#( she's just always so pressed as amy march it works well for faces if not for clothes

[mackgemma]

face to face ➥ jamma.

who: gemma & @jackcfspades​ when: may 1st/2nd ( late night on their porch )  what: jack gives gemma a manicure. they feed shadow. domestic shenanigans of two criminals, u know. 

having a friday night off was a rarity ; normally, she chose the night shifts because she loved the quiet desolation of the desert at night, of handing out coffee to truckers and playing poker in the booth with maisy or jack until they napped just because they could. but they’d both had the night off ; jack had gone to town for supplies they couldn’t easily stock up on at the gas station market or steal from the diner, and gemma had made herself a successful afternoon of doing absolutely fucking nothing. 

( it was what she was second best at. ) 

the late hours kept her awake anyways, though, and while their apartment was a slum - a two story building with jack and gemma on one side of the bottom floor and maisy on the other - their landlady bitched and moaned when they smoked inside. so she went out - barefoot, as always - grabbing her stash of cigarettes as she went. 

jack was already out there, and she plopped down next to him without a second thought, stealing his lighter out of his hand and taking a deep inhale as she lit up. “i almost feel like we should just go to the diner anyways,” she commented - it was only a ten minute walk down the small street. “unless shadow followed you home from i-40.”

[kay-emm-gee]

always, only, you

Pairing: Theodore Laurence/Amy March Rating: Mature || wc: ~1.5k a/n: Always loved the two of them, and I absolutely adored the 2019 adaptation, and I felt inspired to write jealous!laurie, so here we are.

* * *

For what felt like the tenth time tonight, Laurie was staring at her from across the room, not saying a word. Amy did not look away from her vanity mirror, ignoring the feel of his eyes on her. Their party had gone well as any of their previous endeavors, and she simply wished for the happy sort of exhaustion that normally came after a successful night as hostess to sink into her bones. But instead, after the way her husband had behaved, she only wished for sleep. He had barely spoken to her during their customary waltz or at the dinner table. No kind words for her, no usual shower of compliments--only silent, sidelong looks, just as he was doing even now.

Stubbornly ignoring him, she reached up and continued pulling pins from her hair. Curl after curl fell, and as the last one tumbled down, she heard Laurie’s breath catch. A small thrill of satisfaction tripped up her spine to have finally shaken some semblance of reaction from him. Too soon, however, it died under the weight of her lingering annoyance.

“Are you going to stand there all night?” She finally asked breezily. “Or do you plan to sleep standing up?”

“I will, at the very least, take my cravat off. Still deciding where to sleep. The wall here is quite comfortable, I’ve never noticed before.”

Ignoring his dry quip, she began brushing her hair. “I thought it went well tonight. Not as much of a success as our Christmas party, but still a grand time.”

“Fred Vaughn certainly had an excellent evening.”

She paused mid-stroke, turning to face her husband. When their eyes met, his mouth twisted into a sharp mockery of a smile.

“Whatever do you mean by that?”

“I suppose any man would have had just an excellent of an evening, being so devotedly attended to by my wife.”

He said the last word softly but with such force that it seemed to shatter as it dropped into the silence between them. Slowly, Amy set down her hairbrush. Then she rose from her chair, staring at him in disbelief.

“You...you’ve behaved this way all night, because you are jealous?”

Laurie scoffed, pushing off the wall. He turned from her and shrugged off his evening jacket, then reached up and removed his cravat with short, jerky movements. Incredulous, Amy stood and approached him, her chemise swishing against the floor.

“Laurie, I paid him no more attention than I would any other friend of ours—”

“But no other friend of ours has proposed marriage to you, hmm? No others have been in love with you, have they?”

“It has been more than five years since he and I...you are being ridiculous. Laurie—”

He spun around. “Am I?”

The tinge of angry desperation in his words brought Amy up short. She swallowed down the words of her sharp retort and simply looked at her husband. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and his hair was mussed. No doubt he had been running his hands through it before he had come up to bed. Instinctively, she moved towards him, resting her palms on his shoulders. She could feel the tension in them, and so she slid her hands up until they cupped his jaw. Forcing his gaze down to meet hers, she felt her breath catch again as she glimpsed something all too familiar in his eyes.

Worry that something was slipping away. Fear that something precious and so desperately wanted would be wrenched from his grasp.

This worry, this fear—she had felt it in the first years of their marriage. Despite the rings, and despite her sister’s blessing, Amy had struggled to leave her girlhood insecurities behind. In those early years, jealousy had been her constant foe. She knew Laurie and Jo were connected by threads of closeness that could not be severed. It was as incontrovertible a fact as the shape of her nose or that her sister had died too young. She had known this and said her vows anyway. She had known this and still honestly believed Laurie when he had promised to love and cherish her until death did part them. Never once had she truly thought he considered betraying his vows, and never once had she believed her sister ever wanted him to. Even so, in the infancy of their marriage she had fought this battle that she now saw raging in her husband’s eyes.

She stroked a thumb over his cheek. He closed his eyes, and let out a tired sigh.

“He made you laugh.”

Amy bit her lip to keep from smiling. “Old Mr. Rochester also makes me laugh, but I don’t see you worrying about me spending time with him.”

“I tried to make you laugh all week, and you just snapped at me every time.”

“Well, because, for example, you almost destroyed our flower arrangements--our very expensive flower arrangements--for the party in the process of trying to make me laugh. Besides, you know how I get before these events. I’m insufferable.”

She watched as his lips flexed in stifled amusement. The heavy weight on her chest lifted at the sight.

“Theodore Laurence,” she whispered. “I love you. Only you. Always have, always will.”

His forehead knocked gently into hers. “You do?”

“I do.”

“How much?” His voice was tender, rasping.

“More than those flower arrangements.” She paused for a beat. “But only just barely. Certainly not more than my blue muslin, however.”

He chuckled, the corner of his mouth kicking up. She pressed a kiss there, soft and lingering.

“Theo?”

His eyes finally opened and met hers, and the heat Amy saw reflected there made her stomach clench. He always loved it when she called him that—particularly because no one else did. It was for them. Angling his head, he let his lips drift just over hers, a breath away from touching. Anticipation shivered down her spine.

“Yes, dear?” He answered as he slid hands around her waist.

Her own hands slid down his neck, over his shoulders and down his back as she perched up on her toes to whisper in his ear, “I want my husband to take me to bed.”

He took in a sharp breath, and then his mouth was on hers, hot and claiming. His fingers dug into her sides, and she gripped his shoulders for balance. They stumbled backwards, but neither of them were paying proper attention, so Laurie ended up backing her into the wall beside her vanity instead of the bed. With each stroke of his tongue against hers, the tension inside her wound tighter, and she let out a small moan as he pressed his hips into hers. With an answering hum of pleasure, he broke the kiss and spun her around so quickly that she had to grip the wall to steady herself. His fingers unlaced her underclothes with little trouble, and she shimmied out of them hurriedly. When she faced him again, he had already made quick work of his shirt. Her hands went to his pants, fumbling with the fastenings.

“Faster, wife,” he muttered as he tried, and failed, to help. She huffed in response, unable to hide her grin any more than Laurie was able to hide his own. As she felt the fastenings finally give, she sighed in triumph. That sigh quickly turned into a moan, however, when she felt Laurie’s fingers slide over the heat between her legs. He stroked her slowly, firmly, just the way she liked. Vaguely she heard him kick off his pants, but she was too lost in the pleasure he was giving her to know for certain.

By the time Laurie positioned himself at her core, she was aching for him, and when he entered her, she let out a throaty cry of relief. He moved in and out of her in short, rough thrusts, her leg hitched over one of his arms, the other curled around her lower back for support. The friction between them wound her tighter and tighter until, with one last long slide, it peaked. He groaned and found his pleasure just as she keened and found hers. Together, they rode out the crashing wave until it was just small ripples.

As Laurie cleaned them both up, Amy focused on catching her breath. It had been a claiming, no doubt, but on both sides. She was his, and he was hers. The heat inside her had smoldered down to coals, and now suffused her with a low, satisfied burn. He stood and leaned into her once more, and she looked up at him lazily.

“Now will you take me to bed, husband?”

With a smug grin, he leaned down and kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Certainly, my dear.”

Then he grasped her hand and tugged, and she followed him gladly--always had, always would.

[daintyduck99]

One last cliche prompt, because I know you love this one: X tracing random shapes on Y and writer's choice for the pairing!

I know it's been over a century since the book came out, but it case anyone doesn't want to be spoiled, there are some minor spoilers for the plot of Little Women!

Julie's eyes keep drifting to Reggie instead of focusing on the antics of the March sisters.

She can't help it. He's so invested. Every reaction plays over his face so vividly, reflected in his bright eyes, flushed cheeks, and parted lips.

It's a viewing she's much more interested in, especially since she's allowed to look now.

She also marvels at his touch, how he doesn't even seem to realize when he fiddles with her bra strap, or her hair, or when he draws random patterns on her thigh. It makes her wonder just how much he was holding back, how much of this she had missed. They aren't even things that she'd known she would like, but she likes everything about him. She likes being this close to him, the casual way in which he's always touching her these days.

She's itching to do the same, to toy with his hair or tug at his belt loops or let her fingers dance over his arm, but she'd hate to distract him. She's surprised that he's able to ignore her eyes on him as it is.

His hand stills on her thigh, and her attention returns to the screen. Jo's manuscript goes up in flames, and he presses his cheek against the top of Julie’s head, half-burying his face in her hair like he can barely stand to watch.

"Her life's work," Reggie breathes, "gone, all because she wouldn't take Amy to the movies. How could she do that? Luke can be rude as hell sometimes, but I can't imagine throwing his songbook in the fire."

Julie hums, threading her fingers into his hair and scratching his scalp since he's already distracted. He melts, slumping against her, and it fills her chest with a fondness so intense that she nearly forgets to answer him. She flushes as he murmurs her name.

"It's hard to remember since Florence Pugh doesn't look it in these flashbacks, but Amy's only—twelve here? If that? She's a disgruntled younger sibling who doesn't know how to handle the rejection she's feeling. And she didn't know it was Jo's only copy. Carlos did something similar to me, once. He scratched up a CD because he was mad at me, but it wasn't labeled, so he didn't know it was one that Flynn had made for me."

Reggie makes a small noise of understanding. He starts tracing shapes on her leg again as Jo's anger smolders.

"Let me guess. You reacted a lot like this?"

She smiles. "You know me so well, corazón. I was furious. Our fight wasn't this bad, though."

"Wait, are you implying that this one gets worse?" He turns to her, eyes serious, and she bites down on her smile before it can blossom into a full-blown grin. She ruffles his hair, but it's not enough to sway him from the topic. "Julie! What happens? I need to know now!"

She kisses his pout away, covering his hand with her own. "Honey, wait and see."

When he automatically loops his arm around her waist as Amy plunges through the rotten ice on the lake, anchoring her to his side in his shock, she's certainly not complaining.

[reciprocityfic]

passing afternoons

title: passing afternoons fandom: little women pairing: theodore laurence x amy march  rating: m summary: “did you have any dalliances after me?” she asks.

he blinks hard as his brain reels for a moment, as he struggles to comprehend what she’s saying. after her? there is no after her. there never will be.

then, he stops. thinks. she means...oh. oh.

she means after that time in the garden, in paris. when he’d first revealed his feelings for her, and she’d rejected him. left him standing there alone and feeling like an utter, hopeless idiot.

oh.

(laurie and amy spend a late summer afternoon talking about the past.)

author’s note: i've literally shipped laurie and amy since like fourth grade. so when i saw little women (2019) and found out it did my bbs justice, i basically cried. i've been meaning to write fic ever since, but alas, here we are almost a year later. i hope you enjoy it anyways.

i have another fic in the works that's longer and definitely more angsty, which i hope to post relatively soon. i also hope to write more fluff (also maybe smut???) for them in the coming months bc GOD i just love imagining these two together. in the meantime, i hope you enjoyed this!

xoxo, rebekah

passing afternoons

They enjoy being lazy after sex.

They’re not always afforded the opportunity, of course.  At night, they tend to fall asleep rather quickly afterwards, exhausted and sated and tangled together.  And the occasional forbidden interlude - when they’re some party or gathering wholly bland or pretentious and the two of them (sometimes tipsy, sometimes bored, always and perpetually desperate for each other) run off to some dark corner or isolated room where he lifts the skirt of her dress and the too-many layers underneath and uses his body to press hers against the wall as he sinks into her from behind and they pray their moans and the sounds of their bodies together won’t be heard - must be short and altogether swift, no time to dwell in the aura of the sensations and feelings between them.

But then, there are days when Grandfather is occupied with the business and the Marches are busy and they dismiss the servants.  It’s just the two of them in their grand house with time that seems to stretch on and on.  Sometimes they’ll make it a game of sorts, shamelessly flirt and tempt each other to see who will break first, but oftentimes they’ll share a look and a smile and then they’re off in a race to their horizontal surface of choice.

Today is one of those days, when they’ve nowhere to be, nothing to do, and are all alone.  It’s an unusually hot day in late September, and when Amy had complained about the warmth, he’d suggested she take her blouse off.  She’d raised an eyebrow and told him to go first, and then one thing led to another and now they’re naked and sore and satisfied, laying on their bed as the early afternoon sun shines in through their open windows.

He lays on top of the sheets on his back, head at the foot of the bed and hands on his stomach, staring up at the ceiling and trying to find imaginary patterns in swirling paint.  She lays parallel to him, but leans against the headboard, her long blonde hair falling around her face as she sketches him.  He hadn’t seen her take out the pad and pencil she keeps in the dresser near their bed, but he can hear the sound of graphite moving against paper as she draws.  He grins as he imagines her face, lips pursed and brow furrowed, wide green eyes focused and the movement of her hand knowing nothing but purpose even with the most casual of sketches.

They do not touch and do not talk.  Still, the intimacy of the situation - of being together and completely safe and comfortable with the person you love most in the world - is overwhelming.  Its warmth cocoons him, and he feels his eyes getting heavy as he lies there, a breeze blowing in from the open window and caressing his skin.

“You had your many dalliances after Jo, yes?”

His eyes snap open when he hears her question, his stomach lurching slightly and his mood dampening.

He ran away to Europe and drowned himself in alcohol, drugs, and women after Jo broke his heart, and he admits this.  Amy knows it, too.  And it’s not that he’s ashamed of that period of time, exactly - while he wishes he had, indeed, bore it better, he finds himself sympathetic to the plight of people scorned by love, however misguided that love might be.

He just doesn’t often talk about it.  Doesn’t like to.  In his mind and in his heart, it is only Amy.  Has always been, and always will be.

Amy doesn’t really like to talk about it, either.  He finds her inquiry curious, but answers anyway.

“Yes,” he tells her, although the word comes out sounding more like a question than an answer.

He waits for her to explain her line of thought, but she simply hums to herself.  He stares at the ceiling a moment longer, then leans up, resting his weight on his elbows.

She’s staring down at her drawing, her face just as he pictured it, pencil grasped between her lips as she swipes her thumb against the paper.  He watches as she takes the pencil out of her mouth and starts at it again, and he watches her for nearly a minute before opening his mouth to speak.

She beats him to it, though.

“Did you have any dalliances after me?” she asks.

He blinks hard as his brain reels for a moment, as he struggles to comprehend what she’s saying.  After her?  There is no after her.  There never will be.

Then, he stops.  Thinks.  She means...oh.  Oh.

She means after that time in the garden, in Paris.  When he’d first revealed his feelings for her, and she’d rejected him.  Left him standing there alone and feeling like an utter, hopeless idiot.

Oh.

He shifts on the bed, drops his eyes from her face.  He can feel his skin begin to flush from embarrassment.

They’ve never talked about this before.

Not that there’s much to talk about, he supposes.  He still hesitates to tell her - not because he fears she’ll be angry with him, but because he doesn’t like to talk about it.  If it were up to him, he would erase from his mind the memory of every woman he’d ever been with until only his wife remained.

But she’s asked, and he’ll be honest with her.

“One, I suppose,” he murmurs.

“You suppose?” she questions.  She’s still staring down at her artwork, but her pencil doesn’t move.

“Sort of, yes,” he confirms.

She finally looks at him, her eyebrows pulled together and a frown on her face.

“How do you sort of have a dalliance?”

She looks genuinely confused, and he laughs lightly at the crease between her brows, sits up fully and reaches out to her.  He cups her face and uses his thumb to rub at the wrinkle of skin.

“Shall I explain?” he asks her.

She nods.

“I...tried to be angry after you left.  Just think - to be turned down by not just one, but two March girls!” he gasps playfully, and she snickers, pushing against his shoulder playfully before dropping her hand to run over the sparse hair on his chest.

“But?” she prompts.

"But I couldn’t make myself angry.  Not at you.  But I also knew I couldn’t just stay there in France and watch you and Fred Vaughn…”

He makes a noise in the back of his throat, and she rolls her eyes playfully.

“We’re speaking of all your affairs, and you want to tease about Fred?”

“It’s part of my story!” he insists with a wink, and she rolls her eyes again.

“Well, keep telling it.”

He smiles, and continues.

“I couldn’t stay, so I did what you told me to.  I went to London, as you know.  And when I first got there, there was a woman staying at the same hotel as I was.  We got to talking one evening at dinner, and one thing…”

He trails off, feeling himself flush again.

“...led to another,” Amy finishes.  “I understand.  I don’t need the details.”

She’s frowning now, even though her fingers still run over his chest, and he despises it.  He has half a mind to drop the subject, to kiss her lips and make her happy and forget life before, but he can’t.

“Wait, I’m not done.”

“Laurie, I don’t need to hear any more.  You had your dalliance, I’m not upset, and we can stop - “

“I couldn’t do it,” he interrupts.  “It didn’t work.”

She pulls back from him slightly, her eyes wide and curious.  She looks down his body.

“You mean you couldn’t...?”

He follows her gaze, and then snorts.

“Not like that.  It - it didn’t even get to that.  Amy, my dear.”

He lifts her chin, and she gazes at him.  He can tell she’s still confused.

“Every time I closed my eyes,” he explains, “I saw you - the face you made in the garden before you turned away and left.  It broke my heart.  It still breaks my heart.  And when my eyes were open, all I could think about was how her skin wasn’t as soft and her hair wasn’t as fair and her eyes were brown instead of green and she just...wasn’t you.”

“But with Jo...”

“It was different with Jo.  I could make Jo into anyone.  I could always pick out the tiniest thing that reminded me of her, in any woman, and then pretend that woman was her.  I couldn’t...do that with you.  Or maybe I didn’t want to.  In any case, being with that woman didn’t make me forget.  She made me remember all the more.  And I only kissed her for about a minute before I realized it was worthless.”

He stops and grabs one of her hands, brings it to his mouth so he can kiss her fingertips, before holding it over his heart.

“And that’s when I knew that this was different.  You weren’t Jo, and I wasn’t going to be able to just...drink and fuck you away.”

She’d normally gasp and swat him playfully for his use of the coarse word, but now she stays silent and presses her hand more firmly against his chest.

“I was in love with you.  Hopelessly and completely.  And I realized that all I could do was stay in London and toil away and... pray that somehow you would change your mind.”

Then, everything had changed.  Beth died, and then he knew he had to be with her.  It didn’t matter if she despised him, or if Fred was there.  He needed to be with her.  But before that, he had been rather resigned to his fate - to work for his grandfather and forever pine after Amy March.

God had smiled upon him, though.  And now, here he sits with his wife, Amy Laurence.  Married, in love, and happy.

“So does that explain how one can have a single, sort-of dalliance?” he asks her.

But she stares at him, eyes shining, almost with tears.

“You were going to wait your whole life for me?” she whispers.

He smirks slightly, turning away from her and shrugging, somehow embarrassed.  But she grabs his face, turns it back to her, and locks their gazes.

“What else would you have me do, my lady?”

“Oh, my lord,” she breathes, and kisses him deeply, until his toes curl and he can feel himself begin to harden once again.  When she pulls away, they’re both panting.  He wants to grab her, to gather her up in his arms again, but her pad and pencil remains between them.

He motions to the picture.

“Still working on that, Raphaella?”

“Maybe later,” she remarks, taking the paper and all but throwing it on the floor beside the bed.  She pushes him back so he’s laying once again, and climbs on top of him, straddling his waist.  “I have another idea how we can pass time this afternoon.”

She leans down and kisses his smiling mouth.

Yes, God had smiled upon him.  Had given him back his love.  And he’s married, in love, and happy.

Achingly happy.

[flowersandskeletons526]

“The Harshest Future We Could Have Imagined” - Lumity Future AU Fanfic Part 1

This is set about five years in the future after “Agony of a Witch.” Luz returned home through a broken portal and couldn’t return, but in four years, without the portal being fixed, Amity and the others had to focus on their lives in the present, including the rebellion they started. Now, what will happen when Luz returns to the war-torn world she used to love?

(Link to Ao3 --- https://archiveofourown.org/works/28305051/chapters/69356406)

----

“You really have to go?”

“I do.”

Luz squeezed Amity’s hands, standing before the portal with her backpack and her cloak. Amity kept her eyes down. She struggled to fight back tears, clutching Luz’s hands like a lifeline. They knew this was going to happen. Both had dreaded it all summer, ever since Luz revealed her exact situation to her friends. Willow and Gus already composed themselves - well, Gus was attempting to - and Eda and King were trying and failing not to cry downstairs. Lilith was somewhere rolling her eyes and hiding her emotions. The twins waited outside to bring Amity home once all their goodbyes were said.

Amity glanced at the fractured portal. After finding that Emperor Belos had managed to put it back together, yet another espionage mission was mounted to steal it back. Now, Luz could get back, but she only had this one chance. It killed Luz, having to leave but knowing he was still in power. Especially with Eda and Lilith rendered magicless after the failed petrification… nothing was certain now. Nothing but the fact that Luz had to leave.

Reading Amity’s mind, Luz touched her cheek and turned her head away from the portal. “Amity, I’m going to come back,” she said. “I promise I will.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. I know that I will, though. I got here before, right? I can do it again.”

“When the portal worked. What if we can’t put it back together? What if there’s no way to fix it, w-what if Belos gets it again, what if-”

“Hey, don’t think about that.” Luz pulled her in, wrapping her arms tight around her. Amity buried her face against the crook of Luz’s neck. “I’ll be back. Don’t worry, okay? You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” She pulled back and pressed their foreheads together. “Don’t go soft on me just yet, Blight.”

Amity giggled through her tears. “In your dreams.”

“Look after this place for me, okay?”

“I will.”

She cupped the witch’s cheek. “And Ami?”

Amity blushed at the nickname. “Y-Yeah?”

“Don’t forget me.”

“Never.”

Luz planted a quick kiss on Amity’s cheek and pulled her into a tight hug. Amity held onto her hand as long as she could as she turned to the portal. Hiding her tears, Luz waved and flashed one last bright smile over her shoulder. She disappeared through the wall of light.

The shaking portal collapsed into a pile of smoldering pieces. Amity collapsed in a heap of silenced sobs.

****

Amity took a deep breath as she approached the Owl House. Hooty, distracted by a bug, perked up when he spotted her.

“Hoot! Hi, angry green haired friend! What’s that? Cupcakes? I looooove cupcakes! Hoot!”

Amity bared her fangs. “Don’t touch me, bird tube!”

“Alright! Hoot!”

“Sorry. Here, that one’s for you.” Amity tossed the treat in the air and cringed when Hooty swallowed it whole. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, you can! Wait, was the cupcake a bribe?”

“It’s a peace offering.”

“Okay!”

The door swung open. Eda and Lilith sat at the kitchen table, chatting idly, while King slept curled into a ball on the couch. They paused and looked up when she took a step inside. She swallowed her fear and waved.

“Hi, Eda. Ms. Clawthorne.” The latter greeting was delivered with just a twinge of venom. After hearing about how Eda was captured, about what happened to Luz, Amity still harbored a touch of resentment, even if everyone else seemed to have forgiven it. “Is it alright if I come in?”

“Sure, kid,” Eda said. Any hatred towards the Blights as a whole had been forgiven in Amity’s case. Amity attributed that to Eda’s constant subtle teasing about how she acted around Luz. Although now it just sounded like pity in her voice.

Amity stood beside Eda and set a pack of apple blood boxes on the table next to her.

Eda frowned. “How did you get your hands on this?”

“Emira.”

“She’s one of the twins I almost died with, right? The smart one?”

“Yes.”

“Ah. Well, thanks, kid.”

“You’re welcome. Luz mentioned it.”

Eda nodded and turned aside. Amity swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped over to the couch, kneeling beside King. She gently shook him until he woke with a quiet, “Weh?”

“Hi, King.”

The little demon scowled. “Hello, offering killer.”

“About that.” Amity set the cupcake on the couch in front of him. “I’m sorry.”

He sat up, inspecting the offering. “What’s wrong with it?”

“What? Nothing. It’s to make up for your cupcake I squished. I’m sorry.”

King tilted his head. He looked between Amity and the cupcake for a minute before pulling the sweet closer to him. “Offering accepted. I retract any curses I laid on you.”

“I, uh, thank you?”

“You’re welcome.”

Eda beckoned to Amity as she stood. “C’mere, kid. Come sit. Now, not that I’m complaining, but I have to ask. What’s up with all this.”

Amity took the offered seat and bowed her head. “Luz. She… she wanted me to stick around. She told me to before she left, so I figured it would be good to at least try to make up for what I’ve done. You are her family, after all.”

Eda sighed and rubbed her eyes. “Right. That’s right. Well, look, you don’t have anything to make up for anymore. You and the other two troublemakers are always welcome here. I know Luz will want to see you all when she gets back.”

“Do you think she will come back?”

“Of course. I mean hey, it’s already been what, a month? And we’ve already got all the books possible on fixing the old thing.”

“Four weeks, two days, and five hours,” Lilith interrupted. Amity and Eda stared at her. She cleared her throat. “I’ve been keeping track.”

Eda smirked and squeezed her sister’s hand. She turned back to Amity, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Amity flinched beneath the gentle pat. Eda paused, just long enough for Amity to relax, and tried again. This time, Amity just sighed as Eda rubbed her back.

“She’ll come back. It’s Luz, after all. Knowing that kid, she’s already got a new portal halfway finished in the human world.”

“You really think so?”

“Absolutely.”

****

“Absolutely not!”

“But Mom, I-”

“Amity, that is enough!” Odalia Blight slammed her hands down on her desk, looming over her youngest daughter standing across from her. “You are forbidden from returning to that den of criminal activity ever again. Do you understand me? If I ever hear about you so much as heading in that direction again, you will be sorry. Titan, I should have known this would happen after that fiasco at the petrification. That Clawthorne woman never should have been in the Emperor’s coven to begin with, considering her criminal sister.”

“Eda isn’t a criminal! Okay, well, technically, but not for any good reasons! And Lilith isn’t bad either, not anymore. She’s better than she was when you approved of her!”

Odalia scoffed. “Please. I know what is best for you, young lady, and I have made my decision. You are not to return to that place ever again or associate with anyone connected to it, including that half witch and the reporter’s runt.”

“But Luz-”

“Oh, the human! That’s where this began! I should have put a stop to this behavior as soon as Boscha’s parents told me you were hanging around her. This is what is best for you.”

“No it’s not!” Amity hollered. Odalia froze at the outburst. “Luz is my best friend and I’m not going to let you talk about her like she’s nothing! Not her, not Willow, and not Gus! They are better than anyone you ever picked for me and care about me more than you ever did.”

“You will do what I say! I am your mother!”

“I want what is best for you!” Odalia protested.

“You want a perfect daughter as head of the Emperor’s coven,” Amity retorted. “I’m not abandoning them like I already abandoned Willow. And I’m not abandoning the Owl House, either. You can’t make me.”

“I don’t care!”

Amity regretted the words the moment they left her tongue.

Odalia froze. Her face went deadly cold, eyes like ice as she leveled a vicious glare at her daughter. Amity shrunk.

“You don’t care that I’m your mother?”

“I-I… I didn’t mean…”

“Hmph. Fine. Then our name shouldn’t matter to you. If you are going to keep associating with the Clawthornes, you can take their name instead. Anything but Blight.”

“What?”

“Get out of this house, Amity.”

“Mom!”

“Get. Out.”

Amity took a step back. Tears burned her eyes. She clenched her fists and scowled.

“Fine.”

She spun on her heel and marched out. Flying to her room, she slammed the door behind her and grabbed a bag. She shoved a few regular outfits inside, along with her books, her school uniform, and her box of keepsakes with her Grom tiara in it. She shouldered the pack and bolted out of the house.

The twins intercepted her before she reached the door. Their ever present smiles disappeared when they saw her face, streaked with tears.

“Mittens, what’s wrong?” Emira asked.

“Ask Mom.” Amity shoved past them.

“Wha- Amity, wait, where are you going?”

“The Owl House!”

The massive doors of Blight Manor slammed shut behind her.

Casting a light spell, she ran through the Isles all the way to the Owl House. She never stopped or looked back, even as hot tears poured down her cheeks. When she reached her destination, Hooty let her in without so much as a hoot.

Eda gave her just a passing glance as first when she marched in, then whipped her head around when Amity’s appearance registered. Amity stood in the doorway, shaking and panting, clutching her pack to her chest. She scrubbed at her face and scrambled to regain some of her composure.

“Eda, Lilith, I, um… C-Can I…?”

“Kid, what happened?” Eda asked.

Amity shook her head. “My mom kicked me out. She told me I had to stop coming here and said I had to do what she said because she’s my mother and I told her I didn’t care so she kicked me out. I just… Can I stay here? Please? I-I don’t have anywhere else to go right now.”

“Of course. Come on, you’ll stay in Luz’s old room. Lilith, help me get her set up.”

That night, Amity cried herself to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor, clutching her pillow and cursing all the years she spent in that controlling hell already.

The next day, the twins came by with the rest of her belongings, most of them dirty and broken.

“She threw them out the window?” she asked when they told her what happened.

“Well, she had the servants do it for the most part, but yes,” Edric replied. “Look, Amity, if you just apologize-”

“No,” Amity snapped. “I’m not apologizing to her. I’m staying here.”

Emira put a hand on her twin’s shoulder. “Ed, drop it. Look, Mittens, we’re here if you need us, okay? We’ll see you at school.”

The two hugged their baby sister and waved to Eda and Lilith sitting in the living room. Amity watched them disappear down the trail before shutting the door silently. She leaned her head against the wood for a quick moment before straightening.

“You okay, kid?” Eda asked.

“I’m fine.”

The next morning, Amity approached Lilith with a pair of clippers in hand. “Lilith?”

“Yes, Amity?”

“You do your own hair, right?”

