#also a thing: all liam’s siblings marry for love

[malkaleh]

In Crown of Ashes, does Liam have as many kids as he does in OT3 verse? Or does the scandal mean that he treads more carefully?

He kind of treads more carefully because, honestly Trauma. And also in Crown of Ashes verse I think Liam really finds a life purpose far earlier than he does in OT3 verse proper. (It’s protecting his younger siblings).

Because in OT3 verse proper I think (though I’m still figuring out his storylines exact beats) Liam kind of feels like…I’m just here to have fun! I refuse to take any of this seriously due to Why Would I. He feels like his brothers have found their roles (obviously Tommy is The Heir, George is the next in line/intelligence agent (SPY says George, I am a SPY GUY)/intellectual, Owen is the artist/theological scholar, Ned is Happy Youngest Son Wife Guy (Defender) and then there’s Meg, who Liam is so close to but Meg has always known what she wanted to be - A Knight General. They were never in doubt.

And Liam, being the third of five eventual sons figures that there has be one kind who is just here to party in OTL and so…he’s not like anything awful but he is also very much ‘drinking, fucking and partying’ actually there’s a moment where he and his friends might like, trash an inn and his Dad Thomas is Disappointed which kind of shocks him out because OH SHIT I MADE DAD SAD :((((.

But Crown Of Ashes Liam has to really grow up way too young so he doesn’t have the kind of careless hot girl summer the same Party vibes at all.

(And yes he was taught better but he’s also Impulse Control? What Impulse Control and really not thinking about how like, Liam LIAM. SERIOUSLY you cannot actually just blithely sleep your way through the court and party your whole life and Be A 16th Century Rake)

(To be fair I think all of his kids came from (a) widow who murdered her abusive husband and was like ‘I want to fuck a hot rich guy who will spend money on me’ and good for her and (b) lesbian who was like ‘I want kids with my lover and you are actually a decent human being under the Rake (tm) Behaviour and also great in bed’ and (c) eventual wife who he met while having a foursome)

Crown Of Ashes it’s like - Liam and Meg are the oldest of the younger ones who are sent away. Owen is maybe just old enough to be aware but young enough to not understand but Ned and Pippa are genuinely babies and Liam and Meg have to look after them because their older siblings (George, Tommy and Elizabeth) are taken away from them.

[scarlet-witchery]

so let's talk some more about gallavich and their adopted runaway trans daughter Starr (more on her here and here; it'll make more sense if you read those posts first)

I mentioned that I think Mickey and Ian would move back to the South Side, and they'd have a house instead of an apartment, and that Starr would clean up the place in thanks for letting her stay—while she's doing so, maybe she runs across a school photo of a little blonde kid with a goofy smile, and familiar blue eyes, and big glasses, and she'd bet anything that this kid is related to Mickey

and she finds a frame that isn't being used, maybe up in the attic, and puts the picture in the frame and sets it on the mantel in the living room next to other family photos (Debbie and Franny; Debbie, Carl, and Liam; Lip and Tammi and their kids; a selfie of Fiona at the beach; Mickey and Ian's wedding photo; stuff like that)

so Mickey is home one day while Ian is off visiting his siblings—Mickey is too peopled out that day and decided to stay home—when he notices the new picture with the others; Starr sees his reaction, like he's seen a ghost, and she says she found the picture when she was cleaning, and thought it looked good in the frame. but Mickey's reaction maybe spooks her a little bit, and she's like "I hope that was okay"

Mickey doesn't say anything at first, but he's uncharacteristically quiet when he nods and says "yeah, that's okay" but he doesn't explain—and look, Starr knows when people wanna talk about stuff but also don't want to at the same time, but she's thirteen or fourteen years old and has no impulse control so she asks who the kid is, and even though she guessed it she's still kinda surprised when Mickey says "that's my son"

and she asks him "do you wanna talk about it?" to which he says fuck no; she's all prepared to drop the subject when he says that he hasn't even seen the kid in years, not since he was in prison and Svetlana brought Yev to visit. and slowly—maybe over the next few weeks—she learns more of the story, and even though Mickey doesn't tell her everything, she's smart enough to put the pieces together

because I really love the idea that Mickey and Svetlana get back in touch after everything went down and he and Ian got married (she'd give him shit about where was her invitation and he was all "I didn't know your fuckin address!" but she loved seeing the pictures and said "you and carrot boy look very happy together"), and now they meet up every few months for lunch or something, maybe text now and again; she keeps him updated on Yevgeny and how he's doing in school ("he wants to go to college and be doctor") and she told Mickey that if he wants to meet Yev properly he can, but he's never taken her up on the offer because he thinks Yev is better off without him

and Starr just looks at Mickey, and the picture of Yevgeny—he's a couple years younger than she is, I figure this would be when he's about ten or so—and tells him about how she thought her parents loved her, but that was only when they thought she was their son, and "I don't know what you did before but you can't be worse than my folks"

they talk about it now and again—Ian knows they do but he's learned to let Mickey work through things at his own pace—and she finds out Yevgeny is about to start middle school, and Starr eventually tells Mickey that he should go see his son. Mickey of course thinks it's a terrible idea but she's like look, man, you guys have been great to me, and it wouldn't be the end of the world if your kid at least knew you were out there. unfortunately she's painfully aware of what it's like knowing your parents don't want anything to do with you, but it's also clear to her that it's painful for Mickey to think about his son ("talking to him might be hard, but it can't be worse than staying away")

finally after Starr has been staying with them for a while—she eventually got Ian on the "talk to Yevgeny" train too, and Mickey complained that they were "fuckin ganging up on him"—Mickey goes into the kitchen after dinner, and Starr and Ian can hear him talking on the phone to someone about "-wanna see the kid next time, if that's okay" and they give each other a tiny high five

when he comes back from lunch with Svetlana a few weeks later it's with a smile on his face and some new pictures of him and Yevgeny on his phone, as well as one with him and Svet and Yev

Ian is absolutely over the moon, too, and insists they print out the pictures and put them up on the mantelpiece; and Mickey asks if the two of them wanna come along the next time he sees Svet and the kid (and Ian is like uh yeah I haven't seen Lana in forever and I wanna know how Yevgeny is doing because he loved that kid so much and I really feel like the show dropped the ball on Ian and Svet's relationship too, which is a crying shame)

and the three of them settle in to watch TV together, their cat Duchess sprawled across Mickey and Ian's laps, and their pit bull Lady curled up by Starr's feet in her chosen armchair, and Ian just grins at Mickey and doesn't have to say how proud he is of his husband, because it's written all over his face

(I'm sure I'll write more about Starr and her adopted gay uncles in the future but I just love the idea that she'd be a catalyst for Mickey reconnecting with Yevgeny, and how he'd try his best to be the exact opposite of his own dad ;~; )

[swiftfootedachilles]

you wanted more asks, so I'm here to deliver!

-favorite gallavich canon scenes?

-what are some favorite headcanons for them that you have? missing scenes, what ifs, etc.

-favorite characters besides gallavich?

-storyline you would have liked to seen/favorite storyline that the show did well?

-favorite fic tropes that make you just go fuckin feral?

-five things you think needed to be fixed/changed/improved about the show? gallavich related or just in general, dealer's choice

😘😘😘

rubbing my greasy paws together getting ready to type out an essay

ummmm uh okay lemme think.... the s1 juvie scene (CLASSIC!!!), all their scenes working at the kash n grab together, mickey finding ian and taking him home, club kiss, like all of South Side Rules pre-sammi fucking everything up, dock scene, literally all of their s7 scenes tbh, prison reunion scene, "I WANNA BE WITH YOU" "you dont get to be," mickey wasting his break getting noodles in the food court for ian instead of making ian get his own lunch, fiance shenanigans, "i only make toast for husbands with jobs," STEALING THE AMBULANCE AND MICKEY GETTING SO TURNED ON THEY IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO FUCK AND MICKEYS KNEES BUCKLES WHEN IAN PUSHES HIM AGAINST THE AMBULANCE, coworker husband shenanigans, "youre such a fucking barbarian" "thank you☺️," being SOOOO cute at their anniversary party together. so honestly all of their scenes

i love all the deleted scenes i literally need the show editors to go to prison for what theyve done. i especially love the original scripts for the s5 deleted sex scene/ians dream and their s5 breakup. favorite headcanons are autistic!mickey, casual D/s dynamics, not-so-casual D/s dynamics, 🏳️‍⚧️trans gallavich🏳️‍⚧️, hobby artist!mickey, ian becoming the new vee of their neighborhood (ghetto nurse!ian), annoyingly clingy codependent!gallavich being gross in front of everyone, s6 canon divergence where mickey doesn't go to prison bc wtaf was that, s5 canon divergence with no breakup bc that literally made no sense

ummm i love liam hes the true golden child. mandy. uh ethel i would've LOVED to see more of, and the other milkovich siblings. sheila. karen was a REALLY complex character that never really got more than surface-level analysis from the show writers. debbie and her journey as a child obviously struggling with bpd. i do like carl turning his life around and kinda fulfilling many of the dreams ian had growing up. i kinda wish they did more with kev than just "haha kentucky appalachian guy is stupid" like that whole family reunion arc of his was so fucking weird and honestly embarrassing of the writers. also we..... never really learn about vee's family? theres a whole episode dedicated to meeting kevs stereotypical family, and vee gets.....becoming a believer in the american voting system??? and of course svetlana. missed opportunity after missed opportunity with her character - but hey at least they didnt kill her off like isidora wanted⁉️⁉️🥴

really really wish the writers gave a fuck about showing ian coming to terms with his trauma of being groomed and abused. he never learns that what he experienced was abuse. i feel like if caleb can call mickey abusive, then surely ian wouldve mentioned something about literally any other relationship hes had and caleb or trevor wouldve been neen like "uhhh you should see a therapist about that thats really super fucked up that you were victimized like that as a CHILD"

ohhhh the fic tropes. my #1 is always bdsm i am a bdsm gallavich truther until i DIE!!!! um i like canon divergence fics (sometimes). domestic fics. post-s11 married life. learning to grow together as a couple after being off-and-on for like a decade, autistic!mickey!!!! trans!mickey and t4t gallavich!!!! aus where ian and mickey are actually dating starting s1-3 and are out to the gallagher/mandy. uncle!gallavich shenanigans. taking liam on adventures shenanigans

OK SO. FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD FIX THE FUCKED UP JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN SHAMELESS fionas/mickeys/ians court shit was so fucking unrealistic and BAD. how the FUCK did fiona get like 60 days in jail + house arrest for possession of a schedule ii drug and attempted manslaughter AND STILL KEPT CUSTODY OF THE KIDS.

