#He had like a few months to get to know Bryce before it happened

[stra-tek]

Lots and lots of random spoilerific things about Star Trek comics

Gold Key's old run was written by people who had never actually seen the show. Later they involved fans like Doug Drexler to make things a bit more authentic

This however made them, IMHO, amazing

Blond scotty. Wearing green.

Voodoo planet, with papier mache versions of Earth landmarks which, when blasted with a death ray, cause the real ones to collapse

Spock learns voodoo to combat this threat

The Enterprise completely razes a planet of hostile plant spore things. Like full on extermination of all life

There's a locked room on deck 7 full of evil Vulcan spirits. A yeoman blunders in and all hell breaks loose

Kirk doesn't know what a god damn black hole is

Spock is kidnapped by aliens, has their entire knowledge downloaded into his brain which makes him into a bobblehead for awhile

The Enterprise is briefly taken from Kirk and given to Captain Zarlo, who is a total bellend

Spock forgets to have pointed ears sometimes

The old UK newspaper comic strips were even worse. The first few issues feature "Captain Kurt" and he wears a red shirt. Bailey is also a lead character, giving away which one episode they had knowledge of

Depictions of the Enterprise in their very first strip will shock and horrify you, but after that the art becomes amazing and maintains a very high standard

Marvel did a series following The Motion Picture, and it was a vast improvement, although they technically had rights to the movie and not the series, which led to a little weirdness. Tons of references still were snuck in, though

There's a series of Book and Records, which you can listen to on YouTube and are goofy fun. The Enterprise desperately needs a meal in the art, though.

They draw Romulans as green wizards

They didn't have the rights to Nichelle Nichols or George Takei's likenesses, so get ready for White Uhura and Black Sulu!

They didn't have the rights to The Animated Series either, so M'Ress is a human with weird face paint and Arex is substituted for just some guy

There's an unlicensed Chinese adaptation of The Motion Picture's novelisation (made with zero prior knowledge of Star Trek), which features an all-star cast like O.J. Simpson as Decker and James Brolin as Kirk. It's called The Star Trek, which is a better name than The Motion Picture, IMHO.

DC comics' first run is considered some of the best Trek ever. They're made with love and a deep knowledge of the source material

You know how Star Trek III takes place right after II? WRONG. It was several months later and the crew (with Saavik taking over from Spock) had tons of adventures in the interim. It just seemed like it was right after😂

Before Worf and long long before Ash Tyler, Kirk had a Klingon on his crew

He was a cowardly Klingon named Konom who fled the Empire

He fell in love with a human woman named Bryce

They adopted an albino Klingon/human child with dwarfism which they named Bernie

Kirk has an unhinged, insubordinate crewman on board named Bearclaw and they hate each other

Tension escalates and eventually there's a stabbing

Sulu/M'Ress happens and I don't think people knew what furrys were in the 80's

You know how Spock comes back at the end of III but isn't his old self until the end of Star Trek IV? WRONG AGAIN. He came back just fine, and lost his marbles following an incident months later that just happened to line everything up to make it all seem like it was right after.

After STIII, Kirk becomes captain of the U.S.S. Excelsior NX-2000 and Spock becomes captain of the U.S.S. Surak. We get a few issues exclusively focusing on Spock's ship and his band of merry weirdos.

The U.S.S. Surak keeps changing design, starting off as a sort of Oberth-class ship, then randomly becoming an Excelsior-class ship and finally ending as the warp sled shuttlecraft from The Motion Picture

The Surak's crew include a giant chicken man, a Vulcan hating racist lady and a balding man with a bicycle

They all die horribly and a massive reset button is pressed so everyone is exactly where they were at the end of Star Trek III

In order to make that work they had to bs that the Klingon Bird of Prey was hidden in Excelsior's shuttlebay all this time despite it being way, way too big for that

There's a full on mirror universe invasion

Kirk becomes a celebrity from saving the galaxy all the time

Mr. Arex comes back and becomes chief of security but doesn't really do much

HORTA CREWMEMBER. It's as amazing as it sounds

The first Next Generation comic miniseries was made with knowledge of the first 2 or 3 TNG episodes and nothing else

Everyone is hench as fuck. Picard has washboard abs and bulging muscles

Data is emotional and Troi feels the emotions she senses a la "Encounter at Farpoint"

Wesley is drawn as if he's 10

The B-shift con and ops team are a husband and wife who wear caped superhero versions of Starfleet uniforms with bare legs.

They argue. A lot.

The crew meet an alien Santa Claus and Q loses his powers years before "Deja Q"

The whole Q Continuum visits the Enterprise and they're all John De Lancie but in Starfleet uniforms of every colour under the sun.

After that initial miniseries, the Next Gen crew lose a lot of their muscle mass and start resembling their on screen counterparts a lot better

Picard had a brother who fell down a hole and died as a child. Q offers to rewrite history so he doesn't die. Claude Picard grew up to be Space Superhitler and turns Starfleet and the Federation fascist.

Before all this Q turned Jean-Luc into a goat for the lolz

Marvel's The Early Voyages was very literally Strange New Worlds before Strange New Worlds.

They have a pyrokinetic security officer named Nano and he's awesome

Marvel lost the Trek license quite suddenly, and so the series ends on a cliffhanger where Admiral April is up to something iffy.

Marvel did a Starfleet Academy series featuring Nog and its utterly fantastic

A female Andorian cadet tries to make Nog feel at ease by greeting him in the nude, but Nog fails to take it as an innocent gesture and she immediately sends him flying across the room

Romulan agents with split personalities in Starfleet Academy!

They visit Talos IV and get help from Captain Pike, who's still alive

IDW comics did a prequel to the 2009 reboot where Picard is an ambassador, Data is captain of the Enterprise-E and Nero has hair. It was co-written by the movie writers and was considered sort of vaguely semi canon ish for a time

They originally wanted the Romulan supernova to destroy a lot more, including Earth and have Nero kill the TNG crew. It was the Star Trek Online devs that got them to scale things back because they'd have no universe left to set their game in.

Nero's ship looks like it does because after Romulus was destroyed he took it to a secret Romulan base and had it equipped with reverse-engineered Borg technology

You thought DC struggled to keep ship designs correct? IDW's comics keep using traced fan art from Google Images, and fan art (sometimes with unique ship designs) has shown up on multiple occasions as the Kelvinverse U.S.S. Enterprise

In one IDW TOS comic, the bridge is totally covered with TNG LCARS graphics.

In another, an Orion ship is a gigantic Stargate sticking out of the middle part of Battlestar Galactica.

Wanna see Kelvinverse versions of TOS episodes? That was their first comics run, picking up after the 2009 reboot movie. They start off very faithful and as the series goes on things diverge more and more

To the extent some stories have very different backstories and outcomes

We visit 2 Kelvin mirror universes and a genderswapped universe too. No, Kirk doesn't do what you're thinking.

Q visits the Kelvin Universe and brings the crew forward in time to their version of Deep Space Nine

Nero's time in Klingon prison (from the Star Trek 2009 deleted scenes) and escape is fleshed out

Nero meets V'ger.

Nero mind melds with V'ger.

V'ger turns away due to the sheer force of Nero's hatred.

I wish I was making that up.

Klingons get their hands on Narada's technology and go to war

We get a Khan backstory where the Eugenics Wars are a full on nuclear conflict and "Khan" is the title that little Noon Sing adopts when he takes power

After being revived in the 23rd century, Admiral Marcus has Khan surgically altered to look like Benedict Cumberbatch as part of his John Harrison cover identity

They did a series of shorts called Waypoint, and in the first one Geordi is captain of a future Enterprise and his crew is made up of holographic versions of Data and it's a really sweet concept (this was several years before before ST: Picard brought Data back twice)

There's a prequel series centred around Number One where nobody manages to say her name before being interrupted. If you put the bits together it seems her name was Eureka Robbins. Of course, this is long before novels and SNW made her Una Chin-Riley.

[captainsophiestark]

Not A Relationship Guy

Tristan Flynn x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Requeted by Anon! This is the Tristan Flynn part of "Az or Flynn" lol. Thanks again for enabling me to write about my faves! Hope you like it! Also, Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

Fandom: Crescent City

Summary: Bryce's good friend from Nidaros has moved to Crescent City with her, and quickly made an impression on a certain fae lord. But she's not interested in a one-night stand, and Flynn has made it clear before that he's not really a relationship guy.

Word Count: 5,252

Category: Angst, Fluff, Humor

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

When I'd first come to Crescent City, I hadn't known anyone other than Bryce. We'd grown up together in Nidaros, and now as adults, we'd maintained our close friendship even after she moved away. About a month ago, I'd joined her, following her move to the big city. I'd been terrified and out of my depth, with Bryce as my only connection in the massive metropolis. Now, I stood shoulder to shoulder with the top ranking members of the Fae Aux, screaming as we spectated the end of a beer pong game in the middle of a massive house party.

Things had certainly changed.

Declan and his boyfriend Marc stood on one side of the table, competing against a few people I didn't know. I was still relatively new, although my circle had expanded thanks to Bryce. Dec and Marc only had one cup left on their opponent's side, and then the game would be theirs.

The whole room screamed, a mix of heckling and encouragement, as Dec lined up his shot. Bryce hung off my neck, stone cold sober but shouting like the drunkest one in the crowd, which made me smile. Finally, after an extra moment's pause, Dec let the ball fly.

A moment later, it splashed into the cup, making Marc and Dec the winners.

The room erupted into cheers, no matter if people were rooting for or against Dec. A shot like that had to be appreciated.

The other team got a chance at redemption, but couldn't manage to get all of Marc and Dec's cups without missing. The game officially ended, with Marc and Dec's ten game win streak remaining unbroken.

"Boo!" came a loud voice, stepping through the crowd to the side of the table the losers had just vacated. Tristan Flynn stood tall, heckling his best friend across the table. "Somebody needs to take you two down!"

"Somebody just tried, Flynn!" Dec called back. "And you tried a few rounds ago, too. We're untouchable."

He and Marc did a little celebration, and Flynn rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, that was with Ruhn as my partner. I just need a better partner, and then you two are done." His eyes turned to scan the crowd, landing immediately on Brcye.

"Quinlan-"

"Nope. No interest in being your teammate, Flynn."

He put a hand to his chest, mock hurt. "You wound me, Quinlan."

Bryce rolled her eyes. "You'll live. Besides, you're in luck. I happen to have the perfect partner for you."

Flynn raised an eyebrow in question at the same time Bryce gave me a hard shove forward. I turned to glare at her, but she just grinned back and gave me a little 'shoo' gesture. I narrowed my eyes at her even further, but turned back to Flynn anyway.

He watched me with a skeptical gaze. We'd gotten to know each other a little since I'd come to Lunathion, and we generally got along. That didn't make him trust me as a beer pong partner, though.

"Are you any good at pong, sweetheart?" he asked. I shrugged.

"I guess you're gonna find out."

With that, I turned from Flynn to quickly rerack the cups before picking up one of the balls on the table. I turned to Dec and Marc, waiting for one of them to do the same so we could shoot for who went first. They shared a look, then Dec stepped up, grinning at me as he prepared. I could feel Flynn hovering over my shoulder, but I ignored him as Dec and I locked eyes.

"Eye... to... eye," we said in sync, not looking away from each others' eyes as we let our first shots fly. I sank mine, but unfortunately, so did Dec.

I turned to Flynn. He didn't look impressed, exactly, but the wary skepticism had been replaced by a small, crooked smile.

"You're up," I said simply. Flynn didn't hesitate before stepping up to the table and going through the same procedure Dec and I had just done, but with Marc shooting opposite him. Like me, Flynn splashed his into a cup, but Marc's shot narrowly missed and bounced off into the crowd.

I let up a whooping cheer and high-fived Flynn, who was full-on grinning now. Marc and Dec just shook their heads.

"That means nothing," Dec called across the table. "You're both still toast."

"Yeah yeah, talk is cheap," I shot back. "Toss the other ball over here and let's get this upset on the road."

The game was truly a battle for the ages. The majority of the crowd had quickly rallied behind Flynn and I, since Dec and Marc had been dominating for far too long. They continued to sink shot after shot, but so did we. We held our own, using trash talk and head games and anything else we could think of to our advantage as the game went on.

I wasn't normally a super quiet person or anything, but since I'd been new to town and not in any party scenarios with Bryce's friends before this, I hadn't been ridiculously loud either. Now, however, I screamed, cheered, and jeered at the top of my lungs. With every celebration of success and mocking of the other team's misfortune, I caught Flynn staring at me more and more, an appraising look in his eye. I mostly ignored him, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a warm feeling in my chest when he grinned at me.

We both stayed focused and at the top of our games until, finally, each team only had one cup left. Marc and Dec had briefly pulled ahead, but Flynn had knocked out one of their cups to tie it. Now, the game rested on me.

"C'mon, you can do this!" shouted Flynn, putting his hands on my shoulders and jumping around a little to hype me up. I nodded, then turned to line up my shot as Flynn stepped back.

Marc and Dec were screaming, waving their hands everywhere to try and throw me off. The crowd screamed and the music blared, but I blocked it all out. I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, my eyes laser-focused on the cup ahead.

Without giving myself time to second guess, I brought my arm forward and let the ball fly. A second later, it landed with a splash in the final cup of Marc and Dec.

"YES!" roared Flynn, and a moment later my feet had left the ground. He'd wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up in celebration. I laughed, absolutely beaming as Flynn set me down again.

"Alright, alright, it's not over yet!" Marc reminded us, bringing us out of the moment. "We get redemption shots."

"Even if you drag us into overtime, we're untouchable now," Flynn called. Our opponents ignored him, even as I joined Flynn's heckling and the two of us did everything we could think of to distract or psych out our opponents.

Marc shot first, and he missed. Me, Flynn, and apparently everyone else in the room held our breaths as Dec shook out his arm, then lined up his shot. Flynn and I waved our hands around, jumped up and down, and shouted things we thought might distract Dec, moving perfectly in sync like we'd been a team our whole life. Finally, Dec let the ball fly.

Flynn and I ripped our hands back to avoid any accidental interference that would cost us the game, and a split second later, Dec's ball bounced off the rim of our last cup. I reacted like lightning. According to the rules, once it hit the cup, it was fair game. I smacked it out of the way, off the table and into the crowd, before it could fall one way or the other.

"NO!" wailed Dec, sinking to his knees dramatically across the table.

"YES!" Flynn and I screamed in sync, and he picked me up again and spun me around. He put me down a moment later, still beaming, hands still around my waist. Our eyes locked, both caught up in the moment of euphoria, and he leaned towards me just a bit. I smiled, squeezing his arm but turning away to where Marc and Dec were still going through the stages of grief across the table.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to kiss Flynn. But I also knew he wasn't a relationship kind of guy. The three different females I'd seen him make out with throughout the party tonight were testament to that. I didn't want to just kiss him and then try to pretend to go back to normal as friends the next day, so instead, I focused on the euphoria of our win.

Flynn let the moment pass, too, as we gloated over Marc and Dec's defeat. Finally, after significant whining and complaining, they wandered off and another pair stepped up to challenge me and Flynn. We ran the table for the better part of an hour before stepping away to do other things, our win streak still intact.

I stayed at the party with Bryce for a little while longer, dancing and laughing the night away. Flynn joined us for basically all of it, making a point of paying attention to me, talking and laughing with me. He toed the line of flirting more often than not, and never wandered to other parts of the party even though Bryce spent significant time roasting him every chance she got. When she and I finally left the party just after two in the morning, we only got a few steps from the frat house before she turned to me.

"Alright, spill. What's going on with you and Flynn?"

I laughed, gently bumping my shoulder into hers as we walked. "Nothing's going on, Bryce. He's a friend, that's it."

"I've seen how he acts around his friends, and that's not it. I know you're new, but you must've noticed the difference too."

