#Chesapeake Bay Coffee

[swnjobs-md]

[wheezyseeker99]

Too Sweet

Warnings: body appreciation, pda, teasing, alcohol consumption, swearing, oral (female receiving), soft domination (little bit of daddy kink), hair pulling, unprotected sex (fm)

18+, MDNI

Summary: An entire day where Cam cannot keep his hands to himself.

AN: This picture got posted while I finished editing this so I think that means I need to use it.

Cam has always shown appreciation for my body, but his enthusiasm for my curves surpassed anything I have ever experienced. This morning I woke up and made myself a cup of coffee and brought a cup of chocolate milk to bed for Cam. He’s been sleeping in later now that it’s the off season. I smile to myself as I look at him softly snoring. His messy hair shined brighter from the sun streaming in through the windows.

I climbed back into bed and grabbed my book from the bedside table, and read until Cam woke up. He rolled over and laid his head on my lap while I flipped through the book. Well, that was until his hands started to roam my body.

I looked down at him, and his eyes held on my thighs. I rarely ever bother to put on pants when I go to bed so I’m still just in an oversized old tshirt. It’s nothing special, but Cam loves it. He trails a hand up and down my thigh. I let him get lost in his head for a little while so I could keep reading. It was only when his teeth met my thigh that I slammed the book shut.

“Cameron,” I gasped and looked down at him, “why did you do that?”

He took the book from my hands and sat it on his bedside table. He picked up the glass of chocolate milk, smiling to himself before drinking from the glass. He sat it down and then laid back down.

“Wanted your attention baby,” he sighed before kissing over the red bitten skin on my thigh.

“Yeah?” I say and run my fingers through his hair, “and how did I taste?”

His eyes gleam with excitement and he sits up a little to give me a chaste kiss. “The usual, honey. Way too sweet for me,” he states, grinning ear to ear.

“You say that like you didn’t just drink chocolate milk,” I laugh.

He hummed softly. “You’re sweeter than that, though.”

“If you say so Cameron.”

“I do,” he places another kiss on my thigh before nuzzling his face into the skin. “5 more minutes.”

…

5 more minutes turned into nearly 30, and now we’re both getting ready to leave the house. Today we’re going to a bonfire out near Chesapeake Bay at one of his friend’s houses, and Cam got us an airbnb for the night. I knew he would convince me to go out on a boat in the morning to fish so I packed extra clothes in my overnight bag.

While I’m zipping up my bag, a slap comes down on my ass. I let out a gasp before two arms snake around my waist. I lean back into Cam’s chest and I felt a kiss being placed on the top of my head.

“What was that for?”

“It was right there, calling for me to touch it,” he laughed into my hair. His hands stroked my sides gently.

“I’m sure it did,” I rolled my eyes and played along. “Let’s go before I send you by yourself.”

“Like you could get rid of me,” he pressed a kiss to my shoulder. He grabbed the bag and walked out the door.

…

The entire drive Cam had his hand on my thigh. He hummed to the music playing from the radio, but otherwise, he was quiet. Typically he would want to talk so this is a stark contrast to how he usually is. Silence is just weird in this car. I placed my hand over his to get his attention, and his palm squeezed my inner thigh through my leggings.

“You’re being quiet,” I told him. I traced my fingers over his hand and looked over at him. His gaze is still fixed on the road.

“Just content baby,” he glances over at me. His hand squeezed my thigh again. A bolt of electricity races through me and I clamped my thighs closed around his hand, trapping it between them. I held back a moan by biting down on my lip. “Very, very content.”

“But I want you to talk,” I whine. He arches an eyebrow when he looks at me for a second.

“Nah baby, you can talk about anything and I’ll listen. We have 10 minutes until we arrive at the airbnb.”

Asshole.

I pout in my seat for the remainder of the drive, and I don’t wait for Cam when we pulled into the driveway of the house we’re staying at for the night. I got out of the car and grabbed my bag from the back without sparing him a glance. I punch in the code and walk in through the door. Cam walked up behind me in the entryway and pulled me back into him.

“Is my little brat mad at me?” He cooed before turning me to face him. “Need me to talk and touch you all day long to satisfy you?”

“Ugh, don’t make fun of me,” I chastise him.

Cam slotted his mouth to mine for a moment and he tucked my hair behind my ear. Beaming down at me, he said, “it’s my favorite past time, honey.”

I shoved his chest and grabbed my bag.

“You’re not going to get anywhere if you keep this up Cameron.”

…

At the bonfire Cam and I are sitting on a blanket, watching the fire roar in front of us. He talks to his friends and teammates while I sip the whiskey sour in my glass, listening to him. I guess I’ve finally caught up with Cam with the content feeling soaring through my chest. I lean into him and a press a kiss on his jaw, silently telling him that I’m enjoying this too.

I like being out of the city, even if it’s just for a little while. I can tell he does too. A lot of people treat him as if he’s only a last name and a number on a jersey, but the people here know him as just Cam. It put a smile on my face for him to be normal and comfortable in a space around people. ‘Drunk on life Cam’ is one of my favorite versions of him.

I finished off my glass before standing to refill it at the minibar. From afar, I can still feel his eyes on me. All the sudden I hear the pop of a bottle being opened. I glanced over and it was Tyson pouring wine into Katie’s glass. In my mind it wasn’t the pop of a wine bottle, I heard the smack of Cam’s hand on my ass. A shiver ran through me at the thought. When he had done it earlier I knew I’d end up thinking about it once I drank a little.

Now I feel the horniness settle inside me. I move my eyes back to where he is, loving the way he’s laughing. I go back over to my spot to sit down, but he tugs me down between his spread legs, caging me in with his arms around my waist. I lean back into him and get lost in the haziness he makes me feel. I tuck my face in the crook of his neck. I breathe him in, smelling his cologne, and I feel him laugh as he pressed a kiss to my forehead. I love him and he knows it without me saying a word.

“Honey,” Cam whispered into my ear. I hummed in response. I feel his warm breath against the shell of my ear. “Do you want to head out soon?”

I shake my head while taking a swig of my drink.

“What are you two whispering about over there?” Jamie asked, narrowing his eyes at us.

“Nothing Jameson,” I spoke up. “Just how we need to head out soon. You know I’m an early riser. And I need to have time to get comfortable in bed with Cam.”

From the outside perspective, my words were innocently sweet, but Cam knew what I meant. I tilted my head to connect our eyes and his flared at me. I didn’t miss the way his eyes dropped to my lips. My insides feel warm instantly. Whenever I use the term ‘get comfortable’ that usually meant I would be naked and waiting in bed for Cam. Jamie and the guys probably didn’t know that though.

“Boring,” Jamie snorts. “Are we going out with Tys and Katie in the morning?”

Cam nods his head while licking his lips. He bites down on his bottom lip and I move my eyes away from him. I take a long sip from my glass and focus my gaze back on the fire. It wasn’t long before I felt his lips trail down the back of my neck. I tilt my head to the side so he has more access, and I try to hide the involuntary moan coming out of me by finishing what was left in my glass.