literally what the FUCK did mickey get charged with. did he plea? what the fuck kind of plea is 16 years when the person you assaulted ALSO ASSAULTED YOU and is also a COMPLETELY unreliable witness/victim. youre telling me he wouldnt take his chances in court? as if debbie wouldnt be the perfect witness to prove his INNOCENCE? and bianca was dead and frank wouldnt even give half a fuck to testify to seeing mickey lock sammi in the trailer. literally no proof that ever happened. no proof he drugged sammi because it was FAR too late to test her blood and see how much of each drug she had in her system. just her testimony that she drank soda then fell asleep lmao. any defense lawyer would have an easy time getting him acquitted entirely, at most getting a refusal to comply with officers and disturbing the peace for running from sammi and then trying to kick her when the cops showed up to arrest them

literally what the fuck is ians trial. HE PLEADS NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY (WHICH NO LAWYER WOULD EVER DO BECAUSE OFC HE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY WHEN HE CHOSE TO STOP TAKING HIS MEDS) AND IS FOUND GUILTY. OF ARSON. A CLASS X FELONY IN ILLINOIS. IN THE COMMISSION OF ANOTHER FELONY (KIDNAPPING.) AND HE GETS LIKE 2 YEARS IN PRISON YOUVE GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME. he could have gotten LIFE for that shit in the real world. i hate this shows pisspoor attempt at a legal system SOOOOO BAD. i stand by my belief that it wouldve made much more sense if he pled guilty and got put in the Chicago-Read Mental Health Center for mentally ill offenders. like he literally thought he was the gay Messiah what do you mean hes in a regular prison. plus it would've been much more interesting to see mickey in this environment - IF everything up to s9 was kept canon. otherwise he would only be able to visit ian like in s5, unless he found a way to get himself committed ?? idk it just makes much more sense than ian in regular prison

the attendees of their wedding. who the hell were those people. people from ians club ing days?? trevors friends???? i mean maybe. i assume sandy just went to every gay bar and passed out flyers saying there was a big gay wedding. it would've made much more sense if mickeys siblings were there especially mandy but what the hell ever. it's not like iggy literally has multiple scenes where he's supportive of mickey being gay and dating ian. WHATEVER. IT'S NOT LIKE THE GAY JESUS FOLLOWERS SHOULDNT HAVE EVEN BEEN THERE AT ALL SINCE THEYRE SHOWN LITERALLY ABANDONING IAN AFTER HIS ARREST AND IT WOULDVE MADE MORE SENSE FOR THE MILKOVICH BROTHERS TO BE OUTSIDE TO KEEP TERRY OUT. FUCKING WHATEVER I GUESS!!!

throw away the shitty homophobic gay man writer and let those 2 bi ladies write s11 gallavich. they were the only ones who wrote decent storylines. fr that gay guy needed to be fired SO BAD i can't believe he wrote the dumbass "who's the wife/bottom/submissive of our relationship" 11x3 plot AND the 11x7 orgy. HE SUCKS SO BADDD??? get rid of that stupid shit. give me more of ian and mickey in the growing pains of their relationship looking for jobs and dealing with the death of terry and trying to find common ground of their plans for the future and mickey being stubborn and scared without being "accidentally" an egregious stereotype of autistic people. LET HIM STIM AND GO NONVERBAL AND LET IAN LEARN TO GIVE MICKEY HIS SPACE WHEN HE'S OVERWHELMED GOOD LORD

[callsigndragon]

Tasting the Ashes | Ch. 12: Not a hero ✍️📲

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: Roos and Ash being cuties, mentions of Ash's accident, mentions of death, allusions of not wanting to be alive (just 1), Gina is now a warning of her own...

Important: This story is a sequel of Seeing Red, and there’s a lot of things you’ll miss if you don’t read that series first. Check Seeing Red! Masterlist on pinned.

I don’t tag people, follow @meigalibrary  for notifications!

First, let me apologize for not being there for you for thirty years.

That was the first sentence Maverick said to you when you went to his house. Bradley went with you, because Jake had to go to work and Red was taking care of Liam, he offered to drive you to Mav’s. 

He also needed to talk to him, either way. He’s the father. 

It was a bit awkward at first, sitting in front of a guy who used to hook up with your mother. But he wasn’t a bad guy like you imagined. He is a very good man who continually apologized for not being part of your life. You know that if he had known about your existence, he would have been there. 

And you think that maybe, with his help, you wouldn’t be in this mess. Maybe you wouldn’t even be pregnant. Or maybe you’d have met Rooster before, fallen in love, and been married already. He’s a nice guy, and he’s hot, that can’t be denied. 

Bradley Bradshaw is a lot different than Steve.  

And you wish you'd met him sooner. Because as much as you liked him enough to have a one-night stand with Bradley, Steve was still in your mind, haunting you in every dream—or should you say nightmare? Things are still fresh in your memory, even if it’s been a year. Seems like no matter how far you run from the problem, it still haunts you. It will always haunt you. 

“Ash?” 

“Oh, sorry, were you saying something?” You look at him from the sofa you’ve been sitting on all morning. It’s been a few days since you moved with Bradley, and he’s been an absolute sweetheart. Cooked for you, helped you whenever you needed it, and he had been kind enough to lend you some of his clothes because you were definitely too big to keep using your own. Literally, the perfect guy. 

And he looks at you with this hope in his eyes, like you being pregnant will somehow make you fall in love with him. But you can fall in love with someone when the memory of the last man you loved is still in your mind… and his sister hates your existence. 

“I was saying that Jake has invited all of us to his house. You feel like going?” He says while handing you a glass of water. 

“I mean, it’s my brother now. I have to.” You watch him as he sits down, moving your legs so they’re resting on his lap. “Do you want to go?” 

“I’m always ready to hang out with my friends.” He caresses your leg, looking at your belly. “How are you feeling about being the new member of a big family?” 

You chuckle, leaving the glass on the table. “It’s a bit overwhelming, you know? It’s always been me and my mom, but now I have a father, step-siblings, a step-mom, a sister-in-law that used to be my front seater and whose son is now my nephew, and she has another baby on the way!” 

Bradley nods, tilting his head so that it’s resting on the back of the sofa. “Yeah, and a lot of crazy uncles and aunts for your babies.” 

You kick his arm with your leg. “Our babies.” 

He looks at you with the softest smile in the world, and something inside you feels warm. “Our babies. So… I wanted to talk about us.” 

And here it is. “Okay, tell me what’s bothering you.” 

“I know you know I am interested in you. I like you, a whole lot.” He claims and there is no doubt in his mind. “But I know you don’t feel the same.” 

“Bradley… How many times have we seen each other before I crashed Liam’s birthday party?" 

“Four, I think.” 

“We barely know each other. You don’t even know my last name.”

“It’s Simmons.” 

“No, it’s- Wait, how do you know?” You frown. 

“Saw your dog tags yesterday.” He waves it off, bringing you closer and almost sitting you on his lap. His hand moves to hold yours, the other one rests on your belly. “What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to worry about my feelings. You and the babies are the most important thing for me right now.”

“Thank you, Bradley. I know I could fall for you, you know. But things are already too complicated to try and see if we can work this out.” You explain feeling so absolutely horrible about this. “Just imagine that we try to be together, and we end up fighting or something, the only ones that will end up suffering here are the babies.” 

He sighs, pushing your hair behind your ear. “I know. That’s why I said I don’t care about my feelings. It’s not about us anymore.” 

“You’re really different than I thought you would be.” You giggle, watching his face morph into a shocked expression. He lets out an airy laugh, rolling his eyes. “Hey! Everyone thinks you’re an idiot, and I’m here praising you. You should be thanking me.” 

“Oh, yeah, I need to thank you because you’re realizing how awesome I am?” He grins, raising an eyebrow. 

You hit his shoulder before your phone lights up, a new message waiting for you to read it. 

And this is why you really don’t want to have a relationship with Rooster. Because maybe, one day you’ll have to run away and leave him behind with the twins. 

Gina won’t stop until you’ve paid for her brother’s death. Even if it wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t do anything about it. 

You never wanted the accident to happen. You never wanted everyone to change your call sign, to be reminded of that atrocious incident every time someone called you. 

It got to the point where you wished you hadn't walked out of that plane without a scratch. Maybe if something had happened to you—maybe if you couldn’t walk anymore—everyone would have left you alone. You’re not a hero, you never wanted to be one. You’re just a survivor. And you have enough trauma as it is; you don’t need new call signs, pats on the back whenever you walk into a room, or curious eyes following you around trying to understand how a small, insignificant thing like you got out of such a horrible crash. Yeah, Gina said that.  

Because Gina would never forget how you, her brother’s girlfriend, managed to survive when he couldn’t. 

And she’s been sending these messages for almost a year now. You left the base soon after Red was offered a new position. You couldn’t bear the thought of Gina being your boss. Life was already insufferable enough as it was. You didn’t need her to make it worse. 

But she, living up to her call sign, is determined to Nuke your life. 

One way or another. 

[verishere]

What about a swap AU? I think you're familiar with the concept (considering you're an Undertale fan lol) so like who would get swapped with who, what would their new roles be, what would it be like?

Role swap AU, no personality changes. I'm only going to switch the most major parts of the role so some things stay the same (Axel early on is still able to read Liam eerily well, and is the comforting big sibling, for example). Their magic will swap as well, though.

Some characters I probably won't be able to swap with anyone, but of the people who do swap, here's the cast:

Liam-Axel

Dowan-Nyra

Nrolin-Vlorindul

Luonim-Berloin (I can't really change the "first person born" thing to Berloin so thats gonna stay with Luonim)

Larsun-Mekrun

I don't have a ton of side characters outside the family within Blonicku, but of the ones I do have Fealron and Calchoras would swap. I cannot say anything about that swap at all without spoilering a fuck of a lot about one of em.

Anyways, the most interesting few of the ones above are Liam-Axel and Larsun-Mekrun. Larsun to Mekrun means that Mekrun would have survived, and I think he would only swear the oath at his wife's insistence- if at all. I am not sure how she should be able to communicate with him though, maybe a "if I die" note she wrote before she died? But Idk how she'd be able to expect it. And stars can't communicate. So idk how the oath would end up sworn, but for role swap it kinda has to be. He'd be able to control it far better in Blonicku than she would, so Blonicku would last considerably longer.

Liam-Axel

Okay so imma have to completely rework how the hell Liam marries Freya, since that's not changing. Axel is now the Watcher, as well as the sun's Keeper. This would be very difficult. Axel and Nerquam living in the sun for the whole dark years would not go well- one of em would end up dead in a century- and I don't know how their relationship would develop, since it didn't really in my regular story till the last war. I also didn't write it yet even for my normal story.

During Blonicku in the last war I think is when Liam and Freya are likely to meet and end up in love, this time it wouldn't really be secret either.

And now for the fun ones, since personality doesn't swap.

Aegir-Nirum

Freya-Nerquam

Aegir and Nirum would be so difficult to write and change so much, since Nirum would remain a bastard due to the personality not swapping. I think he just wouldn't reveal it till post second blessed years? Since he has Aegir to fight, alongside everyone else. And I have no idea what would provoke Aegir to do that. One thing I think is during his time as the enemy he would be far more talkative than Nirum- he'd be the monologuing villain, where Nirum is silent.

Also, their limbos are strange now. I am almost tempted to just NOT swap their limbos because of how much of a headache that would be, since Nirum undergoing Aegir's limbo would just straight up kill him. I wouldn't, though, so I'd have to find a way for Nirum to survive that.

In general for the final "what would it look like?" I think it'd be very strange and difficult to write, with a very different Blonicku esp the second Blonicku, and also, the second blessed years which in my normal writing lasts eternal would be brief, because Nirum is still Nirum.

