#PLUS I worked Christmas Eve Christmas Day Boxing Night New Year's Eve

[waxedpaperdoor]

I try not to be a dickhead just in general and to people in particular - you never know what's going on in their lives or what kind of day they're having, why would you be a dickhead anyway etc. etc. - but sometimes it absolutely cannot be helped. This person I'm not overly fond of but to whom I was being polite said, on hearing that I have a few days off this week, "bit cheeky, that, were the holidays not enough for you?", and the words WELL ACTUALLY rolled out of my mouth like they were on a mission to destroy Autobots 🙃

[justagalwhowrites]

New in Town - Ch. 9: Second New Year

Ringing in the New Year after you and Joel's first year together. The last chapter of New in Town, found in its entirety on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Best Friend's Dad!Joel Miller x Female Reader

CW: Smut :D. No use of Y/N. Age gap (reader is 35 Joel is 47, not a focus of the fic). Minors DNI, 18+ only

Length: 6.3k

AO3 | First Chapter | Previous Chapter

“Sarah, if you don’t stop fucking with that it’s never going to stay,” you said, glaring at her in the mirror as you drew on eyeliner. 

“It’s driving me insane,” she groaned, leaning so close to the hotel bathroom mirror that she was fogging it with her breath, adjusting the false eyelashes for what had to be the millionth time. 

“Yeah, because you keep fucking with them,” you said. “You have to give yourself time to adjust to them. Or just take them off because I’m not spending half the night fixing them for you, drawing the line in the sand now.” 

“You are absolutely no fun,” she said but she smiled all the same. “It’s New Year’s Eve, I want to look extra good. Plus Nick thinks the long lashes are hot and I am ready for hotel room sex.” 

“I didn’t hear that,” Maria called from the bedroom where she was putting on her dress. 

“Hotel room sex, hotel room sex, hotel room sex!” Sarah called back. 

You laughed, picking up your mascara. 

“I don’t think it works like Beetlejuice where you say it enough times it just shows up.”

Sarah laughed back. 

“Fuck I hope not,” she said. “Really don’t want to manifest hotel room sex in front of my aunt and my mom.” 

She said the last word with a drawn out teasing edge and you had to pull the mascara wand away from your face so you didn’t end up with makeup in your eye from laughing so hard. 

“Swear to God if you don’t stop calling me that I will marry your dad just to spite you,” you said once you calmed down again. 

“You’re basically already married anyway,” Sarah said. “For the record, I would be fine with it.” 

You paused for a second, putting more mascara on the wand and looking at her in the mirror. 

“Yeah?” You asked. 

“Yeah,” she smiled at you in her reflection. “But don’t expect Mother’s Day gifts from me if it ever happens.” 

You snorted, returning to your makeup. 

“Better get a bouquet, box of chocolates, the whole nine for holding your hair when you get drunk.” 

You couldn’t believe it was already New Year’s Eve again. The last year had gone by so fast it didn’t seem like it could have contained quite as much as it did. But you’d spent almost the entire time so blissfully happy that it made sense that the time felt so damn short. 

Things with Joel had been going so well before Sarah found out that it was hard to believe it could really get better, but it did. Not feeling like you were hiding from the most important person in both your lives was like losing a weight you didn’t even know you were carrying. Neither of you were dancing around talking about how you were spending your time now, not being careful about what pictures you sent her and not having to just pretend like a huge part of your life didn’t exist when talking with her. 

When she went back to Seattle after Thanksgiving, the three of you started having weekly FaceTime calls, you and Joel sometimes on your couch or at his kitchen table or even in a hotel room in New Orleans once when you decided to get away for your first trip together as a couple. 

That Christmas had been the best you’d ever had. Not that there was much competition but Joel and Sarah both had completely brought you into all their holiday traditions. The driving around to look at Christmas lights with a thermos of hot cocoa, the annual trip to Mi Tierra in San Antonio so you could properly appreciate the Christmas lights that apparently were up year round. When Sarah came back to town a few days before Christmas, she dragged you and Joel to the mall and made the three of you take a picture with Santa. You got some funny looks in line - three full blown adults with nary a kid in sight - but Sarah whispered something to woman getting ready to take the picture and she smiled and nodded, helping the three of you get arranged for the photo. You sat lightly on one of Santa’s knees, Sarah on the other, Joel leaning against the side of the large chair. Joel insisted on getting the actual printed photo and, when you picked it up, they also handed you a candy cane and a small Santa figurine. You frowned at it for a second.

“First Santa visits should be commemorated,” the woman behind the counter smiled. “Merry Christmas!” 

You looked at Sarah for a second, worried you might cry and she smiled. 

“You have a Christmas decoration now,” she said. “But if you really don’t want it at your place, we can add it to the Christmas village at Dad’s!” 

You just hugged her and she laughed, hugging you back. 

That Christmas, the figurine and the picture sat on the book shelf in your living room, right where you could see them from your couch. The perfect image of the kind of life you’d always wanted to have, one that was filled with people who loved you. 

This year, the figurine and picture were at Joel’s because you were, too. 

Your lease was up in the fall and, by that point, the two of you were having a hard time remembering the last time you’d slept apart. You were wondering how to broach the subject with Joel - did you just ask if you could move into his house? Was not quite a year of knowing each other too soon? Did you just find a new apartment and never mention it? - when he brought it up one night over dinner. 

“Your lease is comin’ up soon, right?” He asked and you froze for a second, a bite of enchilada on your fork half way to your mouth. 

“Yeah,” you said when you remembered how to move and respond again. ��Six weeks I think? They want me to decide whether or not I’m staying within the next two…” 

“Have you thought about if you might want to move in with me?” He asked, his jaw tense but his eyes soft. “Only if… you know… you thought you were ready for that. Just figure I’m at yours or you’re at mine most nights anyway and…” 

“Joel,” you smiled, setting your fork down and leaning on the table with your arms crossed in front of you. “Are you asking me to move in with you?” 

“Only if you wanted,” he said quickly. “Not tryin’ to… I dunno… put pressure on you or something. Never tried to do this before so…” 

You pressed your lips together, trying not to laugh. More at yourself than at Joel. Because of course he was thinking what you were thinking. Of course you were in the same place on this. Of course you were both nervous about bringing it up to each other. 

“I’d love to move in with you,” you said once you were sure you had yourself together. “As long as you’re offering because that’s what you really want and not because you think you should.” 

“Oh I want it,” he was smiling now and leaning toward you across the table. “Was considering just taking stuff from your place and moving it to mine, get you in the door before you even knew it was happening.” 

“That what happened to my sexy underwear?” You teased. 

“Nah,” he waved you off. “I stole those to jerk off with when you’re not there because you don’t live with me yet. Can have ‘em back when we unpack the moving truck.” 

You moved in a few weeks later. Joel cleared out most of his closet, his jeans and button downs taking up only a small corner of it to begin with, and built you shelving for your purses and shoes. He made space for your things throughout his home, for your favorite pots and pans in the kitchen, for your decorations in the living room. Setting aside the bits and pieces of his life to make sure it could hold yours, too. If he’d asked you to marry him in that moment, you’d have said yes in a heartbeat. 

“Oh shit,” you sighed, rifling through your makeup bag. “I think I left my fucking lipstick in my room…” 

You went to get your room key from your clutch but Sarah plopped a tube of lipstick in front of you first. 

“Use mine,” she said. “I’m almost ready and I don’t want to waste time with you up down three floors and all the way over to your room before we go to the party. I want cocktails, I want music and I want to flirt with my hot boyfriend while I wear a slutty dress.” 

“Maria is still getting dressed, I’ve got five minutes…” 

“No you don’t!” She called from the bedroom before coming to the bathroom door and turning around. “Zip me?” 

You laughed and obeyed, Maria adjusting the dress a bit before turning back around. 

“Hey sexy mama!” You whooped at her. “That looks like it was made for you.” 

“Right?” She flung her long braids over her shoulder before admiring herself in the full length mirror on the bathroom door. “My pregnancy boobs have shown up but the bump is still in hiding. It’s the perfect dress moment, had to take advantage of it.” 

“Hear that little one?” Sarah said, looking toward Maria’s lower stomach. “You’re making your mom look hot!” 

“Hotter,” you corrected. “They’re making their mom look hotter.” 

You settled for Sarah’s lipstick and the three of you headed for the elevator to go meet up with the guys. 

Your first New Year’s Eve with Joel had been far more low key. Sarah was in town and Joel invited Tommy and Maria over to watch the ball drop. You’d ordered pizza and gotten drunk and played charades with your boyfriend’s family and, at midnight, kissed Joel so deeply that you could taste the champagne on his tongue. 

This year, you had plenty to celebrate. It was Maria and Tommy’s last one before they became parents - you highly doubted they’d be up until midnight next year. Sarah had gotten promoted and you’d gotten her a job at the Austin branch in August. She had moved back to town just a few months before you moved in with Joel and the three of you had found a comfortable - if unusual - dynamic as a family. And it felt like you had finally found everything you’d ever truly wanted. 

Instead of staying home this New Year’s Eve, you all decided to go to a party at one of the nice hotels in Houston. You’d all gotten hotel rooms so no one had to drive and the boys had all gone on ahead to the rooftop bar to hold a table while the three of you got ready to go. 

“Crap, one sec,” Sarah said, frowning at her phone as the three of you went for the elevator. “Left something in the room, wait for me, OK? I don’t want to try to find them on my own!” 

You and Maria watched her run back to her room - where the three of you had been getting ready - and you frowned as she tottered on her high heels. 

“Is she acting weird?” You asked as Maria leaned against the wall. 

“Sarah?” Maria laughed. “She’s always weird.” 

She came back a few minutes later, tugging her dress down as she went and a little breathless when she got there. 

“OK,” she smiled and took a deep breath. “Now we’re good!” 

You were almost giddy as you rode the elevator up to the party, feeling the thud of music through the elevator doors before they opened. 

It was hard to say why you were just so excited. It wasn’t like you’d never been to a party before - you and Sarah had rung in the New Year at a party a lot like this one that your office had handled the advertising for in Seattle one year - but it felt like something new. Like you were stepping into the first year of your life where everything had finally fallen into place. 

“Hey!” Tommy yelled, standing and waving his arm over his head as he saw the three of you leave the elevator. You could barely hear him over the thud of the bass. “Over here!” 

“How many beers do you think he’s had?” Maria asked conspiratorially and you laughed. 

“Probably the same number mine has,” you replied, smiling at Joel as he craned his neck to get a better look at you. 

“Holy hell woman,” he said, getting out of the round booth as you got to the table. He pressed a kiss to your cheek and dropped his voice low. “Not sure I’m gonna take that dress off you later, might need to leave it on.” 

You smiled as he gave you a squeeze and you sat down, Joel sliding in beside you, one hand of his going below the table to the inside of your thigh. 

One thing that hadn’t changed in the last year was just how insatiable the two of you were for each other. You kept waiting for it to calm down a bit, to stop looking at him and immediately start thinking of how to get him alone and naked as quickly as possible. But Joel was still the single sexiest man you’d ever seen and was still far and away the best in bed. You couldn’t help but want to fuck him all day every day. You were just thankful he seemed to feel the same way about you. 

One of your favorite things about living with Joel was your after work routine. When you managed to make it so you left the office around the same time Joel left his job site, you’d join him in the shower, your hair in a knot on top of your head to keep from getting too soaked, Joel still a little sweaty and dirty from a hard day’s work. Sometimes, you just enjoyed each other. You loved the quiet intimacy of it, of being in such a private space together in just your skin, helping him wash the day from his body before he pulled you against him under the water. Other times, Joel pressed you against the cool tile and fucked into you, hard and fast and eager, making your back arch as your leg wrapped around him, the heat of his mouth and the steam filling you when you kissed him. 

The new routines had just given you more reasons and opportunities to fuck, it seemed, instead of sex getting lost in the monotony of daily life. Sometimes it was in the middle of late night TV when you were both getting tired on the couch. Sometimes it was when you were putting away laundry. Sometimes it was when you were making dinner. 

It was just that, sometimes, it required… additional boundaries. 

Sarah had a key to Joel’s place, of course, but she quickly learned that she needed to announce herself before just coming in the door when she wasn’t expected, her walking in the house without warning when he was deep inside of you while you were draped over the kitchen counter was a little too close for comfort for all three of you. 

“I have literally never wanted to know less about your sex life,” she shuddered a few hours later when you were sitting in Joel’s back yard, fully clothed with a beer in your hand. 

You laughed. 

“Never wanted you to know less about it so that works just fine for me.” 

You, Joel and Sarah all had dinner together at least once a week, another routine you’d come to love, and you got Sarah all to yourself most days over lunch, happy for the chance to laugh with your best friend.

You weren’t sure life could get much better. 

“Oh sweet!” Sarah said as the waitress came by the table, tray of drinks in hand, passing a cosmopolitan to Sarah. “Who knew this was just what I wanted?” 

“Happy to take credit for that,” Nick smiled, kissing her cheek and you smiled at him. He was a relatively new addition to Sarah’s life but he seemed promising. You’d never seen her quite so giddy over a guy before and you were trying not to mention it so you wouldn’t jinx it. 

When she finally owned up to being hung up on the man, though, you were going to start teasing her as relentlessly as she’d been teasing you. You were getting double wedding jokes lined up and ready, waiting for the perfect moment to hit her with it. 

But it was a holiday. You’d take it easy on her for a little while longer. Assuming she stopped calling you Mom. 

Joel had been paying attention too, it seemed, and the server handed you a mojito. Appropriate, since you’d just been lamenting the fact that you didn’t have fresh mint at home just two nights before. 

“How often are you really gonna muddle mint for a drink?” Joel asked, barely contained smile on his face. 

“At least once in a while!” You laughed. “Come on, we could do a whole herb garden in the yard…” 

“You are not gonna keep a garden alive.” 

“Yes I will!” You protested. He raised his eyebrows at you, incredulous. “If I have the motivation of cocktails I will.” 

“Fine,” he sighed but still smiled, kissing your forehead. “In spring I’ll build you a garden and you can kill as many herbs as you want, Beautiful.”

“Is this supposed to bribe me into you not making me a garden?” You teased, taking a sip of the drink. 

“Baby, I will make you whatever makes you smile,” he kissed your exposed shoulder. “But if I’m saving the lives of some poor, innocent plants by ordering you a cocktail…” 

You laughed and kissed him, the scratch of his facial hair on your skin comforting and familiar. 

The party really picked up not long after you got there and you, Sarah and Maria went to dance while the guys hung back to talk for a bit. 

“You don’t think they’re being too hard on him do you?” Sarah asked, watching the table. 

“Oh I’m sure they’re being super nice,” you said. “Joel and Tommy have never been protective of you, not once.” 

“Oh God,” she groaned but she smiled. 

“Wouldn’t worry too much,” you laughed. “It looks like he’s weathering it well.” 

“Hold on,” Maria smiled and shook her head. “We can get him some help…” 

She started waving to Tommy, who clapped Nick on the shoulder and got out of the booth to join his wife on the dance floor. You looked at Joel, eyebrows raised, until he met your gaze and you saw him sigh and smile before heading your way. 

You put your arms around his neck and kissed him, pressing tightly to him and feeling every line of him through your clothes. His hands went to your waist, pulling you closer. 

“You tryin’ to distract me?” He asked when you pulled away. 

“Trying to get you to play nice,” you teased. 

“Always play nice,” he said as you turned around in his hold, your ass going back against his hardening length. He lowered his lips to your ear, his breath hot on your skin. “Except when you ask me not to.” 

You resisted the urge to drag him back to your hotel room right that second. Instead, you pressed yourself harder against him, moving your body in time to the pulsing, thrumming rhythm. His hands slid to your hips and you couldn’t help but think of how they felt on your bare skin. 

But you managed to keep it together for a few songs, dancing until you were breathless and you really couldn’t take it anymore. You draped yourself around Joel again, pressing your lips to his ear. 

“Order me a water and another mojito,” you said, your hand sliding into his pocket, brushing his half hard cock through his jeans, as you grabbed your phone. “And check your texts.” 

You didn’t give him a chance to respond, just meeting his wide eyes for a moment before slipping into the crowd. You went around to the pool area of the rooftop, far quieter than the bar and the dance floor, the lounge chairs all stacked up next to a storage space that looked like it would provide the perfect cover from the dance floor. You took a selfie with just a glimpse of the thudding party in the background and texted it to him. 

“Come find me.” 

It didn’t take him long, coming around the corner while glancing back over his shoulder, looking nervous. You grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him into you, your back against the storage room. 

“You are up to no good,” he said, pressing you back against the wall, his mouth covering yours, his body warm against the cool night air. “Tryin’ to get us kicked out of the damn hotel?” 

His hand went to your breast, anyway.

“We can keep our clothes on,” you panted against him. “Be very well behaved. Like that time in the bathroom.” 

“Fuck, Beautiful,” he groaned, putting his thigh between your legs, your skirt covering part of his jeans. He rocked his hips against you, his hands going to your waist, the outline of his hard cock against your stomach. “Wanna make me come in my pants like a fucking teenager?” 

“Don’t think we’re making it to midnight any other way,” you were needy, aching as you ground your pussy down on the straining muscle of his leg. 

“Still gonna let me fuck you later?” He kissed down your neck, rutting harder against you, your hands on his shoulders, grip tightening. 

“You think I’m starting a new year without you inside me as soon as possible you’re insane.” 

He laughed a little and nipped at your collarbone before pulling you tighter against his leg, making you moan. You started working yourself harder and faster against him, pulling him tighter to you, your wetness soaking your panties. 

“You’re close, aren’t you, Baby?” He asked, voice dark. Your motions stuttered but you nodded frantically against him. “Gonna come all over my fucking leg aren’t you? Come from just riding my fucking thigh?” 

You were close enough that you’d lost the ability to speak. You just nodded again and he kissed you, hard and messy and deep and you pressed yourself firmly against his leg as you fell apart, the tight coil inside yourself snapping as your clit throbbed against him. 

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He gasped as he pressed his cock hard against you and you felt him throbbing there, spilling into his jeans before slumping against you. His nose brushed yours for a moment and you smiled, kissing him lightly. 

“You’re going to kill me,” he laughed a little breathlessly. “More than a year into this and you still want me to fuck you so bad you’re dragging me away from a party?” 

“That’s nothing,” you teased. “Wait until we’re really old and we’re finding ways to sneak around the nursing home.” 

He laughed and kissed you again. 

“Love you so fuckin’ much.” 

It was easier to focus on the party after that. Tommy gave Joel a look when you made it back to the table and Joel told him to mind his own business and you laughed and drank your mojito. 

By the time midnight rolled around, you’d been pleasantly tipsy for more than an hour, draping yourself over Joel at every opportunity when you weren’t dancing with Sarah and Maria. As the countdown started, the six of you crowded onto the dance floor with everyone else, champagne in hand, Joel’s arm around you as he held you to his side. 

“Three, two, one!” 

Joel turned you to him and kissed you before you’d even had a chance to yell happy New Year and you sank into him, almost forgetting about the drink in your hand until some of it dribbled down your wrist, making you laugh against his lips. 

“Couldn’t let a second of the year go by before I kissed you for the first time,” he said, his lips still close to yours. The knot of heat and wanting that had eased after your antics earlier was back with full force. 

“Good,” you said quietly, drinking in the hungry look in his eyes. 

“It’s supposed to be a toast, you insatiable weirdos,” Sarah laughed and you laughed back, separating from Joel far enough to raise your glasses and toast with your new found family. 

It wasn’t long before all of you made your way to the elevators, piling into one with a handful of strangers, you happy for the excuse to stay pressed tightly against Joel. 

“Good luck!” Tommy said, a teasing edge to his voice when the doors dinged open on your floor. 

