#Bella: whew! close one.

[pyshcic]

given how clumsy bella is i have to believe alice saw several instances of her dying stupidly and between herself and Edward they just narrowly helped her avoid it

[mackeydoodledoo]

Keep me at Bay

Pairing: Rosalie Hale x (Vampire Wife)Reader

Original Request: Well i was wondering if you could do a Rosalie hale x vampire wife reader where reader is a extremely powerful vampire and very protective of Rosalie that when one of the packs insults Rosalie reader becomes so enraged that only Rosalie can calm reader down

Summary: You're Rosalie's mate who just happens to be one of the most powerful among the coven. But, easily provoked, especially when it comes to anything involving Rosalie.

Warnings: Insults, Attempted Murder

A/n: WHEW! Here we go another request! Hope that this one is a good read!!

Key: Bold = Shape-Shifter Speech, Italics = Thoughts 

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You were the newest member of the Cullen family. Quite a powerful find Rosalie had picked. Even the Volturi knew not to mess with the Cullen family anymore.

"My strong girl," Rosalie groans as she wraps her arms around your midsection

"Only yours," you chuckle, placing a gentle kiss on her head

"A big softie aren't you?" Emmet teases you

"For her? Always." You chuckle again

You weren't particularly close with Bella, Edward, Jasper and Alice, but you didn't pay mind to them often. You were very close with Emmet though. Being the types of vampires that are usually the muscle of the group. 

“Did she try to beat someone’s ass and try to do her makeup at the same time again?” Emmet continues teasing his sister

“You try to do that yourself...” Rosalie growls

He chuckles as he exits the room. 

“Y/n,” Carlisle knocks on the doorframe to Rosalie’s room

You look up at your father-in-law.

“Time to go,” He says

“No....” Rosalie growls, embracing you even tighter

“Rosie,” Carlisle says, “It’s her turn to join us for the meeting.”

“I’ll be back before you know it love,” You smile, kissing her head

You had the ‘honor’ of going to the Quileute-Cullen treaty meeting for the first time with Carlisle and Esme to discuss the recent trespassing's that have been happening on both lands. 

"We've tracked their scent way far north," Sam explains, "It'll be hard for them to cross both our lands again."

"Thank you Sam," Carlisle gives his gratitude to the Alpha wolf

"How's the new addition to the household?" Paul asks, almost sneering

"I'm doing just fine thank you," you say, unphased

"Finally got the blondie tied down now do you?" He continues to make fun of Rosalie

"Paul," Sam attempts to get him to stop

"What's that supposed to mean?!" You ask, turning to him, eyes beginning to burn a blood red

Your pupils became slits, thinner than the thinnest vein in a human body.

"Come on,” Paul continues to taunt, “She could have any man she wants. She’d probably even do it too.”

“You better watch yourself on what you say about Rosalie you filthy dog,” You begin growling

“She’s. A. Looker,” Paul states, firmly

Your legs make a leap and so does Paul, phasing into his wolf form. 

“Paul!” Same attempts to break up the fight

“You take back what you said about Rosalie!” You growl, gaining the upper hand

“As if!” Paul growls

“Paul!” Sam yells once more, but using a certain vocal tone at him

Paul stops for a moment, but immediately snaps out of his obedient self when you knocked your fist against his jaw. 

“Esme go get Rosalie!” Carlisle tells his wife

“No need,” Rosalie appears next to him

“Whatever you need to do blondie, do it now!” Sam pleads

“Y/n!” Rosalie calls

You were about to sick your fangs into the stench of fur until you heard Rosalie call your name. You slowly look up as the pupils in your eyes turn round again and your head draws itself away from the wolf. 

“That’s enough,” Rosalie coos at you, “Let’s go home...”

Sam drags Paul by the fur as you fully stand and begin making your way towards your lover, as if in a trance set by Rosalie. Rosalie reaches her hands out towards you, placing her soft palms against your cheeks.

“Hey hey... It’s okay,” Rosalie coos, “Don’t mind that dog...”

Paul releases himself from Sam’s grasp and beeline it towards the both of you.

“Paul enough!” Sam yells, phasing into his wolf form

You pull Rosalie against your breast; eyes turning back into slits and you pivot your feet and raise a balled fist. You nail your fist against the under part of his shoulder as he lets out a whimper and is knocked back against a tree. 

“Watch your mouth when you talk about my wife dog...” You growl, “And be weary about picking your fights...”

You pivot your feet back and swing Rosalie’s legs into the air, quite literally, sweeping her off of her feet, beginning to walk away from the clearing. 

You left Rosalie after coming back to the estate after the meeting. However, you had still felt the anger from within, so you left again to channel it all out.

“How’s Paul?” Bella asks, walking into the living room

“He’s alright, his healing capabilities kicked in as soon as I came to check on him,” Carlisle explains

They all turn their heads when they hear footsteps coming down the stairs.

“What is it Rosalie?” Esme asks

“Y/n’s been gone awhile,” Rosalie sighs, “I’m going to go look for her.”

“Be careful,” Esme says, watching Rosalie walk out of the front door.

Rosalie finds you beating an unfortunate tree into oblivion; hoping to get any remaining anger out without the need for Rosalie.

“What did that tree ever do to you?” Rosalie jokes

“Not the time love,” You groan, continuing to get any feeling out of punching the tree

“You’re obviously still in distress,” Rosalie concludes, “Why don’t I help you with that?”

“Listen, babe. I love you,” You sigh, your back turned to her, “But, I don’t want to take anger out on you.”

“And how many times have you taken your anger out on me?” Rosalie asks

You finally bring yourself to stop punching the tree. You look over your shoulder and see Rosalie inching closer to you at the corner of your eye. Despite still feeling anger coursing through your veins, you allow Rosalie to get close to you.

“See?” Rosalie asks, “You’re tense...”

You let out a low, rumbling growl as you try to brush it off as nothing. Oh, but Rosalie was persistent when it comes to you. You let out a reliving sigh as you feel her body gently press up against yours, her arms coiling around your midsection.

“How the hell do you do it?” You ask, turning your head to look at her over your shoulder

“Do what?” She asks, innocently

You let out a chuckle as you pivot around to face her and take her into your arms; spinning her around.

“Keep me at bay,” You smile

“Guess I just have that magic on you,” She smirks

She drops her head down to close the gap between your faces.

[therealvinelle]

Hi, love your metas and your fic. I think you mentioned somwhere that at the end of BD Aro was trying to prevent the fight. What were his motives? According to Edward, the Volturi are cowards, but I didn't get this feeling. Caius was begging for a battle, the guard vocally proclaimed willingness to die for the cause... hell, Jane had to be restrained from running to Bella and punching her in the throat. And I find it unlikely that their leader is less brave than them. Explain Aro's brain pls

Thank you so much! That’s really nice of you to say. And sorry for the late answer.

And explain Aro’s brain, whew. That is a very big question with a very long answer and this post will be a manifesto by the time I’m done. But you wanted Aro’s brain explained so manifesto it is.

So, before we go anywhere I have to make the distinction between Aro of the books and Aro of the movies. Those two are different people.

Starting with appearance, because casting does a lot for me and if a big deviation is made it better be like Ruth Wilson as Marisa Coulter, which is to say it better fit the character. Also, disclaimer, I think most of Twilight was miscast, and especially the Volturi. I’m forever dying at Caius looking like Lucius Malfoy. However, this is an Aro post, so we’re highlighting Aro.

Aro of the books is a twenty-something Greek with skin that has petrified and eyes covered in a milky sort of film, which totals to him looking perfect, as all vampires do, yet frail. When he walks it looks like he’s gliding. This is an otherworldly, ancient, inhuman being. He’s energetic and excitable, yes, but if anything that should add to how very other he is. Casting Michael Sheen is a clear signal that the movies were going in a completely different direction with Aro. Sheen is a great actor who played what he was given perfectly, but what he was given was a very different character.

In New Moon the book, Aro first rejects Edward request because this is Carlisle’s gifted son, and more, this is not what the Volturi do. They are not hitmen. It’s just a big no all around.

Bella enters, and the Aro she meets is a very polite and gracious man who’s delighted to see the human still alive, and pleased Carlisle’s son won’t be suicidal anymore. However, Edward fully intended to step into the sunlight in the middle of Volterra, specifically to provoke the Volturi, and he has broken the law with Bella. Further, Edward makes it clear that he fully intends to walk out of Volterra with his human still human, and that she’ll die of old age if he gets his way. Edward’s contempt of the law could not be more clear. However, Alice shows Aro that Bella’s fate is sealed, she turns or she dies. The law will be upheld. Aro is glad to hear it, and lets the Cullens all go home.

All in all, it’s a very tense occasion where Edward has put Aro in a difficult position, because he’s trying to force him to kill his best friend’s son, and Aro goes “YES THANK GOD” when Alice finally gives him an out.

New Moon of the movies was not this. Starting with the flashback (because I’m being thorough), Aro executes a lowly criminal himself.  I object to that, I think that’s a menial task and Aro doing it himself made the Volturi look less regal, not more. Cut to the present day, Aro rejects Edward’s request because he doesn’t want to waste his gift. We get the whole meeting with Bella, and Aro… well I don’t know why he does any of the things he does. This guy never mentions his friendship to Carlisle, tries to kill our plucky heroes three times in the space of one minute (one, gives Felix the order to kill Bella, stopped by Edward. Two, moves to decapitate Edward, stopped by Bella. Three, he’s about to eat Bella, stopped by Alice), and when he lets them go it feels terribly convenient.

This was a guy written to be the villain of the series, and it showed.

Cut to Breaking Dawn part I’s ending scene, and while I love the song choice for the scene, and fully agree that Aro considers misspelling Carlisle’s name to be a capital offense, the scene itself… we are presented with a villainous, power-hungry megalomaniac who’s just waiting to strike against the Cullens.

We then get Breaking Dawn part II, and I haven’t seen that movie in years but I remember the fight scene well enough. Aro kills Carlisle with the biggest grin on his face, and gives the go-ahead to his Volturi to kill the surviving Cullens and their witnesses.

Contrast that with canon, where Aro’s first words to Carlisle are «Nothing would make me happier than preserving your life today». Now, he’s making it very clear that this meeting will most likely end with Carlisle’s death, but he’s not happy about it. He’s certainly not going to kill him with a smile on his face and laughter in his heart.

The movies needed a hammy villain, and that’s what Michael Sheen played. It is not who Aro is, at all. And he’s not the only character this happened to, but again, this is an Aro post so I’m not going to start raging like Don Corleone about what they did to my boys.

So, with the movies firmly expelled from the post, let’s look at the Twilight series from Aro’s point of view.

Or, rather, we’ll have to start earlier because Aro’s decisions throughout the series are pretty clearly motivated by Carlisle. And that means considering, “why is Carlisle so important, anyway?”

Consider these things: one, Aro is gifted with the power of knowing every single thought a person has ever had. He knows your soul. Two, Aro is the leader of the supernatural world, he has been for over a thousand years.

How many friends does a person with that power and in that position have?

Three, who does Aro even come into contact with?

Starting with number three, for Aro it’s going to be 1) criminals, 2) Volturi guard hopefuls, 3) Weirdos like Laurent who are wasting Aro’s time.

(“But what about the guard!” Well, while we observe close interpersonal relationships between Aro and Jane, and Aro and Renata, and one can assume Corin to be close to the wives, the distinction between Volturi coven and Volturi guard remains. The guards are servants, in some cases beloved servants, but servants nonetheless. It would be inappropriate and weird for Aro to start slumming it with Demetri and Felix)

So, Aro doesn’t get out much, which brings us to point two. The people he does meet, and who are willing to entertain a friendship with the Volturi leader, are going to be people who want something. And that might work for some rulers, Louis XIV built Versailles specifically to make his subjects do this for him, but he had something to gain politically from that. Aro does not, his power is supreme without a need to tolerate brown nosers. More, with his own and Marcus’ gifts, he’ll know right away that he’s being used for power. He would get nothing out of it.

Finally point one, Aro’s gift. Say that we have a vampire who’s not a weirdo and who thinks Aro’s a cool dude. Well, the question now is, who would ever want a person in their life who knows all there is to know about them? I wouldn't want anybody to know every thought I've ever had, I certainly would never seek out a person to know me that deeply when I could just go find normal people to be friends with instead. Not to mention how incredibly unequal such a friendship would be.

In short, I don’t think Aro has any friends.

Enter Carlisle a very amiable person who cherishes Aro for his personality, and doesn’t mind having his mind read. Aro just found a unicorn. Carlisle on his end likes Aro so much that he lives with him for decades. Even if you want to read their relationship as platonic, that’s still a very strong friendship.

Point being that Carlisle is unbelievably precious to Aro, and so very unique. Aro has lived for over three millennia, and never met anyone like this before. There won’t be another Carlisle.

This in turn makes him willing to stretch as far as he can to preserve that friendship and, as the plot thickens, keep Carlisle alive.

Fast forwards to 2006, and Aro is sitting in Volterra minding his own business when Carlisle’s son walks into town demanding his own execution. He has not committed any crimes. Not only is assisted suicide not something the Volturi even do, but this would ruin Aro’s friendship with Carlisle. Even if Carlisle was miraculously understanding of Aro killing his son (which I can’t imagine he would be), this would never leave the air between them. Carlisle could never be around him again after something like that.

So, Aro turns down Edward’s request. “Stupid Volturi man ruining my dramatic suicide, I’ll show him who’s boss!” Edward replies, and runs shirtless into the sunlight. I’m sure Aro was just dying, you had “The Sound of Silence” playing as he stared into nothingness because how is this happening to him. A whiplash of an hour later, Bella is alive again, Aro is happy, we can be done with this now, right? Right?!

No, Edward says, we cannot be done with this. He’s still refusing to turn Bella.

And so we get that whole New Moon exchange where Aro very tellingly shoves the part where Edward WALKED INTO THE SUNLIGHT IN VOLTERRA under the carpet and out of the conversation (for comparison: Irina is executed for false testimony and Bree for breaking a law she didn’t know existed), and he even allows Bella to leave human when he could easily have bitten her himself to keep the Cullens honest. This guy went out of his way to be lenient and show the Cullens good faith.

And then a few months later Irina walks into Volterra, bearing memories of what is unmistakably a Cullen immortal child.

Aro may care for Carlisle, but this is the guy who killed his baby sister so he’d still have Marcus’ gift. He will bend far, very far, for those he cares about, but he will not break. It’s duty above love, Volturi above Aro’s personal preferences. An immortal child is not an offense that can be tolerated, and so it’ll be Didyme 2: Aro Kills Someone He Loves Boogaloo.

By now I think it should be quite clear why I think Aro was trying to prevent the fight. Battle would have meant Carlisle’s certain death.

(And that’s even assuming the Volturi won the fight. With Bella there, there was a chance the Volturi wouldn’t prevail. But even before Bella started showing off, Aro was very much hoping this wouldn’t be another Didyme situation.)

[volturialice]

i’m about 95% sure you ship alice and james (though i can’t remember if that was serious) and am BEGGING you to elaborate, unless you do not, in which case i have no idea who i’ve confused you with,

you're correct, that's Me. i ship that

ship manifesto/slight meta under the cut

I've made no secret of the fact that I love both villain/hero[ine] ships + alice's extremely Gothic backstory, and the obvious combination of those two things is "ship james and alice" so here I am

twilight is, at its core, a story about obsession. edward and bella are obsessed with each other, victoria is obsessed with revenge, imprint-ers are obsessed with their imprint-ees, aro is obsessed with carlisle power.

and the catalyst for the whole story is the concept of Blood Singers, the question "what if you fell in love with your prey, someone you were primally driven to kill?" which is SO spicy I freakin love that shit.

I personally see vampire "singers" as the (even more) fucked-up counterpart of werewolf imprinting—this one person out of everyone in the world who is designed to appeal to you specifically, who you're so powerfully driven to that you literally can't leave them alone. only instead of becoming their mindless love-slave, you're driven to murder and cannibalize them 😈 🥵

and if edward's singer turned out to be his soulmate, what exactly does that say about other vampire/singer pairs? I'm not sAyiNg that everyone's blood singer was actually their soulmate, just that it would be very horrifying in a fun way if that was the case ok

and in the case of james and alice specifically, WHEW. there's just. so much going for them holy shit

james played this HUGE role in alice's life—killing her creator, coming thiiiiiiis close to slorping her like a capri-sun, catalyzing her change—and then she, in the ultimate power move, fucking forgot about him entirely I just

it is bananas to me, B-A-N-A-N-A-S, that james let alice live. because he totally could have killed her while she was changing!! she was utterly helpless and alone! he 100% had the chance and instead he said hmmm let's leave her alive and see how she turns out. there's still some entertainment to be had here. THAT'S SO DISTURBING AND WYLD

and on james's end, alice is literally The One Who Got Away. the victim he failed to victimize. the lone blot on his centuries-long perfect record of murder. his one and only failure. how the mere idea of her out there, alive and whole, blithely living her life as a bloodless, invulnerable vampire, must torment him

in a less protagonist-centered story, james would have gone after alice instead of bella in twilight—I mean, she's the one he has history with! unfinished business! that's where the STAKES were stephenie. that's where the SPICE was.

anyway. do I ship james/alice in the sense that I want them to ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after together? god no. yawn. but do I ship them in the sense that I want to read all about them hunting and fleeing and manipulating and gaslighting and tormenting each other and maybe while they're at it they can have a little hatefuck, as a treat? yes. yes I very much do

"I still regret that I never got to taste"

like ok you profoundly horny disgusting little down bad inc*l

[tornsurvivors]

@tornsavior 

It always so captivating watching Alicia getting ready. Especially when it was formal wear. Bella’s gaze always lingered far longer than was appropriate, yet when it it’s just them it was fully enjoyed. She had to admit that she was rather excited to be part of Grandpa Otto’s birthday celebration. She’d taken to calling him grandad, cause god he was so sweet, and always made her feel at home. That and he had a wonderful sense of humor.  So it’s no surprise that Bella had made sure to get him a extra nice belt buckle that reminded her of him.