[greensparty]

Album Review: Oasis "Definitely, Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)"

On August 29, 1994, Definitely, Maybe, the debut album from U.K.'s Oasis was released. It came out just as Britpop was making a splash thanks to bands like Pulp, Blur, Suede and Oasis (all one-word band names). It is hands down one of the best albums of the 90s. It came out a few months after Kurt Cobain's passing and the music world was ready for something new. After years of music groups bemoaning fame, here was a band that wanted to be famous and loved being rock stars, which seemed refreshing. As Oasis-mania swept the world, I actually got more into them in 1996, by which point they had oversaturated rock radio. I picked up Definitely, Maybe on CD and loved it. A lot of people say the best Oasis album is 1995's follow-up (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, which is quite good but isn't nearly as epic as Definitely, Maybe (later the name of a 2008 movie that I worked on too). Being released this Friday on the 30th anniversary (a day later) is Definitely, Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition).

original album cover

anniversary edition album cover

Through this blog, I've actually gotten to cover some Oasis releases including the 2021 live album Knebworth 1996 and the 25th Anniversary Edition of Be Here Now. Considering the band broke up in 2009, there is still an avid fan base wanting more compilations, live albums, documentaries and anniversary editions. The lineup of Oasis changed many times over the years but the heart and soul of the band has always been the brothers Gallagher: Liam on lead vocals and Noel on guitar and songwriting. Being in a band with your sibling can be both a good and a bad thing. I saw Oasis in 2000 and again in 2001 on the Brotherly Love Tour with The Black Crowes and Spacehog and the Gallaghers had the worst track records of in-fighting of any of those sibling bands.

the vinyl deluxe edition

After the band formed in Manchester, England in 1991 the lineup at this time also included guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, bassist Paul "Guigsey" McGuigan, and drummer Tony McCarroll. This lineup was among their strongest. Easily! Disc 1 of this edition is the original album remastered. Every song rocks from the epic opening "Rock 'n' Roll Star" down to the acoustic kiss-off of "Married with Children". Disc 2 is the Monnow Valley versions (they first recorded at this studio and the sessions were scrapped, so you're hearing earlier recordings with these versions), Sawmill Studios outtakes (they recorded the album and Sawmill and these outtakes are ones that weren't used in the final recording) and an early 1992 demo of "Sad Song". The original album is a masterpiece and I don't use that term lightly. It was something that was truly of-the-moment: Britpop, Gen X, mid-90s and yet it was also retro with their Beatles' obsession not quite as overt as it would be on the next album, but also their love of Stone Roses, and yet it was also timeless. It's an awesome blast of Marshall amps in a melodic cocky made-for-arena sing-alongs! These new outtakes and alt versions don't really improve on the album, but it is kind of cool to hear the little differences of what it went from to what it became. Some are better than others, but it's short enough to enjoy what you're hearing as opposed to a box set with multiple takes of each song. We also haven't had any new Oasis music in over 15 years, which makes these unearthed versions seem more exciting than they'd normally be. As I was working on this review, news broke this week that Noel and Liam are reuniting with an Oasis tour in 2025 (no U.S. dates yet, but fingers crossed) and that proves how much these songs have stood the test of time!

For info on Definitely, Maybe (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Original album: 5 out of 5 stars

Anniversary Edition: 4 out of 5 stars

[spectralsleuth]

Can you give us some headcanons for your LSoW au pretty please 🙏 Also what are the Japanese public and government’s view of Yoshi and his turtle kids?

SURE I love talking about headcanons! Japan loves the turtles, both because there are some famous historical Hamato’s (the family is the subject of many conspiracy theories on the internet) and also because they’re turtles!! Especially when they were babies I feel like they would have been insanely popular in Japan. The country loves cute things lol and the boys are VERY cute.

I want to write a fic where they go on a family trip to Japan because I would die from cuteness, but it’s a tall order for someone who’s only traveled a little bit in East Asia, and North America! I’d have to really do some research. But I do imagine everywhere they went in Japan, they were given so many little gifts and trinkets and food that Yoshi was hard pressed to get it all shipped back to the states.

And another fun fact- or more like something I haven’t gotten around to covering yet? Xanders family!

As of A Short Season:

Xander McLoughlin’s (22/M) family:

Mom/Dad: (58/61) Nurse/Firefighter respectively. Mom still works at the hospital, not the same one as Dr. Heo. Dad is retired after a work accident and missing an arm. Does a neat trick where he can swivel his eye freely after the same accident gave him a head injury that had some neurological repercussions. Got decent compensation from the city though and paid off their townhouse. (Still had two kids after though, let's go king.)

-Oldest Sibling: Liam (36/M) Herpetologist/Conservationist works for some small local natural science museum/botanical garden. Married, has 1 kid.

-Second Oldest Sibling: Aisling (32/F) Paramedic, single.

-Third Oldest Sibling: Shannon (30/F) Writer. Lives with parents. Single.

-Xander (22/M) Most trans guy name I could think of his siblings roast the fuck out of him.

-Youngest: Amelia (18/F) Deaf, dogwalker, still living at home and in no rush. She’s the babyyyy.

Last fun fact for right now- I named Xander after… Jacksepticeye… I didn’t think he’d be this popular I just wanted to make a good Irish American lad and needed a good last name…

[yezzyyae]

Hey how are you? I’m waiting on your replies, but I want to talk to you about Lip & Sierra (I have a very weird way of watching shameless, I will explain later) they were literally PERFECT for each other IN EVERY way, she also got along so well with his family and lip also got along with her family, it breaks my heart that they fucked that up for him.

I kind of watched S8 (breaking my own promise, just mostly lip scenes and his scenes with Sierra) but I noticed also how close lip & Liam are, lip is always checking up on Liam, and to know that later seasons Lip kind of lost track of him is also heart breaking.

So I’m just adjusting a little bit to my ending, Lip somehow gets back to college, while also doing Rehab, the events that went down with Sierra still goes the same way expect the scene where lip takes back his declaration of love, then lip  graduates in S9 and finds a great job that pays him very well, he & Sierra move in together (but lip still helps out his family  financially, emotionally and other ways) he stars making a lot of money and he & Sierra move to a better neighborhood and Liam comes to live with Lip (he takes guardianship after Fiona asks him to because it’s a safer neighborhood for him) lip & Sierra get married, have kids of their own, Fiona is very successful with her apartment buildings and she also moves out to a better neighborhood, Carl becomes a cop, he lives with Fiona to save up money, Ian owns the house and he rents it out is happy with whomever he wants. Debbie is doing her thing or whatever. 

Heyyy girlie I’m sorry I had a busy 2 days boyfriend issues 😒😩 but I’m going to finish my replies tomorrow morning I need a good nights’ sleep cause your points always deserve my full attention👏🏾. But my sister is watching “Shameless” she is on season 4 and I told her that my friend said we don’t watch past season 7 now if you want to have a satisfied ending. You know I hate how they threw Lip’s smarts and talents away so he can have sex Tami and make babies while being a delivery man! I hate it soo much. Sierra was the only one I loved for Lip I always say that. Me & my sister always say that she love Carl & Lip but I love Lip I hate he didn’t get the life he deserved. I know he was narcissistic but he changed as he got older he realized that alcohol was just a clutch. I love your ending now I got teary eyed because I love Lip I wish he got his college degree even in season 11 he was still smart when he went into the finance guy house and delivered his food he fixed the guy problem. Tami was a bitch and didn’t love Lip, she judged him & his family! And I hate that they didn’t let Lip & Liam get closer because Lip loved his siblings and he really loved on Liam after the Fiona’s whole cocaine thing. I love your ending! The Gallaghers all deserved better to me. Fuck Tami!

Thank you for your patience! I’ll be done the replies tomorrow girlie!

[liaromancewriter]

Omg you liked Rules of Engagement? That's so great. The fandom is so harsh on this series, but I loved it. The MC is kinda bland, but harmless, and all the siblings and Violet have very interesting storylines. I know Liam is one your fave LIs, so in this book, we can see Leo (default name, I think? It's been a while since my last replay), his older brother, so I thought it was really cool that he refused to be a king and left to do his own thing. Who did you have the party girl sister end up with? I think she had some of the best LIs and hands down the most growth. The bookish sister's route was my least favorite, but didn't hate or anything like that, and of course the older brother and Elena were sweet. Chaz was hilarious. I could go on and on about these books. I legit teared up on book 3 when they read their grandma's final letter and I loved how we can choose to mend our relationship with Violet. Sorry for the long essay, it's just that no one talks about this series, so it was so great to see you plan to replay it and go for the diamond scenes 😅

I did enjoy ROE even without having diamonds to spare before. I chose to spend them on getting Elena during the couples game because lizards gross me you. And I can tell you, when I was given the opportunity for a Dirty 30 with Leo Rhys, I hit that button so fast. I have a thing for the Rhys men. 😆

My MC chose to marry Leo and they settled in their New England town in Rules: Newlyweds. So whenever Leo shows up in TRR/TRH/TRF, I want to know what’s happening with Katie but I can’t. 😂

For the Party Girl sister, I chose Blake (her boss) and later they set ups catering company (which appears in The Royal Heir). I wasn’t a fan of the Bookish Sister route either. I found her too wish-washy at times but she learns to embrace life eventually.

Cousin Violet was easy to hate but also to misjudge. My MC chose to make amends. Most, almost all, of my MCs in any Choices book will take the high road.

Truthfully, I enjoy a lot of Choices books, including a few of the new ones. But I don’t often talk about them here because I find the fandom’s constant criticism of everything ruins my enjoyment. I’m like that with all my reading (offline too), which is why I’m not one for book clubs generally.

There are so many old books I want to replay as I have 6K+ diamonds. My times been limited lately but I’m planning to make up for that.

[aviesims]

It's time for the after party now that the little members of the family left. Momo wouldn't hear the end of it from Valentine if he got Herman drunk so he sent his brother home. Akira isn't so tight about partying and drinking but Cordelia is so she also sent her siblings away. The trio probably left for another bar though.

Barbara and Niko are all over each other and they're not even drunk, just in love. The same can't be said for Cordelia and Liam. They're married and expecting a baby but their thoughts about the pregnancy are clashing. Cordelia still doesn't feel ready for this pregnancy while Liam can't wait to meet his little baby.

Naturally there's some tension among them. When Cordelia tries to make a move Liam makes things awkward and when he tries she looks uncomfortable. It's almost impossible for them to talk about anything else other than the baby or enjoy a moment together like a couple.

Then there's Momo who's drinking all alone because Elias didn't come despite Momo's insistence. This was a big milestone for him and Elias didn't even bother to text him back let alone come and support him.

[malkaleh]

I’m plotting out what Cat, Felipe, and Ana’s lives would look like in a Crown of Ashes AU where one of them accidentally outed the triad to Mary and set everything off. It’s a whole lot of OW because I don’t think the ot3 kids would have the sibling-like bonds they do in ot3 verse. Their aunts/uncles don’t blame them, but there’s no way the relationships survive unchanged. Especially for Elizabeth, who has to grow up fast and protect her younger siblings. It also doesn’t help that Cat, Felipe, and Ana are raised by KoA and while KoA does advocate (somewhat) for Anne’s children, Elizabeth knows she can’t be trusted, and by extension, she has to be careful what she tells her niblings because anything they know might get back to KoA, and to Mary. Maybe as adults when Tommy is on the throne, they become closer, but it’s a long road until then.

OH G-D THE ANGST yeah. (I think Elizabeth in particular would be angry - not blaming (she blames Mary) but she would be angry), I think Mihrimah would just not be able to forgive them (like for Tommy she’ll be civil and she does get it wasn’t great for them either but uh, watching what Tommy had to go through re Norwich and then Tommy and Elizabeth having to be Mary’s Emotional Support means she’s…like she gets it was never what they intended or wanted to happen but it Happened and it was because of them it kicked off)

They definitely do not know the full story re the OT3. And yep, all the kids really manage KOA (it’s definitely not the way it is in regular OT3 verse). I don’t know if they ever do.

