." She said as the doorbell rang. Her eyes widened, making Peta laugh.

"Come on babe, let's go get your guy." Sharna nodded and followed Peta down the steps, Maks was working on letting Noah in while he held a giggling Lottie upside down.

"Hey man, the girls are, right here." He said as his eyes widened at Sharna's dress. Even he had to admit that she looked stunning.

"Hey, Shar, honey, you look beautiful." He stammered.

"Flowers." Maverick said as he interrupted the adults and made his way over to Sharna. He held a tiny boquet of daisies for his favorite lady.

"Aww, buddy, are these for me?"

"For my Sha-na." He said with a shy grin. Sharna accepted them and then scooped Maverick up to give him some hugs and kisses.

"Thank you Mav.  I love them."

"Ahem, well hopefully that means you'll love these too." Noah said as he moved to his son and Sharna. He held out a much larger boquet of flowers this time. It included roses, lilies, daisies.

"Noah." She said breathlessly at first. She smiled and went to take them but Maverick was glued to her.

"I can hold them." He said however he leaned close enough to put a simple kiss to her lips. "You do look stunning."

"Thank you." She said smiling happily.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yup. I am. Peta has my bag."

"Here Noah, I'll swap." Peta said taking the flowers from him as well as what she assumed was Maverick's bag while handing him Sharna's. She took Sharna's flowers from Maverick too.

"Alright buddy, are you going to be good for Miss Peta and Uncle Maks?" Noah asked. Maverick however had other ideas.

"No, no weave Sha-na." He said as he wrapped his arms around her neck tightly. Sharna bit her lip. She had been worried about this.

"Buddy, we are going to be back in the morning and remember tomorrow you, are coming with me and daddy for the whole day?" Sharna said as she rubbed his back gently. She swayed slowly.

"But I miss you." He said into her neck.

"I'll miss you too little man but how about when it's bedtime, Uncle Maks or Miss Peta calls us and we can tell you goodnight?"

"Pwomise?" He said almost so softly that she nearly missed it.

"I promise. Pinky." She said holding up her pinky for him and letting him link his with hers. He buried back into her neck for a minute as she cuddled him as well. Then she kissed his cheek before handing him over to Noah. Noah said goodbye to him as well, including the same promises that Sharna had along with a pinky promise as well. Then the two were off leaving, the kids and Maks and Peta alone.

"Okay, whose's ready for our adventure?" Peta asked as she saw Maverick's lip trembling.

"Venture?" He asked curious as Lottie held tight to her hand.

"Yup, we're going to go to a new park and play and have dinner." Maks said.

"It even has a pirate ship!" Peta added.

"Like Tink ship?" Lottie asked immediately. She had seen Peter Pan a few times however was slightly more enthralled with the sassy fairy than she was with the boys.

"Exactly. Just like Tinkerbell's ship."

"Tay, Mav we pay?" Lottie asked holding her hand out to her buddy. He still clung to Maks however still a bit upset that his dad and Sharna had honestly left him.

"It's okay buddy. We're actually going to drive to the park. So we have to go get in the car. And I think Uncle Maks said we might get ice cream later." Peta said as she scooped up Lottie. She caught the little boy's eyes light up as he looked at his uncle. Maks nodded making Maverick smile.

"We have everything already right?" Maks asked Peta.  They had attempted to get everything ready earlier in the day figuring that they may need a quick distraction for Maverick once his two favorite adults left.

"Yup, do you two need to go potty?" Peta said looking at her daughter knowingly. It never failed that as soon as they put her in the car, she'd need to use the bathroom.

"Uh huh." Maverick said as he rested on Maks. He was much calmer now however you could tell that he still wasn't too keen on the situation.

"Alright. That's okay. Little miss you need to go try though." Peta said taking her and headed towards the bathroom. Once she returned they got the kids settled in the car and headed out to the playground. It was about 20 minutes away and they let the kids pick the music which consisted mainly of songs from the latest Disney movies. Once they got there, they got the kids out.

