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mavrintarou · 4 months ago

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[4:38 PM] Oikawa Toru [10 & epilogue]

It is long, but you all deserve it.

Warning: miscarriage, angst, implied smut (nothing extreme explicit)

Ninth part

Toru pressed his forehead to the back of Y/n’s cold hand. He’s tried to warm up her fingers, blowing warm air at them for the past hour.

It’s been three hours and she still hasn’t stirred at all.

It was three hours ago when everything became a blur. Painful flashbacks came in cuts, but all he could clearly remember was catching Y/n before she lost consciousness.

“Call an ambulance!” Toru shouted at Woojin who quickly reached for his phone.

Toru blocked out Woojin shouting frantically at the emergency responder.

“Y/n… oh God, Y/n… wake up… open your eyes? Hmm? Please? Please open your eyes?” He shook her gently in his arms, cradling her carefully in the crook of his arm. “Don’t do this… please, wake up… open your eyes for me?”

Warm tears slipped down his cheeks as he recalled the painful memories of the doctor finally emerging from the Emergency Room.

The first three words were enough for them to understand Y/n’s condition. “I am sorry…”

She has been heavily sedated and is said to wake in a couple of hours.

“Wake up, Y/n…” Toru murmured, pressing the back of her hand to his cheek. “Please wake up…” He turned his head, remembering he was not alone with Y/n.

Woojin has been standing in the corner of the private room looking out the window to the cloudy sky. He had not said a single word after finding out that Y/n had lost the baby, yet he lingered like a ghost.

“How…” Toru’s hoarse voice spat, “how did you know she was pregnant?”

Slowly turning his head, he stared blankly at Toru before looking back out the window. “Her friend Naomi.” He inhaled softly, “apparently Y/n was supposed to come to Korea for me, her friend reached out to me to check in to see if she made it and if we discussed what to do with the baby…”

Toru shut his eyes, exhaling deeply. It was silent between them for a bit before he spoke, “there was a possibility that the baby she was carrying could have been mine, and we went forth with the test to see if I matched with the baby to avoid unnecessarily involving you.”

“It was my baby!” Woojin roared, spinning around. He slapped a hand against his chest, “I know it was my baby – “ his voice choked as he ended his sentence. A tear streaked down his cheek, “it was my baby... it has to be mine…”

Toru was speechless seeing this grown man in a state of distress. He couldn’t deny that deep down, he knew the baby was not his and was Woojin.

“I’m sorry.”

Meeting his eyes, Toru frowned, confused as to why he was apologizing.

“I love her, so much,” he confessed, “but it’s not reciprocated.” He looks at Toru with sad eyes, “the first time I saw you after Y/n came out from your apartment, I knew you were the one who had occupied her heart all this time.” His breath hitched before it was released quietly, “I never fully had her whole heart. She loved me the best she could but she couldn’t fully love me the way I fully loved her.” Woojin pinched the bridge of his nose, and let out another breath, this time, it sounded like a breath of relief. “I’ll leave you two alone, I’m going to go get some rest.”

Toru nodded in acknowledgment and watched the man leave and as soon as the door closed behind him, he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Turning his attention back to Y/n, he reached to adjust the blanket for the nth time. Sitting on the edge of the bed he leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. Quietly he whispered, “wake up, Y/n. Wake up for me.”

He prayed silently, prayed with his heart and soul.

“Toru?”

His head snapped up and Y/n groaned, her eyes fluttering until she finally saw him. Through it all, she still smiles at him.

“Why – why am I here?” she asked softly before her face morphed and eyes widened, her hands immediately placed over her flat belly. “My baby! Is something wrong with my baby?”

Toru towered over her, gently pressing her down into the bed to keep her still. “Calm down first, Y/n…” the straining in his voice was painful. “Let me call the doctor now that you’ve woken up.”

She listened and laid down, looking up at him with awaiting eyes. Their hands tightly gasped together as they waited for the doctor to arrive.

After evaluating her and confirming her vitals the doctor inhaled sharply before looking at Toru. “Ms. Y/L/N, I’m afraid you have miscarried.”