Like, I do think possibly as adults the younger kids might be closer with their nieces and nephew (Pippa and Ned maybe anyway - just because they are younger than Cat/Felipe/Ana anyway. Owen probably not) but there is always a distance on both sides (partly because I think Cat, Felipe and Ana feel deeply deeply guilty and ashamed).

(They hate Mary even more here tbh because she destroyed their family ties in a lot of ways and their father who everyone loved)

(Actually Cecily and Isabel/Isobel in Crown of Ashes regular kind of have some of the same thing but that’s another babble).

(I would totally read this version)

(Tommy is you know, Tommy about it. George realises he should intellectually be fair about this but he’s absolutely fucking not going to be. Meg just holds a grudge (maybe after she marries and goes to Denmark etc she might like, mellow enough to welcome them to her and her husbands court etc but idek). Liam is a simmering ball of Trauma).

(Tommy’s thing about being Fucking Allergic To Indulging In A Selfish Re Himself is even more here it’s just like, Reflex)

[uwuspaceboy]

hello, i made a deal with god and so i watched one (1) episode of shameless today after my 2 month long ban from the shameless factory. here are my thoughts on 10x8

first things first, i fucking called it i called a mickey ian marriage for spousal privelege from testifying against each other like 4 fucking seasons ago, yes it was for a different thing but i called it none the less

i feel bad for mickey bc he has problems with not feeling like anyone loves him (fuck u terry!!!) and ian hesitating to sign the marriage license after realizing they didn't need to to stay out of prison must've been just like hell for him i'm so sorry

i also totally understand why ian's hesitant about marriage!! his parents are........you know. his sister got married once after knowing a guy for like 4 hours, had a messy divorce, got engaged to another guy at the divorce lawyer meeting, then the wedding got called off moments before the alter bc her fiancee had been using meth again for months without telling her. like, that's not a great endorsement for marriage. it's a big deal i get it, but maybe step outside the marriage license office to have this conversation lol

although i'm not surprised mickey punched ian about maybe not wanting to marry him for all of the above reasons, you can't be punching him mickey!! when yall were teenagers and just fought everyone it was like, yeah okay, they're dumb teenagers who just fight everyone, but you're adults now! use your words mickey! if you want to wife him up you can't be punching him jesus christ

i also thought this was a pretty good lip episode. he's kind of wanted to be a dad for a long time and i think he's pretty good at it, helping taking care of 4 younger siblings really helped you out man

debbie getting sugar momma slay

the face young frank made at the guy whose life he ruined was really funny ngl i laughed out loud

liam is on levels of grift that high school lip could only dream about good for u bud

carl is a sicko. we all know this. also him trying to do the same grift that ian did to get into the army but rolling a nat 1 was great the parallels

also i love kev and v. i have nothing of significance to say about their storyline this ep, but just know that i do in fact love them.

also i miss the other milkovich brothers, idk who all these other milkoviches are also fuck u terry

[automaticdata]

One of my clients loves The Bold And The Beautiful and it’s on during my shift with them, so I figured I would look up some stuff about the show so I know what’s going on.

Um.

Okay, so ... all those jokes about how over the top soap operas are ... weren’t exaggerated ...?

First off, a lot of soap operas have apparently been going on for decades. Literally. Actual decades! The Bold and the Beautiful, for example, premiered in 1987. It’s literally older than I am. So catching up is ... probably impossible?

Also, because it’s been going on for so long, we have multiple generations spawned from soap-opera-esque drama. There are tons of half-siblings and step-siblings, because their parents were caught up in Drama.

And if you think that the step- and half-sibling-ness would stop romance plots, nope, not at all. The current plot in The Bold and the Beautiful involves Thomas Forrester (the son of Ridge and Taylor), Steffy Forrester (the daughter of Ridge and Taylor), Hope Logan (the son of Brooke and ... Brooke’s ex-son-in-law??? wtf), Liam Spencer, and John Finnegan. Brooke and Ridge have a long time on-again off-again romance, and they’re currently on again. So Thomas and Steffy are basically step-siblings to Hope, and apparently Ridge actually is the one who raised Hope, with her biodad giving up his parental rights and signing them over to Ridge.

Steffy used to be married to Liam, but is now married to Finn. Until very recently (because drama) Hope was married to Liam. Hope kissed Thomas (who’s basically her step-brother/adopted half-brother), which inspired Liam to kiss Steffy. Apparently Liam has been waffling between Hope and Steffy for ... apparently over a decade????? Jesus no wonder Hope is insecure in their relationship.

Well, at least she has Thomas, who actually seems committed to her ... oh wait! If you look up stuff that’s happened in the past, apparently Thomas has done some really shady shit over the years! Like “red flag get the fuck out Hope what is this get away get away right now” level bad! So that’s ... a thing? But maybe he’s changed? Apparently the worst of his behavior may have been caused by a brain bleed, which was fixed? But some of this stuff isn’t stuff you can just be like, “welp, I’m better now, pls love me”, but I’m also not familiar with how this stuff works with soap opera logic, so ... uh ... hmm.

... also did I mention he’s Hope’s step-brother/adopted half-brother?

So yeah. Basically, the more I look into this show to figure out what’s going on, the more confused I get. Kudos to soap opera fans for being able to keep up with all of it.

(.... also Liam is totally a dick, he’s trying to be all “Hope, your insecurity about my relationship with Steffy is just you trying to dodge responsibility for cheating on me with Thomas” and it’s like, dude. You literally just kissed Steffy! Stop gaslighting Hope! You already proved her point, and she isn’t even aware of it! UGH.)

[primeprofitmedia]

Liam Costner: All About Kevin Costner’s Son

26 years old Liam Costner is Bridget Rooney and Kevin Costner‘s son. He is also William Koch’s stepson through his mother’s marriage to the man. Both his parents are famous actors in America. Not much is known about the tall Liam Costner because he values his privacy. This is why this article will delve into the lives of Liam and his family.

Liam’s biological parents’ relationship

Liam’s father and mother’s relationship was full of ups and downs. They had to separate because they couldn’t overcome the obstacles. Their separation occurred when Liam Costner was young. Bridget didn’t let the failed relationship affect her or prevent her from finding true love. She got together with William Koch, a billionaire, after her split from Kevin. Kevin’s family welcomed Bridget and her son with open arms.

Family members

Liam’s family is big and famous. He has six half-siblings from his father’s side. He doesn’t have a sibling from the same father and mother. What it means is that he only has half-siblings, not direct ones. All his siblings are his father’s children from his other two marriages.

What do his siblings do?

Some of them act in movies, while others are Hollywood celebrities. Some of them are actors and actresses with impressive acting portfolios. Even though he and his siblings share the same father, but different mothers, they are close. Liam’s siblings love and support each other. Furthermore, he has several extended families from his dad’s and mom’s sides.

All about Liam’s mother

Bridget is Liam’s mom and a popular actress in America. The 61-year-old is a TV media personality and gives back to society. Bridget comes from an affluent family and was raised in such. She has five older siblings who are also successful in their careers. Bridget’s extended and close family are into entertainment and sports. Their grandfather was a wealthy man who initially owned a national football club.

Her professional career

Bridget has appeared in many television and movie roles. Her most prominent one was a zombie movie that was produced in 2011. Unlike her son, Bridget enjoys staying in the limelight and attends parties and social events. She stays with her current spouse in their house in America.

Liam Costner’s father

Kevin is a renowned actor who is famous in Hollywood for his acting abilities. He met Bridge at a golf course, and they fell in love. The pair didn’t last long, though. Some said that Kevin hadn’t divorced his first ex-wife when he first met Bridget. Kevin and Bridget later split and didn’t get back together. Both became involved with other people and got married to them respectively. In fact, Liam attended his mother’s marriage to his stepfather.

Kevin’s acting roles

Kevin has played lots of roles ever since he turned to acting. His first appearance was in a big film, but unfortunately, his part was cut off. Two years after that, he shot to fame with the help of another role. One year after he became a success, another movie role made him more popular. The movie role was a detective role, and Kevin played the role perfectly. Kevin’s detective role in the movie won him a very prestigious award in recognition of his hard work.

Liam’s stepfather

William Koch, Liam’s stepfather, is very close to Liam and very much involved in his life. Liam confirmed this by always saying good things about his stepfather. He said that William has been a positive influence in his life. William and Liam’s mother met after she and Liam’s father called it quits. Even though his mom and stepdad have quite an age gap, they didn’t let it stop them from dating and subsequently getting married. They proved people wrong by staying married for years.

Liam’s personality

Liam Costner has a rather quiet personality and prefers to do his things privately. It is understandable as he comes from an influential and well-connected family and knows how nosy the media is. In addition, Liam seldom posts his private life on social media for people to nitpick…Read More

Source: Prime Profit Media

[snowbellewells]

@kmomof4 Let me tell you, I was glad where last chapter left off that I didn’t have to wait a whole week for this one!! Poor Ruby was all disgruntled and upset and uncertain at what might happen next and how it would all turn out, and I was feeling pretty torn for her. Let’s just say, you picked the perfect time to start posting two chapters a week!! 😍

This one gave us a lovely treat on getting to see the Emma we adored in your connected “Mistress to No One” fic, and to discover happily just wonderful married life with Killian is treating her. 💖 (Not that any of us really had any doubts!!) I loved Emma’s agreement with Ruby about the Jones brothers’ drunken shenanigans and her “fiends” comment giving Ruby a bit of sympathy and making her feel better. I chuckled aloud at her assessment of feeling badly for poor Mildred “all that attention and how it must hurt her back”! 😂

I also loved that when Emma saw Graham walking toward them she commented on how handsome he was 💕😉💕, how lovely it was that he’d brought her flowers (botanist or not) and the hopeful reminder that it would make a quite romantic story for them if all worked out. Emma has been through enough herself that her hopeful tone toward Ruby’s situation has to help Ruby feel at least a bit encouraged.

My heart just completely squeezed right for Graham though, once Emma had left them, and he was so intent making it clear to Ruby that he does NOT overindulge in drink as he had the day before. He was so concerned, I couldn’t help but bet that must have been when his own father did his worst - when he had been drinking. My guess is, just as in so many other ways - Graham has been certain not to do the same himself.

Of course, by the next paragraph or so, you had me laughing out loud again, with Graham watching Ruby ready to explode at her meddling brothers and wondering if she’d be able to restrain herself from hitting Liam. By the time he thought each of the Jones siblings should have their own muzzle you had me cracking up completely!!!

And then - good gracious!!! 🔥🥵🔥I know I won’t do this justice, but in the scene where he pulls Ruby away from her brothers and shows her just how well they do “suit”, just how sure he really is in his attraction and feeling for her - WOW! That was amazing!! Whew! I don’t know how else to rave about it- just wonderful!! “Shut the door,” he repeated. It wasn’t a tone 0f voice he used often, but after a year of feeling lost with no direction in life, he finally knew what he wanted, and he was going after it. “Shut the door, Ruby,” he repeated in a low voice, taking slow and deliberate steps toward her.

She appeared frozen as he approached, her mouth dropped open in a small O of surprise. “Graham, you…” She trailed off as he reached behind her and shut the door himself, then turned the lock. “What are you doing?” Her voice was no more than a whisper as she looked up into his face as if she didn’t know him. Hell, he wasn’t sure he knew himself any longer.

“You were worried that we might not suit,” he said gently, running the back of his hand along her jaw. “And I thought it was time to show you that we do.”