“Cam take your girl home if you’re going to be acting like that bro,” Tyson laughs.

“Gladly,” Cam groans behind me. He lets me go and jumps up to grab my hands, pulling me up with him. “See you guys in the morning.”

…

We barely make it through the door when my back is slammed against it. I felt satisfaction already twisting deep in my stomach when he looks at me like this. His eyes lingered on me for a few seconds before they met mine again. They were a darker shade of blue and they made my chest feel tight. He drags the backs of his fingers down my cheek, “where were we, honey?”

“Kiss me.”

That was all I could say before his lips attack mine confidently, passionately. His hands slide into my hair, slightly tugging my head back. I feel the heat rushing through my body, building between my legs. I need him on top of me, inside me. I need him in a way that’ll screw up my mind forever.

His hands dropped from my hair before gliding down my curves to rest on my hips. Cam pulls his lips away from mine before he pulls me towards the kitchen.

“Hop up on the counter,” he murmurs.

My gaze flicked towards the hallway where our bedroom for the night is, but he steers me to the countertop, pressing me against it. His fingers hook into my leggings and panties, tugging them down my legs.

He straightens his posture before his hand came beneath my chin, tipping my face up, “I've seen and tasted every inch of you. There's no point hiding in a bedroom now. You’re going to get comfortable right here.”

Cam presses a chaste kiss to my lips before pulling away, lifting me by the hips to settle on the counter. He steps between my spread legs, grinning at the sight. He groans while lowering himself to come face to face with my core.

“Please,” I whimper out.

He softly kisses up my inner thigh from my knee to my pussy. His beard scratched against my skin, teasing just enough to make me squirm. He placed a kiss against my clit while dragging his fingers over my folds.

“So wet for me already honey,” he moaned before diving in. His mouth traced shapes on my clit and two of his fingers entered my pussy, knocking all of the air out of me. I gasp and rake my fingers through his hair, holding on. His fingertips increased pressure inside me, and I feel my stomach tense.

“Cam.” His name on my lips is a constant plea for more, moaning it out like it’s a melody. My hips thrust into him, his tongue caressing all of the right places. My body is aching for release when he pulls his mouth away, his fingers still thrusting into me.

“Yeah?” I can hear the cockiness in his voice while he bites down my thigh. “I make you feel good?”

I nod my head, only able to moan at how good he’s making me feel.

“Say it,” he gritted out, sucking my swollen clit back into his mouth.

“You make me feel so good Cam,” I say obliviously. A harsh moan tore from me and he continues to push me closer to the edge. My eyes closed tightly as Cam coaxes me through my orgasm, massaging my sensitive clit with his tongue until I tug a fistful of his hair to bring him to his feet. I can taste myself on his lips, opening my mouth for him.

Cam kissed me for what seemed like forever. His hand slid upward to grab a fistful of my hair, and the other came around my throat. I whimpered at the forceful grip. I’m far beyond aroused at this point. I need him. Now. I need all of him.

I trail my hands down to his shorts, tugging them down to reveal his cock, inch by delectable inch. I need him inside me so bad. His cock taunted me and it only urged me on more. Cam groaned and released his grip on me when I grabbed a hold of his thick, hard length. I stroke him slowly while his eyes watched me, sliding over every part of me that he could see. From my face to my barely covered breasts.

“Why didn’t I take off your tank top earlier?” Cam rasped. His hands settled on either side of me.

I cocked my head to the side and I released his length from my grip, “you were pussy driven, daddy.”

Cam’s eyes flared as his gaze dropped between my legs. If my body wasn’t on fire under his stare before it definitely is now. I drew my legs around his hips, tugging him closer.

“How can I not be honey? Your pussy is fucking sweet.”

My legs tightened around him, urging him forward into my throbbing core. I lift his shirt over his head and toss it away. His cock slid along my wet folds and I moaned at the contact. I clutched the back of his neck, sliding my fingers through the hair at his nape. Cam groaned as he entered me, his hot breath against my skin sent a shudder through me. His hands went to my hips, tugging them towards his, meeting his thrust.

“Fuck baby,” Cam grunted. His beard scratched my lips as I trailed soft pecks down his jawline, knowing that he loves the attention I give his neck in intimate moments like these. The sound of his low groan made me smile against his heated skin. I bit down on his earlobe before pulling my gazed back to his face.

"So fucking good daddy,” I praise him. “Please, don't stop."

His head fell onto my shoulder as he plunged in further, each thrust making me fall apart at his fingertips. His teeth pulled the straps of my bra and tank top from my shoulder and his mouth comes to my nipple. I clench around him and tug at his hair as he sucked the nub. Cam hits the spot inside of me over and over, gripping my throat again. He loses his composure completely as he slams his lips to mine in a bruising kiss.

“I love you,” he moaned as he released my lips.

“I love you,” I whined against him. His thrusts were forceful in the most delicious way, sending me into a powerful orgasm. He kept plunging into me during the aftershocks, leaving me whimpering and clutching onto him. I pulled his lips back to mine and he held my hips to his as he came inside me with a guttural groan. I open my eyes and watch him come undone, mesmerised by his features. His mouth hung open, breathing uneven. I can feel his body relax, his arms came around to hold me to him. I tried to pull back to look at him, but his arms tightened around me.

“Feels too good baby,” Cam shoves his face into my neck. We stay wrapped in each other for a few more minutes until he brings his eyes to meet mine. I feel too sated to move. I gasp and whimper when he slides out of me. I try to tug him back into me by my legs that are still wrapped around him, but he just chuckles, “not cockwarming you tonight, honey. Time for bed.”

He lifts me from the counter and takes me to our bedroom for the night. He cleans me up and tucks me into his chest before we both fall into a deep sleep.

…

The morning after Cam was up before me for once, getting the gear ready to go out on the boat. I shoved my head into his pillow when I realized he left the bed. I’m not sure what time it was when he slid into bed to wake me. He places soft kisses on my shoulder, “wake up, honey. Car is packed so now we need to get you dressed. Jamie is getting breakfast but we need to meet him at the dock before Tys and Katie.”

Cam tugs me out of bed, smacking my ass as he turned me around to attempt to dress me in my bikini. Once he ties the straps on my top and slides the bottoms on, he turns me to face him.

“Baby I’m pretty sure I should be taking clothes off instead of putting them on, but we need to hurry.”

Cam places a soft peck on my lips and lifts my arms and places my flyers hoodie over me. He tugs shorts up my legs and I whine in protest, still half asleep.

“Go brush your teeth. I’ll brush your hair,” he says and steers me towards the bathroom.

…

At the docks 20 minutes later we’re sitting on the boat with Jamie eating breakfast. He eyes us suspiciously.

“I don’t want to know why you both are marked up, just don’t do it in front of me.”

