#EC Land

[thereadingcafe]

[sandythereadingcafe]

REVIEW TOUR:

PROPERTY OF FIRE (Kings of Anarchy MC: Virginia 1) by @ECLandauthor at The Reading Cafe:

'The premise is dramatic, intriguing and engaging; the romance is fated and seductive'

#KingsofAnarchyMC

https://www.thereadingcafe.com/property-of-fire-kings-of-anarchy-virginia-1-by-ec-land-review/

[lilbookgremlin]

Review: Stoney's Property - EC Land (Devil's Riot MC: Originals, 1)

Title: Stoney's Property Author: EC Land Series: Devil's Riot MC: Originals, 1 Format: ebook Genres: dark romance, motorcycle club, romantic suspense, smut Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse Rating: 0.5 of 5 stars

Synopsis: Stoney I learned the hard way to never trust a woman. They don’t do anything but cause headaches and heartbreak. I know this from firsthand experience. To top it all off, I see a pattern with these bitches lying too. Which is why I swore to never let another woman into my life. While they might be in my bed, they'll never be in my heart. I refuse to go through it all over again. You know what they say about history repeating itself? Well, yeah, I always get the short end of the stick when it comes to lying, no good women. Call me an ass if you want but I’ll never have to deal with someone like Horse's mom ever again. I had a great plan and I was doing just fine until a woman I never expect waltzes in my life. From the first moment, I knew something was different and she came crashing through my walls, breaking down the defenses I had set in place for a reason. I don't know why the fuck I did it, but I claimed her, and now she's my property. She belongs to me. Question is, can I trust her, or will she lie and deceive me the way every other woman in my life has before her Only time will tell. (From Goodreads)

Mini-review: This may be one of the worst books I've ever read. Stoney was the worst MMC I've read about hands down. He actively cheats on Rachel (say what you want but watching two women screw each other in front of you and enjoying it is a form of cheating), he gets one of his men to spank her butt and her p*ssy when he isn't there (while he's one the phone commanding the dude), he claims her as his property constantly. That's not to mention the writing and grammar are still Wattpad level bad. I thought I could read all of these in one go but I can actually actively feel brain cells dying so I'm going to start spacing them out. Thanks I hated it.

[spotaus]

Thinking I might redesign and/or finally design a smarter base for ec-4o!Dust. Because a farm-house is funny, but doesn't make much sense anymore.

So, I think it's smarter to have an old government base as his location. It'd have good space for storage when Blue eventually comes along, a bunch of old firearms for Dust's obsession, and would be a safe and defensible location as long as Dust's Paps keeps an eye out for intruders. It makes sense for a lot of plot points too, and adds an extra symbolic layer?

Like, Dust being there, he wasn't familiar with the government so he just clears out and burns whatever is left in the "office space" so he can make it into a house. He patrols the other two or three buildings every once in a while, but for some reason he doesn't know, folks avoid the place like the plague. He lives the solitary life he wanted.

Then Blue shows up, and he lets him and Rust share the space with him, for supplies and money in turn. Society is rebuilding, and Dust is gonna need to catch up. Blue has no clue why it's intimidating for his shop to be set up in an old government lab. He's unaware of the implications, but he's such a friendly guy that customers eventually warm up to him. The scariness of the government is lessened, because the old government that destroyed the country is gone, and now there's a kind soul helping others in its place. Rebuilding trust and comradery unknowingly.

And later on when other characters interact with the space, it gets Life in a way it never had. When Ink gets his hands on it and paints murals on the walls of the workshop in vibrant colors. Saejun is my favorite, because when he moves in, the other extra workshop is transformed into a garden, a green-house. He does hydroponics and breathes life slowly but surely back into the dead dirt, flowers cracking through the concrete style. It's a bright green spot that branches out in all directions like veins. Plants grow up the sides of the office, and harmless nature-creatures reside there.

When Cross, and Error, and Night and Dream find this place, when they're repaired, it has very little life. They're afraid of the war just as the organics are. Will it happen again? Are these people tampering with our codes? But no. They get to see this place turn into a home. Shelter others. Recreate lost things from scratch. It's a paradise they never got to see in their lifetimes. It was never in their calculations.

