#The absolute simple heart-wrenching honesty of “I want you in the room”

[schmweed]

Succession | S02E02

[t-lostinworlds]

The Choices We Make (Tom Holland) [2]

A/N: First off, i would like to say thank you so much for all the love and support on part 1, it truly means the world to me <3 second, i am so sorry for the long wait but here we are! thank you for your patience you kind angels! Hope you guys like this as much as the first aha! x

Pairing: Tom Holland x Fem!Reader

Summary: Tom realises what you two had and everything that he wasted. He realises he needed to fight for you and that he can’t lose you for good. But will he be able to make things right and have you back in his arms again or will it be too late?

Warnings: heart wrenching angst, a lot of crying from both persons, a bit of fluff but it’s flashbacks and typos?

Word Count: 14.4k+

Masterlist in Bio

NOTE: Flashbacks are in Italics

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Where does Tom start?

Well, he can start with the fact that he's miserable. The fact that he's a disgusting piece of shit who deserves nothing but to be miserable, no less, maybe more.

You were so good to him, too good. You treated him more than he deserved. Even after what he did, even after he betrayed you, never did you treat him any less of man when in fact, he deserves to be treated like shit.

With a heart as kind as yours, when you showed him nothing but pure love, how could he have done what he did? A question so heavy as Tom asks himself as to why, but only ends up empty, it only ends up unanswered.

This makes him feel even more stupid. A downright disgrace given that he's ruined something so precious and special all for nothing, not even for something remotely worth it.

He could say he did it for sex, which is really rotten no matter the circumstance, doesn't make things better even by the littlest bit. But even then, it still wasn't worth it. He threw away so much just for sex? What a shallow reason to destroy such a beautiful relationship isn't it?

Quite frankly, nothing he will ever say will make things better. Not a single reason would justify the way he broke such a kind heart that gave him nothing but blissful happiness, gave him the truest forms of love.

The damage has already been done, he's already destroyed everything, hearts and trusts turned to nothing but fractured pieces.

Just how could he? How could he have done that to you?

You didn't deserve any of it.

All the times he's ignored you, made you feel unwanted. The countless times he's pushed you away and hurt you with his angry words. Hell, just the fact that he's made you feel like you weren't enough was a crime in itself.

Tom has been with you for three years, three fucking years, and during that time you had always been enough, more than enough. But that's the thing, realization and regret always comes last, always comes when it's too late.

You only realize just how much something is worth until you lose it.

It's been hours since you left, and Tom feels so utterly lost.

You we're his true north and now that you're gone, he was lost. Lost on where he'll go from here, lost on what to do, lost on who he's become.

A part of him knew he should've chased after you, but then what? He doesn't know what more he could say. He was still in deep doubt if he was fixing things or breaking it further if he continued to run his mouth. He at least needs to get his mind straight, get himself together or he'll say something that will make things even worse than it already is.

Tom sulked in bed right after everything, right after he heard that front door shut. He let himself drown in his tears and his regretful thoughts, both overwhelming him to the point that he passed out without even realizing.

Now, here he was, fully awake but still in bed. The sun was on its highest but Tom had no clue what time it was. With a broken phone, there was no way of telling unless he moves to grab a watch. But he doesn't really feel like moving. He just wants to rot in bed — or in hell as he rightfully deserves — and do absolutely nothing.

The whole house was eerily quiet and very cold, and he doesn't want to explore its state when he knows how it was coated with so much warmth before, your warmth. Was this how it felt for you when he doesn't come home? If so, then Tom feels even more of a shitty person than he already is.

But the world won't stop its course just to wait for him now won't it? So despite it all, Tom willed himself to get up and out of bed with a heavy heart, pushed himself to at least do the next right thing, whatever it may be.

Feet dragging against the tiled floor, Tom reached the living room with a broken sigh. His bloodshot eyes landed on the number of frames on top of the fireplace, photos upon photos of you and him, his frown deepening as the pain squeezed at his heart.

He walked over and took one in his hand, the one where Tom had an arm wrapped around your waist as he rests his head on your shoulder, eyes crinkling at the corners as both of you smiled wide and bright, the calming view of the Grand Canal just behind you as you explore the wondrous city of Venice.

The photo was taken by Harry during the shooting of Spider-Man: Far From Home, where you traveled with him and supported him from the first day to the very last.

It was such an innocent picture, mundane even, but so many memories came flooding inside Tom's mind with one simple look. And slowly but surely he was reminded how it used to be, how happy you both were just being together. Tom was reminded how special, how real it was, what you two had.

It doesn't even end with just the pictures, the whole house was a constant reminder too all the things he's wasted, all the beautiful things that made him feel nothing but pride and joy, utter euphoria to have such a wonderful woman in his life.

The whole house that was littered with all things you, from every room to every hall, from your precious laughter to the gorgeous sounds of pleasure that once bounced off the very same walls. Tom can still hear it, replaying inside his head loud and taunting to not let him forget each blissful memory that composed of you and him.

But now it's tainted by his blatant mistake, spoiled by his scandalous choices and he will never be able to forgive himself for that.

With a sharp intake of breath, Tom wiped the tears that slipped down his cheek with the back of his hand. He brought the frame up to his shirt to rid of the droplets that coated the glass, returning it back gently, carefully in sheer fear that he'll break it if he wasn't cautious enough.

Tom knows he owes you countless amounts of apologies, and at least a proper closure. He wasn't going to let last night be the end of it all, he knows he needs to talk to you. He needs to answer whatever question you have, and tell you what he truly feels. He just knows that the demons in your head are relentless. In whatever way he can, he needs to appease your mind with nothing but honesty so that it won't eat you up from the inside out.

He won't be able to live with himself even more if he just leaves you to blame yourself for his choices. And he's not going to stop until it sticks with you that this was nowhere near your fault. This was all on him, and he has to make sure you understand that loud and clear.

So right after he's bought a new phone, he drove towards the only place he knows where you'll be.

***

"Come on guys, open up," Tom tried again, knuckles rapping at the wooden door for the tenth time.

He's been outside the twins' house for roughly fifteen minutes now, and it's either no one was home or they were ignoring him. He figured it was the latter for obvious reasons, and he was proven right when he heard rushed footsteps on the other side when he gave the door another knock.

"Go away Tom, I genuinely don't want to deal with you right now," Harry fumed, boiling anger evident in his tone, a dead giveaway that he was well aware of what had happened.

Did Tom really expect his brothers to be calm about it? No, not even by a little. If he fucks up, they're the first ones to put him back in his place. And now—well, now he fucked up very badly.

Too add to that, the boys care about you a lot. It's been such a heartwarming thing for Tom to see you grow close with them, to see them accept you as part of the family. He understands why they're angry at him and they have every right to be.

"I know she's in there. Just open up, please," Tom sighed, palm flat against the surface as he waits for the lock to click open. Harry scoffed at that, voice muffled due to the door that's still in the way. "She is, but what gave you the idea that she wants to see you?"

That stung, but Tom also can't say he was surprised. Hell, he can't even look at himself without grimacing, so he wasn't expecting any less from you. He wasn't expecting things to go smoothly at all with the weight of his actions.

"Look, I get why you're mad at me. But Harry please, I just need to talk to her," he begged, but still to no avail as his brother growled in response. "What part of 'she doesn't want to see you' do you not fucking get?"

Tom was running out of patience, especially now with his emotions all over the place as with his mind. It was crowded in his head, very loud and obnoxious, just pushing and poking until he felt his anger bubble slowly. And before he could stop himself and take a deep breath to stay calm, his voice boomed,

"Just let me in damn it!" Tom's fists hit the door harshly, his emotions overpowering him to the point where he's becoming rash with his actions. He wasn't frustrated at his brother by all means, he was frustrated at himself. After all, there was no other person to blame why everything in his life has gone to absolute shit.

"Oh go and fuck off!" Harry barked, just fuming at the fact that Tom had the audacity to show his face at his house and give him attitude.

"I'm your fucking brother!" Tom knew that was a bullshit come back but he tried it anyway, he'd try anything at this point, growing desperate with each passing second.

He just really needs to see you. He needs some sense of familiarity, someone to ground him back, someone who's going to tame his mind before he losses it completely. That someone has always been you, his sense of peace, his rock.

"Ah yes! Please do remind me Tom because that's the only thing stopping me from going out there to break your fucking teeth you asshole!" It was obvious that both brothers were now feeding off of each other's emotions, voices loud as they go back and forth, and it was only a matter of time before one explodes which well then make things take an awful turn.

"Jeez Harry, calm down for a second yeah?" Sam's voice interrupted before things start to escalate further. What Tom heard next was fairly inaudible, but he can picture the twins arguing, just hearing the exchange of muffled voices. Then a few seconds later —much to his surprise — Sam opened the door.

Tom met his brother's eyes, a breath of relief coming out of him. "Thank you Sa—"

"Don't thank me, this wasn't my decision," Sam said solemnly with a stoic look on his face, a dissatisfied tone in his voice that Tom was quick to catch. "She's waiting for you in the garden," his brother added, stepping out of the way to let Tom in. He locked with Harry's angry eyes on the way, Tom's frown deepening as he tries to say something, to basically apologise for yelling when he has no right to.

"Harry I—"

"Just fucking walk," his brother sneered, tone ice cold. All Tom could do was nod as he pressed his lips into a thin line, walking pass the twins with his head hanging low in shame. Though never did he miss — nor will he forget — Harry's death glare and Sam's disappointed gaze as he made his way towards the back door.

***

The loud bang on the front door and the yelling was what you woke u—no, the fact that the loud voice belonged to Tom was what woke you up.

You don't know how long you've been asleep for, and to be honest, you could still need a bit more.

Last night was still clear as day inside your head. Everything that had happened you remembered as detailed as it can possibly get, from you reading that text message to then running out the house and calling Harry to come pick you up. You knew fully well you weren't in the right state of mind to drive, and you were glad that he didn't mind at all.

Sam came with him, both sporting their worried looks once they pulled over and saw your state. Though they didn't ask any questions once you got inside the passenger's seat, neither pushed to give you air to breath, them only knowing that Tom did something terribly wrong by the way you were crying on the phone.

The three of you just drove around the city for a while, windows down with the music blaring to try and get your mind off of it as much as they can. Both ordered pizza and opted on eating in the car that was parked near the River Thames, looking out into the gorgeous view of the Tower Bridge as it shines its lights in the night. You talked about anything and everything but the elephant in the room—well, car.

You only poured everything out to them when you got back to their house. Full on balling on the couch as you try and form a coherent sentence on what just happened. First they were surprised, unable to believe that their brother could do such a thing. Then you saw the anger cross their features little by little, more so with Harry than Sam. You've traveled with Harry quite a lot, you were a little closer with the boy due to the time spent together, but not by much of course.

They offered you the guest room right after, said that you can stay for as long as you need to. They both were real sweethearts about it, and you owe them a lot for keeping you sane for those couple of hours. You couldn't stomach to imagine what you could've done if they weren’t there.

You thought you'd just let them handle Tom, to not come out of the room until he's gone. You have no idea what more you could say or do if you see him again face to face, especially when everything that has happened was only in a span of under twenty-four hours. You were still overwhelmed, a complete mess both physically and emotionally.

But when you heard just how angry Harry was and how Tom was close to reaching there as well, you couldn't just sit still and let the problem grow even bigger. You can't let yourself be the reason that would cause a tear in their relationship with each other. Because by the end of everything, they're still brothers no matter what.

So slowly, you got out of bed, treaded into the living room where you found Sam sat on the sofa. His leg was bouncing anxiously as he listens to his brothers argue, clearly torn on what was the right thing to do. You walked up to him with a small smile, surprise crossing his features once he saw you awake.

He quickly said that he'd try and talk to Tom and make him leave, assuming that you are uncomfortable with him around but you only shook your head no. You told him it's okay to let his older brother in and that you'll just wait in the back garden for whatever it is he wanted to talk about.

Although relunctant, Sam didn't question your decision further. He just pulled you in for a warm embrace before flashing you a reassuring smile and then walking towards the front door.

Once sat on the wooden bench that was right on the back porch, you kept your gaze steady on the greenery in front of you, back facing the house as you tried to clear your head as much as you can. Basically to organized your thoughts and emotions. The cold evening breeze was helping to calm your nerves, your eyes following the gentle sway of the trees and the soft rustle of the bushes, the hum of the wind invading your ears in the most soothing way. It was a serene sight, so comforting, and slowly you felt yourself relax.

But the moment of peace was soon cut short, your eyes screwing shut once you heard the sliding door open and then close. His footsteps were light but the sound was already deafening for you, as if the rest of the world turned mute for you can only hear his shoes hitting the pavement, just ringing in your ears as you waited in anticipation.

Tom sat down beside you with a hold of his breath, heart aching once he saw your tear-stained cheeks, once he noticed how you kept your eyes tightly closed, purely refusing to look at him for even a split second.

