#Kent Johnson x reader

[lukesvangelista]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑ᵏʲ⁹¹

in which y/n and kent hide a big secret from his teammates.

warnings; pregnancy, mention of kids, alcohol, vacation

Kent was the kind of guy who always seemed at ease, the life of the party but with a quiet confidence that drew everyone to him. You had fallen for him long ago, when the two of you were young teenagers, and now, you were his everything. This vacation with his teammates was supposed to be fun, a chance to unwind, but you had a secret - one that had been growing for months.

You were pregnant. 

Kent was ecstatic when you told him. He’d hugged you so tightly that night, whispering about the future, about how perfect everything was going to be. But now, here you both were, on this vacation with Sean Kuraly, Cole, Gavin, and Adam, and neither of you had told them. The timing wasn’t right - in fact, you guys hadn’t even told your families. Maybe they’d get suspicious, or worse, maybe they’d feel like you were holding out on them. Kent was sure they’d freak out once they knew.

But here you were, at Sean’s beach house in Cape Cod. While the rest of the boys had flown, you and Kent had decided to make the 16 hour drive from Columbus, simply to spend more time with each other before having to share a living space with the others for two weeks. Once you had arrived, though, everyone was exhausted and just wanted to spend the first night in. In fact, Adam had suggested a few card games.

There was only one problem. On top of that, Cole had suggested alcohol. You looked at Kent nervously, but he gave you a reassuring smile as Sean turned to you, “Y/N, come up with a challenge for us. Whoever loses has to buy drinks.”

This was perfect. You nodded, picking up your phone and opening a random wheel spinner. You had each of the boys pick an NBA team, but when it came to entering them onto the wheel, you entered Kent’s all four times. So, when the wheel stopped spinning, you announced the team out loud, “The Minnesota Timberwolves.”

Sean, Adam, and Cole all cheered as Kent pretended to roll his eyes, but he sneakily shot you a knowing smile before picking up his keys from the counter. The boys slapped him on the back a few times but he shook them off, gently grabbing your arm, “Since your challenge is the reason I lost, you’re coming with me.”

You playfully rolled your eyes, but immediately gave in. Adam snickered behind you as Sean and Cole let out a few cheers. Kent wrapped an arm around you and opened the door for you, gently leading you to his car. As soon as you were out of earshot, Kent spoke up softly, “You feeling okay?”

You couldn’t lie. The exhaustion was creeping in. The pregnancy was still early, and you weren’t showing much, but the morning sickness, the fatigue – it was all becoming harder to hide. Kent had noticed the change in you almost immediately, but knew that it had grown harder for you in the past couple of weeks. He was worried. He was so excited to have a little him or little you around the house soon enough, but also hated seeing how hard it was on you. On top of that, he knew that you wanted to keep it a secret for as long as you could, and he knew you’d be even more stressed if people were to find out, so he didn’t want to spill anything. 

In fact, he questioned even coming on this trip, but you had explained that you’d needed it. Whether he believed you or not, was only up for him to decide. 

He opened the car door for you and you waited to reply until he was buckled in on the other side, “Just tired,” you answered, offering him a small smile. 

He rubbed the pad of his thumb across your cheek, “Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

You nodded, offering him another small smile. The drive to the liquor store was rather quiet. Kent had put on some Frank Ocean, which you both had softly hummed along to until you pulled into the parking lot. 

Kent turned off the car and exited his side, only to appear on your side of the car a few seconds later to open the door for you. You grabbed his hand and as soon as he knew you were safely out of the car, he placed his arm on the small of your back protectively. The cool night breeze rolled in off of the ocean as you made your way through the parking lot. The distant sound of the waves crashing against the shore helped ease some of the nerves that had been building up inside of you.

“I feel like I’m gonna slip up at some point,” you admitted, resting your head against your boyfriend’s shoulder, “Cole’s just gonna keep offering me drinks and it’s gonna be suspicious if I keep saying no.”

Kent rubbed your back with the pad of his thumb, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of your head reassuringly, “You’re doing great, pretty girl. But I’ll tell you what. We’ll buy an extra pack of drinks, dump them out, and then go to the grocery store to buy some non-alcoholic alternatives that we can put in there instead. I would say we’d just buy some non-alcoholic beer here and have you drink that, but Adam’s overly observant.” he chuckled.

You nodded, shooting your boyfriend a relieved smile. You always appreciated how calm and steady he was. Even though you were both navigating this secret together, Kent always managed to make you feel like everything was under control.

When you stepped inside, the cool air-conditioning hit you immediately as the door jingled behind you. Kent headed straight for the fridge, grabbing a couple cases of beer and a bottle of whiskey that he knew Sean would like. You followed suit, selecting a case of High Noon out of the fridge. 

“Ready?” Kent asked, shooting you a smile when you replied with a yes.

As you reached the counter to pay, the cashier raised an eyebrow at you and Kent, his eyes flicking to your stomach before looking back at Kent. You shifted uncomfortably, aware that people might notice your changing body sooner rather than later. Kent caught the look too but didn’t say anything, keeping the conversation casual with the cashier as he handed over the money.

When you stepped back outside, you breathed a little easier. “Think he noticed?” you asked, half-joking.

“What an asshole,” Kent muttered, rolling his eyes playfully. 

The trip to the grocery store was pretty uneventful. Kent had gone in and picked out a sparkling water brand that you liked, along with some flavored sodas that looked fancy enough to pass as mixed drinks. On top of that, he grabbed a few more things, making sure you’d have enough variety to keep up appearances for the next few days. Once the cart was full, he checked out, the cashier giving him a friendly nod as he paid for the items.

When Kent reached the car, he opened your passenger side door. “Now comes the tricky part,” he said with a grin, opening up the package of High Noon and dumping out the drinks. He grabbed a few water bottles from his trunk before flushing out the alcohol from the cans - and thoroughly.

“I think that’s good, KJ,” you chuckled, flashing him a smile. He looked up at you and flashed you one in return.

“Gotta keep my girls safe,” he explained, ruffling your hair before opening up the bottles of sparkling water and pouring them into the clean cans with the same care, resealing them to make sure they looked untouched. Everything looked perfect - no one would suspect a thing. Kent stood back and took a moment to admire his work, placing the resealed package at your feet before ruffling your hair again. 

You rolled your eyes, shaking him off, before he quickly made his way back to his side of the car and hopped in. You looked at him incredulously, “We don’t even know what we’re having yet!” you exclaimed, but you knew there was no point in arguing. Ever since you told him that he was going to be a dad, he was adamant that the two of you were having a baby girl. Of course, he’d be happy as long as the baby’s safe and healthy, but that didn’t change his fatherly instinct, as he liked to call it. You rolled your eyes again, chuckling softly, and were on your way back to the beach house.

When the two of you arrived back there, Sean, Cole, and Adam’s rowdy laughter could be heard through the walls as you and Kent slipped through the side door into the kitchen. When he looked over towards you, he noticed how you self-consciously had placed your arms over your growing bump. Sensing your discomfort, he softly placed the alcohol down and gifted you the hoodie off of his back.

You smiled gratefully at him, grabbing the “seltzers” from him as he carried the whiskey and beer. The two of you carried the drinks out to the main room, where Sean, Cole, and Adam were engrossed in a game of Black Jack.

“Finally!” Cole exclaimed, dropping his cards as he noticed the two of you walk in, “We were wondering what took you so long!”

You chuckled, placing the drinks down on the table alongside Kent, “It’s Friday night in a vacation town,” Kent explained, shrugging his shoulders to keep it casual. Adam nodded along, seemingly saying fair enough.

As the guys reached for the beer and whiskey, Kent grabbed one of the “seltzer” cans and handed it to you with a wink. You accepted it gratefully, taking a sip and letting the cool, refreshing taste calm your nerves. He then wrapped an arm around you as you cuddled into his side.

The night continued on, with no one suspicious about what you and Kent had just pulled off. The boys were yelling about the game of euchre they were playing, earning a soft but playful eye roll from you. Kent kept a watchful eye on you, making sure you were comfortable, all while seamlessly blending in with his teammates.

As the night wore on, the laughter in the living room began to slow, and you could feel the weight of exhaustion settling over you. Between traveling all day and the energy it took to keep up appearances, your body was calling for rest. You smiled at the guys, pretending to stifle a yawn as you pushed your chair back from the table.

“I think I’m gonna call it a night,” you said, glancing around the room, “I’m pretty wiped from today.”

Sean, Cole, and Adam all gave you understanding looks, still focused on their cards and drinks. “You’ve earned it,” Sean said with a grin, “We’ll try not to be too loud and keep you up.”

“Good luck with that,” Adam teased, “Cole’s not exactly the quietest person you’ll ever meet.” 

You laughed lightly as Cole smacked Adam upside the head. Standing up and giving Kent a quick look, your eyes communicated more than words could in that moment. He caught your glance immediately, knowing exactly what you meant. You needed him with you, but at the same time, you didn’t want to raise suspicion by him leaving too soon after you.

“I’ll be up in a bit,” he said, giving you a small, reassuring smile, “I’ll keep an eye on Cole and make sure he’s not too loud.”

You nodded, giving him a quick hug and offering the guys a wave before slipping away from the table. As you climbed the stairs, you could hear them still talking and laughing, their voices a soft hum in the background. Once you were upstairs, you exhaled a long breath of relief, the tension of the day finally easing as you made your way to your room. 

You changed into your pajamas, feeling the weight of the day lifting as you settled onto the bed. It didn’t take long for Kent to join you. About 30 minutes later, you heard his familiar footsteps on the stairs, and the door quietly creaked open.

“Hey,” he said softly, closing the door behind him as he moved toward the bed, “You okay?”

You smiled, nodding as he sat down beside you, “Yeah, just tired. It was a lot today.”

Kent slid into bed next to you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you into his chest. “I know. You did so good today, pretty girl. No one suspects a thing.”

You chuckled softly, resting your head against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calming you, “Thanks for helping me pull it off. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Kent kissed the top of your head, his voice low and comforting, “Of course, my love. We’re a team.”

The two of you stayed like that for awhile, the soft sounds of the ocean outside your window mixing with the distant murmur of voices from downstairs. It felt peaceful, the weight of the day finally lifting now that you were alone together.

“I can’t wait until they're here,” you whispered after a few moments of silence, your hand resting gently over your stomach.

Kent smiled against your hair, his arm tightening around you, “Me too. But until then, we’ll keep playing it cool for as long as we can. You get some rest, though, alright? You’ve had a long day.”

You nodded, feeling sleep begin to pull at you as Kent’s warmth and presence comforted you, “Goodnight, KJ.”

“Goodnight, Y/N/N,” he whispered, pressing another soft kiss to your forehead.

With Kent beside you, you felt safe and content, knowing that no matter what challenges the next days would bring, you had him by your side. As your eyes fluttered shut, the last thing you felt was Kent’s hand gently resting on your stomach, a quiet reminder that the two of you were in this together. Always.

a/n; would kj be a girl dad or a boy dad

[cobrakaisb]

📸 with Kent Johnson pleasee

youruser

liked by adamfantilli, kentjohnson, and others

youruser just me, my husband, and my son

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adamfantilli im literally just a girl

loved by youruser

[quinnhughesandqenthusiast]

okay I need everyone to start getting on the Kent Johnson train with me. please continue to see the vision.

guys he is so freaking babygirl and I love him. also I’m so convinced he’s so whiny and subby for you. begging to touch you and always wants to make you feel good. don’t get me wrong he’s balanced and can control you too but I always just think of him being your sweet baby boy.

constantly thinking about his hands, just how they’re hold you so firmly. pressing into your thighs, your ass, your stomach literally anywhere he can touch and grab you just to feel you and know you’re there for him.

thinking about kissing along his jaw and how strong it is. also licking, nipping, and kissing down his throat to hear his sweet, deep moans.

I just know his hair is soft. running your hand through it after a tough loss. his head in your lap as you comfort him. slightly tugging and hearing him whimper as he nuzzles further into your thighs.

“Love feeling how soft and full you are. Feeling like you’re all mine, sweetheart.”

“Fuck sweet girl, I need to be inside that cunt or I’m gonna lose it.”

“Pretty boy, I love the noises you make and I haven’t even touched your cock yet. Can you keep making those sweet noises for me? Let me take care of you.”

[drewsbuzzcut]

Times You Were “Just Friends”

(…But It Progressively Gets Worse)

Kent Johnson x f!reader (3.8k words!!!)

Warnings: some curse words, alcohol consumption, mentions sex and alludes to sex, kissing, giving hickeys and i think that’s it

Friends spend days on days together when they just meet, right?

