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penvisions · 6 months ago

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gone to the dogs {chapter 4}

Pairing: Boston QZ! Joel Miller x Reader ; brief mentions of Boston QZ! Joel Miller x Tess Servopoulos

Summary: Unexpected glimpses of your past allow for your softer side to be exposed. But it won't be the thing that alters the dynamic between your trio. No, you have something else planned for that.

Word Count: 7k

Warnings: canon typical violence, canon typical language, canon typical gore, outbreak fic, age gap (only by about ten years), angst, dark fic, dark joel miller, mean joel miller, joel miller is uptight, degrading language, sexual language, sexual proposition, violence, heated interactions, descriptions of a minor assault, adult language, fighting, argumentative language, mutual disdain, sexual content, implication of sex work, unprotected piv, sexual acts, reader is snarky, reader gets violent, major injuries, dismemberment, reader meets joel toe-to-toe with insults and it's amazing, both reader and joel pov, lemme know if there are any i missed!

A/N: ARE Y'ALL READY, but seriously, i hope y'all enjoy this chapter *minor spoiler but reader's singing voice is very much akin to ruby leigh from the voice contestant show

ao3 link || series masterlist || joel miller masterlist || ko-fi

It’s early morning, when Tess seeks you out. The sun barely coming up and showing its form over the horizon, the sky swathed in deep oranges and golden tones that remind you of seasonal fruit.

Frank is sitting with you already, coffee brewed fresh and sweetened with frozen ice cubes of coffee creamer and sugar. A surprise you hadn’t anticipated but greatly appreciated as the man beside you refilled your cup time after time to ensure it was never truly empty. Conversation had been light, on the back porch where you had curled up in the wicker loveseat to try and get the weight off of your body for a few hours.

As soon as she shuffled through the door, Frank removed his hand from where it was tangled with your own and said he would get started on breakfast. Wanting to ensure you, all three of you, had a full stomach for the journey back to the zone. His way of taking care of you where you’ll let him, even now in the end of the world.

“Look, I know it may seem like I was playing some game yesterday…” The older woman breaks the silence, knowing your mind must be turning and overturning the events of the last few days.

“Just wanted to know I was meant to be playing along.” She’s not cautious, but there’s a tiredness and stilted manner to her sitting down in one of the matching wicker chairs. The cushion and pillow in the seat do little to comfort the unease you can see in her body. It’s as if she hasn’t slept, or that her sleep was restless just like your own despite the safe environment and almost now foreign amenities.

“I was being genuine with them, Frank…he’s reminded me of who I used to be. As I’m sure he has with you, especially sharing a past I’m not going to ask after. It’s your business and that’s your prerogative.”

“Sent your guard dog after me to listen into my conversation with him, not sure I really believe the sentiment.”

“Cane, you know as well as I do that he does what he wants.”

“Doesn’t take away from the fact that he reports back to you. Acts as if you two are the ones who run things. Conversations I’m not a part of.”

“We all run things, the three of us.” You’re glad for her roundabout honesty, though you know that it’s natural for rifts to divide people, for them to seek out those they are more comfortable with. That talking with someone you feel bonded with, a partner, a friends, is a part of life. That they both must have conversations going over things just as you do with her, though not as frequently.

“Yeah, looks like it from the outside, doesn’t it?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that you two have gotten very comfortable with the way things are in the zone-“

“No more comfortable than you made yourself in my bed the other night.” Her eyes meet your own in a silent challenge, will you lie and cover up the fact you shared Joel’s bed, or will you be honest with the woman who does so on a regular basis. You don’t know Joel as well as she does, but he doesn’t strike you as the type to seek out attention or affection from other’s behind someone’s back. A cheater, he is not, though he has done many questionable things to survive. She doesn’t seem upset, at least outwardly, though you know it must strike a cord near her heart. The way you catch her gazing at him sometimes tells you more of her feelings than she ever has. And for that, you cannot fathom lying.

“That was a lapse of judgement. It had been a shitty day trying to move what little product I had. He didn’t fuck me if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

“I don’t care if he did, that’s his prerogative. I don’t own him, I don’t control him-“

“Wouldn’t matter if you did, he needs to feel like he’s got someone to look out for and you’re it. He would do anything for you, does do anything that you ask of him now. It’s me he has a problem with and I’m not entirely sure why he laid with me the way he did.” You try to soothe her as best you can, as best as you’re able to in the situation. She must know what she means to him, or at least what he’s able to with the damage and destruction he’s surely endured.

“He doesn’t have a problem with you-“

“Save it, I know he does. I know you do too, blatantly throwing us under the bus to make us seem like untrained dogs who only snap and bite at those that near us.”

“That was more for him, than for you.”

“And yet you still said it the way you did. It wasn’t appreciated.”

“I didn’t intend for it to hurt your feelings, I apologize if it did. I really am…appreciative of the way you’ve allowed us both to fold into your zone.” It’s obvious, the appeal she’s trying to make to you now. The same woman who had been at the table yesterday. A glimpse of who she used to be, but it bothers you how you can’t tell if she’s genuine or not, if it’s the same play you had been orchestrating with her the past couple of months.

“You came into my home to try and get intel on me before usurping me. Of course you’re grateful I folded you into the scene. You wouldn’t have had anything otherwise.”

“Not nothing, no. But I do realize it would’ve been less if you were getting a portion of the cut of everything we got on both sides.”

You only hummed in response. Aware that this conversation was taking turns you’d rather not delve into at the moment.

“We’ve all gotten comfortable, me included, you’ve given me the room to do so. But I talked to Frankie, he’s willing to convince Bill to agree to it. You’ll lead this one, you did find it after all and there’s no reason for my knowing him to effect that.” You don’t have to fear for someone lunging at you in the dark, for someone using a trade as a rouse to lure you alone to take advantage. Her intelligence and Joel’s strength have allowed you breathing room in the months of constant worry after your brother’s death.

“Joel will need to really be on his best behavior. He’s got his teeth bared because Bill does.”

“Then reign him in.” You meet her eyes, the worry you house at the rise of conflict that is all too real aimed her way but ever present in the way you didn’t have to say anything else. She nods once as you lifted your mug up and took a sip of the wonderful coffee Frank had been kind enough to keep full. “Mind him and lead by example. I will as well.”

“He doesn’t think poorly of you, if he did, he wouldn’t be insistent on joining you beyond the walls.” It’s hard to know how to respond, it’s almost default to fling insults with the older man, to taunt him and see if he rises to the bait, something he does in return. But despite it all, you would defend him should he truly need it and you only hoped he would do the same. You doubt he would die for you, but that was such a rare devotion these days.

“I suppose not, but…should anything happen he will still work with you. He…Joel is someone who needs someone by his side whether he wants to admit it or not. Like you said. And you would be good for him, protect him as he protects you. It’s…good you were willing to work with us.” It’s implied, the connection you both have with the man even if it feels different, looks different. The way she wishes for you to recall that should something happen to her. Infection, sickness, a trade gone wrong, a trigger-happy soldier, anything. She wants to ensure he won’t be alone.

“I swear to you, should something happen, I won’t throw him to the crowd waiting to tear him apart.”

“Thank you.”

“Tess, just- I have a feeling the scene is going to get worse before it stabilizes again. The cartons of cigarettes Frank is going to give us will help but, other things are bound to dry up.”

She’s quiet for a beat, taking in the way you reach for your mug. She’s watching you as much as you’re watching her. It’s not a stalemate, it never is between you two. She knows your penchant for comments on how things are going, the ways your mind works and overworks. Concerned about details and the intricacies of things whereas she’s focused on the entire scene or play. It’s a match, which allows for all things to be considered, working well with each other in the past year. She has to be aware of that, at least, even as tensions rise and perspectives are beginning to warp and shift.

“Cane, this- opportunity to do trade with an outside source, it could help prevent scavenges into the decaying city. You know as well as I do that things are getting harder and harder to find as time goes on. Hell, it’s already beginning to thin.”

“It is…” You agree solemnly.

It’s when you’re in the shower again, before you change into the clothes you had showed up in, that Joel seeks you out. Now washed and dried, folded atop the counter waiting for you. The door opens and closes without the call of a voice but you can hear the distinct steps of Joel as he stand in the middle of the bathroom. Hear the way he’s breathing a little harder than normal. You’re about to ask him what’s wrong when you hear the hush of fabric and see the outline of him through the plastic shower curtain move to pick up the dress you had been wearing.

“Dress was nice.” His voice is low, a quiet rumble that washes over your skin much like the shower, though goosebumps sprout up despite the heat of the water.

“I’m not in the mood for games, Miller.” Sighing, you reach for the shampoo, the scent of sandalwood and amber wafting in the steam that fills the room.

“I’m bein’ serious. Looked good on you. Different.” The effect his words on you, his attempt at an actual conversation is one of heat blooming in your middle. He’s so goddamn handsome and it’s a shame he’s such an asshole, molded by the circumstances of the fallen world. He seems to take your words in stride, his mood nothing but calm as the shower continues to rain down on you.

“Everything seems to be different these days.”

“Can be a good thing, sometimes.”

“Can be.” You watch through the clear curtain, dappled with beaded water. He’s shrugging out of his dark green button up. The fabric hushing as it reveals his skin to you for the second time. His chest is dusted with dark hairs, the silver threading through it catching the sunlight filtering into the bathroom.

“Don’t mind, do you?” The clink of his belt and the unzipping of his pants.

“Not particularly, no.” He’s already stepping into the stall, his broad body taking up what little room was left and crowded the space. But it doesn’t feel like he’s cornering you, it feels almost…intimate in the way that his eyes are taking in the form of your body slick from the water and foamed up bubbles trailing down where they drip from your hair. “Just didn’t think you’d be the one to seek me out next.”

Tangling his fingers into your hair, he dips your head back to wash the shampoo from the long tresses.

“There was no need for me to be so…biting last night. I don’t know how to do the whole- talking thing these days. And you have to admit, we don’t do much of that with each other already.”

“They’ll work with us, Frankie is a good man.” You reach for the shampoo again, reaching up with the thick liquid cupped in your hand to lather it into his bowed head. His hair is as soft as you always thought it was, thick curls dark with the weight of the water saturating it.

“Sharing a past with him helps, otherwise it would be a tense and slow start.” His hands are anchored on your hips, fingers digging into your skin as you don’t dare to look down where you feel him soft against your thigh. The admittance of presence helping isn’t lost on you. He’s not one for praise and it’s intense with how close you are in the stall. You hear the apology for his previous words on the matter in his new ones. Though you are unsure if he believes them, you feel the need to but it is hard to tell as his skin touches yours and ignites your blood. “Tess may have set this whole thing up and he may have convinced Bill for the trades, but you are an asset.”

You hold your tongue, the question of ‘an asset or the orchestrator’ drowning from your mind as he noses along your collarbone, ducking his head further to allow you to wash the suds from his curls. As soon as he looks back up, you’re reaching to brush the water from his eyes, his brows, his scruff, watching the way it sticks to his silver threaded hairs and the memory of it against your skin makes pleasure and desire pool in your core.

His hands are turning your willing body around, and he’s firm where he bumps against the back of your thighs, the plush of your ass as you face the wall. And now you feel crowded, as he presses his front to your back, the way he hinges your hips to meet him, for the way he slips into you in one smooth motion for the first time.

But it’s not a bad feeling, it’s comforting being shielded from the rest of the world in this little stall, his body hiding you away and comforting you all at once. It’s a dangerous thought, even as it’s punched out with your heavy breath carrying a moan as he begins to thrust against you. Heat overtakes your senses, from the pleasure rippling through you to the flushed skin pressed to you to the still running stream of the shower. It consumes you even after you peak, after you feel Joel’s own sear into the backs of your thighs, panting breath matched by him as the moment winds down.

