#Shop create your own shirt for Grandma

[miniherodesktales]

Note: Abandoned One-Shot for Smegtober. It's not finished so please excuse the gaps in the story. Set in an AU. I felt like writing about about a nicer Rimmer. It changes the story a lot.

Day 6: Stranded In The Best and Worst Day Of My Life

Once upon a time, many, many years ago now, I found myself stealing myself a ride home on a derelict mining ship called the Red Dwarf. I went from pushing shopping trolleys around a parking lot to travelling the Solar System, I flew among the stars. I got bored, drunk, I made a best friend, I studied, I fell in love. I hated that I loved my life in the JMC.

But things went strange on the best and worst day of my life. It was my birthday; I was promoted; Krissy said "yes"; and my best friend died. That ion storm we're stranded in isn't just an ion storm and I found myself living the same day over and over again.

Can anyone out there tell me why? Can anyone hear me?

***

Lister blinked back the drunken tears of joy, although it wasn't just the alcohol enhancing his mood - he really was overwhelmed by happiness.

He had only joined the JMC so he could get a ride back to Earth, but life on the Red Dwarf had given him everything he had ever needed to be happy. It had given him the love and friendship he had never experienced before.

It was his 25th birthday and a not-so-surprise party was being held in the Parrot Bar in his honour. OK, so maybe the party itself had been a poorly kept secret ('Parrot Bar, eight PM sharp, wear the Hawaiian shirt I've laid out for you and a surprised grateful look, you jammy git!' Rimmer's note had informed him), but seeing his girlfriend and his best friend tap dancing on the bar had Lister whooping and cheering along with everyone else.

The dance came to abrupt halt when Krissy attempted to do a particularly ambitious high-kick. Thankfully Rimmer caught her and jumped down to the floor with Krissy still in his arms. He deposited her straight into a gaggle of her closest friends and made his way back to Lister's table and fell into a chair.

Lister slapped his shoulder. 'Arnie, you never told me you could tap dance.'

'Badly!' Rimmer grinned. 'I've never told you I could tap dance badly. And you'll never see it again!'

'Booo! When did you learn? Oh, wait, I know -'

'Boarding school!' the two man said in unison and burst into giggles.

Arnold J Rimmer was a long term resident of the Dwarf and immediately liked by all who met him. He was also considered to be something of a mystery and that made him "hot stuff" according to Krissy and her girlfriends. He had spent his childhood being moved from one terrible boarding school to another and took great pleasure in telling tall stories to anyone who would listen about his time spent in them. They ranged from the secret midnight raids on the kitchen to raising a crocodile in the attic, to being beaten for snoring. He had three brothers, all of whom had been killed in service to the Space Corp and no intention of doing the same himself. He claimed to be happy enough being a disappointment to his awful parents as a third class engineer and spending his free time creating works of art, which in his own words were: "Too hideous to see the light of day so must be immediately blasted out of the airlock." Lister strongly disagreed with him on that, but there was no arguing with Rimmer when he was in a creative dark mood.

When Lister had first joined the Dwarf, Rimmer had taken him under his wing, nagged him endlessly to "pull your socks up and apply yourself, you bum, or I'll write to your terrifying grandma!" and they had quickly become close friends. After two years bunking together Lister looked to Rimmer as the "posh, overly privileged brother I've never asked for, but I love to bits."

'Krissy's great, isn't she?' Lister asked.

Rimmer blew out his lips and tipped his head back.

'You're always asking me that. You just want to hear me drone on about how wonderful your girlfriend is!'

'Yeah, I do.'

'Very well, Krissy K is amazing, beautiful, sexy, talented, and you should hurry up and propose to her tonight.'

'Hey, how do you know about that?'

'Because it's just the kind of sappy thing you would do. I suppose I have no choice but to be your Best Man?'

'You don't have to make it sound like a chore!'

'If you mean organising you, your stag party, looking after the ring, getting you to the church on time, holding your little hand, and preventing you from getting stains on your suit? I'll deserve a medal.'

Krissy bounded over to their table, beaming her famous pinball smile.

'Arnie, we make a stylish team!'

'Right on, sister!' Rimmer smiled back, but it quickly disappeared after a drunken roar filled the bar. He winced, hands instinctively covering his ears, and stood up. 'I'm going to bed,' he announced. 'I hate you all,' he said as a way of goodbye.

'Is he OK?' Krissy asked.

'He's fine,' Lister reassured her. 'He just doesn't like the noise,' he said, gesturing to his own ear. 'And being stuck in this ion storm isn't helping his mood. It always puts him on edge.'

'Maybe you should go after him. Make sure he gets home safe.'

'Are you asking me to leave?'

Krissy pushed her face close to his. 'I'll be waiting for you here, but I think you should be a good mate to your best mate. Give Arnie this goodnight kiss from me,' she said and kissed him on the lips.

'I might keep it for myself,' Lister smirked. He snatched up his hat. 'Back soon!'

***

'Dave, stay on your bunk, we need the space! Quick, get him on the floor - he's cold!'

'Peterson's bringing the defibrator,' Holly said blandly. 'I'll talk you through CPR until he gets here. Frank, two rescue breaths, then thirty chest compressions. One and two and three and four - good, keep going - six and seven -Rachel, get ready to take over; Peterson's almost here - ten and eleven -'

Dave held his head in hands, rocking back and forth on his bunk. He dared not jump down in case he got in the way, disrupted the rhythm of the CPR that might just keep Rimmer going until Peterson arrived. But, he had no real hope. It was same each 24 hours. Arnold J Rimmer dies in the early hours of each morning....then the clock spun back. The storm was still ongoing...it was his birthday...he passed his entry level engineering exam...there was a not so surprised party....

'All life signs have stopped,' he heard Holly announce. 'You can stop CPR now. Time of death for Arnold J Rimmer: 3.21 AM.'

'But I have the defibrator' Peterson said thickly. Always late.

'He's gone,' Todhunter answered quietly. And never being one to miss out on an opportunity to explain something added, 'Defibrators they're not actually designed to -'

'He's dead!' Lister interrupted. He always interrupted now, unable to bear hearing Todhunter explaining how defibrillators worked on hearts in arrhythmia but not ones that had completely shut down and stopped.

***

'I'm not going to let you die, Arnie,' Lister growled. He snatched up a baseball bat. 'Not again anyway.'

'What's your plan? You can't you just whack death on the head for me and say, "Sorry, not today, matey!" If it's my time, it's my time.'

Lister shook his head.

'If Death comes anywhere near you, I'm going to rip his balls out. No more messing around with time loops! This ends today. We're breaking out this ion storm and going home. I can't see you die again.'

Krissy nodded. 'Worth a try, Arn. I'd say lets go with the ripping Death's balls out plan. It's gotta be more fun than dying.'

Rimmer pouted. 'But I die so well!'

Lister gently prodded him with the baseball bat.

'Not today you don't. Time to fight back.'

***

My name is Dave Lister and I found myself stranded in the best and worst day of my life. It was my birthday; I was promoted; Krissy said "yes"; and my best friend died.

We fought back and won. We broke the time loop and Rimmer survived. We escaped the ion storm, but it came at a price.

We found ourselves stranded in another dimension with no hope of finding our way home, but we keep moving forward.

We travel the stars; we battle Gelfs, Simulants, and anyone else who gets in our way.

But we live, we survive, over and over again.

[grannyandgrandpascreations]

Distressed Mystery Bleached Flannel Shirt

One-of-a-kind bleached, high quality, affordable button down, two pocket distressed flannel shirt. Shirt colors in this package CANNOT be chosen and are sent at random. The sample shirts in the photos have already sold, but give you an idea of the wide range of colors we have available. Each flannel is going to be unique and no two shirts are identical. It is a mystery on what color you will receive. There is no design on the back of flannel.

CONDITION: All of our flannel shirts are brand new and washed twiced.

If your size is showing sold out, reach out to use to see if we have received a shipment of products in, due to the availability of items during this holiday season, we receive our products in daily.

COLORS: Shirt colors in this package CANNOT be chosen and are sent at random. The sample shirts in the photos have already sold, but give you an idea of the wide range of colors we have available. No two shirts will ever be exactly alike so please aware and embrace the differences. All shirts are carefully curated, hand-dyed, and re-purposed so that each shirt is going to be different from the next in terms of color and plaid print. Each flannel is unique, and no two shirts are going to look exactly alike. Colors are sent at random. Because the colors often change throughout the bleaching process, I cannot take specific color requests for these shirts

SIZING: These shirts vary, many are unisex and come in men's sizing. They can be worn by both men & women. Ordering your normal t-shirt size is recommended for a regular fit. Going 1 size up works well for a baggy/oversized fit. Women's or Children's Specific sizing will be noted on the photo/variation options selected.

FABRIC: All these shirts are made of cotton or a cotton/poly blend. Measurements and thickness vary slightly by brand.

Care instructions: Turn item inside out, machine wash cold, no bleach, no softener. Do not dry clean. Do not iron. Air dry is recommended.

Due to different picture lighting settings the actual color might vary a bit from the pictures.

Current Turnaround Time due to upcoming Holidays - 1-5 Business Days. While we always use priority shipping options, once shipped we cannot guarantee delivery due to the backlog current being experienced USPS/UPS/FedEx. If you have a strict deadline, please message me when ordering so that I can note any rush requests. Ownership of packages turned over to USPS transfers to the Buyer. We are not responsible for lost, held, damaged packages or delayed packages, once your package(s) leaves our Shop it is completely out of our control. Thank you for understanding!

WEDDINGS: We do take custom orders for weddings! If you are interested in ordering a large group of shirts, please message me directly to set up a custom order. It is recommended that wedding orders be placed at least 2 months in advance so that we have enough time to create, ship, and exchange any shirts that do not fit.

Thank you for visiting Granny & Grandpa's Custom Creations, we truly appreciate your support of small businesses. We also personalize our products, please reach out to us with any personalizing any of our products, additional fee's may apply.

Please visit www.grannygrandpascustomcreations.com to view more products.

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Welcome to Granny’s Store! We’ve got a fantastic selection of distressed flannels, cozy t-shirts, trendy tumblers, and so much more. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back outfit or a fun accessory, you’ll find something special here. Don’t forget to check out our seasonal items and unique finds that capture that charming, vintage vibe! Remember, Granny and Grandpa's Custom Creations is that "hidden" gem with unique, great quality, fun, gorgeous, innovative, and inexpensive gifts for your Loved Ones or yourself for your next shopping trip!

[bearpillowmonster]

It's my birthday today, I had a mental breakdown in the middle of the week and cried myself to sleep. It was the first time in a while that I've cried but this one reached my core because I started to doubt just about everything, normally it's one thing or another and I can sort it but this time it was all. And really some of my worries came to fruition but I'm just hoping this year will get better.

I'm not getting a cake, by choice, I'll probably just snag my own in the middle of the week. I want to go to this dessert shop but it's suddenly this big ordeal with who should go and who shouldn't. I dont care who shows up, my family does because the more people, the more chaotic and less enjoyable it is because nobody gets along. In fact, I said "family" but it doesn't really add up to a family at all because they've created factions that want to celebrate separately, if at all, it's like being a kid with divorced parents all over again and no matter how many times I say it doesn't feel good to be treated that way, it always happens anyway. My mom even asked if she was ever to make a mistake whether I'd tell her and I just didn't answer and I said, it wouldn't make a difference because people will do what people do and I can count the times that exact thing has happened.

This year, it's my grandma buying a beachhouse for herself on my mom's birthday, my mom buying a cat for herself on my birthday, my sister trying to get a concert shirt for herself on my birthday. And todays not even up yet. I mean it's fine to do that on your own but it's funny to me that I got a cup and a pen for my own birthday 🤓 both for work.

I'm not mad or sad really, or even ungrateful, it's just that I feel I'm screaming into the null void when I talk, that's why birthdays and holidays have become so hard on me. I've even tried to raise my mom's birthday since she's sad about the beachhouse but she won't let me, she doesn't want a cake because her doctor told her she had high blood pressure. Her. She's like the most straight and narrow person I know, I told her that doctors sometimes tell you that just to give you pills, they've gotta. The only thing she wants to do is get a smoothie...and obviously buy this cat...

But the cat is from a breeder in a different country, who she's bought from before multiple times and half of them got sick and died from the same thing, why she'd go back and put herself through what she described as one of the most depressing times of her life, I don't know and she has more cats than she knows what to do with, I've actually lost count, I know it's higher than 15 like wtf. So here I am again, like I said, trying to tell her about mistakes and here she is, about to do it anyway. Ta-da. It's like my birthday is over before I even realized it started. Maybe something will happen, maybe it won't, I hesitated uploading this just for that reason but if it changes, I'll just update or make a new post. I'm recording my feelings.