I sighed. "Yeah, I have. And I won't lie, Bryce, he's great. He's funny, I like talking to him and spending time with him. Obviously he's gorgeous. But based on everything I've seen from him, he's not interested in an actual relationship with somebody. Likewise, I'm not interested in making out with somebody at a party and having that be the end of it. So I think it's best if we just stay friends."

Bryce nodded thoughtfully, letting a comfortable silence rest over us for a few blocks as we walked side by side. I thought that was the end of it, but then she chimed in again.

"I've never seen him keep flirting with somebody as long as he did with you tonight. Normally if he hasn't gotten what he wanted in about twenty minutes, he moves on."

I didn't respond. I mean, what was I supposed to say? I wasn't sure Bryce really knew what she was trying to say either, and a second later, she moved on with a curse. I looked at her in question, and she sighed.

"I just got a text from Jesiba. I have to go into work in the morning."

I winced in sympathy, then let Bryce complain to me the rest of the way home. I fell into bed after promising her some kind of baked good when she got home tomorrow to help her get through the work day, and figured that would be the last of the discussion on things with Flynn.

I was very, very wrong.

For the next few weeks, whenever I did any activity that included Flynn, he took every opportunity he got to flirt with me. I never reciprocated, but I didn't totally shut him down either. More than a few of my friends other than Bryce had mentioned it, but I usually brushed their questions off. Flynn and I got on like a wild fire, there was no denying it. But just staying friends, hopefully good friends, still seemed like the best choice to me.

Around a month after Flynn had first started flirting, our whole extended group had decided to go out to the White Raven together to dance the night away and do whatever the hell we wanted to do. Bryce shot me a look on our way out the door, and I raised an eyebrow after locking the door behind us.

"You look good. Are you going to keep ignoring Flynn, or are you finally planning to do something about him tonight?"

I waved her off. "I already told you, Bryce, I'm not-"

"Interested in a one-time thing, yeah, I know. And that's fine. But he's been chasing you for a month. I think you should talk to him, let him know you're not interested."

"I'm sure he'll lose interest soon enough, B. Probably tonight, when he finally gets a break from work to the point that he notices some pretty thing dancing next to him and forgets he ever had a thing for me."

She gave me a skeptical look, but I ignored it. Flynn had become my best friend other than Bryce over the last month, but I wasn't about to start kidding myself that I might be the exception to his lack of interest in relationships.

Bryce and I were the last to arrive, and we found the rest of the group already posted up at a table, the first round of drinks ready to go. Flynn was already out on the dancefloor, and after saying a quick hello to the rest of our friends, I decided to go join him.

"Bryce? You in?"

She grinned and shook her head at me. "Nope. Have fun."

I narrowed my eyes at her, making sure she knew she wasn't being slick and that her implication wasn't appreciated. She blew me a kiss, and I rolled my eyes before turning from the table to go find Flynn on the dancefloor.

"Hey!" he cried, lighting up as soon as he saw me. "Finally!"

He grabbed my hands without hesitation, twirling me around him in the middle of the dancefloor. I smiled and laughed, then fell forward as he pulled me to his chest. I rested my hands on his shoulders, swaying to the beat with him, his beautiful eyes and devilish smile making my heart race. His hands drifted down my waist to rest low on my hips, and it was enough to shake me out of the moment.

I smiled, but put a little more space between us, and Flynn took the hint. He twirled me out and away from him again, and when he pulled me back this time, he dropped my hands. The two of us danced our hearts out, leaving a bit of space between us, letting the music completely take us over. Flynn's eyes still raked over me, but I just grinned back at him as I moved to the beat.

We spent a long, long time out there, dancing our hearts out without caring if we were good, making absolute fools of ourselves. Flynn's eyes stayed locked on me the whole time, that stupid grin never leaving his face. I tried my best to ignore it and just enjoy the moment with the frat boy I'd somehow become best friends with.

Finally, after the song switched again and Flynn showed no signs of slowing down, I had to take a break. I stopped dancing and stepped forward into his space, and Flynn mirrored the move, even leaning down a little so it'd be easier for me to shout into his ear.

"I'm gonna run to the restroom!" I called, still barely able to be heard over the noise. I leaned back and Flynn nodded at me, shooting me one more grin before I turned and headed off through the crowd.

I ducked past all the drunk patrons, and luckily for me, found no line at the bathroom. I paused at the sinks before heading back into the fray to splash some cold water under my eyes, waking me up a little and removing any misbehaving mascara. Then I sighed, gave myself a giant smile in the mirror, and headed for the door back to the rest of the club.

When I stepped into the hallway, to my surprise, I found Flynn standing a few feet from me. He smiled when he caught sight of me, and I came to a stop just in front of him, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning against the wall.

"What are you doing?" I called over the pounding music still coming from the dancefloor. Flynn's grin just widened and he pushed off the wall, moving to stand in front of me. He braced one arm on the wall over my head and leaned in, crowding me and bringing his face down to within inches of mine.

"What I've been wanting to do since we kicked Dec's ass at pool," he responded, his voice low and throaty, just loud enough to be heard over the music. His eyes darted to my lips, and then he was leaning in, intention clear.

My mind went blank as I stared back at him. He was one of the most handsome males I'd ever met, and I really did love talking to him and spending time with him. My heart raced at his proximity, and I'd never admit it to Bryce, but I wanted to kiss him, bad-

But then I thought better of it, as a group of female shifters passed us, staring and giggling into their hands. How many others had Flynn cornered in the hallway like this, for a physical release before he never called them again? How many females in this club had stood in the same place I did now, with the same male?

I pulled away at the last second, ducking under Flynn's arm to get some space from him. He whirled around to look at me with a frown, arms held out at his sides, clearly wondering what the hell I was doing. He took a step towards me and I took one back, which made him freeze on the spot.

"Sweetheart... what's wrong?" he asked, voice laced with confusion and concern. I wrapped my arms around myself and shook my head.

"I don't... I don't want this, Flynn. I don't want to make out with you in a dark club or hookup at the frat house. I don't care that you like to do that, it's your choice and you clearly enjoy it, but I don't. I don't want to be another fling or hookup or whatever before you move onto the next pretty thing that moves."

Flynn scowled. "What? That's not-"

"You've said yourself that you're not a relationship guy, Flynn. I've heard it a dozen times hanging out at the frat house. And that's okay. But I am a relationship person, and I care about you, a lot. Staying friends with you is more important to me than making out with you one time in a club hallway, only for you to turn around and grind with one of the shifters staring you down half an hour later."

Flynn's whole posture deflated, his expression dropping as he looked at me. I pursed my lips together and tried to give him a sympathetic look.

"Sorry, Flynn. I just... I really think this is for the best."

I didn't wait for a response before turning on my heel and heading back out to the dancefloor. I hadn't expected to care so much, but I could feel my heart threatening to shatter in my chest, and I wanted to get out of here before its resolve totally crumpled.

I reached our table to find my friends laughing and talking, Bryce mercifully on one end of the booth. I leaned in when I reached her, and her demeanor immediately became serious when she heard the tone of my voice.

"Hey, I think I'm gonna head home."

She pulled back and whirled around to look at me.

"What? Why?" Her eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just... I'm ready to go. You don't have to come, I just thought I should let you know."

She scoffed at me, turning away just long enough to scoop up her purse before standing with me.

"Let's go."

I shot her a grateful look, and she linked arms with me without a second look over her shoulder to the males at our table as we headed for the door. I didn't follow her lead, and when I looked back, I saw Flynn up against the wall again, some gorgeous female in front of him and leaning in with obvious intent in her eyes. That little piece of my heart I'd been trying to hold together finally splintered and broke away.

I hadn't wanted to talk about it, but Bryce managed to get the full story out of me before I went to bed. She looked thoughtful, and clearly had some opinions she wanted to share, but I was exhausted and hurting and didn't want to talk about it. Thankfully, that must've shown clearly enough on my face that she let it go.

At least, until I wandered into the kitchen the next morning.

"You look like shit," Bryce said in lieu of good morning, sliding a cup of coffee across the counter towards me. I narrowed my eyes at her, but took the coffee anyway.

"Thanks. That's about how I feel."

"So... do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay, then I will. Why are you pretending you don't have a thing for him?"

"Who said I was, Bryce? He's absolutely gorgeous and I love spending time with him. He's funny, and chaotic in a good way, and I love talking to him. He's become my best friend here, other than you. But I want to date him, not hookup with him. So there's no point talking about it."

"Are you sure he doesn't want to date you, though?"

I fixed her with a look that communicated clearly how stupid I thought that question was. She shot right back with a fierce look of her own.

"I'm just saying, I haven't seen him with anyone else since you two started hanging out. And he hasn't talked about the single lifestyle since then, either, or even joke-flirted with me."

I sighed and shook my head. "I saw him with somebody as we were leaving the club last night, after I officially shut him down."

Bryce just hummed, eyes narrowed in thought as she sipped her own mug of coffee. I didn't like one thing about that look, so I quickly picked up my mug and headed back to my bedroom.

"I'm getting dressed, and then I'm probably gonna head to the gym. I'll see you tonight!"

I shut the bedroom door behind me before Bryce had a chance to say anything, heaving a sigh of relief the minute it was closed.

I changed quickly, but waited to leave my room until I heard Bryce go into her own. I didn't want to be ambushed and forced into another talk, hence why I was going to the gym in the first place. It would be a good way to lose myself in my music, and to be distracted from feelings by the pain in the rest of my body.

I stayed at the gym for an hour, then took my time showering and getting dressed in the locker room. I stayed under the hot water for a lot longer than usual, trying to wash away the hurt feeling still curled in the center of my chest. It was my own fault, catching feelings for somebody who I knew didn't want a relationship. But that didn't make it any less terrible to try and recover.

When I finally left the gym, the sun was high in the sky, which gave me hope that Bryce might be at work when I got home. I knew I'd have to face her and that thoughtful look she'd had sooner or later, but my preference was later, and I wanted to do everything I could to push that conversation off.

Luckily, our apartment was empty when I pushed back through the door. I sighed, throwing on the first thing that looked good on the tv and heading to the kitchen to make myself some lunch. I'd just settled into the couch and taken the first bite of my sandwich when a knock on the door disturbed me.

Not many people could make it up to our apartment from the lobby, so I knew I couldn't ignore the knock. I set my sandwich down with a huff and crossed the room, not bothering to check the peephole before flinging the door open.

I immediately regretted my decision when I found Tristan Flynn standing before me, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. I frowned, glancing over his shoulder for any sign of the rest of the frat pack, but he was the only one in the hallway.

"Flynn, what- ACHOO!"

My head flung forward violently at the smell of the flowers in Flynn's hands, and I groaned as I straightened up on the other side of the sneezing fit. I looked up at him again, this time through slightly bleary eyes. He looked a little panicked.

"Fuck. Are you allergic to flowers? I told Ruhn it was a stupid idea-"

"Wait, did you bring those for me? Did Ruhn tell you to bring those for me?"

Flynn grimaced. "Yeah. It's a long- hold on."

He cut himself off when he noticed me scrunching my nose, trying to fend off another sneezing fit. He took a few steps back to a pot down the hallway, then with a wave of his hand and a little of his magic, he buried the bouquet in the dirt of the fern.

"Fertilizer," he said, rubbing the back of his neck as he returned to stand before me. "Sorry about that."

"That's okay..." I still sounded a little stuffy, but hopefully that would stop soon now that the flowers were out of nose-range. "What... what are you doing here?"

He sighed, staring at the ground for a few beats before abruptly looking up at me. His warm eyes met my own, and that little shard that had broken off last night dug itself in a little harder, almost making me wince in pain.

"I needed to talk to you. I... came to ask you out."

I laughed. When Flynn's face stayed just as grave and serious as it had been, more serious than I'd ever seen him look, I stopped laughing.

"Wait... are you serious?"

"Yeah, I am. Thanks for laughing, by the way."

"I'm sorry, I just, I don't know. Bringing flowers to my door to ask me on a date doesn't really seem like your thing."

"No shit. I almost killed you with those stupid flowers a minute ago." I cracked a smile again, and finally, a smile made its way onto Flynn's face too. He blew out a long breath, then shook his head. "Look, I know I'm not good at this. I've had a lot of practice and time to get good at other things, but... not this. But I don't want you to be a hookup. I've never had more fun in my life than whenever I spend time with you. You're funny and smart and gorgeous, and I haven't given a shit about other females since you sank that first shot in eye-to-eye. So I'm here to ask you on a real date. For... a real relationship."

His face scrunched up a little at the word, and my eyebrows shot into my hairline.

"You know people are usually excited when they talk about a relationship, right?"

"I am," he said, pinning me with the intense stare he normally reserved for Aux business. "This is just... new to me. I'm figuring it out. But I know that I want you, and no one else. I made fun of Quinlan and Athalar for being so sappy about all that 'dating your best friend' shit, but... having met you, it actually sounds kind of nice."

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, especially as Flynn fidgeted in front of me. I'd never seen him nervous like this, probably because he didn't usually fear rejection for meaningless make outs. But that thought brought another image to my mind.

"What about the female in the club last night?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. I failed, emotion breaking through, but at least I'd tried.

Flynn raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"The one you were getting hot and heavy with when Bryce and I left," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. Flynn just scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Please. She was drunk as hell and throwing herself at the first male she found attractive. Not that I would've minded before, but..." He rested one arm on the doorway above me, leaning into my space with a confident smirk that made my heart race. "Last night I had other things on my mind."

I fought and failed to keep a smile off my face, my gaze dropping from Flynn's. My heart raced at his words and his proximity, and I knew he could hear it. I expected him to rub it in, but instead, he let out a long breath.

"Look, you shot me down last night, and I don't want to put pressure on you and ruin our friendship or whatever. So it's not an issue if you say no, alright? But if you give me a chance..." I looked up, just in time to see that insufferable smirk on his face. "I plan to make the most of it."

This time, I didn't bother fighting the smile as it spread across my face. I rested a hand on Flynn's shoulder and leaned in closer, until I could place a soft kiss on his cheek. His hand immediately dropped from the doorframe to my waist, pulling me tight against him, but I just smirked and leaned back.

"I'm up for a date, Flynn. What did you have in mind?"

He practically growled as his eyes roved my face, down the rest of me, and back up to meet my eyes. More than a small part of my brain wanted to take advantage of the empty apartment behind me, but the rest of me won out. I wasn't about to make it that easy on him.

"I was thinking dinner. Drinks. And then... whatever else we feel like doing, after that."

Everything about Flynn's tone and body language made it clear exactly what he had in mind for "after that". I smiled, leaning into him a little further, bringing one hand up to run it through his hair. Flynn's eyelids fluttered.

"That sounds like a great plan, Flynn. What time do you want to pick me up?"

"Seven?"

"Perfect. I'll see you then."

With that, I slipped out of Flynn's grip, shooting him a wicked smirk and wave before shutting the door on him.

"What the fuck?" I heard him yell from outside. I just laughed.

"I've got things to do before our date tonight, Flynn!" I called back, knowing he could hear me just fine through the door with his fae hearing. "If you seriously waited a month, I think you can handle a couple more hours."

I could hear him grumbling on the other side of the door, but I just returned to the couch and my waiting sandwich. After a moment, he called out again, loud enough to still be heard.

"Fine! I'll see you tonight then, sweetheart. Get ready for the night of your life."