And then when Geno and Reaper show up. Geno, a guy who'd been stripped of his whole life, forced to start and finish a war that took millions of lives. The answers he seeks are all in an old government building, a place that ruined his life. He swore he'd see things to the end, though, so he approaches it expecting the worst. And instead of government officials that somehow escaped his vengeful wrath, he finds a ragtag group of monsters and robots, who are living peacefully in the location. Some of them resent him for what he did, but others accept him with open arms. He's not sure how to react for a long time. The belief that something good prospered through the war us unthinkable.

Then Reaper. He's under the belief that tech is his enemy. He was raised to resent the robots, even before the war. The war only proved his family right. And so seeing this place, with robots living freely? It made him furious. He'd been stripped of his weapons after attempting an attack, though, so he had to bide his time. And yet, the longer he stayed, the more he heard of each robot's story. How they were manipulated, and had their very essence altered. Their bodies and functions forced to do something they never wanted to. That struck a bit closer to home. But it was Saejun and Axe that really hit hard for him. Axe was raised in a Cult. That was what he'd called it. One that made him believe things that harmed him. One that forced him to do things against his will. For everyone else this was a place of relaxation, but for Axe it was a place of healing. And Reaper realized, begrudgingly, that Axe's story felt a lot like his own. And maybe, just maybe, he might've been in the wrong.

And idk this place that once brought so much fear, a place where robots were customized for a horrible war? One that Dust barely survived, one that Blue was too young to remember, one that everyone either participated in or was forced to live through? The place that started it all heals the damage done by it. Smth smth story symbolism?

Oh, one last thing: Lust's recovery was initially meant to be in a hidden room of the farm-house, but now I'm thinking there was a scrap room in the warehouses that no one ever got to, and Lust was put in there because his model was just too impractical for the remodeling for war-machines. There's a lot in that room like him, but he's the only one with his files still in his ecto. So, his experience with this place is jarring too. Last he remembered, he was being ushered into a building with other ectos, and they were being scrapped. Now he wakes up in the same location, but none of that horror is to be seen, instead replaced with a bright workshop and even brighter eyes looking him over worriedly. He was freed from his programming constraints while Blue worked on him, so he has to learn to be an actual person, and this place he was sent to to become a pile of scraps became his first real home.

[our-heartless-angels]

Hello everyone. My name is Dirk, but I also go by Noctis or Sephiroth.

He/Him

Transgender

Bisexual

I'm known as the Sephiroth Expert™ (courtesy of @theghostavocadoe, since they started calling me that before) and I'm highly obsessed with Sephiroth. I will not shut up about him because he's my comfort character.

yes ik he's a villain

no idc

aside from FFVII, I also like Sonic, JJBA, Kingdom Hearts, Hoseki No Kuni (Land of the Lustrous), Steven Universe, ULTRAKILL, Undertale, Deltarune, Honkai Star Rail, OFF, etc

I also recently got interested in Neon Genesis Evangelion :3

Update: you can find my au infodump here

Update update: Asks are always open

Update update update: calling myself out as a Sephiroth kinnie. take that as you will.

[starryeyed-seer]

Can someone please check that the Mountain is. Okay. Please

[fan-of-the-cave-bear]

My boyfriend drew me Ayla and I love it so much!!!! @possummush

[thatweirdtranny]

you know? it’s really fucking wild that my actual opinions about israel/palestine — not the opinions people assume i have based off bad faith interpretations of my posts or what others have said my opinions are — are so fucking controversial???

my opinions:

a permanent ceasefire that everyone involved will adhere to needs to happen, and this ceasefire needs to at the very least include bringing the hostages home and allowing distribution of aid to palestinians

on that note, aid needs to be given to palestinian civilians in a manner that ensures they will actually receive it

netanyahu needs to go (not controversial but it needs to be said)

hamas needs to go (somehow this is a controversial statement?????)

tokenizing jews who agree with you while demonizing the other 80+ percent of jews is bad

palestinians and israelis are both entitled to this region of land and ideally a 2-state solution should be the goal, but any solution that a) respects the humanity and safety of both jews and palestinians, and b) is based in reality, is acceptable

the land of israel is the homeland of both jews and palestinians and both deserve to live there in peace

jews and palestinians deserve to safely visit their holiest places

people in general deserve not to suffer through wars, and i’d personally love if the next ceasefire doesn’t get broken and if this cycle of violence could be broken

the antizionist movement has a problem with antisemitism

there is an extreme amount of misinformation surrounding this conflict that gets spread widely without any consideration or scrutiny

oct 7 was a heinous and disgusting act of evil, and anyone justifying it as an act of resistance needs to understand that most jews are terrified of you and rightly so