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

487 of 2022

Created by joybucket

You wish your hair had more volume. You wish your hair had less volume. You wish your hair would curl more. You wish your hair were naturally straight. You own a shirt from American Eagle Outfitters. You've shopped the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. You've watched a YouTube video recently. You recently finished a really good book. You enjoy sipping hot tea. You live down the street from McDonald's. Your go-to fast food restaurant is usually Arby's. (I don’t even know what it is) You like to order teriyaki subs at Subway. You like Taco Bell. (we don’t have it here) You wish spring would come quicker where you live. You've considered getting dreadlocks. (thankfully I didn’t) You've made a dreamcatcher before. You want to make a dreamcatcher. You have a YouTube channel. (for playlists) You want to become a YouTuber. You were shocked when you found out someone you watch on YouTube had passed away. You have allergies. You have asthma. You have a rare medical condition. The first pet you loved was a dog. You are the same height as your mom. You are the same height as your grandma. You are the same height as your great-grandma. You get your height from your dad. You look like your mom. You look like your dad. You've been overweight. You've been underweight. You've been a healthy weight. You like to use the alien emoji. You think Starbucks' chai lattes taste too weak. You wish the Unicorn Frappuccino were on the menu at Starbucks as a regular item! You like unicorns. You've dined at Denny's on your birthday. You like milkshakes. You wear glasses. You want hot pink cat-eye glasses. Your favorite color is blue. You like the color pink. You are a girly-girl. (I’m not even a woman lol) You are a tomboy. You played an instrument in high school. There is a mall in your town. Your town had a Kmart in it that closed. You've had COVID. You're not sure if you've had COVID yet or not. You've been vaccinated for COVID. You've had an anaphylactic reaction. You own a pair of fringe boots. You owned a pair of plaid shorts back in 2008. You like nachos. You own something from the brand Joe Boxer. You've had a migraine with aura before. The most physically painful thing you've ever experienced is cramps. You've been in a car accident. You've been dismissed from a doctor's office. You've had a dog named Sally, Suzy, Betsy, Daisy, Lucy, Molly, Lulu, or Lola. You've had a cat named Sneakers, Whiskers, Marshmallow, Cocoa, Calico, or Pumpkin. You've cut your own hair. You have way too many files stored on your computer or external hard drive. You often have multiple tabs open on your computer screen. You use a mouse with your computer. You have a MacBook Pro. You own a ton of scarves that you never wear. You're disorganized. You like to sing. You've gone a week or more without showering. You have a tattoo. You regret letting a certain guy or girl slip away. You wish you could re-do the past. You own a pair of gray yoga pants. You own a pair of black yoga pants. You practice yoga. You like to drink Yogi tea. You have a mandala tapestry hanging up in your home. You like to sit on carpet. You like deviled eggs. You've dressed up as a witch for Halloween. You use an inhaler every day. You've driven a convertible. You currently have a car that you drive. You wish you had a car. You used to have a car. You want to travel all over the place. You have regrets. You read Seventeen magazine when you were a teenager. You like to shop at rue21. You watch Bethany Mota on YouTube. You watch Niki and Gabi on YouTube. You watched American Idol when Simon, Paula, and Randy were the judges. You've had a family member in the military. You have family members you wish you could see more. You enjoy taking selfies. You've done a craft with a Mason jar. You like to read. You've had a traumatic past. You like to learn. You are open-minded. You like cats. You like boho fashion. You like rainbow roses.

[ohcanadashop]

6 Best Christmas T-Shirt Designs From Canada's Online Store || OhCanadaShop

After the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, Christmas-themed performances, music, and decorations have begun to appear in malls and on the nation's streets. However, odds are that no matter how much you try to mentally get ready for the holidays, you will eventually start to feel a little overburdened. It could be time to look at some of the fantastic personalized Christmas t-shirts that could be a real lifesaver, whether you are trying to find the ideal attire for the office Christmas party or simply searching for something that would wow that one uncle who you can never purchase for.

This post will examine the top 6 Christmas T-shirt design ideas from Canada that you may print at Toronto Tees to start your own unique holiday custom. You can style our large selection of the Best T-Shirts Online in Canada in the manner we discussed in this post or whatever you choose by visiting www.ohcanadashop.com!

The Christmas Edition of "The Lights of Your Life"

When making Christmas t-shirts for the family, delivery and cuteness are the most important factors. You can use the classic appearance of lights on a tree or a house in this design to present your family as "The Lights of your Life." Each bulb could represent a member of the family, a child, or even the grandchildren of grandma. You might wish to turn out the lights of the [insert family name] at the top before you are finished. These t-shirts would be ideal for a family get-together on the big day or even for a party. With Toronto Tees providing the platform for personalized Christmas shirts, there is always a good cause to create your own Christmas t-shirts for the family! These shirts are the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season!

The Traditional Christmas T-Shirt

Everyone enjoys hilarious Christmas t-shirts, but there are instances when humor is inappropriate. In these situations, the traditional Christmas shirt design is used. One of the most well-liked products we have created for our clients is a classic Christmas proverb that is presented with a dash of festive brightness. Take the straightforward phrase "Have yourself a Merry Christmas." Yes, you could put that on a t-shirt and call it a day. However, suppose you want to spice it up a bit. A terrific Christmas shirt idea that works in any setting and can make the ideal holiday shirt for those annoying business Christmas parties is to add some holly and perhaps a fake holiday pendant to the shirt. Who wouldn't want a timeless t-shirt that they could wear every casual Friday at work and that would easily convert to a beautiful Christmas shirt in case they forget their friends' get-togethers on a crazy Friday? Love the season? The traditional personalized Christmas T-shirt could be the ideal shirt for you.

The Funny Vintage Christmas Design

As we previously mentioned, it's okay to make fun of the people you go to the party with since, occasionally, you want to be the humorous one. One of our favorite concepts is to use a vintage t-shirt with a wonderful message or design to make a vintage Christmas shirt. Let's use the cliche "I'm with stupid" line in this situation and make it a little more positive. Think of a vintage two-tone t-shirt with text in red and green. Dear Santa, They're the Naughty Ones is written there with arrows pointing away from you. At your business and friends' Christmas parties, this charming yet understated vintage Christmas t-shirt will be a hit. Additionally, who does not enjoy being Santa's good little helper? After all, you do want all the toys, don't you?

Enjoy the newborns' first Christmas.

Christmas is a fun time of year, and if it's a new family member's first Christmas with you, it would be a good idea to make a t-shirt to make sure everyone is on the same page. A vintage Christmas t-shirt that will impress Grandma is among our all-time favorites in this regard. We've usually done this on a two-tone t-shirt to make the text stand out. In the script, if it's a boy, it says "Glory to the newborn King," and if it's a girl, it says "Glory to the newborn Queen." This is a simple yet elegant way to celebrate the first Christmas of a newborn, and it's a great chance to get everyone their very own personalized Christmas t-shirts to remember the occasion!

The Cozier

Everybody has heard of "cuffing season," and the holidays are a terrific time to warm up to someone new. Fortunately for you, the snuggler is a great choice for individuals who want to stay warm on a chilly winter night. One of the most popular designs from the previous year was a parody of a well-known Christmas tune. The design of this wonderful Christmas shirt idea emphasizes cuddles from the outset. Plain t-shirts are common, but if you want something a little more contemporary, a two-tone long-sleeve t-shirt would be ideal.

Have faith in Santa!

The enchantment of Christmas is derived from the conviction that Santa Claus is real and that the force of conviction can guarantee that Santa receives all of the things he has prepared for the boys and girls of the world. This straightforward yet fantastic personalized Christmas t-shirt will let you demonstrate that you have class when it's called for and believe in what you're saying. Due to its relative simplicity, this shirt has historically been a popular choice. While there have been some revisions over time, we prefer the original. This Christmas shirt's original design is a long or single-tone t-shirt with the word "Believe" printed across the chest. We adore the addition of a tiny Santa hat that fits over the B's corner, but other wonderful small additions include reindeer, Christmas bells, and even the customary holly. The main goal of this fantastic t-shirt, which is available only from ohcanadashop.com, is to show off your Christmas passion.

To reach us out in offline mode do not forget to visit

Oh Canada Shop

Suite 263, 12-16715 Yonge St , Newmarket, Ontario, CANADA

Postal Code: L3X1X4

Email: info@OhCanadaShop.com

Visit Our Website- https://www.ohcanadashop.com/

[itsthemysterykids]

The Mystery Kids switch cliques!

Coraline- Geek

Locker full of comics

Prefers to go by Cora

Tells people she’s a water bender

Always going to ComicCon

Cosplays whenever she can

“I’m not a nerd, I’m a geek! Learn the difference!”

Marvel and DC shirts

On good terms with Mabel, Neil, and Raz, seeing as they’re the ‘Loner Squad’

HATES BeBe ever since he trashed her fingerless gloves on a school morning announcement segment

Stan Lee and Chadwick Boseman shrine in her bedroom. Mourns them every Saturday morning

Dyed Mabel’s hair and paints Raz’s nails whenever he asks

Wybie- Prep

Goes by BeBe. No one knows his real name

Sarcastic

Mean, but he has a heart… It’s somewhere

Head anchor on the school’s morning announcements and has a segment where he roasts students’ fashion choices

Selfie. King.

Best friends with Lili

2 cool 4 u

Slaying in heels

Fashion icon

Desperately wants to give Mabel a makeover

Only knows Cora because her parents are renting one of his grandma’s apartments

Norman- Jock

Norman Babcock, captain of three teams. His mom is LOADED. She’s a divorce lawyer

Captain of the football, basketball, and baseball team

LOUD

Himbo

Willing to take on any dare

Count on him to bring the whole school to a party when you only invited like a few dozen

Carries Lili and BeBe on his shoulders during game days to build up his strength

Makes sure to give BeBe his letterman jacket during football games since he gets cold the easiest

Doesn’t seem like it, but he’s the mom friend of the popular kids

Neil- Nerd

Always gets Straight A’s

Hates tutoring since he lacks the patience

Has had his lunch try smacked away by Norman countless times

On good terms with Mabel since they’re always paired up for writing assignments

May or may not be coming up with revenge plots to use against the popular kids

Will give you the answers to a test… Only to snitch on you later

Has all his school textbooks on his tablet

Not sure how he got swept up in his friend group, but isn’t complaining

Carries a thermos full of coffee

Dipper- Skater

Goes by D-Fresh

90s kid at heart

One of the Popular Kids

Pretty good at rapping

Has a YouTube channel where he just posts his best moment on the halfpipe

Skates through the school halls

No one knows Mabel is his sister and he doesn’t bother bringing it up

One of the very few people allowed to take a selfie with BeBe and Lili

Always creating new slang everyone starts using

Mabel- Emo

Prefers to hang back while her brother soaks up the attention

Always seen in black or dark red

Reluctantly hangs out with Coraline because of Raz, but grows to like her when she walked into school wearing a Corpse Bride shirt

Liberated the live frogs that were going to be dissected

Feels a pang in her heart whenever Dipper ignores her at school

Neil is her life preserver in this hell hole they call school

Secretly wants to set Lili and BeBe on fire

Loves Monster x Human romance novels and wishes one would wisk her away

Secretly wishes she had Carrie’s powers

Raz- Goth

“I’m not a damn Emo! Mabel is!”

Became friends with Coraline when she helped fix his nail polish and sort of brought her into his group

Pretty good friends with Mabel despite their rival cliques

Owns a few spell books

Anarchist

Had a crush on Lili… What was he thinking?

Likes to crash the popular kids parties and play a bunch of death metal over the speakers

Helped Coraline throw an ‘Uncool Party’ for the social rejects at school

May or not be staging a revolution against the popular kids

Secret love for theater

Reads Stephen King novels with Mabel

Lili- Cheerleader

Captain of the squad

BSFFs (Best Shopping Friends Forever) with BeBe

Girl definitely owns a pony

Has that ‘Perfect Princess’ vibe going on

Runs the yearbook

Has over 10K followers

Everyone would kill for her to sign their yearbooks

Has every guy pining after her

Has spots in the yearbook reserved for her friends

Makes sure to tussle Norman’s hair for good luck before every game

“As your school president, I vow to get rid of exams, cafeteria food, nerds in ugly clothing.”

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Inked

Still on hiatus. But I found an old piece of writing and I revamped it just a smidge! It was originally published in 2018 on calumh-excess. Which is now deactivated. Hooray for finding pieces!

Calum's been watching Jay for a while. She's cute, talented, but a bit of mystery. Should he really give into her? What will it take for him to admit he has a crush?

Enjoy my masterlist (on hiatus)

______________

He watched her sometimes for far too long. The way her tongue stuck out as she pulled the skin and her hand worked steadily with the needle made it hard for him to resist. Her face always seemed to catch the harsh fluorescent lights and reflect it back so that it twinkled against her skin. A slight sheen, but nothing just of ethereal. He wasn’t even interested in any new ink, not seriously anyway. He had slowed on the ink train, but the shop his tattoo artist owned was a nice place to hang out sometimes. When he wanted to get out of his house but didn’t want to actually go somewhere, he could hang out here, listening to the buzz of the tattoo gun, poke his hand at trying a design here or there. They weren't great. He hadn't considered him this kind of artist, but the shop felt like a second home.

Besides, having her around was a more than welcomed bonus.

He wasn’t even sure what it was about her. She showed up about a year and a half ago, under an apprenticeship. Calum’s artist was unsure of her, much like everyone else that asked to work under him. A hazard of the job, according to the job, according to Calum's artist. However, her drawings spoke volumes; the colors and line work were impeccable. She had talent and knew it without being cocky about it. Well, sometimes she wasn’t. Calum watched her run into the occasional asshole that tried to belittle her; she always put her foot down in those situations. He didn’t fault her.

Today’s no different. When Calum walks in, he greets the guy at the front desk, eyes searching for her. He spots her in the back with her oversized frames creating a small glare over her brown eyes. He never quite got the appeal of the grandma-shaped glasses trend, but on her, they worked. She looked wise but soft. The glass pulled him in, felt like she was seeing into his soul. Maybe she was; maybe the pain made people more vulnerable than they anticipated--entrusting someone, a stranger in some ways, to permanently mark you and not fuck it up. Whatever the reason, looking at her felt timeless. Like she had seen it all, and you are just waiting for you to spill all the secrets.

“You finally going to get some new ink?” Calum’s artist teases.

Calum shakes his head, turning his attention away from her. “You finally took her training wheels off?”

“Your girlfriend’s got mad skills. I couldn’t baby her forever. Jay works hard on each piece, learned fast. Got a steady ass hand and pretty gentle for handling a needle.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Yeah, because you haven’t hardly even talked to her. Go for it, you wuss. What’s the worst she says? No?”

Calum exhales a chuckle. "I mean, the worst she stabs me with the tattoo gun. But considering the ink I'm already sporting, I doubt that's really all that bad.”

“Jay would not do that unless you asked for it, ff course. But really, go on, ask her out.”

