#also when the waitress grabbed me by the arm as i was leaving and went WAIT i just need you to know you are soooooooooooo gorgeous | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

starandcloud · 8 months ago

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COD boys + Farah and Valeria

Summary: you call them after a fight with your parents/relatives and they pick you up and see you with injuries that weren't there when they dropped you off

I literally forgot like five people-

Characters used: Ghost, Soap, Price, Gaz, Sebastian Krueger, Nikto, Alex, Farah, Valeria, Konig, Roach, Alejandro, Rudy, Nikolai, Grinch, Sandman, Laswell, Graves, Makarov, Frost, Horangi, Keegan

CW: Bruises, slap marks, cigarette burns, implied sprained/broken limbs, just abuse of reader all over tbh ;-;, no Y/N is safe from me tbh, they all gotta be messed up in one way or another-

Simon "Ghost" Riley

He noticed the shake in your voice IMMEDIATELY when you called

He's observant y'all

He 100% was concerned off the bat, he's a good boyfriend but a better killer

He pulled up to you sitting on the tire on top of the driveway and went to call you on your phone only to notice you halfway down the driveway before he could dig his phone out of his pocket

He was also keenly aware of your hair being down, something you rarely did

His automatic instinct was to brush it out of your face, so he did

He noticed how you shrinked away

Then he noticed the ugly bruise forming around your eye and on the side of your face.

"Luv? What happened?"

His voice was angry, but not at you.

Never at you.

You gave a little shrug and tucked into yourself

"Can we just... leave..?"

He couldn't remember the last time you sounded this small, so he did what you asked.

He kept his hand on your leg, rubbing little circles on your skin as he drove, but not home you noticed.

He kept glancing at you from the side of his eye and smiled as he saw your eyes light up as he pulled into the parkway of your favorite food place.

He was still angry as he watched you drink the milkshake you ordered, but was a bit more calm as you played with the kids menu

Something you did whenever you were anxious, so he asked the waitress for one who looked concerned for you and he gave her a little look that made her heart shatter as you started to anxiously babble to fill the sudden silence.

So he reached over and grabbed you're hand

Darling, you're fine, you're not going back there. I promise."

Johnny "Soap" Mactavish

He was already on his way ass soon as your caller ID (which was something like "Tatertot" or some weird Soap shit) popped up on his work phone

He answered as he drove.

"Johnny..? Can you come get me..? I-I got into a fight and need to be picked up at my parents..."

He heard your voice break and someone yell something in the background making your voice waver as you stepped outside

He was there in twenty minutes...

out of an hour drive

You didn't really hesitate as you rushed down the driveway and into his passenger seat and slammed the door.

You watched the wildlife speed by, zoning out, when he asked

"Yer dad give you those?"

You were confused at first before pulling your sleeves down farther and stayed quiet

Which was all he needed to get mad and grip the steering wheel

You knew you were safe, but his anger scared you

So your breathing picked up and he gently put his hand on your arm.

"Yer okay Bonnie, I'm not gonna hurt you. Him? Absolutely. You? Never."

John Price

Dad instincts when you called him

He hadn't really heard your voice like that since you thought you were going to die on the field

He picked up your favorite foods and a new blanket, hoodie, and stuffie

He walked up to the house door and stood like a harbringer of death as you answered the door.

He delicately pulled you out and tucked you behind him

He had that look in his eyes he only had when he was livid

You gently touched his arm and he got you to his car, lingering beside you as he gently kissed your head.

"I got ya sweetheart, just stay in the truck..."

He said as he buckled you up and tucked the blanket around you with your snacks and drinks before going back into the house

You heard yelling, which made you flinch, then silence

John came back out and calmly got in the truck and kissed your hand before giving it a gentle squeeze

"We'll be back for your stuff tomorrow hun, you're staying with me now"

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

Rage

Just pure rage

Your caller ID popped up and he KNEW something was wrong

You don't call him

Not on the actual phone, always over Instagram on a burner account or Facebook or something

He left the room and answered your call

Soap had come to check on him and was concerned at the gleam in Kyle's eyes

Gaz didn't speak, he just left, and picked you up

He had your favorite music playing and a few snacks that he picked up at the corner store and just walked in

He didn't knock

He didn't announce his presence

Just walked in and scooped you up in his arms and left

You didn't ever go back

When your stuff went to be retrieved

Kyle did it

Along with Soap and Ghost who were really just there to keep Gaz from flipping his shit

I see him as a very protective boyfriend

Sebastian Krueger

Just a brooding asshole as he stood in the doorway

He had gotten your call and sped to get there

He didn't speak he just stood there as you got your stuff

The red marks on your face and the bruises forming on your arms made him angry

Everytime you left the house to but your books in his car, he rested his hand on his side weapon

Which he may or may not of forgotten he had on him until a family member pointed it out

Protective as fuck

Nikto

(i literally could find any for him 😭😭)

He was halfway there anyways

He just sped up and made a pitstop to grab some stuff you liked before picking you up

You gave him a sad little smile as you climbed in

You didn't buckle and just laid the seat back

Something you've only down a few times before curling into yourself

He gently ran his fingers through your hair as he drove off

He knew the area well, he grew up there

So he took you to a vacant field and flipped the center console of his truck up and slid over

He pulled you close and kissed your head as he rocked you slightly

His uniform uncomfortably rubbed against your skin as you gripped it tightly fighting against the tears that wanted to fall

"You can cry sweetheart, you're safe now"

Then you broke

You ugly cried against him

All the while he held you close and let you cry

He wasn't even mad right now

He was hurt

Hurt that someone that he swore was a divine being that couldn't be hurt

He buried his face in your hair once you cried yourself to sleep

"I'm sorry my sweetbaby, I'm sorry they hurt you... You didn't deserve that... I swear on whatever God is out there that I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again..."

Alex Keller

Kinda just showed up after your call

He stood there and kissed your head and pulled you close

He took you out for food, in his hoodie, and held you close as you ate

He kept pressing little kisses to your head and playing with your hair

He's a golden retriever so anything you asked for, you got that night

The two of you fell asleep on his couch, you curled up on his lap and him doing that dad sit with his arms around you

Farah Karim

No one fucks with her baby

She showed up with that angry lesbian look

She just has that look y'all I dated a lesbian and can fully saw they have this when pissed I thought I was gonna die- and I didn't even do it- my bestfriend does it too and i get terrified cause i have ✨anxiety✨

Kinda just stood there glaring down whoever the fuck put hands on you as she tucked you into her side and rubbed your back

You hid your face with your hair until you got on her bike and a bit down the road

"She hit me Far..."

You whispered and the bike slowed to a stop, she got off her bike (Putting the kick stand down of course) and circled around

She gently removed her and your helmet and pressed a kiss to your head as she gently inspected the bruise that was turning a hideous color

She looked like she was going to cry, or she was unimaginably pissed but you weren't sure which one

"I'm so sorry sweetheart, you didn't deserve to be hit. My sweet dove..."

She whispered as she held your face in her hands and pressed her forhead against yours

10/10 girlfriend

Valeria Garza

Showed up in a black SUV

Like four henchmen behind her as she knocked on the front door, when it opened she forced herself in and looked for you

She found you at the kitchen table and bent down, she gave you a little smile and laced her fingers with yours

You didn't look her in the eyes, you kept your gaze as low as you possible could, making her sad.

"Cariño? Look at me, tell me what happened..?" (Sweetheart)

Her voice was gentle and soft, but held an angry undertone as she hooked her finger under your chin and raised your head

Your busted lower lip told her everything as it quivered

"Are you mad..?"

Your voice was so quiet it sounded like a ghost

The broken words squeezed her heart as her hand moved up and held your face, her thumb rubbed your tear-stained skin

"Not at you, nunca a ti mi Amor..." (never at you)

She whispered and kissed you softly, and carefully as to not hurt your lip any

"Oh great. You're here to take that little bastard. It's your issue now. Now you can listen to it cry and call you a bitch and controlling"

Your mother's voice rattled off the inside of your skull making you look away as a bag was tossed at your feet and you reached down to get it only for Valeria to pick it up before you could reach it.

There was a dangerous gleam in Valeria's eyes as she helped you from the chair and noticed how you stood funny, all your weight on one foot as you leaned against her.

She helped you towards the door and gave your mother one last nasty look before leaving, she got you in the backseat and sat with you. Digging through the medkit in the back of the car and delicately cleaned your split lip as she gazed at you with such soft eyes.

"Mi hermosa mariposa … te mereces algo mejor que esto..." (My beautiful butterfly… you deserve better than this)

You didn't understand anything except "butterfly", she always called you that.

She always treated you so delicately and like you would break if she breathed to hard around you

At times like this, it made you glad for that school trip all those years ago. If you hadn't gone, you wouldn't have meet her and you wouldn't be safe.

You leaned into her, burying your face in her shoulder as your arms slowly went around her waist; holding her tight as your fingers gripped her vest. The material was uncomfortable, but you'd rather be uncomfortable than feel like you were a burden.

"Thank you," you whispered, "thank you Val..."

Konig

Was quiet about it when getting you out, he stood outside your home late that night

Catching your important things as you tossed them out the window

Then you when you jumped

He held you so delicately as your dog whimpered

You looked up at her as he carried you to his car, which was a bit down the road

Then he left

When he came back, your dog scrambled into the truck making you laugh and hug her tight as you cried

You gently pet her fur as you kissed her head and curled into Konig's seats

You were asleep by the time Konig got into the car

Your dog at your feet, her head in your lap, as he delicately put a blanket over you and softly pet your dogs head

"You did good protecting them girl, I'll take you to the vet as soon as possible..."

He spoke gently as he remembered how hysterical you when you called, not worried about yourself but instead your dog which had been kicked by your mother when your baby had jumped between the two of you and growled

He remembered how scared you were and how hard you cried as you screamed at your mother how that just wasn't right to do and that your dog was protecting you from her batshit insane ass

He remembered a loud slap, then the call ending

And now you were here, fast asleep in his car as he drove. His eyes floating over to your sleeping form every now and then when your dog whined.

the first thing he did, after getting you home, was take your dog to the vet to get her checked out

She was okay, just a bit bruised and had a tooth taken out

Konig took good care of her on the ride home, even ordered a pup cup (through the app, because he was to anxious to go through the drive through) from starbucks and sat in the parking lot holding the cup and feeding her dog treats.

He took good care of both of you the following morning and made sure you were patched up when he woke you up

He would've done it the night before, but he knew where your priorities were

Your dog and him.

It was always your dog and him, never yourself

Which was something he admired, but worried about you

Gary "Roach" Sanderson

He doesn't do anything confrontational

Just takes you and your cat in the middle of the night

Lets you know he's there and holds your hand while he drives

Keeps you on base with him

Makes you breakfast in the morning and keeps you distracted

Non-stop touch EX: puts in his hand on your back when you're walking, hand on your thigh while he drives, plays with your hair while cuddling, completely focused on you

Gets your stuff at a later date

Replaces certain things and loves you unconditionally

Alejadro Vargas

What's calm? Never met her

So many curse words

Literally broke so many road laws to get to you

Very angry

But very tender with you

Holds you behind him and holds your hand when you grab his

Very carefully drives with you in his car

Movie night after and kisses your head a lot

Bandages up the gash on your forehead

Every time he sees it though he gets angry and holds you tightly

When it scarred he felt guilt for not protecting you better

Still loves you so much though

Rodolfo Parra

Scarily calm

Stands there while you pack and follows you like a puppy

Notices your limp then kisses your head as he picks you up

"You're safe now, Me encargaré de todo, ¿vale?" (I'll take care of everything, okay?)

Sweetest boyfriend 10/10

Made you coco and kissed your head as he bandaged the splits on your knuckles

Extremely gentle with you and was slightly paranoid he'd hurt you

Nikolai

Silently angry Russian

A very... terrifying person when angry

Just leaned against the counter as you shuffled your important stuff out of your house

He genuinely was concerned about you, but was extremely mad about you being hurt

"Sweetheart... are you okay..?"

He whispered when the two of you were in his car

"Yeah just a little beat up..."

You whispered back with a giggle on your lips as you held his hand gently

Hs amazed that you were still so... hapy

"Fucking sunshine..."

He grumbled and lovingly pushed you before driving off

Grinch

The Southern came out

Made no sense in his bitter, angry, southern words

Pressed you so tightly against his chest you thought you were gonna break

The situation esculated and he had you behind him as more southern threats came from him, some of them made you giggle. Which did calm him down slightly.

The two of you got ice cream after

You ate your ice cream as he bandages the gash on your arm and the burn on your upper arm

He never understood how you could be so... happy when you just went through something so traumatic...

But if you were happy, so was he

Which it was hard not to be when you kept smearing ice cream on his forehead and nose and laughing so hard you'd cry

Sandman

A MENACE

Literally ruined their lives, starting when he picked you up

He messed with the front steps when he went into get you, he carried you out and set you in his truck with a gentle kiss on the forehead

"I've got you sweet love, you're safe..."

He promised as he gave you a gentle kiss on the lips before buckling you up and he shut the car door

He held your hand as he drove but kept his jaw clenched so he wouldn't remark about the slap mark on your face

Was very grumpy until you gave him kisses

Which was often because you craved his comfort as much as he craved yours

Frost

Your called ID popped up

He has you saved as some weird shit like "Twinkle Toes" (if you know you know)

He didn't asnwer because he was in a meeting but your voice was so broken in the voice mail it made his heart ache

You were sitting outside when he pulled into your driveway

He noticed the cigarette burns on the back of your hands when he approached and felt his blood boil

He gently bent down and pushed hair from your face, making you lean into his hand

"Hey babydoll... Are you... okay..?"

You gave a little nod and flinched when his hand completely rested against the tender skin on your cheek

"I guess..." you whispered "I hurt everywhere..."

Your voice was so broke and weak it made his stomach sick to know that someone had broken you down this far he barely recognized his stubborn and strong lover who sat in front of him

"Come on baby, let's get you out of here..."

His voice was so gentle and tender you broke down crying against him before leaning against him as he lead you to his truck.

He gently scooped you up and set you in his car with the compression blanket he used for his legs after really rough mission

He was gentle where he laid and pressed a kiss to the crown of his head before hearing the screen door slam shut behind him.

He put his military grade headphones on you and called Sandy (sandman) to talk to you as he shut the door

He made sure the volume was up loud enough you couldn't hear the screaming outside the truck as he stood there listening to it all before reeling back and knocking the mother fucker to the ground

He got back in the truck to see you dozing off, he smiled sweetly and raised your hand gently and pressed a kiss above the burn marks

He drove carefully and made sure to avoid the potholes as he saw them and glanced at you every now and then to make sure you were still sleeping well

He slept in his driveway that night, he didn't want to move you or leave you alone

So he slept out there with you

He took out for breakfast the next day, through the driveway of course

Kate Laswell

Mmmmnnnnn angry

Just angry

But she was calm as she called the police and drove calmly to meet them

She only lost her shit when she saw your torn clothes and battered up state

Her touch was so gently as she pulled you into her arms and watched as your parents approached you

She felt the slap but didn't make any action towards it, you on the other hand reacted in an aggressive way

She had to lead you out, still very calm, and sit you in her car as you screamed and cried as she held you softly and rubbed your back and soothed you

"You're okay baby, you're safe now, I won't let them hurt you, they'll never hurt you again."

She reassured you as she kissed your head gently and gave you a gentle squeeze, she was so calm it put you to sleep as she waited for the police

She greeted them with you in her arms and her lips pursed

She let them check you over and took you to the hospital and let them take care of you before taking you to her home and laying you in her bed, after putting you in one of her sweatshirts

She stayed up until you woke up the next morning and kissed you softly

The lack of sleep didn't bother her, so she was perfectly fine as she drove around with you and distracted you from the day before

She was definitely the calmest out of everyone-

Phillip Graves

hehehehe

He's not the government

He's a complete jackass

Made sly comments like:

"So... you wanna die?"

"I can see those burns on their pretty skin, do you want the same?"

You literally had to calm him down so you wouldn't have another fight on your hands

The black eye made him furious and how you limped made him see red

He was so gentle and docile with you as you gently held onto his arm

His hand delicately patted yours but quickly pulled away when you flinched

It wasn't until the late hours of the morning you actually left, you were to busy packing and calming Phillip down in between shuffles of his truck and your room

You fell asleep in his truck but woke up to him gently rolling your sleeves up to put some soothing cream on your arms

"Hey Sweetheart, have a nice nap?"

He asked with a chuckle before pressing a gentle kiss to your arm

You giggled gently and softly played with his hair

"I love you Phillip..."

"I love you too babybell"

Vladimir Makarov

He's a terrorist

He was a terror (pun intended)

He pulled a gun on your mother and held you close

No fucks given

You had to coax him into putting the gun away

"Mak... put the gun away... please put the gun away sweetheart... I don't want a murder charge..."

He put it away with a scoff when he saw how gentle your eyes were

He didn't understand how you could be so... concerned about the woman that had shoved you down stairs and sprained your wrist, making the skin an alluring purple and blue mix

The woman that left burns on your pretty hands, the woman that wore you down to the point you were almost unrecognizable from then you left to see her a week before

As he stared down at you his gaze softened and he delicately wrapped an arm around you

"Anything for you darling..."

You led him out and sat in the back seat of his car with you

You laid out on his seats with your head in his lap while someone drove, you looked up at him so sweetly as he brushed hair from your face

By the time you arrived at his safe house you weren't really upset anymore

He had amused your silly little thoughts the entire ride and made silly promises that he'd take you anywhere you wished, so when you named Paris he was... hesitant.

He didn't want you in the middle of his war, so he asked about Sweden

Which you agreed

You laughed as you stepped into his safe house and wrapped your arms around one of the thin support beams and swung around it

"We'll lay in the flower fields, if they'll let us, and cloud gaze!"

You yelled as you laughed, pulling a chuckle from him as he wrapped his arms around your waist

"Whatever you want to do, we'll do my love"

He muttered before kissing you gently, he could taste the blood on your lips making him worry that you had a busted lip

So he took your jaw in his hand and squeezed gently, making the bottom part of your face squish up and you look confused at him

"Open your mouth sweetheart, I wanna make sure that nothing inside that pretty, smart, little mouth of yours isn't hurt."

You rolled your eyes but complied, sticking your tongue out slightly for extra measure as you did

Which he quickly found the cause of the metallic taste

You had bitten your lip, really hard in fact, and it made him gently press a kiss to your tongue

"Ew!"

You exclaimed and pulled back and laughed as you covered your face

"You're disgusting Mak!"

You yelled with a laugh as he gently grabbed your wrist with his hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of your palm

"Yeah but... you love me Darling"

You couldn't really argue with him so you just shuffled your hand out of the way and kissed him

"Damn right I do Sweetheart"

You eventually got into his bed as you tugged your shirt off and let him take care of your wounds

"How the literal, and I mean this as loving as possible Baby, did you get cut THERE?"

He asked as he moved your bra band up and gently put medical glue on the wound

"uuuhhh I dunno dude, I probably got it when I tumbled down the stairs"

You said with a shrug making him pinch your stomach

"Ow! Asshole that hurt!"

"Well don't move when I'm patching my doll up!"

He shot back, and you wouldn't yelled but you honestly were to flustered to

Your face burned and you scoffed

It took a few hours to actually get in bed

When you were dozing off, you had your head on his chest as he watched some stupid show in Russian

Though he had been nice enough to put on subtitles but you weren't really paying attention as your eyes fluttered shut

His arm was around your waist and delicately tracing shapes into the shirt, which was his, you wore

He pressed a kiss to your head and whispered:

"Sleep Маленькая кукла, you're safe now" (Little Doll)

Kim "Horangi" Hong-jin

Kinda just lurked behind you like a shadow

Very silent as he helped you pack

It was like two in the morning

He got you out of that house in an hour with all your stuff

He kissed your hand as he drove

He was the sweetest with you and held you while you cried at a pitstop and then drove with you in his lap when you passed out

10/10 boyfriend

we're all just going to pretend like I didn't forget him-

Definitely just showed up out of the blue and waited for you outside

You ran into his arms and hid your face in his chest

You pressed your face into his chest and gripped his uniform in your hands

He held you so gently and rubbed your back as your parents came out screaming

His eyes narrowed and one of his hands rested on your head and he held you tighter as he took a defensive step back before his arm went around your ass and he delicately picked you up.

"Is there an issue here?"

He asked, his voice so cold and detached as he held you up and laced his fingers with yours, calming you slightly

Your ankle was swollen and he caught a glimpse of a hand print on your upper arm and on your cheek as you shrunk into him and whispered:

"They hurt me..."

His grip became slightly tighter on you and he retreated to his truck, never turning his back

He treated this like a war zone, he pulled his truck door open and set you in as he pressed a kiss to your temple.

"You're okay now baby, you're safe. I promise..."

He whispered as you shrunk into his seat.

"alright... I love you Kees..."

"I love you too, come on, let's get you out of this shit hole..."

He gave you a lopsided smile and kissed you softly before closing his truck door

His scent, which was mostly sand and sweat if you were honest, soothed you

You found on of his hoodies, which he just carelessly threw in the back seat, and slithered into it

You pulled the hood over your head and pulled the string shut, fully engulfing yourself in his smell, which put you to sleep

You were passed out by the time Keegan got back in the truck, he smiled softly and carefully backed out of the driveway and headed towards his home

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my-only-way-tocooperatewithlife · 2 years ago

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How your life can change with a call - Charles Leclerc

Hello, hello.

