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cain-sawyer-son-of-the-saw · 2 months ago

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Just a quick fic.

Warnings: None that I know of, this is just a cute moment.

The year is 1978 and it’s late summer. The last of the cicadas are creating a low hum as the sunset glows a bright orange outside. Rosette, considered a tall woman at 5’6”, with her dark brunette hair and expressive blue eyes sits calmly rocking her three year old son, Cain Jedidiah Jr. Sawyer, in her arms on the swing in the front yard. Her eyes are fixed on the horizon, waiting. Expecting. “Goodness, I hope it won’t be long, now…”, she half-whispers both to herself and to Cain. Little Cain, nearly every inch the miniature image of his father minus his mother’s blue eyes, snaps to attention and tries to see what his mother is looking for. “Pa… pa?”, Cain looks up at his mother’s face inquisitively. Rosette gazes down at that sweet little expression and a warm smile temporarily replaces the concern on her face. “Yeah. Your papa should be home soon, Cay.”, she explains, giving him a little kiss on the forehead as she pats his head, “He’s been out there in those fields all dang day. I bet he’s missin’ us as much as we miss him.”. A small smile forms on the little boy’s features at the kiss from his mama and he snuggles into her chest. Rosette holds him close for several minutes as they rock on the swing. She was quite worried because Bubba had been chasing some uninvited guests but she was not about to show it. She did not want to upset Cain.

In an effort to both calm herself and entertain Cain while they waited, she began to sing softly to him. A song about a teddy bear who travelled among the stars in a little silver boat, a story about making the impossible possible. It began to get darker and crickets started to join the cicadas’ concerto. Finally, raising his head from his mother’s shoulder with a sleepy little yawn, Cain glanced around for his father and on seeing that he still was not in sight, Cain began to whimper. “Sssshhhhh, little one, it’ll be okay.”, Rosette whispered comfortingly, snuggling him close, “There’s a lot of space to walk out there. I’m sure your daddy’s still on his way back.”. Cain began to squirm, making it known to his mother that he wanted to go find Bubba himself. “Now, Cain, you know it’s not safe to go out there…”, Rosette gently reminded him, holding him out before her so she could look into his eyes. There was a look of determination in his eyes, making Rosette sigh deeply. “How about this then? Mama will go with you a little ways into the field and we’ll call out as loud as we can that we’re about to start making dinner. That’s sure to make your daddy hurry up, right?”, she offered, hoping to prevent Cain from getting lost. Cain took a few seconds to think before nodding a yes. “Okay then. Into the field we go!”, Rosette replied with a smile as she stood up, holding Cain close. Along the way toward the field, she did a sort of skip, making Cain bounce and smile again.

In a few minutes, they arrived at the edge of the cornstalks. Rosette only hesitated for a moment as she tried to find an easy way in with her baby boy in her arms but soon, they were surrounded on all sides by corn. Rosette smiled at Cain, who smiled back. “You ready, Cay?”, Rosette asked, watching him nod his head in reply with a tiny grunt, “Okay. When I say three, we both yell out ‘Dinner!’, okay?”. Cain nodded once more, eager to see his father. Rosette allowed herself a small laugh at the thought of the relief of seeing Bubba come back safe before saying, “Alright. One… Two… Thr-“. At that very moment, the corn stalks beside them rustled loudly. As they parted in the low light, a chubby, curly-haired man with a height of about 6’6” appeared, a bit worn out but smiling brightly beneath his leather mask.

“Bubba! You’re safe, oh, thank God…”, Rosette gushed, rushing toward him. Instantly, Cain shouted, “Pa… pa!!!”, reaching out his little arms to be picked up. Bubba leaned over a bit to place a kiss on Rosette’s lips, emitting a purring noise from deep in his chest and then he seemed to light up even more as he took their son into his arms, hugging him close. Cain tugged on Bubba’s shirt collar and tie, letting him know that he wanted to sit on his shoulders. Bubba made an affirmative noise that sounded something like, “Yuh” as he placed Cain on his shoulders. Cain responded with a happy cooing sound as he went right for his favorite calming activity- grabbing, not pulling, Bubba’s curls. “We both missed ya all day, hun.”, Rosette said, laughing with relief as she wrapped her arms around Bubba, who happily wrapped one arm around her to hold her close while his other arm held Cain in place. He chuckled lowly, finally able to relax. Cain practically shrieked as he started to giggle.

@puppet200 , Idk, cute short fic.

#texas chainsaw massacre #bubba sawyer #leatherface #slashers #the texas chainsaw massacre #slasher movies #horror #tcm #oc #ocs #jedidiah sawyer #cain sawyer #rosette sawyer

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gemwing1988 · 11 months ago

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Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse ✨❄️🎄

Another well liked Christmas Special I personally enjoyed. Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse is a charming special for the short-lived but interesting Disney series about Mickey and the gang opening a club house for all of the beloved Disney characters from timeless movie classics ranging from Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and so on.

The movie starts on Christmas Eve where with the gang wrapping up tonight’s entertainment and wished everyone a safe travel home and a Merry Christmas. Unfortunately, it turns out there had been a snowstorm early, snowing everyone inside the clubhouse, much to the dismay and concern of the friends and their guests. But Mickey came up with a swell idea of suggesting everyone can spend their Christmas Eve at the House of Mouse for the time being.

While everyone is happy with the plan, Donald, on the other hand, wasn’t into the holiday spirit for some unexplained reason. In fact, he is such a humbug, he’d even make Ebenezer Scrooge and Grinch much more jolly from beginning to end out together.

After the club house is most especially decorated for the occasion and everyone breaks out all the hot chocolate and cookies, Mickey and the gang immediately provide some entertainment by showing some home movies and Christmas shorts, most especially some old gems all the while trying to patch up Donald’s tattered Christmas Spirit.

Some of the Christmas special shorts also classic gems including “Pluto and the Christmas Tree”, starring Chip and Dale. The special has some funny and wholesome segments such as Mickey going around town, asking all of the movie characters about what they’d wish to have for Christmas such as Kuzko from The Emperor’s New Groove tearfully begging not to be a llama anymore and Ursula the Sea Witch wanting Mickey’s voice for some weird reason. The segment ends with the Beast’s only wish is for everyone to have a happy Christmas and to find their inner beauty. Awww! How sweet. 🥹🥰

Another segment has Mickey and the gang explaining to Donald what they all have to be thankful for this Christmas. While some characters like the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonder (concerning his obsessions with hats, next to tea) comes off a bit zany, some can be more practical and wholesome such as Cinderella being thankful to have her tiny animal friends from birds to mice being talented and creative to make her beautiful dresses and Eeyore being thankful for joy and the happiness in his heart. It’s also sweet that Minnie’s thankful to have Mickey as the love of her life. 💝

Despite all of those and after watching the House of Mouse’s take on The Nutcracker with Mickey as the titular character, Minnie as Maria and Donald (of all people) as the Mouse King and narrated by the amazing John Cleese, Donald is still a humbug that he made even Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves actually happy while leaving the other six dwarves frowning with disapproval at the duck’s attitude.

Disheartened, Mickey goes outside on the roof of the club house where he is consulted by Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio, who suggested about wishing on a star. When Mickey makes his wish for everyone, even Donald, to feel the spirit of Christmas, the star magically floats down into his hands, much to the mouse’s awe.

Realising what he needed to do, Mickey goes back inside and asks Donald if he would like to hang the star on the Christmas tree. Touched by the request, Donald happily places the star on the tree and happily wishes everyone in the club house a Merry Christmas, his Christmas spirit lifted, as bright as the very star. The magic of the star also brightened all of the decorations throughout the place, making it just as festive. It also brightened the spirits of even Yen Sid, the Magic Mirror and even Jafar.

With Donald finally getting into the spirit of Christmas, the gang had decided to show Mickey’s Christmas Carol, starring Scrooge McDuck in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Ahh, another timeless classic. ☺️

After the short film had ended, everyone, hosts and guests alike, gathered up on stage to sing a heartfelt song titled “The Best Christmas of All”, which happens to be one of my favourite Christmas songs from a Disney movie. It was so sweet and heartwarming to see every single characters from beloved Disney films and shorts gathered together in one place to sing about how the spirit of Christmas is all about friendship, true love, family and all the precious memories they all share throughout the season. It’s also hilarious where some of the villains even Jafar, Captain Hook from Peter Pan and even Hades from Hercules were not above joining in. 🤭

Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse is an amazing Christmas Special that has touched my heart to this day and I do hope for many others who had grew up with Disney as I had over the years can relate and have a soft spot for this film.

As Mickey had told us, the watchers, at the end of the special, Merry Christmas to all of you. 😄

#Disney #Crossover #Merry Christmas

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nishinoya-can-rolling-thunder-me · 4 years ago

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A Summer’s Night

Keishin Ukai x Reader

Summary: The two of you sneak out as children to escape the realities of the world and to enjoy the sweet ambiance of a summer’s night, but life always catches up and the years separate the two of you, but will fate and chance...and maybe a bit of meddling drive the two of you back together?

First time writing a Haikyuu one shot!!!! Sorry for typos, I started this last night and fell asleep and picked it back up between my classes

Masterlist

The crickets chirped alongside the buzzing of the mosquitoes that floated and buzzed on their never ending hunt for blood. They waited for any unsuspecting victim to land upon. Though your hand came crashing down upon a brave one that had tried to land upon your calf, though you froze at the sound of the harsh slap, looking back to your home over you shoulder as you paused, the door halfway closed. The silence that was met from the house sent a wave of relief through you as you finally closed the door shut, shoes clumsily tossed to the porch below to allow your feet to shove themselves in before you were running through the grass of your front yard, disturbing the crickets that jumped out and passed your feet to knock into your legs within the dimness of the moon and stars above. You only continued your running past the road and along the levis of the rice field and through the rows of plants of a farmer’s crop. Fireflies only shined and sparkled as they calmly watched your form continue it’s hurried place.

