#AND THEM ON THEIR 20TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

[the-jam-to-the-unicorn]

Olena's Summit is on September 6 ... 😏

[slickshoesareyoucrazy]

Love Songs

[phaoi]

.

[curiouspupsicle]

Good Omens Fan Fiction Friday (4/18/25) - Texting

For someone who barely texts, it's amazing how much I love a good text thread in a Good Omens fan fic. There are tons of great text threads out there. But today, I'm highlighting fics in which texting is primary.

Since you probably assume these will all be human AUs, I thought I'd start with our angel and demon texting each other in Lockdown Texts (G) by the smashing @klikandtuna. Isolated by the Covid lockdown, Crowley has a cell phone delivered to Aziraphale and teaches him how to text. I was LMAO at all the things Aziraphale thought LMAO could mean.

The first text fics I ever read were the Wrong Number AU series by GaryOldman. They begin with Texts from an Unknown Number (T) in which Aziraphale tries to text his brother Gabriel at a loud halloween party and ends up reaching Crowley instead. After this meet-cute, we follow them through the first year of their relationship in Sorry, Right Number (T). And finally, we read their text thread all the way to their wedding in He's My Wrong Number (T).

It's a short series of the fluffiest fluffiness.

In Of Size and Other Matters (E) by LCWrites, Aziraphale's friend Tracy is trying to fix him up with a date for a family function. When he accidentally texts a reply to one of her spicy comments, he reaches Crowley instead. Yes, the title is relevant to the content if you're turned on by something other than silly text threads.

And since I'm already on the topic, I might as well hit Sorry, Right Number (aka The Dick Pic Fic) (E) by @thavron. Be warned this fic is accompanied by NSFW artwork if you read fics on the subway. And yes, it's just what it promises in the title. Crowley accidentally texts a dick pick to Aziraphale who replies. It's silly. The banter is ridiculous.

Finally, let's end on a sweet note. This next fic does not feature tons of text threads, just one very important one. The Angel I Knew (M) by @captainblou is one of those beautiful fics that hits you in all the feels. I loved it so much. Aziraphale gets a text from his former spouse nearing the 20th anniversary of their child's death asking to meet. At their meeting, Aziraphale finds that his spouse has transitioned and is now Anthony. The pair navigate the deep wounds inflicted when their child died. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. But in all the best ways. This is the kind of fic that will stick with you.

I'll be back next Friday with more great Good Omens fan fics on a new theme. In the meantime, check out my other favorite fics on this pinned post of weekly Good Omens fan fiction recommendations. And if my faves appear to be your faves, check out my bookmarks on AO3--all the fics I rate in my top 10% (two of the fics from this week are on this list).

Don't forget--always thank your favorite fic writers. They're a gift to the fandom.

[luckyreds]

The Liebgotts & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad year of 1929

So, I think a lot of people know that Joe's mother, Mary, ran away for a few days when Joe was a teen. When going through the old newspapers I found this:

a son born on April 25th. however, just two months later, Mary runs away, and there's no mention of a child younger than Barbara. (2 years old at the time.)

on the 20th she's still missing.

then 3 days later, she's finally found. working at a home of one miss. M. S. Macyntire. it is unsure when she will return home, and in the meantime the kids will stay at their grandparents.

here they are in the newspapers just a couple years later. celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary!. it also mentions they have four sons. One of them David, died in 1929, just a few months after Mary Liebgott ran away from home.

Apparently he got killed after an argument over a minor car crash. William Bailey, a lawyer, punched David and he died from his injuries.

[joyousjoyfuljoyness]

In May 2024, the SF LGBT Center reached out and asked if I'd like to participate in the San Francisco Giants' Pride Base Art campaign. I eagerly agreed and submitted an art idea that would encompass the themes of San Francisco, the SF Giants, baseball, Pride, and the 20th anniversary of same-sex marriage in California.

I came up with my painting, "Love's Sweet Victory."

The piece celebrates love, resilience, and acceptance. The shimmering rainbow wedding cake symbolizes joy and unity, while the cake topper depicts two silhouetted baseball players with a heart bearing the San Francisco Giants' logo between them. These symbols honor the City's baseball heritage and commitment to inclusivity. The artwork invites reflection on the intersection of love and sports, echoing the courage of those who openly loved during the Winter of Love. It serves as a reminder that love, like baseball, is a game of passion and perseverance, where shared victories are truly sweet.

Amazingly, I was selected as one of three base art ideas! I received a baseball base to paint my idea on and quickly got to work.

I delivered the base to the SF LGBT Center to be passed to the SF Giants for display during the Pride game on June 15th, 2024.

Before the game, I had a quick interview with the local news channel KTVU Channel 2.

Then, at park before the game, I met the one of the two other artists on the field of Oracle Park, and took some photos and videos with the bases.

The artists got to stay for the Pride flag reveal ceremony too!

And I was on the jumbotron!

What an amazing experience!

[thatsmzbitchtoyou]

Marriage Problems FINAL Chapter 6

Summary: They’ve been married for 19 years, their 20th anniversary coming up soon.  Older, busier, and stuck on the repeat of their daily lives, Y/N and Bucky are struggling.  Their marriage is good, but feeling rocky the last few years as they’ve settled into this stage of their lives.  Can they get their spark back?  Or is it better to do the unthinkable, and move on without each other?

Warnings:  language, forced kiss, eventual smut

Previous chapter

A week later they were in Paris.  Y/N was having the time of her life getting to see all the sights she had always wanted to see, and Bucky couldn’t stop smiling the entire time seeing her so happy and carefree.  They still had a week left, where they would be traveling down to Cannes for the beach, so on their last night in Paris he got the terrace of their hotel room set up with room service dinner while she was in the shower after a long day of sightseeing.  He thanked the staff for helping him and shooed them out of the room before Y/N came out of the bathroom in a robe, toweling off her hair.

“What are you up to now, Bubbas?” Y/N smirked, looking at him suspiciously as he stood by the terrace door.

Bucky couldn’t help but laugh.  “Nothing, cherie, just setting up your next surprise.”

Y/N walked forward and looked around him to see the dinner set up, her face brightening.  “What is all this?” she asked excitedly.

“Dinner with a view of the Eiffel tower,” he replied, leading her out to the terrace and holding her chair out for her.  

“Buck, I’m in a robe,” she said quietly with wide eyes.

“And?” he asked teasingly.

She rolled her eyes and tightened the robe around herself, sitting down in the chair he pulled out.  Bucky sat across from her and served her the food from the platter set out for them.  They had a great dinner together on the terrace, watching the sun set and the lights of the Eiffel Tower come on as they ate good food and talked.  

Bucky was looking off toward the Tower before glancing back at Y/N.  She was looking at it as well, sitting back in the chair with a small smile on her face, the Parisian night breeze making her mostly dry hair sway.  Her robe was slightly open on her chest as she relaxed, revealing just a bit more cleavage.  

“Beautiful,” Bucky breathed.