“You didn’t tell him your brother wasn’t alive. Just told him you found him.” He breathes into your shoulder, facial hair brushing over your skin to send tingles down your spine. It’s quiet, the way he seeks an answer instead of demands one.

“He doesn’t need to know.” Is your own whispered response, unable to rise to his words with a truth of your own, a vulnerability.

“Thought he was your friend.”

“He is, but he’s…he doesn’t need to know how things really are. He wouldn’t have let me leave.”

“You say that like he has control over you.” His hands are no longer gripping tight, caressing instead along your sides, feeling the dips and valleys of your body with no intention other than to touch. The urge to return the softness twitches your fingers where they are still planted along the wall for support.

“He doesn’t. But if he asked, I would listen. Because I respect him. Mutual respect.”

He parrots the sentiment back to you, as his large hands grip your waist once again to turn you around face to face. There’s something glinting in his eyes, behind the dark brown of them slowly. “An interesting thought.”

“It is.” You nudge your nose against his, breathing him in, the scent of you both mingling in the air.

And he’s suddenly slotting his mouth against yours, droplets raining down over you both as you surge up to wrap your arms around his shoulders, returning his kiss with earnest. It’s so different from what yo expected kissing him would be life, it’s not rough or biting, it’s almost heartachingly soft in how he pulls you close and touches his lips to yours again and again.

“He’s just so hard to read sometimes, you know? Like…I don’t mean to get too personal considering we just met but,” Tess’s voice carries from a room downstairs, the one you had been given the night before, the one you hadn’t been able to lay in and remain for the entirety of it. She had ducked into it with Frank after breakfast shared at the dining room table. While the eggs had been powdered, the meet hadn’t been and the taste lingers, mingled with that of Joel.

“You can talk to me about anything, the same sentiment for Cane applies to you. We all need friends these days, people we can turn to.” Frank’s comforting voice is genuine as you step closer to the open door without trying to alert them of your presence. Tess hardly opened up about herself, let along about the dynamic between her and Joel. All you ever got out of Tommy was that they were bonded in a way that he understood, shared losses, shared pasts. They would and have killed for each other.

“Well, I’m not quite sure what’s going on, relationships were hard enough before and now…”

“It’s hard for men like Bill and Joel to be honest with what they want, to let their guard down in different settings. You shouldn’t fault yourself if he was too on edge to be with you last night.”

“It’s not that exactly. It was more like he implied he was done with that entire part of…whatever we are.”

“Maybe he’s going through something he hasn’t told you about. He seems like a pretty private guy even if he does have someone like you to talk to and in his life.” Mind reeling, you recall the way Joel had spoken to you the other night. The implication of his words, of his wants, of who exactly he had his eyes on. And then this morning when he had all but rolled over to show you his willingness to give you credit and praise your work.

‘Don’t want Tess.’

‘Mutual relief.’

‘Then clear my head, be a good little lap dog for me.’

Your blood boils, bubbles thick in your veins despite the rather calm and sensual acts you had just shared with the man in question. The worry of him moving on from the woman at his side to yours, where there is more opportunity, more to be gained, more power to be had with the smuggling scene. It’s hard to read him, whether he is truly making a play, a switch. The idea that he is losing interest in Tess in favor or you too big a notion for there to not be anything else woven into the desire. Men tended to seek out those younger than them, though you didn’t think that was the only matter in this case. The thought sticks to the inside of your throat like fuzz, drying it up and making you clear your throat loudly as you approach the doorway head on. You’re determined to undermine it, should that be the reasoning behind his recent behavior.

“Frankie?” You finally step toward the doorway, brushing your hands down over the clean shirt to try and calm your nerves.

“Yes, darling?”

“Could I use your radio, there’s a call I need to make. To set up a smooth return to the zone for us.” You nod to Tess, who doesn’t meet your eyes. As Frank stands from where he was seated on the bed, he brushes a hand over your shoulder. He’s reaching for another box from the top of the closet, the shelf too high for you but easy enough for him. The box is labeled with your name, the real one and he takes a marker from his back pocket and crosses it out. Cane replaces it in that same, simple writing he’s adapted.

“Of course, I’m looking for something, but Bill can help you out.” Frank smiles at you, saying he’ll make sure to send an outfit back with all three of you, worried for the very real act of both Joel and Tess scrounging for their nicest pieces of clothing for the visit. First impressions still meant so much and sometimes it meant the difference between life and death these days. He was a good man, and you’re determined to ensure you can continue to find things he may need use of and build up your stocks should you need to trade for something far more valuable and harder to come by. He was a priority now.

One thing was for certain, you were done allowing Joel Miller to think he had more power than he did.

An asset.

It rings through your mind as you recall the way he approached you in the shower. In the touches burned into your skin, in the way his body moved against your own. He had been there, with you, after telling Tess no. That he didn’t want for the physical any longer with her and it’s dizzying. Trepidation simmers low in your abdomen, upsetting it as it twists the muscles and pulls them taut before they tremble. Akin to the pang of hunger but much, much stronger.

It was your zone, your connections, your reputation that allowed for the smuggling and scavenging to bloom opportunity and trade. You had worked up from literally nothing, having been forced into the zone under false pretenses. The network established by you and your brother after some time, scooped up by the jaws of another hungry dog searching for the next meal to feast on. Only this one wasn’t a simple meal that would fill your belly for a night, it was one that would bring meals day after day and you were done sharing it. Done feeling like an afterthought to the man who was Tess’s counterpart.

The radio is far more advanced than the one set up in the zone, the one that Abe was lucky enough to set up outdated and one of the more military focused models. The soldiers knew he had it, it was hard no to squash the thin string of hope it allowed for all the occupants to stoke as they tried to search for loved ones and family even so long after that first horrific day and all the others that followed.

Bill walked you through how to navigate the signal waves, how to tune it just right to get the ones wafting weakly from direction of the zone. He was still on guard, the gun holstered at his side and his gauging eyes still present. But you felt at ease with him, he was an extension of Frank. He was a good man, that much you were sure of, that much you knew. Frank would be well protected and provided for here, allowed a space to cling to the good parts of who he is. He wouldn’t have lasted in the zone, let alone the pretenses in which you had found yourself able to enter the zone.

“Echo 4236, do you copy?”

“Copy for Echo 4236. Rely your message.”

“This is Ammo 1342, I have an order for you.”

“Ready to receive order, proceed.”

“I need you to hit Building 42, Apartment 19 and 20.”

“Ammo 1342, isn’t apartment 20-“

“It is, proceed. Stash the contents in Building 56, Apartment 14.”

“Copy that Ammo 1342.”

“Echo 4236 signing off.”

Bill is watching you closely, one brow arched as he takes in the smirk on your lips.

“Working together means you guys contact Tess, heed her wills to trade.”

“So, you’re allowing them to think this is still the fruits of her labor.”

“For now. When the time comes, I’ll cut them out and let them be in charge of this trade and only this trade.”

"Just be careful." The sentiment behind his words is not lost on you.

“Before you go,” Frank is guiding you by the shoulders toward the front room the second you visible coming up from the steps of the sub-basement. Bill following behind at a slower pace, content to let Frank do as he wished, the barely contained excitement and sly smile on his lips telling the other man he was happy. The piano comes into view, set up already, dusted off and smelling of lemon oil cleaner.

“Frankie, no.” You don’t even give the man a chance to say anything, the book of sheet music open and waiting.

“Cane, please. It’s been so long since I’ve heard it done justice. Bill does his best, but…too low a tone for the song. This’ll be the last thing I ask of you to recall from our past and if you truly don’t want to, I’ll concede.” As he speaks, the others are walking into the room. Bill, followed by a curious Tess and tense Joel. The word ‘no’ in your voice summoning him where he had been on the back porch with Tess talking over the most likely items to get on the list Frank had written up.

You looked from the piano to him, trepidation obvious, as if the piano were a coiled snake waiting for you to step closer to strike you down. But he looked so soft, so much like the man you remember sitting and painting with for hours in a comfortable silence, the one who had always allowed you the room to create how you wanted.

“Just this once.”

The wooden seat is firm beneath you, and you roll your shoulders a few times, cracking your knuckles to loosen your body up. Taking a deep breath, you glance up from where your hands are hovering over the keys to the music written out. You don’t need it, of course, it was Frank’s favorite song. One you had sung to him at every opening hour of a show in the gallery. The first few pushes of the keys feel unfamiliar, but muscle memory takes over quickly and you’re licking at your bottom lip before parting them.

“Love will abide, take things in stride,” Your voice is smooth and soft, growing emotive and soulful, as it fills the silence of the room and intertwines with the notes of the piano. A hint of twang in your tone as the lyrics pull it from deep inside you, where you buried it long ago. You close your eyes, feeling the sting of tears as the last seven years flash in your mind.

“Sounds like good advice,” You belt out, pitching your voice around the words, allowing for them to surge and swell. “But there’s no one at my side. Cause I’ve done everything I know to try and make you mine. And I think I’m gonna love you for a long, long time.”

You don’t dare to turn around and glimpse the expressions on everyone’s faces, the song filling you up with something you had long forgotten. Your voice carries through the second verse, the third, and then the last cords of the song are echoing in the air as you lift your fingers from the keys. The final note wavering off and silence reclaims the room.

It’s the last thing before you all make your way outside, the sun bright and the breeze cool. Bill is walking alongside Joel, Tess up ahead with Frank. You linger, eyeing the canvas and paint accumulated in boxes around the porch. An agreement made between to the two men who reside here. One giving into the other’s indulgences in only the way a loved one does for their affections.

Rationale and reason for keeping such things for better uses, a means of survival should it come to that lost in the wake of making someone happy.

“Cane, I’m- I’m just so glad that you’re okay.” Frank is suddenly pulling you into an embrace, his hands cradling the back of your head as you instantly return it. His chest is warm where you bury your face into his shirt, just feeling him for a moment, basking in the touch of another you once spent so much time with. “Please, don’t be a stranger. I may not be able to come to you, but you come to me or radio should you need anything.”

“I’m happy you’ve found your person, found a little slice of what life used to be here. The zones, they aren’t, they aren’t a way to live.” As you pull back from him, you see the question in the depths of his eyes, obviously in the way he smiles sadly at you. He wants to ask you to stay and you almost want him to.

Your trio departs with a plan to contact in a week’s time, to set up the first trade of many.

It was obvious that your order had been followed through the second your trio had entered turned from the stairwell to the hallway. The doors leading into both yours and their apartment hang on their hinges, the wood splintered slightly as they wight down the remaining nails keeping them upright.

The second story just high enough to not give any clues away from the view of the windows on the streets. You had made sure to not include your signature of a paw print, not wanting to stir up trouble before felt the need to. The same one you had Tess and Joel stamp onto their portions of goods, always beneath the foil for cigarettes or the plastic bags of pills. Especially on the butts of guns save for the ones you all carried yourselves.

“Fuck, looks like we got hit!” Tess is caught off guard, rushing forward until Joel stops here with a forearm and a small shake of his head. He moves up ahead of you both, the gun tucked into the back of his waistband sliding into his palm as he pushes aside what remains of the doors to the two apartments you occupy.

“They got everything we had stashed away.” His voice is a low rumble, anger and frustration filling the picked over and damaged apartment. He’s already cleared it as you and Tess approach, moving onto yours to clear it as well.

“This is because you showed weakness by working in that whore house!” Joel roars, dark glare focused on you as he appears back in the hallway. A shove of his gun barrel against your shoulder raises your lips in a snarl of argument.