“I dye it on occasion, when the orange roots start to become noticeable.”

“Will you help me cut my hair, please?”

“Of course.” Lilith closed her book and stood. “How did you want to cut it?”

“Cut off all the green dye.”

“Are you sure? That would make your hair quite short.”

“I’m sure. I just want it gone. I’m not going to let anyone force me to dye my hair again.”

Lilith frowned. “Your mother-”

“Please help me cut it.”

“Alright. Come here.”

****

“Okay, these are the outposts we know of so far.”

Gus spread a map over a rickety table. Orbs of light hovered in the tunnel above them, illuminating the little meeting place dug beneath Hexside. Willow and Amity knelt on either side of him and watched as he gestured to little markers on the creased parchment. Emira stood behind Gus, watching over his shoulder with Viney and the rest of the detention kids.

“Belos has squads of guards here, here, and here, and then multiple roving patrols through the marketplace and around Hexside. As long as we stay in the tunnels for meetings, we should be fine.”

Amity idly ran her hand over the short sides of her undercut, with the long part on top pulled into her normal short ponytail. With Lilith’s help over two years ago, she cut out all the green dye and never touched it with a drop of pigment afterwards.

After the meeting, the group said their goodbyes and took off down different tunnels of Gus’s making. Willow and Emira hung around with Amity as she extinguished the light orbs.

“Has Eda made any progress on the portal?” Willow asked after a moment of silence.

Amity sighed. “No. Nothing. We haven’t even gotten a flicker from it. I…” She shook her head and extinguished another light, trying not to think about the missing human. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

“How long has it been?”

“Too long.”

Willow nodded and touched Amity’s hand. “They’ll find a way to fix it.”

“I hope.”

Willow took off, leaving Amity alone with her sister. Emira leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. Amity stopped and turned to her sister.

“Have you heard anything from Edric?” the elder asked.

“Nothing. Has he been talking to you?”

“Not a word. He hasn’t told Mother and Father, I know that, but he stopped talking to me as soon as he learned about this. He doesn’t even play pranks with me anymore.”

Amity scoffed. “He’s trying to become their favorite child.”

“I think he is, at this point.”

“Right.” She held a light orb between her hands. “I heard they made Dad the leader of the emperor’s coven.”

“They did. It’s no wonder Edric is trying to get in so badly. I still can’t believe he’s doing all this.”

“Me neither. Look, I have to get back to the Owl House and keep helping Eda with the portal.”

Emira bowed her head with a tight lipped grimace, watching Amity with pity in her eyes. “Mittens, do you really think you’re going to get her back?”

“I know I will!” Amity snapped, but the anger faded quickly. “She promised she would come back.”

“Not all promises can be kept.”

“I know that, but we’re going to find a way. We have to.”

“Okay.” Emira hugged her sister and kissed the top of her head, still so much taller than her even after the years that had passed. “You’ll figure this out, Mittens. They can fix it.”

Amity just nodded and hugged her sister tighter.

****

Edric stood on the edge of a crumbling roof. Fires raged around him in the burning marketplace, littered with the bodies of fallen Emperor’s coven soldiers and wounded rebellion fighters fleeing the scene. His white cloak was stained red, and his sharp beaked mask hung around his neck. He leaned heavily on his staff.

In the street below, Amity wielded her own staff with its snarling tiger palisman. She growled at her brother while her friends fell into line behind her. Emira stood at her side, watching Edric not with anger, but heartbreak in her eyes.

“Ed, please!” she called. “This isn’t you!”

“Enough, Emira!” he roared. “I’m done being the stupid twin. Now it’s time for me to do what you and Amity failed to. I’m going to lead the Emperor’s coven after Dad and my career is going to start with ending your stupid rebellion!”

“You know Belos is wrong!” Amity protested. “This isn’t going to end how you want, Edric. Please just come with us.”

“Never!”

Amity shook the tears from her eyes and cast a spell circle. “Fine.”

A pink flame lit in her hand. Emira grabbed her arm.

“Mittens, no!”

“If he’s not going to join us, he’s against us! Belos is going to fall, Edric. Belos, the coven system, all of it. Including you.”

“Grow up, Amity. It’s time all three of us started acting like Blights. If you two won’t, I will.” Edric lifted his head. “Soldiers, retreat!”

Amity watched her brother flee with the rest of the soldiers. She gripped her staff and turned to Willow and Gus and the others standing behind her. “Everyone out of here!” she ordered. “Before they send reinforcements back. At least we know our enemy now.”

“Our brother,” Emira said quietly.

“Our enemy,” Amity repeated. “Willow, Gus, let’s go.”

The pair followed Amity back to the Owl House. They walked in silence, all three contemplating the day’s battle and the new development. There were suspicions of Edric’s involvement, but they hadn’t known the extent. And the fact that he was leading a command…

Amity, although hiding it beneath her rage, wanted to weep and curse at the sky. Her own brother! After all those years of him and Emira goofing off, never conforming to their parents’ expectation, leaving all the vicariously realized dreams to fall upon Amity, she never could have imagined him becoming so fed up with Emira’s jesting that he would turn his back on the both of them. She cursed under her breath thinking about it and forced the thoughts from her head. She couldn’t afford getting stuck in her thoughts now. She had the rebellion to think about, the rebellion that Willow founded and the two of them now led together. The rebellion, keeping the Owl House hidden, fixing the portal…

Titan, she couldn’t even afford to think about the portal anymore. Four years passed without anything working, and then the rebellion started with Willow’s attempted assassination of Belos a year ago.

Amity glanced at Willow beside her. A long scar wrapped around her eye from her forehead down to her jaw. She cut her hair short and wild to display it with pride. They all bore scars now, but Willow’s scarred face had become a symbol of the rebellion with her wanted poster plastered all over the Isles. Amity, although a leader herself, didn’t envy the responsibility Willow gained. Her speech all those years ago is what sowed the seeds, after all.

Hooty greeted them when they returned and flung the door open. Amity sighed and rubbed her eyes as they stepped inside, keeping her head down. She hadn’t noticed Willow and Gus stopping in their tracks by the door.

“Eda, Lilith, we found the new commander Belos has,” she said.

“Amity,” Eda said, rising from her seat. “Look up.”

She did.

Standing across from her was a tall girl with rich dark skin and fluffy brown hair pushed out of her face. Wide, fiery brown eyes locked with her golden stare. She was taller now, finally overtaking Amity, and her weak nerd arms had developed built and defined muscles. Her gently rounded ears were pierced with multiple golden rings. Despite everything, her bright smile was still the same, and it still sent Amity’s heart racing.

Amity sucked in a sharp breath.

“Luz?”

The girl grinned.

“Hey, Amity.”

[walkerwords]

“Careful You” Part 1 of 2 - Shane x F!Reader, Daryl x F!Reader

PART II

Request from anonymous:  A Shane x reader x Daryl where reader and Shane we’re together since the beginning but reader realized he’s becoming an ass and Daryl (who the reader secretly likes) says “I know you ain’t in love with him” pretty please??? Thank you!!!! 

Word Count: 5063

Warning: Cursing, Violence

Song I Wrote To: “Careful You” by TV On The Radio

Note: So yes! This will be a two-part request story. I got hella carried away with this one and I didn’t wanna post the whole thing so part 1 today and part 2 tomorrow! I’m sorry if ya like Shane but hes an asshole in this at times. It jumps around a bit from the quarry to the cdc to the highway to the greene farm. The real emotional stuff is in part two so I hope yall like this. reminder: I may not fill every request, ill only pick the ones I know I can make somethin good, but still send them!

------

You began to notice a change in Shane when Rick Grimes was reunited with his family. 

Before the world turned, you, Shane, Rick, and Lori were the best of friends. It was always double dates after work and the four of you planning Carl’s birthday parties. It was Rick and Lori and Shane and you, no matter what. Shane Walsh wasn’t an easy man to love, but love him, you did. 

The first time you saw him it was at a bar in downtown Atlanta. Rick and Shane were out in the city for a weekend to celebrate some kind of achievement they got from the Academy. You had noticed his dark hair and dashing smile from across the room and as soon as your eyes met, you were done. Shane Walsh became your person and you never thought anything would get in between the two of you. And nothing did...until the end of the world.

You weren’t an idiot, you knew about Shane and Lori. Hell, you probably knew about his attraction to her before she did. You ignored it the best you could before the world ended, but now it was hard to ignore the fact that your boyfriend, the man you loved, was in love with another woman.

A married woman. 

Then when Rick stepped out of that truck and Carl ran from Lori’s arms, the ground rocked beneath your feet. When you had hugged him once his family had let go, it was more than relief that cascaded over you, it was gratitude. With Rick back, there wouldn’t be time for Shane to gawk at his best friend’s girl, let alone sneak off into the woods with her. Hopefully, things would start to go back to normal. 

However, whenever Lori was alone, Shane was still there. He would be watching her, looking out for Carl, and he’d do it right in front of Rick. Rick didn’t seem to notice and if he did, he ignored it and acted as if everything was the way it once was. It pissed you off to see him act so naive, but you figured he didn’t want to start anything. The last thing any of you needed was in-fighting within the group. 

However, it didn’t take long for said in-fighting to start. Especially once Daryl Dixon came back from his hunt. You had met both of the Dixon brothers the day they arrived at the camp. Merle was an asshole and immediately began hitting on you. Shane had shut that down within a few seconds, making sure the older Dixon knew that you were his girl and to keep his paws and his mouth to himself. It was one of the only times Shane had claimed you in front of the group. 

As for Daryl, you weren’t sure about where his head was at. He followed his brother closely and you figured he had been doing so his entire life. Daryl was his brother’s opposite. While he still had a mouth on him when he did happen to speak up, he didn’t purposefully inject himself into conversations or make lewd remarks at the women in the camp. He kept his head down and his crossbow up when it was warranted. He was also great at hunting and had taken the job of getting food for the group.

Carl had once told you that he thought Daryl was “cool”, but that he kind of scared him. You had laughed and assured the kid, whom you considered a nephew, not to worry. Dixon may be a bit rough around the edges, but he was harmless. Though you made sure to tell him to steer clear of Merle and Carl didn’t argue about that.

The other thing you noticed about Daryl was that he always seemed to know where you were. You had noticed him watching you in the camp. At first, it was simple glances here and there and then his eyes started to linger more and more. You considered telling him not to due to how Shane normally reacted whenever another man looked at you, but whenever you turned to look at your boyfriend, his eyes would be on Lori and you would give up and go talk to Andrea or Amy to pass the time. 

You had only spoken to Daryl a couple of times. Once when you had run into him as he walked back to camp carrying rabbits on a line. You heard a rustle in the trees and pulled your weapon, a police-issued pistol Shane had given you after the Turn. Daryl froze as the barrel became trained on him. You dropped it immediately. “Shit, sorry,” you had said. 

“Careful where ya point that thing, girl,” Daryl had scoffed. “Don’t need my damn head blown off cause ya trigger happy.” You had rolled your eyes and holstered your gun. 

“Such a charmer, Dixon,” you told him and left him with his fresh kill. That night after your run-in in the woods was when he first started watching you. The other times you had spoken to him were just in passing and it was always when both Merle and Shane weren’t there. It seemed like your friendship, if you could call it that, was only acknowledged when the alpha males in both of your lives took a hike. And while it bothered you, you accepted it. It’s just the way the world was now. 

On the day that Rick told you all that they had left Merle in Atlanta, you knew Daryl was going to be pissed and he definitely was. You watched from the doorway to the RV as Daryl yelled at Rick. The emotion was clear on his face as he thought about his brother being chained to the roof like an animal as he waited to be eaten by Walkers. 

When Daryl had thrown a punch and Shane placed him in the chokehold, that is when you stepped in. You shoved Rick back and knocked Shane’s feet from under him. Daryl and Shane went down hard on the ground and Daryl shoved out of Walsh’s arms. “Stop it!” you yelled, getting between the men. “None of this alpha-male bullshit is helping anyone. Rick,” you said, looking at him, “you screwed up. Merle screwed up. It was bound to happen at some point! So instead of acting like idiots, do something.” You then turned and offered your hand to Daryl who took it and you helped him to his feet.

You watched as Daryl stormed off and without thinking, you followed him, ignoring Shane’s calls. You found him as he exited his tent on the edge of the camp. He was throwing things into a backpack and gathering up his bolts for his bow. “Daryl,” you said. He looked up at you and scoffed. 

“Don’t need yer sympathy, girl,” he shot at you. “Don’t need ya fightin’ my battles either. I can handle yer damn boyfriend.”

“Never said you couldn’t,” you said. “Shane is a hothead and yeah, Rick can be an asshole, but they mean well.”

“Yer friend Rick left my brother to die!” he yelled, pointing over your shoulder. 

“I know,” you said, trying to calm him down, but Daryl marched up to you, getting in your face and looking you over.

“You know nothin’,” he snarled in a low voice before pushing past you, knocking into your shoulder. You pushed your hands into your hair as you took a  deep breath. 

“(Y/N)!” you turned to see Shane walking towards you. 

“What now?” you asked, not wanting to start another argument. 

“You need to stay away from Dixon,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Excuse me?” you asked, mirroring his stance. “I don’t need to do anything, Walsh,” you said. “He’s pissed about Merle. What if it was me or Rick that was left on that rooftop? You’d be pretty pissed too.”

“Don’t loop me in with him,” Shane said with a touch of disgust. You rolled your eyes. “What?”

“I’m just sick of people acting like there aren’t worse problems out there than a few petty arguments or having to be with people you don’t like.” You relaxed your arms and reached for his hands and he let you. You squeezed Shane’s hands tight in your own, looking into his eyes. “Shane, there are monsters walking around and we need to start thinking about how to protect our people from them. How to protect the kids like Carl and Sophia.” 

“What do you think I’ve been doin’?” he asked, his voice softer. “That’s all I’ve been tryin’ to do, (Y/N).” 

“I know, but sometimes you try to take on too much by yourself. Let others take some of the weight, okay? I’m here and now so is Rick. You have Dale and Glenn who are always willin’ to help. Lori, too. Stop trying to be Superman.” Shane looked at you for a moment before he nodded. He then tugged you forward and kissed you firmly. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead on yours. 

“Rick is gonna take Daryl back, go look for Merle,” Shane said quietly.

“Are you goin’ with?” you asked. 

“No, I’m stayin’ here to protect the camp,” he then leaned back and looked at you with a fierce look in his eyes. “And so are you.” You knew there was no point in arguing so with a sigh you nodded. He pressed another kiss to your lips before leaving you alone. As Shane walked away, you caught Daryl watching you from where he stood next to Glenn. You couldn’t read his expression, but there was an intensity to it that had you turning away from him. 

However, there was a feeling that his eyes remained fixed on you even as you headed into the tent you shared with Shane. 

-------

Of course, it wasn’t long until things got worse. 

While Daryl, Glenn, Rick, and the others were out looking for Merle, Shane was following Lori around like a lost dog while you distracted Carl, trying to keep his mind off his father leaving again. When you had first met the smallest Grimes, he took to you immediately. You weren’t just Uncle Shane’s girlfriend, Carl considered you family as well. 

It was Carl who you were sitting with when the Walkers entered the camp. You heard the screams of panic first and you moved. Grabbing Carl by his collar, you pushed him behind you as you watched Andrea’s sister, Amy, get taken down by a Walker. Carl clutched the back of your jacket as you pulled your own weapon, taking aim at the monsters that converged on the quarry. 

Shane was there in a second and he took out all the Walkers that surrounded the RV. He then pushed all the kids towards the vehicle, locking them inside as the rest of you aimed at the Dead. Only a moment later, shots were coming from another direction. Rick and the others came through the woods, their guns blazing. Their sudden appearance caused you to miss the Walker stumbling towards you. You raised your gun as it grabbed your shoulder, but a bolt flew past your ear and struck the Walker that clung to you. Daryl ran past you, giving you a once over before taking aim again. 

Snapping out of your shock, you finished off the rest of the Walkers that feasted on your new comrades. A cry pulled your attention as you saw Carol staring at her now-dead husband. You had no remorse for Ed, he wasn’t a good man at all, but the heartbreak on both Carol and Sophia’s faces made you pause.

Once the Walkers were down and people had calmed down, you searched for Shane. You found him by the RV, moving the kids out and away from the body that lay before it. You didn’t need to look closer to know it was Amy. You turned away, looking for Carl and felt relief when you saw him with his parents as the three of them embraced. Looking back over your shoulder you saw Shane and how he watched the Grimes family. The envy in his eyes made you uneasy. He looked at the man he considered his brother as a rival now even though Lori was never his, to begin with. Again, you shoved down your feelings and went to help move the bodies out of the camp. 

It was morning by the time everyone had sorted between the Dead. Two piles. One for friends to be buried and the other full of Walkers that were to be burned. You didn’t see the point in either practice. You knew that if you walked down the hill and onto the roads, bodies were strewn everywhere. It had simply become the new normal. However, you knew it was their way of trying to find some normalcy in the new screwed up world, but you couldn’t see it the way they could. 

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Andrea as she knelt over Amy’s body. You knew that she would turn any time now. It was already happening and it made you sick to think about someone you knew becoming one of those things. It was all just a bit too much at that moment. 

You excused yourself and headed to the far side of the camp, settling down on a log, leaning your forearms on your knees. You took a few deep breaths and tried to focus on anything that wasn’t the memory of the screams of people being torn apart. The log shifted as someone took a spot next to you. You figured it was Shane so you ignored him. However, when you spotted the crossbow on the ground between their feet, you relaxed and turned to look at Daryl. 

“Thanks for last night,” you said, breaking the silence. He grunted a response that you had become accustomed to. “What happened?” you asked, not needing to elaborate further. Everyone noticed that only one Dixon brother came back. 

“He’s gone,” Daryl muttered, “cut his own damn hand off to get out of the cuffs.” Your brows shot up at that, but you weren’t that surprised. It sounded like something Merle Dixon would do. 

“I’m sorry,” you told him, turning your face back towards the camp as Glenn dragged more bodies through the camp. 

“What she waitin’ for?” Daryl asked as he looked at Andrea. 

“People cope differently,” you said. “Maybe she just needs to see it for herself.”

“Don’t make sense,” he mumbled. 

“I don’t get it either,” you sighed, “Dead is dead. Whatever this is…” you waved your hand vaguely at the Walker corpses, “They just need to be put down. Amy doesn’t deserve to become a monster.”

“I could probably hit her from here,” Daryl said, toeing his bow, but you shook your head. 

“She nearly ripped Rick’s head off when he mentioned putting her down. We don’t need any more damn fighting,” you said with a warning tone. Daryl nodded and then was silent for a bit. 

“I agree with ya, ya know?” Daryl said after a minute. 

“About what?” you asked. 

“Nobody deserves to be a Walker,” he clarified. “I wouldn’t want someone to wait, ya know?” 

“I do,” you said, understanding. “Make me a deal, Dixon. If I get bit, you shoot me right away. Don’t let me turn,” you said, offering your hand. Daryl looked at you and then took your hand in his, gripping it tightly. 

“Only if ya return the favor,” he said and you nodded. You shook hands and then let go, feeling Shane’s eyes on you. “Yer boy keeps starin’,” Daryl said. 

“Yeah,” you said before you stood up, brushing off your jeans. “I’m holdin’ you to that promise.” He nodded to you again and you left him alone to his thoughts.

------

When Rick and Shane decided to go to the CDC, you were less than thrilled. 

The last thing you wanted was to go back into the city. Considering the things you saw there the last time you were there, it wasn’t the most desirable plan. However, you knew that you were outnumbered, and with Jim trying to fight the infection, you went along with it.

Everyone knew that Jim wasn’t long for the world. The fever took him fast and you knew there wasn’t a cure. If there was one, every street in Atlanta wouldn’t be crawling with Walkers and littered with half-eaten bodies. Again, you also knew that it was all about optimism and Rick felt that this was the right choice. 

Sitting in the RV, you leaned against Shane. He kept his arm wrapped around you and rubbed your arm and down the side of your thigh. It was nice to just sit with him for once instead of feeling the distance that had began to deepen between the two of you. Shane rested his head on your shoulder, kissing the place your neck met your shoulder and you sighed, resting your head against his chest. Carl was making kissing faces at the both of you and you stuck your tongue at him causing him to laugh. 

“You trying to steal my girl, Grimes?” Shane teased the kid.

“(Y/N) likes me better!” Carl joked causing Shane to chuckle. He gripped you tighter, wrapping his arms around your waist. 

“Easy gentlemen,” you said with a smile. “I think we both know that Lori and I are the true soulmates.” Lori laughed at that. 

“I’ll take that,” she laughed.

It was an easy ride from there on until Jim got worse. You all went from laughing and joking to feeling somber as Daryl, Rick, and Shane helped Jim off the road and under a tree. When they tried to hand him a weapon, Jim shook his head. Rick and Shane left him, giving him a final goodbye, but Daryl stalled, looking down at his bow and the dying man. He then turned and started to walk back to the truck. You stepped in his path, a pleading look in your eyes. He shook his head. 

“It’s his choice, (Y/N),” Daryl said, knowing what you wanted to say. Daryl pushed past you as Jim closed his eyes. You fought the urge to yell as you made your way back into the RV. Instead of sitting back down with Shane, you went to the back and laid down, trying to drown out everything around you. You fell asleep as the RV rumbled beneath you, getting some decent rest for the first time in weeks. 

Shane lightly shook you awake when the caravan finally came to a stop. The look on his face made you sit up quickly. “What is it?” you asked. 

“Just...prepare yourself,” he said and offered his hand. You took it and he led you out of the RV. The smell was what hit you first and then you saw the source. Bodies were everywhere. Lori and Carol kept their arms around their children as your group moved through the rotting corpses. Daryl and Rick headed up the group while you and Shane took the rear, all of your weapons ready to fire if needed. 

“I don’t like this,” you whispered to Shane as you stepped over another body. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep ya safe, (Y/L/N),” he joked, poking you in the ribs. 

“It’s not funny, Shane,” you chastised. “I don’t like being out in the open like this. We’re vulnerable, especially with the kids.” 

“Everything is gonna be fine,” Shane assured you. He winked at you and you pushed ahead of him as you started to hear groans and shuffling of the Dead as they noticed you moving towards the shuttered building. Daryl began taking them out while Rick yelled at the cameras. Lori urged her husband to leave it. Rick continued to yell, begging that whoever was inside to open the doors because they had children and they were desperate. You wanted to yell at him to shut up as more Walkers kept coming out of the shadows. 

You stumble over a corpse, nearly going down when Carol caught your arm and pulled you back up. Daryl stepped in front of you then, covering you, Carol, and Sophia. Rick was still yelling and that was when Shane started too. He called to Rick, trying to get him to retreat, but before any of you could make your way back to the cars, the metal shudders slid open with blinding lights. You gawked at the sight and then you felt hands tugging you along as Shane gripped your wrist and pulled you through the mess of dead bodies and into the safety of the CDC.

------

Doctor Jenner was an odd one and you didn’t trust him. 

Glenn, however, was thrilled at the promise of hot water, and then when the wine was cracked open, everybody loved Jenner. Even Daryl had a smile on his face as he drank wine and laughed with the others, his Georgian accent getting thicker with every sip. Shane drank deeply as he sat at the table next to you, his hand gripping your leg under the table. Your glass remained full as you occasionally swirled it in your hand. You figured someone had to be sober when eventually everything went to shit. 

Daryl filled up Glenn’s glass again as T-Dog went for thirds. And while you were worried about things and just trying to stay calm, it was nice to see your friends and family laughing for the first time in weeks. You offered Shane the rest of your wine and he drank greedily. “Thanks, babe,” he said, kissing you. You could taste the alcohol on his lips as he kissed you and leaned his head against yours. He downed the rest of the wine and you caught Daryl looking at you. When your eyes met his, he quickly looked away and took a long pull from the bottle in his hands. The whole back and forth was starting to get tiring.

Eventually, it was time for some much-needed sleep. It would be the next morning when Jenner started explaining everything so you all headed to your new beds for the night. You and Shane pushed into a vacant room, pulling off your boots. Laying in bed, you stretched out, enjoying the feel of a proper mattress under you for the first time since the world ended. Shane stumbled over to the bed, dropping down beside you. He rolled over and braced his elbowd on either side of you. He leaned down to kiss you as his hands ran up your sides, but you pushed him back. 

“You’re drunk, Shane,” you said, pushing against his chest. He looked down at you with a frown. 

“(Y/N)...,” he whined, kissing down your neck. 

“Shane, stop,” you said, taking his shoulders and pushing him again. This time he relented and flipped back over. He sighed as his eyes pressed closed. His hand found yours, playing with your fingers.

“I love you…” he said, looking over at you with heavy eyes. 

“I love you, too, idiot,” you said. Shane huffed and sat up. “Where are you going?” you asked as you watched him stagger towards the door. 

“Gonna walk it off,” Shane mumbled. “See if Rick is still up.” Shane stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him. You flopped back down to the mattress and then eyed the bathroom on the other side of the room. You figured you wouldn’t get another chance to have hot water in a while so you headed for a much-needed shower.

As soon as the hot water hit your body, you felt as if you were transported back in time. You stayed under the spray as long as possible, relishing in the feel of finally being clean after living in the woods for so long. You scrubbed your hair until it slipped through your fingers, free of tangles. Once you had your fill of the luxury the CDC had to offer, you shut the water off and grabbed a fluffy towel, wrapping it around your body. 

After getting dressed and combing your fingers through your hair, you figured you should go find your boyfriend before he passed out in some lab or something. The halls of the residences were quiet as you moved through them, peeking around corners as you searched for Shane. When you turned again, you nearly ran into someone. They steadied you with their hands, grabbing onto your shoulders. Looking up, you saw that it was Daryl. 

“Ya showered,” he said. You nodded slowly, trying not to laugh at his surprised expression. You then noticed the fine layer of dirty still adorning his skin. 

“Yeah, you should try it, mountain man,” you teased, flicking a piece of dirt off his shirt. He scoffed at your words. He then realized he was still holding onto you and awkwardly let go. “Hey, have you seen Shane? He’s not exactly lucid right now and I don’t wanna find him passed out in a supply closet.” Daryl’s jaw went rigid at your words. 

“Ya, saw him followin’ Grimes,” he said, looking away from you. 

“Rick?” 

“Nah,” Daryl grunted, moving past you, “Lori.” 

-----

You didn’t bother to look for Shane after your run-in with Daryl. You went back to your room and tried to get some sleep. This time you did feel like an idiot. As if Shane would really leave her alone just because Rick was back. You stared at the ceiling, trying to stop your mind from creating scenarios about Lori and Shane in your head.

An hour or so later and the door opened. Shane glided into the room, clearly not as drunk as he had been. He pulled off his shoes and sank onto the mattress beside you. He rolled into your side, throwing an arm across your waist, his fingers playing with the fabric of your shirt. “I’m sorry about before,” he said, “you know I’m an ass when I drink.” You did know that which is why you had remained sober.

“It’s fine,” you said, which is what you always said when he apologized when he was being an asshole. His hand stilled on your stomach as his breathing slowed and he slowly fell asleep. A small amount of light entered the room from a crack in the door and as you looked down at your boyfriend you could see fresh scratch marks on his neck. You didn’t have to think too hard about whose nails had made them. 

Your hand came up and carded through Shane’s hair. In his sleep, he nuzzled you closer and you had to fight the tears that welled up. You could do this, you could be there for him when he needed it because that is what you had always done for him. The end of the world didn’t need to change that. Right?

——-

The next day everything went from bad to worse. 

Watching the MRI on the large monitor was horrifying. Even Shane was disturbed. As you all watched the patient reanimate, Shane had reached over and gripped your hand. The two of you hadn’t said anything about the previous night. At breakfast, he had played off the scratches as a drunken accident, but you noted the look in Lori’s face and you noticed that Daryl and even Carol were looking at her and Shane with accusatory glances.

When Jenner invited you all into the main theater for the explanation, hope was upon everyone’s faces as they urged the doctor to tell them about a cure. However, just as you suspected, there wasn’t one. Jenner explained that he was the only one left. He worked as hard as he could, but eventually there was no point. 

Then, as soon as everybody started to realize what was happening, it was nearly too late. 

The blaring red countdown clock was staring you all in the face as the CDC went into full lockdown. Sophia and Carl were stressed and Daryl was pissed. Rick and the others had to restrain the archer as he nearly decapitated Jenner with a fire ax. You, yourself, wanted to attack the man as well. You also wanted to beat Rick to a pulp for getting you into this mess in the first place. 

Eventually, Rick convinced Jenner to let you out, but Andrea, Dale, and Jacqui were staying behind to succumb to the implosion. You rushed after the others towards the lobby. Shane pulled you along, nearly carrying you as you sped through the halls. With the metal shudders lifted, you could see the bodies of the dead even clearer in the sunlight now through the large windows. While you weren’t thrilled about going back into the world of the Dead, it was better than being incinerated.

You knew you were in trouble when the glass wouldn’t break. When Carol had produced the grenade, you could have kissed her. Rick set the charge and you all hit the deck. When the blast went off, you felt a body cover you and you knew immediately that it wasn’t Shane. 

You didn’t say a word as Daryl used his body to keep you close to the ground. You just waited for the ground to stop moving before getting your bearings. Daryl hauled you up and took off towards the blown-out window without saying a word. 

You helped with the kids as they climbed down to the ground, keeping them from the shattered glass. Then, following the others, you took off across the courtyard. Aiming your gun, you and some of the others took out Walkers that were drawn by the grenade. You all ran for the cars going as fast as you could. Entering the RV, you all hunkered down. You could see Daryl dive into his truck and Rick shouted at everyone to cover their ears. 

But then Dale and Andrea came running out of the building. You crouched down again unable to see if they made it or not and this time it was Shane that held onto you. You covered your ears as a blast echoed throughout the city. The RV shook around you and when the smoke cleared and you stood up to look out the window, the CDC was gone. 

[peantbutter-honeycombs]

The Hollowing Series: Part I

Title: Prelude

Word count: 2,980

Characters: The 11th Doctor, Amy Pond, ocs

Warnings: Platonic fic not romantic. Crappy writing?

Notes: So three? I want to say three years ago this idea came to mind. Well not this one. But I worked off that idea and came to this. I like the idea of the Doctor being around children. They’re just so innocent. But then I though what the hell let’s torture 11 and the kids and this was born. I’ll explain more later but for now Spoilers. I reall have worked hard on this it’s my first Doctor Who fic. It’s been in my head and notes for years so please be kind and enjoy. I’m going to try, try to break this in to only 4 parts. But hey I’m a detailed writer.

