#I need to see Mickey get to hug his dad

[lavendarzbee]

So there’s another season… Right? RIGHT!? 😭

[b0n3s-is-gay]

What the Outsider Boys would want for Christmas (Masterlist -> here)

Darrel Shaynne Curtis:

Darry, if he were to want one thing for christmas. He would tell you he doesn't want anything. But he actually wants a night of quiet, a night free of worries.

While it's really more of a gift for the gang, like going out on your dime and having a good time while you and Darry are at home alone. He's going to take advantage of that night.

Dinner date in, cuddling while watching a movie on the couch, taking a bath together, and if you're lucky, a passionate night that isn't just a quiet quickie.

Keith "Two-bit" Mathews:

Two bit? Well, twobit wants many things. Maybe a bottle of booze or a mickey shirt. Both are good options, but he want to have a new jacket.

Don't get him wrong, he loves his normal jacket, but he wants a winter jacket. His leather one doesn't do much in terms of winter protection.

It doesn't even have to be a good jacket, it can be second hand and he will still be greatful.

Dallas "Dally" Winston:

Bail, bail money.

On a serious note, get him a pet. I think Dally is alone with his thoughts a lot and it's scary for him. As we saw in the movie and in the book, he's on a hair trigger about if he's going to end his life. So I like to think he needs constant companionship.

A basset hound would be the best breed for him because those dogs are the best company and they will take all your attention away from your thoughts, in Dally's case, it's needed.

Steve Randle:

Same as Two-bit but for a different reason. Steve wants a new jacket simply because he doesn't have one.

His dad is abusive, Ponyboy said so himself. So his dad has probably given him the bare minimum and everything else he has has been bought with his own money or hand me downs from the Curtis's.

A winter jacket would go far for him as those types of jackets cost an arm and a fucking leg. He'll also be even more appreciative if it's a size or two too big so he can grow into it and get many years of use out of it.

Sodapop Patrick Curtis:

I think Soda would be happy with anything. But if you asked him, he'd tell you a chain. If you asked him on a deeper level, he'd tell you a simple chain so he can wear his parent's rings close to his heart.

Sodapop has his parents' rings, he holds them close and sometimes you can see him wearing his dad's ring on his left middle finger as it's too big for his ring finger.

If you got him a chain and then helped him loop his parents' rings around the chain, he'd cry. A hug from them would always be worth more, but just having their rings close to his heart.

Johnny Cade:

A blanket, that's what he wants for christmas. He wasnts a blanket that's only his.

Johnny has a shitty home life, fuck you Mr. and Mrs. Cade, and he's often left to sleep out in the lot or the Curtis household. Plus, if there's a chance you make the blanket by had or you spray it in your purfume/colonge, he will cry.

That's all he wants, he'll use it every day. He'll lay awake at night and smile when he thinks back to how he got the blanket.

Ponyboy Michael Curtis:

Pre book, he'll want some new track spikes. Post book, he'll want a copy of Gone With The Wind.

Post book, I think Ponyboy would quit track. Everytime the starter pistol sounded, he'd flinch and be reminded of Dally, so he quit track. So a copy of Gone With The Wind would be the best gift for him.

Reading this book would remind him of his time with Johnny. When he unwraps it, he looks at the picture of Johnny and Dally on the mantle and smiles somberly. He then gently hugs you and whispers his thanks, trying to resist the urge to read out loud for you like he did for Johnny.

Tags: @witchyleehibernates

[atthedugouts]

Zoo Day

Mickey scrunches up his face at the smells of the zoo. He doesn’t understand why people enjoy coming here. It all smells like shit and wet dog. But once Svetlana heard that the Lincoln Park Zoo was free she declared that Sunday would be a family day with mandatory attendance. Mickey knows at this point that he has to pick his battles wisely with his wife, he’s hoping that if he plays along with this dumb family day then he can leverage it as a way to get out of fixing the front porch that Svetlana has been nagging him about. Ian didn’t need any convincing, right as Svetlana brought up the zoo Ian jumped up to start making the sandwiches they would bring for lunch. Mickey had to stop his boyfriend reminding him that Sunday was three days away.

Sunday had arrived and now Mickey was staring at a monkey taking the longest piss he’s ever seen. The monkey kind of looked like Iggy, he took a video to send to the sibling group chat.

Mickey followed his family as they went from exhibit to exhibit. Ian read aloud all the animal facts to Yevgeny and Svetlana. Yev asked a bunch of stupid questions and Mickey did not understand how Ian had the patiences to answer all of them.

“Can it fly?”

“No buddy, ostriches can’t fly.”

“Why not?”

“Because they use their long legs to run really fast.”

“Why do they have wings?” 

“Uh, to cool themselves when they get hot.”

“Oh,” Yevgeny said, nodding his head.

“You know you could just say you don’t know,” Mickey tells Ian. “The kid ain’t going to be upset if you don’t know every animal fact.”

Ian shrugs his shoulders. “I like seeing him smile.”

When the four of them were eating their PB&Js at a picnic table Mickey witnessed another father with a bag with the zoo logo. The father proudly reaches into the bag and pulls out a stuffed lion. Mickey felt a little pain in his stomach. He didn’t have money to surprise Yevgeny with a souvenir.

“I wanted a tiger!” the little boy shouts.

“Uh, ungrateful child,” Svetlana scolds. Apparently Mickey wasn’t the only one watching this family.

“Sorry buddy,” the dad apologizes. “All they had were lions.”

“That’s very nice of your dad, right?” the mother tries to calm the child with his very loud public tantrum.

“I wanted tiger!”

“I know buddy, but the zoo store didn’t have any,” the dad looked like he was about to cry. Fucking North siders spoil their children so much that the parents lose all control of the hierarchy in the family structure. The brat doesn’t deserve the dumb stuffed animal.

“Come on,” the mother pleads. “Take the lion and I’ll buy you cotton candy.”

“Fine,” the spoiled child relents. He takes the lion from his dad and they head off to buy cotton candy. Once the parents weren’t looking, the kid dropped the stuffed animal in a bush.

“Don’t grow up to have attitude like that,” Svetlana tells Yevgeny. 

“OK mama,” Yev says.

They finished up their lunch and started to head to the bears. As they pass the bush with the discarded lion Mickey overhears two zoo employees.

“Hey, there’s a lost lion in here,” one says, reaching for the stuffed animal.

“Go take it to lost and found at customer service, I’ll let our lead know where you are,” the other says.

Mickey gets an idea that he can’t shake. He turns to Ian. “I’m gonna head to the parking lot for a smoke.”

“OK,” Ian says. “Text me when you’re done and I’ll let you know where we are.”

“Sure thing mom,” Mickey says, rolling his eyes.

He met up with them at the penguins. Mickey did go to the parking lot for a smoke but on his way back in he stopped by the lost and found to inquire about a lost stuffed lion.

“Hey little man guess what?” Mickey says when he meets up with his family again.

“A lion!” Yevgeny beams at the surprise. He jumps up and takes the lion Mickey has holding out for him. Yev then hugs Mickey in the tightest hug that his little five year old body could muster up. “Thank you dad!”

“Sure thing,” Mickey says, unable to hide his smile.

“You bought toy?” Svetlana says. Mickey can tell that she’s trying not to sound angry in front of Yev in public. Trying to not to be like the other family that she just talked bad about.

“Naw, it was free,” Mickey clarifies.

“Did you steal from that North side kid?” Ian accuses.

“You think I stole from a kid?” Mickey says, raising his eyebrows.

Ian responded by giving his signature chin look.

“Fuck you,” Mickey says. “The toy was lost and I went and found it. No rule saying I had to give it back to that brat. ‘Sides, Yevgeny deserves it more. That Richy fucking Rich propably has a whole room of stuffed animals.”

Ian’s face turns soft as he smiles at Mickey warmly.

“You’re a good dad,” Ian says.

“Shut up.”

“No , it’s true. When I was Yevy’s age Frank took us to the zoo and tried to put me in the gorilla enclosure. I think he was trying to scam the zoo into a lawsuit but instead got us all banned.”

“What are you going to name him?” Svetlana asks.

“Lincoln!” Yevgeny shares.

“Clever,” Mickey says half heartedly. “Come on little man, let’s see the giraffes.”

“Why do giraffes have long necks?” Yevgeny asks.

“Don’t know, but I’m sure Ian will think of the answer once we get there.”

[imawkwardlysoc]

"only bought this dress so you could take it off"

Song: Dress by Taylor Swift

Pairing: bob floyd x reader (afab)

Warning(s): Allusions to smut (not written) & Aftercare

Word Count: 1,913

Summary: Y/N had just moved to Miramar and was invited to the Navy Ball in San Diego by her roommate. Soon when the both of them arrived, Y/N was met with a face she hasn't seen in a long time.

Backing away from the full length mirror, I admired the dress I picked out a few days ago. The muted gold beaded dress hugged my waist in all the right ways. With it being off the shoulder and a sweetheart neckline, it showed the right amount of chest without it being too scandalous.

“Wow, you look amazing.” I looked over to see my roommate, Natasha, entering my room.

“Are you sure? I mean is this appropriate for a naval ball?” I turned to face her.

“Yes, all heads will turn to you when you enter the ballroom,” she reassured me. “Who knows? Maybe a navy man will approach you and you end up going on a date with him, but if it’s Hangman, straight up reject him.”

I laughed at what she said. “Nat, I just moved here two weeks ago, I’m not looking for a relationship yet.”

Ever since I moved to San Diego two weeks ago, I’ve been more focused on my teaching job. I work at the local high school near a navy base as a science teacher. I was hired when the school year already started so I've been catching my students up since the substitute teacher they had barely got them learning.

“Well, the Lyft is almost here, you should finish getting ready,” she told me before leaving my room.

Slipping on a pair of gold heels, I grabbed my clutch and double checked the inside to see if I had all of the things I needed. Closing it, I walked out of my room and walked out of the house with Natasha after she locked the front door. Getting into the car, our driver started to drive us to the US Grant hotel.

“Hey, everything is going to be fine,” Natasha squeezed my hand. “All of the Dagger Squad is going to love you.”

We soon pulled up to the hotel and saw a bunch of naval higher ups in their uniforms with their plus ones. I’m pretty sure that I also saw some politicians entering the hotel. Natasha and I soon walked in and headed to the ballroom entrance where we showed our identifications along with invites.

When we walked in, I started to feel overwhelmed. Many members of the Navy and their plus ones filled the room while a live band played music.

“Oh, I see them!” Natasha started to drag me to where her friends were. “Guys, meet Y/N.”

I was soon met with two dark skinned men, one with a buzzcut, another one with a somewhat porno mustache, and one who looked like a real life Ken doll. She soon started to introduce me to them with their actual names and call signs. More of the members came and I was introduced to them along with her captain and his husband.

“Guess who finally showed up,” Jake announced. “How long does it take to get a soda?”

“Y/N, meet-” I looked over to see who came and I froze.

“Robbie?” His name fell out of my mouth.

“Y/N? Is that you?” He asked.

“Oh my god, it’s been so long.” I walked up and hugged him.

“It has.” He returned my hug.

“Wait, is this the Robbie you told me about?” Natasha asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded my head.

“Are we missing something here?” Mickey asked.

“Yeah, did you and Baby on Board used to have a thing or?” Jake asked.

“Baby on Board?” A confused look formed on my face when I heard the name he gave Robbie.

“No, we used to be childhood friends back in North Carolina,” Robbie explained.

“Yeah we’ve lived in the same neighborhood until I had to move to Arizona because my dad got a new job,” I nodded and pointed to Natasha. “That’s where I met Natasha.”

“And we’ve been inseparable until we had to leave for college.” Nat wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “It took me some convincing to get her to move down here.”

“Well, I had to finish both of my masters,” I told her.

“Two masters?” Admiral Kazansky raised his eyebrow.

“Yes, one in mechanical engineering and one in physics, but I also have a teaching credential for physics.” I smiled proudly.

“Do you mind if we continue this conversation while I get myself another drink?” The admiral asked me.

“I don’t mind at all Admiral,” I answered while linking arms with him.

While on our walk to the bar, he started asking me questions about my studies and why I double majored. I also talked about my time studying my undergrad at Cal Poly and getting my masters/teaching credential at the University of San Francisco. 

Throughout our conversation, I glanced at the other side of the room to see Robbie talking to some of his squadron members. We would send each other a smile if we made eye contact with each other.

Soon a familiar tune filled my ears and the room. Placing my drink down on the bar, I faced the admiral.

“Excuse me sir, but I have to do something,” I excused sir.

“It’s no problem, also call me Tom.” He smiled and I nodded my head.

Hurrying myself to the other side of the room, I made my way to where Robbie was. When I saw him leaning against the wall as he listened to his friends, a smile came onto our faces as lyrics started to echo through the room. Handing his drink to Ruben, I grabbed his arm and dragged him to the dance floor as Come On Eileen played. (A/N I just imagine the dance scene in Perks of Being a Wallflower) We started to do the dance routine that we created when we were kids whenever this song played through the stereo. We continued to dance to the song and sang out the lyrics.

“Wow, it’s been a while since we last did that,” I caught my breath after he dipped me and we moved to a slow dancing position.

“I’m surprised that we still remember it,” he chuckled.

“After the amount of times we perform this dance in front of our families, I would be surprised if we don't remember the moves,” I looked up at him.

He still had the same face from what I remembered as a little kid, but it was more defined. He was still the shy and reserved kid that I knew of as I grew up.

“Hey, wanna head out?” He whispered in my ear which sent chills down my spine.

“Sure,” I agreed.

He led me off the dance floor and went to his squad.

“It’s been great meeting you all. I hope we get to see each other again,” I told everyone.

They all said their goodbyes and Robbie and I left the hotel ballroom. As Robbie and I waited for the valet to bring his wrangler around, I felt him put his coat over my shoulders and wrapped his arm around them. Leaning against him, I looked up at him and gave a smile. Soon the wrangler was pulled up and he helped me into the car. Getting into the driver’s seat, he closed the door and untied the tie he was wearing.

During the drive to Natasha and I’s house, we were sharing stories and memories from our childhood. He also explained the reason why Jake called him Baby on Board sometimes. I laughed at the stories that he had with his crew. I guess he’s glad that he’s permanently stationed here with his crew.

Pulling up in front of the house, he got out of the driver’s seat and helped me out of the car. Walking me up to the door, we stood there for a moment, waiting to see what happens next.

“Thanks for taking me home,” I thanked him.

“No problem, it’s nice seeing you again,” he smiled. “You look beautiful by the way.”

“Thank you,” I looked down at the ground and blushed.

I soon felt his fingers touch my chin and moved my head to face him. Don’t know the reason why but I started to feel my heart begin to race as my stomach fluttered. Leaning my head in as his did, our lips touched and moved. It continued for a few more seconds as it got more passionate until we detached, looking at each other with a blush on our faces.

“Did that just?” I asked.

“Yeah, it did,” he nodded his head.

“Well, I should head in now,” I told him and grabbed my house key from my clutch.

Unlocking it, I pushed open the door and walked into the house without closing the door. I tossed my clutch on the kitchen island and started my walk down the hallway to my room. Hearing the sound of Robbie’s footsteps entering the house, I looked over my shoulder a little and gave him a wink. Entering my room, I took off my heels and started to unzip the back of my dress.

“Need help with that?” I heard Robbie’s voice enter my room.

“Please,” I answered despite me not needing any help.

Chills were sent throughout my body as I felt his breath hit my neck as he slowly unzipped my dress. I bit the inside of my lip as he started to place kisses down my neck. With my dress off, leaving me in my undergarments, I turned and started to kiss him as he led me to my bed.

*Aftercare*

Tangled up in my bed sheets, Robbie laid flat on his back while I laid my head on his chest. One of his arms wrapped around my waist while the other drew circles on my thigh.

“Imagine if we told younger us that we’ll be in this situation,” I chuckled, looking up at him.

“I feel they would be grossed out,” he let out a laugh. “I miss this, I miss us hanging out with each other.”

“Me too,” I agreed. “It sucked that we weren’t able to keep in contact with each other.”

He nodded his head and hummed in agreement. “But hey, we got to see each other again even though it took over ten years.”

“True,” I laughed.

“I know I already said that you look beautiful but that dress on you is amazing,” he complimented me.

“Well, I should buy that dress in other colors if it makes you do this,” I smirked as I gestured to us in bed.

“Nah, anything you wear can make me feel like this,” he placed a kiss on my lips.

“This isn’t going to affect our friendship right?” I asked him.

“I already lost you once, not losing you again,” he said while pulling me closer to him.

I smiled and laid my head on his chest letting out a yawn. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.

*The Morning After*

Opening my eyes, I looked over to see Robbie still sleeping. Smiling to myself and last night’s events, I quietly got out of bed and threw on his dress shirt. Walking out of my room, I walked down the hall to the kitchen to see Natasha standing there with a cup of coffee and a smirk on her face.

