#abby cameron

[g-girlshavingfun]

December Prompts

1) Warm Tequila - Abby x Townsend

Set about 5 years after the events of UWS, Abby and Townsend explore the Christmas markets in London. (2,121)

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“What do you think?”

Edward’s gaze, previously locked fiercely on a group of young men armed with black puffer jackets and overpriced beer not-so-discretely leering at any and all women who happened to pass them by, jumped back to his wife at her inquisitive tone.

Blinded momentarily by her smile, he took a moment to simply stare at her. Dark hair half-buried under her woolly hat fell in waves around her face made pale by the cold. The dusting of freckles that decorated her nose and cheeks, the pattern that was engrained in the memory of his lips, that he knew better than he knew the features of his own face, were buried under the redness of her nose, the pinking of her cheeks. Emerald eyes twinkled with mischief, alight with joy and the reflection of the Christmas lights lining the market stall they stood beneath. Her smile spread far beyond her mouth. From the whites of her teeth, ever so slightly crooked in the back of her mouth in a way that no one could see but Edward knew intimately, to the stretch of her lips, chapped from the cold but soft all the same. From the rounding of her cheeks and the scrunching of her eyes, to the giggle in her shoulders and the bounce in her toes. It spread beyond her even, reaching the tips of his tingling fingers and filling his chest with an adoring warmth. Slight lines cut through her face, a lifetime of her smiles carving brackets around her eyes, and more than a lifetime’s worth of pain slicing through the skin above her forehead. She wasn’t quite the 24 year old he met in Romania, nor the woman just beginning her 30’s he fell head over heels for in Buenos Aires, but here amongst the London gabble, browsing through tat in Leicester Square’s Christmas market, less than a year from entering her 40’s, he was still absolutely certain of what he first decided all those years ago.

Abigail Cameron was undoubtedly the most gorgeous woman in the world.

Remembering that she asked him a question, he kickstarted his brain back into motion and finally registered the monstrosity she was holding out in front of him. It somewhat resembled a winter hat, though it just as easily could’ve been an overfed cat for all the fur lining the inside. It was a sort of vomit-green colour, equipped with a red bobble on top and matching ear flaps on the sides. Adorning the face of it was the likeness of that thing from the Christmas film Abby loved so much, a similar vomit shade of green with a devilish grin and light-up yellow eyes. The Grinch, he remembered.

Fighting valiantly against the smirk that tugged against his lips, he quirked an eyebrow at her. “You already have a hat Abigail.”

Her grin grew, delighted in his indulgence of her antics. “Not for me silly!” She tapped her card against the reader held out to her by the man working the stand, flashing him a smile that seemed to stun him to the spot.

Edward could empathise.

Reaching upwards, she yanked the garish hat unceremoniously onto his head, adjusting it slightly so  he could still see, and giving his cheeks a patronising pat before her arms settled around his shoulders.

“Absolutely not.”

“C’mon Townsend you need a winter hat. You lose most of your heat through your head you know-

“Actually that study was debunked a few years ago.”

“-and this one suits you perfectly!” It was getting hard to focus on what she was saying. Her fingers were dancing across the back of his neck and playing with the curls of his hair slipping out the back of the hat. “Besides, what would your mother say if she knew you were wandering around in the freezing cold-

“-It’s only 5 degrees love.”

“-freezing, without a hat on?”

“Well she’s from Carlisle, so she’d probably be ashamed that I’m wearing a coat.”

“Yeah I don’t know what that means.”

And then she kissed him.

It was a short kiss - too short - but it made him go weak in the knees, the ankles, the heart, all the same. His hands latched onto her waist and pulled, grunting slightly as she let herself go weightless against him, feeling her smile into his mouth as he lost himself in her. When she moved to pull away, his entire body seemed to chase her. Tightening his arms around her back, arching his neck down towards her face, his nose brushing up against hers in a desperate attempt to keep their lips attached. Laughing, she pulled away anyhow, leaving only her fingers on his shoulders, the tip of her nose against his jaw, her breath sweeping across his neck.

Looking up at him through her eyelashes, she pouted, uttered a single “Please?” and he was gone.

“Fine.”

Anything to get her to kiss him like that one more time. All the time. For the rest of time.

Again, her lips were warm on his, a stark contrast to the state of her fingers now running down his spine from under the collar of his coat. One of his own hands crept upwards, cupping the back of her head and soothing through the silk that was her hair, the other migrating around her back, encircling her in his arms like he could keep her there forever. Cherry danced across his tongue, the scent of jasmine tickled his nose, symphonies of all the sonnets ever written cascaded through his ears. All his senses were engulfed by her. It was all he could do to contain his love, his elation, his-

Giggles broke them apart. Not his wife’s this time, but a trio of preteen girls hovering nearby. Abby turned and smiled kindly at them, no sign of the embarrassment that danced across his own cheeks, and he couldn’t help the bashful smile that broke across his face.

“Ah ha!” Quick as anything, she had pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of his love-stricken grin, ignoring the pained groan that crept out of his mouth. “What? Its just for Zach. And your parents. And maybe Rachel and the girls, they think you never smile you know?” Walking backwards, perfectly navigating the crowds of tourists despite never breaking eye-contact with him, her hands travelled down his arms until they intertwined with his own, pulling him along with her through the market stalls once more.

“As long as Solomon never sees it.”

“Eh, no promises.” Another groan. “C’mon grumpy, you can buy me a drink to cheer yourself up.”

“How will that cheer me up?”

“Because maybe I’ll find a way to pay you back.” With a wink that made his heart stutter and all the blood and heat in his body rush somewhere very not appropriate for their current circumstances, she spun on her heel and tugged him more urgently towards the pop-up bar. “We’re trying the Poppins special.”

Once he regained control of his wits, he glanced up at the menu boards. The usual festive drinks were on offer, mulled wine and cider, Irish coffee and hot chocolates, even Prosecco for those willing to fork out £15 a glass. There were tamer options as well for those less in the Christmas spirit, beer and larger on tap, plus every spirit and mixer known to man, but of course Abby had opted for one of the themed cocktail specials. Cleverly, they had devised a different drink for each of the famous statues dotted around the market, including a kid-friendly option named after Paddington the bear, and Edward quickly focussed his vision on the one named after the illustrious nanny.

“Tequila? Who drinks hot tequila?”

“You in about 5 minutes.” She gave him a gentle push to the middle of his back, tone growing impatient, “Large please.”

“I don’t know why I have to have it as well.” Protesting even as he held out his card to the bartender, nodding in polite acknowledgement of his sympathetic smile. “I’d be much happier with a whiskey.”

“Well that wouldn’t be very Christmassy-“

“Not a word.”

“-yes it is! would it? Besides, you’ll like this.” Abby near-always spoke with confidence, even when she was blatantly wrong and knew it, but her absolute assuredness gave him pause.

He turned to face her, eyebrows furrowing, “How do you know?”

“Uhh because I know you dummy?”

“No, how do you know I’ll like it if you don’t know what it tastes like?” Eyes flickering downward, she bit her lip slightly, humming in thought. Edward huffed in disbelief. Of course she managed to sneak off and treat herself. “When? We’ve been together the entire time?”

