#Scott Williams darts

[raapija]

Scotty getting outed for kissing the ref 😭😭

[pinkwright]

⋆｡𖦹°‧. only echoes that i wait for. —

ellie williams x black female!reader

inspiration ᧓ delresto (echoes) by travis scott w/ beyonce.

authors note ⌅ i actually currently have four works in progress but they're all turning out 2 be way longer than my usual pieces so obvi in turn they're taking longer (plus i mean its literally december i'm not at home lmfao) so here's an older drabble from the drafts lol.

warnings ⌅ 18+. afab!reader, mentions of reader being a passenger princess (i can't drive), lotsa playful teasing, cocky!mean-ish!ellie (yum x2), fingering (reader receiving), dingy party and weed mentioned like once barely, i don't know what kinda kink this is tbh.

.𖥔 716

ellie definitely tells you to "be a lady." whether its jokingly, voice laced with a low chuckle, scarred brow raised amusingly as you keep insisting on rolling your own weed, her head shaking as she seals the paper despite your half-hearted protests, taking the opportunity to light it for you too while she's at it. or when you're attempting to order your own food and she's quick to halt your words with a roll of those pretty evergreen orbs, an action that has you scoffing, a smitten smile tugging at your plump glossy lips when she smoothly recites the dish to the amused waitress.

or when your passenger princess heart decides to take a temporary, unannounced leave that coaxes out a simple murmured, "lemme drive, el." already stepping to the driver's door of her banged-up truck (courtesy of joel), platform heels clunking against the gravel before her large hand is grasping your waist, fingers firmly digging into the pillow of your skin as she brings you to a halt, spinning you to face her before she looks you up and down, tongue darting out to wet her pretty pink tinted lips.

before she deadpans, "nah," pausing at your offended pout, seeming to think back on your request before her face is scrunching like her ears have just been awarded the most hilarious slew of words, deep laughs reverberating within the cozy bubble of your domesticity, ellie cooing the vacationing heart of her beloved passenger princess back to with a deep, "get in your fucking seat, babe." gently rocking you as she uses her body to walk you back to the passenger seat, hand on the back of your thigh as you climb into the vehicle with a scoff of disbelief. and without doubt, in every instance, a hoarse scoff escapes her lips, a drawled-out rasp teased from smirking lips.

"be a fucking lady, damn."

other times it's less playful but all the more cocky, diminishing in its tease to head its more, taunting nature; ellie having you pinned to the door of some bathroom, head vibrating under the pulsing bass of the music beating through the walls of the dingy house party you can't recall how you ended up at. the atmosphere tense, skin searing under wandering hands, branding across your skin, and whispered filth, breathed into your skin.

dexterous fingers finding home under your tiny skirt, your quivering plush thighs tightening around her tatted forearm as the devil-haired girl digs into your aching cunt. broken gasps tear from your throat, your hands wrapped around her corded forearm in a plead for more, and she's mercifully sliding her thumb across your thrumming clit, cooing into your ear as you cry out for her, to her, blood rushing through your ears, "shh shh, baby... so fucking loud." the hushed whispers against your ear, prompt a whine from your glossy parted lips, hips bucking against her relentless movements when the touch of her chapped coral lips stretches against your skin in a mean smirk, teeth skimming the heated skin.

in a useless attempt, your teeth sink into your bottom lip to tame the sinful noises punching their way from the fudge-filled canal of your throat and ellie laughs, groaning into your ear as she feels the warmth of your walls fluttering around her fingers, scoffing in that low, rasped tone of sultry cockiness as your essence drips into the channels of her knuckles, "messy fucking pussy... still can't be a lady for me, baby?" a cruel coo that has you choking out a sob, whimpering so pathetically that ellie's pussy clenches in anticipation, a greedy act of indulgence in the pleasure that was you, slurring out a dizzying, "fuckkk, baby, i got you, shh..."

your lashes wet, clumping together, when you blink your glazed, dark eyes to meet her coddling gaze, thighs trembling around her arm when your orgasm rips from your throat,– and god the grunt ellie grates out has your spasming pussy fluttering around her fingers, embrace warm as it sucks her digits in and so, who could really blame the auburnette when it coaxes her digits back into motion, gentle shushing against your ear as she husks at the sloshing of her pretty pussy, "god, baby she's just aching for more isn't she? desperate little thing... think she needs a lil' reminder on how to be my pretty lady again, hmm?"

౨ৎ.tags... @abenomeiiii @naomis-daydream @littlegingerperson

[thesocialchronicles]

Nathan Aspinall breezed into the quarter-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship with a comfortable 4-0 win over Ricardo Pietreczko.The Englishman, seeded 12th, held steady at an average in the low 90s throughout the match - finishing on 94.28 - and his German opponent's struggles meant that was all that was required.Pietreczko impressed in his 4-1 win over Scott Williams in the previous round but averaged just 78.46 in his first appearance in the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.Aspinall happily took advantage, playing up to a lively home crowd, and dropped only two legs in securing his place in the last eight."I feel for Ricardo - he didn't play the game that he set out to play," he told Sky Sports. "But, wow, I have played in Premier League arenas and I've never heard an atmosphere like this, wow."This is probably the first game of darts, since probably the Matchplay [when he won in July 2023], where I've walked on the stage and loved every minute."Aspinall will face the winner of Monday evening's match between Luke Littler and Ryan Joyce on New Year's Day.Meanwhile, Callan Rydz came out on top in a topsy-turvy contest against qualifier Robert Owen to make the quarters for the second time with a 4-3 win.Rydz was well short of the level he showed in ousting 11th seed Dimitri van den Bergh in round three early on and Owen, who had to swap his shift as a delivery driver to play this match, stepped up to take a two-set lead.But the crowd were behind Rydz and he responded by winning the next three sets as his rhythm returned.Owen kept fighting and levelled at 3-3 but Rydz, who hit 12 180s in the match, would not be denied and took the deciding set 3-1.The 26-year-old from Newcastle will play either Michael van Gerwen or Jeffrey de Graaf in the next round.Chris Dobey set up a quarter-final against Wales' Gerwyn Price after a 4-3 win over Dutchman Kevin Doets.The 15th seed led 1-0 and 2-1 but Doets, who came from behind to knock out second seed Michael Smith and 31st seed Krzysztof Ratajski in the past two rounds, fought back to lead 3-2.However, this time Doets could not complete the job and Dobey levelled before winning the deciding set 3-1. 2024-12-30 16:55:40 https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1200/cpsprodpb/1d29/live/3685fa00-c6cd-11ef-9841-b95c66c8b777.jpg

[pcwpolwrestling]

12/7-Extreme Political TV

Last Week on PCW Extreme Political TV: -Johnny Suave announces that this week on Extreme Political TV, PCW presents all three Extreme Election Night matches Donald Trump has been involved in: 2016, 2020, and 2024. -MATCH #1: The 2016 Battle for PCW CEO-Donald Trump (American Patriots) defeated Hillary Clinton (Progressive Alliance) -“How Dare You!” with 9-year-old Eva McAvay (PCW Owner Dawn McGill’s daughter).  This segment Eva discusses people tearing their families apart over politics. -MATCH #2: The 2020 Battle for PCW CEO-: ‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels w/PCW CEO candidate Joe Biden, Aide de Camp candidate Kamala Harris (Progressive Alliance) defeated ‘Starz N. Stripes’ Kevin Scott w/PCW CEO Donald Trump, Aide de Camp Mike Pence (American Patriots) -Update on the California Vote Counting -Jim Vanderhei of Axios and the legacy media strike back. -“How Dare You!” with Eva McAvay.  This segment touched on the billion dollars plus spent on the Kamala Harris campaign. -MAIN EVENT-2024 PCW CEO MATCH: Donald Trump w/J.D. Vance (American Patriots) defeated Kamala Harris w/Tim Walz (Progressive Alliance)

Political Championship Wrestling Extreme Political TV Expo Square Pavilion Tulsa, Oklahoma Saturday December 7th, 2024

Announcers: ‘The Voice of PCW’ Johnny Suave AGE: 50 / HT: 5’ 11” WT: 195 HOME: Philadelphia, PA HAIR: Brown / STYLE: Like Ronnie Dunn / FACE: Goatee DRESS: Brown suit without tie

Colleen Crowder ‘Low-Level New York Times Reporter Trying to Make a Name for Herself’ AGE: 38 / HT: 5’ 5” WT: 142 HOME: New York City, NY HAIR: Black / STYLE: Curly / FACE: Narrow face with rounded jaw, turned-up nose, faint freckles, and thin lips. Bulging blue eyes, thin eyebrows. DRESS: Black pants suit

PCW Champion: Charlie Blackwell (American Heartland) Since 2/10/2024 Contenders: ‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels (Progressive Alliance) Kirk Walstreit (American Patriots) Mike the Mechanic (Main Street USA)

PCW Women’s Champion: Catherine Cline (Independent) Since 9/21/2024 Contenders: Kathryn Randall Collins (Progressive Alliance) Laura Brobert (American Patriots) ‘American Girl’ Sarah Mae Smith (Main Street USA)

PCW Tag Team Champions: Starz N. Stripes and ‘The One-Man Anti-Hollywood A-List’ Stone Chism- Since 3/3/2024 (American Patriots) Contenders: The Deplorables: Ray McAvay/’Prairie Populist’ William Daniels Bryan (American Heartland Coalition) The Green World Order: GreenPete/’Extreme Vegan’ Brock Cole Lee (Progressive Alliance) The Sports Entertainment Corporation: Gator Bates/The Alabama Kid Bi-Partisan Dream Team: Blue Dog D/RINO Main Street USA: Ken Worth-American Trucker/Farmer John Deer Wall Street World: Kirk Walstreit/P.M.C. Banks

Opening: The crowd’s chant reverberates through the arena, a thunderous echo of “PCW! PCW! PCW!” Johnny Suave stands at the center of the ring, his slicked-back hair gleaming under the harsh lights. He adjusts his tie, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he locks eyes with Colleen Crowder.

Johnny Suave: Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to PCW Extreme Political TV!

PCW!… PCW!… PCW!…

Johnny Suave: I am the ‘Voice of PCW’ Johnny Suave. With me in the ring tonight is ‘Low Level New York Times Reporter Trying to Make a Name for Herself’…

Colleen Crowder: I wish you wouldn’t put it like that.

Johnny Suave: …Colleen Crowder!

Suave’s voice booms through the microphone.

Johnny Suave: Tonight we’ve got…

Suave stops as he hears something in his earphone.

Johnny Suave: We’ve got breaking news, folks. Let’s cut to The View.

The jumbotron flickers to life, revealing Sunny Hostin’s strained face. Her eyes dart nervously as she reads from a prompter, her voice robotic and devoid of emotion.

Sunny Hostin: I, Sunny Hostin, sincerely apologize for my comments regarding…

She trails off, her words barely audible as the crowd jeers.

Johnny Suave: Fill in the blank.

Suave chuckles, turning to Colleen.

Johnny Suave: Well, well, another day, another apology from The View What do you make of this, Colleen?

Colleen’s green eyes flash with indignation.

Colleen Crowder: The legacy media sets the narrative, Johnny. We determine what’s important, what the people need to know.

Suave’s eyebrow arches.

Johnny Suave: Oh really? Is that why you suffered a fatal self-inflicted wound at Extreme Election Night 2024?

Colleen Crowder: That’s preposterous! We provide a valuable service to the public!

As they continue to bicker, Rachel Maddow’s entrance music blares through the speakers. She strides down the ramp, her face a mask of determination.

Johnny Suave: Hang on.  We’ve got MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow coming down to the ring.

Maddow has a microphone in hand.

Rachel Maddow: I’ll admit, the PCW CEO match between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris didn’t go the way we thought it would… I’ll admit that our ratings have taken a hit…

Maddow climbs into the ring.

Rachel Maddow: But I’m staying with MSNBC, even if it means taking a $5 million pay cut.

Suave opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, Keith Olbermann sprints down the ramp.

Johnny Suave: IT’S KEITH OLBERMANN!

In a flash, he’s behind Maddow, delivering a crushing blow to her back.

The crowd gasps as Maddow crumples to the canvas. Olbermann stands over Maddow’s prone form and a referee suddenly appears

Johnny Suave: We’ve got an impromptu match!

***

MATCH #1: Keith Olbermann vs. Rachel Maddow The bell rings, echoing through the charged atmosphere.

Johnny Suave: There’s the bell!

Maddow, recovering from the cheap shot, locks eyes with Olbermann. The tension is evident between the two former MSBNC colleagues as she gets back to her feet.

Johnny Suave: And they’re off! Maddow charges at Olbermann like a liberal bull seeing red!”

Colleen rolls her eyes and interjects a comment, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Colleen Crowder: Oh please, Suave. Maddow’s approach is clearly more nuanced than that.

The two commentators fall silent as Maddow and Olbermann lock up in the center of the ring. Suddenly, Olbermann breaks free, diving for a steel chair at ringside.

“HOLY CRAP!” Suave yells. “Olbermann’s going old school PCW!

Chair in hand, Olbermann swings wildly at Maddow, who ducks and weaves with surprising agility. The crowd roars as Maddow counters, grabbing a chair of her own from under the ring.

Colleen Crowder: This is barbaric. They should be debating policy, not-

Her words are cut short as Maddow slams the chair into Olbermann’s midsection. The two brawl their way up the ramp, trading blows and insults.

Olbermann screams, landing a right hook.

Keith Olbermann: You cost me my career!

Maddow retorts between gasps.

Rachel Maddow: You did that yourself, Keith!

As they stumble back toward the ring, the crowd begins pelting them with an assortment of objects – MAGA hats, copies of “The Russia Hoax,” even a cardboard cutout of Tucker Carlson.

Johnny Suave: It’s pandemonium, folks! The kind of chaos only PCW can deliver!

Colleen shakes her head, muttering.

Colleen Crowder: This is why people don’t trust journalists anymore.

Just as Maddow and Olbermann roll back into the ring, new entrance music blares. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski sprint down the ramp, causing the brawl to momentarily pause.

Johnny Suave: IT’S JOE AND MIKA!  JOE AND MIKA ARE HERE!

For a moment, all four stand in the ring, sizing each other up. Then, as if on cue, Maddow and Olbermann turn and attack the newcomers.

Johnny Suave: It’s an all-out war!

Colleen sighs heavily.

As chairs fly and bodies slam against the canvas, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes suddenly appears, sliding into the ring and immediately piling onto Scarborough and Brzezinski.

Johnny Suave: IT’S CHRIS HAYES!

Colleen Crowder: What’s going on here?

Johnny Suave: Hayes from outta nowhere and we’ve got chaos!

The ring becomes a blur of flailing limbs and flying objects. Maddow DDTs Brzezinski onto a chair. Olbermann puts Hayes through a table. Scarborough wildly swings a “Morning Joe” coffee mug, connecting with anyone in reach.

The brawl spills out of the ring and into the crowd.  The referee throws his hands up and Suave turns to Colleen with a smirk.

Johnny Suave: Well… we will return with more PCW after this commercial message.

***

CBS TV Comedy Preview As the chaos in the ring reaches a fever pitch, the scene abruptly cuts to a polished CBS Television promo. The screen fills with vibrant colors and upbeat music.

Announcer: CBS proudly presents our top comedies for this season!  GHOSTS!

A montage of “Ghosts” flashes across the screen, showing Samantha and Jay Arondekar exploring their newly inherited country house.

Suave leans back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips.

Johnny Suave: Now there’s a show that really captures the spirit of modern journalism – people seeing things that aren’t there.

Colleen shoots him a withering glare.

Announcer: GEORGIE AND MANDY’S FIRST MARRIAGE!

The promo shifts to “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage,” showcasing young parents navigating life in the ’90s.

Johnny Suave: Speaking of ghosts, looks like CBS is trying to resurrect the corpse of The Big Bang Theory… again.”

Colleen rolls her eyes.

Colleen Crowder: Some of us appreciate nuanced storytelling, Suave.

Announcer: AND…

Norah O’Donnell: Hello, I’m Norah O’Donnell and welcome to CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell.

Norah O’Donnell appears on screen, her face set in a stern expression.

Canned laughter erupts, jarringly out of place.

Colleen’s face flushes with anger.

Colleen Crowder: This is an outrage! How dare they mock a respected journalist?

Suave can barely contain his glee.

Johnny Suave: Oh, come on, Crowder. You legacy media types did this to yourselves. Remember the Trump-Harris battle for CEO of PCW?

Colleen Crowder: That was a legitimate news story!

Johnny Suave: And let’s not forget O’Donnell and Brennan’s stellar job refereeing the Vance-Walz match.