NOT my opinions:

palestinian children deserve to die

palestinians don’t deserve a state

islamophobia is okay

anti-arab sentiment is okay

anything that could be described as kahanism

antizionist jews deserve to be targets of antisemitism

anyways!! i am once again begging people to support solidarity organizations that promote peace between israelis and palestinians like: standing together, allmep, eco peace, etc

[mariacallous]

For the first time since World War II, one of Prague’s most historic synagogues has held a Jewish worship service.

Kol Nidre, the introductory service of Yom Kippur, took place in the Klausen Synagogue on Friday night, ending a hiatus that lasted more than 80 years and encompassed both the murder and suppression of Czech Jewry.

Originally erected in 1573 and rebuilt after a fire in 1694, the Klausen Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Prague’s Jewish Quarter and once served as a central hub of Jewish life. It’s known as the home of several prominent rabbis and thinkers, from Judah Loew — a 16th-century Talmudic scholar also known as the Maharal of Prague — to Baruch Jeitteles, a scholar associated with the Jewish Enlightenment movement of the 18th and 19th centuries.

But for more than 80 years after the Holocaust decimated Czech Jews, the Klausen Synagogue held no services.

That was until Friday evening, when about 200 people poured in for a service led by Rabbi David Maxa, who represents Czechia’s community of Progressive or Reform Jews. That community was joined by guests and Jewish tourists from around the world for Yom Kippur, according to Maxa. He saw the moment as a sign of Jewish life resurging in Prague.

“It’s quite remarkable that there is a Yom Kippur service in five historic synagogues in Prague,” Maxa told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Under German occupation in World War II, the Klausen Synagogue was used as a storage facility. Although the Nazis and their collaborators killed about 263,000 Jews who lived in the former Czechoslovak Republic, they took an interest in collecting Jewish art and artifacts that they deemed valuable enough to preserve. The Jewish Museum in Prague was allowed to continue storing those objects, and the synagogue became part of the museum’s depository.

After the war, there were not enough survivors to refill services in the synagogues of Prague. The country became a Soviet satellite in 1948, starting a long era in which Jews were often persecuted and surveilled for following any religious practices. The last Soviet census of 1989 registered only 2,700 Jews living in Czech lands.

“During Communist times, it was very difficult to relate to Jewish identity,” said Maxa. “People who visited any kind of synagogue were followed by the secret police, and only after the Velvet Revolution in 1989 did it become possible for people to visit synagogues without the feeling of being followed and put on a list.”

After the end of communism, some synagogues returned to use by the few Jews who still identified as such. Two of the six synagogues that still stand in the Jewish Quarter now are in regular use as houses of worship.

But the Klausen Synagogue, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1982, remained part of the Jewish Museum, hosting exhibitions about Jewish festivals, early Hebrew manuscripts and Jewish customs and traditions.

Museum director Pavla Niklová said returning the synagogue to use for Yom Kippur happened almost by accident. Maxa was asking if she knew about a space large enough to host his growing congregation, Ec Chajim, for the holiest day in the Jewish calendar — its own space, which opened four years ago about a 20-minute walk away, could not accommodate the crowds expected for Yom Kippur.

Since the museum had just taken down its exhibition in the Klausen Synagogue after 28 years, she had an answer. The clean, empty space was ready to be refilled with Jewish life.

Visiting the synagogue just before Yom Kippur, Niklová said she was awed to see the building returned to its original purpose. She hopes that it will continue to be used for large services.

“I felt like the synagogue started breathing again,” she told JTA. “I believe it was a good move to take down the old exhibit, and now we can start anew.”

For many in Prague’s Jewish community, which is largely secular, Yom Kippur is the single most important service of the year. Even Jewish families that suppressed religious practices under Communism often passed on the memory of Yom Kippur, said Maxa.

Maxa founded Prague’s Progressive Jewish community in 2019, responding to a growing number of people who sought to explore their Jewish roots. The community currently has 200 members and adds about five more every month.