“You were very distracted staring at the jewellery over there,” she jutted her head towards the adjacent stall and he followed her gaze. The table was adorned with floral rings and earrings, bracelets and hairpieces, the necklaces displayed behind the woman manning the station. It wasn’t extravagant stuff, though the advertisement claimed they were made of real flowers, and nothing that Abby would ever wear, but while he had already bought gifts for his side of the family, he had little planned for those back home. He had been eyeing a charm bracelet for Cammie, after all these years still uncertain if it was the kind of gift a man bought his niece-in-law-slash-almost-daughter-in-law, and he must’ve been debating it for longer than he thought. Abby’s voice broke through his musings once more. “She’s very pretty isn't she?”

What?

“What- No!” He spun back around to face her, a sliver of panic gripping him as he realised he was staring at the stand, lost in thought, and the woman attending it was smiling back at him. Abby only laughed at him though, throwing her head back and quelling the brief dread of a fight that had started building in him.

Taking her drink from the bartender in one hand, her smile of thanks igniting a flush across the young mans face, her other reached up and threaded through the hair on the back of his neck in apology for her teasing. Retrieving his own drink, he huffed in forgiveness, removing the aforementioned icicles from his neck and placing a small kiss to her fingers as he led them away from the bar.

“How come I get bullied into wearing this hat-“

“I would call it gentle encouragement.”

“—but you’re allowed to lose your fingers to frostbite by not wearing gloves?”

“Because how am I supposed to show this off if I’m wearing gloves?”

Taking a generous drink of the warmed tequila through her smirk, she released his hand to hold her own out in front of them, wiggling her fingers until her ring caught the twinkling of the lights around them. Reluctantly, he conceded the point to her, recalling the number of times today that she had caught the attention of onlookers, their eyes drifting from her face to her left hand in resigned disappointment. Edward could feel his own ring, his most prized possession, cool around his own finger, and smiled. He hadn’t taken it off since he officially stepped out of the field and into a desk position at Langley, his bad knee from all those years ago finally getting the upper hand on him, but the novelty of being married to this woman had yet to wear off.

“Right, bottoms up or whatever.” He rolled his eyes at her attempt at an English accent. “Seriously, just try it.”

In a mirror image of her, he raised the plastic glass to his lips, taking a slow, deliberate gulp.

Bloody hell, he hated it when she was right.

The burn from the tequila was tempered by the warmth of the drink itself, and challenged by the zap  of orange and lemon dancing down his throat. It was thick and had a hint of sweetness, no doubt containing an unholy amount of honey, but the bitterness of aniseed balanced it out well. Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg danced on his tongue, and he was suddenly struck by the question of whether he could taste the spices on hers.

“See, you love it.” Another laugh bubbled out her mouth at his reluctant affirmation, mirth streaking across her face as she shook her head in astonishment. “When are you gonna learn that I’m always right hey?”

Sending another gulp down his throat, he set his drink to the side, grabbing hers while he was at it. Ignoring her protests, he pulled her in by the waist, desperate to learn the answer to his own question. But first…

“I love you.”

He kissed the smirk straight off her face.

———————————————————————

Authors note:

There you go, there’s roughly 2000 words of Tabby fluff and Townsend being a major simp.

Apologies for British nonsense, but unfortunately, much like Edward Townsend, I too am English. For those not cursed with the insider knowledge, Carlisle is a city pretty far north in England, hence being used to the cold, the wind, and the rain. Leicester Square is a square in London near the West End where they have a popular Christmas market every year. It’s next to the cinemas where they hold movie premieres so theres loads of statues of famous British entertainment figures like Paddington, Mary Poppins, and Mr Bean.

[cammie-morgan-goode]

It would be fun to see you write about Abby's pregnancy, like her cravings, her mood swings and how townsend dealt with it!

There is so much that goes into having a baby and starting a family. There really is no handbook or guide that can truly prepare you for having a tiny human. A tiny human that you are now responsible for every second of the day.

Abby and Townsend weren’t planning on having a kid. It just happened. One day Abby was out in the field, dodging bullets trying to hop on a train in Russia and she stopped dead in the middle of the train car to throw up on her attacker. Townsend didn’t stop laughing about it for days.

So now here she was, lying in the small bed of their apartment in Williamsburg, two hours from Roseville, wanting nothing but a chicken sandwich with pickles. Her growing stomach was also grumbling so loud, she thought it was going to make the bed shake. It also didn’t help that this was the third time she’d had to get up to pee.

Townsend was passed out beside her, having been up since 3 that very morning. He just got back from a mission near Cape Henry, close to home in case she needed him. Thankfully he wasn’t jet lagged like the time he had to fly from Africa to Scotland.

Abby didn’t want to wake him up but man, was she hungry. And the more she thought about it, the better vanilla ice cream sounded. And the more potato chips crushed up on top, the better it seemed. Her stomach growled even louder at the thought.

She was only three and a half months along and these babies were giving her and Townsend a run for their money. She chewed on her lip and huffed. Vanilla ice cream with crushed potato chips, drizzled with that Smucker’s peanut butter hard shell stuff that you can only find at Harris Teeter, a local grocery store. Her stomach grumbled, making her sigh again.

“If you do that again, I am liable to throw a pillow at you, Abigail,” a British accent sounded through the night.

Abby jumped and rolled her eyes. “It’s not my fault your children are hungry,”

Townsend groans and blinks his tired eyes open. He turns to his side and spots the clock on the side table. “Abby, it’s 2:17 in the morning,” he states, sitting up on his elbows, his voice thick with sleep. He rubs his eyes with his hands, a sigh making it’s way from his throat.

Abby bites her lip. His voice is deeper when he’s tired and it sends her stomach into knots that have nothing to do with the babies inside her. She struggles to sit up. “I’ll just go myself,” she says, propping herself up on her elbows too.

Townsend’s hand shoots out, touching her arm. He sits up fully. “Don’t even think about it, woman.” He orders, his voice cold. Anyone else would mistake it for him being controlling but Abby saw it for what it really was. Love. “What do the little monsters want now?” He questions, biting back a yawn.

Abby grins and launches into a description of ice cream and toppings and potato chips. She’s animated, wide awake with cravings. She uses her hands vividly, making sure Townsend knows exactly what it is his babies want at two in the morning.

Townsend yawns and nods, slipping out of bed. He kisses Abby on the forehead, whispering a goodbye to the babes in her stomach, and grabs his keys. He’s out before Abby can even say pepperoni pizza.

Townsend knows that Abby will be asleep by the time he gets back but he doesn’t mind. Sure, he’s tired but he would do anything for her. So he makes sure to put the ice cream in the freezer, with the hard shell topping right next to it, front and center.

He’d do anything for the two little ones in his wife’s stomach. He’d burn the world down if it meant it would keep them safe. Forever.

(Written by: @cammie-morgan-goode)

[justatidalwaveoffeelings]

Abby and Towsend talk like adults

There was a loud knocking at her door. She looked at the clock 12am. She thought that maybe if she did answer the person would just give up and go away. Instead the knocking got louder.

She opened it and none other than Edward Townsend was standing there. She wasn't in the mood to deal with him.

"If you keep knocking like that your going to wake the  faculty staff. Go to your own bed, Edward."

He walked past her into her suite knocking her on her shoulder as he went.

"Hey, this is my space and you can't just come barging in here and----"

His lips found hers. Strong and soft and sure. She was caught off guard for the smallest of moments. What the hell was wrong with her. She didn't want him like this, she wouldn't just forget. They had their fair share of fights but she wasn't about to get carried away in passion to let this one blow over. She needed clarity. He had told her the story but something was missing.