“What I do in my spare time has no effect on the business!”

“It does it people think you’re weak, submitting to them!” He digs the gun into your shoulder again, to punctuate his words.

“Then everyone would be going after you, with how obvious it is you drown yourself in pills and booze until you pass out every god damn night!” You smack the weapon away from you with enough force that he doesn’t do it again, instead it’s hidden back in his waistband. He’s anything but calm as he shouts back at you, no doubt the entire population of the hall is listening against their closed doors.

“That has nothing to do with anything!”

“Then neither does my sparse visits to work somewhere that actually puts food on the table! The people we trade with don’t go there.” You step up into his personal space, the tension in the air thick and so unlike the last time you had done so. His eyes narrow, the brown of then shielded by the darkness of his pupils and the dim hall. The lights have been needing to be replaced for ages, your men following orders taking out the few that had remained working to make the scene.

“If they don’t, then the people that work for them do and tell them.” He doesn’t back down, his chest nearly brushing yours as he breaths in deep.

“Alright, why don’t- why don’t we all just take a breath. We had a good past couple of days, we can’t let this bring us down.” Tess is suddenly between you both, a hand on each of you to further push you apart. But you’re done. Tired and feeling too much after seeing someone who you never thought you would again mentally draining. You’re stepping around them both, their eyes heavy as they watch you walk over to your door.

“Oh, I’m not down about anything. Shit happens. Sometime tried to clean me out the second I took over the zone, it’s part of the game.” With that, you manage to shut the door as best you could.

“Haven’t seen you in a while, was wondering if somebody finally put you down?” The hair on the back of your neck rises as your skin prickles. You knew someone had been following you but you hadn’t expected it to be the man you last laid with the day Joel had caught you nearly two weeks ago. He was never one for conflict or conversation, but today he seemed willing to partake in both.

“Not that I owe you an answer, but I was busy.” Your eyes trace the way he reveals himself from the stooped doorway, the building is abandoned and boarded up. Deemed toxic due to the damage of fumes from the bombing that is evident just outside the walls.

This part of the zone is dilapidated, most of the buildings had been homes or independently owned and run businesses, but now it was the slums. The pleasure house is only a street away but that hadn’t been your intention of coming down here. It had been to retrieve some of the goods ‘stolen’ from you, stashed in an old building very few knew operated as a base for soldiers to reside in for their drug fueled days off from patrol.

“Feel like you owe me a freebie.” He’s bold to step in front of you in that moment, the street empty at the hour that closes the day in the zone.

“Not on your life.” Sidestepping him, you don’t expect him to reach out. He’s strong, his hands clasping in front of you as his front presses against your back. He’s overly hot, the scent coming from his clothes rotten and you thrash in his hold.

“Get her gun!” He’s shouting and you realize he’s not alone. There are four others now surrounding you, having slunk out of the shadows and alleyways. Someone makes a grab for it, where it’s holstered on your hip beneath your shirt. The fingers that graze your stomach are marred with ash and dirt, something you hope isn’t smeared into your skin. The man isn’t very focused, his eyes dipping to catch the flash of skin as he does so and you kick out at his hand.

The gun is knocked away from you the second it hits the broken asphalt of the street, the only weapon left on you is the knife tucked into your boot. But your thoughts are scrambled as your sense of gravity wavers, body suddenly pulled forward. Your forehead knocks into the ground, and you groan out at the feeling of rubble digging deep into the skin there.

“You fuckers!” You shout, hands reaching for the concealed blade as you feel a body pin you down. You don’t manage much as they’re suddenly held down, as are your legs. The feeling of the man above you and four more holding you down kicks your instincts into overdrive.

Surging up as best you can, you knock your head back as hard as possible. The crack of it hitting the man’s face is loud as is his cry of pain. He’s knocked off balance and into the two men holding your legs down.

Careening forward, you bite into the hand of the person putting their weight on your hands, teeth digging and tearing as he tries to pull away with a scream. He’s down and cradling his mutilated hand as you stand and brandish the knife you’ve finally got in your grip. Spitting, chunks of bloodies flesh spray onto the ground and you wipe the back of your free hand over your mouth, only managing to smear the blood further.

It slices into the skin of forearms and cheeks as the three men try to get you pinned back down and under their control with their ringleader tries to stall the bleeding of his broken nose and the whitening of his vision.

The man whose hand you bit reaches for the gun and he fires a shot that has everyone ducking. His aim had failed to help his friends but worked to your advantage as one of the men cries out at the bullet now lodged in his shoulder. The scene freezes, everyone completely caught off guard and you take the moment.

You’re reaching for the gun as he sits shocked and still, the metal rattling from how badly he’s shaking. Quickly forcing it from him and aiming it point blank, he’s slumped over and no longer breathing as you round on the others and fire three more shots.

The man who started all this is pleading, snot and tears running along with blood down his face. He’s spouting nonsense words of apology and to please spare him, that he’s learned his place and he won’t ever try to corner you again. But you don’t care. This man, this piece of nothing man had tried to track you down, to take from you, to assault you, to demean you. The knife in your hand sings for more blood but you’re shooting at him where he stands hunched over and holding a hand over his face.

He falls, hands flying to where his thighs meet his body as he whimpers. The pain of being shot in the groin too intense for him to muster up a scream. You feel a twitch of your lips as you watch him writhe and moan about on the ground, surrounded by the other men. But it’s not enough to soothe you and you’re bringing the knife down harshly as he reaches out to you for help he would never receive. His fingers scatter, and you feel the ease of your anger.

“Don’t come at me again or I’ll take your life too.”

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Telling them to make payments to you but I still have to go and deliver the goods? Do you have any idea what that makes me look like?” Joel’s voice is loud as his door creaks open, not completely repaired but enough to work for the time being. Something about him needing to find a certain type of glue for wood before he would complete the task.

“Excuse me?” If the blood staining your clothing or the tangled mess of your loosened hair catches his eye he doesn’t show it. Not even the cut above your brow or the stain of blood around your mouth and chin gives him pause and you realize he’s drunk from that and the loosely coordinated way he approaches you.

“I don’t know who you think you’re talking to but now is so not the time, Miller.” You warn, adrenaline still coursing through your body and making you shift on your feet to face him. His steps are loud, the effects of whatever he took showing.

“You listen to me, you little-“

You use the arm he reaches out to grab at you and haul him over your shoulder. The breath in his lungs wooshes out at the contact of his back hitting the floor hard. Before he even has the chance to realize he’s been downed, you’re straddling his stomach and holding the still bloody knife to his throat. He’s more aware of himself as you meet his eyes, the pressure of the blade sobering him up almost instantly.

“You wanna see how I left him, you wanna see what I looked like putting the last fucker down that dared to come after me. Dared to put his hands on me when I said no. Bleeding in the street without his fingers or his dick?” The thump of the man’s detached fingers onto his chest pull his eyes down and away from your own. They widen slightly at the sight of them, the white of the bones you severed stark in the fixed light of the hall. “Try me, Miller, try me and find the fuck out.”

He’s silent, eyes wide and mouth clamped shut. Chest heaving as he takes in the way you’re completely serious and focused on him. The knee you’re digging into his crotch painful for the force behind it and you see fear flash in his eyes. You take it in stride, feeling far more powerful than you had in months.

“That’s what I thought, go sleep off the pills you downed and report back to me tomorrow with payment or replacement.” He grunts as you shove off of him, his body stinging where yours had been on him, his neck feels cool where a few drops of blood form on the shallow cut where the knife had been.

The door shuts behind you, lock clicking in place. He stays there on the ground, heart beating wildly in his chest and his eyes take in the cut off extremities you had thrown at him where they had slid to the floor of the hall. His stomach lurches at the thought of the other one you had mentioned and he’s surging up to empty his stomach onto the faded and worn carpet.

previous chapter || next chapter

taglist: @sawymredfox @tuquoquebrute @orcasoul @itsokbbygrl @keylimebeag

@n7cje @hiddenbabynyc @ameagrice @everythingiwanttoread @furiousmushroom

@vivian-pascal @76bookworm76 @dugiioh @jellybeanxc @littlemisspascal

@undercoverpena @janaispunk @jessthebaker @persephone-girl

@corazondebeskar @harryscum @morgaussy @burntheedges @pascalpvnk

@cavillscurls @joelmillerisapunk @copperhalfcent @blackcatgreengrape

@the-orange-tabby-cat @yxtkiwiyxt @punkshort @cumberpegg

@littlemisspascal @mosssbawls @luxurychristmaspudding @cherrycolouredflunk

@tobethlehem @axshadows @ameagrice @theoraekenslover @mellymbee

@survivingandenduring *shoutout to @the-mandawhor1an for beta reading and @joelmillerisapunk for letting me scream with them while this chapter got finished and edited, thank you so much bbs!

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55sturn · 1 year ago

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✮ IN ANOTHER DIMENSION

pairing: chris sturniolo × female!reader

synopsis: in which y/n and chris have been together for a while but the time for their relationship is coming to an end when they both realize that they were only projecting their feelings for other people onto one another.

warnings: angst. angst. angst. ANGSTTTTT. wrong person, right time, swearing, no happy ending in sight, “i’m another life, i would be your girl.” coded.

THIRD PERSON POV

to the untrained eye, chris and y/n looked like another happy couple, watching the world in rose tinted glasses. but in reality, they were two heartbroken and lost people trying to navigate their unrequited love stories by convincing themselves they love each other.

chris had fallen in love with a girl, alyssa, back in boston when he was eighteen, but timing was never on his and her side, so he sought the comfort of other girls that resembled her.

and y/n was the closest to alyssa he had come across.

y/n had fallen in love with a guy in los angeles when she was seventeen, and they had been together for a couple years before josh had shut down the idea of them being together in the future.

so she began searching for him in every guy she met in passing, and she stumbled across chris at a party and the striking resemblance led her back to his house.

they knew from the very start that their relationship should’ve never gone on longer than that night. but they were so desperate for the comfort of the ones their hearts belonged to, that they kept seeking comfort from the people who were close enough to them.

y/n and chris were almost enough for each other, they so close to the ones they loved that they really could’ve fooled themselves if it weren’t for the small details that stuck out like warning signs.

chris really truly thought he could learn to fall in love with y/n, if only her hair was a few shades darker, her eyes were a shade lighter, and if her freckles were in the same place as alyssa’s.

and y/n really would’ve believed that she was in love with chris if he woke up a little earlier to go for a walk, if he drank his coffee with two sugars and a little creamer, and if his eyes were a darker blue.

they told themselves that they did love each other they just needed to stick around a little longer, to bring everything to light so they could have that big revelation, yet it wasn’t coming. the lies had become so natural that they had themselves fooled. they ignored people when they questioned the nature of what sparked their relationship, knowing it wasn’t healthy.

as much as they helped each other in one way or another, they knew they had to end it. they deserved better and they knew they needed to confront their true feelings. so they both silently vowed to end it.

so when chris approached y/n at a party they had attended separately, y/n knew that time had come. so as the two bid their respective friends goodbye, the two of them left side by side, solemnly making their way to the park down the road.

as they sat on the swings, they were both incredibly melancholic as they talked about their days.

“y/n, this isn’t healthy. you deserve someone who can actually love you, someone that can remember the way you take your coffee with four sugars because three isn’t enough and five is too much and two splashes of creamer, or the way you don’t go out of your way to listen to frank ocean because he makes you sad but ivy is the song you sing to calm yourself down. someone who finds those things endearing and doesn’t roll their eyes at it. someone who knows what you like and don’t like and that knowledge comes to them without hesitation.”

