#『Spitting image of her dad holy shit』

[endlessp0ssibilities]

『Haha what if Sonic and Ember had a kid haha』

[earthtooz]

BABE I HAD AN IDEA- Reo Mikage ANGST where he calls reader a gold digging whore in the middle of an argument, ultimately affirming all of her insecurities so he has to figure out a way to show that he didn't mean it and that he's sorry without using his disgustingly abundant wealth 💔 anyways ilysm hope you take care of yourself

NO YOU ARE LITERALLY DISGUSTING FOR THIS (affectionate) YOUR MIND >>> YOU ARE SOOOOO RIGHT. SHUT UP THIS WILL LITERALLY BE THE MOST SCRUMPTIOUS FIC EVER BECAUSE I AM LITERALLY ABOUT TO PUT MY WHOLE EARTHUSSY INTO INCORPORATING THIS IDEA SOMEWHERE !!! BUT FOR NOW, TAKE THIS SNIPPET I WHIPPED UP IN ONE SITTING.

girl feel free to come back into my inbox WHENEVER and giving me your juicy ideas bc holy shit i loved this.

CW: HURT/COMFORT - A LOT OF BOTH, SWEARING, UNEDITED - I WAS GOING THRU IT WHILST WRITING THIS DON'T LOOK AT ME!

IMAGINE THIS: it's been a rough night for both you and reo, he's been through a lot in the past weeks because his dad just had to during the middle of soccer season to lecture reo about how to run a big business. the transition process is beginning to happen since father mikage is about to retire and although your purple-haired boyfriend has been preparing for this his whole life, having gone to business school part-time and graduating with honours, there's still a little part of him that feels weary from all the responsibilities.

all this accumulated stress needs to have an outlet eventually, right? welp, you just happened to be there at the right (wrong) time. you were simply delivering a platter of apples to your boyfriend who had his head in his hands, hunched over an endless pile of paperwork that was beginning to irk him with each passing second. countless images of him shredding up the paper flowed into his mind, a fury that manifested into his reality, except the paper was you D,:

one thing evolved into another, reo's endless stream of venomous words didn't stop flowing out of him as he spat poison after poison, burning you with the intensity of it all.

"you're so overbearing, can't you see that i'm fine? unlike you i can handle myself when things get hard," he spits, eyeing you with fury in his eyes, one that makes you gulp thickly.

"reo-"

-but you wouldn't know the first thing about fighting for what you want right, you fucking gold-digger."

that stops you in your tracks, silences you effortlessly, causing you to let your hands drop limply back to your sides as you stare at your boyfriend blankly. you're sinking into an abyss of hurt and insecurity, it's getting harder to breathe because of the way your chest swells with anger.

reo only continues, not noticing the way you physically and emotionally drop. "even if you don't give me attention for one second of the day, i won't forget you exist, so stop being so clingy and unnecessary! my money isn't going anywhere either, you don't need to occupy majority of my day so leave me alone. go shop online or something."

that was it. was that all reo perceived you to be? a dent in his money, the expenses of his bank account?

"fine. goodbye," you simply mutter before slipping through his office door, out in the hallway.

"don't bother me whilst i'm in here," he says with finality, one last declaration before you shut the door behind you.

the luxurious walls of reo's penthouse look down at you mockingly, the spacious area caging you in, chanting 'gold-digger' over and over again until it's all you hear.

staying here feels wrong.

so, you grab your purse and leave, as quietly as possible. slipping down to the garage where your (second hand) car was parked, you start the engine up and begin reversing out of the parking lot.

you begin to reflect on your relationship with reo. you love him, you really do, you love him because he's reo, the man who was always capable of making you smile, laugh, and make you feel like you were on top of the world. his money and fame was an added bonus that you truly didn't care much about.

but ever since dating him, you've had your own insecurities that have been forced on you by other people. there were crowds calling you a 'gold digger' who was only with reo 'for the money', and although you were sure of yourself and your intentions, your armour breaks down sometimes.

what reo said tonight was the final jab that allowed it to fully disintegrate.

you had a stable job of your own and finances to your own name, money wasn't something you avidly chased, sure having a few zeroes in your bank account was nice but that was all you really needed. as long as you could buy necessities and spoil yourself, it was satisfactory, and you could provide that for yourself!

reo loved to spoil you, showering you in luxurious gifts that you never knew how to accept. it would take a great deal of convincing for you to take what he bought you, and when you promised him to stop buying them for you, he agreed before buying you more material stuff.

as you pull up to the parking lot of the apartment complex that you resided in, you get into the elevator with a heavy heart, pressing the button to your floor with a lot of emotions.

the ride is silent. everything is so silent.

your apartment is even more silent. it's unused, slightly barren. your furniture was still there, except some dust had gathered on the tables and cabinets from how long you've neglected it.

the only reason you were able to keep your apartment was because you had no expenses outflowing since reo took care of almost everything. anything you needed, he bought it, groceries, bills, whatever, were charged on his card. for a period of time, your bank account merely grew and never decreased.

and since you hadn't been here for a while, electricity and water bills never bothered you too much.

you flop onto your made bed with a sigh. it wasn't as soft as reo's but you didn't find it in you to care, you just needed some well-deserved shut eye.

well, 'shut eye' occurred for merely an hour before your phone started vibrating violently.

with a groan, you shove your face back into your pillows before blindly reaching for your phone.

you already knew who it would be without looking at the caller id. of course reo would be looking for you, noting your obvious absence in his penthouse.

"hello?" you mutter.

"y/n? where the hell are you?" comes reo's frantic voice from the other line. he sounds genuinely concerned.

"doesn't matter."

"i'm sorry for everything i said. please, come back."

"reo, i'm tired, i can't do this with you right now."

"i'm sorry, i'm really really sorry."

"i don't want to hear this right now."

"i love you."

you sigh and you're sure reo can hear it on his end. unsure of how to respond, you just hang up on him before throwing your phone away. normally, you would feel bad about the way you left him, but that wasn't the case this time. you just needed to sleep on this.

but, it was reo you were talking about, and the last thing he was going to let you do was sleep without him.

at 1:24am, there's a series of ferocious knocks on your door, followed by screams of your name.

oh my god it was so embarrassing, you literally shoot out of bed as soon as you register what was happening and dash for your door. you don't want to disturb your neighbours' sleep and let them hear that the pathetic grovelling of your boyfriend. the entire hallway could hear reo and his shouting.

you open the door, pull him in, and slam it shut behind you again, leaving the purple-haired to stare at you with a bewildered expression.

"what are you doing here?" you hiss.

he looks at you the same way a puppy does when its owner kicked it out of the house.

you should've known that merely telling reo 'i don't want to hear this right now' would not be enough to pacify his determination and the fact that you hung up on him only intensified his pettiness. the purple-haired always sought you out, pulling himself into your orbit like a magnet. where you went, reo followed, even if it was to the ends of the world.

he had the money to do whatever he wanted, you suppose.

"i wanted to make sure you were safe," he pouts. "i didn't know whether you'd be here or not."

"well, i'm safe, and i'm here. so."

"i can see that," he leans against the back of your couch. reo looks so out of place in your small apartment, awkwardly playing with his hands. "so... should we go to bed?"

the audacity. "what do you mean 'we'? go back home, reo, i'll see you some other time."

as you turn around to go back to your bedroom, reo's quick enough to round around you, blocking you from the hallway with his larger figure.

"but you are my home. please, i'm really sorry about what i said, i didn't mean it," he pleads, grabbing your face so you could look him square in the eye.

you step out of his grasp easily, shaking him off. if you were in your right mind, you would've seen the look of heartbreak on reo's face.

"sure, if you didn't mean it then you wouldn't have said it in the first place, mikage."

you swerve around him to reach your bedroom and he follows you the entire time, trailing behind you, desperate for an ounce of your attention.

"i know i fucked up, but i didn't mean to hurt you and project my frustrations like that onto you when you were just trying to care for me." you sit down on your bed with a sigh and reo takes a seat beside you. "you know i love you right? like, a lot."

that's right. if there's one thing about reo it's that he loves you to an endless degree.

"thank you for always caring for me. i know you don't do it because you're after my money or fame, but because you want to ensure that i'm healthy and not rotting in all that i have to do," his voice cracks. is he beginning to cry. "i don't know what i'd do without you."

you let a beat of silence pass by before dropping your walls. he was always going to smash through them no matter what.

"i've always felt insecure in our relationship," you confess, no louder than an exhale and if reo wasn't holding on to every action of yours, he wouldn't have heard you. "being called a gold digger became normal when i started dating you and i didn't really care. well- i tried not to care."

you continue. "i don't want to let these comments get to me, but then you said it and... i don't know, it just felt horrible."

you feel an arm sneak under your leg, and another hand come to your elbow, both of which simultaneously pull you to straddle reo's lap. you don't look him in the eye- something he frowns at.

"i love you for you. you're the best i'll ever have, reo, but sometimes i-"

"-please don't finish that sentence," he murmurs, breath fanning against your face.

you meet his gaze. he's crying freely. tears are running down his cheeks like streams and you instinctively bring use your thumbs to catch the drops. you hate it when he cries.

"i don't want it to be anyone else but you," confesses the purple-haired. "i hate it when we're separated, i can't stay away from you too long or i think i will go insane."

his statement causes you to giggle a little.

"you laugh but i'm telling the truth."

"i laugh because you make me happy."

his arms wound around your waist, keeping you pressed against him, leaving you with no room to escape or part from him. just what reo likes.

"i'm sorry for what i said," he says against your collarbone. "when i didn't see you in our home, i didn't know what to think. i got so scared for a second because i had no idea where you could've gone so i started spamming your number-"

"-yeah wait, was calling me 24 times necessary?"

"i was going to keep calling you until you picked up so it could've taken 24 or 1000 times or more. now let me speak." you nod wordlessly, smiling a little at how silly reo can be. "and when i realised that you went back to your apartment, i felt horrible that i drove you out."

he looks up at you with glossy eyes.

"you came here because you wanted to prove me wrong, right? because you bought all this by yourself and don't need me, right?"

"well, kind of, but i also didn't want to be around you so i came back here."

reo frowns before leaning in to press delicate kisses to your neck. "please don't leave me. i need you by my side," he inhales before whispering his next statement. "even if you don't need me."

a hand of yours go up to thread through his hair. "don't say that," you use your other hand to direct his face away from your neck, pressing a kiss against his puckered lips. "i absolutely adore you, my love. you're my favourite person ever."

he smiles before leaning in again, kissing you with more fervour and passion. you can feel another tear slide down his cheek.

"lets go to bed, reo," you say when you part and he simply nods, laying you on the side of the bed before laying beside you, arms naturally finding themselves around your waist as reo tugs you as humanely close as possible. "sorry if this mattress isn't as comfortable as your twelve grand one back home."

"i couldn't care less," he whispers whilst tracing patterns on your bare skin.

so long as it's you he's next to, reo doesn't have a lot to complain about.

[mustainegf]

Hiiii

Can you pretty please write something for the young parent James hetfield AU where Lucy is the biggest daddy's girl and they do everything together but reader feels kinda left out and it's just fluff🙏🏻🙏🏻

HAVE A GREAT DAYYY💕

FINALLY A REQ FOR ONE OF MY AU'S HOLY SHIT!!?!?!?

—➤ 𝐀𝐔’𝐬

𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒 ¹⁹⁸⁸

I had always dreamed of being a mother, but nothing could have prepared me for Lucy. Our daughter, golden curls and bright blue eyes, the spitting image of her father, was my perfect girl, my everything. Lately though, she seemed to think different.

Every morning's the same. I wake up to tiny feet tapping down the hallway, her high pitched voice calling out, "Daddy! Daddy!" She never looks for me first. It's always James she wants, James she runs to. Every time she bypasses our bedroom, not even glancing in my sleepy direction.

It's what I'm used to, but that doesn't make it hurt less.

This morning, I watched them from the kitchen as I was making breakfast. Lucy was sitting on James's lap, her chubby little hands tugging at his hair, giggles everywhere. James was fully devoted to her, and I don't blame him.

"Good morning, sweetie," I called to Lucy, hoping she'd look my way. But she didn't. She was too busy showing James her new stuffed animal, a gift I'd picked out for her just yesterday.

"Lucy," I tried again, a bit louder this time, "Did you sleep well, baby?"

She kept ignoring me, looking at her dad, who was in his own little world, with her. My chest ticked. All I wanted to do was shrug it off and say that it didn't matter, but it did. It mattered a fucking lot.

I went over to the table with a plate of pancakes and set them down in front of the two. "Lucy, look your favorite," I said, smiling as I attempted, and failed, to catch her eye.

At last, she raised her eyes to mine, and they didn't show interest.

"Lucy, don't you want to say thank you to Mommy?" James urged gently, having felt that something was clearyly wrong.

She looked at me for just a moment, muttering a forced "thank you" before hiding her head in James's shoulder. It hurt.

For the day, I kept busy cleaning, organizing, anything to get my mind off Lucy's uninterest, but it didn't matter what I did, it just didn't take away from the fact that I was losing my daughter to her own father.

I did try to help out the best I could, so I took Lucy out to the park in the afternoon with the hope that spending quality time just with her would bring us closer. "Lucy, honey, do you want to go to park with Mommy? We can play on the swings, your favorite."

She hesitated, looking up at James as if for permission. He smiled back, encouraging, but she wasn't enthused by the prospect. "Um, okay…" she said, her small hand slipping into mine without enthusiasm.

At the park, I did try everything. I pushed her on the swings, played on the jungle gym, I even tried offering her food. Every response or sentence offered always came so sullen, her mood was disinterested. Every time I tried to get her to talk or change her frown to a smile, she'd say, "When are we going home to daddy?"

My heart shattered.

An hour later I gave up and brought her back in. James was in the living room working on his guitar. The moment Lucy glanced at him, her face lit up, and she ran right into his arms. She didn't even glance back at me.

That night, after tucking Lucy in bed, I dropped onto the bed, and I felt the tears rising.

But James knew. He always did.

"You've been quiet today," James commented softly, taking a seat beside me. "Everything okay?"

I nodded, trying to force a smile. "Yeah, I'm just tired."

He looked at me hard, and I knew he didn't believe me. "It's Lucy isn't it?

All I could do was break. "I just... I just don't know what I'm doing wrong, James," I said fearfully. "She doesn't even want to be around me. It's like. it's like she doesn't love me."

James hugged me closer as I began to cry into his chest. "Hey, don't say that," he whispered. "Lucy loves you more than you know. She's just… she's just really attached to me right now. It's not about you."

"But it feels like it is," I sobbed. "It feels like she doesn't even see me."

"shhh, shh,' he comforted, holding me tight until my sobs lessened. He pulled away from me and looked into my watery eyes. "I'm gonna talk to her. She needs to understand she can't treat you like this, even if she doesn't mean to."

The next morning, James kept his promise. He sat down with her again and tried to explain as gently as possible that she was hurting Mommy's feelings. I watched from the doorway, heart still breaking while his words soaked into her brain.

"Mommy loves you so very much, Lucy. When you do these things to her, it makes her sad because you don't show her you love her too. Do you understand?"

Lucy looked at him with wide eyes, clearly confused and just a bit frightened. "I didn't mean to make Mommy sad," she said, her voice sounding so small and guilty.

"I know, sweetheart," James returned, pulling the little girl onto his lap. "But you need to remember that Lucy. Mommy has feelings too. She needs your love just as much as I do."

Lucy looked up at me, her big blue eyes starting to realize the weight of it all. "Mama... I'm sorry," she whispered through a cracking voice, holding out her little arms.

I knelt beside them, pulling her into a tight hug. "It's okay, baby," I said into her forehead, pressing a kiss between her eyes. "Mommy loves you so much.

"I love you too, Mommy," she said with her head buried in my shoulder. I knew she meant it. I felt it.

I rocked her in my arms as James encircled us both. The love I always wanted was right here in this small, beautiful, messy family that we had made.

[princessbrunette]

line cook turned baby daddy jj who definitely cried his heart out when he held his newly born daughter to his bare chest for the first time. just sobs his heart out. he’s an empath guys. he’s got his backwards cap on and is still wearing his apron when he shows up, wide eyed and sweating after getting the call you’d went into labour. and you know he doesn’t leave your side basically at all, completely ignoring his manager blowing up his phone cause there’s way more important things going on (aka the birth of his c h i l d). he basically gets his hand broken and he won’t complain but it hurt like a bitch, but that all goes out the window when this slightly cone-headed screaming wriggly little babe is put on his chest and he’s just an absolute mess. you’d think he had the baby at that point.

- 🧸

this kills me bc yes :((((

you couldn’t call, in too much pain — but you shot him a text just hoping and praying he’d see it. it read a simple ‘in labour come asap’, and luckily for you — jj did see it, but unluckily for him he saw it not only mid shift, but mid lecture from his manager about being responsible.

“the way you act, represents us as a company jj and—”

his eyes are glancing down at his phone when it dinged with a notification, practically falling out of his head as he reads what it says. he’s suddenly moving without thought, yanking his apron off and throwing it aside, nodding quickly as if he gave a shit about what he was being told.

“uh-huh, yeah for sure and i really understand but i gotta go, i really gotta go—” hes already headed for the exit.

“excuse me?”

“my girls having her baby!” he hollers as he leaves, a faint “woohoo!” heard from the restaurant as he sprints off. of course, john b had received the same text, nearly knocking JJ off his feet when the twinkie swung round the corner with the gang inside, barely slowing down for him to jump in.

he gets there in time of course to hold your hand through the screaming and the refusal and the fear and the crying (mostly your own, but you were squeezing his hand pretty tight.) until before he knows it the room is hit with calm, a babies cry ringing out through the air.

he’s so focused on you he almost forgets the acknowledge the baby at first, making sure you look okay and healthy, cupping your face breathlessly like he was the one screaming as he presses millions of kisses to your cheeks, laughing gleefully. “you did so good baby, so good holy shit. you’re a fuckin’ weapon.”

the baby gets brought for you to hold on your chest and he goes real quiet, the reality of the situation settling in as he stares at the life the two of you created there in your arms. it had been such a long nine months, and today had moved so fast he hadn’t had time to process the fact that the baby was finally going to be here for real.

his ears are still ringing, and he can’t hear what you’re saying as you talk to the baby, holding her on your chest. he’s just staring, looking at all the babies features. a sweet baby girl, still clammy and bloody but beautiful none the less, the spitting image of you already, he can tell, and wouldn’t have it any other way. he’s still stroking your head, fingers twisting the hair at your sweaty scalp almost nervously as he just stares in shock.

exhausted, you look up at him. he recalls you looking as beautiful as the day you met him. “you wanna take her jayj?”

the nurse helps the pass-over and he sits in the chair beside the bed, this clammy warm baby tucked into his chest, so real, moving and whimpering. you’re smiling, tiredly but encouragingly in his direction, your first ever look at JJ as a dad. he looks back at you, lips slightly agape, eyes wide, then back at the baby, then back at you, then back at the baby and he just crumbles, bursting into tears.

“oh jayj.” you whisper hoarsely in awe, tears filling your own eyes at the sight.

“shes so beautiful man, i swear— i swear to you right now, no one is ever gonna hurt you okay? not as long as daddies around.” he rambles to the baby, lifting her to kiss her damp head, careful not to let his salty tears drip on her perfect skin. “my baby girl.” he adds in a whisper, rocking her before letting out an embarrassed laugh, looking back at you. “dude i’m a wreck, i feel like i just gave birth.” he comments, which gets a laugh out of the nurses.

after the baby gets checked by the midwives you’re allowed visitors, JJ handing the baby back to you so he can go and tearfully retrieve the group to bring them in. he walks into the waiting room and of course they all stand up instantly, waiting for him to say something. “y’all wanna meet my daughter or what?”

[fizzigigsimmer]

My fave ballet tube channel out here feeding me plot bunnies for Harringrove Ballet School Au. Just imagine, Billy arrives on campus. Spitting mad cause his dad made him take the bus. Cheapskate wouldn’t even spring for a plane ticket when it’s Billy’s financial aide filling his pockets. He decided halfway there he’s not going to stay. He’s going to hop on the first bus back to Cali as soon as he can raise the money and that’s what he tells Madame Harrington. She may have bought Neil but she can’t buy him. Nobody can force him to stay here - which is true. He’s hoping she won’t want to deal with a runaway and a bad attitude, that she’ll just revoke the scholarship and end this farce for him. Neil will beat his ass black and blue but what else is new. At lease he’ll still have home and the beach.

Madame Harrington doesn’t look happy but she doesn’t get angry either. She makes Billy promise to sleep on it. Sit in on a class, have a real think about what he’s about to throw away. Billy’s not stupid, he knows she’s hoping he’ll see other kids dancing and make some friends and suddenly want to change his mind. It’s not going down like that. And it doesn’t. The class she takes him to is tier one, the advanced class. It’s mostly juniors and seniors but Billy spots a few younger kids and a couple of absolute shrimps who look like they haven’t left the seventh grade. They’re good though is the thing, doesn’t take more than a few steps to see why they’re in here dancing with the big kids. A redhead catches him watching in the doorway and gives him the stink eye.

And then whatever combination they’re doing ends and everyone is clapping, and the instructor calls out that it’s time for their soloist. “Be the swan, Steven. No spaghetti arms!”

The energy in the room just changes, the chatter lifting in anticipation as the students drift back to the edge of the room as a solitary figure steps forward. He’s got good shape. Strong legs - so long - and lean arms. Those fucking tights love him - holy shit. Billy can be forgiven for missing the first few steps he takes while he blinks away the after image that bulge has burned into his fucking retinas. But when he’s capable of seeing beyond it again, he sees this kid - this Steven - floating across the floor in some of the prettiest lines he’s ever seen. He thinks the number from Swan Lake. Thinks Steve-o is gorgeous when he’s not fucking it up, playing to the crowd and losing focus. It’s only a wobble here or there, just minor imperfections.

It annoys the shit out of Billy.

“Who’s the diva?” he asks Madame H. under the sudden swell of clapping and cheering as the boy’s solo comes to an end.

She smiles, a twinkle entering her eye.

“That would be Steve. My son.”

Her son? Wait! That’s Steve Steve? The kid he used to penpal and trade basketball cards with. That’s Steve Harrington?