Ruby had only a moment to take a deep breath before his lips were on hers. And it was a good thing she did, because if the passion of his kiss was any indication, he didn’t intend to release her for quite some time. Perhaps sometime in the next century.

But then he stopped and she gasped in astonishment, unable to take her eyes from his. His large hands cradled her face and he simply stared at her, cataloging her every feature, his eyes bouncing between hers then moving on to her forehead, then nose, and finally her lips, his thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks.

“Graham?” she whispered.

“I just had to look at you,” he explained, his voice but a whisper between them. “You’re always moving. I never have a chance to just see you.”

Her knees nearly gave out at his words and her lips parted, but she had nothing to say. All she could do was stare up into his blue eyes and try not to drown in them.”

And oh goodness, the tender way he smoothed her hair, and how he has her “blossoming like one of his beloved blooms” just gorgeous and so SO perfect!!! 💖💖💖

I love that he understood now that he had been waiting for her; he had been alone so long and stayed without a woman’s touch because it was Ruby he was meant to find!! (I can only hope she will soon be coming to feel the same way!)

The shooting contest was perfection as well! I loved that Ruby was so good that her brothers tried to cut her out of the contest! (You should read the Hellions of Halstead Hall series of Regency romances by Sabrina Jeffries. I couldn’t help thinking about the youngest sibling’s book here - she also trounces her brothers at shooting! 😉 It made perfect sense that Graham could hold his own though; that felt like a neat little nod back to his Huntsman aim and skill in canon. 🐺❤️

I loved this chapter too, as I have all of them. I am so excited for the next, and yet I will hate to see this story end too. You have completely spoiled me with this one!!!

To Sir Graham, With Love Ch. 6

And we are back!!! Thank you all for coming along on this journey with me! I hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think!

Thank you again to @jrob64 and @whimsicallyenchantedrose for their beta services and to @motherkatereloyshipper for her INCREDIBLE banner up above!! I love it so much, babe! Thank you!!!

And once again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to @snowbellewells for whom this fic was written!!! Love you, darlin!!!!

We earn our rating in this chapter, y'all! If you want to skip it, it begins and ends with double scene change lines. Like this.

~*~*~

~*~*~

And now, on to the new chapter!

Summary: After a year long secret correspondence, twenty-eight year old spinster Ruby Jones decides to accept Sir Graham Humbert's offer of a visit to see if they might suit for marriage. Unfortunately, he failed to mention that he was the father of twins, and they are not thrilled with Ruby's appearance.

Rating: M ( for smut and mentions of physical abuse)

Words: Almost 7100 of 68k

Tags: Red Hunter Fic, Birthday Fic, Inspired by Eloise Bridgerton's Story, Smut

On ao3 From Beginning / Current Chapter

On Tumblr Prologue Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4 Ch5

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you'd like to be added or removed.

@jrob64 @winterbaby89 @hollyethecurious @the-darkdragonfly @jennjenn615

@donteattheappleshook @undercaffinatednightmare @pirateherokillian @cocohook38 @qualitycoffeethings

@booksteaandtoomuchtv @superchocovian @motherkatereloyshipper @snowbellewells  @djlbg

@lfh1226-linda @xarandomdreamx @tiganasummertree @bluewildcatfanatic @anmylica

@laianely @resident-of-storybrooke @exhaustedpirate @gingerchangeling @caught-in-the-filter

@ultraluckycatnd @stahlop @darkshadow7 @fleurdepetite @captainswan-kellie

@soniccat @beckettj @teamhook @whimsicallyenchantedrose @thisonesatellite

@jonesfandomfanatic @elfiola @zaharadessert @ilovemesomekillianjones @mie779

@kymbersmith-90 @suwya @veryverynotgoodwrites @myfearless-love 

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

… cannot abide a man who drinks to excess. Which is why I’m sure you will understand why I couldnt not accept Lord Wescott’s offer.

– from Ruby Jones to her brother Killian, upon refusing her second proposal of marriage

~*~*~*~*~*~*

“No!” gushed Emma Jones, Killian’s very pregnant wife and one of Ruby’s very closest friends. “They didn’t!”

“Oh, yes, they did,” Ruby said grimly, as she sat back in her lawn chair and sipped a cup of lemonade. “And then they all got drunk!”

“Fiends,” Emma muttered, leading Ruby to the realization that what she’d really had enough of the evening before was the horribly chummish and collegial manner of men. Clearly, all she’d truly needed was one sensible female with whom she might disparage the lot of them.

Emma scowled. “Don’t tell me they were talking about that poor Mildred woman again.”

Ruby gasped. “You know about her?”

“Everyone knows about her,” Emma said, rolling her eyes slightly. “Truth be told,” she continued, moving closer, her voice dropping to a whisper though there wasn’t another soul around to overhear, “I feel sorry for the woman. All that unwanted attention, and it can’t be good for her back.”

Ruby tried to imagine and simply couldn’t.

“Regina once even asked her about it.”

Ruby’s mouth fell open. Regina was Emma’s stepsister who’d lived with the Jones for several years before she wed the rather merry village vicar who lived just five miles from My Cottage. She was also, quite honestly, one of the sweetest, kindest, and most welcoming people of Ruby’s acquaintance and if anyone was going to befriend a tavern wench with large bosoms, it would have been her.

“Mildred and her husband are in Robin’s parish,” Emma continued, referring to Regina’s husband. “So of course Regina knows them.”

“What did she say?” Ruby asked, still a bit astonished.

“Regina?”

“No, Mildred.”

“I don’t know,” Emma said, pulling a face and rubbing the side of her swollen belly. “Regina never told me. Can you believe that? I don’t think she has kept a secret from me her entire life. She said she couldn’t betray the confidence of a parishioner.”

Ruby thought that was quite noble of Regina, though she really wouldn’t have expected any different.

“Not that it concerns me, of course,” Emma said, with all the confidence of a woman who knows beyond any shadow of a doubt that she is loved. “Killian would never stray.”

“Of course not,” Ruby rushed to agree. Killian and Emma’s love story was legendary within their family - the two of them initially meeting at Alice Jones’ masquerade ball nearly a decade ago and falling madly in love that same night, but being the bastard daughter of the Earl of Glowerhaven, long dead by then, Emma had had to return to her life of forced servitude in her own household, until fate intervened and Killian and Emma met again two years later and were able to overcome secrets, lies, and the ton’s expectations to find their well-deserved happily ever after. Their story played no small part in Ruby’s desire for a love match and was a prominent factor in why she’d turned down so many proposals of marriage. She wanted that kind of love, drama, and passion. She wanted so much more than three homes, sixteen horses, and forty-two hounds, which were actually words said to her by one of her many suitors when he’d asked for her hand.

“But,” Emma continued, “I don’t think it’s so much to ask that he manage to keep his mouth closed when she walks by.”

Ruby was about to add her firm and vehement agreement when she saw Sir Graham walking across the lawn in their direction.

“Is that him?” Emma asked, a smile on her face.

Ruby nodded.

“He’s very handsome.”

“Yes, I suppose,” Ruby said slowly.

“You suppose?” Emma snorted inelegantly. “Don’t you play coy with me, Ruby Jones. Don’t forget that I was your ladies maid and know you better than just about anyone.”

Ruby couldn’t help the amused twist of her lip, but she did manage to bite her tongue instead of reminding Emma that she’d been Ruby’s ladies maid for a paltry fortnight before she and Killian had come to their senses and married. 

“Very well,” Ruby allowed. “He is quite handsome, if you prefer the rough, rural sort.”

“Which you do,” Emma said pertly.

To her complete mortification, Ruby felt herself blush. “Perhaps,” she muttered.

“Oh, look,” Emma said approvingly. “He brought flowers.”

“He’s a botanist,” Ruby said.

“That doesn’t make the gesture any less sweet.”

“No,” Ruby grudgingly agreed, “just easier.”

“Ruby,” Emma said, turning to her, the disapproval in her voice exceedingly hard to miss. “Stop. Don’t you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Cut that man down before you even give him a chance.”

“That’s not what I was doing,” Ruby protested, though she knew she was lying the moment the words left her mouth. She hated that her family was running her life as if she had no say in the matter and it left her feeling sullen and uncooperative. It didn’t matter in the least that she was the one who’d brought it on herself.

“I am not even going to dignify that statement with a response,” Emma snorted. “The flowers are lovely and it doesn’t matter if he had eight thousand varieties to choose from. He still thought to bring them.”

Ruby had no answer. It was true. And even though she knew she was pouting like a child, the gesture did make the corners of her lips lift in a small smile, and a sense of well being enveloped her. Maybe things would be alright after all.

“Killian didn’t give me all the details…” Emma hedged.

Ruby laughed. She just couldn’t help herself. “What do you want to know?”

Emma looked over at Sir Graham, gauging just how long they had left to talk before he arrived at their sides. “Well, for one thing,” she began, conspiratorially, “is it true you’d never met him before?”

“In person? No,” Ruby replied. Her sour mood was back again. It sounded so silly when she said the words out loud. Truly, what had she been thinking? Running away to a man she’d never met.

“Well,” Emma mused, “if it all works out in the end, what a romantic tale it will make.” A soft smile graced her face and it wasn’t hard to guess what her beloved friend and sister-in-law was thinking. “Much like mine and Killian’s.”

Ruby swallowed hard. It was too soon to know if it would work out in the end. She was quite certain she’d end up married to Sir Graham, but she didn’t love him and she knew he didn’t love her. Being here in the home of her other favorite brother and sister-in-law, witnessing the love and affection between them, just made her even more afraid that she’d made a terrible mistake.

But the only way to answer that question was to marry Sir Graham and see what happened.

“Miss Jones, Mrs. Jones,” Sir Graham greeted them upon his arrival. He held out a bouquet of white and purple orchids toward Ruby. “I brought you these,” he said, unnecessarily. 

“Thank you,” Ruby replied, a smile spreading across her lips at the little flutter her heart gave at the lovely gesture. “They’re beautiful.”

“Where ever did you find orchids?” Emma asked, the delight in her voice clear. “They’re exquisite!”

“I grew them,” he informed her. “I keep a greenhouse.”

“Ah, yes,” Emma exclaimed. “Ruby mentioned that you are a botanist. I do love to garden myself, but am simply miserable at it. The gardeners would be quite happy if I simply stuck to enjoying their efforts rather than trying to join them.” Both Emma and Graham chuckled lightly at her statement and Ruby realized she needed to make introductions, even if he’d correctly guessed who Emma was.

“Emma,” she said, clearing her throat and motioning between them, “may I present Sir Graham Humbert. Sir Graham, this is Killian’s wife, Emma.”

“I am very pleased to meet you,” Emma said, holding her hand out gracefully. Graham bowed over it and brushed her knuckles with his lips.

“The honor is mine, Mrs. Jones,” he murmured.

“Oh, please call me Emma,” she gently corrected him. “Since it seems you’re part of the family already.”

Ruby and Graham both flushed and Emma realized her faux pas at once. “Oh, no! That’s not what I meant. Not for you two…” The words poured from her lips like a dam breaking and her eyes bounced between the two as she sought to assuage both their discomfort. “I mean, amongst the men.” Her hands fluttered aimlessly and she could feel her cheeks heating. “I mean… Killian said, well, there was quite a bit of wine last night…” 

“A fact I’d rather not dwell on,” Graham mused, the self-deprecation in his voice clear.

“The fact that you remember at all is quite remarkable, if you ask me,” Ruby mumbled, but not quite low enough that her companions were unable to hear her. “Does your head ache terribly?” she asked, louder this time.

