#PLEASE I just want Sergio with his brother and his daughter

[roccinan]

I was struck by an idea last night after reading one of your posts and it just wouldn't leave me alone! So during the Mint Heist, the Professor is supposed to be in his early 40s and Tokio in her late 20s approaching 30. So I'd assume there is a 13-15 year age difference between them. We also know from the first episode that Tokio started doing robberies as a teenager, with her older boyfriend.

Now, suppose in an AU where the robberies don't work out quite so well and the boyfriend leaves Tokio to go his own way. Tokio is a teenager, she's left all alone, wanted by the police, she can't go home to her mom. She's lost and scared but she decides to try to manage it on her own. Unfortunately at that age she doesn't have the experience to plan her robberies well.

Cue to 30ish year old Sergio minding his own business and scouting out a location for a smaller heist for him and Andrés (the Mint heist didn't pay itself after all) and he stumbles in the middle of a bad robbery run by a teenager. Tokio gets hurt and Sergio wants to help so he manages to buy her enough time to get away. He tracks her down and more or less takes care of her wound. Tokio is mutinous about it but on the other hand it's nice that somebody takes care of her.

Sergio kind of interrogates her to find out the whole story and is in a big dilemma because he doesn't want to leave her alone to continue to live like that. As always when Sergio doesn't know what to do, he thinks of his brother and he remembers a very familiar scene : a younger kid, hurt and alone, looking mistrustfully at a young man who appeared out of thin air to take care of him, wanting to believe the stranger but at the same time knowing good things don't happen to him. So Sergio decides to adopt a 16-year-old Silene, like his brother before him.

So they just start to live together, and Sergio teaches her everything she wants to know, including how to plan/run a heist. He doesn't know what he's doing, but neither did Andrés and it all turned out all right in the end didn't it? Besides, she seems happier than before. Tokio is safe, loved and has found someone to trust who will never leave her. The heists are merely a bonus. Andrés hates Tokio the minute he sets his eyes on her. The feeling is mutual. For the first time in his life he's jealous because Sergio found someone to love...like he loves HIM. He even wants to get rid of her until one evening Sergio looks at him with his big eyes and says "Andrés she was just like me, and I could help her, like you helped me", and Andrés still hasn't figured out a way to say no to his Hermanito after 20 years. So now the 2 have an understanding where they don't stab each other because Sergio would be sad. They don't acknowledge that they might begin to like each other.

Just, all the father - daughter feels that Sergio-Tokio have in canon dialed up to 11.

Hi hi! Before I get into your idea (that I love btw!), just wanted to say hello!! You were the first person who ever commented on "Hermanito" and I remember being so stunned by your lovely review, especially because it was the very first lcdp fic I wrote and I was worried that it wasn't getting feedback because readers hated it. So you're a big part of why I kept writing for the fandom afterwards and I was so happy to meet someone who cared so much about the hermanos :)

re: the idea: OMG That is big brained, I love it. I think the professor was mentioned as late 30s early 40s during the Mint Heist so those numbers are definitely correct! The age difference between Sergio and Tokyo is what I always headcanoned as the difference between him and Andres, which just makes it fascinating.

I kept reading this ask, wondering where it was going, and it absolutely did not disappoint. YES, AU where Sergio adopts Tokyo early is not something I knew I needed so much until now. I just love his relationship with Tokyo so much (easily the second best platonic relationship in the show!). And I can see it- Tokyo too stubborn and afraid to go home, but also lost, scared, and afraid to show vulnerability :') This feels so much like her and it's such an interesting concept about what would happen if she and her boyfriend broke up early. Because I think she'd try to continue her life of crime, but like you said, without him around, she wouldn't know where to start.

And I love your idea for how Sergio would cross paths with her. It sounds like something he would definitely do for Tokyo, and yes LOL, Tokyo would be so resistant at first, but also secretly enjoy it so much because she's desperate for a safety net (not that she'll let Sergio know). And I love how this cements Sergio as even more of a father figure/guardian angel in Tokyo's mind than in canon, just by virtue of the situation and how much younger she is.

Of course Sergio would overthink it XD But you're really killing me here, this is the exact kind of content my heart craves asdfasf. This part especially:

As always when Sergio doesn't know what to do, he thinks of his brother and he remembers a very familiar scene : a younger kid, hurt and alone, looking mistrustfully at a young man who appeared out of thin air to take care of him, wanting to believe the stranger but at the same time knowing good things don't happen to him. So Sergio decides to adopt a 16-year-old Silene, like his brother before him.

PLEASE, that parallel just *gets me*. Because in very many ways, it's the same situation and I love that Sergio sympathizes with her from the start and it's fascinating how in that instant, he goes, "What would Andres do? What did Andres do? Imagine what my life would be like if Andres chose to walk away..." then he makes up his mind and takes Tokyo in :'D

I just love fatherly/big brother Sergio so much. And this is the perfect scenario where we get hermanito AND hermano Sergio at the same time, with bonus "daughter" Tokyo and I'm this close to screaming. LOL to Tokyo, Sergio looks like he has his so put together and he knows exactly what he's doing when in reality, Sergio is just winging it and hoping it turns out for the best like it did with him and Andres.

Andrés hates Tokio the minute he sets his eyes on her. The feeling is mutual. For the first time in his life he's jealous because Sergio found someone to love...like he loves HIM.

This is so in-character, I NEED it now. Andres is now a grandfather. In all universes, Andres and Tokyo will hate each other the moment they meet. But also in a hilarious way, this works so well now that we know he was the one who wanted her in the banda in canon. Like, all this time, the spiritual connection between Andres, Silene, and Sergio was bound by fate XD He hates her because she's literally the genbend version of him and she hates him because he hates her (+ he's just like, an annoying person). And I can so see it- Andres would be burning with envy over Sergio's attachment to Tokyo, but he wouldn't know why until Sergio spells it out for him.

Then he does the surprise pikachu face. Turns out it's just a jarring experience to see his hermanito, the one person he loves above all else, pick up his own hermanita and love her above all else. Once the brothers have that talk and Andres has this big epiphany, he Knows he can never get rid of Silene. Plus like you said, Andres can never deny Sergio anything, especially knowing how much he loves his "daughter" :')

Andres *through grit teeth*: Welcome to the familia, Silene. I will lie down my life for you because Sergio loves you.

Silene *also through grit teeth*: Thank you, Andres. I too will lie down my life for you because Sergio loves you.

asdfasdf They think they're just putting up with each other for Sergio's sake, and actively refuse to acknowledge the fact that they're growing on each other. But Sergio knows. Their "bonding" was all part of his plan and he just innocently sits between them with his milk and cookies while they all watch a movie that he picked because Andres and Silene couldn't agree on one.

Thank you so much for this ask omg. This is an AU I need with all my heart now. The funny thing is I actually really wanted to write a Tokyo & Sergio story, but could never settle on an idea. Now this idea with the father-daughter feels between Sergio & Tokyo dialed up to 11 set against the backdrop of extreme hermanos, is like a gift from heaven :'D

[blorbosexterminator]

Yes, Martin&the gold plan!!! That's what I want to see! I hated it so much that he just accepted that plan Roma thing (Bogota was right), and OK, after that they went back to his original plan of melting all the gold and he seemed to be happy about it, but the whole change just happened so quickly, without any discussion, the characters just behaved conveniently for the plot all times, it was lazy writing. are they saving the gold plan part for the next part i wonder?

Martín and the gold plan is honestly one of the most interesting "love" stories in the show. Probably on the same level as his relationship with Andrés. The 'not only do I love your brother, but I also love the plan...to the same extent. (amo), the 'I'd sell you out, yes. The entire gang too. But the plan never.' the convection in 'that's where my loyality lies' just the beauty and romanticism in 'It's an unfinished poem.' the 'I proposed to melt gold together.'

That is one hell of a story here. The romanticism and insanely twisted connection he (and Andrés) had to the plan is what made s3/s4 so interesting. How the plan was like a character in the show, how set apart it was from other heist. Now he's like 'lol what gold. As long as my teammates Helsinki, Bogota, Denver, Monica, their son Cincinnati, Manilla, her father Benjamín, Raquel, her daughter Paula and mother Marivi, Rio, Sergio, his nephew Rafael, and Marseille are fine, healthy and well-fed, then that's all I want <3 <3 fuck the gold.' like ???????? Martín ??????? My reaction was entirely like Bogota lmfao, I was really going 'wtf and who are you?'

And yes exactly. He was fine either way. Let's melt gold, let's not melt the gold. Even then he didn't seem particularly that happy? Like sure he was pleased, but it lacked the obsession, romanticism, passion and soul of the previous seasons. You're right. Most of the characters, especially Martín behaved too conviently to let the plot roll. The plan, other than Andrés, is the true love of Martín's life, the way he's acting this season is simply out of character.

Oh yeah, I actually do believe so. Which is the only saving grace of all of this. I think a lot of flashbacks next volume will focus on the gold and maybe even outside of what Sergio knows about it, its intial life with the four horsemen of the apocalypse (Marseille, Bogota, Martin and Andres.) At least I hope so, I hope Martín carries the plan to its end and regains his previous self with it. And I obviously hope he dies sacrficing himself for the success and completion of his masterpiece!

[dormarunt]

Pretending to be brothers please?

This was also the first prompt we got, from @wedgeantill, it said "Hello. 7, please? With Sergio 🙏" . @nharidy requested this one too, so here we go! (with Sergio) Thank you for the asks! <3 ----- “So her chauffeur drove you two to a mansion with guards and cameras, and none of that tipped you off that she might be— someone’s someone? Imagine if she was his wife.”

“Her relation to our seller is irrelevant,” chips in Sergio from his side of the table. He’s still doing calculations - on paper, which Martín low-key admired - but always manages to keep a portion of his brain open just for listening in. “As long as he doesn’t see Andrés tonight - or any other night until we leave town, for that matter - the deal can still go through.”

Martín only gives Sergio the smallest eye-roll since he clearly wasn’t part of that conversation, then focuses back on Andrés.

“Wait, I have to ask, would her sister have taken you to the same place? Where did she go for the night? I remember you said you only went home with one of them.”

“Yes, the youngest - Adelina. Her older sister has her own condo uptown.”

“Kinda wish I’d gone with a non-prime; that way you wouldn’t have done your chauffeured drive-of-shame right past her father who was coming home that the morning.”

“How was I supposed to know who her father was?”

“Had you looked through his file before, you would have seen a picture of that exact mansion and presumably would have told the nice lady, before getting under that guy’s roof and defiling his daughter, that you had a migraine or a sudden pull to asceticism.”

“The situation is salvageable,” says Sergio, finally setting his pen down and giving Martin his full attention - he didn’t particularly want it to begin with, but now that he has it, he finally looks his way. “Do you need a refresher on our order or any of the items therein?”

“No, and I’d love it if we talked more about ‘the situation’ and how it basically boils down to Andrés’ dick getting us all in trouble - again.”

“I don’t see how talking about it some more would bring anything new to the table. The situation, as I’ve said before, is salvageable - as long as this evening, you pretend to be my brother.”

‘The Situation’ is what Sergio also called the arrangement that his brother and Martín had, on the rare occasions when he was forced to acknowledge it. This is the most he’s talked about it ever, even as obliquely as he had, but Martín isn’t ready to let it drop just yet.

***

“I need you to help me pick.”

“What?” Martín takes the phone from his ear and is temporarily rendered blind by the bright screen. It’s almost 2 AM. He had been dreaming.

Andrés’ voice barely comes through a loud beat - he’s in a club, by the sound of it. He’d mentioned something about an art gallery, but knowing Andrés’ preferred age range in women, he was bound to land in a club before he ended up in someone’s bed.

“Pick a number - one, or two?”

“Andrés, it’s two in the morning, what are you talking about? Weren’t you supposed to be in bed with some redhead?”

“Yes! That’s what I’m trying—” The music blasts louder for a while, and then Andrés’ voice comes through once again. “She has a sister.”

Martín’s eyes are getting accustomed to the darkness and he’s fixated on a small polygon of light that the drapes let through. Of course the girl would have a sister, he sighs and instinctively pinches the bridge of his nose, because Andrés lives life on the narrow edge between a high-class porno and a cheap erotic novel.

With a streak of bisexuality and a boyfriend that isn’t opposed to letting him indulge.

(Martín indulges too.)

He’s no expert in the fairer sex - only in the hairier - so numbers are sufficient information for him to make a choice.

“Okay, two. You know I love prime numbers.”

“I do,” comes Andrés’ voice, the smile on his lips still audible. “Thanks. I’ll try to not wake you up in the morning. Love you.”

The line goes quiet and Martín tosses his phone on the bedside table. He’s fully awake now but nothing can put him to sleep faster than an orgasm, so he gets a hand in his boxers and tries to conjure the right mix of images in his mind that can get him there.

No, not Andrés and two redheads. Or one.

***

“Are you sure you never gave her your name?”

“Of course I’m sure. The young lady went home with Pablo Garcia.”

“I guess it could be worse, you could have had a go at their safe while in there.”

“I’m not saying it didn’t cross my mind, but there were guards and cameras. I was drunk and horny, not stupid.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time your dick put us all in danger, though.”

“We’re not in danger,” cut in Sergio yet again - just as Martín almost managed to forget that he was there. “The seller has no way of knowing what the real Andrés de Fonollosa looks like.”

He was right, and they were lucky that Sergio took research as seriously as he did, saving them of a potentially awkward - if not dangerous - meeting. Just the two of them, and a weapons dealer with armed muscle. It’s not all Sergio’s merit though.

“See? That’s why I insist that we don’t get caught - you wouldn’t want your face and your real name out there.”

“Surely that can’t be the main reason,” Sergio insisted on being part of the conversation. He reserved the best of snark for Andrés - no doubt a sibling thing - but sometimes he channeled it to Martín as well, and he did not appreciate it at all.

“I’m just saying,” he resumes, “imagine if your face was out there.”

“But it isn’t, so this is your lucky day - you get to play me for a whole afternoon of wonder and weaponry.”

“You’ll need some basic information in case they ask questions—” starts Sergio, leaning back in his chair to look at Martín.

“Wait, ask questions? What, about us being brothers? Do you expect a quiz?”

“You need to be prepared. You may know Andrés - or a side of him, at least - but you don’t know some more— intimate details. No,” one of his fingers flies up, “not that kind of intimate. About us growing up. Our history, our families.”

“So you’re expecting a quiz.”

“I’m expecting us to pass for brothers, if that becomes in any way a point of conversation.”

“I honestly can’t see any scenario in which they’d ask about anecdotes from our youth to ascertain whether we’re real siblings or merely pretending.”

***

“You don’t look alike at all.”

Literally the first thing the arms dealer says to them.

Sergio’s face turns from steely and determined to seething in 0.1 seconds flat. Of course, the guy wouldn’t be able to decipher it since Sergio just looks like Sergio to the untrained eye, but Martín can tell.

He doesn’t waste a second before taking the lead.

“Our dad liked to fuck a lot.”

[adarafaelbarba]

Goodbye brother

pairing: Sonny Carisi x reader (Sonnyverse) fandom: Law and Order Special Victims Unit warning: mention of death. Angsty af.

To say she was embarrassed by the who ordeal that had been going down for he last couple of months, well, that would be an understatement. (Y/N) was mortified. First she had been accused by Sonny’s boss and colleagues about leaking the article she had been writing, early, and without getting the green light from them. Then they involved her boss who fired her. And when she thought she was safe in the comfort of her own home, well, she apparently wasn’t safe there either, as Sonny started yelling at her the second he came home. The icing on top of the whole shit cake that was currently her life, was the fact that she was completely innocent. Not that anyone seemed to care about that.

«I didn’t leak it Sonny! I’m telling the truth! Someone hacked my work laptop and sent it from there!» she had pleaded with her husband. But when he wouldn’t listen she shook her head, tears already running down her cheek. «When you decide to listen to me, I’ll be at my parents house, with the kids!» she spat, running to their shared room to pack her things. The kids already had a lot of clothes at her parent’s house, so she only needed to get things for her self.

«Doll!» he tried. «Save it Dominick! I don’t want to hear it», she said, glaring at him before storming out the house. (Y/N) thanked her lucky stars that the kids were already with her parents. The worst thing she and Sonny could do was to fight in front of the kids.

~~~

That was a couple of months ago. She still hadn’t been told she was right all along. And she was still ignoring Sonny. The truth was, she wanted to make up with him so bad, mostly for the kids who were crying most nights asking for him. But they were both hotheads, so unless Sonny came to his senses and started apologizing for how crappy he had treated her, she didn’t want to hear it.

(Y/N) was in the middle of writing a new chapter for her book when she got a call from her sister-in-law.

«Hello? Nina? Hey! Calm down, please, and tell me what happened.» Nina was talking about a mile a minute, and it was getting hard for (Y/N) to understand what she was saying. «Oh my God! When?! Just now? Hey, shh. Tell the others I’m on my way!» (Y/N)’s brother, Tony, was a fire fighter with firehouse 61 in Chicago. And according to his wife, Nina, he had been severely injured on the job.

She couldn’t really say she played favorites when it came to her brothers, she loved them all equally. Not to mention three of their brothers, Ed, Val and Leo, also worked in the emergency service industry in Chicago. Ed being in intelligence for the Chicago PD, Val worked as an EMT for  firehouse 61 and Leo worked at Chicago Med as a trauma surgeon. Being a worried sister came with it. Especially with Ed, Val and Tony who were on the front line every day.

~~~

(Y/N) bolted through the doors of the Emergency room at Med as soon as she got there. «Casey! Where is he?!» she called out, locking eyes with Tony’s lieutenant, Matt Casey. «(Y/N)! Oh my God! Thank God you’re here!» he said, hugging her. «They took him into surgery a couple of hours ago. He’s in recovery now, but still under», Casey added, helping her sit down. «Where’s Nina?» she asked, looking for her sister-in-law. «With your brothers, they’re at Tony’s place», he explained. Nodding her head at that, she leant back in her seat, taking a deep breath.