“chris-“

“i wanted to love you, i really thought i could learn to, and maybe it’s because you reminded me so much of her but you’re not like her. you’re your own person who is so incredibly interesting and kind and smart and i know for a fact that i would be head over heels in love with you in another life. in another dimension it would make sense for me to love you, but unfortunately, we’re in this dimension and this life, and my heart belongs to someone else.”

“in another life, i would be your girl, and you’d be my guy. in another world, i would’ve loved the way you get so passionate about music and fashion. i would love the way you scrunch your nose when you laugh, or the way you search for your brothers in a crowded room because they’re your safe space. in another life, i would’ve gone to the ends of the earth to make you happy, but you’re just someone to fill the void josh left behind. i think i’ll find my way back to him, so thank you for taking care of me and my heart in the meantime.”

“taking care of you in the meantime was my part of the deal, and i’m always gonna care about you, just not in the way i desperately wanted to.”

“i wish i could’ve fallen in love with you, we would’ve been something great.”

“yeah we would’ve y/n. we would’ve been much taller, much greater in another dimension, we would’ve had something epic, yknow?”

with a sad smile and a gentle nod, y/n rose from her swing, pressing a kiss to chris’ cheek before muttering a soft “yeah.” before walking away, silently wishing that things could’ve been different.

but they were always going to remember each other as their epic, heartbreakingly epic, “wrong person right time” love story. thankful they had each other to rely on for the time they knew each other, for how familiar they had gotten with each other’s heart before they had to part.

and maybe one day, they’d become something epic in this life.

taglist: @dylsdunbar @soursturniolo @4sturns @sturnsclutter @spencerstits @meanttomeet @bluesturniolo333 @graciereid @abbie13sworld @ghostofbrock @l9vesick @mylifeisevenstranger @bethsturn @ifilwtmfc @verosivy

#Spotify #chris sturniolo #chris sturniolo x reader #chris sturniolo x you #chris sturniolo imagine #chris sturniolo oneshot #chris sturniolo smut #christopher sturniolo #christopher sturniolo x reader #christopher sturniolo x you #christopher sturniolo imagine #christopher sturniolo oneshot #christopher sturniolo smut #sturniolo triplets #sturniolo triplets x reader #sturniolo triplets imagine

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arthistoryanimalia · 11 months ago

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PenguinAwarenessDay tea party, anyone? 🐧☕️

ArtDeco 3-piece tea service (teapot, creamer, sugar bowl), penguin-form Indian, c.1920–1930 silver w/ Bakelite handle Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 2013.628.1,2,3

“This tea service, delightfully comprised of emperor penguins (endemic to Antarctica), bears the arms of Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner from 1888–1943, on the left wing of each piece. The royal arms includes the motto (in Hindi): ‘Victory to the King of the Desert.’ Ganga Singh was one of many Indian maharajas who developed a taste for Art Deco in the early 20th century. The modern lines of this tea service would not have been out of place in his palace, which also featured an Art Deco swimming pool.”

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uwuowotf2waslife · 2 years ago

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What does your husbando/waifu/nonbinary barbie-crotched S/O says about you?

TW: slight teasing,but oh well...., also nsfw themes and swearing ( sowwy)

TEAM FARTRESS 2

Scooter/weanie man: complete morosexual or the unhuman need to take care of Boston inhabitants with room temperature EQ ( en englais: you have the mommy/daddy/parent kink and you want to show that boi all the love he deserves)

Soldier: you are a human carpet ( sub) or so Dom my sibling in Christ I am terrified. You think his bravery/randomness is endearing or you got roped in by every tumblr/wattpad headcanon potraying him as the ultimate beefcake ( cant argue with you, mofo built like a brickhouse on steroids without the roids.)

Pybro: A. you are a nonbinary peep and any nb representation makes your ovaries/balls/reproductive parts COMBUst with excitment. B. intense latex/leather kink with slight burn/wax play on main. I am both afraid and faschinated by your ability to flesh out on a person we barely know the most basics of their personaility, Godspeed you allmighty bAstERD <3

eNGIe: cowboy appreciator, daddy seeker and parental figure creamer connesuer, you fell in love with the ( here ) so much you actively search and look out for the gruff, wrench handling and guitar-playing texas man of your dreams. No matter your gender or sexuality engie hits that hotspot only the daddiest of daddies hit !

Heavy: rare breed of bear enjoyer, probs an older sibling that wants to make the older sibling ( tired, unhydrated and slighty (( extremely)) in need of therapy) pair. Probably not a huge shipper since you view HeavyMedic as more of a platonic pairing, or you are of the rarest Medicx Reader x Heavy poly sandwich. Please dont hug him too tight, hell hug tired and make your eyes pop like a cheap pop eyed toy.

Demo: contrary to popular belief, you are not a bbc enjoyer/seeker, Demoman isnt just a sextoy to you. He is just the only level headed person you see in a team of morons ( for u) or manchildren with murder tendencies and well, JUST LOOK AT HIM, HE IS BUILT WITH ABBS LIKE A WASHBOARD AND LOVES HIS MOM, HE IS NOT HUSBAND MATERIAL. HE IS SOULMATE/LOVE TILL DEATH ( WONT DO YOU PART, HE KNOWS MAGIK TO RECITATE YOU) , PLEASE I SALUTE YOU YOU GLORIOUS TAVISH ENJOYER!

Medic: WE GET IT HE IS HANDSOME AND SOUNDS EITHER LIKE A CHICKEN WITH A TOP TIER DANTE DEMON OR HOT GERMAN GILF! Please dont canoodle him so hard, youll throw out his back or break his hip. Also very questionable kinks ( i see you blood kinksters). You unironically are the I cAn MakE HiM So MUch WorSE squad and you scare me.

Sniper: yes he is the ratman ofyour dreams and yes he is also really pretty, but please stop treating him like a man who aint also a hired killer. Yes he wont even think to correct his Macas orders, but he will and can make you swoon so hard you look redder than Pyros suit, mans gots that outdoors, unshowered , rugged swagg and he is rocking it harder than the fricking 80s <3 <3

Spah: yesh you have a french kink, yes you want him to whisper in your ear soft french while he btters your bagguet, probably into dilfs or gilfs in the distance because none is a dilf /suave/sensual enough for you. ( perfume isnt a shower, go to shower now, mon petit coucou

RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE ( or the bimbofied RE4)

Lady Alcina Dimitrescu: a cis male/ a sapphic soul/trans,enby vagabond who respectfully wants to drown while motorboating he absolute units of bazoongas. Perhaps slight size kink and perhaps a person who doesnt mind a good blood slurped by their F! S/O if their tumm had the ramblies. Please dont go overboard, or youll enter the unholy assemblange of vore/stuffing kink irl

Donna Bienevento: creepypasta kid, you unironically got spooked first time you read Jeff the Killer. Probably into some questionable types of literature, hardcore horror enjoyer who also has a sanrio addiction. You have tried some kinds of handcraftmanship and might even have some hobbies that involve handiwork. I applaud you, but please dont give the basement FEOTus monster your choccy milk, itll have the zoomies and knock of angies card-castle.

Salvatore Moreau: the epitome of I can fix him! peeps, probably slight hurt/comfort enjoyer. You saw how dirty all the other treat him and you crave to make fish man happy. Both feet in monsterfuckening domain, unironically want to do the dirty while he is at monster form. Maybe you saw the Shape of Water and your brain did the thingy, but oh well, please continue on and make the lord of the reservoir the happiest fish in the sea!

Karl Heisenberg : you slimy, daddy kinked bAsterds, cant we have one game with a slight rat man with a good VA without yall flocking to him like lycans to his factory for french toast scraps??? slight bdsm enjoyer, or person who wants metal rat man happy and softened out like a soviet made breadcutter blade after a top tier professional restoration. Either way, please handle with care he may cry if you hug him the good way

The duke: an absolute chad who may or may not want to drown all your sorrows to a large, beautiful, suave man hug ( or man-thing, you never know.) You seriously deserve the world, because you be pumping fics faster than a heated political debate on Reddit. Also probably a slight hand kink, we all show those monsters at the Shadow of Rose DLC.

#tf2 fanfiction #tf2 headcanons #re8 headcanons #tw sex mention #tw bullies #tf2 fandom #tf2 facts #re8 facts #re8 shitpost #re8 lords #tf2 x reader #re8 x reader #lady alcina #donna beneviento #karl #salvatore moreau #tf2 #tf2 medic #tf2 scout

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cutedisneygirl · 2 months ago

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Love Online Chapter 24

Warnings: none just cute and fluff with a few pictures.

I know these last few chapters have been long it’s just hard to find a good stopping place at times. The next few will be long.

The next morning Chris is the first to wake up. He looks down at Merida who is still sound asleep next to him. He smiles and gets up and takes his shower and sees that Merida is still asleep, he pulls out his phone and makes a quick phone call then walks back to the bed. Merida is still asleep. He leans down kisses her cheek and rubs her cheek and arm.

"Babe."

"Hmmm."

"Wake up."

Merida rolls over and looks up at Chris.

"Morning beautiful."

"What time is it?"

"It's after 7."

"Uh, too early." She says rolling back over.

"Oh no you don't!" he says gently grabbing her and rolling her back over.

"Chris!"

"Nope you need to get up. It's time to get ready. We need to leave here soon."

"Why so early? We don't have to be out of here till 10."

"Because it's a long drive to Boston."

"Boston?"

"Yeah. I wanted talk to you about that. I was thinking of going to Boston for a few days and spend Thanksgiving with my family. Is that okay? I have already talk to your dad about it. He said he would meet us there."

"When did you talk to my dad?"

"This morning after my shower."

"Oh."

"Is that okay?"

"Sure."

Chris sits down on the bed beside her. "Are you sure babe? You don't sound very happy about it."

"No that's fine. I'm just waking up. I would love to go to Boston with you."

"Okay. We will spend a few days there, then I can fly you back to North Carolina."

"Oh you won't come with me?"

"I wish I could. I have a lot of meetings coming up."

"Oh."

"But I promise I will see you again as soon as I can. We will of course FaceTime every night."

Merida smiles. "Okay."

Chris leans in and kisses her. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Merida gets up and grabs her clothes and heads into the bathroom.

After Merida's shower they finish getting their stuff together.

"Do you have everything babe?"

"I think so."

"Did you get your phone charger?"

"Yep."

"You got everything out of the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"Okay you ready to go then?"

"Yes."

"Well lets go then."

They head out and Chris closes the door and they ride the elevator to the lobby.

"I will take the things to the car and meet you in the breakfast area."

"Alright." He gives her a quick kiss then leaves.

Merida heads into the small breakfast area where there is a small variety of breakfast options. She fixes herself a cup of coffee and decides what else she wants to eat. She has just put a bagel in the toaster when she feels arms wrap around her.

"Hey."

"What are you eating?"

"I am fixing a bagel."

"Sounds good. I might just have some coffee and fruit."

"That all?"

"Yeah I'm not really hungry."

Merida turns and wraps her arms around him. "You okay?"

"Yes babe, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. I am just checking."

"I'm fine. Promise." He kisses her then pulls away and fixes his coffee. Merida gets her bagel and fixes her coffee, putting creamer in it then heads to a table. Chris gets his coffee and grabs a bowl of fruit and sits down in front of her. They eat breakfast and then head to the car. They drive for several hours listening to music. Chris stops for breaks and to eat. Merida looks at Chris who she can tell is getting tired. She looks at the clock its almost midnight.

"Chris, should we not stop for the night? It's almost midnight."

"I'm okay. It's not much farther."

"Are you sure? You look tired. How about I drive a little?"

"I'm good babe. Promise." Chris says putting his hand on her leg and taking her hand.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to fall asleep driving."