Toru took a deep breath before he entered Y/n’s private room again. It has been over 12 hours since she woke up and was made aware of the miscarriage.

As soon as the words left the doctor’s mouth, she closed her eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks and turned her head without a word.

She has not spoken to him or anyone, just staring out the window with her palms resting against her belly.

“I’m back,” Toru announced cheerfully with a gentle smile. Y/n glanced at him and managed a forced smile. “I brought your favorite food,” he said.

She watched silently and lifelessly as he set the food down before her.

“Where is Mateo?”

He almost didn’t catch her soft voice, his eyes widening momentarily before he smiled at her question and responded, “he’s with my mom. Should I bring him over later?” he suggested hopefully.

Y/n nodded and reached for the utensil. “Thank you for the food,” she murmurs before eating.

“You’re welcome,” he answered happily. “Let me know if there’s anything else you would like to eat, I’ll get it for you.”

He sat beside her bed and watched her eat, occasionally reaching over to push food aside or asking if she would like more rice or water.

“Toru, when can I go home?”

A shaky breath escapes before he replies, “I’ll ask the doctor and as soon as they say it’s okay, I’ll take you home.” He reached up to brush her hair behind her ear. “I’ll get you home soon, okay?”

She nodded and turned to look outside the window. Her hollow eyes that had no light in them staring off with a bleak expression made his heart ache.

Toru cleared the half-eaten food in front of her and waited a few minutes, long minutes before reaching for her hand. He runs his thumb over her knuckles before pressing his lips to them. “Talk to me, Y/n. I’m dying in your silence.” He pressed his forehead to her knuckles. “I’m trying to be patient and give you space and time but I want you to know I love you. I love you and I care about you. You are not alone, I’m right here with you and you don’t have to carry the burden alone. Let me in, let me help you.” His voice croaked, “please, Y/n.”

He looked up when he felt something drop on top of his head. With her eyes shut tightly, tears streamed down her cheeks as they dripped onto the top of his head. “Y/n,” he called her name softly, shifting to sit on the bed and pulling her into his embrace. “Cry, let it all out. I’m right here with you. I got you.”

Mateo sat quietly and obediently in Y/n’s lap as Toru pushed them in a wheelchair. They took a stroll outside, basking in the sun and fresh air.

“Look over there Teo – it’s a rabbit,” Y/n pointed ahead of them. Mateo observed the white fluffy animal, eyes staring intensely.

Putting the breaks in place, Toru stepped around and crouched down to their eye level. He gently poked his son’s chubby cheek before wiping the drool away. “Do you see the rabbit, Teo?”

Earlier when he went to pick up his son, he could tell that his son missed him just as much. When he picked him up from his playpen, he curled into his father’s embrace. He did the same the moment he saw Y/n in the hospital, together they hugged each other.

Toru’s smile faded as something moved from the corner of his eyes. His breath hitched slightly before he stood up, acknowledging Woojin.

Woojin has not returned since the day he left distraught. Toru also has not mentioned him to Y/n and she has not questioned him either, he wasn’t sure if she even remembered his presence before she had collapsed.

Looking up at Toru, she followed his line of sight and looked over her shoulders. “Woojin?”

“I wasn’t sure… if you were there that day or if I was hallucinating.” Y/n couldn’t admit that she had been thinking about Woojin the last few days until she collapsed.

Woojin sat on the bench and beside him was Y/n in her wheelchair.

“Why – why didn’t you tell me you were preg…” he inhaled sharply, “that you were pregnant?” Those words were much harder to say than he anticipated.

Y/n’s fingers fumbled and she remained silent for a second before quietly answering, “I was scared. I truly did not know I was pregnant. I was…” she couldn’t tell him she was sleeping with Toru, it was none of his business. “The timing was too close and you and I weren’t talking. I… Since I am with Toru, I thought I would take a test to determine, if it wasn’t… Toru then it had to be yours…”

From beside him, Woojin handed her a white envelope. “Your result.”

Her fingers trembled but she opened the envelope and pulled out the sheet within. Her eyes scanned the sheet until she saw Toru’s name and the result was marked negative beside his name.

The baby was not Toru’s.