She put a hand on his chest slowly pushing away. He looked at her like he knew exactly what she was doing.

"Nuh uh. I'm not doing this. You can't just do this. We need to talk. Something I know you're not a fan of but if you want to stay with me your going to get better at it."

He put his hands on his hips and stared at her. "You barely talk with me. Even after I explained and we "made up".  Plus  you're not exactly the essence of great communication."

She rolled her eyes. Starting to get angry again. She couldn't help herself.

"You have a SON. An 18 year old with a literally terrorist. The woman who has been making it her personal business to torment my family. You think I'm just going to forget that you DIDNT TELL ME?!"

"So much for you being worried about waking the other faculty Abigail."

"Get out"

"No."

"Get the hell out of my face."

"Not until we talk, really talk, I said I was sorry. I don't really know how to get to you right now"

She looked in his deep blue eyes, as serious as ever. She didn't want to forgive him but he kept coming back to her somehow so maybe all of those crazy feelings she has had for him mean something.

She grabbed his arm and yanked him to the tiny couch. She shoved him to one end and she sat on the other. Knees crossed and arms folded.

"When did it start"

"Abby, I already told you," 

"No. When did it start."

"I was young, and foolish, and I thought at one point that I loved her. We worked together briefly, on a CIA/MI6 exchange.

We were handling sensitive materials and she was using me to get my Intel. Not that she ever heard it from me, more like my office.

We slept together on and off for about a year. Towards the end of that year i was suspicious about us and she finally tipped her hat like the crazy woman that she is.  It's been over ever since. I really didn't know. You've heard that before though. So what is that your looking for?" 

She took it all in. She had heard that before. Why did it feel like she needed something else? Security. She needed security.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were with her?"

He scoffed and dragged his hand down his face.

"Becuase it wasn't my proudest moment and I know how much you hate her and I---didn't want to push you away or lose what I have with you. Although now that you found out this way it's not seemingly hopeful either."

Abby couldn't help herself, she uncrossed her arms and scooted closer.

"Ya it was pretty stupid of you, but I don't think I'm ready to be done. Do you have any other crap things you need to own up to?"

He looked at her and smirked. "Even if there was anything left, you jumped straight into the deep end on the worst things Edward Townsend ever did."

"I believe you. I really care about you but I'm tired of our on and off again thing. This whole back and forth thing is hurting more now a days. I'm sick of it."

"What are you proposing, Abby?"

"I don't know. What am I to you? I thought we were more serious this time Edward. You didn't tell me that you were with her and then we have the added bomb that you fricken procreated with that woman."

"Abby, I'm sorry. I care about you. Seriously. I don't want to loose you over this but I'm getting so tired of having this conversation with you. What is that your looking for from me?"

She looked at him. She couldn't help herself, her eyes started to well and she went to stand. Unfortunately for her, he also stood. He pulled her to him and brought her head down to rest on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.

She finally spoke.

"It just sucks. You feel so secure and happy and then all over again I don't know if I love you."

His head snaps back.

"Love. You love me?"

"Well I thought so but I'm so confused right now. I don't know what I think."

He looked at her confused?

"You don't know that I love you? More than I've loved someone before?"

She shook her head.

Apparently the weight of what he said washed over him so he threw in a small insult that she also annoyed him like no other too. They sat there for a moment. Both realizing they really were "in love" whatever that meant.

She went to kiss him. She said "I love you".

He smirked "I love you too. We will figure the rest out later."

She laughed a little. "No one can know though, okay?"

He just kissed her again.

[assortedmelons]

Celebrity Melons

[g-girlshavingfun]

He has good taste and that redeemed him

Remember when we didn’t like Edward Townsend?  Good times

[fadedpetal]

blah blah blah

*goes back to reading smut*

[hotshotsxyz]

"this is torture, isn’t it?" "not in the slightest." with any pairing of your choosing but like. HEAVY pining.

(buddie) (370 words)

 He knows now, is the thing.

It was—it was fine, before, more or less. But now he knows, and for all that he’s practiced packing away his feelings, Eddie doesn’t know how to put this one back in its box.

“This is torture, isn’t it?” Hen asks sympathetically.

Eddie takes a long sip of beer. Maybe it should be, but it’s not. It hurts, yeah, watching that starry eyed smile of Buck’s turned on someone else, but he’s happy, and that’s kind of everything Eddie needs.

“Not in the slightest,” he murmurs in response.  

Hen looks at him and frowns. “If you told him—”

Eddie shakes his head. “I wouldn’t do that to him.”

“Your feelings aren’t a burden, Eddie,” Hen says sadly.

Eddie sweeps his gaze across the bar until it lands on Buck. He’s half in Tommy’s lap, in the middle of an animated conversation with Lucy and Ravi. He’s flushed pink, a color Eddie’s had the privilege of watching spread across his cheeks a thousand times, on his couch, in Buck’s kitchen, between one beer and the next.

He’s perfect, and Eddie—

Well, Eddie’s pretty sure he could ruin him.

“He’s happy,” Eddie says, and it aches.

“You don’t think he’d be happy with you?”

“He might,” Eddie allows. “But I know he’s happy with Tommy, and I won’t ask him to walk away from that.”

Hen lays a warm hand on Eddie’s forearm, and all at once it occurs to him that it’s been… god, he doesn’t know how long, since the last time Buck touched him.

“Your happiness matters too,” Hen says quietly.

Eddie shrugs. “Not as much as his.”

“Say that to him,” Hen says pointedly.

Buck’s eyes find Eddie’s, almost like he knows he’s the subject of their conversation, and he grins. Eddie can’t help but smile back at him.

“I know,” Eddie admits quietly. “I just…”

“It’s okay to be scared.”

Eddie swallows harshly. It isn’t that. Or—or it is, but he’s not scared for himself. But he maybe—

He maybe is scared of himself.

Because he wants, and for Eddie, wanting has never ended in anything but heartbreak.

“He’s happy,” Eddie repeats.

It has to be enough.

[batbitten86]

fuck questions like “what you favorite color?” tell me what fictional character you’re so obsessed with you can’t even think or hear about them 

[winterrrnight]

KEZ!!! I just thought of an amazing idea😭, you know how Ward lended Rafe, Cameron industries…what about before Rafe married reader, she always dreamed of having (the pictures), a majestic bookroom filled w books. So!! Before getting married she would always talk abt Rafe building anything similar for her, and since we all know Rafe is OBSESSED w wife, he already started rough drafts to make sure wife got everything she wanted, what Rafe vowed to her 🥹

IM GOING CRAZY IM GOING CRAZY IM GOING BATSHIT CRAZYYYYY abby I'm kissing your brain rn so hard 🥹🥹🫶🏼🫶🏼

part of this little universe <3

rafe has always known about his wife's obsession for books and her dream of having a book room, all of it decorated with aesthetics that she loves with all her heart (like literally anything!! whatever aesthetic the reader loves) and filled with so many books, like basically she wants her own little home library. 🥹

and rafe practically vowed the day she told him about her dreams that he will give it to her.

so the drafts were started, the ideas were thought, the sketches were made, and he was so determined to give her what she wants.

so, I believe that after their wedding when his wife gets to see their new house for the first time that rafe has been having built since the day he decided he's going to marry her and wants her in his life forever, the first room she's taken to is the bookroom!!!!