"Whoa, this is much bigger than I remembered. There only used to be the pirate ship thing." Maks said as he helped Peta get both kids out of the car. There were 3 play sets at the park, one of them being the pirate ship set up. The other one was regular while the last one was set up like a castle with the slides coming out of the turrets.

"It is huge. Okay you two, you have to stay with us." Peta said slightly nervous at the space and number of families there.

"Right. you can't run off. We'll make sure you play with everything. You guys can take turns picking." Maks said looking at Peta. He could see her anxiety on her face and knew he was going to need to assist in keeping the kids together.

"What do you two want to do first?" Peta asked praying that they'd say the same thing.

"Ship!!" They both said pointing and she breathed a sigh of relief. They headed toward the ship. Maks stole the backpack from her that had a few water bottles and snacks just incase as well as other things. She tried to keep it but he waved her off easily as he slipped it on. They spent the next hour and a half letting the kids take turns picking activities. Finally it was dinner time.

"More wings!" Lottie fussed as they put the kids in the car.

"We'll come back miss. We'll bring Aunt Sharna and Mr. Noah okay?" Maks said as he buckled her in, making sure that her straps were tight before moving to Maverick.

"Noo." She said as she started to cry. Maverick looked at her and held his hand out to her but she wouldn't take it.

"It's okay buddy. That was sweet of you though. She's just a little sad." Maks explained at the hurt look on Maverick's face.

"Kay." He said softly, grinning as Maks tickled him lightly.

"She's hungry. I think. Or I hope." Peta said as she looked at her daughter who was still sobbing quietly as she reached for the park.

"Me too. We still doing the chicken place for dinner?" Maks asked as he started towards what they had already agreed on.

"Yeah, they both like the chicken so that's easy. And there's that ice cream place beside it."

"Aksssss. Need you." Lottie whimpered from the backseat.

"In a minute sugar. We're almost there." Maks said as he finally caught her eye in the rearview. Peta watched the exchange with a twinge of guilt but relief at the same time. She checked on Maverick who was quietly watching out the window. They finally made it to dinner and Peta let Maks get Lottie while she got Maverick.

"Lottie sad?" Mav asked Peta once she had him in her arms.

"She is. I think she's a little cranky since she's hungry and ready for dinner." Peta said with a wink.

"Unca Maks fix it?" Maverick asked Peta as he watched Maks cuddle Lottie into him. She started to settle once she was in the man's arms.

"It looks like he is." Peta said softly.

"Lottie love Unca Maks?

"She does buddy she does. Just like you love Uncle Maks." She said ruffling his hair before setting him down to walk next to her. The group headed in and they ordered before finding a booth. Lottie refused to leave Maks so Maverick hung out with Peta. He was a bit skeptical at first since he hadn't spent too much time with her since he was always with Sharna whenever he could be. Once they ate, Lottie was a little calmer however Maks did tell Peta she felt warm.

"I hope she's not getting sick." Peta said with a look. She started work next week and Lottie started daycare as well. Peta couldn't send her to daycare sick.

"I hope not too. Do you need to give her anything?"

"Not yet, I'll see how she is at bedtime. She was upset and everything and has stayed tucked into you. Not likely that it's that but I hate giving her things if she doesn't need it."

"Right, I understand. Do you want to skip ice cream and just head home?"

"They are not going to forget ice cream. I think it's fine. We'll just get them home and get them in jammies and do a movie right away if that's okay with you. I know you have Louis and everything so if you need to go to him you can."

"No, it's fine. I had Louis out all morning with Lottie while I  kept her for you. I told you I'd help you tonight. I'm all yours. Err, I mean...you know what I meant." Maks said trying to fix his slip.

"I know. I just I don't want to take you away from anything." She said with a shrug.

"You're not. Let me help, okay?" He said not sure where the sudden bout of stubbornness had come from on Peta's part.

"Okay." She nodded before looting at the kids. "Who's ready for ice cream?"

"Meeee!" They both yelled excitedly. Peta winked at Maks as they gathered the kids and headed to the ice cream shop next door. A half hour later, they were taking two sticky little kids out to the car.