She had a hunch but to have official results gave her closure.

So, it was Woojin’s baby.

Was.

Uncontrollable tears slipped down her cheeks.

Her baby was gone.

It didn’t matter who the father was, her baby was gone.

And it was all her fault.

Had she not been so impatient in wanting to know who the father was… had she just waited until they were born… had she just… accepted them regardless of who the father was…

“It’s all – it’s all my fault…”

Woojin effortlessly scooped her out of the wheelchair and pulled her onto his lap, hugging her tightly. “No, it’s no one’s fault. The doctor said things like this happen… timing and… our baby wasn’t strong enough.”

Her fingers clenched his shirt tightly as her breath grew heavier, her tears soaking his shirt. “I… I wasn’t strong enough – for them…”

“Enough,” Woojin commanded softly, “it is okay to grieve but we have to move on.” He pressed his lips to her temple, enclosing her tighter in his embrace. He wished he could hold her forever in his arms. Y/n was truly someone he cared for and loved but he knew her heart was never his from the beginning.

Toru feels like he’s walking on eggshells with Y/n the following week after they’ve been discharged from the hospital. He has talked Y/n into staying with him so he can keep an eye on her. He didn’t know why he was surprised but he was when she agreed.

He thought of having Mateo stay with his parent during this time but Y/n was reluctant and wanted him home.

“It’s not your parent's responsibility,” she reasoned when he told her that Mateo would be staying with his parents as she recovered, he also reasoned that he wanted to give her his undivided attention.

“Don’t,” she croaked, “don’t treat me any differently than before.” She reached for the end of his t-shirt. “I need him as much as I need you too.”

He sighed, understanding, and brought Mateo home.

Everything about her was making him anxious, he felt like he was more on edge than her.

She carried on about her day. They would spend time together with Mateo, cuddle on the couch or if she were not in his unit, she would be at hers playing the piano, which seemed to be her source of solace.

Y/n began seeing a therapist, the only time Toru was reluctant to allow Y/n out of his sight alone.

“Toru.”

Y/n called his name quietly as he exited Mateo’s room after putting him down for the night. His eyes connected with hers as she was seated at the dinner table.

A rush of anxiety began clouding him.

In a flash, Y/n is in front of him with a look of concern. Her mouth is moving but he can’t hear her.

His vision blurred as if he was looking at Y/n through an inverted lens. A loud, annoying screech filled his ears, drowning out her words, though he could see Y/n’s mouth moving.

“Toru!” She shouted his name, cupping his face and forcing him to snap out of his trance. “Toru, look at me,” she begged, pulling his forehead down to hers. “Come back to me…”

Toru blinked, alternately closing and reopening his eyes. He felt both hot and cold. Squeezing his eyes shut tightly, he tried to push the dizziness away.

He released a breath and wrapped his arms around her waist, tugging her close. “Don’t… don’t leave me… don’t leave us.”

Opening his eyes, he let it adjust to the lowly dimmed room. It was his living room.

He shifts and sees Y/n asleep leaning against the couch. He was lying on her lap. Turning his body, he nuzzles into Y/n’s belly. He will never get tired of her scent.

“Toru?” Y/n’s quiet voice called his name. She sits up and touches his forehead, “how are you feeling?”

“Yeah,” his voice croak, remembering the events earlier. “How – how long have we been sleeping?”

Y/n glanced at her watch, “maybe an hour or two? It’s just a little after midnight.” She exhales softly, “Toru, what happened?’

He swallowed, feeling shamed and embarrassed rush over him.

“Hey,” Y/n said, pulling him out of the darkness. “Don’t be ashamed that you had a panic attack… I’m here for you.”

Toru blinked, was that what it was? A panic attack? He’s never had one before.

“I was scared,” he finally uttered. “I was scared you were going to leave me, Teo, and me.”

“I won’t lie that I did not contemplate that – no – wait listen to me,” she saw how fast his eyes widened. “During therapy, Dr. Tsuchiya suggested maybe I need to take a vacation and get some fresh air outside my circle.” Her thumb smoothed the crease on his forehead, “I was going to visit a colleague in Vienna since that’s where I first stayed when I began my career after leaving Japan. This might help spark a new love for the piano.” She smiles down at him.