I didn't respond, not least of all because I didn't trust myself to. If Flynn was all in, then so was I. And I absolutely couldn't wait for our date tonight, from the dinner to the drinks to whatever might come after.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989

[knowledge-paradox]

So you know I said that the bloodline ends with Frances and her siblings

Well Bryce has a little something in his side🤭🤭

You see, back in London, he was drinking in a bar since he wants to rid of all the pressure his father has given to him since he's the golden child

And then there was also a drunk woman in there

So, drunk Bryce, decided that maybe sleeping with this woman would ease the pain

So morning comes, he woke up on the woman's bed

And with no memory of what happened last night, he was so scared and confused, and then ran away

So a few months later, he was already living with Frances, he gets a letter about the woman's pregnancy, who he learns that her name is Adrienne

He wanted her to come to America, so he would be responsible for this child, but fearing what his father would say if he found out he had a child before marriage, he delayed it for 3 years until the war happened and he joined the war for Frances, away from his problem

So time skip to 5 years later, Adrienne wanted to see Bryce now that war has ended and he has no excuse to see her. But she found out that Bryce somehow got killed

So she hates him for taking care of the child all by herself when HE'S supposed to be also responsible

Im gonna rant about the child and that he's a bit of a mastermind but that's for another day

OH MY GOD THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ANDREA

but he got actually married and took care of Davide as long as he was alive

is she gonna like. reach out to Bryce's family in any way (especially when she finds out Bryce is dead??)

[walkerismychoice]

Serendipity - Part 4

Written for @choicesflashfics - Week 34

Prompt 3  — “ I think I need to be drunk to understand this story ”

Book: TRR/OPH

Pairings: Drake Walker x Ava Matheson, Bryce Lahela x Charlie Hawkins

Word count: 1814

Rating: M

TW: Profanity, Suggestive language

A/N: This is a collaboration between @deb-1106​ and @walkerismychoice using the weekly prompts provided by @choicesflashfics As always if you want on or off the tag list, just let me/us know. Deb usually posts to keep it consistent, but we were both kind of scrambling this week, so I’m getting this in under the wire for us. Charlie gasped. "Oh my God! Congratulations! She tilted Ava’s ring from side to side, watching the facets twinkle from the glow of the pendant lights.I'm so happy for you!" But was she? Well of course she was, but why, on some level did she feel a twinge of Jealousy.

"Yeah, Congrats! You're smart to be locking this one down already." Bryce directed his words at Drake and then winked at Ava. "How long have you two known each other again?

Drake glowered at Bryce momentarily but then lightened up. "You know, in absence of all the Whiskey we've had, I might take your comment as an insult, but you're right. I gotta make this thing legal before she realizes she's too good for me, heh."

"Oh stop!" Ava swatted Drake playfully. "You know that would never happen because it's not true." Turning back to Bryce and Charlie she said, "To answer your question, we've known each other about 6 months."

"Wow, 6 months…that's kind of fast," Charlie mused out loud before she could think to censor her thoughts.

Ava laughed. "If you asked me 6 months ago if I'd be anywhere near an engagement right now, I would have told you to get the fuck out of here."

"That's for sure," Drake interjected, and everyone laughed.

“Anyway,” Ava continued, “When you know, you know. There’s no need to wait for some arbitrary, socially acceptable length of time, right?”

“Cheers to that!” Bryce raised his glass towards the center of the table.

The others accepted the invitation and clinked their glasses, even Charlie who wasn’t feeling particularly celebratory. Cheers to that?! Did his agreement with the sentiment mean he wasn’t sure about his future with Charlie yet? Was Charlie just being dramatic? Just yesterday she had no doubts about the pace of her relationship with Bryce, so why did this suddenly feel like a competition she was losing? She felt tears start to prick the corners of her eyes.

“I’m going to use the restroom real quick,” Charlie excused herself without waiting for anyone’s reply. She locked herself in a stall and waited a few minutes until she felt more composed. 

Just as Charlie exited the stall, Ava walked through the restroom door. “Hey, you were gone awhile. Is everything okay?”

Charlie, washing her hands, stared straight ahead and hoped Ava couldn’t tell she’d been crying.  “Yep, just finishing up.”

“Charlie, I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I could tell something was up back at the table. Do you want to talk about it?”

Charlie was mortified. “No, I’m so sorry. This was a big moment for you, and the last thing I wanted to do was make it about me. I’m really not that girl. I don’t know what came over me. Just give me a minute, and I’ll be back out.”

Ava took a towel from the dispenser and handed it to Charlie. “I’m not the type of friend who needs things to be all about me either, so spill it.”

Ava’s tone eased Charlie’s mood just enough to make her feel comfortable opening up. “I’m happy for you and Drake, I really am. It’s just that your engagement announcement suddenly made me doubt what Bryce and I have. We’ve been together two years and marriage hasn’t even come up.”

“Girl, I’ve seen the way Bryce looks at you. He’s not going anywhere. We aren’t all on the same timeline, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I suppose that’s true.” The logical side of Charlie’s brain knew Ava’s was right, and she hoped the emotional side would soon follow. It was at least appeased enought to put this to rest for now.  She looked in the mirror and cringed. “I just need to fix my face, and then I’ll be out.”

Ava fished a makeup wipe from her purse. “Let me help.” She wiped the black streaks from Charlie’s face and then pulled out a small cosmetic bag. “Just a little eye liner and fresh mascara and you’ll be good to go.”

Once Ava finished, Charlie inspected her work. “Wow, can you do my make-up every day? I don’t even know how to properly apply eyeliner.”

Ava laughed. “Better yet, I’ll teach you. We’ll plan a spa night soon.” 

Charlie hugged Ava. “Thank you. And again, I’m sorry.”

“No worries.” Ava pulled away with a smile. “Now let’s get back out there before the guys think we’re attempting a dine and dash.”

Despite a moment of awkward conversation when the woman got back to the table, the rest of dinner went off without a hitch. Charlie’s face hurt from laughing so much.

“Wait,” Drake furrowed his eyebrows, “So you work at the same hospital, but you met in a strip club?”

“It’s a long story,” Bryce began, “but basically I worked as a stripper to pay my way through med school. Charlie saw me and thought I was so hot, she asked for a private lap dance. My moves were incredible and she just had to have me. She asked me to be her plus one at her cousin’s wedding in Jamaica, and the rest is history.”

“Oh God, Bryce” Charlie rolled her eyes. “That’s not exactly what happened. My friends secretly bought me the lap dance, and I begrudgingly went. I was desperate not to show up to my cousin’s wedding alone and drunk enough to come up with a ridiculous plan, so we made a business deal for him to be my fake boyfriend. However, we failed at the fake part, and he turned into my real boyfriend.”    

“Woah… I think I need to be drunk to understand this story.” Drake raised his glass in jest. “Waiter?!.. Brian?! I need a refill!”

—

Charlie kicked off her shoes and flopped on one end of the couch, while Bryce sat on the other. “I don’t know why I always torture myself with heels. Can you give me a foot rub?” She placed her feet in Bryce’s lap.

“Babe, I’m a surgeon, not a podiatrist.”

“Ha ha, very funny.” She flicked him lightly on the chin with her big toe.

“Ah! Fine, as long as you keep your feet out of my face.” Bryce took her right foot in his hands and started rubbing rhythmic circles with his thumbs on her sole.

“Mmmm,” Charlie hummed in relief. “You sure you don’t have a foot fetish?”

“Negative, but getting my hands on you anywhere is a good place to start.” Bryce had that gleam in his eyes that said he had a plan, and Charlie would be powerless to stop it - not that she would want to.

“Start what?” She played coy.

“Well…” He walked his fingers upward. “Your calves are probably a little tight too, so those clearly need to be massaged."

"Clearly." Charlie echoed.

"And then, since I'm already this far…" Bryce began to slide his hand under the skirt of her dress.

"Hold up." She slapped her hand on top of his. "Don't you think you're moving a little too fast? You haven't even done the other foot yet." She smugly placed his hand on her left foot. Of course she wanted him as much as he seemed to want her, but it was even more satisfying when she made him wait.

"Speaking of moving too fast," Bryce said as he kneaded the bottom of her foot, "I'm kind of surprised Drake and Ava got engaged after only knowing each other for six months."

"Oh really? Back at the restaurant it seemed you were all for it."

"Well, I don't know them well enough to really judge," Bryce backpedaled. "They do seem like one of those 'opposites attract' type couples that just works, so maybe it is like Ava said, 'When you know, you know.' I just couldn't imagine being ready to marry someone so soon."

Charlie sat upright, pulling her knees in toward her chest and hugging them tight as all the hurt and uncertainty she felt at the restaurant flooded back.  "Apparently so. We've been together two years and you're not even sure if you want to commit to me after all this time. I guess in my case you still don't know if I'm the one. Maybe that means I'm not."

"Charlie…" Bryce's near perma-smile transformed to a frown. "I never said that. Would I have moved in with you if I had any doubts?"

"I don’t know, Bryce. Maybe you just want to test everything out before you commit because you aren't sure. If you don't know by now, when will you know? Five years? Ten?"

"Babe, he inched closer and placed a hand on her knee, "where is all this coming from? Okay, wrong question since I'm pretty sure where, but not exactly why. I don't think you've ever brought up marriage before."

"I guess seeing Drake and Ava just made me think, what are we waiting for? Yes six months is pretty quick, but lots of people get engaged after a year and we're at double that. We live together, we're both becoming established in our careers, we love each other…Making it official just makes sense."

Bryce looked her in the eyes intently. "I love you, and as far as I can see, my future includes you. I don't need a piece of paper to prove that."

"Does that mean you'll never want to get married?" Charlie was still reeling. 

"I'm not saying that, but you know how things turned out with my parents. I just… I'm afraid of repeating the same mistakes. That may sound like a cop out, but I just need time, and I'll know…we'll know when it's right. Things are going so well right now, why rush to change that?"

Bryce had a point, and Charlie recognized her perception of the situation was colored by her past as much as Bryce’s was by his. The way her ex Andrew left her just as they were planning a future together made her a little more anxious to make things official this time. But would rushing to marry Andrew have really changed anything? He'd probably still have left her for another woman, and then they'd have a messy divorce to contend with. She had to remind herself that Bryce was nothing like Andrew. Even without a formal commitment, her relationship with him was progressing at a perfect pace. 

"You're right." Charlie inched closer to Bryce and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for getting all in my head again. You know how I can spiral sometimes."

"And that's why I'm here to keep reminding you what a wonderful, loveable, and strong woman you are. But in case you need more than words to convince you," Bryce hopped off the couch and then pulled her up with him, "follow me to the bedroom and I’ll show you too."

[jerzwriter]

Any day...

Book:                   Open Heart (Post Series)

Pairing:                Tobias Carrick x F!MC (Casey) Feat: Bryce Lahela

Rating:                 Teen

Category:            Fluff

Summary:   Casey & Tobias share a simple morning as they wait for their first baby's arrival, which is only a short time away.

Words: 797

A/N: ME: Work on your WIPs only. You have a zillion WIPs out there. ALSO ME: OMG, My pretend people's baby is going to be born a week from today! I need to write something about this! And here we are. lol | @aprilchallenge - Family, Love, Kiss

It was 7:00 AM on an unseasonably warm Boston morning; the mercury was already reaching the low seventies. If these were normal times, Casey would have blamed the heat for waking her at such an ungodly hour on a day she didn’t have to work. But that wasn’t what had her stirring today, and normal… that was about to take on new meaning. She wrapped one arm protectively around her belly as the other pushed against her bolster pillow for support.

“There,” she gasped with relief, reminding herself that, very soon, getting out of bed would no longer require a plan of action.

She wondered where her husband was for a moment, but then the scent of butter and cinnamon filled her senses, and it seemed to elicit a kick from the alien that had invaded her body. With a soft chuckle, she lovingly rubbed the spot that had just been pummeled. 

“So, do you like French toast too, little one?” she asked. “I figure you’re going to either love it or hate it since Mommy’s eaten so much these past few months. I’m sure Daddy’s sick of making it, even if he won’t admit it.”

She cautiously descended the stairs, startling her husband, who was preparing a breakfast tray in the kitchen.

“Case!” He blurted. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“You expect me to stay up there when it smells this good down here?” She winked. “Do you even know me, sir?”

Tobias tilted his head with a smirk. He found her utterly adorable, even when he was about to give her a tongue-lashing.

“I was about to bring it up to you, wise ass. Now, you’re a brilliant doctor, Casey. So what part of bed rest did you not understand?”

“I’m an exceptional doctor! So outstanding that I know bed rest is a relative term, dear.”  She plopped into a chair at their kitchen table, motioning for Tobias to bring her the delectable breakfast he had prepared. “And you know that, too. The doctor said partial bedrest, not all day, every day.”

With a sigh, Tobias placed the breakfast before her, “You can’t fault me for looking out for you and our baby.”

After he sat beside her, she gently touched his wrist to reassure him. “I know. And you know I won’t do anything to endanger us either.”

“I know,” he squeezed her hand with a grin.

“I can’t believe I’m on bed rest!” Casey pouted. “I wasn’t planning on this. Then again,” she chuckled. “We hadn’t planned any of this, did we?”

“No, we didn’t. Just like you and I meeting was unplanned, what did that card I gave you on the night of our elopement say?”

“You’re the best thing I never planned,” Casey beamed.

“That’s right. Life happens, but we’ll face it together. I don’t love you being on bed rest, but everything else has been pretty awesome.” He bent over and kissed Casey’s belly, then moved up to tenderly kiss her lips. “I know you’ve got to keep her cooking in there a little longer, but I really can’t wait to meet her.”

“She’s going to keep us on our toes,” Casey smiled, nuzzling her head into Tobias’s shoulder.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he simpered. “We’re going to be all right, you know.”

Casey looked up at him with joyful eyes, more at peace than he had seen in her in some time. “I know,” she said confidently. “It’s you and me.”

“Do you think the baby will wait until her due date?” She asked.

“If she’s as impatient as her Mom and Dad, not a chance. That reminds me, I have to talk to Bryce. He’s starting the birth date pool at work. They won’t let me bet because I have insider knowledge. Can you imagine the audacity?”

“And he wonders why he’s not Godfather?” Casey laughed.

“Yeah, but we should make him Godfather for number two. You know, to make up for you destroying his washing machine.”

“Me!” Casey hollered. “If I remember correctly, you were at least fifty-percent responsible for that, Dr. Carrick.”   

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “but it was fun, and he did get a new washer out of the deal.”

“That he did,” Casey nodded.

“Now let’s finish your breakfast before it gets cold, then back to bed, or I’m calling your doctor to rat you out.”

“Ugh, you would,” she teased, shoveling the last of the French toast into her mouth. “You know, we’re going to be OK, T.”

They looked at each other for a long moment, taking the time to enjoy the simple perfection of it all.

“I know,” he said, kissing her forehead. “In fact, we’re going to be better than OK. We’re going to be amazing.”

Permatags: @a-crepusculo @animesuck3r @annoyingmillenialnewbie @crazy-loca-blog @doriopenheart @differenttyphoonwerewolf @fayeswiftie @gryffindordaughterofathena @genevievemd @inlocusmads @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kingliam2019 @liaromancewriter @lucy-268 @onikalover @openheartforeverinmyheart @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @secretaryunpaid @socalwriterbee @sophxwithers @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

OH: @annfg8 @binny1985 @coffeeheartaddict2 @mysticalgalaxysstuff @ofmischiefandmedicine @peonierose @youlookappropriate

Tobias Only: @icecoffee90 @kyra75

[kayfabe-is-king]

My (Slightly Tweaked For Public Consumption) Running Commentary of AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts To My Best Friend (including all the gifs and photos I sent him):

Wheeler’s face… man that’s an emotionless killing machine resting face.

My best friend and I have rechristened Blackpool Combat Club the Moxley Murder Club. Or MMC for short.

Seriously, whoever is editing these MMC video packages deserves a raise.

Man, seeing Ricochet and A.R. Fox wrestling again… and in AEW no less! What a treat!

Aubrey needs to learn to roll faster.

They really do need to come up with a different name onscreen for Mox and Co. And not Moxley’s Combat Club (sorry Nigel).

Harley is a whole ass bag of crazy but she’s improving in ring and I think she could have a good run if they get her away from Saraya.