“Keishin...!” You finally whispered out once you stopped in front of a house, head whipping around to look about the yard and to the crops that surrounded it, though finally you jumped as you saw a door slide open and closed, a familiar buzzed head now appearing before you. Keishin was still clumsily shoving on his own shoes and straightening out the slightly baggy hoodie that hung off of his body slightly. Keishin was your best friend, always had been. The two of you would race to each other’s homes after school, would help out on the farms the two of you lived upon, spend summers together, and of course sneak out to meet each other on those very summer nights too. It was a habit that just...stayed for some reason. Sometimes the two of you would even make the journey to his grandfather’s house to play with one of Keishin’s volleyballs using his grandfather’s net....but you were never any good, but you liked the way Keishin would laugh at your own clumsiness. Also one time Granpa Ukai had woken up too, but thankfully the two of you quickly dipped out before he noticed...but you always had a sneaky suspicion that the old man knew something was up because he would always give you two a knowing look when the two of you would go to help with chores around his home.

“Sorry I’m late....my mom was walking around the kitchen, so I think she was having trouble sleeping, but I waited a bit until I think she fell asleep.” Keishin whispered out as he repositioned the tucked blanket he had under his arm, now stepping forward, motioning you to follow. “Bet I can beat you to the pump.” He said with a snort before bolting off, you giving a little gasp of disapproval before racing after him, your tinny legs almost being able to catch up with his, but his legs were far longer and he of course made it to the rusted water pump, blanket already in his hands and carefully being tossed out to the ground.

“No fair! Your legs are longer than mine!” You complained as you sat upon the blanket with a huff, he only rolling his eyes as he sat beside you now shoving his hands into his coat pocket, casting a glance at you. That’s glance moved into a sassy eye roll as he let his eyes wash over the crops that rolled out before the two of you in what seemed to go on forever. These summer nights were always the best. Just the two of you either talking away or enjoying the silence and company of each. Of course the mosquitoes were a con to all of it, but for these moments you would suffere any insect bite.

Except for a wasp....and maybe bees....those always hurt more than anything! Though you guessed you could deal with it even then, Keishin always knew how to nurture and tend to those stings that were afflicted upon you if your summer adventures ended up in an angered stinging insect’s path.

“Well then get longer legs...” Keishin finally teased you as he looked back to you, your tiny fist soon crushing down on his shoulder, the two of you now shooting off in a racket of giggles and laughs as the two of you chased each other through the fields, leaves rustling with the gust of wind your bodies would leave behind underneath the night stars and the bugs that tried to reach with all their might to touch them.

The years went on though and high school had hit. The two of you had stepped upon the school grounds of Karasuno with childish excitement, Grandpa Ukai trying to hurriedly explain where each and every area was and beckoning his teases in his rough way to say I love you to you and Keishin as the two of you rushed off and of course a reminder to join the boys volleyball club to Keishin and a possible manager position to you. Though that never really happened. It seemed like an ocean had began to form between you and your dear childhood friend. First it began with him always on about volleyball. You just didn’t understand, that wasn’t your fault or his. Your interest just didn’t settle their anymore. You joined the art club. Your allegiance was held there. The paint brushes and sketch books beckoned you with such a warm embrace. Keishin didn’t understand that love, which again wasn’t his fault or your own. Life just happens and people are always constantly evolving with what they like and dislikes. Sadly the two of you were just now the complete opposite. You were in the college prep classes as well, he wasn’t.

The ocean just continued to grow and grow, the rushing waves and strong tides tugging the two of you further and further away until your fingertips just couldn’t hold on tight enough no matter how much strength and might you put in. The two of you had created and tagged along with new friend groups and now pursued totally different things. Though late in the summer nights you would always let the sadness creep in to remind you of how much you missed chasing and running around into the late hours upon his family’s farm and a tear would always be shed for those fond and far off memories of your childhood friend.

Graduation was now far off in the distance and you used your free time as a freelance painter and of course a manga drawer that would be published within the black and white pages of the town’s newspaper, but that was mostly targeted towards the elderly residents. Then a part time job at your family’s little restaurant. You lived a happily and those high school memories now far off and hazy, the faces barely even memorable.

“Grandpa Ukai! I know I don’t see you doing these silly things out in this hot weather!” You called out as you pushed past the front gate, a basket balanced upon your hip. The children he was instructing now giggled at your scold and of course held a bit of fear at you talking to an elder in that manner, but of course the old man only waved you off as you sat upon the steps leading onto the porch of his house, bottle of water now brought up to his lips as you sat the basket beside him.

“Oh hush....they let me leave the hospital, therefore I am fine!” He spat out in a grouchy manner, though his face lit up as you handed him a scroll, his old fingers now unraveling it to admire the painting upon it. “Ah! Now this is art! Thank you! Let me go get the money.” He huffed at as he was preparing his old joints to lift him up from his spot, though you only waved him off.

“Now, let’s settle for a trade, I’ve been eyeing some of the produce that your little garden over there is producing.” You pointed out with a laugh, which he clicked his tongue with disdain.

“You aren’t gonna make any money with trades.” He huffed out, though he motioned a hand to the garden. “But be my guest, that damn thing is producing too much and I can’t eat it or sell it quick enough before the sun gets it or the wasp for that matter.” Ikkei grumbled as he watched you gather up your basket, he now up and telling the neighborhood kids to continue practicing, now standing beside you as you had squat down to be eye level with his plants, hands now expertly picking what was good, the leaves rustling as you pushed them aside to let your eyes wonder through their twist and turns on your little hunt for ripe vegetables. Though the old man was now beside you, placing vegetables carefully in your basket. “You know....Keishin wasn’t here not too long ago, had a little shrimp here to help learn a few things.” The man mumbled out with a sigh, you only casting a glance to him, but he continued on. “He may be an idiot, but I say he’s quite handsome, people do say he looks like a younger me.” He said which that got a little giggle from you “That boy is still single though along with you! You two are two old now! What if the two of you want to have children and what not.” He continued on, though you only gave a playful roll of your eyes.

“Grandpa Ukai, these days you shouldn’t pressure people to get married because they are getting too old.” You spoke out with a sigh as you looked over to him. “Besides, it’s not easy finding the right one either. Sometimes it takes time and patience which you lack sometimes.” You pointedly said to him which he only gave a sassy ‘humphf’ as he motioned for you to take the vegetables in his hands to place away in your basket. “And married life isn’t always for everyone you know.” You said in a sing song voice to try and lighten the seemingly heavy topic. You had gotten enough of this lecture from your own family, hearing from Ikkei just already set your brain into a hazy exhaustion.

“You and Keishin are both stubborn.....ever since the two of you were children....sneaking out to mess up my net after I told the two of you to ask first...” he muttered out, you freezing as you shot a glance to him, fingers almost busting the tomato in your hands. “The two of you were always loud even if you thought you were quieter than a mouse living amongst the shrines in my back yard.” Ikkei added with a chuckle as you looked away in slight embarrassment at the newly discovered blunder of your childhood. “Oh! The though I do have a favor to ask!” He groaned at as he lifted himself up from his own squaring position once your basket was almost full to the brim, now motioning you to follow him as he reach through the opening of his sliding doors to pull out a stalk of bananas, placing them within your basket to then draw over the cheese cloth you had brought along with you. “Bring this to the boy’s volleyball gym, they need the potassium.” He spoke out in a scolding manner. You have a nod of your head and a quick bow to the elder before you, but you couldn’t help but give him a quick squeeze and a kiss upon the old man’s cheek, just as you would always do as a child whenever you and his grandson would take the walk over to visit him. “Oh now get out of here before I make you do more work.” He huffed out after the platonic display of affection, trying to keep his rough exterior as you gave a quick wave, the front gate now slamming shut behind you and the kids already pestering the old volleyball coach with questions.

The grounds of Karasuno always gave you a deep sense of nostalgia just by looking at it, but walking upon those very courtyards and sidewalks just made the feeling even deeper within your heart as you took your time walking along the sidewalks that meandered through the school’s ordinary campus. The hazy memories of your years there seemed to slowly float arround you, the images of blurry faces people walking by or the lines of memorable conversations seemed to float through the air. The friends you made and kept after those days appeared within your head, the proudest works of art you accomplished in your club, and the pride your parents felt with your accomplishments and grades. Keishin’s face would try to slip by....but really no memories could come with it. There were no memories of Keishin to float by of his buzzed, high school self, only the ones of him and you as a child.

As you grew closer to the gym in question, you could hear the banging and slamming of balls, the bickering and booming voices of the teenage boys within, and the screeches and squeaks of their sneakers upon the polished hardwood floor. With those noises came the face of Keishin, but you only side as you pushed away, hand now sliding the door open, the team within stopping their practice to look over.

“I...Grandpa....I mean former Coach Ukai told me to bring these over.” You spoke out, a little embarrassed at the burning gaze of the young students before you, though a man was already stumbling forward, his blonde hair texture by the bleach and dye upon the strands pushed back with a head band as he bowed before you, now motioning for one of the young men to come forward.