You frowned at him, confused, as the doors closed and you laughed a little as Joel led you back to the room. 

“Why do you need luck? Is Tommy under the impression that you have to work to get sex out of me?” You teased. “Because it’s sweet that you’d protect my honor that way but we both know that’s a damn lie.” 

“Tommy’s just a dumbass,” Joel replied. “Ignore him, that’s what I do.” 

You laughed, the tail end of your buzz waning. 

“Thinking we should take full advantage of that jacuzzi tub,” you said as Joel unlocked the hotel room door. “And use it to research the investment of a hot tub in the back yard…” 

“You’re insatiable,” he teased, opening the door for you. 

You laughed and were so busy looking at him - his thick, dark hair that was flecked with gray; his plush lips; his soft eyes - that it took you a second to realize there were roses and petals all over the room, a bottle of wine chilled in a bucket on the small table. 

“Joel?” You looked back at him and he just shrugged, smiling. 

You went further into the room and realized that it wasn’t just flowers and wine. There were framed pictures of you and Joel from the last year of your lives together. One of the two of you on Bourbon Street, another from when you decided to actually take those wine tasting classes you’d talked about, one from your second Longhorn’s game. There were at least a dozen, each one making it look so, so obvious that you made each other happy. That you gave each other the lives you wanted. 

You picked up the picture by the bedside, the first selfie you’d ever taken together. You were hiking and you’d held your arm out far enough to try to capture some of the view behind you. You were smiling hugely at the camera, hair grimy with sweat, Joel’s arm around your shoulders. But he wasn’t looking at the camera. Instead, he was looking at you. Looking at you like you were the only thing worth looking at. Looking at you like you made him happier than just about anything else on Earth. 

“What…” You trailed off, looking up from the picture to see Joel, on one knee with a box in his hands at the foot of the bed. 

You gasped and jumped, your hands covering your mouth on instinct, eyes wide. Your feet moved before you really realized what was happening and it seemed sudden that you were right in front of him.

“Joel,” you breathed, trembling hands slowly leaving your face. 

“For a very long time,” he said, his voice assured. “It felt like I’d gotten the only good thing I was going to get out of life. I had Sarah and seemed wrong to ask for more than that so I wasn’t lookin’ for it. Wasn’t lookin’ for you. But then I found you - or you found me, anyway - and I realized just how good life could be as long as I got to live it next to you. 

“You are the single best person I’ve ever met. You’re so smart and funny and creative and kind and the most fun I’ve ever had and I can’t imagine anything better than getting to live the rest of my life with you. Will you make me the happiest man on Earth and marry me?” 

***

Joel wasn’t sure his heart had ever beat this fast. Maybe when Sarah was first born and there were the torturous few seconds of silence before she started crying, not sure how anything about pregnancy or babies worked. Definitely never since. 

But the silence between you seemed to drag on for an eternity even though he knew it could have only been a second or two. That didn’t stop his heart from racing. 

“Yes,” you nodded, your voice thick, tears in your eyes. “Yes, yes, yes, yes yes!” 

You damn near tackled him and he laughed, catching you and holding onto you as he lowered the two of you to the ground on a bed of rose petals. 

Joel, Tommy and Nick had been in here getting everything set up while Sarah and Maria kept you busy in Sarah’s room. There was a brief moment of panic when Sarah texted that the three of you were headed to the party and Joel had to ask her to buy at least two minutes because they were walking to the elevator themselves. 

“I’m so happy for you, man,” Tommy said, clapping Joel on the shoulder as they headed up to the party. “You deserve this, you really fuckin’ do.” 

“She ain’t said yes yet,” Joel said, feeling the nerves all sudden and hot under his skin. “Don’t jinx it.” 

“She’ll say yes,” Tommy said, sounding so confident. “Don’t ask me WHY but that woman adores you. She’s gonna love it.” 

He hoped you did. He hoped you loved the idea at all, that you loved the proposal, that you loved the ring. Sarah had helped pick that part out so he was more confident of that, finding a piece that was elegant without looking dated, something that he hoped you’d like wearing for the rest of your life. 

Because that’s what he wanted. He wanted you, wanted to make you happy, for the rest of your life. 

He slid the ring onto your finger, the diamond catching the light as he did. 

“Are you serious?” You asked, looking from the ring to him. 

“Serious about spending the rest of my life with you?” He asked. “Can’t think of anything better.” 

You threw your arms around his neck and kissed him, hard and needy. He leaned into it for a moment before he pulled back from you. 

“Should move to the bed,” he breathed. “Gotta treat my fiancee right.” 

You just nodded quickly and Joel got up before helping you to your feet. 

He tugged your dress up and over your head - as much as he wanted to fuck you in the sexy little thing you’d been tempting him with all night, the need to feel your skin was too great - and eased you down onto the bed. 

You moved to the middle of it and Joel got undressed, his eyes watching you hungrily, the glint of his ring on your finger making him somehow even harder. You removed your bra and cast it aside before you slipped your panties down your legs and tossed them to the side, leaving you exposed and bare. You were everything it seemed like he’d ever wanted and you were his, the proof of it right there on your hand. He fisted his cock, pumping himself once, twice, as he climbed between your legs. 

He wanted to make this last. He wanted to go down on you and swallow your pleasure until you were screaming with it. He wanted to kiss every inch of your skin. He wanted to tease you with his fingers until you were begging for his cock. But he wasn’t sure he could, not that moment. He had a feeling you wouldn’t be leaving the bed for a few days after this.

“Joel,” you panted, watching him, pupils blown and back arched. He smiled. For some reason, you wanted him like he wanted you. 

“Yes, Mrs. Miller?” He breathed, settling between your open legs, the apex of your thighs hot against his skin. You moaned and rocked your hips up against him, your needy little clit pressing into his skin. 

“Fuck,” you moaned, closing your eyes, fingers gripping his bicep tightly. “Love the sound of that…” 

“You have no idea, Beautiful,” he said, kissing you, grinding his cock against your dripping slit. You moaned, the movement of your hips stuttering for a moment before you adjusted the angle so the tip of him was catching on your entrance with ever pass, just enough for the most sensitive part of him to be enveloped in your tight, wet heat. 

“Need you,” you were almost gasping with it, desperate and wanting. “Please, please, need to feel you, I need…” 

“Always going to give you what you need, Baby,” he said, his cock dipping further into you this time before he pulled back and pushed himself against your clit again. “Always gonna take care of you, always.” 

He pushed into you then, firm but not to fast, your breath catching on your throat as he did. Joel kissed you, trying not to think about how damn good you felt, how it seemed like he belonged right there, deep inside you. 

“Fuck,” your nails dug into him but he held on. “Fuck, you feel so fucking good how do you feel this fucking good?” 

He could only moan in response, fucking into you, feeling you open up to him, your walls gripping him tight. He stayed still inside you for a moment, savoring it, the feeling of you around him while he was over you, the way you held onto him. 

But he couldn’t last that way for long. You - his fiancee. His fiancee, no one else’s, you belonged to no one but him - felt too damn good for him to last too long inside of you and he had to move, he had to. 

So he did, starting a little slower but still firm, pressing his hips into you so your hot little clit was against his skin. 

He could feel you starting to tighten around him, like your body was trying to pull him deeper somehow, your lips messy and desperate when they found his, trialing little kisses over his body when they don’t. 

“That’s it, Beautiful,” he panted into you. “Come for me, can feel how close you are, just let go for me, let me feel you. Need to feel you…” 

You gasped his name and pressed your whole body tight against him as you came around him, your pussy fluttering around him, working his cock, all warm and soft trying to pull him as deep as you could take him. He fucked you through it, hardly able to hold off his own orgasm, the aftershocks of yours still rippling through your tight channel when he emptied himself into you until he didn’t even have the strength to hold himself up anymore, collapsing on you, his head over your shoulder so he could smell your skin and your hair. Fuck, he loved that smell. Fuck, he loved you. 

After a minute, he adjusted the two of you so you were draped over his chest, your arms all soft and pliant, close enough that he could feel your heartbeat on his skin, feel your soft, little breaths on him. You held up your left hand, turning the ring back and forth in the light. 

“You’re sure about this?” You asked, glancing up at him as you fidgeted with the ring. 

“More sure than I’ve ever been about anything,” he said. “Would make you Mrs. Miller tomorrow if you’d let me.” 

You laughed a little at that, putting your hand down on his chest and taking a deep breath. 

“Doesn’t seem fair,” you said softly. 

“What doesn’t?” 

“You’ve given me so much,” you said. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted - everything. Feels like I’m not holding up my end.” 

“You kiddin’ me?” He scoffed. “You’re so perfect I have to remind myself that you’re real sometimes, that I’m not just imagining you. You make me the luckiest man on Earth every damn day by just breathing in the same room as me. If anything’s not fair, it’s that I got too greedy asking you to marry me. Should know to quit when I’m this far ahead.” 

You laughed and pressed your lips into his chest, looking at the ring again, twisting it this way and that with your thumb. 

“Make you a deal,” you said, adjusting your head so you were looking at him. 

“What’s your proposal?” He asked, teasing. 

“You take care of me,” you said. “Make sure I’m not getting too overwhelmed or overdoing it at work or just getting too in my own head. I’ll take care of you, make sure you take time for yourself, make sure you relax, make sure you know how great you are. Deal?” 

He smiled a little. 

“Deal, Mrs. Miller.” 

You smiled bigger. 

“Excellent, Mr. Miller.” 

He kissed your forehead. 

“Don’t have to change your last name, you know,” he said, giving you a squeeze. “I can always just call you that for my own damn enjoyment without making it official.” 

You laughed a little. 

“No, I want to change it,” you said. “Sarah was right all along. I think I’m going to make a great Miller.” 

A/N: Ahhh! I hope you all loved reading the story of Joel and Sarah's best friend as much as I loved sharing it! These two are so fun and so sweet, I'm so glad I got to give them the happy ending they deserved.

Thank you so so much for being here, for following along with this little story that started as a one shot based on a request that came in after I wrote another one shot as a request. I so appreciate that you're here, that you've spent your time with this fic and these characters and all of your support. This corner of the internet means everything to me and it's because you're a part of it <3 Love you!

Taglist: @fanficismydrug

[bettyfrommars]

Hi Betty hiiii. I was wondering as we travel full speed into the holiday season, are their any nightmare factory traditions (or additional holidays!?) our dearest Nightmare Eddie shall be partaking in? Okay love ya bye.

Hiiiii Hannah 🥹

You know that movie It's a Wonderful Life? How every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings, apparently? Well, every time a bell rings around the holidays at the Nightmare Factory, Krampus takes a shot of alcohol. He has a high tolerance, so it's fine, but Eddie tried to keep up with him one Christmas eve, and he somehow ended up face down in the trash compactor, covered in confetti, with a silver tinsel wig on. Did they kiss? Eddie can't remember, but that particular Krampus got transferred soon after. The new one takes his job really seriously, so Eddie can't make a tradition out of that night, but he was willing.

Eddie gets a tree for the trailer every year, sometimes even works part-time at the lot next to the Kitchen Appliance Horrors department where they sell them. There's a box of ornaments he made with his mother that he likes to decorate it with, as well the bottlecap tree topper he made for Wayne. There's a partial portal under the tree, so when he lays beneath the boughs to look up inside of it, the two of you can hear each other's voices. One time, the wires got crossed, and Eddie ended up talking to some fucking kid who thought it was the voice of Santa Claus. Eddie listened to him rattle off the list of everything he wanted and said he'd do his best. Ho. Ho. Ho.

The holidays are chock full of nightmares, so there are a lot of blackout days when it's all hands on deck at the factory. Plus, there is also the annual holiday party that requires mandatory attendance. Ever seen a Slenderman in a Santa hat eating deep fried pickle spears dipped in Windex? Well, Eddie has. There's a game where they give away prizes, and he usually sticks around for that before he splits. Three years ago, he won some aged bourbon that he wrapped up as a present for Wayne, but the year after that he got dog shit. Actual rubber dog shit: that Possessed Teletubbie dude Tinky Winky thinks he is sooo funny. This year he's hoping for some scratch tickets or a damn bonus. Buying a permit for interdimensional travel is not cheap.

thank you for asking, love you.

[pbandjesse]

Happy Christmas Eve. We are in the car on the way home. I am really tired but we should be back by 8. There's not many people on the road tonight.

Today was a really good day. Me and James did not sleep well last night. That bed is just a little to narrow and because James can't sleep on their side right now it was a little bit of a struggle. But it wasn't horrible. I just laid half on them. The problems came when I had to roll over. I kept losing my blanket. When James got up they covered me up and I was able to sleep a little longer.

James went to Philly to drop off gifts. And they would go get bagels for everyone for breakfast.

I was going to get washed and dressed when they got back. I had slept weird on my neck and it was very painful all day. But I loved my outfit so much. I didn't know I was going to wear this sweater under my dress but I absolutely love how it looks and I was super cozy all day. I just felt really nice about myself.

And it was a fun day. The bagels were really good. James got a special ginger snap cream cheese. And I enjoyed my breakfast.

We all are together. And would soon start building the Lego project we brought with us. We had lots of chatting and laughing and building. It was a lot of fun. We got about a quarter of it done and we have that to work on next time we are there.

It was a really nice day. It was cold outside but we were cozy inside. Me and James would go outside to take pictures. And that was fun but also very brisk! I was surprised how much the dogs wanted to go out.

Molly, the oldest of the three, lost a pound and she looks great. She seems more comfortable. Gracie was a princess like always. Sophie continues to be a bad girl when the others get attention but on her own is still sweet.

James made me a grilled cheese. And we opened gifts. I love the ring my parents got me. And this neat fabric bowl. James got me a new wallet that I love. It looks like a book, specifically the velveteen rabbit. I'm thrilled. I also got a hair pin and a few pairs of socks. And a very large/long demon cat plushie.

Mom liked her frog plushie and hair clip. Dad liked his car cane. James liked the Pokemon figures and books I got for them. It was a sweet little exchange. I loved that my mom wrapped on big box and that was filled with a bunch of small wrapped gifts. I just like unwrapping things. Though the bows were very difficult to get off. Stupid painful fingers.

We would chill on the couch for a while. A neighbor came over to talk. And my mom would lay down for a bit. Me and James went to the basement to look for a glue gun to fix my lipgloss that split and I got to show them a bunch of toys and art and things from my youth. It was just really a lovely day.

We made dinner for 4. Mac and cheese. Crab cakes. Stuffing. My special mashed potatoes. It was very Carby but really really good.

I honestly just had a lovely day. I'm a little sad my brother wasn't there. But I understand. And I love him very much. Things change when you get older. I understand. We didn't go out for dinner this year. And we didn't have a live nativity. And that is okay. We did get a little snow and we got to be together and I loved that.

After dinner we did some family pictures. I used dad's new prosthetic leg as a tripod to hold my phone. We used a poinsettia to hide his leg. And I think it was very sweet. The whole day. I felt warm inside. Very loved. It was a good Christmas Eve.

And then it was time to go home. James packed up the car. Hugs all around. And we are on our way home.

If I could have anything I would have a peppermint milkshake. But I care more about getting home then stopping for a snack. Plus I don't like going to businesses on holidays. I try to avoid it if possible. Maybe when we go home I'll have a snack. Maybe I'll just unpack and get myself ready for tomorrow.

Tomorrow the Fulwilers are coming to our apartment for presents and breakfast. And then we will get together with the Changs' to go to the Fulwilers for dinner. I think that is the best way. I hope it's just a lovely day. I am looking forward to giving gifts.

I hope you all sleep well tonight. Take care of each other. Try to stay warm. Goodnight my friends. Until next time.

[misfits1a]

BABY CLAUS, or alternatively, teddy pierce being in love with santa’s daughter. teddy pierce x reader

fluff; hint of angst

posted. 23 january 2021

notes. follows after santa baby

banner inspired by & template from @cafekitsune​

cw. language; a douchebag male; mentions of sex; unedited

wc. 1.3k

• needless to say, your father is not happy

he always promised you he wouldn’t watch you while you were with carl and tikki, so what would he call contacting you right after you have your first real kiss with teddy?!

• part of your agreement with your parents was that you’d come back home to the north pole for a week during your christmas break; since your dad was going to be busy christmas eve, you always went the day after christmas

you’d spent quite some time of the last almost five years strongly disliking teddy (you tried to stay away from the word “hate”, reserving it for very few things), so it’s weird to find yourself yearning for him the entirety of the week you were at home

you video chat with him a couple of times, and even got to talk to his sister kate and stepbrother jack

as soon as you’re back in lowell with your aunt and uncle, you text teddy, asking if he wants to meet up; no, you’re not going to tell him how much you missed him the last eight days

• the first weekend after you guys get back to school, teddy takes you to a movie and dinner; you spend about eighty percent of dinner just talking and end up taking most of your food home in to-go boxes

when he pulls into your driveway that night, he turns to you to tell you that he had a good time but before he can say anything, you blurt out “can you kiss me now?!” at first he’s stunned by the exclamation but then he nods, leaning in to do so

• teddy is almost suspensed a month into the new semester, for punching bass (again) after your ex came up to him and told him you were the best he’d ever had and he hopes teddy gets to understand that soon

• falling in love with teddy is way easier (& quicker) than you thought it’d be, and it scares you so much after what happened with bass that you begin distancing yourself from him

there’s a part of you that knows teddy would never hurt you, especially in the way that bass did, but you can’t get out of your head

it hurts teddy,, a lot. and he doesn’t understand why you’re not responding to his texts or answering his calls or talking to him at school; so he decides he’s going to distance himself too

it hurts you both to be away from each other, but you are both stubborn personalities

• you finally work up the courage to talk to teddy, after talking to your mom and dad; they tell you one of the key components to a good and healthy relationship is communication

teddy’s agitated— you haven’t talked to him for almost two weeks, now you want to? but when he sees you tear up, he takes you into his arms and listens. he’s a little upset when you tell him why you’ve been pulling away (sans the falling in love part) but he kind of understands

• you guys spend a lot of time together— getting to know each other, bonding, building your relationship

• he loves taking you on dates, but his favorite thing to do with you is go ice skating. he’s actually really good at it

• three months into dating, you officially meet his family

they all love you, especially his mom (who later pulls you aside and tells you his dad would have loved you; it makes you cry a little bit)

you get really close with katie— maybe how much she loves and respects your parents has something to do with it; you promise to take her to the north pole sometime (not during the holiday season lmao) to visit again

• he meets tikki and carl a week after you meet his family— they love him so much (well they never liked bass so, plus for teddy!!)

they want him over for dinner on friday which sort of confuses you as friday is a family only night. it isn’t until later when you’re all at the table playing uno (“i’m sorry hun, i have to do it” tikki tells you. “no, please! plEASE!!” you beg before she smiles sadly, dropping a draw four onto the pile and calling “uno!” “bITCH!!” you cry out, snatching four cards) that you realise how important it was that they’d invited him tonight— he’s part of the family now

oh shit

• the two of you cuddle a lot & watch netflix shows. you 110% definitely steal one of his hoodies and wear it to bed on the days you don’t see him

• you and teddy discuss sleeping with each other quite a few times. he tells you that he’s a virgin, which you’re a little surprised to find out, but you also feel so honored that he wants you to be his first

• and of course you tell him that bass was your first time. for the first time out loud, you admit how much you hate that you’d ever slept with him but at the time, you thought he loved you

• you say “i love you” first. teddy is silent for a moment, before he grabs your face in his hands and plants one on you; when you pull away, he tells you he loves you too

• your first time with teddy is two weeks before graduation. you’re at your place, tikki and carl having gone out on a very rare date night

as you’re kissing each other, teddy pulls away and asks, “w- won’t your dad see us?”

“what?”

