#I haven’t seen or held a newborn baby in like 13 years so I was shookey at just how small she was

[loveofmylouis]

.

[starrynite7114]

Four Seasons (Angel Reyes)

A/N: I wrote this after my organic chemistry exam as I was just a mess emotionally. I couldn’t this idea out of my head after I heard ‘Four Seasons of Loneliness’ by Boyz II Men. Hope you all enjoy this story!

Warnings: Angst, I’m honestly so sorry. Please don’t hate me! <3

Masterlist

Request List

tagged list: @justahopelessssromantic : @carlaangel86 : @iambabyharry : @ifoundmyhappythought : @marvelmaree : @chibsytelford : @lady-pswrld : @woahitslucyylu : @summertimesadnesswithadashofsass : @thickemadame : @elcococruz : @claytoncardenasbabymama : @sadeyesgf : @enamoured-x : @encounterthepast : @trulysuccubus : @briana-mishell24 : @bribri-82 : @briannab1234 : @agirllovespasta : @whyisgmora : @gemini0410 : @everyhowlmarksthedead : @jadert15 : @samcrobae : @sesamepancakes : @twistnet : @bigcreatorwombatdreamer : @blackmissfrizzle : @courtrae89 : @strawberrywritings : @cherry-icetea​ : @xserenax-13​ 

If you would like to be added to my everything tag list, please let me know! <3

It was Spring.

The flowers were blooming yet, the joy that spring usually brought to him, was lost. 

Placing the flowers on her grave, he held the tears back, taking a deep breath.

"Querida, you’re lucky I love you because this place is always so windy when I come by." He tried to make a joke, but the happiness couldn't even reach him.

It was a freak accident. He expected for her to survive, but it just didn't happen.

The first season without her, loneliness seeping in as her death finally sunk in for him. 

She was gone. 

And there was nothing he could do to protect her.

“I still haven’t named her. I feel like the shittiest person because I can’t even stand looking at my own daughter.” Angel sat against her headstone, resting the back of his head against it as he bent his knees, resting his elbows on his knees. “It’s been two months and I can’t look at her without thinking of you. She has your nose, she has my eyes, but every time I look at her, all I can see is your lifeless eyes looking at me.”

Angel broke down then, the traumatizing scene in the delivery room forever embedded in his mind. She was bleeding too much. They both knew that this pregnancy was a risk, but she wanted to have the baby, she wanted to take that risk.

But he didn’t. 

He didn’t want to lose her.

And he did.

“What am I supposed to do without you? I can’t even fucking breathe.” Angel sobbed out. “She’s staying with Pops. I know you’re pissed that I won’t even hold her, but, she took you away from me.” He sounded selfish. He sounded like a prick, but it was how he felt. 

She was able to hold her daughter before everything fell apart for Angel. They happily held the newborn, looking down at her. She was the most perfect thing in the world. But then she crashed, they ushered Angel outside, their daughter being placed in a makeshift crib. When the doctors came back out, the somber look on their faces broke Angel’s heart. 

‘We’re so sorry Mr. Reyes. We tried everything we possibly could, but she lost far too much blood.’

January 8th, 2020 was when he lost her.

Angel never really recovered from that. 

He spent four hours by her gravesite daily, speaking to her about nonsense, but he couldn’t face the reality she was no longer in his arms. When he made it home, Felipe was there with his daughter. She was having her bottle, eyes drifting close as she enjoyed her milk. 

“Pops, not now.” 

“Listen, I’m not too old to smack you around son. I understand you’re in pain, that every time you look at her you see your wife, but she’s your daughter Angel. She made it out alive. Honor your wife and be there for your daughter.” Felipe has let Angel mourn enough, it was time for him to face the music. 

His daughter needed a father. 

Felipe handed Angel’s daughter over to him. Angel cautiously held her, her big brown eyes looking up at him. She studied him, moving closer to his warmth. Angel hasn’t seen his daughter since the day she was born. Looking at her proved to be too painful, but holding her now, seeing his wife’s eyes, it was like he fell in love all over again. 

The tears fell from his eyes, realizing how badly he fucked up, how selfish he was. He had a daughter to care for, her daughter and he wasn’t going to let her down.

He wasn’t able to protect her, but he was going to protect his daughter with every fiber of his being. 

It was Summer.

A season that brought on endless joy since vacations were planned and the kids were out of school.

The days were longer, enabling everyone to enjoy the day.

The heat was unbearable. Nothing new there. Sometimes Angel felt numb to the heat, but other times he would feel it since Michaela, his daughter, hated it. If the apartment even went higher than 73 degrees, she was upset. It made Angel smile, your daughter was so much like his wife.

But the pain was still ever present.

Michaela was now seven months old. 

Angel was overprotective and that was mildly describing how he was with his daughter. 

Little Michaela had her father, tio’s and grandfather doting over her. Every little thing she did, there was a video and multiple pictures as proof. When she even so much as sniffled, she was immediately brought to the doctor. Collectively, they were all raising Michaela, since Angel was still a wreck.

Angel no longer visits her gravesite daily, but he did it every two days with Michaela tagging along. He would tell her about the day they met, when they began to date, he talked to his daughter endlessly and she listened to her father too. 

The ache in Angel’s heart was still present, at night, he would find himself turning to pull his wife against him and she wasn’t there. There were times that he would call her number and would pause, waiting till her voicemail came on and he would hear her voice again. Eventually, the number was disconnected. 

It was painful for Angel, having to raise his daughter all on his own. But he was trying his best.

“Look at my baby with her bow.” Angel had placed a headband on Michaela with a cute periwinkle bow. “You look so beautiful princesa.” He was preparing Michaela for Sunday BBQ at his father’s place. 

Ever since your passing, Angel found that he and his father became closer, relating with one another regarding the pain they felt when they lost the love of their life. He understood now when his father spoke to his mother's urn, he did the same thing at her gravesite. 

Michaela giggled as her father kissed her cheek.

“You look just like mommy.” Angel was having a hard time letting go of her, and he honestly didn’t think he would anytime soon or even at all. “I love Mommy with all my heart and I promise to love and cherish you till the day I die.” 

When Angel arrived at his father’s EZ was there grilling in the backyard. He saw Coco and Gilly smoking at the side. He nodded his head at them before making his way over to EZ.

“Hey, Pops went to buy some milk for Ella.” EZ kissed his niece on the cheek. “Don’t you look beautiful, mi preciosa.” 

“I’ll take Ella.” Coco appeared out of nowhere taking Ella from Angel. He gladly handed her over, trusting his brothers. 

“How you holding up?” EZ questioned, turning the meat over.

“I’m good.” Angel situated himself near the grill, nursing a beer in his hand that Gilly had handed him once Michaela was with Coco.

“You don’t have to lie to me Angel.”

“Ezekiel, my answer is the same every fucking time you asked. It hasn’t gone away. She just fucking died.” Angel took a deep breath, closing his eyes. “I’m sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”

“It’s fine, I get it, you’re hurting.” EZ sat beside his older brother. He couldn’t fathom what Angel was feeling. They were together for almost ten years. He knew how much Angel loved her, how much he adored her and now she was gone. And he also knew his brother’s self destructive behavior. “You know it wasn’t your fault right?”

Angel has been avoiding talking about his wife’s passing for quite some time. It was too painful.

But it felt like it was his fault. He promised, vowed to her that he would hold and protect her, but he wasn’t able to. 

It was what ate Angel up most. 

He couldn’t do anything but wait for the doctor to come out.

“Hard to see that.”

“I can’t begin to comprehend what you’re going through, but I’m here for you Angel. You’re my brother, you know I love you. And you know I’m here for Michaela too.”

Angel smiled. “I love you too punk.”

It was crazy how he was surrounded by people, yet the loneliness persisted and he knew why.

He wanted her, that was all he needed.

It was Fall.

Didn’t feel any different than summer till it was night. 

The nights have become colder, days becoming shorter.

The pain was slowly fading, but from time to time he would find things that reminded him of his wife and it would come back. He couldn’t even take off his wedding ring and he had no plans to do so. 

Fuck till death do us part, she lived on in his heart and that’s what fucking mattered.

Michaela was crawling now and he was currently baby proofing the apartment. She was pulling herself up to stand, but she hasn’t walked, not yet. But he knew she eventually would. It was only a matter of time. Angel saw your mother the other week. They spoke weekly. His wife’s mother was fond of Angel and offered to live with him till he got situated, but he politely declined. He just wanted to be alone with Michaela. He appreciated the help, but he didn’t want to be a burden to her mother. Losing his wife was difficult for her as well.

At times, Angel dreamed of her. It was less frequent but he looked forward to those dreams. They spoke about Michaela, what they wanted for her and how she wanted to raise her. They spoke about it often before she gave birth, but in his dreams, it didn’t feel like a memory, it felt real. It was as if she was communicating with him. 

“She’s so adorable, you’re doing so good with her.”

“It wasn’t her fault Angel.”

“It wasn’t your fault Angel.”

“She’s so loved baby, thank you.”

“I miss you.”

It was difficult for Angel. The loneliness hasn’t faded, no matter how hard he fucking tried.

But the loneliness hit differently because fall was her favorite season. Halloween was her favorite holiday and she always decked out the apartment for it. They watched one film a day, with a marathon of the Halloween franchise on the 31st. 

Now, he was doing the same with Michaela, but more kid friendly Halloween films.

“What should you be for Halloween? You really like Sophia of Avalon, but I think you’d be so good as a little biker girl.” Angel had his arm around Michaela as she watched Casper. It surprised Angel that Michaela was immersed in any movie he put on. At times she would pull herself up, watching the movie standing up. Every little thing Michaela did, Angel was amazed with. Each day, he fell more and more in love with his daughter.

If he was being honest, having her was making the ache less and less. He loved talking to her most because she would just listen, smile, laugh, anything she did, he was marveled by.

“Michaela,” Angel immediately got her attention, she looked up at her father. “It’s you and me against the world mama, okay? Daddy will always be here for you, no matter what. I’ll never leave you.”

Michaela smiled, your smile, and Angel kissed the top of her head.

“You would have loved your mom, she was the kindest person I know. Whenever she would laugh, it was so infectious.” Angel leaned back, smiling as he remembered how you would laugh at all his jokes. At first he thought she was faking it, just trying to appease him, but he realized that she was very easy to please and he made it a mission to always hear her laugh. “She was so excited to meet you.”