Calum glances back at Jay. It’s a nickname. No one in the shop calls her by her full name. The only reason Calum heard it was when a client came asking for her. Jay was quick to correct them.

She wipes, clearing excess ink, before dipping back into the small cup. Jay smiles up at her client. Calum's sure they appreciate the reprise. Getting tattoos weren't always fun, but bearable enough to forget about it and get more.

Calum turns his gaze away. “I recommended you to a friend,” he says, hoping that he’ll escape the teasing. It’s not likely to happen. But at least he tries to minimize the ridicule.

"I appreciate it. Are they a first-timer?"

"A second-timer, but they're visiting town and want some new ink. I figured best not to fuck them over."

The two men laugh before Calum's escorted back to look through some new designs. Just in case something sparks his interest. Calum's visit is supposed to be short, but there's not much else on his to-do list for the day. He could kill a few hours here.

When Calum comes out from the back, after spending too much time pretending art was ever a talent of his, he looks for Jay again. She’s not in her corner, nor is she at the front. Calum shrugs, figuring she might have gone for lunch, or home depending.

As Calum walks to his car, he checks his phone. Nothing major's happened.

“Leaving so soon?” A voice states. Calum knows that voice, a little gravelly, mostly sweet. He’s dreamt of it every so often. He prays to hear it when he visits the shop.

He turns to Jay, who leans against the bricks. A vape is wrapped in her fingers. “Gotta get some dinner, maybe make a run to the grocery store," Calum returns. "I've gotten lazy."

She nods. “This reminds me that I can't survive off BLTs forever," she laughs.

"You could try, but I think you'd need other vegetables and some fruit in that mix too."

She pushes up on her glass with a nod. "Ah, yes, gotta get the whole food pyramid." It goes silent between them and Calum gives another nod, raising a few fingers to signal his departure while still keeping his phone in a secure enough grip.

"Hey, wait!" Jay calls out again, taking a half step forward. Calum turns to her. "Can I give you something before you leave?”

Calum nods, not trusting his voice. What would she give him? She nods back to the front door, taking back that initial half-step. “It's inside. Give me like two minutes.”

She disappears inside and Calum stands, his phone still in his hands, staring at the spot she once stood. Just as quickly as she disappeared, Jay reappears. In hand is her portfolio. She flips through before stopping and slides the heavy-duty drawing paper out.

Calum stares down at the green and black drawing. It’s his face, for the most part, that stares back at him. It’s distorted by a crystal ball that glows green. Inside are some instruments and something else, but right now he can’t really put it all together. His eyes keep moving over the lightning bolt, the crystal ball, the uncanniness of his face on a piece of paper, his three-dimensional face somehow translated perfectly into a 2-D space.

“Holy shit, this is amazing,” he breathes. “Thank you,” he says looking back up to her.

She shrugs with a smile. “You’re welcome.”

“Seriously, this is so fucking awesome. I’m going to frame it,” he gushes. He’s too excited to be nervous, or be embarrassed. "What are the dimensions?"

“I'm just really glad you don’t find it too creepy. I was watching you a couple weeks ago when you stopped by. It just sort hit me, the image of the crystal ball and lightning bolt; I had to draw it,” Jay elaborates. "And it's 8.5 by 11--standard printer paper size."

Calum shakes his head, staring over the drawing again. It feels so delicate suddenly in his hands. It’s almost like Jay recognizes the change in his handling. She shuffles her load in her hands and pulls out an empty plastic over. “Here,” she laughs handing it over. “So it doesn’t smudge or anything if you're worried."

Calum slides it in. “Thank you. Again. Seriously.”

“You’re welcome, Calum. Good luck with your grocery store trip and dinner,” Jay nods and then heads back inside. Calum watches the way the denim stretches across her hips, the way her hair billows just a little in the breeze of her strut.

For a moment, Calum can't move. The weight of the paper in his hand is hardly ounces, but it holds him--traps him to the point of the sidewalk. Jay thought enough of him to draw him. What did it all mean? Should he have found the courage to ask her out? He could walk back inside. But what if she didn't like him like that? Would it be too weird?

Calum blinks up into the hardly settling sun and thinks to himself, the second he can come back here, it better be with a bit more courage and possibly a gift certificate. No one can be made about free food, right?

It’s months before Calum can visit the shop again. The tour is a whirlwind and he only gets a few days off between legs. Not long enough to get back home or feel like he had any energy to drive out to the shop. But now that he's settled back in at home, he knows exactly where he's going.

It’s not his typical practice to just walk in and ask for a tattoo. But given the ink already on him, worse things could happen. When he pulls open the door, he notices it's kind of slow. Jay greets him at the front desk. “Hey, stranger,” she grins.

“Hey, how are you?” he asks in return.

“Pretty good. How was it? The tour? See any cool places?”

He nods. “Yeah, got to explore a few cities.” He taps his fingers against the wooden desk. “Do you have an appointment anytime soon?”

Jay shakes her head. “My 2 o’clock had to reschedule. I’m here until 4 before I see anyone. Why? What's tickling your fancy?”

“I was wondering if you could do a tat for me? I know this is very last minute and if you need me to come in another day this week, I totally can.” His words run into each other; his palms start to sweat. He wipes them on his jeans.

Jay laughs, holding up a hand. “Whoa, pump the brakes. One, what are you looking for?”

“You know that drawing you did for me?” She nods. “I was kind of hoping you could create something with just the crystal ball and lightning bolt. I know the drawing itself is kind of big.”

A grin lifts her cheeks; Calum’s heart settles for a second. “I think I can do that. Where are you thinking to put it?”

“Inner bicep.” He watches her gaze land on his arm. The t-shirt is baggy, he at least thought about that with enough advance.

“Give me 30 minutes to come up with some sketches.” Jay pushes away from the front desk and heads to the back, but not for calling to the shop to watch the front desk.

Calum slides into the seat at the front, leg bouncing as he settles down. This isn’t even his first tattoo, but the nerves flood his body. His scalp tingles. The thirty minutes move by too fast, but also too slow simultaneously. The seconds feel like hours but move by milliseconds.

Eventually, Jay resurfaces, waving him over to her. He walks back and looks at the sketches she places out in front of him. There are two different ones. One’s a bit more minimalistic, which is her style, with the lightning bolt in the background and a simple crystal ball at the point. The other is a bit bolder, the ball has a slightly warped edge where it connects to the bolt. It looks like the bolt is melting the glass ball.

“I can whip up more if neither one of them are quite right. But I wasn’t sure if it wanted something a bit more crisp and sharp or not,” Jay explains.

Calum admits that most of his tattoos are more cleaned up and sharp. He likes the idea of playing with a new style. “I like the second one,” he says, tapping it.

“You sure?” He nods, he’s never been more sure of something in his life. “Which bicep? Let me line it up and make sure it’ll fit.”

Calum lifts his left arm up for her. Laying the stencil over his skin, Jay notes she has to make a couple small tweaks. But after that, she’ll be ready. They discuss full color, or just outline, or shading, price, and a few other details before Jay concludes with, “Hop in my seat. I’ll be there soon.”

Calum nods and walks over to her station. Her stuff is already laid out, probably for her canceled 2 o’clock. It’s about five more minutes before Jay returns with the final stencil. Calum rolls up the sleeve of his shirt before she places the stencil. Happy with the placement, he stretches out on the table.

Jay gets herself ready before she brings the needle over his skin. The first puncture always makes him jolt a little, the first jab of pain causes his heart to race. “Do you plan on relaxing now that you're back home?"

"Yeah, for a little bit. I might go see my family, but I know we'll be back in the studio soon. Anything exciting happen while I was gone?"

"I mean exciting things happen every day at this place. But it's not like I could recall them all now."

Calum hums, acknowledging her statement, but not quite sure what to say next. Luckily, Jay's faster to fill in the silence. "You do realize you didn’t have to get a tattoo to have a real conversation with me?” Jay teases, pushing up her glasses.

Calum’s cheeks heat. “It’s not like that,” he chuckles.

“Well, that’s how it seems.”

“You were always busy when I stopped by. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Not always,” she laughs. “But it’s alright. You’re going to have plenty of time while I’m stabbing you to say all those things you didn’t.”

A chuckle escapes him; of course, Jay would have this sense of humor. “Wow, I can’t believe I’m paying so much for people just to stab me and act as a therapy. Maybe I am a masochist.”

“So are a lot of people. Sometimes you just take the emotional pain out in the physical realm.”

“I always imagined people that worked in a tattoo shop to be more heavily tatted,” Calum hums, taking in scattered ink across her arms and one pokes out from the V in her t-shirt.

“I focused it more on my back and legs and not so much my arms. I’m getting there. So, why this one today?”

Calum goes to shrug, but stops himself as he hears the gun nearing his skin again. “Not really sure. It looked cool. I guess it also serves to remind me that fate isn’t linear. There’s going to be twists and turns, maybe some trouble. And that’s okay. Don’t be afraid of the journey. Also, it's really fucking cool art.”

Jay hums her laugh, “Why thank you. Wise brain you got there. Besides, it seems like you also have people you keep close to you.” She eyes the initials and the name under the bird. “Whoever they are to you, I hope you all stay close.”

“Those are my parents' initials,” he explains. “And my sister’s name. They’ve been with me through it all--I love them dearly.”

“So sweet. I wish my parents and I were closer. I tattooed my brother’s jersey number on me. It was my first tattoo.”

“What did he play?”

“Soccer, or for your kind, football.”

“Hey now, it’s played with the feet, it makes much more sense.”

Jay laughs, wiping off excess ink. She cocks her head to the side a little, then goes back in for the black ink. “I’m only teasing. Us Americans are so dumb sometimes. Like why is our football not called something else? Literally, the only thing that happens with the feet is the running. We carry the fucking ball.”

“I’ve wondered that as well!” he laughs. "Does your brother still play?"

“Yeah, the whole knucklehead still plays for his college.”

“What position?”

Jay laughs. “I'll have you know my job as the older sister is to show up and cheer him on. Something defensive? I don’t remember off the top my head.”

“I’ll give you credit for that. I’m sure he appreciates it.”

“He does until he sees with me in face paint on and then he’s acting like he doesn’t know me. Oh, oh wait, I think remember what he does. It’s defensive,” she pauses, lips pursed together, “something fielder.”

“Defensive midfielder?” he asks.

“Yeah, that. But like I said, I show up when I can and scream. That’s it. When he’s old enough, I’ll buy him a beer after his games too.”

“How old is he?”

“Nineteen, we’re three years apart.”

“The only sibling you have?”

“Nah, got a baby sister too. She’s fifteen. If you’re impressed by my eyeshadow thank her. Because she’s the one that taught me how to do it.”

Calum finds himself staring at the red and gold coloring her eyelids. “It looks really nice,” he breathes.

“Why thank you.” She pauses to bats her eyelashes. “I even managed to get those godforsaken falsies on right too. They look good, but the raise hell.”

“I think you’re the first woman I’ve met in LA that’s not obsessed with makeup,” he notes.

“Oh, you were doing so well. There are a lot of people of who aren’t huge in the makeup scene.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he tries to backtrack. “I’m sorry. In my experience, it’s not like that. They’re hiding the fact they aren’t wearing makeup--embarrassed by it or something.”

Jay nods, pushing up her glasses yet again. “Yeah, it’s not easy. We’re told to be perfect, but in reality, we’re just like everyone. We’re human, imperfect and flaw-full and beautiful.”

“Not in spite of, but because of.”

“Exactly,” she chuckles. Silences settles in around them. Calum wonders why she said she was closer to her family, but the way she talks about her siblings doesn’t match. She’s cheering her brother on at his game; she’s sitting down to learn makeup with and from her sister.

“Can I ask a bit of a personal question?” he asks.

“What kind of personal? Do I get a lifeline?”

Cal exhales a laugh. “You can always say no.”

“Hit me with it.”

“Why say that you’re family isn’t close but you clearly take a lot of pride in your siblings?”

“An observant one on my table, I see. It’s my parents. They don’t like that I’m pansexual, say I’m going to hell. My siblings don’t fucking care. I’m still the crazy-ass sister that loves and supports them.”

With a hum of acknowledgment from Calum, it goes quiet again around them for a moment. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. He knows it doesn’t really fix anything for her; it doesn’t take away the potential years of her suffering. It’s the only thing he can offer her though. It feels right to say.

“Oh, no need for you to be sorry. It’s not like you threw me out of the house.”

“Ouch. You’re making it though right?”

“Yeah, now that I work here, things are on the up and up.”

“That’s good; I’m glad.”

“Thanks.”

“Favorite tattoo you’ve done?” he asks, wanting to hear her voice again.

“This one,” she laughs. “Though I had someone ask for a pin-up witch, which was also pretty fucking cool to do.”

Calum remembers seeing that on her Instagram. “That one was amazing! Her lips looked so good; I know that’s a strange thing to admit.”

“Don’t worry. I am quite proud of that myself.”

“Do you have a favorite tattoo on you?”

“The blue jay on my shoulder. My parents would take me on walks when I was still an infant. According to the legend, while they were sitting on a park bench a blue jay landed on me. I didn’t cry; it didn’t hurt me. It just landed for a second and then flew off. They called me Blue Jay ever since. I just shortened the nickname as I got older.” She gives one more wipe. “Finished. Check it out.”

Calum sits up, walking over to the mirror. He grins seeing the melting ball sitting against his skin. He grins over to Jay. “It looks amazing. Thank you.”

“No problem.” They head back over to her station. Jay cleans it and wraps the fresh ink. Calum carefully gets his sleeve back down with a little help from Jay. He pays their agreed price with his card, but slides two fifties over to her. “You do know that’s more than double a twenty percent tip right?”

Calum shrugs. “Is it? I’m bad at math,” he grins. “Treat your sister to a new palette or something. Treat yourself to something.”

“Thank you. Now next time, you come by, I hope we don’t talk while I’m stabbing you repeatedly.”

