#Maybe Brad and Nicole

[cupoteahatter]

Guys should I give into the impulsive urge and write Bistro Huddy fanfic?

Edit: I did it, Amber x Ruby anyone?

[polyjackets]

Rest in peace Jackie Taylor you would've loved…..

Spice Girls (1996-2001) (justttttt missed it)

Barbie Girl by Aqua (1997)

Britney Spears (1999 onwards)

Legally Blonde (2001)

iPods (2001)

Nicole Kidman divorcing Tom Cruise photo (2001)

Beyonce's solo career (2003 onwards)

Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton & Britney Spears photo (2006) ("Paris is a cunt!"/"I didn't say that! Paris is my friend!")

Britney Spears divorcing Kevin Federline (2007)

Keeping Up with the Kardashions (2007 onwards)

Tiger Woods outed as serial cheater (2010)

Instagram (2010 onwards)

Katy Perry teenage dream era (2010-2012)

Kim Kardashian's 75 day marriage (2011)

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson (2012)

Ice bucket challenge (2014)

White or gold dress (2015)

Lemonade by Beyonce (2016)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie divorce (2016)

TikTok (2017 onwards)

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna (2017 onwards)

Barbie (2023)

#ihatemyboyfriend trend / the ick

[pollsnatural]

Imagine that a Supernatural sequel and its showrunner have been announced. Spin the wheel, find out which writer is the showrunner, and answer the question:

If you want to know/remember which episodes your writer wrote, you can follow the links below.

Eric Kripke

Sera Gamble

Jeremy Carver

Andrew Dabb

Ben Edlund

Cathryn Humphris

John Shiban

Raelle Tucker

Robert Berens

Buckleming - Brad Buckner and Eugenie Ross-Leming

Adam Glass

Robbie Thompson

Charmelo&Snyder - Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder

Steve Yockey

Davy Perez

Meredith Glynn

Jenny Klein

Ryan Murphy - he's the creator/writer of Glee, 9-1-1, American Horror Story, etc. He's never written anything for spn, he's just here for the joke (and for me to see if there are people who would watch Supernatural, written by the creator of Glee).

[emdoesstufff]

My Bistro Huddy Headcanons

Bradley "Brad" Milin (27) - He's half Cuban, (his mom was Cuban and his dad was a rich white guy) and he moved to LA when he was four. His parents were never married and his mom and stepdad got married when they moved to California. And it's canon that he grew up rich so I think he would visit his father and just use his money. He started working with Bistro Huddy when he was 20 and it was new. He met Nicole a month later and brought her on the team.

Nicole Kravinsky (26) - She was born in LA and moved out of her parents house when she was 18, and she went to a tiny town in Indiana to live a new life. She dated a guy there and when it didn't work out she moved back in with her parents. She met Brad and he mentioned that his work was hiring. And the rest is history.

Aaron Jaccobs (23) - He was born in Wyoming and raised Jewish. He moved to LA for college and he went to a film school. After he graduated he couldn't find a job in the film industry and he bounced back from job to job for years. When he was 25 he found Bistro Huddy and has been working there ever since. Having a stable job helped him reconnect with his parents and he got more in touch with being Jewish.

Bridgette Cooper (24) - She was raised by her very Scottish grandmother in Sacramento. When she graduated college she met her boyfriend Peter and he got her a job at a nice office that paid her well. When Peter did some things at that job, they had to quit and moved to LA. She started working for Bistro Huddy and she supports both of them now. Amber tells her every day when she walks in to break up with her boyfriend, but Bridgette always says she had to take care of him.

Terrance "Terry" Oliver (47) - He was born and raised in Texas and he lived in one house with his entire extended family. He worked on his dad's farm, he played highschool football, and he was on set to go to college with money his parents had saved up for him. When he was 17 he came out as gay and his grandmother demanded he be kicked out. He traveled to California when he was 34 and he met a 23 year old Clint. They dated secretly for two years before breaking up and Terry moved to LA. When he was 36 he met the current owner of Bistro Huddy and worked his way through until he was the manager. When he was 41 Clint showed up to interview for bartender. Terry gave him the job and they became friends (or maybe more). He won't tell anyone but he loves all the servers like they were his kids.

Joseph "Joey" Miller (39) - He's from LA and was "raised" by his uncle. His uncle was very old and sickly and Joey took care of him until he was 19 and his uncle died. He went to culinary school and he was sure he was going to end up as a world renowned chef. When he was 21, he had no place to live, a pregnant girlfriend, no money, and a culinary degree he had to put in good use. He practically forced Terry to give him a line cook job and he quickly worked his way to executive chef. When his son was 2, he divorced his first wife and met his second wife, who had a 13 year old son named Nico. His mom wasn't around a lot so Joey taught Nico how to cook so he could take care of himself. He divorced Nico's mom when he was 17 and kind of forgot about Nico. Two years later Terry introduced the owners nephew who would be a new line cook. Joey will tell no one that Nico was once his stepson.

Samuel "Sam" "Pickles" Brockton (21) - He was born in LA and Joey hates that they have that similarity. He was raised by both of his parents and they got him a job as a dishwasher at Bistro Huddy when he was 16. He hated the job so much that he finally came out as bisexual to his parents in hopes they might kick him out or something. They were actually very supportive of him and he continued to work there. One day when Nico quit for the second time, Joey needed someone to cut vegetables for him and he brought Sam over to do it. He found that he actually really enjoyed the kitchen environment and once Nico came back he asked to be promoted to line cook. He hasn't told anyone but he has dreams of becoming executive chef one day.

Nicolas "Nico" Menundez-Miller (29) - Nico was born in Mexico and raised in San Francisco. His dad died when he was 6. For seven years he had a paper route, walked dogs, mowed lawns, and did all kinds of of jobs to help his struggling mother out. When he was 13 him and his mom moved to LA when she married his new stepfather. His mom had to work all the time to make enough money to survive and he spent most of his time with Joey. He took Nico took his work and taught him how to cook so he could take care of himself when no one else was around. Four years later Joey and his mom divorced and him and his mom moved in with his uncle. After he graduated highschool, his uncle got him a job at the restaurant he owned. He quits about once a month and he promised to never tell anyone that Joey is his ex- stepfather.

Ruby Warner (24) - She was born in Germany and lived there until she was 10. Her family then moved to New York City and her dad opened a restaurant. He became pretty famous in the city for his food. By the time she was 12, Ruby got rid of her accent completely so she could no longer be bullied. When she showed interest in being a chef, her father began teaching her how to cook and sent her to a prestigious culinary school in California when she was 18. Afraid to tell her father she couldn't find work, she stayed in California and worked a couple part time jobs. When she was 21, her mom called and told her that her father had died. After that she became determined to find work as a cook and she eventually got hired at Bistro Huddy.