They really hope we have amnesia and forget that Kris was supposed to be a heel only a few months ago.

What is it with AEW trying to do these fast and awkward heel to face changes? Kris and Adam deserve better.

Sigh… why oh why do they insist on giving Mark Sterling a microphone.

I will be very very pissed if they use Stokley to break up Private Party. Especially since Stokley and Kris were a great pair and I still don’t understand why they broke that up.

“They should have taken away your driver’s license long ago” - Nigel once again coming up with the creative diss tracks like an 80s rapper.

Danny and Isiah doing their secret handshake for all of us to see warms my heart.

LFI LFI LFI

The confused and bored look on Orange Cassidy’s face listening to the Iron Savages is the same look I have when co-workers try to talk to me before I’ve had my coffee.

Jamie Hayter is by far the hottest and most violent muppet I’ve ever seen. And yes that’s including Animal.

I can’t hate on Penelope because she loves The Sims as much as I do. But her mic work is not that good.

I think they’re going to have OC go through the work to realize he is the leader AEW needs. And if they do it right, that will be a great payoff when he finally steps up.

The Outrunners ring gear looks like the inside of a 90s Taco Bell:

[My husband’s name] says I can’t just add “All of The House of Black” to my hall pass list.

There is nothing AEW can do to get me to root against LFI.

Things I don’t care about: anything Sammy Guevara has to say.

Claudio’s new music sounds like we’re about to attend a fascist leader’s rally. Which, I guess… fair.

Somehow I think Action Andretti is going to cost Top Flight this match.

Thanks to my best friend’s theory, I am seriously side eyeing Bryce calling this match.

Wheeler is getting that (in Mick Foley’s words) good heel heat.

God I love Moxley’s Death Rider music.

Somewhere Alex Reynolds’ doctor is shaking his head.

So am I the only one wondering where Private Party and Garcia are?

Moxley: “Hey ref you work for me…” and it’s Bryce (so much side eye).

No way Bryce didn’t see or feel PAC stomping on Reynolds like that.

Oh NOW y’all decide to come out.

Did Okada really just shush someone on the way to the ring?

I know it’s not gonna happen tonight but it would be nice to give Kyle a title run.

And now we present “Who speaks English better” with your hosts Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone. - once again, that Picture in Picture commentary is the gift that keeps on giving

No one can deny that Okada is having fun riling up the fans.

Sure Aubrey, count on a DQ worthy move.

THE MONEY CLIP

5 minute warning - likelihood this goes to a draw has increased.

No one anywhere has ever laughed as much during a wrestling match as Okada has during this one.

Honestly, The Elite angle is an albatross around Okada and Jack Perry’s necks.

I do NOT like Lance without his braids.

So Callis just admitted he likes to watch. Who is he, Jimmy Cornette?

What exactly was the point of that Undisputed/Beast Mortos promo?

If I didn’t already know I’m bi, Mariah May would be my sexuality crisis.

Why does Ana Jay always look like a show poodle when she wrestles?

[acourtofthought]

This is super random but does Azriel take Bryce back to the townhouse or to his own place at the end of HOSAB? I can't recall if its ever stated, and e/riel's loveeee to say that it's his place and elain is living there with him because it smells like flowers and bread lol

This is going to be wordy because I have a few thoughts related to that scene so apologies ahead of time!

He did take her back to Rhys and Feyre's old townhouse because as of SF, Az had no house of his own. Throughout the series he and Cassian only ever stayed at the HOW or with Rhys in the townhouse.

But........

CC2 takes place 6-9 months after SF and a lot can happen in that time. The entirety of MAF and WAR took place over 8 months. Feyre went from being engaged to Tamlin, fell in love with Rhys, went back to Spring to take down Tamlin and planned for / fought in the war within a 8 month period. To me that means anything can happen in the next two ACOTAR books and that includes one or both up picking up shortly after SF and us finding out Az or even Elain is living in the townhouse. There's a reason SJM included this in SF:

CC2 could be giving us a glimpse into ACOTARs future, someone might be living in the townhouse 6-9 months after the end of SF. There was a fire burning in the townhouse and if it were vacant you wouldn't think one would be but.....chances are SJM is not dropping endgame hints in a different series. She has NEVER hinted at two characters actually living together before they actually get together.

She started off the novella with Nesta having taken up an apartment on her own so why is it not possible that Az started staying at the townhouse now that Nesta and Cassian are a mated couple living together in the HOW? The townhouse was left open to "any of their friends who wanted or needed it" and we know Az likes his space.

The other side likes to use "bread and roses" as proof that Elain is living there with him but there's a few things wrong with that. I'm not going to lie and say Elain doesn't come to mind when those things are mentioned but I think SJM enjoys being a little sneakier than that with what's going to happen in her books and again, she does not actually reveal endgame couples ahead of time.

We all look for clues everywhere, whether you're an E/riel, a Gwynriel or an Elucien. I know Gwynriels believe if Az and Gwyn share interactions in the crossover it will be proof of their endgame. I myself believe that if Elain is absent from CC3 it's proof of an Elucien endgame. And E/riels believe that bread and roses in the townhome are proof of an E/riel endgame. We're all guilty of it even though we like to pretend it's just the other side doing it. But a clue doesn't mean anything when the rest of the series doesn't support it.

3/4 of the way through SF we have Az calling Elain a mistake. We have him admit he's never thought of how to be with Elain beyond his sexual fantasies. We have Elain returning his necklace. We have Az thinking that Gwyn is charming. We have Az feeling something spark in his chest at the thought of Gwyn's happiness. We have Cassian note Az's admiration of Gwyn and Nesta calling Az Gwyn's new ribbon. But the other side likes to skip over all that and believes SJM has now spoiled that Az and Elain are living together? That's what I mean when I said a clue doesn't mean anything when it doesn't make sense with the rest of what we're told. She is not going come out and confirm an E/riel endgame when she hasn't even bothered to address the really major events that happened between Elain / Az and Az / Gwyn in SF. SF ends - "You're a mistake Elain! I couldn't convince my brother I didn't just want you for sex!' HOFAS (an entirely different series) - "We're happy and in love and living together and SJM wants her readers to know where we ended up before our book even happened!"

If "bread and roses" is supposed to mean anything in regards to Elain, it's going to be in line with the information from SF.

Where the hell was Elain?

No Elain, no Morrigan.

True, I might never go out drinking with her the way I did with Mor"

And while I might never run to Elain first with problems or for advice, we had a peaceful, amicable understanding. I found her to be a pleasant companion. I wondered if she'd resent that judgement. I certainly would.

No matter how much she claimed to be part of this court...It sucked the life from her.

Nesta held love in her own heart as she pulled the small, carved rose from her pocket and set it on the gravestone. A permanent marker of the beauty and good he'd tried to bring into the world.

Through the entirety of SF we have the constant refrain of "where's Elain? "Elain will only ever be a pleasant companion". "It doesn't matter what she says, this court is sucking the life from her" (paraphrase but that's pretty much what he's telling us.

Then we've got "bread and roses" mentioned in HOSAB and surprise, surprise, Elain is no where to be found. Amren, Cassian, Az, Nesta, Rhys, Feyre, but not Elain (or Mor for that matter). 6-9 months after SF where those two characters were heavily absent and they are still absent from an important scene. The message SJM sent in SF, that maybe Elain (and Mor) is not destined to stay in the NC has continued and that's when a clue given is in line with other clues.

If you're an E/riel you should be a little weirded out that Elain isn't part of the action at the end of CC2. Theories that she's taking care of Nyx or god knows where once again means she's not like the rest of the group. Where they're handling the "grown up stuff" and she's the afterthought.

Whatever is going on with the townhouse is not something we'll get answers to until the next ACOTAR book . I'm almost positive we're not getting any sort of confirmation in CC3 that someone is actually living there and definitely not with their endgame person and I guarantee that even when the next ACOTAR book happens, it's not going to start with an endgame couple living there together.

[upsidedowngrass]

do yuo yave any more liam thoughts im delirious rn a d i need my boy. I need my boy.

i ALWAYS have liam thughts every day of my LIFE . they may not be esp collected bc i have many so i dont have specific ones ive planned to share BUT ill throw some of my thoughts on him in Bullet Point Form and may end up elaborating on a few in particular :) (lot of these may be more vague, and some r more just things ive had on my mind cus ive been planning stuff!!!!)

generally, i think liam stays in airys world for a while, yeah, but i think he gets the contestants out before 8 months. this is mostly bc of charlotte. BUT also, we know airy has been in this place for "at least a decade," but oscar ALSO says he was on the plane "at least a decade ago." so its unclear how long airy WAS there for (if we assume that one takes place in the 2010s, in 2020-its vague and im not sure if cheesys ever clarified- but no code by pearl jam came out in 1996, so if its 2010s, hes only been dead for a bit over ten years, and 2020 would mean somewhere between 1996-2010, and this ISNT accounting for how long he spent in the waiting room) but it seems? that it didnt take him. actually THAT long to figure out how to teleport people to and from the plane. it seems to have been one of the easier things he figured out! (aside from actually creating planets) and? airy was a trucker. he COULDVE had tech experience, and i think sometimes people overestimate how much exp liam would have with tech as a telemarketer, ill have to look that up, but like. hed DEF have more exp w computers, just based on profession, so id imagine at least INTERFACING would be easier. the point of this is that i dont think liam would take long to find out how to teleport people, esp not ten years. especially with as much nonstop effort he shows in the series (compared to airy, who was likely in no rush, though im sure rushing WOULD mess with the speed that liam would figure things out), i think hed figure it out way sooner than airy did, and thats not even TRULY accounting that airy couldve taken any amount of time to figure it out

continuing that, ive seen ppl say that the computer wouldnt be able to teleport him home, but if my theory that the kill command is actually just an offshoot of the code used to teleport people (which ive posted abt before, but to summarize, when characters die, their bodies remain, but when the kill command is used, their bodies disappear, as shown at the end of universe modulation) is correct, the computer isnt restricted just to the plane. i think the extent of its abilities are mostly reserved for the planets it makes, but i think it may have otehr functions outside of these (such as interdimensional internet access, apparently). the point of all of this is that i think hed be able to send everyone home eventually, and i think it actually makes SENSE for him to get home. i think being able to teleport himself back home would take way longer than teleporting the others, esp since he most likely has the base code for the others (and airy didnt seem to actually BE concerned w getting home. he was lonely, but i dont think it was home that he was concerned with), but i think hed get home eventually

on that note, ive also said before that my family hcs for him vary. i OFTEN depict him as a middle child mainly bc it gives him people whove been waiting for him to come back that arent just one coworker. BUT i do sometimes depict him as an only child . it depends on the day. BUT!!! i thnk no matter what, once he gets home, he stays with owen the first day/night back. i think hed move in w bryce and amelia and charlotte very genuinely, but i think this would happen after MANY months. maybe a year or so. he needs some time. i think in that time, he stays w owen, OR if im depicting him as a middle sibling i throw him w one or both of them

also i dont actually think they contradict canon. ik a lot of people sometimes see liam NOT going to family after getting home as an indicator that he has no close family but like. tbh i dont think it even mattered HOW close he was w any family. i think the moment he saw that he was presumed dead, any hope hed had that things would return to normal, if that even was on his mind, just disappeared. because he was Dead.there wasnt anything left because he disappeared, he died, and that was it. before he looks at the notes he just kind of. looks lost. because at that pt he doesnt HAVE an idea of what hes going to do. all hes thinking abt is that this is Fucked. and i dont think it had anything to do w being close to people, or having friends or family (though it does seem to be mildly implied that he WASNT close w that many people, but i dont think that rly has much to do w whether he has siblings. siblings arent always SUPER tight knit, tho i think they were all at least friends :) ). i think he just. didnt know what to DO because he doesnt have almost Anything to his existence anymore, he just existed one day then he didnt!!! and then after looking at the notes, he still was dead, but he could still do Something about the plane with whatever he had left, not in possesions, but of Himself

on the subject of how he responded to things, i think SO often about how he seems to respond to stress. thruout the series, he is shown responding to small AND major stressors, and ive dedicated my life to studying the minute details of Liam Behavior so that i can make sure i understand him As Much As Possible. and? he is soooo not loud. under any pressure, he just Stops doing things. like the end of ep 1 could be excused as shock, but there are SO many instances of him just sorta. Stopping, or at the very least Not speaking when stressed, just tuning things out (if hes not full on dissociating, but since hes also generally Quiet it CAN be hard to distinguish if he is or not, since sometimes he may just Not be talking. i still have yet to study him wrt this but i will eventually), theres even lighter examples of this, like him Not saying anything in ep 2 when everyones yelling at airy, or him passing by bryce in ep 13 and seeming to think that would work? he just. often responds to things by NOT responding to them. there are only a few instances where he deviates from this, such as in ep 2 when he yells at airy, in eps 10 and 13 when he yells at bryce, and the many many times he yells at airy thru eps 17 and 18. but what ties these all together is that what REALLY pushes him to go from quiet to loud is when people are Ignoring Vital Details. when they are Confidently sticking to smth thats Incorrect and WONT listen to him (which is a bit more subjective w bryce ofc, but its still Incorrect to him). i think this also can of course extend to morally incorrect, as shown in ep 18, but even then, i think the main catalyst for what he says there is desperacy. he isnt asking airy why owens on his computer because he doesnt know. liam can be reckless throughout one (which is HEAVILY influenced by stress), but hes not stupid. he KNOWS why owen was there. i think THAT was just. denial? a need to know why? i dont know what specifically the emotion is, but at that pt, airy is acting FAR beyond what liam can reason him to not do. and? liam DOESNT say anything when he tries to kill airy. liam yells when people are being illogical, or not listening. because he WANTS them to listen. but airy wont listen to him. ive said it before but ill say it 2 billion times more that liam trying to kill airy was NEVER abt anger. really? he was acting how he acts when STRESSED. when hes NERVOUS . he historically Stops talking when hes under a lot of stress, and yells when indignant or frustrated

this does influence how i try to depict him, because i dont think hes an esp angry person, but when people wont Listen i think THAT does make him mad (and i think its also why he doesnt go to people when he gets home. if he wanted to talk abt things, he wants to talk to people abt how they ARE, not a fake version that people will believe. i think him getting a therapist post-canon is very challenging because of this. he is very stubborn) but when hes stressed or nervous he seems way more likely to Stop doing anything, and its smth i try to take into account when writing him SO much. he CAN be scared and still talking n stuff, but if its too bad hes more likely to freeze up

man tho. people joke abt him fighting REALLY poorly in ep 18 but i think people forget that he is running on FUMES. airy has been chopping down trees for years, hes fine. but liam got to bryces house and slept til morning, and seems to have maybe slept a litttttle? in ep 13, but its not very clear. he may have just sat there til the coast was clear for him to steal bryces car. who knows. but THEN he crashed a car (NOBODY points out that he was limping. either he was very out of it or that guy injured his leg AGAIN. i dont think it was a breakage but he SEEMS like hes in pain and then forgets it). then died a bunch of times. spent a WHOLE day awake. then went to airys world. and is just around for a while, cries, talks to airy, and Likely sleeps a little til morning. or at least lays there. its ALSO not clear. and keep in mind, he JUST spent the week before nonstop hitchhiking with likely minimal food or water bc he... doesnt have money (which i dont think is needed in airys world. i think it and the plane maintain people who live there, but thats its own hc). that, and with the way i interpret how the waiting room heals injuries, his leg may not have fully healed (which airy DEF didnt help. you are NOT supposed to straighten out broken legs. it was better than nothing but that guys leg is NOT healed) similarly, i dont imagine his arm is doing much better. those last few parts CAN be set to the side since that IS just how i interpret the waiting room but even aside from those. all of this to say that when he is fighting airy i think he is VERY obviously Really Fucking Tired. like yeah of COURSE hes not going to aim an AXE well. this guy hasnt known rest in 7 months and KEEPS getting injured. OBVIOUSLY hes not gonna fight well!!! hell, hes never FOUGHT someone with an AXE before. i think hes a little inexperienced on that front too!!!!!!