Calum shakes his head, a grin still on his face. Of course. He had forgotten to get the gift certificate. But possibly asking Jay to dinner wouldn't be such a bad idea. “Give me your number and I can promise the next time we talk, it won’t in your chair.”

She holds out her hand, waiting. He hands her his phone, after unlocking it. She puts her number in. She goes to hand the phone back but just before his fingers touch it, she draws it back. "I mean it--actually text me. I adore memes, dogs, TikToks, your favorite songs."

"I'll actually talk to you. I promise."

Jay hands over his phone with a smile. Calum steps outside the glass doors. Why should he wait? He could do it now. For fuck sake, the last hour had been the groundwork for a clear sign a date was absolutely an option. His fingers hovering over her name. He taps it, and then presses for a call. Holding the phone to his ear, he listens to it ring for a second.

“I can still see you, you know?” Jay laughs.

Calum turns around, catching her leaning against the front desk. “I told you the next time we talked you wouldn’t be inking me.”

“What can I help you with, Calum?”

“Dinner, tonight-- I may have ordered too many appetizers for just little old me."

Her laugh trickles in over the speaker. She drops her head, giving it a shake before looking back up to him in the afternoon sun. “I think I can help you with that. Give me the time and place."

Calum rattles off the name of a restaurant that he had been wanting to try. Nothing too upscale, but not something that would be too casual. "How does 8 sound?"

"I love it there. I'll see you at 8."

“Bye, Jay.”

“Bye, Calum.” As he walks to his car, his phone buzzes yet again. This time a text from his artist, I’m being fucking replaced, I see. I can’t be too mad since it’s Jay. Calum laughs as he slides into his car. Maybe he is getting replaced; maybe he’s not. Calum’s not sure. He is sure that he needs to figure out if he can make reservations and what to wear for tonight.

[manchesterau]

Your Gay Uncle Harry

Okay so I have been really hung up with all those photos of Harry in Italy recently and one thing came to mind when looking at all the photos: Gay Uncle. I even made a post about it! So now I present to you a small fic about your gay Uncle Harry. It’s written in 2nd person pov because I don’t like the feel of 1st person. I...have no idea why I wrote this, and who would even enjoy this but here it is! This is...diffrent from anything I’ve ever written before but I sorta fell in love with this, so I hope you do too.

My own prompt: harry is giving gay rich uncle who you don’t really know too much about because he’s always traveling around with his boyfriend but always invites you and your cousins to his villa in the south of italy for the summer where he plays host

Your family never really talks about him, and when you were younger you never really understood why. The way they all talked about him seemed like he had passed, always in past tense, never spoken about with happiness, always in hushed whispers. Always when the children were away, out of sight out of mind.

When you were younger you pictured him as a ghost, a white sheet with curly hair, bunny teeth, and dimples. You pictured him living hundreds of years ago, in the city somewhere if you were itching to get out of the country, and sometimes in the country herding sheep when you were in the city missing home. 

It took a while, but then you finally understood why no one really talks about Uncle Harry. You grew up on a vineyard in California. Uncle Harry was born in a small village in the UK. There is one picture of you and him together, and it’s when you were a baby. His mum, his sister (your Aunt Gemma), and Uncle Harry all traveled to the United States for the first time to see you.

Your mother holds up the picture, she doesn’t understand your curiosity about your Uncle, and quite frankly you can tell that it annoys her, but she tries not to show it for your sake.

You hold the picture up with shaky hands. You’re nervous because you’ve never really seen a picture of him before, it’s like he had been erased from history. Or your family tried very hard to make sure that he was. So when you see his big bright smile, wild curls, and steady arms holding you almost nineteen years ago you want to cry. You don’t, because then you would have to explain to your mom why you’re crying but you sniffling some here and there. He’s holding you with so much pride, so much love, like your his baby, and this is a photo taken right after he’s given birth.

“Why...I mean I guess I don’t understand why you all never really talk about him.” You say.

Your mom pauses, she turns away from you for a second. “I...honestly I think there was a falling out years ago and...and we all know Harry can hold a mean grunge like nobodies business. All of us can really. But, I mean he still comes around sometimes when he’s not busy traveling the world, to say hi and he always asks for updates on you kids.”

You nod, the photo in your hand weighs heavy in between your finger tips. Then your mom pulls out her phone, goes to Facebook, and pulls up Uncle Harry’s page. It’s like an explosion of rainbows, of the likes you’ve never really seen before. Only on the internet, communities you guard with all of your heart, a safe space for your eyes only. And then you start to understand why it’s all hushed voices when talking about Uncle Harry. You scroll for hours through his page, later on, watch video after video, smile at every picture he puts up. 

A random dish from a random country he visited last month. Funny old people memes that make you snort. Him all wrapped up in the pride flag, and what you assume is his lover right beside him. A picture from a few weeks ago of them embracing, his name starts with an L and that’s all Uncle Harry says about him regarding his name. Post after post after post about how he had found the one, how in love he was, how his boyfriend was pushing him to reconnect with his family, his love for his smile, the way his eyes crinkle, the barely-there freckles that dot his cheeks. The moments they’ve shared, the heartache they’ve endured, the sweet bliss and utter happiness and love they have for each other.

You cry. Not because you’re upset, but because of how robbed you were of knowing your Uncle. So you friend him on the Facebook you created an hour ago. When you get a message from him two days later asking if your family or a friend of the family you yell and thank whoever is above that no one is home. You reply that he’s your Uncle, go over the semantics on who your dad is, your mom, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma, papa. By the end he sends you a video, saying how he doesn’t understand all the texting and emojis and you call him an old man and he says he doesn’t take offense to that.

“I like to think of myself as an old soul. Also I’m only thirty-seven, that’s hardly old.”

You laugh at his accent, and he laughs at your lack of one. 

You never talk about what happened that made him estranged from the family, but deep down you understand. And when he says he can see a little of himself in you, you cry.

It’s summer, you're at home miserable because of the sweltering heat. The past few days you’ve been to a lot of family gatherings, and it annoys you that the hushed whispers about Uncle Harry never stop. You want to yell at them, to scream and sing his praises but you don’t. And then your mother walks through the side glass doors, her white cowboy hat sling low on her head. Yours sits on the ground below you, an ant crawls by slowly. She looks over at you, once, then again, and then she smiles and nods to herself, hangs up, and walks over.

“Your Uncle Harry is inviting you and your cousins to his villa in Italy if you want to go.” She says it so nonchalantly that you think she’s joking around and you roll your eyes. She shrugs and crosses her arms, stares you down. That’s how you know she’s not joking.

The next thing you know you're on a long flight to Italy. Five of your cousins are on the same flight, the rest of them declined. And then you’re getting off the plane, taking a car, and now you’re standing in front of a house. The stone feels warm under your fingertips as you slide your hand across the side of the house. You’re welcomed by Uncle Harry’s boyfriend, his smile friendly and inviting. His fringe gets in his eyes a lot, and he complains about it, says your Uncle loves his hair like this. You smile, something deep inside you settling. 

He takes you all on a small tour, shows you your rooms, tells you your Uncle went on a shopping trip, and should be back very soon. He leaves you to unpack, and you leave your suitcase on the twin-sized bed, wandering around amazed at everything. It feels like home, in a way where you know you won’t get homesick from being here for the summer. It feels like love, like taking a bit out of a warm cookie, like a cuddle with your mom while it rains outside, like curling up next to the fire with a good book. You haven’t felt this way in a long time.

And if there’s one thing no one tells told you about Uncle Harry, is that he sure does know how to make an entrance. You’re looking at the view of the sea beside the pool, you can hear the sound of children playing on the beach below, people moving around in the house behind you, the gentle sway of the leaves as a light breeze blows through.

“How’s the view?”

He startles you, bright big smile on his face and his bunny teeth on display. His hair is shorter than the pictures he’s uploaded before, and he’s actually been able to grow a mustache. He laughs when you tell him this before pulling you into a big hug. You don’t cry like you thought you would, but you do tear up a little.

“I can’t believe you’re actually real.” You say. You still think of him sometimes as a ghost, but without the paper sheet and more real, a little translucent at times. 

He pulls back, an arm slung around your shoulder as he hip checks you, his sunburnt nose moves a little as he says, “In the flesh, love.”

You don’t tell him this, but later on as the summer winds down, as the gentle breeze that brought a little moment of peace between the unrelenting day's of heat starts to pick up more, and as classes are due to start again you think about how this was the best summer ever. You hug him extra tight before you and your cousins head off home. And just before you get in the cab he pulls you aside and gives you a rainbow pin.

He tells you, “Your never alone. I know how it feels, but know that you’ve got someone in your corner rooting for you.”

You cry, waving goodbye to Uncle Harry and his boyfriend as they wave back embracing. You take the pin and stick it to your shirt, you get a smile from one of your cousins at the airport and the weight on your shoulder lift a little.

[lucy-268]

Revelations

A/N - This is ‘the talk’ and it takes place a week after Regrets. You can find that on my masterlist. Also, this meets the requirement for the @choicesweeklychallenge​. You belong to me can be found in bold.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to PB

Warnings: none? I don’t think even language.  

Series/Pairing: Open Heart - Ethan x f!MC (Charley Valentine)

Word count: 4,466

*****Thursday*****

“Has Denver General sent us any more information, or will I just find out when I get there?” June asked.

Consulting his notes, Ethan answered her. “Dr. Morgan said that he would send us the remaining test results as soon as he gets them. He’ll be sending them to all of us, so if you want to discuss the case with any of us we’ll all have the same information.”

June never looked up from the report she was reviewing. “I doubt it will be necessary.”

“Regardless of whether you think it’s a necessity, you will keep me informed of the case.” Ethan reminded her.

“Of course, Ethan.” June said. “If you don’t need me for anything else, I’m going to get ready for my flight?”

“You don’t want to hear about my new patient?” Baz asked her.

June glanced at him. “My flight leaves in less than three hours, so no. At least not right now.” She gathered her files and left saying goodbye to the rest of the team.

“Baz, what is going on with your new patient?” Charley asked.

“Late-onset Chediak-Higashi Syndrome. For me as an immunologist, I find it extremely interesting, especially as the patient is thirty-two and just diagnosed.”

Charley looked between Baz and Ethan. “Is this a team patient?”

“No. This is a patient of Baz’s. We will have a new patient coming in on Monday for which you will be primary.” Ethan held up a folder.

Baz briefed them on his patient, excusing himself when he received a page saying the patient was being admitted.

“And then there were two,” Ethan handed her the folder.

She flipped it open and read through the file. “Twenty-five year old male. Diabetic. Joint pain and muscle weakness.” Charley looked at him. “Do you know what it is and you want me to figure it out?”

Ethan shook his head. “I have a couple of ideas but I don’t know for sure what it is. You should have several ideas right now.”

“The symptoms can be just about anything. You said he gets here on Monday ?”

He nodded. “He’s already been to Mass Kenmore several times. Even though we have sent a release signed by the patient, Terrance hasn’t sent the files to us. So we may start with spinning our wheels testing for things that they have already tested for and eliminated.”

Charley studied the file again. “Did you see the iron levels here? I think the first thing is a liver biopsy?”

“Are you telling me that’s what you are going to do, or asking me if I think that’s the right choice?” Ethan asked her.

Her head snapped up. “That’s what I’m going to order. I’ll even have the order written so the test is run as soon as he’s admitted.” Charley met his eyes. “What?”

Ethan smiled. “There aren’t a lot of doctors who could have figured out to start with that test after reviewing a file for less than fifteen minutes. Let alone a second year resident. So I am impressed.” He reached over and stroked the back of her hand. “You often impress me.”

She turned her hand and laced their fingers. “It’s Thursday.”

“So it is.”

“Last week you texted me and said we would talk on Saturday.”

“Yes. And we decided we’d have dinner at six.”

Charley met his eyes. “You aren’t going to change your mind?”

“We’re meeting at my apartment. I’ll be there. We are long overdue for the talk. And I’m sorry for that.”

Charley smiles. “Will I finally get my chicken?”

“You will not. We’ve made the chicken together,” he held up his hand when she was going to interrupt, “this time, we’ll make something else. You plan the meal.”

“We may have made the chicken together but I never got to try it.”

“I want to see what you come up with. You can create any menu you want. Email me what we need and I’ll go shopping.” Ethan smiled at her.

Charley considered for a minute. “Anything?” When Ethan nodded, she continued, “My grandma had an amazing pot roast recipe. We could roast it in the oven or use a crockpot. It’s always best if it cooks on low in the crockpot, so that would take about seven or so hours. I’ll email you the list, and I guess I’ll be there late morning. I guess we’ll also have lunch together, too. That’s alright, isn’t it Ethan?” She didn’t even wait for his answer before she left the office.

Charley watched the office door to see if he was going to come after her and inform her they would not be spending the entire day together.

Ethan sat at his desk, he smiled as he realized that life would never be boring around Charley Valentine.

*****Saturday*****

Sienna pushed open Charley’s bedroom door. “Are yo-” Sienna stopped mid-sentence. She heard several loud thuds and  wanted to ask if Charley was okay, but she did not expect the scene she witnessed. She also didn’t see her roommate. “Charley!”

“I’m here,” Charley called, pushing herself out from under the bed. “I was looking for this shoe. That I can’t wear now. Thank you, Lucy!” The shoe had become a chew toy for their pet.

Lucy, their fennec fox, sat in the middle of Charley’s bed, looking proud of herself.

“Forget the shoe, we understand what happened to it.” Sienna looked around the room. “Was there a bomb? Are you telekinetic? Did your closet and dresser decide to vomit every article of clothing you own into your room?”

“I’m looking for something to wear, and I don’t have anything! I got off at five yesterday, I should have gone shopping!”

Sienna remembered the day a couple weeks ago when Charley got home late clad in someone else’s clothes. Based on her own conversation with a certain someone, Sienna had a pretty good idea who. Now she was frantically trying to find something special to wear. “What’s his name?”