Her thoughts had been so happily interrupted when Alicia was right in front of her. Bella almost missed the undone tie because whew, did she enjoy Alicia taking her in. A shiver and a soft whimper fell from Bella’s lips. Bella was wearing a simple maroon dress, that hugged all the right places that was perfect for dancing. Her mom had helped her pick it out awhile ago. She just hadn’t found a reason for wearing it. To be honest she also really wanted to dance with Alicia as well. So she was saving it.

Softly her hands playing with the tie for a moment, not meeting Alicia’s gaze yet. “Darlin. You look so very handsome.” Bella’s words whispered in Alicia’s ear, all while her hands are slowly tying the tie, nice and straight. Hands linger against Alicia’s neck resting on her shoulders. All while Bella takes a moment to trail kisses down her jaw, till stealing one kiss. Gently and passionate at the same time. Pulling back there’s a smile present  as her eyes take in Alicia in her tux. It’s a moment too long cause Bella’s aware of where thoughts about her lover are headed. Towards the bed where the jacket laid.

“As much as I’d love to personally inspect this tux darlin’, if we don’t leave we’ll miss the party.” Bella mutters against Alicia’s lips while pulling the jacket up onto Alicia’s shoulders. Enjoying every brush against her lover.  

“Lead the way darlin.” Bella replied as Alicia held out her arm to take her down to the party. “Sides I wanna make sure we get a dance together as well Alicia..” Bella whispers as they finally make it downstairs where the party was being held for Otto.

It gets her every damn time.  Jus’ the way Bella looks at her, and watches her.  That look in her eye was somethin’ else. Alicia knew she woulda been a fool to not let her in, or else she never woulda been this happy. She could feel her own heartbeats quicken the closer Bella drew to her and started to work on her tie. She could smell this sweet fragrance Bella wore, and it made her feel light-headed in the best way possible. Goddamn, jus’ the combination of everything that had to do with Bella at this moment was makin’ her crave her lover. Never had she seen Bella in anything like that dress, ever before. It was a very pleasant surprise. Alicia was subconsciously biting her own bottom lip as her eye greedily roved over every inch of her girlfriend’s curves. 

Then her eye closes, and her breath hitches-- heart hammering wildly at the sensation of lips on her skin. So gentle, yet it felt like it was setting her body on fire. She wanted Bella’s hands inside her shirt suddenly, and down her pants. When she exhaled roughly, a laugh came with it. Genuine mirth. She could still feel her lips tingling from the kiss, before she dragged her tongue along her own bottom lip and savored the taste. She could taste the exotic chocolate she’d gotten for her as a gift the other day. Bella sure had a great taste in exotic delicacies. 

She still didn’t speak, at least not with her voice... just her eye, as she slid her arms through the sleeves of the jacket, helping Bella pull it on. 

When Bella offered her arm, she wrapped hers around the slender waist instead and pulled her girlfriend back into her, bodies pressed against one other flush.  Alicia then smiles, that trademark smile where it’s playful-- yet somewhat seductive all at once. When she eventually spoke, her timbre was low and husky. You’d be able to tell how affected she was by the simple touches and kisses Bella had graciously given her.  “Do not fret, m’dear. I’ll let you undress me later as a treat.”  She then dipped her head to capture Bella’s lips with her own once more into a slow and twice as passionate kiss. She then breaks the kiss, almost reluctantly... because kissing Bella is just the best feeling in the whole world and she doesn’t want to stop,  and pulls back in an arm’s length. Jus’ so she could look over her lover once more and licks her bottom lip. “...Jus’ as long you let me get you outta that dress, too.”  

She then hooks her arms with Bella’s and walked down to the party, which was being held outside in the backyard-- where tables had been set up. Along with decorations and beautiful lights.  Alicia couldn’t help but feel pride bursting within her heart as she stepped out on the back porch with Bella on her arm, drawing the attention of the guests. The majority of them were certainly impressed and gawked in awe. Alicia just grinned, knowing they were the best looking couple of the evening. She then tilts her head in to whisper to Bella,  “Look at how taken they are... by how beautiful you are, love.” 

[somediyprojects]

Luna Mystica stitched by Beverly Caouette. Pattern designed by Drin Parilla of Bella Filipina Designs.

Luna Mystica by Bella Filipina. Started January 12th, 2022. Finished March 5th, 2022. Stitched on A special order Monaco 28 ct by Sassy Fabby's.

Whew! As beautiful as this design is, I AM SO thankful it's over! She was a beast to finish, and that is saying A LOT. If anyone has ever perused this blog, or if you know me, y'all know I am no newbie to larger patterns. This girl though. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I hate any thread even hints at being related to the Devil's Pubes (Kreinik), and this Lady has TONS of Rainbow Gallery threads. Since she was my first ever Bella pattern, I wanted to stick as close as I could to what the pattern was called for... I tried. I really did. By the third time frogging and restitching one of the bigger flowers I was done trying! I resorted to blending one strand of Rainbow with one strand of DMC so I wasn't quite as evil, but still. AND it's everywhere. Hence my absolute delight at being DONE.

I also took liberties with the beading. Please forgive my not as "blingy" version as the original. By the time I got to the beading (I always do my beading last!) I was over this beauty and just didn't have the strength, or patience, to power through the TONS of beads that are also required. All the extras on the "Moon" and hanging from it I kinda just pared it down a little.

My lovely has a couple of different colors that what the pattern calls for. I would NOT consider her a conversion per se, I just switched out a few that seemed to be too close in color to each other. They were getting completely lost in translation from pattern to actual stitching on the fabric (it happens sometimes with colors that are very close). I also used a couple of different for the flowers, and of course, for the aforementioned Rainbow Gallery, the blend was DMC that wasn't supposed to be there. So mine may a bit different than what she is truly supposed to look like. She is very beautiful though! and when all is said and done, she was worth it! Stitch her, you won't be sorry :)

One last thing! The pics below are from two different cameras, at two different times of day, in two different rooms! LOL. My laptop is STILL giving me issues (a new one is on the horizon soon I hope!) and the result is not always being able to communicate between my cameras and my computer. I consider myself lucky that I was able to grab the patchwork selection I got. Anyway, this is why the fabric looks so different in color from one pic to the next. It is much more accurate in some picture than others. It is far closer to the ones that look similar to 930/931 with a little 502/501 thrown in there.

[lawandordersvu1234]

YOU TASTE LIKE CANOLI

Carisi x reader

Warning: Smut just pure filthy smut and some Italian too. Translations will be in the story.

You were a mentee for Carisi for a few months. Having graduated from Harvard law school and moving up to New York. You have always wanted to be a ada it was a dream of yours for a long LONG time and with Carisi by your side there was nothing that could go wrong. One day you noticed Carisi downing some pepto bismol. Your eyebrows furrowed in worry as you walked over to him.

“Hey, are- are you ok.” You said as she tilted her head at him

“Yea Yea I’m fine, I’m just worried about this sir Toby case. It is eating me alive this case. I wanna make sure I don’t let those victims down.” He said as he closed the cap to the bottle of pink stuff.

“Hey.... you are going to do great. You will win this case Dom. I believe in you.” You said as you touched his face. “Hey how about we go out and have some fun hm? Loosen up?” You grabbed his hand and he looked at you worried but he kept his cool as he stumbled out of his chair and grabbed his coat. You both walked to the nearest dive bar and sat down at the table smiled the waiter came over and you ordered some shot and the waiter went to get them. You rested your hand on your face smiling at him and he looked down shyly.

“What are you so shy about handsome.” Carisi looked up at you and smiled lightly

“ah it’s nothing-”

“no no no- tell me.”

You touched his hand as his face went red as a tomato and he looked at you biting his lip.

“It’s nothing (Y/N)”

You pouted as the waiter came back with your shots and you both started to down theming by one. A few hours later you and Carisi were a giggling mess. He then fumbled around for his wallet so that he could pay but you beat him to it smirking.

“Walk me home pretty boy?” You got up and grabbed your coat as Carisi got up as well and put it on you and you both were out of the bar quickly. Your apartment was about 3 blocks down from the dive bar. As you went into your pocket to find your keys Carisi turned you around and he just looked at you and admired you. Yes he was mentoring you about being a ada, yes sometimes he would stare at your ass when you were destroying a suspect on stand in trial. He may or may even not have dreams about you. He wanted to keep things professional not mess things up but he couldn’t take it anymore. You looked back and him biting you lip and in a blink of an eye his lips were on yours as you felt yourself letting go as you kissed him back. You liked him for the longest time possible you fumbled with the doorknob as the door flew open and both of you stumbling inside and Carisi slamming the door with his foot. He started to kiss you aggressively as you started to shrugged off his coat. You pulled away for air as he spoke something in Italian

“Dio sei così bella, così perfetta, te l'ho mai detto?” (god you are so beautiful, so perfect, did i ever tell you that?) he asked as he pulled you closer to him. The Italian threw you off tremendously but you understood what he said as you threw some back at him to surprise him. “che ne dici se smetti di parlare e inizi a fregarmi. allora puoi vedere la mia bellezza vicino bello.” (how about you stop talking and start screwing me. then you can see my beauty up close handsome.) Carisi growled at the response and he picked you up and threw you over his shoulder. You squealed and giggled as he laid you on the bed gently and got on top of you and kissed you deeply. You kicked your shoes off as he kicked his off too. He then flipped you as you were on top of him looking at him with full blown lust in your eyes.

“mi fisserai o mi fotterai senza senso amore mio?” (are you gonna stare at me or you gonna fuck me senseless my love?) he asked as he fiddled with your pants you swatted his hand away and smirked lightly as you kissed him deeply. “Mmm I’m in control.” You said as you straddled his hips and he bit his lip as you slowly started to grind on him. He moaned lightly hitting his head against the pillow panting heavily as you went a little faster “cazzo, ti senti così bene ... dio non fermarti. non fermarti, cazzo!” (fuck- you feel so good...god dont stop. dont fucking stop! ) you moaned lightly not because he felt good under you, but the Italian is driving you crazy. Oh shit the way he is moaning and speaking Italian has gotten you super wet. “cavalcami bambina cavalcami finché non vedo le stelle” ( ride me baby girl ride me till i see stars) you took of yours pants and your thing as you went down on him. You both moaned loudly as you began to ride him bouncing up and down on him. “Fuck! Fuck! Dom!” You realized you said his first name and he just growled and went faster. “ti piace che ti fotto la tua fica stretta? hm? ti piace che parli italiano? hm principessa? cazzo sono così vicino” ( you like me fucking your tight cunt? hm? you like me speaking italian? hm princess? fuck i am so close-) After that he flipped you over and pulled out of you and he went down on you eating you out. You moaned loudly as you arched you back off the bed. God this man is making you feel things you have never felt when you are with another guy. A few more licks later you came in his mouth and he licked all of your juices up. “Mmm ya know ya taste like canoli?” You looked down at him and chuckled lightly confused “I never heard you say that before Sonny.” He chuckled and wiped his mouth as you crawled over to him and looked at him, smirking . “now let’s see if you taste like Canoli.”

WHEW CHILLE THAT WAS- WHEW

[igarbagecannoteven]

10, 12, 13, 14, 30 whew i had to do that from memory bc im on my phone rn bro i am so excited to sleep. i love sleep can't wait to do it. might have some saltines WAIT I BOUGHT CHEESE STICKS TODAY OH YOU KNOWWWW ITS ABOUT TO BE A PARTY UP IN ROOM 1 anyway those are my soft questions for you enjoy them i will be eating a cheese stick while you answer these probably maybe xoxo bella

cheese sticks!!!! so glad you were finally able to get some i hope they're extra yummy <3

10. what's something you're excited for? i'm going to my first real concert this month so that's exciting! i'm also excited for the possible roadtrip i may be going on this month altho tbh i'm not sure if that's happening (cross your fingers kids.) also also i'm trying to gather up the courage to ask my mom if i can borrow her car one late night so i can go highway driving with the windows down so! potentially exciting song-screaming coming up

12. how are you? i'm doing alright! my tide went out completely earlier today which basically means i got to the point where i had zero energy to do anything/talk to anyone bc i've had to be around other people i don't usually live with a lot the past,, idk (time is fake) but i was able to recharge and now i'm doing better. still kinda emotionally exhausted but definitely on the uptrend :))

13. what's your comfort food? chicken tikka masala and what my family calls "christmas pasta" which is pasta made with spinach (i think? it's not enough to taste it) and red sauce (that's how it got its name, bc it's green and red) (we're extremely original i know)

14. favorite feel-good show? derry girls is a good one! it's very funny but also feels rather,, solid? if that makes sense? idk it's just a good show :))

30. what reminds you of home (doesn't have to mean house... just things that remind you of the feeling of home) i'm extremely lucky in that i have multiple places/people that feel like home so i'm just gonna rattle some things off let's go: the smell of low tide, real holly leaves not the fake christmas decorations, threadbare couches, the temporary fences they put around sea turtle nests, chicken tikka masala, tall and messy bookshelves, 'gotta get out' by 5sos, twix bars, extra long twin bedsheets, sunsets, laying in the grass under trees that don't have super thick foliage, inside a k-12 school when it's closed but in the daytime, beanbags that have fake fur patterns esp snow leopard-y ones, when people hold their hair up in a bun with multiple writing utensils, antm, uprooted trees where the entire root system was ripped out of the ground and left a large hole next to it, 'the music man' but not the newer movie version, 'summertime' from porgy and bess, little white wildflowers, the nats, and many more

[emmettrosalie]

Shit post #207

you know I’m like less and less interested in hearing twilight from Edwards POV (perhaps I’m just jaded) and have been thinking a lot about smeyer releasing midnight sun but it’s not the same timeline as twilight and instead covers the summer inbetween twilight and new moon and is from Ed’s POV because some disaster is happening in the vamp world and it’s basically Edward hiding all this from Bella while mulling over the possibility that one day he might have to subject her to this world fully according to Alice’s visions and over the summer Bella’s so blissfully happy she doesn’t recognize the signs that something dangerous is close and Edward doesn’t want to tell her because he doesn’t want her to hate him because he loves her so much and we get to see them be cute MORE and be in love and bond but we also understand more of the dangers of vampirism because it’s what Edward sees in full and not what bella sees in human time but whatever details you know and everything gets resolved (or so we think) and it cuts back into the new moon timeline and Edward is finally starting to believe that he and Bella can be together, you know his world isn’t so dangerous and he can protect her from anything, and then Bella is opening her gifts and Edward is thinking about everything she wants from him in terms of immortality and he can see that future and then she gets the paper cut! whew! could you imagine!

[silver-wields-a-pen]

Vera stood at the kitchen counter chopping vegetables, while talking to Ambrose over her shoulder. “The trick is to follow the recipe exactly.”

“Hmm,” he replied, fighting amusement, “I never would have guessed such simple advice is the key to perfect sauce.”

Vera glanced at him and waggled the knife in his direction. “You think you're funny—”

“Know, sweetheart,” he corrected. “I know I'm funny, but go on, finish your thought.”

She rolled her eyes and turned away before he caught her smile. “What I mean is, every family has their own version of this recipe. There is no one right way to make it. That's why, if someone else asks you to help, you make sure they give you their recipe first.”

“Of course,” Ambrose agreed, swirling his glass of red wine in a gentle, methodical way before taking a sip. “If you came to my house and changed my grandmother's recipe she'd be aghast!” He widened his eyes and pulled a horrified face. “The disrespect! Dishonour! Dishonour on you! Dishonour on your cow!”

Vera spluttered a laugh. “Stop!”

Signora Motta re-entered the kitchen. “And just what is so funny?” she questioned, a knowing smile tilting her full lips.

“Ah, Signora,” Ambrose began, getting up and moving towards Vera, “my lovely companion has been educating me on Italian etiquette, while praising your delicious food.”

Signora Motta snorted, unimpressed. “Is it cooking when nothing is begun yet, eh?”

Vera elbowed him and Ambrose shrugged. “Who can say? A true meal begins in the imagination. The aroma filling the house and rousing the appetite. Laying eyes upon it, like seeing a lover after a long absence. That first taste. Mwah!” He pinched his fingers together and kissed them. “Delicious!”

Signora Motta raised an eyebrow and glanced at Vera, whose intense focus on her half-chopped veg didn't take attention from the blush staining her cheeks. “I see,” she said, implying so much in so few words. “Well, you behave in my kitchen or I throw you out, understand?”