and its decorated exactly like how she used to tell him.

she wasn't even sure he would remember, but she is so in awe when she sees how much attention he paid to the details, how everything is just exactly the way she would describe to him.

she just didn't know rafe would be so lost in her words when she used to be telling him about her dreams of owning something like that, and how he loved that dreamy look in her eyes that she gets each time she talks about something she's extremely passionate about.

and to see her dreams come to literal life, you all best believe she has to pinch herself to convince her mind it is real!!!!

and then rafe shows her around, showing her everything he got built in the room and she's just so in awe with the way he practically bought heaven to existence for her.

after they start living there rafe knows that there's a good chance she's almost always in that room, reading something she loves so so much.

and after she's done reading whatever book it was that kept her so intrigued she would share her crazy theories on the book and rafe would listen to her no matter what!! cause he loves her!! with her whole heart!! he'll bring her the entire solar system if she asks for it!!

her face again has that dreamy look he so so so SO loves, and he gets lost in it. lost in her soft expression, her voice, her gaze... and its like he's falling in love all over again.

goodness he's so so whipped for her, he's never letting her go for real. she's her goddess always and forever 💘

tagging my baes @runningfrom2am & @chenslucy who i know will eat this up!!!!

(share any of your husband!rafe thoughts and headcanons and/or your other drew/rafe/zach thoughts! sfw only <3)

[dumbfuck11111]

❥i need someone to thrust their fingers inside me rn and choke me till i’m unable to breathe

[g-girlshavingfun]

December Prompts

22) A breakup - Zach & Townsend

6 years after the events of UWS, Zach goes running to Townsend after a fight with Cammie. (4,196)

———————————————————————

Vision blurred by anger and frustration and humiliation, Zach rapped his knuckles against the door of the modest Tudor house, fingers too shaken with adrenaline to use his keys. Chest tight and heart in his throat, he scuffed his feet against the slate step as he waited, still not quite believing he was here. He didn’t have to wait long before he heard the sound of a key turning in the lock, and then another key in another lock, a deadbolt being pulled open. As the door was pulled open a crack, the face he was greeted with was nearly his own. Skin slightly more tanned, face somewhat more woven by the lines of age, eyes a deep blue rather than his own dark brown, his father was not far off being a glimpse into the future for Zach. Though he wasn’t quite as tall nor as broad, didn’t quite have the same formal posture nor stoic mannerisms, the two men looked remarkably similar, sharing the same nose and jaw and cheekbones, the same solemn expression as they met one another’s gaze.

“Zach?”

“I- um- I need your help.”

Edward Townsend’s eyebrows knitted together ever so slightly in concern as he held the door further ajar for his son, gesturing for him to come in. He himself was basically barefoot, padding around the hardwood floors in just his dark socks, but Zach kept his loafers on, knowing that the other occupant of the house tended to walk around downstairs in her shoes and that it didn’t make a difference to the couple as long as he didn’t enter the carpeted sitting room. They walked through the entrance hall and into the kitchen where Zach took a seat at the island, watching as his father switched on an electric kettle and started preparing drinks. Tea for himself, coffee for Zach, the fancy kind made with expensive grounds and a French press because his father was nothing except consistently pretentious.

“I’m assuming this isn’t work related?” Back turned to him, his father gave a quick glance over his shoulder as he asked the question, tone stern. Zach fought the urge to roll his eyes. Him and Cammie had been subject to enough of the man’s lectures about bringing intelligence business home over the years, a fact they both found to be hypocritical given the amount of times Abby managed to bait him into a discussion about her most recent case without much protest from him.

“No.”

“But you’re okay, you’re not hurt or sick or anything?”

Zach swallowed hard past the lump in his throat, simultaneously touched and unnerved by the man’s concerned tone. “I’m fine.” He wasn’t okay, might never be okay again, but that wasn’t what his father meant. “Is- um- is Abby in?” As well as he got on with his father’s wife, as fond as he was of her, this conversation was probably safer had in the absence of Cammie’s aunt.

“She’s 41, 7 months pregnant with twins, and permanently exhausted. She’s always in these days.” A fond smile graced his face at the mention of her and the twins, only the bags under his eyes and the slight crease of his brow betraying his anxieties. Clapping a hand on Zach’s shoulder as he passed him a cup of coffee, made just the way he liked it, his father took the seat next to him and gave him his full attention. “She’s upstairs, hopefully getting some rest. Now what do you need help with?”

Unbidden, a heat started building behind Zach’s eyes.

He didn’t know why he was here. Why he came to Townsend when he had only been his father for 6 years while Joe had been in his life for as long as he could remember. Why he came to anyone at all when he was fairly sure he had fucked everything up, was fairly sure all the help in the world couldn’t save him now. Why he had said the things he said a couple days ago that put him in this position in the first place.

Trying to brace himself, he dug the sole of his foot into the corner of the bar stool he was perched upon, the pain it elicited distracting him from the pain in his chest. Swallowing hard again, he ground his teeth together and tensed his jaw, bunched up his shoulders and forced a breath of air into his lungs.

“I- I think Cammie and I broke up.”

His father just blinked at him.

“What do you mean you broke up?” There was no shock in his voice, no anger, only a gentle curiosity. Zach might’ve been mildly offended if he hadn’t known the man well enough to understand that he was prioritising facts over emotions right now. Besides, it was a nice reprieve for him. Suddenly, he found he was much more able to treat the conversation like an assignment debrief, cold facts spilling out of his mouth instead of the hysterical blubber he spewed at Grant earlier that morning.

“We had a big fight a couple days ago, Friday night, and we broke up”

“A moment ago you said you think you broke up, now you’re saying you did. Did you?”

“I told you, we had a big fight.”

“But did either of you use the word breakup? Or separated, or split up, or whatever terms you kids use these days?”

Huh.

Zach hadn’t thought about that.

He tried to think back to that night in their apartment, to her anger and his frustration and both of their tears. To the hurtful accusations she screamed at him and the admittedly cruel words he spat back in return. To storming out after she told him to, run away like we both know you’re so desperate to, and crashing on Grant’s sofa overnight. Maybe she hadn’t broken up with him explicitly, but surely she was going to, surely she should.

“Well, no.” Nodding like he had already solved the problem, his father leaned back in his stool, took a deep breath and a sip of his drink. He looked relieved. Zach hastily gave him some more context, needing to man to understand how dire the situation he found himself in was. “But it was a big fight, we’re not going to get past it. It’s over.”

A hint of a smile spread across his face. “A fight, even a big one, doesn't have to mean a breakup Zach, trust me.” Gaze focussed on something over Zach’s shoulder, something he was sure he wouldn’t see even if he turned to look, the smile slid from the man’s face as he contorted his features into something reassuring instead. “And even if you do break up, in my experience it doesn't have to last forever if you love each other enough. You love her.”

It wasn’t a question, had never been a question, but love wasn’t the problem here.

“Of course! But-”

“Then I’m sure you two can fix it. With or without my help.” His absolute assuredness, his conviction, would’ve been comforting had he actually had any clue what he was talking about. “Now, what was the fight about.”

Zach sighed. This was the kicker.

“Kids.” A twitch of his nose, a flex of his jaw, a blink of his eyes that lasted just a fraction longer than normal. It was admirable the way he tried to hold back his flinch, tried to disguise it from his face, but Zach knew his own features well enough to recognise the signs of discomfort in the man who passed them on to him. “Cammie asked me if I want them, I said no. She wasn’t overly pleased.”