«What the heck happened out there?» she asked no one in particular. «He tried to get a mother and son out of the building and a beam fell down and trapped him under it. We almost didn’t get to him in time», Otis said, biting his lip as he sat opposite her. «But you did get to him. Thank you.» She felt tears slip down her cheeks as she stood up and hugged Otis.

~~~

Hours went by until Dr. Halstead came out, looking at everyone. «Where’s his family?» he asked, before spotting (Y/N), Nina, Ed, Val and Leo. «Come with me please», he said. «Casey can you please call my parents for us?» (Y/N) said, expecting the worst by the way Will was standing.

She was right to think the worst. Dr. Halstead explained that the damage was too severe, he had been in there too long, and the beam had hit just right, meaning it was no saving him. Biting her lip, (Y/N) stood back as her bothers and her sister-in-law hugged and cried. She didn’t know what do do, all she really could do was pray that this was all a joke, a sick dream, and that she would wake up and Tony would be there, awake and smiling at her as he told her one of his weird jokes. But she knew that wasn’t the case, he was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. Tony was just laying there, machines beeping around him. If only he had taken the day off like he had said he was going to do, according to Nina. But there was never anyone who could tell Tony not to work, he was stubborn as a mule and loyal to a fault.

«I need someone to sign off on the papers if we should turn of the machines or not», Dr. Manning chimed in, standing next to Dr. Halstead. «Can we wait until our parents get here?» Leo asked his colleague. «Yeah sure», the brunette girl said, nodding before she and Halstead left.

~~~

The five of them sat there, just watching Tony for what felt like hours, until (Y/N) couldn’t take the silence anymore and got up, going out to the waiting room.

«(Y/N), how’s Tony?» Casey asked, approaching her as the other fire fighters looked up or got out of their seats. «He—he’s not gonna make it. We’re just waiting for our parents and our other brother to get here before we sign the papers», she explained, wiping some tears away. «I’m so sorry to hear that (Y/N). If there’s anything we can do, you just let us know okay?» she nodded at that, giving Casey a hug.

(Y/N) decided to stay in the waiting room with the firefighters, just so she could be the first person her parents and Sergio saw when then got there.

She had stood so motionless that she almost didn’t feel the arms wrapping around her waist until she heard a soft murmur, «Shhh doll, it’s okay.» Sonny was the first and the last person she wanted to see right now. But feeling a moment of weakness, she leant into her husbands chest.

The moment ended quickly though as soon as she saw her parents rush in. «Ma! Dad! Ser!» she called out, running over to them, embracing them all in hugs. «How is he?» her mother asked, looking at her. «He’s not gonna make it ma. I’m sorry», (Y/N) said, looking at the ground as if she was the culprit behind the accident. «Oh god!» Mrs. (Y/L/N) exclaimed, falling into her daughter’s embrace. «I’m so sorry ma», (Y/N) whispered, hugging her mother.

They walked together into the room, leaving Sonny behind, wishing he could take his wife in his arms again and kiss her, to tell her it would be okay in the end. But seeing she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring, he figured she was moving on. Gina had told him about this divorce lawyer friend she had who had gotten (Y/N) the papers. He knew it was coming, he just hoped she would change her mind and come back to him.

~~~

Leo had come out a while after the arrival of their parents and brother. Every firefighter in the room stood up and looked at him. He looked so tired, having been here since the start of his shift the evening before. «Doc?» Chief Boden asked, looking at Leo. «He’s at peace now», was all Leo said, before leaving.

«Leo! Hold up!» Sonny called out, running over to his brother-in-law. «What is it Detective Carisi?» he asked, looking back at Sonny. «How’s (Y/N)?» Sonny asked. «Do you mean after what happened with Tony? Or after you decided to call her a liar and get her fired from her dream job and almost arrested?» Leo knew all about how Sonny broke her heart, all her brothers knew. «I—I should have never done it. I made a huge mistake, and I beat myself up for hurting her, every day. I don’t know what to do. She’s my dream girl and I ruined that», Sonny tried so hard to not break down and cry, it was the last thing (Y/N) and her family needed. «You should have thought of that before then!» Leo stated, turning to leave Sonny behind.

~~~

Later that evening at Nina and Tony’s place, (Y/N) called her mother-in-law. She wanted to say goodnight to the kids. «(Y/N). How are you holding up dear?» Mrs. Carisi asked, looking at her daughter-in-law. «I could be better. Are the kids still awake?» she asked in return. «Yeah hold on. Dom can you get the kids in here please?» Mrs. Carisi asked her husband.

A minute later the kids were in the room in front of the phone. «Mommy! We miss you!» Giovanni and Matteo said in unison. «I miss you kiddos too! Are you being good to nonna and nonno?» at this the boys and Angelina nodded their heads.

«Is daddy there too?» Dominick asked, looking at his mother. «No. Sorry baby», (Y/N) said, giving the kids a sympathetic look. She knew the kids were missing their father, and she couldn’t lie, she missed Sonny too. Having seen him at the hospital earlier had really made her feel better.

After the kids said their goodnights and I love yous, Mrs. Carisi came back in frame. «I know you don’t want to hear it (Y/N), and I was so mad at him when I heard what happened. But have you thought about talking to him? He’s not himself anymore, keeps asking about you and the kids in case I had heard something. I heard something about his attitude towards his colleagues have gotten shorter and he snaps easily», she explained. It broke (Y/N)’s heart to hear how Sonny had changed after the separation. After talking to the divorce lawyer Gina had recommended, she often though about going to Sonny and taking him back, but she couldn’t give up. He had broken her trust, that couldn’t be forgiven that easily.

She missed him like crazy though, and she knew it wouldn’t go away. «Maybe I can talk to him tomorrow?» she murmured, looking from her mother-in-law to the table. «You love him still, don’t you sweetie?» (Y/N) nodded at this, tears slipping down her cheeks before she could stop them, «Yeah, like crazy. But he hurt me, how do I forgive him for that?» she asked, biting down on her lip. «You don’t. But it helps talking it out. That way you can both go from there and hopefully make your way back together. You and Sonny were made for each other sweetie, we saw it long before you both did. Don’t let something so good go to waste dear», Mrs. Carisi said, giving her daughter-in-law a warm smile.

(Y/N) finished her video chat quickly after that, saying she was exhausted, but really, she needed time to think about what her mother-in-law had said. On one hand she wanted to run to where Sonny was staying, hug him and tell him she loved him and she wanted it again. But then in the back of her head she would tell herself that he didn’t deserve to be taken back, and well, that voice was usually the loudest voice.

She finally set for a somewhat healthy medium when she picked up the phone and dialed his number. (Y/N) just about threw her phone at the wall when he picked up. «Doll?» he asked, his voice sounding raw, almost as if he had been crying. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to hug him, she always hated it when he cried, she just didn’t want him to be hurt. «Hey Sonny», she said, and it was the first time in a long time she had said his name, and been happy when she said it. «Are you okay?» he asked, not quite believing that she would call him. «Can we talk? Tomorrow? Over breakfast, my treat», she asked in return. «I’d love that. But please, let me pay.» he offered. «Okay. See you tomorrow», she said. There was a short moment of silence before she added «I love you Sonny.» It was so silent after that, that (Y/N) thought he had passed out, until he replied just as softly as she had with «I love you too doll. Always.»

Sonnyverse taglist:

@sweetcannolicarisi​ 

[aion-rsa]

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DEN OF GEEK CRITICS PICKS

Django Unchained 

The second of Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist history lessons, Django Unchained is a provocative, post-modern Western film that mixes the widescreen sensibilities of Sergio Leone with Tarantino’s own gonzo impulses to create something hyper-violent, subversively funny, and more than a bit uncomfortable. Jamie Foxx stars as a slave freed by a German bounty hunter played by Christoph Waltz. Waltz won an Oscar for his performance as the kind German that takes in the stoic but savvy Django as his partner. Together, they travel the pre-Civil War South, killing slavers and savage men. Eventually, they embark on a more personal mission, as Django intends to free his beloved wife from a sadistic plantation owner played by a scenery-chewing Leonardo DiCaprio. With anachronistic needle-drops, hands-over-eyes horrors, and more blood than a donation bank, Django Unchained is an epic, entertaining revenge fantasy for the ages.

Silver Linings Playbook

From director David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook is a screwball romantic comedy for the modern age. Despite inviting, yet livewire lead performances from Jennifer Lawerence and Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook really shines as an ensemble: Robert DeNiro, Jackie Weaver, Chris Tucker and Anupam Kher bring fully-realized characters to life in just a handful of scenes. Based on Matthew Quick’s novel of the same name, Silver Linings Playbook finds Bradley Cooper as a man who has been released from a psychiatric hospital a bit too soon. He’s frantically trying to prove that he’s bettered himself in an effort to win back his wife, but when he meets the equally unstable and filterless character played by Jennifer Lawerence, unusual sparks fly. Combining the familiar tropes of a sports film with unorthodox romantic leads, Silver Linings Playbook is a crowd-pleasing watch that creates harmony out of dysfunction.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

It never mattered where Anthony Bourdain was going, we just wanted to be along for the ride. We lost the soulful, iconoclastic bad-boy of the culinary world far too soon, but he left behind a treasure trove of rewarding travelogues that tackled culture, social dynamics, and most importantly, food. Whether he was weighing in on a world-famous culinary hotspot or peeling back the curtain on a hole-in-wall gem, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations was always thoughtful, fearless, and never less than authentic. It’s the rare show that is as educational as it is entertaining, hosted by a candid host who knew how to travel, knew where to eat, but most crucially, knew how to connect with people. Reality TV doesn’t get realer than this.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Following the mind-boggling success of the original Halloween, director John Carpenter had a clever idea. Instead of churning out sequels starring Michael Meyers, Halloween would become an anthology series, with each new film telling a spooky tale centered on the October holiday. The concept was inevitably scrapped, but Halloween III: Season of the Witch suggests that maybe Carpenter and co. should have stuck to their guns. Taking inspiration from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and working off a concept that Carpenter described as  “witchcraft meets the computer age,” Halloween III: Season of the Witch finds a doctor and the daughter of a toy maker trying to uncover the horrifying truth behind the town of Santa Mara, home to Silver Shamrock, the world’s largest manufacturer of Halloween masks. Intelligent, surprising, and disturbing, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is due for a critical reevaluation that heralds it as one of the most ambitious horror movies of the ‘80s 

Clerks II

With the recent announcement that Clerks III has started production, it’s the perfect time to revisit Kevin Smith’s first-sequel to his independent film phenomenon, Clerks. Clerks II picks up with our titular clerks Dante and Randall 10 years after the events of the first film. The Quick Stop has gone up in flames and been replaced with a Mooby’s fast food restaurant. Dante and Randall toil the day away with their sheltered co-worker Elias and too-cool for minimum wage manager Becky. While the film tackles adult male friendships and middle age complacency, it’s main appeal is still sitting around, shooting the shit with your pals and listening to their expletive-filled rants about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or whatever pop culture fascination that they’re hung up on. Come for the surprisingly poignant story about Dante deciding to leave his friend behind, stay for Jay, Silent Bob, and a donkey. 

New on Plex in August – Full List of Titles 

Army of One  

Dark Tide  

Deadfall  

Deadfall 

Django Unchained  

Escape from Alcatraz  

Feast  

Ismael’s Ghost  

Kickboxer  

Lucky Number Sleven  

The Naked Gun 2-1/2: The Smell of Fear 

The Naked Gun 33-1/3: The Final Insult 

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!  

Pulse  

Redemption 

Seabiscuit 

Silver Linings Playbook 

Skyfire 

Wind River  

Still streaming on Plex:  

2:22 

13 

The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared  

22 Bullets  

24 Hours to Live  

3rd Rock from the Sun 

6 Bullets  

99 Homes  

A Little Bit of Heaven  

A Walk in the Woods  

Aeon Flux  

After.Life 

Afternoon Delight  

The Air I Breathe 

Alan Partridge 

ALF  

Alone in the Dark 

Amelie  

Answer Man  

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations 

Arthur and the Invisibles  

Battle Royale  

Bel Canto  

Bernie 

Better Watch Out 

Black Books  

Black Christmas  

Black Death  

Black Sheep (2006) 

Blitz 

Blood and Bone  

Bobby 

Bronson  

The Brothers Bloom 

The Burning Plain 

Cagefighter  

Cake 

Candy  

Cashback 

Catch .44 

Cell 

Chain of Command 

Child 44 

The Choice 

Clerks II  

Coherence  

The Collector  

Congo  

Cooties  

Cops and Robbers  

The Core 

The Cotton Club 

Critical Condition  

Crossing Lines  

Croupier  

Cube  

Cube 2 

Cube Zero  

Deadfall 

The Death and Life of Bobby Z 

Death and the Maiden 

Death Proof 

The Deep Blue Sea 

Deep Red  

Derailed  

The Descent Part 2 

Detachment  

The Devils’ Rejects  

Diary of the Dead  

Distorted  

District B13 

DOA: Dead or Alive  

Dragged Across Concrete 

Eden Lake 

Edison 

Europa Resort 

Falcon Rising  

The Fall  

Fido  

The Fighting Temptations  

Filth  

Find Me Guilty  

Fire in the Sky 

Fire with Fire  

Flirting with Disaster  

Flowers of War 

Flyboys 

Force Majeure 

Formula 51  

Four Lions  

Frailty  

Frank  

Freeway  

The Frozen Ground 

Getting to Know You 

Ghost in the Shell 

The Ghost Writer  

Ginger Snaps  

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest  

The Girl Who Played with Fire  

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  

God Bless America 

Goon  

Goya’s Ghosts  

Grand Isle 

Grave Encounters  

A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints  

Halloween II  

Halloween III: Season of the Witch  

Hannibal Rising  

Happythankyoumoreplease 

Hard Candy  

Hell’s Kitchen 

Hester  

High Rise 

Highlander  

Hobo with a Shotgun 

The Homesman 

The Horseman  

The Host  

House of 1000 Corpses  

House of the Rising Sun  

How I Live Now  

The Humanity Bureau  

The Hunter  

I Give it a Year  

I Saw the Devil 

I See You  

I Spit on Your Grave  

Ida  

If Only 

The Illusionist  

In Hell  

In the Blood 

In Too Deep  

The Infiltrator  

Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road  

Invasion of the Body Snatchers  

It’s a Boy Girl Thing 

Jeff, Who Lives at Home  

Jo Nesbo’s Headhunters  

Joe 

John Dies at the End  

The Joneses  

Juliet, Naked 

Just Getting Started 

Kevin Hart: Cold as Balls 

King of New York 

Kinky Boots  

The Kite Runner  

Knight of Cups  

The Last Days on Mars  

The Lazarus Project  

Leaves of Grass 

The Legend of Hercules  

Lethal Eviction  

The Limey  

Lionheart 

A Little Bit of Heaven 

A Long Way Down  

Love Story 

Maggie 

The Maiden Heist  

A Man Called Ove 

The Man from Earth 

The Man from Nowhere  

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote  

The Matador  

Mesrine Killer: Instinct  

The Messenger  

Middle Men 

Midsomer Murders  

Misconduct 

Miss Potter 

Monster 

Monsters  

Mother  

Mr. Church  

Murdoch Mysteries  

National Lampoon’s Van Wilder 

Never Back Down: No Surrender 

Noah  

The Oxford Murders  

P2 

The Paperboy 

Paycheck  

Personal Effects 

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The post Django Unchained, Halloween III and Clerks II Are Streaming Free on Plex This Month appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3CEncLN

[ameliajonezzz]

SPN OC X OC

hi hope you are all doing well and staying safe!! Just a quick post featuring two of my oc’s one who is bobby signers daughter and Hecate (as in the greek goddess) and the other who is the son of zeus. very much a percy jacksonxsupernatural story

Summary: Dean meets his ex’s new boyfriend

warning: akward, fluffy

Sergio Diablo (oc) son of zeus

Mila Singer (oc) daughter of hecate

 “Good morning meu amor (my love)” Sergio mumbled still half asleep. I humed and reached out to grab him not ready to accept having to leave the bed. I pushed my body against his, my breasts running along his chest as he pulled me closer his hand squeezing my ass. I pressed my lips to his collar bone feeling his body tense up. 

 The front door clicked open as someone entered the house, loud footsteps echoed as they stomped up the stairs. Sergio seemed unfazed by the noises I assumed because he knew what ever they where they probably wont be able to kill him. I created a shield around the two of us to at least have something separating us from them. 

 “I knew you wouldn’t be up yet-” I regconsided the voice as soon as i heard it. Dean Winchester.

"Dean! WHat the hell!" I yelled pulling the sheet up to cover my chest. Sam shuffled in awkwardly and quickly turned leaving the room once he saw me and Sergio in bed.

"What am I doing!?" Dean exclaimed "Who the hell is this?"

"You let yourself into my house I think I have every right to have whoever I want in MY home" Sergio kept his eyes on Dean who seemed to not feel uncomfortable around my naked body.

"Dean let’s give them a minute " Sam said reaching in the room to grab his older brother by the arm yanking him out awkwardly shuting the bedroom door.

The realisation that my current boyfriend had just met my ex hit me as I cringed. The bed groaned as Sergio say up fully, his face unreadable.

"Baby, I-I’m so sorry I really didn’t-" The sound of Sergio’s laugh muffled my apology. "Are you ok, I just didn’t think this would be your reaction"

"Mila it’s fine" he said between laughs "I think he was in the worse position, I mean he wasn’t the one in bed with you"

"I’m sorry I should get dressed it might be about my dad" I stood up from the bed leaving the sheet standing naked infront of him. He leaned back against the headboard toned chest on display, smirking he ran his eyes across my body sending shivers down my spine. A blush spread across my cheeks, as I began pulling on my clothes. "Are you seriously going to stay there?"

"Would you like me to go introduce myself to your ex?" He asked smirking, I huffed in response pulling a hoodie on.

"Wait there" I said hands on the door "do you want to stay for breakfast?"

"Of course meu amor"

I stepped outside of my room shutting the door behind me breathing in to prepare for the oncoming storm of Dean Winchester.

please tell me if you liked it because i am obsessed with these two atm and would love to right more on them. 

[ironwoman18]

Garvez Moments Part 9

Chapter 9: Amor Real

After months of preparation, the wedding day was a week away. Just like in Spencer and Max's wedding, one of the Simmons daughters will be the flower girl and Luke's nephew, Peter will be the ringbearer.

They had to pick their family at the airport so they asked all their friends to help them.

"I can't believe our families decided to arrive e same day" said Penelope to JJ as they walked to the terminal where the flight California- Washington will arrive.

Luke was with Matt and Spencer waiting for the Miami one.

"My mom always hated the airplanes, in fact she went from Dallas to Miami in a bus"

"That's a normal fear especially for elder people, they don't like the idea of a flying thing. Of course not all elder people have it but it's pretty common"

"Yeah, I think knowing his son is finally getting married made her face her fears" Luke looked at Matt and his eyes watered a little. He did not believe he will be a married man in a week with a woman he felt in love slowly.

"Where are they staying?" Asked Spencer.

"My sister found a good hotel close to my apartment, they wanted to be close so we can spend more time together. I think Penelope's family will be close too but not in the same hotel"

"That's great, I'm sure you will be pretty busy with all of them" added Matt laughing.