“Oh yeah?” Billy sneers, hoping to hide how dry his mouth has gone. Challenges with an arched brow, “Teachers son thinks he’s hot shit huh?”

But Madame H. seems unperturbed. She doesn’t tell him off about his language or take offense for her kid’s sake, just keeps smiling at Billy with that little glint in her eye that’s too fond for comfort.

“He’s been best in his age group since he was eight. Makes it hard to keep him challenged. I was hoping that would change with you here now, but if you’re set on leaving I guess I’ll have to come up with something else.”

It’s so stupid. Some reverse psychology bullshit, but damn it it’s working because Billy isn’t as keen on leaving as he was when they walked in.

“You sure that’s what you want?” He asks, barely waiting for the perplexed look to form on her face as he shrugs off his duffel bag. He strides into the room like he owns it, feels the heads turn towards him as his sneakers thud hollowly on the hard floor. The chatter dies as he calls out, “you call that a dance?”

His eyes lock with the boy in the center of the room.

Billy will show him a dance. He’ll show them all.

[nevadas-night-time-novelist]

Holy fucking shit your askbox is open

I have been waiting for this

Ahem ahem...

So, I have been fangirling too much on one of your oneshots (SQ x Knocked Up Reader)

And now I shall request more fics about the children.

Thank you!

Main 4 - Raising the babes

Started this ages ago and finally got it to a finished state lol. my apologies for the wait, anon. I hope you're still around.

HANK Lilith (she her)

"Steady." Hank grumbled in their usual husky, gravelly voice. Lilith's arms shook, the gun was heavy in her little hands.

"I-it's really heavy dad." Hank let out a sigh through his nose, or what was left of it.

"I know, but you need to learn how to use it, and how to be safe around it." Being involved with Hank was dangerous, but being his family put a target on your skull. Child or not, if the agency found you or Lilith, you'd be executed just to spite the man.

As much as Hank was devoted to their family, they knew fine well that they couldn't be around them all of the time to protect them. Even the SQ couldn't guarantee your safety every second of the day. Learning to fight back was the only way you two would have a fighting chance.

Being Hank's partner meant he'd already trained you up to be a threat to anyone, and now it was your daughter's turn to learn the harsh world she was born into.

"I'm scared." Lilith looked to you, her eyes the same blood red as her dad's own.

"So was I when I first picked up a gun," You knelt to her level, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "but you'll learn that it's just a tool, like any other. You learn how to use it correctly and you'll be safe." You kissed her forehead, and adjusted her arms, Hank carefully putting his large hands over her's as well.

"Hold your breath, steady your arms,"

[ B A N G ]

One of the glass bottle Hank had lined up shattered, and Lilith dropped the gun in fright. "That was scary!"

"But you did it. Overcoming challenges laid before you... First step to becoming strong and unkillable like me." Hank felt pride, and they picked up the gun. "Just... Don't drop it again."

SANMOS Mars (he him)

Baby Mars was a blessed little guy, having not just two parents, but three, and their whole support system to fall back on. Both your lovers are dutiful dads, but Sanford rarely ever wants to put his lil man down. He's got one of them baby carriers custom fit for his bigger frame, and Mars is his spitting image.

With curls of black hair, a chubby build and pout, it was like San was carrying his little mini-me. Mars had mixed skin, a dark grey, but slightly lighter than Sanford's, as well as dark freckles across his full body.

"Think we can find some tiny round sunglasses for babyford?" Dei joked to you while he was warming up some formula milk. "Totally, we could get him a little tank top, grow his hair out and make locs with them." You replied and laughed.

Sanford rolled his eyes, but smiled as well. "I just wanna protect my babe."

"A." Mars weighs in his opinion, throwing his arms up at Deimos as the smell of warm milk hits his nose. "It'll be ready soon yah little monster." Dei smiled and softly pinched his cheek, making Mars squeal happily.

"Let me get him ready." You took Mars from Sanford and set him on your lap. "You should get some sleep Fordie, you've been up with him all night. Relax and cool off, Dei and I got this for now."

"I'm not tired." Sanford lied, immediately yawning and taking his sunglasses off. He had dark circles under his eyes. "You're absolutely tired." Deimos snorted, handing you the warm bottle.

"Relax wonder-dad. Go get comfy and rested, the three of us will be waiting for you when you get up." You gave the big man a kiss, and he finally agreed to get a few hours sleep.

2BDAMNED Rhea and Phoebe

Raising twins was a handful, everyone in base had to chip in a little now and then. Doc was sitting on a soft cushion on the floor, trying to not give himself back ache with shrimp posture, as Rhea chewed on the arm of her stuffed dog toy, and Phoebe was playing with wooden blocks Sanford had kindly made for the girls.

"Hey handsome," Doc arches his back slightly as your smooth hands rub against his shoulders, a pleasant shiver runs up his spine. "you three having fun?"

"Of course, they're engrossed in their own little worlds, and watching them develop is fascinating. Pheebs is working on her hand-eye coordination, which is wonderful to see, and Rhea is... enjoying herself."

Rhea raised her arms up to you, always happy to see her parent. Luckily each girl had their own favourite parent, you being Rhea's, and Doc being Phoebe's, so juggling toddlers wasn't an issue for one of you.

You embraced the little troublemaker, picking her up into your arms and giving her a cheek kiss, earning a happy squeal. "Damma!" Her chubby fingers grabbed your neck as you cuddled her into you.

They'd been born looking similar, but developed differences as they aged. Rhea took more after Doc, dark grey hair tied in little twin tails to show off her pretty face, maroon monolid eyes and a crooked smile. She'd be the spitting image of her dad, if she didn't have your skin and nose.

Phoebe on the other hand was like the opposite, her hair was like your natural colour, tied back as well to keep it out of her face. Her eyes were mirrors of yours as well, and looked wonderful when the light caught them just right. She had Kyle's paler complexion and thin nose.

"Hello my little moon~" You cooed sweetly to her, Doc had insisted on naming both girls after moons, which Deimos laughed about at the time. 'Three moons in one base, you building a solar system here old man?"

Rhea yawned widely, little white puppy teeth lined her mouth. "They've been up for a while, I've already fed them, and was hoping to try and educate them a little bit, but it looks like someone's ready for a nap." Doc smiled to you, making his deep set crows-feet more apparent, each wrinkle in his face seemed to get more and more defined as the days went on.

He made a very handsome DILF. "Perhaps I'll take Phoebe and work with her one on one, and give Rhea a lesson later. Shame, I was going to talk about the stars with them." Rhea's head perked up, all signs of fatigue suddenly removed.

She loved space, Doc had even gotten the lads to paint the nursery into a galaxy, with bright glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the ceiling. "Staaars." She reached out for her father, heart set on looking at pictures of the night sky over sleeping.

Phoebe was slightly more grounded to earth, interest in the things in front of her, as opposed to those miles and miles above. "Blocks." She pointed to her cubic toy, heart set on continuing to destroy and rebuild with them.

"How about you teach in here? You can read to both of them, I'm sure they'll both enjoy it. Rhea can look at the pictures, and Pheebs can just listen." You sat with Phoebe, offering her another block.

"Thank you Damma." Phoebe smiled to you, finishing a star shaped tower using coloured blocks. Doc sat down, Rhea on his lap and he laid a book in front, starting from the beginning.

"The constellations are patterns of stars formed in the sky, there are many to discover...."

...

From a distance, a star faced figure watched his nieces with a softening in his heart. He found it strange when his brother had told him he was going to live a mortal life for a while, and he couldn't understand it, not at first. But now, seeing the family he'd made, Maker couldn't help but smile.

[m-jelly]

Chapter 12

Thank you @ladycheesington for the perfect banner

Vampire Levi x fem!reader

Victorian era like world, vampires, secrets, romance, falling in love, vampire lore, sexual tension, possessive Levi, mentions of pregnancy, protective Levi, stalker like behaviour, crying child, dad Levi.

In this chapter: It's the modern world, your business and Levi's is booming. Your son comes home to his loving family and you all have a loving family time together. A ghost from your past returns terrifying you, but causing your kids and husband to begin plotting to get rid of the ghost for good.

Part 13

The neon lights gleamed and reflected off the black car as it approached the club. All eyes were on it as it pulled up. The rain had finally stopped causing the floors to look like black rivers. There was anticipation in the air. Everyone was curious about who was the person behind the wheel of the expensive car. The long line of people waiting to get in was no longer pushing and begging the bouncer, but instead staring at the car.

Multiple gasps were heard when the door swung open. A smart shoe that seemed to have a dazzling shine to it stepped out. Another joined the foot and was shortly followed by a young man with raven hair, steel blue eyes and a charming smile. He was almost the spitting image of his handsome father who owned the club with his wife.

The man popped a blood candy in his mouth that his darling mother made and locked his cold gaze onto a family friend, Mike. He smirked and moved his way over to the very tall blonde vampire. “Oi, Mike? How’s it going?”

Mike looked up and grinned instantly. “Evan! Holy shit, you’re back. You were gone for what, two months?”

“Yeah, I went out of the city to do some work for Uncle Erwin.” He glanced at the line of people and heard the women squeal in delight at him looking over. Evan was like his father, naturally handsome and even more so as a vampire. Plus, he had the gentle and sweet personality of his mother. There was a small side of him like his crazy father, but he kept that hidden from his precious mother. “How’s momma?”

Mike waved to the bouncer and walked inside with Evan. “She’s good. She misses you, but your father is incredible at distracting her. Your three sisters are doing a good job too, but you know what your mother is like.”

Evan walked through the clean and lively club. “When one flower is not in the garden, it's empty.” He chuckled as he thought about his parents and three sisters. He adored how close everyone was and how it was filled with love. “I missed them.”

Mike put his arm around Evan. “Oh, I have some news for you. Your Uncle Erwin finally confessed his feelings.”

“Holy shit. He’s finally told Kat he loves her?”

“Yep.” He smiled. “She’s still the head of all the bar staff. Bar manager. She’s the best. Erwin wants to spoil her and make her a vampire, but she loves working for your mother and they are very close friends. She asked to be human for a bit longer.”

Evan smirked. “That’s funny. I can’t wait to see Uncle Erwin pouting a lot.”

“It is funny.” He walked into VIP and led Evan to the bar where Kat was working and Erwin was sitting playing with a drink. “Evening both. I have a handsome lad here who you might recognise.”

Erwin sat up and gazed at Evan. A bright smile spread over his lips. “Evan!” He hugged Evan tightly. “Good to see you. You get back now? I thought you were finishing tomorrow?”

Evan sat down and chuckled. “Yeah, well I missed my sisters and parents. So, I got work done faster and came back. It’s all good, right?”

Erwin nodded. “Fantastic, yeah. You got your incredible brain from your dad, your people skills from your mother and your creativity from her too.”

“I lucked out.” He looked around. “Where are momma and papa?”

Kat handed a drink over to Evan. “Your father took her upstairs to the office about twenty minutes ago.” She winked at him. “They’ll be back in five or ten minutes.”

Evan downed some of this drink. “Or an hour. Dad can’t help himself with Mum.”

“They have a charming romance.” He sat down and sighed. “I missed them and my sisters so bad.” He hummed. “Uncle Erwin? Please don’t send me away for a long time again.”

Erwin smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t. I find it hard being away from Kat.” He reached over, took her hands and began kissing them. “My sexy kitten.”

Kat leaned over and kissed Erwin. “My handsome bear.” She gazed at Evan. “Any luck on the love front?”

Evan shook his head. “Not yet. I’m waiting on my soulmate.” He sighed and looked out at the club. “This place looks incredible.”

“Excuse me?” A girl moved closer to Evan and pushed her chest out. “Hi. Buy me a drink?”

Evan stared at her. “Let me guess, you saw the clothes I wore and guessed I was rich. So, you decided to pick on me to get you a drink because you knew I could afford it. You also picked me because you think you’ll pay me back with your company, right?”

She giggled. “Yeah. I mean, I’m hot sooo we’d have a great night.” She ran her hand up his arm. “You’re a vampire, right? That’s hot. You can feed on me as much as you like. I just want the most expensive drink and VIP access.”

Evan laughed. “I’m not going to do that. I’m not interested either. I am looking for my soulmate, not some payment fuck. Go find a loser vampire. I’m not fucking interested. I’m not some money bag or a bag of meat.”

She snarled at him. “Who the fuck do you think you are? I’m hot! You should be honoured.”

“Evan!” Levi jogged over with a big grin on his face.

The girl gasped. “Wait, you know Lord Ackerman?”

Evan stood up. “He’s my dad.” Evan hurried over and hugged Levi tightly. “Hey Dad, it’s good to see you.” He pulled back and frowned. “Where’s Mum?”

Levi blushed a little. “She’ll be with us in a bit. How come you’re back so early? We were planning a welcome home party for you.”

“I just missed you all so much.”

“I’m glad you’re home and I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.” Levi hugged him again and covered Evan’s face in kisses.

Evan laughed. “I stayed safe, Dad.”

You huffed as you fixed your dress. “Levi, you’re in so much trouble when we get home.”

Levi turned to face you with hearts in his eyes. “My darling love, before you say something naughty, our adorable son is back.”

You looked up and gasped when you saw Evan. “EVAN!” You ran over and hugged him tightly. “My little flower.”

Evan chuckled as he hugged you back. “Hey, Mum. I missed you.”

You cupped his face and looked up at him as tears filled your eyes. “I missed you too.” You covered his face with kisses. “My handsome man.”

He wiped your tears away. “Don’t cry, Mum.”

Levi’s eyes widened. “You’re crying?” He yanked you into his arms. “My darling.”

“Dad, she’s just happy.”

Levi hugged you tightly. “I know, but I don’t like her crying. She should be happy all the time.”

You sniffed. “I’m so glad you’re home, Evan. Two months was too long.”

Evan chuckled. “It was. I missed you both and my sisters.” He smiled at you. “Can we go home?”

“Yes, right Levi?”

Levi nodded. “Yes, let’s go home.”

Evan pulled out his car keys. “I’ll drive so you two can kiss in the back.”

Levi blushed as he followed Evan. “We’re not that bad.”

“You are, Dad.”

Levi whined. “Darling?”

You kissed Levi’s cheek. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be with me all the time. I always want to be with you.”

“You do?”

You giggled. “Of course I do! Why wouldn’t I? We’ve been together for over 100 years.”

Levi kissed and nipped your neck. “Every second has been blissful.” He opened the car door and let you in. He climbed in after you and snuggled up. “Can’t believe our son is driving us home.”

“Mm, it’s fun!” You leaned forward. “Evan, my little flower? You’re amazing.”

Evan smiled. “Thanks, Mum.” He glanced at the mirror. “How are Lilly and her boyfriend doing?”

You gasped. “Evan.”

He glanced in the mirror and saw how much Levi was pouting. “Oh, dear.”

Levi growled. “Fuck that guy!”

You played with Levi’s hair. “Your father doesn’t like him.”

Evan frowned. “Why?”

Levi huffed. “He’s immature! He’s like a toddler!”

You rubbed Levi’s back. “Sweetheart? Breathe.”

He turned and snuggled up to you. “I just don’t like it.”

“I know, but you have to let our daughter make her own life choices. We can’t protect her all the time.” You smiled. “But we can be clean up.”

Evan laughed as he pulled up at the big family home. “Mum, no murder.”

You got out of the car. “What about removing a limb?”

“Mum.”

Levi got out and closed the door. “I think removing a limb is good.”

“Dad.” Evan shook his head. “I know there is no use in talking to the two of you.” He looked ahead when he saw the doors open. He grinned when he saw Lilly, Daisy and Violet. “There are my wonderful sisters.” He jogged over to them. “Hi!”

Levi smiled as he held you. “Look at them. Our precious kids together.” He nipped your earlobe. “I want another baby.”

You rubbed Levi’s chest. “Honey, you know that vampires have low fertility.”

“You say that and yet we have set the record for the most children a purebred vampire has ever had. The Monroe family had it with two, but we have four. We could have more.”

You kissed his cheek a few times. “We’ll see what happens.”

Levi grabbed your bum. “I’m determined.”

You giggled. “I know.” You gasped in horror when Lilly came running over to you sobbing. “Lilly?” You caught her and hugged your stunningly beautiful daughter. “What’s wrong?”

Evan picked up his little six-year-old sister, Violet. “Mum? You might want to take it slow with this one.”

Daisy, who was in her 20s gave you a reassuring smile. “You’ve got this, Mum. Just make sure Dad doesn’t lose his shit.”

Levi stared at his three goddess-looking girls and then his godly son. “What’s going on?”

You cupped Lilly’s face. “You want to go to the clubhouse your daddy and I made for you kids?”

Lilly sniffed back her tears. “Mm. Yes.”

You held her against you and walked with her. “Come with me, my little flower, let’s talk somewhere you feel safe.”

Levi hurried ahead and went to the clubhouse by the lake. It was a lovely modern hut with double doors, big windows, a swing seat outside and inside it was full of comfy things. Soft bed floors, cushions, blankets and soft lighting made it perfect for everyone. He pushed the double doors open to let him the gentle night breeze before setting up a little area with food.

You sat Lilly down, wrapped her in a blanket and then cuddled her. “What’s happened?”

She lay on your lap and cuddled up to you. “Mummy.”

You played with her hair. “Talk to us.”

Levi held Lilly’s hand. “We’re here for you, lilypad. Did your boyfriend hurt you?”

Lilly shook her head. “I broke up with him.”

You leaned down and kissed her head. “I’m sorry.”

“He was an asshole. I know he wasn’t good for me, but I just wanted to have some fun with a guy who was a little exciting. He cheated on me.” She sobbed a little. “I brought in all the money. I cooked all his human meals. I cleaned up everything and he cheated! I was a maid, not a lover.”

“He doesn’t deserve you.” You brushed the hair from her face. “You are an incredible woman. You are sweet, kind, caring and smart. Fuck that man.”  

Levi kissed Lilly’s hand. “He’s a piece of shit. He doesn’t deserve you. You’re incredible. You’re wonderful. You will find your soulmate someday and I know it. You don’t need to rush this. You are worth waiting for.”

Lilly smiled. “Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mum.” She rubbed her tears. “Don’t kill him, Dad.”

Levi huffed. “Fine.”

You sat Lilly up and held her tightly. “We love you.” You kissed her cheek. “Now, hug your Dad for a bit.”

Lilly frowned a little. “Mum?”

You grinned. “I’m gonna go out for a bit.”

“Mum!” She gasped. “Dad! Mum is going to kill my ex!”

Levi ruffled his hair. “I can’t stop her. You know what she’s like.”

Lilly dove at you and hugged you. “Mummy, don’t!”

You whined a bit. “You know what calling me mummy does to me.” You sighed. “All right I won’t kill him.”

“Mummy?”

You let out a long sigh. “I’ll behave. I promise. You know I can’t resist it when you lot call me mummy.” You smiled as she hugged Levi. “I think a family night is needed, don’t you?”

Lilly nodded. “Please.” She smiled a little. “Hello, other flowers.”

You looked at the door to see your two daughters and son. “My flowers!” You opened your arms. “Come for a cuddle!” You hummed a laugh as they dove into your arms. “I love you all.”

Daisy sighed. “So, are we killing him?”

You pouted. “Lilly won’t let us.”

“Boo.” She flopped on her side. “I had a place to bury him as well.”

You smiled at your goth-loving daughter. “Same.”

Daisy grinned. “A swamp?”

“You know it.”

“You’re the best, Mum.”

Violet climbed onto your lap and sighed. “Tired.”

You played with her soft hair. “Have a nap on me, okay?”

She hummed and clung to you. “Mummy.”

Evan smiled at Lilly. “He didn’t deserve you, you know? You’re so cool and he was a loser. You need to find someone who is fun and makes you laugh. Someone who is a nerd who will play video games with you. A person that feels like home to you.”

Lilly welled up as he smiled. “You’re right.”

Levi let out a long sigh. “Shall we move to the house? We can watch movies, have some snacks and have a bit of fun as a family.” He smiled at Violet sleeping against you. “Of course, it is nap time for Violet.”

Daisy giggled. “I miss being six. I used to sleep a lot.”

Levi hummed. “Six was a good age.”

You held Violet against you and stood up. “Let’s head home.”

Levi put his arm around Lilly and walked with her. “You can talk to us whenever you need to, okay?”

Lilly smiled sweetly. “Thank you, all of you. I feel like I can keep going thanks to you all.”

You adjusted Violet’s floppy body in your arms. “I’ll make blood hot chocolates.”

Levi sighed. “Darling, I hired people to do things like that for us.”

You whined. “But I like making it.”

Daisy jumped around the garden. “Mum’s version is the best.”

Evan jogged ahead. “She’s right, Dad.”

Levi released a long sigh. “I know but I want your mother to relax a little.”

Lilly leaned over and whispered. “I think Dad wants to snuggle with Mum.”

You blushed. “Levi? Do you want to snuggle?”

Levi nodded shyly. “I do.”

Daisy giggled. “I know how you make it, mum. Let me try.”

You gasped. “Yes.” Your eyes widened and slowly filled with tears. “I’m so proud.”

Lilly hummed a laugh. “You two really set the standard for romance and love.”

Evan smiled a bit. “You both really do.”

You welled up and started sobbing a bit. “I’m so happy and I can’t believe how much love there is around me.”

Evan took Violet from you. “I think Dad wants you.”

Levi tackled you into a hug. “Darling.”

You clung tightly to Levi. “My babies are so wonderful and you’re so perfect.”

Levi picked you up and carried you to the living room. “Come on, time to snuggle in front of the TV.” He carried you and sat down on the cushioned floor with you. “Are you okay, my love?”

You nuzzled the crook of Levi’s neck. “I’m just a bit emotional, that’s all.”

Levi gasped. “Baby?”

You sighed. “No, no. I’m just emotional, that’s all. You know I go through phases and weak phases too.”

Levi looked at the scars on your arm from the sun pit. He lightly touched it and kissed your temple. “I know, my love, but I always see you as my strong and sexy wife.” He sighed. “You going through a sick phase?”

You hummed a moment as you thought. “Yeah. I feel a bit weak, I’m always tired and I just…mmm.”

“Headache?”