“the song says he’s always watching. i—”

“teddy!” you laugh, smacking his shoulder before telling him the promise your dad had made you. “so he’s not watching us, i promise.”

you pull him in for a kiss, the two of you losing yourselves in each other. afterwards, the two of you cuddle up with each other, eventually falling asleep.

• for his graduation gift, you give teddy a one-of-a-kind camera that you’d made with your dad while visiting home over spring break

he kisses you as his thanks, before his face drops and he mumbles “shit” because he didn’t get you anything; you just kiss him again

• you’d decided at the beginning of senior year to stay in massachusetts for college, eventually choosing the university of massachusetts lowell campus. teddy is going to hamilton, new york for college

• the two of you decide to do the long distance thing

he comes home for thanksgiving and christmas. yes you end up at the north pole for most of his visit, but you usually get a few days with him. you bus or drive to hamilton during other breaks and stay with him in his dorm

• during the summer break before your junior year of college, the two of you go to the north pole

by now, your dad has come to accept your relationship with teddy and even occasionally refers to him as his future son-in-law. your mom knew teddy from the video footage of christmas 2018; she loves him more in person

• yo teddy sure is sus, spending a lot of time with your dad though but whatever, because your mom wants you all the time anyways so

• teddy proposes to you two weeks before he has to leave to go back to hamilton for senior year. the two of you decide to tell his mom and stepdad that you’re actually the daughter of santa and mrs. claus, and wow ok! impromptu trip to the north pole to prove it

• senior year is like, the hardest year of your life thus far. not only is it senior year of college but you’re also planning a wedding on top of that

• but you did it; you graduated college!!

• you guys just decide to elope, and have a small ceremony for your families sometime later

• honestly, if anyone told you six years ago you’d be married to teddy pierce, you’d have thought they were crazy

• but like,, you wouldn’t have it any other way. he truly is the love of your life, and you can’t wait to spend the rest of your days with him

© 2021 misfits1a. all rights reserved. do not repost, translate or claim my work as yours; please credit if you want to repost my work in a fic rec

taglists. @anything-and-everything-20 @allthatgl1tters-1sgold @biqherosix​

[greatnessordeath]

Come let's watch the rain as it's falling down

Tags: mature, aged up characters, swearing, alcohol, blood, pining, Wordcount: 4.7k

Notes: As I mentioned in a earlier post: this is the first chap of my wip slow burn Bakugou x reader fic (contains Halloween snippet). The future chaps will be posted on ao3 only (i think... I dunno. I like tumblr, but im quite confused with how to post longer fics ?) So i'd be superduper happy if you swing by :) Read it on ao3

Do not repost. Minors do not interact please

Chapter 1: After work obstacles Finally it's the end of the day. The glassdoors slide shut behind you and the cool night air embraces your figure outside the hospital.

You sigh exhausted and massage your aching neck. The overtime has been piling up lately and you’re not sure if you’re still a functioning individual. You could pass as a zombie right on the spot without any further disguise. Your skin is pale, the dark circles will soon become parents to a new pair of cute baby circles and your h/c hair lacks shine.

Then so be it, you think cynical to yourself. You don't care how you look. At the risk of sounding pathetic - it's all worth it.   You work as an intern at trauma surgery. Your days are a rush. A roller coaster ride, a box of chocolates, a lottery - whatever comparison you bring up, it all leads down to one truth: you never know what awaits you. Injured civilians, hurt heroes, the daily grind of accidents and disease and on top messed up quirks. But it doesn’t matter what you get, as long as you’re able to help.

You’re not gifted with a healing quirk like many of your colleagues who pursue the same dream of becoming a doctor. Your quirk is useful to say the least, but far away from special, or powerful. Your eyes ignored the physics of light which made it possible for you to see in the dark. That's it. You wanted to make a difference for people and fortunately you didn’t need a quirk to do so.

Your breath condenses visibly in the cold outside in small white clouds. The air is crisp and you love it. It clears your head and you can practically feel the weight lifting off of your tense shoulders. Despite that, you still pull the collar of your jacket closer to your neck. You can't wait to take a hot shower, wash off the stinging smell of disease and disinfectant, and bury yourself under your covers.

You check the time only to see that - again - it’s past midnight. When your eyes pass the calendar indication on your watch, your stomach knots in discomfort. It's only two weeks till Christmas eve. Maybe everything will be easier to bear when you have to endure the judging looks of your family as a mindless zombie, who knows? You'd just have to work harder to indifferently endure her nagging questions about your personal life.

‘Wow brain. Is this everything you can come up with?’ Another deep sigh leaves your lips. ‘ No, I can't, even if I wanted to. If I work any more, I’ll fall over ,’ you think matter-of-factly.

You’re well aware that repression is a bad tactic for dealing with pent-up feelings, but you’re only human. One, so desperate to seriously consider the zombie option for a moment and indeed one who’d rather volunteer 70 hours a week to avoid the stupid family dinner.

Of course it wasn't always like that but the couple years after your graduation passed so quickly. You threw yourself into work, finally you were ready to gain practical experience, after years of drilling. You made it to an internship at a well known clinic in Musutafu and you’re more than proud to be this privileged. You want to exert, make yourself worth the job and be the best you. You pushed your limits on a regular basis.

Although you never wanted to be a hero who fights villains, you adopted the motto of the hero academy not far away. PLUS ULTRA. Never give up, move on, go beyond . You burn so hot for your goals that your own moroseness makes you cringe occasionally. But you always smile it away. Of course, the lack of time that came with working long shifts and overtime resoluted in a puny social life. Work became your life much to the dismay of your Mom. When you cautiously dropped the info that you're planning to work through Christmas completely this year your Mom had looked at you like a deer in headlights.

At least you could talk yourself out with the fact that colleagues with children were preferred. But that usually only opened the door for the next dispute. Your desire to have children. Urghhh. Your only valid desires were the regular consumption of fudgy brownies and a good fuck. You feel the urge to hit your head against a lonely street lamp as you shuffle despondently from the clinic's huge parking lot and turn right onto the main street.

You like the quiet darkness of the night. It's the opposite of the hectic everyday life in the hospital and you appreciate the change. Given to your quirk you've always been more of a night owl than an early bird. When you walk down the stairs to the subway tunnel after a few minutes, you can already hear the rumble of the train. You’re lucky to catch it without waiting. The familiar screeching of the brakes is the only sound far and wide. You are often the only person on the platform - and today is no different.

You get in and sit down at a window place. You spread out your legs in the empty compartment and your sore feet enjoy the relief a lot. You share a whole wagon with only three more people. They are typing lost in thought on their phones, listening to music or already dozing off.

You look at your sunken face in the reflection of the glass pane and can practically hear your mother's reproachful voice. Your mind wanders to your latest phone call and replays.

“Hi, how are you, hun?”

“I’m fine.”

“Well, it doesn't sound like it. ...Extra hours again?”

“Yes. My colleague caught the flu so I'm covering up for him.” A small pause stretches between you and you already know what's about to come when your Mom speaks again.

“Would you listen to me for a sec and don't throw a tantrum, kay?” Your silence is approval enough to get her going.

“Your voice always sounds so worn out when I call you and… I’m worrying. Don't you think you’d need a break, too?”

“Mom, I told you I'm just a little tired. There's no need to worry.” You try your best to sound persuasive - like always without the desired effect. “But that's what Moms do! You’re my child, so of course I worry... I mean you can't keep doing this forever. You're young and beautiful - now's the time to live! You know? You should throw yourself out there and enjoy your life instead of giving your best years away like this.” You huff at that. “Drop it, okay? I choose this life by myself. Can you please stop criticizing me every single time about it? I am not having this discussion with you again.” “Y/n. This is not about your profession. This is about you working so hard for others while ignoring your own needs. Even you have to rest at some point! Think about it, hun. How will you help others, if your own body is collapsing?”

“You’re totally going overboard. It's not like that. And the last time I checked I was completely fine with sewing people together, but don’t mind me.” You retort sarcastically with instant regret. You’ve had this so often, you stopped counting. She always manages to flip the switch and you hate yourself for the lack of control. You don’t want to escalate things so you try to backpedal. “Listen, can we please stop talking about this?“ “You’re incorrigible. Stubborn as a mule.” she determines. “Stubborn like Dad, you mean.” You wear a weary smile and a twitch pinches your heart. You know she thought about him, too, based on the sigh you hear on the other side of the phone. “At least make sure you eat properly,” her tone softened audibly. “How am I ever going to have grandchildren, if your bony ass is useless to attract a handsome doctor?” “Mom!” “What? ... Come on, don’t make a fuss.” It was meant to be a joke but it only makes you swallow uncomfortable. Those statements  of her are pressuring you, no matter how lax they were said. You sure did wish for a change of subject, but not to open the next tinderbox. “I… I need to hang up now. It was nice hearing from you.“ “Promise me to take care of yourself, alright?” You hum in agreement. “Love you, hun.” “Love you, too. Bye Mom.“ You reciprocate the empty phrase with equivalent affection.

---

You lean your forehead against the cold glass and take a deep breath. You don't want to think about it, you just want to go home, call it a day.

... seven more stations. Then change and four more to go. You allow yourself to zone out and watch the endless blackness of the underground pass by. There is something soothing about it and you manage to collect yourself as you close your eyes.

When the train slowly pulls into the next stop, the doors open automatically and a small breeze refreshes the musty air. You barely notice, because you’re so used to it. You’re trying to remind yourself to buy wrapping paper when you’re going to go for groceries tomorrow morning as a noise disturbs your thoughts.

Suddenly you hear loud rumbling and your eyes search confused for the origin of the commotion. A dark figure gallops breathless down the escalator to the platform at a mad pace.

Well, the trains do arrive relatively unevenly at night - facts - but to be in such a hurry seems exaggerated to you.

The guy hastily takes two steps at a time and carries a large backpack that bounces up and down. You’re left to wonder what or who he might be running off, as he dares a big jump at the end of the stairs, but terribly fails. You can see how the extra weight of the backpack affects his center of gravity so that he stumbles and hits the asphalt hard. Based on the way his foot bends under his weight, you assume he has at least a fractured ankle if not worse.

Your helper instinct is activated immediately.

In an instant you jump to your feet and hurry to the open door without hesitation when abruptly a detonation shakes the underground. An incredibly loud bang roars through the tunnel and everybody gasps in surprise as the floor vibrates slightly under their feet. Dazzling lights blind your view and you put a protective hand in front of your eyes.

'What the...?'

You get the uneasy feeling that something is wrong.

"Excuse me, may I help you?" You offer to the fella on the floor when your vision clears again.

Your question doesn't seem to get through to him. But it shakes him out of his paralyzed state. Without losing much time, the guy gets up again. With hazel eyes wide with fear, he looks back at the escalator.

With your hands reassuringly raised you take more steps towards him. "Sir? Are you hurt? I'm a med-" you try again, but are cut off by another voice.

"You can't escape me, Extra!" "Out of the way!" The backpack guy yells and rushes towards you. Is he chased by a villain? Please no!

Just as this thought buzzes through your head, a new figure appears on the platform.

You freeze when an unmistakeable spiky blonde emerges from the moving staircase and a burnt smell fills the air.

Dynamight?!

“Still tryin’ to escape me, huh,” the hero shouts and takes up the chase with his signature explosion drive.

Realization hits you hard, but it's too late. When Dynamight is the pursuer, this will logically make the other guy the criminal. ‘Shit!’ Speaking of it - realization isn’t the only thing that hits you. The delinquent pushes you aside with a pained expression to get in the subway and you hit the ground. White dots explode in front of your eyes as the pain shoots through your head. The impact is so hard it even drives the air out of your lungs. You’re conscious but you feel strangely foreign in your own body. ‘What’s wrong with me? My natural reflexes did nothing! Wait… I can't move!’

You grimace with strain or at least you try to but your muscles won’t obey. ‘ Did he use his quirk on me?’ You can only speculate.

Out of the corner of your eye you can see how Dynamight's silhouette hurries past you.

"Eijiro ...!" He shouts urgently as his fiery eyes flicker over you for a split second.

"Yes! Go get him, Katsuki!" screams the redhead in response.

You didn't recognize another hero entering the subway. It must have slipped your attention as you were caught up with the whole situation. Red Riot kneels down by your side and looks you up and down for injuries. “Don’t worry, you’re safe now. Did he touch you?” You try to stir again, but every inch of your sore body feels so incredibly heavy. The pinky finger doesn't even twitch when you try to move it.

“… ca … n't m ...ove”, you choke out with wide eyes. His gaze softens and his kind eyes look at you knowingly. “Ah, thought so. It’ll be alright. He used his quirk on you. We assume he can paralyze people. But it won’t last long.” He tries his best to keep you calm. “Everybody get off NOW!” Dynamight barks in his usual grim voice and it echoes painfully in your head. You try to look out for him, but your field of view is too limited - and you’re petrified anyway. The few passengers shuffle out of the train immediately with angsty faces.

Red Riot takes charge and directs them to gather in a safe distance to the potential danger zone. He advises them to wait and faces you again. “You can’t stay here. I have to pick you up.” “Goo h… heel ...lllp ‘im?” Your eyes dart to the train again. “Trust me, this is a pushover.” He smiles genuinely, “I'd like to have you safe, just in case.”

You don’t protest because you can’t. The way he picks you up makes you blush lightly. Being carried bridal style by a stranger stirs something in you. The warmth of his bare chest is welcoming, the sensible heartbeat soothing against your torso. He's a hero - probably doing these kinds of things on a daily basis and albeit his very respectful touch, you feel silly. Hanging in his arms like a sack of spuds isn’t exactly how you like to picture yourself. “Ah shit. You’re bleeding.” He states concerned as soon as he notices the small red blotch on the back of your head.

A faint waft of hair gel tingles your nose, as he sits you down on a bench. He tugs at you to make sure you won’t fall. “Let me have a closer look…” He examines your wound diligently and smiles at ease. “You’re lucky. it's nothing but a scratch.”

He basically radiates off pure safety with his gentle behaviour. You do feel taken care of and it's nice in a way. But what bothers you, is the mere but heavy fact, that you’re absolutely helpless. You hate it. You don’t want to cause someone else trouble and the loss of control makes you uncomfortable.

“I suggest that you consistently try to move a finger so you won’t miss the end of the paralysis.” He says assuringly.

How the hell can he be as cool as ice while his partner is having a serious mission? What if something unexpected happens? What if-

He laughs at you and questing faces turn in your direction. “Your brows are already knitting again, I can tell it won’t take much longer.” “With all due respect, Sir, how can you stand here laughing and let your colleague fight all alone?” An older man basically voices your thoughts. You would have picked your words more sensitive, because as soon as it's spoken it appears a rude question. But the redheads' smile only widens. “That's easy. Because I trust him.” The small group of civilians including your muted self react startled. It's not uncommon for heroes to split tasks, but still... “Hm. What’s wrong with helping him anyway?” “See, he trusts me, too. He fights preferably when he doesn't have to worry about the safety of people who may be at risk. This is the best way for him to focus on the villains. My quirk is hardening, which I can use to ward off any harm they might be throwing at us. By getting you out of the line, Dynamight has the best starting point to apprehend the villain. As far as we know, this guys’ quirk requires a melee situation with body contact and Dynamight - unlike me - benefits from this. So we’re using this to our advantage. Plus, we’re at a dead end. He has nowhere to go and I think he hurt his ankle when he jumped the staircase earlier. So this is no real match up, believe me.” There is definitely some truth to his words. But you can’t help but wonder about his confidence. “Nevertheless, please stay behind me at any cost and be aware of the ones around you until this is over.” Fortunately enough it seemed like the guy - you refuse to call him a villain - didn’t want to harm people in the first place. Yes, he pushed you, but only because you were standing in his way. He appealed insecure, even scared, not coldblooded or calculating. God knows hurting people wasn’t his main goal. He must have been pretty desperate for an escape if he thought a subway appeared to be a good idea - with two heroes right on his ass. Obviously one doesn't plan on getting caught, when about to commit a crime, you guess. You don’t know enough to judge... Maybe opportunity made the thief in this case. You sit and wonder, only vaguely paying attention to what happens in the subway. The wagon with Dynamight is at least 50 metres away from you and it's unlikely silent. Naturally he can’t just blow up the train in order to catch the guy, but you can’t really picture him talk him out otherwise. ...It has been a long time since you were so close to a heroic operation, let alone be involved in the middle of it as a “victim”. Whenever you catch a glimpse of him in between people your heartbeat accelerates. He still is as hot as ever - if not hotter. He wears the fucking crown out of self-confidence with even more ease. The years made him broader, steps dripping of assurance, clear-cut features handsome as ever with those sharp crimson eyes. Dynamight … why he of all people? Like an old friend, a notable memory visits you again. You only remember fragments of that evening, except this one encounter. You can see it crystal clear as if it was yesterday. Back then, you were in med school and you had passed an important exam the day before. You had promised your brother that the two of you would go out together like in the old days. It was fun. At least for you. To this day your brother teases you about it and you can’t help but blush every time when he mockingly rants how shameless you’ve been.

---

Halloween eve, years ago

There's heroes and villains everywhere. It's not as packed as it was a few hours ago, but still the streets were roamed by many people. Despite Halloween being supposed to be creepy, most people plainly dressed up as their favorite heroes instead of villains. So a hero's popularity was pretty much measured by how many doppelgangers were walking around.

Needless to say, All Might fans dominated the street scene, totally refusing Endeavor as new Number One Hero. Bakugou saw loads of Froppys among the kids earlier that day. Even dumb Pickachu had fans. Seems like they’re making the best of the provisional license so far.

Unlike his colleagues, Bakugou savours the privilege of his rather bad image. People always hold a fair distance to Dynamight when he's patrolling. Especially on Halloween - nobody wanted to be the idiot who got explosions in their face for mistaking him for a clad friend. It felt inequitable. He was trying to improve his temper - but hands down - he got a long way to go. On the other side he was happy that there would be no pesky fan disturbances like selfies, autographs and chitchat.

Anyways, here he is now, walking the streets with drunk All Mights stumbling home from their night out. The smell of sugar, booze and happy chatter of the people enjoying themselves filled the chilly autumn air.

Bakugou can't help but think of the perfect cover this night would provide for crime. It would be so easy to dress up as literally anyone and hide their real identity. Piece of cake to get lost in the crowd with dozens of doubles, an opportunity he sure wouldn’t let pass if he were a villain.

Because the agencies are aware of that fact, too, they would double the patrols around Halloween. So he won’t let his guard down, even if there were only a few minutes of his shift left.

He continues to observantly strives the streets, always side eying the darker alleys, left behind candy cracking under his soles, as-

“Oh my god, look at you!” someone exclaimed loudly in front of him. In a split second his crimson eyes shift to the source of the sound.

Hawks and Shoto were standing arm in arm in front of him. Hawks had one gloved hand tightly wrapped around Shotos waist and he obviously had trouble balancing their extra weight. Red fluffy plush wings were strapped on his back and the eyeliner was on fleek. With the glasses and an ocher coat it all came together to a solid costume.

IcyHot on the other hand, was way too curvy to match the original. Bakugou could see h/c hair peek out underneath the heterochromatic wig and slender limbs being hugged perfectly in the familiar blue suit. The smile Fem-Shoto threw at him was somehow contagious.

~

You broke away from Hawks and staggered towards him with shaky knees. Of course you slipped and in a quick reflex Bakugou stretched out his arms to prevent you from falling.

You giggled at that and looked at him in awe. The orangey light of the street lamps gave his ashy hair a saintly halo. You shamelessly took him in and your eyes lingered disrespectfully long on his bare biceps. He halfway expects you to stretch out a hand and stiffens slightly at the thought.

“That's by far the best costume I’ve seen today”, you blurt out, “I swear, Dynamight is sooo hot! Could blow me up any time~”

Bakugou was caught by surprise and lifted a sceptical brow at the statement.