Kalina "Amber" Jones (32) - She's from Georgia where she was passed around in the foster care system. When she was 15, one of her foster families moved to LA she was dragged along. A month later they gave her up and since she wasn't in the California foster system yet, she ended up getting lost and had to move in with a friend she had just met. Their family ended up taking care of her and helped her get into college where she pursued a law degree because she knew she could make enough money to support himself. After she graduated she worked at a law firm for quite a few years. When she was 29 she had had enough of the job she had and applied for the hostess position at Bistro Huddy. She's had a crush on Joey at most the whole time she's worked there, but since he was older than her and she knew he had a lot of family problems, she started away.

Telcinto "Clint" Marcello (36) - His mother was Polynesian and his father was Korean. They moved to Guatemala after they married and Telcinto was born. He lived there for 15 years before they sent him to California to live with his aunt. After living there for years he met Terry. He still spoke little English but enjoyed being around him. Terry gave him the nickname Clint. After dating for two years, they broke up when Clint wanted to go back to Guatemala to find his parents. Once he got there he learned that his parents had birth died of alcohol poisoning a few years ago. He fell into a deep depression and developed a drinking habit himself. He moved back to California and got into therapy. He decided to become a bartender and give a positive view on alcohol instead of what he had. When he went to interview at Bistro Huddy, Terry ended up being the manager there. A few years later and he was still working there and still friend with Terry (wink wink).

Patrick "Trick" Miller (18) - His mother moved from Japan and met his father in LA. When he was 2 his mom and dad divorced and he didn't see his father for a good seven years. When he was 6 he learned that his father had a stepson and he resented him for leaving him for another kid. When he was 15 he dropped out of school and needed money and somewhere to live. He decided to go to his father who gave him money and allowed him to live with him. After a few months he couldn't stand living with his dad anymore and he moved out but keep kept in touch to keep his money incoming. When he got arrested for stealing from a seven eleven he borrowed a suit from his dad and somehow ended up becoming a busser at Bistro Huddy.

[loverofsoups]

Heyyy hahaha Bistro Huddy fancast time. FOH first

Bridgette - Ellie Kemper. No one can disagree with this one… The hair, the sweet personality she had in ‘The Office’, her manners, all very much Bridgette

Aaron - Jesse Eisenberg. hes known for goofy, nerdy, unlikable characters (even though theyre all very likeable) a perfect Aaron, id say

Nicole - Emma Stone. I KNOW everyones heart is set on Jennifer Lawrence but Emma Stones snappy comebacks are so perfect and her dry and sarcastic humor just fits Nicole i cant explain it.. anyway everyone’s entitled to their own fancasts so! Just my opinion

Brad - Jason Bateman or John Krasinski … i cant pick tbh

Clint - Jason Segel. Jason js has that sexy bartender vibe likeeeeee

BOH now

Joey - Jake Johnson YES CHEFFFFF MMMMMM. Sorry… Nick from ‘New Girl’ is a realist, he flies off the handle, and he cares about the people in his life even if he doesnt show it…. Thats Joey baby

Ruby - Natasha Lyonne. This one im really passionate about so dont you dare come at me

Pickles - Danny Pudi. Am i biased for this one? Yes a little bit… pickles is my fave and danny pudi is my fav actor ever so yes… maybe a little bit. But still theyre both so cute i love rhem sm my pookies

Nico - Julio Macias. Now this one I wasn’t sure about bc nico has gorgeous hair but i feel like we can move past it… maybe..

[fenrysmoonbeamswife]

any book recs where the plot is actually intriguing, with no toxic male love interests?

thanks anon i live for giving recs🩷 prepare to be bombarded I'm sorry

• House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

• Everything by Adrienne Young

• Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling

• Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

• Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

• Threads That Bind by Kika Hatsopoulou

• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

• The Dragons of Deepwood Fen by Brad P. Beaulieu

• Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (actually everything by Rebecca)

• One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

• A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

• Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

• The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

• The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

• The Maiden Ship by Micheline Ryckman

• Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

it doesn't get any less toxic than them:

• Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

• Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

• Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

f/f only no toxic men in sight🫶🏻👩���❤️‍💋‍👩:

• Bad Graces by Kyrie McCauley

• The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

this is my "hear me out" section, it could maybe be argued that they're toxic but I don't think so and my standards are through the roof let me tell you:

• Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan (he is toxic but they literally all are in the best way)

• Wildblood by A. J. Vrana (you could say Kai is toxic but he's also in therapy and heals a lot throughout)

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (ok this probably really doesn't need to be a rec but i have to add my boy Xaden)

more cutesy and mysterious than intriguing but so good:

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

• The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

[rusharound]

IT’S FINALLY HERE! THE SIGMA ACAPELLA PROSHOT HAS ARRIVED!

When a non-descript University’s development plans involve the destruction of all “degenerate" and "unnecessary” clubs and societies, one Frat-star and his house of "Himbos" must team up with a "Theater Dad" and his underdog squad of the theatre department in order to save their home.

And maybe experience a little romance and kisses and whatever too. >>

Written and Produced by Annahis Basmadjian

Co-produced, Musical Direction, Associate Composition, Music and Lyrics, and Mix by Samuel Gillmore

Directed by Kate Ely

Choreographed by Selene Dublanko

Stage Managed by Emily Hoff

Associate Musical Direction by Florence Reiher

Composed by Sebastian Ochoa Mendoza

Filmography and Editing by Robert Hunt

Art by Oliver Love (@doorstoplord)

Featuring the talents of:

Nathan Mannion (Ray Rhiner)

Blake Sartin (Oliver Keaton)

Hailey Fowler (Veronica Mathers)

Katrina Teitz (Xena Zacharian)

Justin Low (Tyler)

James Penco (Chad/Brad)

Jared White (Josh)

Juliana de Medeiros (Hazel)

Sam Fraser (Westley Azuish)

Ken Tynan (Dean Guy)

Julia Halabourda (Barbara)

Garth Phillips (Adam)

Stacy Albrecht (Stacy Dawson)

Nicole Eves (Sierra Dawson)

Heller (Mayor John)

ENSEMBLE:

Kiefer Seeley, Kseniya Yemelyanova, Holly Krauchi, Viviana Renteria, Zoe Soupidis, Berfin Yildiz, Yasamin Isfahani

[babybatxxx]

hii omg you’re the first person i’ve seen who does agere hcs and is into bistro huddy :0 (im a regressor and it’s one of my biggest spins atm!) could i know your hcs when it comes to the main bistro huddy gang and agere,, (who do you think regresses, what age do they regress, do they have a cg/babysitter if they do then who are the caregivers) ?

I’m the first person I’ve seen either lol

I hope this is what ya looking for

Joey: he might regress to a young adult again maybe.

Nico: teen regressor.

Pickles: kiddo regressor. Usually the girls working will help him if he’s regressed.

Ruby: caregiver in a cool aunt kinda way.

Harold: yea he’s nothing.

Terry: might regress to a young adult sometimes.