You sniffed a little. “I don’t want the kids to know. They worry too much when I get sick. Evan panics the most.”

Levi sighed. “He does. Bless him.” He gazed at you. “You’ve been in the sun too much, haven’t you?”

You hid your face against Levi. “Mm.”

“I’m not mad, don’t worry.” He chuckled. “It’s okay. Plus, I’m a bit to blame. I’ve been playing with you a lot.”

You giggled. “It’s been wonderful. You know I can’t get enough of you either.”

Levi rocked you. “How about a holiday? We can go as a family.”

Evan sat down and spoke after his sisters joined him. “I’ve put Violet to bed.” He sighed. “I think you two should go on holiday without us lot.”

You gasped and shook your head. “We can’t. Violet is only six and you three need me.”

Evan smiled. “I’m happy to babysit.”

Lilly squealed. “Yes! Me too!”

Daisy clapped her hands. “It’ll be so much fun!”

You whined a little. “Really? Are you all sure?”

Lilly nodded. “We’ve got this, Mum. You need the rest. You’ve been working your ass off with your business and looking after us. Plus, we know you’re sick.”

Daisy hummed in agreement. “We know the signs. You’re having a flare-up of what that bitch did to you.” She huffed. “I’m mad Dad killed her because I want to break her and kill her.”

Levi held you close. “You’re not killing anyone. You lot need to keep your hands clean, got it?”

All your kids spoke together. “Yes, Dad.”

“Good!” Levi smiled at you. “Drink some blood hot chocolate, okay?”

You nodded and took a cup from Daisy. “Thank you.” You sipped it and welled up. “It’s perfect. I love you all so damn much.”

Evan chuckled. “Mum has her happy tears again. A group hug is needed.”

You smiled brightly. “I’m so happy.”

Violet stomped her boots down on the snow and giggled as she did. “Look, Mummy! It’s snow!”

You giggled. “It is.”

She ran a little ahead and stopped a moment. “Mummy?”

“Yes?”

She turned to you and smiled. “I love you.”

You walked over to her and cupped her face. “I love you so much.” You kissed her forehead. “You wanna go see the ducks?”

She nodded. “Please.” She bounced up and down as she walked with you. “Where’s Evan?”

“Your big brother is out with Daddy, Daisy and Lilly.” You squeezed her hand. “They have business to do. We are having a play day.”

Violet gasped when she watched the ducks. “Quack, quack!”

You played with her hair a little. “They’re cute, right?”

She nodded. “Yes.” She hummed a bit and looked around. A little gasp escaped her when she saw someone who scared her. She turned and clung to you. “Mummy, I don’t like him.”

You crouched down as she cried. “Don’t like who?”

She started crying. “The scary man!”

You scooped up Violet and looked around. “Scary man?” You looked around the park and felt your stomach drop when you saw someone who you hadn’t seen in years. His hair was a bit shorter now with the right side cut a bit so it reached his chin. There were a few layers in his hair now adding volume. He had the rest of it gathered together and over his left shoulder. “Damian.”

Damian walked closer to you as he softly said your name. “You are so beautiful. The modern world looks good on you.” He hummed a laugh. “Look at her. Your daughter is so cute. She’s your fourth, right?”

You squeezed Violet as she cried. “Y-Yes.” You gulped hard. “We have somewhere to be.”

He blocked your path. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” He walked closer to you causing you to back up. “We can finally be the family we dreamt of.”

Violet sobbed. “Mummyyyy.”

A flash of the past came to mind at Violet’s sobs. The old room, Evan screaming for you and Damian ripping your neck with his fangs. Panic set in as you were consumed by bad memories of the past. You shook a little and looked at Damian to see the madness in his eyes turning to concern. You turned and ran as fast as you could and prayed your blood bond with Levi worked.

You gasped as your lungs tightened up. “Levi!” You ran towards the park entrance. “Levi!”

Levi appeared before you with your son and two daughters. He shouted your name. “What’s wrong?” He saw you were having a panic attack. “Evan! Take Violet.”

Evan took Violet from you. “I’ve got her, Mum.”

Levi caught you in his arms. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. You can pass out now. You’re safe and Violet is too.”

You panted. “Thank…you…”

He held you close as you passed out. “Let’s get home, now!” He ran fast with his kids following. Levi was thankful that vampires could move so fast. He hurried you to the bedroom and lay you down. “Poor love.”

Violet sniffed. “Mummy?”

Evan sat with Violet on his lap. “Mummy is sleeping right now, okay?”

“Okay.”

Daisy knelt in front of Violet. “What happened?”

“Mm…there was a bad man.”

Lilly frowned. “Bad man? What did he look like?”

Violet pointed at Levi. “He had black hair like daddy, but long!”

Levi looked over at Violet. “What colour were his eyes?”

“Red.”

“Shit.” He winced. “Sorry, I shouldn’t swear.” He let out a long sigh. “I thought he’d given up. It’s been so long.”

Evan hugged Violet. “It’s Damian, isn’t it?”

Levi nodded. “No doubt about it.” He kissed your forehead. “Go play for a bit, okay? Your mother will be very emotional when she wakes up and panics. I know she doesn’t want you all to see her like that. Damian and his sister hurt her a lot.”

Lilly welled up. “Poor Mum.”

Daisy stood up. “We’ll surprise her with gifts!”

Evan smiled. “I think that’s a great idea! We’ll be back later, Dad.”

Levi welled up a little. “Thank you, so much. I love all of you.” He waited for them to leave before lying on his side and crying a little. “I’m sorry, my darling. I’m so sorry. I should have taken care of them a long time ago.”

You opened your eyes and smiled sweetly at Levi. “Hey, honey. Please don’t cry and blame yourself. You’re a wonderful man.”

Levi wrapped his arms around you and held you tightly. “I should have been there.”

“You can’t protect me all the time. What matters is you came.” You pulled at his shirt. “You know I love it when you cum.”

Levi blushed. “Tch, you dirty little minx.”

You giggled when he nibbled your neck. “I am.”

He caressed your cheek. “I’ll stop him, I promise.”

“I know you will. Be careful, okay?”

He kissed you and sighed. “I swear.”

You nibbled your lip a little. “I’m sorry I passed out.”

“You had a panic attack. It’s understandable.” He sighed. “Violet probably shouted for you and it reminded you of Evan as a baby.”

You nodded as tears ran down your cheeks. “Yes.”

“It’ll never happen again, I’ll make sure of it.”

You snuggled up to him. “We should hold off on that holiday. I don’t want to be away from my flowers with him around.”

Levi massaged his fingers in your hair. “I understand, but you need a break.”

“I’ll get my break when he’s gone.”

Levi kissed you and hummed in happiness. “I love you.”

“I love you always.”

He got up and pulled you against him. “Come on, my darling. The kids have a surprise for you.”

You stumbled along. “What?”

He chuckled and led you to the living room to see they were just finishing off decorations and there was vampire food and drink everywhere. “See?”

You welled up. “Oh, this is perfect. Thank you, all of you.” You cried when all tackled you into a hug. “I love you all so much.”

Violet held your hand. “Come, Mummy!”

Levi looked at his three kids staying by him. “You asked Violet to distract Mummy, right? What are you planning?”

Daisy smiled. “We want to help you stop him. We couldn’t help her before, but we’re strong pure-bred vampire adults now. Let us help.”

Evan gripped Levi’s upper arm. “Please.”

Lilly gave Levi her pleading eyes. “Come on, Dad.”

Levi let out a long sigh. “Fine, but your mother cannot know about this. Now, let’s have some fun and make your mother smile.”

[project-rosewood-476]

🐈‍⬛️ The Stray God Who Can't Seem To Die

"Hated by many loved by some"

-She had the weight of the world in her hands at such a young age. Fight runs in her like it's embedded into her DNA. The moment her step dad came back into the picture being made into a weapon to fight a battle that was not her own but someone else's grandiose delusions. Fighting a war that was bigger than her own at the place she called home. Daddys blunt little instrument. It seems that it's all she knows how to do and doesn't know if she can stop.

-Speaking of which she is the spitting image of her mother. Her long dark hair that holds many memories. Her wide knowing hazel eyes that hold many secrets. She has her mother's heart and compassion but the spitting personality of her step-dad. His hatred and rage that courses through her like righteous holy fire. His sharp tongue and wit. She's violent and volatile. Cold and calculating and everything in between. Whether she likes it or not she is her father's daughter and owes a great debt to the man who raised her when her own family didn't.

-Many people would describe Tabby as a feral stray alley cat with her behavior and mannerisms. She's kinda mangey looking and will manipulate to get what she wants, whether it's her next meal, a warm place to sleep or just to barely get out of whatever fucked situation she put herself in. Feral. Has and will dig through the trash for food and get into fights to defend and protect what very little she has.

-Despite being described as cat-like, her fighting style is more of a pit bull with lock jaw. She was taught to go for the throat and attack where it hurts the most. Be it bringing people down to their knees as she's ripping into their deepest insecurities or forcing them into submission with her strength. She has an iron bite and won't let go until they give up or can't get up. She will be the last one standing with flesh in her teeth and blood dripping. This girl has fought her way to the top and just to exist tooth and nail. She'll go out fighting as well.

-Tabby has a very loose guide for morals. She's not completely gone but is very quick to disregard them if that means that she and the people she cares about survive another day. She has done some heinous shit for the bare bones of survival on a Monday. She claims that she's a good person at heart and is not like the other kids there. She's not her step-dad yet the line blurs more every year she's alive. Tabby has so much blood on her hands she'll scrub them and herself raw just to be rid of her past. Of course it never works. But then again not many people can say that they've committed a genocide of their own kind.

-Tabby would be the definition of a kamikaze. She'll take on any and every mission and fight that seems impossible and would ensure her death. Yet every time, she is always the last one standing either beaten, battered, bloody, and bruised or as bodies drop around her. She can't seem to die. She knows she should have died many years ago, and she knows it. Its only a matter of time before Rosewood or her past or somebody else claims her. It is rumored that Rosewood kids are notoriously hard to kill. Yet she can't help but wonder if she unknowingly sold her soul for a chance at immortality the moment she stepped foot on that dreaded property.

-after all hope was lost and her world was falling apart around her she made a deal with someone who could give her the power of a God. And she took that chance every opportunity she got. A hopeless egomaniac with a hero/God complex who had the power of life or death in her hands at such a young age is a recipe for disaster. Yet she thrived in it. A couple of darker and deadlier nick names "karma" and "Judgement" sprung about from that. After it being the only hope she got and everyone else encouraging her she saw no reason to stop at the time. She's ended lives and ended worlds.

-She has a soft spot for cats. She adores them, and she even has a feral orange tabby named "Mac," which is short for Mac and cheese. She treats it like it's one word. Sometimes, after school, she'll feed it scraps and treats and give him pets and scritches. Has attempted to follow her home more than once.

- also has a soft spot for young children. Because she was them at one point in time. She raised her little brother all his life since she was 9. He is her pride and joy and her only living proof that she's not a monster.

-she fears to become anything like her step-dad. She fears becoming an adult despite being 20 now. She views it as becoming an abusive power-hungry shit person since that's what she associates adulthood with. That's all she grew up with and hasn't been shown otherwise. Definitely has Peter Pan Syndrome.

-suffers from all of the guilt she has of her past constantly. She'll claim that she doesn't regret anything or the choices that she made. She'll stick by what she said and did and will go down crashing and burning. You know what they say a good captain always goes down with their ship.

-cannot and will not stay in one place for too long. She was locked up constantly in the walls of her prison that she once lived in. No way is anything or anyone who will force her to settle down. Not even the operator. She claims it's for the freedom that she never received growing up. She'll stay for a few months at a time ( the longest she'd ever stayed in one place was 6 months). Enough to get a cheap motel and a shit job as a waitress or linecook in whatever restaurant was nearby and get money for her next run. Long enough to completely ghost or destroy the relationships she tried to make. She seems to have the delusion of outrunning from herself and her past, yet wherever she goes there, she is

-she also can not do stability for very long. So good fucking luck to the poor bastard/bitch who somehow managed to trap the feral stray. She will destroy you from the inside out and everything around her and in her path. She can't have anything good for very long. She doesn’t want to get too comfortable and let her guard down for the next person or thing to blindside her. She has a thirst and need for chaos and destruction, and if life won't provide that for her, she'll do it herself regardless of the people around her.

-Tabby can cook! She's been cooking since she was 9 due to being forced to raise her little brother and cook and clean a house for a household of 5. Does not understand portion control for the life of her. However, if you somehow managed to find where she's at and show up on her doorstep, she'll never turn you away and at the very least cook you a meal. They're all pasta and meat based, so you don't get much variety, but you get a warm and hearty meal before you go your own way. Food brings people together, and she believes that it can't fix everything, but it can start making things a little better. She also believes that if you can't talk out your problems over food, then they can't be fixed. It's the one thing she's good at that doesn't involve destroying everything she touches or is around.

-She's so very tired. Has ran out of fucks to give and so emotionally and mentally burnt out. Very quick to anger and irritate. She sees it as all of the people she held, such compassion and empathy for are no longer around and she can never see again she no longer has a reason to play nice anymore. She does enough to keep a job for however long she needs it. That's it.

-She really does have a heart of gold somewhere in there, but her damaged soul and tormented mind have taken over and pretty soon if it hasn't already. That's all she'll ever be.

[chesaok]

Lyra and Scorpius find an old pendant in Mom's things.

Part 7/10

The twins strolled through the corridors of Hogwarts after lights out, knowing that they would obviously get nothing for it.

— Do you think Mom and Dad are already together at this time? Lyra suddenly asks, wanting to get the image of young Theo out of her head. We have to think about something else, completely different.

— I don't know. The way he looked at her in Defense against the Dark Arts, as if he hates, not loves, he shrugs and puts his hands deeper into his pockets.

— He could look at her like that because she was helping Harry Potter or Mr. Weasley!

— Dad is very jealous.

— It is so…

They reached the turn and were about to move towards the faculty's living room when they heard a quiet giggle and a whisper. Scorpius was already ready to bypass the obstacle, but Lyra decided to come closer.

— Lyra! — her brother shushed her.

The girl quietly made her way to the source of the sounds and looked behind the partition that hid the two lovers making out.

— Lyra, Holy shit!

— omg..., — she whispered in response and beckoned her brother with her finger so that he would come to her as soon as possible.

—Hermione, I don't want to see you helping Weasel and holding his hand, — Draco hissed, tightly squeezing the brown—haired woman's waist in his hands. She pretended to be dissatisfied with the guy's behavior and scowled menacingly.

— Then don't look, — she quickly covered his eyes with her hands, and then pressed her lips to the tense neck of the guy. She kissed all the confessions of the world without saying them out loud.

—Granger, I'm serious, — he says through clenched teeth, trying to muffle the desire to take her here and now. Scorpius pulls Lyra away from the heat of passion.

— Now she would have snapped and said "Granger-Malfoy", — laughed Lyra.

— You've only been at Hogwarts for a day, and you've already caught our lovebirds? — Theo picked up his pace and overtook the twins. He put his hand on Lyra's shoulder and smiled selflessly.

— We are very observant, — the girl answers him with the same flirtatious smile. Scorpius looks at all this and is already reaching for the nearest urn to spit out the whole breakfast, lunch and dinner.

— Why are you hanging around after lights out?

— The same question for you, Mr. Nott, — Lyra smiled and threw the guy's hand off her shoulder. This only provoked him. He loved to run after girls, to achieve and receive.

— I'm the headman, — he corrects his badge and it glitters from the torchlight. — I'm making my rounds and making sure that the couple is not seen.

— You're obviously doing a shitty job, — Scorpius smiles, and Theo looks at him with displeasure.

[rome-alone]

Sanzu x son reader

reupload from my AO3

sanzu learns he has a son after his ex holds him as blackmail

Also this wasn't supposed to be posted on this blog

My fanfic blogs are

Male reader @reallyromealone

FEM reader @rome-alone-but-feral

Character @absolutelynotromealone

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

Sanzu was infuriated when his ex sent him the photos.

He had a son.

He seemed no older than three but he was a spitting image of him.

There was no doubts as Sanzu grabbed the Haitani brothers and bolted to the location that Bontens hackers had tracked her phone from.

He was going to kill her for hiding his son from him and then using the boy to blackmail him!

The Haitani brothers said nothing as they watched the new dad drive like a maniac through Tokyo until they reached a run down apartment, Sanzu storming in Glock in hand and The brothers followed suit with curious looks in their eyes.

Kicking down the door Sanzu aimed his gun at the woman he once dated, he could never say he loved her as she was really just a bed warmer but now he felt something for her.

Pure hatred.

“H-how?!” She yelped and scrambled as Sanzu shot right beside her head “you really should have used a burner phone” Ran said smoothly as Rindou and him pointed at her, the woman freezing and allowing Sanzu to grab his son who was bound and duct taped to a chair, bruised and crying.

“Take him to the car, I need to have a chat with (mother’s name)” Sanzu said coldly and the room went silent as the Haitani brother’s freed the child and carried him out.

Leaving the happy couple together.

“so you wanted to blackmail Bontens second?”

“u-uh”

The neighborhood knew better than to call the cops when they heard those bloody screams and the sounds of bones snapping until silence.

“hey bud let’s get that tape off you” Ran said softly as he removed the excess tape off the child and slowly peeled the tape covering his mouth and felt his heart stop.

Two bloody diamonds on each side of his mouth.

“holy shit…” Rindou mumbled as the child began sobbing quietly, little body shaking with each sob “don’t worry buddy, you don’t gotta worry about here now” rindou said awkwardly as Ran soothed the kid as Sanzu opened the door, “Get to the front” he said coldly as blood stained his suit and the Haitani brothers looked at him before speaking “Look what she did”

And look he did.

Sanzu felt his blood run cold when he saw the matching diamonds on the boys face and if the Haitani brothers saw him cry they would never say anything and left to the front seats to give the two privacy.

“hey bud…I’m your papa” those words felt strange on his tongue as he gently wiped the tears from the boys face “I-im sorry!” The baby boy sobbed out as Sanzu pulled out his pocket square to clean the boy up “why are you sorry?”

“I look l-like you!”

What?

“did your mama do this to you because you look like me?”

He only nodded.

Jesus fuck.

What the actual fuck?

“you never have to be sorry for your mother’s actions, you’re a Bonten baby now and i will keep you safe” No one would ever believe that the most morally bankrupt man in Bonten would be so soft “what’s your name?”

“(name) (lastname)…” (Name) mumbled once he was calmed down and wounds cleaned as best as Sanzu could “well now you are (name) Akashi now” he said softly before the car slowed down and a gentle knock came from the partition and that was their queue as Sanzu gently lifted the battered and bruised child.

“let’s get you cleaned up, I got some people I want you to meet” Sanzu said carrying the boy out, heart heavy at the events that transpired.

By time (name) was treated and cleaned up, he was asleep in the pink haired mans arms and the room was quiet as the men watched curiously.

“do you even know how to care for a child?” Koko asked genuinely and the others couldn’t help but agree “I raised Senju, at least this time I don’t have to teach them about periods” Sanzu said slightly annoyed while draping his jacket over the boy.

“he will never know pain and suffering again” Sanzu said coldly while holding the boy closer and the room felt a shiver at the empty tone in that man’s voice.

God help anyone who hurts the child if Sanzu.

“Well daddy Sanzu, you should probably get him home and actually get child supplies” Ran said teasingly “kids need a bed time”

“don’t come in tomorrow” Mikey said bluntly while staring down his second “what do you mean?” Sanzu said confused, eyes scrunching together “be with him”

“he needs his dad”

[kookiecrumb]

jjk|| Your Head

"tags": @kazthebrekkerofinej

word count: uhhhh

summary: Jungkook is the heir to the throne of your Kingdom! In this tale of duty versus heart, will love prevail victorious?

tags: Royalty!Jungkook x Peasant!Reader, oneshot, smut, fluff, slight angst, some crack, pining, forbidden lovers, Jungkookie has a sweet tooth, strangers to friends to lovers

warnings: explicit language, impact play, birthday sex (technically), fingering, oral (m receiving*), love marking, alcohol consumption, s&m themes, horny grinding, praise kink/body worship

a/n:

hey guys!

Firstly, I want to say how proud I am of myself for growing so much during this fic. I learned a lot about what I'm comfortable with, what I'd like to work on, and where my confidences lie.

I won't lie and say it's been easy, because writing this meant dealing with a lot of my fears? I'm excited for all the works that are to come.

The only thing I can do is be as receptive to growth as possible, so I'm looking forward to learning...

*I actually learned that Vaseline wasn't invented until like the 1870s? The fic is written in the 1810s, so I actually had a choice between having them do it with vegetable oil or spit. Spit won.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

5 years ago

You bend over to pick up an apple that had rolled over under your father's produce cart, praying that it isn't bruised so that you have to pay for it out of your dinner, when a crumpled piece of paper hits you in the ass.

Confused, you crawl out from under the stand and unwrap the paper.

The paper itself is of the finest quality you've ever seen. It's a sturdy cardstock, bleached white with gold etchings on the borders. The print on the top of it reads "His Highness Jeon's Royal Study," and scribbled in some kid's amateur cursive below, "Nice butt."

You directed your gaze upwards, towards the towering castle walls. Sure enough, a boy no older than 15 had his noggin popping out from the top of the rampart, with two wide eyes staring down, curious as to your reaction. This was Prince Jungkook, heir to the throne of your kingdom.

"Shouldn't you be equestrian horse riding or playing polo or something?" You shout. He furrows his eyebrows, apparently offended at your assumption, and then disappears behind the edifice.

Moments later, another paper hits your shoulder as you're practicing your caligraphy behind your cart. It lands between the apples, so you reach your hand over and fish out out.

You glance up at the anticipant, and sure enough he's there with his doe eyes and his coconut head, ogling.

"No, dumbie. That's at MID-day." Well how were YOU supposed to know the royal schedule of the crown prince, it wasn't just common knowlegde you learned from being a humble farmer's daught--

Ah!

"Will you STOP?!" You put your foot down. "Unless you're here to buy my apples, then you're not getting ANY, little Prince." Oh, shit. You gave him ideas. Now it was really over for you.