“Thank you ma’am.” Spoke out what you assumed to be the captain, the other boys now excitedly speaking out their thank you’s as well when you assumed the club sponsor gave the ok for them to dig into their little treat. Though you looked back up to the man before you. Those eyes seemed to bore into you, almost a hopeful look melded within his pupils. Though you couldn’t quite place your that face...though it seemed so familiar.

“That old man needs to take it easy.....” finally muttered out the man before you, which nodded your head as you looked to the team now eating their bananas, listening to the ambiance of their teases, arguing, and plain conversations, though once you finally looked back to the other, it seemed to click. It might have been how the lights hit his face, because the name Keishin finally popped within your brain like an exploding balloon, those childhood memories playing like a film within your head.

“Keishin? I barely recognized you...” you finally managed out, a soft blush of embarrassment as you looked to him with eyes wide with shock, he only sheepishly scratched the back of his neck as he looked down to you.

“Yeah....it’s been awhile....why don’t we step outside? Boys! Continue your drills once your done eating, but take it easy so you don’t throw it up!” He yelled to the team who shouted their acknowledgment to his words.

The two of you now stood within the summer sun that was beginning to make its route that led it closer and closer to the horizon. A cigarette was now tugged out from it’s carton and hanging from his lips, the red embers glowing it’s soft orange as he would inhale.

“It’s been awhile....” he finally spoke out as he flicked the ashes to the cement below, you now sat upon the steps to the gym, basket beside you. “Grandpa always mentioned what you were doing and that you still went to visit, but I would always miss you.....bad luck I guess.” He muttered out, smoke snaking out from his nose and mouth as he spoke out after a drag from his cigarette.

“Grandpa Ukai mentions you too....he didn’t mention that you were the volleyball coach however...I wish he would have prepared me a little.” You joked as you rested your elbows upon your knows, chin rested upon your hands as you looked out to the horizon where the other buildings or the school stood against along with a tree hear and there, the far off buildings of the town and the power lines that stretched forever and ever. “I didn’t recognize you with that hair.....last I saw you-“

“I had a buzz....yeah....grandma and that old man weren’t too happy in the beginning, but I think they have gotten use to it.” He said with a little laugh as he finally let himself rest beside you, the basket now cozily tucked between the two of you.

“So....what are you doing now? Anything else other than coaching?” You soon asked through the silence that fell between you, now looking over to him, the smell of his smoke now wafting into your nose, the smell Alamo slightly comforting. Maybe it was only comforting because now you knew it was him who smelt like that.

“I took over the convenience store from mom, so I’m running that now.” He said with a little smile. “It’s not so bad, it was one of the places we would frequent the most.” He said with a little snort at the memories of you and him bursting through the front door with such pride and excitement as the two of you would beg for a meat bun and a cool drink to go along with it.

“Your mother would end up threatening us with the broom if we wouldn’t get out of we planned on just playing around and not helping.” You continued on with a soft smile, waiting for him to continue you.

“And then the farm, I help with the farm now, well I mostly do everything, I don’t want to rely on my parents to help me with everything you know...” he said as he flicked the cigarette again, now rolling it within his veined hands, you nodding your head.

“Good, I would have been disappointed if they would have gotten rid of it, I have too many fond memories of that place...” you commented as you as watched the ashes from his cigarette float down to sputtered out onto the cement below.

“All those nights......” he softly spoke out

“Yeah...” you said with a smile of fond remembrance as it seemed the two of you sat in a silence to let those memories play within your head, but it was soon interrupted by Keishin clearing his throat, his gruff voice now following after.

“And you? That old man tells me things, but who knows if that ancient brain of his got it all right.” He joked as he snuffed out the butt of the cigarette on the ground, tossing it into the trash to only light another one, you humming as you thought out your response.

“I help with mom and dad’s restaurant, mostly serving on my free time and helping with the book keeping and cleaning and whatnot, the things that they are just too tired to do anymore, but I have a feeling I’m going to take over it soon.” You spoke with a smile as your hand reached down to roll the aglet of your shoe lace within your fingertips. “And then I paint by commission, Grandpa Ukai is my most prized client at this point and then cartons for the paper, but they are usually just political and whatnot, stuff the old timers enjoy.” You said with a giggle as you looked up, your gaze meeting Keishin’s but a jolt of your heart quickly brought your gaze away and back to the cracked, cement side walk ahead of you. “I Uh....don’t make him pay though most of the time, instead I trade.” You explained quickly, motioning to th basket beside you. “That man is insufferable though, he needs to take it easy, but he was scurrying all over the place with the neighborhood volleyball crazed kids and he lectured me on not being married.” You said with a little laugh to try and push aside that racing heart within your chest.

“You aren’t?” Keishin asked quickly after you spoke, smoke now racing through his nostril with his exhale as you looked to him.

“And you aren’t?” You almost spat back defensively, a blush crawling upon your cheeks as you stared at him, he now taken aback, a blush upon his own cheeks as he puffed from his cigarette.

“I asked first!” He quipped back, you only giving a small frown.

“A date here and there, but they don’t work out.” You finally answered him with your arms crossed and rested upon your knees, now you looking to him, eyebrows raised in anticipation for his answer.

“Dry...” was all he said with a huff, you humming a bit, letting out a little ‘huh’ of surprise. “What...what is that suppose to mean?” He quickly asked you which you only gave a little laugh.

“Nothing, just expected you to have a girl or something, even if your parents and grandparents think you look wild there must be plenty of girls in this prefecture that you could woo.” You spoke teasingly, a grouchy scrunch of his face taking over his features as he gave a huff.

“The same could go far you, couldn’t it? A beautiful girl like you should have a boyfriend or something.” He grumbled out, a soft blush now back upon your cheeks as you gave him a glance, your lips almost seeming to be sealed shut by his compliment to you.

“Touché...” was all you could manage out as you fiddled with your hands, the silence now engulfing the two of you once more, a childhood memory being remember and spoken about that would leave the two of you in wistful sighs of the old days or in tears of laughter at the childhood stupidity displayed and executed by the two of you. Though finally that second cigarette was tossed and the two of you were now up, bottoms cold and stuff from sitting so long on those cement steps.

“It was nice seeing you again..” he spoke out, hands shoved in the pockets of his track pants, you now balancing the basket upon your hip, head giving a soft sigh. You didn’t quite want to leave. It had felt like your friend was finally grasping onto your finger tips again across that ocean between the two of you and you feared that leaving would break that little grasp once more. He surely felt the same as well as he didn’t make an effort to move to the open gym door. Though almost silently and knowingly, a slightly older man was handing him off a notepad and a pen before walking off to talk tot he team members and also to the two managers, Keishin now staring to the notepad and pen, mind seemingly blanket before he was already scribbling down something and snapping the paper off the pad before handing it to you. “My number....” he seemed to almost nervously say, you taking it gently before grabbing the pad and pen from him to scribble something down as well before handing it back.

“And there’s mine....though you probably could have gotten it from either your grandma or grandpa, they tend to call me regularly too.” You spoke out, the two of you letting out your nervous laughs, but even then with that grip retightening and becoming stronger between you and him across that ocean filled with dangerous tides and waves, you still were hesitant to begin your steps away, gazes still locked onto each other. Finally though you turned your back to him, a blush upon your cheeks as you seemed to hurry away, Keishin still seemingly star stuck at those cement steps until an argument caught his attention and he was soon yelling and scolding his team.

Now it was as if your hands were now held together before you and him, almost in a soft and gentle handshake, maybe even sharing a loving squeeze. The two of you now standing upon the calm waves and waters of that ocean, met with the silence with now the both of you left to stare at each other. There was no need to now grip onto the very tips of each other’s fingers in the ocean of life that seemed to only moments ago rip between the two of you. The visualization was strange within your mind, but it brought your heart thumping within your chest at what this new stance within you and Keishin’s life, your childhood friend, the friend lost to the world by now found once more.

#haikyuu #haikyuu!!#ukai x reader #haikyu!!#haikyuu x you #haikyuu x oc #haikyuu x me #haikyuu x y/n #haikyuu x self insert #keishin ukai x reader #keishin x reader #keishin ukai #ukai keishin #coach ukai x reader #coach ukai headcanons #ukai headcanons #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu oneshot #haikyuu fanfiction

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storyofmychoices · 4 years ago

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Into the Woods

[Justin Mercado x MC Masterlist]

Characters: Justin Mercado, Mari Bishop, Elara (dog) Prompts and author notes at the end

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

It wasn’t quite a lull, but autumn brought a slower pace for events and wedding planning. It offered at least enough of a reprieve for a weeklong trip to the mountains. Away from the bustle and noise of New York City. Away from the pollution and smog-filled skies. Away from the skyscrapers looming tall. Away from the never-ending phone calls and last-minute emails. For just one week, Justin and Mari would unplug (at least as much as New York City’s top event planner, CEO, and finest wedding planner could unplug).

The cozy cabin they rented nestled into the autumnal forest, providing a quiet retreat to its weary guests. The wooden exterior seemed almost camouflage against the dark trees surrounding it. The silent lake whispered; its breath giving rise to a light fog that would seep all around them and by morning wrap them in its wispy cocoon.

Darkness covered the clear sky allowing the light of the stars to shine through. The ever-present glow of the City never allowed such a sight to be seen. But now, those balls of burning gas illuminated the night brilliantly. A low crescent moon reflected on the smooth surface of the lake.

The fire crackled, carrying tiny embers up into the sky for a brief moment before being extinguished by the cool night’s air. The hidden water and sap inside the logs popped and hissed, its sound almost deafening in the stillness of the night.