Closing his eyes, Toru inhales and exhales.

“I was going to bring it up with you but I can see how edgy you were and was going to wait…” She brushed his hair like how she often did with Mateo during feeding or trying to put him down for a nap. “I was only going to take a three-week vacation.”

Rolling onto his stomach, he buried his face against her tummy once again and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Three weeks is awfully a long time…”

“Toru, I think you should also find your love with volleyball again too. You don’t need to go back to playing professionally, but you should keep that passion alive.” She urges him to sit up, then crawls into his lap, straddling him. “We both put our careers on hold if you haven’t noticed and for the longest time, they were all we had – until we found each other. Don’t you agree?”

He nodded, “agreed.”

“And we should find that spark again.”

He nodded, “agreed.”

“Baby steps, it’ll be a little different but we’ll get there.”

He looks into her eyes for a few seconds, “together?”

She nodded, pressing her forehead against his. Closing her eyes, she cherished the intimacy of the moment. “Yes, together,” she promised, pressing a light kiss to his lips.

[Weeks later]

Y/n counted the long seconds as the elevator rode up to her floor.

As soon as the door dinged and opened, she rushed out. Instead of turning left to her unit as she had for years, she turned to the unit to the right.

Toru and Mateo had no idea she was arriving earlier than expected, that was her surprise to them.

It was nearly four in the morning in Japan, she was sure neither of them were up yet.

She entered the apartment as quietly as she could, setting aside her luggage, she hurried toward Toru’s bedroom.

She longed for this moment, to return to the two people she missed and loved most.

The three and a half weeks away from Toru and Mateo was treacherous but she needed it. She cried her eyes out the first night she arrived in Vienna, missing them two dearly. She needed this moment away for herself and she constantly reminded herself that it was to better herself, for herself, and Toru and Mateo.

She wanted to be the best version of herself for them.

On her second day in Vienna, Y/n dedicated herself to rediscovering her passion and connection with the piano. She collaborated with other pianists who also experienced stagnation, and with their help, she began to find herself again.

Toru’s room was dark but even in the dark, she could navigate through his room. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, but she could see the lump on the bed. She walked over to the bedside table where she knew there would be a lamp and switched it on, the warm yellow light dimly lit up the room.

With his back facing her, Y/n knelt on the bed and leaned over to press a kiss to his temple. “Toru, I’m home.”

He rolled over quickly, shifting himself on his elbow and rubbing his eyes, blinking as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Y/n?”

She was about to hug him but something else caught her eyes, something else besides Toru began shifting and whining.

“Mateo,” she cooed, pulling back the covers. The baby, who had grown so much in her eyes, scrunched up his face ready to cry for being disturbed. “Mateo,” she cooed again, rubbing his head. “I’m home baby.” Her voice only lulled him back to sleep, nestling closer into his father’s arm.

“You said you weren’t going to be home until tomorrow?” Toru said in a low tired voice.

Focusing her gaze on the man she loves wholeheartedly, “I missed you two too much and couldn’t wait another day to be home.”

He smiled, reaching to cup her face with one palm. “We missed you every second you were away, welcome home. Now, come sleep with us.”

. . .

Epilogue

“Oops,” Mateo’s finger stopped moving over the piano keys. He looked up at Y/n with wide eyes, “momma I hit the wrong note.”

“It’s okay baby, try again.” Y/n smiled, encouraging him to begin where he left off.

At two years old, Y/n began teaching him the piano and now at three almost four years old, he was able to play over a handful of piano pieces on his own.

Y/n watched her boy play with admiration and pride.

After her return from Vienna, she and Toru tied the knot in front of a handful of family members and friends. As an official family of three, they enjoyed traveling together and watching Mateo grow each day.

Toru found his new spark and accepted the role of coaching the boys’ volleyball team at their old high school.

Y/n wanted to focus her attention on Mateo, but any free time she had, she volunteered as an instructor to educate and inspire new pianists at the School of Piano in their hometown.