In less than half an hour, half a company of men arrived at the marketplace, asking about your little old apple stand, and sure enough, Jungkook had bought out the entire cart so that you were forced to help with the transaction.

The young prince had eyes frankly too big for his head, with the most prominent cupid's bow you've ever seen. His nose slightly outgrew his face and his ears were hidden away behind his short, black hair. "Now you can talk to me." He gave you a rose he'd stolen from the royal garden. "I am Jungkook, heir to the throne of--"

"I know who you are." You interrupt him, documenting His Highness' total in your calligraphy book.

With a hand perched on his chest from surprise, he scoffed. "And I happen to think you're really pretty, so I was going to ask you to be my very first consor--"

"You're 15, you have playmates not consorts."

"And how old are you?!" He's had it, raising his voice and taking a bite out of one of your apples with force.

"16, old enough to have suitors." You tease. Jungkook hangs his head a little. He just needed someone to talk to, it would seem. Reluctantly, you scribbled down your address down on a piece of note paper and handed it to him.

"Look, if you buy more of my apples, I'll have an excuse to tell my Dad so I can hang out with you." You spoke in a low voice as to not raise suspicion.

Your dad is standing negotiating with the guards about prices, his usual embarassing haggling gruffly overpowering the guards elegant twiddle-tones.

"Wonderful! See you soon, my sweet!" He resumes his confident demeanor, tucking the paper into his overcoat with a small smile. He salutes you boyishly and marches away with a year's supply of apples.

For the next week, the royal kitchen had baked 3 apple pies, made 5 fruit salads, 4 batches of apple muffins, and threw the rest of them in Sangria; that's the same Sangria as King Jeon finds himself drinking in his wife's drawing room on Sunday.

"Call Chef, fetch him up here." He waves to his assistant, keeping his eyes on the outside. He was deep in thought, his hands stoicly behind his back.

The Kingdom had been prosperous for over many years now, and war had not come close to threatening its borders in a lifetime. Negotiations were always successful, and quality of living was high. The work of a King, in a situation such as this, was to perfect the image of the royal family as strong rulers, and to paint his daughters as desirable to foreign heirs.

"Your Grace," the assistant called his attention, "Head Chef Sung." The dainty man bows and scurries off somewhere else.

Chef Sung is a portly man, who carries himself heaving with every step, his great belly inflating with each hefty inhale. He approaches the King, and kneels down to kiss his hand with his fat lips.

The King recoils in disgust, but quickly collects himself and his words. "Where are these apples from, is it France or Spain?" He demands.

"Neither, Your Highness." Mr.Sung lifts up his eyes. "They are from our Holy Kingdom; by order of Prince Jungkook, an entire cart was purchased of these apples and we have not been able to get rid of them." Tears threatened Chef Sungs eyes at the very mention of the fruit.

'Well, there's one thing the kid's done right.' King Jeon now faces the Chef, setting down his drink on a mahogany table, leaning against it casually. "Well! Good. I'd like to meet the owner of that cart, invite him to my Sunday brunch."

"Oh, yes, of course sir! You'll never see them in our kitchen aga--What?" Chef Sung takes out his handkerchief, waving it around in the air and drying his tears at once. "So you like them! Why...Yes! Yes, of course!"

Your father thought it would be valuable to have you around the kitchen, learning from the skilled men and women employed by the Jeon family. He only visited once a week to drop off fresh produce, (he'd been officially hired to handle restocking of goods) but you, after showing promising signs of being a gifted baker during one of your father's restocks, were granted scholarship by Ms.Kang to be her aid.

You were now, officially, a resident of the Jeon Estate, residing in the servant's quarters, immediately adjacent to the kitchen. This was convenient. It was far too convenient for a certain little Prince to get the idea of wanting a midnight snack and wandering downstairs.

One day, he does just that. He finds his way into the first bedroom to the right of the stairs facing the kitchen, and that happens to be your bedroom.

He pokes you awake. "Ow! Ow, whyyy~" You whine and toss yourself over to the other side of the bed. His irritating poking persists. You grab his fingers and your eyes shatter open.

You sit up, alarmed. "You could have me arrested, what the fuck are you doing?!"

"I wanted a midnight snack! Besides, I wanna talk to you." He pouts, still holding a small teddy companion.

"Fine. I'll bake you ONE sheet of cookies." You slip on your night shoes and shuffle to the kitchen, and Jungkook tags along.

By the time Jungkook's 18th birthday comes around, he's in the kitchen helping you whisk buttercream to top his cake while having a tease at the Austrian Princess' mole.

"You have one right under your lip, look!" You take a little buttercream from the bowl and stain the dark spot with it.

He licks it up and hastens to add, "it needs more sugar, lady!" as he turns to grab a puffy bag of confection sugar.

"You're impossible to please." Snatching the sugar away from him, you smirk. "You can gobble down as many sweets as you want when the ball commences. Remember, this is the year you're supposed to be keeping your eye out for a girl of a good fam--"

"Yada yada, must have hips for childbearing, yada yada yada..." He mocks the speech his mother had told him that morning when he got dressed.

"Exactly." You set your bowl aside to fix Jungkook's tie. "Yes, and that's your duty, as our heir."

You step back and examine Jungkook one more time. He'd grown so tall in the last year, his legs like spider's and he was just beginning to grow into his features. Handsome boy.

You, too, had grown into an elegant young woman. You had a poised complexion, ready-mannered and graceful. Your hands seemed out of place in your otherwise feminine frame, carrying an extra bit of girth from baking. You were 19 years old.

Marriage was becoming an uncomfortably frequent topic during your visits home, as your mother had married young, herself, she expected the same of you.

Truth be told, there were plenty of offers for your hand. You were a skilled and very esteemed individual, who had broken into thr artisinal class. But your father knew better than put a dowry on your happiness. So long as you worked, he saw no reason to marry you off just yet.

"Now, go. Your sisters must be worried sick! Go out there." You shoo him, pushing him out the door of the kitchen despite his flailing arms.

Throughout the party, you'd been carrying a platter of your own baked goods, serving them to the aristocrats attending the Princes' coming-of-age ball. Accents from all over Europe and some from Kingdoms as far East as Cyprus jubilantly engaged in artful conversation which filled the air with good spirits.

Jungkook, himself, was busy being introduced to as many women as possible, a medley of presenting duchesses, ladies, and even Princesses of your Kingdom. They were each more qualified than you'll ever be, ten-fold.

One was a Greek Princess, her hair cascaded in darling curls down her shoulders and her eyes were deep-set, her voice a flirtatious trill.

Another, a Prussian Princess', posture radiated excellency, and whose complexion sparkled like powdered snow. Jungkook greeted her warmly, pleased with her appearance.

Distracted, you tripped up your skirt and dropped the remainder of your pastries. With that, you stepped off to use the restroom.

The sound of Strauss' Rosen aus dem Süden faintly loomed in the air as you wiped tears from your waterline in the mirror. That was just the way it was, wasn't it? Princes come of age, and they find wives who they commit their lives to.

"Married men don't have friends who are girls." You say out loud, just to realize it. Jungkook was now expected to find a mate within the season, and he was, in fact, quite the eligible bachelor.

Little did you know that Jungkook had been keeping an eye out for you throughout the party, not only because you were carrying his favorite Danish pastires, but because he knew your company was his greatest comfort.

He's in the midst of greeting the Duchess of Kent when he excuses himself to go look for you. He finds your mess first, frowning as he realizes something has gone terribly wrong.

He catches you in the hallway, face puffy and shaky. He grabs your wrist to keep you from darting back to the kitchen.

"Please don't do this, it's my birthday, y/n." It's as if an unspoken rule had been broken between you, and he feels it. Something is making you uncomfortable. "Was it the girls? You told me about this, it's my duty to at least greet them and--"

"Yeah, you sure did greet the Prussian woman nicely." You speak through tears. "She's the girl you were born to be with, huh? Your birthright?"Jungkook is silent. "Every girl at that ball wants to be your wife, want to have your children. They haven't known you for a day and yet they're ready to be your bride."

You search Jungkook's eyes for any sign of coherence, hoping that he would defend against you, that he would speak up and tell you otherwise. No such argument comes.

You yank your arm from his grip and march to the kitchen to remake the pastries you spilled.

You had the job of clearing off all the tables upon the departure of the last guests. It is midnight, and the windows of the castle stream moonlight down on the carpet beneath your feet. The glow of candles soothe you as you hum the waltzes which echo in your mind. It's a brilliant evening.

The centerpieces of the tables were gardenias, lush rose-like flowers with yellow pistils.

Summer, 1809

"Jungkook, wait! You're going to make me trip!" You shout from the top of the hill.

"You've gotta come see before the sun sets! It's the only way we'll get there on time, now run!" Jungkook's speeding down the terrain towards the Sycamore tree which grew deep and wide beneath the banks of a great rushing river.

You groan and throw caution to the wind, rolling down the steep mount in your Sunday dress. Jungkook turns to watch you, a grin spreading across his handsome face. "Look at you!"

You land on your feet at the bottom and scurry off to join Jungkook under the grandfather tree, out of breath entirely. "Now, look what you made me do. You're such a boy, you know that?! Making me come out here just to see some bloody--"

Jungkook has plucked a gardenia and placed it behind your ear. "Would you shut up? We got here on time. Behold."

In all its glory, the sun bathes you in its vivacious rays, creating a feeling of heavenly bliss as it dips below the horizon. The sky blushes pink, its clouds mere whisps above you. Wind rustles the leaves of the grand tree, rousing the birds to chirp their afternoon song.

"Mom used to come here all the time with my Dad, because of these." Jungkook clasped the blooming flower in his tender hands.

After a while, he says "the bugs will come out soon, so we ought to go back," as if he's trying not to scare something away. He helps you up, and with one last look across the valley, you walk next to each other back to the East Quarters.

You take all the silverware and plates by the tub to the dish-washing station and toss all of the linen napkins into the washing machine. All you had left was to blow out the lights in leading upstairs.

"Prince! It is very late, and there are no guests left for you to entertain. What troubles you?" Jungkook's sitting on the stairs with his head in his hands, still wearing his best suit.

"I disappointed you, y/n...I didn't like any of them." He admits, lifting his head up to sulk at you. "I should have told you then, but I didn't want to make you upset!"

Did Jungkook mistake your jealousy for disappointment?

"I'm not upset because you didn't hit it off with the girls..." You sigh. A confession is due, and he's ready to hear the truth from you about how you feel about him.

"Well, the truth is, I didn't like any of the girls because I like you, y/n. But you know that, don't you?" You pause, asking him to elaborate.

"Remember when I bought all the apples because I wanted to be with you? Like...I told you that you were my consort and I kind of meant it?" He felt pathetic now, realizing that you weren't just ignoring his advances. "So you didn't friendzone me for 2 years, you actually didn't know that I liked you."

It was almost laughable, a situation you would read in one of your illegal novels which you kept tucked away in your pillow at night. "No, Kookie, I didn't." You admit to your insolence.

You can't bear to lead him on any longer. You needed to put duty over your own self interest for the sake of the kingdom, even if it shattered his hope. It was better this way.

"But, you do know that we can't ever be a thing, right? It's just silly." Your heart tightens with the words which fall out of your mouth. "It is. Nevermind what your parents would think, what would it do for your image? You're on the world's stage, Jungkook, and you're a selfish person if you think you can just throw all of your duties away to date a scum of the Earth like-- like me!" With your heart in your throat, dry your eyes with your sleeve. "And...I want to, I really really want to, more than anything else to love you, Jungkook. I love you! I...can't." Through the blur of your tears, the shapeless blob that Jungkook has become stands up.

Taking his thumb and swiping it under your eyes, he sighs. Words escaping him, he takes your trembling body against his chest and nestles his head in the crook of your neck. Your cold hands travel underneath his overcoat to hold his waist. The Princes' lips plant a gentle kiss on your neck, chaste yet deep and satisfying.

"I will not accept any bride if not you, my love." He draws back, meeting your fervid gaze. "To the world, I remain a bachelor for a few years."

"And after those years, Jungkook?" You ride your hands up to caress the man's jaw. "You will still love me after those years, and then what?"

"I don't know," he says, voice as soft as powder. "I don't know many things, y/n, that's why I need you to teach me." His palms are rubbing at your waist, beckoning you closer.

His breath quickening as you lean your body against his hold, and you figure it must be the wine he drank to calm his nerves. That was it, wasn't it? He was drunk.

"You're not drunk, are you?" Your face sours, really hoping it's not the case as you feel your body temperature rise.

"Y/N, I've only had a glass. You saw I was a wreck back there." His lips kept chasing yours in a dance you can't quite describe. "I have wanted to hold you like this since I saw you selling apples on the street. Give me the honor..." His forehead against yours and his strong hands supporting your back, he's already fucking you with his eyes.

"The pleasure of being your lover." He squeezes your waist tight with his forearms, planting brisk kisses behind your ear and breathing in your scent. He smiles against you. Your skin pebbles at his affectionate touch, purring softly as your eyes roll back in delight.

"Kookie..." You breathe, leaning on his broad chest. "Kook, the maids are wondering where I am, I have to go..." You slur, tugging at his collar.

He grunts in protest, taking your ear between his teeth and nibbling it.

"If you let me go, I'll steal some cake for you tomorrow at breakfast." If there's anything Jungkook likes more than Cream Ice, it was cake. He unravels you from his arms and nods, his eyes softening.

"Request my service tomorrow, from Ms.Kang. She's been sweet on me lately." You peck his cheek before stepping back. Your rouge has embarrassingly stained His Grace's cheek.

Jungkook bows and presses a kiss on your hand, eyes rising to meet yours. "Til' morrow, babe."

Jiyoo shakes you awake the next morning, handing you a cake and a note that reads: "Prince Jungkook has a commission he must discuss with you. Meet him at his chamber immediately."

Lacing on a simple corset over your nightgown, you try not to look too red in the face as you climb up the stairs to His Majesty's room. You'd be up there alone, as requested. The girls would absolutely start rumors based on that alone-- rumors which you realize are probably totally true. This was stuff of scandal, after all...

'There shouldn't be anything scandalous about love.' You decide as you rap on His Highness' door.

"Please enter...but only if you have my cake!" Jungkook says in his morning voice. He's so cute.

The simplicity of Jungkook's abode takes you by surprise. His bedroom is very well lit, a capital display of the flowered valley through his bay windows washed the room in gold, painting his porcelain white carpets and his cotton sheets a warm creme color. His drawers and vanity were etched in gold, with breathtaking detailing.

The Monarch himself was splayed across the bed, laying on his side casually. He held a glass in his hand, holding a white wine. He puts down his glass and sits up as your presence.

"We both know that you didn't come here as my servant." You lock the door behind you. "And I have no such commission to give you, darling." The innocence which undertones his usual speech is missing as he coaxes you towards him.

"This much I know, Your Majesty," You say, taking a bit of frosting on your index finger and smudging it on the Princes lips. His black eyes, as cunning as a viper, watch you dangerously as you push two fingers past his plush lips. He wraps his hands around your wrist and draws your hand away, his gaze fixating on you.

"Set the cake down." At his command, you carefully place the confection down on a nearby chest, feeling Jungkook's eyes on you, drawing you back towards his grip.

"Let me pull your laces apart," with your waist held by his Herculean hand, he hums "and then let me pull you apart. I want to memorize your pleasures and gratify your desires, I need it, y/n..." Your back flush against his chest and your thighs split, his hands knead into you as he litters your collar with his mark.

You gasp softly against the crook of his neck, giving into his hold of you. His hot tongue spreads under your jaw, closing into a hard kiss as his hands travel back up to undo your corset and free your tits.

One by one, his fingers pop open the buttons left on your gown until the collar hangs off-shoulder to expose your collarbone. At the sight of new skin, Jungkook's tongue darts to stain it.

His hands stagger above your breasts. "Is it okay if I touch you here?"

"Oh, Kookie, touch me everywhere~" Your hands form fists around Jungkook's shirt, beckoning him impossibly closer.

Grasping one ever so carefully, his thumb grazes your bud as he playfully bites under your ear. "ah-- ahh,"

Jungkook groans in response, he can't believe how cute you sound. Curious, he wants to hear more, so he traces your thighs and experimentally pushes up the outside your cunt.

You squirm, tensing up immediately in response. You bring your hands down to find the latch on his trousers and dip your hands below to rub him through his undergarments. He heatedly bucks up to meet your touch, a panting mess.

You face him now as he watches you ride his fingers while you grip his girth through his clothes. He takes you by the ass and places you on his prominent bulge, hips rolling into you as he hungrily kisses you, his firm hands grinding your core on his cock.

His face is a sinful red, panting under you desperately.

"I've been wanting to do this," His voice warbles through your touch, running your thumb along his underside. It's his turn to gasp. He sits up and collapses his lips into yours, softer than rose petals and his taste faintly like wine.

You place your hand on his chest, and his heart is pounding, a thin layer of sweat already forming on his honeylike complexion.

Hastily, you pull your dress over your head and lean back to allow him to familiarize himself with your stark form, a dainty chain hanging between your bosom. Jungkook bites his lips as he wriggles out of his clothing, desposing of it beside the bed.

He's giddy behind those sultry eyes, you know him well enough that he's overexcited to get inside of you. It goes straight to his cock, your playfulness as you feel up his bare shoulders and discover his abdominals, your fingers tracing his ridges with a sense of innocent wonder.

He takes your hands and looks at you in this way-- Butterflies fill your stomach instantly. Jungkook's thumbing at your pout with his intrepid fingers.

His eyes flutter when grip his base and submerge your upper body below his hips. You lick a long, thick stripe up his underside, causing his breath to hitch and his head to fall back on to the bed.

Those goddamn cupid's bow lips of his would whisper the dirtiest things under his breath, lewd thoughts that sounded completely alien coming from His Majesty's mouth, he said for you.

"Oh, such a pretty mouth~ It's so good, y/n, you swallow me so good--" he moaned like a mantra, trying to keep his hips from snapping up into you. Your hot, wet tongue wrapped around his throbbing cock was only a fantasy to him for years.

He fills your throat with his girth, his taste tantalizingly smooth. It leaves your mouth with a 'pop.' You struggle to keep your legs apart as you crawl up to kiss him.

He takes those fingers of his and slides his index and middle into you and languidly thrusts them, smirking against your lips. "Shit, you liked that, hmm..."

"Kookie...please," you whine as he squeezes your ass hard before smacking it. You yelp, the sting of his fingers radiating from your skin.

"I like it when you beg, y/n, it's so cute..." He pulls your ass up to his thighs. He's flush hard against your abdomen, already sticky with his precum and your spit. You marvel at the self control he has.

You don't finish your thought before he has his head inside of you, impaling you on his cock and stretching your entrance, hissing at how incredible it felt to have you around him.

His shaft reached pleasure points within you had yet to discover. You clench, feeling his tip brush against your cervix. "Wh... hngh," he groans, "how did you do that, do it again--" You wrap your legs around his thighs and clench around him, biting your lip. You watch as he shivers from pleasure, feeling his skin horripilate under your touch.

His thumb is softly circling above your clit as he pulls out of you carefully. He swirls back in, nestling himself inside your heat, hissing. "Ahh~ Jungkook~!" At the sound of his first name moaned out of your mouth, he groans and rolls his hips up to create messy friction. That familiar knot in your stomach tingles as he plays with the bundle of nerves buried within you.

He glances up at your ruined lips, clashing with them again as he lifts your knees up with his hands and thrusts nice and rough, making you yell with every jolt of his cock. The smell and sound of sex fills the room as he experiments with positions, laying you on all fours.

"Get your ass up for me." You obey, ever servile. You're reminded-- you're his servant. He owns your work, he owns your services, and now he wants you in the most lucrative way, he wants your soaked cunt around his imperial cock. He gets what he wants.

Jungkook's palms smack against your ass one more time, just to watch the way it jiggles for him. He smirks a little before he shoves himself into your pretty little cunt. You bury your face into the pillows in pelasure as he chases your orgasm with vigor, fingering your clitoris while you move your hips back to meet his hard thrusts.

You whine like a harlot, his cock allowing you every satisfaction as he works a head-spinning orgasm out of that cunt. "I'm gonna cum, Kookie~!" you warn as you spasm against his length, moans ripping from your throat as you coat him with your thick juices.

His hips stutter up and he just barely pulls himself completely from you as he paints your back white, a guttural groan escaping his mouth.

After a while of loud panting and scattered giggling, Jungkook reaches over for a wet cloth and cleans the both of you gingerly. You trail your hands up to caress his jaw and kiss his lips softly.

"You need to tell everyone that I had a long and extensive request for the Harvest party, that I wanted a lot of fall fruits and vegetables featured in the baked goods, make it as specific as possible and make sure that you mention that I want to meet with you again, over dinner." His labored breathing punctuate his words, as youd kisses consume him. "And..."

"And?" You cock an eyebrow, simpering.

"Doyouthinkmaybeyoucouldbringmesomemilktogowithmycake?" He mumbles, eyes glued on the bed.

"What?" (If you give a Kookie a Cookie...)

Disgruntled, he sighs and repeats: "Milk! Milk for my cake. I know it's moist cause you made it but I'm really thirsty, especially after..." His cheeks flush a cute pink. You wait for him to continue just to fluster him a little more. "Y/N, just please!" You can't ever refuse his pouty face.

Next week, Jungkook's got you pinned against the hallway wall, making out with you hungrily as his hands ride up your dress. Just across the hall, his Dad is negotiating war with Portugal over land in the West.

The next month, you have his cock buried in your throat underneath the table at an important conference about how to create jobs.

All this while the pressure for Jungkook to find a bride continues to rise as he reaches seniority, and as his father's grey hairs pronounce themselves.

Warm touches are always hidden away to the public eye, but often shared between two kindred spirits underneath the man in the moon's watchful eye. Jungkook, as he reaches his maturity, grows strong. His jaw sharpens, and his eyes darken. His hair grows long, and he gains weight. Now at the proud age of 20, Jungkook had become a man before everyone's eyes, including the eyes of foreign monarchs and their eligible bachelorettes.

One day, you're serving the Royal family at a private dinner, when the topic of marriage comes up for the first time since his birthday.