“Shushhh Onee-chan, you’re embarrassing,” whined Hawks with a hand on his neck. ”Come on now, I’ve gotta get you home somehow.”

You weren’t listening at all and grabbed one of his gauntlets to examine it closely.

“Wow, how’d you get them so realistic?” you asked with big eyes full of admiration.

“Oi hands off, Half’n’Half!” he growled dismissively. Resolute but careful not to make you trip again he drew them from your hands.

“Sooo mean~”

“Tch”, he clicked his tongue at you annoyingly.

You lifted your gaze and met his piercing eyes. He noticed your dilated pupils and the familiar smell of beer and smoke radiating off of your clothes. Your cheeks were rosy and glowing, the e/c of your eyes standing out to the red paint on your face.

“Damn you really take this shit seriously, do you? You into roleplay or somethin’?”

“Jeez, y/n stop it!!! I’m so, so sorry…” said the Hawksguy in an apologizing manner shifting his feet in discomfort but not daring to come any nearer to Bakugou. At least he seemed sober enough to recognise him.

"Don’t tell me what to do!” you snapped angry at what appears to be your younger brother and Bakugou bites back a grin hearing one of his standard answers out of your pretty mouth.

As if you were only realising now that Bakugou was still holding you, you straightened your back and made the attempt to stand on your own. Neither your heels nor your knees seem reliable, but you were sticking out your chest confidently.

“I'm sure handsome over here would say something if I'm overstepping the bounds, right?”

You throw him your best charming smile, boldly laying a hand on his broad chest leaving him startled about your straightforwardness.

There was no denying that you were indeed buzzed … and going for it.

But albeit pretty privilege, he couldn’t let you touch him like this. The last thing he wanted was involuntarily taking advantage of your situation.

“Excuse me Shoto, but this is inappropriate for me in public,” he answers with a playful grin and removes your hand.

“Huh? And beating my ass at the sports festival in our first year wasn’t or what?” You retort with raised brows and a challenging grin. You lean in close and whisper in a low voice “We both know you wouldn't stand a chance against me now~”

Goosebumps erupt in his neck where a hint of your breath tickles his skin.

‘I kind of wanna give it a shot just to see you fail’ , he thinks to himself and enhances the effort to keep his gaze neutral.

Meanwhile Hawks face was a solid beet red and he was visibly at unease about what to do about the fact that his sister was blatantly obvious flirting with frickin Dynamight.

He desperately bowed a full ninety degrees and repeated his apologies. “God, no! Honestly I’m so sorry she’s …” he wildly gestures in your direction in a loss for words ”like this. It's my fault she's had too much. I was going to bring her home anyway. I'm sorry if we caused you trouble.”

“Nugget, I can hear you! You’re so rude!” You turned swaying to your brother and raised your forefinger in a lecturing manner. “I'm the older one and I am fully responsibly aware of my limits. So would you please just shut up when I'm trying to make a move here. You're supposed to be my wingman !”

Bakugou snorts amused at the awful pun and apparently Hawks looked like he could compete against Aizawa in an I-don’t-get-paid-enough-for-this-crap-staring-contest.

After a  moment of silence it's you who addresses Bakugou again: ”Soooo, what are you up to in a more private setting, Boomboy?”

Before he could answer, Hawks steps in and grabs you by the hand.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this. If you were responsibly aware like you say, you would’ve recognised him. Just let him be, baka.”

You tried to laugh him off, but the seriousness in his voice lets your happy-drunk confidence falter. “I - I would have… recog...nised…” your eyes flicker from Bakugou to Hawks as realization finally hits your brain.

You blink multiple times. “Oh.”

The grin on Dynamights face splits further as your cheeks begin to bloom in a scarlet hue. “I… “ You squirm to find words but not a single tone leaves your lips. He thinks it's adorable and watches how you let yourself be pulled away. You don't fight back anymore.

“My pleasure, Shoto. I hope you get home safely.” He emphasizes ‘Shoto’ in a way that makes your stomach drop to your knees and you turn to face him.

“It's Y/n. And I stick to my words...”, you bite your bottom lip and your expression is a flustered mess. “...Dynamight is the hottest.” You grin sinisterly over your shoulder as your figures slowly disappear behind a flock of people.

The last thing Bakugou can hear is the protest of your brother.

“-- I swear I'm never going to make you pancakes ever again if you don't stop simping right now!”

“What is your goddamn problem, Nugget? You know, sometimes I wonder how you manage to walk with this massive branch up your ass.”

*smack* “Ouch! Hahaha”

--- Whenever you remember this night, a lewd smile sneaks its way to your face. Yes, you were shameless but you didn’t regret anything. You had spent countless evenings imagining what could have been. Who would have expected you to run into Dynamight? To your own demise you catch yourself regretting what you thought earlier about your zombie appearance. You suddenly wish you wouldn’t have been too lazy to do a touch up on your makeup. Seconds pass and you shrug off the awful shallow thought. Now is obviously not the time to be a thirsty bitch. It takes you a moment to notice that your shoulder blades actually lifted. Awestruck you feel a strange tingling washing over you. Your whole body feels like it's dipped in a buzzing beehive. The prickling fights back the cool numbness and you gasp in joy as your muscles obey you again. You luckily wiggle your toes as the last bit of stiffness disappears. You stand up to the small group of bystanders, but your blood circulation is still slow. Your knees threaten to give in, but a sturdy arm helps you stand. “Whoa, you okay already?” “Yeah, at least I thought so.” You slyly try a pressed smile to the observant redhead. “Good. Do me a favor and take it easy, okay? You should let the emergency doc check you for a concussion later.” “I probably should.” You close your eyes to fight back the spinning of your head. “You sure you’re okay?” “Ah yes. It just took me a moment, but I'm fine. Thank god this is over.” You sigh with relief, as you regain your composure and detach from the hero. “Screw god and rather thank me!”

[vivianweasley]

In Love With My Best Friend (Fred Weasley X Reader)

Summary: When you realized that you have always loved George, it was already too late. Instead of being the bride, you became the bridesmaid. But it seemed like you weren’t the only one who’s in love with their best friend.

Pairing: Fred X Fem!Reader, George X Reader (unrequited love)

Warnings: angst (George getting married!) to fluff, drinking

Word count: 1.9K

A/N: I was listening to “Lucky” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat while writing this! 

Please do NOT repost my work or translate it on another site without permission! Thank you! Reblogs and comments are always welcomed

There are always a few things in life that people just take for granted.

Like that year’s Christmas Eve at the Burrows. That night, after a few glasses of butterbeer, you fell asleep lying on George’s shoulder. His shoulders were broad and he smelled like sweet cinnamon and caramel. You just felt so warm and secure next to him. At that time, you still couldn’t understand what that warm feeling in your heart meant, but you just naively believed that this feeling of warmth and security would never go away.

You were friends with the famous Weasley twins since your first year at Hogwarts and the three of you have been best friends for about twelve years now.

But regardless of being given more than a decade, you were still stupid enough to finally realize during the war that you have always loved George. And still you did nothing after that big realization, because you were afraid that he would find you weird or feel awkward around you. You just couldn’t afford sabotaging your friendship with him.

Plus, he’s your best friend so he would always be there for you, right? You could just confess your feelings whenever you are ready. So what’s the hurry?

But life rarely goes according to people’s plans. George eventually got a girlfriend. You were sad, but you weren’t hopeless. It was not like he never had a girlfriend before. So as long as he was not married, you could still wait for him.

But then, he proposed to her.

Fred told you this news when he came to your apartment for your weekly movie night. He always knew that you fancied George, so he decided to tell you this before you hear it from George at tonight’s dinner at the Burrows.

You swore to Merlin that you heard a huge exploding sound when you heard that news, but your apartment was perfectly quiet, dead silent even.

And then you went through what the muggles called the five stages of grief.

Denial. “Ha ha ha, that’s funny Fred. You got me, that’s a good one.”

Anger. “How could he do this to me! This is so not fair! I was here first! I was here for him for twelve years! This is not fair!  I need to get him back! I don’t care if I’m gonna ruin the wedding! Fred Weasley, are you with me or not!”

Bargain. “Merlin, please! What should I do! I can trade anything for this, please!”

Depression. “Fred, I need some time alone. Oh I’m not sad...I just...I’m not crying......I’m sorry about your shirt Freddie, didn’t mean to use it as a tissue. I’ll wash it for you tomorrow.”

And finally, acceptance. “Merlin of course! I would love to be your Maid of Honor! I’m so happy for you George!”

You’ve prepared so much for this wedding, possibly overthinking every detail of it. For example, what should you say for your Maid of Honor speech? 

Tell them how Fred accidentally splashed paint on your dress the day before the Yule ball, and how George managed to get you a new one one hour before the dance? No, you’re not the bride. This is not about you.

Tell them how you and George hid chocolates in the secret passage at Hogwarts when you were 12? The chocolates all melted after the summer and ants were crawling all over the secret passage. No, you wanted to keep that as your secret memory.

Tell them how George prepared for his bride’s birthday present when they first started dating? He decided to give her a whole box of puking pastiles for her to skip work, but you strongly opposed that idea. That’s a nice story, relevant to both the bride and the groom.

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

You were sitting on the stairs at the Burrows, holding your notes in your hand and your nails anxiously tracing the side of the paper. The wedding was just at the tent beside the Burrows, but you were panicking now.

What the hell were you doing? The man that you’ve loved for so many years was getting married and you became the bridesmaid? How the hell did you get into such an unpleasant situation? 

You knew that he doesn’t belong to you. He never did. You knew that, but going to his wedding is different. Did you really have the courage to watch him get married to another person? Were you really ready to face the fact that from this day on, George Weasley will never be yours? But you just wanted him to be happy.

Twelve years of memories with him raced through your head. You missed that and you missed the you at that time. You wanted to start over.

Your brain was a mess and the insides of your stomach felt like they were tangled together. And you couldn’t remember a single full sentence from your speech that you spent the entire night memorizing.

You wanted to run away.

“Are you still planning to steal the groom? Thought we are a team.”

You turned your head slowly towards the source of the voice and it took your brain a few seconds to process and give you a name, Fred. You tried to sound as normal as possible, “Oh no, don’t have the energy to do that anymore.” 

You thought Fred just came here to make a lighthearted joke, but he sat down next to you on the stairs, “You know, you don’t have to give the speech if you don’t want to. You don’t even have to be the Maid of Honor.”

“No, I have to. I promised him.”

“Or you can give me your notes, or to Ginny. There are so many choices, take your pick.”

“It’s ok Fred, I can do this myself.”

“Fine, just remember that I’m always here to help.” He sounded so serious it surprised you. You’ve never seen Fred being so serious before.

You nodded. 

“Alright! Let’s go then!” He pulled you up from the stairs and you followed him to the wedding venue with your head held high. 

The wedding went well. When this moment, this moment that you’ve dreaded for so long, finally happened, you were actually feeling calmer than you imagined. Watching them exchanging wedding rings and becoming legal husband and wife, you actually felt relieved for a moment. This was finally the moment when you accepted the fact that George never belonged to you. This was finally the moment when you could officially let go of this unrequited love that you never really knew how to deal with. 

After Fred’s toast, it was your turn. You stood up and everyone was staring at you now. Suddenly, you found yourself panicking again. Were you really feeling calm right now? Were you really ready to do this? What if you started to break down during the speech, with everyone watching? Your throat went dry. Your face was burning up, but your hands and feet were cold. 

But someone held your hand under the table. You turned to Fred. He smiled at you and whispered, “You can do this.”

His hand was warm and his smile was so comforting, making you believe that you can indeed do this. You felt warmth gradually returning to your limbs. You felt like you could breathe again.

You eventually finished your speech without crying or stuttering. The guests were cheering and you saw George grinning at you, “Thank you Y/N!”

You replied with a soft smile. It was finally over. The wedding came to it’s conclusion and so did your decade-long unrequited love. Nothing dramatic happened. Everything was just the way as it should be.

You fell on your chair. You were grateful that your poor heart could finally find a moment of peace and tranquility. “When all of this is over, maybe I could finally get a good night sleep.”

“When all of this is over, maybe you could give yourself a break in Greece,” Fred replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Charlie was invited to study a really rare breed of dragons in Greece and they said he could bring two friends.”

You suddenly sat up, “Are you bringing me!”

“Yea, Charlie was bringing me and George at first, but I guess George won’t be available for the next month. So I thought I should bring you since you love Greek mythology and all that.”

“How did you know that!” You were surprised. You always loved learning about Greek mythology, but you never told Fred and George about it because you thought they won’t be interested.

“Please Y/N, I’m not that stupid. I saw you reading about it all the time.”

“I never thought you were stupid. I just thought- you couldn’t read!”

He looked hurt, “Is this how you treat someone who’s gonna treat you to a grand trip?”

“You’re right...Where’s Charlie? I need to thank him!” You replied and he laughed.

Slow music started to play and the bride and groom started dancing. The guests soon followed them.

“Y/F/N Y/L/N, may I have this dance?” Fred stood up. He bent over a little and offered his hand.

“Of course!” You smiled as you put your hand in his and followed him to the dance floor. You two were dancing right beside George and his bride. This scene took you right back to the night of the Yule Ball. That night, Fred was dancing with Angelina and you were dancing with George.

Fred thought back on that night too, “Looks like you’ve finally found the better dance partner.”

“Didn’t know you could dance too,” you teased, but you also wanted to compliment him. You always thought Fred would be more into dancing to up-beat musics, instead of slow sappy love songs like this. But now with your hand on his shoulder and his hand on your waist, leading you, it felt just right. 

“Of course! But you still chose George that year, it’s your loss.”

You rolled your eyes, “Please, it’s not like you’ve asked me or anything.”

“Was planning to, but George asked you first.”

“What?” You thought he was only joking, but he stated it so matter-of-factly. A familiar tingling sensation started to rise in your stomach.

“It’s true. Why? Are you regretting your decisions now? Are you falling in love with me now?” He winked at you as he teased you.

“You wish!” You kicked him, but your heart was beating like crazy and you could feel your face heating up.

Oh no. Not this again! You finally moved on from George and now you were falling for his twin? You tried to calm yourself and regain some senses, but you could already feel the heat from your cheeks spreading to the tip of your ears.

Please, you were not going to make this kind of mistake twice! Because you knew from experience, it sucks being in love with your best friend!

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

Many stories would be so different if different people were telling it. Like that Christmas Eve at the Burrows that you remembered and held dear to your heart for years. 

That night after you fell asleep on George’s shoulder, George fell asleep too, leaving Fred to be the only sober one. He tried to wake his brother, but the two of you were sleeping like the dead on the couch. Fred sighed and decided to carry you upstairs to Ginny’s room.

You were so drunk, but you still didn’t forget to mumble a “Thank you” when Fred tucked you in. He found that adorable. A warm feeling started to rise in his heart as his fingertips caressed your flushed cheeks. He couldn’t help but left a gentle kiss on your forehead.

“Good night love.” He whispered with a soft smile before closing the door and leaving, knowing this night was probably going to live in his head for a long time. 

People all say that Fred is the more insensitive and oblivious twin, but that’s not true when it comes to the person he loves. Long before you even realized that you loved George, Fred figured it out. 

But that’s alright, he knew he still got a chance. He knew he would always be there for you and one day maybe you would realize that too. He knew what’s your favorite song and what’s your favorite book. He knew how to make you smile so easily. He just felt so lucky that he’s in love with his best friend.

Part 2

Join my tag list!

[celestialrry]

heart of gold

(this is like a pt.2 to gold rush, also very loosely based off Heart of Gold by Neil Young)

Based off this request!: Aww I loved gold rush!! I lowkey could see a part 2 somewhere down the line.. kinda like time stamps of their relationship... like when they started dating, when their families find out, etc. but that’s just me being greedy 😂😂 love your work!

Thank you so much for asking! Give me more requests! (I strictly write for the readers so I won’t put any names or anything)

2.8k

summary: Harry and you get closer than you both ever thought was possible.

warnings: mentions of alcohol consumption, mentions of sex, fluff

Christmas Eve & Day

After the two of you officially dropped all hate towards each other it was a bit awkward. You both walked back into the living room to join everybody, who seemingly enough, was oblivious that the two of you were on good terms now. This was because you both didn’t say much to each other at all. It had been insults upon insults for the past 3 years or so, and you had no idea what to say. You had to stop yourself from pointing out when he made a mistake in monopoly, and he had to bite back words about the way you were drinking your  wine, even though there wasn't anything wrong with it, he actually found it quite cute. Soon enough, you and your mom had decided to go back home as the snow was building up and it was already almost 10 p.m. You hugged Anne and Gemma goodbye, hesitating before giving Harry a quick hug to which he was pleasantly surprised by. You went home, and all you could think about wasn't how annoying Harry was, but how much you overlooked him. Because lets be honest, you always found him attractive to say the least, and now that you didn't hate him anymore he somehow got hotter. 

After you woke up the next morning and exchanged a few gifts with your mom, both changing into the Christmas pajamas you got each other, you sat at the table, eating the pancakes the two of you had made. You savored the sweet taste of the syrup, and laughed as the two of you sang horribly to Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. A knock at your door made the two of you almost break your necks turning towards the noise. “I’ll check.” You mumbled, standing up and taking a sip of your water before scurrying to the door. You opened it to see Harry bundled up standing outside, his nose and cheeks tinted pink from the cold. 

“Oh my god, Harry.” You said, pulling his arm and dragging him inside your house. “What are you doing? It’s below freezing outside.”  You asked him, brushing some snow off of his sleeves. 

“I have a present f’you.” He smiled, his dimples popping up, looking you up and down, “I like your pajamas.”

 You smiled at him and bit your lip in an attempt to not roll your eyes. You were about to bite back but then your brain processed his words and your jaw dropped and your brows lowered in frustration. “I- I’m so sorry Harry, I didn’t know we were doing presents, I don't have one for you.” You looked into his eyes. 

“Wasn't expecting’ one, love,” Your cheeks heated up at his words, he never called you that before. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a little red box, wrapped in a tiny golden bow. “Here.” 

You gently grabbed it out of his hands and looked at it for a moment before looking back to Harry. He was smiling, but you could tell he was nervous from his shaking hands. Or maybe they were still cold, but you wanted to believe the former. 

“Do you want me to open it now? Or-” 

“Y’can open it later, plus I have t’get back to m’mum and Gems, but uh, yeah.” He rushed out. 

“Okay, thank you Harry, it means a lot,” You said, hesitating before pecking him on the cheek again. “Merry Christmas.” 

“Merry Christmas.” He smiled like a fool, giving you a hug before waving a goodbye and stepping out of your house.

You didn't have but two seconds before you turned around to see your mom grinning at you. “What was that?” She asked, even though you knew for sure that she listened to the entire conversation. 

“Um, I don't know.” You shrugged honestly.

New Years Eve 

You looked at your phone buzzing and smiled, picking it up. 

“Hey H.” You said, rotating the ring on your right middle ringer with your thumb. It was silver, with little bears in the detailing. “Hey love, was jus’ wondering if y’wanted to go to a little party with me tonight. It’s at m’friends house.”

Your eyes widened. “Um, yeah sure,” You said, cursing yourself for agreeing too quickly. “Can you send me the address?” You asked. It was only 9 a.m. but still.

“No need, m’gonna pick you up and take y’home and all that stuff.” He said through the phone and you bit back a massive grin. 

“Oh, thank you.” You said, holding your hand out and looking at the ring he got you for Christmas. when you opened it with your mom the second after he left you were surprised to say the least. It was too expensive for you, after your mom recognized it as Gucci, and you had called him afterwards to thank him profusely, after getting his phone number off of the little slip of paper that came in the box as well, with the small note “To being friends :) text me!”

“The least I can do, pet. Send m’your address? I’ll pick y’up 8 sharp.”  