Y/n rubbed her pregnant belly, and at almost eight months, the unborn baby girl was quite active in her womb and had only calmed down when her brother began his piano practice for the evening.

She wasn’t going to deny the fear and anxiousness she felt when she discovered she was pregnant. They had been trying to conceive, wanting to give Mateo a sibling.

“I’ll be here with you, every step of the way,” Toru promised.

He rocked his hips, his cock slowly rubbing inside her tight pussy. The thought of trying to have another baby, one with Y/n, made Toru feel many different things. He was damn excited. He couldn’t wait to have a child or three with Y/n.

It was four months later when tears pooled her eyes when she saw the positive pregnancy test.

“I’m home!” Toru’s voice rang through their place. He walked through his unit and through the wide doorway that led into Y/n’s unit. They had reconstructed and turned their units into one.

Walking over to them, he pressed a kiss to Y/n’s lip, then Mateo’s head, and lastly, dropped down to one knee and pressed a kiss to Y/n’s belly. “I missed you guys.”

Mateo giggled and wrapped his arms around his dad’s neck, “hi daddy, I missed you too.”

Y/n rubbed her thumb against the stubble of his jaw while her other hand rubbed her belly, “we missed you too.”

. . .

E/n: Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU. For all your patience with me, and your kind and encouraging words. Thank you for hanging on this ship with me. We have reached our destination. I tried to make this chapter as realistic as possible, there's a handful of things that I'm like... "hmm, that wouldn't slide here in the US..." but needed to remind myself otherwise.

Now, one story done, going to wrap up Lord Gojo part 3. Stay tune - I have some spicy Lords coming soon.

@queenelleee @mfreedomstuff @erintaro @callmeraider @chaotic-fangirl-blog @wolffmaiden @cloud-lyy @rukia-uchia-98 @anejuuuuoy @tooruchiiscribs @mommyourcall420 @haikyuubiggestsimp @lilguycoded @random-734 @ghostlyneckoaftoad @abcde12345 @shotenvinsoot @princess-sunshyn @anonymoussimper @junglewoos @basically-an-anime-stan-acct @mih311 @m1nt-3lla @qualitygiantshoepsychic @whatamidoing89 @ssc7514 @lupita97lm @ushygushybaby @appepel @kozumiie @yakuswifeeeeeee @chxrv

#haikyuu smut #haikyu x reader #haikyuu oikawa toru #haikyuu oikawa #oikawa angst #haikyuu oikawa tooru #oikawa fic #oikawa smut #oikawa fluff #oikawa x y/n #oikawa x reader

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is-today-tomorrow-in-nz · 1 month ago

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Uprooted vs Grishaverse

I finally finished uprooted and I wanted to share my two cents on where Naomi Novik delivers while LB fails.

Warning: spoilers

Backgrounds:

1) Both the stories were written in first POV of the protagonist.

2) Both are dealing with an immortal, youthful looking male wizard(/grisha) and a reluctant, low self-esteemed, female protagonist.

3) Both are set up in a war torn country with an expanding evil element threatening to swallow the country whole.

However the similarities end there.

1) First POV:

Although Noami uses First POV for Agnieszka, it is not restrictive like Alina's. We can see the universe clearly through her eyes and how she views the magic system. We could also read the other characters and see their strengths and flaws through her eyes. This is completely lost in the Grishaverse. We only see Alina's low self-esteem rambles, her unhealthy attachment to Mal and her judgemental censure of others characters We don't understand the universe, or the true nature of the characters. This makes the Grishaverse restricted universe, although we know how vast it is.

2) Strong female lead:

Agnieszka is a village born, free thinker and an independent girl. She is passionate and compassionate. She cares for her family, her best friend, her village and its people. Although she did not expected to be picked she does not stagnate as the story unfolds. At first she is reluctant and useless in learning magic but once she understands why she needs the magic, she pulls the magic by its horns and masters it. Unlike Alina, she practices and fails and yet she does not give up. Nieshka is by no means a girlboss but she knows what she wants and is unafraid to seek it. She knows when to standup and seize her power and when to let go. Naomi handles her beautifully that we want to know more about what's going on in her mind. Nieshka's life is lived by her rules. When Sarkan flees from his tower she does not run after him. She lets him go. She understands his nature and she also understands hers. She chooses to stay behind and heal the forests around her. This, right here, is proper feminism. Not Alina's ballerina farm.