“Don’t tell me that Jim,” Cam snickers and wraps an arm around my waist, tugging me closer to him, “I love my girl.”

“I love you,” I whisper and kiss him.

“That’s enough,” Jamie says before walking to the drivers seat. “Don’t have sex on the boat.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Cam tells Jamie looks down at me, biting his lip. His hand slips under my hoodie and dips his mouth to whisper in my ear, “your sweetness is addicting.”

[crazykuroneko]

Hannigram Fanfiction Recommendations

So, I caved in, and this is a list of Hannigram fanfictions that I really like that I still remember the main plot after years. A lot of them are very long and very good to get lost in, because that's the best feeling ever when reading fanfics really.

Again, they are all complete. All of them featuring killer!Hannibal no matter how AU it is. All of them has a bunch of important tags you should read before reading it. For my complete Hannigram bookmarks, they are here.

Paragon by BloodyWar2411

When Hannibal met Will Graham (the man who had, three years prior, been mistaken for the Chesapeake Ripper), he expected amusement. What he got was his first taste of obsession. Dark and bitter in the back of his throat but achingly sweet on the tongue. He knew at once that this feeling, this Man, would consume him. And Hannibal would consume Will right back

This fic is so delicious; it's so dark and kinky. I think it has any kinks you wish for in it. Basically a found family trope, but what if all of us are serial killers. This fic says fuck to power imbalance hater and turns it into a game. God knows how many Hannibal fics I've read, and this has the best Abigail. Anyway, 🤌 through and through.

One, Two, Three by Severus_divides_into_H

An excellent Hunger Games AU. I love how Hannigram are slowly coming together. The ending is unexpected yet made me went aww.

Five Times Hannibal Visits Will and One Time He's Already Home (or: Coffee Cake) by bones_2_be

When Will tells Hannibal to leave at the end of Digestivo, he goes. And then, a few years later, he shows back up. They have long conversations, drink a lot of wine, at the end of it all they find something that works.

This is very intimate with stuck-in-a-cabin feel to it. I remember how I love reading it at night, it's fitting.

Through The Aftermath by heartandthehead

Following their descent down the precipice, Will is more than eager to explore his newly realized capacity for righteous violence. So when he catches a whiff of a string of seemingly unrelated homicides, he and Hannibal have no choice but to follow through the hunt.

An adventurous fic where Will is trying to embrace his newfound blood lust by hunting bad men. Featuring a team work with Freddy Lounds, which I think should happen more 😌

54609 by claritylore

In a world where criminals are reconditioned with painful electrical and surgical therapies and then put into service catching other criminals. A convicted murderer from the Baltimore State Home for the Reformed Criminal Element is sent to the FBI to assist on the Minnesota Shrike case. Stripped of any knowledge of his former life, without so much as a name, 54609 has little choice but to use his unique empathy skills to help the FBI crack the case.

Along the way, he encounters the FBI consultant psychiatrist who got him brought in on the case, and slowly he comes to realise that Dr Hannibal Lecter's interest in him goes far beyond a professional curiosity. Can he find his lost memories and discover who he once was and, more importantly, who Dr Lecter really is?

A clever dystopian-ish AU with a great twist 🤌

Losing You Terrifies Me by A_David

Basically Will got amnesia after the fall and he keeps trying to kill Hannibal when he relapses. The story matches the title very well; it's so heartbreaking and frustrating. Featuring Morgan (Alana and Margot's son) and Wally (Molly's son) bonding with each other. They're supporting characters but are written so well. The sequel has just started, but the first one is complete enough to read.

The Chesapeake Bay by HigherMagic

Aka thee classic Hannigram reality TV AU. So, they put Hannibal cast in isolated house where each of them is hiding something. Love love this. A lot of murders. It has classic thriller movies feel to it.

Held in the Highest Regard by (again) HigherMagic

What happens when a group of serial killers pick the absolute worst targets? A The Strangers (2008) AU with hints of comedy because Hannigram being the most dramatic couple of the century.

Dread and Hunger by LiaS0

Where Will Graham is a lot greener, still a university student, and keeps getting poetry from the most famous serial killer. A lot of stalking, gaslighting, and age difference 🤌

Hitchhiker's Guide to Murder by bokunojinsei

LOVE this series. So, Will is a serial killer who poses as hitchhiker to find his victims but one day Hannibal gave him a ride. They're basically falling in love watching the other killing others. The second story is set during Mardi Gras where they ofc try to kill more people.

The Estate by (again) bokunojinsei

Or: What if Hannibal hadn't tried to eat Will after he drugged him in Florence? What if he'd decided to run away with him instead?

In contrast with the previous title, this one is very calm, very therapeutic, a character study, with a mind game ofc.

Mark me not a Savage by KatherineKrawl

An iconic a/b/o fic (no mpreg) where Hannigram do mind games with other casts to get out of the prison. I remember there's a scene between Hannibal and Molly I love so much. The author also played a lot with what being true mates mean.

The Sacrificial Lamb by princesskay

Five years after Hannibal and Will disappeared, they are located in Spain, where all evidence points to Hannibal holding Will as his prisoner. Circumstantial evidence isn't enough to prove whether or not Will was complicit in Hannibal's crimes. It's up to Alana and Jack to figure out if Will is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome or if his attachment to his accused abuser is true love. It's up to Hannibal to once more find a way out of the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

An icon and a must-read tbqh. The prose is so beautiful and it really brings you into a journey.

Pioneer to the Falls by eonism

Another icon. The ultimate Lecter-Graham child fic (not mpreg). The second title, Child of Wolf, is one of the best Silence of the Lambs adaptation ever. And as always, fuck Jack Crawford

The Mongoose and the Mouse by Hiding Now (HidingNow)

What if Hannibal suggested Will to go to Disney Land (with him ofc lol) as part of his therapy? It's cute, it's fluffy, Hannibal is still serial killer. Serious research on DisneyLand attractions. Best crack treated seriously ever.

their beaks not yet turned red by chaparral_crown

Will stares at the bird. The bird stares back. In its beak, a very finely embroidered cloth, and in that, the tiniest of soft fists pushing forward from a folded corner.

“Don’t you dare,” Will says, crouching, hand that is not currently cradling an overly large pour of whiskey pointed at the bird to ward it off.

After Hannibal is arrested and the trial dates are set, the stork visits Will Graham. With it, it brings a baby, a legally binding birth certificate, and a hope chest full of gifts for her. Nobody except Will thinks this is weird.

this is my last fic before I was caught by IWTV. it's so funny, the magical realism is amusing.

[mournfulminds]

𝐖𝐇𝐎: Maeve / 「 @cigvrettedvet 」

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: Summer / 2024

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: Highland Hospital

Mercer first contemplated the beams of fluorescents when she came to, squinting under the harsh light as the scent of antiseptic chemicals wafted past her signalling that she was in fact in the emergency room, strewn out across a bed with a thin curtain concealing her privacy ─ lovely. The last thing she could recall was a fly fishing expedition in the Chesapeake Bay (more of a business trip), and then her mother picking her up from the train station, despite her protests, so they could "talk about something".