So here we are, a new post, with a new story. This idea just popped up in my head and I could not just write it Hope you will like it.

Out and over

Kiki

DadCharles Leclerc x Reader

Summary: You have met two times before, but never ended well. The third time you have met was because something changed in both of your life, and this how two turned into three. You need to learn, adjust and love.

Warnings: death, anxiety, swears, alcohol usage, smut, pregnancy, mention of infertility

Masterlist

-- Monaco --

“Emily, do you really think this is a good idea? A blind date with your fiancé’s friend.. You know how much I hate blind dates..” you walked out of the bathroom trying to put the earrings in. “Come on, he is a really nice guy.” She sat up on the bed as she was caressing her big bump. She was in the 8th month of her pregnancy, she had reached the point when everything was uncomfortable, sitting, laying down, it did not matter anymore.She smiled and handed over the handbag before grabbing the keys from the little bowl next to the door and handed over that one also. “Have fun! Call me tomorrow!” She kissed left side of your cheek before opening the door and pushing your out.

“You really want to get rid of me.” You turned back at the doorstep.

“No, I just need someone next to my daughter’s Godmother.” She winked at you.

You arrived at the small restaurant a few minutes earlier than it was agreed on. Checking the time at your watch on your arm as you were looking around watching the people walking, cars passing by. Fifteen minutes went by, when you took your phone out and started to write a text to your friend, asking about how long you should wait for him to arrive, when a taxi stopped in front of you and the door opened. You looked up from the phone hoping that your date had arrived but a young woman got out of the car, smiling at you friendly before handing over the cash to the driver and closed the door. You smiled back and let out a disappointed sigh and looked back on your phone. Maybe he is sitting inside, waiting for you. You walked into the small restaurant but you had no idea about whose name the table was booked. But the waitress was nice and showed you a small table, after you asked her if she knew there was someone who was waiting for a date, she just shook her head with an apologetic smile and handed over the menu, while showing you the offers for wines. Frustration was bubbling up in your body, as you were sipping on the red wine as you were looking around in the restaurant. Couples were having their romantic dinner, chatting away. Maybe he got into a traffic jam.. Or maybe he forgot about what time you will meet… Or he just never wanted to come….

You were just finished with your glass as the fifteen minutes actually turned into thirty minutes. You tried to catch the attention of the waitress to ask for the bill and leave, when she turned to your way with a smile and started to walk to your table. You picked the small handbag into your lap and dug up your wallet to pay when you saw someone walking behind her.

“Here she is.” She put down another menu “I’ll be back in a few to take your orders.” She smiled and left the table. I looked up from my glass checking out the new person who was trying to take the seat on the opposite side.

“I’m so sorry!” He started “ I got caught up in a meeting.” He was panting as he was trying to take his jacket off. “I’m Charles.” He extended his hand over the table and smiled at me. His piercing greenish, hazel eyes looked deep into yours. His handsome features could really charm you instantly but you did remember him, he was at the wedding of your friends. And he was flirting with you through the reception but ditched you right away when a young brown haired girl appeared.

You looked puzzled at him waiting for him to realize that you had met him before, even shared some stories together, but he had no idea about it.

“Y/N, nice to meet you!” You extended your hand out and let a small smile on your lips appear. Just as the drinks arrived and you were having a quite boring but polite conversation, the whole atmosphere was just awkward at your table, you were feeling awkward because you did know the guys sitting across the table, while he had no idea who you were.

“Hey Charles, thank you for the afternoon. And the ride to here. We should do it again but in my place.” A long brown haired woman stopped at our table and winked at him and squeezed his shoulder before looking at you for a second and pulled her lips into an ironic smile and walked away from the table, swaying her hips obnoxiously. You turned your gaze back to him, seeing that he was still lingering his eyes on the woman’s lower back, while he was nibbling on the edge of the glass. You coughed awkwardly making him tear his eyes off her and turned back to you.

“I mean you did not specify what type of meeting you were caught up with. But now that purple mark on your neck and the slight red lips really gave it away.” You smiled at him ironically and looked back at your plate.

“Y/N, I ‘m sorry, I totally forgot about the date and she was over and…My life is pretty messed up now. I just got out of a relationship…” He started to explain everything but you just looked at him and picked the bag up from the back of the chair.

“Look. I did not want you to feel that this was an obligatory meeting… Especially that our friends arranged the whole thing, and I mean, you should have just sent Emily a text. Now I just feel humiliated, and I’m really not up for this. If you were not ready for a date, if you just wanted something casual you should have said it. And to be honest, I don’t have the energy and the time just to “waste” it that way.” You grabbed your coat too, before getting up from the chair and putting 50 euros down on the table. “I think it should cover it and maybe yours too.” Said before turning around and walked out of the restaurant.

“What a terrible night and what an asshole” you thought. And you did not know how wrong you were…

-- 3 years later --

“Hello, I’m Tomasso Rossi from the central hospital, is it Y/N L/N? “A deep male voice woke you up from your sleep in the middle of the night.

“Uhm yes, it’s me. How can I help you?” You mumbled back still half asleep and confused and why would a hospital call you at this time. You sat up in the bed, rubbing your eyes.

“You were given as an emergency contact for Emily Bernard. Can you please come to the hospital as soon as possible?”

“What happened to her? Is Sophia okay?” You jumped up from the bed, started to search for the pieces of clothes in the dark room, picking up a leggings and hoodie before running to the door.

“I can’t tell you anything more than this over the phone. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be there in 10.” You ended the call as you ripped the front door open and ran down the hallway to get to your car as fast as you could. While you chanted to yourself that you hope your goddaughter is okay and your friends too.

“Y/N Can you please come with me?” A tall figure appeared next to you as you were looking through the small window watching the peacefully sleeping Sophia in the hospital room. You still could not believe the whole thing. This night felt like a nightmare, in which you just can’t wake up from. You swiped off the tears from your cheeks and turned to the man on your right before nodding and following him down on the corridor. “Please take a seat in here.” He opened a door of an office where was a big oak table with four chairs, from which one was already occupied. The man lifted his head up from his hands when he heard the door open and as soon as you stepped in, you froze down. It was Charles. The man who have had that awful date with a few years ago. His glossy eyes went up from your shoes all the way to your eyes. His handsome features were covered with tears. He leaned back in the chair and swiped the fallen tear away. “Please take a seat.” The lawyer ‘s deep voice cut through the silence in the room which made you jump a little bit. You slowly took a seat next to Charles.” So you may have known that both of you were the Godparents of Sophia. And as well as that tragic accident of her parents, she was left behind without any caretakers. Emily and Éliott made a will where they have selected the both of you as caretakers. I know that you both need time to wrap your heads around this situation, but we need to decide it within the next 48 hours, or I have to give the hospital permission to start the paperworks with the child support, to start searching for a place for Sophia in an orphanage.” He looked up from the papers and pushed his glasses up on his nose. The two of you were sitting in silence looking at in front of yours. Questions were flying around in your head. Caretakers? Orphanage? The lawyer was waiting for you patiently on the other side of the table, playing with his fingers as you were just zoning out completly.

“I’m in.” Charles broke the suffocating silence, his voice was weak and raspy due to staying silent for that long mixed with the crying. You looked at him, his eyes were on you waiting for you to answer. “I can take care of her even if you are not in this.”

“I’m in too. I’m just still trying to believe that I’m not dreaming.” You raked through your hair with your hands, and slid closer to the table. “Do we have to sign somewhere?”

“Yes, I have printed out the papers for it.” He took another pile of paper in front of him and slided over the table. Give one pile of each of you. “I’ll let you read it through, until I will go to the head of the child protection department. “ He got up from the desk and walked out of the door, leaving you in silence again. Charles got up from his seat and started to walk around in the small office.

“Can you please stop walking around? You make me dizzy.” You leaned back in the chair taking your eyes of him, and close them. Pushing the heel of you palms into your eyes.

“Don’t need to stare at me. You can just leave the room. “ He snapped back at you stopping for a second before starting to walk again. “How the hell could this happen? What will I do with a three years old.. I have races most of the weekend..”

“What will you do? Do you think that I’m gonna leave my best friend’s baby, my goddaughter with you?” You sat up in the chair putting down the pile of paper on the desk.

“Y/N, both of us know that I can give that child better support.. And don’t take it as an offense.” He stopped for a second looking at you.

“What are you talking about?” You raised your eyebrows and waiting for his reponse, expressing what he was meaning by that.

“I know that you have some struggles with money and accommodation…Éliott told me a few weeks ago, when you and Emily met.”

“ You know nothing.” You shook your head left to right, and pulled on the sleeve of your hoodie down on your hands. Your anixiety were up on the roof already but with this conversation with Charles just made it worse. You were really forcing yourself no to just get up and walk out of the room.

“You live in a one room apartment in the worst part of the city.. “ Tilting his head to the side with an unamused expression on his face.

“You know not all of us have millions of dollars in their account to buy the fanciest penthouses in every city they have been before.” You stood up from your seat and took a few steps closer to him. Looking straight into his eyes. After your last time you saw each other did not ended well, you still have had some thorn in you, but with that statement he was really pissing you off. You haven't slept for 48 hours now at least, your best friend just passed away in a car accident and this rich, arrogant man is just judging you since you have stepped into the room. You were really having none of it. “Yes, indeed I live in not the best part of the city, I do rent a place, but if you have talked with Éliotte and Emily you know that very well, that I just lost everything. I lost my job and my fiancé, which made me give up the luxurious life and move away as soon as possible to a place with literally no money. And you are judging me because it just makes you a bigger jerk than I have already been thinking about you. And don’t you dare to think that I will give up on the last little thing that I have left from my childhood best friend, who was basically my sister. “You were standing close to him, pushing your finger into his chest. The lump in your throat got much bigger than before, tears were filling up your eyes, making your vision blurry. “Sophia is all I have left of her, Charles.” Your voice was weak as a sob was bubbling up in your throat, before you know Charles pulled you in a hug which made you broke down. “I want to wake up, this is a nightmare. They were at my place a few hours ago, we just had dinner, planning the summer vacations together. I want to wake up and see them again. I want Emily to call me saying that all this was a dream and she is still here. “ You said between the sobs as you were clenching on Charles’s shirt, soaking it through with your salty tears. He was rocking your bodies left to right, trying to calm you down as he was crying too.

“I know, I want to wake up too. But this is not a dream, sadly. And we need to figure this one out, we can’t let them take Sophie away. “ He pushed your body away from his, you lifted your head up looking at his tear soaked face. “ We have to set some rules,but we need to do this together. She needs some stability in her life, and this can only be us.”

“It won’t be easy, but we need to do this” You stepped away grabbing the pen and extending it to him, as you had the other in your hand ready to sign the paper. You looked up at him and asked. “Are you ready to co-parenting this little angel with me?”

------------------------------------------------

Month have passed since you have signed the papers and took home Sophie. It was still a learning process to have a toddler with you, to maneuver in the new parenting life, to bring the three different lifestyles together. It was hard, and you knew it well that first it wouldn't be easy. Take Sophie to the daycare, go to work, schedule your time with Charles. The whole living situation did not make it easier too, going back and forth to your place and between Charles’s. You still have had to adjust that you have been sleeping at Charles’s place with Sophie in the bed,because her room still needed to be adjusted. The only thing that made it much easier for you was that Charles’s mother Pascale helped you, she was the biggest help in your life, even though she was living hours away in Monaco while you were still living in Italy.

“Good morning” Charles appeared in the kitchen unexpectedly and made you jump as you were trying to find the button on the fancy coffee machine that would start to make your coffee, but you have already looked on the top, on the front, the sides even the back to find a button that will just make he machine work.

“Hello” You mumbled back and turned back to the machine.

“Someone is grumpy.” He picked up a water bottle out of the fridge and leaned back to the counter watching you with a grin, as you were having some troubles.

“Someone was snoring so heavily that I thought I’m in a construction site, which made Sophie wake up many times or just turn a lot in the bed, somehow ending her little hand in my mouth, or her little feet in my kidney. She sleeps just like her mother did, crosswise on the bed! “You were gesticulate violently, as you were telling him about your night. You have agreed that she sleeps with you until you have a bed for her and she will get used to the whole thing. “Oh and I try to make a coffee for myself but you have a fancy machine that needs to have an engineering diploma to use.” You turned defeatedly around throwing your hands up.

“I do not snore that loud. And maybe use the screen on the top of the machine. Let me help.” He stepped behind you and pushed the screen before, so the machine started to buzz, filling up the mug with the black liquid. Stupid fancy machines and their hidden buttons.“ Bonjour ma petite chou!” He smiled and picked up Sophie, who was standing in the corner of the kitchen rubbing her eyes tiredly. “Comment as tu dormis? Il y a une sorcière qui a dit que tu ne la laisser pas dormir. (How did you sleep? There is a witch who said you did not let her sleep.)” He looked back at you with a cheeky smile.

“Je parle français aussi, crétin. (I also speak french, you cretin.)” You rolled your eyes as you filled another cup with coffee too, and put it on the kitchen island. He just laughed as he grabbed the mug and lifted up to his lips, but stopped before took a swig of it. “I won’t poison you. It’s just coffee..” You walked out of the kitchen to the dining table and pulled the chair out for you, and extended your arm out. “Now give me Sophie, she needs to have breakfast. I have made some for you too, if you are hungry, it’s on the stove.” You pointed with your head to the way of the kitchen.

“Oh thanks.. That’s…Nice of you.” He looked at you surprised while letting you take Sophie and scratched the back of his neck.

“No worries. But don’t get used to it.” You looked up for a second before feeding the little girl in your lap with her breakfast. “I have ordered a chair and a bed for her at night, they will arrive here maybe in the afternoon or tomorrow.” You said casually as you took a bite from your toast and flipped through the pages of the magazine you have found on the table. It was a Sportsweek magazine with some pictures of him on the cover. You flipped through the pages, and stopped for a minute to the pages where his photos were. You could not lie to yourself that he was handsome on those, especially the ones that were black and white, somehow they even captured his features the best way. He was a beautiful man, and no matter how you tried to think that he is the last person that you want to feel attracted to, he was extremely handsome.

“You like what you see?” He slides on the other side of the table with a stupid grin on his face.

“Oh don’t be full of yourself. “ You rolled your eyes. “ But I have to say that those black and white ones really give you an advantage. “ You closed the magazine and slid to the other side of the table, before grabbing a napkin and swiped off the crumbles of Sophie’s cheek. He was taken back by your words, since you have met again and started this new living situation you were cold with him. Not rude or anything, just not as friendly as you can be with his mother and siblings. He understood it, he messed it up for real. That day when he was set up for that date, he had no idea who she was. She seemed really familiar for him, he just could not put a finger on it, but later he found some pictures from the wedding of your friend’s and that’s when he saw those outstanding green eyes, and he knew that he did not mess it up once, but twice. She behaved measuredly with him, sometimes let a smile appear on her beautiful features when he made a joke or a funny comment but it always quickly faded away, just only stayed there when Sophie was the main source of her happiness. He couldn’t help but always felt happiness and warmth spreading through his body when he saw them together, both of them were actually glowing from the happiness, their laughter always filled up his place, all he wanted after a busy day just to finally arrive home and see them.

“So Maman just called yesterday when you were doing some shopping, that she was planning to have dinner at hers.” He sat down at the table picking out his phone. “Do you think we can manage to stay there for the weekend? I thought we should leave this afternoon. ”

You picked up Sophie from his feeding chair and let her go playing in the living room with some blocks.

“Yes sure, but we need to stop at mine. I have to pick up some clothes.” You gathered all the empty cups and plates from the table and walked to the kitchen to put it in the dishwasher.

“Okay, I’ll go and pick up the SUV and we can stop there on the way to mum’s, how does it sounds for you?”

“Deal!” You looked up from the machine and smiled at him which he answered with a nod and a smile too.

“Okay, we can pick up my stuff but you can’t say anything about my flat!” You turned in your seat to face him, as you were just before to turn on the main street of your flat. He nodded as his eyes were on the road ahead, and indicated before turning. He quietly parked the car and you picked up Sophie from the back of the car and had her sitting on your hips and let her snuggle to your side nuzzling her face into the crook of your neck. Charles remained silent as you walked up to the flat. “That looks like reliable security..” he mumbled when you were opening the door, which only had one lock and the keys were hardly turning in it. You looked back at him with an unamused look. “ It was just a statement.” He lifted his arms up in defense and took the toddler out of your arms and hugged it close to his body.

“Stay in here I’ll be back in a few.” You pushed the door open and walked in the flat, closing it before he could step in. You closed your eyes before letting out a sigh. You pushed yourself away from the door and walked all the way to your small bedroom, to grab some nicer clothes for the dinner so you are not gonna be in your sweats. You opened the door and flicked the lights on.

“I thought you would never come home.”

“Jesus christ!” You jumped back as the voice cut through the silence. Your eyes snapped to the way of the voice seeing your ex-fiancé sitting on the bed waiting for you. “What the hell? What are you doing here?”

“I was calling you for the whole week, and you were not answering. So I thought to check on you.”

“I have had no intention talking to you, and I have had no time either, and I don’t have it now. I want you to leave.”

“And I want you to come back.”

“May I know why? I think you were the one who kicked me out of the flat, if I’m correct. After you fucked you little secretary in your office, while I was next door having the most important meeting of the company.” You folded your arm in front of you. “You can say whatever you want, but I’m not going back to you.”

“And what will you do? Live here? In this dumpster? While you can have marble flooring and the most luxurious furniture and the fanciest life? You choose this over me?” He jumped up from the bed, trying to take the bag out of your hand while you were stuffing your clothes in. You pulled the bag out of his hands.

“Get out now!” You pointed at the front door looking into his eyes.

“Y/N, you can’t just give up all we have had. Because of one tiny stumbling. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“One tiny stumbling?” Your voice jumped a few octaves as you stuffed the last piece of clothing in your bag. “Mark, you have fucked your own employee. Hell you have been having affairs behind my back for multiple occasions as I found out. And everyone knew about it. All the time when you have said you went on a business trip abroad, you did not even leave the country, hence not even the city!” You were yelling as you were walking out of the room, heading to the front door.

“Y/N is everything okay? Why are you shouting?” Charles opened the front door, making both of you snapping your heads his way.

“What is he doing in here?” both men said at the same time looking at each other and back at you. Your hands ran through your hair trying to calm your mind down.

“Trying to teach me a lesson or something that you are with him, or what?” Mark stepped closer as he was still looking between the two of you.

“Didn’t you say that you are not together anymore?” Charles asked while he did not take his eyes off him.

“You choose him over me?!” Mark grabbed your upper arm making you snap your head the way of him.

“Let go of her dude!” Charles stepped closer as you were still having a staring contest with your ex fiancé.

“It’s none of your business Max. “You gritted through your teeth “Let the fuck go of me and get the fuck out! Never want to see you ever again!” You jerked your hand out from his grip and pushed on his right arm making him stumble over his own foot all the way to the door. He looked back at you before disappearing.

“Are you okay?” Charles’s voice broke the silence of the apartment making you waking up from your trans shaking your head.

“Yea, let’s go. Need to get ready before that dinner.” You picked up your bag from the floor before heading out the apartment. “Need to call the landlord to change the locks.” You mumbled as you tried to lock the front door

“Or you can give up this and move into my apartment in Monaco. You know how big it is, so if you don’t want to see me then you just simply don’t come to my side. It would be much easier for Sophie too, mom can help because she is much closer to us, especially now that the season will start soon. And your crazy ex won't find you, and last thing I want for you to meet him, when I can't be on your side. Something is not right with this guy and I'm not feeling comfortable leaving you alone with Sophie if he is close to you and us. Don’t need to decide now, just think about it, okay?” He took the bag away from you and lifted Sophie on his arm a bit before he smiled at you. And even you got yourself to have a small smile at him as he was walking down on the hallway to his car.

--------------------

“So how are you? How are you working things out with two kids?” Pascale sat down next to you on the couch looking at the three boys playing with the little girl in the living room. As she passed a glass into your hand filled up with red wine. You were quietly sipping on your wine before answering.

“You would think a two year old would be more challenging than a 25, no you are wrong.” We both laughed and clinked the glasses. " You are incredible that you raised three boys."

“If you need help just call me anytime okay? I know it’s not easy with a child especially if you just turned out to be a parent out of nowhere. It can be different if the whole starting a family thing is planned and you go through the pregnancy, you have time to prepare yourself, in your case it was not like that. So if you feel like you are overwhelmed just give me a call. Might take a little to arrive in Italy but still.”

“Charles actually wants to move back to Monaco.” You interrupted her monologue.”Wanna move back to his old place. Saying it’s better for him, for Sophie too, due to the fact she was raised here. And he also pointed out that you would be closer to helping me. So I guess after next week, you don’t need to travel all the way to Italy.” You watched her expression changing, she was paying attention intensely first and then her eyes just went wide and her smile widened. Took out the wineglass from your hand, and put it on the small coffee table in front of you before pulling you into a bone crushing hug. She was the most welcoming woman you have met in your life, always smiling, spreading happiness all over the place.

“Charles really loves her” She said once you were apart, watching the boys and the little girl together.

“She really loves him too. But I’m afraid she is getting confused. Like she knows that it’s not her dad, but her little brain just wants to tell her to say dad. But she just can’t make it herself.”