The two rested peacefully wrapped in each other’s arms. A plaid quilt tucked snuggly around them as the heat of the fire warmed their exposed faces, leaving their cheeks rosy. The young border collie curled up on her own pillow, resting against Mari; her head, though down, faced the treeline, surveying for any lurking dangers hidden in the shadows.

The fading flames of the fire quieted, giving rise to the simple song of the frogs and crickets as the night lingered on. They pulled their blanket tighter, inching closer toward the fire, trying to capture every last moment of that perfect yellow and orange blaze, before all that was left were glowing embers.

Soft, sleepy murmurs escaped her lips, her tired eyes falling. Even Elara who had bounded with energy on their walk earlier, her eyes now drifted closed, trusting her human to protect her.

His thumb drew a line across her now cool cheekbone, pulling her back to him. He lifted her to her feet, wrapping her solely in the quilt before guiding her back into the cabin. The three sleepy guests ambled toward the master bedroom where the warm mattress waited, calling them to sleep.

Justin was the first under the covers, holding them open just long enough for Mari to scoot in before blocking out the cool air once more. His strong arms snaked around her. She nestled against him, letting the heat of his chest lull her to sleep. With one last check of the log cabin, Elara jumped up onto the edge of the bed, listening for the quiet sounds of her humans before letting her own sleep overtake her.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Prompts: Fall - @choicesoctoberchallenge2020; Dog @choicesweeklychallenge; campfire- @choicesseptemberchallenge20;

Notes: 1) this is very different than normal Mari/Justin. 2) this is not at all what I planned. 3) I do have plans for kinky Justin soon (next weekish?) (I know that’s the only Justin anyone actually is interested in. as it is the only one I have requests for lol)

Perma tags: @lilyoffandoms ; @raleighcarrera ; @mfackenthal ; @the-soot-sprite ; @virtuallytakenby ; @zeniamiii ; @kaavyaethanramsey; ; @xjustin-ethansgirliex ; @caseyvalentineramsey; @trappedinfandoms; @anotherbeingsworld ; @tyrils-star

Justin Tags: @princess-geek ; @maria-soederberg ; @samihatuli; @thearianam ; @tuesdays-are-for-bobby ; @nighthunternik ; @lazyviolinnn;

#justin mercado #justin mercado x mc #save the date #choices std #best man x mc #std best man #best man std #mari bishop #elara #justin x mari #fall #fanfiction #fan fiction

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monikafilefan · 6 years ago

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Dead End Road Epilogue

This is ch5 of 5 and has time jumps, and flashbacks. We end with them POST MS1V

Tagging @today-in-fic @baronessblixen @scully-eats-sushi @kyouryokusenshi @skullsmuldon @peacenik0 @lappina @furiouskidcollectorlove @foxanddanapetrie @sculdership @mulder-even-if @postmodernpromartheus @spiritedballroomdancer @xfilesgayepisode sorry if ive missed anyone who has been following along this far.

Epilogue: Life on the run is for Mulder and Scully is now in the past. This is how they fair in their future together.

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A short time later, after composing themselves, they were finally able to follow the rest of the guests over to the building. Scully gave Mulder the look that he’d received whenever she was anxious for alone time, so they decided to forgo the dinner and dancing to get on the road sooner rather than later. They had a marriage to consummate, after all. As they walked hand in hand with their heads in the clouds, they were greeted with a photo station for the guests to get their picture taken as a parting gift.

Mulder looked down at Scully and she nodded. They wanted a memento to take with them for a day like today.

“Hi there, I’m Michelle, would you two like a photo to take home?” the older woman with kind eyes asked while holding up a polaroid camera.

Scully nodded, “yes, please!” Mulder stood next to Scully as the woman readied the camera.

“Okay, I usually offer advice for posing with lighting since it’s getting dark outside now and I’m using this type of camera,” she said, looking down and adjusting the flash. As Michelle looked up and held the camera level, she gasped as her mouth hung wide open and quickly pressed the button, sending off a flash of light that captured Mulder and Scully so naturally holding one another with their emotions shining through.

The seasoned woman cleared her throat and held out the printed polaroid, as Scully and Mulder were still caught up in gazing at each other. They turned simultaneously, separating their entwined bodies as Mulder accepted the photo and Scully blushed.

“I have to say, in all my 59 years here on this earth, I haven’t seen a couple so enraptured with one another like you two are. Your love shines like the sun,” Michelle admitted, giving off an expression of awe.

Mulder grinned like a fool and Scully bit her lip as her pinkening cheeks brightened. They all smiled at one another, saying their goodbyes while Mulder and Scully stared at the developing photo and walked back to their car arm in arm.

As the crickets chirped and the warm breeze blew the stray hairs away from their eyes, Mulder stopped short of the car’s door. “Let’s get off this dead end road we’re on, Scully,” he told her, with the double meaning not going unnoticed. Scully handed him the keys she had in the pocket of her cardigan and they both got in the car as they shared a smile, knowing what step came next.

Leaning over her lap, Mulder snuck in another kiss to her swollen lips as he snagged the map off of the dashboard. He opened it up and smoothed it out across his lap to display the large image of the United States covered in ink with tiny circles and stars, marking their journey over the last two and a half years.

“Same as usual?” he questioned, looking at her with the goofy grin he couldn’t keep off of his face. She nodded with a smirk. One he noted hadn’t stayed off of her face since the ceremony either. “Pick a place any place, Scully.”

Mulder beamed at his now wife and wondered where the hell they would end up this time. Where ever it would be, he knew it would be someplace static, someplace with tangible meaning to them. He was sick to death of running and knew she was too. They hadn’t once come across anyone who had actively sought them out since after those first few months that they’ve been labeled as fugitives. Even though it was still risky, It was time for them and he didn’t give a flying fuck if he had to take out every threat that crossed their path to happiness. Mulder was determined to make a future happen for them instead of having to fight it.

Scully’s choice on where they would go from here would prove to be the first real step in their ‘for better or worse’. “Ready?” she asked.

Mulder grinned wryly and couldn’t help himself. “Let’s get it on, honey,” he laughed, wiggling his eyebrows at his own comment that referred back to when they had to pretend to be a married couple.

Scully scoffed and rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her amusement. She then shut them tightly, smirking as she waved her hand around dramatically and dropped her finger down on a northeastern state. Laughing at the location, they grinned joyfully at each other as she covered his left hand with hers, rubbing her thumb back and forth along the space of his finger where his wedding band would’ve rested.

“Virginia, here we come!”

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Epilogue:

“The road to happiness has never been a straight one, and yet, it is the only road worth traveling, no matter how curvy or rocky it is!” -Mehmet Ildan

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One year later…

(2005)

Scully closed the office door and walked around the corner to see Mulder frosting bright blue cupcakes in their kitchen. The Cher song they had danced along to after that Great Mutato case over a decade ago played softly in the living room and Scully smiled at Mulder’s romantic gesture.

Frosting smudges, cake batter, and ingredients were strewn all along the counter and wooden dining table. The sight thrilled her in a way that only he could elicit in her. Witnessing Mulder bake was a rare sight over the years since they’d become friends and then more than, but an unbelievably sexy sight to see indeed. Yes, sex and sadness is what another day like today brought for them both. Yet, it seemed that she could handle their son’s birthday without locking herself in the bathroom and breaking down or trying to hide her emotions about it from Mulder. He would feel her discontent anyway from the moment she woke.

Scully had learned over the years—especially within the last year—that it was much more rewarding to lean on Mulder for comfort instead of fighting to find it on her own. Her newly found strength regarding William had stemmed from the talk and promises they had made the year before which only permanently solidified the road they were driving down together. She had also learned that when she did lean, he leaned right back. And goddamn it felt wonderful!

Scully certainly wasn’t naive to believe that their dark cloud would never return to cast shade on their sunshine, but she knew that when it did resurface, they would survive and come out stronger in the end no matter what sacrifices they might need to make in order to find their way again.

It was true that they shared a feeling of loss for their little one who was celebrating his fourth birthday today, but they also shared a feeling of deep, all consuming love for one another.

And she was happy, dammit! They were happy, and it finally felt like they deserved to feel happy.

Smiling wide, she sighed contently at her husband and felt a rush of excitement for the new changes coming to their life. She had received news just days after leaving Florida that her name was cleared and she was free to live life out in the open again, a life with permanency. The news trickled through the underground grapevine via Skinner that Mulder still was considered a fugitive but the priority on finding him had lessened considerably. He had promised that in the future, those who knew the truth about him would be able to set the record straight and him free as well.

Scully knew, with the mass amount of money that they had hidden under false identities, that she still had a few years to find out where and what she wanted to do work wise before the run money ran out. Becoming a practicing doctor was an option she’d thought about taking but she knew that working in a DC hospital would be tricky with their history, whether she were cleared or not. Laying low for as long as possible was the advice they were given three years back, which is what she and Mulder had both agreed was the best option.

But when it came to Mulder, he couldn’t have been happier for her reclaiming her good name and being able to visit her Mother. Yet, she instantly felt a pang in her heart that Mulder wouldn’t be joining her. She’d ended up crying for him, and for William in the hotel shower that night while Mulder was out on his evening run.

That was a year ago. And since then, her Mom has shown up at their home once a month just to visit with Mulder and show him the affection she so desperately missed giving him.

Feeling sudden overwhelming desperation to show her husband affection herself, she moved forward wrapping her arms around his waist, hugging him into her tightly while she relished in the baritone of his laugh vibrating along her chest. The satisfaction that swept over her left warmth to pool in her belly and the familiar yearning throbbing through her.