"Oh you have no idea..." Luke smirked and the speakers announced the arrival of the flight from Miami "ok they are here" they lifted up a piece of paper that said Alvez Family.

They waited some minutes until Luke's family arrived and he introduced them to his friends and coworkers. After that a group went with Matt, other with Spencer and other with Luke and they drove to the hotel.

Meanwhile Penelope's family arrived some minutes later and they left to their hotel. Penelope's family was smaller but still needed JJ family car and her own car to go to the hotel.

After the two families did the check in, they all went to a restaurant to eat and the Garcias and the Alvez met.

They talked and have fun telling Spencer, Matt and JJ stories about them. They all laughed and enjoyed that day.

The following days were busy for the soon-to-be married couple and their family and friends.

JJ planned a girl's night as Penelope's bachelorette party and Matt planned the bachelor party for Luke.

That night before he left for the party he looked at Phil's picture on his coffee table and looked at him.

"Man... I wish you could see me getting married"

Luke and Phil were in Afghanistan on their transport after a mission.

"So what are you going to do when we return home?" Asked Phil smoking a cigarette.

"Visit my mama" he smiled at him "and you?"

"I will visit my girl" he got out a photo of a beautiful woman "have you ever thought about getting marry?"

"Honestly?" The other man nodded "never. I like my single life. I can't date someone with the kind of jobs I want to have"

Phil laughed "we will see... Because there's a crazy woman for a crazy man like you" Luke rolled his eyes but nodded.

"If someone out there want to marry me, you will be there as my best man" they highfived.

"It's a promise" Phil smiled.

Luke's eyes were full of tears as he remembers it and Roxie barked at him "I'm ok Rox. Don't worry...." He rubbed her head and cleaned his eyes then left the house to meet with his friends.

When he arrived, Matt told him he found VIP tickets for a football game. There were Penelope's brothers, his brother and brothers-in-law and his teammates.

They watched the game, drank beers and ate nachos with chilli. Then went to Rossi's house and play poker.

Meanwhile the girls drank, watched movies and ate pizza. They talked about marriage with Penelope and had a good time.

Finally the weeding day arrived. The women with the kids were fixing their hair and the men were helping getting everything ready with Rossi.

The wedding will be at his house, he will not let any other wedding to be somewhere else.

Luke changed into his suit and was nervous.

"How are you?" Asked Rossi looking at him.

"Like I'll die at any second. I'm so nervous"

"I understand that but don't worry. The moment you see her, everything will go away" he smiled "I have a present for you and Penelope. As you might know, the wedding is organized by the bride's family and the honeymoon by the groom's family but I considered you two my son and daughter so I did both" Luke was about to say something but Rossi interrupted him "I had a daughter I never had the chance be at her wedding and I'm glad Penelope accepted me to be her 'dad' now I ask you to let me give you this" he showed two tickets "I know you love adventure so I bought you and Penelope two tickets to Machu Picchu plus an airplane ride to see them from there"

"Oh my..." He held them and hugged him "thank you Dave" the old man hugged him back.

"No, thank you to make my dear Penelope happy. I met her a long time ago and I think I never saw her so happy until you arrived in her life" he looked at him "take care of her and keep making her happy" he nodded and had some tears in his eyes "now let's go! You can't be late to your wedding" they laughed and walked out.

There were everyone Matt reached him and patted his shoulder.

When everything was ready 'Heroes' by David Bowie started to play and Penelope walked out the house with David Rossi.

Luke and everyone else laughed at it but just enjoy the music as the bride walked to meet with her soon-to-be husband.

Their eyes connected as they got closer. When Rossi handed her to him he left them and the music stopped.

"Good evening. We are here to witness the union of these couple. Luke Alvez and Penelope Garcia. Now in front of your friends and family, say your vows, please" he said turning to Penelope "ladies first"

She looked at him and smiled "I know I was mean to you when we first met. My best friend just left the team and I hate changes. I felt like nothing will be the same, and it did but it wasn't bad, you and I shared moments like planning Rossi's engagement party or the arrived of baby Simmons number five" they all laughed "and I'm happy to call you mine, until the end of my days" she smiled big with some tears in her eyes.

"Penelope Garcia. Mi chica, we had a rough time at first but I kind of enjoyed. It was a nice challenge for me. I became more open around you, and at your last night as an active member of this team and right at this backyard I invited you on a date. I know my work and my responsibilities will be hard to deal with but I know you came from that world and understand it so our love is real and will last" he smiled at her.

"Very good and touching. Now Penelope and Luke let's exchange the rings" Matt called both kids and tell Luke's nephew to hands the ring to Penelope and Hank to hand the ring to Luke. Both kids did what he said and walked to sit with their moms "Luke Alvez do you take Penelope Garcia to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part"

"I do" he slide the ring on her left ring finger.

Then he turned to Penelope "and Penelope Garcia do you take Luke Alvez to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part"

"I do" And she slide the ring on his left ring finger.

"Now by the authority vested in me by the Court of the United States of America, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. What God has brought together let no man or woman put asunder. Groom, you may now kiss your bride" and with that Luke leans in to kiss her gently. The women in the audience cried after that.

The rest of the night was perfect. They danced Amor Real by Sin Bandera as their first dance together. Then the DJ, which was his brother, made a mix of latin music like salsa or merengue and reggaeton with pop and rock in english.

They ate mexican food and drank mojitos. Penelope danced with his mom and and he signed with joy as he saw it.

"I'm happy you and her ended up together" said Derek to him.

"She made it hard to but at last she couldn't say no to this chico" they laughed.

"Take care of her man. They broke the mold with her"

"I'm totally agree. And don't worry Derek. I will" they shakes their hands and Derek returned with his wife.

The night ended with the couple leaving to have their first night as a married couple. Roxie will be at her babysitter with Sergio and Lou.

OOooOOooOO

I am sorry this took me a while to write it. I started this but I had writer block and I hope i can post the next chapter sooner. Next should be the honeymoon?

[doyouever-daydream]

Birthday wishes

A/N Hello lovely humans! The Alvez family, Luke, Penelope, Luna, Roxy and Sergio, are back! Honestly I have a bunch of little cousins and have worked with many children so much of my inspiration comes from witnessing their imagination, so I think there’ll be a Luna series with oneshots/drabbles about this little girl’s adventures with her parents, that being said I’m sure someday I’ll come up with an idea for when Luna was a baby or something so the timeline will be crazy. Enjoy! (Also I finished writing/queuing this at almost 3am so probably more typos than usual)

Pairing: Penelope Garcia x Luke Alvez

Wordcount: 1706 (And I thought this was gonna be a drabble)

Masterlist

It was Saturday and in an unexpected turn of events, Penelope had been called to work but only for a couple hours, in the meantime Luke stayed home with Luna and they both attempted to bathe Roxy, the result of that was all three of them wet as Roxy escaped from them and ran around the house, Sergio looked at them from a safe distance not wanting to get involved in the mess, Luke was convinced their cat was judging him.

After they finally succeeded in bathing Roxy, Luke made lunch for all of them and Penelope arrived to see her family sitting in the living room eating sandwiches and drinking lemonade they had made using their own lemons from the tree in their backyard.

“Mommy, you’re home!” Luna quickly ran to her mom and she received her with open arms.

“I am, baby, how was your morning? Did you guys have a good time?” Penelope lifted Luna in her arms and kissed her cheek.

“It was great, we bathed Roxy and we played in the garden” She replied with a big smile on her face as Penelope walked to couch and sat in it, sitting Luna in her lap.

“I’m happy to hear that, now finish your lunch, Lu” Luke offered her a glass of lemonade, she had texted earlier letting him know that she had lunch during her work meeting.

“Hello babe, how was work? Was there a problem?” Luke questioned slightly worried as to why she was called on a Saturday.

Penelope shook her head “It was just an impromptu meeting we needed to have with one of the big bosses because he was in town, they reassured us it was a one time occasion and I hope they’re not lying” She sipped on her lemonade “Wow, you guys, the lemonade is delicious”

“There’s more in the fridge if you want, mommy” Luna offered as she hurried to eat her lunch. 

“Slow down there, Luna” Luke asked her and though the little girl slowed down, she still seemed anxious to finish her sandwich.

“What’s got you in a hurry, miss?” Penelope asked as she stole a frie from Luke’s plate.

“I want to tell you something” Penelope looked at her husband with narrowed eyes to what he shrugged his shoulders, not knowing what their daughter was talking about.

“I’m done! Can I show you now?” She pleaded with big eyes.

“Go and brush your teeth and then you can show us” Luna nodded and hopped through the hallway with Roxy following closely behind, the two were inseparable since Luna had been born.

Penelope turned to see Luke with wide eyes and a smirk “What do you think it’s going on that little mind of hers?”

“I don’t know but I’m scared” He finally leaned closer to her and pecked her lips.

She sighed “I just hope she hasn’t changed her mind about her birthday party, after begging us to throw a Roxy themed party I would hate to not use all the stuff we already got”

“You insisted on printing a million stickers with Roxy’s face” Luke joked and threw his arm around her.

“I can’t believe she’s turning five already! I’m so emotional” Penelope confessed to him and he kissed her temple.

Luke sighed “I know, I can’t believe how big she is” As if on cue Luna and Roxy came back and to both, she looked five feet tall.

“I talked to my friend Kelly and she told me about the Birthday fairy” Both of her parents looked confused but not that shocked, sometimes Luna and her friends came up with the funniest ideas.

“What did she say about the Birthday fairy?” Penelope signaled her to come closer to them and then they noticed Luna was holding something, Luke placed his almost five year old on his lap.

“That you can ask for a birthday wish, it’s like Santa” Luke was starting to get nervous as to what she was gonna ask, mostly because he knew he would do everything and anything to get it for her.

“Oh, and what’s that you got here?” He asked Luna and she showed a piece of paper folded in half.

“I made a letter like I do for Santa” She opened it and gave it to him, there were random letters, a drawing and her name because she had learned to write it recently. 

Penelope tried to guess what her daughter asked for but failed to decipher her letter “Can you read it for us, baby?”

“Dear Birthday fairy, I hope you are doing okay, I’m turning five next month” She looked hesitantly to her parents as if asking if she had that part correct.

“Go on, princess” Luke winked and Penelope took another sip of her lemonade and listened to her daughter.

“And I would like a baby brother” Her mom almost choked on her drink and her dad’s eyes shot open but laughed soundly “Mommy, are you ok?”

“Yes, Lu, I’m fine” Before her parents knew what to say she continued “reading”

“I love all my cousins so much but I really like to play with Michael but he’s not my brother, he is Henry’s little brother and I want one too so I can play all the time with him, thank you very much, Luna Grace Alvez” She finished and Luke had a huge grin on his face while Penelope looked terrified.

Luke decided to have the conversation seeing his wife was still figuring out what to say “Lune, sweetheart, baby brothers take more than a month to arrive” Luna scrunched her nose and looked exactly like her mom whenever she did that.

“It’s ok, I can wait two months, you can help me mark down the days like we do for my birthday and Christmas” When she finished, she yawned as she was used to take an afternoon nap and that’s when Penelope saw her way out of the subject.

“Baby, it’s time to take a nap, come on” Luna didn’t fight her mom and quickly linked her arms around her daddy’s neck so he could carry her to her bedroom.

A good twenty minutes later Luke returned to find Penelope sitting in the same exact spot with the same worried look on her face.

“I really wasn’t expecting that” She confessed as she removed her glasses and leaned her head on the couch.

“I was surprised for a second but kind of saw it coming” Penelope glared at him with suspicion in her eyes.

“Did you put her up to this, Alvez?” He laughed and shook his head.

“No, I mean I didn’t expect it today but all of her cousins have siblings, I thought the idea would appear in her head sooner or later” She massaged her temples “Wow, is it that bad to have my children?” Once again Penelope glared at him and he swore she would throw him something “I’m kidding, I’m honestly kidding, what do you think?”

“I don’t know, I always pictured her as an only child, us as a party of five, dad, mom, daughter of our dreams, dog child, cat child” She extended her hand so Luke would sit beside her.

“Ok, then we’ll talk to her about it, we’ll find a way” As ever Luke was supportive of her and Penelope felt both thankful but also uncertain, he had a say in the decisions of their family as well.

“What do you want?” She looked at him and saw a hint of worry in his eyes “Come on, babe, be honest”

“Well I wouldn’t mind becoming a party of six but I wouldn’t even think about it if it’s something you don’t truly want” He shot her a smile, Penelope placed a hand on his cheek and he leaned into her touch “I mean it, Pen”

Penelope sighed “The truth is I’m scared, I’m just getting the hang of being a mom of one, and she’s almost five” Her eyebrows were raised and her eyes were wide open.

“Babe, it’s about learning, I don’t know how to be a dad of two either, I mean, remember how much we called JJ, Matt and Derek because we had no idea of what we were doing? And now, look at us, she’s turning into a wonderful tiny human who cares for people and animals and insects and plants, you should’ve seen her talking to the lemon tree about how we were taking the lemons so he could grow more” Luke recalled the moment and held Penelope’s hand, and Penelope thought that her daughter would make an amazing big sister.

“She cares for non living objects as well, the other day you were in Phoenix, she accidently stepped on one of my pens and cried because she had broke it” Luna’s ability to care for others was always something that amazed everyone who knew her and it made both of them really proud.

“So are you gonna think about it?” Luke asked wishing she’d say yes.

“I don’t think I have to think about it” She saw his face fell and explained herself “I mean, you’re right, I remember how scared I felt when our sweet Luna was born, and I still get scared, I mean she keeps growing up and the next thing we know we’ll be parents to a teenager and as sweet as she can be, she’s also stubborn and determined, just imagine…” Luke cut her off as he looked pale now.

“Please, don’t go there, she’s my sweet little girl who asks permission to pick flowers not to go on dates or parties and I’d like to think that’s the way it will always be” She smiled seeing him so reluctant about thinking what the future would look like in another ten years.

“Ok but if I agree can we already start talking about names? I love talking about baby names” She wondered with excitement on her voice.

“I’d rather go straight into baby making” He suggested as he eyed her in a very suggestive way.

“Hmmm, you always have the best ideas, after all Luna’s nap just started” She smiled and let him lead both of them to their bedroom.

[bowenandjohnson]

My Thoughts on Elite Season 3

Spoilers! Under the cut!

The Murder of It All

Well, I definitely didn’t see that final twist with the murderer happening, but I understood why Lu was the one to do it. She has always had the capacity for darkness, and even if it was an accident, Lu made the best unexpected choice. I’m glad Guzman was able to forgive Polo in the end--he needed that closure to fully move on and heal from Marina’s death. 

Did I like that everyone covered for Lu? Eh. I didn’t ever really enjoy her as a character. But the fact that everyone overcame their differences to come together as a team? That’s the real endgame that I’m sure the writers were going for. Forgiveness and growth is possible, which is a large theme this season.

Omar/Ander/kind of Malick

Ander’s cancer storyline hit very close to home for me. My father was diagnosed with cancer last year in February 2019, and has only been in remission for around four months so far. Seeing his struggle and his journey was hard. I know a lot of people are being hard on Omar, and I certainly condone cheating on a significant other.

However, many people don’t understand the pressure of being someone’s main support system like I do. It’s so hard and so draining on a person, and luckily for me, my dad had his wife, my brothers, and his parents. But for Ander, he only had his mother and Omar at first, before slowly starting to let Guzman and Polo in.

Omar is a 18-19 year old boy, and so I can understand why he had a thing with Malick. He’s young, his only major support system is Ander and Ander’s mother. His family (outside of his sister) disapproves of his life, and who he loves. His life was falling apart, and he was losing control. Malick could relate to being a gay Muslim with a disapproving family, so it makes sense why he would cling to someone who shared similarities to his own life. Omar made a mistake, and he realized who he truly wanted to be with.

I do wish he would have owned up to the cheating with Malick to Ander directly, but they only have eight episodes and a large cast to support. Overall, Omar and Ander are happy, in love, and returning to Las Encinas TOGETHER. Plus, Ander is in remission--thank God! And Yusef finally accepted that his son is gay and has a boyfriend, true character growth!

Carla/Yeray

Teodoro Roson is a goddamn asshole. I hate him, and I wish he were also dead. He manipulated and gaslighted his daughter for several more episodes than I wanted to see. Carla truly suffered this season, and I hated that. They broke down her character to serve the whims of a powerful, white man, and I hate that. Carla was such a bad bitch in s1, and she didn’t deserve this storyline. Ester Exposito did the most with the material she was given, however.

Yeray could have also been so much more as a character. They barely addressed how he was harassed in the past for his weight, and how that affected him still in the present. Though he didn’t love Carla, nor she him, he cared about her enough to accept her friendship, and help her take down her father for good. 

Those final interactions of the two talking about their relationship and how the two teamed up only showed me what could have been for the two in this third season. As one of the first black characters on this show, Yeray really got the short end of the stick, and he didn’t deserve to be an obstacle to a white girl’s true happiness. I did truly like him in the end, and Sergio Momo did the best with the material he had.

Samuel/Rebeka

I felt bad for Rebe throughout the entirety of her relationship with Samuel this season. She was a obstacle for “Carmuel” and ultimately used by Samu who helped to throw her own mother in jail. She deserved so much more. So much more. I’m glad she’s going back to school and she got her mother out of the drug business. PLUS SHE ADMITTED SOME ATTRACTION TO WOMEN!! Rebe/Caye for season 4, perhaps?

Samuel has also never been a favorite character of mine throughout the series, but I’m happy he got his brother free, he’s going back to school, and he’s single. That’s right--single Samuel may just be for the best. When Samuel is romantically concerned, there is always trouble to follow. He has never made it easy for any of his romantic interests.

Also, can we please get Samuel some therapy? They really needed to address his anger issues. Season 4 needs to get all these kids all some counseling, honestly. Two people have died that these kids were close to.

Cayetana/Valerio/Polo

Caye, Polo, and Valerio have never been my favorite characters on this show, either. I’m sorry, I guess I only enjoy five characters on this crazy-ass show. However, despite this relationship feeling like a rehash of s1, this relationship got Valerio away from the toxicity of his incest relationship with Lu and it helped him to succeed in school, and I felt like the dynamic was also evenly balanced between the three. Ultimately, I feel like Valerio grew enough to earn his “happy” ending helping Carla run the wineries and also pissing off Teodoro.

Caye also figured out FINALLY that money doesn’t equal happiness. I’m glad Polo broke up with her, and that she works as a cleaning lady like her mother did at Las Encinas. She helped a murderer, and in the end, she got an ending that I thought she deserved. I enjoyed her bonding with Rebe though after Polo died. They should date. The fraudster and “Narco Barbie” would be a match made in heaven in season 4.