“It is,” Y/N replied, her smile widening.  She looked at him to find him already staring at her, and blushed when she understood.  “Oh,” she giggled.  “Thank you.”

He smirked and stood from his chair, stepping toward her and kneeling down by her legs.  He took her left hand in his, admiring her wedding ring before pulling it up to his lips and kissing it before looking back up at her.  “Twenty years,” he said.

“Twenty years,” Y/N repeated.  

“And forever after that,” Bucky said quietly.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out his second big surprise present.  “I promised you forever with this ring,” he said, his thumb brushing over her ring.  “But maybe after twenty years it’s time for an upgrade?”

Y/N’s brow furrowed suspiciously.  “Are you being sneaky again?”

He chuckled and nodded.  “Gotta keep my wife on her toes,” he teased before bringing the ring box up with his other hand.  Y/N’s eyes widened.  “My pretty mama deserves pretty things,” he said, flipping open the box.  While her original engagement ring was a simple white gold band and a small round diamond, which was all he could afford at the time, this one was a thin yellow gold band that led to a larger, emerald cut diamond with two smaller emerald cut diamonds next to it.  Next to that ring was a wedding band, also yellow gold and shaped in a slope to allow for the emerald diamonds to be the centerpiece, but lined with small white diamonds along the band.  

“Bucky,” Y/N gasped, her free hand hesitantly reaching out and lightly holding his hand with the box in it.  “No.  No, it’s too much.”

“It’s still not enough for you, love,” Bucky said, pulling the two rings out and sliding her original ring off her finger.  “But it’s as close as I could get to what you truly deserve.”  He slid the band then the engagement ring onto her finger, setting her original ring in the box and on the table before clasping both of her hands in his.  “I know I’m not always the perfect partner to you–”

“Bucky,” she said, starting to cry.

“Ssh,” he shushed her, sitting up on his knees further so he could lean forward til his forehead was pressed against hers.  “I’m not always the best, but I try.  And we’ve had some bumps in the road, but here we are, twenty years in.  And I’m going to be right here for the next twenty years, and then the twenty after that, and twenty after that.  I’m in it for the long haul, pretty mama.  I’m sorry we lost that for a little while.”  He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose, making her sputter a laugh.  “This ring is my commitment to you, to our kids, our home, our life together, and whatever shape it takes as our time together goes on.  I love you, Y/N,” he nuzzled her nose, his hands squeezing hers.  “I always have.  And I always will.”

Y/N was fully crying now, her tears streaming down her face as she looked at him adoringly.  “You and me against the world,” she promised.

Bucky smiled widely.  “You and me against the world,” he promised.

She sniffled, squeezing his hands back.  “God, I love you, Bubbas,” she sighed, then leaned forward and kissed him.

Bucky kissed her back passionately.  She angled her head to deepen the kiss, her hands letting go of his hands and cupping his face.  He felt like his heart was thumping wildly, his head feeling dizzy.  He was so incredibly grateful that they were able to get past the rough patch in their marriage, even though he knew it was going to take more time and work than just a vacation.  Y/N pushed forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly as she opened her mouth, licking at his lower lip.  He quickly opened his mouth to her, letting her explore him first before he took his turn.  

His hands landed on her hips, squeezing them before moving up her torso to her chest.  He slightly pulled her robe apart just enough to slip a hand in and cup her breast, rubbing her nipple with his thumb.  Y/N moaned and he moved his kisses down from her mouth to her neck then tucking his face into her robe and holding her breast up higher to suck on her nipple.  

“Buck,” she groaned.  “We’re outside.  People will see.”

“Let ‘em,” he said, kissing his way to her other breast.  

Y/N shivered then pulled her robe tighter.  “Inside,” she said firmly, pushing him away and standing.  She took his hand as he stood and brought him inside, closing the terrace door behind them before leading him to the bed.  She pulled his shirt off then unbuckled his belt and pulled his pants and underwear down, Bucky helping her by kicking them off.  She pushed him backwards onto the bed and he fell with a “umph,” then quickly pulled himself up the bed as she untied her robe and let it slip off of her.

“Fucking hell, pretty mama,” Bucky said as she started crawling up the bed toward him.  “You’re so beautiful.”

Y/N smirked at him as she stopped when she reached his thighs.  She glanced at his cock and her smirk widened at how hard he already was.  She reached her left hand up and gripped him firmly, her new ring glinting in the lamp light.  “So are you,” she said, then leaned down and kissed the tip of his cock.

Just that alone had him shivering.  “Holy shit,” he groaned when she licked from the base to the tip, then swirled her tongue around the head slowly.  “I need to get you jewelry more often.”  Y/N huffed a laugh and skimmed her teeth over the head.  She suddenly took him in her mouth as far as she could, and he gasped at how she relaxed her throat to take him farther back.  “FUCK!  Oh my god!” he whimpered.

Y/N started bobbing her head up and down on him, hallowing her cheeks and sucking him off languidly.  She took her time as her tongue would slide along the shaft as she bobbed her head, sucking the tip and licking the slit in the tip before doing it all over again.  Her left hand kept his cock steady, stroking him wherever she couldn’t reach with her mouth.  She popped off with a slurping sound and then spit on it, her left hand using the saliva to jerk him off more easily before going back to sucking him again.

“Y/N…wait…pretty mama,” Bucky begged, his hands fisting the blanket beneath him.  “I don’t wanna cum like this, please.  I need to be inside you.”

Y/N merely looked up at him with a teasing smirk, watching him as she sucked the tip slowly, her tongue swirling around it over and over again like her favorite lollipop.  Bucky’s hips trembled as he watched her.

“Please,” he begged at a particularly hard suck.  “Please love!  I can’t…”

Y/N’s movements sped up, her left hand stroking him harder and faster as she sucked and licked the tip quickly.  Right as his balls tightened, threatening to finish in her mouth, she popped off of him and let go of his cock, letting it slap against his stomach.  Bucky gasped again, looking at her in shock.  “How do you wanna cum, Bubbas?” she asked sweetly, like she hadn’t just been sucking the life out of him.

Bucky grunted as he heaved himself up and tackled her to the bed. Y/N laughed as he man-handled her to lay on her stomach, his knee pushing her legs apart as his hands pulled her hips up so she was on her knees, her face down in the sheets.  “Just like this,” he murmured, kissing up her spine and between her shoulder blades.  He gripped his cock in hand and rubbed the tip through her pussy, feeling how wet she was for him already.  “Always so ready for me,” he mumbled.  “My pretty mama with her pretty pussy.”

Y/N’s hips wiggled against him.  “Bubbas please don’t tease me,” she begged quietly.  

Bucky chuckled, playfully nipping at her shoulder.  “Alright, love,” he said, before aiming himself and slowly thrusting into her.  Y/N’s breathing stuttered as he pushed in inch by inch until his hips were flush with hers.  He let her adjust for a moment, his hands moving to hers plastered to the bed on either side of her head.  His left hand intertwined with her left hand, his right hand gripping her right wrist.  He rolled his hips, pulling a deep moan from her.  “That’s it, mama, let me hear you.  I don’t get to really hear you at home.”  He snapped his hips and she whimpered, her head thrashing against the bed.  “You make the sweetest noises.”