"I won't. I promise. I'm fine."

"Well if you want me to drive I will. I don't mind."

"Thanks babe." He lifts their hands and kisses her hand and then places it in his lap. A few hours later Chris finally arrives in Boston. It's 4 am. He looks over at Merida. She is sound asleep.

"Babe," he says rubbing her arm.

"Hmm."

"We are here."

Merida wakes up and looks at the clock.

"Wow, it's 4:00 am. How did you?"

Chris smiles. "I'm okay. But I am tried. Let's get in and get some sleep."

"Are your parents awake?"

"Probably not. We will need to be quiet."

Chris grabs their bags and uses his key, and they head inside. They quietly walk into the house and to his room. They get ready for bed. Chris goes first. He tries to get to Merida to go first but she insists he go first; she knows how tired he is. By the time Merida is done and walks towards the bed, Chris is already asleep and snoring. She smiles. She climbs into bed next to him, kisses his cheek and snuggles up next to him.

The next morning Merida wakes up and Chris is still sound asleep. She looks at her phone and sees it was 8 am. Normally he is awake by now, but she knows he is probably still tried from the long drive. She scrolls Instagram. She doesn't see any more post about Chris going in the girls bathroom. She is still looking at Instagram when Chris wakes up.

"Morning babe."

"Morning Chris."

"How long you been awake?"

"Not long. I was letting you sleep. I knew you were tired."

"Yeah. Did you sleep okay?"

"I did. Did you?"

"Yes. I guess we should get up."

"Yeah. Do you think your parents know we are here?"

"Yes. They probably saw my car."

"Oh right. What time is my dad coming?"

"I don't know. He didn't say. But I would imagine sometime today."

After they get ready they head to the living room. Lisa is in the kitchen and his sisters are sitting on the couch.

"Chris!" Stella screams and runs up to Chris and hugs him.

"What time did you guys get in?" Carly asks

"4:00 am."

"Oh wow! Did you not stop for the night?" Carly asks.

"No."

"Seriously? Chris!"

"I tried to get him too, I even offered to drive but he said he was fine."

"Chris, your so stubborn. I can't believe you didn't stop for the night or even let Merida drive."

"I was fine. I just wanted to get here."

They sit and watched some Tv till her dad arrives that afternoon. They eat a few hours later. They enjoy each other's company and talk. Carly talks to Merida about the wedding. She asks her what her ideas are. Merida tells her she doesn't know yet she hasn't thought about it much yet, but she will get ideas soon. She tells her if she needs anything to let her know and she will be happy to help. Merida thanks her. They stay another day and then go to Chris's house that is not far away. They are sitting on the couch that night watching tv.

"I don't want to leave tomorrow." Merida says laying her head on his shoulder.

"I know. I don't want you to leave either, but you have to."

"Do I?"

Chris smiles. "Well yes, don't you have to work Monday?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that. I do."

"We should probably head to bed. You do have an early flight."

"Yeah."

The next morning Chris wakes and wakes Merida, and she gets ready. He has fixed her breakfast. He had gotten up early and fixed breakfast while she was in the shower. After they eat and clean up Chris gets her bags and takes them to his car, and he drives her to the airport. He pulls up at the airport. He gets out and gets her bags.

"Call me when you get back home."

"I will."

"I love you babe."

"I love you too."

Chris kisses her.

"Wait." Merida says as Chris turns to head back to his car.

Chris turns back, "What?"

"You're not walking with me?"

"Babe," Chris says walking back towards her.

"Don't make this harder than it is. I don't think it would be a good idea if I went with you. I wouldn't be able to let you go." He says taking her face his hands.

"Oh Chris," Merida says starting to cry.

"Oh babe, don't cry please. I promise we will see each other soon. You need to go before you miss your flight. I love you." He kisses her again then reaches down and smacks her bottom.

"Now go."

"Chris!"

Chris smiles. "I love you babe. Talk to you tonight."

Merida smiles and leans towards him and kisses him one last time then grabs her bags and heads into the airport. Chris watches till she disappears then gets into this car and drives back home.

Merida arrives back in North Carolina around 11:19 am. She calls Tiffany.

"Hey girl!"

"Hey. I'm on my way home."

"Oh! I wasn't expecting you to arrive yet."

"Yeah, Chris booked me flight."

"Oh, you flew back?"

"Yeah. Chris had meetings, so he booked me a flight."

"Oh. Well, I will head your way then. Want to have a girl's night? We have a lot to catch up on."

"Sure, sounds good."

"Okay I will see you in about an hour. I will pick up a pizza and some other things."

Merida arrived home and texted Chris.

Merida-Home. I already miss you. Tiffany is coming over. We are having a girl's night. I will talk to you later.

Merida sets her phone on her bed while she unpacks her bag. It is only a few minutes later when she hears her phone go off. She picks it up.

Chris-Glad you made it. I miss you too babe. Have fun. Text me later. Hopefully we can talk before you go to bed. Love you 😘

Merida-I will text you. I hope we can. I love you too. 😘

Merida finishes unpacking. She has just put her suitcase away when she hears a car pull up. She walks into the living room and opens the door and Dixie runs in and up to her. Merida picks her up.

"Wow you've gotten big, it seems like."

Dixie licks her.

"I've missed you too girl."

Tiffany puts the pizza and other bags on the counter.

"So, what would you like to do first?" Merida asks putting Dixie down.

"I want to see your ring!"

"Oh. Yeah."

Merida holds out her hand. Tiffany takes her hand. "Wow! That is gorgeous! Chris did good."

"It was actually my mothers."

"Oh, wow seriously?"

"Yes, that is what Chris said. He told me when he went to ask my dad permission to marry me, he gave him the ring and that he had planned to get a ring that day and when he saw the ring he knew it was perfect."

"I agree. It is. I love it!"

Merida smiles.

"So, when is the wedding?"

"I don't know. We haven't talked about it."

"You haven't?"

"No not yet. We have had some much going on."

"Well, you have to have some ideas, right?"

"Well yeah of course I do."

"Well tell me!"

"I would love to have a December wedding."

"Like next year? Next December?"

"Yes."

"Oh, that sounds perfect! What else?"

"Well, I love to have it at Disney."

"Oh my gosh! Seriously? Wow, that sounds amazing!"

"I haven't talked to Chris about any of this yet, so I don't know if he will say yes."

"I'm sure he will. I know he would love that idea."

"Yeah, but just think of the press and all the media. As popular as Disney is and if Chris was to get married there, I can't imagine how it would be."

"That's true, but I'm sure that could be worked out. You should ask him."

"I will."

"What about colors?"

"Not sure. I kind of had the idea of a beauty and the beast theme so maybe blue and gold."

"Oh my gosh! I love that idea! I want to help you plan! I'm sure we can find all kind of ideas."

"I'm sure we can. But I need to talk to Chris first and make sure he says it's okay before we make too many plans."

"I'm sure he will say yes, I can't imagine him saying no."

"We will see when I ask him. Let's eat. I'm hungry."

The girls grab some pizza and head into the living room and sit on the couch.

"Why don't we watch Father of the Bride?" Tiffany suggests.

"That sounds good. I love that movie."

Just as the girls start the movie and starts Merida's phone goes off. She looks down and sees a text from Chris.

Chris-We miss you

"Aww."

"What?"

Merida shows the text to Tiffany.

"Aww that's sweet. He really loves you girl."

"I know."

Merida-Aww. I miss you too. Tiffany and I are watching a movie.

Merida is about to put her phone down when she sees the three little dots moving then she gets a response back.

Chris-I wish I was there with you to cuddle with you and watch it with you. What are you watching?

Merida-☺️me too. We are watching Father of the Bride. Tiffany picked it.

Chris- ☺️good choice. I'll let you get back to it. Call me later? 🥺

Merida-☺️😂I will I promise. I love you.

Chris-☺️I love you too and can't wait. 😘

"Are you going to watch the movie or am I going to have to take your phone? This is supposed to be a girls night."

"I know. I am putting it down now."

The girls finish the movie then watch another wedding movie. They continue to watch one wedding movie after another. They order Chinese for dinner and eat it and continue to watch movies. At 10 Merida looks at Tiffany.

"What?"

"Before we start another movie can I call Chris?"

Tiffany laughs.

"Your missing him bad aren't you?"

"Yes, but I promised I would call him and before it gets too late and he heads to bed I want to call him."

"Yeah go ahead."

"I will be back."

Merida gets up from the couch and heads up to her room and sits on the bed. She messages Chris.

Merida-Can you talk?

Just a few minutes later Merida gets a facetime call.

"Hey."

"Hey beautiful! God I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"I've been waiting till you would say we could talk."

Merida smiles and bites her lip.

"Babe, why are you biting your lip. What are you nervous about?"

"Nothing I just..."

"What is it?"

"I was thinking."

"About?"

"The wedding."

Chris smiles. "What specifically? I've been thinking about that a lot."

"You have?"

"Yes."

"I was thinking about maybe December of next year?"

Chris is quiet a minute and rubs his finger over his chin.

"I think that would work."

"Also."

"Yeah."

"Could we do it at Disney?"

"Disney? As in Disneyworld?"

"Yes."

"Wow, I love that idea..."

"I know the press would be all over it and it would be a public place and maybe a bad idea but..." she says cutting him off.

"I will see what I can I do. I think I can make that happen."

"Really?" She asks excitedly.

"Yes, anything for my girl."

"Aww Chris, I love you."

"I love you too."

"There is one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Can it be a beauty and the beast theme?"

"I love that idea!"

Merida smiles.

"Good. Tiffany and I already have ideas."

Chris smiles and laughs. "I'm sure you do. You will probably have the whole thing planned in a few days.

"I doubt that." Merida laughs.

Chris smiles. "God, I miss you so freaking much. I miss your laugh and you being in my arms."

"Well, you're hearing my laugh now and I miss being in your arms too."

"Yes, your right I am and I love it, but its much better in person. So have you and Tiffany been watching a lot of wedding movies?"

"Yes."

"Fun. I guess I should let you go even though I don't want to."

"Yeah, Tiffany is going to come get me soon if I don't get back. She is waiting for me in the living room."

"I'll let you go then. I will talk to you tomorrow. I love you babe. Sweet dreams."

"Goodnight Chris. I love you too."

Chris blows her kiss and Merida blows him a kiss back and then hangs up. Merida heads back to the living room and sits down next to Tiffany.

"So..."

"So what?"

"Did you ask him?"

"Oh yeah, he said he would make it happen and that December sounded great."

"I knew it! How about the theme?"

"He loved that idea."

"Great! Now we can start planning!"

"Yeah."

The girls watch another wedding movie and look on Pinterest for ideas. When they find something, they show each other. Merida creates a page and names it My Wedding. And Tiffany labels hers Merida's wedding. The next day around noon Tiffany leaves. Merida continues to find ideas throughout the weekend. She talks to Chris every night. Monday morning, she woke up and got ready for work. She has just gotten out of the shower when she gets a text.

Chris-Good morning beautiful! I hope you have a great day at work! I love you 😘

Merida smiles and replies back

Merida-I love you too and hope you have a great day too. 😘

Merida lets Dixie outside while she eats her breakfast and after she is done and brushes her teeth she lets Dixie back in and then leaves for work. She arrives at work early. Catherine greets her when she walks in.

"Good morning, Merida. How was your week?"

"It was wonderful! Chris and I are engaged."

Catherine smiles. "That's great. Can I see the ring?"

Merida holds out her hand.

"Wow. That is a beautiful ring. I'm happy for you. Have you decided when yet?"

"December of next year."

"Oh wow."

"Yeah, I'm excited."