“Like a blow to the head,” he replied, crossing himself.

“Hmph.” Signora Motta glanced again at Vera. “I have to see to the baby quickly. Five minutes, okay? You okay?”

Vera nodded.

Signora Motta pointed at Ambrose, who held both hands up, acting innocent. “You sit and drink your wine, guest of Vera. Don't move, touch nothing.” She left the room shaking her head and muttering to herself.

Ambrose wiped imaginary sweat from his brow. “Whew! When you said you had a sort-of-overbearing-mother, you weren't kidding.” He chuckled.

Vera turned to lean her back against the counter. “I love my grandmother, but she's not typical,” she admitted with a wince. “Bella's mama is...involved.” Her smile a mix between rueful and amused, she shook her head. “How is your arm in this heat? Does it hurt?” Her eyes flicked to where Ambrose fussed with the end of a buckle.

“Ah, this?” He shook his head. “No, it's actually very comfortable.” He'd chosen one that looked more “normal” than his usual style. He didn't want to frighten Vera's family. The skin tone was like his own and dotted with isolated freckles like his real arm had been. At times, he forgot it wasn't real. Catching sight of it, he felt the loss all over again. The usual following flash of anger towards Shun came slower though. A sign he was close to forgiveness.

From Brotherhood: Deadly Lineage (random extract)

Tag list: @catharticallysarcastic​ @guardians-of-las-vyxen​ @hyba​ @illthdar​ @rae-writes-the-thing​ @wildswrites​ Please lemme know if you’d like adding or removing from the list ^=^

[morelike-bi-light]

Bingo Fic: Rosalie and Emmett as Parents

So this blog reached 500 followers this week! When I started this blog, it never occurred to me that this would happen, or that I’d find such an awesome fan community and such incredible mutuals, but it did and I did, and it’s kind of changed my life! So much so, that I wanted to celebrate! Those blog bingo sheets have been making their rounds, so I made one for myself, and decided that if anybody filled it out, I’d gift them a 500 word fic (500 words for 500 followers, but that wasn’t planned lol) for a prompt of their choosing!

One of my fav mutuals @rosalie-stan was the first to reply, and thus, the first bingo fic is all for her, for the prompt in the title! Hope you don’t mind - I went a little over 500 words, and then added some headcanons, because I honestly loved your prompt way too much. Hope you like it!

❤️❤��❤️

It's a quiet summer afternoon for the first time in almost a decade. The air conditioner is whirring gently, even if Rosalie and Emmett can't feel it. It's not for their sake - Bree volunteered to take the kids out to a movie, but little Alicia was still too young for the theater.

Not that Emmett minds - in fact, he can't think of anywhere else he'd rather be, than plopped down on the couch with his exhausted baby in his arms, and his soulmate tucked against his shoulder as she fingers through a piece of historical fiction that Carlisle had called 'certainly' entertaining and 'passably' accurate.

"Aw. Blinky," he grins, cradling the baby’s curl-covered head closer to his chest as she gurgles sleepily. His brows furrow for a moment. "That is crazy. She's like a little mini Rose."

Rosalie glances up to shoot him a dry look before going back to her book.

"Why do you insist on doing this?"

"What, tell the truth?" He shrugs, carefully so as not to jostle either his daughter or wife. "It's not my fault you married an honest man."

"She's a baby."

"So?"

"So, she looks like a baby - which I'm not."

Emmett springs for the throat. "You're my baby."

Rosalie bites her lip, smothering a grin. She shouldn't reward his bad behavior.

“Don't be funny," she huffs, batting at him absently.

"Impossible," he declares with a smirk. "And you know how many little brothers and sisters I had. I'm a certifiable baby face expert. Trust me, she's almost as close to you as Donnie."

"I trust you more than anyone else in the world," she deadpans. "Doesn't mean you're right."

"But you haven't disagreed either," he points out. "Not that it matters. Whether you disagree or not, she still looks like you."

Rosalie turns on him, closing the book. "You say that about all our kids!"

Emmett shushes her, pressing a cheeky finger to his lips and nodding at the drowsy baby curled in the crook of his arm. Rosalie rolls her eyes - Lisa could sleep through a hurricane - but lowers her voice just a bit.

"A few months ago, you tried to convince me that Bree has my smile, and she's not even related to us."

"I didn't say that," he snorts. "I said you smile the same way."

She raises a perfect brow in disbelief. "And that's different?"

He's as unaffected as she is unimpressed. "Totally."

"Well, I'm not buying it."

"No, really," he drawls. "You both do that cute little thing where you clamp your mouth shut like you're trying to hold it in, but then something will make you laugh, and it'll stretch real wide and get all dimpley."

If she could flush, Rosalie thinks she'd be beet red. Emmett's eyes are crinkled, glimmering like stars. Home, they say, I'm home when I see you, when I see our kids. It should be impossible to say so much with a simple look. She has to duck her head, look at her book's cover instead. "Is that so?"

"Yeah, it's so," he murmurs softly, and sits up straight. "And I can prove it... 'cause you're doing it right now."

The dam breaks, and she can feel the truth of his words as a smile blossoms on her lips.

"You're ridiculous," she says.

"You love it." He's right again.

She shakes her head, sighing as she leans against his shoulder, looking over their fourth child carefully.

"You're wrong about this one though. If anyone, she looks like you - the little button nose, and those same curls like you and Beth." Her smile softens. "This one's all yours."

Emmett shakes his head right back. "She might have my hair, maybe my nose, too. Hard to say - but look."

Alicia's eyes flutter softly as she pries them open, a sweet, familiar blue. Her gaze wanders a moment then settles on her parents, before she babbles a short hello.

"Look at those baby blues. Those are yours, right?"

Rosalie stares for a moment. A phantom pain burns like ice in her throat, but just for a moment.

"Right." She swallows, but she doesn't try to hide her smile this time. "Right. Those are mine. I guess she's both of ours."

“Course, she is,” he hums. “They all are. Always will be.”

❤️❤️❤️

As I mentioned, in the process of writing this, I accidentally created a whole Rosalie-Emmett family, so paragraphs of headcanons for context galore under the read more! Otherwise, hope you enjoyed the fic and thanks for following!

So as you probably noticed, Bree is alive and well and a part of the family in this AU. She not only lives and is a Cullen, but Emmett and Rosalie have adopted and adore her just like their own. Thus, she’s the oldest kid in the Rose-Emmett fam. They've had her for about a quarter of a century during this fic. Eight years ago, Carlisle discovered that a vampire couple could genetically have a child by using a surrogate. After some discussion between Emmett, Rosalie, and Bree, the family decided to expand. Yay!

With this, the second eldest kid is Elizabeth Cadence 'Beth' Cullen, age seven. When she was a human, Rosalie had always pictured naming her first daughter Elizabeth, and her middle name comes from her father's favorite human sister whom he'd once promised a goddaughter. Seeing as he’s the only Cullen with a happy backstory, I like to think he’d want his kids to have ties to his human family, even if he’s outlived them by a century. Anyways, they call her Beth. She has black curls, big wide eyes, and an easy smile like her father, plus the small, straight nose and excellent bone structure of her mother.

Beth is a goofball who loves to get herself into either trouble or danger, though the latter of which is hard to come by with an extended family of vampires and werewolves at her back. However, she is also incredibly generous, whether with her toys, her time, or her patience. She has a quick temper, though, and goes cold when she's angry, like her mom. Her favorite activity is running with her family, especially when Bree picks her up and carries her on her back, but she's also fond of music, and is passionate about dance. Her favorite babysitter is either Aunt Alice or Uncle Jasper, both of whom coddle her immensely, and her role model is definitely Aunt Leah.

Their third child is Donovan Matthew Cullen, age three. He gets his first name from a baby book, but his middle name is that of Emmett's eldest human brother, who always looked after the rest of the Masen clan. He has soft, wavy dark blonde hair, doe eyes, and a full pout like his mother, but he shares Emmett's button nose. During the summer, his cheeks get freckly and the tips of his hair gets sun-bleached almost white. (He also needs glasses as he gets older.)

Baby Donnie, as his older sisters call him, is a serious little fellow, very polite and horribly gentle, who likes to read - which is why he gets on with his aunt Bella so well. However, he can get just as rowdy as his sister, though he is greatly less likely to get messy due to his thoughtful nature and sensitivity to criticism. He gets along perfectly with both Grandma Esme and Uncle Edward, who is dying to teach him the piano, but secretly his favorite is probably Uncle Seth, who always knows how to make him feel both good and normal.

Their youngest, and the topic of this ficlet, is Alicia Esme 'Lisa' Cullen, not yet one. Obviously, her first name is derived from Alice, and her middle from Esme. They chose a slightly different name for her first because as Rosalie puts it, she should always remember to be her own person, even as she learns from others. Emmett assures Bella she has dibs on the next daughter, but I think four is enough for them - and she tells him as much. From Emmett, Lisa inherited dark, wavy hair, a button nose, and a round babyface, but she has her mother's eyes and full, solemn mouth.

Lisa grows up to be a mellow kid, partially due to nature and partially because she's had to learn to adapt on the fly without breaking too much of a sweat. She has the best sense of humor in the family, and the sharpest wit, due to observational skills and an impeccable sense of timing honed by years of living with the boisterous extended family she has (which includes the Clearwaters as step aunt and uncle, and through them, the wolf pack.) Out of everyone, she is the most down-to-earth, but also has the hardest time initiating confrontation when she’s hurt or upset. She has a very special bond with Grandpa Carlisle, and she adores her Aunt Victoria (because why not combine all the AUs?).

Whew, that was a lot! I would not blame anyone who took one look at those blocks of text and ran the other direction. But I enjoyed writing them, so it’s all good! If you actually made it this far, I am very impressed, and flattered, and I love you and thank you with all my heart. Hope you had fun reading!

[tarmairons]

re: that last hp ask i got

i know i said i wouldn’t be cross-posting my bellamort/dark au/riddle fam headcanons from twitter but i’ve decided to post a lengthy updated masterpost here after all so ENJOY bon apetit 

1. see the thing is that 90% of my hcs can’t be described with words bc they’re just.. feelings.. aesthetics.. vibes.. vague scenarios that make me feel some sort of way… the dark au has a certain Feel and i just stick a bunch of domestic concepts in there and shake it all up and that’s it shshsh

2. disclaimer: im like 75% sure my self indulgent ramblings won’t make sense so sorry about that

3. i was fully serious that one time i said on twitter that voldemort’s no.1 priority after taking over the wizarding world was doing sth about his snace (snake face) so yeah. first things first he’s not as fugly in the dark au. as mentioned previously he just looks like mr. ralph and probably wears ornate haute couture power suits

4. the public doesn’t actually know who the augurey is for YEARS… they know whoever it is is voldemort’s second in command and sure there’s rumors that he has an heir but nobody knows it’s delphi. this way she doesn’t have to be reclusive and hide away, she just lives her life, studies and trains, masters the art of dark magic, hangs around town etc, and no one suspects anything bc who would think this tiny super friendly innocent looking girl is the dark lord’s kid — her identity isn’t revealed until she’s deemed Ready to publicly take up her position. and when she is revealed it’s a Big Moment bc she’s a drama queen and lives for attention

5. delphi is taller than bellatrix

6. speaking of bellatrix. she’s presumed dead after the battle of hogwarts which turns out to be a cool bonus for the dark side. any leftover resistance? she’ll take care of that and they’ll never see her coming. tbh this seems a lot cooler in my head bc movie bellatrix would not be stealthy enough to stay hidden for years she would probs trip over something and accidentally commit arson within a few days. but yeah sneaky assassin sounds sexy. plus to be super honest i imagine bella is a teensy bit more collected than in the films... no shade at helena y’all know i would die for her but there are in fact things i would change about her bella. so yeah for a while the only people who know she’s alive aside from her immediate family are probs rod and the malfoys

7. hm so. the malfoys…. much to think about. narcissa did lie to voldemort’s face during the battle so logically he should have killed her the moment he realized she knew harry was alive all along. but this is a soft dark au so let’s pretend bellatrix was like hey dude don’t kill my sister maybe and voldemort was like k. i mean no harm done, harry potter is properly dead in this universe after all

8. but seriously tho. the only reason voldemort didn’t yeet narcissa into a wall was for bella’s sake. he’s nice like that, he probably promised her at one point that he wouldn’t violently murder her family. peak romance

9. delphi is surprisingly close with both her parents although with voldemort it’s more of a mentor-student relationship than a parent-child one bc he’s Like That. growing up it was always bella who insisted they treat delphi more like a child and less like a weapon and voldemort wasn’t always happy about that bc he’s emotionally constipated and also never had a childhood. also he’s, like, evil. so yes, reminding voldemort that delphi was her daughter too sometimes got bella in trouble bc we all know of voldemort’s superiority issues. but no bella didn’t stop insisting that delphi deserved an actual childhood and in the end they compromised like functional adults and delphi turned out pretty well for someone raised by 2 of the most terrifying people alive

10. but yeah that’s not to say voldemort and kid delphi never had soft moments. they did. he even picked her up every once in a while. everyone was surprised, bella most of all. she probably cried in the bathroom later bc the softness overwhelmed her. i’m not sure if i mean that in a sarcastic shitpost kind of way or if she was really moved to tears. y’all decide for yourselves

11. delphi looks very very much like bella but she has tom riddley eyes.. so dark they’re nearly black. and soulless. maybe they even flash red when she’s enraged. and she has very aristocratic very controlled tom riddley mannerisms. it’s not until you piss her off and she goes off the rails that the bella side of her personality kicks in

12. delphi gets along really well with the malfoys (except lucius. she thinks he’s pathetic and likes to tease him. in a friendly way but it’s still harsh. she gets that from her mom) esp scorp. scorp thinks this makes him cool at school bc he gets to fist bump the augurey and not get murdered for it

13. speaking of hogwarts. umbridge is scared shitless of delphi and it’s always a school-wide spectacle when the augurey drops by unexpectedly on official business and umbridge starts stuttering and quivering. scorp sometimes makes a point to approach umbridge and delphi when they’re talking and act all chummy-chummy with his cousin just to make himself look powerful and Cool in front of umbridge and the other students

14. i still don’t know whether voldemort would call delphi ‘delphini’ or just ‘delphi’… i imagine he’s a strict stick-up-his-ass kinda father but who knows. he does call bellatrix ‘bella’ but that’s different i guess

15. but THEN AGAIN he does have a gigantic soft spot for delphi too. maybe he slips up every so often and calls her delphi. i’m literally making this shit up as i go along i’m just smashing my mf keyboard and occasionally glancing at my messy hcs notebook. I TOLD YALL i don’t have solid hcs i just have VIBES and AESTHETICS. the only way you’ll get specific hcs out of me is if you ask very specific questions

16. weirdest brotp is delphi and rodolphus. nobody knows where that came from but they get along so well and it confuses everybody

17. we been knew that bella is batshit crazy and criminally insane or whatever but against all odds she is a surprisingly good mother. she’s always been soft for family (narcissa etc) so it makes sense that she would legit die for delphi. they have this super casual bantery relationship YALL GET ME bella is so proud of delphi she’s literally that “my little baby off to destroy people” meme!!! honestly mother-daughter relationships are my goddamn weakness i would die for the two of them

18. delphi has a gf (underdeveloped oc time!) who, for the longest time, doesn’t know who she is dating bc delphi is obviously not allowed to say. she finds out the truth eventually and she is properly freaked out for a very very long time. and since all of these hcs are stupidly soft we’re just gonna keep making them softer: the gf is terrified of delphi’s parents at first (obvs) but they’re both extremely fond of her (well, bella is, voldemort probs doesn’t care all that much about who delphi is dating so long as she’s not of subpar blood status or secretly spying for the opposition ya know. as long as delphi trusts her he does too)

19. no but really voldemort trusts delphi and bella implicitly. with delphi it’s bc he raised her and he trusts her to be loyal bc she knows no other way, she was meant to be an extension of his power etc. but with bella it’s something he learns over time, to trust her judgement bc despite her many many flaws she’s very perceptive and usually right

20. voldemort probably makes more horcruxes. still haven’t decided how this ties in with the fact that he’s now safely immortal again and neither delphi nor bella are. who knows maybe they all do the do and split their souls. much to think about. feel free to send ur thots and ideas my way

21. ya know im basic and always on my bellamort bs and therefore: as the years go by voldemort warms up to bella. not that he wasn’t already extremely fond of her before but he kicks it up a notch. i mean, he’s already taken over the world so it’s high time to start experimenting with other wilder things like Feelings. 80/90 years old isn’t too late to experience Love or whatever. might as well wake up one day and realize you’re completely and utterly in love with the woman you’ve spent the last 50+ years with whew. LIKE to be fair bella knows him better than anyone — they understand each other, they’re familiar with each other’s likes, dislikes, mannerisms, nervous tics etc etc. let’s be real it freaked voldemort out at first, being vulnerable to any degree (not that he let it show) but it just became so easy to tell her things that it became a natural thing to do. and obvs he trusts her to keep everything between them and never judge him for anything so that’s sweet