“I’ll make sure you never forget her.” Angel touched his ring. “Cause I never will.”

It was Winter.

Michaela’s first Christmas. 

Angel went above and beyond. He picked a Christmas tree, one of the ones in a fucking yard. The apartment was all decked out. He got her a sock that was hanging over his mantle. For once, he felt some excitement. He couldn’t wait for Michaela to open presents, to just do about anything. She was walking now and he loved running after her. She would squeal, laughing as Angel slowly chased after her. 

He took things one day at a time and the pain seemed to lessen. The loneliness just came at night, which wasn’t shocking. He didn’t cry as much as he used  to, but he found himself tearing up every now and then. 

EZ was holding Michaela as Angel cooked some soup. She had been sick as of late, the common cold overtaking her. Angel hated seeing his baby so miserable. EZ had been staying with them so they could alternate taking care of Michaela at night but more than not, she wanted her daddy.

“At least the fever is gone.” EZ soothingly ran his hand up and down her back, Michaela resting her head on his shoulder.

“Shit freaks me out, she’s always so energetic.” Angel frowned as he watched Michaela just looking at him, letting out a cough. 

“She’ll be fine. The fever is gone.” EZ tried to appease his brother’s worries. He was worried as well, but he knew she would be fine.

“Princesa, you ready to eat soup?” Angel questioned her, earning a nod.

EZ sat her on her high chair, causing Michaela to immediately cry out. It freaked out both EZ and Angel, as she’s never done that before.

“Dada!” She shrieked out, Angel felt his world stop.

It was Michaela’s first word. 

She said Dada.

EZ and Angel looked at one another before Angel rushed over to her and picked her up. He kissed the side of her head, cooing her as her sobbing quieted down.

“It’s okay baby, daddy’s here.” Angel cradled her head, letting her lay her head on his shoulder.

“That was her first word?” EZ was in awe of Angel’s transformation. 

“Yeah, it was.” 

Angel laid in bed, Michaela sleeping right beside him, a pillow and a bed rail blocking one side and him on the other side. He watched her, the humidifier helping out with her congestion to help her sleep. 

“Babe, she said her first word today.” Angel softly smiled. He spoke to you often. He felt fucking crazy, creepy even. He regretted thinking that his father was insane by talking to his mother’s urn, but he knew why he did it now. It made the pain in his chest ache less and well, he didn’t miss her as much. “Mi amor, te extraño tanto.”

By Christmas, Michaela was much better. She was opening gifts with Felipe, playing with the wrapper more than the toys she received. Felipe fondly watched his granddaughter as she played with the wrapper of the present she just recently opened. Angel was sitting on the couch, smiling as he watched Michaela open another present.

“Look Ellie, tio got you something.” EZ presented the Stitch Doll that he bought for her. The doll was almost as big as her. 

She squealed in delight, hugging the stitch doll. 

“Dada, ook!” She nuzzled her face on Stitch, her giggles filling the room.

Angel sat on the floor with his daughter, watching her as she hugged the Stitch Doll.

No one would ever fill his wife’s position in Michaela’s life. 

But Michaela was surrounded by people who loved her.

These past four seasons have been fucking hell for Angel. But as the weather changed, the time passed, the pain eased. The loneliness would always be present, but with Michaela with him, he didn’t feel as lonely.

“Hey baby,” he placed the flowers on the bed of her grave, balancing Michaela on his hip. “Michaela is a year old now. You should see her, she’s walking too.” He placed her on the ground, watching as she walked over to the gravestone, sitting down in front. Angel chuckled, smiling as his daughter bent down to smell the flowers. “She’s just like you. Fucking hates the mornings, loves having ice cream at the middle of the night.” 

“I miss you querida, so much. I know you’re looking down at us, watching us.” Angel looked up in the sky, the wind picking up. “We’ll meet again someday, but for now, Michaela needs me. One day, we’ll be together again, like we always planned.”

He could survive.

He could survive for her.

He could survive for Michaela.

Four seasons of loneliness that he survived and he’ll continue to do so.

Maybe someday he’ll meet someone again, but Michaela was his number one priority.

They would meet again.

And he couldn’t wait for that.

[all-the-love-harold]

Chapter 13 - Aren’t They Lovely?

Master Post 

Previously: 

Poppy’s mind was racing as they made their way to Gemma’s house, and the tightening pains in her stomach only got worse. 34 weeks was still too early to have this bub, better than 27, but still not long enough to keep her safe. And today was Emily’s day, Oscar’s day. Poppy didn’t want to take that away from them. But as each shooting pain got more intense she knew she wasn’t going to be able to keep it a secret much longer. 

 “Walk in your rainbow paradise….”  The first lyrics of Adore you echoed around the car and Poppy knew she wasn’t going to be able to keep her contractions a secret now. 

 “Mummy this is daddy’s song and you’re not dancing” Oli said from the back seat, throwing his hands in the air while Harry sang along. 

 “Yeah Mummy” Harry said accusingly 

 Poppy sighed and turned the music down “Now don’t freak out” she said “But I think I’m in labour too”

 It took everything within Harry not to slam on the breaks at that point, but he took a deep breath and tried to overcome the shock. 

 “Ok” he said slowly “Do we have time to drop Oli off or am I going to the hospital now?” 

 “They’re not going to be able to stop it today H” Poppy said “Dr Marshall said that last time,” 

 “I know” he nodded “so what do you need? Do you need me to drop Oli off, or do you need to go now” 

 “We can drop him to Gems if we’re going to be quick” Poppy clutched her stomach 

 “Why don’t we get Gemma to meet us there?”  Harry suggested and all that Poppy could muster right now was a nod. 

 The rest of the car ride was silent aside from Harry explaining to Oli what was happening now. Poppy was wishing that she'd paid more attention in the birthing classes now that she was actually in labour, although she still knew that she wouldn’t be delivering naturally anyway. Which only had her wondering how on earth she was going to look after two newborns and a four year old while she recovered from a c-section.

 ****

Soon after they arrived at the hospital Poppy was taken to her own room and a midwife had come in to see where her labour was at. Since this was Poppy’s second baby and sixth pregnancy, her labour was progressing faster than the midwives would have hoped given that it could be dangerous for her to give birth naturally. 

 “You’re at 8cm love” the midwife said in a very soothing welsh accent “But your waters haven’t broken yet so we should be able to wait for Dr Marshall to get here ok” 

 Poppy nodded, midway through another contraction squeezing Anne’s hand as tight as she could. 

“We’ve got a monitor on baby too love, so if she goes into distress we’ll get you straight off to surgery” 

 “Do you know how long the doctor will be?” Anne asked 

 “No more than an hour” the midwife smiled “Emily’s my patient too, so I’ll let your husband know what’s happening here and I’ll come back and update you on Emily too” 

 Poppy and Anne both nodded and thanked her as she walked out of the room. 

 “Thanks for being here” Poppy said to Anne 

 “It’s my pleasure love. This is why I’ve been in London for the last few weeks” 

 “You’ll be the first person to meet your granddaughter” 

 “It’s an hon-” Anne started but stopped as there was a gush of water over Poppy’s bed. Thinking quickly, she pushed the buzzer to call in a midwife and began comforting Poppy through another contraction. 

“I want the drugs” Poppy cried as the midwife walked in “It hurts, Please give me the drugs” 

“Her waters have broken” Anne said softly to the midwife 

 “Ok lovie, let’s have a quick look to see where bub’s at and then I’ll call the anaesthetist,” 

 Poppy nodded and she began her exam. “Ok,” she sighed “I don’t have good news I’m afraid, your waters have broken very late love, it’s too late for an epidural, bub’s coming very fast there’s no time for surgery either, you’re going to have to push” 

 “I...I … I can’t” Poppy said “I’m not supposed to” 

 “I know love” the midwife said sympathetically “But we’re going to make sure everything's ok, I’ll call for a doctor and we’ll get your baby here safe and sound”

 Poppy nodded through her tears “Where’s Harry?” she said “I need Harry”

***

 “Ahh fucking hell this hurts” Emily screamed. She was 9cm dilated now and the baby was at 0 station, which the doctors said meant that she was just about ready to deliver. 

 “You’re doing great Em,” Harry said, checking his watch to see if he needed to go back to Poppy’s room yet. 

 “You did this to me” she screamed 

 Harry laughed nervously, looking towards patricia for support “Maybe I should go” he said 

 “Give her five minutes” Patricia said 

 “I’ll go check on Pop” he said, walking out of the room. 

 Poppy was down the hall, in another labouring room, waiting for her waters to break so that they could take her to surgery. He broke into a run so that he could get there quicker and he burst into the room more abruptly than he’d planned. 

 “Hi” he said awkwardly to everyone in the room who was now staring at him “what have I missed” 

 The midwife who he’d seen in Em’s room earlier was now attending to Poppy and looked puzzled to see him here. 

 “Weren’t you with Emily Wood an hour ago?” She asked 

 “Yeah” Harry nodded “she’s our surrogate, Poppy wasn’ t supposed to be able to get pregnant, but here we are”  

 “Riiiight” she said “so Poppy is your wife?” 

 “Yes” Harry nodded 

 “Ok then” the midwife said “well she’s fully dilated and baby’s to too low down for a c-section, the doctors on their way” she turned and left the room. 

 Harry’s eye’s had widened “fuck” he breathed “are you ok Pop?” 

 Poppy was too busy breathing in the happy gas that helped ease the pain to respond. She simply held her hand out and ushered him over to her. He held on tight and eased her through each contraction. 

 Anne had been with Poppy while Harry was with Em, but now he was here she sat back and watched the two of them. She felt quite out of place now, but her heart swelled with pride as she watched her son, so calm and collected, comfort his labouring wife. It was like nothing else in the world existed, just the two of them and that baby. The five minutes that Harry had promised Em had well and truly passed by the time he even thought about going back, but the doctors had just arrived and he couldn’t leave Poppy now. 

 “Mum,” he whispered as the doctor spoke to Poppy “can you go check on Em?” 

 Anne nodded “of course” she rested her hand on his back and planted a kiss on cheek “Good luck H, you’re about to be a dad” 

 Harry’s stomach dropped, he was about to be responsible for two more little lives. He was about to have a daughter, a little girl to show the world to.  