His fingers started to fidget as nerves started to consume him. The action was also in a way to stop himself from reaching over to take your hand, to just feel your skin on his, because oh how much he's miss it, how much he's miss you.

He wasted a month of not holding you, of not getting to truly touch you, and he so badly wanted to pull you closer to him now, to make up with the time lost. But Tom wasn't going to push his luck, not going to over step boundaries because he wasn't in the place to make such decisions, not anymore. He knows that there were so little of both left that if he gets too near, he might end up pushing you farther away. He wasn't going to risk it.

On the way here, he's thought about all the things he was going to say to you. He repeated his speech over and over inside his head even though his words were a jumbled mess. It was something at least, a start. But now that he was seating here with you just a couple inches away, Tom's mind has gone blank. With the hundreds of words he's planned on saying, his lips could only let go of one.

"Y/N..."

You could pinpoint so many things with just the simple call of your name. The guilt, the longing, the regret, even the adoration, it was all there. Having known him for a while, you have gotten good at reading him, even if it's only from his voice, from the highs and lows to the different tones. But that was before, now, you weren't so sure if you actually ever knew him at all.

"What are you doing here Tom?" you asked softly, eyes opening with a sigh but still avoiding his at all costs. Tom ran an anxious hand through his hair, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his knees as he kept his gaze trained on your beautiful face, smile gone and glow dimmed out, but still so beautiful in his eyes nonetheless.

With a deep breath, he spoke, "I-I came here to apologise, for everything. I know it won't do much but I'm not going stop saying how sorry I am. What I did was so fucked up and I am so sorry darling, I really am," Tom paused and waited for you to get a chance to respond. But when you kept looking forward, when you didn't even move a single muscle, he sighed before adding. "And I just need you to know that this is all on me, none of this is your fault, please keep that in mind Y/N. You did absolutely nothing wrong."

You nodded with a shaky breath, and as you gathered all the strength you could muster, slowly you turned to face him.

The look in your eyes only did nothing but sharpen the pain in Tom's chest. Your once joyful orbs were now bloodshot and full of hurt, all because of him. The more he stared into them, the guiltier he got. The weight of what he's done so evident in your gaze, reminding him of all the promises he broke, reminding him just how much he's broke you.

"Do you have feelings for her?" you asked after a few moments of silence, bottom lip trembling despite trying your best for it not to. Tom shook his head with a deep frown, "No, I don't."

He knew where this was heading. You were going to ask him the questions that's been nagging inside your brain, and Tom was going to answer each one with the truth, no second guessing, just pure honesty.

You shifted in your seat, clearing out the lump that formed in your throat before speaking. "Was she better than me in bed?" you trailed off.

Tom couldn't help but wince at the fact that you've thought about it. He felt so disgusted at himself for such an awful deed, so revolted for putting that image inside your brain.

"No. She doesn't compare to you. I'm so so late on realising this but she doesn't make me feel things the way only you can," he answered truthfully, but you looked away.

You just couldn't hold his gaze. To stare at those brown eyes you once called home, those eyes that used to make you feel safe, it's just a sharp stab at your heart knowing that those same eyes betrayed you. It took everything in your power to not break down, unable to think further about everything without bursting into endless tears, unable to believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

Tom saw this, he saw it in the way you looked at him for that split second, how you just don't trust him anymore. And oh does it hurt, but what did he expect?

You picked at your fingers nails as you kept your head low, trying your hardest to hold yourself together, concealing everything in. But you were grasping onto broken pieces, your heart and mind all fractured, too fragile. The harder you try to keep them as one whole piece, the deeper the cuts you inflict on yourself.

And the picture of him with another woman, touching her in a way that he used to touch you, it feels so vile, an agonizing torture for your already broken heart, and you don't know how much more of the pain you can handle. You don't know how much more you can endure before everything finally falls apart and becomes too damaged to put back together.

But what if that was the right thing to do? What if it was needed to let everything fall apart, to loosen your grip on the broken pieces of yourself for the wounds to heal, for you to be able to start anew? Maybe all you need is for everything to break down completely so you can build them back up, stronger and better.

"She's more beautiful than me isn't she? Has a better body? More talented? She's simply just better than me?" you croaked, trying your best to keep it together. But you were almost there, almost at the point of just letting the whole thing go, to let every emotion come flooding out, the bad and the ugly.

"Fuck no," Tom protested, rubbing a palm across his face in anger, entirely directed at him for planting that thought inside your head in the very first place. He hates seeing you like this, so hurt and full of doubt for no other reason than because of what he did. Tom wanted nothing more than to take away your pain, to take it in himself. He's the one who deserves to suffer, not you, never you.

With a deep breath, Tom tried to keep his emotions steady, gaze still set on you — despite it not being returned since you kept looking forward — his voice soft as he continued, "I know my words don't have any weight for you right now but believe me when I say that you will always be the most beautiful woman I've ever met, both on the outside and the inside, from your heart, to your mind and your soul. You are a gorgeous, wonderful and amazing woman Y/N. Please don't doubt that because of the stupid mistake I did."

The moment you locked eyes with him again, Tom's breath got caught in his throat. Your eyes coated with question, utter distress and seething anger, but the pain, God the pain, Tom can feel it sharp and deep in his bones.

Tears fell from your eyes as tried your best to keep your voice steady, but you just couldn't, with the all the different emotions boiling deep inside, you just couldn't.

"Then why Tom? Why?" you sobbed, Tom's heart shattering at the agonizing sound.

He sat straighter, eyes turning glossy but it never left yours, brown orbs boring into your own. "I-I wish I could give you a good enough reason why I did it but I really don't know. All I know is that I was stupid and it was a huge mistake. I realise that now, a little too late but I did. I took what we had for granted—I took you for granted, and I will always regret it until I die."

"You're just saying the things I want to hear." You shook your head with a soft whimper, breaking his gaze as you shut your eyes, enabling more tears run down and coat your cheeks.

"No darling, look at me," Tom croaked, taking the risk as he reached over to take both your hands in his, and you let him, no flinching, you let him touch you. His heart beat rapidly against his chest as he gave it a squeeze, a silent way of asking you to look at him.

A shaky breath came out of you at the feeling of his warm skin, your tear-filled eyes meeting his own once again, seeing nothing but transparency as he spoke, "I haven't lied to you from the minute I sat here. It's hard to believe, I know. But I swear on Tessa's life I'm telling you the truth, every single word I've said."

Tom moved closer, fingers nervously fiddling with yours as he tried his best to keep his tears at bay. "I-I really do want you back. I want you to come back home, I want to hold you in my arms again but after everything I've done to you, I understand why that won't ever happen. And y-you deserve someone better, so much better than m-me," he choke back a sob, bottom lip trembling at his last sentence.

"You hurt me Tom, so bad," you whimpered, voice laced with so much agony, no more holding everything in as the strong façade you've been putting on crumbles.

To see you break down in front of him, your hands shaking in his grasp, nothing but utter pain coating the dips and valleys of your face, that was all it took for Tom to crack. His tears now streamed down his face, falling freely one after the other as his emotions came crashing through like a tidal wave.

"I-I know darling, I know and I'm s-so fucking sorry," he spluttered, feeling his throat close up as he tried to blink away the tears, to rid of his blurry vision so he can see you. He just wants to see you, cherish every second since he has no idea if there would be a next time after this.

Then delicately, Tom lifted your hand up to his lips, kissing your palm sweetly, all adoringly before he placed it flat against his warm and damp cheek, leaning into your touch with a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry angel," he whispered, voice filled with pure regret and guilt.

You remained silent, still looking into his eyes but you kept still, not knowing where you'll go from here. But then Tom lets out a nervous sigh. "And I want you to know that I—" he cut himself off as cleared out his throat, eyes staring deep into your own before he spoke with absolute sincerity,

"I love you."

Your lower lip quivered with a soft cry, eyes closing as shook your head at him. "That's the first time you've said that to me since you came back home," you said, breath unsteady as you replay those three words inside your head.

Eight letters tied together giving you an overwhelming feeling. That's what it does when you haven't heard those words escape his lips in a long time. And oh how you missed it, you missed hearing him say it, but what did it cause for you to hear it again? Too much, way too much to the point that you were unsure if the words hold the same true meaning as before, doubtful if it meant anything at all or if he just casually threw it in there for the sake of it.

Tom nodded regretfully, letting go of your hand as he went to hold your face, thumb caressing your cheek tenderly, your eyes opening at the feeling of his skin on yours. "And I wish I could've said it to you more often because I truly love you Y/N. If I could go back and change everything, I would in a heartbeat. If I could go back in time I'd tell you over and over just how much you mean to me, how important you are in my life. I'd tell you every hour of every day just how much I love you."

With a sharp intake of breath, Tom leaned forward until his forehead was now resting against yours. His proximity was intoxicating, the tips of your noses were almost brushing and you thought it would be too much, but it wasn't. You welcomed it, the feeling of being so close to him because after everything, his eyes still have the hold against you, Tom will always have a hold against you.

"I love you so much darling and I fucking hate myself for not showing you that enough, because you deserve nothing more than to know that you are loved, to feel that you are loved. And I am so sorry for failing you at both." he whispered, and with one look into his eyes, you knew he was being genuine, his voice was trembling but still, you can hear it, feel it inside you that he was being honest.

But was that enough to make you feel reassured? Was that all enough for everything to go back to the way it used to be?

No, it wasn't. It wasn't enough to let your heart win over your brain.

"I just need space to think, I'm sorry," you muttered softly as you pulled your face away from his grasp, letting out a small sniffle before crossing your arms over your chest in a defensive stance, to hold yourself in a way. Tom felt his whole chest ache, but he didn't protest. He lets you go despite not wanting to.

"No, it's okay love and I completely understand. I wasn't expecting you to just jump back in my arms when I came here. I just really needed to say all of these to you." Tom shot you a small, broken smile before he lowered his head, hand coming up to rub the back of his neck.

Silence hung in the air for a few hellish seconds, turning awkward, deafening with each tick. And when you didn't say another word, Tom took that as a sign, took it upon himself to draw a conclusion.

"Uhm—yeah, I-I think this is my cue to leave," he muttered under his breath and stood up from his place, giving you one last glance to see you only spare him a nod, eyes looking anywhere but at him. With a defeated sigh, he started to walk away, but before he could reach the door, your voice stopped him.

"Tom wait—"

He immediately spun around with hopeful eyes to see you on your feet, already facing him with a small frown. Tom was ready, eager to run to you, to hear the words he so desperately need, to kiss you with all that he has as you take him back. But just as how quick he built that hope up, it was slapped away in an instant when you spoke again.

"Can you pack my stuff up for me please? I-I can't—I don't think I can go back at the house," you breathed out, eyes meeting his as you shifted from one foot to the other. "Just my clothes and toiletries, you can throw the other stuff away."

Tom's heart sunk into the pit of his stomach. The thought of you unable to go back to the house, your home, it was heartrending but there was no other person to blame for that. He searched your eyes, tried to read any hesitation on your face, because he can't accept it. He can't bear to fathom the thought of getting rid of each trace of you in the house. Tom won't be able to handle it because it feels like the final nail on the coffin, after it's done then there's nothing more to go back to.

But when he saw nothing, when he saw that you do in fact mean it, that it is what you want, he forced a tight-lipped smile. "Anything you need love."

You nodded somberly, "Just leave it in the front porch and I'll get it once you're done."

No more words were said after that, Tom unable to slip in a response as you turned your back on him. And with a gloomy sigh, he pulled the door open and went back inside the house.

The moment he reached the living room, the twins both stood up from their places on the couch, both sporting worried looks as they watched their older brother walk with his head hanging low.

"Uhm, thank you for looking after her and I'm really sorry," Tom said as met his brother's eyes. The boys saw a glimpse of what happened outside, and by the look on Tom's face, they knew that their brother deeply regrets what he's done. If anything, he needs them more now, and what harm will it do when they cut him some slack? Tom was already beating himself up black and blue, he doesn't need more of it from everyone else, especially the ones he truly cares about.

Sam was the first to approach him, a sympathetic smile plastered on the lad's lips as he gave him a comforting hug, a loving pat on the back before moving out of the way. Harry came into view next, hand rubbing at the back of his neck guiltily as he said, "I'm sorry for being an asshole earlier." Tom shook his head at him with a faint smile. "It's fine Harry. I deserved it."

His brother tilted his head to the side with a sad smile, moving closer to pull Tom in for a warm embrace. "Take care of yourself," Harry muttered. Tom lets out a shaky breath as he gave his brother a squeeze.

"I'll try."

***

It was so hard packing your stuff up. The fuller your bags got, the heavier Tom's heart grew. And it took him so long to get it done because he just needed to take a breather in between, the ache in his heart overwhelming him to the point that he can't stop his tears from free flowing.