You and Kent met during his last year at umich. He was in one of your electives, and the seat next to him was the only one available. There was a sort of connection immediately. You both kept stealing glances at one another, quickly looking away when the other would turn to look. His eyes were glued to you as you were concentrating on taking notes. You’d blush under the intensity of his stare, and he’d smile at the color in your cheeks. It’s the prettiest shade of maroon he’s ever seen. From that first day, you two have been inseparable. Kent easily got your number after stating it was always in good interest to exchange numbers with someone in your class to study or talk about work, but he really just wanted any excuse to talk to you. It led to multiple conversations in coffee shops, late night dinners at the dining hall, and a strong bond between the two of you. Only as friends, of course.

“I’m heading out, probably won’t be back till late so don’t wait up,” you tell your roommate and best friend.

“Seeing Kent?” She asks, a knowing smirk taking over her face. She knows there has to be something going on between the two of you.

“Maybe,” you mutter, not making eye contact.

“You guys have been hanging out a lot. When’s he going to ask you out?”

“We’re just friends,” you groan.

“Y’all are not just friends! Not when you hang out during every moment of free time y’all have. I’ve also seen the way you both look at each other. Something is going on,” she exclaims.

You shake your head, bidding goodbye and blowing her a quick kiss, wanting to escape her thoughts as soon as possible. You were just friends.

“Finally, you’re here!” Kent cheers, pulling you into his arms and into the house. His long arms wrap around your shoulders and yours wrap around his waist. He holds you tightly, and you smile up at him.

“Sorry,I took the long way to get here. Did you pick the movie?”

“Yes! I also ordered your favorite pizza.”

“You’re amazing. Carry me to your room? My legs hurt,” you say.

He doesn’t say anything else, just tosses you over his shoulder and takes you to his room, ready for your movie night.

Friends use pet names, right?

It took a lot of convincing and bribing on Kent’s behalf to get you right where you are right now. Seated in a movie theater, watching a scary movie. You hate scary movies, but Kent really wanted you to join him.

You’re almost 45 minutes into the movie, and you’re jumping at every little jump scare displayed on the large screen. At the moment, you’re crowded into KJ’s space, covering your ears, and practically shaking with nerves.

“Are you scared?” He asks nonchalantly.

You cast a glare in his direction, though you’re not sure he can actually see it in the dark room. You sit up straight, feigning frustration. You cross your arms over your chest and stare straight, ignoring his slightly worried glances.

“Don’t be scared, baby,” He whispers against the shell of your ear, and you have to fight off the chill threatening to come over your body. It’s the first time he’s ever used a pet name with you, and you hate to admit that you like it.

“I wouldn’t be scared if you just held me,” you mutter.

He lifts up the armrest between the both of you, guiding your body to lean against his. Soon enough, you’re wrapped in his arms, warmth, and smell. You could honestly fall asleep.

“I’m your baby?” You ask, looking up at him with doe eyes.

“You’re my baby,” he reaffirms, kissing your forehead and redirecting his attention back into the screen.

You smile shyly and relish in his affection, not so scared anymore.

Friends let themselves into each other’s apartments, right?

“Are you in class? There’s a surprise here waiting for you. I don’t know what it is or who it’s from,” your best friend says through the phone, looking at a sleeping Kent on your bed. She has a little smile, knowing that when you see him you’ll melt.

“I just got out. About 5 minutes away. How did it get into the apartment?” You ask confused.

“I brought it in,” she continued her lie, not trying to give anything away.

“Be there soon,” you say, hanging up and rushing over to your apartment.

When you get in, you rush to your room only to find Kent spread out on your bed, dead asleep. You smuggle the laugh bubbling out of you, melting at the sight of a large hockey player cuddled up in your bed, surrounded by pink sheets, soft blankets, and a few plushies.

“I thought you said you didn’t know what it was?” You turn to ask your best friend.

“Surprise!” She says in a whisper shout.

You turn back around, setting your belongings on the floor before crawling on your bed. You move slowly to not wake the man, swiftly resting part of your body on top of his. You feel his hand subconsciously rest on the small of your back. You card your fingers through his hair, pecking his cheek a few times. It results in a small, sleepy smile. Kent wakes up, stretching and readjusting himself so that his head rests on your chest.

“Hi, baby,” he mutters, lips moving across your collarbones.

“Hi. I didn’t know you were coming over,” you whisper.

“Came over to cuddle, but forgot you had a class. Practice was rough today,” he explains, cuddling deeper into you.

“I’m here now,” you say, completely unaware of your best friend snapping pictures of you two, being “just friends.”

Friends get handsy, right?

You and Kent are hanging out at a party someone was throwing off campus, but you’ve both have been doing your own thing the whole night. He’s been with his teammates and friends while you’ve been talking to this group of girls. As the night starts to dwindle down, you realize that you haven’t seen him for a while, so you go searching for him.

You find him at the kitchen island, a beer in his hand and a bright smile on his face. You adore his smile.

“Hey, I missed you,” you wrap your arms around his shoulders from behind, giggling at the look of shock on his face from not expecting anyone to pop out of nowhere.

“Jeez, you scared me,” he says with a small laugh.

“Sorry,” you apologize.

He brings you around so that you’re in front of him, hands landing on your waist.

“You’re beautiful,” he compliments.

You smile at him, still getting used to the frequent compliments from your friend. You just trace the outline of your favorite features of his. Starting at his nose and tracing his lips all the way down to the sharp edges of his jaw.

You both stare at each other in silence, despite everyone who is still around you both, talking and singing to whatever song is playing.

“Y/n!” You snap out of your haze, turning around to see one of the hockey girlfriends. You quickly embrace her in a hug and make small talk. As you continue talking, you feel KJ’s hand wrap around your stomach, pulling your body closer to his, so that you’re standing between his legs. Without thinking about it, your hand rests over his, intertwining together while you move to sit in his lap.

You don’t notice the knowing glances from everyone, because friends can sit on each other’s laps, right?

Friends sleep in the same bed together, right?

“Is it okay if I take off my shirt?” Kent asks, cheeks burning red.

“Well I’m not sleeping in your bed if you’re going to be wearing a shirt,” you tease, throwing one of his pillows at him.

He charges at you, gathering you in his arms and throwing you on the bed. He smiles wide at the sweet sound of your laughter. Wanting to continue to hear the sound, he starts tickling your stomach.

“KJ!!! Stop! Stop!,” you yell while also laughing.

“Are you guys having sex?” You hear from behind KJ’s bedroom door.

You whip the door open, eyes wide and ready to hurl something at Ethan as he stands there with a smirk.

“Does it look like we’re having sex?” You ask unamused.

“No but it kinda sounds like it.”

Before you can go at Ethan, Kent appears behind you, hand wrapping around your stomach to pull you into his body.

“We’re going to sleep, goodnight,” KJ says, pulling you towards the bed after closing his room door.

“Can I wear your shirt?” You dangle his discarded shirt in between two fingers.

“You better wear my shirt, or you’re sleeping on the floor,” he says playfully.

You fake laugh and mock his words, walking to the restroom to get changed.

“Woah, gimme a 360. You’re a smoke show,” he shouts.

“Shushhh…they’re going to think we’re fucking,” you jump on the bed, crawling your way up to where he’s laying. You rest your chin on his chest, letting your leg rest over both of his.

“I’m not opposed,” he jokes and you quickly cover his mouth with your hand.

“Goodnight you goof,” you giggle, turn off the light and cuddle right into his warm body.

“Goodnight, beautiful girl,” he says, kissing your forehead and rubbing your back.

Friends kiss, right?

“Thank you for rescuing me, although I don’t think I’ll survive the embarrassment that I’ll no doubt be feeling for the rest of my life,” you exaggerate.

You had a date tonight, but he stood you up . You ended up calling Kent and he was quick to pick you up.

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. If anything that guy should be embarrassed, he’s totally missing out,” he states, grasping your hand in his and caressing your knuckles with his thumb.

“I just want to experience a perfect date, you know. I want to be walked to my front door and be kissed like he’s been waiting to kiss me the entire night,” you pout, not realizing that you’ve already arrived at your apartment.

“Do you trust me?” He asks.

“Of course I trust you, KJ,” you answer back.

He pulls you into a hug, his head resting in the crook of your neck. You rub his back, cuddling a little closer because it’s freezing out. He notices your shivering and he cups your cheek, swiping your cold bitten skin. Your eyes are connected, staring so deeply into each other’s. You see the moment his eyes stare at your lips. You feel time freeze. You can hear your blood pumping in your ears and everything just disappears. His lips are on yours. The slight chapped skin of his lips pairs so well with your smooth ones. Kent has to resist the urge to moan when he tastes your cherry chapstick. Your heart is practically beating out of your chest and you know that when you separate, your lips will ache to be back on his. Friends can share platonic kisses, you’re sure of it. Your lips are puffy and scarlet when you both pull away. You look alluring, as you always do.

Kent stares at you with wide eyes, not really believing that he was brave enough to follow through with his plan. You grab ahold of his jacket, pulling his lips back to yours. You throw your arms around his neck and he lets his fingers tangle in your hair. Your kiss gets interrupted by your giggles. You pull away and rest your forehead over his heart.

“Do you feel like having a sleepover?” You ask with a shy smile.

“You mean I get to sleep in your comfortable as fuck bed? Hell yeah!” He lifts you in his arms and grabs your key to unlock the door, beyond ready for a sleepover.

Friends wear each other’s initials, right?

“Open my gift first,” Kent says, handing you a small, perfectly wrapped box.

You both decided to exchange only one gift the day before you both went home for the holidays. You were actually really nervous about getting him a gift, not wanting to pick something so sentimental, but also not wanting to pick something out that held no meaning. You were friends, it shouldn’t have been too hard.

“Any hints?” You ask, teasingly while shaking the box to see if you could hear what it could be.

“No, just open it and see.”

You unwrap the box, removing the lid to see the most precious necklace sparkling. It was a simple “K” pendant attached to a simple, silver chain. You trace the letter, repeatedly blinking, trying to process this moment. You feel your eyes tear up, but you don’t allow any tears to fall. Your heart is beating so fast, there’s no way a present should have this effect on you.

“Do you like it? It’s totally fine if you don’t. We can always exchange it for something else,” Kent rambles.

Before he can say anything else, you pull him into you. Your arms thrown around his shoulders and your face resting in his neck. His hands land on their rightful spot, the small of your back, holding you close, so afraid of you not liking his gift. You lean up closer to his face, attaching your lips to his. You move your hands to rest on the back of his neck to play with the hair there to soothe him. You feel his body melt into yours.

“Baby, I absolutely love it. It’s so beautiful,” you whisper against his lips, feeling that familiar, overwhelming wave of happiness when he smiles into your kiss.

“Really?” He asks bashfully, looking down.

“Yes, I love it so much,” you respond, hands on his cheeks so that he’s looking into your eyes.

“Can you put it on for me?” He nods, turning you around and clipping the necklace on for you.

“Looks beautiful,” he says, tracing the letter and your collarbones. You shiver at his touch.

“I’m never taking it off,” you admit, leaning in for another short kiss.

Friends fall in love, right?

The day had been fun-filled with endless activities.

During spring break, Kent thought it’d be a good idea for you to meet his family, as he was going back home for a family member’s wedding, and of course you weren’t going to deny him. It was so much fun and you found that you really enjoy being around his family. They brought you in so easily and made you feel like you belong right off the bat.

Today is the wedding, the reason why you met his family in the first place. You and KJ attend all the familial outings for the day. Early morning breakfast, a midafternoon game of golf, and now roaming around the wedding venue before the ceremony starts. You’re dressed in a simple, pink slip dress, and Kent is dressed in a nice, navy blue suit with a matching pink pocket square.

“You’re perfect,” he whispers to you, tucking a strand of your curled hair behind your ear.

You’re standing in the venue’s beautiful garden. It’s one of the most beautiful places you’ve ever seen.

“You flatter me too much,” you say, hand resting over his heart. You hope your blush does a good job at covering the natural blush caused by his words. You don’t think you’ll ever get used to his compliments.

“It’s true, though,” he states, pulling you into his arms. Your chin rests on his shoulders as your high heels give you somewhat of a boost. His hands rest on the small of your back, stroking the thin material of your dress.

“You’re the most beautiful person here,” he adds.

You gasp in fake shock.

“But your cousin is the bride,” you say, finally looking into his eyes.

He rolls his eyes playfully, tickling your sides so that you press yourself into his chest.

“Like I said, the most beautiful person here. In the world, actually,” he finishes, kissing your temple.

“Better keep the pda to a limit, or your family’s going to think we’re more than friends,” you tease, tugging on his hair.