Nicole: babysitter but in the cool aunt you see once a year who lets you take sips of her wine type of way.

Bridgette: definitely a caregiver. Usually for pickles.

Arron: kiddo regressor but thinks no one knows but everyone knows.

Brad: caregiver.

Amber: babysitter if everyone needs one.

Clint: can be a caregiver if someone needs one.

🍗🧑‍🍳🍳

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 330. brb x oc

a/n: THIS BETTER POST OR I SWEAR TO GOD(comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: OH BOY ROOSTER IS HIS OWN WARNING

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/316/317/318/319/320/321/322/323/324/325/326/327/328/329

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

@caitsymichelle13 @becks-things @caatheeriinee07 @fanboyswhore9 @jesfreedark @katiemcrae @lilmonstrjedi @hobiismyhopeu @teacupsandtopgun @insominac23 @gh0stsgoodgirl @mygyn @chavivaelisheva @kmc1989 @enchantingharmonyalpaca @callsign-magnolia

-

He licks his fingers clean of syrup with his eyes on her, and she has to bite the inside of her cheek as she helps Nikki cut her waffle. She felt her cheeks warm up as her husband just keeps his gaze on her, “Brad.” she tries to snap him out of it, “You are staring.”

“Mhm,” he pops a finger out, “Sure am.”

And she huffs, clearing her throat as she gives Nikki a small piece, the one year old was famished ever since she discovered waffles. “Anyway,”she continues,wiping the crumbs that stuck to Nikki’s face, “You going to meet Pete today?” he hums, propping his head up with a hand as he follows the curves on her body appreciatively.

“Hmmmm,maybe.” he is still reliving his welcome gift as he sees the very faint panty line under her shorts, was it the red one? He meets her eyes and Beatrice is even redder when he sees her face, “I mean, I’d like to see him…maybe I’ll take the kids with me.”

“Well,” and she automatically tugs her shorts a bit, “He hasn’t seen the twins in a while, or Nikki for that matter. I think he’ll like the visit.” and his eyes remained, hungrily traveling from her face to hips, while chewing his breakfast slowly.

“I like those shorts.”

She blinks,incredulously,at him, ‘Brad.”

He points at the white details on the legs with his fork, “Love how it goes,” and he moves the fork in a curve, clearly representing the curve of her ass, “Its nice.”

Rooster's gaze remained fixated on Beatrice, a playful smirk playing on his lips as he continued to appreciate the subtle details of her whole self. Beatrice, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, cleared her throat and shifted her attention to Nikki, who was thoroughly enjoying her waffle.

"Thanks for the fashion commentary, Roos. I'll be sure to take it into account for my next wardrobe choice," Beatrice teased albeit her cheeks remained red.

Rooster chuckled, reaching for his coffee. "Just stating the facts, Bea. Gotta appreciate the finer things in life."

More sputtering so he decided to finally reply as normal as he could, “Yeah, I think he has…a lot of questions because of the whole shitbag that happened.” he sips his coffee. “A whole bag of ass, really.”

Nicole went ‘aaa’ while moving forward in hopes to get the silicone spoon as her mother brought it closer, clamping her mouth around it and chewing her breakfast with a little grin, “I mean,” Beatrice begins, not taking her eyes off of Nikki, wiping her face again, “It was very messy Roos. Mark and….well…why did he do that anyway? Jealousy?”

Rooster leaned back in his chair, his expression growing serious as he considered Beatrice's question. "Jealousy, ego, a twisted sense of entitlement—I think it was a mix of all that. “

“But…he was really focused on you Roos. Just like Miranda was to me.”

"Yeah, it was like he couldn't stand the idea of me, I don’t know, not needing Pete’s influence to go up in my career?I mean,the jealousy consumed him, and he thought he could control everything and everyone around him."

Beatrice nodded solemnly, her focus shifting between Nikki and Rooster. "It's scary how people can get so fixated, obsessive? But you handled it well, Roos. And you are safe."

He offered a small smile, his eyes softening. "Course I am,gorgeous.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, the weight of the recent challenges mingling with the warmth of their shared understanding. Nikki, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the conversation, continued to enjoy her waffle, occasionally babbling.

Beatrice, breaking the silence, asked, "Do you think Pete will have a hard time understanding the situation?"

Rooster contemplated for a moment before responding, "He might. But Pete is Pete, he just wants to make sure we are okay.” he rubs the pad of his thumb on the mug’s lip, “He wasn’t notified of anything when I was deployed, Cyclone wanted it within the group and to some higher ups.”

She nodded in understanding, her fingers gently tapping against the edge of the table. "That makes sense. Considering Mark’s aunt is one of them…is she an admiral?”

Rooster nodded, confirming her question. "Yeah, she's an admiral. It complicated things, a lot.”

“Is she going to be kicked out?”

Oh,how he loved when Bea asked things like this, the little hesitation in her tone because, while she is married to him - a Navy pilot- and has friends in the Navy AND works at a predominantly Navy bar���she still has her questions. “...I’m going to go over there and kiss you.”

“Huh?”

“You are to fuckin’ precious and I love you so much.” he smirks, sipping his coffee as she gives him a look, a confused one. “You look surprised because I said that.”

“I’m not complaining,honey,” oh, the endearing names, fuck she was the death of him through and through, “You are just getting distracted a lot.” but that little smile showed that she clearly didn’t mind.

Nicole however, did care.

She looked between her parents, Rooster to Bea then Bea to Rooster, then tapped Beatice’s wrist, “Mama.” she coos, trying to tug the hand holding the spoon towards her, a piece of waffle still sticking to it.

“Oh,oh I’m sorry honey,mama got…” they met eyes, “Distracted.” 

Rooster smirks, ring and pinky finger curled against his jaw, thumb helping it up while his index and middle finger were on his cheekbone and temple, head tilted just a bit. She mouths ‘stop it’ and he replies ‘make me.’ with his eyes dropping down her body again.

“Aaa! Woffe!” and if Nikki was an emoji she’d be the personification of ‘>:(‘ because the spoon was inches away from her face and her little light brows scrunched as she tried to take a bite.

“Sorry sweetie, oh,” finally,the waffle was eaten and Bea gave him a look, pointing her finger at him, “You are so terrible.”

“Mmmmmhm.” he smiles, elongating his words as if he was oh so very pleased by that statement, squinting his eyes a bit, “I am. You know I am.” he does,however, sip the final drops of his coffee and stands up, walking over the sink, “But I’ll leave the two of you alone and check on the twins and talk to Mav.”

He stands behind her chair and kisses the top of her head, inhaling the lavender in her hair, “I love you.”

She slowly looked up at him, and smiled back, “I love you too.” he leans down to peck her lips twice, tasting the cherry lip gloss and then kissing Nicole’s head before he walks away.