You berated yourself for loving the pet name he gave you, and said you would, as well as thanking him again to which he scolded you for being so nice. After your goodbye’s you hung up, looking at the blank contact photo. I should take one for it tonight, you thought. After you texted him later on Christmas Day, the two of you had been texting back and forth, trying to squeeze 3 years of not knowing each other into a few days. It was difficult but you had learned a lot about him, and vice versa. It was safe to say you were loving it.

Later that evening you had put on your outfit and did your makeup and felt butterflies, of pure excitement of course, when Harry texted you a “Here x.” You answered with a “Be out in a sec!” before grabbing your bag and making sure you had your keys and wallet and everything else before stepping out fo your house into the snow, locking your door and turning around, walking carefully to his car. 

You got in the passenger seat and could clearly see him look you up and down before giving you a big smile. “Y’look really good, love.” You shyly looked away from him before complimenting him yourself. “Thank you H, you look very handsome.” You said, looking him up and down and noting his trousers and button down with sweater vest. 

“Thanks.” He blushed, and this time you weren't annoyed by his reaction to a compliment. He started driving and turned on Fleetwood Mac and this is when you had learned that he was actually good friends with Stevie Nicks, and when he said that you were sure that your brain had actually burst. 

It was enjoyable small talk all the way there and when you pulled up to the massive house, your eyes widened. “Holy shit, who’s party is this?” You asked, stepping out of the car with Harry. 

“M'friend Mike’s. C’mon, don't want you t’freeze to death.” He joked, grabbing your hand and leading you to the front door, making sure you didn't slip on ice. Harry just walked in, pulling you behind him, and you looked around at all the people laughing and dancing to the music. It was more of an adult party, no 20 year old’s grinding on each other and getting absolutely wasted, which you were happy about. Even though you were only 22, you felt more mature for your age.

Harry had let go of your hand at this point, but kept a hand on your back to make sure you stayed near him. He was set on not leaving your side all night, he wouldn’t make that mistake again. Harry was a very open person he liked to believe, and it was very difficult for him to pretend he just wanted to be friends with you. He found you absolutely gorgeous, and even after seeing your worst, he found himself liking you more and more. He would give anything to hold you and kiss you in front of everyone, but it had to be too soon for you both, after all you had been friends for only 5 days now. He supposed his feelings had been building up since he met you, because it was impossible to fall for someone as much as he did you, that fast.

It also didn't help that you were younger than he was. Sure 3 years wasn't that much, but the next relationship he gets into he want’s it to be long term and last, he was almost 30 and felt like he was running out of time.

As people approached the two of you, Harry introduced you as “M’good friend,” and then said your name, after everyone had been asking him if the two of you were dating. His cheeks were flushed as you both denied it, and laughed it off. 

You had been introduced to his friends Sarah and Mitch, whom he had talked about before, and you were truly excited to meet them and get to know them. Mitch was more closed off, but Harry had told you before that it didn’t have anything to do with you and it was just how he was. Sarah on the other hand gave you a hug and kiss on the cheek before complimenting you, which you quickly did back. 

The night was fun, and soon enough it was a few minutes until midnight. Harry had kept his promise to himself, and stayed with you all night, enjoying himself more than he should. He didn't bring you with the intention to kiss you at midnight, although he would love that, and then get in your pants, he wouldn't be complaining about that either, but as it was nearing midnight he started thinking more about it. Your brain was racing as the clock started counting down, wondering if you and Harry would kiss. You wanted to, that much was true, but the question was if he did. 

“10, 9, 8,” Everyone started shouting. The champagne in your system told you to turn to Harry and you looked at him as it started to get to 3. He turned to look at you as well, a smile on his face. “2, 1!” Everyone yelled, and you leaned in as did Harry. His lips slotted perfectly with yours and when you both pulled away you were both smiling too much. “Was that okay,” You started to ask him and he leaned in a bit closer to hear you. “I didn't ask, I’m so sorr-”

You were interrupted by his lips against yours once more, and he pulled away to peck your lips a few more times, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist. You were pretty sure it was okay, now.

February 12th

Harry had celebrated his birthday with a few of his closest friends and his family. It was fun, and he enjoyed the day, but all he wanted was to see you. You had work the entire day and you got off at 10 p.m. so you knew you wouldn’t be able to make it to the party, but after you got off, you drove to his house, not seeing any other cars in the driveway. You had locked on the door and he opened it a minute or so later, his eyes lighted up as you wished him a Happy Birthday and gave him his present. He brought you inside and thanked you with kisses and hugs before opening it to see a new writing journal and a Gucci ring you saved up for. It was the one of the cheapest one they sold, just a silver band with flowers engraved on the band. He absolutely loved it, and wanted to show you how thankful he was, and you ended up spending the night. 

It had been a few weeks since then, and Harry and you had yet to put a label on anything, but he would take you out on dates and cook you dinner, and you did the same for him throughout January and February. Tonight, you had just planned to stay in, already in your pajamas when Harry showed up at your door with sunflowers. 

You let him in and took the flowers, filling a vase with water before putting them in. “Thank you.” You said, giving him a quick kiss. “I didn't miss a special occasion did I?” 

He hesitated before replying. “I hope it would be a special occasion in the future,” You raised a brow before he spoke again, saying your name. “Will y’be m’girlfriend?” 

You smiled and said “Of course.” before kissing him once more. Only a few days later did you accidentally let it slip to your mom before making her vow to wait to talk to Anne about it before Harry told her himself. 

February 21st

Harry was nervous, if that was an even strong enough word to describe the way he felt at the moment. You and Harry had decided to travel back to Holmes chapel to tell his mom the two of you were dating.  That wasn't what scared him though. You had told Harry on Valentines Day when he cooked dinner for the two of you, that your mom already knew. You had agreed on no gifts, but of course you both ended up giving each other flowers and chocolate. 

Harry was scared of seeing your mom for the first time since she learned the two of you had begun dating. It usually took a long time for Harry to ask someone out, the media always found out somehow and he was always scared that as soon as the hate started to arrive they would leave, because they didn't know him that well, so why stay? But it was different with you, he had known you for years, and sure while those few years weren't the best, it was because of a stupid reason on both of your accounts, and once he got to truly know you, he didn't want to wait. 

He was serious about you, and if your mom started to dislike him as your boyfriend, he wouldn't know what to do. As you arrived in the driveway of your house, Anne and Gemma had already gotten there and your mom had told you they would all prepare dinner for your arrival. You could just tell she was itching to tell them, even over the phone. 

As Harry put the car in park and turned it off, he shakily breathed out a little, thinking you wouldn’t notice. 

“Hey, what's wrong?” You asked gently, your hand resting on his arm. 

He thought wrong.

“M’just a bit nervous is all.” He shrugged, trying not to show all that he was feeling at the moment. 

You squeezed his arm a bit too, and brought your other hand to his jaw to turn his head to you. “So am I, but everything is going to be fine. My mom is already in love with us, and I’m sure your mom will be too.” You laughed a bit.

He nodded and gave you a quick kiss before stepping out of the car and grabbing your hand as you walked up to him. You both walk to the door and you knock on the door, waiting out in the cold weather. Harry looked at you before deciding to wrap his arm around your was it instead, in an effort to warm you up. Your cheeks heated up at the gesture and you leaned into him when the door was opened by your mom. She looked between the two of you and a smile burst out on her face as she ushered the two of you in, bringing you in for a hug before hugging Harry and whispering a “I can already tell you make her really happy.” before letting go. he blushed and thanked her softly before she led the two of you into the dining room where Anne and Gemma were already sat. 

Harry had decided to not announce it immediately, and so you were no longer holding hands as you walked into the dining room. They left two seats open next to each other for the two of you and as Harry walked around and greeted his mom and sister, you smiled and said hello to them as well when you sat down. Soon he took the seat next to you and grabbed your hand under the table. 

A little while into dinner, silence fell and Harry cleared his throat, seizing the opportunity. “Um, I just wanted t’say something,” He said not so confidently, and you squeezed his hand. He spoke your name and nodded to you then said, “and I are dating, have been since February 12th t’be exact.” 

You smiled and looked around the table, expected to see shocked faces, but only grins were found. 

“We were wondering when the two of you would tell us!”

Ahhh this was really fun to write! Thank you so much for reading and thank you to whoever asked this (I forgot the @ :( and the message got deleted after I responded to you). I felt kinda eh about this ending but it’s whatever <3

[frogsfordays]

Hazel and Nico Sibling Bonding HCs

came up with these earlier when I was meant to be paying attention in a zoom call. Whoops?

1) When Nico visits New Rome they love watching movies together. They don’t watch old movies because they make them uncomfortable (for a variety of reasons), they watch movies that people recommend they should see at least once. 

2) They do a ton of art together, sometimes Rachel joins them when she’s not busy.

3) Nico is extremely protective of his sister, but it definitely goes both ways.

4) The first night Nico was on the Argo II, Hazel made sure Nico slept in her room (Hedge didn’t put up much of a fight because of how ill Nico looked) so he wouldn’t have nightmares and if he did she was there. But it was also so she knew her brother was safe. (Canonically he had trouble doing most things when he was rescued, so she was worried he’d get hurt by himself on deck or whatever, and no one would know.) Plus she’d missed him a lot.

5) Hazel immediately accepted Nico’s sexuality when he came out. She’d met tons of other LGBTQIA+ people in New Rome when she’d been living there, and while she’d done tons of research. When Nico first came out to her, they both ended up crying.

6) Matching outfits. Sometimes Hazel makes them, Nico’s made a couple, and sometimes Rachel helps make them. Also Nico will wear whatever he feels comfortable in, so a jumper technically in the “girls section” he doesn’t give a f, will wear matching ones of it with Hazel.

7) Nico learnt how to help Hazel with her hair as when his got long she helped him with his, and he wanted to return the favour. 

8) Their eyes are the same colour (cos f whatever Rick said Hazel’s eyes actually looked like because ????? no) they both have very dark brown eyes, and Bianca did too. 

9) Hazel was the first person to paint Nico’s nails one night when they were at Camp Half Blood. 10) They work together on homework over Iris Message. They won’t necessarily be set the same homework, but they will work together on pieces, especially pieces they see as being important. (eg stuff they definitely should have caught up on). Hazel is really good at English, essay writing and geography (once they both catch up a bit.) Nico’s strong point is pre-20th century history. They both work together on post 40′s history.

11) Nico visited Camp Jupiter on Christmas the year he rescued Hazel from the Underworld, and they visit each other every Christmas. Even when they’re older and have kids, one year Nico, Will and their kids head to Hazel and Frank’s for Christmas Eve until Boxing Day, the year after Hazel, Frank and their kids go to Nico’s and Will’s. They never miss spending Christmas together.

12) Starting a couple of years after the war with Gaea, when Nico is more comfortable talking, Nico and Hazel meet up on Bianca’s birthday to talk about her, and do some things she enjoyed in her memory.

[21skhf4]

All I Want For Christmas Is You

I had a specific player in mind when I wrote it, but I left it generic, so you could imagine your favorite player. Happy Holidays all if you celebrate! :)

********

Christmas had always been one of your favorite holidays growing up. There was just something about decorating the tree, and seeing all the houses decked out in lights. It was something you looked forward to every year growing up.

As you had gotten older though, your perspective had shifted. Sure, you still enjoyed the trees and the lights, but it wasn’t the same. Especially when you had started working. In your line of work, there was no such thing as a holiday, and the first time you had to work on Christmas and miss out on the experience with your family, you bawled so hard for the next day. It wasn’t the same doing the gifts on the day after Christmas.

The next year, you were working night shift and worked Christmas day. You drove home and did Christmas with your family on Christmas Eve, but it still wasn’t the same. You had left your job after that Christmas, and at your new job, you only worked until noon on Christmas Eve (and sometimes got the whole day off) and you got Christmas off. Things still felt off though. You’d take yourself around for a drive to see the lights at night after you got off, but it still didn’t have the magic it did when you were a kid. You tried to pinpoint it, but you couldn’t.

Finally, this year, you felt like getting in the Christmas Spirit. You knew what had changed. It was the goofball who was currently dancing around in the Santa hat while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” was playing in the background. 

You started laughing at him. “Babe, seriously?” You asked, chuckling as he about ran into the tree you were setting up. You had always had an artificial one, and it was pre-lit, so it was a win-win.

“It’s a classic!” He said, grinning, reaching out a hand. “Come on, dance with me.”

You took his hand and let him spin you around. The song then switched to Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” and you swayed around the living room. When the song finished, you said, “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“This.” You pointed to the boxes and tree. “Thank you for getting me back in the Christmas spirit this year.” You tried not to, but you felt the tears start.

“Oh, sweetheart.” His arms tightened around you and he kissed the top of your head. “You’re welcome.” You stayed there for a minute before he pulled back. “Let’s decorate that tree, eh?”

“Ok.” You laughed. 

He grabbed the box of ornaments. “What do you want to start with?” 

“The boxes of icicles and balls.” You said. He handed them to you, raising his eyebrow and laughing when he saw the colors. 

“What can I say? I was a Kraken fan long before I met you. Plus, those were my junior hockey team's colors. And Team USA colors.” You laughed. “And we are putting blue on that tree this year. We can do a Team Canada tree next year.”

“I can work with that.” He said. Together, you placed the icicles and balls in an even blend, laughing and dancing around each other. Once that was done, he looked at the other box. “Do you want to put some of these other ones on?”

“Ok. Yeah, a couple.” You said. There were a few important ornaments you always had on your tree. “Do you have any you want to add?”

“Just one,” he said, “But it has to be the last one we place on the tree. It’s tradition to do it last.”

“Alright.” You started digging through the box, picking up the ones you wanted. He made you tell the stories behind them as you did; you found yourself laughing at some of them, and crying at others. He listened and added an ornament to the tree (one with the Kraken logo on it). He told you some stories of Christmas at his house growing up too.

Finally, the tree was decorated, all except for the last ornament he said he wanted to put on. He told you he’d be right back and went down the hallway. As he started coming back, he yelled for you to close your eyes. You did as you were told; you could hear his footsteps get closer and then his hand was on yours. “Open your eyes.”

You did, and found him holding an ornament that said “The Best is Yeti to Come”. You couldn’t help the giggles that escaped. “That is perfect! Find a spot,” you said, listening as he explained the family tradition behind the ornament. Then he paused for a minute. “I actually have one more, if that’s ok?” He asked.

“Of course. It’s our tree. You can put as many as you want on there.” You looked at him. “You want me to close my eyes again, don’t you?”

“Please.” You did, and you felt something being placed into your hand. You waited until he told you to open your eyes, and when you did, a fresh batch of tears hit your eyes. “Babe.”

“I wanted to do something special for our first Christmas together.” He said, “I saw this one and thought it was perfect.”

“It is,” you agreed, looking at the couple tangled together in the Christmas lights, with the “Our First Christmas” and the year below it. “Come on, let’s find a spot to put it.

Somehow, it managed to end up right front and center and drew the most attention. It was perfect though, and you had a feeling as long as the two of you were together, Christmases were going to be a lot of fun.

Especially when you went driving and wandering through the neighborhoods looking at all the lights. The magic had returned; you felt like the giddy kid going “ooh” and “aww”. He would laugh at you and hold your hand, and it was like the piece that was missing. 

[stray-kids-react]

Their s/o loving Christmas too much

Masterlist

...

Bang Chan

° It was early December when he decided to help you pick out a tree. Not prepared for the checklist you brought with you to find the perfect tree.

° It had to be a nice deep green, not too tall or small, no bugs, just enough width to it, and the stump should be smooth and pretty to look at. You were usually quite cool with whatever and didn't like to shop long, so this new perfectionist side to you amused him.

"Baby, it's just a simple tree."

"A christmas tree is never simple Channie."

° You both very carefully placed it on top of your car, making sure not to break off any branches while strapping it down. As you both drove back to your apartment, you were blasting Christmas songs by each house. Singing along perfectly and just as loud.

°Bang Chan was in tears by the time you parked infront of your home, finding your outburst of intense Christmas joy just too much for his lungs to handle.

Lee Know

° When you first laid eyes on those shining ugly Christmas sweaters, he knew he was in trouble. Especially since he invited the other members over for Christmas eve.

° He thought you had forgotten about the sweaters, so he wore a simple white button up with some black jeans. That is until your turned off the lights to show off your now blinking turtleneck... He didn't know if he should laugh or cry at that moment.

"Look! It's a cat Rudolph on yours!"

"You know they won't let this go right?"

° But even if he wasn't pleased with the sweater, or wearing that sweater around his band mates. The shining smile you wore when he put it on, made his whole heart melt. Even if he won't admit it, seeing your happiness made him not want to take it off.

° Han and Hyunjin couldn't stop laughing whenever they looked at him, but he knew it was going to happen anyways. Along with Felix wearing one of own to the dinner.

Changbin

° The previous day he slept over at your place, it wasn't decorated one bit. But the next day, it was filled with every Christmas thing possible. Even the bathroom.

° He couldn't see you anywhere, so he hung up coat on the now bright red coat hanger. Flinching slightly as he turned around to see you so close, mistletoe hung above both of you. He calmed down instantly when he saw your warm eyes, and puckered lips.

"Does my little elf want a kiss?"

"Mhm, I haven't seen you all day."

° You lips tasted like candy canes and gingerbread, and the soft background sound of frost the snowman just set the holiday atmosphere to the next level. You pecked his nose shortly after the kiss, placing some sparkly reindeer ears on top of his head.

° This was your first Christmas together, and in both of your eyes the night couldn't have been more perfect. Especially since you got to spend hours together alone for once.

Hyunjin

° Hyunjin went out to grab some dinner for both of you, and while he was out of the house. You decided to surprise him with a new jolly version of Kkami.

° When Hyunjin walked in the house, his eyes immediately fell to his beloved dog who is now wearing an elf suit and hat. He practically through the food onto the table, hurrying to take pictures of this adorable idea. Making you feel accomplished.

"Where'd you find this? And were there others?"

"At the pet store, and yes."

° The twelve days of Christmas soon became the twelve days of Kkami, having him in many different christmas themes outfits for twelve days. Repaying the dog with some new toys and treats for his hard work and for putting up with you two.

° Your families were sent very bright Christmas cards, as you and Hyunjin cuddles up to the elf version of Kkami. You both knew that this Christmas won't be forgotten.

Han

° You and Jisung were finally finishing unpacking boxes, when Jisung noticed the last five were are labelled under Christmas. All of them also painted red and green.

° He opened them up to see many different ornaments, wrapping papers, Christmas cd's, and recipe idea. He wouldn't honestly have been surprised if Rudolph was in one of them. Jisung was surprised by your huge love for Christmas, since you never mentioned it.

"Honey, be honest...are you an elf?"

"No, I wish I was though."

° Jisung later spent the holidays with your family, finding out where you got the obsession from rather soon. Since the outside of their house had frosty the snowman playing on the side of their house from a projector.

° Jisung didn't mind your obsession with Christmas, and honestly found it quite adorable. Even if it means having to wear some ugly Christmas sweaters.

Felix

° You and your family always had this Christmas baking day, where you'd all bake some sweet treats. But you couldn't visit this year due to covid, which upset you quite a bit.

° You still baked some gingerbread cookies for you and Felix, so you at least felt more at home when having Christmas without your family for the first time. Felix understood your disappointment, and decided to go out and buy some fruit cake for both of you.

"I'm home love! And I brought som-"

"I just baked a batch of gingerbread cookies."

° You both knew you and Felix alone wouldn't finish a large batch of cookies plus a fruit cake, so you decided to box some of the treats up and give them to your friends later on tomorrow. But for right now, all you wanted to do was cuddle and watch some Christmas movies.

° The power flickered off as you drifted off asleep, Felix has already seen Elf many times and wasn't mad about not finishing it. Instead he was happy, having you in his arms.