Adjusting her cardigan and then combing her fingers through her hair, her mother's voice came into earshot, over the PA system, informing the doctor of her concerns that her daughter has whiplash and then excusing herself to find a "decent" cup of coffee in the cafeteria. Her plan of exit was to check herself out and send a text later, but to do that, she'd have to get a doctor or nurse to sign off on that. An unsteady trail led her to the doorway only to be met with someone coming to check on her ─ perfect timing, Mercer stumbling out of the way, perhaps a bit more hazy than she led on. Just her luck too, as it's none other than a being from her past; her married life, still like a fresh wound as she ushers a smile to the front. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Maeve Chapman," Using the other woman to steady her stance, Mercer regards her, unfazed, as if they're old friends and perhaps they are, "I was just wondering how I was gonna bribe the nurse to let me out of here."

[ariparri]

Coby McQuaid Introduction

Finally Veruca's one and only brother, the source of her stress and frustration, Coby McQuaid, gets an introduction here!

The Jacob of my version for Hogwarts Mystery. The Jacob that actually has some sense and isn't a damn idiot to fall for Peregrine's stupid plan 🙄

❌ NO REPOSTING ❌

———————————————————

Coby McQuaid is a pure blood Irish wizard. He is the eldest son of Elroy and Wilhelmina and Veruca’s brother. Coby was born on the 26th of November 1962. While he cares for his sister, the two have a very competitive relationship. Their competitive natures also caused them to engage in childish disputes that continued on into adulthood. Coby may be the oldest, but he can definitely be the most immature between the two, something Veruca often points out, causing Coby to whine about it. They can never play any game together as their competitiveness gets out of hand and someone ends up tackling the other to the ground.

Coby McQuaid, is a confident, energetic, outgoing, brash, and informal young man, who revels in his freedom from order and responsibility. He is charismatic and well liked by those around him. He often does whatever he likes on whim with a macho and confident attitude.

He enters both duels and flying races with unabashed confidence, often thinking that every event is one big and crazy party. His most gifted trait is his ability to live life as it comes, never worrying what others think of him and treasuring his own personal values. While others may see him as a simple rebel, he does have some code of personal ethics and will stand for those who can't defend themselves. He feels that duels should be fought fairly and doesn't condone picking on the weak. He also admires bravery and often feels compelled to stick up for the underdogs.

Proud of his heritage and gung-ho for flying and dueling, he has a tendency to get lost in the thrill and forget his limits. Therefore, he often relied on the wisdom and responsibility of his friends, Olivia Green and Duncan Ashe, to keep him focused and on track. He is grateful for any helping hand and strives to repay his debts in kind. Carson's overall assessment of him implies that his unpredictability is not merely based on a whim, but out of consideration for his family. In Hogwarts, he joined the Dueling Club in favor of Quidditch, but often held flying races in the Pitch.

After seeing the way Diego interacts with Veruca, Coby has been extremely wary of the younger male. Although knowing his sister is no longer a child, it's his brotherly instincts that often kick in whenever Veruca either mentions or hangs out with Diego. To see if he was a good match for his sister, Coby dueled Diego and admitted he wasn't taking it easy on him. He eventually started respecting Diego for his skills and had warmed up to the younger male when he started showing he was serious about Veruca. While it took time for him to approve the relationship, it is still taking a long time getting used to his baby sister being in one.

After R had been fully taken care of, Coby moved back to Kinsale, Ireland. He lives a relaxing life in a cabin on a private beach. He doesn't marry or have any kids, but owns two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers named Rosie and Eugene. He also works as a bartender in one of the nearby bars and usually handles the drinks during family gatherings and parties. Coby also got a small tattoo of a butterfly on the left side of his neck a symbol of his great grandmother Avis.

Coby has a coffee addiction. He used to drink tea because of his Nana, but switched to coffee after he needed something to keep him up whenever he pulled all-nighters. He never went back to tea after that. When Veruca was still drinking out of a sippy cup, there was no more of her favorite juice so Coby filled her cup with some coffee. Ever since then, Veruca started craving for coffee and would throw her cup away if she was given juice. Elroy found out was upset his little girl was getting caffeine high at an extremely young age.

[glittergutts]

The past 2 weeks have been killing me but it's finally the day we get to go camping.

I have 3 different orders to pick up today, plus I've got to go to cvs for meds and somewhere else for ice and the ABC store and the vape shop.

After that I've got to pack the coolers and dry food and load a ton of stuff into the car/ truck.

But I got up early so I could have coffee in peace and get a short workout. I normally do floor exercises but I used the elliptical today and within minutes my legs felt like jello. I should probably give it another go before everyone wakes up. I really wanted to do a .5 mile but I just couldn't do it and maintain speed. The evening neighborhood walks with the family are not nearly as hard and are about equal distance to what I did this morning.

I'm anxious about the 3 hour + drive on the interstate to the camp grounds but I'm sure it will be fine. The past 18 months I've driven a few new places and haven't died or gotten lost.

Chris's 30th birthday is Tuesday ( what the fuck? Were getting old together and it's so weird and beautiful) I still haven't got him gifts yet. I have a few things in my Amazon cart I should probably go ahead and order so I can make him a nice little gift basket. I hope I can make his birthday special. I should make him a cake or something too...

Ok anyways it's a happy day and I'm about to go have fun in the Chesapeake bay.

[nancypullen]

Fabulous Friday

Today was a fantastic day.  My sister came to town. We have so much fun together, we laugh ourselves silly, and we just get each other.  Gosh, that’s good for my soul.  We tried to take selfie.

Our hair is telling you that it was a rainy day.  The McGlaughn girl hair is more reliable than doppler radar.  My Twinkie colored hair (half yellow, half white) is the bane of my existence, but I’m determined to see it through. I’m a granny, don’t judge me.  Look at my lovely sister. She’s always had flawless skin, ringlets, and an adventurous soul.  She’s what you’d call a once-in-a-lifetime woman. Unsinkable. Anywayyyy, today has apparently been all about FOOD.  I feel like I never want to eat again.  We had lunch at Earth Tones Cafe and gobbled up their Chesapeake Artichoke Bagel. It’s an open-faced toasted bagel topped with a mixture of artichoke hearts, spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella, parm, red pepper flakes, and Old Bay seasoning.  Holy Cow.  Earth Tones is a vegan cafe but this did not feel like a healthy choice....delicious, yes, but probably not on the American Heart Associations recommended list.  We made a couple of stops around town and our final stop was Craft Bakery because Mickey had asked me to bring him one of their maple-vanilla lattes.  Well, who goes into a bakery and just buys coffee? Not this girl. Two toffee bars, two blackout cookies, and one brown sugar and cinnamon pop-tart later, we left.  I tell myself that I only buy baked goods as decor.  I love having a few things under this cake dome, just because it’s pretty.