OH YEAH. sleeping thing reminded me. i think he and amelia sleep on the floor so much out of habit. i think they could sleep ANYWHERE but also bc theyre both so used to shitty sleeping conditions, good sleeping conditions make them fall asleep SUPER fast. this eases w time but i think it happens a lot. i think for the first few months, if liam has one blanket he just goes wow! thats comfortable (falls asleep)

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

I am Batman Part 7

now, someone brought up Selina in this AU. And I had to sit down to think about it.

Bryce is in fact bisexual. And Selina is to.

HOWEVER- in this AU, Selina is unaware Batman is human and not someone she can seduce. So that part of the relationship would never actually develop.

So... I am sad to say there is no BatCat in this AU.

And no SuperBat either given I don't like SuperBat. Bryce just had a one night stand with him. That's it.

He does remember her, mostly cause as an alien he has to be hyper aware of people he interacted with.

So meeting her is a little awkward when he decides to speak with Connor a few months after she's taken him in.

He goes to the farm to met with Connor, and finds that a few of the Young Justice members are there to hang out.

(None know who they are, they just think meeting with Connor is a good idea and that Bryce is trustworthy if Batman likes her.)

J'onn is there to, cause he and Bryce are BFFs.

I'm more familiar with the cartoon Young Justice, so I'm here to say that the relationship with Miss Martian never happens with Connor as Bryce is fully in favour of having Connor like learn to be a real boy before girls/boys/any relationship happens.

Also, Miss Martian in the cartoon is a bit to happy with brainwashing. In this AU, Bryce nips it in the bud. J'onn agrees.

But back to Clark and Connor bonding. they don't end up father/son but more brothers. It's actually easy to like arrange it to, since Clark is known to be adopted anyways. So, brothers.

Ma and Pa Kent are happy to meet Connor and are happy he's being raised on a farm to.

With Clark visiting, Bryce becomes closer to him to. Eventually, when Connor makes noises about being a hero, Bryce reveals her identity to Clark.

He's upset. He feels as if she doesn't trust him, isn't happy she hid this for so long. He feels cheated.

He also feels violated she slept with him while knowing who he was. She in turn throws his public dating of Lois as Superman in his face. It's messy.

They do make up after a month but it's a bit touchy for a while.

No matter, Bryce finds herself followed by a teen girl who doesn't talk. That's more important then Superman to her.

Okay, so Tim Drake is being trained by the LOA.

I mentioned before they only know Batman is human. Due to this, they had to make assumptions. One such is that Batman is in fact either a) a member of the Court of the Owls who went rouge or B) Thomas Wayne Jr. who survived the mugging but hid for various reasons.

So they try and get it out of Tim while training him, but the brain damage is pretty bad. So they dunk him in the Pit. Both Ras and Talia do because Ras is very curious about the Bat while Talia is a little in love.

So TIm get dunked, remembers and keeps being trained. He keeps his mouth shut to.

He then meets a little girl who has been pushed aside by her mother and grandfather for not being the 'heir of the Bat' they wanted. Or well, it looks like a girl.

Said child goes to the boy whom apparently recieved training from the Bat.

Nature hates a vaccum.

And the Bat will get the two sons she would always have.

[genevievemd]

What was your pairing doing each Valentine’s day? (Book 1, 2 and 3, + the first one after series) as in “what was happening in their lives that February 14th.” Did they acknowledge it in any kind of way? (Book 1 or 2). Do you have Valentine’s Day fics?

Hi Nonny! I love this question!

Book 1:

Valentine’s Day, in the Saraverse, falls a few weeks after Miami. Things are tense between them. I never really had an idea on what that VDay looked like until @jerzwriter sent me a prompt for intern year and now I KNOW! Lol

Gen gets a box of chocolates and flowers from a “secret admirer” (it’s either going to be Bryce or her sister being sneaky and doing it to make Ethan jealous) and Ethan gets all bent out of shape about it. To which Gen replies, if you hadn’t stop us in Miami this could have been from you. This could be us, but it’s not. And then things remain tense for a few weeks.

He drinks alone at donahues that night and contemplates what the fuck he’s doing with this life.

Book 2:

Valentine’s Day this time around falls two weeks after the hopeful hearts gala and when the hospital is now running like a clinic. Gen and Ethan have been unofficially together since the chemical attack and gen is convinced Ethan is going to do something for vday because why wouldn’t he?

He doesn’t. And it leads to their first real fight, the “great war” if you will. They don’t speak for to weeks and things are not looking good. He doesn’t understand why it was a big deal because he shows her he cares every other day of the year and he shouldn’t need one specific day to do that. Gen just wanted to effort and meaning behind it and doesn’t understand how he can’t see that.

They end up making up but things aren’t the same for a while because Ethan is still refusing to commit fully and she’s aware they may end as soon as the hospital closes and she has to transfer residencies.

Come June, when everything is okay again he asks her out on their first real date and that night explains to her his reasonings for being so hesitant for so long

Book 3 (Sara’s Version cause we don’t follow canon):

It’s their first real Valentine’s Day as a couple, they’ve been dating for 8 months and it’s bliss. Ethan is determined to make up for the previous year and goes all out. He asks her to be his valentine a few days before, she almost cries because it was the sweetest thing ever. (He asked her via a note he left in her pocket — he always left her little notes once they started dating)

Come the “big day” he takes her to a fancy dinner, they dance to one of their songs at dinner, and he writes her a love letter. A legit love letter. (Which you can read here). He also gets her a box of chocolates that looks like an envelope to go with the fact that he writes her little notes. It was the one of the sweetest things he ever did for her.

Post series:

They got engaged two months after Valentine’s Day year 3, so come the following v-day they’re secrectly married following their elopement in Paris and 3 months shy of their actual wedding.

Unfortunately, at this moment they’re in a fight. Their second “Great War” and probably their worst fight ever.

Unbeknownst to Gen, ethan had been planing to fix their distance and fight on Valentine’s Day by taking her to a drive in (where they had their second date) to watch Grease (like they did on that second date) but right before v-day he gets into an accident at Derry Roasters. And that plan is squashed.

They make up after this, as they realize how stupid they were and they go away to a bed and breakfast in Maine for Valentine’s Day.

You can read that here and see the edits version here.

I have plans to eventually write book 1 and 2s but right now I’m taking a much needed break for my mental health. So the only valentines you can read are the ones I linked above!

That’s for the question, lovey 💕

[neerdokells]

In With the Old, Part 4

“Bryce?” Portia called as I walked past the cabin. She walked down from the porch and approached me.

“Hey, Portia! It's…it's been a long time, how are you?”

“I'm good, I, uh, yeah. I'm good. What are you doing here?”

“Just traveling, you know, passing through, I guess. You?”

“I'm on a writing retreat. You remember how I had these ideas for books I wanted to write?”

“I do, yeah.”

“I started writing them! My husband, he's been very supportive. I have a couple published under a pen name so far, and I'm here for six months to get a clear start on a few more. Just arrived, actually,” she said, pointing to the open trunk on her car and the suitcase on the porch.

“Oh! Well, congratulations! I'm glad to hear that's working out. Is your…husband inside?”

“No, he, uh…well, it's just me. Solo trip, you know, wouldn't be much of a retreat if I brought my whole life with me, right?”

“Have you done this before?”

“Yeah. Never this long, though.”

“Right, right.” We both stood there for a long moment, each of us at different points taking a breath as if to say something, and then going back to silence. “I, well, I could help you carry stuff inside, if you want.”

“Yeah, would you? That would be great. I mean, not great, like…I would appreciate it.”

“Of course.” She led me over to the car, and we both started carrying things inside. She had clothes, of course, but also various activities to occupy her down time, some wood she bought in town for the stove that kept the cabin heated, and her writing supplies and books for inspiration or to keep up with her genre. By the time everything was inside, it was getting dark, and we were exhausted.

“Where are you staying?” she asked.

“I…don't know yet. I haven't really been planning this trip out.”

“That’s risky. Is there someone else traveling with you that you need to check in with?”

“No, I came alone.”

“I heard you were married. Is everything all right?”

“It’s…I'm not married, not anymore.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean–”

“It's okay. Really.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I don't think you'd believe me if I did.” We sat in silence for a little while, and then she turned to look toward the kitchen.

“I would offer you dinner, but I have to admit, I do not want to go cook something.”

“I could cook us something. It's been about a year since I've last cooked, but I'm sure I could make it work.”

“Really encouraging trust with that one.”

I chuckled and walked into the kitchen. One thing I'd learned in my travels is that this new body is much more durable than my old one. Even if I overwork it a bit, which is not easy to do, I bounce back pretty quick. So I had the energy to get to work. The problem was how little food she had to work with. I doubted she would notice if I added a little bit of material to the dish to round it out, being as tired as she was.

“I’m sorry, I just realized I hadn’t been to–” she said, suddenly stopping. I had just doubled the amount of potatoes in the strainer with a quick application of magic, and I turned sheepishly to find her staring around my arm. “–the store,” she whispered. “Did you…?”

“I, uh,” I turned to the strainer, then turned back and gave a weak smile. “I can explain?”

“Have you always been able to do that?”

“Well, no.”

“Then yes, please, explain.”

“I…” I turned to the food, “I’m trying to…you know what, yeah.” I waved my hand over the food, and it became a fully complete meal and moved to the table. I grabbed two plates and some silverware and indicated toward the table, and we both sat down.

“Is this food safe?”

“Yes.”

She gathered some onto her plate, then looked at me expectantly. I served myself some food, and then began to tell her the story. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to tell someone, anyone, what had happened, or how eager I was to be open with her, to tell her everything she had missed in the years we weren’t talking. But by the time I had told her about the genie and the wishes and my replacement, and answered her questions, and she told me about her life to date, and I told her about my life with Linda, the sky was growing light. We moved to the porch to watch the sunrise.

“So,” she said, finally, “your natural form now is some kind of fairy?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I see?”

I changed form, the clothes I had created to wear as ‘Bryce’ becoming a loose dress of summer leaves. She stared at me for a moment.

“What’s with the cat stuff?”

“I don’t know.”

We both watched the sunrise, and then she turned to me again and extended a hand. I fluttered up and landed on her palm, and she raised me to her eye level. “You’re a girl, now?”

“I don’t think I really have a single gender anymore. I’m whatever I happen to be at the moment. Over the last year, I’ve kind of lost the sense of myself as specifically male or female.”

“But, in this form?”

“I…here.” I waved my hand and the dress disappeared. She looked more closely, then gasped.

“I see.” She bit her lip a little bit. “Can you…is it possible to look like this, but…bigger?”

“I can be anything. But if I scale this form up to human size, it seems to be about four foot, nine inches.”

“Show me.”

I flew down from her hand onto the porch, and grew to my human size. She looked me over, slowly panning her eyes over my whole body. For the first time in my life, I felt like something other than human, or fairy, or even animal. She had a hunger in her eyes, and I felt like prey. I found myself liking it.

She stood up, then, looking down at me. She was nearly as tall as I had been when I was Bryce, and the real difference between that height and my current height made me feel weak, fragile. Pliable. When we were in school, she was an athlete and a cheerleader. Back when we were together, I saw her as fit and trim, a sexy form in her tight volleyball shorts or small cheerleader outfit or writhing in my bed. She hadn’t changed much, I could tell she had maintained the same figure, but now it felt strong and powerful, overwhelming, like she could pick me up and do what she wanted to with me. And I wanted her to. In that moment, I didn’t care what it meant. I didn’t care about her husband, or my lost life, or even my future. Plaything or pet, slave or lover, it didn’t matter. I only wanted one thing.

I wanted to be hers.

[imaginationofomi]

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter Six

☪︎

Aubrie sat in the waiting area of Brave Heart Memorial Hospital's surgical wing, knee bouncing as she periodically glanced at the clock on the wall. Several hours had passed since she was called to the crime scene. Her mind turned as she made multiple attempts to find connections between Bianca, Madison, Ellis and the woman whose name they still didn't know. Her prints weren't in the system.

She was stuck at square two with more information than most but not enough to finally convince everyone that they were dealing with a serial killer. She could feel how close she was, but she needed something to blow the whole thing open. Ellis had to live so she could ask him what the hell happened in that factory.

Landon and a few other techs were chewed out for pronouncing the man dead. Aubrie stood idle while it happened. She needed to make sure that Landon knew to send a copy of every still taken at the scene to her lab before she left. The doctors hadn't told her much of anything despite knowing why she was there. She had no clue how much internal damage there was or how long surgery would even take, and it was possible Ellis wouldn't make it through anyway. She kept hope alive.

"Go home, Parrish," Detective Hughes said, dropping himself into the chair next to her with a sigh. He held a small paper cup of hot coffee in one hand and rubbed his eyes with the other, "We probably won't hear anything tonight." He stood firm in his opposition, but the string of deaths with weird markings were starting to get to him. People over his head were seeing what he refused to.

"I thought his family might show up, maybe ask them some questions," she said back, checking the clock for the tenth time in seven minutes.

"That's not your job. Focus on the scene and the bodies."

"He is one of the bodies. There's a bullet being removed from his chest that could give us some real answers, and it was on your watch that a rookie mispronounced him dead. You didn't want me called to scene, but once again, I fixed one of your fuck ups. Don't talk down to me when I'm the reason you have the details you do." Her respect for him was waning. A few months ago, she wouldn't have come back at him so hard, but his need to always be the quickest when it came to solving cases clouded his judgment. She noticed it in the past because she often presented the evidence that would point him in the right direction, and it was usually the opposite of where he went first, but he trusted her enough to listen.

That wasn't the case anymore, and it was the worst time for him to stop. Aubrie knew that she was right, and somehow.....some way, she was going to prove it.

🂡🂡🂡

In spite of the unfortunate interruption of events, Lady Luck smiled down on Aubrie. While Hughes sat next to her salty that she rightfully checked him, a surgical resident informed them that it was going to be a long night. Ellis' injuries were extensive, and they weren't even halfway through repairing the damage. There was no telling when he would come off the anesthesia either. His family hadn't arrived, and she couldn't wait around forever. Someone would call when he was alert.

Hughes' face was smug when she got up to leave. She let him have his moment because it was the only thing he was right about. A man like him needed every win he could get. He was even more insufferable without them.

While the night wasn't that young, it wasn't extremely late. Bryce would still be awake by the time she made it home, and if he cooked, which he likely did, they would have time to eat and make it to club for a decent amount of time. If he even wanted to go. Some nights they made plans to go out, and he preferred to stay in. It didn't matter to her as long as they were together.

She ordered a Lyft and waited on the curb, flipping through mental pages of information in the meantime. The connections were there. She just needed to find them. Her primary concern was taking a picture of the female victim to Sticky Fingers. Someone was bound to recognize her or at the very least point Aubrie in the right direction. She didn't believe in coincidences when it came to crime.

Her driver tried to engage her in conversation during the twenty minute ride to her complex. She gave short responses and three stars for not taking the hint that she wasn't in the mood to be bothered.

The small lamp on the end table filled the room with muted light. She could smell the faint aroma of seasonings from dinner and took a look in the kitchen. The stove was spotless, sink empty of dishes. The oven light was on, inside two burger patties and fries sat in a cake pan. Perfect.

She walked to their shared bedroom, pouting when she saw Bryce asleep with a pillow tucked under his arm. He was big on cuddling and physical contact, always needing a hand, arm, or leg on her when they slept next to each other. The pillow was simply a place holder. 

Quietly, she removed her clothing and put the items in their respective hampers, moving into the bathroom to shower the evening off of her. The loofa scraped the dead cells and elements from her skin, and she let the hot water temporarily rinse away her troubles with the soap bubbles. She smoothed a vanilla scented body oil on while she was still damp, putting her twist out into a loose pineapple with a silk scrunchie.