Seungmin

° You found these peppermint sticks while shopping at a mall, as well as an elf hat, and tons of Christmas movies on sale. You walked out with possibly five bags.

° Once you arrived home, you practically threw the bags on the couch in excitement. Seungmin noticed your fast and adorable claps you made when he began to look into the bag, even if you did enjoy Christmas more than him, he still smiles when you get all giddy.

"Do you like them?"

"I love them, thanks bub."

° Later on in the night, you challenged Seungmin to the pepero game with the peppermint sticks. Absolutely savouring his shy reaction whenever you got closer, and nearly melting when he shyly pecked your lips as he lost the game.

° Chan stopped by the next morning, to see both of you asleep in the couch in Christmas pajamas and elf hats. He took many photos to save for himself due to the cuteness overload.

Jeongin

° You told Jeongin the previous day that you were getting a new look for the holidays, he just never expected half red and half green hair with many Christmas turtlenecks.

° This was his first Christmas with you, and he was told by your best friend Seungmin...that you love Christmas sometimes too much. But Jeongin only thought that fact made you 10× cuter. Even if you start prepping in September.

"Aww this hair makes you look so cute!"

"Thanks, I guess I'm feeling the Christmas spirit."

° Luckily when going shopping in busy and packed malls, you were now easy to spot out in a crowd due to the new hair color. And you always knew what days were less busy.

° Even if there were some slip ups or recipes gone wrong, you and Jeongin both knew this was going to be a Christmas to remember. Especially since it would be your first together, and would definitely not be the last.

[queen-bunnyears]

Chapter Four ~ Boxing Day

Pairing: Harrison Osterfield x Reader, Tom Holland x Reader (not at the same time)

Summary: Every year with Christmas Tom, his brothers, some friends and you rented a house in Scotland to celebrate the holidays and New Years Eve with a lot of friends. Last year’s christmas you and Harrison had something special going on, and this year he brings his new girlfriend. Chaos ensues.

Am I ignoring corona christmas lockdown in this fic? You bet your ass I am.

This is way too fluffy, but I am a big softy today. 

Wordcount: 2,1k

Warnings: alcohol, accidental slicing in a finger, cursing, kissing.

Chapter three - Epilogue 

26 December 2020

“Morning dreamy, wanna have some tea?” The scent of strong tea hit your senses, and you slowly got up. Tom stood next to the bed, in his sweatpants and tank top, a cup of tea in his hands. His hair was wet, he obviously just had a shower. He looked good. God your brain should turn itself off.

“Yeah thanks Tom,” you took the tea from his hands, sitting up against the headboard you slowly sipped your tea. Tom sat down next to you, being unusually quiet. You set down your tea to ask him what was the matter, but his hands attacking your sides made it obvious. A scream escaped your lips as you tried to get away from his tickling hands. You were out of breath and laughing hysterically by the time you finally escaped. The plush carpet felt soft, somewhere in the struggle you had fallen off the bed. Tom’s head stuck over the edge of the bed, as he had managed to stay there when you fell down. 

“You okay?”

“Yeah, fine. I’m gonna get you back though,” you launched yourself back onto the bed, trying to tickle him, but he was way too strong for you, and moments later you were squirming again under his teasing tickling fingers. You were both laughing as you almost fell off the bed again. When you started to near the edge you decided to take him down with you, both of you tumbling off the bed into a heap on the ground. 

“What the fack is happening here?” you and Tom looked up to see Sam and Harrison standing in the doorway. 

“It sounded like someone was dying, of having the weirdest sex ever,” Sam said.

“So you thought let’s check?” Tom laughed. When the heaving of your chest had slowed down a bit you felt like you finally got some oxygen again. You got up and sat down on the bed again. 

“Don’t worry guys, I still have my clothes on,” 

“Well,” Tom said, eyeing you up and down, “Can you really call that fully clothed?” You looked down at your sleep shorts and big shirt and shrugged. 

“I am wearing a bra Tom, that is so much more than you could have asked for,”

“Yeah only cus you didn’t want to take it off last night, because you were drunk,” he shot back and you laughed. Sam cleared his throat. 

“Well we leave you to it then. Breakfast in thirty minutes, you coming to help y/n?” 

“Yeah I’ll be down in five,” you replied, scurrying off the bed to go to the bathroom. You grabbed your clothes, but you didn’t miss Harrisons pained look when he closed the bedroom door.

“So, you and Tom having fun?” Sam said. You looked over at him. His face was awfully neutral. 

���What exactly are you asking Sam?” 

“Well, all I know is that you and Tom seem very close, much closer than last year,” He said, cracking an egg into the pan. You ripped the plastic off the big slab of bacon. 

“Well yeah, we have gotten a lot closer this year. I spent some time in Orlando for work when he was filming there so we saw each other a lot. And he came to visit me in New York, remember,” you said, carefully cutting strips of bacon, “Plus the summer holidays, but you were there right?” 

“Yes I was,” he said, “And Harrison? Have you seen him this year?”

“No, not really. I called him several times but we never really spoke,” you said. You resumed working in silence, and you started to wonder. Did something change with you and Tom? You had always been  close with him. The clowns of the group. But last year something had changed. After you let go of Haz you and Tom seemed to get closer every time you saw each other. You were so deep in your thoughts you didn’t notice you had cut into your hand until Sam took the knife out of your hand. 

“Y/n, you okay?” only when he asked you, you felt the stinging pain in your hand. A big part of your hand was red, and it was a miracle the bacon seemed to be fully clean. 

“Yeah I’m okay. Let me just,-” you put your hand underneath the tap, turning it on to let some cold water run over your hand. 

“I’ll call Harrison,” Sam said. Harrison was the one with a first aid certificate. Moments later he and Lily came into the kitchen. Lily quickly ran up to you, examining your hand. 

“I am a nurse, is it okay if I look at it?” she asked. 

“Yeah sure, it’s probably nothing big though,” you said. 

“It isn’t,” Lily said, taking the first aid kid from Harrisons hands, “But you were cutting raw meat, and it shouldn’t get infected.”

She put disinfectant on the cut and opened the plaster box. 

“Wait, do you guys really have dinosaur bandages in your box?” she asked. You snorted. 

“Yes, it’s my kit, and I noticed everyone gets happy when they get a dino bandage. So I got them, and trust me, it works like a treat,” Lily laughed with you, and wrapped your hand in some bandage. 

“Here you go, and be careful dear. You don’t want to cut your hand off,”she said, turning around and grabbing Haz his hand, “Come on Hazzi, let’s go upstairs, I wanna shower before breakfast.” 

Harrison stared at you, and then followed Lily. You cooked the bacon, put all the fresh bread rolls on trays. Tuwaine got into the kitchen and helped you and Sam set up the table. 

“Hey warrior, what did you do?” Tom was hardly understandable, his mouth stuffed with bread and nutella. He pointed at your bandage, and you felt your cheeks burn.  

“Cut myself while cooking,”

“She was completely zoned off,” Sam said next to you. You rolled your eyes.

“It was not that bad, I am fine,” you rolled your eyes to Tom, who looked way more worried than he should. “Really Tom, I am,”

Boxing day was tv day. Every year a series or movie was chosen to watch, lots of spiked hot chocolate and snacks were prepared. Basically movies and day drinking. Harry had brought the collection of Sissi movies. Three long old movies, perfect for the occasion. All the couples shared couches, and soon you and Tom were left alone. You made do with a lot of pillows and a blanket on the ground. In between the first and second movie you had to go to the bathroom, so you got up. In the hallway you bumped into Harrison.   

“Haz,” you said, putting your hand on his arm. He looked up. “Can we talk?” you asked, gesturing to the empty kitchen. 

“Eh yeah sure?” 

“Are you okay Haz?” you asked, when you were in the kitchen, shutting the door behind you. When he didn’t answer you continued, “I feel like something is weird, if you get what I mean. Did I do something wrong?” At your last question he finally met your eyes. 

“No Y/n, no. I am the one who is acting weird. I don’t know,” he said, “Actually, I do know I think.”

“Then please tell me. I worry about you,”

“It’s just. I feel weird about you. Weirdly possessive. I shouldn’t but you know,” he let out a small breath, “You are a bit of a weak spot for me. I love Lily but I care about you and,”

He stopped talking and put a hand on your shoulder. 

“I am being stupid. I just want you to be happy. I made a choice and I am very happy with Lil but. I miss you,”

“Haz I,” you didn’t know what to say.

“I miss us being friends so I am angry at everyone here who is your friend,” he raked his hand through his hair, “I suppose that’s it,”

“We can be friends Haz, please,” you said, cautiously wrapping your arms around him in a hug. “Just contact me somewhere during this year. I would really appreciate that,”

He laughed in your hair. “Will do, I promise.”

“Now I would love to hug you a bit longer, but I really need to pee,” you said, breaking free from his arms. 

“Always the charmer aren’t you,” he replied, a big smile on his face, “Wanna have some extra spiked hot chocolate?” You nodded and walked to the hallway again. 

“Y/n?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Thank you for asking,” his face is flushed red, and you smile softly. 

“No problem Haz. I missed you,”

The last two movies flashed by you. You wouldn’t be able to tell anyone what you had seen, it was all a blur. What wasn’t a blur was your mind. You were lost in your thoughts. Tom gently nudged your shoulder. 

“Hi, is everything alright?”

“Yeah just super tired. Like I-really-gotta-sleep tired,” you murmured, smiling sleepily to him. The booze, cooking and all your feelings had drained every last bit of energy from your body. Tom said nothing, but he scooped your body up and carried you upstairs. He put you on the bed, laying your pyjamas next to you.

“Go, sleep. Harry cooks tonight, he said something about pizza. You have done enough,” he softly stroked your hair. With a soft kiss on your head he left the room.

You woke up in a mess of blankets, pillows and your pyjamas that Tom put on the bed but you had drifted off before you could put them on. The door opened and you looked up. 

“Did you sleep well?”

“Like a damn baby. God I was so tired, how did you guys deal with me?”

“We love you,” he said laughing, easily catching the pillow you sent flying his way. “Did you talk to Haz? He seemed a lot more at ease,”

“Yeah we talked, he told me he missed being friends. Everything is fine now,” you told him. He stood in the door, and you sat up in bed. 

“Well, now we are here,” he said, “I have a Christmas present for you.”

“What? We never do Christmas presents?” you said, your mind was still a bit foggy from your sleep. 

“Yeah I saw something that I wanted to get you so I figured, let’s call it a Christmas present,” he rummaged through his suitcase, finally sitting down on the edge of the bed with a small wrapped box. He gave it to you. You softly shook the box. 

“It isn’t gonna explode right?” He shook his head. You tore the gift paper from the box. A small jewelry box laid in your hands. You opened the lid, and nearly dropped it. 

“Tom, this is beautiful,” you exclaimed. He let out a breath, the nervous look on his face disappearing. Inside the box was a pretty ring, one you had been fawning over at Covent Garden months ago. You had decided not to splurge back then, and had regretted it not even moments later. “From that day in Covent Garden right?”

“I bought it when you left. You were so sad that you left it so,-” you threw your arms around him. 

“Thank you so much,” 

You got out of the hug and took the ring from the box. It fit your pink perfectly. You looked up at Tom, to find him staring at you. 

“Tom,-” he pressed his lips on yours in a searing kiss. His hands flew to your face, and you were shook. Tom was kissing you? You kissed him back, but as abruptly as he started, he broke the kiss. 

“I am sorry,” he murmured, getting up and stumbling away, heading towards your door. 

“Get back here and kiss me again you asshole,” you said, getting out of the bed as well and taking large steps towards him. He met you halfway, your lips collided. If you thought the first kiss had been good, boy you were corrected now. Tom's lips seemed to melt together with yours, his hands seeming to find a weak spot in your neck immediately. When his tongue brushed yours you were sure you died and went to heaven. The world could come crashing down around you, and you wouldn’t have cared. 

You knotted your hands in his shirt. His touch felt like fire, igniting a warm feeling in your chest. He gently pushed you back until you hit the bed. You let yourself fall onto it, taking him down with you. The same bed you had been play fighting in this morning. But now Tom was kissing you and you never wanted it to end.

Epilogue 

[heyheshi]

“We might be pregnant.”

3.4k words

written and uploaded: July 11, 2020

🦋 - fluff

🌙 - angst...?

💎 - a hint of smut...?

Please like and reblog! Also please don’t post my writings anywhere!

Masterlist

Part 1

Part 3

_________

The last three weeks have been absolutely divine! Harry managed to convince you about closing your clinic earlier than usual, he said and you quote, "the babies are gonna be safe with their parents, lovie", so that's what you did, you closed your clinic early for the Christmas Season and told your patients that you're just a call away.

You managed to snag a couple of Christmas Gifts for your husband and for both of your families. You were never a fan of late shopping but after the fight you and H had, you've been nothing but inseparable. Always tied on each other's hips and always wanting to feel one another's presence.

Both of your families drove at your house during the 23rd, wanting to spend Christmas Eve together. All you can hear are the joyous laughter and love for one another and you can tell that Harry is savoring every moment for when he leaves for his tour.

You both agreed on visiting him often and staying with him for a month before you go back to your job for another month then visit him again. It will be a tiring process especially for you but it was the best you both can come up with. It was a compromise the two of you can work with and it will be all worth it in the end.

Harry talked about his excitement about his upcoming tour with your families. Everyone spent time with one another but you can tell that Harry enjoyed it the most. Your families stayed for a week, leaving on the 30th.

He's been spending time with the kids the most. With your sister having a newborn and Gem being pregnant for the 3rd time, he caught a glimpse of what it's like being a father. You would often catch him staring at you while holding the kids and it made you smile. You can't wait for the time when Harry is holding your own child but you've talked about not trying until after his tour.

It wasn't Harry's fault though. You never really thought about having an irregular menstrual cycle and was never really bothered by it before the marriage but now it was all that's in your mind. H taught you to love yourself and your body though. He was so understanding of everything which makes your heart burst every single time.

You've been eating more than usual and you always feel bloated. You told Harry that one-night whistle your families were there but he only told you that you still looked beautiful. You have never been a stress drinker though you still drink on occasions, you are more the stress eater type of person.

You've been very stressed about hosting your families for Christmas and hosting the upcoming New Year Party, and the fact that you might not fit in the dress you bought for that event adds to the fire. Harry understood and tried to help you with everything he can to lessen your stress. He once joked about opening your clinic to stress you more so you'll cook more food for him to munch into.

---

It was 30 minutes before midnight. Your friends were scattered around your house, talking and laughing and drinking and catching up with one another while you, however, tried being the best host as much as you can.

On occasions like this, you'd like to at least have a drink on your system but you couldn't risk messing something up, you are a strong believer of the saying, "what you do on the 1st day of the year, will be what you're doing for the rest of the year", so if you are crying on new year then you'll be crying for the year but if you're laughing during the new year, then your year would be filled with happiness, plus you managed to fit in your dress! God forbid you staining it and having to deal with staining your clothes for the whole year. 

You haven't seen Harry since Zayn arrived, you figured that the lads have been catching up and the thought made you smile, but right now you really need his help. You're running out of cupcakes, and you don't know what to do!

Someone snaked their hands from your behind and you're startled by it until you smelled the perfume you know by heart and saw the familiar tattoos on the person's arms. You couldn't help but lean back to relax a bit and laced your fingers with your husband.

"What got you so stressed bunny? I can see your frown from the living room. Know I hate seeing you frown baby.", Harry said into your ears that sent chills down your spine. There was no loud music but you're sure that the voices in your house would beat the sound if there was one.

"We're running out of cupcakes! I think it was me, it's all I've been consuming since our guests arrived!", you sighed after you said that but your husband only laughed and turned you to him.

He smiled widely at you. "You're really cute baby.", then bopped your nose with his. "I got us covered angel, there are spare cupcakes in our room."

"H! Why are there cupcakes in our room?!", you couldn't help but laugh at it though. 

"Because the tables were full and I don't know where to put it and our guests were arriving so I just put it on the first place that comes into my mind!", H tried to reason you but you were already laughing at him. He pouted at you but couldn't help but laugh along at the situation, he loves hearing your laugh!

"Okay okay baby H, let's get the cupcakes here, yeah?"

"Did you just called me Baby H? Hmm?", he playfully asked you, "We both know that you're not calling me that when we're alone.", he whispered to your ear hotly and you felt your stomach drop. "Why don't we try that theory of yours baby girl? Let's find out if we're really going to have sex every single day if we do it on new year.", he sounds so hot and you're so flustered, and that's when he laughed.

"Gotcha baby! Payback for laughing at me!", the crinkles on the side of his eyes appeared while cackling, he's even patting his knees while doing so courtesy on how much he found the situation funny and you can't help but admire him and laugh along instead of being annoyed with him.

"Oi oi what you laughing about love birds?!", Louis smiled at the both of you while entering the kitchen.

"Nothing Lou, H is just being dramatic.", you said as Louis rounded the table to inspect the food and his eyes landed on the single cupcake at the plate.

Harry noticed, "Mate were just about to get more cupcakes, you can have it."

"Thanks man. And great party you two!", and with that, Lou sauntered out of the kitchen with the cupcake in his hand.

"Guess we really do have to get the cupcakes down now, huh?", you playfully asked your husband as he intertwined your fingers and pulled you upstairs to get the other boxes of cupcakes.

After the party, you really did test the theory of yours. You made love for the first time of the year, before he leaves for his tour tomorrow night.

---

Harry has been away for the past few weeks. You never really paid attention to the changes of your body, but your abdomen seems to have a bit bump to it but you're not even on your period. You really don't want to get your hopes up that you're ovulating for the month, your husband is not there anyways. 

You used to hate getting your periods when you were still a teen up until your early to mid-twenties, dread for it actually, but now, all you wanted was for your period to greet you even in the most inconvenient times!

You're eating more, but you don't have any weird cravings since you eat almost everything - you're not a picky eater so it was so easy for Harry to take you out on dates and not worry about you not going to like the restaurants he picks at the start of your relationship - so you pass that as your stress. Stress on your job and missing your husband.

But then you started feeling nauseated all the time. It wasn't every morning after you wake up, it's actually in the afternoon. You thought that maybe it was your eyes again. You refuse to wear glasses and contacts even though you're mostly looking at the computer screen so you didn't bother much about it until one day at the grocery store.

"You're glowing, Doc! Early stages of pregnancy don't really look great on everyone but you pull it off!", Mrs. Green, the mother of your patient, said as you bumped into her while running some errands.

You blushed at the thought, "no, I- I'm actually not um pregnant.", you stuttered. 

"Oh I'm sorry, I just thought..."

"It's alright, probably just the weather outside!", you talked to her for a couple more minutes before she has to go but during your conversation, you couldn't help but think about it.

Can you really be pregnant?

And with that question lingering on your mind, you went to the pharmacy of the story and bought more pregnancy tests than necessary.

You graduated with a Ph.D.! How come you never thought about this! Yet again, you and H never really talked much about pregnancy either so it wasn't the first thing that came to your mind.

Never in your life you'd have thought that you'll be drinking this much liters of water in a span of an hour. Numerous pregnancy tests wrappers on the small bin on your bathroom along with more than 10 pregnancy tests on your bathroom counter but never once you had peaked on any of it. You just couldn't do it.

You left the bathroom an hour ago and you're sure that every single pregnancy test results are done now.

You're so excited but scared at the same time. You know that Harry would be really ecstatic if he's here but he's just starting his tour, you don't know how he'll react but at the same time, if you're really pregnant then it wouldn't take long for him to accept it.

But you're more scared that those tests may come all negative. You got your hopes really high now and you're really wishing that you're carrying Harry's child. If the tests are negative then Harry wouldn't need to know that this ever happened, but you sure as hell would be really down and disappointed.