 “Alright Poppy” the doctor said in a gentle tone “on the next contraction I’m going to need you to push” 

 Poppy nodded, taking deep breaths to fill her body with the oxygen it needed to get through the next contraction. 

 “Ok Poppy, now’s the time you need to push” 

 She took a deep breath and held tight onto Harry’s hand squeezing harder and used her entire body strength to push. 

 “You’re doing great, Poppy” the doctor said “one more big push in the next contraction and you can meet your little girl” 

 She was so close to holding that tiny little baby in her arms all she had to do was one more push, one more push and she was going to be a mum, again. 

 The contraction started and Poppy used all of her might to push, squeezing Harry’s hand so tight it turned purple and all of a sudden the whole room cheered. 

 “Welcome to the world little one” the doctor said, but there was no crying, and Harry had noticed that the baby looked a little blue 

 “Is she ok?” He asked, voice shaking from all the emotion. 

But the doctor didn’t respond to Harry, he simply lifted the baby and took her over to the crib in the corner. 

 “What’s happening H?” Poppy asked weakly 

 “I don’t know Pop” he admitted, still keeping his eyes on the baby “she’s not breathing” 

 But just as quickly as she came into the world, Florence Anne started to cry and then whole room breathed a sigh of relief. 

 “Happy Birthday baby girl” the midwife cooed, wrapping her up in a blanket way too big for her 

“Meet your mumma” Poppy held her arms out and the midwife laid her straight onto her chest and right then Poppy’s whole world felt complete. 

“Hiya baby Flori” she cooed and planted about a thousand kisses to her forehead “I’m so happy to meet you” 

Harry knelt down next to the bed and kissed the baby’s cheek “Hi little girl” he said “We’ve waited so long for you” he turned to Poppy and planted a gentle kiss to her lips “Thank you” he said “you did great” 

Poppy smiled, unable to take her eyes off Florence “How’s Em?” she asked 

“Fuck” Harry said under his breathe “Em… she was about to… but then you…. Shit… are you good if I go check on her?.... I’ll send mum in” 

“Yes” Poppy said a little too enthusiastically for someone that had just given birth  “go” 

 Harry turned and ran out of the room and down the hall, past a midwife that looked at him like he was a maniac and he burst into Emily’s delivery room just as little Oscar entered the world. Anne and Patricia were holding Em’s hands as she pushed and they both looked at Harry with the tiniest bit of disgust over his timing. But Oscar's cries echoed around the room before they could say anything. 

“Here he is” the doctor said, lifting oscar up and handing him to Emily 

“Give him to Harry” she said turning her head away so that she didn’t look at him . 

Harry was frozen in his spot. Right there in front of him was his son. His son that he had waited so long to meet, and he couldn’t move.  Maybe it was the shock. Or the stress that he’d been feeling since Poppy went into labour. Or maybe it was that this morning he woke up expecting to go to bed without two newborns, but they were both here and he wasn’t sure it felt real. 

“Harry” Anne said gently, putting her hand on his shoulder “Harry, hold your son” 

“Dad come over and cut the cord” the doctor said, holding the surgical scissors out to him 

Anne gave him a little push forward which brought him back down to earth and he took the scissors from the doctor. 

“Right there between the two clamps” 

Harry clenched the scissors tight and cut the spongy tissue

“Here he is” the doctor smiled “Hold you son” 

Harry took the baby in his arms and his eyes filled with tears  “Hi my boy” he cooed “I am so happy to meet you”

 **** 

 The two babies slept soundly in their hospital cribs and Harry and Poppy couldn’t stop staring at them. They finally had some alone time, since Emily had decided to go back to her room for a nap and Anne had gone to pick Oli up from Gemma’s house. 

“Look at his chubby little cheeks” Poppy said staring at Oscar 

“Look how tiny Flori’s hands are” Harry responded, wrapping his arms around Poppy and kissing her on the forehead “I am so proud of you Pop” 

“This is certainly not what I had planned for today” she admitted “But it’s so nice to have them here” 

“We have three kids now” Harry sighed “3! We’re outnumbered” 

“Nah” Poppy shook her head “We’ll have Addie” 

“Have you told her yet?” Harry asked 

“No” Poppy shook her head “If you can find my phone though I’ll send her a photo” 

 “Their very first photoshoot” he giggled as he started searching the room for Poppy’s phone. 

 It felt strange to Poppy to be left alone with the babies, not that she wasn’t capable of looking after them, but they were so little and there was two of them. And Flori was having trouble feeding because she was early and Oscar didn’t like the formula the hospital provided. Part of her wanted to go home and get settled into a routine, but most of her wanted to stay here in this bubble, with the babies and Harry and Oli. Just in this room. Safe. 

 “Here it is” Harry said “ it was still in your pocket”

Poppy let out a small laugh “Everything did happen very quickly”

He nodded “Yep. I didn’t think we’d be here this morning” 

“Me either” Poppy shoved the phone into Harry’s chest “I’m going to put them in the same crib” she said, picking Flori up gently. 

“Hi Flori girl” She cooed “Meet your brother Oscar” 

“Oscar” Harry said softly “meet your sister Florence” 

Both babies let out small, contented cries, and Poppy started crying tears of joy. 

“You take the photo H,” Poppy giggled through her tears “I can’t see” 

“You’re a mess” Harry laughed “But you gave birth today, so it’s excused” 

“It’s excused for the next eighteen years, Styles” 

Harry snapped the photo, and sent it off to Addie. 

 Look who made an appearance tonight 

Florence Anne Styles, Born at 8:47pm 3/10/21, weighing 5 pounds 

Oscar William Styles, Born at 9:01pm 3/10/21, weighing 9 pounds. 

I guess we do have twins!

[junker-town]

Why ‘The Oklahoma City Dolls’ is the best sports film of all time

A huddle in Oklahoma City Dolls (1981). | Oklahoma City Dolls/Sony Pictures Television

Clichés get new weight when they’re about equality.

The best sports film of all time is a 1981 made-for-TV movie called The Oklahoma City Dolls.

This is not an assertion made lightly. Sports have inspired countless memorable films, and I, for one, certainly can’t profess to have seen them all. Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine that any of the others tell as smart — and as progressive — a story as the mostly-forgotten Dolls, which you can only currently watch via YouTube bootlegs.

Name another movie that articulates class struggle via a group of blue-collar women fighting to form their own football team, complete with thoughtful, but not forced, discussions of gender politics and labor rights. In that light, Waylon Jennings’ on-screen debut as the befuddled love interest is just the icing on the cake.

Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

“It held up better than we would have thought,” says Susan Blakely, 71, who starred as Sally Jo Purkey — a disgruntled factory worker turned quarterback. She and her 76-year-old husband Steve Jaffe, who was among the film’s producers, watched the movie for the first time in almost 40 years before speaking with me. The couple had done Dolls as part of a three-picture deal Blakely had signed with ABC after the success of miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (for which Blakely won a Golden Globe). “They gave us a bunch of scripts, and I thought this one was just terrific,” she adds.

The movie, which was written by Ann Beckett, is loosely based on a real team. The Oklahoma City Dolls were a semi-pro team that played for three years in the late 1970s, as part of a larger vogue for women’s football during that period. Though the Hollywood version, produced in part by an all-women company called Godmother Productions, is heavily fictionalized, the liberties taken make the Dolls’ story more — not less — controversial. The team’s battle to get on the field serves as both a broad metaphor for equality and an allusion to a specific, timely fight.

“I was very political,” Blakely says. “That was what attracted me to the script.” She’s been outspoken since her days as a model in the early ‘70s, when she organized the “Models for McGovern” group — “Ford [Models] was furious,” she says, laughing — and had a particular interest in women’s rights. “I was definitely a feminist,” she adds, in case you couldn’t tell as much from the picture of her onstage alongside Gloria Steinem.

A 1978 clip from the Ithaca Journal.

Blakely had spent much of the late 1970s pushing for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment — a period that coincided with her greatest visibility thanks to Rich Man, Poor Man. When Cosmo asked her, “What’s your worst fear?” in 1980, she quipped, “That the Equal Rights Amendment will pass and we’ll elect our first woman president and vice president: Phyllis Schalafly and Anita Bryant.” Oklahoma City Dolls was filmed that same year, when the bill’s passage before the revised 1982 deadline was looking less and less possible.

An ad that appeared in TV Guide for the movie.

The movie begins with Purkey, a single mother working the line at a valve factory (they filmed in a real factory) for $40 a week, goofing around with her female coworkers. Where are the men? Well, they’re out playing for the company football team — which they get time off to do, while the women have to “pick up the slack” back at the factory with no extra pay. “You know what I’ve always said about you?” the middle manager tells Purkey when she has the audacity to have a conversation with a colleague. “You’ve got no company loyalty.”

As it turns out, her lack of loyalty should be the least of his concerns. Purkey files a complaint about the unequal conditions with the EEOC, and because the company is a potential government contractor, the agency takes it seriously. An official shows up and tells the boss they’ll have to give the women equal time off.

The boss, Mr. Hines, thinks he’s got it all figured out when he tells the women on the factory line that the only way they can get time off is if they play football, too. The trouble starts (for him, at least) when they take him up on that offer.

It’s not an easy road for the women, but you can probably guess where it ends. The strength of the dialogue, though, turns what might have easily been trite into a piece that’s quite powerful. After their first attempt at a practice, for example, the women are discouraged: it’s hard, and they’re already facing resistance from the men in their lives. “I’m afraid Ray’s going to kill me if he finds out,” the most promising wide receiver says quietly.

But Purkey’s response to the general dismay isn’t just a pep talk — it’s practically a consciousness-raising.

“The problem ain’t in our muscles, it’s in our heads!” she shouts, clutching her own in her hands. “There’s no reason on this Earth that a bunch of women can’t learn to run a ball back and forth between four goal posts just as easily as a bunch of men! Heck, I used to play football when I was a kid and I was pretty good too! Baseball, basketball, kickball — you name it! I loved all that stuff, until one day some adult told me it wasn’t feminine. That a woman has to act like a lady, flouncing around.

“Seems to me now that giving birth to babies ain’t particularly ladylike,” she continues, to chuckles around the room. “And making love ain’t necessarily ladylike,” Purkey adds as the women whoop.

“So what’s wrong with a little football, eh?”