He picked up the pace of his thrusts, and her left hand curled in on his fingers.  She started meeting his thrusts as she rolled her hips back into him, and his eyes rolled back.  Bucky felt so close already after she gave him head, and her being so enthusiastic was making it hard for him not to immediately cum.  She was moaning, whimpering, gasping and dirty talking back to him.  “Fuck me, Bucky.  Fuck me hard,” she grunted. 

“Yeah?” he panted, automatically snapping his hips harder and faster into her.  “You got it, pretty mama.”  He set a punishing, relentless pace, and she shivered underneath him as the pain mixed with the pleasure.  Her pussy was fluttering around him in warning of her impending orgasm.  “Let me feel you, Y/N.  Let me feel that perfect pussy cum all over me while I pump you full of me.  Fuck, I love you.”  He laid his whole front across her back, his beard chuffing the crook where her shoulder and neck met.

“I…ungh, I love you!” she cried out, her fingers squeezing his tighter, their wedding rings slightly grinding against each other.  

Bucky let go of her right hand and slipped it under her, flicking and rubbing at her clit.  Y/N’s hips bucked against him and she came, crying out his name as she squeezed his fingers painfully tight.  He came almost at the same time with her as her pussy squeezed his cock, pulling out all he had to give.  Bucky moaned loudly into her hair, filling her up as his hips rutted her down flat onto the mattress.  The last of his strength gave out on him and he sank down on her, his hand letting up off her clit so he could try to catch himself before squashing her.  

“Goddamn,” he groaned, his cock still leaking into her.  “So good, pretty mama.”

Y/N sighed heavily, her fingers releasing his fingers from her iron grip.  “Happy Anniversary Buck,” she said, her voice muffled by the bed.

Bucky laughed, pulling himself up and then out of her before making her turn over to look at him.  Her eyelids were heavy, trying to look up at him in her fucked out bliss.  He smiled widely at her.  “Happy Anniversary, Y/N,” he said, then leaned down and kissed her deeply.  

She kissed him back as best as she could, humming as he cuddled her close to his side, grabbing her left hand and kissing her ring.  “Thank you, Bubbas,” she breathed.  “For everything.”

“You and me against the world,” he replied, kissing each of her fingers.  “You and me.”

***

“Everyone ready?” Bucky called out as he got his lunch ready.

“Yes!”  three voices called back as the kids all stood by the front door.

“Good,” Y/N said as she came down the stairs.  “You all have a good day,” she smiled at them, giving them hugs and kisses.  “I love you.  Say goodbye to your sperm donor.”

“My spawn!” Bucky said dramatically, running to the front door and hugging all three of them in a big group hug.

“Ugh, Dad,” Becca groaned, while James giggled and Winnie rolled her eyes.

“Accept my love,” Bucky said.  “Have a good day.”

“Bye!” they all said as they hurried out the front door for the bus.

Y/N and Bucky waved to them before closing the door.  The second it was closed Bucky cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her deeply.  Y/N made a sound of surprise, her lips smiling against his lips as her hands gripped his wrists.  He backed her up against the front door, kissing her over and over again until his watch beeped.

Bucky groaned unhappily but Y/N pushed him away.  “You gotta go,” she said teasingly.  

“Just one more,” Bucky said, kissing her again.  Y/N giggled, kissing him back for just another moment before pulling away.  Bucky pouted, making her laugh.

“You gotta go to work!” Y/N said with a wide smile.  

“I’ll miss you,” Bucky said sadly.

“I’ll miss you,” she replied.  “Now go.”

Bucky swept his thumbs across her cheeks before stealing one last kiss.  “Good luck on your first day back at work,” he said as he pulled away and walked back to the kitchen.

“Thanks!” she said, walking toward the office.  “I love you!”

“I love you!” he called back as he got his things together.  Right before he left he walked to the office, looking in to see her.  Y/N was logged in, responding to emails and her work chat going off already.  He smiled as he crept in, sneaking up behind her until he could reach his hand around and grip her jaw, making her look up at him.  She smirked as he leaned down and kissed her one more time before squeezing her throat gently.  He smiled at her then let her go and walked out to his car.  

Bucky was extremely grateful for all they had been able to overcome.  Y/N was going back into the workforce since the kids didn’t constantly need her anymore, and he could already tell that she was in her element again, being able to be a part of something more than being a wife and mother.  They had been talking a lot more, and their sex life was better than it had been in a while.  Their 20th anniversary vacation had been like a reset for them, and Y/N seemed happier and lighter.  He couldn’t stop the wide smile on his face as he drove to work.  Just the two of them against the world.  

@cjand10 @sebastians-love @sherwoodforesttales @shanksstrawhat @sagexsenorita @abaker74 @vunblr @doodle-with-rhy

Thank you my darlings for the likes, comments, reblogs and follows. I'm so happy y'all liked this one. I hope you'll stay around and read more of my stuff. I'm still working on some asks and sequels to asks, so please be patient with me. Love you!

[the-jewel-catalogue]

Queen Camilla; A Jewelled Legacy in Italy

After a 4 day visit to the country, we look back on the legacy jewels the Queen brought along with her.

Queen Victoria

Personally, one of my favourite brooches in the British Royal Family vault and Camilla wears it incredibly well - Prince Albert Sapphire Brooch.

The diamond and sapphire brooch was a wedding gift to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert. A suitable piece for Queen Camilla who wore it the day before her 20th Wedding Anniversary.

Queen Mary

The second evening of the royal visit had the Queen wearing Queen Mary’s Celtic Knot Brooch. A gift to Queen Mary from Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

The diamond and cabochon emerald brooch in a Celtic knot style was also a wedding present.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Queen Camilla seems to have a love (or it could very well be her husband's) for Queen Elizabeth's jewels - with her engagement ring being one of them.

During the trip, it was the jewels from the Queen mother that appeared more often, starting with the Lily of the valley brooch as the King & Queen were pictured in celebration of their wedding anniversary.

It was made by Faberge and gifted to Elizabeth, the Queen mother in 1956 with Queen Camilla wearing the brooch as early as 2006.

The next jewel to make an appearance were two of the Cartier bracelets; the diamond pair.

To learn more about those set of jewels.

Finally, with a quick visit to the Pope, Queen Camilla wore the Greville Ivy Leaf Clips, a pair of brooches that are quickly becoming a favourite for the Queen.

The Queen's Personal Legacy

Much is made of the Queen's eye to the royal family jewels, but her connection with her own mother made an appearance at the state banquet.

The Queen wore the Turquoise Necklace inherited from her mother for the event, as well as, her own personal diamond earrings.

Lastly, a new piece was worn to wave goodbye to Italy. HM wore a new brooch by Italian designer Lucia Odescalchi.

No information is available at the moment.