"Looks like we're having bath time before movie time." Peta said with a grin.

"I'd say so." Maks said laughing. He did his best to buckle the kids in without ending up covered as well but it was kind of a lost cause. They headed to Peta's and got the kids ready for bed before settling on the couch to watch a movie. Maverick curled up next to his uncle which set Lottie off almost immediately.

"Nooooo." She wailed from the middle of the living room as she realized Maverick was with Maks.

"What's wrong baby?" Peta said moving to pick her up. She threw herself on the floor however instead and began to scream.

"No. No. No. No." She yelled again and again.

"Baby, Momma can't fix it unless you tell me what's wrong?" Peta said sitting next to her.

"Want Aks....." She finally wailed and Peta put her head back nearly laughing.

"Sweetheart, is that why you're crying?"

"Mav sit aks. Lottie want Aks." She whimpered sadly.

"Baby, you both can sit with Maks. I think Maverick will share, right Mav?" Peta said looking at him.

"I shares Unca Maks with yous Lottie. Come here." He called her. She looked for a second and Peta thought for sure she was going to lose it again at having to share Maks but she went for the two instead. Maks pulled her up and helped her get situated.

"She's still hot." He said softly to Peta.

"I'm gonna go grab Tylenol. I mean I know she's been glued to you lately but that was a bit out of the ordinary for her. Tired or not."

"Okay. I mean maybe it's just teething?" Maks asked with a shrug. He knew and loved Maverick but didn't know what the different ailments could be for the little ones.

"Let's hope. I can't send her to daycare for the first day, sick." She said standing up and walking away. She brought the medicine back and gave it to Lottie. They started the movie and Lottie fell asleep pretty quickly. Maverick however shifted over to Peta and made it to nearly the end of the movie before falling asleep as well.

"Someone forgot about calling Sharna and Daddy." Maks said as they made their way back down the stairwell after tucking the kids in.

"That he did. I'm gonna text them real quick and just let them know he's alright. Irony is Shar will probably worry more than Noah."

"You're not kidding. It's the "new" thing." Maks said air quoting the word new. Peta knew exactly what he meant. Ever since Sharna and Noah had decided they were going to try this thing out, Sharna had developed this extreme mother sense for Maverick. It was adorable at times but you could also tell it was more intense than usual.

"Oh you're right. Are you staying for awhile? Or you leaving me?" Peta asked as she laid her phone down. She had snapped a picture of Mav snuggled into her before they had taken them up which was what she sent Sharna and Noah letting them know that he was safe and happy.

"That's up to you. I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with." Maks said. He wanted to spend time with her but he also didn't want to be pushy and hurt her in the process.

"Stay. Do you wine? I was going to have a glass." She asked moving to the kitchen.

"I wine, I'll wine with you." He followed her. She handed him the wine and opener while she pulled down two glasses. He served them and then she lead them back into the living room. Tye both settled on the sofa, she on one end and him on the other.

"I know you're going to say to be quiet but thank you for being you with Lottie. I still feel guilty when it comes down to it but I do appreciate it. I know she misses Ollie and misses having that dad figure."

"Well it's not necessary but you're welcome. She makes it easy. She's a sweetheart. You can tell she's had a lot of love and support in her life. I think despite the fact that she's lost that, she's going to be a great kid and she has you to thank for that."

"I can't say I agree but I appreciate the idea. But I feel like you know all this stuff about us because of everything. I want to know more about you. Tell me a Maks story. Tell me about your family." She said as she curled into her end of the sofa.

"What about?" He asked looking at her with a grin.

"I don't know. You pick. Something happy." She said curling her legs under her as well.  

"Alright. Hmm, I don't think I've really talked to you about my brother much have I?"

"Umm, you really only have told me about the studio and that your momma would punish you if you didn't treat a lady right. I don't even know that I knew you had a brother." Peta said was a grin.

"Okay, well that's what we'll go with. There's 6 years between us so it's always been quite the relationship. We shared a bedroom and bunk bed clear up until I was 21. Then I moved out only to start helping with a different studio."