Colleen’s voice rises.

Colleen Crowder: They were maintaining journalistic integrity in a difficult situation! They were fair referees!

As they continue to bicker, the canned laughter from the O’Donnell “promo” echoes in the background, a fitting soundtrack to the absurdity of it all.

***

MATCH #2-‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels w/the Skanky Rich Bimbos (Paris and Nicole) vs. Magnum P.O’d w/Robyn Masters The theme from Magnum P.I. blares through the arena as Kimber Marshall’s voice booms over the PA system.

Kimber Marshall: Ladies and gentlemen, making his way to the ring, from Honolulu, Hawaii, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing in at 235 pounds… Magnum P.O’d!

The crowd erupts as Magnum P.O’d struts down the ramp, his Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chiseled abs. He locks eyes with Johnny Suave at the announcer’s table and nods confidently.

Magnum P.O’d: This ain’t my first rodeo.

Magnum winks at Robyn Masters as she joins him.

Kimber’s voice cuts through the cheers again.

Kimber Marshall: And his opponent, from New York City, New York, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds… Mr. Hollywood, Kevin Daniels!

Boos rain down as Kevin Daniels emerges, flanked by Paris and Nicole. Taylor Switt trails behind, clutching a suspicious-looking guitar.

Johnny Suave leans into his mic.

Johnny Suave: Daniels is still smarting from that loss to PCW Champion Charlie Blackwell at Extreme Election Night. He’s hungry for another shot at the title.

Colleen Crowder rolls her eyes.

Colleen Crowder: Please, Suave. Daniels was robbed. The liberal elite always gets shafted in this backward promotion.

The bell rings and Daniels immediately ties up with Magnum, shoving him into the corner. Magnum braces for impact, but Daniels backs off, giving a clean break.

Johnny Suave: Surprising show of sportsmanship from Mr. Hollywood.

Colleen Crowder: Or a calculated move to lull Magnum into a false sense of security.

They lock up again, and this time Daniels catches Magnum in a headlock. Magnum struggles, his face reddening as he thinks, “Gotta break free before this pretty boy messes up my hair.”

Suddenly, Daniels releases the hold and both men stand off, circling each other warily. They trade go-behinds, neither able to gain the advantage.

Magnum sees an opening and lands a swift kick to Daniels’ midsection. The two begin to brawl, fists flying as the crowd goes wild.

From ringside, Robyn Masters shouts at Daniels.

Robyn Master: Hey, Hollywood! Your roots are showing!

Daniels ignores her, maneuvering Magnum towards his own corner where Taylor Switt waits, guitar raised high.

Johnny Suave: Watch out, Magnum!

Magnum’s eyes widen as he spots the guitar. He ducks just in time, narrowly avoiding a face full of white powder as Switt swings and misses.

Johnny Suave: Now that’s what I call a power chord.

Colleen groans.

Colleen Crowder: Really, Suave? Leave the comedy to the professionals.

Johnny Suave: Like Norah O’Donnell?

Colleen turns and glares at Johnny.

The momentum shifts as Daniels attempts a Sunset Flip, but Magnum’s raw power prevails. He counters, hoisting Daniels up for a thunderous power bomb that shakes the ring.

Johnny Suave: HOLY CRAP! Magnum’s splitting atoms with that power bomb!

Colleen Crowder: If only we could harness that energy for climate change solutions.

Magnum covers Daniels, but the ref’s hand barely touches the mat twice before Daniels kicks out. Undeterred, Magnum follows up with a crisp dropkick to Daniels’ knee, eliciting a howl of pain from Mr. Hollywood.

Johnny Suave: That’ll put a dent in Daniels’ red carpet strut.

Magnum ascends the turnbuckle, his massive frame silhouetted against the arena lights. He launches into a diving headbutt, connecting squarely with Daniels’ skull. The impact reverberates through the ring, but somehow Daniels kicks out at two again.

From ringside, Paris and Nicole’s shrill voices pierce the air. “Come on, Kevin! Show them why you’re Mr. Hollywood!”

Magnum, frustration etched on his face, climbs the ropes once more. This time, Taylor Switt seizes her chance, shoving him off-balance. Magnum crashes to the mat as Daniels rolls away, a smirk playing on his lips.

Johnny Suave: Taylor Switt proving she can be as dirty as a politician’s campaign finances!

Colleen Crowder: Taylor Switt is a national treasure!

The tide turns as Paris tosses a steel chair into the ring. Daniels snatches it up, bringing it down on Magnum’s back with a sickening thud.

Johnny Suave: HOLY CRAP!

The crowd’s boos reach a fever pitch as Daniels follows up with a snap powerslam.

Johnny Suave: DANIELS FOR THE WIN!

“One… Two…” The referee counts, but Magnum kicks out at the last second.

Magnum struggles to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. But as he lunges forward, Daniels swings the chair again, connecting with Magnum’s skull. The sickening crunch of bone meeting steel echoes through the arena as Daniels executes a brutal neckbreaker on Magnum. The crowd gasps collectively.

Johnny Suave: Oh my God! Daniels just folded Magnum like a cheap suit with that neckbreaker!

Colleen Crowder: It’s a metaphor for how the progressive agenda is going to restructure this country, Johnny.

Daniels, his perfectly coiffed hair barely out of place, hooks Magnum’s leg for the cover. The referee’s hand slaps the mat once… twice…

Johnny Suave: This could be it!

But Magnum, showing the resilience of a true patriot, kicks out at two. Daniels’ face contorts with Hollywood-level dramatics. Daniels shrieks, his voice dripping with entitlement…

Kevin Daniels: You’ve got to be kidding me!  Do you know who I am?

Magnum, dazed but determined, counters with a surprise roll-up. For a moment, it seems like the tide might turn.

Colleen Crowder: This is outrageous! Magnum’s clearly using underhanded tactics!

Johnny Suave: It’s called strategy, Colleen. Something your ‘reliable sources’ might want to look into.

Daniels, however, manages to grab the ropes, breaking the count. He shoves Magnum back with disdain, his eyes darting to the chair lying nearby. In one fluid motion, he scoops it up and brings it crashing down on Magnum’s skull.

Johnny Suave: Another vicious chair shot by Mr. Hollywood.

The impact sends Magnum staggering towards the corner where Taylor Switt waits, her guitar poised like a loaded weapon.

Johnny Suave: TAYLOR SWITT…

As Magnum turns, confusion etched on his face, Switt swings. CRACK!

Johnny Suave: HOLY CRAP!

The guitar explodes on contact, a cloud of white powder engulfing Magnum’s head.

Johnny Suave: Taylor Switt just hit Magnum with more powder than a ski slope in Aspen!

Colleen Crowder: It’s probably just stage effects, Johnny. Stop trying to sensationalize everything.

Through the haze, Daniels seizes his moment. He hoists Magnum up, a smirk playing on his lips.

Kevin Daniels: Lights, camera, action!

Daniels executes the Hollywood Blockbuster and Magnum crashes to the mat, motionless. Daniels covers him, a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

The referee’s hand comes down. One… Two… Three!

Johnny Suave: It’s over! Daniels steals one with help from his Hollywood entourage!

As Daniels’ music hits and he preens for the booing crowd, Magnum lies still in the ring.

Colleen Crowder: Steals? This was a clear victory for progressive values, Johnny. The people have spoken.

The bell rings, its shrill tone cutting through the stunned silence of the arena.

Kimber Marshall: The winner of this match… ‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels!

Daniels stands in the center of the ring, his chest heaving, a mixture of sweat and white powder from the guitar covering his body. His eyes, cold and calculating, scan the crowd. He motions for a microphone, snatching it from a nearby stagehand.

***

‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels’ Promo He scowls at the booing fans, his voice dripping with disdain.

Kevin Daniels: You people, you uneducated masses, you think you know everything, don’t you?

The crowd erupts in a chorus of boos, but Daniels merely smirks. He’s basking in their hatred, feeding off it.

Kevin Daniels: PCW is nothing more than a reflection of this country’s stunted adolescence. You’re all so arrogant, so sure of yourselves.

As he speaks, Daniels paces the ring, his eyes never leaving the crowd. He’s performing now, every movement calculated for maximum effect.

Kevin Daniels: You think you understand the world? Ha! Most of you don’t even have passports. You’ve never left your little bubbles, never experienced true culture.

The boos intensify, but Daniels is on a roll. He’s channeling every ounce of his frustration over Donald Trump’s recent victory into this promo.

Kevin Daniels: You sit there, in your blissful ignorance, completely unaware of the real issues facing our world. Climate change, Ukraine, Israel – you can’t even point to these places on a map!

Daniels pauses, letting his words sink in. He can feel the anger radiating from the crowd, and it fuels him further.

Kevin Daniels: But don’t worry.  I’m here to educate you. And it starts with me taking that PCW title.

As the crowd’s disapproval reaches a deafening crescendo, Daniels raises the microphone to his lips one last time.

Kevin Daniels: Get ready for a lesson you won’t forget.

Daniels drops the microphone and poses with the Skanky Rich Bimbos Paris and Nicole and ‘Country… er… Pop Songstress Taylor Switt.

Johnny Suave: Mr. Hollywood wins the match and then loses the post-match with his arrogant, patronizing, and condescending rant.

Colleen Crowder: Kevin Daniels speaks the truth, Johnny.

Johnny Suave: Speaking of truth, let’s check back in to The View where Sunny Hostin has to read another ‘legal note.

***

Look-in at The View The jumbotron flickers to life and again, Sunny Hostin looks at the camera with the look of a hostage being forced to read a statement

Sunny Hostin: I, Sunny Hostin, once again… sincerely apologize for my comments regarding…

She trails off, her words barely audible as the crowd jeers.

Woodward Bernstein News Story The camera zooms in on Woodward Bernstein’s furrowed brow as he adjusts his tie, preparing to deliver his hard-hitting report. His steely gaze meets the camera lens.

Woodward Bernstein: Woodward Bernstein here.  In the wake of Donald Trump’s stunning victory over Kamala Harris, the question on everyone’s mind is: who’s really calling the shots in PCW now?

Bernstein’s voice carries the gravitas of a seasoned journalist.

The scene cuts to Dawn McGill’s office, where the PCW owner lounges in her leather chair, legs crossed, exuding an air of supreme confidence.

Dawn McGill: Well… duh!

Dawn smirks, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

Bernstein, undeterred, presses on.

Woodward Bernstein: Besides you, Dawn.

Images flash across the screen: Trump holding court at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by a motley crew of political wrestling dignitaries. The screen flickers to life, revealing a luxurious ballroom adorned with gold and marble. Trump sits at the head of a long table, surrounded by his loyal followers.

Woodward Bernstein (narrating): While Trump basks in his Florida stronghold, entertaining a parade of sycophants and opportunists…

Cut to Trump in France meeting with Prince William at the Notre Dame cathedral reopening.

Woodward Bernstein (narrating): …or overseas, talking with future Kings, meanwhile…

The scene abruptly shifts to the African savanna. Joe Biden, draped in dark robes and his head under a dark hood resembling an evil character from a well-known space-related movie franchise stumbles through the room in a frenzied state. His aides, dressed in hooded cloaks, skitter around him nervously. His eyes, glowing with an otherworldly energy, dart erratically.

Woodward Bernstein (narrating): …Supreme Dark Overlord Biden is in Africa for a tour…

Suddenly, bolts of energy shoot from Biden’s eyes, frying an unsuspecting gazelle. Biden’s aides scramble to contain the situation, but their efforts prove futile.

Woodward Bernstein (narrating): …leaving destruction in his wake.

The camera pans to show a herd of elephants fleeing in terror as they become targets of Biden’s wrath.

Aide: Get him away from the damn camera!

The aide is then reduced to a smoldering pile of ash by Biden’s misdirected gaze.

Aide: Get him away from the aide-AARGHHHHHHH!

That aide is also reduced to a smoldering pile of ash by Biden’s misdirected gaze.

Bernstein, now on screen, opens his mouth to deliver his closing remarks.

Woodward Bernstein: This is Woodward Bernstein…

A stray bolt of energy whizzes past his ear. His eyes widen in terror.

Woodward Bernstein: …signing off quickly!

Bernstein dives out of the frame as another bolt of energy sizzles by.

The camera cuts back to Suave and Colleen, both looking shell-shocked.

Johnny Suave: Well now. It’s a good thing Hunter Biden isn’t along on the trip.  He might not have needed the pardon.

Colleen’s eyelids go up as far as they can go. She slowly turns her head towards Johnny.

Colleen Crowder: I hate you.

***

A DOGE Commercial The screen fades to black, then a rugged American landscape appears.

Booming Announcer Guy: In a world of bloated bureaucracy…

Elon Musk’s face fills the frame, wind tousling his hair as he stands atop a rocky outcrop.

Elon Musk: America needs a leaner, meaner government machine.

Cut to Vivek Ramaswamy, striding purposefully across the Washington Mall.

Vivek Ramaswamy: That’s why we’ve created DOGE – the Department of Government Efficiency.

A montage flashes by: stacks of papers being shredded, computers shutting down, “CLOSED” signs appearing on agency doors.

Musk, now behind the wheel of a cybertruck, grins.

Elon Musk: We’re trimming the fat and cutting the red tape.

Ramaswamy, seated beside him, adds…

Vivek Ramaswamy: And we’re doing it faster than you can say ‘balanced budget.’

The truck careens through D.C., leaving bewildered bureaucrats in its wake. Musk thinks, This is even more fun than Twitter.

Vivek Ramaswamy: With DOGE, we’re not just making government smaller. We’re making it work for you.

The cybertruck screeches to a halt before the Capitol. Both men leap out, striding towards the building with purpose.

Musk turns to the camera.

Elon Musk: Because in Trump’s America, efficiency isn’t just a buzzword.

Vivek Ramaswamy: It’s a way of life.

As they reach the steps, Musk can’t help but smirk. Who knew government work could be this entertaining?

The screen fades to black, revealing the DOGE logo – a Shiba Inu wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.

***

MAIN EVENT: Neal Conn-making foreign policy as paramount responsibility of government, seeing the need for the U.S. acting as the world’s sole superpower as indispensable to establishing and maintaining global order (Conservative Inc.) vs. Ken Worth-American Trucker (Main Street USA) The arena lights dim as Kimber Marshall’s statuesque figure takes center stage, her brunette waves cascading over her shoulders. She raises the microphone to her lips, her voice booming with theatrical flair.

Kimber Marshall: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for our next bout! Introducing first, representing Conservative Inc… making foreign policy as paramount responsibility of government, seeing the need for the U.S. acting as the world’s sole superpower as indispensable to establishing and maintaining global order… Neal Conn!

Conn struts down the ramp with Hallie Burton- protector of the military-industrial complex.

Johnny Suave: Here he comes… the champion of Conservative Inc… the anti-Trump faction in the American Patriots… Neal Conn…making foreign policy as paramount responsibility of government, seeing the need for the U.S. acting as the world’s sole superpower as indispensable to establishing and maintaining global order… I’m contractually obligated to say that.

Kimber’s voice rises with anticipation.

Kimber Marshall: And his opponent, from the heartland of Gary, Indiana, standing 6’2″ and weighing in at 225 pounds… The American Trucker, Ken Worth!”

Ken emerges, flanked by Sarah Mae Smith. The crowd erupts, and Ken feels a surge of pride.

Johnny Suave: Ken Worth isn’t just fighting for himself tonight; he’s fighting for every hardworking American who’s been overlooked by the elites.

Crowder’s reaction is as dismissive as ever.

Colleen Crowder: How noble. I’m just going to sit this one out.

The bell rings, and Conn and Worth circle each other warily. They lock up, muscles straining.

With a burst of power, Ken breaks the hold and lands a solid right hook. Conn staggers back, surprise etched on his face.

Johnny Suave: Big right hand by Worth and Neal Conn was NOT expecting that.

Conn lunges forward, but Ken’s ready. He catches Conn in a suplex, slamming him to the mat.

Johnny Suave: Ken Worth covers!

The referee counts: “One… Two…” Conn kicks out, and Ken feels a flicker of frustration.

Ken follows up with a boot to Conn’s face that sends him tumbling out of the ring.

Ken pursues Conn.

Johnny Suave: Just like these politicians, always running when things get tough.

But Conn’s craftier than he looks. He catches Ken with a drop toehold, sending him crashing into a chair that Hallie’s conveniently placed.

Johnny Suave: Ken Worth just walked right into that one.

Pain explodes in Ken’s forehead as Conn slams him into the ring post.

Johnny Suave: Face versus steel ring post?  Ring post wins every time and Ken Worth is busted open.

Blood trickles down Ken’s face as Conn throws him back into the ring.