[hand-picked-star]

The 13th Anniversary Arshi Fiesta

Moodboard : Historical AU

Whispers of the Heart | Chapter 25 ( final)

DISCLAIMER: The story is set in the early 20th century. While I have made efforts to capture the essence of the era, there may be inaccuracies as this is a work of fantasy. I do not own the characters Arnav and Khushi, and this story is purely fictional with no relation to any real individuals, living or dead. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

WARNING: 18+, MATURE CONTENT.

Final Chapter

Three years later.

It was the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights. The Rajput haveli was a vision of grandeur and festivity this evening. The entire estate was adorned with intricate decorations. Strings of twinkling fairy lights draped over every window and doorway and vibrant rangoli patterns were meticulously crafted at the entrance. Rows of gleaming diyas, their soft flickering flames casting a warm, golden glow, lined the pathways and courtyards, creating a serene and enchanting ambience. The air was filled with the scent of freshly made sweets and the sounds of laughter and celebration, as the household came alive with the spirit of joy and togetherness.

Arnav and Khushi had been celebrating their Dewalis with the Rajput family instead of their own Haveli, which they had finally managed to build according to their own taste. It was especially Khushi's touch that could be seen in every corner of the new Raizada state. Though they had a beautiful house of their own, they very much enjoyed spending their Dewalis with the Rajputs. Because, all of their near and dear ones were here and with Mahindar and Manorama's advancing age, they wanted to celebrate the festivals surrounded by all of their children.

"Oh shit."

Arnav hurriedly entered the room and locked the door behind him. Khushi was in the midst of getting ready. was adjusting a delicate gold necklace around her neck. She had styled her dark hair elegantly in loose waves that had gone perfectly with the stunning deep red sari, she had worn. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of concern as she looked up from her reflection.

"What happened?"

"The string of my trousers just snapped. Did you bring a spare?" Arnav replied, noticing how gorgeous she looked.

"Let me see."

As Khushi proceeded to see Arnav's broken trouser string, a mischievous smile appeared on his lips.

"Aren't you a bit too eager to see my treasures, Mrs. Raizada?"

Rolling her eyes at his antics, she said, "Take it off."

"As you wish."

Arnav grabbed her waist, gently placing her on the desk in her room. The old desk was not that big, leaving her back pressed against the wall. He moved to stand between her legs, gently pushing them apart.

"What are you doing?" she whispered yelled as his hands slid up her thighs. He wrapped one of his hands around her waist, pulling her a little closer, while he put the other hand against the wall, above her head.

"Nothing, just testing how sturdy the desk is," he said leaning closer to her. A playful smirk curled on the corners of his lips.

"Arnav, everyone is waiting for us downstairs."

"A few more minutes won't hurt them," he said, capturing her lips in a teasing kiss while his hands gathered her saree around her waist. He touched her in between her legs, finding her already eager for him.

"Ap aise nahi kar sakte," she whispered, biting her lips.

"Kyun nahi kar sakta? Biwi ho tum meri, my legally wedded wife." A soft whimper escaped her lips, as he pushed his fingers in between her nether lips. "And look at you," he murmured, "....already so ready for me. The idea of us on this desk excites you, huh?"

Khushi swatted his shoulder lightly and smiled, her eyes full of mirth. "Shut up."

"Make me."

In the past few years, so much had changed. What hadn't was the undeniable pull between them. Despite the upheavals in many aspects of their lives, there they were, still wrapped up in their own little world.

He looked devastatingly handsome, as always-nothing special in that. But the navy blue kurta he wore today made his eyes stand out even more, and they were now focused on Khushi, brimming with mirth.

Khushi clutched his collars and pulled him close as she fused their lips together, successfully wiping off the teasing grin on his face. Meanwhile, Arnav got rid of his trousers and entered her in a swift motion. Both of them moaned softly, their pleasure barely contained. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as she pulled him closer. Her back arched slightly while she adjusted to him. His lips travelled down her neck alternately sucking and kissing her soft supple skin. Her head fell back, eyes fluttered shut.

"Don't leave marks. It would be very awkward in front of the relatives." The desk beneath her creaked softly as he began to move.

"Shhh... I won't... at least not where everyone can see." He whispered, lightly sucking behind her ear.

Their rhythm grew frantic. They tried desperately to muffle their moans, as he pounded repeatedly into her. He then realized they were making lots of noises.

"Shit, your bangles.''

"Huh..?" When Arnav saw his wife completely blissed out and lost in the sensation. He just shrugged his shoulder and went back to his previous activities. Soon, their moans mingled in each other's necks as they finished together.

Both were breathing heavily. Khushi cradled her face against his shoulder, her fingers gently playing with his hair. While Arnav tried to catch his breath by resting his head on her neck. A sudden knock on the door startled them. Instead of pushing him away, Khushi clutched his neck even tighter, holding him close. Akash Bhai's voice came through the door.

"Khushi?"

Regaining her composure, Khushi answered in a shaky voice, "Haan, Bhai?" Her body froze in place.

"Where's Arnav? Hasn't he come yet? Bareilly wale Fufaji usko kabse dhoond rahe hain."

"Hume nahi pata, Bhai. Humne unko nahi dekha."

Khushi noticed her husband's shoulders shaking lightly. She cast a glare at his shoulders as if willing them to stop.

"Theek hain, main dekhta hoon. Tum jaldi tayaar hoke niche aao."

As Akash Bhai's footsteps faded, Arnav couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. He looked back at his wife, his amusement contagious. Khushi tried to give him a stern look but ended up laughing along with him, playfully swatting his chest. Arnav gazed at her affectionately before capturing her lips with his.

As much as he loved to kiss her whimpering lips, he loved kissing her smiling ones even more.

After freshening up, Arnav headed downstairs. As soon as he reached the bottom, two little bodies collided with him, and he effortlessly scooped them up into his arms. Three-year-old Akansha, a spitting image of Anjali as a child, brought back memories of his sister's younger days, while five-year-old Ajit, a perfect blend of Akash and Payal. They grinned up at him. Arnav settled into a nearby lounge chair, both children comfortably perched on his lap.

Little Akansha said in her baby voice, "Mamaji, thank you for the gift. Ma said me to thank you." She placed a tiny kiss on his cheek.

Not to be outdone, little Ajit mimicked her. "Ha, Mamaji, thank you."

Akansha quickly turned to him, frowning. "Arre, buddhu, wo sirf mere Mamaji hain. Tumhare nehi."

"He isn't your Mamaji either," Khushi chided little Akansha lovingly. "Remember what I told you? When you go to our house, you'll call him Mamaji. But when we come here, you have to call him Fufaji."

Arnav scrunched his nose in response, "Don't confuse the children, Khushi." Then, turning back to them, he added, "Why don't both of you just call me Uncle, okay?"

Both of them nodded and sprinted off to play in the courtyard.

Meanwhile, two pairs of brown eyes eagerly awaited their turn on his lap. As soon as it was vacant, they climbed onto each of his thighs. A sweet, confused voice asked, "Daddy, do we need to call you that too?"