“Would you let her call you mom and dad?” She turned at you , studying your face.

“To be honest, I don’t know. I don’t want her to feel left out that she can’t call a person mom and dad, but I don’t want her to forget about her real parents. That won’t be fair with Emily. I can’t take her place up as a mother. “You tried to swallow back your tears and looked up to the ceiling before Pascale grabbed your hand and squeezed it a little bit, making you tear your gaze from the wall and look back at her. “I would rather leave that choice up to her.” You whispered and squeezed her hand back.

“Look at me Y/N. You will never make her forget her parents. Just because if she will call you mom that won’t mean that you can’t keep up their legacy. “ She shook her head” And you already are an amazing mother.” She grabbed both sides of your face, making you look at her eyes deeply. “And she will always be grateful for that.” She kissed your forehead and pulled you closer to her body for a tight hug. You hugged her body back while with your other hand swiped the escaped tear away.

-- Monaco --

Today was special not because it was Sophie’s first time on the track but it was yours too. You always watched F1 when you were a child with your dad, but never been a huge fan of it. So being on the track was definitely a new thing for you. You picked up the little girl from the car seat and grabbed the bag on the other hand, while you followed Charles to the entrance. He looked back at you two and extended his hand out initiating to give him the big bag full with diapers and other essentials.

“I will walk with you to my driver's room, where you can settle down, and can go back anytime you feel or Sophie feels it’s too much for her okay?” He stopped and lifted his sunglasses up and smiled at you. The past few days your communication was on the minimum, he was busy with the new season, constantly in the gym or in his room on the sim. But since you moved back to Monaco something changed. The atmosphere in the flat changed, the way he acted with you too, he was much calmer, more patient and talkative. There were times when he just came out of the room late at night to have a chat with you, which has never happened when you were living in Italy. He was more devoted. And you opened up a little more to him as well, he was not the same person that you have met three years ago. That person was a boy and now you have had a man living under the same roof as you. He was joking with you, teasing and even openly flirting with you from time to time. And you won’t lie, you liked it and even participated in the little flirting and teasing. “Here one for you, and one for the princess.” He grabbed two headphones.

“No way she has her name on it.”You laughed when you saw on one side it stated Sophie’s name and on the other side it said “principessa del paddock (princess of the paddock)” “Can I get one like this too?”

“We can talk about it.” He winked at you and opened the driver’s room. “You just need to say yes.” You looked at him confused, making him roll his eyes. “For that date…”

“I thought you were joking that night about it.” You shook your head and placed the bag on the small table. A few weeks ago happened when he casually hinted away that you could be his date on one of the galas and maybe even have dinner with him before that night. You really thought that he was just nice and did not think it could have been a date.

“Never joke about those things, you should have known it by now. “He smiled at you sadly “ Okay, so I gotta go, but we can meet up later. “He picked his phone up from the table and walked out the door before he turned around ”Oh! Before I forget! Press will be circling around here like sharks..So be careful okay?”

“Always.” You answered before he closed the door and left the two of you alone.” Babygirl, boys are confusing. My suggestion would be to avoid them as much as you can, maybe when they are around their 30s they can be better…”You looked at the toddler who was sitting on the bed looking back at you with her beautiful doe eyes and started to giggle. “Yea I know my love life is a joke, no need to laugh about it that obviously.” You shook your head laughing.

The whole paddock was buzzing, everyone was running around like crazy. Media was running around capturing every moment of the seventh race of the season while teams were walking up and down the road of the paddock. The garage was busy as well, mechanics were preparing the cars for opening laps. You were intimidated about the crowd not knowing where you can and cannot go, did not want to be in the way of anyone. Wanted to stay in the drivers room, but somehow Sophie was more interested about the things that went on outside, she was throwing a full tantrum about not wanting to play with the toys inside, all she wanted to open the door and be outside. Nothing was good for her at the moment, not if you picked her up, not if you tried to distract her somehow, so you just grabbed her hand and walked out of the garage.

As soon as you planted your feet outside different media outlets just swarmed you.

“Y/N! This is your first time on the track? How do you feel about it?” One reporter showed the microphone into your face, while the other five reporter were pushing on him. You pushed the little girl behind you, letting go of her and as you were trying to protect her with your body.

“Y/N! How does Sophia feel like being on the track?” Everyone was just loudly asking question from left to right as they were pushing you further away from the garage.

“Please! Take a few steps back! “ You pleaded “Sophie?” You turned around looking for the toddler as you have not felt her little hands on the back of your thighs anymore. “Sophia, where are you!” You looked around frantically as you tried to grab a glimpse of the little girl's figure out of the crowd. “Sophia! " You called her again, but couldn't find her. Panic started to rise up in your body, making your throat closing and your breath quickened. “Get out of the way! Where is Sophia?” You pushed yourself through the crowd of reporters not caring about that you have knocked a few microphones out of the reporter’s hand. “No, please god…” You whispered as you were looking around in the paddock, panic fully spread through your body. You started to run the way of the Ferrari’s garage as you kept calling out for the little girl.

“Y/N! What's going on? “ Carlos grabbed on your arm making you stumble in your own feet.

“Y/N? Why are you crying?” Charles stepped next to his teammate, the smile disappeared on his face instantly.”Where is Sophie?” He looked behind you and snapped his sight back at you.

“I.. I don’t know. She was really cranky, she wanted to go out, we went out for a walk and the media just surrounded us. “You were looking around, maybe she could spot her before turning back to the drivers. “They pushed and pulled on us, I showed her behind me, and next thing I know, she just disappeared. “ You looked at him, tried to calm your breath so the words you were saying were understandable for them.” Charles I lost her.” You summarized the past happenings through the hiccups and sobs.

“Okay I’ll go to the loudspeaker and ask them to say that she is missing.” Carlos swiped his palm on your shoulder with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, we will find her. She can’t go that far away.”

“Come on, we need to go and check if she went the other way.” Charles grabbed on your right hand and pulled you down on the way where you came from. “Please don’t cry.” He squeezed your hand. You were shouting Sophia’s name left to right, causing everyone to look at you, before they started to help looking for the little girl. You were a full mess, crying and screaming the little girl's name as you were looking around.

“Charles!” Max shouted at our way, making us stop and turned to his way. And there she was, snuggling on the chest of Max, as he was waving. You ripped your hand out of Charles’s and ran down to the way of the paddock.

“Mommy!”She giggled as Max put her down and she ran to your arms. You picked her up and hugged tightly to your body and held her head close to your neck and combed your fingers through her hair. Charles wrapped his arms around you two and rocked you back and forth as you were trying to calm your cries.

“Sophie, I was so scared. Baby I’m so sorry.” You pushed the little girl away from your body and looked into her eyes. Her smile faded away as she grabbed your face and looked at you and at Charles.

“Thank you Max.” You lifted your head up and wiped the tears away from your cheek. Stepped out of Charles embrace and hugged his body with your left arm. “Thank you really.”

“No worries, she was just wandering around in here, smiling at everyone, and she just walked in and grabbed my hand. I was just about to walk to your garage hearing that you were looking for her when I saw you too.”He explained and patted Sophie's head, “She was so curious about everything.” He smiled and pinched her cheeks.

“Thank you man.” Charles shook his hand before wrapping his arm around your waist leading you out of the garage. “ We should head back.” You walked quietly down on the way back to the garage.

“I’m sorry.” You broke the silence as you walked into the driver’s room.” You were right..”

“About what?” He looked at you puzzled, closing the door behind him.

“Me, not capable of this..” You sighed as you sat down in the room watching Sophie playing with the blocks on the carpet. “I’m the worst parent ever.”

“Oh Y/N..” He rubbed his face and sat down next to you pulling your hand away from your lap as you were anxiously playing with your fingers, picking on your skin. “I was not right. You are the most incredible parent.”

“But I lost her..”

“And we found her, and she was actually doing perfectly fine. Don’t beat yourself up, please. Chérie, look at me.” He lifted up your face by your chin, he swiped the single tear away that escaped. ”Would you think that she would call you mommy if you would be the worst parent ever?” He studied your face and grabbed the piece of hair out of your face and put it behind your ear before continuing. “You could not hear it because of the panic. But this little angel just saw you and instantly said mommy. And you are the best mom ever, and you are capable of so many things in this world you can’t even imagine. You wake up everyday for this girl, taking care of her, running a full household, working at the same time. You just amaze us everyday.” He leaned closer and touched your foreheads together as his eyes never left yours. “And if we would have time I would continue telling you all the things that make you amazing.” He whispered as his eyes went back and forth between your lips and your eyes. You’ve never been this close in your life, you could not tear your gaze away from his beautiful greenish eyes with those specks of brown in it. Your breath caught up in your throat as you were looking down at his lips while you licked your own. A loud knock on the door made you two jump apart.

“Charles! It’s time for the free practice! “

“Coming!” He shouted back and got up from the bed. “I’ll be back soon okay? You can watch it on the TV here too, or you can come down to the garage. Lorenzo will probably be there.” He picked up on the earcovers and gave it to you. You smiled at him and nodded as he crouched down and gave a little kiss on the top of Sophie’s head before walking to the door to open it.

“Charles!” You stood up making him turn back looking at you surprised. “Kick some ass il predestinato!” You smiled at him, and he shook his head laughing before stepping back and grabbed on your cheeks before kissing your forehead.

“Will do Chérie.” He looked into your eyes and winked at you with a cheeky smile and left the room.

-----------

“Are you ready?” Charles knocked on the bathroom door.

“In a minute! “ You mumbled as you were lining your eyes for the tenth time, because those eyeliner just did not want to be symmetrical.

“You said it ten minutes ago.” He laughed on the other side of the room.

“And it will be another ten minutes if you keep bothering me.” You giggled and sprayed some hairspray on your hair. You looked at your reflection in the mirror, adjusting the strap of the dress on your left shoulder. The red dress were hugging your curves all the right places ending it around your waistline and falling down in waves till the floor. You never thought red would suit you, especially this type of red, that were the perfect color match of the Ferrari’s shade. The top of the dress really helped with your look of your breasts with a modest cut in the middle. You were not a tall person, usually you said that you have short legs too, but in this dress with the slit on your right leg just made it look like you have beautiful long legs. And the whole look was just put together with the black stiletto. You felt beautiful and powerful and sexy.

You opened the door and walked out the room.

“Mommy!”Sophie squealed” Pretty! “She clapped her hands together as she was jumping on the bed of your room, making Charles lift his gaze up from his phone as he was sitting next to her on the bed. His mouth was agape and sat upright, putting the phone next to him on the bed.

“Yes baby, mommy is beautiful.” He whispered and got up from the bed. He was wearing the standard black suit and trousers with the Ferrari logo on it, which looked so good on him, making him so handsome. You felt your cheeks getting warmer as you blushed due to him staring at you with sparkling eyes. And the word mommy and beautiful out of his mouth just made you feel a hundred times more prettier. He has never said mommy to you since Sophie said it in the weekend, but somehow it just made your whole stomach do a somersault and a warm feeling spread through you. You truly felt special.

“Thank you, thank you! “You giggled as you twirled around making the little girl clapping her hands. You leaned down and kissed the side of Sophie’s cheek which made her giggle even louder, then grabbed Charles’s cheek too and kissed his also. He stopped and started at you with a smile on his face as his ears turned red just before his cheeks. He was about to say something when the door opened and Pascale walked in.

“Come on kids, they are waiting down at you. Oh my gosh Y/N, you look stunning!” Pascale looked up from her phone and stopped in the entrance as she saw the two of you. “You two are just so beautiful!” She clapped her hands together.

“Merci beaucoup Maman.” Charles walked to his mother and kissed her cheek.

“Have a great night. No need to rush home okay?” She gave you your small purse and kissed your cheek, you smiled at her wildly and followed Charles out of the room.

The elevator’s door opened and in the hall the group of people turned around looking at the two of you walking out. A few claps and whistles went around from Carlos and Pierre as you got closer making you blush for the umpteenth time of the night.

“Incroyable! “ Pierre said as he caught your hand and made you turn around. “You look stunning!” He pulled you closer and hugged you with one arm.

“Merci.” You smiled at him and tucked a string of hair behind your ear. “Are we waiting for someone else?” You looked around in the lobby before your eyes stopped at Charles who was looking at his phone.

“Yes, one more person and we can go.” He answered and looked up. “There she is!” He pointed and all of you turned to the left seeing a blonde woman walking down your way, throwing her hair every time she took a step. She was wearing the same shade of red as your dress just with a bigger cut on the cleavage area and the slit on the side came all the way up to her upper thigh.

“Hello there, sorry for being late, my hairdresser just took longer than expected. "She stopped next to Charles and pecked him on the lips.

“Hi, I’m Amanda!” She turned to you all and shook hands with the guys first before stopped and stared at you.” Oh you must be Y/N, the one who raised that pretty little girl with Charles.” Her smile was wide, even looked like a snarl as she grabbed your hand and squeezed it tightly and shook it before pulling you closer and gave two kisses on your cheeks. You were taken back by the way she just greeted you so you just mumbled a quiet hello back to her. “The taxi is waiting actually outside, but could not get one taxi, so Charles, Carlos and I will go in one, and you two in another.” She clapped her hand together looking at you.” Hope it’s not a problem.”

“No, of course not.” You answered, shaking your head, still confused about how she got in here, and who she was. Charles has never mentioned that he has someone.

“Perfect!” She squealed, hooked her arm with Charles’s and started to walk out from the lobby.

You turned around and looked at the French driver next to you with a confused expression, which he just answered with a shrug and linked your arms together and pulled you out of the hotel.

“Who is she?” You asked as you were sipping on your margaritas at the table as you looked at the pair talking to the other team members. For the whole night she was holding on to him like she was afraid if she let go he would disappear. You tried not to be judgmental and put your thoughts aside but you felt deep down that something was not right with her. The whole thing was just weird.

“One of the Ferrari’s investor’s daughter. As far as I know, her dad put down a big check for them for this season’s car.” Pierre leaned back in his chair as he was playing with the glass in his hand. “They got together at one of the parties last week.” He added as you were taking a sip from your drink, making it go down in the wrong pipe, alcohol burning your throat. “What? You didn’t know?” He looked at you surprised and you shook your head as you were coughing. Somehow you felt nauseous and disappointed at the same time as you took a glance at the pair standing far away chatting and laughing with the group.

“We don’t talk about love life to be honest. But never mentioned that he has a girlfriend, especially when he asked me on a date last week.” You placed the empty glass on the table. Pierre studied you quietly with a smirk on his lips. “What now?” You looked at him unamused

“You like him.” He states casually and lifted up his glass of whisky and took a sip. “Admit it.”

“Pierre.” You rolled your eyes and pushed the glass away from you. “There is nothing to admit.”

“Okay, so if there is nothing to admit. Like you do like him.” He took a final sip of the glass and placed the now empty one on the table. He placed his hands on his thighs before getting up from the chair, extending his hand out for you.” Come let’s have a shot, and dance with me.” You laughed and took his hand. “And go on a date with me.” He pulled you closer to his body, wrapping one arm around your waist. You looked surprised at him not answering which just made him chuckle. He winked at you tugging along all the way to the bar. He ordered two tequila shots from the bartender, and without even a hesitation you threw the shot back, enjoying the burning sensation down your throat all the way to your stomach.

“Okay.” You said out of nowhere, making him turn to your way looking surprised. “I’ll go on a date with you.” His smile even got wider and motioned to the waiter asking for another round. The night ended with many other shots and cocktails making you unstable in your heels and a terrible headache in the morning. You were on your way to the restaurant of the hotel with Sophie grabbing on your pinky to have breakfast.

“Good morning.” You greeted the group already sitting at the table making them turn around. You lifted up the little girl and placed her in the feeding chair next to the empty one waiting for you.

“Good morning, how are you feeling?” Pierre looked at you with a smirk on his face.

“Headache. Just gonna check the coffee machine and something for Sophie.” You pointed behind you.

“Coffee is already here, though you might need it after the amount that you have had.” He pushed the cup to your side making you smile at him.

“Thanks, you are a lifesaver .” You smiled at him widely and turned to check the offer for breakfast at the table when you saw Charles and Amanda walking to your way.

“Hey Y/N. Did not see when you left yesterday.” Charles smiled as he was holding on to his cup, while the blonde just nodded to your way and sat down at the table. “Oh shit sorry I forgot your coffee.” He looked up from his mug.

“No worries, Pierre has already taken care of it, but thanks. "You smiled at him and patted his shoulder before walking to the way of the tables.

“So did you enjoy last night?” Carlos asked as you were mixing the yogurt for Sophia in her plate with some fresh fruits.

“Yes it was fun.” You answered as you tried to feed the kid. Mornings were usually hard for you, till you had a big mug of coffee you were not in your usual chatty self, but you forced yourself to be nice.You were about to continue your thoughts about last night.

“Oh it was so much fun! To meet all those incredible people there!” Amanda jumped in the conversation loudly making everyone look at her. You grabbed the spoon harder and took a deep breath before moving your gaze to her way with an amused expression. Your head was still pounding and the squeaking voice was really not helping with it. “And the food. Oh my gosh it was so good. Right Y/N?” You could see it from the corner of your eye that Pierre was having a blast with the awkward conversation that went on between you and the blonde.

“It was pretty shit to be honest.” You looked at her unamused, making everyone burst out laughing, even Charles. “Never understood the concept of those fancy foods smeared all over a huge plate.” You shrugged and turned back to the girl but she was not paying attention to the food she was more about to play with Charles’s hands and the bracelets on his wrist. After a few more tries you just gave up, and grabbed your coffee and drank from it. If she wants to eat she can eat later, you are not rushing anywhere.

“Hey Sophie! Baby! “ Amanda leaned over the table and dropped some berries on her plate.” Heard you call Y/N your maman. If you want to, you can call me Maman too.” The whole table just stopped and everyone went quiet. You looked up from your cup and deadly stared at the woman sitting on the other side of the table, switching your sight at Charles studying his surprised face, trying to read anything from it. You narrowed your eyes slightly and your fingers squeezed the porcelain harder than before. He kept your gaze and you could see it in his eyes he was trying to initiate something. That woman really has some thick skin on her face.

“No, thanks.” Sophie chirped back and tossed the berries down from her plate. You could not help but let out a loud snort nearly spilling the coffee on the table. Covering the widening smile on your lips with the back of your right hand.

“Savage.” Carlos mumbled diving back down on his plate trying to hide his smile spreading on his face. You looked back at Charles watching him lifting up the napkin, hiding his smile under it as well.

“I’m gonna get another cup of coffee.” Amanda pushed the chair back with such a force and stomped away from the table.

“At least she was polite about it and said thanks.” You added and placed the cup on the table, everyone around the table started to laugh and tried to cover it with coughing while Sophie was giggling loudly and clapping with her small hands, the smile on her face was so wide and proud, she knew that she was the cause of the laugh and she loved it. You looked at the man sitting on the other side of Sophie, Charles was now silently laughing as his shoulders moved up and down giving it totally away.

@YNscameraroll New year, new challenges, new lifestly and new season is ON.

-- Monte Carlo --

“I’ve asked mum to come for babysitting tomorrow.” He walked in the kitchen leaning on the kitchen island as you were preparing some snacks for Sophie. You were back in the flat in Monaco before the next upcoming race.

“What for?” You looked at him confused.

“For the event. You forgot about it? I wrote it on the message board.” He pointed behind him on the fridge where you kept that board you usually wrote everything. The colorful board had different type of events and messages and even grocery list on it. It was perfectly color coded Pink was for Sophie, orange was for you and obviously red was for Charles.

“Oh shit. I totally forgot. “You put your palm on your forehead as you remembered.” I can’t go tomorrow.”

“What? Why? It does not say anything for you tomorrow.” He looked at the board checking the days on it

“I forgot to write there. But I can’t really go. “You scratched the back of your neck.”I have a date.”

“A date?” He looked back at you with his eyebrows furrowed. “With who?”

“Can’t you just take Amanda? She would enjoy it a lot.” You turned back to the island and continued to cut up some fruits on the plate.

“Don’t change the topic. With who Y/N?”

“Okay alright. With Pierre.”

“The fuck?”

“Language! “You turned around looking at him. “ We have a three year old in this house with ears that the FBI could use as a listening device, she is that good and you know it.” You scolded him and hit his upper arm. You both needed to be extra careful what you have said because that girl had radars instead of her ears. She has already learned some swear words that somehow slipped out of yours or his mouth from time to time.

“How did you get together?” He was rubbing his arm with a painful look on his face.

“It’s nothing really. He asked me out at that gala last week when you were all over the place with Miss blondie.”

“I see. Okay cool, hope you will have fun.”

“I hope too, thanks.” You smiled at him and washed your hands in the sink. “So? Are you gonna ask her tomorrow?”

“Nah, just gonna stay at home with Sophie, and we are gonna have the best night of our life.”

“Okay cool.”

“Yes, very cool” he picked up the plate from the kitchen island and walked out of the kitchen leaving you confused.

“Okay, you know the drill. Even if it’s Friday she can’t stay up till 10, because tomorrow she will be cranky. And for sleeping she will need that bunny she got from your mom, and..” you rambled as you walked out of the bathroom trying to put one earring in your ear.

