#Spending Big Bucks to Make a New House Look Old

[try-set-me-on-fire]

They’ve got the little window over the sink open and Bobby keeps calling through it, asking for ingredients, utensils. Eddie clatters around the cabinet by the fridge.

“Third shelf,” Bobby says again, elbow on the sill. It doesn’t help any more than the first time he said it.

“I don’t even- Bobby, I don’t know what I’m looking for. Just- you can’t just use a normal spatula?”

“The flexibility and sharp edge of a fish spatula,” Bobby says, also for the second time, with a strained sort of patience, “Is perfect for sliding under-”

Buck’s arm reaches over Eddie’s shoulder and plucks a long slotted spatula from Bobby’s elaborate and baffling collection. “Got it.” He kisses the side of Eddie’s head as he keeps moving, lips catching the top of his ear. “It’s better for-”

“Pancakes, fritters, any sort of delicate patty, yeah, yeah, I heard.”

Bobby and Buck grin at him with identical raised eyebrows, it's kind of uncanny. “He’s not hopeless after all.”

“I do my best,” Buck says, smacking Eddie on the back and heading towards the door. “He’s come a long way.”

Eddie crosses his arms. “I don’t have to keep handing you shit. We’re not at work. I could make you walk inside every time.”

Bobby grins wider. “And I could give you all the burnt tater tots.”

Eddie pouts. “I’m reporting you to HR for unfair retaliation in response to labor concerns.”

“We’re not at work,” Bobby says, serenely. “Hand me the tenderizer.”

Eddie was sent in here, originally, like half an hour ago, to cut up the two giant watermelons Hen and Karen had brought direct from the farmers market, but he’d only got the knife halfway through the first one when the side quests started coming. He finally returns to the cutting board as Buck and Bobby’s voice drift further away, towards the grill. He cuts the thing in half and then stares at it so long he jumps a foot in the air when Maddie suddenly appears next to him.

“Woah,” she laughs. “What secrets of the universe does that watermelon hold?”

Eddie coughs out a chuckle. “I was just- debating the best shape to eat.”

She hums thoughtfully. “Big choice. Little cubes? Little cubes are nice. Or, like, slices?”

“I’ve always been a fan of a nice wedge.”

Maddie makes a triangle shape with her hands. “It is a classic.”

“Kind of makes your plate top heavy, though.”

“You’ve got two watermelons,” she points out.

“Wedges and cubes,” Eddie nods. “I like your way of thinking.”

She grabs a bowl from a different cupboard — why does everyone know this kitchen so well already? This is the new Grant-Nash residence house warming party, Eddie’s got lost on the way to the bathroom like three times since he got here — as he cubes the first melon. “How was the movie?”

“Hm?”

“Didn’t you and Buck go see Conclave earlier? The trailer looked interesting.”

“Oh, yeah.” Eddie scoops the cubes into the bowl and rinses his hands off before starting in on wedges.

Maddie laughs behind him. “… and how was it?”

“Oh! Uh- yeah, I mean- you know, horror movies, they’re fun.”

Maddie tilts her head. “Wait, wasn’t that one a drama?”

“Uh-”

“Wait.” She wrinkles her nose. “Were you just- were you making out with my brother literally the whole time?”

Eddie, hands up, gives her a bare teeth grimace of a smile as she cackles and whacks him with a towel. “Hey- I mean, I kind of looked up once, they were in some sort of- I don’t know, a theater or something? It was really dark in there? It looked kind of creepy.”

“Oh my god.”

“There’s a lot of Catholicism themed horror movies,” Eddie weakly tries to defend himself. “How was I supposed to know?”

“By watching it!” She laughs. “Why spend the $12?”

“My air conditioning is broken,” Eddie says sheepishly. “And it was 10 AM on a weekday, the only other person in there was 80 years old and snored through most of it.” He frowns. “Which also makes more sense if it wasn’t- I don’t know, I thought it was like The Conjuring?”

She laughs again, helpless giggles while she covers her face. Her daughter laughs the same way sometimes. “Don’t you have catholic guilt? Wasn’t that a thing?”

Eddie shrugs. “My abuela always says once I commit to something I never do it by half.”

“So, making out all through a movie about the pope?”

Eddie points at her. “Gay making out all through a movie about the pope.” He frowns again. “Damn, it was really about the pope? Okay I’m not- look, I’m not feeling guilty about that but, uh, if you ever talk to my grandmother or Pepa, uh-”

“I don’t think it would come up,” she says, patting his shoulder.

“They’re not- it’s- they wouldn’t like me making out with a girl during a pope movie, either, it’s not the gay thing.”

“I know, Eddie,” she says, more kind than teasing. “Everybody’s really happy for you,” kinder still.

“Oh.” His cheeks are probably bright red. “Uh. Thank you.” His ears burn as he busies himself with the watermelon again. “You know- I wouldn’t’ve got here, without Buck.”

Maddie comes close, presses their elbows together until he looks back up at her. “He deserves someone who doesn’t commit to things halfway.”

It makes Eddie laugh with soft edges, because: “I think… I’ve always been all the way, with him.”

She smiles so wide her nose crunches. “I know.”

There’s a tap at the window, and there he is, Buck himself. His nose is a little pink from the late October heat, he’s smiling real big. “Hi.”

“What do you want now?” Eddie’s tone is snappy but he’s sure his face is pure mush.

Buck sticks a thumb at Maddie. “Chim’s threatening to, and I quote, ‘eat five hundred tater tots,’” Buck pauses, presumably in service of Chim’s love of dramatic effect, then continues, “‘and then fall into a coma.’ So, like, if you wanna do something about that you might wanna get out there.”

“W-” Maddie starts to ask, and then shakes her head. She grabs the cube bowl. “At least he should have some fruit, too.” She flashes them a grin as she walks out the door, their laughter following.

When Eddie looks back at the window Buck has his chin in his hand, smiling at him. “What?” He laughs, ears hot again.

“Admiring the view,” Buck says, with the combination of flirtatious and earnest that Eddie has come to expect but is never prepared for. “Food’ll be up soon. Come and join us?”

Eddie leans forward over the sink. “Cap doesn’t need anything else?”

Buck shrugs, very close now. Eddie almost laughs wondering if he’s on his tiptoes in the dirt out there. “He can get his own shit. I’ll eat your burnt potatoes.”

Eddie closes the last half inch of distance and does laugh, right into Buck’s mouth. “We can share,” he says, magnanimous, because Buck’s always been all in, too. He can go halfsies, it’s only fair.

There’s shouting outside, Buck pulls back, drums on the windowsill. Smile, wink, turn. Eddie grabs the wedges, and hurries out the door.

(Ao3)

[canonicallyobserving911]

“I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Fanonwriter2023 on AO3

Where CANON and FANON collide!

Season 7 FANON Speculation: Buddie Multi-Chapter Fanfic - Hiatus Reading: “I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Chapter 30 is now available on AO3.

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

“I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

Currently 30 chapters completed: 1.331M Words; Rated: Mature

One chapter will be posted at a time.

___________

Here's a snippet from Chapter 30 of someone approaching Buck and offering him his dream job.

___________

While the paramedics are working to secure Bob to a backboard, the captain walks over, sticks his hand out to shake Buck’s and greets, “Great job firefighter, Diaz.”

“Just doing my job, sir.”  He replies as he extends his own hand to shake his.

“My name is Captain Louis Clarke and currently I’m working out of the 138.  After you assessed the situation, you handled this exactly the way a captain should.  Which firehouse did you say you work out of?”

“I didn’t.  I work at the 118 but uh… I’m on leave right now.”

He looks at Buck like he knows him and replies, “Was your last name Buckley before?”

“Yeah, it was but I got married in December and it’s Diaz now.”

He nods and smiles, then says, “Listen, I’m currently working out of the 138 but today’s my last day because I’m going to a new firehouse that will be open next Friday, February 16th.  It’s the 115 and we’re still staffing it.”  He lowers his voice and continues.  “Currently, we only have two captains me and Captain Thomas from the 144 but we’re still searching for a third one who wants to lead A-shift.  We need someone who thinks outside of the box like you did when you suggested we use the backboard to stabilize the wound so the paramedics could dress it.”

Buck’s taken aback because he wasn’t expecting any of this.  He was just doing what he loves to do.  He replies, “Um… that’s ok Captain Clarke because I…”

He interrupts him.  “It’s the perfect spot for you and it’s available.  We’re recruiting from all over the area and we’ve had more than 200 existing firefighters apply to work out of the new house but we need someone like you to be a captain because you were cool under pressure.  Before you turn me down, just do me a solid and stop by the firehouse.  Are you available tomorrow?”

He shakes his head no, then he echoes his response.  “No.”

Captain Clarke tilts his head to the side and continues.  “What about Thursday?  We’re having a big luncheon to celebrate before the grand opening next Friday so the new team members can get to know each other.  You should stop by and dine with us so I can introduce you to everyone, ok?”

Buck’s about to try and decline again but before he has the chance, Captain Clarke says, “I’ll see you Thursday at 11:30AM and you can get the address to the new station off the LAFD intranet site.  It was posted this morning.”  Then he turns around and says, “Alright team, let’s move.”

Is Buck leaving the 118? 🙃

Will he accept this role to be captain of A-shift at another station? 👀

What’s going to happen next? 🤷🏽‍♀️

___________

This is an EPIC LOVE STORY!

Fic Summary: Months after Buck and Eddie were hit by the same lightning strike; they’re still struggling with the aftermath of it.  But before they make their love confessions, they’ll spend time getting to know themselves as individuals first. Eddie learns to enjoy the simple things in life as he participates in activities on his own and with new friends while Buck learns the rest of the 31-year-old deep dark family secret about his conception and birth. Their journey to forever is still a work in progress but once they finally admit they’re in love with each other, everything that follows their love confessions will be cataclysmic.

__________

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 - Eddie makes a new friend while Buck receives devastating news regarding the sperm donation he made for Connor and Kameron.

Chapter 2 - Buck does a lot of research to learn more about the abnormalities found in his red blood cells and Eddie starts a new therapy journey that’s all about him and not the traumas he’s experienced.

Chapter 3 - After more than a month, Buck and Eddie finally spend time together outside of work but it doesn’t end well and they part with a lot of uncertainty regarding their places in each other’s lives.

Chapter 4 - Eddie has a few realizations about his life which causes him to consider moving back to El Paso, TX while Buck continues to be reminded of his past which causes him to take an impromptu road trip across America.

Chapter 5 - Both Buck and Eddie have difficult conversations with their parents and Buck finally learns the truth behind the reason why his mother despised him while Eddie finally tells his mother about the way she tries to control him.

Chapter 6 - More than two weeks after Buck pushed Eddie away after suggesting they needed a break; Eddie decides to try again. Eddie’s there for Buck when he’s at his worst just like Buck was there for him when he was at his worst and he won’t let Buck give up.

Chapter 7 - After Buck’s mental breakdown, Eddie has his back the same way Buck had his when he had his own breakdown more than a year ago.  They share several vulnerable and emotionally intimate moments with one another and they begin to realize their small, sweet and caring gestures matter just as much if not more than any grand gesture ever could because these are the foundations of a long-lasting love relationship.

Chapter 8 - Buck, Eddie and Chris all have their own therapists and during their sessions, they reflect on their pasts while they’re in the present so they can prepare for their future together as a family.

Chapter 9 - Buck and Eddie are there for each other when Buck has to testify as a witness during the trial.  But by the end of it, they’ll both realize their individual and shared traumas are going to keep resurfacing until they talk about them, deal with the fact that they’re in love with one another and face the fact that they can’t live without each other.

Chapter 10 - As Buck and Eddie finally begin to confront their past traumas, they realize how much they need each other to fill in the gaps of their memories.  Additionally, the universe screams at them for what appears to be the one hundredth time so Buck can realize he doesn’t have to ‘find it’ because he already ‘made it’ and Eddie’s reminded tomorrow isn’t promised and he doesn’t have to die alone if he doesn’t want to.

Chapter 11 - A “virga” or dry thunderstorm is in the forecast but once the rain starts, the thunderstorm happening outside won’t be able to match the storm brewing inside between Buck and Eddie.  It’s the universe’s final scream and when the tumultuous winds begin to blow, they’ll have one last chance to hold onto everything they’ve built over the last six years or they’ll lose it all forever.

Chapter 12 - Buck and Eddie have always shared a deep physical attraction and an emotional intimacy that’s unmatched but now that they’re in a relationship, they’re learning how to navigate the romantic intimacy they’ve been waiting for six years to explore. The love they have for each other is a once in a lifetime, soulmate, love of their lives type of love that transcends space and time.

Chapter 13 - While navigating the newness of their romantic relationship, Buck and Eddie take advantage of every moment they spend together. As their individual lives, people from their pasts, time constraints and the possibility of losing each other again make attempts to interrupt and interfere with their journey to forever, they love, care for, support and hold onto each other even tighter to withstand it all.

Chapter 14 - Buck and Eddie can see the lights at the end of the tunnels regarding the results of Buck’s Cancer Screening along with everything else they’re dealing with. But are the lights they see exits to the tunnels or are they headlights on different runaway trains that are speeding towards them in an effort to interrupt their forever?

Chapter 15 - Buck and Eddie have known they were exactly who the other one wanted in a partner since they met six years ago when they agreed to have each other’s backs. They’re in a romantic relationship, they’re both preparing to ask the other one to spend forever with them and by the end of the seventh week into their relationship, together they will plan their most important and greatest adventure for their future.

Chapter 16 - As Buck and Eddie begin to prepare for their marriage ceremony that will take place in Rome, Italy in December 2023, they start planning their first international adventure as a romantic couple. Even though Chris is still the only person they’ve told about their relationship, several people who know them have already witnessed the love they share and as the days continue, others will witness it too.

Chapter 17 - As Buck and Eddie get closer to departing Los Angeles for their international adventure, a moment in time will remind them; life is fragile, tomorrow isn’t promised and every second of everyday should be cherished because everything can change in an instant. The result of that realization will cause them to hold onto each other even more.

Chapter 18 - As Buck, Eddie and Chris prepare for family gatherings before and during the Thanksgiving holiday, the “Santa Ana Winds” start to blow and all sorts of expected and unexpected familial drama ensues.

Chapter 19 - As Buck and Eddie get closer to their wedding day, the universe begins to align everything so that some of their parent and children's relationships are strengthened while others come to an abrupt end.

Chapter 20 - With only 14 days remaining until Buck, Eddie and Chris depart Los Angeles, CA traveling to Rome, Italy, for their first family adventure, an early morning conversation about “tying up loose ends” helps Buck and Eddie realize there are still several things left unfinished on their ‘To Do’ lists. The question is will there be enough time to complete all of them?

Chapter 21 - Buck, Eddie and Chris are finalizing their ‘To Do’ Lists, double checking their itineraries and packing their suitcases in preparation for their trip to Europe so they can board their flight that departs Los Angeles, CA on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 3:25PM.

Chapter 22 - While Buck, Eddie and Chris spend the first 8 days of their European family adventure in Italy, their primary reason for going will be fulfilled as well as several others they hadn’t considered or anticipated.

Chapter 23 - As the Diaz Family continues their Italian family adventure, they’ll say, “Ciao” or hello and goodbye to a lot of things almost immediately after they become an official and legal family.

Chapter 24 - After Buck, Eddie and Chris arrive in London, England on December 24th; the Diazes immediately start preparing to spend their first family Christmas together. During their stay, each of them will hear a few choice words that will be the life raft to get them home to complete their searches to be seen and to be found.

Chapter 25 - After spending more than two weeks in Europe, Eddie, Buck and Chris are back in Los Angeles and they’re getting ready to attend Maddie and Chimney’s New Year’s Eve party. During the event, they have plans to make two surprise announcements but the question is, who’s really going to be surprised, the Diaz family or their found family at the 118?

Chapter 26 - Buck and Eddie are once again faced with their greatest fear of losing each other but this time it could be permanent and if it is, then they won’t be able to spend the rest of their lives together.

Chapter 27 - After Buck resumes therapy, he’ll continue to face the fact that he “DIED” in March 2023 and during those sessions, he’ll learn about the 7 stages of grief. As he continues his healing journey, Eddie will be right by his side just like he promised and the Diaz family will start to deal with their three minutes and seventeen seconds loss as a family.

Chapter 28 - Two years ago, Eddie was asked, “What are you afraid of?”; twice, once by Frank and once by Buck but he only answered one of them without deflecting. Since that time, he’s been to therapy and him and Buck got married but the question resurfaces when Frank asks Buck the same question and Buck asks it of Eddie for the second time. However, when Buck asks, his reasoning will be about something else entirely.

Chapter 29 - After Buck and Eddie have an emotionally intimate conversation regarding their dreams, they make several decisions that will affect their future. When everything falls into place, they’ll realize one of those decisions will result in them no longer being work partners.

