#Daycare New Lynn

[grace-preschool]

Grace Christian Community Preschool is committed to providing a safe and stimulating learning environment for your child. With a passion for quality care, we have designed our facility with the best possible resources for your child, including healthy food and toys. We encourage the growth and development of your child, in a safe and secure environment.

[perkqularkreashions]

Last Nice Guy in New York??

Part Two: Living with the Enemy

Prompt: YN is close friends with Peach, Annika, Beck, and Lynn. She doesn't fit into their circle, nor does she try to. Joe soon sets his sights on YOU, leading to a domino effect within Y/N's life.

Requested: YES | Requested are OPEN|

YN's POV

PEACHES grabbed my arm slightly; her eyes wandered over my face, and I thought I saw something in them other than narcissism and an inflated ego for a brief moment. They were soft, a look ventured across her features, and her touch was more delicate. “YN,” she calls out in a tone I barely recognized. She saw it. 

I retorted, “Peaches, I have to get going. I have this thing to do for class. But I will see you tonight.” She reluctantly nodded, pushing her lips together in a frown. She turned away, returning to our group of friends. Beck stared apologetically for a moment before turning away with them. Some days, I didn’t feel a part of the friend group; I didn’t live the same life they lived, nor did I want to fake it like Beck does. I couldn’t buy expensive jewelry or spend every day at a high-end coffee shop wasting 15 dollars on coffee and a bagel. I worked on campus as a TA/Tutor, allowing me to qualify for financial aid/assisted living, and being a single parent also helped secure those benefits.

The wind caressed my skin, and the smell of gasoline and pastries filled my nose—the loud chatter of the busy streets surrounded me. I pushed open the solid oak doors, the smell of baby powder, formula, and paper. I was thankful that the Daycare Center was on the third floor, away from prying eyes and judgmental glares. I tapped my toe gently in the elevator as I watched the numbers dance from 1 to 2 and dinging at 3. Hand-painted pictures scattered the walls, bringing life to the dull ward of the campus. Hand turkeys and finger-printed flowers. Photos of children with their names along with their likes and dislikes. I was then greeted by Jessica, one of the students in the Teaching Program –she smiled widely at me as she stood up for a hug. Her arms wrapped around me, her fragrance engulfed as she tried masking the smell of throw-up and other fluids. “Hey YN! Long time no see.” 

A responded with a bright smile, “I know you’ve been gone for some weeks. I think Rafi was starting to miss you too.” she laughed brightly with a toothy grin. She moves away from me, leaving me alone in the hallway. I move away from the receptionist's desk. I stare at the art, my finger dancing against the groves of the crayons and paint. I heard his soft babble; swiftly, I turned around and saw his bright, toothless smile. 

“It’s mama! Look, it’s mama,” she cooed, pointing her finger toward me. I smiled, adjusting my bag and taking him into my arms, momentarily kissing the corner of his head. The anxiety flushing away as he was safe in my arms. “He hasn’t been around the last month from what I heard; keep doing what you’re doing,” she comforts me, her hand resting on my shoulder. I nodded frantically as I moved away from her. 

The ride home was comforting; the soft sound of jazz filled my ears as the mild breeze ran through the enclosed back seat. Rafael slept peacefully in my lap, my fingers dancing against his ravenous locks. I despised that he looked like his father, from his button nose to the beauty marks that scattered his face and arms. He scrunched his face similarly to his father's when thinking or concentrating on a task. He wore a gold bracelet his mother gifted us when he was born. Says that all the men in their family must have one. I contemplated taking it off, but I never found the courage to.

“I’m thankful for him, you know — I am going to be a better father than my dad ever was.” He stared at him, his hand caressing his face, pressing gentle kisses on his skin. “You’re here,” he whispers, “Finally, here.”

“Ma’am, we’re here,” a voice cuts through my wandering mind. My eyes focused on the man in front of me. A sympathetic smile washed over his lips. 

I mumbled out a thanks before exiting the cab. I pressed the fob to the door, yanking it open as I hurriedly moved in. “Hey, YN!” an excited voice shouts out from the top of the stairs. Her feet paddle against the floor as she peaks over the guard rail. 

“Finally, you’re here! I have been calling out to you all evening!” she jumps in front of me as she smiles at Rafi. I move past her, fiddling my key in the keyhole as I push into the apartment. Her chocolate skin illuminated under the dim lighting in the apartment. Her hair pulled back into a slick ponytail that was loosened ever so slightly. “So, you have a date tonight?”

I laughed, tossing a look over my shoulder. 

“Come on, I’m 18 — practically an adult!” she plops down on the couch, tucking her legs underneath as she looks at me with frustration and curiosity. 

“It’s a party for a friend.” I laid Rafael down in the crib, moving all the blankets and toys I tossed in earlier this morning. “I don’t do dates, Nicole, we already spoke about this,”

She laughs, “You have a 7-month baby; you do more than date.” 

I scoffed in her direction, letting a smile hang on my lips. She giggles at me before her eyes move back to her phone. Her fingers were rapidly typing before her attention turned back to mine. “How’s Rafael’s dad doing?”

I stiffened as I moved to the closet, changing out of my clothes. Pulling on a simple dress, emerging from the closet, I posed slightly. “Approval?”

“Absolutely not,” she laughs, “What kind of party– it doesn’t even matter. We need to get you laid!”

“I don’t need to get anything, I just wanna look nice.”

“You can look nice and edible,” she laughs, “How about a little more boobies and less leg? Something to keep their mind wandering but begging for more.” I pulled out, a periwinkle dress, with a bit of cleavage and less leg; I brushed my hands down my hair, moving them behind my ear.

“Ta-da?” I hummed out, her eyes brightening as she offered me an excited smile. “Yes, now go find Rafael a step-daddy!” 

I roll my eyes, moving out of the apartment and waving her goodbye. She was a sweet girl, just graduated high school and looking for some work while she applied to universities. Her mom and dad are professors at Brown and thought it’d be a good idea to push her in the direction of teaching – in their words, “showing her responsibility through taking care of the lives of others. How the responsibility of molding a young mind can be beneficial.” 

Arriving at Peach’s house was always distasteful, the high-brow society looking down at me, seeing me as the new charity case for her to pick at and display. I didn’t fit into their society, no matter how often Peaches and Annika tried. “Beckalicious,” I heard over the roar of the chatter; she was usually so easily seen and heard no matter where she stood. 

“Is this Joseph?” her voice shrilled in disdain, her arm snaked around Beck with a feigned smile. I chuckled at her momentarily, before returning my attention to the trays of wine that moved about. 

“YN,” I heard a voice call out, a hand snaking around my waist and pulling me closer. I froze; the smell of champagne and cheese filled my nose. “I was hoping to run into you! I missed you!” I spun around seeing Liam Hastings; his hair pulled out his face as he wore a chestnut brown jacket with a navy blue button shirt, his chest slightly showing as he flashed me a smile. 

“It’s like after you broke up Rafael, you just fell off the face of the earth!” he shouts, his hand slapping against my shoulder as he swallows a nod. 

“Just wasn’t the crowd I wanted to be around,” I whispered; he tugged me closer. I clenched my hands, letting this reach his chest, trying to pry us apart. I could feel the air leaving me; my chest got tighter with every breath I took. 

“He looks for you, says— you know what he says to me. Keep an eye on you!” he drunkenly laughs; I yank myself away. I found myself, darting up the stairs and escaping to Peaches’s library. 

“I’m pregnant,” I cry out. Peach sank to her knees, her hand snatching at my wrist; she examined them momentarily. “I don’t want to have his baby! It was one night and I– I”

“Calm down, little dove, please. It hurts me to see you cry,” she whispers. I flinched away from her as she tried wiping the tears away. Realizing washes over her, her face turns cold as she studies me. “YN”

She called out my name; I didn’t have an answer, nor did I want to answer. “Y/N, Hello!”

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and a soft voice called, “Hello.” I spun around. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, I'm sorry. I’m in my little world,” I chuckle, moving my hair behind my ear. I studied how his face was tightly wound together, his shoulder tense, and his brows furrowed with frustration and thought. I recognized him, the infamous Joe Goldberg that Beck had mentioned. “Joseph, right?”

He shakes his head, “Joe, just Joe.” he forces a smile on his lips. His eyes wandered to the bookshelf before back at me. 

“Well, Just Joe, I’m YN; I wish I could say we would meet under better circumstances, but–” I laughed momentarily, letting my head fall to my feet. “This is probably the best you’ll get.” He chuckles; it was lighthearted– it filled the air so gently. 

“Y/N…?” my name played on his lips. He repeated it a couple of times before silencing. “You’re one of Peaches's friends.”

“Don’t let her catch you saying that,” I laugh. “If she catches you humanizing her too much, she’ll lose her shit. She’s a cold-hearted bitch, but I love that about her.”

“Isn’t she your best friend?” He teased; for a moment, I thought, honest to God, she was everything I needed her to be. She was a cold and calculated bitch, but it didn’t change the fact that when she looked at me, I mean really looked at me… she saw me. Maybe that wasn't such a good thing.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I belong in her world,” I whispered. I begin to move past him; his hand grabs my upper arm. His touch was gentle and inviting. His thumb gently caressed my exposed skin, his eyes resting on my shoulder, and my breath caught in my throat. The noise drowned out, the soft hum of the music, the clanking of glasses, and the chatter of drunken adults. The expectations to be perfect melted away. The world slowly sunk around me. Our eyes finally met. 

Carefully, I whispered to him. “Enjoy the party, just Joe.” His grip loosened as the noise around us resumed. I was warped back into the party. 

Peaches watched me, her eyes dark and cold. Her hand yanked at my arm as she dragged me closer to her. A dark smile washed on her face. “I saw that.”

“Peaches, let it go,” I whispered; she yanked me closer to her. She scoffs lightly. "It was nothing."

“Stealing Beck’s boyfriend too.” Her words slurred slightly, her tongue tripping over the slight syllabus. Her eyes were red and hanging low; she took pills. “Do you realize how pathetic you look?” I stiffened, holding my head away from her. 

“Peach, leave it!” I whisper, my voice weakly danced away in the wind. 

“Just like how you stole Sophia’s boyfriend, you steal Becks lowly boy toy?” her voice growing louder, capturing everyone’s attention. Eyes shift, and the music decreases with each word that Peach spews. “Do you realize how you look? I am just trying to protect you!”

“Peach, please,” I begged.

“It’s like you’re trying to win a game that no one else is playing – what getting fucked once at my house isn’t enough?” Silenced washed over us; my throat stung as I watched her. My lips parted as I tried to find the words to combat her statement, to find something to make this seem like banter. My face grew hot, and all I could do was stare at her, tears falling against my cheeks freely and tickling my chin and chest. “YN-” she begins to stutter, her face contorting gently. 

“I have to go, Peach,” I whispered, ducking past her as I moved past the crowd. The fresh air slammed against my face, and I sucked in gently, trying to gather as much composure as possible. 

Fuck me and fuck her.

[nannychloecatalog]

18 Short Stories of Diaper Domination: A Collection of Naughty ABDL Stories and Erotic Diaper Essays (New Short Story Collection!)

In this jam-packed collection of 18 different diaper domination tales and essays, your wildest diaper fantasies—and darkest domination nightmares—will come to life.

In addition to over a dozen captivating ABDL short stories, this collection also features several entries of Nanny’s Notes—erotic essays written from an ABDL domme's perspective, giving tips, tricks, and day-in-the-life accounts of diaper domination.

Buy now on Amazon, Lulu, or Google Play!