Rooster's departure left a lingering warmth in the room, it was like he was the fireplace warming up the entire room. "Mama," Nikki babbled, her tiny fingers reaching for the remaining pieces of waffle on the plate. Beatrice chuckled, realizing that she might have to employ some strategic maneuvers to prevent another distraction.

"Mama's here, sweetheart," Beatrice reassured, gently wiping Nikki's face with a napkin. "Let's get you cleaned up so you can enjoy the rest of your breakfast."

-

Rooster drove the three kids to Mav’s place, Nicole was older, so she knew the route already - she was one year old but still - and the twins were busy looking around. He also took notice of how different the three babies were.

Nicole was talkative and she was very smart. She liked looking around and liked to touch people’s hands if she knows them…she also couldn’t hide her stank face, if she disliked you,she’d show.

While the twins were just a few months old, it was easy to see how different they were: Gavin was quiet, he liked snuggling up to his parents’ necks, he also liked to play with Beatrice’s hair and Rooster’s mustache, never tugging, just gently grabbing the pieces of hair.

Aurora, on the other hand, was very active. She liked to look around and move her neck and while neither her or Gavin could crawl yet, she sure would like to. Aurora also was louder than her sibling, she babbled a lot more and she had these moments where she’d just want to grab any piece of clothing of jewelry you had close by.

Rooster navigated the familiar streets, each turn bringing them closer to Mav's place. Nicole, ever the precocious one, sat in the back seat, enthusiastically pointing out landmarks she recognized,”Gampa Mav!”

“That’s right honey, we are going to see Mav.” he smiles as he turns the Bronco as soon as he sees Maverick waiting for them by the sidewalk.

Rooster parked the Bronco, and before he could even unbuckle his seatbelt, Nicole had already noticed him, her excitement palpable. "Gampa Mav!" she exclaimed, trying to get rid of the booster seat to see him better.

“Hey kiddo,woah!” he smiles down at Gavin, who was closest to the door he just opened, “Look at those two! Hey little guy!

The baby, with wide curious eyes, blinked up at him as if assessing this man yet again. Maverick gently tickled Gavin's tiny fingers, eliciting a soft coo from the infant.

"Hey there, little buddy. Did you bring the chaos with you?" Mav teased, glancing over at Rooster, who was in the process of helping Aurora out of her car seat.

Rooster chuckled, "You bet, Mav. The whole Bradshaw Circus is in town today."

As Rooster carefully lifted Aurora from the car seat, she greeted Mav with a gleeful babble, tiny hands reaching out toward him. Mav shifted his attention, expertly juggling between the little ones vying for his attention.

Nicole, having successfully freed herself from the booster seat -which was NOT helped by Rooster at all -, practically leaped out of the car. "Gampa Mav!" she declared,then poked her tongue out and stood there.She was clearly showing him this amazing thing she could do.

Mav stood up, arching his brow "Well, look at that! You're getting so big, Nikki. Soon you'll be teaching me the tricks."

She giggled, thoroughly pleased with the compliment. Rooster, now holding both Aurora and Gavin so Mav could pick Nicole up,smiled. "You ready for this, Mav? They've got energy to spare today."

Mav ruffled Nicole's hair, exchanging a glance with Rooster. "Always ready for the circus, Brad. Let the games begin. Come on in."

They made their way into Mav's house, laughter and tiny footsteps echoing through the air and Nikki quickly sat on the couch. "Sit wherever you like, folks. Make yourselves at home," Mav announced, “Nikki got the couch.”

Rooster settled Aurora and Gavin in a playpen Mav had set up in the living room. The twins, wide-eyed and curious, took in their surroundings with infant wonder.

Maverick looked back at Rooster, “Want a drink? Nothing heavy of course.”

Rooster nodded appreciatively, "Sure, Mav,no beer though.”

Maverick headed towards the kitchen, leaving Rooster to keep an eye on the twins. Nicole, still perched proudly on the couch, gestured for Rooster to join her. "Dada, sit!"

Rooster chuckled, walking over to the couch and sitting beside Nicole. "I’m here birdie,’ her tiny,minuscule hand on his and tapped his palm repeatedly, “You happy seeing grandpa Mav?”

“Yeeeaaa!!”

Maverick returned with a tray bearing a jug of iced tea and a few glasses. He placed it on the coffee table, glancing at the twins who were now engrossed in the colorful toys scattered across the playpen.

"Here we go," Mav announced, pouring iced tea into the glasses. "Nothing heavy, just some good old sweet tea. Help yourselves."

“I didn’t know you knew how to make sweet tea?”

“It’s not that hard,Rooster.”

Rooster chuckled, accepting the glass from Mav. "Well, I'm just used to seeing you with a beer in hand. Sweet tea is a pleasant change."

Mav took a sip of his own drink, settling into a chair across from Rooster and Nicole. The room was filled with the light-hearted chatter of the kids, the tinkling laughter of Nicole being the most prominent.

As they enjoyed their drinks, Mav glanced over at the twins. "They're growing fast, aren't they?"

Rooster nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Yeah, faster than I thought possible. Feels like just yesterday we found out Bea was pregnant.”

Maverick's gaze softened. "Time flies. Before you know it, they'll be running around causing mischief like Nikki here."

Nicole, overhearing her name, giggled…mischievously. "Mischief!"

Rooster ruffled her hair, a fond smile on his face. "That's right, birdie. You're the queen of mischief."

Mav joined in the laughter, raising his glass in a mock toast. "To mischief and mayhem, the Bradshaw way." he waits until Rooster drinks, “...how are you?”

Rooster leaned back on the couch, savoring the sweet tea, and studied Mav for a moment. The question hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken understanding. After a thoughtful sip, Rooster exhaled, a mixture of fatigue and relief evident in his expression.

"I’m better, Mav," he admitted, his gaze drifting to the playpen where Aurora and Gavin were discovering the joys of colorful blocks. "It's been a tough stretch out there. But being back home, it's like a breath of fresh air."

Mav nodded, chewing the inside of his cheek. "I heard about the investigation. About Mark.”

Rooster's gaze flickered  and he took another sip of the sweet tea, the cool liquid offering a brief respite from the weight of recent memories. "Yeah, Mark's been a piece of work. Complicated situation, you know?"

"You don't have to talk about it if you're not ready, Rooster. But if you need an ear, I'm here."

The gratitude in Rooster's eyes was palpable. "I appreciate that, Mav. It's just... It's been a lot to process. Everything with the investigation, the uncertainty. It took a toll."

Mav placed a supportive hand on Rooster's shoulder. "You've been through the wringer, kid. I can only imagine. But you made it back.”

“What did you hear though? I thought Cyclone kept most under wraps.”

Maverick sipped his tea, then pursed his lips, “You think I wouldn’t know?” Maverick leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "Cyclone did keep things under wraps, but you know how these things go. Whispers find their way, especially in a close-knit community like ours. People talk, and it's hard to keep the lid on everything."