22. y’all keep asking me for domestic hcs but what can i possibly say?? imagine literally any domestic scenario ever and just think bellamort and i’ve probably imagined that same scenario before. except its sexier bc the world is dark and evil and they live in a dark gloomy super fancy manor. so we have these 2 goths right but they’re in love but in that casual familiar way YALL GET ME and sometimes they even drink coffee together in the mornings or like. do that thing where Person A returns from work late at night and its dark and raining and Person B is already home just chilling and they don’t even have to talk they just go about their nighttime routine but it’s soft and familiar and COMFORTABLE. i clearly dont have enough softness in my life i just. love domestic scenarios bye

23. i forgot everything else i wanted to write bc i got distracted by domesticity. im also thinking about how voldemort absolutely despises the thought of any pda but he’ll take bella by the wrist in public every so often when he wants to get her attention, or like. put his hand on her back. small things but oh so soft

24. hhhh okay i have a LOT to say about the power fam’s fashion choices but it’s hard to explain without pictures. i have a wholeass ppt presentation but i’m not about to upload 20+ slides to tumblr. but i seriously was not kidding when i said voldemort wears fancy suits and yes i have references. meanwhile delphi is a fan of feathers but mostly goes with lowkey military-style outfits.. she’s practical yet ostentatious. bella sticks to a conservative yet undeniably sexy selection of evil looking dresses.. i should make all of these into pinterest boards hmm

25. controversial opinion but i think delphi knows she and voldemort are half bloods. so does bella but that’s a whole other story, she been knew. anyhow yeah delphi was told the truth bc it was better for her to find out from the source rather than hear rumors from the opposition and begin to distrust the foundations of voldemort’s whole empire and voldemort himself

26. i used to absolutely hate fics where bella would eventually call voldemort by his name but now im like FUCK THAT we don’t do guilty pleasures anymore we just stan ridiculous things and that’s that. one day voldemort had a Thought (shocking, i know) and was like. Hm so we have a wholeass child and we’re basically married maybe bella shouldn’t have to call me My Lord for the rest of her life. BUT ONLY IN PRIVATE. THATS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM it’s nobody’s business. It Is Nobody’s Business

27. speaking of marriage. bella and rod got divorced a few years after the battle. it was just a formality tho let’s be real. they remained very close friends tho!!!!!!!! i think that’s an unpopular opinion among bellamort stans but i genuinely believe bella and rod were always close the way best friends or family are ya know. rod really loves bella but as long as she’s happy he’s happy even if it means her fucking the dark lord on the reg or whatever

28. going back to #6 — when the public finally finds out that bella’s alive they obviously start to wonder about her and voldemort and connect the dots re: delphi etc but nobody ever gets any concrete answers bc there’s never any public pda.. any sort of affection is limited to when it’s just the two of them. and obviously it’s not like voldemort gossips about his private life in tabloid interviews or whatnot. ALSO the whole Bella Is Alive reveal isn’t nearly as dramatic as delphi’s big moment.. it’s more discreet and insidious in that way it implies that she was there hiding in plain sight all along. and if the ministry can keep sth this big a secret, what else are they hiding.. ah classic intimidation tactics of an authoritarian regime

29. i dont think this is ever stated in the CC but in terms of politics and bureaucracy i imagine voldemort has a fancy office in the ministry and spends 99% of his time there and rarely spends any time out and about. he’s almost never seen by anyone, rarely attends events etc. delphi’s the one who handles the day to day shit in the wizarding world. she’s like.. the public relations manager.. between the public and voldemort

30. bella is of similar status within the ministry but that’s just bc people are scared shitless of her. she doesn’t actually hold any political power and she most certainly does not want to, that is not her area of expertise at all

31. delphi is dangerously powerful and i think that’s really sexy of her

32. re: #21 it’s like. as voldemort warms up to bella, she in turn chillaxes a bit with the whole blind devotion thing and becomes bolder with him like. she’ll outright question his decisions or tell him what he should do, make judgement calls etc. and it becomes a regular thing.. turns into this casual companionship ya feel.. i won’t say they become equals bc that’s just unrealistic but he certainly stops treating her like his inferior. he recognizes her value and i daresay her authority and stops treating her like shit all the time Wow Romance Is Alive!! (this sounds like some sort of “douche fuckboi changes for his poor mistreated love interest” schtick but it’s really not that bc they’re both monstrous people who do not deserve any pity so jot that down. they’re horrible and they deserve each other and they eventually do make it work and i am so so happy for them)

33. it is never outright stated that voldemort can’t love. jkr has said that he doesn’t understand love and that it’s just symbolism!!! that he’s the child of a loveless union and grew up without knowing love!!! BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN HE PHYSICALLY CANNOT LOVE thanks for coming 2 my ted talk. i wasn’t aware of this until a few months ago and i was thrilled to find out my soft hcs are not entirely ooc after all

34. THE POINT IS. THEY ARE A SEMI-FUNCTIONAL FAMILY and i just really love soft domestic scenarios so sorry jkr but the dark au is the only canon now and it belongs to me. everybody has feelings and everything is soft. i’d like to pitch an idea for a kuwtk style reality show but it’s these 3 sociopaths under one roof navigating family life and wizarding world politics

35. to finish i’d like to apologize for downplaying the fact that all 3 of the people i woobified in this post are psychotic murderers and tyrants etc

—— i’ll be updating this if/when i remember anything i forgot AND ALSO send me ur thoughts and comments and constructive criticism etc pls pls pls 

—— follow me on twitter and also curiouscat bc i get a scary amount of q’s about voldemort’s sex life thank you and goodbye

edits:

36. in this household we stan dark haired delphi. no i will not be taking any criticism regarding this particular fact

37. bella and voldemort never get married. obviously, because that’s a disgustingly romantic and pointless thing to do. it’s sentimental and unnecessary (well, voldemort thinks so, bella might just disagree but she’s not about to force his hand) BUT that’s not to say they’re not basically an old married couple anyway. AND as much as voldemort thinks love is weakness or whatever he knows this, that they’re about as close as two people can get. SO if he just so happens to gift her a ring.. well it’s a purely symbolic gesture but the implication is definitely there

38. it’s the horcrux ring. he trusts her that much. m y  h e a r t

[imagines-ahs]

Affection - Thirty-Five: Build-A-Bear.

Mine and @mistyyygoode‘s story!

TW: Mentions of suicide.

"Sure, love." Audrey smiled before opening Shelby's purse, taking the phone and handing it to her lover. "Oh, wait." She pulled the mobile back. "You're driving, let me do it."

"Okay," Shelby chuckled softly. "You can just text him if you want." She said.

"Don't laugh at this! It's dangerous to text and drive!" Audrey protested, her over-protective side peeking up.

"I wasn't laughing at that, I was laughing at how cute you seemed. You're cute when you're like that, all protective and stuff." Shelby explained with a smile, hoping it wouldn't sound rude.

"Oh..." Audrey felt her cheeks blushing softly as she giggled. "Sorry... I didn't mean to snap."

Shelby placed her free hand over her lover's knee. "Don't be sorry, baby. I didn't take it in a bad way."

"Okay," Audrey said softly as she caressed her lover's hand. "I'm glad, babygirl."

"I love you," Shelby said as they pulled up to a stop light. She turned to place a small kiss on her lover's cheek.

Audrey giggled at the kiss, turning to place one to Shelby's lips. "I love you too, my love." She said softly, taking the phone and texting Chris, telling him they were coming over to change and pick Lizzy up.

Shelby turned her attention to the road just in time for the light to turn green. Once it did, she started to drive home.

"I texted Chris, he just answered with an 'okay'," Audrey said softly.

"Okay," Shelby nodded. "Can you text my dad too? Tell him we'll be there in maybe an hour and ask if we need to pick up anything for dinner. I'm not sure if he has all the ingredients for the chicken parmigiana." She said.

"Sure, babygirl... is he making lunch? Do you want me to ask if he wants us to grab something on our way?"

"Thank you, and yes ask him. I'm sure Lizzy will want to stop by the cookie shop in the mall, and they have a million different things in the food court."

"A cookie shop?" Audrey asked excitedly as she started typing the message.

"Yes," Shelby chuckled softly. She thought it was adorable with how easily excited her lover got. "They have what they call cookie-pies... or is it cookie-pizzas? Anyways, they're cookies that are twelve inches big."

"Twelve inches big?!" the actress gasped. "Can we please buy one?" she looked at Shelby with puppy eyes.

Shelby glanced at her lover for only half a second. She laughed as she nodded. "Sure, babe." She turned onto Chris's street.

"Yay!" Audrey squealed, giggling as she did so. "We don't have those in England!"

"Really?" Shelby asked as she pulled into the driveway. She looked to the house and could see Lizzy standing in front of the window with a large grin on her tiny face.

"Yes!" Audrey smiled, turning her gaze to the front, seeing Lizzy there. "Oh, God." She chuckled. "Lizzy looks so adorable!"

"She really does," Shelby said before turning off the car. She stepped out and went around to open the passenger side. She held out her hand for her lover.

Audrey smiled as she took her lover's hand, placing a small kiss on her lips and bringing the bags with her. "Thank you, love."

"You're welcome, gorgeous," Shelby said as she shut the car door. She led them back up to the house, and as soon as she opened the door, Lizzy attacked them both with hugs around their legs.

"I missed ya!"

Audrey giggled softly as she took Lizzy in her arms, placing a kiss on her cheek. "We missed you too!" The actress said sweetly. "I'm so sorry we couldn't come yesterday, sweetheart!"

Lizzy giggled at the kiss. "'S 'kay." She said softly.

"Do you still want to go to Papa's?" Shelby asked as she closed the door behind them.

"Yes!"

"Guess where we are going before?" The actress asked playfully.

"Whewe?" Lizzy asked.

Shelby walked further into the house to see both Isabella and Chris on their computers with different books on the coffee table. Chris looked up from his computer with a small frown. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Shelby gave a soft nod.

"To Build-A-Bear!" Audrey said happily, following her lover with Lizzy in her arms.

The girl let out a small squeal of excitement. "Really?!" She asked.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Chris asked.

Shelby looked at her lover and Lizzy. "Maybe if we were... alone." She said trying not to say without Lizzy around and make her feel bad.

Audrey giggled with Lizzy, nodding as she did so. As she heard her lover's words, she got the clue. "Do you want to go up to mine and auntie Shelby's room and help me put those bags there?" She asked Elizabeth softly.

"Suwe!" Elizabeth smiled.

'Thank you,' Shelby mouthed with a small smile.

Audrey mouthed a small 'You're welcome' back to her lover, going upstairs.

Shelby sighed as she sat down on the sofa seat next to where Chris and Isabella sat. "Mom and I fought... we left before even eating." She started with.

"What happened?" Isabella asked as she set her computer aside.

"Well first of, she, of course, mentioned Matt and how the divorce isn't final yet... I asked her to stop mentioning him after that, which she agreed to."

"That's good."

"Yeah," Shelby sighed. "She... she started to get weird and pissy about the fact that Audrey's a woman. We started discussing other things that deal with someone else... and, and it just started this whole fight. Audrey stood up for me and yelled at mom, telling her that she shouldn't take it out on me... we left after that."

"Who's this other person?" Chris asked as he set his computer aside as well.

Shelby looked down at her lap. She didn't want to out her father, but she didn't know how to tell the full story without mention his sexuality somehow. "Dad... she... she's resentful."

Audrey reached their room, worried about how the conversation downstairs was going. "Let me set you here" The actress smiled to Lizzy, placing her down on the bed before starting to put the bags aside them.

"Audwey?" The girl said softly.

"Yes, dear?" Audrey asked sweetly, sitting next to the girl.

"Daddy told me ya were a woman and I don't know why he told me that." Elizabeth's brows furrowed softly. "Isn't it nowmal fow two women to go out like Mommy and Daddy?"

"Why is she resentful toward Dad?" Chris asked. "They agreed on the divorce together."

"It's not... it's not about their divorce. Well, it's part of why they got divorced, but it's not the divorce." Shelby explained hesitantly.

"What are you saying?"

"It's not my place to say anything, Chris... I talked to Dad, and he told me something very personal that's not my place to tell you. He'll tell you when he wants to... but Mom is resentful towards him because of that thing." She explained.

Audrey felt herself getting taken by surprise with Elizabeth's question. She bit her lip, thinking about how to explain it to her. "Um, it is normal, yes love." The actress started softly. "But some people don't think it is, and don't like it." She added, trying not to cross any boundaries. "People can be really mean when something is different from their usual... you understand?"

"Oh..." the girl thought for a moment, nodding right after. "I do."

"Okay." The actress smiled sweetly, placing a kiss on Lizzy's forehead, feeling somewhat proud of the girl.

Chris stared at his sister with a confused look while Isabella thought she knew where Shelby was getting at.

Shelby thought for a moment, wondering if dinner with the family would be okay, and maybe clear things up. "What if you guys come over for dinner? Maybe we could talk more... with some clarification from Dad?" she suggested.

Isabella looked to her fiancé. "Sounds good to me. What do you think?"

"If it's cool with Dad, yeah."

"Wanna go downstairs again?" the actress asked Lizzy

"Yes!" The girl said happily, motioning for Audrey to take her.

After picking Lizzy up, she placed a kiss to the girl's cheek once again before going downstairs, both giggling softly.

Shelby heard the footsteps, and got up from her seat, going over to her lover. "Did you ever get a text back from my dad?" She asked.

Lizzy rested her head on Audrey's shoulder as they entered the living room, hugging the actress close.

"I did, yes, he told us lunch is already ready."

"Okay. Chris and Bella are going to join us for dinner later on tonight." Shelby said before gently ticking Lizzy's sides.

The girl burst into giggles as she snuggled closer to Audrey. "Swap!" She yelled between giggles. "Audwey! Help me!"

Shelby smiled as she laughed, continuing to attack the girl with small tickles. "You know you love tickles!"

Audrey giggled as she turned around, the tickles being placed on her back now. "Not on Lizzy!" She said playfully between giggles, causing the girl to giggle even more.

Shelby laughed as she stopped to wrap her arms around the woman's waist. She placed a kiss on Audrey's neck and then Lizzy's forehead.

"Kisses bettew." The girl said softly.

Audrey melted at the small kiss, giggling one last time. "I agree." She said softly.

"When we goin'?" Lizzy asked.

"After Auntie Audrey and I get changed, and ready to go," Shelby said.

"'Kay." The girl nodded.

Audrey set the girl on the couch between Chris and Isabella, placing one last kiss to her forehead. "We'll be right back."

Shelby took her lover's hand, pulling her back upstairs. When they got to their room, she placed a kiss to her lips. "I love you so much."

Audrey kissed her lover back instantly, hesitantly pulling away. "I love you so much, so, so much." She whispered sweetly, caressing her cheeks.

Shelby smiled at the sweet words. "We should get ready to go." She said with a small sigh before pulling away. She went to the dresser to pick out her outfit for the day.

Audrey nodded softly, letting Shelby go hesitantly. She followed to the wardrobe as well, starting to undress. "I had a talk with Lizzy..." the actress began with.

"What about?" Shelby asked as she pulled off her clothes. She chose her usual light washed jeans with a thin sweater and opting out on no bra again.

Audrey started putting on a fresh pair of black, lace underwear, looking at her lover. "She asked me why Chris had talked to her about the fact that I was a woman and was dating you."

"I didn't know he did that," Shelby said as she pulled on her sweater, and then sat down to pull her sneakers back on. "What did you say?"

"It's okay, he didn't mean it in a bad way." The actress reassured softly, starting to put on a light dress. "She asked me one more thing before I could answer."

"What did she ask you?" Shelby asked as she looked at her lover, admiring the dress she chose.

"She told me she didn't understand the whole point of the talk, and then asked me if it wasn't normal for two women to date," Audrey explained, starting to put on a pair of flats.

"What did you tell her?" Shelby asked as she stood up from the bed to put on her watch.

"I told her it was normal, but different, and people tend to be scared of different things, and don't like them." The actress smiled softly, finishing to put on her flats.

"Did she understand?" Shelby asked as she wrapped her arms around her lover again.

"She did, yes." Audrey smiled, caressing Shelby's waist. "She's a very lovely girl."

"She is," Shelby smiled. She leaned forward to press a kiss to her lover's lips, a soft, loving kiss. Before it could last long, she pulled away, "I've got to go do my hair."

Audrey whined as Shelby pulled away, pouting with puppy eyes. "Can I go with you and kiss your neck while you do so?"

Shelby thought for a second. "It might distract me... but yes. I can't resist neck kisses." She said before pulling her lover with her to the bathroom.

Audrey bit her lip as she followed her lover, hugging her waist from behind as they got into the bathroom. "I know you can't." She murmured, lips already going to Shelby's neck, placing wet kisses and nibbling softly on the soft flesh. "I can't resist your neck."

Shelby brushed her hair to the side as she let her eyes fall closed, enjoying the feeling of her lover's lips on her skin. "That feels... so good." She spoke softly, almost whispering. She didn't want anyone to hear her and think they were having sex, remembering how embarrassing it was the last time.

Audrey smirked as she heard the tone on Shelby's voice, hands falling down to the woman's jeans, teasing her inner thighs, lips never stopping.