"If you need anything let me know and I would be happy to help."

"Thanks, I will."

Merida heads to her room. She only has one kid and Miranda is on the floor with her.

"Ms. Merida!" The little girl exclaims and runs up to her and hugs her.

"Hey Lydia."

"How was your week?" Miranda asked.

"It was wonderful."

"So happy for you. I saw the posts. I saw the ring, but I want to see it in person."

Merida holds out her hand.

"Wow, that's beautiful."

"Thanks. It was actually my mothers."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My dad gave it to Chris when he asked his permission."

"Wow. Have you set a date yet?"

"Yeah December."

"Oh, that's soon."

"Not this year, next year."

"Oh okay."

"Yeah, Tiffany and I have already started planning it and getting ideas."

"I bet you your excited."

"You have no idea! So much."

"Well, I'm sure we will get a lot of kids soon we better finish getting the room ready."

"Yeah."

The day goes by slowly. After breakfast and playing in centers for a little bit then go outside and the rest of the girls all ask Merida about her weekend.

"I saw the pics, wow girl! You are so lucky! Tell us about the proposal." One girl asks

"It was so sweet. He made it so romantic and memorable. I can't wait to marry him."

"I bet you can't. When it is?" Another girl asks

"December of next year."

"Wow, that sounds nice. I would love a December wedding. It is so pretty that time of year." The first girl says

"Have you decided where yet?" Another girl asks.

"Well, I am hoping Disneyworld."

"What!" The second girl exclaims

"Seriously? You didn't tell me that!" Miranda says

"Yeah, Chris said he would see what he could do, that he should be able to work it out."

"Wow! That will be amazing."

"Yeah."

Later Merida and Miranda head back inside. They play in centers till time for lunch and after the kids are changed, they start getting beds out and lay down for nap time. Merida pulls out her phone and sees she has a few texts.

11:00 am

Chris-Thinking about you. Hope you're having a good morning. I love you. 😘

Merida smiles and replies back

Merida-been thinking about you too. I have actually been talking about you. ☺️ all the girls have been asking me a million questions. I'm sureyour ears have ringing. I love you too. 😘

9:30 am

Dad-hey princess. Just wanted to check on you. Hope your doing okay. I know you went back to work today. Call me when you get a chance. Love you.

Merida-I'm okay dad. Yeah, I'm at work. I will call you when I get off.

Tiffany-I found another idea! Call me after work!

Merida-Okay I will.

She was about to put her phone down when she gets another text. Chris-Hey babe! I was wondering when I would hear from you. And yes, no wonder my ears were ringing so much! I figured all the girls would ask you all about the weekend. ☺️ Glad it's going well.

Merida-Lol, yeah it's been a good day. Yeah, got lots of questions about how you asked me and how it all went and they all wanted to see my ring.

Merida was about to set her phone down when she the dots moving and then another text.

Chris-So you wore your ring? ☺️

Merida-of course I did. I wore it last night to bed too and couldn't stop looking at it.

Chris-☺️Oh you did? So, you wore it to bed, but you won't' wear it with me? 😔

Merida-Aww Chris. I just don't want to scratch you again.

Chris-Babe, you know I don't care about that. Hey, it's a scar from you. Every time I look at it I will think of you.

Merida-lol oh Chris. I just don't want to scratch you again. I hate I did it.

Chris-Aww babe, seriously its okay. I love you and I love it when you wear it. I wish you never had to take it off period.

Merida gets ready to answer but then Miranda walks up to her. She has just gotten back from her lunch break.

"Mer, Catherine wants to see you in her office."

"Is everything okay?"

"I don't know. She just told me to ask you to come to her office."

Merida gets up and puts her phone in her back pocket and heads to her office.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, please sit down."

Merida sits down in front of her desk.

"Don't worry. You're not in trouble." Catherine smiles.

"Okay."

"I have been thinking and I think you deserve a raise. You have been here several years now and have been working hard and have always been on time and even been here when I needed you."

"Wow, Catherine I don't know what to say. Thank you."

"You're welcome. You deserve it girl."

Merida smiles.

"So, I am giving you a $2.00 raise."

"Wow! Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Merida feels her phone vibrate in her pocket. She had forgotten it was in her pocket.

"So, I hear your getting married at Disneyworld."

"Maybe, if Chris can work it out."

"I'm sure it will work out. I'm sure he can make it happen."

"He said he should be able to."

Catherine smiles. "Well, you should get back to your room."

"Yeah. Thanks again."

"Your welcome sweetie."

Merida heads to her room. She doesn't tell Miranda what happened. She sits down and sees another text from Chris.

Chris-babe? You still there? Your quiet on me.

Merida-Sorry my boss wanted to see me. She gave me a $2.00 raise. And aww I know me too. But I have to take it off when I put lotion on its hard to put it on with my ring on it gets between my finger and the ring.

Chris-Wow babe! That's great. Happy for you and yes, I understand. I need to go. I will talk to you tonight. Love you! 😘

That evening when Merida arrives home she lets Dixie out and fixes her some dinner. She has just let Dixie back in and is just sitting down when she gets a text.

Tiffany-Are you home? I need to talk to you!

Merida-Yes. I am eating my dinner. Can I call you after I finish?

Tiffany-I can talk you while you eat. All you have to do is listen

Merida-lol fine.

Tiffany FaceTime's her.

"Hi."

"Hey! So here is an idea I found that I think you will love."

"What is that?" She asks taking a bite.

"A production cake."

"What is that?"

"It's a cake that shows an image. I will show you a video I found. It is so cool. They even have a beauty and the beast one."

"Oh wow."

"You will love it! I also found some cute table decor."

"You are having too much fun with this."

"I really am! I am loving looking at ideas."

Merida laughs. She finishes eating and cleans up her dishes while Tiffany continues to tell her about her ideas.

"Those all sound great!"

"I knew you would like them."

"Yeah. Hey I just remembered I need to call my dad."

"Okay. I will talk to you later. I sent you the video of the cake. Let me know when you watch it and what you think."

"I will. Goodnight."

"Night."

The girls hang up and Merida calls her dad. They talk for a few minutes. Merida tells him when her and Chris plan to get married and the tentative idea for getting married at Disney. He is excited for her. They say goodnight. Merida has just hung up and is about to head to the bathroom to get ready for bed when her phone rings with a FaceTime from Chris. She smiles.

"Hey."

"Hey babe. How's my girl?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm good. I have good news."

"What's that?"

"We are getting married in Disneyworld."

"Really!" she exclaims

"Yep. I got it all set. We only need the date."

"Oh right. Umm hang on let me get my calendar."

Merida goes to her purse and takes out her pocket calendar and goes to the back where she can look at next year.

"Is there a date you think would work?"

"Well how about December 18th?"

"That works. It's before Christmas so it wouldn't be too bad."

"Right. One other question. Do you want daytime or nighttime?"

"Oh umm, maybe nighttime. I think it would so pretty at night."

"I agree. Okay I will set that up."

"Thanks Chris."

"Your welcome babe. Anything for my girl."

Merida smiles. They talk another hour then say goodnight. The next few weeks go by and then its December. Merida has been working hard on Chris's gift. He is coming to North Carolina to be with her since she was with him in Boston last year. Merida at first feels bad. She knows how much he loves being with his family on Christmas, but he assures her its okay that he is happy as long as he is with her. They are spending Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with her dad. Merida tells him they can fly to Boston Christmas day if he wants. He smiles at her and says they will see.

The day before Christmas Eve Merida is rushing around trying to get her house straight. She has been trying to get decorations up and make the house look straight. She looks at the clock. It is 12:00.

"Chris is due any minute. He texted me and told me he landed that he was his way. Oh, Dixie I'm so excited to see him. It feels like it's been forever!"

Then Dixie barks and then she hears the knock. Merida runs to the door and opens the door.

"Chris!" She exclaims and throws her arms around him.

"Hey babe."

"Oh Chris, I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too."

Merida then stands back and Chris comes in. Dixie starts barking.

"Hey Dixie! How are ya girl!" Chris says squatting down and petting her.

"Chris?"

"Yeah?" He asks looking up at her.

"Do you feel like taking her for a W A L K?" she spells out.

Chris laughs. "Sure. Let me just put my stuff up and run to the rest room."

"Sure. I will grab her stuff."

Chris gets up and kisses her then leaves the room with his bag. Merida grabs Dixie's leash. She is just finishing attaching the leash to her collar when Chris walks back into the room.

"Okay let's go."

They head out and walk towards the park. Merida holds the leash in one hand and holds Chris's hand with the other.

"So what is the plan for tomorrow?" Chris asks.

"My dad said to be there around 2. I am not sure what he has planned. He just said to be there then. We might open a gift. That is a tradition with us. But I will tell you, you won't get your gift till Christmas day. I only have one gift for you."

"It's okay babe. Your enough." He says as he squeezes her hand.

After their walk they head back to Merida's house and fix some dinner and sit down and watch Charlie Brown Christmas. Then later head to bed. The next morning Merida is the first to wake up. She quietly gets out bed and goes to the closet and pulls out the gift she had already wrapped for Chris. She sticks it in her purse. Later after Chris gets up, they eat breakfast and let Dixie out and then get ready for their day. After they clean up from breakfast, they get ready to head to her dad's. Dixie of course goes with them. They arrive right on time. Her dad greets them.

"Hey guys! Your right on time. Come on in."

They both walk in with Dixie following in behind them. "I need to check the oven. Princess you can show Chris his room."

"Sure."

Chris follows Merida up the stairs. "So, I guess this is will be the first time in while we won't be sleeping in the same bed." Chris says.

"Yeah, my dad would kill me. I told you he's old fashioned."

"It's okay."

Merida stops in front of a room with blue walls. "This is your room. It's actually right beside mine. My dad's is across the hall."

"Oh."

Chris walks into the room and sets his stuff down. Merida walks up to him and puts her arms around him.

"I could always sneak into your room." She smiles.

"Oh really now?" he winks.

"Yeah. My dad would never know."

"What if he woke up and saw you weren't in your bed."

"He wouldn't. He is a sound sleeper, and I could always sneak back to my room before he got up."

"Hmm, I don't know babe. I would hate for you to get into trouble."

"I wouldn't don't worry." She says kissing him.

"Where is your room? I want to see it."

Merida takes his hand, and they walk to the room right beside his. It's a pink room. There are lots of Disney figures around and Disney pictures on the wall.

"Wow! You really are a Disney fan."

Merida laughs. "I've had a lot of this since I was very little."

"It's okay. I love it." He kisses her.

"We should probably get back downstairs before my dad comes looking for us."

They head back down the stairs and her dad is taking a casserole dish out of the oven. "There you are. I was starting to wonder if you got lost."

"Sorry, I was showing Chris my room."

"Oh. Well dinner is ready. Are you ready to eat now or do you want to wait and open gifts first?"

Merida looks at Chris.

"Do you want to wait or do you want to eat now."

"Either one is fine with me."

"How about we eat after. This needs to cool for a few minutes. Let's head to the living room."

"I'll be right back." Chris says and leaves the room.

Merida sits down on the couch and her dad in the chair beside the couch. Chris comes back with two gifts and sits down next to Merida. Her dad picks up two gifts from under the tree

"Merida," he says handing her a gift.

Merida tears open the wrapper and finds a beautiful pearl ring.

"It was your mothers. I have been waiting for the right time to give it you. Her mother gave it to her when she got engaged. I know she would have given it to you."

"Oh daddy!" Merida stands up and runs to her father and throws her arms around him.

"I love it thank you."

"You're welcome. Chris, here is yours. It's not much but..."

Chris takes the gift and tears open the paper and finds a blue mickey tie. He smiles.