"I get it. So, what did you hear?"

Mav sighed, choosing his words carefully. "Internal Affairs, and the FBI sniffing around. It's a mess, Rooster. And I heard they've got some evidence that ties him to some pretty ugly stuff."

Rooster's jaw tightened, the reality of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. "Figures. Fuck-" he peeks at Nikki who was busy running her finger on the patterns of Mav’s vouch “--flipping wild.”

“And of course, his aunt is involved too,so,”Mav shrugs, “It’ll be flipping wild for a while.”

“...you know what.”

“What?”

Rooster huffs through his nose, “Wanna drink later at home? I feel like I need it, really.” he frowns, “Really,really.”

[jinkieswouldyoulookatthis]

Wincest Wednesdays

for @wincestwednesdays Sept 3rd prompt: Radio

on AO3

“You’re listening to KZSU Stanford at 90.1 FM. I’m Nicole and I’ll be your host for the next hour as we open the lines up for some dedications. This first one is going out to Brad from Angie…”

The coffee shop nearest to his dorm catered mainly to the college crowd and played the campus radio station at a volume that was loud enough to hear when the ambient clatter and hiss and chatter didn’t drown it out.

Sam had developed a habit of studying at a table in the corner, where he had the wall at his back and could see the entire place easily. His father’s voice was still too loud in his head to ignore, barking at him about situational awareness. 

But the noise, rather than being distracting, made it easier for him to focus. Like the act of filtering out the activity around him opened his mind up to remembering, cataloging, making connections in the information. Something about habits developed through childhood made them especially hard to shake, and even when he wasn’t trying to read or do school work in various cafes, diners, and restaurants, he would still need to tune out his brother. Dean who’d always had the tv or radio on, laughing or singing along, or sitting silent and brooding (which somehow was always louder to Sam than anything else).

“We’re dropping way back into the 70’s on this next song with Foghat’s I’ll Be Standing By for Samantha from an anonymous caller. Ooh, watch out Samantha, this one’s giving off creeper vibes.”

~~~

“It’s Tuesday again, so you know what that means! Got a special song for that special someone? Our phone line is open for the next hour, 855-723-9010.”

“Triple shot, soy, flat white!” the barista announced as he slid a cup onto the pick-up counter. 

Sam scooped it up and headed back to his regular table. Sitting down he pulled out his class notes and laptop. He popped the lid off his coffee, so it would cool faster, and got to work. Handwriting in class then transcribing later into a Word doc helped cement the information in his memory, and digital notes were so much easier to search when he was studying for tests. By the time he was finished, he slugged down the rest of his coffee, which had been room temperature for a while now, and started to pack up to go to his next class.

“For our final dedication today Samantha’s anonymous 70’s rock fan is back! This time he’s requested Zeppelin’s Out On the Tiles. So, Samantha, this one’s for you.”

The driving opening riff hit hard and familiar as Sam pushed through the door and strode out onto the sidewalk. A surge of nostalgia smacked a smile on his face as he shoved his hands deep in his pockets and tried his best to look like he fit in.

~~~

“Third Tuesday in a row, we’ve got ourselves a regular caller. Samantha, if you’re out there, here’s Telegram Sam by T-Rex.”

~~~

“Oh, Samantha, we’re back in maudlin territory this week. Your anonymous friend requested Dylan’s If You See Her, Say Hello. Maybe check on the people you know, 10:15 in the morning seems a little early to be that drunk.”

Sam was taking both Latin and Greek this semester since he already had a solid grasp of basic Latin and he was taking it because it was a requirement for more advanced classes. He hadn’t been as well versed in Greek so he spent more time going over his notes and working on his translations. 

“Two requests in one show? I think I touched a nerve when I said he sounded drunk. Sam, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.”