Johnny Suave: Ken Worth has to be thinking is this what it’s come to? The working man bleeding while the elite stay clean- JAKE BRAKE!

Desperate, Ken attempts his finisher, the Jake Brake.

Johnny Suave: NO!

But Conn counters, transitioning smoothly into a Death Valley Driver.

Johnny Suave: Ken Worth’s back hits the mat and I’m sure he can’t help but wonder if this is a metaphor for something bigger – the American worker, brought low by policies he never asked for.

The referee’s hand slaps the mat. “One… Two…” Ken kicks out.

Johnny Suave: NO!  Ken Worth kicks out and his spirit as unbreakable as the open road he calls home. The fight’s not over yet, not by a long shot.

Conn, his face a mask of disdain, rolls Worth up again. The referee’s hand slaps the mat once, twice… but Worth kicks out again.

Johnny Suave: Again Ken Worth kicks out… his determination is as unyielding as the steel of the rig he drives

Desperation fuels Worth as he delivers a low blow, momentarily stunning Conn.

Johnny Suave: Ken Worth goes low but hey… sometimes you gotta fight dirty to level the playing field.

He attempts the Jake Brake again, but Conn, ever the cunning politician, blocks it and transitions into a devastating Tombstone. As Worth’s world spins, he hears the crowd’s collective gasp.

Conn goes for the cover, but Sarah Mae Smith, her voice cutting through the chaos, distracts the referee.

Johnny Suave: Neal Conn had the pinfall but Sarah Mae Smith saves him.

“That’s my girl,” Worth thinks hazily, “always looking out for the little guy.”

Conn, enraged, turns to berate the official. It’s the opening Worth needs. With a surge of adrenaline, he clobbers Conn from behind.

Johnny Suave: How’s that for Main Street justice?

Outside the ring, Hallie Burton charges at Sarah Mae.

Johnny Suave: Here we go…

The two women collide in a flurry of fists.

Johnny Suave: …CAAAAAAT-FIGHT!  CAAAAT-FIGHT!

Burton and Sarah Mae roll around on the floor, their struggle mirroring the larger ideological battle playing out in the ring.

Johnny Suave: Conn and Worth trade blows, each strike echoing the clash between elitism and populism.

Colleen rolls her eyes.

Suddenly, Conn lands a dropkick that sends Worth reeling.

Johnny Suave: Big drop kick and Worth is in trouble.

Desperate, Worth attempts one last Jake Brake.

Johnny Suave: JAKE BRAKE- NO!

But Conn, with the slippery evasiveness of a career politician, blocks it and unleashes his finisher.

Johnny Suave: MONEY MAKER!

Worth hits the mat and Conn rolls him up.

Johnny Suave: Is this how it ends? The working man crushed under the boot of big money?

The referee’s hand slaps the mat. One. Two. Three.

Johnny Suave: Yes.

Kimber Marshall: The winner of this match… Neal Conn!

***

Neal Conn Comments Neal Conn stands in the center of the ring, his expensive suit still immaculate despite the grueling match. He snatches the microphone from Kimber, his eyes gleaming with disdain as he surveys the booing crowd and addresses them with a sneer and a voice dripping with contempt.

Neal Conn: Listen up, you pathetic excuses for citizens.  Just like in Washington, DC, in PCW there’s a way things are done. You might not like it, but guess what? Your opinions are as worthless as Ken Worth was in the ring tonight.

The crowd’s boos intensify, but Conn’s smirk only grows wider. He relishes their impotent rage.

Neal Conn: Oh, you think Donald Trump can swoop in and dismantle the power structure we’ve so carefully crafted?

Conn chuckles, shaking his head.

Neal Conn: How adorably naive. Conservative Inc. isn’t some sandcastle to be kicked over by a populist bully. We are the bedrock of this nation’s political landscape.

Hallie Burton nods emphatically at ringside, her perfectly coiffed hair barely moving as she does. Conn locks eyes with her, drawing strength from their shared contempt for the masses.

Neal Conn: And as for Charlie Blackwell, the PCW champion is nothing more than a court jester, entertaining the peasants while the real power brokers make the decisions that matter.

He pauses, savoring the outrage rippling through the arena. These fools, Conn thinks, so easily manipulated by empty rhetoric and false promises. If only they knew how insignificant they truly are.

Neal Conn: Let me make this crystal clear for you simpletons. The ‘little people’ don’t matter. Your votes, your voices, your dreams – they’re all inconsequential. In this world, money talks, and we hold all the cash.

Hallie Burton applauds enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. Conn allows himself a small smile of appreciation for his ally before turning back to the seething crowd.

Neal Conn: So go ahead, cheer for your working-class heroes…

Conn gives a dismissive wave of his hand.

Neal Conn: …just remember who really pulls the strings.

With that, Conn drops the microphone, letting it hit the canvas with a reverberating thud. He exits the ring, Hallie falling in step beside him, leaving behind a storm of anger and frustration in their wake.

Johnny Suave: Well… we’ve heard from both ‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels and we’ve heard from Neal Conn… making foreign policy as paramount responsibility of government, seeing the need for the U.S. acting as the world’s sole superpower as indispensable to establishing and maintaining global order… I’m-

Colleen Crowder: We know.  You’re contractually obligated to say that.

Johnny Suave: Right.  Next week at the final PCW Extreme Political TV of 2024… Neal Conn of the American Patriots… ‘Mr. Hollywood’ Kevin Daniels… and PCW Champion Charlie Blackwell will meet in a three-way dance for the PCW Title.

Colleen Crowder: And I’m obligated to say… GO KEVIN DANIELS!

Johnny Suave: Speaking of contractual obligations, let’s check back in to The View where Sunny Hostin once again has to read another ‘legal note.

Colleen Crowder: Johnny, do we have-

Look-in at The View The jumbotron flickers to life. Sunny Hostin looks at the camera with the look of a hostage being forced to read a statement.

Sunny Hostin: I, Sunny Hostin, once again… sincerely apologize… once again… for my comments… once again… regarding-

***

Pulp Fiction Videos The screen flickers to life, revealing PCW Champion Charlie Blackwell’s rugged face, his eyes burning with intensity. He leans into the camera, his Texan drawl thick with conviction.

Charlie Blackwell: Listen up, folks. The people spoke loud and clear in November, and let me tell you, the status quo ain’t cutting it anymore.

Charlie’s jaw clenches, his fists balling at his sides. He’s thinking about all the hardworking Americans he represents, the ones who’ve been ignored for far too long.

Charlie Blackwell: We’re done with the same old song and dance. It’s time for real change, and I’m here to deliver it.

***

The scene abruptly cuts to Professor McCarthy, standing in his Berkeley office. He’s holding up a thick book, its cover emblazoned with “The Good Book of Political Correctness.”

McCarthy’s voice drips with condescension as he addresses the camera.

Professor McCarthy: The people don’t understand what they’ve done. They’re misguided, uninformed. It’s only people like me they should be listening to.

He taps the book emphatically, his eyes wild with self-righteousness.

Professor McCarthy: This book contains everything that’s acceptable to think, say, or do. Anything else is simply wrong.

***

The scene shifts again, this time to a luxurious box overlooking the PCW arena. The Progressive Alliance is in chaos, its members shouting over each other.

Voice: How could we lose?

Lots of accusatory fingers being pointed.

Another Voice: We spent millions!

Another, Another Voice: What do you mean millions?  We spent BILLIONS!

Another slams their fist on a table.

Yet, Another, Another Voice: Our message was perfect! The people are just too stupid to understand!

***

As the arguments escalate, the camera pans to a quiet corner where a middle-aged couple sits, holding hands. The husband speaks softly.

Husband: We’ve been married for over 25 years now. It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve worked through every problem.

His wife nods, smiling.

Wife: Instead of giving up, we committed to each other. That’s what real love is about.

As they lean in for a kiss, the words “VIRTUE SIGNALING” flash across the bottom of the screen in bold, ironic letters.

The camera lingers on this scene of genuine affection amidst the chaos, a stark contrast to the manufactured outrage surrounding them.

***

The screen flickers, and suddenly Professor McCarthy’s face fills the frame, his eyes bulging with fury. He’s red-faced, spittle flying as he shouts directly into the camera.

Professor McCarthy: Free speech? HAH!

He slams his fist on the podium before him.

Professor McCarthy: We’ll tell you what to say! What to think! And if you dare disagree… we’ll shout you down!

The professor’s face contorts with rage, veins pulsing in his forehead.

Professor McCarthy: Conformity is safety! Obedience is freedom!

***

The scene abruptly cuts to PCW Champion Charlie Blackwell, standing in the center of the ring. His weathered face is calm, but his eyes burn with determination.

Charlie Blackwell: Folks…

Charlie adjusts his championship belt.

Charlie Blackwell: …next week, we’re gonna see a match that’s about more than just wrastlin’. It’s about the soul of this here federation.”

Charlie paces the ring, his boots thudding on the canvas.

Charlie Blackwell: On one side, we’ve got Neal Conn and that Hollywood pretty boy, Kevin Daniels. They represent everythin’ that’s wrong with the establishment.

He stops, facing the camera.

Charlie Blackwell: And on the other side? Well, that’s you and me. The people. The ones they look down on from their ivory towers.

Charlie’s voice drops to a growl.

Charlie Blackwell: But let me tell you somethin’. They may have the money, but we’ve got the heart. And in PCW, heart wins every time.

***

The scene shifts once more to the Progressive Alliance’s luxury box. It’s pandemonium. Glasses shatter, papers fly, and voices rise in a cacophony of blame and recrimination.

One Faction: We need to move further left!

Another Group: No, we need to appeal to the center!

In the midst of the chaos, Kevin Daniels stands silent, his face a mask of contempt. He thinks to himself, “These fools. They don’t understand. It’s not about left or right. It’s about power.”

As the arguments intensify and the show fades to black, Kevin’s smirk is the last thing visible, a harbinger of the battles yet to come.

[misshoneyimhomeagain]

Chapter 1 - 

Summary;

Tags; William NylanderxOfc, “We never go out of style”

Warnings; alcohol consumption; swearing (I think); sexual references;

A/N;

Words; 3K+

-

“I don't need a man to make me feel good”

As September arrived, Julia strolled leisurely through the streets of Toronto, enjoying the taste of her coffee, thinking about how her time in the city had been nothing short of amazing.

Even though her best friend Camille had returned to London, Julia's new work team had warmly welcomed her, especially her close colleague, Charlie, who had gone out of her way to make her feel at home. Julia and Charlie had quickly formed a strong bond, and Charlie's extroverted nature led them to explore Toronto's hidden gems together - the best bars, restaurants, museums, gardens, and galleries.

Charlie strongly reminded Julia of Camille. They were both tall (well, taller than her 5'2", which pretty much anyone was), naturally fit, with light-coloured hair, and had a vibrant energy. Charlie worked as a project coordinator in Julia’s team and had been with the firm for a couple of years, starting out as a student assistant. Although a couple of years younger than Julia, Charlie made an effort to introduce her properly to the city.

One weekend, they set out for the Toronto Islands. The ferry ride had been pleasant, with the shimmering waters of Lake Ontario reflecting the sunlight, creating a mesmerising sight. Once they reached the islands, they hired bicycles and began their adventure.

The islands offered a serene escape, with lush greenery, picturesque beaches, and panoramic views of the city's skyline. Julia and Charlie cycled through quaint neighbourhoods, passing charming cottages and beautifully landscaped gardens. Along the way, they shared funny anecdotes, childhood memories, and aspirations for the future.

As they reached a particularly secluded part of the islands, they found a spot by the water to have their picnic. Julia had prepared an assortment of delicious sandwiches, fresh fruits, and homemade lemonade. They laughed, ate, and simply enjoyed each other's company as the waves gently lapped against the shore.

_

September 17th

It was Charlie's 25th birthday, and she had planned a night out with Julia, some colleagues, and a few of her girlfriends at a bar in Downtown Toronto. Charlie generously offered to buy the first round, and then everyone could choose their drinks freely. As it was a busy Saturday night, she had reserved a few tables in the back, ensuring the group could relax and enjoy games like darts and pool.

During the summer, Charlie had spent some time with her parents and had an unexpected encounter with her childhood friend, Mitch. Although they had grown apart over the years, their recent conversations had brought them back together. They had met up a few times since they both lived in the same city, and Charlie even extended an invitation to her birthday, although she wasn't sure if he'd make it due to his busy schedule.

Inside the bar, the atmosphere was lively, with music, laughter, and cheering filling the room. Julia was having a great time, effortlessly beating Mark and Scott at darts, probably thanks to her English upbringing. Meanwhile, Charlie made rounds, ensuring everyone was enjoying themselves.

"Oh my god! Miiiiitchy!" Charlie exclaimed when she suddenly spotted Mitch, the tall, brunette guy from her past, walking into the bar with a group of friends. "I didn’t think you’d come," she added as she greeted him with enthusiasm, hugging him warmly and flashing a big smile.

"Of course, I did! Wouldn’t miss it. Oh, and by the way, this is from my mom," he said, handing her a small-sized box.

Mitch had brought her a small gift, and Charlie graciously thanked him, sending her best regards to his mother.

"Guys, this is my friend Charlie," Mitch then introduced her to his group, as he stood there with three other guys. One of them seemed a bit puzzled, but Charlie couldn't help but notice how exceptionally good-looking he was. With his semi-long, dark hair slightly curled under his cap, tanned skin with a hint of Hispanic features, and a charming moustache and scruff, he exuded a unique appeal. He was dressed in a loose shirt paired with tight dark trousers, a thin jacket, and trainers. Charlie couldn't deny the magnetic attraction she felt toward him.

"She's not a dude…” the guy remarked to the others, causing laughter from his friends.

"Wow, quite the way to offend a girl in just five syllables," Charlie retorted playfully, joining in on the laughter.

"Sorry," he apologised, offering a nervous smile.

"Don't worry; it happens more often than you’d think," Charlie reassured him with a wink, sharing a moment of amusement. Just then, Mitch chimed in to introduce the guys.

"Char, you probably already know their names, but this is Auston, Mo, and Willy," Mitch said, and Charlie greeted them enthusiastically.

Indeed, she knew who they were; she wasn't oblivious to the world - being Canadian, she was well aware of some of the best hockey players in the NHL. She had also discreetly followed Mitch's career over the years, even though they hadn't been in touch for quite some time.

"Nice to meet you. Come on, have a drink or something," Charlie invited, gesturing for them to join the group. "Hey, JJ, there's someone I want you to meet," she called out to someone else.

'JJ,' William thought, his mind racing. No, it couldn't be... or could it? Oh, yes, it definitely could.

As she turned around from the other group, there she stood with her long blonde, curled hair, radiant smile, and those captivating big blue eyes. "Shit," William chuckled to himself, caught off guard by seeing her again. He hadn't exactly expected this kind of reunion.

"Hey," Julia greeted as Charlie motioned for her to join the group.

Immediately, she recognised William as well. How could she not? They had shared a great time at the bar, followed by an intimate session in her bedroom. Seeing him again with his beachy, blonde hair, Balenciaga t-shirt, and that smirk on his face brought back both memories and mixed feelings. He seemed amused by the situation, but Julia wasn't sure how to feel about seeing him again. He was undeniably attractive, and that smirk stirred up feelings she probably shouldn't indulge.

"So, this is my new colleague and very good friend, Julia, who’s just moved here from London," Charlie introduced to the lads, and they all greeted her.

"JJ, these guys here are probably the most important people for you to know about when living here," she then pointed out each of the lads - Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Reilly, and William Nylander - explaining that they were the greatest hockey stars of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The lads chuckled at Charlie's praise.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Julia said with an excited expression.

“Well, come on, have a seat and a drink if you’d like,” Charlie said loudly.

They all took a seat at the tables while the others continued playing games. Julia made eye contact with the barman who almost immediately came over to take their orders, and the lads opted for fizzy drinks, mindful of their ongoing training.

“It’s a nice place you've chosen, Char,” Mitch remarked as he sat down in front of her with Auston to his right and Mo on his left.

“Thanks, it’s basically our go-to place whenever we go out,” Charlie smiled. “JJ used to go out for after-work beers back home, and so we’ve sort of adopted that into our team.”

"So, how do you like Toronto so far?" Morgan asked Julia, sitting across from her.

"Well, so far, everyone's been very welcoming and great - and it's an incredible city, so it's truly all good," she smiled.

"But the most important thing is that JJ will attend her very first NHL game next month," Charlie chimed in, sparking curiosity among the group.

"Oh, cool! When?" Mitch asked.

"It's the home opening game, right?" Julia said, looking at Charlie, who nodded.