“Like the devil,” he replied.

“Good,” she mumbled again, churlishly. She shouldn’t be acting this way and she knew it - especially when presented with the lovely and rare orchids - but she just couldn’t help herself.

“Ruby!” Emma scolded.

“How is Killian this morning?” she asked sweetly.

Emma sighed. “He’s an absolute bear. And Henry is still abed.”

“I seem to have fared the best then,” Graham observed.

“Except for David,” Ruby informed him. “He never feels the aftereffects of alcohol. And of course Liam hardly had anything.”

“Lucky man.”

“Would you care for something to drink, Sir Humbert?” Emma asked. “Of the non-intoxicating type, of course. I’d be glad to arrange for some lemonade to be brought out.”

“If I’m to call you by your Christian name,” he began, “then I must insist you do the same. And that would be most appreciated, thank you.” When she began to struggle to move off the chaise, Graham hurried to her side to help her.

“Thank you,” Emma puffed. “I always forget how hard it is to get out of these chairs by this point of my confinement.”

“I shouldn’t have asked for the lemonade,” Graham admonished himself.

“Nonsense,” Emma replied. “I offered. It’s only a short ways to My Cottage and the walk will do me good. I’ll return shortly.” She offered them both a sharp nod and began waddling toward the house. Ruby smiled.

“She’s as stubborn as I am,” she informed Graham, “if not more. Don’t concern yourself,” she continued, laying her hand on his arm as he sat on the lounge Emma had just vacated. “She would have insisted no matter what.”

Graham nodded, looking down at his hands for a moment before meeting her gaze. “It’s good to see you this morning.”

“And you,” she replied.

“I must apologize for my behavior last night,” he said, clearly uncomfortable.

She scrutinized him as he fidgeted on the seat. He seemed sincere. She didn’t know him well, but he didn’t seem the sort to apologize without really meaning it. She shrugged indifferently. “I have brothers,” she said, blandly. “I’m used to it.”

“Perhaps so,” he allowed, “but I am not. I assure you, I am not in the habit of overindulging.”

She looked back at him, observing the distressed look in his eye. Somehow she knew that he was telling her the absolute truth and she forgave him with a nod of her head in acceptance of his words.

“I have been thinking,” he said.

“As have I.”

He cleared his throat and tugged at his cravat. “We will have to marry.”

“I’m aware,” she bit out.

“I am sorry that it’s occurring under these circumstances.”

Ruby turned to him in surprise. “What?” she breathed.

He looked confused for a moment, his eyes darting everywhere but at her. “These… circumstances,” he repeated. “I’m sorry that I didn’t have a chaperone in place when you arrived. I’m sorry that your brothers descended when they did - though I had decided we’d suit and was planning on proposing marriage with a ring and whatever else it is that I’m supposed to do before they arrived - and forced the issue before you were ready for it. But I’m not sorry it’s happening.”

“You’re not?” She couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice. How was it possible that he was able to discern that particular character quality after only knowing her for less than three days? There was nothing she valued more than her independence, about having choices in her life, and she was profoundly grateful that she was part of a family that allowed her to do so. There were many brothers within the ton who wouldn’t have stood for Ruby rejecting as many offers of marriage as she had. And while she had thought she was exercising that independence and control over her own life in running off to Gloucestershire, it had done no more than brought her to the place she was now. And there was no getting around that, no matter how much Ruby wanted to ignore her own part in it. 

But how could Graham have known that it wasn’t the fact that Liam was making her marry him, it was the fact that she wasn’t ready for it yet? She couldn’t deny that she found him extremely attractive, and even though she’d only met him three days ago, she was quite sure in the depths of her soul that he was a man she could love. She just wasn’t there yet. And not knowing how he felt about her - beyond that he clearly thought she’d be good for Nicholas and Ava - was the only other true reservation she had. 

So it wasn’t that she was being required to marry him, she simply wanted more of a say in when and how it happened.

“No, I’m not,” he replied, finally meeting her gaze. “I’d be willing to wait as long as you needed, but I’m afraid -” here his eyes looked up the hill toward Liam and David who were making their way towards them, preceding a servant laden down with more food than Hercules himself could carry - “your brothers won’t allow that. Quite frankly, if you were my sister, I’d have marched you to a church last night.”

That, more than anything, went a long way toward assuaging her distress over the entire situation. As much as she hated Liam dictating her future to her, she knew he did it out of a place of love and honor - for her and for their family - and the fact that Graham agreed with the principles underpinning Liam’s actions told her with certainty that he was also a man of honor.

Ruby glanced at her brothers and then blurted out. “Why did you decide we would suit?”

Graham blinked in surprise. “I beg your pardon?” He couldn’t have been more surprised at her question. Although heaven knew why not. This was Ruby after all.

“Why did you decide we would suit?” she repeated, her tone insistent. Of course this would be how she would ask. No beating around the bush with Ruby. Why be coy when she can just be direct and move on to the next thing that much faster? 

“I… uh…” he stuttered.

“You don’t know,” she interrupted him, and if he wasn’t very much mistaken, she sounded disappointed.

“Of course I do!” he protested. No man liked to be told he didn’t know his own mind.

“No, you don’t,” she insisted. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be choking on air.”

“Good God, woman!” he exclaimed. “Don’t you have a single charitable bone in your body? I simply needed a moment to formulate an answer.”

“Ah, there’s the happy couple,” David proclaimed, sitting himself down at the table a few yards away. 

“Good morning,” Graham rose and greeted the brothers, never more happy to see another human being in all his life.

“Hungry?” David asked. “I took the liberty of ordering breakfast al fresco.”

Liam sat down and glanced toward his sister. “How are you this morning?”

“Fine,” she replied.

“Hungry?” 

“No.”

“Cheerful?”

“Not for you,” she informed him haughtily. He chuckled and picked up a napkin and placed it in his lap as the servant relieved himself of his burden, apologizing profusely for his clumsiness when everything on the tray rattled alarmingly. 

After assuring the flustered man it was no problem, Liam turned to Graham. “She is usually more prone to conversation than this,” he said. 

Graham raised an eyebrow as he cut his eyes toward her. She looked like she wanted to hit her brother and Graham was quite intrigued to see if she’d be able to master the impulse or not.

The two brothers served themselves then Liam turned to Graham and Ruby. “The two of you seem particularly well-suited this morning,” he informed them.

Ruby’s glare could have curdled fresh milk. “And when did you come to that conclusion?”

Liam shrugged nonchalantly. “It wasn’t hard to see.” He paused for a moment, smug mirth dancing in his eyes. “It was the bickering, actually. All the best couples do it.”

Graham nodded thoughtfully. 

“Elsa and I often have similar conversations before she comes around to my way of thinking,” he said. Graham was starting to worry about Ruby. If she glared at her brother any harder, her eyeballs might pop right out of her head. “Of course,” Liam continued, completely unaffected by Ruby’s ire, “she might offer a different interpretation. I allow her to think I’m coming around to her way of thinking. It’s easier that way.” Graham glanced briefly at Ruby, amazed that there wasn’t smoke pouring out of her ears. “When did you arrive?” Liam asked him, pulling his attention away from the food and Ruby and back to the viscount.

“Just a few minutes ago, actually,” Graham said.

“Yes,” Ruby interjected smartly, “You’ll be pleased to know he proposed marriage.”

Graham coughed loudly when Ruby made the announcement. She glanced briefly at him before continuing. “He said, We’ll have to marry.”

“Well,” Liam said, looking directly at Ruby, “you do have to marry. And my compliments to him,” he continued, darting his eyes to Graham before settling back on his sister, “on not beating around the bush. I’d have thought you of all people would appreciate that sort of directness.” His gaze settled on Graham then. “She’s just irritated about having her choices dictated to her. She’ll be fine in a few days.”

“I’m fine now,” she snapped.

“Yes,” Liam agreed affably. “You certainly look it.”

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” she gritted out.

Liam raised a single eyebrow. “Now that is an interesting question. I guess you could say I should be in London with my wife and children. But I’m not, am I? I’m here. In Wiltshire. And why am I here again?” he asked blandly, spreading honey on a scone.

Ruby snapped her mouth shut. Before Liam took a bite, he reached in his pocket and withdrew a small letter. “Mother sent this for you,” he said, handing it to her. “I regret it slipped my mind to give it to you last night.”

“Do you want to read it?” Graham whispered to her.

She answered him with a small shake of her head as she continued to look at the missive in her hand. “Not now,” she whispered right back. Graham realized exactly what she meant - she didn’t want to read it in front of her brothers - and suddenly knew what he had to do.

“Lord Jones,” Graham said, standing from his seat. “May I request a moment alone with your sister?”

“You just had a moment with her,” David said, in between bites of bacon. 

Graham ignored him. “My lord?” he asked Liam again.

Liam glanced at Ruby before answering. “Of course, if she’s agreeable.”

Graham grabbed Ruby’s hand and hauled her to her feet. “She’s agreeable,” he said.

“Hmmm, yes,” David mused. “She does look agreeable, doesn’t she?” Graham decided right then and there that all of the Jones’ should have their own muzzles.

“Come with me,” he said briskly, hopefully before she decided to argue with him. Which, of course, she would since she was Ruby Jones. He might not know her well, but he did know she’d never trot obediently behind him, not when she could argue instead.

“Where are we going?” she gasped, once they were out of earshot of her brothers. His long and powerful stride had her nearly running to keep up with him, so she was utterly unprepared when he came to a sudden stop.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I’ve never been here before, Ruby,” he informed her, rather incredulously, she thought. “Of course I don’t know where I’m going.”

She raised an eyebrow at him in question. “Perhaps you’d like to go inside the house?” she asked, sweetly.

“Yes, capital idea,” he replied. He grabbed her hand again and didn’t release it until they stood next to a side door of My Cottage. “Where does this go?” he asked.

“Inside,” she cheeked. He raised an eyebrow at her and Ruby bit back a chuckle, feeling immensely better now that they were away from her brothers, but particularly Liam. “Through Emma’s writing room to the hall,” she continued.

“Is Emma in her writing room?”

“I doubt it,” she said. “Didn’t she come inside to fetch you some lemonade?”

“Good,” he said, trying the door and raising a prayer of thanks when it opened easily. The room was empty, but the door on the other side leading to the hall was open. Graham strode across the room and shut the door firmly. When he turned back to Ruby, she still stood in the open doorway, the expression on her face a cross between curiosity and amusement. “Shut the door,” he ordered.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”

“Shut the door,” he repeated. It wasn’t a tone 0f voice he used often, but after a year of feeling lost with no direction in life, he finally knew what he wanted, and he was going after it. “Shut the door, Ruby,” he repeated in a low voice, taking slow and deliberate steps toward her. 

She appeared frozen as he approached, her mouth dropped open in a small O of surprise. “Graham, you…” She trailed off as he reached behind her and shut the door himself, then turned the lock. “What are you doing?” Her voice was no more than a whisper as she looked up into his face as if she didn’t know him. Hell, he wasn’t sure he knew himself any longer.

“You were worried that we might not suit,” he said gently, running the back of his hand along her jaw. “And I thought it was time to show you that we do.”

Ruby had only a moment to take a deep breath before his lips were on hers. And it was a good thing she did, because if the passion of his kiss was any indication, he didn’t intend to release her for quite some time. Perhaps sometime in the next century.