Chapter 30 - In 2018, Buck and Eddie met at the 118 and after some initial apprehensions on Buck’s part, they became work partners and they agreed to have each other’s backs. It’s been more than 6 ½ years, a lot’s happened, they got married in December 2023 and they have the family they both chose. With Eddie leaving the 118 in 3 months and Buck getting closer to moving past his grief, what will him losing his work partner mean for him?

Chapter 31 - Will be posted soon.

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Read chapters 1-30; they're available on AO3.

Continue reading on AO3

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

Finally we’ve got the new beginnings! Just met and just married! So much potential ahead of them!

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️ (they be honeymooning! Bring on that newlywed bliss! I mean they’re basically always like that for each other but now they’ve got an excuse and by god are they gonna use it!)

📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 (buck so would be a librarian in another live. Him being all nerdy and helpful and amazing with kids - especially christopher - watch out eddie! You’re gonna fall in love before you know it!)

I’m obsessed with your work and eternally grateful that you share it - but you already knew this :p hope you have fun writing these!

- PCA <3

Oh love this theme!!!!! You are so kind, PCA. I always look forward to your asks.

63 for ⚡️ (Yesssss more honeymoon phase!)

---

Eddie finishes saying goodbye to Adriana and Ravi, says a final goodbye to Christopher, and then puts Buck out of his misery at last by joining him in the truck. 

“We are four minutes behind schedule,” Buck chides as Eddie buckles his seatbelt. 

“Tragic,” Eddie smirks. 

“It will be when we don’t stop for coffee,” Buck warns.

Starting off their honeymoon with a very serious threat. Interesting tactic. Height of romance, really.

“Buck,” Eddie complains. “It’s only an hour and twenty minutes of driving. Surely we can spare a coffee run.”

Buck smirks. “Fine. But I’ll find a way to get my four minutes back at some point.”

Oh, Eddie is sure. He knows who he married.

“Just don’t take it out on the coffee.”

🗲🗲🗲

The rental in San Clemente is literally perfect. 

They’d discussed going further away. Mexico, maybe. But between the wedding, the house, and planning for another kid, they decided not to spend more than necessary. Plus, they already live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. They didn’t need to go very far. 

The moment they walk into the little condo, Buck knows they made the right choice. It’s a tidy one bedroom with a full kitchen, a king sized bed, a big shower, a private ocean-view balcony, and a walk down to the beach. 

“This is incredible,” Eddie grins, walking out onto the balcony. 

“We are going to enjoy this balcony,” Buck agrees. 

Eddie shoots him a look. “Buck…”

“Honeymoon rules apply here, Eddie,” Buck tells him.

“Honeymoon rules?” Eddie asks skeptically. “What are those?”

“Making them up as I go along,” Buck informs him.

Eddie rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. 

Yeah. They’re definitely going to enjoy the balcony. 

☆☆☆

Neither of them has had a honeymoon before. Neither of them is particularly accustomed to vacations, either. Though, perhaps Buck has some of the old Peruvian resort lifestyle living in him somewhere. Needless to say, it takes them both a minute to figure out what to do with literally nothing they need to do. Buck unpacks the groceries. Eddie searches the cupboards for glassware and pours them wine in nice, big blue-tinted glasses. They manage to relax on the balcony for, like, an hour, before they both get a bit twitchy.

“We aren’t sit and stare at the sea people, are we?” Eddie asks.  

“No, I don’t think we are.” Buck agrees. 

“What do honeymoon rules say about swimming while slightly intoxicated?” Eddie posits. 

A little ill-advised. But it’s not like they’re shit faced. And, well, Eddie doesn’t have a lot of ill-advised fun stories. 

“Oh, let me review with the board,” Buck teases. “Hmm. Apparently it’s fine if we conveniently forget we’re first responders.”

“And parents?” Eddie suggests.

“Oh, yeah. Good call.”

“Then maybe we can have some fun?” Eddie wiggles his eyebrows.

“I like the sound of that.”

---

51 for 📖 (YEAH EDDIE WILL):

---

No one is home. 

As he drives away, he just hopes the gesture will be appreciated and not seen as totally creepy. 

viii. 

It’s a long time before Buck hears back about the gift. Which is good in that, he doesn’t get in trouble for abusing the library cardholder database. He spends two weeks nervous he’s going to hear about that every shift.

When he does hear back about it, it’s the fall. School starts up again, and Christopher is enrolled in the aftercare programs. Buck is relieved when he sees his name on the lists.  Like it’s a sign that perhaps things are okay.

He sees Christopher again before he sees Eddie. Right away during the first week of school. 

“Chris!” Buck exclaims happily when he sees him come through the library doors. “How are you, pal? It’s been a while.”

“I’m good,” Christopher answers happily. Then, he walks over, and gives Buck a quick hug. “Thank you for my books, Buck. They made me smile.”

Buck ends the hug quickly. It’s kind of a discouraged behavior. Though a gray area when the kid initiates. But he’s touched. Happy the gift had an impact, and that Chris remembers. Even after a few months. 

“You’re welcome,” Buck replies. “I’m really glad to see you back, kiddo.”

Chris smiles. “Thanks, Buck.”

It’s a few more days until he sees Eddie. When he does, he’s sort of concerned. It’s not exactly the Eddie he remembers. His hair is shorn. His eyes are tired. There’s a strange pattern of bruises on his forearms. He looks rough. If they were actually friends, Buck would ask him about it. But all he can do is quietly observe.

“It’s good to see you again,” Buck smiles as Eddie approaches the front desk before picking Chris up. “We missed Chris around here.”

Eddie nods. “I, uh… I wanted to thank you. Your gift was really appreciated. Sorry I didn’t say anything sooner.”

“Hey, that’s not why I sent it. Just wanted you both to know… Well, that I’m really sorry.”

“Thank you,” Eddie says. “That’s kind.”

There’s a hollowness in his voice. Like he’s accepted a lot of condolences lately. 

[issdisgrace]

SUPRISE VISIT​

WARNINGS: None, unless your counting swearing​

Walking down the street, I pass a group of men bickering back and forth. I smile to myself as I come to a stop in front of the door of the restaurant that read The Beef. This was the restaurant Carmy had recently inherited from his brother after his death. It wasn’t bad a little old looking, but nice none the less. Opening the door of The Beef the bell above the door rings out alerting the workers. A man in his 30s or 40s coming out of the kitchen. 

“What can I get you?” I notice the way he ever so slightly sizes me up thinking of the chance he would have if I caused problems.

“I’m here to see Carmen.” He nods before yelling out.

“Ahh, Carmy there’s a guy in a suit out here asking for you. I think you’re in trouble.” I laugh silently to myself. He’s far form in trouble.

“Give me a minute. I’ll be right there.”

“You heard the man give him a minute. So, can I get you something?”

I look from him to the menu that sits above him, scanning the menu. Nothing really standing out to me.

“What do you recommend?”

“I personally love the Philly Cheesesteak. We make the bread here in the house and we get the streak fresh each day.”

“Sounds good. I’ll take that and water.”

“Alright, that will be 10 bucks.” I take out my wallet and take out a 20 and hand it to him. 

“Keep the change.”

“Thanks, I’ll get your order started right up.”

Just as he says that, the door leading to the kitchen swings open revealing Carmen. He walks out and our eyes meet.

“Y/n? What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be in New York for a couple more days.” Carmen questions as he walks towards me. The other man disappearing to where Carmen came from.

“Managed to wrap up things quicker than expected. So I thought I’d fly here to surprise you and to get something to eat. First class plane food can’t beat anything made in a kitchen that your chief of.” Carmen nods, walking around the counter before engulfing me into a hug. Hugging him back, I kissed the top of his head.

“I missed you.” He says into my shoulder.

“I missed you too, my love. Also, I have surprise for you.”

“What is it?” He says, pulling back from the hug. I reach into my front left pocket and pull out a set of keys. I hold them out for him.

“What are these?”

“These my love are the keys to our home right here in Chicago.”

“What? How?”

“An old friend of mine hooked me up. It’s a 4 bedroom, 4 and a half bath, tall ceilings, big windows, in a nice spot.”

“But what about your job?”

“I transferred to the firm here in Chicago and I’ll be making a little more than I was.”

“That’s great Y/n.”

“Yes, it is, and it also means I’ll have a little more time to spend with you. I was thinking maybe we could go on a little vacation.”

“I’m sorry I can’t. The guys need me here.”

“I don’t think the place will burn down without you here. You need some time to relax and ….”

“Got your Philly Cheesesteak, fresh off the grill. Here you go.” The man says, sliding the Philly cheese steak across the counter.

“Thank you.” I say. He nods before turning around to get my water out of the fridge. He places it on the counter in front of us.

“So you two a thing.” He asks, gesturing between me and Carmen.

“Richie met my fiancée Y/n. Y/n meet Richie. He’s our resident smart ass.”

“Nice to meet you, Y/n. Didn’t know Carmy had it in him to be with someone long enough to get engaged. You paying him or something?”

“Nice to meet you too Richie and no I’m not paying Carmen.”

“Hmm, could have fooled me. What you do for work?”

“I’m a lawyer.”

“What type of lawyer are you? I could use one. I got another custody hearing in a couple of weeks.”

“Richie, you are not going to use my fiancée as a way to get out of paying for child support.”

“Hey, I’m trying to get weekend visitations. I don’t care about the stupid money.”

“I could probably help you out with that. I’d just need prior custody and child support agreements.”

“Sweet, thank you.”

“Alright, alright Richie fuck off back to the kitchen.” 

“Alright, no need to be grouchy, Carmy. I’m not gonna steal your man. I don’t like men like that.” With that Richie went to the back, out of sight. Alone again, I look down at Carmen.

“There was no need to be so rude, Carmen.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just Richie somehow manages to get people to help him, then he messes it up and ends in worse trouble.”

“It’s ok. I’m happy to help and plus, if he’s going to be someone I’ll see around a lot I might as well get to know him.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“I know I am, love.” I say looking down on the watch and notice it was 1.

“I’m sorry to cut things short, my love. But the movers should be there at the house soon, and I’ll need to let them in. What time will you get done here tonight?”

“7 maybe 8.”

“Alright, I’ll be back then my love. I love you so much.” I say, giving him a quick kiss before grabbing my Philly and my water.

“I love you too Y/n.” I give him another kiss before quickly leaving The Beef. I smile to myself. I feel good about this. This feels like a new chapter for me and Carmen. I can’t wait to see where this goes.

[crows-murder]

20 questions for writers

thanks for the tag @they-reap-what-we-sow!! <33 💜💜

1. how many works do you have on AO3?

92! my goal for the end of the year is to get to 100!

2. what's your total AO3 word count?

545,947 which is an insane number ajskdsl

3. what fandoms do you write for?

i've written for a lot of fandoms, but my current active ones are MacGyver (2016), ROTTMNT, and the batfam

4. what are your top 5 fics by kudos?

buried hope - tim spends another birthday alone and makes bad decisions, lots of angst and some jason being (reluctantly) protective, my favorite thing. krow made me a cover for this fic and i absolutely ADORE IT.

Familial Bonds - crack-ish fic where the fam finds out tim has been minus a spleen for months and didn't tell anyone. i have an angstier version of this fic lmfao.

Late Night Encounters - a classic! it is so very dear to me. jason meets tim late one night after patrol and doesn't realize he's looking at tim drake, the robin he's sort of trying to murk, and ends up really caring for this tiny little kid.

My House of Stone, Your Ivy Grows - jason rescues tim as a civilian and his attempt at getting revenge is thwarted by big brother protective instincts. a CLASSIC TROPE.

Fever Dream - tim has a nightmare the night jason as red hood shows up at titan tower and thinks he's straight up hallucinating jason lmao.

5. do you respond to comments?

i try my best but i am a very anxious person and i tend to bluescreen anytime i receive praise and all i think i could manage to say in reply is just keyboard smash. sometimes if i'm asked a question or if it's a close friend, i'll reply.

usually it takes me a long time to do so, but i'm trying to be better at replying to comments 💪

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

oh i've got a few hurt/no comfort fics but i think i'd have to say my one and only MCD fic. it's part of my urban fantasy series that is very dear to me <3 i DID cry writing it, yes.

7. what's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

i have a handful of fluff fics with no or minimal angst, but i think my favorite one is this extremely silly one i wrote for my urban fantasy AU, Summer Memories, with dick and jason

8. do you get hate on fics?

rarely, which i'm so thankful for. i don't even bother wasting my time with those, i just immediately delete them.

9. do you write smut? If so, what kind?

i don't lol.

10. do you write crossovers?

not really. i have exactly one (1) crossover fic and it's actually the very first fic i posted on ao3!

11. have you ever had a fic stolen?

as far as i'm aware, nope.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

no, not yet!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

yes! there's a round robin fic i wrote with my friends in our batfam server!! it was genuinely so much fun i'd absolutely love to do another round robin fic.

i also have a 911 series with @dottie-wan-kenobi and @they-reap-what-we-sow that originated as a discord thread where we gave buck a daughter pre him joining the 118 (that i have yet to post something for. one day, i promise). it's one of my favorite AUs we came up with, and boy did we come up with a lot of those lmao.

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

honestly? probably several, but i'm currently rewatching narnia with my sisters and susan pevensie and prince caspian had SUCH an impact on 7 year old me.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

oh boy. i don't talk about this fic for several reasons (one of them being that it was written when i was very new to the batfam fandom and the way i wrote most characters was influenced by fanon, which i've definitely grown past now) but Born to Run is a fic i'm... unfortunately not sure i'll ever finish. maybe one day i'll rewrite it because i still really like the concept, but i'm focused on other projects and it's not actually very high up on my list of WIPs.

(i think you can tell i was really new to the fandom with that fic, and to fic writing in general (prior to this fic i'd only written like, 3 others?) my writing has improved a LOT since then and i cringe just thinking about my old writing)

16. What are your writing strengths?

oh boy lmao. i suck at answering questions like that because i tend to fixate much more on my weaknesses lol.

but i think i'm good at describing settings and feelings. i've been told in comments before that i'm very good at immersing my readers in the story i'm telling, which is the compliment EVER actually.

i also like to think i write good, human dialogue because i act it out a LOT with myself and probably look insane to anyone looking at me asjdskdfld

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

unless i can have a native speaker to check the grammar of the sentence for me, i don't usually write dialogue in another language. i don't trust google translate. anyway i do prefer writing the dialogue in english and in the dialogue tags add "she said in [x language]"

19. First fandom you wrote for?

oh boy. fucking voltron back in 2018.

20. Favourite fic you've written?

oh. i'm very critical of my own writing but i DO have several favorite fics!! it's hard to pick just one but. shamelessly putting the steph-centric fic i posted back in february bc i love it very much <3

no pressure tags @witchofthemoss @goldenraeofsun @cuephrase @a-canceled-stamp @silverandsunflowers @fleur-de-violette and anyone else who wants to do this! <3

[flokali]

im so happy you agree because luke IS a puppy with a big heart !! i could talk about him all day because he's just so ?? my second favorite is artem. i love the little detail of being able to pull his tie down lolol

i haven't played in forever so im hoping the new cards are looking sick as hell! be careful not to spend too much ok?

- (luke lover)

OMG, Luke Lover !! I’ve limited myself, huhuhu;; Had a spiritual awakening when I saw the expression on my sibling’s face when I told them about the sixty bucks… I never thought a 15 year old’s gaze of disappointment could be so cold (TT)

Yes, Luke is so… puppy-coded, baby boy waited 8 years and never forgot you and is willing to sacrifice his own happiness and well-being for you, he makes me sick (positive). I love, love Luke because his love for MC is so pure and he’s just such an interesting character! Like, the little glimpses we see into his past, those 8 years training away from you, when he goes “Raven” and loses the spark in his eye, especially when it’s because he does it protect you (TT);; The scene in the first event, “Lost Gold”, where he breaks the guy’s finger? And is like… “talk or else you lose the other nine”, that’s one of the first times we see “Raven”, and it’s like, wow… do that again. And seeing him progress… especially his latest Sweet Chapter story, my boy is going through IT on the Main Story (all of them are tbh) but I’m delusional so the MS doesn’t exist for me and Luke is healthy, happy, blessed, rich, famous, loved, and totally 100% fine mentally and physically (^_^)

And Artem (TT), Mr. Wing give me one chance I’ll blow your mind and coc— he’s just so!! Malewife-house-husband-breadwinner-hopeless-romantic-coded, I feel like… even if you’re not an Artem stan, you can appreciate him! And! And! And! His tie… please, whenever I go bother him it’s the first thing I do, his face when you pull it down, the little blush before he fixes it, the way he adjusts it… he’s just so !!! There’s just something about how he’s the oldest LI but he’s also the shyest, the one who pins and pins to the point those around him are begging him to do something already! Celestine really is his number one hype-woman;; she’s probably going to be the one to celebrate the wedding the most when you get married (TT) And the little things he does to be with you? The watching romance movies, reading books, noting down things he thinks you may like, the going out of his way to be with you/near you, the way his demeanor changes when you’re around… All of his cards and stories are so !!!