“Often, I meet people who simply want to learn about the culture, tradition and religion of their grandparents,” said Maxa. “They say, my grandmother and grandfather were Shoah survivors — can I come and learn more about Judaism? We offer a wide range of activities, including of course regular services, but also educational courses to help these people reconnect with the tradition.”

Maxa, who himself grew up in Prague with little connection to his Jewish roots, wants to revive some of the rituals that threaded through Prague’s pre-war Jewish world — including a tradition of organ accompaniment in the city’s synagogues. On Friday, Jewish organist Ralph Selig performed during his service.

Like many of his congregants, Maxa’s family history intertwines with the losses of the last century. His father came from Prague and survived the Holocaust. He does not know if his father visited the Klausen Synagogue, but he knows it was a familiar part of his world.

“It means a lot for me that the tradition was not exterminated, and that this is coming back, even to a place where no services were held since World War II,” he said.

[luciaintheskyainthi]

Any headcanons on the hypothetical situation of EC!Peter and Jason ever meeting Miles Morales?

I'm really vibing with the idea of Miles having moved with his family into the same apartment building, so they know each other from the peripherals (like: oh, that dude lives in my building I think???). Miles's dad was transferred to Gotham - in the Narrows but he's not about to be a cop that lives in the same neighbourhood he works in - because of some shitty office politics.

Because he lives in the building, sometimes Peter and Jason will ask him to walk Dog if they're unable to (and they pay unreasonably well for it even though Miles would totally have done it for free).

The first time Miles learns of Spider-Man's existence, it's his third night in Park Row and he's soundly unimpressed. He's hiding on the fire escape when someone lands on the level above. Spider-Man is surprised to realise there's a kid below him (web why have you betrayed him?!?!? Narrative reasons...). He hangs upside down to talk to Miles because why would Peter be normal in the suit when he can play it weird?! They make quick friends, Peter comforts Miles as a fellow New Yorker transplant, then is called off by the city. Miles is in awe at the man's fearlessness as he launches into the air.

(Miles hasn't met Peter by this point, though he's seen Jason.)

Rio works as a nurse at Leslie's clinic in Park Row. The day she came home telling how she'd helped out an injured Spider-Man, Miles (12 at the time) questions her forever, completely ignoring Jefferson's scoffs at the mentions of the vigilante. On the one occasion it was the Signal who Rio helped, Miles makes sure his mum always has something that she can get signed for him, just in case.

Rather than Peter (like we see in a lot of Spider-Man in Gotham fics) getting a scholarship for Gotham Academy, it's Miles. Like in the Spider-Verse movies, he lives on campus during the week and then is at home on the weekends. Because Gotham Academy's got a rep for elite snobbery he was actually super reluctant to go, but in the end found that it wasn't that bad. Damian Wayne's very much been a disruptor of the status quo and with the exception of a clique, Miles found that there are a few people who are definitely sheltered, but nice enough.

He's a year below Damian so they don't cross paths in any material way. That is until Miles gets bit (somehow. Don't ask IDK) and starts going out as daytime Spider-Man. Damian and Duke (since Duke's the one who has come across him on the dayshift) are immediately on to him. Suddenly Miles has the Damian Wayne approaching him at school talking about a 'cross grade project' (an excuse to vet Miles's character) and his senses keep pinging around the kid who's actually not as bad as his reputation suggests... They become friends and when it eventually comes out that Damian is Robin and he's brothers with the Fucking Signal!! Well, he'll never be rid of Miles after that.

[sandythereadingcafe]

REVIEW TOUR:

PROPERTY OF FIRE (Kings of Anarchy MC: Virginia 1) by @ECLandauthor at The Reading Cafe:

'The premise is dramatic, intriguing and engaging; the romance is fated and seductive'

#KingsofAnarchyMC

https://www.thereadingcafe.com/property-of-fire-kings-of-anarchy-virginia-1-by-ec-land-review/

[lilbookgremlin]

Review: Connors' Devils - EC Land (Devil's Riot MC, 5)

Title: Connors' Devils Author: EC Land Series: Devil's Riot MC, 5 Format: ebook Genres: dark romance, romantic suspense, motorcycle club, smut, reverse harem Trigger Warnings: abuse Rating: 2.5 stars of 5