“Let them think what they want,” he muses, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

“C’mon, we need to head inside, the ceremony is about to start,” you say, hand falling into his hand to guide him inside.

The ceremony is beautiful, everything decorated in nice colors and patterns. It’s something out of a magazine.

You and Kent sit in your seats, eating, chatting, and watching as the newlyweds dance together. The time passes by so quickly, you almost forget that you haven’t danced with the one person you’ve been wanting to dance with the whole night. However, your attention gets drawn to the man when you feel him intertwine your fingers together.

“Want to dance?”

“Yes,” you agree without a second thought.

You both allow the music to guide your bodies in every direction on the dance floor, tuning out every stare and whisper being directed at you. You know there are people wondering about the state of your relationship with Kent, but you’re both just really good friends.

“I’m going to miss you,” you hear him whisper.

You know what he’s talking about, and you wish you could ignore it. Soon he’ll be leaving to Ohio to join the bluejackets. You’re proud of him, but you also don’t want to be without him.

“I’m going to miss you more. Who’s going to be my napping buddy? Who’s going to make sure I eat when I’m stressed? Who’s going to spend endless hours with me when we have nothing better to do? Excuse me,” you mutter, trying to pull away from his embrace. You didn’t need to cry in front of him.

“Where are you going?”

“Restroom.”

“Please stay. You can cry in front of me. I don’t care,” he holds onto you tighter, leaning his head down to press kisses into your neck.

“Want to head to the hotel?” He asks, referring to the hotel room he booked for the two of you.

Once you nod your head, he’s pulling you outside to wait for your uber. The whole ride is silent and thick with tension. He knows your disposition when you’re sad. You start to shut down and crowd into yourself as a way of protection. He wants nothing more than to comfort you, but he doesn’t want you to pull away completely.

You hightail it to the hotel room, bursting through the door and kicking off your shoes. You fight with the zipper of your dress, on the brink of a breakdown when you can’t reach the zipper. You turn to see Kent watching you in concern.

“Can you please unzip me?” You ask, voice so fragile.

He takes the zipper between his fingers, slowly lowering it while also letting his cold hands graze your bare back. He moves your hair to rest over your shoulder, bending down to place kisses on the back of your neck. Your breathing becomes labored and you feel your hands twitching, wanting to reach out for him. You feel his teeth nip at your skin which then gets soothed by his tongue. Your eyes roll to the back of your head when he starts to suck on the one sweet spot. He moves to kiss on the tops of your shoulders, also sucking to make your blood rush to the surface of your skin. Tossing your head back, you let out a sigh, one of your hands reaching back to grab onto him. When he’s done and there’s a red bruise appearing on your flesh, you turn in his hold. You pull off his jacket and quickly unbutton his button up. You pull on his belt, so that his body leans into yours and you both fall onto the bed, your lips locking.

He moves his body to rest in between your legs, his hands pressed into the bed above your head to hold himself over you. You trace the contour of his abs, lingering around the few bruises and scars that litter his skin from playing hockey. You grab the back of his neck, pulling him flush against you, and kissing him again. You let your hands wander the expanse of his back, enjoying the way his muscles flex under his skin.

The next morning, you’re waking up to Kent gliding his fingers along your back, your skin breaking out in goosebumps. His arm is snuggled underneath your head and is probably asleep and sore, but it’s comfortable for you.

“Are you awake?” He breaks the silence, fingers stilling and tension replacing the overall serene atmosphere.

Instead of responding, you turn in his arms to face him. The arm you were sleeping on now rests on the small of your back. He moves the hair away from your face, letting his eyes take you in. The sparkling “K” necklace rests perfectly in the dip of your collarbones. Collarbones that are littered with love bites. He closes his eyes, picturing the way your body arched into his when he made you his own, and the way your breathy moans are the most heavenly sounds. You see his lips turn up into a smile, you smile in return.

“You’re my best friend,” he says, staring deeply into your eyes.

You can feel your smile dim. “Best friend,” you forgot that that’s all that you are. His best friend. After so long of telling everyone, including yourself, that you were just friends, this time hurts the most.

His thumb swipes over your cheek and then swipes over your bottom lip.

“You’re my best friend and I love you so much,” he declares, resting his forehead on yours.

Your heart starts beating faster and suddenly you want to cry. It’s your turn to let your hands rub along his shoulders and back. Your eyes are still closed, convinced that this is all some insane dream. Because you don’t tell your friends that you love them, not the way Kent said it so tenderly and so sincerely. He’s just as in love with you as you are in love with him.

Your sniffles alarm him, making his head shoot up to look at you.

“It’s totally fine if you don’t feel the same. I probably shouldn’t have sprung this on you so suddenly,” he rambles, starting to choke up.

You shake your head, but he continues rambling, so you do the only thing you can do and quiet him with a kiss. You repeatedly peck his lips and all over his jaw and neck.

“I love you. God, I’m so in love with you,” you proclaim.

“But… How are we going to make this work? You’re leaving soon,” you mutter.

“Distance doesn’t matter, not when it comes to us. You’re my baby. I love you and I’m not letting you go. We’re going to be fine. It’ll all work out,” he swears and you believe him.

a/n: I had a lot of fun making this one, so I hope you all enjoy!!!

[starry-hughes]

show time

*set in caroline’s junior year at umich, before her and kent tell everyone*

carolinehughes

liked by lhughes_06, owenpower_, and others

carolinehughes: had to drive a couple of hours to thank him for the flowers

-

jackhughes: what. excuse me. what.

-> carolinehughes: hi rowdy! ☺️

umichtheatre: slay 💅

nblanks98: hey those are familiar paintings on the wall

_quinnhughes: text me back

-> carolinehughes: sorry bubba, kinda busy! text you tomorrow!

trevorzegras: TURN YOUR LIFE360 BACK ON RN😡

-> fan: LMAO TREVOR

colecaufield: i can’t believe you made me sit on the phone with you on your drive

-> carolinehughes: hope you enjoyed my one woman show of waitress

kentjohnson.13: literally who’s that down bad for someone to drive hours to see them 🙄

-> carolinehughes: don’t you literally have a secret girlfriend?

-> kentjohnson.13: don’t turn this on me

fan: what show did you just do? 😆

-> carolinehughes: the glass menagerie!

_alexturcotte: bro aren’t you like 15? too young for a boyfriend

-> carolinehughes: bro leave me alone

[asunsetgrace16]

✧ 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗛 𝗔 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 ⎥ 𝗞𝗝91

Pairing: Kent Johnson x fem!reader

Summary: Kent and Y/N's engagement came as a surprise to no one

Warnings: Simple, fluffy, KJ and Connor being besties, some swearing, hopefully the sarcasm and joking are interpreted as such, I can never tell since I'm the one who writes these

Notes: none

masterlist⎥ navigation

yourusername

liked by kent_johnson, connorbedard, and 7,446 others

yourusername voted most likely to run away with you 💍

Tagged kent_johnson

view all comments

bestfriendone Way to go bestie!!

bestfriendtwo are we all matrons of honour? 😉

yourusername duh, you think I can make a choice between my best friends???

bestfriendthree Good ring choice kent_johnson

kentjohnson appreciate it

connorbedard any intel on who the best man is? (not because I am totally vying for the job)

yourusername its a secret for a little while longer

connorbedard but you told Y/N's friends already, I'm betting they know the entire wedding party

kent_johnson Yeah, because they can keep a secret

connorbedard So it IS me!!!!

yourusername 🤦‍♀️

adamfantilli Congrats guys! We all know this is going to be one hell of a party, unless Connor here is still such stick in the mud 🤣 😉

connorbedard im offended

yourusername Yeah, cause its true

connorbedard what did I do to deserve this?!?!

kent_johnson Nothing, we just like to make fun of you

jgaudreau Fucking finally, took you long enough, KJ. Congratulations!

yourusername ??? Like I knew we would get married at some point, but now I'm confused

jgaudreau he's only been talking about proposing since I met him, and that really wasn't that long ago

kent_johnson You didn't have to rat me out like that, man. And what can I say, I'm a man in love

kent_johnson

liked by yourusername, adamfantilli, and 9,446 others

kent_johnson this love is ours. here's to forever, baby

Tagged yourusername

view all comments

colesillinger_ Congrats man!! Echoing Johnny here but thank fuck we don't have to hear about another proposal plan

jgaudreau Oh its not over. Now it'll be wedding planning and that is ten times worse. I remember when Sean proposed to Maggie, it went from bad to worse

kent_johnson C'mon guys, give me a break here

connorbedard I still want to be best man

kent_johnson You aren't going to let this go are you?

connorbedard nope.

columbusbluejackets Congratulations Kent and Y/N! (We've been waiting...)

colesillinger_ SEE even admin has been waiting

yourusername OK point made. Though I had no control over this. But I was ready to marry Kent a year after we got together

kent_johnson You were?

yourusername Of course I was, you're it for me, there's nothing else that I want more than to be with you for the rest of my life

kent_johnson I love you baby, so much more than I ever dreamed

adamfantilli 🤮 you two are grossly cute. I'm too single for this shit

boonejenner Congratulations! And don't listen to Cole and Johnny, I can make 'em do extra laps at practice. Cole's just jealous cuz he's single

kent_johnson Might have to take you up on the offer

fan1 OMG THE TAYLOR REFERENCES!!!

fan2 they are so meant for each other

[bitchinbarzal]

hiiii

for umich week could u do the reader being powpow twin sister who is a snowboarder going to the olympics and having kjohnny and her get together

THIS IS FROM THE OLYMPICS!!!!!! I AM A HORRIBLE PERSON I AM SORRY!!!

-

You were going to the olympics first. You had known for months and your family were so proud of you. Especially Owen.

So when Owen and Kent came hurdling into your dorm waving around letters like crazy people you were shocked "We're going to the olympics!"

You sat for a moment before it registered in your head and you jumped up and straight into Kent's arms "Oh my god!"

Owen watched slightly confused but had no time to comment as you hugged him too.

The whole time leading up to Beijing you and Kent hadn’t seen much of each other with your respective practices happening.

So when it came time to be in the Olympic village you could spend a little more time together between matches and events.

Kent was front and centre, next to Owen of course to watch you.

“What do you know about snowboarding KJ?” Briss asked as the boys stood waiting for your event to start.

“I-I don’t but the Power’s are like family and I’m here to support Y/N”

Brendan only smirked while nudging Matty “Yeah, sure”

Kent rolled his eyes and Owen had no time to ask what they were implying before you were announced.

The boys knew something was going on between you and Kent, it was painfully obvious to everyone but Owen.

They thought you two would’ve come clean at some point in the start of sophomore year but it was February and it was still a massive secret.

Your runs were perfect - exactly like practiced and the boys were cheering louder than anyone for you.

The scores were perfect, you beamed at the end of the run.

You ran over to your brother and boyfriend, brought into a group hug of congratulations. When you pulled back Owen noticed how your hands lingered on Kent.

When Canada lost and the boys were sent home you were stood waiting for them to get off the ice. Your brother squeezed you tight and you swear you felt him shake with a soft cry.

Kent passed you by, giving you a cold shoulder before heading to the locker room which kind of hurt you. You wanted to support him.

He didn’t speak to you for the rest of the day, completely shaking you before your final event. When you got to the slopes you were wracked with nerves, pacing up and down when Kent found you, stopping your pacing

“You’re going to do great” your eyes shot up to look at him

“You asshole! You’ve been ignoring me all day I’ve been so worried!!”

He looks at you shyly “I’m sorry.. I just I didn’t want to do that infront of Owen!”

You look at him like a crazy person “Do what?!”

“if you held me after that game… I wouldn’t have let you go now stop worrying and go out there and bring home the gold! you’re all Canada’s got going for it now” he jokes and you smile, leaning into his side

“I’m so stressed” he kisses the top of your head “You’re gonna be the best, now go!”

He went back out to join everyone and wait for your run, watching with sweaty nervous hands when they called your name.

He watched your every move, every flip and kick you made and then to the judges once you’d finished.

You won.

You dropped your board into the snow and ran towards the group waiting for you, this time not going for the group hug instead you leaped up against the fence to wrap your arms around Kent.

Briss made a joke to Owen about you both, both turning to face your brother with guilty faces

“Pow-“

Owen put his hand up to stop Kent “I knew the whole time”

You giggled against Kent’s cheek and Owen adds

“Dude I’m your roommate I know you sneak her in after I go to sleep”

“We’re so not good at being quiet”

[goldfades]

✮ 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, jump then fall au!

au masterlist! masterlist!

♡ ─ word count | 2.6k

♡ ─ summary | the story of how our little paloma came to be, and why adam has full custody of her.