But then he stopped and she gasped in astonishment, unable to take her eyes from his. His large hands cradled her face and he simply stared at her, cataloging her every feature, his eyes bouncing between hers then moving on to her forehead, then nose, and finally her lips, his thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks.

“Graham?” she whispered.

“I just had to look at you,” he explained, his voice but a whisper between them. “You’re always moving. I never have a chance to just see you.”

Her knees nearly gave out at his words and her lips parted, but she had nothing to say. All she could do was stare up into his blue eyes and try not to drown in them.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his thumbs still stroking her cheeks. “Do you know what I thought when I first saw you?” Ruby shook her head silently. “I thought I could drown in your eyes. I thought I could drown in you.” 

She swayed toward him and his thumbs moved from her cheeks to her bottom lip. The gentle feathering touch sent ripples of pleasure shooting down her spine and she realized that she’d never understood the power of desire until this very moment. Never knew how it weakened one to the point of collapse and strengthened to the point of never letting go at the same time.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

Graham smiled. “You always order me about.”

A coy smile touched her lips. “And I’ll do it even more as your wife,” she said. “Kiss me.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, still smiling. “Because once I start, I might not be able…”

She couldn’t wait any longer. She grabbed him by the neck and pulled him down to meet her waiting lips. He chuckled against them as his arms tightened around her. When his tongue touched the seam of her lips, she opened to him with a groan deep in her throat, welcoming his invasion as he explored every inch of her mouth. He held her closely, stirring the fire he’d kindled, pressing her closer and closer to the heat of him until she could feel it burning through the morning dress she wore.

~*~*~

~*~*~

His hands moved down from her waist to her bottom where he squeezed and kneaded and tilted her up until…

She gasped when she felt the hardness against her. She’d heard whispers, of course, and then there’d been the time she and her sister Tink had used their pin money to bribe one of the servant girls to tell them exactly what to expect, so she knew what his hardness meant, but she’d never imagined it would feel so hot, so insistent.

“I want to be inside you,” he groaned, peppering her jaw with kisses. Her knees really did give out that time, but he held her securely then lowered her to the sofa and stretched out atop of her. His weight was heavy, yet thrilling at the same time and Ruby’s heart beat double time as his lips trailed down the column of her neck, sending shivers to all of her extremities.

“Graham,” she moaned. It was her only coherent thought, the only word she had.

“Ruby, yes,” he groaned in response. Her name seemed to be torn out of him, and Ruby nodded vigorously in reply. Whatever he wanted, she wanted. Whatever he desired, she desired. She wanted it all. She wanted everything. Everything he would give her. And she wanted it now.

His hand reached down and touched her ankle, the calluses rough against the silk of her stocking. She gasped as he continued nuzzling and kissing her neck while his hand slid steadily upward until it reached the edge of her stocking. He didn’t stop, but Ruby didn’t want him to. She opened her legs to him until he settled himself firmly in between them.

She was on fire for him and the incoherent moans and gasps that fell from her lips were the only language she was capable of uttering. His fingers tickled the inside of her thighs and she thought she’d die from the anticipation driving her higher and higher. She was a taunt bow string, ready to sing for him at the slightest provocation.

And then he touched her.

Touched her where she’d never been touched before. Her mouth dropped open on a silent scream and she knew one thing beyond any shadow of a doubt. 

She was his.

His touch was feather light against her folds and she squirmed beneath him, mewling cries as she felt herself blossom - like one of his beloved blooms - beneath his tender and almost reverent touch. And when he reached inside, his name was ripped from her lips on a cry of ecstasy that left her riding the crest of a wave of pleasure inside her she’d never known, filling every corner, to the very tips of her fingers and toes.

It seemed to last forever, and when she finally collapsed in replete exhaustion, she didn’t think she could lift her pinky finger if her life depended on it.

“Oh, Ruby,” he groaned. “Do you have any idea…” He removed his hand from underneath her dress and very deliberately, never taking his eyes from hers, licked his fingers. “Delicious,” he murmured. Ruby released a shocked gasp at the brashness of his action, but why now and not when he was touching her so intimately, she’d never know.

He smoothed his hand over her hair in a gesture so tender and loving, Ruby could feel her eyes filling with tears. She still couldn’t move, so when he moved off of her and smoothed her skirts back down, she felt bereft.

“Oh, Graham,” she breathed. She was sure she had the silliest grin on her face, but she just couldn’t help herself.

~*~*~

~*~*~

“Is there a washroom?” he asked, his voice rather hoarse to her ears. It was only then that she noticed he held himself rather stiffly and his features looked strained.

“Uh, yes,” she said quickly, pointing toward the door to the hall. “Out and to the right.” It seemed odd that he’d have to relieve himself after such a breathtaking encounter, but who was she to try and understand the working of the male body?

He rose from the sofa and walked to the door. But before he opened it, he turned to look at her, his gaze alone threatening to consume her once again. “Do you believe me now?” he asked.

“Believe you?” she replied, “About what?”

He smirked as he turned the knob. “We’ll suit.”

Once alone in the washroom, Graham needed less than a minute to finish himself off. He was that wound up after his encounter with Ruby.

Dear God, she’d been magnificent in her passion. And she had no clue what she’d done to him. He thought back to how she looked still sprawled out on the sofa when he’d left her. She’d just looked at him with a blissful smile on her face, completely oblivious to the fact that he was ready to explode.

He had no earthly idea about the intricacies of a woman’s toilette, but he was quite sure she’d need to redress her hair at the very least before rejoining the others outside. 

He’d known that if and when he ever found a woman he was interested in bedding, that his body would react strongly. It had been that long since he’d known the pleasures of the flesh with anything other than his hand. The feel of a female body responding to his touch was pure bliss.

But now he could see why he’d never indulged with the local whores and barmaids who’d expressed interest, or found himself a discreet widow. He’d been waiting for her. 

He’d been waiting for Ruby. 

He needed her. More than he’d ever needed anyone. He wanted to sink into her and never leave. He wanted to possess her as she possessed him.

He’d had fantasies, of course. Every man did. But now his fantasy had a face, and he’d better get himself under control or he’d be walking around with a constant erection if he couldn’t get his thoughts directed elsewhere.

He needed a wedding. And fast.

He emerged out onto the lawn to see all four of the Jones brothers gathered around the table.

“Ah, there he is,” Killian said as he approached. Graham stopped when he saw the pistol in the man’s hand. Was it possible that he knew what had just transpired in his wife’s study? 

No, Graham thought, swallowing hard. There’d been no one around when they’d entered the room, nor when he left. He’d made sure of that. Besides, Killian was smiling. Though, he supposed, it could be possible that he was the type of man who’d enjoy picking off the spoiler of his sister’s innocence.

“Uh, good morning,” he replied, glancing at the others, trying to gauge the situation.

“Do you shoot?”

“Of course.”

Killian motioned with his head toward a target some thirty yards away. “Good,” he said, amiably. “Join us.”

Graham noted the target was firmly in place, which meant that he would not be serving in the role.

“I didn’t bring a gun.”

“Of course not. We’re all friends here, right?” Killian was still smiling, but it wasn’t the type of smile that inspired confidence in one’s well being.

“I would hope.”

“We’ll provide one for you.”

Graham nodded and approached the table. If this was to be the way he proved himself to Ruby’s brothers, then so be it. He was quite accomplished in the skill, after all. It was one of those manly pursuits his father had insisted on him learning. He’d lost count of the hours, days, and weeks he’d practiced shooting on the lawn of Romney Hall. His arm held out straight until his muscles burned with the exertion, breath held until he’d taken his shot, always praying his aim was true.

If it was, his father wouldn’t beat him.

It was as simple, and as desperate, as that.

He murmured his hellos to the rest of the men and examined the pistols laid out. 

“Let’s get on with this,” Liam said, “before Ruby returns.” He glanced up at Graham. “Where is she, by the way?”

“She was reading the letter from your mother,” Graham lied smoothly.

“I see,” he said. “Well, that won’t take long. We’d better hurry.”

“Maybe she’ll go ahead and pen a reply,” David mused. “She’s always writing someone a letter. That will give us a few extra minutes.”

“A very few,” Henry groused. “She’s fiendishly fast.”

“At writing?” Graham asked.

“At everything,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. “Let’s shoot.”

“Why are you all so anxious to start without her?” Graham asked.

“Uh, no reason,” Killian said at the same time Liam mumbled, “Who said anything about that?”

Graham raised an eyebrow as he looked at each of the brothers in turn. He decided it’d do himself no earthly good to remind them that they all had.

“Age before beauty, old chap,” David said, slapping Liam on the back.

Liam stepped up to the chalk line drawn in the grass, aimed, and fired.

“Well done!” Graham exclaimed when the footman brought the target near. Liam’s shot was only an inch off of dead center.

“Thank you,” he said. “How old are you?”

“Uh, thirty,” Graham replied.

“That puts you behind David,” he said. “We always do things like this by age. It’s easier to keep track that way.”

“I see,” Graham murmured. Killian and then David both took their shots. They were good, but not perfect, but still good enough to kill a man, if that was their intention.

Graham selected a pistol and tested its weight in his hand before he stepped up to the chalk line. It’d only been recently that he realized he liked to shoot, that it wasn’t a chore. And when he realized that, his father’s voice in the back of his mind - always yelling, always criticizing - was gone.

He raised his arm, his muscles rock steady, and fired. He squinted. It looked good. When the footman brought the target near, they all saw he missed the bullseye by no more than half an inch. Closer than anyone so far.

They all murmured their congratulations to him before Henry stepped up to shoot. When he did, he proved to be Graham’s equal.

“We do five rounds,” Liam explained as he stepped to the line again. “Best out. If there’s a tie, the leaders face off.”

Graham nodded his understanding. David looked at Graham with deadly serious eyes. “We take our games seriously.”

“I’m gathering,” Graham replied.

“Do you fence?”

“Not well.”

The corner of David’s lips lifted in a smirk. “Excellent.”

“Be quiet!” Liam barked, shooting an irritated look over his shoulder at his brother. “I’m trying to aim.”

“Such need for silence won’t serve you well in the middle of a crisis, brother,” David called cheerily. 

“Shut up!”

“In fact, if we were attacked,” he continued, completely unbothered by the glare Liam was sending him, “it would be quite noisy, and I, for one, am rather disturbed to think…”

“David!” Liam bellowed.

“Don’t mind me,” David said jauntily.

“I’m going to kill him,” Liam said to no one in particular. “Does anyone mind if I kill him?”

No one did, but Emma, sitting about ten feet away with her nose stuck in a book, did look up and mention something about the blood and the mess it’d create.

“It does make for an excellent fertilizer,” Graham interjected, trying to be helpful, since it was his area of expertise.

“Oh, well then, by all means,” Emma said, turning back to her book.

“How’s the book, darling?” Killian called.

“It’s quite good, actually,” she replied.

“Would you all please be quiet?” Liam’s cheeks colored slightly as he glanced at his sister-in-law. “Not you, of course, Emma,” he amended.

“Glad to be exempted,” she said cheerfully, rubbing the side of her stomach.

“Do try not to threaten my wife,” Killian said mildly.

Liam glared menacingly at his brother. “The lot of you should be drawn and quartered,” he mumbled.

“Except for Emma,” David reminded him.

Liam turned to him with a deadly expression. “You do realize this gun is loaded, don’t you?”

“Luckily for me, fratricide is considered far beyond the pale.”

Liam clamped his mouth shut and turned back toward the target. “Round two,” he shouted, taking aim.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaait!!!”