“So, my backseater huh?” She asked.

“Shush,” I blushed a little while pouring myself a cup of coffee.

“Hey, just saying he’s a really good guy but you already know that,” she told me.

Soon we heard footsteps revealing Robbie in his boxers and hair disheveled.

“Yeah, he really is.”

[lying-on-floors]

Yellow Mailboxes

Sniperscout

The sweet spring air flooded Mick's nose as he stepped out of the house. He lit a cigarette and waited for Jeremy and the kids to get into the car to go to the school assembly.

"You sure you ain't coming, Mickey?"

Jeremy asked his boyfriend as he loaded his kids into the car.

"Yeah. Besides, it's parents only and, y'kno--"

Mick trailed off and gestured to himself. Jeremy nodded, showing his understanding. It's not that they were ashamed to be together, it was just dangerous right now.

"Okay, We'll see ya--Tanya!"

Jeremy failed to catch the little girl who jumped out of the car and ran over to Mick to hug him.

"Why aren't ya coming, Mickey?"

Mick threw his cigarette onto the porch next to him and crouched down to be at the girls level.

"Well, sweetheart, it's parents only and I'm not your legal parent. Besides, there's stuff I gotta do around the house while you lil rascals are gone."

He ruffled her hair, which made her giggle.

"Okay. I'll bring you back pamphlets!"

The little girl skipped happily back to her dad, who helped her into the car, fastening her seat belt. He waved to Mick as he opened the driver's side door.

"We'll see ya soon!"

Mick waved back and picked up his cigarette and put it out in the ash tray sitting on the porch railing. Time to get to work.

Mick went to his camper van and opened the back door to get out the paint cans and the corresponding tools. He brought them over to the beaten up mailbox and opened one of the cans. It was a pale yellow, a color Jeremy's fond of. He grabbed the wide paint brush and carefully began painting over the gray mail box. Once he was done he decided he needed to let it dry, so he took a break and cleaned up a bit. Mostly tidying up the yard and living room, making sure all of the kids toys are put away so Jeremy doesn't have to worry about doing that when he gets home. Of course, they're going to have to do it again later, but it would be nice for him to walk into a clean house along with his newly mailbox.

A few hours passed and Mick went into the kitchen to grab the stickers he would use to adorn the Mailbox's side.

Willis

He went back to the mail box to check if it was dry enough. He deduced that it was, so he lit a cigarette and got to work. He was finishing up the last letter when Jeremy's car pulled up. Mick cursed under his breath, but decided it wasn't too big of a deal, since he was done. Mick stood up and shoved the trash into his pockets. He'll deal with it later. The four excited kids ran past him, Tanya being the only one who stopped to hand him the pamphlets she promised him before running off to join her siblings. Jeremy met Mick by the mailbox and beamed.

"What's all this, Mickey?"

The question was rethorical, Mick knew that, but he still answered.

"I painted your, uhm, mailbox."

He awkwardly patted the top of the mailbox, which made Jeremey laugh.

"Aww, Mick, that's so sweet!"

Mick blushed.

"Yeah, well, you mentioned wantin' to paint over it, so, I, uh, wanted to suprise ya."

Mick shoved his hands in his pockets, years of knowing Jeremy never made him any better at romance, but Jeremy didn't seem to mind. He was too busy admiring the soft yellow and the large white lettering.

"It looks really good! I love this color!"

Mick smiled.

"I know. You always talk about how warm and inviting it is. And how it reminds ya of ya mum."

Jeremy looked at Mick, tears forming in his eyes.

"I love you, Mick."

Mick grinned and wrapped his arm around Jeremy, directing him inside. "

"I love ya too, Roo."

[startrekfangirl2233-writes]

Home (Not So) Sweet Home

Chapter Four of Sweet Home Alabama

Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x OC (Linley Mitchell/Floyd), Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x OC (Linley Mitchell/Floyd)

Description: A trip to jail was not on your list for things to accomplish during the short time you were home in Pigeon Creek. But, like most of the predicaments you find yourself in, it's all thanks to Jake. So much for a half an hour trip into town to get the papers signed and then back to New York soon afterwards. Instead you get a high-speed trip down memory lane as Pigeon Creek, and Jake himself, dredge up ancient history.

Themes: angst, love, smut, attraction

Warnings: Mentioned miscarriage (non-graphic) Please do not read anything between As your belly grew and the bed sheets if this is an uncomfortable topic for you. I have italicized those sections in this to account for this.

Word Count: 2719

A/N: First of all, I'm sorry this chapter is a bit late! I went shopping today because I needed a new coat and I just got back home! This is the chapter where we get to see a little bit more of Jake and Linley's relationship after the seven year separation they've been on. It's nothing short of explosive! All of my thanks to @desert-fern for beta-reading and refining this chapter for me!

AO3: Cross-posted here!

Wattpad: Cross-posted here!

My Masterlist

Previous Part | Series Masterlist | Next Part

Well, you ended up in jail. You've never once been able to out-dare Jake in your life and you weren't able to out-dare him today either. When Jake had unplugged the phone and taken it to the bedroom, it had been to call the Sheriff. The Sheriff of Pigeon Creek and you have a contentious relationship, to put it lightly. Too many run-ins with the law for your comfort when you were much younger and more foolish. Of course, just as the sirens show up on the front lawn, you're already booking it for the back door. This is the last thing you need, getting arrested on your first day back in Pigeon Creek. The only person you can call other than Jake is your dad. Fuck! Maybe you ought to leave quietly and come back later?

But to your surprise it isn’t the old Sheriff you tormented as a teen. It's Mickey Garcia, and he walks right in through the back door. You grew up with Mickey. He’s Jake’s best friend and somebody Jake loves like a brother. Hell, Mickey was Jake’s best man at your ill-fated wedding. Really, if Jake believes Mickey would ever arrest you, then he has another think coming, or so you thought.

“Well, well, well… If it isn’t Misdemeanor Mitchell!” There’s a huge grin on his face showcasing the new smile lines around his eyes and the dimples in his cheeks.

“Mickey?!” You’re wrapped up in your first hug since you got back home and you can’t help the smirk you throw at Jake over Mickey’s shoulder.

“Hot damn, girl, did we miss you around here!” He holds you out at arm length and drinks you in. 

“Hey, I think I saw poor, old Fuzz just the other day.” You laugh at his words because you haven’t thought about Fuzz in years. You hope that old cat is doing well, even after all this time. But, it looks like some things will never change, like how Pigeon Creek is never going to forget why you’re so notorious.

“Oh, God, you just had to bring that up, didn’t you?” You can sense Jake’s irritation from where he’s leaning on the wall and it drives your smile even wider.

“I can't believe you're the sheriff!” The last time you saw Mickey he was moving to college on a baseball scholarship.

It doesn’t surprise you at all when his voice takes on a flirtatious tone. “Yep, I get to frisk pretty little things like you all day and get paid for it!”

Jake’s scoff breaks up the convivial atmosphere. “Mickey, can you try and be a little more professional? We got us a prime suspect here! This woman broke into my house!” 

You just know the man’s smirking again. Is it so hard to just sign some papers and be done with this whole situation? Now he’s dragging Mickey into this? Why the hell is your ex-husband so impossible to live with?

"Aww, Linley, you know that you can't trespass in other people's houses." He's smiling as he looks between Jake and you.

"I'm not trespassing, Mick. I used my key." You tug it out of your bag as proof, noticing how Jake’s eyes darken at the sight of the spare key he’s never known how to find.

"Honey, I'm sorry, but whether you have a key or not, I'm going to have to escort you out of here." He sounds genuinely sorry for your plight.

Jake, of course, has something smart-alecky to say, like always. "In handcuffs please, Mick." 

"Mick, if you can get him to sign these papers, I'll let you run me out of town as fast as you want." You pull the papers out.

“Don’t drag him into this, Linley.” Bullshit. Jake’s the one that dragged Mickey into this. He could have just signed the papers and you’d have left town fifteen minutes after you’d blown in. He wanted to play hardball, hardball is what he’s going to get. You hand the papers to Mick and watch Jake’s expression change even as a smug grin curls your lips.

"Sorry, man. If you're still married, this is her house too. So at most, this is a domestic disturbance. I don’t see anything to arrest anybody for." He turns back to you with a wink. "Unless, that is, Jake hit you. Now, honey, you'll tell me if Jake over there ever hurts you in any way, right? Cause we take that kinda thing seriously now."

Jake's face falls just a little as you glance coolly over his grease streaked face. You’re not sure what he thinks you’re going to say. But the realization feels like a bucket of cold water dumped over your head. He thinks you’re going to lie and say despicable things about him, doesn’t he?

Your voice is soft, softer than it has any right to be."Naw, Mickey. Jake's never hurt me. Not a day in his life." 

Jake tries any and every way to get you out of the house. But none of them work until he mentions how Mrs. Garcia's tractor ended up in the pond and how there was an open warrant out for the perpetrator still. That rat bastard. 

Now you're sitting in a chair in front of Mickey's desk wearing handcuffs contemplating who you can call to get you out of jail. Mickey's on the phone with his ma, letting her curse you out in Spanish. You don't really have many options. Your dad and Jake are the only two people who'd ever bail you out if you were in trouble. For obvious reasons you can't call Jake. So your dad it is.

You dial the number you've known by heart for most of your life and have barely used for the past seven years and wait. It's only a few minutes before he picks up.

"Hello?" He sounds exhausted, like he does after working a particularly grueling shift at the shop.

"Dad? Surprise, it's Linley!" His voice makes you feel safe.

"Hi, kiddo! This is a surprise! I wasn't expecting to hear from you for a while!" That statement hurts.

"Dad, it's not the call that's the surprise. I'm actually in town." His little intake of breath has tears flooding to your eyes.

"Really? Well, kiddo, you didn't have to call. You can drop by the house anytime you want." After the fight you had before you left, how can he still welcome you home?

"I know, Dad. But that's not why I called. I'm in custody at the Pigeon Creek Police Department." 

You can hear his fond smile with every word and it makes your eyes roll. "I should've known you would have already gotten into trouble. I'll be there in fifteen, kiddo. I love you." 

You murmur your love back and settle back into the chair to wait. It’s a formality after your dad works through the doors of the Sheriff’s Office to get you out of handcuffs. You may have had to profusely apologize to Mrs. Garcia, but at least you’re not in a jail cell for the night.

Of course, as soon as you’re in your dad’s truck, he lets you have it. Mickey had kindly offered to drop your rental car off, so your bags are in the backseat.

“You just got into town. How in the world did you end up in jail again, huh?” He sounds so relaxed at having rescued his only child from jail. Since this was not an uncommon occurrence in your teenage years, it’s a little shocking that he’s not more worked up about this. After all, you’re twenty-five and an adult. Childish things like getting dragged off to the Sheriff’s office should be behind you.

You shrug as your dad drives you home. The roads are dark, illuminated only by the streetlights spitting out fat pools of golden light. “Jake and his big fat mouth. It’s just a misunderstanding, Daddy.”

“Why don’t you try to fix things with Jake, kiddo?” You sink a little bit deeper into the seat. “I went to all that trouble to pay for that wedding after all.”

“Daddy! That was hardly a wedding! He was hungover, threw up all over my dress and then I had to go to our reception alone, in my puke covered dress while he got to sleep off his hangover. It’s not exactly a wedding I want to remember.” It fills you with disgust to think of the heirloom lace of your Grandmother’s wedding dress getting ruined like that. You’d managed to save it, of course, but it’s something you still haven’t forgotten. That first night should have been the first evidence that you and Jake would never work out. But you were young and stupid and in love. So you disregarded every bit of evidence until something big enough came up that you couldn’t ignore anything anymore.

“He’s a good guy. Just give him another chance!” This is why you fought with your dad before you left. He’s always been fond of the Seresins. He has been since your ma skipped out on you both when you were two years old. His soft spot for Jake is so strong that he never sees anything wrong with a single decision he makes - including throwing up on his baby girl on her wedding day and everything else that went wrong afterwards. He’s never once been willing to see that maybe Jake was a little bit to blame as well. But no, that dubious honor only ever went to you.

“You always side with him, daddy! He’s the son you’ve never had, I know. But I’m your daughter. Your only daughter and you don’t even care to know what I’ve been doing with my life?!” Your breathing is a little ragged. This is why you’ve never come home over the past seven years. Why would you when your dad had something better, someone better than you in the boy you’d lost everything to? The hand that covers yours is warm and jolts you out of the impending spiral your thoughts try to yank you into.

“Alright, sweetheart, tell me what’s going on.” You’re not sure whether he’s just humoring you, but now’s your chance to tell him. How he’ll take the news and whether he’ll be okay with it, you don’t know. But you have to tell him.

“I… met somebody. He’s a catch. He’s in politics, his family is in politics, and I love him.” Your dad doesn’t so much as blink. The radio’s off and you sit in silence, trying to gain control over your fraying emotions.

It’s not until you’re back in the house that you pickup the conversation again.

“He asked me to marry him, daddy. It’s why I needed to talk to Jake. He needs to finally give me that divorce.” Your dad tugs you onto the sofa and takes your hands in his own.

“Are you sure about him, kiddo?” Your dad’s green eyes look deep into your own. A lot of you may be Pete Mitchell, but the one trait of his you never inherited were his eyes. Your eyes are your mama’s, and most of the time you’re glad her eyes are the only part of her you’ve inherited.

“I - I don’t know, Daddy. He makes me happy when I’m with him. He makes me happier than I have been in a long time.” You’re so confused. Coming back to Pigeon Creek was supposed to be easy. You sit with your dad on the overstuffed sofa facing the tv for a long while. The silence is draining, but you can’t force yourself to get up and walk away or break it. 

It’s your dad who breaks the tense hush overtaking the living room. “Alright, kiddo. If he makes you happy then that means that he’s automatically got my approval. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy. We’ll see what we can do about Jake. But right now, your old man needs to get into bed. It’s been a long day for me, and I’m sure it’s been just as long for you. Why don’t you head to bed?” Your nod is mechanical as you walk into your childhood bedroom and lay down. You’re asleep in minutes, but your sleep is anything but satisfactory.

All of a sudden you're thirteen, fifteen and seventeen again, noticing the changes in your best friend, noticing how all the girls see him in a way only you've ever seen him before. You remember the urge to ensure he loved you as much as you loved him. You still remember his words from the day you and Jake were struck by lightning, "Will you marry me, Linley?" 

Ten year old you was an idiot. Jake Seresin, quarterback and All-American heart-throb, wanted you to marry him and you told him no. It's a decision you kick yourself over every now and again, especially when you see Mindy Jefferson making out with Jake behind the bleachers one afternoon. Is it possible to be both jealous and sad at the same time? Because that's what you are.

You spend most of your senior year of high school feeling like that. The night of the last football game of the year is when everything changed. You'd hitched a ride with Jake home, and Pigeon Creek is not the biggest town. You should've guessed something was up when he drove the opposite direction from home. When he kissed you, you'd melted. When he pulled you into the bed of his truck you went willingly. And when he made love to you under the stars, you climaxed with tears in your eyes.

There were tears of a completely different kind in your eyes as you sat in your bathroom with a multitude of drugstore pregnancy tests on the counter in front of you three months later. You had to tell Jake and your dad and his mom. Obviously all of Pigeon Creek knew within an hour. That was why you'd married Jake. For the baby that was half of you and half of him. Other than the aforementioned reception incident, the two of you settled into matrimonial bliss quite easily. Jake gave up his dreams of pro football, deferring college to work at the tire factory. You had taken in mending, sewing, and darning to help. 

As your belly grew, so did your happiness. At least until the night you woke up to red streaking your thighs and staining the bed sheets. After you lost your baby, you weren't sure how to be with Jake, not anymore. He tried to be strong for you, be your rock when you were grieving. But it was just putting more stress on your relationship. You weren’t sure you could ever be enough for Jake, not anymore. The fissures in your relationship became suddenly, wholly apparently clear.

So one day, while Jake was at work, you'd left a note on the bedside table along with your wedding ring and gone to see your dad. You told your dad why you were leaving, fought with him when he objected to your decision and bought a bus ticket to New York with everything you owned in a bag. You've never told another soul why you left, though you’re sure most of Pigeon Creek could assume the reason why, especially considering how you’d been rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. You're not sure that even Jake knows the real reason why you left. It wasn't the fights or yelling or how Jake wanted you to stay home when you wanted to chase your dreams, either. It was because you couldn't face him after your body had destroyed the one thing you loved more than Jake - the one thing you only had because of Jake.

Ancient history clouds your thoughts when you wake up the next morning. Your head is in a fog of what was. More than ever you're filled with the urge to leave Pigeon Creek, maybe for good. But first you need to make a couple of phone calls, withdraw some change from the bank and go talk to Jake again. Maybe this time you’ll finally walk away with the divorce signed? If only it could be so easy.