Silence hung between them like a wet blanket. 

“Ah.” Eventually, his father sighed, nodded in understanding.

“Yeah.” Worryingly close to tears again, Zach slurped down the rest of his coffee before running his fingers through his unruly hair and burying his face in his hands, elbows rested on the counter. “Bit harder to fix than a fight about where in Rome to buy a cappuccino.”

Another contemplative pause, “Maybe,” and a thin stretch of silence, the sound of the man beside him sipping from his teacup distracting him from the ringing in his ears. “But easier than a fight about a secret history with the woman who killed your best friend and tortured your niece. Or about leaving you drugged in bed to go rogue on a mission. Or about abandoning you half dead in hospital because you’re too afraid of your feelings to stay.”

In fairness, that did all sound pretty complicated. Zach suddenly had a better idea as to why Abby and his father waited so long before getting together despite apparently knowing one another for decades. Lifting his head slightly and angling it towards the man however, there was only one thing he could think to ask. “Please tell me she drugged you?”

A deep of sigh of bemusement. “She wasn’t the first woman to do so, nor was she the last.”

Smirking, a deep chuckle forced its way out of his constricting throat, the memory of Cammie explaining their first test of Liz’s truth serum to him coming back to him in a flurry. “Have you thought about being more careful with your food?”

“You’re as bad as as the rest of them.” Grumbling under his breath, something about bloody Americans, he got up again to make them another drink as Zach’s head returned to his hands. “So Cameron wants kids.” He nodded. Apparently. “And you don’t.”

He froze.

That wasn’t quite it.

He liked kids. Meeting Liz’s younger sisters, helping Joe out with Cove-Ops field trips at Gallagher, even going back to Blackthorn and speaking with the boys about their futures, about what it will mean to belong to something should they enlist at Langley, had opened his eyes to the fact that he was fond of children even if he didn’t always know what to do with them. Once he got over his initial anger, his instinctive jealousy, he even found himself excited to be a big brother, an extensive conversation with Mrs Morgan even helping him minimise his fears about failing them. Cammie knew all this, had witnessed him learning a convoluted hand-clapping game with young Emily Sutton, had seen his smiles as he returned from helping teach at each of their old schools, had found the copy of the twin’s sonogram in his wallet.

But none of that meant he was going to be a father. He couldn’t. He would ruin them.

“It- It doesn’t matter what I- I’m not having kids!” The volume of his words, the intensity fuelling them, made his father stop in his tracks. Zach lifted his head again, entire body tense, imploringly staring at the man in an attempt to make him see, make him understand. “I thought we were on the same page about it. I’ve told her this before, a couple times, and she doesn’t listen. She never listens to what I think about this sort of thing, always thinking she knows me better than I know myself, but she’s wrong! Not that she’d ever hear that of course, how could Cameron Morgan ever be-”

“You’re not yelling about my niece are you?”

The stern voice interrupted Zach’s vitriol, the anger spewing from his throat dissipating on his tongue. Both him and Townsend flinched, turning to face Abby as she made her way into the room, hip cocked and eyebrow raised.

Her exhaustion was painted over her face, skin pale and bags sagging under her eyes. Normally light on her feet, she moved slowly under the added weight of Zach’s brother and sister, the muscles in her shoulders and back alternating between slumped and arched as she tried to find a comfortable position. Still, there was a light in her eyes, almost a bounce in her step despite the added baggage. Pregnancy glow, Mrs Morgan called it.

Trying to look as charming as he could, he shot her an apologetic smile, shoulders slumped in regret. “Hi Abby.”

She shot him a forgiving grin and wiggled her fingers in a small wave. “Hiya Zach.”

Moving to sit beside him, she gave her husband a thankful look as he pulled out the stool for her and helped her take a seat, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he did. “Sorry Love, did we wake you?”

“No no, your other son did that when he decided to use my bladder as a soccer ball.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind, laid another kiss to her head, laughed into her hair. “Are we talking about the fight you had with Cammie?”

“Wait, you know?”

“I know everything Zach. Now, Cam didn’t tell the girls what it was about but Macey’s money is on you doing something wrong, which I don’t want to believe but know that I can still beat you up if necessary. Joe thinks that you or she proposed before the other was ready, as if either of you would dare without speaking to Rach first. Personally, I’m leaning more towards the two of you having a chat about the future and disagreeing on something, very on brand for a couple with Townsend and Cameron blood.”

Stunned, he blinked at her, his expression no doubt mirroring the astonishment on his father’s face. “It’s only been two days. How many people know about this?”

“Spies talk kid.” She shrugged at him, leaning back into her husband’s embrace. “Squirt vented to Bex who obviously blabbed to Liz and Macey. Macey told me, and I needed someone to gossip to so I told Joe. Rachel doesn't know if that makes you feel better.”

“It does a bit.” Not only because Mrs Morgan scared him, but because if Cammie hadn’t confided in her mom yet, then maybe this wasn’t a breakup like he thought.

“You told Solomon but not me?”

“I can’t badmouth your kid to your face Ed.”

Zach always figured Abby would take Cammie’s side if they fought, but he hoped she would at least wait to find out what happened before critiquing him. “Badmouth? I thought you thought it was a mutual thing?”

“No, I said I thought it was a disagreement about the future. Very different.” Eyebrow raised and eyes inquisitive, she levelled an amused yet stern glare at him. “Like recognises like kid, and you have I’m scared of being a parent written all over you.”

“How did you-”

“In the five minutes I’ve been in the room, you’ve started at my bump for at least two, and you’ve looked at the sonogram on the fridge five times. You also seem pretty interested in the picture of me, Rach, and our father over in the hallway.” His eyes cut towards the picture in question, just visible through the open plan kitchen’s arched entrance.

It depicted a teenaged Mrs Morgan looking remarkably similar to Cammie as he first met her, carrying on her hip a young child with dark hair and bright green eyes. Behind them loomed a tall, strong-looking man with his daughters’ smile. Looking back at the girl from the picture nearly 40 years later, he caught her looking back up his own father with a cheeky, teasing grin on her face. “Good thing you stepped out of the field huh, that’s a lot of tells for a seasoned operative to miss.” The man just rolled his eyes and grumbled something about being up late last night battling with a crib in response.

Something like jealousy fluttered in Zach’s stomach at his father’s words. It wasn’t his fault, it’s not like the man ever knew that Catherine was pregnant with his kid, but Zach never had a father stay up late trying to set up a crib, or a playstation, or a model plane. He can’t imagine his parents ever smiled at each like they were the only people in the room, like no one else mattered. The twins would have that, and Zach was glad for it, but he still spent a lot of time wishing that he had that too.

Looking away from them both, he thought about what she said, thought about how Cammie had accused him of being a coward, about how even Grant suggested that maybe he wasn’t letting himself even consider the idea of kids.

“I’m not scared. I just- I can’t be a dad.”