“Y/N! Stop! ” He grabbed your upper arm and stopped you. “ We are gonna be fine! You look beautiful by the way.” He looked up and down on you. You were wearing a black pencil skirt with a white button down you just tugged casually in the front of the skirt. It was a casual but elegant style. You smiled at him meekly and tucked a string of hair behind your ear.

“Thank you!” Your phone rang on the dining table.” He is here. I’ll be back in a few hours. Have fun.” You leaned down and kissed the top of the little girl's head and turned to Charles and squeezed his hand. “If you need…”

“I’ll call you or my mom. I know. Now go! He is waiting” his smile was not reaching his ears as usual, he let go of your hand and opened the door for you.

You opened the blue sports car's door and slid in.

“Hey” you greeted and turned to kiss both sides of his cheek.

“Hi, you look stunning.” He smiled and turned the car on and started to drive the way to the restaurant. The whole dinner went well. You were chatting freely above your dishes, jumping in topics, never a quiet moment at your table.

“So have you ever went on a date with him?” He asked once he finished his cup of water by the end of the dinner.

“With who?”

“Charles.”

“Oh, yes once. It was a blind date set up by the parents of Sophie. Can’t say it ended well though.” You pulled the side of your mouth and put your fork down.

“No way!” His mouth gaped as you looked at him confused waiting for him to continue “ you were that girl who left him at the table. That’s hilarious.”

“So he did tell you about it.. just left my name out of it.” You rolled your eyes.”Was not hard because he did not even remember me.”

“He did, but he told me that he was the biggest dick in his life and he was so mad at himself for leaving out the opportunity to have a normal date with a beautiful girl like her.” He picked your hand off the table by your pinky. “And he is right, it was his biggest mistake. Because you are really incredible.” He played with your fingers on the table. “But I also know that I can’t shoot my shot. And before you start to oppose, I just have to look at you and see the way you look at him. That’s how every men wants that one girl in their life to look at him like that. And you might be blind as well. No I’m not right. Both of you guys are blind.” He laughed and lifted your hand up to his mouth to lay a kiss on the back of your hand. “I would like to thank you for the date. I really enjoyed the time with you. And if ever you want to go and have dinner with me, not as a date, I’m always up for it, okay?”

“We can have a non-date dinner or lunch.” You winked at him smiling widely. “Thank you Pierre.” You stood up from the table and walked to his side and hugged him.

“Your welcome Chérie.” He hugged you back. “Come on, let's go home.” He kissed the top of your head and led you out of the restaurant.

“Hello, I’m back.” You whispered as you opened the door, peaking your head in the living room seeing that the TV was still on.

“Hey” Charles sat up and muted the tv.” Sophie is sleeping already. So how was the date? You came back pretty early.” He followed you to the kitchen as you took down two glasses from the cupboard and picked a red wine out of the fridge

“Was good.” You slid one of the glasses to his way before taking a sip of yours.” But not a date.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We just realized it can't be a date.”

“So you two are not?” You shook your head nibbling on the side of the glass, contemplating if you should ask it or not. But the amount of alcohol you have had during the dinner made you feel courageous and curious.

“You and Amanda?”

“No, I broke it off after the morning of the gala.” He shook his head and took a sip of his glass too. You let out the breath you were holding in before placing the glass on the table.

“She was a bitch.” you commented and he got surprised by your bold comment and smiled at you widely. “ You know I’m honest” You shrugged and giggled.

“Yes she was.” Took a swig from his glass.

“Sophie really told her off.” You giggled and he started to laugh as well.

“She learned from the best.” He added between laughs. You were looking at each other through your glasses, before you placed yours down on the counter and walked closer to him. Your eyes never left him. “What are you doing?”

“Hoping I’m not making a bad choice.” You whispered as you grabbed on both of the sides of his face and pulled him closer to you, smashing your lips on his. You felt he was surprised by you and instantly you felt panic. You were about to break the kiss off when his arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you closer to his body as he kissed you back. You moaned into the kiss as one of his hands slid up on your body all the way to the back of your neck. His lips were soft and you could taste the red wine he just drank.

You linked your arms behind his head and played with the hair in the back of his neck. You stepped back all the way till you hit the kitchen counter, with one easy move he lifted you up and placed you on the kitchen island and started to kiss down your face all the way to your neck. You lifted his shirt up and threw it somewhere on the kitchen floor. You were panting and you tilted your head to the other way making more room for him.

“You are incredible.” He mumbled in your neck, his hands were grabbing on your thighs as you spread them apart leaving him more space to pull your body in his. “You have no idea how long I have wanted to do this.”Hands started to leave your thighs and pulled the tucked shirt out of your trousers and started to open up the buttons. His lips were about to kiss the top of your breasts when you jumped apart as Sophie called out from the other side of the living room, she walked out rubbing her eyes tiredly. You grabbed the shirt and tried to hold it together covering yourself up, as Charles stepped away from you and walked up to the little girl.

“Yes baby? Is everything okay?”

“Bad dream.” She grabbed his hand and pulled her back all the way to her room. He looked back at you still sitting on the counter before disappearing at the corner. You jumped down from the counter and drank the leftover wine from the glass while you redo some buttons on your shirt. You released a big sigh and tried to steady your breath. You ran your hands through your hair and rubbed down your face, your skin on your face was hot. Stepping out of your heels and walking down on the hallway as you passed the room of Sophie’s you peaked in. The little girl was sleeping on the top of Charles on her small bed and under her there was the loudly snoring Charles. You smiled at the sweet picture in front of you and walked in the room and grabbed the blanket before covering them with it and quietly left the room.

@YNscameraroll You knew that phrase that if something is quiet with kids, you better check it out. And you found them sleeping in her little bed.

Two arms wrapped around your waist from the back which made you jump as you were filing up your mug with coffee. He pulled your body closer to his as he put his chin on your shoulder, his hot breath fanning your face.

“ Good morning beautiful” His voice was raspy that just made goosebumps running all over your body.

“ How was the sleeping in the small bed?” You both giggled and you filled the other cup with coffee too, sliding it to the side for him.

“ I’m so sorry.” He kissed your neck which made your breath caught up in your throat. “I will make it up for you, okay?” He whispered in your right ear as his left hand’s index finger was drawing shapes on your hips where your top rolled up. You leaned back into his chest more, the thought of his fingers on your skin, caressing you and his lips so close to your ear just made your knees shaking. “Just it has to wait because someone is lurking on us. “ He turned you around and kissed the tip of your nose before letting go of you and walked to the kitchen table with the mug in his hand. “ But I’m gonna take you out on a proper date tonight. And we will see where it takes us.”

“This is where we had our blind date.” You turned to him on the passenger seat as he parked the car in front of the restaurant.

“Thought we should redo our first date.” He smiled at you and got out of the car before jogging to your side and opened it for you, extending a hand to help you out. He laid his hand on the small of your back as you walked to the restaurant where the waiter guided you to the back of a small table, separated from the other guests.

“You are on the right track, you arrived on time.” You winked at him, making him chuckle as he was sitting opposite of you. “Hope you are not gonna leave me here either.”

“We will see.”

You opened the front door of your flat, and just took a step in before Charles grabbed your waist and turned you to face him, without hesitating he pulled you closer and kissed you. You instantly wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him closer, kissing him back. The two of you were backing up on the way to the livingroom, stumbling over a few toys left around on the floor, making the two of you giggle. He easily grabbed the back of your thighs and lifted you up and pushed your back to the wall. His fingers were digging into your skin making you moan into his mouth. His lips left your and started to kiss down all the way on your neck.

“Yours or mine?” He mumbled into your skin and let you down on your feet, you grabbed his hand and pulled him into your room. Planting both your palm on his chest you pushed him more into your room all the way to your bed where you pushed a little more on him, making him falling on the furniture.

“What’s that?” He asked and sat up before pulling out a plastic block under the blanket. You looked at each other and burst out laughing. “Life with a kid, huh?” He threw the block on the other side of the room and grabbed your wrist and pulled you down on him. “Finally we can finish something that got disturbed the other day.” His hand went behind your head and pulled you down on him for a kiss. Hands were running up and down on each other’s body, pulling on the clothes that you were wearing impatiently. You broke the kiss and sat back on his lap, grabbing on the hem of your dress that had rolled up till your waist and pulled it over your head and threw it somewhere in the room. Leaving you just in your black lace underwear. “Putain” He mumbled, staring at your body, before his eyes met yours again. You started to unbutton his shirt and opened it up so his beautiful upper body were on display now. He was waiting for you for an other kiss but just before your lips would touch you slides down and started to kiss your way down on his chest down to his stomach, you could feel under your fingers and your lips that his breathing got heavier with every kiss, and the pull of his muscles. You reached his waist and before opening the button of his black jeans you looked up at him. The way he was watching you just made you feel more hotter than ever, his hungry eyes were watching you, waiting for your next move. You opened his jeans with an easy move and pulled it down. Just as you hooked your fingers in his boxers he grabbed your hands and pull you up, before turning the two of you, making him on the top. You opened your legs more, to leave him more space to get between them.

“As much as I want to look at you all day in this set, I need to check out what you have under it.” He kissed you with such a force that let you breathless as his fingers got under the strap of your bra pulling it down, freeing your breasts, latching his mouth on the soft skin. You stretched your back with a moan as he sucked on the skin and the nipples. You raised your hips to have some friction with calming down the burning sensation in your core. He growled on your breasts as he lowered his hips down, pushing it on yours, feeling his bulge through your soaked panties.

“Charles, please” You whispered and let your hands ran through his hair, gripping on his soft hair and pulled him up for a kiss. “I need you.” You moaned into his mouth.

“I can feel it chérie.” He chuckled and laid his palm on your hot core that soaked through the lacy material. He pulled down his boxers as his other hand was still rubbing on your crotch, making you squirm under him. He sat back and grabbed the sides of your panties and pulled down with an easy move, leaving your completely naked in front of him for the first time. For a minute he was just looking down at you, mesmerized by the beauty of you, lust were radiating off your body. You were the most beautiful and sexiest thing he has seen before, and he just couldn't get enough of the sight. “Tu es si incroyablement belle (You are so amazingly beautiful). I’m a lucky bastard’ He smiled as he leaned closer, pecking your lips.

“I want to feel you, please.” You mumbled on his lips, moving your hips feeling his tip between your folds. He was hesitating. “I'm on the pill.” Without another second you could feel the familiar stretch inside of you as he pushed himself in. Both of you moaned because of the feeling, you grabbed on his upper arm, digging your nails into his skin, as he pushed himself further and further in you. "Putain, you are so thight." he growled and breathed heavily as he stopped for a few times before sliding in more. You slided your hand between the two of you to the way of your clit to start a circle on your clit to help with the pain and turn it into more pleasure. He started to move slowly as he was kissing and sucking on your neck. "Please, faster." That was the only thing that could come out of your mouth. Your minds were in full ecstasy, your nails scraping through his back. The only thing was on your mind on repeat was his name. He picked up the pace and now he was slamming into you in a deep and fast rhythm. “God.. you are so good” You could feel your orgasm coming in a second but with him at that pace you could feel he was getting closer also. All it took were a few moves and you were screaming in pleasure while you came over his dick. And it did not take longer for him to follow you,feeling him twitching inside of you and with a loud grunt he closed his eyes and let his head fall in the crook of your neck. He rolled off you, pulling you close to his body, still inside of you, leaving you still in full bliss. Your panting was filling up the quiet room before you cleared your throat and spoke.“ You really made up for the first date.” You looked up at him, he was looking down on you with sparkling eyes as he was chuckling.

“ I will try my best to make up for all the mistakes that I have made, letting you walk away.” He kissed the tip of your nose and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. You got up from bed, and headed to the bathroom, just before stepping in the room you turned back.

“Wanna take a shower?” He was laying on your bed, his arms were tucked behind his head. He was the most handsomest thing you have seen in your life till now, his eyes were loving full with admiration, that could make you blush anytime. “Maybe I can make something up for you too. We still have time before Sophie is back.” You wiggled your shoulders teasingly “ And I may have the biggest shower in the whole house, two people can easily fit.” His eyes grew wide, and threw the blanket on the side and jumped out of the bed, crossing the room and picked you up by the waist making you screech and burst out laughing as he went into the bathroom.

—————————————

Everything has been perfect. You’ve never imagined that after that night where everything took a 180 degree turn can turn into something this good. You traveled through Europe with Charles and his team, cheering for him at races with Sophie. Those weekends you spent together the three of you as a little family. When you were back in Monaco for a few days together you were all over each other. It was like a dream, you found someone who supported you in everything, someone who you felt the happiest and the most secure.

“Have you planned your life how you want it to look like, when you were younger?” He asked, breaking the silence as you were sitting on his yacht, watching his family and friends chatting and laughing as music was quietly playing in the background. You were enjoying the little break between race weekends, and what could have been better than spending the time on the yacht if the weather is finally warm. You were sitting on the big sofa in the back of the board with some of his friends. He was looking at the pair sitting on the other side of the deck, the young lady was sitting back on the furniture, locking her hands on top of her belly, she was trying to find a position where she was feeling comfortable with her pregnant belly as she was watching his fiancé playing with Sophie.

“I think most of the people on this planet have an idea about their future.” You turned to him, swirling the wine in your glass.

You knew well that once you will reach this topic. You knew really well that Charles was a true family man. He always said it. He always had one of his family member around him, never a day when he did not speak one of his siblings or his mum. He said it multiple times that he loves kids, and you could see it with Sophie too, he was a born-to-be father. He had told in interviews before too that he want to have at least three kids, he wants a big family. Till this point you always tried to avoid this topic, because you knew it well that he won’t like your answer. And it’s a delicate topic for you two. Either way you knew it that one day you have to talk about it, and you were so scared that it will change the whole dynamic of your relationship. You were frightened how he will take it, or what his decision will be. You knew that you can’t force him, if he wants to go you need to let him go, he can’t “waste” his time with someone who can’t give that one thing that he really wants.

“ And you Charles, have you thought that at the age of twenty five you will have a three years old?” His little brother jumped over the back of the carpet and sat down now next to you.

“ Three years ago I was a dumb ass twenty two years old, who was jumping from girl to girl. '' He looked at you, you just smiled and shook your head. You knew he was talking about that date you have had three years ago. “ Who knows, maybe if things were different now I would be a married man and have a beautiful little girl with the same green eyes as Y/N.” He winked at you and the smile froze on your face as you were staging back at him. Tearing your gaze at him and looked down at your glass in your hand, you were unable to look into his eyes.

“What about you Y/N” Arthur leaned closer to you, nudging your right shoulder a little with his left shoulder. “ Have you thought about when you want to marry and have kids?”

“ About marriage yes, kids no.”

“ You don’t want kids?” Arthur asked back

“ Can we talk about this later?” You looked at him as more of his friends were closer to you than before. You really did not want to have this conversation with him, when others were around you, just because you don’t know how he will react if he will hear it. “ I think I’ll fill up my glass again, if you excuse me.” You got up and walked down the small stairs all the way to the kitchen, grabbing the neck of the wine bottle and tried to pull the cork out of it. It was stuck.

“ Let me help you. “ An arm stretched over our arm taking the bottle out of your hand, and pull out the cork easily. “Why did you run away that quickly? Sorry if Arthur was asking it that way, sometimes his English needs a little morphing on it. He did not want to come out as rude.” Charles took the glass out of your hand too and filled it with wine.

“ It was not Arthur. He did nothing wrong, he was just asking questions, being curious. He is a lovely kid, really. It was about the topic.”

“ About marriage? Please, I did not pop this topic up because I want to rush something with you. I’m sorry if it came out like this..” He was rambling and scratching the back of his neck. You smiled and grabbed both of his hands which made him stop and look at you. You were standing quietly for a few seconds looking at each others eyes, his eyes were wondering around you face, studying your feature. Hoping he may find it what can be the problem.

“ Charles, I thought we could talk about this later, maybe more private but I think it's better if we just get over it now. Because I think this is going to be a dealbreaker for you, and it’s been consuming me for months now. I just did not want to talk about this over Facetime while you are on the other side of the planet.”

“ You know that you can tell me everything. And you have been honest with always, so please go on.”

“ I was not intimidated by the topic of our conversation, however one topic is sensitive for me. Marriage is always a thing that most girls dream of even in their childhood. I was dreaming about it, and still I hope that one day I will say that “ I do” at the altar with someone who is the love of my life. Although starting a family is something that I don’t dream about. “You stepped away and hopped on the kitchen counter. ”When I was sixteen I wanted to have kids, even if I can only have one, but now at the age of twenty eight, no I don’t. And I have,sorry let me correct myself. We have Sophie too. And it’s magical, I love her with all of my heart, but I’m not able to have kids. And it’s nothing connected to my career, because I have got this one before, because I’m way too career driven or whatever bullshit that I have got from other people before. That’s not true, it’s just that I’m infertile.” You took a sip from your glass before continuing. “ I was sixteen when I had an operation, which led to the point that I can’t have kids.” You finished with your monologue and waited a few seconds before dared to look up from your glass at him. He was still standing there, looking at you with no expression on his face. Just staring at you. You swallowed thickly,you felt anxious spread though your body, your worst nightmare was about to erupt. “ It’s shocking, I know. And not something that you just expected, or wanted to ever hear. Also I could not keep it as a secret anymore. Although I want you to know that you are free, I’m not tying you down, not gonna force you.You decide on your own, and I won’t be mad. All I’m asking to be honest with me, if you are feeling that this is something you don’t want just tell me. I can’t let it happen again, I can’t just wake up one day and get to know that I’m cheated on, because I can’t give you what most of the women can. If you want to break things off with me, tell me. We can take care of Sophie, and act civil at the same time. “ You whipped the tears away that were falling freely on your cheeks. “I’m so sorry Charles.” You whispered. He was still standing still at the entrance of the kitchen, not saying a word. Defeated, you jumped down from the counter, you knew he needed some time to process everything. You went around the counter. “If you need time, I get it. I won’t rush you. If you want to stay alone, I can go back to your mother's house as long as you need it.

“Y/N!” He cleared his throat and called after you on your way on the stairs. “ I won’t walk away, I won’t fuck up this time. I promised it. I just need some time”

“You won’t fuck up everything, I’ll wait for you. You smiled at him painfully and turned and walked back to the group, while picking up the bag. “ Hey Pascale. Can I sleep at your place with Sophie?” You touched her shoulder, making her focus on you as you asked. Worry ran through her face, before she smiled at you nodding.

“Do you think that it’s a good idea?” You asked Pierre as you made your way down the hallway of their motorhome. “We haven’t really talked in like three days now.” You were anxious about this idea, but Pierre was determined.

“Please, he has been a mess. Not because of what you have talked about, but that he does not have you in his life.” He wrapped his arm around your shoulder as Sophie was sitting on his other arm. “And he was the one who got the tickets. So he wanted you here. Go, get changed, I have everything in my room and I’ll see you girls outside.” He kissed the top of your head just before handing over the toddler.

“Oh Soph, remember when we talked about boys? “ You looked at the beautiful little girl sitting on the small couch in the Alpine driver’s room after you both changed your clothes.

She was beaming and clapping her hands on the sofa wearing the small ferrari coat which had the number 16 on the back and the paddock princess sign on the front. You picked up the girl from the couch and turned to the mirror checking out your matching outfit. You walked out of the room to the garage, fixing the headphones on Sophie when she pointed her little finger to one of the big screens of the garage.

“Daddy!” She screamed making you whip your head to the way where she was pointing seeing that they had Charles’s interview on the screen.

“Baby, yes that’s daddy.” You kissed the top of her head. This was the first time he called him dad, you wished that he could hear it too, because he would be on cloud nine by now. You watched the race from Pierre’s garage, and moved with the crowd out to the park fermé once it was over. You watched as the two Ferrari drivers were jumping around with their teams hugging each other, celebrating that both of their drivers finished on the podium. Pierre walked to his friend and pat him on the shoulder before pulled him closer to his body for a hug.

“They are here waiting for you.” He winked and pointed at him as he walked backwards to his team. Charles tore the helmet off his head with his balaclava and scanned through the crowd.

“Daddy!” He whipped his head to the right seeing one of the most important thing in his life running all the way to him with a huge smile on her little face. He crouched down and opened his arms letting the little girl jump in his embrace. He held the back of her head as he hid his face in her neck.

“Hi baby.” He whispered into her neck. “Where is mommy?” He pulled her little body away from him, studying the face of the little girl. She turned in his arms pointing to their right. There you were, standing in the corner, hugging your own body, in the same red jacket looking at them as tears were rolling down on your beautiful cheeks. He couldn’t take his eyes off you, the most beautiful thing in his life that meant the world to him. The person who he had the last thing in his mind before falling asleep and the first thing in his mind when he woke up everyday, the person who was raising a child with him, having a family. The person who he was head over heels in love with. He skipped the distance between the two of you and without another word he grabbed your face and pulled you close for a kiss, that knocked the wind out of your lungs.

“You are that person who I want to raise this little girl, watch her to be a teen and then an adult. You two are my family, and you are the love of my life. I have had to realise in the past three days that I already have everything I need in my life. A beautiful girl, who I can raise with the most incredible woman in the world who I’m head over heels in love with. My only question would be. Are you still in this with me?” He was studying your face, caressing your cheeks with his thumb. His eyes were shining under the fluorescent light, you have never seen his eyes more beautiful before.

“We agreed and signed it a year ago to raise this little angel together. It’s just a bonus if I can show you how much I can love you too.” You smiled at him. “I love you so much.” You whispered on his lips just as he pulled you closer for another deep kiss, without caring about the world around you. All it mattered was the three of you, your little family.