On a slightly brighter note, he does have a sweet girl to comfort him, a precious staffy who'd lay her head on his lap whenever she hears him stifle out a few tears.

Tessa was supposed to stay with his parents for a couple more days, but Tom couldn't endure being alone in the house. So, he cut her little vacation short and stopped by at their house on his way home right after you two had the talk. Tom told them what had happened, disappointed looks unavoidable but they still gave him a much needed comfort and a few heartfelt advice, and for that he was grateful.

He drove home and went straight to bed right after, tried to get some sleep but struggled to say the least. But after a few doses of alcohol and a couple more tears, exhaustion took over him eventually.

Now it was midday, the rays of the sun shining through the bedroom windows, wrapping the space with warmth but Tom wasn't mirroring the mood, the clear blue sky unable to lift his spirits up.

He was sat on the floor of your shared closet, eyes trained on the already empty shelves. He stared at it for a couple seconds before his gaze fell right beside him where your suitcase was situated, now filled and entirely full.

Tom blew out his cheeks as he reached over to zip it up, the sound unpleasant to his ears, unbearable that his eyes screwed shut to keep the tears in. His head was already pounding; he figured crying some more wasn't going to help.

After a few calming breaths, he felt something nudge at his arm, lids shooting open to see Tessa with a stuffed animal in her mouth. "What have you got there?" Tom asked sweetly as he took the toy from her grasp, heart aching once he saw what it was.

He looked back at Tessa with a small smile. She's a clever girl but Tom just knows the dog was properly confused as to why he was packing her mummy's stuff up.

It pained him to think about it, that he would have to try and explain to her why you'd be no longer around. Tessa loves you quite a lot, absolutely attached that the pup tends to look for you first each time she's back in the house, a jab at Tom's ego but he adores it nonetheless. Hell, she explored each room when they got back last night, a soft whine coming out her once she didn't find you. And now to come and reflect that you two were going to be separated all because of him, it's just an addition to the guilt that was already filling him up to the brim.

Tom pulled her close to his side lovingly, placing a soft kiss on her forehead as he whispered on her skin with every ounce of remorse,

"I'm so sorry princess."

***

As he sat on the steps of the front porch, Tom's heart and mind were running a hundred miles per second. Your packed up things were sat on his left while Tessa laid flat by his right. The sweet girl still had no clue why they were outside, just sitting and doing absolutely nothing. But Tom was in much need of some company, and she's always happy to give him that.

He'd sent you the text few minutes ago, saying that it was all done and ready to be picked up. It did cross his mind that he wasn't going to do it, that he'll just keep your stuff here so you won't be able to leave, but that's just downright cruel, selfish and disgusting, so he quickly shut the thought down. Now he was left to wait anxiously, fingers picking at the fabric of the stuffed animal that Tessa lent him earlier.

It wasn't long after when a familiar car pulled up into the driveway, his heart hammering even more at the sight of the vehicle. Tom stood from his place with a shaky breath, dread slowly seeping through his skin at the mere thought that it genuinely was happening. That you were really leaving and it wasn't just his mind playing tricks on him.

Tessa perked up when you and Harry came out of the vehicle, the pup not wasting any time as she bolted straight towards your direction. You crouched down to greet her with open arms, a small giggle escaping your lips when Tessa showered you with her kisses.

Tom's heart stuttered at the sight, a feeling of adoration spreading in his chest, but only lasting for a split second as it was quick to be replaced by one with grief. His heart felt like it was getting torn out of his chest at that thought that he might not be able to see this wholesome interaction ever again.

You walked over to the front porch with an unreadable look on your face, Tessa trailing right behind sporting a wide smile as she kept her gaze on you, tail at an all-time wag, still oblivious to what was happening.

"Hey," was all that Tom managed to get out, his heart warming a little at the sight of you, but ached the moment he noticed your puffy face, bloodshot eyes meeting his as you flashed him a faint smile. "I'm taking my car on the way back, so uhm, I think I left the keys inside," you explained, fingers nervously fiddling at the hem of your hoodie.

Tom frowned at that, but he already knew you weren't stepping inside anytime soon. You did ask him to pack your stuff up for that sole reason. To add to that, he also kind of expected that you were going to say that too, so he fished your car key from his pocket and handed it to you.

"I saw it laying on the counter so yeah," Tom trailed off, eyes still set on you as you took the key from him with a slight frown, and when he saw this he panicked. "Fuck, this looks I'm kicking you out or that I'm looking forward to you leaving and came prepared. I'm not. I figured that you would take your car too that's why I have the keys prepared, not because I want you to go, because I really don't want you to go," he rambled before he could even stop himself.

You stared at him for a full second or two, contemplating on what to say — or if you should even say anything at all — but with much thought, not wanting to say the wrong words, you opted on staying silent as you only nodded at him with a hum.

"I think this is everything," Tom cleared his throat to fill up the silence, cheeks all warm and red as he gestured towards your bags. "If I forgot something just let me know," he offered shyly.

You were about to move, to take your things and get this over and done with but before you could even do so, Tom spoke again. "And uhm, I don't know if you wanted to keep him but—" Tom revealed a very familiar stuffed panda from behind him, holding it out for you to take—or not—with a nervous smile.

Your heart skipped a beat at the sight of the toy, frown unconsciously deepening as you took it from his hands.

It was the stuffed panda he won for you during your first date at a carnival. You remember it vividly, his grin wide and proud, eyebrows wriggling as he offered you it with a curtsy. Such a memorable night filled with hearty laughs, screams from terrifying rides, clouds of cotton candy and a handful of friendly competitions. The night then ended with him dropping you back home, and as cliché as it can be, with a sweet goodnight kiss at the front of your door, leaving you both smiling like idiots as he drove away.

After that night you had a feeling that there was something special about this boy. And months down the line, you realised you were right as he was quick to snatch your heart without much effort.

You'll always cherish that day, the simpler times as some would say, and the very panda you held in your hands now was a huge reminder of that. Was there any harm in keeping it? You're not sure. The memory does fill you up with genuine happiness, but then the pain follows soon after as you're reminded that it was once like that. The thought that the memories wouldn't be added with more, it hurts, deeply.

But as you looked at the toy again, you don't have the heart to throw it away. You don't have the strength to give it back either, so you held it closer to your chest as you looked back up to see Tom already staring at you in a certain way, a slight gloss coating his brown orbs.

That's when you knew he thought about the same thing too, remembered that same night, that same exact memory. You both held each other's gaze with such intensity, a slight hint of longing in each other's eyes. There were still so many words left unsaid, you both saw that. But neither of you spoke, neither of you dared to move a muscle.

The tension in the air only grew from there, almost turning awkward. That until Tessa nudged at your leg, making you break eye contact with the man in front of you to look at the pup with a curios yet sad smile. You were unsure if you're going to see her precious face again, and gosh it stings. She's your baby too and in no way do you want to leave her, but sometimes the right decisions requires a bit of sacrifice.

"Spend some time with her. Harry and I will take care of your stuff," Tom spoke as he gave you a reassuring smile, already knowing what's going through your head with just a simple look in your eyes.

You gave him a thankful nod, your own lips curving up and Tom felt his heart melt. It was small, didn't reach your ears by all means, but it's genuine, the warmest smile you've given him since everything that has happened.

With one last look at you, Tom took as much of the bags he can carry and made his way towards Harry, who was leaning on his car with his phone in hand. When the lad heard Tom approach, he smiled, helping him set the bags on the floor before pulling him in for a warm hug.

"You look like shit by the way," Harry joked as pulled away and went to open the boot of the car. Tom scoffed playfully at that. "Thanks bro, feel like it too."

Harry tilted his head at his older brother, hand coming up to give his shoulder a squeeze, making Tom meet his eyes. The brothers shared a smile, Harry not needing to say anything for Tom already knew what he was trying to say, that Harry is there for him, as he always is.

"How is she?" Tom asked softly, continuing the task at hand of loading your things in the car. "Still the same," Harry sighed sadly.

The older brother lowered his head with a deep exhale, just utter guilt filling him up from head to toe. His eyes were now staring at the last bag set on the ground, tears welling up again as reality starts to creep on him.

"Hey, she's a strong girl. She'll be okay. You both will be," Harry reassured and all Tom could do was nod. He wasn't sure if was going to be okay after all of this, his future blurry without you in it. But a brave face he can manage, taking in a deep breath as he placed your last a bag in the boot.

He looked back at the front porch to see you sat on the top step, both hands cupping Tessa's face as your lips moved. Tom could make out the glisten on your cheek, the light of the sun reflecting against it, chest heaving in a way that's had your hands slightly shake. He watched you pull Tessa in for a hug, your eyes screwed shut as you placed a loving kiss on top of her head, the pup giving you one big lick on the cheek once you pulled away, her way of returning the gesture.

Tom's heart took at big swing at the sight, a shaky breath coming out of him as he kept his eyes steady on his two favorite girls, bidding their goodbyes despite not wanting to, but having no choice because of the horrible things that he's done.

He caught his sniffle with a clear of his throat, quickly wiping away the tear that managed to slip with the back of his hand as you stood from your place and made your way towards them. Tessa was following you still, demeanor now different as she looked at your figure with a tilt of her head, almost with a frown.

She was definitely still a bit confused, but Tom has a feeling that she knows what was going to happen, and he will definitely have to hold onto her when you... when you leave.

"Everything ready?" you asked, voice a bit hoarse with the obvious tear lines on your cheek but neither boys said anything about it. "Yeah, good to go," Harry answered when his brother stayed quiet. Tom's eyes elsewhere just so he won't become a balling mess yet again.

"Okay, uhm thanks Tom." His head shot up at the mention of his name, flashing you a forced smile with a curt nod to match.

He tried keep at it his silence as he watched you walk to your car, just knowing his emotions would betray him the moment he opens his mouth. Plus, he genuinely doesn't want to make things harder for you again for putting more things in your head to think about. But the moment you opened the door to your car, he couldn't stop himself, he knew he needed to say something.

"Y/N wait—" Tom called out, walking closer towards you, though when you turned back around to face him, he hesitated. He contemplated if it was worth a shot, if he should at least try and ask. But when he took in your frown up to your glossy eyes, the glow and joy on your skin all faded, he inhaled a sharp breath.

"Take care of yourself," said Tom instead, not the same words that were stuck on the tip of his tongue, not the words that his brain wanted to scream into the open.

"You too," you mumbled, quickly getting inside your car, making Tom miss the expression that crossed your face. The car door slamming shut followed by the silent roar of the engine, drowned out the shaky breath you let out, eyes never meeting his again.

There was a simple question not asked. A question that could make things turn around, make this day have a better outcome, but Tom didn't dare to spit it out. He held himself back thinking that it was for the best.

He crouched down to take a strong hold of Tessa's collar as the two cars backed out of the driveway. The pups heartbreaking whines filled Tom's ears, the sound making his tears run down his cheeks, unable to keep them at bay any longer.

There were still words were left unsaid, but there was nothing more he can do with them now as Tom watched your car disappear down the street, eyes steady on the vehicle until the only thing left to see was the skid marks of the tires of your car on the pavement, a reminder that you were once here but may never return again.

***

A week has passed and Tom wasn't feeling any better. If anything, his life just turned shittier with each day gone without you in it.

The house was a complete mess, more so his bedroom with all the crap that's lying around. Said crap ranging from bottles of alcohol – some empty, some half-full – the broken glasses he has yet to pick up, dirty and clean clothes mixed up on the floor, up to the random food wrappers that decorated the area.

Hell, he hasn't even taken a shower in days, that's the state he was in right now. Tom also had to ask his mum to pick Tessa up a couple days ago, given the fact that he can't even take care of himself. Plus, he didn't want to stress the poor girl with him constantly being down in the dumps and more.

Long story short, he was a broken mess, both physically and emotionally. And the light at the end of the tunnel seems too far away where Tom doesn't even believe if it's there to begin with.

But despite wanting to rot in bed for maybe another week or two, to drown in his self-pity basically, he received a few emails that were too important for him to simply shove aside.

So, an hour-long, hot shower and a fresh set of clothes later — and a few pain relievers to help with his headache — Tom made his way outside his room only to look for his computer. Once he found it just on top of the coffee table, he held it in his hands and went straight back to the bedroom.

He couldn't bear to stay outside with the sun shining all bright, especially with it accompanied with the clear blue sky. The beautiful day just makes him feel bad about everything, makes him feel worse about himself. Tom felt more comfortable staying inside the bedroom where the curtains were all closed, the space dark and gloomy to match his mood.

Plopping back down on the bed with his back resting against the headboard, he placed the computer on his lap, taking in a tired breath before turning it on. Much to his surprise, he stared right at a photo of Tessa and him, confusion filling him up at the sight of the lock screen because that wasn't what he set it as. His lock screen was of you and Tessa, not him.