"Your mother has made friends with the mother of the Austrian Princess, and she's invited you to the cordial ball to introduce yourself to the Princess. An allyship with Austria would prove advantageous for our relations with France, so you are to make your best impression." The King wipes his mouth. Setting his fork down, he continues: "It is in the family's best interest for you to marry her, if the French Princess, Anastasie, does not present this season or the next." The Queen holds the King's hand firmly, reassuring him from his shoulder. She wears a slight frown on her face, her eyes worrisome, somber. The King hides his anxiety, as he's been accustomed to from decades of responsibility. Would this be the face of Jungkook soon?

For now, Jungkook's face is scrunching at the thought of marrying Anastasie. She's not the most delightful young woman, her imprudence ruined her enjoyment of any event. She couldn't keep an intuitive conversation about regional politics and domestic policy for the life of her. Her people were on the brink of overthrowing the aristocracy, he was sure of it.

"Yes, father," is what you hear from him before you disappear down the stairs to fetch desserts.

Jiyoo interrupts your quest for sweets with a letter, signed by His Grace. She has a naturally innocent demeanor, her cheeks rosy and her frame as delicate as a feather. "Y/N, you have another special request from His Majesty...can I ask you why you get so many of these?" She looks genuinely curious, not a single menacing thought behind those eyes.

"It's because the Prince really really loves his cake." I mean, technically it was true. Jungkook never passed up an opportunity to squeeze, smack, or dig his fingernails into your ass during your sessions.

"Oh." Jiyoo pouts. "So it's not because you're like, in love or anything?" Her eyes are glued to the floor. You were expecting this question eventually, as the other girls in the kitchen were already suspecting it. It was only a matter of time before word slipped into the girl's ears.

"As much as I enjoy the Prince's interest in my baking, it isn't my place to confess any sort of feeling for him." Your answer is straightforward enough, so Jiyoo nods and hands you the letter. Another request.

Outside the Palace, Winter came like the wind. Lakes froze over, and couples tied up their skates and danced on the ice. The trees were bare and brown, not a single leaf persisting through the chilling breath of Jack Frost.

Jungkook had left for the Winter Palace, to volunteer and raise spirits up in the North. As heir to the throne, he was to be Commander in Chief of the Royal Armed Forces, and therefore needed to undergo intensive training in order to boost morale.

You're back home, and in your wake is your father, who has now grown tangibly tired. He's been on a strict diet of warm vegetable soup for about three months, now. His eyes are sunken, but he still wears a subtle smile even during his most trying days.

Match girls make their rounds at night, you watch as the lamplighters illuminate the streets with their tall ladders and their taller peacoats. Shop windows glow warm shades of yellow and creme; inscriptions on the glass create shadows on the white snow.

"Wow. It's almost as cold as the King's heart out here." You step outside one day with a cup of tea, sneaking in a cheeky smirk. Yeah, good one.

"I heard that!" You turn towards the little voice. A child, maybe about 9 or 10 years old is pointing at you. You squint at it.

"Well, it's true..." You mumble. You have a bit of change in your pocket, so you walk towards a stand to buy a hot bun and a paper.

"Chilly today, hon...Best you take this on the house." The tenant hands you a steaming cake wrapped in a simple cloth and your paper. You stick the paper in your dress pocket and take back your change. You nod a 'thank you.'

You spill the contents of your pockets on the dining table and snatch the paper, snapping it open. Your eyes eagerly skim the headline: "Prince Jungkook Fires Up Royal Army." Below is an article detailing the happenings of His Majesty. All of it sounded very intense, the running, strategizing, first aid training...Was there anything Prince Jeon couldn't nail on the first try?

You set the paper down and pick up your now lukewarm tea. In the back of your mind you're coping with the fact that the Spring Solstice is next week, and that marks the beginning of Jungkook's last season as a Prince.

The King is ill with tuberculosis, and recovery is unlikely. If Jungkook is to marry, it is next season and that was final.

Sitting at the window of his Winter Castle study, Jungkook plays with a ring nestled between his fingers. He looks out onto the lake, as if he's trying to reach you with his gaze. His heart is tight knowing that it would be the season he chooses his bride. Actually, he'd already made up his mind long ago. If his duty was to marry, there was no way to evade such a responsibility. He had to fulfill it, despite his anxieties.

He straightens up and walks out of the hollow room with a firm step.

You awaken with the sound of horse's hooves thudding against the Earth. It is yet to be dawn, and in the distance, thunder roars mightily.

A figure wearing a long, black hood hoists itself off of the animal, tying it to a nearby post. It walks towards an obscure entrance, unknown to many staff.

Intrigued, you wrap a blanket around yourself and peek out at the stranger. His fingers are shorter than his palms, and that's when he tosses of his hood, his eyes set on you. "Y/N..."

You're bewildered by his guise, questions filling your head.

"I was horny, so I left camp" He sits down at the counter, catapulting a cookie into his mouth.

You roll your eyes. "And the guards let you?! Jungkook!" You whisper-yelled at him, readjusting your makeshift blanket-dress.

"Obviously not!" He puffed out his chest with pride. "I bribed them," he smirks.

"You're insufferable," you scoff, your eyes wandering down to observe his physique. His shirt is anything but conservative, highlighting the muscle he'd earned through laborious, sweat-inducing drills. You can feel his eyes on your face as you observe him.

"You can't hide it either," he crosses his arms. "You're standing in the kitchen with a blanket around your naked body." He flicks his tongue. He steps forward, putting a finger under your jaw so you're looking him in the eye.

Your eyes fill with lust as he speaks over your lips. "Look at yourself..." A crash is heard in the other room.

Jungkook's head darts up and in a flash, he disappears into the night.

'Fuck.' You gather your dress from the floor and shuffle back to your chamber.

The first event of the season commences with the most exaltant of spirits as friends of old greet each other with youthful smiles. Juicy exposés, enticing tales, and thoughtful greetings are exchanged in the most formal manner, and the conversation is lively; the most controversial topic of conversation, however, is the rumor that Jungkook is to marry this season.

So far, he's been to four different private residences within his own Kingdom and has been invited, by the secretary of King Louis XVII to meet their daughter. It would be an understatement to say that stakes were high for the pending King.

You were kneading your dough a little too hard thinking about it. "Not so rough, y/n!" Ms.Kang snatches the mixture from your hands. "What is up with you lately, you're so tense! It's really disrupting the kitchen's dynamic."

You shrug it off. "It's going to be hard sedating Anastasie's sweet tooth, I suppose."

"Well, you seem to be doing just fine dealing with Jungkook's addiction to cakes...She's perfect for him, really." Ms.Kang throws more flour on your kneading table and steps off. You give up on the dough, covering it with a cloth and letting it rise.

Jungkook is tapping his feet, munching on finger sandwiches as he waits on you to make an appearance.

"Dearest Prince, look, I am wearing Mediterranean violet!" A duchess shouts as she passes by him, to which he raises his eyebrows at. Another, with dark green eyes approaches and begins speaking rapidly in French at him. Frightened and undereducated, his canned response was: "Excusez-moi, Pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement s'il vous plaît," to which the duchess furrows her eyebrows before something else catches her attention, elsewhere.

Truth is, Jungkook is incredibly shaken at the thought of announcing his engagement tonight. Well, that and the fact that you had yet to pop out of the kitchen. Man, those finger sandwiches were good.

As the night progresses, Jungkook realizes that if he doesn't get up on that platform and say what he needed to say, he'd have to say it in London. Setting his fears aside, he plants himself on top of the orchestral stage and taps a champagne glass with a cheese fork. The music comes to a stop.

With conviction, he begins: "The time has come that I announce my engagement. To all of my beloved friends, who have introduced me to the most beautiful, talented, diverse, and benevolent ladies I've come to get to know over the years, I thank you from the depths of my soul." He swallows and continues, his confident voice masking his trembling. "The life of a Prince is defined by the virtues presented to him at birth. Those virtues are: duty, responsibility, grace, kindness, mercy and integrity." Here comes the part, oh shit.

"I am abdicating my throne to my Cousin, the Duke of Namseong."

Silence sweeps the room. You poke your head out to see what was going on.

"...to marry the love of my life, y/n." He points at you. Your face is cherry red, and you find yourself dropping those same Danish fucking pastries all over the carpet.

"Shit," you fall on your knees, plucking them from the ground one by one. You don't know whether to run as fast as you can or to present yourself, but your body seems to be currently doing the latter. You go along with it.

Jungkook takes your hand tenderly on the stage. "I am unable to perform my duties as King, and therefore am ineligible for the throne." His touch gives you the will to continue beside him. You feel the pure fear rushing through your love's veins, and he knows that this is the hardest thing he'll ever have to do, yet he stands by his announcement.

So, if Jungkook doesn't get to be King of this World, he at least will forever be the King of Your Heart.

But all this, of course...is all in Your, dear reader, Head.

~

a/n:

hope you enjoyed.

[leilanismind]

The Summer I Turned Pretty- Conrad Fisher

Breathtaking

Summary: Y/N visits Cousins, seeing Conrad after months of not seeing each other because of school.

You open the car door and see your other family run outside the house,” Y/N!” Susannah yells as she runs to hug you tightly. She smiles and admires you,” You’re so beautiful Y/N, where’s Belly?” You point to the car,” She fell asleep, go wake her up.”

Conrad steps out the porch and sees you,” Y/N?” You smile and he runs towards you, scooping you up into his arms,” Holy shit- you’re grown.” You roll your eyes and push his hair back,” Conrad, we’re the same age.” He shrugs,” Don’t ruin the moment, just hug me.” You pull away from his hug and kiss him passionately,” I was getting to that, so inpatient huh?”

Jeremiah’s jaw drops,” Wait, oh I forgot you two were together. Carry on.” Conrad rolls his eyes and wraps his arms around your torso,” After I hug Jeremiah, tell me everything that I missed.” He nods and kisses your head.

Laure heads to the two of you holding each other,” It’s such a relief to finally see you guys together after all this time, we always knew one of the girls would get with one of you guys. Between us though, me and Susannah always knew you two would get together.”

Jeremiah wraps his arm around your waist and spins you into his arms,” Okay, I’ll return her to you soon Conrad let me just hug Y/N.” He sighs,” Man, I just got her back and you’re already being taken away.” You nudge his arm,” You’ll have me all summer.” He smiles and walks up to Belly and Laure hugging them.

Steven hugs the boys last,” Conrad, my little backstabber for getting with my sister.” He shrugs,” Just wait till you see us together all summer, then I’ll be a true backstabber.”

After everyone’s greeted each other, Conrad helps you take your bags upstairs to your room. He drops them on the floor near your dresser and closet, grabbing your hips,” Can you unpack later?” You nod and hug him,” I just wanna hold you for a little, I missed you.” Conrad wraps his arms around your body and lays on the bed.

Someone knocks on the door and you’re already asleep in Conrad’s arms. He always had that affect on you, making you comfortable anywhere. Susannah opens the door,” Oh, she’s asleep?” Conrad nods,” She is?” She smiles and sits on the corner of the bed,” Conrad, I’m glad you two are together. Don’t mess it up son.”

He pushes your hair out of your face,” I love her. I’m not gonna do anything to treat her as if she didn’t mean as much as she really does to me.” Susannah sighs in relief,” Good. Could you two dress up? We’re going out to eat tonight, somewhere fancy. Your dads paying.”

Susannah closes the door,”I love you too.” You say as you burrow your head in between his neck. He holds onto you tighter,” We’ll nap for twenty minutes. Then we have to get dressed.” You nod but after 5 minutes, Conrad falls asleep and you get up to shower.

You pick you out a few options from the clothes you leave for special events in Cousins, choosing a short coral blue dress with beige sandals. Conrad rolls over,” I thought we agreed on a twenty minute nap?” You find a pair of earrings and hand them to Conrad,” Which do you like the most?”

He takes a deep breath in and grabs the earrings from your palm, examining them carefully before handing them back to you,” These diamond ones, they flatter you the most.” He smiles and kisses you’re forehead before getting in the shower himself.

You walk up to the mirror and put them on, you knew he chose them because he’d gotten them for you. Of course, you didn’t mind, you loved them just as much as you loved Conrad.

Susannah knocks on the door,” Come in!” You say. She opens the door and awes at you,” God, you’re breathtaking. You look just like your mother when she was younger, the spitting image.” You smile and Conrad gets out the bathroom seeing her hug you.

She sighs,” Conrad, I have to ask you something.” He nods and follows behind Susannah as she leads him to her bedroom and closes the door. You sit on your vanity and finish doing your hair.

Susannah takes Conrad to her vanity, finding a small white box and handing it to Conrad,” I want you to have this. I’d like it if one day you would give it to Y/N, it would mean the world to me. Like a promise ring.” He opens the box and sees a small diamond on a gold band,” Mom, this is beautiful. But, I can’t.. this has to have some sentimental value.”

She smiles and holds Conrad’s hand in hers tightly,” Oh Connie, my mother gave it to me when I was younger. I want you to give this to Y/N. Give it to her as a ring, a promise ring, anything. I just want you two to have it.” He nods and embraces his mother in a hug,” Thank you, I love you.”

Susannah puts her head into Conrad’s chest,” I love you Connie, now go give it to Y/N please.” He nods and steps out her bedroom. Susannah sits back down on the bed and takes a deep breath,” Did you give him the ring Susannah?” Laurel asks as she steps into the bedroom and sits next to Susannah.

She nods,” I want him to have it, before it was to late and I forgot to ever give it to him.” Laurel wraps her arm around Susannah,” Don’t say that. You’re not leaving my side.” Susannah bites her lip and hugs back Laurel, only wishing she was right.

Conrad steps back into your bedroom and sits on your bed,” What was that about?” You ask. He bites his lip and puts the box in his pocket,” Nothing, you know Susannah. She loves having talks with me about my life.”

You nod and hold onto his arm as you head outside.

After Dinner

Conrad lays on your bed watching as you change out of your dress and into some shorts and a tank top,” Could we take a walk?” He asks. You turn around and stare at him, he looked nervous. You smile and walk with him outside. Steven, Jeremiah, and Belly are sitting on the couch watching TV together while the moms are in the kitchen making popcorn.

Laurel watches as you head outside,” Where are the two of you going? We’re about to watch a movie..” Susannah puts her arm around Laurel,” They’re probably going for a walk. Have fun guys, do try to come back for a little to watch the movie with us though!” Conrad nods and puts his arm on your waist.

Steven whistles as Conrad closes the door,” They’ll be too busy Susannah.” Belly gags and throw a piece of popcorn at Steven,” You’re gross, they probably haven’t even done that yet.” Jeremiah shakes his head,” This one time at the bonfire, they were practically about to do it at the beach.”

Laurel shakes her head,” Okay stop. I don’t want to hear about the kids sex lives. Jesus.” Belly nods,” I’m with you, start the movie already!”

Conrad’s takes off his jacket and puts it around you as the two of you sit on the sand. You rest your body back into Conrad’s chest while you sit between his legs. He takes a deep breath and fishes out the small box out of his pocket,” I wanted you to have something.” You grab the box from Conrad’s hand and open it,” Oh my god, this is stunning Conrad-“

He smiles and kisses your forehead,” It’s a promise ring. I wanted to ask if you’d apply for the same college I’m going too. I know it’s a big question but I think it’d be great. We could even move into a apartment nearby, live together..”

It felt like your heart had stopped beating,” Move in together?” You turn around place your hands around his neck as the two of you stand up,” I want to move in with you if we get into the same college. I love you so much.” Conrad says as he places his hands on your hips.

You look back down at the ring and put it on your right ring finger,” I actually wanted to tell you that I’ve already applied for the same college you applied for. Susannah mentioned what schools you applied for, so I applied for the same ones.” Conrad laughs and picks you up,” This is why I love you!” You yelp as he spins you around and you wrap your legs around his torso.

He leans his head down to kiss you,” I love you Conrad, nothing would make me happier if we got into the same college and decided to move into an apartment.” He smiles and puts you down, but keeps his arms wrapped around your body.

[rkived]

━ CHASING PAVEMENTS 03 | JJK

↳ PAIRING: dad!jk/married!jk/bff!jk x reader 

↳ GENRE/TAGS: f2l, angst, unrequited feelings, cheating, future smut

↳ WARNINGS: (for this chapter) time jumps, mention of divorce, blood mention ((but like nothing serious)), forced kisses, just sad stuff like this is sad guys lol

↳ WORD COUNT: 8.6k

↳ EXCERPT: ‘‘Jungkook doesn’t want to think this is the end, maybe it’s that stupid voice inside his head that always holds on to things that he knows he should let go of. But he can’t just let go of this and move on. He doesn’t remember what life was like before you and he sure as hell does not want to know what it’ll be like without you.’’

↳ A/N: getting this chapter out has been ((a pain in the ass)) tough !! & cp was supposed to end with this chapter but that was not realistic at all lmao but i do hope u like this n i’ll try to get pt4 quickly as possible <3 thx

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 

‘‘Okay everyone, let’s switch to the upward facing dog!’’

You really don’t want to be here. There’s a lot of stuff running through your head right now that are more important than focusing on yoga positions. You wish you were thinking about grocery shopping or paying that month’s bills. 

Instead, you’re still stuck on the downward facing dog as your mind tells you you’re an idiot, a homewrecker and most importantly, a terrible friend. 

‘‘Y/N, upward facing dog!’’ The instructor, Namjoon, reminds you with a gentle smile as he notices you haven’t switched positions like the rest of the class. You nod and smoothly place your body as he had taught in the classes before.

The only reason why you came to your Saturday morning yoga class was because even with all that happened last night, you wanted to feel a sense of normality. Like you’re capable of going on about your life like nothing had happened.

That’s selfish and stupid because as much as you tried, every single moment since you woke up revolved around last night.

From the moment you opened your eyes, noticing Sunhi wasn’t sleeping next to you, snuggled into your chest like you had last remembered her to be before she fell asleep and you following soon after. 

And as your heart beat faster at the thought of finding her in her dad’s arms instead, watching Saturday morning cartoons on the T.V in your living room; you instead found the place neat and tidy. The messy pillows on your couch where placed like they hadn’t even been moved to begin with, like no one besides you had been in the apartment the night before. 

Somehow he managed to do all of this without you even noticing. You wondered at what time he woke up, cleaned up, took Sunhi without making any fuss and left, all before your 7 AM alarm could wake you up.

He even made you breakfast too. Some eggs, bacon and toast. 

‘‘Y/N, your legs are touching the mat.’’ Namjoon notes as he stands in front of you, ‘‘Let’s focus, okay?’’

You nod once again, though this time a little more embarrassed. If only you could explain to your instructor why you’re so distracted. 

No messages either. No text explaining why he had to leave so early. No sticky note placed on your fridge door about how he made you breakfast. No slight shake to your sleeping body to let you know that he’d be taking Sunhi. Nothing. 

Would’ve you liked that, though? 

You could say yes because he’s your friend and it’s only fair since you took care of his daughter the night before. 

But it’s not right, because friends don’t kiss each other, let alone the way you had let him kiss you and touch you while his daughter slept in your room and his wife waited for both of them at home.

There was a war going on inside you between your brain and your heart. 

Your heart, being a weak ass bitch, was telling you about how exciting everything was. How nice it felt to have Jungkook tell you that he wanted to be with you, that he no longer felt happy with his wife, how perfectly his lips encaptured your own and how you could still feel them on you. 

But your brain, obviously being the logical one between the two, reminded you about how wrong it was. You had never wanted to be placed in a position of being ‘‘the other woman’’. That even though you might not like Jiwoo and had spent years hoping your friend would someday wake up and realize this too, this didn’t feel right. 

‘‘Alright, let’s drink some water now.’’ Namjoon announces, clasping his hands together and showing off that dimple that most ─if not all─ of the students went heart eyes over. 

You take the time to check your phone instead, you don’t need the water because you didn’t do shit anyway. There’s no text from Minji, who you’re scared will somehow, by the grace of everything that’s holy, find out about what you did. No text from Jungkook either and you’re wondering why he hasn’t bothered to send one. 

Instead, there’s a text from Taehyung and you mutter a curse. 

[8:34 AM] Taehyung: hey y/n! i’m sure you’re in your yoga class rn but i wanted to see if maybe you’d be up for lunch at my place? i’ll try and cook something nice :) 

Ah, of course that throughout all of this you forgot about Taehyung. 

The sweet guy who had stuck around only for you to pay him back by kissing your best friend, the one Taehyung had to pretend wasn’t bothered by his interruption that night a few weeks ago. 

God, you do have a way to fuck things up for yourself. 

You don’t know how long you stood there thinking what to reply to him, but it definitely was for a few minutes because you only came back to reality once you heard your name being called once by the instructor.

‘‘Y/N,’’ Namjoon repeats and you look over at him with a puzzled look, ‘‘we’re starting again, if you’d like to join us.’’ There’s that smile again. Bless his patience, you wonder if he’s actually this calm because of yoga or he’s just really good at pretending. 

You look back down at your phone, the screen displaying a text that’s still waiting to be replied to. 

‘‘I uhm─I gotta go, sorry.’’ You quickly reply, making Namjoon look at you with wide eyes, but he makes no effort to stop you either. 

And as quickly as you can, you collect your belongings before you’re heading out the door without saying goodbye. 

Either you quit yoga altogether or just apologize to Namjoon like a grownup next Saturday. Whatever it is, you’re not thinking about what decision to make about your little extracurricular right now. 

There’s only so much you can handle at a time.

Jungkook is lucky that Jiwoo works Saturday mornings because with her away, he’s able to enter his house without having to sneak in. 

He opens the door wide, making way for him and a slightly awake Sunhi in his arms. He drops the keys on the counter without caring about the noise it makes. He doesn’t even have to pretend like he’s walking on glass, his boots are allowed to hit the wooden floor without a care in the world. 

The place doesn’t look much different from what he had left it like the day before. There’s only a dirty glass on the sink, a product of Jiwoo’s daily breakfast smoothies and since she’s always in a rush she never has time to clean it up. 

‘‘Are you still sleepy, pumpkin?’’ he quietly asks his daughter and she nods, he doesn’t blame her since he’s the one who woke her up at 6 AM. ‘‘Alright, I’ll take you to your bed,” he says, a kiss on her head following shortly after. 