"Oh, no, I've worked too hard for you to ever call me that."

"Well, your daddy was very close to being called 'Uncle' by my children once upon a time," Khushi said, lightly touching the little girl's nose.

Arnav cast her a mock glare and mouthed soundlessly, "How dare you?" In response, Khushi just laughed.

While little Ayushi snuggled against her father's neck, little Kush played with his toy, absorbed in his own world. Roma Chachi had remarked aptly that Khushi had indeed given birth to their own reflections, as the three-year-old twins were perfect mirrors of their parents.

While little Ayushi was a bit clingy and voiced her need for attention, little Kush was more reserved. Arnav saw himself in Kush more and more as the days went by. Though Kush didn't seek attention outwardly, inside he was just as eager for snuggles and cuddles as his sister. Even if he pretended otherwise, he desired the same affection. So, Arnav made sure to give both children equal attention. And in some cases, he made an extra effort to give affection to Kush while he was still open to it. Because, As Kush grew up, Arnav knew his little boy might not appreciate his father hugging him as much as his daughter might. It's just a man-code.

Arnav pulled little Ayushi closer, planting a kiss on her head, while he affectionately rubbed his son's back. Khushi watched them with a soft smile, her heart swelling with warmth and tenderness. It had been three years since their birth, and Khushi had been pestering Arnav for another child, but he kept refusing. Their birth had traumatized him enough. Arnav till date clearly remembered and almost felt the panic that he had gone through that night.

He had arranged for the best midwife in the area and had called a trained nurse from the missionary hospital for the delivery. The doctor had come as well and assured him that everything was alright and that the birth would proceed naturally. And there he was, pacing in front of the room where Khushi had been for two hours-two hours of listening to her whimpering and screaming in pain. Arnav was just minutes away from asking Hariprakash to fetch the doctor again when a deafening cry of a newborn pierced the air.

A joyous shout of Roma Chachi came from inside, "It's a boy!"

A few moments later, Roma Chachi emerged from the room with a little crying bundle and approached Arnav. But at the same time, another scream from Khushi nearly stopped his heartbeat. Roma Chachi tried to pass the baby to Arnav, but he grabbed her upper arms and asked urgently, "What's happening inside? How's Khushi?"

A hushed whisper circulated among the women in the room who had come to assist with the birth, noting Mr. Raizada's reluctance to take the baby in his arms. Roma Chachi looked around, guessing how the situation must appear, and spoke to Arnav in a hushed voice.

"Take your son, Arnav. Khushi will be alright."

Chastised by his mother-in-law, Arnav looked at the baby, who had stopped crying and was now gazing at him with wide eyes. He took the baby in his arms and sat on a sofa in the corridor. The baby's little body squirmed in the palm of his hand. Father and son stared at each other for quite some time. An overwhelming sense of protectiveness washed over him, though he couldn't exactly name the other emotions coursing through him. He just kissed the baby boy's forehead lightly and spoke softly as if the baby would clearly understand his words, "I'm not mad at you. I'm just scared."

A little while later, Anjali took the baby from Arnav while Khushi's screams continued to echo from the room, driving him to the brink of madness. He asked Hariprakash to fetch the doctor and also asked Anjali to go inside and see what was happening. Suddenly, the screaming stopped, and Arnav's heart pounded at the sudden silence. Roma Chachi emerged with another bundle, her face radiant with a brilliant smile. "There was another baby-a girl. It's a little Khushi."

Arnav placed his hand on the baby's head and asked, "How's she?"

"She will be okay, Arnav," Roma Chachi reassured him and transferred the baby to Arnav. He felt her snuggle into him as he placed a soft kiss on her crown. Since then, Little Ayushi never missed a chance to snuggle into her father's arm.

When everybody went home and the babies were settled with Anjali and Payal in the next room. Roma Chachi decided to sleep in the room, attached to where Khushi was. She was sleeping soundly after giving birth. The doctor said she had lost a lot of blood. Although the bleeding had stopped, she had become very weak. She looked pale, alarmingly pale actually and her breathing was shallow. Fear gripped Arnav's heart despite everybody's reassurance.

He spent the night holding her hand and sitting on the floor near her head, counting her breaths. He didn't know when he fell asleep, his head resting near their joined hands. But he woke up to Khushi's gentle fingers lightly gliding through his hair. When he opened his eyes, she urged him to lie down beside her on the bed. He obliged, and she didn't waste any time snuggling into his chest, her arm draped across his belly.

"Will you be angry with me for the rest of your life if I leave this world before you?"

Arnav's heart dropped at her question. "Don't ask me questions like that."

"Answer me, please."

He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I can never be angry at you."

"Good, I don't want you to be angry at me at all."

"Then don't even think of leaving."

Khushi tilted her head to look at him and smiled tiredly. Arnav placed a soft kiss on her dry lips. "I felt like I would never see you again, or our babies..... I was so scared."

Arnav gulped down the lump in his throat and didn't say anything in response, only pulled her closer to his body.

She had been quiet for a while, and Arnav thought she had fallen asleep when she spoke again."We have two babies now," she said almost disbelievingly.

"Yes, we do. We didn't even know how to raise one."

"Shhh, we'll manage," she said dreamily. "One baby is for you, one baby is for me. Did you hold them?"

"Yes, I did."

"I haven't yet. I guess I had fainted at the end," she said sadly.

"Why don't you get some sleep and gather some energy, Mommy?" he said lovingly. "If they're to be like you, we'll have a lot on our hands."

"What are you saying? I was a very quiet kid."

"Sure, you were," he whispered against her forehead.

"You were no better, mister. I know all the stories from your childhood, so you can't deny it. At least I didn't get stuck in a patila."

Laughing, Arnav gathered her in his arms even tighter, and both of them fell asleep like that.

"Bhaiya, Bhabi, come quickly! Roma Aunty is calling you," Amelia's voice called out across the courtyard to the little bubble of the family of four, who were just chatting.

Over the years, Amelia blossomed into the remarkable young lady she was destined to be. As the cloud of melancholy gradually lifted, it revealed her true essence—a kind, compassionate, and fun-loving individual, fiercely protective of those she loved.

"Let's go Mrs.Raizada."

He extended his hand toward his wife.

Khushi looked up at his extended hand, recalling a time when he had reached out in much the same way to guide a little girl out of the darkness.

Khushi scooped up Kush in her arms as Arnav held Ayushi. Hand in hand with their children nestled in their arms, they joined the rest of the family. The warmth of the burning diyas cast a golden glow over them.

In the end, as they embraced the spirit of the festival, they realized they found their perfect piece of forever in each other's arms, in each other's eyes, knowing that this was where they were always meant to be.