♡ ─ warnings | mention of pregnancy (obvs), mention of abusive/manipulative relationship, some birth stuff but nothing graphic like at all, think that is all??

♡ ─ taglist | @literatureluster @valluvsu @lvrzegras @iminlovewithtz11 (fill in form in my navigation in you are interested!)

♡ ─ ev's notes | im finally back lol, the last nonnie inspired me to continue my series but i also saw the adam/luca content on instagram and i was like... yes i love these men with my entire soul. anyway, this is more background/filler chapter on the whole story behind adam/his ex. also idk if i did a good job making emma kind of unlikable but i couldn't make her too much bc at the end of day she is dovey's mom yk LMAOOO. but yeah, i was gonna include a little court segment but i didn't think it was necessary. this is kinda a summary of the timeline so yeah BUT YETH WE ARE BACK AT ITT!!!!! will be writing a more christmas-y one soon though i pinky promise :) LASTLY, my inbox is always open for au thoughts. please send them in, they literally make my entire day!

September ushered in a peculiar kind of unease, a restlessness that only settled within the corridors of high school, unbeknownst to Adam. The weight of impending change hung in the air, a feeling that clung to him as he navigated the familiar chaos that came with being a teenager.

It began with a murmur, a whisper weaving its way through the complicated tapestry of gossip. The news was illicit, news that would shatter the simplicity of his teenage years. Adam's ex, Emma, a figure exiled to his past, was harboring a secret that would bridge their worlds in a way he never anticipated.

The autumn breeze carried an unusual tension as Adam found himself standing before the door of Emma's house, a place he thought he had left behind in the remains of the failed relationship. She had called him about two hours ago, telling him that she had needed to talk to him immediately about something very important. He hesitated for a moment, hand poised to knock, before the door swung open, revealing Emma's worn expression.

"Adam," she greeted, her eyes avoiding direct contact, as if unable to meet the weight of his gaze. They hadn't talked in a couple weeks, since they had broken up.

"What's going on, Emma?" Adam asked, sensing the gravity of the situation even before she spoke.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips, laden with the weight of the secret she carried. "We need to talk," Emma murmured, gesturing for him to enter.

"Yeah, figured." He sighed. He didn't know if he was able to trust her after all the lies she had told him over the span of their relationship. This may be one of her ploys to somehow get him back.

He went into the familiar home as she guided him up to her room anxiously and his mind was racing. What could possibly be so important that she couldn't text him, or tell him over the phone?

They reached her room and he sat on her bed as Emma paced anxiously, the rhythm of her steps echoing the gravity of her secret. Finally, she turned to face him, her eyes brimming with vulnerability that he hadn't seen in a while.

"I'm pregnant," she confessed, the words hanging in the air like a storm about to break.

Pregnant? Her words hung in the air for a few moments as he looked for any sign of deception in her expression. But no, she looked like she was about to break down in front of him. The room seemed to close in on him, and he could feel the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future colliding.

He couldn't even process it. "What?" Was all he could mutter.

Emma's gaze wavered as Adam's single-word response lingered in the room. The weight of the secret settled between them, an unspoken acknowledgment of the life-altering reality they were now forced to confront.

"I didn't plan for any of this," Emma continued, her voice shaky. "I never wanted it to happen."

Adam's brow furrowed as he tried to process the mix of emotions swirling within him. Anger, confusion, and a distant sense of responsibility danced on the edges of his thoughts. His head was spinning with questions.

"Why now?" he questioned, the frustration evident in his tone. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

Emma's eyes welled with tears, and she seemed on the verge of unraveling. "I didn't know how. I was scared, Adam. Scared of your reaction, scared of what it would mean for both of us. I mean I have school and-and I can't have a kid right now."

The room felt suffocating, the air heavy with unspoken accusations and the weight of their shared history. Adam's mind raced, torn between the desire to understand and the lingering mistrust that had defined their past.

Adam's jaw tightened as he absorbed her words, a tumult of conflicting emotions churning within him. "Scared?" he repeated, a sharp edge to his voice. "You think dropping this bombshell now will magically make things less complicated?"

He didn't want to sound like an asshole but he couldn't help it. All she was thinking about was her future, her life and nothing to do with what his dreams, the ones he's had since he was younger. How could he go into the NHL with a kid and unstable ex?

Emma's tears flowed freely now. "I never meant for it to be like this. I just... I needed to tell you. I can't do this alone, Adam."

He rubbed his temples, trying to alleviate the growing tension. "You should've thought about that before. Now, what? What do you expect me to do?"

She reached out tentatively, as if seeking reassurance in the midst of the storm. "I want you to be a part of this, Adam. Our child deserves that, at least."

He takes her hand and his gaze softens as he heard her voice. Our child sounded so sweet, but he didn't want to go through what she put him through again.

He sighed heavily, a mixture of frustration and concern etched on his face. "Emma, you can't drop something like this on me and expect everything to be okay. We're not together anymore, and I can't just rearrange my life because of this."

Her eyes pleaded with him, desperation evident. "I know, but I can't do it alone. I need your support, Adam. We created this life together."

He pulled his hand away gently, creating a bit of distance. "Support? Emma, you've never supported my dreams. You made me doubt everything I did. I can't risk my future for this, not when I don't even know if you're going to stick around."

As the room descended into silence, the air seemed to crackle with the tension of unspoken truths. Adam's mind, however, echoed with the memories of a relationship colored by manipulation and emotional turmoil.

He couldn't shake the vivid memories of countless arguments, where Emma would twist his words, making him question his own sanity. Her subtle undermining of his dreams and aspirations left a trail of self-doubt that lingered long after their fights and maybe relationship had ended.

Emma's manipulation often took the form of subtle remarks disguised as concern. Every success he achieved was met with a backhanded compliment or a comment that subtly belittled his accomplishments. Her words had a way of eroding his confidence, making him second-guess his abilities. Was he even that good of a hockey player? Was he as smart as everyone would tell him?

She played on his insecurities, subtly exploiting vulnerabilities he hadn't even acknowledged. Emma's behavior manifested in controlling behaviors, whether it was telling him who he could spend time with or subtly isolating him from his support system. The gradual corrosion of his social connections left Adam feeling increasingly dependent on her for validation.

Emma's manipulation extended beyond words or fights; it was their daily interactions. The constant emotional rollercoaster left him drained and disoriented. Adam had become used to walking on eggshells, terrified of setting off another emotional outburst.

Adam found himself grappling with a mix of anger and resentment. The secret of her pregnancy now added a new layer to their complicated history, one that threatened to entangle their lives again.

The heaviness of the past hung in the air, a palpable reminder of the emotional scars that had yet to fully heal. The silence in Emma's room mirrored the unresolved scars of their relationship, leaving Adam to confront the challenging path that lay ahead.

He thought he had ended this relationship for good but now, he truly couldn't leave. Knowing that if he wouldn't stay, she would raise the baby alone and he would live forever with the knowledge of his kid somewhere with her. If they were to be together again, even just to raise the baby, he would promise that he would try to shield the baby from his mother as much as he could.

Emma's eyes brimmed with tears as she pleaded, "Adam, I'll change. I promise. I never realized how much I hurt you until now. I want to be a better person, for you and for our child."

Adam hesitated, his gaze flickering between her tearful eyes and the haunting memories of their past. The room seemed to close in around him as he grappled with conflicting emotions.

"Okay, Emma." He sighed. She let out a sob of joy, bringing him in for a tight hug.

──

JUNE 11, 2021

──

Summer arrived quicker than either had expected and soon enough Emma was in third trimester. In the sterile confines of the white hospital room, Adam stood witness to the arrival of their daughter. It was a moment of transformation, where the happiness of newfound fatherhood collided with the stark reality of uncertainty. Emotions played on his face, he had no idea how he was going to deal with any of it.

But as soon as tiny newborn baby laid in his arms, all the worries and uncertainty had faded into background noise as he held her with all the care in the world.

In that moment, everything else seemed to fade away. The worries, the uncertainties, the complexities—they all became distant as Adam cradled his daughter. Her tiny features, scrunched face, and the weight of her presence overwhelmed him, he couldn't help but tear up. She was perfect in every way. In that moment, he promised he would never let anyone hurt her in anyway possible.

He felt a surge of love, a protective instinct that whispered promises of care and unconditional devotion. The uncertainty that had clouded his thoughts seemed inconsequential in the face of the profound connection forged with this tiny being.

"She's perfect," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. The fragility of the newborn, the embodiment of a shared history and a future full of unknowns, stirred something deep within him. All he knew was that he loved her more than anything even if he'd only held her for a few moments.

Emma, watching Adam with a mix of exhaustion and affection, couldn't help but smile. "She's got your eyes," she remarked, a tender note in her voice. His pretty, big blue eyes. The first thing anyone ever notices about him.

Adam nodded, his gaze fixed on the tiny features of his daughter. "Yeah? Well, she's got your everything else," he added, a gentle chuckle escaping him. The weight of fatherhood settled on his shoulders, but in that moment, it felt like a privilege.

The room seemed to shrink, focusing solely on this new family unit. The soft whimpers of the newborn, the beeping of the monitoring equipment, and the distant sounds of the hospital—all merged into the backdrop of a moment that felt suspended in time.

Emma looked at Adam with tired yet contented eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. The room, once filled with the tension of labor, was now a cocoon of familial warmth.

Emma whispered, her voice hoarse from the exertion of childbirth, "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

As Adam and Emma marveled at the beauty of their newborn daughter, the hospital room's door creaked open, and Adam's parents entered with a blend of excitement and nervousness. His mother, a mix of emotions painted on her face, rushed forward to embrace Adam.

"Oh, Adam, sweetheart, you're a father!" she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears of joy.

Adam smiled warmly, hugging his mother. "Yeah, Mom. Meet..." His words died on tongue when he realized they hadn't picked out a name for her yet.

"We haven't decided on a name yet," Emma adds quietly as she yawns.

"What about Paloma? Like your grandmother. It's perfect, just look at her."

Adam's eyes met Emma's, and for a moment, a silent agreement passed between them. Paloma—the perfect name, a homage to his grandmother, a symbol of heritage and a new beginning. They exchanged a nod, and Adam turned back to his parents.

"Paloma," he said, a smile breaking across his face. "Her name is Paloma."

The decision settled like a warm blanket, wrapping around the newborn with a sense of identity. Paloma, their little dove, had found her name in the embrace of a moment filled with love and the promise of a shared journey ahead.

──

Adam's frustration simmered beneath the surface as he and Emma found themselves ensnared in yet another argument. The air in the room crackled with tension, a silent precursor to the storm that was about to erupt. Paloma, blissfully unaware in her crib, slept soundly, while her parents grappled with the unresolved issues.

"I can't keep doing this, Emma," Adam muttered, his jaw clenched. The weight of unresolved issues hung heavily between them, each word an echo of past disagreements. "We need to talk."

Emma, her expression defensive, crossed her arms, a subtle defiance in her stance. "What's there to talk about, Adam? Everything's fine."

A bitter laugh escaped him with the weight of their shared history. "Everything's far from fine, and you know it. Paloma needs stability, and you can't keep pretending that everything's okay when it's not."

Emma's eyes flashed with irritation. "I'm her mother, Adam. I know what's best for her."

Adam's jaw clenched, frustration palpable. "You barely spend time with her but refuse my help. Every time I ask you to be a part of her life, you find an excuse. This isn't fair to Paloma, and it's not fair to me especially when you dragged me into this in the first place."

Paloma stirred in her crib, a subtle reminder of the fragile peace that hung in the balance. The argument, a reflection of their complicated past, loomed over them, threatening to unravel the delicate threads that held their connection together.

Emma's gaze hardened, and she retorted, "I didn't force you into anything, Adam. You were a part of this too, remember?"

Adam's frustration escalated, his voice sharper. "I was a part of it because I wanted to be a father to Paloma, not because I wanted to be stuck in this cycle with you. I can't keep watching you push me away, I wanna be apart of her life-"

She scoffed, a bitter edge to her tone. "You act like I'm the bad guy here. I'm doing my best, Adam."

"You dragged me into this," he continued, a sharp edge to his tone. "I fought to be a part of Paloma's life because I wanted to, but you make it impossible. This isn't about us anymore; it's about her. You need to step up and be a mother, like you'd wanted to almost a year ago when you decided to have her."

Emma's eyes narrowed, defensive walls fortified. "I am her mother. But you don't get to dictate how I should do things. I have my own life, Adam-"

"And Paloma is a part of that life, whether you like it or not!" Adam yelled, the frustration in his voice reaching a boiling point. "I can't keep covering for you, Emma. My mom asks where you're at and half the time, I don't even fucking know. You can't just show up when it's convenient for you and disappear when it's not."