“Yes, it's my welcoming slash birthday present,” Charlie added, garnering further interest from the lads.

"When's your birthday?" William suddenly asked from Julia’s right side.

"The 7th, next month," she responded with a soft smile, and the lads nodded.

"And how young, if we may ask?" Mo teased, and Julia laughed.

"27," she said confidently, "no worries, I have no issues with my age," which earned more laughs from the group. William couldn't help but smile, realising she was just slightly older than him, which he found amusing for some unknown reason.

“And do you know anything about hockey?” Auston asked from the opposite corner of the table, and Julia chuckled.

“Well, a little bit actually - or maybe just the basics of the basics,” she replied chuckling. She shared that her younger brother, Daniel, played hockey for a hobby, but she had only seen a couple of games herself.

“I didn’t know hockey was a big thing in England,” Mitch stated.

"It's not," Julia smiled, "but when Daniel was 8, he moved with our dad back to Denmark after our parents' divorce. And he played serious hockey there for some years before a bad ankle injury," she explained, capturing the lads' attention.

"Wait, you're from Denmark?" Auston asked with curiosity.

"Well, my dad is Danish, and I was born there, but I grew up in England,” Julia clarified with a friendly smile.

Auston then mentioned their best friend, Freddie, who used to play for the Leafs and also hailed from Denmark.

“Oh yeah, Frederik Andersen, right?” She asked, and they nodded confirming. “Yeah, he was like the first thing my father mentioned when I told him I was moving to Toronto - before he asked me about my promotion, of course,” she chuckled, and the lads responded with laughter.

"Maybe we should introduce you to him sometime," Mitch playfully suggested, and Julia eagerly agreed.

“And actually,” Charlie said, “Willy here is also from Scandinavia,” she told and pointed to William. “Sweden, right?” William nodded, offering Julia a friendly smile. 

“Which is definitely not the same as Denmark,” he said jokingly.

“Oh, I couldn’t agree more,” Julia added, and they shared a moment of amusement as they all laughed.

“Let me guess, none of you would understand the each other,” Mitch joked from across the table. They both shook their head chuckling causing laughter from the others.

As the night progressed, the playful banter continued, and Julia felt a sense of ease and comfort among the lads. They were all very sociable and outgoing, so she easily felt included in their conversations about hockey, their off-season, and how Charlie and Mitch shared stories from their childhood.

And as Julia laughed and smiled at the group's joking behaviour, William found himself drawn to her warmth and confidence. Her kindness and gentle touches had left an impression on him, and he couldn't deny that he still found her intriguing.

The initial tension had dissipated, and William actively participated in the banter, occasionally sharing flirty glances with Julia. There was a connection between them, but it wasn't overtly sexual. And no one else seemed to notice. 

Julia had let go of any hard feelings towards William quite some time ago. Not that there was much to forgive, but she had felt a little hurt after he’d left. So, seeing him tonight was a bit of a surprise. But he did seem to be nice, and she found his charm enjoyable; his laughter was infectious and the way he playfully chatted with the rest of the guys simply made her feel comfortable around him.

In the meantime, a few of Charlie's other friends had left the party, while a few stayed, either joining the group at the table or heading to the dance floor.

Clara, one of their colleagues, approached the table and sat down between Mo and William, across from Julia. "So, Charlie, have you heard about JJ's secret lover?” she playfully asked.

Julia momentarily froze, recalling she had mentioned spending a night with a guy but hadn't exactly told that it was the gentleman sitting right beside her.

"Oh yeah, she mentioned him," Charlie chuckled, raising her eyebrows a few times, "Mr. Mystery."

Julia could sense William listening attentively from the corner of her eye, sensing that they were talking about him.

"So, JJ, are we ever gonna hear more about this mysterious gentleman and maybe even meet him?" Clara asked with a grin.

Julia tried to remain composed and replied nonchalantly, "Well, I don't think he'd be up for it. Besides, I don't even know that much about him."

William couldn't help but find amusement in the situation. Julia seemed to be handling it well, trying to downplay the encounter.

"I don't care, I wanna know who this guy is, who's the best sex you've ever had," Clara said, perhaps a bit too loudly, causing Julia to cringe inwardly. William had to suppress a smirk, knowing exactly what Clara was unknowingly talking about.

"The best one-night stand I've ever had," Julia corrected with a playful grin. "But, you know, he left without saying a word or leaving his number, so it doesn’t really matter.”

"Oh, come on! What's his name? We'll find him on social media," Clara persisted.

"We can't, believe me, I've tried," Charlie chimed in. "Do you know how many Wills there are in Toronto?” she chuckled, and Clara laughed along.

At that moment, William had a small internal realisation. Julia had told Charlie she couldn't really remember the guy's name, just that it might have been "Will or something." She had felt a bit embarrassed and hurt when recounting the one-night stand to Charlie and simply wanted to move past it.

He caught Julia's look, noticing her feeling a bit reserved. She simply gave the girls a soft smile, trying to ease the situation.

"Anyways, it's probably for the best," she said calmly, and the girls nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, a guy leaving a total babe like that must be out of his mind," Charlie added with confidence and encouragement. Julia chuckled at her supportive words, aware that William had heard every bit of the conversation.

_

After a short while, they all felt like having another drink, and the lads agreed to have one more before heading out. As Julia went to the bar to order, William took the opportunity to approach her and offer his help in carrying the drinks. She smiled warmly as he approached, but there was a hint of nervousness in her voice as she asked what he was doing.

"Just wanted to help out," William replied simply.

They stood there in silence for a moment before he broke it.

“So… I’m the best sex you’ve ever had?” he said, and Julia couldn’t help but smile and roll her eyes at him.

“Best one-night stand,” she corrected again, “there’s a difference.”

“Oh really,” he chuckled, “well maybe we can do it again? Then it wouldn’t be a one-night stand, and it’d just be the best sex ever,” he winked.

“You're such a cheeky bastard,” Julia said with a grin, slightly rolling her eyes at him again.

“Well - it was great, right?" he stated more than asked.

“It was,” Julia admitted with a soft smile, although she couldn't help but remember waking up slightly disappointed when William had left during the night.

"So, maybe we can repeat the success?” William playfully suggested.

Julia had to restrain herself from saying 'yes' immediately. The truth was it had been amazing with William. She might even have to admit that it indeed had been the best she’d ever had. But a part of her also knew that if she took him home tonight, she could potentially be putting herself in the same hurtful situation again.

William seemed like the type of guy who wasn’t used to getting a ‘no’ from women. He could probably have any girl he wanted and discard them just as easily. Those deep, ocean blue eyes of his had a mesmerising effect on her, and that's what had made her feel vulnerable in the first place. So, she decided that she needed to protect herself. She couldn't afford to let William's charm have this kind of power over her, so it was best for her to resist the temptation and keep their encounter from becoming more.

"No," she replied, chuckling lightly.

William looked a bit puzzled, wondering if he had misread the situation.

Julia leaned in closer to him, her tone softening. "It was great,” she said offering him a friendly smile, "but it was a one-time thing… You made that clear when you sneaked out in the middle of the night," she added with a wink before paying for the drinks and walking away from the bar, drinks in hand.

William stood there, slowly realising that his hasty departure had left a little mark on Julia. While he knew it had only been a one-night stand, he also understood that his actions might have come across as cold and inconsiderate.

He let out a sigh, watching her walk away, before he returned to the table with the other drinks and re-joined the current conversation.

After finishing their drinks, Mitch and Mo were the first to leave, giving Charlie a hug and wishing her a Happy Birthday once again.

Auston tried to play it cool, not wanting to reveal his interest in spending some time alone with Charlie, so he nonchalantly mentioned that he'd stay for a bit longer. Julia chuckled lightly, seeing through his act, finding it amusing.

And about 10 more minutes passed before Julia indicated that she'd head home as well. William, who had just returned from the men's room, had had the same thought. 

Julia hugged Charlie goodbye and then turned to Auston, offering him a friendly smile.

"Be nice to her," she said, giving him a small wink, to which Auston nodded, chuckling in response.

As they stepped out onto the street, William turned to Julia.

“So, how drunk are you?” He asked. The question caught her off guard, but she just gave him a soft smile.

"Not drunk at all, actually. I only had a couple of drinks," she replied. "Why?"

"Just wanted to know if you needed help getting home safely," William said with a soft smirk. "No funny business, I promise," he added, making Julia chuckle a bit.

"Thanks, Wonderboy, but I'm okay," she said. "I'm a big, tough girl, you know - I can tie my own shoes and all," she added with a small wink. 

William chuckled and nodded before they went their separate ways.

_

Over the following weeks, Charlie and Julia were rather tied up with work. They were facing an impending deadline, so it was all hands on deck.

Julia had been devoting quite a bit of time with her boss, Andrew, who was a recently separated 35-year-old father of two: Tyler at 8 and Phoebe at 6. He was a busy man as well, so Julia had been offering him a helping hand with his children whenever the department was overloaded with work.

Julia thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Tyler and Phoebe. They were full of energy and a lot of fun; and fortunately, they were also well-behaved. Having a niece of her own, she genuinely embraced playing the role of the fun aunt. And it did seem to be of great help to Andrew, which also made Julia’s workdays much smoother when he wasn't all stressed out and uptight.

Julia naturally also had to FaceTime Camille from time to time, and she had spilled the tea about her second encounter with William. Camille had been baffled hearing about it, but she also found it quite amusing. If anyone knew Julia well, it was Camille. They had lived together for 3 years before they both moved to London, where Julia then moved in with her boyfriend at the time; Ezra. They had developed a close connection over the years, sharing their most embarrassing moments and deepest thoughts and secrets.

Furthermore, Charlie and Julia had also spent a lot of time driving around the city and countryside. Julia had been exhilarated to experience the Canadian nature, which Charlie gladly tagged along to show her. And they were the perfect duo for road trips; Julia loved to drive, and Charlie was a true passenger princess.

In between all the hard work and road journeys, Charlie had also managed to spend some more time with Mitch and his fiancée, Stephanie, who had extended invitations for brunch and coffee to Julia, which she had warmly embraced.

[latest-breaking-news-video]

Watch World Darts Championship: Michael van Gerwen suffers shock exit to Scott Williams in quarter-finals - UK Trending News

[moorheadthanyoucanhandle]

FLOWER MOON SHADOW

Opening this weekend:

Killers of the Flower Moon--In the 1870s the Osage Nation settled on a large reservation in northeastern Oklahoma consisting of land thought to be of little value. But in the late 1890s, it was discovered to be sitting on an ocean of oil. Because the Osage had retained mineral rights to the land, by the early '20s they found themselves to be the wealthiest people, per capita, on the planet.

It need hardly be said that opportunistic white folks moved in fast to snatch this bounty through a variety of schemes, perhaps the vilest being the practice of marrying into an Osage family and then murdering the spouses and other heirs. Because the case was eventually broken by the nascent FBI, the story was briefly dramatized as one episode in The FBI Story, Mervyn LeRoy's 1959 chronicle (and whitewash) of the Bureau, starring James Stewart.

Martin Scorsese's account is not so brief. Scripted by Eric Roth and Scorsese from David Grann's 2017 book, the director's three-hour-plus Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic nightmare, solemn and heartbroken yet charged up with a fierce and sweeping vitality. The style feels different from his previous work, yet somehow it's still unmistakably a Scorsese picture.

The focus here is on Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), a WWI vet who arrives in Osage country to work for his uncle, the cattle rancher William King Hale (Robert DeNiro). Ernest soon marries an Osage woman named Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone) and starts a family with her. A dull, malleable sort, Ernest seems to genuinely love Mollie, yet all the while they're married he's secretly serving as a thuggish henchman for the sanctimonious Bill Hale, who condescendingly professes love for the Osage while conspiring in the deaths of Mollie's mother and sisters and others in the community. Eventually and inevitably, Mollie also becomes a target of Bill's plans.

Killers is shot in chilly shades of gray and sepia by Rodrigo Prieto, edited by Scorsese's longtime collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker and moved along by a brilliant, pulsing score by Robbie Robertson, to whose memory the film is dedicated. Yet despite the presence of these cronies, this isn't business as usual. Scorsese doesn't give us the kinetic flashiness of his gangster sagas here. There's no darting, antic camerawork, no wall-to-wall narration.

But this isn't a staid historical drama either; the tone is feverishly immediate and chaotic, almost hallucinatory at times, and there's a tinge, especially in the scenes between DiCaprio and DeNiro, of deeply grim comedy. Scorsese's comic edge doesn't distance us from the horror, either, as perhaps it could be accused of doing in Goodfellas or Casino. The murders and other violence are presented with an angry bluntness, as nothing but sordid, wasteful and evil.

Essentially, what Scorsese gives us here is a vision of life in hell, not just a hell of butchery and menace, though this is amply depicted, but of the fractured spirit and toxic guilt generated by racial terrorism and piracy. The agony of this life is reflected in the superb performances of DiCaprio and the serene, gravely beautiful Lily Gladstone. DeNiro is at the top of his form as the genially satanic Bill Hale, and the enormous cast includes fine turns by Tantoo Cardinal, William Belleau, Cara Jade Myers, Brendan Fraser, Scott Shepherd, Sturgill Simpson, Katherine Willis and Barry Corbin, among many others. John Lithgow appears as a prosecutor; he's always welcome but gets less of a chance than usual to flex here.

There's also a strong supporting performance by Jesse Plemons as Tom White, the Texas Ranger turned G-Man who led the BOI (later FBI) investigation. The case was an early success for the Bureau, depicted here as a largely unknown agency at the time (Grann's book is subtitled The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI), and Plemons, speaking softly and politely but firmly from under his Stetson, lightens this bleak and grueling movie's mood just enough to get us through; we at last feel a dawning of hope for justice and salvation. He shows up just in time.

One more note: I was expecting, and hoping for, the usual afterword before the end credits, explaining what ultimately became of these people. Kudos to Scorsese for coming up with a more creative and witty way to present this information. It's an ingenious coda to this great and terrible American tale.

[musickickztoo]

CONTRA2023-1  FIRST SURF

TRACKLIST:

01. Ma'am - American Ruse 02. Glyders - Smooth Walker 03. R. Ring - Def Sup 04. Ghost Woman - The End of A Gun 05. Young Fathers - Rice 06. Baba Ali - Burn Me Out 07. The Routes - Axe To Grind 08. Scott McMicken and the EVER-EXPANDING - What About Now 09. The Heck - Sick & Tired 10. The Darts (US) - Snake Oil 11. Lou Barlow - All I Ever Say 12. The William Loveday Intention - Seasons Of The Witch 13. The Whiffs - Wanted 14. Randells - Seven Inch 15. Purling Hiss - Yer All In My Dreams 16. Tramhaus - Make It Happen 17. QINQS - Edgar Allan Poe 18. Tee Vee Repairman - Bus Stop 19. MVLL CRIMES - Just Like Heaven 20. Viagra Boys - Stretch My Arms

The first playlist of the year 2023!!

Listen: https://www.mixcloud.com/Contraflow/contra2023-1-first-surf/

[raapija]

THIS is exactly why I love darts! Absolute top-class entertainment. What a show from Shaggy and Springer! 🎯

[not-poignant]

Unnecessary throwback, I just reread The Wind that Cuts the Night AGAIN (one of my faves) and I think about this every time i do, are there any authors or books in particular that influence your writing style? Because the vibes are impeccable in this fic and it’s something that makes me wonder about any inspiration you may have had <3

Hi anon!

I have read literally thousands of books, and I think every single one of them - especially the ones I've loved - have all influenced my writing style a little. From non-fiction to fiction.

There's definitely no single writer I want to emulate, because I pretty much never find exactly what I want to read out there. It's more like I find moments, and then I think 'oh I want to make a reader feel the way this writer made me feel right now' but that doesn't necessarily mean I want to write in their style? Or if it does, it will still be influenced by all the other things that have influenced me in the past.

*thinks* I've read so many authors it's almost impossible to single out the ones I love the most re: writing style, but here's a few: Ursula K. Le Guin, dgalerab on AO3, Robin Hobb (though I feel like I've aged out of her writing now), CS Pacat, Suzanne Clarke, Bill Bryson, Robert Holdstock, Mark Z. Danielewski, Asumiko Nakamura, Andrea Gibson, Martha Wells (particularly re: Murderbot), Hinako Takanaga, Chuuya Nakahara, John Fowles, Orson Scott Card (for all that he's a bigot homophobic dickhead), Sarah Monette / Katherine Addison, Alan Ball, Mike Schur, Brian Jacques, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Dan Harmon, Randall Jarrell, Thomas Harris, Yana Toboso, Ono Natsume, Kim Dare, Moto Hagio, Scott Heim, Gerald Durrell, Tanith Lee, George Mackay Brown, early Lyn Gala, early Sidney Bell, early Roan Parrish, Ann-Marie MacDonald, William Goldman, a bunch of classic authors and poets that we don't have time for, Tamora Pierce, Philip Pullman, and like...more fic authors I'm forgetting, lol.