"Baby," Shelby softly moaned as she set her brush down on the counter. She sighed softly, enjoying it more and more.

"Yes, kitten?" Audrey whimpered back, sucking on Shelby's sweet spot, one hand going back to cup her ass.

Shelby bit her lip to hold back a whimpering moan. Her head tilted to the side, giving her lover better access, and leaned into the touch. "I... I want you so bad." Just by the few touches and kisses, she was already needy and her arousal from earlier this morning was still lingering.

Audrey couldn't help but let out a small moan, placing one last suck to her lover's neck before pulling away, hands caressing Shelby's waist before doing so. "Lizzy is waiting for us, babygirl..." She said softly.

Shelby's head fell back, resting on her lover's shoulder. "You're such a fucking tease..." she sighed, even though she loved it. She straightened back up before braiding her hair finally.

Audrey let out a chuckle mixed with a smirk before starting to apply mascara to her lashes, looking at Shelby through the mirror. "You're the one who told me you don't like quickies." She teased.

Shelby rolled her eyes before tying the braid off with an elastic. "What if I said I would go for one right now?" She asked.

"Are you that needy?" Audrey bit her lip, putting the mascara back on the tiny bag.

"Yes," Shelby admitted as she looked down, feeling herself blush slightly. "I was horny when I woke up." She explained.

The actress smirked as she stepped closer to her lover, letting her hands fall back to her waist. "Sit on the counter." She murmured before nibbling on her earlobe.

"Yes, Mistress." Shelby turned so she was now facing her lover and pulled herself up on to the counter.

Audrey smirked at the name, biting her lip as she stepped forward, pulling Shelby closer by the ass. "You have to be quiet, okay?" she whispered huskily, lips brushing.

"Yes," Shelby breathed out before leaning forward to press a kiss to Audrey's lips, moaning softly against them as her hips bucked.

Audrey smirked at how needy her lover was, kissing her back instantly, hands entering Shelby's jeans and under her panties, squeezing her bare ass, a moan escaping.

"Mm, baby." Shelby moaned softly as her hips bucked harder, wanting more. "Please..." she whispered as she kissed her lover hard.

The actress let her hands move to the front side, opening Shelby's jeans before instantly cupping her wet core underneath the panties. "Jesus." She whimpered. "You are so wet."

Shelby bit her lip hard, trying not to moan as she nodded quickly. Her hips bucked harder into her lover's hand, hoping for something.

Audrey let her free hand cup Shelby's cheek, pulling her in for a harsh, wet kiss, her other hand starting to circle the blonde's clit, a small moan escaping her lips.

"Mm," Shelby moaned against her lover's mouth. She ran her tongue over her lover's bottom lips as she hips moved with the woman's hand.

Audrey let her lover's tongue enter her mouth, swirling her own with Shelby's, fingers working faster. They didn't have much time, after all.

"M-more... please." Shelby mumbled into their kiss. She was surprised by how needy she became in such a short amount of time. Her hips bucked hard as she tried to hold back her moans.

Audrey pulled apart while sucking on Shelby's bottom lip, lips moving to her neck, sucking and nibbling as one finger entered her, pumping slowly, in and out, in and out...

Shelby bit her bottom lip hard as she softly moaned. Her head fell back, giving her lover better access to her skin. Her hips bucked harder, moving in the rhythm of Audrey's finger.

Audrey kept kissing Shelby's neck, enjoying how close they were. Her free hand fell down to the small of the younger woman's back, pulling her even closer, another finger entering in.

"Oh, fuck," Shelby breathed out as she felt the second finger entering her. She bit her lip again, harder this time, hard enough to draw blood. Her hips moved faster, harder, wanting more as she felt her orgasm building up quickly.

The actress nibbled on Shelby's neck as her thumb started pressing against the blonde's clit, fingers working faster. "Cum for me, babygirl." She whispered huskily. "Cum all over my fingers, kitten."

Shelby made a small whimpering noise as she came hard, feeling the fire in the pit of her stomach erupt through her whole body, washing over her nerves with a pleasurable heat. Her legs shook around her lover's hand as her back arched hard, eyes squeezing shut.

Audrey smirked as she felt her lover's juices coating her fingers. She placed one last kiss to her neck before pulling away, fingers circling the woman's clit a few more times before pulling away, too, taking her fingers out of her and sucking them clean, whimpering at the taste.

Shelby whined when Audrey pulled her fingers out and whimpered, hips twitching as she felt those fingers against her clit. When her eyes opened, she saw the woman licking her fingers clean, and she moaned softly. She grabbed her lover, and kissed her hard, moaning softly as she tasted herself.

Audrey let out a small moan as she kissed Shelby back, pulling her closer by the waist, panting hard as she pulled apart, foreheads touching.

Shelby was panting hard for her breath as she stared into her lover's eyes. "I love you so much." She said softly.

Audrey smiled sweetly at her lover, staring down at blue eyes. "I love you so, so much." She whispered sweetly.

"Thank you," Shelby grinned before placing a soft, loving kiss to her lover's lips. "That was... incredible for a quickie." She chuckled.

Audrey chuckled as they pulled away, panting a little bit softer now. She went to the sink, starting to wash her hands. They were going out, after all. "You're welcome." She said softly. "But, please don't thank me, it makes me feel like a whore." She confessed, softly.

"I'm sorry," Shelby said as she hopped off the counter. She wrapped her arms around her lover's waist. "I just wanted to thank you because I love you, and I love the way you make me feel."

Audrey smiled as she let her herself rest at her lover's touch. She dried her hands before turning to Shelby, caressing her cheeks. "I love you too, you make me feel safe." She whispered, hands falling down to close the woman's jeans.

Shelby smiled before kissing her lover again. "You make me feel safe too," she said softly. "So safe. That's why I love being in your arms whenever I can be."

"I know the feeling," Audrey answered softly, caressing her lover's waist before pecking her once again. "C'mon, Lizzy is going to be mad at us."

"She probably is." Shelby chuckled as she let go of her lover. She opened the bathroom door and made her way toward the stairs.

Audrey chuckled as she followed downstairs, lacing her fingers with Shelby's.

When they reached the living room Lizzy was sitting on Chris's lap with her Scooby-Doo plushy in her hands.

"You ready to go?" Shelby asked.

"Yes! Ya took foreveh!" The girl exclaimed.

Audrey let out a giggle as she bit her lip, starting to blush softly. "Sorry, Auntie Shelby took too long on her hair." the actress teased.

"It 'kay," Lizzy said as she got off her father's lap and on to the floor.

"Sorry, honey," Shelby said as she picked up the girl. "Ready to go to Build-A-Bear?"

"Yes!"

"Only one," Isabella said as she stood from the sofa. "She already has so many."

Audrey giggled as she saw the girl pouting. "Okay," The actress nodded.

"But, Mo—"

Isabella cut her daughter off, "No. One or none."

"Fine." She sighed.

Audrey bit her lip as she managed to stay serious, not wanting to take Isabella's authority away.

"Why don't we get going, and I'll let you guys know when to come for dinner?" Shelby suggested.

"Okay," both Chris and Isabella said.

Audrey smiled as she caressed her lover's waist.

"See you guys later." The actress smiled before guiding her lover to the front door and to the car.

"Bye!" Lizzy smiled as she waved to her parents.

"Bye, princess!" Isabella and Chris both said.

Shelby opened the backseat once they reached the car and helped Lizzy into her car seat.

As Lizzy was put into the backseat, she pouted softly.

"What's wrong, honey?" the actress asked softly.

"Do you sit back with me?" Lizzy asked with puppy eyes.

Shelby smiled softly. "Go ahead, babe." She said before getting into the front. She grabbed her phone from her purse to see the texts from her father, finding out that she didn't need to get anything for dinner, so it was a stop by the mall and then to his house.

"Okay." Audrey giggled, sitting next to Lizzy, the girl instantly snuggling to her.

"We ready?" Shelby asked as she put her phone away and started the car.

"Yes!" Lizzy giggled, hugging Audrey's arm, causing the actress to giggle.

"Yes, babe!"

"Okay!" Shelby said before pulling out of the driveway and making her way to the mall again.

Soon, they had already arrived at the mall, and Lizzy squealed excitedly. "Build-A-Bear!" she yelled.

"Yes!" The actress giggled, starting to unbuckle the girl.

Shelby smiled at her excitement. She got out of the car and opened the back door for the two. "So, do you know what you're going to get?" she asked as she helped Lizzy to the ground.

As soon as Lizzy got to the ground, she clutched for both women's hands, standing at the middle of them. "Puppy!" She said happily.

The actress melted with the small action of Elizabeth, gladly taking her hand.

Shelby did the same, gladly taking the girl's hand as she locked the car and started walking. "A puppy sounds nice. Do you have any yet?" She asked.

"Mhm." Lizzy nodded. "But she's white and I want a pink one." She explained.

"I want a bear!" The actress squealed.

"I'm sure we'll find you a pink one." Shelby smiled before looking at her lover. "What kind of bear?" she asked, wanting to make this a fun and interesting activity for all of them.

"A polar bear," Audrey said happily. "With a tutu" The actress giggled.

"Tutu's awe so cute!" Lizzy smiled as they walked into the mall.

"They are!" Shelby agreed.

"I agree" Audrey smiled brightly. "What are you getting, honeybun?" She turned to her lover.

"I was thinking about a kitten," Shelby answered, trying to hold back her smirk.

"I love kittens," Audrey said softly, trying to hide her smirk as well.

"Me too!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

Shelby let out a small laugh. "Well, maybe you can help us pick out the perfect one." She suggested as they got close to the store.

"Yes!" The girl smiled.

Audrey couldn't help but let out a small laugh, shaking her head as they entered the store.

To the right of them were a display wall of stuffed animals and the bins of their empty bodies beneath them.

"Do you want me or Auntie Audrey to help you?" Shelby asked.

The girl let go of the women's hands, going straight to the bins. "No, 'hank you." The girl said softly. "If I need help, I call, 'kay?" she asked sweetly.

"Okay," Shelby said with a small smile. She wrapped an arm around her lover's waist as she watches Lizzy looking through the puppy bins. "Should we grab ours too?" she asked softly.

The actress smiled brightly as she nodded, squealing a little. "Yes!"

Shelby loved how excited her lover seemed. They stepped forward to the bins, and she pointed out two different polar bears, one white, and the other a light purple color.

Audrey took the purple polar bear as soon as her lover pointed to it. She turned to Shelby, holding the stuffed animal closely, staring excitedly at her. "Choose your kitten!"

Shelby looked at the different options. "I think I'll get this one." She said as she grabbed the sugar-scented, heart pattern kitten.

Audrey started smelling a weird vanilla scent, realizing soon after that it was from the polar bear. "They are scented!" She exclaimed.

"Mos' of 'em," Lizzy said before walking back to them with a corgi puppy in her hands. "He doesn't smell." She said with a small pout. "But, he's cute! Can we stuff 'em now?" She asked.

Audrey smiled at how adorable the girl looked. The corgi was a light shade of pink, just like Shelby's kitten's hearts. "Yes, love." The actress smiled.

They walked over to the stuffing station and waited their turn. "Can I get a 'ruff' button thingy?" Lizzy asked as she looked up at the two with puppy eyes.

"Of course," Shelby said with a small smile.

Audrey smiled at the girl, stuffing her polar bear as well. She glanced at the eyes and nose section, seeing a black, simple nose and eyes with white sparkles. She grabbed them and attached to the plushie, smiling sweetly at it.

Shelby and Lizzy did the same and moved on to select clothing. Lizzy searched through the boy clothes as Shelby wondered what to do with her kitten.

Audrey started searching through the clothes, finding a sparkly white tutu, matching perfectly with her polar bear's eyes. She smiled as she put it on, showing it to her fiancé. "Look!" She exclaimed like a child.

Shelby smiled, chuckling softly. "That's really cute, babe."

"I love it," Lizzy said.

"Thank you!" Audrey giggled, walking closer to her lover. "How's your kitten doing?" she asked sweetly. "How about your puppy, Lizzy?"

"I dressed him like a teachew, like Daddy!" Lizzy said as she showed off the corgi in a white button up, slacks and glasses.

"Not good," Shelby chuckled, showing that her kitten was still bare. "Can you guys help me out?" She asked.

Audrey couldn't help but melt once again at how cute Lizzy's corgi looked. "I love it so much, Lizzy," she said softly. "And babe, what about... a cheerleader outfit?" she teased, hiding her smirk.

Shelby bit her lip to hide her obvious smirk. "I think that'll be perfect." She said before looking for a cheerleading outfit. She found one that was almost identical to the one she wore for years and put it on her kitten. "A cheerleading kitten..."

"I love it!" Lizzy smiled.

"Me too." Audrey smiled, hugging her lover from behind and placing one single wet kiss to her neck.

Shelby bit her lip again before turned to place a kiss on her lover's lips. "Why don't we check out? Are you ready, Lizzy?" she asked.

"Hmm... sure." She nodded.

Audrey giggled at the kiss, caressing her lover's waist. "Are you sure, sweetheart?" She asked Lizzy, sensing the girl was not so sure.

"I want 'nother," Lizzy said with a small pout.

Shelby remembered what Isabella said, and she didn't want to counter dictate her, but she couldn't resist the cute face before her.

Audrey melted with the girl's face, pulling away to look at her lover. "She said one... one from me and one from you, huh?"

Shelby smiled as she nodded. "Yeah, I think that's what she meant." She said before turning to Lizzy. "So, go get one that'll be from Auntie Audrey." She said.

Lizzy squealed as she ran back to the bins, taking a black bunny and showing it to the women. "Lookie!" She yelled.

"That's so cute!" Shelby smiled. "What's that one going to be dressed as?" She asked.

"I loved it, Lizzy!" The actress smiled as she pulled Shelby with her, walking nearer to the girl.

"Hmm..." The girl thought for a moment. "'Nother teacher! Like mommy!"

"That's perfect!" Shelby smiled softly. "Do you want some help with that? Or do you want to do it all by yourself?"

"By myself." She answered.

"Okay." Audrey smiled sweetly, pulling her lover closer by the waist. "We'll be here if you need, love"

"'Kay!" Lizzy said before looking through the different clothes.

Shelby smiled widely at this, thinking how cute and fun the day had been so far with Lizzy. She loved it so much.

The actress placed a kiss to Shelby's cheek, letting her head bury into the crook of her neck right after. "I love you... today has been great already." She whispered.

Shelby smiled widely as she wrapped her arms around her lover's waist. "I love you too, baby, and it really has. I'm having so much fun with you two."

"Me too," Audrey said softly, inhaling deeply at her lover's neck. "Are you better, my love?" she asked, still a bit concerned.

Shelby nodded softly. "I'm much, much better today. Especially right now. I couldn't be happier." She explained with a smile.

Audrey smiled relieved at her lover's words, pulling apart to look at her with soft eyes. "I'm so glad, babygirl... you have no idea."

Before Shelby could say anything, Lizzy came back over to them. "Ready!" She said happily as she showed off the two stuffed animals together.

Audrey smiled at the girl, finding both stuffed toys incredibly cute. "They are so cute! Are they Mommy and Daddy?"

"Mhm," Lizzy nodded happily. "I love 'em!"

"I do too! They're adorable." Shelby smiled.

"Should we pay?" the actress asked softly, caressing her lover's waist.

"Yes!" Elizabeth said happily, hugging the toys close. "'Hank ya so much, aunties."

"You're welcome," Shelby smiled as they walked to the front, handing over the tags for everything they made and used to dress their stuffed animals with to the lady behind the counter.

Audrey picked Lizzy up since she couldn't hold the girl's hand because both of them were occupied with the stuffed animals - The actress didn't want to give the chance to lose the girl.

"It'll be $95.75." The lady smiled.

"Babe, take my wallet at my dress' pocket." The actress said softly, turning a bit for Shelby, Lizzy resting her head on Audrey's shoulder.

Shelby grabbed her lover's wallet and handed the card over to the woman's.

"Would you like to stick your new friends in boxes to take home or carry them out?" The cashier asked.

Audrey looked at Lizzy, seeing her nodding shyly. "Four boxes, please." The actress said softly, smiling to the lady.

The woman's grabbed four of the boxes that looked like an individual home for each stuffed animal. Shelby handed the woman the stuffed toys, and she put them in a box. "Would you like to sign their birth certificates?" She asked as she handed over four slips of paper.

Lizzy nodded excitedly, tiny hands wanting to grab the pen from the lady's hand.

"Do you know how to write your name, Lizzy?" Audrey asked sweetly

"Uh," Lizzy stopped for a moment. "I think so."

"Aw, how cute. How old are you?" The woman asked.

"Two!" Lizzy beamed as she held out two fingers.

Audrey giggled at the girl's reaction, caressing her back softly.

"We can help you if you need, love." The actress said.

"Please?" Lizzy asked as she looked at Audrey.

The cashier handed Audrey's credit card back to Shelby as she smiled at her. "She's very cute. You are a cute little family." She said.

Shelby smiled as she felt a small blush form on her cheeks. "Thank you, but she's our niece."

Audrey bit her lip to hide the huge smile forming in her lips. She helped Lizzy sign both papers, signing hers right after. "We are engaged, though, she's just not our daughter." The actress explained softly, proudly.