Bryce stirred when she opened the bathroom door, scratching himself as he slow-blinked in her direction.

"Thank you for dinner," she said, closing the distance between them. She climbed on top of him and ran a hand down his bare chest. 

"Y'welcome," he mumbled back and yawned. He grabbed her waist, lifting up to get his lips on hers, "Did you eat?"

She shook her head, "I just got home not too long ago. I needed to shower. I'll eat in a minute. I want to make it up to you for having to work on date night."

"It's alright, Baby. You know it doesn't bother me."

"But it bothers me. If it's not one thing, it's another. I don't want you to feel like you're not important to me," she explained, sighing as he caressed her backside.

"I don't feel that way. I know you love me," he said and kissed her, "Work is work, and you're excellent at what you do. I'm proud people recognize that you're the shit. I'm proud to be with you."

"Oh, you must want your dick sucked from the back. Message received." She smirked and tightened her ponytail, but he grabbed her hips before she could scoot her way down his body.

"I'm being serious, Aubrie. Our relationship works because we understand each other and we respect each other's space and lives. Your work is a large part of who you are, so don't feel like you owe me something for having to do it."

"Okay, Dove." Leaning forward to rub her nose against his, she kissed him longingly until he plumped up beneath her. As she wiggled her hips, his tip poked her, hot, smooth and jumpy when she slid against it, "Can I finish what I started in the car now?" she asked with wide, innocent eyes, dragging her sopping pussy along his length.

"You didn't say please," he tried to use her words against her, voice taut as he fought to hold in the semen threatening to shoot out of him.

"You didn't tell me to ask nicely." She reached down and wrapped her hand around his shaft. It was covered in her juices, easy to tease and reactive. He hissed, fingers digging into her hips as she started to stroke him while holding him at her entrance. His eyes shut tight, and she sank down on him, moaning as he stretched her out.

"Fuck, Brie wait. Let me get a condom." He tried to lift her, knowing that he wouldn't be able to hold anything back with no barrier between them.

"We don't need one tonight," she said, sliding down the rest of the way. He throbbed inside of her and swore through clenched teeth.

She really was trying to make up for cutting their night short. Getting to go in raw was a rare treat. They agreed they'd only do it together for the duration of their relationship, but Aubrie was almost always cautious. Raw nights were special occasions only.

Leaning back, she rolled her hips and fondled his balls, enjoying the heavy feeling in her hand. He'd done as she said and held his nut for her. A grin stretched her full lips.

"You've been such a good boy for me," she cooed, slowing her hips to a torturous pace. Bryce had his lips tucked, swallowing the noises that would let her know he was close to reaching his peak. She allowed him a moment, stilling her movements until he took more than short breaths, "Do you want to paint me or fill me up tonight?" she asked and began to lift and lower herself on his lap.

"I just want to cum," he griped, "Please let me cum, Baby."

"Tell me where, and I might," she teased, glad she had him right where she wanted him. Switching from her knees to her feet, she started to ride him faster and found the angle that made him graze her g-spot, "Oooh shit," she whimpered and tightened around him. The ripple that went down her spine shook her walls. Bryce yelped and held her hips still.

"Aubrie," he pleaded, dick pulsating and on the verge of erupting.

"Hold it." She reached between her thighs to rub her clit in tight circles, driving herself up the wall, "I'm almost there. Have you decided?" He grunted in response, "Paint or fill? I need to know unless you want me to decide for you." More grunts fell out of his mouth, and he thrusted upwards hard. The jerky rhythm threw Aubrie off balance. She put her hands on his chest to steady herself. Alternating between bouncing and grinding, she dragged him to his limit and hopped off, lying on her back and spreading her legs.

He knew what to do, scrambling to stand and yanking his dick in her direction as he cursed up a storm.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuuuuuuuuck," he groaned, doing his best to hold on because even though she was open for him, she still hadn't given him permission.

He watched her smear her wetness around and sink her fingers deep into her opening. She dipped them in and out several times, holding them up to his mouth. Precum leaked onto the blanket as he squeezed the root of his dick and lapped her essence from her digits.

"Such a good boy," she praised, spreading her thighs further, "Is my Dove ready to cum?"

"Yes, please," he responded quickly and properly.

"Let go."

It rained on her, large globs of sticky fluid shooting out and landing on different parts of her body as Bryce roared and braced himself on the bed with one hand. He tagged her stomach, her breasts, her clit, her throat. A bit reached her chin, and she looked directly into his eyes as she swiped it up with a finger and licked it off.

He pressed the head to her pearl, adding pressure and friction as he oozed onto her. His actions triggered her release, causing her to holler and spasm on the mattress. The last of his release dribbled out, and he collapsed next to her, vision black and ears ringing.

Through the dulling of his senses, he slipped a hand between her thighs, lips quirking into a sated smirk as she trembled at his touch. He brought her to another orgasm as he came down from his and relished in her wrapping her arms around him after he cleaned them both up.

Aubrie cuddled him closely and kissed his face.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, fingertips lightly stroking his skin.

"Damn good," he muttered back, already on the verge of falling asleep.

"No club tonight then?"

"Rain check."

He was snoring less than a minute later. She stayed with him until he was deep in his sleep, venturing back to the kitchen to make her food. She was waiting for the microwave to beep when she heard the locks of her front door shifting.

She stepped out of the kitchen, peering at Summer walking through the door with flowers, a bag from Aubrie's favorite candle shop and apologetic eyes.

"Hi Beautiful," she said softly, taking hesitant steps forward.

"Hey," Aubrie replied, shoulders tense because they hadn't spoken since their fight about Bryce. When Aubrie told Summer what was what, the conversation ended with Summer storming out half dressed.

"I brought you some gifts."

"Thank you."

"And I was hoping we could talk."

"It's Bryce's night." Aubrie didn't care if he was sleeping. One of Summer's problems was not respecting their relationship boundary. He never encroached on her nights, but she had no problem inserting herself in his.

"I know. I wanted to talk to him, too."

"You want to talk to Bryce?"

"Yes. I owe him an apology," Summer said and tucked her chin. She wouldn't be able to get out what she needed to gazing at Aubrie's naked form. The woman was a sight to behold with clothes on. Off? The straightest of women and the gayest of men could lose focus staring for too long, "I've had some time to think about our conversation, and I realize that I was wrong for the way that I acted. I wanted you all to myself, and I thought eventually he'd get tired of fighting and walk. It wasn't okay for me to try to force you to be monogamous by pushing him out. I should've told you how I felt. I'm sorry."

"Thank you for apologizing," Aubrie replied gently and opened her arms so Summer knew it was okay to fully approach. Her nipples rubbed against Summer's shirt as they embraced each other, turning into stiff peaks of flesh, Summer's hands roamed out of habit, sliding up and down Aubrie's ass cheeks, "I'm glad you looked at the bigger picture."

"I did, and I still want to be with you."

"I'm not going to leave Bryce."

"I don't expect you to. He was around before me, and you have your own bond. I just have to learn to be okay with ours being different," Summer sighed and laid her head on Aubrie's shoulder, "I can do it."

"Are you sure? Because I want you to be happy. If you need monogamy to be happy, I'm not the woman for you. I want you to have all of your heart's desires. You deserve that."

"You're my heart's only desire, Aubrie. I'm sure." Summer held her face in her hands and kissed her, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

[westrangecollectionkoalaposts]

Reading HOFAS

CH 7, 8 9:

A large subterranean river, if the sound was this loud even up here. Bits of spray floated from the darkness, the damp air laced with a thick, metallic scent—iron. There must have been deposits of it down here.

Nesta said with equal quiet, “That bridge is the perfect place for an ambush.” Bryce turned to her in surprise. “You’ve never been down this way?” Nesta cut her a look. “No. No one has.”

How tf a place that can be accesed through the palace's dungeons has never been found before until now? This shit is at least 1400 years old.

“Who’d you piss off to get sent to retrieve me, anyway?”

it starts with r and ends with d, which also makes a group which's name starts with i and ends up with e, now the reasons? she is the only who is not kissing rice's ass

She could have sworn Nesta’s lips curved into a smile. “On a good day, too many people to count. But today … I volunteered.”

7 if you count Elain, also, if Nesta piss you off, you thank her.period

A new noise, barely audible above the rapids’ roar. Talons skittering over stone. From above and below.

that is probably just the ugly puppies from earlier, don't worry

“Hurry.” Nesta drew that plain-yet-remarkable sword. At the touch of her hand, silver flames skittered down the blade and—

So...

An enormous worm, gleaming with water and mud. A mouth full of rows of teeth opened wide and snapped

Who was the dumb fuck who put the firstbook's worm in side the hewn city's mountain, also, how the fuck nobody have ever saw that shit? or nesta said nobody knew about that bc riceman didn't know, which makes sense as he might got there for only a few hours each couple of months, yet mor was born in that city and also knows shit? then who made the bridge? somebody has to know

As the tang of more blood filled the air. Until the worm at last began sinking down, down, down. Back toward the river and wherever its lair lay below.

So there is a river inside that mountain, a river that is much probably also hewn city's water supply, were a fucking worm lives in there, and nobody knew it

Displeasure and something like disappointment filled Nesta’s pretty face as she said, “You froze out there.”

It doesn't sound like something nesta would complain, especially as she also froze in front of that water thing in the Middle

“Theia was High Queen of these lands. Before she left,”

Wasn't canon that only males could be high whatever or is this something sjm forgot or is that something like a curse on females, i think the forgot option is more probably

But Nesta began walking into the tunnel once more—not waiting for Bryce or her star to light the way. “You’ve gotten us into enough of a mess as it is,”

If someone had simply used his fucking telepath like someone with minimun inteligence, that wouldn't be happening.

“What you were born to do—to accomplish the task for which your father brought you into existence,” Apollion said before fading into nothing, leaving Aidas standing alone before the prisoners. Shock reared up in Hunt, dampened by the weight of an old, unbidden hurt. “I have no father.” Aidas shook his head. “The black crown once again circling your brow is not a new torment from the Asteri. It has existed for millennia.”

Is Hunt's father Jesus?

when Nesta lifted an arm. Silver flame wreathed her fingers. Bryce backed away a step. It echoed in Nesta’s eyes as she laid her hand on the stone wall. Silver fire rippled over the carvings. Mechanisms clicked—and misfired. Rusty metal bolts shot from the walls. Or tried to. They barely cleared the wall before they melted into dust

if that is only a small part of power she was left with, imagine her full power.

Fae kneeling before impossibly tall, robed humanoids,

avatar aliens

“Why you stumbled into our world.” Rhysand or the others must have filled Nesta in on everything before siccing her on Bryce.

i am pretty sure they didn't

“I told you earlier: We don’t know. Until you crept past the beasts, even Rhys didn’t know this tunnel existed

I think there are many rooms in the palace he isn't aware as well

Nesta asked, “Why not let me get impaled earlier? You could have let me walk right into a trap and run.”

nesta, not everyone acts like someone from ic... my poor baby

“I have no reason to want you dead.” “Yet you ran from the cell.”

of course, imagine if bryce had a exposed broken bone and instead of nesta, it was rhysand the one to show up....

“I know how interrogations tend to end.” “No one was going to torture you.”

nesta, just look at az...

Nesta’s eyes gleamed like a cat’s in the dimness.

[roman-cates]

Bryce holds Roman's shoulder and prepares himself for Roman to wake up gasping for breath. He browses the internet, getting a little work done as well as a small bit of shopping, things he can pick up in town in a few days. A white noise machine is probably a good idea even if it doesn't help Roman sleep.

The movie plays in the background, and he's surprised when it ends. It's not particularly short, and Roman is still sleeping peacefully.

"I'll be right back," he whispers. And he is quick, grabbing a sandwich with deli meat for himself and some eggs and apple in case Roman wakes up starving. He puts in another movie and continues his research into Rose.

About two hours later he finds what he's been looking for. It's a tenuous connection, Rose's cousin's cellmate, but it's troubling. He takes a break, smoothing Roman's hair back while he thinks.

When does he need to let Boss know this is real? When he agreed to help her out for a year and report on Mallory's fitness, he never imagined…Well, any of this. Things had been going fine until he went with Mal to deal with Avery. Then everything seemed to derail, and a month ago, he couldn't have imagined anything that's happening right now.

It's not even like the job is paying that well. Low six figures for one year of work, which was fine when it was a favor and almost a vacation, but now…

Well, nothing to be done about it now. He rubs Roman's shoulder and gets back to work.

At six o'clock he leans over Roman. "Roman," he says, "You need to wake up for a bit."

Previous

Roman sleeps deeply, dreamlessly, unable to be disturbed even when Bryce gets up to get lunch. Even when Bryce actually tries to wake Roman up, he stays fast asleep. It takes a couple of tries before Roman blinks his eyes open, looking up at Bryce, a little disoriented.

[justasfacelessasever]

"Aren't these super old, Bryce?"

"Shhh- Let him listen. "

Wanted to draw the teenagers just vibing they deserve some peace. I care too much about these boys (not really the Natural but I'm sure he'll grow on me)

[jerzwriter]

Friends* - Part Four: It's Messy

Book:                   Open Heart Pairing:                Tobias Carrick x F!MC (Casey MacTavish) Rating:                 Mature (18+ Recommended) Category:            AU – Mini-Series Words: 6382 Series:                  Friends * Tobias Carrick and Casey are the best of friends.  Lunch every day at work, tell each other everything, and genuinely love each other friends.  They always knew better than to let that get “messy” by fooling around, until that night…. Segment:            Their arrangement has been going on for several months, and to both of their surprise, it’s working.  They’re really happy.  But what happens to their arrangement, and to them, when that happiness is threatened? Warnings:           This series is about much more than smut, but there is a lot of smut in it.  This part has cursing, explicit sexual content, and unprotected sex, and I don’t recommend the latter outside of committed relationships. A/N:                     This chapter contains mature content, but I don’t think it crosses the line into explicit.  Since everyone has their own definition of what that means, I still recommend this chapter for those who are 18 and up.   A/N 2:                 A couple Spanish words in this chapter, nothing that should floor anyone, but I’d rather everyone know what they mean.  Basta! means “Stop it!” and mi hija means my daughter.

SERIES MASTERLIST Tobias & Casey Masterlist Main Masterlist @choicesaugustchallenge – Day 31 – Friends to Lovers to ? AU

CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS. (Sort of.)

"Coming thorough!" Bryce yelled, lifting a tray of drinks over his head and swerving through the packed bar with impressive flair. "Here we go! Round three!"

No one noticed the look Casey and Tobias shared over the table. Coming up on the two-month anniversary of their "arrangement," round three had a very different meaning to them.

"MacTavish," Bryce waved his hand in front of her face, "are you with us?"

"Yes," she startled, "of course I am."

"I don't know," Tobias teased. "You seemed like you were a thousand miles away to me. Where was your mind exactly?"

Casey narrowed her eyes at Tobias and stammered for an answer as his dimples deepened. "My mind is on my bed," she retorted. "I'm exhausted and can't wait to get naked and slither between the sheets."

Check. Mate. She raised her glass with a smile, knowing exactly where his mind had traveled.

"Well," Bryce chuckled. "Before anyone runs off to get naked… you’re all coming to my birthday celebration this Saturday, right?"

"I’ll be there,” Tobias jumped in. “I don’t want your party to suck, after all."

Bryce tapped his beer bottle against Tobias’s. “I knew I could count on you, pal!”

“I’ll be there!” Sienna seconded.

“And you, Case?” Bryce asked.

“I’m still trying to switch shifts with someone. But, worst-case scenario, I show up late in scrubs… looking like shit … on second thought, maybe I’m a no.”

Bryce gave her a reassuring side hug. “You’d still be the second hottest person there, next to me, of course! But, speaking of hot, guess who RSVP’d today?”