3) Strong characters:

Sarkan, Solya, Kasia, Alosha, Marek, Vladimir and many others. We see them all through Nieshka but Naomi has portrayed each one of them beautifully. They are not one dimensional. We see how Sarkan is withdrawn from the world with the weight of immortality, choosing to surround himself with books and magic instead. We can see Kasia's pain, her love for Nieshka, her jealousy and the hurt of her mother's betrayal. We can see Marek's boarish nature, his hot headedness and love for his mother which ultimately led to his downfall. Every character has a story arc and a journey to fullfil on their own and Naomi does it wonderfully. We see them through Nieshka's eyes but we see the whole person not just her characterization. LB fails in this aspect. After book 2&3, we see many characters simply as an extension of Alina. They all profess their fealty and choose to stay with her even when she does not show them the same respect. Alina is labelled as virtuous although we see no evidence of it. In other words, the characters in Grishaverse are mere mindless, plot devices that are supposed to love Alina because she is the protagonist. They seize to exist outside of Alina which cripples the story telling in Grishaverse.

4) Vastness of the universe

One of the key nature of a fantasy story is the vastness of the universe. The reader when journeying through the story must feel the endlessness of the universe. Eg. The Lord of the Rings. This offers the readers a real submersive experience. We see it lacking in the Grishaverse. Although there are different countries and people, we can feel the boxed nature of the universe. This when combined with Alina's restricred POV, one dimentional side characters(spanning across different countries) and blatant favouritism shown to some characters we feel suffocated inside the Grishaverse. Naomi's universe feels vast, unexplored and unending making it a true fantasy experience.

5) Sarkan

We can see plenty of similarities between the Darkling and the Dargon. A lonely wizard, fighting alone against evil(/corrupt government). The people and the Royal family don't like him but keep him around as a neccessay evil. However, we can see the stark contrast in how Naomi handles Sarkan. For one, she does not think a seventeen year girl knows better than an age old wizard. Sarkan and Nieshka's magic are different but Naomi finds a way to blend them and makes them work with each other. She lets Nieshka form her own judgement of Sarkan instead of force feeding it like LB did to Alina. She gives a chance to the Dragon to tell him his story which gives us an additional understanding. Naomi shows and tells while LB just tells.

There are so many other intricate details which made Uprooted more enchanting to read. Naomi as a writer made me want more. Her universe has potential and Naomi handles it very effectively. The same, however, could not be said about the Grishaverse. The Grishaverse had immense potential compared to Uprooted but due to LB's restrictive story telling, it leaves the readers with a huge disappointment and fails to live upto it's potential.

#uprooted #naomi novik #agnieszka #sarkan #the darkling #alina starkov #anti leigh bardugo #grishaverse #lost potential #pro the darkling #pro aleksander morozova

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anniebeemine · 3 months ago

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Thank you again to @i-live-in-spite for the inspiration for this sister series!!

Spencer never imagined he'd end up where he was now. Dating had never been high on his list of priorities, not because he didn’t want companionship, but because his life was so full of books to be read, killers to be caught, and coffees to be drank that he couldn’t fathom making room for anything else. The thought of balancing a relationship on top of the demands of his job seemed impossible, and, truthfully, he didn't think he was any good at it. His few attempts had always been awkward at best, disastrous at worst.

And then Naomi came into his life.

He hadn’t planned for her—no, she was a surprise, a beautiful, unexpected surprise that turned his world upside down. Naomi was unlike anyone he had ever known. With her came responsibilities and joys he had never imagined he could handle. Suddenly, his priorities shifted. Dating, which had once been a distant thought, became even less of a consideration. How could he possibly think about going on dates or forming a relationship when he had someone as precious as Naomi to care for?