I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE MY WORK POSTED, TRANSLATED, OR PUBLISHED ON ANY SITES OTHER THAN HERE, ON WATTPAD, OR ON AO3 BY ME. IF YOU SEE MY WORKS ANYWHERE OTHER THAN HERE, ON WATTPAD, OR AO3, THEN THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND I WILL BE WORKING TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

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[eternalsams]

To help your boredom I was thinking a family headcanon with my favorite 4 boys from top gun maverick Jake, Bradley, Bob (if you want) and Mickey on like what having a family would be like with them

Feel free to ignore this

Love ya

Okay, this is cute but I think I'll need to change some things a bit if you let me. It's still with the boys and the family plot but... rearranged. Hope you enjoy!

TW: mentions of divorced parents (wrongly called "broken family"), mentions of unprotected sex

Jake "Hangman" Seresin

when you told him your parents wanted to meet him, he'd been surprised. he wasn't really the type of guy you want your parents to meet, but you've been dating for a couple of months and he could feel himself start to deeply fall in love

when he first met them, he could practically feel his heart beating it's way out of his chest. he was so nervous.

your parents noticed how uncomfortable he was at first and tried to make him at ease, even though your dad wanted to joke around and told him he'd get the shotgun out if he ever hurt you. he didn't joke around.

your parents really liked Jake and often called whenever they knew you and Jake were off work

with you, Jake learned what in-laws should really be and he couldn't wait to pass a ring on your finger to officially call them his in-law family

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

before dating you, Bradley met some of his girlfriends' parents but he never found what he thought he needed, a big new family

the holidays came after you just celebrated the three months of your relationship, this was still very new. you still needed to discover a lot about each other, and the three little words had been uttered only a couple of weeks ago.

when he told you he wanted to spend the holidays with you and your family, you were more than surprised. never a guy you dated asked to meet your parents asap. but he was the most surprised when you told him about your broken family.

divorced parents and an absent father was not the family Bradley expected. you spoke so highly of your family all the time, he thought you had loving parents with 3 siblings, minimum. but you were an only child raised by a divorced mother.

when he met your mom, she immediately reminded him of his own. and he realized at that moment how similar you two were. both longing for an absent father and getting unconditional love from an amazing mother.

and when you both came back to your place after your little trip, and he saw how much you already missed the warmth of your mom that Bradley promised himself to give you your own family, with a loving husband and father

Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia

Mickey came from a big family, you already knew that, he told you. what he didn't tell you was that he had many nephews and nieces.

the first time you joined his family for the holidays, you had to arrive early to get some rest, so you only saw his parents. but the next day...

his older sister arrived first, greeting you with a hug like an old friend from college and introduced you to her husband. and then you heard them, two little girls screaming "Uncle Mick" and jumping on your boyfriend. that was cute.

not even 20 minutes later, his brother passed the door with his fiancée and their three kids, all three of them running to greet their 'favorite' uncle. now that made 5 of them.

when you thought it was over, the door opened once again and two more kids came in running and greeting everyone, their parents, Mickey's cousins, coming in just next. now that made 7.

when you counted 10 of them, you went to Mickey and grabbed his arm, pulling him aside and asked him if there were more kids to come. he laughed and grabbed you by the hips. "would you like to see more of them?"

you and him had been dating for a bit more than 7 months and even though you already talked about marriage, kids weren't on the table yet. so when he asked you that, you were a bit surprised, but pleasantly so. "not so soon, Romeo" you patted his chest with a chuckle.

but as you went back with everyone, Mickey couldn't help but stare at you, trying to imagine how lovely you'd be with a round belly or a small child in your arms

Robert "Bob" Floyd

the day Bob asked about funding a family with you for the first time, you were cuddling on the couch, watching some rom-com. you'd been engaged for two months at the moment and it just felt right to start talking about it.

he had so many good memories from his childhood with his family that he wanted to create some more with a family he'd share with you

through the whole conversation, he'd rub your stomach, eager to see it grow with his child. so you started trying, forgetting the condom box under your bed.

his friends would tease him, calling both of you rabbits. but none of those mocking were meant to be insulting, you all knew that.

you started planning how to decorate the baby's room and what kind of toys and plushies you'd get for them.

he'd hold you tight in his arms whenever you'd get a negative on a test and you couldn't wait to see the smile stretch his lips when he'd read 'positive' on the stick.

you knew he'd make an amazing father, and he knew you'd be the perfect mother for his kids.

[blackout-criminal13]

EVERYTIME (GALLAVICH)

Your a the daughter of mickey and ian, and you find out your pregnant.

i think i kinda picked the wrong song bc it's about an Abortion.

i also saw a story similar to this on tumblr, i will put the credit here.

the acc name: @fuckshitslover

anyways,

your name is Mimi

your 15.

————————————————————

Mimi's POV

I stood staring at the 6 or 7 tests on the counter, all coming back positive. i sat down on the floor crying.

what was i gonna tell my dads?

what would they say?

how would the react?

what will my other family say?

i heard the front door open and heard both my fathers talking. i quickly got up and started trying to hide everything. i threw the tests into the garbage along with the box, i started washing off my smudged make up when i heard my father mickey talk.

"hey, i'm gonna go to the bathroom, be out in a sec." his footsteps approached the door as i shut the water off. i looked at myself in the mirror, fixing the strands of my hair that fell in my face.

the more i looked at myself the more i wanted to cry.

i was taken from my thoughts when i heard the door rattle,

"who the fuck is in here?"

my dad said. i opened the door to be met with his blue eyes, the same blue eyes i have.

"what are you doing home so early? it's only 11:15." he asked.

"i-i got into an argument with a teacher, they sent me home early." i answered.

he nodded "well, your dad is gonna be annoyed, but it's fine." he said kissing my forehead.

i walked into my room, trying to calm myself down and think about what happened. i sat on my bed tapping my fingers on my bedside table. i tried to be as calm as possible, that was until i heard my dad scream.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE? IAN!!" He yelled.

"What is it?" he said.

i prayed he found an old pack of cigarettes or something. i got up and started walking toward my door, he stormed into my room, giving me the coldest look ever.

"ARE THESE YOURS?" He asked looking into my blue eyes.

i opened my mouth to start talking but i was quickly shut down by my dad.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" he yelled.

i choked on my sobs as my other dad ran into my room, pushing mickey to the side and hugging me as i slid down to the floor. i buried my face in his shoulders and sobbed.

"I-I, Fuck Mimi." My dad stuttered.

I continued crying into My dad arms as he rubbed my head.

"Shh, it's ok, i promise it's ok." He whispered.

"It's not fine Ian." My dad yelled.

as my father Mickeys voice rose, my gripped on my Dad Ian tightened. He could tell i was scared. he hugged me just as tight.

"Ian, You cant baby her, she brought it on herself." My dad said.

"Mickey get the fuck out of here. I'm her dad too, if i see she's having a breakdown and she needs someone to comfort her then i'm gonna contort her." My father said.

"Whatever Fuck you both." My dad said walking away.

I started sobbing as i heard the door slam, sobs that left my whole body shaking.

"It's ok, He'll come down." My dad said

i let go of him and started running towards the door. i went to open it but My dad stopped me.

"Mimi, you don't have to go after him. your dad will come down. i promise, he's not mad at you." my dad spoke wrapping his arms around me.

he brought me to the couch and laid down with me. he continued to rub my head, trying to give me some form of comfort. i could tell he was annoyed too.

"I fucked up dad, really badly, and i'm so sorry. i am such an idiot." i said sobbing again.

without hesitation he held me in his arms again.

trying to tell me he didn't care that i was pregnant.

"it's ok Mimi. Shh go to sleep." he whispered soothingly.

i obliged, quickly falling asleep in his arms.

Time Skip

My dad had come home at around 8:30, drunk stumbling over to us. Both me and my dad woke up.

i tensed up, nervous about what my dad would do or say if he was drunk.

"i need to talk to you." He said.

"Mickey No, you're drunk. Go to sleep and sober up, talk to us in the morning." my dad said.

he didn't care tho, he shoved my dad out of the way. 

coming towards me, he wrapped this arms around me as tight as he could. i hugged him back.

"i'm not mad at you Mimi, i never should have yelled." he said.

"it's ok daddy, i know you didn't mean it."  i replied.

he hugged me tighter,

"your gonna get through this, me and your dad will support which ever decision you make." he said letting go of me.

i nodded against my dads chest.

"thank you dad." i whispered.

my dad joined into the hug, making my dad start hugging me again.

__________________________________________

Part 2

You make the ending

does she keep it?

give it up for adoption?

lose it?

abort it?

chose one and let me know.

love you guys!!

[abbatoirablaze]

Shameless, Chapter 11

Word Count:  2.2k

Warnings: small instances of violence/siblings fighting, mentions of cheating/infidelity.

“Hey, thanks for coming with us Sofia!” Ian smiled.

“Yeah, really sucks that dad wasn’t able to come…or any of my brothers…they weren’t gonna release Mickey without an adult present.” Mandy agreed. 

“I got you, Mandy.” You smiled softly, wrapping an arm around her, “you’re my little brother’s girlfriend…practically family…”

Ian gave you a look and you couldn’t help but laugh. 

You knew why he’d shown up. 

You knew that he’d been screwing Mickey on the down low. 

“Here he comes,” Mandy smiled as they opened the back door and he was released, “you know, you didn’t have to come with us, Ian…”

“Bad neighborhood!” Ian said quickly, barely looking at the two of you as he kept his gaze focused on Mickey, “need to make sure that you guys are safe.”

“Yeah, we live in a bad neighborhood!” Mandy scoffed.

“Yeah, but we’re related to the bad people in our neighborhood,” Ian argued, “you guys aren’t related to people here…”

“What the hell is the Gallagher family reunion doing here?”

“Dad, Joey, and nearly everyone else was busy…so Sofia offered to be the person over eighteen to get you out…and Ian-“

“Hey!”

“He thought I might need protection!” Mandy laughed.

“Oh yeah?” Mickey asked as he reached out and pulled Mandy into a hug, “you may think that you know my sister.  But you don’t know my sister til you fought my sister!  She’s protecting your ass!”

“You smell like barbeque sauce…”

Mickey reached out and pinched her tits, twisting her nipples through her bra.  She screamed and grabbed his arms, fighting him off, “OH, OW!  What did dad tell you?”

“Oh, ow!  Fuck-Fuck the police!”

“No titty twisters now that I’m a C cup!” she growled, pushing her brother away from herself.

“C cup?  Bitch you wish!” Mickey scoffed.  He turned, looking to the guards, “HEY!  Fuck you!  Fuck you!  And especially fuck you!”

“Alright, come on kid, before they lock you back up!” you teased as Mandy and Ian started pulling him away from the doors.  He wrapped an arm around Mandy’s shoulders and tried to wrap one around Mickey’s, but he pushed him away from them. 

“You uh-knocked up pretty good…” he commented dryly as he looked back at you, “still with the cop, or is that a little Milkovich taking up rent space in there?”

“It’s the cops,” Mandy laughed, “but they’ve been splits Ville since he tried to break up Fiona and her boyfriend.”

“Thought they did break up?”

“They did…and Colin’s been at our house every other day with flowers or otherwise trying to win Sofia back.”

“He knows the little crotch goblin isn’t his?”

“Trust me, Mickey…Colin knows that my child belongs to Tony.”

“We could still raise him as a Milkovich if you and the cop don’t get back together though,” he shrugged, “sure dad would love to finally have a grandkid…and you know that Colin would raise the bastard like it was his own.”

“Gee, Mick…thanks for the thoughts…”

“Just saying,” he shrugged, “any of you fuckers got a light?  No one put any money on my books, and I’d kill for a smoke!”

“I don’t right now, but I could drop a carton off after I get done at my shift at the club…Col was saying he wanted to see me…”

“You’re not coming home?” Ian asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be home in time to make sure Debbie’s daycare is good…was just gonna stop off at Chez Milkovich first.”

“Sounds good,” Mickey agreed, “I’ll tell Colin he’ll get half the carton…”  

“What the hell was that?”

“Oh, you saw the little slut and her grandpa tipping out sis big time too?”

“Oh, I saw little slut just kiss my sister,” you answered as you placed a drink on the bar, “six fifty.”

The guy tossed a ten on the bar and told you to keep the change as he walked off and was quickly replaced by another one.

“That a thing?” you asked.

“What, Fiona going out with them all the time?”

“Judging by that tone, I’m going to assume that it is,” you smirked, but the smirk was quickly replaced by a frown, “but no…was talking about her kissing that chick.”

“She does it all the time.”

A shiver ran down your spine, “damn…maybe I have been missing out on what’s going down…Do you think I’ve been spending too much time at the Milkovich’s?”

“Milkovich, or with your husband?”

You frowned, “I-It was only once, V-“

“Girl, he’s your husband.  You should be spending more time at the house next door than the one a few blocks down.”

“V I don’t need a speech on a soap box.”

“All I’m saying, is that you can’t just let people into your life when it suits you Sofia,” she sighed as she put a hand on the small of your back, “Tony was good for you…sure, he called the cops on Steve…and he got him to give him the house…but he did it because he knows the types of guys Fiona lets in, and he was trying to protect you guys…I mean, you remember the guy with the anger issues…and the guy who started trying to deal drugs out of your house when you were at school…and the guy that-“

“I get it,” you frowned, cutting her off with a shake of your head, “but it-he could have talked to me about it instead of going right on after Steve…instead of calling the cops on Ian and Lip.”

“Sweetie, he thought he was doing what was right…” she offered, “and anyways…he said he kicked out that rub and tugger after your conversation…you still have your copy of the key…fuck the Milkovich kid…go get your husband back…”

“Yeah…you’re right, V…” you smiled, “thanks.”

Your brow quirked, but you didn’t say anything as you made your way past Fiona, who was sleeping on the couch, and into the kitchen.

“Quiz me!” Ian encouraged. 

You messed with Lip’s hair as you passed, and opened the fridge to start breakfast, “who needs food still?”

“Me!” Carl called.

“Well, what do you want, kid?”

“Cereal?”

You nodded, tossing him the bag, before looking at your other brothers.

“We both do!” Ian admitted.

“Uh, if A equals B, then B equals A!”

“Symmetric!”

“He may as well get a windshield and call it a car!” Lip groaned.

“It’s just a phase.”

“What are you guys talking about.”

“She hasn’t even slept with him yet!” Lip admitted.

“He’s talking about Karen.”

“Ugh,” you groaned, “I’ve never liked her.  You could do so much better than her, Lip…”

“Maybe he’s a eunuch!” Lip said, ignoring your comment.

“Maybe she just likes him?” Ian shrugged.

“Debbie, what do you and Liam want for breakfast.

“Whatever?” Debbie shrugged.

“Lip, why are you sleeping in mine and Fi Fi’s bed?” Fiona asked as she came into the kitchen.

“Lip was sleeping in our bed?” you asked, “what’s wrong with your room?”

“Ask her!” Lip frowned, pointing at Debbie.

“I moved Liam!” she called, coming towards you so that she could reach into the fridge, “I can’t be in the same room where Liam is constantly masturbating.”

“It’s not masturbating if nothing comes out!”

“According to whom?” Fiona asked.

“My friend Jack O’ Donnel.”

“Not true!” Debbie claimed, with a shake of her head.

“It’s kind of true!”

“Not legally true!” Ian argued.

“So, Liam could be arrested for masturbating?”

“What?” Fiona asked, “no.  Listen up!”

“What is the age where it’s inappropriate to arouse yourself in front of others?” Lip asked, “even if nothing comes out.”

“Two years old!”

“Guys, we’re not having this conversation,” you argued, playfully slapping Lip upside the head, “Lip, keep quizzing Ian.  Carl, masturbating is still masturbating even if nothing comes out, regardless of age….Fi…we have to do something if it’s becoming a problem…maybe move Lip into Frank’s room?”

“Unfortunately, Frank has rented out his room to a pregnant woman!” Fiona groaned as she slipped a new shirt over her head and pointed upstairs.

“What?” you asked.

“I told them!” Debbie announced.

“You let her in last night?” you asked.

Debbie shrugged, “she had a key!  Besides, she’s from China.  They kill extra babies there.”

“Liam needs to go back in with you!” Fiona frowned.

“WHAT NO!” Debbie screeched, before looking to you, “Fi Fi, tell her that Liam can’t be back in with me.”

“Debbie-“

“Debs, that’s not fair,” you tried, “maybe we switch with the boys.  Have the three of us in the boy’s room and the boys split off?  Carl and Liam in one and Ian and Li-“

What’s done is done!” she yelled, looking between you and your sister.  She stormed off leaving you with your sister.

“Okay…for now, Liam’s in the boy’s room!” Fiona announced.

“What?”

“SERIOUSLY?” Lip asked.

“Four guys in one room!”

“Isn’t that a health violation?” Ian asked.

“Why can’t we do what Sofia said?” Carl asked, “you three in our room and then Lip and Ian in yours and me and Liam in Debbies?”