Polo got his forgiveness, and he was fully charged with the murder of Marina posthumously. Alvaro Rico has always done a wonderful job portraying Polo over these three seasons, and I wish him the best with his future endeavors, this guy is a star.

Lu

Lu, Lu, Lu. She is, by far, my least favorite character from the show, and while I did enjoy some moments this season, her redemption arc was lazy and unearned. She never apologized to Nadia for releasing a sex tape of her, and that is what I had the most issue with. She didn’t earn Nadia’s friendship in the way that I would have wanted her to.

Sure, Lu grew. But did she grow enough? No. 

Have a nice life in NYC, Lu, with the happy ending you never truly earned.

Nadia/Guzman/Malick (part 2)

Nadia’s arc made sense to me this season. I know why people feel shortchanged by the lack of physical Guznadia this cycle, but there’s a clear undercurrent of love throughout all their interactions this season, and it makes sense why Nadia would pull back after being so violated in an intimate moment last season.

Malick makes sense for Nadia on paper: he’s nice, a good listener, and most importantly, he’s also a Muslim. However, Malick and Nadia’s relationship crumbles because he’s maintaining a facade: he’s closeted, and interested in hooking up with Omar, her own brother. Nadia is betrayed by this, of course, but the truth is: she wants a relationship that is based on love and respect. She’s done putting up a facade. 

She has that real connection with Guzman, the boy who offers to work at her family’s shop while she works on her scholarship applications, the boy who doesn’t want to jeopardize her dreams, the boy who loves her without expecting anything in return. At the end of the season, when she promises to come back for him, and he starts crying, that is the first time that he is certain of her committing to their relationship--and it is so incredibly beautiful.

Nothing will ever come in their way--not religion, not other people, not time or location. Their love will endure.

Guzman scared me in episode 2, when he kidnapped and tortured Polo. That moment felt so out of character for me, it took me out of the show for a bit. It was detrimental to the rest of his arc this season. However, I’m glad he grew out of his anger and frustration, and ultimately forgave Polo. He’s a supportive friend to both Samuel and Ander, and he reclaimed his “Mom Friend” title in the process. Can we please get the boy some therapy though? Please? Next season? I’m glad he gets to go back to school.

Malick also got the end of the short stick this season, and I wanted to see more of him as well. He deserved more than to be an obstacle to both “Guznadia” and “Omander.” Have fun in NYC, dude, I guess.

Thoughts on Season 4

Considering Guzman, Samuel, Rebeka, Ander, and Omar are all attending  Las Encinas to make up a year, it makes sense for season 4 to include them. Each season is a half of a year, so the also-ordered season 5 would be when they graduate. 

This way, other characters could guest and make appearances when they’re on break from college or something. It will be interesting to see how the show evolves in the future.

Overall, this season was a mixed bag, but I love these characters, and I will probably return to watch future episodes.

[berlinslittlemonster]

Berlin’s little monster.

Chapter 1:

It was the moment where he saw her on the news. His daughter. When he left his first wife because she was pregnant he knew he was doing the wrong thing, but he didn’t want the responsibility of raising a child and take the fact of how his wife turned into a bad human being. Although he wasn’t one of the good guys himself, Andres De Fonollosa just abandoned his family. 

When one day... he found out about his child from the news.  Her robbery was all over the news. She was known as being a professional and an intimidating robber, thief and prostitute. Andres at first couldn’t believe that it was his daughter... It was too good to be true but with all the traits she has, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. How she got away, How she managed to do a robbery, make herself known without face but just a name.... How she managed to get away without even leaving a trace. This girl intrigued him  The news reported that she disappeared and is no where to be found. His eyes staring at the screen in disbelief of what he was hearing, “my girl.. where are you?” he breathed in interest and curiosity.  When the next day.. A knock woke up him from his sleep. Grunting his sleep away, he pushed himself off his bed and made his way to the front door. Hair in a shape of a birds nest. Eyes half open. More knocks were irritating him “I’m coming! I’m coming!” he mumbled before reaching for the door and finding his brother Sergio. “what are we going to do?” Sergio spoke through his anxious brown eyes behind his glasses. “Good morning to you too, little brother. Come on in” Berlin dismissed the nervousness from his brother moving aside to let him through.  “Andres! Your daughter is on the street! Aren’t you the least worried?!” Sergio spoke through shortened breaths while making his way in. “Would you like some coffee?” Berlin once again digressed his brothers worries. “Andres!!” Sergio exclaimed in annoyance of him being ignored. “Sergio! If she has my genes, she can handle herself!” he said waving the coffee pot that was in his hand while the mug was in the other before pouring it. “You see how she managed to do a robbery all on her own! I think she’s perfectly fine!” he placed the coffee pot back in its place before taking his first sip.  “Do you even want to meet her and tell her about what happened? Tell her about how you wanted to talk to her? How much you missed her? Why you left her?!” Sergio said through seethed teeth in frustration. Berlin’s eyes rolled in annoyance and sighed “Don’t you think I would want to find her, little brother? But I can’t! She disappeared! Even the police can’t find her!! Grow up brother!” Berlin now recoiled while holding throwing him a glare.  “ANDRES DON’T YOU DARE TELL ME TO GROW UP!! IT’S YOU WHO LEFT THE FAMILY AND HAVE BEEN IMMATURE TO HANDLE A CHILD!!” Sergio finally retorted in anger. Andres just stared at his brother with a dangerous glare before sighing in defeat “No, you’re right” he mumbled. Sergio just frowned in a split of a second as he saw that his brother didn’t react the way he always would. “I’m sorry?” Sergio asked blinking in disbelief. Andres looked at him and felt tears prick his eyes “You’re right. I... I wasn’t the perfect husband or father. And I’m never going to be now.”  “Andres. You can always make it up for your daughter at least. Find her. Be there for her” Sergio requested eagerly. The black haired father looked away before gulping and looked down at his coffee “Can you help me?” he said not taking his glance off his coffee. Sergio quickly smiled slightly and nodded.  Days passed 

“Sergio! We spent almost 2 weeks trying to find her! I don’t know how else we can do so!” Andres said almost giving up while making his way back inside his house being followed by an exhausted little brother. “No. No. You’re not giving up! You’re going to find her! And you’re going to...” A knock interrupted the younger brothers speech. Andres sighed annoyed before making his way up to the door but as soon as he opened the door.. he liked what he saw “Hello beautiful” Andres licked his bottom lip in satisfaction, towards the long, curly black haired girl with big black eyes looking up at him. “Are you Andres De Fonollosa?” the girl asked.  “Yes. I am him.. and this is my brother Sergio. And who do I have the pleasure to meet?” Andres smirked with flirtation while Sergio waved awkwardly. The girl nodded towards Sergio before looking to and fro between them. “Please, don’t call the cops. But... I’m Alejandra De Fonollosa. I’m your daughter.” the girl said not knowing what else to say. The two brother’s face just straightened. Andres immediately gulped regretting flirting with the girl. Sergio just held his breath in shock as to what he heard just then. “People only know me by my name and not my face. Please. I don’t hurt anyone. I’m not a bad person” she added giving them puppy eyes.  The two brothers just stared at the girl in shock before Berlin slowly turned to glance back at his brother “Or many she’ll find us” he spoke covering up his nerves by being sassy while shrugging. Sergio felt tears brimming his eyes and chuckled. The two men looked back at the girl with sheepish and bright grins before Andres just grabbed the girl and pulled her inside gently. “You’re going to tell me how you did that robbery missy” Andres spoke proudly, holding a proud smirk. Alejandra just looked up at him in confusion “You’re not mad?” she asked seeming lost and confused. “Not at all. In fact... We are in need of another person in a heist if you’re interested.” Andres spoke holding her under his arm. “Andres? What are you doing? I’m not including her in our heist! You and I already breaking the rule of not having any relatives in the heist let alone if you bring your daughter”  “She won’t get involved directly with the robbers, Little brother” Berlin looked towards Sergio. “She’ll be an undercover robber!”  “How?” Sergio calmly asked.  “Yes, how?” Alejandra now asked curiously.  “She’ll be a hostage.. Until we pull her out of her act, ourselves.”  “I’m in!” Alejandra quickly spoke. “No!!” Sergio disagreed “No!! What if she gets hurt? Will you be emotionally stable? Cause I won’t! She’s my freaking niece! I know we don’t know each other that well but knowing she’s blood family will make you and I weak! I know that!”  “Oh come on brother! She can handle herself!!” Andres spoke rubbing his daughters back.  “No!” Sergio repeated in fury. “Come on uncle... Please! I’ll be fine!” Alejandra reassured with an ‘innocent’ look on her face. Sergio just stared at the daughter and father realizing that they are now one... releasing a sigh, Sergio looked down before looking back up at them. “Fine! But you will have to listen to our meetings through an ear piece! You’re not interacting with the others!” Sergio said.  “Done!” Alejandra accepted. “Fine!” Andres subtly disagreeing before looking down at her and kissing her forehead. “I have so many things to say, I don’t even know where to begin!”  “Don’t need to say anything. I know. I uh.. never had a good relationship with my mum... and when I saw you being mentioned in the news for being a mafia member, mum’s face went white... She told me everything. And uh.. I preferred being like my dad than my mum who was a... lying and psychotic bitch” She told him. Andre’s brow cocked upwards “why was she a psychotic bitch?” 

Alejandra looked up at him and sighed “urm.. ever since you left her and I started growing up she um... she used to abuse me.. She didn’t treat me well.. When I saw you on the news.. I knew I had to find you or get your attention in some way so I uh... Made a robbery... Knowing that it’ll get you interested in me but I did not know that you will agree of me taking into your footsteps knowing that it’s a bad thing to do”  Andres’s blood started to boil in anger but he held his breath and calmed down before he spoke “Oh trust me, baby girl.. I don’t mind that.. That’ll just give us something to connect us even more” he said kissing her forehead while cupping her face just smiling proudly at her. “ and don’t worry about your mother... You have me, now. And I’m never gonna hurt you or mistreat you ok?” he gently spoke with a silky voice. Alejandra just closed her eyes and just immediately felt safe. “Thank you, dad” she whispered. “Don’t mention it. Me and your uncle.. Are always gonna be there for you, ok? Are you hungry?” Sergio just got emotional from what he was hearing. He never imagined this happening. but... it was, and he will never change with anything.   “Starving.”  “Good. Now go clean up. I’ll cook you some dinner.”  “Thank you, Dad” she said before hugging her father. Sergio and Andres watched her leave with a smile on their face.  Once she wasn’t in ear or eye sight, Sergio turned towards his brother and smiled “This is a whole new you brother”  “shut up and let’s order us food! You know I’m no cook!”  “Right” Sergio chuckled before grabbing the phone and chose a take out menu. 

[pug-bitch]

That’s not why I’m going (38)

Keep it together

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Drake Walker x Amara Suarez

Rating: some foul language, some extremely suggestive. This is absolutely NOT appropriate for people under 18.

Word count: around 5,000 (oops) (I am on the app right now on my iPad and I can’t for the life of me figure out how to add a ‘keep reading’! If anyone knows, that would be super helpful, if not, I’ll add it when I’m on my desktop :))

Notes: This picks up pretty much where we left off, the day of the Decision Ball, starting with Drake’s POV.

*****

Drake watches Amara as she frantically tries different pairs of shoes to go with her red gown. She looks so beautiful in this color, her dark hair down on her shoulders, curls everywhere. He can’t help but smile.

‘What?’ she asks, grinning too.

Drake shrugs. ‘You’re beautiful. Can’t help it.’

She smiles a little wider. ‘You’re beautiful too. I can’t believe you got ready so fast. I’m already a record breaker, but you have me beat!’

He runs his hand through his hair, his smile stuck on his face. He wishes he could stop time, right now. Just be with her now, and for always.

But she’s right. They have to face the world. She has to show them that she won’t be broken. How could she be, she’s Amara Suarez! Detective Badass.

A knock on the door pulls Drake away from his thoughts. As Amara applies her lipstick, he walks towards the door and unlocks it.

‘Hey guys,’ Maxwell says with exaggerated caution, his hand on top of his eyes and a smiley Michael behind him. ‘Just checking in to see if you’re doing alright. Are you decent?’

Drake rolls his eyes and gives Michael a shrug as if to say Sorry man, he’s always like that, gotta get used to it. Michael laughs. Drake says, ‘Max, uncover your eyes, I wouldn’t open the door if we weren’t decent.’

Max obliges and comes into the room. Upon seeing Amara in her red gown, he gasps. ‘OMG babe. You’re gorgeous! And that hair… As Bertrand would say, Yass Kween!’

Michael chuckles. Maxwell looks at him in all seriousness. Michael’s eyes widen. ‘Wait, you’re serious? Bertrand says Yass Kween? Your brother Bertrand, with the long swimming shorts?’

Amara lets out a throaty laugh that makes Drake’s heart flutter. She says, ‘He saw the light when he discovered Queer Eye, but his closet didn’t get the memo.’ She turns to Michael. ‘You look amazing, Michael. Max’s tux suits you!’

Maxwell beams. ‘Right? I told him he can keep this one. He pulls it off better than I ever did. He gives out some James Bond vibes.’

Michael blushes. ‘Oh please. You all look great, by the way. I feel so intimidated right now, you’re all so comfortable with all this fancy stuff…’

Drake leaps in right away, ‘Oh, don’t be fooled, Mike. I’ve been at court basically my whole life and I’m still super uncomfortable in any fancy setting. It’s just a lot better when you have loved ones around you, to help you through it.’ He glances at Amara. ‘Hey guys, maybe I could take a picture of you to send Amara’s dad? He’d probably love seeing his daughter look so regal and happy, and of course, seeing you two together.’

Maxwell’s face lights up. ‘OMG how have we not thought about it?? Let’s show Jorge how hot his daughter is.’

Amara grimaces uncomfortably. ‘Not sure it’s the point, Max. Plus, it’s a little gross, when you say it like that. But it’s a great idea, Drake. Michael, what do you say?’

Michael’s grin can’t lie. ‘Let’s do it.’ He places himself right next to Amara while Drake takes out his phone. ‘Let’s do the prom pose,’ Michael says. ‘Plus, it’s a nice callback to your actual prom date, who was also a gay man.’

Amara gasps in mock shock and nudges Michael’s elbow. ‘How dare you talk about Adrian?’ She says in an exaggerated manner. They both laugh. ‘Well,’ Amara adds, ‘at least I look less like a cream puff than I did on my quinceañera…’

Drake glances at Maxwell and they share a knowing look, both happy and relieved to see Amara and Michael reunited, and acting like siblings. ‘Alright guys,’ Drake says, ‘smile!’

*****

Jorge is busy painting with his granddaughter, and he barely hears the ping of his phone. Callie is growing up so fast, and she looks so much like her father, that Jorge wants to soak up every second with her. The little girl is not one for staying inside the lines, but Jorge is a patient grandpa. He shows her how to follow the curve of the puppy drawing with her crayon, again and again, until she’s happy with what she’s colored.

‘Jorge!’ Nancy cries out. ‘Your phone is beeping!’

He rolls his eyes in an exaggerated manner, making Callie laugh. ‘Grampie, your eyes are crazy,’ she says through giggles.

He sighs and gets up, his back bothering him slightly. ‘Alright, let me go see what’s going on, sweetheart!’

He meets Nancy halfway and she hands him his phone. ‘I think it’s Amara,’ she says with a wide grin.

Jorge puts on his reading glasses, forced to admit that they do help him see better. He opens his texts.

Papi, Michael surprised me in Cordonia! All is well, we talked, we love and miss you. Give our love to Callie and Nancy. Attached is a picture of us, getting ready for a ball! Xo Amara and Michael.

Before he knows it, a light sob escapes his body. He didn’t mean for it to come out, he really didn’t. Now Nancy is looking at him worriedly. Fat tears are forming in his eyes as he stares at the picture of his kids who have forgiven each other. Unable to say anything yet, he gestures for Nancy to come look at the picture too. She gasps.

‘Honey, they look adorable. This is so great!’ she says, tears in her eyes.

Jorge takes a deep breath and kisses his wife on the cheek. How blessed is he? His Sergio must be so happy, watching over them. ‘Callie, sweetie,’ Jorge finally says. ‘Wanna see a picture of Daddy and Auntie?’

*****

Amara is sitting in the back of Bertrand’s car, with Drake next to her, and Hana in the front. Olivia is riding with Maxwell and Michael.

‘Is everyone doing ok?’ Bertrand asks, probably perturbed by the silence.

Hana responds first. ‘I’m fine, thank you Bertrand. Just anxious to see the end of tonight!’

Amara is too. She nods and turns to Drake, who offers her a smile. They agreed to stick around Ramsford and possibly the cabin in Portavira once the evening is over, for a few more days, while Michael is still in Cordonia. Then, they’ll keep a low profile and travel around Europe, away from the spotlight, the time for everyone to forget all about her and any impact she ever had on Liam. They will try to find Savannah. Then, when things have calmed down, they will resurface and tell Liam about their relationship. Drake told her earlier that he’s not sure there’s anything to salvage in terms of his friendship with Liam, but Amara doesn’t want to jeopardize it. After all, they have been friends for a long time, there’s always something to salvage.

After all, she didn’t think there was anything to salvage between Michael and herself. Look at them today.

Amara silently hopes Hana will stick around, too, although she’s pretty sure her friend will be headed to London to see a certain someone again.

As much as Amara is happy that the competition is almost over, a bittersweet feeling invades her. What if it’s the last time they’re all together, here, bitching about the court and its politics?

She shakes her head. No, this isn’t helpful. Her eyes meet Drake’s again, and he gives her a reassuring smile, as if he’d been in her head, reading her thoughts. She takes his hand, briefly, and squeezes it.

‘Here we are!’ Bertrand proudly announces.

Amara takes a deep breath and gets out of the car, after one last longing look shared with Drake.

*****

‘Holy shit,’ Michael whispers. ‘It’s even more opulent than yesterday.’

Maxwell smiles. ‘Yeah, they really went all out for the Decision Ball. Hey, have some champagne!’ He hands a flute to Michael, and one to Amara, before swiping one for himself.

Amara drinks hers nervously. She should mingle, but her heart’s not in it.

‘Hello, Maxwell,’ she hears an unknown voice behind her. ‘Long time no see, you old bitch!’