That doesn’t explain why there’s a blackout cookie missing.  I won’t touch the toffee bars or the pop-tart but those deep chocolate cookies with a sprinkle of sea salt....they call to me. I wish she’d stop making  them.  My thighs can’t take it.   That said, my thighs walked me right up the steps to the Culinary Arts  Center to collect the bowl I painted a couple of weeks ago.  I’d participated in a fundraiser by paying to paint a bowl, and part of the price included a container of soup from Shore Gourmet when I picked up my bowl.  The bowls had been fired and I ran by to get mine.  My bowl turned out okay (I didn’t have enough time!) but I’m very pleased with the soup I chose.  Perfect for these chilly, wet days.

YUM! After the tasty lunch and that chocolate cookie, I figured I’d better make a veggie heavy dinner.  Taco bowls with cauliflower rice!  My stovetop was busy. Black beans simmered with onion, salt, cumin, a couple splashes of hot sauce, and a little water, cauliflower rice in a skillet sautéing with a sprinkle of salt and a blast of chili powder (fresh cilantro would is perfect in this, but I didn’t have any handy), and another skillet with lean ground turkey seasoned with all the taco spices.

Add some veggies and it’s a tasty bowl!

This is one of my favorite quick dinners - full of flavor and checks most boxes for a healthy dinner meal.  Bonus, there’s usually enough left for lunch. Thankfully, tomorrow morning we’re scheduled for a guided hike (more of a walk) at the arboretum. Always informational, but mostly I need to log some steps (and eat some salads).  I’m hoping that all of the laughing today counts as an ab workout.  If only.  If that counted as a workout I’d be thin as a rail with washboard abs.  I laugh a lot but those blackout cookies don’t care. That’s it, my wonderful Friday - time with my sister and too much food. I’m a lucky duck.  I hope that your Friday has been good for your soul.  If not, I hope the weekend fills the gap.  If all else fails, eat a cookie. Sending out some love tonight. Take what you need.

Stay safe, stay well.

Nancy  

[mybookplacenet]

Author Interview: Julie Catania-Shady

Tell us about yourself.: Hi! I'm Julie! I'm a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit junkie; children's books literacy advocate, Author, spouse to a retired air force airman, and mama, who is simply making it through the day by the grace of caffeine and Jesus. I live in leggings and LOVE wearing dresses with sneakers! I have a degree in broadcast journalism and criminal justice from the University of Maryland in College Park. After college, I went on to work in television, specializing in crime TV, and then advanced to investigations for the federal government. My most favorite job has been being a mommy and Conversations With Colton are my favorite! I live in Oklahoma with my husband, son, and dog. Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: I grew up in Maryland and I have to say that had a significant impact on my work. The state has a rich history, diverse population, and unique geography that can inspire creativity and shape one's perspective. For instance, the Chesapeake Bay and its surroundings can inspire stories of adventure, romance, and mystery. Maryland's proximity to Washington, D.C., also influenced my work, as politics and policy often come into play in the nation's capital. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I believe every writer has unique writing habits, that they follow to help them stay productive and creative. Mine is: I prefer to write at night. I'm more productive and enjoy a quieter more peaceful environment when writing. Do you have any advice for new authors? Read as much as you can! Nothing inspires an author like reading someone else's words. It's super common to hit roadblocks and get writer's block when you are immersing yourself in books! What is the best advice you have ever been given? The best advice I've ever received is to keep a pad of paper and pencil on my nightstand. You never know what ideas you may have in the middle of the night or while dreaming. What are you reading now? First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston What's your biggest weakness? Chocolate and Reality TV 😂 What is your favorite book of all time? Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo. It was the inspiration behind my son's name! When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? I enjoy spending my time with my family, reading and walking Rocky our family dog. Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? My favorite series growing up was Nancy Drew. I wish I had fond childhood memories of enjoying books before middle school, but I don’t. I don’t have any memories where I enjoyed reading before the Nancy Drew series. I know my parents read bedtime stories to me. I read when it was required in school, but I didn’t love books, until I “met” Nancy and the gang. For those you don’t know, Nancy Drew is a fictional teenage amateur detective in an extended series of mystery books by Carolyn Keene. Nancy Drew’s intelligence, courage, and independence made her a popular role model for many generations of young readers. I may have been her #1 fan. I was obsessed with her investigative skills and loved the idea of solving mysteries. In hindsight, I believe she inspired me more than I realized at the time, but I owe Carolyn Keene the world because she is was sparked my LOVE of books. What has inspired you and your writing style? I write inspirational non-fiction. After suffering a miscarriage and a cancer diagnosis, finding out I was pregnant was an incredible miracle. But what happened next put my faith to the test, more so than the previous trials. How do you keep having faith when you are caught in a "storm?" Conversations with Colton will explore just that! Colton survived despite what doctors said, and conversations with him have made all the fear, faith, and doubt that got to this moment 100 percent worth it. What are you working on now? I am working on a coffee table book filled with life lessons from an 8-year-old. It will be filled with fun, comedic conversations, from a miracle baby's views on life. What is your favorite method for promoting your work? social media! I love Facebook and connecting with old friends and new ones! What's next for you as a writer? I would love to finish my 2nd book and start a children's book one day. How well do you work under pressure? My best work comes from having a firm deadline. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? I like to write as I talk. Connecting with my readers and allowing them into my world leaves them feeling like we are sitting at my favorite table at Starbucks having a conversation. If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? Be on the lookout and try not to miss them, the tiny miracles, because they are what will give you hope for the future. Julie Catania-Shady's Author Websites and Profiles Website Amazon Profile Goodreads Profile Julie Catania-Shady's Social Media Links Facebook Page Instagram Pinterest YouTube Account Read the full article

[ibwtonline]

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[lindawis]

A Simple Breakfast on a Morning in June

Scrambled eggs, wheat toast, good coffee. A simple breakfast on a June morning.

Breakfast in Easton, photo credit: Christina Gaffney Years ago, my husband and I discovered a funky little breakfast bistro near the eastern shore of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay. This past week, we found it again, just around the corner from our hotel. Both of us were so relieved to see it still there, you might have thought it was special, and you would be right. We met Stephen, the owner, on…

[shorepointdist]

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[mothman-is-my-girlfriend]

Saw this making the rounds on my dashboard and wanted to add to the chain!

1. Are you named after anyone? Yes, actually. My mom was a very big fan of Jimmy Buffett in the 90s (and still is but it's not a daily occurrence anymore lol) so I'm actually named after his daughter, Savannah. Funny tidbit to mention when people ask if I'm named for the city in Georgia. 😅

2. When was the last time you cried? Oh, girl... I cry all the time. My brain has a hard time tracking emotions over time so I just kind of feel everything very intensely in the moment. I have to use journals to track my emotions over time, but I'm just a fairly sensitive person in general thanks to my upbringing. It is what it is, and I deal with it. I'm just glad I let it out frequently instead of bottling it up like I used to!