“Hey, there you are.” Caressing his hands along her arms that were squeezing him close, he looked back toward her and hummed deeply knowing exactly what she had in mind as her fingers slowly drew circles along his abs, creeping lower and lower. “Aww honey, don’t you think we should wait until the cupcakes are finished?”

“Mulder, you know calling me honey only makes me want you more,” she scolded teasingly, with a gentle skim of her finger over his blooming erection.

Mulder groaned knowing it was a term of endearment he used sparingly for that very reason. He was surprised to find out that tidbit of information about her when he had called her honey that first week they were on the run while they tried to blend in with the locals. Ever since knowing it made her wild for him, he’s only called her that on special occasions. Driving her wild had become his favorite past time and Scully certainly couldn’t get enough of it.

He spun around while still wound up in her little arms and encompassed her entirely, holding her against his body. Mulder couldn’t help but think about how damn lucky he was to have Dana Scully to hold all the days of his life.

With her in his arms, Mulder remembered back when they had arrived in the outskirts of Virginia after traveling from Florida for seven hours straight. Their last break, that consisted of a meal and a makeout session in the nearest Travel Center, prompted them to get to their motel as quickly as possible and consummate their vows. He wanted to make slow sweet love to her in a bed bathed in candlelight and not another quick fevered fuck on the side of the road. So the whole ride included an obscene amount of excited touching, kissing, rubbing and wandering hands finding their way down the inside of each other’s underwear. Oh, if cars could talk...

Scully was checking her and Mulder into yet another rundown crap motel when an elderly man posting a flyer on the bulletin board in the small lobby caught his eye. He could see the man was struggling to make the paper stay with pushing in the tiny pins alone and Mulder, being the gentleman he never had to try very hard to express, rushed over to help him without a second thought. He noticed that the information on the flyer held no photo or remarkable description of the home for sale. Just a line at the top stating, “A cozy Farrs Corners home that’s ready to be filled with love. This peaceful secluded life makes for a happy wife.” He had to stifle a laugh after reading that tag line since it had seemed to fit their life remarkably well at the moment. Yet, everything about the flyer was utterly unremarkable. That in itself had captured Mulder’s attention immediately. And glancing back at his newly wedded wife with a devilish grin, he held out hope they had finally found the perfect place to live out their future together.

One week later—after her telling him that he was “bat crap crazy” more than once—Scully signed her name on the deeds dotted line and he had finally carried her over the threshold that night, creatively christening every single room with their love in their new unremarkable house. Twice.

Scully pinched his ass causing Mulder to jump in surprise and grip his hands around her hips.

“Mulder? Not that I’m complaining, but If you’re done stabbing me in the stomach with your well-endowed anticipation for what coming after desert, then I suggest we untangle and get the candles.” Scully let a giggle slip out as she enjoyed her teasing with her chin perched atop of Mulder’s chest. He just smirked down at her and thrusted his full erection into her again.

“You’re killing me right now, Scully—interrupting my memories of when we found and christened the house won’t help the stabbing any. And you slinging innuendo at me is sure as hell not going to keep the monster from his hunt,” he belly laughed at the admonishing yet aroused look on her face as he reluctantly let her loose.

She elbowed him and he turned back around to ready the candles for each cupcake.

They had thought about an answer to their question on how to honor the day in their own way together, but baking and making a wish for their son seemed like the only choice to make. It wasn’t too celebratory nor too insignificant for them to acknowledge William and their special day at once.

Mulder pulled out two superman blue frosted cupcakes with a candle on each one. Scully had told him the story years earlier that right before William was given to Catholic Charities for his pending adoption, he had eaten a cupcake topped with superman blue frosting that Maggie had made for him while baby sitting in celebration of William’s half birthday.

Scully unlocked the front door and followed the sounds of giggling coming from her Mother’s kitchen. “Mom, I’m back. What are you two up—” she couldn’t even finish her question as her eyes widened and a huge grin spread across her face.

There sat William on the counter, donning only his diaper and the mass amount of bright blue frosting smeared all over his hands, rounded belly, and chubby cheeks as he attempted to shove what remained of the crushed cupcake into his drooling O-shaped mouth.

“Hi Dana! I wanted to wait for you to get back, but this little guy had other ideas and stuck his hand in the frosting jar.” Both women laughed, and as Scully walked over to press her lips onto her son’s face, she received a perfectly shaped tiny blue handprint along the front of her white blouse.

She told Mulder one night when they were sharing memories with one another, that she wished that she had never washed that meaningful mark off of her shirt.

Scully pulled out a lighter and lit each candle resting the piled high blue frosting. They closed their eyes to make a wish and blew them out in unison, sharing a sad smile with one another through the trails of smoke wafting in their faces. Mulder grabbed Scully’s hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze.

He hummed deep in his throat with his eyes closed and wistfully said, “Happy Birthday, William.”

Setting both cupcakes on the counter, she raised her hand up to run her fingers through his hair as Mulder laid a soft tender kiss upon her lips. Leaning back, she stared intently into his warm hazel eyes for a moment, watching the affirmation shine through before she spoke.

“I really hope he is happy, every single day,” Scully was barely able to get the last words out before her emotions threatened to take over. Mulder reached up and tucked a long fiery strand of hair behind her ear and palmed her cheek as he brushed a thumb along her eyebrow. “And happy anniversary to us, Mulder,” she murmured, pulling him flush against her with their arms and hands squeezing one another, sealing the day and their future together with a long and zealous kiss.

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Thirteen years later…

(2018)

Scully rested in a rocking chair that sat in the corner of the living room, quietly creaking and scarcely swaying back and forth, facing out the window of their unremarkable house. Scully’s eyes were shut with her groggy voice barely audible as she whispered, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog...was a good friend of mine…” her singing trailed off, finally losing her battle with exhaustion.

The muffled sounds of classic rock music being played from the other side of the house mingled with Scully’s now heavy breath sounds made Mulder grin joyfully while he surveyed the sight before him.

He leaned along the wall as he held a glass of water, a worn familiar map, and push pins. Mulder silently padded along the wooden floor and over to the corner where his glowing wife sat asleep with their sleeping baby nestled upon her chest. He quietly leaned over the two most important women in his life and stared blissfully, taking in each feature for as long as he dared without risking Scully feeling him lingering over them too intensely. He chuckled to himself as he noticed the cupcake’s small smudge of blue frosting staining the corner of Scully’s mouth. He sat the glass down on the window sill and gently pressed a kiss onto each of their red-haired heads, thinking to himself that his life was pretty damn remarkable and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Over the years, they had both held back discussing William in too much detail on any given day. The subject of his short life spent with Scully as his Mother and his unavoidable adoption was just too damn painful for them—even though it was for his own safety as well as their own—still burned a hole in their resolve just a little more every year. They started the tradition of sharing happy memories and lighting a candle to make a birthday wish just for him that they never once strayed from. Even on their darkest of days, and during two of Williams birthdays that they had spent apart to battle their own demons alone; they lit candles for their son together while they held hands side by side.

Overcoming obstacles and navigating in the dark had become their entire life, and they thrived because of it—in spite of it. Memories of the long journey to get to this very moment in their lives, had finally brought him comfort in knowing that surviving all of the dangerous hardships were honestly worth it all. He would take every sanction, face every monster, endure every ass kicking and emotional tirade that he’s ever had all over again, just to get to bask in this joyous moment with his family.

Yes, Fox Mulder was absolutely irrevocably happy. He almost couldn’t damn well believe it, and he believed in hell of a lot.

Years ago, he and Scully had sat on his old couch with beers in hand one night and discussed how all paths led them to that very moment together. He now only realized how much that rang true. How much they made it their truth .

Ironic how he use to believe that the truth was out there, and maybe it was. Yet, his truest truths in life, the ones that meant the most, were currently in this house and rocking along in the moonlit night. Turns out, that this was the real truth they both had been searching for in the end; family.

Mulder turned toward the wall to search for the perfect spot when his eyes caught on the framed aging polaroid of him and Scully on the day they exchanged their vows fourteen years ago. It was a perfect photo of them that Maggie had insisted they frame after Scully called her later that very same night from a burner phone to tell her what they’d done.

Mulder leaned in a little more and reexamined everything about them caught up in the moment. They’d faced one another, heads close together while wrapped up tightly and smiling brightly at each other. Mulder had been brushing wayward strands of auburn hair away from her face as her hands slid slowly up his chest. Her gaze was locked onto his own while her palms rested along the sides of his neck as they shared a beaming smile, their love and commitment practically radiating from the glossy paper. The lady who took the photo was right. Their love really does shine like the sun.

Smirking to himself as he straightened the frame, he realized that some may call the union that took place between them a wedding—the day they became one, but it was so much more than that to them. They were basically living as a married couple for many years before that day, so as the two of them listened to the couple in Florida reciting their vows, they had made their own commitment to one another the Mulder and Scully way.

And there they were, perfect opposites only perfect for each other.

Right then, he decided that he’d found the only place to display their past as they looked forward to the future. The perfect place also served to cover a stray bullet hole from the Russian home invasion that he must’ve missed during the week he had to play Mr. Fix-it after returning from that long gruelling visit to Ikea with Scully. With a shake of his head, he started to hang that old used and abused map on the wall.

A strong yet gentle hand touched his shoulder and a deepening voice followed. “I’m done putting the last of my stuff away in my room. Need some help?”