Maxwell’s eyes widen. ‘Leo! Hi! I had no idea you were here!’ The two men hug. Amara has heard so much about Leo, Liam’s older brother, that she feels like she should have recognized him solely from the way he greeted Max. Also from his looks - Leo seems to be chiseled from bronze, from head to toe. Wavy golden hair, sort of like a young Hercules, and a smile that has probably made a lot of panties drop.

Leo pats Maxwell on the back. ‘I heard about your coming out. It was really badass, man, congrats!’

Maxwell smiles. ‘Thanks, Leo. I appreciate it. Hey, let me introduce you--’

‘Amara Suarez, right?’ Leo interrupts, offering her his hand to shake. She complies.

‘Um, yes, nice to meet you.’

He brings her hand to his lips and kisses it. Amara has to stop herself from grimacing. ‘VERY nice to meet you,’ he says in a voice that is supposed to be sexy. ‘My brother did not lie about your beauty. You’re stunning.’

‘Hi, I’m Michael,’ Michael says, holding out his hand. Leo takes it.

Amara grins. Michael is obviously nervous and overwhelmed by the Palace and the whole thing, but he’s in big brother mode right now, sensing that Amara needed rescuing from a creep. The three men exchange pleasantries that Amara does not pay attention to, until Leo changes the subject. ‘Where’s Walker?’ he asks.

Maxwell stops in his tracks for a split second, and responds, ‘He’s over there with Rashad. Why do you ask?’

Leo smiles broadly. ‘I haven’t seen the son of a bitch in a while, so I want to say hi. If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen.’ He turns to Amara and winks at her. ‘And lovely lady. I hope to see more of you later.’

He walks away. Amara frowns. ‘More of me? What does he mean, more of me?’

Maxwell grimaces. ‘Ew. He has become even sleazier, and I didn’t think it was possible. Little Blossom, I have some Purell for your hand if you want. He almost licked it.’

Michael snorts, ‘So I’m not crazy, right? For a second, I thought it was a local custom and I wondered, should I have kissed that woman’s hand when you introduced me? Then I thought, no, he’s just a creep.’

Amara shakes her head. ‘I guess Liam doesn’t seem so bad now...Why do you think he wants to see Drake?’

Maxwell puts a reassuring hand on Amara’s arm. ‘Honey, it’s fine. He just wants to say hi. Besides, Drake can hold his own.’

*****

‘Father, can we talk?’ Liam whispers to Constantine, who is helping himself to a seltzer water.

Constantine sighs. ‘Sure, son. What is it?’

Liam smiles nervously. ‘I’ve thought long and hard about it. I’ve made my decision. I’d like to run something by you, now. Can we go outside?’

Constantine reluctantly agrees. He tries to limit his amount of walking in public, to avoid being perceived as sickly. He can’t control his movements as well as he could, just a few weeks ago. He can feel himself become weaker physically, and he can’t stand it. He certainly doesn’t want his subjects to see him as weak. But his son insisted, so now he’s wobbling around, trying to keep it together until they’re out of the ballroom.

‘So?’ he asks Liam impatiently.

Liam clears his throat. Constantine has always hated when he does that. ‘Father, you’ll be pleased to know that I’m going with your suggestion.’

Constantine can feel his whole body relax. Finally, his son has heard the voice of reason. Maybe he can even cancel what he had planned for later. Maybe it’s no longer necessary. ‘Good,’ he says, remaining completely calm and trying not to appear too excited. ‘I’m happy you changed your mind, Liam. This is the right decision.’

Liam gives him a weak smile. ‘That’s not all, Father. I have a non-negotiable condition to this.’

The King has to make a superhuman effort not to roll his eyes. What, now? And to think he was this close to being proud of his son’s decision. Now he’s about to ask for something. As if it wasn’t enough to have to watch his other son running around the ballroom, winking his way through all the ladies present. King Constantine loves his sons, but he wishes he could punch them sometimes. He sighs. ‘What is your condition, Liam?’

Liam adjusts his ascot. ‘Father, I am making this decision for Cordonia, because I am aware that I can’t follow my heart on this one. But I don’t want to give up on true love.’

True love. Constantine can’t believe his ears. But he has to keep listening, after all, Liam is meeting him halfway by making the right decision. ‘What do you propose we do, Liam?’

He continues. ‘I want to give Valtoria to Amara.’

Constantine’s face falls. Valtoria? To a Mexican whore? Over his dead body. Which, for the record, might happen sooner rather than later. ‘That’s preposterous,’ he whispers, outraged.

Liam stands his ground. ‘Well, whatever you may call it, it’s non-negotiable. I have feelings for her, Father, and I know she doesn’t...yet. But if she can’t stay close, she’ll leave without having given us a chance. At least, if she stays in Valtoria, she’ll be able to get to know me. It will be a lot less scandalous if I have a Cordonian arrangement with a noblewoman. Plus, she has made a great impression on the press, she has made a lot of effort to learn about Cordonia and our history, and let’s not forget that a lot of the nobles have already taken a liking to her, even Olivia—‘

‘Oh, you mean the woman who fornicates with her servants? What a great endorsement.’ Constantine spits out.

‘Father,’ Liam says calmly, ‘I’m not asking for the moon. I’m asking for your approval. The duchy is unclaimed, it would just mean that I have to make her a Duchess. It’s been done before.’

Constantine remains silent. It’s worse than he thought. And to think he was about to call off what he’d planned for after the ceremony… No way he’s doing that now. Not a chance in hell. His son needs to see for himself what he really wants to bring to court. He shakes his head vigorously. ‘Liam, this is ridiculous. Everyone will see through this, everyone will see it’s a whim.’

‘Valtoria needs a Duke or Duchess, and I found you one,’ Liam says firmly. ‘I don’t think it’s that much to ask for you to just say yes. Once you pass over the crown to me, once I choose a spouse, we can work through the details. Like I said, it’s non-negotiable.’

Constantine snorts. If he says no, Liam might not honor his end of the deal. So, for now, he has to make it seem like he’s open to it. ‘If you say it’s non-negotiable, then let’s leave it on the table. We’ll talk about it again after the ceremony.’

Liam beams. ‘Thank you, Father. I can give you more compelling arguments later, too.’

Oh, so can he. He smiles and walks away from his son, slowly but surely. Bastien is standing near the door, waiting for Constantine to make his way back to the ballroom. As he passes his bodyguard, the King whispers to him, ‘Please make sure that what we planned happens after Liam has chosen his spouse. I want it out there for everyone to see.’

Bastien nods curtly. ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

Constantine gets back to his original spot, silently seething. Yes, he will show his son how terrible his judgment is.

*****

Drake sips his whiskey slowly, next to Leo. Sure, it’s nice to see him again, but he can’t help but think that Leo’s excitement over spending alone time with him rings a bit false. Like he’s trying to milk him for information on behalf of Liam.

Leo’s known for a lot of things, and subtlety is not one of them.

‘So,’ Drake risks, ‘How was your trip?’

Leo gives him a dashing smile. ‘It was awesome! I went all around Europe on a cruise, and since it’s ended, I’ve been in Morocco, and then Brazil… Just having a lot of fun.’

Drake nods and takes another sip. ‘That’s awesome. It’s nice of you to come back for your brother’s ball.’

Leo’s smile falters. ‘Yeah, I gotta say, I’m a bit worried about this little bastard.’

Here it is, Drake thinks. This is a lecture on friendship. Oh well, he’s not all innocent in this whole thing, so the least he can do is stick around and listen. ‘Oh, really?’ Drake asks in a falsely nonchalant tone.

Leo nods. ‘Yeah. You know he’s completely fooled by Madeleine’s newly found niceness, and he feels very isolated from everyone. The pressure of being King is getting to him, and believe me when I say I understand why.’

Drake bites his lip, trying not to say what he wants to say, along the lines of Leo, you are the very reason why Liam has to go through this pressure. But this wouldn’t help anybody right now, so he just nods. ‘I get it. But you gotta know that he’s been hard to support, these days. The Liam we both knew is difficult to see, through the mask of Courtly Liam.’

‘Drake, can you blame him? He has new responsibilities, and for God’s sake, our father is sick! Liam needs friends and support right now, not the cold shoulder.’

Drake takes a deep breath. ‘So, I take it you’ve heard that Liam and I have had tough times, huh?’

Leo shrugs. ‘Yeah. He told me that you didn’t like the way he acted with this woman, Amara.’

Drake has to try really hard to remain expressionless. ‘Yes, well, Amara is a friend, and I don’t like to see women being preyed on by entitled men. That’s all. If you had seen the whole thing, you’d understand.’ Maybe, he thinks. He would probably not understand, but it was worth saying it.

Leo raises an eyebrow. ‘You’re telling me you’re picking sides, and you’re choosing a chick you barely know, over your best friend?’

Drake sighs. Of course he didn’t get it. ‘No, Leo, that’s not what I’m telling you. It was just the starting point of our differences, but there’s more to it than that.’ He stares into his glass. ‘Plus, I don’t think you understand the whole ‘picking a side’ thing. If I see someone doing something wrong, I’m gonna call them out on it, whether they’re my best friend or a complete stranger.’

Leo nods. ‘I guess. But Liam needs you. Now more than ever. Think of all he’s done for you.’

Drake’s heart sinks. Of course he thinks about it, all the time. Of course it kills him. Of course he owes Liam so much… But is it a reason to close his eyes on the different person he’s become? Is it a reason to let go of the best thing that’s ever happened to him? Once again, he can’t count on Leo to understand. ‘I know,’ he says sadly. ‘I owe him everything.’

Leo’s stare hardens. ‘Yes, you do. He took you in, Drake. He includes you in everything. Hell, he considers you as more of a brother than me. Don’t forget that.’ He pauses. ‘He needs a brother.’

Drake frowns. ‘Got it. Good talk, Leo.’ He walks away, a knot in his throat.

*****

‘Hey guys,’ Drake says as he approaches Max and Michael.

They both smile, and Maxwell greets him warmly. ‘Hey Drake, where did you disappear to? We’ve been looking for you! Come have some of these amuse bouches, you’re gonna love them.’ He hands Drake a tray of little canapés.

Drake smiles. ‘Did you swipe that from a staff member?’

Maxwell nods enthusiastically, his mouth full of puff pastry.

Drake and Michael chuckle. ‘I just had a chat with Leo,’ Drake says. ‘He came on really strong. Told me I need to be there for Liam. It messed with my head.’

Maxwell sighs and smiles. ‘Don’t let him get to you. He basically licked Amara’s hand like a cartoon wolf, earlier, right, Michael? You can’t trust a guy like that. Don’t humor him.’

Drake nods. He’s still painfully uncomfortable, but he did the right thing coming to Max. The guy’s crazy, but he has a way of supporting his friend like Drake has never seen before. Even the way he immediately took Michael under his wing is remarkable. ‘Thanks, Max,’ he says as he pats his friend on the back.

‘Oh shit,’ Maxwell says, ‘speak of the devil, here comes Liam, everyone smile!’

Drake turns around, and sure enough, Liam is coming towards them, his fake smile plastered on his face.

Michael whispers, ‘Should I bow? What should I do?’

Maxwell whispers back, ‘Relax. Follow our lead, I’ll introduce you.’

‘Hello, gentlemen,’ Liam says enthusiastically. ‘How is everyone doing on this fine afternoon?’

Drake has to force himself not to roll his eyes. ‘Good to see you, Liam,’ he manages.

Maxwell chimes in, ‘You probably remember Michael Hansen-Suarez. Michael, this is Prince Liam of Cordonia!’

Michael awkwardly curtsies, which he probably has seen on The Crown or some other show. ‘Pleasure, Your Highness,’ he says, his head bowed down.

Liam holds out his hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Michael. I’m happy to see you back here again, I feel terribly about the way that you were introduced last night! Please accept my most sincere apologies.’ He does not even wait for Michael to respond, and turns to Drake. ‘Drake, do you have a second? I want to talk to you about something.’

Drake nods, looks at Max and Michael and excuses himself.

Once the two men are out of earshot, Liam’s smile drops. ‘Jeez, this is stressful,’ he says.

Drake nods understandingly. ‘I can imagine. How are you holding up?’

Liam nods. ‘I’m ok. Not completely happy about my decision, but it’s the best I can do, with what I’m given at the moment.’

Drake raises an eyebrow. ‘Don’t tell me—‘

Liam shrugs. ‘What am I supposed to do, Drake? Father is dying. It’s his wish.’

Drake remembers Leo’s words. He needs to be supportive right now, especially since he may disappear after the ceremony and not be there when Constantine actually dies. ‘I understand, Liam. I just hope you can find happiness in any way you can. Honestly.’

Liam gives him a sad smile. ‘Leo talked to you, huh?’

Drake chuckles. ‘Yeah. He made me feel like shit, which I probably deserve. I—I didn’t mean to abandon you. At all. I was just really put off by some things. You know me, I don’t change my mind easily. I should have supported you more.’

Liam sighs. ‘It means a lot, Drake. Thank you. For the record, I didn’t ask Leo to come to you. He told me he might, and I told him not to.’ He snorts. ‘Ironic, huh? My notoriously flaky brother, giving you shit for not being there? It’s fucked up.’

Drake chuckles earnestly. ‘I guess. But you know you can count on me, right? Even if we’ve had our differences…’

Liam smiles. ‘I know. Plus, I’ve come to realize that you were truly right about how I behaved with Amara. And this whole thing with her brother-in-law...how is she doing, by the way?’

Drake nods, stunned that Liam is asking him that when he hasn’t checked on her once since last night. ‘She and Michael talked, she’s doing ok.’

Liam smiles. ‘Good. Let me tell you, something wasn’t right with that speech I was given. I need to look into it. Between this and the way I’ve behaved with her...I owe her, now.’ He clears his throat. ‘Which is why I negotiated with Father, and I’m going to offer her Valtoria.’

Drake tries to speak, but the words are stuck in his throat. ‘Wh—what?’

Liam gestures to stay quiet. ‘Shh, no one knows yet, and no one will until after this is all over. But she’s been a great person through and through, she has made a lot of connections here, and I just thought as a symbolic gesture—‘

‘You are giving her a duchy?’ Drake’s head spins. What’s Liam’s angle? Does he simply want to keep her close? Is that his way of apologizing for trying to fucking grab her?

Liam nods excitedly. ‘Yes. Well, if she accepts. But, from what I gather, she doesn’t have much to tie her to her life in New York. So… Fingers crossed.’

*****

Amara has been hanging out with Hana and Liv, safely away from all the drama around. The three women are enjoying light chit chat and beverages, all three of them choosing to remain blissfully ignorant about the rest of the world, and the rest of the evening.

‘What do you mean you’ve never been skinny dipping?’ Olivia says, a frown on her face.

Hana shrugs. ‘No I haven’t. I’m not saying I’m opposed to ever trying, but I have to say, I don’t see the point.’

Liv snorts. ‘True. Unless there’s someone in the crowd you’re trying to see naked, there’s no point at all.’

Amara is looking at her two friends, a goofy grin on her face.

‘What?’ Liv spits out.

Amara laughs. ‘Nothing. I’m just enjoying the banter. You guys are the best.’

Hana squeals. ‘Aww, you’re the best, honey!’

Liv chugs her drink. ‘You girls are gross.’ She turns her head towards Drake, who is walking towards them. ‘Walker, long time no see! Where did you put Domvallier? Wasn’t he with you?’

Drake gives her a faint smile. ‘He had to take a phone call, but he’ll be back. He said he wants you to save him a dance.’

Amara smiles broadly at the thought, and is about to tease Olivia about her budding romance, when she notices Drake’s pale face. ‘Drake, are you okay?’ She says worriedly.

He nods. ‘I’m fine. I’m just—thrown for a loop. Can I tell you guys something and we all remain calm? I don’t want to attract attention by going outside—‘

Hana puts a reassuring hand on his arm. ‘Of course. Tell us, Drake, don’t worry.’

*****

Drake feels slightly better after telling the ladies about what Liam just announced. He had asked him to keep it to himself, but it’s impossible. The thought of Amara being stuck at court because Liam wants her close… he doesn’t know what to think, how to react, but his gut instinct is sadness. Court always had made him feel inferior. It’s full of sharks. Of people like Madeleine, like the new version of Liam, like the Duke of Karlington, and so many more people who thought commoners were lesser than. Of course, on the flip side, there’s good people like Maxwell. Bertrand. Even Liv. Rashad. But would that life make Amara happy? He’s too afraid of studying her face to see the answer. He stares at his feet instead.

Olivia is the first to speak. ‘Okay,’ she says softly, but firmly. ‘It’s obvious that Liam is doing that to keep her at hand, huh? So the intention is already...not fucking great. But…’ she trails off. ‘I mean… that would give you an opportunity to stick around, and it could be your out,’ she says to Amara. ‘You manage the duchy for a while, you’ll be near Drake and near...us.’

Hana chimes in, ‘You don’t have to accept, though. If you want your freedom over the title and the rest, you can absolutely say no, and I’m sure Maxwell and Bertrand will find a way to have you stay in Cordonia, if that’s what you want. Amara?’ She asks her friend, who is still silent.

Drake finally raises his eyes to her level. God, she’s so beautiful. Her face looks just as lost as his own, which somehow reassures him. They’re on the same page. He wants to take her hand so badly, and out of habit he almost does, but stops himself.

‘This is nuts,’ she says, a nervous smile on her lips. ‘I do love being here, I love you all, but doing it this way…’ she chuckles. ‘It’s fucking crazy. I’m not a noble, I’m a cop, and I’m a bartender.’

Olivia laughs. ‘There’s a first for everything.’

Amara shakes her head. ‘No, if he really does offer it to me, I’ll have to turn it down. Let’s stick to the plan.’

Drake can breathe again.

*****

‘Shit, look at these flowers,’ Michael whispers. ‘And these picture frames. And do you think the sword over there is real?’ He asks Maxwell.

Max laughs and nods. ‘Yeah, it is. I opened a bottle of champagne with it once. I can vouch for its sharpness.’

Michael smiles. He has to make a true effort in order to keep his shit together and not squeal. He wonders how Amara does it. He’s been observing her all day, and she is right in her element, she looks like she was made to mingle with nobles.

He smiles wistfully as he thinks back of the young woman Amara was when he met her, ten years ago, when she was just graduating high school, ready to go to college and take on the world.

Nope, not the best way to keep it together.

‘You okay?’ Maxwell asks, concerned.

Michael takes a deep breath and tries to will the tears to go back to where they came from. ‘Yeah, just overwhelmed.’

Maxwell smiles. ‘I get it. You have your sister back, and you’re in a foreign court, it’s a lot to process.’ He pats his back. ‘Take your time.’