Special Thanks to my college buddy B, @mirkwoodshewolf, and @underskaro​ for tolerating my ramblish rants and beta reading the chapter.

———

Down the road aways, pushed against the hills, stood a cobblestone farm style home. The front lawn was messy, jagged and uncut. From the muddy earth sprang up wildflowers and weeds, northern marches, poppies, and heathers. It was all very wild. The pedestal of a concrete birdbath was cracked and lopsided, with vines wrapping around the very base.

A trike was tangled, hidden in the tall overgrown grass. It felt out of place among the weedy garden. The bike in contrast to the exterior of the old homestead must have been brand new. Green and black, the trike was just brilliant enough to be noticeable through the thrush.

Visible from the left lower window appeared a boy, no older than 14 but no younger than 12. He reached out toward the edges of the frame, grasping at the sangria red fabric. In one swift motion, he drew the curtains closed.

“There,” the boy said, standing back to admire his work.

The four windows of the well-sized sitting room. The warm golden light that once flooded through the glass panes, faded, leaving room to feel somewhat dark and empty.

Stepping backward, the young teen collapsed over an armrest onto a sofa. The sofa’s cushions sank under the weight of him, creating a spot perfectly tailored to the shape of his body. The sofa had seen better days. The brown leather fabric was worn, torn in some places and had a great dark stain on the Center cushion that the boy couldn’t remember ever not existing.

Dragging his legs over the armrest, he moved himself so he was in a sitting position. He stretched his right hand out, leaning his body so he could reach a drawing book on the right end table. The silence of the sitting room hugged him like a security blanket, his muscles became jello, all the stress of the day just melted off him. Being the man of the house was hard.

He became lost in his own world. He didn’t utter a word for the next fifteen minutes and barely moved from his spot for a full thirty minutes. His left hand carefully looped and curved over the blank sheet of paper, no longer blank. Every now and again he’d spin his pencil around in his fingers in deep thought, or wildly erase a thoughtless mistake. He hummed along to the song blasting through his one right earbud (the one thing he’d moved to retrieve.) nodding his head in time with the 60’s melody.

The sound of creaking floorboards overhead pressed through his exposed ear, carrying him back to reality. He could hear gentle feet beating against the wood. They were almost unnoticeable over the music. Almost.

There was a lull in the footsteps, creating silence.

They must be at the stairs, he thought, beginning to set his drawing tools away.

They always stopped at the top of the stairs and the base. The stairs of the old farmhouse were criminally steep, with each weirdly a different height than the last. They were enough to give anyone unfamiliar with them a headache. If his mother had gotten them carpeted, maybe the stairs wouldn’t have been so nauseating, but she’d wanted to preserve the house’s history as best she could.

Thump, thump, thump.

He could just imagine the little human, the footsteps belonged to crawling down the stairs. Moving down them one by one, on their knees. Sort of in a reverse way of the puppy conquering the stairs in Lady and the Tramp.

“No, go away,” he called, pressing a pencil down into its colouring box. When there was quiet he looked over his shoulder, everything from the waist down just sitting there on the steps. The figure's upper body was obstructed from his view.

“I was kidding, you can come down.” He turned back to his tidying. He heard the little feet happily stomp about, then thump, thump, thump.

Focused on organising his things, he looked up only when noticing the pair of dust stained white socks out of the corner of his eye. He blinked, somewhat irritatedly, staring at the little girl who now stood across from him.

With a great sigh, he said.

“You’re really annoying sometimes, you know that?”

A child no older than four stood before him. Her brown eyes, earthy hues of the soil after rain or bark on a walnut tree. They gave him a look that was of youthful innocence. Bright auburn hair reached down to the middle of her back, slightly covering the sides of her cheeks. Her pale skin was dotted and marked with a surplus of freckles — Sophia.

Sophia frowned, taking a step back. This made the older boy quietly snicker.

He smiles in a reassuring manner, “Hello, Soph-a-loaf.” He teased goofily pronouncing her name. The slightest smile tugged at the corners of the ginger's lips. He brought Sophia onto his lap, letting her sit on his thighs. “What’s up ducky?” He asked, brushing some of her hair back behind her ear. Sophia scrunches her mouth to one side, making a few murmuring noises. “Oh really? Sounds like you’ve had a day.”

Sophia nods. She rests her head on Oliver’s stomach, looking up at him with her sweet doe eyes.

“What?”

Her eyes darted off toward the window.

“No. No.” Oliver shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. Sophia tilted her head to one side, training her attention on Oliver’s. “Seriously the park now?” Oliver whined, backing into the cushion.

He reaches for a throw pillow and covers his face with it.

“I’m sleeping,” he murmurs from behind the fabric. Sophia fusses lightly, pressing at his stomach. Oliver grunted, but kept the pillow pressed against his face. “I’m dead,” he tried.

This time Sophia head butted him in the gut. Oliver pulled a face, bringing the pillow down.

“Bleh!” He mocked, tongue lolled out of his mouth. Sophia squeaks, swatting her palm against Oliver’s arm. “Hey, we don’t hit. Sophia, I don’t want to go to the park.” Oliver said leaning down so his forehead was against hers. Sophia kindly taps her temple against his. Oliver chuckles softly, giving her forehead a sweet peck. “Sophey Tophie.”

He lifts Sophia off his lap, setting her on the floor in front of him.

“I suppose… it would be nice to get out of the house.” His eye drifted to a calendar on the interior sidewall of the sitting room. He couldn’t remember when he circled that day. Sophia excitedly bounces up and down. “What are you a rabbit?” The little ginger doesn’t respond, bouncing her way to the front door.

Oliver rolls his eyes. Upon realisation, he sprang up from the sofa.

“Sophia, you need a coat!”

-

The two children squinted against the hazy Yorkshire rain. The rain was cool against their exposed skin. It felt nice, refreshing even. It ran through their hair, smoothing out Sophia’s auburn waves, mopping Oliver’s ash brown locks. It plastered small individual strands to each of their faces.

Oliver chatted away as they went down the muddy, winding path. Chatting isn't quite the right word as Sophia never spoke. It had only taken him two minutes to go off on a tangent about something or other.

Sophia, only kind of sort of listening, pedaling her hand-me-down trike. His voice disappeared into the white noise, allowing her to quietly enjoy the English landscape.

The countryside stretched and weaved as far as the eye could see. Rustic English cottages and cobblestone farm houses dotted the grassy hills. The land gently rolled up and down the valley, merging with the uneven, mist filled moors half way up the emerald green mounds of earth.

Dew, white and clear, decorated the damp droopy grass the land glittered, sparkling under the orange purpling sunlight.

The houses of the humdrum sleepy town were few and well spaced out. One could walk a good half a mile before reaching their neighbours' property. Those closer to the center of town were flats, pushed together in neat lines, occupying the space over the small, often family owned shops.

Oliver and Sophia arrived at the park in twenty minutes. Sophia having to struggle, pedaling through the mud had set them back. However, neither of the children seemed to care. Sophia hopped off the trike and clicked off her helmet, abandoning both on the pavement. She couldn’t wait to explore the soggy park.

For the next 20 minutes they hung out at the park, Sophia wandered the grassy playing field picking at wild flowers while Oliver practiced his kicks. In the following ten, Sophia ran up the stairs then went down the slide. She’d dust herself off, then go round again. The next five minutes she sat still, a bit tired, content to watch the villagers while Oliver puttered around.

“Oi! Sophia, I’m goin’ to the loo. I’ll be back right back!” Oliver shouted from the far side of the futbol field. The park had no bathroom, so he’d have to walk clear cross the road to Brews Brothers’ Pub. The popular bar had an outdoor side restroom reserved for the public.

Sophia watched Oliver leave until he became nothing more than a speck in the distance.

The quiet times brought a certain comfort to Sophia. It was the perfect time to watch people revel in the coolness of other humans’ lives. Usually the park was a buzz with townsfolk, mostly children. They melded together and dotted the public lawn like A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. But now there was little life to distinguish the little village from Oradour-sur-Glane, France.

The night air, though cool, had a biting sharpness to it. No thanks to the rain. Sophia sniffs through her nostrils, inhaling the almost intoxicating spring air. Sitting on the bench, her little legs swung over mud coated grass. Misty rain was still falling steadily, and the temperature had dropped considerably.

Sophia wasn’t bothered though.

Reaching for a short stick she traces some shapes in the ground. She nods her head, humming a tune she couldn’t quite place.

“You know, sometimes I wonder if you actually know how to fly the TARDIS.” A voice, female with a thick Scottish accent, said.

Two foreign voices cut through the cold silence. Her eyes dart down the path. From where she sat she could hear them, the voices, bickering. About what, she had no clue.

Out of mist in the distance strode what appeared to be a young couple. The man seemed tall. His dark brown hair was long, stuck to his forehead in a droopy fashion, much like Ollie’s. Despite looking like a young man, he wore clothes that reminded Sophia of one of the town retirees; a Donegal tweed sport jacket with elbow patches, an off white dress shirt, rolled up deep blue trousers and… and bow tie?

Bow ties are for Sunday, Sophia thought, eyes narrowing at the approaching pair.

His partner appeared to be much more put together. Auburn hair, just a smidge less vibrant than Sophia’s framed a pale Scottish face. An irradiated cross expression dominated her features. Her voice wasn’t high nor low, it perfectly suited her in an indescribable way. And unlike the man to her right, she wore clothes appropriate for her age.

The pair stopped in the middle of the path, continuing to argue.

“Of course, I know how to fly the TARDIS sometimes she- she just has a mind of her own.” The lanky man argued, earning an eye roll from the ginger.

“We’re supposed to be England,” She grouched. “What about Churchill? This looks like— are we in Scotland?”

Sophia scoffed, shaking her head, tourists. She watched as the man licked a finger, held it against the wind, then popped it back in his mouth.

“No, no. I’m sure we’re in England.”

The finger crossed her arms over her chest in a cool way.

“Shouldn’t there be I dunno fighters, soldiers, something? I’m getting sheep.” She said looking round the area. She wasn’t wrong there were sheep, white puffs mindlessly grazing on the hills. When she looked back at the man, he was squatting. In his right hand he held a good chunk of mud.

“Wha—What are you doing?”

“Definitely in England. Westerdale Yorkshire, to be more precise. Right country wrong period. Does something seem off to you?” He asked, running a thumb over the mucky mud, cautiously examining it.

His partner snorted indignantly.

“Something or… someone? No don’t eat the—”

Sophia quickly pushed her head down, crinkling her nose. Adults are weird. She turned her attention to her dirt scribbles. She didn’t understand what they were on about, anyway. Hopefully they’d be on their way soon. They didn’t belong.

There’s a weight increase, bending the planks of the bench. An electric chill ran up Sophia’s spine, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. The reaction wasn’t from the cold. There was a weight increase bending the planks of the bench.

“Well hello there, I’m the Doctor. What’s your name.”

Surprise was never an emotion Sophia handled well. Her shoulders went rigid, her entire body defensively readying itself. Her sweet eyes become stoney. Her breathing felt as if it was becoming more shallow with each breath. The guarding alarms inside her mind we’re going crazy halting the thinking gears of her brain.

The man held his hands up resignedly. “No, no, don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.” There was a gentleness to his tone, a kind of concern. Sophia couldn’t be sure. No matter something about him. She let her shoulders go loose, but the rest of her still felt tense. “Would you mind? I have a few questions.”

Sophia allowed herself to relax a little more, not completely but more.

“Doctor!” The scot’s voice rang up briefly, sending Sophia back into defensive mode. “You can’t keep talking to children you don’t know.” She sounded like a mother chiding her young child.

Her comment sparked a minor argument between the pair.

Sophia took the time to lean back and take the pair in full, particularly the man. He was a little more normal-ish looking up close. Normal enough. There was something about his eyes she couldn’t quite describe.

Sophia observed the two curiously, unaware that the fear, once crushing her chest, was steadily subsiding.

“I introduced myself this time. Oh yes,” the Doctor swiftly turns to Sophia, “this is Amy.”

“That’s not how it works,” Amy grumbled.

Her partner ignores her, keeping his attention on Sophia. “There’s something… something about this place. Don't know. I think-" He spoke fast, flaggishly moving his hands about. “Well I know it’s something. Too many ideas. Head’s bit cloudy.” He knocked on his temple.

Sophia, though a little behind, shifted uncomfortably.

“Need to narrow it down…” he trailed off. Sophia, her left palm on her thigh, absently traces along each finger with her right index. He observes Sophia with a kind, sort of calculating, gaze.

“Something’s wrong, isn’t it?

Concurrently, Ollie was on his way back from the toilet. He dribbles across the park, knocking a futbol between one foot and the other. “He’s going for the full court folks.” He deepened his voice, trying to mimic the vocals of a proper sports announcer. “He’s at the 75 marker, will he go for the assist?” He sped up, using a lace touch to control the ball. “He passes to,” Oliver knocks the ball clear cross the field.

“No one.”

He’d get his ball back tomorrow. The silence made his blood as cold as the icy waters of a polar plunge, as he strode across the park to where he had left Sophia.

Everything was still hazy and cloudy from the English rain. Billions of trillions of icy drops dripped down his neck and fell off the flaps of his slicker. In this de-focused world, he could just make the outlined silhouette of Sophia.

“Sophia. Sophia?”

He goes taut, stopping in his tracks. For a moment his brain glitches. His eyes went wide, mouth falling slightly ajar. Although he was staring at Sophia, he was seeing more than he expected.

“Sophia, what do you think you’re doing?” His voice was steady, but had a sharpness to it. “Talking to strangers?” He holds a hand out, which Sophia compliantly takes within seconds.

“And you lot.” The ginger seemed taken back by Oliver’s frigidity. A tween scolding two strange grownups, one of them a Scot, bit startling. The gentleman, however, seemed off in his head, silently mouthing the same word over and over. “You can’t just be talking to people you don’t know, numpties.”

“Oi, watch it.”

Oliver’s eyes sourly narrow. “You’re not from around here, are you?” He deadpanned.

“Just passing through. Hello, I’m the—”

“You should keep passing,” Oliver interrupted. Stepping between Sophia and the pair. Sophia could only watch as Oliver spoke to the two adults. “Leave town before it gets dark.” He warned, picking Sophia up, holding her on his hip.

“Is everything okay?” The gentleman asked, stepping up from the bench.

Though his expression held a casual indifference, his skin goes colourless. He let out an understated sigh, bowing his head and turning to leave. “I have to get Sophia home. It's almost supper time.”

Sophia beats her head against Oliver's shoulder, hitting it just hard enough to make the older child wince. He rolls his eyes, but turns back to the pair. “If you are going to stay… it’s only fair.” He sounded like a toddler forced to apologise.

“I must warn you.” He let his face fall in seriousness.

“Beware what lies in the mist of the Moors.”

[one-shot-plus-size]

Crossbow Love - Chapter Seven - The Run

The work was created, through collaboration with @bladeroseocrp​ https://www.wattpad.com/user/BladeRose_18

When Daryl wakes in the morning, his body is pressed against her back, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and stiffening. He doesn't recall falling asleep this way. Blade slept still unmoving and had no nightmares, not bothered by him holding her close. Daryl moves away from her gently so as not to wake her. He grabs his shirt off the rack and his pants and heads to the bathroom to deal with the morning drags of herself and take a shower. Blade slowly wakes up and stretches and feels that the bed is empty. She sits up and looks around for Daryl. She gets out of bed and goes upstairs hearing the shower. Daryl has rested his hand on the tiles in the shower, his hand working on himself, aiming to release it. Blade starts making breakfast and makes eggs and some bacon. She wants to make sure they eat and have energy for the run today. 

Daryl comes in with a groan, leans his head against the tiles, and stares at the tub for a moment. When he goes in there, he always feels like trash, always ashamed of what he did. After getting out of the water, he wipes himself dry and gets dressed. Blade continues to cook the food once the food is made, she made herself a plate and him a plate. She realizes she left her flannel downstairs but she might as well show her skin and not hide anymore. Daryl walks downstairs and into the kitchen, his hair still damp. Blade looks at him and smiles at how handsome he is, placing his plate on the counter. "Well, good morning Daryl. How did you sleep?" She asks, staring at him, stands at the counter and starts eating. "Surprisingly well, I haven't slept like this in a long time, how about you?" He asks, smiling slightly and gets down to his breakfast. Outside the window the sun is just starting to rise, orange rays lighting up the sky. Blade smiles and nods.

"I slept well, no nightmares, just a restful sleep. We'll have to share a room if we both need a good night's sleep." She says giggling and eats more. She looks outside as the light of the rising sun illuminates her face. "You’re already pushing yourself into my bed, huh?" He snaps out laughing under his breath.Blade blushes and hides her face "Or you could have nightmares and not sleep well. And yes, I know you cuddled with me, Dixon." She says smiling at him "I'm not the cuddling type," He snorts under his breath and finishes his breakfast, "I don't know what you're talking about," He says as the corner of his mouth twists into a smirk, Blade smiles and finishes her food as well and walks over to him and runs her hand over his shoulders as she walks by going upstairs to change. Daryl shakes his head and cleans up after breakfast and then gets ready to run. He takes his backpack, crossbow, and knives behind him. He slips his winged vest over his shoulders. "I'm going outside," He shouts through the house on his way out. Blade smiles and shakes his head. "Alright, I'll be there in a minute." She says getting dressed for the run..

Daryl brings his motorcycle out of the garages, strapping his crossbow and arrows to it. He gets it ready to ride, the people in Alexandria wake up, he is approached by Denise who smiles wryly. Blade goes downstairs, grabs his knives and crossbow, and leaves the house walking towards Daryl. She feels as she walks in slow motion, walking towards him feeling happy and confident. Daryl looks at you and smiles slightly watching you from behind his hair and barely registering what Denise is saying to him. Blade smiles and blushes and is not about to hide her scars anymore. She walks over to Daryl and smiles. "Are you ready to go?" She asks him. "Yeah," He mutters, "But Denise wants to come with us." He says as looking meaningfully at Blade, almost begging her not to. Blade looks at her, then back at him. "It's up to you, Daryl, but we both know we need to watch out for her and each other," She says. "Denise, you know very well that is not wise, you have never been outside the walls of Alexandria" Daryl frowns at her.

Blade looks at her. "And you are our only doctor, if anything happens to you we will be very sorry" She says "We will bring you everything on your list, but we are going alone. Maybe next time." Daryl gets on his motorcycle. "You're riding yours?" He looks at Blade. Blade smiles softly and walks over to his motorcycle with Daryl and smiles at him as she gets on his bike behind him. "Might as well ride with you." She says smiling, having her hands on his shoulder. "Apparently you are really pushing your way into my bed" He moves his eyebrows significantly and smiles.

He starts the motorcycle and rides off towards the gate. Blade pokes him, laughing, and rolls his eyes, she embraces him round the waist, looks around, and smiles, laying her head on his back. The gate is opened by a man and he lets them out, Daryl turns on his motorcycle and kicks forward. He feels the wind in his hair and smiles under his breath as he feels her arms around his waist. Blade smiles, looking up, and holds her arms around him, but tilts her head back, feeling the wind in her hair and on her face. Daryl dodges dead on, not bothering to reduce his speed. Blade smiles and laughs, leaning back completely, keeping her balance, and raising her arms to the sky. Daryl looks over his shoulder at her and smiles, shaking his head. Blade smiles and sits back and kisses his cheek and blushes and giggles laying her head back on his back and wraps her arms tightly around him. Daryl pats her hand, an hour later he stops the motorcycle on the outskirts of town. He puts his feet firmly on the ground and turns off the engine.

"We'll continue on foot, we can't risk the noise. Blade smiles and gets off with him, nodding. "Good idea." She says, wondering if his group how they handled other groups. Daryl pushes the motorcycle between the trees and covers it with branches, then picks up his crossbow, arrows, and backpack. "We have a specific list of what we need to find." Blade nods, having her crossbow on her back and knives at her belt. They head into town to find medicine and other items on the list, as well as whatever they find useful and fitting for the motorcycle.

Blade looks at him and sighs "Daryl I was wondering has your group come across other groups?" She asks. "Alexandria works or at least tries to work with the Kingdom and the Hilltop" He marches ahead looking around "But there are also people to fear and stay away from." Blade nods and stays close, looking around as they go. "Have you dealt with violent groups before?" She asks Daryl tenses at her question. "With organized groups no, but with a few people who decided to have fun at my expense yes." Blade stops, notices his behavior and crinkle his brow. "Daryl please tell me what happened to you and your group before Alexandria?" She asks. "Before Alexandria, many bad things happened to my group" He continues walking ahead "Fucking Terminus, fucking crusaders," He says.

Blade nods walking with him listening. "I want to make sure what happened, it seems like everything was bad before." She says "It was very bad in the beginning Blade, we lost a lot of people, we were fighting for our lives. More than once we were separated, but we always found each other somehow. We always came back together in one number or another, but always." He says.

Blade nods and grabs his hand and holds it "I’m sorry you have been through a lot and lost people along the way. But I'm glad you and your group stuck together." She says "I did everything I could to make them stick, to find them, and to avenge them." He says. Blade holds his hand tightly and puts her arm around his shoulder "I know, Daryl. But what you can do now is stay strong and keep fighting." She says.

Daryl stops, turns to face her, and just hugs her. Thoughts of dead people run through his head. Amy, Jim, Jacqui, Sophia, Shane, T-Dog, Lori, Merle, Andrea, Hershel, Beth, Tyreese, and Noah. "I'm holding you to your word." He whispers into her hair, pressing his face against it. He misses Beth, her joyful laughter. Blade smiles softly and giggles. "As long as I have you there to protect me, there's no way I'm leaving you." She says blushing as she hears his heartbeat. "Thanks, Blade." He says kissing her lightly in the hair. "Let's go get what we're looking for," He says.

Blade smiles and blushes as she moves away from him and starts walking towards the nearest building from them. "Blade you can't go into the same rage as when you killed in front of Alexandria, you can't be threatening. Do you understand? " He asks, grabbing her hand. Blade looks down at our hands and smiles, looking back up at him: "Yes, I understand, don't worry Daryl, I'm sneaky and calm when I go on runs." She says. He raises his eyebrows high and tilts his head slightly, as if not quite believing her. He intertwined his hand with hers. "I want to keep an eye on you at all times, so don't leave unless I tell you to run." He says.

Blade smiles and nods. "I know Daryl. You will see and believe that I am calm and sneaky during this run. I’m fast too. I'm in and out of every store. But I know it is different because I’m in a group and not alone. But Daryl I can handle myself if I get in trouble I will yell for you." She says smiling at him, she kisses his cheek and walks to the entrance, she holds her crossbow and knocks loudly on the door, waiting for any sign of walkers inside.

Daryl watches her from the sidelines and lets her prove herself, he wants to give her a chance to reveal her skills. He leans against the glass and crosses his arms over his chest. Blade doesn't hear any walkers at first, when she opens the door she hears a few and slowly walks in with her crossbow at the ready. When one of the walkers is in her line of sight, she shoots it in the head and quickly pulls out her knife to kill the next one. With the heel of her boot, she stomps on the walker crawling towards her. She looks at Daryl and smiles. Daryl smiles slightly and nods approvingly. He walks inside, looks around, and notices a pharmacy at the end. "I'll go get the drugs, and you find the rest." He says tearing the list in half and hands it to her.

Blade grabs the list and starts looking for the things on it, and puts what she finds into her backpack. While doing so she is careful not to run into walkers. Daryl opens the security gate of the pharmacy and goes inside. He throws everything on the list into his backpack and anything else he finds that might be useful to him. Blade walks up to the counter and looks around some more and sees a bracelet and smiles thinking of Daryl so she grabs the bracelet to give him later when they are safe. She grabs more things that might be useful and puts them in her bag. "I have everything. Do you?" Daryl asks looking through the shelves. Blade smiles and looks at him: "Yes, I have." She says while holding the bracelet she found for him in her back pocket.

Daryl throws some flannels in his backpack for the very end and leaves the store. The town looks unusually quiet and peaceful. Blade exits the store and puts her crossbow on her back, keeping her knife out for safety. "Let's go back, I don't like it here,"He says. Blade looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. "I need more clothes that are more my style, I don't like the bright, colorful, flowery clothes we have at home." She says Daryl looks at her. "I hadn't noticed that you don't like flowers." He laughs.

Blade smiles and giggles: "I like flowers, but not on clothes. I love roses though they are my favorite flower." She says start walking to another store. "Well, move along, Rose, I don't have all day." He says heading to the store across the street. Blade looks at him sharply and shakes her head. She sees a store with dark clothing and leather. She enters the store carefree, her crossbow in her hands. Daryl crinkles his eyebrows, comes up behind her, and grabs her arm. "What is this?" He asks

Blade looks at him and shakes off his arm and walks over to the leather vest and sees angel wings on them just like Daryl and gets the biggest smile. Daryl rolls his eyes and takes the opportunity to look around the store since he's already here anyway. Maybe he can find some clothes for Judith. Blade grabs a leather vest and grabs some dark flannels and some skinny jeans. "Don't judge me on what clothes I like, plus I either get my own vest or steal yours," She says with a giggle. "It's my brother's vest." He growls under his breath and walks off into the depths of the store. Blade looks over, wrinkles his brow, and looks down. "Sorry." She says as she finishes grabbing the clothes and putting them in her backpack.

She walked outside alone and went to another store. Daryl took a deep breath and stared at the sweatshirt he held in his hand. It doesn’t take much to quickly bring out extreme emotions in him, from happiness and joy to uncontrollable anger. Blade went into another store to give Daryl space, she doesn't want to disturb him or upset him more. She walks into the store and starts looking for more supplies. Daryl takes notice of the voices coming from the street, wrinkles his eyebrows, and walks to the door leaning his head out. Blade hears the voices and quickly hides so as not to be conspicuous, but to where she can see the entrance from. Daryl is kneeling by the window and looks out through it, a blond man is standing in the middle of the road facing Daryl's building. "Dwight," He growls to himself. Three others are standing next to him, he knows two of them won't make it.

Blade sees a man with a half-burned face and he is holding a knife in his hand, she might be able to get at least the other men, but she is not sure about the man with the burned face. "I'm telling you I saw him here," Dwight growled at the man with the gray hair and mustache. "You got it all wrong again!" He groaned another "You've been looking for that guy with the fucking wings for months and nothing, let it go.” One of the men said. Blade hears what they are saying and thinking about Daryl and growled quietly, hoping Daryl wouldn't do anything stupid to get caught or hurt. "Oh, Daryl please be careful." She says quietly to herself.

Daryl tries to find a way out of the situation despite seeing Dwight's rage, but he has to contain himself for Blade. Blade remains calm, not knowing what these people are capable of, but wants to sneak back to Daryl. Daryl searches the store but finds nothing, he heads back to the exit and leans in slightly. The men move forward analyzing their surroundings. Blade slowly walks towards the entrance, seeing where the men are she can sneak up behind one of them and kill him. Daryl looks around more carefully and sees Blade in the doorway hiding in the shadows. He wrinkled his brow, seeing the concentration on her face. Blade looks at one of the men, pulls out a knife, and slowly walks out of the shadows. She knows how to kill a man in 5 seconds. Daryl straightens up and looks at her to have a few seconds to react. "Here I am" He walks out of the store "I'm here alone" He raises his hands in the air.

Blade looks and gasps and shakes her head. "No, no Daryl please no." She says softly standing and walks out of the store. "I'm alone Dwight." He looks at Blade, but she has to move her body to cover the entrance to the skip where Blade is and prays in his heart that for once she will remain unnoticed and calm. Blade looks at him and growls, getting a little angry and holding her knife tightly in her hand. She doesn't want to lose or get Daryl hurt or killed. So she stays calm and slowly creeps into the small alleyway to stay alert as she worries about Daryl. Dwight grins from ear to ear. "I've been looking for you." He walks closer. "I'm here, you found me. You can have your revenge." He says

Blade looks at him confused, not knowing what he's talking about, she aims her crossbow at the guy standing in front of Daryl. "If you went out here alone, then you wouldn't have revelieved yourself so you’re protecting someone." He looked around. Blade growled, grabbed the crossbow, and aimed it at his head, intending to pull the trigger. "Boys check the area, there must be someone important here with him." Dwight laughed and his friends scattered around the area. Dwight grabbed Daryl tightly by the arm first taking his crossbow and knives "And we go for a walk.” He says.

Blade growls and looks over, she wants to help Daryl, she wants to be able to get to him without being noticed, but she has never been around four men, she was lucky enough to kill and deal with two men at the beginning of the apocalypse after killing her parents. Dwight drags Daryl to one of the cars, punches him hard, and punches him in the stomach. Again and again, Daryl doesn't fight back, he can't. He doesn't want to, in his mind he was just making sure they didn't find Blade, that she was safe. Blade sees what's happening and quickly sneaks up to the car and hides behind the corner of the car and has her crossbow and slowly approaches the man who has his back to her and she puts the crossbow to his head and looks at him.

"One sudden moment and this arrow will pierce your head." She growls and holds the crossbow straight at his head. "Blade no" Daryl groans on the ground "You were supposed to leave." Dwight laughs out loud "There's our little friend, you think I'm scared of you?" He asks. Blade looked at him and growled "You should be scared. Leave him alone. No one is going to hurt me or anyone I care about." She said, pulling out her gun and pointing it at him. "Well, birdie," a voice behind her called back. The cold blade pressed against her throat, Daryl tried to pick himself up off the ground and help her.

Blade growled and felt the blade, but didn't pull away and stayed put. "What the hell do you want from Daryl, what do you want from us?" She asks him, looking at the man in front of her and then at Daryl. "We don't want anything from you" Dwight grins from ear to ear. "You're a bonus, so to speak, "Dwight says "I helped you, you prick." Daryl gets up from his knees "I saved you and your fucking wife and you fucking robbed me. And now you dare take revenge on me for what?" Daryl questions in anger. Blade looks at Daryl and then at Dwight and glares, then grabs the man with the knife arm and twists it behind his back, and points her gun at his head. "I will kill you all if you don't let us go. I can kill a man in five seconds." She growls and twists the man's arm more about to break it. Daryl leaned against the hood of the car and wiped his face clean of blood, Dwight put the knife to his throat. "Decide who's more important, the one Negan's man can replace with another, or the Dixon you love?" Dwight asks. Blade looks at him, gasps and growls then lets go of the man and puts her hands up. "Don't hurt him, please." She says trying to stay strong and not cry.

"Wise," He says smiling and pulls out a knife and crossbow. One of the men walks up to them and speaks. "Negan is telling us to go back, we have to do this." He breathes. "I'll find you Dixon and then I'll gut you" He growls in his ear Dwight and pats him on the back. Hard and painful. "Sleep with your eyes open" The man slaps Blade on the head to make sure she doesn't attack them as they drive away. Blade falls to the ground and is disoriented and clutching her head. growling and moaning in pain. Daryl gathers all his strength to approach her and falls to his knees beside her. "Blade," He says as he touches her head.