"Thanks Shawn."

"You're welcome. I wasn't sure what to get you. Hope you like it."

"I do thanks." Chris then picks up the gifts he had set beside him. He hands one to Shawn and the other to Merida.

"Chris! You didn't have to get anything." Shawn exclaims.

"It's not much."

Shawn opens the gift to find a framed picture of Merida standing in front of the castle that he had taken the day they got engaged.

"Oh my, thank you! I love it! Princess your beautiful."

"What did he give you?"

He turns the frame and holds it so she can see.

"Oh wow. Chris I've never seen this picture."

"I took it the day we got engaged."

"I remember."

"Thanks Chris."

"Your welcome."

"Princess, open yours."

Merida tears the paper and finds a jewelry box

"Oh Chris! What did you do?"

"Just open it."

Merida opens the box to find.

"Oh Chris it's beautiful. Thank you."

"It's the rose from beauty and the beast and the key to my heart." He smiles.

"Aww Chris." She wraps her arms around him and kisses him.

"I love it thank you. That's sweet."

"Your welcome babe."

"I will give you yours tomorrow."

"That's fine. As I said earlier your enough. You don't have to get me anything."

"Alright well let's eat before out food gets cold."

They sit at the table and eat then after dinner and the dishes are cleaned up and leftovers put away, they sit down and watch A Christmas Story. A Christmas Eve tradition for Merida and her dad. Chris and Merida curl up on the couch and Shawn sits in the chair beside the couch. After its over they head to bed.

"Goodnight you too. Sleep well. Sleep in as long as you want. Merida don't get up too early. I know how you like to get up early."

"Oh daddy! I haven't done that since I was a little girl." She laughs.

"Well goodnight." He heads into this room and closes the door.

Merida walks towards Chris. "I love you. Goodnight. See you later." She whispers. She kisses him.

"I love you too. Night."

Chris heads into his room and closes the door slightly. Merida heads to her room. She gets ready for bed. She changes into her Christmas pjs

She takes her contacts out and then climbs into bed. She picks up her phone and scrolls through Instagram. She doesn't see any new posts. She sends a quick text to Tiffany and tells her what Chris got her and sends her a pic of it. She responds back only a few minutes later with an Aww.

Merida looks at her phone and sees it is 11:00 pm. She wonders if Chris is still awake. She debates to text him but decides to just check. She lays her phone on the table beside her and plugs it in and quietly creeps to her door. She slowly opens it and peeks out. Her dad's door is closed. She quietly walks to Chris's door. It is shut but only halfway. She slowly opens it. Chris is facing away from the door under the covers. Merida quietly walks towards the bed and climbs under the covers and snuggles up to Chris.

"Ahh!" Chris exclaims. He quickly turns and sees Merida lying beside him.

"Shh Chris! You're going to wake my dad."

"Babe, you scared me."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I was trying to be quiet."

"I know, but next time warn me before you do that."

"Okay I'm sorry. I thought about texting you before I snuck in but decided to just come in."

"Next time text me so you don't scare me."

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." He says kissing her. "Man! Your feet are freezing!"

"Maybe you need to warm them up." She smiles.

"Merida babe!"

"I didn't mean it like that!" She says playfully hitting him.

"Uh huh, sure you didn't." Chris says winking.

"Chris, I did not!" She says hitting him again.

"Okay, okay."

Merida lays her head on his chest.

"So when are you heading back to your room?"

"You already wanting to get rid of me?" Merida asks looking up at him and frowning.

"No, of course not. I just wondered. How will you know when your dad will get up?"

"He normally gets up at 6."

"6, so that means you should head back by 5."

"5? How about 5:30?"

"Fine. I can set my alarm."

"No don't do that. He might hear it and it might..."

"I always get up at that time anyway. I can wake you up."

"Okay."

Merida snuggles back up next to Chris and lays her head on his chest.

"I love you babe." He says leaning down and kissing her.

"I love you too."

They are both asleep in no time. Then at 5:00 am Chris wakes up and checks his phone. He knows he needs to wake up Merida even though he hates to. He gently shakes her.

"Babe, wake up."

"Hmm."

"Wake up babe, it's 5:00."

"Hmm, just a few more minutes. Too early."

"No come on don't go back to sleep. I'll never get you up. You need to go back to your room."

"No. I want to stay here." She says snuggling up closer to him.

"Aww, babe, I know you do and I wish you could, but you told me that you needed to get back to your room before your dad woke up."

"Hmm I know but I don't want to move. Just a few more minutes please."

"Aww your so cute. I love it when your half asleep." Chris kisses her. "Fine five more minutes then you are getting up." He kisses her again then picks up his phone and checks his messages. He has one from his mom and one from his manager. His mom wished him a merry Christmas and his manger was reminding him of his upcoming appointment in a few days and wishing him a merry Christmas. He replies to the messages then looks down at Merida. She looks so peaceful laying on him. He sees her slowly breathing while laying on his chest.

"Alright babe, wake up."

"Hmm. A few more minutes."

"Nope. You need to go. I already gave you five more minutes. Go before it is 6 and he gets up."

"Hmm I hate you."

Chris smiles. "No you don't. You love me and I love you."

He leans down and kisses her. "Get up."

"I do love you and your right I don't hate you."

"I'll see you in a little bit."

Merida climbs out of the bed and quietly heads back to her room and softly closes Chris's door and heads back to her room and gently closes her door just a little and climbs under the covers. Her father gets up at 6 and peeks into her room and sees she is asleep. He heads down the stairs and makes breakfast. A few minutes later Chris gets up and peeks in Merida's door and sees she is sound asleep. He smiles and heads down stairs. Shawn is at the stove.

"Well good morning Chris. I didn't expect you to be up this early."

"I always get up early. I am so use to getting early I can't sleep in anymore."

"Hope you slept well."

"I did."

"So Merida told me the wedding might be at Disneyworld."

"It is officially there now. I got it worked out. Also the date is December 18."

"Oh wow. Well I'm sure she is excited."

"She is."

"Well should we wake Merida or let her sleep?"

"I can go see if she is awake." Chris says.

"Okay. Breakfast is about ready."

Chris leaves the kitchen and heads up the stairs and quietly enters Merida's room. He sits on the edge of her bed and gently rubs her arm.

"Babe."

"Hmmm" she groans and rolls over and looks at Chris.

"Chris."

"Morning beautiful."

"What are you doing?"

"Waking you up. Your father has fixed breakfast."

"Oh. He doesn't know that I..."

"No, don't worry your safe."

"Okay."

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we going to your mom's later."

"We will see. Let's just enjoy this time with your dad."

"I know you want to be with your family on Christmas."

"I do yes, but as long as I am with you I don't care where we are."

"Aww Chris."

"Come on lets go down stairs."

Chris and Merida head down the stairs. Her father looks up when they walk in.

"Well there's my princess. Hope you slept well."

"I did."

"Are you ready to eat? I thought we could eat then open presents."

"Sounds good." Merida says.

They eat breakfast and then after helping her father clean up they head into the living room. Chris has already put the presents under the tree.

"So who wants to start?" Shawn asks.

"I can." Chris says. He gets up from the couch and heads to the tree and grabs his present for Merida and hands it to her.

Merida tears open the paper. She sees the jewerly box.

"Oh Chris. More jewerly?"

"Just open it."

Merida opens the box

Authors note- it's supposed be engraved but I did the best I could just imagine it being engraved ☺️ "Oh Chris. I love it. Thanks."

"Your welcome babe." He gives her a kiss.

"I'll go next." Merida walks over to the tree and picks up her present. She hands it to Chris.

"It's not much."

"I'm sure I will love it because it's from you."

Chris tears open the paper

"Oh babe, I love it. Thanks."

"Glad you like it. I know it's not much, but I didn't know what to get it."

"I love it. Thanks babe."

"Alright, my turn."

Her dad gets up and picks up two presents

"This one is for both of you." He says handing one to Merida.

Merida tears into the paper and finds a box. She opens the box

"Oh daddy I love it. Thanks."

"Your welcome Princess."

"Thanks Shawn."

"Welcome. Here is one more for you princess." Shawn says handing Merida a box that is wrapped present.

"Oh my goodness."

Merida opens the box to find a garter, a tearier, white flat shoes, and dimond clips for her hair."

"Oh daddy!"

"Those were your mothers. I thought you might like to have them. I found them when I cleaning and getting out Christmas decorations. I couldn't find her dress, but I'm sure you want to get your own dress."

"I love them thanks." Merida goes and hugs him.

"The garter was her mothers. She had another one that she let me throw. She wore that one father up on her leg."

"Oh wow."

"So if you have a daughter one day you can give it to her."

Merida smiles but doesn't say anything.

"So how long are you two staying? Are you heading to Boston?"

Merida looked at Chris. "I was leaving that up to Chris."

"Well I actually booked us a flight for 3:30pm."

"Really? When?"

"This morning. Is that okay? If you want to just stay here I can cancel it."

"No it's okay. I know you want to see your family."

"Thanks babe. We still have a few hours before we need to leave so we have time to head home and get our bags and head to the airport."

They spend the next few hours with her dad. They talk and play some card games. Then Chris says they should leave so they have time to get ready. After they arrive back at Merida's house, she gets her bag packed. Chris puts his stuff in his bag and sets it by the door. He walks into the bathroom where Merida is packing her tolieters bag.

"You about ready babe? We need to go."

"Yeah I think I got everything. Oh I forgot my charger."

"Where is it?"

"It's by...no its...oh no!"

"What?

"I left it at my dads."

"It's okay. We can get you a new one. It's always good to have a back up one."

He grabs her bags and they head to the car. After Chris put their bags in the back they leave and head to the air port. They arrive in Boston 2 hours later at 5:30. Chris calls a taxi. They arrive at his moms a few minutes later. Chris grabs their bags and they head inside. As soon as they walk in Merida smells a wonderful aroma of food.

"Mom! We are here!"

Lisa comes rushing into the room.

"Chris, Merida! So glad you could make it. You still have a while before it will be time to eat. The girls are upstairs Merida, Chris your brother and the boys are out back with Dodger."

"I will meet up with you later." Chris kisses Merida then heads outside to the backyard.

Merida stands in the living room a few minutes.

"You doing okay?" Lisa asks.

"Yeah. I'm just tired I guess."

"Have you started planning yet?"

"A little. Tiffany and I have a few ideas."

"That's good. If you need any help just let me know. I would be happy to help anyway I can."

"Thanks."

"Chris told me it's at Disneyworld on the 18th of December."

"Yes."

"Have you talked about where you will go for a honeymoon?"

"No, we haven't talked about that."

"I'm sure you will. How are your classes going?"

"They are okay. I am off right now, but I will be starting back soon."

Outside

"Chris!" Scott says when he sees Chris. Dodger runs to him.

"Hey bubba!" Chris leans down and pets him.

"Everything go okay?"

"Yep. We got some nice gifts from her dad."

"Did you decide about the honeymoon yet?" Scott asked.

"Well I haven't talked to Merida, but I thought about surprising her."

"Oh that sounds good. Where are you thinking?"

"Well I found out there is this couple that helps with wedding planning and honeymoons for Disney. I thought about asking them for help."

"Oh you mean Twitch and Allison?"

"Yes, that's them."

"Oh I've heard they are amazing! That would be great."

"I am going to contact them in a few days and see what I can work out."

Back inside

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Merida asks Lisa.

"Well, would you like to make the mashed potatoes?"

"Sure."

Merida helps Lisa in the kitchen finishing the last few things. An hour later they call everyone to eat. They all sit down and eat. Stella who hadn't known Chris was there, runs to him as soon as she sees him. She sits in between him and Merida at the table. After they finish eating Merida starts to help Lisa clean up but she tells her she doesn't have to that she could go in living room with Chris.