~~~

“Another Tuesday, another dedication to Studious Samantha from your 70’s classic rock fanboy. So here’s Paranoid by Black Sabbath. Sam, your creeper’s got a nice voice but he seems to be going through a manic phase, watch out.”

~~~

“Okay, Samantha, this is the sixth week in a row and I gotta admit, I’m intrigued by your man’s musical choices. This week he’s dedicating Shame on the Moon by Bob Seger to you.”

Sam’s eyes went wide. It was the Seger song that finally made the pattern click. It had to be. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in a number he knew by heart. It rang twice.

“Heya, Sammy.”

“Your mix tapes? First and last song on each?”

“Took you long enough. Hey, that Nicole sounds hot, think it’s just her voice or…”

“Jesus, Dean. Did you need something or have you really been calling up a college radio station DJ for a month and a half just to get my attention?”

“Just trying to have a little fun, shoulda known you be pissy about it.”

Sam rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose while Dean was quiet on the other end of the line.

Finally, Sam heard an irritated huff and then, “Whatever, man. Get back to studying, wouldn’t want to bother you.” 

The call disconnected.

Sam sighed and looked at the phone, like he couldn’t believe that was it. He dialed again and it went right to voicemail.

At the beep Sam simply said, “Jerk.” and hung up.

[imin2alotoffandoms]

My Bistro huddy ships;

Joey×amber

Amber×ruby

Amber×ruby×joey (we exist..... Probably)

Nico is singe af

Terry×clint

Bridgette×nicole

Brad×arron (maybe?)

Pickles? Oh he's definitely aroace

[theuniverseawakens347]

anyways like $300 for the hair relaxer perm … then you wanted Nicole to do it I offered her she’s cheaper for ur pockets you stressing - HAIR SALAONS USED TO CHARGE BY LENGTH N TIME .. still do… so $300 to $500 to get my shit done homes before Mae .. and Mae once before …, how long I live at Mae … how ma y resets cause I got all these memories of me stuck in a specific age time … but this when you bitches really made India and the other clones … keep cashay knocked out and replaced her with synthetic half breads you can do whatever with 🙂🫤🖕🏾 AGAIN NO MATTER HOW I SEE IT TIL YOU STOP BEING FUCKING COWARS YOU HATE ME. - U WANT ME DED … state of the union … IM DED ASS HOLES .. but we go to Nicole maybe two times.. you sit and watch 3 rd time you tell me ( every 6 weeks touch up roots Brad Mandi shh Marc) … “ how about I do ur hair this time” … yeah you got curiosity but I told you NO THATS A DELICATE JOB - I got braids from Myriam right after my relaxer perm and my baby hairs broke… Nicole told me I should have waited 2 weeks or a month before cornrows .. so hi baby hairs .. SHOP KEEP SALON DIDNT TELL ME SHIT ABOUT DOING MY HAIR JUST COLLECT HER COINS N “ come back in 6 weeks”

[briamichellewrites]

30

René wanted to manage Bria’s career. She called Jon to get his opinion. He thought it would be great for her. However, he recommended that she be open and honest about her mental health situation. Just in case she needed help. Was he going to visit her on tour? Yes, they had a stop in Jupiter, Florida where he and Céline had a house. If she signed a contract with him, she should have one of her friends present. Did any of them have any knowledge about music contracts? She thought Brad did.

He was the A&R guy for the label he created with Mike. Yes, have him sit in with them. He had one hundred percent faith in Renè, he just thought it would be good to get a second opinion. Okay. She would let him and Mike know. He reminded her to rest. It would give her more energy on stage. That sounded like an awesome idea. He laughed and told her he loved her.

I love you, too. Brad was interested in meeting with Renè, as was Mike. They would have to set up a time to meet with him. Even if he couldn’t fly to Los Angeles, they could have a conference call with him. If she talked to him before that, that was fine. He just asked to be kept updated. She would do that. Were they going to come to the concert in LA? They were going to do everything possible to be there because they wanted to see her.

After getting his phone number, they said goodbye and hung up. They had a couple of hours to their next destination, so she decided to take a nice cat nap. She splurged on a nice tour bus with bunk beds and a king-sized bed in the back for her. It also had a bathroom with a shower, a TV with a DVD player in the living room and her bedroom; a small kitchen with a refrigerator full of drinks, and a pantry with snacks.

Her tour manager also encouraged her to rest. She told him she was going to do that. After closing the door, she put her pajamas on. She fell asleep after putting her earplugs in. It was the only way she could sleep. Her dancers followed behind her on a separate bus.

Everything she needed for her stage was packed into semis. It would be unloaded when they got to their destination. She had a staff of people traveling with her. They all made sure she took care of herself, got to where she needed to be on time, and made sure everything ran smoothly. They were all employed by Machine Shop Records and Warner Records.

Brad and Mike hired them with help from Jeff. She wanted to bring Nicole with her because she was a piece of home, but she was unable to come since she had another job. Next time. She was going to see her performance in LA.

Meow. Mike was not a cat person but Woody was growing on him. As annoying as he was, he was Bria’s child. No matter what he was doing, if he was sitting down, he would be climbing on his lap. Give me attention, human! He had to give up and admit defeat. Missy and Buddy were also the ones to beg for attention. He petted Woody and scratched his head.

Thank you, human. After a few minutes, he ran away. He looked down at the dogs. Missy was asleep dreaming of chasing birds while Buddy was chewing on a bone. Yum. Yum. It tasted like plastic! Dogs were natural predators, like cats. Bones helped him imagine himself chewing on an animal he had just hunted and killed. Maybe a pheasant or a duck. They had just come from outside where they used the bathroom and got exercise.

Woody came out and joined them. Mike made sure he knew exactly where he was at all times. When they came back in after an hour outside, he did a head count. One… two… three. Okay. He did take a walk around the property. Jason had done a great job and he was so proud of his little brother! He thought about that every time he walked around.

He would have a great career as an architect. If it was okay with Bria, he could use the house for his portfolio. His parents wanted to see it. They had only seen the plans and drawings. Jason was going to ask if they could come over and see it when she returned home. They would give her a few days, of course, to get used to being home. Maybe he would run home and get his swim trunks, so he could use her pool. As the animals rested, he decided to do that.

The pool felt wonderful! It was like he was in a giant bathtub! He brought over his boom box and a few CDs. Yes, he made sure the door was closed while he swam around. He didn’t want the animals falling in. Woody pawed at the door. Human, let me in! He noticed him. No, he was not going to let him in. He meowed for a while before running away again.

Hey, Mike. It’s Brad. I just talked to Renè. Call me back when you get a chance.

Rob was curious about the new development in Bria’s career. Brad explained it to him. Good for her. She might become the next pop star. He agreed that was very likely. She could become as big as Britney Spears with movie deals, brand deals, record sales, and everything else that went into being a hugely successful pop star. Renè could guide her career into whatever she wanted.

As long as she took care of her mental health, the sky was the limit for her. Mike called him back an hour later. He had taken a shower after getting out of the pool to rinse off the salt water. Brad asked him how the pool was. It was amazing! He was in heaven! Maybe when he became as rich as her, he would have an indoor heated saltwater pool. He didn’t doubt that. Mike laughed and asked if he wanted to meet somewhere to talk about Renè’s deal.

Yeah, he invited him over. He and Rob were just hanging out. Mike jokingly asked if he should take one of Bria’s cars.

“Mike, I think she would kill you”, he said slowly.

He laughed. “That’s what I thought. Okay. I’m coming over after I make sure everyone has enough food and water.”