Full List of Included Stories:

Accidents and Diapers at Granny’s

Length: Medium | Tags: Diaper Girl, Granny, Wet, Omorashi, Diaper Change

An adult teenage girl’s summer at her grandmother's house takes a humiliating turn after she begins to suffer from an overactive bladder and its consequences.

Forced to Face my Dirty Diapers

Length: Short | Tags: Diaper Boy, Mommy, Wet, Bedwetting, Punishment

An adult diaper-boy is subjected to a very unique, degrading punishment by his Mommy for his bedwetting.

A Bedwetter’s Naughty Secret

Length: Medium | Tags: Diaper Boy, Nanny, Wet, Messy, Bedwetting

An adult bedwetter finds a very unexpected way to embrace the humiliating adult-sized pampers his nanny now makes him wear to sleep at night.

*Dylan’s Messy Daycare Bottom

Length: Short | Tags: Diaper Boy, Auntie, Wet, Messy, Public Humiliation

Dylan has an embarrassing moment in the corner of the adult-baby daycare.

*Changing Little Bobby’s Humiliating Poopy Diaper

Length: Short | Tags: Diaper Boy, Mommy, Wet, Messy, Regression, Diaper Change, Suppositories, Breastfeeding

An ABDL Mommy shares a story about just how much she loves changing her adult little one’s messy diapers.

*Kelly’s Potty-Training Mouth-Soaping Punishment

Length: Long | Tags: Diaper Girl, Nanny, Wet, Messy, Punishment, Regression, Diaper Change, Restraints, Public Humiliation

Adult teenager Kelly fails to live up to her Nanny’s strict potty-training regimen and pays a very steep, deeply humiliating price.

Tina’s New Stroller

Length: Medium | Tags: Diaper Girl, Mommy, Wet, Restraints, Omorashi, Diaper Change, Public Humiliation

Adult-baby Tina is mortified when her Mommy surprises her with a very special new stroller.

Daisy’s Wet Spanking

Length: Medium | Tags: Diaper Girl, Babysitter, Wet, Punishment, Underwear Accidents, Spanking, Public Humiliation

When Daisy gets caught making fun of her neighbor Stevie for wetting the bed, her babysitter teaches her a visceral lesson in empathy over her knee.

Mommy’s Little Pilot

Length: Short | Tags: Diaper Boy, Mommy, Wet, Messy, Diaper Change, Regression

A loving mommy shares the story of her special little adult-baby ‘pilot’.

From Girlfriend to Dommy-Mommy: A Boyfriend’s Painful Demotion to Babyhood

Length: Long | Tags: Diaper Boy, Mommy, Wet, Messy, Punishment, Regression, Diaper Change, Spanking, Sexual

When a young man’s older girlfriend grows tired of his refusal to embrace adult responsibilities, she takes control of his life as his new dommy-mommy, forcefully regressing him into a humiliating, diapered existence out of his worst nightmares.

A Cozy Visit to Nanna Lynn’s

Length: Medium | Tags: Diaper Boy, Sissy, Grandma, Wet, Bedwetting, Cloth Diapers, Enemas

A loving ABDL Grandma tells you everything she’s going to do to take extra good care of you during your visit to Nanna’s house.

The ‘Breaking-in’ Punishment

Length: Long | Tags: Diaper Boy, Mommy, Wet, Messy, Punishment, Restraints, Spanking, Public Humiliation, Enemas, Sensory Deprivation, Sexual

After officially committing himself to his new mommy, an adult diaper boy is subjected to an unforgettable dose of real diaper punishment for the first time, causing him to question whether he made the best, or worst, decision of his life.

The Diaper Treatment

Length: Long | Tags: Diaper Boy, Mommy, Wet, Messy, Regression, Bedwetting, Diaper Change, Spanking, Sexual, Medical

When a young man's wetting accidents worsen, his mother persuades him to undergo an experimental incontinence treatment—one that, ironically, requires him to become 24/7 diaper dependent.

Essays:

Nanny’s Notes: Turning You Into My Diaper Slave

*Nanny’s Notes: Littles & Their Messy Diapers

Nanny’s Notes: Diaper Domination Accessory Corner — Baby Bibs!

*Nanny’s Notes: The ‘Clothespin Method’ — A Diaper Punishment Technique

Special Addition: Introducing Hugglez BigKidz Snug-Lock Diaper Footy Pajamas!

*Denotes story previously published to Tumblr

___________

Buy now to read this novel-length (250+ pages) collection of essays and short stories!

Buy on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH6JWHCK

Buy on Lulu:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/nanny-chloe/18-short-stories-of-diaper-domination-a-collection-of-naughty-abdl-stories-and-erotic-diaper-essays/ebook/product-jezqz87.html

Buy on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=n5ohEQAAQBAJ

Don't forget to also view my full collection of other naughty ABDL books at:

www.nannychloetales.com

[rustbeltjessie]

Ali got me into the Daycare Swindlers in the summer of 2001. They were from her neck of the woods (the greater Washington, D.C. area), she’d seen them live a few times, and she played me the albums she’d bought—New & Tasty and Testosterose. I loved them immediately, and a couple months later, when they played the Fireside Bowl, I went to see them. I stood near the foot of the stage, danced, sang along to the songs I knew. During the chorus of “Heroin Beach,” Noah held the mic out  to me. “Can’t sink, can’t swim, I just float. Spent my last ten on a lifeboat. Won’t somebody pull me out?” he sang. Then held the mic out to me and I shouted: “Oh no, I think I got a habit!” I was fresh off a pretty serious heroin habit at the time (well, for the most part; I continued to have relapses for another few years), and the fact that Noah chose me that night meant a lot. It made me feel seen, in a way that almost no one in my life saw me. (I’d kept the bad-drug part of my life as separate as possible from the rest of my life; which meant that other than the people I did the bad drugs with, hardly anyone even knew I was doing them.) 

—Jessie Lynn McMains, from Reckless Chants #28.03: Daycare Swindlers & Old Pals (February 2024)

[taterswithranch]

https://www.tumblr.com/taterswithranch/726404824194793472/random-unpopular-opinion-in-an-sb-x-fnf?source=share

You know, when I sent that I was kinda hoping you would've used the opportunity to draw something with them... but no matter.

I do get you what you mean though, now that I think about it. I'm so used to how Nikusa is portrayed in fanon work from Lynn Carne & others that I don't really know what her creator's original concept for her character was. 🤷‍♂️ (I mean I get the general gist but idk all the details)

But anyway- new idea! Moondrop might not get along that well with Nikusa, but he definitely would with Agoti.

They're both considered the fun-loving chaos-causing gremlins in their respective teams. They'd be an unstoppable duo! (And make it everyone else's problem)

Oh, and I think Ayana & Sundrop can be friends too! Much like Tabi, Ayana would be a bit unnerved by Sun's boisterous nature at first, but upon getting the chance to get to know him more, she realises that he's just a sweet anxious lil guy who means well and just wants to make new friends, so she would be the one in Tabi's friend group that warms up the most to him.

The second being Agoti probably; I know I could've added Sarvante as well but I feel like that's too obvious lol. 😅

Come to think of it, Carol is a chill person to most everyone she meets, and Hex is a fellow sentient robot, so I can see those two also getting along with the daycare attendants fairly well. 😄

(Maybe you can drawing something with these ideas instead~? 😇)

I can see Agoti being a better candidate than Nikusa, but I’m still a little iffy about him considering he’s also perfectly okay with committing crime, and I’m not too sure if Moon would let that completely slide hdhdhsjk

Ayana, Carol, and Hex would definitely get along with Sun. They’re just your average young adults with their emotionally damaged friends/SO HDJDHSK

I can see them asking him for advice on how to help their friends

[cityclean610]

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School and Daycare Cleaner in New Lynn

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

                   Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 41                                                                                                  Week of October 30, 2023                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR: Continued from last week: Sharing the heart of Christine Burgess:   Pat’s Cash and Carry 50th Anniversary: When Christine’s health began failing, son Chris and his wife Karen took over running the family business in about 1996.  Chris and Karen’s daughters, Kayla and Christi spent their childhood days in the day to day operations of the business. Chris passed away several years ago from health complications.  The daughters did not dream they would become the ones behind the day to day operations so soon when their mother Karen passed away quickly and unexpectedly in February this year.  Both Kayla and Christi  are young mothers with young children. Speaking with Kayla she said, “We could not see putting our girls in daycare, to go to work a job that all of our money will go to daycare.”  The Burgess family plans to carry on the hopes and dreams that began in the heart of the matriarch that started Pat’s Cash & Carry 50 years ago. Christine’s daughter Teresa beams as she recalls,  “Mom loved this community and wanted it to grow and flourish.”      LRM

TOWN of SALEM:  Collecting for Toys for Tots through Nov. Downtown Market every Sat 8am-12pm. 

Haunted House  October 30, 31  6pm-8pm at The Tamassee-Salem GYM.  Admission $3 Adults 1 and up   $2 Kids 17 and under .  ENAC & the T-S Rec Department have something fun lined up for Halloween!                                                                                                                                                                

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open  Wed–Sat 8am-9pm and Sunday 12pm-7pm.  Events:   Wed: Food: El Charro for lunch and supper. Music:   Blue Grass Jam 6:30pm.  Fri: *Food: OPUSTrust Whole Hog Pickin, 5pm  Music:  Conservation Theory and Vilia Harrington 6:30pm Sat- Food:  Blue Ridge Grill   Music: West End String Band at 6:30pm  Sun: 12pm-7pm.OYSTER ROAST 2pm-7pm as long as they last.  Music:  John Johnson Duo 2pm and Ageless Acoustic 4pm.  More Information  864-873-0048. *Mt Appalachia Celebration                                                                                                                                                                              

ASHTON RECALLS                                                                                                          by Ashton Hester                                                                    

SALEM WAS ON THE MOVE 70 YEARS AGO - (Editor's note: This is a continuation of a lengthy story in the June 17, 1953 Keowee Courier with the headline "Progress At Salem Going On And On." The first portion of the story was in this column last week). . .Big improvements and changes, of course, show first in any town's growth, but the less glaring moves of progress add up strongly in the sum total. . .Take for example the fact that Salem's post office receipts jumped during the past year by $250. Postmaster Homer Griffith takes great pride--and rightly so--in the modern post office structure built only several years ago. . .Noah McCoy, one of the town's most active young businessmen, told the Courier with a grin last week that Salem in all probability is Oconee's most air-conditioned municipality as of now, and on a per capita basis it's practically a sure bet he is right. Four Salem business firms have the cooling systems running full blast. . .In addition to the one Mr. McCoy has installed in his grocery and general merchandise store, there are others keeping customers comfortable at Hinkle's Diner, Raymond Bearden's Grocery, and Cleve Alexander's Dairy Bar. . .Two new businesses have opened during the past several weeks along Salem's Main street--another sure sign of a town's expansion. Mr. Alexander's Dairy Bar is one of them, and the other is Dewey Rochester's Service Station. . .TO BE CONTINUED NEXT ISSUE                                   ��                                                

Jottings from Miz Jeannie                    

Jeannie Barnwell                                                       

The Mystery of the Empty Waiting Room

The doctor's office was unusually packed.   Among the oldsters sitting around grunting and groaning was Joel, the doctor's son, who feigned an illness because he didn't want to take the algebra test.  Out of pure boredom Joel started tearing up the office magazines and fashioning the colorful  pages into ORIGAMI birds.  An elderly woman who had limped in with a sore knee asked, "Would you show me how you did that?"  Joel taught the woman, and she showed two other patients paper folding techniques.  "That's nothing!" I said." I can teach you how to make a fortune telling device that can also be used as a COOTIE CATCHER-- a skill mastered in the fifth grade."   A young woman offered, "I can teach you to make adorable little Origami boxes, but we need sturdy paper."  "Hey!" declared Joel. "Someone save a big table over at the Chinese Restaurant.  I'll go to Hobby-Lobby and buy the paper!"   Joel's use of creative connectivity offered unexpected relief to some of his dad's patients.  Can you think of ways to utilize creativity and friendship for healing?    Miz Jeannie wishes you happiness and health!    

NEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL:  Tamassee-Salem Christian Academy has plans to open its doors for the 2024-2025 school year!  Come hear all about the exciting plans in progress and see how you can be involved.  Tuesday November 14th, 6pm in the auditorium of the Eagles Nest Art Center.  We hope to see you there!                                                                                                         UPCOMING EVENTS!                                                                                       

Treasure Store open this Saturday 9am-12noon                                                                                                                  November 4th Tunes of the Cowboy Trail Tickets $10 day of event or on our website. $20 show&supper Hear the tunes of Cowboy Copus, Gene Autry and more by Jef Wilson.  If you want to ensure your dinner ticket it is best to reserve your evening by purchasing a ticket prior to this delightful event. We will serve dinner until show time or sell out, whichever comes first.   864-280–1258                  November 18th 7pm Oconee Mountain Opry. Tickets $10 day of event or on our website. Enjoy the beautiful tunes and voice of Fayssoux McLean  and Brandon Turner.  Fayssoux  sang vocals with Emmylou Harris for years, and they continue to collaborate as friends today.  Brandon is a brilliant talent among musicians who stays booked continually playing with multiple well-known artists. The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs are a duo from Raleigh, NC who you will delight in their Appalachian Americana tunes.  Owen Grooms and Jennifer Linville are from Brevard, NC singing the tunes of Old Time and Mountain Bluegrass. Doors open at 6pm for treasure shopping and concessions.                                                                                                       CHURCH NEWS                                                                                                                   Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691, worships at 10:30 a.m. November Schedule:  November 5 George Harper, November 12, Mel Davis, November 19, George Harper, November 26, Mel Davis.     Love to sing?  Join us! Love to be in charge? Come lead us! All worshipers are welcome.                                                                                                                                   

PROPOSED CLOSING OF TAMASSEE-SALEM ELEMENTARY: The Oconee County School  Board will likely vote on the plans to close our T-S Elementary in 2027 on the long range plan. Call  864-886-4400 to speak or sign up on your early arrival at the next meeting on Monday, November 13th  at the SDOC Board Room located 414 S Pine Street, Walhalla.

INVITATION:  Invitation to anyone in the Columbia area November 4th.  The South Carolina State Museum will celebrate its 35th anniversary, with a special day featuring free general admission   live music and dance performances, behind the scenes tours of collections storage, a new exhibition and much more.                                             A Martin     

Upcoming Oconee County Agriculture Board meeting taking place November 13 at 6pm in the DAR school cafeteria.  They are looking for local participation regarding conservation, education, and all things agricultural related.                                             

Conservation Corner….I had the privilege as a conservationist and OPUStrust member to attend the 50 year celebration of the Naturaland Trust in Greenville, SC on October 26th.   I wish you all could have witnessed the heart moving results and stories that continue the vision of Conservationist, Tommy Wyche,  to prevent the mountains of the Carolinas from becoming victims of destruction through development. The founding efforts of Tommy Wyche protect some of the mountainous peaks and autumn views that lure us today.   There is more to protect!  Learn more at the Naturaland Trust site or see the Greenville news article on line. LM                                                                                                                        Oconee Community Theater in Seneca  began the season with 110 in the Shade ,a delightful musical adaptation of  “The Rainmaker” of hope, love, and redemption with a very talented cast.      Call for tickets or visit their website. 864- 882-1910   

Editor:  I have much to share this week and love the challenge.  Maybe this little paper will grow!   LMartin           

Sending love and blessings!                                                                                                                    

[proxylynn]

*suddenly she Blacks out, and when she wakes up she finds herself no longer in afton's hell, not only that she finds her self in a new body and then greeted by someone*

Glamrock Freddy: Hello, you must be the new Glamrock Marionette they sent here, my name is Freddy Fazbear and welcome to the pizza plex.

Glamrock Marionette!Lynn: *looking at self* Well...This is still better than the bunny suit. Wait...This is the pizzaplex? *bolts to the Daycare* I'm coming boys!

[purrassicjet]

Sandra Lynn's parents lived in a small, but bustling village in Sylvaire before it became the Nightmare Forest.

Her mother, let's call her Elena, was the village's trade expert. A natural polyglot, she was fluent in Sylvan, Elvish, and Common, as well as collecting basic books on as many languages she could get her hands on. She managed trade not only with other Sylvan villages, but with the High Elves of Fallinel and travelling ships from the humans of Solace.

Her father, Erin let's say, was one of the village's guards and a master archer. His sheer firing speed earned him a new last name for his line, the rough Common translation being "With a quiver faster than a wildfire". He loved the culture of Sylvaire with all his heart, and really was the soul of the community.

They had a few children together, but when the Nightmare Forest took over, they were forced to flee, and those children, already hundreds of years old, were lost to the forest. They fled to Solace using Elena's old trading contacts, and managed to settle in Elmville. Elena chose the last name "Sparkquiver" for them, a simple translation for their old Sylvan name. Erin was hesitant, but agreed.

They decided that they would have one final child, a chance to be parents again after the loss of their others. It took hundreds of years, but they finally managed to have a child. This, predictably for this post, was Sandra Lynn.

Though things weren't perfect in those years. Erin began to grow depressed. He missed living in Sylvaire, amongst his people, and he had a difficulty learning Common and adjusting to life in Elmville. Elena had a much easier time. She was already interested in many other cultures, and her natural skill for languages quickly got her a job working as an Elvish teacher at Oakshield Middle.

They clashed heavily on how to raise their new daughter. Elena was in insistent on raising her by the rules of their new home, but Erin refused. He refused to speak anything but Sylvan at home, refused to let Elena send Sandra Lynn to daycare, refused to raise his child by anything but the Sylvan way. He took Sandra Lynn into the woods every weekend and taught her how to shoot a bow, delighted at her natural aptitude for the sport. He praised her heavily for her skills.

Elena did her best to teach Sandra Lynn Common, but her lack of exposure to Common in every day life made the process hard for her.

Her parents clashed again when it was time for her to start school, but Elena won this time. Sandra Lynn was sent to Skullcleaver Elementary and adopted the nickname "Sandy", much to her father's behest. They continued to speak Sylvan at home, but Sandra Lynn's exposure to Common at school made the language learning process much easier. Her father continued to teach her as he would have a child living in Sylvaire, teaching her to hunt (though she also seemed to be as much if a prodigy at helping the animals as she was as an archer), and showing her the ways of the wild.

He continued to praise her for her skills, and this started to go to her head. By the time she was old enough to go to Aguefort, her self confidence grew to cockiness, and she started to believe that she really was the greatest archer (and eventually the greatest Ranger) of her generation. Her affinity for the wild combined with an obsessive admiration of the Solesian Rangers drew her away from the path of a fighter and towards the path of a Ranger, the one she chose.

Elena tried to warn Erin about the way their daughter's confidence grew beyond belief in herself, but Erin wouldn't listen. He continued to remark on how much of a great guard she would have made, and how if they were still living in Sylvaire, her skills would make her a great leader. Though Elena tried to remind him they weren't in Sylvaire anymore, Erin wouldn't listen.

Sandra Lynn thrived at Aguefort. Though she didn't attend classes extremely often, so her grades were all over the place, she had a good repor with the Ranger teacher and there was no doubt in anybody's minds that she was one of the best, if not the best Ranger at the school. She gained a reputation for being the school heartbreaker, burning through boys and girls alike while maintaining a pretty good acedemic record, all things concidered.

It was in high school that she first showed a true sign of her deviance from Sylvan culture (that her parents knew about, anyway). More than being called "Sandy", more than attending real school, she wanted to cut her hair short. Her hair was long and beautiful, but she claimed it was getting in the way of her Ranging.

Erin was furious. He forbade her from cutting it short for any reason, stressing the importance of long hair to Sylvan culture. This escalated into a full scale argument, but Sandra Lynn eventually lost, and retained her long hair. Elena tried to take her to get it cut, behind her father's back, but Sandra Lynn refused, the damage already done. Elena remarked that sometimes it seemed like Erin would have rather died with Sylvaire than survived to live in Elmville.

She first met Bobby Dawn when she was sixteen. She was competing in an archery contest that was supposed to be for adults only, but after she had so thoroughly swept the youth competition, she was offered a place in the adults competition despite her age.

He watched her earn third place, and approached her after, praising her skills and asking her if she had ever concidered adventuring. She was more than happy to explain to him that she was "the greatest Ranger the Aguefort Adventuring Academy had ever seen". She told him that she wanted to be an adventurer when she was older, though omitting the little detail of her admiration of the Solesian Rangers, and her silent dream to be one of them.

Over the next few competitions, they talked more often. Bobby was interested in her interests in a way her parents weren't. Sure, Elena was more than happy to hear about her experiences with Elmville's culture, but her father, the one she really sought to impress, scowled and spoke little whenever she explained things to him. Sometimes there just weren't words in Sylvan to explain things, and she wished he had learned Common so she could explain things to him.

Eventually, near the tail end of her Junior Year, Bobby invited her to join his adventuring party. She was overjoyed and accepted immediately. She saw an opportunity to finally show her father she was worthy of all his praise, proof that she really was the greatest Ranger. If she had been invited to an adventuring party full of adults, that meant her skill was at their level.

But when she told her parents, they finally agreed on something. Erin didn't believe in the value of adventuring, of galavanting around in search of glory. To him, she would still be a child for at least another ninety years, and adventuring was no place for a child. Elena refused to let her drop out of school. She had fought to put her in school, and she wasn't going to watch her throw it away. Sandra Lynn was furious at her parents, seeing their denial at face value, as them not believing in her, instead of seeing the deeper worry that it caused. Seeing how they were afraid of how their teenage daughter would be in a party of adults.

Sandra Lynn's Aguefort adventuring party wasn't in board either. They accused her of abandoning them, but she dismissed their concerns. This was her destiny. Why did nobody see how good this could be for her? The cockiness that had been simply childish before had become dangerous, just as her mother predicted.

After a conversation with Bobby Dawn that ended with him telling her to "do whatever you feel is best", she packed a bag, hopped on Baxter, and ran away in the middle of the night. She left home at the age of seventeen, and joined Bobby Dawn's adventuring party.

After her disappearance, and then reappearance in the media, Erin and Elena blamed each other for their daughter's disobedience. Elena blamed Erin for her cockiness, and Erin blamed Elena for not letting her be raised like a proper Sylvan should be. Erin left for Fallinel one day and never returned. While Sandra Lynn was adventuring, her mother's extremely advanced age finally caught up to her and she died.

Sandra Lynn was kicked out of Bobby Dawn's adventuring party in her early twenties. She returned to an Elmville where she had nobody. Her mother was dead, her father was off in Fallinel, and her high school adventuring party hated her for what she'd done. She was well and truly alone.

Does anybody want to hear my complex headcanons about Sandra Lynn's parents and how they accidentally made her vulnerable to Bobby Dawn's manipulation?