Turning to meet him at eye level, Mulder gave a grateful grin to William as he returned the touch to the young man’s shoulder. “Not for me to deny you a thing on your birthday,” Mulder joked, leaning back to let his son take over the task.

He watched on as the long and slender fingers of the boy that he and Scully had marked that map up for, moved it to its final destination while he felt his chest swell with pride.

As Mulder stepped forward and ran his fingers along the vast amount of small ink marked circles and stars that spanned across 41 of the 50 states, he smiled with the recollection of their long and crazy journey.

And no, he realized, he wouldn’t change a day.

Mulder turned and looked from his sleeping wife cradling his tiny peaceful baby Margaret, who looked so much like William at that age that it was slightly spooky. Mulder felt his heart skip a beat at the realization of his family coming full circle.

He looked back over to meet the eyes of his resilient son who wore that same lopsided grin he did and noted, “all roads do lead to an end, after all. Only, our rocky and curvy road finally led us to one of those that you think you’ll never find...a happy one.”

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#the flashback kill me #maggie scully #post series #reblog this one if you like it

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miss-fox116 · 6 years ago

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Baba’s Night Off

A/N: Hey guys, I know I'm falling behind on updates in my other stories, but I wanted to write this oneshot because it's very close to my heart (seeing that Black Panther radically changed my perspective on my role as an African-American in America). This oneshot follows T'Challa as a workaholic father who simply makes time for what matters most to him. I hope you guys enjoy it! Also, featuring, T’Challa and Nakia’s daughter.

Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters from Black Panther except for my OC, Natila. Also, the Xhosa language was translated from English using Google Translate so it might not be that accurate. I do not own the Thula Baba lullaby.

Baba's Night Off

The night was young. The wind whistled through the trees and the stars formed an exquisite crescendo in the violet sky. Wakanda's Golden City was winding down for the evening. The citizens were entering into their abodes while various vendors were closing their shops in the marketplace. In the royal palace, Princess Natila, (daughter of King T'Challa and Queen Nakia), was getting ready for bed. Her mother tucked her in under the blanket and began to serenade her until she was ready to sleep.

"Can you sing our song, mama?" Natila asked as she shifted under the massive blanket.

"Alright, usana (baby). I'll sing our song, but after this you need to go to sleep,"Nakia said as she sat down at the foot of the bed.

Natila jumped into her mother's arms, nearly knocking them off of the bed.

"Natila!" Nakia exclaimed as she kept herself from falling.

"Sorry, mama," the young child said as she slowly moved away from the edge.

Nakia gave a small chuckle as she picked up Natila and sat down near the pillows. She placed Natila between her legs and wrapped her arms around the child's tiny shoulders. She started humming while she rocked her daughter from side to side.

"Thula thul, thula baba, thula sana,

Thul'u babuzo ficka, eku seni.

Kukh'in khan-yezi, zi-holel' u baba,

Zim-khan yi-sela indlel'e ziyak-haya,

Sobe sik hona xa bonke be-shoyo,

Be-thi bu-yela u-bu-ye le khaya,

Thula thula thula baba,

Thula thula thula sana,

Thula thula thula baba,

Thula thula thula san."

(Keep quiet my child

Keep quiet my baby

Be quiet, daddy will be home by dawn

There's a star that will lead him home

The star will brighten his way home

The hills and stones are still the same my love

My life has changed, yes my life has changed

The children grow but you don't know my love

The children grew but you don't see them grow).

Natila started to blink slowly at the sound of her mother's melodious voice. She gave a long yawn at the end of the lullaby.

"Alright, my sweet girl. Time for bed," Nakia said as she rested Natila on the pillow and tucked her in once more.

"But I'm not tired, mama!" Natila whined as she gave another yawn.

"Yes, you are, my love. Now go to sleep," Nakia said as she placed a soft kiss on Natila's cheek and headed for the door.

"Mama?" Natila called.

"Yes, Nati," Nakia answered as she turned around to face her daughter.

"Where's Baba?" she asked as she sat up straight in the bed.

Nakia frowned slightly. She walked toward Natila's bed and kneeled down in front of her. "Baba's working tonight," she said.

"Again? This is the fourth night in a row! I've been counting," Natila said with a pout.

"I know, sweetie. Your father has a lot on his plate right now. He has to fulfill his duties as the King of Wakanda. He's trying to do what's best for his people and for us. Do you understand?"

"I do understand, mama. I just miss him so much," Natila said as her eyes began to well up with tears.

Seeing her daughter's moist eyes caused Nakia to blink back some of her own tears. "I'm sure he misses you too, mntana oyimtombazana

(baby girl)."

"I want to see him," Natila demanded as she tried to get out of bed.

"Not tonight, Nati. It's already past your bedtime."

"But, mama-"

"You need your rest, nobusi (honey). You'll see him in the morning, I promise," Nakia said as she gave Natila another kiss and left the room.

An hour passed and Natila was still awake. She turned over and saw that her clock read, 10:00pm. She turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She gave a hard sigh as she sat up in the bed. She glanced over at her clock and saw that the time was 10:01pm. She took off the blanket and pushed on her sound-absorbent panther slippers (courtesy of her aunt Shuri). She opened the door with a gentle tug. With the door opened slightly, she pried her head through the small crack of the door and surveyed the hallway.

There was a shuffling of footsteps outside her door. She saw a few Dora Milaje pacing the hall. As soon as the coast was clear, Natila dashed down the hallway and turned the corner. She found her father's office, which was guarded by another set of Dora Milaje. Before she walked up to the door, she hid behind the wall that was on the opposite end of the entrance. She rested her back against the wall and took a deep breath. She walked up to the guards with confidence.

"Nkosazana (princess), how may we help you?" one of the guards asked after she gave Natila the Wakandan salute.

"I want to see my father," she demanded.

"I am sorry, Nkosazana yam (my princess). The king requested that he not be disturbed," the other guard explained.

"Please let me see him," she pleaded.

"I am so sorry. He said-"

"Mvumele umntwana abone uyise (Let the child see her father)," Okoye said as she walked over to the area.

"Kodwa sanikwa imiyalelo, ngokubanzi (But we were given orders, General)," one of the guards protested.

"Ndiqinisekile ukuba akayi kucinga (I'm sure he wouldn't mind)," Okoye said as she sent the two Doras away.

"Thank you, Okoye," Natila said with a bright smile as she gave her a hug.

"No problem. I'll let him know that you're here," she said as she opened the door.

Natila followed behind Okoye. They both entered into the office to find T'Challa sitting at his desk with a mountain of papers on it. He was sifting through the papers, signing them, and sorting them into different piles.

"My king, you have a special guest that wishes to see you," Okoye said with a smile.

T'Challa looked up from his work to see his visitor. His face lit up once he saw his daughter. A huge smile spread across his face as he got up to greet her.

"Mnandi (sweetheart)! How are you?" he asked as he lifted Natila into his arms.

"I am feeling better now that I get to see you!" Natila beamed as she hugged her father.

"I'll leave you two alone," Okoye said as she left the room.

T'Challa made his way back to the desk with Natila in his lap. He put his arm around her and made sure that she was secure. She laid her head on his chest and ran her fingers through his beard. Silence fell over them as T'Challa went back to working on his papers.

"Where have you been, Baba?" Natila asked.

"What do you mean? I was here all day," he said with a smile.

Natila giggled. "That's not what I meant, silly. Why don't you come to see me at night anymore?"

T'Challa gave his daughter a confused look. Natila looked up at her father once she didn't hear a response.

"I check on you every night. You don't know that because you are always asleep when I come."

Natila pouted. "Why don't you try coming a little earlier?" she asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

"I wish I could, but I have to work, usana (baby)," T'Challa said with a frown.

"I know. I just miss you, Baba," she said while the tears streamed down her face.

T'Challa gently rubbed his daughter's back. Her sobs pierced his heart. He hated to see her so upset.

"Hey, hey, don't cry," he said as he wiped her tears with his hand. "Come. I want to show you something," he said.

He carried Natila out of the room and began walking down the hall.

"Where are we going?" she asked in a bewildered tone.

"You'll see," T'Challa said with a sly smile.

"What about your work?" Natila asked as she looked back at the office door.

"I am taking the night off," he said with a wink.

T'Challa brought Natila into a vast field outside of the palace. The moonlight glistened over the plains while the stars shimmered above the horizon. The specs of light were scattered across the sky, giving off a luminous ambiance to the area. Crickets chirped and fireflies danced in the air.

Natila chased after them once her father put her down. She kept clapping her hands, hoping to catch one of the mystic creatures. T'Challa watched as Natila failed in her pursuit. He walked over to her and held her hands in his.

"You have to be patient, little one," he said as he took her hands and clasped them in the air.

He slowly opened her hands to reveal a firefly glowing in her palms. Natila's eyes were filled with wonder as she saw the firefly hover in her hands. T'Challa opened her hands more in order to release the firefly. He took her by the hand and they both laid down in the grass, gazing at the stars in the sky.

"Baba, what's harder: being king or being the Black Panther?" Natila asked.

"Oooh, that's a good question. I would say that they are both equally hard. The most difficult part for me is being away from my family," he said with a sigh.

Natila moved over and snuggled next to her father. "If I could, I would do all of your work for you," she said with a smile.

T'Challa laughed. "Oh really?"

"Yes! I would make a great Black Panther," Natila said as she put her fists up.

"I bet you could be, but it is a very dangerous job. You can definitely do it when you're older."

"I am seven-years-old, Baba. I am a big girl now. I can handle it," she said with a huff.