Sure enough when he tilted the laptop up, there he saw your initials written on the bottom surface. A frown made its way onto his lips as he realised that he might have given you his computer instead.

You two have the same computer and the only way to tell which one was who's without seeing the contents, was by the initials on the bottom. And just as cheesy as it can get, you were the one who wrote his initials while he wrote yours. Kind of like an autograph, hence why Tom was staring right at his handwriting, as if it wasn't obvious enough that this was in fact your computer.

At the time you both thought it was just cute and silly, a simple gesture for couples in love. Never did it cross Tom's mind that day that looking at it would bring hurt. But now it does, the gesture turned into remembrance, a mere memory of what it used to be.

He was a mess when he packed your things up. It wasn't unlikely that he missed to check which computer he gave to you. But what confused him was that a week has passed yet you hadn't contacted him, nor did you ask the twins to fetch it for you if you still can't bear to see him again.

It could've been that you haven't noticed yet or could've been something else. Tom has no way of knowing as he hasn't spoken to you since. He does know you're still staying at the twins' house courtesy to Harry, but that's about it.

He was about to reach for his phone to contact said lad but he accidentally pressed on the keys, screen now showing your desktop. Tom frowned with a shaky breath, a picture of you two on the beach glaring right at him. But what caught Tom's attention more was a certain folder, the name too long that he had to click it to show the rest.

B-ideas (If by any chance you're Tom please do not open this folder you're gonna break my heart if you do bub)

That only perked his curiosity even more. And given that he's already broke your heart due to something far worse, he double-clicked it to open. What more could he lose?

Tom felt a sharp stab at his chest as he scrolled through countless amounts of photos of different kinds of cakes, certain venues, and lovely decorations.

B-ideas... Birthday ideas.

He screwed his eyes shut, hand going up to pinch the bridge in utter frustration. First it was your relationship with Tessa, even his family for that matter, and now his birthday. What else did he ruin? Well, aside from the obvious anyway. How many times will he have to be reminded about all the things that are affected due to his mistake? Not enough apparently.

You always loved to plan his birthdays for him. He adored how you always get so excited to ask him a few things or when you keep it a secret as much as possible for it to be a surprise. You've made him the happiest boy every birthday. You make him feel even more special and he was glad to have you by his side each time. But now, he's ruined it by a long shot and his birthdays will never be the same.

As he reached the bottom, Tom found another folder within the folder named: For Slideshow (Gift)

Tom dared to open it as well, the pain in his heart only magnifying at the sight of old photos and videos of you and him. There were a few from all around the world — during the whole press tour to be specific — but most of it was just here in London or right at this very home.

You always went the sentimental route when it comes to his gifts. 'You can buy anything you want now,' as you've said. And despite him telling you that he won't care where you got it from – whether it from Tesco's or whatever – as long as you're the one giving it, then he will cherish that gift with all his heart. But of course, you just had to go the extra mile by making sure it was handmade by you. Whether it's a handwritten letter, a collage, or whatever cute thing it may be, you have never failed to make him emotional with each one, a tear or two shed every birthday.

It looked like you were going for a video compilation this year judging by the name of the folder and the contents of said folder—well, what you were supposed to do but it's not happening now, is it?

It was such a trip down memory lane, just photos upon videos, mostly candid, some intentional jump-scares and a few cheesy yet funny ones sprinkled here and there. The one video that caught his eye first though was the one where it had you and him kissing on the thumbnail.

Tom recognized it right off the bat. He remembers that day clearly to this moment. It was from the set where Harry filmed Roses for Lily, where you and Tom helped with all the little things. And his assumption was proven right when he pressed play...

"And that's a wrap everyone!" Cheers erupted around the field followed by applause as Sam and Sophie took a playful bow.

"Connect it to the speaker and play it on my cue," Tom whispered against Harry's ear, confusion crossing the younger lad's face before Tom jerked his head towards you. Harry shook his head at his brother but took his phone anyway, getting so used to his cheesy ass antics.

This wasn't your greatest week regarding work and school, even more so today. So, Tom thought head lift your spirits up in the cheesiest yet sweet way he can managed.

You were talking with Nikki when Tom suddenly came up to the both of you with an expression that you didn't quite read, hands behind his back as he stood with immense posture.

You narrowed your eyes at him. "Oh no, what are you up to?" you asked suspiciously.

"Will you do me the honour of granting me this dance mi lady?" Tom offered his hand with a curtsy, voice sporting the most posh accent he can muster with a cheeky smile plastered on those pink lips.

You shook your head with laughter at your boy. You turned to look at the woman who you were having a conversation with, only to see her give you two thumbs up with a wide smile, and with that, your gaze landed back on Tom sporting a smile of your own.

"Pleasure is all mine kind sir." You mimicked his accent and took his hand, fits of giggles coming out of you as Tom dragged you towards the front of the bench, the view of the field endless behind you.

He interlaced his fingers with yours as his other hand took home on your waist while yours rested on his shoulder, just like a proper ballroom dance. "We don't even have music you dork," you pointed out the obvious, to which Tom only grinned all proud.

"Says who?" He shot Harry a nod and not long after the soft tune of 'The Way You Look Tonight' by Frank Sinatra filled your ears.

You threw your head back as you let out a loud yet hearty laugh. "You're a huge cheese ball aren't you?" you teased.

"Oh please, you love it," Tom flashed you a knowing smirk as he then starts to swing to the tempo of the music. He guided you with gently care as he spins you out and then pulls you back in again, his background in dancing making it easy for him to lead the dance.

And you always admire this talent of his, adored it with all your heart as you break out to random dances – may it be silly or slow – around the house whenever to whatever music. It was not new to you so you can easily follow his rhythm having dance with him before. Plus, the steps were simple enough for you to catch. And having known each other for a long while, it was easy for the two of you to move in sync.

But then he started to sing, and that caught you off guard.

"Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm; and your cheeks so soft; there is nothing for me but to love you; and the way you look tonight."

You can't stop your grin from growing at his sweet voice, heart warm as you stared right into those beautiful brown orbs. Tom doesn't sing much often, not seriously anyway. But when he does, it makes your heart melt ten times over and then some, because the boy can definitely sing.

"Am I wooing you darling?" Tom cooed with a wriggle of his eyebrows, earning yet another laugh from you. And with him being all cheeky with his timing, you didn't get to respond as he continued to sing,

"And that laugh that wrinkles your nose; Touches my foolish heart," Tom sang with a cheeky wink, the smile on your lips ever growing that your cheeks we're starting to hurt, but you could care less.

"Lovely, never, never change; keep that breathless charm; won't you please arrange it? 'Cause I love you; just the way you look tonight,"

He kept singing, not for but to you, dedicating each word, meaning each note that the smile on your lips was impossible to wipe off. Not to mention the simple yet lovely dance, bodies swaying sweetly to the music, it was just like a scene from a movie.

Tom twirled you around courteously, pulling you back closer to him that had both your arms resting over his shoulders. He wrapped his own arms around your form, noses delicately touching as you two mirrored each other's eyes, nothing but the look of love coating them.

And when you nudged his nose adorably, Tom chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling, leaning closer until his lips captured yours in a charming kiss. A kiss so blissful that your hearts were filled with nothing but warmth, spreading from head to toe as you kept dancing to the slowly fading music.

Both of you were unaware that Harry recorded the whole thing, making the little dance, the sweet gesture as pure and raw as it can be. Just two couples in love, cherishing each other's company, adoring one another with everything that they have...

Tom lets out a strangled breath as the video stops, trembling fingers hovering over the space bar as he stared at the still of you, warmly wrapped in his arms, absolutely content, delighted and purely in love.

Next thing he knew, Tom found himself watching videos upon videos of you and him, endless clips that showed just how happy you two were, how happy you made him. Each video showed him the way you use to glow, smile bright as day while your eyes were filled with nothing but pure adoration, a blissful expression on your face and oh how stunning it looks on you. Pure happiness suited you so much and Tom took that away. He took away your shine; he snuffed out that radiance you always bring whenever you're in the room.

He only decided to stop when Tom felt his chest tighten harshly, breath turning uneven as his eyes started to burn. He was about to close the laptop, to set it aside and give himself a breather, but then he saw another one with a thumbnail that has only you in it. Despite being too emotional, despite deciding that the torture was enough, his curiosity was stronger. So, he played it...

"...right, is this recording? Yup, it is, okay."

You sat back on the chair after you adjusted the camera – which Harry kindly let you borrow – on the little desk you had in yours and Tom's shared bedroom. "It's a little too early to make a video message since your birthday is months away but I've got nothing better to do so," you trailed off, adjusting your hair before sitting up and smiling at the lens.

"To the man of my dreams, my knight in shining armour, to my handsome prince," you paused with a scrunched of your nose. "Oh gosh too cheesy. Okay, reel it back, whew, okay, Thomas, spider-boy—well, more like spider-baby..." You let out a laugh at that, shaking your head at yourself before taking in a deep breath and looking back straight at the camera.

"To the absolute love of my life, Tom, happy birthday. Oh now, where do I start? Well, I can start with how proud I am of you. The fact that you've achieved so much in so little time? I couldn't be any prouder. You're the most hardworking man I know, it's not really a surprise how you got to where you are today. But despite all the accolades, the awards you've won — and soon to win — there's always one award, well two actually that's far more important than the rest. First one is you-being-such-an-incredible-human award. You, Tom have the kindest most compassionate heart I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. I could list so many great things but then we'd be here all day, just ask me it later and I'll send it to you in post," you giggled. "But trust when I say that you are a true hero, even without the mask."

"And well, the second award, oh gosh, it's the best-boyfriend award. Forgive my cheesiness — although you do like it — but it is in fact true. You, Thomas, you make me the happiest girl ever. I—oh no here comes the water works," you joked, fanning your eyes in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. And when you felt like you can hold it together, you continued,

"I feel so lucky to have you in my life. You've always been there for me through the good, the bad and the ugly. I don't think I could've made it pass things without you Tom and for that thank you. Thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin. For being my shoulder to cry on when I really need one, for being such a great listener and for being my rock. Thank you for helping me through the hardest times bub," you paused to take a deep breath, eyes glossy but with a proud smile on your lips nonetheless.

"...granted our relationship isn't perfect, we've had our disagreements and petty fights but I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I wouldn't trade you for the world, Tom. I am happy to be with you, so content with what we have. We've laughed together, cried together, we've grown together, and as promised, we're going to be there for each other, always." you let out a soft giggle to try and clear the lump in your throat, blinking rapidly to keep it in, though it already obvious in your eyes that you weren't going to be successful.

"And lastly... I love you so much Tom. My heart could literally exploded with just how much, and I just want you to know that whatever it takes, whatever challenge life will hurl at us, whatever happens in the future, I will always, truly, with all that I am, lov—"

"Darling? Where are you?" Tom's voiced echoed down the hallway, halting your words as you turned your head towards the door. With a sweet laugh, you look back to the camera. "You and your impeccable timing Thomas."

You quickly wiped the tears that managed to escape your eyes, making sure you don't look suspicious to not ruin the plans of surprise.

"Sweetheart?" Tom called out again.

"Bedroom babe!" you answered, taking in deep breaths before reaching for the camera. "I'll finish this later I guess. I'll see you—well in a couple seconds but future you sometime soon, love you!"

And with a blow of a kiss, you turned the camera off...

The whole bedroom turned eerily quiet as the screen turned pitch black. Almost quiet aside from the soft tap, tap, tap – the sound of Tom's tears hitting the computer keys, one after the other.

Tom stifled out a whimper as he screwed his eyes shut, hand coming up to tug at his hair in anger, sorrow, regret, hurt. You were good to him, you were everything to him and more. How could he waste that? He lost someone so rare, someone who's out of this world from beauty to heart. No one could ever replace you, nobody will ever come close to how much of an amazing person you are, how special and lucky you made him feel.

He had everything, and he threw that away.

As he tried to catch his breath, he reached for his phone, dialing the number of the only person who'd give him comfort but without all the bullshit.

"Hey Harrison, I know you’re probably still disappointed with me right now too but I just really need someone to talk to..."

***

"...and then I found this folder of hers that has all these ideas for my birthday. It even had old photos and videos of us but what struck me the most was her video message and I just—" Tom stopped to catch his breath, wiping away the tears on his face before he looked up a Harrison with a soft sob, "I ruined so much."

"You did," the lad answered bluntly, no sugar coating, no bullshitting. He wasn't going to say the words that his friend wanted to hear, if he kept doing that then how will he learn?

Tom buried his face in his hand in shame, sniffing loudly before lifting his head up again, face all puffy as he met his best friend's eyes with his bloodshot ones. "I miss her so much Haz, and I really want to fix things between us, to have her back. But I don't have a chance anymore."