Spencer poured his energy into her, every waking moment spent ensuring she had everything she needed. He was meticulous in his efforts, seeking out the perfect books to nurture her curiosity, often losing himself in the shelves of libraries and bookstores. It was in one of those libraries that everything changed. He had been so focused on finding just the right book for Naomi, his legs burning from hours of squatting to reach the lower shelves, that he didn’t notice when she quietly wandered off, her tiny fingers brushing along the spines of books as if mimicking what she'd seen in movies.

Naomi’s tiny fingers danced along the spines of the books, her touch gentle but purposeful, as if she were an old soul lost in her own world. She wandered between the shelves, her bright eyes recognizing the occasional word. It was a small library, but to her, it felt like a kingdom of endless possibilities.

She spotted a thick book on a lower shelf, something about the cover drawing her in. She reached for it with determination, and after a bit of a struggle, she finally had it in her hands. Remembering what they had taught her at school, she fished a little wooden paint stick from her pocket—something she had picked up at a craft store with Spencer—and carefully slid it between the pages to hold her place. She was so engrossed in her task that she didn’t notice you watching her until you spoke.

“How old are you?” your voice was gentle, curious.

Naomi looked up, startled, finding you towering over her. She narrowed her eyes slightly, as if assessing whether you were friend or foe, then confidently replied, “Five. Names Naomi.”

You smiled, gently plucking the book from her hand before she could protest. You couldn’t help but chuckle when you saw the title. “I think ‘Twilight’ might be a little out of your age range.”

Naomi crossed her arms and pouted, her bottom lip jutting out defiantly. “Nuh uh.”

“Yuh huh,” you retorted, the words slipping out before you could stop them. You immediately felt a little silly, realizing you had just argued with a five-year-old. But Naomi seemed undeterred, her expression only growing more determined.

“It’s about vampires,” you added, trying to justify your point.

Naomi didn’t miss a beat. “I watch Vampirina on Disney Junior,” she countered, her voice full of the confidence only a child could muster.

You couldn’t help but laugh, charmed by her spunk. “Touché,” you conceded, handing the book back to her.

Naomi accepted it with a triumphant smile, her eyes sparkling with victory. She turned on her heel and walked back toward the shelves, clutching the book to her chest like a prized possession. It was at that moment that Spencer finally caught up to her, his breath a little ragged from searching.

“She’s a handful, isn’t she?” you said, smiling as you watched Naomi carefully place the book on what you assumed to be their pile.

Spencer sighed with a mix of exasperation and relief, his eyes softening as they landed on Naomi. “You have no idea.”

But as he turned to you, his expression changed, something in your presence grounding him, making him feel like maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t in this alone. And in that moment, something shifted in him—a spark of connection, a flicker of hope that he hadn’t felt in years.

Spencer adjusted his glasses, a nervous habit that only seemed to kick in when he was truly flustered. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks as he stood there, searching for the right words to say. You were still smiling at him, that same kind smile that had sent his heart into a flutter moments earlier. He wasn’t used to this, to feeling so tongue-tied.

“So, um…” he began, shifting on his feet, “I, uh, I really appreciate you finding Naomi. She, uh, she can be quite adventurous.”

You waved off his thanks, your own cheeks flushing slightly. “Oh, it was nothing, really. She’s a sweetheart—very independent, I can tell.”

Spencer nodded quickly, eager to agree. “Yes, she’s… she’s definitely independent. A little too much sometimes,” he added with a soft chuckle.

The two of you stood there for a moment, each of you wanting to say something more but unsure of how to begin. The silence stretched on just long enough to make it awkward.

“So—” you both started at the same time, then stopped, laughing as you realized it.

“You first,” Spencer said quickly, gesturing for you to go ahead.

“No, no, you first,” you insisted, waving your hand as if to shoo his words toward you.

He shook his head, still smiling. “I insist, really, you—”

“Please,” you cut in, “I’m sure what you have to say is much more interesting.”

Spencer’s smile grew wider, his nerves melting away a little as he realized you were just as flustered as he was. “I highly doubt that,” he said, his tone playful. “But, okay, um… I just wanted to say that I think it’s really great how you… how you, uh, inter-“

Naomi’s groan cut him off, loud and dramatic, as she flopped onto the floor and rolled into a somersault. “Can we go now?” she whined, clearly unimpressed by the adult conversation.