T'Challa laughed so hard that he held his stomach. "Trust me, sweetie, you need years of training before you can take the mantle. You'll get there someday," he said.

Natila yawned again. She placed her head on her father's arm and started to doze off.

"You are tired, little one," he said as he caressed her head with his hand.

Natila's eyes popped open. "No I'm not! I want to talk to you," she said as she gave another yawn.

"Shhh. Don't fight it. It's time for bed," he said as he carried her to her room.

He laid her down in the bed, tucked her in, and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. He watched his daughter sleep soundly. Seeing her at peace warmed his soul. He was grateful for the much-needed night off.

#black panther #t'challa #t'challa parent #black panther fanfiction #nakia #okoye #shuri #love #family #fluff

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disneytva · 3 years ago

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March 2022 Programming Highlights

Friday, March 04 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior Alice’s Wonderland Bakery “Cookie’s Day Off/Picture Furfect” (10:30-11:00 a.m. EST on Disney Channel/4:00-4:30 p.m. EST on Disney Junior) “Cookie’s Day Off” – When Cookie’s beach trip is canceled, Alice brings the beach to her. *Craig Ferguson (“The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson”) guest stars as Doorknob. “Picture Furfect” – Fergie has a hard time staying neat and tidy for his family photo. *Yvette Nicole Brown (“Big Shot”) guest stars as Mama Rabbit. TV-Y

Saturday, March 05 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel Big City Greens “Green Greens/Truce Bomb” (9:00-9:30 a.m. EST) “Green Greens” – Tilly and Bill set off on an epic journey to recycle a fluorescent lightbulb at an e-waste center. “Truce Bomb” – Tilly tries to solve a long-standing feud between Gramma and Mr. Grigorian. TV-Y7

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel The Ghost and Molly McGee “Goat Your Own Way/The Very Hungry Ghost” (9:30-10:00 a.m. EST) “Goat Your Own Way” – When Molly insists on training her unruly goat for the county fair the “Molly way,” she learns that positive reinforcement doesn’t always yield positive results. “The Very Hungry Ghost” – When the McGee’s celebrate a Thai holiday about feeding “hungry ghosts,” Scratch tries to keep the feast all to himself. TV-Y7

Friday, March 11 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior Alice’s Wonderland Bakery “Order Up!/Teeny-Tiny Venture” (10:30-11:00 a.m. EST on Disney Channel/4:00-4:30 p.m. EST on Disney Junior) “Order Up!” – Hattie and Fergie get into a friendly competition while delivering bakery orders. “Teeny-Tiny Venture” – Alice and Rosa shrink before Rosa’s Knighting Ceremony. TV-Y

Saturday, March 12 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel Big City Greens “Trivia Night/Big Trouble” (9:00-9:30 a.m. EST) “Trivia Night” – Cricket wants to prove to his family that he isn’t dumb during trivia night at the café. “Big Trouble” – Tilly gets punished for the first time and decides to break bad. TV-Y7

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel The Ghost and Molly McGee “Scare Tactics/The Bad Boy Bobby Daniels” (9:30-10:00 a.m. EST) “Scare Tactics” – After Scratch ditches class in favor of a fun day off with Geoff, he struggles to pass his scare test. *D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”) guest stars as Pango, a chipper ghost who teaches the yearly scaring seminar. “The Bad Boy Bobby Daniels” – When Molly and Scratch learn about Patty’s old flame, Bobby Daniels, they attempt to reunite the lovebirds. *Danny Trejo (“Machete”) guest stars as Bobby Daniels. TV-Y7

Friday, March 18 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior Alice’s Wonderland Bakery “Another Alice/Fergie Plays the Palace” (10:30-11:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel/4:00-4:30 p.m. EDT on Disney Junior) “Another Alice” – Alice and her friends investigate when mysterious teacupcakes are delivered. *George Salazar (“Be More Chill”) guest stars as Dad Hatter. “Fergie Plays the Palace” – Alice helps Fergie see his potential when he plays the trumpet for the royal family. TV-Y

Saturday, March 19 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel The Owl House “Follies at the Coven Day Parade” (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT) In the aftermath of her trip home, Luz takes on daring rescue missions during the Coven Day parade. TV-Y7 FV

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel Amphibia “Escape to Amphibia” (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT) With one shot at getting the Plantars back to Amphibia, Anne and her parents must go up against Mr. X and the FBI. TV-Y7

Friday, March 25 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior Puppy Dog Pals “Get Well Bingo/Big Wheelies” (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel/11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT on Disney Junior) “Get Well Bingo” – When Keia disappears, Rolly and Lollie go on a mission to find her. “Big Wheelies” – The pets team up with some new friends to return a racecar. TV-Y

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel and Disney Junior Alice’s Wonderland Bakery “Dodo Dilemma/Horsin’ Around” (10:30-11:00 a.m. EDT on Disney Channel/4:00-4:30 p.m. EDT on Disney Junior) “Dodo Dilemma” – When JoJo comes down with the Upsie-Dodo-Downsies, Alice finds a recipe to help her feel better. *Guest starring are Rich Sommer (“Mad Men”) as Captain Dodo and Melissa van der Schyff (Broadway’s “Bonnie and Clyde”) as his daughter Jojo “Horsin’ Around” – Hattie and Fergie lose the recipe card for a royal dish. TV-Y

Saturday, March 26 Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel The Owl House “Elsewhere and Elsewhen” (9:00-9:30 a.m. EDT) Luz is desperate for more information about Philip Wittebane, the creator of the portal door. With Lilith’s help, she sets off on a journey for the ages. TV-Y7 FV

Original Series – Episode Premiere on Disney Channel Amphibia “Commander Anne/Sprivy” (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT) “Commander Anne” – Anne is made leader of the Wartwood Resistance, even though she’s not good at the job. “Sprivy” – Sprig and Ivy devise a scheme to be together. TV-Y7

#Big City Greens #BCG #Amphibia #The Owl House #Owl House #The Ghost And Molly McGee #Ghost And Molly McGee #Alice's Wonderland Bakery #Alice In Wonderland #Puppy Dog Pals #Disney Junior #Disney Jr

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fromtraveldiaries · 4 years ago

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Kanha - 2

The Drive

According to Google Maps, the Kanha Earth Lodge is a little less than 800 kms from where we live. The estimated time for the drive is 14.5 hours. We take the Nizamabad - Nirmal - Adilabad - Hinganghat - Khawasa - Seoni - Nainpur - Chiraidongri - Sarekha route. A few reviews on the internet say that the road around Hinganghat is filled with massive potholes and it’s unwise to take that road at night. Another review says that the road is dangerous around this part and robberies are common at night. We are worried but our main concern is the fog at night. Driving will be tough.

We start at 9:30 pm and have a relatively uneventful drive. The road is indeed bad (owing to construction in progress) around Hinganghat. However, we don’t feel in danger at any point in time. There is little or no fog to worry about. The temperature, however, dips constantly as we progress. On a smoke break, around 2:30 am, the temperature is 10 degrees outside. It’s common knowledge that Maharastra roads aren’t the best in the country and it’s vindicated on this drive too. While we flew on the Telangana roads, speed reduces drastically in Maharastra before picking up again on the smooth Madhya Pradesh roads.

The road passing through the Pench National Park is under construction. It’s a beautiful smooth road that’s dug up at a few places. To go to Seoni, you have to take this road. Around 4:30 am we come upon a diversion on this road. While we wait hesitantly, we see some local vehicles passing through the barricade. We ask the forest guards if we could also go through. They say that one could pass through only in case of emergencies but that we could go through after ‘taking care of them’. It needs Rs.100 for them to let us through. The parts under construction are really bad stretches and the loaded car groans to climb the steep gradients. In hindsight, we should probably have taken the diversion and saved ourselves Rs.100.

The last couple of hours of the drive are on long winding roads through verdant forests. We cross numerous low lying bridges in the early winter morning and spot a jackal here, a monkey there, and many many birds throughout. These 2 hours of the drive are absolutely gorgeous. Though we are sleepless and tired, we thoroughly enjoy driving at low speed, taking in all the sights and sounds of the forest. There are a few hamlets lined with white-walled houses with low roofs. Excited children from these houses wave at us with smiles - some shyly, some vigorously. We wave back.

We arrive at the lodge at 9:30 am - 12 hours after we started and 4 hours before the stipulated check-in time. Mr. Harpreet who manages the lodge had assured us beforehand that early check-in wouldn’t be a problem.

The Arrival

The Kanha Earth Lodge is tucked away at a remote location, far away from all the other resorts that dot the region. One has to pass through small villages, bridge over streams, drive off the roads, go through forests, and be generally overwhelmed by nature to get there.

We are greeted by Mr. Harpreet and staff who take our temperatures and sanitize our luggage. The check-in is quick and hassle-free.

The lodge consists of 12 very private bungalows spread over a 16-acre property. Each bungalow has a very spacious bed room with a seating area by the large glass windows, a backyard porch, a tiny pantry, and a big washroom. The porch opens to the greenery outside and provides a great place to sit under the sun on winter mornings. The common dining area has both indoor and outdoor seating. There’s a great backyard seating in the open under mahua, palash, and sal trees with lanterns and an outdoor fireplace. We immediately fall in love with the place.