Harrison frowned at that. He knows the full scope of the situation, but he doesn't recall you saying those exact words, well, as what Tom has explained to him anyway. "Did she say you don't have a chance anymore or did you just put words into her mouth?"

You didn't. You haven't told him those exact words, but your actions were an enough sign right? Tom leaned back on the couch, hand running through his hair with an exasperated sigh. "She told me to pack up her things, I think that's a clear message that it's over," he grumbled.

Harrison shook his head at his friend disapprovingly, "Tom, she has been fighting for your relationship for more than a month and you're already giving up in a week? After what you've done, I think you need to fight harder than that mate. Put more effort in, you owe at least that to her."

Tom frowned at his words, guilt growing more intense as the gears started to turn in his head. Did he really give up that easily? Could he have done so much better? If he asked you to sta—

But then the nagging voice was quick to shut down his questions. A certain reason why he feels like he can do nothing about it grew louder in his mind, said reason he felt the need to speak out loud.

"She deserves someone better than me Haz. I broke her heart and I—" Tom rubbed the nape of his neck. "I don't think I deserve another chance," he concluded in defeat.

Harrison sighed, placing a comforting hand on Tom's shoulder before he began. "Okay look, there are only two paths you can choose regarding this. Path one, you can mop around, drown in your pity party and just give up with everything like a fucking wuss. Or path two, you can get off your ass, thrive to be better, right your wrongs and be the man that she deserves. You have to fight for her if you truly want her back Tom. It's just a matter of choice," Harrison finished as he shot him a knowing look.

"I think you've been so busy telling yourself that everything is too late, but what if it's not yet? You think it's too late, but is it actually too late for her? What if she just needs more persuasion? What if she just needs a proper reassurance that you're going to make things right? For you to truly show her that you do in fact still love her? All I'm saying here Tom is that you won't know the answer to these questions unless you ask them, unless you give them a try. We don't get what we want easily, you have to work hard for it." Harrison added.

Tom stared at his best friend in pure shock and amusement given that he's never heard him sound so wise with advise before. They usually do stupid shit together, and when it comes to relationships, they both can be as equally as clueless.

But nevertheless, Tom felt like his eyes got opened, a new perspective settling in his mind and he will be forever grateful at Harrison for that.

"Fuck you're right." Tom didn't waste any more time as he got up from his place and went to go get his keys. Harrison sat there bewildered, calling out to Tom again when he saw him go towards the front door, "Where are you going?"

Tom turned to his friend with a small yet hopeful smile, the most he's felt in a while, "I'm getting her back."

***

Sam looked at his brother in complete surprise once he pulled the door open, "Tom what are yo—" the lad cut himself off once he saw Tom's face, clear in his expression who he was looking for.

"She didn't tell you," the twin muttered with a frown, his sudden change in demeanor making Tom worry. "Didn't tell me what Sam?" he asked cautiously. Tom thought he already prepared for the worst, thought that he can handle any sort of rejection, but when his brother spoke again, all the color drained out his whole body.

"Harry drove her to Heathrow thirty minutes ago."

It took a few seconds for Sam's statement to finally sink in. And when it did, Tom cursed as he quickly turned on his heel and ran, heart pounding, head spinning.

"Tom, wait!"

Sam didn't get a chance to stop him as he was already back inside his car, engine roaring as he veered into the road at top speed. He was driving dangerously, Tom was aware of that, but he can't let you step even a toe in that plane. If he does, then it will really be too late.

***

"Come on Harry, pick up, pick up, come on lad pick u—Harry! Which terminal?" Tom asked in haste, fingers drumming against the wheel impatiently.

"Huh? Terminal?"

"Bro, I beg, just tell me which terminal you dropped her off, please." Tom heard Harry sigh on the other line, his anxiousness growing with each silent second, and when his brother gave him the information, he felt the tears prick at the back of his eyes.

"Terminal 2... She's off to Abu Dhabi."

***

Tom's lungs were gasping for air, both from him running as fast as he can, and from the fear that was overwhelming him to every bone. Fear that he might not catch you on time.

The crowded airport wasn't helping his anxious state at all, his eyes quick to dart around as he tries his best to look for you. He asked around, looking like a lunatic as he shows your picture to random strangers. He even asked at the desk just to narrow where you could've gone, to make it easier to find you in this huge haystack. And when he hadn't had much luck, Tom was quick to assume that you already got pass security.

It may had been dumb, but everything he's done at this point has been dumb, what's the worst thing that could happen if he tried to get pass the guards?

But before he could even attempt and sneak his way in, a large, tall man blocked his way. "Boarding pass?"

Tom shook his head, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, mind an utter mess that it was hard for him to think straight, "I-I don't have... it's an emergency please I–"

"Sir, you're not allowed inside if you don't have a ticket," the security reprimanded, hand held up as he stops Tom's chances of slipping by. He's an idiot really, thinking that he can talk his way through, but he tried it anyway, begged in desperation just so he can find you before you get on that plane. "Please just let me through, it will be quick, I just need to—"

"Tom?"

Never had he ever turned around so quick in his life, relief washing over him once he saw you standing there, bottle of water with a receipt in hand, confusion written all over your face at the sight of him.

Tom just ran straight towards you, his burly body almost knocking you out of balance as he buried his face on the crook of your neck, arms engulfing you tightly, like he's holding onto you for dear life. Tom's whole body shaking as he balled his eyes out, a stuttering mess when he tried to speak to say the least.

"N-no, p-please don't leave me, I-I can't—I can't do this without you, p-please don't leave," Tom sobbed against your skin, his hold around you vise-like but just enough for it not to hurt. He's just downright scared to loosen his grip for you might vanish into thin air if he does.

You tried to pull him off of you but a useless effort as he is much stronger than you. And the harder you try, the firmer his grip on you becomes, muttering his protest over and over of him not wanting to let go. You sighed, "Tom, look at me, bub..."

Tom lets out a whimper at the nickname, pulling away just slightly until he was able to rest his forehead against yours, his warm tears dropping on your cheek and your heart stung at the feeling.

"Breathe for me," you whispered, cupping his face with both hands. Your thumb caressed his cheek tenderly, wiping away the tears that ran down them as much as you could. Tom did as told, attempting to steady his breathing, the warmth in your eyes helping him by a mile.

When he finally got a hold of himself, he took one deep breath before speaking. "I should've asked you before you could even leave the house, should've chased after you. I should've fought harder for you. I wanted to ask you this before you got into your car and I didn't, which was a mistake," he trailed off, clearing out his throat as he gave you a gentle squeeze.

"I should've at least tried and asked you stay. I hope it's not too late but now I'm asking, begging you to stay. I want you to stay with me, please?" Tom pleaded, ready to be on his knees but you stopped him, he didn't need to be. Your fingers traced his jaw delicately, heart aching at the sight of broken man in front of you, but you've already made a decision. It was hard sticking to it now with him here, but you just had to remind yourself that this was for your own sake. You've already thought this through and it was final.

"I—I can't," you paused as the number of your flight echoed through the speakers. You turned back to Tom with a soft whisper, "You know I can't."

"At least you could've said goodbye?" he squeaked, voice breaking at the fact that your mind was already set, and when that happens, even before your worlds got flipped upside-down, it takes so much to change it.

"I couldn't, because I know for a fact if given the time, you might actually change my mind. Hell, just seeing you right now, it's already making me doubt my decision. But I need this Tom, I need to do this for myself. I've realized that my world revolved too much around you, and I don't regret it at all but I need to find my own path, grow as my own person."

Tom nodded dejectedly, eyes shut tightly because he knows he would have to let you go in a couple minutes. He needs more time, he wants more time with you. But when he heard your flight getting called again, Tom knew there was not much he can do about it.

"But when are you coming back?" he asked, voice frail but full of dread. And Tom felt his heart shatter some more when you looked away, his frown deep and sorrowful as he muttered, "You're not planning to."

You shook your head with a close of your eyes. "No. I am... I just don't know when," and it was true. You were going away for quite some time but you have a life here in London as well. It would be too hard to stay away. But as of now, you don't think you'll be back anytime soon.

As you open your eyes to look at those brown orbs again, you knew he understood.

He always does. Tom is quick at that when it comes to you. Not needing a whole lot of words to know what you mean, one look in the eyes will suffice. Tom couldn't say much more either, so he lets his action speak for itself instead.

He pressed his lips against yours, the gesture catching you off-guard but only for a split second as you melted in his arms not long after. Tears slipped pass your eyes at the feeling, the feeling of his lips you've missed dearly, and Tom was the same. He missed how your lips fit perfectly with his, he missed how warm it feels, tender and soft.

It was a bittersweet kiss with the sense of goodbye laced in it, but it was beautiful nonetheless, special in a way as two hearts melt into one once more. Neither of you wanted to pull away. You just wanted to be stuck in the moment on repeat, destroy the buttons so that it plays on a never-ending loop. But when you heard your name through the speakers, you had no choice but to pull away.

As you stared into each other's eyes, both of you knew there was one more thing left to say, and as you did, as you spoke with nothing but sincerity, your hearts were filled with nothing but pure—

"I love you Y/N."

"And I love you Tom."

And with that he lets you go, hands going limp at his sides as he watches you gather your things and walk towards security. Before you could disappear out of sight, you spared him one last look over your shoulder, a smile written on your lips, one that was genuine, filled with adoration and... love.

It was a look that would always be burned in Tom's memory, but hopefully it won't be the last. Hopefully, with every choice made from here on out, if it's destined, then you'll find your way back to each other.

-:-:-:-:-

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[mollymauk-teafleak]

footprints in the snow

Nightrunners fic??? on a Sunday??? it’s more likely than you think. Look I’m a simple woman. I have some faves, I give them a baby. 

If you like this, please consider reblogging and leaving a comment on Ao3!

-------

Alec didn’t remember the first time he’d seen snow. It had always been part of his home as he grew, as much a part of the northern forests as the trees and the bitter wind and the wolf tracks in the brittle, cold shocked ground. Snow had been a source of clean water when you were far from a stream, a friend who would muffle your footfalls so you could creep close enough to take down the first deer you’d seen in weeks, an enemy who would wake you in the morning with blistered lips and stiff fingers if your shelter wasn’t good enough. He could never remember it being something unfamiliar, something strange and otherworldly. It had always been a part of his life, a part of him with his fair skin and pale hair.

Which was why Alec was so delighted to see it through his daughter’s eyes for the very first time.

The first few years of Adzriel ä Alec Ireya Rhíminee’s life had been spent in Bôkthersa and Skala where winter was all about grey rather than white, cold slate days and endless skies of thick cloud and sleet. Bôkthersa was too warm a climate for real snow and Rhíminee had the cloying atmosphere of a city, of crowded bodies and close buildings, the trapped heat and proximity to the sea meaning there was never anything more than the slightest sparkling of frost on the really chill days. She’d never known snow the way her papa did.

But they were travelling this winter, the fourth of her life, and Alec had been filling her head with visions of white flakes dancing in the air and dragon breath appearing before her every time she exhaled, of snowball fights and snow people and skating on frozen lakes. So it had been no surprise when, that morning, he’d been woken by her cry of delight and drawn to the window of the inn room they’d been staying in for the night to see the world turned crisp and white and perfect.

Of course then nothing would do but to bundle her as much as she’d let him in her excitement and set out into it, no matter the early hour. Alec had nudged the snoring pile of blankets that was his husband and asked if he wanted to come but had, to no one’s surprise, received a growl of dissent. He certainly didn’t share his talímenios’ love of winter or their little girl’s love of getting up early.

It seemed like every other living soul shared his views. As they walked out across the fields and into the thin woods that surrounded the main road they’d been travelling, it felt like they were the only two people in the whole world. It had been much the same way when Alec was a child, it had been so easy to forget that it wasn’t just him and his father, the only two humans in the vast expanse of the snowy wilderness, the only sounds the calls of those birds brave enough to be out in the cold and crunch of their footfalls.

And now it was him and Adzriel. Alec felt a fond kind of sadness weigh his heart down in his chest a little.

“Papa! Papa, it’s all white!” Adzri cried in amazement, trying to run ahead but the snow and her uncertain little toddler legs made it difficult.

Alec chuckled and took her head so she’d be a little steadier, “Why don’t you try and touch some, love?”

She gasped and bent over to try and grab a handful of a nearby drift. Even with the mittens he’d insisted she wear, as soon as her fingers brushed the snow she gave an indignant shout and jumped back.

“Papa, it bit me!”

Alec grinned, the expression on her little face an absolute perfect replica of one he’d seen on Seregil’s many times, “It’s the cold, sweet girl, that’s all. It’ll go away after a little while.”

She frowned down at the snow, a little warier now, but she was as stubborn as both her fathers. Again, she bent and seized a handful, eyes widening in awe as she crunched it between her clumsy, mittened fingers.

“Pretty…” she murmured, letting it fall back to the ground, watching how it caught on the air.