Synopsis: Connors When life knocks you down and you get right back up again. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? You don’t allow the monsters to tear you down. Never did I expect to see my life where it is now. I might seem to have my life together on the outside but on the inside I’m a catastrophe. I don’t trust easily, and I refuse to allow men in my life. There’s a good reason for that, though. I haven’t been with a man in over five years. I wasn’t ever planning on it. In my mind I was fully prepared to live my life with just my son. It all blew up into smoke when two men swept into my life as I knew it. They refused to give up on me and now my past has collided with the present. Can we get through this, or will they wipe their hands of me? It’s not like I don’t already know I’m worthless. It was drilled into my mind for years. (From Goodreads)

Mini-review: Okay so far this is my favourite of the series. I don't know what that says about me but you know whatever. I enjoyed the banter in this book between Gadget and Dragon. The writing is still Wattpad level bad, the grammar was a bit better. The smut was still awkward to read and practically garbage. At least the two reused phrases weren't mentioned so bonus points for that. I'm glad that the author broke the mold too by having Connors at the hospital to do her job rather than being a patient like all the other FMCs. Maybe a turn in the series, maybe not. Time will tell.

[honeyryewhiskey]

inspired by this post by @eastofedean ! fluff — 826 words

Dean's sharp whistle pierces the quiet lull of the evening breeze, carrying across the open field. The setting sun drapes the land in a golden embrace, its lingering glow pressing a warm goodnight kiss to the earth. Streaks of amber and rose bleed into the horizon, painting the sky in soft, fading fire.

“Wrangler, c’mon, girl!” Dean calls, his voice steady, familiar—woven into the fabric of home.

His call is answered by the rhythmic thud of paws against the earth, muffled by evening dew’s claim to the grass. The soft jingle of Wrangler’s collar grows louder with each bounding stride, a melody of movement and eager return. Her sleek body glides through the tall blades like a shadow in the amber light. In a final burst of energy, she bounds up the creaky porch steps, her nails scraping against the worn wood as she trots past Dean’s feet. A lopsided pant spills from her open mouth, tongue lolling in contentment, eyes alight with the simple joy of coming back to her human’s side.

“Alright, Ma, show’s about to start,” Dean calls, letting the screen door clatter shut behind him with a rattling thud. He crosses the old rug, its original design of pine trees, black bears, and moose barely visible after years of growing boot tracks and muddy paws wearing the material. 

The scent of home wraps around him again—warm wood and something faintly sweet from the kitchen, but it goes unnoticed by Dean as he sinks into the well-worn couch. The cushions give under his weight, molding to the shape of someone who’s sat there a hundred times before.

Wrangler wastes no time claiming her spot, springing up beside Dean with a contented huff. Her body is warm, solid, the kind of presence that makes a house feel like home. She nudges her floppy ears into Dean’s lap, pressing close like she’s waited all day for this moment. Dean smirks, running a hand through the dog’s thick fur, scratching absentmindedly behind one ear. Wrangler lets out a slow, pleased exhale, stretching her legs out until paws dangle just over the edge of the couch.

Mary chuckles softly from the kitchen, the sound carrying with the warmth of familiarity. She wipes her hands on a dish towel, its edges embroidered with a delicate M.C., her initials—one of the set Dean had given her for Christmas during his junior year of high school. Each towel had been hand-stitched by his impatient hands, every loop and knot a testament to his awkward but earnest effort in third-period home-ec, the scent of the classroom’s flour and sugar still lingering in the stitches.

“You act like I’m the one who’s always late,” she teases, her voice light, as she passes him. She ruffles his hair, the familiar gesture a soft reminder of years spent in easy companionship, her fingers brushing through the mess of his short tuffs before she moves toward her recliner.

His dimples flash as his grin spreads wider, ducking away from her touch with a playful flick of his head. He grabs the remote, his voice light but fond as he teases, “Hey, someone’s gotta keep you on schedule.” The warmth in his tone is unmistakable, even if he tries to hide it with a smirk.

Mary settles into her recliner with a soft sigh, stretching her legs as the evening settles in around them. The television flickers to life, casting its muted glow over the room, the shadows dancing across the walls like old friends. Outside, the crickets begin their nighttime chorus, their steady rhythm blending seamlessly with the theme song of the show—a perfect symphony of simplicity. Dean shifts on the couch, sinking deeper into the cushions, fingers absentmindedly running through Wrangler’s fur as the dog presses into his side with a contented sigh.

It’s the kind of peace that feels as natural as breathing.