Oklahoma City Dolls/Sony Pictures Television

Sally Jo (Susan Blakely) tells it like it is in Oklahoma City Dolls.

That scene was one Blakely says she tweaked to better reflect her own experience. When they were just a week or so into filming, the Screen Actors Guild went on strike — so she had six weeks to work on both her football prowess with the assistance of Jaffe, who had played in high school, and to revise some of her scenes.

“That was a scene that I worked on the most of any of them,” she recalls of the “ladylike” monologue. “I played a lot of sports as a kid — I was a gymnast, a runner, a swimmer, a tennis player, a golfer. I did try and play a little football with my older brother, but he was like, 6’10 when he was 13, and he would only play tackle. Anytime I’d get the ball, my brother would come right at me.

“But my father would always say, ‘You don’t have to win all the time when you’re playing against the guys. I would be like, ‘Well, then why are you even telling me to get better at it at all?’”

Blakely translated that feeling — the acute sense of unfairness women and girls face in sports, and beyond — into the scene, and most of the movie. Even though she says regrets coming off “a little too angry,” she’s just as frustrated now by the fact the injustices shown in the film haven’t been resolved. “We’re still dealing with women getting less money for the same jobs,” she points out. The Equal Rights Amendment still hasn’t been passed.

During the six-week strike, Blakely found herself mirroring Sally Jo: The women who had been cast as football players were crammed in hotels near the Columbia backlot where they were filming, seemingly six to a room as Blakely recalls it, with no cars. “I wouldn’t go on shooting until they got them two to a room, and cars,” she says. “I became like my character. Persona non grata at Columbia but …”

Oklahoma City Dolls/Sony Pictures Television

Sally Jo (Blakely) steps back to pass in Oklahoma City Dolls.

She and the other actors had to learn football, although a male stunt double handled Purkey’s play in the game scenes. The stunt coordinator, Allan Graf, was himself a retired football player — he started on USC’s undefeated 1972 team, and briefly signed with the Rams. He would go on to manage stunts for just about every memorable football movie, including Any Given Sunday, The Waterboy, The Replacements, Jerry Maguire and Friday Night Lights.

Jaffe himself had toyed with the idea of doubling Blakely on the field just to get a chance to play again, but ultimately decided against it. Like Blakely, though, he has fond memories of his time on set. “The idea that I would watch two full-fledged women’s teams playing against each other was phenomenal,” he says now — offering nearly the opposite perspective to Jennings’ character in the movie, whose skepticism compels Purkey to direct one of her signature barbs his way: “If you can’t hack being a quarterback’s boyfriend,” she tells him on a date, “I suggest you go find some frilly little thing who stands around in the kitchen all day and doesn’t embarrass you. I hope she bores you to death.”

“Having my wife be the quarterback was really wonderful to watch,” Jaffe adds. “To see her blossom as a real quarterback … We would throw the ball around in the backyard, and she got better and better at pinpointing her shots.

“One time she actually ran me right out of the backyard and into our Jacuzzi,” he recalls, and they both dissolve into laughter.

The warmth with which they remember Dolls’ filming is echoed on screen, populated almost exclusively by women who find enormous camaraderie in solidarity — and sports. It’s a story about plucky underdogs triumphing on the field, yes, but with bold and very nearly intersectional takes on all the unfairness happening off it. By the end of the film, a neighbor woman has named her newborn baby Sally Jo, and frankly, it’s easy to understand why.

[natasha-cole]

Ready Steady Part 32

Summary: Reader takes advice from Kim on her most recent situation; advice that proves to be useful.

Word Count: 4130

Warnings: slight swearing, some angst, domestic fluff, it’s a really mellow chapter honestly.

Note: For the sake of the remainder of the fic, I’m using some old Louden Swain songs and making them new ones. Also, as you can tell, my reader is a singer/songwriter and a country girl at heart… so for her, instead of trying to write my own lyrics, I’m using songs by Miranda Lambert and claiming them as the reader’s own. Hey, this way, you can listen to the actual songs after you read!

In this chapter, Reader sings “Well-Rested“ by Miranda Lambert.

Another Note: Just a filler chapter to move the story along. Plus, I feel like everyone was pretty pissed that Chris snaked his way back into the story somehow, so I decided to fix that situation a little bit... you didn’t really think I was going to let him end up being the baby’s father, did you?

Catch up: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18

Part 19  Part 20  Part 21  Part 22  Part 23  Part 24  Part 25  Part 26  Part 27

Part 28  Part 29  Part 30  Part 31

2 Weeks Later

Christmas and the New Year had gone by smoothly for you. You and Rob had fallen into your parenting roles with ease and you found yourself feeling happier than you had ever been before. You couldn’t even complain really about the lack of sleep that came along with having a newborn. Rob was constantly up in the middle of the night every time Jackson would cry; insisting that you sleep unless it was something that he couldn’t handle. You had to admit; the man was a great father, and you realized that soon, he was going to be an amazing husband.

Today, Kim had called in advance to ask for a visit. She had been amazing and made sure that she got you to the hospital when you had went into labor, and quickly left once she knew that you and Rob were together there. She hadn’t had a chance to meet the baby yet and she figured that since the holidays were over, it would be a good time to do so. You were excited to see her. For two weeks it had been just you and Rob, taking care of Jackson. Occasionally, someone would stop by; usually Rob’s family. You sort of craved some interaction with other adults, especially with Kim who was one of your best friends.

She had stopped by that morning, taking a moment to greet you and Rob before her attention immediately turned toward Jackson. You watched her with a smile as she held him, gently cradling his head as she stared at him.

“You guys,” she breathed out, “he is so beautiful.”

“Of course he is, he looks just like me,” Rob joked as he shot you a wink.

“It’s those blue eyes, they reel you in,” you added.

“You two did good,” she said with a smile, “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, we’re really happy too,” Rob beamed.

“Well, aside from being parents now, what’s going on?”

“That’s pretty much it,” you laughed, “he takes up a lot of our time right now. But I’m very happy with that.”

The three of you chatted; mostly about Jackson and about how everyone’s Christmas had gone. You showed Kim the photos that Rob had collected of the two of you, grinning like a fool when you got to the proposal pictures. Rob had brought coffee for everyone at one point; and you all sat around laughing and catching up while Jackson slept peacefully in his bouncer.

You had a lot that you wanted to talk to Kim about, but it wasn’t necessarily a discussion that you wanted Rob to hear. You breathed a sigh of relief when he finally decided to take a shower, leaving you and Kim to chat.

“What’s going on?” Kim asked as she sipped on her coffee.

“What do you mean?”

“I know that look. Something happened and you’re waiting to talk about it.”

She knew you too well. You eagerly caught her up on the story about the phone call from your lawyer on Christmas Eve. You even told her about the fight that you and Rob had. Kim was easy to talk to about the tough stuff, mostly because she never judged you; she listened.

“Wow, so when I asked what was new, you were just waiting for Rob to leave before you told me.”

“Sort of. We agreed to not let it be the focus right now. We actually haven’t talked about it since. I know I want to, but I think he’s afraid to.”

“Do you have any doubt that Rob is Jackson’s father?”

“Not at all. I’ve told Rob a million times; the relationship between Chris and I was a mess. He was cheating on me before I went to Nashville. We hadn’t even been together in months.”

“Then why is he asking for a paternity test?”

You shrugged, “I think he’s just trying to find any way that he can get to me. I really believe that he enjoys hurting me. And this… I feel like he knew it would cause a strain in my relationship with Rob. You heard him in Chicago… he told Rob that the baby wasn’t even his. He said it to mess things up between us.”’

“He’s an even bigger asshole that I originally thought.”

“I just don’t understand. He didn’t want me anymore. But, when he found out that I had moved on, he’s just set on destroying everything.”

“But, you and Rob are okay?”

“I think so. I hope so. Things have been really good aside from that fight. I just… need him to know that I’m telling him the truth. Jackson is his, I’m one-hundred percent certain of it. Sometimes, I feel like he questions it though.”

“How can he? Look at him,” Kim motioned toward Jackson who was still sleeping, “I’ve never seen a baby who looks more like his dad.”

“I know, and I’m sure he knows as well. It’s my own anxiety that makes it hard to stop thinking about it.”

“I assume this all means that you want my advice again.”

“I’m always open to good advice,” you chuckled.

“Here’s what you do,” she repositioned herself on the couch so that she was now facing you directly, “you don’t fight Chris on it.”

You raised a brow, questioning whether Kim had lost her mind now.

“You agree to the test, don’t even bother waiting for a court order. Have your lawyer tell his lawyer that you agree to it.”

“Kim…”

“No, I know you’re certain, you’re both certain of who Jackson’s father is. It’s Rob. I’m also sure that Chris knows this. He has to. He’s only pushing for this so he can continue to hurt you. So, you agree to it and then wait and see what his next move is.”

“That all sounds so unnecessary,” you muttered. You didn’t want to think about even going through with the process. You had been trying to come up with ways to avoid a possible court order completely.

“Chances are, he just backs off. Because he knows he’s not his father. And, when he does back off, you make sure to include your family in that restraining order.”

“Really? You think that’s necessary?” You asked, now wondering why you hadn’t thought of doing that in the first place.

“Y/N, he was willing to flat out approach Rob and take a picture with him. Now, he’s bringing your son into whatever weird little fantasy he has going on in his head. He’s not going to be in jail forever, which means you’re not going to be done with him unless he loses interest. In turn, your family isn’t safe. But they can be safer with that restraining order.”

You thought about Kim’s advice. It was good advice as usual; if you agreed to the test, Chris would most likely back down, you were sure he wouldn’t want to end up paying for it just to prove that the baby wasn’t his. You hadn’t thought about a restraining order to protect all three of you, you didn’t think it would even be an issue. But, Kim made a good point. As long as Chris was willing to harass you, your family was going to be involved.

“The only problem now is getting Rob to get on board with agreeing to do the test.”

“And, that’s one that you’ll have to handle on your own, my dear.” Kim smiled as she picked her coffee back up, taking a long sip as she watched you.

“Thank you, Kim. I can always count on you.”

“That’s what friends are for, Y/N. I’m surprised you haven’t learned that by now. And, if you ever need someone to break his face again, I’m always ready.”