(There's a mix in here, including fic writers, poets, essayists, scriptwriters and novelists).

(Also I am under no illusions that I am anywhere as good as any of these writers, they're just the ones whose styles really inspire me. Except I know I'm missing like 100 others and that's going to annoy me, lmao, I am okay with being mediocre, when I have this greatness to aspire to).

(For all the people who've ever asked me to rec some stuff, there you go, there's the list sdalkfjas).

(For anyone who thinks my writing is good, all I can say is read broadly, widely, across genres, across mediums, it's the best way to improve what you do. Though I'm mad as fuck that the list doesn't have more POC in it. I need to read far more broadly).

(Anon I'm SO glad you enjoy that fic! It was such an indulgent little story :D)

[arosesstorm]

vulpina -episode two 

words count: the right amount                 fem reader! x stiles stilinksi

warning: mention of blood

summary: you’re trying to survive in Beacon Hills

English is not my first language loves, trying my best, enjoy :)

There were no stars in the sky that night as Stiles pulled the Jeep in his porch.

You felt it, something was wrong.

The chilly breeze was caressing your shoulders as you hugged your figure; the stars were not glowing that night, but you were glad, knowing that the next time you saw something glow, blood would have spilled.

William Barrow had not been found and now you were spending the night at Stiles' house to look up for hints or paths the man would have followed: who let him out? who helped him get to school? it was impossible for him to walk there injured, unless he was yet another supernatural being.

too many questions, so few answers.

you couldn't help hearing the ticking of the clock on the wall, the sound reminding you time was running and someone was about to get hurt, again.

"stiles, look here"

the boy approaching you as you were laying on your stomach on his bed.

"Barrow was a electrical engineer, from 1975 to 1997", your fingers slowly tracing the pages as you read: "he was fired that same year for being involved in a minor homicide case".

"there's a power station down close to the border".

his eyes shining as he gently took the paper from your hands, "that might be were he's hiding" he whispered, quickly catching the phone sending a text to Scott.

it was already 3 am, you were dying to get some good sleep, when you rested your head on his cushion.

"I need to go home" you mumbled, your eyes falling shut.

"here" Stiles handed you a shirt and a pair of pants, "wear those to sleep, you can stay here"

you opened one eye, shaking your head, "I'm fine".

he sighed, falling on the bed beside you.

he was lying on his back, watching the ceiling.

"is there ever gonna be a time when you listen to me?"

it was enough to make you turn, eyes piercing his face.

"what do you mean?" you found the strength to whisper.

He turned on his side, the both of you facing now, it was comfortable though, just comfortable.

"you're stubborn"

"I've always been" you mumbled.

"not always" the boy smiled amused "in middle school, you asked me to tell Jhonatan Cristen to back off, remember?"

a soft smile crossing your lips "what has this to do with my stubbornness?"

Stiles kept on rattling "you liked him a lot but you heard him make fun of Scott for his braces and you thought you were giving him payback".

"oh, Scott with braces" you laughed at the memory.

"the thing is, you kept this stoned face all day, only when we went to the cinema that night, you let yourself sink into the sadness, I even saw you shed a couple tears".

"thank you for the terrible memory" you sighed, but the smile was still plastered on your lips.

"I think that was the first time you were vulnerable around me".

"that's not true" you felt yourself say.

"we met when I was in a vulnerable state" you sighed, "in fact I think I'm always vulnerable when I'm around you".

there was no smile on your lips now no, something bitter, some old fears emerging.

"ah!" Stiles chuckled "I always think about you as one of the strongest people I know".

"I doubt it" you whispered as the strength left your body and you sank deep into the sleepiness.

"I don't get it" Kira spoke, "you said this Barrow was sentenced for homicide?"

Scott nod his head, an uneasy expression on his face.

"Can we change topic for at least five minutes?" Lydia stumbled forward holding her bag tightly.

"guys!" Isaac came forward quickly, his slim body twisting as he ran to you: " somebody vandalized Yukimura's classroom, they left a message that looked like.." his eyes darted to Kira as he stopped talking.

Scott shot you a look to which you groaned.

"I want to know!"

"be a good girl" stiles muttered as he pushed your arm softly, "fine, Kira, why don't we walk to class together? these people are annoying anyway".

you took the girl's arm, shooting a pissed look at the crowd as you both left the group.

"they don't want me to hear huh?" the girl asked you once you were far enough.

"something tells me they don't want me to hear either" you breathed, suddenly lighting up with excitement "which means we'll have to see for ourselves".

a laugh escaped your lips as you both abruptly turned to the right, following the path of the corridor.

once you reached the classroom you found a crowd of students gathered just outside the door, mr Yukimura shaking his hands in the air to gain the teen's attention.

as you and Kira made your way through the crowd, reaching for the door, your breath was stuck in your lungs "that looks like-".

"blood" Kira stated "that looks like blood".

written in dark red, on the board hung on the wall, a series of numbers were displayed: 19 53 88.

"what does it even mean?" you asked no one in particular as a girl to your left pushed you to take a closer look.

"let's get out of here" you heard Kira mutter as she dragged you out of the crowd, a anxious expression on her face.

mia

masterlist

<- ep 1

-> ep 3

© 2023 of Mia (arosesstorm). All Rights Reserved.

[blametheeditor]

Night Guards For Sale: Chapter 7

Previous | Next

NOT FOR EVERYONE

Warnings: Excessive cursing. People being treated as pets. People not caring about someone’s life. People not caring about someone’s well being. People being purchased. People being held against their own will. Mentions of death. Mentions of murder. Mentions of people being experimented on.

Run Down: Everyone says the world is a cruel place. That if it turns its back on you, you turn your back against it. Something that’s extremely hard to do when it’s essentially impossible to escape. Not that Mike won’t fight as hard as he possibly can.

___________________________

"Jeremy! Not again!"

"It's n-n-n-not my fault!"

"Oh really!"

"R-Really!"

"Then how do you explain the fact there's no one in here!"

"...my c-c-c-cereal!"

"Fucking-"

Mike's brow furrows at the voices, the sounds, the laughter. It didn't seem to fit, especially with all the nightmares he's been having. Not dreams of how the others were doing good. Messing with each other and enjoying every bit. He wished he did, but he could only remember how he let Jeremy down.

Alone, afraid, lost. Fritz getting shrunk too. David most likely blaming him. The others...

With a groan the ex-lead guard slowly sits up, wincing when he upsets the bruise from before. And the one from after he was tossed on the counter by a punk of a teenager. And the scratch from the prissy ass lady's sharp ass nails snagging his arm.

God, he hurts all over. And he can't do anything about it but-

"WHAT THE FUCK!"

"Mike?"

The man breathes heavily as he moves away, attempting to figure out just what the hell was going on. Especially with a real bed holding him. No glass ceiling, no sawdust that fucking hurts his goddamn hands, and actual walls surrounding him.

...was this heaven?

"Mike? Are you-?"

"SHIT!"

James winces at the thump of their friend hitting the floor, quickly darting over to help him up. His hand is gratefully accepted, and with little effort the once heavy guard is lifted to a wobbly stand, arms out to steady himself.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm just fucking-"

The horror guard waits for an answer before yelping as he's lunged at, both men going down as Mike hugs him as if he'd never be let go.

"Grave Digger. Holy shit you're here. You're here and we're not in some goddamn hand and thank fuck you're okay."

James hugs his friend tightly, leaning into the embrace that was clearly needed for the last member of their group. The one who was finally home.

"Hey, I heard some-"

"EGGED JACKASS!"

Eggs lets a girly scream escape when Mike suddenly lunges at him, both tumbling through the bedroom's door way and into the hallway as he's hugged to death.

"Holy shit you're here too! I can't fucking believe it! You're safe and here and-!"

"Mike!" the mechanic laughs, carefully peeling himself from the tight embrace to properly look at him friend.

His friend who didn't look entirely here. As if he thinks this is all a dream.

"Mike, we're all here. At home. With Scott, Jeremy, Fritz, David, Caleb, and sometimes William 'cause he's an asshole who can come at any time he fucking wants apparently."

A moment passes before those blue eyes narrow and a lightbulb seems to click.

That's when he remembers Scott coming into the store, with William. They talked to Abby, showed his papers. Apparently law meant a human could claim a Mini-Me child. And then, the bright sun, them walking...

"Home."

"Yeah. This is home," Eggs smiles, untangling himself as James helps lift Mike to his feet. They watch as he slowly nods, finally standing on his own before they begin to walk to the door.

Only to fall back when three taps shake the entire goddamn place.

"I heard Eggs scream like the girl he is."

"Fuck you, Harrison!"

"You know it's true."

The horror guard smiles at the glare given, quickly opening the door and waving up at David watching with concern. The giant man opens his mouth before snapping it shut, staring as Mike appears in the doorway, frozen there.

"Nice to see you, Mike."

"Douche Bag."

"Fucked-"

"Mr. Harrison!"

The business man lifts his head up in exasperation, taking a deep breath from how much control that little redhead has on him before standing up. Mike only watches as the man grows taller, a clear annoyance yet fondness toward the little voice yelling at him before those giant shoes spin to where the teenager stands.

"Wait! Wait! DON'T-!"

"TOO LATE!"

Fritz squeals as his shirt is pinched carefully between two fingers, lifted up and tossed carefully as he screams before landing in his guardian's hands as a giant smirk is displayed.

"MR. HARRISON!"

"'Mr. Harrison'," David mocks in a high-pitched voice, laughing at the pout given up to him as he lifts Fritz close to his face. "That's what you sound like."

"And this is what you sound like!"

"Come on," Eggs smiles, shoving at Mike still blocking the way before tugging him toward the kitchen Fritz was currently being carried to as he scrambles up to his guardian's hair.

"Your shoes never taste any better, Fritz," David growls once his charge is safe on his head, still walking and careful to avoid the Jeremy currently pouting on the floor.

"No," Vincent repeats, knowing the puppy dog eyes were being aimed full force up at him. A moment passes before a slight weight jumps onto his shoe, the purple man shaking his head again knowing exactly what Jeremy was trying to do. "No."

"Vinceeeeent!"

"Vinceeeeent!"

The former murder and stuttering guard hesitate at the second whine, knowing for a fact it was Eggs. And as Jeremy leaps off his friend's shoe to peer around the corner, Vincent waiting patiently before following after, their treated with the sight of Eggs skipping ahead as James follows. Followed by-

"MIKE!"

The ex-lead guard can't help but freeze up, expecting Abby to appear out of nowhere and snatch him up. Tell him he did something wrong. That he could never come out of his cage again. Even though his family was right-

A yelp escapes as Jeremy leaps into his arms, laughter flooding the air as he snuggles into the adorable little night guard he missed so goddamn much.

And now he'll never have to say goodbye. Never have to worry about someone saying he can't see his best friend. Never have to worry about hands trying to-

"SHIT!"

Vincent only kneels beside the two, not even reaching for Jeremy or Mike as the young adult is hugged tightly as if to save him from being grabbed. He doesn't comment on the reaction either, simply waiting for those bright blue eyes to open and see there was no danger.

Never from any one of them.

"Hey, Mikey."

The ex-lead guard was admittedly embarrassed by the warm smile given as he clings to Jeremy for dear life.

"Hey Purple Guy."

"Nice to see you're finally awake. Welcome to the circus," the former murder chuckles, nudging Eggs as he kicks his shoe for the comment.

"Making fun of my insane asylum, are you!"

"Yep."

"I'M GONNA-!"

Caleb takes Vincent's spot as the purple man walks away from their blonde guard attempting to attack his shoe laces. Because one thing they knew and it was any laces stolen by Eggs were his forever.

And they meant forever. Vincent's nearly out of wearable shoes.

"Hi, Mike! Hi, Jeremy!"

"Hey, Hell Spawn," the man smiles, ruffling the Jer's soft curls before slowly standing up. He brushes his pants off, knowing he won't be able to get a new pair for as long as he live-

Oh, right. He's not at the store anymore.

"Uh, how are you?"

"I'm good. Crazy morning like always," the little boy smiles, glancing over to see Vincent still walking in circles to avoid Eggs. The mechanic wasn't going to give up, however. "Give me one minute."

"VINCENT! YOU SLOW YOUR ASS DOWN OR I WILL PERSONALLY!" Eggs pauses as he pants, a finger held up before he starts racing after his friend once more. "GET BACK HERE!"

"Hungry, Eggs!"

Mike watches as the blonde guard glares after Vincent before flopping backwards, Caleb quickly catching him before he can hit his head on the ground. The little boy then carefully lifts their friend up to the wooden table, Scott winking at him before glancing down to see Mike watching him.

"Nice to see you're finally awake, Michael."

"Nice to see you too, Phones."

"C-C-Come on, Mike!"

The eldest guard laughs as Jeremy suddenly yanks their friend toward the table, David stepping over them carefully before plopping beside him and looking over the reports.

"Restaurants doing good?"

"Nearly had another break in."

"Fuck."

"Mr. Harrison? Could I possibly visit the animatronics?" Fritz questions, leaning over David's hair to see what the two adults were speaking about. He's not told to look away or do something else, they both knew he understood a lot more of the business world than they thought he originally did. More so working under David, living under the same roof only helped the fact as well.

"I don't know, Fritz," Vincent begins, glancing over Jeremy quickly perking up with the idea of seeing the toys again. "They didn't change in size."

"I think Happy would get a kick out of that."

"C-C-C-CC, too."

And Chica.

Mike hesitates when he remembers he, in fact, worked under Freddy Fazbear's. And Freddy Fazbear's meant he was actually in charge of the originals.

...he hadn't thought about them ever since this bullshit happened.

Were they okay? Did they miss him? Did they know he was ever missing? Did Golden know? Did they care? They grew to enjoy him, love him, talk about random shit with him, but did they really want him back? He was just a reminder of Vincent's murder of those five kids. Kids stuffed inside of them. Frontal lobe missing...

Not much to love.

"Hey! Stiller! Get your ass up here!" Eggs calls, finally breaking through Mike's dark thoughts as the horror guard glares up at his grinning friend.

"I was banned from using my method! Remember!"

"Nope! I remember!"

"Do it, James!"

"Do-?"

Mike's eyes grow wide as James unhooks a giant ass fishing hook from his side, standing back before swinging it as he backs away. Jeremy stops his journey to fuck knows where to watch as well, a bit excitedly as the hook goes around, and around, and around, and-

"IT'S GOOD!" Eggs cheers, hands in the air as if he'd shout 'GOAL!' for the longest amount of time as the glistening and sharp tool lands a few feet from him and onto the table. With slow movements, their friend then carefully tugs the line until it catches the edge.

Caleb then appears beside them, shoes taller than even James planted so close the shrunken man could touch it. But neither one pauses, even Jeremy as he moves close to where the horror guard watches the little boy judging his work.

"It seems embedded pretty well," he begins, tucking Fredbear under an arm to carefully touch the gleaming hook. It doesn't move with the slight nudge, and considering James in incredibly tiny beyond belief, he should be fine.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

Scott huffs before watching with interest as James begins to scale the fishing line, Vincent leaning over to watch as well as Eggs waits patiently at the top. David then allows Fritz to race over and watch as well, every member of the group watching as Caleb carefully makes sure James could only fall into his hand if the line were to snap, the hook fall, or even he lets go.

Every member, except one.

"Nice job!" Fritz cries, high fiving their horror guard rolling his eyes.

"Seriously, not a big-"

"YES IT IS!"

Jeremy scowls Vincent snatching the man away just as Caleb sets him on the table, a bit excited as even Scott smiles at the job well done.  Especially when compared to last time, the hook nearly sliced its owner in half...

"Better be careful, Stiller," Scott warns as the purple man finally releases his victim, having tossed the man in victory. "Don't do it when we're not around."

"Yet," his best friend grins, ruffling the hair as hands of a dizzy man attempt to shove him away.

"I don't think I'll ever do it again if I'm tossed every time."

"You'll have to teach me!" Eggs proclaims, sliding next to their friend.

"Me too!" Fritz cries, yelping when David's protective hand stops him from even going near James.

"Scott, don't you think this is a bad influence?"

"They don't want to be carried everywhere."

"But-"

"And," the eldest guard scowls, allowing the redhead enough of a distraction to weave around his guardian's hand and next to the others as Jeremy sits beside him as well. "Tell me you want to leave them stranded. A way to the floor isn't a bad idea. Especially when Jeremy does Jeremy things."