“Very pretty,” Alec agreed, squatting down beside her, “See, you can press it into snowballs or make snow shapes or build it up into people…”

Adzri giggled, grabbing more and throwing it up into the air, laughing as it fluttered back down around them and caught in Alec’s hair.

“Or you can just do that,” he chuckled, flicking some from his braid, “Come on, let’s walk a little further. It’ll be deeper the more we go into the woods.”

They continued on, so Alec could show his daughter how beautiful a snow encrusted leaf or pine cone could be, how it turned everything to sugared candies or how you could yell as loud as you could and the sound would carry no further than the tip of your nose.

After they’d been walking awhile, Alec realised her little hand was no longer held in his own. A hot rush of panic he wished he weren’t so familiar with pierced his stomach. She was always doing this, she’d inherited their talents for disappearing silently and wandering off. More than a few times he and Seregil had lost sight of her in some busy market or small town, ran themselves frantic back and forth, only to find their daughter sat happily enjoying the sunshine or admiring some shiny rock or forgotten penny that had caught her attention. More than once Seregil had been heard to curse the day she learned to walk on her own two feet.

Fortunately, he only had to turn around to find her. She was waddling in the snow just a few feet behind him, trying to place her feet in the snowy boot prints he’d left behind him. Her dark hair, so like Seregil’s, had come loose from under the hat Kari had knitted for her when she’d heard they were travelling north, her cheeks were an adorable apple red with the cold and her bright blue eyes, twins of his own, were full of delight. Her little tongue poked out in concentration as she did her best to walk in her papa’s footprints.

Alec’s panic dissipated, leaving his heart warm and full of love for his little girl. It had been such a wrench to the lives they’d known, the day she’d become theirs, but now Alec couldn’t imagine how he’d ever managed without her.

Time soon became irrelevant as they played in the snow, neither Alec or Adzriel noticed the sun coming up through the trees. They built themselves a snow family, one taller snowman to be Alec, one an inch shorter to be Seregil and then a little snowgirl, all of them with acorns for eyes and smiles fashioned from twigs. Alec did his best to make a snow castle for Adzriel to rein from which absolutely delighted her. They lay in the snow and waved their arms and legs to leave imprints behind, leaving them laughing and looking a lot like their snow counterparts with how much clung to their coats.

It was when they were trying to catch the gentle flakes of the latest flurry on their tongue that Alec saw movement out of the corner of his eye, through the trees. For a moment his hunter’s instincts prickled but then he caught a wink of the morning light catching on an earring and he grinned.

“You know, Adzri,” he hummed as if it had just occurred to him, “We really should be careful out here so early, with all this snow around…”

Her big blue eyes widened, “Why, papa?”

“Sometimes…” he leaned in close and stage whispered, making sure his voice carried while trying to sound conspiratorial, “In the dead of winter...in cold, lonely woods like these...the snow beasts come out to play.”

Almost instantly she was absorbed in the game, squeaking and closing in tight to him, “Snow beasts!”

“That’s right!” Alec declared, clutching her tight and looking theatrically from side to side, “Hideous creatures, these snow beasts, absolutely horrific. The sight of their faces is enough to stop a man’s heart!”

There was a poorly concealed snort of laughter from behind a nearby tree and the sound of footsteps from somewhere behind them.

“What do we do, papa?” Adzri was caught between terror and delight, the place children occupied so excitedly.

“Well, love, the only way to beat these vile monsters is at their own game. With a few well placed snowballs. Quick, we need ammunition, they’re already closing in!”

She made a sound that was half a scream and half a laugh, hurriedly scooping up snow. With Alec’s help, they soon had a small pile of serviceable snowballs. He had no doubt their ‘snow beast’ had used his time similarly.

“You throw the first, you’re a better shot than me,” Alec insisted, putting one in her hand and helping her square up.

He was saying it to make her puff up with pride but, in all honesty, for her last name day they’d given her a toy bow and arrow set fit for her tiny hand and he could already tell she’d be as good a shot as him some day. Perhaps even better. He’d have been smug but she seemed equally talented with her wooden sword. It seemed both of them had a protegee as well as a daughter.

“Don’t loose until you see it’s horrible face!” he warned, “Hold steady, that’s it...wait...wait…”

Sensing his cue, Seregil pounced from behind the tree, kicking up a flurry he could emerge from, gloved hands curled into claws, roaring gutturally. Adzriel was used to her daddy’s theatrics, however, and promptly hurled the snowball, catching him right on the nose.

Alec burst out laughing, hard enough that he lost his balance and pitched forward onto his knees, while Seregil spat out snow and wrinkled his nose.

“Good shot, sweetling,” he spluttered, “Unfortunately.”

“Daddy!” Adzriel frowned, putting her hands on her hips like she was scolding him, “We’re supposed to be hunting snow beasts!”

“Apologies,” Seregil laughed ruefully, dropping into a hunched, monstrous crouch.

He chased her around the clearing and let her pitch snowballs at him, eventually sweeping her up in his arms and spinning her around until she was in fits of giggles, tumbling in the snow with her. Alec sat up, not caring that snow was melting and soaking his knees through, watching his husband and their daughter play and unable to keep the smile from his face.

He remembered a time when Seregil had been absolutely terrified at the mere idea of being a father. He remembered difficult nights, arguments, empty space in the bed between them. And then the eventual breaking of the dam, the tears that came up like blood from a wound that had finally been lanced. Alec had learned a lot about his talímenios’ father then, things that made his shoulders tense and his hands ball into fists as he saw years worth of scars on show.

He remembered Seregil sobbing into his shoulder if she grows up and fears me the way I feared him, I don’t know how I could bear it.

But Seregil wasn’t Korit. He’d proved that so many times over and seeing him now, like this, with so much love and pride in his eyes as he played with their daughter, so at ease with her, happier than Alec could ever remember him being, he knew those fears his husband had shared with him had been put to rest.

He wiped a few tears from his eyes before they could fall, laughing as Seregil enacted a dramatic death while Adzriel sat on his chest and clapped her hands in triumph.

“Well done, brave hunter,” he swept her into his arms and kissed her frozen cheeks, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone brave enough to take down a snow beast.”

“Me!” Adzri crowed, “I did!”

Seregil stood, shaking snow off his travelling coat, “You certainly did, consider me very much defeated.”

“Look at you,” Alec beamed at him, smiling softly, “Up before noon and out in the cold…”

Seregil gave him a lopsided grin and came up to wind his arm around his waist, “Well, I couldn’t let the two of you have all the fun, talí.”

Alec chuckled and kissed him, hoping that and the bond they shared would say everything he wanted to but couldn’t put into words. From the way Seregil cupped his cheek and sighed under his lips, it seemed like they did.

“Eeeeew,” Adzri groaned, wriggling to bring their attention back to her.

Alec laughed and Seregil cooed, “Feeling left out, my little winter warrior?” He pulled her close and peppered kisses all over her face until she was giggling and squealing and begging for mercy.

“Come on now, I think we could all use a hot breakfast,” Alec slid an arm through Seregil’s, “We’ve got travelling to do today. Plenty of time to play when we’re on the road.”

“Good idea, talí,” Sergeil kissed his cheek and let Adzriel wriggle down to toddle back with one hand in her papa’s and the other in her daddy’s.

On the way Seregil invented tales of snow beasts and their winter ways, now fixed on the idea. It would be easy to be as transfixed as their daughter, he really did know how to weave  a story together. But Alec couldn’t help glancing back as he walked, letting him carry on.

And the sight of their footprints, side by side in the snow, made him smile.

[ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes]

Blue Eyes Part 21

Summary: After the Garrison is shot up, the youngest Shelby daughter finds a new home in London. She strips herself of her last name and tries to live a peaceful life far away from her brothers’ chaos in Birmingham. But fate leads her right back into it after she runs into Alfie Solomons.

Part 21: Lies at Margate lead to Ella’s breaking point. 

         Alfie came upon the stash quite by accident. It had been two weeks at Margate and things were going better than he could’ve imagined. Ella was slowly returning to the woman he fell in love with. Her bubbly nature coming back to life after shriveling up in a hospital room for so long. She didn’t speak much about her lost children but Alfie figured that one day they would come to terms with the loss in a healthier way. At that moment, he wanted to focus on her health.

           Ella was out on her daily morning walk with Cyril, strolling along the frigid ocean. Alfie had stayed behind because the brisk air was doing a number on his hip. Instead, he remained inside with Anthea who was more content to play indoors.

           As he flicked through paperwork, he kicked a ball back and forth for Anthea’s amusement. The growing pitbull bouncing to and fro trying to catch the ball, skittering across the wood floors of the cottage.

           Eventually, the ball became wedged under the sofa. Anthea whined and scratched at the cushions, much too large to fit under the narrow space.

           “Alright, alright, I’ll get it,” Alfie grunted as he stood and went over to the couch. “Where’d it go then?” He knelt down and tried to spot the ball. “All the way back there? Fucking hell…” He grumbled and practically had to lay down so he could reach under the couch. He groped around the dusty space until he came across something. It didn’t feel like the rubber ball that was slobbery and had chew marks. Instead, it felt like a piece of cloth.

           Curious, Alfie fished out the mystery item and brought it into the light. It was a large kerchief that was tied up. As he maneuvered the cloth, a clinking sound came from within. It didn’t look at all familiar to him so he untied it and opened it up. As he did, a vial tumbled out and fell to the ground. Luckily, it didn’t break but simply rolled to a stop.

           A sickening feeling gripped Alfie as he saw the entire kerchief was full of the bottles all with a various amount of liquid inside. He searched through a few of them and found that they all bore the same hospital label with dates from when Ella was in recovery.

           It didn’t take Alfie long to crack the case. His wife had been hoarding doses of morphine when she was in the hospital, most likely because once she was at Arrow House she had no access to the vials.

           Suddenly enraged that he’d been played a fool, Alfie bundled up the kerchief and stormed outside. Gripping the makeshift sack tightly, he traveled down the dunes to the shoreline.

~~~~~~~~

           Ella was just returning from down the beach, Cyril already wet from romping about in the cold waves. The bullmastiff galloped toward him, his tail wagging.

           His wife smiled when she saw him coming. “Is your hip feeling a bit better?” She asked once they were close enough to hear each other over the crashing waves.

           Alfie tossed the vials onto the sand between them. “What the fuck is that?” He demanded.

           Ella’s face lost all its color. She swallowed and shook her head. “I-I didn’t…”

           “Don’t fucking lie to me, Ella!” He jabbed a finger at her. “You tell me that you’ve been hiding this from me the entire time I was trying to take care of you.” He accused.

           “I couldn’t do it, Alfie!” She cried. “I was too sick an-and I wasn’t properly taken off of it.” Tears stung her eyes. “I felt like I was dying!”

           “Unbelievable.” Alfie ran a hand over his mouth in disbelief and turned away from her to pace a few steps. “Fucking unbelievable. I trusted you and this is how you thank me.”

           “Well, fine. You can’t trust me. I’m a fucking Shelby, isn’t that right?” Ella held her arms out wide. “That’s all I’ve ever been to you.”

           “No. No.” He turned around. “None of that. I’m sick of that. The names and all that shit. You’re my fucking wife, that’s what you are. I promised I wouldn’t lie to you and you did the same.”        

           “I wasn’t taking it.” Ella crossed her arms over her chest and refused to look at him.

           “Good, then you won’t be bothered if I toss this nonsense in the sea.” Alfie stooped down to gather the vials up in the cloth.

           His wife twitched violently and she lurched forward. “Don’t you fucking dare.” She snarled.

           “I knew it. I fucking knew it.” He retorted and held the stash away from her. “You look me in the eyes and you tell me that you weren’t fucking touching any of it.”

           She was silent and didn’t move an inch. Instead, she looked out over the ocean and did her best to ignore the internal itching. The itch that demanded she do whatever it took to get those little bottles back. But she refused to go through another withdrawal. Not when she felt like she was mere inches away from death. Not when she woke up in a cold sweat seeing the blue eyes of her children. No. If it killed her then so be it.

           Alfie hardly had enough time to react to Ella pulling out a gun. She pointed it right to her temple, her finger resting on the trigger.

           Her husband’s eyes widened. “Ella…”

           “I’ve had it!” She shouted across the beach at him. “This is how it goes! I’m a Shelby and we’re cursed!”

           “Ella, put the gun down.”

           “No!” She sobbed, her hand shaking violently. “No-no I’ve had it. I wanted them, Alfie. I wanted them because they were mine! They were supposed to be mine. They were supposed to be born here.”

           Alfie kept his distance just in case a sudden movement caused her to react. “Listen to me…just listen for a moment. Okay? Listen.” He tried to soothe softly; his eye kept on the gun. From how badly her hand was trembling it was only a matter of time before it went off.

           “I-I can’t…”

           “You can, you can listen for a moment. Please, love, put the gun down and come over to me.” He coaxed as if she were a spooked horse. “Ella, I’m begging you. I know you’re in pain but I ain’t going anywhere. I’m gonna be standing right here. I can’t live without you, love.”

           “It hurts.” She wailed but she slowly began to lower the gun away from her head.

           “I know, love, I promise it’ll get better.” He held his arms out to her and began to inch towards her. “C’mon, c’mere.”

           Finally, Ella set the gun down in the sand and took a few staggering steps towards her husband. Alfie caught her before she fell and sank to the ground with her. He hadn’t noticed he was shaking too until he had her safe in his arms. His heart was pounding so badly it was hard to hear the waves nearby. But he could hear her crying.

           Cyril came over and nosed his way between the two, licking at their tears.

           “There you are…I’ve gotcha.” Alfie rocked her back and forth. “I won’t let go.”