“We don’t have money for anymore beds, and I can promise you that Debs won’t sleep on the top bunk and Sofia won’t be able to jump up there with as pregnant as she is.”

“Well, we have to figure something out!” you tried, “Fi…there’s not enough room in there for them…maybe we push the chick out that Frank rented his room to?”

“We’ll find Frank and figure it out, but until then, four to the room!”

There was a cough, and the kitchen went silent as the woman that Frank had rented his room to came down the stairs.  Fiona left the kitchen in a huff, and you put a hand on Lip’s shoulder before sliding around and kissing Ian’s temple, “We’ll get him here and figure it out…I promise guys…it won’t stay this way.”

“Promise!”

“Of course!” you smiled, “now come on…you gotta work at Kash and Grab, and Lip…you said you and Kev need extra hands with the ice cream truck today?”

“Yeah…”

“Fiona…you got the daycare?” you asked as you followed your two brothers outside to where Kev was eagerly honking the horn for the ice cream truck.

You stopped though, your heart aching, when also coming to the bottom of the steps, to the door right beside yours was your husband. 

“Sofia-“

You couldn’t stop the butterflies that rose in your stomach at the thought of it. 

V had convinced you that maybe it was best to give Tony another shot.  After all, he was trying to do what was best for your family.  He didn’t have any ill intentions with it, other than to create some distance between Fiona and Steve. 

When he fucked up and realized that Lip and Ian were the ones that got arrested, he’d done everything in his power to make sure they walked…Steve just happened to give him the house after the fact, thinking that was the main factor in keeping them out of jail.

And then last month when the two of you hooked up, and he admitted that he’d kicked out the Laotian girl…

He did care. 

“Tony?” you asked softly as you opened the door to the house. 

You didn’t get a response from him.

But you did hear music coming from upstairs. 

Closing the door behind yourself, you pushed upstairs.  The lights were off in the master, and the door to the nursery was closed, but you saw lights on in one of the other rooms, on the far side of the hall.

“Tony?” you tried again.

A woman moaned in response. 

Your heart broke. 

But that didn’t stop you from stomping down the hall and barging in only to see your husband balls deep in another woman. 

“FUCKING SERIOUSLY?”

“Sof-“

“Go fuck yourself, Tony.  I’m done!” you spat, throwing your wedding ring at the ground, “I want a divorce!”

“Go fuck yourself, Tony….I don’t want to hear it.”

“Sofia…wait…wait, would you please jus-“

He stopped speaking when you whipped around, and slapping him hard across the face, “don’t you fucking touch me, Tony.”

“I-I deserved that.”

“You said you were done!” you spat, “you said you kicked them out…you-“

“I did…but then-“

“Then what?” you growled, “what happened Tony?”

“You didn’t come back!” he answered, “I-I kicked her out.  I got rid of her.  But then you didn’t come home.   You just kept staying over there!  To the fucking Milkovich house.  Hell, I arrested one of his brothers the other week and he admitted that you were fucking Colin again.  Wh-what did you expect me to do, Sofia?  Wait forever?”

“I didn’t expect you to stick your dick in another woman while I made sure my family was okay, Tony!”

“You weren’t making sure your family was okay, you were being a crazy bitch!” he growled, “you were going out and fucking another man while I sulked in our home.”

“YOU FUCKED ANOTHER WOMAN FIRST!” you screamed in his face, “YOU CHEATED ON ME.   YOU TRIED TO GET MY LITTLE BROTHERS LOCKED UP!  YOU FUCKED UP FIRST, TONY!”

“I’m sorry,” he tried, his head shaking, “I’m sorry, Sofia…just please...”

You looked down to see him holding your wedding ring in his hands, “what the fuck is this, Tony?”

“Please don’t leave me, Sofia…”

Chapter 12

[ireallylovepuppies101]

Does Mickey still push away Bendy in the cat-dad au? How does Oswald react to Bendy being sick?

Or are you going to cover that in the future au explanations?

Well, I don't exactly want to type out the whole inky mystery story in the style of the au (way too busy to sum up 300 chapters), so I'll gladly answer questions for the au if you people have any.

Mickey does, but he doesn't realize he's doing that. It's completely unintentional. He loves Bendy and Boris as his honorary nephews, but seeing Bendy have an attack, is just extremely hard for him to cope with. He doesn't realize he's ignoring Bendy because of this until it gets pointed out. He'd feel SO GUILTY but Bendy would understand and not hold it against him.

As for Oswald, well... I feel like this dabble best explains.

“Where have you two been?! Are you okay?! Does your father know you’re here?!”

Letting his kid drag him into the main room of their home, Oswald looked over as he heard his younger brother making a fuss. His little bunny child was about to let Mickey know they were heading to the store with Goofy, but the little one paused when getting closer, before grinning and jumping forward. “BIG BROTHERS BENDY AND BORIS!”

Eyes going wide, Oswald moved forward to indeed see Bendy and Boris in front of Mickey. Boris was currently holding the bunny that jumped at them, hugging and nuzzling their honorary sibling while Bendy watched and smiled, until his focus shifted and he caught sight of Oswald. His smile changed, still happy, but clearly trying to hide something sadder.

“Hey Papa Oz…”

With how Felix had informed them that Bendy and Boris were missing, as well as seeing that they were being called criminals in the papers, the relief Oswald felt over seeing the two boys he helped raise as if they were his own was almost overwhelming. He moved forward and quickly inspected the two. Cupping Boris’s face to gently tilt his head around then inspecting the rest of him for any injuries, then doing the same to Bendy once he deemed Boris as unharmed. Bendy however tensed when Oswald checked him. “Wait Oswald I- UGH!”

Alarmed as Bendy fell to his knees, an unspeakable sense of horror overcame the rabbit as he got down on his own knees to see what was wrong, and saw the horrible black substance dripping from Bendy’s face as the young demon coughed and struggled to breath. He could barely hear Mickey gasping in terror or notice Boris getting down on his own knees telling Bendy to hold on.

No, not him too. First Ortensia, and now HIM?!

NononoNO!!!

“Donald! Take Ozzy and his kid away please!”

Ears perking up at what Mickey said, Oswald looked up in time to see Boris quickly hand his kid to Donald. While the duck tried to approach him though, Donald and the others froze at what Oswald did next.

Scooping up Bendy in his arms, Oswald got to his feet and RAN to the washroom. His heart was pounding so hard that he wouldn’t be surprised if Bendy could feel it as he gripped tightly onto his shirt while coughing and trying not to gag, struggling with the pain the whole time. Reaching the washroom, Oswald quickly put Bendy down and grabbed a nearby bucket, letting the demon take it from him as his attack got worse. Oswald quickly busies himself with getting Bendy’s shirt off so it wouldn’t get ruined, he saw in the corner of his eye how Boris caught up and dug through Bendy’s bag until he pulled out a bottle of pills.

Bendy let out a blood curdling scream in pain. An oh so familiar scream in pain. One Oswald heard so many times and never wished to hear ever again. Especially not from the kids.

Frantically gesturing for Boris to give him the medicine, once the amount of pills needed were handed to Oswald, he quickly got Bendy to take them. When he was sure Bendy swallowed, the rabbit wrapped his arms around Bendy and held him close, shuddering and tensing every time Bendy coughed and gagged into the bucket.

Sobbing from the pain, Bendy could barely lift his head out of the bucket. “I-I’m sorry Papa Ozz! I-I didn’t want- UGH!”

Oswald was well aware. No one in this family ever wanted to witness an ink attack ever again, Oswald especially. Of course Bendy didn’t want his parent figure to witness this…

As horrible as this was though, a kid he and Ortenisa cared for dearly as he grew up was hurting and needed him.

Tightening his hold on Bendy, the rabbit did his best not to shudder as he rubbed Bendy’s inky back, and tried his best to soothingly shush him. "Sshhhh…"

This is probably the first time he made any kind of noise since Ortensia passed.

Either way, it seemed to do the trick, Bendy began to calm down as his attack started to fade, and leaned against Oswald for comfort. With the worst of it being over, Oswald moved to the next task at hand. Clean Bendy up, and get rid of the horrible HORRIBLE ink. 

Grabbing a clean rag, Oswald turned on the sink and got it nice and soaked. Barely acknowledging Mickey behind him. “Ozzy let me.”

Ignoring his brother, he went back to Bendy and started wiping his face clean, until Bendy grabbed his hand. “Oswald, let Uncle Mic and Boris take care of the rest of this. I appreciate you helping… But I think you need to rest now.”

Confused by what he meant, it took a bit for Oswald to process his hand was trembling badly in Bendy’s gentle grip. He looked down at both shaking hands, and realized his whole body was trembling. Shaking his head, the rabbit stubbornly attempted to keep helping Bendy clean up, but the young demon just tightened his hold on his hand. "Papa Ozz, I'm okay now, I promise. Please, go rest."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Oswald’s shoulders slumped as he finally agreed. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he looked up at Boris who offered him a hand. Taking it, he was helped back onto his feet while Mickey took his place in helping Bendy clean up after his attack. Boris spoke over his shoulders as they exited the washroom. "I'll be right back."

Getting an okay from Bendy and Mickey, Boris walked with Oswald back to his room. When inside, Boris got his parent figure a clean change of clothes and handed them to him. His ears getting droopy while a sad and guilty expression crossed his face. "We're so sorry Papa Ozz… We didn't want you guys to find out like this…"

Carefully taking the clean clothes into his hands, Oswald petted Boris’s head with his trembling hand, wanting to assure the young pup that it was okay.

Still looking sad and guilty, Boris did however perk up somewhat from Oswald reassurance. Smiling a little, the young wolf walked to the door. "I'm going to check on Bendy. Rest well Oswald."

And with that, Boris left. Leaving Oswald alone.

The next few minutes are a bit of a blur. He barely remembers changing clothes, or throwing his ink stained clothing in the garbage… he also barely remembers when he started crying, or when his bunny kids came into his room to join him in bed for naptime. All he knows now is that he's listening to his children purring as he slowly calms down, and processes everything. 

Bendy has the ink illness. 

The sweet little boy who he used to teach magic tricks to when he was growing up, with the same sickness that took away Ortensia. His children's mother and the boys' mother figure.

Oswald prayed to Ortensia to watch over Bendy before he eventually drifted off to sleep.

[maybeimamuppet]

and all the devils are here (2/2)

“Hey, Jan?” Veronica asks one evening, poking her head through Janis’ open door. 

“Yeah?” Janis asks, looking up from her phone at her twin. 

“I’m going home to visit dad for spring break, do you wanna come with me? Mom said we could take the car,” Veronica says. She steps in a little further and stands aimlessly a few feet into Janis’ room. 

“Yeah, sure,” Janis says, trying to hide her rejoicing at a chance to see her father. She’s tried to hide it, but she’s very jealous that her twin has gotten so much time with both of their parents. She doesn’t blame them for it, but their parents made a really shitty choice for their custody arrangement. “Just us?” 

“Yeah, Mom has work she can’t miss that week,” Veronica says with a shrug. “She said she trusts us.” 

“Bad choice,” Janis snorts. “Yeah, I’ll go. Sounds fun.” 

“Tits,” Veronica grins. 

“Ha!” Janis calls as Veronica leaves her room with a groan. “I told you it’d catch on!” 

“Shut up!” Veronica yells from next door. 

“Girls, be nice!” Their mother yells at them from downstairs. 

“Sorry, Mom!” 

——

The six hour drive flies by for Janis. They’re going to one of the most boring states in the nation, which Veronica strongly protested with several ‘interesting’ factoids about her mother state. The world’s largest basket doesn’t sound intrigue Janis all that much, but she does have to admit that the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame sounds interesting. But a whole week with her dad and his side of the family is the real catch for Janis. 

“Hey, ladies,” he calls with a wave when they pull into the driveway. “How was your drive?” 

“Good,” Veronica says, giving their dad a quick hug before she goes to get their stuff from the trunk. 

“Janis!” he greets, giving her a squeeze. 

“Hi, dad,” Janis says, leaning in a little more when he tries to let her go. He wraps her up again and gently rubs her back. 

“How ya doing, kiddo?” 

“Good,” Janis says, taking a deep breath before she pulls back. Her dad smells like teakwood and old leather. His sweater is soft, just like the hand he massages over her back.

“Good,” he says with a grin and a ruffle of her hair. “You two go get settled in, I’m working on dinner.” 

“I’ll show you around after,” Veronica says as she carries a bag past her. “Sherwood grand tour.” 

“Cool,” Janis grins. 

—-

Veronica gives a very detailed tour, along with Mac, who they’d picked up along the way. Janis gets to see their favorite restaurants, which make up a solid seventy percent of the attractions around, the local 7-11, a giant field of terrifying concrete corn, lots of real corn with some scattered soybeans for variety, and the outskirts of the closest city. 

“You wanna see Westerburg?” Veronica asks. There’s something in her eyes Janis hasn’t seen before. Must be excitement. 

“Really? You wanna go back?” Janis asks softly. 

“Yeah, why not?” Veronica says with an uncharacteristic shrug. “I’ve been away for a while. I think it’ll be good for me.”

“It’s late, Blueberry, I think you should wait,” Mac says anxiously from the backseat. “And I have to go home.” 

“I’ll be fine, Noodle,” Veronica sighs. “I’m not made of glass. Let’s get you home.” 

“I’m not saying you are, I’m just saying you need to be careful with yourself,” Mac explains. “But if you have Janis there I guess it’ll be fine. Just call me if you need anything, okay?” 

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Janis teases. Veronica shoves her with a hand before focusing on driving again. “Hey!”

They can both almost hear Mac rolling her eyes in the backseat as they head through the gates into her neighborhood. Veronica sighs, “I’ll be fine, Mickey. You don’t need to worry.” 

“If you say so,” Mac says. She leans forward for a goodbye kiss from her girlfriend when they pull into her long driveway. “Bye. See you tomorrow?” 

“Yeah,” Veronica whispers against her lips. She gives her one more smooch before she pulls back. “Love you.” 

“Love you too. Bye Janis,” Mac says, climbing out of the car and rushing into her house. 

“Bye,” Janis says. 

“You ready?” Veronica asks, turning to look at her for a second before she reverses out of the driveway. 

“I doubt it,” Janis chuckles. “Are you?” 

“I think so,” Veronica says quietly. 

“Does Mac know?” 

“Know what?” 

“About the ghosts,” Janis clarifies. 

“Oh. Yeah, she does,” Veronica says. “Well, she knows about Heather. They had some stuff to clear up. Sometimes Heather makes me call her just so they can talk. But the others don’t really have a reason to show themselves to her.” 

“That makes sense,” Janis says. Veronica nods, and they continue the drive in silence. 

—-

The school is dark when they pull into the massive, empty parking lot. It’s one of those places that feels like a completely different dimension. Schools after dark are always weird. 

The doors are locked when Veronica tries to open them, and she’s too paranoid about cameras to try to pick one so Janis can have a tour of the inside. 

“I have an idea, come on,” Veronica says. Janis follows her as fast as she can when Veronica breaks into a run. 

“Vera, Jesus,” she pants. “I’m gay, don’t do this to me.” Veronica just laughs and goes faster. “Come on, man!” Eventually, they come to a stop. “The football field? Are you sure? Isn’t this where-”

“I have to go back,” Veronica insists. Janis watches as she kicks off her shoes and starts climbing the chain link fence. “You coming?” 

“I-I guess,” Janis says. She follows suit and struggles through the whole fence climbing thing much more than her sister did. “Goddamn.” 

“Nicely done,” Veronica says. “Come on.”

Janis follows her to the middle of the field, where a big W is painted in red. It’s almost spooky, with only the stars and moon to light their way and only their twin for company. 

“What do you think?” 

“It’s… nice, I guess,” Janis says in confusion. “It’s just a football field to me.” 

“It is, isn’t it?” Veronica asks in a strange tone of voice. It startles Janis enough that she looks up from the W and at her sister. 

“V-Vera, what is that?” Janis asks shakily. “What are you doing?” 

Veronica doesn’t say anything. Janis looks frantically between the large knife in her hand and her blank, hollow eyes. 

“Veronica,” Janis begs. “Listen to me. Whatever you’re thinking of doing with that, don’t. I-I know you’re not here right now, but you have to try to come back. Fight this off.” 

“We’re what killed the dinosaurs,” Veronica mumbles to herself. Janis continues taking slow steps backwards, away from her sister. 

“Janis,” Heather suddenly says, materializing next to Janis’ twin. “Something’s wrong with her.”

“Yeah, clearly!” Janis scoffs. 

“No, I mean something’s wrong that hasn’t happened before! This isn’t just her having a flashback!” Heather says. “She can’t hear me!” 

“What do you mean she can’t hear you?” Janis asks frantically. 

“She can’t hear any of us,” Ram says as he and Kurt fade in next to Heather. JD follows, but seems to only be there to observe what’s going on. He lingers towards the back, unspeaking. 