After a sumptuous lunch, we visit the kitchen garden that provides vegetables for the kitchen. It has okras, tomatoes, cauliflowers, cabbages, lettuce, spinach, red spinach, coriander, chillies, and many other vegetables. Next to the kitchen garden there’s a small butterfly park that has many different flowers. The entrance to the butterfly park is made from an old discarded doorway from one of the villages. Butterflies swarm the park before the morning sun becomes harsh. They again visit the flowers in the evening after the last rays of the sun are gone.

Beyond the butterfly park, there’s a tree trail that resembles a small forest. Amaltas, tendua, sal, mahua, palash, bamboo, and other trees make up this forest. The underfoot foliage is thick with many different wild flowering plants and shrubs. Tall grass all around provides thick cover. It feels great to take a long walk in this forest and emerge out of the thicket at the far end of the lodge.

Nightfall is early in forests. The sky fills with stars - much more than we see in the cities. We go inside to watch a documentary on forest guards and the challenges they face in protecting the wildlife and thwarting attempts at poaching. We are introduced to Mr. Ashu Khan, who’s to be the accompanying naturalist for our safaris. Starters are served and fireplaces are lit. We enquire about local mahua. We are told that it tastes best when fresh and that we could possibly get some tomorrow.

We sit outside for dinner. Our bravado doesn’t last long. Bitten by the severe cold, we retreat indoors. Dinner exceeds lunch in grandeur. It’s amazing how such good food is served at this remote location consistently. We sit around long after other guests have retired for the night. When we finally leave, we stroll around the place marvelling at the bright moon and the stars. Noisy crickets fill the air with their sound. We go to bed in anticipation of the safari the next day.

#kanha earth lodge #pugdundee safaris #kanha national park #nature #trees #flowers #kanha #stars #national parks #village

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ashadeofpemberley · 7 years ago

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The Perfect Christmas

For @anneelliotscat my dear giftee!

Prompt: “Well, that wasn’t so bad.”

Rating: G (Literally this might give you a cavity)

Summary: A super short and sweet ficlet about Gideon’s first Christmas.

AN: Sorry for any mistakes, I procrastinated to the max and didn’t have time to send it off to a beta! Hope you enjoy anyway!

Rumpelstiltskin slumped back in his chair with his sleeping son resting in his lap. Having never really been a fan of the holidays either in Storybrroke of the Enchanted Forest, he still couldn’t wrap his head how in a matter of two weeks his wife had managed to turn their home from a cluttered mess of Gideon’s ever-present toys and magical antiquities into a cosy Christmas wonderland that would have made even Martha Stewart turn positively green.

This was Gideon’s first Christmas and as far as Belle Gold was concerned, it was to be the grandest affair since the invention of glitter. The library had been ransacked for information about what would constitute the perfect family Christmas. Luckily for them, family was something they had in abundance. The whole clan had been enlisted to help with preparations right down to the former Evil Queen, who had been charged with bringing an assortment of apple-flavored pastries to dinner. Despite her recent good behavior, most of the guests, save Henry, opted for the pumpkin pie Ruby had brought with her from Granny’s.

Baelfire and Emma had been put in charge of finding a tree for the family room, and in hindsight Gold could admit that it might have been a mistake to give his daughter-in-law an axe, sheriff or not. For not having had very many family Christmases, both of them had very, very strong opinions about what constituted a good tree.

“Are you insane?! This one looks like someone you’d see in a Peanuts special!”

“Well at least mine will fit through the door! Yours needs its own zip code!”

After six hours of heated debate and threats of frostbite, the couple returned to the house hauling in what could quite possibly have been the largest pine tree ever created along with a three foot sapling that had lost a fair amount of its needles on the drive back. It had taken several mugs of hot chocolate with cinnamon and a promise to simply buy a plastic one for next year from Belle to get the two back on to speaking terms long enough to do some light trimming. Gideon even participated as he “helped” put the stars on top with a little assistance from his older brother Bae, who was by far the tallest of the Gold men (though Henry was giving him a run for his money.)

After the trees had been suitably drowned in tinsel, various holiday knick knacks they all had found in the attic from his days spent as Mr. Gold, pawnbroker, curse victim, and apparent reindeer enthusiast, Rumple thought the worst was over.

Then came the food.

Now, Rumpelstiltskin was no stranger to a good feast. He had seen plenty in his time as the Dark One, and plenty more after whatever curse they were under currently was broken, but nothing could have prepared him for the absolute sugar-coated insanity that had descended upon his kitchen for the last two weeks. One thing he had always admired about Belle was her tenacious spirit. If she wanted something, she would go after it whatever it took. Unfortunately, that spirit was the same one that told her that making enough food to feed Storybrooke and a good portion of Maine was an excellent idea. If the oven could speak, it probably would have asked for an attorney or a therapist by the end of the first week. By the end of the second week of marathon type cooking, Rumplestiltskin could confidently say that a grand total of two pigs, three lambs, four turkeys, seven Cornish hens, and one terribly unlucky duck had all met an untimely end in his kitchen. Normally, Belle was an incredibly gentle person, but she had tenderized that duck like it owed her money.

Of course, that only covered the main courses. His wife had outsourced several side dishes to various guests since her kitchen was currently serving as the clove-scented hell of the animal kingdom. Snow White had graciously taken up the task of making the potatoes…all eight variations of them. Potatoes had been scalloped, baked, roasted, mashed, smashed (“Yes there’s a difference, Rumple!”), fried, shredded, and covered with cheese. At promptly five o’clock this morning Mr. Gold watched as a seemingly endless parade of dwarves marched dutifully to his kitchen, each of them armed with an aluminum pan fill to the brim with some combination of starch, butter, and salt. Looking back, he really shouldn't have been surprised. The Nolan’s and their dwarfish friends personally catered Emma and Baelfire’s wedding reception in a matter of two days, it was a wonder that hadn’t caused another famine with two weeks to work.

Henry had volunteered to make the gravy and stuffing (with the supervision of Regina), Leroy offered to bring drinks (including non-alcoholic options for those who were still breastfeeding), and Mulan had kindly brought in an assortment of fruit from her latest travels. Ariel and her husband had been sent an invitation but unfortunately had to decline due to a recent hurricane, they did however send a lovely (albeit a little soggy) fruitcake as an apology and a promise to visit at New Year’s.

That left the cookies. Although Regina was taking care of the rest of the desserts, Belle has insisted that she be the one to make and decorate cookies. He had to admit, the spool-shaped ones were certainly clever, and Henry adored the book-shaped ones, Belle had even managed a batch of swans for Emma, but it was Gideon who had been positively delirious with excitement as he mounted an ungodly amount of frosting and sprinkles onto each of his wizard hat cookies. He was certainly his father’s son. Rumple hadn’t bothered trying to count the number of cookies that had been made, consumed, and then remade within the last two weeks, if for no other reason than he was convinced they were spawning when he wasn’t looking.

All in all it was a party to rival even the grandest event in the Enchanted Forest, let alone Storybrooke.

Guests had started to trickle in right after lunch. Bad and Emma were the first to arrive, but only because they were each trying to ensure that the other wasn’t planning on sabotaging their respective trees. Ruby had brought along Dr. Hopper as her guest, to absolutely no one’s surprise. Those two had been dancing around each other long before the first curse took place, though being no stranger to silent pining, Gold supposed he should keep that little observation to himself. Mulan had carpooled with the dwarves, seeing as she didn’t have a car in this world and there were no appropriate places to park a horse in the Gold’s driveway. The Nolan/Mills clan had arrived last seeing as there was some debate about how best to transport five dozen apple turnovers with three gallons of gravy.

If you were to tell Rumpelstiltskin a year ago, that he would be having Christmas dinner with the Charmings, the former Evil Queen, a Chinese warrior, a werewolf, a former cricket, several dwarves, the Savior, the son he’d lost, his grandson, his True Love and his newborn son he probably would have asked what curse they would be under and how much alcohol there was in this new curse.

After dinner was over and everyone was properly comatose with food, they all adjourned to the living room to watch the children open their gifts. Gideon had received several new books from his mama and papa along with a small cape that was a gift from his big brother (“You know, so he can practice that dramatic woosh thing,”) and a tiny dreamcatcher from Emma and Henry.

The festivities continued on long into the night. Stories were shared, jokes were told, and a few even decided to dance (that might have been due to Leroy’s special eggnog though).

The last of the guests had finally left just as Gideon settled himself into a deep sleep on his papa’s lap.

Looking around all he could see was colorful paper, stray cups and plates, and the odd scarf left behind. And strangely it didn’t bother him at all. Seeing his wife so content surrounded by family and friends was more than he could have ever wished for her.

There was only one thing left.

“Rumple, look it’s snowing!!”

Gently removing himself from his son’s sleeping form, Gold smiled as he walked over to where Belle had been collecting the last of the plates by the bay window.

She looked at him quizzically, “I thought it wasn’t supposed to snow until next week?”

He shrugged, “Well, I was put in charge of exterior decoration.”

“Rumple, you didn’t use magic did you? You know how I feel about altering weather patterns…”

“Sweetheart, I promise I didn’t use a single drop of magic on this.”

“Then how,”

“Let’s just say,” Rumple cut her off with a quick kiss to her lips, “I called in a favor from a certain Snow Queen who happened to be in town recently.”

Belle only smiled as she shook her head.

“This wasn’t so bad, was it Rumple?” She asked resting her head on his shoulder as they both looked out at the softly falling flakes. His only reply was another kiss to the side of her head.

If having their home be covered in tinsel and obscure family members for one day a year made his family this happy then, well, that wasn’t so bad at all.

#rumbelle christmas in july #anneelliotscat #rcij #ashadeofpemberley #my writing

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