----------THE END----------

<previous>

@featheredclover @arshifiesta @phuljari @msbhagirathi @jalebi-weds-bluetooth @chutkiandchotte

[buttercupyellow]

BBC Merlin Timeline (canon info only)

Pre-Series

Kilgharrah born - over 1000 years ago

Ashkanar hides a Dragon Egg in his Tomb - 400 years ago

7 of Camelot's knights are seduced by a sorceress and become The Knights of Medhir - 300 years ago

Uther conquers/usurps/is a laughing heir to Camelot

Morgause born to Vivienne and smuggled out of Camelot

Gaius begins working as the Court Physician - 25 years ago

Gaius and Alice meet - 25 years ago

Morgana born to Vivienne

Uther uses magic to conceive Arthur, Ygraine dies in childbirth, Uther begins the Great Purge of magic

Uther tricks the Dragonlords (Balinor) and Kilgharrah into coming to Camelot "to make peace" but kills them and captures Kilgharrah - 20 years ago

Balinor and Hunith concieve Merlin in Ealdor - less than 20 years ago (max 19 min 16)

Balinor is hunted into hiding by Uther/Camelot

Gorlois dies on the Northern Plains, Uther adopts Morgana as his ward - Morgana 10 yro

Uther holds a tounament in Arthur's honour, The Sarrum attends - Arthur 10 yro

Arthur leads an attack on a Druid camp but is unable to control his men and a massacre occurs

Arthur is challenged by Odin' Son to a duel, asks him to withdraw, and kills him in the duel

Elyan leaves Camelot - 4 years before S3, ep7

Season 1

The Dragon's Call

Valiant

The Mark of Nimueh

The Poisoned Chalice

Lancelot

A Remedy to Cure all Ills

The Gates of Avalon

The Beginning of the End

Excalibur - Arthur's Coming of Age/Arthur's Birthday (approx April)

The Moment of Truth - Harvest time (August - September)

The Labyrinth of Gedref - Harvest time (August - September)

To Kill the King

Le Morte D'Arthur

Season 2

The Curse of Cornelius Sigan

The Once and Future Queen

The Nightmare Begins

Lancelot and Guinevere

Beauty and the Beast, pt 1

Beauty and the Beast, pt2

The Witchfinder

The Sins of the Father

The Lady of the Lake

Sweet Dreams

The Witch's Quickening

The Fires of Idirsholas

The Last Dragonlord

Season 3 - "Over a year" since S2, ep12

The Tears of Uther Pendragon, pt 1

The Tears of Uther Pendragon, pt 2

Goblin's Gold

Gwaine

The Crystal Cave - Morgana's Birthday

The Changeling

The Castle of Fyrien

The Eye of the Phoenix

Love in the Time of Dragons

Queen of Hearts

The Sorcerer's Shadow

The Coming of Arthur, pt 1

The Coming of Arthur, pt 2

Season 4 - "A year" since S3, ep12

The Darkest Hour, pt 1 - Samhain/Oct 31st - Nov 1st

The Darkest Hour, pt 2 - (Nov contin.)

The Wicked Day - Arthur's Birthday (approx April)

Aithusa

His Father's Son

A Servant of two Masters

The Secret Sharer

Lamia

Lancelot du Lac

A Herald of the New Age

The Hunter's Heart - Ostara/Spring Equinox/March 20th

The Sword in the Stone, pt 1 - Beltane/May 1st

The Sword in the Stone, pt 2 - (May contin.) Arwen Wedding

Season 5 - "For three long years, we have been blessed with peace and prosperity"

Morgana and Aithusa captured by The Sarrum - 2 years

Morgana and Ruadan begin searching for the Diamair (at Ismere) - 3 Months prior to S5

Gwaine, Percival and some knights investigate Ismere - 6 Weeks prior to S5

Arthur's Bane, pt 1

Arthur's Bane, pt 2

The Death Song of Uther Pendragon - Anniversary of Arthur's Coronation, possibly Beltane/May 1st

Another's Sorrow

The Disir

The Dark Tower

A Lesson in Vengeance - Arthur and Gwen's Wedding Anniversary, possibly May

The Hollow Queen

With All My Heart

The Kindness of Strangers

The Drawing of the Dark

The Diamond of the Day, pt 1

The Diamond of the Day, pt 2

[sunbloomdew]

Listen. Listen. All of Step 4 versions could canonically take place during the same summer, right next to each other. Derek's Step 4 takes place first. Father's day in America is on the third Sunday in June, so in 2021 that would be June 20th.

Moms wedding anniversary is referenced multiple times in Derek's Step 4, as an event happening a few weeks later.

Then Cove's Step 4 takes place during the anniversary, a few days before and after the event. Taking the estimated time period, their party would be happening in June, i'd say around the middle of the month, maybe closer to the beginning.

Derek makes an appearance here too!

(i actually had to speed replay cove's step 4 cause i had no, and i mean no screeshots from it lmao. that was before i learned that you can make screeshots through steam and don't have to do it MANUALLY sigh)

Then we have the last Step 4 version, the events of Baxter DLC.

I'm assuming the Adams' wedding takes place sometime in August, probably also in the middle, but leaning towards the end of the month.

So hypothetically speaking, MC could canonically participate in all of these events.

All THAT to say: imagine meeting Xavier in Baxter's Step 4 after first meeting them in Derek's Step 4, and them being like "Oh, hi MC! Good to see you again :D" with Baxter looking so confused sdhfjkshfsjk

That's right, it was a Xavier post all along! You got tricked! Xavier DLC when 👀

Just kidding, but i'm living for this version of events. And just in general, it's nice to imagine everything happening, even if it's not possible in the game itself. I headcanon it all happening, it's so fun to think about <3

[will-schuester-hate-blog]

10th Anniversary of 6 x 08 ''A Wedding'' !

Happy 10 year anniversary to the Brittana-Klaine wedding episode!!!!!

On this day (February 20th) in 2015, the Wedding episode of Glee's sixth season first aired!!!!!!

RAHHH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH MY SILLIES!!!!!!!! here is an art piece cause I had to cause I love them <3 however doing side profiles makes me want to explode so they don't look that good srry m8.

version without the ''10 years!'' text at the top:

[hardtofindneuro]

hello friends, i am here to follow scoops’ idea, and other writers, in ranking my own fics from least favorite to my absolute favorite. sex-mas isn’t in here because shiv and i co-wrote it, but go check it out!

i’ve also been writing a lot behind the scenes. i have so many wips in progress but im excited to share those with y’all in 2025!! also just so everyone knows, im so shook by how much i wrote this year?? didn’t i take a break? like multiple breaks? how did i write 20 fics, plus literally 19 wips? i don’t know. i really don’t. so sorry this is long!!

in last place, 20th: wrong costume. i actually had fun writing this fic! it was just like, a little insane and i was laughing the entire time i wrote it. definitely just a fun little thing i wrote for halloween season while learning to love writing again.

19th: a new meaning to halloween. this was cute! i had fun writing this one too, but it was just a short thing i ended up throwing together for halloween again. i don’t dislike it at all, actually i really like it, but i wrote so many fics this year that were very meaningful to me so that’s why this is at the caboose. dnf mpreg and gender reveals are always fun to write though.