"Well, you're all very cute together." The woman smiled.

"Thank you," Shelby said as she sighed her paper as well.

"You're welcome, and congratulations!"

"Thank you so much." Audrey smiled sweetly, letting one of her hands caress Shelby's back.

"Did ya know it's 'kay for two mommies to go out?" Lizzy asked softly, proudly to know this information.

"I did! I have a wife myself." The woman's said with a smile.

Shelby smiled at the conversation.

The actress smiled brightly at Elizabeth and then at the woman, somewhat feeling proud of the girl.

"Aw!" The girl squealed. "Are ya two mommies? Or are ya like auntie Shel and Audrey?"

"We're about to be two mommies." The woman said with a smile.

"Congratulations," Shelby said with a smile. "Is your wife pregnant or are you adopting? If you don't mind me asking."

"I don't mind at all! We're adopting."

"That's awesome!" The actress exclaimed. "Congratulations!" She smiled brightly.

"Congwegations!" Lizzy exclaimed.

"Thank you!" The woman smiled.

"I think that's amazing, good luck as parents, and congratulations," Shelby said with a smile as she gathered two of the boxes.

"Thank you so much. You guys have a great day! Goodbye, cutie!" She said toward Lizzy.

Audrey took one box and gave to Lizzy, taking the other one. She felt Lizzy shyly hide her face into the crook of her neck as the woman said bye. "Bye," Lizzy said shyly.

"Good luck! Bye-bye!" The actress smiled, letting out a chuckle with the girl's actions.

"Bye," the cashier waved them off as they walked out of the store.

Shelby smiled as she guided them down the long hallway of the mall.

"Can we get cookies?" Lizzy asked.

"Can we, babe?" Audrey smiled to Shelby, winking playfully to her.

Shelby nodded as she let out a small chuckle. "Sure, anything to make my girls happy." She said before guiding them to the food court.

The actress bit her lip at the term. My girls, that was sweet, loving, tender.

"Yay!" Lizzy squealed. "Can I go down, auntie Audrey?"

"Can you carry the box with only one hand?" The actress asked softly.

"Hm..." Elizabeth tried holding it, seeing that she could. "Yes!"

"Then alright, you can." Audrey smiled, pulling Lizzy down. "Grab auntie Shelby's hand with your free one, sweetheart."

Shelby held out her pinky, "Hold my pinky, I don't have a free hand with these boxes." She said softly.

Lizzy grabbed the woman's pinky with her small hand and swung the box in her other hand.

The actress took the boxes away from Shelby's hands, brows furrowing with her words. "Here." She smiled, walking beside Shelby.

"Thank you," Shelby said with a smile. "I can't hold two boxes and this cutie's hand." She said as she looked down at Lizzy who smiled up at her.

Audrey let out a giggle, struggling a little to carry the three boxes alone.

"Baby, I can carry one of them, please let me," Shelby said as she reached to take one box.

The actress let her lover take one of the boxes, smiling sweetly at her. "Thank you, my love."

"You're welcome, babydoll," Shelby said before pecking her lover's lips.

They finally made it to the cookie shop, and Lizzy beamed with happiness as she looked at the different kinds that were available.

Audrey smiled sweetly as she pecked her lover's lips back, giggling right after at how cute Lizzy looked. She started scanning the different kinds of products, finding the twelve inches cookie Shelby had told her about. "Baby!" She gasped, taking the cookie with her free hand.

"Would you like that, ma'am?" the man behind the counter asked.

"We would," Shelby said.

"Would you like anything put on the cookie? Anything special?" He asked.

"We'd like two, please" The actress smiled. "Lizzy, what do you want in yours?"

The girl thought hard for a moment, humming to herself as she did so. "I think I want a teddy bear."

"Can you do that?" Shelby asked the man.

"I can," he said with a small smile. "Anything on the other one?"

Shelby looked to her lover for an answer.

"Can you make a heart with m&m's?" Audrey asked softly.

"Sure can. Anything else, ladies?"

"I don't think so," Shelby said as she looked to the other two for their answers.

"I think it's just fine" The actress smiled as Lizzy shook her head, holding the box closely.

"Okay," the man said before doing what they wanted. Once he was done, he placed each cookie into a box. "Want these in a bag?" he asked.

"Yes, please," Shelby said.

Audrey changed the bag that was on her right hand to left one, so she had one free hand once again to grab the cookies.

"There you go" The man smiled as he handed the bag, Audrey taking it. "That'd be $12.35."

"Babe, take my card." The actress turned to Shelby.

Shelby took her lover's card from her wallet again and handed it over to the man. Once he ran the card, he handed it over with the receipt. "Have a great day, ladies."

"Thank you so much." Audrey smiled, starting to turn around.

"You're welcome," he said.

Shelby grabbed Lizzy's hand again and led her back to the exit. "Do you want anything else?" She asked.

"No." Lizzy shook her head, smiling up to Shelby. "'Hank ya for the cookie too."

"You're welcome, lovely." The actress smiled, walking beside Shelby, wishing she could hold her hand.

"You're welcome," Shelby said as well, smiling at the girl, and then to h lover. She guided them out to the car, unlocked it, and opened the back-seat door for them.

Reaching the car, Audrey put the bags on the backseat and then helped Lizzy to get settled on her chair. "Since you've got your friends now, can I go on the front seat with auntie Shelby?" the actress asked softly, wanting to at least hold her lover's hand now. It was weird, but she felt the urge to.

"Mhm," Lizzy nodded as she pulled the corgi from the box and held it close to her chest.

Shelby smiled before opening the passenger door for her lover.

The actress smiled softly to the Lizzy before closing the door, making her way to the passenger seat and pecking her lover sweetly. "Thank you, babygirl." She smiled before entering the car.

"You're welcome." Shelby smiled before closing the door. She made her way to the other side and got in the car to start it. "Ready to see Papa?" she asked Lizzy as she pulled out of the parking lot.

Audrey buckled up and smiled back to the girl, seeing her nodding happily, sleepily. "Yes," Elizabeth said softly, yawning a little right after.

"Are you sleepy, lovely?" the actress asked.

"Mhm."

"Take a nap on the way there, sweetheart," Shelby said and Lizzy nodded. She grabbed her lover's hand, lacing their fingers together before giving it a light squeeze.

Audrey smiled to her lover, gladly lacing their fingers, caressing her lover's hand. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." Shelby smiled softly. When they came to a stop light, she leaned over the center conceal to place a kiss on her lover's lips. "So, so much."

Audrey melted at the kiss, squeezing her lover's hand a little as she kissed back.

"I love you so much," Shelby whispered before pulling away just in time for the light to turn green.

"I love you so much more." She whispered back, letting her sight go back to the road in front of them. Soon, they were already turning on Shelby's dad's street.

Shelby pulled into the driveway and parked the car. "Do you want to grab Lizzy while I grab the cookies?" she asked as she turned off the vehicle.

"Sure." The actress smiled as she unbuckled herself, getting out of the car and going to the back seat. "Hey there, sleepyhead," Audrey whispered, caressing Elizabeth's arm.

"Hmm." The girl murmured as she rubbed her eyes, opening them right after and flashing Audrey a sleepy smile.

"We arrived at Papa's."

"Papa's!" The girl squealed excitedly.

"Yes!" Audrey giggled softly, unbuckling Lizzy and picking her up, tiny hands holding the corgi-plush closely.

"Do ya take the mommy-rabbit for me?" the girl asked softly.

"I do," Audrey answered sweetly, finding the box with the right plushie and taking it, closing the car door right after and turning to her lover.

"'Hanks" Lizzy mumbled before yawning.

Shelby smiled widely at them, thinking how cute Audrey was with kids. She walked with them up to the front door, and rang the bell, waiting for her father.

This time, Audrey didn't feel nervous about being there at the man's house. In fact, she felt good, safe, protected. As soon as Shelby rang the bell, footsteps could be heard.

The door opened, and Bruce smiled at the three. "Princess!" He smiled as he held out his hands for Elizabeth.

"Papa!"

Audrey giggled as she handed Elizabeth to the man, the girl instantly hugging him 4tight.

"What's this?" he asked as he pointed to the stuffed dog.

"Corgi Daddy. He looks just like Daddy!" She explained.

Shelby grabbed her lover's hand as she pulled her into the house.

Audrey gladly laced her fingers with Shelby's, walking inside the house with her fiancé.

Shelby followed her father into the house, bringing her lover with her. When they got into the living room Bruce was already sitting on the couch with Lizzy in his lap.

Audrey smiled as she saw the girl and the man together, walking to them. "Hey, Bruce." She smiled, taking the bag and placing beside him. "Lizzy, mommy-rabbit is here."

"Can I have?" the girl asked softly, holding out her hands for the toy.

"Did you dress these little guys up like Momma and Daddy?" Bruce asked.

"Mhm." She nodded.

"Sure, love" Audrey smiled, opening the box and giving the toy to Lizzy, then pulling Shelby to the couch in front of Bruce's.

Shelby cuddled into her lover's side, resting her head on the woman's shoulder. "I love you." She whispered.

Audrey pulled Shelby closer by the waist, placing a kiss on top of her head. "I love you so much" She whispered.

"Since I knew Lizzy was coming, I made chicken and fries for lunch. I hope that's okay." Bruce said.

"That's fine with me," Shelby said with a small smile.

"For me too" Audrey smiled. "I love fries."

"Me too" Lizzy giggled.

"Well of course you do." Bruce laughed. "You love chicken and fries."

"I do." Lizzy giggled.

Audrey let out a small giggle as well, caressing her lover's waist. "Lizzy went to the mall with us today" She commented.

"You did?" Bruce asked. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes!" Lizzy exclaimed.

"We all did," Shelby said.

"That's true." Audrey nodded, smiling sweetly. "We bought big cookies!"

"Those cookie-pies?" Bruce asked.

"Yes, we allowed Elizabeth to get one and then we got one."

"And it's all for me!" Lizzy said.

Audrey couldn't help but burst into giggles with the girl's answer. "You're not even going to give auntie Shelby and I a piece?" she pouted playfully.

"Ya have ya own," Lizzy said softly.

"What about me?" Bruce asked.

"Of course, I share wit' Papa."

Audrey busted into laughs once again, pulling Shelby closer. "I'm kidding, lovely."

"Oh," Lizzy giggled.

Shelby smiled at the whole interaction. "Babe, why don't you help me get everyone a plate for lunch?" she asked as she turned to her lover.

"Sure, my love." Audrey smiled as she got up, pulling Shelby with her to the kitchen. As soon as they got to the other room, the actress pinned the blonde to the wall, kissing her passionately.

Shelby held back a moan as she was pinned back. She kissed her lover back, passionately and hungrily. Her hips bucked into her lover's as she continued to kiss her back harder.

As Audrey felt her lover's hips bucking and the way Shelby was kissing her, she had to use all her strength to hold back a moan, hesitantly pulling apart, hands caressing the younger woman's waist. "Lord..." she panted.

"What was that for?" Shelby asked softly, nearly panting.

"Well, I was just kissing my fiancé. Do I need to have a reason for that?" the actress cocked her brows.

"No," Shelby blushed softly. "It was just so... sexy." She admitted. "Are you horny?" she asked, raising her own brow.

Audrey bit her lip as she heard Shelby's words, the grip on her waist tightening. "I was not, but now... a little."

Shelby bit her lip before bringing Audrey in for a heated kiss. Her tongue ran over the woman's bottom lip as her hips bucked again.

Audrey felt a small whimper leaving her lips. She let Shelby's tongue in, twirling around with it as her hands went down to cup the woman's ass.

Shelby pulled away before it could become anything more. "I love you so much." She breathed out. "But we need to get the food together, and not make out in my dad's kitchen."

Audrey pulled apart and rested her forehead on her lover's, panting a little more now. "I know... you're the one who teased me." She said playfully. "I was only going for a kiss."

"A sexy kiss," Shelby said with a small smirk. "But that's okay. I love all of your kisses."

Audrey rolled her eyes before pecking her lover, pulling apart with a chuckle. "It was really only a kiss."

"Mhm," Shelby hummed playfully. She went to the counter where the food laid. She found that it was still warm, and she started to divide it up on plates. "Can you grab four cups?"

"I mean it!" Audrey chuckled, going to the cabinet to take the cups and placing them on the counter before going to the fridge. "Juice?" She asked her lover.

"Sure, babe. Dad will want tea and Lizzy will want milk." Shelby explained.

"Oh okay." Audrey nodded, taking the jug of milk and juice, filling two cups with the juice and one with milk before going back to the fridge. "Is the tea here?"

"Yes, it'll be in the door," Shelby said. "Can you grab the ketchup?" she asked.

"Sure, babe." Audrey took the tea and the ketchup before going back to the counter and filling the last glass up before putting the bottle back on.

Shelby took two of the plates and started walking to the living room. "Can you grab the other two? I'll help with the drinks in a moment." She said to her lover.

"Yep!" The actress took the other two plates and followed her lover, taking the Ketchup as well, placing them on the table and going back to the kitchen.

Shelby went back as well and grabbed Lizzy's and Bruce's glasses before going back. She placed them on the table before resuming her place on the sofa.

Audrey motioned Shelby's actions with the last two cups, soon sitting beside her lover as well, caressing her knee.

"Thanks for helping, babe," Shelby said before taking one of the plates.

"'Hank ya." Lizzy smiled before slipping off the couch to sit on the floor in front of the table.

"Of course," Audrey said sweetly, blushing a little as she took one of the plates as well, taking the first bite. "This is delicious!"

"Thank you, sweetheart," Bruce said. "It doesn't take long to make this. Just cut up some potatoes, bread the chicken and throw it all in the oven." He explained.

"So good!" Lizzy said as she smiled with a bit of ketchup on her chin.

Audrey nodded to the man as she smiled, giggling as her sight went down to the girl. "Lizzy, you've got ketchup on your chin." She said sweetly, taking a napkin and softly cleaning the girl's face. "There you go, sweetheart."

Lizzy giggled softly. "'Hanks."

Shelby ate quietly as she watched them, smiling to herself.

"You're welcome, lovely." Audrey smiled before resuming to her eating, eventually sipping on the juice.

"Oh! Dad, Chris, and Bella want to come over for dinner. Is that okay?" Shelby asked.

"As long as you feel like cooking that much." He said.

"I sure do. I've got my helper." She said as she wrapped an arm around Audrey's waist.

"Can I help?" Lizzy asked.

"Of course!"

Audrey giggled at her lover's words, caressing her knee with her free hand. "Lizzy and I will love to help!"

"See! I have all the help I need." Shelby said.

"Then they are more than welcome to come over for dinner." Bruce smiled.

Audrey smiled brightly as she resumed eating, enjoying how easy things were with Bruce. He reminded her of Shelby a lot, and it caused the actress to feel comfortable.

Shelby continued to eat and sipping on her juice as she enjoyed the pleasant environment.

"So, Lizzy, you seemed a bit tired when you came in here. Do you want to take a nap after lunch?" Bruce asked.

"No." She shook her head.

"Are you sure, love? We don't want you sleeping and missing the preparation for dinner." Audrey said softly.

Lizzy thought about it for a moment. "I guess." She sighed. "Will ya tuck me in Auntie Audrey?" she asked before eating her last piece of chicken and moving onto the fries.

"Of course, honey." The actress answered softly, melting at how adorable Lizzy looked. "Will you take your new friends with you?"

"Yes," Lizzy said with a nod. "Can I sweep wit' yas too? And Auntie Shelby's?" she asked.

"Mine would love to snuggle you," Audrey said sweetly, looking at her lover to see her answer.

"Of course! Let me go get them from the car." Shelby said before standing up.

"Yay!" Lizzy squealed, shoving one more fries to her mouth. Audrey giggled as she caressed her lover's knee before letting her go, finishing to eat her dish.

Shelby's stood from the sofa and went outside. She grabbed the two stuffed animals and brought them inside, placing them on the couch by Lizzy.

"There you go, honey."

"'Hank ya!"

As Shelby came back, Audrey realized they were all done eating. She stood up and started taking the plates. "Baby, can you take the cups, please?"

"Sure, babe," Shelby said before gathering all the cups. She took them to the kitchen and placed them in the sink.

"Let me wash the dishes." The actress said softly as she placed the plates on the sink, turning the water on. "Thanks for bringing the cups."

"You're welcome, and no let me. You need to go tuck Lizzy in." Shelby said softly.

"Oh." Audrey nodded, turning the water off and walking to Shelby, caressing her waist. "Give me a kiss before?" she teased.

"Of course," Shelby said before kissing her lover softly, yet passionately. She brought a hand up to gently caress the woman's cheek for a moment.

Audrey smiled as she kissed Shelby back, melting at the sweet touch. She gently pulled away, pecking her a million times before actually letting go. "I love you." She whispered. "I'll be back in a minute"

"I love you too," Shelby smiled as she let go of her lover. She walked over to the sink and started to wash the dishes.

Audrey smiled as she went to the living room, seeing Lizzy snuggling the four stuffed animals.

"Hey, sweetheart, ready for your nap?"

"Mhm." The girl nodded sleepily.