After Kim had left, you knew you had to talk to Rob. It wasn’t going to be something that he wanted to hear, but it was what he needed to hear.

“I’m going to call my lawyer today.” You told him casually as you relaxed in bed, feeding Jackson.

“Oh? Why?” Rob peeled his eyes from the TV to look at you.

“I’m going to just agree to the paternity test, get it over with.”

Rob sat up in a huff, obviously not happy with your decision. “I thought we decided to just ignore this until he got a court order.”

“Well, you decided. I know he’s going to be able to get one, but I just want this over with. I don’t want him to have a reason to keep bothering me.”

“Y/N, you can’t do this without at least talking to me.”

“We’re talking, and I’m telling you that I’m agreeing to it,” you eyed Rob, waiting for his reaction.

Rob’s face became red, you could tell he was getting angry at your choice.

“Well, he’s my son too and I’m not agreeing.”

“Rob… I’m just so tired. I’m done with him having a reason to stay in my life. Him claiming that Jackson is his is giving him a reason. We both know that he isn’t his son. Wouldn’t it be easier to just, prove it now? Be done with it?”

“So, you’re saying, just give in? Let him have this one?”

“I’m saying that I think he’ll drop it if I agree to it. He knows Jackson isn’t his, he’s just trying to ruin what we have. If I just say yes to doing the test, I’m almost certain that he’ll drop the idea.” You watched Rob as he thought hard about what you had said. It was a change, that’s for sure. You had been certain that he would fight you on this, insisting that you couldn’t give in to what Chris wanted. Rob was very protective of you and now your son, because the two of you were his. You were his family and his life at this point.

“Okay. If it helps to keep him away from you, then okay.”

“And once it’s done; and we either prove he’s not his or he just backs out of it, I’m going to see about including you and Jackson in the restraining order.”

Rob didn’t even argue with you like you thought he would. Deep down, he must have been thinking the same thing. When it came to Chris, you weren’t always safe. The people around you weren’t safe. Any bit of protection that you could offer was important.

You waited anxiously for your lawyer to call back the next day. You had called him, told him to just allow the paternity test, no court order needed. You knew that the discussion had to happen and it wouldn’t happen quickly. Your lawyer had to call his lawyer who then had to talk to Chris before anyone would get back to you. It was slowly driving you crazy though, all of this waiting. You tried to take your mind off it the best you could. Rob was out, finally taking some time to work with Rich on their show. He didn’t like the idea of going back to work so soon, but you admit that you sort of pushed him into it. While it was wonderful to have him with you all day, being so attentive to Jackson, you also needed time to yourself. It wasn’t easy to get used to having a man who was so focused on you all the time. You were used to being alone for so long, Rob was still someone that you were trying to learn. You figured that he was also weary of going back to work because he genuinely enjoyed spending time with the baby. They had a special bond; and today, when Rob left the house, you immediately recognized his hesitation on leaving. You had to assure him that you and Jackson would be fine on your own and that he needed time to himself as well. Half the day was gone already and he had only called four or five times to check on the two of you.

You were in the middle of folding laundry, trying to get your mind off the phone call that you were expecting, when the phone finally rang.

“Hello, Y/N.” Your lawyers familiar voice greeted you when you answered.

“Hey, so… how did it go? Are we just going to get this done quickly? I just want this to be over with.” You spoke quickly and nervously, hoping that he would assure you that this would all be over soon.

“Well, we had a conversation,” he replied, “a lot of back and forth really. Sorry it took so long to get back to you.”

“It’s fine. Just tell me we can get this over with.”

“Strangely, there isn’t going to be a paternity test.”

You exhaled the breath that you had been holding in, “Really? He’s just dropping it?”

“He is. It was an interesting conversation. It was almost as if he thought that by doing a paternity test, he might see you somehow.”

“What?”

“He talked a lot about doing this test, and seeing you for some reason. I had to remind him that the restraining order is still in place, and there was no need for you to have any contact with him whatsoever.”

“Ok?” You had to admit, this wasn’t exactly what you were expecting. You should have known though; Chris was willing to go out of his way to track you down to see you on many occasions in the past. You had figured by this point, that he was mostly just trying to wreck your life,  not make any attempt to actually see you again.

“When he realized that there would be no contact, he just said he didn’t want it done. It’s almost as if he were only doing this because he thought he would see you or something.”

“I didn’t realize that that could be the reason for all of this, I thought it was more along the lines of him wanting to ensure Rob and I might fight because of it.”

“Hmm, I’m sorry Y/N. But, you don’t have to worry. There was never any reason for you to have contact with him; and now, your family won’t be bothered with this.”

“I want to include Rob and Jackson in the restraining order,” you blurted out.

“I think I can make that happen. And I think it’s a good decision. Based on past reports and incidents, I’m sure I can get this done. I’ll get back to you when I can get a new order written up.”

You couldn’t wait for Rob to return home for the day. You were excited to tell him the news; that Chris wasn’t going through with the paternity test and the three of you would be left alone for now. Meanwhile, you had a fussy baby and it seemed as if nothing would calm him. You had exhaustively tried everything. You had fed him, changed him, rocked him… it was times like this when you wish Rob was home. He was always able to calm Jackson, it was if the two had a special bond that even you didn’t have with either of them.

When you had come to your wits end, frustrated that you couldn’t console him, you remembered how Rob would occasionally bring out his guitar and play during tough nights and it always seemed to calm Jackson.

“Maybe it’s worth a shot,” you said to Jackson, who was now sitting grumpily in his bouncer. You made your way across the room to retrieve your guitar that Rob had bought for you. “I know I’m not as good as dad, but maybe you just like music.”

You walked back to the couch and sat in front of him as he looked up at you, eyes teary and soft whines escaping his lips.

“I don’t know any lullabies,” you continued, “but I was writing a lot before you were born. I can play you something.” You watched him, waiting, as if he were going to answer you. “Hmm, I’ve got one that I’m still working on. It’s kind of sad, but I’ll play it if you want. It’s nice and slow.”

Your voice must have been soothing to him. He stopped crying for a moment when you brought your guitar to your lap, where you took a moment to tune it quickly before you started playing.

Well this moment is heavy For me I'm not ready Like a caged bird barely set free Forgive me I'm finding my wings While my body is present My heart is absent And my mind is racing And my feet are pacing It's your tail you're chasing It's the past I'm erasing And your heart can't be tested When it ain't well-rested

Jackson had finally stopped crying completely now. He only looked at you, quiet as you continued to strum and sing softly.

My gears are grinding I'm leaving, you're arriving It's a matter of timing I guess loving ain't surviving It's your tail that you're chasing It's the past I'm erasing And a heart can't be tested When it ain't well-rested It's your tail that you're chasing It's the past I'm erasing And a heart can't be tested When it ain't well-rested Don't waste your investment If a heart ain't well-rested My heart ain't well-rested

When you had finished playing, you looked down to Jackson, who was now miraculously sleeping. Maybe it was just music in general that calmed him. You smiled softly at him, reaching down to pull his blanket up.

“He likes to hear you sing.” Startled, you turned quickly toward the voice that you weren’t expecting. Rob stood at the doorway, gently closing the door behind him as he entered the house.

“How long have you been there?” You asked as you worked on settling your nerves.

“I think I caught most of the show,” he chuckled.

“You snuck up on me.”

“You just didn’t even notice me walk in.”

“I guess I was a little in the moment. He was upset so I was just trying to calm him.”

“It worked,” he nodded toward your sleeping baby as he walked toward you. “Rough day?” You expected him to sit next to you; instead he guided you back onto the couch so that you were lying down. He crawled across the couch so that he was lying right next to you. He pulled you close to him, arms wrapped around you as his lips found yours. You stayed lost in the moment, a long kiss that gave you butterflies.

“Sort of, he’s been very fussy and I’m pretty sure it’s because dad wasn’t around. He likes you more.”

“Don’t say that,” Rob frowned, “I think I calm him because I’m always singing to him.”

“Well, I’ll remember that then,” you hummed as he began to kiss your neck.

“Please do. You’ve got a beautiful voice.” He continued to kiss you, hands running along your back and you relaxed into him. “Do you always write such sad songs?”

“Not always, I haven’t written in a while. It was just a song I wrote back when things were kind of a mess.”

“Well, I guess if anything, our lives up to this point have made for some pretty great music,” he chuckled as he pulled back to look you in the eyes.

You laughed softly, “Yeah, I think you’re right. Let’s just not make a habit of it.”

“I missed you today,” Rob sighed as he watched you. You met his gaze and gave it a moment before you spoke.

“You know, I kinda really missed you too.”

“How was your day?” He asked, “aside from the cranky baby?”

“Oh, my lawyer finally called me back…”

“What did he say?”

“There’s not going to be a paternity test. He dropped it,” you said with a smile.

“Really?” Rob grinned back at you, almost looking as if he didn’t believe it. “He really just decided not to go through with it?”

“I told you, he knows damn well he’s not his son. Apparently, he was just trying to come up with a way to see me again.”

“Good,” he replied, still smiling as his eyes never left yours, “now we can just go back to being happy and not having to worry about him.”

“Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.”

“Also, we’ve still got this wedding to work on,” he reminded you. You groaned as he brought it up again. “Is it really that painful to think that you’re marrying me?”

“No, it’s painful planning a wedding,” you whined, “it’s a lot of work. It’s going to be a lot more work for me now that you’re back out there… working.”

“That doesn’t mean that I’m not going to help,” he said, “besides, I was wondering when you thought about maybe going back and finishing the songs you were working on.”

“Are you asking me to go back to work?”

“No, not really. I just… you were working so hard in the studio. You basically stopped in the middle of everything when you found out you were pregnant. I just know it’s something that you wanted to do, and I want you to know that I still support you.”

“Thank you. I don’t think I’m ready just yet. I’m very happy being here with Jackson, getting to see you when you come home. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. I just want to make sure that you’re not putting all of that work on hold because you feel like you have to.”

“Thank you,” you said, genuinely touched that he cared enough about your career to make sure you weren’t putting it on the back burner just because of your family. “I just, feel like this is where I belong right now. All of those songs were really hard to write, and most of them were about some really difficult things. I don’t feel sad anymore, and I don’t feel the need to work on those sad songs right now.”

Rob frowned at you, “they’re great songs and I really hope you consider finishing an album.”

“I will,” you promised, “when the time is right.”