3. Do you use sarcasm? Ehhh.... sometimes, maybe? Depends on your definition of sarcasm. I have a hard time figuring out when people are joking with me though, especially at work.

4. What's the first thing you notice about people? Usually their personality to be honest. I had a really hard time making friends as a kid so I pretty much get along with someone right away, or we aren't ever friends. (Not to say that I'm ever outright rude to people, of course.) I guess that's just ADHD to ADHD communication? For example, I had a new coworker start in mid September and I just immediately knew we'd be friends outside of work eventually. Now we go on hikes and hang out! Idk how else to describe the feeling.

5. What's your eye color? Hazel - which is annoying because most people assume I'm full of shit until I'm in good light. 🤣 any other lighting and the green doesn't show through.

6. Scary movie or happy ending? I love creepy-scary vibes but actually watching or playing a scary movie or game is too much for me. I don't enjoy being scared. Happy endings for me!

7. Any special talents? I'm quite good at art when given proper direction. I'm thinking of taking some non credit classes at my local community college to really push me back into my old hobby in a way that isn't just drawing my little OCs on blank backgrounds. I have painted a few things this year, though, like a portrait of my cat, and a flower pot. I really need to get back into it. I'd say my stronger skill at the moment is making exceptional coffee! I love my job and enjoy brewing at home as well.

8. Where were you born? Maryland. (Mid Atlantic US) I still live in MD, but I made the jump from the teeny tiny town I grew up in, to Baltimore. I love the city, and this state. It's little, but we have the ocean, the famous Chesapeake Bay, Assateague Island, and a bit of the Appalachians. When you get past the terrible traffic, there's so much to do here.

9. What are your hobbies? Doodling, playing older video games, hiking/camping, and learning as much as I can about coffee.

10. Do you have any pets? This is such a complex answer for me. I have two cats currently living with my partner and I in our home. Our lease wouldn't allow us to bring my snakes, so my mother is currently caring for my two ball pythons. I hope to have a whole room for them one day when I get a home! My mom also still has one of my childhood dogs, Chance, who is 13, and struggling with dementia and arthritis. He comes to visit me sometimes. :) I miss that big old dopey dog.

11. What sports do you play/have you played? I was actually involved in competitive cheerleading growing up. I remember it fondly, even if I wasn't ever very flexible and kept losing my backhand spring no matter how many times I learned. I had the best jump on my team, though! Unfortunately, I do have permanent damage to my knees and shoulders from it. The knee pain in particular has kept me off the hiking trails for the last year. :(

12. How tall are you? VERY short! I'm 5'2 (even shorter than gillian anderson lol) which is hilarious because my partner is a solid foot taller than me!!

13. What was your favorite subject in school? Growing up, my favorite subject was definitely band class. I can remember every song we played in my 8th grade year. I still miss Mrs. Ewing! She was an incredible teacher and our simple middle school band was actually well known in the area for being better than most high school bands! I also adored Latin class and I'm even friends with my old magistra on facebook 😅 she had a tumblr back in 2015 when I had her class so maybe she's still bouncing around on here somewhere. She made a point to never tell us her username lol

14. Dream job? This has actually changed a lot recently. Now that I've been a barista for 2 years, I've really developed a passion for making coffee. I'm signed up for some business classes at my local community college next month and have ideas for my own coffee roasting business one day. I'm envisioning a shop named for my cat, Oliver. ❤️ Coffee tastes good, and I love the connections you can make with people through it. Idk, it just makes me really happy to see customers enjoy my coffee while catching up with an old friend, or sitting on their laptop doing work all day in the shop while I'm also working. Food service really isn't all bad when you have a great crew.

Thanks for reading all of that! If you see this and you're my mutual (or not) consider yourself tagged and free to copy this.

[moa-broke-me]

The next morning, Percy had kind of forgotten about the incident, sitting with his daughter at the donut shop down the street from his apartment.

She always loved their strawberry danishes, the corners of her mouth stained with sticky red syrup, crumbs littering her panda bear onesie. He went for a bear claw, and the two of them shared some donut holes, as well as a quiche with pancetta, crispy potatoes, lots of cheese, and a spoonful of sour cream on top.

Piper may have been vegetarian, and cooked for her stepdaughter as such, but she did tell Percy it was ok to give her meat if he wanted to. So, that's exactly what he did.

She loved it. She loved how much her father indulged her, and he knew it. He loved indulging her too. He knew it was a problem, he knew it was the reason he only got one custody weekend a month, the reason he was behind on rent and had a credit score of, like, 12. But he couldn't help it. He was just... A naturally indulgent person, especially to the people he loved. He wanted to spoil them, make them happy, make them feel special. More than anything.

He let her have a sip of his coffee when she asked, even though Annabeth told him not to let her have any caffeine. "Just don't tell your mother, ok?"

She took a sip, and made a face like she'd just downed an entire glass of lemon juice.

Percy tried not to laugh. "You like it?"

She shook her head, and grabbed her apple juice, leaving Percy to drink the rest of it. He wasn't one of those hardcore 'black coffee only' people, but his order clearly wasn't suited to a child's palate either. Just some light maple and cinnamon add-ins.

Once they finished their breakfast, they went to the airport to leave for Annabeth's place, all the way in Chesapeake Bay. It was barely 5 in the morning, Percy was glad the donut shop opened at 4. The flight was in, like, 20 minutes, so they really had to book it. Luckily, thy got over there just in time to board, and Annabeth was waiting for her, to take her from the airport, and then school.

This time, though, things didn't go near as smoothly. "Hi, Zora... Why are you wearing that?"

"She told me it's pajama day." He explained.

Annabeth sighed. "Zora, it's not pajama day. There is no pajama day. It's just a regular day. And now, you'll have to be late. Because you have to go home and put on your uniform, and so I can do your hair. And that means I'm gonna be late for my job."

Zora sighed. "I'm sorry, mommy."

"Don't be, Zee. It's not your fault." Annabeth cut her ex husband a look.

Percy ignored it. "Yeah, this is why I always take the afternoon shift. It's not healthy to wake up every morning worrying about where you have to be in 10 minutes."

She rolled her eyes. "And that's why you're hip-deep in debt and I'm not. Let's go, sweetie. The faster we get you ready, the less trouble you'll be in with the teachers."

They walked out to her car, and Percy waved them goodbye before getting on the flight back to his apartment in Queens.