The actress walked over to Elizabeth and picked her up, tiny arms wrapped around the stuffed animals. "Where do you usually sleep, love?"

"Papa's room"

"Okay." Audrey looked over to Bruce, seeing him nodding to her. The actress followed up the hall and found the right room, gently placing Lizzy on the bed and tucking the covers up, the four stuffed animals being held tightly.

"'Hanks." Elizabeth smiled sleepily. "I love ya, Auntie Audrey."

"I love you too, sweetheart." The actress bent down to place a kiss on the girl's forehead. "If you need anything, just call."

"'Kay," Lizzy answered sleepily, eyes already closing.

Audrey silently stepped out of the room, closing the door as she did so, following back to the living room.

Bruce stepped into the kitchen and leaned against the counter next to the sink where Shelby was. "So, how'd it goes yesterday?"

"To say the least, we didn't stay for dinner," Shelby answered. "She's... resentful toward you. Did you know that?" she asked.

"To an extent, yes. What did she say?"

"That you were right... about one of us ending up gay like you."

As Audrey went to the living room, she found no one there. Walking towards the kitchen, she heard both talking and softly knocked on the door before entering the room.

"Hey, babe." Shelby smiled toward her lover before turning off the water. "I was just letting Dad know what happened yesterday."

"Oh..." Audrey sighed softly. "I can go to the living room to let you guys talk better, I don't mind, really." She reassured.

"No, stay, please," Shelby said as she held out her hand for her lover. She could already feel her emotions from the day before coming back, and just having Audrey would her made them not feel as bad.

Audrey's brows furrowed softly with her lover's words. She could see the way Shelby's voice came, and instantly walked towards her lover, letting her arm wrap around the younger woman's waist. "It was horrible," Audrey confessed, letting out a sigh.

Shelby instantly relaxed in her lover's embrace. She rested her head on the woman's shoulder as she looked down at the floor.

"Can you tell me more about what happened? I can tell this is hard for Shelby to talk about." Bruce asked.

"Of course," Audrey answered softly, caressing Shelby's waist. "Why don't we sit down in the living room?" she suggested sweetly.

"Okay."

They both said before walking that way.

When Shelby sat down on the sofa, she pulled Audrey with her so she could cuddle into the woman's side.

The actress sat next to her lover and instantly pulled her closer by the waist, placing a kiss on top of her head. "Robin was really... rude." She started, taking a deep breath. "She has a problem about me being a woman... I questioned her about Shelby's happiness and it really... it was bad."

"God," Bruce sighed as he shook his head. "I'm so sorry. I knew she would most likely be upset, but I didn't this she would be rude."

"Me too, if I'm being honest," Audrey confessed, pulling her lover even closer. "She just seemed so... selfish, like her happiness was more important than Shelby's... I don't know if I did right, but I lost my cool." She let out an embarrassed chuckle, trying to lighten up the mood a little.

"It's okay," Shelby said softly. "I'm glad you said something... she stood up for me." She explained to her father.

At this, Bruce smiled. "I'm glad you were there for her. And over the years of us being married, she... it just seemed to calm down, but I knew there was always a part of her that hated me. I just never thought she would be that way toward you, I'm sorry, babygirl."

"It's okay." Shelby sighed.

Audrey smiled at Bruce's reaction, her chest tightening even more as she heard her lover sighing. "I'm sorry, my love." She said softly, tenderly, placing another kiss on top of her lover's head. "At least she's only one, and we have Bruce, Chris, Lizzy..."

Shelby nodded softly. "You're right. It's just... I don't know."

"I know it's hard," Bruce said. "It's the reason why you never met your grandmother."

"Really?" Shelby asked.

"She reacted pretty much in the same way, but my parents were never married." He said.

Audrey felt her eyes opening wide with the confession, her hand subconsciously pulling Shelby closer. "Did she... leave?"

"No. I just didn't have a lot of contact with my father as I grew up, but once I was eighteen, I saw more of him than her. When I decided to come out to her, she no longer wanted anything to do with me. I became a lot closer with my dad after that." He explained.

"I never knew any of this," Shelby said.

"I guess I didn't want you to know. I'm sorry." Bruce said.

"No, it's okay, Dad. I understand."

Audrey felt her heart tightening more and more with the conversation. She remembered her family, and how lucky she was that almost everyone was supportive. Almost. "My father almost disowned me..." the actress commented, softly.

Shelby pulled back to look at her lover. She never knew this about her. "Really?" she asked in a shocked tone. "Why haven't you told me before?" she asked softly, not wanting the woman to think she was upset.

"Because it had to do with the time, I tried committing suicide and I just... I was scared to tell you, and the other day when the suicide topic came up, I guess I didn't want to make things even heavier." Audrey sighed softly. "I didn't know how things were going to go with Robin and I guess I didn't want to scare you... I'm sorry."

Shelby brought a hand up to light hold her lover's cheek, gently caressing her soft skin. "It's okay. You could have told me, but I understand why you didn't want to." She smiled weakly. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Bruce watched the two, smiling at how loving and caring the two were with each other. He could tell there was true love there, something he hadn't seen for his daughter yet.

Audrey smiled weakly to her lover, brown eyes meeting blue ones. She leaned into the soft touch, feeling herself easing as she took a deep breath. "After I tried committing suicide, my father didn't come to see me at the hospital." She started, hesitantly. "He spent a month without talking to me and, when we finally talked, his words were: "I'm okay with you being a dyke, but no daughter of me is a coward." A tear fell down, another deep breath was taken.

Shelby felt herself filling with rage and hate for the man. She wiped the tears away, sighing as she rested her forehead against her lover's. "I'm so sorry, baby. That's horrible... I wish I was there for you then."

Audrey smiled softly as their foreheads touched, taking another deep breath to calm herself down a little. "I wish it too." She said softly. "It would have been easier, for sure." She chuckled sadly. "But my mother almost divorced him due to how he treated me, and somehow he woke up from what he was doing... today he's a lot more supportive."

Shelby felt the negative feelings she was having starting to ease at this. She nodded gently, "Good... that's good, babe."

"Robin might come around to the idea," Bruce said.

"Maybe..." Shelby sighed.

"I'm sure she will, babygirl" The actress pulled Shelby impossibly closer.

"I have my doubts," Shelby said as she rested her head back on her lover's shoulder.

Audrey let out a small sigh with her lover's words. She had her doubts too but didn't want to admit it.

"You never know," Bruce said. "She can be surprising at times."

"Yes." Audrey nodded, caressing her lover's waist once again.

"Auntie Audwey?" a sleepy voice came from the end of the hallway, from upstairs.

Shelby smiled softly as she lightly pulled away from her lover. "Go check on her, gorgeous." She said.

"Okay." Audrey smiled sweetly as she pecked her lover before getting up and going to the girl's room.

"I'm glad she was there with you," Bruce said.

"Me too... she really stood up for me when I couldn't and she just—it meant a lot to me," Shelby said with a small smile.

Entering the room softly, Audrey found Lizzy sat up in bed with a small grumpy face.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"I can't sweep..." she pouted. "I'm cold."

The actress let out a sweet smile as she searched the room for a blanket, finding one on the small couch on the corner. Grabbing it, she went back to the bed. "Here." She said softly, tucking Lizzy in the blanket. "All warm, like a burrito!" She giggled.

"Burrito!" Lizzy giggled back, resting back in bed. "'Hank ya."

"Of course." The actress said softly, bending down to place a kiss on the girl's forehead. "Sleep fine."

"I can tell." Bruce smiled. "So, any special reason for the family dinner, or just because?"

"Well, when I was explaining what happened with Mom to Chris and Isabella, it was kind of hard to explain why Mom would be upset with you and resentful toward you without telling them the reason why. I'm not saying you have to tell him, I just think it would be nice for everything to be out in the open so I can explain it better to them." Shelby explained.

Audrey left the room quietly, closing the door and walking back to the living room, sitting next to Shelby once again.

Shelby cuddled up against her lover again.

"I'll think about it," Bruce said.

"Okay," Shelby smiled.

Audrey gladly wrapped her arm around Shelby, caressing her waist. "Lizzy was cold." She commented.

"It's always cold in my bedroom," Bruce said. "But she doesn't like sleeping in any of the other bedrooms." He explained.

"Why not?" Audrey's brows furrowed softly.

"She says the posters in Shelby's room freaks her out, and in Chris' room it's too bright, but I think she likes that I have the biggest bed." He said with a small chuckle at the end.

Audrey let out a small chuckle as well. "She was all snuggled right in the middle of the bed"

"That's where she loves to sleep," Bruce said.

"That's so cute." Shelby smiled.

"It is until it's time for me to go to sleep too. I get about six inches of the bed, and she hogs the blankets."

Shelby couldn't help but laugh at this.

Audrey burst into laughs with the man's comment. "Well, Shelby here does the same thing." She teased, bumping with her shoulder on the other woman's.

"I do not," Shelby said. "Do I?" She asked shortly after.

Audrey giggled, even more, shaking her head as she did so. "You don't, I'm teasing"

"Oh, thank God. I would hope that you'd tell me if I did." Shelby said with a sigh of relief.

"Of course, I would, silly" She smiled.

The doorbell rang, and Bruce started to get up from his spot on the couch. "Let me get it," Shelby said as she stood.

"Okay," Bruce said as he sat back down.

Shelby walked to the front door, opening it to see Chris and Isabella. She stepped aside to let them inside. "Are you making dinner yet?" Isabella asked.

"Not just yet."

"Okay, well, if you need help, I can help you out."

"Thank you," Shelby said with a small smile as they walked to the living room.

Audrey caressed her lover's waist as she let go of her, smiling as she saw Chris and Isabella entering the room. "Hey there!" She said happily.

"Hey." They both said before sitting on the sofa where Bruce was.

"Thanks for having us over," Isabella said.

"Of course. You know you kids are always welcome." Bruce said.

"Where's Lizzy?" Chris asked.

"She's taking a nap." Audrey smiled. "Should be up soon,"

Just then, a sleepy looking Lizzy came down the hall with all four stuffed animals in her arms. When she saw her parents, she gave a sleepy grin. "Momma, Daddy!" She said happily as she walked to them.

"Four stuffed animals?" Isabella asked, her voice sounding calm rather than upset like Shelby thought she might be.

Audrey bit her lip as she heard the woman's words. "She did Corgi-Daddy and Rabbit-Mommy." The actress explained.

"The other two are Auntie Shelby's and Audrey's," Lizzy explained as she showed them all to her parents.

Chris took the one that was dressed like him while Isabella took the one that was dressed like her. "Very cute," Chris commented, knowing how important stuffed animals were to Lizzy.

"You did such a good job matching them to us!" Isabella said with a smile.

The girl let out a small giggle. "Yay!"

Audrey burst into sweet giggles with the couple's comment, finding it so funny how Chris had commented.

Lizzy brought the stuffed animals that belonged to her aunts over to them, and then back over to sit on Bruce's lap. She cuddled into the man's embrace, letting her eyes close again.

Audrey took her stuffed animal and smiled, thinking about how cute it was. "Shelby did a—" s knock on the door cut the actress' speech, and her brows furrowed.

"I'll get it this time," Bruce said. He held a confused look on his face. He walked to the door after placing Lizzy down on the couch, leaving everyone else in the room confused as well. They hadn't invited anyone else over. "Robin, what are you doing here?" They could hear him ask.

Shelby looked down at her lap, worried why her mother would show up, and what she would say if he let her in.

At the name of the woman, Audrey felt her anger starting to build up. Out of reflex, she pulled Shelby closer, caressing her waist. "I'm here babe, don't worry," Audrey whispered.

Shelby nodded as she rested her head on her lover's shoulder. "Just hold me." She whispered so no one else in the room could hear.

"I'm here to talk." Robin's voice came through.

"What about?" Bruce asked.

"Our daughter."

"Well, she's here... with Audrey, Chris, Isabella, and Lizzy." He explained.

Audrey felt her chest starting to get heavy once again. She pulled Shelby even closer, placing a kiss on top of her head.

"Oh... I didn't know they were coming."

Shelby rolled her eyes. How could her mother not know they were there with the cars in the driveway? "Fucking idiot..." she mumbled under her breath.

Audrey took a deep breath to calm her own nerves down, her other arm wrapping around Shelby, caressing her.

"I guess come inside," Bruce said with a sigh.

Shelby wanted to protest, after yesterday she didn't want to see her mother, but she did nothing and said nothing.

Soon, Bruce and Robin joined the rest of them in the living room.

Audrey cuddled closer to Shelby as she heard footsteps coming their way. She could see Lizzy's brows furrowed on the other couch like the girl could sense what was going on.

Robin just glanced at Audrey, and then smiled over at Chris, Isabella and Lizzy.

"Nana, why ya hewe?" Lizzy asked.

Shelby bit back a laugh that wanted to come through from the rude sounding question her niece asked.

                                                      __________

So, this chapter is a little different, formatting wise. We would really appreciate some feedback on it. Would you guys rather have it this way, with the spaces, or have things moved around so they're all together?

[finderskeepersff]

24.

It’s been a wild ass week since Cassius made me watch us have sex, that shit is still playing on my mind. It was a whole ass experience to feel. I mean you never know what the guy can see when he is on top, I am not big headed at all but I looked good, we looked good. I mean damn, I orgasmed more just seeing us so connected. I feel that shit, I really enjoyed it and I can’t stop thinking about it. I have the best sex ever, I have had sex but having sex with a man that knows how to use his dick and ain’t scared to use, my god. My pussy is pulsating thinking about it all over again, my god “I am back, sorry. Mitch left his key and couldn’t get in” Mia bringing me back down to reality “oh it’s ok, so yeah. Things are ok, I mean I hate being in a hotel but it’s a bigger suite. We have somewhere to sit rather than just that one room, so I am happy. I love Atlanta, Cassius on the other hand. He misses Brooklyn” Mia cooed out “where is he? I want to say hi to him?” Reaching over and moving the laptop screen forward a little, couldn’t see myself in that “he is at the gym, he lives there. When you see him he will be the same guy you first met. He looks well” I grinned “whew chile! That grin, you getting that good dick, I know that smile bitch” I can’t hold it in, I laughed out “I mean so to say yes but how is everyone back home? I do miss you all, how is Olivia, Lloyd, Kenton and my beautiful Mitch?” Forget about me, I want to know about them “well I am happy to see you happy, we are all good here, we are just getting along. We met Friday for a drink, Ivy came to drink water this time. Lloyd and her broke up, hallelujah. But he’s still a friend now, so it’s awkward. Erm yeah that’s it, Olivia is attempting to eat healthy which lasted one day, she isn’t even fat. But we all miss you Sofia, my baby sister, I love you so much. I can’t wait to hug you. I am happy to see you happy, I hated seeing you down so much” I love Mia so much, she means the world to me.

I am so very content right now, with life. After that Skype call to Mia, I know my friends are ok too. I really have nothing to do today, maybe I could read up on things Cassius and I can do together in Atlanta, I don’t want to annoy the workers again, I am trying to let them do their job. I was actually considering in going to gym with Cassius, I mean why not but Cassius talked me out of it, I wonder why, I mean what if there is some pretty lady there that he is entertaining, I think tomorrow I will be going with him, I have the doubt in my mind now so it’s too late. I’m just so very bored now, I don’t have anything to do, this hotel cleans itself because of the cleaners, I sighed out. I am still shook at Cassius admitting to me being the main boss, I knew it. I just had the feeling of him being that, he wasn’t doing no deadbeat work, which guy does that. Only a boss calls the shots and that is him, I mean it doesn’t shock me because he has the brains, he really is the Pablo, he won’t let me say it though. I am just as bad but it makes me think now, now I understand why he is putting things under my name, he hasn’t got anything under his. Only a child if I can give him that.

Folding Cassius’ tops, I am dying to be a housewife and do all these things in my own home “I’m back” Cassius announces like I couldn’t hear him come in “let me see you” I said with a grin, I want to see my baby all hot and and sweaty, I mean if he still is all hot and sweaty “mhmm what’s up?” He walked into the room “excuse me? You walked back with no top on?” I pointed at him “nah, my top is here” he bought it forward “I’m going gym with you tomorrow” Cassius snorted laughing “right and why is that? Why do you want to go gym with me?” he is laughing but I don’t find anything funny about this at all “because I said, now what?” Cassius groaned out walking off “fine, you can go. You’re just going to be useless and annoy me” I gasped, he is being so rude “oh and” Cassius walked back into the bedroom “we are going for a meal with my friends, Kyle, Myles, Amira and Isabella” scrunching my face up “are we?” Cassius just gave me a look, the look of shut up and you have no choice so I have no choice but I don’t want to go “can’t you just fuck me in the mirror again!?” I spat, he is so annoying.

I don’t want to be with his friends, they never leave him. He wouldn’t do shit, like I know they must be up to something “are you wearing that?” he pointed at me wearing sweatpants and a tee “yes” crossing my right leg over my left “we going now then” my head snapped in his direction “not ready are you? Sofia, I have spoke to you on this already. You are going, you are doing this” who is he glaring at “ask nicely then” Cassius sniggered “I tried that and you said fuck me in the mirror. You are annoying me, I fucking already spoke to you on this. They will be around, you know what don’t go. Stay here, I can’t be bothered. I asked you nicely. I was in the shower, I got dressed and you purposely got sweatpants on, you won’t win this Sofia. I am telling you now” pouting at him as I frowned, getting up in a huff and throwing my phone on the couch “what is that supposed to mean? Getting up doing what?” he asked “doing as you please! I don’t want to hear you!” slamming the door shut, he is so fucking annoying.