The two of you stayed on the couch, cuddling for the first time in what seemed like a long time. Jackson still slept soundly as you and Rob talked. You asked him about the second season of the show that he was working on with Rich and he asked you to talk more about your day. While it wasn’t exactly as exciting as his day, he still listened. You also discussed more wedding details, most of which sounded boring to you as you actually hated planning the wedding. If you could have it your way; you and Rob would just elope, make the whole thing low-key and quick. However, Rob seemed pretty set on a ‘real’ wedding and you certainly didn’t want to take that away from him.

After what seemed like a couple of hours of lazing around and talking, Jackson finally began to stir, whining softly as he woke.

“Uh oh,” Rob mumbled as he looked across you, “someone’s grumpy again.”

“I’ll get him,” you said as you sat up from the couch. You quickly picked him up, cradling him against you as you made your way to the nursery to change him. Rob followed close behind.

“Hey,” he began, “I was thinking… I’ve got Vegas con coming up next month… do you think it’s too soon to travel with a baby?”

You glanced at him as you were in the middle of changing Jackson’s diaper, “I don’t know, wouldn’t it be a bit of a hassle?”

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s a short flight from here and it’s not like we’d be dragging him across the country.”

“Hmm, I suppose it couldn’t be too bad. Why?”

“Will you and Jackson come with me to Vegas?” He looked at you, hopeful. You had stopped following him around to conventions months ago, when you became too pregnant to keep up with him. You admit that you enjoyed the conventions. It gave you a chance to hang out with friends while still being able to spend time with Rob even while he was working.

“Really?” you grinned at him, “you want your fiancée and your baby to cramp your style? In Vegas of all places?”

“You won’t. it’s just, it’s four days. I don’t know if I can be away from you two for that long.”

You grinned at him, finding it adorable that he didn’t want to be far from you and Jackson, “I think it would be fun. And I think we could make it work.”

Tag List: @tas898, @wolfyangel-is-a-pluviophile, @narisjournal-blog, @dont-hate-relate-pls, @waywardswain, @nerdyforyourbooks, @perksofbeingafangirl26, @crowley-you-sinnamon-roll, @pepperwoodatnight, @idk-fandom @please-stop-killing-dean, @b-northington, @sclerafantrash, @itsilvermorny, @jannalionheart, @feelmyroarrrr, @capital-eyyyy-ohhh, @prlncess-nuala, @nekodresden85, @thebookisbtr, @internationalfandomgirl, @smoothdogsgirl, @chantelle-c333. @emilywells19 @laffytaffyhumor @lucifersxvessel @thefelinemedia78 @onlyanothersocialcasualty @typicalweirdbookworm @littleshone @a-queen-and-her-throne @fandooomqueenforyou @spnackleholicswainer  @soythedemonqueen @girl-next-door-writes @destielschild @fangirl1855  @your-not-invisible-to-me @bea789  @a-michellerae-things​   @multi-fan-dom-madness  @winchestergirl-13   @ncisgothchick @simplycheyenneautumn @ourloveisforthelovely

[bartallenisbae]

Everything was perfect until

              this is based on comic Bart not cartoon

It was 3 am in the morning and Bart and Mandy Allen were sleeping in their bed when they heard a loud cry of a 4-month-old baby and then after a few seconds, another loud cry of another 4-month-old baby hit their ear's. Bart and Mandy both sighed and got up and walked tiredly to the nursery of Max and Meloni.   Meloni was the look-alike of her dad and her grandma.Meloni Allen had her dad and grandma's thick brown hair and had her dads bright green eyes like her dad. Max Allen had his dad's and grandma's thick hair but he had his mom's blonde-gold hair color(Little fact:newborns have little hair when born then they lose it then grow it back to the natural color they have until older example: when born they have brown hair then they lose it then grow new hair which is blonde until like 13 it turns brown and newborns eye colors change until like 6 months,I won't go by real-life logic I'll use cartoon logic) and he had his dad's green eye's.he looked like a male version of his twin but with blonde hair and green eyes.     The nursery was a medium sized room,it was painted blue on the left side and pink on the left with two rocking chairs that were blue and pink as well and two cribs one on the right was blue and the one on the left with a diaper change section ready for a number two(yeah I made a bad joke deal with it). Meloni and max were wearing baby PJ pants that said "yes we are twins and no we aren't identical.   Bart picked up Meloni and Mandy picked up Max.Both were diaper changed and being fed by their parents, Bart was bottle feeding Meloni and Mandy was breastfeeding Max. After they were fed they were both being rocked in the arms of their parents slowly falling asleep and Meloni fell asleep first so Bart put Meloni in her pink crib. Bart turned and saw that Mandy had gotten out of the rocking chair and was just holding Max in her arms while Max‘s eyes were slowly going down from exhaustion.    ‘I can't believe how great a family I have‘ Bart thought with a smile as he went behind Mandy and put his chin on Mandy's head since he was taller and wrapped his arms around Mandy's waist rocking back and forth trying to help get max to go to sleep. After max fell asleep Mandy put him down in his crib. Mandy looked at both her children "I can't believe how much they look like you" Mandy whispered so she doesn't wake them "Hey come on don't give me all the credit you gave birth to them and gave max his hair color".       "Oh gosh I am so tired," Mandy said as she left part with the twins to go to sleep.Bart was in front of the cribs watching them sleep and said " One day you two will save the world, I know it" he said with a smile as he left to go join his wife in falling back asleep.

It was a stormy day and Mandy and Bart were trying to get their children ready for a family gathering. Max was wearing a red onesie that said "I was planned" and Meloni wore a white onesie said, "I wasn't ."Do we have the diaper's" Amanda said buckling in her 6-month-year-old daughter that was trying to get her mom's hand to eat since she was teething "Uh hold on...check" Bart said as he was looking through the baby's diaper bag while max was in his car seat.    Max decided it would be fun to grab Bart's hair as he was going through the bag "Hey,max no let go of daddy's hair" Bart said calmly trying to get his son to let go of his hair "Haha Bart he is only 6 months, he isn't that strong just pull his hand away" Mandy said in the shotgun seat, Bart realized Mandy was right so he took max's hands off his hair,Max and Meloni laughed at Bart for not realizing it sooner.    "See Mandy I told you,they do get what their doing"   Bart said like a child tattle tailing on another kid, Mandy turned and saw not the laughing children but the innocent, angel children that didn't do a thing wrong, Bart's mouth was open form how those two kids could act so innocent. "Bart, they were probably laughing at something else for a second, they are just kids" Mandy said looking at art like he was crazy.     ‘Those little trickster's' Bart thought. About an hour later it was still raining and storming outside, during the car ride Bart had to drive(and yes part normally gets speeding tickets when he drives nothing else but speeding tickets) and mandy moved to the back in the middle while they were driving because the twins started crying because they were scared of the thunder and lightning."Come on you two how can you be scared of lightning that's literally your great-grandpa's superhero symbol" Mandy said as they were pulling up to their destination.    They were going to a family gathering. Everyone there.Barry, Iris(1), wally, Linda, Jai, iris(2), Jenni, Meloni, and max and Bart and Mandy were just a few steps from the door. When they left the car they made sure the twins didn't get wet at all by putting blankets that they had in case of it raining or the twins got cold and put the blankets over them. When they entered they were immediately crowd by the family gushing over the twins well except jail and iris, they were jealously looking at the other twins.    Max mercury got to hold baby Max and Meloni got to hold baby Meloni first, now it's not like the family hasn't seen the babies oh no they have visited them multiple times it's just the family can't get enough of their cuteness but jail and iris(2) have been acting different since the Allen twins have arrived.Everyone except jai and iris(who were in the kitchen not far from sight)were in the living room googling over the baby twins.   The babies were still being held by max and Meloni. "They look just like you Bart" max says playing with baby max toes as baby max giggled"Yeah a lot of people have told me" Bart says with a proud grin "I just hope they aren't like you" Wally said who is on Bart's left "Hey what do you mean by that" Bart says with a childish sad face,Meloni was still holding baby Meloni and said "Bart, you were a very...active as a child,it was a challenge for your dad to catch you,how are you going to catch both speedster's who are faster than don and dawn were at this age,well at least that's what Batman thinks" Meloni said wondering how her son is going to catch two little speedster's that are the fastest born speedster twins yet, Baby Meloni took Melanie's hand started chewing on her hand Meloni smiled at her granddaughter that looked like a replica of her and her son.    "They are getting close to crawling but they haven't run yet so I'm pretty sure I got time before they run," Bart said and Meloni just smiled thinking ‘You have no idea but how much you sound like your father'. Mandy noticed that jai and iris(2)  were not there in the room "Hey where are jai and iris(2)" Mandy asked kinda missing the two twins that look nothing like "Oh they are in the kitchen" Linda said as Mandy got up to go see the west twins. Mandy went to the kitchen to find jai and iris(2) sitting looking depressed and ignored.     Mandy knew something was wrong, ever since her children were born they have been acting distant "Hey you two what's wrong" Mandy said as she took a seat next to them.They looked mad at her,jai turned away and said "Why do you care, you have max and Meloni, you don't love us anymore" iris(2) looked away as well. Mandy finally got why they were acting different, they were jealous of Max and Meloni,how did she not see it sooner "What are you two talking about,I love you two and I always will but Max and Meloni have a special connection with me the same as your parents do with you, your parents love you more than Max and Meloni,you see a mother and baby grow close to each other during pregnancy so it makes a special bond and the dad has some of it as well but I promise no matter what I will love you two" Mandy said with her hands on their shoulders " what if they don't like us" iris(2) said with a scared voice.    Mandy smiled and said "Are you kidding they are going to love you guys, you guys are going to be the ones they look up to, in fact, did you know that Bart looked up to your dad when they were both young" Mandy said with a kind smile trying to get them to understand. Jai and iris(2) looked at Mandy with a shocked expression "really" they both asked in unison, Mandy smiled and nodded. Before Mandy could blink the west twins sped to her children.    Mandy walked to the living room and saw the west twins playing with the Allen twins that were now off Meloni and max's lap and now on the ground just laying on their stomachs. They have been trying to crawl for a while now but just haven't gotten the hang of it, they are able to stand on all fours but they fall when they try to crawl. Jenni asked Bart " so are you going to teach them our language"(in the comics in the future they create a new language for everyone in the future but not in this future so only Jenni and Bart and Meloni(1) know the language) Bart hasn't thought of it at all " well yeah, in case someone from our time and only knows that language like you did" Bart said as Jenni and Bart looked at each other remembering how hard it was for her to learn English.     The adults just admired how the West twins and Allen twins were playing "Come on Meloni crawl, you can do it" Iris(2) said trying to get baby Meloni to crawl to her and jai got an idea "hey lets get them to race I bet Max is faster" Jai said with a grin "Don't expect them to race that fast they are still just crawling" Iris(1) said as they were lining the baby's up so they can race " Ready, set, go" iris(2) and jai said at the same time. Everyone watched to see if the Allen twins would really crawl. Max is the first to go on all fours then Meloni saw her brother on all fours and then got on all fours.They both began to crawl and everyone eyes were wide open and their mouths wide open as well then something even more shocking happened.The twins only crawled a couple steps then they...speed crawling.    Everyone only saw red and white blurs going around the house and could hear them giggling. "Come on speedster's go get them before they leave the house," Mandy said in a panic. Bart, Wally, Barry, Max, and Jenni sped off to go get the speeding babies,jai and iris(2) were held back by Linda. It took like 1 minutes of them running to catch the twins to catch them. They were all breathless trying to catch their breaths. Bart was holding max as max was chewing on his hand as if nothing happened and max mercury was holding Meloni as she was crying and putting her arms out to her mama so she would hold her. Everyone stood silently except Meloni for a few seconds.     Mandy came back to her senses and heard her baby's cry and walked and took her baby Meloni from max mercury and when Meloni was in her mamas arms she stopped crying and just smiled at her mama " oh Meloni, it's ok mamas got you,it must have been scary to speed for the first time" Mandy cuddled and babied her baby. The women looked more shocked than the men " Mandy, don and dawn speeded at 5, Jai and iris(2) were 6, and Jenni and Bart were both 4 which means they are the youngest speedsters yet" iris(1) said with a shocked look. Mandy and Bart looked at each other with fear.