Charley froze. “What’s whose name?”

“Obviously, the guy that you’re spending your day with. The same one you were with when you came home wearing clothes that were way too big for you. So, who is it?”

“No one,” Charley stated. “I’m not spending the day with anyone.”

“Yet you canceled on Bryce and me for today.” Sienna picked up a Columbia t-shirt and a pair of jeans with a rip in the knees. “Here, put these on.” She smiled. “I mean, if you aren’t doing anything special today, it doesn’t matter what you have on.”

Charley looked at the clothes that Sienna tossed on her bed. She had to leave for Ethan’s before Sienna would be leaving to meet Bryce, and she still didn’t know what she was going to wear.

Sienna watched her. “I heard that Dr. Ramsey also has today off. And he did when you had your second day off two weeks ago.”

Charley froze and looked to the door. “Everyone else is working today and they’re gone?”

Sienna nodded and sat down on Charley’s bed. “Uh-huh.”

“You can’t tell anyone.”

“So it wasn’t just the one night when he spent the night here?”

“That day we went to the country club and later I went to his apartment to talk to him? That was the first time, and the night after my hearing was the second. It was also the last time.” Charley sighed. “Then he went to the Amazon so we could ‘reset’ since he would be my director supervisor.” Charley sighed. “Since he’s been back he says we need to stay away from each other, but then he’ll kiss me. Today we’re going to ‘talk.’ We’ve been supposed to talk since right after the softball game, but it kept getting delayed.”

Sienna smirked at her. “You had on his clothes the day you came home.”

Charley's face turned red. “We spent the day together with his dad in Providence. We took his dog for a walk and I fell into a mud puddle.”

“You’ve met his family!”

“His dad. He hadn’t told Alan that he was bringing me with him. Ethan had never taken anyone home with him before, not even Harper Emery.”

“Dr. Ramsey and Dr. Emery were a thing!” Sienna’s mouth dropped open.

“I don’t know if it’s really common knowledge. Aurora probably knows. I saw the two of them talking once and it seemed intimate. It was the day before they announced the opening on the diagnostics team. I did ask him about it later and he said he likes to keep his private life private, but he did say they had an on-again, off-again thing but it ended permanently when she became chief.” Charley rested her head on her hand. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything. Don’t tell anyone.”

Sienna mimed sealing her lips. “I thought that you and Bryce were kind of together.”

“We hooked up a couple of times but we both agreed to be casual.”

“And with Ramsey, you don’t want casual?”

“I don’t.” Charley chewed on her lip. “Sienna, I’m terrified about today. I know that everything is going to change.”

“Well then, let’s get you ready.” Sienna picked up the t-shirt and jeans. “This probably won’t do; we’ll find something else.”

Charley was just getting ready to leave when her phone rang. She looked at the caller id and sighed. “If you’re calling to cancel-” she started.

“I’m not,” she heard his rich baritone as well as a smile in his voice. “I had to go to the hospital to pick up something. If you haven’t left yet you can ride with me. I’m outside your building.”

“I’ll be down in a minute.” Charley disconnected, smiling.

Soon they were in his apartment. She kicked off her shoes at the door and stood there when he walked further into the apartment. He got half way through the living room when he realized she wasn’t with him. He turned to find her at the door. “If we want to make this pot roast we need to go to the kitchen.”

Charley gave a nervous laugh and stepped away from the door. She tossed her purse on the couch as they walked into the kitchen. They washed their hands and Ethan pulled his crockpot out of the pantry while Charley pulled the roast out of the refrigerator. She saw the printout from her email with the image of her grandma’s recipe. Ethan gathered the rest of the ingredients while Charley brewed a pot of coffee.

“Why the crockpot instead of a roasting pan in the oven? I saw the recipe had directions for both with cooking times for either low or high in the slow cooker.”

“It tastes better and is more tender.”

Ethan smirked. “It does not. And we need to use the Dutch oven even if it’s just to brown the roast.”

“Maybe it doesn’t do a lot for the taste, but it is more tender.” Charley watched as the coffee finished brewing, standing  with her back to him. “It takes longer to cook in the slow cooker on low and I wanted to spend more time with you.” She gave a short laugh. “Funnily enough, now that I’m here, I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

She turned to face him. “I think that today may change everything, and I’m hopeful but I’m also scared. I’ve been wanting to sit down with you away from the hospital with just the two of us for so long, but now that we’re actually going to do that...” She bit her lip.

“Now you understand why I’ve been putting it off. But I’ve done a lot of thinking. And I talked to Naveen. We are long overdue. Today will change everything but we will be in agreement with it, I think.”

Charley nodded. Ethan turned back to the counter.  “Let’s get this set for dinner, fix lunch, and talk.”

Charley browned the roast in the Dutch oven while Ethan chopped the vegetables and herbs. Once the roast was in the crockpot, Charley cooked the onion. Once they started to soften, they added the rest of the ingredients, including the coffee. “Why coffee?” Ethan asked.

Charley smiled, watching the mixture simmer. “Is this a quiz, same as ‘why neat’ that first night at Donahue’s?”

“Genuine curiosity. As much as I love coffee, I’ve never had pot roast cooked in coffee. I found the recipe interesting.”

“It helps to tenderize the meat and gives the gravy a richer flavor.”

Once the gravy and onion mixture was cooked, Ethan poured it over the meat and set the timer. While Charley washed the accumulated dishes, Ethan fixed salads for lunch. They took their plates to the living room and sat side-by-side on his sofa.

“You talked to Naveen about us.” When he nodded, she continued, “I talked to Sienna.”

They fell into a silence while they ate. Charley glanced at him every so often.

He pushed the last piece of lettuce around on his plate before finally setting the plate on the coffee table. He turned to her; she mimicked his moves and faced him.

“Ethan, I’ve said for a while that a relationship with you is an easy decision for me. It’s what I want. I think that we could be good together, amazing even.”

Ethan nodded. “I know. You aren’t the problem, I am. I want to be able to push you to be the best doctor you can be.”

“You can do that professionally, regardless of any personal relationship we have. I can take criticism from Dr. Ramsey and know that it isn’t coming from Ethan.”

“You’re assuming that I can also have that division.”

That got Charley’s attention. “You’re Ethan Freakin’ Ramsey. You can do anything you try to. If you want to make the distinction you will. And if you cross the line, I’ll let you know.”

“Another problem-”

Charley put her hand on his arm. “If you just want to list a lot of potential possible problems, why are we even having a discussion? Earlier you said that today would change everything and you thought we’d be in agreement.” She folded her arms across her chest and focused on a picture hanging on the wall. “If you thought that I’d change my mind about us, you’re wrong. If you thought you could list all the reasons why we can’t be together and why you won’t be with me, I was right to be nervous about this. If that’s-”

Ethan reached over and grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him. “What I want to do is identify the obstacles or potential obstacles we face so we are both aware of them, and to decide how we need to handle them in the future.” He wiped a tear out of her eye. “Because in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I very much do want to be with you.”

Charley grabbed his hand and kissed his palm before lacing their fingers together. She smiled at him. “I’m sorry for my outburst. Continue, please.”

“Another problem is the board. They don’t like interoffice romances. Naveen seems to think this won’t be an issue. He seems to think that as long as it isn’t impacting the care of the patients, or the bottom line of the hospital, they wouldn’t care, nor would they even need to be aware. I disagree with him on this. I think the board makes it their business to know what goes on in the hospital.”

Charley interrupted again. “I know that there are married couples at the hospital. Was it a problem when you and Harper were together?” Ethan drew in a deep breath when she asked that. “If you don’t want to answer that you don’t have to.”

“I will. It was not a problem and the board did not have an issue with it when she was head of neurosurgery and I was a fellow on the diagnostics team. If our relationship would have continued when she was chief or if I had been a surgeon, it would have been a problem. Any other couples at Edenbrook do not work in the same area, and one member of the couple is not another’s supervisor.”

Ethan continued, “I don’t want anyone to think that you got the position on my team because of our relationship. I don’t want anyone to have any doubt about that. You earned it.”

Charley nodded. “I did earn it. You weren’t even the one who put me on the team. Naveen did.”

Ethan agreed that while that was true, many people at the hospital could have thought that he asked Naveen to do that.

“If anyone has doubts, I graduated at the top of my class at Columbia. Not near, I was ranked first. In fact if anyone had ranked all med school graduates my year from around the country, I’d probably be in the top fifty.”

Ethan laughed. “Someone did. And you are higher than that. You are somewhere in the top twenty. I’m not going to narrow it down more than that for you.”

“Based on that, I think I earned the right to be on the team. Not to mention helping to cure Naveen last year. Our relationship had nothing to do with it. Well except for the fact you inspired me to go to med school in the first place. And I wanted to work with you, which is why I came to Edenbrook.”

“We probably don’t want to advertise our personal relationship at work. The hospital has a wonderful gossip network and we’ll need to be careful. That being said it probably won’t be long before everyone knows about us.”

“That sounds okay. But some people will know. I told Sienna and you told Naveen. My roommates will know I’m seeing someone, and will make it their mission to find out who.” Charley wasn’t sure if she should mention the next part, but figured she might as well. “June does, or she thinks she does. At least that was what she implied the day I caught her with my personnelle file.”

Ethan froze. “She had your file?”

Charley nodded. “She said that she reads the files for everyone she works with. She tried to tell me you asked her to get it for you, but I knew you wouldn’t have.”

“I’ll deal with her when she gets back from Denver. Your roommates and Naveen are fine.”

“If my roommates know Bryce will also know; and if Aurora does, Harper might.” Charley looked up at him. “Can we talk about Harper?”

“I thought we already had.”

“You ended things when she became chief. If she wouldn’t have, would you still be together, do you think?”

“We would not. We were together because it was mutually beneficial to the both of us. But we were never going to last.”

She smirked at him. “By ‘mutually beneficial’ do you mean it was convenient and the sex was good?”

“Yes.” Ethan said. “But then last year something happened that I knew would never lead Harper and I together again.” When Charley tipped her head to show she was interested in his answer, he continued. “Last year, an intern showed up and turned my life inside out. And I can’t get her out of my head.”

Charley started to move towards him, and he stopped her. “What about the scalpel jockey?”

Charley lips twitched. “His name is Bryce.”

“I’m aware, and you didn’t answer the question.”

“We hooked up twice, once at our housewarming party and again once after we were at Donahue’s. We almost did the night we researched treating Mrs. Martinez, but you’d already kissed me in Miami. I wasn’t interested in anyone else at that point.” She looked at the ground before meeting his eyes. “Bryce is a friend and a good one. I trust him. I also know if I ever did want a relationship with him, I’d have that choice. I don’t, and Bryce respects that.”

“As long as he knows that you belong to me.” Ethan pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her.

“And you belong to me!” Charley shifted slightly on his lap and felt his hardness under her thigh. “We could continue this in the bedroom.”

“A very good idea.” As Ethan stood and lifted her, she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her into the bedroom.

Several hours later, they were laying with their legs tangled together, voices soft in the quiet room when an alarm on her phone beeped.

“Somewhere you need to be?” He kissed the top of her head.

She pushed herself up. “Actually, yes. The kitchen. I need to start the vegetables.”

He walked over to his closet and pulled out a robe that on him would reach mid-thigh. He tossed it to her, before grabbing another for himself. This one hit him at mid-calf. “You could have this one if you wanted.” She indicated the robe she hadn’t yet tied. It fell below her knees.

He snorted. “Be responsible for you tripping in this one? I don’t think so.”

As Charley gathered what she needed for the roasted cauliflower, Ethan grabbed the green beans. Charley explained that sometime they would fix potatoes with the roast, but her grandfather grew up near Idaho and often decided he wanted anything other than potatoes, so they would have cauliflower. “I don’t like raw or steamed, but I really like them roasted with this mustard sauce.”

Charley watched Ethan pull a cake plate out of the refrigerator. “Dessert?” At Ethan's acknowledgment she asked what it was. He wouldn’t tell her, saying he wanted it to be a surprise.

They worked efficiently together in the kitchen, getting dinner ready. Ethan selected a red wine for them and opened it to let it breathe. He carried their plates to the dining room table.

“This is good; the coffee does make the gravy richer.”

“Grandma knows best. My grandfather grew up in Spokane and grandma in Seattle. They had a restaurant in Seattle that my dad and all my aunts and uncles worked in while they were growing up.”

“You have a big family?”

“My dad had three brothers and two sisters. But even though they had six kids, my grandparents only had four grandchildren. There was my brother and me; we grew up in Pennsylvania. My one uncle had two boys and they were in Oregon. All of my dad’s family is in the northwest and we didn’t see them often. My dad moved there after he retired and I started med school.”

Ethan watched her. “Are we going to talk about your mom’s family?”

Charley shrugged. “Not much to tell. Her parents were killed in a car accident when she was in college. She was an only child and you know why I don’t talk to her.”

As they cleared the table and kitchen he asked her what he had been wondering about. “Why did you decide to do your residency in Boston with most of your family now out west?”

“It doesn’t feel like home to me there. I figured I could do my residency anywhere; it wasn’t a commitment to stay somewhere for my life. It’s only three years.” She smiled at him. “Besides coming here let me learn from the best.”

Ethan poured coffee and set the mugs on a tray with two dessert plates. Charley watched as he lifted the cover off the cake.

“Lemon! How did you know lemon was my favorite?” Charley couldn’t resist. She swiped her finger on the edge of the cake to collect a sample of icing. She popped it in her mouth.

“I asked Sienna the other day and she told me.”

Charley stared at him. “She helped me get dressed this morning and she didn’t say anything!”

Ethan laughed. “You need help getting dressed in the mornings?”

She felt her face redden. “I… well… um. I didn’t know what to wear this morning.”

“I would have gone with clothes, but I understand that some people are fussier than others.”

“I wanted to look nice.”

“You always look nice.”