You decided to go to the bathroom to finally face your fears. You stood outside of the bathroom door and counted the pregnancy tests on the counter. 15. You don't know what to expect but you pray to God to give you strength no matter what the results say.

You slowly walked inside and looked at the first test. Negative, and boy did it disappointed you more than getting an 88 on your test when you were still in college.

The next pregnancy test came out positive. You froze, one negative and one positive equals negative, so you need more proof.

The third one came positive yet again. You still didn't believe it and look at the next test. 

Positive. 3 positive and one negative. You're slowly starting to smile.

The next was another positive. You feel like you couldn't breathe so you look at the next one.

Negative. And there it goes again. All your hopes and dreams crushed. 4 positives and 2 negatives.

The next came out as positive, negative, positive, positive, positive, positive, positive, positive, and the last one was again, positive. 

With each look at the pregnancy test, you couldn't help but cry. 3 negative tests and 12 positive tests. This is it, you're really pregnant. After years of trying. 

You cried of happy tears and for the first time in your life, you put your hands on your tummy with so much care and look at it with so much adoration. "Are you really there, baby?", you continued to sniffle. "Gosh, I love you so much already. Daddy will be so happy. We get to see him in the next few days!", with that you wiped your tears and looked at the mirror to admire your body. 

You took your first body picture as pregnant in front of your huge mirror in your walk-in closet and went to pack for your one month visit to your husband.

---

The plane landed a couple of minutes ago and you're on your way to Harry's hotel to drop off your things and go to the arena where he's performing. During the ride it made you think that about how you're not really sure if you're pregnant. You need to get an ultrasound to make sure but you also remembered that Harry would have loved to attend the first time you went to the doctors so you didn't think much about it.

You arrived at the arena after dropping and changing your clothes at the hotel. Harry was having a soundcheck so when he took a break and went backstage to change his shirt, he was so surprised to see you there. He thought you wouldn't be coming until two days before his birthday.

He ran up to you and almost crushed you. You being really cautious, put your arms to shield your tummy before he reaches you. H didn't notice what you did since he missed you so much and just wanted to hold you. When you felt like its safe to remove your arms, you hugged him back and swayed the both of you side to side. His head was in the crook of your neck and is pressing multiple kisses to your skin.

"Missed you so much. Though you're not gonna be here until the day after tomorrow.", he mumbled on your neck still hugging you tight. 

"Jeff helped me with everything. Missed you so much more handsome.", then you kissed for the first time after being away for the last 3 weeks.

---

It was his birthday. You brought him presents and celebrated really early with him before you both have to leave for his soundcheck. You never would have thought that you're going give him another gift. You were going to wait until Valentine's day to tell him that you might be pregnant but things don't always happen as you please.

Harry saw a pregnancy test laying around his dressing room earlier, it was positive. He thought it might be Sarah's since she and Mitch have been planning on starting a family after this tour, much like you and him, so he didn't dig further to it, as a respect to his friends' privacy.

You weren't acting weird, only when you threw up after lunch, he thought your stomach wasn't used to the food so he let it slide and just made sure you were okay, in which you replied to as "just probably ate a lot". Then it was time for a few shots and a cake before he went to the stage. He's dressed and ready to go, 20 minutes before his last call. Everybody was having a shot and greeting your husband but you stuck to your water and 2 big pieces of cake.

Harry thought you were just hungry since you emptied your stomach earlier so he let it slide again but when you refused a drink, he couldn't help but pulled you to the side and ask.

"What's up with you baby? You sick my love?", he looks so concerned and you found it really cute so you pecked his lips. Hormones.

"I'm not, just really hungry.", you smiled at him. You're good with lying and you get away most of the time with it but not with your husband. No matter how good you are with it, he knows you better than anyone else.

"You refused my drink babes, it's my birthday", he pouted, "it's an occasion my love."

"I know H, I'm sorry, I couldn't drink, I really don't want to.", you tried to reason him but he wasn't having it.

"Don't lie, baby, I know you. Please tell me what's wrong pretty girl.", he took your hands and kissed your knuckles.

"There's nothing wrong with me, I promise. Go on, enjoy you-"

"Harry, 5 minutes!", Jeff yelled signaling Harry to get ready.

"Y/N just tell me. I'm worried, please baby. I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it. You're acting really strange and yo-"

"Pregnant.", you whispered.

"Come again?"

"We might be pregnant.", you said in a whisper while slowly meeting your husband's eyes.

"You're what?!", he's jumping on the balls of his feet now.

"Yeah, I might be pregnant.", you looked down, feeling disappointed. This isn't the reaction you were hoping to receive and it made your eyes water.

"How sure are you?", Harry asked in a strained voice. "12 positive tests and 3 negatives...", you said not meeting his eyes even though you can tell that he's looking at your figure.

Then Harry forced you to look at him, cradling your face with his hands. His eyes were so wide and green, blown pupils and you can see the tears starting to form in his waterline. "Are you really?", his voice breaks in the middle. You only nod your head.

With that, he kissed you, passionately. He didn't care that Jeff was yelling at him to go to the stage and that his fellow bandmates are stalling different tunes just for him. He kissed you like his life depend on it until he pulled back and dropped to his knees and lifted up your shirt.

"Can you hear me my love?", he whispered to your small tummy and you couldn't help but tangle your right hand with his hair, not caring if you messed it up, while your other hand is clamping your mouth. You're crying so much. "I love you bubs, daddy loves you so much.", Harry met your eyes and smiled at you.

"Both of you wait for me here, okay?", he stands up slowly while bringing your shirt down. "Eat as much as you please and I'll have some guards near you and give you a seat in here, mkay?", he looks so happy. 

"Okay H. But we're not totally sure yet. I only told you, wasn't planning on it until the 14th s-"

"Then we'll go to the doctors first thing in the morning okay? Gotta take care of you more now, the both of you", you smiled at his concern.

"If that's what you want then. But for now, go and please the world.", you slowly pushed him off you.

He kissed you one more time before jogging backwards to the stage while yelling "I love you."

That night he performed with all of his energy and everyone can notice the change in his demeanor. To some, it's probably because it's his birthday but to both of you, there's a different reason behind it.

During the middle of his concert, you saw him whispered to his bandmates and everyone nodded.

“I'm going to sing another song I wrote a couple years ago. This is not on the setlist but tonight I'm making an exception since this is probably one of the best nights of my life.", the crowds cheered for him, "please if you have your phones, open your torches and bring it up in the air. I'm singing without a mic so please be quiet.", the crowds cheered grew louder then he winked at you from the side stage.

"This is Sweet Creature."

And with that, you know that whatever the future holds for the two of you, you'll be facing it together with your small family. You'll be now taking care of your own baby aside from your patients in a mere 33 weeks!

But maybe not "small family” after all, when you find out that you'll be having twins. And you'll have to compromise again about visiting him on tour with the babies on the way but there's nothing in the world you'd want to trade it with.

_____

[leigh-kelly]

Completions and Connections: Quarantine Christmas

So 2020, huh? Ugh. Santana and I had started the year amazingly, with Tyler turning a year old and me kind of setting up a schedule that let me go on assignment more than I had in his first year—though, so much less than I had before I had a wife and a son to want to be home with. Things were good...and then they weren’t. But obviously everyone can relate, you know, it didn’t happen in a bubble or anything.

I was in Sweden when Santana called me utterly freaking out. Because I was always pretty isolated from the news when I was traveling and she hadn’t seemed especially worried about COVID until shit hit the fan, I was taken almost entirely by surprise. She told me that it looked like everything was going to shut down, she didn’t know what was going to happen with the borders and she wanted me to come home as soon as possible. Honestly, in hindsight I should have had her bring Tyler to Sweden where there was actually a competent federal government, but obviously that’s not what happened.

I called my boss immediately and within hours, I’d abandoned my shoot and was on a plane bound for New York. Nothing else really mattered to me except getting home to them and since everyone was in a collective state of what the fuck, no one even argued with me about it. Two days later, Discover pulled all of their foreign correspondents anyway, so I pretty much got out just in time. We figured it would be two weeks, a month maybe, and then things would get back to normal. Little did we know how wrong we were.

Back in New York, things were...weird. People packed up and left the city in droves, everything looked abandoned and I immediately wished that we had a place in the mountains that we could go to. We probably could have bought something, that was true, but Santana had her practice and we both knew she wouldn’t abandon that, she’d worked too hard for it.

Yeah, so speaking of that. Tyler’s daycare shut down with everything else, I was home indefinitely, but my wife, my beautiful, amazing wife, still had to go to work every day. That was the scariest thing for us, knowing that she could be exposed at any given moment, knowing that she could bring it home to Tyler and I. We knew she was as safe as could be, she stockpiled PPE on a regular basis because she dealt with disease anyway and was super precautious about protection, but we couldn’t help but wonder if it would be enough. For two days, we discussed whether she should go stay with Unique and isolate from us, but Tyler was still nursing and we thought it would really mess him up if she was gone. We had no idea if we were making the right choice, but it was a choice we had to make.

Everything was a major adjustment. Tyler and I had to learn a new routine during the day where I pulled ideas from Pinterest to do with him and ordered about a zillion boxes from Amazon full of activities. I took him out on walks in the early morning before people were outside, letting him breathe the fresh air when it was safe and taking pictures of the empty city, figuring at some point Discover might want them for a series and quite honestly, missing being behind the lens of a camera. I learned to bake bread, I made elaborate dinners and I fought so much boredom, remembering every day that it was better to be bored than dead.

It was different for Santana though. Though she wasn’t working with diagnosed COVID patients, she never knew what was walking through her door. Each night, she came home with marks under her eyes from her N-95, a band indent around her head from her face shield, and her face just so tired from doing the best she could to provide her patients with care in the midst of everything else. So I held her tight, I told her how much I loved her, how proud of her I was, but that didn’t help on the nights she heard that a patient had died, that didn’t help when she heard from contact tracers that someone had been to her office who tested positive and she shut herself up in the guest bedroom away from Tyler and me and waited anxiously for her latest round of test results.

But onto the more positive, our boy absolutely thrived. Turns out I was kinda good at the whole stay at home mom thing and I was glad that I found fulfillment in that. Plus, I wasn’t halfway around the world when he took his first steps, didn’t miss him say “mama” for the first time and all of that good stuff. We FaceTimed with my parents and Santana’s all the time, made sure they got to see him grow. When things got a little better in the summer, Tina would join us on our walks with her son and the two boys would babble away to each other from their respective strollers. And most importantly, we learned to look for the good, we tried to ignore the worst in people and see the best because it was really the only way we could get through it.

Christmas was three days away and though we wouldn’t do our customary dinner with Santana’s parents, she and I were still really excited that our boy was in love with the lights on the tree, that he was big enough to sit on the counter with us while we made Christmas cookies, could sit through half of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer before he got fussy. Maybe Christmas was really different then it had ever been before—and Christmas was obviously so important to Santana and I—but that didn’t mean that it couldn’t still be magical.

“Office is officially closed until December 27th.” Santana burst into the house that evening, her red scarf wrapped around her neck and the biggest grin on her face as soon as she pulled off her mask. “Let me shower and change and then I’m going to give you two the biggest kisses.”

Like she did every day when she came home from work, Santana immediately stripped off her clothes and put them in the washing machine and jumped right in the shower. I missed being able to kiss her as soon as she walked in the door, but we both knew it was much safer to wait twenty minutes until any surface germs were off of her. Tyler didn’t exactly get it, he still whined and waited outside the bathroom door, but he was always the first one she kissed, our sweet little boy.

“Come on, Ty, let’s make Mama an espresso so she can sit down and relax with us when she gets out.”

I took the baby into the kitchen with me and made Santana’s afternoon drink, sprinkling a little cinnamon on top, because it was almost Christmas after all and I wanted it to be special for her. When she came out of the shower, she took Tyler from my arms and kissed him all over his face, laughing right along with him and his sweet little giggles. Then she sandwiched him between us and kissed my lips, smiling as she did. I knew that her job was more stressful than ever and the five days off would do her some real good.

“What’s on the Christmas agenda tonight, Britt?” She asked, putting Tyler on her hip and taking her cup from me.

“My parents want to FaceTime, if that’s okay with you.”

“Obviously, we haven’t talked to them since last week.”

“Yeah, well, you know how my mom is.” I shrugged, thinking that she was probably a little pissed that we told her not to come for Christmas and Ty’s birthday, but it was what it was. “It probably won’t be long, who knows?”

“Are you okay, babe?”

“Yeah I guess I’m just aggravated with her. She’s asked me like four hundred times if we changed our minds about her coming. This is like Thanksgiving all over again.”

“I mean, I get it, it sucks. Everyone wants to be with their families and I can’t wait until this is over so we can take Ty to Colorado, but we’re just not there yet.”

“Can I tell you a secret?”

“Obviously, Britt, you tell me all your secrets. You couldn’t even hang onto my birthday gift for more than a day after you got it this year.”

“I love Christmas Eve with your parents, it would have been nice to have mine here, but I kind of selfishly am looking forward to this year being just the three of us. Last year poor Tyler was so tired when we got home from your parents’, Christmas Day will be better with him on his regular routine.”

“I agree, and I honestly am looking forward to just relaxing with you guys, no stress, no drama, no dealing with my grandmother who can’t even bring herself to look at our son.” She shook her head. “Plus, it’s our anniversary, I do love the idea of not having your parents in the apartment that night.”

“Oh really?” I smirked and she laughed, before Tyler pat her face and shouted ‘Mama!’

“I know, baby boy, Mommy and I are totally ignoring you. “Let’s go play for a little while before we have to start dinner.”

So I was obsessed with watching Santana on the floor with Tyler. It started when he was a baby and she’d lay beside him got tummy time. I could never resist taking out my camera and getting a few shots of them together, especially because he was the spitting image of her and they just looked absolutely beautiful together. Santana always teased me about how many pictures I had, but I couldn’t help myself ever. They were too much and I loved them with everything in me.

Santana got so involved with playing with Tyler that I assured her I’d make dinner and slipped off into the kitchen, leaving them on the floor playing with his ball tower. It was hard to believe that our kid was almost two, that it had been so long since she and I reunited on Christmas Eve in the grocery store. But it was perfect. It really was, even in the midst of 2020, I had nothing to complain about in my life. We were healthy, we were happy and though we’d really been isolated from everyone else, we knew how loved we were.

We had barely finished eating dinner when my phone rang and I sighed a little when I looked down and saw that it was my mother. I really didn’t want another fight with her and as much as I wanted her to see Tyler, even through the screen, it had been hard. She was a hippie at heart and she didn’t do well with feeling like the government was controlling her, so I had to explain only about a thousand times that it was for her safety and everyone else’s.

“Hi Grandma.” I held the phone in front of Tyler and he grinned and waved.

“Hi Mamaw!”

“It’s my little Ty! Oh how I want to kiss your face and squeeze you!”

“Here we go.” I mouthed to Santana who rolled her eyes.

“Don’t you think Grandma should come for Christmas? I promise, I’ll bring lots of presents.”

“Mom!” I turned the phone away from him and toward me. “Not cool.”

“It’s just me and your father, Brittany, it’s not like we’re bringing the whole world to see you.”

“We said no. We’re not seeing Santana’s parents, we’re not seeing our friends. The case count is rising and it’s only going to get worse after Christmas. We refuse to put anyone at risk.”

“Whitney, listen.” Santana took the phone from me, sensing my frustration. “I promise the first thing that we’ll do when this is over is come to Colorado, okay?”

“But it’s been a year since I’ve seen my grandson, your parents have at least seen him outside.”

“I know, and if you lived closer, we would see you outside too, but that’s just not what’s going on.”

“It just doesn’t feel like the holiday season.”

“It’s one year, Mom.” I took the phone back. “That’s it. And I’ve told you this more times than I can count. You calling and harassing us and trying to bribe Tyler isn’t going to change that.”

“I think dinner’s ready, I have to go.”

She hung up the call before I could say anything else and Santana came behind me and squeezed my shoulders. I relaxed into her body and she kissed my neck, knowing that always got my mind off of anything else. But then, Tyler started crying and I kind of wanted to punch my mom since he enjoyed talking to her so much and I didn’t think it was fair that she was taking out her frustrations on him.

“C’mere, baby.” I lifted him out of his high chair and gave him a squeeze. “It’s bath time!”

It was kind of funny how after Tyler was born, I became so much less awkward around people. Whenever I was able to stay put in New York, I had taken him to his Music Together class, to the park, wherever I could, you know, back when those things were still open and having him almost made me have some kind of common ground with other human beings so I didn’t just blurt out whatever was on my mind as often. Not to say it didn’t still happen, I was still me, after all, but I think Santana and I both really changed once he came along, in the best way possible.

The next day, we FaceTimed with the Changs, Kurt and Dave who had been working from home and isolating outside of the city since March and Mercedes, who had been pulling a real Taylor Swift and writing album after album in quarantine. While Tyler napped, Santana and I finished wrapping the last of his presents and got them all situated to put under the tree for the next night. I was beyond excited for the non-traditional Christmas, just ready to watch Christmas movies and drink hot cocoa in our pajamas and I knew Santana was too.

The next morning, Tyler woke us up before six and I told Santana to stay in bed while I went across the hall to get him. He completely beamed up at me, though his eyes were still tired, and I lifted him into my arms to bring him into our bedroom. Once he was in the bed, he crawled around, pawing at Santana’s face and she finally sat up with a laugh, kissing him all over his face.

“Merry Christmas Eve, little dude.” She told him. “You know Santa’s coming tonight.”

“Santa! Santa!” He clapped, though neither of us were really sure he even knew what that meant.

“What do you want to do today, babe?” Santana asked me and I shrugged.

“I mean, we’re doing the Christmas movie marathon tomorrow and you know, we ate all the fudge your mom dropped off...”

“So you want to make fudge?”

“I mean, you’re the keeper of Maribel Lopez’s secret fudge recipe, it only seems right.”

“If you want fudge, you get fudge.” She smiled and I did a little happy dance in the bed. The fudge was honestly so good that sometimes, when I was gone for longer than I’d like and I was hitting that homesickness point, Santana would send it in a care package. Yeah, my wife was cute like that, she didn’t stop sending me care packages just because we had rings on our fingers. The best, seriously.

So we made the fudge. Then we went for a walk in the park, where there were thankfully not too many people to have to dodge and we looked up at the sky, thinking it really looked like snow was coming. A white Christmas would be nice and probably the most un-2020 thing to happen so I really kind of was looking forward to it. Once Tyler was asleep in his stroller, we went home and Santana carried him upstairs to his bed and we went to do one last double check on the gifts.

“You’re sure you’re cool with being Santa tonight?” She asked me.

“We couldn’t take him to Macy’s and he needs to have a picture with Santa, of course I’m cool with being Santa. We got the suit and the pillows and the beard, I’m so ready.”

“You’re really the best mom, you know that right?”

“Please...you’re like super mom or something.”

“Just let me give you a compliment, Britt.” She rolled her eyes. “I hate that everything has sucked pretty bad in the world, but him having you around every day, and me not having to freak out about if he was safe while I went to work is definitely the best thing that ever could have happened.”

“It feels really good to be able to do it. I don’t know, looking at the map in his nursery showing me in New York for the past nine months has been really good, I feel like I miss a lot when I’m gone.”

“Do you not want to do it anymore?”

“No, I do, I’m just grateful for the time. And to be honest, I don’t think my job is ever going to go back to looking like what it used to, so maybe that means a lot more time with you both.”

“We’re so lucky, you know? I thought about it a lot this year, like what if I would have been single when this happened and isolated from my parents and my friends. It’s hard enough some days, but going through it alone...”

“Yeah, I know. I totally do. Even in the shittiest year, the world is a whole lot better with you and Tyler in it.”