He’s about to open his mouth and thank Maxwell yet again for understanding him so well, but he’s interrupted by a change in the music. There is, all of a sudden, a violin solo coming from the orchestra, which silences everyone, until the King is the center of the attention.

‘People of Cordonia,’ he says, ‘The time has come for my son, Prince Liam of Cordonia, to make his decision.’

*****

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[the-voice-of-hell]

The Septagram

-

-   Previous   -    First   -

-

***

PART SEVEN:

PARADISE

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this bookTM.”

                                     TMAvailable soon on Amazon Kindle!

***

The Queen was in control again, The Septagram was hers, and Seattle was done.  The pink lights of faded halos lit, the orange light of Abalaam’s flaming corpse, and the white light of Amduscias filled the cavern adequately.  Goat boys started to surround people, to lean on them, but Bymaan commanded them to stay their hands.

She straddled the neck of her camel - her throne - and commanded everybody’s attention with hands orant.  “Today I have paid the price for sins of my past.  I mistreated my wheels, Bybaal and Abalaam.  Let me not repeat those sins today.  My judgment is mercy.  Jennifer, Sergio, stand before me.”

Jen grumped at the goats and they quailed away from her, as the two of them approached the Queen.  Amduscias fell in beside them, despite his earlier treachery against Jen’s cause.  She looked at the unicorn in consternation, then back to Bymaan.

The Queen said, “I wanted our shared blood to count for something, I wanted a chance for us to live together in love.  But I can see now that will not be possible.  For your crimes, you must be banished forever from The Septagram.”

Jen wanted to protest, to say Seattle’s name, but she knew it was over.

Bymaan continued, “I know you may be tempted to rebel, to cause trouble, Jennifer, but you owe it to Sergio to allow him to go home.  Please be sensible.”

The unicorn looked at her and blinked softly.  She knew better than to trust the beast now, but it was hard to stay mad at a unicorn.  She and Sergio mounted the beast, and it leapt into the hole in the ceiling to carry them away.

“Now, Jamie Infante and Park Ji-hyung, stand before me.”

The cops staggered before the queen.  Infante glared bullets at the angelic guard, who kept their distance.  Park put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a deep look of concern.  Don’t fuck this up.  He understood.  Whether or not he could restrain his temper was another matter.

Iphigenia walked beside the queen on the right, Cariamon took up a spot at her left.  Infante found it hard to resist glaring at her, but the Queen commanded his attention.

“Jamie, you have resisted this invasion of your land with courage and honor, and suffered more from the hands of my forces than I would have preferred.  But  you remain our enemy.  I expect no less of you.”

“Don’t call me Jamie.”

“Sergeant Infante,” she nodded respectfully, “you will be allowed to return to your country’s lands - to let them know what happened here.  To let them know that The Septagram is here to stay.  If you return in arms, you will be slain.”

“You can’t do this, devil lady.  America always wins.”

Park said, “Accept my gratitude in lieu of his, please.”

“I do, Ji-hyung.  Take care that you both leave our lands with all haste.”

He nodded eagerly.  Cariamon gestured with his rod for some goat boys to help the men leave.  They showed them to the ropes they’d used to descend, and helped Park get to climbing.  They let Infante do that himself - understandably avoiding arm’s length of the furious nephilim.  As Infante climbed up, he looked back to Iphigenia.  She was looking straight at him.

“Madison, Jason, come before me.”

Jason helped his daughter along.  He looked up at the queen with a slightly bowed head, but Maddy was too weary to make such a show of submission.  Her head lolled on her shoulders.

“Your Majesty,” he said.

“Jason, Madison, you tried to take my subjects from me against their will.  It is strictly forbidden.  But you are not my subjects.  In the spirit of amity between our nations - and because the beauty of your love has impressed me - I will allow you full amnesty for your crimes.  I only ask that if you return to your family, respect their wishes in every way.  If you tarry in The Septagram overlong, expect a visit from my legion.  There will be rules for travel between our nations.”

“Uh, Thank you ma’am.  -ness.  High.  Um.”  He settled for a hasty nod.  Words failed him.  The eerie angel with the bone wings came from her side to help escort the two frail humans away.

“Clark Upton,” Queen Bymaan said, “you sought an audience with me?”

Clark stepped past the goat boys and such, took his place before her.

“I guess I wanted to know the score.  Your army made its little announcement with a big show of force.  How can people make an informed decision about something as big as their national allegiance, with goons goose-stepping door to door?”

“I understand, more than you know.  Have you wondered at the source of your unusual power, Mr. Upton?”

“Eh...”

“You are a long lost cousin to every angel in this room - the descendant of love between the Hosts and of Man.  That gives you a place of pride here.  You helped me to defeat my treacherous lieutenant Abalaam, whether you willed it or not, and I am grateful.  Take your time.  Decide if you will join your brothers and sisters in The Septagram, or keep your allegiance to the Empire of America.”

“Well, alright.  I’ll stick around for a bit, thank you.”  He bowed.

He stepped back while the goat boys stepped forward.  They all fell in around their Queen in worship.  Iphigenia looked at the scene in mild disbelief.  What had she gotten herself into?

Bymaan looked down at her kindly.  “Go to her remains and practice this ritual to the letter.  Do let me know if it doesn’t go right.  It will restore her to life.”  She handed the nephilim a glowing pink page, like the one from her vision, manifested from thin air.

Ippy accepted it with great care, and looked up at her.  “This is your part in bringing her back.  You said I had to do something too?”

“You had this power in you all along.  As an angel, your blood can sustain her for as long as you live.  No need for her to take the life of anyone else.  Isn’t that sweet?”

She nodded.  “Thank you.  Thank you.”

The Queen turned to the goat boys.  “Let your Primus know that your legion is now in her thrall.  She is a Knight of Hell, by my decree.”

“Your Majesty!,” they bleated and hustled to make her will a reality.

***

The demon legionnaires escorted Maddy and Jason out to Broadway and abandoned them there.  People and monsters were still ogling the ruins, helping survivors, or chattering in excitement.  They hobbled the opposite direction of that crush, to the south.

Maddy cried, “Where are we going?”

Jason said, “There might still be somebody working in the Pill Hill hospitals.  If not, maybe we can find a way to patch up your leg there on our own.”

“Oh.  How far is it?”

“All this hipster bullshit down here?  Just past that.  See the taller building back there?  That’s one of ’em.  I don’t remember if it’s Swedish or Virginia Mason.”

“So far...”

“I could throw ya over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes, Princess.”

“Don’t be mean, Daddy.”

“Hehe, I don’t mean it like that.  But you’re less up for walking than I am.  How about a piggy-back ride?”

“Ugh.”

A dolphin with sexy lady legs walked up to them.  “Heya!  You need a hand?”  She didn’t have hands, but it didn’t come off like a bad joke somehow.

“No thanks,” Jason groaned.  Trusting one of those demons with his baby was the last thing he was going to do.

“I’m sorry,” the dolphin thing said, and it walked away.

“Thank you, Daddy.  I can’t...”

“I can’t either.  Mom and Kevin are nuts.  The world is nuts.”

“Mm-hm.”

They hobbled along mutely, the weirdos of the world washing past them in a carnival blur.  Past the college the hill turned down some, then again past the QFC.  They came to the northern base of Pill Hill - a lump of hospitals, now dominated by black citadels.  The handful of citadels around the hospital district were very tall, but only about the width and depth of a city block, so odds were good a substantial amount of hospital still stood somewhere between them.

There was a short but very steep length of hill at first.  They struggled and Maddy cried a few times, but when they got to the top, it was a fairly straight gentle slope down, with hospitals and clinics along the way.

The foot traffic never stopped, but it was a good sign - it seemed like people were coming to the area for medical attention, implying there was indeed a hospital open.

They reached the emergency room at Virginia Mason, and it was hopping.  The atmosphere wasn’t quite war zone and it wasn’t quite Mos Eisley cantina, but it was bizarre.  The hospital staff were supplemented with Hell’s weirdos, looking like Jim Henson creations in scrubs.  Jason took Maddy to the counter.

“Welcome,” said the lady.  “Where and how are you hurt today?”

Maddy said, “I have a broken ankle, and… probably more.”

“Any bleeding?”

“Not a lot?”

“And you, sir?”

Jason said, “Not much.  Could be worth a look at the ol’ bones, if radiology’s still a thing.”

“It is.  Give me your full names, dates of birth, gender.”

Jason started to pull out his wallet and the lady waved dismissively.  “Put it away.  Nobody’s keeping track of any of this.”

He narrowed his eyes.  “Is Queen Bymaan a pinko?  Is that how this is all going to work now?  Who’s gonna pay for that, when you start to run out of… supplies… and stuff?”

“I don’t have time for this.  Names, dates of birth, gender.”  She put two very simple forms on the counter, near the ballpoint pen that was chained to the counter.  They surely weren’t the hospital standard, more like something hastily composed in Word, printed, and cut into fourths with scissors.

Maddy filled hers out, then Jason.  He looked at the lady expectantly.

“It ain’t that different from usual.  Now you get to go wait.”  She pointed to the lobby.

They went among the random citizens of the Septagram and sat nervously.  There were no magazines to read.  They put their heads together and quietly planned their escape.

***

Amduscias had abdicated a great deal of power in Hell for the opportunity to come to Earth.  He breathed air, flexed his muscles, galloped across the asphalt wherever the nephilim told him to go.  It was an amusing fiction - the idea of being a simple beast of burden, an object of affection for a horse girl.  He’d keep it going until a more interesting diversion presented itself.

He leapt across the cavernous collapse of the interstate highway, landing on the north side with a scramble, then kept on - throwing sparks from his powerful cloven hooves.

The early afternoon sun was golden and warm, but the unicorn was fast enough to put some cooling wind on Jen’s cheeks.  She appreciated it.  Part of her wondered if she should trace the same path as Rosemarie and the others, up Westlake to the north - just in case the legions had proven less honorable and left them as rat-gnawed bones along the way.  But I-5 would be the fastest way out of The Septagram, and she was sick of the place.

The elevated highway was so weak from recent abuse that it wobbled under a thousand pounds of horse-like demon duke and a few hundred pounds of angel-flavored people.  It stabilized more as it turned into a bridge over the Ship Canal out into the U District.

Sergio slapped her side to get her attention and she slowed Amduscias to a canter.  She said, “What’s up, Serge?”  It was still a little hard to hear her over the hoofbeats.

“This is north, huh?”

“Yeah.  Quickest way out of the state, up to Canadia.”

“They will be trouble at the border.”

“We can go off to some quiet spot and hop the fence.  But I do wanna see how Rosie and John are doin’, if I can find ’em.  What do you think?”

“I want to go to Venezuela.  We should go in as legal, wait as much as we have to, so I can be able to go.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry.  I’m really sorry, buddy.”  Her voice became too quiet to hear.

“Jen.”  He circled her waist more fully with his arms and leaned his chin on her shoulder.  It was a bit of a reach - they were a similar height and she wasn’t small in the middle.  “You know we have a different lifes.  I can’t say we will always like each other.  But I would like if you come to Venezuela with me.  As my lover.”  He kissed her ear.  It was flaming hot, bright pink.

She slowed to a trot, turned to get an arm around him and they kissed.  As she broke the awkward embrace, she said, “Maybe.”

Amduscias whickered in amusement and went back up to a canter without prompting.  Some of the trees alongside the highway had become magically overgrown, towering into the sky.  Some weeds had grown up beside them, to become nearly as tall as regular trees.  The scent of blackberries was heavy in the air.  The crows and gulls steered clear of the streets and buildings, where pigeons starlings and sparrows had become larger than hawks.  Some tiny demons rode them like steeds, merrily jousting in the sky.

It was a new world, and they left it behind.

***

Infante and Park had been offered assistance on the way out of the rubble, but Infante insisted on doing things the hard way, and Park didn’t want to let the guy out of his sight.  They finished the climb a half hour later than Maddy and Jason, with their goatish escort.

The men reached a peak in the rubble and surveyed Seattle.  The sky and land were full of weirdos.  Black citadels still remained - three in a tight cluster at the southwest end of the hill, one beyond it on Beacon Hill, one directly downhill from them in Amazon territory, and one out north on the green woolly side of Queen Anne.

Military surveillance craft were soaring high above.  Would one of those drop a nuke before the cops had a chance to escape the region, make good on their exile?  What did Uncle Sam have in store for the occupied territory?

Park said, “I don’t think they’re going to babysit us on the way out.  Might as well go back to Tacoma and pack our bags.”

“This is ate up, sir.  I can’t fucking stand it.”

“We weren’t ready.  Shit happens.  I don’t wanna wait around for it to get worse.  Let’s go, Sergeant.”

Jamie looked at him with a miserable expression mangling his perfect face.  His lower lip was almost comically pouty.

Ji-hyung shed a tear and worked his own lips wordlessly, tried to press the emotions down.  He swallowed a lump and spoke quietly.  The wind threatened to steal the words away completely.  “We got the murder clubs.  Let’s take that win and go.  Please.”

Jamie nodded and hugged him.  “I will.  I won’t cause trouble now.  For you.”

Ji-hyung kissed him.

A bergamot with court jester legs, bird feet for arms, and a lizard head mocked them.  “Oooh, kissy kissy.”

Infante flicked it away with a finger and it tumbled down a dark crevice into nothingness.  They both flinched and froze, unsure if that would bring down the troops.

A minute later, when it did not, they made their way down the mountain of debris.

***

Iphigenia entered the Cherry Hill Citadel with an escort of legionnaires.  She bid them to leave her alone and they did.  The stairs were worse on the way up than coming down - so many flights.  The afternoon light coming through the slot-like windows wasn’t strong enough to fully illuminate the path, but it was strong enough to make the interior lights too weak to see by either.  It was one of those times of day where seeing was situationally worse than in the middle of the night.  She turned on the flashlight in her shirt pocket and it barely helped.

At last, she came to the throne room.  It was still a shambles, covered in corpses, weapons, shell casings, and bird shit.  She swallowed emotion and walked quickly to the place beside the throne, where Jelly Sue had crumbled.  Her shards were sullied with gore from dead angels.  Would the dust be pure enough to bring her back?

Ippy looked at her hands.  She was clean enough now.  The skin at her knuckles was in serious need of lotion.  The dark brown on the back, the lighter color beneath, the thinness, the protruding tendons when she moved her fingers - all normal enough.  But they were the hands that had made Bymaan the Queen of The Septagram - had ensured Lucifer’s continued dominion over a part of the Earth.

She could think of a lot of people who wouldn’t approve of that.  Churchy relatives shook their heads at her from the sides of her mind.  They were easy, however, to brush away.  She took the pink paper out of a pocket.

The page was covered in archaic and arcane bullshit she would not normally understand, but the meaning magically passed from the page into her mind.  She needed to create elaborate symbols around the remains, chant to the demon kings, and focus her will on the task for as long as it would take.

She looked at the broken ceramic at her feet.  If she didn’t go through with the ritual, she’d never experience whatever spell the vampire had her under again.  She’d be free, be whoever she wanted to be.

No, that was not what she wanted at all.  Maybe a spell was part of it, the vampire spirit using the allure of a pretty doll to get at her angelic blood.  But what she felt was real.  Who knew what that pissed off cop was planning at this point?  Might as well make it worthwhile - and fulfill her heart’s true desire.

She found she could make the glowing lines of the symbols by running her hands over the brick tiles of the floor.  It was still hard work, on hands and knees, requiring a focus she used to need medicine to maintain.  She mumbled the words, the meaning in her will more important than the ones in her mouth.

The sun’s rays grew longer as they poured through the room, creeping higher as the sun went lower.  By the time she was done, there was no more daylight at the level of the bricks - just her magic symbols glowing softly in pink.  Her palms were raw, the knees of her pants worn through, her back and thighs cramping.  She avoided the sight of the remains, her focus on the task - on finding her vampire soul and bringing it back.

An angel looked in on her, then turned away, directing a few others to stay back as well.  She needed privacy.

At last, the symbols were complete.  She dragged herself to her feet against the side of an altar, staggered to the center of the circle - to the remains - and made the final invocations.  “To Zimimmar, King of the North, I beseech you.  To Egyn, King if the Northeast, I plead.  To Oriens, King of the East, I cry.  To Amaymaan, King of the South and Lord of Greed, I pray.  To Korsaan, Monarch of the South, I prostrate myself.  To Monarch Pruchlaas of the Southwest, hear me.  To King Gaap of the West, please.  To Queen Bymaan of the Northwest, the powers left to you in Hell, I need them with me.  Kings of the Corners, invest me with dominion over Life and Death, in this moment I pray.”

She felt her sense of her own body jar out of place, like a fever dementing proprioception, but not as severe.  It was a schism between body and soul.  When she moved her arms, the body took a few moments to catch up to her soul.

Iphigenia fell to her knees over the shards and raised her arms above them.  A white glow began there, and her hands moved into it, caught it like a twig passing through flame.  She pushed it down, not sure exactly what she was doing at this point in the ritual.

She knew she’d achieved some kind of altered state, but that it could be lost with a moment’s distraction.  That thought itself was a distraction that sent her flailing.  She waved her arms, trying to grab the magic before it flew away.  Too late.  She was just Ippy again.

She fell to her side and gave up.  Maybe it was hopeless, maybe the Queen could make it work by her own hand.  She squeezed her eyes shut.  Then she felt a disturbing pulsing sensation within her gunshot wound.  The unicorn hadn’t healed everything in her.

A trickle of blood rose there, raced over her skin when it broke the surface tension at the lip of the wound.  It was trapped by her shirt.  Realizing what it could mean, she pulled the shirt down to her elbows and brought the wound closer to the shattered remains.

Ippy bled more.  Where did she get all this blood from?  Was that her real super power?  She was getting light-headed and ill, so there must be a limit.  She let herself blow right past that, vomited a little, and slumped to the floor in paralysis.

Arms burst out of the plaster and gripped the floor.  Iphigenia couldn’t move to see.  The arms pulled themselves up, slow enough for a head and shoulders to assemble from the shards.  Rows of evenly spaces holes broke across the surface of the bald head and black strands squirmed free, snake like.

The blood soaked through the grains of the remaining shards turning them to red mud that sloshed in turmoil.  The color wasn’t far from the dark skin veneer over the hollow ceramic vampire.  She hoisted her hips out of the shards, kept on, as stiff and clumsy as befit a doll brought to life.

Jelly Sue escaped the grave.  She was facedown, and halfway down the steps of the shallow pool that had been evaporated in the battle where she was shattered, a mound of perfect glossy black ringlets burying her head.

They both lay there a while, recovering the power of motion.  Jelly pushed herself up to hands and knees, crawled to her owner.  “Ippy?”