Merida joins Chris on the couch.

"Hey babe." He says kissing her head.

Merida lays her head on his shoulder. "You okay?" He asks placing a hand on her leg.

"Yeah, just tired."

Later they exchange gifts. Lisa gives Merida some gift cards to some clothing stores and a wedding planning book. Scott gives Merida a barnes and noble gift card as well as some wedding books.

That night when Chris and Merida go to bed, Merida is asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow. Chris kisses her head and snuggles up next to her. They stay a few days at his moms then spent two nights at his house before Chris drives her the airport for her early flight back to NC.

"I hate I have to leave."

"I know. But we will see each other soon."

"When?"

"I'm not sure. I have a lot coming up. But we will FaceTime don't worry. I love you babe."

"I love you too."

Chris kisses her. He had gone with her to the gate this time.

"Call me when you get home?"

"I will."

Merida leans up and kisses Chris then heads towards the terminal to board the plane.

Taglist:

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#chris evans #chris #evans #dodger #chrisevansfanfic #chris evans fics #best friends

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isay · 8 months ago

Text

Saturday morning.

Get up, take the doge, Juno, out to do her business. It is damp and wet.

Go back to bed.

Joined by the other ickle dog, Torvi Torvington.

Have another 30 minutes until Juniper decides it is time for their and my morning walk.

I’m putting their leads on when I hear the sound of raindrops on the roof. Meh.

Stay inside and have a cup of Folgers and read The Grauniad while Kim does things on her computer.

Rain stops, Juno, Torvington and I head out, with Dua Lipa in my headphones. There is a fallen tree across our secluded avenue, such are the perils of living in the country (suburbs).

Do our usual 2km walk, head home, towel the beasts off.

Decide to take the boat out for a row, by which I mean park my WaterRower in front of my upstairs lounge tv and stream a couple of Hydrow workouts from YouTube. Today I rowed in Prague and along the Charles River in Boston.

Second cup of coffee (why is American drip coffee so much better than the Italian derivatives we get here?), this time with French Vanilla creamer, because why not. And now to hit the shower, and while I leave you with that thought here’s two of my favourite things, Dua Lipa and artistic swimming.

youtube

#Youtube

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remember-that-one-blog · 2 years ago

Text

Picking Up the Pieces (Part 2)

Warnings: There is description of a panic/anxiety attack and death. If this makes you uncomfortable feel free to skip it. The anxiety attack will be in bold.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! I’ve hit writer’s block on my other series at the moment but I will keep trying. Please let me know what you all think!

Part 1

You were still reeling from the coffee you had with Chris. When you got home that night you googled him. Weird? Probably, but you had never seen any of his movies. You had no idea he was an actor. You couldn’t believe the movies he had been in. You were never a movie buff, so you hadn’t seen any of the movies he had been in. You decided you would try one of the Marvel movies. You had to say you were a fan. You weren’t going to tell him that though. You were sitting on the couch with Diesel reading when there was a knock at your door. You put a bookmark in your book and went to answer the door. You peeked out the small window. It was Chris and Dodger. You opened the door as Dodger immediately made his way into your home.

“Dodger! Sorry, I was gonna see if you wanted to take them to the dog park but I guess Dodger had other plans.” You laughed as you watched the two dogs play in your living room.

“It’s fine. Diesel likes having another dog around. Abby was his best friend.” Chris nodded in understanding.

“I think he’s found a buddy in Dodger.” The two of you laughed.

“Would you want to come in? My backyard is fenced in. We can go out back and watch them and have a cup of coffee.” Chris nodded as you allowed him inside. You made your way over to your coffee maker and put a pot on. “The door to the backyard is down that hallway if you want to let them out.” Chris did as you said and made his way down the hall to let the dogs out. You grabbed two mugs out of your cabinet. You put sugar and creamer in yours before you pour your coffee. Chris came back when the pot of coffee finished. “Didn’t know how you took yours. Sugar is here and creamer is in the fridge. You can help yourself.” Chris went about making his coffee the way he liked as you mixed yours to make the sugar dissolve. After he was finished the two of you made your way to your backyard. You watch as Diesel and Dodger chased each other around.

“So, why Boston? Of all places to start over?” You looked at him as you made yourself comfortable in your chair. You thought about it before you answered.

“I always wanted to come to Boston to see the Boston Public Library. Ya know, book nerd and all. Jake and I came to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. It was during winter and it was just so beautiful. I didn’t want to live in Boston but close to it. We had talked about moving but it never happened. We were happy in our small town, but when I lost Jake it was never the same for me.”

“So you got married in the winter?”

“We did. Christmas Eve actually. It snowed the day we got married which while we live in the south it’s super rare to have a white Christmas. It usually rained and sometimes it was even in the sixties on Christmas.” You couldn’t believe how easy it was to talk to Chris about this. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to dump it on you. It’s just easy to talk to you.”

“I don’t mind. I’m glad you find it easy to talk to me. I’m sure it’s not easy going through this. I’m also a pretty good listener.” You gave him a soft smile.

“So, you asked me about my life. You think I can have a turn?”

“Go for it.”

“Was acting always what you wanted to do?”

“Yes and no. I didn’t realize I would ever get to this level. I love it but it’s hard being away for so long. Especially when I have to leave Dodger like I did this last time.”

“Do you have to leave him a lot?”

“Not usually. I can bring him with me most of the time. I miss him a lot when I’m gone.”

“I understand that.”

“What do you do? Out of everything we talked about the other night I never asked what you did.”

“I actually work in the library, which is what made me fall in love with Boston in the first place.”

“Do you like it?”

“I do, but my goal is to have my own bookstore one day. Maybe have a coffee shop and bakery inside.”

“That’s amazing! Do you know what you would call it?”

“I’d call it Baked and Booked.” Chris let out a laugh at that.

“That’s the best name I’ve ever heard.” You laughed with him. A genuine laugh too. One you hadn’t let out in quite some time. The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a while finishing your coffees.

“I have a confession to make.” Chris looked at you and waited. “I watched one of your Marvel movies last night. I liked it, but movies still aren’t my thing.” You gave him a small smile.

“I’m glad you liked it.” He gave you a smile back. You were quiet for a little while longer before Chris spoke again. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How long ago did everything happen?”

“A little over a year ago.” You had been thinking about it but didn’t want to dwell on it. Jake wouldn’t have wanted that for you. You gave him a soft small. He returned it. You didn’t know what was happening to you. You weren’t sure if you would ever be with someone again or date again. You never gave it a thought. Jake was your high school sweetheart. You hadn’t dated in so long you weren’t sure if you knew how to go on a date at this point. You couldn’t believe you were thinking about this. You barely knew Chris but he had this pull for you. It threw you for a loop because you kinda had that with Jake but not like this. This was different. It scared you.

Jake was a constant in your life for over half your life. The thought of being with anyone else seemed foreign to you. You weren’t sure what was going on with Chris, but you knew there was something there. Something you hadn’t felt before and you didn’t know how to go about it. You weren’t sure if Chris felt the same way. Judging by the small glances and soft smiles he gave you, maybe he did.

“Can I say something?” You nodded at his question. “I don’t know what it is, but I feel drawn to you. I don’t know why and I can’t explain it. You seem different to me and I don’t want to come on as too forward and considering everything you’ve been through I don’t want to push. But I would really like to get to know you more and take you out if you’re comfortable with that.”

“I know what you mean. I was with Jake for over half my life. The thought of being with anyone else is so odd to me, but I know what you’re saying. I feel connected to you in a way that wasn’t there with Jake and that alone terrifies me, Chris.” You were honest with him. You were scared. You didn’t know how to navigate life as a widow. No one prepares you for that at your age. Chris could see the fear in your eyes. He didn’t want to push, but he reached for your hand and you let him take it in his.

“I can’t begin to understand or imagine what you’re going through, but I do know that if you ever want to give this a shot, I’m here. I would love to give this a shot. If you decide you want to, we'll take it day by day. We won’t jump into anything. Okay?” You could see he meant every word. You weren’t sure about it yet, but maybe, just maybe you would give this a shot. You just needed to sort yourself out first.

“Okay. Thank-” There was a knock on your front door. You and Chris shared a confused look. “I wasn’t expecting anyone. I know your ma wouldn’t knock either.” Getting up, you took your hand back from Chris. He followed you to the door. When you opened the door you were shocked at who you saw.

“Florence? Glen? What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?” You didn’t know it but you started shaking. Chris grabbed your hand and you settled a little but you couldn’t believe it. Jake’s parents.

“We’re here to see Jake, obviously.” Your heart stopped at his mother’s words.

“You’re here to see Jake?”

“Yes and that man is clearly not my son.” She sneered at Chris.

“Florence, Jake’s dead.” She rolled her eyes. ROLLED. HER. EYES.

“Oh please, I got your letter. I don’t believe you. So, where is he?”

“He’s dead. He died a year ago. How did you even find me?” They tried to barge into your home but Chris kept his foot on the door. They looked between the two of you and gave you disapproving looks.

“I can’t believe you would do this to him. After everything he’s done for you. You just up and leave him.” His father was livid. You let go of Chris’ hand to rub your face in frustration.

“Oh my god. He’s dead. He died in a car crash a year ago yesterday. I WAS THERE! I held him as he died! I watched your son take his last breath and you have the audacity to come to my home, uninvited, and tell me you don’t believe me?!” They looked at you like you had grown a third eye. You marched to your bedroom to grab a box. Once you found it you came back to the door. You opened the box, shoving a piece of paper in their faces. “Do you see this? It’s a certificate of death. Your son, whom you wrote off by the way, is dead. The son you wanted nothing to do with because he wanted to marry me died. Do you get it now?” They took the paper. You watched their faces drop.

“No, he’s not dead. I still don’t believe you.” His mother had unshed tears in her eyes. You weren’t about to go easy on her. It wasn’t your fault she didn’t believe you a year ago when you sent the letter.

“The address to the cemetery is on the bottom of the certificate. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to my day.” You grabbed the paper from them and shut the door in their faces. You were livid. How could they not believe you? You watched Jake die and that still wasn’t enough for them. All of the sudden it was hard to breathe. It felt like an elephant was sitting on your chest.

Chris knew what was happening the second you grabbed your chest. He made his way over to you and wrapped his arms around you. You jerked at the sudden feeling of arms. Chris shushed you gently and went to the ground with you when he could tell your knees were giving out.

“It’s okay. Just breathe, in and out.” You did as he said. It didn’t seem like it was helping at first, which made you panic. “It’ll help, I promise. Breathe with me. Come on.” So you did. You took a breath in and let it go. You focused on keeping your breaths even with his. Once it felt like the elephant was off your chest you sat there on the floor with Chris’ arms around you. You stayed quiet for a few minutes.

“How can they not believe me? I watched Jake die. I held him. How can they think I would make something like that up?” You didn’t expect an answer. You were just talking out loud to get the thoughts out of your mind. You felt Chris’ arms tighten around you. He couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed with your in-laws. How could two people be so cold to you? How could they not believe their son had died. Chris could see the pain in your eyes. He knew it was there and he wanted to help you. He wanted to help you piece your life back together.

“I’m sorry you’ve had to see me fall apart like that. I just wasn’t expecting them to show up at my door let alone not believe me when I told them their son died.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll help you pick up the pieces.”

#Chris Evans #chris evans fanfiction #Chris Evans fandom #chris evans imagine #chris evans one shot #chris evans x reader #chris evans series #Steve Rogers #steve rogers x reader #steve x reader #marvel

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