If you would like to be added to the taglist please let me know

Taglist 🤍: @vividwritinglove @mytinycrazymind @ophcelia @freyjhasdesiredreality

#f1 imagine #f1 fanfic #formula 1 x reader #formula 1 imagine #charles leclerc x you #charles leclerc fluff #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x reader #charles lecrelc #dadcharlesxreader #f1 smut #f1 x oc #f1 fanfiction #f1 x reader #Spotify

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kittykat-25 · 8 months ago

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And They Were Roommates- A Chan Oneshot

Pairing: Chan x Reader

Genre: Roommates to lovers, Protective Channie

Summary: Going out on dates to get over your crush on your roommate was a great idea until you have to call him for help.

You lock the stall door behind you and pull your phone out quickly hitting the number on your most recents. Please answer! please answer! You think as it rings. You know he’s working, praying he’s not in a meeting, you start to lose hope when your favorite roommates voice fills your ears. “Hey!” Chan answered, “please come get me Channie.” You beg. The desperation in your voice has him standing up from his seat. “What’s wrong? Where are you?” He asked already packing up his bag, ignoring the stares from the other producers in the studio. You quickly sent him the address. “He’s a creep Chan. I’m not getting in his car and I’m scared if I walk home he’ll follow me.” Chan clenched his fist, he knew he should’ve talked you out of this date the second you told him about it but he let Han and Bin calm him down. Chalking it up to jealousy. Sure he has had a crush on you since Han offered you the fourth bedroom, pushing it aside to be friends and he truly cherished your friendship, he was also convinced you’d never feel the same way. “I’m on my way.” He said into the phone, “where are you now?” He heard you laugh, the sound alone calming his nerves. “Hiding in the bathroom. Our food isn’t even here yet and I’m debating on climbing out the window.” Chan chuckled. “We both know you’d end up hurting yourself. Just stay put and I’ll come get you.” You thanked him profusely before hanging up and walking out of the stall. You knew this date wouldn’t have ended well, you honestly didn’t have high hopes for it to start with. But you were putting yourself out there, trying to get over your crush on the beautiful Aussie currently coming to your rescue. You had fallen for Chan so quickly after moving in with them. Han being the wonderful friend he is offered you the spare room in their apartment when your lease ended, you were skeptical about moving in with three guys, producers at that but once you met the two other boys you were sold. The other five friends of theirs had quickly taken you in as well but you had bonded to Chan on a different level. Maybe it was your crush but you clicked well enough for him to become your rock, the one who kept you stable.

You debating staying in the bathroom until he came but your bag was still at the table. Cursing yourself you pushed open the bathroom door and begrudgingly made your way back to the table. Your date however was standing at the bar flirting with a cocktail waitress. You thanked the lucky stars and grabbed your bag. Hoping to sneak out the door. You saw Chan through the window and went to walk towards him when a hand came down around your wrist. “Where are you going baby?” Your date asked, grip getting tighter on your wrist. You turned, yanking your arm out of his grasp. “I have to go. You can go back to your waitress.” You said with a sarcastic smile. He chuckled, making all the hairs on your body stand up. “I took you to a nice place. I paid for your meal. I think you can at least put out. You know since I did all of this.” You rolled your eyes, “a meal I didn’t get to eat? All you’ve done is make me uncomfortable so no thanks.” You stated before turning around, your face collided with a chest and the familiar smell of Chan engulfing you. “Everything alright here?” He asked, sliding you behind him. Your hand grasped in his, “we’re fine bro. That’s my date. We’re trying to have a meal.” He scoffed at Chan. Chan looked back at you, then turned to face your date. “Looks like she’s leaving bro.” His voice icy and cold. Not the normal Chan you’re used to. He turned and started to lead you out of the restaurant when your date reached forward to grab you again, Chans hand came down on his arm. “Do not touch her again.” Chan ground out. His grip tightened until the man let go of you. Before tucking you safely in from of him and walking outside.

Once the spring air hit you felt yourself breath fully for the first time since you left the house. “Thank you Chan.” You said quietly, “sorry you had to come rescue me.” Chan lead you away from the restaurant, still tucked against his body. “Why are you apologizing?” He asked. “I just know your busy and I pulled you away from important things to help me over some stupid date and-“ you started to continue when Chan gently cut you off, “you are important to me. Work will always be there but I will prioritize your safety over everything.” You stopped and threw your arms around his neck, breathing in the comforting smell of his cologne. “Thank you Channie.” You mumble into his neck. His arms wrap around you squeezing you tighter into him. “Why did you go on a date with that guy to start with?” He asked as you resumed your walk home. You felt your face heat up, looking down at the sidewalk to hide it you quietly answered, “I was trying to put myself out there.” Chan chuckled, “but with someone like that?” You shook your head, “he asked and I figured why not? The person I actually want doesn’t want me back.” You immediately regretted your words the second that came out. Chan pulling you to a stop. “Woah who do you actually want?” He asked, surprising himself with how steady it came out despite his heart rate spiking. “I’m not saying.” You stated as you continued walking. “We don’t keep secrets.” Chan said catching up to you. “Well you know them and it’ll make it weird.” You shot back, knowing you were being too defensive. “Everyone I know would never be dumb enough to not be with you given the chance.” He retorted. You paused, “what?” You asked, making sure you heard him right. “Which of my idiotic friends are stupid enough to turn you down? Because I would give anything to be in their position.” He quickly fired back, not processing what he said. You pulled his hand, which still engulfed yours to a stop. He looked down, trying to hide the blush which now covered his ears. “Chan.” You prodded, hoping for some sort of explanation. “I’m sorry. I know you like someone and you don’t really want your friend confessing to you like this. I don’t want to burden you, I know you’ll never feel the same but I like you. And it kills me that someone is dumb enough to not realize what a treasure you are.” He said quietly, slowly pulling his hand out of yours. After a minute of you being silent he looked up to find you staring at him, mouth slightly open with tears in your eyes. “Why are you-“ not even letting him finish the question you closed the distance between you, throwing your arms around his neck and bringing his lips to yours. Chan stood in shock for about a second before kissing you back. When you pulled back slightly, leaning your head against his. “It’s you. You’re the idiot I didn’t think liked me back.” You giggled. Chans face broke into a massive smile before he pulled you back in for another kiss. When you pulled back again he pulled you closely to his side, “come on let’s get you some food and go home.” Walking side by side you were so glad you went out on this horrible date, and thanking every star for the wonderful man at your side.

A/N: So for someone like myself who is a Danceracha girly through and through. I always get carried away with Chan Fics😂 I don’t know what it is about this man but I had to cut off the ending to not drag this out! But I hope you enjoy🤍

#stray kids #bang chan x reader #roommates to lovers #protective Chan

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nebulousbrainsoup · 8 days ago

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[23:17]

SUMMARY: San has been stuck. Maybe it's time to let go. PAIRING: Choi San x gn!reader GENRE: angst angst angst AU/TROPE: nonidol au, exes WORD COUNT: 907 TAGS/WARNINGS: not beta read RATING: G A/N: back at it again, using fanfic to cope. also, thought a little timestamp might be a good way to get me back into writing for ateez. shout out yappers [ @justhere4kpop, @cheolism, @kwanisms, @yoonguurt ] for helping me craft this.

The diner still looked the same. The barstool San settled on still had a tear in the vinyl straight down the center, and it still jolted under his weight, tilting a bit to the right. He still had to squirm until it clicked back into place, and even then he spun away from the counter without his leg as a brace. The same mismatched coffee mugs, donated by local businesses for advertising, were still stacked up on the shelf in front of him, and the waitress still grabbed the third one from the left—this time, something from an insurance agent whose name had long been rubbed away—and filled it in the same movement.

She didn’t reach for the next mug from the left anymore. That had changed.

Everything else remained the same.

San still ordered a slice of apple pie, warmed up, à la mode, while he doctored his coffee with a little creamer cup and a packet of sugar. He still held his steaming mug in both hands, clutching it close to stave off the winter chill that had followed him. He still made small talk with the waitress before she sauntered back to the kitchen to fill his order, and his eyes still drifted over to the windows, watching as the snow fell lazily. The lights still reflected back at him in the glass, the one in the back corner, just above the kitchen door, flickering every few seconds.

Silence fell over him, no one peering out from behind him in the reflection to prompt him with a question or lean over and show him a new cat video. That had changed.

So little had changed, but so much had changed. San closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, held it, and exhaled shakily.

The waitress still spoke the same chipper greeting as she set his food in front of him, but her smile these days was just a little melancholy. He still savored his treat, balancing each bite between the pie and the ice cream and making sure not to wash the taste away too quickly with his sips of coffee, but when he finished and looked at the clock, only fifteen minutes had passed, and he hadn’t needed a refill of his mug. He still went up to the same cash register to pay, but now, his bill was half the price it should have been. The long brown coat was the same one as last winter, and he pulled it tight around himself in the same fashion he always did as he stepped into the night, but it felt stuffier with the fleece scarf around his neck, too.

Last winter, it would have been around yours.

He wasn’t sure what exactly had happened, where he’d gone wrong. One morning, he’d woken up beside you, pouring his love into every soft kiss he planted on your lips. You looked at him like he’d hung the stars. The next, his bed had been cold, and when he’d found you staring out the balcony window at the winter’s first snow, you’d slipped away from the wrap of his arms around your waist.

“Jagiya?”

“I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

The breath left him like he was still in the room, still staring at you, still stunned and floundering for the words to beg you to stay. San inhaled sharply, the chill air filling his lungs bringing him back to his senses, and kept walking. He wasn’t sure when he had stopped.

He’d spent a few hours angry. At you, at the world… At himself, for whatever it was he’d done to make you leave him. It faded quickly, leaving a simmering hurt behind, sadness mixing with confusion. It had been so sudden, and even in the minutes you’d spent gathering your things, you hadn’t bothered to spare him an explanation.

His search for one had been entirely fruitless. Texts went unanswered, calls rang through, and after the first time that little red exclamation point taunted him, telling him his message could not be delivered, he gave up. The anger came back for a split second, of course, but most of what he’d felt was a sense of defeat and a fresh wave of sadness. He would never have an answer, would never know why.

He still wondered, of course. On nights like tonight that were a little too quiet, a little too cold, a little too dark, he wondered. Without you, everything was still the same. His coffee tasted just as bitter, his pie just as sweet. Snow still fell and lights still flickered and the world still turned. He was still the same man, still had the same cat you’d loved so much, laughed at the jokes you’d fall over onto him to and worked at the same dead-end job you cheered him on through. He had not changed, nor had the world, but it seemed so much dimmer without you beside him.

Joyous laughter contrasted the sorrowful sigh he released as the bus doors opened. He stood just to the side, let the people filter off—and barely caught you in his arms as you stumbled down the slick steps and nearly fell into the snow. You still looked the same. The snow still fell, the wind still chilled him, and the bus doors began to close.

San smiled as you righted yourself, a joyless thing, and let you go.

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ariesqueencobra · 9 months ago

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what we used to be | lX

Pairing: Eli Moskowitz x Fem!Reader

Summary: A victory party commences and you're noticing some red flags but maybe your love for Eli is enough to oversee it.

Warnings: Hawk being Hawk, bullying, kissing, swearing

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: Season 2 has begun! I can't wait to write out the upcoming chapters cause I really think there's so much drama (and your girl loves drama)! Also would love to hear some feedback about this story! Send in an ask or comment!

Thank you to those who already reblog and comment, I see you and I love you all for it!

I don't consent to this work being copied, translated or reposted.

“So you might be wondering what a team does after they win the championship,” Aisha smiled into the camera. “The answer? Victor nachos!” She panned over the plate of nachos ordered for the table.

You cheered as you clinked your glasses together.

“It was supposed to be a round of drinks but the waitress was not feeling Hawk’s fake ID,” Aisha said.

Your eyes widened and you stifled a laugh at the look on Eli’s face.

“Hey, don’t talk about that, my parents follow you,” he whispered.

You chewed on your lip, suppressing a smile when Aisha apologized to his parents directly.

“No mercy, bitches,” she closed off before joining the three of you.

Now that the weekend was here, you went for a victory dinner with your friends. Demitri tagged along as well.

While you were still mad at Eli, you both haven’t spoken about the night of the tournament. You continued to text about anything else, but it was evident something was going on based on the space between the two of you and the fact that you hadn’t kissed since then.

“I gotta say, it’s kinda nice to be at a victory party,” Demitri grinned, pulling you from your thoughts, and grabbing a nacho from the plate.

A smile appeared on your face. Demitri wasn’t a part of Cobra Kai, so you were glad he was able to share this moment with you, even if your boyfriend disagreed.

“Yeah, except you had nothing to do with the victory,” Eli smirked, taking the nacho right out of his best friend’s hand.

“Well, I like to consider this a belated party for the coding competition we won at computer camp,” Demitri answered. “Remember?”

Your eyes lit up at the mention of that. It was a lonely two weeks for you, not having anyone to hang out with or talk to, but the moment they arrived back, you were so excited to hear their stories. Especially their song, which Demitri happened to be singing at the moment.

Aisha burst out in laughter at the corniness and you joined in, only because of the way Demitri started dancing.

“Hey, cool it with the nerd shit, huh?” Eli whispered to Demitri.

Your smile fell for a brief moment and you wondered what that was about. Sending a comforting glance at Demitri, you knew he was taken aback at the sudden outburst.

“Is Miguel around? His wings are getting cold,” you gestured to his food, deciding to focus on something else.

“He’s probably moping about Sam,” Aisha said.

“We should probably go check on him,” your boyfriend said.

You slid out of the booth so Eli could leave, and when you sat back down, you were met with a knowing look from Demitri.

“What’s going on with you?” He looked at you concerned.

“Is it that obvious?” You raised a brow, crossing your arms on the table.

“Seeing as I’ve known you the majority of my life, I will say yeah,” he blew out a breath, passing you a lopsided grin. “I also know you well enough to know it has something to do with Hawk,” he mocked your boyfriend’s nickname and with how you were feeling, you couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

It died down quickly when your attention was focused back on what happened.

“You saw what he did to Robby,” you began, playing with your fingers. “Sensei taught us not to show mercy, but,” you ended the thought and shook your head, brows furrowed. “What happened to Eli?”

He sighed before taking a deep breath. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing,” he shrugged.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love his confidence,” you said. “But this is borderline psycho,” you pointed out. “And when did your guys’ theme song become lame?!” You exclaimed. “He’s changing more each day,” your voice fell solemn. “And now I’m not sure if I like it.”

“I know, it sucks but,” he paused, licking his lips. “Just take a breath,” he reassured, patting your hand gently. “Talk to him, I think he’d still listen to you.”

“Yeah,” you nodded. You pressed your lips together and you both stayed there, holding hands in comfort. When your boyfriend came back, his brows creased as he stared at your held hands. You sighed as you pulled away.

“What the hell’s going on?”

You took in a breath as you glanced at Demitri, his look telling you it was okay. “We need to talk,” you said, standing up from the booth.

His demeanor changed, worry filling him but he nodded, following you outside.

“What’s going on?” Eli asked, sitting next to you on the curb while you hugged yourself. He pulled you into his side.

You shut your eyes, welcoming it and finding comfort in his embrace.

“I don’t know,” you licked your lips. “You tell me,” you inhaled.

He sighed, maneuvering so you were facing the same way, his hand on your arm. “I’m not gonna apologize for what I did to Robby,” his voice was calm.

“I’ll forget about it for this reason, but I’m still waiting on my apology for what you said,” you stared down at your interlocked hands, running your thumb against his knuckles.

“I didn’t mean what you thought I meant, I wouldn’t hurt you, ever,” he brushed his lips over your forehead. “I’m sorry.”

“What about Demitri?”

“What about him?”

“Binary Brothers,” you said.

“I don’t like that nerd shit anymore,” he scoffed. “It’s loser talk.”

“They’re memories, who cares if you went to computer camp?”

“I care,” he stated.

“You don’t have to lose yourself completely,” you looked up at him. “You can still like computers and be badass.”

“You don’t understand,” he shook his head. “I can’t go back to that, to that life. Things are perfect right now and I can’t let anyone ruin it, not even Demitri,” he gulped.

Your face fell when you realized it before you reached up to cup his cheek.

“I understand,” you pressed your forehead against his. “More than you know,” you leaned in to kiss him. “You can be nicer to Demitri though,” you pulled away. “He’s your best friend.”

He didn’t respond, only looking out onto the street.

You followed his gaze and it went unspoken that things were good now.

You were talking to Aisha when the bell rang at the entrance. You smiled as you greeted your boyfriend, cupping the sides of his face and going in for a kiss. You were happy that things were okay, no more silent arguing or rough patches, and you could return to having a boyfriend.

“Hi, babe,” he greeted, hand on your waist.

“What the hell happened here?” Miguel asked, referring to the broken mirror and fire damage on the wall.

“Looks like Sensei threw a party,” Aisha shrugged.

You rested your hands on your belt as you listened.

“Must have been pretty sick if fire got involved,” Eli smirked, shrugging off his bag.

You hiked your shoulders up before the four of you made your way onto the mat.

The new students gathered inside, wondering what happened as well, their mummers were loud but were cut short as Sensei appeared, kicking them out.

“Everyone, fall in!” He instructed the class once everyone left. He walked over to the front of the class. He didn’t seem pleased even compared to his normal state of being intense.

“Must’ve been a rager, Sensei,” Eli said, smirking.

You raised a brow in amusement as Miguel continued.

“Were you celebrating all weekend?”

“Celebrating what? That my students are a bunch of pussies?” He asked, face filled with anger.

You furrowed your brows, unsure of what he meant.

“Diaz, Hawk, upfront,” he snapped his fingers.

The two boys glanced at each other, confusion written on their faces before they complied.

Sensei stalked behind them before he began. “Hawk. Did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?” He asked.

Eli raised a brow, glancing over his shoulder. Reluctance filled his features before he responded. “Yes, Sensei,” he said, swallowing down any hesitation and keeping a stern face on.

Sensei narrowed his gaze before moving to Miguel. “Diaz, did you purposely attack your opponent’s injury?”

“Yes, Sensei,” he responded with more assurance, but still he held that look of confusion.

“You think that makes you badass?” Sensei circled them, facing them.

Neither could answer.

“Miss Robinson! Miss L/N!” Sensei shouted.

“Yes, Sensei,” you both responded.

“Two cobras in the jungle. One kills the strongest lion, the other kills an injured monkey. Which cobra do you wanna be?”

“The one that kills the lion, Sensei,” you responded in union.

“And why is that?”

“Because it killed a stronger animal,” you said.

“Correct!” He yelled, conviction in his tone. “Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is when he beats his opponent when he’s at his strongest!” His voice raised. “Not when his back is turned!” He screamed directly in Eli’s face. “Not when he’s injured!” He did the same to Miguel. “Is that understood?” He turned to the class.

“Yes, Sensei!” You responded with the rest of the class, a crease between your brows as you looked at your boyfriend.

“That means no more cheating, no more fighting dirty, from here on out those are pussy moves and you don’t wanna be pussies.”

“No, Sensei!”

“Good, that’s why I had you wear your white belts, we’re starting over,” he stood in the middle of class. “Hawk, Diaz, fifty push-ups on your knuckles. Miss Robinson, Miss L/N, warm them up,” he pointed at the two boys before directing them towards you two.

You let out a breath before you followed Aisha to the front of the class. You nodded before you spoke. “Fighting position. Jab punch. Ready? Hiya!” You shouted, following through with the movement.

Adrenaline coursed through you as you directed the class alongside Aisha. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Eli and Miguel do push-ups. You couldn’t say you felt bad, part of you felt better knowing your Sensei didn’t agree with what went down either.

Only, you knew your boyfriend would feel differently, it was only a matter of time until you saw you were right.

After class, you were sent off with a homework assignment—watch Over the Top. That’s how you ended up in Eli’s basement with the rest of the dojo, the movie playing on the TV.

You were curled into Eli’s side, feet tucked under you as you both shared a bowl of popcorn. The movie was definitely unlike anyone you saw, but it was a good movie you guessed.

“Use a coaster, dipshit” Eli flicked a kernel at one of your friends.

You snickered, Eli smiled down at you before he settled.

The movie ended and Miguel was the last to leave.

Once the basement was cleaned up, you were about to leave but Eli had another idea.

“Come on, stay,” he stopped you from texting your dad to pick you up, a smile on his face. “We could watch a movie or something.”

Your eyes widened. “Mean Girls,” you stated.

He chuckled before grabbing the remote to put it on.

A few minutes later, the movie was playing but you were not watching. Somehow, Eli had managed to turn your attention to him and since then, his lips never left yours.

His hand was on the small of your back while you curled your hand around his neck, your other hand resting on his chest.

Since the weekend, all you and Eli have been doing was kissing. While you enjoyed it, you missed the moments where you kept each other company or even talked. That’s why you pulled away.

He chased after your lips but you stopped him.

“How about we watch the movie?” You asked, chewing on your lip. “We’ve been kissing non-stop and my lips need a break,” you chuckled.

He inhaled before passing you a smile. “Sure.”

You paid attention this time, watching as Cady met the Plastics. The movie went on, your arm thrown across Eli’s abdomen while your cheek rested in the crook of his shoulder. You glanced up at him momentarily to see if he was watching.