"He does do Jeremy things," Caleb smiles.

"Well what does Mike say about it?"

A moment goes by before they realize they actually can ask Mike about what he thought. Before the phrase was used a bit rhetorically, asked into the air, waiting for an answer that never came, and then continuing with their argument.

But now their leader was back. Able to provide insight they all trusted no matter how many times he 'fucks shit up'.

"But, wh-wh-wh-where is M-M-Mike?"

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2  | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

[elisaphoenix13]

A Day Of Calm

Stephen's heart warmed at the sight before him. He happened to go up to Valerie's room to check and see if the toddler was taking her nap for the day since William had yet to come back down. The teen periodically took his sister up to her room to put her down for her nap, and a story was usually involved, but it never took more than five minutes. Ten had passed so the sorcerer was curious as to why William hadn't returned to the kitchen.

The moment Stephen opened Valerie's bedroom door, he had his answer. William clearly read her a book as he usually did, but this time, it worked on the teen too. He and Valerie were curled close together and the book lay forgotten in the teen's hand which lay behind the little girl. Valerie had one of her hands clutched in William's shirt and was using his arm as a pillow as soft breaths escaped from her. With a soft smile, Stephen silently walks over to retrieve the book and closes it before returning it to the bookcase. He then grabs the throw blanket folded at the end of the bed and gently lays it over them before leaving the room as quietly as he came.

It was nice that Valerie had someone besides him that she enjoyed spending time with. Especially when he was busy. Just now he had his hands full with his Sorcerer Supreme duties so William offered to put her down for her nap. He figured he would try and get some more reading in before the inevitable chaos and sat back down on the couch after grabbing the books he had briefly set down just minutes ago.

The blissful quiet only lasted for about ten minutes of course. Stephen's only warning before the metaphorical storm was the sound of a jingling bell growing in volume before Flynn dashed into the penthouse by way of the stairs. Normally that wouldn't have bothered him, but then Emir followed the kit and chased him around, knocking things over in his attempt to catch Flynn. Athena lifted her head from the large pet pillow she was laying on and watched with a bored expression as the tiger finally scruffed the fox and carried him over to the newly made pet corner.

Emir and Flynn were such frequent visitors to their floor that it was decided that the pets needed their own corner to hang out in, and it truly lived up to its purpose. A corner in the living room that was almost bare was transformed into a comfortable corner full of pet pillows, blankets, Tibb's cat tree, some toys, and even a little curtain to make it like a small room. That last bit had been Diana's idea. The curtains were never closed but they did resemble some form of...privacy. Stephen and Tony weren't sure the animals would care about it, but the moment it was finished and it was shown to the pets, they used it immediately. Every single one of them loved it.

Tibbs was found snoozing on his tree when he wasn't wandering the tower, Athena had a pillow she used, and even Emir had one he shared with Flynn. The fox was known to use the cubby in the tree sometimes too. For now though, it seemed the kit was stuck with Emir and his pillow where the tiger had carried him and laid down with Flynn between his paws so he could groom him.

"If someone told me this would be my life five years ago, I would have laughed in their face." Stephen mumbled as he closed his book.

The elevator opened and the sorcerer looked over just as Steve and Bucky stepped off and joined him in the living room. The winter soldier looked to have bags of pet supplies and his suspicion was confirmed when Bucky reached into one of them and pulled out a bone.

"Are you spoiling my wolf?" Stephen asks and Bucky grins.

"She deserves to be spoiled." He whistles softly to get the wolf's attention and Athena crawls out of the pet corner to approach him. "Such a good girl." He croons and offers her the large bone he had procured which she takes into her mouth.

"We got something for all of them." Steve says . "Not sure how long the bone we got for Emir will last but we got him the biggest one."

Stephen watches in amusement as the couple unload the bags of pet supplies, and not only do they pull out some bones, but they also pull out some jerky, catnip, and a rope. He raises an eyebrow at the last item, but then Flynn crawls out of the corner curiously and carefully approaches Steve and Bucky. The captain opens the bag of jerky and offers a piece to the kit and Flynn sniffs it before snagging it and darting back into the corner to enjoy his treat.

"I thought he might like those." Steve chuckles and tosses the large bone to the corner for Emir. The tiger picks it up and chomps on it once he gets settled comfortably with Flynn against his side, and a loud crack fills the room. The bone definitely wouldn't last long but Emir was enjoying himself.

To Stephen's surprise, so was Athena.

"Do you think Emir would go for catnip?" Bucky asks and Stephen shrugs.

"Maybe. I know Tibbs will."

Said cat was taking his turn inspecting the new presents and when he was offered catnip, he quickly turned into a rolling mess. Tibbs flopped onto his side and rolled from side to side with loud purrs, and the smell was strong enough to garner the tiger's attention. The three men watch curiously as Emir abandons his bone to get up and investigate (Flynn decided he wanted to chew on the bone too and looked hilariously small compared to it), and when the tiger gets a good whiff of the catnip…

...he joins Tibbs in a rolling session.

Emir chuffs and rumbles alongside Tibbs' purring and all three men burst into laughter because it wasn't something one saw every day.

"What did you do to my tiger?" Scott asks and they look over at him.

"Catnip." Steve replies after he manages to calm down.

The thief laughs and walks over to kneel next to Emir and rub his side. "Are you a high kitty? How much did you get?"

"He licked up a good handful after nearly inhaling it." Bucky says.

"Where's Flynn?"

Stephen points to the corner where the fox is still trying to chew on Emir's bone and Scott shakes his head as Quill, Cassie, and Diana enter from the elevator. The girls glance at the cats briefly before going up to Diana's room to do whatever it was they normally did together, and Quill stares for a few moments before laughing.

"Catnip?"

"Yup."

The two couples find a spot on the couches to watch tv after that, and both Tibbs and Emir eventually pass out after coming down from their high. An hour passes in a comfortable quiet as they watch tv, and then Valerie's bedroom door opens to reveal both William and the little girl freshly woken from their nap.

"How was your nap?" Stephen asks them both and William blushes.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep." The teen apologizes.

"You don't need to apologize. You clearly needed it." The sorcerer says as the two descend the stairs. "Would you like an after naptime snack too?" He teases.

"Might as well." William shrugs and joins Valerie at the coffee table.

Stephen chuckles and gets up to prepare their snack. Thankfully it would be relatively simple since William didn't mind sharing his favorite snack with Valerie, so he just had to make a little more than usual. Strawberries and whipped cream were taken out of the fridge and the cutting board was pulled out, but when he grabbed a knife, he realized his hands were shaking. They always shook but sometimes if they shook too much, he didn't risk using sharp knives. His hands had enough scars and he wasn't inclined to add to them.

"Bucky...would you mind…?" Stephen asks softly and the soldier looks over at him and nods.

"Yeah. Of course." Bucky joins him at the counter and carefully takes the knife from Stephen to cut the fruit.

"Just into quarters. They like to scoop the whipped cream." Stephen says as he puts some whipped cream into a bowl.

The strawberries were cut and put into another bowl and Bucky carried both bowls over to the kids and set them on the coffee table. They both thanked him and Stephen before digging in, and Valerie almost immediately got some whipped cream on her cheek. Levi got as excited as a cloak could get and swooped over with the intent to wipe it off, but Athena had beaten it to it and licked it off of the little girl's cheek. Valerie giggles and Levi's lapels sulk, causing Stephen to shake his head.

"You are supposed to be a powerful and ancient relic." Stephen huffs. "You're an unglorified nanny."

"Tea?" Valerie asks and Levi immediately perks up and flies over to the toybox to dig out the tea party set.

"Make sure you record every moment of this for the next master it serves." Quill laughs and Stephen chucks a book at his forehead. "Ow!"

A plastic tea cup followed and also hit the god's head and William almost choked on his food when he laughed.

"The book wasn't enough?!"

Stephen chuckles. "Oh, I didn't make it do that."

Flynn was quick to jump up onto Quill's lap and stood on his hind legs with his paws on the celestial's chest to be able to lick his face. Quill rolled his eyes, but clearly softened when the kit tried to make his "wounds" feel better. Emir woke up a few minutes later but was happy to only move just enough to lay his head in Scott's lap, which made the thief lay back on the floor in defeat. Scott clearly didn't want to go through the trouble of trying to push a tiger off of him.

"Duchess! Lulu is hungry!" Tony says when he arrives with the baby from possibly the lab.

"Then feed her."

"I don't have the natural equipment to do that."

"Neither do I!" Stephen almost screeches and the mechanic cackles as he walks into the kitchen to make Lucy a bottle. "That joke is getting old!"

"I'm still going to milk it for all that it's worth."

William groans.

"I could throw you off of this building and make it look like an accident." Stephen huffs. "I'll be set for life and can have Harley and Peter take over your R&D department."

"I love you too honey."

"Good thing Scotty can't kill me. Even if he could, I don't think he would want to lose access to the fountain of youth and immortality." Quill snickers.

"Honestly, it's just nice knowing that if I ever feel compelled to murder someone, I can just kill you and you'll come back." Scott says. "That's healthy right?"

Both Quill and Bucky burst into laughter while Steve sighs. While it was true, Scott didn't actually like hurting people so it would take a lot to get him to the point of actually wanting to murder someone. Stephen was pretty sure he almost came close when Cassie got hurt. That closeness was still in the "maybe Scott will string them up by their toes" level though. Quill usually got violent for him.

While Tony joined them in the living room to watch tv with the adults, Valerie was playing tea party with William and Levi, and even Athena joined. She just sat by one side of the table and occasionally took a treat from the small plate William set in front of her, but Levi actually hovered nearby with its own little plastic cup and saucer and pretended to take sips. When the kids had a tea party at the Sanctum and Wong saw the cloak participating, he stopped and stared for a good couple of minutes. He then gave Stephen a scandalous look (which the Sorcerer Supreme ignored) before leaving to the Sanctum's library.

Now he didn't pay the tea parties any mind. In fact, Stephen caught him participating in one of the sessions and Wong calmly sipped from his plastic cup before saying,

"She offered me some tea. I thought it would be rude to reject it."

Stephen definitely laughed at a later time, but Wong wasn't offended and still partook in the tea parties on the rare occasion. He would even conjure real tea and snacks and Valerie loved it. Wong was a decent babysitter but Stephen would never call him that to his face.

"Is that weed on my floor?" Tony suddenly asks.

"Cat weed." Steve answers and Bucky laughs again.

Tony looks at Tibbs when he starts to wake and points at him. "I thought I taught you better! No drugs! Emir is being a bad influence on you isn't he?"

"Hey!" Scott exclaims.

"Mrow?" Tibbs answers sleepily.

"Don't lie! I see a piece on your whiskers!"

Stephen sighs. "I would say I can't believe you're giving the cat the drug talk, but that would be a lie."

"I'm sure it doesn't even qualify for the top ten weirdest things you've dealt with." Steve says.

"Not even close."

[riseandshinelittleblossom]

Hoping For Home Ch 9- “Drive”

Summary: Sixteen years ago Libby Scott was supposed to become Queen of Cordonia, but Fate had other plans. Catch up here.

Special Thanks to @emichelle​for pre-reading and @ao719 for constantly being my sounding board for this piece. ily both As always please let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the tags!

Disclaimer: I don’t own the TRR characters, they own me.

Song Rec  for this Chapter:  “Drive” By Incubus

Tags:  @ao719​@ritachacha​ @leelee10898​ @fullbeaumonty​ @emichelle​ @lodberg​ @pedudley​ @blackcoffee85​ @drakesensworld​ @thequeenofcronuts​ @kingliam2019​ @dcbbw​ @allaboutchoices​ @desireepow-1986​ @princessleac1​ @dianalend​ @valtorian-duchess​

      Tessa had a fire burning in the master suite by the time the court arrived at Valtoria, and just like a moth Libby found herself drawn to it. 

      The manila folders felt heavy in her hands, as if lead weights lie within and she ran her fingers the length of them before turning them over in her hands.

       Lady Emma Louise Scott  in teletype across the front of one, Lord William James Scott on the other. After so many years of wondering the answer was finally in front of her. Instead of relief however, Libby felt a tight ball of panic in her chest.

      She watched the flames dancing up the wall within the hearth as it crackled and popped. Her mind wandered to the dream she'd had of the burning house. The way Liam tried desperately to calm her and the voices of her twins begging him to save them.  She shuddered at the thought.

     Libby had always been fond of fire, she'd always appreciated it's cleansing capabilities. It was the reason she'd chosen the Phoenix as her house sigil so many years ago.

   Perhaps these weighted envelopes could somehow find their way into the blaze before her. It would make her clean again. She could take her children far away from this place, shield them from the finality of the knowing. 

       "Spare a moment for a ghost of friendships past?" 

        Without even realizing, a smile formed on her lips that reached from ear to ear.

      "Always." She replied, sweeping her arm with a flourish towards the elegant chaise behind her.

     Maxwell jammed one hand in his pocket, the other running through his tousled locks as he crossed the floor to meet her. He perched precariously on the edge of the cushion and feigned a smile.

     "Watcha got there?" 

      "Bills. From the states." Libby lied, taking a seat next to him and tucking the envelopes behind her.

     He nodded staring into the flames, their warmth licking up his legs.

      "How are you, Maxwell?"

      "I'm fine. I'm good. I'm...uh….how are you?"

      Libby shook her head with a small snort.

     "I'm still here," She chortled.

     "For now,"

     Her eyes flicked to the man beside her to find he still stared straight ahead, his flippant comment clearly being swept away in his mind.

     He cleared his throat before he faced her, elbows resting on his knees and they brushed hers as they fell apart.

    "S-sorry." 

     Libby waved her hand dismissively, peering directly into his baby blues.

    "So I suppose we'll have our answers soon then, right?"  Maxwell asked, his fingers twisting together.

    "Any day now."

     "Well don't sound so excited, little blossom."

     A nervous giggle escaped her. 

    "I'm sorry I just….I do want to know. I've always wanted to know. Now that I'm standing on that precipice…" her words trailed off and Maxwell impulsively reached out, his long fingers engulfing her hand.

     For a brief second she stared down at them, heart racing, before returning her eyes to meet his.

   "I'm scared, Max. Petrified."

    His grip tightened and he nodded.

    "Whatever the answer I want you to know I'm still here for you."

     Libby tucked her lip between her teeth. 

    "As-as a friend, ya know? I'm your friend. Frrrriiieeennndd." 

     The ginger woman laughed, a hearty sound from the pit of her stomach. Leave it to Maxwell to try and lighten the mood.

    "What's so funny? I don't want you getting the wrong idea here. This bod may have some miles on it but it's still hard to resist." 

     He licked the ends of his middle fingers before touching them to his clothed nipples.

     "Oh yes, you're so enchanting, Lord Beaumont. However could I tell you no?"

     Maxwell flicked his wrists, wiping his hands smugly over his hair.

    "Many have tried, Your Grace, and many have failed."

    As if on cue he shot Libby with double finger guns just as she shot him with hers and they both erupted in a fit of giggles.

    "Serious faces okay? I support you and your decisions, no matter what they mean for me, Blossom. I want you to know that. Maybe if I had made that clearer to you years ago, you'd have stayed. I was angry and bitter, Libby. For a long, loooong time. You really did a number on me,"  he grasped her hand once more, sliding his opposing forefinger under her chin to tilt her face to his. "I'm not bitter anymore. I just want you to be deliriously happy, and I want what's best for your kids.

    I can see it on your face, Lib, you're ready to run. You're itchin to fly as far away from this situation as you can get. But I hope you stay. I hope you do the right thing and face this like the beautiful, smart, strong woman I know you are. I just...I hope you stay. Forever this time. You belong here, Blossom, and so do Emma and Will." 

     Without further ceremony Maxwell all but hopped off of the chaise, bouncing towards the doorway.

     "M-Maxwell…" 

      He cast his gaze over his shoulder to look at her, eyebrow raised.

    "Thank you. Somehow you always have a way of knowing exactly what to say and more importantly, when to say it."

      "Not always, but I try. That's my whole point, Blossom. I show up and I try. Sometimes I fuck up spectacularly, but the other times?" He touched his forefinger to the tip of his nose with a wink, and headed out the door.

************************

                Emma skipped down the corridor, gripping the door jamb as she spun inside Will's bedroom.

         "They're here," she grinned. A squeal escaped her and she stomped her feet, whirling in a circle. 

         "What are?" 

         Will held a small tablet and pen, brow furrowed as he scrawled across it, never looking up at his sister.

      "The results." 

      Will could barely hear what she was saying next. It was if he were in a tunnel, everything was muffled and echoed except the beating of his heart in his ears.