“Uh huh.” Tone dry, she looked completely unimpressed with his attempt at a dismissal. “Look kid, here’s what’s going to happen. Your dad’s going to make me peanut butter and pickle sandwich, because your siblings have an appetite that could rival Garfield’s and I’m hungry again.” She hadn’t even paused to take a breath before the man was moving towards the fridge, an affectionate smile softening the roll of his eyes. “Then I’m going back to sleep. Meanwhile, you two are going to talk about how it’s normal to be afraid of parenthood, and how you’re not going to be like your mother, and how, believe it or not, you do know things about being a father. And he’s going to let you in on the secret that no one knows what they’re doing when it comes to kids, even people with regular, functional parents. You’ve met your grandparents, they’re completely normal and you know first hand how Edward fucked up his first year or so of fatherhood.”

“Thank you Abigail, but in my defence those were pretty unique circumstances.”

“You’ll process your feelings or whatever and then you’ll apologise to Cam, the two of you will make up and this will all be water under the bridge before Rachel has to find out that you screamed at her little girl.”

Zach flinched at the quick glare she shot him, shuddered slightly as he imagined it coming from the elder of the Cameron sisters. “I don’t even know how we’d do that, Cam and I haven’t fought since we were kids, and never like this.”

Both of them started at him blankly.

“You never fight?” They spoke in unison, confusion tainting their voices, turning to glare suspiciously at one another when their thoughts lined up for once.

Zach didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “Not everyone is like you two you know!”

Grunting, Abby climbed to her feet and took the sandwich from her husband’s outstretched hand, moving towards Zach while still addressing Townsend. “Talk to your son.” She ruffled his hair and gave him a quick one armed hug before moving to leave the room. A brief look over her shoulder, and she left them with one last piece of wisdom. “My mother and I didn’t get on Zach. I mean, she wasn’t a raging psychopath like yours, but she wasn’t a great mother to me all the same. It was one of the many reasons I was always afraid of having kids, why I went round saying I didn’t want them so no one knew I was just terrified of becoming her. It took me a long time to realise that we don’t have to become our parents, almost too long.” One of her hands drifted to her stomach, her eyes unrecognisably soft. “Try not to hold out too long, I don’t know how long Cammie will wait.”

With that, she disappeared into the hallway, the echo of her footsteps up the stairs the only sound in the townhouse.

“Is she right? You’re scared?”

“You’ve known her longer than me, isn’t she always right?”

“She always thinks she is.”

Zach smirked a little at that, knowing by his father’s warm eyes and affectionate tone that he meant the barb in jest only. The older man moved to sit beside him again, passing him a fresh coffee and nursing a new cup of tea himself. He took a deep breath, peering at Zach with little side glances. Part of him wanted to tell the man to just say it, blurt it out, but truthfully he was grateful for the moment to collect himself, brace himself for whatever input his father decided to give.

“I think you want want kids, one day.”

That wasn’t really what he was expecting.

“Oh, because you know me so well, with all the years you’ve known me?” Something biting and cruel snuck into his tone, a sliver of old resentment rearing its ugly head again.

Townsend didn’t even flinch. “I think you want kids but you lashed out at Cameron because you’re scared, just like Abby said. And I think that because you came here.” Zach scoffed, forced his gaze away, accidentally locking his eyes on the sonogram pinned to the fridge, his own copy burning a hole through the wallet in his pocket. “If you really didn’t want this with her someday, you would’ve left the second you realised that what the two of you wanted in life didn’t line up, to spare her any more hurt if nothing else. And if you didn’t want to move past your fear you would’ve gone to Joe instead of coming here, because you know Joe wouldn’t be able to change your mind like I can.”

It was infuriating, the way this man suddenly seemed to get him. For so many years after Catherine revealed their relation, any interactions between the two of them felt forced and uncomfortable, neither of them knowing how to talk to the other. Now it seemed like he knew what Zach was thinking, what he needed to hear, long before he himself did.

“I’m assuming Cameron isn’t thinking about having children any time soon?”

“No of course not, just someday.”

“Then between the two of us we’ve got some time to get you feeling ready. Less scared. Though I’ll warn you now the fear never really seems to go away completely. Do you think, if you were less scared of becoming like your mother and I, that you would want kids?”

Cammie had asked him a similar question the other day. At the time, it made him angry, defensive, but Townsend’s matter-of-fact tone, the way he acknowledged and accepted that it was partly becoming like him that Zach was afraid of, set him at ease a bit. He steeled himself, tried to channel all the courage he had.

He nodded.

His father’s lips quirked upwards ever so slightly, a tiny hint of a smile breaking through his stoic mask for a fraction of a second before he continued. “Okay, well by the time Cameron’s ready, you wont feel so afraid any more, I promise.” Zach started to ask how he was so sure, how on earth he could promise that, but the man kept talking before he had a chance to interject. “The number of kids I have is about to triple. You’re going to watch me try to raise two kids who, knowing my luck, will be as difficult as their mother, and you’re going to watch me get it wrong. Over and over again. But I’ve promised Abby, and I’ve promised them, and now I’m promising you that I’m also going to get it right.” Something that looked like tears started springing in the man’s eyes, the pair of them taking on a glassy sheen as his voice became thick. “You’re going to see everything I do right and everything I do wrong with these two. The same way I wish you got experience me getting things right and wrong with you, your entire childhood. A few years of that and I promise you, you wont feel as afraid. You’ll know what to do, and what not to do, and you’ll be better than me by a long shot. Until then, you go home to your girlfriend with a bouquet of flowers in hand and apologise. Cameron’s reasonable so it wont take much more than that for this so-called breakup to be over. Okay?”

It was a lot.

Zach’s own throat was getting clogged with tears, the emotion in his father’s voice drawing out some of his own. Heat was building behind his eyes and a headache was stating to brew, his chest hurt and his stomach was fluttering. He wasn’t used to this, to discussing his feelings with his father and hearing him vent them in return, he didn’t even do this with Joe. Still, what he said resonated with him, sending waves of reassurance through his body until he was nodding along with the man’s words.

He could do that. He could do this.

Townsend clamped a solid hand on his shoulder, gave it a squeeze, leant in close even as his eyes swam with tears. “Okay?”

Another firm nod and Zach threw his arms around the man in a hug, squeezing tight to his shoulders as his father’s arms settled firmly around his back. Briefly, he buried his face in the man’s neck, wiping his brewing tears on the collar of his shirt. Zach whispered a soft okay in his father’s ear sniffling as the man patted him soothingly on the back, hesitated, then pressed a quick kiss to the crown of his head.

“Thanks Dad.”

“Anytime son.”

———————————————————————

Authors note:

Zach: I had a fight with my girlfriend! Our relationship and my entire life is over!

Townsend: Buddy have I got some stories for you.

Accidentally made this one very long lol, but I kind of love their potential dynamic and how it might change over the years as they learn to accept one another (with forceful encouragement by the various women in their lives).

Zach mentions in UWS that he doesn’t want kids, but the way he spoke about it definitely made it sound like a fear reaction more than anything else. Understandable given everything, but I imagine Abby and Townsend probably had similar conversations before having the twins so they’re in a good position to try talk him through his fears/concerns.

[cammie-morgan-goode]

Whre do you think is rachel and joe's honeymoon?

(There’s an addition to this ask about Abby and Townsend’s honeymoon as well.)

I feel like it was super easy for Rachel and Joe to figure out where they went on their honeymoon because the two of them are such homebodies. They would much rather be at Joe’s cabin in the mountains than be at some fancy resort in the Bahamas. Just the two of them, some crisp autumn air, the smell of honeysuckle and mint wafting in the breeze. The windows are open and the two of them are lounging on the couch watching movies all day. They move to the kitchen and Joe spins Rachel around before pulling her safely into his arms. They get tangled up by the counter, by the table, on the couch, in the bathtub and shower, and end up in the bedroom. At the end of the days, they sit drinking wine and look up at the stars. It’s simple. It’s perfect. And it’s them.