Paloma's soft cries began, the room filled with the sound of her distress, a reflection of the anger surrounding her. Adam's frustration transformed into determination. "I won't let you keep hurting her with your inconsistency, especially when she's old enough to remember. If you can't be a constant presence in her life, then maybe it's better if you're not a part of it at all."

The words hung in the air, a heavy proclamation that seemed to mark the unraveling of their already strained connection. Emma, caught between defiance and vulnerability, met Adam's gaze with a steely resolve, setting the stage for a tumultuous chapter in the story of Paloma's fractured family.

-> make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated! <-

thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

[lukesvangelista]

𝐢𝐟 𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐢 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧ᵏʲ⁹¹

in which kent would give you the moon if he could. but he can’t, so he leaves you with the next best thing he can think of — one last kiss.

warnings; detailed break up, kj still loves you, you still love kj

Seven years. You were two 15 year olds in love.

Kent had always been the boy next door, the one with the shy smile that sent your heart racing, even before you knew what any of that meant.

You were each other’s firsts— first love, first heartbreak, first everything. Through high school, juniors, college, and the transition into your guys’ professional careers, you and Kent had managed to stay together, defying the odds and enduring the pressures that came with being young and in love. You celebrated each other’s victories, wiped each other’s tears, and promised each other forever. When Kent was drafted to the NHL, you’d celebrated with a bonfire, vowing that no matter what, you’d find a way to make it work.

But now, years later, you found yourselves in Columbus, living in an apartment that had once felt like home. Kent was starting his 3rd season for the Blue Jackets, recovering after his painful sophomore slump, and you had your own life, your own dreams. You thought you’d grown together, but somewhere along the way, you had drifted apart.

The apartment was eerily quiet as the two of you stood across from each other, the reality of your situation weighing heavy between the both of you. You had been skirting around this conversation for weeks, both too afraid to admit that the life you had built together was no longer working. You still loved each other; that much was undeniable. But love alone wasn’t enough to bridge the gap that had grown between you and Kent.

The night had a stillness to it that felt almost surreal, as if the world itself had paused, holding its breath for what was about to unfold between you and Kent. The apartment you’d shared for months now felt foreign, like a place frozen in time, filled with the echoes of laughter, shared meals, and whispered dreams. Tonight, however, it was a place of endings, holding its breath along with you.

After all, you had been together since you were kids, almost, back in Port Moody. You were just teenagers when you found yourselves tangled up in a young love that felt so pure, so hopeful, so invincible. You had grown together, navigating the complexities of life hand in hand, believing that nothing could pull you apart. And for the longest time, that had been true. The two of you had been each other’s everything—Kent was your best friend, your confidant, your home. And you had been his rock, his muse, the light he turned to whenever the world felt too heavy.

But tonight, standing across from each other in the dimly lit living room, you two were forced to confront the painful truth: love alone wasn’t enough to keep you together anymore. It was a realization that had crept up on you guys, subtle at first, then more persistent, until it was too loud to ignore. You had tried to fight it, to hold on to the remnants of what you used to be. But tonight, there was no more room for pretending.

You stood with your arms wrapped around yourself, the weight of the moment pressing down on your chest. You glanced around the room, your eyes lingering on the framed photos of you and Kent from happier days—your smiles wide, your eyes full of hope. How had you ended up here, at this place where you couldn’t see a way forward together?

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” you whispered, the words heavy with the sadness that filled your heart. “We were supposed to make it, Kent.”

Kent’s gaze dropped to the floor, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his own sorrow. He had always been your rock, the one who held everything together, even when it seemed like the world was falling apart. But tonight, even he looked lost, broken in a way that you had never seen before.

“I know,” he said, his voice barely audible. “But I don’t know how to fix this, Y/N. I don’t know how to be what you need anymore, and I don’t know how to keep holding on when it feels like we’re just hurting each other.”

You wanted to argue, to tell him that you could find a way, that love would be enough if you just tried harder. But deep down, you knew he was right. You had been holding on to the past, clinging to memories of who the two of you used to be, rather than facing the reality of who you had become. And in doing so, you both had lost yourselves—and each other.

Silence settled between you, heavy and suffocating, as you both struggled to find the words that would somehow make this easier. But there were no words. There was only the overwhelming ache of letting go of the person who had been your everything, of saying goodbye to the future you had once imagined together. Then, you spoke up quietly.

“I don’t want this to be the end, Kent,” you whispered, your arms wrapped around yourself as if you could hold her heart together.

Kent stood across from you, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his gaze fixed on the floor. His shoulders slumped, and he looked smaller than you had ever seen him, as if the weight of this moment was crushing him from the inside out.

“I don’t want it to be either,” he replied, his voice cracking. “But I don’t know what else to do, Y/N/N. We’re just… we’re not the same people we were back then.”

You took a shaky breath, trying to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall. You had always thought that the two of you would make it. You had survived long-distance, late nights, and the pressures of your careers. But this felt different. This felt like the end of something neither of you were ready to let go of.

“We tried, didn’t we?” you said softly, more to yourself than to him. “We gave it everything we had.”

Kent nodded, his eyes finally meeting yours. The pain in his gaze mirrored your own, and for a moment, you wanted to reach out, to hold him, to tell him that you could still make it work. But deep down, you knew that you had reached the end of the road. You had grown up together, but somewhere along the way, you had also grown apart.

“I’ll never stop loving you, you know that, right?” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “No matter what happens, I’ll always love you.”

You took a step toward him, your heart aching at the finality in his words. You wanted to tell him that you’d always love him too, that he’d always be your first love, the boy who had shown you what it meant to truly care for someone. But the words caught in your throat, and all you could do was nod.

Your eyes glistened with unshed tears when you finally spoke, “I know, Kent. I love you too. But… we’re both just trying so hard to make this work, and I can see it in your eyes. You’re giving up things for me, and I’m holding back things for you. It’s like we’re both trying so hard that we’re forgetting to just be happy.”

He nodded, swallowing hard as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. “It’s not that I don’t want to give you everything. I would give you the moon if I could. I just… I can’t be there for you the way you deserve, not with everything else going on. And I can’t stand the thought of you feeling like you’re missing out because of me.”

You took a shaky step forward, reaching for his hand. “I know. I feel the same way. It’s like we’re both stuck between wanting to make this work and knowing that maybe we’re just holding each other back. I don’t want you to have to choose, Kent. I want you to chase your dreams, to be the person you were always meant to be. And I want that for myself, too.”

Kent squeezed your hand, his heart breaking at the realization that you guys were saying goodbye, not because you didn’t love each other, but because you loved each other too much to let one another settle for anything less than everything.

“So, this is it?” he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

You nodded, a tear slipping down your cheek. “Yeah, I think it has to be.”

The two of you stood there for a moment, the weight of the decision settling over you like a heavy fog. You had come so far, shared so much, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap that had grown between you. And now you were both letting go, knowing that it was the right thing to do, even if it hurt more than anything either of you’d ever felt.

Kent looked into your eyes, his heart aching as he memorized every detail of your face. He wanted to remember this moment, to carry it with him as a reminder of the love you had shared, the love you were letting go of.

“Can I ask you for one last thing?” he murmured, his voice breaking.

You nodded, your heart clenching at the look in his eyes. “Anything.”

He took a step closer, reaching up to gently cup your face. “One last kiss?”

You managed a small, tearful smile, leaning into his touch as you nodded. Kent stepped closer, his eyes searching yours one last time as he gently cupped your face in his hands. You could feel the warmth of his touch, the way his fingers lightly trembled as they brushed your skin. His thumb swept gently across your cheek, catching a tear that had escaped, and you closed your eyes, leaning into his palm, savoring the feeling of his hands, which had always felt like home.

He leaned in, both of your breaths mingling, and you felt your heart skip a beat, the familiar rush of emotions flooding back as if it were the first time all over again. When Kent’s lips met yours, the world seemed to fall away. It was a soft, tentative kiss at first—hesitant, almost fragile. But then, as if realizing that this was your last moment together, the kiss deepened, and you poured everything they had into it.

It was a kiss that held years of memories, of late-night conversations and stolen glances, of shared dreams and whispered promises. You could feel the ache in Kent’s heart, mirrored in your own, as you clung to each other, the weight of the goodbye heavy between the two of you. He kissed you as if trying to memorize the curve of your lips, the way you tasted, the softness of your skin beneath his touch. His hands slid to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, as though he could somehow make this moment last forever.

You felt tears slipping down your cheeks, mingling with the kiss, and you knew he could taste the salt, just as you could feel his sadness in the way he held you. Your kiss was desperate, filled with the longing of everything left unsaid, every unfulfilled promise, every dream you had built together and were now leaving behind.

As you finally pulled away, both breathing heavily, Kent rested his forehead against yours, his eyes closed as if to hold onto the feeling a little longer. You stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, neither wanting to be the one to let go first. You could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, echoing against your own, and for a brief, fleeting moment, it felt like you were still whole, still together.

Kent opened his eyes, meeting your gaze, and you saw the sadness, the love, and the reluctant acceptance in his expression. Slowly, he let his hands fall away, and you felt a chill as the warmth of his touch left your skin. He brushed another kiss on your forehead, a soft, lingering press of his lips, a silent promise that even though you guys were saying goodbye, a part of him would always be yours.

And with that, he stepped back, his hand slipping from yours, leaving an emptiness that felt vast and unfillable. You could still feel the ghost of his lips on yours, the echo of your last kiss lingering, a bittersweet reminder of the love you had shared and the memories you both would carry forever.

“I’m going to miss you,” Kent whispered, his voice filled with a raw, aching sadness.

You nodded, your heart breaking all over again. “I’m going to miss you too. You’ll always be a part of me, KJ. No matter what.”

He pressed a final, lingering kiss to your forehead before stepping back, letting his hands fall to his sides. You watched him, memorizing the way he looked in that moment, the way his eyes shone with unshed tears, the way his shoulders sagged under the weight of your guys’ shared decision.

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door, his steps slow and heavy. He paused in the doorway, glancing back at you one last time, as if trying to hold onto the image of you standing there, a tearful smile on your face, your eyes filled with love and sorrow.

And then he was gone.

[letsgetrowdy43]

Chapter one— guilt-ridden

Au Masterlist!!

"Your father and uncles are gonna come in here a ruin my peace and quiet" she mumbled to the six-month-old that rested against her chest. The loud slamming of car doors could be heard from inside the house, the baby quietly murmured to herself as she looked up longingly at the door. Anyone within a five-mile radius could feel the excitement radiating off of the boys, the adrenaline of winning was apparent, and very clearly displayed by the sound of their loud chatting from behind the front door.

"Honey we're home" Jay yelled out as he swung the door open, a wide smile on Philippe's face as pushed in front of the rest of the group, rushing to get his hands on his daughter before anyone else stole her from him. He reached the couch with a wide grin plastered on his lips as he ushered for his best friend to finally pass her over, taking the smiley baby from her mother's hands to hold her against his chest.

“My little lucky charm,” he said bouncing her lightly as she buried her face in his neck, drool covering his t-shirt as her little hands grasped the fabric. "Congrats on the win,” said the woman sitting on the couch, followed by a warm smile as he sat down on the couch next to her, a smile on his face as he lifted the baby up to place a kiss on her cheeks. “Thanks.”

Luca stood in front of the pair with his arms folded over his chest, "this is such bullshit, you always hog her" he pouted and made grabbing hands towards Phil who hugged Flo tighter against his chest. A scoff left Luca's mouth as he turned to the girl sitting to Phil’s left, a longing look on his face as the freshman silently prayed she would step-in in favour of him and make Phil hand the boy over. “It's almost like she's my daughter" Philippe sassed, looking over to the women who un-amusingly looked at him, ushering for him to give the baby to Luca.

Philippe finally passed the baby over to Luca who grinned and walked out of the living room and into the kitchen with her. “You guys played really good,” she smiled and fixed the damp curls falling in his face, “Flo and I watched the entire broadcast, I kinda miss going to the actual games though” She smiled and stood up from the couch to start decluttering the living room of baby essentials

“Is Nolan or the sophomores throwing a party tonight?” She questioned as she threw baby shoes and socks in his direction. “Yeah, but I’m not gonna go.” She frowned as he turned his head to finally look at her instead of the ceiling, “why not?” “I’m not gonna leave her and you alone all night while I’m out partying, I have responsibilities,” he grinned and picked up the teething ring from beside his thigh and shook it before placing it on the coffee table in the bin of other miscellaneous toys.