Blade looks at him, stares into his eyes, and touches his face. "Daryl, are you okay?" She asks. She has to ask him about who the hell these men were and who the hell Negan was. "Yeah, I'm fine, but what about you?" He asks. Blade smiles slightly and nods. "I’m okay. Who the hell were those people?" She asks as he slowly gets up and gets a little dizzy and puts his hand on the car next to them. "Hey." She says it helps him stay on his feet despite the pain he himself is feeling from the beating "We can't go home, they might follow us." He says.

Blade looks at him and breathes heavily slightly. "Daryl, who the hell was that? You told me about some groups, but you never told me about them. That guy looked like he knew you. And who the hell is Negan!" She asks and gets irritated knowing that she wants to kill the men for hurting them. "Calm down, please," He staggers, walking away from the car, "I once saved Dwight, his wife, and sister. They returned the favor by robbing me, trying to kill me. They ended up shooting me, I was able to go home to my group. But the next time I met him, I beat him severely. Well, he just got pissed off. I don't know that dickhead Negan." He explains. Blade looks at him and quickly walks over to him, embraces him, and holds him close. "I'm glad they didn't kill us, I didn't want to leave you to die with them," She says. "You should get as far away from here as possible, it never affected you." He shook his head "You shouldn't get hurt," Daryl says. Blade shook her head and grabbed his hand. "I would rather sacrifice myself to be hurt or killed than you Daryl Dixon." She says helping him walk towards the motorcycle. "No," He shakes his head, "I can't go." He sits down.

Blade looks at him and crouches down next to him. "Daryl, we need to at least get out of sight, like go into the woods." She says, looking worried. "I need to rest for a while, just a while." He closes her eyes. Blade looks at him, holds his hands, puts her hand on his cheek, and puts her forehead against his. "I will protect you and I will sacrifice myself to protect you," She says. Daryl hears her words but doesn't have the strength to answer her, he just squeezes her hand. Fucking Dwight, if he gets the chance he'll kill him with his bare hands. "Go get the backpacks, we need to get them." He says.

Blade nods and goes to get the backpacks, she quickly returns and sees that he is weak and she is so worried. Upon returning in front of him she puts her hands on his cheeks. "Daryl, I need to check your wound." She says staring into his eyes. "I'm fine, I promise." He opens his eyes and looks at her "it's just a beating, nothing more. It doesn't even hurt that much." He says. Blade looks at him with a raised eyebrow "Alright then Mr. Tough guy get up and walk on your own." She says putting her hands on her hips as she stands up. "Such a smartass" He grabs the motorcycle and rises to his feet leaning against it "You see," He says. Blade smiles and pokes him lightly "Stand up unsupported, smartass." She says crossing her arms "Woman" He groans.

Blade smiles and blushes slightly thinking about what he wants to say. ‘No, but you can give me a kiss.’ That’s what she's thinking and wants to say, but she says it. "I’m just kidding with you, look , we need to not be out in the open like this, we need to go into the woods." She says standing in front of him grabbing his hand. "Take my motorcycle, I'm not leaving it here." He straightens up "I'll get the bags." He says. Blade looks at him and nods, he uncovers the motorcycle and grabs the handlebars, she walks towards the woods. She sees a small cabin. "I see a small cabin, we can stay there." She says walking towards the cabin. "Huh," Daryl grabs his pack, stays on his feet for a moment, and moves after her.

Blade walks towards the cabin, leans her bike against it, and takes a knife out of the boot she had hidden to check for walkers in the cabin. Daryl doesn't have the strength to argue with her, obediently waiting for her to do everything. Blade sees the two walkers, smiles, and pulls out a knife. She has two knives, one in each shoe, throws them in the air, catches them, holds the blades, and throws the knives at their heads. She casually goes to pick up her knives. Daryl goes inside with his backpacks on his shoulders, the cabin is neat, though it smells musty. Blade smiles and looks up at the sky, she giggles, returns to the cabin, and closes the door behind her.

[cutegirlmayra]

Sonamy Prompt - Treat

Hello! Before I open my prompts back up, I wanted to write more of my own original prompt ideas! Please enjoy, and Commissions will open March 17th for all! (Not prompts! These are paid!)

Enjoy~

Prompt:

Amy’s hands lifted her up from her desk, the rebellion forces were still cleaning up the area from Eggman’s left behind robot trash, but Sonic’s cheery face on the screen made her even more anxious about joining them!

“OooOOOooohh,” she let out her iconic whimper as she shook her cute, bundled hands in small wiggles of envy, “But why can’t I go out and fight too?!”

“There, there, Amy! I promise you, you’ll have your time in the spotlight.” Sonic’s encouragement never failed to please her as his face shone on the communication line. He smiled down to her, clearing seeing how much she missed the battlefield. “Ever since we took down Eggman, you’ve been itching to get out of that dark, blocky room, right?”

“More than you know~” Amy sluggishly sank back down into her office chair, surrounded by metal and rock, she just wished to be useful on the other side of the screen, this time around! “Can’t you convince Knuckles to let me out?”

“Haha! No problem! I won’t even break a sweat.” he gave her a thumbs up. “But we really need you on communication lines right now. You’re a good organizer. Without you, I don’t think Knuckles would remember his lefts from his rights!”

She sighed as her head slumped against the cool steel where her control panel was. Her eyes batted slightly in her weariness, but she didn’t think he could see her that well, so she didn’t mind emoting just a tiny bit~<3

“Huh? Amy? You still there?”

Just as she assumed, she was out of sight from the camera and looked fondly up at him.

“...Just a little while ago...” she began, “I kept a silent dream in my heart... that you were still alive and well. Fighting the good fight, just somewhere far away from us...”

His expression changed and he held a more serious look, “Silent, huh..?” he then broke it and chuckled. “I was always fighting in my heart, Amy. Infinite just gave me a bit of a farther fight then I wanted.” he was mentioning his entrapment on the moon, which still stung at Amy’s core.

“Chaining you up? That’s like... a crime against nature.” She hugged her arms, sitting up again as her face came back into view for Sonic’s camera.

His face lit up at seeing her again, he seemed to not like that she was out of the shot for so long. “Yeah... It bit. Pretty hard. But I never worried about you all. I knew you could do it... even without me, I never once stopped believing in my team.”

Amy looked up as though melting at his gaze and swooning at his words as her body swayed a bit down, relaxing with a gentle glide into a new state of being.

She had missed this~ his calming presence and his kind, unbreakable spirit.

“Now, who does that remind me of?” She teased, wanting a little personal praise from her hero.

Her eyes darted away in a sneaky way, and Sonic gave her a sly look in return.

“Well, you’re not half bad yourself at keeping some faith and hope in these dark times, huh, Amy?” He played along, giving her jitters that sent a swarm of butterflies lose in her stomach. They seemed to migrate northward up to her chest, before fluttering to land on her cheeks, giving her a honey glow.

“I can’t resist you~” she admitted, placing her hands up to attempt to hide her blushing cheeks.

Sonic gave her a big grin, but his shyness got the better of him and he looked away, “Aw, come on, Amy... You make this too easy...” he seemed a little embarrassed now but that only made Amy even more overjoyed at his return.

“Ever since you got back, you’ve been really grateful for your friends... You even went so far as to spend individual time with everyone.” she ducked her chin down slightly, a desperate plea in her eyes for him to remember. “I’ve been kinda wondering... if I go out on the battlefield again... will I also receive that special, limited Sonic time?”

“Huh?” Sonic refocused himself back to the screen, having scratched his nose with an awkward look of giddy pride in making her day, but now he seemed to be pleasantly surprised by her statement. “I hadn’t really noticed I’ve been doing that... Guess I just missed everyone and our adventures together.” He gave her a wink, “Sure thing, Amy! I think your time with me is far past overdue!”

She covered her mouth, “You mean it..? Really!?” she was overwhelmed with springtime in her heart, feeling the butterflies suddenly launch off again and this time, fly over fast winds as flowers bloomed all along the insides of her skin. It was a warm sun, her heart, and it was all thanks to Sonic’s sunshine.

He seemed to notice this, a sudden, unconditional joy in her. “Gosh, Amy. You really do make me feel like-...” He stopped himself, but then huffed a bit through his nose to look down from the camera, closing his eyes. “Ah, nevermind. That’s just the hero-worship talking, right?” He looked back up, “Don’t get too excited, it’s not a date or anything...” he looked away, “Yet...” he muttered, “Knowing you, I suppose you would count it as ‘alone time’ away.” he sighed. “Alright, call it what you want, but I can’t help and be a little excited to see ya. In the flesh again, this time.” he cut off the communication.

Her eyes blinked as her hands came down from her head leaning on them in doting pleasure. But now... it seemed that his words weren’t adding up. “Hero Worship? Oh, Sonic... It’s you I can’t help but want to marry... poor guy~” she spun in her chair, leaning back in it. “He thinks its because he’s such a hotshot hero that I can’t resist him... But this next time we’re alone together-!” she jumped from her chair, looking more determined than ever. “I’ll prove to him with my love that no matter what hedgehog he chooses to be! I’ll stand by his side no matter what!” she punched the air a few times, then summoned her hammer and started swinging wildly, “Hyah! H’up! Hyahhh!” she seemed overly jazzed about the idea of fighting alongside Sonic, getting time for just them two~<3

Daydreams occupied most of her mind that day... but the day dragged on... and soon, she became overly exhausted and that beautiful, wonderful springtime slowly drifted into the late hours of the night.

The butterflies became slow-moving fireflies against the dark landscape of her inner-emotions. They flickered, like her fleeting moments of energy where she’d find herself dozing off and having to slap her cheeks twice to keep herself awake. They gently grazed against the flowers who once shook in mighty winds of ecstasy. But the moonlight coming from her eyes watching Sonic’s communication line streamed down a blue hue that gave her some hope.

“Soon, Amy Rose. Don’t fear.” she comforted herself, realizing she hadn’t heard from Sonic in hours. She leaned back up, checking the other lines and seeing everyone was still on their calculated routes and missions, doing fine and not needing her instruction or to be the middle man in their planning.

“Sonic’s here now~” she cooed, lightly skimming the buttons before reaching her own hand.

Another daydream... what if her hand was Sonic’s hand? What if... ever so gently he...

She lifted her hand and tried to hold it, then smiled weakly and squeezed it. She laughed, kicking up her feet in her excitement and getting a rush of energy again, like a frog leaping into the stream of her nerves.

“Ahh, haha! Okay! Just work through the night! You’ll be out on the field with Sonic in no time!” she once again pressed the palm of her hands against her cheeks, light pats, and then narrowed her sights upon the dull work schedule she had for herself... currently, anyway.

The next day.....

A flat line on Sonic’s communication channel.

Amy was fast asleep at the wheel, so to speak.

However, Sonic was striding into base with a howl of cheers for him. The forces were stoked to have their trademark hero back, and better than ever! He was planning to leave the base soon in search of where Eggman had gone, but until then, he continued down the building of praising fans, hopeful recruits, and squealing girls.

He waved a bit, just living it up, before Knuckles shook his head beside him. “You really let the fame get to your head, don’t’cha, Sonic?”

“Fame? Fortune? What are we talking about?” Pretending to be spacey about it, he noticed a young child run out of the crowd and hand Sonic a piece of paper and pen. The poor thing huffed and puffed, probably having fought through the whole crowd to get to him, and clearly had been rescued from some of the surviving towns and cities.

He smiled warmly and took the items, combining them to create his unique signature, and ruffled the kid’s head before handing him back the new treasure. The child gasped, as though amazed his plan had actually worked, hugged the piece of paper with Sonic’s name scribbled carefully onto it, and took off back into the crowd.

Knuckles couldn’t complain at that, he just watched with a frown, knowing he shouldn’t give Sonic such a hard time after being tortured and gone for so long.

Sonic just watched after the kid, then seemed to nod about a hidden thought.

‘I might be okay having a kid.’ He thought to himself before stretching, ‘Eh, some day.’ he seemed to be shrugging the thought off as quickly as it came, disregarding it as he turned to look back at Knuckles.

“Ah, speaking of which... Hey, Knuckles? Think Amy deserves a bit of a vacation?”

Knuckles seemed shocked by his words, “Speaking of? You didn’t say anything!”

“Ah, I was meaning too.” He kid, putting a hand up to his chin and acting up, “I vaguely remember you saying it was about time she got back into the sunshine. Looking a little pale, maybe?”

“Did I say that..?” Knuckles looked off to the side, doubting himself as Sonic’s ear twitched and a mischievous, trickster grin replaced his once ‘contemplative’ expression.

“Well, sure!” Sonic slung an arm around him, “You even mentioned you felt bad about keeping her cooped up in that underground bunker, working night and day on a computer, for so many long... strenuous... hard hours...”

The acting should have won Sonic an award. At least an Xbox achievement: Duped the Knuckles, yet again.

“Yeah... yeah, she has been working overtime!” Knuckles was easily convinced this was his own words, straight from his own--not oblivious, but totally considerate and aware of people’s needs--heart.

Bless him, he just didn’t know.

“She’s usually so cheery, I should have known better.” Knuckles seemed a bit down about it, so Sonic cheered him up.

He lightly nudged his side, “You did know better...” He winked in his sly deceptions.

“Oh yeah! I did!” Knuckles instantly beefed up his chest and stood tall and proud, “I mean, as the leader, I have to think of everything! Ah, but... who will lead communications if I let Amy go? And where would I send her too..? Hmm...” he put himself into a ‘thinking’ stance, but Sonic smiled fondly to his friend, leaning behind his head so he didn’t see his mouth move.

“I should let Amy go with Sonic.” Sonic whispered, then pretended to whistle in front of Knuckles.

“Ah! I should let her go out on the field, with you, Sonic!” he punched Sonic’s side, moving his looped arm off of him as Sonic looked around as though amazed by this statement.

“Who? Me?” He gestured to himself. “I guess... with you at communications... I’ll be down one man...”

“That’s right! I’ll work communications, and Sonic-” He put a hand to his shoulder, as Sonic continued his innocent game face. “...Give Amy the time she needs. She deserves it.”

Sonic formed an ‘o’ with his mouth, “Gee, Captain Knuckles, I’ll try.” he put his hand to his chest, crossing it over his heart. “I-I won’t let you down, sir!”

“That’s the spirit!” Knuckles patted his back, boasting a hard-hitting laugh. “I’m a genius! That only took a second to figure out!”

“You’re the cleverest man I know, besides Tails, Sonic.” Sonic smirked off to the side.

“Huh?”

“What? I said Knuckles? Didn’t you hear me?” He lightly patted Knuckles’s head, confusing him, before he took off towards the communication room, still waving for the public.

When he opened the door, he could barely contain his excitement, “Long time no actual see, Amy!”

His face then dropped.

Her limp body suddenly rose in a steady beat of a breath, before descending even deeper into her slumber. Her arm dropped off the side and dangled as she was almost close to falling off the chair and counter too.

His eyes scanned her a moment, then the screen, seeing it completely silent on his channel.

His huge grin softened to an empathic smile, and he slowly moved the door to open wider, not bothering to shut it behind him as he was going to daringly rescue her from this awful fate.

He walked up to her with purpose, but as softly as a prince, began to lift her up and carry her bridal style.

“Emm...” She began to stir, and he just politely waited on held breath for her to recognize him.

She blinked her eyes wearily open, and a restrained gasp of awe came out delicately from her tired being. “Sonic..?” Her features fawned in quiet longing. “Am I dreaming again?”

“Only every minute of every hour that ticks by that cruel clock’s glow.” He gently shook his head in a teasing manner, then looked with a bit of a harsh coldness towards the office clock that glowed bright red letters to show the time. “...How long have you been trapped in here, Amy..?” He seemed to get antsy himself, just standing in the dull, lifeless room.

“Sonic..! I missed you... You promised...” Her hand lightly moved up to his cheek, which pulled his momentary distraction back to her, giving her his complete and full attention. “You have to... keep those...”

“At all cost.” his eyes lowered as his head tilt, trying to hold on to her slipping hand as she fell back to sleep. “Oh... Amy...” He sighed out, looking around and getting more and more upset at how long she must have been doomed to work in here.

“...Let’s blow this joint, before I start getting angry.” Sonic joked, but there was a bit of a grumble in his voice that spoke some truth to that comment.

When Amy woke up, she amazed to see that everyone was gathered in the meeting room. She lazily looked up to see that Sonic had placed her ontop of where he sat, letting her lean on his shoulder and chest as she must have taken a well-needed nap on accident.

She blushed as she noticed they were in front of everyone, and Sonic nonchalantly kept up the conversation while having her placed there in his chair.

His arms flopped around, as was his usual style when talking, and when Silver seemed to notice her awake, he smiled to her with a light smile and nod.

Her face like flushed with the red wings of butterflies.

This was... bold for Sonic.

“Then it’s settled.” Knuckles clasped his hands together, wiggling them tighter into place as he seemed to be settling on something she had missed in the conversation. “Tails and I will handle things here. He’s still trying to find out more about alternative dimensions like the one Other Sonic came through. Shadow and Silver will meet up at Blaze’s portal, try and get a reading on how she got here for Tails. Sonic and Amy will lead the Forces and search for Eggman.”

“Not for long, though.” Sonic chimed in, making her slightly turn her head, but trying to disguise the fact that she was awake and attentive now. “I think I’m gonna split after this.”

Her heart dropped. Like the last note at an opera where the chandelier falls onto the stage...

He can’t mean that.

Knuckles dropped his head a moment, “Alright. Last mission then.” Knuckles looked off to the side, then flicked his nose with a slight sniff. “But we could really use you here, pal.”

“I know. But you can use me better with what I naturally do.” Sonic instinctively moved a hand that had been helping hold Amy up beside him and wagged it around like his signature style. “Saving the world my own way. Don’t forget that now, Captain Knuckles.” He lightly joked.

Shadow scolded Sonic a moment but left it at that since Sonic kept cracking out smart-aleck comments and not taking anything seriously anymore.

He raced out of the room with Amy in his arms still and headed for the craft that would hold their men in it.

“...What about... your promise?” She knew he probably had seen that her eyes were open and she was awake, but she was too torn up inside to really have said anything until now.

He looked down as though without a worry in the world, “You act as though this is goodbye. You know I hate those.” He kid again, moving his head up to hers a moment to get her spirits back.

It was a light touch of their cheeks meeting briefly, but it was still enough to get her to smile and giggle again.

“So... I can still be with you? When you leave?”

He didn’t say anything, just jumped from a high place and seemed to glide through the air to the top of the craft.

Once onboard, he headed to the ship’s main control room and noticed Tails fast at the wheel.

He set her down on a couch behind, since the room was modeled to be a captain’s courters as well, and began small talk with him.

Annoyed that they weren’t ‘alone’ like she thought Knuckles had said, she placed her shoulders square, hands in her lap, and pouted in silence. Seeping with fury, she was surprised to see Sonic not even look at her as he came over to the couch.

“-which is why I feel you weren’t meant for ground-control, Tails.” He suddenly sat down and put an arm around Amy.

‘...Hold up.’ She narrowed her eyes at his actions. ‘Is he really thinking this is enough?’ she nudged him away, flicking her head away from his stuck-up being and huffed angrily.

She didn’t know how he was reacting to it until she felt something flop across her lap.

Gasping, she saw him carrying on the conversation with Tails, a hand up to hold up his head, and his body laid out across her lap.

Her face exploded with red lava upon her cheeks, but he acted as though nothing was wrong.

One hand was relaxing on his hip, angling his elbow up, and one leg was also up as though his typical ‘I’m just chilling here’ expression.

When she continued to battle against his ridiculous idea of ‘being together’ he finally stopped his conversation with Tails and scooted down, laying his quills to the side so his head was now on her lap, staring up at her without poking holes into her.

“And as for Amy and me-” he began, this time, giving her a straight look right through her eyes and into her soul. “We’ll be out and about for a while. Sound good, Tails?”

Tails just sighed, “You’re being inconsiderate of her feelings, Sonic... She clearly doesn’t want you toying with her like this.”

Amy puffed up her cheeks. That was the word! Toying with!

If he intended to keep his promise, he should just take her on a real date! Of course, she wanted to swing her hammer again, enjoy the nice warm air and help the rebellion fix up the place... but at least do it like you mean it!

She shoved him off her lap, causing him to tumble before getting up and huffing away.

“Ouch...” Sonic rubbed his chest a second, getting up before tapping his head where he felt a slight ‘bump’ coming through. “I thought she’d think of it as a treat.”

He dusted himself off, hearing her slam the door. It made him flinch, but he rolled his eyes and got up. “What’d I do this time?”

“Well, your actions were what she’s wanting, Sonic... but your timing couldn’t be more off.”

Amy clasped her hands together outside the door again, mimicking her daydream of them holding hands.

‘You’re not meaning it.’ she told herself, leaning against the door with a sorrow that seemed to make her inner spring rain. ‘If you do something like that... do it because you want to be with me, not because you’re planning to leave me... not again... I don’t wnat to be alone!’

She suddenly glared and turned around, about to swing the door open but Sonic had already done so, making her stumble into his arms.

He smiled at the pleasant surprise.

She looked up from her face being squished against his chest, blinking innocently.

“You’re totally right, Tails,” Sonic called back, though Tails was unaware of the situation as he drove the large ship.

“Huh?”

“She does deserve more of me.” he gave her a mischievous grin. “I’ll just Amy to the location where the abandoned Eggman fleet is attacking myself. Don’t wait up!”

He scooped her up with one arm, draping her over his shoulder in one fell swoop, and jumped off towards the ground in seconds flat.

While screaming on the way down, she felt Sonic grab one of her flailing hands, intertwine their fingers together, and land with her in a charming dip.

“Shall we save the rest of the world?” It was enough of an apology to get that he really just wanted to make her happy, and didn’t realize how it was coming off to her.

The gushing of affection for him flowed like a dam breaking loose, and she leaned up to embrace him from the dip, holding on tightly this time.

Even if he was going to leave soon... it wasn’t forever, and this time... he was making time for her and her alone.

“I really can’t resist you... Sonic The Hedgehog!!!”

“Oh good! Cause you’re a lot cuter when you’re happily swooning over me than being mad at me.” he lightly returned the hug the best he could, but there was some awkwardness to him again.

Shy? Already?

And she had hoped those days were gone but...

She giggled, moving away but lifting her arms to be around his neck.

“And you’re cute when you’re shy, too. Sonic~ But-!” she quickly put her fingers to his mouth, “Maaaaybe keep the ‘bold new Sonic’ just between us two~” she flicked his nose as rascally as she could and with a wink, she confidently trailblazed ahead of him.

He was left blinking and looking after her.

“Wow!” he shook his head and smiled, racing to scoop her up and carry her off again. “You don’t change!” he laughed.

(this is between the ending of Forces and before the beginning of IDW comics ;)b where he leaves and then they reunite again)

[letsperaltiago]

don't blame me, love made me crazy

Written upon request for #58 from the 101 fluffy prompts-list:

"We’ve become the clingy newlyweds you always complained about. "

Read on ao3 

Every like and reblog is appreciated <3

Also, tried to just... slowly approach smut and idk I’m so scared!! Send help or inspo! 😅🤧

“What was that all about?” Amy complained to her husband as she closed their front door behind them and kicked off her shoes prior to neatly lining them up by the door. Behind her trailed Jake who automatically copied his wife’s actions looking at her with an equal amount of wonder as he didn’t hold the answer for her question. “We didn’t do anything out of the ordinary?” she threw him another question meanwhile her jacket was removed as well, hung on its designated crook to reveal the flowy, burgundy, flower-patterned dress she’d been wearing for the evening at their friend’s house.

“I don’t know, Ames,” he tried to calm her down, which was always easiest if he didn’t make a big deal out of it – when he was calm he had a better chance of rubbing off on her. But alas it had been very clear from the moment the subject had been brought up at the dinner table that Amy was not going to let go of it until resolved: a stubbornness, a will to succeed that Jake deeply admired and loved but also, at times and in some certain contexts, had his apprehensions about.

“Are we that horrible to be around as a couple?” from where Jake had his back turned on the living room as he took off his leather jacket, he could hear Amy slump down onto the couch loudly flaunting her disappointment in what they’d been told tonight.

It, of course, had occurred to them both that they were married. Very much so: everything from all the meticulous planning of the big day to it being completely butchered by a bomb threat to then still getting married in front of the precinct? Oh yes, they were definitely so very married. And they both adored this new take on their love to the moon, probably even further, and back. But at tonight’s monthly Nine-Nine family-dinner, the first since their wedding in May, they’d suddenly been made aware of the fact that the newly attained degree of their relationship had reached a whole new, very specific kind of vibe: They were told that it made their “already borderline sickly affectionate affinity even more intolerable” (quote Rosa) and made them “professionally and personally challenging to be around when together” (Holt’s addition to the matter at hand).

“I’m sure they didn’t mean it like that,” he slumped down, joining Amy on their couch before instinctively slinging an arm around her shoulders both as to comfort her but also by sheer selfishness, because not touching Amy Santiago at all times was a crime. She, just as him not being able to resist her spouse’s touch, leaned into it placing her head in his shoulder. “You know Holt and Rosa. They have their ways of handling emotional subjects, but they never truly mean to hurt or upset anyone.”

“Maybe…” she huffed but her husband’s attempt at convincing and comforting her didn’t seem to be quite enough. She needed the thrill  and satisfaction of a solve, which meant she needed to treat the matter at hand like an open case – an investigation. She abruptly sat up straight automatically causing Jake’s arm to slide off of her “… but I’m pretty sure we didn’t go overboard with anything?” Amy turned her head to look behind her expecting an answer, but her still leaned back, somewhat disturbingly unaffected husband, looked at her with raised eyebrows and discreetly amused eyes. You’d think he’d worry more than he appeared to do, Amy couldn’t help but think…

“Honey, I know you have this need to control everything, which 99% of the time is both admirable and adorable, but right now you’re just riling yourself up about something that isn’t that deep. They all love us and in the end they just want us to be happy. Even if we get a bit lovey-dovey at times,” he confirmed his little explanation with a warm smile.

“I don’t give a hoot, Jake!” Amy exclaimed totally disregarding Jake’s actually pretty reasonable words. “We’re going to run through every second of that dinner and pinpoint every couple-y interaction we’ve had!” She got up and ran towards her little library/office-room.

“We?” Jake questioned mid-yawn, trying to follow her with his eyes until she disappeared into the other room, left behind surprised by his wife’s sudden initiative. A initiative which he appeared to be have been dragged into.

“Yes,” Amy yelled from the other room. “We’re going to write down every single couple-y thing we did at dinner tonight, from the second we walked into Terry’s place to the time we left, and prove that we aren’t that bad!”

Mostly just wanting to give into the tiredness and desire to just go to bed and cuddlee with his wife, but also knowing he wanted to stick to Amy’s side for this, hopefully keeping her tendency spiraling a bay, Jake tiredly rubbed his eyes trying to push aside the incoming feeling of exhaustion. And as if on cue, the second he lied down stretching out on the soft material of their couch, Amy marched back into the living room with notebook and pen in hand. When she sat down on the floor abreast Jake’s head, between the couch and the coffee table placing her appliance on the surface before her, Jake then noticed how she’d pulled her before lose, casual waves into a high pony tail – she nor the magnitude of Amy’s mission was to be messed with.

“Okay, so…”

From his admittedly relaxed and not as intensely engaged position Jake could, by an inch over her shoulder, catch a glimpse of the now open notebook where Amy’s elegant handwriting was preparing a neat list to be filled, appropriately titled List of reasons why we’ve been  “too much”.  Jake chuckled to himself allowing his eyes to rest just a bit, sneak closed, as he of course would stay awake with Amy but physically couldn’t fight his body’s tiredness entirely. Being there physically would surely be good enough.

“Okay, so we arrived at Terry’s house, separately, very important to note…” she scribbled down before continuing, “…since you worked a bit later, thus came directly from work with Charles so we couldn’t have possibly done anything there…” Amy started scribbling down until Jake chimed, or rather muttered, in himself.

“But since I’d missed you for those few hours after you left work, I walked directly over to you and kissed you in front of everyone before saying-“

“Hi, beautiful wife…” Amy finished his sentence quoting the moment from earlier by memory with a defeated voice upon realizing this wouldn’t be a moment in her favor. She quietly wrote it down not feeling like further commenting. “Okay, but that isn’t uncommon for us… or just any couple in general!”

“I know, babe,” Jake yawned.

“So no reason for them to be upset about that… Anyways, then we stood in the kitchen while Terry and Charles finished cooking dinner, had a glass of wine… Pretty innocent if you ask me-“

“Until we touched glasses and toasted to our 23 days as husband and wife before sharing another kiss,” Jake added sheepishly earning himself another discontent grunt prompting the sound of scribbling.  

“Whatever… Let’s move on…”

And thus they did indeed manage to run through every moment, every second, every turning point of the night while Amy dutifully and neatly as always took notes and, internally, realized that she hadn’t really been aware of a lot of the amorous moments between her and Jake - they sort of just happened, naturally, like a consistent love-pattern. Taking up multiple pages of the notebook, the list clearly reflected this, but Amy still seemed somewhat in denial. Or at least right up until she added the final period to wind-up her final bullet point: J jokingly grabbed A’s butt while yelling “Wifey-butt!” when walking to the car after dinner.

“Oh my god…” Amy complained as her body hopelessly slumped back against the couch where Jake was still resting while also being very much dedicated to his wife’s project dismay, since he was the one who 9 times out of 10 would remind her of forgotten moments, stolen kisses and loving gazes she’d forgotten about.

“I can’t believe it,” she twisted her torso as to look at her husband behind her genuinely expecting a horrified expression matching hers alas instead being met by tired, adoring eyes and a grin that was impossible to hide when his wife’s despair upon realization was this cute.

“Why are you smiling?” she frowned mostly frustrated by the situation but also confused by her husband’s lack of shared sentiment.

“We’ve become the clingy newlyweds you always complained about,” he mumbled the side of his face pressed against one of their throw pillows. “It’s cute. That’s all.”

Amy immediately felt defensive about the accusation, mostly because she knew he was right but that wasn’t exactly the expected outcome when she’d set up this little private investigation of her. “I have not complained about-“

“Oh, you’re so cute when you try to disguise the truth, babe,” he kept grinning. If there was one thing Jake loved it was teasing. Something he loved even more? Teasing Amy Santiago. And something he loved even more? Teasing Amy Santiago when she was in a miffy mood.