“Heather,” Veronica says suddenly. 

“Veronica, that’s your sister,” Heather begs. “I’m right here, you can’t do this!” 

“Yes you can,” another voice suddenly says. Janis startles and looks as… another Heather suddenly pops up. The Heather Janis is used to is in full color, red robe and red hair and her mouth stained a contradictory blue. This new one has the same form, but she’s entirely in greyscale. Like some kind of… shadow. 

“What the fuck?!” Heather shrieks. 

“You’re a killer, Veronica,” grey-Heather continues. “Aren’t you? Look at what you did to me. To us.” 

Janis watches in horror as three more of the grey-ghosts appear. Ram, Kurt, and JD. Real-Heather looks frantically between her real ghostly counterparts and Janis. “Who the hell are you?” 

“Why, Heather Chandler, of course,” grey-Heather says.

“No, you aren’t, I am,” Heather growls. 

“Oh, but I am too,” grey-Heather grins. “I’m your worst nightmare. Everything she hated about you. Everything you hated about you. All the evil you had in you. All the darkness, all the rage. All the hate. But you didn’t even try to keep me down, did you? You broadcasted me for all the world to see. You know what a horrible person you were. You deserved to die.”

“Shut up!” Heather shrieks. Grey-Heather just laughs. 

“You know it’s true,” she hums, looking casually at her fingernails. “Call it… karma.” 

“Ram,” Veronica suddenly says. Her voice chills Janis to the core. It’s as if the words are being yanked through her vocal cords with absolutely no input from her brain. She sounds so empty. Her body is right in front of her, but Janis knows that right now, it’s a mere husk of her sister. And how the hell is she going to get her back?

“Why should she get to live, Veronica?” grey-Ram says in a chilling, echoey voice. “Why her and not me? I was only seventeen.” 

“Veronica, bro, it’s chill,” Ram says frantically. “I was totally a douche, don’t murder your sister!” 

“Look at her, Veronica,” grey-Kurt pipes up. “Look how tough she acts. And she’s quivering here at your feet. Doesn’t that fill you with such a rush? The thrill of the kill, aren’t you excited to watch the light leave her eyes?” 

“‘Ronica, please,” Kurt begs. “That’s not me! Open your eyes, bro! Listen to us! The real us, man, please!” 

“JD,” Veronica says. 

“Our love is god, Veronica Sawyer!” grey-JD says, throwing a ghostly arm around Veronica’s shoulder. “She knows too much, doesn’t she? You opened your stupid mouth and told her everything you did. You told her about all the people you killed. How could you be such an idiot? I thought you wanted to move on?” 

“Leave her alone!” Heather yells. 

“You’re a killer, Veronica,” grey-JD whispers. “You already have the blood of four people on your hands. The killer instinct is in you, babe. What’s one more? We can’t have her blabbing to the cops. That pretty face wasn’t made for jail.” 

Veronica takes a few large steps forwards. Janis scrambles backwards as quickly as she can manage on her shaking legs. This is it. She’s about to die on a football field, at some random high school in the middle-of-nowhere, Ohio. Murdered by her own twin. 

“Vera, please, listen to me,” Janis begs around a sob. “I’d never tell anyone, you’re my sister! I-I just got you, I’m not ready to lose you! A-and I’m not ready to die, please! Think-think about Cady, about Damian! Think about Mac, what-what is she gonna say? Don’t do this!” 

“Janis, she can hear you,” Heather says. “She can see you, she just can’t see or hear us! She’s listening!” 

“We both have so much to live for,” Janis continues. “Vera, please, just open your eyes!” 

She can see in Veronica’s eyes that a war is waging in her mind. She’s fighting. Fighting so hard to break free from whatever’s happening to her. Whatever these grey-ghosts are telling her, whatever they’re doing to her. Veronica’s fighting. But she’s been fighting for a very long time. 

She’s weak.

She’s not strong enough.

Not on her own. 

“Our love is god,” she mumbles. 

“Janis, let me borrow your body!” Heather says frantically. 

“What?!” Janis says, continuing to back away from her twin with her hands held up defensively. Like that’ll do anything.

“I need to talk to her somehow or you’re going to die here! And trust me, that’s not a nice place to go!” Heather insists. “Just let me possess you for a few minutes and I’ll try to talk her down. She has to hear from me, it’s… our… clones, or whatever, doing this to her!” 

“Okay, whatever, just do it quick!” Janis yells. She shudders and feels a chill go down her spine as all the hair on her neck stands on end. She suddenly feels a very strong urge to kick someone in the balls, and a deep understanding of all the merits of the color red. 

“Veronica,” Janis feels her mouth say. It’s not her voice. She shivers again as her mouth moves against her will to produce a voice unnatural to her. “Ronnie.”

“Heather,” Veronica says, pausing in her tracks. 

“Yeah, Ronnie, it’s me,” Heather-Janis says. “You need to listen to me.”

“I am,” Veronica says in confusion. 

“No, Veronica, the real me!” Heather says. “That’s not me!” 

Heather, look at their feet, Janis thinks as hard as she can. She feels Heather puppet her eyes to the feet of the grey-ghosts. Unlike the ones in color that float as their own separate entities a few inches off the ground, these are tethered like balls and chains to Veronica. 

They’re part of her. 

The voices that have been tormenting her for so many days, weeks, months; personified and tied to her with heavy chains. Their voices so much louder, deafening, that she’s no longer able to tell the real voices from her own. 

“You want revenge,” Veronica says. Janis forces her eyes to look at grey-Heather, so real-Heather can see her lips moving to silently form the same words. She’s turned Veronica into some sort of sick marionette, puppeting her every move, her every word, every thought. 

“No, Veronica, I don’t,” Heather says. “I want you to let me go. I don’t belong on Earth anymore, Ronnie. I’m so tired. I get more tired every day, but I’ve stuck around for you. Please, listen to me.” 

It’s working, Janis thinks again. Keep going. 

“I can’t,” Heather whispers. “I’m not strong enough, I’m sorry.” 

Janis gasps and stumbles as she’s suddenly flooded with warmth and in control of her body once more. Heather is back in front of her, a bit more translucent and hovering much closer to the ground. 

“My spirit is weak,” Heather says hoarsely. “I can’t hold on long enough to keep going, Janis, I’m sorry.” 

“Someone else try, quick,” Janis says as her sister starts advancing on her again. Ram hovers over to her. Ew, she thinks, but she willingly lets him take control. 

“‘Ronica,” he says. 

“Ram,” Veronica says. 

“Yeah, fam, it’s me. How ya been?” Ram chortles.

Dude, seriously? Janis thinks. 

“Ow, man, that actually hurts,” Ram says, puppeting Janis’ hand to rub the back of her neck. “‘Ronica, dude, you gotta snap out of this, bro. We never wanted this.”

“You never wanted to die,” Veronica echoes hollowly.

“I mean, yeah,” Ram agrees. “It kinda sucked, man. But you can’t kill your sister.”

“Why should she get to live and not you?” Veronica says. Janis watches grey-Ram’s lips move in tandem with her twin’s. “She’s just as innocent as you were.”

“No,” Ram says. Janis can hear the strain in his voice. He’s stronger than Heather, but he’s also struggling to hold on. “‘Ronica, I was a total jackass. Janis is a good person, she’s innoce-”

That’s all he wrote. Janis gasps again as Ram is ejected from her body. Kurt takes his place before she has a chance to recover. 

“Veronica, think about it, bro,” he begins. Janis is horrified by the images and urges running through her mind. She doesn’t even have the equipment for half of them. “If we didn’t deserve to die, Janis, like, definitely doesn’t, man.” 

“Your revenge,” Veronica says, sounding confused. Her eyes are a bit clearer than they were. Whatever they’re doing is giving her the strength to fight longer, fight harder. They’re giving her the upper hand. 

“I don’t want revenge, dude!” Kurt insists. “Especially not by murdering your sister! She didn’t even have anything to do with this, you whackjob!” 

“She knows too much,” grey-JD makes Veronica say. “She has to go.” 

“No, man, you need to wake up,” Kurt says. “Shit, Janis, I can’t hold on. Keep talking to her.” 

Janis sinks to her knees as Kurt leaves. Blood starts streaming from her nose. Being possessed in rapid succession by three different people is taking its toll on her body. She’s not sure how much more she can take. 

Veronica’s still gone. The battle in her mind still rages. Janis and the ghosts have managed to push the front lines back, but it’s still a losing battle. 

“Janis,” a quiet voice says. Janis looks up to see the ghost of JD swimming in front of her vision. “Listen, I know you’re weakened. If you can hold on long enough for me to talk to her, I think I can… I think I can get her back.” 

“Go to hell,” Janis growls, spitting out some blood and wiping her face off on her sleeve. “You did this to her.” 

“I know I fucking did!” JD yells. “But I really loved her, too, and she loved me back, or she’d never have done this! You’re fully within your right to hate me, but if you don’t let me in, she is going to kill you! And I cannot let that happen to her. She would never recover. She loves you, Janis, she’d never forgive herself. This isn’t her, and I’m not going to let it be.” 

“Fine,” Janis sighs. She forces herself to stand and shuts her eyes as the now-familiar chill and loss of control overtakes her once more. 

“Veronica,” JD says. 

“Jason,” Veronica says with a twisted smile. “Look, I’m doing it!” 

“I see that, babe,” JD says. Don’t make me call my sister babe, man, that’s just weird. “Sorry, Janis. Veronica, I see you are, but this isn’t what I want.” 

“B-but… you told me to do this,” Veronica says in confusion. “She has to be taken out of commission. She knows too much, she’ll send me to prison.” 

“Janis,” JD says softly. “Before I keep going, tell me honestly. Are you planning on reporting her to any authority, ever?” 

No, Janis roars in her head. She’s-she’s my sister! I’d never do that to her. She needs help, not locked up. She needs to be here.

“Good,” JD whispers. “Veronica.”

“Jason,” Veronica says with tears in her eyes. 

“Put the knife down,” JD coaches. “Talk to me for a while.”

“She’ll escape,” Veronica says. 

“She can’t. I’ve got her under control,” JD says. Ain’t that the fucking truth. “Janis, do you mind?” Sorry. “She won’t escape. She’s going to sit here with us and we’re going to talk. Just put the knife down.” 

Veronica doesn’t put the knife down so much as drop it so that it embeds into the astroturf of the new field. 

“Good, good, that’s good,” JD says. 

“I’ve talked to you every night,” Veronica says. “You-you told me to kill her. To get rid of her. So we can be together again.” 

“Veronica, that wasn’t me,” JD says calmly. 

“Yes it was! You told me I need to get revenge for you,” Veronica yells. “Kill her for you! Like I killed you! I have to kill her!” 

“No, Veronica!” JD bellows. “Veronica. The only person that will get revenge on is you. Janis is your twin. You have a bond like nobody else can possibly even describe, let alone feel. If you kill her, you’ll kill yourself right with her. A piece of you will be missing from your life, forever. You’d never recover. You’ve already been through too much, Veronica. You need to let us go. You need to forgive yourself. Veronica, you have to move on!”

“No!” Veronica roars, grabbing the knife and advancing on them. Janis feels a whimper of her own squeak out as she suddenly has the knife pinned to her throat. “You’re a fake, aren’t you? The real Jason wants revenge. You’re just trying to talk me out of it.”

“The real Jason loves you,” JD responds calmly. Dude, how the fuck? “Janis, I blew up, once you’ve done that you can face pretty much anything! Veronica. Listen. You can believe what you want, but listen to me.” 

Veronica eyes JD-Janis suspiciously, but she does allow a slight gap between Janis’ throat and the knife. Her grip on Janis’ collar loosens the slightest bit. “She has to die. So we can be together.”

“Veronica, I want nothing more than I want to be with you,” JD says calmly. “I love you more than I loved anything in my life. And my afterlife. But I’m not here anymore. My time came a long time ago. We can’t be together.”

“Yes we can,” grey-JD says, approaching again. “All you have to do is slit that pretty throat. She looks so much like you, doesn’t she, Ronnie? Like everything in you you can’t stand? All this darkness, this burden, this hatred? Don’t you just see it burning in front of you? It’d be so quick.” 

“Veronica, that’s not me! Don’t listen!” JD yells frantically as Veronica presses the knife to Janis’ flesh again.  “I never asked you to do this! I never asked you to try to get your revenge! Think, Veronica, come on! Who asked you that?!” 

“You!” Veronica insists. “It-it… it was you.” 

“No, Veronica, I never asked for this,” JD says. “Veronica, please, listen to me. Not him.”

“I died because of you!” grey-JD roars, made louder by the chorusing voices of the other three. “My blood stains your hands! You monster! Look at what you’ve done, you demon! You villain! Killing four innocent people! You killed me! You killed me! You killed me! You killed me!” 

“I’m sorry!” Veronica wails. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” 

“You’re a killer,” grey-JD says. “I will not… forgive… Veronica...” 

“I did, Veronica, I did,” JD begs. “We all did! You can’t keep blaming yourself, it was me! I-I was sick, Veronica! I dragged you into it! You didn’t kill Heather, I did! I made you take the wrong cup, I’m the one who poisoned her! I lied and I told you the bullets were fake, I killed Ram! You aren’t even the one who shot Kurt, that was me! And you had nothing to do with my death, Veronica, except delaying it a little longer!” 

“I killed you,” Veronica whispers with tears streaming down her face.

“No, Veronica,” JD says. Janis wants to protest about him tenderly cupping her twin’s cheek, but she knows this isn’t the time. “I promise you. All the blame rests on me. I was the worst thing that could’ve happened to you. And you were the best thing that could’ve happened to me.”

“But you-”

“Do you know how long I had a plan? How long before I even met you?” JD says softly. “Every new school I went to, I came up with a new one. Every moving day was going to be the time I finally fucking did it.” 

“Jason,” Veronica says. Some clarity is starting to come to her eyes. It’s working. Slowly but surely, JD is getting through. Janis just hopes he manages it before he can’t hold onto her anymore. 

“Veronica,” Heather says, some color returned to her now that she’s had some time to recover from her time inside Janis. Veronica whips around to look at her. “Can you hear me?” 

“Heather,” Veronica says. Heather smiles, in spite of the situation. 

“Yeah. You need to listen to us,” she says soothingly. “You need to come back. This isn’t you.” 

“But-but you… you’ve been telling me,” Veronica says. “Telling me to kill again. For you. A life for yours.”

“That won’t bring me back, Veronica,” Heather says sadly. “Nothing will. Killing Janis won’t solve anything.” 

“Why should she live?” grey-Heather says. “She’s not innocent, either.” 

Veronica’s eyes snap back to Janis. 

“She manipulated her little girlfriend for an entire year,” grey-Heather continues. “Isn’t she a bad person?”

“Veronica,” Heather says, remarkably calmly. “You are not the judge, jury, and executioner. This weight is not meant for your shoulders.”

“B-but-” Veronica stumbles. She looks back and forth between the real ghost and the greyscale version. “W-who-”

“Veronica,” JD says. “Those are you. All the things you’ve been tormenting yourself with. They’re taking our forms. You can’t listen to them. You can’t give in.” 

“Kill her!” grey-JD roars. “Kill her like you killed us!” 

“Veronica,” Heather says. “You have to let us go.”

“No,” grey-Heather says. “Kill her. Kill her, or you’ll be alone forever.”

“I don’t want to be alone,” Veronica says, her voice trembling. JD, she’s coming back. That’s real emotion, that’s her. 

“I know,” JD whispers. “Veronica. That isn’t Heather. That isn’t me. That’s you. Those are your thoughts. Fight them. Why do you think I fell for you?”

“Because… I’m… weak,” Veronica grits. She’s still clearly not back in herself yet, but she’s getting closer, and closer. Just not close enough.

“No, Veronica, I fell for you because you’re strong,” JD says. “In a way I never was. Never could be. You’re strong, and you’re good. They’re lying to you. Don’t listen. Use that strength. Fight, Veronica.” 

“Veronica,” Heather continues. “Listen to us. Don’t listen to them. They’re not real.”

“Aren’t we?” grey-Heather retaliates. “You will never be free from your sins, Veronica Sawyer. You are, and always will be, a killer. A murderer. You killed us. You killed me.”

“I know,” Veronica sobs. “I know I did, I know! And I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m doing what you asked!”

“Veronica, we forgave you,” JD says. “We do forgive you.”

“You will never forget what you’ve done,” grey-Heather says. “You will never forget. This will always live inside you.”

“And you can always fight it, Veronica,” Heather says pleadingly. “You have so many people who love you, you fucking pillowcase! Think about them! You have so many people who want to help you heal, you just have to be open with them! Mac, Janis, your mom! Your dad, Duke, Cady, Damian, Regina! All of them know who you really are!” 

“I’m a killer,” Veronica sobs shakily. 