"Wow, so you two are pretty close then?"

"Very. It's been awhile since I've seen him actually. I need to get him to get his butt down here." Maks said.

"Yes you do. Or go to him. What's his name?"

"Valentin."

"Ohh."

"But we call him Val usually. Momma is the only one who says Valentin and that means he's in trouble." Maks said laughing. He paused for a few moments before launching into a story about when Val and him were younger and they had gotten into a mess of trouble. The two were giggling ridiculously by the end of the story. Peta then began to tell a story about her and her brother, Sam, who was still in Australia. Her story was interrupted by a huge crash of thunder.

"Shit, Lottie." Peta said bouncing up. Lottie was full out terrified of thunderstorms. She would panic and shake relentlessly whenever one went down so Peta knew this wasn't going to go over well.

"What?" Maks asked jumping up with her. They were both met with a shrill shriek. Peta took off up the steps with Maks right behind her. By the time he made it to the bedroom, Peta already had Lottie up in her arms swaying her trying to calm her however the little one was having none of it. She wasn't hysterical, Maks could see she was just terrified. Maverick had woken up in the process as well, looking confused as ever and worried about Lottie.

"Unca Aks?" He whispered holding his arms up to his Uncle.

"Come here buddy, it looks like Lottie is afraid of the storm. You think we can help her feel better?" Maks said as Maverick rested his head on his shoulder. While Maverick wasn't terrified of storms he wasn't fond of them either. Maks figured distracting him was the safest best. He nodded his head so Maks moved over to the two ladies.

"It's okay baby, it's just the big booms remember?" Peta said as she swayed slowly rubbing Lottie's back in unison.

"No like, no like, no like." Lottie said miserably. She yelped as another clap echoed through the house a long with a burst of lightening.

"I know sweetheart, I know. You're safe though. Look you have momma, Maverick, and Mr. Maks." Peta said as she tried to settle her some.

"Aks. Keep Lottie safe." Lottie said picking her head up as the tears continued to fall. "And momma, and mav."

"I'm right here miss. You're safe. I promise. We're all safe."

"Hold hers." Lottie said reaching for him.

"Okay, come here baby." Maks said catching her easily. He shifted Maverick slightly guessing he wasn't going to go to Peta at the moment. Lottie buried into his neck but held her hand out for Peta as well.

"Momma, hand." She whimpered as her body shook against Maks.

"I'm right here love. We're all right here." Peta said letting her take her hand. Maverick ended up reaching across Maks and putting his hand on Lottie too. The 4 stood there for awhile as the booms and flashes continued to fill the room.

"It has to stop soon." Maks said looking at Peta.

"She's not going to settle even then. She's going to be glued to one of us for the night." Peta said knowingly. Maks nodded, not necessarily minding but trying to figure out how they were going to work this. He remembered something that he used to do with Val when they were younger and wondered if that would help.

"Do you have extra blankets? Like sheets and that?"

"Umm, yeah. I have a few extra pairs, why?"

"How would you two like to build a fort? We can camp in the living room, that way we all stay together?" Maks asked the two little ones.

"Tent?" Maverick asked knowingly from when Noah and Maks had taken him camping.

"Like a tent buddy."

"K." He nodded his head in agreement. Lottie however just buried further into Maks.

"Mav, can you go with Miss Peta and help her get the blankets? Lottie and I will get pillows and meet you in the living room. P, do you have flashlights?" He asked.

"Yeah, we can grab them too. They are actually in the kitchen. If you wanna grab the pillows out of mine and Sharna's rooms you can. Okay Mav, you ready to help?" Peta said leaning forward to take Maverick. He went with her willingly.

"Okay Miss Lottie, let's get some pillows for us. You want to camp out with me and Momma and Maverick?"

"You no go way." She said as her grip on his neck tightened. He paused his motions for a moment holding her tightly.

"I'm not going anywhere baby. I promise." Maks said pressing a kiss to her head.

"K. Lily and blankie." She pointed. The two lovies had gotten lost in her panic and were laying in her crib.