Iphigenia rolled onto her back enough to look at her doll.  “Jelly.  I’m happy to see you.”

“I’m happy to see you, too.”  The doll laid down beside her owner and looked at her with big sparkling eyes, alert but with no trace of the heavy feelings that had brought her back from destruction.  No human soul.

Iphigenia felt good again, felt right.

***

The unicorn had been an issue.  The border guards tried to kill him and Jen and Sergio barely escaped death in a hail of bullets.  Mounties and American creeps, brothers in arms against the supernatural.  Amduscias did get away, to the land of maple syrup and moose.  After that, the only way to free Sergio was to act like riding a demonic creature into Canada was all her idea.

That was it.  Jen spent several months in a Canadian detention center, waiting for the countries to decide what to do with her.  While she waited, she tested her strength in the cell at night.  She wasn’t as powerful, but still much stronger than she had been before the Host came.  She surmised it was her proximity to Hell’s lands.  They had conquered from Olympia to Everett, with a few dozen miles of DMZ all around.

One day, she was finally and inexplicably freed.  They walked her to the gate without a word, cold, like a scene out of an Ed Norton movie.  Then she saw the reason and smiled for the first time in ages.  Rosemarie was there, wearing dark brown sunglasses and a business skirt, leaning on an expensive silver sedan.

She embraced her friend.  “Oh. My. GOD!  How did you do this?”

“Easy, baby.  Easy on me.”  She wheezed a bit beneath the power hug.

Jen smooched her on the cheek and let her go.  “OK, but you gotta tell me.  What the hell is going on?”

“I’m rich now.  You know how it is.  Rich people get what they want.”

Jen pummelled her with soft little jabs.  “C’mooon, what’re you hiding?”

“OK, I have the mark, right?  So after the dust settled, I had dual citizenship in the United States and The Septagram.  That gave me travel rights, where I could get a cool job.  A lot of money for nothing, ya know?”

Jen crinkled her nose.  “What the fuck is happening out here?”

“It’s a whole new world.  I don’t have enough clout to break your exile, but I was able to get some of your stuff out of your apartment, rented you a place in Portland.”

“The Rose City?  No way.”

“The Emerald City is gone, girl.  Portland has better concerts anyway.”

“This stinks.”  She looked around at the mossy, ugly border burg and its cracked concrete.

“Get in, loser.  It’s gonna be a long drive.”

“Alright.  Hey, did my unicorn ever turn up?”

“Oh my god, just stop.”

Rosemarie shoved her friend roughly down into the passenger seat - which would have been impossible if Jen didn’t let it happen.  Then she walked around and got behind the wheel.

“Seattle’s gone.  It’s The Septagram now.  How am I supposed to feel about that?,” Jen asked.

“Same as my Duwamish grandma.  Shit happens.”

Jen nodded grimly, then squeezed her hand.  “I didn’t think anybody would come for me.”

“Everybody loves you, stupid.”

She smiled and cried.  Rosemarie started the car.

***

Jamie looked at Ji-hyung from across the hotel room.  He was brooding again.  He was trying to come off as sexily stoic, but it was a poor act to conceal deep concern or sadness.  What a nuisance.

“You have got to tell me what’s bothering you.”

“Me, bothered?  I’ve got it all right now.”

“Bullshit, sir.  You’ve been having visions again.”

“Again?  No.  They never stopped.”

“Yeah, well, a new one is messing with your head.  You gotta get yourself squared away, dude.”  He wagged a judgmental finger.  It was at odds with the rest of his presentation - stark naked sitting in bed, muscular body and half-ready manhood way too erotic for such displays.

“Don’t trouble yourself, Jamie.  You always carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

“Naw, that’s what they call projection, sir.”

Ji-hyung was wearing a suit shirt and tie, but no pants.  He took off his underwear as he sat on the bed.  “Is it?  When we got here, you were expecting to get a big debrief and then go straight back to war, right?  But nobody wanted a war except you.”

“That’s not true.  I had a couple of senators in my corner.”  They were in Washington DC - had been since their escape from Washington state.

“And how did that work out for you?”  He loosened his tie.

“You think you’re going to distract me?  This is about you.”

He whipped off the tie and pulled open his shirt.  “It’s about me, huh?  You know what that means.”

“Goddamn it.”

Ji-hyung’s gambit work.  He distracted the young guy with sex and love.  They did some dirty stuff, then eased down into passionate kissing and a close embrace.  They left a sheet between them so they wouldn’t get too sticky.

Jamie was half-asleep.  Ji-hyung admired his face and his body, sadly.  He knew what was coming.  In theory, he could stop it.  Make an excuse to rush Jamie out the door, convince him to go somewhere else.  But something in changing the future paralyzed him, filled him with dread - even if the future untouched was dreadful enough as it was to be.

The clock moved around its lazy arc and Ji-hyung breathed in Jamie’s aura, tried to savor every moment.  When the clock struck 3:21, he said, “You might wanna get dressed, Sergeant.  You have visitors.”

“Wh-what?”

“They’re going to knock on the door in two minutes, give you everything you want.”

“This is it.  This is what you’ve been worried about.”

“Get some pants on, Jamie.”  Ji-hyung pulled the sheet over himself and away from Jamie.

“Fuck.”  He got up and threw on a tank top and some khakis.  The door started making noise as he was just finishing the second pant leg.  “COMING.”

He answered the door without letting them in, or letting them have a view of the bed.  “Senator Chilvers.  I’m sorry, you caught me in a messy situation.”

“It’s alright, Sergeant Infante.  I know you know how to handle a mess.  Can you meet with us downstairs in ten minutes?”

“Yeah.  Yes sir.  See you soon.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Infante closed the door and came back.  “What is it, Ji-hyung?  What is everything I want?”

“Another run at The Septagram.  Revenge.  There’s still no political will to send Queen Bymaan back to Hell, but a secret faction has formed in the DoD that wants to run an op.  You’re in.”

“You saw all that in a vision?  Wasn’t just some pheasants and swords you’re misinterpreting?”

“I did.  It wasn’t.”  He pulled the sheet up under his nose and stared sadly at Jamie.

The beautiful guy flexed and sighed.  “What is it?  Am I going to die?”

“I don’t know.  But I know I’m never going to see you again.”

Jamie swallowed a lump.  Ji-hyung was right.

***

Clark and Thurston wore tuxes, like most nights in The Septagram.  Neither had accepted the mark and neither were completely comfortable about the overtly infernal nature of the realm, but it was the place to be - and as artists, that was where they had to ply their trade.  They were in the Denny Regrade Citadel, formerly ruled by Abalaam, hobnobbing with the elite.

The crude edges from its rise to earth had been smoothed and polished.  A painstakingly installed elevator had made the trip to the throne room tolerable.  Electric chandeliers gleamed on the gold leaf rococo accents, new to the room.  Angels and important humans laughed and drank wine.

The men found themselves alone for a moment.  Clark leaned over and kissed Thurston on the cheek.

Thurston raised eyebrows.  “Are we feeling ourselves tonight?”

“Every night.  But what about you?  Still afraid this is like selling your soul?”

He sighed.  “Well, it’s only a little more obvious than kissing rich asses to keep the theatre in donations.  And at least a nascent monarchy has an art budget that isn’t subject to the vagaries of real estate prices.”

“That’s a fact, my friend.  Want to dance?”

“Performing for free?”

“For fun.  Remember fun, Thurston?”

He rolled his pretty dark eyes.  “OK, let’s get this over with...”

He led Clark to the dance floor, knowing full well the old man would end up leading the dance itself.

Queen Bymaan relaxed on the Citadel’s throne.  It was a sculpture styled to look like a great chariot, horse sculptures suspended from the ceiling, like it was trying to fly away.  Pet giantess fetishists clung to her thighs like nerdy dogs and the ambassador from America eyeballed her breasts unsubtly.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “Do not take this to be the official position of the United States government, but I thank God every day that he cast you down where we can behold you.  You are radiant.”

“I’m still not letting you have the nukes back, Chuck.”

“I don’t flatter myself to believe you’d be moved by my flattery.  It’s genuine.”

She smiled.  Earth boys are easy.

Iphigenia was in deep black coattails and a gold lamé sash over slate grey silk clothing and tall shining black boots.  Her hair was cleaned and braided in front, blossoming into a shiny waterfall behind her.  She cracked the fingers of white-gloved hands and sat at the grand piano.  The band died down and dancers slowed, looking for guidance.

Jelly Sue was in a red satin ball gown that was far too long.  She lifted the skirt enough to walk up a step stool, and take a place seated atop the piano.  She looked to Ippy with a placid smile.

“Warm up?,” Ippy asked.  Jelly didn’t need it.  Her voice never cracked, but Ippy thought it was cute.  She raised a little brandy glass and pinged it with a cocktail fork.

Jelly responded, “Mimimimi-miiii...”

“That’s good, Jelly.”

They smiled sweetly at each other.  Then Ippy raised an eyebrow and started to play.  It was a slow, gentle jazz tune - an original, composed with help from a herald demon or two.  She played with some force to establish the rhythm, then lightened her touch on the keys as Jelly Sue started to sing.

Her voice was flawless, high, but strong.

“Some friends you find

 In a dusty mausoleum.

 Some friends you find

 So dirty you can’t see ’em

Who ever wants to be alone?

Make your friends of dolls or bones

When I need a knife to cut you free

That’s when you mean the most to me

I see you in the darkest hour

I see you and I grow in power

You are the blood in my glass

 Some friends you find

 In the tomb and filthy rubble.

 Some friends you find, and

 If you love them, bring a shovel.”

Clark was moved by the romantic melody, and hugged Thurston in the middle of their dance.  Thurston obliged him with a gentle kiss on the forehead, but never lost sight of the creature on the piano.  Her song chilled his blood.

***

The Homme family were comfortable inside a spacious living room with recessed lighting and puffy beige carpet.  Outside, a cold winter wind threatened snow that never seemed to arrive.

Jason relaxed with his feet up on the ottoman, his lovely wife Heather beside him.  Madison was at the far end of the couch in a ball, watching her boyfriend Braden and her brother Freddy playing on the Xbox.  Grown men acting like kids.  Typical.  At least they didn’t cuss at each other anymore.

The phone rang and Heather got up to catch it.  Jason looked down the long couch at Maddy.  “Your beau is duelling your brother to the death.  It’s very Shakespearean, Princess.”

“It’s Smash Brawl, Daddy, not rapiers in Verona.”

Freddy suddenly sat up, letting his character get tossed into a pit.  “It’s Mortal Kombat, Sis!  Are you freaking kidding me?”

Braden said, “That’s teamwork.  Thanks for the help, Hon.”

“No fair!  Ugh.”

Heather came back and sat on the table a little disturbed looking.

“What’s the matter, Mommy?”

“Oh?  Sorry, Baby.  Your Daddy isn’t going to like it.”

“What was it?  The IRS.”

“Your brother.”

He pointed a finger at her.  “That’s right.  I don’t like it.”

“He said he’s got a piece of waterfront on Mercer Island now, wants us to come for a visit.”

“Why the hell would we want to do that?  I’m sorry, Honey.”

“Daddy.”

Heather held both hands up to calm.  “He’s your brother, and you should at least consider it.”

“That ship has sailed, Honey.  Right out to the Puget Sound and smashed on some rocks.  He can be somebody else’s brother.  Some kinda… goat-faced sunuvabitch.”

The younger guys put down the controllers and turned to face the conversation.  Braden said, “Man, waterfront on Mercer Island?  How loaded is old Kevin now anyway?”

Freddy said, “We should go!  It sounds lit, dogg.”

“I’ll show you lit, if you talk that trash in my house, Son.”

“Naw, seriously.  The war is over.  We can go there and back, no problem.  Why are you so worried?”

Maddy said, “You weren’t there, Freddy!  Even if they aren’t fighting, it’s dangerous.  And it’s just wrong!  You don’t go and get the Mark of the Beast.”

Jason said, “She’s right.  And look what they’re doing with it.  People are making all this money.  They say in the Bible you get the mark so you can do commerce, right?  You might as well just sign your soul over in blood.”

Freddy said, “Psh.  I gueeess.”

He tugged his sleeves down a little farther.

      --The End

***

[blorbosexterminator]

So we are halfway through the finale season and......

Well,

Let my review say everything to you, so, here you go :

Alberto 😡😡😡😡😡. That motherfucker just went psycho, didnt he? Blind in rage & just wants to snatch his daughter like a trophy 😡😡😡😡😡

Man I wish someone would just shoot him, like blow his brains off yaar, you will be doing the world a favour.

Poor Daniel 🙁 He be dumb, but he have sense.

“Where were you, papá?” Daniel asks, leaning against the wall. 

Ooooh the roles just reversed 😈

Senor Ramos, please tell everything to your son, he'll not judge you or else it'll be too late and wont end for anyone.

Whatever it is, I’ll do it. You’re old and you’re sick,” he cries out, not exactly knowing what he’s signing up for, but it doesn’t matter. But his father only chuckles at that. 

“I’m not kidding!” He wasn’t, but he realizes he doesn’t feel any of the excitement he usually does when getting into anything new.

Daniel 😢😢😢 He ready to do anything for his dad (& Monica)

Daniel 🤦‍♀️ please, atleast ask Monica, dude, come on, I know she'll say yes but please just ask her.

I love how Daniel's thoughts go off-tangent from I'm not kidding to hearing Agatha, aka interrogator of everyone's sexuality, complain bout expensive diapers 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Such a mood, bruh, such a mood.

“Daniel!” his father screams, suddenly in front of him. “What have you gotten yourself into?”

“Nothing,” he smiles. If his father won’t let him do it, then he’ll go to Marquina himself.

Senor Ramos :

Daniel :

(The look of every parent when they know their kid is stirring up trouble)

(Also, also, I have a theory :

What if by the time Daniel goes to Sergio, he is about to lead a rescue mission and recruits him (and also Julia)?? 😱😱😱😱😱

Nada, I swear if that happens, like you know a rescue+shootout from an action film, I have a special song that I'll dedicate to it, IF YOU CAN, please make it happen)

Martín has managed to identify the car and get the route through the cctv Silene brought

Hmmmmm 🤔

Sergio is a son of a bitch, but he’s a smart son of a bitch. Together, they could find them. Everything could be dealt with after. He just needs to make sure he’s safe.

*Careless Whispers by George Michael plays in background* 😈😈😈

By the time Martín arrived, he saw Alberto and Sergio physically fighting on the road, in the utter darkness of night.

S2 deja vu 😏

Martín saw Alberto take out his gun, and even with his back to him, Martín could tell he wasn’t merely threatening. Martín jolted up at the first shot, he couldn’t tell exactly what happened or where he shot him, but he heard Sergio’s groan and could tell it wasn’t deadly, from Alberto raising it again.

*stares in horror and fear* *holds breath*

But Martín didn’t give him a chance. The next shot was directly at Alberto’s head. He collapsed as easily as a fly on top of Sergio,

Hang on......

MY WISH HAS COME TRUE!!!!!!!!

Martin, baby, my sweetie, my darling, I am so proud of you.

Martin really went boom boom ciao, didnt he? 🤣🤣🤣

🎶I'm gonna take you down

Oh, down, down, down

So, don't you fool around

I'm gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger🎶

(Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC)

“My hand, he shot through it, did you send him?”

ARE YOU KIDDING ME SERGIO?! WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT ASSHOLE ARE YOU?!

Also, as chemistry student, I just noticed smth. If they threw him in a tub of acid, they would've gotten some blisters from the splashes, so if they dont wanna get caught, they should heal them asap. And also, did they get rid of the blood from the road, car & their clothes?

I can’t afford time, not now,” he paused, sighed, and opened the faucet to wash his hands. “And—” he took a deep breath, “——something tells me that when all of this is over, Andrés and I—he will lose me, and I’ll lose him too, but he—I won’t cost him his brother too,” he turned to look at him and Sergio was standing still, just listening.

He laughed, bitterly. “"It was always either me or you, Sergio. Either me or you, but not both of us. I won't cause him this grief."

WHY?! 😭 WHY?!?! 😭😭WHY?!?!? 😭😭😭

Martin always sacrifices everything and helps Sergio, but that bastard never, ever, returns the favour!!!

My dog : *hands me a tissue box*

Me : *softly* Thank you 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧

Okay, Good Night and I'll see you tomorrow.

Hello again, Kal!

Oh yeah he did, he went absolutely nuts. You'll be happy with the end of the episode then!

The turned tables! Who would have thought Daniel would end up the one with common sense!

No one has to keep secrets, but yet they do. Because it's a telenovela.

Daniel's priorities are his father and Monica and he's right.

Just give him time, he's getting there!

You know you're ready to be a father when you hear diaper complaints in your head.

Perfect reactions, those are the exact faces.

I think you're gonna be happy with what's coming!

She's being useful!!

Yess!

Okay yes I'm proud of him as well. Another thing I wanted to write from the beginning lmfao.

Oh yes, don't fuck with Martín!

The guy just had a man try to kill him agabsh he could be a little jarred.

True, but what are blisters with like everything else happening. Well, I hope they did.

Martín and Sergio really had a moment there, didn't they?

Well, this is like the first time he ever does anything for Sergio afajshhs

Your dog is a hero. Here taking care of us all.

Good night! And thank you so much once again, Kal!

[dannycaing]

JAMICH

JAMICH by Danny Caing Date Written: March 6, 2020

Scene 1  THE INSPIRATION

May 22, 2014, @ GMC Thursday Breaktime 3:28 PM

It was Thursday afternoon I was watching on the youtube channel, when I suddenly came across a program about a Girlfriend Proposes To Her Boyfriend (Jamich Proposal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N29dKoxjHf4) at Jamich TV. I was astonished and heartily touched by their dramatic performances.  I thought this was just one of their show like movies of Mandy Moore's A Walk To Remember,  Ali Macgraw's Love Story and Lelee Sobieski's Here On Earth.   I was sad to know that Jam has lung cancer. Right there on then,  I wrote the song Sabi Mo Mahal Mo Ako, and later I change the title of the song called JAMICH for Jam Sebastian and Mich Liggayu Love Team.  

Scene 2  THE FIRST OFFICIAL PERFORMANCE

July 19, 2014, @ Funky Monkey Bar, Q.C. Saturday 8:32 PM

Laykern Wredd of RADYO Band contacted me on the phone and invited me to join the PINOY WOODSTUCK gig event, a night with Arts show and Musical Talents of the underground bands like Howler Flowers, Roy Antonio, Alasmedya, Malaya, Trigger Happy, Lnguaje, ANO-Pilipinas, Earpens, and an American Wallpaint Artist - RAVEN. Good music, vibes, and drinks. This was the first time I sang the song Jamich live in public.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL306WwHhsc

Scene 3  THE RECORDING SESSION

August 21, 2014, @ Funky Monkey Bar, Q.C., Thursday 8:23 PM

"REMEMBER... IT'S ALL ABOUT HISTORY" by Proud & Loud Production and Rakrakan Na Tayo, featuring - Lazaro, Radyo, Laculus, Kashmir, Godzilla Versus Tokyo, Hoodlum, Danny Caing, Earpens and MAIA.  