“Do you like this movie?” You asked.

“It’s interesting,” he shrugged. “The blonde chick’s pretty badass for the shit she does,” he answered. “But tell me how realistic it is,” he glanced down at you, an amused look plastered on his face.

“Wish I could tell you, but instead of playing Barbies with other girls I was stuck watching you and Demitri trade Pokémon cards,” you joked.

“Don’t remind me,” he sighed.

You furrowed your brows up at him. “Hey, seeing you get excited over getting Charizard for the first time was the moment I realized I liked you,” you stated, voice lightening at the memory.

He blinked at the realization. “You’ve liked me since then?” He looked at you.

You were left mouth agape. “I-uh,” you gulped. “Yeah, since then,” you smiled. “The nerdiness was cute,” you added.

Something flashed over him as his gaze dropped. “And now?”

“Your confidence,” you shrugged. “Your strength. I feel safe when I’m around you,” you said truthfully.

He smirked, reaching down to cup your jaw.

“I like you though, Eli, all of you. And you don’t have to be a certain way around me,” you stated, sitting up. “I love you,” you confessed.

His eyes lit up. “I love you too,” he said with conviction.

You beamed, reaching down to kiss him. You couldn’t believe you said it. But you were glad you did.

#eli moskowitz x reader #eli moskowitz imagine #eli moskowitz #hawk x reader #cobra kai

110 notes · View notes

ichorai · 2 years ago

Text

blueberries ; one.

pairing ; joey tribbiani x gn!reader chapter synopsis ; the one with runaway brides, pregnant wives, and homewreckers. wc ; 8.5k warnings / includes ; talks of sex/suggestive content, mild cursing, mentions of cheating, reader is a physicist and also bisexual, literally everyone in the group is fruity other than ross lol

series masterlist. main masterlist.

The pretty waitress strode towards you with a sweet smile, your warm cup of tea balanced on one hand, and Joey’s slice of double fudge cake in the other. She dropped it by the table and you noticed a small piece of folded paper by the edge of your cup.

Once she was gone, you picked up the paper and unfurled it, a smile growing across your lips.

“Whatcha got there?” Chandler asked, peering over your shoulder.

“I think it’s the waitress’ number,” you replied, folding it back and pocketing it safely within your jeans. “She’s real pretty.”

Joey, already halfway through with his cake, teasingly spoke around a full mouth, “Too bad you never leave the house other than to hang with us. I can take that number off of you if you never end up using it.”

You shot him a half-hearted scowl, but remained quiet.

Just then, Monica and Phoebe strolled into the cafe, taking a seat on the large sofa beside you and Chandler.

“There’s nothing to say, really,” the dark-haired woman told Phoebe in a defensive tone. “He’s just some guy I work with.”

“What’re you guys talking about?” Joey asked, having fully inhaled his cake in a matter of minutes.

“Monica’s going out with someone,” you replied, wrinkling your nose in amusement and curling your legs up beneath you. You drank a sip of your tea as an excuse to hide away from her withering glare. “Isn’t that right, Monica?”

A roguish grin stretched across Joey’s features. “Come on. What’s the catch? You’re going out with a guy—there’s gotta be somethin’ wrong with him.”

“Does he eat chalk?” Phoebe queried, placing a comforting hand on Monica’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to go through what I went through with Carl, you know?”

The five of you grimaced at the memory of Carl.

“It’s not even a date!” said Monica, brushing her dark hair away from her face. “It’s just two people going out to dinner—and not having sex.”

Chandler scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sounds like all the dates I’ve had.”

It was then that Ross came into the cafe, drenched from foot to toe. You glanced behind you to the window, surprised to see that it had started to rain without you realizing. It looked like your long-time friend was crying, but you couldn’t really tell if it was rainwater or tears that were on his face.

“Hi,” he mumbled, morose.

You arched a brow. “You okay, Ross?”

He shook his head, squeezing between you and Chandler on the sofa. The two of you grimaced when his sodden clothes dripped all over you, and Chandler rolled his eyes before getting up and sinking into another chair.

“Feels like someone reached down my throat, ripped out my small intestine, pulled it out of my mouth, and tied it around my neck.”

“Cookie?” Chandler offered. Ross ignored him.

Monica sighed. “Carol moved her stuff out today,” she offered as an explanation, knowing Ross would take well over an hour of moping to finally get to the point. “Let me go grab you some coffee.”

As his sister left, Ross crossed his arms, swatting Phoebe away when she tried to cleanse his aura, as she often did. “I’ll be fine—really, I will. I hope she’ll be very happy.”

“No, you don’t, Ross,” you quipped.

“No, I don’t! To hell with her, she left me!”

Joey snorted. “And you never knew she was a lesbian?”

“I knew—” you said pointedly. “Ross just never listened to me.”

“I didn’t think you were being serious!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know, sometimes you joke about things being gay and stuff so I just thought it was a joke I wasn’t in on. Because, you know, I’m not—”

Lightly punching him in the shoulder, you gave him a stern look. “I know you’re not gay, Ross. Why would I joke about your wife being gay?”

“I mean, you did say she was really hot once,” Phoebe chimed, much to your dismay. At your soured expression, the blonde spoke up again, “What? I think she’s hot, too!”

Ross buried his face into his hands, groaning loudly. “Why does everyone keep fixating on the fact that she’s a lesbian? She didn’t know—how would I have known?”

“Didn’t she tell you that she just kinda found dicks gross at one point?” Chandler asked, lounging in an awkward position on the chair. Ross grumbled quietly under his breath, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation of his wife being gay. “Sometimes I wish I was a lesbian. Being bisexual is exhausting—do I want a man to sweep me off my feet or do I want a woman to sweep me off my feet? I’ll never know.”

Monica came back with the cup of coffee, handing it to Ross before turning to you excitedly. “Hey, Y/N. The waitress was asking about you.”

“Oh, yeah? What did she say?”

“She wanted to know if you were single or not.”

With bated breath, you snuck a glance to the counter, watching the pretty waitress take another customer’s order.

“And?”

“I told her you were single,” Monica replied. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling us…?”

“I’m single,” you reassured them. Ross made a strange noise that sounded like Chewbaca choking on a stick at the reminder of being single. “Ross, listen. It’s not your fault that your wife is queer—despite me telling you multiple times that she was—so let’s look at the bright side here. She’s not leaving you because of you. It’s the literal definition of it’s not you, it’s me.”

With a frown, Ross pried his fingers away from his still-damp face. “Yeah, I guess…”

Joey clapped his hands together, bringing everyone’s attention to him. “Alright, Ross, look. You’re feelin’ a lot of pain right now. You’re hurting. Can I tell you what the answer is?”

Ross nodded, apprehensive.

“Strip joints!”

The rest of you groaned.

Joey shrugged, genuinely confused as to why it wouldn’t be a good idea. “Come on, you’re single now! Gotta release those hormones somehow.”

“See, I don’t want to be single!” Ross exclaimed in exasperation. “I just wanna be married again.”

As if on cue, a woman ran into the cafe, wearing a rather large white wedding dress. She was soaked and breathless, and her dripping brown hair was a mess, and the white fabric was streaked with dirt and mud and city street gunk.

All of you blinked in surprise.

Chandler gestured to the door in a pleading manner. “And I just want a million dollars!”

“A million dollars really isn’t all that much—ask for a hundred million,” you told him.

“A billion dollars!” he shouted.

“That’s too much. Nobody should have a billion dollars.”

“A trillion dollars!” he yelled again, ignoring you completely.

You rolled your eyes, before turning your gaze back to the lost woman in a wedding dress.

Concerned, Monica stood up, expression twisted into one of part-disbelief and part-recognition.

“Rachel?” she asked as she approached the woman.

“Oh, my God, Monica, thank goodness!” She threw her arms around a stricken Monica, the white fabrics of her wedding dress just about slapping her in the face. She spoke quickly, voice crackling with emotion. “I went to your apartment and some guy with a big hammer said you might be here, and you are! Gosh, I’m just so happy to see you!”

The rest of the group watched the two of them with evident confusion, and Monica led Rachel to the couch. “Oh, everybody, this is Rachel, another Lincoln High survivor. Rachel, this is everybody—that’s Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, Y/N… you remember my brother Ross, don’t you?”

“Sure!” Rachel smiled brightly, strangely cheerful for someone in a ruined, soaking wedding dress.

To make space for her and her rather spacious dress, you got up from the large couch and moved to Joey, bumping his hip playfully to get him to scooch aside on his chair so you could sit beside him. The two of you fought over space for a bit before he relented, grabbing your legs and swinging them over his thighs. You sent him a smug grin as you leaned back comfortably and Joey only stuck his tongue out at you childishly.

“So, uh, are you going to tell us now or are we waiting for four wet bridesmaids, too?” Monica queried.

“Wouldn’t be so bad, huh?” Joey whispered into your ear, and you jabbed an elbow into his side to shut him up.

“Oh, God,” Rachel started, gesturing emphatically with her hands. It didn’t slip your notice when Ross sat up straight, watching the new woman with wide eyes. “It started about half an hour before the wedding. I was in this room where we were keeping all these presents and I was looking at this gravy boat! This really gorgeous Limoges gravy boat, you see. Which led me to realize that… I was more turned on looking at this gravy boat than by Barry! And I got really freaked out, because how could I get married to someone I think is less attractive than a gravy boat? And I just kinda stare at him and I realize that he looks just like Mr. Potato Head. You know, I always thought he looked familiar but…” she trailed off, looking ready to burst into tears. “Anyway, I just had to get out of there—and I didn’t know anywhere else to go. I know you and I have drifted apart but you’re the only person I know who lived in the city.”

Pursing her lips, Monica eyed Rachel quizzically. “... Who wasn’t invited to the wedding.”

Rachel grimaced. “I was kinda hoping that wouldn’t be an issue.”

You stepped into Monica’s apartment, waving hello to the group of friends gathered on her couch.

“Hey guys,” you greeted, plopping down next to Rachel, still in her wedding dress. “Sorry I had to duck out at the cafe—work called. What’d I miss?”

“Rachel’s staying at Monica’s place now,” replied Phoebe. “I sang her a song to cheer her up!”

From behind the sofa, Joey curled an arm around you, and his other went over Rachel’s shoulders. “Hey, Rach, if you ever need a place to stay—Chandler and I live right across the hall. And Chandler’s away a lot.”

“Can you stop hitting on her?” you hissed, swatting his hand away. “God, Joey, it’s her wedding day!”

“Hey, don’t be jealous. I offered you the same when I first met you!”

“Jo, honey, I had my own apartment then, and I still have my own apartment now.”

The man shrugged, pressing a quick, chaste kiss to the side of your head. “The offer still stands, sweetheart.”

Rachel raised her eyebrows, gesturing between the two of you. “So are you two… like…?”

“Oh, no!” you exclaimed, slapping a hand over Joey’s mouth to make sure he didn’t say something stupid. “He’s just flirty with everyone.”

Joey’s tongue darted out to lick across your palm and you quickly retracted your hand with an exclamation of disgust, wiping it over his jacket before shoving him. “You’re so gross.”

He trotted away to Chandler in the kitchen before you could hit him again, grinning like a fool.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Chandler peered through the peeping hole, and gasped in an overexaggerated manner.

“It’s Paul the wine guy!”

Phoebe tilted her head. “Monica, is your ‘guy from work’ date Paul the wine guy?”

With a smile, Ross placed a hand on his sister’s arm. “Oh my God, he finally asked you out on a date?”

“Y-Yeah, I was supposed to go out with him for lunch but…” Monica looked at Rachel on the sofa. “Rach, wait, I can cancel!”

“Oh, please, no, you should go, Monica! I’ll be fine!” the brunette assured her.

“Do you want me to stay, Ross? Will you be okay?”

Ross looked torn, but you sent him a nasty glare that clearly meant—stop being a whiny bitch baby and let your sister go. He straightened himself, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Yes, of course. You should go.”

Monica skipped to the door with a bright smile, slowly opening it to reveal Paul on the other side with—what do you know, a wine bottle. You pressed a fist to your lips to hide your laugh with a cough.

The man was quite the looker, and you had to roll your eyes to the ceiling when Phoebe started giggling with Monica like schoolgirls. As Monica said her goodbyes and strode out the door with Paul, Rachel and Ross had moved to the kitchen, where he began asking Rachel what her plans were for the night.

“Well, if you’re feeling lonely, you can always come to my place—Chandler and Joey are helping me put together some new furniture.”

Chandler held up a sloshing glass of orange juice he fished from the fridge. “It’s gonna be a blast! I just can’t wait to hit nails with a hammer like a real man!” he said, practically dripping with sarcasm.

“Oh,” said Rachel as she got up. “I’m flattered, really, but I think I just want to unwind here for tonight. It’s been a long day.” She excused herself, heading to the bathroom.

Though Ross looked a little dejected, Joey and Chandler shrugged it off easily. “Hey, Phoebe, you wanna help out?”

The blonde pursed her lips in thought. “Mm, I wish I could, but I don’t want to.”

You snorted in amusement, slinging an arm around her.

“What about you, Y/N?” asked Ross. “Could really use the company right now.”

“Oh, sorry, Ross, I can’t,” you winced. “I’ve got to run some calculations for work before tomorrow. I’ve got a presentation first thing on Monday. But call me if you need help, okay?”

Apologetically, you leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek.

“Bye, guys. Tell Rachel it was nice meeting her for me, will you? I should get going now.”

“What, and I don’t get a goodbye kiss?” Joey asked, stretching his arms out with an exaggerated pout.

With a huff, you reluctantly gave him a hug, before swiftly pecking his cheek. “See you guys later, alright? You want a kiss too, Chandler?”

“Would be nice,” he replied, scuffing the floor with the heel of his shoe. “I’m touch starved.”

“We know,” the four of you replied in tandem, before bursting into laughter.

You leaned over to kiss Chandler’s cheek too, and then Phoebe’s for good measure, before waving one last time and sliding out the door.

It wasn’t even two hours later when you got a call, with Ross yelling something about how he couldn’t feel his legs and how his life was crumbling apart because Chandler hammered a screw into his bookshelf instead of a nail. Joey was in the background moaning about how hungry he was, and Chandler was screaming at Ross to calm down, which obviously made Ross even more upset.

So there you were, standing outside of Ross’ door with two boxes of pizza and sleepy eyes. You passed out on top of your work an hour through, the ringing from Ross’ call being what shocked you awake.

As soon as the door swung open, Ross immediately enveloped you in a hug, speaking so quickly that it all went in one ear and out the other. Something about his lesbian wife, you supposed. You patted his back lethargically.

Joey came forward to take the pizzas off of you, somehow already managing to stuff half a slice into his face with one bite. “You’re a lifesaver, Y/N. I could kiss you right now.”

You wrinkled your nose. “Please don’t.”

Littered around Ross’ relatively empty apartment was a bunch of loose piles of wood and metal poles and silver nails and screws haphazardly strewn all over the floor.

“You guys are a mess.”

For the rest of the time, the three men ate as they watched you tiredly read over the manuals, before slowly but accurately assembling together the furniture. They all clapped once you finally put together the bookshelf—amazed at the fact that it didn’t topple to the ground as soon as you put one book on top, as it did when they tried.

“You’re good with your hands,” Joey commented slyly. “Wonder what else they’re good at.”

“I’ve been told I’m good at punching people,” you replied dryly, sitting on a single stool and leaning against Joey for support, seeing as Ross didn’t have a couch anymore. You closed your eyes sleepily, and he placed an arm around you. Quietly, you mumbled out, “If I fall asleep, just tell Ross it’s not because I hate him, okay? I have a feeling just about anything would set him off tonight.”

“What if there’s only one person for everybody, you know?” Ross blubbered to Chandler from across the room, proving your point exactly. “What if you just get one chance—and that’s it?”

Pulling a sour expression, Joey cocked his head as he said, “What the hell are you talking about, Ross? One person? That’s so… limiting. It’s like saying there’s only one ice cream flavor you like. Let me tell you something, Ross, there’s tons of ice cream flavors out there. There’s rocky road, and cookie dough, and Bing cherry vanilla! You can get ‘em with jimmies, or nuts, or whipped cream, if you know what I’m saying.” He winked down at you and you pinched his side. “Personally, I think I’m a mint chocolate chip. Chandler—you’re a raspberry sorbet. Y/N, I think you’d be somethin’ like blueberry cheesecake. And Ross… you’re a… vanilla. With nuts, if we’re going wild with it.”

Mildly offended that Joey called him vanilla, Ross opened his mouth to retort something, but Chandler beat him to it.

“You think I’m raspberry sorbet?”

Joey waved the both of them away. “Anyways, the point is, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to you! You got married when you were like, what? Eight? Welcome back to the world—grab a spoon!”

“Though, your options are a bit more limited seeing as you’re the only straight one in this room,” you chimed, lifting your head from Joey’s side with a sleepy grin. Ross shot you a dirty look.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I’m horny or hungry.”

“Ugh, you’re gross,” you complained, letting your eyes slip back shut.

Groaning in disgust, Chandler backed away. “Stay out of my freezer.”

Ross sighed heavily, sliding down the wall and slumping against it as if he were a ragdoll. There was a beer can in his hand, one that he claimed was Carol’s favorite drink, and he took a long swig.

“Grab a spoon, pfft,” Ross mocked. “Do you know how long it’s been since I grabbed a spoon? You know, even if I could get it together to ask a woman out, who’d I ask?”

Exhaling softly, you moved away from Joey (much to his dismay, he was just getting warm with you cozying up to his side), and sat down beside Ross.

“Hey, dude,” you said, nudging his arm. “It’s okay if you haven’t grabbed a spoon in a while. Grabbing spoons as quickly as you can won’t instantly make things better. Things like this take time—you don’t have to rush into anything. Whatever happens, happens man. You’ll be okay. I mean, it’s not like either of you did anything wrong. It’s just life, you know?”

Tears pricked the corners of Ross’ eyes. He ducked his head so you wouldn’t see, but you knew they were there nonetheless.

“Thanks, Y/N,” he mumbled, sniffling. Pursing your lips, you roped him into an embrace.

“Well, isn’t that nice?” Chandler said, biting down on a slice of pizza. He turned to Joey again with a furrowed brow. “Now back to the things that are actually important. Why on earth do you think I’m raspberry sorbet?”

The next morning, you found yourself having breakfast at Monica’s place, sitting between Chandler and Joey, who had just dumped the coffee Rachel made for them into your cup of tea while her back was turned.

You kicked both of them underneath the table, but smiled sweetly when Rachel came back, surprised at how quickly the two boys had downed their coffee.

“Would you like some?” Rachel asked. “It’s my first time making it!”

“No!” you blurted out, embarrassingly quick. “Sorry, I’m just—trying to cut back on caffeine.”

“Suit yourself,” she replied, before leaning back against the sink. “I do have a question for you guys though—do you, uhm… all have jobs?”

Monica cocked her head, biting into her buttered toast. “Yeah, we all have jobs. See, that’s how we buy things.”

“Ugh, capitalism,” you muttered under your breath, taking a sip of your mug before realizing that it was full of the bitter coffee that Rachel made, and tried to discreetly spit it back out. Joey noticed however, and patted your back sympathetically.

“You and your fancy words, Y/N,” he said, as if you were just making the word up.

Rachel pulled the dark bathrobe tighter around her figure. “What do all of you do?”

“Well, you know I’m a chef,” said Monica. “Y/N is a physicist, Joey is an actor, and Chandler… uhm… Chandler plays with numbers and data and all that.”

“Wow! Would I have seen you in anything?” she asked Joey.

“Eh, mostly regional work—”

“He was in that Wee One’s production of Pinocchio,” you put in, earning yourself a pinch to the thigh. You grinned at him cheekily.

Chandler barked out a laugh, mimicking the line of, “Look Geppeto, I’m a real live boy!”

“I’m not taking this abuse,” said Joey, standing up to head to the door.

The two of you apologized quietly, before Chandler abruptly stood up and pranced out the door singing, “Once I was a wooden boy, a little wooden boy!”

Joey followed him back to their apartment, yelling out obscenities along the way.

You rolled your eyes. “Love to talk more, ladies, but I’ve gotta head to work.”

“What exactly do you do, though?” Rachel asked. It wasn’t often that you saw someone genuinely curious about your work, other than Ross.

“I specialize in quantum physics—I do quite a bit of research for my field, and propose theories, and sometimes I lecture students working on their doctorate degrees. In fact, that was how I met Ross—we were both teaching at the same university for a couple months and became friends, and through him, I met the rest of the group.”

Rachel blinked at you with amazement. “That sounds amazing! Do you know how I could get one of those?”

“Er… what?”

“You know. A job. Like the rest of you have.”

Sending Monica a confused glance, you said, “Rachel, have you never had a job before?”

“Well,” she taps her finger against her lips, “I’ve babysat for cash before. Does that count?”

“Oh, honey,” simpered Monica from beside Rachel. “Good luck finding one. I’m sure there’s plenty of restaurants or cafes looking to hire a waitress.”

The memory of the waitress from yesterday flashed into your mind—with her pretty eyes and sweet smile…

You shook your head, before checking the time. You blanched upon seeing that you were nearly late for your presentation. “Gosh, I gotta run. See you guys later!”

That night, the entire friend group sat around Rachel as she hovered over all the credit cards she had that were paid by her father.