“You’re also a young adult in university, go have fun” she smiled, “I know you miss it, I know when you force me to go out and do things that I did before Flo I feel better,” she said, stopping her cleaning to sit on the edge of the coffee table to be face to face with him. “I don’t want to put everything on you all the time,” he looked over as she rolled her eyes at his very stupid response, “I already leave enough for hockey it’s not really fair to you” “When we decided to have her, we knew that you already had the team and the responsibilities that came with it, I don’t mind, what I mind is when all you do is play hockey, go to school, and be a dad. In order for you to be your best, you need a little social life” She poked him in the knee as he shook his head.

“I just don’t want you to resent being a father, so please for my sanity and my peace of mind go and be irresponsible” She frowned and pointed toward the group of boys who were goofing around with the baby. “I could never resent you, but I will go and drink enough for the both of us,” he said standing up off of the couch and placing a chaste kiss on her temple before heading to the group of men in the kitchen. “You bet your ass you will” She grinned and followed behind him.

“Now all of you out of my house, you all smell like hockey and it’s Little Miss' bedtime,” she said taking Florence from Grano who smiled and passed the child over, bidding his goodbyes and heading out of the kitchen to collect his things. The rest of them were still laughing along with the squealing baby, her hands clapping as she watched the grown men giggle along with her. “You heard the woman, out,” Philippe said clapping his hands and ushering the other guys out of the kitchen, childlike groans leaving their mouths as they were herded out of the kitchen.

“But I live here?” Eric said stopping in his tracks and going back into the kitchen with his arms crossed and a pout on his face. “You three are the exception babes,” the woman said looking at Steve, Jacob, and Eric who grinned and headed up to their rooms to get ready for their upcoming night out. “You heard the woman! Out!” Eric grinned and started bossing the other boys out of the house along with Philippe.

-❀-

“Why are you washing the baby in the sink?” Steve asked as he rummaged through the fridge for a beer. “She’s not in the sink, her baby tub is in the sink,” the woman said in a duh tone, as she motioned to the six-month-old with sudds in her hair making it look like she had a mohawk, “did your parents never wash you in the sink when you were little?” Steve just blinked at her for a sec while opening his beer before shaking his head. “Plus it hurts my back to bend over the actual tub, so unless you want to wash her you can stop with those judgemental eyes Steven” She bit back as the man stared at her with an amused smile.

Steve left the kitchen not wanting to hear any more mom rants from the girl, “Wait! Steve, can you grab me a towel for Flo?” She called out but was met with a freshly out of the shower Philippe holding up a towel. “You know me too well” She grinned and took the towel with little ducks littered all over it and wrapped their daughter in it. “You forget to grab one literally every time you wash her” he pokes as he takes the clean baby from her mom, a grin on his face as he looks at the baby who yawns into his neck.

She stood there for a second, watching as he bounced her and placed a kiss on his daughter's cheek, grinning at her tired expression. It was no secret that Philippe had become the greatest dad, he was so attentive and so careful with her, he was a dream. He’d been like that since the moment she was born, he never complained, never started arguments. If anyone handled the transition into parenthood in a less perfect way it was her. But something about their dynamic felt like it was on this ice, like any second, any wrong choice of words, any single small action and they would fall right through.

“I'm going to go and change her,” he said softly as she nodded back at him, draining the tub and starting to prepare her last bottle before she went to sleep.

Steve stood in the doorway with the towel she had called out for, “sorry I meant to yell out that I didn’t need it anymore” “You know he’s in love with you right?” She tensed and stared at him “I do” she shook her head and continued to portion out the formula for the bottle, “I just don't love him in that way” She shrugged and cringed as Steve shook his head and left the kitchen.

"You're a cruel woman" he joked as he yelled out at the bottom of the staircase.

A frown was plastered on her face as she finished the bottle and made her way upstairs to her and Florence’s room, Phil sitting on the edge of the bed with his daughter sprawled out on his chest, a new set of fuzzy pyjamas on her as she held his finger in her tiny hand. A soft smile worked its way onto his face as he felt the bed dip next to him, the weight of the baby being lifted off of his chest as she slipped Flo into her arms, the bottle pushed past her lips as she looked down to Phil.

“You look upset,” he said poking her in the thigh. She shook her head, “I'm just tired, ready to get this one into bed so I can get in bed as well” She shrugged and yawned, her free hand holding his as he continued to poke her thigh. “I don't have to go tonight, there will be plenty of parties for me to go to if you're not feeling okay,” he said softly, sitting up more so he could look over her shoulder at the baby’s whose eyes gently fluttered shut.

“I have a feeling she’s gonna be easy tonight, don't worry about me" She leaned up against his arm, cringing as she remember the conversation down in the kitchen, maybe she was really stringing him along, “I've got it under control”

He placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, fingers gently drawing lines against her skin, “You’ve always got it,” she hummed a small word of appreciation before finally getting up to burp the baby.

-❀-

It didn’t take long to get Flo to bed or to wrestle Philippe out of the house and into the cab, but finally, she was left to her thoughts. Sat comfortably on the couch, some Adam Sandler movie that Jacob had been watching was still on the tv as she buried herself in throw blankets. She had sat down for barely ten minutes before she could hear crying once again, loud wails that made her heart clench as she retrieved her daughter and brought her to the couch to snuggle her as she watched movies.

Her pointer finger traced her daughter's facial features as little Flo blinked at the sensation, big blue eyes just like her father. The resemblance between Florence and her father was very minimal but was something that her mother couldn’t get over. A tiny little nose, and a soft smile that looked just like her dad's.

Her phone began to buzz, a picture of Blanks popping up on the screen as she reached the coffee table for it. “How’re my favourite girls doing?” Nick's voice could be heard on the other end, followed by a hello from Kent and Owen who were all together in Buffalo for a game the next day. “She’s a little fussy, and I'm doing okay,” the woman shrugged as she readjusted the baby on her chest so she could comfortably put the phone up to her ear. “You don't sound very okay,” Owen said taking the phone from Nick and walking over to the other side of the room, he loved a good therapy session. “I'm fine, just tired” He rolled his eyes a the obvious lie, sometimes it's like she forgot that they had spent two years of their lives practically living together.

“Where’s Phil?” “I made him go to a party,” she said nonchalantly, her hands now busying themselves with drawing circles on her daughter's back. Florence drooled all over her chest as she drifted off to sleep, the gentle drumming of her mother's heartbeat lulling her to sleep “You need to stop pushing him away when you need a break” Owen's voice grew concerned making her wince. “I just needed an empty house to clear my thoughts” she mumbled as she pressed pause of the tv show she had started.

“I’m just feeling very all over the place right now” Her words got caught in her throat, a dry laugh leaving her lips as she shook her head at the nonsense she was trying to spew. “How so?” He asked, his voice chillingly calm, her eyes grew teary as she heard Owen telling her to take her time. “I'm just wondering if I made a mistake by letting him be involved, he lost everything when I roped him in,” Owen scoffed and went to speak before she cut him off.

“Steve said something to me, something about Philippe being in love with me and I don't know I just feel guilty all the time about everything.” “Steve should mind his own business,” he said, pausing to push both Kent and Nick away from him so he could continue the conversation without their butting-in conversations.

“I mean we have a kid together, we act like a couple because he’s the father of my kid” she sniffled as Florence's little hands made fists and rested them upon her mom’s collarbone, “Pow I love him, like so much, but I don't think I will ever love him the way that he wants me too” “You don't have to,” you could hear his voice start to grow agitated, not at her, but at the guys, all of them knowing that this situation was fragile. They all knew better than to involve themselves in the new parent's relationship. “But everyone makes me feel like I have to, I love him, and I love that he gave me my daughter and that he’s here for us, but the idea of us being together isn’t something that I ever picture,” she choked out, a short groaned leaving her lips as her hand raked through her hair. “That's okay, fuck Steve and the rest of them, who you love and how you love them is up to you,” Owen said regaining his calm voice, a little reassurance that maybe she wants at fault for everything.

“I just feel bad cause I'm giving him mixed signals, and like I took his young adult life away from him so like I’ve fucked everything for him” She let out a sigh and clung Florence to her chest as she got up to grab a face cloth for her to rid her chin and neck of her drool. “No, you didn’t, and if anyone is saying that they are lying, Phil knows exactly what he’s gotten himself into, you gave him plenty of chances to leave and he didn’t,” It was true Philippe had multiple chances to get out before it was too late, even after she was born but he was still around, “Flo is his responsibility as well, and if anything this fatherhood thing has made him a much better person”

A tear slipped down her cheek as she readjusted herself on the couch, her baby cradled in her arms, “thanks, Owen” “Any time, next time one of the fuckers gives you a hard time or makes you upset let me know” he promised, semi-jokingly as he handed the phone back to Nick.

“Those fuckers should know better, I mean you’re a better person than most of those guys will ever be,” Nick said in a harsh tone, annoyance filling his senses, those boys had promised to make her life easier, to help and create peace, not complicate everything. “Don't say shit like that Blanks” she mumbled. “I'm serious, you are such a strong person, those dumbasses need to stop giving you a hard time” he sighed, knowing that they had no ill intent, they always mean well, they were just stupid at knowing when the time to intervene was.

“They’re just looking out for Philippe” she reasoned, she also knew that Steve’s and other comments that have been made in the past weren’t comments that were supposed to negatively affect her, they just wanted everyone happy. “Lapointe is a big boy, the can make his own decisions and handle his shit, and if he knew that the guys were helping him at your expense I don't think he’d appreciate it very much.”

A gentle knock on the front door startled her out of the conversation, “I’m gonna have to call you back Blanks someone is at the door,” she said warmly, drying the tears on her face as she readjusted the baby in her chest. “Sounds good, we are probably going to head out for drinks so we'll talk in a few days” he promised, as Bothe Kent and Owen in unison yelled out their goodbyes. “Okay, love you guys bye”

She quickly ran over to the door, hoping she didn’t keep the person on the otherwise waiting too long, she swung it opened it to see the very smiley sophomore clad in pyjamas and a smile, “oh, hey Mark” she whispered with a grin as she ushered for him to follow her into the house. “I promised I'd stop by after the game, but I got a little strung up with the trainers and coaches,” He shrugged with a smile before motioning for the woman to pass him over the baby.

“I heard that you're the most penalized player in the league now, Mr. Eighty-seven minutes,” she said giving him the baby and the drool-covered rag before collapsing down on the couch. “Yeah I'm a superstar” he shrugged. “You played well though, minus the penalties” She grinned and nodded at the baby who was now knocked out in his arms.

Flo always had such an easy time with Mark, he claimed it was because he was the first of the guys to hold her and the fact that he and Flo were best friends. The topic of him being the first beside her mother to ever hold her pissed off all the guys, especially Philippe, it was like twisting the knife in the already tender wound, the fact that he couldn’t make it to the birth, and then he wasn’t even the first to hold his baby.

“You made the cutest baby did you know that” Mark’s thumb ran over the fat on her cheeks, a sleepy smile on Flo’s face as she buried her face into his arm. “Why aren’t you at the party?” “wasn’t in the mood,” he said like the answer was obvious as if he wasn’t one of the biggest party personalities in the entire Umich student body.

“Who are you and what have you done with my Mark Estapa?” “Your Mark Estapa, that’s a bold term” he joked, watching as she rolled her eyes. “You know what I meant,” she jabbed him in the thigh with her foot, making a quiet gasp leave his lips, not wanting to wake up the sleeping baby.

“If you wondering why I'm not at the party it's because the prettiest girl that I've been waiting all day to see wasn’t there so there was no point in showing up” He smiled, looking from the baby up to her, a look of amusement on her face as she raised her brows “You’re such a flirt” “I never said I was talking about you, could have been talking about my littlest love right here” He motioned to the baby in his arms, his free hand pulling her pyjama top down to cover her stomach, his little heart pained to see that she was almost too big for her six-month-old clothes.

“I love that nickname” she mumbled, her arms crossed over her chest as she waited for another smart-mouthed response from Mark. “Yeah? You want a similar one?” He shamelessly flirted, looking over at the red spread across both of the woman’s cheeks, “you’re blushing” he said leaning over her legs to run his thumb over the hot and flushed skin of her cheeks “That's true Mark, I am turning red, you’re flirting with me, it's expected,” she deadpanned.

“When are you gonna let me take you out?” He questioned, feigning for the moment that the girl would let her guard down and finally accept his advances. “When pigs fly” She grinned as his face dropped. “I could arrange for that to happen” he murmured to her, his hand raking through his hair and across his face to tame the lush on his cheeks, “you underestimate me”

“Mark I have a baby, and her father is your teammate.” “I'm fully aware of those two facts,” he said smartly pointing down aye the baby sitting in his arms, a grin on his face as she rolled her eyes at his statement.