“I thought that I always looked satisfactory.”

Ethan cut two pieces of cake and added them to the tray with the coffees.

“I thought we could take these into the bedroom. If that would be satisfactory to you?”

She nodded and he carried the tray to the bedroom and set it down on the bed. He flipped a switch causing the gas fireplace to spring to life. Charley picked up her cake and snuggled back against Ethan. “I like the fireplace here.”

“I don’t often use it.”

“Why tonight?”

“Must be the company I’m keeping.”

Charley turned and straddled his lap. “You better be careful. This company could end up corrupting you.”

“I look forward to it, if that’s the case.” Ethan rolled her unto her back.

Several hours later, Charley looked at the clock. “I should go home. I have to work tomorrow and my boss can be tough if I’m late.”

“If you stay with me, I’ll be sure you’re not late,” Ethan buried his head in her neck.

“I don’t have clean clothes for tomorrow.”

“You can either grab some scrubs from the locker room or ask your roommate to bring something for you.” Ethan pointed to his dresser. “I cleared both of the bottom drawers for you, if you want them.”

Charley chewed on her bottom lip. “You knew what the outcome of our talk was going to be before we actually talked today. When did you decide you wanted-”

“The night of the softball game, when I kissed you.”

Charley stared at him. “Then why did you keep putting me off when I wanted to talk?”

“Because I kept coming up with all the reasons why we shouldn’t be together. And I decided not to do that anymore. I’m tired of avoiding whatever it is we have.”

“Why do I get the two bottom drawers?”

“You’re shorter than me!” He indicates the drawer on the right. “You actually do have clean clothes in there. What you wore when we went to my dads. You at least have something to wear to the hospital.” Ethan watched her. “Any other concerns for tonight?”

“Do you have an extra toothbrush?”

Ethan shrugged. “Yes, but it’s one of the standard ones dentists hand out. It should be fine until we can get you one to keep here.”

Charley put her head on his pillow. “Then I can’t think of a single reason to get out of the warm bed right now.”

He turned off the light and slipped under the covers with her. “Neither can I.”

Tag list (if you want to be on or off let me know) @oofchoices @openheart12​  @jamespotterthefirst​  @ohchoices​  @catchinglikekeronsene  @aylamreads​  @nerdydinosaursweets​  @eramsey28​  @txemrn​  @starrystarrytrouble​  @queencarb​  @thegreentwin​  @lion-ess24​  @caseyvalentineramsey​  

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[mrsgreenworld]

It's not easy to let go of the past

A/N: So I've had this very insistent idea for a while now. I decided to speculate way ahead. Let's imagine that it goes like this: Serkan breaks up with Eda without telling her the truth. Then Eda's grandmother comes into the picture. It's revealed that her and Efe have been working together to take the holding from the Bolats. Eda learns the truth about her parents' death from Efe or maybe her grandmother. She also finds out that Serkan knows about everything. Her grandmother's revenge plans are also revealed. However, Eda convinces Efe to help her stop her grandmother. All in all, the grandma capitulates, Efe sells back the shares. The Bolats don't lose the holding. Efe helps Eda move to Italy. She leaves and gets her degree.

That's just my imagination running wild 🤣

Let's imagine everything going down like this. This fic takes place 2 years after Eda leaves.

___________________________________________

Serkan opened his eyes way before his alarm clock was supposed to go off.

He went about his morning routine. He just moved on autopilot. Like all other mornings for the last 2 years.

2 years, 2 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, about 11 hours... without her.

Time without her seemed to drag on forever. 2 years felt like 2 lifetimes.

2 lifetimes that had brought him denial - first.

When he refused to accept that she was gone for good, that she had given up on them, on him. He called her. All his calls went into voicemail. Then her number was out of service. He tried going to her house only to find it empty. Ayfer Hanım and Melek moved house. The flower shop had been sold. He wasn't able to reach any of the girls either. They had simply blocked him.

That's when anger started.

He started taking it out on everyone in the office. Then one evening he crashed everything in his house. His parents and Seyfi came running because they had heard the noise. His mother and Seyfi barely managed to stop him from attacking his father. The next day Serkan moved out. He couldn't bring himself to go to the house he owned, where he and Eda had spent that one and only night together. He just found a completely new place instead.

Then it was time for bargaining.

He tried finding her. He found out that she wasn't at the university that she had initially applied to. Instead of taking advantage of his connections Serkan decided to go to Ceren. Out of all the girls she was the easiest to find. She was from a wealthy family of lawyers after all and worked in a prominent law firm. So Serkan just boldly waltzed into Ceren's office one day. She didn't throw him out. She didn't ask him to leave. She was patient and kind enough to actually talk to him. She asked him only one question:

"Do you love her, Serkan?"

"You know I do, Ceren. I love her more than anything and anyone in this world"

"I can tell you only one thing without betraying Eda's trust: things are going really well for her now. She looks maybe not quite happy yet but at peace. So if you truly love her the way you say you do, please, just let her go. Don't try to find her. Don't go to her. Don't try to bring her back. Don't ruin what she's managed to build for herself"

After that conversation with Ceren finally came depression. He just locked himself in his house. Stopped going to work and eventually left everything at Art Life to Pırıl and Engin. He didn't care much about the holding anymore. His father was still in charge and that made Serkan care even less.

But at least something good came from the period of depression: his mother was so worried about him that she went into therapy and after a while was able to leave the house. One day Aydan Hanım and Seyfi knocked on his door. When he didn't open it they just let themselves in using a spare key. They found him sitting on the floor in the living room, staring at the photo of him and Eda on his phone. He heard the steps and then - his mother's voice. That managed to pull him from his trance. He broke down then, a year after Eda's departure. He broke down in his mother's arms under the wave of happiness for her and under the weight of sorrow and acceptance. Acceptance of the fact that it was really over and Eda wasn't coming back. He had really lost her.

After that he pulled himself back together. He managed to create a resemblance of life in this state of numb resignation and acceptance. He travelled for two months around South America. When he returned, he got back to work at Art Life. His return was a true triumph. He had never been as productive, creative and successful as he was then. He even tried to reconsile with Selin but both of them very soon agreed that they were better off as friends.

And here he was 2 years, 2 months, 3 weeks, 3 days, about 11 hours later. Making breakfast for himself and his mother. Ever since Aydan Hanım started leaving the house, it had become their daily tradition - having breakfast together at Serkan's place, just the two of them. Sometimes it was Serkan making breakfast, sometimes he and his mother cooked together. Serkan treasured this everyday ritual.

A doorbell caught his attention and he went to let his mother in. He was greeted by her radiant smile and high-pitched: "Günaydın, canım!".

"Good morning, mom" Serkan said while returning his mother's enthusiastic hug.

They went into the kitchen and finished preparing breakfast. When everything was ready, they proceeded into a small patio. The day was calm and the weather - warm, so they decided that eating outside was a good idea.

"So, how are you, dear?" his mom asked after they were done eating and were just lazily drinking their coffee.

"You ask me this question every day, mom. Nothing's changed since yesterday morning"

"Well, today is not just any other day. Remember where you're supposed to be today?"

How could he forget. It was the first big event he had to attend since he was back. A big international business conference of architects and designers from all over the world.

He gave his mother a silent nod.

"And you know who's going to be hosting this event, right?" Aydan Hanım asked carefully.

"Of course I know, mom"

"So it's not going to be a problem?"

"Why should it be a problem?"

His mother just threw him a "Really?" look.

"It's fine, mom. I am fine. I haven't seen Efe Akman for over two years and it's not like we will have to work together. He's just hosting this conference. Despite our personal history with him, he's a recognised architect and he really is good at his work"

"Still don't like him after everything he did back then. And I don't think that seeing him is a good idea. Might trigger something... Maybe I should go too? Don't want to leave you alone"

"Don't be ridiculous, mom. I don't need a babysitter. Plus you're not ready for this yet. You haven't been anywhere except my house. Going to an event like this at a place that's completely new, where there will be hundreds of strangers... No, it will only overwhelm you. And I will have to worry about you among other things"

"Yes, of course you're right, dear. Then maybe take Seyfi with you?"

"For the love of god, mom! Stop it! I told you I don't need a babysitter" with a huff of annoyance Serkan rose from the table and started collecting the dishes.

"Ok, ok... Sorry. I will keep silent. You do what you want. You know what's best for you. But will you at least let me help you clean up?"

Serkan looked at his mother's pleading expression and the corner of his mouth twitched. He silently nodded and moved into the house.

"What was it? I think I saw an almost-smile" he heard his mother say at his retreating back.

He busied himself with washing the dishes. His mother joined him and started drying the plates. They worked without saying a word for a couple of minutes.

"You will one day, you know" his mother's quiet and cautious voice broke the silence.

Serkan looked at her and raised his eyebrows in question.

"You will smile and laugh again. I promise"

"You cannot promise something like this, mom. And I... I am not sure I know how to do this anymore"

"You will learn. You can learn. It's not impossible, my dear. I also thought I would never smile again after we lost your brother. But here I am. I even managed to leave the house. If I was able to do that, you will surely smile again one day. I know your smiles and your laughter will never be the way they were around her... But... Maybe it's not bad? It's just... different? And different can be good too. It can bring happiness"

"How do I become happy without her? If I love her this much but she's not here?"

"Oh, my dear boy! It's hard, I know. But you have to try. You have to be happy for you. No matter how much you love someone else, you have to love yourself first. And it doesn't make you selfish. It doesn't mean you don't love her anymore. But you said it yourself - she's not here. Don't you think that maybe the best way to honour this love is to let go of the past and allow yourself to be happy?"

A sob tore from his throat and he nodded frantically.

"You are right... I just... I am not ready yet"

"I know, I know... There's no rush, ok? I am not saying you have to do this now. It's not easy, it takes time. Just remember that when you feel ready, I will be there for you. Always"

"I know, mom. Thank you"

Aydan Hanım pulled her son into a tight hug.

Mother and son spent another 20 minutes together and after that Aydan Bolat left, leaving her son to prepare for the conference.

When Serkan was putting on and buttoning up his dress shirt he felt ready to face Efe Akman. However, there was a small tug in his chest, right under his heart. As if he needed to brace himself for something more than meeting with his former business partner-turned-rival.

"You're being paranoid" he huffed at himself.

Once he was ready, he grabbed his car keys and his phone. He looked dashing, collected and confident when he was climbing into his car. Nothing betrayed his typical Serkan Bolat facade. Nothing but a tiny gesture of him running his thumb over a band on his right hand.

[grannyandgrandpascreations]

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All items are created or designed by Granny & Grandpa's Custom Creations. We also print and heat press our items using our professional, commercial grade heat press! Each design is made with High Quality, Heat Transfer Vinyl. All of our bodysuits and t-shirts are made to order in a smoke free and pet free home. We only print on genuine Gerber Onesies® and Children’s Place. Gerber Children’s Wear holds the trademark for the word “Onesie®”. The term “Onesie®” is to reference the Gerber label and to describe the genuine Gerber Children’s wear products we use at Granny & Grandpa's Custom Creations.

Care instructions: Turn item inside out, machine wash cold, no bleach, no softener. Do not dry clean. Do not iron. Tumble dry low.

Please also know that although every effort is made to photograph my items accurately, color may differ slightly from photos due to different monitor settings. Please contact me with any questions about the color or size of any item before purchasing. Have something in mind that you’re looking for? I love custom orders! I can make custom changes to all existing designs that are currently available in my shop. Please send me a message, and I’ll be happy to help!

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Add a style to your mini-me's wardrobe with our designed onesies bodysuit, not only practical, but also cute as can be!

Onesies are excellent for layering to keep your Baby warm on colder days, or the onesies can be worn all on their own to keep Baby cool when the temperature is warm.

The onesies are designed with higher snaps in front which helps for easier diaper and outfit changes. They also offer an expandable lap shoulder neckline for easy on and off.

Care instructions: Turn item inside out, machine wash cold, no bleach, no softener. Do not dry clean. Do not iron. Tumble dry low.

Due to different light settings the actual color might vary a bit from the pictures.

[writernomore]

Two sides of the same coin.

Chapter 4.

Summary: It’s now the end of Y/n’s first year and now she would be in her second year at Hogwarts, spending some time at her grandparents house while her family are on some official business without her.

Masterlist

enjoy.

Chapter 4.

After the drive we finally arrived at a country side place where my Grandparents decided to live, away from the muggle and wizarding world having created a world between them and their family.

My Grandfather attended Hogwarts back then his day and when he graduated he met my Grandmother.

My Uncle and His wife were a Wizard and Witch, So is my Cousin.

My Adoptive Family’s Family Tree was mixed between Muggle and Wizard/witch in it.

Getting out of the car and on to the cement of the road, and there it stood, My grandparents house.

It wasn’t that big neither was it that small, it had two floor, an attic, and five rooms, The Master bedroom, My father and his’ brothers shared bedroom and three guest bedrooms.

The master bedroom and 1st guest room on the Main floor, My Fathers and his brothers room along with the 2nd guest bedroom and lastly was the 3rd guest room up in the attic like space, it was a big space, and it was where I always slept cause I was always the one to visit much more often back when I was young when mom had to go do some errand's, My two older brothers at school, and my Dad at work.

The scenery surrounding your Grandparents house was beautiful almost like Hogwarts but without the Forbidden forest.

The Forest behind your Grandparents home was a forest that was claimed and when your Grandparents had brought the property, the house was old but your Grandparents always did maintenance check.

They were old, yes but they didn’t have to make the house look old as well after all they can manage on their own as well.

They always liked to act like they were in their 20s and back in their time era.

The Driver was getting your trunk inside the house and you followed in to the house.

Inside, was a little welcome party there, a banner saying “Welcome home!” with your grandma and grandpa standing under it with their hands out spread, taking this as a signal you ran up to them and tackled them into a hug.

“Grandma! Grandpa! I missed you guys so much!”