Ughhh, I may love Vyn to hell and back (mostly to hell) but if I were MC, I have to say, Artem or Luke would probably be my choices as lovers. Don’t get me wrong, Marius and Vyn are probably one of my favorite characters in media, period, but Artem and Luke are peak boyfriend - fuck, even just friend - material. I don’t think there’s ever been a franchise where I’ve rooted so deeply for a character to end up with the MC/Player as ToT with Luke or Artem (+_+)^^

[shamelessrabbithole]

About the last post about Noel's career and financial status:

You always summarize things perfectly or very understandable, I like that a lot about you. Now my clumsy thoughts put together lol: We should also not forget, that successfull actors get paid in a short time much more than most of us "normies" in 5 or 10 years. An average working family can live in a house too, plus have kids+pets. So isn't it pretty standard to have a house in America? Maybe he bought it, when he was at his peak with shameless and now he only has to pay for his monthly fixed costs like gas, electricity, insurance plus some grocieres. I don't think, that the house was exorbitant expensive. And as i said in a comment before, he doesn't live in a exclusive celebritie area, it's a normal neighbourhood. And as i said in a comment before, he doesn't live in a exclusive celebritie area, it's a normal neighbourhood, at least this is what i know from other sources.

He and Layla doesn't look like people who spend hundreds of dollars on new clothes monthly and I doubt, that they go out a lot at fancy restaurants. Maybe Layla wouldn't mind a more fancy lifestyle, if the opportunity was given, but I think Noel is a very simple man and he is just happy with his coffee and a good book or maybe some good inexpensive Mexican food. I understand that you are worried about him, because he is taking an obviously long break and whatever Layla does (sorry, I'm still not her bestie), but I don't worry too much about them anymore. Hell, if I would earn 204,000 per year, I would take a long break too. I don't even have half of this per year and i live a pretty good life too! We really shouldn't worry or pity actors too much for financial reasons lol, they are fine, they earn much more than most of us. Is he waisting talent and precious years of his youth, because he is such a good actor and we all want to see him work again? Yes. Do we want him to be more active on social media, even if he just posts nonsense or doing handstands or reading a book in his stupid backyard? Yes. Am i getting too emotional again, because he obviously doesn't care what we, his fans, want or think? Yes 😂 That's all for now 🤣

Thank you for the compliment. 😊 He does live in a relatively modest house that he purchased years ago, and I also don't recall him spending big bucks on renovations. Also, even though this quote is very old, he talks about how he's been driving the same car since 2002. https://noelfisherfans.com/fun-stuff-about-noel/

Not every actor in LA is earning money hand over fist. And many do have to work multiple jobs in order to stay afloat while they keep auditioning. But Noel has 70 IMDB listings to his name. Some were probably low-paying, some much higher, but Shameless in particular earned several of the actors up to $250k-$350k per episode (Emmy and Bill). This wasn't a low-budget indie show and it lasted 11 seasons, which is the longest-running show in Showtime's history. Somehow I doubt Noel was shortchanged salary-wise, especially at the end when the show needed him and Cameron to keep it from being canceled after Emmy's departure.

I don't think Noel is wasting his talent or his youth. I just feel it's not as easy to book roles as people seem to think. I was listening to one of Cam's friends, Madisen Beaty, do a TikTok live a few months ago in which she said that even before the actor and writer's strikes, a lot of Hollywood TV and film production was on pause because everyone knew the strikes were coming. So there's been a longer lull than even most people realize.

I also wish he'd post literally anything just to give us something to cling to. It sucks that he doesn't. He's turning 40 soon. Hopefully, it'll be a big enough reason for him to get out of hibernation and make some noise about it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[trail-mx]

Prompt is courtesy of @writing-prompt-s:

"You are a werewolf and everyone in the village knows. When its nearing the full moon they all help you baricade yourself in your home since you are the only wheat farmer in town. Everything was fine until some self righteous lord takes over and demands not only your land but your home as well."

. . . . . . .

"Allen killed his first deer yesterday - he wants you to have it."

I look up from my tea, surprised. "I hadn't realized he was old enough to go hunting yet. How big are we talking?"

"Oh, nothing much. It's just a full-grown buck, weighing shy of 270 pounds with an 8-point rack."

"270!" I sputter, tea almost coming out of my nose. The bastard timed that bit of information too well. "Paulie, I can't accept that. Winter is coming. His family will - "

"His family has already agreed to give it to you." Paulie - or 'Little Paul' as he's called by the folks in the village - interrupts what's gearing up to be a fully reasoned argument as to why I cannot accept such a fine offering. "Mary considers it a good omen that he got it right before the moon."

I look down towards my tea again. I'm not one to believe in omens, but even I find the timing of a 12 year old killing a full-grown buck on his first hunting trip now of all times to be suspicious. Allen's family has been very kind to me since I came out about my 'Moonly Issues', and I would be a fool to turn away such a thoughtful gift. Mary would probably tan my hide and put it in the entryway of their home as a warning to others about accepting the kindness of your neighbors.

However, I've never been one to give in easily. "Tell them I'll pay them the full value after the moon."

Paulie's blue eyes dance with restrained laughter. "You're welcome to tell them that yourself. I'd rather avoid the lecture."

He takes a long sip of his warmed cider, his preferred drink during autumn. This year, the season seems to be rushing towards winter faster than anyone wants. Being this close to the Full Moon makes me more susceptible to the cold, so I've wrapped my hands around my own tea and desperately wish to bury myself in about four thick blankets.

"Cold?" Paulie asks, a look of understanding crosses his face as I reluctantly nod. "This weather is miserable. I'll get with the twins to make sure you have extra blankets when you wake up tomorrow."

I sigh. The twins will probably make sure I have every blanket in town if they have their way. "Please try to temper their enthusiasm. You know how they get."

"I know. Cara and I will supply the blankets. That should ensure you only have to deal with a small mound of covers rather than an avalanche."

I laugh. "Thanks, Paulie. What would I do without you?"

"Mmm... you'd survive. We're just happy to look after you. Mark is just glad you're making use of the old property. He's willing to sell it to you for a fair price."

I shake my head. "I have no need for two properties. My little homestead is just fine. It's just a little..."

Paulie scratches his scruffy beard while he hums in understanding. "You know how Tall John installed those new iron-bound wooden doors to both your home and this house? All the reading he and Jacob have done says that should be enough to keep you locked in during the change, but I respect your desire to keep a healthy distance from the town."

"It's not that I don't appreciate their research," I say while looking around the sparsly furnished room. I don't need much this time of the month and had been forced to spend more time than I thought I would arguing with Mark that, no, I didn't need a better bed. I'd probably just destroy it. "It's just that I don't want to risk anyone. You've all been very kind."

"Of course we are!" He grins. "If it wasn't for you, Suzi might not have made it through last winter. Plus, the grain you stored away kept the whole village fed when the meat ran out. We're just returning the favor."

I look down to hide my blush. I had only been doing what was right. There was no reason to hoard all that extra grain when it would feed the village. As for Suzi - Paulie's youngest - she had been ill off and on all winter, and it seemed that fresh meat helped. It hadn't been that much of a hardship to get as far from civilization as possible during the Full and hunt.

Taking care of the Pack is instinct for the Wolf, after all.

"It was nothing, Paulie." I say. "I was happy to help."

"And we're happy to look after you." Paulie replies. "Now, do you need anything before I go and tell Allen the good news?"

I think about it a moment. The town always makes sure that there is plenty of tea to drink and books for me to read while I wait for moonrise. I prefer to lock myself away the whole day of the Full Moon - not because I'm dangerous the whole day, but because I'm always so blasted cold even during the height of summer and it makes my joints ache something fierce.

Others with my affliction say it's different for everyone - some are more sensitive to the chilled pull of the moon than others. Many say it's a sign of strength, with the more spiritual saying that the moon blesses her chosen to sense her power even during the day so that they can pull on it if the need arises.

I just find it to be entirely uncomfortable. So, I hide away in the cabin, downing cups of near scalding tea while wrapped in the warmest sweater I own in an attempt to stave off the chill.

"Another blanket if you don't mind. Oh, and if you can ask Big Paul to place something heavy in front of the door after you're done bringing things over, that would be great."

Paulie doesn't roll his eyes, but I can tell he's considering it as he stands. I have always found it ironic that the town calls Paulie 'Little Paul' despite being 6 feet tall and 250-odd pounds. Then again, 'Big Paul' is 5 inches taller and at least 50 pounds heavier.

"Don't I always? I already planned on speaking with Paul anyway. I'll need his help to bring the buck over. Sucker is heavy."

"You do know they invented this new device. I've heard it's called a wagon. Means you don't have to drag the beast all the way here." I tease.

"I'm familiar." He drawls, standing in the doorway. "However, would you like to bring that beast in here yourself?"

"No, thank you!" I rush to say. No way would I be able to bring that inside. Plus, that would mean going outside where it is cold.

"Then hush. I'll be back in a while."

. . . . . . . .

"Oh dear. Why do you always insist on sleeping on the floor? I have it on good authority that even dogs enjoy sleeping on the bed."

I roll over and open my eyes, squinting them in the light. I feel vaguely hungover and my body aches some. The change last night must not have been as awful as it could have been. I've had better ones, but on average, this one wasn't terrible. Lonely, but not painful.

"Bed is awkward when you're 7 feet of gangly Wolf limbs." I reply to the voice. "Floor is easier."

"Hmph. Sure it is! Maybe we'll just have to make you a bigger bed then!"

"Ugh, no." I roll over to face the voice, almost rolling into a pool of blood. I almost panic for a second - did someone get in? - when I remember the deer. That would explain the mess and why I only feel like I drank too much last night rather than like I'm recovering from a terrible illness.

"No? Don't tell me this is some sort of 'Punishment' thing! Just because some idiots think that your illness is some sort of 'Divine Retribution' for whatever sin your ancestors committed doesn't mean you don't deserve to be comfortable." Eva - one half of the brown eyed, brown haired Harrison twins - is looking down at me with a look of mild disappointment.

"No. It's practical." I say, sitting up. At some point, one of them must have put 3 blankets over me. I'm thankful and wrap myself in one. Not that there is any shame in my naked form, and the twins would scold me if I even considered it, but it takes a couple hours for the moon's chill to recede. "I'll just tear at a mattress with my claws trying to get comfortable."

"Hmm..." she squints at me. She doesn't buy it, but isn't going to argue with the only Werewolf she knows over the matter. Especially when there are more important issues. "Are you hungry?"

"I could eat."

"Hah! You sure? You certainly gorged yourself last night!" Eva gestures to the bloodied mass on the floor next to me.

I shrug self-consciously. The Wolf is always such a messy eater. "Transformation takes a lot out of you."

"Well, Lacey will get something fried up for you. Won't you, Lace?" Eva looks over to the small kitchenette in the corner where her twin is standing by the stove, eyebrow arched in challenge.

Lacey doesn't rise to the bait, which is odd. If there is anything that the twins enjoy more than hovering over me after the full moon, it's arguing with each other. They will argue over anything and everything. They find it to be good fun - everyone else just finds it bewildering.

Eva is also disconcerted by the lack. "Lacey! Won't you start breakfast for our dear doggy pal here? I'd do it, but I'm cleaning up deer viscera."

"What? Oh, sure! What sounds good, dear?" Lacey seems to be trying to shake off whatever is distracting her with limited success, considering she - with her well-known sensitive disposition - doesn't even acknowledge the mention of deer guts on the floor.

"Now I know something is wrong. What's gotten into you?" Eva almost sounds concerned rather than irritated, but only just.

"Oh, it's that notice on the community board. The one about the Lord."

"What notice?" I ask, gathering my blanket around me while standing up and making my way to the little table. The aches are easing - I'll have to come up with something nice to give to Allen if he won't accept payment for the buck.

"The one they put up today about how our village is being given to some Lord or another." Eva says, tone unimpressed and hands covered in gore. "All that means is our taxes fill a different coffer is all."

"That's not what Marcie is saying! She's heard of this Lord Ransom. Apparently, he was given ownership over another village and he either bought out the villagers' homes or harrassed them into leaving."

"Lace, I know you like the girl, but where would Marcie have heard anything about a Lord? She barely leaves her house!" Eva exclaims in disbelief, hands flying up.

I flinch back as some blood lands on my face. I'm sure my face is already a bloody mess, but I don't desire to make it any worse.

"Watch it, you fool! You're getting blood everywhere!" Lacey scowls, coming over with a wet towel to wipe my face. "And if you must know - she heard it from her cousin. She does write to her extended family fairly often. Just because you never mastered the proper social graces doesn't mean the rest of us didn't."

Eva rolls her eyes but does keep the gestures to a minimum. "And this supposed 'cousin' of hers knows this Lord Ransom?"

"I'm given to understand that he knows him well enough, even if they're not exactly bosom buddies."

"Hmm..." Eva hums, then uncharacteristically changes the subject while turning to face me. "Would you mind if I took some of this antler? My boy has gotten it in his head that he'd like to take up carving and has been asking for antlers. Don't know how long his interest will last, but I figure 'why not?'"

"Take the whole carcass, or what's left of it. I have no need of it. Just ask him to let me know if he makes something he's proud of and wants to sell. I'd like to get a chance to look at it first." There - that takes care of both dealing with the deer and gives me the opportunity to get my debt to Allen's family cleared if they won't accept my money.

"Delightful. I'll be sure to ask. Thank you."

I just nod and look over at Lacey for a moment while Eva begins to clean and wrap up the deer. She's looking distracted again while frying up the bacon.

I clear my throat. It's going to be a bit sore from the howling for a day or two. "You know, Eva is probably right about that Lord Ransom, but I've got some contacts myself within the Werewolf community. I'll send out some letters over the next couple of days. What did the notice say? Anything about a meeting?"

"Yes, there's to be a meeting with both the Tax Collector and the Lord in two weeks at the tavern. All adults are encouraged to attend." Lacey looks over her shoulder. "And thank you, dear. I appreciate you looking into it."

"Well, now that those issues are being looked into and your worries are settled," Eva wanders over after washing up outside. The carcass was wrapped up and placed in their wagon presumably. "Maybe you can focus on breakfast. The bacon is about to burn."

"Oh, bother!"

. . . . . . . . .

"This is highway robbery! We can't afford those taxes! We're barely making enough to cover the current rate as is!"

"I don't like it either, Mark, but what can we do?" Paulie yells over the angry din of the tavern. "The new Lord has the right to set the tax rate. We'll just have to adjust!"

"Adjust!" Mark yells, grey mustache quivering. "You can't drain blood from a stone! There's no adjusting to such!"

I wince at the volume, thankful that the moon is dark in the sky. Closer to the Full, I'd be practically whimpering under the table. I cannot say I disagree with the man, however. It is an unfair amount, especially for a town that is constantly walking far too close to famine each winter.

I look around the table. The whole tavern is full, but seated with me are those who help me the most often during the moon. There's Paulie, local busybody/my friend; Cara, Paulie's wife and the schoolteacher with intense green eyes; Mark, the village blacksmith and carpenter; Jacob, Mark's eldest son and the villages pharmacist; Mary and Charles, Allen's parents and owners of the only other farm in town outside of my own; and the twins Eva and Lacey who, when they're not caring for a tired Werewolf post moon, run the tavern and small inn.

"Maybe we can discuss it further with him. He said that he'd be in town the next couple of weeks." Mary says while brushing her blonde hair out of her face. "If we can get the figures together, maybe we can help him see. He's not familiar with the area - he admitted to that much. He might not realize that we simply can't afford what he's asking for. "

"No, I know the type." Charles massages his knuckles while he speaks. The chill of autumn is hard on his arthritis, or maybe he's imagining punching that swarmy Tax Collector on the nose. I certainly am. "He 'earned' his money on the backs of the people. He'll break us first before he'll compromise."

"Well, it doesn't hurt to try, right?" Eva points out, her expression sour, but not just because of the topic. The person to deliver the Lord Ransom's 'most generous and gracious tax plan' was the Tax Collector, otherwise known as her ex... something or other. No one has ever really said for certain, except to say that their falling out was more like a nasty explosion that rocked the town. "He just wants money - maybe he'll take installments instead of one lump sum at the end of the year."

"I'm not sure we could even afford that," Lacey looks over at me, eyebrows knitted in concern. "What did your contacts say?"