It was Norman Buena, the drummer of Hoodlum, who suggested to write as many songs as I can, record them and then post them on the internet. At that time I have composed 70 songs in which I was able to create an album called Spiral Echoes that consists of 39 songs. So, I told him that I have this new song Pila Dito Pila Doon, which might be a first good try for serious recording. After two months, we were able to set an appointment date for recording at Audiofonix Recording Studio on October 17, 2014, Friday 2:38 PM. The Studio was managed & owned by Gino Rafael of Trapeze Band. During the recording session, Norman, as the Recording Editor, proposed to me to record Jamich instead of Pila Dito Pila Doon. It took us 45 minutes to finalize Jamich acoustic song track, and then we have some pizza & drinks. I got the mp3 copy and posted it in Reverbnation (https://www.reverbnation.com/dannycaing) the following day. I wish to thank Gino & Norman for this unforgettable experience, it was an honor.

Scene 4  THE MUSIC VIDEO

February 18, 2015, @ Tremolo Music Bar, Mandaluyong City Wednesday 8:32 PM

Khakara Production and Tremolo Music Bar invited me to join the lineup performers on LOVE OUT LAUGH acoustic night gig with RJ Sun, Sacred Foyer, Gibb Capiral, Edward, Theresa Mae, Warren & Carl of Ww Are Living Aahes (WALA), Ruzkaya, Falling Debris, Raffleesia, MJ Legaspi, Talaarawan, Missing Since Thursday, and hosted by Vince Recafrente.

Joeman Papilla,  Manager of Khakara Production, approached me and introduced a young student Film Director, John Angelo Sergio of Tercera Productions under VIDPROD class from Asia Pacific College, requested that his team plans to make a music video of my Jamich song as their midterm project and without hesitation, I immediately approved his request.

JOHN SERGIO:  What can we give you in exchange for this favor?

DUKE:  Nothing,  John.  I am just happy to know that you are going to make a music video of Jamich.  It's awesome.

JOHN SERGIO:  Thank you so much, Sir Duke.  We will invite you once the music video is premiered in our school.

DUKE:  I wish I could sing this song to Jam,  you know.

JOHN SERGIO:  That could be arranged, Sir Duke.  Jam family is our neighbor and friend.

From that moment,  I never thought John was serious about what he just told me.  I can never forget this brief meeting.

JAMICH Music Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjwSNx4tJrQ

Scene 5  THE UNEXPECTED MEETING WITH JAM

February 21, 2015, @ Mang Rudy's Grill Makati on February 21, 2015 Saturday 8:32 PM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyvvfgH3ptc

5 PM: I have a big event that night, BAWAL SIMANGOT by Red Button Production, performing live with one of my favorites underground artists- Peso Movement,  Jose At Musika,  Consolidar,  Black Wolf Gypsies,  Tree Of Soul,  Crab And Corn,  Danny Caing,  Injent,  Fiasco project,  Induljencia,  A Series Of Fractions,  Lem David,  Izkala,   WetDogi, and Blackboard.  

While I was rehearsing in my room and preparing my things for tonight's gig show,  my cellphone rang.

JOHN SERGIO: Good afternoon, Sir Duke. I have good news for you. We have arranged your meeting with Jam tonight at 6 PM,  please be there on time in the lobby of St. Luke Hospital in Global City. My mother will meet you there.

DUKE:  Wow!  Thank you so much,  John.  God is good all the time.

JOHN SERGIO: Please don't forget to bring your guitar and a letter to Jam.  I told them that you are going to sing your song Jamich to Jam. Good luck and God bless.

6 PM @ St. Luke's Hospital, Global City Saturday

When I arrived in the lobby at St. Luke,  Mrs. Elvi Sergio (mother of John) was already there to meet me and escorted me to Jam's room.  I could not believe that I will be meeting Jam Sebastian, one of the leading men on the very popular indie film called JAMICH at YouTube. Inside the room, there were few guests, close friends & relatives of the family including Jam's mother Ma'am Maricar. Later, Mrs. Charilyn Pajo (who arranged this meeting through Ma'am Elvi) and her daughter Maria Isabel arrived with 2 Jamich fans Jalai & Joseph Ahamil.   After giving my letter to Jam, I explained to him about Jesus Words to feel His Words in his thoughts and pray the Lord's Prayer. We all prayed 3 Our Fathers for Jam and asked our Lord Jesus Christ to heal Jam's sickness. I touched Jam's forehead and asked him to repeat what I was about to say:

DUKE: Jesus Christ I need You. I open the door of my heart for my Savior and my Lord. Please take control of the throne of my life and make me the kind of person you want me to be. Thank you, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of my sins. I love You, Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ You are my personal Savior.

I could not believe I was singing Jamich in front of Jam, I tried to hold back my tears when I saw the expression of Jam's face, but I know deep in my heart, Jam will be fine in the hands of our Lord Jesus. Then, Jam requested me to sing more,  so I sang one Beatle song called I NEED YOU, then the last song was one of my songs LIKE THE TUNE OF THIS SONG.

Jamich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS43eYQbTWM

Like The Tune Of This Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGdo_A1Bxlo

I wish to thank John Angelo Sergio, the Director of the music video JAMICH and the Tercera Production crew who were shooting that day at Hagonoy, Bulacan for making this meeting with Jam possible, John's mother Mrs. Elvi Sergio and her friend Mrs. Charilyn Pajo. It's been an honor and great pleasure to meet you Jam Sebastian and Ma'am Maricar and to all the friends, fans and love ones who were inside the room. Likewise, thank you so much, Mrs. Elvi Sergio, for taking the 3 historical live music videos. This is one of my unforgettable experiences.  I love you all for a million billion years.

Scene 6  THE UNEXPECTED CALL

March 4, 2015 Hightek Production & Entertainment Presents: SWABE NIGHTS VOLUME 7 @ SaGuijo Makati Wednesday.

Guest Performers:  Sentido,  Pop U,  Jeeps Over Taxis,  Suicidal Genius,  Project Based,  Mutya,  Pernella,  Summer Project, and Danny Caing.

7 PM: I was celebrating a birthday dinner with my brother Dr. Dino Caing at Max Fried Chicken in Glorieta Makati. I was also excited that night because it was my first gig performance at SaGuijo, a well-known place for the famous underground Pilipino independent bands & artists. Suddenly, my cellphone rings and it was Goo Aurellia, Highteck Production Manager and Sentido frontman.

GOO: Good evening Sir Duke. Where are you, now?

DUKE: I'm with my brother, Goo. I'm sorry that I'm going to be late.

GOO: Press people are looking for you here, from ABS/CBN. They want an interview with you regarding your song Jamich.

DUKE: Why would they do that? What's up, Goo?

GOO: They told me that Jam Sebastian died this morning.

DUKE (something hit in my stomach): Jam. Died this morning. I'm sorry Goo, I cannot go to SaGuijo right now. I'll make this up to you. Please tell them that I cannot attend the gig tonight. I'm so sorry.

DINO (my brother): Who is Jam Sebastian, bro?

I accompanied my brother to MIA-3 that night instead. I just told him that the gig show was postponed.  When my brother entered the Departure Area.  I took a taxi home,  while on the way to Skyway,  I prayed 3 Our Father for Jam's soul to rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jam was just almost 29 years old. Life goes on.

Music Background: "Jamich" by Danny Caing https://soundcloud.com/dannycaing/jamich-by-danny-duke-caing

All Rights Reserved Copyrighted @ 2020 Wonderful Stories Limited

[footballerimaginess]

A Crush

Would you be able to write a request about Sergio ramos if possible please? You're one of his team mates sister ( you pick who ) and he's always had a crush on you. I was at my brother's house playing with my nieces. Alba was sitting on my lap as we sat out in the sun together. "You need to visit me more often, this one misses you" Gareth pinches his daughters cheeks causing to squeal and wriggle out of my arms. "Me too, I miss you all" I sighed thinking about how I barely got to see my family. Gareth Bale was my brother and I often flew over to see my family I felt as if I didn't see him enough due to being in Wales. I was so annoyed that I couldn't see them all enough. I was missing so much of the girls growing up. "The boys have been asking for you, hoping you haven't made an impression on any of them. I don't want you being with the boys" I rolled my eyes. "Really who was asking for me then" I laughed and blushed at the thoughts of someone fancying me. "Well that isn't what I said, someone was just asking" Gareth winked. Okay okay. But can I come training with you? Its been a while" "Yeah you can come, want to get ready now?" I nodded as I kissed Alba's cheek as she ran off to see Nava. "Bye everyone" I shouted as me and Gareth headed out to the training ground. "Its been so long since I have seen everyone, it will be okay for me to come training with you?" I asked him as he nodded. "Yeah it's fine" I smiled. We arrived at the training ground. "I always forget how big this training ground is, its huge" I laughed as he looked down at m. "Yes it is huge, come on the boys are going to want to see you" He pulled my arm into the ground. "Ouch Gareth that hurts" I glared. "Stop moaning you" "Gareth who is this lovely lady?" We both turned around and saw Sergio standing behind us. "You know who it is Serg, its my sister Y/N" I smiled as Sergio leant forward for a cuddle. "Hello again babe" He winked as I turned a rather red shade. "You've made her blush" Gareth teased as I swatted my arm to his chest. "Stop" I hid my face in embarrassment. I knew Gareth was going to be like this, he knew I thought Sergio was very good looking. "Lets go, Gaffer is going to think we are late" Gareth said as we all walked in together. "Meet us outside Y/N, we will be out for training soon" Gareth smiled as he kissed my cheek. I walked myself out to the training pitches. I was greeted by the manager." Hello, I see we have a visitor today. You are Gareth's sister right?" I nodded. "Hello yeah I am. Nice to meet you" I smiled as I shook his hand. "Lovely to see you finally heard about you before" I blushed. "good things I hope" I laughed. "Of course it is" I laughed as he went off for training. As I watched the training, the boys were all having laughs and jokes. "So Sergio it was a little obvious that you thought Y/N was pretty hot" Gareth laughed. "I tried so hard not to comment on how hot she was I did well, but its embarrassing seeing as you are her brother standing right in front of me. Maybe if we got some time to ourselves I can talk to her" Sergio explained. "That sounds a good idea. I am sure Y/N would love that idea as she more than likely things you good looking. I can just tell" Gareth laughed. "Oh my really. This is a little strange, I am sure I can talk to her later on" Sergio muttered as they got back to training.  While I didn't know any of this was going on.

[ironwoman18]

Garvez Moments part 4

Chapter 4: Meet the Garcias

Luke and Penelope had been dating for several months now and Thanksgiving will be in a week.

Penelope and him thought about going to Emily and Andrew's new house. The BAU invited them all to her house but Spencer had to say no because he and Max will be at her father's and JJ will go New Orleans.

So only Tara and her boyfriend, Dave and Krystall and the Simmons were able to go.

They were about to say yes when a phone call changed everything.

"Hey big sister!" Carlos said on the other side of the phone.

"OMG Carlos! I missed you" she smiled at the voice of her brother.

"I missed you too. Last time we spoke you were dealing with a terrible situation and I'm sorry once again I wasn't there for you" he said with a sad voice.

"Oh don't worry silly. I love you and you know I would never be upset with you"

"I know" she smiled and could imagine his smile as well "I was calling you to invite you to come over for Thanksgiving. You can come with your boyfriend if you want to"

She bit her lower lip "and there will be Manny and Eddie?"

"Yeah. I invited them too oh and Ralphie"

She sighed softly and looked at Luke feeding Roxie and Sergio "let me talk with Luke about it and I will call you back"

"Umm... Sure no problem" they hung up and she walked to Luke.

He looked at her and got worry "Chica? You ok?" He walked to her in case she fainted at any second so he could catch her.

"Y...yeah" she sat down and looked at him "my brother Carlos want us to go to California for Thanksgiving"

Luke sat down next to her "do you want to go?"

"I'm not sure. Carlos and I fixed everything after the Believers kidnapped me and Reid but my other brothers... I don't know if they will forgive me for letting the man who killed our parents go"

"If they mess with you. I will be there for you" he held her hand softly and squeezed it "and that's a promise"

"I know my love but I would hate to see my two brothers saying bad things about me"

"Penelope. Thanksgiving is a holiday for families and I just want you to be happy so it's up to you" she nodded and kissed him gently.

"Did I ever tell you that I love you?"

"Yes but I love it and I love you chica" he smiled "so... How is California's weather?" She laughed and hit him softly.

She called her brother while he made reservations for their flight and the nursery home for their pets.

Then both fixed their suitcases and they left on Wednesday morning.

The flight was calm as long as Penelope held his hand. She was nervous.

"Luke..." She said looking at her boyfriend.

"Yes?" He looked at her.

"Do you remember what I told you about my parents?" He nodded "well umm I... I lied" she said looking away from him "my mom married Emilio Garcia, he adopted me as his daughter. I was 18 when they died so I never was in an adopted home after they died"

Luke looked at her hand holding his "I... I thought so... Because of your hostile attitude towards me. And I understood because I was the new guy and I learned more about you and I was waiting for you to tell me the true story"

"Gosh... I hate profilers" she said laughing a little "I can be so childish"

"Yeah but that's your best quality" he smiled "your adorable attitude" he smiled "you know I... I booked a room for us at the hotel of the town. I know you or your brother would like to have you in his house but I learned that being in someone else's house, even family, can be exhausted"

She nodded "I understand and I think you took a good decision" he nodded and the rest of the flight was calmer. They even took a nap.

When they arrived to the town they left their suitcases in the hotel and she called Carlos.

"Hey Penelope!" He hugged her "and you must be Luke, her boyfriend" he shook his hand "I'm Carlos, her little brother"

"Nice to meet you man... I heard lots of things about you" Luke smiled.

"Hope they are good"

"Of course, dude"

"Awesome" Carlos laughed "why did you booked a hotel room? I have enough room for you"

"Luke thought it could be more comfortable for us" she pointed at the three of them.

Carlos nodded "I understand, don't worry" he smiled "do you remember our mother's recipe for the turkey? I lost it"

"Yeah I have it in my tablet" she showed him the table "do you have the ingredients?"

"Manny is buying them. And Eddie will bring the drinks. Ralphie offered to make the apple pie" she nodded then they walked to her brother's truck and they went to his house.

They decided to get the turkey ready that day so the next one would be more relaxed.

So when they arrived Manny was already there. He was with his wife and kids. They were playing outside while the Garcia siblings cooked.

Carlos was nice and warm with his sister but Manny was not as warm and sweet as she wished. She knew Carlos told them her decision about the man who killed their parents.

Manny, Eddie and Ralphie were not as compressive as Carlos and they did not know what she had been through the past few years.

She still love them but was hurt by their cold attitude.

They spent that day there cooking together and were agree to met on Thursday at six.

When Penelope and Luke arrived to their room, they took a shower and laid in bed.

"They hate me" she said laying her head on his chest.

"No. They just don't understand why you forgave that man. You should explain them everything. They will understand" he kissed her head.

"I wish you are right but I know them. They won't understand. If I'm stubborn they are more, if you didn't know we aren't related by blood you could bet we are just because of our stubbornness"

Luke laughed softly "yes I know that but... Chica they deserve to know and they will understand. I know it"

She just kissed him deeper and ran her hands into his short hair "you are amazing at cheering me up. You know that, right?" He laughed and just hugged her.

"Yes I know and I'm proud of that"

That night they slept after a good round of sex. The next day they woke up, ate their breakfast and she left to get ready at the beauty salon.

He wanted a little hair cut so he went to the barber shop then bought her a nice necklace he saw and it reminded him to her.

At night they got dressed and he gave her the necklace "I bought it for you. I hope you like it California Chica" it had little cats all around it and was long. She made an excited squeal and put it on.

They went to her brother's house. She was wearing a light blue dress with dark flowers on it, blue high heals and the necklace he bought her.

He was wearing a white dress shirt, dark blue jacket and jeans. Casual but elegant, just how she liked.

They arrived to her brother's house and there were the others with their families or girlfriends.

The night was tense like yesterday. The turkey was in the oven so it was hot for dinner.

It was just a few minutes before dinner. Manny started to scream to Penelope how she could forgive that man who killed their parents.

The other two brothers stood by the other and Carlos was next to Penelope.

"Manny this isn't the right time to do this" said Carlos trying to calm his brother.

"Are you defending her? She is a traitor!" Said Eddie.

"She was the only one here" said Carlos a little bitter.

The other brothers looked down "I wasn't happy about it either but she had been through a lot these past few years"

"Do you want to know why I did it?" She said standing between her brothers "I will tell you. But please sit down" all of them did it.

She told them everything, she told them how she felt all those years and why she could not even return to California to visit them.

The four Garcia brothers had tears in their eyes and after that they all hug her and asked her to forgave them after what they said to her.

She did it and they finally ate, happy and in peace.

"I'm grateful for this moment, I know mom and dad will be proud of us and would be happy to see us as a big happy family" they all raised their glasses with tears.

After dinner they watched football and went to sleep. Penelope was so happy and proud of her brave attitude facing her brothers.

The next day Penelope invited Luke to her parents grave.

"You know this is my second time here?"

"I thought so according to what you said yesterday" he smiled.

She rolled her eyes but continued to walk until they reached the grave.

Barbara and Emilio Garcia.

Lovely parents and friends.

"hey... Mom, dad" said Penelope holding Luke's arm "it's been a long time since I came here, I want to introduce you my boyfriend, Luke Alvez, yeah Latino like you mom and dad" she bit her lip "he is amazing and I love him"

He smiled and kissed her forehead "nice to meet you Mrs and Mr Garcia"

"Oh please, call them by their names"

"Ok ok... Barbara and Emilio. I love your daughter and.... Here with you as my witness... I promise to marry her" she looked shocked and speechless "when she's ready, of course"

She pushed him softly but blushed. She never thought about it but with him... Could be a possibility.

OOooOOooOO

I loved every minute of this chapter and I hope you, my beloved reader, love it too. I wanted to show how her brothers were still upset about her forgiving the man who killed their parents and I wanted a nice resolution.

I hope you enjoyed this. Next chapter will be his family. Maybe Christmas?