      All of his life Will had waited to find out who his father was and finally the results had arrived.

     Emma took hold of his shoulders shaking him gently from his astonishment.

     "Did you hear me, ya big doofus? Mom wants us all to meet in the parlor right now so we can open them."

********************

              Maxwell was the last to take a seat in the grand parlor at Valtoria estate. He glanced around at everyone, his eyes finally resting on Libby as she rose from her seat armed with the envelopes that were about to change everyone's lives forever.

      On the surface she looked calm, but Maxwell could feel her unsettled nerves even across the room.

      He watched as she handed each of her  children an envelope, and they exchanged glances with one another before Olivia piped up,

     "All at once, then. That's my vote."

     Emma nodded resolutely, locking eyes with her brother as she slid one finger under the opening tearing the glue with ease.

    Each twin read their paperwork and a thick silence filled the room. Maxwell held his breath.

      "Liam. Liam is my father." Emma finally announced, mystified by the words as she read them over and over again.

        A stillness filled the room. Maxwell stood taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. With every ounce of decorum he could muster, he swept into a deep bow.

      "Your Royal Highnesses. It had been a pleasure. Now if I may be excused….Long live Princess Emma and Prince William of Cordonia."   

     He turned abruptly, making it to the doorway in just a few strides; but before he could make his exit Will's words rang out,

       "Are you sure you read that right, Em?"

     He plucked the paper from his sister's hand as she shrieked in opposition. Maxwell paused, eyes cast over his shoulder at the scene behind him.

     Will's eyes darted back and forth rapidly as he studied both sets of results before finally he looked at his mother in disbelief.

     "Mom, how is this possible?"

      He handed the papers to his mother and she read them over carefully, one hand coming up to cover her mouth when she had processed them both.

      "What is it, Libby?" Liam questioned.

      "Emma is your daughter, sir," Will began, "I am Maxwell's son."

[papermoonloveslucy]

LIZ CHANGES HER MIND

June 24, 1949

"Liz Changes Her Mind” is episode #50 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on June 24, 1949 on the CBS Radio Network. This was the only “My Favorite Husband” episode to be repeated. It aired again on September 30, 1950.  

Synopsis ~ When Liz has trouble making up her mind, George decides she must finish everything she starts. 

This program was used as a basis for “I Love Lucy” "Lucy Changes Her Mind" (ILL S2;E21) first broadcast on CBS TV on March 30, 1953.

~ from Laughs, Luck... and Lucy by Jess Oppenheimer

REGULAR CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born as Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his  roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.”  From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) had worked with Lucille Ball on “The Wonder Show” on radio in 1938. One of the front-runners to play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” he eventually played Alvin Littlefield, owner of the Tropicana, during two episodes in 1952. After playing a Judge in an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958, he would re-team with Lucy for all of her subsequent series’: as Theodore J. Mooney in ”The Lucy Show”; as Harrison Otis Carter in “Here’s Lucy”; and as Curtis McGibbon on "Life with Lucy.” Gordon died in 1995 at the age of 89.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury / New Secretary) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricardo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968. 

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Frank Nelson (Waiter) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” and “Fibber McGee & Molly”. This is one of his 11 performances on “My Favorite Husband.”  On “I Love Lucy” he holds the distinction of being the only actor to play two recurring roles: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey, as well as six one-off characters, including the frazzled train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5), a character he repeated on “The Lucy Show.”  Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs.

Nelson repeated the role of the waiter in the “I Love Lucy” episode based on this radio episode. 

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benadaret was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

THE EPISODE

The story opens with Liz driving to pick up George at the bank. Liz is not a very good driver - she can’t make up her mind which direction to go or what dress to wear.  

They are meeting the Atterbury’s at the Green Room for dinner, despite the fact that she is wearing her blue dress and will clash with the décor. 

On “I Love Lucy” the Ricardos and the Mertzes can’t decide where to dine but end up at the Roof Garden, despite the menus saying Jubilee Club.

Liz finally gets the attention of a waiter (Frank Nelson) but then decides to move tables. 

On TV, Nelson wears thick eyeglasses to reinforce the visual comedy. 

LIZ / LUCY: “Does everyone have everything they need?” GEORGE / ETHEL: “I have three knives.” IRIS / FRED: “I beat ya. I’ve got a full house: three forks and a pair of spoons.” 

The scene that follows is virtually the same as it is on television. 

Liz sneezes, feeling a draft at their new table by the window, and spots another empty table nearby. 

RUDOLPH / FRED: “Stand by for another troop movement!”  

Liz crashes into the waiter mid-move. He spills a tray of shrimp cocktails all over Mr. Atterbury. 

On TV, the waiter returns with the tray, looks around for the Ricardos and Mertzes, who have moved a third time. When Lucy gets his attention, he immediately hands her the tray, grabs his hat and coat, and leaves without a word!

At home that night, an embarrassed George chastises Liz for her inability to make a decision.

GEORGE: “Why are you so wishy-washy?” LIZ: “I can’t help it. My father was a wishy and my mother was a washy.”

George revolts against the adage that women are allowed to change their minds. He even threatens to spank her!  He gives his wife an ultimatum: Finish what you start!  Liz agrees and they kiss and cuddle as the scene fades out. 

Next morning, Liz asks Katie to help her clean out the desk, a project she started but never finished. 

KATIE: “It’s the only desk where the pigeon holes have pigeons in ‘em.”

In the desk, Liz finds a newspaper with the headline “McKinley Assassinated”!  She remembers Iris gave it to her because there was a good recipe on the back. 

William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States from 1897 until his assassination on September 14, 1901. The comedy here stretches reality, as the newspaper would be 48 years old at the time of broadcast!  Perhaps Iris had saved it after its publication date and passed it on to Liz. 

Digging a little deeper into the cluttered desk, Liz finds love letters from George. In one unfinished letter Liz threatens to leave George, but never mailed the letter. Remembering her promise, she mischievously decides to finish it and send it to George at work special delivery. 

At the office, George and Rudolph are playing darts when George’s giggly new secretary (Bea Benadaret, doing a second voice that sounds very much like Betty Rubble on “The Flintstones”) brings in a special delivery letter. It is a letter from Liz’s old sorority inviting her to a reunion, sent in care of George. The boys decide to leave early and that night convince the girls to go to the reunion.  After they leave, the secretary comes in with one more special delivery letter (the one from Liz) - but George has already gone!  The scene is set for a profusion of confusion! 

On television, Lucy finds a love letter to an old boyfriend, not Ricky, and decides to finish it and allow Ricky to discover it in order to make him jealous. When Ricky decides the letter is not real, but written recently to make him jealous, he decides to call her bluff and mail it for her!  

At home that night, Liz and Iris await their husbands return. Iris expects George to be furious, but he isn’t!  She brings up the special delivery letter, non-plussed. 

IRIS: “What do you think about it?” GEORGE: “I think you ought to go!” LIZ: “Rudolph Atterbury! I think you even agree with that heel!” RUDOLPH: “I do! As a matter of fact, as long as Liz is going I think you should go too!” 

The girls leave in tears; the boys are mystified. Over a drawn-out tearful dinner at the Green Room, Liz and Iris commiserate. Katie informs the boys of the real letter, and they realize their mistake. They find the girls at the restaurant and make up.  The waiter brings their lamb chops and all ends happily!  

On television, Ricky follows Lucy and Ethel to the old boyfriend’s place of business, a fur salon, where they spy on Lucy.  She has just discovered that her handsome beau has aged into a shorter, fatter, balder man (”Looks like my hunk has shrunk!”).  Just as Ricky is getting jealous, Lucy reveals the truth.  Just before they leave however, it is revealed that the short bald man is not Tom Henderson at all - and that the real Tom is a dreamboat!  Ewwwwwwww!

FAST FORWARD

This is one of the episodes performed in 2014 by L.A. Theatre Works starring Marilu Henner (Liz), Jeff Conaway (George), Alley Mills (Iris), and Harold Gould (Rudolph).

[captainbrieontoast]

The Golden Girl

This idea came to me while reading The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. The title name came to me courtesy of The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. I'm actually a closet literature nerd.

-

Summary:

Amy isn't the only one who met an impossible person when they were younger. When Rory was five he met a golden girl who watched over him all his life. She never did him any wrong and she was always there when he needed her. The girl with the golden hair, the golden eyes, the golden smile. Rory looked up to her. Even so, he never knew just how important she was. Until he did.

-

Rory was really hoping it would snow. He knew it wasn't winter and there was no possible way on Earth that it would snow this time of year but he wanted it to snow, he wanted nothing more than for white flakes of cold water to fall to the ground, and stick. He would be able to miss school the next day, go and see all his friends and they would all get to play together.

Rory stared out his window, sitting on his window seat.

No snow.

He put his hand against the window.

Not even cold.

He groaned and stood up, walking over to his bookcase. He pulled out a book and clambered back over to his window seat. He began to flip through the pages, leaning against the window. In his book he could read some of the words.

Not many.

He tried to read it aloud.

"High…" He read. "In a white…. Pa-palace, the king's- the king's daughter, the-"

He was interrupted abruptly by a presence over his shoulder.

"The golden girl."

Rory turned to see a women standing in his room. She was bathed in a golden light, everything about her shone. She wore a simple plain white dress along with no shoes and curly golden hair.

"Isn't the Great Gatsby a complicated choice for a kid your age?" The girl asked softly. She placed her hand on Rory's shoulder.

It was warm.

"Who are you?" Rory asked, all wide-eyed and curious.

"My name is Rose," she replied. Rory frowned.

"Like the flower?" He asked. She nodded.

"Just like the flower, just without the thorns."

She smiled sweetly, and it made Rory smile back.

"I'm Rory. Rory Williams."

"Lovely to meet you Rory Williams."

Rose turned around and began to look around his room. Despite her carefree attitude Rory could tell she was frantic, scared even. He wondered why.

"Can you tell me Rory Williams, where we are and what today's full date is?"

Rory frowned.

"But-"

"I hit my head," Rose explained. "Still gathering my memory back."

Rory decided that answer was acceptable.

"Leadworth. Easter, 1986."

Rose's eyebrows shot up.

"Easter?" Rose turned around. "1986."

She looked wildly confused, and murmured a few things under her breath.

"But why you?" She said this aloud and Rory walked up to her, tugging her warm, smooth hand.

"What's wrong?"

He tugged her down to the floor and clambered into her lap. He looked up at her.

"What's happened? You can tell me. Mum says I'm a great listener."

He spoke proudly, hoping to entice her with his words.

"I bet you are Rory."

She ruffled his hair and then sighed.

"I had this friend. He was brilliant, brilliant in every single way you could think of it. We did a lot of traveling together and then we got separated. I did my best to get back to him, and then I did get back to him and it was so exciting. But soon after I got back to him he left me at the same place I lost him. He didn't want me anymore, he had new people to take the place of me."

The boy frowned up at Rose, all wide eyed and amazed by this golden woman who had just appeared here.

"Why wouldn't he want you?" Rory asked astonished. "You're beautiful."

Rose smiled, making Rory feel warm, safe.

"Thank you, but it's a judgement on me-" Rose frowned as soon as she said that, like it reminded her of someone nasty. "The universe is equally for and against me."

"The universe?" Rory asked.

"But why you?" Rose repeated. "Why is my timeline attached to yours? It doesn't make sense."

Rory got up off Rose's lap and ran back to where his book was. He grabbed it and ran back over to her, sitting in her lap again.

"I'm bored," he stated. "And you're weird."

Rose took the book from Rory's hand.

"Should I leave?" Rose asked thoughtfully. Rory shook his head firmly.

"No I like you."

Rose smiled and gently urged Rory off her lap, turning him to face her. She put her hands on his temples.

"One day you could be in danger," Rose replied. "Or not, I'm just taking precautions."

Rory climbed into Rose's lap again, still holding her strands of hair.

"Rose, can you teach me how to braid your hair?" Rory asked. Rose smiled and nodded. As she began to lead Rory's small fingers through her hair, Rory couldn't help but think her mind was elsewhere. There was a flicker of something in her warm kind eyes that Rory figured he must be too young to understand, and he forgot when…

"You're leaving?" Rory demanded. Rose was running her fingers through Rory's hair, trying to coax him to sleep.

"I'll be back Rory, in a few years, but I can't stay around all the time," Rose explained. "Don't worry, you won't even realize you missed me until I'm back."

Rory pouted but accepted her answer. Rose's eyes glowed gold and Rory felt warm again.

"Now Rory, it's time to sleep."

Suddenly Rory was inexplicably tired, he yawned and curled up towards Rose.

"Can you tell me a story?"

Rose nodded.

"Of course Rory. Once there was a man… A wonderful man who could travel through all of time and space…"

-

Age 11

Rory shuffled along with his friend Amy, listening as she excitedly played with her toys.

"Raggedy man to the rescue!" Amy shouted. "Hurry Rory! He has to fly in the police box!"

Rory flew the box in his hands around and Amy giggled, chasing after him, doll in hand. She pushed Rory over, sending him rolling down the hill, leaving Amy and the Tardis at the top of the hill. Rory felt a surge of fear as he rolled down the hill. Just before he slammed his eyes shut he saw a red flower.

"Rose!"

Rory's descent became slower and slower until he stopped rolling at someone's feet. He frowned, untangled his lanky body and looked up.

He immediately recognized the women before him, her golden hair in lovely waves, as if she had just unbraided it after a long while. Her eyes were slowly returning to a brown hue and her hands were cool to touch.

"Rose!" Rory exclaimed. Rose smiled.

"Rory Williams," Rose replied in delight. Rory clumsily got to his feet, only to trip over himself and fell over a roman helmet with red frills. Rose chuckled and helped Rory get to his feet. She knelt down, brushed off Rory's clothes. She picked up the helmet and placed it on his head. It didn't quite fit and lay crooked on Rory's head.

"There we are. What's Rory the Roman up to?"

Rory blushed and tried to straighten his helmet.

"Amelia and I are playing a game," he said. Rose got down, laying in the grass. Rory laid down too, feeling the cool blades greet his skin.

"Amelia, huh? What's she like?" Rose's tone was mildly suggestive but Rory didn't notice. He was only eight.

"She's my friend. She has red hair like fire and she's bossy," Rory explained. Rose laughed.

"I had a bossy friend who always wanted to be ginger," Rose recalled. Rory looked at her with a sideways look. It was one of the few personal things she had said about herself. "I loved- love him."

Rory frowned.

"Is that what it's like to be in love?" Rory asked. "To enjoy being bossed around?" Again Rose laughed.

"Rory, you're young. Don't worry about being in love yet. You'll know if and when you are in love with someone."

"Rory!" Amelia called from up the hill. "Rory where did you go?"

Rose sat up and looked down at Rory.

"You should get back to Amelia," she said, running her fingers through Rory's hair. Rory reached up and touched Rose's golden hair.

"But you just got here," Rory whined. "I can't forget you again."

Rose stood, lifting Rory up. He picked his helmet that fell off when he laid down and put it back on his head.

"Rory, I'll be back. I promise I'll be back okay? It won't be long now I'm sure."

Rory let his sadness remain apparent, and even though it was clear Rose was sympathetic Rory knew she wouldn't stay.

"I'll miss you Rose," Rory whispered, burying his face into her legs.

"No you won't," she replied and in a flash of golden light she was gone. Rory wondered why he'd been at the bottom of the hill so long and ran back to Amy.

-

Age 12

Rory got home and he immediately knew that Rose was there. There was something different about the air in the house or something but he knew she was there, he just knew.

"Rose?!" He darted up the stairs, and collided into her body. He hugged her tightly and then pulled back grinning. "I have so much to catch you up on!"

He backed off a little and began to dig in his book bag, fishing out a piece of paper. He held it up for Rose to see.

"A one hundred on my spelling test-" He went back into his bag.

"A book on nursing- I think I wanna be a nurse Rose!"

He got back into his bag again.

"And my homework for the night, already completed! Isn't that awesome?!"

Rose chuckled with a comforting smile on her face.

"That's great Rory, seems like you are doing awesome."

"I am! All A's on my report cards, Amy and I-" "Amy?" Rose interrupted, taking a seat on Rory's bed.

"Amelia, she bit a bunch of therapists and now she goes by Amy." Rose laughed and patted the bed beside her. Rory sat next to her and beamed up at her.

"Amy and I are still really close friends, along with this girl named Melody- We call her Mels- she plays pranks on the teacher all the time it's crazy!"

He stood up again and began to show her some more papers, pictures he had drawn of her and Mel and Amy and him and his mom and his dad. After a few minutes of it Rose had to laugh in order to even get Rory to pause.