Now, Abigail and Edward are total opposites. They leave the states in the middle of the night, bags packed, no note, like two kids sneaking away from their parents. They get a private jet and they bounce around the world like they own it. They argue over which way to go when walking the streets of Dubai. And they lounge by the water in Santorini, Greece. They chase each other through Budapest on a fake Op for old times sake. They sight see in Berlin, eating their way through the cobblestone shops. And they swim their way through the Maldives. They buy countless postcards, writing what they did and put them in a scrapbook that Rachel made for them because she needs to know that they had fun. They kiss when they board the planes, they laugh when they get drunk on wine and old fashioned whiskey, and they hold each other through the night tangled up in old sheets and buried beneath pillows. It’s an adventure filled with fun and memories as they act like teenagers drunk on love. Time means nothing because it took them so long to just get to this moment. And they relish in it.

When each of them come back, Abby and Rachel lock themselves up in the office at Gallagher, giggling like they did when they were kids. And Joe and Edward just awkwardly look at each other, clap the other on the back, and dive into a play by play of how Abigail managed to lose not one but four sets of military grade sunglasses. And how Rachel managed to almost burn down the cabin twice while making mozzarella sticks.

(written by: @cammie-morgan-goode)

[g-girlshavingfun]

One of my favourite one shots that I reread constantly btw

Ok, so I don't write. I have never written a fanfic. This doesn't have a name and it's probably poorly written. It's Rachel's point of view around the time of Cammie's second kidnapping attempt. I was bored and I had this idea stuck in my head so here it is. I debate not even posting it but what the hey🤷🏼‍♀️

@averagejoesolomon you totally got me hooked on the Rachel only calls Matt, Matthew. So all the credit to you on that one!

This whole thing is basically read at your own risk. Haha

Just like that, what she had left of her world was crumbling. It happened so quickly. Rachel hadn't seen what had happened. She just knew that one moment she had been talking to Cynthia McHenry and the next she felt her instincts as an operative hit her like a swift punch to the gut.

Something was wrong. She looked around the ballroom looking for Cammie but she didn't see her. She didn't see any of her freinds or even that Goode boy. Never one to be dissuaded from her mission, she  decided to look for Abby. She at least she might know where her neice was.

As much as her sister annoyed her, she was happy to have her back in her life. However temporary it might be. She was aware how an operative's life gets crazy. She knew her sister was dedicated but she didn't know how far they would be pulled apart when she stepped out of the field after Matthew's passing. They had just recently talked about why there hadn't been much contact between the two of them in recent years. Why Abby had walked farther away from Rachel and Cammie and deeper into her various covers. Rachel knew the guilt the came with losing Matthew. The countless nights that kept her up thinking about what might have happened if she told if him to stay home. If she had pulled the "wife card" and asked him not to keep secrets. She knew that Abby had been hurt. Rachel had never lived through anything harder. It didn't surprise her that everyone else who also loved him felt the same. When he died there was a very real whole in each of their hearts. She had suspected Abby just didn't know how to miss Matthew with her. After all, her sister had never been one to grieve in front of others. Rachel hadn't know just how deep routed her sister's guilt and regret had dragged her. Rachel regretted not going to get her baby sister back sooner after Matthew's passing but she hadn't wanted to press Abby too hard in a time of grief for both of them.

Now, if only she could FIND HER.  Her sister always had a knack for being where she wasn't supposed be. So, if Rachel could think if the most inconvenient spot for someone to be she might find her.

When she had finished looking around the ballroom the hair on the back of her neck started to stand on end. She felt a cold sweat start. Her blouse was too tight. She pulled at her collar and silently chastised herself being so obviously uncomfortable. Rachel wanted to tell her instincts to shut up, that nothing was wrong. She knew better though, something was off.

She felt eyes. She pretended to check her make-up in a small compact while checking behind her. She locked on a familiar pair of green eyes staring back at her. Of course he was there. She had just checked the whole room and hadn't spotted him once. If Joe was about to poke fun about her being off now was not the time. When she turned to face him she realized that he wore an expression just as grim as her own.

"You got the same sick feeling in your gut?"

Before she could respond something seemed to dawn on Joe.

"Where's Cammie, Rachel?"

"I don't know. I've been looking for her, or her roommates. Even Abby."

"Zach". Joe mumbled the boy's name. "He's probably with her, right? Did you see them slip out?"

"No, well maybe, but if I knew that I wouldn't be so gosh darn worried now would I, Joseph?!" She hadn't meant to snap but she was feeling worse by the second. Now her instincts seemed to be at work on her stomach.

When the shot went off they didn't question where it had come from. They didn't need to wait for some sort of command. Old habits did truly die hard.  They were across the ballroom in seconds. Not drawing the attention of a single onlooker. They slipped out the back door into a dark ally. The Circle. They were there. Beside her Joe started to speak into thier comms unit. There was a big problem. Rachel looked for Cammie. She was being snagged back down the ally, toward the safety of the door by Zach. Neirher of them was bleeding. She was able to breath agian. The bullet could have been a warning shot. It didn't feel that way though. Where did it land?

She brought herself back to the scene. They were after her daughter and she had to protect her daughter. The kids were fighting like operatives. That was something the headmistress in her couldn't have missed and was quietly proud of. Now only if they could all get out of it. Other gallagher girls rushed out beside her, ready for the fight, ready to protect Cammie.

The second that Rachel could she ran at Cam. Yelling Cammie's name she threw herself against her daughter, deeper into the shadows of other gallagher girls. Farther into safety. Only after the immediate securing of Cammie did Rachel realize that people were still screaming. It was Macey standing over.....

Abby. Abby. Abigail. She knew Cammie was secured. Joe would help make sure of it. She needed to get to her sister. She needed to help her sister. She was bleeding from the shoulder, there was so much blood pooling beneath her. Rachel couldn't breathe. She couldn't catch her breathe. Rachel had always been cool under fire; a natural operative. This felt so different. The operative in her was mad for missing the fight. For not getting there in time. The mother in her was scared and hurting for her daughter. The sister in her felt cheated and so very crushed. She couldn't lose Abby on top of everything else. Her heart beat to one terrible pulse-  She was not ready to lose anymore family. She dropped to her knees beside her sister. She didn't know if she had told Macey to go back to her roommates but she got up and walked away. Rachel pressed some leather jacket into her sister's wound. She didn't realize that she was crying until she saw her own tears falling on Abby's face. Rachel was screaming. She really. couldn't. breath. She heard screaming and crying in the background. Cammie. She couldn't take this or rather she didn't want to. Her sister way dying in front of her and her daughter was being emotionally tormented. She debating getting up, but she couldn't stop crying. She didn't want Cammie to see her so emotionally distraught and she couldn't bring herself to her feet. Cammie would have to be strong.

Joe was on the seeminly knew what she was thinking because instead of coming toward Abby he commanded the women around Cammie. Keeping her safe. Cammie's sobbing became softer. Rachel's didn't.