“Well, don’t keep us waiting!” Sienna demanded as Bryce playfully batted his lashes at Tobias.

“Claudia….”

“Ooooh, the hot new nurse?” Jackie queried.

“That's the one!”

“Of course, she’s going,” Sienna smirked, “She has a huge crush on you.”

“Me?" Bryce questioned. "Sadly, she’s one of the few women walking this earth with a rare gene that makes her immune to my charms. But this one,” he pointed to Tobias. “She’s got quite a thing for him. So my suggestion, T? Make sure you bring protection.”

Casey bit her lip, never removing her eyes from her drink. Their best friends-with-benefits thing was working better than either could have imagined, but it was no strings… Tobias was free to take Claudia home, and the thought alone turned Casey's stomach.

“Wow, T,” Jackie replied. “She's hot! If you don’t close that deal, I am shooting my shot.”

“As if T can’t close a deal,” Bryce chuckled.

“You know, guys. I’m going to head out," Casey said, jumping from her seat. "I’m the only one who has an early tomorrow.”

Tobias quickly followed. “I’ll join you. I’m not in early, but I have a 5:00 gym date. Plus, I’ve had enough of you clowns.”

“Hey, don’t act like you don’t love the circus!” Bryce yelled as his friends headed for the door. 

The crisp night air hit them the moment they stepped outside, and Casey visibly shivered. Without a word, Tobias removed his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.

"Are you ever going to start dressing appropriately for Boston?"

"I hate coats," she smiled.

"That's funny, you always seem to like mine. Come on... I'll give you a lift home."

Casey followed him to his car, her hands in her pocket as the two kept a respectable distance between them. it had always been so easy to talk with one another, yet she couldn't ask him what was on her mind.

“So, are you really going to Bryce's party, or were you just trying to shut him up?" Tobias asked.

"As if anyone could shut Lahela up," Casey chuckled nervously. “It’s Bryce’s party. I won’t miss it even if I’m late.”

“Good,” he grinned.  “Do you want to come home with me?”

“After the party? Sure.”

“Well, you're welcome to come then too,” he smiled, “but I meant tonight.”

Casey stopped in her tracks. When Tobias turned to see why she stopped, all he could see was the moonlight dancing in her crystal blue eyes.

“As much as I would love an evening of illicit activity, I’m already getting a max of four hours sleep, and….”

“Case,” he interrupted, closing the distance between them.  “You know we don’t have to have sex every time we're together, right? That's not what I meant. My place is five minutes away, and yours is thirty.  I just thought you could get more sleep if you stayed with me.”

“You know... you say we don’t have to, but somehow we always end up sweaty and naked in your bed… on your couch… on the floor… on your sink….”

“I get the picture,” he laughed.  “But you're welcome to come and sleep - just sleep - in any of those places; well, maybe not the sink, that would be weird.”

“Fine,” Casey smiled.  “I could use the extra sleep. Thanks, T.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll even make you breakfast in the morning.”

“Well, that seals the deal,” she laughed, entering his car. "I can't say no to that.”

Tobias closed her door after she was safely inside, smiling softly as he rounded his car. He had been skeptical about their arrangement, but two months later, he had to admit… he was happy.

~~~~ 

Murphy’s law was in complete control on Saturday. At least it was for Casey. Another resident had agreed to relieve her two hours early, but he came down with the flu and now she'd have to work later waiting for his replacement. When she finally arrived, Casey rushed to the locker room to change, only to bump into an intern who spilled grape juice all over her.

"Damn!" Casey hollered.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" The intern apologized.

"It's fine," Casey said with a sigh. "Things happen."

She had only been joking about showing up at Donahue's in her sweats, but it looked like she called that after all.

Her eyes scanned the dimly lit room for the birthday boy when she stepped in the door, and she quickly spotted him holding court in the back near the dartboard. With him entertained, she decided to get a drink at the bar first. A little liquid courage would make her feel better about looking so scruffy while her friends were all in their evening best. She noticed Tobias sitting at the end of the bar and grinned. This was perfect. He had a way of making her feel beautiful no matter what. Perhaps old Murphy stayed behind at the hospital after all. But with just a few more steps, the smile dropped from her face

Claudia was a vision while working at Edenbrook bare-faced, hair pinned up, and in sensible shoes. So, of course, she was stunning tonight. The way her wavy, chestnut brown hair cascaded down the center of her bare back, and the neckline plunged on her shimmering, gold dress that hugged her every curve and fell just to her upper thigh. Her long, shapely legs were irresistible in a matching pair of strappy heels. And her laugh... her melodic laugh was infectious, and her smile could light a room. No wonder Tobias was grinning from ear to ear as he hung on her every word.  Casey looked down at her own dingy scrubs, and suddenly, she wasn't in the mood for a party.

She looked back up at the laughing couple, and she was convinced she'd be getting that text: "Met someone, thanks for all the sex. It's been fun... now we move on." There was no way she could stay there and watch it happen in live time. Bryce would understand, she told herself as she rushed to the door. She was almost there when she heard...

“CASEY!!!!” A tipsy Sienna yelled, hugging her from behind.  “I’m sooooo glad you’re here!”

“Yeah, but… I’m leaving. It’s been a long day, and… look at me, Si. I'm a mess.”

“Stop! You’re gorgeous!” Her fellow dolphin ensured. “And you’re staying.”

“I’ll say happy birthday, grab a beer, and hide in a corner for a short time," she acquiesced. "But, Si. I need to get out of here, OK?”

When Sienna heard the desperation in her friend’s voice, she noticed how glassy her eyes were, too.

“Is everything OK?” Sienna whispered.

“Yeah,” she said, looking over her shoulder at Tobias, seated at the bar.  “I… I’m going to go see Bryce.”

Casey found a spot at a booth in the furthest back corner of the bar and remained there as her friends reveled nearby.  Sitting low to evade detection, she silently nursed her drink.  She looked up every so often, lying to herself that she wasn't looking for Tobias, even though she knew she was. Whenever they were celebrating, he was always on the dance floor, but he was nowhere to be seen tonight.

He’s probably mesmerized, she thought. He has a pulse, after all.  And she’s crazy about him.. why wouldn’t she be? He's amazing. They probably already left…they’re probably in…  She swallowed hard as tears sprung to her eyes as she envisioned Claudia in Tobias's bed, tangled in his sheets and claiming the spot she had shared with him too many times to count. She imagined him running his fingers slowly along Claudia's curves as her smoky brown eyes shut tight in ecstasy. 

After finishing her drink in one gulp, she cursed herself. How the hell did she think this would be easy? How did she think it wouldn’t hurt? She needed to get out of Donahue's, and the back door was her best escape. She could avoid her friends pleading for her to stay. She wouldn't have to see Tobias and Claudia nuzzled up in a corner or, worse, noticing they'd already left. She could just get out of there, go home, and sit on her couch with a pint of ice cream, waiting for the inevitable text to arrive.  Benefits terminated.  It was their plan all along… so why was her heart aching?

“Excuse me,” she pushed through the crowd, feeling relief wash over her when she was within arms reach of the door. Escape was in sight when she felt a tug at her wrist.

“Hey, where are you running off to? I’ve been looking for you all night! Don’t you have your phone on?”

Casey turned around, dazed.

“Oh, uh… I was in the back.  It’s been a long day, and, no… no, I didn’t have my phone.  I’m just going home to….”

“Already? Case, what’s wrong?" Tobias asked. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"I’m good,” she said with a forced smile, “I’m just… look at me… I’m in my dirty scrubs.  I look and feel like shit, and I just want to shower, eat dinner, and..."

“Fine, then let’s go.”

“What?”

"I'll make us dinner, you can rest, and, just for the record, dirty scrubs and all, you’re still a knockout.”

“You… you want to go home? With… me?”

Tobias looked around to ensure no one was within earshot, then leaned in.  “We’ve kind of done that before,” he laughed. “And we planned on tonight.  But if you changed your mind….”

“No! No!” she insisted, grabbing his hand without concern for who saw. “Please, take me home.”

~~~~~  

Several hours later, it was Casey happily tangled in Tobias's bedsheets… panting softly as his body pressed into hers. He knew her so well now; he knew each spot that made her shiver, and that look in his eyes when he did….

“Ahhhh,” she gasped, digging her nails in his back.

“You like that?” he whispered with a sly smile.

Biting her lip, she nodded, and the satisfied grin on his face doubled.

“Then you’ll love this,” he hissed, raising her hips and entering from a new angle. Feeling her clench around him, his teeth tugged at her ear. “That’s it, princess, let it go.”

Her sultry moans filled the air, and she clung to him desperately as he slammed into her. It wasn't long before they both dissolved into ecstasy as they reached their peak together.

“You’re fucking unbelievable,” he gasped, lying atop her. “You know that, right?”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she giggled, pushing him to her side.

“You’re staying, right?” he asked, a tinge of pleading in his voice.

“Yes,” she nuzzled closer to him. “I'm staying.”

“Good,” he smiled, kissing the top of her head as they snuggled close.

Neither intended to fall asleep immediately, but their bodies had other plans. Pleasantly depleted, they drifted off in each other's arms, their smiles telling a story neither was able to speak.

~~~~~ 

The bright morning light hit Casey's eyes, causing her to stir. With a smile, she rolled over to wrap her arm around him, only to find the bed empty. Throwing on one of his t-shirts, she bounced down the stairs.

“Damn, I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed,” he grinned over the stove.

Casey walked behind him and threw her arms around his waist. “That’s OK. Breakfast at the table is just fine.”

It was so comfortable. Her head resting on his shoulder, the warmth of his bare back against her chest. She closed her eyes and savored it for a moment before quickly stepping away. Sex was easy, and being friends was easy. But she still had trouble navigating these intimate moments. Was she crossing a line? Sensing her tension and eager for the comfort of her touch, Tobias reached back and pulled her against him again. Casey smiled as they stood in silent bliss. What were they? They didn't know. But they were happy right now.

“Mmmm,” she moaned, pulling the fork from her mouth.

Tobias looked on with a satisfied smile. He loved being the cause of those pretty little noises coming from her, no matter how he made her do it.

“You make a killer French toast.”

“Anything to make you happy," he smiled, finishing his coffee. "So, do you have plans today?”

“Nothing definitive."

“Spend the day with me? We can bum around together, watch TV, or play video games. And later, I’m meeting an old buddy from Kenmore. We’re going out on his boat, and I’m sure he’d be fine if you joined us.”

“You… you want me to?”

“I’m asking,” he chuckled.

“Then, sure. I’d love to.”

~~~~~ 

After opening the passenger door, Tobias extended his hand to help Casey out of his car. A delicate blush was on her cheeks despite her best attempts to prevent it. With two movies and an hour's worth of Mario Kart behind them, they walked toward the pier together.

“So whose boat is this?” Casey asked.

“My friend Dave's. He’s a surgeon at Kenmore.”

“You hang out with surgeons?” She asked in mock horror.

“Only cool ones with boats, well, and Lahela,” he laughed. He nodded toward a large yacht, “We’ve arrived.”

“Damn!” She exclaimed. “Surgeons at Kenmore do well for themselves. Now I get it. Completely.”

“I don’t just like him for his boat,” Tobias laughed. “He’s a good guy. I think you'll like him.”

When they reached the top of the stairs, a handsome, middle-aged man with tan skin, dark wavy hair, and a welcoming smile greeted them.

“Well, as I live and breathe!” he bellowed, grabbing Tobias’s hand. “I never thought you’d show.”

“Hey, don’t blame me if people don’t like hanging out with you and bail,” Tobias laughed. “But how many times have I let you down?”

“More than you’d want me to admit in front of this beautiful lady!" David grinned. "Now, who has the misfortune of your company?”

“This is my… my" Tobias found himself at a loss of words as he attempted to declare what she was to him. "This is my Casey. Casey, this is David.”

“Your Casey?” David shook his head, “Still refusing to label things, huh?”  David turned to Casey with a bright smile and offered his hand. “It’s lovely to meet Tobias’s girlfriend.”

“Oh, it’s lovely to meet you too, but I’m not his….”

“What can I get you two to drink? Come on,” he motioned for them to follow. “We’re about to set sail.”

Casey looked up at Tobias as they trailed several feet behind their host. “I tried to tell him that I’m not….” she whispered. But Tobias gently tapped her nose with his index finger, wearing a smile that extended all the way up to his eyes.

“Don’t pay it any mind.”

It was a perfect afternoon. David and his wife, Nilda, were welcoming and delightful. Their adorable daughter, Zara, took an immediate liking to Casey, which only intensified after Casey agreed that they should absolutely listen to Taylor Swift. Tobias was transfixed as he watched the two new besties dancing on the other side of the deck when David snuck up beside him.

“She is lovely,” David approved. “Inside and out. I’m impressed.”

“Well, you should be!" Tobias agreed. "She is impressive. But she’s not my girlfriend.”

“Really?” his disappointed friend said with a raised brow. “You’d never know it by watching you."

“We've been best friends for years now, but that’s it.”

“Mmm,” David said, rocking on the balls of his feet. “Nilda was my best friend once, and she still is, but now, she’s so much more.”

Tobias turned to his friend, mildly annoyed. “Really, David? We’ve known each other how long, yet you don't know me at all.”

“Ahhh! You!” David waved dismissively. “Mr. I’ll never commit. That’s all well and good, but sometimes you meet the right person, and you need to reevaluate. How would you feel if tomorrow she was no longer in your life.”

Tobias was visibly stricken at the suggestion, and the corners of David's lips lifted when he knew he got through to his friend.

“You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

“Well, as my best friend, she probably be in my life forever. If I take it beyond that, chances are she won't be.”

“Basta!" David barked. "Look me in the eye and tell me you haven’t already taken it beyond that.”

Now, it was Tobias rolling on the balls of his feet, refusing to look at his friend.

“As I was saying,” David simpered.

“David!” Nilsa called from the deck below, “Can you come help me with the food?”

“Of course, my love. I'll be right there.”

“I’ll help….” Tobias started, but David stopped him. “No. You go enjoy some time on the deck with Casey.”

“Zara!” He yelled, turning away, “Come help Mama and Papa with dinner.”

The little girl dropped Casey’s hands and stomped her foot. “Do I have to! I want to stay with Casey!”

“Casey will be here when you get back, mi hija. Let’s go.”

Zara looked up at Casey with big, pleading doe eyes.

“He’s right,” Casey smiled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“OK,” the little girl grinned, reassured enough to leave.

Tobias’s face was alight as he walked to Casey, both turning toward the rail to take in the views.

“You’ve made quite an impression,” he observed.

“With Zara? She’s the one who has made a good impression. She’s adorable.”

“Not only with Zara, David’s quite taken with you too.”

“Is he?” she replied bashfully.

“He is. It’s easy to see why.”

Casey's heart raced when Tobias turned toward her, a tender longing in his eyes. The sunset was breathtaking, bathing them in hues of pink and amber. He found it difficult to breathe as the breeze gently tousled her long, blonde hair. He had been overwhelmed by her beauty so many times before, but never more than in that moment.

“The sunset is gorgeous,” she said, turning to look over the water, terrified of the electricity drawing them together.

“It sure is," he whispered, looking right at her. "But my view is even better.”

“It’s been a lovely day,” she blushed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m really glad you asked me along.”

“I am too,” he smiled, as he reached for her chin, turning it gently toward him. 

Their eyes locked until his drifted toward her lips, then back to the blue eyes that had captured his heart. Everything was perfect, and he knew he would hate himself if he allowed this moment to pass. Placing his hand on the back of her neck, he gently drew her near. The kiss was soft, slow, and tender, each vividly aware of their pounding hearts. They separated for just a moment, and he smiled, delighted to see the light in Casey's eyes. She reached up to kiss him again; this time, it was passionate, needy... so much more. His arms encircled her waist, as she leaned into his body as her hands trailed up and down his back.