[agirlwithbigdreamsforher]

THE NANNY: PROLOGUE

Pairing: Andy Barber x Annie Johnson (OFC)

Summary: Working and single parenting is not easy. Andy needs to find a nanny for his son Jacob. Annie, an education degree student at Lasell University, comes to their lives just in time for the big changes in Andy’s life.

Warnings: none

A/N: This is a story with a younger Andy Barber (30) and a 3 year old Jacob. Also, English is not my first language, I know Little about how education (in general) and universities work in the States, sooooo don’t come from me, please, at the end of the day this is just fiction and the purpose is to entertain. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not give permission for any of my works to be copied, used, translated nor reposted anywhere else but here on this blog. Do not steal what you didn’t work for. Minors and ageless blank blogs don’t interact with me or my works. Reblogs and likes are always welcome. Remember reblogs do more than likes. Thank you for reading this work of fiction.

Word count: 383

                                 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Everyone at the office was cheering and drinking from their plastic cups.

“To Andy! The new ADA.” Pam said staring at Andy while lifting her cup.

“To Andy!!” everyone responded and drank.

Andy walked to the corner of the office and got his cellphone out from his pocket staring at the picture of his little son Jacob smiling on the screen.

“Hey, is everything ok?” Pam asked behind him.

“Amm yeah, is just…”

“What? You don’t seem happy, I thought this is what you wanted.”

“Of course it is, is a great job.”

“But?”

“Is more work, and Jacob is so little… I already feel I don’t spend much time with him, you know and now… I don’t know what to do! You said it, is the job I’ve always wanted, but is not fair for Jake.”

“You can get a nanny.”

“A nanny?”

“Why not? A lot of people have nannies, and it will be just a couple of hours in the afternoon. I’m sure if you talk to Lynn you can come to an arrangement.”

Andy thought about it a couple of minutes, Pam was right, nowadays it wasn’t weird for people to get help to take care of theirs kids. Jacob was already in daycare in the mornings, they could still have lunch and dinner together before put Jacob to bed.

“It doesn’t sound bad, I’ll post something on line or the newspaper… people still do that right?” Andy smiled at Pam

“Sure grandpa.” Pam said amused “I know a babysitter, she helps me with Phoebe sometimes. You know when we have emergencies.”

“Do you recommend her?”

“Of course I do, Phoebe loves her! And she is a student at Lasell so, is not a problem for her to come to Newton.” Pam pulled out her phone and wrote a number in a piece of paper. “There you go, her name is Annie Johnson; she is cool.”

“Thanks.”  Andy said looking at the little paper. “Can I do my research?”

“God Andy! She is not a murderer! I just told you she is a nice girl!”

“Still…”

They laughed a little and come back to the celebration. Andy was serious about the research, he couldn’t have a stranger taking care of his kid and house without knowing anything about her. 

[tigertaurus22]

We all know about Freddy Fazbear’s Mega PizzaPlex, but what about its other location?

Fazbear Entertainment made a joint venture with Candy’s Burgers and Fries as well as a Persocom manufacturing company to create the MiniPlex, using the recent rise in popularity of Persocoms to create a brand new cast of mascots.

Winnifred ‘Freddie/Winnie’ Fazbear

Bonnelyn ‘Bonnie/Lonnie/Lynn’ Bunny

Chickadee ‘Chicka/Dee’ Chicken

Vixen ‘Vix’ Fox (call her Vixie and you die)

Candace ‘Candy/Ace’ Cat

Chesterton ‘Chester/Ches’ Monkey

Rattigan ‘Ratti/Rat/Gan’ Mouse

Blanford ‘Blan/Blank/Ford’ Canvas

Peter ‘Petey/Pete’ Penguin

Stella ‘Star/Stel’

The MiniPlex isn’t as large as the Mega Plex, but it still has plenty of original attractions, such as Candy’s Drive-In Theatre (inspired by the one in Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Chicka’s Skate n’ Bake, an art studio, an actual Italian restaurant on the second floor, and Bonnie’s Bunny Sports.

They also have a central outdoor courtyard featuring a small garden with plants that each of the mascots planted themselves

There are also some familiar sights like a Lost and Found (run by Rattigan), Kids’ Cove, the Main Stage, and the Daycare.

The MiniPlex’s Daycare is run by both Stella and Chester. It doubles as a kids’ science center, like Mobius Kids.

[grace-preschool]

Best Childcare in New Lynn, New Zealand

As a leading childcare centre and daycare facility in the New Lynn area, we offer a holistic approach to early childhood development. We work hard to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children aged 0-5 years old. We are committed to providing high-quality learning experiences that inspire children's love of learning, encourage them to be inquisitive and imaginative which develops their social skills and promotes healthy growth and development.

[fazbear-security]

More older!Mike headcanons/some Pizza Plex!Sam headcanons bc I’ve been thinking about them more lately and I need to write them down, GO!:

Mike will turn down or turn off his hearing aid when he doesn’t want to listen to someone.

This little trick doesn’t work on his siblings or Puppet, however, as they all know sign language for Lynn, and will just start signing at him when he does this.

After one unfortunate incident in which Anders forgot that Mike is actually a skilled martial artist, there was a laminated sign printed and left in the Cove Valley pizzeria break room that reads “Mike, turn on your ears.”.

Employees are encouraged to take this sign whenever they might need it, and slide/wave/drop/hang it in Mike’s line of sight when he’s not responding to them, rather than trying to tap him on the shoulder/back/grab his arm/shoulder when he can’t hear them.

The animatronics will also use this sign, though they can easily gain Mike’s attention by simply standing in his line of sight.

Bonnie claims the sign is too funny not to use.

Though he was given a map of all customer-facing pizzeria areas he was meant to patrol, Sam did not visit the Pizza Plex Daycare until his first test night alone.

Both Monty and Freddy had to be summoned to pull Sam out of the ball pit (to Sundrop’s deep disappointment - they were having fun!) in time for opening.

Glam!Chica and Roxy watched from the safety of the balcony, and didn’t try to help catch the overstimulated shepherd because taking photos of Monty romping through the ball pit was of a higher priority, to them

Once Sam was removed from the ball pit, and given time to calm down, a heartbroken Sundrop had to add his name to the ‘permanent ban’ list “for his own good”.

Glam!Freddy, feeling bad for their new friend who just had a little too much fun, smuggled a handful of colorful plastic balls out of the Daycare in his cake hatch as a consolation prize.

Sam has these balls proudly displayed in his home base first aid station.

[hopelikethemoon]

Birthday Plans (Javier x Pena) {MTMF} [lite smut]

Title: Birthday Plans Rating: Explicit-ish Length: 2900 Warnings: Discussions of pegging and sex toys. Notes: You can find everything about Maybe Today, Maybe Forever here. Set October 26, 1998. Summary: They try to celebrate Javier’s birthday.

@grapemama​​​​ @seawhisperer​​​​ @huliabitch​​​​ @beccaplaying​​​​ @rogrsnbarnes​​​​@thewallpapergoesorido @twomoonstwosuns​​​ @gooddaykate​​​​ @livasaurasrex​​​@ham4arrow​​​​@plexflexico @readsalot73​​​ @hdlynn​​​​ @lokiaddicted​​​​ @randomness501​ @fioccodineveautunnale​​  @roxypeanut​​ @snivellusim​​​​ @lukesrighthand​​​ @historynerd04 @mrsparknuts​​​​@synystersilenceinblacknwhite​​ @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead​ @exrebelshocktrooper​​​@awesomefandomsunited @ah-callie​​​​ @swhiskeys​​​​ @lady-tano​​​​ @u-wakatoshii​​ @space-floozy​​​@cable-kenobi​​​​ @cool-ultra-nerd @himbopoes​​​​ @findhimfives​​​​ @pedrosdoll​​​​ @frietiemeloen​​​​@arrowswithwifi​​​​ @random066​ @uncomicalhumour​​​ @heather-lynn​​​ @domino-oh-damn​​@cyarikaaa​​​​ @ahopelessromanticwritersworld​​ @im-still-a-pieceofgarbage @ksgeekgirl​​​​  @yabby-girl​​​ @xqueenofthecraziesx​​​​ @punkass-potato​​@coredrive​​​​ @pascalesque​​​​@theduchessofkirkcaldy @queenquazar​​​​ @sabinemorans​​​​ @buckstaposition​​​​ @holkaskrosnou​​​​@yespolkadotkitty​​​​ @fleetwoodmactshirt​​​ @seeking-a-great–perhaps @kochamcie​​​​ @jaime1110​​​​@katlikeme​

“I got us something to celebrate with tonight,” Javier told you as he snaked his arms around your waist, pressing his face into the crook of your neck as you waited for your bagel at the toaster. 

You slid your hands over his forearms, leaning back against him. “Is this a bad time to tell you I accidentally planned dinner tonight with the girls?” You tilted your head, grimacing a little as you looked back at him. “I thought it might be nice.”

“Shit.” Javier sighed, pressing a kiss to your shoulder. 

You turned in his hold, draping your arms over his shoulders as you smiled up at him, “Happy Birthday, Javi.” You whispered, rising up on your toes to press your lips to his. “Wait, did you get me something for your birthday?”

He rubbed at the small of your back, “Technically, it’s for both of us.”

“Oh?” You arched a brow as you curled your fingers around the back of his neck. “Any hints?”

Javier dragged his teeth over his bottom lip, “I swallowed my pride and went back to see Rocky.”

A slow grin crept over your lips as you toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck, “You’ve got me curious now.”

“Remember a couple months back? We talked about—” He cleared his throat. “—and if I’m gonna cut my hair for Halloween, I thought you might want to,” Javier coughed awkwardly. “Again.”

Your eyes lit up, “A happy birthday indeed.” You whispered as you rose up on your toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. 

“Mommy!” Josie cried out as she stomped into the kitchen with Stevie hot on her heels. “I can’t find my Tigger.”

“You get to tell her,” Javier told you as he pressed a kiss to the tip of your nose before slipping out of your arms. 

You have him a scathing look as you crouched down to Josie’s height, laughing as Stevie attempted to knock you over with kisses. “Well, I’ve got some bad news about Tigger… but first, do you remember what we discussed about today?”

Josie’s brows furrowed together and she turned to look at her father, before looking back at you. “Is that today?” 

You nodded.

She leaned in close and whispered, “I forgot to make a card.”

“That’s alright,” You pinched her cheek, “Daddy doesn’t like a big fuss.”

Josie smiled, “Okay. But what about Tigger?”

“Stevie ate him”. You scrunched up your nose, “But don’t worry, you’ll get a new one soon.” You assured her, “Now, go wish your daddy happy birthday.”

You snatched your bagels out of the toaster as Josie bounced over to Javier at the kitchen table. 

“Happy birthday daddy!” Josie cheered as he hoisted her into his lap and she threw her arms around him. 

“Thank you, princesa.” Javier drawled out warmly as he bounced her in his arms. “Did you sleep well, sweetheart?”

She sighed heavily, looking very serious, “I had dreams.” A frown fell over her features, as you glanced back at them. “But Tigger was in them.” 

“You’ve got to remember to put your toys up,” Javier reminded her, tapping her shoulder before taking a drink of his coffee. 

“Hey, birthday boy… what do you want?”

“Just cereal.” He shrugged. 

You snorted, “Just like any other day.”

“I am easy to please.” Javier told you with a crooked grin, before masking it behind another sip of coffee. 

“I had heard otherwise,” You taunted as you smeared butter onto your bagel and sat it down on the table. “Raisin Bran?”

“Works for me.” 