He wonders if Jiwoo enjoyed herself last night. No daughter and no husband, sounds like an ideal night for her. It’s not like she was worried about their whereabouts either, considering she hadn’t even bothered to text him wondering why they hadn’t come home. 

If Jungkook’s supposed to feel guilty, he isn’t. 

He’s heard stories before about how there’s a voice in your head constantly reminding you about what you did and how wrong it is. That he’ll be unable to sleep knowing he cheated on his wife while she lies next to him. That he won’t be able to look at her again without feeling remorse all over him.

And when Jiwoo returns home at noon, there’s none of that at all. He offers her a nod of acknowledgement once she enters the living room to find him sitting with his laptop, watching through old videos that he took years back. 

She puts her index finger up, telling him to give her a minute. She’s on a phone call with a friend of hers that Jungkook can only conclude is Hyeri, who he probably met at some point but can’t remember what her face looked like. 

‘‘I know! Like, why do you have to be such a bitch about it? We get that you’re sucking the boss’s dick in private, so you might as well─’’

Jiwoo’s voice is too distracting and so, Jungkook places his earphones in to hear what this video’s audio is about. Once he does, he hits play and the audio is loud enough to drown out Jiwoo’s whining. 

‘‘Guess who came to see you, Pumpkin?’’ 

Jungkook gasps as he remembers this was part of a series of videos he was supposed to show Sunhi once she was old enough to understand them. He recorded a few until he was drowning in work to even grab his camera again. It saddens him that he wasn’t able to continue.

He decides he’ll show them to her later because right now Sunhi is too busy playing with her dolls inside her room to even pay attention to him.

‘‘It’s auntie Y/N! And she came bearing gifts,’’ Jungkook smiles, switching the focus on you ‘‘is that a Fisher Price Taco Tuesday toy set that I see?’’ he wonders in a fake curious tone as you look at him with narrowed eyes ‘‘I wonder how she knew you wanted that, Sunhi. It’s not like your dad had it on his Amazon wishlist or anything.’’

‘‘Very funny.’’ You mumble, handing him the toys so you could go ahead and grab a tiny three-month-old Sunhi from the bed ‘‘Aren’t you the cutest little bean in this entire world? Aren’t you?’’ you coo at the little girl, who looks at you with wide eyes and you’re forced to blink a couple of times because she looks just like him. 

‘‘Of course she is, she’s my spitting image!’’ Jungkook confirms your thought as he grabs Sunhi’s cheek gently with his fingers and squeezes, making the baby giggle.

You side-eye him and then focus your attention back on the baby in your hands, ‘‘No, you’re not, Sunhi. Your daddy is not cute at all.’’ 

‘‘You’re gonna make me put this camera down and have a discussion about this.’’ 

Jungkook chuckles at the footage, noticing how he made you smile because of his comment. The video isn’t long, it’s mostly you cooing to a then tiny Sunhi, giggling at the way you would nuzzle your nose into her belly as Jungkook laughed behind the camera. 

‘‘Jungkook, look at her!’’ You practically squeal as Sunhi grabs your thumb with her little hand ‘‘Oh my gosh, I think I’m gonna cry.’’ 

He laughs as he does a close-up of his daughter holding on to your finger, until he hears the little sniffle you let out and the camera is now focused on you silently wiping a tear away. 

‘‘Wait, you’re actually crying?’’ Jungkook asks in disbelief and you turn to look at him to find the lens focused on you ‘‘Sunhi, you’re Auntie Y/N loves you so much that she’s crying! How cute.’’ 

‘‘You’re so dumb, seriously.’’ you mumble with a frown, going back to gawking at the baby still holding on to your thumb. 

Jungkook sighs, ‘‘I’m gonna have to bleep that out, y’know?’’

You laugh and shrug your shoulders, caressing Sunhi’s stomach. Jungkook whispers ‘cute’, so soft that you’re unable to hear it.

Once it ends, Jungkook is able to see his smiling face as it reflects on the black screen and it’s only then he realized he’d been grinning the whole time. Now his ears are filled with Jiwoo talking over the phone and his smile goes back to a straight line. 

Jungkook closes the video and clicks on the next one, hoping that it’s one that involves you as well. He’s unable to press play because Jiwoo is suddenly standing in front of him, arms crossed and she’s no longer talking on her phone. 

‘‘Yes?’’ He asks, removing an earbud to show her she has his full attention.

‘‘So, where were you last night?’’ 

Jungkook’s slightly surprised that she cares. He tends to forget there’s still some humanity left in her after all, ‘‘At Y/N’s.’’ he answers with a shrug, eyes going back to stare at the screen of his laptop. 

Jiwoo scoffs and he’s forced to look at her again, eyebrow slightly raised. He hopes she doesn’t start because it’s too early and it’s a Saturday. But Jiwoo doesn’t like taking breaks like he does.

‘‘I thought you said that she wasn’t going to be able to take care of Sunhi on Fridays.’’ There’s bitterness in her tone, ‘‘so, what were you doing there?’’ 

Jungkook understands where Jiwoo’s curiosity comes from, but it’s strange. She’s never been the type to ask where he’s been, what he’s doing with Sunhi while she’s not around ─which is practically all the time─ and doesn’t care for your business either. 

‘‘I just stopped by.’’ Jungkook mutters, stroking the nape of his neck in an attempt to not seem suspicious, ‘‘We hung out and Sunhi fell asleep, she didn’t wanna come back home.’’ 

And that’s true, Jiwoo narrows her eyes at him as if she’s debating whether or not to believe him and the excuse of their sleeping daughter. She doesn’t know Sunhi that well to conclude if it’s possible or not. 

‘‘And what, did you all three sleep together in the same bed? Playing family, maybe?’’ 

Jungkook looks at her in disbelief. This is a first. 

‘‘What?’’ Is all he’s able to muster because he’s genuinely shocked at her accusation. 

Jiwoo rolls her eyes, ‘‘Oh, please. Like I’m going to buy that hanging out bullshit.’’ Jungkook looks like a deer stuck in headlights and she chuckles, ‘‘Is what I give to you not enough?’’ 

‘‘I─what are you on about?’’ 

He figures this is her picking a fight because he wasn’t around yesterday to attend her needs like he usually does every Friday night. But Jungkook’s mind is quick to remind him of what he did and it’d be really ironic if he denies Jiwoo’s accusations, that for the first time are actually true. 

‘‘I carried around that girl for nine months, ruined my body because of her, all for you to pick someone else over me?’’ Jiwoo’s voice is raised a little higher and Jungkook can’t help but look over at Sunhi’s bedroom door and hope his daughter is not listening to anything coming from the living room. ‘‘I knew I should’ve never trusted her, I always knew your friendship with her was fucking weird.’’

Jungkook doesn’t want to raise his voice either. It’s not going to get them anywhere. But he can’t stand the way she’s speaking about his daughter and you, she’s never crossed those boundaries before. 

‘‘Are you insane? How can you talk about your daughter like she’s nothing?’’ Jungkook spats out, ‘‘I’ve always been thankful for what you did, I know the shit you went through to bring her into this world.’’ 

But Jiwoo doesn’t care about how loud she’s being, ‘‘You’re so thankful you pay me back by fucking your best friend? While I’m alone over here waiting for you to come back?’’

Jungkook has to take a deep breath and close his eyes for a second, before he loses it. 

He clears his throat, ‘‘Jiwoo, I have always chosen you. Always. I did back when I was a sophomore, I did it when I asked you to marry me, and I did it when I chose you to be the mother of my children. So, I don’t know what─’’

‘‘I don’t give a flying fuck if you chose me! I was supposed to be all of that either way, Jungkook.’’ She interjects.

Was she, though? Of course, she was his girlfriend then. It would make sense that she’d be the one to end up marrying him, having his kids and living the happy life everyone guaranteed he’d live alongside her. 

But he hasn’t been thinking about the choices he ended up taking back then. Instead, he’s been wondering about the ‘what if’s and Jiwoo isn’t in any of them. 

Jungkook’s been daydreaming for months now about how different his life would’ve turned out if he had never asked the pretty girl in his class all those years back and instead had focused his attention somewhere else. Or someone else.. 

‘‘Are you going to answer me?’’ Jiwoo’s stern voice brings him back to the reality he hates, ‘‘Were you going to pick me or was I a second choice?’’ She slowly asks, giving him an opportunity to digest every single word she spoke. 

‘‘You weren’t a second choice,’’ he mumbles and his gaze has faltered and instead focused back on the screen of his laptop. Clicking on a video randomly, trying to distract himself from the situation at hand. Hoping that whatever he says is enough for Jiwoo to leave him alone. 

It doesn’t help that the video automatically plays and it’s you on the first frame, a big smile as you hold Sunhi towards the camera, making her wiggle in your arms. 

What if. 

‘‘Show me that you love me, then.’’

The video still plays as Jungkook looks back at Jiwoo standing right in front of him, her arms are still crossed, but the look on her face is different. Her brows are no longer furrowed and Jungkook might be wrong, but he thinks her eyes look glossy. 

He doesn’t act quickly enough and she takes the laptop from him, closing it before she can even notice what is it that has garnered his attention. Jiwoo straddles his lap and he jumps slightly at the action, placing her arms around his neck as she looks at him with innocent eyes. 

If he didn’t know her, he would’ve believed them. 

‘‘Jiwoo, let’s not─’’ 

‘‘I missed you yesterday,’’ she interjects in a whisper ‘‘show me that you love me right now.’’ 

Her lips latch onto his neck, biting and sucking on the skin as he tries to wriggle himself out of her hold, but her hands push at his chest so he can stay still. 

‘‘C’mon,’’ she mumbles ‘‘show me.’’ She’s pleading by then.

He feels nothing. There’s no electricity in Jiwoo’s kisses. No tingles on his back, no goosebumps on his skin, no fireworks going off. If anything, everytime her lips meet his skin it feels bitter, like they don’t belong there at all. 

‘‘Daddy, come please!’’ The muffled voice of Sunhi inside her room interrupts the one-sided moment and Jungkook is silently thanking her. 

Jiwoo doesn’t make an effort to move as she keeps kissing on all the exposed skin he has to offer. Jungkook sighs in frustration as he forces her off him, making her land beside him with an astonished expression.

Her hands tighten into fists as she looks at him like he’s gone insane, ‘‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’’ She asks in disbelief.

Jungkook blinks, ‘‘Did you─?’’ He gestures with his finger over to his daughter’s room, ‘‘Sunhi is calling me.’’ 

His wife scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest again, ‘‘Of course, you always go running when it comes to her.’’ 

Contrary to his belief, there is no humanity left in Jiwoo at all. She’s just really good at pretending like she cares so she can get her way. This is the last time Jungkook falls for this trick.

Jungkook opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. He repeats this action a few times, to stammer something out. Anything. But there’s nothing besides the expecting silence of his wife as she chuckles incredulously. Jungkook ignores this and turns around, a second away from opening Sunhi’s bedroom door─

‘‘You’re a waste of a husband.’’ Jiwoo sneered. 

His hand drops from the door handle and he sighs, taking a deep breath in and out.

He looks back at her, ‘‘You know what, Jiwoo? I wasn’t lying when I said you weren’t my second choice.’’ he informs and her eyebrow raises up ‘‘But you aren’t my first choice now either.’’

Jiwoo scowls and heaves in anger, ready to let hell loose on him ‘‘I knew that who─’’

‘‘It’s Sunhi,’’ he states and Jiwoo closes her mouth before she can even finish her sentence. ‘‘Ever since I knew you were pregnant with her, she’s been at the top of my list and she’ll always be there. I don’t care what you do or say to me, I really don’t. You don’t love me, Jiwoo.’’

At the accusation, her eyes soften and she’s standing up to argue that it’s not true, but Jungkook raises his hand in a motion to stop her. 

‘‘You don’t love me and I don’t love you.’’ 

Jungkook expected her to start yelling at him like she usually did, but Jiwoo’s rendered speechless on her spot as she stares at him, blinking rapidly. 

‘‘I don’t love you,’’ he repeats ‘‘and I haven’t loved you for a while now. I don’t remember the last time my heart raced up when I saw you or when I stopped enjoying kissing you. And I’m sorry, because I should’ve told you instead of pretending like I did.’’ 

Jiwoo’s motionless as she takes all of his words in. 

‘‘But I did it for her because I didn’t want her to hate me if you ever left. But that was a dumb idea because you don’t care about Sunhi. And frankly, I doubt she cares about you either. She never speaks about you, never asks about you, she’s used to you not being here even if you sort of are.’’ 

Jungkook places his hand over the doorknob once again and Jiwoo grimaces.

‘‘I should’ve never begged you to come back. I should’ve thought about what you wanted and it’s always been clear to me what that is,’’ Jungkook swallows the knot he feels in his throat ‘‘and it’s never been Sunhi or me.’’

‘‘Jungkook.’’

He thinks she’s about to tell him how sorry she is. That she’ll recognize how heartless she’s been and how she not only failed him, but failed their daughter too. Maybe beg for a final try at their relationship as she promises she’ll change this time. 

Jungkook hums and spares her one last glance.

Jiwoo has a stoic expression on her face and she speaks under her breath, but clear enough for him to hear, ‘‘Sign the papers when you get them.’’

You expect Minji to just jump at you any minute now because if looks could kill, you’d be dead already. Maybe you should’ve pretended like you weren’t home and let Minji knock on your door until she’d give up, but even you knew better than that. 

It was better to face her now than to deal with her accumulated wrath later.

‘‘When were you going to tell me?’’ She suddenly asks and it takes you by surprise because it had been way too silent since you had let her in.

Minji works like a predator, she attacks when you least expect it and right now you definitely feel like you’re about to be eaten. 

‘‘I─uh…’’ 

She sighs and you can see the disappointment in her face, ‘‘Were you going to tell me at all?’’ 

You nod instead, not trusting yourself enough to speak at the moment. 

It had been a week since the event in your living room and it makes you shift uncomfortably in your chair as you stare at your friend, who’s sitting on the couch where everything went down. 

‘‘Then why did I have to find out through Taehyung?’’ She asks in a disappointed tone. 

You figured he’d tell her. It’s not like you asked him not to do so, but you had silently prayed that the universe was on your side on this one and by some unknown reason they wouldn’t bump into each other at work and Minji, like she usually did, wouldn’t ask him about you. Because if she did, then he’d have to explain how you had broken the news that you had made out with your best friend; the one Minji despised with her soul. 

A sigh escapes your lips as you lower your head with shame.

You were supposed to tell her, but every time you took your phone and tried to dial or text her, your nerves got the best of you and ended up chickening out, promising that you’d do it the next day. Then the next day. And the next day. 

It’s not like you’re scared of Minji─well, maybe only slightly. But you know the effort she put into getting you to go out and meet someone new, someone that’s not married and not a father. She’s known Taehyung for so long, probably even told him how much of a good girl you were to convince him to take you out, only for you to end up throwing all of that in the trash like it was nothing. 

Minji’s also spent years pushing you to move on from your friendship with Jungkook. Not just because she doesn’t like him, but because she’s always felt like he’s held you back while he’s made his way in life. You’ve stuck behind him making sure that he’s okay and happy, forgetting about yourself in the process. 

‘‘I’m not angry at you,’’ she speaks softly, making you look up at her with surprise. ‘‘I just─He gave you a second chance, Y/N. Why did you say no?’’ Her words are laced with curiosity and you know that she’s asking because even Taehyung wasn’t able to give her an answer to this question. 

Your bottom lip trembles and you’re trying your hardest not to burst into tears in front of him. You can’t and you won’t. How even dare you to do that? 

‘‘I’m sorry,’’ you whisper and your eyes shift down to the wooden floor of his apartment. ‘‘I’m sorry, Taehyung.’’ You repeat, knowing it’s not enough.

Taehyung gulps and his crossed arms quickly fall to his sides as he realizes that, whatever anger he felt when you told him about what you did, was no longer there the moment he saw how genuinely apologetic you looked. 

‘‘I’m an idiot, I know.’’ You continue, rubbing your clammy hands into the material of your leggings and it does nothing to dry them. ‘‘I’m sorry, Taehyung.’’

He knows he shouldn't be so easily swayed by your apology, but he can’t help but want to cradle you in his arms. And when he does, your eyebrows raise in surprise as you gasp because you weren’t expecting this. 

You expected anger, insults thrown out about how you’re a slut and being kicked out of his apartment with him telling you to never contact him again. 

Taehyung’s still sweet even when his heart is getting broken. 

‘‘It’s okay,’’ he whispers into your hair as one of his hands runs up and down your back ‘‘we can work this out, yeah?’’ 

You bite the tip of your tongue as you take his words in, feeling your heart speeding up even faster than what it was when you spilled everything out on him. Maybe you would’ve preferred him getting angry than his current reaction.

‘‘It’s not like we were exclusive, right?’’ Taehyung chuckles, but it feels like he’s convincing himself that that was the reason as to why it happened. ‘‘Let’s forget it, seriously.’’

A shaky sigh comes out of your mouth as your arms, that hadn’t reciprocated his hug, gain the strength to separate yourself from him. He looks taken aback, but he’s waiting for you to reply in agreement because, yes, you could work this out if you try hard enough. 

But that’s not realistic. Pretending like you never kissed Jungkook is not realistic at all, because it’s sad to admit that you won’t be able to kiss Taehyung again without thinking about your best friend in the back of your head as you’re reminded that not only did you let him kiss you, but you reciprocated and not only did you reciprocate, but you liked it a little too much. 

‘‘Y/N,’’ he speaks up, snapping you from your thoughts,‘‘please, let’s just try.’’ He silently asks─no, begs. 

The barking of his dog, Yeontan, startles you as you come to stare at the little dog at the feet of his owner, who at the moment isn’t interested to see what he wants. You never told Taehyung, but the teacup pomeranian was extremely overprotective of him. 

He’s barking at you like you’re hurting his owner and maybe you aren’t physically doing any damage, but you know that you’re about to break his heart all over again.

‘‘I-I…,’’ you blink as you try to focus on the man in front of you and not the dog on the ground, ‘‘I’m sorry, I can’t.’’ 

Yeontan’s barks increase and Taehyung is at a loss for words to beg you to stay and talk things through. You can still hear the dog’s incessant barking as you make your way down the hall and that’s when the tears you were holding finally fall down. 

‘‘Taehyung’s a nice guy, Y/N. He forgave you and you just left?’’ Minji asks, disbelief in her tone. ‘‘I thought you liked him.’’

‘‘I do!’’ You finally speak up. You’re sure of it, you like Taehyung. Your friend gives you a puzzled look because she really can’t understand you right now. ‘‘I like Taehyung, I really do,’’ you mutter, ‘‘but it’s not fair to him.’’ 

Minji scrunches her face up because there’s only one reason you’re thinking that way. She’s tired of this narrative, it’s old and overdone and it should’ve ended years ago.

She lets out a breathless chuckle, ‘‘You love him, don’t you?’’ Another question that takes you by surprise.

‘‘No, I just─’’

Minji holds her finger up, interrupting you, ‘‘I’m talking about Jungkook.’’ 

This is the attack. Not the other questions she had asked you regarding her old family friend. Not the unannounced arrival to your apartment on an uneventful Saturday morning where you had chosen to stay in bed instead of facing the peaceful yoga instructor. Not the glaring looks she had been giving you for the last minutes.

And if you weren’t ready for any of those, this one definitely takes the prize. 

‘‘I-I of course I love him,’’ you mumble, ‘‘he’s my friend.’’

Minji smirks as her eyebrows raise, ‘‘No, I’m asking if you’re in love him.’’ 

You’re sure that the feelings that you’ve had for Jungkook have always been platonic. You do love him because he’s your friend and you’re supposed to love your friends. But you know that the love that you have for him is very different from the one you have for anyone else. It might be the history between you two. You’ve been with him through it all, cheering from the sidelines as he accomplishes one milestone after the other. 

‘‘Be honest with me,’’ Minji demands, ‘‘are you in love with Jungkook?’’ she asks once again.

Your eyes well up and your bottom lip is trembling as you look back at your intimidating best friend because your silence is deafening and you’re expecting her to throw the last blow. You think you deserve it. Minji has so much she wants to say, but you look so dejected and she figures that you might’ve just realized it. 

‘‘Hey, it’s okay.’’ She comes up to you quickly, crouching down as she looks up at the tears rolling down your reddened cheeks. ‘‘Y/N, it’s okay.’’ 

You’ve been trying to tell yourself the same thing the past few days. 

It’s okay that you kissed your best friend. It’s okay that you’ve slowly and silently started harbouring feelings for him. It’s okay that you just realized you’ve been in love with him for a while now. It’s okay that you’ve been resenting the fact that he didn’t choose you all those years ago. It’s okay that you take care of and love his daughter like she’s yours. 

But...

‘‘No, it’s not.’’ You cry, ‘‘I can’t do that, Minji, he’s not mine to have.’’ 

Your mind quickly brings you back to the harsh reality, which is that Jungkook will never be yours. He probably only kissed you because he was looking for something that was capable of exciting him again after realizing how bored of his marriage he is. He doesn’t love you like that, he’ll never love you like that.

Minji can’t disagree with what you just said, but she also feels like right now is not the time to make you feel even worse when it’s obvious you’re already there. 

‘‘I blocked his number, anyway.’’ You mumble out, wiping away your tears. 

Your friend’s eyes widened at the revelation, ‘‘What?’’. 

‘‘I freaked out after I talked to Taehyung because I felt so guilty and you know how I don’t know how to deal with shit ever, so I just─’’ You stop yourself from rambling and sigh as you feel Minji’s hand squeezing your knee as a sign of comfort, ‘‘I can’t see him again without thinking about it. I can’t take care of Sunhi knowing he’s going home to sleep with Jiwoo. I just can’t keep pretending anymore.’’ 

Minji can’t do much after that, you’ve become a sobbing mess and the tears seem unstoppable. She’s never seen you like this and it dawns on her that you’ve held all of this in for way too long. 

It’s ironic because she’s always told you that you need space from Jungkook, thinking it’d be good for you to finally realize that you’re not part of his list of priorities anymore and hadn’t been for a long time. 

But she hadn’t taken into account what the after effects of not having him in your life anymore would look like.

[12:03 PM] Jeon Jungkook: hi y/n 

{Error: Undelivered!} 

[12:04 PM] Jeon Jungkook: hey???