“I’m serious! When have I ever complained about a bit of PDA ever? People can do whatever they want,” she had now fully switched, made a 180 turn, in her seat on the floor and looked directly at her husband with a challenging demeanor. Jake was not about to let an opportunity of this greatness like this slip away that easily: he was definitely going to get the most out of it.

“I know it’s hard to face the truth,” he said nonchalantly, definitely playing her, meanwhile he switched to lie on his back as he let out an exaggerated yawn and laced his fingers together behind his head as extra support – and also to look that more pleased with himself and the situation.  “But the Jake Peralta boyfriend gone husband-experience can do these sort of… crazy things to a woman. It’s totally cool, honey, if you’ve just been unconsciously swept away by the rush of having me as your husband. It’s out of your control and that’s okay.”

As well as Jake knew he could push her buttons Amy knew just as well, if not even better, that there were many ways to knock Jake off his cocky perch. This, suddenly, was much more important than what anyone thought of them, or her trying to solve the matter, because them being those clingy newlyweds she always complained about meant she always had her husband wrapped around her little finger. Perhaps, she had to admit, it was hypocritical of her to think like this, when she’d been the one whinnying about random couples’ #twomonthsofmarriage-posts on Instagram (Like, who cares about your two months of marriage, Karen?), and the one to roll her eyes upon overhearing some random woman mention her husband 23 times during a 5-minute conversation at their local coffee shop: she was now that annoying Instagram-couple and coffee shop-woman, all in one… A supreme-annoyingly clingy-wife.

But coming to the realization that, perhaps, she was a hypocrite was her learning from her mistakes, right? That was a good thing.

Either way she didn’t really care because, from where she was still planted on the floor before him, Amy could physically feel her brain have a change of attitude as it shut out any previous doubts and anxieties about what other thought of their marriage, their way of loving each other, and instead replacing it with the sudden brutish need to, first of all, shut Jake up, and second of all, rebel against exterior opinions about them.

She was definitely turning to her annoying newlywed-ways to make her husband shut up.

“I guess,” her before frantic tone was now suddenly completely gone and replaced by a sultry, confident tone matching the new-sprung darkness in her eyes. “But then this…”

Jake’s before tired demeanor was swallowed along with his pride the second his always beautiful, and also incredibly hot wife, pushed herself off the floor and mounted the couch to straddle his hips, more precisely the exact area where he knew she knew there would be no opposing her, with the sleek movements of a lioness sneaking up on its prey. It especially threw him off even further when she repositioned herself, innocently pretending to ‘just get comfortable’, thus applying just the right sultry movement and amount of pressure to this most vulnerable area.

“I guess this…” she made sure the ‘s’ was clearly hissed directly into his ear as she, leaned down over him, slowly bit by bit, started to build him up by allowing her hips another grinding motion thus sending electricity through his entire body, before rounding off her pending taunt, “… is not in my control either then.”

There were no to make it past Jake’s gaping lips, all caught up in tangles in his suddenly very dry throat, although the hitch in his breath in reaction to the movement of her hips couldn’t’ve escaped her in a million years. She had him right where she wanted him.

“Is it?” she taunted again unbending her torso back up to sit up straight.

His hands which had before been resting carefree behind his head escaped its spot finding a new home on her waist, gently tracing up and down its curves like a potter shaping soft clay into artwork.

“Ames,” he whimpered upon the sensation of feeling her hands being placed on top of his to guide them downwards, past the narrowest part of her curvature, and fixed on the fullest part of her hips – where she wanted them to be. For now, that is. By instinct, being very familiar with his favorite kind of handful, Jake’s fingers dug into the fabric-clad flesh not caring whether or not he’d leave marks: her uniform would surely cover it in the morning.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t think I can control it when you’re around me, husband,” she definitely felt his body quiver at his still somewhat new title and, God, how sinful of a meaning that simple word had suddenly gained in the moment. Having fulfilled their duty of guiding him to where she wanted his touch, Amy’s hands made their way off of his before torturously sliding up his torso to play with the first, top button of his dark green flannel – one of her favorites on him… and, of course, off. Meeting her secret expectations his hands reacted to her undressing him by sliding his hands down further behind her to then, instead of her waist, grab the curve of her ass, additionally allowing himself to pull her abdomen into a soft motion against him in the desperate need of the friction she’d already given him a foretaste of. Pride was not a thing he contained much of around Amy Santiago-Peralta: was he going to let her make him unravel at the seams so easily? Absolutely. Would he be down for whatever direction she planned on taking this in? Without a doubt, even if it meant just making out followed by some cuddling, although he was currently rock hard and internally praying that she wouldn’t stop the course of things any time soon.

Her fingers popped the last button of his flannel, and with a simple look, she wordlessly ordered him to sit up straight, which he dutifully did, thus allowing her to push the fabric off of his broad shoulders before proceeding to abandon it on the floor. It might’ve been her favorite flannel on him but she liked it even more on the surface of their carpet. Thinking that she had full control of the situation, Amy was definitely startled at the sensation of Jake’s teeth taking a bite into the sensitive skin of her neck, the extra tender area right beneath where her jaw met the side of her throat and whether it was what he’d set out to do or not, he surely extracted a long, deep sigh from her now, between the fondling and the bites, much more agitated body. Seemed as if Jake Santiago-Peralta was back on track after being knocked off his feet for a moment, and though she did immensely enjoy having the upper hand, there was something about Jake fighting his way back to dominance that undeniably had her body feel some kind of way.

She obviously couldn’t, it being physically impossible, see it for herself but oh how she could feel the way her husband’s teeth and lips were painting colorful love-bruises on her more than usual tan and crisp skin (Thank you very much, 2 week honeymoon in Mexico). Although, before her mind could wander off to create a mental top 5-list of most effective ways to hide said up and coming hickeys, her awareness shifted to the feeling of her husband’s purposive hands grabbing the skirt of her dress, pulling it up to bundle droopily around her waist, and earning him a tiny hitch in her throat to be felt where his teeth were still attached to her.

All the teasing, the control she’d gained in counter to his cockiness, had with the snap of the fingers dissolved into the shameless abandoning of herself, giving in to the fervor he so powerfully incited within her.

“Stop worrying,” he slowly ran his hands up under the bundled material before redirecting his hands back to hold onto the soft pulp of her ass, this time the only barrier being the fabric of her panties, earning him a tiny squirm telling him she slowly began to unravel at the seams – just for him. His lips targeted a new area: hers. “You’re my wife. I’m your husband. No one gets to decide what can and can’t do.”  

As if to enhance his point, making sure she wouldn’t forget anytime soon, there was a brief moment where he drew back just a few inches to look directly into her eyes with passion still burning in his. Meanwhile one hand had left her behind and instead purposefully grabbed her jaw, making sure to keep the grip somewhat soft as to not hurt her but still firm enough to make sure she would look back.  If he hadn’t had a certain agenda in mind he would’ve let the image before him bring him to his knees: Amy, messy hair, swollen lips, dark eyes, ruffled and barely holding on dress. But he had to stay firm and focused. His hand didn’t let go of her jaw and she dutifully complied deeply turned on by the discourse of the events and this persona Jake had chosen to bring out. Usually she loved having the upper hand during sexy timez, but somehow, seeing how Jake was handling her when her mind was spinning out of control, his sudden craving for dominance came like a blessing in disguise.

His lips crashed with hers, and being distracted like she was by his mesmerising dominant persona, it took her by both storm and surprise thus not being able to hold back a pure, honest moan holding so much pleasure. Only the way his fingers teasingly traced the lace on the edge of her panties could come near taking her attention away from what, in the moment, felt like her life’s hottest kiss.

“Understood?” he breathed into her lips barely able to with the lack of air in his lungs. She nodded grasping desperately at the soft white fabric of his undershirt.

“Good,” he growled, pleased by the newfound wet fabric between his wife’s legs meaning he was certainly doing something right: he had her exactly where he wanted her, both physically and mentally, and he had his now slick fingers as proof.

“Now,” he continuously toyed with the fabric, feeling up her heat before slowly edging the pantie as far down as her bent legs straddling him would allow. “You’re going to rip that list out of your notebook… ” his lips slid away from hers redirecting to nibble on her ear lobe. “Then you’re going to throw it out… ” a kiss to the shell of her ear followed behind, setting up his final act of persuasion. She was so far gone under the influence of his touch that she didn’t even care to disagree with having to throw out 20 minutes dedicated research, ink from her favorite pen and quality paper from one of her best notebooks.

“… and then your husband is going to take you to your bedroom and fuck you so hard you’ll forget the others even said anything at all. I’ll make sure you never complain about being newlyweds ever again.”

[queenmercurys]

and i didn’t like the ending (chapters 2-5)

Pairing(s): Jo & Laurie (Little Women 2019)

Summary: As soon as the post box came into view, she saw him there, reading the letter. And then, as if sensing her presence, he looked up, and Jo knew nothing would ever be the same again.

Word Count: 13,290

Warnings: None

(Updating more frequently on AO3, where you can find it under the same name)

It was already well past midnight, but Laurie could not bring himself to move. As soon as he and his new wife had made their way to his grandfather’s home, Laurie had excused himself to the library, half-heartedly pressing the keys on the piano, in the corner, his mind completely elsewhere.

He knew Amy was cross with him for not telling her what was wrong, for not being present whenever she tried to initiate a conversation. He could see the worry in her eyes. It was the same worry that had made her suggest a rushed wedding in Europe, rather than a properly planned one back in Concord. Laurie knew that she was afraid that he was still in love with Jo.

And he was. He always would be.

With a heavy sigh, Laurie reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the two pieces of paper that had been Jo’s letter to him. After she had rushed off, he had picked them up, unable to discard them. How could he, when this was the only proof he had that the love of his life felt the same for him? Even if it was too late, the very existence of the letter made it a bit easier for him to breathe. Easier, but also more difficult at the same time.

As he read through the letter again and again, he tried convincing himself that she did not love him. After all, she had said no such thing. She had made no indication of wanting him to propose again. He could, if he wanted, to see the letter as nothing more than a friend’s desperate attempt to keep him close. But the look on Jo’s face when he’d told her of his marriage, that could not be brushed off, no matter how much his anxiety-fueled brain tried to.

To what extent Jo’s feelings for him reached, he did not know. But they were there. Josephine March had feelings for him. It was what he had wanted all this time, and would have been perfectly capable of reciprocating even a month prior. But now, he was married to Amy.

Laurie had always been somewhat aware of Amy’s feelings for him. The girl had never made them to be much of a secret, after all. And somewhere along the lines, during his grief-stricken state in Europe, he had convinced himself that he loved her, too. She was lovely, intelligent, and kept him on his toes. But he had always known that she was not the love of his life. She had said as much during his initial attempt at propositioning the girl. She had expressed her worries about playing second fiddle to Jo. And to his credit, Laurie had never lied and denied it. And not a word about Jo was spoken since.

“Laurie?” He resisted the urge to pocket the letter as soon as he heard Amy’s voice. That would only make her suspicious. Instead, he placed his hand over the pieces, which were sitting on top of the piano. Laurie turned around to look at Amy, who looked ready for bed.

“Yes?”

“When are you coming to bed? It’s so late,” Amy stood in the doorway, looking far more unsure of herself than she had at the house earlier. She had no doubt wanted to put up a front for Jo. Even Laurie had, to an extent. He had wanted to come back a changed man, a happy man, to make sure his friend felt the least possible amount of guilt about what had transpired between them. But now that he knew Jo returned his feelings, his behavior felt more cruel than considerate.

“Soon,” Laurie turned back to the piano. “I’m not tired just yet.”

A silence fell between them, and they both knew what it was about. Amy was not stupid. She knew. But as Laurie expected, she did not bring it up. Much like how Laurie had not brought his own feelings up with Jo for such a long time. He had been afraid of what kind of response he’d get.

“Alright,” with that, his wife disappeared, no doubt heading back upstairs. Laurie stood still for a while, before turning his gaze to the window. And there it was, a light in the attic of the March house. The light that he had always looked for, every night he’d happened to pass by a window. A light that meant that Jo March was awake, and working away on one of her stories. Despite himself, and despite everything that had transpired, Laurie smiled. How could he not? It was Jo.

---

A few days passed, and Laurie kept his distance. Not only for Jo’s sake, but also his own. He did not know how he would even speak to her, knowing what he did now. The two never fought, not really , but they had both been so angry that day in the forest. Laurie was still angry. And he knew he was not doing a good job of hiding it.

He mostly snapped at his grandfather, who really did nothing wrong besides dare to speak to Laurie at a moment that was inconvenient for the young man. Amy even pointed this out to him, though Laurie quickly dismissed her concerns.

Try as he might, Laurie could not stay away from Jo for too long. When Amy mentioned to him that Jo had inherited Aunt March’s house, he knew he needed to see how she was doing. Laurie knew about Jo’s complicated relationship with her aunt, and he wanted to be there for her. He had always pushed his own feelings aside to make sure his best friend was alright, and that was what he had to do now, too.

He found Jo at what was now her house, for all intents and purposes. As he stepped inside the deserted mansion, his eyes immediately fell on Jo, who was circling around the room, seemingly deep in thought. Laurie cleared his throat, not wanting to be caught staring.

Jo looked up, and for a brief moment, looked happy to see him. For a split second, she looked like she always did when he used to surprise her. But then, she seemed to remember the reality of the situation, and straightened her posture, crossing her arms. Laurie chuckled bitterly, remaining far enough away to not make her uncomfortable.

“I heard about the house,” he said. “I wanted to see how you were.”

Jo’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, but she did not move closer. “I was surprised. I thought she hated me,” she admitted.

“I’m sure she loved you, in her own way,” Laurie met her gaze and smiled softly. How could someone not love her? As infuriating and stubborn as she was, Jo March was the most remarkable person Laurie had ever met.

“You did not come earlier with Amy,” Jo spoke, catching Laurie off guard with the topic of Amy. But he went along with it.

“No.”

“Nor have you been at the house.”

“No,” Laurie wasn’t sure where she was going with this.

“So, I suppose your suggestion of us being friends was just a lie, then?” there was that same aggression in Jo’s voice that had been there during their last interaction. Laurie was taken aback. He felt that, if anyone, he had a right to be upset. Jo had months and months to express her feelings, and she never did. This was not on him.

Or, that was what he kept telling himself.

“Jo,” Laurie took a few steps closer, noting that Jo was not moving away. It was a good sign, at least. However angry she was, she was not yet ready to bite his head off. Progress. “It was not a lie.”

“Forgive me for my assumption, Teddy, but you avoiding me does not sound like the most friendly thing to do.”

Laurie was starting to lose his temper. He was not the villain here. “I’m sorry, Jo, did I miss a moment when you showed up at my grandfather’s house, looking for me?” He raised his eyebrows.

“No.”

“And why not?”

“You know why,” something about the way Jo said it reminded Laurie of his own words to Amy, not too long ago. Why had he said anything? If he had kept his thoughts to himself, if he had not allowed his loneliness to send him into Amy’s arms, everything could be different now.

“Because Amy’s there?”

“Because you and Amy are there. Together,” Jo shrugged, leaning against the wall. “It’s too odd.”

Laurie scoffed. He turned back, about to walk away. And then, he glanced back at her, at the infuriating woman he loved beyond all reason, and spoke: “You know what is odd to me ?”

“What?” there was that accusatory tone in Jo’s voice once more.

“You writing me a letter, confessing your deep feelings after turning me down in the most cold, callous way you possibly could have.” Laurie knew he was exaggerating. Even at the time, he had known that Jo felt misery over having to reject him. But his hurt did not give way to reason. It rarely did. “You told me! You told me that you could never say yes to me. You told me that you did not love me.”

Jo opened her mouth to speak, but Laurie continued, stepping closer as he did:

“You gave me no reason whatsoever to believe that you felt anything. You broke my heart, Jo,” he felt bad for saying it as soon as the words left his lips, as he could see the toll they were taking on Jo. But it had to be said. “And now , you fault me for moving on.”

Jo looked away, biting her bottom lip. The tension between them was growing, and it was becoming unbearable.

“If you had asked me to wait, I would have waited,” Laurie continued, his tone calmer, but his words no less potent. “You did not tell me maybe, or later. You said no. I took your words for what they were. And now, you blame me.”

The girl moved away, circling around him, fiddling with her hands to avoid his gaze as she made her way to the door. “I should be on my way. I promised I would help Marmee with dinner.”

Laurie was not the least bit surprised. Jo did always prefer to run away from her feelings than confront them. Instead of arguing, he decided to be the bigger man and change the subject: “You’re working on a piece of writing, aren’t you?”

Jo looked back at him, her guard lowered once more. “How did you know?”

“The light, up in the attic,” Laurie replied, barely more than a whisper.

Jo just smiled. “You and Amy should join us for dinner tonight.”

Laurie’s knee-jerk reaction was to refuse, but Jo continued before he could do so:

“She will grow suspicious if you do not.”

Laurie could hardly argue with that, so, he merely nodded, watching Jo walk away from her once more. As he stood in the house, he was left to wonder whether any of his words had even reached the stubborn girl. And even if they had, did they matter?

---

Laurie had never considered himself to be a very jealous man. He knew his worth, and he had no illusions about his relationships. And yet, watching Jo interact with the man called Friedrich Bhaer was slowly eating him alive.

Amy, Laurie and his grandfather had shown up to the March house to find this new man standing in the doorway, and to Laurie’s disgust, no one could take their eyes off of him. Jo included. It had taken multiple attempts, but Laurie had finally found out that the man was an acquaintance of Jo’s from New York. The revelation had not eased Laurie’s mind whatsoever, as several scenarios started forming in his head. He and Jo must have had so much in common. Perhaps they were already an item. Perhaps Jo’s letter to Laurie had just been a back-up plan, and this Mr. Bhaer was the man she truly wanted to be with.

All of these anxieties made it impossible for Laurie to focus on dinner, so he spent the entire evening simply sitting quietly, occasionally answering questions either Amy or Marmee threw his way. Jo, on the other hand, avoided his stare the entire night, focusing on Friedrich or her family. It infuriated Laurie, even though he knew he had no right to be furious. He was a married man, and Jo was free to do as she pleased. But was the girl truly so fickle that she would now cast aside her feelings for Laurie in favor of this complete and utter bore of a man?

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Laurie knew he was being biased, but he truly did consider Friedrich Bhaer to be one of the least interesting people he’d ever met. Yes, he was handsome enough, as Hannah liked to point out, but he was stoic, quiet and very literal. He was just about the last man Laurie had ever pictured Jo ending up with. Even when he had dared himself to picture her with someone other than himself, it had never been with a man like this.

Finally, the time came for Friedrich to say his farewells, and Laurie stayed back, watching with a certain sense of self-destruction as the man kissed Jo’s cheek before departing. But, what came after hurt Laurie perhaps even more so.

As soon as the door had closed, Jo had been met with an utter silence. Laurie looked around, wondering what exactly he had missed.

“What?” Jo spoke his thoughts into existence.

“Jo, you love him!” Amy shrieked. It took everything Laurie had in him to not snort out loud. If this was Jo March in love, then he did not know his childhood best friend at all.

“No, I don’t,” Jo said, laughing nervously. She looked between everyone, who had started practically shouting in chorus, arguing with her. To everyone, it was obvious that Jo was madly in love with Friedrich, and that he had wanted her to say as much. This was as clear as day. To everyone, that is, but Jo and Laurie.

Laurie met Jo’s gaze, and smiled knowingly. A sense of calm washed over him as he saw the look on her face. She was not in love with Friedrich. And he had a feeling that the only reason Amy was suggesting it in such aggressive terms was because his wife wanted it to be true. But wanting it did not make it so.

At Amy’s suggestion that Jo needed to rush after the man, to stop him from leaving and moving to California, Jo shook her head and walked past them. “I don’t understand why you won’t listen to me! I don’t love him. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear!” with that, she rushed off, no doubt taking the back entrance out of the house.

Amy looked at Laurie, and he only shrugged. His wife looked positively crushed. Laurie wanted to be hurt at how much she seemed to distrust him - enough to try to shove a man down her sister’s throat to keep her away from Laurie. But, truly, could he blame her?

It took a few moments for the situation to dissolve, but one by one, everyone left the foyer, leaving Laurie standing there by the staircase. Amy had decided to go back to Meg’s with her, no doubt wanting a moment away from Laurie after the sour mood he had been in the entire day, all because of Friedrich.  He had not exactly been very subtle. He wished that he could hide his feelings better, but when one felt as strongly as Laurie did, it was as difficult as trying not to breathe.

---

Laurie found Jo standing outside, staring out towards the forest. It was raining, but she did not seem to care. He walked over with some hesitance, taking off his jacket and wrapping it around the girl’s shoulders, making her jump ever so slightly at the contact.

“Teddy,” Jo chuckled, but tugged the fabric closer to her nonetheless. “What difference do you think another piece of wet cloth is going to make?”

Laurie just smiled, standing by her side, looking at the drenched scenery. He wondered how best to go about expressing how very grateful and relieved he felt that Jo had not returned Bhaer’s feelings. How to be eloquent about such a nasty subject?

“So, not him, then?” he finally spoke, not sure if she could even hear him due to the rain.

Jo glanced at him, but Laurie kept his eyes on the horizon, perhaps too afraid to meet her icy blue eyes. “Not him,” she agreed. “It never has been.”

“He seemed a fine enough fellow, I suppose,” Laurie shrugged. “Intelligent, with a fondness for books.”

“And that is all that you think I want in life, then, Teddy? An intelligent man who loves books?”

“I do not think you want anyone at all, to be quite honest with you, Jo,” he laughed softly, finally glancing at her. With her rain-drenched hair, and the clothes clinging to her figure… she looked more beautiful than she ever had before. It was a special kind of torture, to be around her, knowing what he knew, and being unable to do anything about it.

“You’re wrong,” was her response, but Laurie had turned away once more. He would not look at her now, because if he did, he would not be able to resist the urge to kiss her. She was toying with his heart, this time absolutely knowingly.

He felt her fingers brush against his hand, and glanced down, noticing that she was looking at the ring on his middle finger. The one he had given to her. The ring that had once rested on his wedding finger, but had since been replaced by his actual wedding ring. “You still wear it.”

“You gave it to me, Jo. How could I not?”

Without warning, Jo grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him in for a hug, clinging onto him tighter than she ever had before. Laurie held her back, his arms wrapping around her upper back, feeling her shiver against his body because of the coldness.

He heard her cry, and his heart broke a little bit. He did not know why she was crying, but he did not have the courage to ask. He only held her closer, the two clinging to each other until, finally, it became too cold to stay outside. The old friends parted way at the door, Laurie making his way back home, while Jo retreated to her attic. Nothing was resolved, but at least Jo was not engaged. With that selfish thought, Laurie could sleep a bit easier.

---

Had she been asked, Jo would never have classified Amy as the observant type. She still remembered her sister as the loudmouth, foul-tempered, selfish little girl she had been in their childhood years. Of course, she loved Amy, she was her sister, after all. But the two had always clashed, and were destined to do so for the rest of their lives. Not all temperaments mixed, and Jo had come to terms with that.

But the Amy that had come back from Europe was not the same as the one who had left her. Much like Laurie, Amy had matured into a new version of herself, a version Jo was not sure she recognized at all. This Amy was more quiet, more introspective, more prone to speaking out about things Jo had never expected her little sister to take an interest in. Literature, politics, and the practicality of marriage.

Nothing had made this more clear for Jo than when her sister had joined her in the attic, interrupting the writer hard at work. Jo had intentionally been keeping her distance from Amy, and had not been hoping to stop anytime soon. Especially after the stunt she’d pulled with Friedrich.

“Jo, may I speak to you?” Amy took a seat on the sofa, clearly expecting Jo to join her, but the older sister remained where she was, hunched over her writing desk.

“Make it quick, I’m in the middle of an important scene,” Jo lied. She had not actually managed to scribble down a coherent sentence for the past few hours. But anything to avoid Amy’s company…

“I’m sorry if I offended you, the other day,” Amy surprised Jo, and the girl actually turned around, frowning. Usually, Amy’s arm had to be twisted to make her willing to apologize for anything.

“Whatever do you mean?”

“With the gentleman who came by. Friedrich,” Amy explained. “I suppose I shouldn’t have pushed you the way I did.”

Jo sighed. She didn’t want to talk about her love life, and if she did, Amy would be the very last person she’d want to have that conversation with. “You misunderstood. In the future, I would prefer if you kept your nose out of my affairs.”

Perhaps she was being too harsh, but Amy of all people should know that pushing Jo was not the wisest thing to do. Especially when it came to matters of the heart.

“I thought that you cared for him.”

“You claimed that I loved him”, Jo turned around fully, shrugging. “Where did that come from?”

“I told you! I thought that you did.”

Jo turned back around. “You don’t know the first thing about what I feel.”

“Don’t I?” something about the way Amy spoke made Jo pause. Had she given herself away, somehow? Had Laurie said something? Surely Amy did not know about the letter.

“If there’s something you wish to say to me, then say it,” Jo said, her eyes still on her empty page. “You’ve never been one to mince words.”

“Fine,” Amy sighed. She stood up, joining Jo by her desk, looking surprisingly nervous. “I think you are angry at me.”

“I told you, it’s fine, you misunderstood-”

“Not for Friedrich!” Amy snapped. “For Laurie.”

Jo shook her head, suddenly feeling the intense need to leave the room. “I told you, I wasn’t angry at you.”

“You were lying. Jo, I swear, when Laurie and I… I didn’t know. I thought that you did not care for him. I truly did,” Amy said, speaking in that fast, rambly pace of hers that she used whenever she was nervous beyond belief. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Amy,” Jo closed her eyes. “Stop it. I don’t want to speak on this.”

“Well, I do!” Amy grabbed Jo’s papers, holding them above her head. “And you’re not going to avoid me any longer. We will talk about this!”

Jo took a breath, standing up and grabbing the papers, glaring down at her sister. “If you truly respected my feelings, you would believe me, and let me be. I know that in your own, little fantasy land, the only opinion that matters is yours , but this is the real world, and I am entitled to my privacy.”

Amy stared, tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t want us to be like we used to be, Jo. Beth wouldn’t want us to fight.”

“I don’t want to fight!” Jo tossed her papers to the floor, taking a breath once more, trying to remember to keep her temper. Why did Amy always manage to push her buttons like this?

“You said that you were not angry with me,” Amy whispered, and for a moment she looked 12 once more, completely helpless when faced with her sister’s wrath.

“You could have married anyone,” Jo finally said, her voice still shaking with anger. “ Anyone . And you chose Teddy.” She almost said my Teddy, but stopped herself at the last second. She could not give her true feelings away.

“I had loved him for years, Jo. Years! All the while you two were gallivanting around town, all the while he was pining after you - and you never cared! All that time, I was in love with him, waiting for him to see me for who I really was,” Amy explained, her voice shaking, too, but more out of sadness and anxiety than anger.

“And how very convenient, don’t you think? That the one man you decided to fall in love with is the one man who ever harbored feelings for me?” Jo spat out.

“Oh, so, you think that the only reason I ever loved Laurie is because of you ?” Amy scoffed. “You’ve got some nerve. Laurie is wonderful in his own right, and that has nothing to do with you.”

“I know he’s wonderful. He’s my best friend.”

“Best friend? You two have barely talked since we came back”, Amy snapped. “I think you’re clinging onto a past that’s never going to come back.”

“And I think you’re being delusional if you think my anger is unjustified.”

“I never said it was. I only asked you to be honest with me,” Amy said, looking and sounding defeated. “But I see that you’re still insistent on remaining a child,” she headed for the stairs, pausing. “Jo?”

“What?!”

“You rejected him. Remember that. You had your time, and you turned him down. Don’t fault me for wanting what you did not,” with that, Amy walked down, leaving Jo in a state of pure anger.

---

After that, Jo began spending a surprising amount of time at Aunt March’s old house. It was a way to have some alone time, and a way to make sure she would not run into Amy or Laurie. She knew she was being childish, but she had to protect herself. Seeing Amy and Laurie together had been difficult from the moment they had returned, but somehow it had become even harder after Friedrich, and after her clash with Amy.

Jo had held a certain affection for Friedrich and the life he represented, but she had not been in love with him. Not enough to follow him into California, and certainly not enough to ask him to stay. She barely knew the man, and her affections were not ones that she gave out with ease. Contrary to what Laurie had once said, Jo was beginning to doubt whether loving someone truly was her way. Twice, she’d been offered the opportunity for what the society deemed as “happiness” for people like her, and she had turned it down both times.

These were the thoughts that occupied Jo’s mind as she spent her days in the house, mostly sitting on the floor, or leaning against a wall. The house was still unfurnished, and as Jo still had not quite figured out what she wanted to do with the house, it would have to remain as such for a bit longer.

Even though summer was on the way, the nights were still relatively cold, so on most nights, Jo ended up lighting the fireplace to give herself some semblance of warmth and comfort. Of course, Marmee had stopped by with blankets, food, and whatever else Jo might need, but thankfully, she had not asked why her daughter insisted on staying in the house. Jo had a feeling she already knew.

It had been five days of complete solitude for Jo when her isolation was finally broken by a soft knock on the front door. Jo was curled up on the floor, under the blankets, writing away in front of the warmth and light of the fireplace. She had no intention of moving. “Come in.” Perhaps it was just Marmee, on her way with another care package of some sort.

But instead, it was Laurie. Jo hated the way her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Ever since her discussion with Amy, she had felt even more guilty about her feelings. Amy clearly loved Laurie very much, so what was Jo to do? The only reasonable thing she could do was leave, let the two of them be happy together. But it seemed like Laurie was not letting her.

“So, you are alive,” Laurie smiled, closing the door behind him, shrugging off his coat and sitting down next to Jo, not even asking if he was allowed. The familiarity between them was there, but not in the way it had been before. Jo had never felt this tension between them before.

“I made no attempt to hide my location. I just thought I’d be less likely to be disturbed here,” Jo explained, eyeing her friend. Something about the way the light from the fireplace was dancing around his face was making him look almost ethereal. She had always seen his beauty, but now she was unable to avoid it. Everything about him, from his sharp features to his soft, green eyes, from his dark curls to his nimble fingers, everything seemed appealing to Jo. And she felt very ashamed of it.

“Yes, but I think running across town does give the impression that you do not wish to be found,” Laurie leaned back, balancing himself on his elbows as he glanced at her. “Amy told me about the fight.”

“Oh, I’m sure that she did,” Jo muttered, putting her papers away. She couldn’t focus now, anyway. “I won’t waste my time trying to defend myself.”

“You gave her the impression that you’re jealous, you know.”