“We miss you too pumpkin” “Come on, we got some cookies and cake with your favorite treats” Your Grandmother said.

The four of you sat on the living room, inviting the driver to eat with you while they listened to you talk about your studies and the eventful things that happened, with your first time watching a Quidditch match, to the troll event and to the Gryffindor house winning the house cup.

Meeting new friends along the way.

It was time that your grandmother was going to the kitchen to cook dinner, your grandfather telling you to call him if you needed anything that he would just be in the Livingroom and your driver bidding goodbye to tend on some wizarding business.

Going up the stairs to settle in the attic room bringing out your books to set on the table, setting down your remaining parchment paper into a little drawer and setting down your quill and ink.

You decided that you would write to Hermione, Ron and Harry soon but for now you changed into a blue shirt and white shorts with black polka dots.

You opened the window and stared ahead to the woods behind the house, it was getting dark and it looked like the fireflies were flying around from a far.

You closed the door and went to plop down your bed, your owl Archimedes was making noise and shaking it’s cage wanting to go outside to fly.

You carried your owls cage and set it down on your table and opened a window for her to get out and fly about the area opening her cages door she went on your arm for you to set her free to fly, you did so and she went to glide around in the sky.

Deciding not to close the door you decided to run down stairs and see if you could help your grandmother with cooking.

The food was set on display and you put some onto your plate and began eating after praying, your grandfather had asked you where and who gave you the necklace that was wrapped around your neck.

You told them you had received it from the mail alongside a letter saying that you would understand more better when you grew older.

You opened it to show your real parents in it, your grandfather ruffled your hair and smiled at you.

It was a week already and you had already sent and received letters from Ron and Hermione.

But never from Harry, you were worried and wrote to him much frequently.

Deciding something you lettered Ron asking if the both of you could meet up, but before you did that you had asked your grandparents first.

Didn’t want them to worry now would we? It was also better to tell them face to face than leaving a letter so your could assure them that you would be okay and in safe hands.

Travelling by floo you arrived at the Weasley’s place, Ron had to put a hand over your mouth so you wouldn’t scream.

‘Bloody hell Ron you scared me!’ You whisper shouted.

“Sorry but we have to go over to Harry’s and see what’s going on.” He said

“So there is something wrong” you murmured. “But how would we even get there?” You asked raising a brow.

“Don’t worry” He took a step to the side revealing his older brothers, Fred and George Weasley.

“So their going to help us?” “Yup” “Alrighty then” You said clapping your hands together.

You where seated at the back with George and Ron while Fred drove it.

“That’s a pretty necklace” George said.

“Thank you, it has my parents in it” you gestured opening the locket.

George raise his brows and nodded looking up ahead, Ron looking at the necklace to see if they had seen it right, it was Harry’s parents in it.

Only meaning one thing only,

You are Harry Potters sister.

Gulping he turned to his side seeing that they had arrived to the place where Harry lived.

Harry went to his window wide eyed and mouth agape asking why are you guys doing there.

“Where here to rescue you of course!” Ron said. “Come on get your trunk ready.”

Harry was packing his stuff to his trunk when the car was moving forward while Ron put the hook on the bar that was on Harry’s window.

Car moving forward puling the bars off they went on reverse to make the car go closer.

Harry putting his trunk inside, the car trunk and handed Hedwig to Ron and jumped to get inside the car but his uncle had grabbed onto his leg preventing him to do so.

The car moved forward for Harry’s uncle to let go of him, and fall out of the window landing on the bush.

We smiled at each other proceeding to go back to the Weasley household.

“By the way Harry, Happy Birthday” Ron said.

Harry looked back and smiled at Ron and turning to me I gave him a smile.

Landing on the ground we went out of the car to go inside George shushing us to be Quiet.

Then..

“Where have you been!?”

“No note, beds empty, car gone!” “But it isn’t your fault Harry” 

“And- Uh who’s this?” She points at you.

“My name is Y/n Brighton, nice to meet you Mrs. Weasley.” you said smiling.

“Oh, it’s nice to meet you dear.”

Breakfast was at the Weasleys, and you and Harry had met Arthur Weasley, Their father.

Letters had arrived from Hogwarts having a list of things/ books required for this year.

You had to leave early and just agreed to meet Ron, Hermione and Harry at Diagon Alley.

After using floo powder to get back home you were greeted by your grandparents asking if you were okay or if you were hurt.

You had reassured them that things went alright.

Archimedes had flew in from the kitchen window dropping your Hogwarts letter having the list inside.

Your grandfather told you to clean up and change clothes before the both of you went to Diagon Alley for school supply shopping.

You were wearing a green sweater and black pants with a red ribbon in your hair like a headband.

You and your grandfather went to Diagon alley to get your things.

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

Sorry that todays chapter was short but I had to rush this one.

And I will try and make it up to you guys next chapter, making it longer.

Anyways, I have also now posted this series in Wattpad for you guys to read under the username of Moonwrites @/I_Potter .

Noone has read it but it’s just there for those who can’t read it here or that there’s some problems.

[theeternalblue]

A little ficlet for @monicaposh​ and her fic here comes the sun because I owed it to her, with a little collage of the family she created with these smart girls and foolish parents. 💜 You should read it and love it as I do.

-----

Once a city girl, always a city girl.

And yet here she is watching the soothing blue ocean, feeling the gentle salty breeze against her skin and enjoying the protective shade of exuberant green palm trees and exotic vegetation under the Kauai sun. The mimosa in her hand helps to get her in this mood of utter bliss as well. That’s until she feels a pair of strong arms wrapping around her waist from behind. A firm chest against her back before soft lips kiss the spot under her ear. His nose bumps against her sunglasses’ temple.

“Morning, wife,” his voice is deep and teasing. She tries not to laugh but he’s ridiculous and adorable. It bubbles up inside her and she lets it past her lips because she’s learned the hard way to just do what in her heart feels right.

“Archie,” Veronica tries to scold him. He just doesn’t seem to get tired about calling her wife after three days since they finally said yes to each other – for a second time – in front of their families, friends, and daughters this time.

It was all adorable with Violet as Archie’s best man and Audrey as Veronica’s maid of honor. Those little schemers, mainly responsible for them reuniting, were wearing the brightest smile she’s ever seen on their beautiful faces.

Archie keeps peppering kisses to her neck and shoulder, fully taking advantage of the neckline of her Stella McCartney silk cover-up. And she’s also enjoying how he has forgone shirts since they’ve been secluded in the private villa they chose – actually, Archie chose it because their first honeymoon was spent in Europe and they were chased by paparazzi almost all day.

I want you all to myself, he said and found this spot on the Hawaiian island where they only see people if they choose to leave and go into town. They have a pool, a private beach and each other.

His hands hitch up her torso, and they are purposeful in their attempt to tease her. A shiver goes up her spine, and it has nothing to do with the weather.

“We left the bed an hour ago. Behave,” Veronica mumbles softly, making him snort a laugh.

He playfully bites her shoulder before kissing her cheek. “Do you really want me to behave?” he quips, stepping away and making his way to the kitchen with a relaxed and confident swagger that shows he feels comfortable and happy. 

And she is elated too. The last two years since they got back together have been crazy, with many events for her to promote Posh new lines, with award shows for them to go together, with two beautiful girls on the brink of adolescence and a dog, because Archie cannot say no to his children. The beautiful and immaculate place she had chosen for her and Audrey was sold and replaced by a townhouse because they needed the space. Archie has his own studio, while she has her office, and each girl has their own space. And nothing is ever pristine, as she wished it was but she can’t be upset about it anymore.

He pops a grape into his mouth under her attentive gaze and smirks. “What?”

Veronica feels the now familiar tingling in her chest and smiles, lifting her sunglasses to uncover her face. “I love you,” she mutters softly.

His smile grows bigger. “I love you, too, babe.”

Veronica takes a sip from her mimosa and struts her way to the kitchen island where he’s standing. She gently places the glass on the island, before her hands cradle his face, her fingers toying with his earlobes.

“How much?” She asks him, and Archie’s smile grows while his cheeks and ears tint red.

“You’re my whole world.” He sighs, letting the air pass slowly through his lips as he leans forward to press his forehead against hers.

Her eyes flutter close, and she can feel his strong hands on her waist, his thumbs above her hipbone and the way his breath tickles her face.

They’ve been so busy with their careers that sometimes she forgets just how much she needs his presence. He’s much more affectionate than she is. The last thing she wants it’s for him to feel taken for granted. They needed this time alone, just the two of them enjoying each other.

“Maybe we don’t need the bed,” he whispers hotly in her ear, making her snort a laugh but then he’s pressing those soft and hot kisses to her neck, and who is she but just a woman in a honeymoon with the man she loves?

At some point in the evening they end up in the pool, and Archie is trying to convince her to go surfing the next day while they fool around on a sun lounger like a couple of teenagers, like when they first met all those years ago.

He laughs at her huffy expression, because she’s trying not to laugh or cave in. But then her phone buzzes and she knows there are only two people in the world who are allowed to call at any time.

“Mommy. Daddy.” Two beautiful faces appear on the screen. Audrey and Violet with big smiles – Audrey with her hair in a bob, while Violet keeps it longer. They are in that phase where they want to be different, especially because they’ve spent two years trying to learn from each other.

They babble about their days, about a soiree one of their friends is having for their birthday and how grandma took them shopping, and to the spa.

Archie drops a few hints about being careful and good – because he’s terrified of seeing them grow up. Veronica only tries for them to feel safe enough to talk to them. But they have started to roll their eyes, and be sassy – Violet more than Audrey. They are sensitive and quieter at times – Audrey who sits at the piano or with her guitar for entire afternoons.

“Love you!” And yet they are still adorable enough to say that.

They aren’t ready for moody teenagers who will proclaim their hate for their parents.

“Love you, too, girls. Be nice to your grandma, and call Katy for the shoes you want.” They are still the most fashionable girls in New York, and probably the world if Veronica has any say in it, but now they pick their own clothes and she can only offer opinions.

They grow up so fast.

The newlyweds stay quiet for a moment after disconnecting the call.

“Have you ever thought about having more children?” Archie tries, sheepishly looking at her. “We’re still young.”

She’d be lying if she said no. Their hectic life is too much but she loved her first pregnancy with Archie at her side. It was magical for them.

“What if we had twins again?” she’s joking, but it’s a possibility they can’t discard.

Archie smirks. “Multiply the love, Ronnie.” He claimed they had twins because they had so much love for their unborn child that only one baby couldn’t take it, so they got two. The idea seemed crazy back then, but now she might believe it.

She looks at the sunset before them and how it glows in his eyes. There’s too much love in her heart, too much love in his, and isn’t that great?

[coffee-and-wolfsbane]

Julian x MC Birthday Fun~

Characters: Julian Devorak, MC (with they/them pronouns) Fandom: The Arcana (after Julian’s upright ending) Word count: 1,827 Maturity level: PG-13 (suggestive content, swearing) Background: Julian took a job as the Palace’s physician in Vesuvia after a few months of adventuring with MC.