The table goes quiet, and everyone looks towards me. They have all been curious about my network of Werewolf contacts. I tried to explain that we were all just people who happened to have a pretty major, life-altering condition in common - one that is fairly demonized and greatly misunderstood by a good majority of the population. It makes sense to have a network, even if to only be sure we didn't settle in an area where people would kill us. It isn't anything different than keeping up with some extended family.

Considering how focused everyone at the table is on me, I don't believe it sunk in.

"He's rich, powerful, and well connected. The rumors Marcie's cousin heard are true - he has been buying up towns and villages. Most of my better connected friends are confused as to why - it makes more sense to keep the village intact and collect taxes. What they do know is that all the places he bought out were old mining towns. Some still are in operation, but most haven't been used in years."

"So he's after the mines, then." Jacob speaks up for the first time that night, swirling his drink in his glass. "At least we know that much."

"What mines?"

"There's nothing in those mines. They were stripped ages ago."

I look over to Paulie, who had spoken when I did. I raise an eyebrow.

"The silver mines. They lay just outside the village. Been blocked off for years once they were stripped of anything of value at the time. They closed when I was a kid." Paulie nods at me, then gives me a quelling look when I notice the play on words.

Not the whole story, then - something to discuss later.

"Regardless of his reasons, the tax issue must be addressed." Mark presses.

We all agree on that much.

. . . . . . . . .

"I kept my peace, but I want to know what you mean by 'at the time.'"

Paulie looks over to Jacob. "You're the one who brought it to my attention. You explain it."

Jacob never looks comfortable. Tonight, sitting at my table, he looks less so. He's accepting of my furry problem, but he's heard too many horror stories to ever be completely at ease in my home.

It's just the three of us. Paulie wouldn't say why, but I knew he wanted to keep this quiet, so I invited him for late night tea. The village is used to us meeting up that no one will think too much about Paulie inviting his pal Jacob along.

Jacob clears his throat. "You're not the only one who has been exchanging letters with others outside of town. I've got an uncle up north who is really into new science innovations, and he's been all excited about a new mineral that has been discovered that has some rather explosive properties if bonded with other elements. Apparently, kingdoms are clamoring for it to continue their wars and are willing to pay handsomely for it."

"Let me guess: this miracle mineral is found in silver mines."

"It appears so. The problem is that if you want this mineral for its explosive properties, it has to be processed a certain way almost immediately after being removed from the earth, or else it's just a pretty, if useless, rock."

"That's why he's scooping up the land around the mines. He needs the space." Paulie muses.

Jacob nods. "He would need both a place to store the mineral before and after the processing as well as space for treatment."

"Okay, now that we've answered that, here's the real question: Why?" I look at them both.

"Why what?"Jacob asks.

"Why the pretense? Why pretend he's interested in the village's taxes when what he really wants is the land itself?"

Paulie, as always, follows my thinking. "Because the King doesn't know. The King gave him the right to collect taxation, not to kick the townsfolk out of their homes and reopen the mines. What do you want to bet he isn't giving the King his fair percentage?"

"I'm not taking that bet." I reply with a grin.

"Nor I, but this is all merely speculation. We don't have proof of such things." Jacob cuts in. "What are we going to tell everyone else?"

I think about it. Jacob is right. We have no proof of wrongdoing, just buckets of speculation. "Regaredless of his reasons, there's only one clear path: We must not sell him our homes."

"With these taxation rates, many won't have a choice but to move," Paulie looks to be thinking it over. "But if those who are better off help out the others..."

"Then the bastard will get his money and won't have a choice but to leave us alone." Jacob says triumphantly. Then his expression turns sober. "That only leaves the rumors of his harassment campaign. He might not go away quietly."

"We'll handle when it comes up." I say, and if my smile is a little sharp, you can always blame the Wolf.

. . . . . . . .

"I hate that man! I hate him and his stupid cane! Jules didn't deserve that!"

I look over to Allen, but I can't bring myself to chastise him. I also hate the Lord Ransom. A week out from the Full and each night I get steadily colder and the Wolf inside begins to bay for blood. This would be manageable - I've been doing it for years - if it wasn't for that damned man.

The offers started last week when no one packed up immediately to avoid his high taxes. The gossip chain (the Marcie-Lacey-Eva-Mary-Cara-Paulie version anyway) spoke of the high amounts of money being offered. A couple of families had taken the deal, and no one could begrudge them that, but most of the town held firm.

This is our home, and we aren't going to be bought out.

This week, the harassment campaign began. Big men, saying they spoke on behalf of the 'Good Lord Ransom', went to random homes and offered larger sums of money. If those families refused the offer, then they were threatened. A few of them had rocks thrown in their windows.

Eva's home had gotten a visit, and she blistered the goons ears for the attempt. Who did they think they were threatening her? What would their mothers say?

They didn't take kindly to the scolding. In retaliation, that night, they threw a burning bottle of liquid through her son's window while he slept. He will survive, but the flames weren't kind.

The house, however, is lost.

"I know. I'm worried about Jules, too." I say. We're sitting on my porch while Mary and Charlie get Eva settled at her sister's place. Eva is furious and out for blood. The two of them are the only ones capable of restraining her - everyone else wants to help her or hide the body.

I can't say I blame them, either.

Maybe I'll let Eva get her pound of flesh and put what's left of him in the pig pen. Saves time on hiding the body, not that I think anyone would look that hard for it based on his reputation.

"I hate that man! Mom says he's greedy and is gonna get what's coming to him. Do you think so?" Allen looks up at me from his angry brooding. He's clutching his fists in his lap tight enough to see the whites of his knuckles.

I look down at him. "Men like that always get their due."

. . . . . . . . .

"Nice farm you have here."

I look up from my work. Harvesting the last of the wheat and preparing the grounds for the frosts to come must have been consuming my attention. Normally, 3 days out, I'm hyper aware of my surroundings. I should've heard him approach a hundred feet or so ago.

The Lord Ransom is not a handsome man despite the quality attire he wears. Prematurely balding with beady brown eyes hiding behind thick spectacles, I imagine there are few hearts that flutter at the mention of him if either his title or money aren't mentioned in the same sentence. He carries himself like he knows he deserves better than being in a place where his new leather shoes might get mud on them, but he is willing to suffer the indignities to suffer us.

Or maybe I'm too close to the Full and his very presence is irritating me, but I know how to play nice when the situation calls for it.

"Good afternoon, my Lord. It's not much, but it's home."

His resulting laugh is high and boisterous - and very false. "And what a fine home it is! I was actually hoping to talk to you about it."

Ah. I'd been wondering what was taking him so long. Everyone else in town had gotten offers and threats over the past couple of weeks. I had wondered if my 'Moon Problem' had been shared with him and he was avoiding me. Ideal, considering I can't stand the fool, but it would be so very annoying if he hired someone to 'take care' of me.

There's no reason to play dumb. "I hear you're buying up land."

"I am, but if I was only interested in that, I would've sent one of my associates to talk with you." Somehow, his smile is more false than his laugh.

"I've heard you've spoken to everyone in town yourself before outsourcing the... negotiations to your associates. Is there a reason you would not offer me the same courtesy?"

"Not at all!" He proclaims loudly. He certainly likes the sound of his own voice. "I'm just a busy man and grow weary of the slog of negotiating."

If this man is weary of anything, it's probably being denied what he wants. I know the type well enough.

"You are asking a lot of these people. Some of these homes have been in their family for generations. That kind of thing is priceless." I reply lightly, leaning on skills I haven't needed in years and slipping into that old, highborn accent.

He was not the only one taught by a Governess, after all.

He may be unattractive, but he's not a fool. He catches on quickly. "You are not from around these parts, are you?"

"No. I was raised somewhere more like those places you prefer to be - with their high vaulted ceilings, crystal goblets, and gentle manners. I wanted something different, and I found it here."

It's almost too easy to slip into that role of misplaced noble. Just a person of gentle birth who wanted to step away for a while - rough it with the common folk - but with the right offer, they would be willing to be swept back into that glittering world.

Not that I want to go back, of course, but this man only respects those of his own rank and, by rights, I'm that and more. A common person won't get through to him, but someone from his world? He might give them their due consideration.

The Lord Ransom assesses me. I know he's unmarried, and I know that there are circles closed to him because of that. I can see the calculations going on in his head and the plans that he discards based on this development.

"You own this farm outright? No debt to the town?"

"The property is mine, yes."

He laughs, incredulous. This laugh is genuine, at least. "I suppose that you work the land yourself then? No hired hands to help?"

I look at him blandly, as I had been raised to do. "I believe that would defeat the purpose."

"And what purpose would that be?" He leans in, expression curious. I imagine he couldn't ever imagine himself willingly working in the dirt for all the gold in the King's vault.

"To make something of my own. To watch it grow from seed, to plant, to grain, and into bread from my own effort. To toil and reap the rewards from what I've sewn."

"Yes," He muses, "I can see that."

A moment of silence. I can see him come to a conclusion.

"You'll do." He says almost too softly to hear, but I'm no longer distracted by grain and soil.

"I'm sorry, my Lord?"

"I originally came here to offer to buy your land. However, in the place of what I thought was a young widow, I find a Lady of gentle birth toiling in the dirt. A soul who understands the value of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice! I have been long put off by the vapid nature of the common High-born and therefore put off marriage. I had even accepted that I might never be married - that it wasn't my role in this life."

He steps forward, a fevered gleam in his eyes. I can almost see his grand scheme play out in them.

"Then, I meet you. Now, I see that I was looking for a proper union in all the wrong places! I needed a bride who was forged from hardship and unafraid of doing what needed to be done."

He bows deeply before me.

"Allow me to court you, my Lady."

I stare at him and blink. That's... interesting. I hope my expression is still coming across as bland curiosity and not sickened shock. "This is very sudden, my Lord. You don't know me or anything about - "

"That's because I don't need to! I already know you're the one I've been waiting for!" He moves forward and grabs my hands. I keep from pulling back in revulsion. "I don't care about your past or where you're from. I want you! I'd marry you right here... right now! However, you are rightfully cautious. I'm willing to wait."

"I... don't know what to say."

"How about I give you time to think about it. I know I have had my own worldview changed. Just say you're willing to consider it?"

I look at him, and then I see it. The way forward.

The solution.

I breathe in and resign myself to the inevitable. "Dinner."

"What?"

"In 3 days. Dinner. I have another property north of here. Quiet and secluded. If you're seen here again, there will be unwelcome rumors, things neither of us can afford. However, few know that I own that property. If you were to stop by in the evening..."

"No one would suspect. Beautiful and brilliant, my Lady." He puts him lips to the back of my hand and looks up, a knowing look in his eyes.

If only he knew.

. . . . . . . . .

"I thought you gave up all these jewels and dresses and things."

"I thought I did, too." I look in the mirror back at Cara's worried expression. She's pulling my hair back in the classic braided style down my back. Nothing as fancy as I would've worn to Court, but nicer than I've worn in ages. Thankfully, the gown fits well, its color bringing out the full intensity of my eyes.

Or maybe it's just that moonrise is mere hours away.

"I know you're cold, but I found this velvet shawl in my things. It'll keep you warmer." Cara says as she wraps the shawl around my shoulders with a small smile. The black velvet adds a certain dignity to the outfit.

I try to smile back, but it stalls out halfway. "I..."

She nods in sympathy and understanding. "No one wants this for you. We can come up with another way. We can - "

"No," I cut in, speaking around the lump in my throat. "I... I'll be okay. It's just..."

Cara doesn't say anything. She just leans in and gives me a hug as I cry and shiver into the warmth.

I said I would take care of the problem and I will.

The Wolf protects the Pack.

But like this?

I didn't want this. I was running from this, but here I am, despite everything.

After too short of a moment, I lean forward and dry my eyes. "You have to go. He'll be here soon."

Cara looks around the cabin. It's been made up nicer than I prefer, with fine silver utensils and linen on the table. The bed, which I'm spending most of my time trying not to look at, has been fitted with the nice silk sheets I had packed up when I left home. It had been something to remind me of where I came from, and then I had hid it away because it reminded me of what I'd left behind.

"It looks like a proper Lady's home now. I'm sure he'll appreciate the effort." Cara looks at me and grins. The smile dims when she looks closer at my expression. "You don't have to do this."

"You should go, Cara." I say, my smile - as strained as it is - hopefully taking the sting out of the words. "Tell Paulie I said not to forget his promise."

Her smile is small, and her eyes are sad. "I will, but he won't. He has never once forgotten his promises to you."

. . . . . . . . .

"Simply ravishing, my dear."

"Do come in, my Lord Ransom. Welcome to my home." I curtsey before him exactly the way I was taught. Some things really are ingrained.

He takes my hand in his. I can hear his pulse beginning to quicken as he takes in the low neckline of my gown. "Van, please. I thought you were beautiful out in the field, but in here, you are radiant. These common folk don't know what beauty has been gracing them."

"Thank you, my L - Van. You are too kind." I murmur, looking down demurely. I focus on breathing through my mouth. Breathe in, hold for 4, and breathe out.

"I must say, my Lady, despite how quaint this cabin is, you do manage to bring some class to it." He says as he looks around the room. "Do you stay here often?"

I look up to see he's practically staring at the bed. I don't need to meet his gaze to know that he's thinking about my low-cut gown and how he wants this night to end.

"Not often. I was gifted this cabin by an Aunt. I try to keep my birth a secret from the town."

"Yes." He looks at me and winks. "You like to rough it with the riff-raff."

I focus on my breathing. "They are good folk."

"I'm sure they are, but you have to admit they're rather dull."

"They have their charm." I say with a little smile. I can see the mocking laughter in his eyes. "Would you like to eat? Maybe tell me more about why you're buying up the town?"

Asking a Lord to talk about himself and his plans will usually save one from any discomfort when it comes to smalltalk. The Lord Ransom is no different.

"What do you know of mining, my dear?" He asks as he sits down at the table, putting a napkin in his lap.

I make my way to the wine bottle first before sitting. A Lady always offers to pour their guests' drink first. "Wine, my Lord? And not much, I'm afraid. I know that metal comes from the ground, and it is backbreaking work, but that's all."

"Yes, please. And please, do call me Van. It sounds lovely when you say it." He pauses while I pour, focused intently on me. His eyes meet mine, and I can see the desire in them. I finish pouring both our glasses and hold his gaze while I sit across from him, pulling my shawl tighter around me. I try to keep my breathing even.

"Well, you know the basics, then. However, what you may not be aware of is that certain metals tend to be grouped up underground with other minerals. It turns out a particular mineral that has high value in warfare forms near silver. Now, most silver mines around here were stripped of their fine metals years ago, but with the discovery of this material, these mines can be reopened and lost jobs restored!"

I take a sip of the fine wine. It's not what I want. I focus on my words. "That's fascinating, but I'm confused as to why you can't just open the mine without buying out the villages? They formed around the mines, right?"

"You know your history, my dear! Yes, the villages and towns sprung up around the mines as the miners and their families needed places to stay nearby, but silver doesn't need any special processing when it's mined, so the miner's homes could be closer. However, this mineral does need special treatment. I need the land around the mine as well for such things."

"Ah, I see. Do you plan on founding a new town then? Outside the blocked off area, I mean?"

"I do. I don't know how far the mines go, so I don't know where the bounds will be, but eventually, there will be. After all, the workers need a place to sleep!"

"Surely forcing others to leave their homes is rather crass, isn't it?" I focus on my plate, taking extra time to cut my chicken into smaller pieces. Ones small enough for a Lady.

"Yes, some might think that, but much is sacrificed for progress! What's one home, or even a dozen, in the face of that?"

"And money, of course."

"Of course, my Lady." He says with a wink. "No one said you couldn't make money from progress - you just can't stop it!"

The conversation dies for a moment. The only sounds that fill the cabin are the clank and scrape of silver on porcelain - the only sounds I allow myself to notice, anyway. I focus on the chicken - dry. Then the vegetables - I force them down. I take gulps of wine that are borderline unladylike - the taste is wrong and the alcohol does little to warm me.

"I was thinking we should discuss our future." The Lord breaks the silence, placing his utensils down. It appears he had no trouble eating.

"Our Courtship, you mean?"

He nods. "And beyond."

I let out a pained laugh that I hope he reads as simply incredulous. "Beyond? Awfully presumptuous of you, my Lord."

"Van, my dear, and is it?" He looks at me, raising an eyebrow and speaking slowly as if to a child. "You invited me into your home without a chaperone for dinner, skipping several steps of the process. A home you specifically invited me to because no one was around to question your honor. You have been playing coy, and I do enjoy that in a woman, but let's not lie to ourselves."

His gaze burns as he looks at me.

"You know how this night ends."

I look out the window to see the sky darkening, the first stars starting to peek through the twilight. There is a heavy thunk from the door that startles the Lord into looking away as his head swivels towards the source of the noise.