Jo rolled her eyes, standing up. “I’m so tired, Teddy. You know how I feel. Just let me be,” she was about to walk away when Laurie grabbed her by the ankle, but not standing up himself. His touch on her leg burned, and it was the most pleasant kind of burn imaginable.

“Don’t run away. Let’s just talk.”

It was Teddy, after all, and Jo so hated disappointing him. So, she shook her leg to get him to release her, and sat back down, wrapping the blankets around herself once more. “What?”

“You say I know how you feel...” Laurie whispered, and Jo couldn’t help but notice the way he was playing around with the very ring she had given to him years ago. “But I don’t. Not really,” he looked up and their eyes met, and suddenly words were just too heavy for Jo. She could say nothing, because nothing would be enough. Nothing would make this right.

“Yes, you do. You read the letter.”

“Yes, the letter,” Laurie sat up properly, crossing his legs, turned towards her. Their proximity was something Jo was very much aware of, but she made no attempt to move. How could she? “Why did you write it?”

Jo sighed. “Teddy,” she shook her head. “I said everything I wanted to say in that letter.”

“It was no great admission of affection,” Laurie argued. “Perhaps you simply did not want to lose my friendship, so you convinced yourself that marrying me would not be so bad. Perhaps marrying me would simply have been the necessary evil.”

Jo was insulted by his words, but deep down, she could not really blame him. She had worded the letter in a way that left much for interpretation. “Do I strike you as the type of person to settle, for anything?”

Laurie smiled, but he did not look entirely convinced. “Oh, Jo.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” Laurie shook his head, running a hand through his hair as he turned back to the fire. “I understand.”

“You clearly don’t, Teddy. Whatever it is that you’re cooking up in that pretty little head of yours, you better say it”, Jo snapped. She was done with misunderstandings and missed opportunities. If he wanted to talk, they would talk, and be done with it.

“Even now, you won’t say it,” Laurie simply explained. “I suppose I cannot blame you.”

“Teddy-”

“I just want to know,” Laurie interrupted. “Back then, all those years ago. You truly never loved me? What you said that say, when I proposed, that was all true?”

Jo didn’t know what would be the kinder thing to say. She knew she did not want to hurt Laurie any more than she already had, but she felt that whatever she said would only result in more pain. So, she spoke the truth: “I don’t know. You caught me off guard,” she explained. It was a weak excuse, but it was true. She still remembered the shock of it all, the dread she’d felt when she realized nothing would be the same ever again.

“I refuse to believe you never saw it, that you never knew how I felt,” Laurie argued. “You had to have known.”

“Oh, Teddy. If I did, I certainly did not expect a proposal. Nor did I want one. I was so young, so full of drive and passion.”

“And marrying me would have taken the drive and passion out of you? You’re ridiculous, Jo”, Laurie said, his voice a bit sharper. Jo once again noted how much the man had changed. The Teddy she had once known would never have snapped at her like this. “I would never have stopped you from being exactly who you wanted to be.”

“I know that,” Jo whispered. “But even so, I was not ready.” She looked at Laurie, and frowned as she saw that he looked no less miserable than he had before her lackluster explanation. She felt that with every word she said, she was only making everything worse.

A part of her just wanted to come right out and say it: say that she was in love with Laurie, and that she wanted to be with him. But that would be selfish, and it would only cause more pain in the long run. Why was it that Jo was still the one trying to protect both of their feelings when Laurie just preferred to jump head first?

“And anyway, you said it yourself. We would have killed each other,” she tried, not even believing her words as she said them.

“Well, Jo, I was lying when I said that.” Laurie stood up, letting out a sigh as he made his way towards the door once more. “I don’t know why I came here. My own stupidity amazes me sometimes.”

“Teddy!” Jo groaned in frustration, standing up and following him out the door and into the night. She caught up with him quickly enough, grabbing onto his arm. “What do you want me to say? What do you want?!”

“I don’t know!” Laurie snapped, pulling his arm back. Even in the dark, Jo could see the anger on his face. “I know… I know it’s pointless. I know it’s too late. But I can’t stay away from you, Jo. Try as I might, I can’t .”

Jo wanted to kiss him. For a fraction of a second, she almost did. The urge was overwhelming her unlike it ever had before, but she stopped herself. She could not ruin this. She could not cause her sister pain, no matter how much a part of her hated Amy for what she’d done.

“Maybe I ought to leave, then. Go back to New York.”

“I don’t want you to go,” Laurie whispered.

“What do you want, then? Stop acting like a child, Teddy, and tell me!” She should not have asked, because what followed was a deafening silence, the two of them staring at each other, knowing exactly what Laurie would and could not say.

Laurie just smiled. He would not say it. Jo knew he would not. “I only want your happiness, dear Jo. It’s what I’ve always wanted.”

“Teddy…”, she whispered, her breath catching in her throat as Laurie leaned closer. She felt petrified as Laurie’s lips pressed against her cheek, his warmth taking over her. Without even being aware of it, Jo’s hand moved to clutch onto the front of Laurie’s waistcoat as his lips lingered against her cheek, his breath inches away from her ear.

Jo closed her eyes, knowing that if their eyes were to meet, she would finally give in and do what she’d wanted to do for so long.

Finally, Laurie pulled back, and immediately, the warmth was gone. Jo’s hand released his waistcoat, and Jo opened her eyes. The moment was over as quickly as it had started.

“Goodnight, Jo”, Laurie whispered, pulling away and disappearing into the darkness. Jo stood there, her breath shaky. There was no doubt in her mind. She loved Theodore Laurence, and nothing was going to change that.

---

After a restless night of tossing and turning, Jo was woken up by a loud noise right outside Aunt March’s house. She jumped up, paying no mind to the fact that she was still in her nightgown. She headed for the door, prepared to face the source of the noise. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight of Laurie attempting to lift up a very old, expensive looking writing desk.

“Teddy?”

The man had clearly gotten tired on his way to the house, and he propped the table on the front lawn, attempting to catch his breath.

“Jo!” he smiled, as if the previous night had not happened at all. Laurie grew more and more confusing by the day. “Did I wake you?”

“What on earth are you doing?”

“I noticed that you didn’t have anywhere to write,” Laurie explained, lifting up the desk once more, doing his very best to not look strained as he walked it over the rest of the way, stopping by the front porch. “So I brought you one of my grandfather’s. He said it was perfectly alright, he has too many of these.”

“Teddy, you didn’t have to do this,” Jo said, but she couldn’t help but smile. How could she stay mad at him when he did something as thoughtful as this? “I’m not going to be living here, you know.”

“But you are here for the time being, and you need a desk for writing,” Laurie explained. “I hope you have a chair inside”, he frowned, as if this only now occurred to him.

Jo shook her head, smiling softly. “You could have asked anyone else to do this, Teddy. You have a house full of servants.”

“I wanted to do it myself. I wanted to apologize,” Laurie explained, his expression softer and less guarded than the night before. “I had no right to ambush you like that.”

Jo’s thoughts drifted to the way he had lingered upon kissing her cheek, and knew that this carefree attitude of Laurie’s was nothing but a facade. But perhaps it was their best shot at going back to the way they had once been. “I’m sorry, too. I was too harsh.”

Laurie extended his hand, a smile on his beautiful face. “Friends?”

As they shook hands, they both knew it was a lie. They could never be friends again. And despite this, Jo nodded: “Friends. Always. ”

“Now, help me take this thing inside, will you?” Laurie grabbed one end of the desk, and with Jo taking the other, the two managed to get the table inside with relative ease.

As they set it down, Laurie looked around, hands in his pockets. “What are you going to do with this place, then?”

“I think I’m going to open a school. For girls and boys,” Jo smiled. She studied Laurie’s expression, genuinely curious as to what he thought about the idea. His opinion had always mattered to her greatly, and always would.

“I think that’s a brilliant idea,” Laurie said. “May I extend my application for a teacher’s position?”

“You, Theodore Laurence, a teacher?” Jo snorted. “You could barely sit through your own lessons.”

“A man can change.”

“So I see,” once more, Jo thought of the Teddy of her childhood, her carefree and kind best friend. This man before him still felt so foreign to her, but perhaps the boy she had once known and loved was not so dead after all.

“Before I go,” Laurie spoke. “Would you be so kind as to give me a tour of this place? I want to compare how prim and proper it is compared to the good, old Laurence home.”

“But of course,” Jo grabbed Laurie’s arm, leading him towards the next room. “I believe this place puts even your grandfather’s home to shame.”

“Is that so?”

The two of them spent the rest of the morning together, and for that brief, wonderful moment, everything seemed like it once had. But Jo was not fooled. As she had learned the hard way, childhood was dead and gone, and as her feelings for Laurie grew and grew, they became harder and harder to ignore.

---

The next few weeks passed by, and whatever hope Laurie had harbored at suddenly being able to forget about his feelings for Jo were swiftly crushed when she was still on his mind every moment of every day. He felt irritated, tired, and guilty for both his feelings, and his less than stellar behavior towards Amy. She was trying, but it did not matter, because the fault did not lie with her.

“Laurie?” The man had been staring out of the window, half-heartedly hoping he’d be able to catch a glimpse of Jo. The two had made more of an effort to be friends once more, but he could tell she preferred it when he wasn’t around. As much as it hurt him, he stayed away.

He turned to look at Amy, who was looking at him from across the dining table, clutching the knife and fork in her hands, looking significantly more tense than she had just moments before.

“I’m sorry,” Laurie said, and he was. “I didn’t hear you.”

Amy sighed. “Marmee said that they’re planning a trip to the sea,” she said. “I think we should go.”

Laurie hesitated. There was no doubt that Jo would be there. “I don’t know, Amy.”

“It’s for Beth. She loved the sea,” Amy’s voice was a bit strained as she said the words, and once again, Laurie felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. He knew Amy blamed herself for not being there for Beth when she was sick, and that she wasn’t there to say goodbye. He couldn’t say no to this.

“ Of course, we’ll go,” he said, though deep down he considered it to be a terrible idea. The more time he spent with Jo, the harder it was to be away from her. It had never quite been this bad. But then again, in the past, she had not returned his feelings. Everything was different now.

They sat there silently for a moment, eating their food, when Amy spoke once more. “You’re still wearing it.”

Laurie looked up. “Wearing what?” Why did he feel like he was under inspection every time Amy looked at him these days? Perhaps it was his own guilt talking.

“The ring,” Amy was suddenly very fascinated with her plate of food, shifting the contents around with her knife to avoid meeting her husband’s gaze.

The ring. Of course. Jo’s ring. Laurie had almost forgotten that Amy knew about the ring’s importance. But of course she did. She was the one who had scolded him for it.

“Does it matter?”

“I don’t know. Does it?” Amy finally looked up, and to Laurie’s shock, she looked like she was about to cry. But what could he do? He would not be made a liar, and there was nothing he could say or do to comfort Amy that would not be a lie. But surely she had known. She had known what she was getting herself into.

He stood up, walking over to where Amy was sitting, placing a hand on her shoulder. He didn’t know what to do. It had never been effortless with Amy. “Amy, I married you .”

“Only because she would not have you,” Amy shoved his hand away, standing up. She stepped away from him, looking almost insulted at his attempt at assurance. “We both know what this is, what it’s always been. Don’t play me for a fool and pretend anything else.”

“Amy!” Laurie called after her, but she had already left the room. The conversation felt all too familiar. As Laurie stood there, he was taken back to that day in France, when he’d decided that he was going to pursue Amy. Perhaps it would have kinder to not have done so.

---

The next day, Amy, Laurie, Meg, John, Demi, Daisy, Jo, as well as Mr. and Mrs. March, made their way to the sea, the very same beach they had come that day when Laurie had first introduced Amy to Fred Vaughn, and had told Jo about Mr. Brooke’s dirty little secret. And now, somehow, absolutely everything had changed.

Though the weather was getting warmer, it was still too cold for a swim. Of course, Demi and Daisy had to be told this time and time again by their frustrated mother, as the children so very much wanted to take a dip. Laurie watched them, amusement across his face. Whenever he saw Meg, John and their children, he thought about his own future, and whether he would make a good father. He was beginning to believe that he would not. He had no wisdom to pass on, and no patience or kindness. He could scarcely look at himself in the mirror, let alone fathom the thought of being responsible for another human life.

Everyone settled on the sand, taking out the foods Marmee had packed for their picnic. But Laurie’s eyes drifted towards Jo, who was standing by the water, further away from them all. Without a word, Laurie walked over. He knew that losing Beth had hurt her perhaps more than it had hurt anyone else, and he knew nothing he could say would ever make it okay. But he had to at least try.

“Being here just reminds me of her so much,” Jo spoke. She didn’t even need to turn around to know it was him. Laurie wondered if he and Amy would ever have this kind of intimacy, this bond that he and Jo shared even after all this time.

“I wish I could have been there for you,” Laurie said, and he meant it with all his heart. He would have given anything to not have been in Europe, and instead to have been by Jo’s side. Once more, guilt weighed down on him.

“Well, you were there for Amy,” Jo sounded casual enough, but Laurie could tell it was not alright. He and Jo had been there for each other throughout anything and everything, from the moment they had first become friends. And he had failed her.

Laurie glanced down, noticing that Jo had discarded her shoes. Without a word he, too, took off his shoes, rolling up his trousers as much as he could. He walked closer, placing a hand on the small of Jo’s back. “Come on,” he whispered.

“What?” Jo turned, not realizing how close Laurie actually was. Her face almost collided with his, and she chuckled softly, her eyes still directed at the ground.

Laurie said nothing, just took Jo’s hand and led her closer to the water, hissing as he felt the cold waves beat against his legs. “Come on, now, Jo,” he laughed as he felt Jo try to pull away. “I never took you for a coward.”

This provoked Jo, as Laurie knew it would. She lunged forwards, shoving Laurie as hard as she could, almost making him lose his balance. Jo laughed, and it was music to Laurie’s ears. The two stepped further into the water, gasping as they exposed themselves more and more to the cold, merciless waves.

“Theodore Laurence, you’re a madman! This is so cold!” Jo squeaked, trying to run back to the shore when Laurie grabbed her by the waist, causing them both to go tumbling down to the water, yelping at the sudden movement.

Once they got over the shock, the two friends looked at each other, completely soaked and sitting in the knee-high water, shivering. And then, they just laughed. For even just a minute or two, they were young again, and life wasn’t so very difficult.

Their happiness was short-lived, as only a few seconds later, they heard Meg shouting at them from the shore: “What on earth are you two doing?! You’ll catch your deaths! Get out of there!” She was trying to stop her children from joining them.

Laurie stood up first, holding out his hand for Jo. And for once, she took it. She grabbed his hand and let him help her. “We should go inside,” he said. They had rented rooms at the local inn, not wanting to make the trip back home too late in the evening.

Jo nodded, but something in her expression looked uncertain. Laurie could not exactly blame her. Something felt different now, and touching her felt inappropriate. So, he released her hand, making his way back to the shore, knowing very well that Amy was watching him from not too far away. He had known this trip would be a bad idea.

---

Once inside the inn, Laurie felt remorse for what he’d just done. He had simply been trying to make Jo feel better, but perhaps he had only made things worse. Not just for Jo, but for Amy, too. He did not mean to rub his affection for Jo in her face, but he couldn’t ignore his best friend when she clearly needed him.

He was staring at himself in the mirror, noting how skinny his face looked. He had always been on the thinner side, but now, his cheeks looked so hollow, and the bags under his eyes were very noticeable. The last month had taken a toll on him, and there was no sign of any of it stopping. Was he doomed to suffer for the rest of his life, and in the process hurt those he loved the most?

He heard a knock on the door, and tore his eyes from the mirror. He was only wearing a new pair of trousers, as well as one of his loose, white blouses. It would have to do. “Jo?”

The door opened and Jo’s head poked in. She looked as uncertain as he felt. She was fully clothed, but her hair was still damp, and her skin red. “Am I disturbing you?”

“Oh, only my vanity”, Laurie gestured at the mirror before walking over to the bed, sitting down on it, not thinking much of it. He had never really spent time in Jo’s bedroom, but it didn’t strike him as particularly inappropriate. The mere existence of a bed did not have sexual connotations, no matter how much society liked to state otherwise.

Jo chuckled. She stepped into the room, and immediately Laurie noticed that she, too, had chosen not to put on her shoes. She was wearing a colorful pair of socks, green and embroidered with flowers. “The innkeeper saw us come in, she insisted we eat something, so we don’t fall ill,” she gestured at the large tray in her hands, which looked to be carrying two bowls of soup, some loaves of bread, and two large mugs of coffee.

“That’s very kind of her,” Laurie gestured for Jo to take a seat on the bed. She hesitated, only putting down the tray.

“I don’t know if I should.”

Laurie hesitated. He didn’t know why she was afraid to sit down, but far be it for him to dismiss her worries. “If you don’t feel comfortable…”

“No, I do, it’s just…” Amy’s name went unspoken, but they both knew.

“We’re just eating,” was all Laurie said, and all the convincing Jo seemed to need to take a seat on the other side of the bed, far enough so that she was not touching Laurie, but close enough that she could still reach the food.

They sat in silence for a bit, Laurie biting into the bread while Jo sipped her soup, shivering every now and then. Laurie ignored it, knowing that if he reached out to touch her now, it would destroy whatever sense of familiarity and comfort they had with each other. Casual touches were not what they used to be between them.

“I never thanked you, you know,” Jo spoke.

“For what?” Laurie could not think of a single thing anyone could or should thank him for.

“For being so kind to Beth. She was always so shy and quiet, but you were so gentle. She really did love you,” something about Jo’s words really touched Laurie. He had considered Beth a true friend, and missed her just as everyone else did. But in his attempt to look after Amy, he had not allowed himself a moment to think about how this made him feel. It had seemed selfish. It still seemed selfish.

“She was my friend, Jo, no need to thank me,” he said sincerely. “I was kind to her because she was kind to me. She truly was the best of us.”

Jo nodded. There were tears in her eyes, but Laurie was quite certain that this happened whenever she thought of Beth. As much as he missed Beth, he could not even come close to imagining how Jo must have been feeling.

“I’m happy we came here,” was all Jo said before grabbing her mug, wrapping her shaky fingers around it in a feeble attempt to warm up. Laurie watched, but did not touch. He could not.

“Nothing I can say will make anything better,” he murmured. “But I know Beth could not have asked for a better sister than you, Jo.” He had always admired the relationship Jo had shared with her little sister. The way she had been so protective and fierce when it came to Beth. The two had been such opposites, and yet complemented each other so well.

“I hope you’re right, Teddy”, Jo sighed. “She’s the reason I’m writing, you know.”

“She is?”

“She asked me to write for her, and to keep writing even after she…,” the girl shook her head, sipping her coffee. “Anyway, that is why I’m doing it.”

“What is the story about?”

“Us.”

Laurie knew Jo did not mean the two of them. But still, hearing her use the word gave him pause for just a second.

“Our little, modest life. I’ve sent in the first few chapters, but my publisher says it’s too boring.”

“I haven’t even read it, and I disagree already,” Laurie scoffed. “You will keep writing, won’t you?”

“I will. Even if it never becomes a book, I owe it to Beth,” Jo shrugged. “You know, Friedrich told me that my work is not very good.”

For a moment, Laurie had to think of who she even meant by Friedrich. And then he remembered the stuck-up professor. “Well, I am all the more glad that you rejected him, then. What a ridiculous thing to stay.”

“There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, Teddy,” Jo snorted. “That’s something you have never given me.”

“There is a difference between constructive criticism and being a pompous bore”, Laurie argued, meeting her gaze and smiling as she chuckled. “But, if you are so very fond of this criticism, let me read your book.”

Jo hesitated. “I don’t know, Teddy.”

“I don’t claim to be as intelligent as your dear professor, but I would still like to read it, you know.” He wasn’t going to push if she really did not wish to share it, but he hoped she would.

Jo thought about it for a moment. “Alright,” she said. “But only you. You mustn’t show it to Amy, or your grandfather, or anyone else. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Laurie smirked. He reached out his hand, and they shook hands, both with big smiles on their faces. If only being friends was as easy as this all the time.

Once they pulled back, Laurie paused. “Wait, am I to understand that I’m also in this book, then? If it’s about your life.”

“Well, yes, can’t really be helped, can it?” Jo said, reaching out and grabbing a loaf of bread. “Did you think I would simply ignore your existence?”

“Now I definitely need to read it,” Laurie teased. “To make sure you are not tainting my good name.”

“Oh, Teddy, I think Europe did that for you,” Jo said it as if it was nothing, but Laurie paused. How could she know about what he had been doing in Europe?

“What?” he asked.

Jo seemed to have realized what she said, as she paused, turning to face him. “I mean, Amy did write to us.”

“And what did she tell you?”

“Among other things, that you would drink yourself to oblivion, and cause scenes at prestigious events,” Jo shrugged. “I assumed you were simply having fun.”

Laurie scoffed. “That was one time,” he rubbed his eyes, wondering what else Amy had told Jo. Yes, he had been in a terrible place in Europe, and yes, he had drank more than usual, and yes, he had indeed caused a scene at Amy’s precious party. But that had been the only time the March girl had seen him at his lowest. Most nights, he had simply resorted to drinking himself to sleep in his own hotel room.

“Teddy, it’s fine. You were enjoying yourself. Europe is different. No one thinks any less of you.”

“Do you really think I was drinking to enjoy myself?” Laurie asked in disbelief, glaring at her. She could not be that stupid.

Jo seemed to realize the implication behind her words, and shook her head. “Teddy, I’m sorry, I just... “ She chuckled. “But surely, it was not because of me?”

Laurie rolled his eyes. Sometimes she was simply insufferable. “For heaven’s sake, Jo.” He stood up, feeling as frustrated as had the last time the two of them had argued. They were not getting anywhere.

Jo just sat there, her mouth open, processing the information. “Oh,” she whispered. “I see.”

Laurie crossed his arms, staring at the ground. He knew he shouldn’t be angry. It didn’t matter if Jo acknowledged the toll her rejection had taken on his heart. It was over and done with. But something about her willful ignorance infuriated him. “You must think very little of me, Jo.”

“Why on earth would you say that?!” Jo raised her voice, standing up from the bed as well, circling over to stand in front of him.

“Because you seriously thought that mere months after you broke my heart, I’d be out and about, partying like nothing had happened! How fickle do you think I am?”

Something in Jo’s expression hardened. “You married Amy a few weeks after that. I would say quite fickle.”

Silence fell in the room, and Laurie realized that there was nothing else he wanted to say. He couldn’t even look at her. “Get out.”

“Gladly,” Jo hissed, marching out the room, slamming the door shut so hard that a picture hanging on the wall fell down with a loud crash.

Laurie just stood there, staring at the broken shards of glass on the floor. He shouldn’t have lost his temper, but he hated the fact that Jo was not wrong.

With a sigh, he walked over to the mess they’d made, and began the process of picking up the shards one by one, trying to ignore the ache in his heart that was growing more painful day by day.

---

“Make no mistake, Miss March, I believe this book will be a big risk,” Mr. Dashwood said firmly, glaring at Jo from behind his desk. The man had, rather abruptly, invited Jo up to his office to discuss her novel, towards which he had started to develop a lukewarm interest.

Jo was no fool. She knew that however big a risk Mr. Dashwood considered the book to be, it would still be a risk he’d take. He did not seem the kind of man to waste his time. “I assure you, Mr. Dashwood, it will be worth it,” she was not as sure of herself as she claimed to be, but she had to fake it.

Mr. Dashwood chuckled. “Confidence. I like it. How far along are you with this project?”

“I’ve written about nine chapters”, Jo said. “I brought the rest along,” she handed him the papers containing chapters four to nine. “I thought you’d want a look.”

“Indeed, I do,” Mr. Dashwood looked pleased. “Remember what I told you, the first day that we met. It is essential, as your main character is a girl, that she be married at the end.”

Something about those words hurt Jo more than they had before. And it did not take a genius to know why. She was the main character, and there was no hope for her finding happiness in a marriage. The only man she had ever even thought about spending her life with was already spoken for. “Or dead, you said.”

Mr. Dashwood snorted. “Or dead,” he agreed.

Jo stood up, extending her hand. “I look forward to your thoughts.”

“Good day, Miss March,” Mr. Dashwood let go of her hand and sat back down, already beginning the process of reading through the chapters. Jo watched him for a few seconds before leaving the office, her heart hammering in her chest. She had tried to contain her excitement while actually conducting business, but now she could rejoice in full. Her book would actually be published.

“Oh, Beth,” she whispered. “I hope I’ve done you proud.”

She stepped into the busy streets of New York, and to her surprise, almost bumped into someone she had never expected to see again.

“Friedrich,” she gaped.

“Jo,” he did not look as surprised as she felt. “I… I saw you come in from across the street, and I waited.”

“I thought you were going to California,” Jo frowned.

“I’m to leave in a month,” Friedrich explained. “My plans were… delayed.” Something about the man’s words told Jo that perhaps what Amy had implied had been somewhat correct. Perhaps Friedrich had harbored feelings for her.

“I see,” Jo smiled, shifting from one foot to the other, her previous excitement completely gone now that she was faced with such an awkward situation.

“Jo, do you think that we could sit for a moment?” Friedrich asked. He looked nervous. Jo frowned, half in mind to decline, but then again, why was she being so suspicious of him? Whatever he wanted from her, it could be completely innocent.

“Of course,” Jo gestured across the street at a park, where they found an empty bench, sitting down at a relative distance from each other. Jo fumbled with the end of her braid, silently wishing she could get out of this situation.

“I wanted to apologize,” Friedrich began, causing Jo to glance at him.

“Whatever for? You’ve done nothing.”

“It was inappropriate of me to come to your family home, unannounced,” Friedrich sounded so matter-of-fact, so cold, the way he had been when he had given his criticism of her work.

Jo sighed. She shouldn’t have thought of that, because it only reminded her of promising to give Laurie her book to read. Laurie, who she had not seen since their argument nearly a month ago.

“Not at all,” she said. “Only… I suppose I did not understand the reason for it.”

Friedrich scoffed, rubbing his eye before turning to face Jo. “I know you are not that unintelligent. In fact, I know you’re not unintelligent at all.”

“Why do all of your compliments have to begin with an insult?” Jo snapped back. “And I do not appreciate this coyness, not from you. Why did you come to Concord?”

“To ask for your hand in marriage, Jo,” Friedrich said, stating it as plainly as possible. “It was completely foolish of me, of course. I have nothing to offer you. No money, no prospects. But still, I thought that you might…,” he shrugged, silencing himself.

So, Amy had been right. Jo watched him, feeling an overwhelming amount of pity for this man. She did care for him, and wished him well, but she did not love him. “Friedrich… I could not make you happy.”

Friedrich shook his head. “You don’t need excuses, not with me.”

“So, you believe I ignored your advances because of your social status?” Jo repeated the words he would not say.

“It would be understandable if you did,” Friedrich responded, his voice monotone once more.

Jo shook her head. “That is not the reason I cannot love you, Friedrich. Though, perhaps I did not know it when we first met.”

Friedrich waited, watching her with curiosity. Even now, nothing about his reaction compared to the desperation in Laurie’s eyes when she had rejected him.

“I am in love with someone else,” that was the first time Jo had said it out loud, and it hurt just as much as she had thought it would. “I cannot have him, but no other will do.”

Friedrich looked surprised, and even allowed himself a chuckle. “This I was not expecting. I thought the great Jo March was too independent to ever allow herself to love.”

“A thought I once entertained, too,” Jo admitted. “But I was wrong.” She had said and thought that phrase countless times in the past months, and yet, it changed nothing.

Friedrich nodded. He looked like he wanted to ask more, but remained silent. Jo was grateful for it, for she did not think she could speak about Laurie more even if he asked. It was her own, dirty little secret.

“That is why I cannot accept your proposal, or anyone else’s,” Jo explained. “I am sorry, truly.”

Friedrich stood up, looking down at Jo with a surprising calmness. Perhaps he had not loved her quite as fiercely as Amy had claimed. “I do not know who this man is, but he is ridiculous if he thinks he can find anyone better than you.”

Jo smiled bitterly. If only it were that easy. “Thank you, Friedrich.”

He was about to walk away when Jo called after him: “If you’re ever in want of a home-cooked meal, you are welcome to stop by whenever you’d like. Marmee loves company.”

Friedrich only smiled, acknowledging her words with a nod before crossing the street, disappearing into the crowds. Jo watched him go, her thoughts on Laurie, as they often were. Would he have wanted her to accept Friedrich and put their dilemma to bed? It did not matter much to her if the answer was yes, as Jo would simply do what she wanted to do, but it was a thought that crossed her mind.

No. She would not sink to Laurie’s level and marry someone else simply because she was lonely. She was better than that. Jo March would never settle.

---

It had been difficult, being away from Laurie all the while knowing that he was so close, but at the same time, Jo was furious at him. All the feelings she had been harboring towards him this entire time were coming to the surface, and every time the two of them talked, she felt like she was getting closer to the breaking point. So, it was better to keep her distance, or she might say or do something she would end up regretting.

Because she did not regret calling Laurie fickle. He was, and he was a fool if he thought otherwise. How could the man truly claim that he had loved her as feverishly as he had proclaimed, only to confess his undying love for her sister only moments after? It did not add up, and Jo knew that, in her stubbornness, it would be useless to ask for an explanation, as nothing Laurie could say or do would make it right. Marriage was not something you simply walked out of. Sure, some people did, but it was always frowned upon. And Laurie had known that. He had signed a binding contract with Amy that could not be broken, so he had absolutely no right to come to her and accuse her of anything. Perhaps Jo had been the one to make the first mistake, but Laurie had made the fatal one.

To distract herself from the fact that the man she both loved and hated was a walking distance away, she decided to go to the theatre. She always enjoyed it, even if the little theatre productions in Concord were nothing compared to the ones she’d seen in New York. She had asked Meg and John to accompany her, but as they could not find someone to watch the children, Jo was forced to go on her own. Not that she truly minded, she was there for the play, after all.

She sat down, ready to immerse herself in a few hours of harmless fun, only to feel someone poking at her shoulder, forcing her to turn to whoever had disturbed her. She frowned as she was met with none other than Amy and Laurie. Perfect.

“Do you want to sit with us?” Amy whispered, keeping her voice low as the production was about to begin.

For a brief second, Jo met Laurie’s gaze, and the anger in his eyes was clear. “No,” she said, turning back in her seat. She hoped Amy would not take offense. She was not mad at her sister, she was mad at her sister’s husband, as ridiculous as that sounded.

All throughout the play, Jo could practically feel Laurie’s eyes on the back of her head, but not once did she turn around. She would not give him the satisfaction. He had been the one who had gotten angry at her and told her to get out. She would stay out of his life until he became man enough to apologize for his temper tantrum.