She didn't get up when the paramedic team arrived. She wasn't going to leave Abby. She couldn't lose her. She didn't feel like a good operative in control. She felt like a big sister, weak from all that crying. She felt Joe behind her. Pulling her up from her knees. Trying to tell her to let go of Abby's hand. She forced Joe to let go of her arms. Desperate to be the one who fixed it. To do something, anything. All she could do was tell the medic what she saw, and tell Abby that she was going to be ok.

When she turned back around he was there. Teary but not crying yet.

"She's strong. She'll pull through". He tried to reassure her but his voice shook. His hand on her arm felt unsteady. Joe never cried. It was going to be a long night. She had to keep busy. She went to check on her daughter. She couldn't lose any more of her family. 

Rachel saw the footage. She knew in that it all happened in a few minutes. It felt like this night would never end. She watched that security footage obsessively outside of her office, sitting on the corridor floor with her head on the wall, right underneath Gilligan's sword. Cavan's sword. Maybe Abby was right. They should have thrown it in the lake. Her daughter was asleep inside her office, away from danger for now. Abby was in surgery. Abby might of died. Abby could still die. Every time she let herself linger on that fact she felt like crying all over again. So, she didn't let herself think of it. She watched the security clip again waiting and watching for a clue. Something. She couldn't truly focus on it though. She was too tired or emotionally distraught. It didn't matter the reason, she knew that a truly great operative had to know when to wave her white flag. In that moment she didn't even feel a little guilty about turning off the video.

Joe stepped out of her office. She did a double take, the last time she had seen him look that way was the night he told her about Matthew. He had been crying. Joe Solomon does not cry. There he was though. He face was streaked eith tears and his shoulders shook slightly. She braced herself for the worse but he just stood there. He looked awful. She moved forward to give him a hug. She couldn't help herself, she started crying again too. Rachel hated to cry in front of anyone but she figured that this secret was safe with him, just like any of the other she had shared with him.  She was thankful that she had a freind in him. Thankful that someone else loved Cammie and was willing to fight for her. 

After a moment they separated and sat down on the corridor floors.

"I'm so sorry Rachel. I'm so so sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything."

"Joe. After everything that's happened tonight, we are not going over this again..  Its not your fault". Joe started to cry again. Rachel hadn't seen Joe cry so much. She couldn't resist asking him

"What?"

He looked at her pitifully. "You don't know whats my fault, belive me. I.... I think you should think it's my fault."

She wasn't suprised that he was saying these things. She knew of course that he felt guilty. Matt went on the mission he was supposed to. She just wished that he didn't get so hung up on it.

He continued "This never would have happened if Matt were here. He would have taken care of it, you know?"

Of course she didn't know that to be true but she had felt it as well. She didn't want to dwell on what it could have been so she told him that they didn't know that. That he couldn't control who the director sent on that mission. The circle might have come after Cammie even if Matt was alive. Matthew was just a human being, who made mistakes. They didn't know if Matthew being alive would change everything. Joe didnt seem convinced though and Rachel couldn't blame him. It was well worn territory in a familiar conversation. They didnt truly fight, but when it came to blame about Matthews death they didn't exactly see eye to eye. Rachel thought about Matt. It struck her though that as bad as it was at times it could also be worse. Rachel thought about losing Cammie or Abby or even Joe and shuddered. She didn't want to lose anymore family.

She tried to reassure him

"Hey, it will be ok. We will take care of it together ok? We'll all take care of one another. We will do the best we can. Just promise me we will try. Ok?"

Joe had stopped crying but his attention seemed to be drifting.

"I'll try...ok?" It sounded so defeated. Rachel didn't want to press him further. Everyone had already had such a rough night. She let the conversation go until he quipped.

"I feel like I should be telling you these things."

They couldn't help each giving a small laugh

They sat there. They waited for a doctor to come tell them that Abby would make it. They sat and waited for Cammie to wake up. Theorized ways to keep her out of harms way. They talked about surviving. All of them. Together.

Rachel rested in knowing that at least for that day. She wasn't losing any more family. 

[gildengirl]

If Abby and Townsend didn't first get together with the cliche "Shut up." "Make me." then I don't know what to tell you, because they most certainly did.

[d3arapril]

hi folks! doing this again because last time it was fun and i got creative (i need to break this writers block) so…

send me a prompt + a person and i’ll write a little something! can be a phrase, a feeling, a single word - whatever u like 🤍

[maesfics]

𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 '𝑒𝑚 . . . ᥫ᭡

OUTER BANKS.

↬ jj maybank. from the nextflix series "Outer Banks," is a charismatic and impulsive troublemaker with a heart of gold.

↬ rafe cameron. from netflix series "Outer Banks," is a troubled and unpredictable rich kid grappling with deep-seated issues and a desire for approval.

SEVENTEEN.

↬ boo seungkwan. better known as Seungkwan from the K-pop group SEVENTEEN, is celebrated for his powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. His quick wit and humor make him a standout personality both on and off stage.

↬ lee seokmin. better known as DK from the K-pop group SEVENTEEN, is a talented singer with a bright personality and a heartwarming smile.

↬ hong jisoo. better known as Joshua from the K-pop group SEVENTEEN, is a gentle and soft-spoken singer with a serene presence and a knack for songwriting.

↬ kim mingyu. from the K-pop group SEVENTEEN is a charismatic and visually striking member, known for his model-like appearance and easygoing, friendly demeanor.

↬ choi seungcheol. better known as s.scoups, the leader of K-pop group SEVENTEEN, is known for his strong leadership, deep voice, and caring nature, often acting as a supportive pillar for the group.

↬ yoon jeonghan. from the K-pop group SEVENTEEN is known for his angelic visuals, playful personality, and soothing vocals that add a unique charm to the group's dynamic.

↬ xu minghao. known as the8 in the K-pop group SEVENTEEN, brings a unique blend of martial arts-inspired dance moves and a soft, ethereal vocal style. His artistic sensibilities and fashion-forward image add a distinct flavor to the group's performances

THE LAST OF US (VIDEO GAME).

↬ abby anderson. from the video game "The Last of Us Part II," is a fiercely determined and physically strong character, driven by a deep sense of loyalty and a quest for revenge.

↬ dina woodward. from the video game "The Last of Us Part II," is a brave and compassionate survivor, known for her witty sense of humor and supportive nature.

↬ ellie williams. from the video game "The Last of Us I & II," is a resilient and complex character, marked by her toughness and emotional depth in a post-apocalyptic world.

ALL OF US ARE DEAD.

↬ lee su-hyeok. from "All of Us Are Dead," is a resourceful and athletic high school student, known for his bravery and quick thinking during the zombie crisis.

↬ choi nam-ra. a character from "All of Us Are Dead," is depicted as a mysterious and intelligent student, who harbors a secret strength amidst the chaos of a zombie outbreak.

↬ lee cheong-san. from the series "All of Us Are Dead," is portrayed as a brave and selfless high school student, who emerges as a protective figure during a zombie apocalypse.

XO KITTY.

↬ minho. from the series "XO, Kitty," is a charming and thoughtful character, known for his kind heart and the sweet, supportive role he plays in the story.

TRUE BEAUTY.

↬ lee suho. from the series "True Beauty," is a handsome and aloof high school student who harbors deep emotional scars beneath his perfect exterior.

↬ han seojun. from "True Beauty," is a charismatic and tough-looking character with a warm heart and a hidden passion for music.

masterlist will be updated frequently.