A simple night, like so many others before it, but Dean doesn’t know any different.

Wrangler shifts again, nuzzling closer, her steady breathing a soft counterpoint to the quiet hum of the room. Mary glances over at her son, her smile gentle and knowing—one of those quiet smiles only a mother can give, full of love and understanding. Dean doesn’t notice, already absorbed in the opening scene dialogue. 

There’s a lot he doesn’t always notice, pieces of his life that have woven themselves into the background like a quiet, constant hum. 

It’s the kind of comfort that sticks like a loyal dog at his side. 

It’s the unshakable certainty that the floor will still be there when he steps down in the morning, solid and unwavering beneath his feet. 

It’s the unspoken knowledge that the sun will rise and fall, never questioning its rhythm, never doubting the pattern of the world.

Dean doesn’t questions the sanctity of life because he is safe, he is happy.

tags <3 @titsout4jackles @daylighted @deansbeer @bluemerakis @ultravi0lence14 @couturewinx

[rosy-crow]

Okay, so I couldn’t get all the dialogue in time, but yeah, Vincent doesn’t immediately jump into the obvious with Sephiroth because “it’s a different world.”

Nice excuse, Square.

Lolll, so then they meet, and…..I guess Odin is Vergil.

They keep going with the “Sephiroth is introverted in every event” schtick. They did the same last year when he and Glenn met Zack + Cloud. Only back then, Seph was brought out of his shell a little bit by Glenn. Here he does NOT want to work with Vincent. Angeal can’t even get him to say hello. He is somehow being more of an introvert than his d—um, mother’s ex.

Angeal is not having it. Seph goes quiet. And then Vincent lmao…

NO GO BACK TO THAT POINT. GO BACK. STOP THAT.

Also, Vincent lowkey being chill and friendly with them is cute.

Anyway, besides that….they got their Norse costumes and uh…

Ignore Miniroth complaining about being dragged around again, because they are slayyying. He has all black nails. Angeal has an interesting outfit too. Lil horns on his head. I can’t see much of Vincent’s yet, but next should be where they were in the teaser at the mako spring.

Also, Tifa saw illusions of Biggs, Wedge, and Jesse in the Land of the Dead but they were ILLUSIONS CONJURED BY MONSTERS. As if EC didn’t want to get it through our heads that monsters create illusions of loved ones enough already hehe. Anyway, stop being mean to Tifa, Square.

That’s it till next week!

[darkfictionjude]

Jude how the ec ros as kids would react to knowing that in the future they would end with Luce as a partner?

Dante: wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Hahaha, SO FUNNY.” Mumbles something about beating whoever told him that up and then chases after them

Carmen: she throws Luce a scornful look. “That kid who still pees their pants? What’s next? People will land on the moon? Out of my face.” Maybe throws a drink

Lazlo: *incoherent screeches in his mind* blinks at whoever said that to him and walks away

Charley: “who?”

[reidsaurora]

"Apple Pie Proposal" ~ S. Reid

Summary: In which You and Spencer make your yearly trip to the apple orchard an official tradition.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x GN!Reader

Word Count: 1,144

Content Warnings: heavy food references, honestly i think that might be it? lmk if i missed anything though!

Extra Notes: crappy summary as always, live laugh love 🤪

Originally Written: 10/16/2023 through 10/24/2023

Criminal Minds masterlist can be found here!

Halloweek masterlist can be found here!

Apple cider was on your tongue, Spencer's oversized sweater was on your skin, and fall was in the air. Your stomach did somersaults at the feeling of joy rushing through you, wishing you could capture this moment and stay in it forever.

This was the fourth year you and Spencer had gone to the apple orchard together. Still, it never lost the same magic that it had the first time. Nothing gave you more satisfaction than spending the entire afternoon together, filling up your wicker baskets with locally grown apples, then baking the first pie of the season with them.

Many people didn't know that Spencer was quite the baker. While neither of his parents had taught him many skills in the kitchen, his Home Ec teacher had taught him how to bake up a damn good pie.

The orchard wasn't far from your shared apartment, a quaint little place just outside Mount Vernon, Virginia. Luscious trees spanned for what appeared to be miles, filled to the brim with bright green pears and apples that were every shade of red. The owners were an older couple that Gideon had known in college, whom he later introduced to Spencer and you.