“Mommy I want Pop-Tarts.” Josie told you as she reclined back against Javier’s chest. “With icing.”

“They were all out of Pop-Tarts with icing.” You informed her, “But you can have strawberry Pop-Tarts without icing.” You said as you peeled off the shiny wrapping and popped them into the toaster.

“Today is the worst day.” She huffed, “No oh-fences, daddy.”

Javier chuckled, “None taken.”

Sofía squealed, slapping her hands against the top of her high chair. “Da-da!” 

“Yes sweetheart?”

She blew a raspberry at him. 

“Ah, revenge.” You chuckled, “And to think, not that long ago there was another squirmy-raspberry-blowing baby around.”

“Me!” Josie pointed at herself with a grin. 

“Yes you.” Javier kissed the top of her head.

“Daddy how old are you?”

“Old,” Javier answered before telling her the truth, “Forty-eight.”

“Oh! That is old.”

You stifled a laugh as you poured the cereal and milk into a bowl and sat it on the table for him. “He’s lucky I’ve got a thing for old men.” You teased, leaning down to press a quick kiss to his lips.

The Pop-Tarts popped in the toaster and you circled back around to grab them for Josie, before dropping them off at her seat and finding your way back to yours.

“Eat up, we need to get you to school.” You told Josie, snapping your fingers as she slowly made her way around the table to her seat. “And we’re going out for dinner tonight with Monica and Nadia so please don’t get dirty.”

Josie scrunched up her nose, “I don’t get dirty. The dirty gets on me.” She told you with a little tilt of her head as she took a bite of her Pop Tart.

“The sass.” Javier chuckled, taking a sip of coffee. “Hey baby.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve only got two students coming in for office hours before lunch.” He told you as he scooped up a bite of cereal. “Thought maybe…”

You arched a brow, your lips twitching upwards into a smirk. “I can do a half day.” 

“Can I do a half day?” Josie questioned, chewing with her mouth full. 

“Josie.” Javier warned. 

She chewed quickly and washed it down dramatically with her milk, “Can I do a half day?”

“No.” You shook your head. “Little girls have to go to school and daycare.” You pointed between Josie and Sofía. “So that you can play hookie when you’re older.”

Josie pouted, “Fine.” She took another bite of Pop Tart. “Why aren’t you guys married?”

You blinked, “What?”

“You and daddy are both old enough.”

Javier pinched the bridge of his nose, “Not everyone has to get married.”

You nodded your head in agreement, “And sometimes not everyone who gets married talks about getting married.”

“Are Monica and Nadia married?”

“No.” Javier shook his head, “But maybe one day they can get married.” He gave you a look. “Where’s this coming from?”

Josie drank a sip of milk, “This boy in school said he wanted to marry me and I said ‘ew!’ Because he’s not funny.”

You snorted, “Because he’s not funny?”

Josie shrugged, “Daddy makes you laugh.”

Javier met your eyes with a warm smile. “She’s got a point.”

“You’re also a little girl who doesn’t have to worry about marriage right now.”

“I know.” Josie grinned at you. “I told him that my mommy knows how to shoot people.”

Your amusement died and you covered your face as you groaned, “Josie, what the hell?”

“Swear!” She shouted, pointing a finger at you.

“Hey,” Javier snapped his fingers. “You can’t tell people that, Josie.”

“Well he doesn’t bother me anymore.” Josie shrugged, looking rather pleased with herself. 

“No wonder your teacher hates me.” You sighed, pushing your fingers through your hair as you sank back in your seat. “When did this happen?”

Josie hummed, “Last week.”

“Please don’t do it again or Tigger will not be coming back into the house.”

She gulped, “I was just…” Josie looked towards Javier with big wide eyes. “Am I in trouble.”

“Not yet.” He warned, before gesturing to her empty plate. “Go get changed for school. It’s not pajama day.” 

Josie finished off her milk, before she slid out of her seat and down the hallway back to her bedroom with Stevie trailing behind her. 

“She’s your daughter.”

“With all the piss and vinegar of her mother.” He winked at you, “So you’re down for coming back home?”

You nodded, “As long as you don’t mind sitting funny tonight.” You mused as you licked butter off your finger, holding his gaze. 

His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat, “It’s a price I’m willing to pay.”

——

 The morning dragged on for a lifetime. Every time you glanced at the clock on your wall, it felt like time had gone backwards instead of forwards. 

Things were starting to slow down at the P.D. as you started training the team that would take over your position. As much as you were looking forward to moving on — you would miss it. There was nothing quite like being in the thick of things.

But you were looking forward to having more time with Javier. Like sharing an office with him at the university — it would be just like old times. 

And Josie had a point, neither of you were getting any younger. Javier was two years away from being fifty, which was a surreal realization to have.

He was also the same almost fifty-year-old that you were going to rail for his birthday. 

You beat him home, which gave you ample time to put on the newest piece of lingerie you’d picked up to celebrate with that ended up being the most expensive piece you owned. 

It was a black and silver piece; a silver satin bustier with black lace and a matching garter set that was attached to lacy black thigh highs. You had planned to wear a nice dress over it for dinner — just to drive him wild, but this was much better. 

You draped yourself on the sofa, ready to greet him the second he walked through the door. And when he did…

“Holy shit.” Javier laughed as he quickly shut and locked the door closed behind him, “Look at you.”

“You like?” You questioned as you traced your fingertips along your collarbone and dragged them down between the lace and satin that covered your breasts. 

“I fucking love it.” Javier said as he tossed his jacket off and dropped his briefcase without care. “And you were going to deprive me of this with dinner, baby?” He clicked his tongue against his teeth and shook his head. 

You bit down on your bottom lip, grinning at him as you sat up and patted the sofa beside you. “I had a plan… but I’m liking this change of plans.”

“Me too.” He agreed as he moved to sit down, loosening his tie and popping the first button.”

“Let me,” You whispered, moving to straddle his lap, your hands skimming his chest as you held his gaze. “So what did you buy?”

Javier shifted beneath you, running his hands over your thighs as he marveled at you. “Hmm?”

You rolled your hips teasingly, “What did you buy?” You questioned with a grin, tugging at his hair as you leaned in to brush your lips over his. “I’m starting to think you didn’t buy anything.”

He gave your hip a playful swat, “It vibrates.”

“Oh?” You trailed your finger down his nose. “For you?” He nodded and your grin broadened. “Bold.” 

Javier shrugged, “I got talked into it.”

“Rocky’s getting a Christmas card,” You laughed, leaning in to kiss him, letting the kiss linger. “And you’re sure?”

He nodded, his shoulders sinking as he exhaled. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday.” He told you as he ran his hand up your waist, fingers telling over the curve of your breast. “And baby, I didn’t even know I was getting this today.”

You laughed softly, “I couldn’t resist.” You slid your fingers through his hair as you slowly rolled your hips. “I had this whole plan to let you see what I had under my dress before we left for dinner… just to wind you up.”

Javier snorted and shook his head, “Sounds about right.” He leaned in and caught your lip between his teeth, tugging at it lightly. “What did I ever do to end up here with you?”

You hummed thoughtfully, “I think all you had to do was be the perfect person for me.” You told him, brushing your nose against his as your breath danced over his. 

He ran his hands around to give your ass a squeeze as you ground yourself down against him. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” You smiled at him as you cradled the back of his head and kissed him. 

Javier groaned against your lips as you rolled your hips, his cock hardening against you — concealed by the fabric of his slacks and boxers beneath. You reached down between the two of you, working at the buttons of his shirt as you tugged the fabric out of his pants. 

There was plenty of time to work up to the main event. You had four hours until you had to pick the girls up and right now you wanted to tease him. To build up the moment and drag it out. 

You knew he wasn’t the most bold and daring man when it came to sex — contrary to popular belief, and you didn’t want to waste this opportunity to explore something new with him. 

Your fingers worked the last of his shirt buttons loose and your mouth descended upon the newly bared skin. Leaving open-mouthed kisses along his collarbone as your hands skimmed over his chest and stomach. 

“Fuck.” Javier swore under his breath, his hands gripping at your hips as he moved beneath you. 

You leaned down, your tongue sweeping over his nipple before biting at the soft flesh directly beside it. Javier made a quiet keening sound and your entire body throbbed in response. 

“Did you like that?” You questioned as you slid your tongue over the skin as it turned red from your teeth indents. 

Javier wound his fingers into your hair, tugging lightly as you repeated the attention to his other nipple, biting down a little harder at his skin. 

Something hit against the front door a few feet away from you and at the sound of jingling keys, you barely had a chance to grab a blanket to cover yourself with before the door swung open. 

Monica was in autopilot and it wasn’t until she had stepped inside and shut the door — locking eyes with you — before she realized what she’d walked in on. 

“Oh my god!” She cried out shielding her eyes. “I didn’t know you were home! Why are you home?” 

“Why are you here?” You questioned, eyeing the box in her hand.

“I was dropping off Javier’s gift.” Monica turned her back on both of you, “Oh my god… this is like walking in on your parents.”

“If it’s any consolation, we are mostly dressed.” Javier told her as he helped you tuck the throw around you to keep it in place. 

“I thought you were at work—“

“We were.” You both answered in unison. 

You slid off Javier’s lap, keeping the throw tight around your body. 

Javier nudged you in the thigh, gesturing to the marks you’d already left on his chest. 

You yanked a pillow out from behind him and tossed it onto his lap. “We’re decent.”

“I’m going to die.”

“Did you think we weren’t having sex?” You laughed as Monica turned around, looking absolutely mortified. 

“No! I just pretend it isn’t happening.” Monica made a face as she looked between the two of you. “I am… so sorry.”

“It could’ve been worse.” Javier retorted, reaching over to give your knee a squeeze, letting it his hand linger there. “What’d you get me? Since I told you no gifts.”

Monica made a face, “That tortilla press you were coveting.” She held the box up, “I’m just… gonna put this in the kitchen and leave.”

You watched her as she heard back into the kitchen, exchanging a look with Javier. “Oops.”

Javier raked his hand down his face, sighing heavily. “I share in the sentiment of wanting to die.”

You pinched him in the side, “Shut up.” You leaned into him, resting your cheek on his shoulder. 

Monica shielded her eyes as she walked back into the family room, “I am… so sorry. I will buy drinks or dessert tonight… something.”

“Monica, sweetheart, it’s fine.” You assured her with a soft laugh. “We should’ve gone into the bedroom.”

“No! It’s your house you can… do what you want to, wherever you want to.” Her brows rose upwards as she looked at you, “Are you actually wearing anything under there aside from those tights?”

You nodded, brushing your hair aside to show the straps of the bustier, “More covered than a bathing suit.”

“I thought that reassurance might help with how traumatized I feel but… nope.” She covered her face and groaned. “I’m going to go use brain bleach and hope I forget this before tonight.” She told you, before she ducked out of the house and her keys jingled on the other side as she locked it back. 

You turned towards Javier and pressed your face against his shoulder, “Oh my god.” You actually giggled and that sound made him wrap his arms around you and haul you into his lap sideways, knocking the pillow away. “We’ve officially scarred one of our daughters.”

“Should’ve known it would be Monica,” Javier chuckled as he kissed your neck. “Rain check?” 

“Yeah.” You played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “I don’t blame you.” 

Javier traced his fingers over your leg, “I can’t believe she…” He shook his head. “It could’ve been so much worse.”

You nuzzled at his throat, “Which is why that was going to happen in the bedroom. Well, privacy and your knees.” You tugged at his hair. “Next time.”

He squeezed your hip, “Next time.” 