“Laurie, I’m going to use the washroom,” Jo heard Amy whisper in the middle of what seemed to be an important scene. For all her gushing over how much she adored the theatre, Amy could barely ever sit still to watch a production.

As soon as Amy was gone, Jo could feel Laurie leaning closer, his breath on the back of her neck. “Jo”, he whispered.

“Be quiet,” Jo hissed. “I’m trying to watch this.”

In truth, she had not been able to focus on the production the entire evening. Something about a fair maiden who was in love with a man far richer than her. It was a simple premise, but for the life of her, she could not keep up with it.

“I need to speak with you,” Laurie insisted. “Come on, before Amy gets back.”

Jo shook her head, still not turning around. “Leave me alone, Teddy.”

Laurie remained silent for a few seconds, and Jo thought that perhaps he had finally given up. And then, he stood up, walking out of the theatre, exiting towards the side door. Jo knew Laurie wanted her to follow. But she was not going to. She was not. What if Amy came back to find their seats empty? She would never hear the end of it.

But at the same time, she was curious. Laurie had looked so angry, and now he was willing to apologize? Perhaps she should give him the benefit of the doubt, hear what the man had to say.

Jo sat there for a few seconds longer, her eyes constantly shifting towards the side door. And then, she let her curiosity get the best of her. She rushed out, following Laurie into the chilly spring evening.

Laurie was waiting, as she knew he would be. He had his hands in his pockets, and he looked more nervous than before. He met her gaze and sighed. “Took you long enough.”

“I am here to see a play, Teddy, not indulge you in your dramatics,” Jo snapped. “What do you want?” she stayed by the stairs, not wanting to get too close.

“You think I’m fickle, do you?” Laurie spoke, continuing the argument as if it had not been a month since the two had even been faced with each other.

“Teddy,” Jo threw her hands up. “I don’t have time to argue with you! Amy could be back any second.”

“What you consider fickle, dear Jo, was me coming to terms with the fact that you were never going to love me,” Laurie continued, still ignoring Jo’s protests. He took a step closer, fire in his eyes. “I had tried to make you love me, and I had failed. What is fickle about me trying to move on?”

Jo shook her head. “Enough, Laurie,” she snapped, opening the door. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”

Laurie reached out and grabbed her arm, preventing her from running off. He slammed the door shut with his foot. “You may call me fickle all you like, Jo, but you, you are a coward.”

Jo met his gaze, the anger in her eyes now matching his. “Excuse me?”

“You hide behind your judgment and your letters,” Laurie snapped. “You criticize me for all that I do, and all that I fail to do, but you, Jo… you have done nothing. You did nothing while I was in Europe, you did nothing after I came back, and even now, you do nothing. You are afraid.”

Jo could see the truth in his words. She was afraid. She had always been afraid of love, and being vulnerable with someone. But could he not see that it was not as simple as that? Even if she was not afraid - even if she told him everything she felt, and everything she wanted, it would make no difference. He was married.

“What difference does it make?!” Jo snapped. “What does it matter what I do or do not do? It’s too late.”

Laurie shook his head. “Spoken like someone who’s never been in love.” He let go of her arm. “Love is not rational. It’s not about what makes sense. It’s about what you feel.”

“Do not force it out of me, Teddy! Don’t you do it. I am trying my best, but it’s so hard. I see you with Amy, and it hurts! I think back on that day, when I say no, and it hurts. Seeing you hurts me. Is that what you wanted to hear? Is that going to satisfy you?!” Jo was so angry and so desperate that she wasn’t even quite sure what she was saying, but it was all coming out, and there was no stopping it now.

“No”, Laurie shushed, his face only inches from her now. He shook his head, reaching up to place his cold hand on her cheek, brushing against the freckles on her cheekbone. He looked so disarmed in that moment, and Jo felt an overwhelming sense of endearment towards this man. A mere sign of pain from her, and he dropped all his weapons, ready to comfort her. “No, I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Jo…” He placed his other hand on her cheek as well, their foreheads pressed together. This was the closest they had ever been, and Jo felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest with how fast it was beating.

Jo observed him, taking in everything that she could. The freckles on his sharp nose, those green eyes infused with the loveliest shade of brown. The soft curl to his hair. His lips. She found herself leaning ever so closer, their noses brushing together. Laurie’s eyes were closed, as if he was not daring to open them and face reality. Jo could feel his breath on her skin.

She could kiss him. She could do it, and perhaps everything could finally make sense. She wanted to, and everything within herself told her to do it. But she could not. She knew she could not. Instead, she moved ever so slightly, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. She could feel Laurie’s breath quicken at the motion. Somewhere along the line, Jo’s hands had moved to touch him, one on his neck, the other stroking his cheek.

How she wished he was hers to touch. But he was not, and even this was wrong. Even this was hurting Amy. She watched as Laurie’s eyes opened, green meeting blue, and smiled. She did not know what to say. But there was an understanding between them, and as Laurie sighed, Jo knew that he was thinking exactly what she was thinking. Slowly, he released her face, placing his hands in his pockets once more. Jo took a few seconds longer, allowing her finger to brush against Laurie’s bottom lip as she retreated, feeling empty.

“Go back inside,” was all she said, even though every part of her wanted to ask him to stay.

Laurie nodded. He walked past her, opening the door. As he stood there, he said what Jo never expected him to say. “I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you,” with that, he disappeared, leaving Jo alone once more.

She closed her eyes, breathing in through her nose. She refused to let the tears come. She would not cry. Crying would do her no good. So, instead, she just stood there for the remainder of the performance, as if frozen still. How was she going to survive this?

---

In all of her anger and frustration, Jo had actually forgotten about promising Laurie a look at her book. But she was a woman of her word, and if things were different, she would actually have been curious to hear his thoughts.

So, as soon as Mr. Dashwood sent back the book with some additional notes, Jo packed up the first nine chapters and walked on over to the Laurence mansion. She felt incredibly self-conscious as she stood there, waiting for someone to open the door. She had never worried about things such as these before, but now, whenever she saw Amy and Laurie together, she was so intimately aware of all of her faults, anything that she could possibly be judged for. She did not care for the feeling at all.

Jo looked up as the door opened. It was the maid, as she had expected. “Good day, Miss March,” the old lady smiled pleasantly.

“Good day,” Jo smiled back. “Is Laurie home, by any chance? I’ve…”, she gestured at the papers. “Got something for him.”

The maid nodded. “Mr. and Mrs. Laurence are in the dining room. Shall I fetch him?” something about the way she said this made Jo lose all confidence. Mr. and Mrs. Laurence. Because, of course. Laurie and Amy were a married couple, and they were now known as a single unit. The way she and Laurie had once been known as a single unit. Suddenly, she could not face them.

“No, don’t disturb them,” she handed her the papers. “If you could just see to it that Mr. Laurence gets these.”

“Of course, Miss March,” the maid smiled, completely unaware of the emotional damage she’d just done on Jo’s heart. She closed the door, leaving Jo by herself once more.

Jo sighed, shaking her head. If anything, she felt better about resisting the urge to kiss Laurie the other day. It was for the best. Amy and Laurie were inseparable now, and she needed to stop getting in the way. Not only for Amy’s sake, but perhaps for her own as well.

[hockeytrashgoblin]

Ice Cold ~Part 13

A/N: Uh oh big chapter for many reasons! The next couple part are going to be pretty big. The next one will still be your perspective but 15 will be Williams pov again! I got some positive feedback on that so I’m bringing it back. But for now enjoy the last part that I have for you tonight. Hopefully I will be updating everyday but I’m not going to promise anything because I’m bad at schedules and time frames. Not sorry, trying my best. Enjoy

It had been a really quiet day in the house. The boys had been out for team stuff since before I woke up so it was pretty boring. I took time to clean and cook some meals for later on in the week. If I'm being honest I was trying to completely distract myself from the fact that I had found out this morning that I was pregnant. 

In hindsight I should have asked William more questions about possibilities and protection and all that but I simply didn't think of it. I was going to have to talk to him about it when I saw him later and we would have to figure things out. We had only been together 6 months so I knew people would talk a lot but I couldn't be bothered to really care. I just hoped William wouldn't be upset.

It was finally time for me to get ready for work so I got dressed in some comfy but professional clothes and headed out to the office. I liked the short walk there, it was a nice part of the routine usually. Today I was feeling pretty paranoid though on the walk. It wasn't nice. I picked up my pace a little bit and got into the building just to be stopped by Peter.

"Hey (y/n)! Glad I caught you without your bodyguard."

"Boyfriend Peter. The correct word is boyfriend."

"If he's not a bodyguard then why is he always all big not letting you speak for yourself?"

"I get upset. He's level headed. He knows how I'm feeling and what I want, he can articulate it better. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go to work."

"Go to dinner with me." He said loudly, attracting the attention of the whole lobby.

"Peter be quiet." I hissed at him.

"No answer my question."

"It wasn't a question it was a demand."

"Fine, go to dinner with me please."

"Absolutely not."

"What your boyfriend's so fragile in the relationship he can't handle you going to dinner with friends?"

"We aren't friends." I shrugged getting into the elevator. Hopefully I embarrassed him enough to leave me alone. I got out and to my office quickly.

"Hey girly, how's it going?" Amy asked.

"Please for the love of God tell me Peter isn't around tonight."

"He's not why?"

"He stopped me in the lobby and demanded I go to dinner with him in front of like, everybody. I hope I embarrassed him enough to leave me alone. He was trying to embarrass me but it didn't work. I'm just mad."

"Well we won't be dealing with him."

"Good." I sighed loudly as my phone started ringing. I picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hi babes where are you?"

"Hey, I'm at the office with Amy. Why?"

"Don't come tonight."

"What?"

"Don't come to the arena tonight."

"Will, I have to. I'm going to be there soon."

"No. Go home."

"I can't! This is my job."

"(Y/n). Stop freaking out and just listen to me. For once just stop being so stubborn."

"Why can't I come?"

"I can't get into it right now just don't."

"I. Have. To."

"Stop being stubborn and just listen to m-" I hung up on him and put my phone on the desk. I let out a frustrated yell.

"Are you good today?"

"William wants me to go home. To not go to work."

"Why?"

"He won't fucking say! He's just mad that I'm being stubborn."

"Well you have to go."

"I know and I'm going to." I put my coat on as she did the same. We started walk out out to leave the building.

"Are you sure that you're okay?"

"Yes. I'm just frustrated."

"You seem more frustrated than usual."

"I'm kind of pregnant." I whispered as we left the front doors into the cold March rain.

"Oh my God.. do you know what you're going to do?"

"I'm going to keep it. Will doesn't know yet, I just found out this morning. I didn't exactly want to text him. I don't want everyone to know though so can we stop talking about it?"

"One more question. Are you excited?" She asked smiling, making me smile too.

"Yes I'm very excited." She hugged me and I broke away wiping a tear. "Let's go, we've got work to do."

We went through all the security and soon enough we had our equipment and were on the way to get pictures. As soon as the boys came out it was very clear how they were feeling about me being here. Mitch didn't care, he came over and bumped the glass with a smile. Auston was indifferent as usual. Kasperi looked uncharacteristically worried. Morgan was as hard to read as ever. William though was much easier to read. I couldn't even look into his eyes, he had so much anger in them. He looked like he wanted to kill someone. It was scary.

"He looks pretty mad."

"Thanks captain obvious." I rolled my eyes. "If he didn't want me to come to work he should've given me a reason that wasn't 'because I said so'."

"That's fair. He can't expect you to just give up on your job. Is he planning on supporting you forever? What if you guys break up? What will you do with no savings or anything?"

"I don't think we're going to break up anytime soon but having my own money would be best. I feel guilty using his."

"It's not important right now, just ignore it. We've got a job to do, just focus on that. You can come stay the night at my place if that would be better for you?"

"I think I'm going to talk to William after the game and then I'll let you know?"

"Sure I don't mind waiting for you if you're going to feel better with us."

I gave her a hug and turned back to my work. I didn't take pictures of William but he was doing so bad tonight that there was nothing to photograph. He broke his stick at one point while looking at me and that scared me. I could tell he noticed the change. His face softened and Mitch hit his helmet. I turned around and left. It was close enough to the end of the game that it didn't matter. Amy didn't question. She came with me quietly. We had to go to the press conference but I didn't want to. As I suspected I was stopped almost as soon as we got there by William.

"Amy can we have a second?"

"Can I be sure she's safe?"

"I would never lay a hand on her. I promise you that on my life."

"Alright fine but I'm not going far." She walked down the hall and started playing on her phone.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Um nothing? I'm doing my job asshole."

"I asked you not to."

"The world doesn't stop because you say so William. I have responsibilities."

"You couldn't just listen to me once? It was important!"

"Then you should've told me the reason."

"Well it's too late and now you've put yourself in danger."

"What do you mean danger?"

"William darling, who do we have here?" A young looking woman asked. If I hadn't seen pictures I never would've known that this was his mother.

"Mother not now."

"Oh William I'm afraid I must insist." She said with a slight edge to her voice.

"This is (y/n). She lives with me and Kasperi."

"Ah of course, your mate. A pleasure to meet you." She shook my hand but something about the look in her eye made me want to crawl in a hole and die.

"Nice to meet you too."

"You are fascinating. William she's human."

"I know mother."

"And what are you planning on doing about this?"

"There's a plan in place. Morgan has seen it."

"Aah yes Morgan. Will I be seeing him?"

"That depends if he wants to be seen."

"You don't see me for years and this is how you treat me?"

"Yes. There was a reason for that."

"I think you'll find I really don't care for it. Best be careful. Wouldn't want anything bad to happen." She smiled at me before turning around and leaving.

"What the fuck was that." I demanded quietly.

"The reason I told you to stay home. Let's go. You're not leaving my sight until she's gone."

"I'm going to Amy's tonight."

"Like hell you are. Come on."

We went inside the locker room with Amy. The minute we got inside a few things happened. The first was that William dropped my hand and went to be interviewed. The second was me going extremely stiff. The third was a security guard smiling at me with the most evil smile I'd ever seen and he was walking towards me.

"Ma'am can I see your security clearance?"

"What?"

"Your security clearance to be back here." He went to reach for it and I smacked his hand away.

"Don't touch me."

"I need you to come with me." 

"No. No I don't need to go anywhere. I have the proper clearances, I've been here a million times everything is fine."

"Hey, everything okay?" Another security guard asked.

"No. I have the proper cards to be here and he won't lay off." I told him frustrated.

"I'm very sorry ma'am. Sir come with me."

He took him out of the room and I almost collapsed. I would've if Mitch hadn't caught me. 

"Are you okay?" Amy almost yelled at me.

"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Thanks Mitch. Mitch let me go."

"(Y/n).."

"Mitchy I'm fine, see." I smiled and took most of my weight off him.

"Come sit in my stall, I don't believe you."

"Please go sit. I'll finish up here. You should probably go home tonight." Amy said holding my hand.

"Yeah you're probably right. Fine I'll sit." I let Mitch pull me along to sit beside Auston.

"I have to go talk to reporters. You stay here with Auston. Auston don't take your eyes off her for a second."

"Mitch why-?"

"Aus please. Just trust me please watch her?"

"Fine go do what you need to, love." Mitch brushed his fingers against Auston's knee which made him smile a bit and blush. It was cute. Mitch left and we were quiet until Auston broke the silence. "You look like you're going to throw up."

"I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"Your heart is beating extremely fast."

"I'm having a panic attack."

"Why?"

"That security guard isn't a security guard, it's Tommy." I said quietly, my voice cracking.

"Where is he." He demanded.

"I don't know."

"What did you just say baby?" William asked suddenly in front of me. "That guy was Tommy?"

"Will, he was trying to take me away."

"He's not going to take you anywhere babe I promise." He kissed my forehead and Morgan came up.

"(Y/n) you're coming back to the house with me."

"Mo there's no way. She's coming with me."

"William are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yes."

"Willy, this could go really bad."

"Mitch shut up. I'm not leaving her side right now. We'll stop by our house and meet you guys there."

"That might give too much time."

"It's not. That's what's happening."

I was too in shock to really have any say in it. I didn't want a say, I just wanted to curl up and cry. It had probably been 10 minutes but it felt like an hour. I still couldn't breathe right. I hadn't felt like this in a long time. 

Before I knew it I was being dragged through the arena by William. I was pretty sure Kappy was there too but I couldn't swear to it. It didn't take long to get home. I was vaguely aware that William was speaking to me but I just couldn't grasp it. He packed a bag for each of us and then I was being pulled again. We didn't bother with a car, we just ran. Which was the mistake. I was pulled off of William with so much force I lost my breath. I watched him go flying before I had a bag place over my face. I screamed but it was no use. I was going somewhere else now.

[nakey-cats-take-bathsss]

10 Questions Tag Game

Rules: Answer 10 questions, ask 10, and tag 10 people however many people your heart desires to answer them.

Tagged by: @burninghoneyatdusk

1. What’s a memory you wish that you could go back in time to and relive?

Ohhh shoot, there’s so many of these I don’t know how I could pick just one. Buuut...when I was little we lived more in the country than we do now and all the houses had these big yards with mulberry trees in the back and a creek that flowed out to the marsh. All the neighbors had girls my age and we used to all run around barefoot in grass and swim the creek and eat mulberries off the tree. My dad built me a tree house in one of the mulberry trees and all my friends used to have secret meetings together in it. It was just this like pure, innocent childhood time and I think if I had to pick just one memory it would be one of those summer afternoons swimming in the creek and catching mulberries off the tree to eat. 

2. If you could talk to your 13 year old self, what would you tell her/advice would you give her?

100% absolutely that she should stop worrying so much about what people think of her. I was so self conscious and critical of myself, I think I held myself back a lot during that time because of it and I regret it a lot. Also that she should join a sport and stop worrying about trying to be ridiculously thin all the time, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. 

3. What’s your favorite quote of all time? Why?

Ooohh so many, but I think I’d have to go with the bible verse I have tattooed on me! 

“The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” -Galatians 5:22-23 

I’ve always interpreted it as that God embodies these characteristics and each of us should strive to walk in that image as well. It really become the way in which I frame a lot of my decisions, especially as I age. Consciousness kindness if you will. I think more than any other quote, this one has the most direct significance to the way I try to live my life and the way I aim to treat others. 

4. What is the quality you value most in a friend?

I really value people who are easy going and go with the flow. My favorite friends are the ones who are always done to do anything and flexible when things don’t go 100% right. 

5. If the pandemic magically ended today, how would you spend tomorrow?

I would hug every single person I’d ever met, go to our local sushi restaurant with my family and go to three Barry’s Bootcamp classes in a row. I would also plan some sort of extravagant vacation because I was supposed to go to South Africa this summer and I’m so bummed it didn’t happen. 

6. If you could go back in time and live in any era & location, and face no danger, where would you choose?

As much as it would probably have been terrible to live in this time period, probably Little Women Era. But like, Amy March-esque where I move to Europe and study art and just sit in gardens and write in notebooks and paint haha 

7. What heroine of a movie, book, tv show, story, or history do you relate to most?

I think Anne of Green Gables, especially the characterization of her that they have in Anne with an E. Always talking, always putting my foot in my mouth inadvertently. So much of that character reminds me of my little weird self from childhood and that part of myself that I’m learning to embrace more as an adult.  

8. Without saying who the person is, what is a question you wish you could ask someone but can’t?

“Where do we go from here?” 

9. In one sentence, what are you personally struggling with right now?

I work in image management and social media curation, with the way people have been lately and our general environment, my job is absolutely headache inducing. I used to absolutely love writing press releases and communicating and getting to meet different kinds of people but lately I find myself getting frustrated more often than not. I’m thinking about going to law school for a change of pace lol.  

I’m also in a pandemic induced long distance relationship which is just about as terrible as you’d expect. 

10. What’s a book/article/story that brought you joy/comfort/healing that you wish others would read?

It’s technically a children’s book, but there’s a novel called “Because of Winn Dixie” but it’s such a beautiful story and it always stuck with me even through adulthood. I read it again recently with my niece and the messaging is so poignant and I think it’s this incredible mix of childhood innocence and the way they view life experiences and mental health. The theme of the book is melancholy and how even bright moments can sometimes be tinged with sadness. Beautiful, a little sad, artfully southern, I think it’s a worthy read even as an adult, especially if you’ve been touched by mental health struggles. 

My Questions...

1. Do you believe in soulmates/true love? 

2. What’s your happy place?

3. If you could befriend one fictional character (book/show/movie) who would it be and why?

4. Song lyrics that apply to your current mental state/state of your life rn

5. What’s something that helps you stay positive even when things get hard?

(Pick 5 of Sam’s to answer if you weren’t already tagged by her because I think these are all really interesting and I’d love to hear your takes.) 

Tagging (feel free to ignore I know these get repetitive but I love y’all): 

@elora-lane @bellamyblakru @natassakar @geekyogicheese @obviesbellarke @dayo488 @queenemori @thefangirlingbarista @changingthefairy-tale @spacewalkerprincess @canadianfangirl @itsmevickyb @wolfheartgirl @jediorgana @ninappon @bellarke-griffinblake @princesspistoffitus

[nautiscarader]

This is a sequel to my last Yumalia fic (x), inspired by a comment by ZekkKiray:  

Fun fact: I actually sped-wrote it the same day, but then realised it was kinda similar to one other story, so I decided to change it. Sorry it took so long. 

Yumalia, E

(Ao3)

With falling water roaring around him, Yugo remember faintly the first time he bathed in the royal bathroom of the Sadida palace. He also remembered what was on his mind back then, and when he looked down, his fantasy became a reality.

As a fierce Sadida Queen, Amalia wouldn't bow to anyone else, so the sight of her on her knees was a satisfying one, especially with her mouth sealed around his cock. She was bobbing her head back and forth, unabashedly slobbering all over his manhood in the most un-princess-like fashion, even letting his hands push the back of her head just so that she could feel him hitting her throat.

And it was precisely what Amalia wanted.

For the last ten minutes, Amalia was pleasuring her husband, making sure that not an inch of his cock would remain unloved, kissing licking and gently sliding her teeth across his delicate skin, just to stimulate him a bit more. The last year or so taught her exactly what he liked, so it was no surprise that Yugo's knees became wobblier with each second of her oral treatment, and soon his voice started giving clear signs of his oncoming weakness.

With her heavenly, wet mouth around his cock and her frisky eyes fixed at him, Yugo couldn't take it anymore. He cried Amalia's name and spilled his cum, first inside her mouth, just so she can get his taste and smell, and then, as he pushed her head against his crotch, into her belly, to make it slightly easier for her.

With his head thrown to his back, he could suddenly understand what Amalia might be feeling right now, as water from the waterfall flooded his mouth, and only after about a solid minute, Amalia pushed herself from her husband's cock, taking a much needed breath of air.

She waited for a while to make his senses come back to him, and when that happened, he found her standing next to him, with just one small glob of his cum clinging to her lips which she promptly swallowed.

- I didn't spill any of it this time, did I? - No, you didn't. - Amalia smiled and kissed him, letting the water cool their heated bodies.

Just under a year ago, Amalia found Yugo, just a visitor back then, standing naked in her own bathroom, with his hand around his cock, spilling his seed while he muttered her name. And from that moment onward, Amalia made sure that every single drop of his essence would always belong to her. Though she joked at the time about her people treating every seed as sacred, it gave them many ideas on how to spice their bedroom life, with Yugo not wanting to enrage the wrath of the Sadida princess, or as he should call her now, Sadida queen.

As their kiss deepened, a thought reawakened inside Amalia's mind, and when she let go of her lover, she decided it was perfect time to bring this up.

- Actually, Yugo, I've been thinking. - she blushed - I have never punished you for that crime you've committed, have I? - I told you, Ami, it was an accident! - Yugo smiled - And yes, I had to portal myself inside, but back then I didn't know that the door only open to your magic! - You keep saying that... - Amalia dragged her finger across his chest. - But speaking of your punishment... - Ami, I think you have punished me several times. Last week comes to mind... - his voice became somewhat meeker, as he suddenly remembered the sharp pain of her magical vine in his ass. - Oh, I'm not talking about that.

Amalia stepped out of the pool, covering her body with a leafy towel her husband handed her and helped tie behind her back.

- I'm talking about the seed you have wasted on the walls, thinking of me. - What-what do you mean? - Yugo stuttered at the sudden reminiscence of his shameful act. - I'm saying that it's time your seed would take root in a proper, fertile ground.

She smiled and stepped towards him, just so she can see how his eyes widen as she spoke her words and the understanding hit him.

- A-Amalia... Are you saying you-you are...

His eyes gravitated towards her belly, but her hand swiftly pushed his chin up.

- No, not yet, silly. I've been taking my potions rather diligently ever since that night... - she shied away for a moment - But it's just about to run out, and I've had this thought...

She sat on the rocky brink of their bathhouse, her hands still in his, just so she could feel his increased pulse.

- In three days time Spring will begin, and it's a big holiday for my people... - Yeah, I remember last time I visited your kingdom, there was this huge feast and all... - Yes, but it's more than that. In spring natures wakes up to life. - she spoke calmly - Don't you think... it would be a perfect moment for us to try?

In a split of a second, Yugo was on his knees, kissing her hands, chest and belly, undoing the same towel he helped tying around her.

- Ami, that's... That would be wonderful. - he beamed. - I thought so. - Amalia smiled, and burst into giggles, finally letting go of her royal composure - Oh, Yugo, I've been trying to say that for so long, I just... I didn't know how you'd react. - Are you kidding? I'd love to be a dad. Though...

His mood was suddenly overshadowed by familiar shroud of doubt, the same one that nearly broke her heart a few years back, when they first kissed and addressed the differences in their biology. He looked at her, knowing the same, painful memories have reawakened inside her mind, and he was quick to tighten his grip on her, reaffirming his love for her that once he was so unsure about.

- ...would I... would I even be able to? - he looked up at her, finding her beautiful face stricken with the same uncertainty. - Well... This is why I chose that date. And it is common for couples who want to make sure they conceive to make love in the Sadida glades, and one is just outside the castle's limits... - I don't think I've ever seen it. - Well, no, it's a sacred place... - Amalia smiled - Perfect for what we're about to do. And I've brewed myself a fertility potion. Again, that usually helps women who can't get pregnant, and I hope that in our case it will-

But she didn't got to finish her sentence, as his lips pressed against her, drowning her worries in a long, soothing kiss.

- I know it will work, Ami. - he smiled, as his hands reached to coil around her naked body again, quickly positioning themselves on her butt. - Ah, ah, Yugo, I don't want to have any false starts. - she scolded him - You will have to wait. - A-Ami... - Yugo whimpered when Amalia pushed him gently away - The satisfaction would taste better if you wait. - she smiled - Besides...

Yugo yelped when her hand sneaked underneath the discarded towel and brushed his testicles.

- I want to make sure you will gather your forces for the next three days. You will have quite a fortress to conquer.

She kissed him, feeling the impatience through his skin. Her towel fell to the floor, and the Sadida queen marched naked towards their bedroom, practically feeling his stare on her naked thighs. She loved teasing him, and she knew she has just created the worst torture so far. And yet, she knew he will succeed.

The next days were indeed troubling for Yugo. She found him meditating on the top of their castle, or under the same waterfall, concentrating on the Wakfu around him. She jokingly asked if he was going to count every life particle around him, and he half-jokingly replied that he would. With Spring, he felt more and more life around him, his Eliatrope senses attuned to the energy flow. But there was something else in the air, something he wasn't that well-adversed in: the enticing smell, especially when Amalia was around. Was it just a coincidence with her perfumes, or was her scent a sign she was ready? It made Yugo's blood boil, especially during long council meetings, and he would gladly jump to his feet and take her right there, in front of everyone, just to satisfy his itch...

Oddly enough, nights were the easiest, though Amalia had equally bad time staying abstinent with Yugo's hard cock pressed against her naked bum whenever he would spoon her. She hoped her medicine would work, since after all no one really knew if the two can have children. She even asked Master Jorris, a man who has seen more than any of her advisors, and he wasn't able to answer her.

When the day of the Spring equinox arrived, Yugo started the day with his usual portal training, giving the chance for Amalia to see his fit body as it flew around the courtyard, appearing and disappearing from the blue holes in reality he was creating at will. His trainings with Adamai made him a true master of his magic, Amalia thought, as she continued planning today's feast at sunset with her two servants.

When the sun has set, the same courtyard became brimming with people all gathering to celebrate their goddess, in a series of dances and songs. The firefly lanterns bathe the entire place with warm light, even when the skies became dark. Sitting next to Amalia, Yugo kept nervously looking at her, and his behaviour has not been unnoticed.

- Ami... - he pleadingly whispered into her ear - I can't... I can't keep it up... I need you...

His hand moved underneath the table to thigh, sliding up her dress, and his hunger only deepened when he realised she wasn't wearing any underwear.  

- Just a few more minutes, Yugo. - she replied - By the way, drink up, I might have given you something extra.

She smiled and poured more of the sweet juice from the flask into his cup. In a single gulp, Yugo drank the content, counting each second until the end of the song. And when the music stopped, the two started clapping first, as Amalia dressed her people, thanking them for their attendance.

The tradition would dictate that the two hosts would help cleaning up after the party, but both of them knew they didn't have time for that. Giving him a knowing look, Amalia grabbed her husband's hand and led him into the forest, already feeling his rugged breath on her shoulder, and his hands on her waist, wondering if they will reach the place, or would Yugo's libido take over him sooner.

- Just... just a moment...

Before Yugo knew, they were standing in front of a thick leafy wall, which Amalia has parted with her magic at once, allowing the two to sneak inside. And even with his mind consumed by lust, Yugo had to stop and marvel at the idyllic place that was kept from sight; the circular glad was filled with blooming plants and small brooks, flowing from rocky mounds. Despite the late time, birds chirped in the canopy above them, and in the center of the glade rose the wooden statue of Sadida, made by no doubt with her people's magic.

- Wow... that's beautiful, Ami. - My mother made it. And I've added a detail or two myself...

She replied to him from the side, and only then Yugo realised that his better half has been absent from him for quite a while. And when he turned, he understood why.

Her beautiful dress lay on the ground, as Amalia lied on a mound of moss, perfectly shaped for her, accentuating her every curve she showed him with her welcoming pose. Though he was flabbergasted by her beauty, he nonetheless traversed the length to the makeshift bed in seconds, losing most of his clothes on the way, and found himself in her arms when he opened his eyes next, her lips already kissing his.

The bedding underneath them responded to their frantic moves, just like Yugo expected. It wasn't the first time the two made love on magical plants, and this one seemed to understand their needs, accommodating its surface to better host the two lovers.