After your baskets were nearly overflowing, the two of you made your way back to the car, starting the journey home, Spencer's favorite CD playing quietly as the two of you talked over it.

Spencer, ever the gentleman, insisted on you heading inside first, saying he'd grab the baskets from the car while you got started on collecting the ingredients for the pie. So, you did as asked, grabbing your apron from the hanger and getting to work.

"I think we severely overestimated the size of our pie," he chuckled as he brought in the second, heavier container of apples.

"Nonsense," you giggled from your spot at the island, where you were currently peeling and cutting the apples from the first basket. "Penelope will want a pie, Hotch will ask us to make him one for Jack, Gideon's coming over tomorrow for the football game. These apples will be gone in days."

He gave you a look of agreement, though you could see there was an unspoken emotion behind his expression. Admiration or love, you figured. And with that, Spencer was grabbing another apron, joining you at the bar and getting to work on the pie crust.

Soon, a batch of apple tartlets was in the oven, while Spencer finished up the last of the work on the pie. You sat down next to him again, giving him a similar look to the affectionate expression he'd given you earlier.

"Hey, do you remember the first year we did this?" he asked randomly a few minutes later, a faint nostalgic smile tugging at his lips.

A smile of your own crept up to your mouth. "You mean the year you threw an egg at me?" you answered, a laugh settling on the edge of your tongue.

"Hey, I only hit you with an egg in self defense. You're the one that threw flour on me," he rebutted.

The aforementioned laugh rolled off your tongue, a sound that Spencer told you almost daily was his favorite noise in the whole world. "Of course I remember. Why do you ask?"

He sat quietly for a moment, as if pondering the reason himself. Eventually, he landed on, "I guess I wonder how many years you think we'll be able to do this together."

The uncertainty in his words was almost enough to break your heart. Since the first time you'd visited the orchard, you'd hoped you'd continued the tradition every year for the rest of your lives. Maybe even eventually rope your children and then their children into it too. You weren't sure where along the line you'd led Spencer to believe otherwise, but the unsure look on his face let you know that he was nervous about your answer to the question.

"I'm hoping forever, if you'll have me that long," you answered, placing a comforting squeeze on his sweater clad arm.

He leaned over, giving you a soft and sweet kiss. "That sounds like a plan to me."

As if on cue, the oven beeped, Spencer heading to grab the pan of tartlets. While he began placing them on the cooling rack, you headed over to the oven, placing the pie inside.

It took you a moment to register what was happening as you turned to face him again. At first, you thought maybe he'd dropped something or his shoe needed to be tied. But then, you realized there was something in his hand, one of the apple tarts. And then, examining the scene further, you noticed something shiny atop the treat in his hand.

The words were shaky as they exited Spencer's mouth, his hands trembling as they held up his creation. "I really hope you were serious about your answer to my last question. Otherwise, I'm gonna look very stupid," he chuckled nervously.

Tears slipped down your cheeks at the display in front of you, your heart thumping a thousand beats per minute. "That certainly doesn't belong in dessert," you managed to laugh, your tears nearly turning to full-on waterworks.

"I suppose it doesn't," he chuckled nervously, holding the tart up further. "I'm hoping you can overlook it just this once though."

"I'll try," the joke came out weak, tears still falling from your eyes.

As if remembering why he was down there in the first place, he shook his head and gave you a more serious expression. "Y/N, I have loved you for over four and a half years. But when I think of how long I wish to love you, four years seems like the smallest sliver of time. I guess what I'm trying to say is… I want this—the orchard, the pies, all of it—every year for the rest of our lives. If you'll have me, I'd really like to be your husband."

The words came out stuttery and nervous, random breaks in his sentences, but you couldn't bring yourself to care. Especially not when the prospect of spending a lifetime with Spencer was on the table. "Of course I'll marry you," you answered, your own words somehow shakier than his.

He stood from his kneeling position, sliding the ring onto your finger and leaving a delicate kiss over the digit. "Thank goodness you said yes. That would make for some awkward conversation when Gideon comes over tomorrow."

A breathy laugh escaped your lips, pulling him in for a long and romantic kiss. This time, Spencer was on your tongue, an engagement ring was on your finger, and love was in the air. And again, your stomach did absolute somersaults at the feeling of joy rushing through you, wishing you could capture this moment and stay in it forever.

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