[firelord-frowny]

i’m binge watching dr phil (bc i ran out of Lynn Toler’s divorce court 😭) while i knit, and just 

i’m on this episode with a girl and a guy in their early 20s who had a baby AFTER they broke up, and everybody involved is being extra immature and stupid and annoying, and she’s mad that he’s dating somebody else even though she broke up with him??? complaining that ~he shouldn’t be focused on another woman, i’m not focused on another man~ and it’s like GIRL YOU AREN’T EVEN TOGETHERRRRRRR!!!!! and the dude is being dumb and not wanting to go out of his way to be in the child’s life, and they’re both hella stupid, and the guy’s new girlfriend honestly seems way too mature to be dealing with that shit, but i guess she isn’t, otherwise she wouldn’t still beeeeeee in a relationship with a guy who’s behaving dumbly in a dumb situation, but i digress...

LMAO I COULD NEVERRRRRRRRRRRR! oh my god i could LITERALLY NEVER have a child with someone i wasn’t already certain i wanted to spend the rest of my life with, LET ALONE someone i had ALREADY DUMPED oh my god!!!! which, i mean, i don’t want kids ANYWAY, but i for DAMN sure would have to be very happily and very comfortably married to a dude for a WHILE before there would even be a fraction of a chance that i’d change my mind. 

i truly do not understaaaaaaaaaaand how anyone could be so casual about having a whole child with somebody they already decided they didn’t like and subsequently broke up with. Assuming you plan to raise the child, and assuming the other parent plans to participate in that as well, you’re LITERALLY agreeing to have a permanent and profound connection with someone you don’t like FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!! 

for at least the next 18 years, you’re going to get into stupid arguments about How To Discipline Your Child. for the rest of your life, you’re going to have to engage with this person at your kid’s recitals/performances/sports games/honor roll assemblies/graduations/etc. your kid is gonna prefer one of your homes over the other and they’re gonna throw a fit when it’s time to go spend the weekend at mommy’s. 

i mean, i KNOOOOOOOOOOOOW that there are plenty of parents who are able to be fantastic coparents with each other, and they remain good friends, and they’re supportive of each other’s relationship with the kid, and they make decisions together, and they both take responsibility for the child’s emotional, financial, and physical needs, and when/if they ever pursue new relationships with other people, it doesn’t cause any issues because all the adults involved are mature and responsible and care deeply about the wellbeing of the child. I know there are situations like that. I know not every set of single coparents have an awful experience. 

BUT YOU CAN’T COUNT ON THAT OMGGGG!!!!! 

you could date a dude for a month, think he’s the most responsible, respectful, gentlemanly gentleman who ever gentleman’d on earth. you discover on the 32nd day of dating him that he’s an insecure, passive-aggressive, untrustworthy mooch who becomes a complete asshole when you disagree about the smallest things. 

you could date a lady for a month and think she’s compassionate and understanding and supportive, and on day 32 you discover she has no respect for boundaries, she thinks it’s okay to hit you when she’s mad on account of She’s Just A Weak Little Woman So It’s Impossible For Her To REALLY Hurt You. 

You don’t knoooooooooooooooowwwwww people well enough after just a few months of dating them to decide that you should have them in your life forever! shit, i honestly don’t even think a few YEARS is enough time to make a choice like that. You need to know how somebody behaves in adversity. You need to know if they’re financially responsible. You need to know if their long-term goals are compatible with your own. You need to know how they respond to YOU when YOU are experiencing adversity. How do they interact with you when you’re depressed? Afraid? Overwhelmed? You need to at least have an IDEA of how they grieve when they lose a loved one. You need to know how they cope with sudden and drastic changes. You need to observe them long enough to learn their habits and behavior patterns. You need to be able to reliably predict the kinds of choices they’ll make. 

So like, it can take YEARS to finally gather enough data about a person to predict what a lifelong relationship with them might be like. You can date someone for 2 years and everything is fantastic, but then you get to the 3rd year and they lose their job and they respond to the stress by becoming abusive. You can date someone for 3 years and discover in the 4th year that they begrudge your success and try to take you down a peg every time you achieve something that you’re proud of. 

If I got knocked up by some dude I haven’t known and trusted and loved for a few years already, there is no. fucking. way. that i would have that baby. there is no way i would even get up to any hanky panky with them without being on birth control and using condoms in the FIRST place, so the odds that I would get knocked up by anyone are super slim, but if I got knocked up anyway, i would fuckin teleport to a clinic right fuckin quick and have that motherfucker yoinked out of my uterus SO fast! *aretha franklin voice* ain’t no way.

i caaaaan’t. i CAN’T! IMAGINE!!!

and i am SURE this is a biased assumption due to the fact that I mostly hear about these kinds of parents on court tv or talk shows or whatever, but it seeeeems almost like a rule of thumb that people who have a baby very shortly after meeting each other tend to be stupid and irresponsible as FUCK. And that makes sense to me bc like... only an irresponsible person would make the long series of unwise choices that would lead to them having a baby at a young age with someone they don’t know they can trust. I feel like responsible people tend not to let that happen! 

and PLEASE don’t get me wrong - i don’t think people who get into situations like that are Bad People. like, you can be irresponsible and immature and make shitty choices and still be a good person who’s kind and whose heart is always in the right place and who always tries to do the right thing, even if they’re not very good at figuring out what the right thing even is. 

i only mean to express how dumbstruck i am by the very CONCEPT of On Purposely linking yourself permanently with somebody you already know you don’t like, or who you may DISCOVER you don’t like in the near future. even just the THOUGHT of it mkaes me anxious. 

like omfg if i got knocked up and raised the child of that one ain’t shit motherfucker i had a Thing with in college?????? disaster. a lifetime of fuckboy shenanigans. a lifetime of missed appointments and broken promises and probably also a lifetime of being under the constant threat of a fuckin police raid lmfaoooo dude was LITERALLY a drug dealer. no way. no way. AIN’T NO WAY!!! 

ohmy goddddddd. young adults (and even Adulty Adults, tbh), PLEEEEAAAAAASSSEEEE value yourself enough that getting on a ride without knowing where it’s headed is WHOLLY out of the question for you. Permanently attaching yourself to a near stranger should not be viable option. ESPECIALLY if you still haven’t built a stable, self-sufficient life for yourself. like, if you DO wind up having a child with a near stranger, you should at LEAST have steady, good-paying employment, and safe and comfortable housing. I mean, those are things that you should try to have before you have a baby REGARDLESS of who you have it with, but if you DO have a baby with a near stranger/someone you don’t like, it’s ESPECIALLY important that you’re able to support yourself so you’ll always be okay in spite of any potential fuckery, tom foolery, or shenanigans from the other parent. you’re not up a creek if they won’t pay child support. you can afford daycare if the other parent is unwilling to take care of your child when you’re not at home. 

i caaaaAAAAAN’T!!!! 

[bluebird722]

Happy Birthday, Lian!

Summary: Rewrite of the episode “Home Fires” (but without the “nuclear weapon” subplot). It’s Lian’s birthday and the first without her mother. Come stress with Will as he goes the extra mile to ensure that his daughter has the best birthday party ever!

Rating: K

Characters: Lian Harper, Will Harper, Roy Harper, Artemis Crock, Jim Harper, Raquel Ervin, Amistad Ervin, Donny Allen, Dawn Allen, Iris West-Allen, Traya Sutton, John Smith, Queen Mera, Artur, Lynn Stewart-Pierce, Jennifer Pierce, Anissa Pierce, Lois Lane, Jonathan Kent, Karen Beecher, and a bunch of OCs!

Author’s Note: Happy birthday, @youngjusticeslut! This is for you, based on this (which, I guess, is something I’m responsible for)! I just figured, why the hell not?

Will stared at the date on his calendar, with a giant red star on the particular date. He had been dreading this day for months, but it was finally coming closer: his daughter’s birthday–or, rather, Lian’s first birthday without her mother. 

He closed his eyes and shook his head. No words could describe how he was feeling. Grief? Anger? Worried? What would Lian say, when she realized that Mommy wasn’t coming to her birthday party? Would it be one of those things in the movies, and Jade would show up unexpectedly, like an army parent coming home as a Christmas gift for their children? It wouldn’t happen, and Will knew it, but it helped to imagine it. In the meantime, he had to plan her birthday party, and he wanted everything to go perfectly. This was his daughter, and she deserved to be happy. 

He had seven million things to do to prepare, he knew, and it was more than just finding the cake and buying decorations and planning games and activities; it involved working late every night for a month to be able to afford the type of party he wanted to give her. He knew so much about heroes because he had been exposed to them all of his existence, and he wanted to give her everything hero: Justice League, Marvel heroes, whatever. He didn’t care. He could probably find a sneaky way to get the whole League to attend her party, or he could dress up as a hero of her choice a la that episode of I Love Lucy. 

A small shuffle of footsteps interrupted Will’s train of thought, and he turned around to see his daughter in pink blanket pajamas. “Daddy…”

“Hey Lian.” He stood up and walked over to his daughter, rubbing her eyes and looking sleepy. “Are you all right?”

Lian patted her stomach. “Tummy ache,” she whispered. 

Will gently lifted her up into his arms and carried her to the kitchen for children’s Tylenol and a glass of water, which she finished. Then he carried her back upstairs and sat her onto her bed. “Why are you up so late, Daddy?”

Will stopped himself from lying that he was working on files and shrugged. “I was getting ideas for your birthday, Lian,” he said. “I know it’s your birthday, and you decide what you want, but I was looking up where to get the cake, the decorations…you know.” He ruffled her hair. “I know I’ve been working a lot, but I just want to be able to get you a fun party.” 

“Okay,” Lian nodded. She grabbed her feet and rolled on her back. “I want a Paw Patrol party.”

Paw Patrol. Will’s heart sank. He knew more about heroes than that TV show that he knew Lian enjoyed, but he never really watched it with her. Apparently, she watched it with her friends from daycare or when she was visiting other friends. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do to get a Paw Patrol birthday party for you–”

“Can we invite my friends?” she asked, tilting her head. “Donny, Dawn, Ani, Khary, Greg, Jenny, Artie–”

“Of course,” he said with a stroke of her hair. “But you better get some sleep now so Daddy can start planning.” 

Lian sank her head back into her pillow, her arms around her Wonder Woman plushy. Will stared at her for a long time before he closed the door behind him.

***

The week before, while Lian was at daycare, he and Artemis raided Party City and got all the decorations, cutlery–everything, all themed to Paw Patrol. They picked up “Pin the Helmet on the Dog”, a giant piñata, and a “Birthday Girl” sash that even if Lian didn’t want to wear, they could place it over her chair. 

He called the other parents in the private parent-child circle and told them the situation: Lian was inviting them to her birthday party, but she wanted to invite friends from daycare, and he couldn’t afford to throw two parties even if he wanted to. The daycare didn’t throw birthday parties anymore due to food allergies. Eventually, after a strenuous group text, everyone agreed that the birthday party would count as the playdate for the month, but those with superpowered children had to ensure that their children would be careful not to expose their abilities to daycare tykes.

Lian was aware, though still upset, that “Grandpa Ollie” and “Grandma Dinah” weren’t going to make it, since they had “an important business meeting”, as Ollie put it, but Will didn’t know if he could believe them; they did promise to have a big birthday dinner for her soon. Of course, Grandmommy Paula couldn’t come, but she promised to mail her present as long as Artemis would film Lian opening her gift. Violet, on the other hand, was going to be at a training session with Dick and the others, and she encouraged Artemis to attend the party; she knew that Artemis wanted to be there anyway, and they could train together later. 