“No, you aren’t,” JD says. “You’re a victim. An unwitting accomplice. You’re traumatized. But you are not a killer.” 

Janis forces her eyes to look at the grey-ghosts. Slowly, they’re taking on some of Veronica’s features. Grey-Heather’s hair is much frizzier, suddenly. Grey-Ram has her nose. Grey-Kurt her ears. Grey-JD has her stature. Slowly, they’re losing more and more of themselves. Becoming unrecognizable as anything but Veronica herself. 

“Janis, she’s getting closer,” JD whispers. “But I can’t hold on too much longer. You have to help. Help me save you. Save her. As long as she’s fighting, she’s still in there. She can win this.” 

Okay, Janis thinks as hard as she can. 

“I died here, Veronica,” grey-JD says. “Don’t you remember? Don’t you remember the sound of my life being snuffed? The ash, the soot? The blood? The smell? I was in so much pain, Veronica. My pain will never disappear.” 

“Yes,” Veronica whimpers. “Yes, JD, I’m sorry!”

“Veronica,” JD and Janis say at the same time. “I’m not suffering anymore. Revenge won’t solve anything. You know that. Revenge won’t bring me back. It won’t change anything. All it will do is hurt you and the people you care about.” 

Janis and JD watch as the ghosts morph even further into Veronica. 

“But if I hadn’t been there, none of this would’ve happened,” Veronica says. “None of you would ever have died! I’m sorry, I’m sorry Heather. I’m sorry Ram, Kurt. JD, I-I’m sorry!” 

“We can’t change the past, Veronica,” Ram says comfortingly. And remarkably eloquently. “But you can change your future. Don’t do this.” 

“But if I had never met you, none of you would have died!” Veronica insists with tears streaming down her face. “Heather, if I hadn’t gone to that party, if I hadn’t met you in the bathroom! Ram, Kurt, if I hadn’t gone to the graveyard that night!” 

“Veronica, why are you doing this to yourself?” Heather asks. “You fucking pillowcase. I barely knew you, but those few months I did were some of my happiest. My only regret is that I didn’t get to know you more while I was still alive. I don’t hold this against you. I never have. As soon as I crossed over, I understood. Listen to us, Veronica. We’re glad we got to be with you.” 

“Yeah, man,” Kurt agrees. “We didn’t know you super good. But you seem pretty baller. The only thing we’re pissed about is being such assholes, bro.” 

“You have nothing to regret, Veronica,” JD and Janis say in tandem again. 

“Look at me, Veronica,” grey-Heather says, her voice much quieter now, like she’s miles away and still trying to speak to them. Veronica does. Janis can see the confusion raging behind her eyes when she sees her own face looking back at her, speaking in Heather’s voice. “You deserve this. To suffer. Your punishment for what you’ve done. Won’t it be wonderful to get to keep us around all the time?” 

“Veronica,” JD and Janis say. Veronica looks at them. Janis almost gasps at the clarity in her eyes. She’s almost back. “You can’t blame yourself anymore. I love you. I don’t want to see you suffering. The voices you hear are your own thoughts. You’ve been hurting yourself all this time. Stop blaming yourself for what’s happened to you. To us.”

“You asked me to do something for you,” Veronica murmurs. “Jason. You asked me to-”

“Think, Veronica, come on. What did I ask of you?” JD says, without Janis this time. Janis can feel him slipping, tries desperately dig her heels in to keep a hold on him as long as she can. For Veronica. 

“You… you asked me to clean up after you,” Veronica says. “I’m trying to-”

“No, Veronica,” JD says. “I asked you to clean up my body. You did that. You helped the police gather as much of me as you could.”

“A-and you asked me to…” Veronica mumbles. 

“Come on, Veronica, think! You’re so close, just keep fighting! Keep thinking!” JD and Janis yell. 

“You asked me to stick around,” Veronica says boldly. “And… make things better.” Janis collapses to the ground as JD is ejected from her body. “Janis, oh my god!” 

“Vera,” Janis croaks. Veronica bursts into tears and throws the knife as far away as she possibly can before she sinks down next to her and pulls Janis’ limp, exhausted body into her lap. 

“I’m so sorry,” Veronica sobs. “I’m so sorry. God, I almost killed you, I’m so sorry.”

“That… wasn’t you,” Janis says hoarsely, choking the words out around painful gasps for breath. “This is. You fought it off, Vera. You did it.” 

Janis forces herself to her knees and grunts as Veronica throws herself at her. Janis thinks she hears a few of her ribs crack as her twin hugs her tighter than she’s ever been hugged in her life. Janis squeezes her back just as hard as they both cry against each others’ shoulders. 

The grey-ghosts, now perfect reflections of the both of them, melt into a revolting sort of goo and seep back into Veronica. They’ll always be with her, in a way. But Janis will be too. And they can face their demons together. 

“I’m so sorry,” Veronica sobs again. 

“I’m sorry too,” Janis responds. 

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” Janis says. “Let’s fucking get out of here.” 

“I… I have to do something first,” Veronica says. Janis watches in confusion as Veronica stands and walks away. Veronica grabs the knife and runs towards the nearest garbage can. She drops the knife in first. Janis is dragging herself over as best as she can when Veronica suddenly pulls out her diary and stares at the cover. She traces over the leather binding with her finger before she drops it in as well. 

Heather, Ram, Kurt, and JD materialize next to her once again. 

“I’ve needed to do this for a long time,” Veronica begins, voice thick with emotion. “It’s time I let you go. Release you all to where you belong.” 

The ghosts are quiet for a moment, looking at Veronica with a strangely peaceful gaze. Heather is the first to speak. “Thank you.” 

Veronica just nods. “I’m gonna miss you.” 

“We’ll miss you too,” Ram says. “It’s been kind of baller hanging around Earth a while longer, but…”

“We’re fucking tired, man,” Kurt concludes. 

Veronica pulls out a matchbook. Looks at it for a long moment. “Thank you all for everything. Everything you’ve given me. Everything you’ve done for me.” 

“Thank you, Veronica,” JD says softly. 

Veronica strikes the match. “Goodbye.” 

“Goodbye,” the ghosts all chorus at once. 

“I love you,” JD says. 

“So do I,” Heather says. 

“I love you too,” Veronica says. “Both of you. I’ll see you again.” 

“Enjoy being eighteen, Sawyer,” Heather says as Veronica drops the match into the bin. 

“Enjoy staying seventeen, Chandler.” 

“Live the hell out of this life, Veronica,” JD says. 

“I’ll do my best, JD.” 

And with that, all of the ghosts dissolve into puffs of mist, blown away by the wind along with the sands of time, to places and things unknown to the living. 

Veronica stands and watches the fire grow and roar in the bin. Janis comes up and leans against her side as they watch the flames flicker and dance in front of them. 

Veronica screams in anguish, releasing all the emotions she’s needed to for a year. Janis holds her through it, and they both sob into each other as the diary turns to ash.

They’ll always have demons.

But they can fight them.

Together. 

—————

thank you for reading, especially if you’re coming from the heathers side of things!! i really enjoyed exploring these characters a bit more in depth than i have before so if you have any requests or anything from me you’d like to see i’ll do my best to make it happen :) in a timely manner this time lol

i’ll also almost definitely write this again from veronica’s pov at some point. just a long ways in the future bc i need time to emotionally recover from this one lol

also if you know what the ending scene is loosely based on no you don’t :)

have a fantastic day and thanks again for reading!!

lots of love,

ezzy

[jessij1997]

Faded - still think about you

"He almost managed to get out of prison without being raped" Enzo laughted over the table and looked into Mickeys eyes. Don't fucking show him your pain. Don't freak out. He tells to himself and eats his breakfast.

"He was so tight. Shame you couldn't try him." He says to his cellmate and laughed again. "Left a beautiful mark on his neck. Everybody knows now Milky taked it up the ass. He takes me. He's my bitch."

Mickey clenched his fist and stood up. Without a word he went to his cell and packed his shit together.

"'M sorry" Deryl stood behind him in his cell. Arms crossed and looked to the ground. "I should have to be there. Your last day. I should have known."

"You were on the hospital ward. It's okay." Mickey looked to him. "Thanks for your protection D. For all those years. How's your rip?" He smiled.

Deryl smiled back and opened his arms. Mickey hugged him fast and carefully. "I'm fine Mick. We always were friends. You were never my bitch. You know this. You'll visit me right?"

"I ever thought we were more than friends. But of cause I'll visit you. But don't you dare and die in here. We met in 8 Years. Without glass. Alright Motherfucker?" Mickeys eyes were wet and he hugged him again. Deryl. His Deryl was the only one who protect him since day one. And he fucking need this protection. Terrys friends were everywhere and he telled them his son was a fag. And when Terry were locked up 2 years after himself, Deryl was the person who had the power to protect him. Mickey didn't know how but he protected him from Terry. He was about 4 years older and was a good men. Deep inside. Yes he killed his own dad with 27 knife stabs and a sledgehammer but when Mickey have had the chance and the balls he would do it too. The point was: he would miss him. They weren't only friends. Mickey knew Deryl fell for him. He knew it. But there was another person in Mickeys heard who casts a shadow over his love to Deryl. It was another love. Not the teenage one. Not the true one. But a kind of one.

He carefully hugged him a third time. "See you again." Mickey smiled and Deryl looked over his shoulder and leaned in. He kissed him fast and without any sexuell content. It was a promis. "I'll behave and we'll see us again."

Mickey went ago. His eyes watered but he didn't cry.

---

Read more on Wattpad 💙

[whiskeyswriting]

Ain’t Always The Cowboy

{ Song Inspiration: Ain’t Always The Cowboy by Jon Pardi }

The group of them had been enjoying the bonfire after the Founder’s Day parade. Laughs and drinks had been shared. The air was full of stories and love amongst the friends.

“Wait wait… Oh what was the name of that big shot bull rider that tried to help scam Whiskey…?” Baylie asked Grace.

“Ugh! Don’t get me started on how much I hate big city people,” Jake exclaimed.

Alana felt all eyes fall on her as Jake ranted on. “Yeah we’re the worst,” she says with a playful tone.

"You're far from being the worst..." Grace starts saying.

"He's just still mad Baylie dumped him to move to a big city," Bradley teases.

Alana looked between the two of them. “You two dated? I never knew.”

“Yeah we were high school sweethearts,” Baylie replies. “But now we’re not.”

“You’ll always be my first love Baylie,” Jake says smiling at her. “Even if you annoy me to death now.”

Once again, Alana looked between the two of them. Baylie was happily engaged to Mickey. Jake was the town's eligible bachelor. Alana couldn't help but wonder what would have been the cause of their breakup. She also wondered why he keeps glaring at her with anger in his eyes.

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER

Jake is driving to the Kazansky ranch after picking up some breakfast for him and Baylie. He brought a cooler full of ice and water to help her dad with some labor on the ranch. When he pulls up, he spots Baylie sitting at her window.

He smiles at just seeing her. They had just graduated high school and would both be starting community college in a few weeks.

Baylie had finished packing all that she needed to pack up. Rachael knocked on her door. “Bay? He just parked. Your dad and I are going to give you both some privacy.”

Everyone in town kept telling Baylie to break things off with Jake before he left her. “Bay… You know the cowboy always rides away. He’s going to leave you. High school sweethearts don’t always last.”

Baylie opens the door and hugs her mom. “I love you mom.”

Tom sends Jake up to Baylie’s room. His green eyes fill with confusion when he sees that her room is packed up. “Bay? What’s going on?”

“I’m not gonna beat around the bush Jake. We’re done.”

It ain't always the cowboy

That ain't got a lot of hang around

Jake nearly drops the coffee and breakfast. “What do you mean we’re done? Baylie we just had a date the other night and we were fine?”

“Well… Things change… people change. Listen Jake, I’m not going to be tied down to be your little wife to be getting knocked up and being barefoot just being a doormat for you. I’m going to Billings. I’m going to med school and becoming a doctor and this little town will never see me again.”

Ain't got no settle down in their boots

Gone's just what they do

“Baylie! You know that’s not how I see you or would treat you!”

“No I don’t. Maybe you turn out exactly like your uncles and father and become the cowboy that leaves me for someone younger…”

Her words felt like a buckshot to his heart. By his silent reaction, she knew she’d hit the mark. She grabs her backpack and puts it on. She then starts stacking a few boxes to take to her car.

“Bring me the boxes over there. It’s the least you can do before we’re really done.”

That restless runnin'

Searchin' for somethin'

He followed her down the stairs and to her car. “Baylie please! We can’t be over! I can go visit you… I can transfer to Billings…”

“Jake! Stop! I don’t love you anymore!” Baylie felt guilty lying but it was the only way he would let her go. After putting the boxes away, she climbs into her Jeep and closes the door before he can reach her.

“Goodbye Jake. Don’t call or text me. We have nothing else to say to each other. You’ll only hold me back.” With that, Baylie puts her car in drive and leaves.

Leavin' love in the dust of a midnight Chevrolet

It ain't always the cowboy that rides away

His eyes fill with tears as he watches her drive away. Drive away from him. From her parents. From her home. Driving away with a promise to never return.

PRESENT

“So that’s why I left Mount Deston for Billings,” Baylie says finishing the story.

“I remained angry at her for a few years. But after she came back we had a proper sit down talk about us.”

“We finally realized we both wanted different things from each other in high school and even now. I’ll admit apologizing to Jake for how I ended things helped me a lot. I eventually realized I hurt as much as he had hurt.”

Jake hold his beer up. “Besides she’s too stubborn to actually be my wife.”

Alana can’t help but roll her eyes at him. “I pity the woman you end up marrying if you keep that attitude.”

“Ha! Don’t worry doll it’ll never be you,” he replies to Alana with a wink.

“It’s okay. I’ll survive knowing the one that’s hung up on his high school girlfriend and won’t move on isn’t into me. I’ve been through worse.” Alana senses someone is watching her, and not just those sitting there at the bonfire.

She looks closer to the pier and the water when her eyes fall on him. She doesn’t need to see his face to know it’s him. She knows that body and the way his arms are crossed.

Alana doesn’t even say anything as she puts on her jacket and just leaves the bonfire.

- -

Cowboy AU 🏷️ List: @luckyladycreator2 @mischief-siriusly-managed

Whiskey's Barrel: @askmarinaandothers @bayisdying @breadsquash @callmemana @callsignscupcake @cycbaby @dragon-kazansky @gracespicybradshaw @hisredheadedgoddess28 @ladylanera @starlit-epiphany

- -

A/N: To be added to this (or other tag lists), please fill out the form located in this post.

[albonodiaz]

Top gun a hunger games au

The day had finally come. The day everyone dreaded. The day everyone wished was like February 29 and would only come around every four years. Because every year it seemed to come quicker than the last. Every year there would be more names in the ballot. Bradley knocked on the door he knew all too well just like he did any other day of the year, except today was the day he hated knocking on this door even more than every other time he’d had to knock on the door this time because this time 3 of them were in the bowl. Bradley knew this day would come. Bradley knew there was going to be a day where his best friend's little brother was going to have to go into the draw for the games as well. 

The door opened suddenly. Bradley was met with a frazzled Natasha who was normally well put together, especially during the reaping. She was wearing a knee length baby blue dress, her hair in one singular braid and she has black mary janes with frilly socks. She looked the exact same every reaping, except this time something was off, you could see it in her eyes. Bradley was in his best white shirt and dark brown trousers which were his dad’s. Every year he was sent a different outfit by his so-called uncle, every year he didn't wear it, and his dads trousers started to get shorter. Natasha surveyed him, studying him from head to toe looking for something to be out of place. 

‘You need new trousers’ she said out of breath 

‘Yeah well I can’t afford them right now’ Bradley replies sharply 

Natasha scoffs ‘We both know that's not true.’ 

“Yeah well would you wear the trousers from the person that abandoned you when your dad died. He didn't even show up for his funeral Nat, he was his best friend and he didn't even show up to his funeral, what kind of friend is that’

‘I think he's a man who was taken for capitols gains just like every other victor. I think we both know he tried to get home for that funeral.’

‘WELL HE SHOULD'VE TRIED HARDER’ Bradley was met with silence. They shouldn't be doing it. Especially not today. 

‘NAT. NAT WHERE ARE YOU.’ The shouts came from inside the house ‘NAT I NEED HELP WITH MY TIE’ the shouts came from a voice Bradley knew, the voice of the boy who was the closest thing Bradley himself had to a brother. Nat’s eyes clouded over. She swallowed hard. 

‘I'M DOWN HERE’ She replied

Just like that a boy almost as tall as Nat appeared beside her. 

‘Now let's tie that tie shall we?’ She said with a fake smile plastered on her face. 

Bradey looked down at his watch, he needed to go, he looked up at Nat she knew it too. 

‘Hey Mickey you wanna walk with me to the reaping?’ Bradley said, his voice scarily calm. 