-

Jason: Ciao, Nico. So che non parliamo molto, ma ho sentito che sei andato in ospedale. Tutto bene? (Hi, Nico. I know we don't talk much, but I heard you went to the hospital. Are you ok?) Nico: Ciao Jason. Tutto bene, grazie. Probabilmente verrò dimesso stasera o domani. (Hi Jason. I'm doing alright, thank you. I'll probably be discharged tonight or tommorrow.) Jason: Sono così felice di sentirlo. Il mio amico, Percy, voleva scusarsi, è venuto a parlarti ieri sera. Mi ha detto che parlava molto, in inglese, e che aveva paura di averti sopraffatto. Penso che si dia la colpa per il tuo svenimento. (I'm so happy to hear that. My friend, Percy, wanted to apologize, he came to talk to you last night. He told me that he spoke a lot, in English, and that he was afraid of overpowering you. I think he blames himself for your fainting.) Nico: Oh no, non è affatto colpa sua! Era stata semplicemente una lunga notte e c'erano molte persone. Ma cosa ha detto? (Oh no, it's not his fault at all! It had just been a long night and there were a lot of people. But what did he say?) Jason: Non me l'ha detto, ma immagino che ti abbia detto che sei carina. Tra le altre cose, ovviamente. (He didn't tell me, but I guess he told you that you're pretty. Among other things, of course.) Nico: Oh, santo cielo. Digli che lo ringrazio, è interessato ad un appuntamento? (Oh, goodness. Tell him I thank him, is he interested in a date?) Jason: Probabilmente, ma dovrei chiederglielo. Inoltre, dovrei venire se dice di sì? Come traduttore? (Probably, but I'd have to ask him. Also, should I come if he says yes? As a translator?) Nico: Certo, grazie per l'offerta. (Sure, thanks for the offer.)

Most people's first drag show was at a bar. Percy's was a dinner theatre performance of Swan Lake.

He figured he'd go to support his old university's arts program, after all, he couldn't afford to donate as much as his colleagues did every year, and he figured this'd make up for that. Plus, it was his custody weekend, and he always wanted to do something special for his daughter to make these measly two days a month count.

So, he decided he'd kill two birds with one stone, his daughter swinging her feet on the stool she was sat in, eating her macaroni and cheese. "You like it?" He asked.

She nodded. "It's a lot better than the box stuff you make, daddy. Mama Piper makes hers with adacvo, and I'on like adacvo."

He laughed a bit. "Yeah, it's fun eating away from home, isn't it?" He asked, before taking a bite of his ravioli. It was miles ahead of the canned stuff, no offense to Chef Boyardee.

"Mhm! Uncle Jason, can we go get dessert after?"

Ok, so really it was three birds with one stone. Spend time with his daughter, support the art program, and catch up with Jason.

Jason laughed lightly, jostling the baby carrier he had on his chest and causing Leo's baby to stir. "Zora, they're serving dessert here. I'm sure it'll be much better than anything you could get at a fast food place."

"Really? Even subway cookies?"

"Yes, even subway cookies." He turned back to the baby he was sitting, checking that he was ok. The cherubic little boy was almost two, and could walk, so he didn't really need the carrier, but he liked being strapped in tight. "Raph, you good buddy?"

Raphael cooed up at Jason, reaching up to squish his face. "Coo-kie."

Jason laughed. "Aww, man. This kid is adorable." He reached around the carrier to eat his steak. "Thanks for taking us out here. I know it was like, 50 bucks a person. I can wire you back if you want."

"No, no, it's fine. Just enjoy the ballet." Percy looked over, and Odette had just been captured by the wizard, and the transformation sequence was about to begin. He'd watched both the barbie version and the one from 1994 with Zora before, so he knew the plot, but it was so different seeing it on stage. She had been in a simple loose-fitting blue dress, period-appropriately modest but still short enough to move around in. Now though, once the swirling ribbons fell and the colored smoke and glitter dissipated into the air, Odette was in nothing but a white leotard and black ballet shoes, the leotard strapless and embroidered with pearls and feathers and lace and thin black boning. They were all seated in the front, so he could see every detail, every individual feather draped on the underside of her arm, the otherworldly white lashes and pearl in the middle of the forehead, the thin black swirls of eyeliner on her face and sad, swoopy brows and bold black lipstick forming a pout, like an infinitely more attractive version of an old french mime. The white-dyed tips in ink black hair and rich, dark brown eyes and the gentle outward curve of her nose. The freckles on her shoulders and cheeks, dotting her hauntingly beautiful olive-creme skin. the flat chest and narrow, boyish hips...

He looked at the playbill again, to find the name of this incredible being.

There were two names on the bill, one for uncursed Odette, and one for cursed Odette. He skimmed past the first to get to the second.

Nico diAngelo.

He smiled. "Hey, Jason, you took intro to dance right?" I asked, pointing at the name on the bill. "Do you know her?"

"Him. And yeah, we've been friends for years."

"Wait... Him?" He looked back at the stage. "... So that's a guy up there?"

"Yeah."

"... Wow... He's very pretty."

Zora giggled. "Silly daddy, you're s'posed to say handsome for boys! You only say pretty about girls!"

"He's not, though." I told her, lost in thought. "He's... Pretty. The way girls are pretty."

"Huh... So boys can be pretty too?"

"Yes, dear. They absolutely can."

"So... Does that mean girls can be handsome?"

"Oh yeah." Jason answered. "If you want an example, I can pull up a picture of my sister."

"Jason!" Percy scolded.

Jason snorted. "She'd take that as a compliment and you know it."

[drinkingpress]

Dragonair (Pokemon) x Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (2017)

I’m a weatherman

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[dreamingaboutreid]

Hospital Bed Confessions: Chapter 7

*Continuation*

*Flash-forward*

Spencer was truly in awe. It had been 8 months since you joined the BAU.

Hotch seemed much happier with no more mountains of paperwork on his desk. All the files were neatly filed in Y/N’s office and his workload was greatly alleviated. He also had someone to confide to and understand a little bit of the pressure he had been experiencing.

Emily loved having a fellow Chesapeake Bay alumnus. With JJ being on mom-duty, Emily had a friend to go out with after she returned to the team, and they seemed to have plethora of things to talk about and relate to. He often heard them discussing their love of Kilgore Trout or favorite traveling destination.

Penelope was ecstatic to have another affectionate and loving member on the team. Y/N spent a lot of time with Garcia on deciding cases and it was evident how much they cherished each other. Y/N often brought in colorful collectibles and helped Penelope arrange them in her office.

Rossi respected Y/N’s focused yet good-natured character. They shared stories of their time in the military, which they rarely disclosed with the other members. He thought of Y/N as a daughter and took pleasure in sharing his knowledge of cars and whiskey.

JJ treated Y/N like a sister. It was obvious how similar they were. Both attentive and considerate with remarkable people skills. Y/N also became JJ’s go-to babysitter as JJ full heartedly trusted her with kids, which was a huge compliment coming from JJ.

Derek enjoyed Y/N’s company, who had a surprising knowledge of football, and would often make fun bets on what team would win the next game. He would also come to you for solid advice when he needed someone to level with him.

Not to mention, everyone was thrilled to go home at least an hour earlier normal, thanks to your fast but thorough write-ups you continued to do every day on behalf of the team.

For Spencer, you were a whole new world. He not only appreciated you as a hardworking member but as a new best friend.