***

Will opened the door, relieved that it was his genetic template, holding what had to be the giant cake in both hands. “Come on in, Roy.”

The human barely closed the door with his hip when a little voice came screaming towards him. “UNCLE ROY! ARE YOU COMING TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY TOMORROW?!” 

Roy’s ears began to ring almost immediately, and Will loudly shushed his daughter from the kitchen. Still, Roy looked down at the almond eyes that stared into his with a begging look. “Of course I am, kiddo. I’m helping get everything ready.”

Lian giggled and climbed on Roy like a jungle gym. Will took the cake and carried it into the kitchen while Roy spun Lian in a front flip. “Are you ready for dinner soon, chickpea?” he asked. 

Lian nodded eagerly.

“Good,” said Roy, “because the adults and I are getting your party ready, so you will need to go upstairs soon so it will be a surprise tomorrow.”

“Now?” asked Lian. 

“Not right now,” Will said as he took her from Roy’s arms, “but soon.”

The doorbell rang again, and Will welcomed in his fellow clone, who barely had time to walk through the doorway when Lian threw herself at his leg and held tight as he walked in. Jim grinned, knelt down, and pulled her up for a kiss. 

“Isn’t someone’s birthday coming up?” he playfully asked. 

Lian laughed and kicked midair as he positioned her so he supported her up by her chest and stomach. “Oh, look, you’re Wonder Woman,” he said as he made her “fly” midair. “Wee…”

Lian giggled and waved her arms until he set her down and opened the bag dangling from the crease of his elbow. “What’s in the bag?” she asked. 

Jim accepted the mug of coffee Artemis handed to him and took his time emptying the bag. “Everything for a moon bounce for a special little girl.”

“A moon bounce?!” Lian squawked, her jaw dropping. “I gotta moon bounce?!”

Will’s stomach sank. How many kids were injured by moon bounce-related injuries per year? 

“Yes,” Jim said, “but we’re not going to set it up just yet.”

Lian and the adults gathered around for pizza, which Will had picked up earlier, while she made sure they watched Paw Patrol. Roy was on his phone most of the time, Artemis ate and scratched Brucely’s ears, and only Jim and Will paid attention to what was on TV; every time Jim babysat, he always got super into what TV shows Lian watched since it was perfect uncle-niece bonding, and Will wanted to make sure he understood the characters that his daughter clearly worshipped. 

Eventually, the child went to bed at eight on the dot; Auntie Mouse carried her upstairs and changed her into pajamas while the men went on to decorate. Once Artemis came back down, they blew the balloons, set up the kitchen table with extra folding chairs, and mixed together the punch. Jim went outside and used the light from his phone to read the directions on setting up the moon bounce and how to keep it afloat overnight. Afterwards, the adults were up until midnight making gift bags for the children and going over the schedule, from games to lunch to cake to presents and more games. Since some kids were, as Will assumed, “gender neutral” (Roy had to laugh, since that was so new to him), they had to make sure to mix up the colors so the girls wouldn’t just get pink and the boys blue; some kids got green, some got purple, some others. 

Finally, Roy set down the last bag he was working on and sighed. His back ached from hunching over work for little midgets, and even the fingers on his robotic arm hurt. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going back to the hotel,” he yawned. 

“Me too,” Jim agreed as he rubbed his face. “See you guys tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Will greeted them goodbye as they put on their jackets and contacted an Uber to pick them up. As soon as the car drove away, Will went back to the decorations and kept going, wanting to make sure everything was perfect. He knew how many kids were coming, he didn’t want to be short on a goody bag, he double checked that there was enough food for everyone and that nobody was allergic to anything, and there was enough punch to make more bowls in case they ran out or some kid crashed and made an accident. 

“Will,” Artemis hissed. “Come on, let’s go to sleep.”

“I can’t,” he whispered back. “I have to make sure everything is perfect!”

Artemis bit her lip but smiled anyway. It looked odd. “Will, everything is perfect, I swear–”

“Artemis,” Will interrupted. He stared at the extra gift bag he was making as an emergency. “I have to make sure everything is perfect. I don’t want anything bad to happen. I want it to be the best I can give my daughter…because her…” His voice trailed off. 

His sister-in-law also looked uncomfortable when she clearly thought about her sister, who was surely not going to see her own daughter. Would it make up to Lian, to have a perfect party that her mother would not attend? Would everything Paw Patrol distract her from the pain of an absent parent? What if Lian still declared the party ruined because Mommy did not show up? Artemis rubbed her face and thought bitterly of her birthdays growing up, how even her assassin mother made time to host a small party and invite all her school friends, but Dad did nothing when his wife was behind bars. Lian didn’t deserve to have anything less than that, and for a moment Artemis wanted to hate her sister for making no indication that she was going to celebrate her daughter’s life.

“Listen, Will,” she sighed as she put her hands on his arms. “Everything will be fine, I promise. If anything goes wrong, I’m still there. So will Roy and Jim. You are not alone. Will, look at me.”

Will closed his eyes but reluctantly obeyed. Artemis smiled weakly. “I know what bothers you, and I appreciate that you’re doing this to give Lian the best birthday you can, but if you keep doing this, you’ll agitate yourself more. You’ll end up ruining the party for her if you don’t get any sleep or you strive to make everything too perfect.”

Will took a deep breath but nodded. “Come on,” she encouraged him. “Let’s get ready for tomorrow.” 

Artemis led her brother-in-law upstairs, and he was quick to brush his teeth and change into sleepwear. Still, he wasted two hours on his phone looking up nothing of particular interest until he yawned and decided that it was time to go to bed. 

Will did not remember falling asleep; he woke up promptly at six on the dot as though someone poured cold water over his face. He yawned, stretched his arms, and hurried down the stairs into the kitchen to make his daughter the best birthday breakfast ever. 

Not cereal today, he thought as he checked the cabinets. I don’t want to take her out to eat… French Toast? Maybe pancakes. 

Will wasn’t a terrible cook, but he was never one to perfect making his own pasta sauce; the one time he tried, Jade could not stop making faces and licking her teeth because it clearly tasted bad. Sighing, he pulled out his phone and looked up recipes.

Artemis walked into the kitchen with the birthday girl in her arms and was surprised to see the kitchen as though she walked into the set of a cooking show. Will was chopping strawberries at the counter, with a bowl and whisk beside him. Something heated on the stove, and Artemis tried not to moan because of how good it smelled–like vanilla and cinnamon. 

“Morning, Daddy,” Lian chirped through a yawn. 

Will instantly dropped the knife and quickly smiled. “Happy birthday, Lian,” he said. “Hope you’re hungry.”

“What are you making?” asked his sister-in-law as she set Lian into her big-girl seat. 

Will quickly smoothed the creamy filling between the bread and added strawberries and syrup before he presented the plate to his daughter. “A French Toast sandwich, with strawberries, bananas, and syrup, and chocolate chips,” he said proudly. He watched as Lian’s eyes lit up when she saw her yummy-looking breakfast and he took a deep breath. He wanted her to have the best birthday breakfast he could offer. She grabbed a fork, and Artemis helped her cut her sandwich into small pieces. Will’s heart beat faster, and Lian’s eyes widen. 

“Yummy!” she squealed before she shoved another forkful into her mouth. 

Will laughed, and Artemis gently stopped her from shoving another forkful between her lips and reminded her to chew and swallow first. Relieved, Will poured coffee for himself and Artemis, and cooked another patch before the party would start.

***

Artemis was outside and setting up decorations and party bags when the doorbell first rang. Lian was watching TV with her father, but Will was quick to walk up to the front door. All of a sudden, his anxiety came back. What if everyone else who came hated the party? What if this was the only kid who came to the party? Swallowing, Will peered through the peephole but opened the door with a smile. 

“Hello, Will. Are we late?”

“Raquel! No. You and Amistad are the first to arrive!”

The young woman clutched her squirming son and grinned. Will smiled at the little boy, clearly looking for his friend. “Come on in. Artemis is out back, but Amistad here can–”

“Ami, Ami!” Lian was at her father’s side within a moment and jumping. Raquel set down her son, and the children embraced.

“Aw,” cooed Raquel. 

“Today is your birthday,” said Amistad as he pet Lian’s hair. 

“Auntie Mouse is outside, and we got a moon bouncy,” Lian squealed. She and Amistad grabbed hands and ran to the backdoor but could not reach the doorknob. Will shook his head and opened the door for them. 

***

Over the next hour, Will did his best to relax. The party was going off rather smoothly. Lian’s friends were there, both from daycare and the parents’ group. Donny and Dawn, who somehow knew not to run around, were laughing and rolling around the lawn with Zehra and Khary. Artur and Traya were having too much fun inside the moon bounce with Greg and Brandon. Many of the daycare moms were still starstruck to meet Iris—the GBS reporter! Lian’s daddy knew a news reporter from the second biggest national news station, after GMA!—and Artemis, who had dropped off Brucely at the Watchtower for the day, was happy to photograph as many things as possible.

“It’s hard getting my kids out of the house sometimes,” sighed Nicole as Lian tried doing a cartwheel while Dawn and Zehra cheered her on. “What’s your secret?”

Will swallowed, at loss for words. “Uh, well, when you’ve lived with a millionaire most of your life, you get to travel a lot, more or less like an army brat, and you make friends with whoever does business with your adoptive dad. So…” He felt so awkward and worried that she could sense it. “I guess it’s…doing something new every day.”

“Ani, Jenny!” Lian and Dawn screamed.

Anissa and Jennifer, each carrying a present, shoved them into Lynn’s arms and bolted for their friends. “Happy birthday, Li!” Jennifer giggled. 

“Lynn, so happy you could come,” Will said as he handed her a cup of punch and offered two more to her daughters. The girls wiped their mouths, thanked their host, and let Lian tug on their hands as she rushed to introduce them to her friends from daycare. 

Will introduced Lynn to all the daycare mothers, who were very nice and alternated between watching the children play and talking to each other. “Wow, your daughter is really a social butterfly,” Masasa commented. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s voted Homecoming Queen in the future!”

Will forced himself to chuckle. He couldn’t imagine Lian at age six just yet, so just the thought of her as a teenager felt weird.

“Everything okay?” Lynn asked in a voice low enough so the daycare moms didn’t hear. 

“Yeah,” he whispered. “I’m not used to playing host, and…I’m worried something might happen.”

Lynn cocked an eyebrow. “Say that again.”

Will gestured for her to follow him as he slowly walked from the daycare moms. At a considerable distance, he took a deep breath. “I get nervous around the women from daycare. It’s not easy being the only dad–well, only really involved dad. I mean, other dads will help with things, pick up their kids and all, but…” Then he swallowed and double checked that nobody was watching. “I’ve heard quite a few women notice that I’m the only one of Lian’s parents to do things, and they’ve said some rather mean things, like her mother is a bad parent for not being with the other moms or…picking up our daughter.”

Lynn’s face made him think that he told her that her brother had just died. “Are you serious?”

Will nodded. “Yeah. Sometimes I have Artemis pick Lian up, just because…it’s kind of hurtful.” When Lynn didn’t say anything, he continued. “That’s why I want this party to be perfect, so these mothers can let the others know that I am a good single father even if I don’t have my wife with me.”

Lynn glanced at the daycare mothers chatting animatedly with Iris, Mera, and Raquel. “Well, I think it’s enough that you have her aunt involved, but…at least you have us. We know you don’t project your daughter’s needs to her aunt. We got your back.”

Will felt completely grateful and nodded. 