“Come on, give her a break. It’s hard to live on your own for the first time,” Phoebe said.

Rachel frowned at the nice words, as if she was going to cry. “Oh, thank you, Pheebs.”

“Yeah, I remember I was fourteen and my mom had just killed herself and my stepdad was in prison! I didn’t know anybody, so I ended up living with this albino guy who was cleaning windshields outside Port Authority. And then, heh, what do you know, he killed himself, too. Then I found aromatherapy! So believe me, I know exactly how you feel.” The blonde smiled sweetly, and you couldn’t help but give her a one-armed hug from the side.

“Here,” Monica said, handing Rachel a pair of large orange scissors. “Just cut ‘em. You’ll feel so much better afterwards.”

The group began chanting ‘cut, cut, cut!’ as if it were some sort of cult ritual. Finally, Rachel straightened herself and cut through each of the cards, lips puckered in a pout.

“Welcome to the real world,” said Chandler.

“It sucks,” you chimed.

“You’re gonna love it!” exclaimed Monica.

The waitress was staring at you again. You could feel her eyes practically boring holes into the back of your neck. Apprehensively, you turned ever so slightly to meet her gaze, but she quickly pretended to be busy with wiping down the counters.

Joey snapped his fingers in front of your face, bringing your attention back to him.

“Are you even listening?” he asked.

“No,” you replied easily, which made him snort out a laugh.

Monica gestured wildly as she explained again to the confused men. “It’s just, for us, kissing is as important as any part of it.”

“Yeah, right,” Joey scoffed. Once he realized that the three women were dead serious, he furrowed his brows. “Wait, you’re not pulling my leg?”

Nodding emphatically, Rachel said, “Everything you need to know is in that first kiss!”

With a shrug, Chandler put forth, “Yeah, I think for us, kissing is more like an opening act. It’s like the stand-up comedian you have to sit through before Pink Floyd comes out.”

Ross murmured his agreement rather sheepishly. “Right, and it’s not like we don’t like the comedian, it’s just that… that’s not why we bought the ticket.”

“What about you, Y/N?” asked Phoebe. “Do you prefer the comedian or… Pink Floyd?”

With a hum, you traced the rim of your teacup with your pointer finger before sighing. “I don’t really have a concrete answer for that, honestly. Both the comedian and the actual show are great, but—sometimes I don’t even want the comedian at all, and sometimes I don’t want the show at all. It depends on the person and the situation.” A bit quieter, you tacked on, “Sometimes the longer the comedian drags on, the better the show’ll be after. And sometimes the comedian and the show perform at the same time—you guys gotta think outside the box, here.”

The rest of the group blinked at you owlishly.

With a smile, Rachel whooped. “Y/N, you little devil! I didn’t know you were into foreplay! But you know what, you’re right. Maybe the comedian should never leave the stage!”

Heat flushed your cheeks at Rachel’s loud words. You wondered if the waitress could hear your conversation. “Woah, I never said that—”

“I’m confused,” Joey interjected. “Are we still talking about sex?”

You watched in amusement as Chandler and Joey began digging into Monica’s lasagne in search of Rachel’s lost wedding ring. A bit of sauce smeared over Joey’s cheek and you reached over to wipe it away with your thumb, muttering out how ridiculous they looked nearly elbow-deep in cheese and pasta.

There was a knock at the door, and when Monica swung it open, you were greeted with a forlorn Ross. Honestly, when wasn’t he forlorn these days?

“Hi,” he said, looking like he wanted a hole to open up in the ground and swallow him whole.

“Why the long face?” you asked, moving away from the pair rifling through the lasagna to the Geller siblings by the door.

Ross’ voice cracked a little as he replied, “Carol’s pregnant.”

“I found it!” Phoebe exclaimed from behind you, which was funny because she didn’t have any lasagna on her hands while the other two boys held handfuls of the pasta. She held the ring up, covered in marinara sauce and small chunks of beef, holding it out to Rachel.

Monica’s face dropped in shock. “Wh-Wha—? Wh… What?”

“Yeah. Do that for another two hours, and you might be where I am right now,” Ross said, walking into the apartment.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, you led him to the couch for him to take a seat. “How do you fit into this whole thing?”

“Carol says she and Susan want me to be involved, but if I’m not comfortable with it—then I don’t have to be. Basically, it’s totally up to me.”

Phoebe called out from the sink as she washed her hands, “She’s so great! I miss her.”

They half-heartedly glared at her, but you stifled a laugh.

“What does she mean by involved?” asked Monica.

“Presumably, the biggest part of your job is done!” Chandler added, which earned him a light punch to the shoulder.

Scratching his head, Ross loosened his tie, feeling like he was being suffocated. “They want me to go down to this sonogram thing with them tomorrow. I have no idea if I’m going or not. No matter what I do, though… I’m still going to be a father.”

Clattering from the kitchen made the group turn their heads to see Joey practically attacking the lasagna with a spoon that was far too big, shoveling the pasta into his mouth. At the incredulous stares, Joey flinched defensively. “What? This is still ruined, right?”

Ross stood beside the television as he showed everybody the sonogram of the baby, a smile etched permanently across his face. “Isn’t that just amazing?”

You were just about to chime in about how big they already look, but Joey beat you to it by asking, “What the hell am I supposed to be looking at? Is that its foot or its head?”

“If you tilt your head to the left and relax your eyes, it kinda looks like an old potato,” Phoebe said as she squinted in concentration at the screen.

Ross eyed her warily. “Then don’t do that.”

From beside you, Monica started tearing up, and you could hear her little sniffles. Man, do the Gellers cry a lot. You wrapped an arm around her waist and she leaned her head onto your shoulder as the two of you watched the sonogram.

“How’d your date go, Pheebs?” you asked the blonde as she walked into Central Perk.

She made a noise of discontent, tugging her light blue coat off. “Not so good. He walked me to the subway and said, ‘we should do this again’.”

The rest of the group grimaced, saved for Rachel, who appeared confused.

“What? He said they should do it again—isn’t that good?”

“Uh, no,” Monica interjected, raising a finger. “Loosely translated, ‘we should do this again’ means ‘you will never see me naked’!”

Rachel reared back. “Since when?”

“Since always!” said Joey. “It’s, like, dating language. How ‘it’s not you’ always means ‘it is you’.”

Chandler nodded. “Or ‘you’re such a nice guy’ means ‘I’m going to be dating leather-wearing alcoholics and complaining about them to you’! Not speaking from personal experience or anything.”

“Or how ‘I think we should see other people’ means ‘hah! I already am!’” Phoebe added.

“And everybody just knows this? Y/N, you’re the smart one. Is this true?”

You shrugged a shoulder. “Well, I’d say it’s less about the phrase itself and more about how people use it nowadays. Nobody says ‘you’re such a nice guy’ without some sort of intention of friendzoning them, right?”

Rachel still appeared miffed, so Joey piped up, “Yeah, it cushions the blow.”

“Like when you’re a kid and your parents put your old dog to sleep and they tell you it went off to live on some farm,” Chandler explained.

From opposite you, Ross’ eyes lit up. “That’s funny, because our parents actually did send our dog off to live on a farm!”

The rest of the group stared at him.

“Uh, Ross—?” Monica started.

“Hello? The Milner’s farm in Connecticut? You don’t remember that? The Milners, they had this unbelievable farm and they had horses and rabbits that he could chase and…” The words died on his tongue as it slowly began to dawn upon him. “Oh, my God, Chi-Chi!”

The couch sank beneath your weight as you sat down, Joey’s script in hand.

“How could you do this to me, Tom? I thought we were best friends,” you read off the paper, trying your best not to laugh at Joey’s concentrated expression.

Joey was walking around with his hands perched on his hips, uttering the next line, “I was never only your friend. I loved you.”

The two of you looked at each other for a moment, before you allowed a smile to break through.

“That was great, Jo!”

“Yeah?” He cuffed you on the shoulder with a genuine grin. “Let’s keep going.”

It was then that Chandler walked out from his room, waving hello to you. “What’re you two doing?”

“Practicing,” Joey replied. “Got a big audition coming up.”

Clearing your throat, you read the next line, standing up so you’d be able to face Joey. “What do you expect me to say, Tom?”

Joey shook his head, shoulders slumping. You couldn’t help but be impressed at how quickly he could fall into character. “Tell me you love me back.”

“I…” You stared at him, watching the way his gaze would dart from your eyes to your lips, and back up again. Man, he was a great actor. “I can’t tell you that.”

He sighed, resigned. “Then I’m going out for a smoke.”

Brandishing a cigarette from his pocket, he used a lighter to set off the end, before inhaling sharply. Not a second later, he was coughing with a grimace plastered across his face. “Damn it! How am I ever going to get the part if I don’t know how to smoke properly? This tastes awful.”

“Relax your hand,” Chandler chimed, sitting down on the couch. “Let your wrist go. No, wait, not so much. Alright, good. Now try taking a puff.”

Inhaling softly this time, Joey looked to the side, white plumes falling from the edges of his lips. He coughed once more. “Nope, no. I hate this!”

“Okay, no, give it to me.”

“I’m not giving you a cigarette!” Joey protested, pulling his arm away.

“No, it’s fine. You wanna get this part or not?”

You sat back down, grinning. “If it’s any motivation, I think smoking is hot. I don’t find smokers hot because, you know—lung cancer and everything—but the act of smoking? That’s hot.”

Joey narrowed his eyes at you, before reluctantly handing Chandler the cigarette.

“Alright, don’t think of it as a cigarette. Think of it as the thing that has been missing from your hand. When you’re holding it, you feel right. You feel complete.” Slowly, he brought it up to his mouth to take a puff, and as soon as his lips touched the end, he let out a loud groan as he exhaled. “Oh, my God.”

You had to wrestle him to take the cigarette away before he could breathe in any more.

Later that night, you were back at Central Perk, sitting by Monica, who had her hand extended out in front of her. “They say that it’s from the tip of a guy’s thumb to the tip of his index finger.”

The three men, Ross, Chandler, and Joey, began extending their own hands, looking at the distance with disdain.

You chortled a laugh when Ross asked if he could use either thumb.

Rachel strode up to the couches with a tray full of drinks. “Alright, don’t tell me! Decaf cappuccino for Joey, black coffee for Ross, latte for Chandler, peppermint mocha for Y/N, and an iced tea for Monica!”

She handed out each drink with a proud grin, and none of you had the heart to tell her that she had gotten every drink mixed up—save for yours. You began nursing your mocha with a small grin to her.

“I’m getting pretty good at this!” she exclaimed. God, she was so cute, you thought fondly as she walked away to take another customer’s order.

When her back was turned, the drinks were finally switched around, and you watched in amusement as they hurriedly exchanged mugs. It was then that Phoebe walked in, making incoherent noises and hands fluttering about as she muttered.

“You okay, Phoebe?” asked Joey.

She waved him away. “Yeah, no, it’s not even worth—okay, I guess I’ll tell you guys about it. It’s my bank!”

Monica leaned forward. “What did they do to you?”

“I open up my mail and look at my monthly statement, and there’s five hundred extra dollars in my account!”

“Congrats!” you exclaimed just as Chandler sarcastically gasped out, “Satan’s minions at work again!”

“Now I have to go down there and deal with them,” Phoebe moped.

“What’re you talkin’ about?” crowed Joey. “Keep it!”

Vehemently, Phoebe shook her head. “No, it’s not mine! I didn’t earn it! If I kept it, it’d be like stealing!”

Rachel came back around with a cup of coffee, leaning over to tell Phoebe, “Yeah, but if you spent it, it’d be like shopping!”

“Okay, but I’d never be able to enjoy it, you know? It’d be like this giant karmic debt!” she cried out, clearly frustrated with the entire ordeal.

You would’ve replied with something to comfort her, but the thought was torn from you when you noticed Chandler awkwardly bent over the couch, as if trying to hide something.

“Dude, what are you doing?” you asked, peering over to look. “Damn it, Chandler!” you yelled, grabbing him by the belt and hauling him upright.

With a roll of his eyes, he sat up, white smoke falling from his mouth as he blew out, defeated.

“Gross!” Monica yelled.

“You’ve been so good for three years, I can’t believe you!” said Phoebe.

“And this,” Chandler held up the cigarette, “is my reward!”

Shaking his head, Ross held a hand out. “Hold on a second, remember what happened the last time you quit?”

“Okay, so this time I won’t quit! If anything, you should be angry at Joey and Y/N, they were smoking it all up in our apartment this morning!”

The two of you gasped. “No, we weren’t! I hate smoking!” Joey yelled. “Y/N was the one that said smoking was hot!”

You smacked his arm. “The act of it is, actual smokers aren’t hot! Don’t you remember what I said about lung cancer? Chandler, don’t pin the blame on us, you chose to smoke!”

Exasperated, Chandler groaned. “Fine. I’m putting it out.” He threw the cigarette into Phoebe’s coffee, much to her dismay.

“Alright,” Monica said, inching away from the group. “I gotta change—I’ve got a date soon.” You briefly remembered her mentioning that things hadn’t gone so well with Paul, so she was exploring the dating pool once again.

“Is this Alan again?” Rachel asked excitedly. “How’s it going?”

A smile spread across Monica’s features. “It’s going good! He’s nice.”

“So when do we get to meet the guy?” asked Joey.

“Hm…” Monica tapped a finger against her lips. “Never. See you guys!”

“Come on!” the group exclaimed after her.

“No!” she said. “Not after what happened with Steve!”

Snorting, Chandler shook his head. “What are you talking about? We loved Shteve. Shteve wash shexy!”

The rest of the group hid their laughter behind cups of coffee.

“Look, I don’t even know how I feel about him yet. Just give me a chance to figure it out.”

“Then we can meet him?” asked Rachel, hopeful.

Monica grinned. “Nope! Bye, guys!” With that, she skipped out of the cafe.

You drank the rest of your mocha, placing the mug onto the table and leaving a large tip for Rachel beneath the cup—you were honestly quite flattered that out of all the orders, she had gotten yours right.

“I better get going, too.”

“What?” asked Joey. “Where are you going?”

“Uh…” You scratched the back of your neck. “Work.”

Ross arched a brow. “I thought you said you had the day off today. What’s going on?”

“Oh, my God!” Phoebe exclaimed. “You’re seeing someone!”

The group burst out into a dozen questions at once and you held your hands up. “Woah, woah! I’m not seeing someone, I just—”

“Is it that waitress that gave you her number?” Joey interrupted, a bit less enthusiastic than everybody else.

Heat crawled up your neck and festered into your face. “Yeah, but it’s not a date,” you sighed. “It’s just a casual meet up.”

“So… sex,” Chandler deadpanned.

You rolled your eyes. “Yes, sex. Don’t be such a child about it.”

“How long have you been doing this?” Rachel gasped, resting a hand on your arm. “And why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, a little whiny.

“Around, uh, a week, I think? And I didn’t tell you because it just feels… I don’t know, embarrassing?”

“Oh, honey, you don’t have to be embarrassed around us!”

Joey blanched. “A week? How many times have you guys done it?”

“Oh, God, Joey, I’m not going to tell you about my sex life. I’m running late already—I’ll see you guys later!”

With that, you practically dashed out of the cafe, heart beating irregularly quickly and cheeks set aflame.

“Do you all promise?”

Ross rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mon, we promise we’ll be good.”

You nodded with a sweet smile in hopes of quelling her growing anxiety of letting her closest friends meet a guy she was dating.

Not a second later, Phoebe stormed into Monica’s apartment, sitting down right beside you and showing you a letter from her bank.

“Dear Ms. Buffay, thank you for calling attention to our error. We have credited your account five hundred dollars. We’re sorry for the inconvenience, and hope you’ll accept this football phone as our free gift.” She pulled out a large brown phone in the shape of, what do you know, a football, looking so cross you could’ve sworn steam was coming out of her ears. “Can you believe this? Now I have a thousand dollars and a football phone!”

Blinking in astonishment, Rachel snatched the letter from you, exclaiming, “What bank is this?”

The door rang, cutting any further questions about Phoebe’s strange bank off.

“He’s here!” Rachel exclaimed, throwing the letter away somewhere behind her, clapping her hands excitedly.

Before Monica opened the door, she clasped her hands together and addressed the entire group. “Please be good. Please? Remember how much you like me and try not to make fun of him too much.”

“So?” Monica started, anxiously brushing dark strands of hair away from her face. “Let the Alan-bashing begin. Who’s gonna take the first shot?”

The group awkwardly glanced at each other, strangely silent.

If you had to admit, you rather liked Alan. He was funny, charming, and had real pretty eyes.

“I’ll go,” said Ross. “Let’s start with the way he kept… ugh, no, I’m sorry, I can’t. Can’t do it! We loved him.”

The rest of them chimed in their agreement enthusiastically.

“Wait a minute, we’re talking about someone that I’m going out with?” Monica asked, incredulous.

“Know what was great? The way his smile was kind of crooked,” Joey sighed, dreamily looking off into space.

With a scoff, you slapped his thigh. “Watch it, Joey. Wouldn’t want you catching feelings for Monica’s boyfriend here.”

“Jealous, much? Want me all to yourself?” he asked flirtatiously, leaning down closer to you. You wrinkled your nose and shoved him away.

The rest of the group began chattering about Alan again, and how he did the best impression of David Hasselhoff.

You turned back to Joey. “Both of us know you can’t stick to one person, Jo.” Your words were meant to be teasing and light-hearted, but you couldn’t help but notice the way Joey’s face fell just a bit at your words.

“I can stick to you,” he said, uncharacteristically softly, fingers threading between yours. “You’re a pretty sticky person, you know?”

“Har, har, har. That’s funny, Joey,” you crooned sarcastically. “Also really gross. Don’t call me sticky ever again.”

Joey smiled at you, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. You decided not to say anything about it, and turned your attention back to the group and listened to them fawn over Alan.

Back at Central Perk, you had just come out of the bathroom in time to hear the gang berating Chandler for smoking again, and you sat down between Ross and Joey on the large couch.

“This is so unfair,” Chandler barked, blowing out white plumes of smoke. “So I have a flaw—big fucking deal! Like Joey’s constant knuckle-cracking isn’t annoying? Or Ross, with his over-pronouncing every goddamn word! And Monica, with that snort when she laughs! Or when Y/N refuses to get Chinese takeout because they use styrofoam containers and they hate the sound of styrofoam! I haven’t had Chinese takeout in months! I accept all of those flaws, why can’t you accept me for this?”

The entire group pursed their lips and dejectedly hung their heads in silence.

“You can just order Chinese takeout on your own,” you grumbled under your breath. “You don’t always have to have me there.”

“Yeah, well, then I’d feel bad!” replied Chandler, crossing his arms like a child. “I’d be chewing on my pork dumplings and thinking—man, I betrayed one of my closest friends for this.”

“Does the knuckle cracking bother everybody, or just him?” asked Joey, hands glued firmly to his sides, as if he had to consciously remind himself not to crack them.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, you faked a look of reassurance, before deadpanning, “We could live without it, Jo.”

“Is it just a little annoying? Or is it like when Phoebe chews her hair?”

As if on cue, Phoebe spat out locks of blonde that she was working between her teeth. You coughed to hide your growing smile.

“Don’t listen to him, Pheebs, alright? I think it’s endearing,” said Ross.

Joey frowned, then spoke again, over-enunciating each word. “Oh, you do, do you?”

Monica snort-laughed, which made Chandler gesture erratically towards her.

“There’s nothing wrong with speaking correctly!” Ross defended.

“Indeed, there isn’t!” Rachel proudly gesticulated, also poking fun at Ross with overstretched syllables. At Ross’ withering glare, she squeaked, “I should really get back to work!”

“Otherwise, someone might get what they actually ordered,” Phoebe muttered quietly, but not quiet enough for Rachel not to hear.

The brunette’s jaw dropped. “Oh, so the hair comes out and the gloves come on!”

The entire group burst into a raucous argument, and you found yourself somehow defending and protesting against both Phoebe and Joey at the same time. From the corner of your eye, you could see Chandler get up and walk away with a skip in his step, and a lit cigarette in hand.

It was a little past two in the morning. You had barely thrown anything on except for a worn black hoodie and a pair of jeans that had holes in the pockets. But you just needed to leave—it felt like you couldn’t breathe in your own apartment.

A part of you considered going to Monica’s.

But for some reason unbeknownst to you, you found yourself in front of Joey’s bedroom, having gotten through their front door with an emergency spare key they had given you. This wasn’t really an emergency, but you’ve used it for lesser reasons.

Swallowing down the lump in your throat, you knocked on the door.

A couple seconds later, a groggy Joey swung it open, dark hair messily strewn over his head. He was rubbing his fists into his eyes, muffling a yawn as he said, “Oh, hi, Y/N. You missed a lot this afternoon—Chandler quit smoking, Phoebe found a thumb in a can of soda and got seven thousand bucks for it, Monica broke up with Alan and I’m obviously devastated about it but—”

He immediately stopped in his brief recap of the day when he finally looked at you properly, noticing the way your eyes were puffy and red, as if you’d been crying. There were dried tear tracks on your cheeks, barely visible beneath the dim moonlight streaming through the window across the room.

“Hey, hey,” his hands were on your shoulders instantly, roping you closer to him in a warm embrace. You buried your head into his chest, lips trembling as you staved away the burning urge to sob right into him. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”

Gently, he led you into his room, sitting you down on his bed.