‘Yeah save Nat and mum worrying about me. Come on, you guys have made it this far without being reaped next year is your last year. I don't know why you're so worried.’ Mickey said 

Neither Nat nor Bradley looked at each other. Bradley checked his watch again. He needed to go. 

‘Mickey go inside and say goodbye to mum’ Nat said with a firm voice. And with that Mickey left.

‘How many times?’ She asked face cold 

‘I don't know i stopped counting about six months ago’ Bradley said 

Nat pushed him back. Bradley stumbled backwards not expecting the sudden impact. He failed to regain his balance and fell on the hard gravel, cutting open the palms of his hands as a consequence. Blood dripped down his wrist, Bradley held out his hands in front of him, careful not to stain his shirt or trousers. 

‘YOU JUST STOPPED COUNTING, DO YOU KNOW HOW STUPID YOU HAVE TO BE TO JUST STOP COUNTING. YOU IDIOT. I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT YOU. I DONT EVEN WANT TO SEND MICKEY WITH YOU NOW BECAUSE I CANNOT TRUST AN IDIOT WHO JUST ‘stops counting’ BUT I'LL HAVE TO SEND HIM WITH YOU BECAUSE IM NOT HAVING THAT BOY BE ALONE FOR HIS FIRST REAPING EVEN IF IT MEANS HE HAS TO WATCH YOU GO UP.’ By the time shed finished she was out of breath and Mickey had just arrived back at the door. 

He turned to Nat to give her a hug she squeezed him so tight Bradley thought she was going to suffocate him, that would probably be easier for him. Bradley and Mickey headed along in silence, neither of them dare saying something in fear that it might jinx or trigger something so that they’ll be chosen. Once they arrived Bradley explained how they would need to take blood as a form of identification and from there they will most likely be separated as Bradley was older than him. Bradley stood and watched as Mickey was swept off towards the front with all the other boys his age and sighed. He hadn’t been old enough to remember Petes name or ‘Maverick’ since that's what everyone calls him now, so he'd never actually known what it's like to watch someone close to him fight for his life against 23 other children. Sure he’d seen a few acquaintances die but that came with the territory of talking to people. 

The announcer had come up in his eccentric outfits like he always did every year without fail. He looked so out of place here with his big flamboyant style. This year he was wearing bright blue eye shadow which complimented his dark skin, his face was old but his eyes weren’t which one quite a contrast. Bradley knew he was the one who picked his dads name out of the ballot; he was the one who watched his Pete volunteer instead; there hadn't been anyone stupid enough to volunteer since. Warlock, Bradley thinks the announcers name was, was wearing a bright blue peacock tail which matched the blue eyeshadow, his jacket was a darker shade of blue and it looked like he had a chainmail tank top on exposing his bare chest to the world, his trousers were a light pink which through the outfit off but also somehow tied the outfit together. Bradley thought he looked stupid. But he could see people admiring him adoringly and some people gazing at his fear written all over them. As Warlock was the man who came every year to write someone's death sentence. 

"Good morning everyone, so glad I could be here today on this very special occasion. " The man smiled and the crowd was silent as if the whole sea of people were scared to move. ‘I am sure you know why we are gathered here today. So without further ado’ The man reached his hands into the bowl and moved the names round a few times. It seemed as if time stopped and the world held their breath. Warlock had picked a name and was taking his time unfolding it. He cleared his throat in preparation of reading the name, Bradley was ready to breathe again but didnt in fear of something going on so he held his breath. 

‘Natasha Trace.’ Warlock read

Bradleys world froze; this cannot be happening. He cannot lose her, not when she is the only family he has. This isn't fair he's not going to let her be stripped from him too. But that's when he realised he was completely powerless. He cant volunteer for her shes a girl and he's a boy it doesn't work like that rules are rules. Suddenly Bradley felt the space around him getting smaller, he was running pushing people over trying to get to the peace keepers taking Nat up to the stage where she would be put on display like some sort of animal that isn't right. He ran into something hard, falling to the ground, reopening his cut which had just stopped bleeding. He was hauled up to his feet by a figure dressed in all white, a peace keeper, that's when he saw him. That's when he saw Mickey looking as white as a ghost, petrified. In all the commission he hadn't realised they called for the male tribute. 

‘Mickey Garcia’ Warlock said a second time. 

Bradleys ears started to ring. The sea of people around MIckey suddenly parted. Mickey looked down, keeping his head down as he walked. That's when Bradley knew what he had to do. Still wrestling with the peacekeeper who’s grip had tightened on his arm he said it. 

‘I volunteer.’ it wasn't loud enough no one had heard him Mickey was approaching the stairs he needed to stop it. 

‘I VOLUNTEER.’ The world stopped, everyone sucked in a breath. Mickey turned around giving Bradley a desperate look. 

‘I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE’ His voice was strong and authoritative he saw Mickey shaking his head. Before Bradley had realised he'd wrestled out of the peacekeepers grip and ran straight for Mickey squeezing him tight. 

‘Your mums not losing two kids not on my watch. She's going to come home I promise. I’ll make sure of it.’ he said into Mickey's ear before he was ripped away from him and thrown onto the stage. Stumbling to get up he looked down and he was covered in blood. He’d ruined his dads trousers. It didn't matter that they were too short for him or too tight around his waist, all these years Bradley thought these clothes had protected him and had stopped him from being reaped but now look at him as a volunteer on display for the pleasure of the capitol. This is what Maverick would have felt like he thought as he turned and met Nats eyes for the first time since he did what he did. She was horrified and yet she still mouthed thank you from across the stage. Bradley knew at that moment he wasn’t coming back from this it wasn't possible he had to save his best friend. 

"A Volunteer such a beautiful thing, hadn’t had one of them since Pete Mitchell, now boy, tell us your name.’ Warlock said airly

‘Bradley Bradshaw’ he muttered

‘Sorry boy your going to have too speak up’ 

‘Bradley Bradshaw’ He said gaining confidence that he clearly needed. 

The colour from Warlock's face drained as if Bradley wasn't supposed to be here as if Bradley wasn't allowed to be here. 

‘And you volunteered for Mickey Garcia?’ 

‘He's the closest thing I have to a brother…, Sir’ Bradley replied stronger than before. 

The rest of the show seemed to be over before it had even started Bradley was dragged off the stage and thrown into a small room. This is normally where he would have family visits but he had none so he just had to sit and wait for what's next. Bradley heard frantic voices outside getting closer and closer to the door. 

‘Sir you can’t be here’ said a low voice

‘I need to see him, I need to see its actually him and someone hasnt just made the biggest fuck up since the hunger games even began’ Said another

‘Sir I sa-’ 

‘I KNOW WHAT YOU FUCKING SAID OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW OR ILL SHOW YOU JUST HOW I WON MY GAMES NOW MOVE’

The door opened and before Bradley could register who it was he was met with pain which spread across the right side of his face. He kept his head down, questioning who would come in just to slap him, he had no family, it isn't Nat because she’ll be with her family. Bradley had no choice but to look up. His eyes had met the eyes of a man he hadn’t even met before but recognised instantly. 

Maverick. 

The man who was supposed to be his dads best friend. The man who left him to go chasing his fam in the capitol subsequently missing his fathers funeral, so much of a best friend. 

‘What. Are . You. Doing . Here?’ Maverick asked the question slowly and calculated. 

Bradley didn't answer him.

‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE’ Maverick demanded desperately

‘I don’t have to answer to you’ Bradley responded 

And with that he left as quickly as he came. The next thing Bradley knew is that he was being shipped off to the capitol. Bradley kept to his room until Warlock came and told him he had to come to the living area. 

Maverick was staring at him. Bradley staring back at the two locked in eye contact. 

‘So what's the game plan’ it was Nat trying to break the silence and whatever was going on between Maverick and Bradley. 

‘You don't have one,’ Maverick replied firmly.

‘I don’t care what unfinished business you have but I’d quite like to make it back to my brother so if you don't mind telling me. What is the game plan?’ Her voice was calm and calculated as if she had predicted this would happen the moment Bradley walked up onto that stage. 

‘You need to show the Capitol your desirable first, get them rooting for you. We have a stylist which you'll be meeting as soon as we get to the capitol. They will be able to carve out what type of character you want to be. Then you have the training, do either of you have any strong suits or talents’ Maverick said not taking his eyes of Bradley 

‘I can carve things about it.’ Nat said sure of herself 

‘We can work with that. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go to my room’ Maverick said and with that he was gone. 

‘You need to pull yourself together or you're dead before you even step foot in that arena’ Nat said, giving Bradley a look which meant she wasn't messing about. She was in survival mode now and he should be too. 

Bradley got up and walked back to his room. Warlock watched him studying him carefully as if he was making a report to take back to Maverick. 

On his way back to his room Bradley passed Maverick’s room. He walked past quickly but as soon as he passed it he stopped and took steps back to look in the room. He stopped and turned towards the door. Looking through the glass Bradley could see that the room was trashed. Maverick was sitting on the sofa head in his hands rocking back and forth. Bradley was frozen; he couldn't move; he'd never had someone this distressed except for his mum when his dad died. She died shortly after for some unforeseen reason. Bradley knew it was suicide. She killed herself. She went crazy and griefed that person. Bradley doesn't blame her, she was stronger than him, he just wished she had someone. Then Bradley realised Maverick was her other person. The way his dad and mum would both talk about him. He was their missing piece. Bradley did not soften. Hatred for Maverick still coursing through his veins. But if he wanted to survive he would have to speak to Maverick. This was it, this was his survival mode.

Bradley sucked in a breath. He opened the door. 

‘Go away Solomon’ Maverick said sharply. 

‘It’s not Solomon. Its Bradley’ he replied 

‘Oh… Sorry about the mess… and your mother, she was good, better than me, just like your dad. They were both too good. Too good for me. You look just like your dad. I’m sure you get that alot.’ Maverick started

‘No one tells me that actually. I guessed no one knew him that much to notice our resemblance.’ every minute in this room was torture for Bradley. His blood grew hotter and hotter every second he stayed and yet he couldn't step out. He slowly stepped towards Maverick. 

‘You’re bleeding’ Bradley stated coldly. 

Maverick looked up ‘and so are you’ he replied. 

‘Its stopped when I got on the train’ Bradley wasn't connected to the conversation. He came in for answers and strategy. This was his survival mode, he was surviving.

‘Are those your dads clothes?’ Maverick asked 

Bradley stiffened ‘Yes’

‘Did you not get the outfits I sent you?’ Maverick asked, trying to mask his hurt, although he expected him not to wear the clothes. 

‘I did’ Bradley replied. 

The reply felt like a spear had gone through his chest. Maverick shouldn't have asked. Then again there were a lot of things Maverick should’ve done but didn't. Well couldn’t the Capitol wouldn't let him. Bradley didn’t know that. He would probably soon find out though, nothing is discreet about the capitol. Before Maverick could do anything Bradley was holding a cloth to his arm, the cloth slowly turned red. The cut was deeper than he initially thought, in reality he didn't realise he was cut until Bradley pointed it out cause he can't feel anything any more, just another blessing the hunger games provide you with.

Bradley couldn’t believe what he was doing. Holding a cloth to the wound of a am that had abandoned him all those years ago. Before he could think about it for too long Maverick pushed him back. 

‘What was that for?’ Bradley asked alarmed 

Mavericks eyes had darkened, Bradley realised he wasn’t looking at Pete anymore he was looking at Maverick, the same Maverick that had won the hunger games, the same Maverick that had slapped him earlier. 

‘YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE KID. I TRIED EVERYTHING. I GAVE EVERYTHING FOR YOU TOO NOT BE IN THE GAMES. I TRIED TO GET BACK FOR THE FUNERAL FOR YOUR MUM BUT THEY WOULDN’T LET ME GO, THEY SEDATED ME SO I COULDN'T LEAVE. I HAD A JOB THE NEXT DAY THAT I JUST ‘COULDN'T MISS’ ACCORDING TO THEM. SO I MADE A DEAL. I MADE SO MUCH OF A FUSS THAT THEY TOOK ME TO THE PRESIDENT. I ASKED HIM TO GO HE SAID NO I ASKED AGAIN HE SAID NO’ Bradley could see Maverick slowly reaching for a knife on a table, one of the few things that hadn’t been knocked over. Bradley was paralysed and he couldn't move. ‘I THEN ASKED FOR YOU TOO HAVE IMMUNITY FROM THE GAMES SOMETHING THEY HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE. BUT I HAD ALREADY KILLED 3 OF THEIR MEN IN MY ATTEMPT TO LEAVE AND APPARENTLY I'M TOO VALUABLE TO PUT DOWN SO THEY AGREED. AND I HAD TO PROMISE TO NEVER VISIT YOU OR LEAVE THE CAPITOL. I BECAME A SLAVE TO THE CAPITOL. SO  EVERYTIME YOUR NAME WAS SUPPOSEDLY ENTERED INTO THE BALLOT IT WAS DESTROYED. SO IMAGINE HOW I FEEL WHEN I FIND OUT THE BOY THAT I GAVE EVERYTHING FOR VOLUNTEERED.’ Bradley wanted to be sick. All this information was too much to process. Clearly his survival mode wasn’t good enough. His fight or flight was tested and clearly his answer was flight. Bradley looked around the room for anything that could help him but there was nothing within reach. Maverick was walking towards him with a knife poised in his hands ready to attack. Bradleys breath quickened; he needed to get out of here now. His whole view on Pete, had just collapsed in on itself. He needed an explanation and he needed it now. And clearly he wasn’t going to get it from Pete, Maverick or whatever Bradley should be calling him. Suddenly Maverick lunged at him pinning him to the wall, Bradley must've knocked something because he heard a crash before he could look down he felt something pressed against his neck. It was cold, sharp and painful. Bradley was struggling to breathe; he couldn't move from Mavericks strength. Although he was smaller than him, Pete easily overpowered him. This wasn't the Pete his parents had told him about. This wasn’t what Pete Bradley had imagined either. Bradley had imagined a stuck up victor who doesn't care about anyone, instead he was met with a man who clearly cared too much about everyone and is tortured by the happenings of his games and had no escape from it. 

Bradley could feel his consciousness slipping away from him. But if Pete wanted to kill him he would’ve done it by now. 

When he woke up there were 2 people by his bed talking. Bradley could hear it was about the games and strategies. He knew who it was and didn't want to open his eyes. He wanted to pretend this isn't happening. He wanted to pretend to be back in district 12 with his mum and dad. But he couldn't pretend because pretending is what gets you killed. 

He slowly opened his eyes and the talking stopped. He was greeted with 3 concerned faces. 2 of them he recognised and one he didn’t. The 2 he knew were Nat and Pete the third was a man a bit taller then Pete with ice white hair, He was well dressed, another victor, Bradley though. He didn’t speak, he just stared at Pete, slightly worried. 

‘Aren’t you a mentor this year, Ice’ Pete said 

‘Not this year.’ The man replied who Bradley assumed was called Ice as that’s what Pete called him.

‘If they see you here they’ll kill you Tom’ Pete said worried

‘Pete I’ve been on this train the whole time, Solomon called me and said I would be needed on the train. They don’t watch me like they watch you I’m able to come and go as I please I can get on this train without them knowing i will be able to get off without them knowing as well’ Tom/Ice said, Bradley was confused about the two names but maybe ice was his nickname like Maverick was Petes, except Maverick was more of an alter ego for Pete. Maybe I should ask if Maverick wants to be called Pete or Maverick, Bradley thought. 

The hatred Bradley had for Pete had diffused into something else. Bradleys veins no longer seemed to burn when he saw Pete he no longer felt the need to hurt Pete it seemed Petes hurt himself enough already. This doesn't mean Bradley likes him. Nat could see what Bradley was thinking, she'd always been able to read him like an open book. She smiled at him, like one of those proud happy smiles. Bradley hated it. 

‘How long was I out?’ Bradley managed. 

‘2 hours we still have time to discuss tactics and what your talent will be.’ Nat said 

Bradley stood up out of bed wobbling slightly as he did. Pete rushed to stable him, but Bradley held his hand out and Pete seemed to understand. 

‘Well what are we waiting for we need to discuss tactics, but not in here because I’m hungry’ Bradley said looking at Nat and smiling.

[sunnixsunshine]

Sorry if they’re ooc, they’re old now and I based them off my parents 🥺👉👈

Lmao kind of a companion to my last comic

The yard was littered in drunken teens, front and back. The music inside was loud enough to hear through closed doors. Amazing how cops weren’t called yet.

Carmen stopped. She tightened her grip on Mickey’s arm. “You wanna stay out here?”

“Y-yeah…” She scarcely nodded. Swallowed hard. “That’s just..”

“Too much?” Mickey pried his arm away then quickly took her hand in his. “I’ll be quick. Don’t worry. I just need to make sure she’s okay.”

Carmen lets his hand slip away. She hugs herself, standing there at the end of the driveway as her boyfriend stalks up the porch steps.