They did. Buddy and Missy looked up at him. Bye, human. He told them he would be back later. Ok, human. Bria was woken up before arriving at their destination. She was given privacy to change clothes and brush her hair. After throwing on the clothes she was wearing before, she put her pajamas on the bed before going into the bathroom. She had enough time to eat and do a sound check before the show.

She jumped up and down backstage to get herself energized. While eating dinner, she took her medications. Another day. Another show. Her fans paid good money and she wanted to prove herself worthy. She warmed up her voice before her sound check by singing part of I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston. How did she sound? Her tour manager gave her a thumbs up. She sounded great! Was she excited? Hell yeah! She would need all the energy she could get.

From: Mike

To: Bria Michelle

Subject: Renè

Hey, I talked to Brad about Renè’s offer. We all think we should meet with him – you, Brad, and I when you get back to LA. Brad talked to him on the phone. We’re going to wait until you come home to sit down with him. If you want to talk to him before, that’s fine. Just let us know what you guys decide. We can’t wait to see your show! PS. Is it okay if I drive one of your cars?

@zoeykaytesmom @feelingsofaithless @alina-dixon

[this-is-the-ticket]

Episode 003 - On the Road

On the Road by: Jack Kerouac

Priscilla Page on Walter Hill’s The Driver - one of Ari’s faves

Electric Dreams (1984) - Bud Cort, the nicest celebrity Casey’s met, plays the computer. The humans are Lenny Von Dohlen and Virginia Madsen.

Jack Reacher (2012) - This is the one with Tom Cruise, Ari really fucking likes this one. Feel free to give him shit about it. 

Block YouTube Feed app

12 Angry Men trailer (1957)

William Friedkin’s 12 Angry Men Trailer!

E.G. Marshall in Christmas Vacation

Enough Said dir. Nicole Holofcener

Angels in the Outfield dir. William Dear

Joe Pantoliano in How to Make it in America

Atlanta Season 2 Promo - maybe Ari’s favorite little teaser promo thing ever

Casey’s 12 Angry Men Fan Cast

Ari’s 12 Angry Men Fan Cast

Brad Pitt at the end of Moneyball lol

[scratxhed-cd]

Ok new theory: Nicole has been committed to only fooling around in the restaurant (maybe since Brad’s lack of commitment?) bc while she enjoys the workplace drama, she doesn’t care for when it’s about her. Ruby is way too confident she can get her to break that rule. They will be going back and forth like this for a while.

In light of yet another Rubycole update I gotta share that at this point I do honestly doubt whether they’ll become a legit thing or not.

Ruby is obviously super into Nicole, but after Nicole’s “3 work husbands” episode (and the ad where she tells Brad “I love you too” after mishearing him) I’m just not getting the vibe that she’s at the same level. At least not yet.

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 350.brb x oc

a/n: eeeee (comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/316/317/318/319/320/321/322/323/324/325/326/327/328/329/330/331/332/333/334/335/336/337/338/339/340/341/342/343/344/345/346/347/348

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @novastories @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix @lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

@emilybradshaw @louisahale @leobabbyyy @booklover2sblog @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads @bigpoppajes @taytaylala12

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-

Beatrice is nibbling on a piece of toast as she sits besides Rooster, watching her husband learning truco - quickly too -  was so relaxing. None else was there yet, Nicole was playing with Bianca and Ewoyn while the twins were on a playmat her mother bought for them in case they came over.

The brunette propped her chin on Rooster’s shoulder, smiling at the waft of his cologne, as she watched, “You are doing good,babe.” she says, “Michael looks…disgruntled.”

Rooster grinned, his eyes focused on the cards in his hand. "Thanks, gorgeous. Michael's a tough opponent, but I'm picking up the strategies."

“At least you agree.” Michael grumbled, “See Leo? Brad think I’m a tough opponent.”

“Well,Brad hasn’t shared a room with you,so he doesn’t know.”

Beatrice chuckled, reaching for a glass of homemade limoncello that her mom had just brought over. She took a sip and savored the citrusy sweetness. "You'll fit right in with this competitive bunch. Truco gets serious around here."

Rooster raised an eyebrow, his attention momentarily shifting from the cards. "I can see that. Michael is giving me the 'I'm plotting something' look."

Beatrice laughed, taking another sip of her limoncello. "Oh, that's just his terrible poker face. Don't let it intimidate you.”

"I'll be on the lookout for any sneaky moves, then."

Claudia, returned, placing a plate of freshly baked biscotti on the table. "Biscotti, anyone? Get it before Guillermo arrives, you know how your older brother is."

“A sweet tooth with a bitch face yeah-FUCK!” Michael grumbled in annoyance, slamming his forehead down on the table, “Fuck how did Brad get so good,so fast?!”

Rooster chuckled, looking genuinely amused. "Beginner's luck, maybe?"

Michael groaned, rubbing his temples. "If this is luck, it's seriously unfair. Leo, help me out here."

Leonardo smirked, glancing at the cards in his hand. "Sorry, Michael, but you're on your own. I can't help you win against the newcomer."

Beatrice grinned, kissing Rooster’s cheek "Looks like Roos has found his hidden talent. Maybe he was a Truco champion in a past life."

"Next round is mine," Michael declared, shuffling the cards with determination.

“You are too competitive,Mike.”

“Shut up.”

“What’s happening?” Guillermo’s deep voice broke the banter and his immense form covered most of the doorframe as he watched all of them at the table. His green eyes dropped to his siblings then to Brad, “Brad’s winning?”

"Hey, Guillermo. Yeah, you won't believe it, but Roos is giving Michael a run for his money in Truco." she says, proudly, hugging Rooster’s arm.

Guillermo's bushy eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? B?"

"Surprised me too," Michael grumbled, looking at his cards with a determined scowl. "Beginner's luck or something."

Rooster grinned, playing along with the banter. "Just adapting.

Claudia joined them at the table, offering a plate of biscotti to Guillermo. "You're just in time. Join the game and give Michael some competition."

“Who else is missing?”

“Our other sisters,” Michael grumbled, “God damn it. Gui,help!

Guillermo hummed, taking a biscotti. "I'm afraid I've retired from the Truco battlefield. My skills are rusty."

Beatrice rolled her eyes. "Rusty, my foot. You're just scared Michael will cry if he loses."

Michael shot her a mock offended look. "I never cry." they all looked at him, “I never cry.”

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, "Really? Because I distinctly remember the time you lost a bet and had to watch 'The Notebook' with us."

Michael's face turned a shade of pink, and he grumbled under his breath. "That was a one-time thing."

Beatrice laughed, leaning into Rooster. "Maybe we should have a movie night soon. Watch something that will make Michael cry again."

Michael shook his head, waving off the suggestion. "Not happening. I've built up an immunity to tear-inducing movies."

“You didn’t honey,” Hannah says, “You cried watching tik tok a few days ago. And you cried while playing something with yoru friends.” and Michael felt the utter betrayal coming from all sides…so much he just huffed and kept his eyes on his cards

But as the Truco game reached its final rounds, the competition intensified. Rooster, still adapting to the game, managed to hold his ground against Michael's ‘experienced’ plays. In the midst of the game, Sabrina's laughter echoed from the doorway as she entered the scene. "What's all this noise about?" she asked, glancing around the table.

"Roos is schooling Michael in Truco," Beatrice announced with a proud grin.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow, her eyes flickering between Rooster and Michael. "Really now? Brad, a card shark in the making?"

Rooster chuckled, nodding. "Beginner's luck."

Beatrice lookd back to cyheck on the twins, who were now carried by her dad who just walked around the backyard, pointing at the orange tree growing close to the fence, bouncing the babies now and again.

Suddenly,Nicole zipped closer to Bea, ‘Mama, look!” she was cupping something in her tiny hands, “S’a fwend!”

Beatrice leaned down to Nicole's level, her eyes widening as she saw a small ladybug nestled in Nicole's palms. "Oh, it's a little friend. How did you find it?"

Nicole beamed, "It has spots!"