After another hour or so, Tyler woke up and was ready to play. We pulled over his learning tower in the kitchen and he stood at the counter with us as we cooked our Christmas Eve feast. Just because it was the three of us didn’t mean we weren’t going to do tamales and a pork shoulder like we did every year at Santana’s parents—although luckily, we’d prepared the tamales ahead of time—and even though it was a little early, Santana poured bourbon into our eggnog and we started celebrating.

After dinner, I went upstairs and changed into my Santa suit. Maybe people would think it said something about gender roles or what the fuck ever that I was the one to dress up as Santa, but it wasn’t like that. I just thought it would be really fun and figured we could get our Christmas picture of Tyler. While Santana had him in his bedroom, I slipped out of the door to our apartment and waited with my mask in the hallway for Santana to open up to my knocks. When the door swung open, she held Tyler in her arms and I gave my best ‘ho ho ho’ carrying two gifts for him.

“Mommy!” He shouted, clapping his hands and giggling. “Mommy!”

“That’s not Mommy, silly boy.” Santana laughed, eyes sparkling. “It’s Santa Claus.”

“No, Mommy!”

“Alright.” I chuckled, taking off my beard and hat so as not to confuse him. “You’re right. C’mere, buddy.”

Santana just laughed and laughed as I took him into my arms and handed her the gifts. He was a smart one, that was for sure, and he patted my cheeks as I carried him over to the Lord Tubbington proof Christmas tree and sat down on the floor with him.

“You’re right Ty, Santa isn’t coming until after you’re asleep, I was just being silly. But look, we have some presents for you.”

We sat with him as he took his time opening his gifts, a new pair of Christmas pajamas and a copy of Olive the Other Reindeer to read at bedtime. He was really excited about the book and roughly turned the pages, trying to see all the pictures. Then, we took him up for his bath and got him settled into his new pajamas and into his bed. Santana read to him and I sat back and watched, just so in love with the two of them. I didn’t even bother to take pictures though, I just wanted to be in the moment and Santana occasionally looked over at me and smiled. Even with the shit year we’d had, it really was the perfect Christmas Eve and once Tyler’s eyes slipped closed, I leaned over and kissed Santana on the lips.

“Merry Christmas, my love.” She smiled.

“The merriest yet.”

[angst-fairygodmother]

"I have nowhere to go for the holidays so you invite me to tag along to your family’s" with Carisi?

A/N: An excellent trope for our Giraffe Puppy. I hope you enjoy, Nonny. And Happy Holidays to you and yours! Word Count: 1800

“Christmas’ll be quiet this year, for once,” Sonny mused, while you both waited by the coffee shop’s counter for your orders. “No one’s bringing any new dates, or probably announcing any babies comin’ though Bella and Tommy always might. Never know with them.”

“Is a quiet Christmas good or bad?” you asked teasingly, tilting your head at his almost disappointed tone. 

“It’s good, just not somethin’ we’re used to in the Carisi house,” he chuckled. “I think our last quiet Christmas was when I was twelve, and that’s just cus all of us had the stomach flu and didn’t have the energy to cause a ruckus. Still managed to fight...over the buckets.”

You laughed, just trying to imagine little Sonny and his sisters all squabbling over who got to lose their lunch in the toilet and who had to use an old tupperware or something.

Taking a sip of your coffee and trying not to grimace at the artificial flavor (the last time you try an ‘eggnog latte’) you shrugged. 

“Must be nice, though, seeing all of them?” you asked, already knowing how Sonny felt about his family and giving him the opening he was waiting for to go on. 

“Yeah,” he grinned. “It really is. I love how Christmas is the one time that can bring us together, no matter what. Even if there’s stuff going on in our lives, we don’t miss Christmas. I originally didn’t think I was gonna make it this year. You know, Lieu had me scheduled to work a shift?”

“Well, I’m glad I could help then.” you smiled. 

“What?”

“I told Liv I’d pick up the extra shift, since I’ll be around anyway. Let whoever’s it was have a secret Santa gift of the day off. Even if it does mean working a double.” 

You hadn’t known who you were volunteering to take over for, but part of you was happy to hear it was Carisi. 

“And she agreed? She doesn’t usually let us work that long.”

“Probably made an exception because it’s Christmas. If I’m willing to do it, why argue and force somebody else to lose time with their family?”

“Ain’t you missing out then?” His eyebrows were knitted together in a scowl, like he couldn’t decide to be grateful to you for making the offer or guilty, like it was his fault you weren’t going to be with your family.

You shrugged. “My family’s more Christmas Eve people than Christmas anyway.” Your statement was technically true, and you hoped enough to placate him even if it wasn’t the whole reason you had made the offer.

“But doesn’t your family live in Vermont or something? You sure you’ll make it back in time?”

You hesitated. “I’m not going this year. It was just gonna be me and my pajamas and some takeout from that great dumpling place for Christmas. Which is all the more reason to work and let someone else go.” 

“What?!” 

He was staring at you now like you had just revealed a second head, admitted to being on a professional puppy kicking team, and told him you only had twelve days to live, all at once. If you weren’t concerned about the wheels you could already sense turning in your head, you might have marveled at the range of emotion he was able to get in a single expression. 

“You mean you’re going to be alone? On Christmas?”

“It’s no big deal.” You shrugged.

 “No big...doll, nobody should be alone at the holidays!” Several patrons turned to stare at the pair of you and he waved at them, sheepish and apologetic.

You picked up the bag that the barista had just set on the counter, using the excuse of checking to make sure everything was there to cover for the fact that your face felt hot and your heart was racing from being called ‘doll.’ You knew it didn’t mean anything, just one of Sonny’s little quirks, he called everyone that.

“Sonny, the last thing I want you doing is trying to drive in Christmas traffic in the city. Just enjoy your time at your family’s. I’ll be okay. It’s not like it’s the first Christmas I’ve spent by myself.”

As soon as you said the words, you regretted them, the pain on his face evident. You knew how much family and togetherness meant to him, and he couldn’t fathom not having that. Whereas you, you had always been a bit alone, even when you did go to your family’s. 

“I could skip going, stay here and have a quiet Christmas in, just the two of us? We’ll stop by the ninety-nine cent store and see if we can still pick up a tree to decorate the station, and I’ll keep you company for your shift?”

“Absolutely not. I know how much spending the holiday with your family means to you.”

“But…”

“Sonny, it’s fine,” you sighed, growing annoyed with his pushing the issue. “I chose to be alone for Christmas this year, let me live with that.”

He stared at you, aghast while the pair of you left the little cafe and headed toward the precinct. You hoped that that would be the end of the discussion, not wanting him to fret or turn the holiday upside down. But somehow you suspected that your best friend’s mind was still working in overdrive, refusing to accept that you could be alright with being alone on a holiday so synonymous to him with togetherness.

~

“Hey, Y/N,” Sonny said, perching on the corner of your desk and smiling at you. “I have great news!”

You looked up from the file you had been reading, unable to resist smiling back. He was infectious like that with his broad dimples and the crinkles at the corners of his bright baby blues. 

“Our guy confessed, we can lock him up forever, and call it a night on time for once?” you asked, knowing that even one of the three was wishful thinking.

“No. Unfortunately Rollins and the Lieu haven’t managed to get him to budge. I was meaning a little more personal, close to home.”

“Oh?” you raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah. I talked to Ma. For Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day if you can get the time off back, there’s room at the Carisi table for you. And she won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

You scowled. “At least I know where her son gets it from then.”

“Doll…”

“Don’t ‘doll’ me Dominick. I told you that I was spending Christmas alone and was fine with that. You had no right to go over my head and get your mother to invite me to come to your family’s party. Especially if I don’t have a choice.” 

“It was a joke. I just meant...I hate the idea of you being lonely on Christmas. It’s Christmas.”

“There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely,” you snapped.

He deflated, staring at you for a moment before pushing off and retreating to some other part of the room. You groaned, resting your head in your hands, the heels of your palms pressing into your eyes. 

“That was cold, Y/N,” Fin drawled, making you look up and realize he had probably been there for the whole argument. 

You felt your face heat. 

“Did it really come out that mean?” you asked. “I didn’t want to upset him, just…”

“Probably not to most people, but Carisi’s got that big heart and a lot of feelings. Plus, it’s none of my business, but…” Fin shrugged.

You rolled your eyes. “Don’t pause for effect and pretend you’re not the gossipiest old hen in Manhattan,” you joked.

Fin chuckled and for a moment, everything seemed like it was normal, before he fell serious again.

“It’s obvious that Carisi’s got it bad for you,” he said. “And you just shut him down.”

“He…” you paused, trying to wrap your head around the information and coming up short. “What?”

Fin shot you a look as if to ask if you were really so dumb you didn’t see it. You sighed, mind running quickly over all the things that you and Sonny had done over the two years you’d known each other that weren’t quite just friendly, over how much he seemed to light up in conversations with you, over how his smile made you feel warm and fuzzy and like there was nothing else in the world you wanted but to make sure he did that forever. 

“Shit,” you muttered, shoulders sinking with the realization. “I screwed up.”

“Nah, you’re you. You can fix it.” 

You smiled gratefully at him, hoping he was right.

“Thanks Fin.”

“I didn’t do anything,” he said, turning back to his paperwork with a look and you couldn’t help but laugh.

Then you stood up from your desk, groaning with the way your joints protested after hours hunched there, and went off in search of Sonny. Finding him in the breakroom, staring down into a paper cup of crappy coffee, you knocked on the doorframe.

“Hey,” you said softly when he looked up. “I think I owe you an apology.”

“There’s nothin to apologize for, Y/N,” he sighed, waving away your words. “If anything I should be the one saying sorry.”

You moved into the room to sit beside him at the little table. 

“What? No? Why?” you frowned at him, puzzled and concerned.

“I shouldn’t have kept pushing. Or asked my Ma to invite ya without checking first that you actually wanted to.”

“I understand though. To you, family and Christmas and joy all go hand in hand, so it just doesn’t make sense that there’s people out there it’s not the case for. And I do appreciate the invitation. I just...it’s complicated, you know?”

He nodded slowly, giving you one of his trademark half-smiles. “I think I get it. Kinda.”

You shifted to rest your head on his shoulder in a sort of hug, making him jump.

“It was really sweet of you to try and take me in for the holiday. If I’m gonna be the last kitten left in the damp cardboard box, at least I got picked up by the sweetest guy possible.”

He chuckled, tilting his head to rest on top of yours. 

“And I don’t know about Christmas Eve,” you continued, staring at your hands that weren’t quite brushing each other’s on the table. “But maybe you and I can spend New Years together. I hear there’s a great tradition about new beginnings and new relationships that’s supposed to be lucky or whatever.”

He leaned back, turning to you, puzzled. “What are you talking about, doll?”

You shrugged. “Guess you’ll just have to wait for the 31st and find out, won’t you?”

[supercityboys]

Chocolate Oranges

Summary: Love and holidays. They go together too well.

Relationships: Sambucky

Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Sam Wilson, Steve Rogers, Alpine (Marvel), The Wilson Family, Avengers Team, Peter Parker

Additional Tags: Christmas, Christmas Party, Christmas Music, Christmas Shopping, chocolate orange sharing, Sam's head over heals ok?, New Years, New Year's Eve, I will put alpine in every fic I can y'all can't stop me

____________________________________________________________

And that orange, it made me so happy,

As ordinary things often do

Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park

This peace and contentment. It's new.

I love you. I'm glad I exist.

-The Orange, Wendy Cope

____________________________________________                    Chapter 1: Terry's and Hosting

“C’mon man. Just one bite and I’ll leave you alone.”

Sam hovered over Bucky as he took a singular, cautious bite. "Well....?" he asked. "Whatcha think Buck?"

He watched as Bucky let the chocolate orange sit on his tongue for a second, squinting his eyes in thought. Sam drew closer, putting his hands on his knees and squatting down until he was at eye-level with him and close enough to count his individual pores and see the small knick he made while shaving. Bucky squinted his eyes further. In response, Sam squinted until his vision was blurry.  

"Hmm…” Bucky started.

“Yeah? Spit it out.”

Bucky laughed. “You don’t want me to do that…” A couple more seconds. “It's good."

Sam sprang up from his position. "Aha! I knew you would like it." Barnes was so damn stubborn.

"I was just suspicious," Bucky defended, sitting back on the barstool. "Wasn't sure if you were gonna poison me after that three-bean thing you made."

"Hehehehe, my bad homie,” he giggled. ‘That one wasn't really my fault though."  It wasn’t. In fact, if Sam’s memory served correct, it was Scott’s fault. He’d just told Bucky that they should try it to open up his palette.

Sam gently grabbed Alpine from her spot next to Bucky and took it, setting her in his lap but she jumped down anyway. "Plus," he added. "How would I've poisoned you? You saw me take out the box."

"Anything that has to be banged against a table before eating is suspicious to me." He offered Sam a slice to take then took himself another.

"But it was good though. Riiiight ?"

Bucky sighed in fond defeat. "Yeah, it was good though," he echoed back.

Sam gave him a pat on the back. “Ha, told you so.”

They both held up their slice of orange as if giving cheers.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

They tapped the tips of their orange slices together and took a bite. Their eyes never left off of each other as they were chewing. Sam didn’t know whether Bucky was choosing to continue their previous standoff or not. All that mattered was that he’d get to savor the flavor of the chocolate with Bucky enjoying it with him. Sweet and tangy, reminded Sam of the sweethearts he once mocked Bucky for liking. Crazy. All it took was time and love to find that perfect middle ground. What a beautiful concept. To taste the lips of your love without kissing them.

It had been every lately, Bucky’s smiles the most. Passing glances and prolonged gazes with that same smile over and over again. When he first saw Bucky’s eyes Sam thought he’d accidentally get lost in there- or worse, lose himself. The days went on and on and on, one on top of the other, continuing and cultivating each droplet of yearning as it grew like yeast. Alas, he remained too scared to ignite the flame to turn his yearning yeast into bread.

In times of panic, he’d search the room looking for that silent affirmation: We’ll work it out. Every day at every moment even when he couldn’t find them, he’d envision. Every night Sam wished he’d wake to see blue eyes and a free smile staring back at him, warm and inviting. The days and the weeks grew on. They wouldn’t stop. When he focused he could see his reflection in Bucky’s eyes exactly how he appeared to be without the smoke screens or mirrors; imperfections and all. When he looked down he would see Bucky smiling anyway. Beguiling and relentless, each timeless moment they shared would last. Searching forever the crevices of what love looked like.

"Okay, okay, okay! I found it!" A voice said, pulling Sam and Bucky from their reverie. Bucky threw Sam a sad smile and turned his head towards the voice.

"It's not that far from here either, only thirty minutes. We can pick a day then just pack travel together." Steve walked into the kitchen with his phone pressed to his ear throwing a brief smile at the both of them. He stopped behind the bar.

"Yeah, well. Yes. I know it's called carpooling not pack traveling, I was in a flurry for words," he spoke into the phone. "Oh haha, very funny. Ok. Ok. Yes. I know." He paused. "Love you too, honey. Muah, bye." Steve hung up the phone indignantly and turned to Sam and Bucky. "Can you imagine how much work it takes to get a billionaire to go tree shopping with you?" He asked. "It's a lot by the way."

"I bet," Sam said. "So does Pepper and Sharon know about that little kissy-kissy thing or...?" he teased.

Steve laughed and exaggeratedly looked side to side. "No, shh." He laughed again and clapped his hands together. "So what are you guys doing?"

"Poison tasting," Bucky said holding up the chocolate orange. Sam smacked his shoulder playfully. "Ow."

"Oh, Terry's! I love those."

Bucky snorted. "Well that’s too bad, you can't have any."

"There's more behind you in the Walmart bag," Sam countered.

"Hey!" Bucky gave Sam an up and down look. "Who told you, you had the authority to override me?"

Sam took his index finger and pointed it to himself. "Captain." Then to Bucky. "Sergeant."

"Okay? And?"

"He ranks higher than you Buck," Steve interjected with a shrug.

"You,” Bucky said pointing his finger at Steve, “stay out of this.” He turned the barstool back to Sam. "I'm prettier," he said haughtily, raising his chin.

“What are you talking about? My face was carved by angels, have you looked at me?”

“Pfff. Yeah, right. Your face looks like it was carved by the raccoons I feed outside of 7/11.”

“Buck!” Steve chastised.

“Bucky, no,” Sam added on.

Bucky looked around in confusion before realization set in. “Oh yeah. You’re not supposed to feed the raccoons or whatever,” he waved his hand dismissively. “I’ve committed worse crimes. I’m pretty sure the government is just happy I’m not violating the Geneva Conventions. Again.”

Sam made a dissatisfied face but otherwise ignored the statement, not ready to debate the semantics of Bucky’s extremely complicated probation. He turned back to Steve who was enjoying his chocolate orange immensely, already ridding of half of it. Then an idea came to fruition.

“Steve.”

“Hmm?”

“You said Christmas tree shopping is on Tuesday, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, I was thinking since I’m not going over to my folk’s house this year maybe if no one’s going home or anything I could host?” Sam asked tentatively. He wasn’t sure if anyone was even going to do a big gathering or not and as far as he could tell no one was doing anything special. “Everyone can still buy a tree and decorate but as far as dinner goes it wouldn’t be too bad to have some people around since it’s only Bucky and me.”

Steve chewed thoughtfully for a minute, probably sifting through all of his mental tabs he keeps on everyone. After a moment, Steve turned to Bucky. “Are you in on this too?”

“I mean, yeah,” Bucky said. “We were just talking earlier about how empty it was around here. But if Stark or Barton want to do it at theirs it wouldn’t be a bad idea depending on how many people are attending.”

Another moment of consideration- and chewing- from Steve. “I’ll throw the idea by everyone at the next team meeting then. It would do Thor some good to have a celebration to plan. I heard he was quite the partier once, and T’Challa was telling me about how Wakanda’s winter solstice is different from here so I’m sure he’ll be free. Hmm…” he rambled, clearly already formulating a plan.

Steve grabbed his phone and started headed back out the door. “I’ll tell you the official plans after I contact everyone!” he said walking out the door and shutting it behind him.

Sam waited until a few seconds before speaking.

“Do you…?”

“Know why or how he got into our house? No,” Bucky answered. “But we do have a party to plan for.” Bucky stood and extended a hand to help Sam up. “Not that I’m objecting to it but why did you spontaneously decide to host? I thought you were going with your folks.” Bucky wrapped his arm around Sam and started to aimlessly wander throughout the house.

“Nah, I told them that I’d spend the day with you since I didn’t want you to be alone.” What can he say? Bucky had become family to him even before they’d moved in together. He thought Bucky deserved to spend the holidays with him too.

They stopped in front of Bucky’s bedroom door and untangled themselves from one another. Bucky kept a soft hand on Sam’s wrist. “That’s... really sweet of you, Doll,” he said, suddenly soft. The man was often quiet or stoic, and with friends, humorous. But rarely ever soft.

“Hey, man.” Sam placed his other hand on top of Bucky’s, fixing his watch back into position. “Ain’t nothing but a thang, alright?”

Bucky smiled. “Yeah. Ain’t nothing but a thang.”

“Anyways, you shouldn’t be so worried. It’ll just gonna be the usual group, maybe some few extras but it’ll be fine,” he reassured. He patted Bucky on the back turning to leave but not before adding, “You still have to meet my family on New Years’.”

“W-what?” Bucky sputtered out. “Sam? Sam?!?” he called out worriedly, but to no avail came to any answer.

Sam snickered. Ahh yes.  This was going to be a very happy holiday season.

Taglist: @honestlyfrance @lesbians-love-samwilson @intergalacticwarriorred @siancore @glittercake @sambuckyslayallday @pianistwriter80 @hamsamwhich @sambambucky  (let me know if you ever wanna be tagged!)