I shudder from the sudden chill I feel all the way down into my bones.

It's time. I take a deep breath in.

The Lord turns back towards me, his eyes widening in horror as I feel the Moon's pull. He smells of our dinner, sweat, and no small amount of fear.

Good.

I feel my bones break and shift, my body elongating, and nails turning into claws. The gown tears from my body as I stand, the shawl dropping from my shoulders. The pain is intense, but my eyes never leave his as he backs away and then tries to get through the door before sliding down it.

It's locked and blocked until morning - a promise Paulie always keeps.

I didn't want this. I ran from this. Here I am.

"Yes, Van," the words pull from me in a growl as I get on all fours and stalk towards him. "I imagine we both know how this night ends."

[martinhouse]

If you're thinking about replacing your windows, read this first

If I could go back in time, it'd probably not be for super socially solid reasons like avoiding the Great Depression or stopping Hitler. I'd probably go back in time to stop the inventor of vinyl.

Vinyl is the bane of any preservationist. I refer to Big Vinyl in my life more often than I should care to admit, like it's this single entity taking over the populous with its wastefulness and less-than aesthetic value.

Sometime after the big housing boom of the post WWII era, Big Vinyl hired the best marketing firm available to them, and every homeowner with a turn-of-the-century or older home was pressured into replacing their "drafty old windows" with these new-fangled energy efficient double-or-triple paned vinyl replacements. They were also swindled into covering up their lap or cedar siding with the same material but that's a discussion for another day. The vinyl window manufacturers convinced homeowners their current wood windows leaked cold air and led to higher energy bills, and of course these people were willing to invest in these glamorous new inventions in order to save a few bucks on the gas bill, who wouldn't?

But the thing is, the old craftsmen of yore were smart folks. They built homes to stand the test of time: centuries even. The concept of Planned Obsolescence would've been as foreign as the internet to them. They built these windows from materials that not only would last centuries, but also built them in a way they could be maintained by any homeowner with rudimentary tools and a weekend afternoon. Vinyl replacement windows are the beginning to a long lineage of trash. Once that vinyl replacement window you've installed in your home fails, and fail it will as plastic, when exposed to cold, heat, and sunlight, ultimately does fail, it cannot be maintained. The entire sash must be removed, taken to the landfill, and replaced again.

Wood sashes are fairly simply removed from their casings to be reglazed, repainted, and returned to their location. In the case of a double or single hung window, simply pop off the stop, remove the sashes, perform the maintenance, and return them. Casement windows are even simpler to remove -- simply pop out the hinge pins and remove the sash. I will recommend a couple of books on the subject at the bottom of this post.

I've looked at many homes with buyer clients who immediately think once they close on the house they need to replace old windows that have been painted shut, or are missing sash cords, or leak cold air. With a little bit of consideration and a little more effort, you can get these old windows working for you in very little time.

The question, of course, is always energy savings. The idea behind new replacement windows is that they're double or even triple paned, allowing a space for "neutral" air to rest between the panes of glass and thereby keeping your house cool or warm, season-dependent. If your old, character-filled single-pane windows are well glazed (no access point for air to move through the window) and fitted with a proper storm window, they are no less energy efficient than their newer counterparts. Spend some time on google just to see who is telling you the new windows are so much more energy efficient: the "studies" have been paid for by companies such as Andersen, Window World, Pella...in other words, window manufacturers who stand to make money off you! The average cost of a replacement window is $650, including the labor. Now consider this over an entire house: our home has 30+ windows. That's nearly $20,000 in windows. Our energy bill is typically $250/mo if you average out cooling and heating seasons (we have storm windows). So let's pretend that goes down to $200/mo (it wouldn't, I promise, but let's just play pretend). That's a savings of $600/year. It would take over 33 years to make up the cost of the replacement windows. Now, I ask...will the replacement windows last that long? It's unlikely. The service life of a vinyl window (and please, take this with a grain of salt, I scrolled for a long time before giving up and just taking the first hit on google which was a window manufacturer) is 20-40 years.

And for a little dose of anecdotal evidence: when my parents first bought their 1908 American Foursquare home in Illinois, the windows had been neglected and leaked cold air. They replaced all of the windows with double paned vinyl. This did reduce their energy bills (of course it would, the old windows leaked cold air, they needed to be maintained). However, when several of the windows were less than 5 years old, their spring action mechanisms failed and they were unable to stay in the open position under their own volition. We had a houseful of 1xs stationed on the windowsills of every room to prop them open. And what's one of the biggest complaints of old windows? They don't stay up. I bet 90% of the sash weights are still in the sash pockets of the windows that don't stay up, and all they need is a sash cord. Bullocks!

When you consider the climate crisis, do we really want to contribute to the amount of trash in the landfill by replacing our replacement window every few decades? Or should we spend a little bit of time maintaining our wood windows that have been built specifically for your home and have the potential to last generations? A gallon bucket of Sarco type M Glazing Putty is $85. That'll glaze a lot of windows.

I'll touch on the character defining aspects of wavy glass and wood windows in another post.

Please consider the following books if you're interested in maintaining your own wood windows:

[bluestar22x]

Colors

A Young!Joel Miller Short Fanfic

xxx

Summary: When you move in next door, you ask Joel and Tommy to paint your house. No outbreak AU. Sarah is in part of the story.

Pairing: Young!Joel x Legally Blind F!Reader (only other physical description is that she doesn't have cloudy eyes); Miller family dynamics

Rating: 18+

Warnings: Fluff, smut, no physical barriers aka condoms (not recommended), Joel taking things nice and slow ;)

Word Count: 5,300 (ish)

Author's Note: I'm not blind myself so I hope I did this justice. I do follow a blind youtuber channel so I've made an attempt to make this accurate considering there's varying degrees and types of blindness. I had to try since I couldn't get this fic idea out of my head.

xxx

November 2003

"Sarah?" Joel called out as he stepped into his house after a long day finishing another construction project with Tommy, kicking off his boots by the door.

"In here," he heard her call from the kitchen.

He climbed the few steps between that room and the entrance way, finding her seated at the dining table, focused on coloring in something on white poster paper with colored pencils.

"What'd you got there?" he quizzed, heading for the fridge and pulling out a bottle of Coke, twisting the cap off. He turned to face her as he took a sip.

"Mrs. Henson assigned us science projects last week," she answered, not looking up. "Mine's on water runoff, you know? How the rain erodes and shapes land and stuff?"

Joel grunted. "Ya. We learned that in school too."

Sarah smiled slightly at his grumpy reaction and continued on, "I got the research paper part of it done yesterday and tonight I want to finish the poster."

"When is it due?" he asked her, walking over to study the drawing she'd made. More than a little bit of pride bloomed in his chest when he noted how realistic the land and water looked on the paper. She was a real little artist.

"Thursday," she replied, "But I wanted to get it done early, since Ava wants to go to the mall tomorrow - if that's okay? We're gonna take the bus together."

"Sure." Joel had planned on taking the next day, a Saturday, off to spend time with her, but he wasn't going to stop her from going out with her new friend just cause he wanted to spend some time with her. Ava was a good kid like Sarah and he wanted to encourage his daughter's friendship with her. It was a good thing for her to be going out with kids her age. She was nearly fifteen, after all. As much as he hated that she was growing up so fast, he refused to hold her back. She was already wise beyond her years. "Do you need any money?"

She shook her head. "I still have that money from dog sitting Mercy."

"Alright."

The Adlers, their closest neighbors, had hired Sarah to watch Mercy for a weekend last month while they were away for a family member's wedding in Oklahoma. She'd earned fifty bucks and as sensible as she was, she had of course put the money away instead of spending it immediately.

Joel wanted to insist he give her some money for it too, she deserved it, but he knew she'd refuse. She was old enough to know that money was tight. They were in a good place, but any big emergencies could easily mess that up, and Joel was also trying save up money for college for her. That she didn't know about.

"Thanks," Sarah said gratefully, getting back to work.

"No need, kiddo," Joel told her, warm eyes watching her. The wall mounted phone in the kitchen began to ring and he frowned before striding over to pick it up. Who would be calling at this time? His brother better not have gotten into trouble again. He'd wring out his neck.

"Miller."

"This Joel?" inquired an unfamiliar feminine voice on the other end of the line - yours.

"Yeah."

"Sorry for calling so late," you said. You stated your name. "I tried calling you earlier today but no one picked up. Guessed you were at work. Anyway, I'm a neighbor of yours across the street, recently moved in next door to Denise. She talked to me today and suggested I call you about getting the inside painted. She gave me your phone number. Said you and your brother Tommy painted her place last year for her at a fair price."

Tommy had been the one to set that small job up. It wasn't what they usually did, but painting was easy, and his little brother had been dating Denise at the time. They'd only been together a few weeks before deciding they weren't quite right for each other, but they'd remained friends ever since. Part of that was Denise throwing them job opportunities every once in a while. He wasn't sure why Denise hadn't given you Tommy's number though.

"You're in luck," Joel said, "We're in between jobs. You want the whole inside painted?"

"Yes."

"Will you have everything we need?" he questioned.

"I've never had a house painted before," you told him. "This is my first home I own. I wouldn't know what to get. But I did get the paint and I'll pay for all the supplies you need to buy, of course."

Joel asked you exactly which house was yours and how big each of the rooms were, if there were a lot of corners, any wallpaper to be taken down, etc. and you answered him in precise ways that gave him an excellent idea on what the job would cost you. When he gave you the estimation he could almost hear the smile on your face in your bright tone. "That's so much better than what the other painter was estimating. When could you start?"

"Well, I'll have to talk to my brother and get back to you in the morning," Joel said, "But we might be able to start tomorrow afternoon."

"On a Saturday?" You were clearly surprised by that.

"Yeah," he confirmed. "I got no plans. As long as my brother isn't doing anything either, we'll gladly get going on it while we're waiting for our next big project to begin."

They'd have two weeks. Plenty of time for them to get your whole house done. More than enough.

"Alright, then, I'll stay near a phone," you said before giving him your number. He used a pen to jot it down on a sticky note pad he kept nearby on a counter. "Goodnight, Joel, and thanks again."

"You're welcome," he said back, and he heard a click on the other end as you hung up your phone. He did the same with his.

"You're working tomorrow?" Sarah asked, disapprovingly.

"I got no plans," Joel argued. "Might as well help her out."

She blinked up at him curiously. "Who is she?"

"One of our new neighbors," he explained. "Denise recommended me and Tommy when she told her she needed someone to paint the inside of her house."

"That's nice of her," Sarah noted.

"It is," Joel agreed.

She let her eyes fall back down to the poster. "I'm almost done here. After can we watch a movie?"

He bent down to kiss her on the forehead and fondly tousled her dark, curly hair. "Sure thing, baby girl. Your pick."

It was probably going to be Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron again, but he didn't mind.

x

It turned out Tommy didn't have any plans the next day either so at one o' clock in the afternoon he met Joel at his house and they took the truck to gather supplies at their favorite hardware store before heading over to your house for two.

Joel knocked on the door, a step ahead of Tommy on the porch, and you opened it up a few moments later, a wide, friendly smile on your face, wanting to make them feel welcome. "Joel and Tommy?"

They both nodded. "Yes ma'am."

You moved aside so they could walk in and shut the door behind them. "Glad to meet you."

You raised your right hand to shake Joel's, just a little too high and a little too much to the left for a sighted person. You knew because you felt Joel gently grasp your hand and move it into a more comfortable position before shaking it.

You couldn't see it, but Joel and Tommy shared a glance, unsure.

"Are you...?" The younger Miller trailed off, not wanting to pry but unable to help himself. You felt him staring at your eyes with confusion, and you immediately knew why.

You nodded at him. "Yeah, it might not look like it, but I'm blind."

Many people not used to being around blind people without sunglasses on didn't know that many blind people had normal looking eyes like yours. You'd even had a few people claim you were faking it because they looked fine and you sometimes could pass as a sighted person to those who briefly interacted with you. You may have lost your sight, but you were a very capable person.

"That why you need us to paint?" Joel asked.

"I need you to paint because I have no experience doing it and I have a job just like everyone else," you answered patiently. Sometimes slighted people tested it, but there was no reason to get annoyed with either of them yet.

"What do you do?" Tommy inquired curiously.

"I'm an author. I write children's books."

You may have not been able to see his expression, but you still sensed his surprise. "Never heard of Helen Keller?"

"No, I have," Tommy stuttered.

Joel huffed at his idiot brother and turned back to you. "Where would you like us to start?"

"In the kitchen," you replied. "My parents and sister are visiting next weekend and I want to make sure the paint in the main rooms are all dry before they do."

You led them from your mudroom into the kitchen and your reddish brown Golden Retriever woofed at them once lowly before trotting loyally up to your side.

"Cute dog," Tommy noted. "Is he your service dog, or can I pet him?"

"Maple is my service dog," you stated, "But she's off duty and would probably love a pet."

You were glad he asked, even if it wasn't necessary in the house. Too many people tried petting Maple when out in public, even though she always had her vest on when she was guiding you. Some people just couldn't take a hint, or didn't care that they were distracting her from her job.

Tommy kneeled and patted his thighs to get Maple's attention. She darted up to him, happily accepting his affection as he scratched her behind the ears. "Hey, girl. Aren't you sweet?"

You glided a hand along the island in the center of the room so you moved a straight line as you passed it and stopped when you reached the end, picking up one of the paint cans you'd left there by the handle and flaunting it to him and Joel.

"This is the color I want in this room," you declared.

Joel took a few steps closer to examine the label on the bucket. "This is a bright lime green, you sure?"

You furrowed your eyebrows at his words. "Of course I am."

"It's just I've never seen anyone around here put a bright color like that on their walls," he explained. "I'm not trying to tell you what to do."

"I picked out all bright colors on purpose," you told him. "I can't see dark colors at all, but in certain lighting, like direct sunlight, I can see bright colors. It's really blurry, but I can still see those colors enough to like it. It's comforting."

You hadn't always been blind. You'd been born sighted, but a genetic disease had slowly taken your sight away and still was. Eventually you wouldn't be able to see bright colors either, but for the time being you could.

"Alright then." He backed off as Tommy stood up. "We'll get to work."

"If you have any questions, I'll be in my office down the hall," you informed them. "Writing."

"Sure thing," Joel said and you just knew he'd nodded out of habit at you. You hid a chuckle from him.

x

Joel and Tommy were good workers. Fast but competent and precise, just as Denise had promised you. In the week that followed, as they steadily painted your plain looking walls so they'd stand out, you all got to know each other a little more and more, a consequence of being in close quarters together, especially when they got busy painting your office while you were still in it.

You learned that Joel had a teen daughter at home, though he'd only turned thirty-six a couple months ago, and that Tommy was an Army veteran. Neither gave details on why he was already retired though. Maybe he'd been injured? You could only guess since you didn't know him enough to feel like you had the right to pry.

Since the Miller brothers were often at your home during lunch you started offering them a plate of whatever you were eating. Tacos, pasta, homemade fried chicken. They took some convincing, not wanting to make you spend extra money on them, but you assured them that it was fine, that it was all excess that would likely end up in the trash if they didn't help you out eating it all. So they ate at your dining table with you and you got to know them a little more.

Though Tommy was closer to your age, and they were both handsome sounding men, you felt yourself helplessly attracted to Joel and his gravelly voice. His attitude matched some of your personality as well. Quiet, observant, with a sarcastic sense of humor.

You found yourself dragging your laptop into whatever room they were working in so you could listen in on them, listen to Joel in particular, even though you typically hated people who eavesdropped. You couldn't help yourself, and if either of the brothers noticed, they didn't mention it. Maybe they liked your company too, you thought. A girl could dream.

x

It didn't take long for Joel to figure out you were someone special. Not because of what you'd gone through in life or because you were pretty, but because of the little things you did.

People in the South were known for being polite and kind neighbors, but that wasn't as standard as most outsiders thought, and you went above and beyond the standard measures when allowed to.

Like when Sarah knocked on the door Thursday after school offering some cookies to buy for the travel club she'd recently joined. They were going to New York in two years and she was determined to pay for it all by herself through the club's typical fundraising events. She was planning on getting a job in the summer too. When she'd explained why she was selling the cookies, you'd bought two dozen for fifty dollars without hesitance and invited her in to hang out while he and Tommy finished their day's work.

"Thanks so much," Sarah repeated as she sat down on a stool in the kitchen, not far from Joel, who was cleaning some brushes off in the sink. He easily heard everything you two were talking about.

"You can thank me by keeping about a dozen of those when they come in," you told her, also plopping onto a stool. "Anything more than twelve in my house and I'll get diabetes real early."

Sarah giggled. "Okay. I'll do that." She noticed Maple as she approached her water bowl for a few licks and beamed at her. "What a pretty dog. What's her name?"