It’s not much better inside than the outside. The music is louder. Everyone is drunker, if that’s even possible. He recognized many faces from school, but some turned up blanks in his memory, possibly from the other highschool in town. He thanked whoever was above for giving him his dad’s tall ass stature over his pop’s as he could easily see over most patrons.

He didn’t see Tabitha anywhere however. No sign of her in the living room where several kids were just sucking face and drinking. The dining room was clear of her, too. Again, just drunk teenagers. Where Tabitha got this much beer Mickey will never know, but considering she had questionable connections he wasn’t that surprised.

The kitchen was the same as the rooms before. Trashed. Red cups and pizza boxes everywhere. Beethoven sitting on the island making out with some boy Mickey didn’t recognize. The gray haired metal head gave a wink and thumbs up as Mickey passed by, the taller boy cringing as he made it to the pantry where he had spotted a familiar face sitting inside.

Lounging inside eating from a party sized bag of tortilla chips and obviously tipsy was Jan. So Mickey sat beside him, needing a break from the crowded house. He slouched awkwardly to avoid the shelf digging in his back.

“Since when has Tab liked you enough to invite you to anything?” He quipped.

Jan snorted. He plopped his head back against the shelf with a dopey grin. “Nah,” He chomped down on a chip. “I’m the music guy. I’m an essential part here.”

“She’s using you for your Spotify.”

Another loud crunch. “Yep. She digs me man.”

Mickey rolled his eyes. He’s so delusional.

“Where is she right now?”

“Where is who?”

“Tabitha.” He hissed. “You’ve been here the entire night! You’ve gotta know where she is!”

He stuffed more corn chips into his mouth. Mickey snatched the bag away and shoved it two shelves above Jan’s head.

“Where is she, Jangelo!?”

The boy cringed at the use of his full name and groaned. “I don’t fucking know, man. Why do you need to know anyway?”

“Because I’m worried.”

A beat of silence stretched between them. The only sound was the muffled music and Beethoven and his “friend”.

Mickey sighed. He ran a hand over his long face. “It’s just,” He looked around the room, feeling bad for whoever had to clean this mess up— likely to be the hostess of the party. “She didn’t seem to be acting right at school.”

“She got into a big fight with her folks again. I overheard dad talking to Aunt Joan about it over the phone this morning. They canceled her birthday because she got arrested again for shoplifting.”

Jan seemed to sober up. Just a bit. Showing genuine interest in the well-being of his crush. “So? She gets into spats with her mom and dad like all the time.”

“I know.”

“Then what’s the problem here?”

“She… Look, she just didn’t seem right, okay? Do you or do you not know where Tab is?”

“I doooooo!”

Both boys turned their heads to the side kitchen door leading to the hallway. Hanging from the door was Allison, obviously drunk off her ass. A goofy grin and beer stained sweater. Mickey shot up and grabbed her hand and back to steady her, guiding her to the wall. She wobbled until she eventually rested against the wall.

“Are you drunk!?” Mickey shouted, already knowing the answer but not believing it. She was absolutely the last person he’d expect to see here in this state.

Allison shook her head. “Noooooooo!”

With a frustrated sigh, Mickey grabbed a bottle of water from the pantry, forcing the new bag of chips out of Jan’s hand to replace it with his own bottle of water to sober up with.

When he got back to Allison, an obviously older boy stood above her, the girl flushing deep crimson. “Hey, baby, why not give me a tour of your house? It’s just as beautiful as you.”

“Okay,” She giggled as he took her hand.

Mickey’s face turned an angry shade of red as he pushed the dickweed aside, then further pushed him hard into the opposite wall. “Stay away from her, jackass. She’s fifteen and drunk.” He spat, channeling his pop’s crazy eyes. He ran off with a grumble, making sure to bump shoulders.

“Hey!—”

“Shut up and drink this.” He shoved the bottle into her hands.

“Where’s your sister?”

Allison shrugged, the motion knocking her balance off. Fucking Christ on a stick, how much did she drink?

“You have to know! She’s your sister! Now where is she?!”

“I think,” She fell against Mickey’s chest. He righted her back to standing, the girl giving him trouble as he did so. “I think I saw her go upstairs like-like an hour ago?”

“Perfect. That’s all I needed to know.” He walked her over the pantry and sat her down next to Jan then left.

“Uh, chip ahoy?” He offered.

She took a cookie, biting a small bit off.

Mickey had to sludge through the crowded stairwell to reach the second floor where Allison said Tab had run off to. The floor the stairs opened up to was a mess but not many patrons were around. A girl passed out on the floor. A couple of kids sat in Conrad’s room smoking. Someone loudly puking in the bathroom down the hall. Confucius may want to burn his entire bed later, eugh. And Jfk is for sure gonna have to call a professional to clean up the vomit and beer out of his room’s carpet.

Tabitha’s door was closed shut. Probably locked, he figured. But upon closer inspection, it was just closed. The knob turned easily, door opening into what Mickey hoped would be Tabitha. But no one was there. It was empty.

You’d think some of the party goers had been in here. Clothes all over the place. Closet door flung open, clothes hung haphazardly. Unmade bed.

“Tabitha?” He knew it was empty but it wouldn’t hurt to call out and make sure.

He took a closer look around the room. The floor was typically like this. Messy with dirty clothes. Empty energy drink cans always sat in her bedside bin, overflowing enough to fall over onto the carpet just by looking at it.

The closet, though, wasn’t usually this messy. Clothes were missing. Her whole stash of snacks she didn’t want her brother taking gone, too. He could only assume her weed and cigarettes were gone as well.

He moved over to her bed. Despite it all— the mess on her floor and days old trash in the can— she did at least keep her bed clean. Not made, but clean at least.

More clothes piled up at the foot of the bed. A ripped open box of fruit roll ups sat where her pillows would go.

Then he saw it. Sat on the jumbled blanket was a loose piece of paper, a letter. Not taped down, just trusted to lay there without disturbance. Mickey sat on the bed, hesitantly as if he were going to get caught. He picked up the page and began to read.

“Did you see Ivan? Man he cleaned up nice!”

“I hear he, uh, works real estate in Florida now. Pretty successfully too.”

“Good for him!”

Joan smiled to herself. The anxiety from earlier had worn off hours ago. Frida was right. The reunion they planned together turned out perfect. Those who came really enjoyed themselves. It was nice to see so many old faces again and catch up. She’s forever grateful that everyone forgave her eventually, happy she could make more memories with her former peers years later.

Now that the reunion is over, she can relax.

…..Aw crap that’s right.

The big fight with Tabitha yesterday. And the And how moody she was this morning.

Well she did take her “birthday privileges” away. But then again, she did get arrested for a second time. Luckily no charges were filed. The store couldn’t provide concrete evidence that she stole anything, nor could the police. That first time two weeks ago was enough to convince her and Jack that she did do it.

….part of Joan regrets it. Not believing her daughter over some idiots who didn’t even own a functional storefront camera.

The other part knows she’s right though. Her defiance said it all.

But maybe she should cut her some slack? She is eighteen as of ten fifteen this morning. Still in school, but regardless she’s an adult now.

“Hey Jack, I was thinking.” Joan began. “Maybe we should lift a week off of Tab’s grounding?”

Jfk turned enough to get a glimpse of Joan. “No way. Absolutely not. She needs to learn her lesson.” His face was stern, unyielding in his daughter’s punishment. Drastically different to his usual tired expression.

“But Jack, it’s her birthday.”

“You see this is why she’s so, er, defiant!” He began to rant. “You coddle her, Joan.”

“I do not!”

“Uh, guys?” Confucius pulled into the neighborhood.

“You do, Joan. It’s the whole reason why Tibbie’s the way she is.”

“Guys—”

“Are you insinuating this is my fault? That I’m a bad parent?”

“Well, no, that ain’t what I said, but—”

“GUYS!”

The two bickering exes went silent. Confucius had stopped driving, having parked on the side at the end of the cul de sac.

“What the hell…”

“Oh she’s dead.”

“Why am I not surprised….”

The three watched as a teenager threw himself over the edge of the porch railing to vomit. Another chugging what they can only assume, based on surrounding behavior, to be some alcoholic beverage through the funnel Jack uses on the car.

Confucius killed the lights and stepped out, Jfk and Joan following after, anger flaring.

“What is this? What the FUCK is this!?” Joan about screamed.

“I’m not a part of this!” Came a frantic confession in the dark.

The three squinted as they tried to see who it was. Once their eyes adjusted, they saw it was Carmen, having just risen from the other side of the van in the driveway. She nervously played with the long sleeves of her boyfriend’s jacket, biting the corner of her mouth.

“I have nothing to do with this, please don’t call my moms!”

Joan sighed as she looked at Jfk and Confucius. “Don’t worry, Carmen. We won’t tell your moms.”

“What the hell is going on here?” Jfk gestures to the house.

“We’re not mad at you, obviously,” Confucius puts a calming hand on his husband’s shoulder. “But what is going on? Where’s Allison? Tabitha?”

Jfk was fuming. He’s not usually a moody guy. Always has this lax expression. Real approachable kind look. It’s what made him a good car salesman.

But this was different. This was his home. His expensive home. Where his eight year old slept. No way in hell was he about to gently ask a bunch of intoxicated teens to leave when they were currently ruining his home. “OUT.”

“EVERYBODY, er eh-uh, OUT!”

The music was cut. Cups dropped as kids frantically scrambled to leave. Those who passed out were shaken awake.

“I'M CALLING THE POLICE IF YOU DON'T LEAVE.” Confucius tacked on as he noticed many kids still hanging around, too involved with other people to notice the party was trashed.

Joan weaved through the fleeting crowd to get to the nearly empty living room, looking for her oldest daughter. She now retracted her previous sentiments. To hell with taking a week away! She’s adding two! Or perhaps she’ll add two months! She may be eighteen but she lives under her roof, she can ground her as much she wants!

Just about everyone has left. Jfk went around fussing at the mess, grumbling empty threats of homelessness towards his daughter as he looked for her.

Confucius opened the door to the kitchen, having to take a second to look himself before he said some things he’d regret. “Beethoven you and your little friend need to get out of my house before I call your parents then the police.” He was used to Beethoven’s behavior, being his step-daughter’s friend and all. It was no shock to see him making out with some rando. He’s just tired at this point.

The boy trudged out of the kitchen with his partner, casually waving bye to the three adults.

Confucius further walked into the kitchen only to walk back out soon after, holding the door open. “Joan. Jack. I’m not dealing with this crap.”

Jack raced ahead, asking if it were Tabitha. Confucius said no, that they’re not going to believe him if he said who it was.

The two parents burst in the room to find Allison laying across Jan’s lap, face flushed with booze and half eaten cookie on her chest. The human pillow known as Jan sat unbothered watching videos on his phone, laughing obnoxiously.

Jfk stomped over, hovering over the kids. “Allison Rose Kennedy!” He boomed. “Just what is going on! I want answers now!”

The girl burst into a fit of laughter. She rolled to her side, clutching it in her hysterical fit.

“She’s wasted.” Jfk stated the obvious. “She’s fucking wasted!”

“We can deal with her later,” Joan tugged on his cardigan. “Right now, our concern is Tabitha.”

The three split up. Confucius took the bottom level where he and Jack’s home offices were. Joan and Jack took the floor above.

It was a mess. Not as bad as downstairs, but it still irked Jfk to no end.

Tabitha’s door was wide open. The overhead light on. Judging by the reflection of the tin sign hanging on the door, so are her string lights from above her bed, which she only ever turns on when she’s inside. They were battery operated, she hated wasting the power.

Walking in, she first noticed the mess. Clothes everywhere. Then she noticed a figure on her bed, slumped over the edge. Shoulders too wide and boney to be Tabitha.

The figure took notice and looked, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. It was Mickey.

“Michael—”

“I’m sorry.”

Mickey stood— or slouched, his default stance. He offered her a paper, face nondescript. Not at all telling. She walked further in, hesitantly taking the paper. She looked for an answer in the boy’s face but ultimately didn’t find one.

Hey mom. Hey dad.

I’m sorry. For everything. I’m sorry I couldn’t apologize in person, I’m bad at words you know that. Anyway, don’t bother finding me. You’re better off without me in your lives. I’m a shitty person.

Tell Ally she can have my makeup. And whatever clothes she wants. And tell her sorry for being a bitchy sister.

I love you guys. Bye.

All the anger that once filled her body turned into despair as she realized what the letter meant. She dropped the paper and scrambled for her phone, hand shaking as she looked for her contact. Dead Kennedys’ Drug Me played from the bed. Joan’s heart sank.

Mickey uncovered the blankets to find the ringing phone. It stopped when Joan hung up. She was on the verge of tears, regret running through her whole body.

Their attention was stolen by Jfk. He seemed to sense the mood in the room, shoulders deflating. Joan turned to the man with watery eyes. Mickey picked up the paper and handed it over.

[my-quick-writings-since2023]

A Christmas Miracle pt.1

This year, Christmas needed a real miracle to happen. My older brother, Mikey was out of state sorting out issues with his ex girlfriend, mum and dad are on the verge of a divorce, and grandpa wasn’t taking grandmas’ recent passing too lightly. Kiera was in the hospital after her first round of chemo, and aunt Sue was in jail for tax fraud. Our family was falling apart right before Christmas, and it felt like it was only me and my baby sister, Tina, were the only two sane enough to spend a day or two with the entire family, not that it was possible.

Finally, Christmas Eve rolled around, and I was going to take Tina for a stroll to get out of the house because mum and dad were screaming at each other again. It’s sad, really. They had Tina to hopefully fix their marriage, but clearly their stupid plan didn’t work anyway. I wasn’t mad, I love Tina and her company. I just wish I didn’t have to play the roll of both parents for her. After an hour of pushing Tina in her pram, we reached the park, and I let her go play in the sandbox nearby. Sitting on a park bench, I changed my gaze in between the webcomic I was reading and Tina every few seconds.

I finished my webcomic and decided to play with Tina in the sandbox before we left, but as I was getting up, I heard my name called. “Mary, is that you?” I turned around to see Marco, my best friend. “Oh hey, Marco! Fancy seeing you here,” I stated, “I thought your family left for the holidays?” He looked down before whispering, “Yeah, we were gonna, but then papa had an accident and needed to go hospital.” There was a pause. “He’s okay now though, just no travelling, doctors orders. We had to cancel our flights and reservations, but that’s okay, because I can spend my time with you!” I smiled, “Yeah. Oh have you met my baby sister, Tina, yet.” I pointed to the sandbox where Tina was. Marco was silent, but his face lit up. He loved being around kids, in fact he wanted to be a teacher when he grew up. A few minutes shot by before I checked the time, “Gosh we’ve been here for a while, I aught to go home. Merry Christmas, Marco!” He smiled and waved as I took Tina and put her in her pram, “Merry Christmas to you too, Mary.” I waved goodbye before rushing home. Hopefully things had cooled down between mum and dad.

As I turned the corner to see my house, my face lit up with surprise. Mikeys’ car was in the driveway. “Tina, Mickey’s home! It’s not just us now.” Tina giggled. I could tell she loved Mikey. I picked up the pace, but slowed down when I heard Mikeys’ voice screaming at Dad, when suddenly a cop car and ambo van rushed past me and pulled into the driveway. Now I was scared. I brought Tina to the door, the authorities were already inside, so I slipped past them into my room, where I put Tina down for a nap before going out to check what was happening, but Mikey was standing at the end of the hallway. The last cop tipped his hat and Mikey and I nodded back.

After the door shut, and the vehicles had left, Mikey pulled me in for a hug. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to stop this, I- I’m sorry.” He hugged me tighter and I pat his back to comfort him. “Tell me what happened, I’m 14, I can handle the truth.” He pushed me away gently to end the hug, and he seemed really hesitant for the tough 21 year old guy I knew him as. “I um, dad uh- dad knocked mum out when I got here. Miya was okay with what we planned, so I came back and as I walked through the door, dad had just knocked mum clean out. So I called the cops, confronted him, and then yeah, you saw the rest.” He looked so upset. “What are we going to do, Mary?” I thought. Finally, I said something. “You did the right thing, Mikey, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen. All we gotta do, is trust that something good will happen, and trust each other to look after ourselves.” Mikey nodded, and we prepared something for us to eat, and made something Tina would enjoy, then went to bed.

I lay awake staring at the roof. It’s been hours since I went to bed. I look over at my phone, 11:46 pm. I just want to sleep but I’m in a messed up family that can’t keep their morals the same. Maybe if I just pray, close my eyes and pray for a miracle. A miracle that it will all work out for our family in the end. Just gotta pray and believe and- I fell asleep, dreaming of Christmas 6 years ago, when I was 8, and the world wasn’t so screwed up. I dreamed of the family going to church as a whole, the big Christmas dinner at the end of the day. The happy cheers and laughter from my brother, cousin and myself as we played with our new toys together, with not a care in the world…

(part 2 coming really soon!)