“Ow! Dang it,” MC complained, biting their lip as the edge of their hand dragged against the stove. “No, it’s not your fault, stove salamander. I’m just nervous,” MC tried to soothe the little reptile that resided inside the stove. They quickly transferred the fresh cake onto a cooling rack on the kitchen counter and ran their hand under cold water. “This is more like Julian. Injuring myself trying to do something nice,” MC muttered under their breath with a soft smile. It was his birthday today, and the weasel had slipped away earlier that morning before MC had awoken. He probably doesn’t want a big fuss, but it’s the first birthday we’ll celebrate together, MC thought with a faint blush across their cheeks. I want it to be special. As the cake cooled, MC started to clean up around the shop, sweeping and hanging some colorful strips of cloth for decoration around the windows and over the table. The moon was rising in the sky, and Julian usually came back from the palace at around midnight. MC had honestly been shocked when Julian accepted the position at the palace. After the whirlwind of the murder trial and then permanently getting rid of the plague, MC was grateful to take a breath and get into a comfortable routine. Using their magic, MC lit a few candles and placed them around the shop, creating a warm and hazy glow of light. With a little extra spell, MC changed the color of some of the candles to burn in bright blues and greens.   Mazelinka had agreed to watch “the babies”, as Julian called them--Malak and MC’s own familiar, so the shop was eerily quiet as MC transferred the cake from the pan to a serving plate and started to spread icing across the top. The cake was done and on the table just in time for MC to feel the runes protecting the door to the shop get turned off briefly as the door swung open. MC whirled around, trying to hide the cake with their body as Julian eased inside, shutting the door behind him with the heel of his boot. He paused when he saw them, and a slow grin started to spread across his face. “I was hoping you’d be in bed when I came back,” he drawled, and MC blushed fiercely at his tone. “Don’t think you can use that smooth talk to distract me, Ilyushka Devorak,” MC scolded him, but they were fighting a smile of their own. “You’re in trouble for sneaking out this morning.” Julian shrugged out of his thick leather overcoat and put a hand over his heart. “In trouble? With you? How will you ever get me to behave?” he purred, and his pale blue eyes burned with the ideas swirling around in his head. MC’s blush deepened, but they stood their ground. “It’s not working,” MC denied, but they felt that all-too-familiar rush of heat through their body as his gaze dragged over them slowly. Julian tossed his coat over the counter and walked over to MC, his hands immediately seeking out MC’s waist to tug them closer. MC let Julian wrap his arms around them, but when Julian leaned down for a kiss, MC put their hand over Julian’s mouth. “You’re in trouble,” MC emphasized. “Why did I have to find out through Maz and Portia that your birthday is today?” Julian’s face became slightly flushed at MC’s probing gaze. MC slid their hand down Julian’s chin and wound their arms around Julian’s neck as he stumbled for an answer. “W-well...since my parents died, I don’t really celebrate my birthday. No real reason to, you know? Pasha was back with the grandmas in Nevinon, and I was bouncing from place to place, learning medicine. I guess I got into the habit of overlooking the date,” Julian mumbled, and his light blue eyes were skittering everywhere but MC’s face. Small waves of emotion--sympathy, sadness, distress that Julian still thought so little of himself--worked their way across MC’s expression. They pulled on Julian’s neck until their foreheads were brushing together. “You need to stop going through life like you’re still alone, Ilya,” MC whispered softly, biting their lip in worry. “We cleared your name together. We fought an Arcana together, with the help of our friends. Next year, there’s going to be a huge party at The Raven, and everyone will celebrate with you. But this year, I want you to myself,” MC added, heat creeping into their cheeks at the admission. That grin appeared on Julian’s face again, and he looked around, peering at the different decorations. “A private party just for two, hmm?” he murmured, and his arms tightened, bringing MC’s body closer. “I can’t imagine how we’re going to pass the time.” MC let out a small squeak when they felt their rear get cupped playfully. MC smacked Julian in the shoulder, blushing. “The first thing you’re going to do is blow out your candles,” MC said firmly. Julian craned his neck to glance behind MC, his expression becoming mystified. “You baked me a cake?” he asked, his eyes lighting up in the soft multicolored light. MC nodded, secretly relieved that Julian wasn’t being difficult about attention for once as they slid out of Julian’s grip. “Don’t forget, you have to make a wish,” MC said. They went to stand over on the other side of the table as Julian took of his leather gloves, discarding them on top of his coat. He gave MC a scorching once-over before he closed his eyes and bent down to gently extinguish the single candle that was on top of the cake. He waited a few moments before his eyes snapped back open, and disappointment crossed his face when he looked at MC. “This wish thing doesn’t work,” Julian said, and MC frowned. Was there something he wanted, gift-wise? They could always get him a new journal, or maybe he was expecting something more expensive? As doubt started to edge into MC’s mind, Julian spoke up again. “I was very clear in my wish. But here you are, still fully clothed,” he said tauntingly, arching one dark auburn brow at MC. “Julian!” MC gasped, and they suddenly felt naked as Julian continued to glare at the outfit they wore. “You didn’t waste your wish on that, did you?” “There was nothing I wanted more,” Julian explained as he chuckled. “Maybe you can help me with my wish, MC...” He trailed off and smiled hopefully at them. “C-cake first,” MC insisted, their breath catching in their throat. Julian cast MC a pitiful look, his lower lip sticking out. “What if I said please?” he offered. MC shook their head quickly, but their grip on the table’s edge tightened a little. Julian huffed, but his eyes were tender as he watched MC. “Damn it. As you command, darling. Cake first,” he said, and the tenor of his voice suggested he already had a plan for what happened after cake. MC was having difficulty concentrating as they cut Julian and themselves a piece, and when a smudge of icing got onto their thumb, Julian caught their hand in his grip. He leaned his head down to suck their thumb into his mouth, his tongue swirling around it quickly before he released their hand. “Sweet. Just like you,” he murmured, and MC thought their heart was going to beat out of their chest. At least I know he’s going to like his next gift, MC thought faintly as they ate. When Julian was finished, he wiped up some of the leftover icing and painted it across his lower lip, giving MC a challenging smirk. Of course he doesn’t play fair, MC muttered, and they dutifully leaned forward, surprising Julian by biting onto his bottom lip before sucking it into their mouth, licking the icing clean. Julian’s deep, husky groan filled MC’s ears, and emboldened by his response, MC crawled over to Julian’s chair, settling their weight on his lap. MC looped their arms around Julian’s neck again and deepened the kiss, their mouth working against Julian’s. They shivered in delight as Julian’s hands gripped their waist, and he kissed them back with an edge of desperation. His fingers pulled at the hem of their top a few times, the silent question coming across clearly. Don’t back out, you’ve already decided you’d do this, MC said, and they broke off the kiss long enough to quickly whisk off the fabric. Julian growled in approval and he leaned back to watch, but then his eyebrows went into his hairline as he saw what the collar of MC’s shirt had hidden. He started to chuckle, but it turned into a full-bellied laugh as his fingers touched the small red bow that was tied around MC’s neck. “I wanted to be your gift,” MC said, flushing intensely as Julian’s molten gaze swept over their bare torso. Those sky-colored eyes flared, and Julian trailed one finger down their sternum. “It’s perfect. In fact, I want to unwrap the rest immediately,” he said, his voice deepening as his hips flexed underneath MC. Oh please, MC’s thoughts whispered, and like Julian had overheard the unspoken plea, he surged up out of the chair. MC wrapped their legs around his waist as Julian’s hands supported their bottom, grabbing them tightly. MC buried their face in the crook of Julian’s neck, and he strode up towards the bedroom, desire curling in their lower belly as Julian nipped their ear. “Happy birthday, Ilya. I love you,” MC whispered against his skin. Julian squeezed MC’s bottom and ran his tongue over the indentations his teeth had left in their ear. “I love you too, MC,” he breathed, and with one smooth motion he tossed MC onto their bed. MC sucked in a quick breath in surprise, and when they landed on the blankets, they moved to take off the ribbon. Julian stopped them with a shake of his head. “Keep that on,” he said, a wicked smile forming. He pulled his white shirt off over his head and pitched it onto the floor. He seized one of MC’s ankles and skirted his hand up their calf and over their knee, landing on the waistband of their clothing. “You looked incredible, bathed in the candlelight,” Julian murmured, and with a few quick tugs he had the troublesome clothing--including MC’s underwear--down their legs and the outfit joined Julian’s shirt on the floor. “But I can’t enjoy my gift if it isn’t completely unwrapped.” Julian let go of MC’s legs and he took a slight step back, drinking in the sight of MC on their bed, with that adorable ribbon and bow nestled against the hollow at the base of their throat. “Oooooooohoho,” Julian said on a dulcet purr, and his hands worked at the waistband of his own pants eagerly. “Happy birthday to me,” he growled, and Julian pounced.

[petrichoravellichor]

Just Like That

(Read on Ao3)

Ship: Patience/Claire Rating: G Tags: Alternate Universe, Bookstores, POV Patience, Pre-relationship, Getting Together, Fluff, Patience has a crush on Claire Summary: Yes, Patience has a crush on Claire, and no, she’s not gonna do anything about it. Claire, meanwhile, has other plans…

Word Count: 939

Created for the fabulous @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover and her upcoming Representation Week: have some femslash! 😄 I’m also using this to fill the Claire/Patience square on my card for @spnrareshipbingo and the bookstore AU square on my card for @spnfluffbingo.

*****

“You know, honey, you could just go over there and talk to her.”

Patience started, swearing softly and just managing to keep from knocking over the shoulder-height bookshelf she was stocking. She looked over the top toward the front counter, where her grandmother, Missouri, had paused filling out order forms and was watching her with a knowing smirk. Patience felt her face grow warm, and she dropped her gaze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Is that so?” came her grandmother’s coy response. “So you mean to tell me you haven’t been sneaking peeks at that pretty blonde-haired girl that works in the bakery across the street ever since she started there over a month ago, and that you weren’t looking at her just now?”

Yep, thought Patience with an inward groan, busted. She sighed and crossed her arms. “Her name is Claire,” she admitted. “We have a few classes together. It’s no big deal.”

“I didn’t say it was,” said Missouri. “I said you should go talk to her.”

“Nope, you said I could go talk to her,” said Patience matter-of-factly, stooping to grab another book from the box. “And I’m not gonna.”

It was true, thought Patience as she heard Missouri huff and walk off in the direction of the backroom, she wasn’t gonna. She’d been not gonna-ing all semester, and it had been working out just fine; in fact, not gonna-ing had proven her most effective strategy so far at not making a fool out of herself in front of others, specifically one Claire Novak, self-assured and gorgeously badass in a way that Patience found as captivating as she did intimidating. Which was why not gonna-ing was clearly her best option. Innovative, fantastic, ten out of ten would recommend to a friend. Not that she had many friends, but whatever. If she did, she’d recommend it to them, simple as that.

The shop bell chimed just as Patience was setting the last book into place, and she called toward the entering footsteps without looking over. “Hi, welcome to Read Between the Lines, I’ll be right—” she turned and nearly choked on her own breath, “right…with you…”

Claire Novak was standing in front of her. She’d ditched the green apron Patience had seen her in through the window a few minutes ago and was wearing a white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, thumbs hooked loosely in the belt loops of her black jeans as regarded Patience with an easy smile.

“Hey,” said Claire, raising her chin greeting.

Help, Patience prayed, to any higher power that might have been listening. She swallowed and schooled her features into what she hoped was a relaxed, friendly, totally-not-freaking-out expression. “Hi.”

“I’ve seen you around at school,” said Claire, gaze dropping briefly to Patience’s mouth before flickering back to her eyes, and her smile widened. “Patience, right?”

“Uh,” said Patience, because what the heck else was she supposed to do? Seriously, God, or Whoever? I could really, really use some help right about now… “I mean, yeah, yeah, that’s right. You’re in my—um, I mean, we’re in the same Econ and American Lit classes. You’re Claire. Right?” she added hastily, lest she seem like some sort of stalker freak. She was absolutely not a stalker freak, oh God, please don’t let her think I’m a stalker freak…

“Yep, that’s me,” said Claire, and she was still smiling, so whatever deity Patience had prayed to must have been in a sympathetic mood. “Hey, listen, I know this is totally random, but do you maybe wanna grab dinner sometime? Tonight, even. It’s just,” Claire rolled her eyes and hooked a thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the front window, “my boss told me that if I didn’t come over and ask you out already, he’d send over a cake with my phone number on it.”

What. Patience shifted to look out the window and recognized Gabriel, the bakery owner from across the street, watching intently from inside his own shop; when he saw Patience, he grinned broadly and gave her a double thumbs up. “Wow. That’s…wow.”

“Yeah, he’s kind of a dick like that,” said Claire, but she didn’t sound like she held it too much against him. “So, what do you say? Wanna go out, or do you at least want a free cake? ’Cause I’m pretty sure he already made it.”

Patience couldn’t help it; she laughed. “Well, I do like cake,” she said, feeling her own lips twitch into a smile that mirrored the one on Claire’s face, “but I’m also off tomorrow, so…”

“So,” echoed Claire, taking a step closer, “it’s a date?”

Oh, it’s a goddamn miracle, thought Patience. She felt giddy, lighter than she’d been in ages. Suck it, not gonna-ing: your services are no longer required. “Yeah. It’s a date.”

“Cool,” said Claire, grinning as she pulled out her phone so that she and Patience could exchange numbers; when she left a minute later with a wink and a “See ya”, Patience barely managed to wait for the door to close before letting out a squeal and twirling around in happiness…

…only to see her very self-satisfied grandmother smirking at her from the doorway to the backroom. “So,” said Missouri, strolling over to stand at Patience’s side, “a date, huh? Well, isn’t that nice.”

“Grandma,” groaned Patience, hands coming up to cover her face, “please, please don’t say it.”

“Say what?”

“That you told me so.”

“Oh, honey,” said Missouri, patting Patience fondly on the shoulder, then breezing past her toward the register. “I don’t have to.”

[rainbowreddead]

tysm for the tag @charlotte-balfours-garden​ !!! I love getting tagged in these hehe! I’m not going to tag anyone bc we have the same circle of ppl so they’ve all already been tagged XD If anyone sees this from me feel free to @ me!

name/nickname: Katelyn and my nicknames are usually KitKat/Kate/Katydid or Spongie which is what my dad calls me lol. 

gender: gorl

star sign: gemini

height: 5′6″ or ~168 cm

birthday: June 11

time: 3:30 pm

favorite bands: Caravan Palace, The Oh Hellos

favorite solo artists: Moe Shop, Snail’s House, Grandson, 

song stuck in my head: This one (Slow Down WRLD Remix) & the Alicia Online theme song lmao (Korean horse fantasy game)

last movie: Horton Hears a Who 😂 My grandma wanted to watch it with me lol/

last show: Soul Eater!!! Used to watch that with my gf, I freaking love it sm. So much nostalgia. 

when did I create this blog: July 04, 2019~

what do i post: Red Dead stuff lol. Mainly from the 2nd game cuz I never played the first. I want to upload my own screenshots but I always forget!!

last thing googled: How to tell if someone is keylogging you.... The answer was hopefully no btw

other blogs: I got 11 .... my main @Lotus-of-light, I have a flight rising blog and my ao3/overwatch blog @coyoteschasingthunder

do i get asks: Nah lmao but that’s ok

why i chose my url: Bc I’m a lesbian (rainbow) and it’s reddead XD

following: 586 but I like to trim it down lol

followers: 294 on my main and 27 here

average hours of sleep: 8-9

lucky number: 11!

instruments: I can’t read music very well (It’s so hard when ur just trying to teach urself XD) but I can play a little on the piano and kinda on the Kalimba. 

what am i wearing: Black pants with a bow on them, a tucked in shirt and a beautiful blue & white jacket with a peony decoration! V fancy

dream job: Part time programmer part time famer!! @charlotte-balfours-garden has heard ALL about that XD

dream trip: With my dad and my bff and her dad to Alaska I think! Like 2 weeks of horseback riding and hunting would be awesome. 

favorite food: Changing my answer to Kottu Rotti which is an AMAZING indian dish I love making it sm. 

nationality: American Irish (or Irish American? Not sure which order my citizenship would go in lmao)

favorite song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eYK3YP524A C’mon name a more iconic line than “See you in your dreams, Yeah, baby, even if it's a nightmare, For you I’d crush the stars” (Soul Eater Op 2)

last book read: It was Their Eyes Were Watching God for my Lit class Black Feminism unit. I rlly loved it!!

top three fictional universes: Ok ok, 1. Wings of Fire for the dragons 2. Soul Eater bc I think my friend would be a weapon (maybe a bow and arrow) and I would be a meister. 3. the world from Hold Me Closer Necromancer prob. It had werewolves and magic so I love it.