~~~~~~~~~~

           Ella didn’t watch as Alfie discarded the vials. She was curled up in the sunroom, her entire body trembling. Alfie draped a blanket over her for comfort and shepherded the dogs into the room to keep her company while he called around.

           Tommy didn’t answer on the first ring, neither did Ada. Karl answered and said his mum was out running errands. So, Alfie called Polly. In all honesty, he felt stupid for not trying her first. He considered her very wise and level-headed compared to the majority of Ella’s family.

           “Have her withdrawals come back?” Ella’s aunt asked after Alfie gave her the gist of what happened that day.

           “No, she admitted she took some this morning.” He answered and scratched his beard. “I thought things were looking up…didn’t fucking think I was this clueless.”

           “She’s always been good at hiding things. She managed to hide you from her brothers for a good while.” Polly pointed out.

           Alfie smiled weakly and shook his head. How simple things were back then. All he had to worry about was Tommy, Arthur, and John trying to kill him. He’d take that any day over Ella suffering. “I’m scared for her. She was so sick withdrawing last time.”            “You don’t want to see her like that.” The woman surmised.

           It made him feel guilty at the thought. He wasn’t the one suffering through the awful pain of quitting something as addictive as morphine. Shouldn’t he be lucky to be on the other side? But deep down, it made his gut turn thinking about another withdrawal. The last once had put such a strain on their relationship. It tore at him inside and out to see his wife in agony. The uncontrollable shakes, the vomiting, the unyielding sadness. She didn’t deserve any of it. But life wouldn’t give her a break it seemed.

           “What do you suggest?” Alfie asked instead of answering Polly.

           “Maybe you two need some time apart.” She suggested cautiously. After Alfie and Ella had arrived in Small Heath, Polly got a clear enough of a picture of their relationship. The man was obviously fiercely protective over her and yet absolutely head over heels for her. When she moved, so did he. What happened when a planet was knocked out of its orbit around a star? Was it possible to find its way back?

           Alfie gritted his teeth. “I need to be here for her, I promised.”

           “Being there for her doesn’t mean you’re glued to her side, Alfie,” Polly replied firmly. “What if giving her some time was your way of supporting her?”

           Although the concept sounded terrifying to him, Polly’s sage manner made him consider it. Most likely if Tommy had suggested the same thing, Alfie would either laugh at him or tell him to fuck right off. “Where would she even go?” He asked after mulling over the option.

           “I suppose you could ask her.”

           “Yeah, I guess I can.” Alfie turned and looked down the hall to the closed door. Could he be making things difficult for her? Would she be able to find clarity on her own for a bit? He knew he would sacrifice the sun and moon for that woman. So, what was a little time apart? Heart-wrenching, that’s what it was. But Alfie knew something had to give.

~~~~~~~~~~~

           Traveler therapy. It sounded absolutely ridiculous to Alfie. But the man was hesitant to be away from his wife for the length of time Tommy was talking about.

           “The Lees are like family.” The Shelby man explained upon Ella and Alfie’s return from Margate to London. Alfie mentioned Polly’s suggestion of space to his wife. Ella appeared wary and hesitant. The larger part of her wanted to cling desperately to Alfie, afraid she would lose him. But there was something inside of her that grasped onto the words. A solution, perhaps. Her Alfie’s burden lifted for just a brief time. Her focus turned inward. Was that so bad?

           “She already knows most of them. One of the girls just lost a baby to pneumonia so she’ll have someone who can understand what she’s going through better than any of us can.”

           Alfie pinched the bridge of his nose wearily. “Right, so you talking ‘bout a month or what?”

           “It’s up to her. She wants to go.”

           “I ain’t…tryna control where she goes or fucking whatever, but how’m I supposed to know she’ll be safe?” He asked. The nerves of being separated from Ella were far greater than he expected. It’d been quite some time since they’d gone more than a few days without seeing one another. He’d gotten accustomed to having her as his constant in life.

           “She’ll be perfectly safe,” Tommy assured him. “They know the land better than anyone.”

           “Right…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Right, well, I want her to be happy, yeah, so if that’s what she wants.”

           “It’ll be good for her. Mark my words.”

~~~~~~~~~~

           So a few days later when things were settled and agreed upon, Alfie traveled with Ella to the outskirts of the city where the Lees were camped. Cassandra Lee, one of the matriarchs, came out to greet them.

           “Look how much you have grown, chavi. But all skin and bones! I will make you something to eat.” The older woman kissed Ella’s cheeks and embraced her.

           The scent of damp pine and roaring fires sparked something that had long been suppressed in Ella. The wild gypsy girl who loved to be outside as much as she could. The girl who begged to sleep out under the stars and go hunting with her brothers. It was a miracle it had been kept under wraps for so long. When for so long she’d insist she’d always be the princess knight of the forest.

           “Come, Isabel has been expecting you.” Cassandra took Ella’s bag.

           “Right, well, I’ll be getting a move on then.” Alfie cleared his throat. He had no idea what Cassandra said but took it as his time to leave. “Tommy said you maybe could call sometimes…or write. But I uh…don’t want you to think you hafta. This is ‘bout you, yeah?” He forced a weak smile. “Just know I love you and I hope you ain’t gonna find some gypsy boy who’s a bit more spry than your ol’ husband.”

           Ella’s blue eyes brimmed with tears. “You silly man.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve found the love of my life and I intend to return to him.”

           Alfie sighed and hugged her back. “Come back to me, El.” He kissed her temple. “You take your time and you come back to me how you like.”

           She smiled and pulled him in for a long kiss. “Absence makes the heart fonder.” She whispered softly against his lips.

           “Yeah, love. It sure does.” He already missed her.

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Masterpost

PB Masterlist 

[coconutnunnicorn]

FV Pt. One

Flawless Victory Part One

A TodoDeku love story. 

AN

“Um, sorry if this upsets some people, but Katsuki Bakugou will most likely have very very little part in all of is. I have actually decided to just sort of turn him into more of a background character. So if you came here for the mentions of our explosive pomeranian, he isn’t here, sorry.”

Please dont go any further if you dont like surfing, water, open bodies of water, oceans, or themes of that nature. 

@imwithmidoriyaizuku @edwardslostalchemy

Does it Almost Feel Like Nothings Changed

When Izuku had agreed to brunch, he didn’t realize he was agreeing to an interrogation as well, why couldn’t his friends understand, Izuku may just never be ready to actually confront those deeply bruising feelings. It wasn’t like he never wanted to see Shoto again, he just figured if they should ever be forced to meet again it should at least be under actually forced circumstances. “I agree with Uraraka, this isn’t something you can just ignore. I really think this is all overdue honestly, Izuku, don’t you?” Snapping his hardened stare in the blue-haired man’s direction, Midoriya bit down carefully on his tongue. It had in fact been an incredibly long time, almost a little over four years in honesty, but whenever he tried to confront the memory he just couldn’t quite seem to breathe. Pulling nervously at the curls cropping up from under his cap, the man gave the menu in his other hand a once over. Surely they couldn’t be serious, though it wasn’t really in Iida’s nature to make light or jokes of something so serious. 

Shifting his gaze back to the trio around him, Izuku swallowed harshly, from the grave expressions he was greeted with Izuku was certain there was no way they were joking. “I dont think I am ready for something like that just yet.” The choir of groans that greeted him left him shrinking into his seat, and for a moment it felt like secondary schooling all over again. “I just don’t know if I will ever be ready guys.”  Watching the auburn-haired woman nod slowly at his panic left Izuku irritated, how could they not lead with this. “Look, Izuku, we really think you guys should talk it out, he seemed super excited to see you,” Uraraka mentioned carefully to the man, he could tell she was doing her best not to frighten him off. It wasn’t working. 

“Not to mention,” now it was Iida’s turn to, again, try and persuade him, “you guys use to be incredibly close. Dont you miss him?” Snapping his narrowing gaze to the other man, Izuku felt his hands begin to quake once more. They had been shaking ever since it had been made known to him that Shoto was coming, but here in this moment, it had gotten particularly bad.

 “He really misses you,” Tsu had been quietly sitting alongside Izuku, gaze ever fixated upon her own menu. She hadn’t had a lot to say on the matter, and he appreciated that. However, what she did have to contribute had his heart twisting in a way it hadn’t in years. “Look,” he began to respond quietly, slowly laying his menu to rest against the tables gleaming surface, “I’m just not sure I am ready, I just don’t know if I can look at him right now.”

Tsu shifts her gaze away from her menu finally and gives Izuku a hard stare, “We are having a reunion dinner tomorrow, we will all be there to help you, so come, okay?”

Letting the plastic page finally slap against the table, he groaned audibly in defeat, “Okay, fine, you guys win. You’re right, I have to face this because if I don’t face it now things will just get even worse in the future.” Exhaling deeply, Izuku hung his head, how could he ever be ready for this?

-

To say Shoto was excited would be a grand understatement, he practically radiated energy. Tsu had actually offhandedly mentioned that Todoroki could probably power a small building or two with the electricity surging through his nerves, he had hardly noticed. Crammed into a Taxi with his fellow green-haired professional for a rather long drive had given him plenty of time to think about what their reunion would be like. He was unusually chatty, that too got an offhanded comment about how he sounded a lot like Midoriya in school all those years ago when he would ramble. Shoto honestly couldn’t be bothered with such trivial things, he was so close to his goal at this point. 

“What do you mean he said no?” desperation echoed deep in his tone as he eyed Uraraka restlessly, “I have to talk to him, don’t you understand? The longer I wait to do this, the worse things are going to get.” Frustrated he shifted his stare between Iida and the auburn-haired woman. They had arrived a few days prior to he and Asui, promising to talk to Izuku, promising to convince him to meet with Shoto so things could finally be rectified. Yet, when he had arrived the pair had shaken their heads in defeat, Izuku had spent most of the past few days dodging every question or probe the pair sent out. “He simply isn’t ready Shoto,” Iida stated calmly, reaching out to put a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “This is up to Izuku, not you, or me, or any of us. He was deeply hurt, it took a couple of years before we even learned where he was, and even then he made us swear not to talk to you about it. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but you need to give him space, you guys were friends for such a long time.” 

Shoto didn’t want to listen to logic, he wanted his friend back, but the tight grip on his shoulder that kept him in his seat didn’t appear to be easing up in the slightest. Relaxing just a fraction, he took a deep shaking breath, he needed to be patient, he had been patient enough to wait for his friends to reveal to him where Izuku had actually gone. Now, he just needed to be patient enough with Izuku for the man to welcome him, “What if he never wants me back in his life?”

He swallowed painfully against the lump forming in his throat at the red-eyed man’s next words, “Then, that’s just something you’re going to have to respect. If you want to be friends again you have to let him sort his feelings out in his own way.”

-

He was going to go, really, he was, it was just the simple fact that he had grown uncharacteristically cowardly. Where was the boy who blatantly defied authority and regularly threw himself into the fray of chaos to do what was right? Yet here he was, clutching his hands in matching vice grips, to nervous to set foot inside the little restaurant. Just feet away, he could hear the quiet cool tone of a voice that he never could have forgotten. It haunted his dreams, even to this day, and was the exact tone Izuku read the scrap of a letter with.  He was laughing, and it reminded Izuku of a warm summers evening, even without him insight, the green-eyed man knew exactly how those different coloured eyes would light up. It had taken some time, but the first time Shoto had actually deeply laughed had been a moment Izuku would cherish for the rest of his life. It was as if the whole room had taken on a different kind of glow, as if somewhere deep inside the other man a fire had been ignited. He just couldn’t do it. 

  “Izuku,” curious, soft, and absolutely heart wrenching, his head snapped up, orbs widening to dinner plates at the poised gentleman before him. His hair was still the same as it had always been, only now it lay tied up and clipped away from his slender face. “Shoto?” Butterflies threatened to surface with the queasy discomfort at the sudden meeting between the two. “Izuku.” Happier now, Shoto’s voice rang around in his head sending his heart into overdrive. When was the last time someone had said his name in such a fashion?