"Maple," you replied. "She's my guide dog, but you can pet her. If she's out of harness, she's not working."

"Come here Maple!" Sarah exclaimed and the dog gleefully sprinted up to her. Sarah kissed her head and rubbed her body until Maple flopped over and offered her belly to her. Sarah giggled again and gave her what she wanted. "I love dogs," she told you.

"It runs in the family, apparently," you mused, probably thinking about how Tommy had reacted on the first day.

Joel himself had patted Maple a few times during the course of the week. His family had always been dog people, even when they couldn't afford dogs.

"Dad told me you're an author," Sarah said.

"He did?"

Joel felt your eyes on his back and heat flooded his face. He didn't want you thinking he gossiped about you behind your back or something like that. He wasn't that type of person.

"I write children's stories, so you probably haven't heard of any of them," you informed Sarah. "I have a series about a family of red foxes who have adventures together." You went on to give a few examples and Joel noticed his daughter listening intently, ever respectful.

"Sounds interesting," Sarah told her afterwards. "I probably would've loved your stories as a kid. Are foxes your favorite animal?"

"They are," you answered, nodding. "Red foxes in particular. They're just such elegant canines. And very clever. They may like chickens, but they tend to rather avoid people in most cases."

"Have you ever seen one in person?"

"Yes, I saw them all the time growing up," you replied. "Lived on a farm."

"Hence your mention of chickens."

You grinned. "Yeah. Foxes don't just like them in the cartoons."

"I can't blame them."

"Me neither."

Joel chuckled under his breath but didn't let it be known otherwise that he'd been listening in, getting back to work instead, leaving you two to continue your conversation without any prying ears.

He later found out when he got back home that you'd sent Sarah away with leftovers from that day's lunch to eat while she did her homework.

Of course you had.

x

By Friday night Joel and Tommy were almost finished your entire house, only needing to do a few finishing touches on the white borders in the otherwise bright yellow painted spare bedroom.

It was six o' clock and Tommy had to leave for a date, but Joel stuck around to finish the job.

"You don't have to stay," you said to him after his brother walked out the front door. "Go home and spend time with your daughter."

"We have plans to go hiking tomorrow," he told you. "But tonight she's with a friend and they're seeing a movie later. Won't be home until ten."

You nodded, not sure what to say to that. You didn't want him to work overtime just for you, but if he wanted to... "If you're sure."

"It's not a problem," he promised you. "Won't take more than another hour, if that."

He was finished in forty minutes, and was examining his work with a critical eye when you walked in to offer him a cup of lemonade. He accepted it gratefully.

"How does it look?" you asked him as he took a sip.

He grunted. "Bright. But the colors you picked turned out nicer than I expected. Do you want me to turn up the light brighter to see for yourself?"

"I can see the color in good lighting," you informed him, "But no matter how bright the light gets I'm not going to be able to see the trim. I'm going to have to trust you on that."

"You can," Joel said with a pause, "Trust me. With the trim, that is. There's no mistakes. We used tape to be sure."

You beamed at the way he was stumbling through his words, rambling. Something you figured wasn't in character for him, unless he was really nervous for some reason.

Would it be arrogant to think it was because of you and not your blindness?

It wasn't like you had men lining up to date you, but you were experienced enough to at least be able to tell when they were nervous because of your presence, whether that be because of your blindness or your looks.

You couldn't tell between those two reasons though. You were just hoping that after the past week Joel was used to being around a blind person.

You walked with him to your front door quietly, unsure of how to proceed, what was next, now that the project was over.

"Call me with the bill and I'll bring you a check Monday?" You heard Joel pick up the tool belt he'd left by the door earlier.

"Sure," he said quietly.

You reached out and grabbed onto his arm before he could open the door on instinct. You wanted to stop him and so you did. It was the first time you'd ever touched him. His arm was toasty warm and you could feel the outline of his bicep under your palm.

You could not see his eyes turn back to you, but you knew they had.

"Thanks for helping me out on short notice," you said in a rush.

"No need to thank me," he countered with a shrug. You dropped your hand back to your side as he continued, "We were between jobs. If anything, you helped us."

You smiled at his insistence. "We helped each other then. My family will see the place as I want them to see it, and you have a little more money to put into Sarah's college savings."

"How'd...?"

You rolled your eyes, but another smile played on your lips. "Any good father's got a savings for their kid, and you're one of the best."

"Sarah tell you that?"

"I don't always need spoken words to see something."

There was some silence after that. "I'd better get home," Joel said eventually, awkwardly.

You pursed your lips. "Didn't you say Sarah's only going to get home at ten?"

"Yeah, why?"

You weren't sure and would never be sure how you grew to be so bold, but that night you knew what you wanted and you weren't going to let him leave until he at least knew it too. "I want you to stay."

"Why? You got something else that needs to be done?" he inquired obliviously.

One thing was clear to you in that moment - Joel Miller hadn't been flirted with in a long time, or at least had been too busy to notice.

You stopped yourself from rolling your eyes at him again and instead placed a hand on the back of his neck.

"I want you," you whispered.

You felt him stiffen under your touch and the next thing you knew he was pressing his soft, plump lips against your own in a heated kiss. He pulled away moments later instead of deepening it, but it had gone on long enough to leave you breathing out heavier than you were before.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I shouldn't have done that without asking."

"I wanted you to," you told him, cupping his face and guiding it back to yours. His mouth opened and you slid your tongue in, sliding it alongside his as you let out a hungry moan. He tasted good.

His hands wandered slowly down the sides of your body, tracing the outline of it until he reached your hips and curled his fingers around them. "Is this alright, sweetheart?"

You nodded vigorously and leaned into him, desperately trying to deepen your shared kisses even more. He guided you to the nearest wall and pressed you up against it as he parted his mouth from yours to kiss down your face to your neck, nibbling over your pulse, and your eyes fluttered shut to focus on the sensation of his teeth scraping the sensitive skin there. "Joel," you mewled.

"You sure you want me?" he asked as he jerked away. "Shit, I don't have any condoms anyway."

"That's okay," you said quickly, afraid he was about to put a stop to what was happening. "I have an implant and I've been tested recently. I haven't been with anyone since. You?"

"Last test was years ago, but I ain't been with anyone since then either," he promised.

You believed him. He was so invested in earning money and raising his daughter right it didn't surprise you he hadn't taken any time to be romantic with anyone in a long time. The thought made you yearn for him even more. Nothing was more attractive to you than a man who put his family's needs before his own. Who'd do anything for them, no matter the cost.

You found his lips again and reached down to unbuckle his belt, but he shoved your hands away. "Not here," he murmured in your ear.

He led you down the hallway to your bedroom, kissing you as you went.

He reached to turn on the light in the dark room but you stopped him. He frowned. "That'll only allow me to see the blue painted walls," you explained. "I don't need that right now. Right now I just want to feel you. To see you."

He immediately understood, guiding your hand to his face and you moved your fingers over it to study him, to get an idea of the main features of his face, and he silently stood there and let you. His thick eyebrows, his long lashes, the laughter lines around his eyes, his sharply curved nose, his neatly trimmed beard, and those soft lips, now puffy from their interactions with your own - you realized he was even more handsome than you'd thought.

"Like what you feel?" he questioned a few beats after you lowered your hand to rest over his shoulders, like the other one was.

"Definitely," you answered. "But a pretty face isn't what's going to satisfy me."

He groaned softly and found your mouth again as you focused on taking off his belt, chucking it to a far side of the room with a clink of metal on hardwood as his hands slipped under your shirt.

"Can I take this off?" he asked.

"Only if I can unbutton yours first," you replied, fingers finding the top button of his flannel shirt.

He patiently waited as you worked on all the buttons then chucked the shirt and the one underneath away as your hands took to his broad chest. You only pulled away long enough to fulfill your end of the bargain, to help him remove your blouse.

He explored your mouth again, needy. You could feel the pent up tension underneath his skin, could feel the hardness of his bulge as he pressed you closer to him, his hands splayed widely on your lower back. He was near desperate for you.

You unbuttoned his jeans and slipped a hand into his boxers, running your hand over his length, giving it a squeeze and a pump. He lurched forward, into your touch with a loud grunt. "I can't take that," he panted as he stepped back. "Not tonight, honey."

The rest of your clothes swiftly found a place on the floor and you found yourself being pressed into your mattress by his body as he covered you and lit you on fire with the gentle touches of his rough hands.

Though he was clearly in need of you, he took his time with you, kissing down your neck and chest, sucking on and swirling his tongue around both your nipples, nibbling the skin over your belly, trying to draw out as many gasps from you as he could. He got a lot. The feeling of his mouth on you, his body over you, it was almost satisfying enough. Almost.

"Now, Joel," you begged.

You felt one of his hands make its way between your legs to gently spread them apart, to slip his fingers through your folds, and he pulled them back almost immediately, to examine them. "Damn, honey, you're already soaked."

"Been thinking about this for a while," you explained. It had been a long week.

"Won't make you wait longer then," he told you, and you felt his left hand go to the outside of your thigh as he guided himself slowly into you with his right one. He was thick, but not unbearably so, and you threw your head back onto your pillow as he perfectly filled you up, clutching at the sheets underneath you at the same time.

He held himself above you as he began to slowly pump into you, making sure you felt every ridge and vein of his cock as he dragged it along inside your heat, and you wrapped your arms around his impressive shoulders, tugging his head down to kiss him between the soft gasps you released every time he pushed back into you.

He built you up like a man with all the time in the world, taking every opportunity to caress you and taste your salty skin. And while you couldn't see anything in the dim room, you could feel his intense gaze as you chanted his name breathlessly.

"You're so pretty, sweetheart," he rasped into your ear. "Especially like this. Making those sounds. Saying my name like that. Need to feel you come."

He lifted one of your legs up, draping it over his elbow, and the new angle had you breaking apart with a loud moan, colors bursting behind your eyes as you convulsed around him. It was the best climax you'd had in a long time.

Joel continued to seek his own pleasure through your high, grinding into you a little harder every time he buried himself to the hilt, inadvertently prolonging it, not that you minded in the slightest. You kissed and nipped at his jawline and murmured to him as you tried to focus on the feel of him moving inside you. "Let go, Joel. I wanna feel it. Want you to feel this good too."

He gave you a few quick bucks before his body finally seized up and you felt him pulsing as he emptied himself inside you, as he gritted out your name and buried his face into your chest. When he did, you ran your hands up and down his spine as you smiled up at the ceiling, soaking in the moment.

You'd had some daydreams about what this would be like, but it had turned out even better, not that you were surprised.

Once he'd gone soft, Joel separated himself from you, rolling onto his back with a satisfied sigh, and you rolled onto your side to face him.

"This feels backwards," he said quietly after noticing and turning to face you too. "But would you like to go out on a date with me next weekend?”

You laughed. “Yes, I’d love to.”

“Good,” he said swiftly. “Cause I don’t want to leave this here.”

"Me neither.”

"I shoulda taken you out first, though.”

"I'm the one who started it," you argued as he reached out and rubbed your cheek with a thumb. You leaned into his touch, enjoying the sweet, unassuming affection.

"That is true." You were cupping his cheek with your left hand so you felt it when the edges of his mouth tugged back into a grin.

"I don't have any regrets," you told him. "You?"

"I'd be crazy to say I do, sweetheart," Joel replied. "It would be more than a little white lie. I haven't thought about being with someone like this in a long time, almost forgot why I like it so much. You've really jogged my memory."

You snorted at that and draped an arm over his chest. "Can you stay for a while?"

"Still got a few hours before that movie ends," Joel said, pulling you even closer. "I could use a nap if you set an alarm."

"Gladly," you told him, reaching over to the nightstand for your alarm. After you were finished with the task, he dragged you back into his embrace and you both fell asleep just like that, in the comfort of each other’s warmth.

It was the first of many nights that would end that way for you both.

xxx

Tagged: @harriedandharassed

xxx

Main Masterlist

xxx

[canonicallyobserving911]

WIP Wednesday

Fanonwriter2023 on AO3

Where CANON and FANON collide!

Season 7 FANON Speculation

I wasn’t tagged by anyone but I wanted to share two snippets from Chapter 5 of my multi-chapter fic titled “I’m still in love with you but... I needed to learn how to love myself too!”

The closer I get to completing chapter 5, the more excited I get because things are getting even more angsty than they already were for Buck and Eddie.  My goal is to finish this chapter and edit it soon, so hopefully, I’ll be able to post it by the end of the week. ___________ Here are two snippets from chapter 5 because Eddie’s still in El Paso and Buck just arrived in Hershey. ___________

Eddie

“Like you said Eddie, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.  I almost didn’t recognize you yesterday but I knew it was you after I heard your voice. What have you been up to?  Do you still live in El Paso?”

Eddie shakes his head no and echoes his answer.  “No, I live in Los Angeles.”

“Really, you live in L.A.?”

“Yeah.  I’ve been there for almost six years now.”

“I guess that old saying about time flies is true then, huh?”

Eddie nods.

Dorian looks at him then asks, “What do you do in L.A.?  For a living I mean.”

“I’m a firefighter and a medic with the LAFD.  And you, what do you do?”

“I’m a real estate broker and I dabble in investments, mostly Cryptocurrency as a hobby but I also own a couple of stocks listed on the S&P 500.”

“Ok, that’s interesting.”

“Yeah, it is.  I never thought I’d end up in real estate but El Paso is growing and for the last 10 years, the population has surged tremendously.  There’s a new subdivision not too far from here that my firm was hired to handle all the sales for.  It’s called “New Beginnings”.”

“Really?”  Eddie asks as his eyebrows go up because that’s the same subdivision where he looked at an open house last week.  

“Yeah, it keeps me busy.” Dorian takes a sip of his water. “After two years of non-stop work, I finally decided to take some time off so I could spend time with my kids.”

Eddie chuckles and says, “This is my first vacation ever.  I mean I’ve taken time off work before but it was for doctor’s appointments for me or my son but this is my first time taking more than one or two days off at one time”.

Will Eddie make the decision to move back to El Paso after he has dinner with an old friend from high school?

___________

Buck

Buck finds and empty barstool, he sits and after a few seconds, the bartender asks, “What can I get for you?”

“Uh… vodka on the rocks.”

The bartender nods and within 2 minutes, a glass with his preferred drink is sitting in front of him. He throws it back and motions for another.  After his third round, someone sits down next to him on the barstool to his right that was recently vacated but he doesn’t look over at them.

He can feel their eyes looking at him but he doesn’t look over until he hears, “Evan Buckley.”

He pulls back because he recognizes the voice but he’s hoping it’s not the person he thinks it is. He turns his head and it’s him, Jared Persons, the quarterback of his college football team.

He plasters on a fake smile and says, “Jared?”

“Yeah man, it’s me.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, I don’t live too far from here and I come to this restaurant sometimes to sit at the bar, drink a few shots and let off some steam.”

After he looks Buck up and down, he continues.  “But I think the real question is… what are you doing here because last I heard, you left Hershey several years ago?”

“Um… I’m only here for one day and then I—I’ll be gone.”

Buck watches as Jared looks him up and down again with parted lips and a sparkle in his light green eyes like he wants to devour him.  He’s not naïve and he remembers everything they did one night after one of their big wins but he wonders if he should turn into Buck 1.0 again if only for one night.  He considers just doing it to relieve some of the stress he’s feeling before he has to face his parents tomorrow.

He thinks Jared can tell he’s remembering the night they spent together when he leans in close to speak into Buck’s ear.

Jared whispers, “There’s a hotel across the street and if you want… we could, you know for old times’ sake.  One roll in bed while you’re here for one night, one day or whatever.”

Buck moves to the left, then he interrupts him.  “I’m good Jared.  It was nice seeing you again.”

Will Buck accept the proposition made by one of his old college football teammates? 

_________

Fic Summary: Months after Buck and Eddie were hit by the same lightning strike; they’re still struggling with the aftermath of it.  But before they make their love confessions, they’ll spend time getting to know themselves as individuals first. Eddie learns to enjoy the simple things in life as he participates in activities on his own and with new friends while Buck learns the rest of the 31-year-old deep dark family secret about his conception and birth. Their journey to forever is still a work in progress but once they finally admit they’re in love with each other, everything that follows their love confessions will be cataclysmic.

__________

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 - Eddie makes a new friend while Buck receives devastating news regarding the sperm donation he made for Connor and Kameron.

Chapter 2 - Buck does a lot of research to learn more about the abnormalities found in his red blood cells and Eddie starts a new therapy journey that’s all about him and not the traumas he’s experienced.

Chapter 3 - After more than a month, Buck and Eddie finally spend time together outside of work but it doesn’t end well and they part with a lot of uncertainty regarding their places in each other’s lives.