“I don’t even know… it’s not that big of a deal, I just… felt so overwhelmed,” you croaked, pulling your knees up to your chest.

“What happened?” he asked, sitting down beside you and slinging a protective arm over your back.

“You remember that waitress that I had a thing with?”

Joey hummed.

“Well, she’s married. And she’s got a kid. I didn’t know, obviously. I just… I don’t know. She told me while we were messing around, like—how fucked up is that? I mean, it’s bad enough that you’re using me to cheat on someone that you’ve got a kid with, but it’s even worse to bring that up while we were… doing it, you know? I told her to leave and she begged me to hear her out. She wouldn’t go, and got angry at me for some fucking reason, so I told her I’d leave the apartment and if she wasn’t gone by the time I got back I’d call the cops on her. I know it wasn’t really my fault but—I still feel terrible about it. I don’t want to be the reason a family falls apart, Joey.”

You were shaking against him, and a stray tear meandered down your cheek.

There wasn’t really much Joey could say. He was never very good at comforting people.

He pressed a kiss to your cold forehead, brushing away haphazard strands of hair.

“You wanna stay over?” he offered, patting his bed. “I can sleep on the couch.”

Wordlessly, you pulled back his comforter and laid down, exhausted beyond relief.

Joey patted your back one more time for good measure, before getting up to head to the living room.

“No,” you mumbled, hand loosely wrapping around his wrist. “Please stay here with me.”

Hesitant, he asked, “You sure?”

Joey never got a response—you had already fallen asleep. With a shrug, he slid into the bed beside you, winding his arms over you and cradling you from behind. His nose pressed into your shoulder and he inhaled sharply, noting with pleasant surprise that you smelled like blueberries.

“Good night, Y/N.”

You shifted in his hold so that your arm laid over his that was thrown over your waist.

Joey fell into an easy, dreamless sleep in no less than a minute.

#joey tribbiani x reader #friends fanfiction #joey tribbiani fanfiction #joey tribbiani fluff #joey tribbiani angst #joey tribbiani smut #rachel green x reader #rachel green angst #rachel green fluff #rachel green smut #joey tribbiani imagines #joey tribbiani drabbles #rachel green imagines #rachel green drabbles #friends x reader #friends joey x reader #friends rachel x reader

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bettyfrommars · 2 years ago

Text

Stop the World and Melt with You//Part 3

Eddie Munson x fem!reader

In this part, reader meets the Nancy Wheeler and Joyce Byers of this au, and starts to feel a bond with Eddie as you navigate the Twilight Zone episode you are in. You also find out what happens when you try to leave this place called Hawkinsgate.

Series Masterlist

Warnings: reader feels lost and confused in general, talk of being an outcast, feeling misunderstood, mention of having a period, lots of 80's nostalgia, eventual smut (I think) but not for a while. Word count: 4.3k

🔸currently posting with my clown shoes on because this is the second Eddie series I have going 🤡 I really adore and appreciate the three of you who have been reading this, I know it is a little "out there".

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When you came out to lock the door of your motel room, you looked up at the ornate, brass, number ‘8’ and noticed that, at one point, someone wrote a ‘6’ right after it in permanent black marker. Another someone clearly tried to clean it off as best they could, but only succeed in fading the dark green paint down to a grass green. Claudia was locking up the lobby and putting a sign in the window that gave a number to call if you needed any assistance, and she waved at you, but then she looked you up and down, and her face pinched.

“You’re not going somewhere tonight, are you?” She shouted to you from halfway across the parking lot.

“Um, I’m meeting someone?” You posed it in the form of a question as if to see how she felt about it before you decided to get in your truck and drive the short distance instead of walking and having to answering more questions.

“Well, be safe. There’s a strict no noise policy after 9pm here, so no parties in your room.” She had a ring of keys on her wrist and her hands on her hips.

“I won’t. I mean, there won’t be. We’re just—”

But Claudia was already on the other side of the door, locking it, and waving goodbye to you.

Again, your eyes did a sweep of the empty motel parking lot; even the Police Blazer was gone now.

There were shallow puddles of water in the pavement from the rain earlier and you watched the reflection of the red MOTEL sign on the roof disappear into ripples as you stepped in it with your boot.

Eddie was already sitting at a booth in the diner when you walked in---in fact, you’re pretty sure he saw you from his window seat as you approached, because he was already standing up to greet you when you came in the door.

“Welcome to Newby’s,” a small, brunette waitress greeted you immediately, bending down to grab a laminate menu from the side of the wall. “Just one for this evening?”

You looked over and Eddie had his arm up, motioning you over. “She’s with me, Nance,” he called to the waitress.

The long diner had booths to the left and right, with a row of bar stools at a counter ahead of you and a kitchen beyond with what looked like a mom and a pop back there making the food. The place was getting busy, with only a few open booths available. The waitress looked you up and down, smiled uneasily, and then motioned for you to go ahead and continue down the linoleum aisle.

You scoot in across from Eddie, the vinyl seat squeaking as you go. Eddie had his hair down, and it was still damp from his shower; he wore a tattered denim vest and leather jacket on top of a clean, white t-shirt, and your eyes went right to the jewelry on his hands that you hadn’t noticed before—there were chunky, metal rings on his fingers.

He points to an item on the menu in front of you, and his face is serious. “They make the best homemade mac n’ cheese I’ve ever had in my life here.” He pauses and then, your gaze follows his finger up the length of his arm to meet his warm, hazelnut stare. Something about the eye contact flusters him and he loses his train of thought, but then he squints at you. “But why do I take you for more of a liver and onions kind of girl?”

You make a yuck face and wrinkle your nose, and he snorts a little laugh.

Running your finger down the menu, realizing you might need glasses soon, something odd catches your eye. “What do these letters next to the dollar amount mean?”

He lifts up out of his seat a hair to see what you are pointing at. “Oh, that means four dollars or ‘T’ for trade,” he points to another part of the menu. “And the ‘OT’ means trade only.”

“Well, I checked my wallet again just before I came here,” you gave a nervous chuckle. “And there are no more mysterious daffodils in there.” You scratched your head, listening to the preposterous things that were coming out of your own mouth.

Eddie sat back and winked at you as he reached into the front pocket of his denim vest. “Don’t worry, I got you. Dinner is on me tonight.”

With that, he procured a stack of ten or twelve Garbage Pail Kid cards and fanned them out, showing them to you covertly, as if they were hundred dollar bills. He raised both of his eyebrows several times to accentuate that the two of you would be living high on the hog for the evening, before tucking them back into his pocket and snapping the button closed.

A different waitress came by and you ordered the Mac n’ cheese Eddie had suggested; you could tell he was pleased that you went with his suggestion. He ordered a burger with waffle fries and a chocolate milkshake, and you weren’t sure why—but you hadn’t expected that. A soda maybe or a beer, but a milkshake? It was so wholesome in contrast with his persona.

You both ate in silence for a few minutes, each of you ravenous. Once your stomachs started to fill up, you whispered across the table at him: “Why do I feel like everyone in here is staring at us?”

He pushed some of his burger into the side of his cheek with is tongue like a chipmunk and leaned forward to whisper back at you. “Because they are.”

You turned your head to find the girl he called ‘Nance’ and one of the customers at the counter both looking at you as they talked. Their eyes shifted away immediately once you caught them.

Eddie swallowed his bite. “They’re staring at you because you’re here with me, and they’re staring at me because I’m here with you. Get used to it if you ever want to hang out again, sweetheart.”

Now, none of that made sense to you, and the confusion must’ve registered on your face, but the idea of seeing Eddie again made your heart flutter in its cage.

He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “It’s a stupid thing, I know, but we’re not supposed to...fraternize much with Visitors.”

You had a lot of questions, but you asked the obvious one first. “How do they know I’m a...that I’m not from here?”

Eddie gave you a patient look, as if the reason should be obvious. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with you, okay?” He assured. “It’s just...your hair, the way you dress, the fact that you’re staying at the motel. Most of these people have been here for so long, they can sniff out a new person right away.”

For a second, you felt like the proverbial sore thumb, like you had this throbbing, red bubble around you to let everyone know that you didn’t belong. You were a foreigner as Eddie had put it earlier. But, what you didn’t realize at the time is that—you were used to feeling that way.

“So,” you took in that information and pushed your shoulders back, trying not to appear like you cared about any of the spying eyes. “What about me with you? Why would it be a weird thing for me to agree to have dinner with you?”

Eddie picked up the last piece of his food and looked at it pensively, and then realized he was too full and put it back down. He scooted his plate to the side and put his arms on the table, interlacing his fingers. “The thing is, I’ve never fit in here either,” he opened his hands and looked at his palms. There was a lot more to the story, but he didn’t feel comfortable talking about it right there in the middle of the diner, maybe another day, if he ever saw you again.

You pushed your plate to the side as well and Nance (her name tag officially said Nancy) came by to collect them, and asked if you needed any refills. You both declined and Eddie asked for the check.

“I’m really grateful to you, for this, for...dinner and everything,” you stammered. You felt like it was time for you to both go your separate ways, and you weren’t ready. You weren’t ready to stop asking questions, and you weren’t ready to...say goodbye to Eddie. You felt your mouth drying up with anxiety, and you took the last sip of your tea through the straw; it made an audible sucking sound.

Eddie didn’t want the night to end, either. In his mind, he was panicking: should he ask for a dessert menu? He was full, but he’d have something with you if it meant you would stay. Should he walk you back to your motel? No, he didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable—he was a stranger to you, after all. What about bowling? He could ask if you wanted to try the bowling alley next door or…? Nancy put the check down by Eddie’s arm and it forced him out of the trance he was in.

“You know what’s weird?” You asked, pulling your sweatshirt sleeves over your hands so that only the tips of your fingers were visible.

“You mean, besides everything?” Eddie gave you a wide-eyed, crazy look, and it made you giggle; forgetting, if only for a second, that you were stuck in some episode of The Twilight Zone. He looked down at the check and started sifting through his Garbage Pail Kid cards. He pulled out a ‘Duncan Pumpkin’, a ‘Manny Eater’, an ‘Undead Ed’, and a ‘Jay Decay’. He also pulled out some coins that looked like they were from the early 1900’s. You gasped and picked one up to see it closer.

“Where did you find these?” One was dated 1927.

Eddie shrugged, as if they were as common as mosquitoes. “You’d be surprised at the stuff that shows up here. Someone’s trash ends up being our treasure, I suppose. I’m still not entirely sure how it works.”

He noticed how you were looking at one of the coins. “You can keep that one if you want, I have a ton of them back at my place.”

You thought about it, only because, it was a rare coin worth a lot where you were from, but here, in Hawkinsgate---it didn’t seem to have much perceived value.

“Thank you, that’s okay,” you set it back down in the pile.

“What was it you were going to say?” Eddie interlocked his fingers again on the table.

For a second, you feared that perhaps you were losing your short term memory as well, but then he prompted you.

“You were about to tell me what you thought was weird, and I interrupted.”

“Oh,” you remembered. But for some reason, now you felt shy about saying it out loud. “I was just thinking that you feel really familiar to me. Have we met before? I mean, before today?”

Eddie unlaced his fingers and drummed them on the table softly, nodding, biting his lip. He had been thinking the same thing. Certain things you said, and the way you looked when you said them, were plaguing him with multiple instances of de ja vu.

“I highly doubt it,” he adjusted the collar of his jacket. “But anything is possible, I guess. You ready to get out of here?”

You each put your hands in your pockets as you shuffled outside, both dragging your feet, both of your mind’s racing on how to not let the night end. You stood under the awning as the rain drizzled, the sky threatening to burst open in a matter of seconds.

Eddie took a chance. “How about I drive you back to the motel?”

-----------

He parked his van next to your truck and turned the engine off because you were still going through his cassette tapes and he didn’t want to rush you. He also liked watching your face as you picked up each one to look at it---you were almost as excited as when you were looking at the coins.

“I haven’t seen these albums on cassette tape in...well…” you stopped short, picking up a few that came out in the ninties/early 2000’s, including a few you’d never heard of—and were almost certain had never existed. The sleeves were warped from water damage and a few of the plastic covers were cracked or broken. You should’ve been glad to see them, because it let you know that you weren’t trapped back in time. The thought occurred to you that Hawkinsgate was a place, and not a time.

“I found those,” Eddie told you with pride, answering the question before you could ask it.

“In the same place you found the coins?” Anyone else might have had a hard time wrapping their brain around the idea, but you were fascinated. His van smelled just like you imagined it would: clean, Irish Spring scent, mixed with vanilla, cigarette smoke, leather, and just a whiff of mold after a rainy season.

“No, princess,” he turned in his seat and stretched one of his legs down between the two seats. “They are usually in the abandoned cars we find and have to tow back to the junkyard.”

...abandoned cars…lost things...someone else’s trash…

You looked down at a mix tape that someone had made that said, “Sandy Loves Roger”, and then a bunch of handwritten song titles in blue ink that were too water damaged to be legible.

“Eddie?” Your voice wavered.

“Yes?” He returned in a sing-song way.

“How many Visitors like me have you met?”

“A few.”

“10? 15?”

He shrugged. “Hundreds, I think.”

“Hundreds?!”

You hadn’t been prepared for that number, and your reaction made him wish he had told you that he simply wasn’t sure, instead of giving you a number. Maybe this place was like those vortexes where balls roll up hill and magnets stop working.

“I’ve never taken one to dinner though,” he picked at something invisible on the steering wheel. “Some of them end up here for years, and some for only a few hours.”

You were staring at the dash in front of you now, your thoughts far away, trying to pinch a bubble of a memory before it floated away or broke. “Do they ever get their memories back while they are here?”

“Not usually until the end,” he cringed at his wording. “I mean, not until right before they go back.”

You looked down at the handful of cassette tapes in your hand. “Tomorrow I’m going to have to try and get back home, wherever that is.”

“I know,” Eddie swallowed. If you were still there in the morning, he knew you would try—everyone did.

“But I promise to come by the garage and say goodbye,” you smiled halfheartedly, but you couldn’t look at him.

Eddie turned to you with a genuine smile. “I’d really like that.”

-------------

In the morning, after getting some coffee from the lobby and eating a stale granola bar that had been stashed in your purse while watching an old Bugs Bunny cartoon, you showered and packed up your truck. You used the last one of your tampons and made a mental note to stop at the next grocery store you found to replenish. You locked up your room and drove over to park in front of the lobby to drop off your key and pay for the night.

Claudia gave you a concerned look when you told her you were checking out. “Well,” she took the key you were holding out to her, but kept her palm flat and didn’t close her fist around it. “Would you like me to hold the room for you, just in case?”

“That’s okay, I really need to get back,” you fumbled with your bag to get your wallet out, forgetting for a moment that it was empty.

“Back where, hon?” She meant it genuinely, but you had to look up at her to make sure she wasn’t being sarcastic.

“I’m not sure, but I’m just going to go back the way I came and get back to the freeway,” you said with all of the confidence you could muster. “Are there any internet cafes around here?”

Claudia looked almost offended by the question. You opened your wallet and, with a flood of relief, realized that your unused credit card with the $500 limit was still in there. The ID and the cash and the debit card were still gone, but at least you had something to work with.

You shook your head apologetically for expecting her to know what an internet cafe was. “Do you happen to know a place where I could buy a phone?”

But to that question, she had an answer. “There’s one over there you can use,” she told you with an enthusiastic expression, pointing to the payphone that was just inside the door. But then, she remembered that you were a Visitor, and she put her elbows on the counter, moving her fingers to make a rectangle shape as she talked. “Or do you mean one of those handheld devices with the computers in them?”

“Yes,” you were excited that she understood. “I need to get one of those. Do you know a place?”

“No, sorry,” she stood back up to make room for another cat to walk across the counter.

You tried to pay for the room with your credit card, but Claudia showed quite a bit of interest in the bracelet you had on, and so you traded that, and a can of half empty hairspray, and an unopened palette of six eye shadows for your stay. You weren’t attached to any of the items, so you felt like you got it for a steal.

Claudia stood in the window and watched you go, putting the key to your room in her pocket for when you came back.

------------

There was an older man with gray hair at the pumps filling up another car when you pulled in. You drove right by him and over to the garage side of the building that had two open bays. You could see Eddie’s legs sticking out from under a car, and so you turned the engine off and tried to sneak up on him.

As you tip-toed into the bay you could hear Black Sabbath playing from a boombox on a nearby chair, and then the sound of a wrench turning and bolts tightening. You were just about to kick the bottom of his foot when---

“Don’t even think about it,” he said, giving you a start. And then he used the heels of his feet to roll out from underneath on the creeper, his hands braced on the bumper, and gave you a smile. “You must think I’m dumb as hell,” he teased. His hands were covered in dirt and grease, and there was a smudge of black on his cheek.

“I didn’t know you heard me drive up,” you wrapped your arms around yourself and waited for him to stand.

Eddie got to his feet with a bounce in his step, holding the wrench he was using in one hand. “Oh, I could feel you coming a mile away, sweetheart.”

It was a playful flirtation, mostly a joke, but it was also true.

Without realizing what you were doing, you stepped forward to cup his face in your hand and used your thumb to wipe some of the dirt off of his cheek. “Sorry, there,” your eyes met, and something stirred in you. His breath caught in his chest, grateful for your touch.

Flustered, you moved back, clasping your hands behind your back so that you wouldn’t be tempted to touch him again.

“I guess this is goodbye,” you told him. “And thank you again, for everything.”

He couldn’t lie, the fact that you hadn’t evaporated in the middle of the night made him happier than he should be under the circumstances.

“Take care of yourself,” Eddie told you. “If you need anything, you know where I’ll be.”

“I’ll come back to visit.” It was a promise you didn’t know if you could keep, but you wanted it to be true.

“I’ll be here,” he gave a chuckle, hooking his thumbs in the pockets of his coveralls.

You looked both ways and turned onto the highway, headed back in the direction you had come the day before. It was still overcast, but the sun was bright behind the clouds, and the rain had ceased for now. You flicked the radio on to Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship and took an unsteady breath as you drove down between cornfields, feeling like you were back on track; grateful for a new day, and looking forward to getting back to your life. Whatever that meant.

The two lane highway seemed to go on forever without any turn off or side roads, and you swore that you came off the exit ramp not too far down from Gary’s Garage. You reasoned that it had been pouring down rain, and you were...sad about something...so maybe you had driven for a longer distance and didn’t realize it.

45 minutes later, all of the radio channels went to static, and you pulled off to the side of the road to catch your bearings. You were the only car on the road that entire time, and at one point, you thought you saw a stop sign up ahead, but it ended up being a red piece of clothing hanging from a mile marker.

You swallowed back your fear and frustration and kept going, continuing to turn the radio dial, hoping for a song or some sign of life, but the static persisted.

“How do I not remember all of this corn?” The fields of tall, green corn stalks were endless, and you were sure that there had been tall trees at some point in your journey the day before.

God, you must’ve been really out of it that day.

Almost two hours later and you hadn’t passed a single street sign. The numbers on the mile markers were all out of order and didn’t make any sense. At one point you realized that there must’ve been some turn off that you missed, but it was too late to go back and find it, and if you just kept going, you were bound to run into a freeway or, at the very least, another town.

Later that day, after pulling over to weep frustrated tears several times and shout muffled screams into the palms of your hands, your heart leaped as you could see up ahead that the corn ended and turned into a cluster of trees. There were outlines of buildings and telephone poles: signs of life!

You pressed the gas to the floor, whispering “we did it we did it we did it” to your truck, choking on a sob of joy. You entered the city limits and wiped your eyes, glad to see an official speed limit sign. You passed by a friendly looking park and a Family Video, and then there was a quaint downtown area with a Radio Shack, and a general store. You yanked the wheel to park in front of the general store, because you were scared to know how well that one tampon was holding out, and you hoped to hell that they had a bathroom.

The woman named Joyce who worked there said they didn’t have a public restroom, but at second glance, she could tell that you were in a bad way, and said you could use the one in the break room. There were only a couple boxes of tampons on the shelf, and all of them were different brands and sizes. You had a weird feeling in your gut, but you disregarded it.

You tried to pay for the tampons and a bottle of water, but Joyce wouldn’t let you. She put her hand on top of yours, looked directly into your eyes, and what she said made the hair stand up all over your body. “Listen, I know it must be scary. But you’re going to be okay. Everything will be okay.”

She looked around to see if the other coworker on the opposite side of the room could hear her, and then she lowered her voice again, pushing the merchandise toward you discreetly on the counter. “These are on me, okay? You take care of yourself while you’re here.”

“...while you’re here…”

You were afraid to ask her where “here” was, and you wanted so badly for her to hug you and tell you it was all just a dream. She was just that type of person; the type you knew gave really tight, genuine hugs.

By the time you recognized Newby’s Diner and the Grove Motel from the road, you weren’t shocked to see them, in fact, a strange, empty resolve had begun to settle in you, one born of exhaustion, hunger, and mind-bending fear.

Later that night, on his way home from work, Eddie saw your truck parked at the motel again, and he felt guilty for being glad. He had this urge to check on you, to console you and let you know that everything would be okay—but he didn’t want to lie to you. There were two strands of your hair left on the passenger seat in his van, and he planned on leaving them there, just in case one day the rest of you didn’t exist, at least he would have that.

#eddie munson #eddie my beloved #eddie munson stranger things #stranger things #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson x fem!reader #fem reader #80s nostalgia #80s

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