The twins first birthday finally arrived and both Mandy and Bart's family were there. The twins were speeding everywhere, The Allen's and the hamilton's(and yes they are descendants of Alexander Hamilton) were all enjoying the 1st birthday party but one of the mandy's brother was not there due to being in the military. Her whole family knew she married a superhero."Bart, the Tasmanian devil(max) is on in the fridge again" Mandy shouted to bar while trying to get her daughter to stop crying from being jealous of her brother getting more attention than her by trying to get her mamas attention by hugging her mama's legs.     Bart sped to the fridge and just as he got there max fell off the fridge and bar caught him before he could hit his head "Max come on buddy you can't do that" Bart told his 1-year-old son while holding him"bah baaah boooo" Max spat out trying to speak to his dad, Bart just smiled and hugged his son "oh come on bud I'm trying to be mad at you so stop being so cute". As Mandy was trying to catch her cute little walking daughter.     The twins learned to walk when their parents were asleep, mandy and Bart woke up to Meloni and Max on top of their parent's stomachs "How did they get out" Mandy said as the twins giggled and got off the bed and just started walking with no problems.    When mandy caught her daughter she felt little arms around her.It was her 10-year-old nephew Deacon, he looked just like all the boys in the Hamilton family and his dad's side of the family.He had brown hair and blueish green eyes just like his mom."Aunt Mandy, did you miss me" Iris(1) then walked and asked to take Meloni for a bit and mandy gave Meloni to her.Mandy kneeled down to deacon's hit and messed up his hair, deacon hugged her and giggled "Nope"(It's a rwby reference) she said with a smile as deacon smiled and giggled then deacon's 8-year-old little sister Charlene rae DeYoung(the dads last name) but everyone calls her rae came and hugged her.      Rae looked like a mini version of her mom and aunt and acted like her aunt Mandy, she had blonde hair and had green eyes like her dad, she was creative and carefree and sang every minute of every day and she had ADHD and loved to read and was shy with new people. Everyone in the family calls her Mandy jr. once and awhile just to bother Mandy's sister which is Rae's mom jean.     Jean was almost the opposite of mandy, she was scheduled, social and was super active and Deacon was just like his mom but he loved to built things just like his dad. Mandy felt bad for rae, she understood what it was like to have an older relative that others compare you to, she was stilled called jean once and awhile.Mandy and jean were super close and so were deacon and rae.Mandy tickled rae,rae giggled and ran off.Mandy smiled as deacon chased after she and mandy went to see how max was, max was walking to Mandy's brother Devin's 6-year-old daughter Adeline who was eating a cookie.    Adeline looked like a china doll, she was a replica of her mother with blue eyes, she had long braided strawberry blonde hair just like her mom and bright blue eyes like her dad, and she had her mom's snow white skin. Her brother mike's son Jaxon was playing with Adeline. Jaxon was a curly black haired boy with some chub, he looked like mike with black hair and he acted just like mike, he was sweet and could hardly hurt anyone.   Johnnys wife and daughter Abby was also there. Abby was a sweet girl with brown wavy hair and blue eyes just like her dad, she loved fireworks and causing trouble though she never meant to hurt anyone many called her the female johnny.    Mandy heard a knock on the door,when she opened the door and saw her brother johnny who was supposed to be in the army " JOHNNY" Mandy hugged her brother "oh my gosh what are you doing here,you didn't leave the army did you,you know that's illegal" Johnny laughed "No Mandy,I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you that I get a vacation off for a month and don't worry Megan(his wife, to be honest, Mandy thought Megan acted just like Anna from Frozen and loved her like a real sister like she did with all her brother and sister in laws) knows"    Mandy laughed "Hey guess who is here," Mandy said just as Megan ran hugged johnny "Johnny, "I missed you" and then his daughter Abby hugged him too. All of Mandy's family hugged johnny.Johnny hugged all of them and got to mandy "Mandy I haven't seen my nephew and niece yet" Mandy gasped "oh yeah you haven't, come on".    Mandy dragged johnny to Bart in the kitchen "Johnny this is Max and Meloni" Bart was holding max and Meloni as max tried to steal one of Meloni's toy's, johnny laughed at seeing his niece and nephew fighting, Bart then noticed johnny "Hey man it's been awhile huh" Bart said to his friend/brother-in-law.   Johnny laughed and nodded and picked up max from Bart "Wow Bart did you clone these two to look like you " They laughed "Max would look just like Bart if he had reddish-brown hair" "Mandy a lot of people when you were younger would say to mom that they wished they had hair like that" .    Mandy never remembered that but was told that often since her hair was so white as a child now it was gold.Max then began to try to get down so he could run off, johnny let max go and as soon as he did ‘ZOOM'  He ran off, Bart sighed and gave Meloni to Mandy and sped to go catch his son, Meloni laughed and hugged her mommy.     "Mandy I have to be honest, something big is going to happen and I have to tell you, you see it...it has something to do with metas...President Thawne is planning on killing all the meta's, that includes children.He want's the army to help, it's being held a secret so meta's will not expect it " johnny said sadly looking at his niece eating her mom's hair, Mandy froze for a few seconds then looked at Meloni and hugged her.     "Mandy, I promise I will do anything I can to protect them, I lied to president thawne so you have more time to prepare,I would lie over a million things if it keeps my family safe" Mandy had a tear in her right eye holding her daughter a little tighter and said "don't tell anyone until after the twins eat their cake, this will probably be the last peaceful moment without worry in everyone's mind" johnny nodded. Everyone had their cameras, johnny was holding his daughter. Mandy brought the two twin cakes with the number one on it, the lights went off and after they sang Happy birthday both the twins started munching down on the cake.

After a few hours later Johnny told everyone what was happening. Everyone was pretty much looking at Max and Meloni. After everyone left the twins were asleep in their cribs,Mandy and Bart were in the kitchen trying to think of what to do "Maybe we can move to Gotham or Metropolis" "Mandy that wouldn't stop them from finding them,they don't understand that we have to keep our powers a secret so they just keep using them and president thawne is now able to detect people with the speed force" Bart said in frustration "Wait, Bart what if we got Batman to help us block our town from the detecting speed force " Mandy suggested.Bart looked at his wife and smiled and picked her up and twirled her around "Mandy that's perfect" Bart kissed Mandy and they just stood there just enjoying each other until they heard two babies crying.Bart and Mandy separated and laughed  "I swear those two can sense when we are wanting alone time," Bart said.They went to their children's room.Max and Meloni both stopped crying when they saw their parents and started laughing.

Bart Allen was cleaning his twins in the bath as they were splashing each other and giggling "Come on you two let's get you dry,mommy is going to be home from her Elim meeting soon and I promised that you two would at least be dressed for bed" He said as he was putting his towel on max as Meloni was trying to run off not wanting to get dry,she sped to the kitchen "Bahhba dabtbyh" Meloni squeaked trying to say she was hungry but still hasn't said her first words, neither of them have as Bart caught her and put a towel on her before she could run again,Bart picked Meloni up and sped to the bathroom max laughed and dropped his towel and tried to run off to but was blocked by Bart "haha sorry max but your old man is still faster, one day you will be but not today".     Bart sped to Max and brought the two to their room and locked it so the twins wouldn't get out since they both know how to open doors. Bart was picking out pajamas as max began to "help"(throwing clothes everywhere) Bart "Thanks, max you are so helpful" Bart says sarcastically with a smirk.Meloni saw Bart was distracted, so she sped to the door trying to open it, But didn't even look behind him to know what Meloni was doing  "Meloni, princess I locked the door you aren't able to open it" still not looking at Meloni.     Meloni started crying confused on why the door was not opening "I hungwy" Meloni cried ,Bart stopped what he was doing and turned "What did you say" I hungwy" Meloni said still mad her daddy wasn't giving her food,Bart smiled and picked her up and spun her around both of them laughing,max saw this and got jealous of his sibling,Bart put Meloni down as Max sped around his daddy a few times to impress him "I faster" Max said, Bart smiled at his twins, he picked up max and spun him around too.     After he got them changed into their pj's he said: "Ok you two deserve a snack but you can't tell mommy".Meloni was wearing a pink onesie that said princess and Max were wearing a blue onesie that said night that protects the princess. Bart picked up the twins and took them to the kitchen to eat. Mandy got home late to find her husband on the couch cuddling her two children with leftover pizza on their face and leftover pizza boxes, all of them.