“It wouldn’t work” She shook her hand and looked away from him, her facial muscles trying hard to not let a smile pull at her lips. “I'm gonna prove you wrong one of these days,” he says confidently, a toothy smile on his face as she watches her look back at him. “I’d like to see you try” she added before pressing unpause on her tv show, ignoring the stare and smile that came from the man

-

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this is poorly edited so please don't mind the spelling errors, I will get to the serious editing later

[cobrakaisb]

mark estapa

for your number

no strings attached

owen power

foolproof plan

kent johnson

this rainy day

brendan brisson

our song

luke hughes

only thing i ever get for christmas

love triangle

luca fantilli

if he wanted to he would

your heart upon your sleeve

ethan edwards

meet me at midnight

platonic umich

top gun: umich

happy halloween

birds are taking over

finals week

read more for umich hockey using the tags below!!

[beaucate]

hello!! I’ve had multiple blogs before but this is the only one with multiple interests, would love some requests based on the characters I’ve tagged, not limited to anything really ⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚

navigation of characters. / m.list

[a-aexotic]

i wanna start writing for hockey guys lmk if y’all are interested 😭😭

[moonpascaltoo]

𝑭𝑰𝑪 𝑹𝑬𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺

pedro pascal ⭒ oscar isaac ⭒ ben barnes ⭒ aaron taylor johnson

harry potter universe ⭒ stranger things ⭒ marvel ⭒ x-men ⭒ dc

the walking dead ⭒ the last of us ⭒ criminal minds ⭒ doctor who

triple frontier ⭒ narnia ⭒ ted lasso ⭒ hunger games ⭒ supernatural

miscellaneous

[arctickat2400]

Front Seat ∞ Clark Kent

Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) x Reader

Word Count: 2945

Based on this song: Front Seat by Rayne Johnson

A/N: You know how when you imagine a scenario in your head and it seems amazing and it plays out so nicely in your head, but when you write it out into a story, it doesn’t come out as well but you need to write it down or else you’ll forget it? Yeah, that’s what happened here. The scenario is good, but the writing isn’t my favorite because I wrote it when I didn’t have it all outlined, but I didn’t want to forget it so I just wrote it. Hope y’all like it anyway!

* * * *

“Shotgun!” Lucas shouted as he ran out the door and towards the passengers side of Chase’s car. Of course your boyfriend didn’t object to your spot being taken by his best friend, probably because he didn’t care. You, Chase, and some of his friends were going out to dinner, all carpooling in his car for some unknown reason. Why couldn’t everyone just take their own cars? Then everyone could leave the restaurant on their own and not have to come all the way back here just to pick up their cars. But you knew your complaints wouldn’t be acknowledged. So you kept your mouth shut. 

“Shouldn’t Y/N have the front seat?” James spoke up. You knew you always liked James. He was so kind to you, making you feel included. He was the reason you were actually going out with the boys tonight. You’d be hanging out with Chase when the boys showed up and pestered Chase to go to dinner with them. You were going to just go home when Chase perked up at the offer of hanging out with the boys instead of you, but James insisted you go with them. 

“Lucas called shotgun, did he not?” Chase defended his best friend as he jumped into the driver’s seat. You knew better than to expect anything different from your boyfriend. He was never one to care in times like these. You glanced up at James to see his sympathetic expression. You offered him a weak smile and a shrug, sliding your hand out of your pocket to gently touch his arm in a gesture of thanks before climbing into the back seat, squishing between James and Noah. Noah was the quiet one, always seemed to feel uncomfortable around you, making you feel the same. You sort of just avoided him because of that whenever he was around. 

On the way to whatever restaurant you had no say in going to, “Yo, Chase, any plans for the weekend?” James asked him from beside you. You were interested in the answer, curious to know if he was going to choose himself, the boys, or you to hang out with this weekend. Usually it was one of the first two, but a girl can hope, right? 

“Taking Y/N out on a date,” Chase stated matter-of-factly. How odd. He’d never even asked you. Just made up his mind for the both of you. Although, you gotta take what you can get. Dates with him are a dime a dozen these days, it seems. So you accepted it with a sheepish smile and wondered what he was planning after he said it was a surprise.

The night seemed to go on and on without an end in sight. The majority of the evening you’d been talking with James when he’d noticed your bored state not five minutes into sitting down. Chase and his friends were going on about who knows what, Chase was hardly paying any attention to you, and you just wanted to go home. You’d been going out of your mind for the last two hours when you finally had enough. 

“Chase, I wanna go home now,” You try to get his attention, but to no avail. It doesn’t help that he’s had a couple drinks, as per usual on a boys night out. Despite his arm draped over the back of your chair, he ignores you and continues on with his conversation. You roll your eyes and lean over to James. “I’m gonna go home,” You mention to him before standing and heading out, not even a glance from Chase as you leave. He probably won’t even notice you’re gone.

It was only a ten minute walk back to Chase’s house to get your car, but your exhaustion made it seem like a lifetime. Your watch vibrated against your wrist, notifying you of a message. You pulled out your phone from your pocket and saw a text from Clark. 

Clark was your best friend. There was never a dull moment with Clark. He was the best friend any person could ever ask for. Sometimes you wished Clark was your boyfriend. Maybe “sometimes” was an understatement. But you knew he didn’t see you that way. No matter how much you wished it was different, you were just friends. It didn’t help that he lived right down the hall from you in your apartment complex. 

Clark: Hey! You wanna come over and watch a movie? I bought your favorite snacks and I baked brownies. He tried persuading you. You chuckled, wishing you could just teleport there so you could bask in the comforting presence that was Clark and his ability to always treat you right.

Y/N: Oh, Clark, I’m so sorry. I wish I could. You don’t know how much I would love that right now. But I’m just now on my way home and I’m exhausted. But definitely another night for sure. You explained, looking up to see your car in the driveway. You sighed, glad to finally be back to your own car and to be able to do your own thing. You hated having to blow Clark off like that. You took any and every chance to hang out with him. Tonight, you were just so out of it, you could hardly think. 

Clark: Of course, sweetheart. Let me know if you need anything. We’ll save MI6 for later 😉

Of course he chose a movie you’ve been wanting to watch for so long now! You felt even worse now for not going after he planned a whole night for you. You exhaled in exasperation as you turned on some music and backed out of the driveway to make your way home. 

Dragging your feet up the stairs towards your apartment, you could smell the brownies Clark made from the hallway. Your stomach rumbled, begging for his delicious food. But your mind battled with your body for sleep. You just wanted the seemingly endless night to end.

But just as you dug your keys out of your bag to unlock your door, you looked down to see a plate of brownies covered in saran wrap with a sticky note on top. You opened your door before bending down to pick up the plate of baked goods with a knowing smile on your face. 

Wanted you to enjoy some fresh brownies tonight, even if you’re not eating them with me 😏

You giggled to yourself as you placed the plate on the kitchen island. You guided yourself around your apartment to shake off your disappointing evening. Changing into an oversized t-shirt and boycotting pants, you make your way back into the kitchen for a brownie. You had no doubt they would be as good as any of Clark’s cooking or baking, but after just one bite, you realized just how much you needed this and took out your phone to thank Clark for the sweet pick me up.

Pulling up Snapchat, you held the brownie up to your mouth and took a silly selfie before typing a sweet thank you and sending it his way. Not even a minute later while you’re going to pick up a second brownie, you get a notification from Snapchat, opening it to see a selfie of Clark laughing. You smiled and saved it to your chat, sending Clark a goodnight text while eating the rest of your brownie before heading to bed. 

The weekend came quickly, and the night of your date with Chase arrived with suspense. Still with no idea what Chase had planned for the night, you waited for 6 pm, the time he was to pick you up, as you finished curling your hair. You stepped into your closet to figure out what you were going to wear. You didn’t know what you were going to be doing, but you had just bought a new dress and thought this to be the perfect night to parade it around for the first time. When you’d seen it in the window of a shop just the other day while walking down the street, you couldn’t help but to rush into the store and try on what had become your favorite dress that you now own. You looked in the mirror to see the strapless dress cascading down just above your knees, the elegant fabric tugging comfortably against your curves, the floral patterns making your smile. 

Just as you were about to choose which shoes to wear, you hear your phone announce that you have a message, expecting it to be Chase telling you he was on his way. You picked up your phone with a hopeful smile, only for it to fall just as fast as it came once you read his text:

Chase: ‘Sup, baby, can’t make it tonight. Something came up with the boys.

A single tear slipped down your cheek as you let your phone fall onto your bed. Why were you not surprised? This wasn’t the first time he’s stood you up, and you think it’s certainly not the last. What was wrong with you? This happens all the time, and yet you’re still with him. Everything is telling you to end it, yet something is making you stay. It just feels like you’re drowning with no way out. 

Just then, a knock on your door shook you out of your saddened trance. You rush to answer it, opening the door to see your best friend standing there, black hoodie, jeans, and socked feet with a smile adorned on his lips, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets.

“Hey, sugar. I-” But the second his eyes met yours, his lips fell into a frown. He didn’t even have to ask what was wrong. Not only by the fact that you were wearing the new dress you’d raved to him about buying the second you tried it on at the store and your hair all done up, but the tear tracks on your cheeks and your sad red eyes begging for comfort as you looked up at him told him that this was about Chase, that he’d stood you up once again, no doubt for his friends.

Clark always hated your boyfriend, knew he wasn’t the one for you. You told Clark everything about your relationship with Chase. That meant Clark knew all the dumb stuff Chase had done to you, how horrible of a boyfriend he was to you. It only made Clark wish more that he was your boyfriend, not Chase. That it was Clark that was taking you out on a date tonight, not Chase. That it was Clark showing off the love of his life in her stunning new dress, not Chase. Although by the looks of it, Clark may be the only one getting to see you in this new dress of yours tonight, and he wanted to smile knowing that Chase would never get to lay his eyes on it. 

However, all Clark wanted to do was take you in his arms and comfort you until no thoughts of your asshole of a boyfriend ever came to your mind again, and it was just you and Clark. 

“Come here, darling,” Clark offered you a sympathetic smile as he pulled you into his embrace, and you accepted it with your whole heart. Clark wrapped his arm around you, holding you tight against his body, his hand tangling into your hair.

“I don’t even know why I’m crying. It’s not like I’m surprised,” You sniffled into his shoulder, your arms locked around his neck. 

“Let’s go for a drive,” Clark proposed, and you nodded against his shoulder, always welcoming any chance to be with Clark, as you pulled away.

“Let me just go change,” You mentioned, turning around before Clark reached to hold you there. “No. Keep the dress on. The prettiest girl on the planet deserves to wear the prettiest dress out tonight.” Clark admitted sheepishly. A bright red blush rose to your cheeks as a small smile of your own lifted your lips. You nodded, taking Clark’s outreached hand as he led you to his truck. He opened the passenger door for you, a new experience for you, and the blush on your cheeks deepened as Clark lifted you up inside.

Just as he was about to shut the door, “Wait,” You paused, grabbing his attention and he locked eyes on you. “What did you come to my apartment for?” You questioned Clark, remembering his surprise appearance during your bout of distress. 

“Oh, I had just come to ask if I could borrow some ingredients for a recipe I was going to start on, but you are more important than anything else,” Clark smiled widely, and you swore your cheeks were as red as tomatoes. You moved your arm as you nodded your head with a shy smile. Clark closes the door, smile still on his lips, as he runs around to the driver's side.

Clark hooks up his phone and hands it to you like he always does whenever you’re in his car and pulls out of the parking lot. He told you the first time you drove with him that you would be the DJ, and that is how it’s always been for the past several years. You tap on the playlist Clark made for you so many years ago that he continues to add to and scroll to the bottom. There’s a song there you discovered recently, Fireflies by Blinky, and you tap on it, turning up the volume, needing something upbeat and confident. You jam out to the music, singing your heart out, while Clark has the biggest smile on his face at the most gorgeous human being he’s ever seen allowing herself to be her most vulnerable self in his presence. She has no idea how much I love her, Clark thinks to himself as his focus shifts between you and the road. 

Once the song ends, you turn down the volume and pause the music. You sit back in your seat and sit in silence as you watch the fields fly by. “He made me sit in the back seat again the other night,” You mentioned suddenly, breaking the silence as you stare out the windshield at the starry night sky. Clark briefly glanced over at you, his gaze saddened at the fact that you were hurting so much over someone who doesn’t deserve your tears.

“I can’t do it anymore.” Clark knew what you meant. You were going to end it with Chase, and not only was he overjoyed that you would no longer be with someone who caused you so much hurt, but he was so proud of you for realizing that you deserve more than being someone’s rearview. 