Yugo began with kisses, traversing from Amalia's lips, through her chest, already imagining how her breasts would look like if they were swollen with milk, but he ventured down, lured by the alluring, impossible to resist smell and when he found himself between her legs, his senses were overloaded with a primal, needy aroma that was strengthened by the sap-like, thick juices oozing from Amalia's sex.

One lick of Yugo's tongue made him hungry for more, and with his hands on her thighs, he continued lapping the sweet nectar overflowing from her sex, in a clear sign of her readiness. and with each lick, Amalia let out a moan, high above his head, preventing her from speaking coherently.

- Yu-Yu-Yugo! = she grabbed his hat - Li-Licking me wo-won't make it... - I'm sorry, Ami - he spoke from between her thighsm, his mouth pressed against her sex - It's stronger than me.

His voice vibrated against her folds and made Amalia spring her legs up, just to ease her husband way to her sex, but he was relentless, and continued his work, with a clear aim in sight of licking her dry. of course, he knew it was impossible, and the thick layer of lubricant would help him, but with each dive of his tongue, Amalia's moans were becoming deeper and deeper, until the Sadida Queen wailed and thrashed against the leafy bed, flooding Yugo's mouth with her juices.

He waited until she'd regain her senses, and only then took his regal, blue clothes and used it to wipe her fluids from his face.

- I guess I better take it off, it's a bit dirty...

Watching as her eyes widen, he took of his shirt, but when he saw her again, her fingers already dug into his pants and boxers, just so she can disrobe him in one, quick swoop. Amalia gasped when her eyes lay on her husband's cock, as if she saw it for the first time. She cupped his testicles, practically feeling his love for her brimming underneath his skin.

Their lips found each other, and Yugo gently lay her back down, assuming a position between her legs. But then Amalia broke the kiss and addressed him.

- There's one more thing...

Amalia reached and yanked Yugo's hat from his head, exposing his ethereal, Wakfu antlers, which only added to the surreal lighting filling the glade.

- As I said, Sadida favours being au naturel...

Her legs locked behind his back, and her arms tightened their grip on his shoulders.

- And I want to be sure I'm being knocked up by the king of the Eliatropes...

She watched as Yugo's eyes widened a bit when she spoke these words, and responding to what would happen in a moment, she raised her hips slightly, giving just a fraction of advantage. And indeed, next second, she let out a loud cry, at the same time as a deep, animalistic groan escaped his when his hips began working into her. With her legs flailing behind him, he was not making love to her, but rutting her, with one primal need on his mind, and one she could read from his eyes.

She has seen this look in his eyes, when he was battling his opponents, the one of desire and determination, and the knowledge that she was gonna be defeated tonight was a captivating one.

Yugo knew they were alone, and yet, he wouldn't mind if the entire party watched them, because for now, his mind was concentrated only on one person underneath him, her mesmerising eyes fixated at him. Their joined bodies moved in unison, making the leafy bed rustle more and more with each of Yugo's powerful thrusts.

But that wasn't enough for him. The agile Eliatrope jumped from his knees to his feet, towering over her, with his antlers making him look much taller and intimidating. He grabbed her thighs and unceremoniously pressed her legs against her body, exposing her wet sex, before he rammed himself inside her again, this time in a near-vertical fashion, driving Amalia crazy.

- Yes! Yes, Yugo! - she encouraged him, knowing he was just inches from his climax - Come on, gi-give everything you've got to me!

She watched his face get torn with grimaces, and then, just as he was about to come, she saw it once more: the same doubt he had before, burdened by the differences between their races, with all the future consequences...

Amalia had to act quickly. Though in her position it was a bit difficult, she cupped his face and kissed him, just so she can address him directly, as if there was a chance he was listening to someone else.

- Yugo, my love... Put a bun in my oven... After all, you are a baker's son...

And that has done it.

Crying her name one last time, Yugo hilted himself deep inside her, as far as his modest length could, and though he wished he could look her in the eyes, he threw his head back, almost in recoil of the flood of cum that erupted from the tip of his cock.

Amalia let out a cry in preparation of the familiar feeling of streams of his cum, thickened by the few days of abstinence that would paint her walls and hit against the entrance to her womb. She was ready to cry more praises towards Yugo, just to make sure to wrangle each and every strand of seed from him, but then she realised she wasn't feeling any of that.

Instead, she felt his warmth bathing parts of her body much, much deeper than he has ever done, a feat she though was impossible.

She opened her eyes, unable to comprehend her situation, and saw a new, flirtatious smirk on his face, fighting with his orgasmic grimaces every time his hips bucked, delivering more of his potency, showing that without any doubt he was in control of it, even thouh she didn't know how.

For the longest time, Amalia was still in the dark, her confusion only strengthened by her post-orgasmic bliss. Though Yugo certainly wasn't short, his manhood wasn't impressive enough to reach her womb. More importantly, she knew it wouldn't be a pleasurable experience, as evident by one tale from Eva about her husband's monstrous cock. And just when she was about to ask him, she looked at his right hand, not coiled underneath her, or residing on her hips, but held in a very precise, odd position, with his finger twitching every few seconds.

And when their eyes met again, she understood what he has done

At the same time, the two lovers looked at her underbelly, pulsing with each batch of cum Yugo delivered into her womb, as well as glowing faintly blue from the two minuscule portals he created inside her a moment ago.

Performing the most precise act of Eliatrope magic of his life, Yugo ensured that his seed would be sown exactly where Amalia wanted, bypassing the treacherous way his sperm would normally have to traverse. As his finger twitched, the exit portal moved the swollen tip of his cock from left to right, making sure that each side of her womb would get equal portion of his seed, as neither of them would know from which one would she release her egg... And it was that knowledge that pushed Amalia over her edge once more and into Yugo's arms, where his lips were already waiting for her.

The couple collapsed onto the moss bed, twitching from their climaxes and the knowledge of their scared union finally being cemented.

- Yugo... - Amalia whispered through tears, unable to contain herself - That... that was... - What can I say... There is a reason bakers use peels to put the loaves deep inside the oven. - Yugo smiled modestly -  Though my dad was always using his shovel for that... - And you have certainly shovelled your way in there....

She kissed him again, her legs automatically locking behind his back, still driven by the fear that some of his seed might escape her, even though at this point it was near impossible.

- So... uh, Ami, how-how long will it take- - I was gonna say hours or even days... Some couples try for weeks, especially if they don't know when the ovulation would occur. But with you...

She looked deep inside his brown eyes, held his hand, moved it over to her still pulsating underbelly and spoke exactly what he needed to hear.

- ...I wouldn't be surprised if it happened already. - Ami... - But let's assume I didn't take my fertility potion, we didn't make love naked in a glade dedicated to a goddess of nature and fertility, on the first day of Spring, and you haven't poured your seed directly into my womb with your freaky alien eliatrope magic, and let's just spend a week in here bonking like two horny wabbits.

For once, with a beaming smile, Yugo took the initiative; he kissed her, grabbed his lover by her waist and effortlessly flipped Amalia around, putting her on all fours, just so he can once more see the alluring, thick translucent strands of liquid heat between her legs, proving without any shadow of a doubt she was fertile. For a moment, Amalia wished he didn't use his portal magic to seal his seed safely in her womb, just so she can show him it overflowing from her pussy to the ground, when he spread her twitching folds.

The tip of his cock brushed her opening, when the Eliatrope stopped, and with a breaking voice, he gasped and spoke to her.

- Amalia... I-I love you. - he spoke wiping away a tear. - I love you too, Yugo. - she spoke, turning around. - Are you ready? - Y-Yeah...

Yugo tightened the grip on her thighs, adoring her scrumptious thighs, her submissively arched back and savouring the moan that escaped Amalia's lips when he slid himself inside her welcoming folds again.

And as he continued rutting her, he pondered the meaning of Amalia's question. Because when he closed his eyes a minute ago, he saw something he never thought he would.

With his Eliatrope sight, he saw millions of dimmed particles of his Wakfu in Amalia's womb, each supplying only a fraction of life energy her body was giving. And then, suddenly, amidst that dull pool of background noise, his vision was filled with a tiny explosion of light, burning as brightly as the sun, when one of his seeds have found its fertile counterpart, forming a new life. Yugo gasped, as he understood he might have been the only father in the World of Twelve privileged enough to see that happening live. And then, mere seconds after that, he saw it happening again, this time on the other side, which made him lose his air in his lungs. Twins; one boy, one girl, one Eliatrope, one Sadida, he saw and felt at once. He didn't know if he, and more importantly, Amalia, was ready for that.

But her voice has reassured him about it.

For now, the two had a blissful week ahead of them, and maybe, just maybe, if Amalia asks him nicely enough, he might tell her what lies ahead. After all, it's not often that the father knows it before the mother.

[thelittlesttimelord]

The Littlest Timelord: The Death of the Doctor Chapter 20

TITLE: The Littlest Timelord: The Death of the Doctor Chapter 20 PAIRING: No Pairing RATING: T CHAPTER: 20/? SUMMARY: The Doctor’s death is looming on the horizon and Elise is growing every day. What the Doctor doesn’t know is that he has 200 years to teach Elise all he knows. Amy, Rory, and River let Elise in on their secret, because River knows she will keep it. What will Elise do when he’s gone?

River walked down the corridor of Stormcage dressed in Regency era clothing as alarms went off around her. She picked up the guard’s phone. “Oh, turn it off. I'm breaking in, not out. This is River Song, back in her cell.”

The alarms stopped going off.

“Oh, and I'll take breakfast at the usual time. Thank you.”

She hung up and saw two figures standing there.

One was smaller and the other was dressed like a Roman.

“Oh, are you boys dressing up as Romans now? I thought nobody read my memos,” River said.

They stepped out of the shadows.

It was Rory and Elise.

“Doctor Song. It's Rory. Sorry, have we met yet?” he asked, “Time streams. I'm not quite sure where we are.”

“Yes. Yes, we've met. Hello, Rory. Hello, Ellie.”

Elise had grown once again in her absence.

“What's wrong?” Rory asked.

River let out a shuddering breath. “It's my birthday. The Doctor took me ice skating on the River Thames in 1814, the last of the great Frost Fairs. He got Stevie Wonder to sing for me under London Bridge. And of course you were there, little star.”

“Stevie Wonder sang in 1814?”

“Yes, he did. But you must never tell him.”

“We've come from the Doctor too.”

“Yes, but at a different point in time.”

“Unless there's two of them.”

River smirked. “Now, that's a whole different birthday.” She pulled out her diary as Rory said, “He needs you.”

River found the entry she was looking for. “Demon's Run.”

“How…how did you know?” Rory asked.

“I'm from his future. I always know. Why on Earth are you wearing that?” “The Doctor's idea.”

“Of course. His rules of engagement. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

“…Look ridiculous.”

“Have you considered heels?”

“They've taken Amy. And our baby. The Doctor's getting some people together. We're going after her, but he needs you, too.”

“I can't. Not yet, anyway.”

“I'm sorry?”

“This is the Battle of Demon's Run. The Doctor's darkest hour. He'll rise higher than ever before and then fall so much further, and I can't be with him till the very end.”

“Why not?”

“Because this is it. This is the day he finds out who I am.”

“Come on, Elise. She’s obviously not going to help.”

Rory stalked off, back to the TARDIS.

“I’m sorry,” River told Elise.

“Happy birthday, mum.”

“Thank you, little star.”

Elise ran after Rory.

“Was that Rory I saw?” a voice asked.

River turned to face the redhead. “Yes, it was. What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t think I wasn’t going to visit you on your birthday? I’m hurt.”

River laughed and hugged the redhead.

They sat down on River’s bed.

“Now, tell me what’s been happening.”

“Well, it all started when…”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The TARDIS landed and they split up.

“Elise, go with Vastra and Jenny,” the Doctor told her.

Elise had been rather fascinated with Vastra, even though her first interaction with the Silurians had been less than pleasant.

They made their way to the control room and surprised the two men at the controls.

“Go on, resist. I am ever so hungry,” Vastra threatened.

“Now, dear. Which button controls the lights?” Jenny asked.

One of the men pointed and Jenny pressed that button, causing all the lights to go out. They gave the Doctor enough time to execute his plan, then turned the lights back on. Vastra and Jenny tied up the two men.

“Clever, isn't he?” Jenny asked as they watched the soldiers and the Headless Monks kill each other.

“And rather attractive,” Vastra added.

“You do realize he's a man, don't you, ma'am?”

“Mammals. They all look alike.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Elise laughed. They were just like River and her father. She hoped she found someone she could banter with like that one day.

“Was I being insensitive again, dear? I don't know why you put up with me,” Vastra said.

“Vastra!” Elise yelled, seeing one of the soldiers going for the door lock.

Vastra spun around and stung him with her tongue like Alaya had done to Mac.

“Stop. Wait. Listen to me,” the commander said, “I am disarming my weapon pack. Monks, I do this in good faith. I am now unarmed. All of you, discharge your weapon packs. The Doctor is trying to make fools of us. We are soldiers of God. We are not fools. We are not fools. We are not fools. We are not fools.”

The soldiers and him repeated the phrase over and over again.

“Colonel Manton is regaining control,” Vastra said.

“Where's the Doctor gone?” Jenny asked.

Strax appeared next to Manton. “This base is now under our command.”

“I have a fleet out there. If Demon's Run goes down, there's an automatic distress call.”

“Not if we knock out your communications array. And you've got incoming…” the Doctor said.

“Danny Boy to the Doctor. Danny Boy to the Doctor.”

It was the Spitfires!

“Give 'em hell, Danny Boy.”

“Target destroyed.”

“Yes!” Elise cheered, clapping.

Vastra smiled at the small Timelord. Elise was beaming from ear to ear and her eyes were sparkling.

The Doctor joined them in the control room. “What did you think?”

“That was amazing!” Elise praised him.

The two high-fived.

The Doctor sat in the chair while they waited for Colonel Manton. He was marched in by Strax at gunpoint.

“All airlocks sealed. Resistance neutralized.”

“Sorry, Colonel Manton. I lied. Three minutes forty two seconds,” the Doctor said.

“Colonel Manton, you will give the order for your men to withdraw,” Strax ordered.

“No. Colonel Manton, I want you to tell your men to run away.”

“You what?”

“Those words. Run away. I want you to be famous for those exact words. I want people to call you Colonel Run Away. I want children laughing outside your door, because they've found the house of Colonel Run Away.” The Doctor stood up and got in his face. “And, when people come to you, and ask if trying to get to me through the people I love…is in any way a good idea, I want you to tell them your name. Oh, look, I'm angry. That's new. I'm really not sure what's going to happen now.”

A woman’s voice spoke. “The anger of a good man is not a problem. Good men have too many rules.”

The Doctor turned.

It was the eye-patch lady Amy spoke about.

“Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many,” the Doctor said.

“Give the order. Give the order, Colonel Run Away,” the woman told him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When they came to the room where Amy was being held, they found Amy and Rory kissing while crying.

“Ew, kissing and crying. I'll…I'll be back in a bit,” the Doctor said.

Elise agreed. They turned to leave when Rory said, “Oi, you two. Get in here, now.” They came down steps and walked over to Amy, Rory, and their baby.

“My daughter. What do you think?” Rory asked.

The Doctor smiled. “Hello. Hello, baby.”

Rory knelt down so Elise could see her.

“She’s so tiny!” Elise said.

“Melody,” Amy told them.

“Melody? Hello, Melody Pond,” the Doctor said.

“Melody Williams,” Rory corrected.

“…Is a geography teacher. Melody Pond is a superhero,” Amy said.

The Doctor sniffed Amy. “Well yes, I suppose she does smell nice. Never really sniffed her. Maybe I should give it a go. Amelia Pond, come here.”

The two of them hugged.

“Doctor.”

“I'm sorry we were so long.”

“It's okay. I knew you were coming. Both of you. My boys.”

“Oi!” Elise said.

Amy laughed. “And you, little miss.”

“It's okay. She's still all yours. And really, you should call her mummy, not big milk thing. And it’s Elise, not Blue Eyes.”

“Okay, what are you doing?” Amy asked.

“I speak Baby.”

“No, you don't.”

“I speak everything, don't I, Melody Pond?” The Doctor messed with his bowtie. “No, it's not. It’s cool.”

Amy laughed.

Vastra entered the room. “Doctor? Take a look. They're leaving. Demon's Run is ours without a drop of blood spilled. My friend, you have never risen higher.”

River’s words echoed in Rory and Elise’s head.

He'll rise higher than ever before and then fall so much further.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Doctor parked the TARDIS and Rory, Amy, and Melody immediately left.

Evidently, Melody didn’t like the TARDIS noise.

“Is Melody gonna travel with us?” Elise asked as the Doctor carried a wooden cot. She wouldn’t stop asking questions about Melody.

“Maybe not until she’s older.”

“So does this mean she’s like my cousin or something?”

“Well not technically.”

“So, just a friend then?”

“Open the other door, would you?”

Elise opened the other door and the Doctor carried the cot out.

“She's not hungry, she's tired. Sorry, Melody, they're just not listening,” he said.

“What's this? Melody?” Amy asked.

“Very pretty, according to your daughter.”

“It's a…it's a cot,” Rory said.

“No flies on the Roman. Give her here,” the Doctor said.

Amy handed Melody to the Doctor. “Hey, there we go.”

The Doctor placed her in the cot.

“But where would you get a cot?” Rory asked.

“It's old. Really old. Doctor, er, do you have children?” Amy asked, “Besides Elise.”

Elise was too old to have even slept in it.

“No.”

“Have you ever had children?”

The Doctor ignored the question. “No, it's real. It's my hair.”

“Who slept in here?”

“Doctor, we need you in the main control room,” Vastra said over the intercom.

“Be right there! Things to do. I've still got to work out what this base is for. We can't leave till we know.” He started to walk off, but Amy went after him.

“But this is where I was? The whole time I thought I was on the TARDIS, I was really here?” she asked.

“Er, Centurion, permission to hug?”

“Be aware, I do have a sword,” Rory said.

“At all times.”

They hugged.

“You were on the TARDIS, too. Your heart, your mind, your soul. But physically, yes, you were still in this place.”

“And when I saw that face looking through the hatch, that woman looking at me.”

“Reality bleeding through. They must have taken you quite a while back. Just before America.”

“That's probably enough hugging now,” Rory told him.

The Doctor pulled away.

“So her Flesh avatar was with us all that time. But that means they were projecting a control signal right into the TARDIS wherever we were in time and space,” Rory said.

“Yeah, they're very clever,” the Doctor said.

“Who are?” Amy asked.

“Whoever wants our baby,” Rory said.

“But why do they want her?”

“Exactly,” the Doctor said.

“Is there anything you're not telling us?” Rory asked, “You knew Amy wasn't real. You never said.”

“Well, I couldn't be sure they weren't listening.” The Doctor started to walk off.

“But you always hold out on us. Please, not this time. Doctor, it's our baby. Tell us something. One little thing,” Amy said.

“It's mine,” the Doctor told them.

“What is?” Rory asked.

“The cot. It's my cot. I slept in there.” He smiled and left them with their baby and Elise, who hadn’t taken her eyes off Melody.

“Oh, my God. It's the Doctor's first stars,” Amy said. Amy wiped Melody’s face with the prayer leaf Lorna had given her.

“Drop your weapons. State your rank and intent,” Strax said, “I found it listening at the door.”

It was the soldier from earlier.

Lorna.

[rosemaryfm]

『ANYA TAYLOR JOY ❙ CIS FEMALE』 ⟿ looks like LYDIA MONTGOMERY is here for HER JUNIOR year as a COMMUNICATIONS student. SHE is 21 years old & known to be HOPEFUL, IDEALISTIC, DEPENDENT & MALLEABLE. They’re living in PERKINS, so if you’re there, watch out for them. ⬳ JAMES. 21. EST. SHE/THEY.

hllo. .. sorry fr switching muses so suddenly .. bt lydia will stick. i swear. as always gib this a like if u’d like 2 plot <3

TW ABANDONMENT, DEATH MENTIONS, BORDERLINE IMPLIED

aesthetics.

knee highs and platform mary janes, tulle skirts and bubbles and beads and lace, and heart-shaped mirrors and heart-shaped bruises, gaudy mirrors and gaudy faucets and gaudy frames and chandeliers and gaudy gold, handwritten love letters and kiss-stained envelopes, flowers braided in hair and dying flowers in vases and flowers pressed in between pages, vintage perfume bottles and old ballet slippers and discarded head-shots, short skirts and satin slips and tiny cardigans, melted candles and burnt fingertips and dripping wax, floral baths and beach waves and seashells and summer breezes, renaissance paintings and statues and praying hands and rosaries and empty beds, masks and identities and sobbing and crying and yearning and wishing and learning and wanting and needing and the cycle repeating and repeating and repeating.

basic info.

full name: lydia rosemary montgomery

nickname(s): lydia delia, lyds

b.o.d. - june 22nd, cancer

label(s): the allegiant, the chameleon, the crestfallen, the facade, the gregarious, the grifter, the malleable, the marionette, the neophyte, the obsequious, the rose-colored glass, the sybarite, etc. ...

height: 5′7″

hometown: new york city, new york

sexuality: bisexual

pinterest

stats

inspired by: amy march (little women), lydia bennet (pride & prejudice), lucy pevensie (narnia), daisy buchanan (the great gatsby), moira rose (schitt’s creek), karen smith (mean girls)

biography.

the product of an affair between christian montgomery, an esteemed doctor at his hospital - and one of the nurses there, allison dermont. the half sister of caleb montgomery (shoutout 2 alli!)

named after her maternal grandmother (deceased before lydia even turned one) and rosemary because it reminded allison of her childhood (rosemary always in the air, growing from pots on their porch and baked into the bread they’d eat)

growing up, lydia never knew her father. but she knew of him - her mother told her stories often of him, and the work he did to save others. built him up as a hero, a role model, someone admirable and brave and just despite the fact he’d no longer look her in the eyes when crossing paths in the hospital’s hallways. lydia idolized him.

was a very lonely child - her mother worked long hours, and babysitters were often distant. tended to attach herself to them, anyways, clinging to legs and arms and having to be peeled off and scolded (which then resulted in tantrums, of thrown toys and stomping feet and red, tearful faces)

her schoolmates were cruel to her, an easy target as a child - she followed behind the girls who seemed the most well liked, trying to mimic how they were. it’d always been a little off, and a little off-putting, and she cried often.

abandonment issues led to an obsession with perfection - as if she accomplished the most, her father would be blown away with her talents when he finally reached out. it’d always been a hope for her - her father contacting her, bringing her into his life. being a full family, loved and attended to. 

strove for the highest marks in all her classes, though there’d been hiccups here and there. she’d done ballet for a number of years before her dance instructor had essentially told her she’d never make it to a company, which led to her abruptly quitting. even put out a portfolio and contacted modeling agencies - she’d done a few small photoshoots as a teenager, but she’d never made it to anything big.

tried her hardest to act and work the part of someone important, elegant and better than who she really was. it showed in the aesthetics she indulged in (thrifted nearly everything she owned, from trinkets to her clothing) and the way she acted. in high school, she trailed behind the popular girls. molded her personality to cater to them, to be more like them. a mean girl, in a way. 

did the same when it came to boyfriends and lovers - she’d mold herself into exactly what they wanted, tried to be the perfect girlfriend for them, or sexual partner, or anything. she just wanted the attention, the love. had a myriad of relationships in high school (and it bled into college, too) where she’d give her all, and ultimately end up used and disappointed.

never felt like the first choice, only the second. always the bridemaid, never the bride. never good enough, no matter how hard she tried. but always remained hopeful - idealistic, always thinking that she’d get her turn one day. optimistic, but with lowering self-esteem and a mountain of insecurities.

became something of a habitual liar, in the process - always wanting to seem better than she was, so she lied about where she lived (instead of a measly apartment, she lived in a penthouse) and her accomplishments and her experience, and her feelings and who her parents were.

found something she was genuinely good at during her senior year of high school, when she’d chosen a fashion elective for one of her class periods. the practical aspect, she was good at - creatively? she had nothing to offer.

because of her lack of ideas, she never pursued it further. in college she chose to go into communications, specializing in public relations, though she’d never thought of actually finishing college. it was just a way for her to find a beau, to marry - to leave new york and have children. has always wanted to be a housewife with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. to be loved and held for the rest of her life.

without cliques in college, it was hard for her to find her footing among peers. joined a sorority, molded her personality once more into something they would desire, and was accepted. got a frat boyfriend until it burned out, and another, and another, until she had something of a reputation.

with all of these expenses adding up - lydia’d never wanted to work a retail job, or food service, or anything measly like that - she found use for her sewing skills in the back of npc shops. worked in a shady operation producing fake designer items. she’d been excellent at producing exact replicas.

it wasn’t a very safe job and it’d ended her up in danger on some occasions, but it paid, and she was desperate.

met caleb for the first time at his mother’s funeral and became obsessed with the idea of having a brother, of being closer to her father somehow. cyberstalked him as much as she could and found radcliffe, where she eventually transferred to when caleb had decided to go back. practically followed him like a lost dog.

got into perkins because she literally pre-wrote her essay to get in and basically sobbed her story in front of secretaries and deans and housing faculty until she’d been granted permission to move in.

currently interning at a company where she has control over their social media accounts, alongside a team of other interns. when she’s feeling particularly upset she’ll post passive aggressive or straight up distraught, distressing messages (tweets, captions, etc.) on their official accounts, sometimes featuring the mascot of the company/brand. they haven’t figured out its her, yet.

personality.

i won’t lie. she’s a bit of a mess. 

constantly changes her personality to fit whoever she’s talking to, desperate for their approval in even the most minimal ways. consistently lies about literally ... whatever, sometimes for no reason, if it’ll make her seem cooler or better in some way. type of person who wants to one-up others.

excessive, in that way. clingy and pushy, she tends to latch onto people and designate her ‘favorites’ - their opinion means the world to her, and when it falters she essentially crumbles as a person.

pretty fragile as a person - emotional, and unable to be yelled at because she’ll wind up crying. takes a lot of things very personally, and always accuses herself as being the problem, which leads to her changing aspects of herself.

loves often, and viciously, will fall for someone at the drop of a hat. yearns, often. sulks often, too.

still has a ballerina’s posture, model’s demeanor, very upright and it could be mistaken as intimidating, though the facade cracks immediately when she speaks. loves gossip and unintentionally - or, intentionally - spreads it at the drop of a hat.

can get very possessive, and jealous, and outright mean. very highly defensive at times, when pushed (it doesn’t take much to push her)

sentimental to a fault - she still has her last pair of ballet slippers despite the fact that she’d dropped that pursuit when she was fifteen.

her room is adorned with mirrors, handheld and mountable and tabletop - they’re all heart-shaped.

has an obsession with hearts, actually, and florals, and gold, when it comes to decor. has hanging plants and flowers falling from her ceiling. her sink is a gold swan (her favorite animals are swans) faucet that she paid to get installed without permission from perkins.

basically her decor is very gaudy. loves fur coats and silk slips and mini skirts, brandy melville, platforms and socks. very specific style that she doesn’t falter from, often.

takes baths often to distress but setting them up is an hour-long process in itself, flowers and herbs and candles surrounding her tub. she’ll stay in there until she’s pruny and the water’s gone cold.

likes to garner sympathy when she can - though she herself tends to be a very sympathetic, compassionate, person. cries for others even when they’re not crying themselves. it’s a lot. tends to make things about herself, in some way.

a smoker, and a bad one at that, does it whenever she feels the slightest amount of stress. she’s very stressed, very often.

likes the aesthetic of art, like renaissance paintings and roman statues, but isn’t deeply knowledgeable on them.

very impressionable, easy to impress, and is loyal to a definite fault. doesn’t tend to give up on people, and holds out for the best.

a dreamer, excessively hopeful and idealistic - is often let down. wears rose-colored glasses and doesn’t see it, anyways. can be vicious, but ultimately just wants to be loved. obsessed with the idea of it.

very finicky and picky, but is also? a hypocrite? says she’s a vegan but she isn’t - she has indulged in mcdonalds nuggets more than once.

very materialistic in that she loves high-end things that she ... can’t afford, but is also financially irresponsible and loves to spend her money on things she absolutely doesn’t need. selfish and immature, at times.

vastly insecure, likes reassurance. double texts. overthinks. romanticizes.

laughs when she’s nervous - laughs a lot.

patient until she’s impatient, the reason why she burns her tongue and the roof of her mouth so often on hot teas and coffee and treats.

is either over-prepared or under-prepared; over-prepared in academics, always doing the upmost she can do (still a perfectionist) and under-prepared when it comes to dressing out - never wears a jacket and is always cold (anemic, too) because she’s hoping that a handsome stranger will give her theirs’

wishes on dandelion puffs and shooting stars and each and every 11:11, wishes for a lot of things - they never come true, but she keeps wishing.

loves romance novels, and period / historical dramas/romances especially. like, frankly obsessed

has a collection of erotica novels, too.

sleeps around often but there’s no guarantee that she won’t get attached to who she’s sleeping with.

la croix fan :/

got onto the cheer team the same way she got into perkins. crying to the coach. but she does have immaculate form, so.

can’t say no to anybody, about anything and for anything its a genuine Problem she feels like she always Has to do what people ask because that’s how you get people to like you (no it isnt!)

tdlr; she listens to marina and the diamonds, lana del rey, and mitski far more than any normal fucking person would and that should be enough to describe her.

wanted connections.

okay so i kind of imagine her as being New to radcliffe so these may not be instantaneous but.

a ride or die... someone tht she wld probably die fr at the drop of a pin or w/e, they dn’t have to be Her ride or die though,, y’know what i mean

bad influences... she’s very impressionable and wants to fit in with people... they cld get her to do anything...

people she annoys... she does that a lot :/ she’s just intense. high care. needy.

friends! just friends... please ... give her friends ... she’ll lay down her life for them ...

a drug dealer... y’know ... just fr funsies.

party pals... needless 2 say ...

unrequited feelings... mostly if not entirely on her part, because she’ll ‘fall in love’ with just about anybody

attachments... that she has on other people. just won’t quit!

new yorkians... who might’ve known her in her youth! she went to a public school.

associated with caleb... people who only know her because she’s caleb’s bastard sister

bad time... something went wrong along the way of their friendship and now it’s ... super bad ... 

enemies... she’ll probably cry to your face or maybe even yell at u! who knows! u hate each other.

perkins roommate... i repeat, mayhaps a perkins roommate? who got thrust with her in the middle of the semester?

something soft... idk what ... cld be cute

the world is our oyster ... we can always brainstorm too... idk!! she’s new in town!! john mulaney vc !!