Chapter 4 - Eddie has a few realizations about his life which causes him to consider moving back to El Paso, TX while Buck continues to be reminded of his past which causes him to take an impromptu road trip across America.

Chapter 5 - Will be posted soon.

__________

I’m enjoying writing this fic because it’s giving me the chance to unravel the mess that was 6x18 for Buck, Eddie and Chris.  Also, it’s taking them places the show refuses to go including Buck being put on Paid Administrative Leave from the 118 due to Taylor Kelly’s book being released along with Eddie doing a self-evaluation journey which currently includes him trying to decide if he should move back to El Paso.

__________

Buddie Multi-Chapter Fanfic - Hiatus Reading

Read chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4 on AO3.

No pressure tagging: @spotsandsocks​​ and @shortsighted-owl​.

[826aliensapocalypseactivism]

The Tragedy 

Jamya O.

School had just finished and summer had just begun and I had just been released from school. Hi, my name is Julia. I'm a junior and I attend west south high school. I'm 17. I am very friendly and I love talking to new people. My parents are going out of town for 3-4 weeks for a vacation or what not so that means they are leaving the house to me. That's a lot of trust for a 17-year-old but sure they have no reason not to trust me “hehe.”

I'm not sure why they decided to leave the house to me in this terrible neighborhood but hey i'll survive right? What could go wrong? I have a younger brother whose name is Juan. He is 15 he doesn't really like people we are the complete opposite of eachother. Before my parents left they left us money, of course the chores and food and just some extra things they thought we might need. They told us to call every day after we woke up and before we went to sleep. The first day of them being gone me and Juan literally had nothing to do. It was June 6th of 2026. We stayed home the first day alone. It was so hot. There wasn't really much to do because we hadn't planned anything. But the next day Juan asked to go to this carnival. At first I was unsure because it’s a big area a few blocks down from our house on booker street and it’s just us but I ended up agreeing to it. The next day we went to the carnival. It was very fun. They had this slingshot that people were scared to get on. I ended up getting caught in the moment and started staring into space looking at how happy all the kids were running around with face paint on their faces and cotton candy in their hands with the sun shining and all the smiles and laughs and soft voices. I started missing being a child not battling my thoughts and wanting to hurt myself but enough of that. Juan was excited and kept wandering off to get on every ride that he could. I needed to use the restroom but I did not want him standing there waiting for me so I told him to wait at the ride we were at until I finished. It didn't take very long for me to use the restroom but it was very crowded and the smell wasn't pleasant which made me move faster… 

When I got from the restroom I immediately tried to spot Juan but I couldn't find him so I looked around a bit before I started to panic. I found him waiting to get on the slingshot. No one wanted to go with him  so I was convinced to go when I sat down and my heart started racing. After the staff member buckled my seat belt I knew there was no going back. He did a countdown 1…2…3. We shot in the air with no questions asked. I was literally gasping for air about to die, at that moment I thought we were finished. It went back up and went upside down and made me scared for my life. After that was done it began getting late we walked about home. After today we challenged ourselves to stay home for a week for quality time since im always busy with school and my job. We made sure we had everything. The only reason to go outside was for mail and emptying the trash. As the week went by everything was fine and it was almost over. Me and Juan played board games, roblox and watched movies together but the night before the week was over Juan said, “Hey Sis, there is this new place opening up called Rilo’s Robots can we visit?” 

Of course I couldn't say no so I agreed. Nowadays robots are really popular. People are spending thousands of bucks on them and making them household items. They even have one that cooks and clean, just imagine how long it took to actually get it functioning. The day had come and I myself was excited and so was Juan. As we entered there were many people and I couldn't wait. 

As the man came onto the mic he said, “Hello everyone thank you all for showing up and being supportive to the opening of my business. I have worked really hard and I hope you all enjoy it.” Everyone claps their hands. There were about 25 of the same robots who people could use and test out. I'm not sure what happened but about 30 minutes in of everyone exploring the light suddenly shut off. Juan got scared and gripped onto my arm. I tried my hardest to comfort him but I was scared as well. The owner came onto the mic again and said, “Sorry for the malfunction, our robots actually control the building as well.” Everyone gasped including me. He then said, “Please be patient while we try to fix this problem everyone who is touching a robot please remove your hands.” Everyone started to get scared then we all heard the owner shout, “OH GOD NO PLEASE!” Everyone began to get really concerned and scared. Rilo the owner then tried to call 911 but the master robot that was being displayed laser burned his phone. The lights came back on but the doors seemingly got shut completely and could only be disabled by the master robot everyone was calling someone for help. 

I tried calling mom and dad but it went to voicemail. In my head I said to myself, “This was dumb why’d I agree to this, why would he even have the building under the robots control endangering all of us?” About 15 minutes later the police were finally able to get it open but as everyone was running out they started grabbing people for statements on what happened. They almost grabbed Juan but I pulled him before they could. The robots were behind us and started multiplying themselves which seemed to almost sound impossible but I saw it. Me and Juan hurried and ran home closed and locked all windows and door also the curtains we turned on the news to see what was going on the outside world got damaged so fast it looked completely different then before when we were outside people were banging on our door for help and shelter but Juan and I were to scared knowing that the robot was behind them the police had no control and everyone was tweeting how they were gonna sue Rilo for endangering everyone and their children. The news reporter was dumb enough to go outside to do daily news and she got killed on the scene everyone was  terrified, me and Juan looking out the window nothing looked the same compared to how it looked 4 hours ago everything was damaged and it was getting dark and me and Juan was safe so that’s all that mattered we survived. 

[lifeworksstudios]

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choosing a photographer. That single-most-important person will be capturing the madness, the joy, and the thrill of one of the most important days of your life. This blog will guide you to choose The Best Wedding Photographers In India in 2022.

So how will you pick this photographer from the infinite options which are bound to pop up in your search engines? How do you trust him or her to crystallize these precious moments of your life? And how do you manage to procure these perfect frames without being broke for the rest of the year?

If you are getting married soon, we know that when it comes to wedding photography in India these are the kind of dilemmas gnawing at your brain. Yes, it’s easy to get helplessly overwhelmed and then make a hasty, last-minute decision just so you can tick it off your ever-growing wedding to-do list.

The good news is that you don’t have to.

Here at Weddings by Lifeworks, we decided to give you an insider’s guide to choosing the perfect wedding photographer – without losing your mind. These 10 easy actionable steps which have been compiled after arduous discussions with our in-house team and top experts from the industry is all you need to drive those photography blues away.

So scroll down to find your ‘soul-photographer’ (yes, that’s a thing!) so that you can look forward to being clicked on your big day!

Your Day, Your Style

Destination wedding photographer  While it’s easy to pick the photographer who did a fabulous job for your best friend’s wedding, it can also prove as a complete disaster for you. That’s because your best friend’s wedding was captured in the style he or she wanted which can be completely different from your aesthetic sensibilities. Most wedding photographers have a niche style in which they best capture a wedding. Believing that they can recreate the same magic for any style will most likely result in some unpleasant surprises.

Assume you are a newbie to the world of wedding photography some of the popular styles today are photojournalism, contemporary wedding photography, and old-school studio photography. If you are still feeling quite lost begin with picking wedding photographs you really love and getting to know which styles they were shot in.

Pro Tip: Your monetary budget finds its base in the style you choose.

2. Putting Down The Big-Bucks

Wedding photographers in Delhi  When you are looking to buy leather boots then you would know that by the virtue of the craft required to make them they demand a higher base budget than your regular canvas shoes.

Similarly, the budget for your wedding photographer in India will depend on the skill and resources required for the photography style you prefer.

So start by scanning the market prices for the style of wedding photography you and your partner have finalized on. Also, keep an eye out for the range of quality provided in each style – this will depend on the time a photographer invests in his work (pre & post-shoot), the inventory of his equipment, and his experience in the field. These become the markers of different rates within a particular style of photography.  Once you have completed your style-specific research you are ready to put down a budget that suits you best and it even realistic for your potential photographers!

Pro Tip: There is no point in spending time and energy on photographers that you won’t be able to afford.

Photographs v/s Albums

It’s easy to lure clients with a compilation of your best photographs taken from different weddings. Though if you really want to know the true worth of your photographer request at least two-three of his or her complete albums. This way you can analyze whether or not the photographer is genuinely good at telling long visual narratives or can only manage a few great Facebook display pictures.

Going through albums can also help you determine the strength and weaknesses of your photographer. For example, a photographer might bring out stunning pictures when working with natural light. However, if you are getting married in a dimly lit hall and he has nothing to show for that, he’s definitely not your guy.

Pro Tip: Yes, your eyes might go numb from looking at album after album but trust us, it’s worth the ordeal.

Befriending Your Photographer

Pre-wedding photographers in Delhi NCR  It is absolutely fine to just want a professional relationship with your photographer but it helps to know him or her personally too. Why? You will be spending most of your time with him on your BIG day, so it’s good to have someone who won’t make you want to disappear or better still you actually like having around.

So have an in-person meeting with your photographer before you decide to hire them. This can also become a space for you to have all your unanswered queries regarding his services (don’t forget to make that list of questions) and also put forward your own aesthetic expectations. Unlike virtual correspondences, this not only saves time but also keeps you away from being disappointed with your photographs at a later stage.

Pro Tip: Don’t panic if your photographer doesn’t binge-watch the same Netflix series as you do. He doesn’t have to be your BFF. Just someone who gains your trust with their work and personality.

So Who Is Shooting Anway?

As Murphy’s law – “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong” proves to be painfully true in most situations, don’t think it will make an exception for your big day. Just be prepared. Not only make sure that the photographer you interviewed will be the one taking the bride and groom’s photographs but also that your contract mentions a backup shooter, in case something were to happen to your main photographer.

Also, even if you are subject to obtuse reasoning by family, do not hire separate teams, i.e. – one for the bride and one for the groom. Use those resources to hire one exceptional photography team. Unless you want to end up with mediocre photographs where each team gets in each other’s way and even your frame!

Pro Tip: If you are confused about the ideal strength of your wedding photography team, contact Lifeworks Studios for a free consultation! 

Beware Of The ‘Weekend Photographer’

Professional offbeat wedding photographers in Delhi  Photography can be a tricky terrain to manage when you are earning a living out of it and so many turn to weddings when the cash flow is running dry. Though these “weekend photographers” might have delivered some great work in the past, seasoned photographers still have an edge over them. For example, in dire situations, they have better backup equipment and storage solutions which might become a crisis situation for photographers who occasionally venture into the wedding field. Also, full-time wedding photographers are more likely to offer you a far wider range of additional services and diverse package choices as compared to a weekend photographer.

Pro Tip: Seasoned and full-time wedding photographers are less likely to be solely driven by monetary gains and thus are more dedicated to their art.   

Bringing Home The Best Package

Along with shooting time, a photographer offers various other services in his packages like albums, special effects, retouching options, and additional shooting of your engagement, after-party, or even your pre-wedding shoot. Get the final quotes for an all-inclusive package that suits you best and compare it to the packages of the other photographers you have shortlisted.

Pro Tip: Make sure you double-check the coverage time mentioned in your package. You want those photographs right from the time when you begin to get ready for the big day until your final exit from the ceremony!

Post-Production Meets Patience

Destination wedding photographers in Delhi  Yes, we know you’re anticipating the clicks from your big day but it usually takes a month before you will receive the final photographs. This is because your photographer is shooting enormous raw files far bigger than a typical JPG. While this gives him or her greater ability to correct the photo it also slows down the process of uploading, processing, and editing them.

Each photographer will also have his or her own post-production style of working. Make sure you ask them about the resolution at which you will be receiving the files, the number of images you can expect, and what is their process of retouching images.

Pro Tip: Do not ask your photographer for RAW images. Unless you want to burden yourself with gigabytes you could do without and spend eons trying to edit the photos.

Reviews And Recommendations To The Rescue

Still, feeling indecisive after following all the above-mentioned tips,? don’t fret. We understand it’s your big day and you are aiming for nothing less than perfection. So let reviews, recommendations, and testimonials by ex-clients help you pick the photographers you have shortlisted.

Pro Tip: People with past experience with a photographer may be able to give you a perspective you might have missed.

Best destination wedding photographers in Gurgaon Our thorough guide and pro-tips are designed to ensure a stress-free road to finding your perfect wedding photographer. Don’t hold back when it comes to investing time, patience, and resources for the photographer you want. At Lifeworks Studios, we believe that those first gleeful looks,  affectionate gestures, and wild laughs on your wedding day mark the beginning of the special moments you will make with your partner.

Years later when memory might fail you these photographs will be all you will have, of the young couple you once were and perhaps wish to be again.

[torontosbabystore]

Baby Furniture

If you're out shopping for baby furniture and don't want to spend a fortune, look around at the major retailers and order from them if you can. There are usually coupons available that may save you big bucks.

The demand for baby furniture is increasing every year. Our simple and easy to assemble pieces bring the comfort of your child's favorite soft toy into the nursery.

Strollers Stroller Accessories Carseats Carseat Accessories Carriers & Wraps Diaper Bags & Accessories Travel Beds Travel Highchairs & Feeding Seasonal

You and your new bundle of joy will flip out over this super soft grey infant mattress. This is the only one that gets used in our house, which means it has been through years of abuse, making it pretty old and beat up.

[bludhavents]

things that each greaser struggles with:

these are mostly headcanons i came up with. also, this gets pretty angsty.

content warning: alcoholism, addiction, anxiety.

darry:

- maturity. he thinks everybody looks at him like the “dad” of the group instead of just another friend, and he loathes it. he misses whenever he was able to skip work to catch a movie at the drive-in or take ponyboy and sodapop up to the dingo for lunch.

- accidental intimidation. his build is very large and strong, which is good for his job and for when he’s actually trying to, well, intimidate people, but other than that it just makes him feel guilty for being so unapproachable.

- relationships. specifically, darry is very insecure in his relationship with pony. he especially hates it whenever pony dogs on him for forgetting things or accusing him of not caring.

- emotional intelligence. he knows he comes across as cold. and he hates it. he has lots of emotions and he doesn’t air them out in a healthy way, so he tries his best to cut all the emotions off altogether in hopes that the negativity will stop, but it just makes him feel even more insecure.

- social skills. in high school, it was all much easier for him, but now that he’s working full-time and running the household, he’s fallen majorly behind in the social scene. he never goes out to the drive-in or to the dingo, and at first it was because he was too busy, but now, even if he doesn’t have a shift, he’ll make up some excuse because he’s too nervous to go and have to talk to people again since he feels like he’s gonna mess up.

- identity. darry was just starting to feel comfortable in himself and in his role in the world right before his parents died, and when they did, he stopped trying to figure out what made him happy. it has made him insecure of the emotional stint that is centered around his ego and sense of self.

sodapop:

- smarts. it’s canon that he’s insecure about this.

- growing up. while everybody else moves on to new things and grows up, he feels like he’s stuck in the same place watching everybody else progress while he stays behind. this was especially true after sandy left, because marrying her was going to be this huge exciting step in his life and when she left, he didn’t have that fulfillment anymore.

- reassurance. he feels a constant need for approval, and he will take it wherever he can get it. there’s a sort of pride he gets whenever he sees a girl checking him out, but there’s a deeper feeling telling him that she’s gonna run away once she finds out about how ‘stupid’ he is.

- authority. soda has a really hard time talking to people who are in a position of power. he gets all nervous and his hands get sweaty and his face goes sheet white in panic. his charm and social skill is enough to satisfy a conversation with a person his age, but he feels silly trying to be confident in front of an adult. he feels like they look down on him and will laugh.

- fatherhood. he’s very insecure about having a family in the future. he feels like he never appreciated his dad’s skilled parenting while he could, and since then darry has been a sort of fatherly figure in the house, but it’s hard for soda to see it that way. he grew up for 16 years with darry as a big brother and for him to suddenly be forced into a father role is troubling for soda. because of this complicated dynamic between soda and fatherhood, he feels like he won’t be able to be the best father possible for his children.

- legs. he hates his legs. you will never see soda in a pair of shorts, not even when he’s swimming. he doesn’t like the way they’re shaped and thinks that they make the rest of his body look odd, so he wears loose jeans to hide them. he’s also embarrassed of being embarrassed about them, so nobody knows, not even steve.

dallas:

- emotional intelligence. his lack of emotional intelligence is something he battles with a lot. he understands what people are feeling, but he has a hard time understanding why they feel that way. he says it’s because he’s too tuff to deal with emotions, but deep down he knows it’s because he was thrust into a traumatic childhood so early on that he never had time to build emotional bonds with people that would strengthen his empathy and understanding.

- his past, another canon take. he hates talking about it, even the good stuff, because when he thinks about new york all he can picture is 10 year old dallas watching a man being covered in a white sheet by the paramedics on the side of the road. he thinks about his friends from there and knows they’re all either locked up or dead, and it ruins any enjoyment he gets from reminiscing on the good times.