18th: teach me. listen, i know a lot of people loved this fic and it has a special place in my heart, but it’s not my favorite. i was pushing myself to write it and post it while going through some stuff, and my writing has changed a lot since then. this fic was based on a real life excel sheet shiver shared with me that she was sending tinder men, btw. yes, you read that correctly. shiver canon.

17th: take control. this was just fun to write inspired by dnf being in minecraft lol. this was the first time since like, january, that i wrote smut and it wasn’t so extremely painful. it was finally fun again to write it and i wasn’t having to push myself to do it.

16th: gift a kiss. dream’s birthday fic. i wrote this super last minute but it was still really fun to write!

15th: first times. another one i liked writing, inspired by the hurricane. i wrote this so fast it’s a little ridiculous tbh but i like the final version i posted. i loved watching dream’s hurricane stream lol

14th: same day, different george. this was cute and i enjoyed writing something for the little anniversary. can’t believe george has been in florida this long already!

13th: fear. this fic has a special place in my heart. it was personal in a way that most things aren’t for me, and i was terrified to post it so i kept it off twitter & whatnot but im proud of how it came out in the end.

12th: life is a hardship. another one that was really personal and close to the heart. learning a lot about self care and love this year, and i know these types of fics aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but those who do like them seem to relate and find comfort in them which means a lot.

11th: it’s just hair. idk why i enjoyed this one so much. i think i just liked writing the dnf dynamic in this one and playing around with the idea of dream’s haircut to cope with the loss of curls, however i do like his hair now lol. it was just a shock before

10th: embrace the differences. this fic was just so out of my comfort zone i can’t believe i even got this idea out of the “idea” phase lol. it was a bit hard for me to finish but once i got into the groove, it was cool to play with it. i almost always write canon divergent so this was completely different and i’d love to try something like it again!

9th: it’s not a wedding. i don’t know why this was so hard to write but this took me so, so long but the end product was something i enjoyed. definitely fun to get started and i was glad to persevere on it, even though i was frustrated at the end.

8th: drowning. i just hold this this fic close to my heart. it was the first thing i wrote in second pov and again, not everyone’s taste, but something about writing in second pov makes it feel more personal to me and it was nice to switch it up. at this point, i was very unmotivated and the pov change made writing something i wanted to do again.

7th: label-less. not tons of aroace representation in fics so i thought it would be nice to give it some rep, especially because we all kind of have different views and experiences with it. i’m pretty open about my sexuality here but this was the first time i really wrote about it and it just kind of felt freeing, and during pride month!

6th: love big, love easy. hurt my heart in the way i love when angst hurts my heart to write. got to bring in old lore and stuff to play around.

5th: football BINGO. this was inspired by a tweet and that tik tok trend going around. top tier excitement and joy when writing this, just complete fluff which isn’t usual for me but i enjoyed this one for sure!

4th: going through the motions. this was the first thing i wrote and posted after all the drama in january, and march. it was also the first thing i really wrote and posted that was so personal, which was terrifying, but everyone was extremely kind to me about it and im proud that i took the risk to post it.

3rd: comeback, baby. literally so much fun to write. i had started this a million years ago and then george’s birthday stream ended up being so dnf insane that i ended up speedrunning the last 10k of it in less than a day. awesome stream and dream is insane for saying he was going to impregnate george. that’s all.

2nd: erase. this fic is just so personal and so different from my usual stuff. it’s not something many people read and that’s totally okay, but the people that did read it seemed to really be impacted by it and that’s all i could ever ask when anyone reads my fics. especially ones like this one.

and at number 1, surprise (not), is love you always. as many of you know, i decided to post this fic after my grandfather passed. this fic means the world to me and i recently just lost my grandma as well. i’m really hard on myself about pretty much everything but im truly proud of this fic. everything about posting this sucked and it really fucked me up, but it was worth the impact it made on others & how proud i am of it.

[thedisneybarbie]

The princess and the pauper turned 20 this year! 👸🏼👩🏽🐱🩷💙 I remember when this movie first came out, it was the third Barbie movie I saw and the last Barbie movie of my childhood. I got the VHS and remember watching it with my friend in my bedroom on my old bunk bed, then she got the two singing dolls plus Erika’s wedding fashion set and we spent so many hours just playing with them ❤️ She let me have Erika’s little Wolfie figure and wedding dress which I REALLY wish I’d kept! But I stupidly got rid of all my childhood dolls when I thought it was time to “grow up” (a very stupid, unauthentic time for me) This will forever be one of my favourite Barbie movies and I will always love it so much! The soundtrack especially is the best soundtrack out of all the Barbie movies and Preminger has to be my favourite villain to this day he still cracks me up 😂 I’ve always wished I could be Anneliese, she’s so beautiful, elegant, smart and her dress has to be favourite 🩷 And of course just like all the classic Barbie princess and heroines she’s not afraid to stand up for herself and get stuck into fighting for herself and what’s right. Happy 20th anniversary princess and the pauper, I’m sure I’ll still be obsessing over you in the next 20 years!

[theoriginofpete]

untitled strongstar wedding fic ft. pete

woo timeskip sequel let's gooooooo

Chapter 1

[prev: none] [next: link]

“Boy, 90-Day Fiancé sure is cwazy,” says Homestar Runner around a mouthful of chips. It's another lazy afternoon in Free Country, USA, and the Strong-Runner family once again find themselves, unsurprisingly, in front of the television. Strong Bad mans the remote, his stubby legs tangled with Homestar’s longer ones. Their daughter, Pizza Party, sits on the floor in front of the couch, minding her own bowl of chips. (Homestar and Strong Bad are both fond of the “hint of lime” variety. Pete is not.) She looks up at them.

“Y’know, I just realized—you guys never told me the story of how you got engaged!”

“Us?” Homestar and Strong Bad exchange glances.

“Yeah!” She scrambles up to sit on the couch beside her parents, forcing Strong Bad practically into Homestar's lap. “Like, what was it like? Was it super duper romantic? Who asked who?!”

The two of them stare at her for a moment, then Strong Bad snorts.

“Good one, Petey,” he says, shoveling another fistful of chips into his fleshtangle.

Pete frowns. “Hey, I’m serious! I wanna know!”

“Yeah, I’m sure you… do…” Strong Bad trails off as realization dawns. His eyes go wide, and he meets Homestar’s gaze. It takes the athlete a few more seconds to connect the dots (and truthfully there’s always the chance you have to spell out things like this for Homestar), but when he does his expression mirrors Strong Bad’s.

Oh boy.

Homestar and Strong Bad sit up straight and look at their daughter, brows furrowed with concern.

“Um, Pete… we’re like. Not mawwied.”

You could hear a pin drop.

“You… you’re what?”

Strong Bad cringes. “Uh, not married?”

For a long moment Pete says nothing at all, just stares slack-jawed at her fathers.

“But… B-but…” she finally manages, then suddenly she jumps off the couch and points across the room to the far wall. “Then what the heck is that?!” They follow her feathered finger to where a framed photograph of Strong Bad in a wedding dress and Homestar in a tux smiles back at them.