All four Jones men sagged and turned around, groaning when they saw Ruby careening down the hill toward them.

“Are you shooting?” she demanded, hands on her hips.

No one answered her. No one really needed to.

“Without me?”

“We aren’t shooting,” Henry piped up. “We’re just standing around. With guns.”

“Near a target,” David interjected.

“You’re shooting,” she accused.

“Of course, we’re shooting,” Liam ground out. He flicked his head over toward Emma. “Emma’s reading a book. You should join her.”

“A very good one, in fact,” Emma called.

“Reading books is very improving, you know, Ruby,” Killian said.

“I don’t need to be improved, Killian,” she snapped. “Give me a gun.”

“I’m not going to give you a gun,” he retorted. “We don’t have enough to go around.”

“You can share, you know,” she said, smartly. “Have you ever heard of sharing? I hear it’s very improving.”

Killian scowled at her as only an older brother could, and in a way that wasn’t particularly reflective of his years.

“Here,” Graham said, magnanimously, handing his gun over to Ruby. “You can use mine.” All four Jones brothers groaned in annoyance, but Graham didn’t care. He found that he rather enjoyed annoying them.

“Thank you,” Ruby said graciously. “Since you just called out Round Two, I assume you’ve all taken one shot?”

“Indeed,” Graham replied. He looked around at her brothers, all of whom wore a dejected look on their faces. “What’s wrong?”

Liam just shook his head.

“She’s a freak of nature,” Killian volunteered.

Graham raised his eyebrows and turned his attention back to Ruby. She didn’t appear particularly freakish to him. 

“I’m dropping out,” Henry muttered. “I haven’t had breakfast yet.”

“You’ll have to order more,” David informed him. “I ate it all.”

Henry groaned. “It’s a wonder I haven’t starved to death with you around, David.”

“Did the two of you grow up in a barnyard?” Liam asked.

Graham bit his lip to contain his smile.

“Are we going to shoot?” Ruby asked.

“You certainly are,” Henry groused. “I’m leaving to eat.” He didn’t move from his place leaning against the trunk of a tree as Ruby lifted her arm and fired.

Graham blinked in surprise as the footman brought forth the target.

Dead center.

“Where did you learn to do that?” he asked, trying desperately not to gape at her.

She shrugged. “I didn’t,” she informed him. “I’ve always been able to do it.”

“Freak of nature,” David repeated Killian’s words from earlier.

“Well, I think it's splendid!” Graham exclaimed.

Ruby looked at him, her eyes aglow. “Really?” she asked.

“Absolutely,��� he affirmed. “If our home is being attacked, I know exactly who will join me on the front lines.”

She beamed at his praise, then looked around at her brothers. “Where’s the next target?”

Henry rolled his eyes as he pushed himself away from the tree. “I forfeit. I’m getting something to eat.”

“Get something for me too,” David called.

Ruby turned to Liam. “It’s your turn then?”

He took the gun from her hands and laid it on the table to be reloaded. “As if it matters,” he mumbled.

“We all have to do five rounds,” she informed him haughtily. “You’re the one who made the rules.”

“I know,” he muttered. He took aim, but he clearly was past caring. He was off by several inches.

“You’re not even trying!” Ruby cried, indignant.

Liam turned to Killian. “I hate shooting with her.”

“Your turn,” she said to Killian. 

Killian, then David, took their turns. They both performed better than Liam did, but still missed their marks.

Graham stepped up to the line. “Don’t you give up, too,” she admonished him.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said softly, a smirk on his face. 

“Good,” she said, spearing her brothers with A Look. “It’s no fun shooting with poor sports.” She turned her attention back to Graham as he took aim. “They do this every time. They perform badly until I quit because it’s just not worth it, then they all come back and have all the fun.”

“Be quiet,” he admonished her lightly. “I’m trying to aim.”

“Oh, sorry,” she apologized quickly and shut her mouth, watching him intently as he took aim and fired.

“Perfect!” she cried when the footman arrived with the target. “Oh, Graham, that was wonderful!”

Liam grumbled something under his breath before turning his attention to Graham. “You are going to marry her, aren’t you?” he asked. “Because if you will take her off our hands and shoot with her, I will gladly double her dowry.”

Graham was quite certain by then that he’d marry Ruby for nothing, but he just grinned and replied, “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

~*~*~

Thank you for reading and sharing! I'd love to hear what you think! Next ch will be up Tuesday night before I go to bed.

[lavinia2813]

My favorite larry fan fics on ao3:

1. Tired tired sea by MediaWhore

As a B&B owner on the most remote of all the British Isles, Louis Tomlinson is used to spending the coldest half of the year in complete isolation, with his dog and the sea as sole companions. Until, one day, a mysterious stranger on a quest to rebuild himself rents a room for the winter.

2. Trapped by Hazzalittle28

It takes an entire two week of lockdown for Harry and Louis to notice the undeniable spark between them

Or

An AU in which Harry and Louis are under lockdown because of the global pandemic and they find themselves experiencing change in between them.

3. Things I can't by reddhede

Louis has a plan for his life. He’s going to be the first in his family to finish college. He’s going to be a doctor - the best damn doctor in the country. And he’s going to work his ass off to make sure his younger siblings never have to wonder whether they have the means to pursue their dreams.

4. Wheels within wheels by 50ShadesOfZen

After their first encounter at Louis' favorite cafe, the arrogant Harry Styles refuses to leave Louis alone until he gets what he wants; a date, and maybe a bit more. His wish is granted when he takes Louis to a fateful party. During this event, Harry had a bit of "fun" with the hopelessly intoxicated Louis. However, he never in a million years would have expected the events that transpired as a result of his manipulation.

5. Into the blue by zarah05

AU. In which Louis is Harry's scuba instructor and quite happy to provide the requested special treatment, pun fully intended. It can't be all that difficult to convince Harry that they're on the same page, right? Also, Niall and Liam may or may not be dating, and Zayn is surrounded by emotionally stunted idiots. He bears it with dignity.

6. When everything gets in the way by Kiwiwoman

Louis is Harry's professor who holds his baby in lectures.

7. Maybe this time by ShatteredGlassHouse

Harry and Louis were high school sweethearts. Louis was going to become the next star football player and Harry would be his fashion designer. Until life got in the way and a fight tore them apart.

Years later Louis wakes up in a life he always wanted but feels lost. His boyfriend and best friend are let in the past and now after a trip down memory lane, he wakes up in his seventeen-year-old body.

Or an inspired by 13 Going on 30 and 17 Again AU.

8. Taste of heaven by alwritings7

"I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want them all"

Harry and Louis are seniors at university. They met while they were moving in the dorm, although Harry was the one to remember Louis and how beautiful he was. Louis was rude and had no desire to talk to Harry, but they're studying at the same university so they'll definitely meet again.

9. But if you ask me if I love him by HazzaMyLou

Harry's pregnant. Louis' not ready. And Liam and Niall are the best friends in the world.

10. Escaped by dolce_piccante

In the grand scheme of things, finding a date for a wedding should be no problem for Louis Tomlinson. He's rich. He's handsome. He's reasonably well behaved. But when the wedding is for his lifelong best friend (and former boyfriend), and is happening in under a month, finding a date for the ceremony and accompanying festivities becomes more of an adventure than he ever could have planned for.

11. Bug Boy by FitzAndLarry

Or the one where Harry is obsessed with bugs and Louis can't wait for them to be Alphas together.

12. Of Mates and Men by bananaheathen

In which, Louis and Harry meet as best men for their best friends' wedding... well... sort of.

Or, the one where Harry's just moved back from New York and Louis doesn't believe in romance.

Or, I guess... the one where Zayn and Liam are getting married.

13 you so much (but I hate your guts) by becauselarry

AU in which Louis gets accepted to play for the Manchester University Alpha-Beta Football Team. The only problem: Louis is actually an Omega. He is determined to make it big in the football world, though, and he can't do that bound to an Omega team. With the help of a faked doctor's certificate and some pretty strong suppressants he is ready to fight for his dream.

That Harry Styles (Alpha, second year and youngest football captain of the A-B team in ages) doesn't seem to like him complicates matters, though.

14. Game Changer by Neondiamond

OR: A couple months before playing in his first long-awaited World Cup, Louis finds out he’s pregnant. Harry’s there for the ride.

15. Oubaitori by thelesserneptune

Or: Louis and Harry meet again after years apart and have to learn to live together by detangling their shared past and uncovering old secrets.

16. A long way from the playground by Pink_Sunsets

One Direction is broken up. They broke up five years ago. That should be the end of the story, right?

Harry is finished with One Direction. He now has a new life, one with two kids and a successful solo career. And he’s happy.

But a call one night from management flips Harry’s whole new life upside down, and he’s forced to face the life he had left behind.

As well as a certain blue eyed man who had left him behind.

17. Heading for Limbo by kingsofeverthing

Childhood best friends who’ve fallen in and out of touch with each other since Louis’ family moved away when they were thirteen, Harry and Louis find their paths crossing again and again. Each time, no matter how many miles apart or how many years it’s been, it’s as if no time has passed. They fall back into their easy friendship, until life intervenes and sends them on their separate ways once more

When Harry discovers some life-changing things about himself, Louis is there for him, however he needs. But it’s all temporary because Louis has plans that will move his life from New York all the way to L.A. and the distance isn’t the only thing between them.

The pieces of their twice broken hearts are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

18. Shake me down by AGreatPerhaps12

Harry's new to college, fresh out of Catholic school and conversion therapy camp, and Louis runs the campus LGBTQIA organization.

19. Now in a minute by thealmightyavocado

13 feels like yesterday for many people, but for Louis it actually was.

More than anything in the world, Louis Tomlinson dreams of growing up. Simply skipping over all of the awkward, embarrassing years of teenage existence and getting on with life. Real life.

Or the 13 going on 30 au that should have been done years ago.

20. Just Me, You, And This Box of Matches by tomlinsunshine

Louis is fairly sure that his new neighbour is going to destroy him. And also their apartment building, and the dumpsters outside, and all the forests within a thirty mile radius. But. Mostly him.

21. Falling Into Place by summerwine

Louis and Harry spend nine years apart but inevitably find their way back to each other.

22. With a whimper by kitundercover

Dystopian AU. Louis has been alone for too long to remember how not to be, and Harry has too much to worry about to deal with a scrawny, wild, stranger.

23. nocturne in silver and blue by tinyweirdloves

[louis is a fallen star and harry brings him home. told over the course of fourteen years.]

24. The Afterlife Fic (The Best I Ever Had in My Entire Life... Or Death) by LovingCup

AU- After dying in an accident, Louis Tomlinson arrives in the Afterlife. Not Heaven and not Hell, Louis finds himself in Judgment City UK: a pristine city where the food and entertainment are divine and the newly departed must undergo a Review of their life on Earth to determine if they have lived a life worthy of advancement in the universe, or if they must be returned to Earth to be born again in a new body.

On his first full day in the Afterlife, Louis meets Harry Styles, and the two have an instant connection. Over the course of their Reviews, they fall in love and begin to find that even though they didn't know each other on Earth, they are nonetheless linked to one another in perfect ways. Both are hoping to move ahead in the universe together, but they are challenged with the threat of separation if one or both of them is sent back to Earth to be born again.

Loosely based on the Albert Brooks' film "Defending Your Life" starring Brooks and Meryl Streep. One scene in particular is drawn from the movie, but other than that scene and the general concept, this story veers far away from the film. There were no blowies in the 1991 movie, I swear!