If not for Zara calling out Casey’s name as she ran up the stairs, they were certain they would never have parted. Breathlessly pulling away, they couldn't miss the smug grin on David's face when he yelled, “Dinner is served.”

“Come on,” Tobias smiled at Casey. Entwining his fingers with hers and holding her hand close as he led her down the stairs.

~~~~~ 

Whatever was happening between them, they weren’t going to figure it out tonight. The evening continued as it had started, with good conversation, lots of laughs, and Zara never leaving Casey’s side. When it was time to go, David and Nilda fussed over Casey almost as much as their daughter did, and David insisted that they would do this again soon. Tobias beamed with Casey at his side, but as they began walking to his car, fear began gripping them once more.

The ride to her apartment was quieter than usual, both letting Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye do the talking. Occasionally, one of them would interrupt the Motown legends to repeat what a great time they had today. Casey gazed out the window when they pulled in front of her building. She was hoping he'd ask her to come over tonight, even though she insisted she had to go home.

“Well, this is it,” he said.

“Yeah, it’s my stop,” she chuckled nervously. 

“I really had a great time,” they said in unison, both laughing bashfully.

“Good night, Casey,” he whispered.

“Good night, Tobias.”

“Wait,” he blurted when her hand reached for the door. Leaning over the console, he gave her a final, tender kiss.

“Good night,” he smiled.

He watched her until she was safely inside her home. Then he grabbed his phone with urgency.

“Yo!” Bryce answered.

“Hey, where are you?”

“Donahue’s. Why?”

“I’m coming to get you. I need to talk.”

Sienna looked up from her reading when Casey entered the apartment. 

“Hey!” Sienna greeted. “Where have you been all day?”

“Si," Casey gasped. "I need to talk.”

~~~~~ 

“So I’ve been seeing someone….” Casey spat out. “Well, not exactly seeing….”

“It’s more of a friend-with-benefits thing,” Tobias clarified.

“Friend with benefits?” Bryce queried. “You don’t usually do the friends part.”

“I know!”

“I knew it!” Sienna squealed.

“You did?” Casey asked in horror.

“Well, not details. But I knew something was going on with you.”

“I kind of suspected. I’m not going to lie.”

“You did?” Tobias gasped.

“Yeah, I mean, you’ve turned down two of the hottest chicks in the hospital recently, and, let's face it, buddy, that’s not you.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be serious,” Casey explained. “We’re just friends… who have sex. You know, sometimes….”

“But sometimes became A LOT of times,” Tobias sighed. “A lot, a lot because….”

“Jesus Christ, is it GOOD!” Casey enthused.

“How good?”

“Fucking PHENOMENAL. I swear, I can not get enough of her.”

“I'm struggling to see how this is bad...”

“I didn’t say it was bad… it’s just I’m confused. Because today, we were out, and we were on this boat….”

“… then we kissed. And, God! Was it a kiss.”

“It wasn’t a we’re about to have sex kiss, and it wasn’t a we just had sex kiss.”

“Well, what kind of kiss was it?” Sienna asked.

“It was an I never want to stop this. I never want to let you go, sort of kiss. Bryce, bro, I don’t know what’s going on.”

“But do you like him?” Sienna asked, “I mean outside of the amazing sex part.”

“The amazing sex part is just icing, Si. I adore him.”

“She’s just... she’s one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. Even if sex never entered the equation, I’d want to be with her as often as I could be.”

“So why are you questioning this?” Sienna shrugged.

“You know what it is, bro,” Bryce grinned. “You’re falling for her. Correction, you’ve fallen for her.”

“And that’s the problem.”

“Why is it a problem?” Sienna asked.

“Because he’s not the kind of guy who wants to settle down. This is just… an arrangement. I doubt he feels the same way about me.”

“Well, that kiss says otherwise.”

“Tobias! What’s so awful? Do you think you’re superhuman or something? You met someone incredible enough to make you change your mind. And from where I’m standing, that’s not bad.”

“Do I know them?” Bryce and Sienna asked.

“No!” Tobias and Casey lied.

“I think you should talk to him.”

“I think you should talk to her.”

“But, God, Si. What if he doesn’t feel the same way? I don’t want to lose him.”

“But it’s not like things are bad now, as they are. We have a good thing.”

“Then why did you pull me out of Donahue’s in a cold sweat?”

“If you’re as close as you say, you won’t lose him. But, you need to know.”

“You’re right,” Tobias replied. “I’m going to have to talk to her….”

“And I will,” Casey insisted… “Soon.”

~~~~~ 

Casey was glad to have an early shift the next day. Her mind overloaded with emotion, she was grateful for something else to concentrate on. She was still thinking of the best way to broach the subject of 'them' with Tobias. Maybe she was worrying for nothing, but there was no denying she was worried. Her jittering leg and drumming fingers made that perfectly clear when she took a seat at the nurses' station.

“Dr. MacTavish,” a pleasant voice called out.

“Yes,” she turned to see Claudia, still hot as hell in her green scrubs, holding an arrangement of roses.

“These were just delivered for you.”

“For me?”

Claudia looked at the card and pretended to cry. “Yes," she said playfully wiping fake tears. "It's for you. The card confirms it’s not for me.”

“Oh, thank you,” Casey smiled, taking the flowers from Claudia’s hands.                

Casey was beaming, the blush on her cheeks matching the pale pink of roses in her hands. She tried to conceal her feelings as her fingers traced the delicate petals, but her mind kept returning to yesterday and… that kiss. They had to be from him. This was becoming more. They were breaking all the rules, and she wondered why they ever put them in place to begin with.

“Casey?” Sienna’s words pulled her from her reverie. “What does the card say? Who are they from?”

“Oh, uh,” she stammered, hoping this would be the big reveal. But the card wasn’t signed. “It doesn’t say. It just says I hope the day is as beautiful as you.”

“Ooohh! A secret admirer,” Sienna winked.

Casey stood there with a stupid grin on her face. Trying not to let on more than she already had.

“Good morning, ladies!”

Casey jumped when she heard Tobias approaching, as chipper as he ever was in the morning.

“What’s going on,” he laughed. “You’re not usually so easy to startle.”

“She’s trying to figure out who her secret admirer is,” Sienna grinned.

“Oh?” he asked with a raised brow. “Are you?”

“Yes,” Casey replied, playfully biting her lip. “I need to figure out who sent these to me.”

Tobias’s affable demeanor turned to stone when he saw the flowers. He reached over and grabbed the card, looking it over for several seconds before handing it back. 

“Yeah,” he replied coldly. “I guess you’ll need to do that.”

Casey’s face fell when he turned on his heel and walked away. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Sienna rattling off potential suspects' names. She finally tugged at her friend's lab coat and whispered, “Do you think it was him?”

“Who? Tobias?” Casey jumped.

“No! Not Tobias, silly!” Sienna leaned in to whisper, “The one you told me about last night. Do you think it could be him?”

“No,” Casey swallowed, her eyes downcast. “I’m pretty sure I can rule him out.”

~~~~~ 

Casey was in the diagnostic team’s office when the workday had almost reached its end. The flower arrangement was sitting a few feet away from the mess of paperwork she was working on. She looked at it half-heartedly, mindlessly smacking a bud with her pen. She had only run into Tobias twice today; both times were too awkward for her liking. She was beginning to think she may have misread what happened yesterday but couldn't make herself believe it. It was too precious; it had to be real.

She texted Tobias. Whatever the outcome, they needed to talk. He told her he’d be up as soon as he wrapped up with a patient, and Casey nervously paced the floor while she waited.

“Dr. MacTavish,” a voice called out.

“Claudia, please, don't tell me I have more flowers." Casey joked.

“No,” Claudia laughed, “but I may have a lead for you. There's a gentleman asking for you; I think he may be the sender.”

“Really?" Casey's brow furrowed. "Well, if nothing else, I’d like to solve that riddle. Lead me to him.”

She stepped into the hallway, nearly crashing into an imposingly tall man. While he looked familiar, she couldn’t place him. Her eyes began to squint as she tried to figure it out.

“Well,” the man laughed nervously, “I guess I didn’t make as much of an impression on you as you did on me."

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. "It’s just that I see so many people here and…. wait,” she said. Fenway! The Red Sox game!”

“Phew! Now I feel better,” he grinned. "At least it didn’t take you too long to remember.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m working! I’m with the governor’s office,” he said, handing her his business card. “I was meeting with the administration about a potential grant for….”

“… for pediatric cancer research, yes,” Casey smiled. “I’m involved in that project. I’m on the committee.”

“Really? Well, that’s great to know because it means we’ll see each other at next week's meetings."  

“What a small world!” she marveled. “But it still doesn’t explain how you knew where to find me."

“Well,” he blushed, “I hope this doesn’t come across as scary stalker-ish because I promise you, I’m not. But I lost your phone number after the game, and I’ve been forced to live with that regret. I remember you and your friend, the guy you were with….”

“Tobias.”

“Yes! Tobias! I remember him mentioning you worked at Edenbrook.  So when I found out I was coming here, I let the internet do its thing, and….”

“So you stalked me,” Casey grinned.

“I like to call it being creative when you know the end goal is worthwhile. The flowers, well, they were just an extra touch because my mother raised me to be a gentleman.”

“The flowers,” Casey said, her eyes bulging. “The flowers are from you?"

“Yes.”

“Huh. Well, then that’s one mystery solved.”

~~~~~ 

Ten minutes later, Casey was pacing the floor in Tobias’s office, waiting for him to arrive. 

“Hey,” he blustered, closing the door behind him. “So… he tracked you down, huh?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Josh? From the Red Sox game?”

“Oh! Jake! Yeah, well, it’s not as creepy as it sounds. He works for the governor’s office and will be here consulting on the pediatric oncology grant.”

“You’re on the project, right?”

“Yes.”

“Huh.”

“Huh, what?” Casey asked. 

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that’s some coincidence. Maybe it’s even fate.”

“Coincidence?” She chuckled. "Sure, it's a coincidence. But fate? Uhm, I don’t think so.”

“He sent you the flowers," Tobias said looking right through Casey. "Right?”

“He did,” she replied nervously. “But I was sort of hoping they were from someone else.” 

“I was in the hallway," Tobias continued. "I heard him ask you out.”

Casey tilted her head. “You did? Well, then, you also heard me turn him down.”

“Why?" Tobias replied brusquely. "He seems like a nice guy. He’s handsome enough, and there was a time when you would have thought he was a catch.”

“Well, I’m not currently fishing. I’m not interested in Jake. Not going out with him, nor talking about him. I asked you here because….”

“Maybe you should be,” he interrupted as the blood drained from her face.

“What?!”

“Maybe you should be. I got to talk with him twice now, and he seems cool; he's obviously into you.”

“Tobias,” she gasped, “I’m not looking for….”

“He’s the type of guy who will send you flowers at work just to make you smile. The kind who will take you places and show you off. The kind of guy who can give you what you always wished for. And you deserve that, Casey. You really do.”

“Tobias… what are you saying? You want me to be interested in Jake?”

“I want you to have the life you always wanted. What we have... our arrangement... we knew going in that it was always meant to be temporary.”

“We said until… oh God... did you meet someone else? You've met someone else, and you can’t even tell me, so you’re pinning this on me.”

“I haven’t met anyone, Casey. That until we meet someone else clause, that was more for you than me. Because for me… what we have right now is perfect. I’ve got you - this amazing woman I adore - and you're there for me whenever I want." He took her hand and caressed it softly in his. “Selfishly, I could keep this going for God knows how long. Because what we have… it’s all I ever wanted. But it’s not all that you ever wanted.”

“Tobias,” she snapped, pulling her hand from his. “I don’t want Jake… I want…. I…. I just thought… yesterday. I wanted to talk about our….”

She turned her back to him, not wanting him to see her cry.

“Casey, I’m so sorry. I care for you more than you know, and that’s why I have to let you go. Our … thing… it’s run its course… it’s not going to become any more than it is, and you deserve more.”

“But... but… I want you. I know we said it was just sex and nothing more, but I love being with you, and I don’t want… I don’t want it to be over.”

“Can you say you’ll be happy? If things stay exactly as they are right now. Would you be happy?”

“I’m not unhappy.”

“But in a year, or two, or ten down the line. Do you want to be in public with me and when I have to introduce you... I don't even know what to call you?"

"My Casey kind of worked,” she chuckled sadly through tears. “I liked being your Casey.”

“And you’ll still be my Casey,” he replied, trying not to show his own sadness. “But you’ll be my friend Casey, my very, very special friend.”

“So,” she swallowed. "I guess this is my termination of benefits notice.”

“Casey,” he groaned as she backed away, “It’s not that… you deserve to be with someone who will give you everything.”

“You’re right,” she said, wiping her tears and trying to regain her composure. “It’s better this way. I just wish I knew that yesterday was our last…” her lip began to quiver as she started for the door. “I have to go.”

“Casey, wait.”

“No! You’re right. This was temporary… I was just some fun, right? It wasn’t supposed to mean anything. You’re not at fault, Tobias. I made the damn rules, and I'm the one who broke them."

He turned to her with a single tear running down his cheek. “You were so much more than just fun.”

“But it wasn’t enough… the arrangement wasn’t enough for me, and apparently, I’m not enough for you. I’m sorry, I’m sorry I ever even….”

“I’m not,” he insisted, taking her hand. “I am never going to regret this.”

“Well, you may not," she said, yanking her hand away. "But I do. I… I have to go.”

She pushed through the door and plowed down the hall, pushing the elevator button furiously in hopes it would hasten the elevator’s arrival. Grateful for an empty car, she began to slowly fall apart as soon as the doors were shut.

“Shit!” she muttered when it stopped on another floor. Wiping her face, she tried to keep her composure.  When the door opened again, she bolted toward the exit.

“Excuse me… doctor?” someone called after her.

“Yes?” she turned around.

“You dropped this. It looks official. I thought you might need it.”

“Oh,” she said, retrieving Jake’s card from the young woman’s hand. “Thank you.”

She slipped the card into her pocket and stepped outside. Twenty-four hours ago, she kissed her best friend under a perfect sky and dared to dream of more. Now, as she made her way home on a grey Boston day, she was grateful for the falling rain that drenched her, for it helped hide her tears. We never know what a day can hold, and Casey was learning that the hard way.

~~~~~ 

It took everything he had not to run after her. Never mind the feelings he was denying; she was still his best friend. He loved her long before they ever crossed the line into something more., and when Casey was in pain, he was there. That’s how it’s always been. But this time, it wasn’t some random jerk who broke her heart.  That honor belonged to none other than him.

He thought of David’s words:

“…sometimes you meet the right person, and when you do, you have to reevaluate. How would you feel if you knew she would no longer be in your life?”

He prayed to God that he wouldn’t find out because the thought of a life without Casey was more than he could bear. He tossed a folder across the room in frustration and watched as its contents spilled to the floor.

She had made the rules for their arrangement, but he made the rules for his life. An hour ago, he was confident that he was making the right choice.  But right now, he wasn't sure of anything.

“Hey, Dr. Carrick,” a voice interrupted. “Is Dr. MacTavish still here?”

“No, Claudia. She’s left for the day. Can I help you with something?”

“No, thank you. I just received the labs she was asking for. But they’re not urgent. I’ll make sure she gets them tomorrow.”

“Very well,” he muttered as he stared out the window.

Claudia had reached the door when she paused to work up her courage. 

“Dr. Carrick… are you almost done for the day?”

“I’m done in fifteen minutes. Why?”

“I’m going to head down to Donahue’s for a quick drink before I go home. I’d love company if you want to join me.”

“Thanks, Claudia. But it’s been a long day, and I don’t think it would be a good idea.”

“Oh, OK,” she smiled. “Maybe a rain check?”

“We’ll see,” he muttered. “We’ll see.”

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