{Error: Undelivered!}

[12:07 PM] Jeon Jungkook: i wanted to see if you’d like to meet up for lunch one of these days? i feel like we need to talk 

{Error: Undelivered!}

[5:13 PM] Jeon Jungkook: does this work now??

{Error: Undelivered!}

Jungkook groans in annoyance as he finds another one of his texts left undelivered. It feels like life is either against him or doing this for his own good. 

Nonetheless, he wants to talk to you because it’s been a few days since he last saw and heard from you. He figures you’re mad, the last words you spoke to him didn’t sound friendly at all and he wonders if maybe leaving without saying goodbye that day was the right thing to do. 

The small snores coming from beside him make him realize Sunhi is finally asleep and he can’t help but let out a sigh of disappointment as he watches her curl into a fetal like position, clutching her Dumbo plush toy and slightly drooling into his favorite pillow, making him pout because he knows he won’t be able to pry it away from her when he decides to fall asleep too. 

Sunhi being fast asleep is supposed to bring peace to Jungkook’s tiring day, though the silence is extremely uncomfortable and these days he’s come to realize how much he rather have his daughter running around and yelling in excitement than this.

Complete and utter silence.

[7:13 PM] Jeon Jungkook: (1.jpg attached) sunhi misses auntie y/n!! she’s been asking me about you a lot 

{Error: Undelivered!}

[7:15 PM] Jeon Jungkook: i miss auntie y/n more tho…

{Error: Undelivered!}

[7:17 PM] Jeon Jungkook: i hope ur alright :)

{Error: Undelivered!}

‘‘Pumpkin, you can stop smiling already.’’ Jungkook chuckles as he looks up from his phone, noticing his daughter still holding the big smile he had given him when he requested to take a picture of her to send to you. ‘‘I already sent the picture to Auntie Y/N.’’ He informs and she sighs with relief, massaging her cheeks from straining them too hard.

Though his eyebrows furrow, noticing his messages have once again been left undelivered. He makes a mental note to call the phone company soon, because it’s been over a week since he last sent the first messages and those remained in the same state as well. 

‘‘Daddy, unpause!’’ Sunhi demands, making him realize that he’s in the middle of showing her his favorite Pixar movie, Cars. 

Twenty minutes had passed and for a majority of them Sunhi had only watched attentively and Jungkook looked over at her every other second just to make sure she hadn’t fallen asleep. Warmness spread throughout him as he noticed his daughter looking at the screen with those big doe eyes she had inherited from him. 

Once the scene where Sally shows Lightning McQueen around Radiator Springs, Jungkook feels a tug at his sweatshirt and looks down to notice Sunhi’s little hand grabbing at the fabric, her eyes are still glued to the screen.

“Auntie Y/N likes this too?” She asks and Jungkook chuckles because his daughter can’t stop thinking about his friend even when doing anything completely unrelated to you.

Maybe that’s another thing she inherited as well.

[7:03 PM] Jeon Jungkook: so i called my phone company and asked them abt why my messages aren’t being delivered and they said that you must’ve blocked me

{Error: Undelivered!}

[7:04 PM] Jeon Jungkook: yeah i guess you did

{Error: Undelivered!}

Jungkook’s mind has gone blank ever since he got off the phone with the cellphone company. 

The idea that you might’ve blocked his number had not once crossed his mind during the weeks of undelivered texts and phone calls sent straight to voicemail. It was obvious, but he didn’t think you’d be capable of doing it. 

He wanted it to be a network issue or something else that he could put blame on instead of facing the realization that you had shut him out from your life. And that thought hurt, no─stung him. 

The worst part is that he knows he deserves it. It was foolish of him to think that you had enjoyed the kiss too. Dumb enough to believe that you might’ve reciprocated the way he felt. 

Jungkook doesn’t want to think this is the end, maybe it’s that stupid voice inside his head that always holds on to things that he knows he should let go of. But he can’t just let go of this and move on. 

He doesn’t remember what life was like before you and he sure as hell does not want to know what it’ll be like without you.

[1:30 AM] Jeon Jungkook: i miss you so fucking much i’m sorry if i knew that kissing you would’ve fucked everything up htne i woudl’ve never done it y/n i’m sorry 

{Error: Undelivered!}

[1:31 AM] Jeon Jungkook: i really wanted to kiss you but it was selfish of me to do it i didnt think about what you must’ve felt im sos sorry 

{Error: Undelivered!}

[1:32 AM] Jeon Jungkook: sunhi’s been asking me about yoj and i dont even know what to say anymore

{Error: Undelivered!}

[2:27 AM] Jeon Jungkook: i don’t even care if you dont wanna speak to me anymore i fucked this up for sunhi she loves you so much and you’re her favorite person ever and i ruined it for her just bc i wanted to see if you felt the same way as i do

{Error: Undelivered!}

[3:50 AM] Jeon Jungkook: i miss you y/n i really do 

{Error: Undelivered!} 

“Daddy, lemme go!” Sunhi whines trying to escape from her father’s hands as he finishes applying the sunscreen on her arms, “Daddy!”.

He gives her a stern look and the toddler huffs, sticking her bottom lip out in an act of annoyance. The playground games are waiting for her and she feels like her dad is just coming between them and her.

“Alright,” he pats his big hands on her tiny arms, “you’re good to—“ Jungkook isn’t able to finish his sentence because his daughter’s already running towards one of the slides, “Sunhi, be careful!” He reminds her, but she’s too focused on the rides than on her dad’s warning.

Jungkook sighs and relaxes into the bench. 

“She’s precious,” She comments with a small smile as her attention focuses on the little girl having the time of her life going down the slide, “I’m surprised she’s yours.” 

Jungkook looks over at the woman beside him and scoffs, but he can’t help but agree. Sunhi is too good and too pure, the best thing he’s ever done in his life. 

“Yeah, well, it’s all her.” Jungkook admits, eyes focusing back on Sunhi, “She’s really great.” 

There’s an uncomfortable silence between them and Jungkook has to clear his throat to gain her attention. 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet up at a café,” Jungkook apologizes and nods over at his daughter, “she’s been a little misbehaved lately, you said you wanted to talk to me and I figured that if I took Sunhi to a place like that she’d just—“

She interrupts his rambling, “Hey, it’s okay. I have no problem, really.” She assures him and he nods slightly, “I haven’t been in a place like this in a long time.” 

Jungkook scratches the back of his neck and glances over at the woman who’s looking at him with an expression he can’t quite pinpoint. It makes him so nervous that he quickly shifts his gaze to the ground.

“This is so weird.” He admits with an awkward chuckle and she raises her eyebrow, “I mean—you hate me, Minji, so I don’t know what you want to talk about.” 

“I don’t hate you!” Minji laughs and Jungkook finally looks at her and she falters, “Seriously! I only dislike you and that’s saying a lot.” 

He supposes that’s a good thing, considering how aggressive Minji used to be towards him back in college. Always letting him know how much she despised his guts, how he didn’t deserve to have you as his friend and even once threw a drink at his face during a party; though you swore to him she was drunk and that she didn’t mean it.

Jungkook hadn’t seen her much since, only a few times if it was your birthday and they managed to cross paths, because the girl made sure she was never in the same room as him. The times it happened, he felt like she was throwing daggers at him through her eyes. 

“It always bothered me how putty in your hands she was for you,” Minji begins, crossing her arms over her chest as she settles back into the bench, “and how oblivious you were about it.” 

Jungkook looks back at her and there’s a small smile on her face, most likely looking over at his daughter. 

“How when we got together for study sessions, she’d be tired because she was taking care of you the night before at one of those stupid frat parties you loved dragging her to.” Minji recalls and Jungkook feels like his mouth has gone dry from the memory.

She crosses one of her legs over the other, “Or that whole Jiwoo ordeal, how you had practically put Y/N aside once you managed to date the ‘campus hottie’.” She says with air quotes and Jungkook sighs, remembering the beginning of it all.

He knows that he can’t turn back time and change it all. Even if he could, he knows he wouldn’t. If there was no Jiwoo, there’d be no Sunhi. 

An excited yell startles him as he looks over at his daughter, swinging up and down. “Look, daddy! I'm flying!” She calls and he smiles at her. 

“Jesus, that’s fucking precious.” Minji mumbles, but he hears her nonetheless and nods in agreement. “Anyway, I’m not going to act like a saint here and pretend I was vouching for you, because I never did.” 

Jungkook knows. Back then he didn’t understand why Minji was so adamant about trash talking him to you, considering how he and her barely knew each other. Actually, whatever knowledge they had of the other was through of you. 

But Jungkook’s done a lot of self reflecting for the past month and a half and he’s realized why Minji disliked him so much. Or, dislikes. Either way, it’s valid.

“I just wanted her to snap out of it,” she confesses, “and realize that there is a life beyond you. That there’s more than being your best friend and your daughter’s babysitter. That she’s capable of moving on and putting you aside, because if you did that to her then why shouldn’t she?” 

Jungkook hadn’t thought about any of that at all. He had realized he had been a shitty friend, but the idea of just how much definitely hadn’t settled on him. He wishes you knew how much he’s cared about you, but that there were too many overlapping lines for him to ever express it.

“I thought that after setting her up with Taehyung she had finally realized it,” she continues “but you know how she is, she rarely lets up and I knew she wasn’t going to let you go that easily.” 

Jungkook draws in a long breath, rubbing his now clammy hands in his jeans as he looks back towards Minji. 

“I mean, she couldn’t let her go that easily.” She jerks her head towards Sunhi, still sitting on the swings, though she’s slowed down now. “She loves that little girl so damn much.” 

Jungkook’s sure of this. He recognizes the immense love you have for Sunhi, how sincere and unconditional it is. It’s the way a mother loves her child, though he never expected it to come from you instead. He’s not surprised though, because it’s the same love you gave to him. But it’s louder, there are no boundaries that you needed to respect to show Sunhi just how much you loved her, unlike with him. 

It dawns on him that cutting him off must’ve been hard. You probably wanted to do it for way longer and only stayed because of Sunhi and Jungkook doesn’t want to think about the dilemma you must’ve went through to finally do it this time around. 

He runs his hands through his hair, letting out a shaky breath, remembering that Sunhi doesn’t have you anymore. That’s the reason as to why she’s been so misbehaved lately, crying way too often, throwing tantrums over the smallest of things. Jungkook could blame it on the fact that she’s soon turning four and maybe it’s something that comes with age, it might just be a coincidence that she’s acting this way during a time you’re no longer present in her life.

This is the thing Sunhi might not be able to forgive him for.

“Minji,” he finally speaks up and the woman beside him focuses his gaze back on him, “I miss her so much.” He mumbles, not trusting himself to speak up because he might choke back a sob.

“Only now?” 

“No!” He says this a little too harshly and Minji jumps slightly at the tone in his voice, “I’ve always missed her and I’m fucking idiot for realizing too late.” 

She hums and Jungkook’s chest rises and falls with rapid breaths, “She’s my first thought when I wake up and when I finally manage to go to sleep. Sunhi constantly reminds me about her, asking me where she is and when can she see her and I have to force myself to lie.” 

Jungkook doesn’t realize Minji’s hand is now awkwardly placed on his back, hesitantly tapping as if to give him some comfort. It’s weird to see him like this, she had convinced herself that the guy didn’t have any feelings when it came to you.

“She blocked my number, I can’t call her and all my texts have been left undelivered. I’ve driven by her apartment building too many times with the plan to go up and talk to her, but I always back out because I’m an idiot and I know she’ll hate me if I do that and I—“

“Jungkook.” 

“I just want to know if she still cares, I don’t mind if she doesn’t feel the same way. But I want to know that Y/N still cares about Sunhi and me. Do you know? Does she? Could you please—“

Jungkook’s ramble is interrupted by the crying sounds of Sunhi, who’s now on the ground as she sobs and he quickly stands up to go straight towards her. He blinks away the tears that had formed in his eyes because there’s only room for one crying baby here.

“Pumpkin, what happened?” He asks in a soft voice, crouching down at her level and she’s pouting as she points at her bloody knee. “Did you fall down?” She nods and he sighs, picking her up as he takes her back to the bench where Minji waits with expectancy to check on the little girl.

Jungkook places Sunhi beside her and looks through his daughter’s bag for the emergency kit he carried around. He cleans the blood delicately with a gauze and alcohol, making the little girl wince and yelp out an ‘ouch!’ as she holds tightly to Minji’s thigh. 

“It’s okay, Pumpkin.” He reassures her with a smile, making his daughter nod because she trusts her dad, “It was an accident and accidents are part of growing up, right?” She nods again and Minji figures this isn’t a first for her.

Once the blood has been cleaned, Jungkook places a cute rainbow patterned bandaid on the wound in her knee. 

“There we go,” he announces and Sunhi lets out the breath she’d been holding, ‘‘all done! Are you good now?” 

“Yes,” Sunhi weakly replies, “daddy, I wanna go home.” 

Jungkook’s eyebrows raise in surprise, but the look on her face tells him that she’s probably still shaken by the accident and most likely wants to take a nap to forget about it.

He looks over at Minji with an apologetic look and she gives him half a smile, “Go, it’s alright.” 

Jungkook nods and takes Sunhi in his arms, which she gladly accepts and settles her head in the crook of his neck. Minji’s ready to leave, figuring there was no point in staying any longer.

“Minji, wait!” He stops her before she goes, making her turn around and offer him a curious look, “Sunhi’s birthday is in a few weeks and,” Jungkook reaches for something inside his daughter’s bag, “she really wants Y/N to be there.” He whispers, taking out a party invitation to hand over to Minji.

She smirks, looking at the personalized invitation for his daughter’s fourth birthday, “Just Sunhi?” She asks and he lets out a breathless laugh.

“Me too.” Jungkook adds and a small smile appears on his face as he says it. “Uh—thank you for talking to me, I know it must’ve been hard.” 

Minji swats her hand in the air, “It’s alright, just wanted to make sure how you and the kid were doing. It’s all she talks about anyway.” 

A gasp escapes his lips and he holds on to his daughter tighter as she nuzzles her face farther in. 

“I’ll give her the card, but—I can’t guarantee if she’ll go.” She warns and he nods, understanding.

Though he does not like the possible outcome, he settles down with the idea that you’ll notice how even though you both haven’t spoken towards each other in almost two months, he’s still thinking about you either way. Every day. 

[c-c-cherry]

What's the most embarrassing thing each of the Bucci gang has done/has had happen to them?

Ok I took WAY too long on this but I loved this question so much and it was so fun coming up with these. Special thanks to my girl @jjadegreen for helping me!!

**This isn’t NSFW but I’d say its teen and up just because of some of the stuff talked about hehe**

______________________

Mista

-Pre-canon Mista was a bit sick one night so Bruno made him stay home while they all went on this one mission

-So naturally he’s like “HELL YEAH HOME ALONE”

-Bruno forgets his wallet and had to come back a little while later to get it and walks in on him wearing the following:

One of Abbacchio’s signature goth dress robe thing

Like 12 of Bruno’s barrettes all sticking to the top of his head

Fugo’s tie

Narancia’s bandana

All while BLASTING K-Pop at full volume in the living room. And our man is INTO IT. This isn’t just some radio coincidence shit, he was SCREAMING the lyrics. He owns the CDs.

-Bucciarati LOSES IT. Mista has never been so mortified in his life and Bruno has never laughed so hard in his life.

-He promises not to tell the rest of the gang but tells him it’s officially blackmail material

-They never speak of it again but at Christmas Mista opens Bruno’s gift and it's a brand new K-pop CD and everyone thinks its just a gag gift but like

-He definitely listens to it later alone in his room

Bucciarati

Bruno Bucciarati does not get drunk for two main reasons:

He blacks out every time

He’s an absolute lightweight

-The last time Bruno got absolutely piss drunk, he was with Abbacchio and it wasn’t even funny. It was just surreal because Bucciarati never lets himself go to such an extent

-For whatever reason Bruno is like “hey I never drink we should go to the bar or something” after a successful mission

-Even though the legal age of drinking is technically 16 in Italy they leave “the kids” home to watch mean girls or some shit

-Mista tags along too because he’s worried Bruno will get drunk and spill about the unfortunate “K-pop incident”

-My man Bruno drank like two beers and was immediately GONE like he got up and got lost in the bar after way too many drinks and ran into a drag Queen with Abbacchio’s hair

-Said drag queen became Bruno Bucciarati’s new drinking buddy

-He stumbles over to the karaoke contest and gets onstage and grabs the shitty bar mic and screams “THIS GOES OUT TO LEONE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MWUA TWO YEARS HONEY~” and Mista is just like 👁👄👁

-Because uhhh they have literally been together for two years but everyone in the gang just thinks its a weird on/off thing because they never talk about it

-He sings dancing queen because its by ABBA and both Leone and Mista are fucking screaming with laughter and Abbacchio is filming the entire goddamn thing

-He buys the entire bar drinks they all love him so much

-Afterwards Leone tries to get them home so he leaves them outside while he takes a piss and when he walks back out THEY ARE GONE.

-Mista thought it would be a perfect time for them to get tattoos because his fucking capo is drunk off his ass and there is no better time

-Mista gets these two giant smoking guns on his back and his ass is in SO MUCH PAIN afterward that he leaves Bruno alone while he’s picking out his tattoo to get ice cream

-When he comes back Bruno has a tattoo ON HIS LEFT FOOT THAT SAYS “Never don’t give up.” The tattoo people tried to correct him but he insisted

-Abba finds them and is just like “jesus god” and takes them all to a hotel because there is no way in hell he’s taking them back home like this

-The next morning Bruno remembers absolutely NOTHING and as the gang admires Mista’s giant tattoo they ask if Bruno got one too and he’s like “god no I’m not that irresponsible”

-As soon as they’re alone Abba’s like “you got one on the bottom of your foot” and you can just see the moment Bucciarati’s soul leaves his body

Fugo

-Ok so if y’all didn’t know Fugo literally canonically wears a thong

-This isn’t sexualizing him (also I am indeed a minor don’t harass me) it's just a fact of life. You do you Fugo.

-So he sneaks out of the house once in a while and goes shopping for them cause our man’s gotta live, you know?

-He pops in the underwear store one day and you wanna know who he fucking passes by in the lingerie section?

-Bruno fucking Bucciarati.

-Which isn’t exactly a surprise considering he’s wearing visible lingerie in his tiddy window outfit but like

-That’s like running into your dad at femboy hooters

-Much to his dismay, the man spots him immediately and there’s just this...awkward silence as Fugo is holding this shopping basket of underwear and Bruno is holding the raunchiest piece of clothing he’s ever seen in his life

-They never talk about it again. Fugo finds a different store.

Abbacchio

-The most mortifying moment Abbacchio can live to remember is the first time he told Bucciarati that he loved him

-Pre-canon, our man is NOT having a vibing time

-He gets absolutely wasted with while Bruno’s at his apartment

-He’s the most miserable drunk, so he’s just fucking sobbing and Bucci is sitting there trying to console him and Abbacchio just looks up at him with tears streaking down his face and says “I’m in love with you” and the look on Bruno’s face just makes him feel even more miserable

-The entire night he keeps blubbering about how much he loves him and how much he means to him and how beautiful he is and the entire time Bruno is doing that thing where he tries to cover his face with his hand because our man is mega FLUSTERED up in here

-When he wakes up he remembers EVERYTHING and he wished he didn’t because then maybe he would be able to say that he didn’t mean it

-Bruno is surprisingly just like “Did you really mean it?” and he can’t lie so he just tells the truth and he’s just nonchalantly like “me too”

-Bruno thinks it’ll be a nice wedding story and Abbacchio no longer wants to live on this planet

Narancia

-Mista and Narancia are vibing in the living room one night and Nara tells Mista to grab his gameboy from upstairs

-He says its under his pillow (or else Bruno will take it away every night hehe)

-But you wanna know what else is under Narancia’s pillow? His Diary. No, it’s not a journal or just a blank book, Mista finds a book titled DIARY.

-And the shit in there is priceless.

“Bucciarati is sooo cool. I tried cutting my hair like his, but it didn’t really work. I think I gotta wear this hat for the next couple weeks. Shit. Fuck. If someone takes it off, I’m so fucked.”

“I clogged up the toilet yesterday and was too scared to tell Abba, so I just flushed it again but then the water wouldn’t stop flooding everywhere so I used Aerosmith to explode the toilet and told Abba that it was a stand attack. He believed me. If ANYONE ever finds out, I’m dead.”

“HOLY SHIT. I swallowed a tide pod yesterday and freaked out so I made Giorno turn it into a grape in my stomach with his stand. I almost DIED. But I didn’t so I’m over it. If Giorno ever tells anyone, I’ll kill him.”

-Narancia realizes about ten minutes after Mista left that HOLY SHIT HIS DIARY

-he finds Mista three quarters way through it and gives him $50 not to tell anyone about it.

-The shame never leaves, though

Trish

-Jade gave me a cute headcanon that Trish’s mom was still only teaching her how to properly put on makeup before she died (it's not like there was youtube or anything to teach her either) so our girl Trish only knows the basics

-She puts on lip gloss and blush and mascara and stuff but she’s never even TOUCHED eyeliner and rarely puts on eyeshadow. She doesn’t even wear concealer most of the time (she honestly doesn’t even need to, her skin is baby soft smooth)

-So long story short she kind of misses her mom and remembers how her mom was going to teach her a smokey eye before she died and is determined to teach it to herself now

-So she pulls a little heist and snatches some of Abbacchio’s makeup while they’re all out doing stuff

-She was not prepared for how heavy this shit was. She was used to the lighter, more natural stuff but Abba’s makeup is EXTREME.

-All of his stuff is waterproof so it doesn’t wash off while he’s crying at 3am and it’s just this—dark, heavy stuff.