- health. he definitely has crohn’s or IBS or something else that makes his stomach hurt whenever he eats, and it embarrasses him to no end. he’s always anxious that his stomach is going to start hurting when he’s with the gang and is going to have to find some excuse to leave. he smokes so much while he’s out with them to keep from getting hungry until he gets back to buck’s place.

- his friendships. the shepherd gang is close-knit. then, the curtis’ are brothers, steve has known them forever, and two-bit is outgoing enough to make himself fit in to the group. johnny is the closest person dallas relates to, and it’s the friendship hes the most secure in.

- his smile. he knows smoking ruins his teeth, and he knows they’re crooked all over, and he knows that when he smiles his lips crack and stretch out.

johnny:

- his appearance, canon insecurity. he looks young for his age, and when the gang found him in the lot after he was beaten by Socs, they all started treating him like he was young too. he didn’t think the scar on his face was tuff, it just reminded him of being attacked.

- his voice. this is less about how it sounds and more about him not being able to speak over the shouting at home. he hates yelling, and he won’t stand in to speak up for him cause he’s too afraid of being told to “stop yelling”.

- being average. johnny feels painfully average in everything he does. he’s tried to find a skill that he truly loves and wants to take time to be good at, but he always gets frustrated and quits before he can improve.

- romance. almost every aspect of it terrifies johnny. he doesn’t know what a healthy marriage looks like, what he does know was from Mr and Mrs Curtis, but seeing them die together warped his sense of love. he doesn’t understand why you would want to love somebody so much if you didn’t have to. he doesn’t like the “til death do us part” aspect of marriage, because it makes him feel trapped. he’s not afraid of commitment, he’s afraid that he will end up in a marriage like his parents’ and not be able to leave.

two-bit:

- alcoholism. he’s an alcoholic and he knows it, but he’s been stuck in the vicious cycle of addiction for such a long time that the only way he knows how to cope with the emotional baggage of addiction is to drink more.

- social awareness. as of now, he’s very self-aware and extremely skilled in reading a room, but he didn’t used to be. he used to crack jokes at the wrong time and get scolded for it, and it made him feel horrible. like he wasn’t able to experience all the same sad feelings as everybody else because they reacted differently to the sadness than he did. they wanted to process the sadness while he wanted to ignore it.

- being absent at home. he knows he spends the majority of time at the curtis house, and he also knows that his mother spends the majority of her time at work, which leaves his little sister at home alone. he has a good relationship with her, but he doesn’t like for her to see him drunk, and as his alcoholism progresses, that gets to be more and more often. he knows this, and it’s one of the main reasons he’s so insecure about his addiction, because she’s the one who let him know that it wasn’t a one-way street. his problem affected him and her.

- commitment. two-bit is young, but he feels old enough to know how relationships work. he saw his dad walk out on them, and he was never able to process how you could go from marrying someone to leaving and never looking back. at first, he thought that his dad was just a selfish jerk, but when he met johnny and saw that his parents were also married and simultaneously abusive, he convinced himself that all marriages were bound to end up that way. he believes that if the curtis’ lived longer, they would have eventually gotten bitter and tired of each other, because in his mind, that’s just what couples do.

ponyboy:

- confidence. he has a lot of insecurities, and they’re shared pretty evenly between physical and non physical. he doesn’t like his body or his eyes. he doesn’t like how impulsive and dramatic he is.

- security. not in himself, but in life. he’s permanently on edge, feeling anxious about who’s going to be around the corner and what would happen if he got jumped and how many Socs he’d be able to fight off in case anything happened. his parents’ sudden deaths did not help this. he feels like life is constantly tossing him around, and he never feels completely safe.

- emotional outbursts. this isn’t exclusive to ponyboy, but he struggles with it the most. he hates getting upset with people, and he hates hurting other people’s feelings. when he’s feeling too many things, he starts to speak without a filter and gets mad at the littlest things, and he knows that it makes everybody around him feel bad.

- fitting in. in contrast to johnny’s insecurity, ponyboy wants nothing more than to fit in. he’s tired of being the only greaser in his classes, he’s tired of his isolated taste in movies and theatre, he’s tired of being a track star, and he’s tired of all the pressure put on him since he isn’t average.

steve

- masculinity. his dad always enforces an unrealistic standard of being strong, independent, and logical. steve is inherently all of these things, but the pressure he feels to keep it up weighs him down.

- comparing himself to others. it started in middle school when he noticed all of the people liked sodapop more. from then on he couldn’t help but feel like soda was more attractive and charming, darry was stronger and smarter, two-bit was funnier and cooler, dallas was tougher and unbothered, johnny was more likeable and down-to-earth, and ponyboy was more creative and well spoken.

- addiction. there was a time in steve’s life where he was getting high every day. at first it was fun, but then he had to quit track because he wasn’t as athletic as he used to be. it ruined his health and motivation. he started working on cars more to keep himself busy, and it helped a lot, even got him a job.

- hyperindependence. steve’s biggest character flaw is that he can’t ask for help. whether it’s asking for help in school or asking for soda to hand him a tool in the garage, steve can’t bring himself to do ask. it makes him feel like he’s not good enough to do it on his own.

[marvelcriminalhoe]

Sweet Home Georgia Peach

Sweet Home Alabama AU! Steve Rogers x Reader

Chapter 5

Uncomfortable Reunions

Word Count: 2,077

Series Masterlist

You’re in Steve’s kitchen, waiting for him to come home. When you hear the door open and Captain run in - in front of him, you smirk to yourself.

Show time.

“Where the hell did this come from?” You hear Steve say in the dining room, where the new table is.

You make your way to the pantry, wrapping the apron around you. You hear him open the new fridge, repeating the phrase he said about the table, “What the hell?”

“Well hello, darlin’.” You walk in with a big fake smile, “What are you thinkin’ about dinner tonight? Pork chops? Lasagna?”

“What the hell?” He looks over to you, “What are you doing here? Where did this stuff come from.”

“Well you want a wife, here I am.” You put your hands your hips, “Spending your money and nagging you.”

“You spent my money?” Steve’s eyebrows raise.

“What’s mine is yours honeybun.” You say innocently, really playing up your accent, “Isn’t that what you said? When you were making out joint account?”

“Joint account.” Steve’s eyes widen, connecting the dots. Soon he’s glaring at you, “Seriously?”

You shrug, “Just trying to make this a home. That is a wife’s duty.”

Steve looks around at everything you’ve bought. He smiles smugly at you, “Well thanks darlin. I might actually keep it like this.”

… that’s not what you expected.

Walking through the doors of the old bar, you’re immediately hit with nostalgia. You had stormed out of Steve’s house after your plan didn’t work. You spent the majority of your days at this bar growing up, helping out by delivering drinks. Playing pool with the boys at one of the tables. Sneaking shots of tequila to your friends when the boss wasn't looking. Dancing and singing on the dance floor.

“Look who finally decided to come see me.” You hear from behind you, making you spin around, “If it isn’t my favorite daughter in law.” You laugh, letting the woman pull you into a hug, “Hi Sarah.”

“Hi doll.” She smiles at you as she lets you go.

“And I’m your ex-daughter in law.” You remind her.

“Not from what I’m hearing.” She shrugs making her way behind the bar, wiping off the counter, “Some might say we’re still family.”

You roll your eyes at her antics, “Not if your son would stop being so stubborn and sign the damn papers.”

She smirks, looking up at you, “And here I thought you fell in love his stubbornness.” You huff, sitting down on one of the bar stools, “I’m serious, Sarah.” “Me too.” She sends you a pointed look, going back to cleaning. You watch her for a few moments, more memories making there way through.

“Steve!” You laugh, trying to push his hands away, “You’re gonna get me in trouble.”

“Oh, come on, darlin’.” He laughs, grabbing you around your waist and pulling your back to his chest, resting his chin on your shoulder, “How am I supposed to beat Buck if my good luck charms not by my side?” You roll your eyes, prying his hands off you, “Honey, you beat Buck every time you play. I’m trying to work here.”

“You know my Ma doesn't care if you slack off a little.” He tries to reach for you again.

“But I care.” You send him a pointed look, “Your Ma doesn't need to be carrying all those drinks by her lonesome.”

He sighs, defeated, but sends you a loving look, “Alright.”

You lean up, kissing his cheek before turning around to get back to work.

Buck makes a fake gagging sound as the blonde still hasn't taken his eyes off you. Steve rolls his eyes, turning to his friend, “Grow up.” “Ya’ll are so in love it makes me sick.” The brunette shakes his head, “You would think after being together so long you would get sick of one another.”

Steve laughs, “I wont ever get sick of that girl.” He shakes his head, looking back at you as you laugh at one of the customers jokes.

He looks backs to his friend, clapping his hands together, “You ready to lose again?”

“I’m gonna win this time.” Bucky shakes his head, “I feel it.”

“Sarah, I got those muffins you were askin’ fo—“ A voice from the door has you turning around. The red head stops talking, eyes going wide at seeing you sitting there.

Neither of you say anything, but after a few shocked seconds, the basket she’s carrying hits the floor and your tackled into a firm hug, “Oh my god I can’t believe you’re actually back. I thought for sure Sam was lying, just pulling one over us. But then Clint said something and I thought, ‘huh, he’s in on it to?’ But here you are.” All you can do is nod, still not really sure what to say. The still tiny as ever girl pulls back, smiling so wide your sure her face hurts, “It’s so good to see you, peaches.” “Yeah.” You try to smile, “You too, Wanda.” It’s different for you seeing her than it was to see Clint and Sam. You expected, after you left, to lose contact with the guys, but you never thought you would lose Wanda and Nat. You didn’t think they would choose Steve’s side too.

Wanda must notice your hesitancy to her, stepping back just a bit, smile faltering a little, “It’s— it’s been a long time.”

“Yeah.” You nod, “I’m just uh— here to see my folks and get some stuff done.” “Right, right.” She nods, “The divorce. Man, I can’t believe you two are still married.” Thankfully, Sarah walks back in from the back room, spotting Wanda and getting rid of the uncomfortable tension, “Oh, Wanda. Did you bring those muffins?” The redhead smiles at her, turning to grab the basket on the floor, “Yes, ma’am. Specially baked this morning for ya.” “Thank you dear.” Sarah takes it from her, smiling sweetly and leaving you two alone again.

Wanda turns to you, closed lipped smile on her face, “Uh, you gonna be here tonight? The gang comes on Fridays to play pool. We still do those dancing Saturday nights too. Whole gang still comes out every weekend to shoot pool and enjoy the music.”

“I’m here until this is over with, so, I’m sure I’ll see you there.” You nod.

“Right. Of course.” Her joy from earlier dwindling, “Well, uh, I gotta get back to the shop. I own the bakery in town now.” “That’s great, Wanda.” You tell her truthfully, “I’m sure you do a wonderful job. Your baking was always the best.” “You should come by and check it out while you’re here.” She tells you.

“Maybe, yeah.” You nod, “If I have time.” Wanda just nods, staring at you for a few more seconds before you both say goodbye, leaving out the door with a wave. You really hope you can leave this town without anymore uncomfortable reunions. But you know luck is not in your favor.

And you were right, luck was not on your side. The bar is packed with town folks, all of which have come to greet you when you’re spotted. You smile politely to all of them, entertain them with what you’ve been up to in New York. You excuse yourself from Mrs.Garrison when you notice a tall blonde man at one of the pool tables.

He’s surrounded by your friends, well, just his friends now, all of them laughing as they sip on their beers. When Sam spots you making your way over, he quickly gesture to everyone else, the laughing coming to an end, adding to the already unease in the air.

Sam, Clint, and Wanda, at least send you friendly smiles. Steve doesn't even look your way, keeping his gaze on the ground, as Bucky and Nat look at you with indifference.

“What do you want?” Nat questions as she studies you.

You nod over to Steve, “For him to sign the papers so I can leave.” Bucky scoffs, “You just got to town and you’re already dyin’ to leave? Guess you are good at that, though, huh.”

“Bucky.” You think Sam, reprimands him. You send a glare to the brunette, “This doesn't really concern you, Buck.” He stands up, a glare of his own on his face, “Only my friends can use that nickname, and we ain’t friends darlin’.”

You roll your eyes, ignoring the pang of hurt that shoots through you at that. Technically, he’s not wrong. you haven't seen or talked to him in 7 years, so, no, you aren't friends. But you used to be.

“Trust me, James, I’m well aware.” You snap, you look over to Steve who hasn't said a word yet, just watching the interaction.

“You really want to do this here?” Steve finally says something, “In a bar?” “Well I tried to do it last night, but you were more concerned with getting me in handcuffs.” You retort.

That earns a snort from Sam and Clint, the latter of which mumbles, “Kinky.”

Steve smiles wide, but it’s not real, “Well call it even, since you took all my money.”

You shrug, “What’s yours is mine. Right, darlin’?”

Steve just stares at you as Clint and Sam try to keep themselves from laughing, enjoying the show too much.

Bucky scoffs again, “What, leavin’ him not enough you gotta take his money too?” “He can have his money back when he signs the damn papers.” You shrug.

“Thats extortion.” Steve shakes his head.

You gesture over to Sam, “Sheriffs right there if you wanna complain about it.”

Steve looks over to Sam with his hands on his hips, the darker man pointing to the blonde, “No way, man. You handle this shit on your own.” Steve pinches the bridge of his nose, looking back to you, “Fine, keep the money, or spend it on more things for my house.” “I don’t want the money, Steven.” You throw your hands up, “I want to go home!” “Nobody’s stoppin’ you from leavin’!” He raises his voice, drawn attention to the two of you, “We all know being married didn’t stop you before, ain’t no way it’s stoping you now.”

“You are!” You point, “Your stubborn ass is.”

“You’re the one that left! Why should I have to do anything for you, huh?” Steve glares.

“You told me to leave!” You yell back.

“You what?” Wanda questions softly. Everyone looks to Steve, waiting for him say something, to deny the claim.

“You told me to leave, so I left.” You continue, not noticing the wide eyed looks from your former friends, or the fact the whole bar is now silent, listening to you and Steve air out all your dirty laundry,“I left, and I made something of myself. And now, now I have a man that wants to marry me, but I can’t do that because I’m still married to you. To the man who told me to leave. So please, sign the damn papers Steven! Then, I can leave this god forsaken town for good and we’ll never have to see each other again.”

“You’re engaged?” Sam questions with a whisper. He’s staring at you, a mixture of vexation and hurt on his face.

“Maybe y'all should do this some other time, when there isn’t a crowd watchin’.” Clint stands up, reaching out for you. Your chest heaving up and down as your anger leaves you. The bar is quiet, everyone waiting to see what will happen next. Clint gently grabs hold of your arm, “Come on, Peaches. I’ll take you home. You don’t want to do this here.”

As Clint takes you outside, Nat looks around the bar, “Shows over, folks! Go back to mindin’ your damn business.” Bucky steps up to Steve, laying a hand on his shoulder, “You good, pal?” Steve just shakes his hand off, stalking towards the back door and going outside.

Clint comes back in, a question in his eyes as he notices the missing blonde. Nat nods to where he left, “Outside.” Clint nods, looking around at his remaining friends. He turns to Bucky, “Did you know he told her to leave?” The brunette just shakes his head.

Wanda has sorrowful look on her face, her voice soft and low, “I thought she left on her own.”

“We don’t know she didn’t.” Bucky tells her.

Sam scoffs, “He didn’t correct her, did he?” He gestures to where the blonde man was standing moments ago, “He just stood there, not denying her claim.” Clint sighs, “Does anyone know what exactly went down between them?”

All of them shake their heads, no one knowing the truth.

“All he said that day was that she left him.” Bucky sits down, exhaling deeply, “I mean, we all saw him after. How distraught and devastated he was. That man was shattered.” “There has to be more to the story.” Nat shakes her head, “I mean, if it was just a fight, she wouldn't have left like that. Right?” “I thought she would come back.” Sam shrugs, “But after a few weeks, I realized she really left for good. I didn’t know what happened between them and I didn’t ask cause I was just worried about Steve. He was so distraught, walking around like a zombie.” “I didn’t talk to her.” Wanda says sadly, “I thought she left on her own accord, and I was angry that she could have done that to Steve, that she could break his heart like that, so I didn’t talk to her. Didn’t reach out. I thought she was the bad guy.” “Me too.” Nat nods, downcast.

“We don’t know that she’s not.” Buck retorts, but its pitiful.

Clint glares at him, “Give it up, yeah? We obviously have no idea what really happened.”

As the friends try to fill in new blanks inside the bar, Steve leans up against the back wall outside, looking up to the night sky. He never thought he would feel worse than that night he watched you drive, leaving him behind.

Boy was he wrong.

Next chapter

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