***

The doorbell rang shortly after Brandon won Pin the Helmet on the Dog, but some of the kids alternated between running inside and some were already back outdoors. Artemis reassured Will that she would watch over the kids so he could answer the door. 

“Hello, brother.”

Will smiled at his fellow clone, who carried a present wrapped in appropriately themed wrapping paper, but his smile sank when he saw Roy hunched over his phone. “Someone’s not in a party mode?” he asked. 

Jim glanced at their genetic template. “I practically had to drag him from the hotel. I’m starting to think that he may have second thoughts about being caught in a kiddie party.”

“I’m not deaf, you know,” Roy groaned. Jim chuckled. 

“Lian, Uncle Jim and Uncle Roy are here!” Will called out. “Put that down, however you pronounce your name again!”

Jim laughed and elbowed Roy to follow him inside, where Lian ran to them both for hugs and then dashed through the backdoor. He grimaced as he tried to set down his gift somewhere on the mountain of presents without it falling over. Once he was satisfied, he followed Will into the backyard. Some of the mothers he recognized, and the others must have been daycare moms. The only other guy was definitely the human android that Red Tornado set up. Roy walked away, but Jim looked up and saw a very familiar face that he was happy to see. 

“Hey, Karen!”

The expectant woman grinned, and they hugged as tightly but loosely as they could given her condition. “Glad to see you!” He quickly peeked around. “Mal’s getting better, I hope?”

Karen nodded. “Yes, but he encouraged me to come anyway, and I’m going to film Lian opening our present for him. Plus…” She glanced around at the little ones laughing and having fun. “When you’re going to be a member of an exclusive club like this, you don’t turn down the invite for what you’re expecting.“ 

“Absolutely,” he agreed, thinking of his protégé and how excited he was for the couple.

“So, uh…how’s Karen?” she asked as she cradled her baby bump. 

Jim grinned. “Your, uh, closest ‘geranium’ is doing well, and she hopes you’ll come back and visit soon.” He liked to see how Karen’s eyes lit up. “They all miss you and can’t wait to hear about your dissertation. Definitely let me know if—”

What cut him off was a squeal of laughter, and Donny and Dawn jogged behind the other kids, waving their arms and making silly noises. Artemis secured a few pictures, but Will could not laugh. He watched his daughter and a friend from daycare attempt to hula hoop, but both failed miserably. Fortunately, Lian just laughed, and so did her friend. He noticed Roy succeed in opening a bottle of water with one hand and offer a kid a juice box.

Then Will looked over his daughter’s head and panicked when he saw Mera put her hand to her son’s forehead. The prince must have dehydrated himself in the moon bounce. Will grabbed a water bottle and hurried over. “Here,” he said. “He looks thirsty.”

“Thank you,” Mera said as she handed her son the bottle and encouraged him to drink. Will checked to make sure nobody was watching, but he was worried. He wanted his daughter’s birthday to be perfect, and that did not include a child passing out, especially an Atlantean. 

When Artur took deep breaths, Will fanned him as best as he could. “If you want, the bathtub is upstairs if he needs a good soak.”

“Thank you, Will,” Mera said, “but I think he’s good for now.”

“You sure?” Will asked the prince. Artur hesitated but nodded. Will sighed in relief and chuckled when he saw some of the day care moms—Denise and Nicole—standing close to Jim, who looked amused and uncomfortable. Nicole, with the black hair, nodded to what he was saying and brushed something off his shoulder. 

***

“Lois! I’m so glad you and Jonathan could make it!” the host greeted the last guest before he welcomed the two inside.

“Thank you for inviting us,” Lois said. “I mean, I know he’s a little young for birthday parties, but it means a lot that you welcome us here.”

“Of course.” Will led mother and child to the backyard and ruffled the baby’s hair. “My daughter enjoys playing with your son, and she wanted him to come.” Then he clapped his hands and put on his best host smile. “All right, everyone, who’s ready for the piñata?”

Even little Jonathan bounced in his mother’s arms as he watched the children line up. Artemis took a picture of her niece clutching the Sky piñata before Jim hung it over a tree branch and Roy tied a bandana over Lian’s eyes. He handed her a wooden baseball bat. 

“Hey, no fair!” Jennifer whined. She pointed to the older kids behind her. “They’re bigger than we are, they’ll hit it better!” Then came a little chorus of protests, and Will panicked. He tried to read his daughter’s face, but it was hard given the blindfold.

“Not quite, kiddo,” Jim said with a smile. “Who says that I can’t lift”—he tugged on the rope so the piñata went up a few inches higher—“for the taller ones?”

“Damn, he’s so hot,” Will heard Kath mutter to herself or the other mothers. He tried not to chuckle, even though he knew that if Jim found out, he would have turned red. 

It took about half an hour and tiny cheers of encouragement, but at last Sky broke apart when Amistad whacked the side, and a shower of candy poured onto the grass. Children rushed over and grabbed handfuls of Tootsie Rolls, sugar stix, Twix bars, Kit Kats, lollipops, and Twizzlers, which their parents said they would hold onto until after presents. 

“All right, everyone,” Will said after he checked the time, “who’s ready for birthday cake?”

Roy would never admit to anyone that a hoard of tiny legs and bodies nearly trampled him to the ground in a rush into the house, and he was sure that one kid kicked him in the gut, but nobody noticed because everyone in the kitchen impatiently watched as Will removed the cake from the refrigerator. 

Will set down the giant Paw Patrol cake in front of his daughter, with the 3 candle lit and dancing. It was 4:16—the exact same time that Lian was born, after her mother was in labor for sixteen hours. The birthday girl and her friends bounced in their seats as Will and Lian posed for her aunt. Then Will let her take a picture of all the guests before he said, “All right, everyone sing…”

“Happy birthday to you…”

Lian blew out the candle, and her friends, their mothers, her father, her aunt, and her uncles clapped and cheered. Then Will slowly cut the cake into equal wedges and set them on tiny Paw Patrol paper plates for the children. (He then worried that someone would notice that he gave Donny and Dawn slightly bigger slices and regretted not ordering a stack of cupcakes for everyone so the twins wouldn’t detect if they were eating something sugar-free).

Lian, for no reason, ended up shoving her slice of cake in Roy’s face. Her friends burst into laughter, while their mothers blushed. Jim chuckled, but then he felt a stranger caress his arm and then his back a little too much for his liking. Will, for once, stopped worrying and started laughing. His daughter was happy. She was making other children laugh. 

Roy, who thought that Lian had wanted to whisper something in his ear, stared as cake fell from his face and onto the table. Lian giggled and licked her fingers. He shrugged and ruffled her hair. Little goofball—he couldn’t get mad at her. Then he searched for a napkin, but his eyes instead hit Artemis holding a camera, pointing in his direction, clicking more than once. The humiliation came back in a fresh wave. He needed to break that camera apart and burn it. He could not let anyone else see evidence that a three-year-old “caked” him like a newly married couple to each other. 

“Jennifer, no!” Lynn warned as she grabbed her daughter’s wrist before she could shove her own slice into her sister’s face. Anissa either didn’t care or was laughing too hard to notice. Will grinned as everyone ate and Jonathan smashed his fist into his own slice, and then he, Artemis, and Jim carried the presents and set them on the table where the cake had been.

At Auntie Mouse’s request, Lian had to open Grandmommy Paula’s gift first, though everything was filmed anyway. Paula gave her granddaughter two dolls that she had since she was a girl, a black dress, and a storybook in Vietnamese. Although Lian was not learning to speak Vietnamese fluently, she was able to read and understand some vocabulary. Will helped his daughter read aloud the letter his mother-in-law wrote, Lian in love with her grandmother’s handwriting. Artemis couldn’t help but feel like crying because Paula said the best words to her little sunshine. 

Artur gave her a pink conch and told her to hold it to her ear so she could hear the ocean. Lian nearly squealed because it sounded so real, but not even the little prince could explain why it could do that. Jennifer gave her a Justice League coloring book that featured nearly every hero in its history (Lian knew better than to point out that she found her own daddy in the book) and a stack of crayons, Anissa bought with her own money Green Arrow and Black Canary plushies for Lian’s collection, while Amistad’s gift was a kiddie bow and arrow set with suction cups, and Traya’s a kid-friendly book on different religions. Jonathan’s parents gave her a Superman teddy from Build-a-Bear, Donny and Dawn a picture album of their adventures to the beach and the zoo, and Zehra two stuffed cats. Khary gave her a collection of Peppa Pig plushies, Greg a candy-making kit, and Brandon the same set of Paw Patrol rain boots that he had so they could be "twins” for the daycare’s upcoming trip to an apple orchard.

Roy gave her the Brave read-along book, Artemis a collection of clothes, and Jim a suitcase with wheels to carry books, clothes, and toys for when she came to visit him, her name embroidered in sapphire blue. All three of them also gave her cards declaring their absolute love for the niece they shared and how she lit up their lives.

After Lian opened a bumblebee pillow pet from Mal and Karen, Will handed her his present. She pulled apart the wrapping paper to the solar system set that she wanted for a long time and a framed poem of a father’s love and wishes for his daughter. Everyone, even Roy and Jim, started tearing up as Will coached his daughter into reading it out loud. He promised to hang it over her bed after the party. 

Afterwards, the party spent the afternoon in the living room. The TV played Paw Patrol, but the children alternated between watching and engaging in other activities. Lian and Jennifer made buzzing noises to Jonathan using the bumblebee pillow pet. Artur, Traya, Anissa, and Dawn gathered at the coffee table while Jim entertained them with card tricks, and Masasa gave him coffee and a wink. Roy feigned interest as Donny, Greg, and Zehra sang along to whatever was on TV again and bounced on his lap and the couch. Amistad, Brandon, and Khary played Justice League while Raquel, Mera, Iris, and Karen got to know Nicole, Kath, Denise, and Grey. Will talked mostly to John and watched as Artemis made sure to snap pictures of everything. 

Slowly, beginning at six, the guests began to leave. Jennifer and Donny whined and complained as their respective mothers escorted them out, but they were excited to go home and open their party bags. Although the parents helped Will clean up as much as they could, only John, Roy, Mera, and Jim stayed. By the time Mera and John left, with Traya and the prince behind them, Will thought he was going to cry in relief. It was hard playing host and keeping an eye out on little bodies. Roy ordered a pizza for the remaining four adults to share as they finished the ice cream, and Will began washing the dishes. 

“Did you have fun, baby girl?” Artemis called out. A yawn was her response. Artemis chuckled and walked into the living room to sit beside her exhausted niece, rubbing her eyes and struggling to hold up her head. “Ready for bed? You must be sleepy.”

“No,” she sighed. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” 

Lian nodded but yawned again. Artemis smiled and prepared to slide her hands under her niece’s body, but Lian made a noise of protest. “No, I want Daddy.”

“Is everything okay, Li?” Will asked as he stepped out of the kitchen.

Lian nodded and held out her arms. “Daddy put me to bed.” 

Will smiled and picked her up. Her head immediately landed on his shoulder. “Oh, my little girl’s exhausted,” he said. “Did you have fun today?”

Lian nodded as he carried her into the kitchen so Jim and Roy could hug her goodnight before she went to bed. “I did,” she whispered.

Will gave Lian a quick bath and had to keep his hand on her back to keep her from falling asleep in the tub, and brushed her teeth for her while she struggled to keep her mouth wide open. Lian sleepily wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his collarbone as he helped her into her pajamas. Will laid her onto the mattress, but before he pulled the covers to her chest, Lian threw her arms around him again. “Thank you, Daddy,” she yawned. “It was the best birthday ever.”