He couldn’t believe it, there he was, there was the boy now grown man, standing right before him. How could he not be delighted, he had been waiting for this moment for the last couple years, ever since he found out Uraraka knew where the man was hiding out. “I was hoping you would come.” Shoto felt his smile slowly start to fall as Izuku began to take a slow unsure step away from him, “I have so much to tell you.” Reaching out carefully, Todoroki avoided any sudden movements that would startle the clearly unnerved individual. “I don’t believe it.” There it was, that voice that had been absent from his life for far too long, unfortunately, the way it squeaked out into the world left Shoto baffled. “Izuku, I just want to explain-”

Cut off by the sharp shout, Shoto recoiled, “I can’t see you right now!” 

“Izuku come back!” Shouting with concern, he didn’t bother letting the rest of his party know where he was headed before he broke out into a run. He was determined to make this right, even if things didn’t go the way he wanted them to. 

-

Panting heavily, Shoto pressed his palms to his knees, lungs desperately sucking in oxygen before he wailed painfully,  “You fell off the world Izuku, how could I have ever found you!” Lifting his head Shoto gasped nosily, he never remembered Izuku holding such endurance, “Zu, you just vanished, I never thought to come here because you never wanted to talk about this place. Why did you come here?” Hanging his head once more, unable to gaze into those wide startled orbs that had drawn him in all those years ago, “Why did you go to the one place I never thought to check?”

Izuku stood there in the empty street, chest heaving as his lungs screamed for air and his muscles cried out for a rest, that hadn’t been the answer he had been expecting when he had questioned why Shoto hadn’t come sooner. “Uraraka refused to tell me, I found photos of you guys on her computer, and she said you wanted your privacy. Why did you hide from me?” Chewing his lip in frustration, Izuku shifted to turn his back on the other man trying to pretend he didn’t hear the strangled cry begging him not to run away.

“You just left, Shoto, doesn’t that mean anything to you?” Digging his fingers deep into his green curls, he lowered himself into a crouch, curling up on himself almost. Izuku just couldn’t rationalize why Shoto would be looking so hard for him after he had left in such a brisk way. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about Izuku, I left you my information and you never called me. You never came looking for me, and I told you right where to find me.” Shotos’ response was yet another shock to Izukus system. Head swivelling, he nearly fell onto his arse, green eyes wide once more with confusion, then narrowing with anger. 

Shoto had slowly straightened back up, taking slow steady steps towards Izuku, he was tired, he just wanted to move past this obvious misunderstanding. However, as those green windows began to narrow he found himself coming to a halt once more. “You left me a note?” Izukus tone was humorous and didn’t fit his expression at all as he began to rise to his feet. Groaning softly, Shoto reminded himself of what Iida had said, he needed to be patient, he needed to be understanding and be calm. He was just so afraid to lose his best friend again, he was so close, eyes darting down to Izukues hands as the other man dug through his pockets. “Does this look like a note?” 

Now it was Izukus turn to show agitation, waving the scrap of paper before the other mans face, he growled out again, “Does this look like a note, Shoto Todoroki?” He watched a range of emotions cross the half and half man, anger, confusion, understanding, and then a sad sort of humour. What was it that he was understanding that Izuku hadn’t gotten now or then in the moment. “What’s so funny!?” 

“Oh my god,” Shoto felt a whirlwind of discord welling up inside his body, somehow his letter had gotten caught on something, or even perhaps someone had tried to take it from where it was. Whatever had happened, it had caused one of the most painful rifts in his life he had experienced, “Zu, you don’t really believe that is all I really would have left for you. I don’t know what happened but that was only part of my letter.” Reaching out, he pulled the slightly shorter man forcefully into a tight embrace, “Zu, you should have tried to reach me. You shouldn’t have vanished.”

Izuku was at a loss for words as he wound his arms around his friend, squeezing unsurely, it had been a misunderstanding? His brain shifted in an attempt to think more clearly, Izuku tried to rationalize why exactly he would have responded in such a fashion. Why did it seem, if it involved a certain Todoroki, Izuku just couldn’t seem to think clearly. Oh Somewhere in his nearly full cranium, a little voice squeaked out an embarrassing thought. 

At the same time, two singular thoughts travelled between two separate brains, lights slowly flickering on one by one. Oh no.

[anybodihearme]

Mundane

AN: I'm still alive. Updates will be slow since I'm in the process of moving. Want to help me out? Go donate to my GoFundMe and in exchange, I'll write you a fic of your choosing.

Oh, that's it, baby.

"Yeah, just like that."

"Right there, that's the spot."

"Slower."

"Faster."

"Don't stop."

"Less teeth."

"Fuck!"

"I'm-"

"Just a-"

"I'm cumming!"

"Damn."

I looked up from beneath my lashes at the expression on Kevin's face as he tried to regain some of his composure. Sitting back on my heels, I wiped the remaining semen off of my chin that escaped my mouth. When we first met, I would take his dick out of my mouth seconds before he came; however, fourteen years later, that's nothing but child's play. I used to hate the way it tasted but now I simply don't have the patience to argue with him.

Kevin laid on his back with one of his hands propped up beneath him as a cushion while the other was sprawled out on the bed. His shirt was wrinkled and his jeans were unbuttoned. That hair of his, a mess. Like always. But, who am I to complain?

"You make me wonder," he said after a while when his chest finally began to slow and regain a normal speed. He looked me up and down and smiled - his infamous one. I rolled my eyes and crawled across the bed until I was sitting next to him, back against the headboard. It was a quarter to nine and I was beyond exhausted.

"About?" I asked but my only response was a gruff chuckle and a shake of the head. Kevin propped himself up into a more comfortable position before reaching across the bed and picking up his pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out, placed it in his mouth, and lit it. Trying to quit my ass.

"How was work?" I asked.

"Work was work," he answered nonchalantly with a hump of his shoulders. "Same bullshit," he added with a drag of his cigarette.

"Horrible?" I edged.

"Horrible," he repeated. At the beginning of our relationship, I knew I wanted to go to college right after high school. Kevin, on the other hand, had no desire to go and I was fine with that; however, I made it clear that I didn't want to be with someone who had no desire to take charge of their future. College isn't for everyone and it's not my place to force someone to go but assisting someone in making decisions that will benefit their future is a different story, especially if it concerns someone I love. While I went on to a four-year university focusing on the sciences and then later a masters program followed by a Ph.D., Kevin went on to a simple trade school and pursed automotive technology. He was contempt with that and so was I.

Five years in, he decided that working for someone wasn't his thing and after a few discussions I took out a small loan for him and three years later, he was the proud owner of Barr Mechanics.

That, however, doesn't prevent him from coming home every night with a headache because Jimmy can't figure out how to change a tire.

"How was class?" Kevin asked in return.

"72 of my students showed up." Kevin's eyes lit up but the enthusiasm in them didn't match my tone. "Out of 200," I tacked on and just like that, the light faded.

"Pop quiz?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"And attendance points," I smiled.

"That's my husband," he said as he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Kevin leaned back into the headboard and unbuttoned his uniform shirt. Which, if I might add, is always a pleasure to watch come off, even if it's been a while. Fourteen years, two full-time jobs, three kids, throw in a cat and dog later, life doesn't give us as many liberties as we once had. In all honesty, our sex life revolves mainly around blowjobs and handjobs.

Tragic.

I know.

"Mitch got suspended," I stated as I pulled on my glasses and grabbed my laptop from off the bedside table.

"For what?" Kevin sat up, putting out the cigarette.

"Fighting."

"Again?" I hummed as an answer. "How long?" Kevin asked

"Three days. I picked him up from school on my way home from the university." I grabbed my coffee that has been long forgotten and took a sip. It was cold but it was better than nothing. "We have a meeting with Mr. Richardson this Thursday to discuss his behavior," I tacked on. I am not going to suffer through this alone. I can only handle someone telling me that my parenting skills are a shit show at least twice a month, not three. I need backup.

"Who?" Kevin asked, clearly confused.

I rolled my eyes and answered, "The principle."

"Did he say what it was over, Mitch?" Kevin asked and I humped my shoulders.

"When we got home, I tried to talk to him about it but he slammed the door in my face and told me to leave him alone, his polite way of telling me to fuck off," I mumbled. Kevin placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ever since Mitch became a teenager, I've become his least favorite person.

"I'll talk to him," Kevin shook his head with absolute assurance. "There has to be something causing his outbursts."

"Also," I began, wanting to transition from this conversation. "Caleb has robotics this weekend and I told him that you would take him because I di-"

"Woah!" Kevin shot up, almost tumbling out of the bed. "Me?"

"Yes, you," I poked him in the chest without looking at him. "Unless your my sidepiece named Raúel," I chuckled when I heard a small gasp escape his lips. He can be so dramatic.

"Why can't you do it?" He sat back down, lighting another cigarette. "You know I don't know much about computers and robots."

"Because I always take him and you need to spend more time with Caleb," I stated and held my hand out to him as a distraction from my mind numbing work. Seriously, college kids do the bare minimum. "Last week, he asked me why you always spend time with Mitch. I didn't know how to answer but I got the impression that he's feeling left out," I waved my hand into the air for emphasis. "You know he doesn't have a lot of friends besides Bryce."

"The bug kid?"

"My point exactly," I stated matter-of-factly. "Caleb and I are like two peas in a pod. We get each other but you are his idol," I squeezed Kevin's hand. "Do this for me. Put down the baseball bat and football and pick up your wrench and show him a thing or two. Besides," I rubbed my chin, feeling the slightest hint of stubble. "I'm sure he would show an interest in cars if you take him out into the garage once in a while."

"You think?" He asked sincerely. I nodded my head and Kevin smiled. Caleb, our middle child, never had it easy in regard to social skills. Sadly, he gets that from me but we're working on it.

"Oh," Kevin's eyes widened. "Since we're going down the list, Nicole signed us up for her field trip to the zoo next week."

"What field trip?" I cocked my eyebrow, a hint of aggression lathered my voice. I didn't sign any permission slip and I know Kevin didn't because he sends all three of them my way when it comes to forms. The harder I thought, the faster realization dawned on me. "Great," I moaned. "We have a delinquent, an introvert, and forger for children." I rubbed the bridge between my nose with my fingers and let out a long breath before Kevin spoke.

"With a dumb dog and an asshole for a cat." At that, I laughed. When Kevin and I first started dating, I had a dog named Duke that hated him with a passion. Fourteen years later, that hate turned into a slow-burning tolerance. The cat? Not ours. I came home one day and the cat was sitting in our living room. I can't count how many times I have put the cat out but it just keeps coming back. I don't have the heart to take the poor think to the pound since Nicole has grown to adore it.

A moment of silence passed between us which is odd in its own way.

Our house is never quiet.

"I'm scared," I admitted randomly and Kevin looked over at me with those green eyes. "Are we good parents?" I asked above a whisper, feeling my throat tighten. Raising three kids is not easy, especially when they all are unique in their own way. No, correction. Raising children is impossible. No matter how much you try, it seems as if you always come up short. Someone always gets hurt and someone always hates you. It's never a win-win situation and I am a testimony to that. Over the past few months, I couldn't help but feel that we as parents could be doing more but we give our kids everything; however, they always seem as if they're lacking in something we can't provide.

It's heartbreaking.

"Go," Kevin said when he suddenly grabbed my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Mitch never gets his act together and ends up in jail."

I nodded at him.

"Caleb will become an outcast with no social skills."

He nodded at me.

"We spend too much time focusing on Mitch and Caleb that Nicole grows to resent us."

I nodded at him.

"Nicole ends up on the pole."

He nodded at me.

"Damn," I muttered and winced at the same time.

"Feel better?" he cocked an eyebrow at me, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. I nodded and smiled. "If you ask me," he added by placing a light kiss on my cheek. "I think we're doing one hell of a job at this parenting thing."

"How so?" I asked between laughs.

"Well," he paused and looked me up and down. "The last time I checked, we have three kids and all of them are accounted for."

"Good point," I smile. Smooth, just like his hair, Kevin pushed my laptop aside and blanketed my body with his own. It's been a while since we've been connected intimately like this and I can't help but admit that it feels amazing. A moan slips past my lips and I grind my hips into his and just like that, I'm harder than I have ever been before. Kevin bites down on my lip and reaches for my the hem of my pa-

"Pa!" Caleb screamed at the top of his lungs.

"All you do is cry!" Mitch's voice followed.

"That's my queue," Kevin mumbled as he stole one last kiss and jumped out of the bed. Looking back over his shoulder, Kevin winked at me and snatched the door open. "What the hell is going on out here?" He screamed as he disappears down the hallway.

"Dad!" Nicole's voice entered the room seconds before she did. Talking a mile a minute, followed by the dog and cat, she held up one of textbooks up and her eyes pleaded for my help.

There goes my night.

Read the full collection here!