You both turned to look at her, and then back at each other, trying not to laugh. Spencer, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, was the first to break the silence. “Right, of course… I should probably get her home.”

As you hurriedly scribbled your number on the back of a blank coloring sheet, you felt a rush of nervous excitement. You weren’t usually the type to make such bold moves, but something about Spencer—and maybe a little about Naomi—made you want to take a chance. You folded the paper carefully and called out to him just as he and Naomi were starting to walk away.

“Hey!” you said, catching his attention.

He turned, surprised, and you stepped closer, holding out the paper. “In case Naomi needs any more book recommendations,” you said with a smile that hinted at something more.

Spencer hesitated for a second, then took the paper from your hand, his fingers brushing yours in the process. “Thank you,” he said softly, his eyes meeting yours with a mix of gratitude and something else he wasn’t quite ready to name.

With a final nod, he and Naomi headed toward the checkout counter. As Spencer helped her place her chosen books on the counter, Naomi chattered away, completely unaware of the significance of the small piece of paper tucked into Spencer’s pocket.

The librarian rang up their books, and they were soon on their way, stepping out into the warm afternoon sun. Spencer’s mind was still buzzing from the encounter, the folded paper feeling like it weighed a ton in his pocket, even though it was light as air.

Naomi skipped beside him, her usual curiosity bubbling up as they walked. After a few moments of silence, she glanced up at him, her big eyes full of mischief. “Dad?”

He looked down at her. “Yes, Omi?”

“Are you in love?” she asked suddenly, her voice matter-of-fact, as if she were asking about the weather.

Spencer nearly tripped over his own feet, startled by the bluntness of the question. “W-what?” he stammered, his cheeks instantly flushing a deep shade of pink.

Naomi giggled, delighted by his reaction. “You’re blushing! That means yes!”

Spencer tried to regain his composure, shaking his head. “No, Naomi, it’s… it’s not like that. I’m just—” He paused, searching for the right words. “I’m just—uh, it’s complicated.”

Naomi tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. “You like her,” she stated with the certainty of a child who had seen more than she let on.

Spencer opened his mouth to protest, but the words caught in his throat. He sighed, knowing there was no point in trying to deny it. “Maybe,” he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Naomi grinned, pleased with herself. “I knew it! You were looking at her all funny, like in the movies.”

Spencer sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice. “Naomi, remember when we talked about inside thoughts?”

She groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes. “You’re no fun. Uncle Derek would find me funny.”

Spencer chuckled, shaking his head. “Uncle Derek would have you running laps around the block if you kept that up.”

Naomi giggled at the thought, clearly imagining herself sprinting in circles while Derek cheered her on. “But then he’d take me for ice cream after.”

“Only if you promised not to spill the beans about his top-secret missions,” Spencer teased, knowing how Derek always framed his workouts as undercover ops to make them more exciting for Naomi.

Naomi stayed quiet for just a moment, thinking it over. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she looked up at Spencer. “So… are you gonna take me for ice cream?”

He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief at how quickly she’d turned the tables on him. “Nice try, Naomi. We’re going home.”

“Rats,” she muttered, kicking at a loose pebble on the sidewalk. But her disappointment didn’t last long. Naomi looked up at Spencer with a sly smile. “But maybe next time?”

Spencer chuckled, giving her a gentle nudge. “Maybe. But only if you promise to keep all inside thoughts to yourself.”

Naomi grinned, a twinkle of mischief still in her eyes. “Deal.”

Spencer finally looked down at the stack of books in his hands, his brow furrowing as he noticed one of the titles. “Did we just check out Twilight?”

Naomi beamed up at him, completely unfazed. “Yup! You were too busy being in love to notice.”

Spencer groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Naomi, this is definitely not age-appropriate.”

“But I told you, I like vampires!” she protested, her eyes wide and pleading.

Spencer sighed, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. “Fine, but we’re reading it together, and I’m going to skip anything that isn’t suitable, okay?”

Naomi nodded eagerly, already imagining how much fun it would be to read with Spencer, even if he did skip the “good” parts.

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