Before you could comprehend what he was doing, Clark had pulled over to the side of the road. “Clark, what’re you-” But Clark beat you to it.

“Y/N, my sweet, precious Y/N,” Clark begins as he turns in his seat towards you. “You don’t deserve to be forced into the back seat. You deserve to be placed high and mighty in the front seat of any and all cars, not sitting alone in the back. You should be the DJ singing like a rockstar at the top of your lungs. You belong on the right side of the right guy, and I hope with my whole being that you choose me to be that right guy because I know I can be that guy for you. You deserve the world, Y/N, and I want to give that to you, if only you’ll give me the chance. Because I love you, and I want to be riding in the front seat with you, right where you belong.” 

And in that moment, looking into Clark’s most mesmerizing blue eyes, you realize Clark is the right guy. Clark was the one who always put you first, the one who always made you feel you were better than the back seat. He made the front seat your place, your throne, the queen of his truck. And not only did you want him, but he wanted you, too.

You couldn’t hold back anymore as you rushed towards him and met his lips in the kiss you’d been waiting for what seemed like a lifetime for. A kiss on the lips that you will be keeping close to you for a lifetime to come. 

“I love you, too, Clark. I can’t believe I hadn’t seen it until now, but I want this. I want you. I was so stupid for staying with something that wasn’t meant for me, when what was meant for me had been right there all along.” You admitted, your eyes locked on his, your hands on either side of his face as he holds you close. 

“I love you so much, baby, and I will treat you like the passenger princess that you for as long as you’ll let me,” Clark assures before taking my head in his hands and pulling me in for another passion filled kiss. You pull away for air and rest your forehead against his. Clark could tell you were tired. You had a long week and he knew a lot was going through your mind.

“Let’s get you home, angel.” Clark smiles as you reposition yourself beside him, leaning your body against his side and wrapping your arms around his bicep. He begins the drive back to your apartment as you curl up against his side, your eyes becoming heavy before finally closing, your heart and your mind calming your soul, finally safe in the front seat where you belong. 

[zablife]

Broken Promises

Henry Johnson/Michael Gray x fiancee reader

Summary: When your fiancé leaves you at the altar, you go in search of answers in a frightening, new city. As you close in on him, you find that you aren't prepared for the man he has become.

Author's Note: Requested by a lovely anon.

Warnings: broken engagement, implied SA, mention of execution, Michael being an ass, heavy angst

1921, Kent

As your grandmother's shaky hands finished pinning your veil in place, she beamed with pride. "Even more beautiful than your mother was when she wore it," she mused, wiping a tear from her eye. "I only wish she was here to see you, love."

"I have you," you reminded her, reaching forward to wrap your arms around the only family member you had left in the world.

Prying you away from her delicate frame, she gazed upon you with affection that creased every well worn line of her soft skin. Eyes glistening with tears, you noted a tinge of sadness as she admitted, "But now you have Henry." Squeezing your hands for emphasis, she confided, "I'm glad he'll be here to look after you when I'm gone."

You wanted to tell her that wouldn't be for a long time, but a sharp knock interrupted your thoughts. "Is the bride ready?" a cheerful voice chirped from the other side.

Opening the heavy oak door, you were greeted warmly by your future mother-in-law, cheeks as rosy as the apples in her orchard as she bustled into the room to add her compliments. "Aren't you a beauty!" she exclaimed.

"You're too kind," you demurred as she proceeded to tell you how pleased she was for her son.

"Have you seen Henry this morning? Is he well?" you asked excitedly, wondering how your love had fared the night before.

Since your meeting two years ago, at the tender age of sixteen, neither of you had gone a day without meeting at the wishing well at the center of your village. Sitting upon the shining white bricks, you shared the small details of your day. It might have seemed mundane to others, but it gave you a sense of comfort to know there was nothing you didn't share with one another.

Rosemary shook her head with a good natured chuckle as she admitted, "You know, in all the fuss, I haven't seen my own son!"

Her lighthearted reply made you giggle because she was accustomed to such lapses, forgetting the bread in the oven or leaving her spectacles tucked in a book.

Then in classic fashion, she overshared a bit as she patted your hand, "You know you needn't worry about the stag party. He promised his father he'd only drink mild."

"I'm not worried, Mrs. Johnson," you replied, stifling a laugh.

"Rosemary, dear," she corrected you. "And I'm certain if he isn't here, he'll be along shortly."

You nodded in agreement, smiling to yourself in the full length mirror as you brushed the lace away from your face to study your reflection carefully.

---------------------

1924, Birmingham

The curtains in your bedsit flapped lightly in the wind, waking you with a start. A cough erupted from your lungs, unaccustomed to the smoke filled air of the city. What could have brought your fiancee to this God forsaken place?, you wondered as you rushed to close the window.

You made yourself a cup of tea and sat quietly watching the passersby, hoping by some miracle Henry would stroll by, though you knew from the papers he was locked away in a prison cell. Or at least, that's what you'd come to believe after staring at the smudged ink for too long, convinced he was now a man called Micheal Gray. Though it turned your stomach to think he was accused of murdering a priest, it was the only lead you'd found in three years time.

But in the fortnight since your arrival, you hadn't learned anything new, despite your efforts. The only other trace of Henry since your wedding had been an unreliable account by a lad who claimed he saw he a strange man with a scar speaking with Henry weeks before your wedding, rumors of a new life in Birmingham sprinkled into the conversation.

As you gazed down at the ring languishing on your finger, you wondered if he ever thought of you late at night, yearning for those moments of connection by the well. Did he even care that he'd left you all alone at the altar or worse yet, at the graveside of your beloved grandmother a month later? The heart break had nearly been too difficult to bear.

Now all you had to guide you was a whisper, a faded conversation in which Henry had been lured by the promises of a dark, foreboding stranger. This was probably why you'd forgiven his lapse of judgement, the concern for his wellbeing outweighing the anger you held in your heart. However, the second ring you wore, your grandmother's gold band, burned your skin as it reminded you of your worth which was far more than that assigned to you by your absent lover.

The combination of curiosity and indignation propelled you forward, day by day, searching the city for those who could provide answers. Usually the day ended with aching feet and a rumbling stomach, but today your efforts would be rewarded by a chance encounter with a dark haired woman, children clinging to her skirts.

You were buying a loaf of bread in the market when one of their small hands began to reach for you, their mother scolding them with a harsh slap.

"It's alright," you assured her. "Far too much for me on my own. I'm glad to share."

"Thank you," the wild eyed woman remarked, accepting your generosity. "Times are hard with my husband away. Yours locked up as well?" she ventured, casting a look at your ring.

Unsure how to reply, you lowered your eyes to the cobblestones beneath your feet as she prattled on about her John and how he'd been falsely accused thanks to her evil brother-in-law. "Not just him, mind you, everyone else in the family," she bemoaned as she fed the bread to her children. "Arthur, Polly, Michael..." she rambled absently as she tore the crust apart in even pieces.

"Did...did you say Michael? As in Michael Gray?" you stuttered hopefully.

"You know him?" she asked, head jerking up at the mention of his surname.

"Yes," you admitted, on an uneven breath. "Do you know where I can find him?"

-----------------

It was thru her suggestion that you met with the inspector bringing charges in the case. Chester Campbell was a disagreeable man, but the only one willing to discuss matters with you privately. For that you thanked him profusely, though in an hour's time you would not have done the same.

He had only one motive in sequestering you inside an interrogation room and the instant the door slammed behind you, your heart sank with the bitter realization of his true intentions. If you wanted Michael free, or if you wanted your own freedom for that matter, he suggested you comply with every devilish command he gave.

By the time he was finished, you were shaking in violent convulsions. As he draped a coat around you to conceal the tattered remains of your dress, you slipped away into the bustling street with an official document clutched tightly to your chest. It was your only solace in those dark hours that followed, waiting for the promised release of the man you only hoped would never learn of your sacrifice.

----------------------

You entered a new state of watchful waiting those next few days as you kept regular meetings with Esme. She kept you abreast of the news regarding the trial, mostly family matters that wouldn't be known to reporters. And though she urged you to see Michael before it was too late, you found yourself averse to the idea until one fateful day.

Finding Esme slumped over in a fit of grief, you ran to her. "What's happened?" you begged.

"Ain't you seen the papers?" she wailed.

You only shook your head in ignorance, a hand stroking along her back as she pitched forward in garbled cries. "They're....they're being executed."

The blood froze in your veins as you processed her words, wondering if this was truly the end of it all.

"You're sure?" you asked, swallowing the lump in your throat. As she nodded against your shoulder you had only one question left. "When?"

"At dawn."

---------------------

The next morning you waited by the prison gate, hands pounding against the splintering wood until your fists were raw and aching. But no one paid any attention to the woman raving beneath their window. And who could blame them when you pleaded for the life of a killer?

By the time the clock tower struck twelve, you knew in your heart that the deed was done. Henry? Micheal? Whoever the man you once loved had been in life was no more. You sank to your knees and sobbed in a way you hadn't allowed yourself since your wedding day. Three long years of pain and sacrifice for this, you thought.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, you finally found the strength to pick yourself up and amble toward the road. However, a harsh creak of metal stopped you in your tracks. Turning to face the path you'd just walked, you could hardly believe your eyes as you caught sight of Henry standing bruised and battered, but alive nonetheless.

Your breath caught in your throat as your hand reached out toward him involuntarily, years of longing superseding your rational mind. "H-henry?" you called to him.

The man before you furrowed his brow for a moment as he reached into his pocket for a cigarette. He looked as though he were lost in a daze as he took his time lighting it, the glowing match in his hand quivering slightly. You could tell that the years had aged him, but not beyond total recognition. Somewhere beneath the hardened exterior was the boy you knew long ago in the countryside and you longed for him to hold you in his arms once more.

However, your daydream was cut short when he replied gruffly, "What do you want?"

You stepped toward him cautiously, head tilted as you took in his disheveled appearance. His waist coat was dirty and torn, pants far too short for his height and yet he still looked as handsome as you remembered. Then you wondered if perhaps he was having trouble recalling you as well due to the recent trauma.

"It's me...Y/n," you offered gently. "I came to find what became of you," you answered earnestly. "I...I was worried."

He raised his head to the sky, considering the passing clouds for a moment before blowing a lungful of smoke upward to join them. "Well you don't have to worry anymore. I'm fine," he assured you, placing the cigarette between pursed lips.

You shook your head at his cool detachment, eyes searching his for the hint of the caring young man you once knew. "You were sentenced to hang today and that's all you have to say, Henry?"

"That's not my name," he corrected you sternly. "I go by Michael now."

"Yes, I know," you mumbled in confusion.

"Look, if you came about our engagement..." he began, a threatening scowl crossing his face as he plucked the cigarette from his lips in a telling reveal he knew exactly who you were.

"No, I see that's long forgotten," you admitted with a heavy heart. "But I want you to know I still care for you deeply," you ventured on baited breath.

He hummed to himself gently as he nodded in agreement, "I know.." Then stilling all movement he replied without a hint of emotion, "The guards told me what you did."

Your body clenched in fear at the prospect of him learning your shameful secret, but you stood fast waiting to hear what else he might say. As his mouth curled into a small smile, you allowed yourself a morsel of hope, until he spat cruelly, "They thought it was funny."

You shifted uncomfortably before him, chest aching with shattered pride as he huffed out a humorless laugh at your expense.

"I suppose it is," he decided before turning his heel into the gravel decisively, leaving you alone in the freezing shade of the empty yard.

"Wait!" you shouted, racing toward him to capture his arm between desperate fingertips. "You can't mean that. I know you cared for me once too. What happened?" you begged, tears streaming down your face.

As he flicked his cigarette butt into the street, he eyed you in a side long glance. "You think you know me, but you never understood," he said with a shake of his head.

"That's not true," you insisted, twisting his arm to make him look at you. "You loved our life...you loved...me," you stuttered out between hiccuped sobs, all the pent up emotion rising to the surface. "Don't you remember all those wonderful afternoons we spent at the wishing well?"

The clench of his jaw and the ironlike grip against your hand frightened you, but it was nothing in comparison to the spiteful look in his eye when he finally faced you.

"Do you know all the times I thought about planting dynamite beneath those pretty white bricks to blow you to hell?" he seethed.

You jerked your hand away in terror just as he released you, falling to the ground with a painful thud. "Henry?" you mumbled as you looked up at him in shock.

"I already told you, that's not who I am anymore," he hissed before stalking away and as you watched him disappear into the smoke and fog, you finally had to concede that he was right. The boy who promised to cherish you forever was gone. He'd been replaced by some monster now wandering the dark and desolate streets of his new home, a place where you did not belong.

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