The twins were now 3 years old and everything was going wrong. The twins were healthy and all but speedsters were vanishing. Jay Garrick is dead, barry's dead, and most recently...max mercury, Wally has been attacked but made it out alive and now iris(2) and jai aren't allowed to go to school in case something happens there.    When Bart was called and told that max died Bart didn't talk, he just was silent. He hanged up the phone and looked at Mandy as she was watching their kids draw "Mandy max is...gone" then went to their room.Mandy saw all of it, she picked up the twins and put them in their rooms "Stay in here for a few minutes alright sonic(Meloni)and the Tasmanian devil(max)" Mandy said.  The twins nodded and started jumping on their beds, Meloni had a pink bed on the left was painted pink and max had a red bed on the right side was red, Mandy didn't even tell them to stop she just wanted to talk to Bart.   She went to their room to see Bart sitting on their bed with his hands on his face and shoulders on his knees. He wasn't crying just mourning, Mandy went on the bed and hugged Bart from behind "Bart, I'm so sorry I know how much you looked up to max" "Mandy you don't need to apologize you didn't do any of this I just can't believe he's gone, the first jay then grandpa now max heck they even tried to kill Wally" Bart said getting off the bed.  Mandy moved some of her blonde hair behind her right ear "Bart I know you are scared but we can make this work out" Bart turned to Mandy in anger " Mandy even grandpa and grandma never gone through this, my dad and aunt were raised by my grandma,she wasn't alone she had Wally and friends,that's not going to happen if I die, Mandy, No one would be able to help you because everyone hates metas and they will kill anyone who even knows any metas that include your family,my mom would be at risk so she would hardly ever be able to come help you, Linda couldn't help you since she would be watching iris(2) and Jai and Jenni isn't going to be able to train them she is in 2017 to be a superhero there,Mandy you would have to raise the twins alone and train them to control their speed which no non meta has done and I love you too much to let you go through that, grandma had Wally train dad and aunt dawn,and Barry, Wally, max and me helped iris(2) and Jai and if I died Thaddeus would know and there would be a big g chance he will try to kidnap you which means you would need to change your name, and the twins would be raised with fear" Bart said in anger and frustration and fear Mandy got up and slapped Bart "don't say things like that Bart, everything is going to fine ok, and please quiet down we don't want the twins coming" just as she tried to call Bart down the twins came in with curiosity and innocence "mommy why is daddy yelling" max asked with his big green eyes.  Bart looked regretfully at his children for having them hear all of that. Mandy put a fake smile on and went her kids and kneeled to their height. She put her hand on her lap "babies, I'm sorry but...your grandpa max(that's what the twins call him, well called) he isn't coming back"  "you mean like how grandpa Barry left"(Barry died a few months ago) Mandy shedded a tear.  She brushed her tear away " yeah like grandpa Barry".

Bart and Wally were about to leave for a mission, it was pretty dangerous and risky. Iris(2) and jai were playing with the twins as Bart was getting ready, Mandy was helping him, she gave Bart his shoes and once Bart had them on Mandy hugged him Toby and kissed him,they separated their lips and just had their noses touching "come back here when you're done" Mandy said not wanting to let him go. Bart smiled as he let Mandy go "babe I will try to get home as fast as I can" Wally saw this and tapped Bart's shoulder "let's go ‘flash' " "whatever you say ‘blink'"(yeah Wally actually went with that name.) The flash hugged his twins and so did blink.The flash didn't want to let go but he knew he had to. The Flash let go of his twins and looked at his family one last time and left with the blink.       It has been a week and Mandy was scared more then she has ever been. Meloni thawne was there helping Mandy with the twins.The twins were both finally asleep in their beds.Mandy and Meloni were both watching the tv on the couch to watch The Flash and Blink were fighting on the news as the news was saying how metas are evil and they are demons.       The camera was destroyed as a building fell. The news media ran off, The flash was fighting The Reverse Flash(Thaddeus Thawne the second), The reverse flash killed Wally and Bart was furious. They were hitting each other left and right with no mercy.     The reverse flash had The Flash's neck the wall " I have been waiting for this day for a long time, I killed jay, barry, max and now Wally and soon you,just give up Bart"  "Never"  Bart punched Thad, Thad laughed "oh Bart once you're dead I'm going to kill Jai and iris(2), then take Mandy and I will kill your twins, I was going to keep them and raise them but I don't want to take any chances,they might try to kill me when their older, Mandy won't be happy but after some time she will come to love me,you know I think I might try to have a kid with her".    Bart growled Thad vibrated his hand through Bart's heart.Bart had so many thoughts were going through his head, who would take the flash legacy, what would happen to max and Meloni, what would happen to Mandy, would his family be safe, Bart's last words were "you can kill one hero but another always comes back".   Mandy and Meloni(1) were on the couch, not saying anything just looking at the phone wondering if Bart and Wally had survived. The phone rang, Mandy jumped and grabbed the phone. After a few seconds Mandy fell to the ground crying, Meloni got up and went to the basement and turned on the security that makes it so no speedster could get in or out without the remote watches and that would hide them from the government. Even the twins couldn't get out, they would once they could control their speed and would get the watches that opened the security.  Meloni took max and Meloni for a few days until both Wally and Bart's funeral. Everyone felt horrible for Mandy, she would have to do something no one else has ever done she would need to hide the only Allen's left, she would need to teach them how to control their speed even with her having no speed herself and had to do it all alone. Mandy was going to have to hide from the government and the world.    Years later Linda and Jai and iris(2) were in hiding and so were Mandy and Max and Meloni. Jai and iris(2) were around 15, they have been able to have more freedom then Max and Meloni since they are west's and are able to control their speed, they can't teach Max and Meloni since they are too young and someone might see them walk or speed with Max and Meloni.     Max and Meloni were 8 years old. They both were still having problems with controlling their speed, they would vibrate randomly. They were both very...extroverted.    Max looked just like his dad when he was his age, the only difference is his hair color. Max had blonde hair still and had his dad's big green eye's and he was around a normal 8-year-old height. Mandy would call Max Bart a lot on accident.   Meloni looked like the smaller replica of her grandmother and her father still. She had huge brown hair and big green eyes. She was a bit shorter than max.     Mandy was working on a something big when she heard her daughter calling her. Mandy ran to her daughter upstairs as fast as she could. When she got to her daughter who was in the upstairs hallways, she tried to catch her breath "baby what's wrong" " mom, max can't stop vibrating again, he's in our room hiding in the closet".    Mandy ran to Max's room, she saw Max's and Melanie's room.It was painted red and had yellow lightning bolts on the wall, it had twin bunk beds in the middle of the room. Mandy ran to the closet and opened it to find Max holding his knees, looking like a blur, max lifted his head to see his mom and started talking so fast she couldn't understand "Max listen it's going to be ok listen to my voice and take a deep breath" Mandy kept repeating that over and over until Max stopped vibrating.    After 3 minutes max finally stopped vibrating.He hugged his mom and started crying "Mom I hate this,I wish I could control my speed" "I know honey but your speed isn't something that is easy to control" "Mom is there a speedster that could train Meloni and me" Mandy looked at her son with sorrow "Maybe one day baby, maybe one day"

     Max and Meloni were 12 years old and able to control their speed but they didn't know what they could do with their speed since no one was able to train them, all they knew was how to change fast. Mandy was so close to finishing the project she was working on. Max and Meloni were both tagging each other around the house when an alarm went off.     The whole house had red lights and a fire alarm on. Max and Meloni had know idea what was going on, they never even knew they had an alarm. They both looked at each other as they heard their mom coming up the stairs from the basement, they were not allowed down there.     Mandy looked around and looked out the window to see her security system being attacked by another speedster.She looked at the floor and whispered "I knew this day would come" she walked to the twins and said "Both of you go down to the basement, there are two suits down there and put them on, after you do that you stay there until I come back down" The twins were looking at each other confused.Mandy ran to the living room.    Max found his mom but she wasn't happy, she was working on something on the tv watching the security camera's "Max I'm being serious go to the basement then I will explain everything, I am giving you permission to go to the basement"    Max grabbed Melanie's hand and went down to the basement. They both saw two suits in huge clear glass cases. The suit on the left was sheep white and had red down the middle and had yellow speed goggles and made for a boy. The right suit was white and had a red bolt going down the middle and had red speed goggles. Both looked like the impulse suit, but the right was a girl. They were both in awe, the suits were perfect.     They walked to the huge glass cases and looked at each other and smiled. They put the suits on as fast as they could. Mandy came downstair and saw her children in their new suits. Max turned and saw his mom and hugged her She smiled ‘oh gosh max looks just like Bart in that suit' Mandy thought.      Meloni noticed her mom and sped in front of her "mom what's going on"  Meloni asked with worry in her eyes. Mandy sighed and kneeled to their height "The reason you two were forced to be stuck here is trying to break through the security system,his name is Thaddeus but he calls himself the reverse flash , the reason I didn't allow you down here is because I  have been working on ...a time machine, to bring you to the time aunt Jenni is in so she could train you and you two will be safe" " mom what about you" Meloni asked Mandy got up and turned to the time machine and turned the machine it. It was blue and swirled around and around.    She turned her head a little "look you too are in more danger then I am, I won't be able to go with you, Thad isn't like those cartoon villains, he won't go easy on you, he won't kill me he...wants me for something" Mandy said trying to explain to her kids.    There was a huge boom sound, everything shook. After everything stopped shaking a few seconds later he appeared. He was in his Reverse Flash suit, He looked around and saw Mandy and the twins "well well well, Mandy It's been a long time hasn't it, you are as gorgeous as ever" Mandy snarled and pushed her kids to the machine. She turned her head to her twins  "Max, Meloni run, run and don't come back for me"  Mandy pushed both of them in the time machine "MOM" Max and Meloni screamed in unison as they fell in the time machine.    After the twins went through the machine, it broke. Thad ran to the machine and started punching it trying to get it to work. After a minute of his anger, he turned and sped to Mandy.He had her throat to the wall "WHERE DID YOU SEND THEM" He screamed "I won't ever tell" Mandy said. He let her throat go "Fine since you don't want to tell me I'll just keep you then when they come back for you they will come straight to me, you will be a beautiful wife and mother to our children"