"Here you go. You hold them tight, okay?" Maks said handing them to her. Then he gathered a few of the pillows in her room, tossing them down the stairs before grabbing another batch from the guest room Sharna was staying in, followed by Peta's as well. He headed down with Lottie and started fixing the furniture so that they could make the fort. Peta and Maverick came in soon after and helped as well. Once everything was arranged they covered the furniture and chucked the pillows under makeshift tent.

"Go ahead buddy." Peta said as Maverick let her put him down and crawled in. She went after him followed by Maks and Lottie who still refused to release her grip on Maks. The storm had stopped by then however her shaking had not.

"Lottie, can you?" Maks said as he tried to get them situated. She tightened her hold on him however and he nearly laughed.

"That's a no." Peta said as she helped Maverick get snuggled into a blanket with his pillow.

"Momma" Lottie mumbled.

"I'm right here baby, I'm tucking in Maverick." Peta said as she got him all settled.

"Hold Lottie too, peas." She said sadly as she held her hand out. Peta looked between Maks and Maverick who was holding Peta's hand as well.

"Umm, Lottie, Momma..."

"Need hers too." Lottie fussed as her eyes filled with tears again.

"Okay, okay baby, I'm coming." Peta said. "I'm assuming you're keeping her for now?"

"Yeah, no use working her up, I'm fine." Maks said.

"Okay, can you get situated and then I'll just...well I'll have to lay next to you. And I'll just bring Maverick with me." Peta said as she surveyed their situation. They were already in tight corners as it was but this was tricky.

"You okay with that?" Maks asked as she shifted down keeping Lottie on him the whole time.

"I have to be. She's going to lose it. And she's not old enough that I can explain it." Peta said as she laid next to Maks before bringing Maverick over. He was basically half asleep so he barely noticed.

"Right." Maks said. Peta kept an eye on Maverick for a second until she was sure he was out before laying on her side facing Maks. Lottie was tucked into his chest with Lily and Blankie in her arms as she gripped Maks's shirt. She held her hand out for Peta who took it. this meant that Peta was resting almost near Maks's shoulder with her hand laying above his heart.

"Close your eyes lovebug. We're all right here." Peta said as she saw Lottie's eyes begin to close. Maks started to rub her back and it wasn't soon before she was out as well.

"You okay?" Maks asked looking at Peta.

"Yeah, I just don't like that I can't fix it when she's scared like that. However she's not really old enough to understand the words to explain it." She said as she shifted around trying to get comfortable.

"You're right. This is all you can do though, let her see she's honestly safe when it happens."

"Yeah." Peta said with a yawn.

"I guess we should try to sleep. There's no telling that there won't be another one." He said with a sigh.

"You're okay with her?" Peta asked.

"Yeah, she's fine."

"Okay." She shifted around a few more times trying to settle and sleep but all of a sudden it was like every bone in her body was pressing into the floor and she couldn't get comfortable. Maks watched her for quite some time trying to decide what to do before he finally decided he was going to do it.

"Come here." He said softly.

"What?" She said alarmed.

"Come here." He said again holding his arm out.

"Maks...." She said as she leaned up and looked at him.

"Nothing fancy, nothing else, just you need to sleep and clearly that's not happening now. If you get over here and it's not okay, we'll figure something else out."

"K." She said before sliding over to him. She rested her head on his shoulder as her arm came up to rest around Lottie. He wrapped his arm around her and settled it on her hip. He waited a few more moments before saying anything.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, goodnight Peta."

"Goodnight Maks." She said. It still took a little bit it wasn't long before sleep won and she drifted off to dreamland along with the other three.

**That's a wrap. Guess who's back! Maybe not permanently or well consistently but a lot of things have settled in life. Some changes may be coming that have been long anticipated and honestly needed. So as long as things continue to progress well, I'll have writing time again. I can't say there will be a schedule or that I'll update once a week but I'll try to not leave you guys again.

Thank you for sticking this out with me. I hope you enjoy this one! Don't forget to like it and let me know what you thought. Love you all!