“Oh, that.” Strong Bad scratches the back of his head. “That was a photoshoot we did for the 20th anniversary of that one book what M*** and C**** done wrote.”

“You looked so good in that dwess, sweetie,” Homestar coos.

“Yeah, I know.”

“A photoshoot?!” Pete echoes incredulously. “B-but… but.. but what about me? I’m your daughter! You guys have a kid!”

“You don’t hafta be mawwied to do that,” Homestar says.

“Your Gramma Strong sure wasn’t, and she did it three times,” Strong Bad adds.

“I can’t believe it,” Pete mumbles, clutching her head. “This whole time…”

“Sorry you had to find out this way, kiddo,” Strong Bad says, patting her on the shoulder.

An odd expression crosses Pete’s face, and she lifts her head.

“Wait. If you’re not married, then… that means you never had a wedding?”

“Nope,” Strong Bad says.

The strange expression on Pete’s face intensifies, then she slowly breaks out into a huge grin. “In that case... you can have one now!”

Homestar blinks. “Uh, why?”

“Because they’re fun!”

“You’ve never been to a wedding,” Strong Bad points out.

“Yeah, but they look fun on TV!”

Homestar and Strong Bad exchange glances again, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu. Wasn’t there another major life event of theirs that was preceded by an argument on this very couch? If only they could remember what it was…

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” Pete exclaims, waving a wing in her dads’ faces.

“Look, Pete, it’s just not my style, okay?” Strong Bad says, gently pushing her arm away. (Hadn’t he said that about something else once? Wow, his memory is really spotty today.) “I don’t need no stinkin’ piece of paper to prove anything to anybody.”

Pete practically throws herself into Strong Bad’s lap with a whine. “But Daaaaad! It’s not about the piece of paper, it’s about the party! Don’t you wanna dress up and dance and eat wedding cake?"

Strong Bad freezes. His eyes go wide.

“…Wedding cake?” he echoes, as if in a trance.

“Yeah, wedding cake! You could totally have the biggest cake anyone’s ever seen!”

That’s all the convincing Strong Bad needs. He jumps to his feet, rubbing his gloves together. “Of course! Wedding cake! Man, how could I have been so blind all these years?!”

Pete grins, bouncing on her heels “So you’ll do it?!”

“Heck yeah! Let’s have a wedding!”

“Yes!” Pete punches the air. “Okay, Dad, go ahead!”

Strong Bad balks. “Uh, go ahead with what?”

Pete rolls her eyes at him. “You have to propose, duh!”

“Oh, right,” says Strong Bad. He turns to Homestar. “Hey, dork. Wanna get married?”

“That’s not how you do it!” Pete throws her wings in the air. “You guys are so bad at this!”

“Look, Chicken Wings, I dunno what you want from me,” Strong Bad deadpans, mirroring her exasperation.

“You could at least get a ring or something!” Pete says.

Strong Bad glares at her. “A ring for who? The guy with boxing gloves for hands, or the guy with no hands at all?”

Pete deflates a little, suddenly keenly aware of her fathers’ shared fingerlessness. “…Good point.”

“Look, I already told you, your dad and I don’t need all that rigamarole! We’re on the same page here, right, Homestar?”

Homestar has been uncharacteristically quiet throughout this entire exchange, which causes both Pete and Strong Bad to look at him when they realize. He has a contemplative look on his beaky white face, which is rarely a good sign.

“I dunno, Stwong Bad,” Homestar finally says, fluttering his lashes and coyly scuffing the tip of his foot against the floor. “It might be nice to be wooed a little.”

Strong Bad stares at him. “…Are you freakin’ kidding me.”

“Eww,” Pete sticks out her tongue. Strong Bad waves a glove.

“No, no, it’s cool, I got this. Check this out.” He approaches Homestar and takes the athlete’s nonexistent hands in his own.

“Homestar. Uh, baby.”

As Strong Bad gathers his thoughts, his green eyes soften ever so slightly, and the corners of his mouth quirk fondly upwards.

“Heh, you know… I mean, you know, right? You and me, man. You know there’s nobody else I’d rather co-star on a largely inactive website with. Will you marry me?”

Homestar’s expression goes a little wobbly at Strong Bad’s words. He takes a deep breath, then hums placidly and shuts his eyes.

“Hmm… I think you can do better than that, Stwong Bad.”

Strong Bad’s jaw drops. “What?”

Pete squeals. “Omigosh, this is so much more dramatic than 90-Day Fiancé.”

[cassandra-sims]

[OPINION] The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies is annoyingly worth it.

The new Expansion Pack for The Sims 4 is annoyingly worth it because it includes many key features I find similar to those in other expansion packs.

If you don't own those packs—good for you! You can enjoy a functionality that previously existed across 3 different expansion packs!

However, if you do own them, this article might disappoint you.

These are the top 3 key features I've found similarities with:

Running a Business - This is a functionality that was already implemented in the game. The only major change is that if you own Get to Work expension pack your business will be located in a separate lot, whereas in "Businesses & Hobbies" you can run it from home. However, if you do own Get to Work you can imitate this "home business" functionality by purchasing a small & empty lot for living, and creating a separate space within your retail lot for your sims to live in, and then lock the door to this space to 'household members only'. I personally do it all the time.

Separated Builds in the Same Lot System - It is visually obvious that the sims team reused the system they built for the For Rent expansion pack. In Business & Hobbies it is implemented even better, because you can navigate between your separate builds (which are your "businesses") without any loading screens.

Coffee Bar - Till now, if you wanted to have a coffee bar, you had to own the Get Together expension pack, which I already marked as one of my least favorite expansion packs I own due to its lack of new gameplay.

This is not the first time EA has done something like that, but it used to include small things / objects only. Like swings for example, you can get them from multiple packs (Seasons EP, Life & Death EP, Island Living EP...)

Surprisingly, we also got some key features for free through events:

Reaper's Rewards Event

We got a coffin, which was also included in Life & Death expension pack, but these were originally introduced in the Vampires game pack.

We also received bikes in this event, which is a functionality that exists in Growing Together expension pack.

The Holidays Event

We got the "Super Dream Cube" which is a gamebox allowing you to play video games in the TV if it's located near a TV. This is another functionality that was already introduced in the City Living expansion pack.

We also got the "Festive Frame TV" which is a TV that looks like a painting but is actually a television. This is a small feature that was originally introduced in The Modern Luxe Kit.

Blast from the Past Event

EA granted us a brand new functionality of an alarm clock that was introduced in the new Comfy Gamer Kit.

"The ElectroDance Floor" is a dance floor with a functionality that used to exist only in the Get Together expension pack (although the idea of dance floors later got implemented in other DLCs like My Wedding Stories game pack, but its animations were different).

And how can we forget the Hot Tub we got for the 20th anniversary of The Sims? At that time, if you wanted a hot tub in your game you had to buy the Perfect Patio stuff pack.