Beatrice smiled, "That's so sweet, Nicole. Ladybugs are good luck. Let it crawl on your hand gently." She watched as Nicole carefully extended her hand, and the ladybug crawled onto her tiny fingers. She gasped, then giggled, “There you go, are you having fun with cousin Bibi and cousin Eowyn?” 

And Nicole nods, “Yesh.” she giggles more, “Mama,keep it?”

“Keep the ladybug?” she nods, ‘Oh,honey, no,no we can’t. She has to go back to her own mama,okay?”

Nicole pouted slightly, her eyes widening with a hint of disappointment then she looked down at the little bug. "But... I like fwends."

Beatrice chuckled, her heart warmed by Nicole's innocence. "I know, sweetheart. We can enjoy our time with the ladybug, but then we have to let her go back to her family. It's important to share our friends with others too."

Nicole considered this for a moment, her brows furrowed in thought. After a brief pause, she nodded in agreement. "Okay, Mama. We share fwends."

"Exactly," Beatrice said, giving Nicole a gentle hug. "Now, let's go show your little friend to nonno and the others."

Nicole walked over to where Rafael was now seated next to Michael,still holding the twins to his chest. Nicole excitedly displayed the ladybug to her grandfather. "Nonno, look! Fwend!"

Rafael's eyes lit up as he examined the tiny creature. "Ah, a ladybug! You know, in our culture, ladybugs are considered a symbol of good luck. It's said that they bring happiness and prosperity."

Nicole blinked at him, “...huh?”

“Papa,please,” Beatrice laughs, “She’s only one year old, she only got half of that.”

Rafael chuckled, "My apologies, little one. Ladybugs are like tiny messengers of good things. They bring smiles and good wishes wherever they go."

“Whu’s that?”

“What?A wish?” she nods and Rafael blinks, still holding the twins and furrowing his brows, “Uhhh…well….a wish is something you want really bad.” Beatrice noticed that while her father was speaking, Nicole just watched him intently, unblinking, “And stuff has that power.”

“...mkay! Papa!” Nicole quickly turns on her heel and shows the tiny bug to Rooster, who immediately stops to smile at her, “Wish!” 

Rooster grinned at Nicole's excitement, gently picking her up from under her armpits, “Oh you got a ladybug,huh? That’s nice.”

Nicole's eyes sparkled with innocence as she gazed at the ladybug. "Wish fwends forever!"

The simplicity and sincerity of Nicole's wish brought smiles to everyone around. Beatrice exchanged a glance with Rooster, their hearts warmed by the genuine joy of their little one. 

"Well, I think that's a beautiful wish," Rooster said, his voice filled with warmth. "Wishing for friends forever is something special."

Nicole beamed at Rooster's approval, and she continued to showcase her newfound friend to everyone that looked over at her. Beatrice smiles more, her hand rubbing her heart as she inhales shakily.

Sometimes she can’t believe this is her life.

She got not only the man of her dreams - said man winked at her before he got back to the game - she got amazing kids and a family that loves her husband just as much as she did…and he deserved it. She couldn’t help but feel her eyes stinging, because like her aunt said ‘they were meant to be’ 

If there’s any universe where the two aren’t together, she hopes her other version runs over and finds him there…because there’s no way life would be the same without him. She clears her throat, checking the time and seeing she had to make sure the twins’ got fed, “Roos.” her husband looks over, “I’m going to feed Gavin and Aurora,okay? I’ll be in my old room.”

Rooster nodded, his eyes following Beatrice as she made her way inside, only looking back when she disappeared from view. Beatrice entered the familiar halls of her childhood home, the echoes of her footsteps seemed to harmonize with the music being played outside As she approached the door of her old room, she couldn't help but smile at the flood of emotions.

Pushing the door open the soft glow from the bedside lamp illuminated the room, it made her smile. Her mother was slowly making it more neutral, it was a slow process but it was happening.

Settling into her old bed, Beatrice cradled Gavin in her arms, his tiny hands reaching out as he fidgeted in anticipation of the meal. Aurora, on her opposite arm just babbled quietly. Just as she was about to feed both, she saw her mother’s head pop in, “Oh, hi mom.” she says, gently pulling her shirt up “I’m going to feed them–you alright?” her mother’s eyes were shining with tears, but she was smiling.

Claudia walked into the room, her eyes gleaming "Oh, Beatrice, it's just so heartwarming to see you here, with your beautiful family."

Beatrice smiled, a softness in her eyes. "Thank you mama…”

Claudia approached, sitting on the edge of the bed. She gently brushed a strand of hair from Beatrice's face. "You're a wonderful mother, tesoro. I couldn't be prouder."

Beatrice's heart swelled with warmth at her mother's words. She had come a long way from the young girl who once inhabited this room, and now, she was a mother herself. Gavin latched onto her breast, nursing peacefully, while Aurora, in her own baby babble, seemed to share in the moment. “...I—”

“You are amazing, oh tesoro, I…” Claudia inhales, “When you told me about Bradley I have to admit, i was worried, I was worried…but the way he looks at you oh-” she shakes her head, “He doesn’t look away a second…and that fills me with joy and happiness and…and now you have three wonderful kids.”

"Mom, I couldn't have asked for a better partner," Beatrice admitted, her voice soft. "Brad…Brad is so…h-he has been my rock, especially through all the ups and downs. “ 

I didn’t think he’d stay, she wanted to say.

Claudia beamed, her eyes still glistening with emotion. "He's a good man, and he loves you so much. It's evident in every glance, every touch. I'm glad you found each other." she cups her daughter’s cheek, “...your life will be filled with love and joy, tesoro. It will.”

“...thank you,Mama.” she says softly, sniffling, “I…thank you…I…I know it will. It’ll be amazing.”

As Gavin finished nursing, Beatrice carefully shifted him to her shoulder, patting his back gently to soothe him. Claudia watched with a soft smile, her hand still resting on Beatrice's cheek. "You've become such a natural at this, sweetheart. It's like you were born to be a mother."

Beatrice chuckled, a hint of exhaustion in her voice. "I think Nicole,Gavin and Aurora did a good job training me. It's a learning experience every day."

Claudia laughed warmly, the sound like a comforting melody. "That's the beauty of it, tesoro. Motherhood is a journey of continuous learning, and you're navigating it beautifully."

Beatrice's gaze shifted to Aurora, who was now peacefully nestled against her other arm, her little fingers curled around Beatrice's shirt. "I always wanted a family like this," Beatrice admitted, her voice soft with nostalgia. "I wanted to recreate the warmth and love we had in this house."

Claudia nodded, her eyes reflecting the shared memories. "You've not only recreated it, but you've also expanded it. Our home is filled with new laughter, new stories. Bradley and the kids have woven themselves seamlessly into our family tapestry."

A thoughtful expression crossed Beatrice's face. "Roos has become an integral part of our lives, hasn't he? It's strange to think about the time when he was this new face in our world."

And how scared she was then.

Claudia's eyes twinkled with affection. "It's not strange at all, tesoro. Sometimes, the most unexpected connections become the most precious ones….Your father and I feel so blessed to have all of you here," Claudia expressed, her voice a gentle whisper. "Our home is filled with love, warmth, and the pitter-patter of little feet. I couldn't ask for more."

Beatrice sighed contentedly, gazing at her sleeping children. "Mama…you are going to make me cry.”

Claudia reached over, her hand gently resting on Beatrice's cheek,swiping a tear that dared to go down. "Crying is not a bad thing, tesoro. It's the overflow of a heart that's bursting with love and gratitude."

"We're truly grateful for everything you and Papa have done for us," Beatrice confessed, sniffling . "And–and,” she closes her eyes to regain her composure, “And everything is going so good now, with the kids and my job and Brad’s promotion–”

“...what?”

“What?”

Claudia’s eyes widened, “...Brad is getting promoted?”

“...I…I didn’t tell you?” oh no. Her mother’s face started to change and before she could stop her very fast Italian mother, she heard it, loud and piercing, with some teary tones downstairs.

“BRADLEY YOU ARE GETTING PROMOTED?!”

Funny,she was pretty sure she told her mother that.