"Slow down soldier! Why are you talking so fast?" She asked. She grasped his shoulders with her hands and gave him a comforting look. The smile on his face disappeared and he sighed.

"You've been gone for-" He scrunched his face up. "Two years? I want you to be around all the time but you aren't and I have to tell you two years worth of information in a few minutes."

A tear ran down Rory's face and he looked away from Rose.

"Why aren't you around more? Do you not like me?"

Rose got off the bed and knelt in front of him. She gave him a comforting smile and began to glow a little. Rory let himself get taken over by Rose's comforting golden light and reflected the smile back to him.

"Rory Williams, you are my best friend," Rose said. "I can't control when I get to see you, no matter how much I want to be there for everything I can't. I will be here when I can though so instead of rushing the time we have together just try your best to love it okay?"

Rory's eyes ran with tears.

"Okay Rose."

His vision grew blurry and he buried his face into Rose's chest.

"Okay, okay. I'm glad you're here. Please don't leave yet, please."

And Rose didn't. She simply stayed with Rory for hours until she could manage to coax Rory to bed. Even then she had to tell him a total of three stories from her travels with the Doctor in order to coax him to sleep. Rory fought sleep like he fought the plague but eventually Rose's eyes glowed gold and he was lulled off to sleep.

-

Age 16

Rory was at school when Rose walked into his classroom.

She was wearing a different outfit than the last few times that he had seen her. Clean jeans and a clean shirt. Her hair was in tight curls and her eyes were big and confused. Rory stood up at his desk instantly, in the middle of his teacher talking about rhetorical analysis in The Great Gatsby. Rose looked at him, still confused. Her eyebrows pressed together and she looked around the classroom wildly.

"Ma'am? Ma'am what's wrong? What are you doing here?" Mrs. Smith asked. The entire class returned their attention to Rose who looked up at the teacher in concern.

"Have you guys seen a boy, a young boy named-"

"Rory!" The teacher interrupted Rose. Everyone's attention shifted to Rory who was still standing and staring at Rose. Rose looked confused.

"Rory?"

"Rose," he breathed. He moved out from behind his desk and hugged Rose tightly. "Rose, Rose." Rose pushed Rory back, Rory was Rose's height now, they could see eye to eye.

"How long has it been? How old are you?" She looked heartbroken, sad that she had missed something big.

"16, it's been five years. Five years."

Rose rubbed her arm.

"That's strange, a large leap in the amount of time of which I have seen you… Did anything major happen?" As she spoke she got more frantic. All Rory could do was shrug and shake his head.

"I mean-" He interrupted himself in order to shuffle his feet, in embarrassment. "I guess, I guess I discovered something pretty significant about myself while you were gone but I don't see how-" Rose gave Rory a confused look and he sighed and looked to the side in annoyance.

"Fine! Okay, so I'm sorta in love with Amy but-" "The replacement of me as one of the most important women in your life confused the energy that's tying me to you."

Rose's eyes began to glow, she seemed determined to fix what had gone wrong.

"There's no way for me to make my visits sooner but I should be able to get the energy to recognize Amy as a separate person then me and therefore to allow us more regular intervals in time- in theory that is."

"Just like that? You didn't even notice?!" Rory snapped.

"Time is different between us," Rose replied. She ran her fingers through his hair and gave him a comforting look. "What's been five years for you has been a week or so for me."

Rory narrowed his eyebrows at Rose.

"Is that why you don't… why you don't age?"

Rose gave him a short smile and even without that average Rose golden comforting light Rory felt assured that she was telling the truth.

"Not fully," she replied. "But yeah. I mean we both know I have magic but I can prove it for next time."

Rose looked around, grabbed a pen and dragged it's point across her arm. Rory's eyes widened and he lunged forward.

"What are you doing?!"

Rose's arms began to bleed and he shook his head quickly.

"This is bad, why would you do this to yourself! You could- well, I don't know what it could do but it could probably be bad but we should-" Rory began to ramble. Rose smacked Rory's hand away.

"When you are a doctor-" She stopped immediately, her eyes shutting tightly for a long moment, it seemed like she was in pain but for some reason Rory thought something else was bothering her. "When you have a medical license, then you can start nursing my body. Not until then." Rory wrinkled his nose.

"I don't have to have a medical license to know that's bad."

"It's proof!" Rose protested. "Next time I see you, this will still be fresh and you'll believe me." "You hurt yourself to prove-"

Rory spun around.

"Am I the only one-"

He froze. His entire class was frozen, his entire class wasn't moving. Rory turned to look at the clock on the wall.

"You froze time!" Rory blurted.

"I hardly froze it," Rose replied. "I really just removed us from the current time stream in one small millisecond-"

She stopped when she noticed the look on Rory's face.

"Okay, if it comforts you then sure I froze time but that's really just incorrect."

"What do you do when you aren't around for me?" Rory asked. Rose for once looked a little timid.

"You remember that guy I told you about? The one I had adventures with?"

Rory nodded.

"I… I'm trying to find him," she admitted. "He was my everything. The reason I am who I am today is because of him. I need him in my life and he isn't around. I have to find him."

Rory nodded slowly and then looked down at his hands.

"If that wound starts to get infected-" Rose laughed softly and clutched Rory's hand.

"As I said it's only going to be a few days for me till I see you next. You can treat the wound if you are that worried about it."

Rory have her a tentative smile.

"Maybe I will."

Rose chuckled and then sighed.

"I can't hold this time bubble forever, and your class can't notice a large time change. So-"

"You have to go."

Rose gave Rory a serious look and nodded.

"You know I'll be back as soon as I can."

Rory sighed and gave Rose a sad smile.

"It's okay Rose. Go on, get out of here. Find your friend."

Rose smiled back at Rory.

"Don't worry I will." She gave Rory a short wave and then ran out of the classroom, disappearing in a flash of golden light.

Rory got in a lot of trouble for ignoring the teacher when she told him to take a seat, so much so that even Melody gave him a high five for it.

He wondered why he had felt so sad afterwards.

-

Age 19

Rory ran his fingers through his hair.

He had so many things to worry about.

Tests, debts, Amy and then his worries were gone.

All Rose had to do was appear and Rory felt even more comforted than he had before.

"Three years."

Rose smiled at him.

"Four and a half days."

"Let me see that arm," Rory instructed. Rose rolled her eyes playfully and allowed Rory to see it.

"Is it bad Doctor Williams?" She teased with a tongue in tooth smile. Rory laughed and reached into his pocket for rubbing alcohol and a band aid.

"First off, it's Nurse Williams. Secondly, it isn't but I'm afraid it'll be infected."

Rory poured the rubbing alcohol over Rose's wounded, and she hissed a second in pain. He then dabbed it clean with the corner of his scrubs and put a band aid over it.

"You are lucky it isn't worse."

"You're going to school to be a nurse?" Rose asked, eyeing Rory in his all of his college-student-dying-from-a-heavy-workload-glory.

Rory smiled.

"I'm in school for it," he admitted. Rose whooped excitedly for him and jumped up.

"Rory Williams! Saving people since the day he was born. You are going to be just wonderful!" "If I pass the test I have tomorrow," Rory corrected glumly. "It's going to be difficult, and, well, I don't know if I can do it Rose."

Rose chuckled and shrugged playfully.

"I'll help you," she stated, with a confidence that surprised Rory. He blinked.

"You will?"

"I will."

Rory smiled at Rose, and she smiled right back at him. They spent hours together, over dinner, over coffee, over textbooks. Studying, talking, getting to know one another better and better. Rory had never been more confident in his skills as a nurse.

When he woke up the next morning after passing out at nearly 6 in the morning, he wondered how come he felt so rested, he wondered how he knew all of the material he had studied so well, and he wondered why there were two coffee cups on his table instead of just one.

-

Age 23

Rory saw Rose for once before she saw him. He smiled wildly and ran over to her. He gave her a tight hug and suddenly it was like he was a kid again.

"Four years, but I don't even care because I have so much to tell you! So Amy and I-" "I can't stay."

Rose stood up sharply and began walking blindly away from Rory. He frowned deeply.

"Rose? Rose are you okay?" She was bleeding in various parts of her body, looking like she was about to pass out.

"I'm fine, I just can't stay they are after me Rory." "Rose, can we not play the pronoun game right-" Rose grasped Rory by the arms and gave him a comforting look.

"I'm so sorry Rory but if I stay it'll just put you in danger. I'll be fine… I might be fine, just- I'm sorry."

And then she was gone.

If Rory could remember why he had run from Amy to confront a young woman she had never seen before he would never be able to explain it without worrying the Doctor.

But then again he couldn't remember.

Maybe that was for the best.

-

Age 29

Rory sat outside of the wedding hall, drumming his fingers over the kitchen counter. He was happy, so absolutely, completely happy.

Except there was something bugging him. Something he was forgetting.

Rory went over the details in his head, again and again.

He had looked over the guest list till he had memorized the it backward, forward, and in alphabetical order but he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.

What had he been missing?

Amy walked over to him and gave him a kiss.

"Come on, Mr. Pond. The Doctor has an adventure for us."

Again that pull. Something was missing. Rory could feel that he was missing something very, very important to him. But what?

"Rory?"

Rory shook his head, dismissing the thoughts.

It was probably nothing. If he couldn't remember it, how important could it really be?

Age 30

Rory was in the middle of a fight with Amy. A really big fight with Amy.

He stormed out. He was done, he was done with all this.

He was at a bar, drinking- drinking a lot- when suddenly she was there.

"Leave me alone," he snapped. "Leave me alone, I don't know want anything to do with you."

She touched him.

"Rory-"

"No! NO!" Rory shouldered away her hand. "Absolutely not! You didn't come to my wedding!" "Rory, you know I can't-"

"Can't what? Can't control when you get to see me, how often you do? On the most important day of my life you weren't there for me. Out of all the people who showed up, I wanted you to be there the most and you weren't leave me alone!"

Rose sighed, and finally Rory looked at her.

She had fresh cuts on her face, she looked like she hadn't slept in days and like she'd been through absolute hell.

"If that's what you want. I'll go."

She disappeared in a flash of golden light and for the second time that day Rory felt like absolute shit.

-

Age 31

"Alright, so it's possible that I was wrong." "Wrong?!" Amy demanded. She grabbed Rory's arm and also grabbed the Doctor's. "What do you mean wrong?" "So this isn't exactly the planet Bane, it's the planet of the Bane. All too easy to mix up," the Doctor said, his voice a little bit too high. He was nervous. He laughed.

"Okay, I just have to- Any weaknesses-"

He was falling short. Around them, the large greenish pink slimey octopus creatures grew closer. They were gnarly. They were angry. The Tardis was too far away from them. There was no easy escape. They were doomed.

"It's going to be okay," the Doctor assured, but he wasn't sure. He wasn't really sure. They were going to die. They were definitely going to die and all Rory could think about was roses. Why roses?!

The Bane, as the Doctor called them grew closer and closer. Their tentacles reaching through the air. It was disgusting, it was terrifying.

"Rose…" Rory whispered. His words were speaking without him really understanding it.

"Rose?!" The Doctor snapped. "We're about to die-" He gestured wildly to the surrounding Bane. "And you are talking about flowers?!"

"No, no… Rose." Finally his brain was catching up with his obsession with a red thorny flower. "She did it! She really is out to protect me. She didn't come to my wedding because she couldn't."

Amy gave Rory a weird look and then touched him with her other hand.

"Mr. Pond? You're scaring me," Amy whispered. Rory gave Amy a comforting smile.

"You've always had the Doctor, just like Rose has always been there for me, and she can save us. I only remember her when I need her or she's around and is a bit overdue on visiting me!"

Rory felt inexplicably warm and he could feel hands on his shoulders, that weren't Amy's.

"Rory? You alright? You feel frantic," Rose said. Rory turned to Rose, glad to see the gold in her eyes. He could feel that everything was going to be okay.

"I'm in danger," he stated, entranced with Rose. Rose looked amused.

"I noticed... The Bane."

Rose's eyes began to glow more intensely.

"Rory Pond on another planet against an alien race."

A pulse of golden light was sent out and all the Bane fell to the floor limp.

"What did you do?!" The Doctor screamed, somewhat faintly. As if something was wrong with him. Rory turned to him, he was on his knees clutching his hearts through his chest with a pained expression on his face.

"They're only unconscious," Rose replied, her eyes never leaving Rory. "All alien life is currently."

"He's an alien," Rory said, only a little concerned at the news. Amy ran at the Doctor, catching him as he officially fell unconscious. Rose's gold aura flickered and her feet touched the ground. She looked almost scared like nothing Rory had ever seen in her before.

"He's…." The gold in her was gone now, her features becoming sharper and more defined. "He's alien?" Rory nodded, looking a tad confused.

"Yeah, he-"

Amy laid the Doctor down on the ground, a tear running down her face. She stood up sharply and wiped the tear off her face. Then she stormed up to Rose, her body setting off Rory's danger alerts.

"What did you do to the Doctor?" Amy demanded. Rory went to defend Rose but stopped when a wrecked sob left her lips. He looked at her, mouth open. She was crying. She was smiling brightly but real tears were running down her cheeks.

"Did you say Doctor?" She brushed past Rory and Amy and walked drearily towards him. "The Doctor?"

Rose knelt down by the Doctor's unconscious body. She hesitated a moment and then took his head, breathing in relief at the touch.

"My new new new Doctor."

She closed her eyes and began to glow again, brighter than he'd ever seen her glow. Then he was back, the Doctor shot up, jumping away from Rose and the golden light.

"Rory."

Rory ripped his eyes towards the Doctor.

"Who is that?"

The golden light began to fade and all Rory could do was smile.

"That's the golden girl, Doctor." Rory stated. "'High in a white palace, the king's daughter, the golden girl.'"

Rose stepped out of the light and for once she looked more human than Rory had ever seen. Even that air of warm comfort she usually wore wasn't there. Somehow she was in blue jeans again and a pink zip-up hoodie with a relieved look on her face. For once she wasn't that golden girl that Gatsby thought was his but still he couldn't really get a good grasp on her. Rose was suddenly just as approachable as any other girl.

"Doctor?"

Rory looked over to the Doctor. He looked a bit like he might cry.

"But… That's impossible," the Doctor whispered. He staggered to Rose as if he couldn't get a grip on what was right in front of him. "It can't be-."

He touched her.

"It is."

They beamed at one another and hugged tightly. The Doctor, he was actually crying and so was Rose. They began murmuring to one another their eyes filled with glee and tears. Amy rounded Rory and stood next to him, arms crossed over her chest.

"What's going on? Why are they acting like those girls in those 'boyfriend returns from the war' videos?"

"They used to travel together," Rory murmured. "Rose, when I was a kid, told me stories about this friend she had. This friend who loved her very much and she loved him too, but they got separated. They got seperated for a very long time. She was looking for him. She's been looking for him for as long as I've known her."

Amy looked at him.

"When you were a kid?" "And you never told me?!" The Doctor exclaimed. Both Rose and the Doctor were staring at him. Rose smiled and kissed the Doctor's cheek, startling him into looking at her.

"It was my fault. I didn't want Rory to miss me or for the information that he knew me to one day put him in danger. I didn't know why my time hops were tied to Rory so I made it so he wouldn't be able to remember me until he needed or saw me," Rose explained. The Doctor smiled a bit dumbly and Rose glanced back at him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rose asked, a large stupid smile on her face as well.

"I missed you," the Doctor said. "I've missed a lot of people the last couple hundred years of my life, I've missed them a lot for a very long time and I almost never get the people I missed back."

Rose took the Doctor's hand.

"I'm back Doctor and I don't plan on leaving this time." Their lips pressed together, as Rose sent a blast of golden light towards Rory. He stepped back at the force of the blast and then placed his hands on his chest.

"What was that?" He asked, a bit frantic. Rose pulled away from the Doctor's lips.

"You won't forget me now," she replied softly. "You'll always remember me. I finally found what I was looking for."

The Doctor smiled at Rose and she smiled back.

Amy leaned towards Rory her eyes narrow.

"Should we be concerned?" She asked. "The Doctor's never spoken of this girl before, and all of a sudden she's the long lost love of his life?" Rory watched as the Doctor and Rose whispered quickly to one another. He tilted his head and then smiled.

"No we shouldn't. Look at them. They're happy. Let's let them be happy," he said. Amy looked at him and then smiled.

"Oh, you are getting sappy Mr. Pond." Rory smiled at his wife.

"I guess I am."

It was rare for Rory to feel any sort of joy or hope when he was with the Doctor, especially when on another planet but for once Rory could see that the future was bright. The Doctor and Rose were happy, and everything was going to be alright.