-She actually hasn’t used a thick, real tube of lipstick before, only those little gloss tubes with the stick because she has smaller lips so when she crouches over with a small makeup mirror in fear of anyone somehow walking in on her and smears Abbacchio’s thick, dark purple lipstick on her lips, she knew she was absolutely fucked. She has no idea how to do this shit, especially not with dark, heavy goth makeup

-The smokey eye does not work. It’s just smeared eyeshadow EVERYWHERE, it looks like she has two giant, awful, black eyes and her first attempt at eyeliner was just—unspeakably horrible

-She has no idea where to start so she just puts on way too much of absolutely everything and immediately regrets it the moment she looks at herself in the bathroom mirror

-Abba comes home early and immediately realizes that some of his makeup is gone and he knows it has to be Trish

-He walks upstairs to confront her but just hears loud, ugly sobbing coming from her room and bursts in only to find her desperately trying to wipe off layers of caked-on water-proof makeup and absolutely failing

-The two of them spend all night taking it off all while Trish is still crying teary apologies to him

-To add in some wholesome Dadbacchio, he teaches her how to properly put everything on the next day <3

Giorno

-Some people forget that as a 15 year old, Giorno sometimes has absolutely no impulse control

-So when Polnareff tells him that he’s the spitting image of his evil, murderous, vampire dad he’s immediately like “haha well I’m gonna go dye my hair now”

-Everyone had something to do that day/night so Giorno waltzes over to the nearest drug store and grabs one of those at-home dying kits (he got dark green cause he thought it would look cool with his new outfit)

-He gets home and has absolutely no idea what he’s doing so he just thinks it’ll work out somehow

-Soooo yeah he does NOT put it in properly at all, he just kind of takes the shit and slathers it all over his hair and doesn’t do his roots and doesn’t put it up and leaves it dripping down his back and stuff and his stupid ass FALLS ASLEEP with the hair dye in

-He wakes up and the sheets are this really awful light green colour but he doesn’t pay any mind to it

-He looks in the mirror and from the front it actually looks good and he gets all excited and decides to wash it out

-When he gets out of the shower it’s this awful disgusting light light ugly green and he almost cries. Almost.

-It looks like someone dunked him in that Nickelodeon slime and he looks at the package and it says the dye will stay in for at least 3 weeks and there aRE TEARY EYES

-He spends the next hour in the shower trying to wash it out. It does not wash out.

-Utterly defeated with his hair matted and donuts practically falling apart, he stumbles over to his room and tries to wash the sheets covered in slime-coloured hair dye which *surprise!!!* doesn’t wash out either!

-He must dispose of the evidence, but of COURSE they’re out of garbage bags so he shoves all the dye kit stuff and the sheets into a mafia body bag and chucks it by the garbage can outside without a single thought

-Which he SHOULD have had a single thought about it, because when they get home and Narancia spots the body bag he’s like “holy shit guys I think Giorno killed someone while we were out”

-So they all panically pop into the house and cautiously try to find Giorno. Fugo finally finds him pacing around his room in the dark and when he flicks on the lights HO-LY SHIT.

-Fugo obviously bursts out into laughter and Bruno books it up the stairs and also starts cackling and Narancia is like “OH MY GOD YOU KILLED SOMEONE LOOKING LIKE THAT?!” and Giorno has to explain to them that the body bag is filled with stained bedsheets (much to his embarrassment)

-Abbacchio takes so many pictures and Giorno is having a nervous breakdown because he cannot live with his hair looking like this

-Bruno makes Abba fix it the next morning and he loves every second of Giorno’s mortification

-The pictures Abbacchio took of that night are framed next to the pictures of Bruno’s wasted karaoke night in his room

______________________

Thank you for the ask, anon!! I’m absolutely exhausted now haha so I’ll scroll through the rest of the asks when I wake up!!

[vintagedolan]

heyyy, how about if you’re going on dates w grayson and he tells you he’s a single dad and has a daughter! and introducing you to her 🥺

big oof this one GOT ME and I got carried away, enjoy!!!

You weren’t bored, but it was seeming more and more like he was. Fidgeting with the hem of your dress under the table, you watched him type furiously on his phone, attention devoted entirely to whatever was so consuming. It was your fifth date with Grayson, and he’d always had his phone close by, but never like this.

“Am I boring you?” You asked, a bit more sass in your tone than you really intended. 

“What? No! No, no not at all, it’s- um... well,” he mumbled, obviously unsure of what to say. “I just have a... situation, that I need to figure out.”

“You wanna elaborate on that?” You asked, confused. You watched him battle with himself for a moment, debating on saying what he was about to say.

“My daughter’s sick. She’s with the babysitter, and apparently she’s running a fever. I need to get home, I’m really sorry.” 

Only one real word of that registered.

“Daughter? You have a daughter?” 

“This wasn’t how I wanted to tell you. Shit. I’m sorry, I’ll pay for your uber and everything, this isn’t at all how I wanted this to go, I swear I was gonna tell you, tonight actually-”

“Gray, Grayson, slow down. It’s alright, I get it. But an uber is gonna cost you a fortune from here, why don’t we just go back to your place and I can get a ride from there.” You tried to calm him down a bit, already rising from your seat. 

“I... uh...”

“I don’t have to go inside, I totally understand if you don’t wanna tell her you were on a date. But it’ll save you about $50 bucks.” You knew that the money didn’t really matter to him, but in all honesty you just wanted to spend a little more time with him if you could. 

“Okay. Yeah, okay. Let’s go.” He casually dropped a hundred bucks on the table and reached for your hand, leading you out of the restaurant, down the stairs and to the car. Glancing in the backseat as he backed out of the parking space, you couldn’t help but notice that it was entirely empty. 

“No carseat?” You asked. Even in the dim glow of the dashboard lights, you could see his blush.

“Wasn’t sure it would be the best wingman on a date. It’s in my garage at home,” he admitted.

“I bet the base is a bitch to take in and out of here,” you mused. 

“Oh god, it’s actually awful. Wait... you don’t... do you?”

“No, I don’t have kids. Just been around them a lot. What’s your daughter’s name?”

“Raleigh. She’s two and a half, and spoiled rotten,” he added, shaking his head a bit as he started down the road. 

“Oh, I bet you had nothing to do with that,” you teased, rolling your eyes. Based off how he’d treated you thus far on your dates, you knew he gave his daughter the world and more.

“I blame her uncle Ethan, or her grandma. Girl has more outfits than I have space for in my house,” he chuckled. There was a happiness in his voice you hadn’t heard yet, a pride he got from talking about her. 

“Is her mom still in the picture?” 

“No. She left when she was about 6 months, said it was too much. We rushed into things, I was too excited to be a parent I think, and she just wasn’t ready. I got full custody pretty soon after that, so she’s all mine now. It’s hard, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

“Well, she sounds like the luckiest girl in the world,” you smiled. Pictures were running through your head now of Grayson as a dad, holding a little curly haired girl in his arms, rocking her, playing with her down on the floor. It was the most flattering light you could see him in.

“I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just - I really, really like you, and I didn’t want to scare you off,” he mumbled, nerves back in his voice.

“I get it Gray. But hey, I don’t scare that easy. Kids are cool,” you shrugged. Sure, you weren’t expecting this at all, but it wasn’t going to do any good to freak out over it now - that would only hurt Grayson. You’d at least give it a shot, see how you felt. So when he reached over to take your hand you let him, squeezing back in reassurance that you weren’t going anywhere just yet. 

When you got back to the house, he parked beside an unfamiliar car - the babysitter’s, you realized - and came around to help you out. 

Just as you were about to offer to wait outside, he spoke up.

“Would you wanna come in? If she’s feeling any better she’ll probably go right to sleep, and we could still hang out. It’s totally okay if you don’t want to, I would understand, but-”

“I’d love to meet her,” you smiled, taking his hand and letting him lead you to the house. Your heels clicked on the concrete as you approached the front door, waiting for him to unlock it. 

You stepped inside when he held the door open, immediately comforted by the homey vibe of the house. It was mostly minimalist - white walls and dark wood broken up by the arrangement of toys scattered around. 

It wasn’t until the babysitter came around the corner that the attention shifted. 

“Molly, hey, sorry about all this, she was totally fine all day. Must be a stomach bug,” he was saying, but you were just looking at the little girl in her arms. Raleigh was smaller than you’d expected her to be, her little frame wrapped up in footie pajamas adorned with little rainbows. She was a spitting image of Grayson, her features just a bit softer than his - dark hair curling around her ears and her neck. 

You watched as he quickly got the cash out to pay her, passing it to her and then immediately reaching for his daughter, as if he couldn’t wait another minute to have her in his arms. 

“Hey pumpkin. I missed you. Yeah, you don’t feel so good, hmm? You’re burnin’ up,” he was cooing, immediately slipping into dad mode, your heart melting into a puddle at the sight. She curled up into his neck, hugging onto him as she sucked on her pacifier - but her eyes were trained on you, even as Molly waved goodbye and left. You waved at her softly, not wanting to scare her.

“Raleigh this is Y/N, she’s daddy’s friend. Can you say hi?” 

She lifted a tiny hand to wave at you, and then she pointed, mumbling something behind her pacifier.

“Blue? Yeah, her dress is blue, you’re right,” Grayson praised, somehow understanding her.

You weren’t sure who was more surprised - you or Grayson - when Raleigh reached out for you with both arms, asking you to hold her. 

You didn’t hesitate, scooping her up and placing her on your hip. She started to run her little hands over the fabric of your dress, occasionally squeezing it in her fist.

“She never goes that easily to people, it took her a month to even look at Molly without crying,” Grayson said.

“Well, I guess I’ve got the magic touch,” you said, somehow immediately summoning karma down on top of you for your tiny little ego boost.

There was only a retching sound of warning, and then you could feel hot liquid going down your chest.

“She just puked on me didn’t she.” It wasn’t a question - you didn’t even have to look to know exactly what happened.

“Holy fuck. Holy fuck I’m so sorry,” Grayson was more than flustered, but he hadn’t moved in the slightest. It wasn’t until Raleigh started wailing that either of you moved. 

“Hey, hey it’s okay, it’s alright,” you murmured, trying to comfort her, all your attention moved to her. When you looked, she was covered in her own puke, face red as she screamed. You turned, heading down the hallway, checking doors until you found a bathroom. It was all instinct and babysitting experience after that.

You calmed her down as best you could, stripping her out of her soiled pjs and getting a washcloth, running it under warm water and starting to clean her up. You sang a little tune you remembered from when you used to babysit, and it soothed her enough, her sobs turning into sniffles.

“There, see, look! All better! All cleaned up,” you smiled, tickling her little belly. “Let’s get you some medicine and find where your daddy went, yeah?” 

The two of you found him in the living room, headed towards you armed with baby wipes, a towel, a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. He seemed shocked that his daughter wasn’t crying, and he sat everything down on the couch, reaching out for her.

“Y/N I’m so sorry, this whole night is a disaster,” he groaned, putting the back of his hand to Raleigh’s forehead. 

“Believe it or not, I’ve had worse dates,” you laughed at the absurdity of the whole situation.

“I brought you a change of clothes. I’m sorry about your dress, I’ll buy you a new one,” he offered, sheepish smile spreading across his face. Raleigh was already started to doze off - you could tell by her face that she felt better already.

“Eh, it was on clearance anyways, no biggie. But I will take the sweatpants offer,” you grinned, going over to get the clothes and taking the baby wipes with you for good measure. 

You headed back to the same bathroom, stripping down and changing out of your dress and into the much more comfortable joggers and t shirt he gave you, making sure to wipe your chest down just in case before you got dressed. You tried to get your dress clean, but it was futile - you’d have to put it in the wash or just call it a loss and toss it. 

So, you went back out towards the front door, sitting the crumpled up fabric on the floor before heading back out in search of Gray. To your surprise, he was in the kitchen, already cooking away with the baby monitor in close proximity.

“How do I look?” You grinned, making a show of the outfit, being sure to point out your heels. He laughed, a belly laugh that you hadn’t heard before.

“Honestly? Sexiest I’ve ever seen you, truly,” he smiled, reaching back to get a few more things from the cabinets.

“Raleigh already down?”

“Oh yeah, she’s always been a great sleeper. Thank you, for taking such good care of her. I think she just needed to puke and get it over with, she already seemed a bit better when I put her down. So, it looks like we still have the night to ourselves after all.”

And that night ended up looking like the two of you cuddled up on the couch with vegan mac and cheese - your dinner had been cut short after all - with a movie on the screen, baby monitor on the table beside you. With each minute that passed your doubts started to fade away - maybe this was what you really wanted after all. 

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

A Muppet Family Christmas

Day 13 of 2018′s 31 Days of Christmas.  Note: new for 2020.  Credited as 2018 for organizational purposes, & back-filling the prompt.

Thanks to @doctorroseprompts for the prompt list!

Prompt: Holiday movies

Rating: T (sexual themes, alcohol)

Pairing: TenxRose (AU)

Summary: Despite being mid-January James and Rose have a Christmas-movie watching date, and open up about old grief amidst being childish with the Muppets and Mario Kart.  Part of the Cosier With You ‘verse.

2018 31 Days of Ficmas Masterlist  |  Cosier With You ‘Verse

AO3

---

With a final swipe of gloss across her lips, Rose returned the lipstick to her purse, fluffed her hair, and knocked on the door.

“It’s open!”

Pushing the door open, she grinned at the sight that greeted her.  Hair still obviously wet from the shower, her boyfriend of three weeks (and counting!) stood on the far side of his kitchen island, preoccupied with a popcorn popper that was spitting out perfectly popped corn.  “Hey!” he greeted her warmly, as she dumped her stuff and came around to his side.  “Missed you.”

“I saw you this morning,” she laughed, kissing him hello. “Mm, you taste like butter.”

“I had to make sure it was good,” James shrugged, gesturing to the half-full bowl catching the freshly popped corn.  “Only the best for you.  And yes, but we were at your place of work, surrounded by people.  I much prefer when we’re alone.”

“So do I.”  Wrapping her arms around his waist, she rested her head on his bicep.  “Remind me why we’re watching Christmas movies in mid-January?”

James eased out of her arms as the popper wound down, dumping the last of the kernels into the bowl before switching the machine off. “Because I don’t want to wait a year to curl up with you and popcorn and watch cheesy Christmas-themed movies with you.” He nodded towards a bottle of white wine and two glasses on the counter, still chilled from the fridge, waiting for Rose to grab them before guiding her to the couch, which was already prepared for the evening.

Two soft, fleece-lined blankets stood at the ready, along with the pillows from his bed.  A stack of DVDs sat on the coffee table, two drink coasters optimally positioned, and to complete the Christmas-y vibe, all the decorations, including the tree, were still up.

“So, for future reference, do you typically leave the tree up this long?” she asked, plopping down roughly in the middle of the couch and pulling out the pre-popped cork.  “‘Cause I’ve gotta be honest, mine’s been down since the third, and this might be a sticking point in the future.”

He laughed, settling next to her and reaching for his glass.  “No, but… I’m not ready to take it down yet, this year.  I’m afraid…”

“What?”  She took her own glass, leaning back into the cushions and giving him her full attention.

“I’m afraid that this- what we have- is a function of Christmas magic, and if I remove the decorations…” he trailed off, ears flushing. “Point is, I’m not taking any chances on this.”

Rose grinned, blushing herself, and wiggled closer.  “I’m not going to disappear if you take your tree down,” she promised.  “And I’m mostly teasing you – it’s sort of nice, it still being up.  Not sure I’d say the same if I was living- with one still up,” she faltered, and they shared a smile at what was unsaid- “but… yeah. I wouldn’t want to jinx us either. I’ve been wanting this for so long.”

“Me too.”  He leaned forward, and they met in the middle in a kiss that tasted of salt from the popcorn, tart from the wine, and sweet from what she was learning was just him.  “Mhmm, you’re too tempting,” he accused without heat when he pulled back for breath.  “This isn’t why I asked you over.”

“All right, all right,” she resettled herself with a laugh.  “Fine, we can Netflix then Chill, if that’s what you really want.”

His ears and neck turned a delightful shade of scarlet, and he all but lunged for the stack of DVDs, voice squeaking as he said, “So!  What shall we start with?”

Leaning in again she rested her cheek against his shoulder as they shuffled through the selection, and it took everything she had not to scoff at the final option, managing a neutral tone to say, “A Muppet Family Christmas?”

James stilled beside her, and she was glad she hadn’t laughed when a distant expression flashed across his face. “It was my dad’s favorite Christmas movie,” he said, hesitantly.  “Mum hated it, but tolerated it when we were old enough to watch it.  It became our thing, me Donna and Dad’s.  She and I still watch it together every year.”

“Oh.”  Rose tried to marshal her thoughts, recognizing that he was letting her in on something special, wondering distantly if it was some sort of test.  “I’ve never actually seen it.”

“Really?”

She nodded.  “Slightly before my time.  I know who the Muppets are, of course, saw the Christmas Carol one, but… not this.”

He was silent for a moment, picking at the corner of the box.  “D’you wanna?”

“Yes.”  She surprised them both with the strength of her response, based on how James’ head flew up to blink at her.  “Sounds like this might be the closest I get to meeting your Dad, so- let’s do it.”

His blinding smile told her it was absolutely the right answer.

-

By the end of the movie they were snuggled together, singing along at the top of their lungs to the final song, even as it trailed off to the credits.

“-And a happy new year!” they finished, before breaking into peals of laughter.

“Oh, I loved it,” Rose proclaimed, wiping tears of merriment from her eyes.  “I can’t believe I’ve never seen that – it’s adorable!”

Beside her, James made a happy noise, pressing his face into her bicep.  “Really?”

Wriggling around, Rose waited until she could meet his eye to respond.  “Really,” she said firmly.  “There’s something special about it.  And more importantly, it’s special to you.  So it’s special to me.  Thank you for sharing this bit of yourself with me.”  No words could express how honored she felt, that he was comfortable sharing something so personal with her.  It made her a little wistful for her own father; while both men were gone, James had at least grown up with his father, known him in person- Rose had been a baby when Pete died.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”  James’ concerned tone dragged her out of the spiral of her thoughts, and she looked up at him when he brushed at her cheek.  “You’re crying.”

She bit her lip.  “I was just thinking about my own dad,” she said truthfully.  “I’d give anything to share something like this with him.  Or, anything, really.  I was six months when he- when we lost him.  I mean, on bank holidays Mum and I watch old Cliff Richards movies, but… it’s not quite the same as this.”

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to bring up a… a sad memory for you.”  His soulful chocolate eyes felt like they could see into her very heart, and she pushed down the ever-present but background grief.

“It’s okay.  Sometimes it hits me in the weirdest moments.  And I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet your Dad – he sounds wonderful, based on your stories.”  Then she bolted upright, as a memory surfaced.  “Holy shit – I think I did meet your dad!  Three Christmases ago, the first couple months you were coming in – we didn’t have much of a relationship then, but I still clocked you every time, ‘cause you’re so bloody cute, and I remember you came in a few days before Christmas with an older man!  You’d been out shopping, and blimey, he looked just like you!”

James was silent for a long moment, before exhaling.  “Blimey, I think you’re right.  I’d forgotten – I was sweet on your even then, and I think he noticed, ‘cause he kept teasing me.  I never took him back, for fear of him embarrassing me.  But… yeah, there you go.  You did meet him.  And he liked you, much as he could in thirty seconds.  Kept egging me to ask you out, and I brushed him off.  If only I’d listened to him…”

They sat with that, imaging what could have been, before Rose clapped her hands.  “No, we are not going down that rabbit hole.  Let’s be grateful that we got there, and we’re here now.  Trust me, I spent my entire life pretending not to notice how my mum had one foot stuck in the could-have-beens.  Better not to start down that path.”  She reached for the bottle of wine, but it was empty.  “What d’you say we go do some stargazing?”

“Or…” he drawled, raising an eyebrow, “we could continue on our childish theme and play Mario Kart.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!”

-

By the third race their maudlin musings had been all but forgotten, as they battled it out for first place with taunts and good-natured ribbing, giving no quarter and playing as though their lives depended on it – complete with over-dramatic victory dances and cheering.

“Oh, come on!” James protested, as Rose eked out a second win by a breath.  “You’re cheating!”

“Am not,” she denied, settling back on the couch after a final celebratory kick.  “Novice, remember?  Beginner’s luck?”

He grumbled, turning to look at her.  “Care to make it more interesting?”

“How so?”

“Winner takes a shot, loser loses an item of clothing?”

Rose laughed, shaking her head.  “You want to turn strip-racing into a drinking game?”  Leaning back, she considered her outfit and his, then the empty bottle of wine.  “What d’you got for shots?”

A rifle through the fridge produced a cold bottle of peppermint schnapps, “In keeping with the Christmas theme,” he declared, setting it on the coffee table along with two shot glasses.  “Hope you’re thirsty.”

Shaking her head, Rose folded her legs beneath her.  “You do know I’m a sure thing, right?” she teased, choosing the next track in the game.  “You don’t need to get me drunk, or strip to get me interested.”

“Someone’s confident in themself, aren’t they?” he leered. “Better watch out – who knows what the promise of getting you in your knickers will do to my ability in the game?”

“Not a thing,” she shot back, catching her tongue between her teeth.  “Because there’s no where you’re getting me in my knickers.”  She started the race, laughing at his outraged yelp.

“We’ll see.”

The light turned green and they took off, and Rose waited until they were near the end and he was slightly ahead to say, “I’d have to be wearing knickers for you to see me in them.”  As predicted he startled, going so far as to drop his controller, and with a laugh, she sped across the finish line for her third win in a row.  As her character (Princess Peach, natch) was crowned, she turned to watch him splutter, eyes wide.

Finally, he just pointed, making a wheezing sound.  “You…”

She took her shot first, nearly coughing at the overwhelming peppermint flavor, before turning her whole body to him.  “Strip, loser,” she ordered with a smirk.  “And, in case you don’t believe me…”  Brave off the half-bottle of wine and the shot, she lifted her leg to splay it along the back of the sofa, confirming for him that she wasn’t wearing anything beneath her skirt.  Laughing at the awestruck look on his face she returned to facing the telly, tucking her knees primly together.  “I held up my end of the bargain…”

Coming back to life, he shook his head in disgust.  “You’re not playing fair.”  He whipped his shirt off, revealing his lovely muscular chest, and her knees squeezed together just a bit tighter.

“Well, lose quicker then, so we can go to bed.”

-

He didn’t win a single race after that, but an hour later, flat on his back on his living room floor wearing only a single sock, with a sticky and sweaty Rose collapsed on his chest, he couldn’t be bothered to care.

“I love Christmas.”