You never interrupted him and seemed genuinely invested in whatever he said. Whether it was a new book he was reading or a new foreign film that came out. You truly made him feel heard and cared for. After he told you about Maeve, it felt like something was taken off his shoulder. Like you knew his pain and rather than only feeling sorry for him, they shared it together.

He also truly admired your ability to talk to people. Whether it was a serial killer who was holding a gun to someone’s head or a sobbing parent who had just lost a child or even an abrasive detective they had to work with, you just knew exactly what to say.

Spencer couldn’t place a flaw in you. The way you smiled, talked, listened, walked, ate, slept, heck everything, seemed so perfect to him.

When Blake came to his apartment to say her farewell, he was devastated. Another person was walking out of his life. But for the first time, he didn’t wallow up in his apartment by himself, blaming his eidetic memory for repeating all their conversations in his head or contemplating then shutting down his mental debate on taking dilaudid.

He didn’t hesitate to dial your number, and you appeared in front of his door in a matter of minutes. You had the ability to listen to his problems and somehow make them go away, or at least make him feel better.

While he always appreciated it, it bothered Spencer after a while how you never came to him when you wanted to feel better. You managed to carry all that weight without yourself ever breaking.

But he realized that it wasn’t anything personal. You just never showed much emotions to anyone, except for happy ones.

Spencer remembered when Derek asked you one day,

“How come you never come to us when you’re feeling down? There’s no way you’re always a ray of sunshine. Even baby girl has her emotional breakdowns.”

You had quickly brushed it off and said, “I’d rather make people smile than worry or cry.”

And it was the end of that.

Spencer often thought about this. Derek made a very good point. You were human after all.

But he knew that there was something much darker in you.

While you didn’t voice your emotions, your eyes told a different story.

When you were interrogating unsubs, your eyes became cold but your words remained calm and almost soothing, as if you were luring them out their lies to know their true intentions. When you were talking to victims or victims’ families, your eyes showed sympathy and it comforted whoever you were consoling when explaining that the unit was doing our best. And when you were talking to the ones you loved and cared about, you allowed your eyes to relax but there was a twinkle that he couldn’t keep his own eyes off of.

He hoped that you would open up to him, like he had to you.

But, it wasn’t too long until his wish was answered and he witnessed something that changed everything.

Y/N’s POV

You were exhausted.

It wasn’t the workload or rigor your job came with.

It was the emotional tole. You learned how to compartmentalize your feelings well from losing the ones you loved from experience.

But this job was different from talking to soldiers or serial killers. You were talking to normal people. You had unconsciously put your guard down and the emotions hit you little by little.

Every day, you walked in to deciding which cases to solve and you walked out hoping it was the right one to choose. The extra work you were doing actually helped keep your mind out of all the feelings and reality and helped focus your energy on something tangible.

You weren’t sure what came over you that day, but you had been on edge the whole jet ride back from a case. When everyone arrived back to the office, it wasn’t just you who was drained.

“Everyone go home early and get some ready. You deserve it. But report back tomorrow at 9 to finish your statements,” stated Hotch.

“I think I’ll stay back. Finish some of the paperwork,” you stated with a weak smile.

Hotch looked at you reluctantly.

“Are you sure? Everyone’s worn out. It’s okay to go,” Hotch said.

“It must be all the coffee,” you joked lamely, hoping Hotch took the excuse.

Hotch didn’t seem to notice as it was quite normal for you to stay late.

“Alright. Well, everyone thank Y/N on the way out and report back tomorrow at 10,” Hotch said as patted you on the back as he exited.

“Thanks for the extra hour of sleep,” Rossi stated as he walked towards the elevator.

“You’re an actual lifesaver,” Morgan commented.

As everyone said their respective greetings and left, you quickly ran up to JJ.

“Hey, JJ. Can I ask you a favor?” you asked.

“Of course! I owe you anyways,” JJ said.

“Do you mind if you give Spencer a ride home? Usually I take him, but I don’t want him to wait for me and he seems pretty tired,” you stated.

While you truly loved the arrangement you had with Spencer, you needed some space right now.

“Sounds like a plan. Just tell him I’ll be waiting in the car,” JJ said as she grabbed her belonging.

You thanked her and gave her a quick hug.

You turned and found Spencer already reading a book by his desk. Even though you thought Spencer always looked handsome, you had to admit that he did look tired.

“Hey, Spence. I think I’m going to stay a little late today.”

“Yeah, I heard you telling Hotch. I don’t mind waiting,” he said.

It must have been the pent up emotions you had been suppressing as you could feel your eyes slightly tearing up. You quickly forced them away, praying Spencer didn’t catch on. No matter how many times Spencer displayed his kindness and patience, you always appreciated his small acts of compassion.

“No, no. You must be exhausted. I asked JJ to take you home, and she’s waiting in her car for you. Seriously, get some rest,” you reassured Spencer.

After a bit of reluctancy, Spencer replied,

“Okay, I probably shouldn’t keep JJ waiting for too long. Thanks, Y/N. Don’t stay too late.”

You simply nodded and you watched Spencer walk away while looking back.

You waved, indicating that it was okay to leave.

After he finally left, it was just you, all alone. You turned off the lights in the pit, making it pitch dark, and walked into your office.

Closing your door and only turning on the light on your desk, you went to the corner of the room and sank down as you burst into tears.

It wasn’t the first time you had a breakdown. But it was always behind closed door. In the bathtub in your house. In the comfort of your bed. At the safety of your house. But today, you couldn’t hold it until you went home.

As you wept, you hoped the tears you released would somehow erase the remorse you felt. You sobbed without anything holding you back until you felt a looming presence over your crouched figure.

“Oh my gosh, Spencer. You startled me, I didn’t notice you were here,” you quickly said as you tried to wipe away the evidence of your momentary vulnerability. You didn’t need a mirror to know that it was an unsuccessful attempt.

“Sorry, I saw the light in your office and thought you’d be in here.”

“Did you forget something?” you asked, puzzled by his unexpected return.

“No, I just didn’t want you to be all alone so I told JJ that she could just go home,” Spencer said softly.

He continued, “I also saw you were a bit uneasy earlier.”

So Spencer hadnoticed.

“In fact, it seemed like you were stressed the whole day. Are you okay?” he asked.

You weren’t sure if it was the display of Spencer’s empathy again or the fact that he recognized something was bothering you when you were able to hide it from a group of profilers, but you felt the tears reappearing again and you didn’t want to hold back.

You broke into sobs for the second time that day and slowly slid back into the position you were originally in.

Spencer didn’t hesitate to join you as he sat and put a tight protective arm around you while he just let you cry.

“Am I making the right decisions? Who am I to choose who dies or lives? What if….” you trailed as you muffled all your worries into his chest.

For the first in a long time, you felt safe in the arms of someone else. You didn’t have to, or heck, want to hide yourself anymore. When Spencer held your hand, you knew.

You looked up to see the most understanding eyes, and you knew right then and there that you had found your person.