She has real issues with my friends, it’s beginning to really piss me off with it. They will be in my life and will remain there, they moved here and I don’t know what made them decide that. She is all upset because they moving close, I don’t want to hear it. She has no choice in it at all, and then this gym shit. I like to have some time away, it’s still new to me. I like time to myself but now Sofia wants to come with me, she will only just have a face on. There is females there, I am not interested but they are there and they do look good but Sofia will drive me crazy. I hope she doesn’t, do I need to deal with her being like this. She is really pulling tantrums on shit for nothing, she wants me to have sex with her in front of the mirror again, she is crazy. My burner phone started ringing, this phone rings more now I am not around. Unknown number as always “yo” answering the phone “Lamar, I miss you bro. I helped your mom today with the shopping, she has Bryce but she said he is visiting for a few hours” my smile grew “that makes me happy, you good Lamar? Where was you anyways?” how did he even see them “Walmart, I mean I just keep an eye on them. Things been a little rocky, nobody seen you, you dipped and they been trying to come to your family home. It’s good, we good. I got it” I got my family in that home “you think they going to try and go near my family?” I need to know what “I don’t think it, they want to know where you are but desperate times. You never know, I just want to ask. What you want me to do? Shit is still going on right now?” rubbing my chin “look after my family, until it dies down. They are thinking how I am still running shit, you need to quit it Lamar. They think it’s me running it, it’s not me is it? I want you safe Lamar, I told you to get out. Don’t run it” he doesn’t listen “Cassius I got it, I am the one that is rolling with your family. I got you, do you want a cut?” shaking my head “no nigga, just stop it. I don’t care if it is on my name but they seem to be on this shit, get out. End it” he is crazy.

Sofia didn’t make that much of an effort but she did the bare minimum, she still looks beautiful “I apologise if I shouted” I can’t be bothered to see her moody face “to make it better, you stay here. I will go, I will say you are ill but just remember this, they will be with me. Even when I get married” Sofia is a brat at times “I will come” she said in a whisper “good, come then” walking around Sofia “we will fall out if you do be a bitch to them, don’t disrespect me Sofia. I am never that with your friends, I am ever so nice with them too” walking into the bedroom “I won’t, I am sorry Cassius. I just got all angry for nothing. I was being stupid” grabbing my gold chain “it’s fine, just listen to me with shit” I am not in the mood for shit myself after hearing what Lamar said, I mean I know nothing will go wrong. I set things up to not go wrong and I have people there to keep my family safe. They my family at the end of the day.

My smile grew, Myles is here with his white woman “missed you bro” hugging Myles “missed you too Cass, good seeing you after a while” I am glad he is ok, I did think he would have said he going back to Brooklyn “same with you” dapping Kyle “the threesome are back in action” Myles patted my back “oh yay, the lovers are back” Amira is cheeky, I know that “you pipe up everytime” I am a nice guy “you jealous he screams my name at night” hugging Amira “how the hell do you know?” I chuckled “I just know, nice seeing you Isabelle or bella, I don’t know” she just laughed “nice seeing you again Cassius” she kissed my cheek, do we kiss cheek. I am not sure now “Sofia here?” Kyle asked, looking behind me “yeah, she left her lipstick in the car” Sofia walked in finally, I am watching her tonight “sorry, I left my lipstick behind. How are you Kyle right?” I don’t want no funny business “for your first girlfriend, she is pretty” Amira said “you know alot about me huh?” looking over at her “many years, Kyle just never let us meet. He said I wasn’t that trusted or he said you wasn’t bothered for this. I goes to him it’s because he doesn’t have a woman and would you look at that” she walked off “Amira, I know you may have forgotten” she said to Sofia, I know Sofia can like these girls because they ride or die.

Pulling a face at Myles “you one nasty nigga” how he eating Mac and Cheese with Bacon in it, who does that “it’s nice, fuck outta here. You look at your food, you always judge me, leave me alone” I chuckled “I don’t, you just dumb with food” which I am right “so I am guessing you had to leave your work?” Isabella said to Sofia “I did yes, I didn’t know his friends were coming, I was shocked” Sofia is still shocked “oh, I have been dating Kyle for three years now, he would speak on Myles and Cassius, I mean as you know they was out all time. The most I saw of Cassius was his mug shot when he got locked up, but Kyle would not let us have a meal. He protected him like some side hoe, even Myles. I didn’t know any of these friends. It is nice to see and also nice to know the people he spends time with and get all emotional over” Kyle is hating “why you playing for? Nobody gets emotional?” Amira snorted laughing “look you nearly died for Cassius, I knew for a fact you was going to move with him. But it’s hard, I know what he does. But it is what it is, I can’t stop him but he” Amira pointed at me “he found a girrlll now he all want to have meals, it’s cute. It gets me to know everyone, I can now know Isa over there” Kyle’ woman does not stop talking “you ever stop talking?” I had to say it, Sofia hit my arm laughing “I like her” oh she does now, Sofia now is liking the girls she didn’t want to see.

Drinking my water, I am on this health binge shit. I am trying to be good with all this “so Kyle or Myles, did Cassius really not have any girlfriend at all?” placing my water down smiling “you know what, you don’t have to answer that, she didn’t even want to come today and is here asking y’all questions, you using my friends” I am airing her ass out “shut up, I am not. I wanted to come, tell me. I want to know. I can’t accept the fact he never had a girlfriend, it is just weird, like what?” Kyle and I just looked at each other and we just smiled “he never had a girlfriend, he was all about making money. Women just got in the way, he has girls. That is it, I mean they always asked us to tell him to make them official. But he never made them official, I think Cassius didn’t feel they was special enough but he has the ladies, he was the light skinned nigga that everyone wanted to be. Tatted and light skinned, looking like he belong in Cali. He got girls, girls!” laughing out at Kyle “so is he a hoe?” taking in a deep breath “Sofia, why are you asking this?” she must have been drinking too much “because you fucked me in front of the mirror, you know too much. You done this before, you had that with my cousin?” Amira’ and Isabella’ mouth fell open “why you airing that out?” what is wrong with her “I mean I don’t know his sex life” Kyle shrugged “lying ass niggas” shaking my head lightly “y’all talk” she pointed at us “he had the ladies, but that wasn’t on our mind, just money. I mean does it matter, he love you. He told us, he committed to you” Myles came through “he changing himself” clearing my throat “anyways, ignoring the drunk in the corner. I just want to say, nigga we made it, there is only a few that do but we what? Twenty nine, we ain’t supposed to be here though. We supposed to be dead but look at us, we here and I appreciate you all, for holding me down and for the ladies. The only way is up, from now on we move on together. Keep a close circle, we keep low about this” I wanted to say that because I love my brothers.

I think Sofia drank a little too much, she is a pain in my ass right now “Lamar, I called him up. He needs to quit it, I ain’t give a fuck about no name shit. I don’t want no cut, I want him to be safe out there. He doing me proud by..” watching Sofia move away from the wall “your girl way too drunk, what is wrong with her?” Myles said, stepping back “what you doing?” I asked her, she just kept on walking until I grabbed her arm “leave me alone, you don’t want me” she pushed my face away, gripping her hands “what is your problem!?” moving Sofia back against the wall again “you fucked them other bitches, you fucked my cousin. You don’t want me!” where is she getting this from “you being real?” bringing my face closer to hers “seriously!?” I said through gritted teeth “you stand here and you shut up” moving my head back and letting her hands go “you can go Cassius, she need you bro” walking towards them “listen, he about to get himself killed. They think I am still doing that, I am not there. They will grow tired, they will kill him to get to my family to get me back. Deal with it, any of you two ok?” now I got to deal with a drunk Sofia.

I left Sofia asleep in the bed, I came to the gym. I rather escape here while thinking of back home. I come here to just get my mind off it, Sofia had lost her mind. I don’t know where she got that from at all, she would have a heart-attack if she knew I was running topless. Maybe me coming here is making her go crazy, I don’t know but she needs to relax. Keeping my pace up as I saw the female talking to me, pulling my headphones back “what?” I said a little out of breath “you on a higher speed today” turning it down a little “I ain’t got you talking to me constantly” Yasmin is pretty, since coming here we just talk but it doesn’t interest me sexually to cheat “oh blaming me now? I see how it is but you started without me today” nodding my head “don’t worry, I will slow it down for you now you here” she walked off, she has the best booty ever. It’s literally shaped like a peach, it’s amazing.

Wiping my face with the towel, placing the towel around my neck. Looking down at the bench seeing Sofia calling my phone “how come you came here so early? We supposed to be partners in the gym” looking away from my phone “just some shit” holding the towel around my neck “went out with my girl for some food, she got all drunk. She acting like I don’t want her and shit, I ain’t even that type of nigga. I hate that shit, I am not like that. I am faithful to her, she just annoyed me. She stupid, like she perfect, she really is” Yasmin cooed out “that is a sad she did that, maybe because like you said. You looking good, you feeling yourself are you not? Maybe she sees that, as a woman myself. I see my man changing himself. So if we move and then he is doing this, I would think why. I like him the way he was, we as women assume a lot. It’s how we roll Cassius, accept it” even she saying that, that is wild to me because why feel that way for what. Chest machine for Yasmin, what a sight to see “see about that” I said to myself.

I got Sofia flowers, I don’t know why I have but I have. I don’t know what she is feeling, I don’t get women, I just don’t. Closing the door behind me, I see grumpy straight away “you ignored my calls” holding the flowers up “oh this is nice Cassius, thank you for getting them” throwing them on the couch “you ain’t even deserve that, you tripping. I just told you about tripping and you do that in front of my friends Sofia, I told you this! What is your problem” She putting her hand up in my face like I care about her hangover “why get me flowers huh? Feeling guilty about something? You a fucking man whore. Come to think of it, you fucked around with bitches, Why do I need flowers Cassius” she is acting crazy “because you’re pointless, I just really don’t want to be dealing with your shit. You assuming shit, you just on top of me about nothing. Fix yourself, I fucking mean that fucking shit” walking off towards the bedroom, feeling the flowers hit the back of my head “fuck you!” she spat, I am not a violent guy, not towards a female but damn she is pushing my buttons “don’t speak to me, because I had sex with you good you just thinking shit, you going crazy” closing the bedroom door, I don’t want to know.

[mysteryunfold]

On the MC’s / Apprentice’s “agency”

This post comes from some the discussion that has been around the Julian breakup.  One “issue” that came up that I did not talk about in my last post was that some Julian fans felt that Julian’s leaving took away the MC’s agency and choice.  *takes a deep breath.*  I really want to talk about this because that sort of reasoning was also present earlier in some’s earlier frustration with Asra.

Here is my main point: I do not think that Julian’s breakup or Asra’s actions  violate the MC’s choice and agency.

The MC: Characterization

First of all, the MC’s agency and choice as a character in visual novels like The Arcana is a tricky thing because often times the character is a self-insert.  Although visual novels tend to be “chose-your-own-adventure” there are still limitations that adventure.  Although the player is controlling the MC, their choices are limited in what is written for them.  Some visual novels have a lot of routes and endings (more work for the writers) and others have a mostly linear plot with the choices having very little effect.

Since many MCs of visual novels serve as self inserts (which the MC of The Arcana is most definitely that type, the gender, age, name and physical attributes of the MC are up to the player), the personality of the character often is what the player brings to it.  To allow this to happen, the MC cannot have as big of influence on the plot as say a book MC can have because to those actions would point to a concrete personality.

However, VN writers have to walk a fine line... they cannot have a protagonist that has too much of influence of the plot because then the player does not have themselves invested as much (or if they play more passive character then nothing would happen), but they cannot have too much of a blank character because then they does not seem to be any agency in the situations that the MC finds themselves in.

Here are some ways that VNs work around it:

Have a blank character that is easily identifiable for the target audience (think Bella Swan.  On another note, that is why VNs tend to be so gendered.  The “Shall We Date” series I think does this.)

Have one or two traits of a character that are in your face and that are relatable... these traits either cause the movement of the story or are a force in the banter of the dialogue (The Sake Visual games that I have played use this, case in point Re: Alistair.  I think that the Phoenix Wright games use this technique as well.  Also, Layton Brother’s Mystery Room’s Lucy Baker has this quality.  Also Miranda Namatgira from Nachtigal)

Have the story be about the Love Interests.  (I think a lot of visual novels do this.  But here are some free examples: (P)lanets and the parody-lite Asagao Academy)

Have the story be more a slice of life / the player is trying to build toward something (A good example of this is “Our Personal Space” from the app store.)

Have the main plot be about the MC trying to figure something out or discover what happened.  (It is a good way to build character and world.  A lot of mystery novels do this. I have seen fantasy VNs do this as well because it is a good way to build worlds.  Serafina’s Saga does this by having the MC grow up away from the city of her ancestors.  The Arcana and Frozen Essence, some of my favorites, employ the trope of memory loss for the audience to discover the MC and the world.)

In all of the examples I give, the agency and control of a VN’s main character is more limited than that of a movie or book.  For better or for worse, that is the nature / climate of visual novels.  The Arcana’s MC’s agency needs to be judged in the context of other visual novels.  In my opinion, compared to other VNs, the MC has more agency than most (especially what tends to be available in the app store... I have been in circumstances before that I felt like I had no control over in a VN), even in Asra’s clearing the MC’s memory to protect them and Julian’s breakup.

Asra / MC

So let’s go back to the beginning of discourse of the fandom.  This beginning discourse centered around resident floof boy, Asra.  Many fans were upset about the paid coin scene in which Asra confesses his love for the apprentice and then wipes their memories of the incident.

That scene caused many fans to not like Asra, calling him “shady” and even some thought his actions were abusive.  Asra is not abusive, and I am not going to go into that now.  The reason for their mistrust was cited as being partly based on that Asra was taking away the MC’s agency. 

However, the circumstances that the MC finds themselves in takes away their agency, not Asra. 

The MC has memory that cannot be restored because if Asra tries to restore that memory, the MC will be put in a coma / deep sleep.  The MC is in circumstances that strip them of their agency because they have to rely on others through a life they do not understand. 

If the MC is dignified in their lack of agency depends on how it is written.  I think in the Arcana’s case, the devs keep what little agency the character has in.  For example, they could have romanticized the power imbalance between Asra and the MC, but they do not.  But both the MC and Asra are portrayed as desiring an equal relationship.  Asra regrets that he cannot bring the MC’s memories back, and when the MC does remember something (no matter how small), he rejoices.  Also in the book “The Lovers,” he requests that the apprentice stop referring to him as “master” because calling him that title is beneath him.  This implies that the MC before the memory loss was in the very least Asra’s equal, if not more skilled than him.  It is that past that Asra longs for and wants to restore.  He is not comfortable with the MC being a subordinate.  Likewise, we also get a glimpse that MC desires this equality of agency and mutuality with Asra as well.  In the “The Chariot,” when they are walking through the forest, the MC comments on the past (after the memory loss) and the present.  They note that back before they could even fully speak, it was Asra leading them around.  Now, the two are walking side by side, implying equality.  The apprentice longs for and enjoys the present relationship more than the one right after they just woke up.

Although the MC’s circumstances strip them of agency, one of their love interest’s actively works with them to restore that agency.

Julian / MC

And now to the current controversy.  Why Julian’s break up feels like it is denying the MC agency when it really is not.

First of all, the hard truth on breakups, anyone is allowed to breakup with anybody.  Breaking up with somebody is not denying that person their agency.

Now there are humane ways to break up and even abusive ways to break up, but the break up itself is not what takes agency away. 

This is a hard truth that I had wrestle with, having gone through a really bad breakup that took me years to get over.  I had to move on from the fact that while the way my ex broke up with me was utter crap and really hurt, he has every right for not having me in his life.  Forcing him back into my life or manipulating him back into my life is trying to wrestle him out his agency. Ouchie. 

On the lighter subject, Julian did not deny the MC’s agency in the break up.  He analyzed the situation and decided that while he has feelings for the apprentice, he cannot enter into a relationship with them.

I think why this seems like it agency-defying is because this usually does not happen in VN type games.  Usually, if you pick the right choices, the game moves through a steady progression to the couple getting together.  The Arcana does the opposite.  It put the Julian / MC relationship on steroids (it moved super fast, you guys.  It really did), and then had a fall out consequence for moving so fast.  Often times, VNs do not give their LIs much agency and gift the player the of control the relationship with the LI.  But, the Arcana, in this circumstance, the  gave agency to the LI.

So, Julian’s break up is not robbing the MC of agency.  Rather, in the break up scene, the devs assert his character and give him equal agency to the MC.

Conclusion

Whew, that was long.  I should add a closing note /summary.  So, in summary, we must look at the MC’s agency in the context of how VN protagonists are portrayed.  What is love or high agency is different in VNs than it is in books or movies.  I also do not believe that Asra or Julian took away the MC’s agency at any point, currently, in the game.

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